Reviews and Sales Bump
First, please take a look at my updated sales page! Give these lovely smells a home!
I placed my first order from Possets in a while; reviews of what I ordered and what I got as freebies are under here:
Vermont
When I think of Vermont, I think of Ben and Jerry's. I think of maple syrup, I think of a comfortable place which is endlessly fascinating. The Possets version of Vermont is sweet and very smooth but not cloying. Slightly herbal, shot of lime, with a thick overlay of part of the smell of maple syrup. I am finding myself wanting to make a desert of foods which are represented in here. Yummy.
Initial Thoughts: I haven't been delving much into the States yet. I was sort of waiting to see when North Carolina arrived. With Vermont, I was unsure about the idea of lime and maple. But it's here, so I'll test it.
In the Vial: Very foody indeed. At first I'm thinking of graham crust for cheesecake, a lot like the cheesecake bits in BPAL's Pumpkin Cheesecake. And then I get the lime.
Wet: Sweet lime and cake. There are spices, but so far they're quiet, just adding to the overall foody impression.
Drydown: Not much morph on me with this one. Still lime and cheesecake.
Verdict: It's a pretty scent, but I'm not sure if I'd wear it. Let's see if I reach for it.
Missouri
Some of the sweetest nights are had in Missouri. Charmingly proper but unexpectedly lust inducing, this is definitely a nocturnal scent filled with smoldering and unexpected desire. A very perfumy blend without a jot of sugary foodiness about it. Missouri starts off with a cooling lemon fanfare and snuggles down to a very attractive almost ambery background, very light non cloying musk, blue lily, with a background of slight magnolia, and sweet gum resins.
Initial Thoughts: I haven't been doing much with the States yet. I think the mention of lemon and amber is probably what would have made me say "no thanks" to the description.
In the Vial: Definitely a "perfume" smell in that it reminds me of a classic famous scent. Maybe a Chanel...my mom had a treasured bottle of No. 5 on her dresser when I was growing up that I'd steal sniffs from. This is one of the most traditional-seeming fragrances I have experienced since getting pulled into indie perfumers.
Wet: The lemon leaps out first, taking away some of that "perfume" impression. Lemon on top, gentle musk and a bit of floral underneath.
Drydown: The lemon has backed off, leaving some heady florals with a dusting of amber and musk. It's back to feeling more like a "traditional" perfume.
Verdict: I'm not sure I like it on me, but for those looking for a classic, sophisticated scent that doesn't overpower, or a gateway scent for enabling, this would be one to try.
Oregon
To me Oregon has always been like the Uranus of American states, eccentric but with gravitas. One of a kind. Bracing but weirdly enchanting. They say "go away" but I think they mean stick around. Kumquat, something very smooth and foody, very old and very good patchouli (but just a drop) and a super secret ingredient which would have you shaking your head and saying "hunh?" so I won't tell you what it is. But honestly, this is the most curious and compelling combination since Lucy and Desi. Strangely sexy as well, so if you like to be thought of as being strangely sexy, this is the blend for you. The picture is of the meadowlark, which is the state bird of Oregon, it was by Audubon.
Initial Thoughts: Looking at the description, I was probably wary of the foody and the patchouli (even though in general the Possets patchouli works well on me; see also: Pomona).
In the Vial: Definitely buttercream. Probably chocolate. Something fruity. And something that I can't pin down that smells really, really familiar.
Wet: It's more fruity on me, more chocolately, and more whatever-that-is. I don't get much of the buttercream now.
Drydown: I think I must be getting a bit of skin musk, because now it reminds me of an oddly fruity version of Madame X! And finally I get some vanilla and a hint of patchouli to deepen the whole thing.
Verdict: Interesting. Definitely an individual scent. We'll see if I reach for it.
Utah
Many years ago my husband and I visited Bear Lake in Utah. It was raspberry season and we were lucky enough to get the local confection, a raspberry milkshake made with berries picked that day. We took it out to picnic tables around the little kiosk which sold them and the scent of the summer sun hitting the mountain lake, crystalline air, the milky raspberry shakes were at once cooling and comforting. I recreated that idyll here.
Initial Thoughts: I tend to prefer berries when they're muted by lots of other notes.
In the Vial: A berry milkshake indeed! A blast of berry with just a hint of cream in the background. For a moment I have to wonder if I've got Strawberry Heart after it's been electrocuted or something.
Wet: The berry immediately turns to candy on me. There's no trace of cream at the moment.
Drydown: After a while, the creamy note seems to be creeping in ever so slowly. The raspberry is a touch softer and sweeter, not quite so candy-like.
