BPAL sniffing notes 44 - Arcana, Ded Moroz, Mr. Ibis

Ded Moroz - Grandfather Frost! Accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, he bestows gifts to virtuous and hard-working people, rewarding their decency and integrity, and punishes those who are lazy, shiftless, and unkind, killing their fields with frost, cracking the trunks of their trees, and destroying their homes.

The first incarnation of Father Frost was not at all benevolent. He was the personification of the darkest aspects of winter, winter's destruction incarnate. He kidnapped unruly children, and slew people capriciously by freezing them to death.

Light, darkness, kindness, and malice: golden amber, white amber, redwood, teak, bois du rose, sage, tree moss, and snow.

In the vial, amber and mint... very cold mint. Reminds me of a refresher spray I have that makes my skin tingle when I use it. Color, white.

Wet on my skin, tee hee! It tingles, just like the spray! Very minty. Smells nice, but I don't see where I'd wear it as a perfume. Although, Ded Moroz is the mint that I was looking for in Nuclear Winter.

10-15 minute drydown - Most of the mint has dried off so I'm getting amber, moss, and sage with a hint of the coldness from the snow. Very nice.

Note - I can't really see myself wearing this as a perfume because I can't get the thought of FEET! out of my head long enough to really enjoy it. :-)

*****

Arcana - The essence of magickal enigmas and long-forgotten esoteric mysteries. Frankincense, rosemary, lavender, neroli, and verbena.

Note - after yesterday's debacle with Titus Andronicus, I'm not even going to take the tape off of this imp, much less try and put it on my skin, no matter how much I love verbena, lavender, and rosemary. Frankincense and neroli together on my skin equal rancid feet.

*****

Mr. Ibis - The smoke stung Shadow's eyes. He wiped the tears away with his hand, and, through the smoke, he thought he saw a tall man in a suit, with gold-rimmed spectacles. The smoke cleared and the boatman was once more a half-human creature with the head of a river bird.

Papyrus, vanilla flower, Egyptian musk, African musk, aloe ferox, white sandalwood.

In the vial, unf. That's all I need say. I'm in love. I'd forgotten how much I adore Egyptian musk until someone sent me this empty. Color, cream.

Wet on my skin, it's Egyptian musk and papyrus and sharp, clean aloe. I could *bathe* in this. As a matter of fact, if I had more, I would.

10-15 minute drydown - It's all beautiful Egyptian musk and reeds and that slightly sharp aloe and I love it.

1 hour drydown - No change, I still can't stop huffing my wrists. :-)

Note - this has an insanely long wear on me... 12 hours later, I can still smell it.