VioletChaos

in the bottle: LOVE. it's all butterscotch and caramel wet on skin: more of the same, but with a slight note of opium thrown in. this only makes it better, of course... dry down: no change. just yummy sweet buttery goodness with an edge of opium. in all: this is my partner's bottle, so i *clearly* need to get some of my own!!!

in the bottle: vetiver, plus something smoky. wet on skin: more vetiver but with a very subtle fruit afternote- perhaps orange, or tangerine. dry down: the smoke comes to the front, tempering the vetiver and removing it's bitter edge. in all: not my cup of tea for fragrances, but for those who have a love of smoky things, like the tea Lapsang Souchon, you will probably be in total love with this.

there was no difference between in the bottle and on skin. it was all the same, and it all smelled like cheap men's cologne to me. when my boyfriend wore it, i could smell it from across the room, which i feel is a baaaad sign. sigh. i really was hopeful about this, but i got none of those leafy notes others spoke of.

in the imp: oof! straight up medicine, like liniment, as others have said. wet on skin: more of the same. pine and vetiver in VERY strong combination. dry down: vetiver and more vetiver. it's all i smell. in all: i happen to like vetiver, for it's grounding and earthy and good in mixes. i would likely use this in a mix with other oils in the future, but not likely all on it's own. ADDED Aug. 2: in the imp: dirt, patchouli and vetiver. dark and earthy. nice! wet on skin: same, but the patchouli is amping a bit now. dry down: almost straight patchouli. in all: a nice patchouli scent. if you like this note, you will adore Wolfsbane.

in the imp: fruity and spicy. i see where the christmas conotations are coming from. wet on skin: more fruit, but in a faint, dusty way. this isn't foodie. dry down: fruit mixes with bay and a touch of cinnamon. if i'd had this for the holidays, i would've worn it. in all: it's worth having for all the long winter months ahead!

in the imp: all rosemary, all the time. wet on skin: more rosemary. honestly, it's making me a bit head-achy. dry down: rosemary with a bay edge. in all: it's nice, and i would possibly use it as a room scent, but certainly not as a body perfume.

in the imp: i don't know how else to describe it except to say it's like a medicinal version of a perfume a grannie would wear. wet on skin: slightly better. still medicinal, but with a resin finish. dry down: there is a beautiful sweet resinous quality here. unfortunately, it seems to be covered over with something that smells like a bitter orange cough syrup. in all: back to the swap!

in the imp: strong vetiver with an undernote of something chocolatey- maybe it's the black patchouli? wet on skin: the vetiver all but leaves and is replaced by the cinnamon. the chocolate essence remains. dry down: the black patchouli comes out in front and mingles with something that smells like opium- rich, musky, earthy. in all: a heady wintertime blend, good for any gender 'cept maybe the most femmie amongst us!

in the imp: very sweet cherry, like cherry candy. wet on skin: cherry and sandalwood mixing evely. strange and different, but nice. dry down: the cherry all but vanishes and is replaced with something that smells like suntan-lotion-coconut. that coconut-y smell mixes with the sandalwood and makes something unexpected and lovely. in all: sort of sexy, but simmered down enough to be able to wear during the day and not feel like a floozy.

in the imp: like cheap spiced wine. not unpleasant, but definitely...cheap. wet on skin: the wine comes out stronger. it reminds me of high school and drinking boone's farm strawberry wine. or grape Mad Dog 20-20. dry down: i feel like i could get a hangover just by smelling this too much. a boozy note that it overpowering all else, with the barest hints of spice and a single floral underneith. not my thing. in all: it got more unpleasant as time went on. i feel sad about that, but sometimes that's just how it is.

in the imp: overwhelmingly peppermint. there's an afternote, but i can't place it, and the mint takes it away again quick. wet on skin: more straight up peppermint. like candy cane kinda peppermint- sweet and nummy. dry down: peppermint still strong, but with a faint under current of pine. it's kind of surprising. very wintery, more than i had anticipated. in all: something i would likely put in a burner over putting on as a personal scent, but nice enough.

in the imp: musky, sweet, resinous yumminess. there's a slightly foodie after thought, something roasted perhaps. really, really good. wet on skin: yummy spiciness, like cinnamon-roasted hazelnuts. something along those lines. dry down: the cinnamon tones down a bit and a bay comes out on top, the raosted nutty smell *just* in the background. in all: delicious! food-ish without being foodie, musky without being overwhelming. a fine catch- and sext as hell.

in the imp: like cough medicine. or poison. or both. wet on skin: like bug spray with rose afterthought. i can't *believe* how awful this is on me! dry down: the rose comes out more, but it's like rose poured into cold and flu formula. it's sticky sweet and grape-y and just really really unpleasant. in all: whoa. this has GOT to go.

