VioletChaos
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Everything posted by VioletChaos
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I got this as a frottle directly from the Lab. As a dirt-note enthusiast, I am delighted to have this chance to try this scent that somehow escaped my attention when it was originally released! In the bottle, I get the earth note front and center. But there's a sweetness bringing up the rear that reminds me of some element of Laura (without the chemical-weird aspect). Wet on my skin, the scent starts to unfurl and hints of that grass enter the arena. This is not straight up cut grass like Unexpected Golf Hazard, this is grass in August, uncut, wafting gently on the breeze. Dry down- The weeds are now present, and I think I can detect a bit of the beloved dandelion note from Strawberry Moon 2009 in here, adding a little sweetness to the mix, and I really love it. In all-A low throw earthy fragrance. It's interesting that it was originally released as part of Yule because the scent smells like spring and summer to me. I'm glad the goblins sent this to me now because I'm going to keep this in my summer rotation for sure! ❤️
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Strawberry Moon: Blackberries and Coconut Cream Lotion
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Lotion
I really like the texture of the Lab's lotions. The two I have are heavy winter-forward scents, so I was excited to snag this to have something more delicately fragranced for the warmer months. The combo is light and balanced. I agree the blackberry is more candy-like, and I think it's also made more so by the coconut, which is a delicately sugared variety- it's not suntan lotion and it's also not the more raw kind in a scent like Obatala. This is like the nice desiccated coconut you top a fluffy cake with. The scent isn't overly foodie, it's exactly what I hoped it would be in terms of saturation. I layered a tiny bit of its Strawberry Moon companion into it, just to see how the scents work together and it's all really lovely- nothing becomes too overpowering: it's an appropriate variety of scent layering, and I could see pairing these two in the future. I have quite a few blackberry-forward scents that I can definitely see pairing with this lotion as well. I don't have as many coconut scents, but I don't know that I would be apt to layer those anyway as they tend me be more of the rich-coconut varieties and I think this lotion's scent would get lost in the shuffle. -
In the bottle, it's super fresh and super tart! I'm getting the ripe fresh strawberries and lots of pucker-worthy lime juice. This is off to a great start! Wet on skin and warming up, the tartness eases slightly- but only slightly. I'm able to discern that black currant and that rich datura. This is getting more complex by the minute and I'm really, really into it. Dry down- Y'all. Y'ALL. This went from a yummy daytime scent to something so heartbreakingly gorgeous that I cannot quite stand it. For reals. The incense comes out, the strawberry gets richer, the datura adds something dreamy and intense. I'm honestly a little speechless. I usually love the various incarnates of Strawberry Moon, but this one is something else entirely -and I mean *entirely*- different from anything I've encountered before. Like...I might have to sell a kidney to get enough backup bottles Okay fine- maybe not that. But really, this is blowing me away. Total. Love.
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In the bottle this is a refreshing cucumber water. (not the Lab's water note- just, like, straight up cucumber water you drink in a fancy hotel lobby.) Wet on the skin and warming up, cuke steps back and the lemon cream steps forward. Drydown- In the end this became a very light, low throw, lemony-cream-cucumber water scent. This is *exactly* the sort of scent I love to wear on exceptionally hot days and I will definitely be wearing this a ton this summer! ☀️
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In the bottle I'm mostly getting the nice guava and maybe a bit of that black plum that is keeping it fruity but not like a one-note-wonder. As it warms, poppy and black tea combine to make strange bedfellows indeed- I'm getting something akin to a Lemon Pledge note? It's not unpleasant but I'm absolutely baffled by this. Upon drydown, the tea and poppies disentangle themselves and Pledge, thankfully, disappears. Apart from the tobacco -which is entirely absent for me- all notes appear to be present. However, this is extremely well blended, and while I get shadows of the various players involved, in the end this isn't one of those scents that one goes, "oh, there's the patch!" or what have you. A somewhat unusual mix, and a nice, lighter, fruit/floral/musk that doesn't get bogged down under its own weight. I anticipate getting a lot of wear out of this as we move toward summer.
