artisjok

I’m looking forward to wearing Mountain Temple in the cold. I like it during the hot months, yet I want that mountain chill in the air!

I also really enjoy Frostbitten Alice, and will probably wear it more after I get over my Weenie craze.
Pink Snowballs is also a really pretty snow floral. I ration my decant. 
 

FB Dorian makes Dorian work on my skin much better than the original (doesn’t disappear!), so I’m grateful for its existence! 

Harvest Moon 2020 is a rich woods & herb-infused wine scent to me. 

I was very drawn to the 2019 HM due to reviews (didn’t get the opportunity to try). When I realized 2020 had the same note list, I jumped to grab a second-hand bottle. 
 

The wine gives a delicious mouth-watering waft, and the lingum aloes (agarwood/oudh) are providing a supple woodsy bade. I can’t differentiate the different plants, but they really give this Moon with a witchy earthen vibe. I can imagine a village all sharing wine infused with herbs for prosperity, and celebrating all day and into the night. The mulling spices warm the brew and make the herbs more palatable.

 In the drydown, a tendril if smoke comes out and the wine is less potent. I don’t detect pumpkin or fruit apart from wine. 
 

I’m happy to have this bottle! It’s definitely perfect for Autumn, and I can see myself wearing it on cool night gatherings.
A sensual scent, speaking to pleasure in intimate moments, as well as joyous group celebration. Connection and gratitude. 

Musky, dirty, earthy and a crack of pepper, Woman as Dragon comes crawling from her cave with burning eyes, roaring her sacred song at the sky. The woods pull their way forward, providing strong foundation, and clove saunters around the corner with a gleam in its eye. 
 

She’s a drier, woods-centered scent, cloaked in red musk and prickly spices making it extra sexy. I was hoping for more of the resins to shine/gleam/ooze forward, yet this experience is gorgeous in its own dark feminine way. 
 

The resins might come forth more in time (and I’m thinking may be the last notes standing, I’ll come update, if so). I don’t differentiate the ginger from the other spices until later in the wear, it’s a bit sweeter than clove or pepper. Also, I hope to experience that blood-caked tar! 
 

I can feel this being a great power scent, when some tough shit needs to be taken care of, or some dominating sexy time is about to take place.   
 

Update: the last note standing is vetiver... no surprise to me. Hah! 

I’m so thankful for the tester of Laura Belle I got in a swap. I can’t tell you how many times I considered buying or swapping for a bottle of this....

On my skin, it starts off as an oddly disjointed leather and lavender. I assumed it would come together in the drydown. Unfortunately, what I got in the drydown was a thick, nauseating powder.  

All the notes sound like absolute win, such a bummer. 
It’s a reminder that decants are often life(wallet)savers. 

I love Hoggle, and I often forget. I’m the wet phase it’s strongly sweet buttery sticky syrupy pumpkin that dominates. Quickly enough, leather and tobacco come swooping in like Robin Hood to bring balance back to the world, and it’s simply delicious. The dust and the woods emerge when there’s more breathing space for them, drying out the pumpkin effect even more. While the foodiness sticks around, everything remains pretty balanced on my skin. I feel rugged and snuggly, like I’m sipping a hot Autumn drink and watching an old western. 

I need to slather this more often, especially with the weather shifting cooler! Hurray for a badass Weenie-centric GC! 

23 minutes ago, Reina Blood said:

I'm looking for a smoky, rich coconut, maybe with a touch of amber and/or floral. If you met me in the flesh, you'd think I was the last person on earth who you'd expect to wear coconut well, and it was a real surprise for me. But I accidentally learned a few years back (in Bath & Body Works, of all places) that my skin chemistry and coconut just love each other, as long as the blend isn't too tropical or (non-coconut) fruity, and I've been on the hunt for the perfect blend ever since. I'm getting a little overwhelmed by reading reviews; I see a lot of coconut-containing blends about which reviewers complain that the coconut is either very subtle or absent. Help!

The GC blends that come to mind are Elegba and Goblin and Black Pearl, all lovely, depending how the other notes play with your skin. 
 

I also thought of some LE scents~ So Below, The Pleasure of Aristocratic Women, and Body, Remember, if you can find them for sale on the forum.

There were also at least three coconut  duets/trios released this year (right?), and you might be able to find some of those on the forum. 

Editing to add Death Adder to the list. It sounds such a yummy sexy coconut, I’m wanting it now...  

A Joyful Scene’s note list had me drooling and scrambling to find any amount in the forum. The decant I scored did not smell as my mind had expected (a woodsy amber vanilla..).
What I smell is a sticky, resinous root beer! 

I was adverse to it in the beginning, as I wanted a totally different experience. Yet, now that my decant is almost gone, I’m really sad that this treat of a smell might not be sitting on my counter. 
 

Would purchase again. 

My experience of this little number is quite like Lucchesa’s. Primarily a slightly sweet black tea with a touch of the other two earthy notes making it an outdoor fall experience.
The only difference, perhaps, is that the dead leaves howled their way into my senses upon application, then lessened their throw and meekly went to sit next to tobacco leaf in the background. 

