chai_girl

A renowned exotic dancer and courtesan, possessed of aristocratic elegance, matchless charm, an iron will and a streak of fearlessness. The actual events of her life have met with much speculation, and to this day it is unclear whether or not she was truly a German spy. Despite shaky evidence of her guilt, she was tried for espionage by a closed court-martial and was executed by a French firing squad in 1917. Her scent is striking and bold with a delicate yet dark undertone: five roses with soft jasmine, warmed by vanilla, fig, tonka bean and mahogany, spiced with a drop of coffee bean. Beth gave me an imp of this in my last order...I have to tell you, at first I was like...Beth must have been on crack when she made this! It smelled like stale coffee. I let it sit though, trusting to our wonderful Lab Goddess. It dried down to this nice floral scent and the coffee disappeared into the background. No single note stood out but a nice soft blend...I'll have to try it again because I ended up getting in the shower before I could fully analyze it. It was tough getting through the dry down stage but very worth it, IMO. Just don't apply right before your date is supposed to get there! EDITED description to match the official one --Shollin

O The scent of sexual obsession, slavery to sensual pleasure, and the undercurrent of innocence defiled utterly. Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla. I just got my box full of imps (you are so generous Elizabeth!) I was so looking forward to getting them and the first one I tried was O. (I can totally relate to her! ) In the bottle: It smelled a bit tart...almost florally...was a bit worried On: It's been about 20 minutes. It is mellowing into a warm decadent scent. I can smell mostly vanilla with a touch of honey. The amber is in the background making it not so innocent or foody. I'm loving this scent. After a couple of hours: It mellowed into this combination. I couldn't pick out any one scent but it almost smelled musky...okay, maybe tmi, but you know that smell of sex, the next morning after a really good all-nighter? It is kind of like that with a sweet note to keep it from being too overpowering. I still love it, but it isn't a perfume I'll wear when I'm going to end up going to bed alone. Of course, this could have been a subliminal reaction because of the name ~grin~ ADDED Feb. 22: Tried this for the second time today and I'm in love. This is my new stay at home and never get of bed scent. If I were a guy, I'd be all over me...lol...definitely on the list for a large bottle. I can't wait for the guy I'm seeing to smell me with it...lol...it might encourage him to take few days off work to come see me just a bit more often! There is something about the way the honey and amber meld together that produces an almost musky scent...sighhh Lisa in Austin ADDED March 2: I've nailed it down...this reminds me of the Kama Sutra honey powder...which I totally adore! It has that sweet musky scent that just wraps around you. Innocence utterly defiled is a perfect description! Lisa in Austin

Zephyr -- A gentle white scent, breezes laced with the scent of springtime blooms and citrus. Lemon, lemon verbena, neroli, white musk, white florals, white sandalwood, China musk, bergamot and a drop of vanilla. In the bottle: yummm...soft, light with some high notes without being florally On the skin: I'm still liking this. It almost...almost...reminds me of that sweet honesty perfume I used to wear as a teenager...but this has a bit of something that makes this not so innocent. Definitely a lighter springtime scent. After about 30 minutes: Fading into a soft lemony, musky kind of scent. Very soft and feminine. It is beginning to fade a bit, but that may be because I only put the smallest drop on my wrists. If I were to were this all day, it would probably need freshening after a couple of hours, but definitely worth it...

CHESHIRE CAT Grapefruit, red currant, dark musk, Roman chamomile, delphinium, and lavender. In the bottle: The main scent was the sharp grapefruit scent. I almost put it back to try a different one today but thought I'd be adventureous. Wet: I could definitely smell other scents coming into play. The grapefruit faded but there was still an undefined fruitiness...but not fruity. It isn't really a floral either...If that makes sense. An hour later: It has melded to the point where I can't distinguish a single note but it has the overall impression of walking through an overgrown orchard in the sunshine. There is a bit of fruit in there along with a bit of floral...no one thing overwhelms the other. There is something in there that I've never smelled before and it might be the delphinium...or just the way they meld together. This is a great spring/summer scent...definitely a keeper. A couple of hours later: Still a very wonderful scent but mostly faded. If I had the imp with me, I'd reapply because I love the scent. I still like it and will probably get more.

