[Multi] Reviews
Here's a bunch more reviews I've done over the past 2 weeks... hope you enjoy them...
PS: Did we ever find out who the winner was for the January Review Contest?
THE RAVEN: Sleek, dark, and ominous. Violet and neroli mingled with iris, white sandalwood and dark musk.
In Bottle: Violet
On Skin: The violet is the dominant note, very pretty and purple. The sandalwood is coming in second. It gives a nice clean woody note that to me seems a little more masculine than normal. The iris is very light, the violet pretty much owns the iris here. :) The musk is also light and hides in the back ground but shows itself enough to deepen the scent and give it a solid base. It reminds me of this little scented Charmkin toy I had when I was a kid… Overall, not my kind of scent, but quite beautiful. I love the mood it creates and it does remind me of a sleek jet black raven. Beth is amazing once again.
WOLF’S HEART: Grants courage under extreme conditions, helps overcome fear of death, and strengthens the fortitude of artists and businessmen, enabling them to further their goals.
In Bottle: Dragon’s Blood
On Skin: Dragon’s Blood jumps out right away, no mistaking that scent. There is also a soft spice, cinnamon maybe but at least it’s not making my nose burn. It’s comforting and warm but reminds me of several of Beth’s other Dragon’s Blood blends… it doesn’t seem as original to me. I would love to see if it works though, if I had read this description this morning I would have had my husband wear it to his job interview ealrier today…
KUMIHO: Nine-tailed fox demon of Korean lore who transforms into the visage of an irresistible beauty in order to seduce men and lead them to their doom. A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.
In Bottle: Tea
On Skin: I don’t know tea too well, but I thought it smelled like green tea. Maybe it’s the citrus in it. This is a very bright juicy scent that reminds me a lot of Holiday Moon and Shanghai. The ginger is soft, it doesn’t scream out but still echos throughout the scent. A beautiful warm spring scent, again making me think of tea houses and aisian themes. I love the green feel it gives and how vibrant it is. A little tart and extreme for me, but a gorgeous scent nonetheless.
EUPHROSYNE: Gardenia, tea rose, vanilla and jasmine.
In Bottle: Vanilla Floral
On Skin: Wow! I did not think I’d like this, rose and florals are not my thing. But this is so sweet and creamy! Wait… I spoke too soon. Plastic, yes plastic. Sadly it has completely morphed into an articial plastic smell. That was fast, within a minute of putting it on. The florals are melted into the vanilla and something has gummed them up, not sure what but it’s not working on me. Too bad because it smelled divine in the bottle and on my skin for the first 30 seconds…
AMSTERDAM: Tulips, peony, fresh flowing water and crisp green grasses.
In Bottle: Floral ozone
On Skin: Now this is pretty. It is so delicate and the lovely water note reminds me of elegance and purity. It smells so clean and bright white, a little soapy though and a bit sharp on the nose. Not exactly what I think of when I think of Amsterdam… giggle. The florals are light and sweet. The grasses are dominated by the ozone note, I wouldn’t call this a planty or grassy scent. I think this scent should just be called Holland because I think more of the countryside with this scent than of the Red Light district that comes to mind when I hear Amsterdam.
PRIDE: Vanity in extremis. The scent of rabid hauteur: Moroccan rose and narcissus.
On Bottle: Floral extreme
On Skin: Soap… very, very soapy. Rose soap to be exact. This scent fits it’s description well. I ca totally see a stuck up, older plastic surgery obsessed woman wearing this. 100% pure vanity. It is very sharp, the rose isn’t sweet at all. Rose is one of my least favorite floral scents so this one just isn’t me… so much so I need to rinse it off. It makes my eyes water it is so pungent.
LEANAN SIDHE: Her perfume is a crush of Irish herbs and flowers, Gaelic mists, and nighttime dew.
