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- Today
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I love witch flash ! It sits in that frizzly place where incense and spices come together, with a little extra earthiness and tattoo ink to make things a little edgier. The tattoo ink feels a little bit sharper than the ink note I’m used to, but it’s definitely related. Otherwise I get sandalwood, patchouli, and a little frankincense that gives it that spicy “sparkle” overlap with the warm spices that are also here. There’s other stuff going on too, and it definitely has some mystery notes in common with GC Baba Yaga. That scent is one I keep an imp of around because it fascinates me but ultimately feels unwearable for me. THIS on the other hand feels just beautiful despite some elements (almost industrial ink, bitter spices, gnarly patchouli) that threaten to go harsh. And it makes me feel more like myself. The definite winner out of my weenie decants.
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i definitely get the vanilla plaster feeling at first, along with orris...kind of dusty-powdery, almost like flour. several seconds later i get a tiny hint of the leather and fur...and something smells almost mildly spicy too. overall it's a dry orris-plaster. it's really interesting and i appreciate it for that, but i would probably wear it rarely...even though i like it. also i am trying in cold fall weather...i think this might work better in warmer early spring weather. perhaps i'll retry it then,.
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It's one of those red white and blue bomb pop things you get from the ice cream truck. 🍧 That is exactly what this smells like. This was a generous freebie 5ml from GoldenRubee. I like to smell things like this before looking at the reviews, and I'm so glad I did - because I think it's something totally different to me and... honestly, I think it's probably what the lab was going for as a concept.
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On the container, the blossom/floral element is the strongest, but it is recognizably apple blossom. On application, it's a lovely dewy, crisp apple scent. It goes on fairly strong, but stays close to the skin once it's sunk in. At that point, it smells more similar to how it did in the container. The scent has serious staying power, I can still smell it although it's 23 hours after applying. It has faded quite a bit, but I'm surprised. The texture is maybe a bit thicker than a HoG body butter. I'm glad the decant I got was in a jar because that's just my preferred format generally, but I think it might be a bit thick for a squeeze bottle. I'll have to wear some more to see if it stands up to winter dryness.
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Initial impression: lime-flavored Lifesavers candy mingled with a bit of Jolly Ranchers and mints. Very sugary and strong. Wet on skin: I get the apple more clearly. I think it's the green aspect I was reading as lime. The candy aspect has calmed down. Four hours later: still going strong, now with a slightly tannic edge, but still bright and tart.
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Starts with graveyard dirt, surrounded by that cool glow from Dorian and warmed by Snake Oil’s spices. Their shared vanilla then comes to the fore. I love the combination of cool vanilla and spiced soil ! As it progresses there is a gradual darkening and warming of the vanilla note, while the clean fougere aspects of Dorian come out to play. I always think there is a clean aspect to graveyard dirt’s moss, and this just amps that part of the scent up. But there is still an undercurrent of ever warmer vanilla and spices. Eventually the warming element here becomes legible as musks and patchouli and for a moment I love it. The patchouli in particular is deep dark and sultry, but somehow retains a lot of what I like about lighter versions of this note that I’ve encountered in other SO variants. I notice the ambient musks start to turn a little weird and then—horror of horrors—something in Hiss and Hearse turns sour. I’m talking vinegar level, almost ammonia sour. NOOOOOOO!! As an enjoyer of Dorian and Graveyard Dirt this was checking a lot of boxes for me before things went south. I am gonna hold onto this decant and hope things improve !
- Yesterday
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In Canada we used to have these chocolate bars (not really bars but they were sold in the chocolate bar section) called Cherry Blossoms that consist of a syrupy cherry encased in milk chocolate with coconut and peanut. Sadly they were discontinued this year, but Choco-Bordello is the upgraded perfume version of a gourmand dessert based on them.. Amaretto gives me syrupy cherry vibes. Sweet (but not too sweet), boozy, delicious, edible, and tempting.
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oh WOW! This is good. Obviously, you've got this macadamia as the headliner and she's incredible. The sweet beeswax, the old paper and leather, the teakwood, the hearth smoke... all provide such a beautifully dark, dense and cozy atmosphere. So smooth and rich.
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My friend Sarah had several Halloween parties throughout middle school and high school and her mom would always make this punch that was like 7-Up and rainbow sherbet, and this really reminds me of that! Very fizzy, tart citrus out of the bottle/when first applied, but then it quickly disappears. Then the focus shifts to the strawberry and plum. The plum! The plum makes everything richer and a bit darker. But then... the citrus-y fizz comes back into the picture a bit more. Fizzy, fruity. Kind like... Sweet Tarts? Or this aforementioned Halloween punch my friend Sarah's mom made? It's kind of all blending back together again. Honestly, it's kind of like being at a Halloween party. You mingle with the different notes and then settle into a corner with a good conversation and see the party as a whole. It really, really reminds me of that punch. Ahh memories!
