Reviews galore!
Skadi: The Snow-Shoe Goddess, Giantess, the Norse embodiment of winter. Frost-rimed winter berries, crisp pine needle, and a slush of bright snowy notes. (Gender neutral)
In the bottle this smells sweet with a touch of sharp pine. On my skin it is very fresh, and reminds me of expensive men's cologne. As it dries, it gets sweeter and less masculine in scent, though I'd still hazard that this is one for the men of the room. It's a nice, winter scent but my skin gobbled it up within seconds. One for the swap pile.
Niflheim: The House of Mists, a land of icy fog, shadowy darkness and soul-chilling cold. Dark, damp blossoms winding through an impenetrable, murky gloom. (Gender neutral)
In the bottle: stale wood?
On my skin: light and airy, quite cold, with a citrus bite. There's still that woody scent, which settles into a complex undertone. On the drydown this is a light, pretty, and fresh scent; nothing gloomy or impenetrable about it, in my opinion. :) I'm unsure about this one, so it's going into my "maybe" pile.
Djinn: An ancient, free-willed race created from the essence of Fire, much as man was created from Earth. They prowled the land at night, vanishing with the first rays of dawn. Myths surrounding the Djinn paint them as many things: benevolent champions of mankind and slaves to mad sorcerers, malicious incubi / succubi and energy vampires, or malevolent harbingers of madness and disease. The Djinn are ruled by Iblis, the Prince of Darkness, who bears unspeakable contempt for man. The scent of black smoke, of crackling flames, and smoldering ashes.
In the bottle: I can't place any of the notes, actually. Maybe a little smoky?
On my skin: This one is surprising because it's so fresh once it makes contact with my skin. It's very much like Niflheim, but with a smokier, woodier undertone. Like Skadi, though, my skin eats this up in minutes. Usually I'd swap this, but a kind soul gave me a frimp of this with one of those old, beautiful labels, so I'm keeping it for that. :)
Yuletide: The juice of ripe, bursting, blood red holly berries.
In the bottle: Mmmm, sweet berries and a hint of sharp pine!
On my skin: Woah! Where did that delicious spice come from? This smells like really fruity mulled wine on my skin, with that gorgeous spice and pine undertone. It's delicious! This works beautifully as a winter perfume or room scent. Again, alas, my skin tends to gobble this up, but it's worth re-application. A keeper. :)
Delight: In ancient India it was believed that a specific combination of flower petals, when strewn across a couple's bed, would amplify desire and sexual pleasure. This blend is a blend of the same floral essences, refined into a gloriously sinful perfume blend. Frangipani, with rose, tuberose, and jasmine.
In the bottle: floral and very, very sweet.
On my skin: Cola syrup. Very odd. ^^;; Then the florals come out and they're very deep and pretty, but not my thing. I was all set to put this in the swap pile, but 30 minutes later this turns into the most delicious cherry-floral scent! It even has a light, spicy undertone that reminds me of incense. And look! OMG! There's jasmine in it and it doesn't make me sick! *does a happy dance* A keeper for sure! Plus, this gives me hope for The Perfumed Garden, which I ordered before discovering that jasmine is not good on me. ^^;;
Centzon Totochtin: The Four Hundred divine rabbits of the Aztec pantheon that preside over parties and drunkenness. Bittersweet Mexican cocoa with rum, red wine, and a scent redolent of sacrificial blood. (Gender neutral)
In the bottle: Oh yuck! Cloyingly sweet and very heavily foody.
On my skin: deep, over-sweet coffee and caramel. *gag* It's like Elegba all over again! Dun like it! Bleck! *scrubs it off*
Ophelia: Wistful and vulnerable: lotus, water blossom ivy, stargazer lily and white rose.
In the bottle: sweet, girly florals.
On my skin: Lily and rose; very deep without being overpowering. This is light, airy, and very very pretty. I'm not entirely sure whether to keep this or not. As a scent it makes me think of women older than myself (30s or 40s), or even a funeral or wedding blend, something sweet and gentle that you wear whilst remembering or celebrating someone's life. For now it stays just because it's so darn evocative, but it might be swapped away at a later date.
Neo Tokyo: A scent that captures a meeting of the serenity and elegance of ancient Japan, the vibrant, shining, neon-lit and ultra-modern splendor of today's Tokyo and the fantastic electric fantasyland of post-modern manga fantasy. Urban metallics and an ozone-tinged breath of electric light mingled with reedy bamboo, crisp mountain air, cherry blossoms, delicate orchid and a splash of playful, wet fruits. (Gender neutral)
In the bottle: bright, sharp citrus and something that is similar to wood or even tea (maybe the bamboo?).
On my skin: Not what I expected! I thought it would be very fresh and light but it's very sweet, even syrupy, with an odd note that almost smells like spearmint (which makes no sense when you look at the description). As it dries down, I like this less, however. It loses some of the sweetness and throw, and just isn't as impressive. Another "maybe" or possible swap.
Scherezade: A master storyteller who possessed unfailing courage and compassion, a sharp, quick wit, and a true understanding of human nature. Saffron and Middle Eastern spices swirled through sensual red musk.
In the bottle: very soft resin.
On my skin: Oh my! SO beautiful! I can smell something sweet, like cherry, and this gorgeous, complex swirl of resin/incense notes. The throw is fantastic, and the drydown only deepens this truly gorgeous scent.
If this is what musk smells like on me then I'm even more tempted to place on order for Smut. But then, booze notes clearly do NOT work on me. Ahh, decisions! *breathes deep* Must be strong. .. must avoid Paypal. .