Verdict: I usually say I'm not one for fruity scents. I don't care for raspberry at all. And yet I can't stop sniffing my wrist. I think I must experiment with this one, get to know it a bit better.
Rhode Island
Think of something bracing, curious, and refreshing. Rhode Island is all of those things. There is little which is finer than tea on the lawn of one of the "cottages" at the height of summer and the air is cool and you can sense the sea. Such an interesting place. Not at all sweet and the essence of a "dry" scent, there are small hallucinations which haunt you in the summer, and sometimes you can't tell if you are outside or inside. This perfume captures the beautiful memory, the relaxed good manners of that place. It just quietly states,"I am well bred".
Initial Thoughts: I haven't had much success with tea scents, so I didn't think to try this one.
In the Vial: Cucumber and melon, definitely, giving the impression of water. I can just barely make out the tea in the background, and for all the world it smells like a straight-up Lipton teabag. Odd but not displeasing at all.
Wet: Strongly cucumber on me, and then that tea note rises. It's a rich tea scent...I'm not sure I can pin down what's different about it.
Drydown: The tea has definitely kicked in. It's not hot tea...it's not a warm, cozy tea at all. It's cool and backed by the crisp cucumber. It makes me think of what an afternoon tea might be like on a hot afternoon in Rhode Island, with cucumber sandwiches and iced tea. And yet it doesn't strike me as a foody scent.
Verdict: If you're a tea fan, you should try this. If you're an aquatics fan, try it. I can't make up my mind whether I'd wear it yet.
Hawai'i
Hawai'i is all about the glory of that island community, it's floral treasures. Rich frangiapani, white ginger, and pikaki are some of the grand mixture in this perfume. I have thrown in just a lick of incense, to remind me of the Chinese population of the Islands, and the entire thing is some true magic. I worried how Hawai'i would play in the fall, I shouldn't have. It's stunning.
Initial Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoy BPAL's Pele and intend to get Hi'iaka as part of my next imp lot. So anything with lots of Hawai'ian tropical flowers had to be bought.
In the Bottle: A crush of tropical florals and a wave of fruit. I'm already thinking of putting it in a scent locket.
Wet: I can't put my finger on any one note. It's floral. It's still a little fruity. There's a bit of spice somewhere, grounding it a bit, and maybe just a hint of salty aquatic. Or maybe I'm projecting.
Drydown: The fruity impression fades, leaving a lovely, light blend of florals in its wake.
Verdict: I think I'm in love. This is a perfect floral for when I need a light, gentle fragrance.
Complex Sugar
No feast is complete without an intriguing dessert. Something sweet, very sweet but yet subtle with a hint of something your tongue and mind just keep on chasing around and never quite catching. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, it is that which satisfies completely but leaves you craving more. Complex sugar, the height of civilization, no?
Initial Thoughts: I like sweetness in a lot of scents, though I'm not much of a foody fan. But I had to see what a perfume inspired by pure sugar might smell like.
In the Bottle: Sugary indeed! Very sweet, with something that smells more like brown sugar to me...a hint of depth to the sweet.
Wet: Heh, it almost smells like caramel popcorn, of all things! Sweet in a dark way and I'm getting an edge that really does smell a little salty. Go figure.
Drydown: Hmm. This is definitely taking a turn toward the "not-sweet" on me. I have to inhale for a very long breath before I finally get a decent hit of sugar. But I can't for the life of me pinpoint what it does smell like, except that it's not sweet.
Verdict: Well, this doesn't seem to be working on my skin.
Alaska
Cold, cold, very cold Alaska is the coldest of the US states. But, there is such beauty there: the aurora borealis, the mountains, the wildflowers, the sky, glaciers and a short but breathtakingly beautiful summer. I have tried to recreate Alaska in scent, at least one portrait of it. I managed to get the chill in the air, but the perfume of the riot of summer blossoms as they race the sun every year.
Initial Thoughts: I loved the description immediately, but was superstitious enough to wait until after the elections before ordering this scent. I didn't want a potentially beautiful scent ruined for me by association.
In the Bottle: Definitely snow and chill and florals. It reminds me strongly of a scent I've tried before, but this one is less chilly and more floral. I may have to do some side-by-sides with a few BPALs to see where it's similar.
Wet: I instantly get a blast of freezing minty cold, then some of the flowers begin blooming.
Drydown: The chill remains, with a strong impression of eucalyptus, and the flowers have faded into the deep background. I'm a bit disappointed that the floral is so subtle on me.
Verdict: I'm going to play with this one for a bit before I decide.
