Memoriam

This was one of my favorites in the Curious Oddities sample pack, and my highest priority to get a full sized bottle of. It's hard to find a rose perfume that isn't too powdery or soapy, but Memoriam has a perfect, strong, realistic rose scent that doesn't overwhelm. The same goes for the ash and smoke; I was asked by two people when wearing this if I had been to a bonfire recently. There's also a hint of incense, not spicy, smoke shop incense, but sweet, more similar to rose incense itself. I'm curious if those who smell BBQ or spoiled grease got a bad batch, or if this is just down to skin chemistry? Either way, this one works on me. I love perfumes that intrigue and delight, and Memoriam fits the bill. I have a feeling it will work its way into my regular rotation soon enough.

To me, at least, this smells like a very heavy, funereal rose. Not a fresh, romantic rose, but like a rose laid across a coffin during a funeral, or a rose oil used in incense. I can smell something ashy, not as sharp as smoke, but cool and carbon-like. There's another scent I get, just a subtle whiff. It's like a new shoe, fake-leather type smell. Not bad, just something I smelled that wasn't listed in the description! I think that this is a very good and unique floral. It is mournful, gothic, and entirely beautiful, like a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.

Love. Total bombshell. Discontinued but I imagine if you layered their single-note smoke and rose oils you'd get a similar effect. Love Alkemia's smoke note; all of my favorites from them have it featured prominently. Extremely linear but it works here. A date complained that it smelled like cigarettes when I walked in which made me enjoy it more. Meant to be melancholic, reminiscent of grief, but strangely enough it is just pure sex appeal to me. Few things make me feel as gorgeous. Incredible for going to bed.

Oil that is rubbed on the skin and becomes a kind of protective aura: aged roses, something antique, slightly musty or earthy in a good way, I smell some lily accord in the background, a thick broth of smoke and reminiscent sweetness. There is also something almost aquatic, almost fruity, like a pear? it smells like the punk of the Damned

This is really nice. It smells like incense to me - not the resinous sort, like frankincense or myrrh, but some kind of stick incense. It isn't headshoppy, but neither is it churchy; it evokes a single stick of incense burning in a large, empty room with the lights out. There's rose, of the dry/dusty variety, but smoke, ash, and something else - balm of Gilead? - are significantly more prominent. The ash is wood-ash rather than tobacco ash. This is the most ash-forward fragrance I've smelled, which makes it unique in an already small category. This scent best fits what I think of as a 'gothic' fragrance. It's not as dark as others I've tried, but the ash and roses give it a vaguely maudlin romanticism that fits with goth subculture. I don't know how often I'd wear something like this, but I am quite fond of it. I think I would've liked it a great deal in my late teen years.

The smoke (i didn't smell any bacon) disappeared rather fast on me, and i'm left with a scent of dried roses, surprisingly it's really pleasant (i normally dislike flowery scents). Probably won't buy a full-size, but the sample definitely stays to be worn from time to time.

When I first apply this this i can smell the weird bacon, like spoiled bacon, note that others mention. Its like bacon grease that's sat a little to long or something. As it dries it becomes more rose mixed with ash. I remember shoveling the ashes from our fireplace when I was young. When it had been raining and gotten the ash just the slightest bit damp is how this ash smells. Its unique and I love other scents from this house but not this one. If it was just the damp ash and rose I think i'd like it but whatever is doing the "off bacon grease" smell I can't take it.

Definitely getting Rose but the supporting notes, woodsmoke and ash, make it soapy. Ash is a traditional ingredient of soap making after all. I'm not really getting "BBQ pit" but I'd agree it dries down smokey but still very floral. Pairs really well with Alkemia’s St Louis Cemetery No. 1, I actually think they should just combine these two. They seem to have a similar concept and goal, alone it goes unaccomplished but together they actually achieve a scent evoking old-fashioned mourning.

While I enjoy and respect many things about this house, I REALLY don't like the smoke note that she uses in this and other scents. It has a charred bad bacon facet that ruins what would otherwise be a hauntingly beautiful scent.

Before trying this, the reviews made it sound like something I'd really enjoy. I like rose scents, especially when they have a little something dark intermingling with them. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose and Penhaligon's Coveted Duchess Rose, and Lush Death + Decay are some of my favorites. Unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed. This starts with an artificial, plasticky smelling rose, with a smoke that comes on slowly, starts out cold and ashy and ends up reeking of a bbq pit. It lasts forever on the skin. I ended up scrubbing it. Gonna give my sample away. No thanks.

It.s the 3rd Alkemia I smell, hoping to get a smoky scent, and always I get a fugging horrible churchy incense. I can not stand incense, give me castoreum, give me Durian, give me coriander to smell, anything but incense. So far I whole heartly regret my purchase which had ofc customs VAT and a fancy shipping price. Maybe I.ll try to mix with some ethanol but I think the smell will remain the same, just the projection will change.

Every scent I get from Alkemia is unique and interesting and this is no different. It smells like a funeral. I don't know how they perfectly capture that smoky ash scent but it's perfect. And mixed with the roses this fragrance really creates an atmosphere. It's not necessarily an everyday scent but I like to wear it when I'm feeling dark and moody.

Memoriam opens with a blast of liquid smoke and ash. As it dries down, a rose note blooms, and that initial smokiness softens. Like candles burning a little too close to a bouquet. Gothic, dark, and unusual. If you enjoy exploring unconventional perfumery (or simply want to smell like a vampire), this fragrance may be worth trying.

The scent is quite creepy, actually! It is a funeral scent. A watery flower and ashes. The smell of a conceptual crematory. I think it's interesting and a little challenging, might get a full bottle. Like others said, very gothic.

Haha, I also get the slight charred bacon-flavored smoke here. There is a natural essential oil-ish rose, with aforementioned smoke and some ashy grittiness. Pretty straightforward. Ni fu ni fá.

A rose dipped in liquid smoke. Not harmonious.