Jump to content
Post-Update: Forum Issues Read more... ×
BPAL Madness!

UltraViolet

Members
  • Content Count

    596
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by UltraViolet

  1. UltraViolet

    Pumpkin Patch IV (2005, 2006)

    3 In the bottle Lovely, it smells vaguely incensey and dry wood smelling, and oddly, similar to the hazelnut and pumpkin blend except with the chocolate of course. It's a bit sexier than that other blend though. On Sandalwood is one of my favorite things on earth. #4 smells foody mostly but only a teeny bit incensey. 30 minutes It hasn't morphed at all. It smells more like toasted pumpkin seeds now with a bit of that lovely scented wood. Throw: average Scent category: foody/incensey Summary It's nice, and soft and airy incensey wood, like sandalwood is. I like my sandalwood straight up mostly because it's so good, or sometimes mixed with florals. It lasts a bit better than average amount of time. Purchase again? No. I'd get some other BPAl blend else with sandalwood in it. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3
  2. UltraViolet

    Pumpkin Patch I (2005, 2006)

    Here's a pic of the bottle http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL202/154131...4/117457463.jpg In the bottle cider meh On The one that I had the least interest in is so far the most appealing of the 3 PP blends I've tried so far. WOW. It's more apple-y than I imagined, which is a real treat. I love Beth's blends where you can actually smell the yellow delicious apple in it. 30 minutes It's really spicy and nice with clove, pepper, cinnamon, and this fresh golden delicious apple smell that is so fresh. Throw: average Scent category: fruity/spicy Summary It's just as crisp appley and fresh spicy as you could possibly hope it would be. Purchase again? Hell yeah. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 5 I think this is even better than BPAL's "Samhain" (2004,haven't tried 2005 yet).
  3. UltraViolet

    Pumpkin Patch III (2005, 2006)

    3 In the bottle The berrylishious likeness of Pomegranates, ripe and sweet. On I like me some pomegranantes but I really didn't see how this was going to work well. I shouldn't have doubted the coupling of the pomegranate and the pumpkin. It's almost odd, but not quite, and certainly not in a yuk way at all. Not at this point anyway. 30 minutes Definitely gets more pumpkin-y and less sweet and juicy with the pomegranates. I dunno if this is a good thing. There's this nutty or something quality in the middle of everything harshing our mellow with the berries vibe and it's pissing me off. It's like biting into a sweet juicy pear and biting into some of the stringy pulp part. I hate when that happens. Throw: average Scent category: fruity/foody Summary In the bottle is fab. On my skin is alright for awhile until it dries it becomes off somehow. This is one to have just for the Chaos Theory quality of it all. I think I like my "Swank" or "The Red Queen" for my dark red fruity blends. Purchase again? Not sure. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3
  4. UltraViolet

    Pumpkin Patch II (2005, 2006)

    Here's my not too good picture of what the bottle looks like. http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL202/154131...4/117455265.jpg In the bottle In the bottle is what makes me think this is going to be my favorite of the Pumpkin Patch blends...lightly toasted hazelnut, cocoa and pumpkin in the background. Wow. This might just make up for "Spooky". On Naturally it doesn't smell as good on my skin as it did in the bottle, but at least it does so immediately. That said, Pumpkin Patch #2-Pumpkin, Cocoa, Hazelnut and Walnut blend will now be my foody chocolate BPAL blend of choice moving forward, straying completely from the previous Bliss/Vice/Morocco trinity. 30 minutes It does go through a chalky phase on my skin as it starts to dry. BPAL's "Morocco" and "Spooky" both do this on me also. Spooky does this in spades for me so that it's just acrid and smokey smelling. Pumpkin Patch #2 gets almost dry, dark and smokey but it is able to stay a nice yummy smelling blend on my skin. The pumpkin actually comes out a bit more for me when it's dry. Go figure, it's a nice surprise. Throw: average Scent category: Foody Summary This smells like a 4 star "pastry designer's" dessert in the bottle. As it dries it turns somewhat more chalky smelling on me then the pumpkin comes back and smells more like toasted, sweet pumpkin seeds (almost like a caramlized pumpkin sugar that one takes off the boiler right before the "burn" stage) and cocoa and nuts. Not a spicy pumpkin blend at all but definitely rich, dark and warm. The scent lasts a bit longer than the average BPAL blend. Purchase again? Yes. If I ran out I would buy another 5ml. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  5. UltraViolet

