fairnymph

Review of the 2007 version. Sniffed in imp: Musky, a little sharp in a medicinal-herbal way, woody, woodsy, and sweet. Definitely primal and masculine. Nicely blended and complex.

In the bottle: Clean, green, slightly sweet floral. Not sharp. Aquatic, calm, and soothing. Definitely grass, green tea, sage, and cucumber coming through. Wet: More floral, also a bit soapy. Um, where is the floral coming from? I'm not getting any mint or citrus, and the sweetness is gone. There's a sharp sort of musk that isn't really working for me. Dry: Strong floral-herbal soap. Summary: SIGH! I was SO sure this would work for me. I still can't figure out where the damn soap came from.

In the bottle: Very fresh, green, grassy. Can definitely smell that cucumber. Wet: Still super green, but some floral notes are emerging. I can detect the lily and orris the most, which is a tad on the heady side. Dry: Cucumber-orris, mostly. I think the orris is too strong/heady for me. Almost a bit soapy? Strange! Summary: The cucumber-greenness is really delicious and fresh, but I think orris doesn't work for me, and moonflower turns to soap.

Sniffed in imp: Patchouli, bay rum, and dark, dark woods. Sharp, strong, and masculine. Sadly not at all workable for my pretty feminine tastes.

In the bottle: Maple, honey, nuts, oatmeal, cream! Sweet. A tasty breakfast treat. Really like oatmeal or freshly baked oatmeal cookies or granola bars. Wet: Spices, now. Cinnamon, brown sugar, oats and nuts (almonds?), all freshly baked. Warm, and still quite sweet, but not grossly sweet - just VERY realistically foody. Dry: No milk or wine notes. No scary vanilla amping of doom. This is one of the least morphing scents I've ever tested. If I were into foody scents, I'd love this. The sweet note seems much more brown sugar than honey, and I usually amp honey, which is not happening. Summary: Freshly baked brown sugar oatmeal cookies with nuts and cinnamon and a touch of honey. Sweet, buttery, and increasingly spicy over time. Good throw, great lasting power.

In the bottle: Patchouli root - very dirty and dark and well, rooty, sorta sweetly so - and dusty moss. A hint of tart currant. Barely any violet, oddly. Wet: Rootier, less incensey, in terms of the patchouli, which still dominates. Dust moss remains. Red currant AMPS, thankfully, bringing tart, juicy fruit and some brightness to this otherwise very dank, musty blend. The violet too is coming out a bit, though it's still the weakest note - it's like tiny wild wood violets - delicate, creeping. Dry: Patchouli loses some of that sickly sweet rootiness, but is still quite dirty and soil-like. Dusty, dusty moss. The currant, which barely cuts through those two strongest notes, is quite citrusy-tart, but much less juicy-fruity, and barely identifiable. Violets have amped a bit, and are a bit woody and powdery; they do feel bruised, trampled beneath everything else. Summary: The violets finally struggle into prominence, and while not powdery, they have that classic, soft depth. Together with the sweetly dirty patchouli and dusty, dank moss, the blend is incredibly musty, like a damp basement that's crumbling and rotting and plants are growing between the cracks. If I strain, a faint glimmer of bright, tart currant sometimes flits through. Low throw but it lasts and lasts. I was happy to wash this one off, I have to say.

In the bottle: Sharp-spicy, dusty poppies dominate, leaving in their wake sweet honey and purply-ripe, herbal berries. Wet: I think there must be carnation and/or nasturtium in this as well as the poppy, because the top floral notes are just SO peppery, with such a spicy kick! The berries are a bit juicier here, but also a little sour, and there's a sharp green semifloral note rapidly amping. Honey is faint behind these bullies. Dry: Slow-drying, continually amping oil. This is the potent, pungent green carnation of Her Voice and Passionate Shepherd. Overpowering within a few inches and in combination with the dark, bitter poppy note. However, from a distance I mostly catch whiffs of delicious honey and wild, earthy berries (to me, the berry note reminds me of the lab's blackberry and huckleberry notes - all are fruity and ripe but have a sort of woody, very natural undertone). Summary: I've never experienced a scent that smells so radically different at close and far ranges. It's a bit mind-boggling! Maybe it has to do with that separation of selves implied by the description/purpose of the scent. Thus I must describe it in bipolar terms; ripe, honeyed, juicy, wild purple berries with an herbal edge (wonderfully fruity and summery, recalls The Oblation) from 5+ inches, but close to the skin I smell snappy green carnation and bitter, slightly dusty dark poppy. With more time, these do meld togtether somewhat, improving the blend. Good but bizarre throw; moderate lasting power. Up for swap.

