skyturtles

Straight out of the lab frottle I get peppercorn, grapefruit, and froot loops. Wet on my skin, the fruity sweetness fades away into a more booze-centric scent, still heavy on the citrus which is now more obviously of the orange family than the grapefruit. Yup, I smell like a cocktail in the corner of a dark yet clean and classy basement speakeasy. I don't much like oranges so I'll be passing this along, but it's neat to try a thing I usually wouldn't buy! Some else mentioned a spa day and I can see the resemblance.

I bought this a gift for a friend but hey I'm a BPAL addict so I've got to test it out first, right? 😅 Out of the bottle I smell pear and honeysuckle. Winning so far! On my skin wet it nearly immediately becomes more complex and fancy. The plum and cherry blossoms shine and sing. It's too crisp for myself personally, and I'm not a huge fan of florals to begin with. There is a slight chemical-y sharpness. The "amber cream" prevents it from just smelling like a mall-purchased body spray. I think my friend is gonna like this. 😁

Woah, there's a lot going on here! Out of the bottle I smell a honeyed dessert of some sort, with hints of the milk, the vanilla, and the cardamom. I smell yummy On my skin it becomes weaponized as it becomes sharper and sweeter. It's a bit too much for me! Others have mentioned bourbon as a note and I definitely see where they are coming from. As I read through the notes list, I feel as though I can put my finger on nearly everything listed, which is pretty neat. (Except maybe oak bark? I'm not getting a lot of earthiness.) Cedar quite hit or miss with me, and I'm beginning to think that perhaps vetiver and I do not especially go well together... Foodie scents are definitely growing on me however! I'm looking forward to trying more. My partner doesn't especially like this on me either, so, it was fun, but, onward!

Out of the lab frimp, I'm immediately reminded of Vixen. On my skin, however, the similarity fades away. The dryness that I typically associate with sandalwood is cancelled out with a sweetness that I cannot define. I've sampled quite a few scents featuring red musk and amber - Le Lethe, Scherezade, the Coiled Serpent, etc. I think what sets this one apart is the rosewood and sandalwood, enveloping the other notes in a woodiness that is neither earthy nor holidayesque. This is a complex, addicting scent that is prevented from being too "mature"/fancy-old-lady by that hint of sweetness that I mentioned. Still don't know where it's coming from, but the longer it dries down, the sweeter it gets. I'm a fan! I want my partner to wear it more...

Initial thought: MUSK. I'm brought down to the basement magic/head shop downtown in the old market - you know the sort, where the old school goths sell bottles of hot sauce next to dusty dragon figurines. I can pick up the nagarmotha, which I wasn't previously familiar with but think I can identify it after reading about it. It reminds me of incense in an Indian grocer. The champa definitely contributes to that sentiment. As it dries down, a wee bit of sweetness comes out to play, and I swear there's a bit of fruitiness as well, so there's the plum honey. Apparently opponax is also known as sweet myrrh, so I'm unsure on how that differs from "velvet myrrh." Unfortunately, 1) this scent doesn't seem to last very long, and 2) my partner doesn't like it. Maybe this will be my secret alone time comfort. I'm a fan of the complexity.

Out of the imp I get an earthy, sharp greenness, but with complexity. On my skin, a muskiness is immediately apparent that reminds me of red musk (which is not listed on the note list). It also reminds me of soap/powder. If I try reeeal hard I can make out the cypress. Yes, there is a hint of florals, which I'm not a fan of in general, and it just kind of reminds my of old ladies or Chanel or something. I'm going to have to pass with Hades, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. Unfortunately my partner is not a fan as well, either on themself or myself, so off to someone else it will go!

Out of the bottle I get the syrupy sweetness that I was hoping for. On my skin, the buttercream is smooth. As it dries, I'm reminded of... is that what I think it is?? I get my partner to sniff as well, and uninfluenced they confirm: PUMPKIN SPICE BOOZE. It must be the combination of earthy spices and spirits. It's not as coffee-like or cream-like (or butter-like?) as I was hoping for (I was actually hoping to gift this, and probably still will, but to someone different...) 🤔 After about 20 minutes I'm getting a little more coffee out of this. My partner says it smells like dirt. Sigh. Maybe I should have gone with the Spiced Rum Buttercream! Maybe I'll still end up getting it as well. 😈

