Nui Cobalt Designs 💫 Thank you so much, Josh and Forest from Nui Cobalt Designs for allowing me access to these scent potions. Dancing Bee (An ingenious infusion for foresight, guidance, and support in navigating your unique path. Peach trees barely budding, dewy white violet, honeysuckle, angelica and orris roots, frankincense, allspice, and spring harvest honey. Wear to banish brain fog, sharpen perception, and regain your sense of direction). A delicate floral-fruit sister scent to my favourite Bees Love Blue with a green cucumber-like opening. Admittedly this vial took a few weeks to settle with the curious green garden opening but it is now aged into a lovely mixture of gentle realistic peach skin, floral petals, vintage powder and Nui's infamous honey. Peach is such a difficult note for me and when I find a success it's an instant recommendation and Dancing Bee is just that. Longevity varies but with an intense workout this oil lasts 6 hours and when I'm stationary in the workplace setting about 10 hours with a sweet aquatic element leaving me last for the night. Equinophilia: The Love of Horses (A magnificent creature of effortless grace and power. Toasted oats, green and golden hay, living cedar, deep auburn musk, chestnuts, corn silk, saddle leather and galbanum. Wear to invoke your own sense of majesty, and to reclaim your poise and dignity.) Ever since I tried Nui's Kelpie I have been waiting patiently for a horse centred fragrance to trot out of a collection announcement and Equinophilia is that majestic themed creation with an aroma of sweet oats, musk, soft leather, hay and autumn memories. It somehow brings to mind a bakery delicacy served in a horse barn with the sweet after-effects of White-Tailed Deer. A uni-sex scent capturing the gentle softness and aura of a horse and bond/trust between rider and nature. Needless to say fantastic for sleep and very wearable for the workplace setting. Scorpio (A sophisticated perfume to reveal inner truth and inspire intimacy. Burgundy silk, dark chocolate, agarwood, lurid musk, aged patchouli and an indulgent melange of raspberry, plum and black cherry. Wear to dissolve inhibitions, to unveil power as well as passion, to engage in the sacred act of Trust.) A marriage of seductive Pluto with the best of the intimacy siren type of fragrances of all seasons that builds on your inner power and confidence. It's an assortment of emotions and energies Scorpio releases and stirs which is impressive coming from one vial. On me, my chemistry loves the rich warm dark fruit notes intertwined with the dusting of cocoa and underpinning of the cold patchouli and musk I recognize from Pluto. At the end of the night it holds an elegant mystique as well which I love as anyone familiar with a Scorpio sign dominant personality or chart knows, we have so many facets sometimes running hot or cold but all magnetic, unexpected and complex to explain. Ancient Apiary (Sleeping Beauty must have had hives of royal bees. And as the palace slumbered o'er a century, they must have floated among the thorns, unceasing in their art, undisturbed by the usual clamor of the court. This is the scent of that tiny Queendom that lived in perfect peace for 100 years. Deadfall draped in oakmoss, wild pink roses, honeycomb bursting from frail brood boxes and pouring gold from every cell. Wear this scent to align with the wild and unyielding spirit of Nature.) I think I would be remiss to not start this humble rambling with "Once upon a time" or "a dream" based on that superb opening description, Ancient Apiary captures that scene with an intoxicating swirling of smoky wood and florals surrounded in dark honey and beeswax. It waltzes a beautiful line between atmospheric and meditative and no surprise was one of my favourite vials out of this round. It's also no secret I adore Nui Cobalt's signature rose and honey notes and Ancient Apiary showcases those magnificently as the duo of realistic roses and honey hum some kind of enchanting lullaby to my senses. This is one of those breathe deep type of fragrances you anticipate finding that calms but at the same time activates the vivid romantic imagination. Gingerbread Sanctuary (The concept for this year's gingerbread house from a lovely friend and member of our Nui Cobalt Facebook Group. In her own words "...it's the sweetest confectionery structure, with a Black Lives Matter sign in the yar. It's a building where immigrants are safe regardless of their paperwork, and yes there's candy on the roof. The little gingerbread people inside really believe in justice and goodness, and they invite their