Alchimia Apothecary, an indie perfume company, has a ton of fragrances to choose from. What makes the company unique is its Choose Your Own Adventure option (a.k.a. make your own fragrance with up to five notes). Almost every perfume note you can think of is listed by category(green, gourmand, oriental, oceanic, etc.). I want to try this in the future when I trust myself to think of a good concoction. They even offer samples of single notes (yay!).
I had to stay within budget and only try a few samplers. Luckily, they have some reasonably-priced sampler sets. Here are the ones I ordered:
Ladies of the Sky (inspired by Firefly):
Layer Cake
Ambassador
Apple Bits
Warrior Slink
5 Sampler Set:
..And Candy Bar Dreams
Dangerous Dream
Freezia
Thunderstorm
Tsunami
Look at these cute, teeny-tiny bottles! A 1-liter bottle was used for scale.
Overall impressions: The perfumes all smelled good from the bottle (with the exception of Dangerous Dreams, but I think that was a personal preference issue). They were high-quality (did not smell cheap or plastic-y). The fragrances were not too strong (preventing headaches unless I inhaled too deeply), but they lasted for hours. They washed off after scrubbing once or twice, which works for me because I like to wear different scents everyday.
Individual Fragrance Reviews:
Disclaimer: I do not have a "refined" nose, so my scent perceptions may be "off "compared to the actual notes, and I am biased toward notes that complement my skin chemistry.
...And Candy Bar Dreams
Site Description: "Thick ribbons of chocolate and black ambrosia layer themselves onto sticky sweet and creamy chunks of coconut filling and crunchy bits of toasted almonds."
Cold Sniff: Almond Joy, but with dark chocolate and cherries. I love cherries. The cherry, chocolate, and coconut notes are most prominent in that order. I think I want to eat whatever black ambrosia is.
On My Skin: The scent is sweet, and the cherry becomes less noticeable. As it dries down, it becomes more earthy and bitter, like real dark chocolate. A little goes a long way. It's rich and decadent, and I prefer it to a Demeter Chocolate-Covered Cherries fragrance I once had.
12/19/14 Edit: Last time I wore this, I showered right before and used a hair conditioner whose scent I hated (Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle for Color). Because my hair is long-ish, my skin was a bit more "bitter"-smelling than I liked. Using ...And Candy Bar Dreams again after showering with a pleasant, delicately scented conditioner (Aussie Smooth), it basically makes me smell like a chocolate shop with more emphasis on almond and cherry. Sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. Perfect.
Dangerous Dream
Site Description: "This is filled with juicy peaches, creamy tres les cake, brown sugar, and crunchy cinnamon filled crumbles."
Cold Sniff: This smelled like a Jelly Belly jellybean/Dum Dum Buttered Popcorn lollipop to me. I don't know why, but it was the only scent I ordered (out of nine) that turned me off.. I was really excited for this scent, so I gave it a chance to go on my skin.
On My Skin: Nope. It just didn't smell good on me, either. Too bad.. I'm going to give this to a friend. I think people who like sweet buttered popcorn fragrances will like this though.
Thunderstorm
Layer Cake
Site Description: "This is a combination of strawberries, lichee, dragon fruit, mangoes and other sweet fruit drizzled over a thick slice of birthday cake and topped with a fresh dollop of whipped cream."
Cold Sniff: Tart (think fresh strawberries-tart) fruit and cream. The fruit smelled like strawberry with a hint of more tropical fruits.
On My Skin: I suspected I would like this scent, and I do like it a lot. It is a more tart, cake-y, tropical version of Cake Beauty's be Delectable line in Strawberries and Cream. As it settles, the cake and whipped cream notes are more prominent. I like this better because it is more complex and has the cake component. Think of sponge cake fruit cups with whipped cream, strawberries, and other fruits. Yum.
Warrior Slink
Site Description: "Oozing with thick ribbons of benzoin and labdanum, sweet notes of chocolate wrapped in spicy worn leather bubble to the surface. Combined with black agar, there are hints of what can only be described as pure animal musk."
Cold Sniff: I can definitely smell the chocolate and leather. The leather is a sexy leather scent, like the seat of a sports car. I am new to benzoin and labdanum, but they sound good. I'm not sure if this scent is going to be my style, but let's try it for funsies.
On My Skin: Strong. Manly, sexy, chocolate leather. I think the benzoin and labdanum are the notes adding a touch of sweetness to it. It would probably be better as a men's fragrance because it's so masculine and a tad too musky/sour on me when I breathe it in deeply, but it's not bad. I want to test this on a guy!
Final Grades
Yea:
Scents I want to try in the future:
A La Gory
Cherry Asphalt
CYOA 1: I kind of want to make a berry one (blueberry, mulberry, blackberry with a pie crust base?).
