UltraViolet

In the bottle

Just as I suspected and prayed it would smell like.

I am very attracted to Saturn's reverse power and those kind of different attributes and so I was pleased to smell almost an anise scent with some myrrh and other goodies in this blend.

On

Mmm. Smokey dark myrrh, maybe some nutty sandalwood too. Civet in the background but oddly fitting. Civet and I don't get along at all but I don't mind it in this blend, in fact it is expected and part of what makes this a wonderfly different scent.

30 minutes

The initial smell that I thought might be star anise is all but gone. I should hate this by all previous dealings with civet and that, but this is truly an addictive blend. The myrrh, sandalwood, and civet with the resinous scent of (opomax maybe?) is dark, mysterious and broodingly sexy on my skin. I say Opomax because something mildy resinous and sweetly incensed in here which reminds me of "Noir". Or maybe my skin just doesn't hate me today.

Throw:

more than average

Scent category:

Incense/Animalistic/Resin

Summary

Anykind of non polished, ashy black color is associated with this kind of energy. It is the energy of stillness, Karma, Transmutation, Synthesis and that kind of thing. Saturn is also associated with slow movement, difficulty, and tension, hardship and limitation. Because Saturn is a planet that tests the success or tenacity of a person's action, it is positively associated with perseverance and fortitude. Beth has a marvelous representation here.

Purchase again?

Yes. If it were possible, a 10ml. Lots and lots of work can be done with this blend.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3

In the bottle

Oh my. This is the best thing in the world. I had no idea. Good thing I listened to those people like Jazzie Cazzie about things like this.

On

It's this incredible grapefruit smell, and this incredible edible ginger smell. And the Apple blossom is holding everything up in the background, and the bright but aicidic quality of the white tea.

Basically, with few exceptions, BPAL's best single notes are in this blend.

30 minutes

Now it's just more beautiful (if that were possible) as the apple blossom's soft powdery loveliness is at the fore front, and the scent of grapefruit peel and yummy ginger is wafting in the background.

Throw:

Incredibley refreshing and zingy yet soft and lovely grapefruit throw.

Scent category:

Fruity/Foody/Floral

Summary

If you like BPAL's SN Pink Grapefruit or even grapefruit period, get this.

If you like ginger that is somewhere between the foodiness of Gingerbread Poppet and the peppery bite of real fresh ginger...get this.

If you like a wee bit of soft femininity floating in the background, get this. I like Baobhan Sith more than the BPAL SN grapefruit alone or even Gingerbread Poppet and/or Chesire Cat for that matter. All perfect blends, but this one is really inspired.

Purchase again?

Yes. Absolutely, a 10ml if it were at all possible.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

5

3.5

Thanks to my great friend Holeysox, who is busy and yet took time out to gift me with this lovely imp amongst others.

In the bottle

Lovely banana-y perfume, not too strong, nor too off putting, just perfect.

On

Wow, this remind me of Lush's Ladyboy perfume but subsitutue the violets in Ladyboy for the Pacific breezes, jungle blossoms, and deep wet woods and you've got this lovely blend called Manila.

Not as overwhelmingly foody banana smelling as I though it would be. I do believe this is the best banan smelling product I've tried.

30 minutes

It gets better and better with the drying of it on ym skin. Really nice for Summer.

Throw:

a bit more than average

Scent category:

Fruity/Floral

Summary

It's lovely and fresh smelling. It dries to a lovely sort of foody banana soft fresh perfumey floral scent.

Purchase again?

Maybe

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3.5

4

Again, thanks to Holeysox for taking time out of her crazy own schedule to gift me with this imp.

In the bottle

Ooh. Nice and head shop-like. Wow, great throw.

On

This smells like Lush's "Karma" perfume, yet there's no orange in this. Go figure. It must be the grape-like smelling muscadine that is in this blend. I love this. And here comes the Nag Champa scent. Jeez, why didn't I find this sooner?

30 minutes

For those who are worried this might be a sweet or a cloying incense like scent. It isn't. It's not sweet anyhow, it may not be your bag if Nag Champa and patchouli are not to your liking but otherwise this blend evokes some great things. The brightness and playfullness of the muscadine really plays well amongst the deep darkness of the patchouli and the spicy perfume of the Nag champa.

Throw:

Yeah boy. Great stuff.

