samarablackcat

By the time the Cobwebs III box arrived, this was just a sniffie . I get honeyed musk with pale florals behind it. Resinous. Elusive. Damn.

I almost didn't try this after sniffing, but something said "Dooo eeet!" and I am so glad I did.

It must be teak wood, as this reminds me of Antikythera Mechanism a lot, but there is an added ingredient that turns a tad powdery. A very close relative of AM for sure!

I guess my nose is broken! From this scent first I get lime (what is it with me? all of the protos I have been testing sing lime to me!) and musk. As it dries, a white floral appears; soft, gentle. Also lurking underneath a slight whisper of benzoin or mint; which, I cannot discern. I keep sniffing to see what other hidden treasures lay within.

I concur...this starts off as lavender in the imp, so much so that I thought it was just lavender, but the second it hits my skin this unfolds into something fabulous...girly, sweet but not cloying, floral but not heady. Not my typical type of scent (I prefer scents of a darker nature) but I find myself wishing for a decant of my own to test further. I would love to see some version of this in Somnium

PL 176 smells exactly like peeling an orange, with the droplets of juice spraying in the air, filling your space with a refreshing scent. And for once, an orange blend that doesn't go powdery on me.

Although, I could have sworn that it was lime when I first smelled it. Silly nose!

Wow. Just wow.

Much silkier and smoother that the other oils I have tried from the Post. I primarily use this as an after-shower oil, although I will definitely be using this in the tub as well.

It is everything I love about Snake Oil and more. It reminds me of fresh Snake Oil, all sweet with the promise of depth upon aging. It fills my personal space, lingering on my skin for a long time (applied yesterday afternoon; still wafting gently twenty hours later). Skin is still as smooth as when first applied...and that's saying something! No need for applying and reapplying lotion throughout the day.

I am very pleased with this overall and hope that this will become a part of the regular catalog. After only one use, I cannot imagine this not being part of my daily routine.

Thanks for making a fantastic product!

Oh my...that is exquisite! Thank you!

In Reilig Oran - you can click on the pic too to zoom in further. It's a GORGEOUS label!

I had a Freudian slip last night at work...I called bpal BUY-PAL. Which it totally is

This is more than I had hoped for.

I get more green, no vanilla that I am aware of, and if there is leather here, it's hiding...

There is something oddly familiar in this scent, almost old books that have been weathered in an ancient barn, kept dry by the hay but still affected by dampness. But no dust, thankfully; to me that usually means orris, which, of late does bad things on me.

Yes, I definitely get the recently unearthed bit. Reminds me of being a child, foraging through old, deserted barns, covered with vines, finding old magazines and books, forgotten and aged by wind, dust and water. Summer excursions, with the sun warm; pulling away the weeds to reveal hidden treasures. The green/brown resin that is left on your hands after pulling the weeds away.

Almost resinous, no, more herbaceous. An occasional whisper of what I think is vanilla.

I am certain that this will only get better with age. So evocative in its youth, this will grow into a seductive scent.

I have been putting off buying a bottle of Oya, but now is a good time to add her to my cart. Oh please, let it be the more plummy one and not as herbally(but if it is, I guess it could wing its way to tartchef, lol). FWIW, I don't get almond (although it may be as my nose confuses cherry and almond while wet) and it dries to a nice plum/light incense.

Chrysanthemum Moon, Snake Oil and some of the Snake Pit: Temple Viper and King Cobra.

Prospero and Makhanitis.

I prefer heavy scents, in part due to their lasting power. And yes, at least on me, fresh Snake Oil lasts forever.

And here's a bpal truism: if you don't like a scent, or if it has Notes of Doom TM, it will not go away (Samhainphobia, I'm looking at you)

In the decant, rich cacao.

Wet, more rich cacao with a tad of something thrown in to sweeten the mixture. This is really good! I am not a chocolate/cacao/foodie person at all. And black musk?

Drying, the cacoa takes the background as the musk and tobacco do the dance of seduction...warm, schexy and just a little sweet. Oh, you temptuous vixen, swirling in clouds of nom nom nom without ever being foodie. A definite winner, and a total surprise for me. Will be looking for more scents with tobacco absolute in the future.

Wet, I get a sweet, green smell, not like grass, more herbal, and something that reminds me of lemon, a fresh scent, per se, not tart. And yet in the background is...acetone? And incense... light, wafting, but sharp. Reminds me as it dries of No. 93 Engine...must be the opobalsamum.

A very herbaceous scent, and morphed into a scent very reminiscent of the forest. Intriguing.

Since Orobot, I am a sucker with anything with Terebith pine.

Wet, the smells reminds me Illustrated Woman. Remember when you first got your bottle? The smell of the pine pitch? This starts off reminding me of that pine pitch. But as it dries, the pitch mellows; mixing with the Terebith pine gives it just a touch of sweetness. The clove adds a nice, sharp edge, but not so sharp you get cut.

So far, this is by far my favorite Yule this year. I have found that I do quite well with fewer ingredients, and Gacela of the Dark Death does not disappoint. Simple, spicy and a touch of sweetness. Melancholy but hopeful.

Wow!

Wet, this starts off with the scent of red peppers that have been taken out of the freezer, still frozen, and chopped. Something a little sweet starts to pop out.

As this dries, the sweet rounds out, playing with the musk. This scent is the red color of a not-quite-ripe-pepper. I am not sure what camilla smells like, but it must be what is giving this the roundness. The multi-colored musks are very gentle, more like a skin musk, but yet, and I don't know how she does it, shimmery. Vibrating. Very alive.

