PurringPulsar

Succour In the imp: church incense mixed with dry white wine and olives??? Bizarre. A bit sharp, but, then again, never judge a BPAL by it's imp. Wet on skin: the salty sharp olive smell fades, and now there's something that smells of incense. It's like either church incense or new age shop incense, or a mix of both. Dry on skin: same really as wet, a resiny incense smell. I can see why this is touted as a meditation blend, it's a spiritual smell reminiscent of churches or temples. There's probably frankincense and/or amber in this, but it's not a sweet amber, this is not a sweet blend. There might be woodsy smells in this too, maybe cedar or sandalwood? There's something there that brings to mind wood. After a while: this smells a bit salty? like olive oil or the brine that olives are kept in? I like the resins which remain, but I don't really want to smell like salad... Verdict: another interesting smell-at first the olivy smell put me off, but the dry down is nice. It brings to mind a great cathedral, or one of the new age shops I frequently visit, or something that would be burned during yoga, or a temple of some kind which has had incense wafted through it-it's resins and woods, that's what it's like. There's something calming about it, I think, and I love the smell of frankincense or resin incense in general. It's a very soft smell, and quite comforting too. But, I'm afraid, it's a bit too 'savoury' for my liking, like olive oil and salt under the nice resiny smell-I like the smell of savoury food, but not as perfume!

I'm just imagining what the labels of Carnivale Noir will look like, and I keep getting images in my mind of dark, gothic style silhouettes of fairground rides on the labels...

Snow White In the imp: a very fresh, cool, watery smell. Snow? It reminds me of a scented candle called 'Snow' or 'Winter Woods'. I smell hints of green, mint, pine and something sweet. Wet on skin: there's a hint of pine in this, and something sweet, maybe a hint of white musk? There's also something that reminds me of cut grass-it's green. It's not very strong on me, but there's a slight note in there that makes me feel uncomfortable, it smells slightly rubbery… Dry on skin: oh no, it's gone really quiet on me, I can hardly smell it! there's that dark pine note with a note on top like crushed green grass under snow, but so faint. But a minute or so later, this gets stronger, the smell becomes lovely again! It's fresh, it's crisp, and complex-I can smell mint, pine, grass, moss, coconut, night blooming flowers, white musk (no almonds for me though)-but they blend so nicely to form this wonderful fresh cool smell which is soft, cold and watery with a bit of green-it is like snow in a forest, because it's not just fluffy and fresh, there's a darker, greener, earthier undercurrent, like a shadowy winter forest on a dark winter night. After a while: the mint/pine/moss/green note in this is really strong, I was hoping it would be more foody as others mentioned, yes, the coconut vanilla note is still there, but only slightly, but it's nice none the less-very crisp and clean, like freshly washed white sheets. After a few hours, the creamy vanilla sweet note mentioned in other reviews comes to the fore, and reminds me of the wet stage of Chaste Moon, without the really soapy note I got. It's a gentle, creamy, innocent sweetness, really lovely. Verdict: this was so nice in the imp, but I was worried this would turn horrible on me, as it was faint and slightly rubbery when wet. But after a minute it went wonderful and got stronger-fresh, cool, clean, and crisp, a hint of green, a hint of icy water, a huge combination of different notes melting into one. This would be perfect for Xmas-we never get white ones where I live, but with this, I can fantasise! This would also be nice for summer because it's fresh and cool. I was hoping I'd get the creamy sweet notes that others got. I might get a bottle of this if it's being released again this year, but I'm unsure.

I'm looking forward to the CT labels-will they come with certificates? I'd be intrigued as to what the 13 bottles have on them-4 leafed clovers? Black cats? Horseshoes and broken mirrors?

Actually, I found that Seraglio smelt very much like a cross between Fever and Amondopondo on me. That would make sense, as Fever contains rose and sandalwood, and Amondopondo contains rose and orange. I also thought on me, the first stage of Cairo smelt like a bit like Whoosh or Party On balm, that lemongrass scent, before morphing into something more incensy and woodsy, dusty and Egyptian. And Ahathoor has a similar carnation note to Potion, but with frankincense and herbs added, I think the two will go fantastically together. And yes, I did get a Snowcake smell from Chaste Moon, it also has similarities to Sympathy for the Skin and Milky Bar. In the imp, Venice doesn't smell like one Lush product...it smells like an entire Lush shop. Yes, that's right, you know that explosion of scent rushing up your nose when you go into a Lush shop, that was it-liquidised Lush in a bottle. But those are just my views-as every bpal experience is different.

