VioletChaos

in the bottle: wintergreen and something spicy. just lovely. wet on skin: fizzy is the word that comes to mind. wintergreen, sparkly, sweet. a slight hint of a smoky note, like vetiver perhaps, but only faintly. dry down: a superior blend, the notes keep changing, keep switching out on each other, and i find inexplicably that i am filled with a sense of possibility, a sense of joy. in all: this *perfectly* encapsulates the tarot card known as #XXI The World.

in the vial: yeah, that 'jolt of peppermint' just comes out to say HOWDY immediately. wet on skin: the mint is still dominant, but yes, i'm getting something akin to raw rum-soaked cookie dough now, too. dry down: hmmm. well, the mint is still present, but the dough has gotten sort of noxious on me, like a recipe calling for equal parts mint, rum, sugar, crayons and cardboard. in all: i really, REALLY wanted this to work on me. but it SO doesn't.

in the vial: whoa lime! wet on skin: yep. lime some more. but also a nice surprisingly subtle leather note. it's rather a good combination, strangely. dry down: this is still predominantly lime on me. i get a hint of the coconut but only in a mixed-with-lime-tropical-drink way, and something else fruity that isn't actually foodie. in all: a clean multi-gender scent, i'd wear this on a hot day or have my boy flame wear it to a nice dinner

in the vial: cavity central! sugar, sugar and candied sugar to top it off. (and watermelon jolly ranchers crushed thoroughly into the mix!) wet on skin: yep. melon. not the sweet, natural summertime melon of Yemaya, no. this is PURE candy rock sugar. nothing else. and it is GOOD. dry down: sweet yummy hard candy. it flits from watermelon to cherry and back again but no worries- either way it's getting the job done! in all: SUGAR RUSH!!!

in the vial: oh. holy. moly. like yummy hazelnut yummy yummy yummy yumminess wet on skin: the tobacco is lending the same delectable sweetness that was in Pinched with four Aces and it's working just as well in this blend! dry down: a delicious, slightly more smoky alternative to Pinched alright. sweet, slightly foodie, but spicy and mellow at the same time. in all: just wonderful- now i just have to find a whole bottle!

in the vial: dark thick floral. wet on skin: floral is still heavy, but a current of something sweet -not vanilla- is peeking out. hmmm dry down: sadly, i'm not getting any of the musk, the leather or the vanilla. it's just a dark floral. :shrug: in all:well, i like it enough to keep the vial around, use it once in a while when i'm feeling like a naughty witch, but i don't think i'll both searching out a big bottle.

in the vial: cardamom! (oh, and some notes in the background ) wet on skin: that cardamom is STRONG. this may be the cardamom scent i've been waiting for! dry down: sadly, the cardamom seems to have vanished entirely. however! the sweet resinous tolu balsam has picked up the slack, and it's really nice. in all: turns into a sweet, warm scent, without being food-y. i could see this being good for layering, or wearing solo on crisp Autumnal evenings to come...

in the vial: dark, musky, sweet. like wearing black musk while drinking a rich, red wine. wet on skin: there's a slight aqua note that's coming out. it seems weird in this blend as it is now. dry down: the red-grape-wine thing has stayed, which is lovely. unfortunately, that aqua note has persisted as well. in all: a strangely masculine scent- i'd like to see how this would smell on the gents before i give up on it entirely.

Babylonian musk, vanilla tea, tonka, tobacco, coconut, hyssop, and lilac. in the vial: lilac. wet on skin: sweet lilac. it's nice. reminds me of being in a field somewhere, full of wildflowers. dry down:lilac, but with some other floral peeking in from under it. in all: i sadly didn't get any of the musk or tobacco notes i was hoping for. this read to me as a pretty straight up floral scent. if that's your cup of tea, you'll adore this one. for me, though, i think i'll pass. :shrug:

in the imp: thick, heavy vetiver. wet on skin: yup. vetiver. dry down: straight vetiver. no change. in all: if you adore vetiver, get this. perhaps you can detect some variation that i couldn't pick up on with my nose.

in the imp: vetiver that has a strangely light touch. wet on skin: it's like vetiver mixed with Tombstone. smoky, but also sweet and kinda sandal-wood-y. dry down: wow. it's smells *just* like desert rocks. when they've been baking at the mouth of a cave in the sun all day but then a cave-dwelling animal comes out and tracks water over the surface at sunset. that's what this smells like. in all: if you are a fan of the more 'elemental' kinds of oils- Moai comes to mind- then you will LOVE this.

in the vial: strong, heady blend- i can't pull out any individual notes on this one. wet on skin: sweet, musky- but still have a hard time defining it! dry down: damn. this is the sexiest thing i've ever smelled. ok now i know what all the fuss is about- sweet, resinous musky. it hints at Smut, and at Vanilla Bean, but it's totally different from either. whoa. this is special stuff, alright. in all: well, if i have to pay $100 on e-bay, then i guess that's what i have to do.