    Twenty-One

    The 2nd alcohol based scent that I try today from BPAL...hmm...I sense a theme based BPAL collection brewing in my head. In the bottle Even more juniper like than "The Hamptons", and definitely more alcohol smell of "Swank". On A lot of juniper/Gin smell. 30 minutes Hasn't morphed at all, it's a nice true juniper smell. Throw: average Scent category: green Summary 21 is more of a nice conifer smell than alot of the BPAL pine blends. If I wanted that wonderful juniper scent that is almost a single note and clear and not too anything, i'd want to wear 21. If I wanted more of a cocktail type of scent I would want to wear "The Hamptons" instead I think. "21" is a nice blend to have and use in a collection of BPAL alcohol cocktail blends patterned after cocktails made from clear liquors such as Vodka and Gin. Purchase again? Maybe. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3.5
  6. UltraViolet

    The Hamptons

    In the bottle This is so much more of a real cosmo smell than "Swank". This isn't as berry like with the pomegranate. I've loved "Swank" as a top ten blend for years but this is the real thing, well it smells like the real thing anyway. This seems to have more of a citrus smell too. On It's so fresh and wonderful smelling. It smells clean, fresh, a bit Gin-like, a bit citrussy, a bit green. Love it. 30 minutes Doesn't morph in any way, it stays that lovely, crisp, juniper/Gin, fruity, cosmospolitan scent. Throw: average Scent category: green/alcoholic/fruity Summary The Hamptons is: Great in the bottle. Great on my skin. Great when it dries. Purchase again? Yes. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 5
  7. UltraViolet

    Trick or Treat

    In the bottle Sweet mother of God. It smells like cream and caramel. Um, I actually smell cream in here. I didn't think Trick or Treat would smell this good at all. On The cream part kinda goes away and now I can almost here the "crack" of the spoon against the flamed sugar topping of a creme brulee. It's scent becomes similar to Sugar Skull (2004, I haven't smelled 2005 yet) quickly, though I was never this knocked out by Sugar Skull. As Trick or Treat dries it turns even more burnt sugar-y and even takes on an almost caramel coffee-like scent on me. 30 minutes It has a lovely dark coffee caramel smell. Throw: average Scent category: Foody Summary I like the milkiness of it in the bottle vs. on my skin. It's just absolutely yummy (it made me crave candy okay) in the bottle. My skin is not playing well with others. But that said it's still a yummy scent just not a "5 star" as it was in the bottle. Purchase again? Maybe. If I could just smell it in the bottle, God yes, tons and tons. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  8. UltraViolet

    Dreamland

    4 In the bottle Lovely carnation, musk and iris is what I smell primarily. The last reviews of the evening were nearing as my nose announced and it was between four more DIMV blends to end for the night, I chose Dreamland of the 4 left because quite simply it was the prettiest smelling in the bottle of the 4. On It's like "Eos" (the warm skin part without the jasmine) and "Amsterdam" (that fresh water and young green grasses thing) mixed with carnation and subtley sweet phlox. Love it. Waaaay better than "Maiden" for a carnation blend for me, because it's got a touch of sweetness whereas Maiden is pretty straightlined for me in that regard. 30 minutes It's gotten a touch muddier on me but nothing heinous. It's still a beautiful scent that I would wear, maybe even at night before sleep. Throw: average Scent category: Floral/Animalistic Summary This is a cross between a fresh floral, and a sweet soft and powdery floral with the scent of warm musk. And it works beautifully. There is one note in here that gives it that push towards a blend of "fitful scent of nightmare, rife with ill-omen" and I think it's the osmanthus. There is also a subtle creaminess about this blend. It's not too strong of a floral for you folks who don't like strong florals, an it's not cloyingly sweet for those who are leery of those. And you fresh floral folks like Cupide will like this I think. It also has good staying power. Purchase again? Yes 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  9. UltraViolet

    Lenore

    3.5 In the bottle The familiar scent of Vetiver(t) but it's actually nice in this blend, it doesn't scare me. I smell lime (even though it's lemon not lime in here), herbs and a bitterness, and it's nice and quite representative of the description and of the story. On The patchouli is predominant and the vetiver and lemon is next in majority of what I smell when it's on my skin. 30 minutes More of the smoke smell is there. It's quite even with the patchouli now and the vetiver is still beneath. The lemon peel is pretty vague now, the saffron is here now but lightly so. Throw: average Scent category: Earthy/Herbal/Citrus Summary I don't smell the musk nor the plum (gah!). It certainly does connotate darkness and bitterness. This blend is not sweet in the least. But that isn't a negative point with me just an informational fact. Purchase again? No. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3.5
  10. UltraViolet

