hammy

Fair warning: I've been sick the last week or so, and I'm still a bit sniffly. I hope my impressions aren't too far off the mark, but I wanted to post something because I know folks are always anxious for reviews -- especially when it's a scent like 13 with a limited window of availability.

In the bottle - Alllllll white chocolate. Maybe some pomegranate in the back if I sniff hard.

Wet - Oh, wow. This is so crisp it's almost minty. Something sharp and fresh -- chamomile? ginger? -- is taking the lead, with a beautiful dollop of assorted florals right behind it. Jasmine haters, take note: the star jasmine is not acting up here. The white chocolate note goes a bit plasticky on me (as usual), but it's so short-lived that I don't mind.

Drydown - Ah, now there's some fruit. White chocolate has disappeared almost completely at this point, which leaves room for a delicate sweetness. It's hard to pick out anything in particular. There's the friendliness of the carnation, the recognizable sweet-tart of the pomegranate, and a gentle twist of peppermint that is FAR lighter than you'd expect. It really is just a drop of the peppermint. Even though I can't get much more specific, I can tell you that this is a peppy and invigorating blend. I expect it will be one of those instant-good-mood scents for a lot of people.

Verdict - When I sniffed this in the bottle, I thought it'd go straight to swaps. I'm glad I gave it a shot. It's happy and soothing and uplifting all at once. Exactly what I want from a Friday the 13th blend. Bonus points for the creative "shattered mirror" label art.

This is everything I wanted it to be and then some. Aspen is effing magical, you guys. The evergreen aspect of this scent makes it very winter-appropriate, but who am I kidding? I’m wearing this sucker year-round. Can't. Get. Enough.

On the surface, it’s a simple and sophisticated sweet-forest-woods scent: honeyed amber and golden musk eating berries in the forest. But DAMN, y’all. There’s a rich complexity here that really blooms once it hits my hair and I can’t even put it into words. Yeah, the gloss does everything it’s supposed to and all that ... but O! the dreamlike brilliance that is Elf! Golden and ethereal and haunting and magical. It’s the comfortable stillness of walking through an ancient forest resplendent with dewy fairy flowers and a swirl of sweet honey and berries in the air. It's absolutely enchanting, and I’m sorely tempted to sell every other hair gloss I own to make room for more of this. If Elf disappears quickly on your skin or you enjoy scents like Fae Forest, try the perfection that is Elf hair gloss.

In the imp - Dark and a little heady.

 

Wet - This sweetens up a bit. A lot, actually. My, this is the darkest sweet scent I’ve encountered. I’m thoroughly enjoying it. I’m not familiar with heliotrope, but I suspect I should become better acquainted with it. And the peach blossom in here is divine when swirled with the sweetness of the vanilla bean.

 

Drydown - I think my skin is starting to like sandalwood more and more. Or maybe golden sandalwood is just a better blend for me. Either way, I’m putting this one in the “win” column. I can only imagine what this will be like when it ages.

 

Verdict - It is highly likely that I will be purchasing a bottle of this in my next order. Yay for finding GC scents that work on me!!

In the imp - Sweeter than expected based on the listed notes, but … vetiver and ozone? No way this is touching my skin. I’ve learned from my mistakes.

In the bottle - There is only the tiiiiiniest bit in here, barely enough to test. It’s a little soapy. Must be the water lily, since I already know and love carnation and sweet pea.

 

Wet - There’s a clean green wateriness to it, mixed with a white floral. It didn’t stay wet too long, so that’s all I got.

 

Drydown - A little more carnation now. Awesome. Powdery though.

 

Verdict - I wish I had enough to properly test this. I gave it my best shot, and as far as I can tell it’s nice. A bit powdery soap, but mostly greenish white floral.

In the imp - Yikes. Dark and resiny.

 

Wet - It smells very wet and oh-so-artificial. This is darkness, but it’s the darkness of a dank, moist basement.

 

Drydown - Ugh. Can’t stand opium. Thankfully the narcissus is there to cut the blackness of it all. This review is difficult to write because it’s hard to force myself to keep sniffing my arm.

 

Verdict - Definitely darkness, and definitely not for me.

