Caitfish

In the bottle and on initially, this smells just like violet pastiches! A very dead-on violet. It's a scent that I actually like. On, this develops from mostly violet into a softer scent, rounded out by the musk. Luckily, the sandalwood remains fairly tame (which is a blessing for me) and I never get any Iris, unfortunately.

 

Overall, I adore this blend. It's soft, feminine and nice. You have to *love* the scent of voilets to like this blend, but if you do - you will!

Fae (fresh, lovely, juicy peaches and glittering heliotrope) - a light, playful, springtime blend.

 

Dragon's Tears - fresh, aquatic and fruity.

 

Eos - the perfect bouquet of innocent, nostalgic spring flowers.

 

I can't wait for the weather to warm up.

What can I add to this? Not much. It's crisp and effervescent in the bottle, plus the fruity, juicy tang of the pomegranate. On me, the crisp scent fades, and this becomes almost exclusively the delicious, juicy scent of ripe pomegranates. It doesn't last very long, but it's exquisite. I MUST have a big bottle of this scent - it would be excellent layered with MMU's body butters in Pomegranite. Yeah, I need this one.

This was generous gimpage from the lab, not something that I would have tried myself and in this case, I think I was right.

 

A woody, mossy scent overall. Cederwood right in the center throughout the bottle-drydown process. It doesn't smell like cedar chips or a hamster cage, thank goodness! The cedar is tempered with the appropriate and mature vetiver, grounding it with a mossy darkness (though it's not a note that I am fond of, I can appreciate its function here). And yes, the raspberry leaf is apparent, too. Raspberry leaf tea is the absolute best for PMS, so I suspect that this blend might also be a good bit of aromatherapy for that particular ailment.

 

It doesn't morph much, but stays herby and woodsy - all of the notes are very consistent. Staying power is decent, though the cedar is definately the winner in that category.

 

It's an interesting blend. I think it would be very good on a boy, but as a perfume I'm afraid it's not for me. I am happy that I had a chance to try it, though.

 

ETA: It struck me what this reminds me of! It smells just like a woodfire, with mosses from the forest thrown on top for fragrance. I think that this would be very good as a room scent if you wanted to make it feel comfortable and homey.

In the bottle, Scarecrow smells pretty acerbic, I'm not getting a particularly "dry" vibe, but it doesn't really smell like any of the other perfumes that I have tried.

 

On, the acerbic harshness fades pretty quickly. It's replaced with something earthy and smoky, but not like vetiver or any kind of moss, and definately not green.

 

I grew up in the Llano Estacado, the part of the panhandle of Texas. It's a flat, brown place that used to be covered with a sea of buffalo grass (tall, thin, yellow grass with soft wheaty tufts at the tips). Apparently a hundred years ago, some fields of buffalo grass would grow so high as to obscure the vision of anyone less than 6-7 feet tall. It doesn't grow like that anymore, but it's still pretty pervasive. I remember walking through a buffalo grass field as a child, the scratchy, dry grass and an intense smell unlike anything else. This is that. A sea of seemingly dead, tall grass, scorching in the 100+ heat.

 

As a perfume, it's interesting. Pretty nostalgic for me but i'm still not certain that I like smelling like it. I think that it would smell very good on a man. Yes, definately. I'm such a girly girl that the dryness of this doesn't appeal to me. I'll see if I can sneak it onto my boyfriend.

Woah, out of the bottle initially, the honey wine takes on a scent very much like that of fresh blood. Yeah. Blood, like WOAH BLOOD. Weird. I can recognize it as honey wine, I don't know why it gives me that impression, but it's a strong one. I think that the sharpness in the bottle may actually be coming from the bay.

 

Once on, it immediately softens and becomes pretty powdery. Still smells mostly of sweet, fermented honey but the bloody tang has almost completely disappeared. This is surprisingly soft compared to the intensity in the bottle.

 

Good staying power on me. Overall, it's a very unique scent - not like anything else, really. I can't decide wether I am fond of it or scared of it, though.