in the imp: very fruity. the apricot pops right out, but it's not fruity; it's refreshing. wet on skin: i can smell the apricot, the roses, and an undernote of sweet musk. very deep in it's overall fragrance. dry down: the apricot again rises to the surface, but it's mixed with the musk to produce something spicy and almost woodsy in the aftermath. in all: a complex and dreamy affair. a bit too cloying for my pallet, but some would certainly wear it religiously.

in the bottle: spicy, resinous. like carnation with a touch of clove. wet on skin: the carnation and the dragon's blood peeps out. (the Lab's Dragon's Blood smells like lilac to me, btw) dry down: oohhh, this is a heady one! like a combination of lilac, spicy carnation and dark violets. ::swoon:: in all: i'll certainly be wearing THIS one a LOT over this long winter!

in the bottle: sweet, dark, resinous. nothing definable, just...rich. wet on skin: a fantastic lilac scent dominates. it's hard for me to find lilacs in frangrances that don't smell like chemical-soap nastiness, but this smells like actual lilac FLOWERS. dry down: lilacs all the way. BEAUTIFUL. in all: a divine floral, for any time of year, and any reason.

in the imp: chocolate and dirt in equal measure: right up my alley! wet on skin: the chocolate increases, adding a touch of roasted nuts- it's like Tell Tale Heart, with dirt in it. love! dry down: GORGEOUS! Rich-earth couples with chocolate and a faint hint of mist. I could die in this scent and be happy! over all: fantastic! i *must* get a full size bottle!

in the imp: rose and something darkly violet. so far, so good wet on skin: much of the same. there's a candy-quality to it, like candied flower petals. not bad. dry down: the candy aspect goes away, leaving a perfect, exact 50-50 balance between the violet and the rose. like hope and Faith mixed together, minus the sugar. in all: a lovely floral for anyone that loves those two main components.

i have high hopes for this one, as i love both smoky, resinous scents and violet. so let's hope... in the imp: all resin. the frankincense in strong and sweet. wet on skin: more of the frankincense, and a spicy tone of cinnamon. mmmm! dry down: a beautiful mix of the two aforementioned scents. alas, no violet to be found, however in all: a lovely winter-time oil, but don't expect the violet. ::sniff::

in the imp: lavender followed closely by rose. slightly medicinal. wet on skin: lavender much stronger now, the honeysuckle just barely peeking in. dry down: the honeysuckle comes out dramatically, and the lavender is more of an afterthought. the rose is distant in the mix, but adding something to it. in all: a light, pretty floral, though personally not my thing. ::shrugs::

the 'water' based blends don't seem to agree with my nose, but i will try anything BPAL once, so here goes (fingers crossed) in the imp: LOVELY! a beautiful mix of something aqua and violet, which is my personal favorite floral in the world. wet on skin: more of the same, with the violet coming out in front by just a hair. dry down: the water aspect is gone and the violet is now mixed with the tiniest amount of lavender. it's soothing, pleasant and lovely. in all: a floral i can dance with, i'd wear this one to my wedding, a night walking on the beach, or any place else where romance ala "Room With A View" style might happen!

in the imp: the sticky-muskiness of vetiver mixes heavily with opium poppy, straight up, like being hit over the head with it. wet on skin: the vetiver recedes somewhat, leaving the opium in the forefront and the honeysuckle *just* peeking out. dry down: it smells like suntan lotion- specifically the version of Bain de Soliel that was made in the mid-80's! random, i know, but that's what this smells like to me. it's not bad or anything, just unexpected. in all: if you like the strange floral under currents of suntan lotion, you will sincerely love this. for me, it's taking me back to junior high (not sure if that's good or not...)

in the imp: total lavender and neroli experience. very essential oil blend-style. wet on skin: more of the same, but with a bit of cat mint thrown in for good measure, which gives it a nice balance. dry down: the mint comes to the foreground and it becomes more round and lovely. over all: though not much of a floral person, this is really beautiful, and would definitely use this before sleep if i was aiming for some prophetic dream work!

i have to say that i went into this one being...apprehensive. although i've been doing spell craft for about 20 years, old-time traditional spell oil blends give me the willies. but anything for the sake of BPAL in the imp: a dark, medicinal dort of rose combines with something that smells like cough syrup. meh. wet on skin: the medicinal aspects vanish-thankfully- and what's left is something dark, like cypress, but with a more floral edge- perhaps magnolia. dry down: the rose comes back with a vengeance. but there's a more sinister undercurrent. i'm thinking it's the cypress but the notes are so well blended, it's impossible to distinguish, which gives it mystery, which i like. over all: not my favorite rose, but i'd keep it around for the magickal benefits at least. ::shrug::

in the imp: strongly lemon verbena, with a bit of sage just at the end. wet on skin: more of the same, but now the lemon mellows slightly to smell more like lemon drop candy. dry down: the sage disappears entirely, and it's just the sweet/tart smell of lemon verbena. in all: if you like citrus scents, this is a keeper. me personally, it's not really my thing.