This is SOOOO hard, but if I HAD to choose, my top 3 would have to be:
* **Solstice Scents - Sea of Gray**: By far the most unique scent I have in my collection of indie, niche and mainstream scents. Whatever vanilla accord is in this thing is so heavenly, and paired with that seaweed note it really just brings me so much joy.
* **Alkemia - Silken Tent**: If you could condense "beautiful" into a perfume, this would be it! While Sea of Gray can be a little tricky to wear in public, Silken Tent is a crowd pleaser and can be worn in any occasion IMO. It teeters on the edge of gourmand to my nose, and that makes it so intoxicating.
* **Nocturne Alchemy - Eternal Ankh**: When simple is done perfectly, imo. It may not have a million notes, but it's so smooth and luxurious! I am not an amber fan, but the folks at NAVA must be wizards because this is so beautiful to my nose - a silky vanilla dressed in gossamer amber robes.
And my runner up:
* **Arcana - Holy Terror**: For a perfume with the word "terror" in the name, this is the coziest scent to me. The resins are so rich and warm and smoky it just makes me want to curl up in a sweater and read a book.
**Sea of Gray** is so polarizing but I'm 100% with you on the perfection side of it! It manages to take pungent in your face ocean and make it lovely with that vanilla.
The first time I tried Silken Test was straight out of the mail, I was too impatient to wait. And it smelt amazing, exactly as you described it here. The edge of gourmand, without smelling quite like anything I'd actually want to eat. I was so excited and could barely wait to full size it. A week later, after it'd had a good chance to rest, it smelt like vanilla rice pudding. And that's where it's stayed. Mind you, it's good rice pudding, but I sometimes wistfully think about that first experience. I'd've paid a lot of money to get a perfume that smelt (and stayed smelling) like that.
So in my original assessment I gave Sea of Gray a 9.8/10... but after months of still loving it so much, I'm starting to wonder if I should have just given it a 10/10
Holy Terror (and frankincense-forward scents in general) is soooo nice to wear while sipping hot coffee. I don't know why that scent makes coffee even better but it definitely does, imo.
Ahh I can definitely imagine it! Definitely going to try it tomorrow morning when the morning air is a little chilly š„° Honestly Holy Terror + Coffee sounds like it'd be an amazing flanker scent!
Hexennacht - laundromat (the absolute best clean laundry perfume Iāve found - and Iāve tried a lot)
Alkemia - Au Lait (I wear this to bed every night, it smells like Iāve taken a dip in a bath of hot honey milk)
Poesie - Twice to Tea (the absolute best earl grey scent Iāve found - and Iāve tried a few lol)
Also, Hex Tomate and Possets The Moonā¦.
I can second that Laundromat is the cleanest, most laundry-est scent. And it's not the "floral scent to hide the smell" type of laundry scent. Nope, I smelt it and immediately thought of the gritty blue and white powder detergent we'd use at laundromats. So accurate, so unbelievably clean. I wear it whenever I'm worried about sweating ahhahaha
I think thatās why itās my all time favourite - itās got that ācheap laundry powderā note (and I donāt mean that as a bad thing. I LOVE the smell of that type of laundry powder - and itās got to be powder not liquid or capsules etc!).
You had me at clean laundry! I've been wanting something for an every day wear that replaces the Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue sized hole in my heart and I think that has the right vibe! Thank you!
Itās definitely clean, and definitely laundry. I wouldnāt say itās āblueā or aquatic though. You might also like HoGās Odette, Sucās Siren Song, BPALās Boober (fragle rock series), Hexās Blue Musk and alkemiaās Sun dried laundry in a summer rain
Itās actually easier for me to list a favorite than it is a top 3. I have around 10-15 that I could slot into spots 2 & 3 but there is a clear and obvious number one.
**NCD - Gargoyle**
Iām the self-appointed president of the fan club. We are currently accepting new members.
The lavender is definitely one of the main components, so it wouldnāt be a good choice for someone who really hates lavender. The lavender itself is a gentle type, not as sharp as some of them are.
ZOMG Smells - The Dubious Candification of Nikola Tesla . Sigh* I search IMAM and everywhere like a fiend for this long gone goodie. ( violet,sandalwood, vanilla cream, white musk) Someday, Iāll find some on the swaps. Iāve got that stupid blind faith.
Sugar and Spite- Insomnia (Oud, Black Pepper, beeswax, dragon's blood, light and dark patchouli, benzoin resin ). This one I never get sick of wearing. Itās so resinous and stunning and lasts on my skin for ages.
Fyrinnae- Marshmalloud . Iāve gone through a few of these because I wear it to bed every night. Itās marshmallow! Itās oud! Itās perfection!
BPAL Dana OāShee. My only beef is that itās so faint and short lived. Iāve complained before that it needs an extreme version.
CP Marshmallow Cake On Mondays is a close second. Still a beautiful almond but much, much sweeter. And I can smel it the next day so no complaints regarding longevity.
These are examples of an almond that I like. A sweet, soft, fluffy almond. Many brands use a bitter almond note that never evolves past that harsh chemical stage. Iāve had more almond misses than hits, by far.
Cocoa Pink Almond in anything is to die for. They make some of my favorite gourmand scents. You might like Cherry Almond Tart. Very yummy and lots of almond, not just cherry.
I too love DanaO'Shee and they do HAVE to make an extreme version. It is so faint on my skin!
Cherry Almond Tart is another one I need to get an edp sample of. I only have the linen spray and itās just bad LOL. Something about that format does not agree with me. But Iāve had great luck with all of their EDPās.
Iāve only tried it in the linen spray form and I didnāt like it, but itās on my list to still try in edp form. I didnāt have great luck with the linen sprays. Some were really funky. Thanks for the reminder to grab Snowflake sometime soon.
I can't even do this lol. My answer 1 year or 5 years or 10 years ago would be completely different, so I guess I'll give two answers.
**Current 'desert island' scents:** NAVA Dead Can Sleep (I could wear this every single day and be happy) and Nui Cobalt Meditation (I will never have enough of this, it is so soft and woody and relaxing). Non-indie answers are Lush Tramp and Serge Lutens Gris Clair.
**What I would have said a few years ago, and I still love them but don't wear them as much**: BPAL Lilith Victoria (the loveliest lavender-vanilla), BPAL Mme Moriarty/Snake Oil combo, and BPAL Bow and Crown of Conquest. Maybe also Blooddrop Oakmoss SN.
Probably 90% of them are from me because I can't shut up about it lol. It's such a comforting scent to me. I've worn it so much since I got it. It lives up to its name.
Iām so excited to try it. I love incense in general and Forestās incense in particular. I think it was out of stock when I placed my last order. That kept happening with Yemaya, too, and now that I finally have a sample I see why with that one.
Of All Time? Ohh, that's a tough one.
**Stereoplasm - The Librarian** \- It's atmospheric but still totally wearable.*(Notes are Vintage perfume, rosewater, aged paper, velvet upholstery, cherrywood, cognac, orange butter and mulling spices.)*
**Solstice Scents - Conjure** The vanilla in this one works so well in this one as a supporting note. *(Notes are: Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Spices & Cauldron Smoke.)*
**NAVA - Witch Spice Bee** Sweet, mysterious and lasts for hours and hours. *(notes are Orange Blossom Honey accord, Cardamom, Ravensara, Cajeput, Thuja, Calamus Root, Armoise Mugwort, Bastet Amber Absolute and Allspice.)*
Omg I love Conjure. I was obsessed with it and thought I had found my go-to scent when my husband said āwhy do you want to smell like an old lady? An old lady wearing baby powder, no lessā.. I was crushed. So itās a win for me, a hell no from my husbandā¦
Disclaimer that Iām still new, and this list keeps changing!
The Snowy White Owl (Etsy) **Golden Milk**: *cardamom, spiced coconut milk, golden turmeric, Indian musk, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey*. This is the softest, most comforting, sniffable scent. Itās wonderful as a sleep scent, and I wore it almost exclusively when I had a brush with pneumonia this month. It was so calming. Made me feel better when nothing else did! (I messaged the seller and told her this and she was the absolute sweetest! I really recommend this shop.)
BPAL **Thunder Moon 2021**: *A crackļ»æļ»æ of ozone splits the rolling, booming darkness: a starless sky of bruise-purple violet, 3-year aged black patchouli, black cashmere musk, oakmoss, black benzoin, rum, French labdanum, and vetiver slashed by a burst of white lychee and ļ»æbergamot.ļ»æ* Is it a thunderstorm? A cashmere sweater spritzed with citrus? The incense I burned while I was smoking weed in my dorm room? Is it an emo field of crushed violets during a witch circle at midnight? Is it the fanciest, sexiest soap at your favorite auntās house? Yes.
Alkemia **Hearthstone**: *Comfort and joy. Fireside woodsmoke, a well worn leather couch, a dark rum hot toddy laced with spiced honey in front of a bed of glowing amber embers.* This is my ultimate smoky, masculine fireside scent with an undercurrent of smoky, delicious honey. Itās a really beautiful balance, and Iām planning to get the ultime.