Sniffed in imp: Minty version of that cold-sweet-pine-berry scent that is Snow White.

In the bottle: Strong, somewhat sweet fruit, with a light, clean floral background. Wet: Much more floral, less fruity. Beautiful white floral, delicate and feminine, but not weak. This actually quite a potent, slow-drying oil. The citrus is clearly coming out now too, and it's lovely - the tangerine in particular - it's adding some freshness and spirit. I'm not smelling any green, herbal, or woody notes at this point. As for fruitiness, I'm getting the lychee and peach blossom the most. Dry: Yay, the woods have come out a bit. Summary: I like this alot, the florals are lovely as are the citrus and woods, but I think it's still a tad too fruity for me. I tried this when I was new to BPAL and less tolerant of heavy fruit; now I wish I'd kept this!

In the bottle: Exotic fruit, light golden flowers, MELON. Sweet and fruity and sunny on the whole. Wet: Lovely. Juicy fresh honeydew melon, deliate peach blossom, hints of warm sunflower, a touch of lychee. No oakmoss or white tea. Light, natural vanilla. Dry: Within minutes, vanilla completely overtakes the blend - even though the melon and sunflower notes remain detectable - it's so incredibly FAKE VANILLA BOMB that I had to wash off. Ridiculously sweet and overwhelming throw that could be smelled from miles away. I guess it's good the vanilla turned evil, considering how rare this is!

In the bottle: Sweet, resiny, slightly green Wet: Much less sweet, a bit greener, still heavy on resin...and some rose! Something citrusy too. Dry: It's a slightly warm rosy scent. I'm really just smelling (delicious) rose at this point, otherwise. It's a very nice, fresh rose - think Red Rose 05, or even Havisham. It's that sort of rose but it has a warmer, drier base. But there's not powder, soap, or dust despite the warmth. I agree with the reviewer who thinks there is geranium in this - because that often registers as citrusy to me and I LOVE geranium. Summary: Warm, slightly geranium-esque rose, but very short wearlength, and not great throw. Wahh. I shall treasure my implet nonetheless.

In the bottle: Oooh, this oil is sort of a light chartreuse colour. Extremely herbal, heavy on that balsam; a very strong green scent. The metallic notes are there too, sort of sharp-fresh, deeper than in Mechanial Phoenix, but still a touch ozone-y. This is also very lightly smoky and brightly floral. Wet: Much more cologney, masculine, very clean, verging on soapy. A citrus note too, maybe petitgrain. Still that yummy intense green balsam. Hints of sweet, dark musk and that heady, slightly spicy tobacco flower. Dry: I adore this. The tobacco flower has really amped, and it's a heady, nocturnal scent, very bold but still refined, with an edge of dangerous spicy depth. The musk too has amped massively, and it's amongst the most delicious musks I've smelled. As if vanilla and skin musk mated with dark musk and produced an exotic, deep golden sexpot. The fresher green and citrus note remain too, keeping this clean, but minus that soapy tinge. Summary: This is surely the cologne James Bond wears, when he's in his tux, gambling and seducing and racing an expensive car. It's eminently masculine (that green, herbal balsam, the smell of oiled gunmetal, and bright, fresh, slightly bitter petitigrain), yet refined, luxurious, educated (heady, night-blooming tobacco); oozing culture, intellect, and wit. But it deceives a bit - the deep, sexy musk, spicy floral and eventually, earthy patchouli - suggest lurking violence and danger, as does that same male-metal note. If you can imagine that virgin/whore paradox that is the ideal for women, this is the equivalent for men. The man who wears this thrills and stimulates you with insights, and showers you with luxury and fine arts, but when you get home (or perhaps shoved into a nearby supply closet), the veneer slides away slickly. Then, he's not sauve but rawly masculine, and he won't think twice about taking you roughly and leaving you disheveled, bruised, and thoroughly satisfied. He expects you to oil his guns and burn rubber to evade a villian, but never fails to replace the Valentino dress he soiled in his violent haste and buy you 10 more gowns to make up for it. I think I could use this as a glass slipper, to reference the Cinderella tale. I'd go around, applying the oil to dashing men, and the man who could wear this would surely be the devious gentleman for me. Oh - and great throw and lasting power, not surprisingly!

