cranberry

Libertine – Love Potions

Notes: rosewood, chamomile, bergamot, violet, red sandalwood, primrose, arabian musk

In the Imp: chamomile and rosewood

On the Skin, wet: this reminds me of my beloved Sleepy Moon. Must be the chamomile. This is a bit more herbal but I’m liking this.

Dry: After it’s been on a bit, it’s predominantly rosewood, the chamomile is still here, with touches of primrose and violet. It’s not so much Sleepy Moon but I still like this. The sandalwood and musk support the herbs and rosewood.

Overall: This is a soft, clean scent, understated and natural. It would smell good on a man or a woman and is perfect for those time when you want to smell good without the scent being overpowering or in your face.

Red Queen - Mad Tea Party

Notes: mahogany, woods, black cherries, currant

Motivated to try my imp by the GC Swap.

In the imp: cherries

On the skin, wet: cherries. Red cherries.

On the skin, dry: the woods come out. There’s cherries and wood. A little later, the currants are more prominent and the cherries not as much so. The mahogany reminds me of cedar. Dry, I like this scent quite a lot.

Overall, it was great to try this again and I always enjoy it when I do. I don’t need a bottle but I’ll keep my imp.

Morocco - Wanderlust

Notes: musk, carnation, red sandalwood, cassia

This is simply the best smell. Ever. Warm, musky, creamy, spicy. Flippin fantastic. This is one GC I hope never goes discontinued.

The main notes I can smell here are a warm musk and smooth, rich, creamy sandalwood. I think it’s the sandalwood that mainly provides the creaminess and richness to this scent, but the carnation and spices add depth and complement the other elements beautifully.

This is a classic, classic scent that fits anywhere but is beautiful and sexy at the same time. It stays close but all the better. This is olfactory velvet.

Hymn to Prosperpine - Bewitching Brews

Notes: amber, fruits of Prosperpine

This is beautiful! This is strong, sweet amber. There’s a fruity element, I suppose that must be the pomegranate but I can see similarities to cranberry. I’m really loving this. I had my boyfriend smell it and he said that it smelled like candy. I’m disappointed that he doesn’t love it like I do, and now I can see similarities to candy, it’s such a sweet scent. But it is so much more. It smells like there could be a touch of vanilla in here. And maybe some sandalwood. I want a bottle of this; I know that my imp is not going to last. I love this scent.

(Looking over the reviews as I was getting ready to post, fallow deer compares it to Al Azif. Thinking about it, I too can see similarities to Al Azif. For me, not the incense part but more the sweetness.)

Phantom Queen - Diabolus

Notes: black orchid, apple blossom, meadowsweet, rue, irish moss, hawthorn, red clover

Ah yes, back to sweet floral scents. (I’ve been inspired to try my imp by the GC Swap and had a run of non-floral scents I was trying).

This is just that, a gentle, sweet floral. Pretty, soft, fluffy smelling. I also has a short-lived vaguely aquatic note which I’m attributing to the moss. It doesn't last long and is just at the beginning. This would make an awesome linen spay; I would love for my sheets to smell like this.

It smells fresh and like a summer meadow full of wildflowers. It smells better to me when I have my nose plastered to my wrist, from afar it reminds me other sweet, florals and I don’t get what’s special about this scent. But close I do. I don’t know that I can define it but this rises above the other scents of this genre for me. Maybe I'm just agreeable at the moment but I'm liking this one too, despite thinking I'd never go for a scent like this (I've had a good run of scents lately).

Saturnalia - Love Potions

Notes: violet, vetivert

In the imp, this smells strongly of violets. Once applied, the scent of violets remain, a soft purple sort of scent. After its been on a minutes or two, it deepens and there’s an underlying grounding force. Vetivert yes, but it feels like more too, a touch of wood of some kind. This is really nice. I would have never guessed that I’d enjoy a scent like this. There’s an interplay between the sweet violet and the smoky vetivert, moving back and forth. At is wears the vetivert get stronger and almost overpowers the violet. Overall, I’ve enjoyed trying this. I’ll keep the imp.

Centzon Totochtin - Excolo

Notes: Mexican cocoa with rum, red wine, blood

In the imp, this smells like cocoa and booze. Once applied, at first it’s cocoa but that morphs into a foody, incensy smell that reminds me a bit of Sugar Cookie. Maybe it’s the rum soaked aspect of it. Yes, I think it’s the rum. This smells pretty yummy and I’m so glad that the GC Swap finally enticed me to try this.

