la belle dame sans merci

Green. And lovely.

This is the green smell of uncultivated spring.

I am very particular about florals, in that I don't go for many of them. This one I really like. For one, I really enjoy dandelion and I love the symbolism of the dandelion -- thriving in adverse conditions, bright & cheerful, wishing, uncultivated & unabashed.

This is a very green fragrance that enjoys the sophistication of myrrh.

My daughter says I smell like a meadow.

I don't like sweet, fruity scents, so I would not normally pick a fragrance that starts out with fig, especially since I grew up with my sole exposure to fig being my grandmother's super-sweet fig preserves, but I really wanted to try the redwood note and all the other notes work on me.

I am astounded. This is beyond my expectations. Aeronwen is just lovely. Lovely!

There is a sweetness, but it is tempered so well by the other notes. Dark and spicy and subtly sweet. Overall, complex and gorgeous. On me, Aeronwen doesn't morph dramatically but she lasts for hours. She stays close; not a lot of throw. But that's OK. I don't mind keeping her all to myself. She is so worth it.

An intimate, gorgeous, complex scent.

The throw on this is incredibly strong! My daughter could smell it in the other room. I had to go wash it off and we can't smell it on me anymore but the entire house smells like Faustus now, which does smell like sweet frankincense, a little violet, but no cinnamon. Mostly, it smells like industrial antibacterial soap to me.

I should love this. I've really been pleased with the other Wanderlusts I've tried and this one is up my alley: dirt and moss.

But... there's jasmine in this.

And I can't smell anything past that.

Bummer.

I'm still learning which notes work with me and which ones don't -- and which ones are maybe OK in very small doses with many other notes. For example, I like Defutata, which does have jasmine in it, but that one blend has been a complete anomaly when it comes to jasmine.

Jasmine and I don't get along.

I couldn't get past the jasmine to get to any of the other notes.

For someone who likes jasmine, Muse is a good one. But oh-so-not for me.

Imp: Strong; sharp floral; green; can't pin it all down exactly

Wet: Strong; tea rose with greenery

Dry: Strong; definitely tea rose with the sharp tang of metal

Throw: Lots!

My overall impression is this is a brilliant olfactory interpretation of the poem!

Intense, youthful (but certainly not innocent) femininity represented by the tea rose and the green scent (can't place it). Then after a while, the metallic note distinctly reveals itself. Now whether this is a ladies' dagger or the knight's own sword, I'll leave to your own predilections.

I seem to do well with the dark(er) rose notes. The tea rose in La Belle Dame Sans Merci, however, is far too potent with my skin chemistry. But if you love tea rose, this one is a must.

Wondering how you are doing.

And if your meds are still not working, don't be afraid to push your doc to change them. It may take a few tries to find the one that works for you right now.

I'm new to scents, so I don't have a recommendation -- although I got a decant of "Odd Portents" today and it is wonderful.

Please keep reaching out. We'll keep reaching right back.

This one is really hard to describe, and I'm so new at this, without a sophisticated nose.

Dark Alice sums it up with "There is something fruity, dark, and sensual about this." She's so right, I think of it as a spicy sensuality blended with a sweet, dark floral sensuality.

I really like bourbon so I do notice that. It's like the bourbon note blends the olibanum and myrrh (which is where I think I'm getting the "spicy" impression from) with the blackcurrant and geranium. For being the first note listed, I don't get much black rose. An incredible synthesis of scent.

Sophisticated and pleasurable.

Alone and yet you know you are not. A howl.

In the decant, the pine is the most distinct with mint and musk undertones. (It's a very pleasant, understated pine btw.)

On me, the best I can describe it as a wisp. Subtle. There and then not. What was that? Things you cannot see. Certainly "evocative of a forest". And midnight -- things you cannot see clearly. A howl that is there and then gone, your ears listening out for it again. Definitely forest smells -- the wind through the trees, my feet crushing pine straw. A hint of musk. A hint of mint -- a cool breeze. Just enough grounding to make your senses take a flight of fancy.

Intriguing scent. Subtle. One for kiss-my-neck closeness. Mmmmm.

ETA: I wanted to share an serendipitous scent experience. I was testing Djinn and as that scent dissipated in the late afternoon, I layered on A Howl in the Darkness (different place on the same arm). After a while, I realized the combination was making me think of being in the dark woods with a forest fire burning nearby. I really liked it. It was a fascinating fusion.

Even before I take the cap off the imp, I like this one.

The cap off, and oh, yeah. I can't wait to get this on me.

Smells heavenly on and seems to have a nice throw, too.

This distinctly reminds me of a little metaphysical shop I frequented while in college. I am new to training my nose to pinpoint notes, but I will guess, the most prominent note in Inganok Jewelers, and the one I'm really attracted to, is the incense Nag Champa.

Hubby doesn't care for it, but I'll just wear it when I'm not around him. This is definitely one to wear when I'm at the Gem Show!