elinox

First Sniff: Something sugary and astringent which makes me think strong, aged, old lady perfume. Initial Wet Application: There’s something in this which brings to mind some sort of hot house floral, at least, at first. But I’m not liking this at all so far! Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As this completed the dry down, this became something sugary sweet mixed with ceremonial incense. My Reaction: After reading the description, I’m guessing that myrrh is making me not like this. There’s an almost dry paper note in this now too. But it couldn’t seem to make up its mind between yummy buttery-ness and cloying incense; which is actually pretty good for the three-faced goddess! Sadly, there was just nothing in this I enjoyed. Rating: 1

First Sniff: Sweet peppermint. Not necessarily from cookies (or creams), but foody. Initial Wet Application: Biting, medicinal peppermint. It makes me think of those red and white swirled Christmas candies. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As it dries down, I’m still getting mint but it's a bit more tame. There's a sugary undercurrent to this now too. Still of the menthol variety, but it can’t be mistaken for anything other than mint. It reminds me of creme de menthe too. My Reaction: This was close to what I was expecting, although I didn’t seem to get the cream part as much. It did make me think sugary sweet, but not in a cupcake sense. It’s yummy and a good clean mint smell though. The throw isn’t really that strong, but it’s definitely an interesting mint! Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Medicinal raspberries. Initial Wet Application: A forest with fresh berries. The berry scent is lovely and goes well with the underlying green scent. It’s cheery do far and pleasant. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As it dried down, this reminded me a lot of Glasgow with the blackberry. However, this differs in that I’m not getting any heather. Instead I’m getting ripe berries tamed by white musk. My Reaction: I enjoy this, but it is very similar to Glasgow to my nose. Despite that, it’s a happy sort of scent which I enjoy. Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Clean, pure lily. Initial Wet Application: Rose leaf, for certain. It’s light and ethereal. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): I had a feeling this was going to be really faint on me early on so I slathered on a lot at first. And so far, I’m getting a bit of throw! It’s a lovely light rose note with some chilly air keeping this a bit on the mysterious side. I can also detect some trace of wood, which I assume is the rosewood. Despite liking this so far, I’m willing to bet that it will fade away into nothingness like a ghost before the dawn. My Reaction: It’s a very pleasant rose smell, different somehow than my normal rose scent The Rose and I like it. It’s a gentle tea rose which is lovely. So far it’s still detectable without much effort which is nice since I’d worried this would fade within minutes. I think the wood note is keeping this down to earth, while the air note wants this to flit away. It definitely conjures up images of ghosts and passed-on loved ones. Rating: 3

First Sniff: Smoky soap with vetiver or some form of wood. Initial Wet Application: I think there’s some sort of citrus underneath it all.This is wonky: it can’t seem to make up its mind if it wants to be sultry with incense or like clean, floral soap. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As it dries down, I can easily imagine ashes from a burned incense stick, dried and crumbling. There’s a pleasant, warm note to it though too which is keeping this interesting. I think I’m detecting some Middle-Eastern spice in this, which is nice, and would hold true with the mythology surrounding genies/djinn. My Reaction: This certainly evokes images of dryness and smoking ashes. After reading some of the other reviews I’m guessing that the sweet/dry smell is ginger. It’s a warm smoky scent and subtle with some sweetness, although it faded rather quickly on me. Not really my thing, but interesting nonetheless. Rating: 2

First Sniff: Blackberry and incense. Initial Wet Application: A pleasant leather note mixed well with some light, smoky incense. There’s also that faint berry hanging around in the background. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As this begins the dry down, I’m getting ozone with a pleasant, light flower in it. It brings to mind standing in a breeze overlooking the sea on a high cliff in springtime. As this completes the dry down phase, the white sandalwood works well with that lovely berry scent. But something darker, the teak perhaps, peaks out of this later and makes this a lonely scent. My Reaction: While I had hoped for some wet stone walls facing a cliff, this was enjoyable. Not something I’ll likely reach for often, but it is interesting and I liked the blackberry-esque note. Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Clean copper and something bitter, probably the labdanum. Initial Wet Application: Something like black pepper is the forerunner now and there’s something smokey in the background. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As this began the dry down, this was still smoky and had a tiny hint of copper underneath. I’m mostly getting black pepper (the black musk and clove?) and soft powder though. My Reaction: While this isn’t something I’d normally want to try, it was interesting as a frimp, but not particularly pleasant to my nose. The description is cool, but I already have some smoky scents which work better than this one. Sadly, the bright copper was too fleeting. Rating: 1