I agree with the reviewers who felt this is more of a spring rain or early autumn scent. Not winter, not yet...

eta:

As this dries, this becomes a soft floral, very sweet and no peppers to be found. Very feminine. I am anxious to see if the musks emerge as this ages.

The First Soft Snow is not a soft snow at all. It's a sharp, piercing cold which has frozen the narcissus, covered in ice, its beauty hidden under the ice.

To accentuate those recommended scents in a soap form ...

Have you tried Grundy by Villainess? To me, her soap seem the perfect complement to many BPAL scents. Here is the description form her website:

Grundy:Swamp moss and fresh-turned earth with a ruthless heart of vetiver, and a distinguished splash of bay rum.

Not as dark as it sounds, and its perfect for layering soap (and lotion) with bpal scents.

Yorick and Graveyard Dirt are perfect with Grundy. Try searching for the Haunted House Halloweenies from 07, especially The Twisted Oak Tree (Blackened, rotted oak wood blanketed in moss and choked by a cloak of grasping ivy.)

HTH

Pirate Moon and The Phoenix were both forum-only scents for Beth and Ted's wedding, October 31, 2007. A little piece of bpal history

Avast thar! On Octobree th' 31st, Pirate Moon be hangin' high in th' sky! Mad Bess Moriarty, Scourge o` th' Se`en Seas, an' Captain T.J. Barrial wi' be joinin' the'r spirits in unholy matrimony! This scent be created t' commemorate th' union o' these two scurrilous sea dogs.

So, splice th' mainbrace an' get thee loaded t' th' gunwales, me buckos, 'tis a time o' celebration!

Red musk, ambergris, coconut palm, red sandalwood, balsam, date, warm leather, tobacco, ebony, lingum vitae wood, pandanus grass, an' a touch o' lime.

20 Dubloons, ya swabbie!

and

This naval galleon was boarded and commandeered in 1713 on the order of Mad Bess Moriarty, along with a fat fleet of ships bearing precious oils, rare resins, and exotic spices. Once the vessels were secured, Mad Bess selected the finest, fittest galleon from the ships that they had acquired, and chose it to be her flagship. Her crew set to work knocking down the cabins, making the ship flush fore and aft, and painting her low sides were painted black, with one thin riband of orange. They prepared black colors, and set bloodshot, glaring occuli along the entirety of the hull. A new figurehead was carved in the shape of a flame-wreathed, screaming bird, and the ship was sanctified with wine, rum, and the blood of their enemies.

Mounted with 52 guns, and manned with the fiercest pirates to sail the Seven Seas, she was rechristened "the Phoenix".

Sea air, gunpowder, lime, salt-crusted wood, a splash of blood, and a dribble of Snake Oil.

Where is the fruit? Oh you have forsaken me, and this lovely tribute to Pomona sadly is all acetone, all the time. So sad. I had such high hopes for this one. Alas, we were not meant to be together, you and I.

Roses. But not freshly cut, juicy with a drop of dew on them (think Rose Red). Roses, as they have been drying for a few months. Dry skeletons of their former selves. Sitting in a vase that has also collected some dust, as they are too fragile to clean without falling apart. Something in here reminds me of Parlement of Foules. White rose and soft resins.

Not picking up the neroli or orris, per se, but I am sure the dustiness is the orris. I am hoping as it ages the sandalwood and patchouli will help to keep this from screaming floral, and will come out a tad more.

Brings to mind an antique vanity with dried rose potpourri strewn in the drawers.

The Song "Dead Flowers" by The Rolling Stones keeps playing in my head.

I can't wear pumpkin, but so tempted just for the labels!

I am not a floral girl, but this is heavenly!

My nose recognizes something as apple. I am unable to pick out any individual notes, probably because this is outside of my normal choices.

Very sweet as it dries, and to me, definitely not a winter scent. Like walking through a garden in the spring with all the vines and flowers bursting out with flowers after a gentle rain shower. Very pretty and feminine, and on my skin, no hint of sage. Perfect for daytime.

Thanks to my Sunbird partner for a chance to try this

The first thing I smell is ohhai! red musk with bitter clove strewn in for good measure. Something about this wet reminds me of Mme Moriarty (?).

As it dries, there are some warm ingredients under the surface that never come to fruition...if I place my nose close to my arm, I get the myrrh and a tad of sharpness, which I'm guessing is the cinnamon leaf. But there is a gentle waft arising as I type which is warm and not too sweet. Reminds me of an exotic pastry, not too sweet, baking in the oven.

Very evocative of a warm, sunny day. The oil color is perfect for this representation also...not-too-dark brown with a red glow! And yes, it will age beautifully!

Comparing the two versions side-by-side, I concur the Hellion v2 is deep, dark, juicy plum. Not sweet...the cinnamon and clove take care of that. The original is a little sweeter, lighter, with the champaca flower more prominent in the drydown.

I don't get the scorched sandalwood in the released version, but as V2 dries, sandalwood and clove round out the scent, making this very earthy and schexy.

As I step outside to do mundane chores in the high Florida humidity, V2's plumminess is very happy here in this element. The incense in the released version is more prominent.

All in all, it's like trying to pick your favorite between a set of twins; how can you choose one over the other? Impossible! Very subtle nuances, but both still near and dear to the heart.

So glad to have this! Thank you Cobwebby Faerie!

I am not at all surprised there is a thread for this. Seeing Incubus tomorrow night (didn't intend to, but the tickets are really good and really free), and my first thought (WELL before "what clothes do I wear?") was "what BPAL do I wear?"

 

I. Just. Don't. Know.

For me, Makhanitis. Plummy incense wafting to the gods that we call Incubus. yesh.

*drools*