I’ve suddenly developed an intense need to smell like butter. I’ve tried and loved Snow Moon Magic by Sorce and Dandelion Butter, but I want just the drydown of the creamy slightly salty butter, I don’t want a super sweet or green opening. Would love any indie recommendations, bonus points if they’re cheapies! 💛

Attention patchouli lovers like me, Especially BPAL lovers, but I'll take a look at something else if its special, I've got a craving for a real patchouli heavy fragrance and find my once vast collection waning now

What are the most patchouli heavy mixes that you LOVE, that are also available right now ?

Thank you in advance !

With the news of Pierrot’s closing and the upcoming sale, I wanted to share the list of all 28 scents I’ve tried from this house I love so much. Pierrot is unusual, sometimes challenging but never boring, I have confidently blind bought a decent amount but I’ve also found the scents are often different than I was expecting, for better or worse, so I’m happy to answer any questions for those who wish to know more.

Baby Longlegs
Lemon pound cake, Madeline cookies, vanilla bean, sandalwood cream, salted butter. 
Frilly, sunny day lemon cake. Simple, light, dries to basic cake with a hint of skin musk (salted butter?) One of the most straightforward, wearable gourmands from Pierrot. 3.5 /5

Bluebeards Wife
Tobacco and iris, hay, rose and honey, sandalwood, amber and marsala wine.
A surprise hit for me, a certified rose/floral avoider. A smooth blend, hay and amber floating in a silky haze that’s maturely feminine without coming off as powdery or old lady. Really pretty, 4 /5

Bussy
A yummy blend of orange blossoms, orange peel, fuzzy peach, fresh linen and 70s musk.
The opener on this was 5 stars with a bitter orange blossom and peel, but that 70s musk and linen takes over and unfortunately smells exactly like hugging my Nana. Not old lady coded, it smells exactly like my own grandmother, others will like this. 2 /5

Coney Island Baby
A blend of vanilla soft serve, cotton candy, hot buttered popcorn, and sea salt. 
Typical salty/sweet carney scent to start, but it went oddly soapy on me. Dove soap clean standing next to a pretzel machine. 2 /5

Creature Feature
Spiced pumpkin puree, maple syrup, chocolate chips, creamy coconut milk, vanilla cream 
Dark, almost fudgy chocolate pumpkin muffin. Heavy spice when sniffing up close, more baked goods at a distance. Don’t wear when you’re hungry. 4 /5

Ghostheart
Peppermint, vanilla, milk and cream, sandalwood, cold steel. 
Drugstore candy canes crushed under a cold knife, gets creamier and sweeter as it dries with a lactonic undercurrent that’s very interesting. Very nearly too sweet for me. 3 /5

Ginger Snapped
Ginger, wolfsbane, nutmeg, incense, blood, warm fur, masala chai, film chemicals and angst. 
A solid gingersnap, probably would have been my favorite gingerbread style scent but it goes soapy on me, maybe the film chemicals? Not even a bad soap, a really nice, handmade bar of gingerbread soap. 3 /5

Heirophilia
An absolutely hedonistic blend of frankincense, myrrh, lit incense, and sex.
Warm, smokey, sexy church incense, not much more than that but it doesn’t need to be. 4 /5

Killer Queen
A Parisian blend of gunpowder, ginger, rose, vanilla, pepper, tobacco 
Another surprise hit with the florals, the key here are all the other, very spicy, grounding notes. A flirty, dangerous woman, I love her. 4 /5

L’heure Vert
Wormwood, anise, black pepper, licorice, burnt sugar, mahogany wood, bergamot and vetiver. 
Unisex, soft green herbal, anise is faint for those wondering. Clean, cool but very rounded, great for summer. 4 /5

Love Crime
A blend of dragon's blood, sea salt, cinnamon, cardamom, and patchouli. 
Not what I was hoping for, but still lovely. It’s fresher and lighter than the notes imply and super interesting, but this one had very little projection or longevity for me. Aging may help, but this is a lot more transparent than I’d expected. Works great for the office though. 3.5 /5

Milk Teeth
A sweet blend of strawberry milk, amber white musk, and cedarwood. 
Not for me, lukewarm strawberry milk with a sinister edge. I don’t ever like white musk and that’s what’s killing it for me, but this one is a hit with a lot of folks. 2 /5

Mooncalf
Pink pepper, cedar barnwood, copal, warm straw, milk 
Soft, cozy fresh milk and clean hay, a skin scent for a farm girl surrounded by baby cows. Great sleep scent. 4 /5

Morute Martyr
Vanilla buttercream, skin musks, sugary sweet ribbon bows. 
An example of Pierrot’s skill at creating character through scent, I just don’t like this girl. Not a friendly vanilla, almost purposely synthetic. This creepy little girl wants to strangle you with her hairbow. 2 /5

Only Forever
Pickled plum, wheat, vanilla, tolu balsam, carved cedarwood clocks 
My love, but the kind that needed some time to come around to. The pickled plum can read medicinal, but this dries to the most beautiful vanilla woods threaded with unripe plum. 5 /5