CYOA 3: Pure honey fragrance to mix with other fragrances.
Dangerous Dream
Site Description: "This is filled with juicy peaches, creamy tres les cake, brown sugar, and crunchy cinnamon filled crumbles."
Cold Sniff: This smelled like a Jelly Belly jellybean/Dum Dum Buttered Popcorn lollipop to me. I don't know why, but it was the only scent I ordered (out of nine) that turned me off.. I was really excited for this scent, so I gave it a chance to go on my skin.
On My Skin: Nope. It just didn't smell good on me, either. Too bad.. I'm going to give this to a friend. I think people who like sweet buttered popcorn fragrances will like this though.
Freezia
Site Description: "Fierce and powerful combination of frigid and floral. Water flows all around the tough shards of ice and pears in this blend to break away and reveal the lovely delicate notes of freesia hidden just below the surface."
Cold Sniff: Icy, light, fruity-fresh. This seems like a subtle, wearable scent for all seasons.
On My Skin: I definitely smell the pear, but it comes out as more of a honeydew melon scent (yum) with a floral, soapy background. This is a positive for me because I happen to love artificial melon-flavored Ramune (a Japanese soda).
Thunderstorm
Site Description: "Standing at the edge of the field you can feel the heavy rains pouring down all around you. You can feel yourself slightly sinking into the earth as mud squishes between your toes. In the distance you can see the lightening. You can hear the piercing cry and sharp snaps of the tree a ways ahead of you when it buckles under the pressures of nature right before the thunderous roars overwhelm it when they meet. This is not the smell of the rain. This is the smell of the thunder."
Cold Sniff: With the amazing description, I had to buy this! Any scent that reminds me of changes in the air fascinates me. If I don't hold the bottle directly under my nose and add a few inches of space, it smells incredibly realistic. Like actually being outside when it's raining. I would love to diffuse this stuff in a room and meditate on a day with bad weather. The smell and experience of rain can be comforting to me, so I was happy that this "captured" that type of smell.
On My Skin: Fresh grass, mud, and opening heavens. Amazing fragrance technology plus a lingering clean/fresh smell. Yay.
Tsunami
Site Description: "Seaweed and driftwood filled ocean water crash to the earth and swell with sea salt filled air."
Cold Sniff: There was a definite oceanic smell, and the driftwood was noticeable. It was fresh and unique: less sweet than your typical Suave Ocean Breeze-type of smell. I love the smell of the ocean and driftwood, so I was excited for this!
On My Skin: This scent becomes even better when applied to the wrist! I can smell salty water, clean seaweed notes, and a stronger driftwood note. I would wear this whenever I miss going to the beach or just want to smell fresh. It also does not clash when tropical-scented lotions are applied on nearby skin (I use Sun Bum Cool Down Lotion as a hand lotion, and they blended well). As time passes, it fades to a clean, gentler scent.
Ambassador
Site Description: "This scent is the combination of thick oud and Arabian Sandalwood, incense and the thick bubbling black tea she serves with delicate bergamot, honey and sweet hot cream."
Cold Sniff: Dark and heavy. I never smelled oud before, but I suspected the heaviness was due to that and the sandalwood/incense combination. The Earl Grey tea and honey are also apparent. My mom and I always said that Earl Grey smells great like a perfume, but doesn't taste as good (it's an acquired taste).
On My Skin: This is very strong; a little goes a long way. The wood and bergamot notes are almost overwhelming on me, but then it settles down and plays nice on my skin. It's not something I would wear everyday, but I like it. It has an exotic, regal feel.
Tsunami
Site Description: "Seaweed and driftwood filled ocean water crash to the earth and swell with sea salt filled air."
Cold Sniff: There was a definite oceanic smell, and the driftwood was noticeable. It was fresh and unique: less sweet than your typical Suave Ocean Breeze-type of smell. I love the smell of the ocean and driftwood, so I was excited for this!
On My Skin: This scent becomes even better when applied to the wrist! I can smell salty water, clean seaweed notes, and a stronger driftwood note. I would wear this whenever I miss going to the beach or just want to smell fresh. It also does not clash when tropical-scented lotions are applied on nearby skin (I use Sun Bum Cool Down Lotion as a hand lotion, and they blended well). As time passes, it fades to a clean, gentler scent.
Ambassador
Site Description: "This scent is the combination of thick oud and Arabian Sandalwood, incense and the thick bubbling black tea she serves with delicate bergamot, honey and sweet hot cream."
Cold Sniff: Dark and heavy. I never smelled oud before, but I suspected the heaviness was due to that and the sandalwood/incense combination. The Earl Grey tea and honey are also apparent. My mom and I always said that Earl Grey smells great like a perfume, but doesn't taste as good (it's an acquired taste).
