Lupercalia has arrived!
Woo!
Ahem. Sorry, I just got a little excited.
Very, very quick first impressions based solely on sniffing the bottles (and remember, I suck at these--I don't do the "fine connoisseur" style reviews, because my nose is just a nose and not a finely-tuned sophisticated instrument of sniffery):
Red Lantern: Very fruity, with a rounder base from, I guess, the amber and coconut. Not very spicy on first sniff. There's something about it that reminds me of Beaver Moon, which is awesome, because I love Beaver Moon. (Lab description: A tribute to the opium den cum bawdyhouses of Shanghai in the 1930’s. Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice.)
Budding Moon: Very floral and light, with an undercurrent of something smooth, probably the Chinese musk. (Lab description: Budding Moon shines as Spring moves with its first breath, and this scent expresses that burst of life-affirming joy through an olfactory interpretation of Huang Quan’s flower-and-bird paintings. Plum blossom, peony, lotus root, Chinese musk and a hint of white ginger.)
Venus: Very lush and rich, although more "perfume-y" than most oils. There is something extremely appealing in there, if only I knew what it was... Well, duh, of course it's appealing--it's Venus! And as a Libran, I'm practically Venus myself. Or something. Anyway, by rights I should love this. We'll see. This is one of those blends that doesn't list the elements, but only evokes a mood, so I can't tell you what's in it. Ah, well, not like I usually know what half of 'em mean, anyway. ;>
The Perfumed Garden: Oh my god, this smells incredible. Like an enchanted tropical garden. Wowza. I may have to order more of this, if it's anywhere near as good on the skin as it is in the bottle. (Lab description: The Perfumed Garden for the Soul’s Recreation. This scent is based on a venerable Tunisian perfume that was used to excite the senses, inspire sensuality and inflame passion. Myrrh and Moroccan jasmine with apple peel, Indian sandalwood, myrtle, quince, citron, and thyme poured over soft musk.)
Update: So far, on my skin this turns to almost pure jasmine--but in a good way. I think the fruity/citrusy elements keep it from getting funky and overpowering the way some of the other jasmine-heavy scents do. As it fades, it's also mellowing, and I can smell a hint of the sandalwood and musk, topped with a fresh, light note (the apple peel? citron? see above about me not having a clue). This is exactly what I always wanted a jasmine fragrance to be like. I can't wait to wear this in spring/summer. Mmmm...
Frimps: Mata Hari (yay!), Chuparosa, Golden Priapus, Jabberwocky, Santo Domingo, Eve, Wrath (yay!), Mad Hatter. A couple of wish list items, right there.
Off to slather myself with The Perfumed Garden. Mmm.
Ahem. Sorry, I just got a little excited.
Very, very quick first impressions based solely on sniffing the bottles (and remember, I suck at these--I don't do the "fine connoisseur" style reviews, because my nose is just a nose and not a finely-tuned sophisticated instrument of sniffery):
Red Lantern: Very fruity, with a rounder base from, I guess, the amber and coconut. Not very spicy on first sniff. There's something about it that reminds me of Beaver Moon, which is awesome, because I love Beaver Moon. (Lab description: A tribute to the opium den cum bawdyhouses of Shanghai in the 1930’s. Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice.)
Budding Moon: Very floral and light, with an undercurrent of something smooth, probably the Chinese musk. (Lab description: Budding Moon shines as Spring moves with its first breath, and this scent expresses that burst of life-affirming joy through an olfactory interpretation of Huang Quan’s flower-and-bird paintings. Plum blossom, peony, lotus root, Chinese musk and a hint of white ginger.)
Venus: Very lush and rich, although more "perfume-y" than most oils. There is something extremely appealing in there, if only I knew what it was... Well, duh, of course it's appealing--it's Venus! And as a Libran, I'm practically Venus myself. Or something. Anyway, by rights I should love this. We'll see. This is one of those blends that doesn't list the elements, but only evokes a mood, so I can't tell you what's in it. Ah, well, not like I usually know what half of 'em mean, anyway. ;>
The Perfumed Garden: Oh my god, this smells incredible. Like an enchanted tropical garden. Wowza. I may have to order more of this, if it's anywhere near as good on the skin as it is in the bottle. (Lab description: The Perfumed Garden for the Soul’s Recreation. This scent is based on a venerable Tunisian perfume that was used to excite the senses, inspire sensuality and inflame passion. Myrrh and Moroccan jasmine with apple peel, Indian sandalwood, myrtle, quince, citron, and thyme poured over soft musk.)
Update: So far, on my skin this turns to almost pure jasmine--but in a good way. I think the fruity/citrusy elements keep it from getting funky and overpowering the way some of the other jasmine-heavy scents do. As it fades, it's also mellowing, and I can smell a hint of the sandalwood and musk, topped with a fresh, light note (the apple peel? citron? see above about me not having a clue). This is exactly what I always wanted a jasmine fragrance to be like. I can't wait to wear this in spring/summer. Mmmm...
Frimps: Mata Hari (yay!), Chuparosa, Golden Priapus, Jabberwocky, Santo Domingo, Eve, Wrath (yay!), Mad Hatter. A couple of wish list items, right there.
Off to slather myself with The Perfumed Garden. Mmm.