Sixteen92 sixteen92.com/ Vials: Forbidden Arts/ Fall 2018 (Released August 31st) Aeromancy Chiromancy Hydromancy Necromancy Pyromancy One Scent at a Time: Aeromancy (Listed Notes: Powdered snow, silver birch, dried leaves, rose oxide, a blanket of morning frost) -a method of divination that utilizes atmospheric conditions, cloud formations, and cosmological events In the vial: LEAVES, COLD AIR and a ROSE you could imagine coming straight from the setting of your favourite wicked fairytale. This fragrance could melt and turn the most floral hating heart. Applied: I'm going to say it, Sixteen92 has the most realistic rose and nature notes I have yet to encounter from any house of fragrance, you can smell creaking frosted branches, the cold green stems and ice lacing the petals of a single red rose. No soap to be found here, no "clean" reference, Aeromancy is a pure forest fragrance with a distinct floral that loves my skin and I need a full bottle. I can easily see myself wearing this perfume in winter (believe it or not I only have a few oils for that season versus the others). Even though this is a complex atmospheric it is also a unique professional setting scent I can wear with no fear of upsetting anyone sensitive to overpowering (alcohol drenched) common commercial sprays or blending into the beige background. Chiromancy (Listed Notes: Orris, worn leather *animal-friendly/synthetic, ink, porcelain, black truffle) -a method of divination utilizing the study of the palm, also called palmistry In the vial: LEATHER and INK. For those wary of leather, Chiromancy is subdued with a soft powder that comes from the ORRIS. It also creates a dusty element to the whole vial. All very interesting but I have been dying to get to experience the black truffle component. Just smelling the wand that note is absent, maybe my skin will wake the beast that others have commented this perfume holds in store for the curious. Applied: And...I get a swipe of worn leather then Chiromancy disappears completely. How very odd, I usually amp leather to the heavens. Wait, okay the powder is dusty on me and I can barely detect it or something else that is reminding me of old paper and dampness from a hand (salty almost like sweat). Sad to say no truffle appears but oddly I like Chiromancy (I'm really falling for orris when I can find that note in different perfumes) and I'm planning on purchasing Hessian of the Hollow next year (I don't think I need to worry about the mushroom note that scares others, my chemistry conceals it and amps smoke and metal so I believe that perfume needs to be in my collection). As for Chiromancy, I think I could create some interesting combinations with layering oils with this. Hydromancy (Listed Notes: Fog, cold violet, lichen, ambroxan, mineral accord, petrichor, glass) -a method of divination utilizing water, including currents, ebb and flow, or ripples produced by dropping objects into calm waters. In the vial: BAD CHILDHOOD MEMORIES of COUGH SYRUP. That's a first and I hope the last I will ever be unexpectedly reunited with one the worst smells of my youth. Allowing the distinct violets I'm guessing to react with the air, that medicinal nightmare fades and I'm holding GLASS, FLORAL SWEETNESS and COLDNESS (that's all a little more promising). Applied: I really want to love Hydromancy and violets but something is telling me the 19th attempt to appreciate this historic floral is no different from my 12th curious venture. Admittedly on me, Hydromancy settles slightly within an hour. There is a vintage quality that depending on how the air is moving in the room, it does turn my head for all the right reasons (and causes tears) reminding me of a lost loved one who wore violet as her signature scent and always smelled ethereal and regal. Alas, on me violets just don't hold that gift and I think I will be avoiding this note in the future. It's a real mystery how skin chemistries are so different as I've read such glowing comments about this perfume. On others, I've seen that the stormy quality creates such a commanding watery essence, how I wish I could find that with my experience. Perhaps it just needs a long rest? (**please remember everyone's skin chemistry is different and what my chemistry does with one specific 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). Necromancy (Listed Notes: Datura metel, ceremonial incense, funeral flowers, benzoin resin, ancient spirit boards, oud) -a method of divination involving communication with the dead - typically used as a means to foretell future events through a Medium via spirit board, but can also include the practice of physically raising the deceased's body, with or