Dang, after this has been on a bit, it begins to smell like clove cigarettes. There’s that hint of smoke which is so strong it burns the lungs. I’m thinking that must be the blood note but I’m interpreting the combination as a clove. I remember smoking these and how yummy they tasted, but also how they made my lungs feel. This is a hot and spicy kinda scent, very strong and overpowering. This is an unusual scent. After it’s been on a while, I’m almost getting a lemon or lime not similar to that in Torture King. Interesting. There is definitely a citrus element in here. It’s subtle but there. Also a touch of vetivert.

Overall, this has been an amazing scent to try and I’m so glad that I finally did. It’s dark, sexy, incensy, edible. Yummy!

Black Tower - Bewitching Brews

Notes: white sandalwood, ambergris, wet ozone, galbanum and leather with ebony, teak, burnt grasses, English ivy and a hint of red wine.

Gahhh. This is a beautiful scent. That’s all I can think.

OK, I confess, I’m having a hard time reviewing this scent. I got an imp of this when it was first released and fell in love. I’ve come back to it a couple times and just thought, “Wow, I really like this, I must get a bottle.” Well, here goes.

My first impression is that this scent is fresh, sexy, slightly floral, and a bit resinous. It has a wonderful mix of a number of scent categories and is quite complex. When first applied, it’s glorious and green, with the ivy making itself known. After it’s been on a bit, the ivy recedes and the leather comes out. I love leather. While many have said that it’s predominantly masculine, I would have to disagree. I think that unisex fits it just right. Jolly Roger to my mind was uber-masculine and would not be so good on a woman. This I think would smell amazing on a guy, but I also think that women can pull it off no problem. It’s a warm, leathery, almost suede-type scent but there’s still a hint of green.

After it’s been on for a few hours, I’m left with a warm, amber-y smell. Beautiful. I love this scent!

Delphi - Wanderlust

Notes: incense, laurel branches, bay, and honey wine.

Initially, this is all sharp herbs and grapes. The herbs are astringent and the grapes are juicy and deep purple. After its been on a bit, I’m getting traces of honey and incense. It’s slightly sweet and a bit smoky. The incense note reminds me a bit of the note in Gypsy Queen (which to my nose also has a bit of a grape scent to it). The longer its on, the more I like it. Gypsy Queen is a lot sweeter and highly floral, but for reason this reminds me of it. There are clear differences but there is something similar, but for the life of me I can’t nail it down if its more than the incense note. Maybe it’s just that. Regardless, I like it.

The Coiled Serpent - Bewitching Brews

Notes: none listed

Impressions: Woody. Dark and calming. Slightly sweet. The wood smells like it could be cedar and I think there’s a patchouli in here. There could be a touch of anise. This is a beautiful, soothing scent that is grounded and centered. Very nice.

Carnal - Love Potions

Notes: mandarin & fig

In the imp and on the skin, I get mainly the bright fruitiness of mandarin orange. The orange remains strong and dominates the scent. There’s a bit of spice adding warmth to the scent. It reminds me a bit of Russian tea – a blend of orange, cinnamon, clove and tea. It’s yummy! After its been on a bit, the fig peeks through and adds to the general fruitiness of this scent.

This is a happy, juicy, upbeat scent. I smell edible. Maybe not carnal but definitely like someone could take a bite. I like it.

O - Love Potions

Notes: Amber, honey and vanilla

In the imp, I smell sweet, clear honey.

On the skin, wet it smells very sweet, a sweet tooth-rottingly sweet honey. I’m also smelling a bit of vanilla. Wow, this is not half bad!

This was among the first batch of imps that I ever ordered. When I first got it, this was among the first oils that I tried. I was excited and eager to try it based on the rave reviews. I was so disappointed when I just couldn’t stand it. It smelled way too sweet and cloying. Beyond that, it just didn’t smell good. It convinced me that honey was a very bad note. I’ve tried this one a number of times since that first initial disappointment. Each time, I wasn’t impressed and it further confirmed to me that honey and I do not get along.

