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BPAL Madness!

VioletChaos

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Everything posted by VioletChaos

  1. All that glitters /is/ gold. This oils province covers everything the sun touches, and is used to bring you renown and glory Twilight Alchemy Labs Ascendancy Oil contains essential oils, absolutes, and CO2 extracts that are organically-grown and pesticide-free, and many of the oils components are first distillations from small farms. This oil includes steam-distilled Indian frankincense, angelica root from the TAL garden, fossilized amber oil (Oleum succini), Italian blood orange, C02 extract of hyssop, Texas cedarwood, angelica essential oil, steam-distilled French galbanum, bay leaves from the TAL garden, and frankincense tears. Ascendancy was actively charged over the course of a full year on the day and hour of Sol and floated with raw gold nuggets, pyrite, and five diamonds. In The Bottle: I get the Italian blood orange, twinges of the hyssop and the angelica straight away. It's heady and bright! Wet On Skin: The hyssop and the galbanum both become stronger with angelica morphing into sort of a heliotrope vibe. Dry Down: Softly citrus and amber with heliotrope. This is indeed a very "sunny" oil. I'm less concerned about how well I like a smell when its primary purpose is magickal workings. I say this because there are standard BPAL that smell similarly and I'd trade those away because heliotrope isn't something I generally wear. HOWEVER, this blend is really very positive, I can feel its bright vibrancy and I will definitely be bringing this to anoint the soles of my feet when I go to my graduation ceremony in a few months. It's high-energy yellow for me, and it's relating strongly with my Ajna chakra. I am prone to melancholy in the winter months, and I will absolutely reach for this when the sun starts to fade more quickly from the sky in the darker part of the year.
  2. VioletChaos

    Peace

    In the bottle there is definitely that heavy lavender that others mentioned, but I also get something that smells like violet flower, and it continues after I've applied it. It might be what some folks have mentioned as seeming like chamomile, but whereas chamomile has a green, reddy sweetness, violet flowers have a sweet-but-acrid thing going on that I'm getting from this. As with all TAL oils, I don't get them for scent, and usually wear just a few drops and then layer with a complimentary perfume. I'd probably layer this with a thick chocolate like Bliss or else a favorite lavender, like Happy Baby In A Long Dress. As for intent, I'm an anxious person, which is why I was interested in trying this out. so far, it's just lovely. It gives me a similar feeling that I get from taking Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, like it's just a lovely and gentle way to take the edge off when things are feeling especially overwhelming. I suspect I'll be getting lots of use out of this!
  3. VioletChaos

    Arabian Nights

    This is myrrh - incense - rose in terms of scent. I put just a DROP, literally, a tiny test from the lid of the bottle, and it has very intense throw and is *very* heady. The energy from this stuff is crazy powerful. I'm a bit tired from running about all day, and so putting a drop of this on now is giving me the same feeling that downing full strength coffee gives me when I'm exhausted- awake but a little too wired. I've not tested it out in the field so to speak, but the energy boost alone insures I'll be testing thugs out in many different situations. I look forward to exploring its magickal depths!
  4. VioletChaos

    Antique Lace

    2017 VERSION I have some of the original incarnate that I pull out only for the most special of occasions since I wore this scent on my wedding day. So I was *extremely* excited to get two bottles of this limited re-release. While I won't dab the original on my arm, I know that scent well enough that I feel confident I can compare easily. In The Bottle: As others have mentioned, it's like original Antique Lace with the yummy vanilla amped up by about 20 additional notches. I personally have NO problem with this Wet On Skin: It's becoming more of a "Vanilla Sugar + Antique Lace" situation at this stage. Dry Down: For now, it smells as a less-strong version of Antique Lace mixed with a heavy dollop of Vanilla Sugar. I believe that this will right itself in the long run, but that as with several Lab scents, it needs some time to rest and age to bring it to its full potential. In the incredibly off chance that it doesn't prove to be identical to the original, I will still love this version for its own beauty and will wear it frequently.
  5. VioletChaos