Tum Hail unto Thee who art Tum in Thy setting, even unto Thee who art Tum in Thy joy, who travellest over the Heavens in Thy bark at the Down-going of the Sun. Tahuti standeth in His splendour at the prow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at the helm. Hail unto Thee from the Abodes of Day! In the imp: sweet and fruity, red grape juice. Smells like I should drink this, but no, I apply it to my skin. Wet on skin: still sweet, juicy grapes but I swear a bit of spice is coming through. Dry on skin: oh wow. This is really interesting, it smells sweet and fruity, but there's a dry spiciness here, reminds me of the desert, it's also quite tart. I'm wondering what could be in this…saffron? Amber? Cinnamon? All of these? Grapes, definitely but now it's turning into sweet wine more than grape juice. The spicy smell reminds me of an Egyptian spice market, where you see huge piles of spice powders and smell them on the breeze. And I can smell honey, yup, that's definitely honey in this, and it's very strong on me. I am tempted to lick it off. After a while: this is very, very sweet! There's lots of honey, and squished juicy fruit there, and something else-possibly amber. I think there's also fig or berries of some sort in this, as well as grapes, with the spices underneath. After an hour or two, this smells just like the delicious Elderflower and Honey Cordial I sometimes drink-which is very nice indeed! Verdict: this is a very nice one. On me, it's lots of honey and grapes and sweet fruits. And like the other Egyptian scents, it does conjure up images of ancient Egypt in my mind, relaxing by the Nile watching a sunset with a glass of honeyed wine done in the ancient style, whilst the smell of spices from the nearby market waft by on the breeze. It's honey sweet with a slight tartness that prevents it becoming sickly, and a hint of warm spices-it smells so sweet and edible, and I want to lick it off. It's gorgeous and very laid back, the perfect evening scent. I can't wait to try Ra now, these Stations of the Sun are incredible.

Seraglio In the imp: almonds! That same sugared marzipan smell I got from Bastet. Yum. Wet on skin: oh yummy, this is very similar to Bastet, that almond smell mingling with spices, but here I can smell orange peel, it's like spiced Xmas cake with marzipan icing. Dry on skin: the almonds take a back seat, and now, other scents come out. Orange and soft florals-I can make out rose (and what a wonderful rose it is too) and neroli, and a hint of warm spice. This is lovely! After a while: this is like a cross between Lush's Amondopondo and Fever (which I love)-a lovely smell of rose and orange, with sandalwood. So sexy. There's a hint of spice (nutmeg, no doubt), but it's not strong, it does add warmth though. Verdict: I'm a huge fan of BPAL exotic Middle East inspired blends, this is another one to add to my favourites. A gorgeous, sumptuous mix of sweet, spicy almonds that give way to a rose and orange mix which is not heavy or cloying-it's light and lovely, yet sexy and sultry, but also warming and indulgent. The sandalwood adds exotic depth and the rose is sublime-and both together make this smell very similar to Lush's wonderful Fever. I love it loads, and this would be fabulous as a body lotion or massage bar.

Queen of Sheba In the imp: bitter almonds, but with something else I can't put my finger on-maybe musk or smoke? Not as nice as the sweet almonds of Bastet. Wet on skin: a deep almondy smell with something sweet, but also something else-is it myrrh? Is it musk? I don't know, but it's very 'Middle eastern', the sort of smell you find in bazaars, reminiscent of Arabian perfume. Dry on skin: the almondy smell is gone (never lasts on me), now there's a dark, sweet, mysterious smell on my skin. It's smoky, it's slinky, it's sexy. I think there's amber in there, and honey, or maybe myrrh, or saffron? I don't know what this smell is, but it's very nice, and it smells like the sort of thing you'd smell in a Moroccan souk or Egyptian perfume shop. I can't place my finger on it, but damn, it's good. After a while: this is a gentle, subtle, close to the skin smell which is sweet and deep, quite luxurious. It reminds me of the dry stage of Eclipse, which I loved, but smokier and softer. I think the almond has returned, giving this the 'honeyed almond' smell in the description, it smells slightly like vanilla as well but without being too foody, it makes me feel cosy and indulged. Verdict: this is a very interesting smell. At first it was bitter almonds, but now it's become a mysterious, sweet, a dark, smoky, exotic smell with subtle sweetness. It's the sort of thing I'd imagine this legendary queen to smell like, it's luxurious and indulgent. It's gentle on my skin, but it’s a sensual, comforting softness, very warm, and I like it a lot!

