Scented Musings

⚙️ Deus Ex Machina (Fire hardened steel, rusted iron, motor oil, wet cement, burnt copper wires, grey amber)

Preliminary notes: So Fox is an electrician by trade, and the first time he came home smelling like copper wires, something twigged in my brain. I apparently find the scent of copper to be comforting as a result. I've tried Industrial Sabotage before, which is remarkably similar to this in composition, but I can't remember what it smelled like at all. This also sounds very steampunk-y or like something out of the Fallout games.

In bottle: This is mostly cement and metal in the bottle, which isn't nearly as intimidating as it sounds. I don't get any copper and very little motor oil.

On skin: On the skin, this is primarily stone and motor oil. It's still not as scary as it sounds and is quite comforting, actually. Strange and conceptual, sure, but it's "wearable" too. I get a little bit of the copper and other metals in there as well, and a bit of powdery amber(gris). It leans ever so slightly masculine, but it doesn't smell like straight up cologne.

Verdict: 4 industrial machines out of 5.


🔮 Haunted & Bewitched (Egyptian white amber, star jasmine, ambrette seed, rosewater Turkish Delight, pink pepper, Madagascar vanilla, bourbon caramels, aged patchouli, botanical pheromones)

Preliminary notes: I've had this before, and I remember the Turkish Delight note very vividly but not the rest. I think I had this at a time where I was rejecting anything pink or girly-smelling, so it got destashed as a result. I don't hold those same restrictions on myself anymore. If I like something now, I like it regardless of what category it falls into.

I'm also not going to lie, I have a permanent association between Turkish Delight and the animated version of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe from 1979. The scene with The White Witch enchanting Edmund with hot cocoa and Turkish Delight was absolutely magical to me as a child, and it was the first time I'd ever heard mention of Turkish Delight. So naturally, every time I hear or see anything to do with the confection, that's where my mind goes.

In bottle: Ah, yes. Pink pepper-infused Turkish Delight and a splash of booze. The Alkemia team also filled this bottle impossibly full (literally right to the top of the brim), so I'll be good on this for many years.

On skin: Virtually the same on the skin, though it warms up a bit. The Turkish Delight is the strongest note, backed by the pink pepper and caramels. There's a dash of patchouli in there as well, and a tiny hint of florals. It's feminine without being too frilly, and it's sweet without being overly saccharine. For me, it absolutely does evoke that scene from The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which makes me feel like a magical, powerful badass (at least a little bit). This is a gorgeous, gooey flormand, and I'm really stoked to have it again. It brings me a lot of nostalgic joy from my early days getting into this hobby and discovering Alkemia for the first time.

Verdict: 5 spicy Turkish Delights out of 5.


💘 Love Flight of a Candy Heart (Pink cotton candy, candy orange slices, red licorice, bergamot, pineapple, fresh passionfruit, green figs, vanilla musk, pink pepper, oleander, freesia, Panama rose, frangipani, green coconut water, cashmere musk)

Preliminary notes: Honestly, this sounds super fruity and not like my normal fare, but Alkemia's cotton candy scents always sucker me in (I've literally tried all of them at this point). I also haven't seen a pineapple note used in their scents in quite some time.

In bottle: Tropical, citrusy cotton candy. I don't get much else from it, and it's fairly faint. This reminds me of body sprays I used as a teenager, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. It's nostalgic.

On skin: Surprisingly, the pineapple and passionfruit are the strongest notes on the skin. It's delightfully tropical and fruity. The red licorice rears its head with the cotton candy, and the florals start to peek in as well. It's a very juicy, tropical, summery gourmand. Despite the candy notes, it's not overly saccharine, either. I was initially concerned about the passionfruit, since it's not a note I generally care for, but it works well here and isn't overbearing at all.

Verdict: 4.25 tufts of bright yellow tropical cotton candy out of 5.


🌿 Earthlight (Linden blossoms, wild fennel fronds, jasmine tea leaves, melissa, muguet, citrus bergamia, cedar tips, petitgrain, copalchi, guaiacwood, santal, hemlock pine needles, green patchouli leaves)

Preliminary notes: I've always found linden to be a really pretty, quintessential springtime floral despite not being around it IRL ever, so this was very enticing to me. I love a good vernal floral scent to begin with.

