Review: Darling Clandestine Inked, Bête Noire, Circassian, and Love & Sharks

Hello! Today I'll be reviewing Darling Clandestine's Inked, Bete Noire, Circassian, and Love & Sharks. I contacted the lovely Evonne through etsy chat and she listed fragrance samples for me, which was really nice of her! I bought 3 samples, 2 sets of 3 bitsies and one solid in this order, and in this post I'll be covering the samples (which come in a set of little vials) as well as the solid. These vials are actually larger than other sample vials I've seen, which is rather nice considering the complexity of her scents. Obviously fragrances are very personal and will react differently on other people's skin so I'll just be describing how they reacted for me and if the scents were true to description. But onto the review!

My Haul. With candy!

First off the quality of these vials was nice. They were sturdy and didn't leak, and also the lids have these little handles that make them easier to open without spillage. She also used tickets to label them, which I thought was a cute touch. They take a bit more space but it's easier to read than if they had been on the vials themselves. Also it lets you see how much you've used, which I consider a major plus.

The 3 sample pack I ordered.

Inked - "A sting of sea salt and leather, splashes of communion wine, the essence of raw skin. Inked is one of my favorite little sex machines. Unisex---smells amazing on gents and bold ladies."
For me Inked was really strong haha. It started with a sort of medicine-esque bite but then unfurled into the smell of actual ink. The main medicine scent faded away soon and I was left with something I really can't my finger on, but it's positive. It really reminds me of late night studying, which is sort of sad but WHATEVER. I prefer writing in pen over pencil, and combined with my sweaty hands I usually end up having pen ink literally smeared all over the side of hand and pinky. There's also this cool late night bite that brings back 2 AM walks in the LA air. Overall I really like this scent, I don't think I'd wear it on its own because it just isn't me, but I layered it with Boudoir from Madame Scodioli and it made Boudoir smell 5x better.
Thoughts after letting it sit for a month - It got quite a bit sweeter! Still smells like pen ink and ozone, but it seems a little more mellowed out/smoother. Also developed a bit of a cigarette-esque note an hour in, similar to how Monstre Delicat smelled early on.

Size comparison to Starburst.

Bete Noire - "... four kinds of pepper grounded in artemisia, greened with herbals and juniper, stretched taut with a sharp bitter carnation, and "purpled" with violets and orchids. Moody and intriguing, Bête Noire draws attention in that "can't put my finger on it" sort of way."
For me Bete Noire was overwhelmingly black pepper. Didn't get any floral or green scents at first whiff. Also I couldn't handle it on my wrist and put it on my knee instead which led to amusing sniff tests. I sniffed it again 2 hours later and was still punched in the face with black pepper. It's interesting to say the least, and though it was a bit much for my nose. This scent clung to my skin for quite some time though, which is good.
Thoughts after letting it sit for a month - Still very black peppery but not quite as strong. Instead of being like WHOA BLACK PEPPER it's somehow the perfect I am going to sneeze in 5 seconds strength.

Amount left in Circassian vial after generous smattering on skin.

Circassian - "Bitter black coffee, spiced chocolate, ceremonial resins, with an intriguing floral note. Deliciously feminine. This is a “boy pleaser,” for you girls who are into that sort of thing."
I tend to be a bit weary of foodie or gourmand scents because of past experiences, and I was especially weary after reading the polar reviews Circassian (where some said this was their favorite scent and made them smell like a coffee shop while others got headaches and had to sell theirs) but for me Circassian was actually quite nice. I'm not a fan of the chocolate but soon after I put it on the chocolate became overpowered by this great floral scent. I looked up the description to try to find the specific flower and it said lily of the valley on the side? Which I now know I like haha. Unfortunately I didn't really get any coffee, which I was looking forward to, but the floral makes up for it. Might get this in a solid depending on how much of the floral comes out.
Thoughts after letting it sit for a month - At first whiff it seemed like the chocolate got stronger, but after letting it sit a little longer the floral was once again amped. Unfortunately I still don't get any coffee at any point while wearing it but it is what it is. This is my favorite of the four scents now, and I will definitely be picking up either a solid or a full size depending on which has stronger floral/coffee scent (which I will be asking Evonne!).

Solid comparison to Starburst.

Love & Sharks - "An amazingly complex blend, in honor of the customers who've carried this little hobby so very far. Notes of salty smooth sharkskin, pink and black pepper, true black cherries and apricots and clove . . . oh, man, it's really indescribably wonderful, like all of you. "
I really like this scent. It actually smells like love and sharks. It starts with this lovely cherry and vanilla that is quickly enveloped by this musk and salt that reminds me of sharks. Like I picture a shark and that tone is what comes. Not fishy, nor shellfish like. Shark. My only dislike was that I had a loooot of vanilla in mine which actually stained my skin when not fully rubbed out haha. I also didn't get any almonds, which was a tad depressing because I really love almonds and almond scented goods (as evidenced by the giant bottles of almond scented lotion that I have stocked up) but I love the scent regardless. I'm interested in buying it again when she makes another batch to see if this batch was not particularly almond-y. Side note, I bought this hoping to wear it while watching my Sharks advance in the playoffs BUT WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO THEM I think I understand a little more how Leafs fans feel dear god. 3-0 to 3-4 hooooooow.
Thoughts after letting it sit for a month - This actually is getting stronger the longer I let it sit. I've found that I need to use less and less of it to get the strength I want, which is really nice. Still smells very similar just more potent.

Lots of "shark bites" in my Love & Sharks solid. Also my fingerprint.

If you are making a decision based on customer service I would highly recommend Darling Clandestine, like holy cow is it great customer service. Personally, one of the things that appeals to me about buying indie is that you're directly supporting a person while getting a unique and quality product. And Evonne is just SO lovely. If you have any questions or don't see a listing you can shoot her a message and she responds quickly :)

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Darling Clandestine review (the 6 bitsies)!