#hes wearing armani stronger with you intensely I KNOW IT

[inmyheaddd]

guys he just went to the bathroom rn BUT HOLY FUCK HE JSUT CALLEDM ME GORGEOUS AND HE SAID HE LIKES MY SMILE AND HE PAID FOR OUR OVERPRICED MILKSHAKES HELP AND HOOKLY FUCKK WE WENT UP TO THR ROOFTOP AND HIS OUTFIT IS SO GOOD AND HE SMELELS SO GOOD AND SOMEBODY KILL ME

[chilapis]

As a result of being burdened by knowledge, and an indulgent inability to remain silent, I would like to discuss scent notes and perfumes that I associate with Childe in consideration of his nature and nurture. I’ll also likely be redoing the post in which I compared him to garnets (x) tomorrow; this is because that post was genuinely intended to be a skeleton and there are many details that were overlooked, both in regards to him and the stone itself, which feels like injustice twofold. Anywho, let’s begin.

For the purposes of this, I’ll first be tackling the elephant in the room. The official Tartaglia perfume, which was formulated by Primaniacs in collaboration with MiHoyo. I do not care for this perfume, I disagree with half of its the associations, and I will personally be disregarding it here onwards because I’m not legally prohibited from doing so.

It should be noted that aside from the “Tartaglia” name and face slapped onto this scent, it also mentions its association with the hydro element; I do not think it would be unreasonable to believe that this perfume can be seen to extend to the hydro element as a whole rather than be exclusive to him. This is the interpretation I choose to utilise.

I will however state my (reluctant) agreement with few of the associated notes mentioned. Namely, Tonka Beans; Bergamot and Orange flower (mentioned together as they will be tackled in one go); Cumin and Nutmeg, and Agarwood.

Tonka Beans make sense on several grounds; firstly, they’re actually one of the most common ingredients in masculine brews (see: Giorgio Armani Black Code; Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille; Givenchy Givenchy Play Intense). Tonka creates a beautiful and comforting warmth in the scent; it’s quite similar to vanilla, but much… smokier, one may say. You’ll notice that a lot of the ingredient I focus on will have much to do with warmth. Historically, the seeds would be dried and soaked in rum for a certain amount of time in order to extract the scent, though artificial substitutes exist to offer the same result now.

Bergamot and Orange Flower are both citrus notes, though the former offers a much stronger one in comparison to the citrusy-floral amalgam that the latter offers. The reason I agree with these is that citrus notes are seen as quite common in aquatic scents as they recall the freshness of the sea breeze (see: Armani Giorgio Acqua Di Gio; Royall Lyme of Bermuda Royall Yacht; Czech & Speake Ausonia).

Cumin and Nutmeg are both spices, so one can imagine that they lead to a warm, comforting, and, well, spicy, scent. Remember how I said only a short while ago that warmth will be a prominent focus of mine? Exactly. No matter where he travels to, no matter where he goes, I’m quite certain he’d like a scent that reminds him of home; considering perfume etiquette requires one to wear fragrance according to the weather and occasion, I imagine warmer scents will be much more reminiscent of the contrasting, overbearing cold conditions that his nation offers.

Agarwood (the wood of Gods) — often interchangeable with oud in the fragrance world, despite both different— is such a deliciously warm and spicy note as well; it can be a bit overwhelming for some if it is found to be too heavy in a scent (which is quite common and rather easy to manage) but it can provide such a delicious base if handled right.

With these justifications done, I will now begin to write the notes that I personally associate with him.

I simply cannot deny the association of musk; another one of the most common notes found in perfumes. It’s warm, it’s soft and heavenly, it’s delicious. It is often seen as bringing a more primal, instinctual, and almost animalistic mood to the fragrance. This comes as no surprise considering it was historically obtained from male musk deers’ glands, even if we are now able to enjoy this scent artificially as well due to modern development and discoveries.

Speaking of animal origins and perfumes, did you know that whale vomit was traditionally a rather popular ingredient in perfumes? Ambergris is a substance that comes from the digestive system of sperm whales; it smells quite foul when fresh, as one would reasonably expect. It smells like faeces, actually. Again, as one would reasonably expect. However, it… becomes pleasant after drying down? Warm, musky. Ambrein is then extracted from the ambergris to be used in brews; rather, it is the quantity of of this alcohol that dictates the quality of the ambergris. It is still used, however due to issues with both cost and access it has been replaced with a synthetic counterpart for the most part, with notable exceptions. It also has a history of being used an aphrodisiac? But so has musk, so, such usage is quite common with animal-origin ingredients and notes, but I digress. It was just a fact I find somewhat curious.

