Nimthiriel

Initial impression: It's all jasmine and lily of the valley in the vial. First on: It warms up with a bit of ylang ylang on my skin, but the aforementioned florals still dominate. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a sort of warm floral, a bit old ladyish to me, but not too bad. An hour later, it's a warm and gentle floral, very anonymous. Finally: Not my kind of thing. Swapping!

Initial impression: Mm, the vanilla musk is definitely the most prominent note in the vial. It's charming. First on: I... can't smell anything. o_O Dry: After about 10 mins, it's the faintest vanilla musk on me, and nothing else... This really does a disappearing act on me. Finally: Inez had no love for me. No throw, no scent on my skin, no nothing. Hope someone else has better luck with her!

Initial impression: I get a quick sniff of all the listed ingredients, and it's a good deal more powerful than I thought – the pepper smells especially fiesty! First on: Pepper, clove and cardamom immediately dominate – imagine sticking your nose in a bag full of those spices. Dry: After about 10 mins, it smells a lot like a cup of chai tea – actually, exactly like chai tea. Yummy. The pepper, patchouli and carnation seems to be hiding for now. A few hours later, it's still a lovely chai tea scent. Finally: Hmm, I'm hanging on to this for the time being, I think.

Initial impression: Cream, honey and caramel – a sweet and dizzying scent so far! First on: It's mainly honey (yum!) and caramel on my skin, but with a creamy undertone, and a faint whisper of apple blossom. Dry: After about 10 mins, the caramel is a little sickly on me. Ugh. Not getting much else at this stage. ...and it sticks. It's pure caramel – burnt caramel. Damn you, skin chemistry. Finally: When will I learn? Caramel is a no-no. Swapping/selling this lady.

Initial impression: Lilacs! One of the few florals I actually sort of like! First on: Musk and lilacs, but it's pretty faint. There might be a tiny hint of the tobacco in there, too. Dry: After about 20 mins, it's warm tonka mixed with beautiful musk, soft vanilla and a touch of tobacco and lilacs. A few hours later, it's just a faint hint of tonka – which I love, but I wanted more of, well, everything. Finally: I loved it, but the throw wasn't very good on me, so I think I'll pass this one on... I think!

Initial impression: Ooh, woody potpourri to my nose! First on: It goes almost... bubblegum-like on me. o_O Dry: After about 15 mins, it's woody and herbal on me. Something like cedarwood and thyme. The woody notes get more varied as it ”ages” on my skin. Unfortunately, I find it a tad too dry for my taste. Finally: Once again, lovely to try, but passing it on.

Initial impression: It's boozy and minty, as promised! First on: Mm, minty! Just mint, in its wet stage. Dry: After about 15 mins, it's not sugary so much as oddly peppery on me. Hmm. Maybe the bourbon and mint mutates on my skin. And then it just... disappears. Finally: Well, my skin didn't approve of that one. Oh well.

Skin musk, smoky vanilla, pine pitch, patchouli, Indian resins, golden honey, and tobacco. Initial impression: A heady, bathroom-like scent of masculine pine and patchouli, mixed with softer vanilla and honey. First on: Musk, tobacco, resins, a faint touch of patchouli – something about it still seems very bathroomy to me. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a smoky resinous blend with a light touch of vanilla to it. Something about it doesn't quite agree with me though... Not sure what, though. It gets more intensely musk-and-vanilla after another 40 mins, but I get no precious honey, and the resins almost disappear, too. Finally: It does go more resinous as it keeps morphing hours later, but I'm not happy with it, so I'm letting this decant go.

Initial impression: Oh. My. Gods. Plum-pomegranate-patchouli-frankincense orgasm. First on: Immediately on, the patchouli and (primarily) frankincense grab hold of me, with a fruity myriad of notes just underneath. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a smoky resin scent with lighter touches of florals and fruit. It's very feminine, very lush, and very... warm. An hour and a half later, it's still a rich, fruity resinous scent that's just... wonderful. Finally: I will have to re-try this, but this might be a - *gasp* - bottle purchase for me. Lovely scent!

Initial impression: Mmm, precious oakmoss! It's a perky scent, and I think I'm getting birch and maybe berries. First on: It goes very subtle on me... The softest touch of dark musk. Dry: After about 20 mins it has dried into an interesting foresty scent with mainly musk and berries as the ”big” notes. It's an... interesting, almost sweet scent, reminiscent of almond. Another half an hour later, it's less sweet and I mainly get delicious dark musk (this musk is to die for) and a hint of moss. Finally: I bought this as I'm a massive fan of oakmoss, but there isn't much oakmoss in there. Still, it's a truly lovely scent. I just don't know what I could use it for. Hmm. I'll need to think about that...

