doomsday_disco

So I get some non-skunky weed at first with the marshmallow and the plastic-y note that is present in some capacity in all of the blow mold scents, but then this immediately becomes a sugared dark musk (but not black musk) dominant scent on me. I believe it is one of the musks found in Smut, but it has been so long since I've smelled that, that I can't be sure. I don't dislike it (even though I don't love Smut), but the plasticy amber note that characterizes this as a blow mold scent keeps me from enjoying this more. I also wish I got more of the rice milk and marshmallow from this. Of the two 4/20-themed Easter scents from this year, Four and Twenty Blackbirds is more of my jam.

Nox adveniet: a somber waft of incense curling through night-blooming jasmine, poisonous berries, opium poppy accord, sugared absinthe, and bergamot blossoms.

I received a tester of this in a decant package and have tried it twice. On me, Death Moon is mostly about the jasmine and the incense. It starts off being more jasmine forward, but the incense cozies up along side it and eventually becomes stronger than the jasmine after a few hours of wear. I get touches of the berries and opium poppy behind those notes, but the bergamot and absinthe don't really stand out on my skin. This one is definitely one for jasmine lovers, especially those who would enjoy it paired with incense.

This goes on as a blast of cool, mentholic mud (which I totally was not expecting, and I've tested this three times now and have had the same result each time -- I'm guessing that's tied to the ethanol note, or this mud is a little frozen?). It doesn't take long for the mud note to soften, and for the vanilla note to emerge and quickly become the dominant note. The vanilla in this reads as a sheer, skin musk-y vanilla to my nose, especially after it has been on the skin for a while. There is only a hint of soft dirt (that's no longer mentholic) in the background by the end of the day. I don't feel the need to upgrade to a bottle of this one, but I'm glad I got to try it.

Golden hay, vanilla bean, toasted amber, hazelnuts, white carnation petals, and cream. Artist - Shibata Zeshin

This is another hit from the Wild Hearses atmo series. It smells like the most delicious fizzy, citrusy, berry-infused drink, and it's unapologetically pink and perfect for summer. Like the other hearse scents, I should have just blind bottled it, but since I went the decant route and this is so good, I will be keeping the decant in addition to the bottle I upgraded the decant to so I can have this scent on the go.

A little nod to my Filipino-Ashkenazi heritage!

Quoting my review from 2015 for this review. Golden Priapus is one of my favorite GCs, and I'm so sad that the current version of it is nowhere near as amazing as the original. I'm not saying that the Lab changed the formula or anything, and it could be a batch variation, but I think they may have had to substitute a different kind of vanilla and/or amber, in the way that the current iteration of Snake Oil doesn't smell the same as the pre-2019 versions to some of us, because they've had to use an aged vanilla absolute and aged patchouli in the scent due to supply issues. (Here's a link to the post I made on the forum with Beth's announcement from Facebook, so someone doesn't think I'm just speculating on the Snake Oil front.) Obviously my bottle from 2015 is ten years old and fabulous, but the oil in my bottle of Golden Priapus from 2015, even when it was new, has always been a pinkish color that goes on that way on the skin, and the oil in this new bottle is clear. I still get the lovely pine note, but that's pretty much all I'm getting from the new bottle -- the vanilla and amber seem to be missing in action, and the scent just smells thinner, for lack of a better description... like it is missing some depth. Perhaps that will change with age, but now I'm worried that Golden Priapus has also been affected by these vanilla supply issues and that it will never smell the same again. I'm also worried about Tombstone, because I believe Golden Priapus and Tombstone may share the same golden vanilla, and while I have gotten a few bottles of Tombstone to stash away to age over the past few years, I haven't actually tried them all to know if they smell different. But I do know that I didn't get Tombstone's vanilla from the Pumpkin Tombstone found in last year's Weenie collection, so now I'm worried about the fate of that scent in addition to Golden Priapus. I deathmatched this new bottle of Golden Priapus with the old one and could still smell the old one when I woke up the next morning, waking me up with the scent of pine, amber, and vanilla goodness. But I didn't smell the new one on my other hand at all. Fingers crossed that this will age into something similar to the Golden Priapus I know and love. If it doesn't, the pine is still lovely, but it isn't the swoon-worthy scent that I fell in love with.

Quoting my review of the 2006 version since I have now tried the 2007 version. All of the aspects of the snow that I described in the above review are still present (sans any chapstick undertone) and the most prominent aspect of the 2007 scent, but I also get the pastry from this batch, as well as a hint of dirt! I wonder if those notes had just aged out of the 2006 scent (it wasn't a decant, but a bottle), or if there were just a difference between the releases? In any case, I definitely prefer the 2007 version and I'm glad I got a chance to try it!