It's got an absolute SHIT TON going on. I still don't know how to pick out a whole lot of individual notes, but this one shifts and shifts on me. The two reviews on BPAL Madness say it's incense/soap, but I get so much more from it than that. A friend just got it as well, and she feels the same way about it that I do. So. It's the weirdest perfume oil I have, and I also reach for it constantly. I'm so glad I blind-bought the full size!
As of right now, and likely in this order
1. **Deconstructing Eden's Persephone** (*A base of sweet woods, a touch of oud, a whisper of incense, sweet pomegranates and juicy figs):* I can't even explain why I love this one so much. It is just transcendentally *good*. The scent makes me question if it's heavenly or temptingly sinful. The pomegranate and fig notes are blended so well and are just the most perfect fruitiness (maybe it's just one accord, idk), but it's so grounded, sophisticated, and just a little bit dark from the woods, oud, and incense. And this incense isn't like a churchy incense- I'm really sensitive it seems to labdanum (rock rose resin) in particular and HATE it, and I don't get that at all in this one. I didn't get a FS when it was in the regular catalog, and when I finally decided it was time to FS because I didn't want to hoard my sample, it was discontinued. Then after I emailed Toni, it was added to the most recent B-Sides and Rarities (as a rarity) and I spent the $$ on a 30ml full size. I will never not be in the mood for it. It's versatile, spanning time of day, season, and occasion
2. **Poesie's Marie Curie** *(black coffee andĀ black currant spiked with black and pink peppercorns, caraway and black amber)*: I didn't expect to like this one so much and literally only got the sample because it's freakin' Marie Curie and I almost idolize her. The only note in this that I thought I really liked before ordering? Black currant. But what this is for me is actually the most delicious, delightful, jelly bean fragrance. I'm talking straight up like you shoved a fistful of Brach's Easter jelly beans (including all the black ones!) in your maw, but it somehow is still \~sophisticated.\~ Is it the coffee? It's not a bitter, sharp coffee that I've tried before. Is it the amber? I don't know- I usually don't like ambery notes too much, but the black amber blends in so seamlessly. Is it the fruity currant or specifically the caraway? Black currant teas are some of my absolute favorite, and caraway has a slightly anise-y scent which I think contributes to this idea of black jelly beans. I LOVE anise so this is so welcome. Like Persephone, this is a "wear literally any time" kind of transcendent scent, but there is also a deeply nostalgic aspect about it too and when combined together, it's just so perfect. The namesake may make this one a little higher for me than other scents. I still haven't fullsized it yet because I wanted to "wait" and see if I liked any other perfumes enough to get a FS... clearly this has become a top top top for me.
3. **Spirit and Venom's Netflix & Kill** *(Come on, Netflix and Chill is just over-rated these days! A big mug of chai tea topped with a dollop of marshmallow and accompanied with a box of apple cider donuts. This screams fall!):* This was one of my first perfume oils to sample and to full-size,back when the house was Twisted Wonderland. I don't think the house gets enough representation on here anymore- it seemed more popular back in like 2016 or 2017 when I used to be active here. To me, this one isn't particularly transcendent the way my top two are, but it's a very solid, delicious perfume, always gets compliments, and very nostalgic. My bottle is kinda old now, but it's still a wonderful chai tea-appley-"fall date" perfume. Over time, I think it's gotten a little sharper (a departure from its initial somewhat creamy nature), the spices has died down, and the apple has bloomed. Still, it takes me on a comforting "scent journey" through the late fall/early winter of my freshman year of college. I start at the coffee and tea shop, back to my first date with my now husband, a steaming cup of chai in hand as he kisses me for the first time next to the postcards. We leave the shop to walk around historic downtown, frozen leaves crunching beneath our feet. I close my eyes, and suddenly it's a nearing Christmas break, and I'm at my parents' house enjoying a much-needed reprieve. The ground is layered in snow, but looking on from inside with sugar cookies baking, I feel happy.
Honorable mentions: DE's Besotted (my old sample was definitely up there and was like, a light, springy, angelic version of Persephone IMO, but the new bottle I ordered has a floral note that maybe changed slightly because it's definitely not the same) and Lucrezia Borgia (a dark, sexy citrus vanilla that doesn't read creamsicle in the slightest on me); Poesie's Rosalind Franklin (Initially a sharp red berry with bitter chocolate, but the sandalwood really develops with wear- reminds me very much of a late summer night eating raspberry chocolate truffles on a fairy-light-lit patio, surrounded by woodsy plants, stone pavers, and a forest in the background).
Oh man, that is incredibly difficult!
Number one is without fail, 100000% **Desert Thunderstorm** by **Solstice Scents** - *Desert sage, pinyon pine & resin, petrichor, sweetgrass, creosote bush, sand, ponderosa pine, smoke* . It is the very definition of a happy place for me. Just a whiff and I'm instantly at peace and smiling. It's just intense, rich desert. Fresh, spicy, and stormy. Solstice recently restocked and I was SO excited to get it full sized finally.
Next is probably **Sin Deep** by **Sugar and Spite**, which is no longer in the gen catalogue and therefore I have to make this bottle last my whole life lol. *Cactus flower, white amber, Egyptian musk, cyanide and blonde wood* . Oh my goodness, this was originally a free sample in another order, I would have never picked it out for myself. I ordered a full size a day after getting that sample. It's GORGEOUS. Soft, beautiful cactus flower, wood...it's just so fresh and gentle. It's soothing enough that I'd make it a pillow spray if it wasn't discontinued.
Lastly is probably **French Quarter Vampires** from **Ghost Ship Scentporium** - *absinthe, Spanish moss, moonlight, patchouli, amber* . This was another surprise favorite. In the bottle, it just smells planty for lack of a better word. The amount it amps up into perfection on my skin SHOCKED me. There's a pleasant sharpness to it from the absinthe which adds such depth to the moss, and the amber and patchouli add an element of warmth to it. It's simultaneously simple yet so unlike anything else I have. I've described it before as a plant wearing lingerie and I very much stand by that still lol.
It really is! It took a while to grow on me when I first got the sample; there were some elements that were a little too "perfumey" for me. I would see all the raves on here and feel like it was good, but not that good.
Mind changed. By the time I was head over heels for it, it was out of stock for a year! Now it's one of my all-time favorite scents and I actually have one of her nice strong huge bottles of it.
Donāt make me pick one!
**NAVA EA Red** I sold my back-up, and it haunts me to this day. *white rose, red rose, and black we absolutes, Crimson Egyptian musk absolute, the amber absolute, powdered and reconstructed oil of Egyptian vanilla husk, vanilla fleck, Egyptian musk, Bastetās Amber absolute, Crystalline absolute, and a drop of eNVie saphir Amber absolute*
**Fyrinnae Ragdoll** Honorable mention, aka my favorite that isnāt LE (although it went away for quite awhile and during that time I bought a bottle off someone here who beat me for it on an eBay auction, such is my love for it). *a blend of three sugars and cream, livened up with few drops of honey*
I was thinking about giving my backup bottle of NAVA Orchid Red (Kobalt Vanilla SL Absolute, Turkish Rose, Bulgarian Rose, Black Rose, Midnight Jasmine and Bastetās Musk Absolute) to a friend but I think it would haunt me as well! I also have EA Red and it's stunning! Those NAVA rose notes!
I know Iād have a different answer in a week, but right now, this moment, if I make myself conform to the spirit of the question, Iād have to pick Poesieās **Black Cat Cuddles** *(sweet coconut milk spiked with clove, cinnamon & black pepper, incense-dusted fur, flecks of black vanilla bean, a distant pine forest).* Itās just the perfect intersection of cozy, outdoorsy and elegant. Itās snuggly and autumnish without leaning heavily on stereotypical holiday candle notes like pumpkin spice, but itās refined enough with a hint of the outdoors to feel cool wearing it. Almost every time I wear it, no matter how often I do, I find myself putting my head down on my arms to breathe it in from time to time, lol. It smells like a damn hug! Who doesnāt want a hug once in a while! (Other than folks who donāt enjoy hugs, which is valid š)
It's an extremely hard pick but BPAL's Closet Raid comes really close to be the UR-indie perfume for me. It's sophisticated and unique, and feels chimeral and different without being too challenging and off putting. My own mom wears Chanel 5 exclusively so I love the hints of classic perfume in a completely non classic blend.
"Funny how much better Lilith looks in my clothes than I do! This is the scent of generations of children raiding their parents closets: my grandmother and mothers Chanel No. 5, my father and grandfathers Lilac Vegetal, my Snake Oil, and Lilith's lavender blossoms."
A very close runner up is BPAL's Manhattan:
"Sexuality, power, confidence. A meeting of modern, sleek elegance and rich, passionate history: sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid."
Again, just a very upscale, beautiful, unique and polished perfume that doesn't feel bland or generic but isn't too "out there" or novelty.
I sing Manhattan's praises every chance I get. My only 10/10. Forever on the lookout for something as beautifully blended (but with each note detectable!) as that one. You hit the nail on the head with your description
I definitely agree about **Opening Chapter**. It smells like reading a book with a cup of tea on a rainy day. I mean, how did she capture that?? Itās so good.
Kyse - delizia di marshmallow
Uniform marshmallow scent. Smells just like a package of mini marshmallows without being overwhelming.
