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cathedralofroses2019-01-07 09:10 pm
femmenstein) wrote in cathedralofroses2019-01-07 09:10 pm
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Alkemia Reviews, Pt. III
As usual, favorites are denoted with an asterisk. Alkemia's storefront can be found here.
Luminae** (Softly alluring as candlelight. Luminae is designed to work in alchemy with feminine skin chemistry to create a luminescently sensual glow.)
In the bottle: Soft, buttery, very slightly nutty. Creamy and ethereal.
On skin: Largely the same. It’s milky, buttery, soft, and really dreamy. I can see why this is a fan favorite.
Longevity: Started fading a bit after 2 hours, was still detectable after 4.
St. Louis Cemetery #1*** (An atmospheric brooding of Spanish moss, crumbling stone, old cement, red clay brick, and graveyard dirt.)
In the bottle: Very slightly spicy. Lots of stone and moss, and a bit of soil. This is beautiful, and definitely evokes images of a cemetery.
On skin: Primarily stone and moss, with a bit of soil, so virtually the same as in the bottle. I don’t know how many of you have actually smelled a mossy headstone, but this is basically that scent bottled, and I love it so much. It’s a little bit cold and melancholy, which perfectly suits its imagery.
Longevity: Still pretty strong after 4 hours.
Vanille Patchouli** (Purest vanilla seduced and despoiled by wild, dirty patchouli.)
In the bottle: What it says on the tin. Nice, pure vanilla with patchouli.
On skin: My skin boosts the patchouli, but it’s lovely. It’s definitely a dirty patchouli. The vanilla never goes away either, so it balances nicely. If I ever need a holy grail patchouli, this is probably it.
Longevity: Still strong after 4 hours.
Devil’s Dandy*** (A diabolically seductive blend of elegant dark leathers, wild black currants and forest blackberries soaked in blood-red merlot wine, mahogany wood, and brooding musk with a whiff of carnal patchouli and the faintest whisper of brimstone.)
In the bottle: Berries, wine, a bit of sharp greenery, and a bit of wood. Not as heavy as I was expecting.
On skin: Same as in the bottle, with a bit of patchouli and blackcurrant. It’s fresher than I had anticipated. I don’t get an overwhelming alcohol note that a lot of other people seem to get, which I’m thankful for. It’s just a dark, fresh berry wine scent on me.
Longevity: Started fading after about 3 hours, and dropped a bit of the sweetness. The patchouli and leather came out a bit more.
Hygge 2018* (A cozy confection of oven-warm gingerbread, cardamon rolls, and iced sugar cookies wrapped in a delicious blanket of spiced vanilla. 2018 Hygge is particularly redolent with warm gingerbread spices.)
In the bottle: Primarily gingerbread, with a little bit of vanilla and sweetness to temper.
On skin: Spicy, spicy gingerbread. The vanilla fades into the background a little bit, but it’s gorgeous.
Longevity: Became a little boozy after 3 hours or so, and had about 4 hours of good wear total.
Additional notes: Limited, seasonal.
Impossibility Like Wine*** (Achingly ripe blackberries fermented with dark muscadine grapes into a gloriously deep autumnal dessert wine.)
In the bottle: Deep and autumnal is right. If dark purple had a scent, this would be it. It’s simple, but dark and effective. It reminds me of something from my childhood, but I’m not sure what.
On skin: It’s not listed, but I get some blackcurrant from this as well as grapes and blackberries. There’s a very slight green twang somewhere in there as well. Still very purple and deep, and simplistic but effective. Love.
Longevity: About 3.5 hours of good wear.
Additional notes: In the last chance section.
County Fair** (The nostalgic scent of an old-fashioned American carnival midway – pink cotton candy, hot kettle corn, freshly fried funnel cakes, candied apples, and saltwater taffy.)
In the bottle: Mostly kettle corn and funnel cakes. Maybe a little bit of cotton candy. Very warm and gourmand.
On skin: Still primarily kettle corn and funnel cakes, but the sweetness from the other notes comes through more, mostly the taffy and cotton candy. The apple hides a bit in the background, but it’s still in there. This is delicious.