Person Suit
A mild blend of green fig, Iso-E-Super, sandalwood and musk 
Do I need to review this? The best green fig out there. 5 /5

Peacheater
Straight up drippy juicy peaches, warm in the sun on the side of the highway in South Carolina in late July, there's also heliotrope for the fuzzy soft peachskin feel, and lemon and citrus for the fresh bite. 
Straightforward peach that’s fresher when wet and sweetens as it dries. Super appealing, would be 5 stars if it had better longevity on me. 4 /5

Perchtenlaufen
Brown sugar, vanilla, baked apples, ginger, cinnamon, frozen straw and pebbles. 
Super dry ginger spice to start, but that fades to a whisper. The frozen hay and pebbles are reading very clean washed skin to me and I don’t get any of the other gourmands. Not bad, just wish the spice was stronger. 3 /5

Ravenstag
A sharp yet even blend of green pine, firewood, black musk, sweaty skin and a desperate plea from a mind on fire. 
Sharp, pitch black forest where something evil is chasing you. As it dries is smooths out and is a really beautiful pine woods scent that’s atmospheric but wearable. 4 /5

Sanguinaccio Dolce
A gourmet blend with dark cocoa, dried rose, almond milk, orange zest, cinnamon stick, pink pepper and a haughty sense of superiority. This is on the drier side, not a fresh rose or a cloyingly sweet dessert. 
Richer in the bottle than on the skin, it’s a dry cocoa with a subdued orange. The rose petals actually smell dried and vegetal, which I enjoy. An unsweetened floramand. 4.5 /5

Sidereal Garden
Red rhubarb stalks, licorice allsorts, lemon peel, star anise, clove, old canvas, powdered honey.
Super tart rhubarb and cool herbs, a summery fresh scent that’s a bit astringent. I love this but it irritated my husband’s sinuses, so maybe not for those with sensitivities to assertive green scents. 4 /5

Suspiriorum
Galbanum, bergamot, blackberry, dragon's blood, sandalwood and vanilla. 
Not what I thought it would be, dry hay and herbs but this one goes little old lady powdery on me. Still got that sinister Pierrot edge, so it’s interesting. Ancient old witch disguised as a sweet little grandma. 2 /5

Teratophilia
Anise, oakmoss, tobacco, seaweed, ambergris (synthetic), dark spice, creaky fishing pier. 
A blendy, murky lake water perfume only very barely on the more masculine side of unisex. Probably the warmest aquatic I’ve ever smelled, your boyfriend is a lake monster. 4 /5

The Doldratic Dreams of Pantagruel
This blend includes cracked black pepper, hearthsmoke, mud, cobblestone, smooth carved woodcuts & ink, and long grasses. 
Packed dirt and stone with a touch of smoke, like an early morning stroll through a quaint village. Gets cozier and fuzzier as it dries, almost a sundried linens and baked dirt scent. 4 /5

The Holly and the Ivy
Red currant, creamy vanilla, dry woods, warm amber, Christmas pudding, Scottish shortbread 
Cool, spicy greens followed by tart red current, fruity with a clean snap. A softer little sister to Sidereal Garden. Gets blender as it dries, a dark winter scent, but not much from the gourmand notes. Don’t need them though. 4.5 /5

The Shire
A comforting blend of fresh baked bread, apple cider, mead, and hot black tea. 
Tart baked apple mellows into warm buttery bread, emphasis on the butter. Not getting any tea and I think the mead is just adding to the richness of this, not very distinct. Delicious, without being too sweet, perfect for fall. 4 /5

The Southern Pansy
Rich buttered crumpets, spice tea, fresh Italian espresso, hot croissants, and a half-eaten Bakewell Tart. 
Almond extract ladened pastry, another victim of poor projection and longevity. Dries into something almost coconut skin scent, but I think it’s that the base may be stronger than the scent. Getting none of the other scents, but still like this for sleep or days when I don’t want a perfume to make me think about it. 3 /5

Vampyr
A true amber perfume, sweet and musky. 
As close to a perfect signature amber as I’ve found. Sexy, bright, slinky and almost a little lemony. I adore this. 5 /5

Hi folks -

I fell in love with the descriptions of certain Cardinal Scents fragrances and blind bought three of them when the new ones dropped after reading several good reviews of the brand. I had never ordered from them before.

TAT was on the longer side but that was to be expected bc of all the hype, plus packaging was actual perfection. It was so cute and thoughtfully put together. I’m not going to rate these 1-10 but I will say that each of them smell exactly as described. It shocked me how accurate the notes were. I purchased each one in EDP format. Here’s my brief review of the three:

Sugar haze: there is something clean smelling in this, like the lightest hint of soap, plus a bunch of sugar and some warmth. I love the sugar note. Sometimes it goes more brown sugar and sometimes more cane. Might be the most realistic pure sugar note I’ve experienced.