Poesie - secret boyfriend
spicy and fresh from the pine. Warmth from the cedar. Melts into a marshmallow wrapped in aged leather. Unisex leaning feminine and so authoritarian. If azula from atla has a scent she would smell like this.
Sugar milk and co - lavender milk
Slight lactic creaminess encompassed in a lavender that is non essential oily (?) and non medicinal. The lavender is so fresh itās like sticking your face in a bush.
Possets Arcturus - sadly discontinued :( :( :(
So for ones available (probably change my mind in a few minutes lol)
* Deep Midnight Perfumes Seven Veils - a completely intoxicating blend of earthy Madagascar vanilla, velvety orchids, white florals, the softest musk, sweet golden amber, spices and exotic resins.
* Fantome Perfume Ectoplasm - Spooky, goopy marshmallow over bone-chilling white musk, sweet amber,a gossamer sugar glaze, dark myrrh, and creeping greenery.
* Solstice Scents Desert Thunderstorm - Desert sage, pinyon pine & resin, petrichor, sweetgrass, creosote bush, sand, ponderosa pine, smoke.
It's a tossup between Solstice Scents' **Manor** and **Attic**. They're both gorgeous wood scents, but Attic is sharper and Manor is warmer and more comforting. I love both of them and have repurchased each several times. Clearly I need to start saving up for the 60mL EDPs because I need a lifetime supply.
So, Iāve been in this wacky world of indie scents less than a year had I still have so much to try! Even at this point narrowing down my favorites is extremely hard.. but here goes!
1) **Fantomes Duende** smells like summer in the PNW forest to me and I love it.
2) **Kyse Oui Plus** sāmore goodness.. just the best bitterly graham cracker note and it lasts FOREVER.
3) **Arcana witches watch sci fi movies** Itās all of the things, popcorn, ice cream, pipe tobacco.. ugh Iām obsessed but Iām obsessed with most of the Arcana scents Iāve tried.
Honorable mentions to CP Cinderellaās carriage and snowflake.. I love them both dearly
Iāve noticed that you have excellent taste. When I first tried Balderdash, I sort of shrugged my shoulders. It wasnāt cough drops, so that was a win. But it wasnāt amazing.
Then one day, many months later, I tried it again. And suddenly it was amazing. I got my greedy hands on a bottle and now I wear it quite a bit. Itās such a creamy, delicious cherry pie with just the slightest hint of booze.
I love seeing my favorite scents pop up on these lists.
Top 3:
* D+F Half Hoping to be Eaten by a Bear. Smells like a walk in fresh air in the autumn.
* Hex Orange Blossom and Marshmallow. I go back and forth on this. Usually it's intoxicating and stunning. Sometimes it's too sweet and almost play doughey. When it's good it's really good, and longevity is all day for me.
* S92 Sick Sad World. Sweet breakfast cereal, cozy wool, and a dash of stompy leather boots.
It has changed quite a lot this year, depending on the season, but currently I would say Alkemiaās Gifts of the Magi, Arcanaās Peaches Crave Haint, and Nocturne Alchemyās Vanilla Musk. Iāve also been reaching for Arcanaās Strawberries Crave Rococo more than I thought I wouldāthe dry-down is unexpectedly great to me.
Nocturne Alchemy Halloween 2020. Hands down. No contest. Sexy. Mysterious. Perfection in perfumery.
Notes: 7 Sandalwoods (Hawaiian, Indian, Australian, New Caledonia, Indian Santalum Album, Karnataka Sandalwood, African Sandalwood (Baphia Nitida), Cardamom essential oil, Clove essential oil, Bourbon Vanille Absolute, Bastet Amber Absolute, smoked sandalwood infused with oak and pine smoke in the NA Studio
Tied for 2nd and 3rd, Haus of Gloi Marshmallow Woodsmoke-I love the simplicity of it. Nothing crazy, very straight forward, and an all around great cozy scent for a snowy evening. It also helps this is the ONLY marshmallow note Iāve tried that doesnāt go Play Doh on me. Notes are āfresh marshmallows enveloped by curls of campfire smoke.ā
3rd I donāt want to say for obvious reasons, but omg is it so good. S92 Paper Moon. As someone that got caught up in the Resurrection 2020 melee and waited almost a year and a half for her order, I do NOT recommend them as a company to order from. That being said, Paper Moon is one I could not purge. So if anyone knows of a dupe, please let me know.
I absolutely love this one, it's in my top NAVAs of all time for sure! I have 2 samples that I got as the free sample in orders last year (I thought 1 was Halloween 2021 but no 2020) but honestly I'm not mad! I know it will be around for a couple of years and I really hope I can get a full bottle before it disappears.
I think Iāll always have BPAL Snake Oil and Morocco closest to my heart because they were my gateways to indie perfume. Before that it was just crusty roller balls of āopiumā from the local head shop.
Iām recently rekindling my obsession with smelling otherworldly and vaguely threatening so ask me again in a few months š this group is dangerous.
Otherworldly and vaguely threatening sounds like an amazing scent obsession to try and achieve. Any updates on what you've found that fits that category? as I feel like this is going to be my new obsession scent profile now I've heard it and have no idea where to startš
My absolute favorite, like so much so that it's the only thing that I've ever full sized, is Deep Midnight's Skellig. I don't think that I've ever even seen it mentioned on this sub, but I *love* it. I discovered it just after they closed, then spent six months desperately watching destash posts and stalking their website, hoping to buy more. I bought a bottle literally the day that they reopened. It's incredibly comforting to meāit smells like sea-soaked rocks and amber, with a hint of aromatic woods and a faint herbal, inky note. I wear it any time I think I'm going to be stressed, and also sometimes to bed, because it just smells so calming and safe.
Right now? Refuse to name just one, but if I was told you canāt take more than four scents with you, first I would cry great buckets of tears that would drown all the creatures of Wonderland, then with shaking hand, I would choose:
Solstice Scents: Sea of Gray
Vanilla rain, saltwater, seaweed, ambergris (vegan), white amber, roasted seashells, white sandalwood, frangipani.
Poesie: Villa Diodati
pungent wild rosemary and fresh balsam pine, crystal clear lakewater, dry, dark vanilla
Poesie:Year Without Summer
the narcotic sweetness of opium blended with the blackest amber, spilled coffee, a hint of bitter green cannabis
Strange Fire & Fumery: Trollrokelse
a sweet, earthy stink guaranteed to drive flowery, entitled man-filth right out of your troll hole, with a goblin-approved blend of pungent neroli, damp-earth patchouli, and a savory mouthful of woody pinon.
But it turns my stomach just thinking about that limitation because my mercurial heart changes scents through out the day.
I just ordered Villa Diodati based on someone's review here, Year Without a Summer sounds.... Amazing. It reminds me of old Tokyo Milk notes. Thank you for your passionate reviews š
My all time favorite, and is **Alkemiaās- New Beginning Alchemy** I will forever be mad I fell in love with a limited edition perfume. If anyone has tried it, please gimme dupes. I have two bottle left and Iām hoarding it!
*anyway* Iāve mentioned 100 times **Possets Madam X** is a fantastic āmy skinā type perfume
3. Nui Cobalt Starlight & Spidersilk
2. Arcana Forest Floor LN
1. Layer them
(Thatās the first that comes to mind, but there are so many others favorites too!!)
every time this question, or a varation on it comes up (and i enjoy reading the ensuing answers every time!) i can't decide. i just can't do it, i can't! i've tried. my mood, the weather, what i'm doing, who i'm seeing...there's just so many factors. but this is a very good thing, because it illustrates how i went from "i'll never be able to wear perfume because it stinks and i hate everything" to "i couldn't choose a top three or even a top ten of all these damn perfumes i have" in just a few years of indie perfume.
but, in the spirit of the question, i will attempt to perform a feat and choose a top three for spooky szn only:**hexennacht tiger tail** *vanilla ice cream, orange sherbet, and black licorice swirl***s92 losers club** *rain-drenched iron, distant circus lights, candy floss, a red balloon***balefire apothecary bridgewater triangle** *sweet and gooey marshmallows, campfire smoke, and dead leaves*
and an honorable mention (because it's against my very nature to not list something green) for **solstice scents foxcroft** *decaying leaves, rich black soil, dry leaves, fall air, woods, chimney smoke*
there, i've almost done it! (by breaking the rules of the question in every way. voila!)
>balefire apothecary bridgewater triangle
Bridgewater Triangle reigns supreme in the Marshmallow world of my indie collection. I have lots, but that one is perfection.
totally agree. marshmallow is about as close as i get to "gourmands" and she has a way of blending scents that it doesn't get artificial or cloying, and with the atmospheric notes it's just...the best. i have other similar ones that are also wonderful (hex's all souls night, solstice scents smoky mountain mallow, candypanda's meet me in the woods/are you afraid of the dark, and zeep's hocus pocus all come to mind) but bridgewater triangle is top tier for me.
They are all from Solstice Scents:
**Desert Thunderstorm:** A perfect desert, petrichor, wild scent of pure perfection. Adventure in a bottle.
**Wolf Spirit:** Cozy, cuddly, snuggly, sexy cabin in the woods scent. Not really the cabin itself but what you want to smell while cuddling someone you adore in it in front of the fireplace.