I don’t know what’s different this time. Now, instead of being too sweet, it’s just sweet. It’s no longer cloying. It’s more of a skin scent, warm, sweet, yummy. I can see that this would be delicious to find in the nape of someone’s neck. I don’t know that it smells like sex but it certainly smells like the prelude to sex.

I’ve always liked the idea of this scent (how could I not!?!) so I am glad that I can finally wear it.

Fire of Love - voodoo oils

Initial impression: this smells like pepper, maybe a bit of anise, and a dark musk or civet. Or maybe both. This is a hot smelling blend, with all sorts of fiery components. There’s an element of cedar or some other dry wood.

After it’s been on a while, it remains dry wood, musk, and civet. It’s really strong smelling, and just the tiniest amount is hanging on ferociously! I have other cedar blends that I like more than this, yet there is something compelling about this blend. I won’t get a bottle but I will keep my imp.

Come to Me - voodoo oils

Hmmm. This one is interesting. It’s a very light scent, maybe a bit herbal, maybe a bit lemony. After it’s been on a bit, it reminds me of lily of the valley. This is a light floral with a hint of herbs underneath. After it’s been on a bit, it smells like mineral oil. Clean, oily, clear. It’s an interesting scent, I’d be curious to know how it works for its intended purpose but for scent alone it’s not my thing.

Othello - Illyria

Notes: arabian musk, 2 roses, middle eastern and indian spices

Once I looked at the notes of this imp, I was really excited to try it. In the imp and first applied, I smell mainly roses. After it’s been on a bit, it still remains strongly rose, a rich, deep rose, but becomes slightly powdery. Based on the powder I would think this was a dark or black musk, instead of arabian musk. I'm not getting any of the spices here. Overall impression, I like it but I'm not crazy about it. There's a few other rose scents that I adore so I'm not included to pursue this one further.

Lilith - Excolo

Notes: red wine, myrrh, black musk, attar of rose

I’ve been wanting to try this scent forever, so I was thrilled when Lilith in the GC swap reached me. In the imp, it smells like corrupted, ruined fruit. Not wine, but fruit in general. Once on, the musk comes out to play, as does the rose. This is a dark, murky scent. I’m not getting much wine, I wonder if this is an older imp? It reminds me more of red musk rather than black musk; black musk always seems to go powdery on me but it’s not happening this time around. I’m liking this scent. After it’s been on a bit, the black musk does go a bit powdery on me.

Overall impression is that is reminds me a bit of a commercial perfume, sophisticated, and naturally dark brown in color. It remains mainly musk, with a touch of spicy myrrh and a touch of rose. I never see the wine at all.

Huh, I just got it. You know what, for some reason it reminds me of Youth Dew by Estee Lauder. I know there’s a YD oil, I wonder if it’s similar…

Undertow - Dark Elements

Notes: lotus, juniper and mint

This smells like the listed notes – lotus (floral, slightly bubblegummy) with a blast of mint. The juniper adds to the coolness of the mint and offsets the florals. As it wears, the mints gets stronger and is crisp and refreshing. This might make a good foot lotion, cooling and soothing.

From the description, “dragged up from the depths of the Stygian shore” I expected something a bit murkier and darker, but then I realize I don’t know what exactly the Stygian shore is, so that’s a bit of research before I can really make a judgment.

I’ve had some great mint scents, but I realize that while mint does have its place, it’s not what I want in a perfume. Lotion maybe, but not perfume.

edited for clarity

R'lyeh - Wanderlust

Huh, based on the description, I was expecting something a bit darker, with more ozone elements and in general, just sharper. Instead, this is a sweet pink grapefruit. Sparkling sweet pink grapefruit at that. Wow, I like this more than I would have thought! It smells a bit salty on top of the fruit. After it’s been on a bit, there’s something in there almost spicy. I can’t pinpoint what exactly the spice is, but it’s there. After a while, it becomes even more salty and more spicy. It catches at the back of my throat.

This is a really interesting scent. I don’t normally care for many of the aquatics, but I’m liking this one.

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heh, after looking at the reviews, evil grapefruit indeed! at least at first.

