artisjok

I Wish I Were Your Mirror is such an interesting juxtaposition! 
Dry and spicy entwined with watery coolness... and it’s such a comforting combination. 
The cassiacardamom is strongest in the wet phase, backed by the lily water and I’m guessing papyrus. The sand and resins come and smooth over the spices, and the result is so creamy, and warm cool, like the horchata mentioned above. 
I don’t know much about southernwood, yet, but I’m on board with it! 
I’d love a full bottle some day.

I have a partial decant of Pediophobia I never reviewed, and is about to travel to a new home. So, I suppose it’s now or never...
 

Powdery, delicately sweetened vanilla, with an undercurrent of some high-end perfumey sharpness. A poisonous edge to something seemingly innocent. Deadly knowing and heart-clenching loveliness. 

Perfect for the theme! 

St. Louis #1 is a lovely earthy blend, dancing with delicate florals, and a touch of sweetness. It’s not as citrusy as I expected with the Florida Water, though I may get a touch of it if I focus. I’m definitely getting the sense of the crumbling marble, to my delight.
I feel like I’m sitting out on some mossy stone steps, sniffing the air as a wind blows through blooming olive trees and the scent of a cigar from somewhere nearby and the warmth of bay rum running through my veins. 
Very atmospheric and comforting.

When I read the reviews, I was wondering if it would turn out better than I originally expected. I like it a lot!  Thanks to the reviewers above for piquing my interest! 

British Invasion is much softer than I expected, though quite refined.
Primarily suede and a freshness from the aftershave with a touch of musk underneath. I’m thinking bergamot likes to vanish for me, because rarely notice it, even in blends that feature it. I can sense the sandalwood when I concentrate. Surprising that the cedar is MIA... 

Yes, a Beatle could have worn this, and been vibing so chill.
I’m wondering if it will get stronger with age... I like it enough, and will hold onto the decant. If it increase in strength, I might search out a bottle!

 A leather scent for the summer months. 

Venus Verticordia is bright green dandelions and a slight honey drizzle at first slather. I love its sunny demeanor. After some time, the dandelion lowers its roar and a soft delicate bunch of flowers tumbles in and nuzzles up to the honey. 
There is a hazy quality to this scent. It brings me visions of laying in a meadow, my sight narrowed to a blue, clouded sky and the minuscule world amongst the plant stems. Sun shining through the vertical pathways, filtered by green, and yellow pollen dancing along the beams.

I love the opening and wish it lasted so sharp and green longer, though the softer florals in the drydown are quite lovely and more romantic, appropriate for a Venus tribute. 

In Splendoribus Sanctorum is primarily a soft blend of frankincense and powdery amber on me. I’m sad that the bergamot is MIA, because I think a bit of added depth would make it a keeper for me.
As is, it’s not something I would reach for over my other frank and/or amber scents.
On someone else, it’s probably a heavenly, glowing experience!  

Florals, white and plush, delicate and dewy, are gently pierced by a strawberry, pale red and not-quite-ripe. 
 

This hovers on the edge of a scent I would not be interested in wearing, and a scent that is so intriguing and perfect for a mood that I must have it. It’s a delicious muddled ground for me. 

Piper at the Gates is a very brown scent on me, patchouli and musk and amber with a touch of orange at the edges. In the drydown, I sense the mallow and maybe a touch of the flowers.

It’s a cozy scent.  I get something that goes to plastic in the wet phase that bothers me, and luckily it goes away fairly quickly. 
I’m not in love with this, mostly because it’s a close skin scent, and I like some throw. 

The Sounding of Midnight sounds like a pretty almost spiritual blend, despite the description.

I’m getting a powdery mossy myrrh held closely by a light musk. The “clench” and “suffocating” terms definitely come through, yet the cognac “shock” doesn’t show up on me. There is a slight bitterness I’m attributing to the myrrh. The sweetness opens up more in the drydown and the scent lessens it’s chokehold a bit. I agree with describing it as murky.
Overall, this scent it mainly a backbone of myrrh with the moss and musk floating about, all powdery, like a forest fog that invades all senses and draws an unwary traveler into a boggy death with fairy whispers. 

I grabbed a decant of this in a swap, and I’m wavering on wether it’s a scent I can pull off or not... 

Dark! Vetiver and patchouli and oudh. Smooth with some smoke some funk, yet smooth thick woods. 
I think I’m going to slather on my man, as he’s the darker one of our pair, also the masculine  

Gravedigger is a grungy tobacco wonder. The tobacco is strongest on me, entwined in leather and soil and a touch of spice from the bay rum, I’m thinking. The patchouli must be roughing it up some more, yet not obvious to me now. 

The drydown brings some of the vanilla smoothness to the mix and softens the whole masculine vibe. 
I feel like this is really great for the concept. I like it well enough, though I have been enjoying smoother and sweeter tobaccos more recently. 

So glad I finally snagged this decant, and will be content with this amount. 

Dragonsplaining is a very dry woodsy scent. Masculine. Cedar and a tame, yet strong, patchouli dance around each other, with an almost sweetness coming through in the drydown and a light curl of smoke. 
It’s not something I really feel I’d reach for, though it’s not funky or too smoky. 

