scarletgenesis

Hunger wet (both in the imp and once applied) smells of smokey chocolate oranges. Yum. On drydown, I get more flowery and vanilla, though the orange is still there in the background. It has food notes without smelling overall foodie. I'm liking this much more than the typical 'flower' scent, but don't think I need a bottle. It might be good for when I want to smell 'girly sexy' (as opposed to sultry sexy, or naughty sexy!)

Jabberwocky is a good scent for when you have the sniffles (as I currently do). In bottle and Wet - pine, eucalyptus, and orange. This is the first scent where I've been able to smell all the listed notes in the bottle and while wet on my skin. Drydown - pretty much the same, though the orange is fading to a more general citrus. Also, the eucalyptus fades. I'm wearing it in a scent locket as well and the eucalyptus is still pretty strong. Actually, on my skin, this smells an awful lot like Old Moon and The Jersey Devil. Nice, but since I already have a bottle of Old Moon and one of the Jersey Devil on the way, I don't need another scent this similar.

vultureguy, Those boxes are gorgeous! I would love to come up with theme sets to get some friends interested in BPAL. I love the idea of a Jim Butcher/Harry Dresden theme. Is there a steak-flavored bpal? Cause I happen to know that Jim loves steak! (it's a long story, but essentially, he and his wife were at a con we attend a few years ago and we took them out to dinner) Actually though, I'd include one of the scents that has alot of wood notes. Michael is a carpenter, don't ya know! And probably some scent that signified knowledge and old paper, etc. for the Archive (b/c I love her). And is there a scent that smells of gun oil and courage? Because that's Murphy. A tree scent for the Chlorofiend. One of the wolf-scents for Billy and his gang. ____________________

Fruit of Paradise is like pomegranate porn. In the bottle: juicy, red, lovely, pomegranate . Wet: Incredibly spicy. Like mulled pomegranate wine. Cinnamon, clove, and an underlayer of pomegranate. Drydown: still lots of mulled spice here. I was hoping for more pomegranate and less spice, and it is currently the other way around on me. It's still lovely, and I'm hoping the pom comes out even more tart as it drys into my skin.

Midway Resurrected- Bottle- Mmmmmm. Buttery sweet kettle corn. There's definitely a salty-sweet popcorn note here. Also, massive amounts of cotton candy. Wet/applied - more of the same, but....oh no! Plastic! What did I do to deserve this?! It's not all plastic, but there's definitely a plastic toy smell in there somewhere. Drydown - ahhhh, ok the plastic seems to have faded after about 10-15 minutes, which is a relief. Now it's just nomnomnomnom, and I want to lick my arms and hair. I'm enveloped in a sugary, buttery, funnel cakey cloud of goodness. I get a hint of the suntan oil, but its mostly sugar and yummy edible things now. Interesting, that the oil in my scent locket still has the plastic smell to it. I wonder if its reaction with my skin makes that go away? I just read other recent reviews and it seems the plastic thing is fairly common. Weird, but this scent is everything it's described as. Not sure I'd want to wear it daily, so it probably won't trigger any hoarding instincts, but I'm glad I got a bottle. Later - It's almost 7pm and I can still faintly smell this on my skin (though it's fully functional in my locket). I just saw the movie Cloverfield, and there is a bit in there that made me think it was no coincidence that I wore Midway today, of all days.

rawrrrrr! Dorian starts out like musky tea, kind of sharp and refined. Then once it dries, the tea remains (like black tea steeped for a lonnnnnggggg time, and the sugary vanilla comes out, along with something that almost smells of lavender. Amazing on me and in the scent locket both. This has a lovely transition and I definitely need a bottle soon. I could BATHE in Dorian! edited to add: after I wrote this, I went to make tea. I used one of my favorite Welsh blends (similar to earl grey, but a bit milder), and mixed in heavy cream as usual. Then I looked at my lonely bottle of Vanilla Paste from Trader Joe's, which I bought but had never used. It's vanilla with sugar, so it's sort of a syrup consistency. I put about 1/2 a teaspoon into my tea, and stirred until the sugar dissolved. OMG Dorian! This combination IS the tea/sugar/vanilla that I get from Dorian. The vanilla paste just gives a slight sweetness to the tea, with a vanilla overtone. Wonderful and comforting.

