Winter 2018 Collection Ultima Thule The Fall of the House of Usher Ligeia The Raven Spirits of the Dead Ulalume One Note at a Time: Ultima Thule *The Circle exclusive fragrance for 2018 (Listed Notes: Burning black woods, warm resins, cashmere musk, chestnut, clove bud, black pepper, toasted vanilla) In the bottle: VANILLA, RESINS and PEPPER. Yes, Sir! I'm ready to slather. Applied: On opening, I get a black, grey and sepia colour variation with this oil which is pretty nifty and it matches the iconic 1848 Daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe. It makes me think of a piece of memento mori on the mantel with sad phonograph music playing while a plate of Christmas treats grows colder next to a snow-covered window. The chestnuts and a warm sandalwood accord amplify on me with a hidden salt-like note and the dark vanilla which also brings this intriguing blend into the gourmand realm. It definitely heralds the theme for a cold winter's eve thinking of being surrounded by ghosts of loved ones or lost opportunities. This is creative genius! The Fall of the House of Usher (Listed Notes: Pine and fir needle, frozen hemlock, amyris, sweet myrrh, shadowed stone, precious woods) In the vial: RESINS and Sixteen92's infamous STONE accord. This could very well be a sweet pine sister scent of The Castle on the Hill. Applied: We wanted gothic winter and here it is as The Fall of the House of Usher is shaded sentinel pine against a cold stone wall. The pine note is incredibly realistic and how I wish it would stay more than a few minutes on my skin before being overtaken by sweet powdery myrrh but that is how the cards fall with this fragrance. I still like this perfume as I enjoy the imagery it conjures which is an abandoned mausoleum with a lone pine tree growing beside it. I love the stories that each vial and bottle seems to hold that comes from Sixteen92. Ligeia (Listed Notes: Ash, gardenia, opium haze, aldehydes, white iris, honeycomb, ambergris, cold skin) In the vial: GARDENIA, OPIUM and POWDER...You already know I love this. Applied: It's no secret I fell hard for Ligeia and haven't shut up about it since November but let's just for the sake of formality go through my full thoughts. This perfume starts out with a cold buttery gardenia that sparkles with aldehydes (I keep getting visions of a darkened room bathed in eerie moonlight with a pristine gardenia in a snowglobe sitting on a shelf and once you flip the ornate globe the snowflakes turn to ash inside; still can't fathom what haunting melody this beautiful object would play though, perhaps a forbidden waltz?), there is a distinct metal note that collides with the aldehydes and ambergris which amp on me for an hour giving this scent potion a dangerous animalistic element then a creamy honey arrives that takes me to another realm of happiness. Hours later the slight buttery sweetness is still present and I can detect the ash and a little powder. It's absolutely gorgeous, a complete masterpiece and I'll be picking up a full bottle once my vial runs out, Ligeia will be joining Necromancy, Telepathy, Sarah and Aeromancy as my perfect floral atmospherics that capture the season and my imagination. With such tremendous recent luck with white florals I need to revisit a few more vials, I really think I'll be singing more praises of florals soon. The Raven (Listed Notes: Tea leaf, plum wine, silver mirror, library dust, dried tobacco, black feather) In the vial: DUST, METAL and seductive PLUM WINE. Applied: Mmm... that plum note is sublime and I'm so grateful it amplifies on me with the distinct metal note. As this oil dries more atmospheric elements are released as the the dust and tea leaves come more forward to mix with the plum. I also smell something akin to rosewood but I don't see it listed. This is another vial that tells a story and I love that it smells oily blackish-purple like the iridescent sheen on a raven. I'll be definitely wearing this creation in fall as I don all of my Poe themed accessories. Spirits of the Dead (Listed Notes: Lapsang souchong, guaiac wood, saffron, black birch, Italian bergamot, styrax, vanilla pod) In the vial: I want to say TOBACCO or OUD with a sweet VANILLA. Applied: Oh this fragrance is strangely captivating and one I can't put down. I think I just found the epitome of a struggle against light and darkness with notes. I love how Spirits of the Dead morphs with distinct flickers of light (from the bergamot and romantic vanilla) that battles against being swallowed completely by something eerie, deep and smokey. An ideal early winter selection and another excellent disturbing and poetic oil that is sure to unnerve and intrigue company. Ulalume (Listed Notes: Moonflower, toasted almond, tonka bean, sweet fennel, narcissus, mourning veils) In the vial: ALMOND, FENNEL and OPIUM. For those that missed out on Lucy Westenra I think you would love this. Applied: