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 was introduced to Sunday Coven Haus through a group that the owner is a part of. Everyone spoke so highly of the house that I decided to put together a small "discovery set" of my own. The owner was super nice and even added an extra scent that I had been on the fence about.

For a little context before we get into the reviews, I love gourmands and atmospherics. My dislikes are sour milk, heady florals, labdanum, myrrh, some patchouli and vetiver, and barnyard animalistic scents. With all of that out of the way, here’s how everything worked out for me.

Crushed Spell (crushed watermelon ice, cucumber rind, glowing pink syrup, freezer air, and sunlit nostalgia)

I was expecting almost candied watermelon paired with watery, crisp cucumber, but this is quite unpleasant on my skin. Instead, there is something here that reminds me of an old floor that has been polished over and over again, until layers of wax and cleaner have built up into a musty film. Fragrance is incredibly subjective, and I try not to speak ill of people's creations; still, I cannot lie about how much this just does not work for me. 1/5 — Whomp, Whomp :(

Carousel of Pastel Dreams (Lemon custard filling, pink cotton candy, vanilla buttercream, spun sugar, candied citrus, painted carousel horses, sugared wood, and pastel carnival air.)

Lemon, cotton candy, and spun sugar seem like a perfect combination for creating a pink lemonade scent. The top is a heaping pile of candied lemons, followed by continual wafts of sugar crystals and vanilla. The composition is much simpler than I expected. Everything seems assembled rather than blended, with the lemons sitting apart from the other ingredients instead of coming together as one. Overall, it stays mostly flat before dissipating quickly. 2/5 — We simply need more, more, MORE...

Cake on the Ceiling (caramelized pineapple, warm pineapple glaze, maraschino cherry, brown sugar, melted butter, yellow butter cake, toasted crust, soft cedar, velvet cashmere)

It opens with that velvet cashmere, soft and plush to the touch, but with a surprising density. Underneath that weight is a pineapple upside-down cake. The yellow sponge has those browned edges created where the batter meets the hot pan. A layer of pineapple rings is coated in sticky, cooked-down brown sugar and butter. Maraschino cherries are nestled in the rings, but I only get a hint of that signature syrupy, almost candy-like sweetness; leaving me begging for more. I really wish the progression stopped here.

The cedar in the drydown feels so out of place against everything that came before it. That woody core cuts straight through and trashes all that gourmand goodness for me. Eventually, the cake disappears completely, leaving behind just a mellower cedar reminiscent of men's aftershave. Slightly masculine, yes, but there's nothing wrong with the cedar itself. It just doesn't belong anywhere near my pineapple upside-down cake. This is one of the longer-lasting fragrances in the set. 3/5 — Beautiful gourmand opening with a divisive turn

Prison World Preserve (dark berry preserves, buttery pastry accord, maple sugar, warm vanilla, cashmere woods, morning sunlight)

The initial spray is a heavy hit of alcohol, but it quickly burns off, revealing fizzy berries with their little green leaves still attached. The berries are firm, maybe twenty-four hours away from becoming fully ripe and juicy. While they're still front and center, the "morning sunlight" joins them, casting a bright, flattering glow,much like a ring light. But those berries? Oh, they are INSANE! MMMMMM, that sweet, effervescent green berry note is so addictive; easily the best part of the scent for me.

In the middle comes a cooling, buttery puff pastry, but then everything suddenly takes a nose dive, landing with a soft thud. At first, it's hard to tell where this epic fail occurs. Is it the pastry dough browned a wee bit too long in the oven or the cashmere woods? A greenness tiptoes in, definitely tipping the scale toward the cashmere woods. After such a yummy, vivid opening, the woods at the end deflate it all. I only wish those addictive berries had lasted longer, especially since the whole thing fades so quickly. 4/5 — Addictive opening with a disappointing finale

You Can Do It Brucie (chocolate fudge frosting, dark chocolate cake, cocoa powder, brownie edges, dusty auditorium air, stage curtains)

Alcohol again, but underneath is a bucking bronco of powdered Dutch chocolate. Chocolate City, y'all! Choc, choc-late city! Your favorite brownies, barely cooled on the rack before you're shoveling them in. Crumbs from those slightly chewy, almost crunchy edges collect at the corners of your mouth. A palmful of chocolate fudge frosting, scooped straight from the container with your fingers and stuffed into your pie hole. Hershey's syrup by the gallons, pouring down your gullet until you almost choke. A warm chocolate lava cake split down the middle, its molten center oozing across your plate as you lick it clean like a kid who refuses to waste a single drop.

UGGGHHHH, then comes the smell of air vents with a bit of gray dust collecting on them. That stale air lingers just long enough for something damp and musty to creep in. Did someone order a wet dog? Whew! At least that unpleasant canine doesn't stick around. Thirty minutes later, all that earlier chocolate extravaganza has faded into something rather ordinary: a chocolate chip you smushed onto the counter and forgot about until the next day. Nothing offensive, but a far cry from that spectacular opening. Longevity is about the same as Cake on the Ceiling. 4.5/5 — A banger of an opening that would make a slice of Bruce proud. Double thumbs down for snatching my Willy Wonka dream away with that ending.

Final Thoughts: Overall, Sunday Coven Haus was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. The strong burst of alcohol at the beginning of a few of these had my nose twitching, although thankfully it burned off quickly. When those gourmand notes hit, they HIT! Unfortunately, some of the combinations took turns I wasn't expecting, and not necessarily for the better. As much as I enjoyed certain parts of these scents, the awkward pairings ultimately made them a no-go for me. I'd love to hear how these worked for others, especially if you had a completely different experience!

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Please share your favorite indies that you are using today! Examples of stuff we'd love to hear about:

• Perfume!
• Makeup
• Clothes
• Jewelry
• Bath and Body (lotion, soap, shampoo, bath salts, etc.)
• Nail polish
• Art/music

And feel free to leave mini-reviews, include photos or links to whatever you're using. We'd love to know your thoughts and see the products too!

&gt;>> For an additional challenge, add a color/haiku/inspirational photo. <<<

This automod post will repeat daily.

For conversations unrelated to indie perfume! Free Chat repeats on Tuesdays and Thursdays.