Memphis

[Babylon]

Memphis was the capital of Egypt for Pharaohs and Queens throughout the majority of the Pharaonic period. Memphis was for the Ancient Egyptians what Washington DC is in present day. The city contained the government and the God's principle altar for religious cult. It was taken apart during the reign of the new capital Alexandria in 320 BC and it's stone, quarry and art dispensed into the building of what would become the new city of Fustat (what would become the capital of Egypt even after Alexandria reigned - what we know today and as capital - Cairo).

Sandalwood, Spicey Berries (the good kind - not the strong sour kind), Egyptian Musk, Citrus and Heliotrope. The Egyptian Musk used in Memphis is exquisite.

Wet: Strong spicy lime (no berries ) and bright heliotrope. This smells masculine.

Drying: Almost immediately, it starts to calm down and not be so bright and flashy. I can smell the berries now. Are these juniper berries? I'm not sure what they are. They smell like they'd grow on a pine tree, and they don't smell like something you'd put in a pie. Of course, I'm probably completely wrong. Ahh, there's my friend sandalwood bringing its comforting softness along. I really dig NA's sandalwood. I know there is musk in here, but I can't smell the light-floral I usually get from egyptian musk.

Dry: This is still quite traditionally masculine-smelling to me, but of course could be worn by anyone. The lime has mostly worn off, leaving just a small tart fizzy bite to the berries (juniper? something neither sweet nor sour), sandalwood, and musk, which now smells like egyptian musk (yay!). I'm going to slather this on my boyfriend and see what he thinks of it.

[whiskerswhispers]

Memphis
In vial: a masculine, clean, almost soapy scent (that's good soapy).
On skin: men's perfume! I smell the citrus, which is bold and sharp, almost like orange blossom, it is perfumey. I smell wood, but it smells more like cedar or evergreen wood than sandalwood. This is very masculine as a scent, clean cut and smart and gentlemanly. I do smell fruit and spice, as well as fresh Egyptian musk, but mainly manly perfume. After about 20-30 mins, the aftershave like scent does back down and I get a pleasant fresh citrus-floral-musk to it reminiscent of a few other NA scents, like Nefertiti and a couple of Dragons, but this one definitely leans on the more masculine side. It smells warm and woody as well, like there's a cedar base to this, solid and strong. I like this a lot better after a while, it smells clean and warm, it gives the impression of freshly showered skin (must be the musk). In fact, this smells like a very sexy guy smell now-a man who knows how to look after himself and is always clean and neat and smelling good. I'd love to smell this on a man…it's a little too masculine for me to get a bottle, and I wanted more berries, but I'll definitely keep it.

[Josie LeStrange]

Yes, I could hardly wait to test this..but alas it was not meant to be ,,,.... only because I have so many of these beautiful scents and this one was a wee too masculine for me. Would be gorgeous on a guy though.

[coyoterose]

In the bottle: Hello, hand soap!

On skin: Still hand soap.

Drydown: This one doesn't change much. On me, it's soap, soap and more soap from beginning to end. Rats.

[Llorhn]

Hand soap?! Well, if this is handsoap, then I want me the whole pack of the handsoap, body lotion, shower gel and shampoo and conditioner because this scent is crisp, clean goodness. It is a high note that features the spicy berries and citrus, the other notes come out to play more on the skin. Even though I do wish the bass of the musk would be stronger. On a whim, I decided to try layering it on the other arm with Nokturne: Sapphire and Oooh!! The amber musk helps bring the high note down and does ground it real nicely! (That's what's so good about having a single note to layer with! Thank you, NA!) Comparing the two, I can see how the GC inspires a light, clean and refreshed attitude of excitedness and happiness. The layered one adds a sexyness to it, deep and warm sexy! Oh, now I'm real thrilled, going back and forth between both arms smelling the difference. This is what is so creative about NA oils, they provoke feelings widely various and suitable for many occasions. They inspire the mind and challenge our thoughts to broaden and experience the nuances of each oil. If all I wanted was to smell pretty, I could go to Macy's Perfume section and find almost unlimited choices. But here, my mind and mood experience changes and thrills of each new oil, whether pretty or yummy or meditative or calming, etc. And I LOVE that fact about NA's oils. Thank you for this free skarabite, NA!

