M

[journal]

MARIANNE
Red musk, bergamot, black currant, mimosa, orchid, patchouli, and lotus root.  

I was worried about the lotus root when I read her description, but I couldn't pass her up on my quest through the land of the red musks so I braved it and ordered her. And i'm very glad I did.

I didn't give her time to settle, I had to swipe some on my wrist as soon as I opened the box and she came on in a gorgeous swirl of red musk. She gave me a couple of minutes to enjoy and then she morphed into something that reminded me a little of bubble gum. I realized that was the lotus area so I was a little weary and waited for the nausea lotus usually brings me, but it didn't come.

This lady is utterly lovely. A little bad and a little innocent, but with the intent of giving you pleasure.

And man, does she ever.

MECHANICAL PHOENIX
anniversary blend 

lab description:A mechanical construct: illustrating strong work ethic, determination, creativity, and innovation. Copper gears, brass cogs, fused wiring, scorched iron, and motor oil. 

It's taken me some time to try this one even if this is the one I had really high hopes for. I'm not disappointed although i'm not sure it's the kind of smell I was expecting. It's definitely a little masculine but at the same time it's not. I really don't have anything to compare it with because it smells like nothing else. And at the same time it's very familiar.

I can't say if it's motor oil. Probably not. But it does remind me of my dad in a way too.

I think I can safely say this is the strangest perfume that has ever touched my skin. I like it though. Maybe I even love it.

 

MELAINIS
The dark, of night.
Teak, frankincense, caramel, oakmoss, red currant, labdanum absolute, bitter clove, patchouli, star anise, tobacco, and black musk.  

at first it reminded me of one of the grindhouse girls and they didn't do much for me unfortunately so I was immediately a little disappointed. But as the minutes ticked by I got more and more excited. Oh man this is good. It's touching SCHWARZER MOND area, deep and dark and sinister but more feminine. I love it. 

MIDNIGHT KISS

Eternal desire, unquenchable passion: red musk, cocoa absolute, Nepalese amber, red sandalwood, aged patchouli, nicotiana, and blood wine.  

it doesn't smell very good in the bottle, it's probably the cocoa overpowering everything. but once it's on it calms down a little and i can sense amber and musk and ...tobacco? i'm putting it on before gym so i will wear this one half the day just to check it out. i think i like it actually. i get a little reminder of THE GREAT SWORD OF WAR but it's far from the same, this one is smoother and more golden i think. i'll know more when i come back home. 

oh yeah it was very nice. the drydown was pleasant and it turned into a smooth, pale yellow scent that didn't make itself known too much but just enough to remind me it was there.

 
MIDNIGHT MASS 2008
limited editions
yules 

In Roman Catholic tradition, the Christmas season begins liturgically on Christmas Eve, though it is forbidden to celebrate the Christmas Mass before midnight. The most devout attend Midnight Mass, celebrating both the Eucharist and the drama of the Nativity.

This perfume is a traditional Roman Catholic sacramental incense, most often used during a Solemn Mass. Traditionally, five tears of this incense, each encased individually in wax that has been fashioned into the shape of a nail, are inserted into the paschal candle. This is, of course, represents the Five Wounds of Our Risen Savior. Symbolically, the burning of the incense signifies spiritual fervor, the fragrance itself inspires virtue, and the rising smoke carries our prayers to God. 

I was immediately reminded of CATHEDRAL but it's not quite as sweet and woody, it's slightly more smoky. Because of this I had MIDNIGHT MASS on one wrist and CATHEDRAL on the other while testing it. They are less alike than I thought they would be when I first sniffed MIDNIGHT MASS in the bottle. CATHEDRAL is lighter and sweeter and it doesn't have the smoke thing going on to the degree MIDNIGHT MASS does. Usually i'm a little weary when it comes to smoke because some smoky scents hasn't worked on me but this one dries down to sweet and resiny gorgeousness. It outlasts CATHEDRAL and when it dries it's much better too. Who knew?

