Perfume Review: For Strange Women Coyote (Jill McKeever) 2011 + Mercyverse Shapeshifter Draw

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Mercy Thompson Book Cover for Night Broken  Book 8 (apped MC)

“Coyote never loses. Because I change the rules of the games my enemies play. What are the rules of your game?” -Patricia Briggs, Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson)

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Jill McKeever carrying spears photo from Jill McKeever

Natural perfumer Jill McKeever of For Strange Women whose home base of Missouri lies within an artery of Native American history- created Coyote (For Strange Women (and Men)) in 2011.  Coyote is the Native American trickster teacher, buffoon and hero, created creator, teaching paradox and duality; kin to the raven, Loki and The Fool. Known for his wild antics and raging libido- undoubtedly there was something quite irresistible in his perfume.

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Coyote illustration apped MC

The soothing freshness of Coyote is immediate and a bit surprising for a perfume with such a notorious moniker. Bergamot lightened neroli is neither ingénue nor seductress, its power lies in its ambiguity. And while I cannot even say the Coyote archetype is what Jill had in mind, it is the turn of the heart of Coyote which almost solidifies my theory.

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Cover art for Moon Called (Book 1) apped MC

A Wolf in sheep’s’ clothing musk starts to give the game away as Coyote lifts the petaled citrus veil to reveal a smooth, bay-spiked patchouli; another of Coyote’s impressive slights of smell. The bay is without piquant sharpness and spices the patchouli tinged musk in the most delightful way. Coyote remains more treat than trick, and the potentially overpowering combination of notes remains quite tame. What remains after dry down is this musk accord, souvenir of the dance under the full moon.

For Strange Women is a house full of Lokean moments of chaotic, madly liberating and surprising aromas; a compendium of olfactory stories to be passed from nose to nose, generation to generation. Read more at For Strange Women’s blog, 

Notes: bergamot, neroli, bay leaf, patchouli, musk accord, spices

*disclosure: my sample is my own.

–Einsof, Natural Perfume Editor

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Mercyverse

Art Direction: Mercy Thompson art by Dan Dos Santos. Mercy is one of my favorite urban fantasy heroes; her character is a “walker”, a Native American shape shifter, a coyote raised by wolves; Jill’s resemblance is uncanny. Mercy Thomposn Fire Touched, Book 9 will be released January 31, 2017  -Michelyn Camen

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 Thanks to Jill Mckeever we have a draw for an 8 ml rollerball of Coyote for  a registered reader in the USA (don’t know how to register…click here!!) Please leave a comment with why you would like to win Coyote, if you have read any books in the “Mercyverse”, or if you can shape shift into an animal which would it be,  and your favorite For Strange Women fragrance. Draw closes October 30, 2016

Follow @forstrangewomen on Instagram and @cafleurebon

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS Feed option … or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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14 comments

  • Steve A says:

    Yes I’d like to win this. If it drys down to a musk accord that’s good enough for me. I have no idea what Mercyverse is and I don’t think I’d like to shape shift into an animal. I have heard of Strange Women fragrance before on these very pages but have yet to try any to have a fave. USA

  • fazalcheema says:

    I like that quote how Coyote never loses because it changes the rules of the game for the enemies. Given the name, I would never have expected Coyote to have Bergamot. Seems like it is a composition full of surprises. I have not read any book in Mercyverse. If I were given a choice, I would like to shapeshift into a hawk. thanks for the draw. I am in the US.

  • Rox says:

    The neroli and spices would be the notes that most appeal to me. I am not familiar with these books at all, I am mostly a reader of non-fiction. Must be a good series if they are going on book 9, maybe I’ll check out book 1 from the library. I would shapeshift into a roadrunner and run all about the desert southwest (my favorite place)with the coyotes. I live in the U.S. Thanks!!!!

  • Maya says:

    I have heard of For Strange Women but have never tried any fragrances. I have always been fond of the trickster gods of which coyote is one. It would be nice to find out if Coyote lives up to its namesake. Choosing what to shapeshift into is not as easy as I thought. Perhaps a wolf or dolphin or eagle……..
    I had never heard of Mercyverse before. It does sound interesting.
    Am in the US.

  • Francesca says:

    I love the narrative Einsof- you tell a wonderful story and of course there’s a striking perfume to match- love the title of course and it would be a real experience to wear – you’d carry the story with you. For Stranhe Women….Thanks so
    Much❤️

  • Aly says:

    Love For Strange Women and can’t wait for November in the Temperate DeciduousForest
    So cool to use Urban fantasy I have t read Mercy Thompson but now I want to
    I would like to shift into a leopard

  • Cynthia says:

    I have never tried anything from this line but the patchouli in Coyote interests me. I have been meaning to try something from For Strange Women for some time. I am not a science fiction buff, so am unfamiliar with this book. If I could shape shift I would want to be something fast like a jaguar. I am in USA. Thanks

  • jess says:

    Ooh, I’d love to win this fragrance! I’ve been meaning to place an order with For Strange Women for the longest time; I have my eye on their Rosehip Elixir, among other items. The way you describe Coyote makes it sound like the perfect fall scent. I’m intrigued by both the spiciness and the patchouli element!

    I haven’t read anything in the Mercyverse series, I’m afraid, but I definitely plan to do so as soon as I can — it looks really interesting!

    I think I’d choose to shapeshift into a hedgehog, because 1. they’re small and adorable and 2. as an introvert, the idea of curling up into a protective ball whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed is very appealing!

    Thanks for organizing this giveaway!It’s really lovely of you!

  • doveskylark says:

    I”d like to try Coyote because of the bay note and the dry down to musk. I thought of the song Coyote by Joni Mitchell when I read this, one of my favorite songs. I have never tried anything from this line, but after looking at their blog and website, id love to try their fragrance called Horse.
    I’ve never read anything from the Mercyverse series. I’d like to shapeshift into a wild horse that lives near the ocean.
    i live in the USA.

  • Terry Boczar says:

    I would love to win this! I’m a huge fan of anything citrus in a scent. I’ve read all of the Mercy books- she’s such a gritty character, a reluctant heroine. Patricia Briggs is on my “watch and pre-buy as soon as the book is announced” list. My inner animal would of course be a dragon from the Pern world. Yes, I know, cliche, but power, flight, flame, and huge fangs- what more could a girl ask for?

  • Mary says:

    I am curious what Coyote smells like as a natural musk scent…and am new to her line so would be so happy to start the exploration! I have not read Mercyverse….and would shapeshift into a bird so I could fly!

  • Ellen M says:

    I’ve never tried any of this line and have not read any Mercyverse, but if I could shape shift into any animal, it would be a Bengal tiger. I’m in the USA. Thanks for the giveaway. I’m looking forward to trying this.

  • Kristyn says:

    I would love to win coyote, because the scent name and description just calls out to me and makes me think of all of the Native American folklore and stores I’ve read and would love to see if the scent itself brings me back to those stories.
    I’ve never read any of the books from thus series, but am definitely going to check them out now.
    I would probably choose a raven or another bird to shapeshift into, because birds are awesome.
    My favorite scent from For Strange Women has been one of the New Moon scents based off of Twin Peaks. It smells like a foggy autumn morning taking a stroll by a for covered lake in the woods.

  • hofken says:

    With its bergamot, neroli, bay leaf, patchouli, musk accord and spices notes I would like to wear Coyote. I haven’t yet read any books in the “Mercyverse” series. I would like to shape shift into an eagle and soar. I have not yet had the pleasure of wearing a For Strange Women fragrance.