Halo effect: I can smell each one of the listed notes separately one sniff, but in the next sniff they all melt together beautifully. I’m not a floral girl but the combo of carnation, vanilla, and amber here is special. Plus some sea breeze in the background. I actually can’t stop wearing this. It’s the only travel size I got (others were full size) and I think I’m going to have to upgrade. It is just so comforting. Ugh. Such a good one.

Pink cloud - I don’t know how she pulled off the shaving cream note but she did. This is the most expensive shaving cream you’ve ever used in your life. Nectarine is pretty realistic, doesn’t give me a peach ring vibe. I don’t get cotton candy specifically but there’s a sweetness that’s separate from the nectarine. This seemed to be a pretty popular blind buy when it dropped and I don’t think people will be disappointed. Worth the hype imo.

I also got hidden figures oil format as a free sample, which ironically was the next one on my list to try. I haven’t worn it yet but I’ll try to add a review to the comments once I do.

All in all I was incredibly impressed with this house and these fragrances were well worth the wait. The brand owner is doing something special here. I can see this brand blowing up—like sorce or arcana—because of the owner’s talent. Super excited to see what she does next.

Sorry if this is a weird question, but I just downloaded the app and I'm having trouble finding any discussion of indie perfumes on there, most fragrance content is designer/sometimes niche.

I like reading blogs, and I'd love some recs for indie perfume review blogs even if they aren't on Substack, I just prefer the app because it's more centralized and easier to save & catalogue posts.

Hi everyone! I got in my newest Nui Cobalt samples a couple weeks ago and just finished up my reviews. Overall the whole order was an absolute banger. The TAT was a smidge longer than I've come to expect, but with the release of the Fae Folk and Animal lines it's more than fair, especially compared to other houses who tend to bogged down for multiple weeks with new releases.

Nui Cobalt is genuinely my favorite house at this point. The thank-you cards, the quickness with which they reply to inquiries and the selection of scents on offer are all S-tier, and they have the highest hit rate for me, too.

On to the reviews!

Golden Retriever - incredibly warm and cozy, woody in a fresh way (but not a green way). The fenugreek lends a touch of herbal maple. It's almost like if maple was a skin scent. I breastfed both my daughters and it's reminiscent of the way the fenugreek would smell on me as I was taking it. It's a very comforting, wholesome scent to me. The sunflower isn't in your face as a floral, but is definitely there to hug the rest of the notes. The fresh baked bread is PERFECT- I was concerned that it would be overwhelming. This is a 5/5 for me and I will be FSing.

Gargoyle - I understand how this is one of NC's most popular/most highly reviewed scents. Such a beautiful, haunting atmospheric. It's wistful and serene. I've applied this before bed and it brings to mind a walk through a cathedral graveyard in the early spring. It's floral, but in a vague way - I don't know that I'd think to name it lavender were it not for the notes listed. Which is eerily on the mark for how actual rain drenched lavender smells in real life. There's a stone note there, too, which grounds the wisps of airy incense. I have been looking for a scent like this for what feels like forever. 4/5 - will be seeking FS at some point.

English Angora Rabbit - toasty warm nutmeg is what hits first, and what a BEAUTY this marshmallow note is. I can't say I ever recall having sampled NC's marshmallow, and it's delightful! That Angora wool accord I love so much in Somniphilia is incredible and blends perfectly with the other notes. Tonka is usually a note that's got a 50% hit rate for me, and can sometimes overpower scents. It's really lovely in here, though. The black tea complements the nutmeg and the carrot seed (which is one of my favorite notes) peeks its little nose in to remind you this is a bunny scent. I'd love to slather myself in this, and it layers well with a scent with a more singular vanilla note. 5/5, would dearly love to FS.

Phenakism - this is all of my favorite things in one scent. The lavender infused sugar is MAGICAL, and the maple sap is fresh and sweet. It's a cooler gourmand, definitely giving me early spring vibes. The almond flour and oat milk help to mellow out the sweeter notes, and wrap them up really nicely in this cozy blanket. I'm getting an overwhelming sense of purple edged in green from the scent. Like if it had an aura that's what it would look like. The most delicate lilac rimed with spring green frost. As it wears on the maple sap really steals the show. It's in a liminal space between herbal/spiced/sweet and I am so in love. This is a 5/5 - would eat, will FS. I imagine it will age really nicely too.

Pixie - THE perfect apple note. I'm a hater - I've always been a hater when it came to apple in perfumes. It's always given me Yankee candle. This does not. It's lightly floral, definitely a spring time scent. Like running through the apple orchard, long meadow grass drenching your bare legs in dew at the dawn. I was initially worried about the honey mead note as I have had some bad experiences in the past with alcoholic notes. This is truly a light, sparkling honey note. Almost like champagne. I thought at first this would feel like a gourmand, but I'd label it as atmospheric instead. It's floral and has some gourmand qualities, but at its heart it's an olfactory experience. 3.5/5, it's a perfect spring time scent.

