Rose of Kali, Eau des Quartre Voleurs and Winter Star

I grabbed three samples from my 'to test' pile - here they are, no rhyme or reason why they are being reviewed together!

Rose of Kali by Neil Morris.  I was gifted this sample from Rendolent of Spices (I believe - at one point, so many lovely fumies sent me samples that some of them got all merged together!).  I know absolutely nothing about Neil Morris, so I didn't know what to expect.  Rose of Kali is a gourmand (chocolate mostly) musty rose.  Notes of pear, rose, incense accord, myrtle wood, myrrh, labdanum, chocolate, benzoin.  If you like Fuzzy Blue Blanket or Charna's Rose Boheme, I believe you'll like this one if you also dig a bit of chocolate.

L'Occitane Eau des Quartre Voleurs.  There are a few fragrances that I really enjoy from L'O - most specifically, their Eau D'Iparie (I cannot find this on their website - is THIS discontinued too just like my discontinued love Neroli Rose?  ARGHH!)  Okay, calm down.  Ed4V It is supposedly for men (and yes, you guess it, it is ALSO discontinued!!!), but I find it absolutely refreshing  yet warm (if that makes any sense to anyone)!  Notes of juniper berries, clary sage, basil, cloves, cedar, bergamot and lemon.

I think I'm going to give up totally on L'Occitane - they get rid of all the good scents (much like The Body Shop and Bath and Body Works).  Bah humbug!

Michael Storer Winter Star.  Notes of carnation, lavender, bergamot, oakmoss, peru balm, benzoin, tolu balm, labdanum, musks, civettone musk, Helvetolide musk .  I hear this is a cult favorite.  I thought I sniffed some anise in there.  It lays close to my skin, and doesn't transport me.  Gifted to me by Olenska and check out her review of Winter Star  - she gives it four stars.

Hope all of you out there celebrating Thanksgiving have a wonderful holiday tomorrow!

Thanks and giving

Again, I am so thankful for the generosity of perfume bloggers and lovers out in the interwebs!  What a wonderful community we're a part of!

Does anyone know about the artist Katwise?  I'm enthralled with her work, and have tried many times to purchase one of her shorter sweater coats on etsy.com but always miss out! waaaaaa!

Well I actually emailed her to ask her what her favorite scents are because in one of her FB posts she mentioned the scent of the sweaters she uses to create her coats after she has washed them. I hoped that I didn't sound like some creepy stalker!

She graciously replied and told me vanilla, amber and lavender, and then went on to tell a funny story about her being drenched in vanilla at college.

I asked her if it was okay if I could send her some samples to sniff.

So these are what I sent:

Parfumerie Generale L'Ombre Fauve - absolutely gorgeous (I believe I got my sample from Michael).  I haven't been this excited about a perfume in a long long time.  Will save my pennies for a good size decant and this stuff I need for myself.  Yes NEED!

LaVanila Vanilla Passion Fruit - not my thing, but since Kat likes vanilla, perhaps she'll enjoy it. I picked it up at Sephora a while back.

Ava Lux Creme Brulee - I'm not a gourmandy person, but this is very well done and yes, smells exactly what it is named!  Another gift from a fume blogger (B, perhaps!?) !

Roget & Gallet Eau de Gingembre - well it is becoming holiday season, and I thought that I should spread the wealth as Olenska had gifted me a nice size bottle of it!

Parfumerie Generale Felanilla - I don't quite get it but it is intriguing.  I probably should have kept some of that sample to re-sniff at a later time.

Le Labo Labdanum 18 - dearest Bonks gave me a large sample of this when we met last spring,so I spritzed some in a little sample for Kat.  I ADORE it, plus it reminds me of Bonks everytime I wear it and that makes me smile.

My beloved Miller Harris L'Air de Rien  - you know it's funny - I think of myself as a incense and rose person, but LdR is all about amber and vanilla - whaddya know?

I made her a string of pennants to 'cover up' the samples in the mail!

Balenciaga Paris, Lolita Lempicka and Demeter Snow

I bought my sample of Balenciaga Paris awhile ago - and when I first attempted to try it, it did nothing for me.  But I really really REALLY like Charlotte Gainsbourg, so try again I do.

(photo from themorningafterpills.com)

I like the violet.  But that's about it. Cannot detect any pepper. Here's a very nice review by Robin at NST.  I know that this review is for a perfume that's been around for over a year, and I kinda wish I had tried it against L'Essence - here's Bios de Jasmin's take on the two.

Now with Lolita Lempicka, I sniffed it quickly and posted about it here.  It's too sweet for me, and contrary to what Robin says here, I don't see any similarity to Mugler Angel (which by the way I love but will probably never own a full bottle since I see it as the Opium of this generation, and I was of the original Opium generation and one who still loves it!)

On a more positive note, I needed to stop in to Rite Aid today, and they had the Demeter winter fragrances out - Snow, Christmas Tree and, oh shoot, I don't remember the third one.  Anyway Snow is to die for!  It's reminds me a bit of CB I Hate Perfume Winter 1972, but a heck of a lot cheaper.  Do try it!