Claire-of-the-Valley
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Everything posted by Claire-of-the-Valley
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When I first got this, I did not like it. It's now had a few weeks to settle in and it's improved. When I first tried this it was really sharp, pungent, not very sweet, and incredibly long lasting. Just way too powerful all around. It is still a strong scent, but it's settled into something earthier and sweeter, which has helped a lot. The sandalwood is finally coming out mixed primarily with vetiver, I think? There is something that in the backdrop that might be oak. I'm not familiar with tonka bean, so I'm not sure if I'm smelling that or not. As the scent settles in I start to get a little beeswax. It eventually shifts into something a little too sweet but still earthy. As a scent, I feel like it really encapsulates the color brown and I can see how it's representative of the owl that inspired it. It still doesn't start out as the most mellow of scents but it's definitely eased up from where it's started and it's grown on me because of that.
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In the bottle this is just super sharp lavender. When I put it on it remains as basically pure lavender, which makes my nose itch a bit. As it starts to dry down, the lavender backs off and a very pleasant combo begins to emerge of something mellow yet sweet, which I imagine must be the rockrose, a faint whiff of lavender, and those pale woods, which I'll admit was the actual note that drew me to this in the first place (I was a big fan of it in Lilac & Pale Woods). At this stage I definitely envision more of a sun-dappled woodland environment where there's something sweet, but unidentifiable in the distance. So, for me, the dry down of this scent is where it really shines. I'm not a big fan of how overwhelmingly "lavender" it is in the bottle or when I first put it on, but that stage doesn't last too long and it ends up blending in quite nicely with the other two notes.
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In the bottle this is a super sweet scent, almost overwhelmingly so. On me it starts out as watery blackberries with a hint of rose. Still very sweet, but with actual notes as opposed to in the bottle where it's just pure sweetness. As it dries down it gets a little more muted and the backdrop of Snow White becomes more apparent. At this stage it's basically Snow White with watery blackberries. The rose is harder to detect, but lingers in the background. It's a good scent. I had expected it to be more like a pastry, but this really isn't that at all. It brings to mind a tea party in the snow where everything is just a little frozen over.
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I can make out the backdrop of Snow White's scent here, but it's faint. The spice stands out quite a bit followed by the linen and honey. I would say there's a general "milkiness" to the scent especially at first, but I couldn't say whether it smells like boba or not. It's quite sweet at this stage. As it dries down it's the spice and linen/cleanness of the scent that linger. Not a lot of throw and not super lasting in it's first stage, but a very lovely scent.
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This is the first of BPAL's 13 scents I've ever tried and this is absolutely phenomenal. In the bottle I get pure chocolate, but we're talking rich, deep chocolate. I can see what they mean by "smoked" cacao because it's not like a candy bar at all. Definitely the same chocolate note they're using in El Dia de los Reyes. When I first put it on I still have that backdrop of chocolate, but the rice milk, mint, and what I think is the ambrette seed really come through. There's the faintest hint of lavender. While I can't detect each individual scent, I have no doubt they're giving this a fuller aroma overall. It's a sweet, earthy, slightly fresh scent. After awhile it fades into a faint whiff of something soft that's faintly identifiable as chocolate. Very glad I got a few of these. Feels like a great scent to steel one's nerves. I know each 13 is different, but I would have no complaints if this one made a return.
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Extremely lovely scent. I would describe this as creamy, cold, and floral. The lilac, wisteria, and tuberose definitely stand out most when I first put it on, but there’s a creaminess and sweetness to it that comes from the white chocolate, I suspect. There’s a certain “chill” to the scent that is definitely the mint. On dry down it becomes very soft, more centered on the lilac and cream. Absolutely perfect for Lady Amalthea.
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Wooden Recorder With Fruits, Skull, Books, And A Feather
Claire-of-the-Valley replied to Seajewel's topic in Halloweenie
Whew, this is strong! I was hoping for more of a soft, fruity scent with a backdrop of leather and wood, but the leather is really strong in this when worn. In the bottle the combination of scents is really sharp like some kind of cleaner. When worn, the combination of leather and fruit leads to a kind of overwhelming, overripe aroma. Not for me. Maybe it will improve with age. -
This is a new favorite for sure and I hope it makes a return for this year's Halloween scents. It's a soft, dusty, sweet scent. It makes me think of leaves fluttering by, sunshine on a cold day, and a whiff of pumpkin.