Scent category:

Incensey

Summary

This is straight out of late 60's early 70's when this kind of scent was another thing that was good about that era. Oh my. Even though I probably couldn't wear this at a conservative uptight office setting, this should be amongst everyone's basic collection of bpal scents.

Purchase again?

Yes. A 10ml

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

2.5

In the bottle

It's an orangey colored blend.

Butter/spice/dragons' blood?

On

It's foody, and sweet, then at about 3 seconds this smokey and camphor like smell comes out as if to say "hehe". This is a playful little bugger too. I see thick black curtain of smoke as if it's hiding something, then in the middle a bright orange little gleaming jewel in the middle. I think I smell civet as well maybe?

30 minutes

The leather is primary now with the smoke in the middle and the spilt whiskey smell in the background.

Throw:

average

Scent category:

Animalistic/Cyphre/Herbal

Summary

It does kind of remind me of smokey old dance halls with the smell of leather, spilt whiskey and men playing cards with guns hidden under the table.

Not my thing to wear at all but it's certainly evocative, bravo on that count.

Purchase again?

No

1-5 rating (5 being best)

2.5 (naturally if, at some later date, I wear this blend and win a pot at "Texas Hold 'em", then I'll change this rating)

4

In the bottle

A perfumey clean blend of lily and rose...the chamomile in the middle making the blend kind of perky at times.

On

I don't smell the violet nor the autumn leaves but I do smell the lily, rose and bright cheery chamomile.

30 minutes

The lily is more primary now.

Turns a bit soapy on me when dry but nothing heinous.

Throw:

more than average

Scent category:

Floral/Herby

Summary

This is a feminine light floral, not sweet at all. It has better than average staying power. It's what some would call "perfume-y" but in a light way really.

It's sort of airy and whispy as the name suggests.

Purchase again?

I think not, it's nice but I like "The Apothecary" more for this type of clean herby floral scent.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

In the bottle

soft musk floral

It's an absolutely clear colored blend.

On

It's so good. It's sexy, just as sexy and incensey and darkly mysterious as you'd imagine. It's powdery soft and warmly sensual with musk and vanilla and something alsmot citrussy (but not) .

30 minutes

As it dries it has this incredible throw that wafts up a powdery musky and brighter fragrance at you. It is luminiscent in a deeper manner (does that even make sense?) It is definitely brighter than when wet but it still manages to be warm and sensual.

Throw:

Incredible

Scent category:

Animalistic/Foody

Summary

It is warmly luminous, it's alive with deep comforting sensuality. It's feminine and it makes you give a gutteral "Mmmm" when you smell it.

Purchase again?

Yes! a 10ml. Definitely a 10ml

1-5 rating (5 being best)

5

In the bottle

spicy honey foody

On

Nice. This has every one of my favorite spicy ingredients (barring cardomom and nutmeg). I dunno, it's not as wonderful as I thought. I thought it would be a replacement for the beloveds "Aries" or "Three Witches" maybe. Nope. Not that spicy. More foody.

30 minutes

Oh yeah, this is much better now. I smell more of a cream and sugar kind of smell along with the spices mentioned above, which was totally and utterly missing when it was first applied. The cinamon, pepper and clove are finally taking the lead (as it should be) instead of the honey (yeesh) taking the lead as when first applied.

Throw:

a bit more than average

Scent category:

Foody/Spicy

Summary

When it's wet, it's not at it's best on my skin. As I was almost about to dismiss this blend, out comes the drying down creaminess and the amping up the more robust ingredients.

At first it doesn't really have any legs, it's just kind of wobbling around trying to decide what it wants to smell like, then it plants itself and says "I'm here!".

It's like "Eclipse" meets "Three Witches".

Purchase again?

My initial "Maybe" has turned to a "Yes".

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

In the bottle

It's only my favorite combination of orange and cinnamon, with incense. Oh dear. I feel some impending sofa diving coming on in hope of buying a 10ml.

On

Wow, it's citrussy but not primarily, it's blended to well with the other ingredients.

30 minutes

The sweetness and the brightness fades on the dry down but not completely.

The cinnamon is primary now not the clove, with the fruitiness underneath. The fruit is a mix of peach and orange so that it's not any one single fruit that is smelled.

Throw:

A bit more than average.

Scent category:

Fruity/Spicy/Incense

Summary

This is like Kuntzkammer meets Depraved and Inferno and a little shake of incense.

It's thick , fiery, as well as bright and sweet initially.When dry it's more spicy than fruity.