    Strawberry Moon 2017

    In The Bottle: The sweet, juicy strawberry and tart, green dandelion of my beloved Strawberry Moon 2009. Wet On Skin: Holding steady... Dry Down: Okay, now that it's fully dried, there *is* a bit of a difference. Those early summer grasses are lessening the sweetness without playing up the dandelion sap, and yes, giving it a bit more of a "grassy" feel. Apart from that, this scent is very nearly a dead ringer for 2009. So, if you love that one, you'll want this as well, and if you missed out on the SM '09, here's a chance to get something close enough to adore
  6. This is a warm, Earth-based prosperity blend, utilized not just for financial growth and money attraction, but also for stability, security, and material / physical safety. It is an oil that solidifies the roof over your head and the ground beneath your feet while increasing your sense of protection and well-being. This oil can be used to dress candles, conjure bags, money boxes, and talismans, and can be utilized in baths and floorwashes. Twilight Alchemy Labs Prosperity Oil contains essential oils, absolutes, and CO2 extracts that are organically-grown and pesticide-free, and many of the oils components are first distillations from small farms. This oil was charged over four full lunations with prosperity-activated lapis stones, and includes cedar oil, chips, and leaf from the TAL garden, oakmoss and oakmoss absolute, extract of carnation, fumitory, pinon pine resin, Irish moss, Canadian white pine essential oil, and steam-distilled Indonesian patchouli. In The Bottle: Very woodsy, like being in a deep, rich, mossy pine forest. I don't go for pine scents to wear casually, but this seems VERY appropriate for a magickal working prosperity blend. Wet On Skin: The pine mellow, slightly, and the sweeter aspects of it start to emerge, helped along by the patchouli and carnation, no doubt. Dry Down: Same. Still mostly pine-heavy, but with a chorus of the above-mentioned in the mix. On the more woo-woo aspect, I definitely feel this resonating with my 1st and second chakras. Nice and rooty and earthy, this oil is one I will definitely anoint candles and dollar bills with for those aspects but I can see using this for more grounding-type stuff too. This is an oil to associate with the tarot's suit of Pentacles, in all its various guises.
  7. Use our Self-Expression oil to aid in creative endeavors by helping you manifest the truth of your soul through your art. As a secondary effect, this oil aids in helping your address and communicate your emotions so you can better understand yourself and convey your thoughts, needs, and reality to others. Twilight Alchemy Labs Self-Expression oil contains essential oils, absolutes, and CO2 extracts that are organically-grown and pesticide-free, and many of the oils components are first distillations from small farms. This oil includes Sacred Lotus petals (Nelumbo nucifera), cold-pressed Brazilian sweet orange oil, Sicilian blood orange, Javanese citronella, orange blossoms, lemon verbena, and dried orange peel from the TAL garden, lotus leaf, frankincense tears, and CO2 extract of butter. This oil was charged ceremonially on the hours of both Sol and Luna over seven lunar cycles. In The Bottle: Beautiful, bright, joyous citrus. ALL the citrus! I can't pull out one over another. It's just orange (in energetic color) and tart and lovely. Wet On Skin: The various elements are beginning to separate out now. I'm getting some verbena, some straight lemon and some Sicilian tart blood orange. It's really lovely and makes me feel a little giddy! Dry Down: Usually I amp lemon verbena like crazy, but here the other notes keep it in check. I can definitely pick it out, since it has a very particular sub-component that reminds me of lavender a little bit, but it's really just adding a softening aspect to the other citrus notes. In terms of magickal workings, I am excited about this. I am an artist completing my MFA and I can tell, just putting a dab on my skin, that this is filling me with a giddy excitement for my own work and creativity. I blind-bought two bottles because the other creativity TAL oils I have, like Nine Muses and Ebon Night have both worked incredibly for my work and process and now, just with this little dab, I am feeling a rush to return to my projects!
  8. VioletChaos

    Champagne And Absinthe

    It's funny that I felt certain this was one of the oils I had to purchase, considering in the past the Champagne note has smelled like Mr. Clean on me and I was never fond of the licorice in Absinthe. So let's see why I felt so drawn, shall we? In the bottle: Bt far, in the bottle this strikes me as the lightest of the Yule Will Call Scents. Both the champagne and the absinthe note are *there* but both are so subtle that it takes several deep sniffs to even cull out what the notes are. Wet on skin: Much of the same. The combination at this point is doing an interesting thing where they seem to be almost canceling each other out. There is a definite "green" feeling to this scent at this stage, however. Dry down: Subtle is a word I feel compelled to keep using with this one. There's a spicy element that these two seem to bring out in each other, which is really quite nice, but it's a soft one, like carnations in spring, before the summer warmth can really make them bloom. In all: One to keep for the hot months of the year, but unless something changes in the next month of aging, I'm going to say this is not a scent for the cold, dark months that lie ahead.
  9. VioletChaos