 

MIRCALLA, COUNTESS KARNSTEIN
limited editions
halloweenies
litterary vampires

(Carmilla, Sheridan LeFanu)
Sometimes after an hour of apathy, my strange and beautiful companion would take my hand and hold it with a fond pressure, renewed again and again; blushing softly, gazing in my face with languid and burning eyes, and breathing so fast that her dress rose and fell with the tumultuous respiration. It was like the ardor of a lover; it embarrassed me; it was hateful and yet over-powering; and with gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips traveled along my cheek in kisses; and she would whisper, almost in sobs, "You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever." Then she had thrown herself back in her chair, with her small hands over her eyes, leaving me trembling.

Languid, melancholy fire: red musk, purple orchid, frankincense, smoky vanilla, Styrian herbs, peru balsam, tonka, Zanzibar clove, and patchouli.

In the very beginning I get the smooth red musk I love so much, but the next second an intense floral rises it's purple head and snarles at me. It stays and stays and stays until almost half an hour later when the rest of the goodies are allowed to come out and play. She's not at all bad when they do though.

I'm unsure about her although she has my beloved red musk. She's in THE GRINDHOUSE and THE WITCH QUEEN category, overwhelming and a little suffocating. A little too floral i'm afraid and i'm amazed a little orchid can do all that. But it might change with time.

MLLE. LILITH, FORTUNE TELLER
limited edition
forum only

Coconut and a bit of sugar with pomegranate, pink musk, orange blossom, cypress, honey myrtle, and incense.

The first time I tried this I was thinking man, this is the baby version of mme moriarty. The second time it's not the first thing I think. I get the red musk at once but it morphs into blue musk (yeah I know it's pink musk we're dealing with), and it reminds me a little of SUGAR MOON. It's pretty good though, allthough not when I have a headache. Worthy of a roller bottle.

 

MME MORIARTY; MISFORTUNE TELLER
carnaval diabolique 

A colorless woman bursts from an elaborate gold and ruby tent and faints dead at your feet. Soft laughter emits from the dark entrance to the tent, and the scent of musk, black fruits and incense touches your senses. Looking up, you see that the sign hovering above the unconscious woman is adorned with images of the Major Arcana's Tower and reads:

Mme. Moriarty, Misfortune Teller.
No fate too grim, no future too bleak.

A tiny woman with floor-length black dreadlocks walks out of the tent, stepping over the prone body. She is clothed in deep red wrappings, and is bedecked in golden ornaments bearing alchemical symbols and charms representing eternity, chance, and wisdom. She pauses, looks you over slowly, and then flicks a tarot card at your feet.

Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum. 

Oh this is a future favorite, I can already tell. It's sultry, smoky, spicy and sexy, and the red musk is a little sharp here but I bet it's gonna be amazing with a little bit of age even if it's good now.

There's another sharpness that is very strange and it stays and stays. I know it's the patchouli but it gives me visions. It's like burnt wood and suddenly it changes into sweetened turpentine, and then it changes again and I get a fruity side of it. I had this image/feeling/vision, kind of a calmness you can't trust, something like an unsettling shadow in the corner of a cozy room. I love it to pieces.

 

MVJBA

MISCATONIC VALLEY JUNIOR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION SPRING TRAINING '08 PERFUME OIL

Since 1928, Mother Shub and her brood have been providing the snack shacks of the Miskatonic Valley with a bevy of otherworldly sweets and baked treats. This year, Mother Shub has created a promotional perfume oil that embodies the scent of her famous Peanut Brittle Caramel Popcorn. Iä! Shub-Niggurath! Thank you for an eon of community support!

Very nice! It's a little like MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY but without the coffee and the booze. It's sweet and foody and it didn't go stale on me like some foody scents can do. Loving the caramel!

MVJBA PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Buttermilk pancakes with boysenberry syrup and goat butter!  

Oh yeah, pancake. When it starts to dry I get boysenberry and after a while it dries down to maple syrup and stays there for a long time. I like.
 

MVJBA SUMMER SUMMONING SPECTACULAR
Scorched baseball fields, black glots of incense, spilled coffee, and pancake residue.

This one is pancakes in the bottle, and the scorched baseball fields in the middle and in the end it dries down to maple syrup. It's not bad but the pancake one is better. At second try i'm liking it even more. The grass part is keeping the sweetness in check and adds a quality I can't put my finger on but it's gorgeous. Man am I glad I got this one.