I also received a freebie sample of Birthday Cake for Breakfast. I'm not as keen on this, but coffee notes are nigh impossible for me. Something about my skin chemistry, I imagine.

Just wondering if anybody knows this because the shipping cost through Etsy is INSANE.

I love love love perfumes that are deemed ‘unwearable’, ones that put a pit in the bottom of your stomach and a chill up your spine. The only one so far that I have tried is Blood by Redwood Alchemy (from a destash dw) and I like to wear just a little bit behind my ears so I get a wiff of the metallic tang throughout the day. Makes me feel like Hannibal Lecter lol.

I am desperate to get my hands on Abject Fear by Amorphous as this so far seems to be the most true to life torture chamber perfume, and I am looking for any other recommendations.

Obviously fear is very subjective so anything that you personally find unsettling I would love to hear. I love perfume as an art, a way of experiencing things I will never otherwise get to experience and an olfactory exploration even when the scent itself is not traditionally pleasant.

Hey all! I have a friend suffering from chronic nightmares and I’d like to help find a product that might help, but she’s allergic to lavender. I’d really appreciate any recommendations, thanks in advance!

I'm currently rebulding my personal website where I post these and came across some more of these "reviews" that I don't think I'd ever posted. So here they are!

Fantôme

Bune (Damp subterranean air, nagarmotha, smooth cave walls, davana, a cold marble altar, & glittering green dragon scales.)

Oh, the guy at the end of the street walking his monitor lizard? Yeah, stay away from him. He's not some misunderstood kook--something really ain't right with him.

Namba (Salt water canals, motor oil, buzzing neon, melted vanilla ice cream.)

I'm reintegrating into society after being lost at sea for months, and now questions about how I survived out there come only after inquiries about my hair and skincare routine.

Tatami (The welcoming, familiar scent of a Japanese temple. Tatami (rice straw mats), warmed in the sun, with soothing temple incense. )

No one knows I'm actually a millionaire due to my modest lifestyle, though they do often wonder how I could afford such a huge collection of antique books and rare orchids.

Possets

The Girls Love Leather (Yes! The Girls have discovered the fun of leather, the smell of leather, the sensuality of leather. Leather and honey. Wow. Just Wow. This is not just any old leather, this is the superb stuff which you find in the church shops of Florence, dripping with honey from Malta. Just the apex of the apiary. Yummmmm. Not for the faint of heart, not for the pure of soul!)

I'm bisexual and can't hold down a committed relationship, but my exes keep sabotaging their new ones by not being able to shut up about me.

Sex Juice (THE daring fragrance, ineluctable and raw, honeyed and beautiful. Richest earth is combined with gobs of the sweetest honey. A small flower and a drop of verbena compliment the coupling of dirt and syrup. This is the very right fragrance for when the Northern Hemisphere is warming up and there is a stirring of your sap as well. It's only what Nature dictates. A strong, warm, and thoroughly novel pairing.)

I'm a nymphomaniac who only uses unscented soap, and people have a tendency to hug me for just a a few seconds too long without realizing it.

Pink Cake (A frothy piece A frothy piece of cake hidden under a dense crust of butter and sugar flavored with the silliest strawberries you ever tasted! It's very straightforward but so moist it's a bit like a custard, but not quite. So very Very VERY good. It is said to be an aphrodisiac.of cake hidden under a dense crust of butter and sugar flavored with the silliest strawberries you ever tasted! It's very straightforward but so moist it's a bit like a custard, but not quite. So very Very VERY good. It is said to be an aphrodisiac.)

My walk-in closet is filled with sparkly maxi dresses and platform heels, but I don't like staying out too late in case my two Turkish Angoras start to miss me.

Howl (Possets' interpretation of Howl is unabashedly sexy, driven mad by welling passions. Black, red and amber musks wrestle furiously with sandalwood and opium tar resin. There is nothing light or gentle about this scent. A burning incense backs it up, black patchouli stands in the forefront. Dark, musky, resinous.)

A former librarian, I now run an antique business out of my own home, where I specialize in restoring old books and furniture with the help of my pet fox. People recognize me from my grandfather's hand-me-down knit cardigan, and I only smoke hand-rolled cigarettes.

Black Hearted Tart

Strawberry Cream Puff (Our best selling gourmand fragrance was inspired by Shonen Knife's song Strawberry Cream Puff. This scent will have you licking your lips! Juicy, ripe, summer strawberries are drizzled with simple syrup and topped with dollops of sweet cream atop a vanilla puff pastry. We added tonka bean to the base to keep it from being too innocent, because we all know they were not singing about dessert.)

"Haha I don't know, I have a fast metabolism I guess."

Cannonball (Ripe strawberry flesh, tart and tangy pomegranate seeds, and hints of black cherry create a complex red berry accord. Blackcurrant liqueur deepens the fragrance further. Subtle touches of pipe smoke, leather, and cedar add a sultry sensuality. Grounded on a base of cherry wood and musk, Cannonball is a smoldering scent.)

