It's ages since I posted reviews...
...so I'd thought I'd post some of my recent Twilight Alchemy reviews. Just to wet your appetites for whenever the site goes live (please, let it be soon!)
Blessing of Isis
(Use this blend to reignite passion and ardor in couples whose feelings for one another have waned through time and familiarity.)
In the imp: light patchouli with a bit of sweetness, and maybe a hint of, dare I say it, civet? My nose must be off…I also get resinous notes, and something smouldering and incense like, and some vetiver.
Wet on skin: patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver are now the dominant notes-and also something sweet. I also get a hint of incense.
Dry: hmm, interesting. I don’t get the sweet, fruity kyphi incense scent I was expecting, but I do get incense-with sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, vetiver and patchouli, and possibly some cedar, smouldering and smoking on an ancient censer. It’s a scent that reminds me of bonfires and autumn, but it’s warmer and more shadowy. It’s a dark, mysterious scent. I also get civet here. Luckily I’m one of the lucky few who can tolerate this feral little note in small amounts, like in here-I’m not getting a ‘bad breath’ reaction. But I swear there’s civet in here. This does resemble a less animalistic, more incense like Fire of Love, actually, which seems fitting with the scent’s purpose.
After a while: holy civet! I’m getting a load of civet from this after 30 mins…with the dark undertones of smoky incense and vetiver. This incense/vetiver scent reminds me a little bit of Djinn, it’s very smoky and bonfire like.
This intense civet then goes down, replaced by intense, dark vetiver with the scent of the ashes of the remaining incense. I’ve noticed a lot of TAL scents have a base of vetiver, I’d be interested in knowing the magickal qualities of this particular note.
The drydown after a few hours is a dead ringer for Helping Hand-warm, dark vetiver and tobacco. It’s quite a comforting scent.
Verdict (scent): warm, dry, woody, darkly resinous, smoky, unisex and a little bit animalistic, that’s what this scent is like. Totally not what I expected from an oil named after this great mother goddess…but Isis is a goddess of many facets and aspects. The scent seems to fit in with the oil’s purpose, it reflects Isis’s darker and more sexual aspects as opposed to her 'divine mother' aspect. I get dark resins, ashy tobacco and vetiver in here, the scent is very smoky indeed. And then there’s the civet adding a feral twist to the scent. This scent does have something sexual about it in both scent and feel, and to me it’s a cross between Fire of Love and Helping Hand-both scents and purposes. Scent wise, I like it, it’s an interesting scent but to be honest, I was a little bit taken aback by it-it wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s not for me. Purpose wise, right now I don’t need this oil for it’s intent as I am not in a relationship that has faded and needs rekindling, and smelling this oil has made me realise that this scent isn’t meant for me just yet. So I've offered it to someone else.
Foundation of Fortune
(A strong, steady, dependable money blend. Use in spellwork for prosperity, gain, and abundance.)
In the vial: mmm, smells like mild ginger tea. Sort of like an earthier, non-milky version of Sudha Segara.
Wet on skin: the ginger scent warms up, a slight lemon scent appears, and also an earthy scent can be detected which might be vetiver.
Dry on skin: this is an interesting scent-a dry, solid, earthy ginger scent with a hint of tea. It reminds me of dry mud, dust or clay with ginger root shredded on top, with a hint of dry grass and tea leaves, and I'm pretty sure there's vetiver here-the light greenish lemony variety as opposed to the dark, gritty vetiver that amps on my skin. I suspect there may be patchouli here too. It's not a scent I'd wear as perfume-but this is not perfume so that doesn't matter. It's a nice scent though. Now to see if the magickal effects take hold…
After a while: yup, I was right-there seems to be patchouli here. I smell a soft patchouli now with a touch of lemony vetiver. This scent is also a little bit leathery, reminds me of the inside of a worn leather purse, appropriately enough.
Verdict (scent): this is a pleasant scent, earthy, dry and solid, with warmth lent to it by ginger, a hint of tea, and a patchouli drydown with a light lemony vetiver background, as well as a slight suede-leather note that reminds me of my mum's suede purse! Not something I'd wear as a perfume (I think it would be a lovely masculine scent though) but it's a nice smell nonetheless, and this is a scent with intent so it's not about what it smells like, it's what it does that counts…
Magical effects: well, funnily enough, soon after applying, my mum has a chat to me about sorting my finances out, opening a savings account, and putting some money in there to gather interest and to save some for a rainy day…not sure if that's the FoF working or a coincidence, but it's fitting. I'll have to see if this does bring some steady riches my way, so I'll hold on to what I have of it and see what happens.
