Morel Map

My family went camping a lot all throughout my adolescence. The first time I slept in a tent I was only six weeks old. As I grew up in deserts and beaches and forests, I found myself creating magical realms wherever we went. The forests were my favorite. One place in particular along California's central coast felt like it was overflowing with fantasy to me. It often rained when we camped there and I always found myself entranced for a couple minutes, frozen in place by the sensation, sight, and smell of water from the sky hitting the earth below me. Once the clouds broke and the late afternoon sun returned, I would head straight for the low hanging coastal oaks to explore. That's where the fairies lived. This perfume smells like my fictional world I created in those sunbeams and rain puddles. When first sprayed, I'm met with green that is so enveloping I feel as if vines are growing along my limbs. Just like after a rain though, as it dries the sweetness emerges. The lasting scent makes me think of the warm sun on my face as I stretch out on a blanket of violets and petrichor that's encircled with lions mane, morel, reishi, and chanterelle. A fairy hides close by observing and collecting raindrops to quench their thirst. When I ordered the sample set from Clue, I wasn't thinking much about this one and was more enticed by the other two. After one wear though, this became my close second favorite just behind Warm Bulb (some days I think I may like it more though). I plan to buy the full size after the rent is paid and the next check comes in.

All of Clue’s debut collection opens on me with an immediate and fleeting medicinal note, from there in Morel Map it immediately flies into the produce section. Specifically leafy greens, vibrantly bright and slightly damp herbs, as if the misters just came on and as I touch the cool greenery it’s wet and herbaceous smell drifts up to me. This is my absolute favorite of the bunch. The opening, like Clue’s offerings in general, are art. I feel like I’m taken on a journey every time. There’s a story briefly told by these perfumes then they morph into a less stylized and more wearable scent. This one turns into a sexy, almost musky masculine scent. I’m obsessed. It’s woody, comforting, a little dirty, masculine, and still a little green in the dry down, but to me mostly this comforting musky woodiness. I wish more of that insane fresh vegetal note would stay around a little longer but she had to go, and I respect that and what she left behind. As my sample has aged, I feel like the opening note has slightly diminished and I’m left with more of the drydown, but I love the dry down so it’s cool. I keep going back and forth on getting a full bottle. I’m feeling shy about full-sizing right now, being new to perfumes and all, but whenever I wear it I’m like ugh, I want MORE! It has great longevity and I just find it so sexy and complimentary with my body chemistry.

Wet grass, wet earth, mushroom cap! Ohhh I loved this so much, this is a dark thing that manages to smell both natural and wet! Far from unnecessary sweetness, and I'm picking up a bit of patchouli in the base too (though I don't think it's listed). The only way I can describe the feel of this scent in terms of atmosphere is this: you're in a dark enchanted forest, it's raining and the soil is soaked. You find a wooden cabin and go inside. The moment you shut the door, a brilliant flash of light followed immediately by a thunderclap that shakes everything... you're safe but also scared. The inside of the cabin smells a little damp and earthy because there's no flooring on the ground. The rain stops, you stick your head out into the pitch dark and breathe in that calm, wet but also resinous smell. Right at that moment, another incredible flash of lightning! Everything lights up and your eyes catch red with white spotted amanitas growing at the base of white birch trees covered in eye-like patterns. Then dark again, and thunder again... Wonderful. Tag(s): wet grass, woody, resinous, earthy, mushroom-y, green, pine-fresh

You wake up in the deepest, greenest woods you can imagine. A plush blanket of evergreen mulch, fir needles, and sticky ripe current cushion your cheek. When you finally come to, you only turn over to face a clear, cool, autumn sky. The air has never been fresher and the fragrant plant life is invigorating. Such a beautiful, natural, realistic green fragrance. The crispness of that lasting ozonic note is phenomenal. The way it mimics a deep breath of cold forest air. I don't heavily get the mushroom though there is a natural savory leaning that could be attributed to that. Most prominent are the vibrant violet leaves, soft fir, and damp pine bark. For sure my new favorite green and an excellent introduction to Clue. Edit: Quick edit on all of these reviews. They have SOUNDSCAPES for each of their fragrances on their site. Beautiful. Transcendent. Oh my god.

This scent is a journey into the woods. Opens with a bright green crystalizing violet, so green you can almost taste it. Then all of a sudden you’re pulled down from your feet to the earthy wet soil. Traces of the moist dark dirt beneath your finger nails. Dries down to a velvety bed of oakmoss from which you are now resting, looking up at the sky. You’re surrounded by tall green trees and their branches embrace you. I’ve had this sample since the moment it came out, I’ve worn in quite a few times, and I don’t know why as I sprayed it on myself right now after all this time, I was hit with these very vivid images and felt the need to leave it here for posterity. Such a beautiful masterpiece, reminds me of Universal Flowering’s death of a ladies man and Eris’ Green Spell. So lovely and outstanding.