In bottle: Beautiful wet, verdant meadow vibes, which is what I was hoping for from this. I don't get any of the florals outright.

On skin: Largely the same, but somehow even more green on the skin. The patchouli and fennel are the strongest, but the fennel isn't overly pungent and licorice-y. It just smells herbal. I get the citrus and jasmine tea leaves if I try really hard, but this is mostly about the greenery. This is a gorgeous, contemplative meadow scent, and I'm really glad I snagged a bottle of this before it disappears again. My only complaint with it is how fast it fades, but that's alright.

Verdict: 4.75 verdant meadows out of 5.


✨ Ecstasies of Light (White amber, pear blossoms, white figs, bergamot, gorse flowers, winter honeysuckle, osmanthus)

Preliminary notes: I'm apparently still on some sort of lactonic and/or white amber kick, and this is no exception. Pear can be hit or miss, but I love it in Carmen 7, so I'm hoping I'll be able to tolerate it here too. This sounds glorious and glowy.

In bottle: This is hard to tease apart, but it absolutely fits right into Alkemia's ethereal-white amber family of Ghost Fire, Luminae, Supernatural, and others. I get a bit of bergamot and osmanthus, but it's mostly creamy white amber.

On skin: Oh, interesting. This becomes almost cologne-y and aquatic on the skin. The pear blossom and osmanthus are beautiful here, and it's very ethereal-smelling, like a glittering veil. There's a bit of sweetness in there, but nothing candy-like or foody. Honestly, this reminds me of ghosts a little bit, like an elegant ghost haunting the halls of a castle or stately Victorian house. Absolutely stunning addition to Alkemia's white ambers. Definitely a fan.

Verdict: 4.25 elegant ghosts out of 5.


👻 Honored Ghosts (Earl Grey tea, black raspberry creams, rosewater-saffron syrup, cinnamon honey, white amber, vanilla incense)

Preliminary notes: I got a friend of mine into Alkemia a few years ago, and this is one of the scents she sampled and upsized. Raspberry is probably one of my least favorite fruits outside of jam, but the rest of this sounds up my alley.

In bottle: Ugh, god. Bury me with this. I don't get any raspberry whatsoever in the bottle, and it's all deliciously honeyed tea and incense. There's some sort of hidden green note in the bottle as well.

On skin: The raspberry peeks out a very tiny bit on the skin, but it's barely there (which is a win for me). The tea and incense notes in this are sublime. It's witchy and sweet without being overly gourmand. This is definitely fall and Halloween appropriate, but it's absolutely versatile enough to be worn any time of the year too. I'm really glad I finally tried this, because I adore it. It brings to mind the image of a young apprentice witch studying tasseomancy in a room hazy with soft incense smoke.

Verdict: 5 witchy teas out of 5.


💖 Come to Me (Candied rose petals, star jasmine, peach blossom, cardamom-infused figs, pink pepper, orris root, Mexican vanilla, tonka bean, cashmeran, white amber, sugar musk, white patchouli, botanical pheromones)

Preliminary notes: Another one I had and destashed because I was afraid of femininity at the time, or something. I remember liking this, with the rose and peach blossom being the strongest notes.

In bottle: I'm not going to lie, this smells a bit like peach-jasmine detergent in the bottle, which is.. interesting and not what I remember.

On skin: This has always had a SweeTarts-adjacent vibe going on, in which it's very sweet and fruity. It doesn't smell like detergent as much on the skin, thankfully. It has some characteristics in common with Haunted and Bewitched, but this is much sweeter. The pink pepper in this is really nice, as is the peach blossom. I'm not entirely sure if I like this or not, to be honest. It's almost saccharine and a bit overwhelming.

Verdict: 3 slightly overwhelming SweeTarts out of 5.


🌊 Ambre Gris (Ambergris, ocean minerals, sea salt)

Preliminary notes: Annnd another one I used to have. I didn't destash this because it was too feminine though. I don't usually wear oils in the summer because of the heat, but I do remember enjoying this during warmer weather.