Then it's just thick and resinous and spicy with the "fruity" underneath, the incense is there too but not alot.

Not alot of throw but more than average, and it has more than average staying power as well.

For those that don't historically like fruity, you might want to try this spicy blend.

Purchase again?

Yes!

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4.5

In the bottle

Ozoney perfume-y, and quite good at that.

On

Ozone and baby powder.

30 minutes

Doesn't morph at all. Still ozone and baby powder.

Throw:

Lots of throw

Scent category:

Ozone

Summary

Ozone and baby powder.

Initially it's quite addicting, but after awhile it's too much, kind of cloying.

Purchase again?

No.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3.5

In the bottle

Did I mention that "Fruity" is one of my favorite categories?

Smells like a cornicopia of fruit.

I smell more melon...Mmm.

I see bright pink, bright yellow and a dusky rose and apricot color.

On

So smooth, not as acidic as you'd think, mostly because of the melon I think. It's bright and cheery and so yummy.

30 minutes

Smells like Akuma or Yerevan or Yemeya or actually a mix of all three.

I smell more melon, berries and peach. Yum.

It's got better than average staying power as well.

Throw:

A bit more than average.

Scent category:

Fruity

Summary

There's citrus in here but citrus is not a prevalant scent, I'm getting more of a melon and raspberry scent. Lovely.

Purchase again?

Yes! a 10ml

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4.5

BPAL blends which include Black Pepper single note:

Kuntzkammer, Lex Talionis, Whippoorwhill, Wrath.

4

In the bottle

Oddly it smells almost sweet like cinnamon.

On

Oh God this is so good. I've heard Aries like spicy, must be true.

It almost smells minty because of the pepperiness kind of like clove does at times.(I hope that made sense). And it gets in your lungs and clears them out but there's no "burning", and definitely no "yuk this is black pepper" smell. In fact if I was blindfolded and sniffed this I wouldn't necessarily get that it was black pepper right away.

30 minutes

It still smells exactly the same as it did when first put on. It hasn't lost that wonderful lightly peppery, sweet, almost minty/clove-y scent.

Throw:

Average (oddly enough). I expected to be sneezing or something.

Scent category:

Spicy

Summary

This must be why I love Aries...and Tulszcha too for that matter. It's the same wonderful smell that's in Aries. It's smells kind of 3 Witches-like too.

Purchase again?

Yes indeedy, a 5ml if it were possible. Maybe a 10ml for blending with other things.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

5

BPAL blends which include apple blossom single note as one of it's ingredients:

Baobhan Sith, Brisinghamen, Eve, Mabon, Phantom Queen.

In the bottle

OMG so pretty and so real of course. Just like the poster above said.

On

Sweet, floral and crisp. A very delicate floral. It does remind me of honeysuckle also, but in an apple-y way.

30 minutes

I didn't think this would but Apple Blossom has good lasting power.

Hasn't morphed at all all the way to the dry stage.

Throw:

Actually yes this has some decent throw.

Scent category:

Floral

Summary

This is just absolutely gorgeous. It's almost like a cross between mimosa blossoms and honeysuckle but a bit greener, lighter and crisper. I've smelled this in some blend and I'm trying to place which blend it was. The Lovers? Eve? Fae maybe? I'm not sure.

I'm not a floral person typically but boy this floral just rocks all corners.

It is like you're wandering through apple blossoms on a spring day.

Purchase again?

Yes. a 5ml...in an alternate universe.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

5

In the bottle

Lovely foody creamy lemon scent

On

lovely lovely lovely. The musk and the creainess and the lemon is like a sensual desert.

This is certainly the best lemon blend I've personally ever smelled from bpal, including Embalimg Fuid, The Star, etc.

30 minutes

Stays lovely, musky and lemony and sensual and yummy.

Throw:

more than average, yes.

Scent category:

Fruity/animalistic

Summary

It smells like Buck Moon except with lemon instead of herbs and it smells a touch more feminine.

Purchase again?

Yes. a 10ml. My husband even said he liked it alot.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4.5

In the bottle

Oh my.

This is beautiful. Light rose, and soft sandalwood.

On

Oh for the love of God this is so pretty.

It's lightly earthy, ever so slightly sweet, wafting, wispy sandalwood. even though it's somewhat earthy everything about this blend says "soft".

