MonBon

First impression: Mmmmmmm DELICIOUS!! ? This is magical ✨ It's amber kissed with lemon curd (i hate this word but that's what this smells like) a gourmand lemon, like the delectable one in Boozy Lemon Bars, minus the booze. The rest of the scent is velvety vanilla with a hint of golden musk. This cat is royalty, she knows it and she is worthy of praise. I LOVE this one!!! After 20 mins the sweet lemon takes a step back and I'm left in a poof of airy, restrained mallow flower with an edge of golden vanilla musk. Throw: close to skin, longevity: ~4-5 hours, slather-worthy, FS worthy.

This is pure balsam, it's Christmas cat to my nose (tree and spice). ?Seasonal job flashbacks: affixing trees on the top of cars with twine, walking back to the megastore store that's permeated with faraway holiday spice. It doesn't make me sleepy, but this cat definitely dreams of climbing up glammed-up trees, getting sticky tree resins on it's paws. Throw: medium, Longevity~ 7hrs

Oooof, this is INTENSE! It's very pungent, smells volatile and almost alcoholic. Duke of Hell indeed, too sour-smoky-damp for my skin chem. Throw is low/med, longevity 6+

Amber slut reporting for duty, I adore this!! I just love the way this scent makes me feel sophisticated and comfortable in my own skin. It's musky, powdery, sensual but also resinous, luminous, complex. The galbanum and oakmoss add a green twinkle to what would otherwise be a puddle of gold-flecked resins. This has a similar feel to the amber in The Serpent in The Roses. Scholarly chic, LOVE. ?

? Translation: A Game of Shuttlecock (women playing with racquets, making flower crowns and bathing in lake) ? First impressions: Buttery pastels indeed! This is a scent for those who enjoy Beth's other pastel inspired works such as The Last Unicorn. Compared to TLU this one is less wet, no flashy gardenia or lettuce here, yet still delightfully dreamy. Gioco Del Volano is well-blended and pastel without being powdery or pale. This smells like a delicate wave of melting colors: creamy, subtle and sweet. The scent is not indolic, despite featuring white jasmine and Lily of The Valley. The LoTV plays really well with the pear softening the greener edges with a juiciness, in turn creating a dewy pink perfume that strongly evokes spring. Throw: medium, longevity TBD???

THIS ⬆️ I was picturing a heavier, spicy elf rebellion and instead I get what smells like vintage berry soap? No carnation spice, mega juicy berries or inherently gooey tobacco, I can see the reference to Raspberry-booze sloshed elves. It has an airy quality to it and is rather dry, despite all the weightier notes. I don't hate it, it's just definitely not matching what I was hoping for.

Review for TAL purpose: I do feel a sense of lightness after applying, I also feel a touch more creative when I wear this ritual oil. I will generally apply some prior to running errands I'm dreading or handling boring things I've been putting off. I will also dot some on my palms, rub together and deeply inhale. It doesn't help me stay on task (Block Buster does this well) however I do find it lifts the dreaded cloud of UGFHHHHHHHHHHH that can inhibit living well as a functional adult. I've also worn this as I'm getting ready to go out, botanicals fade fast and don't compete with my perfume after! While it does not have visible plant materia visible in the bottle like other TAL's do, these tend to be primarily composed of natural botanicals, absolutes and resins for prime alchemical/magickal potency. As an introvert who works a very stressful, PEOPLE-y job I do enjoy having this oil to jolt me back to life on my time off (which I deserve dammit)! ☀️ Review for smell: STRONK on the lemongrass, with mists of bergamot and tangerine in the opening. To my nose, I don't pickup a ton of floral action or incense, there is a slight whiff of mastic and some fizz. It smells vibrant, lively and sunshine-y, not the fantasy of sunlight but actual BRIGHT light at daybreak. In comparison to my other happiness blend "Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo" this smells less candy-like and sweet, more sipping an Italian spritzer in an apothecary. It's clean without being CITRUS CLEANER, however the dry down is a touch powdery for those who are bothered by that. ☀️ I'm happy I have a full bottle of this, love TAL's. Throw is medium and longevity is ~1.5 hours.

? ? This Kitty Tea Party opens with a bit of ginger spice and A LOT of fleshy rhubarb. The rhubarb and subtle apricot add tanginess to the scent, elevating the baked goods tray from a warm simplicity into a multifaceted experience. When sniffing blind for the first time, it smelled like cranberry scones to my nose! As it dries I mostly detect a saffron prominent waxiness, with a strawberry note that isn't quite as juicy or jammy as I would like. Considering the amount of spice + bready pastries listed as scent notes, it's neither a super doughy or spicy scent. The warm tea must be a decaf fruity offering, the kind with little desiccated strawberry pieces, as I don't detect any bitterness or astringency. This does line up well with the New Year’s theme of transitioning away from the heavier butter-laden, spice-on-steroids infused treats and more towards an upcoming Springtime tea party. Overall this is a scent that can be worn during those in-between days where you crave a little warmth but not as much as you did two months ago. ? ? Throw is low/medium, longevity ~3 hours.

