Desert Thunderstorm

(one of my favorite perfumes) I'll be honest, 50% of my reasons to get this is the name, the other 50% because S1 of True Detective is my favorite kind of TV, and the intro song mentions creosote... Yeah. Anyway, I was worried this would smell evergreen due to pine and fir, but it doesn't. You have to experience it for yourself, my only tiny remark is I don't smell ozone or petrichor but the latter is probably nonexistent in actual deserts. So when I feel like I need it, I'll just add a bit of During the Rain to it.

Got this in a pack of petrichor scents. It smells very similar to Alkemia 'Awakening Desert' with a hint more sweetness and spices. Sweet, weirdly peppery, and detectable cyprus. 4.5/5 for realism, 2/5 for wearability.

What an interesting fragrance/experience. My first Solstice Scents sample. I'm absolutely flabbergasted, in the beginning, I would say the first 10 minutes, this is a perfect rendition in my mind of what I imagine a thunderstorm in a desert smells like. Maybe it's just suggestive imagery... surely that must be it. But it's completely spot on. It's dry and hot, it's earthy/woody but it's also wet and muddy. It gets pretty spicy and then... then that's when it becomes bug spray. Incredibly medicinal. There is really no two ways about it, it's bug spray. This has to be, I assume, the 'pine' note. This phase lasts for a long while, like 2-3 hours. I wanted to hate it but then... ... from there it evolves again. It's still in a "bug spray" territory for me, but it's now pleasant and not medicinal. It's 100% pine. Very car air fresher type vibe. Which isn't bad, but it's not perfume territory. Some sandalwood, or floral notes might have balanced it back in a different direction, but alas. It's pine. Then comes the real dry down. Ultimately it does turn into something where you can really catch the sandy notes, smoke and resin, but it's a journey to get there. I like it, I don't hate it for sure but I also don't love it and wouldn't likely wear it alone. I will have to try it with something else as a layering fragrance, but it may be too strong for that. This has incredible projection (from across the room, people commented on me wearing it) and crazy lasting power. The dry down IS really lovely, but it's nearly 3-4 hours after applying. 6/10

SS site description includes these notes: Decaying Leaves, Rich Black Soil, Dry Leaves, Fall Air, Woods, Chimney Smoke. Extrait/EDP/WS/BG/BS. Oil based extrait. EARTHY/FOREST. Fall Collection. Still hunting for my perfect aromatic desert scent. This one is not it, but it has a lot to like. There is the familiar foundation of Solstice Scent's trademark soil tincture accord that is very specifically dank and earthy. Mixed with cool pine needles, warm resins, and a hot blast of sand, there's an interesting intermingling of temperatures and textures. This one is really lovely when you catch it in the air, rather than when I stuff my face into my wrist. Close to skin it still wears a little too resin sweet for my liking, whereas the fir and smoke strike a better balance when they catch air. Could be a future full bottle for me!

Very intense opening, but settles down into a nice smoky scent with hints of rain. I enjoy it a lot. Layered with Flowers Nocturnal from this brand (which I was not a fan of) but this scent saved it.