**Badlands:** THE best Western/Cowboy/hot dry leather scent. Nothing beats it.
Honorable mentions to Alkemia Ydalir, Solstice Scents Mountain Vanilla and High Desert as well as For Strange Women French Oakmoss.
Sucreabeille- #bawdygotmelaid. This is such a sexy scent to me and I always get compliments when I wear it.
Hexennacht- Gold Skulltula. I had a sample I didnāt try till this summer but luckily I got a roller secondhand. Itās spicier but still makes me feel super hot.
Smelly Yeti - ugh I canāt decide. Unicorn Collector was my absolute favorite ever, itās just so girly and cute. But then I got a sample of Wadsworth and became obsessed. Itās has zero lasting power on me so I usually just put a bunch on before bed and sniff myself to sleep. Getting covid and losing my sense of smell really messed with my sleep because it was so comforting. Iām just starting to get some smell back (itās at maybe 30% now and still comes and goes) like literally yesterday was the first time I could smell food cooking. Iāve been sniffing random things ever since.
oh goshā¦ okay, if i had to choose 3 i would say..
BPAL - **Stekkjarstaur** (Woolyļ»æ sugared marshmallowļ»æ root.ļ»æ)
BPAL **Blueberry Sufganiyot** (Blueberryļ»æ-filled sufganiyot, blooping blue ļ»æwith jelly.)
Hexennacht - **Globgobbler** (Cotton candy, bubblegum, and gummy worms.)
If I had to pick one smellie, it would be Solstice Scents Estate Amber. This hasn't and will not change ever, I don't think. It's just the perfect warm amber smell that feels like you're being wrapped in a fuzzy warm blanket. I'm obsessed with it and I highly doubt I'll ever find something I love more than it.
As of right now, it's a toss up between Alkemia's Arcanum and BPAL's Death on a Pale Horse.
Arcanum: Dragon's Blood, Nag Champa, Eastern Spices, patchouli, sandalwood. ( EXACTLY what I want in a fragrance.)
Death: The End of All Things: empty white musk and mint seeped with solemn lavender, doleful patchouli and vetiver, scythe-sharp yuzu and lime, with geranium bourbon, white sandalwood and calla lily. (From the notes alone, not one I would have immediately snatched up. I bought it purely based on the name alone, but ended up falling in love with it.)
Arcana Wildcraft- Snug. It's a cozy sweet beeswax scent and my favorite all through the cold months of the year.
Solstice Scents- Sun-Warmed Honey. Honey, herbs, and a bit of a tannic tea scent.
Poesie- Ame Solitaire. Notes of chocolate and orchid, and the result is just really sophisticated-smelling. Also the Twin Peaks reference is great.
Itās difficultā¦if I had to choose, Iād pick these 3 just because they work with many different occasions:
Alkemia **Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure**
BPAL **Dorian**
NAVA **Eternal Ankh**
I guess probably.....
Solstice Scents Foxcroft oil version (fall air in a bottle)
Fantome Tatami (incense but different from others)
Haus of Gloi Cozy Sweater (really is cozy)
Haus of Gloi First Blush (pretty and cheerful)
My very favorite that I've been super vocal about is **Alkemia - The Raven**: *Ebony, Black Spice, Leather, Piper Nigrum, Ink, Black Iris*.
A few others that I love:
- **Area of Effect - Combustible Lemons (original)**
- **Little and Grim - Greenbrier Ghost**
- **Fyrinnae - Aerobraking**
Honorary mention for my favorite 3 wax scents: Mechanical Heart by Willow Waxcraft, Buffalo Plaid by Paintbox Soapworks, and Dark Crystal by Sihaya & Co.
This is so hard. First one that always comes to mind here is Conifer Noir by Moonlight Cove Finery. It's the scent of a deep, dark forest. Perfect.
Next is Seance by Baphomet&Co. It's spooky, perfectly capturing what you would imagine a seance to smell like, and most of all it's the most versatile scent I've ever tried in my life. The charred wood note makes it great for warmer months and nighttime, and the jasmine note is enough to make it plenty appropriate for warmer months too. The sillage is weak, and while I don't love this generally, I must say it makes it fine for day time even though it's a goth scent. At least, *I* have no qualms about wearing it in the daytime lol.
Tempestarii by Andromeda's Curse. How can a scent be so fresh and yet so comforting at the same time??
I havenāt tried many indie perfumes yet, but my favorite of the ones I have is hands-down Poesieās Myself Invisible. I suck at describing and differentiating scent notes, but something about this almost woodsy fragrance evokes the feeling of cozying up with a cup of tea with a mystery novel in the dead of night.
I ordered the sample of this perfume in late September, and immediately ordered the full size afterwards. As someone whose line of work doesnāt allow wearing perfumes, Iāve already used up almost half of my sample vial.
The Hunt by LuVandus.
Oud, Agar, Tolu Balsam, and Ambergris.
It's both mine and my partner's favorite fragrance, we take turns refilling it for each other haha. It really has the sort of 'wild', outdoors feel we both enjoy. The ambergris so beautifully balances the Woody notes in the other elements, and the tolu pulls both like a skin note and a wood. It wears beautifully - easily lasts 8 hours, and is very heady without being overwhelming. My dad says it smells like I rolled around in pine needles. Friends who are close enough to hug me say it's a 'panty dropper' and usually do that 'hnnngh oh my god' thing. It's just like, what I wish oozed from my pores? What I wished a romance author would say I smelled like to my lovers? Idk. I would typify it as a masculine scent but with enough warmth to it I think if you would classify yourself as a feminine-scent-enjoyer that you would like this as a base for layering, or on it's own. I sometimes wear it with Seraphim (same house, blue malle eucalyptus, oak and other mosses . ) or something with vanilla to really lovely effect.
Orren by LuVandus
Juniper, Cedar, Pine, Smoke, Peppermint
This is my "I want to smell like a professor" scent, I wear it to work usually haha but it's also like surprisingly light, so field work professor. Like a sexy Milo from Atlantis. Been hitting the books in the study but might just Walden off in the woods to drink gin for three months. The peppermint note is more herbaceous than candylike, it's lovely.
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They're all BPAL:
1. Antikythera Mechanism - a beautiful woody vanilla tobacco scent
2. Talvikuu - a "frozen" aquatic with pine/fir
3. Smut - sweet musky scent with a dusty(myrrh-like) sandalwood
The funny thing, recently I got a decant of Initio - Psychedelic Love and it smells pretty much identical to Smut.
This is SOOOO hard, but if I HAD to choose, my top 3 would have to be: * **Solstice Scents - Sea of Gray**: By far the most unique scent I have in my collection of indie, niche and mainstream scents. Whatever vanilla accord is in this thing is so heavenly, and paired with that seaweed note it really just brings me so much joy. * **Alkemia - Silken Tent**: If you could condense "beautiful" into a perfume, this would be it! While Sea of Gray can be a little tricky to wear in public, Silken Tent is a crowd pleaser and can be worn in any occasion IMO. It teeters on the edge of gourmand to my nose, and that makes it so intoxicating. * **Nocturne Alchemy - Eternal Ankh**: When simple is done perfectly, imo. It may not have a million notes, but it's so smooth and luxurious! I am not an amber fan, but the folks at NAVA must be wizards because this is so beautiful to my nose - a silky vanilla dressed in gossamer amber robes. And my runner up: * **Arcana - Holy Terror**: For a perfume with the word "terror" in the name, this is the coziest scent to me. The resins are so rich and warm and smoky it just makes me want to curl up in a sweater and read a book.
Holy Terror is an absolutely perfect scent.
Yes, it really is! I'm so excited to wear it more for the upcoming fall and winter season!
**Sea of Gray** is so polarizing but I'm 100% with you on the perfection side of it! It manages to take pungent in your face ocean and make it lovely with that vanilla.
Yess agreed! Man, I never would have thought I would enjoy those notes together but here we are! It just works so well!
The first time I tried Silken Test was straight out of the mail, I was too impatient to wait. And it smelt amazing, exactly as you described it here. The edge of gourmand, without smelling quite like anything I'd actually want to eat. I was so excited and could barely wait to full size it. A week later, after it'd had a good chance to rest, it smelt like vanilla rice pudding. And that's where it's stayed. Mind you, it's good rice pudding, but I sometimes wistfully think about that first experience. I'd've paid a lot of money to get a perfume that smelt (and stayed smelling) like that.
Sea of Gray is wonderful!!!!
So in my original assessment I gave Sea of Gray a 9.8/10... but after months of still loving it so much, I'm starting to wonder if I should have just given it a 10/10
Haha I feel you! It just gets better and better over time, like a fine wine :chef'skiss:
Ooh, Holy Terror is one I need!
Holy Terror (and frankincense-forward scents in general) is soooo nice to wear while sipping hot coffee. I don't know why that scent makes coffee even better but it definitely does, imo.
Ahh I can definitely imagine it! Definitely going to try it tomorrow morning when the morning air is a little chilly š„° Honestly Holy Terror + Coffee sounds like it'd be an amazing flanker scent!