In the bottle, dragon's blood (I can distinguish this one easily because I just received the single-note), a bit of spice and a funny diaperlike scent that is common to some of the voodoo blends (follow me boy) and Sacred Whore of Babylon. Usually that note repels me so much that I can't even wear the blend, but this one smells kind of nice.

 

On, it's spicy and lush and resinous. It's interesting. In the bottle I thought that I would like this more, but it becomes rather unremarkable upon wearing.

 

I don't put much stock in voodoo, but I'll try this one more to see if it does the thing it purports to. If not, I'll swap er.

 

ETA: I was trying four different scents last night, and this one outlasted them all. It really is a pretty spice, still uncertain on a big bottle, though.

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Uh-oh. Those spices they talk about? A bunch of them. That may not mean anything for you, but to my skin, that can spell ruin for a scent. I can also smell sweet amber and perhaps a bit of Iris, but it isn't overpowering. No berries.

Impressions: A bit concerned about those spices, but the underlying notes are beautiful.

 

On:

Mmm, yummy. The spices are definately present, but they aren't overpowering as I expected. I really had hoped for some berries, but I can't detect any. The iris has softened even more, it's barely apparent, in fact. Lots of amber. Spicy amber is basically what I'm getting, and it's lovely.

 

Overall Impressions:

Great strength, and a very attractive scent. Spicy, but unique. I really do like this one.

I adore this blend. I also like fae, which is a glittering, playful peach.

 

The marquise is a mature (no really), grounded peach. The mossy vetiver grounds this blend, and I hate vetiver - but it works really well here. The amber makes it sweet and warm. It lasts and throws and struts. It's incredible.

 

*Gasp* So many blends this order that I adore. My bank account weeps.

In the bottle I detect something green, slightly bananaish, but not overwhelming. There is also a bit of an ascetic bite in the bottle, but I believe that this will fade when applied.

 

Yeah, anyone who is put off by the banana-y scent in the bottle should have heart, suck it up, and try it on. Banana is by no means where this scent begins and ends. The banana is definately more banana leaf, slightly banana scented, more green. When applied, the sweet Sampaguita blossoms bloom and create a dreamy tropical haze.

 

This is an incredibly evocative tropical scent, and I'm completely in love. *sigh*

Saffron, spice and musk? I NEVER would have ordered this had I not been able to read the rave reviews on this forum. I love you guys! Everyone recommended this as the "guys love it" scent, and I can see why. It's so sexy and beautiful.

 

I really can't draw out any notes, it's just the softest, warmest, sexiest thing ever. I must have a vat of it. It's exotic, but completely sophisticated. I'm in heaven.

 

The description of this scent is absolutely dead-on. This is exactly what I imagined this scent would smell like. The part about protecting children, this is a scent that would have absolutely enchanted me when I was a little girl, and I find it enchanting now!

 

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: fresh, succulent honeysuckle, delicate jasmine. There is also a soft, creamy yellow floral note here which could only be the buttercup. Gorgeous.

Impressions: Fresh, radiant and sweet. The honeysuckle in this blend is the one that I hoped and failed to find in Old New Orleans. This one definately nostalgic, a soft bundle of childhood memories. Gentle yellow florals.

 

Initial On:

Thankfully, this remains very true to the scent in the bottle. The only appreciable change when wearing is that it warms a bit, and the buttercup becomes more prominent. It's a very unique floral, not white, but yellow. Unique.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: All of the florals are consistently present.

Staying power: Very good! I expected this one to fade very quickly given the distribution of notes, but it did not. I believe I will have to reapply, but not constantly.

 

Overall Impressions:

Nostalgic, sweet (but never even approaches overbearing), warm and yellow and lovely. I must have a big bottle. It's a triumph.

I guess I'm a weirdo, everyone I know HATES almonds, but I adore them. Love love love. Queen of Sheba is my favorite almond scent, and I have a big bottle. I've also smelled Hecate and now Eclipse. If almond is present in a scent, it tends to dominate it. Hecate wasn't different enought to warrant a big bottle purchase, and I am waffling on Eclipse.