Warning: I think I've just found my new favorite scent. I've been wearing it for 4 days now and want nothing else. I love honey, and I love orange blossom. This much I know. I didn't know I liked vanilla until this scent - the hint of smokiness brings out that touch of earthiness that keeps all the sweetness from becoming syrupy. I typically despise anything coconut scented, so luckily it's not a strong note here. I'm usually hit or miss with both amber and tobacco (I like them, but they are so easily overwhelming!); when paired with the sweeter notes, boy oh boy is everything rounded out and complex and lovely and perfect. I can't stop smelling myself. I'm in love. I will probably be purchasing a bottle of this for keepsies and taking notes from Estamets above me (funnily enough, the very same person I purchased my decant from! 😁)

Out of the imp, this reminded me of Vixen for a brief moment, which got me excited. Unfortunately, this sentiment did not last... Wet and dry on my skin, all I get is a bunch of sandalwood with a bit of dry patchouli. Not my style to smell just like incense without any complexity. I think I'll pass this on as a freebie to someone else. I'm not very familiar with chakras so I will refrain from that discussion.

Wet: Vial of Holy Water might be too clean (watery?) for me. I was really hoping the Palo Santo would come through more, as I'm a fan of it as a standalone. Unfortunately, something in this reminds me of working in the embalming room. The cedar makes it dry and the lemon gives it a hint of soapiness that makes me sad as well. I can see why someone would like this, though. As for me, I'm learning I like things a little muskier or resinous. As it dries, the Palo Santo comes through more (yay!) and the halo begins to shine. It's still too sharp / ozonic of a scent for me, and might be irritating my nose ever so slightly, but I think I might like it if my partner wears it?

Finally, I'm getting around to reviewing one of the scents that I wear the most. I grab this for work most days - it makes me feel fancy. I wasn't a huge fan at first, but it has definitely grown on me. I think part of that is because it is so complex, and I often feel like I get different notes out of it on different days. I previously wasn't very familiar with red musk, but now that I've tried a few scents with red musk as a headliner, I can pinpoint it better. Hemlock I am not so good at discerning yet. Tobacco is hit or miss with me, and luckily I don't associate with this scent with that note. There's sweetness, there's smokiness, there's herbalness, there's muskiness... and like I mentioned before, somehow that combination equals sophistication and flies just fine in my conservative workplace. I don't usually comment on this but the color of the oil? Lusciously dark. It lasts a loooong time and I am here for that.

Straight outta the imp, I'm thinking BUTTERSCOTCH. Thankfully that goes away quickly, replaced by sweet granola. As it dries down, it morphs into oatmeal. It's the apple and the cinnamon for sure, melting like butter into the earthy tones. It doesn't take terribly long for that sweetness to go away, but I still kinda smell like a baked good you'd find in a hobbit hole on a winter holiday. I think I'll be giving this one to my partner, but it's still a lot of fun!

A sniff from the lab bottle comes off has green and woodsy and herb-y. On my skin, that pine rosin begins to emerge, and as it dries down the leather comes out to play. As it continues to dry, the soapiness that I thought I was imagining gets stronger and I totally understand what others have said regarding powderiness. There is just the smallest hint of sweetness that pulls it all together. I purchased this as a gift for my significant other and unfortunately the gender on the bottle is incorrect, and I think that has to do with why they don't care for it all that much... It is a simple scent to be sure, but clean and wearable in a conservative work environment. I'm not a big fan of leather but I can see how this scent would be great with layering.

The first time I tested Azathoth all I got was the dryness and cedar, and as it dried, brimstone and smoke. As much as I joke about it, I'm not too keen on a trip to hell when it comes to what it smells like. I tried it out again a few days later, and got that initial tease of fruitiness that apparently is the tangerine, as others have noted. Unfortunately, it seems to go away rather quickly, letting the incense of cedar and smoke dominate. There is a bit of complexity, however, which may be the saffron or vertiver or black amber, I'm not sure. It's quite masculine, so I'm going to pass this along to the more masculine half of my partnership. I think I'll enjoy smelling it on them rather than myself.

I've never had the apparent pleasure of the original Perversion, but I'm not sure it would be up my alley due to its leather and tobacco notes. Though I am a big fan of Pumpkin Spice themed scents in general, PS Perversion just isn't doing it for me. Like others have said, this must be more Perversion than PS. It's like... PS vape juice. Giving it to my partner since they like it more than I do. I'm going to stick with me Please Scream Inside Your Pumpkin Patch for now.

