Absinthe with a twist

Very excited to see I have some followers! Hello and welcome.
Today we're going to talk about The Morbid The Merrier's solid perfume version of Dessert Absinthe.

From the shop "I took my usual absinthe perfume oil and softened it with cream and sugar and soft citrus. Upon opening, the first notes are lemon, sugar, and anise - very reminiscent of a lemon sugar cookie. After wearing it for just a few minutes, however, the bottom notes emerge... woodsy, earthy, mysterious, and alluring. I created this perfume for those who prefer something softer and more feminine than traditional absinthe."

Absinthe blends are fairly common among indie sellers right now, and they are all pretty much variations on a theme - a basic black licorice/anise blend with additions of citrus, usually lemon, sometimes lime. They all smell pretty similar, and if you don't like anise/black licorice notes, you probably won't like an absinthe scented perfume. I love the smell and taste of anise, and though I hate the taste of black licorice, I do like the smell, so absinthe-type scents are obviously a win with me.

Dessert Absinthe takes that standard blend and sweetens the whole thing down with a soft, lemon sugar cake note that tames the harshness of the anise. For an absinthe-type perfume, it's almost delicate, and definitely sweet. Think of it as absinthe with training wheels. It's really quite lovely and it allows the underlying anise notes to creep up on you slowly instead of jumping right out at the top of the blend. The creamy lemon scent fades away first, dissolving into the sharper, spicier undertones but the overall scent always retains that hint of sweetness that differentiates this blend from a plain absinthe. If you're someone who's been intrigued by this type of scent, but not sure if it's for you, this, or TMTM's slightly darker Cocoa d'Absinthe might be a good start. If you love the scent but need something lighter for work or any other conservative atmosphere, this blend is a winner giving you the punch of absinthe wrapped in sweet citrus cake overtones.

TMTM's solid scents are small and inexpensive, most around $4.50 and great for throwing in your purse without having to worry about breakage or spillage. The solid scent doesn't seem to last as long as the liquid version, at least not on me, so you may find yourself reapplying throughout the day.

Just in case you don't know, Absinthe was a popular drink during the end of the 19th century particularly in France.

Edgar Degas 1876 

 

Alphonse Mucha 1896

Often called 'the Green Fairy', for its bright lime green colour (although it can also be blue or clear) absinthe is a high-alcohol content blend of sweet fennel, anise and wormwood. The early 20th century temperence movement was particularly opposed to absinthe and, as a result, the popular drink was banned in many countries for quite some time. The early 21st century saw a revival of absinthe and most countries lifted the ban. Absinthe retains its decadent, dangerous reputation, which probably accounts for the bulk of it's allure.

Many people will tell you that wormwood is poisonous, and, therefore, that absinthe is poisonous as well. I grow true wormwood (artemisia absinthium) in my front gardern - it's a pretty, silvery leafed plant. And it tastes revolting. "Bitter as wormwood" isn't just an expression. You'd have to be pretty darn tough to eat enough of it to poison yourself. Absinthe contains a distillation of wormwood, but, honestly, you'd have to drink so much you'd get alcohol poisoning before the wormwood could get you.

I have had the occasion to sample absinthe, complete with the addition of a melted sugar cube dripped in through a slotted spoon, etc. (And believe me, you need the sugar). It initally tastes like a glass of very hash liquid black licorice. Just about the point where I had decided it was the most disgusting thing I'd ever had, there was a wonderful bloom of anise flavouring (mmmmm...anise) which was enough to convince me to drink a few more swallows. I can't tell you alcoholic it was, because I rarely drink, so I'm a lightweight, but halfway through the glass, I decided to sit down on the floor, so that when (not if) I fell over, I'd be that much closer to the ground.

Really, it's not that decadent or dangerous - except - what most accounts have forgotten is the sugar cube, which keeps the whole thing from tasting like licorice Draino. Back in the heyday of absinthe drinking, it used to be laced with laudanum or some other opiate blend, many of which were legal at the time. That was what turned the original absinthe drinkers into sotted zombies.


Perfume comes in a black oval .15 oz lip balm sized tube and is colourless.

Product photo property of TMTM. All products were purchased by me for my own use. My opinions are my own and always will be. Your mileage may vary.