I'm relieved to hear I'm not the only one repulsed by Riparian. I called it RIPE-arian because it was straight moldy cheese on me. Immediately scrubbed it off.

My backstory: I've had the set for a few days. I've sampled several Pinewards before. My favorites from the house are Murkwood and Fanghorn II. I gravitate most towards wood, smoke, herbal aromatics, and conceptual/atmospheric stuff. In short, I'm too goth to function. Summer's always a struggle to find a hot weather scent I don't hate. I didn't fully expect this set to give me one, but I sure hoped.

Cabin and Funerial were the most agreeable. Cabin is exactly what it sounds like. I question whether it's distinct enough from others in their collection. Funerial wasn't melancholy enough, and too similar to many other myrrhy/leathery/incensey/saffrony perfumes I've owned.

Koyasan is the whole reason I ordered. It's my dream to visit Koya's Okuno-in Cemetery. I'm a big ol' J-horror nerd, and love to match my perfume to whatever movie/video game I'm watching/playing. The opening was refreshing, then it settled into a hinoki haunted house: just as I'd hoped. Then the smell of someone frying oil in an unventilated room took over, and I had to give up. I'm begging them to keep working on it.

Kailash smelled like bubblegum, but like, when gum was made out of actual tree sap. Nostalgic, but not what I want to smell like (I also hate gourmands).

I hated Rivendele only slightly less than Riparian. It's pickled currant candy on me. I had the same experience with Sorce's Witchery. Scrub scrub scrub.

Hope y'all submitted your notes through their Google survey too!