murqmaid

on application i swear this smelled green at first, but then i get a hit of lemon followed by almond, the almond disappearing quickly. (i wonder if that green note is what DD described as bitter?) the oak and fruity lemon are the "high and low" notes on the bounds, while the frank sorta blends and fills in the middle. this dries down into a soft frankincense, a bit powdery and perfumey, with a pop of fruitness and oak. wish i could pick out that russet brick note, it's why I got the decant, but i dont think its pronouncd enough for me to have that Aha moment. i like this more during the dry down. not bad, but not a favorite.

i really wanted to love this, but I just don't. im getting the bay leaves, fig, amber, and balsam/cypress in that order. this wore kind of perfumey/cologney on me, and i much prefer Diana.

this has changed with age CONSIDERABLY. i remember it being acrid/sharp when i first received it. when wet, the sandalwood and rose are most prominent on me. i hardly get any amber until it dries, but it does peek out eventually, adding more warmth. when dry, the rose quiets down considerably, but is still very present (atleast, to me. i say this as someone who doesn't wear or enjoy many florals, and is just beginning to accept rose into their collection). after an hour, the sandalwood dominates and the scent leans more woody. this blend is dry, warm, golden, and wears a little perfumey on me.

decant rested 1 day the introduction to this scent is spot on, "A melancholy scent, somber, smoky, and dark, but with a memory of a brighter time, a more innocent time." alot going on here and there's a little bit of everything, but the sweet oud, (sweet) lavender, and cashmeran musk are most prominent on me. i can definitely pick out the tobacco, black tea, oakmoss, and carnation, but the black leather is MIA (however, i'm used to wearing more leather forward scents). the smokiness note made me pause, but this isn't charred smoke (like in Liz). it's more of a hazy, sexy whisper that adds character, which i think contributes to that somber, melancholic edge. this would be a going out scent for me, and if i smelled this ON someone, they would have my attention... like, hello there. slightly perfumey, musky, medium sweetness. strong throw.

tested from a decant, rested 1 day on application, the sandalwood and bergamot hit loudest, followed by the lavender, pink rose, and vanilla bean. this sandalwood is dry and warm. i was surprised to pick out the vanilla bean so distinctly, and although it sweetens things up, this scent is far from gourmand territory. i wasn't in love at first, but the drydown really changed my mind, as that's where the marshmallow and pink rose really sing! the marshmallow here reminds me of poesie's base layering note, which fluffens things up. soft, innocent, and pillowy. lower throw, wears close to the skin.

I've been dying for a paper scent that isnt dominated by leather or go cologney, and this is it! im not a huge lavender lover so i was apprehensive upon first sniff, but this lavender isn't strongly herbal and is actually kinda sweet. now that my bottle has had a chance to age, the paper note is getting much stronger and is becoming the dominant note 😍😍😍 i do think the lavender makes it somewhat perfumey, but not intolerably. i personally don't get any ink, and like it that way. MORE PPR PLS YANA is soft and comforting. its my favorite sleep scent thus far, and im stoked to have found a back up.

more apple-y than anticipated as this trio lists "apple peel," but im not mad about it! the apple brings a delightful fresh and crisp sweetness to the vetiver and patch, which are both very gentle and gorgeous. I didn't get dirt from those two notes, but i would've welcomed it. I absolutely love the vetiver in this. good throw but does not stick around long. ill probably make an EDP out of this.

regular alice was a sleeper hit for me, so I'm wearing **queen alice** to bed tonight. right away there's that familiar, pretty carnation note, and I smell some complementary florals which i assume are the posies. the light, pretty notes are ruined by what I'm guessing is the *hint* of inky treacle??? (a dark, syrupy type of molasses?). it makes the blend smell kinda off, and adds this spoiled note that doesn't belong. thankfully it wears off a little and I'm able to enjoy the sweet, fruitiness from the cider and wooly wine. kinda pretty on the drydown, but that treacle messes with things.