Elizabeth, Which is better/easier/most cost effective for you - CCNow or PayPal? I can go to CCNow and figure out how much it is with shipping then copy it over to Paypal without a problem if it is easier and cheaper for you. I don't know how CCNow charges you for the service but I know Paypal charges you extra when someone uses a credit card to pay. I thought others might be interested as well, so I thought I'd start it as a topic.

I am becoming addicted to this oil. I haven't used it in rituals or anything. I've been dabbing it on before work. I'm going through a kind of stressful, rough patch and decided to give this a try. I sometimes mix it with some unscented hair serum and run it through my hair. It is very uplifting and calming. I feel much more balanced when I'm I'm wearing it and it gives me the lift I need in the morning to start another day.

I bought an imp of this and tested it out Friday evening at an SCA (renaissance) event. I had spent the day preparing, setting up my tent, working a shift, etc. and then put a few drops on my wrists, throat and heart. I also let my friend try it out and we headed to the tavern. Now, mind you, I'm not usually the type of girl the guys go for. I'm not naturally bubbly...I'm more likely to discuss the philosophy of how to become involved in a large social organization than to actually chat up a guy at the bar. I don't consider myself to be terribly attractive but not ugly or anything...I'm also overweight but not as bad as I was...but definitely not thin. I had no makeup on, my hair was in a ponytail. I ended up surrounded by a group of men that would make any woman drool. These men are SO out of my league...but they were all over me! It was almost scary. It was so incredible! The same thing with my friend. I looked at her, over the head of an incredibly hot knight who had his head buried in my chest and she was grinning from ear to ear. It was literally a "I'll have you, but not you...you can come closer...nope, not you" type of night. WOW! Okay, so I got next to no sleep Friday night...then worked all day at the event on Saturday. I was very tired by the time we headed to the tavern Saturday night. Now, I'm sort of seeing this guy who is in the local group. He had gone to bed early on Friday night. We typically interact in the group as a couple but refuse to identify as a couple if that makes any sense. He has certain status and a conservative persona and has to be very circumspect. We have traveled outside our local group as a couple but we have never camped "together" locally. It was a cold night and I had my down comforter. He wrestled with things and ended up in my tent sleeping comfortably and warm. It was very nice! That on top of the fact that he kept whispering in my ear that I smelled lovely. Now, that had to be the Charisma because I hadn't had a chance to take a shower Saturday evening and was sweaty and dusty from the day. So...uhmmmm....without too many details...very effective...I couldn't tell you what it actually smelled like but it smelled rather nice to me and not offensive at all.

I bought an imp of this from a forumite to try out. I wore it last night and was impressed with the attention I got. I'm not sure how much of it was the oil but I'm giving it a lot of credit. Setting: A Society for Creative Anachronism (medieval re-creation) camping event. I camped (shared a tent and a bed) with a very good platonic male friend. The relationship has been on the verge of becoming more for a long time but neither of us is ready for that. Reaction: I received a lot of attention from several men...many of whom have always kept a very careful distance between us. One example is a very a happily married man that I flirt with all the time (his wife is cool with it and laughs). I was strolling from campfire to campfire with my married friend and the friend I was camping with. In the middle of the path, my married friend decides to show me just how intimate ballroom dancing can be using the rhumba as an example. I had another old friend hurry past...then come back and give me a big hug. Another guy who I have been lusting after but recently acquired a new girlfriend came over three times to give me a hug. Now, the guy I was camping with kept telling me how "alluring" I smelled. There were several other random things...like men I didn't know coming up and striking random (and sometimes wierd) conversations...I think I was hit on by a guy wearing a monk's habit! So, I will definitely put this in the effective category...and try it out again next weekend! I'll be camping by myself and have the possibility of bringing someone "home" if I wish so it will be a better test. Now, the only reason I hesitate to give all the credit to the oil is because I've lost a significant amount of weight (almost 100lbs) and part of the reaction could have been to that and the fact that I was wearing a dress that actually fit for the first time a decade! But, I've seen most of these men during the time I was losing weight so it wasn't like a big surprise...the random strangers was a bit of a surprise ~grin~

I didn't read the previous reviews because I didn't want them to change the way I felt about this scent. I wasn't sure what to expect and I just dropped it on my wrist...wow! It was very dark and musky to start with and I was a bit unsure. Then it began to dry down and it is very incense in a fresh, green way but hasn't lost the darkness. Visualizing this scent: It is like standing at the mouth of a deep, dry cave that opens high on a mountain with lots of lush vegetation and flowers around the mouth of the cave. In one breath you get the darkness and earthiness of the cave and the fresh flowers and greens from the mouth of the cave. A very unique scent that seems familiar, but not.

