artisjok

I got a package! Weeeee

On my end, I fear I will be working up to the deadline, thanks to some sick weeks and recovery weeks 🥲, but still feeling good about it. 

Okay, so the general waft of this is the red musk and white amber, musky plushness with a shimmery, silvery lining, but when I sniff my wrists I get a dirtied up, postcoital scent that has me verging on blushing. I’m thinking the musk + honey + saffron may be giving this effect. Uff! 

I was so excited about this scent, both for the notes and the theme, but I’m not sure it’s to my taste at the moment….😅 Holding onto it in hopes the myrrh & frankincense come forward more, and perhaps I’ll actually come to crave the more lusty perspective of the sacred joining. Will have to position myself near my Red King to see its effect on him, as well.  ehehehee

On 4/29/2026 at 9:53 PM, AcidBath_224 said:

Do you practice tarot readings, and do you have a favorite card? For any personal symbolism or even just aesthetic-wise. 

I practice off and on throughout the years, sometimes daily, sometimes just for bigger moments/transitions.  

I love The Star card (as an Aquarius & its meaning), The Empress fits my motherly role atm and is my card via numerology, I also like the The Hermit & The High Priestess as two archetypes I’m often pursuing to embody more. Honestly, I think whatever card one is drawn to create from would be awesome as a kind of in the moment reading to meditate on!  

Question: I might see about sneaking some anime or fairytale references into my piece, something I’ve imagined myself doing at some point in my creative works.
Do you have any of either that you adore? 
 

My answer: I love the Baba Yaga tales & retellings dearly. I need to reread it, but East of the Sun, West of the Moon is really cool, & I like reading indigenous trickster myths. I feel like I’m always making up Frog Prince tales at bedtime for the babes. Lol

I’m all over the place with anime, but in particular for displaying art, I’m into Jujutsu Kaisen, Naruto, One Piece, FMA, The Apothecary Diaries.

Yesterday we put glow-in-the-dark stars all over the house, marveling in the magic of their soft light when darkness fell. So, when I spied this bottle in the morning, I knew it was the one! White petals boldly shine, tropical with a slightly bitter edge (tobacco flower?). There is a fattiness & slight sweetness from the coconut that does not overwhelm, just bolsters the effect of the blooms. Some perfumey white amber radiates out of the bouquet and makes the starry connection, while vanilla brings the mood of a gauzy veil lowered over coquettish eyes.  
 

A lover’s scent, a nighttime plea to the Goddess of Summer scent, a sit by the pool and feel pretty scent. 

13 hours ago, Lucchesa said:

Still need your questionnaire! Unless you want me to use an old one? 

Ack, I forgot it in my notes, I’ll go make sure I answered everything and send it off~ 

Oop! Just remembered to come over here and join.  Thanks Lucchesa for carrying the art torch! 

Art swap!  Art swap! 

As much as I was intrigued by this scent, and the reviews, I have to admit I dislike leather and grass together. They’re favorites apart, but together make my stomach churn. Meh. I can’t get past their sharpness to enjoy any more. This is probably assisted by the soap, another note I can often get behind. 
 

Echoing the dry and unsweet sentiments, it’s mostly tonka and vanilla on me, woven together over plain wooden board. 
Sad I didn’t get the incense vibe from the agarwood, but it is interesting to be able to pick out the vanilla in comparison to other reviews. 
Feels very monochrome. Maybe a good scent to wear if you need something unassuming or gentle for work. Or if you’re just wanting something very simple to get cozy with. Palate cleanser? 
Not sure if I want to keep this, but I may try a layering experiment to see how that works. 
 

I was wary of Brocken at first, but it’s surprising approachable. Very reminiscent of Cito (honey and life everlasting, frankincense and cinnamon, bourbon vanilla, red ginger and red musk). They must have the same honey note. There’s skin musk, and it plus the honey dominate. Skin musk is a bit of a bully on me, so it continues to grow in prominence.
The smoke is actually very gentle, fading back after the initial wet stage. So, if that worried you, take heart!  
I can see this being a bit too much for me in summer weather (it’s high 70’s right now 🫠 wtf February in Texas), but very cozy for winter, and perfectly appropriate for Autumn festivities.

I don’t think it’s a scent I’d reach for, because of the skin musk, but I’m glad to have tried it. 
 

Tart rosehip clinging to the skirts of orchid and poppies. Orris slinks around the outskirts creating a plush atmosphere for them to reign. Flecks of resins litter the space, only a suggestion of rituals that have been held there. The seduction of wealth and comfort only slightly marred by the teeth that gleam from the languorous smiles of the florals. 

I’m crying. It must have the same bronzing in common with Bronze Dildo, as @LavenderCoffee perceived, because I’m getting a healthy dose of cumin. It’s like someone reviewing BD said, I can tell there’s gorgeous notes and totally up my alley, but they are overlaid with cumin that reminds me too much of sweat or cooking or both 🥲  

With a little wear, it does tone down, but doesn’t go away totally.  
 

It also brings to mind The Shimmering Mirror, which I have a bottle of, so maybe I’m alright with the miss this time. 

A clear channel for communication and reflection reach into a splendent garden of stillness. Ambrosial flowers float in pristine pools, nestled underneath trees weeping frankincense tears, and oh so gentle  sandalwood incense curls across the space. The lotus blossoms’ mouths are wide and resonant, emitting fragrant hymnals of devotion to the timeless divinity that pulses in every speck of creation. One emerges completely renewed. 
 