In bottle: This, on the other hand, is exactly how I remember it. Saline, aquatic, warm, and to be frank, a bit odd in all the right ways.

On skin: God, this is lovely. Warm, a bit salty, aquatic, and a tiny bit green as well. It really does smell like something you'd find in the ocean, and I love it for that. It's atmospheric without smelling like sunscreen or a generic blue candle. This bears some resemblance to Sandscape (which I think might be discontinued), but I like this much better. Sandscape *does* veer into generic blue candle territory and can be a bit overwhelming, but the warmth and saline quality of this one keeps it in check.

Verdict: 4.75 chunks of ambergris out of 5.

Hello, yet again! Previous parts of my Possets reviews can be found here and here, which also explain a bit about how this is laid out, what TAT was like, etc. etc. I initially just went to purchase Well Bred, buuut then I got sucked into the spring retour rabbithole, and.. well, obviously it didn't just end with Well Bred. 😂


🍵Well Bred (Highly refined tea, a green and refreshing heart note) (Valentine's retour)

Preliminary notes: Something about this one grabbed my attention when I first came across the listing and refused to let go. I'm a sucker for tea scents, as noted in my other reviews, but this one seemed extra special for whatever reason. I've been getting into Peaky Blinders lately, and something about the description for this one reminds me of the mood of that show.

DH's preliminary notes: Tea time in a British park? Certainly has nothing to do with the fact that we're watching Peaky Blinders.. (Eyyy, I'm not the only one)

In bottle: Very tea-forward with something that smells almost like coffee or soft leather. Interesting.

DH's thoughts: Whoooa, that's like peppery almost. It's got an interesting musk to it. Is there like, some sort of tree in there?

On skin: That coffee-like nuance is still there, and the tea has taken on a slightly dusty quality, but dusty in the sense of like.. it smells like the bottom of a loose-leaf tea tin when you reach the bottom of it. I still can't figure out what the "green and refreshing heart note" is, but it's not mint. Maybe a bit of lime leaf or labdanum? I do love the tea note in this, which isn't surprising at all, given my previous experience with Possets' tea notes. This is no exception. The coffee-esque tone this has makes it really nice for wearing in the morning.

DH's thoughts: Is there cinnamon in that? Really? It smells like cinnamon apples. Like green cinnamon apples. Is there apple in that? Fuck's sakes..

Verdict: 5 morning coffee/tea spreads out of 5. I do really like this. I've never smelled a scent that has both coffee and tea in it (even if the coffee note is per my own imagination), and it's very interesting. It kind of does fit the Peaky Blinders theme.


🍍Perkin (Pineapple, the smoothest of custards, dripping with cream and vanilla) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: I used to hate pineapple. I hated the smell of it, I hated the taste and the texture; it was repulsive to me. I don't know what changed, but a few years ago, I got inspired to try fresh pineapple again, and suddenly, I loved it. DH and I regularly have fresh pineapple chunks and/or pineapple juice in the house now. I don't have many pineapple scents, and this sounded delicious and perfect for summer.

DH's preliminary notes: Sounds like a Hawaiian treat of some kind.. Hawaiian Delight, that's what it's called!

In bottle: Yesss. This reminds me of Alchemic Muse's Pineapple Milk a little bit, but it's so much better. Pineapple and custard are a perfect match for each other. There's something slightly crumbly and softly spiced lurking beneath the pineapple and creaminess, which smells akin to a graham cracker crust.

DH's thoughts: Chocolate. Mint. Mint chocolate.

On skin: So I don't know if pineapple cream pie is a real thing, but if it is, I'd imagine it smells exactly like this. There's a very distinct pie crust-like note in here along with the pineapple and custard. I want to eat this. The pineapple and custard/cream/vanilla are very well-balanced, and it really does smell like a fresh slice of pie. Unexpected but fantastic. The pie crust-like note goes into almost saltine cracker territory sometimes, which I don't overly enjoy, but the rest of the scent is stellar.

DH's thoughts: Whoa, that caught me off guard. That's a real mix of smells. Whatever this is, these are smells I've never seen paired together before. It has a very unique, fascinating smell.

Verdict: 5 potentially fictional pineapple cream pies out of 5. I have nothing else to say about this beyond it's amazing and one of the best gourmands I've smelled.


