VioletChaos

a generous sniffie from Bloody Fangs is allowing this review to happen- thanks!!! in the vial: every yummy, spicy dessert item i have ever wanted to eat heaping bowls of in one sitting. :swoon: wet on skin: i get what folks are saying about the foodie-but-subtle thing- his isn't the over-the-top sweetness of, say 13. it's got the angel food cake quality of Underbed, but there's also something more sophisticated about it. maybe coffee/mocha frosting dry down: now something a bit more cinnamon-y has emerged. it's pretty sexy. in all: totally glad i got to try it, and while i'll love the remains of this sniffie and any vials that get thrown at me, i won't pay hundreds of dollars to get me some, either, so you can see where this fits in the scheme of things.

in the imp: whoa, MELON. this is the melon in AquaPrima, the delicious sparkling beverage i can no longer find in the states. a bit spicy, not-too-sweet, real melon. wet on skin: same, with a bit of -carnation? sunflower?- thrown in for a little spice. dry down: the melon has died down a bit leaving me with a bit more of the vanilla/carnation mix. in all: i'm really glad i got to see what the fuss is bout, but since i don't get to hang on to that amazing melon i got at the begining, i find i'm mostly relieved that i am not pining away for an impossible-to-find bottle of the stuff.

in the sniffie: sweetness! this is all buttercreme for sure. wet on skin: yeah, this reminds me strongly of the Godiva cremes i used to adore- chocolate, coconut, a sweet rum creme. nomnomnom dry down: the fig is making an appearance, the choco-cocoa mix is still present, though. in all: ya know, as a die hard foodie fan, i've been dying to try this. however, i find it's not as spectacular as some other food blends that have similar notes. if you want a great fig/coconut blend, i say go for Eden. want chocolate? MB:Underbed or Candy Butcher is a better bet. this one is better left to the kiddies.

in the imp: whisky, aged wood (the barrel?) wet on skin: the aged wood is still there, and something else, but i can't put my finger on it. a bit perfumy. dry down: like whisky in a barrel. unfortunately, i am getting NONE of the mint in all: i guess i was hoping for something a bit closer to a mojito, but this is more like a well drink during happy hour. :shrug:

in the imp: yep. lavender soap. wet on skin: a very light, very subtle lavender. some of the soapiness has faded, actually. dry down: very heavy cloying floral. less about lavender, more just a floral blend. in all: BPAL makes some truly swoon-worthy florals, but i can't say i was very impressed with this one.

in the imp: very green, very herbal-smelling. wet on skin: this has a very 'aloe' scent to it, but the way hand lotion that contains aloe would smell- green, plant-like but also perfumy. dry down: same. in all: if you like the 'green' and 'herb' scents, you'll probably dig this one. for me, a fan of all things foodie and resinous, it's nothing special. off to swap!

in the bottle: yummy, sassafras-y goodness! delicious root beer-iness!!! wet on skin: the sassafras blooms, becomes sweeter, richer, but also more like the root, less like a soda pop affair. it's *really* good! dry down: wow. it's so medicinal, but just because it smells SO exactly like sassafras root! the throw isn't strong, interestingly. this scent stays pretty close to the skin, which i think gives it an air of mystery somehow. in all: this is GREAT. it makes me really anxious to try the other Doc Constantine formulations. i can only imagine that the others are going to be as good and true to their properties as this one is.

in the bottle: lemony bundt cake. nomnomnom wet on skin: it's shifted to angel food cake with a light lemon frosting. equally delicious, but slightly different from before. lighter, perhaps. dry down: a shift! the florals have come forward, but not in a cloying way. i agree with the assertion that it's like eating a piece of cake with a vase of flowers nearby- though the separate notes never blend together, they share the space side by side in an amiable sort of way. in all: an unusual food/floral combo. i don't know that it will be an every day affair for me, but i like having it around for warm summer days.

in the imp: yep. that's rose all right. wet on skin: rose mixed with moonflower. dry down: it has stayed the same, equal parts moonflower and rose. in all: i really like moonflower, but i don't think i'm much for it as a perfume- i like it more as incense. and i think it actually takes away from the subtlety of the rose in this blend. but i'm also extremely picky about rose scents, so maybe others will like it more than i.

in the imp: YUM. sweet, like cherry pipe tobacco, plus a faint spicy note. wet on skin: the champagne grapes have taken over! they smell more like concord grapes o me, but fresh yummy early autumn grapes none-the-less. dry down: the grape has settled down, but just a bit. it's mixing with the cognac and something else to become a sort of more refined Kool-Aide. in all: if ya like the sweet/fruity, you will dig this. ADDED Feb. 3: in the imp: the wine for sure, and some non-descriptive sweet stuff. wet on skin: more sweet wine and a bit of the champagne note. dry down: the wine has sadly evaporated and now it's just a very rich, very sweet, very heady floral mix. in all: if you like your florals dark and a little fruity, this is the one for you.

in the imp: oh MY. this is sexy, musky and boozy in a VERY Smut kind of way. wet on skin: there is a light sweet vaguely fruity sort of note that's creeping in, but it's not foodie at all, it's just adding some thing to the musk. dry down: a creamy, yummy musk. if Smut and Love's Philosophy had a secret love child, this would likely be the offspring. in all: a must have for any devoted BPALer!