Venice In the imp: WOW an amazing explosion of flowers, fruity and watery scents. Very complex! Wet on skin: Holy shit. This smells just like Lush!!! You know the smell of a Lush shop as you enter? This is exactly what this smells like! There's lemon here, other fruits (plum and currant?) there, rose here, sandalwood there, violet here, and so many other scents! I'm thinking, this shouldn't be called 'Venice' but 'Liquid Lush'! Dry on skin: Yup, it still smells of a Lush shop-only with a watery note added. The lemon and rose are strong in this, and I think there's sandalwood warming the scent, and soft jasmine like what you get in Fairy Jasmine ballistics. It's an incredible combination of wonderful scents!! After a while: the florals are becoming more rounded and defined. It's less of the full on, 'liquid Lush' chaos I first got, I can now make out fresh rose petals, wisteria and jasmine, and violets, with the lemon note still there adding a nice tartness. I think I can also smell fresh, sweet, wet fruits in this, fruits that have been cut open, their juices flowing. It's a very 'watery' smell, like fresh cool water with flower petals floating in it. I think that might be the waterlily. Whatever it is, I am falling in love with this. Verdict: I'd imagine this is what a Venetian branch of Lush would smell like! You enter the shop and the citrus and flower notes hit your nose. That's what this smell is like-a burst of complex and random notes, but what a gorgeous combination! Lovely florals and tart lemons, sweet fruits and a watery note make this a fantastic feminine scent that is, light, buoyant, youthful and bright. I love it!

Nuit In the bottle: soft, gentle dewy florals-jasmine is prominent, plus something that reminds me of Midnight-probably the moonflower, and a hint of green. It's definitely a 'nocturnal' smell. Wet on skin: ooh, this reminds me of dewy grass and jasmine! Very nice, very light. Dry on skin: oh wow! I can make out jasmine other white blooms, including some fresh, crisp rose, but there's also a lovely undertone of dewy moss here, which adds a fresh green note, maybe some musk, but this is so well blended that it all melts into one amazing scent. It reminds me a bit of Midnight, but more rich, decadent and more floral, and warmer, yet still dewy. It's very heady though, meaning I should apply less next time, a good thing because it means the bottle will last longer. After a while: Before it was a huge bouquet of flowers, but now I can recognise the jasmine, I love BPAL's jasmine because it smells just like the stuff in my garden! It's also becoming 'fresher', the floral is toned down by this definite 'night air and dew' scent. I think the musk is coming through, and there's another, deeper note I can't quite recognise, maybe it's incense? After about an hour, the scent has undergone an incredible transformation, and has become the scent of a summer night. The floral has faded a bit, but there's an amazing ' night air' smell, like the smell you get after a hot day, and the cool of night is a welcome relief. One could say it was ozone-y but it's not stormy, rainy or marine at all-this is the smell of a star-filled summer night by water (the Nile, most probably) with just the barest hint of jasmine and maybe, just maybe, even a hint of sweet smoke. It's cool and fresh, and I can make definitely make out the white musk in this. After a few hours, a lovely, soft white musk remains, lingering subtly on my skin. Verdict: I had such high hopes for this, because Nuit is one of my favourite Egyptian goddesses, she's the goddess of the stars, and the notes in this sound amazing. (is it coincidence that the French word for night is 'nuit'?) Thankfully, this one impressed me to no end. I'm so glad I love florals, and that they really go well with my skin. The flowery blend blew me away, it's a gorgeous, beautiful, heady nocturnal flower smell, heady and sumptuous, which then becomes a wonderful cool, dewy, summer night air scent-like a starry night in Egypt, with a hint of light musk. It's apt for a goddess, that's for sure. I'm so glad I have a 5ml because it's beautiful!!! This has shot straight to the top of my list of all time favourite BPAL scents.

Queen Mab In the imp: sweet creamy florals and musk. Wet on skin: lovely florals, no doubt the jasmine, there's also a hint of rose there, and musk. This is a very exotic floral blend. Dry on skin: lovely!!! The jasmine is gorgeous, smells just like the jasmine that is currently in full bloom in my garden right now. I can also make out the rose, also a lovely note, and a hint of musk, and perhaps the other florals. It's a gentle yet mysterious blend, fit for a fairy queen. After a while: this remains a lovely blend of rose, jasmine and musk, but primarily jasmine. It doesn't change much, but still stays smelling beautiful. After an hour or two, the soft musk is now prominent, blended with a fruity floral, the scent is remeniscent of Fae, which to me can't be coincidence. i think i can smell a bit of sandalwood there too. Verdict: this is absolutely gorgeous! This is a sensual, rich floral blend, with heady jasmine that smells just like real fresh jasmine blooming, a hint of musk, and an undertone of rose. I've always been into fairies and dreamed of being a fairy queen when I was younger. Plus there was a jasmine plant in my old school playground that I used to call the 'fairy flower plant' and I used to pretend that fairies lived in the flowers on it, and lived on the jasmine nectar. This really is a blend befitting the name-magical, ethereal and mysterious, and evokes fairy nostalgia from my childhood. Me likes it a lot. One to consider getting a bottle of.

