mspixieears

It’s very thick and syrupy in the vial. Alcoholic in its pungency, that would be the cocoa making it all boozy-smelling. The teakwood is a nice addition, it’s slightly reminiscent of sandalwood. There is a note in this that I’m not fully comfortable with – I do think this is slightly too overpowering. I think it’s that funny faecal note again.

I’m testing the Snake Pit fairly quickly and am quite sceptical about detecting the notes in this blend though the actual Snake Oil is wonderfully strong. There’s definitely a mossy presence any maybe if I strain I can get the olive leaf (there is an ‘oily’ quality to this Snake blend). I quite like this one, it’s gentle and subtle.

Almond doesn’t tend to like me so was quite sceptical about this blend though oddly enough the myrrh makes it more palatable on. I don’t smell any of the mandarin in this blend, just Snake Oil with myrrh and almond. A hint of something spicy or could that just be the myrrh? A while later it does just smell like Snake Oil proper.

I don’t usually like pumpkin scents so this will be an interesting one to test though I’m intrigued by the addition of peach. It’s very sweet and foody with a hint of spice, I may need to compare it with my beloved Pumpkin Queen. There is something oddly medicinal or earthy about the fragrance when I sniff it up close. Nice to sample but not essential for me. Ooh, as it dries I can smell the peach! I do prefer peach with other things though.

A gentle, soothing floral scent, reminds me of subtly scented floral toilet water. I can pick up the rose which is not at all overpowering and perhaps the floral nature of this composition is smoothed down by the vanilla – I really love it when vanilla is in floral perfumes for this reason. As it starts to dry I detect the jasmine and honeysuckle which give it an old world elegance. Reminds me a little of Victoria. The amber gives it a slightly powdery edge.

Mmm, yummy red musk and berries – the musk reminds me a little of Smut. Probably not a fragrance for summertime – it does conjure up very sensual evenings though for some reason! I think it would be very sexy worn at night. The berry I get must be the pomegranate and/or the wild plum which I’m hoping will become more prominent. So far wet this seems pretty musky. The musk is deliciously smoky and very alluring.

I can’t pinpoint why I dislike this so much but it’s definitely not to my taste – I think it might be the sarsparilla I don’t like. The patchouli is too pungent for my taste though the tobacco smoke is nice. Unfortunately, the smell makes me feel ill so definitely not keeping. It does dry down to a gentler, masculine scent but still a bit headache-inducing.

A gently floral cedar when applied wet, smells of antique furniture. There is some sweetness in it like cinnamon perhaps? Not sure. I think at present it’s a tad too masculine for my liking. Develops to smell like smoky or burning cedarwood. Might also be nice as a room fragrance.

When I first apply this I get the lemon verbena and a freshness that I assume is the lavender. Because of the lavender, it is a very calming, soporific blend. The lemon verbena note protrudes a little too much for my liking – I know that citrus notes tend to be quite volatile so perhaps it’ll die down later on? It’s beginning to dry down and the wild plum is emerging which adds to the sensuality of this fragrance as it’s becoming really dominant. I can smell it better from afar than up close (when I put my nose close to my wrist I still get the lemon verbena). Finally, I recall what it reminds me of – a milder Bathsheba which I much prefer to this, I think. This does however have excellent throw.

Initially this smells like the men’s cologne Brut 33 (I think that’s the number). What I can pick out is the cedar smoke and leather – a very evergreen sort of scent as it dries down. I like the leathery note in this, makes it very comforting – very foresty. The leather continues to become evermore dominant, which is nice as BPAL leather blends are a treat. Now that the leather has become really prominent it smells like Paco Rabanne for men. A few hours later the leather is gone and I finally get the amber which I must say is lovely, more outstanding than the usual amber used.

Wet, this reminds me of Tutti Frutti flavoured Jelly Belly jellybeans! As it begins to dry the apple blossom shines through making the composition more floral. I do detect something orangey and must confess the note I was most fearful about was orange peel but it’s actually quite lovely. From afar it smells like candied orange, very pleasant! It reminds me a little of Carnal but slightly more floral. Excellent lasting power.

Very musky and boozy, reminds me of Smut and a little of The Parliament of Monsters. It’s very sultry, and think it would be fantastic on a fellow. There is something n it that reminds me a little of leather.

Pure jasmine in the vial and wet on skin. As it starts to dry I get other things, particularly the honeysuckle. The jasmine in this is very pungent and heady – just the way I like my jasmine to be. Fantastic for summer. There is a touch of something innocent about this fragrance, it conjures very summery afternoons for me. I love it.