[agameofthree]

Bottle: Soapy and a little sweet.
Me: This quickly sweetens up and becomes warm musk and sandalwood. It's still a little soapy, but in a nice way.
Later: I like this the more I wear this. I'm glad I got a scarabite of it!

[Amunet]

Slightly soapy citrus upon application, then a cologney-aftershave feeling. Eep, smells like Irish Spring cologne for Men.

Hmm looks like I'm not the only one with the same experience! I must be amping something or I'd be able to smell something besides soap. It could be the heliotrope, guess I'll find out when I test Osiris.

[Hazel-rah]

Top notes of a clean masculine musk cologne and evergreen berries - juniper, perhaps?

Mid notes of creamy citrus reminiscent of lemon and lime blossoms and a powdery soft floral

Base note of very light sandalwood

I love this - it makes me think of Florida in the 50s, of men dressed in tropical linen neutrals, and those snazzy old woven Panama Jack hats. Though it is predominantly masculine, I could, and will, definitely wear this, especially in the summer.

[AEris]

Memphis starts out masculine, with notes of juniper and lime and an overall man-soap-clean feeling.

You've gotta let it on your skin, though! This one works for me.

After a few minutes with my chemistry, the zingy masculine notes have calmed down and now I am entranced by a gorgeous Egyptian musk blend that is deeper and creamier than the Nokturne or Nokturne:Crimson single notes.

Quite beautiful. If you like NA's Egyptian musks, this is a must-try.

[hayet]

this is wonderful! Sandalwood, soft and slightly floral, with musk. Not a hint of dryness to this blend…it's red and gold and fulll of life! Another to add to the "score a bottle eventually" list.

[thelaurenator]

Odd, I don't find this blend to be masculine. On me it's soft, bright Egyptian musk like only NA can produce, with bright citrus, white flowers and a hint of fruit. Really a stunning creation, it's too bad this one doesn't get more love!

[tativa]

I would never have tried this one on my own (berries scare me normally)... I can't smell the berries at all. It reminds me a lot of Irish spring (when I was little I used to love smelling daddy's soap, totally brings back those memories)

On the dry down it is a little less irish spring and a little more lime.

I still can't get the clean man image out of my head. Going to try this again... but thinking of enabling a good guy friend of mine who tells me he likes smelling like his irish spring soap every time I try to slip him perfume samples. Its the same genre of fragrance, but much more complex. The musk on the dry down is gorgeous... not cloying or unmanly at all. Berries backed with something sharp and musk. The berries aren't scary on me at all... but I think a guy would best bring out this blends potential. Especially one a little more on the adult side... this isn't a teen boy blend. This is the scent of a confident adult male.

I feared this blend would be really sweet reading its description... but its very sharp and masculine.

I will report back after testing it on a male or two

Going on a road trip to Memphis, TN later this month might be an excuse to put it on the boy for the car ride before I send this skarab on to its ultimate destination. (Or buy a second skarab for the friend)

[Ajila]

In the bottle - I presume it's the combination of the musk and the sandalwood, but it smells like aftershave

Wet on me - Soap, playdoh and a hint of that aftershave scent

Dry on me - A dry, masculine musk

Overall - A little too hard and masculine for me

[Nephthys]

In the vial: Sand and rain.

On skin, wet: First lime, then a short phase were it does smell like soap or a good men's cologne, but that lasts all of a couple minutes on me. After this, it mellows into a citrus sandalwood with a spicy note. The spice doesn't remind me of berries, but maybe they will show themselves once the perfume dries.

Drying: It smells like a heavy freshness. Like a thick summer day, where the heat and flowers beat the air with strong scent. It has a good throw and seems to be long lasting on my skin. I can see where people would get a masculine vibe from this, but my skin tends to like those sort of blends. Oh wait, here come the berries about five minutes in. Berries and a grassy floral note.

Later: It is almost woodsy, with a hint of wind and sand. Deep berries lurk off in the distance and the spice has left. The musk debuts and it give a blue-green aquatic to the perfume, like there is a lake in the woods. It's outdoorsy on me without being soapy. It goes slowly to powder on me within a few hours...I think I will treasure my sample, but not sure if I would go for a bottle of this. Sort of one the fence about it. I will try it several more times, maybe it will amp up and scream for a bottle purchase in the future.

Overall: If you want a sand note mixed with aquatic floral and spice that turns into deep dry berry and don't tend to like the baked goods feel of amber, this could be the one for you.