Myaru

Madrid and Oya sound good enough to try just for themselves - especially Oya. (Why don't I have more money? My pockets are open if any wants to float my way...) Sorry for the late response, but thank you for all of your suggestions! I'll try everything I can get my hands on. The kind indicolite enabled me to find more of Malkuth, but since BPAL spice is one of my true loves... no reason to stop looking.

Patchouli didn't even occur to me. Hm. Thank you for those recommendations. The Great He-Goat looks closest, at least to my untrained eye - if there's not enough cinnamon, something with lots of that might layer well. All Night Long is all that comes to mind, and it's honestly not a far reach for Malkuth. Hm, I have some Tan'iniver, which might work too. Except, it has dragon's blood. Why did I have to fall for something so... different? Thank you again!

Hm, okay. Thank you for the recs! I'll check those out, especially the CD scents, because I've always wanted to at least try one. (Still looking for recs! Just in case.)

Hi! So, like the title says... I'm looking for a scent similar to Malkuth. I did a search and found a recommendation for Hellion, but she and I didn't get along when I tried the imp last time, so I'm guessing that won't work for me. BPAL or TAL recs would be seriously appreciated. I'd almost prefer TAL, because Malkuth had an effect on me that I don't think was strictly perfume-y. It was kind of a meditation scent for me, and now that it's gone... well, that makes me sad. My bottle isn't anywhere near done, but it won't last forever. I can't believe I missed the discon. What a horrid surprise. I did a search, but I admit to being a little lazy, so... I hope this wasn't covered elsewhere. I checked all the threads I thought were relevant. What doesn't work for me: - flowers - cedar, I think - dragon's blood overpowers everything on me - tonka What DOES work: - cinnamon (my love) - fruit - spices - sandalwood seems to be okay - apple blossom - honey Thanks in advance for any help. Since I can't sample TAL, and can't afford to imp the entire catelogue, I really need it.

In the imp: Oneiroi seemed to be mostly lavender and a note I wasn't familiar with - mugwort, I'd guess. It was herbal, which gave me hope. On skin: still herbal for the first few minutes, and then it descended into slightly soapy floral hell. That would be the jasmine, which was all I could smell once it dried down. It had marvelous staying power, which wasn't ideal in this situation. Contrary to the purpose of the blend, it kept me up most of the night, even after I washed my wrist twice, and I didn't dream as far as I recall. Clearly it works for some people, but not for me! If you have bad luck with floral notes, you might want to be wary. Ja.

First whiff is like a masculine cologne. (Though to contradict that, there was something so floral about it that it made me gag.) That calms down as it dries down to allow a warmer, resiny goodness to come out, although it's a little shy about shoving past the narcissus. It disappears after a few minutes, though. This used to be the one blend with a floral component that didn't go to hell on me, no pun intended - now, it seems to be doing what every other floral does: going slightly soapy. Sigh. Maybe a newer imp of Hades would work out for me - letting it age only intensified my least-favorite note.

The first time I tried an imp of this, it was all musk. Six months later, after trying it again, the 'imperial florals' are so strong they try to strangle me. No amber, and no wood. Absolutely floral + some of the original musk. While I can see how this embodies the description the lab gives, it isn't for me. Instead of inspiring images of haughty pride and unearthly beauty, it makes me think of a herd of little old ladies with wrought-iron canes and a will to use them. I had such high hopes for it, too, but florals just die when they come in contact with me. -Ja.

Another freebie from my last order! I'm impatient and couldn't wait to try it. In the imp it smelled vaguely citrusy. As soon as I put it on I smelled the grapefruit! (Love love LOVE citrus. Many hearts for it. ) It's the strongest note on me both wet and during drydown. And I definitely smell something aquatic, but I couldn't tell you what it is. This makes me think of fruit that's just this side of overripe and ready to eat, and the scent of rainwater puddles sweetened with a faint floral. It's clean, but I don't think it's clear, for lack of a better way to say it. I know nothing about the inspiration behind this scent but I actually think it fits the Lab description well. This is a definite buy for me. The citrus makes it so.

This was a freebie in my last order, and I had high hopes for it. Alas... In the imp and wet on skin: fruity with a hint of bitter chocolate Drydown: mostly a sweet, pipe tobacco type scent, which could be due to the wine notes, which I hear are sweet. Not too familiar with them, myself. After a while: it stays more or less in the drydown phase. I think I'd like it better with more chocolate. It lost the chocolate and wanted to drown me in sweetness - so it's nice for a little while, but not for me. Too bad! I liked the idea.

This one seems to change every time I use it, so I waited on reviewing. I'm tired of waiting. On first try, Kether was really muddled on me, but very slightly herbal. Two or three weeks later, it had sweetened up considerably, until it smelled so strongly of honey that I thought Kether and Hod had switched bottles. Now, four months later, it's so sweet I almost don't like it, and the notes I pick up remind me of Jacob's Ladder - maybe they have something in common. It's sharper when I put my nose to my wrist. Most sources I've read can't get their scent associations straight, but I usually see ambergris associated with Kether, so sharp is what I expected (because the only ambergris I've tried was exactly like that). I didn't get any of the almond other reviewers have mentioned. It has a ton of throw now, which is unfortunate. This is such a shame, because Kether is Metatron's sphere, and I like both ideas. I'll let it age more and see how it changes.

Before: It was the image in the Lab's description that drew me to this blend. I thought it was mildly fascinating, and over time I became obsessed about trying it. On: On application I really like it; it's dry, and almost herbal, not terribly sweet. An insidious sweetness creeps in as it dries down which is definitely rose. This could certainly be cruel, mocking, and malignant, as rose always goes bad on my skin. It remains sweet however, even though it's by far the most powerful scent of the lot at the moment, to my nose. It's reminiscent of the scent of decay, without being cloying or unpleasant like the real thing. Finally after maybe an hour, the sweetness is tempered by something else - maybe the incense? I like it much better this way, although I didn't actually dislike the other stage. I was ambivalent about the rose, but if it stays in this stage, I can live through that. After: Oh yes. This feels like the rose among thorns that the image in the description suggested to me. Vivid, deep, and beautiful if one can just reach in and grasp it.

Preface: this is my first review, and I'm not as good at picking out notes as some are. I just went with my immediate thoughts. -- This is not cinnamon the way I normally experience it. This is down-to-earth and sweet, instead of sharp, dry, and spicy, which is what I expected. What came to mind right away when I tried it was the Talmudic legend of the four who entered Pardes. Where you'd place the orchard in a heaven structured after the sephirot can be debated, but I associate it with Malkuth, because the story begins with a collective mystic journey, and only one person actually makes it to the throne and back. The others had a long way to go. This sphere isn't about failure, but it is the beginning of a much longer journey. This stays sweet and cinnamon on me as long as it lasts. It changes a little bit from bottle to drydown, but not very much - which is just the way I like it. This is a lovely scent, and one that I will buy again and again. And if they ever threaten to discontinue it, I'll spend a small fortune to stock up.

As a writer, I feel your pain. I've had plenty of ideas lately, but zero motivation to do anything about them. My suggestion is to be patient and wait for a scent that you really, really love. I loved Malkuth right out of the bottle, and two minutes after I put it on, I had an idea and the will to write it. Not only do I love the scent, but I also love the symbolism, and all of that stuff associated with the sephirot. All I had to do was start thinking about it, and bam! So maybe, if you find a blend that you love in both concept and scent, that will be the inspiration you want to find.