First Sniff: Smoke, incense and soft leather, yay! Initial Wet Application: Smoky incense tamed with something warm and mysterious. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): I can see how others are getting sweetness with the leather, it’s certainly better than any of the other ‘leather’ scents I’ve tried so far! This is wispy and obscure and, despite being light on my skin, pleasant and interesting. There’s something in this which is keeping it slightly dark and hard to put a finger on, which is perfect for its namesake. My Reaction: I think the rosin is what’s keeping this evocative of a dark night and prowling around trying to avoid the city’s watch while looking for the perfect open window to climb into to rob. It’s a bit faint, but different than other light scents from the lab. I’m also getting some throw which is pleasant and intriguing. While I’m not a fan of the rogue class personally (I lean more towards barbarian), I can respect them and am glad this was a frimp in my last purchase anyway. I may hang onto this one just because I play D&D. Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Something unpleasant smacks me right in the face. Bottled up wilting iris maybe? Initial Wet Application: Thankfully, this was different as soon as I applied it: it’s light and fresh and there’s some delicious coconut rounding this out. The iris and white musk are good buddies so far. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As it began to dry, the hazelnut is giving this a dry wood smell which I hope goes away. The coconut is faint but it seems to work well with the iris which is the dominant note so far. It’s light and pleasant, but as it completes the dry down not a lot of that lovely coconut remains. My Reaction: The white musk and iris were pleasant, but too much like too many of my other BPAL scents. I had hoped that the coconut would come out more with warm hazelnut but that wasn’t the case. Although let’s be honest, I got this to try for only 2 reasons: 1. because I need to try all the pirate scents the lab offers, and 2. I love this movie! Rating: 1.5

First Sniff: Wet wood, the same as I get from Jolly Roger on my skin. Initial Wet Application: Still some wet wood but I got a whiff or two that smelled like chocolate mint, yay! Mostly this is just the cedar though. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As it began the dry down, the wood (oakmoss and ceder) started to stuck around but I kept getting teases of the delicious chocolate mint scent. I’m in favor of the foody blends, so I hope this gets more yummy on my skin! From the chocolate mint note I’m mostly getting dry chocolate (not cocoa powder, just dry chocolate shavings, maybe dark chocolate) and its mixed with the wood. I think the pepper in the peppermint is not liking the cedar/oakmoss and together they are simply overpowering any hint of thin mints or Andes mints I was hoping for! My Reaction: I’ve decided that I’m not a fan of the wood notes from the lab; they all smell like plywood or a mild cedar closet to me, yuck! I had hoped this would be the perfect chocolate mint scent as many others have described experiencing, but unfortunately it’s just too much wood for me. I am getting throw from this though so that’s a nice change; and for the throw I’m getting more of the chocolate mint than when I actually sniff my wrists where the wood is hanging out. Rating: 2

First Sniff: A dentist’s office, as soon as you walk through the door to have your teeth cleaned. Initial Wet Application: This smells minty, but the medicinal type of mint which I don’t care for. I think the black musk is hiding in the background and making the lavender react oddly. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): As this begins to dry it goes much softer, but there’s still that dentist’s office smell lurking around. The lavender wants attention, but I think the citron is keeping it faint and slightly awkward. Five minutes in and this is powdery soft and gentle now, which is nice but too much like other, powdery light scents I already have from the lab. I can still detect that minty menthol, which I assume is the pennyroyal, and it’s still bringing to mind my dentist’s office and making me cringe. Once it dried completely this was softer and I’m having an easier time picking out the lavender. I think there’s also some sort of wood underneath it all which is grounding this. My Reaction: It got better the longer I had this on, but it just didn’t do it for me enough. I had high hopes that this would be another lovely scent for the hubby, but I just can’t take the dentist’s office smell this brings to mind, yuck! Guess I’ll need to stick to the Bath & Body Shop’s lavender/vanilla for my lavender fix! Rating: 1

First Sniff: Mott’s apple juice and some crushed allspice I think. Initial Wet Application: Now it’s bam-in-your-face and reminding me of the fruit punch you used to get as a kid in those annoying paper containers at school functions. I can detect some faint orange hiding in the background as well as some dusty clove. Dry Down (first 15 minutes): This didn’t really change from initial sniff to complete dry down which is disappointing as I’m still getting fruit punch. Once this dried completely, I was still getting fruit punch, but now spicy cinnamon is trying to get in on the act. My Reaction: I had hoped to really like this warm, autumn, foody scent, but alas! The fruit punch and cinnamon were just not pleasant and even reminded me of throat lozenges or cherry chapstick. I think the nutmeg wanted to place nice, with warming things out, but so far I’ve not gotten even a tiny taste of apple anything! Rating: 1