    Annabel Lee

    4 In the bottle Wow so fresh and lovely smelling, the same sort of vibe as Blue Moon to me but not really the same of course. On This is lovely, the cucumber and wild peony are what I smell primarily. The sage and is there but lightly and the rest are like whisps of scent atop everything else. 30 minutes Becomes more soft and powdery floral with lashings of cucumbery freshness. Ohh. Throw: more than average Scent category: Floral Summary This so perfectly encapsulates "Annabel Lee". It's fresh sea air smell with a white floral perfume. Good lord. Purchase again? Yes. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  11. UltraViolet

    Alone

    In the bottle Cinnamon definitely. And I even smell something else foody spicy and sweet. On Very spicy with the cinnamon. And there is patchouli. For a brief few minutes I did indeed smell something citrussy, more orange than lemon or grapfruit. But now it's not really noticeable. There is indeed a resin in here. Amber? Not sure really. 30 minutes Smells like the red hot toothpicks I used to chew by the hundreds when I was younger. I really love Cardomom and Sandalwood. I wish I smelled more of it in this blend but my skin is just amping up the cinnamon like there's no tomorrow. Throw: maybe a bit more than average Scent category: Spicy..and uh...spicy. Summary As spicy as "Hellfire", and more spicy than "Malkuth" as far as cinnamon goes. The patchouli goes rather well with the cinnamon. Who knew?People who like the vibe of earthy meets spicy will love this blend. Purchase again? No. This is nice but I like Malkuth better so I don't think I'll be buying more "Alone". 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3.5
  12. UltraViolet

    Evening Star

    4.5 In the bottle I smell a bright, floral, musk and it's very pretty. On It's a classic smelling sensual and clean floral scent. 30 minutes Becomes even more beautiful. Less astringent and more powdery soft. It's clean and has a very light sweetness. Light white floral that is not too much for me at all. And then there's that sensual musk. Throw: average maybe a bit more than average for me Scent category: Floral/Animalistic Summary There is that crystalline scent that is in so many bpal blends I love like "Sea of Glass" or "Empyreal Mist", but this goes a step further with the floral (not too much though) and adds the sensual scent of musk in equal measure. As it dries it gets better. It becomes even brighter on my skin (which is odd as bright usually turns muddy on me skin after a length of time). It also has more of a powderiness now and almost a citrussy vibe (lemon or grapefruit, not orange). It's scent on me when it is fully dry is clean, subtley sweet citrus, floral with a hint of musk. It has better than average staying power also. Purchase again? Yes. This is something I might were more than occasionally and at a conservative workplace too. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4.5
  13. UltraViolet

    The Sleeper

    In the bottle I smell menthol or peppermint. I just do. I has to be the rosemary. On I still smell menthol or peppermint even while on my skin so I must be the rosemary. I'm surprised the Jasmine is not that strong, I was concerned but I didn't need to be because it's a soft jasmine. The oakmoss is also not as strong as in other BPAl blends that have oakmoss in them. The Sleeper smells herby, green and camphorish or maybe like something that has pennyroyal in it. Makes it nice to breathe. 30 minutes It dries down to a more dusty floral. Throw: average Scent category: Green/Herby/Floral Summary This is green as TIA's "Dunwhich" is green, and spicy herby with just a touch of Jasmine. Crypt musk. Who knew? Purchase again? No. I like Undertow just a bit more for this kind of scent. But this is a pleasure to smell. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3
  14. UltraViolet

    Al-Araaf

    In the bottle A light fresh floral. On This is as pretty as "Fae", and "Titania" and all the other blends that have these same kind of florals. This is so lightly sweet and vaguely herbal, it's like a whispy breeze of fresh subtley sweet air. After about 2 minutes the lotus starts to turn as lotusy as it wants to be apparently. I hope this "phase" disappears as it sometimes does with lotus, if I'm lucky. 30 minutes The mushroomy lotus smell on me is still there but it's not a heinous thing scent wise. I'm just frutrated because I can't keep smelling that beautiful fresh air floral that was there for a moment...and I'm taking it out on the lotus. Throw: average Scent category: floral/herbal Summary This is right up there with Amsterdam, Chuparosa as a fresh, light floral initially when wet. And while in the bottle. It also reminds me a bit of white light, but not that there's any melon or honeysuckle like scent in here it's just that same kind of blend. Then during the dry down it gets a bit muddier with the earthy lotus. And then ultimately my skin just sucks up all the scent. I slathered this on and it's so light to my nose. Purchase again? Yes an imp, I'm not sure about a bottle. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3
  15. UltraViolet