Leather is a big one as well. Do I have much explanation for this? No. Leather scents can come in a wide variety, from smooth, cozy, suave and sensual, to rough, primal, smoky, and beastly. It mostly depends on what ingredients are being used and which notes are being aimed to replicate; the fragrance house of Memo, Paris is extraordinary at replicating different types of leather scents; they’re arguably my favourite when it comes to scents, actually. But either way, there is a kick to it; a spicy, warm, and intense presence that you cannot deny.

I would like to give special mention to saffron, tobacco, rum, gin, bourbon, amber (especially amber), vanilla, cardamom and other spices for bringing a similar warmth and comfort to their scents that I’m absolutely certain would suit him very well. Also vetiver, because it brings a woody delight to any fragrance it embraces.

Now comes the discussion of perfumes; arguably what I’m most excited for and the main reason that I wished to write this.

First off the list is Ocean Leather, by Memo, Paris.

Now, the official site claims it to comprise of Vetiver, Nutmeg, Cedar, Mandarin oil, Sage, and a leather accord. It also has basil and elemi, so I’m certain you can imagine how all of this together with the mandarin oil would offer you a truly citrusy, aquatic scent, combined the comfort of leather, nutmeg, vetiver and cedar. This, along with the gorgeous whale artwork, makes this almost perfect for him. Almost.

This is the only one in the list that I haven’t smelt myself (because somehow, much to my dismay, no stores seem to be carrying it) however, I’ve heard a lot of people review it to be more of a… clean scent? Which I feel doesn’t suit Ajax at all.

For the record, fragrances are often divided as being either clean scents, or dirty scents. Clean scents are those that are not overwhelming, these are scents containing light, refreshing notes. You should expect something like citrus-heavy, something that’s very suited to spring with light, fresh floral notes. Something you’d smell in a professional setting, in an office perhaps. It’s a mild, timid scent. And I do not think it suits Ajax in any sense of the way, whether you take into account his domestic life or his professional life.

Dirty scents are warm, musky; they’re heavy, they’re entrancing, they’re so deeply connected to the Earth. They feel like browns and reds, like clay. No matter which face of him you choose to assign a scent to, it’ll likely fall under this. Imagine the sweet and gentle atmosphere at home, where he and his siblings huddle together as he cherry-picks the details of the sights he witnessed adventures, ensuring to leave out all the parts unfit for the children to hear. Do you imagine him to smell like a bouquet? Or do you imagine him to smell like home itself? A smoky sweetness that shares the depth of the abyss as it mixes with his body’s chemistry?

Or, imagine him in the battlefield; would this man smell like spring? Or would he smell like a mix of iron, sweat, musk and leather? There you have your answer.

So I’m not all too sure about this fragrance simply because I don’t have a personal reference to go off of, and everyone that I know in real life, as well as every online forum I seem to run into, calls it very light. I even saw someone refer to it as an office-scent? He is not wearing a damn office scent. However, if the citrusy notes are at balance with the leather and nutmeg and it’s offering a conflicting, fresh yet potently warm fragrance? That suits him perfectly.

The second fragrance I’d like to discuss is Royall Yacht by Royall Lyme of Bermuda.

It is another aquatic fragrance and my goodness am I in love. It perfectly balances that need for aquatic accords through citrus and that need for warmth through the warmer notes. It has vetiver, lemon, cedar, musk, and amber (along with a few floral notes but they’re not the focus). Although reading off of the notes, one might imagine this to not be so strong in its aquatic mood due to the citrus being so limited, but reviews will prove otherwise. Most people state that it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of the lulling sea breeze as one sets sail. This does come with its own issue however, and that is the fact that this house in general (Royall) is not… particularly known or admired for the longevity of their fragrances. What I’m saying is that their fragrances don’t last very long at all. I say this from personal experience (due to owning a few fragrances) as well as online observation; perhaps an hour or two at most and then they are as good as gone, and that is if you’re not partaking in any strenuous activities that might make you break out in a sweat. I imagine this wouldn’t even last ten minutes on him, so I don’t, quite see a point in its purchase or wear for such an active man.