Confession time- I love sweet almond in baking (I could sniff an open bottle all day long) and Ulalume holds one eerily sweet almond note that immediately takes my mind away to what cyanide may have smelled like on someone's breath. Depending on company I could see myself wearing this with a sinister little smile as I pull at my pearl necklace and let it drop back, it's a commanding fragrance that I'm sure will get some attention and garner some side looks. I oddly like it and will be wearing this oil in the colder months and while attending different events for my favourite time of the year. Holiday 2018 Collection Inside A Snowflake (Like the One on Your Sleeve) I Made My Family Disappear... Such A Misfit You Serious, Clark? (**please remember everyone's skin chemistry is different and what my chemistry does with one note may not happen on someone else. That's the unique beauty of perfume oils, they react with everyone differently- please don't hesitate to try a sample of something if it interests you). **Inside A Snowflake (Like the One on Your Sleeve) (Listed Notes: Snow flurries, holiday spices, evergreen forests, mistletoe, fuzzy green musk) -Inspired by the film: How The Grinch Stole Christmas *Side note: The vial is GREEN! What a delightful added touch In the vial: A mystery FRUIT, subtle SPICE, PINE NEEDLES and BUBBLEGUM? Applied: "What is that note?" That is exactly I've been saying for the past several months when I tried wearing this fragrance and I think I finally figured out what I'm smelling, it's TEABERRY. This smells like a light version of teaberry gum when first applied then dries down to a waxy spice pine combination. I'm really not sure I like it to be honest, it's too "safe" and I can only think of seeing someone wearing an itchy looking holiday sweater at an office Christmas party. You know that person wearing it wants to go wild but is held back because of those attending. For a Grinch inspired scent I was hoping for mean or mischievous notes to hit my nose, this is more after the Grinch grew a heart and became a polite member of society...whompwhomp... wait why do I smell fuzzy pickle relish? Okay that is different. This oil may work better in my hair, I'll need to try that or this could work in the bathtub. I Made My Family Disappear... (Listed Notes: French toast, dark coffee, flannel pajamas, marshmallow, frost, shattered ornaments, I hope we didn’t forget anything...) -Inspired by the film: Home Alone In the vial: [makes embarrassing noises while almost sticking the wand up my nose because how amazing it smells] Mmm...Oh wow that is realistic FRENCH TOAST with COFFEE and a hint of PINE Applied: [looks down at arm] WHY DO YOU HATE ME?! Once again my chemistry has betrayed me after giving me hope this fragrance would be magic on me and after a brief amping it is completely gone after 10 minutes. Well for that short time it was incredible and it smelled like buttery french toast and fresh brewed coffee with a nifty realistic fluffy flannel note and marshmallow. If I stick my nose right to my skin I can smell a faint pine note and maybe marshmallow with a drop of coffee but it's barely there. I think I need to order that scent locket soon or mix this in my hair mist spray. This is basically the adult equivalent of getting coal in my stocking instead of a treat. I'm pretty sad right now. **Such A Misfit (Listed Notes: Frosted sugar cookies, marshmallow fluff, vanilla bean, fresh candy canes, creamy white cocoa, a twinkling red nose) -Inspired by the film: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer In the vial: PEPPERMINT and VANILLA with COCOA Applied: Ack, chalky chocolate! I'm just not having luck with this collection sadly as I amp chalky smelling chocolate and a waxy vanilla then it disappears in 5 minutes. Perhaps these vials need a longer rest and will be better next winter. Or maybe winter/Christmas scents are just not for me. You Serious, Clark? (Listed Notes: Lukewarm spiked cider, leftover pie filling, frosty window panes, fresh firewood, family arguments) -Inspired by the film: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation In the vial: APPLE CIDER and PINE Applied: Saved the best for last as I get a frosty pane of glass on the opening of this oil (how does Claire do that?!) and wafts of realistic buttery flaky pie crust that lasts about 4 hours. 8 hours and I can still smell wisps of apple spice and soft pine. I really like You Serious, Clark? and could see myself purchasing the detangler or hair serum in this comforting fragrance as the pine is more dominant in my hair and on my scarf rather than on my skin. I would definitely recommend this oil to anyone nervous about strong apple scents, this one is lovely and low key. Sixteen92 |
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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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