Initial impression: The anise and pomegranate stand out in the vial. First on: Incense, florals, green herbs, tangy pomegranate – so far, not as bookish as I hoped. Dry: After about 15 mins, it's a wine-like scent of mainly pomegranate, mixed with some anise and lavender. It's doubtlessly exotic and puzzling. It mellows to a delicious pomegranate and incense scent on me. Yum. Finally: I really like this, since I'm a massive fan of pomegranate and frankincense, but... What on earth would I use it for? Would it just stay in my imp box, unloved and unsatisfied?

Initial impression: This contains a few favourite notes, but only the clove and a gorgeous vanilla stands out in the vial. First on: Cinnamon immediately heats up on my skin – yummy! Clove amps, too, and I definately get some pine sap, though it comes across as almost... medicinal. Dry: After about 15 mins, it's dried into a creamy vanilla with a lovely dose of clove, and the tiniest hint of cinnamon in the background. Over an hour later, this is pure delicious vanilla clove – it has a great throw! This is long-lasting stuff, I'd wager. Few scents stick this well to my skin. I'm a little disappointed in how the cinnamon has disappeared, but I really like this. The heavy clove makes me thing of the winter holidays, so this might be something I'd wear in the colder months of the year, before I start wearing my Yule scents. Finally: Good stuff! Lovely scent, good throw, long-lasting. Keeping.

Initial impression: A gentle sort of orange, mixed with delicious fig and sweet myrrh. Mmm, so far, so good! First on: It goes a lot more herbal on me, with a strange background scent – I think it's orange reacting with something else... Dry: After about half an hour, it's a fruity and sweet blend of fig, myrrh, amber, musk and the slightest touch of orange. It's really growing on me. Warmth and sweetness... It's lovely. It gets more sweetly orangy after about an hour, but not in an overwhelming way. It's a really well-balanced fragrance. Finally: See, I bought this decant even though I know I dislike orange as a general rule. But I like this. It remains to be seen if I'll keep her in my collection or not, but she's not the catastrophy I feared!

Initial impression: I get a waft of black pepper, leather and what really does remind me of saltpeter in chemistry class. It's a ruthless scent, fiery but not warm! First on: Mm, sandalwood – and a touch of nutmeg, saltpeter and leather. It's a softer scent as it warms up on my skin. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a strong leathery scent with dry sandalwood and hot black pepper. It's a scorching scent! Dry, hot, fierce and completely without mercy, It gradually fades to only leather and sandalwood. I'm disappointed that I didn't get any beewax or bark. Finally: It wasn't what I was hoping for, but I might hang on to it...

Scent in the vial: In the vial, it smells... herbal, but creamy. Musk? Scent “in use”: I don't have anything to anoint, so I'm trying this as a perfume. It's extremely “perfumey” in its wet state – like lily of the valley, opium and musk. Jasmine, too. It seems to sort of morph into a smoky floral once it's dry, sort of femininely masculine in its character. Effect: None the first time (the local pride festival). I'll make a note to wear it next time I go to The Triangle though – that might be a better time to test it.

No scent description. Scent in the vial: In the vial, it's strong and purifying – something like eucalyptus, pine and juniper. It's dark, powerful, cleansing. It's herbal to the point where I think of medicine, or throat tablets. An almost suitable pun – like medicine, a funereal ritual is perhaps unpleasant at the time, but in the long run “good for you” and your soul. Scent “in use”: I didn't get this for funereal rites, but rather to try it out on my ancestral shrine, as an anointing oil. On the items, it's a bit less overwhelming, and sort of lingers as a solemn but still purifying scent. Something a bit creamier seems to lurk in the background.

Scent in the vial: Woah! Strong stuff! It's like an explosion of zesty and kick-ass notes – and worryingly it almost smells like petrol at first. Intense! Scent “in use”: I anointed my artistic earrings and necklace with this stuff, as I thought that'd be pretty appropriate. It's like... fizzy cola with a herbal streak to it. There might be lavender, patchouli and lime in there. Yes, lavender and lime! Very zesty – sure to perk you up and have you bursting with ideas! Effect: I wasn't so much inspired by this blend, but I was productive. I got things done! The ideas were already there, but I finished them off with the aid of this. Works in my books.