in the vial: well, pep- that's coffee alright. yummy, delicious coffee. wet on skin: no change (a bit of milk added, perhaps? ) dry down: yup. still coffee. in all: a strong single note, i don't know if i'd use this one stright all that often, but i could certainly see layering it with other stuff, like Love's Philosophy or even Pinched With Four Aces. a nice addition.

in the imp: sweet, almond-y. wet on skin: the sweet starts to dissipate almost immediately, and a sort of cookie-dough smell takes it's place- reminds me of MB:Underpants in that way. dry down: ok, everything from before is gone. in it's place is now something akin to bay rum with a hint of musky lime. in all: while it states to be a masculine scent, i feel any gender could wear this. however, apart from it's magickal value, i think there are far better offerings at BPAL for all concerned.

in the imp: bright, sweet pine needles wet on skin: same. dry down: the pine fades back a bit and a beautiful deep amber emerges. in all: this is certainly a scent of the winter forest- all resinous and full of pine. if you long for that first cold snap of a long winter, this is the scent for you.

in the bottle: yummy, musky amber wet on skin: yep- deep, sexy musk, sweet dark amber. this is certainly shaing up to be a scent of desire! dry down: yes, a dark, sensual fragrance, appropriate for man woman or beast in all: as a Capricorn, the Devil is my card and as such, i felt almost obligated to make sure i tried this oil. i am SO glad i did, as this is quickly turned into one of my favorites. sexy, sweet and darkly resinous, this oil encapsulates the feelings of self-bondage we silly mortals throw ourselves into. perfect. :D

in the bottle: yep, fruity wine. like Fruminous Bandersnatch's sophisitcated out of town cousin wet on skin: yummy. almost effervescent. dry down: the alcohol quality has been more incorporated at this point, making the blend more seamless. nicely done! in all: a card of optimism and good fortune on the way, i think the enthusiasm of the Chariot is well expressed here. more, please!

in the bottle: heavy vetiver, something in the background but i can't pick it out just yet. wet on skin: vetiver for sure, but there is something sweet that's tempering it. hmmm dry down: vetiver is still the dominant note, but there *is* something sweet under it that definitely tempers it, takes away the bitterness that straight vetiver generally has. in all: Death is a card not just of endings, but of new beginnings as well. this scent encapsulates that transition time rather well- i have a feeling this will be the oil i turn to through all *my* transition periods, to remind me of the necessary ways that we must let old things go to make way for the new to enter. a must have.

in the bottle: sarasparrilla and something i can't quite define- maybe a bit of ginger ale? wet on skin: fizzy rootbeer soda! dry down: it morphs continuously- i get hints of the sarasparilla but then it moves to this almost-not-quite-fruity end, and then back again. in all: with it's pendulum swing in full force, this is *definitely* Wheel of Fortune!

in the imp: some spice, heavy almond wet on skin: vetiver, clove. dry down: loads of vetiver, a bit of leather, no bay rum. in all: a smoky, spicy blend, not the description on me in the slightest, but a nice one if you like the vetiver-heavy oils.

in the imp: licorice root, cherry bark, and some sort of resinous wood substance. it smells like natural cough syrup- but only the best kind wet on skin: more of the same, but there is a spicy sexy note emerging- something between cinnamon and rosewood? maybe? dry down: it's fading to...spicy cardboard in all: i'll have to try this one again, because my hopes were so high, but it seems to have that note that was in Enraged Groundhog that just turns to wet cardboard box on me. i'd gladly takes Vick's Vapo-Rub over that. sigh...

in the bottle: sweet dark musk and opium wet on skin: i'm getting a sweet almost almond aspect- it's got to be the tonka. it's so rich and wonderful! dry down: as deep as it gets, this sexy as hell scent is extremely well blended and has enough kick to wear out to your most devilish night events but sultry enough for a lusty night at home. in all: sweet, rich, gender neutral, this one has it all. get some! :D

in the bottle: sweet, complex musk. wet on skin: it's...wow. it reminds me of the smell i would encounter in my aunt and uncle's attic when i was a small child- that scent of hidden treasures and musty old dust that smells really good. ancient. dry down: a complex blend, i can't pick out *any* individual notes. all i can say is that it is sweet without being cloying, or floral or food. it's musty and musky. and it fills me with a childhood nostalgia that is disconcerting in it's strength! in all: get this- it's like nothing, NOTHING else.

in the imp: sweet wetness wet on skin: wow. like eating tropical fruits under a waterfall. seriously. dry down: ok, the fruit aspect has toned down a lot. now it's more like...aquatic lemonaide. in all: a light scent, good for the warm months. i just wish the juicy fruit aspect had hung around longer on me. oh well...

in the imp: a luscious, sexy watery rose. wet on skin: reminds me of the candy-like gardenia in Unheavenly City. dry down: yup. all i'm getting is that sweet candy gardenia, although that is not a note listed in the description. in all: sweet but not cloying, extremely feminine- this is a seriously girlie-girl scent, perfect for the femme fatales among you!