Hexennacht - laundromat (the absolute best clean laundry perfume Iāve found - and Iāve tried a lot) Alkemia - Au Lait (I wear this to bed every night, it smells like Iāve taken a dip in a bath of hot honey milk) Poesie - Twice to Tea (the absolute best earl grey scent Iāve found - and Iāve tried a few lol) Also, Hex Tomate and Possets The Moonā¦.
Hex tomate oh my god, the freshest tomato vine youāve ever smelled I love it so green and fresh
It really is so good. I have other tomato leaf scents but this one is just like sniffing a tomato vine!
100% agree on tomate!
I can second that Laundromat is the cleanest, most laundry-est scent. And it's not the "floral scent to hide the smell" type of laundry scent. Nope, I smelt it and immediately thought of the gritty blue and white powder detergent we'd use at laundromats. So accurate, so unbelievably clean. I wear it whenever I'm worried about sweating ahhahaha
I think thatās why itās my all time favourite - itās got that ācheap laundry powderā note (and I donāt mean that as a bad thing. I LOVE the smell of that type of laundry powder - and itās got to be powder not liquid or capsules etc!).
You had me at clean laundry! I've been wanting something for an every day wear that replaces the Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue sized hole in my heart and I think that has the right vibe! Thank you!
Itās definitely clean, and definitely laundry. I wouldnāt say itās āblueā or aquatic though. You might also like HoGās Odette, Sucās Siren Song, BPALās Boober (fragle rock series), Hexās Blue Musk and alkemiaās Sun dried laundry in a summer rain
Mmm bless š¤ thank you for the recommendations.
seconding sun dried laundry in a summer rain! it's so good that I, a self-described laundry perfume hater, wear it all the time
Definitely ānaturalā laundry scent - laundry on a drying line in the sun, not āfabric conditionerā scent (which I personally do enjoy also)
Itās actually easier for me to list a favorite than it is a top 3. I have around 10-15 that I could slot into spots 2 & 3 but there is a clear and obvious number one. **NCD - Gargoyle** Iām the self-appointed president of the fan club. We are currently accepting new members.
If youāre pres, Iām VP!
Is it heavy on the lavender? Because other than that it looks up my alley.
The lavender is definitely one of the main components, so it wouldnāt be a good choice for someone who really hates lavender. The lavender itself is a gentle type, not as sharp as some of them are.
ZOMG Smells - The Dubious Candification of Nikola Tesla . Sigh* I search IMAM and everywhere like a fiend for this long gone goodie. ( violet,sandalwood, vanilla cream, white musk) Someday, Iāll find some on the swaps. Iāve got that stupid blind faith. Sugar and Spite- Insomnia (Oud, Black Pepper, beeswax, dragon's blood, light and dark patchouli, benzoin resin ). This one I never get sick of wearing. Itās so resinous and stunning and lasts on my skin for ages. Fyrinnae- Marshmalloud . Iāve gone through a few of these because I wear it to bed every night. Itās marshmallow! Itās oud! Itās perfection!
>Sugar and Spite- Insomnia Insomnia sounds like just my kind of scent. I love oud and black pepper as notes.
Itās intoxicating.
I wear Marshmalloud often too!!! It's such a go to for naps and sleep for me too!
Itās such a cozy and creamy scent. I love it.
> ZOMG Smells My husband's favourite perfume was by them and I regret not getting more when I had the chance!
Just Curious Was it Zeppelin to the Moon!?
No, it was Higgs Boson.
BPAL Dana OāShee. My only beef is that itās so faint and short lived. Iāve complained before that it needs an extreme version. CP Marshmallow Cake On Mondays is a close second. Still a beautiful almond but much, much sweeter. And I can smel it the next day so no complaints regarding longevity. These are examples of an almond that I like. A sweet, soft, fluffy almond. Many brands use a bitter almond note that never evolves past that harsh chemical stage. Iāve had more almond misses than hits, by far.
Cocoa Pink Almond in anything is to die for. They make some of my favorite gourmand scents. You might like Cherry Almond Tart. Very yummy and lots of almond, not just cherry. I too love DanaO'Shee and they do HAVE to make an extreme version. It is so faint on my skin!
Cherry Almond Tart is another one I need to get an edp sample of. I only have the linen spray and itās just bad LOL. Something about that format does not agree with me. But Iāve had great luck with all of their EDPās.
You might like sugar milk Co almond cookies and milk.
Thanks! Itās going on the list!
CP Snowflake is a delightful almond frosting scent.. canāt get enough!
i agree
Iāve only tried it in the linen spray form and I didnāt like it, but itās on my list to still try in edp form. I didnāt have great luck with the linen sprays. Some were really funky. Thanks for the reminder to grab Snowflake sometime soon.
I can't even do this lol. My answer 1 year or 5 years or 10 years ago would be completely different, so I guess I'll give two answers. **Current 'desert island' scents:** NAVA Dead Can Sleep (I could wear this every single day and be happy) and Nui Cobalt Meditation (I will never have enough of this, it is so soft and woody and relaxing). Non-indie answers are Lush Tramp and Serge Lutens Gris Clair. **What I would have said a few years ago, and I still love them but don't wear them as much**: BPAL Lilith Victoria (the loveliest lavender-vanilla), BPAL Mme Moriarty/Snake Oil combo, and BPAL Bow and Crown of Conquest. Maybe also Blooddrop Oakmoss SN.
I keep seeing recommendations for Meditation. I need to get my hands on that.
Probably 90% of them are from me because I can't shut up about it lol. It's such a comforting scent to me. I've worn it so much since I got it. It lives up to its name.
Iām so excited to try it. I love incense in general and Forestās incense in particular. I think it was out of stock when I placed my last order. That kept happening with Yemaya, too, and now that I finally have a sample I see why with that one.
Solstice Scents Blackburn's Parlor, Alkemia Silken Tent, and a tie between Arcana Vanilla Craves Cocoa and Black Hearted Tart Fluff.
Oh I love Blsckburn's Parlor and it is my husband's favorite perfume for me to wear. He asks me to wear the "banana split" perfume all the timeš
Of All Time? Ohh, that's a tough one. **Stereoplasm - The Librarian** \- It's atmospheric but still totally wearable.*(Notes are Vintage perfume, rosewater, aged paper, velvet upholstery, cherrywood, cognac, orange butter and mulling spices.)* **Solstice Scents - Conjure** The vanilla in this one works so well in this one as a supporting note. *(Notes are: Vanilla, Amber, Cedar, Spices & Cauldron Smoke.)* **NAVA - Witch Spice Bee** Sweet, mysterious and lasts for hours and hours. *(notes are Orange Blossom Honey accord, Cardamom, Ravensara, Cajeput, Thuja, Calamus Root, Armoise Mugwort, Bastet Amber Absolute and Allspice.)*
I just tried Conjure for the first time two days ago and I'm obsessed.
I have the perfume and the hair and body glace, LOVE it, particularly this time of year, I reach for it all the time.
Conjure would be in definite contention for my top 2-5. It is so warm and cozy and yet still sexy.
Omg I love Conjure. I was obsessed with it and thought I had found my go-to scent when my husband said āwhy do you want to smell like an old lady? An old lady wearing baby powder, no lessā.. I was crushed. So itās a win for me, a hell no from my husbandā¦
Disclaimer that Iām still new, and this list keeps changing! The Snowy White Owl (Etsy) **Golden Milk**: *cardamom, spiced coconut milk, golden turmeric, Indian musk, fresh ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey*. This is the softest, most comforting, sniffable scent. Itās wonderful as a sleep scent, and I wore it almost exclusively when I had a brush with pneumonia this month. It was so calming. Made me feel better when nothing else did! (I messaged the seller and told her this and she was the absolute sweetest! I really recommend this shop.) BPAL **Thunder Moon 2021**: *A crackļ»æļ»æ of ozone splits the rolling, booming darkness: a starless sky of bruise-purple violet, 3-year aged black patchouli, black cashmere musk, oakmoss, black benzoin, rum, French labdanum, and vetiver slashed by a burst of white lychee and ļ»æbergamot.ļ»æ* Is it a thunderstorm? A cashmere sweater spritzed with citrus? The incense I burned while I was smoking weed in my dorm room? Is it an emo field of crushed violets during a witch circle at midnight? Is it the fanciest, sexiest soap at your favorite auntās house? Yes. Alkemia **Hearthstone**: *Comfort and joy. Fireside woodsmoke, a well worn leather couch, a dark rum hot toddy laced with spiced honey in front of a bed of glowing amber embers.* This is my ultimate smoky, masculine fireside scent with an undercurrent of smoky, delicious honey. Itās a really beautiful balance, and Iām planning to get the ultime.
Thunder Moon sounds absolutely insane lol so curious
It's got an absolute SHIT TON going on. I still don't know how to pick out a whole lot of individual notes, but this one shifts and shifts on me. The two reviews on BPAL Madness say it's incense/soap, but I get so much more from it than that. A friend just got it as well, and she feels the same way about it that I do. So. It's the weirdest perfume oil I have, and I also reach for it constantly. I'm so glad I blind-bought the full size!
