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Showing results for tags 'Shungas 2016'.
Found 39 results
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Lemon peel and white sandalwood with sweet amber and black tea. This one is a bit of an odd duck. From the tester, it smells like an oily paper umbrella to the point that I was questioning whether to spritz or not. I ended up using a tiny bit, and the strongest note you get is lemon, sandalwood and then amber. It actually smells pretty clean and fresh. Very spring-like. If you simply went with what it smelled like at first sniff from the spritzer, you probably wouldn't spray it!
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Tangerine, red musk, ti leaf, vanilla orchid, and white honey. Secrets of the Hanamachi smells like citrusy musk, a touch of honey, and orchids. It's a contrast of pleasant florals with a very sexy background. Definitely asian in vibe.
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Sandalwood, tiare, white oudh, and white amber. Origin: Straight from the Post Original Thoughts: I love tiare. I like the idea of sandalwood, though it often amps on my skin. Amber is in that family of frankincense/musk/patchouli notes that amp massively on me if they're dark but can work if they're light. I haven't seen white amber listed as a note and definitely not white oudh before. In the Bottle: Rich and evocative sweet sandalwood and amber with a thread of tiare. Applying: All the sandalwood and amber. But they are light rather than heavy. Very like the smoke in the name. Drying: The tiare develops and blends beautifully with the other notes. It's a bit more amber than sandalwood now. Wearing: This doesn't seem to have a lot of throw, which is okay with me since I like wearing my hair glosses to work. It's very subtle but really sexy. Verdict: I cannot stop sniffing my hair. This suggests that I might need a backup bottle or two, especially with an amber scent I can wear without amping.
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Dried blue and indigo fruits, iris root, and white oudh. This is a dark, heavy sort of floral. The dried fruit is just that, dry. It actually has a more wine-like quality to it than you'd think reading the description. This feels close and romantic., not bright and airy like I was picturing. The name actually makes a whole lot of sense: It feels like you're in a lady's parlor after dinner and drinks in some sort of Victorian or Edwardian manor house playing cards in mixed company. Scandelous and feminine. I don't actually think I would like to wear it but I do think I would like to be in a room with cocktails and a fancy dress that smelled like this.
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Chinese peony aflutter with gilded vanilla, sweet honey, peach, and spiced carnation. I've been super sick, so I should probably formally review this when my nose is working properly, but this scent is gorrrrgeous and doesn't have any reviews yet, so here goes! Y'all, this bath oil is amazing. It smells like stewed peaches with a little whipped cream stirred in. There's not a ton of whipped cream (this is probably the gilded vanilla note), but it's definitely there. The honeyed peaches, however, are the star of the show. I surprisingly don't smell any carnation, which is usually such a strong scent, and the peony seems to be freshening things up a bit so that the overall scent is not too foody. But if you like the Honeyed Peaches and Sugared Peaches bath oils, then pick this one up! Fluttered Peonies is like a more delicate, refined (I feel ridiculous typing that, but it's true!), slightly less foody version of those.
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Blood orange, wood amber, and white tea. I put three squirts of this in my hair and it still smells strongly several hours later. next time I will use a little less. I LOVE this scent! The wood amber is lovely, no woody smell or pencil shavings. It somehow smells clear and not at all fuzzy or powdery if that makes sense. Blood orange blends with the amber, if you hate the creamsickle effect that orange plus vanilla can have you probably will not like this one, at least not in your hair. To me, the amber smells deeper and more complicated than vanilla and it adds up to something absolutely amazing. I can't really smell the tea but there is a brightness to the scent that could be from white tea. This is glorious and I could wear it anywhere. It smells very familiar, like a scent I've smelled before but I can't remember what. It is a bit similar to Tocca Stella (but richer, more complex and longer lasting) and in the same family as Chantecaille Frangipane although it has been a long time since I smelled that and I could be mis-remembering. On my wrist the amber comes out more. It smells less casual, sexier. I need at least another bottle of this, possibly two. I will not be spraying all the things because that would mean less to spray on me! Edited to add: I could still smell it on my hair the next morning. I love this but am thinking I might try some Ithe hair glosses before I decide which one to get backups of.