This smells like cologne to me. I'm not able to pick out any distinct notes, but there are surely some metal notes here that are giving off that cologne vibe. The scent has hella staying power and throw, too. It's not something I could see myself reaching for, but it is something that I would enjoy smelling on someone else.

Among the most intelligent inquirers with whom I converse at Brighton was a lady of title. She told me that she was one of those present at the Davenport séance, held at the residence of Sir Hesketh Fleetwood. She was seated in the dark séance by the side of a gentleman whose previous scepticism, he confessed to her, was fast disappearing in the face of the facts they were witnessing, when a light was suddenly struck, and both of them distinctly saw the form of Ira Davenport glide close past them. This incident very much disturbed the confidence of Lady L—, and entirely satisfied the sceptic that imposition was practiced, and he left the room a confirmed unbeliever. I told Lady L—that, on his return to London, Mr. Ferguson spoke to me of this very fact, as one of the most curious that had yet occurred at any of the séances. He was holding, he said, the box of matches, as he usually does, when the box was snatched from his hand, and a light was struck by the invisible operator, and during the momentary ignition of the match he plainly saw a form, apparently of a human figure. He said nothing at the moment, but whispering the fact to Mr. Fay, he confirmed it, and afterwards several of those present admitted that that, too, had seen it. Mr. Ferguson, however, was not aware that anyone present supposed it to be the actual person of Ira Davenport, as no observation to that effect was made, and as Ira Davenport was seen instantly afterwards when the light was restored, fast bound to his chair, it was simply impossible that the suspicions of Lady L—or her friend could have been well founded. But, admitting that two competent witnesses did actually see the form of Ira Davenport on that occasion, it is corroborative of a very important and interesting fact, and distinct phase of these puzzling mysteries of spiritual appearances – viz., the duplication of individual form. Mr. Ferguson, who did not on that occasion recognize the resemblance to Ira Davenport, nevertheless has, as he solemnly asserts, seen at other times, when alone with them, the entire duplicated form of Ira Davenport, and a part of Mr. Fay ; and in my first conversation with the Davenport Brothers they told me, among other curious facts of their extraordinary history, that persons had said they had met one or other of them in places where they had not been. On one occasion their father went to a neighbouring shop to order some fruit, when he was told by the shopkeeper that his son Ira had just been there, and had ordered the fruit. It was, however, satisfactorily proved that Ira had not left the house, and that the man must have seen his “wraith,” or “double.” The Spiritualist, December 19, 1873 The uncanny echo of your second self: a shadow-blackened fougere steeped in an uncanny, discomfiting lavender tar.

Green grapefruit, a shudder of grass blades, peppery geranium, green tea, orris stems, rice sprouts, and white ginger. Nishiyama Hoen

This one is interesting! I would say that the grass and the starchy (not buttery) rice are main players on my skin throughout wear, with some pepperiness from the geranium and a kick from the ginger that is most noticeable during the wet phase, and some green grapefruit that drifts in and out of the scent (its strongest on me when freshly applied and then it makes a comeback by the end of the day). The orris stems aren't a powder bomb like orris can be on me, but I do feel they add a softness that complements the starchy rice. It's fresh, green, starchy, slightly citrusy, and delicately floral. I tested this twice, and the only note that didn't really jump out at me was the green tea. While I don't currently feel the urge to leap for a bottle, I do think this is a fun scent experience with some uncommon note combinations, and I enjoyed how this scent morphs throughout wear. I'll be hanging onto my decant and see how much I reach for it to determine whether or not I need more of this.

This isn’t an asparagus-scented perfume, though it occurs to me that I should make one someday. I found out recently that May is National Asparagus Month, so here you go. This scent is vaguely inspired by asparagus, but mostly inspired by the flicker of surprise that I felt when I found out there was a month dedicated to asparagus. A pointy green vegetal scent, sparkling with lime-squeezed bemusement. Adriaen Coorte

I tried this twice to make sure my nose wasn't deceiving me and had the same experience both times. This goes on as a slightly effervescent lime scent backed by a green banana that's starting to turn ripe, so there's a bit of sweetness to the green note. Once the lime calms down, which doesn't take long on me, it is mostly that green banana that's turning ripe scent that's left over. It's not as green of a green banana like I got from Orc Massage Therapist. And I'm glad that the scent isn't very vegetal after all. I wish the lime had stuck around longer on me, but I do think this is a fun scent experience.