What a fool I was to underestimate this scraggly, clown puppet. I really love this delightfully deranged scent! It's reminiscent of Blood Milk's BOOKS, a familiar dust-laden blend, with a plethora of Halloweirdness to go along. A touch of candle wax, a sooty poof of vanillin, a charming dust musk, a scrap of metal, flickers of paint smudged on his face, piles and piles of books. Is Abelard an intellectual? Why does he smell so bookish? Perhaps he's been writing to Heloise on parchment, in between his knife throwing sessions. The frankincense is neither sharp, piney or lemony, it adds a soft and crumbly element. TIL Coconut husk does not smell like coconut meat, but there is a vegetal aspect to the opening. The carnation here is not spicy/opulent and pearwood is new to me. Strangely a very comforting blend, I'm happy I have this little weirdo in my collection! Throw: low, longevity ~6 hours

Excuse me, a potato cologne? ? erm yeah, don't underestimate this creeper in a black leather hat! The chypre adds a suave vibe to the composition, the tater stays jaunty. All of the different tuber elements: the tater, the salty fry on a patchouli/vetiver base come together in a way that WORKS. While I may not have enough charisma to pull off this blend, if I smelled this on someone else, I would have nothing but respect! a badass, classy potato perfume!

This is the marshmallow component of TKO plus a heaping spoonful of sugar crystals! ? Very purple! ? Both plum and lavender in a face-off with the saccharine fairy of the North Pole. This has been resting for six months, when I initially received it the plum stomped over everything. The lavender too shy to show itself... This is now plum & lavender well-balanced, holding hands helping Santa achieve those lofty goals he sets for himself each season. The candied plum sticks around the longest. Throw: medium. Longevity ~4 hours ?

Thick, musky Snake Oil injected into dense pastry dough and deep fried, babyyyyy. Considering the gourmand leanings of this Snake variant, the vanilla isn't as prominent as I envisioned. Upon application there's a dark, oleaginous vibe my skin/nose isn't playing well with. However, the same thing happened last year with Sugar Cookie Snake Oil, it was too butter/pastry for my taste and then aged really well!! I have faith this Sufganiyot snek will be delightful by next Christmas, but for now it's taking an extended vacation in the dark. ?

This dark, black cherry is so plump and flavorful, yum! I picture it sinking to the bottom of my cocktail with bubbles trickling up and around it. As the scent wears, the black cherry recedes and the misty, floral fizz becomes the star. Beth has served up an invigorating play of fizz that allows for the best parts of the cherry and the elderflower to shine. It's lovely and special. ? Longevity of cherry <1 hr, elderflower seltzer 6+, throw medium

Fairy Lobster Foam cherry shines BRIGHT AF and then sizzles into oblivion. This cherry isn't so much tangy/juicy as it is very bright and sweet. What's up with cherries who just make an appearance and then leave without saying goodbye? rude. The cherry texture itself smells like if funnel cake powdered sugar was maraschino flavored! It's scrumptious and delicious on opening ? then it morphs into a marshmallow with holes in it? Think whipped cream cheese texture. (Aerated is the word I'm looking for) A low-cal greek yogurt marshmallow mousse? It's not your average bouncy marshmallow, it sticks around in this whipped gooey air foam for approx ~4 hours. I tend to reapply in order to re-experience the mouthwatering cherry opening, it makes me happy!! Throw low/med. Curious what this would be like in my hair

This scent and I are radically incompatible, it's really sharp beginning, middle and end. It could be the peppercorn/juniper/silvered musk, but she is so grouchy and spiky on my skin, her frustration is perceptible. Longevity ~7hrs, throw: low/med

For those that dig spicy & opaque incense resins, this is for you! ?? This is the kind of blend I was hoping for with Raven Moon '22, which was underspiced for my liking. The patchouli is the gritty, gravelly sort - rooty and almost gingery. The sweet myrrh + opoponax blend isn't dusty, it's actively melting, liquid lava-like. Hot Speckled Gloom glows on the skin; the blend of smooth resins, roots and flickering red peppercorn leaving you smelling mystical and aromatic. Throw: medium, longevity ~6hrs.

This is such a fascinating shifty atmospheric! It's both grimy and clean, chaotic and composed. Upon initial application, the green amber mingles with the eucalyptus and wrestles with a nicotinic smoke in a way that reminds me of a Vegas casino. Exciting pops of color & light, laughter and commotion, faraway smoke and overconfidence in the air, softest whisper of minty gum breath on a passing stranger... which ultimately settles into a polished sophistication, with a perfume-y edge. Nothing is overwhelming, it's all so perfectly executed. It's not laundry detergent or indolic jasmine, it's ever so slightly smoky, green and lively. I received a sample of this and it caught me off guard how much I'm digging this! This is the kind of human that smells mayyyybe 87% trustworthy, 13% roll the dice ?

