Sixteen92 Welcome to the expansion of my unsettling though strangely beautiful floral garden collection (with one of two transportive bright fragrances for good balance). Ever since I fell hard for Necromancy (feature article coming soon) I've been dashing about Sixteen92's catalogue of the rare, powdery, spicy and sweet gathering different vials with floral nuances. Some of these fragrances are available now in the general listing and others are (hopefully) to be returning for Resurrection 2019 and one is marked to disappear forever due to sourcing components. Vials: Mellifera A Thousand Times More Fair Bridget Bishop The Weird Sisters Mina Harker Lucy Westerna The Heart is a Lonely Hunter One Note at a Time The Weird Sisters *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Iris root, carnation, helichrysum, styrax, ruby-red lips, silk gowns, bone-white sandalwood) In the vial: I swear this vial releases a sinister chortling or clicking sound when I open it, it's so fantastically chilling and another that smells otherworldly. I do get a SWEET WOODEN CARNATION mixed with STYRAX, ORRIS and VIOLETS. This is a fragrance that would have fit in my Ave Victoria poison kit. Applied: What wonderful scent sorcery is this?! Not only do I have quite the unsettling and alluring scent potion on but it contains violets and they aren't some unholy amping note which fights against my chemistry, no these are powdery and wilted and softly morph becoming a "my skin but better" type of freaky sweet fragrance. Wow, if there ever was a perfume inspired by a horror classic The Weird Sisters is it. For anyone that hasn't read Dracula, I won't spoil anything for you but this oil captures a particular iconic scene perfectly and it allows me a special kind of smile walking down the halls at my workplace. This perfume lasts quite a while and many hours later a sandalwood note appears that is almost creamy. I may need to get a full bottle the next Resurrection event as this is a ghostly representation of pale moonlight in a vial. Love it! The Heart is a Lonely Hunter *a limited edition (Listed Notes: Tuberose absolute, soft skin musk, oakmoss, fresh earth, vanilla, iris) *appeared in my one order, thank you so much Claire! In the vial: Delicate TUBEROSE, VANILLA and the familiar SKIN MUSK I recognize from other oils in Sixteen92's past and present catalogue (it smells like expensive vintage hand lotion). This is a pretty spring fragrance combination. Intermission: It seems I learn something new every time I open a vial or bottle from Sixteen92 because The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was the fragrance that may have finally solved an odd mystery for me: why do I smell like musty sweet bananas? Turns out after completely falling head over heels in love with two gardenia heavy creations (reviews coming soon) I sat down and went through every note from E Lucevan Le Stelle, Le Demi-Monde, Paper Moon, The Primrose Path and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter to only discover one note in all of them they shared- Oakmoss. I now believe Oakmoss is the note that dominants in those oils when they touch my skin. I will be revisiting E Lucevan Le Stelle, Le Demi-Monde and others next year in spring to give gardenias another open-minded assessment. Applied: Now that I think I finally solved a truly frustrating puzzle about oakmoss vs. gardenias, I'm trying this vial and really attempting to get past the sweet banana scent that amps on me for a few hours. Once it settles down the earth and tuberose shine through and this is a very nice blend I can't stop sniffing. I think The Heart is a Lonely Hunter will be a lovely scent accessory in my hair or my car for spring as it is a romantic entanglement of floral, earth, powder and vanilla that harkens back to another time and place. Bridget Bishop *from the General Catalogue/ The Salem collection (Listed Notes: Night-blooming flowers, belladonna, bergamot peel, resinous oudh, nutmeg, ambroxan, scarlet musk) In the vial: OUDH, PEPPER and PETALS. It's a very sombre fragrance that reminds me of another that I loved to wear for Easter this year. Applied: Bridget Bishop is indeed darker sister scent of Il Dolce Suono but has a mysterious peppery floral present (instead of polished wood) with nutmeg and a hint of vanilla. Some scents just tell an immediate story when you allow them to meld with your skin and this oil has quite the tale to share and it pairs marvellously well with other amber or musk laced scent potions in my collection. I've found it creates the ultimate dead of winter fragrance when layered under The Castle On The Hill (it smells like a haunted abandoned chapel) and it also works well with the sweet ginger-biscuit and powdery hawthorn in Tituba. Definitely, Bridget Bishop is a hidden gem in Sixteen92's general catalogue that I wished I explored earlier. Mina Harker *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Cold jasmine tea, ripe plum, black violets, pale skin musk) In the vial: PLUM, VIOLETS and VINTAGE SKIN LOTION. Another understated lovely Victorian themed vial that would fit into my Ave Victoria poison kit nicely. This is the scent of a lady who has a lethal secret. Applied: Have I actually found another violet noted perfume that is working with my wonky chemistry? YES, yes dear readers I have! Oh, this is a fantastic scent