friends of all colors, abilities, genders, ethnicities and religions to celebrate with them each year. And it's a riotous good time but also unbelievably cozy with the deepest, truest sweetness. I think need it this year" The spirit of loving kindness". Warm, soft gingerbread baked with Tupelo honey and toasted almonds, a pinch of precious saffron, draped in lavender-lemon icing.) I know this creation was immensely popular but sadly this one fades almost immediately, morphs unpleasantly on me and I'm left saying at my wrist "that's a shame". Gingerbread Sanctuary brings to mind Hogwash from the April Fools collection and I wasn't a fan of that scent either at the end of the night, unfortunately. *Please remember skin chemistries differ and what one note or combination of notes may not work for me, they may be exactly what someone else is looking for. That's the beauty of perfume oils and the continued mystery that keeps drawing us back for more. Never be afraid to try a blend that interests you. Excelsior (Stories of magic and mystery, of heroes and hope restored, of misfits and outcasts becoming the very light they quested for. The scent of radioactive spider venom, coconut metal, Earl Grey, hot and an origami unicorn drowned in starlight.) A very curious description that equals an equally curious fragrance, so it delivers as I smell a sweet lime and coconut medley bringing my mind into the realm of summertime and enjoying a freeze pop and waiting for a marathon of cartoons to start on a Saturday morning. I also get the unmistakable aroma of trading cards fresh from the packet, hot electric metal and such bright accompanying 90s colours and little me sitting there wishing I could fly and command attention like Rogue (I even played with accents when I was younger; thank you my Libra rising for that and to imitating what I heard, haha) or thinking I'm secretly controlling the incoming weather building outside the window like Storm (I know that's not Spiderman but I was more X-Men obsessed than that show). An interesting trip down memory lane and fragrance, a keeper for those days I want to reconnect with my inner child and let her out for one more imaginary or roleplay dress up session. *a swirl of a cape and dramatic trilling music plays me out* Libra (An elegant air of grace, civility and dynamic balance. Orange blossom, Easter lily, Pink Champagne, diamond musk, tonka, white lilac and cashmere. Wear to cultivate harmony, emotional intelligence and skillful diplomacy.) Speaking of my Libra rising placement we have the shimmery diaphanous mantle of florals and air with Nui Cobalt's Libra sweeping me away and feeling like a million bucks and sashaying down a runway surrounded by pink and silver lit clouds for added effect. It's an overall cultivating mood and blush-pink variation of my favourite Anthophilia with a hint of fruit from the champagne and soft orange blossom. Just lovely, calls for the best the wide world has to offer and well balanced as a Libra fragrance should be. Mnemophilia: The Love of Memory (Old chests filled with sepia photographs, a veil of chantilly lace, the brittle pages of a diary and the patina of relentless time. Stately gardenia, antique sandalwood, Florentine iris, pearl musk, jasmine absolute, neroli and liquidambar. Wear to connect with ancestral guides, to access genetic memory and to retrieve what's been forgotten.) Admittedly one of the best gardenia and jasmine fragrances it has been my pleasure to find in the indie realm with a soft butteriness of the gardenia leading the way with the intoxicating sweetness of the jasmine balancing out the creamy top note. It smells vintage without that sometimes overbearing loudness that can be found in perfumes from bygone eras. It's like gentle music playing as you untie ribbon bundled love letters that speak of hopes and dreams for a future, little mundane things mentioned become values you hold dear for the next bright day. An exquisite rendition of the beauty of memory and the lost generation. Let us remember and keep them close as Mnemophilia. Goth Club (It was the Darkness that was dancing; I just rode its wake. Fog machine, clove cigarettes, sweet patchouli, skin warmed leather, myrrh resin, Cabernet, scarlet musk and the well-worn wood of the dance floor) So full confession, I'm a late bloomer when it comes to showing others my darker aesthetic and esoteric interests. I was a closet-goth in school and even into my college years hiding stirring poetry and stories of Poe and Brontë from my peers' notice, different music than everyone was listening to in my oversized hooded