I’m in the same boat as deceitfuldescender with The Golden Hour.

It’s obviously a gorgeous scent, thick amber and vanilla, yet way too perfumey for my tastes. The drydown tones it down some, yet not enough. When I wear it, I just feel like I’m trying to put on a persona that does not mesh with my natural state. 

I’d like to smell this on someone else one day... haha 

Ginny is black pepper and smoke and I think the amber, the combo reminding me of a leather scent. A touch of the tobacco flower peeks out. Something about it is going a bit plastic, and, on one wrist, also reminding me of those lunch meats that are edged in pepper... ermmm.. not what I expected to be thinking of at all! 
Sorry, Ginny. Looks like you aren’t the gal for me. 

Oh, and I got the cinnamon note after late drydown.
 

I’ve been wanting a violet blend that worked for me, and I know the Lab can make any note work with their magic. I had tried a little of FUSR before I swapped for a bottle, and remember it being alright, but didn’t impress me terribly. The other notes still had me curious for another try..... 

Tart violet and gritty patch & resins. One test I applied lightly, and the violet melded back into the darkness and it was a smooth woodsy scent. The second wear, I slathered more, and the violet would not quit.  I’m just not a fan of violet... *sigh*

I Sit and I Sew and TAL Peace are the most enjoyable blends with the flower that I have tried. May be the combo with lavender works best. 
Glad to have tried it! 

I’m also getting the mint ice cream vibe from Green Lovebird! It’s chilly, thick, and creamy. The mint flees quickly from me (normal) and the spun sugar comes floating in, lightening the heavy creamy vibe and taking center stage. I think I can detect a touch of pistachio after a while...
 

It’s a cute scent. I hope I can make the mint last longer on my skin, or I might try the scent locket tactic. 

La Femme de Satan looks like my ideal sexy time scent. Unfortunately, it’s such a skin-close scent, I can barely pick out any notes other than red musk! *sigh*
I’m going to have to roll the oil well before applying next time, in hopes that doing so will bring out more complexity & strength. 

Glad to finally have a decant to test! I’ve been lusting after this scent for a while... 

Sadly, it’s not my style. I get a slightly fruity candy. There is some carnation while wet, but it dissipates quickly. The late drydown is a little sweet yet musty musk. 

Not a huge fan of fruit candy scents, and I felt a little queasy while the amount of slathering I did.... 

A fresh green figgy scent, wrapped in silk, with wooden undercurrents and a touch of vanilla. 
It’s definitely hitting the spot for me. I’ve been craving good fig scents, and this is a lovely refined addition to my atmosphere sprays.
Very much fits with the Shunga line, too. I can see this being the scent of an elegant courtesan’s room. The windows thrown open to let in the breeze, and the neighbor fig tree singing its sweet fruity song to her beauty as she reclines on silken sheets.

Stunning fig compilation! 
A perfume oil version would have me on my knees. 

Looks like Autumn Overlooked My Knitting is a wooly one, too! 
Haven’t tried it personally, yet looks delish.

Superior Vena Cava starts off smelling like red musk and a powdery chypre. Powder might be ambergris... Then, tuberous starts blooming and just dominates the whole conversation. A bold, yet cushioned (musk) tuberose, sweetened by subtle beeswax. 
 

2 hours ago, feyofthefellwood said:

I've been on a bit of a fuzzy/cozy/wool scent kick recently and thought I'd see if people have any recommendations in that vein. I love Rendezvous Behind the Rice Straws and also like Cozy Pumpkin Sweater and Cafe Au Lait and a Wool Blanket. I'm really interested in Two Sheep and Two Goats, as well. Are there any I'm overlooking? 

Unicorn and Ram is a favorite cozy of mine. 

I’m getting the tea and cookies vibe from Government Officials, though it is a much more profoundly sensual ritual than a typical tea and cookies. Spiced and warm and clothing dropping to the floor in elegant comfort.
Black tea is primary, tangled up in tonka-clove goodness.  The currant doesn’t jump out at me, though I can sense it. Like looking at currant-studded cookies, and smelling their chewy yumminess before actually biting. Same with vetiver. Very low-key for Vetiver! 
A delish interpretation of a black tea scent~

Three Rounds is primarily gardenia on me, brightened by the lemon flower (and probably frankincense) and musk-touched. 
I wish the frankincense was a lot stronger, and maybe getting some of that hellfire would be interesting, but it’s a enough pretty floral. Gardenia-lovers should give it a try.
I’m also missing the infernal & diabolical parts, but maybe it’s got a sly way on enticing one to the dark side...

Red Amber oudh

then

oudh red amber

into 

Oudh (red amber?)

This is a lovely woodsy oudh, a tiny bit musty or something slightly funk (not poo), and I think it’s the amber that keeps it in line.

On me, the amber is rich and strong to begin, then it melds toe-to-toe with oudh, and finally oudh remains with an assumption of amber. 

It’s kind of perfumey, warm, and sensual.
I’m so enjoying it! If I didn’t already have a really great oudh SN, I’d hunt a bottle down.