 

It's primarily almonds, sweetened and softened by vanilla. This is kind of what I hoped O would be. I smell cinnamon in the bottle.

 

On, it's extremely warm. Warm almonds, warm creamy vanilla, and a splash of spicy cinnamon. The cinnamon doesn't dominate this scent as most spices do on my skin. It's so exactly what I envisioned this would smell like... it's the sun! It's beautiful. Still waffling on a big bottle, though. It doesn't have the staying power or throw of my beloved Queen of Sheba.

Perversion is a delicious, wonderful blend. It's one of my "OMGBPALs", my jaw just dropped when I smelled it in the bottle. Also, it was a giftie and something that I never would have tried on my own, so I totally appreciate the opportunity to test this.

 

In the Bottle:

A splash of beautiful, juicy, effervescent chardonnay. God, that's pretty. I wonder if there was ever such a thing as a chardonnay single note (bouquet)... I would swim in it. There is something creamy and sweet in here, probably the tonka.

 

On:

This morphs into a lot of coconut pretty quickly. The chardonnay really doesn't last, it's a bit too light to compete with the other notes. The alcoholic scent really lasts, though - it simply morphs into rum. The blend has strong throw, and is dominated by coconut for a while. After it dries, however, the leather comes out to play. It's so lovely and warm - I never would have imagined enjoying the scent of leather, but it's beautiful. The creamy tonka and coconut blend... mmmmm.

 

Overall Impressions:

While I do wish that the chardonnay stuck around a bit longer, I truly do love this blend and will be buying a big bottle. It's orgasmic.

 

*scentgasm*

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: I think that I can detect all three fruits, woven into a strange, lush and squishy blend. Something smells a bit acrid in the bottle... I can detect some florals but no musk, though I'm certain that it will appear with the coaxing of my skin.

Impressions: A very intense and fruity blend in the vail, as is to be expected, but it smells like a bit of a mishmash as well. I hope that the notes diversify a bit on my skin.

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: I would say that the apricot is the real winner here initially. I can smell a bit of pomegranite and the plum has a bit more of an "effect" (think juicy) than a definate plummy scent.

Impressions: Very lovely, very me. Fruity, soft, a bit floral.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: As predicted, the musk came out quite strongly after a while. That's alright though, as all of the fruits created a rather tart, acrid affair that wasn't entirely nice. The musk really softened it nicely. I also detect some very delicate florals here, but mostly it's fruity.

Staying power: Decent for a fruity blend. Can't compete with the patchouliambe on my left wrist in this department... probably a good six hours.

 

Overall Impressions:

This is kind of an overbearing blend in the bottle, but once applied it mellows quite a bit and the notes come to a beautiful accord. I really love this blend.

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Amber with tea! And perhaps a tiny smidge of white floral.

Impressions: This one made me drop my jaw, circle, highlight and underline it on my list. I love the amber in this. It's sweet, resiny and somehow almost lush (gladiola?). I was like, damn, Iambe - hook it up. Or something, yeah. It's hot. Which makes the next part sooo difficult...

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: Oh no... what's that? Patchouli? Of course, it's in here - but I don't like what you're doing to my precious Iambe, patchouli! STOP IT!

Impressions: I felt my heart drop to the floor.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: Patchouli patchouli patchouli. Oh wait, could that be amber or tea or pretty flower? NO! IT'S PATCHOULI! NO NOTES FOR YOUUUU!

Impressions: Okay, perhaps I am not being fair. There is something to this, something other than patchouli. Something warm and sweet trying to coax patchouli off its throne. Unfortunately, no tea or pretty gladiolas.

Staying power: Well, at least we can say that for Patchouliambe. Stuck around for a good twelve hours, begging for me to love her. I'm a cold, heartless woman in the face of patchouli.

 

Overall Impressions:

You know what, I still kind of love this... it's growing on me. My mind just shuts off when it smells patchouli, so maybe I'm not open to everything that's really on my skin, but I am trying so hard and not getting much. The fact is that this is not the Iambe that I loved in the bottle, and she's probably not meant to be. We're gonna have a good long talk, see if we can give it another go. If not, I'm sure that someone else will adore her.

