Leave it to Sixteen92 to take us on an otherworldly scent journey across the haunting nightmares from stories and eras of the past that still inspire and cause some rapid prayer motions when mentioned in hushed whispers. Banshee (Frozen Honeycomb, Wispy Fog, Sheer Linen, Spectral Violet, Moonflower, Shattered Glass) The eerie fragrance of a moonlit gauzy torn shroud with a hundred night-blooming florals and final offerings lingering in the folds billowing in the cold autumn winds. Be it fae or malevolent spirit screeching out the end of a mortal's life. Banshee is lovely and sings its own tale. I'm happy my curiosity won out and I grabbed this beauty. The violets resemble those from my beloved Mina Harker and I Believe in Mary Worth and the cold honey with a hint of something unsettling brings to mind Telepathy and Ligeia whilst the realistic linen is a stellar combination of convincing textile accords of The Romance of Certain Old Clothes and Mein Herr Marquis. With all of these threads, Banshee is by the end of the night a complex tapestry of several past blends that creates one hauntingly beautiful perfume that you need not fear. Onryō (Dry Cedar Heartwood, Warm Sandalwood, Plum Wine, White Birch, Pale Vanilla, Delicate Pine Needle, Grey Ash) Familiar yet exotic. This blend opens with an offering of rich plum wine sprinkled with fallen dead pine needles from the surrounding dark forest that slowly reveals its warm woody heart of a trio of snapped pine branches, birch and cedar. The creamy sandalwood with non-gourmand vanilla and realistic papery ash provides the ending to this unsettling ode to a vengeful spirit and curious cold smelling atmospheric. Onryō is a must if you love the seductive qualities of plum wine and sandalwood or desire an early winter fragrance with a chilling secret waiting to be told. Revenant (Autumnal Apples, Saffron Crocus, Crisp Golden Leaves, Unripe Pumpkin, Dusty Hay Bales, Honey Bourbon) Just as the ever-popular fakeout scene in horror films where the hapless victim encounters a figure that is turned away from them that appears to be in distress and they slowly reach out to help (or curiosity gets the best of them) to only realize it's too late for any escape, you would be forgiven and may even let your guard down when thinking the listed notes of Revenant to only hold an unsuspecting harmless gourmand. It's however so much more when it turns around and reveals a seductive streak with a bite! On opening, the mashed apples verging on decaying are dominant with a splash of smokey bourbon, hint of woody cinnamon and dusty hay. Revenant is so sweet but deceiving and as the notes morph on the drydown more earthy elements and a distinct magnetic masculine quality comes forward that brings to mind a scene of a rendezvous at midnight in a foggy apple orchard with your now undead zombie beau, you can't help but lean in closer as he only wants a comforting cuddle and maybe one more nibble. Strigoi (Freshly Exhumed Funerary Boxes, A Circle of Salt, Cold Iron Stake, Heavy Stone, Stinging Rain, Blood, Fire) Speaking of a seductive fragrance with a bite we have the brother blend to Lycanthrope and where the latter is a sojourn into an ancient forest with protective eyes watching your every step as you brush by towering trees and moss-covered boulders during a powerful lightning storm, Strigoi patiently waits and is after much more and has such sinister plans in-store as you leave the guarded forest and enter the point of no return. On me, the salt and iron and realistic petrichor dominant with a wisp of ashed smoke after the initial opening of cedar and pine wood gives way to what lays underneath. As you can expect from a perfume inspired by the ultimate legend draped in dark mystique and forbidden allure, Strigoi conjures such visions to appear and steals the ever innocent heart and takes you away in imagination or to vivid dreams. Wraith (Luminous Amber, Divinatory Tea Leaves, Candle Wax, Pomegranate, Black Myrrh, Howling Wind, Otherworldly Musks) To finish up this scented tour of the undead of the world and times is a surprise favourite out of the collection. Tea is such a finicky note with my skin chemistry and when I find a success, it's an immediate recommendation and ramble in store. Wraith ticks all the boxes and with the addition of a rarely ever seen pomegranate note that adds a delicate tartness and sweetness to the surrounding notes of photorealistic candle smoke and an impression of cold winds, it ends as a lovely homage to the semblance of the former plane. Out of all perfumes in this collection Wraith is the most wearable in the professional setting, not having such a noticeable throw as Banshee or Onryo; staying close creating the perfect ghostly aura. Sixteen92 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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