hammy

Tart green apples coated in thick gobs of melty granulated white sugar, with butter, bourbon vanilla, and a dash of cinnamon, spattered by candy corn and candy sprinkles. In the bottle - Wow. I want to bathe in this. Wet - Yep, that’s sweet caramel and apple. A touch of corn syrup. Drydown - Such happy sweetness! And some apple spice from the candy apple! Ooh, is that a Granny Smith? Definitely green apple, whatever it is, but the tartness is tempered by the dripping candy corn coating. I swear I’m getting caramel in here somewhere. It’s not the sticky note I get from a lot of the sweeter blends -- it’s more of a glossy, hard-shelled sugar. Verdict - I’m SO thankful for the tester bottle, but I really wish I had more of this! Off to scour the forums!

In the imp - Warm and kinda fuzzy. Wet - Still very warm, with honey at the forefront. Growing a bit sharper as it dries. Drydown - Sweet honey and something floral. Probably the apple blossom. I would never have guessed there’s cream in here because it’s not turning sour the way cream/milk usually does on me. Verdict - This disappeared fairly quickly and didn’t manage to make much of an impression before it left. Swap.

I'm starting to think I don't like sugar plum. That's the only explanation I have for not going weak in the knees for this atmo. The vanilla is nice, but something about the sugar plum note just doesn't sit well with my nose. Very disappointed. I'm sure someone else will love it though. It's light and sweet and dainty and very true to Sugar Plum Fairy ... which I also didn't like. Go figure.

In the bottle - Vaguely medicinal lavender. Wet - LAVENDER BITES. There’s chamomile behind it, trying to shove its way to the forefront, but it’s a lost cause. Drydown - Peppermint is peeking out from behind, and it really really helps cut the lavender situation. The whole thing dries out into soap though. Verdict - Nope. This has too many of my problem notes and the lavender isn’t making things easier. Swap.

In the bottle - This is a grassy kind of sweet. Not my usual sugar sweet. I’m a little hesitant. Wet - Incense and grass, with something mischievous behind it. I usually hate incense, but this “golden incense” is behaving remarkably well on me. Drydown - I’m definitely getting the fairy vibe from this. For my money, it’s less of a fairy market and more like the memory of fairy children doing cartwheels through a sunny meadow near the market while their parents are working. I usually despise grassy notes, but I can’t stop smelling my wrist. Verdict - On cold sniff I was ready to throw this in the swap pile, but it warmed up so beautifully that I’m considering tracking down more. Ugh, why does all the good stuff have to be discontinued?

In the imp - Bergamot and peach are hanging out in a bed of soft musk. Wet - It’s getting even fruitier. Such a soft fruit though! Delicately sweet and slightly floral. That must be the heliotrope at work. Drydown - This is understated and elegant. It manages to be both airy and grounded while basking in peachy sweetness. Verdict - I predict a bottle purchase in the spring.

I. Am. Obsessed. This is exquisite, and my reaction is difficult to translate into something coherent. Every time I spray this, I can feel my mood lightening. Fae Forest takes me to my happy place, and if I could live inside of this smell I definitely would. It’s magical and idyllic and a touch secretive. Comforting and tranquil enough that I can use it for bedtime, but renewing enough that I can use it to invigorate myself for the day ahead. It breathes life into my apartment, and I feel like the scent itself has a soul. (I know I sound crazy, and that’s why I’d only admit that to you fine folks here on the forum.) It’s enchanting, and whoever compared it to Lothlorien was spot on. They’re both representations of dreamlike, mystical places where evil is kept at bay and nature's magic is free to work its essence into the trees and flowers of the forest. This isn’t the kind of scent I usually go for, but I fell for it in a big way. Yes, there’s fir and aspen. A touch of pine, too. But the true magic is in the transcendent florals that are dancing on the forest floor in the moonlight. This is delicate and gorgeous and perfect and I will never stop loving it. <3

In the bottle - Wet pumpkin bread. Wet - Still pumpkin bready. Not really getting much of a “blue” scent - no berries, nothing. Drydown - OK, maaaaaybe there’s a berry note once it’s dried. But it’s baked inside of that loaf of moist pumpkin bread. Not as foody as I’m making it sound, but there IS a spice that is kinda delicious. Verdict - Primarily pumpkin bread with a touch of extra berry spice on drydown.

In the imp - Darkly sweet pumpkin, with a licorice aftersmell. Wet - Fruitier than expected. I’m guessing that’s the currant. It isn’t a deathly, macabre sort of black -- it’s just a deep, rich sort of black. The maple is probably helping to provide the thickness of the blend. Drydown - This evaporates fairly quickly, but I really enjoyed what was happening. A fresh take on the usual seasonal pumpkin scent. It’s sweet and dark and creamy. Verdict - I wish I had more than just this tiny tester. I probably won’t seek it out, but if it comes my way I’ll happily slather!