I have a bottle of Dead Leaves and Chai, and I can now pick out the tea note with this to compare with, rather than just creamy spices. 
 

It is pretty low throw, yet yummy to huff, and now I’m drinking some hot tea and dreaming of changing leaves and cooling breezes. 

I feel like Dee is such an amazing unisex scent, though not spicy, it’s woodsy and comfortingly sexy. Antikythera Mechanism comes to mind, as my brothers like the tobacco scents I shared with them...

As above, I think an RPG decant bundle sounds like a fantastic start, especially with the sweet new label choices. 

Midnight Carnival looked so complex and gorgeous, yet the reviews made me a bit wary of blind bottling. A lovely lady shared a decant from her bottle recently.

It’s definitely not as obviously complex as I expected, yet beautiful. It’s like wearing a velvet curtain, thick and lush, yet a little worn and scented by years of resinous (mostly myrrh) smoke. Seamless and dark, Midnight Carnival hints at sensuality and mystery, and gives no secrets away. 
 

Though I probably won’t look for a bottle anytime soon, as I have a good amount of dark resinous scents, I wouldn’t have been disappointed if I did blind bottle. 

You might be into Death Cap, it’s got an earthy sweetness to it, yet not sugary at all. 
 

I was always reluctant to take a chance on Kvothe, despite my general love of leather. I’m grateful to have a tester from a swap! 
This a cozy scent of soft brown leather and dust. I could see a touch of vanilla, as well. I don’t really get any spices, though it could be aging. 
It’s making me feel quite mellow, and I’m about to snuggle up with a blanket. 

I have 2015 on one arm and 2012 on the other...

’12 has a definite cherry note going on, sweet musky cherry. Never loses the fruit, though the sugar comes more to the forefront in the drydown. 

’15 is pretty much straight up musk. Not particularly sweet or boozy, it’s soft and cozy. 
 

Both are skin-close once dry, ‘12 amps a bit more. Of the two, I enjoy ‘12 more since it is more complex. I don’t often want to smell fruity, though. 
Not convinced I should keep either.
 

I’ve been hankering for a good strong red musk scent, and have been finding it to be an elusive note to my nose. Almost always soft and smooth, not often a sexy vampy vibe that I crave. 

 

4 minutes ago, VetchVesper said:

Yes, I really like Cancer 2017 when I feel dreamy.  It's not airy, but fresh watery, and always seems a little mystical.  What are your airy, dreamy blends?

Ah, water is probably the right element for dreams, honestly. Gotta get me something specifically watery! 
I find lavender to be airy, but I think it depends on the other notes. White Sage SN and Cool It are two I reach for often for that breezy and clear feeling.
The TAL Song of Selune actually works really well for the dream work, though when I first got it I didn’t see how roses would connect. Now I visualize myself walking through rows and rows of rose bushes into my dream space. Lacus Solitudinis is both airy and earth to me, though fades real quick on me. 
 

My top bedtime favs are resinous lavenders, though. I Am Tired of Tears and Laughter and Winter Stars ‘19 are so comforting to my soul. 

We Wear the Mask is a thick coating of longing, a heavy dose of feminine dread. The florals drape a purple velvet blanket, dusty with age, over me as I lay on a pile of brittle kindling. A sigh escapes as the will to struggle slowly releases in weary ecstasy. A thin thread of smoke curls around my head as a pale hand strokes my hair in placating comfort. Anxiety drips away into the Earth and eyes close to the world. 

The first wear, this scent was so good, and I jumped to find another decant. Last night when I wore it, I found myself almost choked by the strength and an amped perfumey note.
Apply with care and attention, this perfume is like a deceptively soft-hearted woman, with a hidden rage. 
 

Here’s the poem, in case it comes down from the Lab’s site one day~

11 minutes ago, VetchVesper said:

I actually find dirt notes very grounding and good for sleep. (Nah. Definitely no pun intended there.  ) Since my previous post, I've also found I really enjoy Deep in Earth (which smells to me like a rainsoaked garden) and The Rat Speakers.  The green notes in Nephlim are also soothing. Baba Yaga and the Chicken Legged Hut are also strangely comforting, though I don't often sleep in them. 

 

I love the idea of wearing an earthy scent for grounding, yet also on the opposite spectrum an airy scent for lifting into the dream space, when I want to do that kind of work. 
Scent and intention and feeling are so beautifully woven together. 

I’ve been reaching for cozy/smoky scents recently.
Tonight, I think it’s gonna be We Wear the Mask before I snuggle in, as I’m feeling somewhat somber, also grumpy, maybe even just blah about my day. My hormones must be pulling me around. 

2 minutes ago, Seajewel said:

 

No cola either!! Maybe it's just me.. but that's what I get. like a much less sweet Death Cap (but i've only tried death cap a couple times so don't put too much stock in that comparison). 

ooooohh now I’m intrigued! 