In the bottle: Davana, pikaki, delicate white flowers, light ozone. Floral, but sort of creamy and citrusy and fresh. Wet: Still hard to pin down, and quite similar. Appropriately, it's a delicate, even ethereal scent, but on my skin it softens and warms up, really amping that pikaki - recalling Lover's Parodies. I do think there is an orange citrus note too, but it's mild, as is the faint davana. Dry: More herbal and more citrusy - fresher - an amazingly backwards morphing. The pikaki is closer to the skin, but still a rich, primary note. This is a bit sweeter, both from the citrus and the davana. Summary: The florals amp over time, and generally this scent is very mutable. It settles after a bit into a davana, white flower (but not the heady sort) and pikaki floral with a faint hint of orange citrus, and a woodsy/resiny/mossy dry down. Feminine and light in feel, but with great throw and lasting power. Quite possibly bottleworthy.

In the bottle: Aquatic lightly-sweet melon and delicate herbal florals. Wet: Extremely faint. This would be a slatherer. No longer sweet; more floral. The herbs are sharper and greener, and the aquatic notes have faded. The rose is slowly emerging. Not getting any wood, but as the aquatic fades, there is a sort of dryness coming out. Dry: Still very very faint, and the dominant note is rose. It's a wee bit soapy-powdery. Summary: Almost nonexistant rosy-powder with a whiff of clover. Thank god this wasn't wonderful like I'd hoped, considering its rarity!

In the bottle: Fresh, green-sharp, floral. I can smell the juniper. Wet: More floral, headily so - mmm jasmine. The rose geranium is really nice in this, and the juniper is there but not as strongly as in the bottle. Dry: Juniper getting stronger again - this seems to be a common thing with me, WAH. I like a little juniper, but it's a fine line, and I can't take alot. The rose geranium fades fast on me. Summary: Juniper + jasmine. It's not bad, but too strong and heady for me. Powerful throw.

In the bottle: Bright floral, clean but deep. A nice edge of sharpness. I can smell the jasmine and another floral note, must be the heliotrope - it's very fresh, that note. Hint of soapiness - in that clean good way. Wet: Wow, um, not very different. Actually, I can smell the rose now - I couldn't really in the bottle. It's a bit soapier, not unbearable, but I wouldn't want it any more so. The floral is a bit more heady. Dry: Soapy jasmine, with something incense-y I don't like behind it - patchouli? I'm not knowledgeable enough to know. I would love it without that incense note. I have learned that jasmine is bad news for me. :\

Sniffed in imp: Very sweet, woody, heady-incensey floral. I can't handle frankincense generally, and not in this.

Sniffed in imp: Amber and spicy dragon's blood, with hints of sweetness, and fresh citrusy black currant and geranium.

In the bottle: Really strong lemon, with some floral in the distance. The lemon smells like lemon candies. Like almost exactly - so I guess a bit of sweetness must be there. Wet: Still really lemony but floral - ah yes jasmine - coming out more as usual. Maybe I can smell a hint of the bergamot? The lemon verbena is still dominating. Dry: Sandalwood with bit of jasmine. Sigh. Dry and powdery and not my style.