🌸Tidal Wave (Cherry blossom, aquatic notes, splintered green woods) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: Much like pineapple, I used to think I hated cherry blossom. BPAL's Cherry Blossom Vulva changed that. The description for this one sounds like sitting in a park lined with a grove of cherry trees with a decently-sized pond in the background (or maybe in the middle).

DH's preliminary notes: Sounds like driftwood on a Japanese sea.

In bottle: The mother of all laundry detergent scents. This makes me very sad. I know better than to take Possets scents at face value before aging them though, so we'll see how that goes.

DH's thoughts: It's kind of refreshing, like evergreens and some kind of tea infusion.

On skin: Fuck, this is the spitting image of wet laundry, like when you take laundry out of the washer to transfer to the dryer. Do not want.

DH's thoughts: Fresh linens?

Verdict: 1 pile of wet (but clean) laundry out of 5. I don't like clean scents or laundry-adjacent scents, and this is the queen of both. Great for someone else, but not for me.


💐Primavera (Hyacinth, lily of the valley, a touch of sweetness) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: I adore hyacinth, but it's not a note I see often in indies. The "touch of sweetness" is apparently similar to cookies, according to various reviews, so this kind of sounds like a romantic garden party.

DH's preliminary notes: Walter White's backyard before he became Heisenberg.

In bottle: Slightly floral cookies. The florals are nondescript and don't smell like anything in particular.

DH's thoughts: That's odd. There's something almost sweaty about this one, and something floral about it too.

On skin: I am.. not a fan of this. It smells like dusty, stale cookies. I don't get any floral notes whatsoever. Hard pass.

DH's thoughts: None. I scrubbed this off before DH had a chance to smell it and threw Reason on to cover up the remnants of it.

Verdict: 0 old, dust-covered plates of cookies out of 5. I am sorely disappointed by this one. I had high hopes for the hyacinth note, but it's literally nonexistent.


🥧Indy 499 (Fluffy peony, the flakiest and most tender of pie smells) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: Peony is another floral note I don't see often. It's been many a year since I've smelled a peony (minus a tree peony I had that smelled like lemon ice cream, before our neighbor accidentally mowed it along with the grass), but I do remember liking the scent quite a bit.

DH's preliminary notes: Eating pie at my grandma's farm. (How friggin' adorable is that?)

In bottle: Pie and peony is such an odd combination, but strangely enough, it works. It smells like a cut peony on top of a piece of apple pie, or maybe apple rhubarb pie. The pie note has a smidge of tartness to it.

DH's thoughts: A light floral scent with maybe a wine infusion of some sort, like maybe an ice wine.

On skin: Peony lovers, eat your hearts out. The peony note is potent, but in a good way. It's the most realistic peony note I've come across. The pie crust recedes a bit, so it ends up primarily smelling like eating apple slices in a garden full of peonies. It's very pretty and fresh.

DH's thoughts: Fresh linens and flowers of some type? Something like that.

Verdict: 5 apple-eating excursions in a peony-laden garden out of 5 (I'd give this a higher score if I hadn't limited myself). I was a bit worried that the apple pie portion of this scent would be overbearing, but it evens out really nicely on the skin and becomes almost a peony single-note, but with a bit of depth from the (presumed) apple. This takes me right back to being a kid and smelling my sister's peonies in the front garden after she moved into my grandfather's house. This will be lovely for warmer weather.


🏘️3336 Reservoir Road N.W. (Cool green tree-lined streets, a whiff of tea being served in some successful man's drawing room, a bit of class-laden perfume worn by the ladies at tea, the far away scent of labdanum) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: More tea, more Peaky Blinders mental associations. Neither are shocking at this point. Classy tea scents are a huge weakness of mine, apparently.

DH's preliminary notes: Sounds like somebody having an affair in a Victorian manor.

In bottle: I can't really make out anything beyond a really nice evergreen note and some tea. Quite atmospheric, this one. It doesn't pull too masculine, either. It kind of smells like an outdoorsy cousin of Well Bred.

DH's thoughts: There's something kind of earthy about this. What is it...