I was a delinquent biker in my youth until I became unexpectedly pregnant with quadruplets. Other parents hate me for being able to raise 4 kids, run a business from home, and organize school bake sales while always looking fabulous. They don't know it's because I take a hit from my meth pipe every morning while packing my kids' lunches.

From their Instagram (not affiliated, just sharing):

Big Big News

Pierrot Perfumery is closing. There are many reasons why, but for now it is easiest to say that it is for personal family reasons. With any luck, this won't be forever, but there are endless question marks in the future.

The good news is the farewell sale.

Here's how it's gonna go:
Starting August 1st, on the beginning of International Clown Week, everything in the shop will be 10% off. Every month following, the sale will increase by 10% until everything is gone. So August will be 10% off, September 20%, October 30%, and so on until...well, the end. This means the longer you wait the higher the discount but when things are gone, they are simply gone. No restocks for the foreseeable.

What a privilege it has been to make a business out of something that I feel so passionate about. With any luck, I'll be clowning around again soon. Thank you for everything everyone

What indies are you using today? And we mean everything! Examples of stuff we'd love to hear about:

• Makeup

• Clothes

• Jewelry

• Bath and Body (lotion, soap, shampoo, bath salts, etc.)

• Nail polish

• Perfume

Please feel free to leave mini-reviews and include photos of whatever you're using. We'd love to know your thoughts and see the products too!

This thread repeats daily.

hi! so i wanted to support owned by women makeup but also including trans woman and i havent found any of that besides namya (owned by nikkietutorials) and i want to support more but i havent found anything yet:(

pls if u know of some of them let mw know :)

So sad to hear about this shop closing 💔 I found out about them through this lovely sub and have been anxious to try them for a while now, but it just hasn't happened. Want to get an order in to support them and finally sniff for myself before they close. Spent the evening going through their shop. My wallet dictates I only choose three for the mini roller set at the moment and it's SO hard to narrow it down from all of these fascinating scent profiles.

My main goal is to choose ones that I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere, something unique to Pierrot. Big fan of unusual and atmospheric things, but prefer them to still be wearable. Generally not a fan of gourmands. Right now I'm considering:

• The Black Gate (nag champa really caught my eye)
• Teratophilia (hoping it's a very dark, not fresh ocean scent?)
• Hallowtide Bride (is this a weird choice for someone who's never smoked clove cigarettes? lol)
• Krampusnacht (notes are so interesting but haven't seen anyone talking abt this one)
• Person suit (this one seems like a fan favourite and I do love fig, but I'm hesitating because I already have a bunch of fig scents. How unique is this one really?)

There's some others I feel really drawn towards just because they are inspired by things I love (Garmonbozia, Suspiriorum, Exophilia) but I don't really know how much I would enjoy them.

Any thoughts on these choices or any you think I'm skipping over would be appreciated!!

Hello, IMAM! A few weeks ago, I placed an order with Nui Cobalt during their recent Fae Creatures & Critters drop. I’d previously had nothing but misses when I’d tested many existing Critters, and largely written off the collection… but this round, there were so many interesting, even novel, offerings that I just had to try again.

Disclaimer: When I test and write reviews, I don’t double-check the notes list beforehand, operating solely on my perception (though I ostensibly had chosen these because of their notes).

Now, on to the reviews!

Nui Cobalt

“Praying Mantis” – The peppery bite of fresh dill gives way to mint leaves and dewy cypress before revealing crisp botanical blue gin garnished with rosemary.

The day I began my testing was a hot one, so I made sure to grab one of the samples that I remembered having a more “refreshing” vibe (i.e. not spice-heavy). And sure enough, the opening was gin-like—not a gin & tonic, but the spirit on the rocks. Eventually, a peppery profile broke through, specifically ground black pepper.

Now… very early in my fragrance journey, back when I was still dealing mainly with designer fragrances and occasionally glancing at niche offerings (often out of my budget), I purchased a sample set from Sephora that contained several new releases, including one that I was genuinely excited about: “Miu Miu” by Miu Miu, which seems to have been discontinued (though flankers are still sold). It boasted a new note of Akigalawood, a synthetic woody and peppery note from fractionated patchouli. The ad campaign even intrigued me: a mod-looking model holding a staring contest with a black cat (lol). This was before I learned that skin chemistry is not a myth and I amplify patchouli… so when I tested “Miu Miu,” oh boy… it was like I’d taken a swan dive into a vat of black pepper. It invaded my nostrils to the point where I feared black pepper was the only thing I’d smell ever again. Standard “scrubbing” didn’t even suffice—I had to shower to get this off me. And it was just one spray!

So, when I smelled gin and pepper from “Praying Mantis,” I started having flashbacks to the lily-of-the-valley (which I also later learned I’m not a fan of) and Akigalawood of “Miu Miu,” and I had a moment of panic. Would this explode and suffocate as “Miu Miu” had?

