Do you have a pile of samples that need testing or retesting? Of course you do! Pick one and tell us all about it. I'll start:

Morari - Snowy Evergreen

(Crisp winter air and snow juxtapose with damp, green fir needles)

This was a free sample with a purchase of Morari's Chai Ultime, which I may or may not be allergic to now but that's for another post. Not a sample I would pick but I theoretically love evergreen notes as long as they're on the sweeter side.

This...smelled like pine scented cleaner. It's super strong, there's nothing delicate or cold or snowy about it to my nose. My search for a green Christmas scent continues. Insta scrub for me.

Rating: 0/5 Christmas Trees

I am constantly asking for recs on here, and you guys constantly deliver! I wanted to highlight a perfume that was recommended to me and is now my #1 fragrance this fall:

Poesie - Nessie

(black tea, buttery Scottish shortbread biscuits, lakewater, highland heather, peat smoke)

You’re snugly ensconced in a charming bed and breakfast, taking a break from exploring the highland hills and warming up under a cozy throw with a big cup of steaming black tea and a plate of freshly baked, buttery shortbread biscuits, hand delivered to your window seat overlooking the loch. The thick old window panes are tapped by the light rain that’s been misting down all morning, blanketing the last vestiges of the heather and turning the landscape into a watercolor. In the distance, the lake is the color of gunmetal, darkly reflecting the hazy sky. Its cold deep waters are tranquil today, retaining their mysteries and maybe a mysterious resident. 

Love, love, love. If you like black tea you've got to give this one a try. I'm looking for another couple fall scents to try so I'll be scrolling through this sub.

What are some of your faves you've discovered on here?

Fall releases are upon us, and we're all looking for fun scents to spend our money on. Let's take a second to discuss perfume houses that are reliable and kind in addition to having great fragrances! Here are some I'd like to give a shout in no particular order:

Sorce

Why they're great: Anti FOMO practices, gracefully dealt with the upheaval of dramatically upscaling the business, actively applies customer feedback, always kind in emails.

Cocoapink

Why they're great: honors the TAT, responds SUPER quickly to email and are so nice in communications

Little Book Eater

Why they're great: ships quickly, never issues with broken bottles/leaking rollerballs.

What other houses are doing a great job?

Nessie

(black tea, buttery Scottish shortbread biscuits, lakewater, highland heather, peat smoke)

Oh WOW this is incredible. Black tea sweetened with the shortbread cookies (buttery but not too buttery) paired with smoke and an herbal, watery scent. My description isn't doing it justice. Look at what Poesie has to say about it:

You’re snugly ensconced in a charming bed and breakfast, taking a break from exploring the highland hills and warming up under a cozy throw with a big cup of steaming black tea and a plate of freshly baked, buttery shortbread biscuits, hand delivered to your window seat overlooking the loch. The thick old window panes are tapped by the light rain that’s been misting down all morning, blanketing the last vestiges of the heather and turning the landscape into a watercolor. In the distance, the lake is the color of gunmetal, darkly reflecting the hazy sky. Its cold deep waters are tranquil today, retaining their mysteries and maybe a mysterious resident. 

Yeah, it's perfect. It absolutely transported me to the description above but it's so wearable. You've got to try this if you like black tea. I bought two more full sizes to last me through the season.

Rating: 11/10 Loch Ness Monsters

Solar Witch

(Coffee, crisp autumn air, apple cider donuts, sunflowers, warm sandalwood, a faint whisper of hearth fire)

Oooooh this is warm! The coffee is right in front of you and so are the sunflowers, sandalwood, and hearth fire. They all work together to create a comfy cozy scent you almost sink into. I don't get any autumn air or apple cider donuts, but I'm loving the hearth fire. I need to try more fire scents.

I'm going to get a full size next month I think when it's actually cold outside.

Ratings: 8/10 Autumn Coffees

Soft

(basmati rice soliflore)

This was my free sample. I wouldn't have picked it out myself because I'm not a rice fan, but it's good if you like rice! It's fluffy, steamy, fragrant basmati rice.

Rating: 5/10 grains of rice

What are the notes that make you stop when you're scrolling through a master scent list? Accords that make you want to sample a perfume? Here are some of mine:

• Gourmand vanillas
• Roses
• Juniper Berries
• Orange
• Chai
• Apple
• Purple Florals
• Books
• Ivy

What are yours?

Fall Festival (Apple Cider, Cinnamon, Fried Donut, Sugar, Citrus, Hay):

This is a quintessential fall scent. I mostly get apple cider and hay. It reminds me of a farm I visited last year that had apple cider, apple donuts and plenty of hay bales around. There's not really any doughiness from the fried donut, which suits me fine because I don't tend to like pastry notes. You know those crisp autumn days when the sky is bright blue and cloudless? It smells like that.

Rating: 8/10 Hay Bales; will be full sizing.