Longevity: Still pretty strong after 3 hours. Lasted about 4 or 5 total.
Additional notes: Seasonal. In the last chance section.
Luminae** (Softly alluring as candlelight. Luminae is designed to work in alchemy with feminine skin chemistry to create a luminescently sensual glow.)
In the bottle: Soft, buttery, very slightly nutty. Creamy and ethereal.
On skin: Largely the same. It’s milky, buttery, soft, and really dreamy. I can see why this is a fan favorite.
Longevity: Started fading a bit after 2 hours, was still detectable after 4.
St. Louis Cemetery #1*** (An atmospheric brooding of Spanish moss, crumbling stone, old cement, red clay brick, and graveyard dirt.)
In the bottle: Very slightly spicy. Lots of stone and moss, and a bit of soil. This is beautiful, and definitely evokes images of a cemetery.
On skin: Primarily stone and moss, with a bit of soil, so virtually the same as in the bottle. I don’t know how many of you have actually smelled a mossy headstone, but this is basically that scent bottled, and I love it so much. It’s a little bit cold and melancholy, which perfectly suits its imagery.
Longevity: Still pretty strong after 4 hours.
Vanille Patchouli** (Purest vanilla seduced and despoiled by wild, dirty patchouli.)
In the bottle: What it says on the tin. Nice, pure vanilla with patchouli.
On skin: My skin boosts the patchouli, but it’s lovely. It’s definitely a dirty patchouli. The vanilla never goes away either, so it balances nicely. If I ever need a holy grail patchouli, this is probably it.
Longevity: Still strong after 4 hours.
Devil’s Dandy*** (A diabolically seductive blend of elegant dark leathers, wild black currants and forest blackberries soaked in blood-red merlot wine, mahogany wood, and brooding musk with a whiff of carnal patchouli and the faintest whisper of brimstone.)
In the bottle: Berries, wine, a bit of sharp greenery, and a bit of wood. Not as heavy as I was expecting.
On skin: Same as in the bottle, with a bit of patchouli and blackcurrant. It’s fresher than I had anticipated. I don’t get an overwhelming alcohol note that a lot of other people seem to get, which I’m thankful for. It’s just a dark, fresh berry wine scent on me.
Longevity: Started fading after about 3 hours, and dropped a bit of the sweetness. The patchouli and leather came out a bit more.
Hygge 2018* (A cozy confection of oven-warm gingerbread, cardamon rolls, and iced sugar cookies wrapped in a delicious blanket of spiced vanilla. 2018 Hygge is particularly redolent with warm gingerbread spices.)
In the bottle: Primarily gingerbread, with a little bit of vanilla and sweetness to temper.
On skin: Spicy, spicy gingerbread. The vanilla fades into the background a little bit, but it’s gorgeous.
Longevity: Became a little boozy after 3 hours or so, and had about 4 hours of good wear total.
Additional notes: Limited, seasonal.
Impossibility Like Wine*** (Achingly ripe blackberries fermented with dark muscadine grapes into a gloriously deep autumnal dessert wine.)
In the bottle: Deep and autumnal is right. If dark purple had a scent, this would be it. It’s simple, but dark and effective. It reminds me of something from my childhood, but I’m not sure what.
On skin: It’s not listed, but I get some blackcurrant from this as well as grapes and blackberries. There’s a very slight green twang somewhere in there as well. Still very purple and deep, and simplistic but effective. Love.
Longevity: About 3.5 hours of good wear.
Additional notes: In the last chance section.
County Fair** (The nostalgic scent of an old-fashioned American carnival midway – pink cotton candy, hot kettle corn, freshly fried funnel cakes, candied apples, and saltwater taffy.)
In the bottle: Mostly kettle corn and funnel cakes. Maybe a little bit of cotton candy. Very warm and gourmand.
On skin: Still primarily kettle corn and funnel cakes, but the sweetness from the other notes comes through more, mostly the taffy and cotton candy. The apple hides a bit in the background, but it’s still in there. This is delicious.
Longevity: Still pretty strong after 3 hours. Lasted about 4 or 5 total.
Additional notes: Seasonal. In the last chance section.