In the bottle - Ooh yay, liquid rock candy.

 

Wet - This is very intense crystalline sugar sweetness. Sharp and sparkling white sugar granules. It’s not putting me off, though I suspect it might be too much for those who don't subscribe to the idea of sugar as a religion.

 

Drydown - Hmm … it’s getting a little creamier as it dries and the other notes are coming to the foreground. A little bit of the currant, minimal pear, no pomegranate. There’s a fruity bubblegum thing going on when it’s dried completely. Half an hour in, it’s a heady sugar floral. An hour in, and it’s a very gentle sweetness along the lines of sugar water or simple syrup.

 

Verdict - I adore this. It didn’t last as long as some of my other blends but it’s so wonderful that I don’t care. The rock candy note is similar to Sticky Pillowcase, but Sticky Pillowcase is a warm blend, and Candy Phoenix is piercing white and a little chilly on me. I’m keeping it.

In the imp - Citrus beachy.

 

Wet - Oooh, the herbal quality is making this so much more interesting than the usual beachy blends I’ve sniffed.

 

Drydown - This is predominantly citrus with some herbs in back. I did a double-take when I saw that jasmine is a note. This might be the best and most well-behaved jasmine I’ve encountered.

 

Verdict - This is Seven Herbs Charm, but sunnier and happier. I’m really enjoying it, and it’s a nice alternative to the ambergris-heavy beach blends I wish I could wear.

In the imp - This actually came in a cracked imp which broke when I tried to open it, so I guess I’ll have to test it. Lots of green tea.

 

Wet - This is sweet, but a little too “clean” for me. Along the lines of Okiya.

 

Drydown - Actually, this is a lot like the Okiya atmo. Same green tea note from that blend, although this one is a touch more sweet.

 

Verdict - Perfectly nice for someone who likes this kind of thing.

In the imp - Chocolate and delicious fruitiness. If I liked chocolate, I’d be ALL OVER this blend. As it is, I don’t even want to put it on because … chocolate, ych.

In the imp - Well, hello grape. Looks like you brought a few friends.

 

Wet - Fruitier than expected. Juicy fruits. I almost feel like there’s orange in here.

 

Drydown - This might be the first pear blend that I’m not stark raving mad about. Rose and sweetpea are gettin’ all floral up in here.

 

Verdict - I’m left with the impression of fairy fruit punch. As an aside, Titania is delightful when layered with Fae.

In the imp - Cedar and pepper.

 

Wet - This sweetens up almost instantly on my skin. Cedar loves me that way.

 

Drydown - Bay leaf steps up to the plate and there’s a delicious herbal spice about the blend now. God, I want to bathe in this. This is the essence of fall for me. I don’t get wet autumns like most of the U.S. Mine are dry, warm, and leafy, just like this perfume. It’s a bit peppery at drydown, but that’s only when I get my nose up in it.

 

Verdict - I’m completely enamored. Must find bottle.

Honeysuckle and flower nectar. Thanks to the honey, this transforms into a dusky, powdery scent. Not baby powder -- it's the powder from butterfly wings. There is sugared floral in here, but as the oil dries the pollen is really the star of the show. You know that sticky flower pollen that gets all over everything? That’s the one in this hair gloss. The scent lasts a long-ass time. I could still smell it in my hair the next day. The nectar-ness of this was just a little too much for me, so I had to swap.

In the bottle - Exactly what it says it is. Peanut brittle caramel corn.

 

Wet - More caramel corn than peanut brittle.

 

Drydown - Still caramel corn, with a sweetness emerging that must be the brittle. Smells more like candy though.

 

Verdict - Foody in an odd way. I usually go for candy-sugar-overload scents. This was a welcome buttery departure. More, please!

In the imp - Pear sugar.

 

Wet - Definitely getting some carnation and lime now. Pear has taken a backseat, unfortunately. Something else is a little funky in here too .. maybe the thyme and armoise?

 

Drydown - Ooh, the pear has a reprise! Still a little herbal, but the return of the pear makes it a bit sweeter. Still no tea on me.

 

Verdict - This is much nicer on the imp than it is on my skin. Swap.

In the imp - Rose.