Marranitos excels at capturing the traditional Mexican pan dulce classic that is a "marranito." I remember being sent to the panadería as a kid in Mexico to pick up conchas & bolillos for supper and without fail someone would ALWAYS request a piggie-shaped pan dulce. It was generally like an uncle or grandma, because the bready cookie itself isn't super sweet or fluffy or crispy or colorful. There was always something a little too wholesome about the marranito for it to be my top choice as a wild sweet-toothed kid, I preferred rainbow sprinkles and chocolate chips and fluffy pink conchas. In every bag of pan dulce there was ALWAYS a marranito, so I'm very familiar with the smell which now recalls warm memories. ? This perfume captures the smell of the raw brown sugar (piloncillo) and molasses elements without adding excess syrupy sweetness to the perfume. It is punchy and heavy on the ginger and pink peppercorn spice.The cinnamon reads as the drier sort (not the sweet one) which contributes to the overall dry baked vibe of the scent. It isn't buttery or sugary either, it almost has a weight to it, it's dense. This does not smell like your classic Christmas gingerbread, to me it is an authentic rendition of a marranito: thick n' bready, ready to be dipped in chocolate Abuelita as the novela or soccer game plays in the background. I personally cannot slather this, it's strong, a dot will do. Longevity ~6 hrs.

This was my first experience with the lab's champagne note and WOAH is that fizzy!! It tickles the nose like the brain-tingling Sprite from McDonald's. Perhaps it's the association of said beverage that makes me feel like this has a twinkling lemon/lime zest to it. It's bold and very bubbly, not overtly marshmallow to my nose however this could be taking this champagne from brut to demi-sec. I've enjoyed layering this with other scents (Boozy Lemon Bars, Titania) to add some effervescence! ? Longevity 4+ hours, throw medium

I was so scared of the lemon peel but I'm happy to announce I adore this. The milky white chocolate melts into the creamiest sandalwood you could imagine, the lemon reads more like sprinkled powdered lemon sugar, no sharp blinding citrus peels. As it dries, a bouncy marshmallow fluff emerges to replace the white chocolate, the fancy mysore gives this 6+ hours longevity. A woody peanut butter cup thing going on, not too sweet but Goldilocks JUST RIGHT. This is similar to Easter Egging from the recent Lilith's, minus the tea rose, mallow flower and other mysterious pastel pinkifiers. The lemon peel in this trio serves to cut the richness of the white chocolate that was allowed to reign free in Easter Egging. If the tea rose made you hesitant to try Easter Egging, look no further, this is sandalwood bliss. Will absolutely FS with next order. ?

Oooofff! Something in here is not playing nice on my skin ? this was one of the first ones I applied and was hoping some of the intensity would burn off. Instead it became overwhelming on my skin. It’s almost buttery/heavy? Almost like greasy, pie crust unlisted or perhaps I'm amping a note unfamiliar to me. So sad this pony scent doesn’t work for me… No nut November = no nut musk for me

Omg it does smell like Disneyland ? excellent gourmand execution! Both caramel and popcorn are usually death notes for me but this is nostalgic and I am shocked at how wearable this is. I think the cotton candy is adding airiness to the blend? If this was a room spray or a hair gloss I would LOVE. Not sure if I can handle this in the summer, but right now that it’s cold, it’s not cloying ???

Did someone toss a whole tree in the sea? It reminds me of 18-in-1's that feature images of stormy seas, renaming this Attack of the Christmas Kraken ? I mean, tis the season.... ? will revisit this scent at a later day, right now it's all I'm getting. Currently too icy, aquatic for me.

? OOOoOoOhh this is a fun one! It smells like ✨ rainbows✨ I was hesitant to try the "yogurt" note or even the cake-batter for fear it would be excessively sweet or sour. But this is a delightfully tangy blend. Almost fizzy somehow, the way pop rocks feel as they sizzle. In the bottle, I catch more of the cake batter, however on the skin it's less butter and cake and more colorful sweets. This is light and fruity and playful, like a Japanese yogurt soda! I'll be storing this decant for next spring when I'm spiced out from my heavier winter scents ? ?

Seeing notes like lavender, chamomile and sweet cream, I imagined I had blind bottled a snuggly scent, something cozy to lounge in, to wind down from a gnarly day. Oda A La Luz Encantada isn't quite what I had pictured AT ALL, but not in a bad way! This is a wake up and beat-the-blahs-while-looking-magically-put-together-somehow kind of scent. There's an almost sparkly citrus-like clean feel to it, the "enchanted light" element that makes it smell invigorating. Could these be pear blossoms pairing up with lavender and chamomile to provide some kind of floral/herbal jolt? The notes are all so thoroughly well-blended it's difficult to say, however it does have a high-end perfume vibe. This could be either a day or night scent, depending on your wardrobe styling, so extra points for versatility. The "beam of light" component has softened since I received it, my favorite part is the golden musk+amber underneath the more "wake up, kick ass" facets. The drydown is absolutely magical, this is the kind of scent you wear to run errands semi-hoping you run into someone you know because it smells sophisticated without trying too hard. Verdict: it was my least favorite of my Lilith's fresh from the mailbox, but is now a keeper ✨ Translation of the Pablo Neruda poem to English for non Spanish speakers below: Ode to enchanted light Under the trees light has dropped from the top of the sky, light like a green latticework of branches, shining on every leaf, drifting down like clean white sand. A cicada sends its sawing song high into the empty air. The world is a glass overflowing with water.