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Sugared red musk, cardamom, and honey. I ADORE all three of the notes in this, and have never had any of them go "wrong" on me, so I was hoping this would be divine... And it friggin well is, like I can't even tell you. Like, eyes roll back up in your head good. The red musk and honey are perfectly balanced, and the cardamom makes this unique and interesting. I LOVE it. Love. It will pair beautifully with any sweeter perfumes containing red musk - I can't wait to wear it with Now Winter Nights Enlarge. Make no mistake, this is sexy. Like, verging on not being able to wear it to work because no one (including me) who smelled it would be able to concentrate... Red musk lovers, go get you some, and spray it on all the things.
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Strawberry cream, white musk, and orris root. Ooh it appears I'm first I tried Enveloped in silk yesterday but I've been dealing with a cold so I wasn't sure if my nose was being 100% honest with me. I can say however, that this HG smelled absolutely amazing regardless! It reminds me of strawberry ice cream and bizarrely... I get a slight whiff of dr.pepper lip smackers. This is a good thing though. I wonder if dr. pepper is made with orris root?! Upon waking up this morning I realized that my nose was finally working and my first instinct was to sniff my hair. AHHHH it smells so good. Sexy, creamy strawberry musk. It smells exactly like its description. Simple. I'm concerned that I'm gonna have to get several more bottles of this.
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Green tea, juniper leaf, and honeyed green apple. Note: I'm reviewing this as a moisturizer and not as a product that I tested in the bath. In the bottle: The honeyed green apple is the first note to jump out at me. The green tea is quite prominent as well, and so is the juniper leaf, which has a bit of a sharp quality to it. The honeyed green apple note is so realistic, and I hope it will be the main player on my skin, since I'm out of Honeyed Apple bath oil. On my skin: The juniper leaf is the dominant note on my skin, and it is rather sharp and, well, leafy. The honeyed green apple note is present, but not as sweet as it was in the bottle, and the combination of the green tea with the juniper leaf just makes this smell like a clean, green scent. The green apple is stronger on my arm than it is on my legs, and I can smell it more than the juniper leaf after it has been dry for several hours, but by this point, the scent is rather faint. Verdict: This doesn't really fill the void of Honeyed Apple bath oil, as it is primarily a clean scent as opposed to an apple scent. I will be holding onto my bottle to use during the warmer months and to pair with scents that contain one or more of these notes, but I don't need more of it.
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French lavender, white frankincense, Himalayan cedar, and jasmine sambac absolute. I was hesitant to be the first to review this (such a responsibility!) since I am laid VERY low by the flu and suspect my sniffer is not up to par. That said, I received my order yesterday (including this and Recollection bath oil and a jar of Lust Smooch) and when I am sick, a hot bath is truly the ONLY thing that makes me feel better (and even then only when I'm in the tub) ... I figured even if I couldn't smell it, the therapeutic properties of lavender would be good for me so I poured a little bit of this into the tub. And, amazingly, I ABSOLUTELY could smell it ... and it is divine! I've always been a little bit bummed that there are not more lavender products (any lavender products?) in the BPTP thermae line because the Lab's lavender scent is so fabulous, alone and in combinations with other scents (still hoping for a lavender/chocolate blend!). This is VERY lavender-heavy, at least to my flu-burnt-out nose. I actually got zero jasmine from it (and I like jasmine) ... I suspect the sandalwood and cedar contributed to the soft, round fullness of the overall scent. But basically I was able to float in a soft, hot bathtub with lovely lavender wafting into my sinuses ... and for about a half-hour I was painfree. Maybe when I'm healthy I will be able to pick out the other notes as well ... but if it stays like this, lavender with benefits, I'll be very happy. I realize I will probably never get my dream bath oil, Envy, but this is by far the next best thing!
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Labdanum incense, wild plum, and pink pepper with smoky vetiver, red clover honey, and saffron. On me this smells like dark and beautiful plum incense. It's not too dark but couldn't rightly be qualified as sweet either. It feels so balanced. I'm not familiar enough with vetiver or labdinum to pick out which is which, but they don't feel too dark or grungy like I was worried they would. The pink pepper and saffron and red clover honey balance it all out. What results is something just about perfect. It's another scent that I love and is going to age beautifully. I'm very happy with my bottle purchase.