Silk Road In the imp: a bright, tangy green smell with a hint of spice. Wet on skin: I think I can smell something like cinnamon under the fresh green smell, maybe some sandalwood too. Dry on skin: this is interesting. I can't really tell what's in this, but I think there's some green notes, woody notes, spicy notes, lemony notes. There's something in there that brings to mind grass or crushed leaves in bamboo forests, maybe some lemongrass, and a hint of cinnamon, saffron, pepper, ginger, curry??? However, this isn't foody at all, but very fresh, almost cologne or aftershave-like, very clean, yet so complex! And now I think I've worked out the green scent-green tea!!! I think I can definitely smell green tea in this, and cinnamon. I'm pretty sure there's something citrus-y in this, maybe lemon, or lemongrass. And maybe some woods, like sandalwood, which to me always smells warm, and cedar which adds to the scent's greenness. But it's the tea that's strongest on me, and perhaps saffron. After a while: still dominantly green tea and saffron/lemongrass/ginger, but I think I can smell a bit more of the cedar/sandalwood, and green herbs. I was expecting this to morph into something incense like. There's a scent that reminds me of freshly washed fabric in this…freshly washed silk?? After an hour, something horrible happens. It goes sour. It's smelling a bit sickly now. I was really hoping this wouldn't happen...please go nice again!!! I'm really hoping this is just the result of it being 'that time of the month' and that if I try it again, it won't do this! Luckily, this doesn't last too long. But after a few hours, there's a nice sweet tea and sandalwood smell. Now the smell has turned nice again! Verdict: at first, this is lovely, fresh and clean, with a distinctive green tea scent with spicy accents. It reminds me of spicy chai tea made with green instead of black tea, it's like a bamboo forest leading to an Eastern spice market. It's very complex yet not 'messy', it's very clear and bright. It's perfect for summer as it's quite light. It's different to what I was expecting (I was hoping the incense and florals would come out) but impressive none the less. But after an hour it gets really sour on me. Not nice. But that sick smell doesn't last long. after a few hours, there's a nice sandalwood-tea smell, and it smells lovely, a bit faint because it's faded, but still nice.

La Petite Mort In the imp: this reminds me of incense-maybe that's the myrrh? I detect a hint of sweetness, and a slight smell of almonds. Wet on skin: a warm, almondy smell, this is similar to Eclipse, only softer. This is a very nice, gentle, close to the skin smell. I'm sure there must be vanilla in this too. Dry on skin: I can't really describe this, but there's a lovely, soft and sensual smell on my skin. There are hints of vanilla, almond, and a hint of floral (ylang ylang, perhaps), and myrrh, but I can't really tell. All I know is that it's really nice, and comforting. After a while: this smells like some kind of body lotion, or perhaps even baby oil, baby powder or even a hint of suntan lotion? Maybe that's the skin scent? I love the smell of baby skin, that's what I get in this, except more sensual. It's very soft and warming, it's like a glow of scent above my skin. After a few hours, a lovely amber-myrrh smell is left, similar to what Khephra smelt like. Very nice. I'm impressed at the staying power of this, I applied it at noon, and near midnight it's still there, but now it smells more like honey. Verdict: this is a comforting, soft, sweet smell with a hint of ylang ylang, and a deep note which is probably myrrh, and something else i can't quite describe. It reminds me of a body lotion, or even baby oil, or suntan lotion-this is skin warmed by the sun (or by other means ) but not yucky-sweaty. I'm wondering if there's vanilla and almond in this. It's lovely and gentle, yet sexy at the same time.