In the bottle: Soapy-clean, lightly sweet white-green. Wet: More floral, still quite green and soapy. But it's a much more bearable soapy scent than usual - not powdery at all. I'm thinking maybe orange blossom? The sweetness could be linden. White or green tea wouldn't surprise me either. If there's citrus here, it's VERY light and soft. Dry: Soft, clean air. It's not really soapy anymore. It's very fluffy and comforting, but light. It's a linen-y scent to me. Maybe a faint hint of melony-fruit. Summary: A nice, clean, comforting scent. But it's not something I'd wear a bunch - too mild and hazy.

Light gold oil. Softly light, Spring-like, delicate feminine florals, clean, slightly slick white tea and a suggestion of warm, woody depth. Slightly asiatic, and elegantly simple, but not simplistic. Instantly much more floral, with all three flowers amping distinctly. I can smell the wisteria with its powdery threat but so far, the lovely pink cherry blossom and elegant star jasmine are keeping it in check. More white tea too, a little less slick, and a bit more fresh and realistic - slightly citrusy, a little piney - more like real tea leaves, freshly picked. More warmth and depth and a little dryness from the teak, but it's still not distinct as a note. This one doesn't really morph one me past the initial wet stage; it just intensifies, deepens and melds as a blend overall. The wisteria continues to be a nagging presence, but it doesn't go to complete POWDERY DOOM as it usually does - maybe bc this imp is aged, it has muted the wisteria so that now it smells like the lab's narcissus note of late - a sort of rotting floral, very much like iris can smell, with the same powdery edge. The star jasmine is the star of this blend, though not by a huge margin as everyhing's quite balanced, and I believe it is identical to the note in The Girl. Final drydown is surprisingly well-blended and unified, with star jasmine leading, wisteria and cherry blossom just behind, with softer, citrusy-fresh white tea and a little almost cologney exotic dark warm teak - but it's so light and subdued and such a blended note here that I don't think I'd ever pick it out blind - I also don't think it's the same teak note used in most other BPAL blends with teak. I also swear I get some white musk, that works well to bind this blend and sex it up a little. It's a lovely feminine floral blend, simply elegant and Springlike yet a little warm and exotic. It goes oddly soapy on me, like very expensive divine hotel soap...so I'm not sure it's bottleworthy, but I am impressed by how well the wisteria behaves here, though it's still a deal breaker. Decent throw but less than great longevity - it does fade quite a bit after it initially amps up on my skin. Damn you as always, FUCKING WISTERIA.

In the bottle: Salty-aquatic, juicy with lychee fruit, strong green musk, pleasantly floral. Delicious! Wet: Salty-aquatic and green musk dominate; almost a little soapy. No fruit. Florals linger in the background. Dry: Somewhat soapy, floral, salty green musk. Slightly fruit-sweet, from the plum blossom (no lychee). It's definitely making my rosacea flare. Summary: Salty, soapy green musk. Fairly strong throw. I am so sad about these delicious in the bottle, terrible soap on my skin aquatics.

In the bottle: Green, fresh, soapy, sharp. Wet: SOAP, from the neroli no doubt. Lavender, too, very strongly. Resin. Strong green planty notes. Dry: Lavendery soap. Had to wash off; it smelled like some sort of cleaning product. Sigh, and the notes sounded so lovely!

In the bottle: Sweet, spicy floral. Wet: Dry musky amber and wood. The sage and florals linger in the background. Something is going powdery. I'm not getting any mandarin. Dry: Powdery amber. At least the iris never really appeared distinctly, as it tends to do awful things on my skin. Powerful strong throw! Summary: Far too powdery and dry for me.

In the bottle: Sharp and green, almost minty. Wet: Much more floral, a hint of sweetness. The sandalwood and amber provide nice warmth. As usual the peony is taking over on my skin. I like the amber in this because it's not too overwhelming. Dry: Stays pretty true, although the floral fades a bit with time. I'm pleasantly surprised, though this isn't really something I'll wear.