darling

It's been a while since I made a purchase from bpal, but I'm sure glad I did once the new Autumn LE's launched. I've come to the realization that less is more with me, as I tend to fancy the blends that consist of very few notes. Katrina van Tassel. I've always been a snot when it comes to rose. majority of the time it's a flower I do not care for, especially in any perfume situation. I tend to find it too stale and claustrophobic for me. I decided to give Kat a whirl, well.. because I did, and gut instincts are my forté. hesitant at first that maybe it would be that rose I loathed, as opposed to the hope it would be one I loved. pleasantly surprised I'll say. it's delicate, in a manner that is understated and totally appreciated. the subtly works as the rose is not an overpowering statement but aids in the clean wafting marriage with the honeyed cream. on the days that I feel abundance is not necessary, innocence is doting, and a close graze of the skin evokes a calming pleasure, I'll fancy this bottle.

I definitely smell lemons personally. however once dried down I did get the distinct pear and white wine effect. but more on the stale side. I'm slightly torn over this one. It might be nice blended with other scents.

Dirty is lovely in my mind as my wrist has been perpetually placed under my nose to inhale the sweet scents. I definitely favor fragrances that are on the lighter side, so Dirty was shoe in. I do agree with the general consensus on plumeria, however to me sometimes the flower tends be be borderline sickly sweet, this stays very fresh and airy. I personally got a subtle waft of sparkling pear when I first applied, but that settled quickly. I thoroughly enjoy this blend, and is rather fitting applied after a shower, before bed.

A bpal novice.. 'Tis my first review, and as I've noticed there seems to be somewhat of a guideline people follow as far as reviewing goes.. but I just plan to write as I babble. I've been looking for a decent coconut fragrance for quite some time, and unfortunately those that I've stumbled upon never really tickled my fancy, because they either turn stale, or something in the blend and my chemistry, just does not agree. It could also be due to the fact that I'm ridiculously picky.. as one should be. I adore coconut, in every sense. We have an amazing gelatto place in my town that makes a to-die-for coconut sorbet every summer, and I just want to slather myself in it. I've tried multiple oils from different shops, mainly straight coconut scent, and despite smelling utterly scrumptious in the bottle, once on skin it does not agree. Something is always off.. such a pity when you deeply adore a certain smell and it just doesn't flow with you as much as you'd wish it to. Laura Mercier makes an amazing almond coconut milk body souffle that myself and co-workers would apply during shifts. (p.s. although I'm not a smoker, a good chunk of my friends are, and this seriously masks smoke stained hands for a quick fix) It would waft around you, people could smell the trail of it as you passed. And not in that, oh-my-word-what-in-god's-name-did-this-person-do-dousing-themselves-obscenely-with-FAR-too-much-fragrance. Moreso.. a beautiful linger. I wanted to find that same effect in a perfume. Anywho.. enough jibba jabba. Obatala seriously makes my heart go pitter patter, I considered getting Eden as a staple coconut scent in full size, and Obatala in the imp, but at the last minute swapped the two, and I'm so glad I did. It seriously lived up to expectations for me, the scent from the bottle was absolutely gorgeous, and I dabbed my pulse points instantly. I have to admit for a hot second I was second guessing it, because while settling on my skin I did get that stale effect as I mentioned early, but that quickly passed. To me Obatala is a very comforting and inviting smell, it's warm and welcoming in every sense. I know this fall into the foody category, but I do not find it as sickly sweet as I would label majority of edible inducing scents. And thankfully so.. because I'm not the hugest of overly sugartastic fragrance. The shea reminds me moreso of butter cream and the coconut remains very milky and fresh. For a newbie to the joys of Black Phoenix, I'm very much so satisfied with my frst purchase, and will keep this scent as a stample in my daily vanity routine.