I have actually used up both of my samples of this - a testament to how much I enjoy this perfume - thus I will be reviewing Haus of Gloi’s Satyr from memory. This not-quite-gourmand showcases a beautiful vanilla, but true to its description, it has a few fiendish tricks up its sleeve.
Today, I am wearing Alkemia’s Antares. A little while ago, I asked for ‘sophisticated’ scent recommendations on my favourite online haunt, /r/indiemakeupandmore. Antares was a popular recommendation which I was fortunate enough to pick up during the Sunday swaps.
Today, I am wearing BPAL Cave of Treasures. When I purchased a decant of this, I expected a warm, thick, golden scent. Something spicy, sweet and creamy, grounded by the amber and with a hint of lilac to keep it from leaning too gourmand. That was...not what I got. However, what it DOES smell like is possibly even better. My apologies, because I'm about to wax lyrical about this scent.
Cave of Treasures is part of the 2017 limited edition Lupercalia collection by Black Phoenix Alchemy lab, and this particular scent was inspired by shunga (Japanese erotic art). The art accompanying this fragrance is delightful, and reflects the Lab’s eccentricities [NSFW]:
This scent evokes images of spring flowers and pastel-coloured Easter egg hunts in the park. This is predominantly a creamy lilac scent, grounded a little by the amber with the honey peeking through later in the dry-down. The honey is not powdery or cloying, but you can tell it's there as the sweetness is not purely 'sugary' - it's a little more organic and complex. I hope that makes sense. All in all, the predominant notes for me are lilac and to a lesser extent, honey, with an overall creamy 'feel'. Although the oil is a deep red colour, I don't notice any cardamom/spiciness on my skin. That's okay, though, because the overall impression is a sophisticated, fresh and slightly creamy floral which I am really smitten by.
It's also STRONG - often I don't tend to notice perfume oils projecting from my skin for more than, say, half an hour. This one lasts, and my partner actually noticed it on me before I mentioned it. After putting it on before bed last night, it still lingered on my skin in the morning. A+ for both throw and longevity, but I'll have to see how it wears after I walk to uni. That's usually where perfume goes to die.
It reminds me of a spring walk in Regent’s Park. I might even go there today. Thanks, BPAL.
Bonus points for this one, because my boyfriend really likes it too (he usually gives perfumes a 5 or 6/10, but this one got an 8.5/10)! He said it smells like fresh daffodils, flowers, Easter and a little bit of soil ("not, like, dirt, but there's something fresh about it"). ...there are no earth notes to be found in this perfume as far as I know, but I do think the overall impression of being sweet and fresh does lend itself to imagery of a garden. I love it.
Notes: Sweet amber and golden honey, cream accord, blue lilac, and a drop of cardamom