bizarrogirl

I'm so confused -- and sad! I had an imp of Fire of Love from approximately 2007 or 08. I loved it and used it sparingly. Like others have said, it was very vetiver/musky/cedary-- a very incensely, smoky scent. A few people recently told me they loved it. My imp finally ran out, so I ordered a bottle. The new bottle smells nothing like the old imp. It's way way way floral. WAY floral. And I hate florals. I'm not picking up any trace of the notes of the original. I'm almost wondering if I got something that was mislabeled. Very sad. I will have to try Dracul, since others have said that smelled similar to the old version.

Wondering if anyone could recommend any BPAL oils that might be similar to this older (and I think no longer made) men's cologne. I'm terrible at picking out notes, myself, but upon Googling I've found it alternately described as a fougere, oriental/spicy, and listed as having the following topnotes: Lavender, Lemon, Bergamot and Pepper. Also listed were a slew of florals in the middle notes and a lot of incensey basenotes. Anyone familiar with this one? I've already done a site search for BPALs with similar notes, but it's LONG, and if anyone else has a personal comparison, that'd be great.

I wanted this one, but once I got it, I didn't want to wear it. I didn't like how it smelled in the vial, which was all jasmine. I hate jasmine. But I decided to give it a test drive anyway after reading the reviews. Maybe it's the power of suggestion, but upon drydown, the jasmine note really receded and vanilla is at the fore, maybe with a tiny dab of lemon. I also get the daintiest whiff of Dragon's Blood, though that may be my imagination. It has a lot of similar qualities to "Love Me," which I also, well, love!

A midnight scent, evoking images of flickering golden firelight reflecting off the sheen of glistening skin and the jerking shadows of bodies suffused with spiritual ecstasy. A deep, powerful, resonant blend of myrrh, patchouli, vetiver, lime, vanilla, pine, almond and clove. It's times like these I wish I had some of the single notes at my disposal, because there are a few I have a hard time picking out. I adore Voodoo. The almond and vanilla hit me upfront, and it reminds me a lot of Black Phoenix. I think it's the patchouli, vetiver and myrrh that darken this scent, and cut the sweetness I get with Black Phoenix. It's blended so beautifully that most of the notes really merge, and it's so hard to pick out the lime, pine and clove for me, but I can tell they're there. My skin eats it up fast, so I'm wearing it in a locket, which is keeping me very happy. Every time I dip my head, I get a whiff. Voodoo is in my top ten.

I got this as a frimp almost a year ago. I gave it unsniffed to my husband. It sat on his dresser, I think mostly untouched. He didn't like the name of it, and so didn't want to wear it. I took it back this morning. Oh, Greed, where have you been all my life? I love patchouli scents, and as other reviewers have noted, this has something in it that cuts the "earthy" with a touch of "sweet." It makes me think of Greed in a more primal way, like scrabbling ore out of the earth with bare hands, ripping aside moss and plants. Or a wad of damp cash, washed up on the shore of a stream. I only wish it had more throw. My skin seems to drink it up.

This was a frimp, and I didn't know what it was supposed to smell like. This was one of the few unexpected frimps where I was able to totally nail the notes in it. At first dab, I went, "Oh, strawberries!" At the second, I said, "Oh ... is that champagne?" It's very light and playful. The throw is not very strong, and it doesn't last very long on me. I haven't had another one this light that wasn't a floral. The sweet is not overpowering in this one, for me. It wouldn't be something I would wear regularly, but it would be great for a lazy summer afternoon. It's very different from most of the scents I have. It's a very simple, straightforward and somehow unpretentious blend.

This is the first Lunacy I've tried. I never intended to get into them, but when I saw Milk Moon, I had to have it. After nearly 4 years of nursing two kids, I felt if I deserved any Lunacy, it was this one. I love it. To me, it's perfectly creamy, sweet and tropical. It reminds me a bit of Haloa, in the sense that, if Haloa was (to me) a grapey-cherry cheesecake, Milk Moon smells like a tropical fruit cheese danish. I know, I'm awful at this. But I totally love Milk Moon. I'm going to be very sad when this bottle runs out!

I am not into florals, generally. I got this as a frimp, and tried it, knowing absolutely nothing about it. Here's the funny thing: I don't really like the scent very much. Too flowery, albeit in a dark green, musty way. Yet, each time I've tested it, it makes me smile -- the whole time I'm wearing it. My nose doesn't like it, but my brain does. So I came to look it up to see what it's supposed to be like and read: Sovereign plants to purge the veins Of melancholy, and cheer the heart Of those black fumes which make it smart. It works! For me, anyway. I better get a bottle.

And how about Haloa?

Love it. Sharp tingly mint with a touch of vanilla when wet, dries down to a warm sugary vanilla mint, like shamrock shakes. Unfortunately, my skin soaks it right up, and I have to reapply several times a day. Still, I sniff it compulsively while wearing it. I didn't get to try Lick It, so I can't compare, but I really love this one.

This is my favorite of the three Yule scents I tried. I have a terrible time picking out notes, so forgive my jumbled review. Wet, to me, it brings to mind a cherry cheese danish, except with dark dried cherries and grapes, somehow. Once it's on and drying, it becomes more languorous, less sweet, but still rich and foody and spicy. This has a great throw and it lasts forever on me. To wit: I put it on Monday morning lavishly. Tuesday was ... not good, and I never got a chance to take a shower. Tuesday night, I still smelled like Haloa. A-mazing.

I've been wearing Tezcatlipoca for two weeks straight, since the imp cap broke off, and I feel like I need to use it up before it spills. So I've been slathering it on, as well as wearing it so frequently. I adore it. Wet, it smells like dark, dutched cocoa powder. Quickly, for me, the leather and incense notes come out together. I don't get the florals at all. Maybe they sweeten and lighten the overall scent, but I can't pick them out. It makes me think of a primitive fire, skins, and inexplicably rolling in cocoa. I'm smitten with it. Chocolatey without being too foody or sweet or common. Wowza.

Anyone sort out Tezcatlipoca? I searched for it and found one question, no responses. But I may have goofed.

This was a frimp from the lab that I wasn't in any hurry to try. Then I got (and still have) a killer head cold, and most of the scents I tried while ill made me feel like I was smothering. I figured mint would be a good antidote to congestion, so I tried it. Wow! I love this scent! The mint is strong, wet, but not in a sharp or acrid way. It's a mellow mint, like peppermint mixed with vanilla. Once it dries down, the mint is still there, but melded gently with the mosses and the ambergris to make a really unique, lush scent. I didn't think I would like this, but I really do. If, when my sniffer returns to normal, my opinion changes, I'll come edit this post.

I'm so bummed. I think I'm having my first allergic reaction. I put on Tintagel today, and have been sneezing and stuffed up ever since. I'm trying to figure out, based on the description, what might be causing the problem! I'm usually only allergic to pollens and grasses. Oh, and every animal on earth. :/