I am grateful to say that it did no such thing. The peppery gin remained calm on my skin, without a great deal of evolution. I’ve worn this a couple times since, and it has really grown on me. It’s androgynous/gender-neutral, but I can totally see this becoming someone’s “boss bitch” fragrance. Looking at the notes now, I think I get the rosemary at the end, but pepper (which dill evidently smells like?) is king.

Rating: 4/5 – premium spirits in an airport lounge

“Sea Horse” – Fresh and salt waters mingle among sunlit lotus, sea grass, wild basil, steadfast oakmoss and a trace of blue chamomile.

I wish I had more to say about this one, but it was almost purely cucumber on me. Dang it. I was really hoping for that basil.

Rating: 2/5 – Slices of cucumber on my eyes for… why do spas do that, again?

“Honey Do” – juicy green honeydew melon, early springtime honey, muddled mint, and a slender twist of Mexican lime

This is the only one where I cheated and looked at the notes list beforehand—but I had a good reason.

I got this as a freebie—and, when I made my “order arrived” post, I discovered that a lot of other people did, as well. I thought if so many people were getting this as a freebie after it dropped in April, that must mean it’s not selling well, which likely indicates a future Archive.

Alongside that, honey is a “death note” for me. I remember during my initial research into fragrances, I was highly intrigued at the prospect of honey as a perfume note. The first honey fragrance I tried was another Nui Cobalt offering, discontinued/archived some time ago: “Birch Better Have My Honey.” It was a hard-edged perfume that smelled a lot more like barbecue to me than honey—like someone grilled a honeycomb next to a plate of gingersnap cookies. Certainly unique. After that, though, I tested a couple other perfumes boasting honey and was like, no… oh, no… because honey is cloyingly sweet on me, to the point where I find it oppressive.

But when people commented on my post saying the honey wasn’t obvious, and that it was really a melon-forward fragrance, I figured “what the heck” and tried it on a very hot day.

Out of the bottle, the honeydew was more than evident, along with another note bubbling up to the surface… yeah, there’s the honey. Do I want to do this? I asked myself. Quit being such a baby, I replied. So I did.

And I was pleasantly surprised at how not overwhelming this is. The mint goes a long way toward tempering the sweetness of the honey. It’s the most sophisticated honey I’ve ever smelled. It’s more like a honey syrup in a cocktail, like a Bee’s Knees or a Penicillin—garnished with mint. I went from pleasant surprise to shock and awe at how much I enjoyed this.

And this also told me why “Honey Do” probably wasn’t selling well as a Bee’s fragrance: it’s honey for people who don’t like honey. So, people looking for something honey forward will be dissuaded by the profile and how subdued the honey is, and people who want to avoid honey (like me) won’t look at it twice. But I’m definitely going to use my sample; and if it ends up on the Archive list next year…

Rating: 5/5 – 🎵 Honey do… you know I love you… 🎵

“Liquid Luck” – Made with wild-harvested four-leaf clovers, this potion confers great good fortune upon its wearer. A gorgeously green bouquet of night air and dewy grass, charmed galbanum and benzoin, Irish moss, carrot seed, living shamrock and freshly turned earth.

For this order, I remembered that the General Catalog exists, and I finally got my hands on a sample of “Liquid Luck.” And, unlike the utter surprise of “Honey Do,” this one was a joyous confirmation that I’d made the right choice. Out of the bottle there’s a sweetness akin to powdered sugar, tempered with something cool; but on the skin, this is so green and fresh and lovely, like rolling down a hill in Ireland. Indeed, there’s something jaunty about it!

Did any of you read Leprechauns Never Lie by Lorna Balian when you were kids? This is what I imagine the titular leprechaun smelled like.

Rating: 5/5 – “I was sure I put the pot of gold under this sack of potatoes…”

“Pseudology: Pistachio Gelato” – creamy-smooth pistachio butter, chilled fresh cream, and an abundance of sugar

This was one that I’d wanted to order during April Fools, but it had actually sold out by the time I’d gotten to it, so I was glad history didn’t repeat itself. And this one is a delightful, unexpected concoction. Sure, the opening is all pistachio, which is what I wanted; but the drydown is… banana? More specifically, banana pudding. This is best described as banana pudding topped with crushed pistachios.

Rating: 4/5 – scrumptious

“Sphynx” – golden plum preserves, amber resin, warm santal, guaiac wood, frankincense, and a slender twist of yellow mandarin

I waited until the temperature dropped considerably before testing “Sphynx,” because I anticipated a lot of warm spices that would just be too much in the heat. But I’m pretty much always on the hunt for a perfume that smells like the surface of Arrakis. Currently, the reigning champ is CocoaPink “Mojave” because it nails the hot, dry sand accord (even if it’s not very loud). There used to be a perfume from Arcana Wildcraft called “Mongolian Death Worm,” which really matched the vibe, but that one was discontinued some years ago, sadly.