I scored an imp of this and fell in love. I didn't buy the bottle because leather scents usually smell really fake to me. Of course, I should have known Beth better than that. To me, this smells like a well-worn leather jacket...not sweaty and stinky...but the gentle musky scent from being worn for years with shiney patches at the elbows and around the pockets. It is a very comforting leather scent. I put a dab of it on a guy friend and I had a really hard time keeping my hands off him...what does that say about me? Now to score a bottle of it.

First impression - warm buttery butterscotch Wet: Vanilla and butter with a touch of sweetness 10 minutes: Wow! Where did those flowers come from? There is a note in there that is definitely floral but I can't place it...maybe freesia? It is high and sweet but also a bit tart. 30 minutes: A soft powdery (in a good way) floral scent. Clean but with a touch flowers. It is a wonderful spring scent and a keeper for me.

This scent started off in the spring with fresh herbs and a tart green apple scent. I was reminded of walking through the herb section of the farmer's market on a warmish morning sipping a cup of warm granny smith apple cider. Then it moved into summer with the apple scent fading and the herbs drying down. There seems to be a bit of a floral in there and it is all being warmed by the golden scent of amber. About an hour later it has settled into autumn. The herbs have a slightly powdery scent and the amber is still there to provide a golden glow. The apple seems to be in the background but it isn't as prominent and has more of a floral accent than a fruity one. I like this one but not enough for a full bottle...mostly because I already have more bottles than I can possibly use in a lifetime and I'm becoming very picky about the scents I upgrade.

I closed my eyes and reached into my monstrous pile of imps and pulled out Spellbound this morning. I was in a hurry so luckily I didn't slather it on. It is a very strong scent that seems to be lasting. I don't get roses from this. I read the description after getting to work and was really surprised to see not one, but three! roses. I'm getting a soft warm scent. The amber and musk seem to be taking the lead. The roses are way in the background, like they are drifting in on the breeze and mixed with the amber and musk to the point of not being definable. I like this scent but it is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is a stand up and take notice scent...reminds me of the "nobody puts Baby in the corner" line from Dirty Dancing. This would be the scent she would wear to tango her heart out.

I bought this as an xmas present for a friend of mine. He is a native american (sort-of) elder. He is part of the tribal leadership group (I'm not sure of the exact terminology) for his tribe. "The deep bass growl of thunder over mountain trees" is what reminded me of him, so I had to get it for him. It is a wonderful clean fresh scent. I haven't tried it or smelled it on him yet but it smells very fresh and tangy...like right after a nice hard rain in a forest. Another guy friend smelled it and was like "Damn, I might even kiss him if he is wearing this!" (and this guy is very straight). I'm tempted to order more for my other guy friends

I used this last night. I got the lavender at first then then lemon came out stronger. As I drifted off to sleep, it was a lemon, herbally lavender scent. Very soothing but not your normal "sleep" scent. I'm not sure if it was the thunderstorms that rolled in at bedtime, the fact that my daughter crawled into bed with me and kept kicking me all night, or Nanshe, but I kept waking up all night long with really strange dreams that I couldn't remember as soon as I woke up.

I have to agree with Mrs. Black. The key thing will be to find something that will be relaxing to you. Outside of BPAL, you might try someplace around town that sells essential oils or Whole Foods. They usually have essential oil blends that are designed for muscle pain relief.

I turned this into a massage/lotion bar before trying it on as an oil. In the bottle it didn't smell like anything that I'd like...kind of a lemony apple scent. I thought it would make a good experimental oil because I wouldn't be to disappointed if it didn't work out. I tried it on as a lotion and I fell in love. The lemony apple turned into this powdery sexual scent that I love. There is just enough sweet to keep the patchouli and musk from being too too. It is very well blended. I have a youngish friend (he's still in college and makes me feel like Mrs. Robinson even though it is purely platonic) and I sent him off to a party slathered in my Desire butter...and he raved about it. He said the girls (and guys) were all commenting on how wonderful he smelled!