creation that smells ethereal, beautifully strange AND somehow cold (seriously how does Claire do that?). I admit I was only hoping for the plum to shine through as it is one note I adore and I wanted to sort of scent preview how the plum would treat me when I went ahead and purchased a special edition bottle (review coming very soon). What a delightful surprise, the plum does stand out with a mild dark fruity sweetness and the black violets pair so well with that accord. I do notice that the violets amp over everything presented but mercifully shows some restraint and does not smell like nightmare inducing cough syrup in the slightest (RIP Hydromancy, you shall go to a better place). I must remember that it's BLACK VIOLETS that play so nice with my skin and nose (I must also remember Mina Harker only lasts 6 hours and I need to layer it next time). Putting another scent potion down on the list for full bottle purchase in the future. Lucy Westenra *Fall 2017 Collection inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula/brought back for a limited run in October 2018 (Listed Notes: Brugmansia flower, night-blooming cereus, oud, guaiacwood, honey, fennel, stone) *Straight from Sixteen92's page: a component for this fragrance has become more difficult to source; we may not be able to bring this fragrance back after this release. In the vial: FLORALS, HONEY and STONE. Definitely another cold atmospheric. Applied: Lucy Westenra is described as "An ethereal and haunting green floral" and that is indeed true, it is certainly green with the fennel that amps and carries a medicinal quality with it. I want to say it almost smells like absinthe on me but then the stones amplifies with the honey and this turns into another fragrance that has a chilling story to share. As always Sixteen92's realistic honey and stone notes are to die for and this perfume is unlike anything smelling in my collection, I'm just not certain I like it. There is something that keeps me smelling it though and revisiting the vial but I don't think I will be purchasing a full bottle. It may a little too unique for me (I do have to admit my limits and I think Lucy Westenra is one perfume that reaches that). To be clear, I don't hate this oil, I love the scene this scent combination captures. It may be another that will wear better in my hair. I will try that idea next year after this vial has a long peaceful rest. A Thousand Times More Fair *from the General Catalogue but since the publication of this article this fragrance has been listed to be discontinued/soon to be removed from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Honeysuckle nectar, magnolia blossom, passion flower, white peach skin, ripe plum, bright vanilla bean, delicate musk) *appeared in my one order, thank you so much Claire! In the vial: FUZZY SPARKLING FRUIT and BRIGHT FLORALS, such a happy fragrance for summer. Applied: A Thousand Times More Fair is something that hits the memory bank and I have to shift through flavors, colors and packaging and this perfume smells exactly like- Fruit Stripe Chewing Gum. I wasn't expecting that but as I get older nostalgia in any form is becoming so important to me (I just read a fascinating article about why we love and search out nostalgic things) and I really enjoy this oil. I can also see why it is a best-seller it's youthful, clean and a delightful matchup of juicy fruit and florals. Must jot down to add to all the above mentioned, that this perfume has one impressive throw and lasts even through a shower. Not a creepy or chilling floral in the slightest but some days you need a little sunshine and happy memories; think of a dainty daisy or buttercup in a patch of shadowed branches and thorns. Mellifera *from the General Catalogue (Listed Notes: Wildflower Honey Accord (not vegan), Violet, Jasmine Sambac, Vanilla Infused Sugar, Sandalwood) In the vial: Ah, SUGAR Ah, HONEY, HONEY. Here is another bright sunny perfume but it also has vintage pin-up quality to it with the VIOLET and JASMINE. A pin-up in summer? Now I'm all the more intrigued and want to go style my hair in Victory Rolls. Applied: Oh Sixteen92, your honey note is simply incredible and I can't wait to get Swarm in the next Resurrection event. The violets and jasmine amp on me with Mellifera but that was expected and it has improved immensely since I received the vial back in May. It does remind me of Blood & Honey but I believe that is only because of the honey in both love me and stays well into the next day. That pin-up quality is still there (with an addition of creamy sandalwood) and I like to don red lipstick and nail polish when I wear this perfume with delicate pearl studs to finish off the look. Again not a freaky scent creation but only transportive and one to recommend. Sixteen92 Comments are closed.
|
Currently Reading:
Also listening to:
Disclaimers
In accordance with FTC Guidelines, I disclose how I obtained every title for review at As The Final Page Turns (whether that be by ARC, purchased (on nook, kindle or specially ordered hardbacks) Audible version or simply borrowed at my local library). Please note: titles reviewed that are ARCS (Advanced Reader Copies) are free review copies of books that are given by publishers (these ARCS can be found at NetGalley or Edelweiss). Categories
All
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
|