 

In the bottle:
Pretty standard aquatic base here, think the water in Dragon's Tears or Tears. The florals are... darker... carnation perhaps, white florals. No rose here. Nothing sweet or cloying.

Initial On:
This is a very strong blend when initially applied. It's a floral with the same kind of melancholy as Black Dahlia. It's not lush, and not sweet - it would almost smell like dried flowers if it weren't for the aquatic notes.

After a While:
This remains a very strong aquatic - but it *is* gloomy, and very dark. It smells deep and mysterious. There was a very odd moment while wearing this where I thought that I was wearing Samhain. That's right - apple cider??? One of the floral notes here is rather spicy - that's why I lean towards carnation.

Overall:
I'm afraid that this review isn't very helpful - this is a difficult blend to pin down. It begins as standard aquatic fare, but then darkens considerably. It settles on a kind of spicy, gloomy, dark aquatic with just the barest hint of something that might be called a floral. It's a very odd blend indeed. Pretty, but a bit dark for my tastes.

ETA: If there is one thing that I did not expect, it's the warmth of the blend. It was described as ICY, and perhaps it is in the beginning, but as this mysterious spice rises all I get is warmth. Please take that with my usual disclaimer: I'm a full-blown redheaded Aries. Anything with a hint of spice turns into my own personal spice hell, so this blend could be very different on someone else. I can't wait for another person to review it!

An amazing scent. It stays very true on my skin, though I know that this is not the case with others who have tried it.

 

It really does smell... metallic somehow. I suppose that must be ozone. It smells like sharp, shiny, cold metal. If that were all, it would be a fairly uninspiring scent - but there is more. If a floating garden could grow in the middle of all of that metal, that would be Neo-Tokyo. Fresh, light - spring green scents - the reedy bamboo. Little, sweet, unintrusively beautiful cherry blossoms lend just a tiny bit of softness around the edges. And finally, something lush and wet - that must be the "fruits".

 

My *only* complaint about this scent is that I wish it lasted a little bittle longer. It sticks around upon very close inspection for about an hour, then it's gone. I can't decide if I should order a huuuuge bottle of this and slather it on or just let it be what it is and move on to things that stick to me with a little more vigor.

 

I think it's worth a huge bottle.

Belle Epoque

 

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Sandalwood, opium and lily. Can't detect any mandarin yet.

Impressions: Hmm... this smells very fresh. Almost soapy.

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: The sandalwood begins to dominate unfortunately, and it stays that way. Usually, I would continue in the review, but there is no need to. This settles into sandalwood land and stays there. How sad. I really, really wanted to get some vanilla and mandarin out of this, but nothing.

 

For someone else to love, I guess!

Kurukulla:

 

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Beautiful, fresh, slightly fruity roses (that's probably the lotus talking). Lush, wet, fruity lotus!

Impressions: A light, effervescent rose, swimming in lush, wet lotus!

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: Lotus springs up at first, fruity and sweet - it takes a moment for the light, dainty roses to recover.

Impressions: a lovely blend so far - light, as I've said - so it isn't overpowering. The lotus/rose combination is a unique one, and gives this relatively simple blend some interest.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: The roses come to dominate, but it's never a heady rose smell - it's always very upbeat. The lotus sticks around, keeping this lush and interesting.

Staying power: Good for a light floral. Probably needs to be reapplied for throw after a couple of hours.

 

Overall Impressions:

This is a beautiful, refreshing blend. It isn't soft or demure like most white florals, or brooding and heady like some rose blends can be. I agree with the above poster who said that this smells like an alcoholic rose - it smells something like a rose dipped in champagne. Man, who could resist that? This is a kind of trusting, playful, refreshing love. It's like a floral Bon Vivant. Lovely!

Morocco:

 

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Saffron most of all - something surprisingly sweet, I have no idea where that is coming from, because usually carnation is a pretty spicy scent on me. There's also piles of spice. Can't really detect any musk yet, but I am certain that it will appear once my skin warms it up.