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Fantastic scent for anyone who likes violets! And irises. This is the perfect blend of violets and irises. It's a deep, clean, purple scent that lasts a good, long while.
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Got this as a frimp and it's just lovely. I would not describe it as feral, however, which is a good thing for me. It smells very much like a couple years' aged Harlot weirdly: smooth, clean, sweet. Smells like a lightly citrusy tart.
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It took me a second to identify what this reminds me of, but the answer is figs! It reminds me of Pacifica's Mediterranean Fig scent in particular. It's not identical, though. That scent is more earthy, while this one has a sweet, almost cake quality in the bottle followed by the figs and fruit when it's worn. Very clean smelling and smooth. I get the faintest wisp of light incense, maybe a touch of resin. A fantastic scent although I'm not sure if the gods of darkness and chaos are what I think of when I wear it. It does make me think of the Middle East and there's a touch of mystery about it, though.
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For the 2022 version Everyone raves about this scent, so when it came back in stock I got an imp to try it out. The first day I didn't like it much. Too strong. It's now been a week or so and it's definitely better, but it's still not a top favorite for me. It's not bad, but on me it smells like popcorn at first. When it dries it becomes more like dark vanilla (think a New Age shop) with a touch of popcorn and something powdery. Definitely an unusual scent, but unlikely to become a regular for me.
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I can see why this one is marked as a beloved favorite! I've avoided this one because it lists honey and so far every scent I've tried with honey has not really worked out, but it's not a bad choice here. Carnation is what comes through most strongly, I think, but it's softened by the milk backdrop. There's a general sweetness to it and it definitely captures something tea-like. I really like it! Definitely a keeper.
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In the bottle this smells almost exactly like Psionicist, which was promising because I really enjoy that scent. Interestingly, they don't list any similar notes, but there you have it. On the skin it starts out smelling like Psionicist still. Very much that blue/white musk: hazy, aquatic, refreshing. It then settles into a more subdued scent. The ambergris really comes out, which is a note I consider "okay" and there's an oceanic element, probably the kelp. Not bad. Between the two I'd probably stick with Psionicist as my preferred choice, but this is a good scent and, I would say, captures "Sea Smoke" quite well.
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This ended up a little disappointing. I was hoping for a more pine-y, woodsy/oak scent with some stone. What it really smells like is a certain sharp wildflower (possibly the common sunflower? or potent dandelion?), sage, and musk. So, it fits the description, more or less, just the emphasis ended up being on the wrong notes for me. It's long lasting, decent throw.
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This is for the 2021 edition: I was hoping this would smell a lot more like coffee than it does. In the bottle, the chocolate is the strongest scent and it's a rich, dark chocolate. Very strong. When I put it on I mostly get cinnamon and a backdrop of rich chocolate. To me it smells pretty similar to Mouse's Long Sad Pumpkin, though not as pastry-like. It absolutely has cafe vibes, but not really coffee vibes, in my opinion.
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This makes me think of ferns and herbs and a field in the middle of a rain storm. It's quite nostalgic in some ways. I can smell rained-on rosemary and basil primarily; it's very earthy. I'm not sure rain is supposed to be a note here, but something about it really brings it to mind. Other people have mentioned lavender, and I can sort of make that out as a background note. It's not as prominent as it is in in Baku, for example. Out of the Somnium scents, this is one I've actually tried before bed. I've noticed deeper rest when I wear it.
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This is overt lavender and eucalyptus with just a touch of anise and it's great. In the bottle it smells way too strong, I'll admit, but on the skin it's perfect. Lavender and eucalyptus is a combo I've liked for ages and I've always found it relaxing. The anise comes out more on the dry down. All in all, I can absolutely see how this would be good for meditation or clearing one's mind and I'll likely be using it for just that.