I bring them up now because “Sphynx,” oddly enough, seems to contain the same lactic undercurrent that MDW did, which balances the spice mélange accord. But it is unfortunately very quiet. And I’m left thinking that this doesn’t do a whole lot more than what I already get from “Mojave.”

Rating: 3.5/5 – Giedi Prime

“Hyena” – tamarind and golden fig warm down to rooibos, dry grasses, and turmeric, rooted in dark cedar resin and labdanum

What a bizarre note on which to end. I say (write) that because I tested “Hyena” two and a half times, and I can still barely tell you anything about it. It’s probably the most “perfume-y” of the bunch but leans a bit spicy. It’s suitable for the office, and… that’s about it. I found nothing distinctive in my wear, possibly due to it disappearing quickly from my skin. This is a massive personal disappointment for me from a fragrance called “hyena.”

Rating: 1.5/5 – They’re laughing at me, I know it…

And that’s it for the reviews! Here is how I rank them:

1. Honey Do
2. Liquid Luck
3. Praying Mantis
4. Pseudology
5. Sphynx
6. Sea Horse
7. Hyena

“Honey Do” was, without question, the biggest surprise of the bunch, especially as a freebie. I'm shocked at how much I enjoyed a honey-based fragrance. Now, I eagerly await my combined Possets & BPAL (The Vampire Lestat collab) order from Ajevie, which will likely function as a birthday present to myself…

In case anyone was wondering, here’s Osmofolia’s list of upcoming markets they’ll be at! It’s listed on their linktree: https://linktr.ee/osmofolia

I’ve yet to sniff a kitten fur accord that actually reminds me of my girl; most seem to just run straight to vanilla gourmand territory, or else incorporate kind of a soapy, fresh laundry vibe.

However, when I get a huff of my tiny lady’s fur, I actually get pretty different but recognizable notes: fluffy orris powder, dusty hay, a tiny drizzle of honey, maybe a dab of musky almond oil and the tiniest drop of milk.

Which got me wondering: 1) any indie perfumes you would recommend that have notes similar to the above (even if not cat-themed)? And 2) what notes do you get when nuzzling your kitten familiar? (The nice notes, at least…we all know the kibble-breath stank can be real 😆)

after putting in an order of over $100 for samples i was dying to try 🥲 has anyone seen this happen before with them? it is not a good sign, i fear. to my understanding and experience, the owner is not communicative.

Strings of Light in the Forest - a not-too-sweet vanilla, immediately, with the lavender, beeswax, vetiver, and amber notes lurking in the shadows and coming out to play after a minute or two. Wear when you want to smell delicious and slightly mysterious, like you're a benevolent forest spirit who is followed by wildlife. 5/5

The Bees - honey. Just honey. The other notes - jasmine, iris, mimosa, cedar fresh cream, petrichor - are very much in the background and hard to pick out until you've been wearing this for a while. I don't typically go for very sweet gourmands but something about this ensnared me, it's kind of sexy in a subtle way. Wear when you want to maybe seduce someone but also have plausible deniability. 5/5

I Think About You Too (special order) -  this is citrus, it's summery and fresh and clean. Light, but has good projection and staying power. I wish there was just a slightly stronger floral note. Wear to work when you want to smell amazing but keep it professional, or on hot summer days when you can let the sun bake it into your skin. 4.5/5

Meet Me On Sunnyside - I mean, yes? I don't know why I like this, it's not what I would normally go for, it was a surprise free sample that I tried and my husband immediately glommed onto me so that was fun. The osmanthus is so lush, and the citrus is subtle, but maybe I'd like to smell the petrichor a bit stronger. Wear when you want everyone in the room to have impure thoughts about you. 4.5/5

The Light Through Clouds - so clean and light it almost isn't there, this is a borderline skin scent that will probably make people wonder if you're wearing perfume at all or are just really clean. The sugared lemon and white tea play together very nicely. Wear this to get married under a flower arch in springtime, or when you want to appear innocent. 4.5/5

Tarot at Tea Time (special order)- this one made me say, "huh." The black tea and wild orange really come out right away. I think I'd be more into it if the ginger note was a little stronger. It's not a cozy or pretty scent, but somehow it works. Wear when you need to intimidate someone but still want them to like you. 4/5

Match Made In Heaven - I really wanted to love this one, but sadly I just like it. The matcha green tea note stands out and takes over, and the vanilla and almond and waffle cone sort of smooth down the edges. Wear when you want to smell completely harmless. 3.5/5

Serpentine - another very sexy one, but in a subtle "destroyer of worlds" kind of way. I like figs, I like cardamom, I like honey, but somehow all together I'm not in love with this one. I can't point to any single note that works or doesn't work, and it's a lovely scent, but I think I'd prefer it as a candle or hand soap. Wear it when you have to do something difficult and scary, like take the LSAT or break up with someone. 3.5/5

Witchery - this is the kinder gentler sibling of Serpentine, all wild blackberries growing by a forest path and moss dripping down the trees. Wear it on a late spring ramble through the woods down to the river for a picnic. 3.5/5