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Dead Leaves, Salt and Sea Home & Linen Spray
wilhelmscream replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Atmosphere
I think that first review says it all! Definitely getting "sleepy, spooky small coastal town in Autumn" vibes from this. It smells like a cold, grey day at the beach. Fresh and sort of cologne-y, but with a quiet, spooky edge. -
After many years of struggling to get the most out of our website, we've decided to commit to a major refurbishing, hopefully as soon as January. We're looking forward to all kinds of increased functionality, streamlining things for the customer as well as on our end. However, we've been advised that a lot of customer and back-end information will not survive this transfer. Your order history on the old site, for example, will no longer be accessible on the new platform. Your reviews *on the BPAL website itself* will no longer be accessible (the BPAL.org forum is its own domain, and will not be affected by the migration). If you wish to save any of this information, please do so by the end of the calendar year. Past that point, as we proceed with the site overhaul, we can no longer guarantee the preservation of that data. If we can think of anything else to add to this list, we'll definitely let you know. That brings me to the sad subject of wish lists: we'd recently asked folks to please back up their wish lists, as some critical function had been lost and we were going to try to repair it. As it turns out, we were not able to fix the wish list system, and that info is now unrecoverable. We're terribly sorry if you did not hear about this in time to save everything. This situation is one of the many ongoing problems that has inspired us to make the leap and join the 21st century (in this one small way, at least). We'll be sharing more news about this renovation as we have it! And I'll try to circulate this info as widely as possible so fewer folks are caught unawares. You're welcome to reach out with questions if you have them, although I don't have much additional info at this time. Please just know that as an online retailer, we're very enthusiastic about the fresh possibilities likely to come from having a navigable retail website. Just imagine!
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Powdery violets and incense, with just enough spice and sweetness to keep things warm and cozy. Love this!
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Happy holidays are on the horizon, and per our custom, we're hoping to encourage folks to support smaller businesses during the great consumeriffic shopathon dance-battle this holiday weekend. So, into every order over $24 (before shipping) placed on Friday November 28th through Monday, December 1st, we will lovingly enclose a free stash of the following 1/32 oz. pie-themed perfume oils: ✤ MATCHA LATTE CREAM PIE We're that relative who tries to make everyone try a green pie! This one dances lightly on the palate. ✤ LONDON FOG CREAM PIE A velvety, sophisticated concoction for the ages! ✤ STRAWBERRY LEMONADE PIE A burst of summer sun to treasure during the icy months ahead. ✤ BOMBASTIC SUBTROPICAL TURQUOISE CREAM PIE Disclaimer: this perfume oil is not blue, it is not combustible, and it is not caffeinated. As I've mentioned in past years, we GREATLY appreciate your help in spreading the word about what we do, – whether it's this Free Gift promo, or our brand new Yule collection, or just BPAL in general. This time of year it's awfully hard to break through the static, even to folks who are already following us. By sharing our posts, writing reviews, or otherwise recommending our work to others, you help expand our reach exponentially. Believe me, it makes a big difference. May all of your bajas be absolutely blasted in the festive weeks to come!
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My half-hour talk “Star Wars and Resistance” is now on YouTube as part of the SPACE Showcase. My talk kicks in around 11 minutes into the Showcase. This talk is a “sneak peek” into my new three-part online module for SPACE (Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education) for Signum University in Spring 2026. The Signum University Webathon 2025!: SPACE Showcase And here are the details of my Spring Star Wars modules. Rebellions Are Built On Hope: A Star Wars Series Over nearly half a century of storytelling, Star Wars has challenged audiences to find their own agency and power in the face of injustice and tyranny. The Star Wars works Andor (2022, 2025), Rogue One (2016), and A New Hope (1977) fit together to provide a story of resistance, resilience, and rebellion built on a deep engagement with history, philosophy, and political thought. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as we consider how Star Wars wrestles with big ideas, invites conversation and action, and inspires hope in unprecedented times. This SPACE series consists of three hybrid modules: Module 1 (Feb. 2026) covers the series Andor, Season 1 (more info here); Module 2 (March 2026) covers the series Andor, Season 2 (more info here); and Module 3 (April 2026) covers the films Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (more info here). View the full post.
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Wow, a very cozy and warm scent. That macadamia is front and center enveloped in a subtle dry smokiness that keeps it interesting. I’m not really getting the leather that others seem to, but I may just not be as familiar with it. After about a half hour on the skin is when that delectable beeswax starts to be the main player. It’s a good thing I don’t mind looking nuts (ha ha) constantly sniffing my wrist. If you like nutty gourmands that have just a touch of sweetness, then this may be a new favorite.
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Wet: bright, bright fizzy blood orange. The fizz reads soapy on me, like I stepped into a bubble bath full of orange peels. Dry: the blood orange had evaporated and that’s when that yummy plum note took over. This one didn't last very long on me, but it was so lovely while it was there.
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It is nothing short of magical how they were able to perfectly capture this passage as a scent. The blackened blackberry note is so special here. Like others have said, it comes out (as if it was creeping) after drying down, following that lovely wet, green grass and honeysuckle opening. Whatever it is that is blackening the berry gives it a jam-like almost resinous aspect to it. Just perfect. I have to appreciate this scent too because it made me discover that I am a f-r-e-a-k for grass. I received this as a decant (thank you Saeva^) and I’ll definitely be purchasing a full bottle of this one.