The third I’d like to discuss is Opus XIV Royal Tobacco, by Amouage.

The notes are within the picture above: we’re seeing cardamom, musk, vetiver, agarwood, osmanthus, tobacco, licorice, benzoin, bergamot: I’m sure that you can tell that we’ve left the aquatic scent category by now. Though bergamot is present to give a citrusy feel, it’ll most just heighten the intensity of the other notes rather than offer its own unique mood. It’ll be a very dark, carnal, spicy scent with a lot of depth and smokiness to it; perhaps not suited for Ajax, a gentle family-man, but certainly fitting for the 11th Harbinger. I adore the longevity of Amouage fragrances, they’re known for their gorgeous bottles and their interesting ingredient and note selection, and this perfume is no exception.

It is such a mouthwateringly delicious scent, I cannot stress this enough. Also, the handle is made to recall the image of a Khanjar in one’s mind; Khanjars are traditional Middle Eastern and South Asian blades in the shape, usually worn by men on the hip. They’re crafted in the shape of a ‘J’ and their handles are made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to bone (especially camel bone), gold, and silver.

My last and most important association is that of Iberian Leather, by Memo, Paris.

This is such a beautiful winter fragrance; I actually got it not too long ago but I have been so deeply in love with it. It lacks aquatic accords but it has a spiciness that can handle his duality. This fragrance can provide that intimidating, overwhelming, animatic atmosphere but it can also surround one with that comforting, cozy urge to huddle in. I call it a winter fragrance because it is just that heavy and warm; although I’m personally not one to follow the etiquette of limiting scents to seasons as I prefer heavier scents all year round, people have noted this to be perfect for winter use both in real life/personal expedience, and in online discussion. Its notes include cedarwood, vetiver, agarwood, oakmoss, amber, musk, vanilla, osmanthus, cinnamon, bergamot, clove, saffron, sandalwood, and a few flower notes as well. So you’re once again getting that wooziness and that spice but you’re not getting the sweet and tender darkness of tobacco and licorice. It’s still intense and it’s still deeply layered in its scent profile but it’s not dark. It’s something that’ll suit him no matter the situation he is in or who he has in his company, and this is arguably one of the best scents to douse your winter coat in because it is so, comforting, so warm, so cozy. It is so earthen and natural. It feels like sitting next to a bonfire on a cold night. It feels like him. Not to mention, the longevity of this (or, the whole house, rather) is very impressive; you can apply it in the morning and it’ll still very much be on you when you sleep, even if barely. No matter how hot it is outside, how much you’ve been sweating, it will be on you, so help you god.

I would also like to give special mention to a few other perfumes that were close but fell short, such as Russian Leather Memo Paris; Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio; Giorgio Armani Black Code; Flåm Memo Paris; Vancleef & Arpels Ambré Imperial; Vancleef & Arpels Tonka Imperial, and more.

With all associations and justifications stated, I’d like to conclude this post by also mentioning what he smells like? A lot of people forget to take into consideration that no fragrance smells the same on everyone; it has a lot to do with your body chemistry (& natural body odour) as well as what you’re doing throughout the day. For example, on some people, floral notes tend to be more prominent, while on others, vanilla or more gourmand notes might appear more prominent instead. Although I can’t speculate much on which notes would be more prominent on him (vanilla; I want to say vanilla) I do feel like he’d smell like a mix of his chosen fragrance and iron. I feel like from being in battle all day, the scent would become… even more him, due to constantly mixing with his own sweat and body odour throughout the day, which then further combines with the unmistakably metallic scent of blood if business requires more extreme measures,

I will say however I imagine his fatui fur-collar cloak to smell like the most comforting thing in the world. I’ve noticed this to be quite common in winter clothing somehow, especially when you wear it quite commonly. One does not realise (and does not care, really) whether they have applied anything on it already and just about on their normal routine, spraying it over and over until it just… seemingly sets in, creating a scent so unique to the wearer because it now smells like them and the fragrance combined. It smells like home, it smells like all the memories of your past winters that you spent with those who love you. It smells like solace and relief and a happy ending and I think he deserves that bittersweet comfort of domestic nostalgia.