in the imp: dark cherry soda. or cherry syrup. wet on skin: same. more candy-like. reminds me of red licorice. dry down: weird! the cherry is gone, totally vanished and has been replaced by a dark red rose. in all: if you are into the scent of dried roses, you will likely adore this one.

in the imp: heavy oakmoss, moderately heavy- and woodsie-patchouli. wet on skin: wow. it's like an earthen forest on my skin. sweet, dirt-ridden, woods-like dry down: very much like being in a dry wood on a warm, sunny day. in all: if you like Death of Autumn, give this a try as a GC alternative.

in the imp: a sweet fruit-floral blend. wet on skin: i'm getting some gardenia, maybe a tiny bit of lemon flower. dry down: good lord- my skin ATE it! in all: a *very* light spring and early summer blend, good for warm days and hand holding. if you have my kind of skin chemistry, (whatever THAT is) carry the bottle around with you or SLATHER it on to hold it for more than 3 minutes at a time...

in the imp: sweet and spicy. i get hints of tonka, cinnamon, clove and cassia. mmmmmmm wet on skin: this is like MB:Underbed's sister. sweet, heavy on the cassia, but without the cake aspect of my beloved Underbed. dry down: the cassia stays true. in all: this cassia is so predominant in the is blend, i'm tempted to call it a single note! if you like cassia blends (which i DO) this is one to try. it's less foodie, but just as spicy as some of it's other incarnations.

in the imp: a light, boozy cocktail. a cape-codder or some drink like that. wet on skin: floral mixing with the booze. dry down: sweet, floral, slightly fruity. in all: as a new yorker, i can't say this scent epitomizes my city. however, if you're a fan of "SEX in the city", then this fragrance will prolly make YOU think of manhattan, so go for it

in the imp: light, bubbly lemon balm, a hint of lavender. wet on skin: the lavender creeps in a bit more, but this is still mostly about the fresh lemon balm. dry down: ewwwww. it has become lemon pledge. that is just about the saddest news today. in all: stupid skin chemistry! i can see how the various components of this oil could help to keep bad dreams away, but i don't think i could fall asleep to the scent of a cleaning product.

in the imp: sweet orange and heavy spring flowers. wet on skin:the orange is gone- it's all heavy, sweet floral now. dry down: a cloying rose mixed with an equally cloying purple flower of some sort- lilac? jacaranda? in all: if you adore florals, gab some of this. for the rest of us, i'd say pass. :shrug:

in the imp: stinky magic marker. wet on skin: musky, powdery. dry down: the musk has become lighter, but not white musk. the powder has vanished. in all: this reminds me of Smut, but lighter and with a little sandalwood mixed in. like Smut's daytime cousin. it's a gentle, airy musk. nice!

in the bottle: fierce with woodsy-ness; a heavy, tart resin; a bit of citrus, but of the pine-sap-in-summer variety. wet on skin: it starts to morph on me, and a men's cologne starts to creep in dry down: all the beautiful, sexy wood notes that appeared on my BF have left me high and dry- this has become a straight up perfumy/cologne on me in all: honestly, i'm kinda relieved: there are so many other wonderful smellies that i pine after that being able to cross a rare one off the list is nice in it's way

in the imp: ALL chocolate, all the time it's like chocolate and hazelnut. a very 'real' chocolate. not Bliss, which i love, but smell a little fake compared to the chocolate of Reindeer Poop. wet on skin: much the same, but a lovely cinnamon note has emerged, making this smell quite a bit like Abuelita, my favorite mexican hot cocoa mix dry down: the chocolate is gone, and now it has become a super yummy, well rounded spice-incense aroma. fabulous! in all: i really, REALLY hope that Beth et all will consider bringing this back fro yule 2008, but as a full-sized LE for ALL of us to enjoy!

in the bottle: a sandalwood note that must be the ironwood bark, and some lemon. wet on skin: sweet lemon, like lemonade. dry down: i'm getting the wood, the lemon and a bit of musk. sadly, i can't pick up on any coconut in this mix. in all: glad i have a bottle for sure, and i guess i can always mix in a little upa upa if i want to amp up the coconut!

in the bottle: oh. my. GODDESS. this is pina-colada fantasy come true! pineapple! coconut! creamy yumminess! YES!!! wet on skin: the pineapple pulls back, but the coconut is front and center. the spice rum is coming out to play. this is SO totally delicious. dry down: the pineapple is back, but more subtle than before. the notes are more mixed, giving it a uniform 'tropical' feel. in all: perfect. totally in my top 10 starting right now! :D

in the bottle: heavy cream and caramel-drenched citrus. this is Cheshire Moon's sexy cousin all grown up! wet on skin: the ginger is gorgeous, turning this blend into a ginger ice cream milkshake dry down: the ginger has emerged more and more, but it's also got a citrus tang to it. not much, but enough. in all: i stick by my original assessment: if you like Cheshire Moon for daytime use, Opuhi is PERFECT for late that same night!

in the imp: dragon's blood with a floral mix and something that is making me gag under it wet on skin: dragon's blood and coconut! it's like DB goes to the beach dry down: dragon's blood with daffodils. in all: i'm picky about my DB mixes. Dragon's Milk is still the one for me. however, if you like floral notes, you'll likely love this blend.