Undertow In the imp: yummy sweet mint! Like minty chewing gum… Wet on skin: minty, but I'm sure I can smell the juniper, this gives it a darker feel. Dry on skin: mint, mint and more mint! This is very fresh, quite sweet, like a Polo mint or chewing gum, but the juniper's there deepening the scent, whilst the lotus sweetens it that bit more. But it's the mint that really dominates here. I keep thinking I should use this as breath freshener! After a while: this is developing a watery note-at first it is reminiscent of an outdoor pool, but this then becomes more and more like the sea. This is not a tropical beach smell, this is more like the Atlantic in full force, a wind whipped sea-it's cold. There's also the juniper giving it a pine-like smell, and I think lotus adds lightness to it. but the image now provoked by this is a deep, cold sea, like the Arctic ocean, blocked off by ice sheets, with pine forests on it's shores, maybe icebergs and glaciers or mountain streams…the image of ice cold water, fresh or salty, is evoked by this. After about an hour, the freshwater associations are gone-this smells salty now. i thought the lotus would 'bloom' on my skin like it normally does, but no...I get this incredible marine scent like sea spray splashing my face. Verdict: at first this one is just like mint chewing gum or mint sweets. The mint also has a fresh effect, and is clearing to the nose and head. The juniper and lotus make it more interesting though, and eventually it really does develop an aquatic smell, first like a fresh dip in a pool, then maturing to the seashore on a rainy day, then to the cold depths of the ocean. Very interesting, and much more than just the plain mint Polo scent I had before! I think this scent would be good in the heat of summer, when I need to feel and smell cool.

Chaste Moon In the imp: oooooh a gorgeous, creamy, sweet vanilla yoghurt and floral mix, a real childhood smell. Yum! Wet on skin: amazing! I can smell all sorts of things, vanilla milkshake, honey, marzipan, sugar, bubble bath like what I would have used when I was young, delicate florals, the smell of those scented toys and dolls… Dry on skin: much like the wet stage, but there's a very dominant floral note in this. I don't know what it is but it reminds me of the soap I would use to blow bubbles with when I was little, or one of those bubble baths I had when I was a child. It's a very soapy smell but in a good, childhood memory inducing smell. It does take over the blend though, but I do seem to get memories of toyshops and bubbles when I smell this. After a while: this mellows out nicely. The soapy note grows fainter, and allows the sweetness to surface. And it morphs, and new scents peek out-including vanilla, boiled milk, milkshake (strawberry, banana and vanilla flavours), almond, banana, toffee, pineapple, green grass, budding blossoms, maybe even strawberry! This is the smell of something sweet and creamy, like those yoghurts I used to eat, it's got vanilla and banana and maybe some toffee, it reminds me of a Lush smell-not sure which one, maybe Sympathy for the Skin, Milky Bar or Snowcake, or a bit of all of them? I don't know, but it reminds me of something Lush, that's for sure! There's also a definite early spring green, fruit and blossoms smell too, it's got a bright and tart edge. And after an hour or so, there's a lovely smell that is a cross between Petit Filous yoghurts, Lush's Snowcake, the sweet smell of those scented dolls or erasers, and baby oil, leaving a milky sweet aura of scent hovering above my skin. After 2/3 hours: holy crapola, this may seem really bizarre, but this now, on me, has a smell very similar to Anubis! Yup, I know this is my skin being weird, but there's that same honey/apple/camomile/amber/green herbs scent I get in Anubis, and since I really like Anubis, I really like this stage in the scent. And it's totally understandable that there'd be a scent of honey or apple (possibly apple blossom?) in this scent, it just seems fitting with the whole sweet foods/spring theme. Verdict: awww, this makes me feel all young inside! This is a very sweet and milky, gentle and innocent, and youthful blend, makes me think of dolls and bubbles, pleasant childhood smells. At first it reminded me of soap bubbles, and then, whoa, it morphed like mad, more so than any other oil. It's very complex, but very nice, sweet florals with a hint of marzipan, banana, toffee and vanilla yoghurt, with a slight tartness, like milky scents mixed with spring blossoms, with a slight fruitiness. A pleasant blend to excite the kid within and induce happy memories of those blissful years of childhood. And also, my first moon blend. I'm glad I've got an imp of this-as I do like it, not loooove it, but I like it, but I think it's a scent that will grow on me.

Bluebeard In the imp: violets! Violets with something herbal underneath-no doubt the lavender and the vetiver. Wet on skin: the lavender is really strengthening, with the delicate violet still on top, and earthy vetiver underneath. It's quite nice. Dry on skin: still the same, very lavendery with violet. This would be good as a night time sleepy smell. I think the vetiver gives this some depth as well. I think I can just about make out the musk but it's blended so well with the violet that it's hard to detect. It has incredible throw, though. After a while: the vetiver is growing stronger, the smell gets more intense and powerful, it's a scent that packs a real punch, but the violet still lightens it a bit. Now it does have a sinister aspect, dark and brooding, but still pleasant smelling. But it's really really overpowering. Verdict: the last two Diabolus scents I tried were pretty evil on my skin, but this one isn't. This is a lovely, yet intense herbal blend that smells very 'purple-blue' to me with strong lavender and delicate violet, which grows darker as the vetiver makes it's presence known, deepening and grounding the scent. It's very nice, but very overpowering, almost a smell that would knock you out with it's lavender-violet-vetiver intensity, and it has the biggest throw I've smelt so far.