[sierradorotheia]

CURRENT FAVOURITES

Hey! So following up on some current favourites from the last one, almost five months later ♥

** SKIN CARE FAVES **

Kate Sommerville ExfoliKate Intense Exfoliator ~ this is in my FabFitFun Fall 2017 box that I was a bit hesitant to try on at first just because of my new found love in my Sephora charcoal exfoliator. ExfoliKate works better and not just because it’s on the pricier side- but because it really does work for my new acne’s. I use this every three days as a part of my night-time routine and I find that my skin soaks up my skincare products better right after.

Korean Face Masks ~ my brother’s girlfriend picked up some Korean face masks for me when she was in South Korea and we all know that the Koreans have a A+ rep with skincare products. I’ve retired peel-off masks just because it just never worked for me and I didn’t find it was worth the time. These face masks are so soothing and relaxing!

SK II Essence ~ my current skincare regimen breaks the bank but it’s the only one that works! I have finally taken the plunge and splurged on SK II essence and it’s the best decision I’ve had in a while. I know this essence is very pricey but because I only require four drops, twice a day, I know that the 160 ml bottle will tide over until the next Sephora VIB sale in November.

Essie Cuticle Oil ~ leaves my cuticles soft and easier to push back, and makes my manicure look better and healthier.

Dermelect Ridge Filler ~ another FabFitFun score. I love wearing this as is for about a couple days, and on the third day, I’ll usually apply my nail polish. It makes my nails look stronger. And did I say it looked just as pretty as is !

Verb Sea Shampoo and Conditioner ~ I recently decided to move on from drugstore hair products (i.e., whatever’s marked down at the grocery store) and use a higher-end line. Verb was actually not my first choice to try out, but my #1 is a bit on the pricier side so I decided to try something reasonable for now. The Verb Sea shampoo and conditioner together cost $32, which I can live with. The reviews were promising, so I decided to just buy it without sampling. I love the subtle smell, and the way it feels after blow-drying in the morning. I wash my hair at night and my scalp used to get extremely oily the next day with drugstore hair cares, and I never have that problem with these products. I also noticed the fallouts to be lesser and lesser. Loving my bouncy hair especially this summer season.

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish ~ I’ve had this product for God-knows-how-long, and for all I know, this stuff’s already expired... but it still works! I wish I can use this everyday, but I know I shan’t so I won’t. lol I use it during my makeup days and it improves my matte lipstick application.

Sephora Face Wipes ~ this is one of the items that I picked up on a whim while at a Sephora ~travel items~ counter, and I’m glad I did. I swear by my Garnier makeup remover but those don’t have that closure thingamajig so my last one just dried up when I forgot to close it properly. I tried the Sephora Coconut makeup remover wipes first, and I already ordered another one online of a different type.

Sephora Face Mists ~ do you ever just pick up something from Sephora when ordering online just so you qualify for a free deluxe sample? Just me? Anyway, this face mist was only bought for the deluxe sample reason and I was going through a phase of face-mist-craze so I figured why not? I got the coconut one first, and I fell in love with it- I liked the atomizer a lot, I liked the price point, and I like the soothing effects so I decided to purchase the other type. This is my go-to during no-makeup days (which is, every day) plus a spot-concealer. Can’t go wrong! I wish they make other kind in the future.

Boscia Makeup Remover Cleanser ~ I remember the days when I attempted to use a makeup cleansing oil and it did not quite workout well for me, but I realised it’s because I wasn’t using a makeup wipe BEFORE using the cleansing oil. I also noticed that using a makeup removing wipe didn’t cut it at times, so I decided to use a cleanser once again. I love the cooling effect right after removing a full day’s worth of makeup, and I can  tell it’s really unclogging them pores. I still use my regular face cleanser afterwards, and I’m ready to zZz.

Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom Perfume ~ price-wise, this is luxury. I was looking for a new perfume for the winter and took the Sephora Fragrance IQ and this is one of the results. I’ve been relying a lot on the Fragrance IQ to decide my next scent, and so far, it hasn’t steered me wrong. I am obsessed with the subtlety of this scent- so feminine, so floral. I want to add “it’s so me...” but it’s really not. Haha...

Soap and Glory Body Scrub ~ I’ve been obsessed with body scrubs and I like to treat myself with a polish/scrub especially after a greasy workout. I wish I can use these scrubs everyday- but that’s detrimental to the skin of course! This is my current scrub, and I’ve used a few from Soap and Glory before. This has a nicer scent that lingers on my body throughout the night and I can still smell it the next day after tossing and turning and literally rubbing my body in my sheets. Again, I’ll use this everyday if I could!

