Incendiare

Although the eucalyptus is obvious at first whiff, the slightly sweeter mint is noticeable. The more I smell it, the more the mint stands out in contrast to the eucalyptus. On me, the eucalyptus dominates and a sharp ozone, almost citrusy, shows up. The name is very fitting for this blend because this truly makes me think of a violent burst of light. Like an electrical storm. It's actually a lot cleaner than I'd imagined as I thought the eucalyptus would be the star and turn this into a medicinal mess.

Till Death is much sweeter and crystalline than originally anticipated. In the vial, although I cannot pinpoint specific florals, it paints a picture of colourful flowers in full bloom surrounding a crystal clear pond. Fresh, yet humid air. The lab's rose note is usually iffy, as it can be heady and sour, but here, its barely noticeable. Same with the honeysuckle. This is more magnolia- and iris-heavy. It isn't until I apply it that the rose is noticeable. After about twenty minutes, this has really worn off, but fortunately, there's no sour rose lingering and instead, a sweet floral remains. This is a very unique floral but not sure if I should invest in a bottle.

Fresh, airy floral. In the vial, this is definitely lily of the valley with a few rose petals in the background. Fresh green tea also livens this up. On me, the green tea pops and is accompanied by a bright musk and fresh orange zest. The florals are there but not getting in the way or overpowering the tea and company at all. Sorrowful Affection would make a terrific spring perfume.

Sorry, but I can never get along with blends like this. Carrot seed is always so freaking bitter, and patchouli is just the definition of dirty. Balsam is lingering in the background but isn't helping this much. I refuse to skin test because I know it is going to be a train wreck of dirty patchouli and über nose-wrinkling bitter carrot seed.

Yep, dry white sandalwood in my face. The clary sage and oakmoss follow behind. On me, the sandalwood is as dry as ever. I love sandalwood but can never do the white stuff. There is a hint of musk in the background for some reason. Overall, this remains earthy and reminds me of a forest floor.

Fig and ginseng in the vial, although my first impression was something more berry-like instead of the fig. The chamomile is a bit sharp and medicinal here, but very fresh and lively at the same time. Wet, the chamomile kind of goes all over the place. It pairs nicely with the ginseng, together creating a sense of assertiveness. The rose hips, on the other hand, show up after a couple minutes and take sides with the figs. Both counterbalance a bit of that sharpness spewing from the chamomile.

This is without a mistake a classic, sharp cologne. Not very helpful, but I detect something balsam-y going on or maybe evergreen. It's much too astringent for my liking.

My nose must be broken. Sniffing this for the first time without looking at the ingredients made me think of a lemony chewy candy with liquorice. Huh. At least the verbena is making sense right now. Wet, the white sandalwood just has to show up and make this dry. After a few minutes, I'm being reminded of the verbena which has been blended into the white sandalwood. The olibanum gives this a balsamy feel too.

This is a very soft musk dusted with opium poppy in the vial. Wet, it bam! Goes all dry. The orris root busted down that door and is showing me who's boss. No clove at this point which is sad. After about ten minutes, this doesn't seem like it wants to budge. It's all opium poppy layered over orris. It's a confident, mysterious, unisex blend.

Lavender tea in the vial. Wet, although the lavender is still the star, is softens and loses a bit of its medicinal quality that it can have. After a few minutes, this takes a turn and develops into a sharper lavender. No other changes from this point on.

The ginger is automatically the most powerful note in the vial, followed by the myrrh. Wet, the ginger still remains on top and is now supported by the black pepper. After about five minutes, there is no change. Still ginger, pepper, and a hazy myrrh pacing back and forth in the background. It's kind of like a ginger tea, but made with fresh ginger.

The rose in here reminds me of the rose in Peacock Queen. It's full and deep red. It's pretty much all I can smell in the vial, although there is an indescribable depth to this as well. Probably the smoky vetiver but at this point it's not obviously vetiver. As a side note, I normally despise the lab's vetiver note as it's much too smoky and burnt for my personal liking. Wet, the rose goes a bit sour on me and this reminds me more of blends like Pride and Rose Cross. I like rose but this is too overly rosy for me.