without the intention of bringing one back from the dead. In the vial: INCENSE, RESIN and a FLORAL peeking behind everything. There is also an unidentifiable mineral-like note with vanilla (now this may prove interesting). I'm not sure what to think, here we go... Applied: Here we go indeed and the lonely violins play in the background with beautiful melancholic chords while mists rise from the floor and waltz in front of a joined circle of bereaved. Positively inspiring and eerie, I have never encountered in any perfume a floral that is centre stage such as the one that amping on me from Necromancy, is it lilies? No, but it is gorgeously intoxicating, from another world and time and I must have a full bottle of this! I know I am rambling but this oil is just strangely haunting and the more it sits I'm just swept away to my favourite eras of history to study and read about. Coming back to this maddening world, I do get a distinct wisp of romantic vanilla (the ancient spirit boards?) and that unknown floral entwines with the incense that fades in and out every couple of hours. I never expected to fall for certain florals as I have with this collection. Brava Sixteen92! Pyromancy (Listed Notes: Green cardamom, fireplace embers, agarwood, smoked tea, white tobacco, hearth smoke) -a method of divination utilizing fire, smoke, or flames In the vial: A GREEN SAVOURY HEAT. It is so well-blended, I can't wait to try this oil on. Applied: I'm not going to lie, Pyromancy makes me hungry and it took me a couple minutes when I first tried this creative scent potion to figure out why; it smells exactly like a hot bowl of Campbell's Tomato Soup. I bet that wasn't what you thought you were going to ever read about an artisan perfume but there it is, my mind goes immediately to a peppery cup of classic soup with a metal spoon and I love it. I do find this fragrance entertaining on many levels (must also add it lasts well into the next afternoon and even stays noticeable after a shower) and I know others have chai tea on their minds but my wonky chemistry has turned this pyro into a delicious winter or rainy day staple and I will be purchasing a full bottle. Yes, I'm strange if you haven't figured that out by now haha. Join me and try this wonder! Vials: Witches of the Silver Screen/Halloween 2018 (to be released September 24th along with a revisit to Fall 2017 and a Halloween Greatest Hits Collection) We Are The Weirdos, Mister Welcome to Burkittsville Formula 86 Really Most Sincerely Dead I Be The Witch Of The Wood One Scent at a Time We Are The Weirdos, Mister (Listed Notes: Dragon's blood resin, cleansing white sage, snuffed-out candles, spell books, metal and ash, dusty tarot cards) -Inspired by The Craft (1996) In the vial: Crushed SAGE, DRAGON'S BLOOD and timeworn LEATHER. There is also something "fizzy" that resides in this combination of dark notes. Applied: First off, hands down one of greatest names for a perfume ever (and such an underrated movie)... So which note will dominant on me this time? Tricky, tricky, tricky. It's sage rising above the leather and amping to create a herbaceous lemon that absorbs the other components and I'm smelling root beer? Well, this is a surprise and that soda quality stays longer than I thought. I usually despise the aroma of root beer or anything resembling it but this perfume is giving credit to its name and is definitely different and out of the box. I don't know where I would wear We Are The Weirdos, Mister but I'll sure find a place. Welcome to Burkittsville (Listed Notes: Ancient stone, raven feather, forest floor, tangled roots, dark water, pitch-black musk) -Inspired by The Blair Witch Project (1999) In the vial: Haha my friend's worst nightmare DIRT glorious realistic FOREST FLOOR, BLACK ROOTS from the EARTH. For me, this is walking into the hollow on a magnificent dreary day, not a soul around and all you can hear is a lonely caw of a crow and ancient trees creaking with the cold wind (can you tell I'm already planning on getting a 10ml bottle as soon as possible?) Applied: My work colleague who I have slowly converted into a perfume oil collector like myself always asks me "why do you want to smell like dirt and leaves"? Honestly, I don't have an answer but I want more of it! Here we have the darkest forest fragrance you could imagine, it is akin to Lycanthrope (which has been my personal anti-anxiety talisman scent for many months now) but where in Lycanthrope I feel oddly protected when I dab it on, Welcome to Burkittsville makes me feel I should fear the shadows because something is watching, following and waiting for me to turn around. It stares from the surrounding trees and