In the bottle: Citrus and a sharpness that may be ginger. Also, a bit of sandlewood. Wet/Once applied: Yup, that's grapefruit! But it is sweeter, maybe b/c of the vanilla and sugar cane? Drydown: still a nice sweet citrus, but there's something else there. A bit of resin, definitely, and the barest hint of sandalwood. Interestingly, I have this in both a scent locket and on my skin. As it dries on my skin, it almost takes on a creamy note. It's very nice and comforting, like rice pudding or something (without the cardemom and other spices). Could this be the vanilla, or just my skin chemistry? I don't know, but I like it. In the locket, it stays pretty much the same as it smells wet, just applied to my skin. So I can compare this in two different states. I also put a tiny bit in my hair as it was drying. It smells somewhere between the two states listed above. Gorgeous and seemless! Whether wet or dry, Hungry Ghost Moon is a winner. It doesn't have as much throw as I might like, but that's ok. I seem to amp citrus notes so that is promenant, but just lovely with all the other complexities here. Edited: and thus continues the saga of the ever morphing HGM. I was in my car when I kept getting whiffs of what smelled EXACTLY like Cinnabon. Now, I've not eaten at a Cinnabon in at least 15 years, so there was no chance I'd left something in my car. I smelled my hair, where I'd put a tiny bit of HGM this morning and THAT was what smelled of Cinnabon. Huh? It's absolutely wonderful, and makes no sense whatsoever.

This is going to be a strange review. I have an imp of O, and can't recall if I purchased it or if it was frimped. Either way, I decided to try it today. Now, I could not remember the lab description before trying this, but I HAVE read the story. So I was expecting something...different. I totally expected the vanilla, but wasn't expecting the scent to be so, sweet and nice. It IS sexy, don't get me wrong. I think the amber serves to make it a bit more heady. In the imp, all I get is non-foody vanilla. Very nice and simple. Once on, the vanilla stays, but there is an undercurrent of amber swirling it's way in there. VERY NICE. Now, the caveats...I have developed another cold, and so my nose may not be up to snuff, so to speak. Plus, I am super stressed about a few things. I also weighed myself this morning for the first time in about six months, and after seeing how much weight I've gained in the past year, I am NOT feeling sexy. So maybe I should try this again, when I'm in a better frame of mind to evaluate the Sex-worthiness of "O".

I really like Old Moon. It's light, without being simple. I tried The Jersey Devil, and find that on me, they smell very similar. They both have a citrusy, winter-berry thing going on, with the piney/juniper scent underneath, which is just gorgeous. So, just a suggestion for those looking to duplicate Old Moon in your collection, try Jersey Devil! (I got 1 bottle of Old Moon, and after trying Jersey Devil, I ordered a bottle of that as well).

Samhain 2007 I just tried this last night. I actually mixed it with some unscented lotion that I put on right before going to bed, so my initial review is based upon that experience. I also have notes from wearing it by itself as an oil. In the bottle: Smoky. A huge bonfire in a clearing at the edge of the forest. A hint of spice as well. Once applied: Gorgeous candied apples! A small amount of spice, but mostly the candied apple notes. I love this and it's the perfect fall scent. Works for winter also, since the apples I'm getting are decidedly crisp NOT baked. I still smell this on my arms almost 12 hours after application! SO glad I got this. Normally, I amp patchouli, and I'm really picky about which scents I end up liking with patchouli notes, so I wasn't very excited about potentially smelling that. But happily, I don't get any patchouli at all with Samhain! I'm going to wear this today and sniff myself all day! As oil (without mixing with lotion), this gets more spicy, though thankfully I can still smell primarily candied apples. But now, I also get lots of clove and cinnamon underneath. I love it!

Is it me, or does the Jersey Devil smell like Old Moon a bit? I realize that’s backwards b/c Old Moon came after this, but I tried Old Moon before Jersey Devil. Both of them have a citrus-y opening on my skin, then eventually give up that wintry forest smell that is so gorgeous, plus some very mild berry notes. I tried the Jersey Devil today for the first time, and am liking it thus far (I applied it about 2 hours ago). I will have to try out Old Moon again this weekend, or maybe do a side by side comparison (one on each wrist). I love the cranberry. It’s very slightly sweet, with that tartness blending nicely with the cedar (which is just beginning to come out and OMG!) Plus, I love the Repairman Jack series (by F.Paul Wilson), and the Pine Barrens figure prominently in at least one book, so that rocks as well. Edited: I put this on at about 4am and it is now almost 8pm. I can STILL smell this bad boy and he's wonderful! Yessss precioussss.

Yeah! A comfort scent with staying power on me! In the imp, Fruitcake smells like cake that is absolutely DRENCHED in brandy. Imagine you took an incredibly buttery poundcake and positively marinated it in a bowl of brandy, then covered it all with candied cherries. That is Fruitcake in a nutshell. And the best part is...it still smells like that on me 12 hours later! The brandy faded somewhat throughout the day (probably good since I was at work, and don't want people to think I came straight from the bar), but I can still smell it on my wrist at 430pm (I applied it before 430am this morning, so this baby keeps on going!) My boss happened to be eating fruitcake for lunch this afternoon at around 2pm (yeah, we are so busy that we develop weird eating schedules), and I walked into her office to talk with her. I held my wrist up to her nose and said "Fruitcake!" and she got this surprised look on her face and said "You're right!" So....this is wonderful and comforting and I wish it came in bottles already! SO glad my skin didn't morph this into something weird and icky. Score another Lab Victory.

