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Some love a glass of good strong wine, some appreciate a solitary moment of relaxing music and some us love a fine atmospheric perfume (to drift off to restive sleep or read with). I fall into that final class and did I come across an immersive travel journal of scents to recommend from L'AVENTURA Perfumes.

*Full disclosure: These fragrances were sent not for a review but as a generous "paying it forward" sweet act. I was not asked to supply any feedback, however, once I tried one vial I knew this little shop in New Mexico with advertised "uncommon fragrances" was one to recommend! I didn't see any other flair that matched this scenario.

All the blends had quite the noticeable throw and exceptional longevity (the longest being The Faraway (with Cotillion at a close second) which lasted 12 hours and Mothlight and Sanctuary at an equally impressive 8 to 9 hours). The perfumes lasted considerably longer in my hair and on my clothes. These were my second experience with Eau de Parfums and for anyone curious as I was- Yes, EdP blends soften with a bit of patient aging similar to perfume dab on oils.

Packaging and Presentation: I was sent the Discovery Collection sample pack and the fragrances are in this clever packet that resembles a classier version of a library card stamp list, inside is an array of uncapped spray Eau de Parfum vials and each perfume is announced first with a snazzy mini scent list card and then a matching font style to each vial. I'm a shameless fiend for chic and eye-catching packaging and this little indie ticked that box.

Scents (in order of the presented card):

Lions in the Library (Labdanum, bitter orange, old books, cistus, cashmeran, *civet- synthetic)

On opening, the bitter orange is noticeable with a sweet-spicy nuance that gently gives way to an exotic scene of ancient leather-bound tomes of knowledge, dried scrolls of a lifetime of collecting the scent of the various beeswaxed polished woods constructing the shelves that hold all these manuscripts and dusty words. I'm not sure if it's the fantastic (well needed) intellectual hangover of speaking to this scent artist about different genres of literature (specifically settling on a wonderful discussion on the A Song of Ice and Fire series; her studio is in Santa Fe, New Mexico after all) swaying this association, but Lions in the Library makes me think of the perfect Citadel note representation and the scent of the home to the order of the maesters (I may be reading the morphing bitter orange and hidden dark honey as polished steel and iron for the fancy but it conjures the idea of forged metal under the old and new wood built to accommodate all the words and knowledge of the Seven Kingdoms). It's meditative and sweeping atmospheric I wasn't expecting. It's marvellous for a sleep scent potion and I'm adding Lions in the Libary (as a Lannister supporter I must say the name is perfect!) to my evocative reading list to wear when The Winds of Winter debuts.

Sanctuary (Palo Santo, char, amber, holy bourbon, benzoin, costus)

One spritz and I'm attending a ritualistic bonfire and fascinating service deep in an undisclosed location staring up at the sky waiting for mysteries of the universe to open up. I've never been to a true desert climate but this is how I imagine a night scene in the desert to smell like, it's dusty dirty but "cleansing to the mind and spirit" as well. There is something about Palo Santo and smoke that touches some portion of my frazzled brain and forces it to settle and relax and seek out unique trivia when I smell it and Sanctuary is just that, a sanctuary of the self and exploration to new subjects.

The Faraway (Desert Sage, juniper, salt cedar, sedge grass, warm sandstone)

Now I don't know the exact inspirations for all the available catalogue fragrances but I do know that The Faraway is an ode to Georgia O'Keeffe and her one specific painting. I'm afraid I am deficient in this area of culture and I can't compare the strokes of shading and composition of the notes to the painting (hopefully someone reading could try this fragrance and provide that type of write up someday soon). I can, however, tell everyone The Faraway takes me back to fossil hunting and rock identifying in the hot summer sun as a child with my satchel of cobbled together paleotologist tools borrowed from my grandparents' garage and makeup brushes, and this perfume is another impressive atmospheric with salted dusty earth and lush greenery and also another relaxing blend to receive pleasant dreams with.

Cotillion (Orange blossom, jasmin, carnation, spanish moss, tobacco, clipped lawn)

Cotillion is a floral citrus spiced venture to the lawns of Gatsby's Mansion, it's a joyous celebration that spares no expense or gives any apologies for the frivolity and supplied atmosphere (if you adore rich florals this one is for you). The dry down is a realistic sophisticated tobacco fougere finishing off this unexpected romantic ode to the "lost generation" and excess of the roaring 1920s. This was my starred favourite.

Mothlight (Lemon, pink peppercorn, ambrette seed, snuffed candle, sandalwood, musks)

No surprise that a rarely assembled list of notes equals one extraordinary scent experience. Mothlight is the perfect name for this perfume as it smells like a glowing light in a darkened loft and I must applaud when L'AVENTURA lists a note such as "snuffed candle" this isn't a poetic interpretation, there is an actual realistic snuffed candle aroma serving as the backdrop with a creamy sandalwood. When I let my mind wander, I think of painting studios of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood with shadows and soft cloth draping a figure standing still for hours with only the sounds of a slick brush touching across a canvas and the gentle plinking of a spirit-message carrying moth breaking the silence. Now that's scent art!

Top 3 picks: Cotillion, The Faraway and Mothlight