My experience was very similar to SarahJ's: Wet: Lily and sage...a pungent and green...kind of a sharp high note...not too sure about this Dry down: A soft light floral with a strong base of sandalwood and a touch of floral. I think this is definitely a gender neutral because I can see this going just as well with silk as with flannel...

I couldn't break out the scents into individual notes. I reapplied this after Mabon had dried down...I'd put one on each arm and Mabon completely overwhelmed the softer Wildfire. The impression I got was standing in a field of golden brown grasses and wildflowers in the late afternoon at the end of summer. The grass and wild flowers are almost burnt from the heat of the sun. The scent is a soft smokey scent...but not like heavy smoke from a flame...and not the bitter burnt smell of smoldering ashes either. I love this scent!

I kind of slipped when I applied this so I had a ~lot~ of Mabon one arm and lil bit of Wildfire on the other. The Mabon overwhelmed the Wildfire in a heartbeat...Strong blackberry wine...almost too strong, with that bit of bitterness that you get in a dark wine. I was worried... As it dried, the blackberry stayed strong but the other scents crept in. I think apple and sage came next...kind of a sweet herbal scent. Then the florals came in and blended everything together. After an hour, I was in love with it. The scents had mingled...and while blackberry kept centerstage, she allowed all the other scents to support her and show her off in all her different aspects. I think this is a keeper!

My experience with the massage bars indicates that it all depends on the imp. Some of the stronger scents handle dilution easily...but diluting a lighter scent like Juliet is a delicate thing. I'd start off adding a little bit of carrier oil at a time until you got it to where you want it.

I received Chaos Theory III today. I love love love it! I'm trying to detect the notes but this scent has a strange dichotomy that works. There are actually two main scents when you sniff. As I inhale, I smell a fruity scent...maybe cherry, might be pomegranate. I'll have to re-sniff Swank to see. As I exhale, I get a more herbal scent. Not quite a mint but it reminds me of a mellow herbal mint. Mint isn't the right word but it has that freshness of mint without being flowery or herbally. I can't describe it. As I was driving and sniffing (I know, don't sniff and drive), I was trying to describe it in my head. When I put the mint and cherry together, I thought...hey, that's like a cherry cough drop! But this scent is soooo far from that. With the cough drop, the scents mingle...this is so bizarre because it is almost like I'm inhaling a different scent through each nostril and it doesn't really blend, but they complement each other. It has mellowed now and whatever the non-fruity scent is has lingered and is nice and soft. I can't wait to try it again! ETA: I did a sniff comparison between Red Moon and my Chaos Theory. I think they have several of the same notes, but my Chaos Theory is like Red Moon amplified...the difference between Jazz (Red Moon) and Rock-n-Roll (Chaos Theory). Red moon seems to blend a bit more...while the notes are more distinct in Chaos Theory. I like them both...I think of them now as my equivalent to O and Dana O'shee...one is a kindler gentler version of the other and I love them both! ETA again: okay, today I don't smell mint...it is a cinnamon blend. I don't know what I was thinking. It is a distinct cinnamon. It is blended with a fruity scent that almost overrides except for that tang that is cinnamon.

I have a major deadline this week and my project isn't going well. I've decided hell or high water I'm taking off on Friday. I put on WoND to help me get through the day and so far it is working. Two more things were added to my plate in the last two hours and I'm still amazingly calm. This is definitely a relaxing scent that will help you get through the stressful times. It is clean and fresh...but strong. Most scents like this don't last but this one is still going strong hours later. I brought the imp with me to refresh but I don't need it yet. This is definitely a keeper and I might make a massage bar out of it.

This smelled like iced tea to me...unsweetened with a bit of fruit flavoring tossed in. I kind of reminds me of my favorite summer tea - half regular tea and half of the celestial seasonings black cherry tea...very yummmy On dry down, the tea scent has faded into a soft fruity/floral scent. I like this one so far A couple of hours later: it has a soft musky note to it now. I can't smell the tea at all. Musky isn't the right word...but it is smokey without smelling like smoke but still with a fruit element to it. Wishing I had gotten a 10ml.

This smelled like spiced oranges in the vial. I thought it was going to be too sweet but as soon as I put it on...CLOVES! All I can smell is cloves. Occasionally I get a hint of a floral or sweetness...but the primary overwhelming scent is cloves. I think this will go well with my Chai shower gel from Lush. I'm going to a BBQ joint for lunch, I wonder how the cloves will meld with the mesquite smoke?