the blackest of ponds where sunlight never touches or the moon. Overall an amazing atmospheric which I will wear with a sinister little smile. Formula 86 (Listed Notes: Rice powder, sugar cane, warm caramel, heliotrope, tonka bean, dark chocolate) -Inspired by The Witches (1990) Also a novel by Roald Dahl In the vial: Coming from someone who watched this dark fantasy film (plus read the book) so many times the rental place just had the tape waiting behind the counter when they saw I was in the store, Formula 86 makes my inner child jump and reach as I'm tempted for just one little lick of the vial. This is decadent DARK CHOCOLATE and true to description WARM drizzled CARAMEL. It's unapologetically sticky sweet and for those that are familiar with You'll Shoot Your Eye Out! and have been waiting for its return, you may want to pay attention to this new release. Applied: When I first dabbed (okay I slathered and I enjoyed it and I even quoted Anjelica Huston's classic line: "Vitches of Inkland..." when I put it on) I removed my shoes (sorry no wig or gloves this time) and allowed the dark chocolate that smells like it is directly from the most costly sweet shop in Europe to take me away. It was a heavenly few minutes but then my cursed chemistry took that treat away, ah but not all was lost because the warm caramel I mentioned earlier cascaded over my senses and my love heliotrope created more creaminess. I'm sorely tempted to get Formula 86 in the hair detangler but I don't have an infinite bank account so between You'll Shoot Your Eye Out! and Formula 86, I think I'm going to gift the chocolate and shortbread with chimney smoke delight to myself as soon as it becomes available on Sixteen92 for the holidays. That won't stop me though from slathering on Formula 86 in the meantime and doing some really bad impressions of the movie and book lines (my poor coworkers and patients). Really Most Sincerely Dead (Listed Notes: Breadseed poppy, warm coconut milk, honeyed benzoin, black licorice) -Inspired by The Wizard of Oz (1939) Also a novel by L. Frank Baum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) In the vial: LICORICE, WARM BAKED MUFFINS topped with HONEY and a scant drizzle of COCONUT MILK. It's a baker's delight to behold and here is another I could drink the vial. Applied: I'm so giddy I have finally found perfumes based on so many of my childhood memories of books and entertaining films (all I am missing are fragrances inspired by Ursula and The Sanderson Sisters then my list of witchy dreams would be complete). Okay getting back to this vial, when applied I'm graced by warm licorice that comes forward along with a delectable honey (Sixteen92 could sell me a single note of their honey and I'd purchase everything they offered for life). I've never had the pleasure to have poppy seed in oil form but it really seems to like me and it morphs into a baked good that is noticed and questioned about over the wall at my workplace. There must be some sort of magic also mixed in as the coconut isn't amping to create that dreaded "beachy" realm I leave to my colleague who can't get enough of that note with her collection. It is about this point where I'm thinking of getting a hair detangler (plus whipped soap and anything else Really Most Sincerely Dead comes in) that everything disappears for several minutes then the scent flickers in and out bringing to mind, the magic green crystal ball that the wicked witch watched the land of Oz with. My pocketbook may sigh in relief of that happening but I'm yelling for that image to come back and stay. I Be The Witch Of The Wood (Listed Notes: Wheat and straw, dark forest, poisoned apple, chimney smoke, fur, blood) -Inspired by The VVitch (2015) In the vial: Fallen APPLES, SMOKE, ASH, DRAGON'S BLOOD and EARTH. Oh yes, I think we have another full bottle worthy perfume here. Applied: This is exactly the scent potion I was hoping for when I purchased The Bell Witch last year, sadly that bottle still only turns to sweet tobacco and fading moss with not much of a creepy vibe to it (turning slightly soapy on me in fact) but I Be The Witch Of The Wood takes all that and more to the awesome extreme to present one disturbing mixture I can't pull my nose away from. On initial application, I get realistic smoke and ash akin to what Sarah Good is known for except there is no gourmand quality to be found in the black heart of I Be The Witch Of The Wood (even with the apple that smells it is one cold night away from being deadly and decaying). As this dries further the apple quickly exits and the dragon's blood replaces it amping the most along with the smoke (for those who love Baba Yaga meet