In Bottle: Soap
On Skin: Wow… Irish Spring? Not trying to be funny, but it is quite soapy on me. And very masculine. An ozone scent with a green feel. The florals mix with the herbs well, I can’t pick out a specific note at all. I love that I can envision a misty Irish moor (sp?) in the early evening just as the sun has finished setting. It is pretty and fits the description well, but it is not me at all. I would like to smell it on a man maybe.
DEBAUCHERY: A sinful, licentious scent: self-indulgent and luxurious. Mingled heady civet and red Egyptian musk, thickened with opium.
In Bottle: Feral musk
On Skin: Hi there civet, you aren’t shy are you? Egads this one bowls you over with the feral civet note. Yes, this is heady, they weren’t joking in the description. The civet combined with the very deep musk and taken even further into the dark by the opium makes you feel like you’re being smothered in something quite naughty. As much as I love dark scents, and opium especially, this one is a bit too raw for me. Civet has the unfortunate habit of turning into “baby diapers” on me and I don’t see that changing here. Too bad, because the description made me fall in love with it.
KATHARINA: A strong, willful blend with a soft, utterly lovely soul: white musk with a trickle of bright, sharp apricot and orange blossom.
In Bottle: Apricot soda
On Skin: I love this! I usally like apricot more than peach because it’s softer and more innocent. This fragrance is fun in that it is so juciy and drinkable! It seriously smells like an apricot soda. It’s not syrupy sickly sweet like Depraved, it’s a lot lighter and mellow. The orange offers a very subtle citrus note and the musk is light and offers a velver base for the fruits to lie on unbruised. This is a feminine scent that is innocent and cheerful. Not too girly and not overwhelming either. It’s throw is medium but sadly it’s soaks into my skin right away and lasts only about 10 minutes. Darn it!
QUEEN: For use only by women. An extremely potent passion blend, used to great effect when you're converting feminine sexual energy into power.
In Bottle: Dirt and gum
On Skin: There is a dirty note… not really soil, more dusty than that. Also a sweet note, very powdery but pretty... hmm… I smell a little honey too I think. Also a minty note, something herbal and a bit medicinal. I would love it if it weren’t for that minty note, it kind of gets in the way. There is also a dark note, maybe a light musk? So complex and interesting, I need to try this one out for it’s purpose for sure.
ETERNAL: Stephanotis, cyclamen, heliotrope, white rose and gardenia.
In Bottle: Sweet floral
On Skin: The rose stands out first, white and elegant. The heliotrope has it’s usual sweet bubblegum note, but not sickly sweet since the other florals are a bit tart and they compliment each other and help make a even scent. Very clean, like a fresh bouquet of flowers. This scent reminds me of another of Beth’s florals, but I can’t think of which one… I just know I’ve smelled it before. It’s pretty and super floral, and I’m not exactly a floral blend girl so I think I’ll swap this one.
HARLOT: Based on a Romany incense blend reputed to induce sexual dreams: Somalian rose, Moroccan rose and Bulgar rose with a sultry dribble of cinnamon.
In Bottle: Spicy rose
On Skin: Well hello rose! And cinnamon! There is no hiding these notes, they are in your face! The cinnamon burns my nose right away, I am so sensitive to it! And the rose, it’s super tart and sharp... all 3 of them! Sexual dreams? Not so sure about that, I don’t think I can even wear this to ty it out. These are two of my least favorite notes, and together I dislike them even more. I would have to say, this is one of my least favortie scents yet. Sorry Beth. :(
TEZCATLIPOCA: Deep cocoa laced with patchouli, leather armor, ritual incense, and a touch of Xochiquetzal’s flowers.
In Bottle: Chocolate dirt
On Skin: The cocoa is the dominant note with patchouli following close behind. The patchouli gives a “dirt” scent that I don’t really like with the cocoa. I don’t smell leather or florals, but the incense is a bit smokey. This scent is very powdery and dry, also slightly sweet. A bit masculine as well. It’s not a scent I like for myself personally. A bit too dry and the patchouli is too strong for me.