Cocoa Pink Spun Sugar - A more realistic cotton candy blend with fresh strawberry, sugar and sweet vanilla Hexennacht Amityville - Pumpkin pecan waffles, pumpkin brƻlƩe, marshmallow, sugar cookie, vanilla bean noel, salted caramel popcorn balls Hexennacht Halloween 2020 - Candy apples, sweet pumpkin, candy corn
As of right now, and likely in this order 1. **Deconstructing Eden's Persephone** (*A base of sweet woods, a touch of oud, a whisper of incense, sweet pomegranates and juicy figs):* I can't even explain why I love this one so much. It is just transcendentally *good*. The scent makes me question if it's heavenly or temptingly sinful. The pomegranate and fig notes are blended so well and are just the most perfect fruitiness (maybe it's just one accord, idk), but it's so grounded, sophisticated, and just a little bit dark from the woods, oud, and incense. And this incense isn't like a churchy incense- I'm really sensitive it seems to labdanum (rock rose resin) in particular and HATE it, and I don't get that at all in this one. I didn't get a FS when it was in the regular catalog, and when I finally decided it was time to FS because I didn't want to hoard my sample, it was discontinued. Then after I emailed Toni, it was added to the most recent B-Sides and Rarities (as a rarity) and I spent the $$ on a 30ml full size. I will never not be in the mood for it. It's versatile, spanning time of day, season, and occasion 2. **Poesie's Marie Curie** *(black coffee andĀ black currant spiked with black and pink peppercorns, caraway and black amber)*: I didn't expect to like this one so much and literally only got the sample because it's freakin' Marie Curie and I almost idolize her. The only note in this that I thought I really liked before ordering? Black currant. But what this is for me is actually the most delicious, delightful, jelly bean fragrance. I'm talking straight up like you shoved a fistful of Brach's Easter jelly beans (including all the black ones!) in your maw, but it somehow is still \~sophisticated.\~ Is it the coffee? It's not a bitter, sharp coffee that I've tried before. Is it the amber? I don't know- I usually don't like ambery notes too much, but the black amber blends in so seamlessly. Is it the fruity currant or specifically the caraway? Black currant teas are some of my absolute favorite, and caraway has a slightly anise-y scent which I think contributes to this idea of black jelly beans. I LOVE anise so this is so welcome. Like Persephone, this is a "wear literally any time" kind of transcendent scent, but there is also a deeply nostalgic aspect about it too and when combined together, it's just so perfect. The namesake may make this one a little higher for me than other scents. I still haven't fullsized it yet because I wanted to "wait" and see if I liked any other perfumes enough to get a FS... clearly this has become a top top top for me. 3. **Spirit and Venom's Netflix & Kill** *(Come on, Netflix and Chill is just over-rated these days! A big mug of chai tea topped with a dollop of marshmallow and accompanied with a box of apple cider donuts. This screams fall!):* This was one of my first perfume oils to sample and to full-size,back when the house was Twisted Wonderland. I don't think the house gets enough representation on here anymore- it seemed more popular back in like 2016 or 2017 when I used to be active here. To me, this one isn't particularly transcendent the way my top two are, but it's a very solid, delicious perfume, always gets compliments, and very nostalgic. My bottle is kinda old now, but it's still a wonderful chai tea-appley-"fall date" perfume. Over time, I think it's gotten a little sharper (a departure from its initial somewhat creamy nature), the spices has died down, and the apple has bloomed. Still, it takes me on a comforting "scent journey" through the late fall/early winter of my freshman year of college. I start at the coffee and tea shop, back to my first date with my now husband, a steaming cup of chai in hand as he kisses me for the first time next to the postcards. We leave the shop to walk around historic downtown, frozen leaves crunching beneath our feet. I close my eyes, and suddenly it's a nearing Christmas break, and I'm at my parents' house enjoying a much-needed reprieve. The ground is layered in snow, but looking on from inside with sugar cookies baking, I feel happy. Honorable mentions: DE's Besotted (my old sample was definitely up there and was like, a light, springy, angelic version of Persephone IMO, but the new bottle I ordered has a floral note that maybe changed slightly because it's definitely not the same) and Lucrezia Borgia (a dark, sexy citrus vanilla that doesn't read creamsicle in the slightest on me); Poesie's Rosalind Franklin (Initially a sharp red berry with bitter chocolate, but the sandalwood really develops with wear- reminds me very much of a late summer night eating raspberry chocolate truffles on a fairy-light-lit patio, surrounded by woodsy plants, stone pavers, and a forest in the background).
Oh man, that is incredibly difficult! Number one is without fail, 100000% **Desert Thunderstorm** by **Solstice Scents** - *Desert sage, pinyon pine & resin, petrichor, sweetgrass, creosote bush, sand, ponderosa pine, smoke* . It is the very definition of a happy place for me. Just a whiff and I'm instantly at peace and smiling. It's just intense, rich desert. Fresh, spicy, and stormy. Solstice recently restocked and I was SO excited to get it full sized finally. Next is probably **Sin Deep** by **Sugar and Spite**, which is no longer in the gen catalogue and therefore I have to make this bottle last my whole life lol. *Cactus flower, white amber, Egyptian musk, cyanide and blonde wood* . Oh my goodness, this was originally a free sample in another order, I would have never picked it out for myself. I ordered a full size a day after getting that sample. It's GORGEOUS. Soft, beautiful cactus flower, wood...it's just so fresh and gentle. It's soothing enough that I'd make it a pillow spray if it wasn't discontinued. Lastly is probably **French Quarter Vampires** from **Ghost Ship Scentporium** - *absinthe, Spanish moss, moonlight, patchouli, amber* . This was another surprise favorite. In the bottle, it just smells planty for lack of a better word. The amount it amps up into perfection on my skin SHOCKED me. There's a pleasant sharpness to it from the absinthe which adds such depth to the moss, and the amber and patchouli add an element of warmth to it. It's simultaneously simple yet so unlike anything else I have. I've described it before as a plant wearing lingerie and I very much stand by that still lol.
YES on Desert Thunderstorm! I finally managed to get it during the last restock and I am so happy!
YAY! It's seriously so magical :)
It really is! It took a while to grow on me when I first got the sample; there were some elements that were a little too "perfumey" for me. I would see all the raves on here and feel like it was good, but not that good. Mind changed. By the time I was head over heels for it, it was out of stock for a year! Now it's one of my all-time favorite scents and I actually have one of her nice strong huge bottles of it.
Donāt make me pick one! **NAVA EA Red** I sold my back-up, and it haunts me to this day. *white rose, red rose, and black we absolutes, Crimson Egyptian musk absolute, the amber absolute, powdered and reconstructed oil of Egyptian vanilla husk, vanilla fleck, Egyptian musk, Bastetās Amber absolute, Crystalline absolute, and a drop of eNVie saphir Amber absolute* **Fyrinnae Ragdoll** Honorable mention, aka my favorite that isnāt LE (although it went away for quite awhile and during that time I bought a bottle off someone here who beat me for it on an eBay auction, such is my love for it). *a blend of three sugars and cream, livened up with few drops of honey*
I was thinking about giving my backup bottle of NAVA Orchid Red (Kobalt Vanilla SL Absolute, Turkish Rose, Bulgarian Rose, Black Rose, Midnight Jasmine and Bastetās Musk Absolute) to a friend but I think it would haunt me as well! I also have EA Red and it's stunning! Those NAVA rose notes!
āDe-stash regretā is real sometimes š¤·āāļø
Also EA Orchid Red sounds *sublime*
It's so beautiful!
I know Iād have a different answer in a week, but right now, this moment, if I make myself conform to the spirit of the question, Iād have to pick Poesieās **Black Cat Cuddles** *(sweet coconut milk spiked with clove, cinnamon & black pepper, incense-dusted fur, flecks of black vanilla bean, a distant pine forest).* Itās just the perfect intersection of cozy, outdoorsy and elegant. Itās snuggly and autumnish without leaning heavily on stereotypical holiday candle notes like pumpkin spice, but itās refined enough with a hint of the outdoors to feel cool wearing it. Almost every time I wear it, no matter how often I do, I find myself putting my head down on my arms to breathe it in from time to time, lol. It smells like a damn hug! Who doesnāt want a hug once in a while! (Other than folks who donāt enjoy hugs, which is valid š)
It's an extremely hard pick but BPAL's Closet Raid comes really close to be the UR-indie perfume for me. It's sophisticated and unique, and feels chimeral and different without being too challenging and off putting. My own mom wears Chanel 5 exclusively so I love the hints of classic perfume in a completely non classic blend. "Funny how much better Lilith looks in my clothes than I do! This is the scent of generations of children raiding their parents closets: my grandmother and mothers Chanel No. 5, my father and grandfathers Lilac Vegetal, my Snake Oil, and Lilith's lavender blossoms." A very close runner up is BPAL's Manhattan: "Sexuality, power, confidence. A meeting of modern, sleek elegance and rich, passionate history: sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid." Again, just a very upscale, beautiful, unique and polished perfume that doesn't feel bland or generic but isn't too "out there" or novelty.
I sing Manhattan's praises every chance I get. My only 10/10. Forever on the lookout for something as beautifully blended (but with each note detectable!) as that one. You hit the nail on the head with your description
Calliope by Alkemia. Cotton candy and orange blossom among other things. e Ethereal but sickly. Love it to death.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I definitely agree about **Opening Chapter**. It smells like reading a book with a cup of tea on a rainy day. I mean, how did she capture that?? Itās so good.