    Yellow Snowballs Floof

    Slushy white mint, vanilla cream, lemon drops, grapefruit, and yuzu! Yellow Snowballs Floof is basically the perfect adult cotton candy. I wanted both flavors, but also wanted to make sure I'd like them, so this one seemed a better place to start. The citrus mix is at the forefront, and yes, it's not just lemon- the grapefruit and yuzu are delicious and in perfect harmony! I get none of the mint, but the vanilla cream pulls the whole thing together, making for a really yummy treat! Based on this experience, I plan on getting a jar of the other one, and shall have no regrets about it!
  10. VioletChaos

    Humanite

    In The Bottle: The sweetness of the tuberose is astounding. I am not much of a floral fan, but the other notes hooked me and I was willing to check this out. So it's funny that it's the tuberose that steals the show on first sniff. Wet On Skin: The juiciness of the white peach is present, but behaving VERY well, considering peach sometimes amps like crazy on me. That sweet fruity tuberose is still the main attraction, though. It's SO glorious. Dry Down: I agree with the "sunset on a beach" analogy. This is it. it's soft and tropical and beautiful. It doesn't go powdery, or old-ladyish. It's just soft and beautiful and gorgeous. Love and hand holding and reds and purples streaking the sky.
  11. VioletChaos

    Mors Syphilitica

    In The Bottle: The slightly spicy touch of saffron and nothing more. Wet On Skin: This is very incense-y. I know there's no incense note listed, but I believe the oudh is acting as an incense in this regard. It's unexpected, but I like it. Dry Down: I get no sandalwood from this. While I'm a tiny bit disappointed, I agree that this is a pretty great saffron. It's rich and red and spicy and is STILL maintaining that incense vibe and there's something in the dry down that's almost like a tiny of a campfire without being smoky. Campfires in the summer take on a sweet earthy density that they don't at other times of the year, and that's what I'm getting from this scent. It's a low to medium throw, but this isn't something to slather. When the weather gets much warmer, I suspect that this will be a "hot sultry night" kind of scent. I can't wait to see how this ages.
  12. VioletChaos

    Maiko with Hair Unbound

    In The Bottle: Yummy, rich goat's milk. Wet On Skin: The goat's milk still dominates, though the coconut is peeking in *just* a touch. Dry Down: Goat's milk, coconut and a little rice milk. Unfortunately, I get no honey carnation or sugar. Still, a scent that is nothing but rich cream is pretty great, and I think they'll be plenty of chances to wear it as the weather continues to get warmer. I also think it'll be great for layering with other things, be they foodie or floral, so I'm totally happy to have a bottle
  13. VioletChaos

    Diligent Instruction for the Bridal Night

    In the Bottle: the strawberry is sharp, fresh and juicy. It reminds me of the Strawberry note from 2012's Strawberry Moon, without the tart green dribble of dandelion sap. The sugar is there, too, but it's definitely light and it's definitely a powder variety. Wet On Skin: The sugar has gained in strength a little, but the strawberry is still the prize. I don't honestly get the Stekk comparison. I love Stekk, don't get me wrong, but I just don't find it here. At least not at this stage. Dry Down: The powdered sugar and the mallow have joined to soften and smooth out the Strawberry. It's still sweet and delicious, though it's lost a little of its juice. but that's okay because it's gained a more well-rounded scent. I think this will be a heavy-rotation oil for Spring!
  14. VioletChaos

    La Prostitution et la Folie Dominent le Monde

    I think the sweet creamy vanilla in this blend is very similar to the vanilla note in Mrs Valentine- both scents have a very similar vibe to me. they're not identical, but enough alike that a person that missed out on Mrs Valentine should surely get some of this in a flash! I adore both, and for similar reasons, as they are light and very lightly floral but in a way that's not at all obvious. There's a sweetness here, but the vanilla isn't at all food-like. It smells like nostalgia to me, like wandering through the trunks in an attic and finding treasure troves of moth-eaten Victorian clothes. I put it on more than 7 hours ago and it's still here- faintly, but persistently. It's really special and I'm glad to add it to my collection.
  15. VioletChaos