HIMERUS: The God of Sexual Desire, Longing and Yearning; an attendant of Eros and Aphrodite. A passion-rousing blend of juniper, sandalwood, rosewood, red musk, orchid, bergamot and lilac.
In Bottle: Industrial cleaner
On Skin: The lilac screams at me. The other florals are a bit more subtle. Although there are 3 strong woods in this, they play smaller roles and don’t overtake the scent. The orchid offers a nice elegant floral note and the bergamot is a little bitter and dry. The red musk is light as well, but is softly warming the scent. I like th combination, it was quite sharp and pungent at first, but after five minutes the scents blend together and create something quite pretty. I can see this being gender neutral but would prefer it on a man. After about 20 minutes, a fruity sweet note surfaces, kind of berry like. Not a bad scent at all but it doesn’t have anything that sticks out about it enough to warrant it as a keeper in my book.
RED DEVIL: A sinfully playful lust blend. Inspires sexual spontaneity, a little bit of kinkiness, and new and inventive ways to get dirty.
In Bottle: Sweet orange
On Skin: I smell orange right away… and then Dragon’s Blood resin? There is also a bit of spice… very light though, maybe gnger? It smells a little soapy as the scent develops. Not bad but not very fragrance like to me… more like a cleanser and not something I would ever want to wear as a perfume. The scent overall is very light with minimal throw and lifespan. I really want to try this out around my husband and see if it works the way it’s intended to. Hopefully he’ll like it more than I do.
HIGHWAYMAN: Stand and deliver! Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather.
In Bottle: Spicy leather
On Skin: I usually like leather scents, but this one is very strong. And super smoky. It’s almost like Brimstone with leather. It burns my eyes. I don’t smell the gardenia or jasmine, but the rose is in the background, a little tart and sharp. Also, shockingly I don’t smell the cinnamon. Cinnamon is usually a note that jumps out and burns my nose… I think the vetiver and leather drown it out so it doesn’t surface on me. This is a strong scent with quite a bit of throw. Sadly, I don’t like it so it’s off to the swaps.
PS: Did we ever find out who the winner was for the January Review Contest?
THE RAVEN: Sleek, dark, and ominous. Violet and neroli mingled with iris, white sandalwood and dark musk.
In Bottle: Violet
On Skin: The violet is the dominant note, very pretty and purple. The sandalwood is coming in second. It gives a nice clean woody note that to me seems a little more masculine than normal. The iris is very light, the violet pretty much owns the iris here. :) The musk is also light and hides in the back ground but shows itself enough to deepen the scent and give it a solid base. It reminds me of this little scented Charmkin toy I had when I was a kid… Overall, not my kind of scent, but quite beautiful. I love the mood it creates and it does remind me of a sleek jet black raven. Beth is amazing once again.
WOLF’S HEART: Grants courage under extreme conditions, helps overcome fear of death, and strengthens the fortitude of artists and businessmen, enabling them to further their goals.
In Bottle: Dragon’s Blood
On Skin: Dragon’s Blood jumps out right away, no mistaking that scent. There is also a soft spice, cinnamon maybe but at least it’s not making my nose burn. It’s comforting and warm but reminds me of several of Beth’s other Dragon’s Blood blends… it doesn’t seem as original to me. I would love to see if it works though, if I had read this description this morning I would have had my husband wear it to his job interview ealrier today…
KUMIHO: Nine-tailed fox demon of Korean lore who transforms into the visage of an irresistible beauty in order to seduce men and lead them to their doom. A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.
In Bottle: Tea
On Skin: I don’t know tea too well, but I thought it smelled like green tea. Maybe it’s the citrus in it. This is a very bright juicy scent that reminds me a lot of Holiday Moon and Shanghai. The ginger is soft, it doesn’t scream out but still echos throughout the scent. A beautiful warm spring scent, again making me think of tea houses and aisian themes. I love the green feel it gives and how vibrant it is. A little tart and extreme for me, but a gorgeous scent nonetheless.
