doomsday_disco

In the imp: This is a fresh red rose with lots of greenery. Wet: Fresh, tart, dewy rose (reminiscent of Rose Red). The green stem and leaves are present, too. Dry: Same, but more tart than before. This one does the same thing on me that I didn't like about Rose Red 2005. Verdict: This isn't the kind of rose scent that I enjoy on my skin. It's similar to Rose Red, but I only wear that in hair gloss form because of the sour quality I seem to bring out in the scent. I'm glad I was able to try it, though!

In the imp: I can smell all of the notes. Ambergris-covered frankincense with freshly shredded basil leaves and some sage. Wet: The basil note leaps out to my nose first, and the sage is a lot stronger on me than it was in the vial. The green herbs are floating over a base of ambergris and frankincense. This one is very green. Dry: The ambergris becomes more prominent as the scent dries, so that it's mostly ambergris, basil, and sage, with some frankincense in the background. The ambergris just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Then, the scent ends up becoming really powdery on me. Verdict: The wet phase was a little too strong on the herb notes for me, and while I enjoyed the early dry phase, it ended up becoming too powdery for my liking.

In the imp: I'm getting fizziness of the Lab's champagne note backed by honeydew melon. Wet: The fizziness of the champagne tickles my nose! It's the dominant note on me, followed by the melon and the lime rind. I'm not positive about the melon note being honeydew, because now it reminds me of cantaloupe. After a few minutes, the champagne note turns into champagne grape instead of pure champagne, but so it isn't nearly as effervescent as before, although that quality hasn't gone away. Dry: I'm still getting lots of the champagne grape and melon, but now there's a somewhat soapy quality to the scent that I'm thinking is probably due to the florals interacting with the other notes. Eventually, the scent veers out of soapy territory and is a light, fizzy champagne grape with a bit of citrus. Verdict: I think this one really fits its name. I disliked the soapy phase that my skin chemistry produced, but it was pleasant aside from that. No bottle needed, but I'll hold onto my imp as always with the Mad Tea Party scents.

I'm testing an imp fresh from the Lab against an imp that's 4+ years old. Fresh In the imp: I'm getting milk, honey, linen, a really strong black tea note and some ginger. Wet: The linen, black tea, and ginger are the strongest notes on my skin, sweetened by the milk and honey. The linen note is gaining strength as the scent sits on my skin. Dry: The linen dominates, along with a lot of milk and black tea. The scent is sweetened by the honey, and the ginger, while still present, is not as strong as it was before. After a while, the milk overtakes the linen, so that it's a lightly-spiced clean scent. Verdict: I wish I had gotten more honey and vanilla from this tea scent, instead of milk and linen. The milk and linen end up being too strong for my liking. I prefer the wet stage of the scent. Aged In the imp: This one is a lot smoother and significantly less sweet. The linen, black tea, and milk are the strongest notes in the imp, but they don't have the sharp quality of the fresh imp. The ginger note is also a lot lighter. Wet: I'm getting milk, linen, tea and ginger. Unlike the fresh imp, the tea and ginger are light here. Dry: Milk and clean linen, accompanied by very faint tea and ginger. The milk note is the strongest note on me, and this ends up being mostly a skin scent. Verdict: Oddly enough, I think I enjoy the fresh imp more.

In the imp: Lots of plum and red rose. Plum is not a note I particularly enjoy on my skin, but I'm trying this anyway since it's part of the Mad Tea Party line. Wet: Red rose and plum, with the red rose being slightly stronger than the plum on initial application. However, it isn't long before the plum takes over. Dry: Plum and red rose. Sometimes I get more plum, and sometimes I get more rose. The plum isn't allowing the other notes to come through on me. I was hoping to get some of the bergamot! Verdict: This one is far too strong on the plum for me.

In the imp: I think this imp must be super aged, because I'm getting more patchouli from this than anything else, with some green mango and fig in the background. Wet: The patchouli note is the most prominent, but it is a soft patchouli. I'm also getting some fig, but it's not as strong as the patchouli and fig notes in scents like To His Mistress Going to Bed or a A Moment in Time. After a few minutes, the green mango note emerges, along with the green tea. The fig and the mango seem to be growing stronger over time, but they never overtake the patchouli. Dry: The patchouli note still reigns, followed by the fig. The patchouli is stronger than it was initially, and while I'm still getting a bit of the green mango, I'm not getting much green tea anymore. Verdict: This one is too patchouli-forward for me, and I'm not really a fan of the patchouli and fruits combo. I'll hang on to my imp since I collect all things Mad Tea Party, but I don't need more of this.