    Thalia

    In the bottle This is a pale gold colored liquid. Smells like Plumeria mostly. On I smell mostly plumeria with a bit of pear in the background. Not as champagne-like nor acidic as "Bon Vivant" for instance. And not as pear-like as Titania. It's thicker, more floral and sweeter than those. I don't know how I worked two champagne blends and two pear blends into three reviews in a row, must have been subconcious, but I might review similar blends that way in the future as it's kind of a different and fun way to review. 30 minutes It's pretty but too much of a floral for my skin. My skin just amps it all up to be a little too much. Throw: average Scent category: Floral/Fruit Summary This smells like the heady, tropical, and creamy plumeria flower. Purchase again? No, too sweet and floral, to cloying and not fresh smelling enough to balance this out for my skin. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3
  16. UltraViolet

    Bon Vivant

    In the bottle It's a pale gold liquid. Yep. It smells like sparkly, strawberry something. It does smell liquor-like and bubbly as champagne. On Well this just might be the best strawberry scent. Better on my skin than Hollywood Babylon, Pink Moon or Strawberry Moon many even ,it's fruity and sparkly. 30 minutes This dries down to a crisp and sparkling medium strawberry scent, a strawberry full of light and it's subtley sweet which is nice for me. Throw: average Scent category: Fruity Summary It's a perfect strawberry scent, not too thick nor cloyingly sweet. Purchase again? Yes. a 5ml. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  17. UltraViolet

    Lust

    3.5 In the bottle This is a dark red brown liquid. I smell the patchouli and the red musk primarily. On Mmm, the myrrh is divine. It's not too overpowering, but it is a firm myrrh. The ylang ylang is so subtle as to be almost unnoticeable but it lends this strong blend just that bit of sweet floral that this blend needs in order to have a wonderful balance with the strong dark smells of the patchouli, myrrh and red musk. 30 minutes This is a good hearty blend with some staying power. It doesn't morph in any unusual manner on my skin. It stays that nice lusty dark sexual smell with the slight floral twang of ylang ylang in the background. Throw: average Scent category: Incensey/Animalistic/Floral Summary I didn't expect to like this as much as I do. I feel this deserves a place in my "darkly sexual" pile with Noir, Sin, etc. Purchase again? Yes. Another imp though, not a bottle. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3.5
  18. UltraViolet

    Titania

    4.5 In the bottle It is a pale gold liquid. It smells like pear and champagne or something close to that. On So fresh smelling. Like a fresh crisp pear and sweet grasses. The above poster was spot on with her comparitive of "this scent is to spring as what The Hesperides are to autumn." 30 minutes It's still so fresh smelling just like a little fairy glade would smell in a patch of golden sunshine in the woods near a stream. Throw: average Scent category: Fruity/ fresh floral Summary Titania is the Queen of the Fairies and wife of Oberon in Shakespeare's Midsummer-Night's Dream. And this blend has that starry ethereal quality mixed with the freshness of greenery, crispness of grape and pear, and light flowers. Purchase again? Yes. I knew it would be beautiful, I don't know why I didn't just buy a 10ml bottle. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4.5
  19. UltraViolet

    Stargazer Lily

    BPAL blends which include Stargazer Lily single note as one of it's ingredients: Bearded Lady, Grandmother of Ghosts, Peitho, Juliet, Ophelia. 5 In the bottle This is a very pale gold colored blend. The most beautiful lily smell but more powdery than it's cousin the calla lily. On Soft powdery white floral smell. Like a baby powder kind of white lily smell with some lilac-like scent too. 30 minutes It's a beautiful lily floral. It is very light when dry though so one would have to slather this I would think. Ithas almost disappeared on my wrist Throw: average Scent category: Floral Summary This is perfect to me in every way. Purchase again? Yes I would purchase a 10ml if I could. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 5
  20. UltraViolet

    Les Infortunes de la Vertu

    2.5 In the bottle Floral and bright. On Boy this is piercing. Yeah piercing is the word I'd use to describe this floral scent. It makes one whince, kinda like the tip of De Sade's blade. Yikes. 30 minutes It dries down to a bright, subtley sweet but sharp floral. Throw: average Scent category: Animalistic/Floral/Green/Incense Summary It does indeed have a "Sweet Honesty" smell to it as described above. It's not the least tolerable of all blends but it's not something I would wear unless I'd planned on using a "safe word" in the near future. If your safe word is "Ow" than this just might be the blend for you. Purchase again? No. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 2.5
  21. UltraViolet