Sweet Potato Pie
The silliest of the silly, Sweet Potato Pie is what you just crave even over that almost good-for-you pumpkin pie that your mother keeps on pushing on you. Nope, this is the stuff with the lard/butter crust, the gobs of orange gooey goodness, extra sugar, and cream, very little spice and … you get the picture. No fiber (fiber-free), loaded with trans fats and free radicals, replete with refined white sugar, and rich on oxidants. Yes, it's American self indulgence at its finest. Mmmm, mmmm! Pass the whipped topping, it's Thanksgiving!
Initial Thoughts: I skipped this one last year, not interested in the foody. But I've grown to appreciate a few foody scents here and there and decided to try this one this time.
In the Bottle: Quite foody. My brain keeps trying to tell me it's pumpkin, but my nose knows better. Buttery and bakey with spice and creaminess.
Wet: Wow...I'm amping the spices big time. It's all cinnamon and ginger and clove right now, to the point that my skin is tingling. This is 180 degrees from how it smelled in the bottle. This is actually what I'd expect Gingerbread Crackhouse or Gingerbread Whorehouse to smell like.
Drydown: OK, the spices are backing down just a bit, but not by much. It's a little more foody and it's totally gorgeous, but I can't find the sweet potato anywhere in this.
Verdict: I wish to experiment and see if I grow to love it.
Maude
Maude is as merry as a holly berry. Candy and red fruit, but the bit of the Yule tree keeps it upbeat and fresh and a bit green. If I had to sum this perfume up in one word, it would be "perky". I think of the bustle of the kitchen and the hanging of tinsel with this one. The perfect scent for the holidays; and if you wear Maude, be prepared to be complimented and maybe even catch a kiss under the mistletoe!
Initial Thoughts: I skipped this one last year, unsure about the red fruits (currants and cherries don't tend to smell good on me). But then I went back and noticed the mention of pine and firs, which are part of my favoritest Christmas scents evah.
In the Bottle: Whew! Cherry cough syrup! I can't smell anything else right now.
Wet: OK, now it's more like cherry cough drops, sweeter than in the bottle but still red fruit all the way.
Drydown: The fruit mellows and finally stops feeling medicine-y. I think the greenery is trying to emerge, but it's being very slow and quiet about it. It's tempered the red fruit a great deal but isn't coming into its own on me.
Verdict: Maybe. I'm going to try this one again and see.
I placed my first order from Possets in a while; reviews of what I ordered and what I got as freebies are under here:
Vermont
When I think of Vermont, I think of Ben and Jerry's. I think of maple syrup, I think of a comfortable place which is endlessly fascinating. The Possets version of Vermont is sweet and very smooth but not cloying. Slightly herbal, shot of lime, with a thick overlay of part of the smell of maple syrup. I am finding myself wanting to make a desert of foods which are represented in here. Yummy.
Initial Thoughts: I haven't been delving much into the States yet. I was sort of waiting to see when North Carolina arrived. With Vermont, I was unsure about the idea of lime and maple. But it's here, so I'll test it.
In the Vial: Very foody indeed. At first I'm thinking of graham crust for cheesecake, a lot like the cheesecake bits in BPAL's Pumpkin Cheesecake. And then I get the lime.
Wet: Sweet lime and cake. There are spices, but so far they're quiet, just adding to the overall foody impression.
Drydown: Not much morph on me with this one. Still lime and cheesecake.
Verdict: It's a pretty scent, but I'm not sure if I'd wear it. Let's see if I reach for it.
Missouri
Some of the sweetest nights are had in Missouri. Charmingly proper but unexpectedly lust inducing, this is definitely a nocturnal scent filled with smoldering and unexpected desire. A very perfumy blend without a jot of sugary foodiness about it. Missouri starts off with a cooling lemon fanfare and snuggles down to a very attractive almost ambery background, very light non cloying musk, blue lily, with a background of slight magnolia, and sweet gum resins.
Initial Thoughts: I haven't been doing much with the States yet. I think the mention of lemon and amber is probably what would have made me say "no thanks" to the description.
In the Vial: Definitely a "perfume" smell in that it reminds me of a classic famous scent. Maybe a Chanel...my mom had a treasured bottle of No. 5 on her dresser when I was growing up that I'd steal sniffs from. This is one of the most traditional-seeming fragrances I have experienced since getting pulled into indie perfumers.
Wet: The lemon leaps out first, taking away some of that "perfume" impression. Lemon on top, gentle musk and a bit of floral underneath.
Drydown: The lemon has backed off, leaving some heady florals with a dusting of amber and musk. It's back to feeling more like a "traditional" perfume.
