thesibylqueen

It's been more than a decade since I've shopped or swapped BPAL and I'm just overwhelmed by the offerings. I want to treat myself for my birthday but don't know what to splurge on. What's the new, not-to-be-missed or the doesn't-get-nearly-the-attention-it-should scents? 

I love woods, real florals, aquatics, citrus, incense/smoke, leather. I don't like foodie scents but I do enjoy vanilla and citrus.

Peter Quint is my all-time-favorite BPAL if there's a smellalike for it!

I plan to peruse the reviews and other recommendation threads, but happy for any kneejerk recs!

audra

Omgomgomg -- I am In.Love. I want to make out with myself, it smells so good! My scent-oriented co-worker thought there had to be pepper or fig -- there's a kind of oozy sexiness to this that belies the 'simple' four notes. I don't get leather, not really, just a warm, slightly herbacious/outdoors-y ambergris that makes me want to scream. Actually, it makes this lesbian wish there was a guy around so I could slather it on him. Gorgeous.

XXXVII

How to describe? This is going to sound so odd, but it almost smells the way you do after you leave a swimming pool -- vaguely chlorine, but not in an unpleasant way. There must be some kind of floral as well -- a water flower, lotus maybe? There is something very familiar about this scent -- here in Boston, for a week, something flowers, and the city smells just like this. But I don't know what the flower/tree is!

I got this as a decant so I would be curious to see what the others who rec'd decants think!

XXVIII (28)

Like the other reviewers, I smelled something fruity, like a mixed drink. To me, it was all pineapple, though -- pineapples from a can! There is a vaguely soap note to it as well -- really, I'm reminded of being in college, and pregaming with girlfriends -- damp from showers as we all dress up, doing silly shots or fun cocktails before going out. It is a sweet, silly scent.

Last reviewed by edenssixthday.

XCIV

Not even sure where to begin with this one! My initial thoughts were that it was foodie, vaguely citron -- lemon, sugar, sweet...but not cloying. Pulling it out now, I smell a faint floral note -- someone else suggestion sweetpea, which it could be. It is a gentle, soft scent -- soap, for sure. Maybe so violet? Something powdery in it. Very nice, just not me.

Last reviewed by supremegoddessofall.

Mmmm, lemon drop candies! It really is a 'cold' citrus smell, just delicious and cooling! Someone compared it to Lush's Avobath and I couldn't agree more -- it is SUCH a marvelous smell! I don't get any jasmine which is too bad, because I love jasmine.

Whoever described this as Sweet Tarts got it exactly right! It does feel glittery, tho -- if a scent really could sparkle. It smells effervescent, like a soda, sweet, almost cloying, but not. Really quite lovely -- I'm reminded a bit of Lush's Back To Breakfast. (There's an almost citrusy note to this!)

A less scary scent than I expected! I'm not a huge leather fan but this is just yummy -- warm, spicy, sexy. I'm reminded a bit of Lush's Olive Branch without the citrus. A companion scent. Very sexy for a woman to wear, confident, brazen, bold -- definitely a PM scent.

Grape soda. Plain and simple. I get a rare whiff of violet, maybe myrrh, but mostly, it is grape soda. This is such a fun, cheerful, *silly* scent, and I love it. Perfect for summer.

I'm desperate for a BPAL to match Lush's Olive Branch. The thing is, Olive Branch smells like more than just bergamot to me -- there's a delicious spicy thing happening that I'm addicted to! Anyone who is familiar with the scent of Olive Branch who could recommend a BPAL or two that smell similar?

I've heard there was a Lush forum perfume made of Olive Branch that I haven't had a chance to smell.

Audra

This review is for XXXVIII (38), a decant I received via Kiena.

Wet: floral. Vaguely familiar, powdery -- soft rose?

On skin: Still floral, but with an almost spicy or woodsy note?

Then it hits me: it smells like the room where your gramma meets your boyfriend! Soft soft feminine with some a little sexier, a little rougher.

Instantly, I feel 16! (Which is impressive, that's over a decade ago! )

Sadly, this doesn't last long on me; it fades like a good memory.

Just delicious! I didn't have the scent description at home when I tried it on, so my poor nose had to make some wild guesses.

My first thoughts: citrus, green! So clean, and bright -- my gf and I both commented that it was such a spring-y scent! I think now it must have been the oude(?) and tea that gave it such a bright scent.

Sadly, this scent fades FAST on me, so a mere hour or two after application, I can barely smell it. Which is tragic, because I just adored the scent!!!