First Sniff: Freshly cut cucumber. Initial Wet Application: The same as first sniff, this is spot-on freshly cut cucumber. This is definitely green and from plant matter and it’s a bit creepy how realistic this is! Dry Down (first 15 minutes): Five minutes in and this has already tamed way, way down, even after I re-applied heavily with 2 more swipes of the wand. (What is it with these imps fading on me?!?) I’m still getting fresh cucumber, but it’s got a grass edge to it now too. My Reaction: I had gotten this imp because I’ve been looking for the perfect, freshly cut grass scent from the lab and this had the highest reviews for that. This is definitely grass, but it’s not freshly cut grass unfortunately, but really well cared for and fertilized grass. It’s vibrant and most certainly a ‘green’ scent. I could see this being a very pleasant springtime scent. It’s not particularly strong on me, but when I sniff my wrists I can still detect the fresh cucumber and grass. Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Fresh, clean ozone which makes me think of clean laundry (yay!). Initial Wet Application: Ozone with a hint of green in it. It’s pleasant, but very reminiscent of Lightning so far. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As this began the dry down, it’s going faint on me already, even after two heavy swipes with the wand. I think the vetiver is keeping this a mossy green mixed with breezy air on me, it’s nice and I like it so I hope it sticks around. My Reaction: I can easily see, based on the description and other reviews, how this evokes a sense of a thunderstorm rolling in across the horizon towards the castle’s high, impenetrable walls which are covered in moss. However, while I enjoyed this scent for its ozone aquatic with some moss scent, it’s just too light on me. I’ll probably give this one more try, but so far its just too faint and too similar to Lightning. Rating: 2

*Note: I applied this after I’d tried Arcana earlier in the day. Since that didn’t like me, I washed it off and decided to review another imp. First Sniff: Soft, gentle, lovely roses! Initial Wet Application: I applied a lot of this, three swipes with the wand, because I worry that something as light as roses is going to disappear on my skin. This is fresh, but really, really faint already and it hasn’t even been 5 minutes yet! Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As it began the dry down, this was rose with something else feathery light in it. It doesn’t bring to mind leather, so much as just soft, gentle things. This didn’t really change from initial application to complete dry down and it’s very faint. My Reaction: I’m glad the leather in this didn’t immediately leap to being identical to other leather notes I’ve tried and not liked, but this still isn’t the leather I’m looking for. And whereas The Rose, which is my go-to for a rose scent, is one single, long-stemmed red rose, this is several pale yellow roses together. It does remind me of dew on rose petals; beautifully simple and lovely. It’s pleasant, but not strong enough or unique enough to be all that impressive. Rating: 1

The essence of magickal enigmas and long-forgotten esoteric mysteries. Frankincense, rosemary, lavender, neroli, and lemon verbena. First Sniff: Lemon and wood resin, I think. Initial Wet Application: Soft lemon with a dusty, dark scent underneath. It makes me think of incense, so I’m guessing that’s the frankincense. I think the rosemary is beating out the lavender, but together they make this a warm scent and each is sort of indistinguishable from the other. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As this began its dry down it was all soft, sunny lemon. But as this completed the dry down this went wonky on me. I think the verbena (lemon) is fighting with rosemary/lavender and its making this a weird, sort of plastic pizza sauce scent with some herbs in it (and not the usual oregano either!). Others have noted that this can smell like olive oil so I can understand that. But unless this turns around, its a no-go for me! My Reaction: The initial scent was pleasant enough, although I already have several light lemon scents from the lab. But when this went wonky with the vaguely pizza sauce-like scent, it’s a nope. Rating: 1

*Note: I applied this after I’d tried Manhattan earlier in the day yesterday. Since that had faded, I washed it off and decided to review another imp. First Sniff: Something dark brown and furry. I think I can detect a tiny hint of cocoa in the background! Initial Wet Application: Dusty with some warmth to round this out. It smells similar to the plywood note I get from imps with ‘dust’ or ‘wood’ in their description, although this isn’t quite the same and so it’s more enjoyable. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As it completed its dry down, this was dry cocoa powder and something fuzzy. It makes me think of soft animal fur, but with a perfume twist instead of actually being fur. My Reaction: I had hoped this would be a bit darker, but its more perfumy than I would have thought and hoped for. This didn’t change from initial wet to dry down, which was nice. After reading the description I can pick out the coconut, which I think is keeping this warm and gentle smelling. Not sure if I like this enough to keep it, but its definitely evokes images of fuzzy little creatures. Rating: 2.5