Nocturne
(Anoint the soles of your feet, your temples, Third eye, pulse points, and your heart prior to retiring. It aids in bringing on natural sleep, and helps ensure that you are not plagued by nagging thoughts and nightmares. Note: this is different to the GC Funereal Oil of the same name, so don't get confused.)
In the imp: sharp lavender and dried flowers-I’m guessing dry rose. I think there’s camomile in here as well.
I applied this to the areas instructed. Temples, third eye, pulse points (in this case, wrists), heart and feet.
Dry: The rose note comes out a lot more now, and there’s the dry scent of camomile in her as well, and also something sharply green. The scent is like a dry floral bouquet, and there’s a hint of lavender which isn’t as strong now. I shall now go to bed and see if this works on my sleep.
After a while: the scent gets more and more rosy, a real dry rose smell, with hints of camomile and other herbs.
The morning after: well, it didn’t make me drop off to sleep instantly but when I did sleep, it was undisturbed and I felt like I had slept better than most nights. It did induce some weird dreams though.
Verdict: scent wise, this was a pleasant, dry floral scent, with lavender at first, then camomile, and then a strong rose note came through. A nice scent to sleep with-and it wafts a lot-especially if you place it on the instructed areas. And it seems to work-after a while I dropped off into a good natural sleep, I was undisturbed until morning though I did get some pretty bizarre dreams. I will try this again, and hopefully it will work even more effectively next time, and maybe I will use it in conjunction with one of the Somnium oils on those really sleepless nights.
Radiance of Ra
(Creates a nimbus of glittering solar energy. Aids in all healing work, unveiling lies and deceptions, promotes vigor and vitality, and grants blessings of joy and contentment.)
In the imp: neroli! Or is that orange blossom? Whatever it is, it smells very similar to the GC oil Ra, which isn’t surprising. There may be orange/citrus in here as well. The oil is a sunny gold colour.
Wet on skin: tangy orange blossom and citrus. Sunny and zingy, this is a cheerful scent. I dabbed a bit of this on my solar plexus as well as my wrists.
Dry: now I get some herbal scents coming through (similar to Ahatoor), also some frankincense, and some sweeter notes which I think could be amber and heliotrope. The scent is dry, hot, reminiscent of the desert, yet with a delicious sweetness like fruit covered in syrup. This scent is so warm, I’m wondering if there’s a slight spice note in here-maybe saffron? Whatever it is, I feel a lot warmer and more positive already, and reassured as well.
After a while: there’s definitely frankincense in here, and I think I can also smell carnation now! Warm, spicy carnation, and possibly a sweet, soft touch of amber and a fruit note that could be sweet orange or apricot. There’s a sweetness to the scent which is almost vanilla like, I’m guessing heliotrope is in here. There’s also something sugary and sticky (in a good way), which might be amber or subtle honey. The scent is sweet, luminous and glistening but with a warm spiciness.
The drydown of this scent is more herbal, very much like Ahathoor. It's not as sweet and amber-y any more, but I still like it, though not as much as when it was wet/just dry.
Verdict (scent): this is liquid sunshine. The scent is like a cross between Ra and Ahathoor from the Stations of the Sun…it has the fruity, sweet, complex aspects of Ra, with the herbal dry warmth of Ahathoor. It’s a complex scent with notes of orange blossom and possibly orange fruit, and herbs and subtle spices, frankincense, carnation and maybe some amber and sweet fruit notes. It’s a very solar scent, warm, powerful, dry and golden-orange in colour.
Effects/intent: this works. As soon as I put this on, I feel the oil’s warmth-there’s a definite feel of heat to this scent. I feel uplifted, energised, reassured, and more positive. I can already feel the depression lifting…I’m also hoping its healing aspects come into play. I know I’ll be using this when I feel those winter blues/early morning blues come on. It may be dull, raining and cold outside. It may be February. But this oil has bought much needed sunshine into my life. When TAL goes live, I’m getting a bottle.