Jabberwocky In the imp: Pine and eucalyptus aplenty! This really clears the sinuses…not that they are blocked, but from first sniff, I know this would be good when I get a cold! The pine is lovely and fresh-like it's straight from a forest-and I can make out the orange. Wet on skin: I can't really tell, as this oil evaporates incredibly quickly! But in the process, it has a strange effect-it cools the skin down! Dry on skin: oh my…this smells exactly like those pine sweets, and Badedas bath!!! Yes, I remember eating pine flavoured sweets, they had a very refreshing piney flavour (quite nice in fact, has the same effect on your mouth as mint) and I love Badedas bath too, this reminds me of it…this is sweet, refreshing pine, like a mountain forest in winter…or even the Tulgey Wood! There's also the sweet tang of orange there, and the unmistakable sinus cleansing smell of eucalyptus. After a while: the orange is strengthening nicely, adding a sunny, tangy feel. It's like the sunbeams peeping through the pine needles, it's sipping a freshly squeezed orange juice under a pine tree. This may be one of those blends to use when revising or for exams, as it really clears my head, may also work wonders on headaches. Verdict: this isn't a scent I'd normally wear as everyday perfume, but as a room fragrance, nose and sinus clearer, or head clearing blend, it's fantastic-it's refreshing and medicinal in a good way. It's got a wonderful fresh feel, with a pine note that is like a real forest, with a nice fruitiness thanks to the orange. The Jabberwocky was one of my childhood poems, and this smell certainly lives up to my expectations, and makes me proud to have a verse from the poem in my sig.

Scherezade In the imp: oooh…musk and spice! It's a very deep, very exotic, sensual smell. I'm sure I can smell the saffron in this too. Wet on skin: whoa, I can smell the musk in this, it's a very deep musk, slightly incensy, and there's a spicy note giving some edge. Dry on skin: mainly sweet musk with something else-possibly the spices? The initial spicyness didn't last on me, which is a shame, but the musk remains. It's very subtle on my skin though-not over the top or flashy, but a nice, close to the skin smell. The only problem is it's quite faint- I have to go right up to my wrist to smell it. After a while: I think the musk is getting more noticeable, but still remains gentle. It's quite a sexy smell, I think! The throw's really improving now, the scent now seems to be hovering above my skin in a soft aura, I can also smell a 'golden' aroma in this-possibly saffron or incense. This certainly conjures up images of the Arabian Nights, and makes me think of a belly dancer in a luxurious palace, or a Middle Eastern bazaar…in fact, this smell is very similar to a real Arabian perfume that I tested in a shop in Oxford Street. So truly, this is the Arabian nights encapsulated in scent. Verdict: this was a lovely sensual spicy musk in the bottle, and on the skin it's very subtle and gentler than it was wet. Then, slowly and gradually, the musk seems to gently add a soft warm 'glow' to this skin, and the smell becomes more golden, more mature, and very sexy, with a hint of spice or incense making the scent even more exotic. What's more, this really does smell like true Arabian perfume. This gets better with every sniff. Gorgeous.

Masabakes In the imp: this reminds me of cough syrup…it's a dark, sweet, pungent and medicinal smell. Wet on skin: still medicinal, with a hint of fruit that's slightly cherry-like, and just the hint of mimosa. Dry on skin: now it's the mimosa's turn to take over. There are two sweet notes to this, first a bright sweet note from the mimosa, but there's a dark sweet undercurrent to this too, probably from the currants. Still has a medicinal smell though, but not as much. After a while: oh dear, this has switched back to a harsh medicinal smell again-this seems like a smell you could knock people out cold with, it's very pungent and strong, slightly alcoholic. The mimosa is there, but it's really 'bitter' in this, not the sweet light note I expected. There's a fruity currant note, but it reminds me of those currant cough drops with menthol. After about an hour, I think I can make out the currant becoming stronger, and the myrrh is there too, and something that smells cherry-ish, that could be the currants. It's not a warm incensy smell like I get with other myrrh blends, but a cold smell, harsh, unkind, and even lethal. After a few hours, it's still there, but the smell has softened, warmed up, become more approachable, and has changed into...vetiver. Yes, vetiver. I know it's not in the description but there's something in this blend that smells just like vetiver, and that's no bad thing since I like vetiver. It adds a nice earthiness to the final stage of this scent, and also reminds me of the end of Serpent's Kiss. I'm amazed at this oil's staying power. Verdict: this is another interesting one, it's very bittersweet, powerful and intense, and I'm not sure if I like it or not, because sometimes there's that lovely light mimosa smell, but it suddenly switches to a smell that reminds me too much of bitter cough syrup-it's too medicinal. It's okay, but it's not my thing really-it maybe something to use as room fragrance, but not as perfume. Maybe it will grow on me, but for now, it's off to swaps.