seconding bear prince! I especially like applying it after a shower/before bed for max snugs. I'm not a huge fan of rose, but BB'd the 2020 version since snow and fur are two of my favorite notes. the rose isn't heavy or old fashioned, it's dewy and fresh💧 i also loved the small brown cat and would die for a fur SN to layer with 😍

this started off with a lovely spicy sandalwood, but went powdery on me. it actually reminds me of chanel powder foundation that my mom used to use. i can see how others consider this cozy, but i can't escape the image it evokes. i had a similar experience to vetchvesper- this scent reminds me of older homes with the creaky, unpolished, hardwood floors, old cabinetry, and antique hanging chandeliers. dusty and musky. this is like walking behind a powdered, perfumed, poised lady in one of those houses.

a strong tobacco at first that mellows out with a smooth back drop of rice milk. im *in love* with rice milk and wish it were stronger here, but im glad it made an appearance. i dont get any frankincense, but im totally okay with that. this scent is elegant, feminine, and just makes me feel so luxurbrioussss. so glad i held onto my bottle 🥰

loved this when it was wet, as it was mostly "dirt" and patch, with a little bit of sweet from the fig. really loving the dirt element to this, which i suspect are the "mushroom caps" and oakmoss notes. grave pig would've been a bottle buy if it stayed in the wet phase. as it dries, the fig takes over, and it just becomes too forwardly "feminine" for me (i prefer to blur those lines, and sometimes feel uncomfortable smelling "pretty"). HOWEVER, this scent really allows you to enjoy the fig without it being too overwhelming or cloying (for me, eden was this way, and i suspected the honey). death pig is really lovely and i like it. very wearable, and imo, "office appropriate." as it's dryin, i'm sniffin, and i'm likin it.. i'll need to bury this in more dirt before buying a bottle.

i was hesitant to write this reivew but wanted to get something down because so little has been said. i've skin tested this a couple times now, and i still don't know how to feel about it. wet: spicy, moss fougere with musk. the nagarmotha is yelling at me, and i don't like it. dry: i prefer it much more in this phase. the musk is strong and balancing, and it really makes this blend enjoyable for me. the nagarmotha has settled down *alot* and i'm getting to enjoy the other woody notes i love (patch, moss) verdict: i like this when dry, but it isn't a bottle for me.... i prefer it over st. lois; and it's definitely an interesting one to test and analyze. this imp should definitely go to someone who will love it more than i.

yuuuuuuuuuuusssssssss, this is such great news! I hope those crumbling pages come out too. can't wait to read your review @niffler

bumpity bump! i've yet to find a delicious book smell that isn't too heavy on the leather or the sweet. recently tried library ghost from poesie and liked it; but i'm not too keen on that marshmallow note and wished the polished wood/books was stronger. really looking forward to trying bookcase package from the latest weenie release

wet: opium, violet, and incense smoke. i'm actually liking this more than i had anticipated, but i wasn't sure what to expect, as i'm not too familiar with violet, oilbanum, or plum. i'm getting a little bit of that spicy vetiver. there is no cacao in sight. i can definitely see the japanese incense smoke comparison. drying: the vetiver has disappeared, and the violet is getting louder. verdict: too much heady florals for me (i don't think volet and i are the best of friends), but it's an interesting scent to smell and would be lovely on someone else.

i'll have to admit i was a skeptical reading so many before me mention the coconut. i don't like the sun tan lotion coconut, and most coconut scents have always smelled somewhat artificial and cloying to me. if you feel the same way, i think you should give so below a chance before writing her off. wet: very, very sweet. just on the edge of OH GOD NO sweet, but please remember i tend to be sensitive about these things . i'm loving this warm amber and i'm fine with the patch being an afterthought, since i've already got a ton of it and are seeking more variety. there's something adding a complexity here that i don't recognize, which must be the copal and cardamom, as those are notes i have the least experience with. i wish i could turn up the volume on those two, because i'd love to know more.. drying: so below becoming less sweet, allowing the other notes to come forth and shine. i'm getting more resins, which i freaking LOVE. the coconut is dark, husky, and compliments the musk perfectly. it *is* noticeably coconut, but it's not typical, obvious, or screaming at you coconut. this is starting to remind me of Kabe Ni Mimi Ga Aru, Shoki Ni Me Ga Aru, but i prefer this (kabe was beautiful, but there was something too nutty? about it for me. i'm not sure if that was the vanilla husk, but there's a similarity here, and i'm suspecting it might be the copal or husks). HM scents are becoming a regular hit for me, and i understand why this is part of the collection, with it's sexy, broody allure. no doubt i'm going to keep my bottle, and i know this will age beautifully.

