Ancientgirl

Bottle: Green, green, very green. I can definitely see this as a gender neutral scent. Just on: Piney, a little bit lemony, and slightly herbal. It starts out rather intense, but not too heady for summer time. The herbal quality reminds me of Ricola cough drops. but not in a bad way. Possibly it's the eucalyptus undertone someone mentioned. I have no clue what actual hemlock should smell like, but this seems to evoke the right image: it feels both organic and toxic. One hour later: The scent morphed into a sweet, subtle, slightly lemony scent. Two hours later: It's gone! At least I won't be anxious about over-applying it (as one of the allergy prone, I worry about that a lot). A good scent, for when I'm in the mood. Ancientgirl

I don't think I can improve upon any of the wonderful reviews given by others, but I had to put my two cents in because this scent had the oddest effect upon me. Out of the bottle: This was incense and spice, almost too intense for me. On: The scent is rather pleasant. I get the honey and the almonds (not too bitter for me) and, even though it really shouldn't have, based on the description, I thought it smelled just the teensiest bit of rose. Now here's the weird part. I've never heard that scents can "echo" or anything similar, but on my bus rides to school and later in my TA meeting, I felt the fragrance of Q of S was "bouncing off" the people sitting next to me and back onto me! I know that's an odd statement to make, but that's what it seemed like. Almost as if everyone I sat next to was wearing it, too! Anyway, I like this scent, but I'm not certain whether I'll need a big bottle. Ancientgirl ADDED June 1: In the bottle: This is way intense for me. I get incense and saffron and the hint of bitter almonds. I almost decided not to put it on, then I thought I should see what it actually did with my skin. What it actually did with my skin: It became sweeter and more mellow, but not necessarily very distinctive. It reminds me of a lot of scents I enjoy, such as O, Dana O Shee, and La Petite Mort, but it isn't quite as pretty. It's golden and sweetly almondy, but with me there's not so much throw or lasting power. Nice, but I think I'll add it to the swap box. Ancientgirl

This came as a freebie in my last order. I hope I can do it justice with the allergies I've been having lately. Wet: Crisp and lemony. The white tea is perceptible, but barely. Dry: Lemony, but not sour. There is something about this scent that reminds me of a food from my childhood, but I can't remember what. Lemon drops, maybe? I'm not sure I'm getting any ginger---just sweetened lemon. The nostalgia factor really adds to my appreciation of this scent. Unfortunately, it really doesn't last on me; by my bus ride to school, it was already fading. I probably won't get a big bottle, but the imp brings back sweet memories of my younger days. Ancientgirl

I really like this! I bought the scent because of the vanilla and amber, two of my favorite scents, and it didn't disappoint. In the bottle: I smell amber and vanilla and heliotrope. No peach as of yet. On me: A mellow and golden scent, sweet but not excessively so. Creamy is a good word for it; it has qualities that remind me of my other favorites, like O and Dana O'Shee, but is somehow less "heady." This is a scent I can feel comfortable wearing, without worrying about overwhelming people. It's subtle. Two hours plus: This isn't something that stays very strong on me. As the vanilla and amber mellow out, the peach finally comes out, delicately, which is good. I like peach (mmmm, peach cream soda, peach schnapps) but the scent and flavor can be a bit overpowering. I really like how the vanilla and peach work together on this one. This is among my favorites, but may be too similar to some of the 5 mls I already have to get a big bottle right off. It sure is a yummy scent! Ancientgirl

I'm another of those who had to try this scent because I loved the poem and artwork so much. In the bottle: I am really getting the ginger and the musk, with the gardenia close behind. First on: heavily ginger, and a bit green, with a lot of musk. My skin seems to pick up on the spicier scents in this blend, and ignores the soft floral that others are mentioning. After an hour: the aquatic notes are coming out a bit, but the scent, though fading, is still very gingery. I like spicy scents, but this is a bit too intense for me. I like the concept enough that I will have to give Lady another shot before adding it to the swap pile. Plus it's that time of the month, and that can throw things off a bit (TMI, I know). Ancientgirl

I'm not so good with identifying notes in scents. I definitely get the plum scent, which is lovely, and some floral, although it isn't something I can identify right away. Maybe orchid? Anyway, the combination is quite lovely. The scent does change over time; on me, it starts out kind of aquatic, and then mellows, with the floral coming out more over time. I think this is a ladylike, rather than girly scent, and it seems very uplifting as well. I keep catching whiffs of it throughout the day, and it just perks me up! I may have to get a big bottle, soon. Ancientgirl

