To answer your questions, SteveO:
Perhaps I could have gotten the same results if I’d piled on the Instant Honesty? I am not sure and have planned to test it again with the same combo. I don’t have enough IH (or new friends) left to test that theory out yet. 
Going on a limb here, I’d say it’s amplifying whatever you’re wearing + shine.
I have and the results are here: MX274: We are airborne!
Every time I wear it, people are perkier, friendlier but not as respectful (MX134) or interested (MX135). It’s like a better ISh (to me).
IS/A, IH, IO are my usual “base” for going out. They usually make people talk to me and helps me assert my position.
I was bemoaning the small quantity of MX135 that I had left and not wanting to make the girls uncomfortable with cops from my ISh. I also didn’t want something too heavy to cover (bye bye MX235) as we were going to do a dinner buffet.
As I didn’t have time to search through Kitten’s combos for something suitable, I decided to try what I had on-hand from my small experience.
Oh, and I wanted grapefruit.
Let me know if you want to know anything more.