On skin: Yesss, this is so good. The evergreen note mingles really well with the almost-fruity tea, and the labdanum and nondescript perfume notes provide a solid backdrop for it all. There's a very faint jammy spice note in there, which could be the jamminess of the evergreens mixing with the spiciness of the tea. I adore this. The thing I really love about Possets' tea notes is that they smell somewhere between a hot, steaming cup of tea and a cannister of loose tea leaves, split pretty evenly. It's fascinating and ends up smelling incredibly realistic most of the time.

DH's thoughts: None.

Verdict: 5 high-class tea times in a fancy townhouse out of 5. It's very rare that I don't like a tea scent from Possets, and this is no exception. The balance of the notes is perfect. As with most of Possets' tea scents, this one has its own personality and stands out from the rest of them while also being very obviously related to them. This makes me want to try more of their scents with evergreen notes as well.


🔥The Great Housewife of Babylon (Deep black musks, smoke from incense braziers, thick black tea, a mighty wallop of tobacco resin) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: This sounds spooky and commanding, and also kind of like a speakeasy.. or how I'd imagine The Garrison in Peaky Blinders would smell. (Sensing a theme?)

DH's preliminary notes: My version of meditation?

In bottle: Primarily the black musks and tobacco. Still smells like a speakeasy or The Garrison.

DH's thoughts: It's kind of weird; there's something kind of almost peppery and sweet about it. It kind of has the scent of new clothing to it, like a new boot. I actually kind of like this one.

On skin: From a distance immediately after application, this smells powdery and almost sweaty. Up close though, it's almost caramelized-smelling. It is a VERY dark and intimidating scent, which I'm perfectly content with. I could not imagine wearing this in warmer weather, even in spring. It's quite heavy and intense. Still smells like a speakeasy or The Garrison, so I'm happy with that as well. I don't get any specific notes beyond the tobacco resin and resins in general. As this wears a bit, the tea comes out more, and let me tell you. If it hasn't been mentioned 500 times yet already, I love Possets' tea notes so much. They're my favorite tea notes from all of the houses I've tried over the years. The Great Housewife is very resinous, and very foreboding. It smells a bit witchy and would no doubt be a hit around October/Halloween time. There's also something a bit haunted cathedral-esque about it, or like drinking tea in a crypt.

DH's thoughts: None. Destashed.

Verdict: 3 very smoky speakeasies out of 5. There's a very distinct powderiness to this one, which I'm not a fan of at all, which I'm assuming is something in the musks. The tea, smoke/incense, and tobacco notes are nice, but that powderiness kills it for me.


🎃The Great Psychiatrist of Babylon (Bourbon vanilla, incense smoke, auxiliary smoke from punk fire, caramel, incense, a small shot of whiskey) (Orphans retour, special order)

Preliminary notes: This one was one of the first Possets scents I came across on the brand's forum, and it hasn't left my brain since. It also sounds spooky, and delicious.. *resists the urge to make yet another Peaky Blinders association*

DH's preliminary notes: A hippie party on All Hallow's Eve.

In bottle: That damned fruity-leaning Possets vanilla I'm not a fan of, but also whiskey, a bit of incense, and what smells like a soft suede note a la Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. Not nearly as sweet as I was expecting.

DH's thoughts: Smells like a custard, almost. Like a very sweet, almost like a pudding of some kind. *tells him the notes* Fascinating. Well, it comes out smelling pretty great.

On skin: There's some sort of weird sour note when this hits the skin, but it burns off pretty quickly. It smells veeery similar to Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, sans the suede and with an added smoky note. If you like Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, you'll probably like this.

DH's thoughts: Sandalwood, pine musk, and something floral?

Verdict: 3.5 smoky, leather-clad psychiatrists eating caramels out of 5. I do like this quite a bit, but I wish it wasn't so similar to Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. I feel like you could get a very similar scent by layering Arrival of the Queen of Sheba with a tiny bit of Iowa or Reason, which I'll have to try at some point.


🍰Tea with Mr. Rosedale (Jasmine tea, cream, a sandalwood tray) (Valentine's retour)

Preliminary notes: More tea, again. This one has a bit of a reputation for going sour or savory on some people, so hopefully that doesn't happen here. This kind of reminds me of Keeping Up Appearances, to be honest. It sounds like one of Hyacinth's fancy tea/dinner parties.