In the imp - Happy, warm pumpkin. Reminiscent of Theme in Yellow. Wet - Light yellow. Watery pumpkin. I think I liked this better in the imp. Drydown - It’s rounding out a bit as it it dries. There’s more butter now, and I can smell the orange notes. A very wholesome pumpkin scent. Orange to be sure. Verdict - This turned out much nicer than I was expecting based on the wet phase, but I have other pumpkin blends that do what this does, only better. Swapsville.

In the imp - Warm red spices. Wet - Plasticky pumpkin spice with extra cinnamon. This is kind of weird. I guess it’s the licorice that is throwing off the blend. Drydown - Straight-up plastic red candy with pumpkin. No plum, no cherry, no currant. Verdict - I really thought this would be a winner, but I’m disappointed. This is a pass for me.

In the bottle - Hot, dusty ozone. Ozone is a problem note for me, so I’m a little worried. OK, a lot worried. Wet - Ow. This is giving me a headache. It’s aquatic and ozonic, but I refuse to huff for a better description because I’m afraid of giving myself a migrane. Drydown - I left my wrist alone for about 15 minutes, and when I came back the scent had transformed. The ozone is still there so I can’t get too close to my wrist, though it’s quite nice if I wave my hand around and only sniff the desert flora that wafts my way. Gosh, I could see myself loving this if the ozone had been left out. Verdict - Ozone = migrane. It’s a huge bummer, because I love me some rock smells and was extremely excited for this blend. With apologies to my inner geologist, I gotta swap this guy.

In the imp - Oddly sweet. Wet - Like a sweeter version of October, without the notes that upset my skin chemistry. Mellow and leafy. Drydown - Oh, this is very nice. Everything I wanted in October that was suffocated under the smoke and wind and mud. There are leaves here too, but where October’s leaves were in a big soggy mulch pile on the wet pavement, this blend conjures memories of the newly changed leaves falling to the front lawn and swirling in a cold breeze. The beginning of autumn. After a while, the leaves get blown away, and I’m left with the maple boughs. Verdict - It’s woody and a little green. If it was a drink, it’d be the virgin version of October. And surprisingly, I’m OK with that. I’ll have to test again to see if it stays or goes, but it’s nice to know my body chemistry won’t kill every green and/or woody scent I try.

In the imp - Cola. Wet - Spicy cherry cola. I’m guessing it’s the interaction of the almond, clove and myrrh. Drydown - Wow, there’s some vetiver in this baby. It’s really coming to the forefront as this dries. Happily, I don’t smell patchouli. There’s a vague impression of resiny incense, but I don’t hate it the way I usually hate incense. Verdict - This one is a little powerful for my taste and the vetiver might be a dealbreaker. Swap.

In the bottle - Coconut as far as the eye can see. Wet - That evened out more than I thought it would. Pineapple makes just about anything better. Drydown - It’s a blend of coco-pineapple and vanilla on me. If I try really hard, I can get a bit of rum -- or at least the spices from the rum. Verdict - This would be wonderful if I liked coconut. Hell, it’s almost wonderful in spite of the coconut. If you're a pina colada lover, you need this NOW.

In the imp - Coconut. I fear this. But I must press on, because vasilopita is one of my favorites and I will honor my ancestors with this blend! Wet - Guess I panicked for nothing.The coconut went away quickly. Actually, I don’t think it went away; I think it fell back into the mix of scents to the point where I couldn’t pick it out anymore. This is kind of tropical-sweet with all the fruits. Drydown - Really hoped I’d see some baked goods by this point. Or even just the buckwheat. Instead, coconut is rearing its ugly head again. Verdict - No almond cookies, no glazed donuts, and (perhaps most disappointing) no vasilopita. Just a coconut-white chocolate party.

In the bottle - Melty beeswax, vanilla, and some creamy, gorgeous pumpkin. Wet - God, it’s almost a caramel level of meltiness. It really does manage to capture glowing candlelit pumpkins and the essence of Halloween joy. Drydown - THIS is where the blend really starts to shine, in more ways than one. Vanilla pumpkin toffee is swirling around me, becoming more and more caramelized as it dries. There is a spiciness at play, but it’s so low-key that you don’t even notice. Creamy, almost. Except not actual cream -- just the sense of smoothness. It rounds out the scent and keeps things mellow and down-to-earth and magical. Verdict - This is my OTP: one true pumpkin.

In the bottle - Allllll sassafras. God, I love root beer. Wet - This is very much single-note sassafras. It’s a very comfortable blend, probably a bit friendlier for most people than Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener. Drydown - Hard to explain. This isn't quite root beer ... it's lighter. More along the lines of those hard candy root beer barrels, just in liquid form. The sassafras is blocking out the other notes; I’m not getting any tea or champaca. Fine by me. Verdict - Fantastic scent for root beer lovers. If you’re not a root beer & sassafras kind of person, I doubt you will like this. It’s a pretty good stand-in for the hard-to-find Anti-Saloon League. I’m going to consider getting a backup bottle because I am a root beer whore and I have no shame.