I tried this on both wet hair and dry, as well as spraying it on a paper towel. It is a light hair gloss with no throw that primarily features a soft peach note to my nose that's lightly honeyed. I don't get much cake from this at all, especially not compared to the honey cake of The Sharing of the Cake Between the Lion and the Unicorn Hair Gloss. As far as peach hair glosses go, this is the lightest of the ones I've tried (Peach and White Incense, Peach Tea, White Musk, and Lychee, Peach Bellini, and Peach and Red Bean Paste). It smells good, but I really wish it were stronger and more cake-y. I'm glad that I got a decant of this instead of a full bottle.

A tangle of witch-roots, smoothed over centuries by gentle hands. Damp soil and smoked vetiver, spikenard and raw leather, dried fig and galangal—all bound in an indigo silk ribbon of somnambulic opium tar.

Softness is a ritual oil for the heart that resists hardening. This blend was crafted to keep the spirit supple, the gaze gentle, and the soul intact even as the world curdles into cruelty. It is not passive, it is not fragile; this is the might of mercy in the face of injustice. This is the quiet power of open hands in a closed-fist world. Defiance through peace, gentle but never yielding. Contains: Roman and German chamomile, rose otto, vanilla absolute, white sandalwood, orris root, hops, and myrrh.

I'm reviewing the scent more than its intent, although I appreciate its intent. The stars of this blend are the rose otto, chamomile, and orris on me, with a light, sheer vanilla absolute note in the background that smooths over the edges of the rose. The orris isn't super powdery and the resins in this are subtle. The scent stays close to the skin, and the rose becomes the dominant note after a few hours of wear. I'll keep the decant around for its purpose, but I don't feel the urge to upgrade this one to a bottle.

Helps you hold onto what you have. Contains: alfalfa, patchouli root, Irish moss, five finger grass, sassafras, cinnamon, bay laurel, bergamot, allspice, and thyme.

I'm mostly reviewing the scent, but I grabbed it both for the scent and its purpose. Financial Stability is mostly about the sassafras, and I'm here for it. There's a bit of effervescence behind it, too, but I don't know what could possibly be contributing that aspect to the scent from the listed notes. I have no idea what alfalfa or five finger grass smell like, but honestly, I can't really pick out individual notes in this well aside from the sassafras. It's not particularly spicy or herbal, so if you just want to smell like root beer, rejoice! While testing this, my partner had asked if I had wanted to order some food, and I was the voice of reason that said we could just cook at home. My partner still wanted to get food, but I wonder if they would have wanted to be frivolous if they had been wearing this oil. I love root beer scents, so I upgraded my decant to a bottle, but I also plan to wear it for its intent during these uncertain times.

A dear friend sent me her bottle so I could try this, and if it comes back into stock, I may have to get one of my own! Lethe isn't particularly boggy or aquatic at all, so don't let the river foam note scare you away from this. The black labdanum isn't one of the sweet cola-like varieties, and it's bolder than the labdanum found in most of the Lab's blends featuring lavender and labdanum as of late. It may have a touch of something oud-like to it, without being overly funky, but maybe that's secretly a hint of the river foam lurking behind it. The lavender and asphodel cozy up to it, making a great sleep scent. The asphodel does veer somewhat into bubblegum territory on me after a few hours, but since I would get this to use as a sleep scent, I'd probably doze off long before it reached that point. And although I enjoy cypress, it is not a main player on me in this scent. One of the reasons I was curious to try this is because it shares several notes with A Conscious Slumber (Lavender buds and cypress, sepulcher lilies, a sprig of rosemary, and a bouquet of asphodel), of which I regret only buying one bottle. They are not similar despite sharing some of the same notes, but I think both are relaxing enough to lull one to sleep. Of the lavender and labdanum scents that the Lab has released over the last few years, I enjoy this one the most.

I'm really glad that I did not blind bottle this one. The twigs are indeed somewhat fresh and green, yet somehow sharp (my first instinct was oak, but then I started thinking about other sharp woods like mahogany and teak, and I didn't deatmatch it with any scents containing those notes since I had other scents on my arm already, so I can't say it's oak for sure). I don't get how they are both green but also smell lacquered, as lithie mentioned. Worst of all, the twigs are somewhat rubbery on me and smell awful. I thought I got a hint of root beer-esque French vanilla from this, but that was very fleeting, and the vanilla note that ends up draping itself over the twigs is a sheer, skin musk-y sort of vanilla. It's nothing like the vanilla husk in Vanilla Husk, Nutmeg, and Hay Absolute. This just did not work for me.

Lilac cream, pressed violets, pink elemi, olive blossom, and crystalline musk. Max Švabinský

Nag Champa Smoke and White Gardenia.