    Thanatos

    3.5 In the bottle It's a pale gold colored blend. It's a bit like Zombi in the bottle. A nice blend of rose and mosses. On Wow, this is different and it's good. I can smell the Greek incense, moss and rose primarily. The benzoin and myrrh kind of holding everything together. This is one of those "incessantly mushing your nose to your wrist" blends. Addictive. Sniff sniff sniff, it's wonder I haven't sniffed all the smell out of it. This isn't like Zombi as I thought it smelled like in the bottle. This is different, intriguing as hell. Why can't I smell the sandalwood? Hmph. 30 minutes It dries down to a sweet incensey blend with a dark green mossy scent mixed in and a "pokey" bright pickling spice scent note in there that I can't place. Mastic maybe? I've no idea. Throw: average Scent category: Incense/Resin/Floral/Woody-Green Summary This is enchanting. Purchase again? Yes. An imp. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 3.5
  22. UltraViolet

    Dee

    4.5 In the bottle Mmm. This is somewhat of a masculine scent. I do smell a bit of leather and it's nice. This blend smells subtley sweet and a bit brighter than I initially imagined. It's quite lovely. It's a little like being out in some thick woods after a sweet rain, not that it smells like pine and that, in fact it does not, but just the nice smell of leaves and majestic wet redwoods. On My goodness it's so nice, almost fruity in some sense. I smell mostly the lovely rosewood, tonka and incense when it's on my skin. 30 minutes That deep rosewood scent dries down nicely. I don't smell the leather anymore but the blend as a whole dries to a lovely yet deep woodsy scent with a middle of sweet incense and a fluttering of parchment papers (so cool, how does she do that) on top. Throw: Only a wee bit more than average Scent category: Woody, Incense Summary I admire the man very much as he was so influential with the Enochian, and Hermetic philosphies. I've studied his work for years and am convinced of his "mathematics is magic and magic is mathmatics" concepts. It's nice to be able to be reminded of him in a third dimensional way with this scent. I would imagine "Dee" would be an outstanding ritual oil as well and I can't wait to try it in that regard. Purchase again? Yes. It's so nice smelling and it's quite comforting too. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4.5
  23. UltraViolet

    Beatrice

    http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL202/154131...4/113478295.jpg In the bottle Spicy floral with a touch of warm...vanilla? On Lovely florals. Not too strong, nor too weak. The combination of jasmine, vanilla, lily, maybe hoeysuckle, and spice are alot nicer smelling than I initially thought they would be. 30 minutes Tries to get a bot soapy on the dry down but the spices and the vanilla smelling note doesn't let it become soapy. Pretty and sesnsual too. Throw: A bit more than average Scent category: Floral/Spicy/Foody Summary The warm vanilla note is more prominent in the bottle than on my skin but it is there when I put it on thank goodness. This is good. I'm picky about florals because they tend to amp up with my chemistry but this stays really pretty on me. The spiciness is not too much, everything is blended so that nothing really sticks out. It lasts a bit more than the average bpal blend on the skin. Purchase again? Yes. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
  24. UltraViolet

    Harvest Moon 2005

    Here is a picture of the bottle http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL202/154131...4/113478311.jpg In the bottle No butter topper like Harvest moon 2004. Harvest Moon 2004 started out yummy buttery and then floral came and turned on my skin and choked me so this is more fruity definitely, which is good for me. On OMG. This reminds me of Swank, Lughnadaas, and Mabon all rolled into one. I smell very little floral and alot of the dark rich fruits of Autumn....and folks...it's passed the 5 second mark meaning it's not going to do that "change-a-roo" that the old blend did. Yay!!!! 30 minutes Ooh it dries down nicely; the floral is more to the fore and it is absolutely fresh and lovely. It's a fresh floral with crisp but cidered apple along with a nice "Swank" meets "Malkuth" vibe. Definitely an Autumn scent. Way to go Beth. Throw: a wee bit more than average. Scent category: Fruity/Floral Summary This is foody and fruity on my skin with the wine-soaked apples being so yummy. It smells like pomegranates to me as well so that's the relation to BPAL's "Swank" that I have in my head. I smell the plums, pears, brown sugar and mullig spices most. I don't smell the gladiola, chrysanthemum, aster, dahlia, anemone, bergamot, marigold, sage, verbena, ivy leaves. I do smell only a wee bit the amaranth and lingum aloe. Purchase again? Yes! Why didn't I get more than one bottle???!!!! 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4.5
  25. UltraViolet

    Fiery Command

    In the bottle Spicy floral This is a dark orange colored blend. On It smells like Cinnamon, Jasmine, Dragon's Blood. It's spicy, sweet, thick, resinous and floral. 30 minutes Now I smell more...lotus? Other then that it smells the same not much has changed and that's a good thing. Throw: More than average Scent category: Spicy/Floral Summary Long lasting scent that is spicy and sensual. It's feminine but powerful. It smells like Salome, and Hellfire mixed together. Purchase again? Yes! A 5ml or three. 1-5 rating (5 being best) 4
×