Lupercalia

This perfume is the perfect understated sexy scent. Sexy in a warm, dark, subtle, cuddly way, that lingers close to your skin. I held off trying this for a while, because I wondered if all the leather, tobacco and black musk would make it a little aftershave-y, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The mild hint of honey and roses, and an incisive little tangerine note, lift and soften it, and far from being harsh, it is rounded, inviting and sweet, in the most balanced and adult of ways. I can't stop nuzzling my wrist. I can't wait for other people to nuzzle my neck. I don't personally detect an incense note, which shows how differently these scents can play with our individual body chemistry; but I do get this delicious darkness from the black musk, the tea and the leather. This one will be FSing before I even finish the sample, I think.

This is SUCH a gorgeous scent. The black tea came through very strongly for me but in a really fragrant way, not dry and tannic, with the honey and orange lending enough sweetness to be delicious without making it a SWEET-sweet scent. There's an incense-y vibe, but not church incense - more like the stuff a Russian grandmother would burn in a clay saucer to ward off evil spirits. That's how this perfume made me feel - like a grandchild being told fairy tales in the cosy glow of the candle light to keep from being afraid of the dark. I keep opening up my sample bottle and sniffing at it - will definitely be FSing at some point.