Yes, I’m getting that eggy note that bread pudding or French toast has, especially in the wet phase. Then there’s a cinnamon-heavy middle phase that isn’t too exciting for me... not a chewy churro, sadly. The drydown veers back to pastry, and I’m glad. In fact, I do think it’s pretty close to funnel cake in the end. 
 

Still wondering if I want the bottle or not. Lovely for foodies! 

A musky cranberry, which I thought was grape initially. A bit of lily lurks I’m behind the tart berry and a sprinkle of spice adds some dimension. My decant looks pretty aged, and it fades down to a skin-close, fruity lily scent in no time. Kinda pretty, though not really my style of smell. 

Wistful is such a perfect term for Reflections Under Bereavement. A delicate, powdery rose and just a hint of resins. I can pick out the taffeta when I focus.
When it was first released, I missed my chance to buy a bottle, and regretted it. Now that I have a bottle, I probably should have just found myself a decant. 
It’s a really pretty feminine scent, yet much softer than I expected with opoponax. I gravitate towards scents with strong throw, so this was a disappointment to me. It also is a bit too powdery on my skin.
Lovely lovely in the bottle, and probably on someone else’s skin.

I have been loving my bottle of New Beginnings. The scent is lemony, yes, yet not as crazy strong as I expected. After the wet phase, I get some sweetness and a resinous glow. It’s a warm, supportive sun beam sort of scent. 

The effect is a similar sunny supportive feel. I’ve been slathering when I’m about to engage in some interaction/activity that would usually drain me, to shift my approach/reaction. I feel it’s been encouraging me to be more interactive and easy-going, instead of tense or bored. 

59 minutes ago, murqmaid said:

@artisjok
re Eden:  (fig leaf, fig fruit, honeyed almond milk, toasted coconut and sandalwood)

Could you describe what fig smells like, exactly? How fruity vs. floral? I've read it's creamy, earthy, and although I've eaten figs I just can't imagine what a bottled version would smell like. It seems to be in alot of BPAL scents too. 

re Halfling:  (Porridge, kukui nuts, and pastry crumbs.) 
sounds interesting...... I would love to get my hands on this AND dana o' shee....... *evil eyebrow raises*

re Dee:  (soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods)
omg I LOVE THIS SMELL. It's a very soft parchment/light leather musk on me, and the rosewood takes a backseat (yay). I don't smell the cologne, but I'm not sure if my skin ate it, or if I'm interpreting it as something else? 🤔 I also find it disappears quickly, I wish it was more concentrated 
           (side question: is this synonymous with having "low throw"? i'm still familiarizing myself with the PLETHORA of olfactory vocab in this community) 

Surprisingly the fig in Eden was very faint on me,  I was really hoping for more. I’m not sure how to describe it... like if wood was a fruit... sometimes it can be kind of bitter.

lol I got mostly creamy almond & coconut. 
 

Yes, sounds like your skin likes to eat Dee, and you get low throw/sillage.
 

@murqmaid I’m testing Eden right now, and it’s pretty creamy almondy, too. Though a little sweet. Not overwhelming. 
I bet Defututa is lovely for sleepy time. Morocco, too.
Maybe Halfling? Monk sounds like it would sooth me, though not creamy.
Even Bliss or Velvet, if you like the chocolate from Wulric. 
 

OH! I bet you would adore Dee! It’s so comforting to me, and I think it fits in with the notes you enjoy. That’s my main suggestion.

 When I first ordered Harlow’s Lace last year, I was still unsure about my relationship with tobacco, so I ended up destashing it. 
This year, I’ve officially fallen in love with tobacco, so I wanted to revisit this scent. 
 

I agree with the Lush Honey I Washed the Kids comparison. I have a shampoo bar and it smells incredibly similar. The labdanum lifts the thick musky honey with some effervescence. And when I say thick, I sure mean it. The scent was all-pervasive in my nose the entire day, an anomaly on my skin! Unfortunately, I think it being so strong made me queasy. I don’t think I can rock this one, even though I’ve matured in my perfume tastes. 

Wednesday’s Child is a soft muted clove scent, dusty and slightly sweetened. I can recognize a hint of cherry lurking amongst the other earthy notes. There is a bit of the patchouli woodsiness coming through, nothing funky.
I’m guessing the cacao what bring the dusty effect. Maybe the dried rose petals are doing something to that effect, as well, though I don’t pick them out. 
Something about the scent enchants me to keep sniffing my slathered wrists, yet, at the same time, it bores me almost to tears. Okay, I’m exaggerating. You understand, right? 
It’s a cozy sort of scent, fitting for moping about on an overcast day, full of woe.

I’ve been wanting to try Mr. Morse’s Seances for a while, so  when I got the chance to swap for a partial bottle... 

In the bottle I smell the rum musk, primarily. On the skin, it’s definitely the heavy hitter note, yet I get a surprising amount of absinthe! As it dries down, the two parts get low and cozy together, allowing a bit of smoky wood to peek through. 

It reminds me of Butterscotch and Black Beetles, yet works way better on my skin, thankfully. 

It’s a yummy scent, and I think best for cooler days. So glad to finally try it!