ianastar

Wet and right on the skin this is POWERFUL! It was overwhelming everything around me and was all I could smell. It's very strong. I wasn't able to discern any paticular notes, but knew that I was not a fan. It's just so strong that it was hard to pick out any paticular notes. I read the description on the dry down and saw right away three notes that I never like: vetiver, pine, and clove. Especially clove which is why this smells so strong on me. I would have liked more if the myrhh and patchouli had come out a bit, but all I get are the three notes that I dont care for. Good thing this one was a frimp!

Wet and right on the skin that was tart and tangy, must have been the mango that hit me right away. The dry down brings out the fig and patchouli. The tartness of the scent dies down and you are left with this gorgeous heavy fig and patchouli scent. It's a little sweet, but not overwhelming. It kind of reminds me of being outside a little, those fig notes give it an earthy vibe.

I REALLY wanted to try Cerrnunos, but had added that to my wishlist during the Switch Witch Swap, so decided to grab Maiden for myself just in case. I normally don't like rose scents, or anything even remotely smelling of roses. This dried down to a very light, white floral. You can smell the tea roses, but the honey notes warm it up and sweeten it a bit so it's not so florally. Overall it's very nice, and I probably wont wear it often like my incense and foody scents, but if the mood strikes, it will be a nice one to wear.

Wet and right on the skin, its a very warm lemony scent. I was nervous because most lemon notes start to smell like Pledge or Pinesol on me. Once I read the description I could defintely tell that this was verbena. I dont get the ginger or sage in this, as it dries down and finishes off the amber comes out, so I merely get the amber and verbena which is actually a very wonderful combination. I wasn't sure I would like this, but it's a great scnet and would make a wonderful spring or summer scent. Maybe I'll keep it for next summer.

Out of the bottle and wet on the skin this was pure Coca/Chocolate heaven. The drydown started to remind me a bit of Gelt, but where as Gelt has the amber which really comes out and sometimes dominates the chocolate notes, this has something else. Drydown and finish, more of the mryhh and sandalwood come out, but are cut with a softness by the chocolate. All around I think this is fabulous as I love Chocolate and Sandalwood notes and these a wonderful blend of the two.

At first this defintely seemed very floral and I was getting nervous. The dry down is a lovely blend of sandalwood, musk and the orange blossom. The orange blossom gives it just enough floral/citrus notes that it's not overly incensey with the sandalwood and musk and the sandalwood and musk make it just heavy enough to not be all girly flowers. A pretty blend all around!

Out of the bottle and fresh on the skin this is pure citrus to me. I'm reminded of Juicy Fruit gum. Drydown and finish this becomes less citrus and more floral. A very light floral that is actually pleasant. I'm not sure I would wear this alot, but it's nice.

At first this seemed very strong and lemony. I always worry about the lemony scents as the seemed to smell like Pledge or Pine Sol to me. However, on the drydown and finish (and after reading the description) I realized that maybe I was smelling the apricot? or the ginger? It's not bad overall, just not for me. The finish was nice with the jasmine and vanilla coming out more, so it was a softer floral in the end. But there is something there, that smells a little plasticy to me. Update on 11-15-11 Tried this one again and it's just wretched. It's so sharp, must be the ginger. It's actually giving me a headache

I defintely get a fall scent with this. Spicy and sweet cakes dipped into milk and drizzled with honey. Delicious scent!!

From the bottle and wet on skin I get the flowers right away. Drydown and finish the patchouli and musk come out to play with a little of the vanilla sweetening the pot. It's a very interesting floral combo on me. The floral notes are not overwhelming me but defintely there. Pretty interesting.

The sticky sweet scent of candy corn! Even cornier for 2009! - cuz corny is how we roll at BPAL! Out of the bottle this totally hit me as a fall scent. I try to decipher what I'm smelling before rereading the descriptions so I am more true to my nose. I really smelled spiciness and almost an apple note. Wet this was pure candy corn but with a little spice to it still. Almost like cinnamon or cloves mixed with the buttery sweetness of candy corn. Dry down and finish this is still pretty buttery and sweet. Defintely reminds me of candy corn, like the smell that hits you when you open the bag.It's absolutely delicious and I need a big bottle of this!!