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Definitely very floral. I'm thinking lavender, jasmine, and verbena, perhaps? Jasmine is the strongest for me, but I tend to amplify jasmine in general, so that's not much of a surprise. In the bottle it's really sharp and not terribly pleasant. On my skin it tones down and is better, but still not my preferred scent. I haven't tried it out for sleeping yet, but I can see how it's the right notes to help with that.
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I really didn't think I'd like this scent, mostly because when I've received other imps that are supposed to be more sensual I often end up finding them kinda repulsive on me. XD I was very pleasantly surprised to find that isn't the case with this one at all. Bear in mind that the imp I received may be a few years old at this point, I'm not totally sure. Regardless, it reminds me of the Manhattan scent and I'm thinking it's that they both share white tea as a note. I really thought this scent would also list something citrusy given how it smells to me, but it looks like that isn't the case. If I had to describe the notes I'm getting, I would agree that tea is one of them, something faintly floral, and bergamot. The whole thing is very smooth and delicate. I think I like it a bit more than Manhattan, and I'd like to get a full bottle sometime if this is how it generally ages.
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Quite unusual in my opinion! It's a very fresh scent. The hay absolute and sugarcane stand out the most to me and make it quite sweet in a natural way, but I can detect the earthy backdrop as well, which gives it an odd quality. I think, looking at the description, that what makes it strange to me is that there's an aquatic note to the earthiness and aquatics can be a little hit and miss with me. Overall, I like it; it's uplifting and fresh. My sister commented that it "smells how she thinks perfume is supposed to smell or maybe like a candle," which was a different take from my own, but I quite liked it! Once I thought about it, I could absolutely see where she was coming from as well. I think it's that strong sweet/fresh note. Regardless, I think this is a great dedication to these unusual cicadas.
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Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti
Claire-of-the-Valley replied to Ina Garten Davita's topic in Good Omens
Now this is a perfume that very much conjures an image of an old, grand library, more than most other library based perfumes I've so far come across. In the bottle, this smells overwhelmingly like dust at first. Likewise, when I first put it on dust was a very powerful note, so I was a little unsure how this was going to go. XD The bottle has now aged for a few days and that first note has shifted more to dust and amber, which is a lot more palatable. It really does smell like an aged book, which is pretty neat. As it dries it becomes far more reminiscent of a beeswax candle, warm and soothing, but also aged. This aged quality contains a touch of amber still and possibly oakmoss. I can't comment on the other notes as I'm not familiar with, but there is a depth I can't quite describe, so they could very well be at play. All in all, this is a keeper for me. I really love the atmosphere it captures and the way it's aged so far over a few days. Truly a lovely scent. -
This is for the 2021 take on the scent. This is an instant winner in my book! It smells just as described: like marigolds. At first it's more of a subtle, softer take on marigolds than the way the flowers so often are in reality, but as it dries down a bit of that more intensive "sunshine" quality peeks through. It reminds me a little bit of dandelions, actually, or possibly daisies. Regardless, it's a very happy, clean scent, and quite subtle as well. I could see this one being acceptable in the workplace around sensitive noses.
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I absolutely love the concept, but I'm not sure how to describe this. On first try it was quite a bit different from what I expected. The strongest note is the musk (kind of fuzzy; this might be the sweater note), there's a certain sourness (the cream?), and the backdrop is the bitterness of tea. There is a sweet note, which I can only assume is the amber, but it's not the strongest here. This is not a morpher, it remains this way and has quite the lasting power, too. I'll admit that at first I did not like it, particularly in the bottle, but upon testing it a second time it's growing on me and it seems a touch sweeter than before and the musk a bit more like a sweater as opposed to just plain musk, which was kind of intense. I think the way it ages will dictate my ultimate opinion on this one!
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This smells very much like a ginger molasses cookie they have at a local cafe here. It's a great smell, but far more of a foodie scent than I anticipated. Similarly, it also is somewhat reminiscent of a particularly sweet pumpkin spice latte. I can pick up the typical Mouse's Long Sad Tail scent still, but the pumpkin morphs it quite a bit. Definitely a fall smell through-and-through, particularly at the cafes!