Scent in the vial: This is strictly a scent review, as I got this as a sniffie (or try-once-only) in a decant circle, and I'm passing it on as a frimp. To me, this smells like a fresh men's cologne, with a touch of ozone and something with a kick. A no nonsense scent, to be sure!

Scent in the vial: It's a lot darker than I imagined – and it's herbal and earthy, with a bit of a bite to it, and some sweet floral. I think there's citrus in there as well. Scent “in use”: I anointed my shrine items with this oil, since I follow an Egyptian tradition. It's gone to a more incense-like scent, with an almost sweetly fruity touch to it. It's dark, warm and exotic – I like it!

Scent in the vial: I mainly wanted to try this because of my connection to Bast. It's a bright burst of fruit! Something like peaches mixed with dazzling citrus – sure to put a smile on your lips! Lovely. A very uplifting scent. Scent “in use”: I can't actually anoint any candles at this point, because candles are a no-no where I live right now. But I will try it at some stage!

Scent in the vial: I can't quite place the scent – the notes elude me at the moment – but it's smells... reassuring. Like something saying “Hey, I know what I'm doing – you can trust me!” - how interesting! Scent “in use”: I don't know my chakras if I'm honest, so I'll wear this as a regular perfume. On me, it keeps its reassuring aura. It's sort of a powdery scent, but – smoky? It's not so much a pretty scent as as a comforting one – it sort of puts you at ease. Effect: Someone has willingly chosen to hang out with me – I take that as a good first indicator. Otherwise, no hugely noticeable effects. Oh well! It made me slightly more confident, so it's a keeper purely based on that.

Scent in the vial: Hot stuff! Warm and sweet – something like cinnamon, cocoa and something else. Very potent, very sexy. Scent “in use”: I anointed my Voodoo Love necklace with this, as it's already a bit of a love charm for me. I also tried a drop on my skin, to get the scent better. It's not very strong, just sort of a background whisper. On the necklace, it smells sweet, like honey. On my skin, it's very faint, and sort of powdery with the odd dash of sexyness. It warms up and I get more of the warmth and spice – lovely. In fact, the necklace now has a spicy touch to it, as well. It's a very very sexual scent, yum! It sort of... invites naughty thoughts. Effect: I can't really review its effects on other people, because I'm not really in a relationship or such right now, so my sex life isn't exactly, well, alive. It does however have a lovely effect on me. I originally ordered this decant when I was in a long-term relationship, so it made sense then. Alas, I didn't get a chance to test it under those conditions, so I'm not sure if it's worth hanging on to this decant... Hmm. Pondering selling it. Edit: Oh, this stuff works. My beloved friend goes nuts when I wear the anointed necklace, every time! And I inadvertently attracted another friend with it – big time. Thumbs up!

Scent in the vial: It's masculine, earthy, wet, and oddly warm. Like sun-warmed moist dirt. There's something herbal and “stingy” in there as well. A spice, perhaps? And there might be vetiver in there, too. Interesting and complex, this. Scent “in use”: I dabbed this onto my Eye of Horus pendant – I found a protective symbol belonging to a very masculine deity very suitable for this purpose. It's almost all vetiver now – strong and demanding. Even though this isn't strictly speaking in the description, I'm hoping it'll help me overcome any anxiety I feel during my exam tomorrow. A confidence boost, if you will – aim for success! Effect: And a confidence boost it was! I was very no-nonsense and get-things-done all day, and my nerves were made of steel – something that never happens otherwise. Oil or not, this is a keeper for me. Works for me!

Initial impression: A gentle touch of earthy patchouli, lovely amber, and something greener, luring in the background. First on: Wet, I get greens and spices! The amber and patchouli are still there, but they're overpowered by the rest. Dry: After about 10-15 mins, it's a dry scent of resin – dry and dusty, really. Another 20 mins on, it's slightly spicy, but I can't tell what it might be... Finally: This'll go in my swap only pile, I think...

Initial impression: Musky – it brings to mind a pale yellow colour, like, well, papyrus. First on: The slightest touch of musk and aloe. Fresh, light. Dry: After about 10 mins, it's a glorious musk, with hints of aloe and resin. Mm, me likes! It gets sort of creamier after a while. Finally: Hanging on to this one for the moment... Might swap it later on, though. I'm on the fence!