On Prayer is, understandably, very similar to Venus Caelestis (Blue lotus absolute, grey amber, white myrrh, frankincense, and sugared lemon peel.), without the sugared lemon, and some extra texture from the white sandalwood. The blue lotus has some of the bubble gummy feel to it, and the frankincense is bright. I should probably compare them to see if I should keep both of the bottles. 

Sooooo cozy 🫠 I’m getting all three notes just swirling around me in luxurious wafts. The cinders are strongest when I sniff my wrists, the fur has the widest throw, and the wood just cheerfully lends itself as a resting spot for both to lean upon. Feels expensive, and simultaneously like the most supportive hug. 
I knew this had potential, but did not expect to fall this much in love so fast! Purrring~

I feel like I hit the jackpot with this Day When Old Friends Meet. I’m getting primarily a floaty vanilla over a chewy bready confection, like bread pudding, or denser, and supporting all that is the myrrh smoke, which I adore! I think there was a bit of fig early on, but it got too cozy and submerged into the pudding. The spices are subtle, and were heavier on application.
A really lovely blend for the winter. 

Glad I took a gamble on this bottle, and hope I can wear it to greet old friends sooner than later! 

I know I tried this before now, but when someone asked to swap, I thought I’d give it another try (and my son loves cherry scents!). 
Thank goodness for second chances! While it’s clearly cherry and incense, something about the waft, the sugar?, makes it smell like the best pie I could ritually conjure. 
A witchy confection, comforting in the extreme. My boy will have to share with Momma. 

Seconding the “smells like the painting looks.” The earthy notes and fruits all have a muted feel, yet maintain a sense of intrigue in their depth and complexity. There’s a definite warmth, both from the spice and just the overall composition of notes.
The sun going down, the final hour working a market stall, just gradually tidying, but in no hurry yet, mind full with the interactions of the day. Looking forward to entwining into a lover’s arms. 

It is heartening, and I’m really just having a delightful experience over here. 

I almost didn’t do a full wear of Bear Moon, since the little test was all honey on me, but that would have been a shame. This is one cozy experience!
I’m also getting primarily musk and honey with touches of berry, which fades out in the wear, and it’s just hitting the spot on this cold, drizzly day. I think the wood is there supporting, but not super evident. I did want more leaves, and maybe sometime I’ll try layering with another scent for that. 

The recent Yule release has the 100 Acre Woods collection, and I’ve also been reading Winnie the Pooh stories with my children recently. This scent could easily bee (lol) Pooh’s, a snuggly sticky experience in a warm tree home, surrounded by good friends and memories. 

I was unsure if Qui Aime Bien would work for me after reading the reviews of floral soapiness. It is a rather cleean, sharp floral brightness to start with, haughty florals that look appealing, but have a punishing bite in their sap. The drydown is completely different. A warm pollen, musky and smooth. A very yellow perfume.
I think it’ll embodies the name “who loves well chastises well,” both sides aptly represented. I love wearing it to bed, my favorites to bundle down with- clean and cozy! 

I’ve been curious about Two Turtle Doves for a while, so I’m glad to have the chance to snag a decant. I’m getting primarily the musks & opoponax, which is dark, syrupy and rawwwrr.
In the beginning there’s a weirdness that throws me off…  I think the white pepper or tuberose is discordant. But whatever it is burns off after a few awkward minutes. I’m imaging I get the lavender, and in my imagination I like it (ahaha)! 
I can’t pick out the ambergris, despite my wishes, but maybe it’s just meshed in so smoothly. You know, now I’m sensing pepper more accurately, and it’s not bothering at this later stage. 
 

I think I would layer another lavender-heavy on top amp up the sleepy time vibe in this overtly sensual blend, making a sort of weighted blanket scent experience. 
 

CW Bridal Shop is a delicate pretty fluffy of white lace and, yes, pale leather. Kinda powdery after a while. The rose sachet and cherrywood seep through and add an slightly fruity stain on the delicate white garments. 
 

I was so thrilled to finally get this bottle, but I think it’s a bit too close to Millarca for me to justify having both…. 

Uff, this is a strong Medival Fool, no joke. 
The milk makes it gourmand, and there is a scorched note that brings in bitterness. The musk is heavy and smooshed in it are the fruits and rose petals. It’s breaking some walls, all right, and I’m both intrigued by it and kinda despise it.
Perfume-y gourmand-y powerhouse. 

Ahhh this one is so pretty at first, a gentle milkiness over a bright tea & floral, but gradually, a black pepper note creeps up, uninvited. Funny how White Rabbit was mentioned, which does have a pepper note, and it does not bother me. This reminds me of Arcana Wildcraft’s cashmere note that shows up as pepper on me, as well. I donno, sometimes pepper works, but I dislike when it’s not listed and it takes over the anticipated prettiness of a scent. 
I’ll have to try it another day just to make sure hormones aren’t the cause. Blargh. 

Witch-Birds is a violet that I’ve found I can enjoy. Perhaps it’s the plum addition? Two purples is better than one. Perhaps it’s the sandalwood, blurring the lines between floral and wood. Or maybe it’s the mallow, making the violet’s sweetness (which isn’t often to my liking) into a treat of a different tune. 
The darker aspects lurk beneath, yet share no secrets. 
 

I’ve been in a sandalwood mood, so I think its prominence is really what draws me to this scent, but I admire the balance of all the notes. Pretty birds!