roseus

In the bottle: I think something about the rum is making me think of cocoa. Wet: heady florals, rum, and spices all clamoring for attention. Still getting a cocoa vibe. Dry: this settles down considerably. It's hard to discern individual notes but there is certainly a smooth warm base of plush vanilla and amber, with rum. The spices meld with this really well and just give the scent a 'heated' feel, which is fantastic. I worried the clove and rum combo if too strong would give me holiday associations. This reminds me of sultry summer heat. The florals are gorgeuos here, and I definitely pick up waxy tuberose and the pikaki. Gives it a subtle summer tropics vibe.

Worried that I would not like this because of the orris, which usually goes dusty and weird on me, but it is not a problem with this one. I got whiffs of wonderful coconut during the dry down, but am left with a dry, woody incense scent. Nice but I was hoping for more coconut!

In the imp: smooth, dark, and cool. Like what I would think midnight smells like. Wet: definitely getting black musk. It's almost asphalt-y and industrial, but in a good way. Dry: weird and flat and sad on me. Almost sweaty. Reminds me of how badly So Below failed on me.

Pale white rose petals frozen beneath a blanket of snow. Creamy white rose and clean, crisp snow. It's not minty or piney. But it's definitely brisk, maybe blue musk involved? Eventually it looses it's chill and gets a little sweeter, but it's a clean snowy white rose. Lovely!

Syrupy sweet vanilla root beer! As it dries it gets a bit rich and buttery, and initially has a cool herbal tinge.

For a pure vanilla extract/baked goods scent I would recommend Detestable Putrescence if you haven't tried it, I have seen it recommended upthread. It was just basic, creamy, foody vanilla on me.

Worried this might be a little heavy on me, but no need. The sweetness of the benzoin and vanilla lift up the chewy tobacco and resins enough. Badass yet comforting. Definitely a cooler weather scent for me.

Starts off as a dewy, chilly red rose with watery green sap almost identical to Rose Red. As this dries it gets much less chilly and green however, and is the summery fresh flower equivalent.

Wet and in the imp this is a sweet syrupy apple. Very bright with the apple and the bergamot. It stays pretty bright on me for awhile, a nice crisp apple rose scent. As it dries further it gets a little darker and more velvety. This is a love!

In the imp: intense, dry, woody oak and intensely herbal chamomile. Wet: Woody, boozy, and a little sweet. There's something pine-y too. Dry: Smells like bad gin. Boozy and sharp, with pine-y cool edge. Giving me a headache which is rare!

I love all of these notes. The ambergris really takes the center stage, warm and musky with a tinge of salt. The lavender is standing its ground, and a little more on the herbal side. This is a lovely, no-fuss, scent. Very natural and effortless feeling.

Glad I finally bought this. Snake Oil made richer and sweeter by honey. What's not to love?

At first I was only mildly interested in this scent, I love apple but I had other priorities among the Phoenixes. But my mind finally made the connection between apple and wine to Solstice Lace and I had to try it. While it is definitely not the same, this is much less autumn harvest-y, I love the apple and sweet wine combination. On my skin this has a fresh, almost clean (but not soapy) aspect. Maybe that is the SGA aspect (I have never smelled it though), but I am also thinking it is the muskiness of Dorian and the lemony note combining with the others. I get the rich sweetness of Snake Oil underneath all of this. The salted wood grounds everything and gives it a nice body, and the salt keeps the sweetness in check. But it all melds together quite beautifully. This will be a beloved autumn scent for me.

Starts off as sweet tropical coconut made more sweet with cane sugar. As it dries the ambergris comes in and warms up the scent, making it more musky and sensual and the coconut softens a bit and gets creamier. I get just a touch of the sexy, incensy champaca which is okay since it can be sharp on me. Here it just adds a little intrigue. This is perfect for summer.

Normally I am not a big fan of DBR, it tends to go a bit screechy cherry-floral on me. However in this scent the amber grounds it quite nicely! Warm and musky, and just a touch fruity. Quite addictive to sniff.

On my skin this is a dark, indistinct fruity-floral. I could pick out the gardenia and rose, and upon reading the notes the plum. They meld together for a sweet and not too heady scent. Reminds me of a sweet, light wine.

Hot cocoa swirled with a candy cane! This starts off as a deep rich, dry cocoa with light spike of peppermint. As it settles the cocoa gets lighter and more milk chocolate-y, with a gentle sweet peppermint. Light and not overpowering at all.

The start of this is a bright white clean scent, primarily the tobacco flower and white musk. The coolness of these notes contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the amber. As it wears these fade leaving a glorious white amber tinged with coconut and just a breath of the tobacco flower.

Starts off as 100 percent banana candy. As it settles it turns to worn leather and metal with a cold tinge of stone.

This ends up all light green dewy lily on me. Pleasant and pollen-y.

Mmm this is largely sweet, toasty almond milk and fig on me. Just a little coconut creaminess underneath. Feels a little spiced as well. Glorious, loving almond milk in perfume!

Mmmm sweet sugared incense, with dark wood and stone. Beautiful! ETA: I have been noticing a distinct pink note the last few wears. It is sweet, light, and almost waxy. I wonder if it is lotus?

This starts off as a nice creamy red musk, but shifts to a musky red licorice that's not really my speed.

2017 version: I didn't realize this was a returning scent either! Got the decant for my guy who loves Lightning and thought it might be similar. I find this to be a lot softer and less zappy. Light, fresh, and aquatic and ozone with a little bit of citrus. Literally a breath of fresh air.

I agree with crimescenecleanup, the beeswax was overly sweet for me initially as well. It reminded me of the intense funky honeys that did not work on me when I first started exploring BPAL. As it dries down the beeswax gets creamier and less intense (though still very honey-sweet). And the chalk and dust play off it nicely, making a for a simple and nostalgic candle scent.