This was a freebie for me, and although I can see liking it on someone else, I don't think it's quite my cup of tea. The woodsy quality is nice, and I find the lemon refreshing, not overwhelming. It has a smoky quality that goes a little bit headache-y on me, though. It might be nicer on a guy; maybe I'm just too girly for it. I am wondering if I might not get on well with vetiver. Sandalwood is supposedly the other dominant note in Incantation, and it has never given me any problems. I'll have to experiment a bit. Ancientgirl

This was a freebie from a long time back, and I really enjoy it! Amber is one of my favorite scents, and the musk adds a really nice note. Dark, but not heavy, and I don't get any of the citrus scents people have been mentioning. It does get a little powdery, but not baby powder on me at least; it is more that "powdery" seems to best describe the diffuse, light but persistent quality of this scent. Might be a big bottle for me. Ancientgirl

I received this as a freebie in my last order, and I'm so glad! I don't know whether I would have picked it out otherwise, but now I think I will purchase a big bottle. I get the same "warm" smell that everyone has mentioned, and a touch of floral that is not perfumey, grandma-esque, but more exotic---the ylang ylang perhaps? The scent does not have a lot of "throw," which is fine with me as I don't want to annoy people with the scent (as someone with a sensitive nose, I know how irritating that can be), but it does last. La Petit Mort is subtle rather than overpowering; something to build my confidence, and share with the people close to me---real close. In a world of vinyl miniskirts, this is a bias cut gown---sexy in a completely grown up way. Ancientgirl

Forces a change of fortune, helps overcome poverty and want, and helps attract prosperity, prestige and earthly bounty. I received this as a freebie imp in my last order. I could really use the financial benefits it promises, but unfortunately, the scent itself isn't for me. I wish I got the vanilla and almond scents that everyone else is mentioning, because those are some of my favorite smells. Unfortunately, I seem to be getting something "sweetly smoky" instead. Maybe it's the tobacco? In any case, I probably won't be keeping this, as the smell gives me a terrible headache. I'll just have to find my success the old fashioned way! Ancientgirl

I've had this for awhile, but was so struck by the scent when I put it on today that I just had to write! This is one of the 5 ml bottles I bought sight unseen (scent unsmelled?) and I love it. I'm a sucker for anything with vanilla in it, and this did not disappoint. In the bottle, I guess it is strongly cherry (actually seems rather cherry-almond to me), but not obnoxiously so, at least not for me. The vanilla and Egyptian amber come out after awhile on my skin, and the fruitiness takes a decided back seat. I don't get a lot of strawberry, just sort of a cooling afterscent that keeps the sweetness from being too heady. Ancientgirl

In the bottle: heavily floral. I think it's the rose that assaults me more so than the lavender. When first applied, this is still too heavily floral for me. After 20 minutes or so, it mellows out and turns gorgeous. I think it's the white musk coming through and blending with my skin. The rose bows out and lets somebody else share the spotlight. This seems like a good scent to wear to tea, with a long floaty bias-cut dress. Something innocent that starts prim, and melts into something sweet but sexy. I'll want to put this on right as I get out of the shower. While I'm doing my hair and makeup, it can mellow out into the scent that I enjoy. Ancientgirl

This is a really clean and fresh scent for me. I can't really identify any of the notes individually, but it is a comforting scent, not so much in a warm and cozy way, but like you've just gotten out of the bath. After awhile, it is a little soapy, but not in a bad way. This is a good scent if you want to wear something long lasting, but not overpowering. 10+ hours (and a full night's sleep) after putting this on, there is still the gentlest reminder of it on my wrist. Not even quite a scent, more the ghost of one, as if my skin were naturally fresh and clean. Ancientgirl

This is a fascinating scent, both earthy and smoky. It reminds me of a candle that has just been extinguished, with the scent of smoke and wax still hovering in the air. At first sniff, this scent was overpowering, the smokiness so intense it nearly hurts my eyes. Now that it has mellowed a bit, I kind of like it. This isn't the sort of fragrance I see myself wearing often, but I can see liking it on someone with an earthier, sexier personality. Or maybe for those occasions I want to call up my own earthy, sexy side? Ancientgirl P.S. That was my first review.