Out of the bottle and wet on the skin I got a very leather scent that was unusal. It reminded me of a huge, leather bound book, dusty and scented by age. After a bit the leather scent started to turn into a new car leather scent. Like those "new car" odor sprays you use in the car. I was turned off and thought "No, this is just not for me" After about an hour the finish turned into something very nice, I could smell the leather still, but it was layered with the sandalwood and musk. I actually really liked it once it settled and it's a keeper. I just have to get passed the point of the New Car Leather Smell. Geez

Wow, I actually get the wine notes in this. A grapey smell, like when you spill wine on something. As it dries more of the rose and frankincense start to come out. The rose isn't as obnoxious as it seems in Wicked. This rose is actually not bad, the frankincense really takes center stage here, and those grapey notes of the wine lingers around the edges. Really nice actually!

I get the ripe, fruity fig right off the bat. Reminds me of a sweet fig spread/chutney. On the dry down I get more of the coconut which adds some warmth to the scent, and the dirt smells and woody smells are starting to come out. It's kind of a fruity, green scent with some of the more earthy dirt and wood smells. Very pleasant.

Antediluvian, sacred metal, glowing red musk, blessed frankincense, and antiqued amber. Defintely get the musk and frankincense right away. I was curious how the metal would come across, but I'm not getting any kind of sharp, metal like scent. Drydown is a warm musk and frankincense fragrance. It's very nice and incensy. Finish and overall the amber starts to warm things up and come through. It's very nice, but probably not something I would wear a whole lot of. I really do like the blend of amber and musk though.

Wow this is wicked strong. Strong and evil!! The rose is not subtle at all on me, I get a huge amount of rose, dipped in dark myrrh. The drydown and finish is pure rose to me. I am not liking this one at all.

An icy chill in a bottle. I don't know how Beth captured the biting cold and transferred it to a fragrance. As it dries down it becomes a sweet mint, kind of like those buttery after dinner mints that melt in your mouth. On the finish I get a soft vanilla, maybe a little amber (?) but still some mint. Very lovely over all.

I don't get the Peach or the Vetiver. I'm not usually a vetiver scent fan because they all tend to turn really soapy on me. So I was okay with the vetiver not being apparent. I get more endulgent florals with this one. A scent of a very expensive floral bouqet presented to a classy lady of noble standing.

Wet and out of bottle, I don't know why but I smelled a sweet mint, wafted over with incense. Drying down - the sweetest (I'm guessing the cherry) has gone away, and I'm getting more of the lavendar and rosewood. I recently bought a Rosewood scented soap that I was in love with, and have been on the hunt for more Rosewood scented items. This smells very earthy, musky, and sexy to me. It smells like someone who has been outside playing, and comes in, and you just want to embrace them and huff the smell of the earth off of them. Finish - a very warm, sexy scent. The rosewood and the lavendar finish off nicely, and this is a keeper. I'd love this in a big bottle!!!

In the bottle this was an evergreen bough adorned with sweet berries. Drying down and finish - this is a soft evergreen. The gentle hush and sway of a tall, majestic evergreen. Not too overpowering, just enough. Im not big on the evergreen scent, but I wanted to try this anyways, I like it but not enough to wear it on a regular basis. I'm very suprised that I didn't get the Pine Sol scent, because a lot of the green scents turn to Pine Sol on me right away.

Wow!! In the bottle this smelled sweet and I really thought I would like it. Something about the description reminded me of my beloved Snake Oil, so I had high hopes. Those hopes were quickly dashed to bits on the rocks once this hit my skin. I first got a cat pee scent that quickly morphed into a very offensive jasmine scent. This is pure Jasmine on me, and I'm not liking it one bit.

Out of the bottle this was so tangy and offensive. Wet and drying down it's more of a old man's aftershave, a typical men's fragrance kind of scent. After it settled on me, it became more soapy like. Overall, I'm not a fan, but think I might give it to the hubby and let him wear it. It might be wonderful on him, but just not for me.

Out of the bottle and wet, for some reason this immediately reminded me of pixie stixs! It had that slap in the face sweetness, and I knew I would love it. Drying down the florals are coming out, yet I don't hate it. I seem to actually like things with Tuberose, and the Peony seems to really add to it. Im now reminded of sugar coated edible flowers adorning a glamourous wedding cake. I really thought with the florals that I would hate this, but I'm actually IN LOVE!! It's sweet, which I love, but different than all the other sweet ones I love. Of course I would fall in love with something unattainable at this point. Oddly, I don't get the grapefruit at all!!??

Wow!! Can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet, it's my favorite BPAL scent currently. Small sweet cakes, with pretty pastel icing. Warm, vanilla, golden cupcakes smothered in rich buttercream. I love this scent, and always get compliments when I wear it. Somehow to me it's very sexy, but I love all foody things.

Minty florals, it dried down to a soft floral. Just not for me.