artisjok

In the bottle, Silence of the Woods is intense, and in a really intimidating way.... as I’m putting it on, I smell DIRT and... pickles. *cough* Thankfully, right away the pickle smell dissipates and I get smooth earthy woods and subtle sweet berry note that I’m actually enjoying a lot. The sweetness is a perfect touch. The pitch is great with the melange of leafy, husky notes. There’s a bit of powder to this, yet not in a bad way. Overall, it’s a dark and calm forest scent, silence is thick, yet softly embracing. It feel a lot like Hallow-e’en 1914, very atmospheric, a bit scary at the beginning, and then utterly gorgeous with a touch of sweet fruit.

Not sure what year... The most prominent notes are Egyptian amber and Haitian vetiver. Yum. I get carnation’s spice in the wet phase, yet it is gradually eclipsed by the two former notes. A musk adds to the warmth of the scent, yet it does not seem like black musk... much gentler, very behind-the-scenes. I’m surprised to be missing patch & pom. The ginger... well, I want to say I detect it, yet I also feel like I could be contriving my recognition... In any case, I do really like the grassy note of vetiver and the resinous warm amber so much, I’m not regretful of the missing notes. I’m actually thinking that if the other year is different, I’ll hunt down a bottle. I bet any ration of the notes will be pleasurable!

I don’t know if I’m allowed to recommend another company on this thread... here I go....... Solstice Scents’ During the Rain is an amazing petrichor scent! I’m sure the lab has made something with a petrichor note...

O Love and Time and Sin, a befitting name for such a heavy, sexy blend. This conjures an image of a darkened room, smoky with incense. The bed is in shambles, sheets soaked in sweat, with rose petals withered, crushed, and smeared all around. The atmosphere is weighty with sorrow, as if a realization of pleasure’s impermanence has set in and the responsibilities of life crowd the mind. Deeply sexy, yet deeply severe. Saturnian indeed. The scent becomes slightly powdery in the late drydown, perhaps this is the tone of one’s acceptance of fate.

Smooth and perfume-y and woodsy. This Palace is covered in rich velvet curtains, intricate patterned, and dark ancient wooden walls. Jasmine grows outside all the windows and they open to let the perfumed breeze waft through the rooms. I accidentally poured more than intended on my hand, and had to slather liberally. Instead of a jasmine-crazed scent overload, the scent stayed so smooth and just strong enough. Almost like it was meant to be slathered and flaunted. The Indonesian oudh is indeed amazing. So smooth and deep, it’s magical with the sweet floral of the jasmine. Definitely a palace-worthy scent, and probably my favorite jasmine blend I’ve smelled.

2008 version I was hoping for some strong caramelized sugar like some people have been getting. I like that dark sweetness, like maple syrup and brown sugar. In this blend I get a pretty equal blend of fruity and sugary. It does smell a little like there’s a smidge if tobacco in the beginning. I’m not usually drawn to fruits in my perfume, yet this is pleasant. Apple is the note that I recognize most, and is one of my more favored fruit scents. The sugar is darker, caramelized for sure. It’s definitely got the toned down tone that comes with aging, yet it’s compelling and comforting enough to keep me sniffing. After a while the fruit fades away and a soft warm sweetness is left. Cozy. I wasn’t so interested in this scent before, yet now that I’ve tried one year, I’d be up to try other versions.

I have a bottle of Silkybat, and I love it. I had to try this variation! It’s mostly the sugary patch of Silky, with a light dusting of pumpkin spice to Autumn-ize the original scent a bit. Pretty! I honestly wouldn’t mind a bit more spice, yet can’t complain because I do love it as it is. It doesn’t have too much throw and seems to fade quickly, leaving a slightly sweet & comforting, yet unrecognizable whiff of scent. Hopefully, some aging will amp the throw & wear length. I only got a decant this time. I’d gladly add more to my collection, but should probably use what I have of my already large HG collection

A Lady Tall and White is Snow White’s austere aunt. She is kind, yet believes in leaving the least amount of imprint on the world, so she is distant. First impression is chilly. Resolve to be separate from the world doesn’t give in to the common please-like-me approach. Then, you notice how everyone she daily interacts with gets a smile. How it seems like they are cheered in her wake. She is always alone. No lunch partners, no shopping buddy, yet she draws people in with smooth grace, and leaves them with equal poise. A longing to see an authentic human moment, emotion, anything come from her sparks within. You begin to obsessively seek to encounter her on the street. Her daily morning cafe is now your haunt. The lady never slips. Charmingly objective and always on time. One night you follow her home, totally out of your rational mind. At dark, you slowly climb the house’s lattice work to peer in a lot window. Looking in, your eyes scan the room quickly, then shock sets in. She sits in a chair, looking straight into your eyes. The next moment is a blur as your foot slips and you fall clumsily, hitting head and losing consciousness. Blearily coming back to your body, there are paramedics checking your vitals, asking you questions about your senses. You look up and see the lady stands near you looking down at you angelically. No sign of suspicion or challenge or anything in those passive eyes. No questioning why you are unconscious in her lawn. You quake inside. You go home and hide under a blanket the rest of the night and stay home for the next month. So, I actually love this scent. A blast of sharp coolness that gradually fades into a warm sweet powdery blanket. It lingers a long time with low throw, though low is my skin’s norm. I’m finding it relaxing as I get prepared for bed. I’m also now really considering grabbing a bottle of the Mountain Temple, in hopes it’s a similar experience, with a more spiritual aura rather than sweetened.