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Gunpowder tea, yellow bergamot, white thyme, blackcurrant, red mandarin, wormwood, neroli, and green musk. This scent came across as a bright citrus on me. The wormwood(? I think, I'm not very familiar with it) comes across in the dry down making it a little more green. The currant is light, but present. Overall, a sweet, citrusy green scent. Doesn't last too long on my skin, but it's worth carrying around to reapply!
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Hazelnut smoke and leather with dark musk, white cognac, caramelized vetiver, and a drop of honeyed whiskey. First review! Such responsibility. In the bottle and first on, this is a delicious sweet liqueur of smoky hazelnut and caramel (it smells like coffee liqueur to me, though that isn't listed in the notes). The leather makes an appearance, then a slightly powdery musk. The earthy vetiver fills in. At this point, it's a thick, rich scent, both foodie and substantial, like the smell of a shadowy lounge with leather-lined booths, whiskey and cognac glowing golden on the dark table. On me, the musk dominates over time, and then the scent fades back to a gentle hazelnut trace. This is delightful, though I wish it hung around more on me.
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Iris root, gleaming orris, pearlescent white vanilla, sweet coconut milk, and pear stem. I'm very into creamy white scents so I jumped on bottle! The pear stem and coconut milk were what I was looking most forward to about this scent. In the bottle: Very light and sweet. The orris root gives it a soft violet-like vibe. There's a little green from the pear steam. It's creamy but I can't detect the coconut or vanilla specifically. On wet: The orris develops, and is strongly iris. The vanilla is floating around but it's not super sweet either. The testing patch on my chest has apparent coconut where my wrist does not. Dry: Creamy, and delicate. The orris root is the star but it's subdued, soft and reminiscent of candy. The coconut milk and vanilla creates a creamy base, and the pear stem adds a freshness. It's just the tiniest bit of green tartness. So perfect for spring. Overall: Very beautiful, and if I didn't have so many creamy scents already I'd definitely keep it! If the pear stem was more prominent it'd be no question. Since orris is similar to violet I think those fans will be into this, it's definitely an interesting variation on that tune. This could also be for people who want to like violet but find it too bold.
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White rose, orris absolute, warm tonka, bergamot, bourbon vanilla, and patchouli. First time to be the first to review a scent, apologies to the mods if I do this wrong In the bottle: a fruity wine-like smell, I'm guessing it to be the mix of the Rose, Orris and bergamot. Unexpected Wet on skin: same thing, rather fruity in a wine-like way or almost inky. Strange but I really like it! Drying: Starts to smell a bit floral soapy, not the biggest fan of this faze but it still smells nice. probably the Bergamot has faded and I'm left with Rose and Orris making it soapy, Haven't gotten the Vanilla or Patch yet, unless it's a fruity patchouli (which would really explain the opening). Dry: The soapiness is gone and I'm left with a pleasant clean (as in fresh air) floral, white rose with a slightly powdery orris and something (must be vanilla) lending some sweetness.
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Golden amber and mahogany with frankincense, ho wood, and frothed white honey. The Gift is a warm, radiant scent. It glows softly but surely--a burnished golden fragrance that is strong but not overwhelming. I was worried that the honey might be too sweet or gooey, but the wood notes keep both the honey and amber from getting too sticky or powdery. It's the olfactory equivalent of sitting in front of a gently crackling fireplace on a chilly night (without any of the bonfire/burning scent associations, if that makes sense). Or maybe snuggling up under the covers with someone you love--waves of comforting, cozy body heat. Truly lovely.
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Black amber, Ceylon cinnamon, Somalian myrrh, and pale incense laced with star anise. Very much star anise over a lovely myrrh and a hint of cinnamon. It's quite close to skin, which is odd for me (I amp most of these notes). I think this one is going to need some time to smooth out - I'm going to hold onto it and see if the anise will quiet a little over time.