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Strawberry Moon: Dried Strawberries and Dragon’s Blood Resin Hair Gloss
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Hair
Oh my goddess. I already have more hair gloss than any one person has a right to have (I *do* have exceptionally long hair, so I can justify this, I swear!). That said? I may need a backup bottle...or two...of this gloss because holy cats is it just SO good. This is in fact a dried strawberry- don't expect this super fresh / juicy strawberry of this year's Strawberry Moon. This is a dark, dry scent. It reads as definitely strawberry, but it's not 'fruity' or sweet or anything. I'm sure the dragon's blood has something to do with this of course, but though this is a two-note scent, it's really the one element that is obvious here. Again, I have zero objections! I am smitten -
TAL oils aren't about the scent. Of course they're not. And I didn't get it for the scent- I got it for the intent. That said, it's also a really lovely fragrance. The lilac and lemon together especially shine here and honestly, my associations of those plants is in keeping with the overall intent so there's a bit of a nice mobius strip situation going on here where the intent and the scent are interacting and reinforcing one another and I'm delighted by all of it. I dabbed some on my palms (which is where I typically put anointing oils) and there is a lovely calm that came about immediately. I'm not speaking out of turn here when I say we are all of us no doubt aware of the myriad stressors happening everywhere right now, which is why I was interested in getting a bottle of this. And on all fronts, I'm really glad to add this to my special collection of TALs. 🕊️
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This is sooooooo pretty. It's been literally YEARS since I've gotten a nail polish from the Lab but the picture of the color was too good to pass on- and it's just as lovely up close in person! I am typically a dark-nail-polish-wearing Goth but I can say now that this polish can be worn two ways. It's a beautiful color on its own- definitely summer goth vibes for sure. But it's also a great topper! I tried it out directly on top of a dark, bloody, vampy red I'm currently wearing and behold! It works this way too- the pink in the jelly shifts lilac and the micro glitter really pops with it! I will be wearing the poop outta this polish over the next 6 months for sure!
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This is a very sheer, light scent. I figured with notes like tea and straw that it would be on the lighter end of the spectrum, but I also thought the plum and the musk would balance it out- these are powerhouse notes that turn up in some of my all-time favorite heavy winter rotations, like Mme Moriarty and Night. Nope- this is quite delicate. The tea and yuzu really set the tone here, though all notes are present and accounted for. As typically happens for me with tea-forward scents, there's something distinctly "perfume-y" about this fragrance, though don't let my description put you off, as it really is quite lovely. I have a collection of the Lab's hair glosses owing to the fact that I have unruly wavy hair passed my waist and their glosses help tame this beast! I tend to wear more of the glosses in winter to help keep the cold brittleness at bay, but with this scent, I think I found one for spring and summer use as well! I will experiment mixing a bit of this with my beloved Honey HG, because I suspect real magic with that combo!
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In the bottle, I get the tart passionfruit I was hoping for- YUM! Wet application, and also warming up- the brûlée comes out to play but to me it's a kissing cousin of the custard note in my old favorite 'Weenie, Huesos de Santo. I am delighted about this and hope it stays around for a while! Dry down- good lords, this is so yummy! I was also curious about the 'burned sugar'- that it might become caramel or something. But nope, it stays true to its name. In all, a vary tasty confection of a scent (don't lick it!!!)- a delicate custard with an equal parts tart passionfruit and burnt sugar. Low throw, a good anytime scent as the days grow longer and warmer.
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In the bottle, I get a vague fruit that I'm guessing are the cloud berries and also a bit of that lemon. Wet on skin and warming up, the lemon intensifies (nice!) and some of that ambergris enters the equation. I also start to get a little of the amber musk in the mix. The cloudberries have vanished? Dry down- the lemon mellows and sweetens, aided by the amber musk I think. The combination reminds me ever-so-slightly of the Lemon Meringue doll from the Strawberry Shortcake collection, circa 1982. Do NOT misunderstand- I'm not saying this smells like candy, or synthetic-chemical-y at *all*. There just the right level of sweet gentleness to the lemon at this stage that reminds me verrrrry slightly of my old friend L. Meringue. The ambergris and musk then step into the primary roles, though the lemon is still definitely present. The cloudberries, alas, have left the building. Very delicate, low throw scent. Another unusual Luper for me with this year's crop, and I'm digging the unique vibes. It's welcome that after nearly two decades of obsessively following BPAL that they can still surprise me!