Yule Cat starts out strong as abrasive green trees. I totally think pine, yet it’s gotta be the birch and rowan. There’s a soft fluffy musk backing the sharp woods. I actually like the camphor effect with the cozy musk. The moss adds an almost powdery effect, as I’ve noticed happens to me in other blends. After the first hour, the woods meld into the musk and become much more subtle. Luckily, this is where the vetiver shows up, I really love the grassy sparkle it gives scents. This is no exception to its magical effect, and it saves the musk from becoming too one dimensional or dissolving into powder. I really like Yule Cat a lot! I swapped for it out of curiosity, yet was a bit apprehensive about it working. So glad I took the chance. I already pared it with Rocky Mountain Goats hg. Perfect to add to my winter scents~

Unwrapped was one of my first bath oil loves and still holds an important place in my bath arsenal. Perfumey from the agarwood and resinous from the frankincense and myrrh. Cardamom’s dry spice lurks in the background, and the lotus floats above it all, delicate and sweet. I wear this when I want to exude High Priestess energy. A Queen of my realm and the bridge between dimensions. Unquestionable faith. Confident and capable. Eyes drawn upwards as light pours from the Heavens. Mouth opens and commands attention. This scent wants to be worn in sacred meetings and in preparation to enter altered consciousness. I love it before bed, meditating on dreams to come. Unwrapped, yet emerged in the veils between worlds.

ROSE! With interesting green tinge from the rue & vetiver. The cashmere incense is present, yet subdued. It is contributing to a smooth, almost powdery, warmth that grows over time, intertwining between the petals. Not very spiced on my skin either, just a touch shows up late in the drydown. All about that lush red rose~🌹Velvety, slightly cozy. The herbal green edge lasts a good while. Rose might be laying on freshly crushed grass under the stars. A blanket covers her to keep the chill off, scented with the innumerable offerings of incense back at her home. The stars sing their secret song and the earth hums with lush reception.

Wax Cylinders is bright and creamy, like a candle in a gleaming brass holder, next to a chilly window. The term “dapper” comes to mind. The mahogany’s polish and the gold is a gorgeous, almost citrusy, cologne. The beeswax elevates it more and brings a lovely warmth. I bought a half bottle primarily for the leather + beeswax, knowing mahogany rarely has much of an appearance for me and loving leather. I get very little leather though, which is disappointing for my expectations, yet the experience is quite lovely! I feel like I’ll wear this scent when I want to feel polished myself. It does seem to fade quickly. Hope age will increase the wear time...

Interestingly enough, I have the same bottle as Doomsday, and no peach! Skin chemistry is a crazy thing.... Dragon Squad starts out a little perfumey, definitely resinous, and becomes more slinky and sensual as I wear it. I get the amber, the myrrh and I’m guessing the tonka (not too familiar with tonka, yet). The cocoa is present and dry, not making this a chocolate blend, just adding some complexity. There’s a little vanilla hinting through, too. Can’t tell if I’m getting much frakincense. Definitely related to Bast, I’ll have to pull out my decant and compare sometime. It’s even got this sandy, dry sensation to it... Sexy, indeed! Close to the skin. Takes me to warm summer nights and secret meetings under stars.

Definitely a red musk blend, I’m also picking up on the patchouli, but not much else. I can see how he amber is contributing. I find it odd that the other notes are completely abscent, yet I got a similar experience with aged Mme. Moriarty, just musk and patch, so maybe it’s just what happens with time. Smooth. Not very stand-out for me, though I probably would have drooled all over this fresh.

Knave of Hearts starts out very buttery pastry with a hint of berry. The Rose is presents as a note that slowly draws the scent out of foodiness. Unidentifiable for a while, then revealing herself to be the Queen note, ruling over all. At some point, after I had taken my hand away from nose and gotten distracted, I check again. The scent smells so close to rose + tobacco scents I’ve tried- Encampment of Shepherds & Lycan Lace- like exactly. So strange! I’m actually diggin’ this. Those scents were slightly repulsive to me at first, yet, after settling and more frequent exposure, they’ve become compelling and enjoyable. Hard to say if I will want to wear this or not... surprising shift, though!

Crunchy gorgeous leaves, one of my favorite scents from the lab. A creaminess emerges and an almost orange tinge, that I’m now thinking is clove. I can imagine a black tea note in the drydown. It is sweet and smooth. The leaves take a background role and I’m feeling so cozy. I feared there here would be an overwhelming spice 💥, yet this spice is so gentle. I feel the scent will deepen and show more layers with age, and am pleased I jumped for a blind bottle.

