During a sale where Poesie brought back some seasonal scents, I got myself a 2 ml sample of Mysterious Fossils. They are well known for their tea scents so I figured I should try it. This perfume is also supposed to give the vibe of a museum which is super charming and unique! I see people asking to get this one brought back to be available year round all the time. This sample was like $11 USD which is a bit on the higher end of the perfume samples I buy, but not egregious, as it comes to $5.50 for a ml. Poesie will most likely bring back some scents for November’s Friday the 13th, the last one of 2026, so they might pick this scent again to be available for the third time.

Notes: smoked black tea with creamy vanilla oatmilk, cashmere sweater, tortoiseshell glasses with clear, shiny lenses, and a warm cedar chest that contains fossils encased in amber, sandstone, and limestone

I had to try this multiple times before reviewing because it is so complex to me that I struggle to pick out the notes. I definitely get a black tea with oatmilk and vanilla, and then something faintly astringent and kinda citrusy, like a hint of lemon peel? Maybe this is the black tea. There is a subtle steaminess/smokiness but not like woodsmoke. People have said this smells like limestone but I can’t smell it. It doesn’t even really remind me of a museum except by association of like dark academia type smells. It is a very cream colored scent to me that also evokes the tortoiseshell and also marble. I like how unique it is and don’t mind wearing it on an especially gloomy day, but I don’t think I would want more than my 2 ml sample. I do think this one does not smell just like the classic Poesie vanilla base which is a plus, that is one of the biggest critiques I see of their perfumes.