Instant impression is that it reminds me of Caliban. Ferny and aquatic. I can tell without waiting that this really isn’t my type of fragrance, though it is very uplifting. Slight hint of pine in this? It’s very green in the ferny sense, as mentioned earlier. It does soften to become slightly soapy.

Caramel with the smokiness of tobacco. As it dries either the red sandalwood or patchouli begin to emerge. I think this is a nighttime fragrance. There is an element of spiciness in this – it must be the cinnamon leaf? The caramel mixed with the tobacco gives off a very coffee-ish fragrance. Overall, a warm spicy blend that is mysterious and earthy at the same time. Reminds me of Wulric without the lavender. Gets earthier with wear.

(this is for the 2006 version)

 

Smut instantly reminds me of a muskier, boozier version of Snake Oil. I don’t get so much sweetness from it but it has a while till drydown. As it begins to dry on my skin there is a sweetness emerging amidst the various musks. It’s very honeyed. I think this is preferable for wearing at night and also in colder weather. I tested it in springtime and think it’s a tad too heavy. Amazing sillage and lasting power though.

First things to hit me are the honey and ylang ylang, maybe even the fig. This is a sweet floral fragrance, though as it begins to dry I get the patchouli. It’s all very seductively blended. Sadly, the sweetness doesn’t stay around as long as I’d like. I think my body chemistry eats this up far too quickly and I want it to stay honeyed and sweeter for longer. I like it enough to keep, however.

Swank doesn’t smell of a pomegranate martini to me. It’s crisp, clean and tart and has the zestiness of pomegranate but none of the aromatics of the martini. It has a cologne sort of smell to it and reminds me of a drier version of Bon Vivant. Very uplifting, surely there is citrus in this? Also, very gender neutral.

Smells very strongly of red musk and dragon’s blood. I get the jasmine and vanilla as hints. Reminds me of something spicy and sweet from an Indian food store or grocers – a very familiar smell to me. It starts to settle down as soon as it dries. The vanilla reemerges on drydown, thankfully! It’s generally a very heady scent and reminds me of some of the TAL love oils. Half an hour later it’s faded to the scent of crayons – don’t think it likes me anymore, alas.

I can actually smell the pimento amidst all the wonderful floral things! It has that candlewax scent about it which I suspect is the beeswax? There’s something very fresh in this that could either be the tuberose, calla lily or heliotrope. The red musk gives it a nice, earthy warmth. I wish I could detect the wild plum – sadly I cannot.

Smells like the sea with a hint of green and sour fruit, yet unripened. I suspect that is probably the palm which is very strong whilst the fragrance is wet. It reminds me of the greengrocer’s and not at all in an unpleasant way (I rather like the green, earthy smell of vegetables which is what this specifically reminds me of). Now that it’s dry it’s become very floral with a hint of the mentioned ferns and an even smaller hint of fruit. Maybe that’s the bittersweet wine? The floral nature of the fragrance is very short-lived and it then becomes super-ferny again. Probably my favourite aquatic tried thus far.

Soft and luminescent is about right! What a gentle, delightful blend. It reminds me of something I’ve tried and loved before so definitely keeping. It’s a very comforting scent and feels like it should be worn before bedtime or on an intimate picnic. Something fresh and ferny is beginning to emerge from this now a moment after it dries on skin. There is a slight sugariness that emerges a while later.

I get the sweet pea loud and clear from this scent as well as something sugary. I can see why this is so popular! There is something very old-fashioned about it but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s very old-world refined and possibly Victorian – or at least induces Victorian imagery – delicate lacing on petticoats and handkerchiefs, scented with this fragrance no doubt.

Wow, this is exactly what I need to clear my sluggish mind! The saffron is very uplifting and the other notes are very herbaceous. I can’t believe it’s so uplifting and also very summery for some reason. I’m not sure that I would use this as a personal fragrance, but probably more as a room fragrance or in an oil burner. I swear I get the faintest hint of rosemary! Very subtly though.

A very soothing, calming blend – because of the dominance of the lavender, ylang ylang and the violet. This could almost be a(n ex-)Voodoo, Somnium or TAL blend it’s so peace-inducing. I’d prefer it it I got some of the white sandalwood and gardenia or if they came out to play. Come to think of it, from far away it smells of those florals mentioned but when I sniff my wrist up close all I get is pure lavender. Nice to try but not sure if I’ll end up keeping the imp.