First Sniff: Soft lemon and fresh mint. Initial Wet Application: Light lemons, reminiscent of fresh squeezed lemonade. It’s different than the lemon drops candy or Pinesol lemon I’ve gotten from other scents from the lab. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As this began to dry it kept the fresh lemon and added a light powder. I cheated and read the description, and now I can detect some soft orchid in this. It’s pretty, very feminine, but light already on my skin. Once this dried completely this was a gentle scent, due to the tea I think. It reminds me of powder, but not the same sort of powder I get from other light, flowery scents from the lab. I think the mint is keeping the lemon in check and making this a happy, fresh smell. My Reaction: I wanted to get my hands on this imp for one reason: a few weeks ago I had a dream about BPAL having a 10th Kingdom scent, called ‘t10k’. Upon waking from the dream, I realized that the lab technically already makes such a scent, it’s just called Manhattan instead. Not normally my thing as far as notes go, but since it’s my favorite book and movie, I needed to try this imp. It’s pleasant and I like it, despite it being really faint on me already. I’ll probably hang onto this for its association alone. Rating: 3

Is there a BPAL (preferably one available now as an imp) which smells like the YC 'clean cotton'? I've already tried most of the scents associated with clean, fresh laundry. {Dirty, Sea of Glass, Pool of Tears, Ehecatl, Tavern of Hell, Embalming Fluid, Hurricane, Lightning, White Rabbit}

Something with damp earth with a light-hearted fun spirit. Frumious Bandersnatch comes to mind with its berry cheeriness. Alternately, perhaps something with a hint of banana in it for the Day-O song?

I'm a huge fan of the Wizard of Oz (especially the original movie!) so I thought it would be appropriate to come up with a BPAL collection for it. Here's my take on some of the classic characters/elements of one of the greatest movies of all time. The Wizard of Oz Kansas/Aunty Em - Antique Lace Tornado - Hurricane or Tempest Dorothy - Alice Ruby Slippers - Blood or Blood Kiss Witch - Bewitched Yellow Brick Road - Crossroads Scarecrow - Scarecrow Tinman - Ultraviolet or Dove’s Heart Lion - The Lion Poppies - Opium Poppy or Poisoned Apple Emerald City - Absinthe Dark Forest - Black Forest Flying Monkeys - Voyeuristic Monkey Hourglass - Obsidian Widow Bucket of Water - Pool of Tears Wizard - Mage or Magus

Waking this thread back from the dead. Are there any caramel scents from the GC and are easy to acquire? I've already tried Grog (plywood + faint butterscotch/caramel on me) and am curious as to what other strong caramel scents are out there I can try as imps. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

First Sniff: Night-blooming jasmine Initial Wet Application: Still the jasmine but with something furry soft taming it. I’m guessing myrrh makes my skin purr. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: This is lovely; soft, gentle and light. There seems to be a tiny bit of a clean, crisp scent underneath it all. So far though, this is all feminine jasmine. While this is lovely, I’m worried it’s going to fade too quickly. My Reaction: I really liked this and thought the jasmine was lovely. Unfortunately, these sorts of flowers just fade away on my skin which is disappointing. I’m hoping that the longer I have this on though that the rose will make an appearance. It’s gentle and comforting and hauntingly beautiful. I would like more of the purring myrrh too! Rating: 3

First Sniff: Apple with a bit of wet dish-rag underneath it (I hope the apple pushes out the other!). Initial Wet Application: Fresh, light juicy apple. This is not the bite of a granny smith apple, but rather the more gentleness of a mackintosh or a pink lady. It’s delicate, even after three swipes with the imp wand. And it’s a bit soapy already. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: There’s some soft lemon in this which is what, I think, it making the apple a bit wonky. But the rose is taming this enough so that it’s not lemon drop candy or Pinesol so far, which is nice. Although I do still involuntarily cringe at the scent of lemon! At one point during the dry down it couldn’t seem to make up its mind, which was exactly the point for this imp! Once it dried completely though it was too faint and was hard to tell what I was actually sniffing; faint lemon tamed by rose though I think. My Reaction: I’ve been trying to expand my BPAL collection to include things other than aquatics, hence why I gave Delirium (with apple, lemon and rose) a try. It’s interesting, with the faint apple mellowing the lemony rose, but not something I would reach for often, if ever. Rating: 2

First Sniff: A beautiful, deep incense smell. (That’s not patchouli!) Initial Wet Application: It’s sweet with a deep note in it that makes this lovely so far. Beginning Dry Down (first 15 minutes) & Dry: As it began to dry it turned a bit powdery and there is some sort of flower in this, maybe jasmine. After reading the notes, I believe the wine is mixing with the honey to make a sweet booze scent. My Reaction: This is one of the very few oils from the lab where I’m getting throw; I can actually smell it on my wrists as I type (usually I have to get right up to my skin). There are some floral notes in this, but they seem to be a bit different than the usual soft ones I get. The myrrh and the wine mix with the honey to make this sweet and mingle nicely with the flowers. There does seem to be some sort of underlying incense or smokiness to this though which tones down the sweetness. It’s pleasant and interesting, but I’m not sure it’s one I need to hang onto given the choice. Rating: 3