** MAKEUP FAVES **

Too Faced Peach Perfect Foundation ~ I saw this as one of the top-rated foundations in Sephora so when I went in for my complimentary makeover, I requested to have this  used on me. I like the consistency and how it has that blurring effect on my face, but at the same time, not being too cakey.

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ~ I’ve always wanted to try this foundation but because I need to be color-matched before buying, I’ve put off for a couple of years. I also requested for this foundation to be used on me during a Sephora makeover and at the time, I didn’t like how it felt on my face. I used the sample I requested after the makeover and I liked it the second time around, and the coverage is surely buildable. I like how it looks on my face after a long day of makeup- and definitely long lasting.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Mascara ~ I stopped buying full-size mascaras and just heavily relied on the deluxe samples I get from shopping online at Sephora since there is ALWAYS a sample available for the taking. I’m buying a full-size of this one, though, because of the clump-free application and its amazing wand. You can literally apply multiple coats without that spider-webb-y look.

False Lashes ~ I know I’ve been too late in on the false lashes wagon, but I just recently started obsessing over them . I know I still need PLENTY of practice but when makeup gurus say that falsies put the whole makeup look together, they are not lying! I have short, pathetic Asian lashes and adding falsies make a ton of difference. I mostly apply lashes on bare eyes (i.e, no shadows) and I love the natural look it gives. For now I’m just practicing on cheap, Walmart lashes such as Ardell, Kiss, and a few things from nailpolishcanada, and I’m hoping to master the ~art~ of applying with a full-on eye makeup look.

Huda Beauty Matte Lipstick in Venus ~ I purchased this as a Lip Contour set and it came with a lip pencil and another liquid lipstick, but I enjoy this lipstick on its own as I’d say this is the closest shade of my lips. It’s long-lasting and doesn’t feel tacky- almost as if you don’t have any lipstick on. And I also like that it’s good even without a lip liner.

Becca Luminous Liquid Highlighter in Opal ~ my new holy grail! Crazy to think that this was purchased as a deluxe sample and I ended up LOVING the heck out this. The first time I used it, I was amazed by the glow it created even underneath a setting powder. I can almost use it on its own, but it just makes topping it with a powder highlight more longer-lasting and popping.

Becca Luminous Highlighter in Opal ~ I tried the cult favourite Champagne Pop before as my first Becca highlighter and for me, it didn’t live up to the hype that much. I wish I tried the Opal highlighter first; this, paired with its liquid constituent- girl your highlight can and WILL be seen from space.

Becca Sunlit Bronzer ~ I feel like I’m always on a hunt for a good bronzer, especially it’s almost summer time and sometimes I just go for the bronzy, warm look. I like how this fits the bill- not too light compared to the Too Faced Chocolate bronzer- and not to dark like the Nars Casino bronzer.

** MISC **

Muscle Roller ~ this was in my FabFitFun Winter 2018 box and boy oh boy, this is my new bestie. It does work wonders especially on intense leg days (it can be leg WEEKS at my gym sometimes) and works best especially for those who are so bad at skipping foam rolling at the gym (you know who you are!)

Analogue album by Odie ~ it was an album J shared to me- he wasn’t even all hyped up, just pointing out how this kid sounds like Kid Cudi- but one day I just let the whole album play and I was blown away. Perfect chill tunes. And it helped that Odie’s reppin Toronto!

CupShe Bikini ~ I’ve been seeing CupShe on my Facebook feed but I never actually bought anything from them until I saw this cute bikini set that made me say “I oughtta have those!”. I figured it would be my first ever CupShe purchase, and with the $2 shipping to Canada, it sure won’t be the last. Another plus? There weren’t any duties/taxes fee when they arrived. How awesome!

Yoga Jeans ~ I can’t buy jeans online just because it’s never true to size for me. We have a local boutique in town and I’ve had my eyes on this brand for the longest time and one day I was just walking past the store and saw that they have a 25% off store-wide event and I thought it was a perfect time to get my hands on these. They fit like a dream, they have the length that looks good on my 5′4 figure, and the material is stretchable. I would definitely buy these even in full price! So worth it.