EUPHROSYNE: Gardenia, tea rose, vanilla and jasmine.
In Bottle: Vanilla Floral
On Skin: Wow! I did not think I’d like this, rose and florals are not my thing. But this is so sweet and creamy! Wait… I spoke too soon. Plastic, yes plastic. Sadly it has completely morphed into an articial plastic smell. That was fast, within a minute of putting it on. The florals are melted into the vanilla and something has gummed them up, not sure what but it’s not working on me. Too bad because it smelled divine in the bottle and on my skin for the first 30 seconds…
AMSTERDAM: Tulips, peony, fresh flowing water and crisp green grasses.
In Bottle: Floral ozone
On Skin: Now this is pretty. It is so delicate and the lovely water note reminds me of elegance and purity. It smells so clean and bright white, a little soapy though and a bit sharp on the nose. Not exactly what I think of when I think of Amsterdam… giggle. The florals are light and sweet. The grasses are dominated by the ozone note, I wouldn’t call this a planty or grassy scent. I think this scent should just be called Holland because I think more of the countryside with this scent than of the Red Light district that comes to mind when I hear Amsterdam.
PRIDE: Vanity in extremis. The scent of rabid hauteur: Moroccan rose and narcissus.
On Bottle: Floral extreme
On Skin: Soap… very, very soapy. Rose soap to be exact. This scent fits it’s description well. I ca totally see a stuck up, older plastic surgery obsessed woman wearing this. 100% pure vanity. It is very sharp, the rose isn’t sweet at all. Rose is one of my least favorite floral scents so this one just isn’t me… so much so I need to rinse it off. It makes my eyes water it is so pungent.
LEANAN SIDHE: Her perfume is a crush of Irish herbs and flowers, Gaelic mists, and nighttime dew.
In Bottle: Soap
On Skin: Wow… Irish Spring? Not trying to be funny, but it is quite soapy on me. And very masculine. An ozone scent with a green feel. The florals mix with the herbs well, I can’t pick out a specific note at all. I love that I can envision a misty Irish moor (sp?) in the early evening just as the sun has finished setting. It is pretty and fits the description well, but it is not me at all. I would like to smell it on a man maybe.
DEBAUCHERY: A sinful, licentious scent: self-indulgent and luxurious. Mingled heady civet and red Egyptian musk, thickened with opium.
In Bottle: Feral musk
On Skin: Hi there civet, you aren’t shy are you? Egads this one bowls you over with the feral civet note. Yes, this is heady, they weren’t joking in the description. The civet combined with the very deep musk and taken even further into the dark by the opium makes you feel like you’re being smothered in something quite naughty. As much as I love dark scents, and opium especially, this one is a bit too raw for me. Civet has the unfortunate habit of turning into “baby diapers” on me and I don’t see that changing here. Too bad, because the description made me fall in love with it.
KATHARINA: A strong, willful blend with a soft, utterly lovely soul: white musk with a trickle of bright, sharp apricot and orange blossom.
In Bottle: Apricot soda
On Skin: I love this! I usally like apricot more than peach because it’s softer and more innocent. This fragrance is fun in that it is so juciy and drinkable! It seriously smells like an apricot soda. It’s not syrupy sickly sweet like Depraved, it’s a lot lighter and mellow. The orange offers a very subtle citrus note and the musk is light and offers a velver base for the fruits to lie on unbruised. This is a feminine scent that is innocent and cheerful. Not too girly and not overwhelming either. It’s throw is medium but sadly it’s soaks into my skin right away and lasts only about 10 minutes. Darn it!
QUEEN: For use only by women. An extremely potent passion blend, used to great effect when you're converting feminine sexual energy into power.
In Bottle: Dirt and gum
On Skin: There is a dirty note… not really soil, more dusty than that. Also a sweet note, very powdery but pretty... hmm… I smell a little honey too I think. Also a minty note, something herbal and a bit medicinal. I would love it if it weren’t for that minty note, it kind of gets in the way. There is also a dark note, maybe a light musk? So complex and interesting, I need to try this one out for it’s purpose for sure.