Blessing of Isis
(Use this blend to reignite passion and ardor in couples whose feelings for one another have waned through time and familiarity.)
In the imp: light patchouli with a bit of sweetness, and maybe a hint of, dare I say it, civet? My nose must be off…I also get resinous notes, and something smouldering and incense like, and some vetiver.
Wet on skin: patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver are now the dominant notes-and also something sweet. I also get a hint of incense.
Dry: hmm, interesting. I don’t get the sweet, fruity kyphi incense scent I was expecting, but I do get incense-with sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, vetiver and patchouli, and possibly some cedar, smouldering and smoking on an ancient censer. It’s a scent that reminds me of bonfires and autumn, but it’s warmer and more shadowy. It’s a dark, mysterious scent. I also get civet here. Luckily I’m one of the lucky few who can tolerate this feral little note in small amounts, like in here-I’m not getting a ‘bad breath’ reaction. But I swear there’s civet in here. This does resemble a less animalistic, more incense like Fire of Love, actually, which seems fitting with the scent’s purpose.
After a while: holy civet! I’m getting a load of civet from this after 30 mins…with the dark undertones of smoky incense and vetiver. This incense/vetiver scent reminds me a little bit of Djinn, it’s very smoky and bonfire like.
This intense civet then goes down, replaced by intense, dark vetiver with the scent of the ashes of the remaining incense. I’ve noticed a lot of TAL scents have a base of vetiver, I’d be interested in knowing the magickal qualities of this particular note.
The drydown after a few hours is a dead ringer for Helping Hand-warm, dark vetiver and tobacco. It’s quite a comforting scent.
Verdict (scent): warm, dry, woody, darkly resinous, smoky, unisex and a little bit animalistic, that’s what this scent is like. Totally not what I expected from an oil named after this great mother goddess…but Isis is a goddess of many facets and aspects. The scent seems to fit in with the oil’s purpose, it reflects Isis’s darker and more sexual aspects as opposed to her 'divine mother' aspect. I get dark resins, ashy tobacco and vetiver in here, the scent is very smoky indeed. And then there’s the civet adding a feral twist to the scent. This scent does have something sexual about it in both scent and feel, and to me it’s a cross between Fire of Love and Helping Hand-both scents and purposes. Scent wise, I like it, it’s an interesting scent but to be honest, I was a little bit taken aback by it-it wasn’t what I was expecting. It’s not for me. Purpose wise, right now I don’t need this oil for it’s intent as I am not in a relationship that has faded and needs rekindling, and smelling this oil has made me realise that this scent isn’t meant for me just yet. So I've offered it to someone else.
Foundation of Fortune
(A strong, steady, dependable money blend. Use in spellwork for prosperity, gain, and abundance.)
In the vial: mmm, smells like mild ginger tea. Sort of like an earthier, non-milky version of Sudha Segara.
Wet on skin: the ginger scent warms up, a slight lemon scent appears, and also an earthy scent can be detected which might be vetiver.
Dry on skin: this is an interesting scent-a dry, solid, earthy ginger scent with a hint of tea. It reminds me of dry mud, dust or clay with ginger root shredded on top, with a hint of dry grass and tea leaves, and I'm pretty sure there's vetiver here-the light greenish lemony variety as opposed to the dark, gritty vetiver that amps on my skin. I suspect there may be patchouli here too. It's not a scent I'd wear as perfume-but this is not perfume so that doesn't matter. It's a nice scent though. Now to see if the magickal effects take hold…
After a while: yup, I was right-there seems to be patchouli here. I smell a soft patchouli now with a touch of lemony vetiver. This scent is also a little bit leathery, reminds me of the inside of a worn leather purse, appropriately enough.
Verdict (scent): this is a pleasant scent, earthy, dry and solid, with warmth lent to it by ginger, a hint of tea, and a patchouli drydown with a light lemony vetiver background, as well as a slight suede-leather note that reminds me of my mum's suede purse! Not something I'd wear as a perfume (I think it would be a lovely masculine scent though) but it's a nice smell nonetheless, and this is a scent with intent so it's not about what it smells like, it's what it does that counts…
Magical effects: well, funnily enough, soon after applying, my mum has a chat to me about sorting my finances out, opening a savings account, and putting some money in there to gather interest and to save some for a rainy day…not sure if that's the FoF working or a coincidence, but it's fitting. I'll have to see if this does bring some steady riches my way, so I'll hold on to what I have of it and see what happens.