    Alternative Facts

    In The Bottle: This is equal parts cherry candy and fluffy vanilla cream. Wet On Skin: the cherry starts to calm down almost immediately, and now it's vanilla-scented fog. (Ozone and aqua-fear folks, worry not! The fog aspect isn't related to those notes in the least!) Dry Down: This is...weird. It's vanilla and something sharp that I can't quite name, but that seems sort of men's cologne-y, and then there's that sweet fog note. It's truly bizarre. I keep huffing myself, caught between thinking I really like its quirks and thinking that I have to trade this bottle away immediately. For now, I think I'll keep it and see what happens
  16. VioletChaos

    Theodosius, The Legerdemain

    Now that Dorian is on an unexpected hiatus, I blind-bought a bottle of this as I've heard rumors as to it's similarities to Dorian. Liker it or not, this review for me is mostly as a comparison to my beloved Dorian, not as an expected twin, but certainly, hopefully, a close relation. In The Bottle: I, too, get a decidedly "lemony" aspect to the black tea here, and the fougere is light, lighter than in Dorian, but still quite lovely. Wet On Skin: This is a LOVELY black tea. The "earl grey" aspect is still coming across more as lemon than bergamot to me at this stage, but I've no complaints, because I adore lemon scents and lemony tea is no great tragedy, to be sure. Dry Down: This is absolutely a cousin of Dorian, in that the sweet black tea and fougere are all accounted for. But this is absolutely its own scent. It's possible that there will be times when I'll happily wear this to conserve my bottle of Dorian, but there will also be times where I'd definitely choose this as it's own thing and there will be times where this scent cannot possibly take Dorian's place. I am delighted to have taken a chance on it and to have a bottle to call my own.
  17. I’ve run away from a little old woman, A little old man, A barn full of threshers, A field full of mowers, And I can run away from you, I can! In The Bottle: A little bit of champa, some orange and the lighter red patchouli. Wet On Skin: This is like a sister to Ravenous, one of my all-time favorite GCs. It's basically becoming Ravenous with some light champa incense burning in the background. I get no gingerbread at this point. Dry Down: Okay, the gingerbread is peeking through juuuuuuuust a teeny, tiny bit. In All: A bright, citrus scent with depth, so that it can hold its own through the cold months, this isn't the sugary orange of Kingdom Of Sweets. This is the flirty Ravenous orange/patch combo with champa and itty bitty ginger tossed in for good measure. I like it! It's a great counter-balance to this year's Gingerbread, Vetiver and Black Clove. (I might try layering them and see what happens!)
  18. VioletChaos

    Lilith and Sekhmet

    Lilith introduced her plush Egyptian kitty, Goldenshine, to the goddess Sekhmet. She figured they’d get along great, both being cats n’all. Blood wine and amber. In The Bottle: HAI, Wine!!! Wet On Skin: Thi is certainly the same wine note that was in Gluwhein and also Ruby Fluid. I am a tremendous fan of both those scents, and so far, this does NOT disappoint! Dry Down: This is very nearly a Wine Single Note. Which I personally have *no* objections to. The Lab's amber note doesn't always stick on my skin- my chemistry somehow gobbles it up, so that might be what's happening. However, I didn't get a strong wifi of amber in the bottle or while it was wet on my skin, either, so this might just be wine-heady with the amber simply acting as a supporting member. In any event, if you love the Lab's wine scents, this is a treasure, to be sure!
  19. VioletChaos

    Discarded Popcorn Garland

    [No additional description given.] In The Bottle: There are occasions where I just. don't. know. how they do it. This is one of them, because in the bottle, this scent is a *faded* popcorn- NOT fresh, not buttered, like Shill. This is old popcorn that's been sitting around for a WHILE. AND, in the background, is the faintest hint of pine. Like needles. On a Christmas tree. Wet On Skin: There's a tiny bit of a sugar note that's coming through at this stage, but like burnt sugar (not caramel), so it could also be wood smoke, like from a fireplace, that happens to be next to a tree strung with popcorn garland. This is INSANE. Dry Down: This is weird and yummy and I have never liked a scent with Any hint of pine before but it's so faint and so real that it's not bothering me! In All: low throw, a vaguely sweet holiday scent reminiscent pop trees and popcorn balls and cozy holiday evenings. It's really just amazing for how well it captures what it is. Well done Beth and co.!
  20. VioletChaos