Cairo In the imp: wow, this is zingy, fruity, resiny, spicy, Egyptian! I can make out frankincense, some fruits and maybe some myrrh. This reminds me a bit of Ahatoor, but 'juicier'. Wet on skin: lemon sherbet with Egyptian spice and herbs! This is really nice and refreshing, perky and vibrant, but there's a hint of ancient mystique beneath the surface. Dry on skin: lemon and spices and herbs, this is really nice, I think I can make out some resins, probably frankincense, which has a 'brighter' smell than other resins, and some herbs, and something sweeter within-this could be honey or raisins (major components of Egyptian kyphi-maybe the lemon is lemongrass, which apparently is a kyphi ingredient too). It brings to my mind the Egyptian sun shining down on a time-old market selling fruits and spices and all sorts of exotic ware. This is a great blend to wear to wake me up, clear my fuzzy mind. After a while: the perky lemon sweet smell is toning down but it's still there, giving way to some more refined smells, such as myrrh and sandalwood (I think), some herbal notes, and frankincense and sweet resins too. I can even detect a hint of smoke-burning incense? Luckily the smokiness isn't strong or jarring. I can even make out some other fruity sweetness-maybe some wine or figs? After about an hour, I can make out a sweet floral, perhaps the sacred lotus of ancient Egypt. it's very light and gentle now, the lemon, lotus and incense are now soft on my skin. This lasts quite a long time on my skin...after a few hours, the lotus remains, it's similar to the last stage of Blood Lotus, but drier...there's something 'dusty' about this-no bad thing though, in fact it's reminiscent of dusty Egyptian ruins, dry sands, ancient tombs... Verdict: at first this is a zingy blend which awakens my fuzzy mind with its blast of 'exotic lemon sherbet' and spices, herbs and resins. It's warm and sunny and uplifting, yet has an ancient mystique within which makes itself known as the scent mellows out after some time-the woods, spices and incense come out and evoke an age old past, a sunset on the Nile, the sunlight caressing the pyramids. I shall shut up before I get too effin' poetic, but this is the essence of Egyptian sunshine, I think. Perfect for summer, or to wear on those rainy days when I want to daydream about being in Egypt instead. It's not heavy either, which is good. It's another Egyptian blend, and guess what, I love it!!! I can't wait to see what it's like as room fragrance...

Paris In the imp: warm lavender with something sweet and spicy underneath. Wet on skin: the lavender is strong in this, there's also a hint of warm spiciness, maybe cinnamon or cloves? It's also got a sweet light note which may be the lotus. This is a very calming, comforting smell. Dry on skin: ooh la la, this is really nice. A lovely strong lavender with a soft sweet spice. This would be perfect to wear to bed or just to relax, and the spice makes this even more cosy. After a while: there's a lovely, spicy, even slightly buttery smell that really makes me think of French patisseries-French toast, pain au raisins-I don't know if my skin's acting weird but I'm sure there's a slight whiff of croissants creeping through every now and then! Yum! It reminds me of the 'spicy pastry' smell of March Hare, without being sickly, thanks to the lavender. It's weird because it seems I'm the only reviewer getting this pleasant skin reaction-maybe it's to do with the fact that I'm half French? After an hour, I think I can just about smell the lotus mingling with the lavender and spice, and lotus is lovely on me. Now the smell puts images in my head of a sophisticated, stylish, slightly coquettish French lady strutting around on the Champs Elysees. Verdict: how does Beth do it? This is French-ness captured in a gorgeous smell. Sophisticated lavender and lotus mingled with comforting spice gives this an air of sitting in a café in Paris eating some delicious French pastries and croissants on a warm spring day. The perfect thing to wear before bedtime or when I need some relaxing or comforting. Magnifique! Edit: just thought I'd add that this lasts ages on me. And the smell, strangely, has become something very much like 'spice and croissants', there were hints of this before, but now it's more prominent. My skin chemistry must be weird but the buttery croissant smell fits in perfectly with the Parisian theme.