In the imp: I'm getting juicy kumquat, orange blossom, and a bit of white tea. Wet: The kumquat reigns, followed by the orange blossom, and then the white tea. I am getting a bit of the white pepper now, which adds a slight kick to the scent. It actually reminds me of Fruit Loops. Dry: The kumquat isn't as juicy anymore, and there's a tart quality to it now. The orange blossom has become stronger, as is the astringent, citrus-y white tea note, so it isn't reminiscent of Fruit Loops anymore. The white pepper continues to add some bite to the scent without being outright peppery. Verdict: I enjoyed the wet phase of the scent, but the orange blossom ends up being too strong for my liking during the dry phase of the scent. I don't need a bottle, but I'll hang on to my imp since I have imps of all of the Mad Tea Party scents.

In the imp: I can smell all of the notes listed, with the carnation being the faintest of the four. The chrysanthemum and lily stood out to me the most at first, but subsequent sniffings have produced a lot of white rose. Wet: I do get more spicy carnation on my skin than in the imp, but I do tend to amp that note. I smell the white rose and carnation the most, but the lily and chrysanthemum are pretty strong, too. Dry: White rose and lily, warmed by a bit of spicy carnation, with a touch of chrysanthemum. Verdict: This one is okay. The white rose note is a bit too strong on me for my liking, and I can't see myself reach for it, but I'm glad I was able to try it.

I have tried this one before, but I neglected to review it. I write a proper review with a fresh imp (and not the aged one I tried previously). In the imp: Dirt, flowers, rum, a bit of sharp bourbon, and a fair amount of moss. Wet: Dirt and heady, sweet florals, backed by some moss. Then the bay rum emerges. I'm not getting the bourbon of doom that I got from Juke Joint, fortunately! After a minute, the moss becomes stronger. Dry: The scent is far less sweet once dry. I'm mostly getting the dirt, moss, florals, and some bay rum, with the dirt and moss being particularly prominent. Hours later, the bay rum dominates over some dirt, moss, and florals. Verdict: I like this a lot more than the first time I tried it and will definitely be keeping my imp.

Disclaimer: I have only tried this on my skin and have not used it in the bath. In the bottle, I get a lot of the pumpkin butter note with a light ice cream base. This is not as sweet as Pumpkin Ice Cream bath oil from a few Halloweens ago. On my skin, the pumpkin butter note is the first to greet my nose. It really does smell like pumpkin butter, perhaps with some mashed apple mixed in? It's not like the other pumpkin notes I've come across from the Lab. Several hours later, it is still predominantly pumpkin butter, but it's creamier now. It's not as ice cream-y as I expected it to be, but I like it, nevertheless!

In the bottle: Syrup-y, sweet pumpkin sweetened further by the white chocolate. Wet: It's sweeter on me than it was in the bottle! I'm getting a lot of white chocolate with the pumpkin candy floss. I thought that the pumpkin might overtake the other notes, because it was pretty strong in the bottle, but the creamy white chocolate note ends up being just as strong as the pumpkin is on me. The pumpkin candy floss note only has a tinge of spice. After a few minutes, the marshmallow ends up peeking out. So far, this is really amazing and exactly what I was hoping for! The marshmallow seems to be getting stronger as the scent begins to dry. Aww yiss. I love the Lab's marshmallow note! Dry: After several hours of wear, the pumpkin floss remains the dominant note on me, along with lots of creamy white chocolate and some airy marshmallow. Verdict: I'm so happy that I bought a bottle!

In the imp: A bouquet of sweet, white florals. Wet: I'm not familiar enough with the scent of heliotrope or cyclamen to pick them out, but this is a sweet white floral bouquet. Dry: It's even sweeter on me now, but softer. The scent doesn't veer into soap territory despite all of the white florals present. Verdict: This one is nice. I can't see myself reaching for it as I vastly prefer wearing sugary florals (and not just straight-up florals), but I enjoy it more than I thought I would.

