Hexenhauschen

This is easily one of my most favorite from Alkemia. I was a little skeptical of the forest elements. Fortunately for me, they are kept to a minimum. This is a scrumptious gingerbread not-too-sweet concoction with spices done just right. For the Alkemia-lovers out there, my other favorites of theirs have been Cidre d'Automne (Autumn Cider), Pumpkin Strumpet, and Patchouli Cacao. That is just to give you a feel for the kind of perfume (gourmand) I usually like. I tend to stay away from anything with too much of a "perfume" feel to it, like a chypre, oud, heavy florals, etc. Just give me something that reminds me of something good to eat! Hexenhauschen fills that requirement to a "T".

This one was a delightful surprise. Whenever I see a "gingerbread" note, I get apprehensive that all I'll smell is the piped icing, and I hate icing scents. But the spices are *strong* here: ginger, cinnamon, clove, and of course some molasses to sweeten things up! As it dries down the more woody notes come out. Despite how highly it's rated for other people, though, I don't think I get any lemon on my skin. Edit: Okay, this sample has rested several weeks, and now I can definitely say this contains lemon! It's a top note that fades after about an hour, but it's a bold counterpoint to the gingerbread house in the beginning, before the perfume becomes more gourmand.

A little gooey. Maybe a lot gooey. I bought this as part of a set or I'd never have bought it; I detest gingerbread. Now wearing it, I think it smells more like molasses, which is also one of its notes, but I could just be rationalizing the fact that I like something that purports to be heavily gingerbread. I like the cloves and cinnamon notes though, and wish there were more of them. It's a cozy by the fireplace in winter fragrance, like so many Alkemia makes, and she's obviously departing from the woodsy ones she does and heading into the gourmand territory so many people like. Can't blame her for that, although I wonder how many people think molasses when they want a gourmand fragrance. Hexenhauschen has to be a woman's fragrance, and a nerdy woman's fragrance; I can't imagine any man having the patience for it.