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Full disclosure: I got this only for the chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum Moon is a long-time favorite, so let's see how it all pans out here! In the bottle, I get that nice bright lemon peel straight away! That's the majority of it. Bringing up the real are little tendrils of the vanilla, which is softening the lemon to give it a creamy hint at the end. Wet on skin and warming up, the scent starts to really bloom, and that dear chrysanthemum is now in play- hooray! In fact, all the guests have arrived at the party, but I'd say the balance has definitely shifted and it's the chrysanthemum that is front and center now. Dry down- Wow, this is turned out to be incredibly well-balanced. I can detect all four of the elements here, and they sort of tumble over each other, so first I'll snag a little of that lemon peel, and then the sandalwood comes in and then dips out and the 'mum takes the spot, etc etc etc. It's don't think I've got another scent like it, and that's incredibly exciting to me! In all, a low-medium throw, and a sultry, lightly spicy warm-weather scent. Dead sexy- I will be wearing this for many date nights in the months to come
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In the bottle, I mostly get the tart juice of the lychee, a short sharp crunch of the rock sugar followed by a little sploosh of the nectar (as has already been mentioned, the strawberry nectar is NOT the same as the fresh strawberry note of, say, this year's Strawberry Moon and its Duets. This is softer, sweeter and accurately described as a nectar for those reasons). Wet and then warming up on my skin, I, too, am getting that strange whiff of anise in the mix that doomsday mentioned. It's not overpowering and it's not like "oh hey black licorice!", so don't worry about that. For me it's literally like the rock sugar was flavored with anise seed. I'm totally flummoxed and have no idea what could be reading that way, except perhaps an undertone of the lychee? It's keeping things interesting to say the least! Drydown. Okay, this is downright bizarre. The 2008 version of Huesos de Santo, a beloved old 'Weenie of mine, had both anise seed and sugar glaze as listed notes, and that scent produced an element that is near identical to this...whatever this is in here. It's more what I was saying before, like anise-seed-flavored rock sugar. I guess there's some molecule in the lychee? Anyway, I'm into it! In all- low throw, vaguely sweet but not in an over powering way. I definitely get the 'love bite' intention with this scent. Not a big ol' hickey but a little nibbled stain over by the ear lobe, and I'm all for it
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In the bottle this scent is HEAVY on the ruby chocolate note, which is exactly what I was hoping for, as I've loved it in other Lab confections previously. Wet on skin, it warms and opens up, so that some of that specific tart-fruity quality of the chocolate note really starts to shine, and I'm very excited about it! As we hit drydown, the Snake Oil starts to assert itself, but less than it sometimes does when mixed with other notes. Here it's unmistakable in its presence, but Ruby is still definitely the star. In all, a soft medium throw (but given my personal history of Snake Oil and its variants, I'm betting that will get stronger with some good ol' fashioned aging); a creamy, chocolatey confection that doesn't cross over into legit "foodie" territory because of the SO keeping everything in check. I anticipate this will become quite beloved
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Strawberry Moon: Wild Strawberries and Inky Musk
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
In the bottle, I get the fresh, tangy strawberry note of my very cherished Strawberry Moon 2009 and I couldn't be happier about it. Wet on skin, the scent begins to deepen and some of that Inky Musk introduces itself. The combo of the two is as compelling as I'd hoped for, neither stealing the spotlight from the other. Dry down: Calling this musk "inky" is incredibly accurate- this is NOT a black musk on me, this is literally a 'musk+ink' situation, which is what I was hoping for. It's not like the Lab's India Ink note, either, though- this really is its own special thing, so don't be worried about the metallic or chemical aspects of Ink in this mix, because that's not present here. In All- a low to medium throw and a very well-balanced fruit and musk scent for the warm months. I agree with the above review that this will layer well with the Wild Strawberries and Patchouli Duet and I feel certain I will *also* be layering this with its own 2026 Strawberry Moon counterpart to bring even more tart berry to the party. Total win. 🍓 ❤️ -