In the imp: Super strong orris backed by myrrh. Wet: The orris note dominates, followed by the myrrh, and then a bit of black musk and patchouli. The black musk note seems to be getting stronger as it sits on my skin. Dry: Orris, myrrh, and black musk. It's really powdery on my skin. I'm not getting any patchouli at the moment. The myrrh is stronger during this phase, so that it's mostly orris and myrrh. Verdict: Orris just turns to powder on me, and sadly, it was the main player here. The orris and myrrh combination just make it even more powdery than orris would be on its own. This one is not for me.

Oops! I neglected to post this review when I tried it a few years ago. In the decant: Sweet pink apple is the strongest note, but the other notes are definitely present, with the cardamom being the second most prominent to my nose. Wet: Apple reigns, and it is a very realistic apple note. The other notes start emerging more over time. The cardamom is still second in prominence. The blackcurrant and honey are in the background, adding a bit more sweetness and fruitiness to the scent, which is still primarily an apple one. Dry: The blackcurrant is stronger after a few hours of wear, and so is the honey. The apple note is softer now, and the cardamom, though present, is now in the background. Verdict: I'm glad that I gave this one a chance. I like it, but I don't love it, and so I shall refrain from getting a bottle (because I have too many apple scents already)! I will definitely be keeping my decant, though!

In the imp: I'm mostly getting the white musk and mint, with a bit of warmth from the caramel note and the black musk. Wet: The white musk and mint are the dominant notes. I'm also getting the citrus-y quality of the early stage of the black musk, and as the scent begins to dry, the tobacco note emerges, adding a smoky warmth to the scent. Dry: The white musk and mint are the main players for a long time, with the tobacco slowly gaining prominence. After a few hours, it's a musky tobacco scent with a hint of sweetness from the caramel skin musk and a smattering of sage. The mint has faded by this point. Verdict: This one is a morpher! I don't dislike it, but I also can't see myself reaching for it – this particular tobacco note combined with the musk is a little too masculine for me.

In the imp: I'm mostly getting violet and orris, with a hint of mint and opoponax in the background. Wet: Violet and orris reign. The mint is present, adding a touch of coolness to the scent, but it isn't as strong as the floral notes. Dry: This is really strong on the violet and orris (which have a ton of throw!), with just a bit of mint. I didn't really get any of the opoponax, which I was hoping would help tame the violet. Verdict: Violet and orris are not notes I enjoy, but I decided to try this anyway because I'm reviewing all of the Mad Tea Party scents. If either of those notes appeal to you, you'll probably end up loving this. It's just not my cup of tea.

In the imp: I'm getting the white musk, geranium, patchouli, and some citrus. It's really strong on the white musk, though. Wet: The white musk reigns, and I'm also getting some florals (the high-pitched geranium and white lily for sure) and patchouli. The patchouli mostly just adds some warmth to the scent and isn't as strong as the musk or the bourbon geranium. Dry: The white musk and florals continue to reign for a really long time. After a few hours of wear, the musk note calms down significantly, and so do the florals. The white sandalwood has appeared, and the patchouli has gotten stronger. I'm also getting a bit of smoky vetiver now. Verdict: I was hoping to get some mint and lavender from this, but neither of those really played a role on my skin. This one isn't really my cup of tea, but I'm glad I got to try it.

In the imp: This is really strong on the bourbon, and it gives me a polished furniture sort of vibe? Wet: The bourbon is still super strong, but I do get some of the sugar and mint now that it's on my skin. Sadly, it really is just a spring of mint. I'm mainly just getting the really intense bourbon note. Dry: The bourbon remains super strong and is threatening to give me a headache. There's a bit more sugar now, but the mint has dissipated. Verdict: Definitely not for me. I don't want to smell like oak-y, smoky booze.

In the imp: Mint, ambergris, and moss. Wet: Warm ambergris and a really refreshing mint. After a few minutes, the moss emerges. This reminds me of Vicomte de Valmont, only simpler and less cologne-y. The moss increases in strength as the scent begins to dry, but this aquatic hasn't veered into soap territory yet. Dry: It's a bright ambergris and moss scent with the light mint adding some coolness. The mint has calmed down significantly and isn't nearly as strong as it was when first applied. For some reason, I keep thinking of lime when I smell this, even though that note isn't listed. I wonder if it's an unlisted note, or I'm just getting that impression from the combination of the ambergris with the moss? I swear it has some citrus, though. Verdict: I'm so glad I got to try this one. It's not one that I would have expected to enjoy, even though I am a fan of mint, because I thought the moss would take this into Soapville. Fortunately, that didn't happen at all. I'll be holding onto my imp. I can see this being really refreshing during the summer months, and I'm curious to see how this one is on my boyfriend.