DH's preliminary notes: Old high-class British tea time.

In bottle: I can totally see where the savory aspect comes from for some people. It does smell a bit odd initially, but after the first sniff, it mellows out and smells like floral tea with a creamy/woody background. Something about this in the bottle reminds me of a dentist's office.

DH's thoughts: I smell tea, AND IT COULDN'T BE BECAUSE THERE'S TEA IN THE TITLE. Is there silk in this?

On skin: In the bottle, this has a touch of sourness to it, but it evens out on the skin and no longer smells like a dentist's office. I will admit that I've never had jasmine tea, so I have no idea what the real deal smells like, but this is very pleasant. The cream note is intoxicating. It very much smells like fresh cream, and it's fairly light but comes out more the longer it's worn. The sandalwood and floral tea notes are the strongest though.

DH's thoughts: DH popped into the room a couple hours after I applied and said, "It smells lovely in here, like a field of flowers." (Which is funny, because a major component of this scent is sandalwood, which he claims to hate)

Verdict: 4 lightly floral, fancy teas at dinner parties out of 5. This definitely isn't my favorite Possets tea scent of the ones I've tried, but I do quite like it. The floral tone makes it a bit different from the rest.


🌾Iowa (Crystallized vanilla, turbinado sugar, wheat accord, whiskey) (Permanent)

Preliminary notes: I had requested a sample of this in my second order, and it was on the draft list for wedding scents back before we decided to put our wedding off for the time being (because holy shit, wedding planning is stressful). This review was written when I received the sample.

DH's preliminary notes: It honestly just sounds like something I wouldn't drink. It ruined the whiskey on itself, which is not very good English. Yay, all of that gets posted. For fuck's sakes. ARE YOU ACTUALLY GOING TO DO THAT. God damnit..

In bottle: Very sugary whiskey with a caramel-like note. It smells almost like caramel corn but not quite as popcorn-esque as that. It kind of smells like burnt sugar. I'm sort of in love with it already. I was expecting it to be more wheat-forward, but the wheat might come out more on skin.

DH's thoughts: Ooo, my food senses are tingling. Somebody's baking for me. It's very inviting.

On skin: Still smells like caramel-laden whiskey and burnt sugar, no trace of wheat whatsoever. This is sublime, and I immediately upsized it. It's funny; I have smelled this exact scent outside of our apartment before (there is often a mishmash of foody smells out there during the day).

DH's thoughts: Has vanilla in it? Thought so. Uhhhhh... Is this one of the ones I said smells like baked goods? Yes? Aha!

Verdict: 5 boozy, slightly burnt caramels out of 5. I loved this in the bottle, and I love it on the skin. Caramel isn't even listed as a direct note, but it's one of the best caramel scents I've smelled.


🌷Tulipomania (Reminiscent of a huge field of tulips in Holland) (Spring retour)

Preliminary notes: Much like hyacinth and peony, tulip is another note I don't see much and is probably the most uncommon of the bunch. Tulips smell green and kind of peppery to me, so this should be interesting. For whatever reason, this kind of reminds me of the landscapes in Ghibli movies.

DH's preliminary notes: Sounds like Abbotsford.

In bottle: Doesn't smell at all like tulips to me, but it's a soft, sweet, purple-white floral. I have a feeling this is going to go soapy on the skin, but hopefully it doesn't go as soapy as Tidal Wave did. It's verging on smelling slightly fruity, but it never fully goes there.

DH's thoughts: That's an interesting smell. I actually rather like it, whatever it is. There's definitely something floral about it. I say that all the time.

On skin: Largely the same as in the bottle. Definitely didn't go as soapy as Tidal Wave and still retains its floral character. Still doesn't really smell like tulips to me, but it's a very pretty, happy floral.

DH's thoughts: None.

Verdict: 3.75 fields of tulips out of 5. I do like this, but it's very simplistic and lacks depth. There's a weird dusty undertone as well, which I've experienced with several Possets scents. I'm not the biggest fan, but at least it didn't go soapy.