 

Wet - Powdery rose and some baked goods in the background. I’m not getting any fruit, and I’m guessing the roses are of the red variety.

 

Drydown - The baked goods didn’t last long, and they weren’t very prominent even when they were noticeable.

 

Verdict - Rose is never a good scent on me, but this rose is nicer than I get in a lot of blends. Still not a fan, though. Swap.

In the imp - Sharp honey.

 

Wet - JASMINE honey.

 

Drydown - I’m so jealous … I don’t get any fig or carnation or almond. Just the (very very floral) jasmine and honeysuckle.

 

Verdict - This isn’t bad, but it’s not good enough that I want to hang on to it.

 

In the imp - Peppery wood? Smells a bit like Visions of Autumn I.

 

Wet - Still kind of peppery, but maybe that’s supposed to be the “dusty” part of the white sandalwood. Something kinda playful in here too … coconut husk?

 

Drydown - This one has me at a loss. Furry is a good descriptor. The scent is definitely brown and very fuzzy. That’s about as helpful as I can probably be here.

 

Verdict - Not bad, but not my favorite by a long shot.

In the imp - Well, I spilled this sucker on myself as I opened it, so I didn’t get a chance to sniff it in the imp.

 

Wet - This is very ambery, and there’s a greenish note that’s maybe the myrtle. Or apple blossom. I’m not sure.

 

Drydown - As it dries, there’s more carnation. The whole blend has a spicy powderiness.

 

Verdict - Oddly, this wears down to something reminiscent of Frumious Bandersnatch without the plum. Not a big fan.

In the bottle - Grape jelly.

 

Wet - Yep, that’s port jelly. Best way to phrase it. It’s red and sticky and gloppy and I kind of wish it existed in real life.

 

Drydown - It loses a bit of stickiness once it dries, and now it’s grapey, plummy wine. Dried wine.

 

Verdict - I like this, but I can’t see myself wearing it. Swap.

In the bottle - Insta-floral. It’s not bad, but it’s not me. I’m doubting myself on this one.

 

Wet - It’s still a sugary floral, only now there’s a medicinal quality to it that makes me wonder if I’ll like it on my skin as much as I did in the bottle.

 

Drydown - Oh. ...OH. There’s no trace of that sharpness on drydown. The heavens have opened for me, and vanilla is my new god. There’s an inviting mellow sweetness to the floral blend that leaves me tranquil and content. There’s also a subtle touch of spice underneath to round out the scent a bit. I can’t pick out the florals, but I’m in love with the blend as a whole.

 

Verdict - It’s understated but brilliant. I am wearing this to bed tonight. Love and Sleep is a masterpiece and I will treasure my bottle. Plus the three more I am bound to purchase.

In the bottle - Wow, that’s strong. This oak is definitely rigid.

 

Wet - Weirdly, as soon as it hits my skin I’m getting straight chamomile. I usually like chamomile, but this blue version is pure funk on my arm. I liked Lawful better in the bottle.

 

Drydown - Vegetation and blue chamomile. I’m thinking the vegetation is the rhubarb. Doesn’t matter, since the smell has already gone to weird chamomile hell. I can’t find the fig leaves. Too bad, since I love them. This is a damp and incredibly sharp scent, and the blend is bringing out the very worst things about my beloved oak. If you like Twisted Oak Tree, there might be something in this for you.

 

Verdict - I understand that this is a layering scent, but I can’t sit through that chamomile nonsense again. Blue chamomile (and maybe rhubarb) just made my naughty list, and not in a fun way. Swap.

 

Note - MUCH easier to take when layered with other RPG scents, but still not for me.

 

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.

This is fantastic. When I first spray it, my hair smells like fresh tangerine. The blast of zesty citrus lasts a good long while, and then slowly but surely morphs into something with a little more depth. If I make any sudden movements and my hair swishes around it's all fruity spiciness with a tang to it. Maybe that's cubeb? I'm not familiar with it. White ginger seems far more playful than its regular counterpart. I can definitely see myself wearing this at the park in the spring or at the beach in the summer months. Heck, I'd wear it to the beach today. Living in a coastal town means I will probably be reaching for this one quite a bit in the coming months.