Verdict: I'm not sure I like it on me, but for those looking for a classic, sophisticated scent that doesn't overpower, or a gateway scent for enabling, this would be one to try.
Oregon
To me Oregon has always been like the Uranus of American states, eccentric but with gravitas. One of a kind. Bracing but weirdly enchanting. They say "go away" but I think they mean stick around. Kumquat, something very smooth and foody, very old and very good patchouli (but just a drop) and a super secret ingredient which would have you shaking your head and saying "hunh?" so I won't tell you what it is. But honestly, this is the most curious and compelling combination since Lucy and Desi. Strangely sexy as well, so if you like to be thought of as being strangely sexy, this is the blend for you. The picture is of the meadowlark, which is the state bird of Oregon, it was by Audubon.
Initial Thoughts: Looking at the description, I was probably wary of the foody and the patchouli (even though in general the Possets patchouli works well on me; see also: Pomona).
In the Vial: Definitely buttercream. Probably chocolate. Something fruity. And something that I can't pin down that smells really, really familiar.
Wet: It's more fruity on me, more chocolately, and more whatever-that-is. I don't get much of the buttercream now.
Drydown: I think I must be getting a bit of skin musk, because now it reminds me of an oddly fruity version of Madame X! And finally I get some vanilla and a hint of patchouli to deepen the whole thing.
Verdict: Interesting. Definitely an individual scent. We'll see if I reach for it.
Utah
Many years ago my husband and I visited Bear Lake in Utah. It was raspberry season and we were lucky enough to get the local confection, a raspberry milkshake made with berries picked that day. We took it out to picnic tables around the little kiosk which sold them and the scent of the summer sun hitting the mountain lake, crystalline air, the milky raspberry shakes were at once cooling and comforting. I recreated that idyll here.
Initial Thoughts: I tend to prefer berries when they're muted by lots of other notes.
In the Vial: A berry milkshake indeed! A blast of berry with just a hint of cream in the background. For a moment I have to wonder if I've got Strawberry Heart after it's been electrocuted or something.
Wet: The berry immediately turns to candy on me. There's no trace of cream at the moment.
Drydown: After a while, the creamy note seems to be creeping in ever so slowly. The raspberry is a touch softer and sweeter, not quite so candy-like.
Verdict: I usually say I'm not one for fruity scents. I don't care for raspberry at all. And yet I can't stop sniffing my wrist. I think I must experiment with this one, get to know it a bit better.
Rhode Island
Think of something bracing, curious, and refreshing. Rhode Island is all of those things. There is little which is finer than tea on the lawn of one of the "cottages" at the height of summer and the air is cool and you can sense the sea. Such an interesting place. Not at all sweet and the essence of a "dry" scent, there are small hallucinations which haunt you in the summer, and sometimes you can't tell if you are outside or inside. This perfume captures the beautiful memory, the relaxed good manners of that place. It just quietly states,"I am well bred".
Initial Thoughts: I haven't had much success with tea scents, so I didn't think to try this one.
In the Vial: Cucumber and melon, definitely, giving the impression of water. I can just barely make out the tea in the background, and for all the world it smells like a straight-up Lipton teabag. Odd but not displeasing at all.
Wet: Strongly cucumber on me, and then that tea note rises. It's a rich tea scent...I'm not sure I can pin down what's different about it.
Drydown: The tea has definitely kicked in. It's not hot tea...it's not a warm, cozy tea at all. It's cool and backed by the crisp cucumber. It makes me think of what an afternoon tea might be like on a hot afternoon in Rhode Island, with cucumber sandwiches and iced tea. And yet it doesn't strike me as a foody scent.
Verdict: If you're a tea fan, you should try this. If you're an aquatics fan, try it. I can't make up my mind whether I'd wear it yet.
Hawai'i
Hawai'i is all about the glory of that island community, it's floral treasures. Rich frangiapani, white ginger, and pikaki are some of the grand mixture in this perfume. I have thrown in just a lick of incense, to remind me of the Chinese population of the Islands, and the entire thing is some true magic. I worried how Hawai'i would play in the fall, I shouldn't have. It's stunning.
Initial Thoughts: I thoroughly enjoy BPAL's Pele and intend to get Hi'iaka as part of my next imp lot. So anything with lots of Hawai'ian tropical flowers had to be bought.
In the Bottle: A crush of tropical florals and a wave of fruit. I'm already thinking of putting it in a scent locket.
Wet: I can't put my finger on any one note. It's floral. It's still a little fruity. There's a bit of spice somewhere, grounding it a bit, and maybe just a hint of salty aquatic. Or maybe I'm projecting.