Apple Harvest (Sugared Macintosh, Cider, Cinnamon, Clove, Cream Cheese Frosting, Goji Berry, Ginger Root)

First impression: woah, cinnamon. It's like a juicy apple that's been absolutely drenched in cinnamon powder. And you know what? I can live with that. I don't know if I'll full size but this 3 ml sample is definitely getting used up.

Rating: 6/10 apples

Sleepy Hollow: (Pumpkin, Ginger, Cinnamon, Mahogany, Amber, Sandalwood)

Opens with a pumpkin candle scent and dries down to mostly sandalwood, which I find somewhat unpleasant. I knew this might not be for me because LBE describes this as "slightly masculine" and I don't tend to go for stereotypically masculine scents. But the pumpkin is so artifical smelling to my nose. I'm going to give this one to friends.

Rating: 3/10 Headless Horsemen

What perfumes are you anxiously awaiting? I've got one favorite from last year and then some samples I'm excited for:

From Morari:

Chai Ultime (Chai Spices (Cardamom, Ginger, Nutmeg, Black Pepper, Allspice, Clove, Cinnamon Bark), Vanilla, Brown Sugar, Milky Foam)

This is my favorite chai fragrance and I wore it alllllll the time last fall, so naturally I got a travel size!

From Little Book Eater:

Apple Harvest (Sugared Macintosh, Cider, Cinnamon, Clove, Cream Cheese Frosting, Goji Berry, Ginger Root)

This fragrance is inspired by the glorious season of autumn harvest. Made with the scents of sugared macintosh apples, delicious apple cider, cinnamon, clove, cream cheese frosting, tangy goji berry, and ginger root. Spicy, warm, and fruity. The perfect combination for bright days going apple picking, and warm nights baking apple pie!

Fall Festival (Apple Cider, Cinnamon, Fried Donut, Sugar, Citrus, Hay)

This fragrance is inspired by the delight of fall festivals. Made with the scents of apple cider, cinnamon, fried donut, sugar, citrus, and a hint of hay. Sweet, spicy, and earthy. The perfect combination for Jack'o'lantern displays, hayrides, apple-flavored everything, and spending time with family and friends!

Sleepy Hollow (Pumpkin, Ginger, Cinnamon, Mahogany, Amber, Sandalwood)

This fragrance is inspired by the classic gothic horror story by Washington Irving. Made with the scents of pumpkin, ginger, cinnamon, mahogany, amber, and sandalwood. Earthy, a little bit sweet, and masculine. A rich and mysterious fall scent. The perfect combination for small town drama and being haunted by a headless horseman!

From Poesie:

Solar Witch (Coffee, crisp autumn air, apple cider donuts, sunflowers, warm sandalwood, a faint whisper of hearth fire)

Autumn has arrived, and it’s in this bottle. This is golden hour sunshine on a field of sunflowers next to a Fall Festival where the scent of apple cider donuts and coffee invites you to embrace the changing of the seasons. The air is crisp, and a distant fireplace is sending up its first wisps of smoke.

Nessie (black tea, buttery Scottish shortbread biscuits, lakewater, highland heather, peat smoke)

You’re snugly ensconced in a charming bed and breakfast, taking a break from exploring the highland hills and warming up under a cozy throw with a big cup of steaming black tea and a plate of freshly baked, buttery shortbread biscuits, hand delivered to your window seat overlooking the loch. The thick old window panes are tapped by the light rain that’s been misting down all morning, blanketing the last vestiges of the heather and turning the landscape into a watercolor. In the distance, the lake is the color of gunmetal, darkly reflecting the hazy sky. Its cold deep waters are tranquil today, retaining their mysteries and maybe a mysterious resident. 

What about you? Share below!

It can be a new sample or one you just haven’t sniffed in awhile. I’ll go first:

Cocoapink - Fairytale

(Bulgarian roses, fresh juicy apples and vine ripen strawberries sweetened up with sugar cookies topped with candied cherries and sprinkled with confectioners` sugar)

Me? Loving an ultra sweet fleurmand? Is it a day that ends in y???

This is really lovely. The candied cherries really shine and I love cherries. I’m getting some apple-y vibes and the rose is in the background. No clue where the sugar cookies are but it’s definitely SWEET.

Rating: 8/10 cherries 🍒

I am anxiously awaiting 14 perfectly fine and inoffensive perfume samples in the mail. It got me thinking: why don't I try something weird soon? The uniqueness of indie perfume is a huge draw and I want to take advantage of it.

What, by your own definition, is the weirdest perfume in your collection? Why do you love it?

What are the notes that you see listed and just KNOW you will not be ordering? So far mine seem to be:

• Leather
• Liquor
• Patchouli

There's an intensity to all of them that I don't particularly love and then they ALWAYS overpower the other notes.

I'm in a little reading slump and I need something that's going to make me laugh so loud I disturb everyone around me. I want to look unhinged.

I loved She's a Lamb! if that helps