Hecate - Love Potions

Notes: almond, myrrh, dark musk

In the imp: Wowza – almond! Once applied, at first all I smell is sweet almond. It dominates the scent. It reminds me a bit of a bear claw pastry, it smells edible and sweet. After it’s been on a bit, it’s almost a bit spicy, something I’m attributing to the myrrh. As it wears, the myrrh becomes stronger. There’s powder too, typical for me from dark musk. Even as the myrrh and musk become more prominent, the almond remains.

All in all, it’s an interesting scent, it reminds me of a classic perfume, rich, timeless, haughty.

Aeval - Bewitching Brews

Notes: sage, sweet pea, bold pale musk, tonka

In the Imp: I smell mainly tonka and sweet pea.

On the skin: At first I smell sage and sweet pea. I like this. It’s sweet yet herbal. After it’s been on a bit, the tonka comes out and adds a weird component to this scent. This is not working on me at all. It smells vaguely mineral-ish and like a weird type of soap. Wow, the tonka is really strong in this scent. It totally dominates all the other scents.

Overall impression: interesting, I liked the beginning. The addition of the tonka to the sweet pea and sage combines strangely to me, and isn’t something I care for.

Venice – Wanderlust

Notes: lemon, red currant, wisteria, red rose petals, jasmine, Florentine orris root, waterlily, red sandalwood, violet plum, and violet leaf

Initially I get strong dose of florals, mainly jasmine but what also smells like spring flowers - tulips, what I image to be daffodils, and maybe some lilies. This is a lush, heady scent. After smelling it a bit, I'm also getting a trace of rose.

I'm not getting any lemon at all; it remains a lush rich floral scent. As it wears, the other florals recede and rose dominates the scent. It’s pretty but not really my style.

Satyr – Love Potions

Notes: none listed

In the imp, this is a dark thick scent, redolent of red musk and what smells like civet. Once applied, the thick red musk scent dominates, and there’s a touch of civet in the background. This is a very warm scent. Sniffed from a distance, the red musk seems to dominate on me, whereas if I put my note to my skin, I get the civet. When I do that, it’s not bad, but much more animalistic and possibly even feral smelling. Bawdy is a perfect description. Sniffed from either far or close, it’s a warm, sensual scent, ever so slightly sweet. It’s not bad, maybe a bit too much for me, but I do like it. On just the right man, WOW!

Manila - Wanderlust

Notes: Sampaguita blossoms, banana leaf, palm, and narra

In the imp, this smelled fruity, warm and tropical. Once on, the tropical fruit smell remains. It's a well blended scent and I'm not familiar with any of the listed ingredients. It does smell a bit like bananas but not full on, ripe bananas. More like banana taffy or other banana flavored candy.

Once it's been on a bit, it continues to smell like tropical fruit, maybe a mix of banana and mango or papaya. There's other elements in here for sure, lush florals and damp wood. It's really quite pretty and it reminds me of other scents that I can't think of right now. There's almost something back there that provides some tartness to the scent, like pineapple or kiwi (I'm leaning more towards pineapple).

I've never been to that part of the world, so I can't say if it's reminiscent of how it actually smells, but it evokes to me the tropics, moist rainforest, and hot and humid weather. I think I'll keep my imp to sniff during the subzero days of winter.

Jolly Roger - Bewitching Brews

Notes: sea spray, leather, Bay Rum & salty dry woods

This is a lot lighter than I was expecting. I was expecting something more bay rumish - this to me is mainly aquatics and ozone. There is an element of bay rum and wood in there which is really nice. As it wears, the ozone and aquatics get stronger on me, scents that I'm not too fond of. I can still smell the salty woods and I want them back! This is very much a masculine scent. It's clean and fresh smelling, a bit too stong for my nose but it is very evocative of what it is intended to capture. Great job but not for me.

Leanan Sidhe - Bewitching Brews

Notes: none listed

when I first apply this, it reminds me of old style perfume, not super floral, but a bit musky, a bit floral and a bit herbal, in cut crystal bottles. it has that timeless feel to it.

after it's been on for a minute two, that old-style perfume smell goes away and it smells slightly floral; it has elements of jasmine with some kindof herb back there that I can't identify. as it wears, the florals amp up and become more forceful. there's also a note here thats a bit powdery, maybe the image of old style perfume isn't too far off after all.

this reminds me of other BPAL floral scents that I can't remember - I'm not a super big fan of florals and they all seem to blend into one. it was good to try but I think I'll mark this one down as tried and pass on my imp.