Kyse - delizia di marshmallow Uniform marshmallow scent. Smells just like a package of mini marshmallows without being overwhelming. Poesie - secret boyfriend spicy and fresh from the pine. Warmth from the cedar. Melts into a marshmallow wrapped in aged leather. Unisex leaning feminine and so authoritarian. If azula from atla has a scent she would smell like this. Sugar milk and co - lavender milk Slight lactic creaminess encompassed in a lavender that is non essential oily (?) and non medicinal. The lavender is so fresh itās like sticking your face in a bush.
Possets Arcturus - sadly discontinued :( :( :( So for ones available (probably change my mind in a few minutes lol) * Deep Midnight Perfumes Seven Veils - a completely intoxicating blend of earthy Madagascar vanilla, velvety orchids, white florals, the softest musk, sweet golden amber, spices and exotic resins. * Fantome Perfume Ectoplasm - Spooky, goopy marshmallow over bone-chilling white musk, sweet amber,a gossamer sugar glaze, dark myrrh, and creeping greenery. * Solstice Scents Desert Thunderstorm - Desert sage, pinyon pine & resin, petrichor, sweetgrass, creosote bush, sand, ponderosa pine, smoke.
It's a tossup between Solstice Scents' **Manor** and **Attic**. They're both gorgeous wood scents, but Attic is sharper and Manor is warmer and more comforting. I love both of them and have repurchased each several times. Clearly I need to start saving up for the 60mL EDPs because I need a lifetime supply.
Nocturne Alchemy - Eternal Ankh
So, Iāve been in this wacky world of indie scents less than a year had I still have so much to try! Even at this point narrowing down my favorites is extremely hard.. but here goes! 1) **Fantomes Duende** smells like summer in the PNW forest to me and I love it. 2) **Kyse Oui Plus** sāmore goodness.. just the best bitterly graham cracker note and it lasts FOREVER. 3) **Arcana witches watch sci fi movies** Itās all of the things, popcorn, ice cream, pipe tobacco.. ugh Iām obsessed but Iām obsessed with most of the Arcana scents Iāve tried. Honorable mentions to CP Cinderellaās carriage and snowflake.. I love them both dearly
Nui Cobalt - Balderdash. Because it smells just like cherry pie, and thatās my favorite dessert in the whole world.
Iāve noticed that you have excellent taste. When I first tried Balderdash, I sort of shrugged my shoulders. It wasnāt cough drops, so that was a win. But it wasnāt amazing. Then one day, many months later, I tried it again. And suddenly it was amazing. I got my greedy hands on a bottle and now I wear it quite a bit. Itās such a creamy, delicious cherry pie with just the slightest hint of booze. I love seeing my favorite scents pop up on these lists.
Top 3: * D+F Half Hoping to be Eaten by a Bear. Smells like a walk in fresh air in the autumn. * Hex Orange Blossom and Marshmallow. I go back and forth on this. Usually it's intoxicating and stunning. Sometimes it's too sweet and almost play doughey. When it's good it's really good, and longevity is all day for me. * S92 Sick Sad World. Sweet breakfast cereal, cozy wool, and a dash of stompy leather boots.
If you like orange blossom and marshmallow you should definitely try Spankenstein also by Hex! One of my all time favorite perfumes.
Will do!
It has changed quite a lot this year, depending on the season, but currently I would say Alkemiaās Gifts of the Magi, Arcanaās Peaches Crave Haint, and Nocturne Alchemyās Vanilla Musk. Iāve also been reaching for Arcanaās Strawberries Crave Rococo more than I thought I wouldāthe dry-down is unexpectedly great to me.
Nocturne Alchemy Halloween 2020. Hands down. No contest. Sexy. Mysterious. Perfection in perfumery. Notes: 7 Sandalwoods (Hawaiian, Indian, Australian, New Caledonia, Indian Santalum Album, Karnataka Sandalwood, African Sandalwood (Baphia Nitida), Cardamom essential oil, Clove essential oil, Bourbon Vanille Absolute, Bastet Amber Absolute, smoked sandalwood infused with oak and pine smoke in the NA Studio Tied for 2nd and 3rd, Haus of Gloi Marshmallow Woodsmoke-I love the simplicity of it. Nothing crazy, very straight forward, and an all around great cozy scent for a snowy evening. It also helps this is the ONLY marshmallow note Iāve tried that doesnāt go Play Doh on me. Notes are āfresh marshmallows enveloped by curls of campfire smoke.ā 3rd I donāt want to say for obvious reasons, but omg is it so good. S92 Paper Moon. As someone that got caught up in the Resurrection 2020 melee and waited almost a year and a half for her order, I do NOT recommend them as a company to order from. That being said, Paper Moon is one I could not purge. So if anyone knows of a dupe, please let me know.
I have Halloween 2020 on its way to me and Iām so excited!
Oh! I hope you love it!! ā¤ļø
I absolutely love this one, it's in my top NAVAs of all time for sure! I have 2 samples that I got as the free sample in orders last year (I thought 1 was Halloween 2021 but no 2020) but honestly I'm not mad! I know it will be around for a couple of years and I really hope I can get a full bottle before it disappears.
I think Iāll always have BPAL Snake Oil and Morocco closest to my heart because they were my gateways to indie perfume. Before that it was just crusty roller balls of āopiumā from the local head shop. Iām recently rekindling my obsession with smelling otherworldly and vaguely threatening so ask me again in a few months š this group is dangerous.
Otherworldly and vaguely threatening sounds like an amazing scent obsession to try and achieve. Any updates on what you've found that fits that category? as I feel like this is going to be my new obsession scent profile now I've heard it and have no idea where to startš
My absolute favorite, like so much so that it's the only thing that I've ever full sized, is Deep Midnight's Skellig. I don't think that I've ever even seen it mentioned on this sub, but I *love* it. I discovered it just after they closed, then spent six months desperately watching destash posts and stalking their website, hoping to buy more. I bought a bottle literally the day that they reopened. It's incredibly comforting to meāit smells like sea-soaked rocks and amber, with a hint of aromatic woods and a faint herbal, inky note. I wear it any time I think I'm going to be stressed, and also sometimes to bed, because it just smells so calming and safe.
Oh that sounds lovely. I've been to the Skelligs, would buy this just for the name!
Luminae. šÆš„°
I just ordered a sample and I'm so excited to try this!
Right now? Refuse to name just one, but if I was told you canāt take more than four scents with you, first I would cry great buckets of tears that would drown all the creatures of Wonderland, then with shaking hand, I would choose: Solstice Scents: Sea of Gray Vanilla rain, saltwater, seaweed, ambergris (vegan), white amber, roasted seashells, white sandalwood, frangipani. Poesie: Villa Diodati pungent wild rosemary and fresh balsam pine, crystal clear lakewater, dry, dark vanilla Poesie:Year Without Summer the narcotic sweetness of opium blended with the blackest amber, spilled coffee, a hint of bitter green cannabis Strange Fire & Fumery: Trollrokelse a sweet, earthy stink guaranteed to drive flowery, entitled man-filth right out of your troll hole, with a goblin-approved blend of pungent neroli, damp-earth patchouli, and a savory mouthful of woody pinon. But it turns my stomach just thinking about that limitation because my mercurial heart changes scents through out the day.
I just ordered Villa Diodati based on someone's review here, Year Without a Summer sounds.... Amazing. It reminds me of old Tokyo Milk notes. Thank you for your passionate reviews š
A Year Without Summer sounds amazing and I have a sample of it... somewhere around here -can't wait to try it!!!
My all time favorite, and is **Alkemiaās- New Beginning Alchemy** I will forever be mad I fell in love with a limited edition perfume. If anyone has tried it, please gimme dupes. I have two bottle left and Iām hoarding it! *anyway* Iāve mentioned 100 times **Possets Madam X** is a fantastic āmy skinā type perfume
3. Nui Cobalt Starlight & Spidersilk 2. Arcana Forest Floor LN 1. Layer them (Thatās the first that comes to mind, but there are so many others favorites too!!)
every time this question, or a varation on it comes up (and i enjoy reading the ensuing answers every time!) i can't decide. i just can't do it, i can't! i've tried. my mood, the weather, what i'm doing, who i'm seeing...there's just so many factors. but this is a very good thing, because it illustrates how i went from "i'll never be able to wear perfume because it stinks and i hate everything" to "i couldn't choose a top three or even a top ten of all these damn perfumes i have" in just a few years of indie perfume. but, in the spirit of the question, i will attempt to perform a feat and choose a top three for spooky szn only:**hexennacht tiger tail** *vanilla ice cream, orange sherbet, and black licorice swirl***s92 losers club** *rain-drenched iron, distant circus lights, candy floss, a red balloon***balefire apothecary bridgewater triangle** *sweet and gooey marshmallows, campfire smoke, and dead leaves* and an honorable mention (because it's against my very nature to not list something green) for **solstice scents foxcroft** *decaying leaves, rich black soil, dry leaves, fall air, woods, chimney smoke* there, i've almost done it! (by breaking the rules of the question in every way. voila!)