On My Skin: This is very strong; a little goes a long way. The wood and bergamot notes are almost overwhelming on me, but then it settles down and plays nice on my skin. It's not something I would wear everyday, but I like it. It has an exotic, regal feel.
Apple Bits
Site Description: "Red ripe juicy apples mingle with the fruity crisp scent of green pomegranates, tropical wood, candied ginger and just a touch of ginseng. Rounding out this scent are spicy hints of fresh green herbs."
Cold Sniff: Freshly sliced apple. Seriously. Instead of your typical baked apple-cinnamon scent, this smells like a fresh apple. How did they do that?
On My Skin: Freshly sliced apple, candied apple, and a hint of spice. Then it dries down to mostly pomegranate. It's very fresh and herbal, but good for fall/winter. Pomegranate fans will eat this up.
Site Description: "Red ripe juicy apples mingle with the fruity crisp scent of green pomegranates, tropical wood, candied ginger and just a touch of ginseng. Rounding out this scent are spicy hints of fresh green herbs."
Cold Sniff: Freshly sliced apple. Seriously. Instead of your typical baked apple-cinnamon scent, this smells like a fresh apple. How did they do that?
On My Skin: Freshly sliced apple, candied apple, and a hint of spice. Then it dries down to mostly pomegranate. It's very fresh and herbal, but good for fall/winter. Pomegranate fans will eat this up.
Layer Cake
Site Description: "This is a combination of strawberries, lichee, dragon fruit, mangoes and other sweet fruit drizzled over a thick slice of birthday cake and topped with a fresh dollop of whipped cream."
Cold Sniff: Tart (think fresh strawberries-tart) fruit and cream. The fruit smelled like strawberry with a hint of more tropical fruits.
On My Skin: I suspected I would like this scent, and I do like it a lot. It is a more tart, cake-y, tropical version of Cake Beauty's be Delectable line in Strawberries and Cream. As it settles, the cake and whipped cream notes are more prominent. I like this better because it is more complex and has the cake component. Think of sponge cake fruit cups with whipped cream, strawberries, and other fruits. Yum.
Warrior Slink
Site Description: "Oozing with thick ribbons of benzoin and labdanum, sweet notes of chocolate wrapped in spicy worn leather bubble to the surface. Combined with black agar, there are hints of what can only be described as pure animal musk."
Cold Sniff: I can definitely smell the chocolate and leather. The leather is a sexy leather scent, like the seat of a sports car. I am new to benzoin and labdanum, but they sound good. I'm not sure if this scent is going to be my style, but let's try it for funsies.
On My Skin: Strong. Manly, sexy, chocolate leather. I think the benzoin and labdanum are the notes adding a touch of sweetness to it. It would probably be better as a men's fragrance because it's so masculine and a tad too musky/sour on me when I breathe it in deeply, but it's not bad. I want to test this on a guy!
Final Grades
Yea:
- Layer Cake (delicate intensity, tart fruity cake)
- ...And Candy Bar Dreams (strong intensity, decadent rich cherry-chocolate-coconut-almond)
- Tsunami (medium intensity, fresh ocean, seaweed and driftwood)
- Apple Bits (medium intensity, fresh Apple-pomegranate)
- Freezia (delicate intensity, freesia-pear melon soap)
- Thunderstorm (medium intensity, literally that in a bottle)
- Ambassador (strong intensity, tons of wood and bergamot)
- Warrior Slink (strong intensity, sexy masculine chocolate leather)
Nay:
- Dangerous Dream (boo)
Favorites:
- ...And Candy Bar Dreams
- Tsunami
- Layer Cake
- Apple Bits
- Freezia
- Thunderstorm
Scents I want to try in the future:
A La Gory
Cherry Asphalt
Jamocha
Jungle Juice
Hue Bris
Oasis
Jungle Juice
Hue Bris
Oasis
CYOA 1: I kind of want to make a berry one (blueberry, mulberry, blackberry with a pie crust base?).
CYOA 2: Maybe one that imitates the smell of winter/snow coming, if I didn't miss a similar pre-made blend on the site. Specifically, I would love to recreate the smell when you step outside your house on a bitter-cold, late November day and the world smells fresh and clean. Maybe the dying oak leaves and pine needles outside my house influence it? But that is for another time.
CYOA 3: Pure honey fragrance to mix with other fragrances.
Also, their perfume vial necklaces are the coolest things ever. They are made of pure sterling silver and include a full-size of your favorite fragrance oil. Beautiful fantasy-style necklaces and perfume are a dangerous combination for me.
Bottom Line: This company is so cool. I would have a blast going to one of their displays and sniffing EVERYTHING.
Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. What are your favorites from Alchimia Apothecary? Which scents are on your wish list?
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