Kris1212

This one is weird. I have citrus/vanilla scents, citrus/tea scents, and have layered vanilla, tea, and citrus scents together, and this one is WEIRD. These are the three main notes in this fragrance, and yet somehow I have never smelled anything like it before. The beginning of this fragrance is a cacophony of all three climbing over each other, screaming for attention. It's...confusing. My nose is still confused.

That being said, it's a good weird. At least to me. This is definitely one you want to sample before you buy. And make sure that you sample it a few times and do a full wear. The first time I tried it, I really liked it and immediately bought a full bottle. I love citrus/vanillas and I enjoy a lot of tea scents. But then, for a year or two, something about it just did not appeal to me. Like I said, the notes are strange.

I just gave it another try last week, and I'm back to liking it, but still finding it a bit unsettling in the beginning of the wear. The notes seem to be competing for attention for an hour or so before they start to settle down. After that, I couldn't stop sniffing myself. I smelled like a woody orange creamsicle.

Like I said, definitely try a sample before splurging based on the notes. The scent is somehow both familiar and strange.

This one is interesting. It's definitely a warm, sweet boozy scent, but it has just a hint of brightness from the faint mint and ice accord notes. These subtle notes keeps it from being too heavy. However, they are only detectable briefly. Like 10 minutes briefly.

I do wish those two notes were more prominent and longer-lasting - I would love a bit more brightness to this scent. I think more mint and coolness would have made this one really special. Alas, we soldier on.

I have layered it a few times with Guerlain's Herba Fresca for more of a fresh minty pop. It's a good combo for those who like both sweet and fresh fragrances.

Saint Julep is not one of my regulars, but I'll pull it out occasionally in the warmer months when I'm craving a Baccarat-esque scent but don't want to be suffocated. Mind you - this is NOT a Baccarat dupe. To me, it has a certain resemblance but the actual notes do not smell like Baccarat itself. This is a good scent for gourmand-lovers in the warmer weather.

This one seriously grew on me. At first, I found the sharp green notes of the opening too much. Philosykos is one of my favorite fragrances and is a lot smoother. This one felt aggressive.

Upon second (and third and fourth, etc.) try, I began to appreciate Debaser for its own merits. This isn't Philosykos - this is Philosykos' edgy cousin. It takes all of the elements of Philosykos- the greenness, the fig and coconut, the wood - and kicks them all up a notch.

This scent is NOT linear. It opens with sharp green notes, kicking you awake. As it settles in for an hour or so, the green notes fade and the creamy, coconutty fig takes hold. These notes are the true heart of the fragrance, and continue to linger on as the base notes of light woods and moss begin to shine.

Unlike Philosykos, this is not an everyday scent for me. It's for when I want my everyday scent to be intensified and a bit more rebellious. Debaser has absolutely earned a place in my rotation! However, definitely try before you buy - this scent will not be for everyone.

I generally don't gravitate towards floral fragrances. They tend to be too heavy for my nose; too cloying, too overwhelming.

That being said, I absolutely love this fragrance!! It is a heady floral that somehow still has a airy/watery feel to it.

At first spray, you get a delightfully airy mix of lotus and watermelon. It is fresh and watery. Within ten minutes, the jasmine and lily start to enter the scene, and the florals really start to bloom. Light musk and pepper dance in the background, adding depth and a touch of spice to balance the whole blend out.

This one is stunning. And it last FOREVER. I have both the EDP and the Parfum. Both have the sillage and longevity of the gods. Seriously - the lasting power on BOTH of these is no joke.

The EDP has a lighter, more watery feel. The lotus and watermelon pop a lot more in the EDP.

The Parfum is the concentrated version. It is a lot heavier on the jasmine and lily, but still retains the watery feel, while perhaps less airy. I save this one for hot summer nights out.

Guiding Water (both the EDP and the Parfum) has found a permanent spot in my spring/summer rotation. It envokes the vision of a naiad sunning herself on the shores of a still, lotus-filled lake.