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Wild plum, blackcurrant, honeyed green tea, wisteria, and a flutter of cherry blossoms. Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I will always pay attention when wisteria is in the mix. I love that scent and there are not nearly enough perfumes out there that feature it. There were no deal-breaker notes involved, though tea sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I'm hoping for yet another distinctive oriental floral like other Shungas I've fallen for in past years. In the Bottle: Plum and blackcurrant are the strong notes here, with the other notes playing background. Almost juicy and fresh. Wet: I think I'm getting the wisteria and some tea, but the blackcurrant will not be budged from its place. It's a little darker and sexier now than in was in the bottle. Drydown: On the one hand, I'm getting more wisteria and cherry blossom as the fruits back down. On the other hand, something is smelling really musty all of a sudden and I can't figure out what. Verdict: I think I'm going to sit on this one a few days. I am getting over the flu and maybe the meds I'm taking are monkeying with my skin chemistry. I think it's got the potential to be a lovely spring scent heavy on the fruit and I want to love it.
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Beeswax and hay absolute with sweet hops, pumpkin rind, and tobacco. This is definitely the same pumpkin/hay combination that I smell from my bottle of Pumpkin I from 2012 and I love it. There is a tiny tiny hint of beeswax lending a creaminess with the tobacco and the other Autumnal notes. I don't detect any hops at all and that's just fine. This is very much a Autumn scent and I think I will put it away until then. It is very stunning and definitely unisex.
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Blue musk, white frankincense, wisteria blossoms, and lemon peel. This one smells like the most delightful spring night! The wisteria is blooming and there is a faint balmy breeze. It's soft but potent at the same time. I'm getting a bit of the lemon peel at first, but after a while it is gone, leaving only breaths of fresh dewy night air and clusters of beautiful wisteria blossoms. So lovely!
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White peony and Florentine iris butter gilded by white ambrette, rice powder, grey amber, pale vegetal musk, and white chocolate. This perfume is very much fresh, melty chocolate as a top note from the bottle. It's definitely not a very dark chocolate, but I'm getting the milk/white or cocoa butter vibe from the initial blast. This reminds me very much of the No One Heard Her But the Sparrows atmosphere spray and this shouldn't be a surprise as it contains similar notes of white chocolate, iris, and grey amber! I'm actually not getting too much peony, which is sad. This reads to me, as a slightly dusty, foody chocolate-floral blend, very much like the atmosphere spray. This is wonderful, as it's a very nice spray, and now I can smell like it!
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Jasmine tea, mate, and yellow bergamot. The Teapot is pretty and refreshing! On my skin it is fresh and bright. The Jasmine is soft and pretty, the bergamot sunny and yellow. I'm not too familiar with mate so I can't say for sure if I'm picking up on it. It's a well blended scent. Overall, this is a very pretty tea scent with lovely soft but sunny floral tones. I imagine I'll enjoy wearing this a lot in the spring and summer.
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White sandalwood, ti leaf, osmanthus, pink pepper, and white vanilla bark. This is heavy on the tea and pink pepper! I don't get a lot of osmanthus. The sandalwood sits in the background and makes the scent a little more soft and dusty, although I wouldn't characterize this as powdery at all. It is a very spring-like and fresh scent with a little kick from the pepper, and it would also work very well for summer, I think.
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Iris blossom, violet leaf, grey amber, soft white leather, a drop of coconut and a sliver of angelica seed. Something about this combination isn't working with my skin chemistry. I get a sense of what the light-colored amber/coconut/leather should smell like, and it's beautiful, but on me there is also a very strong, almost chemical smell happening that is overpowering the scent. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that the only type of coconut that works on me is the black variety, and the only leather I can wear is brown, since both black and white go chemical-y.
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Pendulous blue wisteria, white peonies, ho wood, magnolia petals, plum juice, and red benzoin. This is a very strong, very 'present' floral with perhaps an undertone of benzoin. I don't smell the plum juice at all. There's a slightly spicy quality here as well as something that almost tips into sour territory, but not quite. Floral aficionados will probably enjoy this very much, as wisteria and peony are very distinctive. I prefer my florals with some musk or a resin that has a bit more presence than the benzoin has here. I will say that the drydown is very pretty, when my beloved magnolia makes more of an appearance. I will reach for this when in the mood for a distinctive non-rose floral, perhaps.