In The Bottle: I get the violets (less 'sugared' and more 'candied'- a seemingly small distinction but the Lab's sugar note is incredibly specific, and a combo with Violet I'm very familiar with because Faith is a long-time favorite). I also get hints of the jasmine and a hint of that myrrh reading very incense-y at this point. Wet on skin and then warming up, the scent starts to shift and bloom. The rose emerges, very fresh, like it's just been cut from the bush in a garden, that edge of green clinging to it. The combo reminds me a bit of Marie, another classic violet/rose pairing. Of course, all these other notes are in the mix too, so hang on, 'cause we'r not done here Upon dry down, the above notes settle more into themselves, warming and blooming further. I get just little hints of the jasmine and cypress, and the orange peel brings a touch of citrus but is in no way sweet or fruity. In all- I get a low throw but definitely dab sparingly until you see how this reacts with your personal chemistry: part of the charm of this scent is that while it's bright and clean-smelling, it's not soapy in the least. I've noticed over the years that when Beth interprets scents related to Italy that there's a certain touch she brings to them. It's not anything I can point to specifically, not a particular note or what have you. But the vibe is there. A lot of my heritage is Italian and there's something about the interpretations meant to be of that part of the world resonate with me in a very particular, personal way, and this is no exception. A light, delicate blend of non-cloying florals and a citrus incense that will be great throughout spring and summer ❤️
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Jean Veber Pumpkin cream, honey, vanilla sugar, and smoked vanilla bean. In The Bottle: sweet, creamy vanilla and scratchy vanilla bean, with a breath of pumpkin. Yum! Wet On Skin: the pumpkin comes out a bit more and the honey with it, warming the scent up a bit. Dry Down: A beautiful, light pumpkin ice cream! In All: low throw, a sweet, gentle scent. Not too foodie. Perfect for daytime wear throughout the fall. Total keeper!
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In The Bottle: Oh, YES. coconut. Coconut like "slow-cooking coconut oil" kind of coconut. Wet On Skin: More of the same. This is just what I was hoping for. Dry Down: A beautiful, dry, yummy coconut. It's not terribly sweet or even terribly foodie. It's a rich-but-light coconut, like unsweetened coconut flakes or that simmering low-heat coconut oil I described before. It's the coconut I was hoping to get with Obatala and just...didn't. In All: low to medium throw, this scent can be worn just as it is for coconut fans like myself, or you can totally layer this with other scents- I'm already plotting how it'll do with last month's French Vanilla! I am SO glad I got two bottles!!!
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Idle Moon: Coconut Milk and Rice
VioletChaos replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
I can't believe I never reviewed this. I pulled this gem out of figurative mothball storage and put it on today based on the whim of sniff from the bottle. A LOT was happening in my life last summer so I forgive myself for not paying close enough attention to this gorgeous scent last year, but I am SO glad to rectify the situation now. This goes back to the Dark Ages of BPAL but honestly what this scent reminds me of most is my cherished Tarot: The Star. The only element that differentiates the two is that the lime note from that one is not present here. But the rice and the coconut bring the same qualities of calm delight and quiet joy. The coconut is indeed a "cool" variety, not sunbaked or suntan-lotion-y in the least. The rice note is understated as well, not foodie- more like rice paper than milky or even grainy. The collaboration of the two makes for a scent that stays close to the skin but lasts, melding with my natural skin musk and smoothing out all the rough edges of a regular day. I am really, really happy to have rediscovered this lovely little scent. ❤️ -
[No additional description provided.] In The Bottle: That's a whoooooole lotta labdanum! Wet On Skin: This is reading like a sweet labdanum single note. If it stays this way, I won't object- I wouldn't mind being in possession of such a thing. I can always layer it with "O" if this continues! Dry Down: The honey comes out a teeeeeny bit. But really, this is the Labdanum Show, with your host, Sweet Labdanum. This note, being the rich little minx that it is, ages quite well, and my long term experience of the Lab's various honey notes is the same. I wouldn't be surprised if the honey doesn't really shine in this until, like, six months from now. But even if it just lurks in the background, I'm satisfied with having a really good labdanum "single note" ☺️
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Dusky plum oudh casts a pall over frayed strands of green cognac and tobacco leaf. This tangle of threads is stained with a smear of patchouli and opoponax and intertwined with vanilla cream lace. In The Bottle: The plum is sweet and bright right out of the gate, followed by a hint of that green cognac. That's all I get at first. Wet On Skin: The oudh settles into itself, becoming a bit more rich, but not incense-y as I had expected. The vanilla cream lace is juuuuust beginning to peek out! Dry Down: Siiiiiiigh. This is everything that I hope any in the Lace series to be: filling me with a painful nostalgia that haunts my longings and releases all my beautiful ghosts. It's sweet and dusky and gorgeous, no one note standing out, all working in gorgeous symphony. Like stepping into a sitting room full of silver print photographs and dried flowers in cut crystal vases.