ETERNAL: Stephanotis, cyclamen, heliotrope, white rose and gardenia.
In Bottle: Sweet floral
On Skin: The rose stands out first, white and elegant. The heliotrope has it’s usual sweet bubblegum note, but not sickly sweet since the other florals are a bit tart and they compliment each other and help make a even scent. Very clean, like a fresh bouquet of flowers. This scent reminds me of another of Beth’s florals, but I can’t think of which one… I just know I’ve smelled it before. It’s pretty and super floral, and I’m not exactly a floral blend girl so I think I’ll swap this one.
HARLOT: Based on a Romany incense blend reputed to induce sexual dreams: Somalian rose, Moroccan rose and Bulgar rose with a sultry dribble of cinnamon.
In Bottle: Spicy rose
On Skin: Well hello rose! And cinnamon! There is no hiding these notes, they are in your face! The cinnamon burns my nose right away, I am so sensitive to it! And the rose, it’s super tart and sharp... all 3 of them! Sexual dreams? Not so sure about that, I don’t think I can even wear this to ty it out. These are two of my least favorite notes, and together I dislike them even more. I would have to say, this is one of my least favortie scents yet. Sorry Beth. :(
TEZCATLIPOCA: Deep cocoa laced with patchouli, leather armor, ritual incense, and a touch of Xochiquetzal’s flowers.
In Bottle: Chocolate dirt
On Skin: The cocoa is the dominant note with patchouli following close behind. The patchouli gives a “dirt” scent that I don’t really like with the cocoa. I don’t smell leather or florals, but the incense is a bit smokey. This scent is very powdery and dry, also slightly sweet. A bit masculine as well. It’s not a scent I like for myself personally. A bit too dry and the patchouli is too strong for me.
HIMERUS: The God of Sexual Desire, Longing and Yearning; an attendant of Eros and Aphrodite. A passion-rousing blend of juniper, sandalwood, rosewood, red musk, orchid, bergamot and lilac.
In Bottle: Industrial cleaner
On Skin: The lilac screams at me. The other florals are a bit more subtle. Although there are 3 strong woods in this, they play smaller roles and don’t overtake the scent. The orchid offers a nice elegant floral note and the bergamot is a little bitter and dry. The red musk is light as well, but is softly warming the scent. I like th combination, it was quite sharp and pungent at first, but after five minutes the scents blend together and create something quite pretty. I can see this being gender neutral but would prefer it on a man. After about 20 minutes, a fruity sweet note surfaces, kind of berry like. Not a bad scent at all but it doesn’t have anything that sticks out about it enough to warrant it as a keeper in my book.
RED DEVIL: A sinfully playful lust blend. Inspires sexual spontaneity, a little bit of kinkiness, and new and inventive ways to get dirty.
In Bottle: Sweet orange
On Skin: I smell orange right away… and then Dragon’s Blood resin? There is also a bit of spice… very light though, maybe gnger? It smells a little soapy as the scent develops. Not bad but not very fragrance like to me… more like a cleanser and not something I would ever want to wear as a perfume. The scent overall is very light with minimal throw and lifespan. I really want to try this out around my husband and see if it works the way it’s intended to. Hopefully he’ll like it more than I do.
HIGHWAYMAN: Stand and deliver! Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather.
In Bottle: Spicy leather
On Skin: I usually like leather scents, but this one is very strong. And super smoky. It’s almost like Brimstone with leather. It burns my eyes. I don’t smell the gardenia or jasmine, but the rose is in the background, a little tart and sharp. Also, shockingly I don’t smell the cinnamon. Cinnamon is usually a note that jumps out and burns my nose… I think the vetiver and leather drown it out so it doesn’t surface on me. This is a strong scent with quite a bit of throw. Sadly, I don’t like it so it’s off to the swaps.