kenjari

Just wanted to revive this thread because I've recently discovered I actually like Dragon's Blood A LOT.

 

After initially trying Dragon's Milk I was turned off on dragon's blood in general because Dragon's Milk was SO sweet and syrupy on me. It was also ridiculously floral at first. After a little aging it isn't quite so floral anymore and better blended, but it is STILL far too sweet for my liking.

 

I did however try Tintagel the other day and I absolutely adore it, but dragon's blood is quite prominent in it which confused my nose. It is more of a spicy DB though with some nice dry woods thrown in and a deepness from a touch of leather and a slight sweetness from the wine. I really love it.

 

SO. I was wondering if there are any other DB scents that I should try? I'm not a fan of super florals, but I do like light and crisp ones (violet, orchid, poppy, carnation, night-blooming flowers, lotus and such). Woods are nice too, but I tend to stay away from overly HOT blends like ones with nuts (aside from almond, I LOVE almond). Fruit is good, astringent is bad (I don't like it when a blend pierces my nose). I really like dry scents as well (like hellfire). Aquatics work well on me too, as do musks and tea blends! Coconut is iffy as is rum and anything overly boozy. I can't say I love cherry. Vetiver is good as long as it isn't dominant, and I LOVE BEESWAX and vanilla and milk and creamy and foody blends. Anything sugared though has the potential to be WAY too sweet on me (my skin just amps it).

 

I don't know if that helped a lot... but there it is! I would really appreciate some help

If apple is one of the fruits that works well on you, definitely give Ladon a try. It's beautiful and works well in all seasons.

June Gloom is close wto what you describe. I would also give Black Tower a try - it's a very unusual and evocative scent that was a lot like rain on warm stone and grasses for me.

Jezirat al Tennyn was very much wet rocks for me. It's also got a warm and damp feel to it, and such an air of mystery.

La Vague is a soft, sweet summery peach. Like the scent of fresh peaches wafting in on a warm breeze. It's amazing.

Burial is my favorite piney scent. It's got a dirt element that makes it more like the pine needles carpeting the forest floor.

I just got Thanatopsis as a freebie from the lab and was pleasantly surprised by it. It smells a lot like a pine forest at night. I think it's going to be a great scent for fall and winter (especially since I have to avoid a lot of the usual winter blends because the snow/ice notes are such a disaster on me).

Kenjari, have you tried Snow Moon? I have an aversion to anything mint which eliminates most cold/snow/ice blends for me, but Snow Moon? Is abolute piney, deep forest love!

I haven't. Oddly enough, I'm fine with notes described as mint, but anything described as snow, ice, or icy smells like fetid, stagnant water on my skin. I'll have to look for Snow Moon - I love forest scents, and it would be great if I could find a scent where the snow/ice notes actually worked on me.

Thanks!

When I wear Dragon's Blood, it dries down to a slightly woodsy lilac scent on me. I don't know if other people get this effect, but if you're looking for a lilac blend, you might want to give it a try.

Burial is my favorite piney scent. It's got a dirt element that makes it more like the pine needles carpeting the forest floor.

I just got Thanatopsis as a freebie from the lab and was pleasantly surprised by it. It smells a lot like a pine forest at night. I think it's going to be a great scent for fall and winter (especially since I have to avoid a lot of the usual winter blends because the snow/ice notes are such a disaster on me).

Also, April Fool has huckleberry, which is very close to blueberry.

Delirium!

I second the recommendation for The Presence of Love, too. Although I find it less giddy than Delirium.

Envy is my favorite herbal scent. It's cool, minty, and green.

How about Lady of Shalott? It's a lovely floral aquatic with a bit of light musk and a little ginger which gives it some weight and depth.

Have you ever tried Delirium? It's rose, apples, and lemon. I think the combination works suprisingly well and has the effect of being both rich and light at the same time.

How does Dragon's Blood work on you? If it has a floral effect (it smells like lilacs on me), you might look for something that combines it with spices, musks, or resins. Dragon's Heart, Dragon's Musk, Dragon's Tears, Wrath.

Does anyone else get carnation from Mama-Ji? It lists "flowers" as a note, but doesn't get specific. Maybe it's just the floral + spice combination, but Mama-Ji reminds me of the carnation in Maiden made spicier, deeper, and, well, older is the word that comes to mind.

What scents do you find most comforting when sick? What scents suddenly become gross when you're sick?

I have a cold, and while my nose is not terribly stuffed up, my feelings of general ick change my perceptions of certain scents. I put on Gennivre yesterday because I thought a mint tea scent would be comforting. I normally love it but for some reason it made me kind of nauseous. Today I'm wearing the Lion with no problems so far.

How about Pulcinella & Teresina from the Carnaval Diabolique? It's quite woody, and, at least on me, the rose is very much in the background. It's kind of similar to The Red Queen, but a little drier and darker.

-Carol

2007 version

I got an imp of Samhain in a decant circle even though I was very unsure of it, because it has two notes that are usually not good on me: pumpkin and patchouli. I went for it because of its popularity: either I'd join its horde of adoring fans, or I'd be able to easily swap it for something I liked better.

Well, add my name to the legions of adoring fans! Samhain really is the smell of everything I love about autumn combined into one magical package. Samhain started out very, very spicy - nothing but cassia and clove. It even felt tingly on my arm. But once it dried, it became the most wonderful dark, woodsy spiced apple cider scent. Over the course of a whole day, it got warmer, smoother, and lovelier, with the pumpkin peeking out just a bit. Wow.

I've now got a bottle on the way, and I hope it returns every year.

Undertow starts out sharp, clear and minty. It's very cold and refreshing. As it dries, it takes on a smooth creaminess. I kind of like it and could see the scent really growing on me. Alas, my skin seems to be reacting badly to it - I'm experiencing a cold tingly burning sensation, like I've been in contact with ice or very cold metal for too long.

Amber is one of the best notes on me, and this scent is a particularly beautiful example. The amber is right out front, but not in an overwhelming way. I can detect the orchid, currant, and violet sidling up to the amber, giving it depth and richness. The Emathides is a very dark, warm, velvety scent. It's got weight and sweetness but it's not at all heavy or cloying. It kind of reminds me a little of Lyonesse - it's as if The Emathides is the night to Lyonesse's day.

How about a Bride to Be set?

Imps of:

Elixir II: Succor & Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo (de-stressing for the run-up to the wedding)

 

Dream Formula V: Somnus (a good night's sleep for the night before the wedding)

 

Lilium Inter Spinas & Queen of Sheba for the day itself (at least, they're what I'd choose if someone was getting married in church, as one of the popular wedding readings in the UK is from the Song of Solomon, and a popular organ piece for when the bride enters is the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba)

 

And 'All Night Long' for the honeymoon!

You could also add an imp or two of something related to the honeymoon destination.

I'm rather impressed with Clio. It is the exact smell that I associate with lovingly preserved medieval manuscripts and artifacts housed in museums and libraries: dry and dusty yet mysterious and alluring. I am amazed that anyone could capture this scent so perfectly. Unfortunately, while it is a thoroughlky fascinating scent and appealing in many ways, it's not something I personally want to wear. I like the smell, but not on me.