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White sandalwood, white sage, East Indian patchouli, muguet, golden frankincense, and Balsam of Mecca. Some of the notes in here can be a little iffy on me, but I'm hoping that the Mecca, Sandalwood and Patchouli can balance it out for me. Let's have a sniff! In The Bottle: A bit of patchouli, but not the dirty variety we saw in Occupy Wall St.. There's a nice subtlety here. It's also got some sweet balance with the sandalwood, which is a similar type to the one found in Tombstone. Sweet and desert-y. so far so good. Wet On Skin: Mmmm. This is warming up now, and becoming something rather personal, and sexy. Not overt sexy, like with Smut. That subtlety is continuing, holding the frankincense in check and making this rich and commanding- a scent to draw someone in- and keep them close Dry Down: This is total win. Soft enough for daytime, but personable enough for an evening affair, this is literally hitting all the right notes. In All: Low to medium throw, Pteropus is a scent that crosses all gender boundaries. I predict this to be the sleeper hit of the bats- when the luster has faded from the others, this may very well prove to be the most sought-after of this year's Bat's Day scents. Keeper!
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In the bottle: I was expecting mostly coffee, but actually, I'm not getting any. In fact, NONE of the listed notes are present! Mostly I'm getting a fluffy cloud of...sweet cream? 😯 Don't get me wrong, I've no objections, cause it smells awesome. But I'm suuuuuper confused! Wet On Skin, the scent starts to bloom as it warms and now I'm getting the uncanny animal crackers-thing that doomsday mentioned! Not the lemony part of those crackers, but the rest. It's a bit odd, but I'm intrigued. Once full drydown is reached, I get the chicory coming on kinda strong. It reads as vaguely cinnamon-y, which could be a plus for this of you that can't wear actual cinnamon- this could be your work around! On me, the scent is largely a light snickerdoodle scent. I really miss NOLA, so I was hoping it would show up as intended on me, so while this is a perfectly nice winter time baked goods scent, I do wish it had the coffee and beignets in the mix. 😢 I DO have the Guatemalan Coffee Bean single note, and I shall try layering that with this- maybe it just needs a little help to pull it all together for my chemistry
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In the bottle, I get some of the thick, sweet honey I have long associated with O (a scent that I've long felt doesn't get the love it deserves). At this stage, it's just the honey. After application, there's quite a bit of shifting and projecting over the ensuing 5 minutes or so: the throw becomes insanely loud, very briefly, then begins to settle itself down. During that time there's a rapid succession of first the honey, then the amber, then the honey, then the incense...etc etc etc. The morph is dizzying in its speed. 👀 Upon drydown, it all settles into place, the honey pulling back some, the amber creeping forward, the incense grounding the two and preventing any of it from being powdery. Just lovely. In All, a surprisingly low throw given the intensity of the notes involved. Still, considering that brief, enormous burst forward during initial application, apply sparingly until you see how exactly she reacts with your particular chemistry It's funny that this scent has come through the Yules several times over the years but only now am I discovering it for myself. Glad to finally join the party, this is a really nice addition to my winter scent collection!
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In the bottle, this is pretty much all the effervescent champagne, all the time. After applied to my skin, it stays that way for a while, taking its time to warm and bloom. Eventually, some of the musk shows up, adding depth to the boozy note, which is some magic feat (since light musks are...light). I don't get any lavender at this point. Upon complete drydown, I'm left with a lightly sweet, balanced champagne/blush musk scent. No lavender or snow appear for me, alas. In all: A scent for softly snowy days. Low to medium throw, making it a good daytime scent. I'm not sure it's my thing, but for those that love a champagne note, don't miss out on this beauty. ❄️