In the bottle - Ooh, I don’t like this. Mostly sour smokiness. Wet - Vetiverish and angry incense. These notes were a bad idea. Drydown - Oh, wow. This is much more pleasant now. The scent is getting cleaner and greener as it dries. It’s vaguely aquatic and still very incense-y, but far less obnoxious than it was in the bottle. Verdict - Even though it softens up a bit later on, I still have trouble with incense blends. This one’s got to go.

In the bottle - So. Much. Cinnamon. And cassia. I don’t have ANY allergies, and I’m still kind of worried about this oil. It’s THAT strong. Wet - You know those cinnamon spice-scented things they put out at the holidays? Cinnamon-scented brooms and pinecones and wreaths and whatnot? This is what I’m reminded of. Dry cinnamon and spiced wood. Drydown - I wish I could pinpoint more of the notes in this. Once it levels out, it’s very holiday-esque. Or maybe the Christmas association is being triggered by the fact that we put out those cinnamon pinecones at the holidays. Either way, that’s what I get. Christmas spice. Very nice. Verdict - This is a little intense for me, but I get the feeling it’d be great for layering.

In the bottle - Ooh, this is lovely. Floral, but not too floral. I have the impression of vanilla flowers and anise. Wet - Shit. This is like a richer, fuller version of Flowerbomb. Tuberose in person is way too much for me, but this is divine. The mandarin spices it up and the vanilla musk smooths it out. Drydown - It lands a bit on the froufrou end for my taste, just this side of too perfumey. Now that I’ve made the Flowerbomb comparison in my head, I’m picking up only the aspects of Ava that underscore the connection. It fades fairly quickly and loses a bit of its gorgeousness on drydown, though it’s still very nice. Verdict - I was hesitant to get this because the description was unflattering. I mean, toxic, brittle and dangerous? This beautiful scent was hardly what I was expecting. (By the way, I accidentally layered this with Very Pink Surprise Cake and it was delicious.)

In the bottle - A tiny, pink aquatic. My nose’s gut reaction to aquatics is to scrunch up in distaste, but there’s a floral in here that’s allowing me to fight that urge. Wet - The aquatic disappears pretty quickly (thank goodness) and it’s a nice, soft floral. And a touch of something citrus, maybe? It’s got that lovely Lilithness to it that makes all of the Lilith blends just sing. Drydown - This is surprisingly tolerable for an aquatic. It’s not an ocean-in-your-face kind of scent; it’s a sunset stroll on the boardwalk with a hint of flowers blowing your way on a gentle sea breeze. Verdict - I quite like this, and I don’t like aquatics. It gets better the longer I wear it. Even if you don’t like aquatics, do yourself a favor and give this a try.

In the bottle - Lovely custard. Like the cheesecake note in Beaver Moon. Wet - The combo of moist cake and cherries is very reminiscent of Beaver Moon 07. There’s something extra here too, though. I’m having trouble putting my finger on it. I think it’s the marshmallow root that is throwing me off. I probably expected something a little more marshmallowy, but I ended up with something a little more rooty. Maybe it’s the blackness of the ginger? I’m not sure what’s going on here. Drydown - And just like that, the sweetness is gone. Almost no scent left. What IS left is dark and rooty and almost tart. I was hoping for something in the Beaver Moon or Bloody Mary family, but those are MUCH sweeter than Youth’s Disengagement. Verdict - I love this when it’s wet, but my skin eats this way too fast. I’ll reach for my Beaver Moon when I want this type of scent.

In the bottle - Greener than I expected based on the scent description. Wet - Beautiful vanilla oak. Drydown - The oak and sandalwood are blending together wonderfully, and the tonka-vanilla mixture is elevating this to places I’ve only ever dreamed of. The oak is creamier than usual in this oil -- probably thanks to the lily and apricot -- and the effect is glorious. I’m walking through radiant, golden woods inside of a daydream. The sun is streaking through the canopy and illuminating the leaves so that everything is positively glowing, including my mood. It’s enchanting. Verdict - HOARD. This is one of the best blends I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

I got a bottle based purely on the reviews and my love of pumpkins and hay. Not only was I not disappointed ... I ended up buying two backup bottles. This is beyond perfection. Sweetly cozy spice with a gentle, sunlit quality about it. I grew up surrounded by farmlands, and this reminds me of sunset in the summertime when the hay has been cut and is sitting out in the fields waiting to be baled. I know the description says “fallow fields,” but to me this is the opposite. It's the smell of harvest grasses swirling on the breeze, buoyed by a delightful kick of spicy pumpkin. No fire/smoke for me. (P.S. The above descriptions of a pumpkin-chai donut on a haystack? Delicious and true.)