I put this on last night after taking a bath, so I had no other scents on me. I just wanted something really comforting and relaxing while I went to sleep. In the bottle: Very rich chocolate. Wet/Once applied: Still a gorgeous chocolate, and something else that smells like clove. In fact, it reminds me of Lush's Skinny Dip a bit. Drydown: Now, in addition to everything else, I'm getting some myrrh, and the smell (or more sensation) of clean, warm, skin. Additionally, there is something else here, almost like a very mild lavendar that is mixing with the cocoa and just smelling lovely. This scent was indeed incredibly comforting and warm. I wish it would have stayed longer, because it was gone in a few hours for the most part. Because of that, I may not get a bottle (but I may change my mind). This would be a great scent for those depressing days I just want to curl up with hot chocolate and eat a bowl of ice cream (diet aid anyone?).

Though Old Moon has alot going on in terms of "ingredients", it seems to be a rather clean, simple scent underneath it all. I like that, and think that it will be a good one to energize me when I need a pick me up. In bottle- citrus! Woah! wet/on application:still citrus with a spicy undertone (juniper/evergreen) drydown: citrus...winter berries dry: evergreen. Very crisp with a bit of resin. Still some citrus and berry which sweetens (but not cloyingly so) and lightens it up some. Quite lovely. Later...this is gorgeous, and I keep catching whiffs of it when I turn my head. I think this is a good gender-neutral scent as well. I may eventually need to get another bottle. ETA: Is it me, or do Old Moon and the Jersey Devil smell alot alike? I'm okay with it, since I think they are both amazing. But I wanted to know if anyone else got this?

In Bottle: Musk, and....is that chocolate? I concur with an earlier post that mentions chocolate. Wet/once applied:still very chocolatey, but I'm also getting the honeysuckle and patchouli in addition to the musk. Drydown: NOW the ginger is coming out. Sexy. I applied this right before going to dinner (Italian), and during dinner as I sniffed my wrist, it made me vaguely nauseated. I thought there was something off about this scent (like rancid cooking or olive oil) and was about to be really disappointed. I am now home, and no longer get the "off" smell. It must have been a weird reaction to the scent mingling with the restaurant smells, thank goodness. I AM now getting more ginger and honeysuckle, with something peppery. This is, at once, a powerful and sexy scent on me. It's a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. She's the type that some would call "a pushy broad". If I continue to enjoy this, I may wear it next week when I start fencing again, just to show 'em who's boss! Edited to Add: so later in the evening, that sort of icky scent came back. I want to love War, but I'm not sure that she loves me. (pout). I will try her once more on some fabric in a locket in the hopes that it's just my wacky chemistry. If she persists in being difficult, I will have to swap her away.

In imp: Chocolatey goodness! All I can smell is rich, mexican hot chocolate (so a hint of cinnamon?) Wet, on application: still loads of cocoa and cinnamon and maybe a hint of honeysuckle? Drydown: Oh yes! There's some lovely myrrh and honeysuckle now. I still get a mexican hot chocolate and caramel mixed in with it. This is LOVELY. It's sexy, in a subtle kind of way. It's a woman with rich brown hair that she keeps up in a bun most of the time. But then, once a month, she goes to a latin dance club and pulls some unsuspecting stranger out onto the floor. There, she pulls the pins from her hair and lets it cascade down over her shoulders, releasing a wafting perfume that is at once predator and prey. Does this make any sense? I am completely enamoured with this scent. Edited to add: It's now late afternoon, about 4 hours after I applied this. I am having trouble smelling it now and cannot decide if it's because I have a cold, or because it fades quickly. I reapplied some a bit ago, b/c I loved sniffing my wrists. I hope it's just my stuffy head and not a trend, because I really want this to stay. I want to bathe in this stuff!

Villain came today in a small purchase I'd made (just 6 imps). I'm feeling cruddy and have a cold, so I honestly didn't expect to be able to smell much. But I haven't worn or sniffed anything from BPAL in a few days and just wanted to smell SOMETHING. So I tried this one... In bottle: woah aftershave! Spicy and very men's cologne-ish. Wet, on application: Hmmm. Some nice citrus coming through now, and the cologne smell is much gentler on my skin. Much more natural than commercial colognes. Drydown: I'm getting some lavender and a bit of sweet powder now, but still get the spice, musk, and a mild citrus. Verdict: I bet this would smell wonderful on my husband, if he let me put anything on him. Funny, he thinks nothing of taking coconut-scented bubble baths, but says he doesn't see the point of perfumes and the like. Very masculine and refined. I think it's rather sexy, actually. I even like it on myself, though I only used a tiny amount on each wrist this time. I'm impressed that I can smell this much!