Drydown: The fruity impression fades, leaving a lovely, light blend of florals in its wake.
Verdict: I think I'm in love. This is a perfect floral for when I need a light, gentle fragrance.
Complex Sugar
No feast is complete without an intriguing dessert. Something sweet, very sweet but yet subtle with a hint of something your tongue and mind just keep on chasing around and never quite catching. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, it is that which satisfies completely but leaves you craving more. Complex sugar, the height of civilization, no?
Initial Thoughts: I like sweetness in a lot of scents, though I'm not much of a foody fan. But I had to see what a perfume inspired by pure sugar might smell like.
In the Bottle: Sugary indeed! Very sweet, with something that smells more like brown sugar to me...a hint of depth to the sweet.
Wet: Heh, it almost smells like caramel popcorn, of all things! Sweet in a dark way and I'm getting an edge that really does smell a little salty. Go figure.
Drydown: Hmm. This is definitely taking a turn toward the "not-sweet" on me. I have to inhale for a very long breath before I finally get a decent hit of sugar. But I can't for the life of me pinpoint what it does smell like, except that it's not sweet.
Verdict: Well, this doesn't seem to be working on my skin.
Alaska
Cold, cold, very cold Alaska is the coldest of the US states. But, there is such beauty there: the aurora borealis, the mountains, the wildflowers, the sky, glaciers and a short but breathtakingly beautiful summer. I have tried to recreate Alaska in scent, at least one portrait of it. I managed to get the chill in the air, but the perfume of the riot of summer blossoms as they race the sun every year.
Initial Thoughts: I loved the description immediately, but was superstitious enough to wait until after the elections before ordering this scent. I didn't want a potentially beautiful scent ruined for me by association.
In the Bottle: Definitely snow and chill and florals. It reminds me strongly of a scent I've tried before, but this one is less chilly and more floral. I may have to do some side-by-sides with a few BPALs to see where it's similar.
Wet: I instantly get a blast of freezing minty cold, then some of the flowers begin blooming.
Drydown: The chill remains, with a strong impression of eucalyptus, and the flowers have faded into the deep background. I'm a bit disappointed that the floral is so subtle on me.
Verdict: I'm going to play with this one for a bit before I decide.
Sweet Potato Pie
The silliest of the silly, Sweet Potato Pie is what you just crave even over that almost good-for-you pumpkin pie that your mother keeps on pushing on you. Nope, this is the stuff with the lard/butter crust, the gobs of orange gooey goodness, extra sugar, and cream, very little spice and … you get the picture. No fiber (fiber-free), loaded with trans fats and free radicals, replete with refined white sugar, and rich on oxidants. Yes, it's American self indulgence at its finest. Mmmm, mmmm! Pass the whipped topping, it's Thanksgiving!
Initial Thoughts: I skipped this one last year, not interested in the foody. But I've grown to appreciate a few foody scents here and there and decided to try this one this time.
In the Bottle: Quite foody. My brain keeps trying to tell me it's pumpkin, but my nose knows better. Buttery and bakey with spice and creaminess.
Wet: Wow...I'm amping the spices big time. It's all cinnamon and ginger and clove right now, to the point that my skin is tingling. This is 180 degrees from how it smelled in the bottle. This is actually what I'd expect Gingerbread Crackhouse or Gingerbread Whorehouse to smell like.
Drydown: OK, the spices are backing down just a bit, but not by much. It's a little more foody and it's totally gorgeous, but I can't find the sweet potato anywhere in this.
Verdict: I wish to experiment and see if I grow to love it.
Maude
Maude is as merry as a holly berry. Candy and red fruit, but the bit of the Yule tree keeps it upbeat and fresh and a bit green. If I had to sum this perfume up in one word, it would be "perky". I think of the bustle of the kitchen and the hanging of tinsel with this one. The perfect scent for the holidays; and if you wear Maude, be prepared to be complimented and maybe even catch a kiss under the mistletoe!
Initial Thoughts: I skipped this one last year, unsure about the red fruits (currants and cherries don't tend to smell good on me). But then I went back and noticed the mention of pine and firs, which are part of my favoritest Christmas scents evah.
In the Bottle: Whew! Cherry cough syrup! I can't smell anything else right now.
Wet: OK, now it's more like cherry cough drops, sweeter than in the bottle but still red fruit all the way.
Drydown: The fruit mellows and finally stops feeling medicine-y. I think the greenery is trying to emerge, but it's being very slow and quiet about it. It's tempered the red fruit a great deal but isn't coming into its own on me.
Verdict: Maybe. I'm going to try this one again and see.