Nocturne
(Anoint the soles of your feet, your temples, Third eye, pulse points, and your heart prior to retiring. It aids in bringing on natural sleep, and helps ensure that you are not plagued by nagging thoughts and nightmares. Note: this is different to the GC Funereal Oil of the same name, so don't get confused.)
In the imp: sharp lavender and dried flowers-I’m guessing dry rose. I think there’s camomile in here as well.
I applied this to the areas instructed. Temples, third eye, pulse points (in this case, wrists), heart and feet.
Dry: The rose note comes out a lot more now, and there’s the dry scent of camomile in her as well, and also something sharply green. The scent is like a dry floral bouquet, and there’s a hint of lavender which isn’t as strong now. I shall now go to bed and see if this works on my sleep.
After a while: the scent gets more and more rosy, a real dry rose smell, with hints of camomile and other herbs.
The morning after: well, it didn’t make me drop off to sleep instantly but when I did sleep, it was undisturbed and I felt like I had slept better than most nights. It did induce some weird dreams though.
Verdict: scent wise, this was a pleasant, dry floral scent, with lavender at first, then camomile, and then a strong rose note came through. A nice scent to sleep with-and it wafts a lot-especially if you place it on the instructed areas. And it seems to work-after a while I dropped off into a good natural sleep, I was undisturbed until morning though I did get some pretty bizarre dreams. I will try this again, and hopefully it will work even more effectively next time, and maybe I will use it in conjunction with one of the Somnium oils on those really sleepless nights.
Radiance of Ra
(Creates a nimbus of glittering solar energy. Aids in all healing work, unveiling lies and deceptions, promotes vigor and vitality, and grants blessings of joy and contentment.)
In the imp: neroli! Or is that orange blossom? Whatever it is, it smells very similar to the GC oil Ra, which isn’t surprising. There may be orange/citrus in here as well. The oil is a sunny gold colour.
Wet on skin: tangy orange blossom and citrus. Sunny and zingy, this is a cheerful scent. I dabbed a bit of this on my solar plexus as well as my wrists.
Dry: now I get some herbal scents coming through (similar to Ahatoor), also some frankincense, and some sweeter notes which I think could be amber and heliotrope. The scent is dry, hot, reminiscent of the desert, yet with a delicious sweetness like fruit covered in syrup. This scent is so warm, I’m wondering if there’s a slight spice note in here-maybe saffron? Whatever it is, I feel a lot warmer and more positive already, and reassured as well.
After a while: there’s definitely frankincense in here, and I think I can also smell carnation now! Warm, spicy carnation, and possibly a sweet, soft touch of amber and a fruit note that could be sweet orange or apricot. There’s a sweetness to the scent which is almost vanilla like, I’m guessing heliotrope is in here. There’s also something sugary and sticky (in a good way), which might be amber or subtle honey. The scent is sweet, luminous and glistening but with a warm spiciness.
The drydown of this scent is more herbal, very much like Ahathoor. It's not as sweet and amber-y any more, but I still like it, though not as much as when it was wet/just dry.
Verdict (scent): this is liquid sunshine. The scent is like a cross between Ra and Ahathoor from the Stations of the Sun…it has the fruity, sweet, complex aspects of Ra, with the herbal dry warmth of Ahathoor. It’s a complex scent with notes of orange blossom and possibly orange fruit, and herbs and subtle spices, frankincense, carnation and maybe some amber and sweet fruit notes. It’s a very solar scent, warm, powerful, dry and golden-orange in colour.
Effects/intent: this works. As soon as I put this on, I feel the oil’s warmth-there’s a definite feel of heat to this scent. I feel uplifted, energised, reassured, and more positive. I can already feel the depression lifting…I’m also hoping its healing aspects come into play. I know I’ll be using this when I feel those winter blues/early morning blues come on. It may be dull, raining and cold outside. It may be February. But this oil has bought much needed sunshine into my life. When TAL goes live, I’m getting a bottle.