i love this one, and are contemplating a bottle. i know i'll probably reach for this often, and i'd like to have a larger reserve to include sniffies in swaps. everyone needs to try this! leather lovers especially. wet: BLACK LEATHER, the kind that reminds me of the black rider. very musky, powerful, and typically masculine. fighter is something i'd wear out into the field for work (sometimes i supervise macho contractors, and have to remind myself to keep my wits about me, being their woman boss). i'm definitely getting that steel, because the first image summoned in my mind was a turkish warrior on horseback, sword held high and glimmering in the sun. the musk is smooth, sweaty, and animalistic, but clean. this would be sexy as hell on any gender, if worn with confidence. dry: the black leather isn't as blatant anymore, but it's still in the crowd, glaring at you, reminding you not to cross it.. or else. this isn't a morpher, but that's fine by me. strong throw at first, but not for long. son, it becomes vaguely cologney. this reminds me of walking into the the men's macy's when leather jackets are in season. i death matched it between iago, and definitely prefer fighter. i feel iago is new leather/chemical/astringent; and fighter is more natural and wearable. verdict: one bottle please

so i decided to try st. lois one more time before she was off to the swaps, but i must confess i've completely changed my mind about her. this scent really set off my neuroticism bc i have to know why this smells appealing? i even sketched a diagram of my arm to keep track of scents i was death matchin (and was also trying to stay busy, cause elections). note: this imp was not decanted, but part of a HM collection release in 2019. on wet: this immediately reminded me of coiled serpent because it has a "yogic" feel to it: dry, spicy, cleansing, but this is more flowery. i'm wondering where the extra spice is coming from, perhaps that bay rum??? patch isn't usually this spicy on me, and i can't think of any other note doing this. there is a sweet floral element which i suspect to be the tobacco, florida water, and olive blossom. i'm not sure what bay rum smells like, so i can't really speak to what it's doing here. drying: okay, this is getting sweeter and the florals are starting to amplify. it's losing it's yogic-ness!!! i liked it more in the wet phase. it's a floral, herbal, spicy, and a bit perfumey/cologney. this kind of reminds me of a chinese herbal store.

pretty much just repeating what others have said- illustrated woman is surprisingly fruity, feminine, and sweet. there's more pine and patch when wet, but it's not pronounced at all, even when dry. that pine/patch is really holding back that honey and tobacco, which could've easily veered too sweet. i get the *tiniest* bit of smoke, but i'm REALLY trying to look for it, and i could easily be imagining it after reading the notes. very wearable and flirty. i'd love to find some soft pine to layer on top of this. still liked it enough to pick up a bottle

this turned out better than i thought, but judging from the description alone i wasn't sure what to expect. at first it was all flowery, lilac-y, musk going a little aquatic??? on the drydown it's still mostly musk and moss, with a little bit of dusty, faint herbs (is this hay?). i find my impression of how earthy vs. herby vs. musky this is changes each time i test it. sometimes its more green, sometimes its just straight musk with a little bit of spice. doesn't have alot of throw, but lasts on the skin. after a while, i get a strong green note that reminded me of woman at the edge of the woods. not my favorite, but a nice surprise.

a very pretty, feminine scent. not cloying or overly sweet, but definitely sweet. very soapy smelling, i believe that would be the ambergris? i hardly get any sandalwood, but the vanilla and oakmoss come through during the drydown. the salt is ever present. overall, i like it. very summer appropriate. if this were a color, it would be light yellow with a flash of gold.

was this a one time thing? cause i love it!! edit: will replace this post with a review soon

pleasantly surprised by this one. it's not my usual style and i normally don't do fruity, but the white musk and oakmoss prevent it from becoming too sweet. Fae is just pretty, peachy, and fresh. i've been enjoying it in my locket during these heat waves.

sweet and a lil spicy, with a gnarly patch that reminded me of #occupywallstreet. i'd say this is 30% apricot and 70% patch. the apricot is super juicy and innocent, but the patch is broody and menacing.. kind of a strange mix. i much prefer fae and don't see myself wearing this often, but i'm glad to have tried it. I love peach and apricot scents!