Wow, pleasant surprise. Normally anything with vetiver screams that stuff to my nose, but upon opening the vial, I am hit with the warm glow of beeswax followed by the drier white sandalwood, which isn't my favourite sandalwood, but is behaving well in this case. On me, the sandalwood starts to overpower the soft beeswax and the moss swoops in and takes away that sweetness too. White sandalwood goes ridiculously, generically dry woodsy on me so it's no surprised that I am met with that overly dryness within a few minutes of applying this to my skin. The clove is sort of there but I really have to concentrate in order to detect it. There is a pinch of dry clove but it is masked by the sandalwood and is gone just as fast as it appears.

All of these dark notes, such as black musk, myrrh, and vetiver, collide with each other and burn my nose. It's hard to describe, or even believe, but in the vial, all of these notes almost create a brighter feel. The myrrh is definitely the most prominent, followed by the black musk. It goes earthier on me, though. Wet, the oakmoss and sage make themselves known and the resiny cloud takes a step back. Interesting blend if you're into the darker, cloudier, earthy blends.

I was expecting to be hit in the face with rose otto but instead I am greeted with a slam of frankincense mixed in with something sharp and bitter. Wet, the frankincense goes deeper and deeper. As this dries, it becomes cloudier and is very one-note to me. I'm guessing that frankincense fans would enjoy this.

In the bottle, this reminds me a lot of Marshmallow Pumpkin except the cinammon is a lot less potent. It's sweet and sugary with a hint of cinnamon. Wet, this is an undeniable marshmallow, but soft and fluffy, and dusted with powdered sugar. Not at all burnt or roasted. I am reviewing this after it has aged for quite a few months so it seems like it has calmed down. It has a very light throw but I'm still glad that I ordered a bottle unsniffed.

In the vial, this is so rum raisin with cloves. Wet, the brown sugar mixes in with the spices and now, the fig has entered into the picture. Overall, still very rum raisin. I like this one the best out of all the puddins. It has the best balance of fruit, spice, and booze.

Plum raisin bubble gum in the vial. Wet, a shot of cognac and sherry show up. This has a very light throw. I can barely smell it. There is a hint of allspice mingling with the fruits but otherwise that's about it.

Very black cherry in the vial. Tart and juicy. Wet, it goes a little cough syrupy on me, and surprisingly, I cannot detect any amaretto. Anything almond usually goes crazy on my skin. Within a few minutes, it starts to change and the amaretto comes to the forefront. There is sweetness from the amaretto but there isn't any vanilla that I hoped for.

Sweet, lightly spiced brown sugar in the bottle. Like a light, golden brown sugar. Wet, it turns into a pink bubblegum sweet with a dribble of root beer. Dry, it pretty much stays the same. It has a light throw, and I cannot detect any brown sugar. Just root beer bubblegum with a touch of clove.

Sweet, lightly spiced brown sugar in the bottle. Like a light, golden brown sugar. Wet, it turns into a pink bubblegum sweet with a dribble of root beer. Dry, it pretty much stays the same. It has a light throw, and I cannot detect any brown sugar. Just root beer bubblegum with a touch of clove.

Not as bad as I had expected. In the vial, it is mostly all dirt and aftershave. On me, I can pick up more of the moss blended in with the dirt. There is also a cool air drifting through the other notes. Very earthy and realistic but not my cup of tea.

Not as bad as I had expected. In the vial, it is mostly all dirt and aftershave. On me, I can pick up more of the moss blended in with the dirt. There is also a cool air drifting through the other notes. Very earthy and realistic but not my cup of tea.

Not as bad as I had expected. In the vial, it is mostly all dirt and aftershave. On me, I can pick up more of the moss blended in with the dirt. There is also a cool air drifting through the other notes. Very earthy and realistic but not my cup of tea.

Ah, this is basically all snow and nice in the vial. But right at the very end, the lichen hits. On me, the snow and ice goes a bit sweeter and the lichen is kind of sort of there. It can't really make up its mind.