#devil's millhopper

[keithcurrypochy]

Fern Framed Falls on the side of a sinkhole.

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, FL

[indigo-a-creeping]

I went to Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park.  It’s a massive sinkhole with some pretty unique plant and animal life at the bottom.  Very damp and dripping.  Not as slippery as I feared, though.

[perfumewitchery]

Devil’s Millhopper - Solstice Scents review

Devil’s Millhopper is a woody floral offered as part of Solstice Scents’ 2017 Spring Collection. I got really lucky with this perfume, as after it was sold out, a friend of mine messaged Solstice Scents to ask about re-stocks. They didn’t end up re-stocking, but they did have a single rollerball remaining, which my friend and I ended up splitting. I am SO glad that we did, because this perfume is beautiful! It is clean, leafy and interesting, and has quickly become a favourite that lives in my handbag.

This perfume opens with the smell of a florist - crisp, fresh greenery coupled with delicate florals which are somewhat reminiscent of lilacs. As a lover of woody florals, this is right in my wheelhouse, but it’s definitely more green than it is flowery. The oakmoss is present, adding a pepperiness to the greenery, but it doesn’t overwhelm and overall the impression is very balanced. The florals smell ‘cleaner’ than lilacs upon the drydown, and I wouldn’t have been able to guess what they are, but the notes list tells me that what I am smelling is actually heather. Other notes - delicate woods and fern - are definitely present, but not offering any characteristic mustiness or sharpness which would corrupt the realistic nature of this blend. It isn’t as sharp on the greens as, say, NAVA’s Cemetery Ivy or BPAL’s A Man In Armour Is Confronted By A Ghost And A Skeleton. This is certainly a delicate fragrance, offering a realistic impression of greenery coupled with clean florals. It’s unique, but very wearable.

My sole complaint about this fragrance is the longevity. It doesn’t seem to stick around for more than a few hours, after which it morphs into a sort of clean linen scent (actually, a very nice one, but somewhat unexpected after the fresh green impression that dominates over the rest of the perfume’s lifetime). I think that lower longevity is somewhat to be expected for these more delicate fragrances, but the effect during that tail end is very unusual. I suspect it might be the heather causing it, and the ‘morphing’ suggests to me that it might be my skin chemistry rather than an intended effect. I don’t find reapplication to be problematic, as Solstice Scents offers their 5 ml oil-based perfumes in handsome cobalt rollerballs.

Overall, this is a pretty, green and slightly botanical floral. The impression of a florist is quite right - it’s a realistic representation of fresh greenery coupled with clean florals. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys realistic green scents, or anyone looking for a refreshing spring/summer scent. It might also work well layered, to temper or add depth to more rich and powerful florals.

Notes: Heather, Oakmoss, Fern & Delicate Wood Notes

[keithcurrypochy]

Florida isn’t all flat, there are a number of impressive sinkholes. 

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

A giant sinkhole that formed thousands of years ago. The water here slowly sinks into the Floridian Aquifer (some of the water here will make it to the many springs in Florida). 

The sinkhole buffers against temperature changes, staying cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, allowing for some really amazing ferns to grow along the walls of the sinkhole. 

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Bottom of a Sinkhole

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

A very colorful Crawdad seen at the bottom of Devil’s Millhopper. 

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, FL