Kathmandu In the imp: dark green woods, pine, cedar, fresh mountain air…and something sweet and spicy underneath. Wet on skin: I think I can smell spices, probably anise and cloves, and cedar and other woods. It's quite nice, quite refreshing, but slightly medicinal. Dry on skin: this is really nice, it seems to be quite a 'clear' smell, clears the nose and the mind, like a fresh blast of Himalayan mountain air, it then becomes warmer, thanks to the spices mingled with cedar and sandalwood, gently smouldering incense, and a hint of lotus. It's very soft on me though. After a while: omg after a few hours, this has a lovely warm, dry, soft spicy-woody-sweet-incensy smell that reminds me of Ahatoor!!! Slightly more woody, but similar. And since I love Ahatoor I love this phase in the scent. Verdict: woody, smoky yet clearing-this would be nice to meditate with. It's also not too heavy or overwhelming. But I quite like it, and I have a feeling my dad would too-he's been to Kathmandu and this is quite a masculine scent. It would be nice as a room fragrance, and it has calming, grounding feel. It's also the 'woodiest' of the BPAL blends I've tried so far. But the end phase of the scent, as it fades, is very similar to Ahatoor, maybe sandalwood, lotus and cedar are components of both scents? I dunno but I love Ahathoor and the end of Kathmandu is very remeniscent of it.

Brisingamen In the imp: amber with a hint of something light and green. Wet on skin: this is greener than I expected. There's amber there, for sure, but with a hint of something light and maybe slightly floral or a bit spicy. I can make out the carnation in this too. Dry on skin: gorgeous! This is a lovely sweet amber with a hint of blossom and carnation. It's a soft amber, a gentle warm sweetness that lingers on the skin, but the carnation makes it more interesting. After a while: the amber is becoming more and more prominent but it's not an in your face amber, but a soft, feminine scent. The blossoms are still there adding a lightness to this blend. Verdict: this is a lovely, gentle, glowing amber scent, it's soft, subtle, feminine, warm and sensual. It's got a floral aspect that makes it lighter, and the amber lingers nicely and is like a warm golden aura of scent near my skin. Me likes. Edit: after a few hours this becomes pure amber. It smells like one of my other amber perfumes, but softer. But it's pure amber, nothing else.

Anubis In the imp: sweet resins and green herbs. Very nice. I think I can detect a bit of myrrh, and something lighter. Wet on skin: the herb note gets sharper, but not in an unpleasant way. There's something that reminds me of honey in this, but it's very faint. The scent is quite green and herbal but there's a sweeter undercurrent. Dry on skin: this reminds me of incense, with sweet amber and honey growing stronger, and green herbs. I'm sure I can detect frankincense there, but that could be the herbs. I'm sure I can smell the myrrh too. There's also something there that reminds me of camomile or apples-something fruity, that's for sure, but that just be my skin acting bizarre. Or maybe this aspect could be something similar to kyphi incense-which had honey, raisins, resins and spices or herbs. I like it. it's a very pleasant, sweet, calming, yet sacred and mysterious smell. After a while: the scent becomes truly 'ancient' and grand, like the sort of thing they would burn in an old temple. It's sweet, but it's a refined, mature sweetness that makes me feel calm and would be lovely to meditate with. It's also quite solemn, now maybe I can see the Egyptian funerary associations, I can imagine priests using this scent in ancient rituals, maybe to embalm pharaohs-because it's a rich 'golden' scent. Verdict: amazing. A sweet, resins and greenery sort of smell, with something slightly tangy or fruity, and honeyed notes giving a golden feel to this, like an Egyptian sunset, which then mellows into a sacred and holy scent of ancient resins. A whole heap of gorgeous ingredients mixed together nicely. It's not a scent I would link directly with the jackal god of the dead because it hasn't got any stereotypically 'dark' or 'melancholy' notes one would normally link with funerals, but it's a scent with a very sacred ambience, golden and ancient. Maybe it evokes how the Egyptians saw death-not as something morbid but as something positive? Definitely a keeper for me.

On my skin, Egyptian Temple (the Twilight Alchemy blend) smells almost identical to Black Lotus. It has that smoky wood/resin smell and lotus (in fact Egyptian temple is more lotusy on me that Black Lotus!) on my skin, but in the bottle it smells totally different-it actually smells much nicer in the bottle, a rich, sweet, resinous blend with a hint of wine. I was hoping it would be like that on my skin too...