THIS. This is the bomb. Very heavy on the pumpkin spice, yes. Great throw and long lasting. The muskiness gives it that little depth that keeps it from being reminiscent of, I dunno, Bath & Body Works or something. (Disclaimer: I'd probably be a fan of that too.) I'm a big fan of all things pumpkin spice, and if you, my friend, are not, Pumpkin Pie Musk is not for you. If anyone has this and doesn't want it, let's talk, just sayin'. 😁

Ever since I lost my beloved Pumpkin Pie Musk (where are you, oh my love?), I have been trying a handful of different Pumpkin Spice scents. I wouldn't have considered myself a fan of "sweet" scents, but here I am getting intimate with this funnel cake. There's enough ~spices~ to give it the name, but enough pulp to round it out with some bitterness. Though it's not the song of my heart known as Pumpkin Pie Musk, I'm quite happy with it, but unfortunately my partner is not. I'm going to use up this whole imp though, you better bet.

Frankincense is usually overpowering and strong with a wide throw, but that is not its case in this limited edition, Yule 2019 scent. Although that Catholic church staple is the main event here, it is soft enough for everyday wear. It doesn't last forever and a day, so I find myself sticking the imp in my pocket and reapplying. There is a crisp citrus intertwined with the sacred smokiness that prevents you from smelling like an altar server, perhaps orange or mikan. *looks at the description* OH, it's the BERGAMOT. That makes sense. This scent will personally remind me of cremation, and Seattle.

Ever since discovering "Pumpkin Pie Musk," I have this need try everything with Pumpkin Spice in it. Though PS Booze doesn't quite match up to the level of love I have for PS Musk, it's a lot of fun and I enjoy wearing it in the evenings. The PS notes are stronger than the boozey notes, thankfully. The bourbon and orange give it a halloween-styled manhattan vibe. I don't pick up much cinnamon in particular but I am okay with that. Recommended for lovers of all things PS that want a dash of bitters sweet sophistication but not so much that it takes the wild autumn out of it. (Maybe don't try this if you're hungover though.) I'd say it has a pretty decent throw, and average longevity.

I'm not a huge expert on what bile should smell like? From the decant I immediately get the lime and tobacco and rum. I put it on and I'm feeling 50% butch, 50% femme. On my skin the metallic-ness comes out with some leather (but thankfully not too much leather because honestly new car smell and leather shops make me so nauseous). As it dries I'm getting more of the biker, expensive butch feel, even though the honey begins to come through. It started so sharp and now it's so sweet! It's kind of crazy how I can still pick out all of the notes. It's fun and interesting, and a bit more masculine than I usually go for.

As my second OLLA purchase (Blood Popsicle being my first), I thought I'd give florals a try, especially since it's summertime, and well, "June." Well, I tried. I've ended up gifting this to my sister-in-law whose birthday just so happens to be June 23rd. I've learned a valuable lesson, I believe... florals are maybe just not for me. I dunno what "moonflower" is in particular, but it smells like a white bloom. I like ~looking~ at flowers, don't get me wrong... I just don't especially want to smell like one.

The Dodo is immediately syrupy sweet to my nose. There are berries galore, maybe I can tease out that mango, and of course, sugar. On my skin it mellows out after not too long, revealing the red musk. There are also some other spices that my noob nose cannot yet identify. I received this as a factory frimp. I'm not too big of a fan of sweet fruity scents, so this one just isn't quite for me.

Zombi smells like a cyberpunk girl in high school. Juvenile and rebellious and a bit of candy with your brightly colored pleather. I don't get the roses so much, but I could see where the earthiness and moss com from. I would not categorize this as floral or even green. There is a spunk in there that is lively and youthful - but is it enough to raise the undead? I appreciated the frimp but I don't think I would purchase a full bottle.

Straight from the frimp, I am immediately reminded of Le Lethe, due to red musk being a pillar in both scents. I think I'm finding that red musk has a bit of an old, luxurious lady feel to it. You know the sort, who wears an excessive number of gold rings. On my skin, Scherezade calms down a bit as the earthier spices begin to shine. It's still quite sharp to my nose, almost irritatingly so, and I don't think I would feel confident wearing this at work nor at play.

Shanghai is very clean, almost soapy. I could see it doing well as a shower gel. I've used both honeysuckle and lemon verbena dish soap in the past year, so that me be an influencing factor. This isn't something I would normally pick out for myself, but I received it as a frimp about 7 months ago. I'm normally a huge fan of lemon verbena, but perhaps I'm learning that I prefer it as a standalone. I could see other people choosing this as a Spring or maybe Summer scent. It doesn't last terribly long once on my wrists, in my opinion.