Death by Cold Cave & Blackbird

I was so ready to dislike this one. It feels gimmicky, it’s a collab with Cold Cave, and it’s black. The description says “This fragrance contains black dye and will stain clothing. Please wear all black to avoid this and most problems.” Trying so hard. As a person who wears mostly black and has been goth-adjacent for about 15 years, this was a bit cringe even for me. But oh my god I love this scent. When writing my personal spreadsheet review, I only wrote one sentence: “I smell f*cking fantastic.” I don’t even know how to describe it, because everything blends together so well. I guess it smells a bit dank, like a neglected basement (or a cave, according to the official description. That’s warmed up by leather, a little incense, some cozy spices (my partner didn’t get the spices at all, but everything seems to turn warm-spicy-sweet on me). Sometimes it smells exactly like weed, sometimes I get notes of Indian mustard oil. Regardless of what it’s doing that day, it always feels like it belongs on my skin and I keep finding myself smelling it to see what it’s up to. It lasts longer than most of Blackbird’s scents, and I love smelling it on my shirts the next day. This is the only Blackbird scent that I would love a full bottle of. I’ve already finished the tester, so I’m really looking forward to it because I always want to smell like this. Perfect fit for fall-winter, and I’m curious to see what it does in warmer weather. EDIT: I got a full bottle and still love it. It’s absolutely my go to for fall, warmer days in winter, and colder days in spring. It feels like 50*F and cloudy. Perfection. I get compliments on it regularly.

I just love how intriguing this one is. It's so natural it's unnatural. Earthy, like wet soil in the forest after rain. Burnt sage, leather jacket. It does exactly what it says on the tin. Once it settles, to me it smells of antique shop, burnt rubber like some whiskeys, a hint of coal, wooden wardrobes and cupboards like my grandma used to have, full of quality wool and leather. Not a fan of this one in winter even though it's cold smelling. Maybe it turns me off that it smells too green. I love it in summer; it just works when a rainstorm hits or when you're sitting beside a fire in the woods. It's smokey in a burnt way and I think the freshness of the sage actually makes it very suitable for a warm night out - the good restaurant kind. In autumn it smells like it just belongs. The wet mineral kind of scent feels like it's about to rain. It's herbal rather than spiced, which is a welcome change in heavier perfumes. It's strong and specific, so I can't recommend it to everyone. But I love it and if you like the genuine smells of a forest walk you might too.

I love this strange, enigmatic fragrance. At first you get a cool, clammy hit of marble dust and damp, wet earthiness, then it mellows a bit with the smoky incense smell and the mellow herby quality of the dried sage. This is a gothic, romantic fragrance that is best suited for wearing with black clothing (it stains anything else), boots, and facial piercings, in smoky rooms, dark corners, curiosity shops, basement dungeon parties, and on late night walks. It's not overpowering or off-putting, but it is distinctive and long lasting, a cool, creepy rush of earthy, herby magic to carry with you throughout your day. It's far more sophisticated than the fragrances you'd get in an actual witchy or hippie shop, more the refined fragrance of an eternal vampire who has kept up with the times. I'm a business casual goth so this is the perfect way to sneak a little bit of edginess into my work day, paired with an all-black suit or patterned black button up and a few industrial chains.

You are lost in a rainy forest and stumble into a cave for shelter. You seek dryness and warmth, but the stalactites are dripping mineral-rich water while the cold seeps into your bones as you lie on the mossy floor. Someone has been here before you, yet your isolation remains. The scent of burnt sage is the only trace of warmth, but it offers no comfort. There is no hope. You have accepted your fate. Smell: 10 Longevity: 7 Versatility: 7 Uniqueness: 9 Value: 7 Layering compatibility: 9 Overall: 8.2

Icy sage decay. It’s great. As the review belows discusses, it’s basically just sage, leather, and mineral notes. It feels cold, it feels aloof, unapproachable. It’s very sharp and herbal, but the overwhelming feeling is that is is, in fact, like a cold, dark, damp cave.