The Empty House starts off strong. Buttery pumpkin with a pine pitch wrapper. I agree with a candle comparison, a good one for scenting the home like a cozy holiday. Luckily, the longer the scent dries down, the smoother. Resinous woods snake their way around my wrists and a tendril of smoke beckons my nose to come closer. A hint of the gourmand lingers to watch the sultry show. The Empty House sure knows how to draw a crowd. I feared this was too strong and too holiday for me, yet after the first half hour the magic began. The oud really amps the sensual feel. The woodsmoke is indeed gentle, only a transparent gauze.

I got Mad Maud’s 2019 bottle, and have a similar experience with most others~ salty sweet skin musk, a tinge of herb & floral (that goes a little soapy for a bit, then the soap goes away), and a small wisp of incense. I was hoping for a heavier scent, one with some bonfire heft and brisk fir. I also see the comparison to beeswax, it seems a little waxy in the drydown. Not really my jam, but I can see it being lovely for someone who doesn’t want their scent to stand out too much. Intimate. I bet wearing this while dancing around a fire would smell sexy! Not sure if I want to age it or not....

Strong black leather dries down to a slightly sweetened leather. I’m thinking the wildflowers are the sweetness I’m picking up on. While I am a leather lover, I really want those other notes to come come through! I’ll let it rest a while and give it another spin then... Update: I’m definitely getting the desert plants sage & chaparral now, especially in the dry down. It’s a dry, silver-edged green scent over leather that softens with wear. A grey gunpowder smoke drifts lightly by as the coolness of night settles into the parched ground. Surprisingly, it feels incredibly “me”.

Sweet blackberry with a whiff of green edge. Maybe a touch powdery after a while. Definitely purple. Not something I would wear often, yet perfect to pair with the couple berry scents I have. Pretty & a must-have for berry lovers!

Creamy and dry, regal and comforting, Eve spans great distances and remains intimately near. The white sandalwood is the strongest on me, with soft myrrh and hints of rose and dusty green shades. When I wear Eve, I feel like I could cozy up to my partner next to a fire, or meet an influential leader at a banquet, or be strolling alone at dusk along a quiet path. From what I remember of Morocco, it’s definitely similar, yet there’s more earthiness and complexity. Not one of my top favorites, yet it’s appropriate for many occasions and draws to mind ancestral feelings and mystical lands that I’m pleased to have a bottle. If I went on a backpacking adventure over a great distance or time period, this is the scent I would take with me.

I got a decant or Hellboy beard oil in a swap, and have been using it when my hair ends are feeling especially crisp. Surprisingly effective and not greasy at all. Scent-wise, I was also surprised. The bourbon must be making a sweetness, almost fruity, that I totally did not expect to get. A warm golden tobacco scent, dipped in bourbon syrup, and laced with smoke and ash. I’d probably be okay with a heavier scent, but I’m sure that on a beard, it’s perfect by being a bit lighter. Pairs well with a lot of my Autumn cozy scents.

Hallow-e’en (2017 version) starts out rough on me. A mix of sharp dead leaves and green-yet-rotting leaves sprinkled with dirt to my nose. It lessens it’s effect maybe 10 min later to make way for honeyed fig. And it’s so gorgeous and unique when they all combine. I am glad the honey and fig come out to sweeten and smooth the jarring leaf combo on my skin. I like it more with every wear and it last longer than most scents on me. Puts me in a mood. Welcome October. Today, I layered it with Mouse Circus, and it’s like sauntering down a cool leaf-strewn lane, rummaging through a bag of treats. Atmospheric yumminess.

I inherited torischroeder9’s 2012 bottle~ This is thick romance. Darkly powdery, floral, slightly sweet.. the musk is dominating on me. It makes me think of of clandestine meetings in the park between a high class woman and her lover. Steamy nights and soft words. The brighter note of tea doesn’t show, nor do I detect the clove, yet I didn’t apply a full amount this test. At this point, the black musk makes it too powdery for me to fully enjoy. I still need to do a real full wear to make sure I’m not missing out on the other notes. I think the brighter tea and frankincense would lighten the experience and make it more my style. Plus, a little zing from clove would be quite welcome in such heavy love vibes.

My Tiger is a sweet stunner. Imagine a yin yang sphere, composed of lavender, not sharp in the slightest, and patchouli, so smooth never funky. Now, wrap that sphere in a coating of thick cozy amber, glowing like a coal with its warmth. Then, to top off the delicacy, roll the ball in bright crunchy sugar crystals. There you have it. A sleep blend to cuddle you softly. To remind you that everything is going to be alright. To satisfy that late night sweet tooth I love My Tiger. My little ones have been working on their growling and prowling skills lately, and it makes me so happy to have a blend that comes from another mother with a fierce little. It’s a blend that feels acceptable for a young one to wear, as well as a great wind-down scent for anyone who loves some sweetness.