Both my gf and I love the in-bottle scent -- light, herbaly, clean smelling. Very wet, too -- smells wet -- not damp or moldy, just wet. Once on me, however, it really blossoms into a big floral scent -- which I love. My gf is less wild about it, however. But I find this a really intriguing floral -- morbid, wet, and dark.

The only Somnium oil I've tried so far. All lemon, all lavender. Both scents I love, and find soothing -- so this is a perfect sleeping scent for me! I've had quite vibrant dreams when wearing it, too!

Graveyard Dirt, which a hint of spicy floral. Completely addictive: I wear this when I want to feel bold but grounded. Just marvelous! And unlike Hecate, the myrrh doesn't irritate my skin.

Dove soap!

I don't get anything tropical at all, just a reassuring floral that reminds me strongly of Dove Soap. My girlfriend loves this scent -- its her go-to comfort scent when she's feeling blue.

I'm disappointed I don't get more tropical from it, but I enjoy the soapy scent.

*The* most delicious scent I've had in a while! I don't get any citrus (too bad!) but this amazing warm vanilla-y amber that is just heady and sexy and comforting and delicioius! There is a faint floral hint that catches my nose occassionally -- this is a very teasing scent! But I love it -- I can't stop sniffing my wrist!

I agree with many of the reviews: this is a wonderfully cool fragrance, a nice floral aquatic that just feels very 'blue'!

In the bottle, there was a strangely fruit-y tone, but once on my skin, it was all aquatics with a soft floral touch.

Absolutely luscious.

I put this one on today because I needed something light and spring-y to cheer me up.

It certainly is a light, warm floral and not unpleasant. But there's an almost fruit-y tone to the scent that I can taste in my mouth and is distracting to me.

A nice scent, but won't be one of my favorites.

This smells JUST like the description. On me, it was heavy praline and hops.

I don't think I'm much for foody scents on me; the whiffs of sugar/butter/praline/hops kept distracting me all day. As a room scent, I bet this would be orgasmic; but as a personal fragrance, it's too disconcerting.

I'm not sure I can anything to this review, as others have perfectly described this oil.

Just like wet soil.

Even down to that metallic bite that you can taste when soil starts to dry out.

I get such a kick out of wearing this oil -- I know its not meant to be a fragrance, but it is so grounding and cheerful to smell whiffs of wet soil while doing office work...Friends like it, too : there's something warm and reassuring in the smell.

I love this scent!

Wet: Bursts of floral, heliotrope and lily mostly.

On: Once on, the pear, musk, and sweet pea emerge, and as someone else said, really anchor this smell.

It *is* floral, but there is a richness or a density that makes it more unique. There is a nice greenness to this scent, like eating fruit while wandering in a garden. The musk isn't pronounced but provides a richness to this scent.

Very nice!

I'm not sure I can add more to these reviews:

Wet: Just like bubblegum. But not offensive or cloying. Just cheerful..

Dry: Still sweet, but slightly floral, like a flower water.

Hours later: A soft, sweet scent. Marshmellows are close but I think Yankee Candle Store is a better description. A melange of soft, sweet scents, merged into one.

I used this after having a massive fight and wow, did it fix things! Maybe it was psychosomatic, but I was instantly cheered up and called my girlfriend to make up. It's her new favorite fragrance.

I adore this scent! I was attracted to the description--and to my pleasure, the first whiff when I opened my imp was violet and jasmine: my two favorite flowers!

This is a very rich floral smell--while wet, it was all floral. Even my girlfriend, who declares most florals to be 'grandmother' loved this scent.

On the drydown, I started catching whiffs of something smoky and burn-y, like a match, almost, and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from--and then I realized it was me!

You might want to take a close look at the "Dark Elements" category.   

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Thank you--I totally hadn't thought of that!

Second the dark elements suggestions, and though more expensive, the tarot aces would be a good gift (or purchase if she ends up buying for herself) as well.  The ace carries the purest energy of their suit, and traditionally, each suit corresponds with an element.  I've tried two of them (Pentacles and Cups) and both were beautiful translations of the elements they correspond with's energy into scent.

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That's a great suggestion, I hadn't thought of that. Thanks. Also, I heart your icon. I love me some A.C.

I've read reviews of Graveyard Dirt being the scent of pure, wet soil; I have a friend who is studying the elements and I'd love to make a four-pack for her of the elements as scents. Can any of you recommend scents for water, air, and fire? I'd like to, as best as possible, give her a BPAL that comes close to smelling like the element. Thanks for any suggestions!

audra