her insidious sister scent). As much as I would love a full bottle now, I am okay with the generously sized vial which I think will last me until next year when I Be The Witch Of The Wood returns. Sixteen92 sixteen92.com/ MX Perfume mxperfume.etsy.com SUGAR HICCUP (Listed Notes: Rosewood, Sugar, Ginger, Moroccan Rose, Civet (*animal-friendly/synthetic), Amber, Musk, Ambergris (* animal-friendly/synthetic)) Thoughts: I can only describe SUGAR HICCUP as wearable ethereal gossamer, a beautiful reminder of the lost past, posh for the office setting (or a night out) and a unique sugary amber floral I can wear year-round with not one headache or regret. It may sound strange but this is one fragrance that becomes a part of you (only better) and it seriously has to be experienced to get the full mysterious effect. I can't get enough of this rare jewel. Bravo MX Perfume! SCARECROW (Listed Notes: Red Apple, Orange, Anise, Hay Absolute, Tobacco, Fenugreek, Cardamom, Vanilla, Vetiver) Thoughts: SCARECROW by MX Perfume is everything my dark little heart has been desiring in a fall fragrance and I want to live in the bottle. The compliments just keep rolling in when I wear this wonder and SCARECROW is exactly how I'm beating the heat this summer. On me, the realistic hay blended with spice and vanilla are most dominant after the perfect mash of fruit fades and if I could stop slathering this holy grail creation over my arms and in my hair (plus belting out "This is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas) all long enough I can also detect a wisp of smokiness in this oil that only pulls me deeper into a maze of country fall-related memories; it's just so good! Bravo MX Perfume! mxperfume.etsy.com THE BLACK DEATH FRAGRANCE: Autumn Leaves Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 7 minutes Colour of Wax: Black THE BLACK DEATH by Werther & Gray somehow captures the moment when decayed leaves begin to turn dusty and blow in the winds. There is even a drop of patchouli I can detect which adds to the overall effect and I know the perfect candle I'll be burning when I pick up another title on The Great Mortality. Also, the artwork is superb and a must-have decor item for any morbid history collector. SÉANCE FRAGRANCE: Sage, Amber and Smoke Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 5-6 minutes Colour of Wax: Midnight Blue Out of the five candles, I was presented with, (in lightning fast time and each artfully packaged) SÉANCE is my favourite out of the jars. I feel I could sit at my desk and pen a full novel with that obscure beauty burning away. The scent that emanates from the candle is truly otherworldly and I can easily imagine a story centred around a mystic, a widow's hopes of reuniting with a lost love from the great war and a circle of dark secrets about to be revealed. I will definitely be repurchasing this powdery creation. LONDON, 1888 FRAGRANCE: Rich lacquered wood, velvety floral notes and seductive fruit Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 7-8 minutes Colour of Wax: Maroon For the armchair investigators of unsolved bygone crimes or infamous mysteries, there is no finer selection of candle to cosy up beside than LONDON, 1888 by Werther & Gray. The exact notes of this candle are an alluring mystery all its own (my nose does detect a trace of plum and bergamot) but ultimately this jar tempts you to turn another page or stay to ponder on one more theory long after the lamp chain should be pulled for the night. Exactly what I was hoping for. REIGN OF TERROR FRAGRANCE: Cake, Frosting, Amber, Wood Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 4-5 minutes Colour of Wax: Red REIGN OF TERROR along with four other history and seasonally inspired jars from this enchanting shop were all a birthday gift to myself and I finally got my cake with this intriguing candle. Ah but not just any cake, the scent of REIGN OF TERROR is refined and unlike any bakery temptation you will ever find. HALLOWEEN WITCH FRAGRANCE: Pumpkin Bread, Spice Time from initial lighting to noticeable throw in a large room with fans: Around 8-9 minutes Colour of Wax: Golden Brown HALLOWEEN WITCH puts a spell on fall and gourmand fragrance seekers alike with warm delicious nostalgia. This is one comforting jar with not an overwhelming throw but one that beckons just enough for a few more minutes of cozy reading and daydreaming of autumn or cooler weather to come. One whiff and you'll be gone to buy another candle from this amazing shop and I ain't lyin'. |
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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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