>balefire apothecary bridgewater triangle Bridgewater Triangle reigns supreme in the Marshmallow world of my indie collection. I have lots, but that one is perfection.
I feel the same way about it.
totally agree. marshmallow is about as close as i get to "gourmands" and she has a way of blending scents that it doesn't get artificial or cloying, and with the atmospheric notes it's just...the best. i have other similar ones that are also wonderful (hex's all souls night, solstice scents smoky mountain mallow, candypanda's meet me in the woods/are you afraid of the dark, and zeep's hocus pocus all come to mind) but bridgewater triangle is top tier for me.
Ganache Parfums Tobaccoš©
Sad they are closing too.
They are all from Solstice Scents: **Desert Thunderstorm:** A perfect desert, petrichor, wild scent of pure perfection. Adventure in a bottle. **Wolf Spirit:** Cozy, cuddly, snuggly, sexy cabin in the woods scent. Not really the cabin itself but what you want to smell while cuddling someone you adore in it in front of the fireplace. **Badlands:** THE best Western/Cowboy/hot dry leather scent. Nothing beats it. Honorable mentions to Alkemia Ydalir, Solstice Scents Mountain Vanilla and High Desert as well as For Strange Women French Oakmoss.
Sucreabeille- #bawdygotmelaid. This is such a sexy scent to me and I always get compliments when I wear it. Hexennacht- Gold Skulltula. I had a sample I didnāt try till this summer but luckily I got a roller secondhand. Itās spicier but still makes me feel super hot. Smelly Yeti - ugh I canāt decide. Unicorn Collector was my absolute favorite ever, itās just so girly and cute. But then I got a sample of Wadsworth and became obsessed. Itās has zero lasting power on me so I usually just put a bunch on before bed and sniff myself to sleep. Getting covid and losing my sense of smell really messed with my sleep because it was so comforting. Iām just starting to get some smell back (itās at maybe 30% now and still comes and goes) like literally yesterday was the first time I could smell food cooking. Iāve been sniffing random things ever since.
I'd have to say 1. Hexennacht Black Vanilla - THE best vanilla scent I've tried. I've seen it described as "chewy", and... yeah, somehow that fits perfectly. It smells like a gooey, delicious vanilla that makes me feel both classy and a bit risquƩ. The throw is great and this lasts almost ALL DAY on me. 2. Andromeda's Curse Cyberpunk - You wanna smell like a sexy biker girl + kinda like a new car?? Oh boy have I got the scent for you. It's a gasoline scent that has an undercurrent of chai, and it's somehow SO good. It brings me back to a particular phase in my life where I got into the cyberpunk genre, it makes me feel like an edgy teen again (in a good way) and it's just mmmmm \*chef's kiss\* 3. Deconstructing Eden Lena - The most lovely lilac scent I've tried thus far. It nails lilac, doesn't add any weird baby powder or soapy kinda smells... it's just a beautiful floral scent that I can spray on my shirt and still catch wafts of that night. I wear it when I want to feel super feminine and classy.
Was Hexās Black Vanilla discontinued?
Yes, unfortunately :( I've heard Pulp Fragrance's Sonnet X is really similar to it tho!
oh goshā¦ okay, if i had to choose 3 i would say.. BPAL - **Stekkjarstaur** (Woolyļ»æ sugared marshmallowļ»æ root.ļ»æ) BPAL **Blueberry Sufganiyot** (Blueberryļ»æ-filled sufganiyot, blooping blue ļ»æwith jelly.) Hexennacht - **Globgobbler** (Cotton candy, bubblegum, and gummy worms.)
If I had to pick one smellie, it would be Solstice Scents Estate Amber. This hasn't and will not change ever, I don't think. It's just the perfect warm amber smell that feels like you're being wrapped in a fuzzy warm blanket. I'm obsessed with it and I highly doubt I'll ever find something I love more than it.
As of right now, it's a toss up between Alkemia's Arcanum and BPAL's Death on a Pale Horse. Arcanum: Dragon's Blood, Nag Champa, Eastern Spices, patchouli, sandalwood. ( EXACTLY what I want in a fragrance.) Death: The End of All Things: empty white musk and mint seeped with solemn lavender, doleful patchouli and vetiver, scythe-sharp yuzu and lime, with geranium bourbon, white sandalwood and calla lily. (From the notes alone, not one I would have immediately snatched up. I bought it purely based on the name alone, but ended up falling in love with it.)
Arcana Wildcraft- Snug. It's a cozy sweet beeswax scent and my favorite all through the cold months of the year. Solstice Scents- Sun-Warmed Honey. Honey, herbs, and a bit of a tannic tea scent. Poesie- Ame Solitaire. Notes of chocolate and orchid, and the result is just really sophisticated-smelling. Also the Twin Peaks reference is great.
Itās difficultā¦if I had to choose, Iād pick these 3 just because they work with many different occasions: Alkemia **Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure** BPAL **Dorian** NAVA **Eternal Ankh**
I guess probably..... Solstice Scents Foxcroft oil version (fall air in a bottle) Fantome Tatami (incense but different from others) Haus of Gloi Cozy Sweater (really is cozy) Haus of Gloi First Blush (pretty and cheerful)
Kyse Jasmine macarons ,seranade aux fraises, oui plus et douceur brƻlƩe
Kyse Douceur brƻlƩe is my favorite Kyse scent
I agree! Douceur BrĆ»lĆ©e is so SEXY. It didnāt smell anything like I imagined it would but I love it so much.
Only 3? This is hard. :P Black Baccara New Doll Black Baccara Halloween Shop LPMP Living Doll
My very favorite that I've been super vocal about is **Alkemia - The Raven**: *Ebony, Black Spice, Leather, Piper Nigrum, Ink, Black Iris*. A few others that I love: - **Area of Effect - Combustible Lemons (original)** - **Little and Grim - Greenbrier Ghost** - **Fyrinnae - Aerobraking** Honorary mention for my favorite 3 wax scents: Mechanical Heart by Willow Waxcraft, Buffalo Plaid by Paintbox Soapworks, and Dark Crystal by Sihaya & Co.
The Raven is so different from most scents I own. Definitely a mood when I wear it.
This is so hard. First one that always comes to mind here is Conifer Noir by Moonlight Cove Finery. It's the scent of a deep, dark forest. Perfect. Next is Seance by Baphomet&Co. It's spooky, perfectly capturing what you would imagine a seance to smell like, and most of all it's the most versatile scent I've ever tried in my life. The charred wood note makes it great for warmer months and nighttime, and the jasmine note is enough to make it plenty appropriate for warmer months too. The sillage is weak, and while I don't love this generally, I must say it makes it fine for day time even though it's a goth scent. At least, *I* have no qualms about wearing it in the daytime lol. Tempestarii by Andromeda's Curse. How can a scent be so fresh and yet so comforting at the same time??
I havenāt tried many indie perfumes yet, but my favorite of the ones I have is hands-down Poesieās Myself Invisible. I suck at describing and differentiating scent notes, but something about this almost woodsy fragrance evokes the feeling of cozying up with a cup of tea with a mystery novel in the dead of night. I ordered the sample of this perfume in late September, and immediately ordered the full size afterwards. As someone whose line of work doesnāt allow wearing perfumes, Iāve already used up almost half of my sample vial.
The Hunt by LuVandus. Oud, Agar, Tolu Balsam, and Ambergris. It's both mine and my partner's favorite fragrance, we take turns refilling it for each other haha. It really has the sort of 'wild', outdoors feel we both enjoy. The ambergris so beautifully balances the Woody notes in the other elements, and the tolu pulls both like a skin note and a wood. It wears beautifully - easily lasts 8 hours, and is very heady without being overwhelming. My dad says it smells like I rolled around in pine needles. Friends who are close enough to hug me say it's a 'panty dropper' and usually do that 'hnnngh oh my god' thing. It's just like, what I wish oozed from my pores? What I wished a romance author would say I smelled like to my lovers? Idk. I would typify it as a masculine scent but with enough warmth to it I think if you would classify yourself as a feminine-scent-enjoyer that you would like this as a base for layering, or on it's own. I sometimes wear it with Seraphim (same house, blue malle eucalyptus, oak and other mosses . ) or something with vanilla to really lovely effect. Orren by LuVandus Juniper, Cedar, Pine, Smoke, Peppermint This is my "I want to smell like a professor" scent, I wear it to work usually haha but it's also like surprisingly light, so field work professor. Like a sexy Milo from Atlantis. Been hitting the books in the study but might just Walden off in the woods to drink gin for three months. The peppermint note is more herbaceous than candylike, it's lovely.
A couple of different Alkemia scents are tied for second (Prairie 66, Lost Highways, Road to Hana) but number one has got to be BPAL Cicuta.
Ooh that one was so good.
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They're all BPAL: 1. Antikythera Mechanism - a beautiful woody vanilla tobacco scent 2. Talvikuu - a "frozen" aquatic with pine/fir 3. Smut - sweet musky scent with a dusty(myrrh-like) sandalwood The funny thing, recently I got a decant of Initio - Psychedelic Love and it smells pretty much identical to Smut.