White amber, mimosa, orris root, osmanthus, labdanum, Siamese benzoin, and jasmine sambac.

In the decant: ooh! Lovely, cool, juicy floral. This is very light and almost playful, I am loving this right from the decant.

Wet on skin: this is a really lovely floral: is that a mix of mimosa and jasmine? It's light-feeling, almost white; a very gentle ( Read more... )

Pale lavender, sweet violet, balsam of Peru, and paperwhite narcissus.

In decant: I'm getting lavender and balsam, a bit sharp and "perfumey".

Wet on skin: lavender, balsam, and that paperwhite narcissus. I think the violet is giving this a softer tone, almost an orris-y feel. The lavender is pretty sharp to my nose, although it does soften as it ( Read more... )

Sumatran patchouli, blood musk, white lavender, opium tar, and black orchid.

In the vial: lavender, opium, and orchid. Color impression is a mix of deep and bright oranges, blended but distinct.

Wet on skin: the lavender softens immediately, and the black orchid shines through better. The patchouli and opium are subdued, gentle, really a support ( Read more... )

Our interpretation of Dolce Stil Nuovo is a blend of rose otto, carnation, vanilla flower, lavender and jasmine with the clarity of crystalline white musk and the warmth of golden amber.

In the vial: rose otto, spicy canation, and sharp lavender. A rather classic-feeling floral.

Wet on skin: the first whiff is sharp lavender, followed quickly by ( Read more... )

Lilac, blue musk, dianthus, cedar, neroli, ozone, and luminous Eastern herbs.

In the vial: a light, slightly powdery floral; a powdery lilac, dainty white flowers, and a pleasant sharpness from the ozone. This is quite pretty.

Wet on skin: ooh, this is very lovely. It's a cool white floral, "luminous" is just apt. This is in the same family as ( Read more... )

Nepalese amber, vanilla infused amber, golden musk, sandalwood, golden lily, sunflower, and honey myrtle.

In bottle: this is almost cologney at first--the flowers are sweet and sharp, rather heady. I can't pinpoint specific notes.

Wet on skin: this becomes a slightly sweet-spicy floral, cool and almost minty, definitely cooler than in the bottle. ( Read more... )

A snarling, feral scent, ever-so-slightly deranged: hot leather, opoponax, cedar, pine needle, mosses, dry grass, patchouli and cinnamon bark.

In the tester: dusty, musky, and brown with a bit of sweetness. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I'm smelling here, it's very well blended. Pleasant, comforting. (Note that this looks like a faily aged ( Read more... )

Pink peony, white carnation, freesia, white peach, amber, and pale woods.

In bottle: this is a light floral, but once given a little aging it's more present than memory and my notes serve. It's a mix of peony and freesia with pale woods in the background. Almost heady.

Wet on skin: softens a bit and smooths out, it's not as strong as it was in the ( Read more... )

White sandalwood and tea roses.

In bottle: dusty tea roses, a hint of sandalwood.

Wet on skin: the sandalwood starts to bloom warmed on my skin, and the tea roses soften, and starts to go powdery. It's a very pleasant, posh, old fashioned sort of scent.

Dry: tea roses and sandalwood, in equal portions. This is the simplest NYCC scent, but what ( Read more... )

French vanilla, white gardenia, Moroccan jasmine, and lemon verbena.

In bottle: creamy, lemony floral. This is vanilla with lemon and jasmine. It's got a foody vibe to it, although the florals are keeping it from all-out foody. New, it has a sharp edge for me but with a bit of aging that's gone away.

Wet on skin: a bit softer on the floral, and ( Read more... )