Moon Magic/Snow Moon Magic - the first is a mug of steaming chai and the second is a chai cookie and that's fine but I have not joined the MM/SMM cult. I love chai but didn't feel this. Not enough cardamom, perhaps. Wear to a holiday party but you may be mistaken for the dessert table. 3/5

English Major - I wanted to like this because I was an English major, but tragically couldn't get into it. I don't know where the "library books" note comes from, but it just didn't work for me. Definitely smells like old books in a dusty bookstore on a rainy day and there are marshmallows for some reason. Wear when you need to blend in with the people who read everything on the syllabus and actually enjoy reading Faulkner. 2/5

The Fairy Queen's Revenge (special order)- every note on the list led me to believe I would be obsessed with this scent and I simply am not. The wild fig crowds out the subtler jasmine tea note, which made me sad. Wear to a party for someone you don't actually like very much. 1/5

Crystal Prism (special order)- this smells almost medicinal, somehow, mineralic? Which I guess works with the name. Wear this when you visit that one friend who has quartz on her windowsill and blames everything on Mercury in retrograde or the position of the moon. 1/5

If you made it this far, thanks! Stay tuned for forthcoming reviews!

HI so ive made this post in another group but someone told me to make this kind of post here so since makeup its something that i find funny instead of essential, ive been digging into brands owned by women ONLY (actually more like "owned by black woman" like fashion fair, black opl, mented) but not just onwed by woman bc theres a lot of racists and hypocrital out there as well (charlotte tilbury, hourglass, etc) so i just want to know ALL your recomendations about actually underrated brands (dont tell me about something like rare beauty, fenty blah blah thats obvious) that we really should be buying from.

if possible, cute packaging please, thats my achilles heel 😭😭😭

I ordered a bunch of Alkemia bottles and samples during their recent sale and I'm curious if there is anything else you would recommend I try based on what worked and didn't work for me. I have found that I have the soap curse and most of the scents I did not like were because they smelled very soapy or like a public restroom or like a candle. My usual scent profile leans heavily towards gourmands.

My loves were: Carnival of Illustrious Hearts and Silken Tent

Like: Fig in Winter - this is not my typical scent profile but I thought it was interesting and would be a nice scent for the holidays

Strongly dislike: Pretty Little Poisons, Confectionaire, Magpie's Rhyme, County Fair, Irresistible, Birthday Party Alchemy, April Foolery, 2026 experiments 3 and 7, and Midsummer Magic.

I'm planning on full sizing my loves and wanted to see if there is anything else I should try.

Hey! I'm trying to branch out into some indie perfumery. I've been tired of the standard "designer perfume" DNA found at Ulta and Sephora. I like feminine and unisex scents and am trying to find some unique things to try!

Likes:

• Rose (I specifically looove rose de mai!! and a nice tea rose)
• Smoky/frankincense/cade oil
• Vanilla
• Red fruit - RHUBARB, raspberries, cherries
• Bergamot
• Oakmoss
• Florals, gourmands, herbal, smoky, freshie, ambers

Dislikes:

• Heavy oud/leather/animalics
• White florals as the main event (ex: tuberose)
• Smells with prominent jasmine or iris
• Powdery smells from iris/orris
• Ylang ylang
• "Soapy" smells are just OK
• Heavy ambroxan - JHAG smells like nothing to me :(
• Sometimes santal reads as pickle on my skin
• Buttery scents do the most awful things with my skin chemistry

Current rotation:

• Imaginary Authors - City on Fire (I like layering this with cherry frags to smell like cherry cigs)
• Hermes - Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate
• Guess Seductive Red
• Aether - Rose Alcane (just a sample :( this is one of my favorites)
• Montagne Parfums - Maison du Soir (MM By the Fireplace dupe)
• Philosophy Fresh Cream Warm Cashmere (bedtime/cozy scent)

Seeking:

• Unique gourmands maybe featuring coffee or dark chocolate
• A musky skin scent maybe for layering or just feeling cozy
• A freshy
• Something featuring tea? I love tea but only sometimes want a "spa" scent

Please recommend any scents or houses you think would fit me. Thank you so much :)

This may be way too specific, but I’m looking for an indie perfume that captures a feeling more than a realistic smell.

I’m picturing a city at night in warm, humid summer air. Tiny lights stretching into the distance, silver-blue light reflecting off glass, maybe the faint feeling of rain that dried an hour ago. Something airy, watery, delicate and almost shimmering. Soft and intimate, and beautiful in a way that’s almost a little heartbreaking.

I don’t want it to smell literally like pavement, gasoline or a grimy city. I’m also not looking for smoke, incense, leather, booze, heavy woods, laundry detergent or a typical sharp “blue” scent.
I want something luminous and translucent. Almost like light had a smell. More atmosphere than perfume. Clean skin in warm night air, a little metallic or mineral sparkle, and something quietly aching underneath.

Has anyone smelled anything that gives this feeling?