coat, holding my tongue when I learned a morbid fact about history, myth or science and my little sketches of blood dripping roses intertwined with collected meaningful quotes and daggers in the back of my notebooks; no one knew or guessed my curiosities and tendencies ran deep and dark. It was an amusing though frustrating little secret of mine, I should have had more fun in my younger days and I regret not seeking out and finding a welcoming community or heading out to the underground clubs such as what Goth Club is styled after because this is intoxicating and calls out to my young self and all the welcome distractions I could have explored. On me, I get rich smoky clove, supple leather and heady wine and musk and I now know why I love its sister scent Exsanguinated so much. I fell hard for a particular seductive combination of notes and the visions they both conjure and the instant confidence boosts they offer. Between the two of them, Exsanguinated is still my boozy prowling choice but Goth Club is a definite keeper and I wish I could launch this scent in a time machine and send it back to myself with a message attached saying, "don't hide who you are; To thine own self be true". Taurus (A bouquet for stability, peace and the fulfilment of earthly desires. Baltic green amber, lush fern, pink peony, blush suede, Queen Elizabeth root and a foundation of rich mahogany. Wear for grounding, comfort and to be fully present in the moment.) No surprise a fragrance with the ruling planet of Venus as a starting base would be so elegant, gentle and conjures inner beauty to shine forth. Just as with Libra (also ruled by Venus) it smells luxurious with the perfect balance of florals and vintage elements. Taurus brings to mind the showstopper Nephophilia with the blush suede resembling the slightest wisp of cotton candy (done right, mind you; this isn't a childish scent in the slightest). Another favourite out of this round and instant recommendation. Hearthside (The scent of a cozy evening by the fire. Skin-warmed wool and woodsmoke, the aged pages of an old book and redwood oh-so-lightly accented with fresh cranberry. Wear this romantic blend to inspire connection, closeness and intimacy). Sadly this is another one of those "that's a shame" vials I was highly anticipating as I get an unpleasant dry down after such a promising opening of cranberry and woodsmoke with tea. I will be using Hearthside and Gingerbread Sanctuary in whipped soap treatments as my hair seems to tame the odd dry downs on these 2 perfumes. *Please remember skin chemistries differ and what one note or combination of notes may not work for me, they may be exactly what someone else is looking for. That's the beauty of perfume oils and the continued mystery that keeps drawing us back for more. Never be afraid to try a blend that interests you. Somniphilia: The Love of Sleep (Puffy white pillows that always stay cool. Lamb's wood accord, orange blossom, barely-budding lavender, melissa, green fig, clary, cloud musk and weightless vanilla marshmallow meringue. Wear at bedtime for restful and restorative sleep). Absolute sublime sorcery as Somniphilia indeed smells of the feeling of finding the sweet cool spot of the other side of the pillow and drifting off to that fuzzy twilight plane of sleep and going deeper to wake hours later with healed energy. Dare I say, Somniphilia has a greater effect on me than the ever-popular Tryptophan, I do believe it worked faster on my senses and relaxed me with the distinct marshmallow (I'll always fall for anything with marshmallow; it's one of my weaknesses) and gentle orange blossom and comforting lamb's wood that smells of a treasured knitted afghan tucked under your chin with a goodnight kiss and humming of "You are my sunshine" lulling your senses. Just lovely and a welcome addition to my night shift drawer of tried and true perfumes. Nui Cobalt Designs Comments are closed.
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28th of January 2023) NOTES/COMBINATIONS and Stones CURRENTLY ON THE HUNT FOR: Naughty Licorice/Star Anise Cardamom Cardamom Cake with Roses Smoky Honey & Leather Leather and Florals Pomegranate Colder Tuberose scents Smoked Florals with Cinnamon and Honey Graham Cracker and Incense Double strand of Rose Quartz or Moonstones or Black Tourmaline Chainmaille Jewellery Houses of Fragrance and Interest on the Horizon (shops that contain such temptations): LurkerAndStrange Good Spirit Wolf Rapt In Maille ToadStoolSoaps DSH Perfume Baphomet&Co Harvest Moon Haven Granny Hootenanny's Shop
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