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: The Saffron calms down, and the carnation that I know and love springs up with the musk, which tempers and smooths all of the spices.

Impressions: This is warm, definately spicy, and surprisingly sweet. I think it could be very attractive.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: Spice, carnation, musk.

Notes which fade: I lose the saffron after a while as well as most of the sweetness.

Staying power: Very good! Long time with throw throw throw (very common of most spicy scents on me.)

 

Overall Impressions:

As beautiful and popular as this blend is, I don't think it's for me. It's very very strong because of the spice, and honestly it makes me a bit dizzy. It's a shame because I really thought that I would love this one, but I think Alice keeps me in the carnation just fine and Queen of Sheba handles the spicy edge without becoming overpowering. I'll give it another try and keep you posted!

Antique Lace:

 

In the Bottle:

Dominant notes: Hmm, vague florals? Softened cotton candy?

Impressions: This blend is so sweet, almost candy-sweet. It really does smell something like cotton candy. There is something in it that smells of freshly-laundered cloth, too - actually reminicent of lace.

 

Initial On:

Dominant notes: the cotton candyish scent remains, it smells a bit warmer now, but still very sweet. I can smell something kind of dusty, something whispy - perhaps musk.

Impressions: This is so soft and feminine. It's sweet, clean, and calm.

 

After a While:

Persistent notes: It remains sweet, though it smells a bit less like candy.

Staying power: Surprisingly good, because it's so soft - I didn't expect it to last, but it's pretty persistent.

 

Overall Impressions:

This is a soft, whimsical blend. Undeniably sweet. While I made statements about cotton candy - don't think sticky sweet, it's not. It's incomprably soft. Something dusty, musky and whisper soft - what I would call a musk. It has a musky effect but doesn't smell like most musks do, it's simply something soft that envelops the entire blend. This is a beautiful, classic perfume. I can't think of anything more ladylike and demure. Lovely.

In the Bottle:
Dominant notes: Carnation and plum!
Impressions: These notes are suprisingly beautiful together! The carnation is a beautiful, spicy floral, and the plum is lush and juicy. I couldn't imagine these two together, but really they are perfect in the bottle.

Initial On:
Dominant notes: Carnation and musk.
Impressions: The plum has taken a strange hiatus, and the musk and carnation make this a very spicy blend all of a sudden. It's still lovely, simple, straighforward and sexy.

After a While:
Persistent notes: Carnation, musk, and the plum does come back, making this spicy, juicy and warm - very sexy and luscious.
Staying power: Very good - I think that the two strong base notes create this effect. Lasts for hours with good throw.

Overall Impressions:
A beautiful, simple, in-your-face blend. Because the major note is Carnation, the floral in this is spicy and subtle. The arabian musk is very spicy after it warms, and the plum adds a lush, sexy dimension. Damn, yeay - this is downright sexy. Simple, warm, and attractive. It's fantastic.

Yay, cookies! Math is hard! Let's bake cookies! (:

 

In the Bottle:

I can smell the scent of the oven, the scent of butter, something a bit tart or lemony, it's not a unified cookie yet, though! Oj, and sugar of course! Pure, sweet baking sugar!

 

Initial On:

Everything melds together once this blend touches my skin - it's as if the ingredients were sitting in the bottle, and they turned to delicious cookie batter and were popped in the oven the minute my skin started to warm them all up!

 

After a While:

Yum, it's as if there are cookies baking on my arms! Mm, after a while, as nearly everything does if it has even a drop of spice, this becomes a bit spicy on me - it smells like cinnamon and nutmeg!

 

Overall Impression:

This is such a wonderful holiday scent, especially with the addition of the spice! It's beautiful and delicious! Yay Beth!

These plums are absolutely juicy, bursting, and covered with sugar. I think it's less like candy and more... well, actual sugared plums! Juicy, fruity, with an extra kick of sweetness.

 

It's pretty intense at first, and seems to last pretty well - though it fades a lot after a few moments.

 

I love fruity scents and this is no exception! It's the plum I hoped to find in Kitsune-Tsuki!