I ordered Tintagel as an imp and just tried it out. Keep in mind that I have a nasty cold, so my senses may be a bit off right now. I like to try scents first without having the lab description in front of me, so that I can figure out how I think it smells before being 'influenced' by words, if that makes sense. In the bottle: Woah...booze! Specifically, red wine. Maybe something like wet grass (or maybe moss?) Wet, once applied: Still gorgeous red wine...red currants and cherries..also some pine maybe or moss? Drying and Dry: the wine, cherries/currants, and piney scent still remain and now I'm getting mulling spices like cinnamon and cloves. There are also very brief notes of something metallic, making this a bit more martial. In looking at the description, I think I did pretty well with identifying the scents. The pine I smelled was probably the juniper making its presence known. This is really not at all what I'd expect from a scent called Tintagel, but its completely lovely! Very comforting and complex all at the same time. I want to wait to try it again when I don't have a cold, to make sure I still enjoy it. If so, I may order a bottle. I am finding myself loving several scents, and have not even tried very many of them. Anyway, I believe this is another winner. Edited to Add (1/5) - I tried this again today. While I still like it, I am getting a very spicey holiday potpourri scent now that I didn't get last time I tried this. Very cinnamon-y. I would bet that this would be lovely in a room scent. I wish the wine scent and red fruit that I got before were lingering more.

I find that I like making my initial notes of a scent (at least in the bottle and wet once applied) before rechecking the BPAL description. That way, I'm not predisposed to smelling certain scents and can kind of let my nose do the detecting. Also, since I'm new at this, I like trying to figure out what I'm actually smelling to better train myself. Anyway... Got this as part of my imp order received yesterday. In bottle - rum or some kind of sweet scotch. A slightly musky floral... Wet, once applied to skin - Still a lovely booze smell, jasmine or some other similar smelling flower, something a bit resin-y Dry - now in addition to the booze and the floral (which is thankfully fading), I'm getting maybe some tobacco and a bid of a woody smell. So far, so good. I'm assuming the jasmine I thought I smelled was the gardenia and ylang ylang. I am not a huge fan of overwhelming florals so I'm glad it's taking backstage to the whiskey, tobacco, and wood on my skin. I really like this so far and look forward to seeing how it fares throughout the day. Edited to add: I also found a locket that I'd purchased in Ireland a few years ago. It is very small and only about big enough for a skittle to fit inside. There is a tiny celtic knot in the front with openings into the heart of the locket. Until now, I wore it b/c it was pretty, but not knowing what to put inside. Well now I know!!! I put a small piece of cotton with a few drops of this scent yesterday morning. The scent is still there today! So now I'm on the lookout for some scent lockets to add to my new addiction. The scent lasted a long time and was still very nice the next day in the locket.

Impressions from In Bottle and Wet are before reading the actual description. In Bottle - gingerbread/something warm and spicey, florals Wet / just applied - ginger and fruit, amber, something foody like vanilla Later/Dry - ahhhh. there's peach and vanilla. The amber tones down the fruit a bit, which is good. I didn't think I'd like this at first, but find it's really nice and light. Not too sweet. The heliotrope is coming out more now, and my mom even commented on it. The amber is giving it a bit of an edge on me, so it's not smelling like a little girl. This will probably make a good warm-weather scent.

I received Umbra as a freebie imp with my recent order and decided to try it today. These are my initial notes, without checking the BPAL description. My nose is as of yet, untrained, so I understand (after looking at the description) that some of my impressions were inaccurate. In bottle- ewww.. old flowers. Not sure about this. Wet - mild spice, hint of rose, something sharper and cold Drying - springwater and moss, wet forest leaves, cloves?, something musky, fading florals (thank goodness), something mildly sweet/foody. Dry 1 hour later - still sharp, probably too floral for my tastes Dry 2 hours later - much better. I get faint spice, still some sort of wet foliage, and something a bit sharp and cold. Not sure about the sandalwood/vetiver, as I think they may be creating the slight floral scent I still catch a whiff of every once in a while. I think if I could get rid of the floral notes, I'd really like this. As it stands, I'll have to wait and see if it tones down.

Forgive my crude review notes. This is the first thing I've received from BPAL and I am very excited to post my impressions. In the bottle- Kind of sharp and spicy. Nice, though Wet on wrist - There's a bit of masculine sweetness here, mixed with some musty exotic scent. Dry and later - the sweet and musty scent remains, with notes of something darker. I am in love with this scent. It gave me shivers as it dried on my wrist, and makes me want to do naughty things in a used bookstore. Oh yes! I put this on just a tiny bit (like 1 drop on each wrist) right before bed, and could still smell it faintly this morning when I awoke. I am going to use it a few more times, and if I still love it, I plan on trying Crowley. Edited to add: I put a bit more on today. It has just dried and there is a definite scent of something like a woodburning fire with leaves. Delicious!