Disclaimer: I have only used this as a moisturizer and have not tried it in the bath. In the bottle, it's mint and cocoa powder to me. It is more reminiscent of cocoa powder than a bar of chocolate to me, and when I freshly applied it, my boyfriend even mentioned it smelling like hot cocoa in the room. But sometimes I sniff it and do get a Thin Mint vibe from it. On my skin, the mint is a lot stronger than it was in the bottle. It does remind me of a chocolate mint cookie coated in a layer of chocolate! After it has been dry for a while, it becomes creamier. Sometimes, it reminds me of a creamy mint-infused hot chocolate. Other times, I do get a minty milk chocolate bar vibe from it. I ordered this last year before the Yules disappeared, but I wasn't in the country to try it until the summer. I thought it would be more of a creamy white chocolate and mint scent (since the description mentions peppermint bark), but that's not the kind of chocolate I'm getting here. In any case, it's really nice, and I'm glad I have a bottle.

In the imp: I'm getting the coconut, flowers, citrus, and the glassy musk. Wet: A citrusy, musky light floral scent. I can pick out the lemongrass, lime, coconut, but I can't pick out which florals I'm getting. I'm smelling more of the coconut, citrus, and musk than anything else, though. Dry: The citrus has weakened significantly, and now it's mostly the glassy musk and white florals with some coconut and a bit of lemongrass. Verdict: I wasn't sure how this one would go with so many notes in it. I don't think the citrus/musk/floral combo is really my cup of tea, but I'm glad I got a chance to try it.

In the imp: Incense and spices. This one is reminiscent of Plunder to my nose, but softer. Wet: This is spice dominant on me, and it still reminds me of a softer version of Plunder. Although I have sensitive skin, the spices are so soft that they don't burn. As it begins to dry, the spices begin to take on a dry quality, like cinnamon bark or cinnamon sticks. Dry: Dry cinnamon and spices mingled with incense smoke. Verdict: I'm glad that this one didn't end up being problematic on my sensitive skin! I do think it is like a lighter version of Plunder. I like it, but I am so glad that I am not in love with it, since it's discontinued.

In the imp: I'm getting soft resins from this. I can definitely smell frankincense and what I think could be myrrh. Wet: On my skin, I'm getting more of a soft myrrh with some frankincense. Now it's morphing, and I'm getting a sweet resin that I think is the Lab's Mysore sandalwood note, because it's reminiscent of Kit. The frankincense is a lot stronger than it was initially and is right beside the sandalwood note. Dry: Sweet Mysore sandalwood and frankincense. Verdict: I really enjoy this sweet sandalwood note. I don't think I need more since I already have two bottles of Kit, but I'll keep my imp!

In the bottle: Sugared lavender and juicy, tart grapefruit (I believe the same one found in Gobo). I love sugared scents, lavender, and grapefruit, so I'm really excited about this one! Wet: Sugared lavender (the lavender variety is definitely the one found in Lilith's hair gloss) and really realistic grapefruit (tart and juicy, with some rind), backed by some light musk. The grapefruit ends up being stronger than the lavender on me, but the sugared aspect of the lavender is really prominent, and the lavender isn't too far behind. The light musk is getting stronger as the scent begins to dry. Dry: The grapefruit has calmed down significantly. Now, I'm mostly getting a wonderful sugary, light musk with some light grapefruit and a bit of soft lavender. Verdict: I'm so happy to have a bottle of this! I may even need a back-up. I can see myself reaching for this one a lot during the summer months.

In the imp: I'm getting lots of pine and chamomile. Wet: There's a blast of lavender, and then the pine and chamomile emerge. Then, a citrus-y note emerges. Maybe that's the palmarosa? Dry: It's a citrus-y pine, lavender, and chamomile scent. I can't pick out the patchouli, but I'm sure it's contributing to the general warmth of the scent. After several hours of wear, the chamomile becomes a lot stronger, but hasn't overtaken the citrus or pine notes. Verdict: I'll be keeping my imp.