    Capricorn 2016

    I am a Capricorn, so there was no way to avoid getting this scent! In The Bottle: Sweet red poppy and some slightly gritty oudh. Wet On Skin: The green of the ivy starts to come out, as does the smoke of the patchouli. Interestingly, at this point, I'm not getting any of the actual patch, just the smoke. Dry Down: Weird. This scent turned all super "green" and 'leafy' on me. No poppy, no woods, the smoke is gone. This is practically an Ivy Single Note on me. While fresh ivy is an interesting thing to capture in a scent, I'm pretty disappointed that my skin chemistry has made it so that none of the other notes are here in the slightest. I haz sad.
  21. VioletChaos

    Aquarius 2016

    In The Bottle: Clove and light vetiver. Wet On Skin: Whaaaaaa? This scent is really strange. the above notes vanished completely and now it's...cedar? Or...the mastic, maybe? I guess? It's kind of sweet and kind of light and it's got a BPAL vibe, but I seriously can't get a handle on it. Dry Down: Okay. The frankincense and spikenard have emerged. But this scent is NOT heavy in spite of that fact. It's strangely light for a perfume that contains so many heavy, resin-y notes. In fact, if there could be such a thing as a light and airy version of Midnight Mass, this would be it. Again, I say:
  22. VioletChaos

    Pediophobia

    In the bottle, the vanilla, as someone else described, is something of a 'sweet cloud'. It reminds me of a light-colored musk I was gifted many years ago that seemed to have certain magical properties. It's hard to pinpoint, except to say that it's not at all foodie- it's really a vanilla musk for me. This continues to wearing wet on the skin. If anything, that aspect only grows stronger as the scent warms up with body heat. Upon dry down, it stays pretty much the same. Because of the tobacco/cognac combo, I thought this scent might be a cousin of Black Lace. but no, this is very much its own thing, a light, dreamy, floaty vanilla musk that I can see wearing well into spring.
  23. VioletChaos

    Thirteen (13): January 2017

    I have had mixed luck with 13 blends in the past, but the notes in this one sounded too intriguing to pass up. Here goes! In The Bottle: The black tobacco is STRONG. Definitely the primary note here. the chocolate is there, but it's in the back, and it's kind of a thin chocolate, by which I mean not milky or creamy or like strong dark chocolate either. Like watered-down (without the water note). Wet On Skin: The cedar, high john and ginger have joined forces with the tobacco to create something *very* dark and *very* earthy. I hope this mellows some, because right now it might be too strong for me to wear... Dry Down: Ah, the saffron and patchouli are at least saying hello. The chocolate has left the building and what remains is a very rich, down n dirty scent. Sometimes I can't get tobacco to stay put, and this, unfortunately, seems to be one of those times. I'll give it a chance to settle and age for a bit, but this might have to be re-hommed by someone who is more in love with strong tobacco than I.
  24. VioletChaos

    Four Seasons: Winter

    In The Bottle: furry, plump, ripe apricot and some blood orange in the background. Wet On Skin: the "musk" aspect of the blood orange makes itself known, lending a bit of weight to this fruity endeavor. I *might* detect a hint of the lavender, but the benzoin, thus far, is nowhere to be found. Dry Down: This is like a very sophisticated fruity creamsicle. It's adult, make no mistake, but the fruit and the musk are combining to make something creamy and immanently wearable. In All: Glad I took a chance on a bottle!
  25. VioletChaos

    Winter Jasmine

    This is a lovely jasmine. It seems to evoke connections for people, and this was true for me as well. It reminds me of a solid perfume my mom used to wear in the 70's. she probably got it from a head shop, but the scent itself was a very light, springtime jasmine. As others have mentioned, it stays true from bottle to dry down. I'm not a huge fan of florals, but I took a chance on this one because I thought it might be less like a jasmine perfume and more just like the real, live jasmine flower. I'm not disappointed. I don't know how much I'll *wear* this, but I can see using it to gently scent a room or bedding. It's really quite lovely.
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