- Last week
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2025 version Having just smelled the Clove and Sweet Incense duet a few days ago, I definitely smell those exact same two notes here in the bottle almost immediately. This bat is punchy, screechy, LOUD and ready to take a bite out of anyone who gets too close. I put a wand size dab onto my skin and Holy Toledo, Batman - it fills the room. Are we sure there is no red musk in there? I could swear it is lurking in the background. The drydown is a bit of a rough ride for me, with the anise undertones of the clove really making it hard to smell much else. But patience is a virtue!! The sugared patchouli was waiting for me on the other side of it. Very assertive projection and 8+ strong hours of presence on skin. My shirt sleeve absorbed quite a bit of scent so it will be interesting to see if it all comes out in the wash or not! I think I like Snootier Bat better for regular wear, with more leather and less clove in that variation, but this is a total banger in it's own right, time and place. Not work safe or small enclosed space safe; you'll want to wear this to a club, festival or show where you want every nose turning in your direction.
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I love it! I definitely would agree with other reviewers that this is somewhat heavier on the carnation than the perfume oil version, but it's still recognizably Alice, with the other notes coming through clearly, playful and cheering and with a hint of a sharp wit. The throw and longevity are both strong. I was frimped a decant of this one, and went to buy a bottle very quickly as I knew I would quickly go through my tiny decant (and I like to save hair gloss decants to travel with) - it pairs well with so many of my perfumes, and its playfulness makes it a very appealing hair gloss choice for everyday wear. As a lover of florals and musks, my favorite hair glosses have ended up often being very elegant and sexy to me, which is a delight and I so much love having all of them, but it means that Alice really fills a gap for (I previously tried Razors in a Doll's House for this niche, but it ended up being rather too sweet for my taste). I am so happy to have a bottle of this now.
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Glittering, aldehydic, pale amber; I agree with previous reviewers that it has an enrapturing salty-sweet combination to it which is both pretty and slightly mysterious. I suspect this would go sharp on my skin, so it's lovely to have it in hair gloss form, where it can shine alongside my amber-centric perfumes, which all have more sweetness or floral to soften them. This doesn't have quite so much throw or longevity as my other bpal hair glosses; it's a little subtler, but quite lovely. I ordered a squirt of this from the lab with my last bottle order, and am very pleased I did, though I am going to need to wear it some more times to decide whether I will get a bottle of it. I go through hair gloss so much more quickly than I go through perfume and so the bar for buying a bottle is much lower on these for me; I can tell this one is going to pair well with many of my perfume collection, but I'm not quite sure it feels a niche I need.
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i got a frimp of this and i really like it. i smell the dead leaves and something that definitely feels like an atmospheric airy sort of scent, mixed with a hint of something smoky/leathery. it really smells like you're sitting in an old car with leather seats driving with the windows open.
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Nobility and haughtiness befitting the Antichrist: sage, carnation and cedar with lavender, vanilla, white musk and leather. I would be sorely disappointed if this ever disappeared from the GC. Leather, lavender and cedar are most prominent in the bottle, and the carnation joins the party when applied to skin. While I can detect the sage with deeper sniffs, it's really not medicinal or herbaceous, and the white musk is sparingly incorporated. Vanilla may be present but doesn't add much to the party for my skin. Others have noted the leather taking a front seat here and I enthusiastically agree. This is a scent for kicking butt and taking names, best worn as an amplifier of assertive and commanding energy. I like it for any situation requiring one to keep control of themselves and silently bend others to their will, Jedi style. Moderately strong projection and 6-7 robust hours of presence on skin.
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This one is much more than the sum of its parts. It is at once recognizable as a “perfume” of a familiar genre (spiced amber) and also evocative of the landscape in the poem, replete with dead grasses and leaves, and stiff, blackened seed heads. I don’t even really want to discuss notes here because none of them dominate, but I suppose the most important are the black amber and the khus on my skin. There was some combination up top that was momentarily unpleasant, probably the dead leaves with the chrysanthemum. But even that felt very reminiscent of a damp, dying landscape. The rest is straightforwardly gorgeous, deep but not overwhelming. I find this to be one of the driest (in terms of sweetness) amber blends from BPAL I have tried: a dark brown amber with almost bitter spicy, incense, and green elements. It is all melancholic beauty that is difficult to put into words. — My boyfriend immediately asked what I was wearing when I walked into the room he was in and told me he really liked it. So I guess there is a lot of throw right off the bat. He also said that it reminded him of magazine perfume strips from the 90s (?). Maybe CK Obsession ?
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Clean, sexy, soapy mountain man straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. This scent comes out of the imp strong and stays that way on skin, pleasant and refreshing. I would much rather smell it on Chad Michael Murray but it's not too bad on me, either!
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i love the art for this and i covet that dress. anyhoo it opens with red musk and something animalic, which is the black velvet note perhaps (?) it's oud-y. i then get some amber and maybe champaca but it's not all that floral.another reviewer mentioned nag champa and i totally smell it now. however this is mostly animalic oud on me that doesn't want to calm down. i get no rose and maybe a tiny bit of champaca? i think this would be gorgeous on someone else but it's not working for me.