30 minutes

Doesn't change much...maybe the oakmoss steps to the foregound just a bit more so that it's a dark green mossy earthiness but still very light, with the pretty rose and the calming airy sandalwood (rose never works on me but this is so perfect).

Throw:

average

Scent category:

Floral/Incense/Earthy

Summary

Light powdery rose, subtley earthy, slightly incensey and wispy sweet.

Lighter than air.

Purchase again?

Yes. Non-critical organ donations spring to mind.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

5

In the bottle

I dunno. I'm really scared.

On

Okay, this isn't too bad. It's a soft warm musk scent but...there's something acrid going on with one of the notes. Oh God this has coconut in it.

I don't smell coconut though. I kinda wish it did.

30 minutes

Yep, It smells the same.

Throw:

Yes, more than average.

Scent category:

Fruity? Like if there were fruits from...a different planet.

Summary

Initially it reminds me of a soft warm sensualness until the "put my tongue on a battery and then downed some bitter acrid cherry cough syrup" smell gets in the way.

I'm thinkin' I need to try this maybe not so close to a certain time of the month just to see if it's different.

Purchase again?

No.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

2 (I'll edit later if this changes when I re-wear.)

In the bottle

Bright and sharp citrus (lemon) with a tad of floral.

On

This is nicer than I expected after reading the description as I didn't really know what to expect. But this is a nice smell. It smells like green. Everything that's associated with green; clover, grass, herbs, lime...and a little floral. Can't tell what kind of floral notes though. I don't do well with "sharp" at all, but this is so different. It is like a men's cologne but just as soon as I think this then the "pow" of lemon comes out and I think to myself "well, that doesn't really smell like a men's cologne now..or does it?". I think this is the most different bpal scent i've tried. So far I like it.

30 minutes

Still smells exactly the same, no notes fade or change or anything.

Throw:

A goodly amount of throw, yes.

Scent category:

Citrus/Green

Summary

This scent does not morph whatsoever on my skin. It smells in the botttle as it does on my skin as it does when dry. I think that's a first.

Purchase again?

Maybe.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3.5

In the bottle

Foody floral

On

I mostly smell the rose, wioth the vanilla and tolu balsams acidic but sweet scent.

This is really a different kind of rose blend. I'm picky about my rose blends only because my skin hates rose.

Dry

I think people will think this is a lovely rose blend. Not too shy and not too bold. It has a lovely vanilla note that is very inviting but it's too strong and acidic to my nose.

scent category

Floral/foody

Throw

more than average

Summary

It's a foody rose with a bit of pickle juice (my skin hates me).

Purchase again?

No

Rating 1-5 stars (5 being best)

3.5 it get's an extra half point for the addition of vanilla.

In the bottle

perfumey watery blend

On

I smell clove. So far this reminds me of Lush "Skinny Dip" alot. I smell violet too. Yep Lush's "Skinny Dip" has violets and clove, so far perfect match.

It's getting a tad sweeter one me.

30 minutes

When it dries it's just fresh and clovey and violety and sweet.

Throw:

more than average, nice.

Scent category:

Spicy floral

Summary

Um. This smell sin the bottle like a watery/ozone, light perfume-y blend.

It turns into a medium strong clove scent with sweet violet in the background.

This is love, not in a pink lovely way but in a more powerful "red" way at least on my skin.

*broken record sound* It smells exactly like lush's Skinny Dip shower gel.

Purchase again?

Yes. YUM.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4.5 YUM.

Beth, get ready for an avalanche of orders from a nutty group of "soap people" .

In the bottle

Mmm, the same lunar oils that are in Blue Moon are in the background, sort of a watery ethereal quality and a crystalline or bright almost citrus note, then underneath warm subtle sweetness and sensual wisp of musk.

On the skin

I get a bit more of a water/pine note on my skin, it smells like the same lunar oils in Blue moon. It's similar to that "Skadi/Ice Queen/Sea of Glass/Amsterdam" thing. It's bright and crisp in the middle (the crystalline quality in the description) which no longer smells citrussy on my skin really which is fine. There's more herbies in the middle than the lunar blends, some almost bitter but nothing heinously so. The warm soft musk note was more so in the bottle than on my skin unfortunately. I say unfortunately because it was nice, not that this on skin scent is not nice.

Dry

Dries to a nice warm/refreshing sensual blend.

Scent Family

Herbal/Aqua/Animal like

Summary

Crisp, bright, water, outdoors, blended with warm sensual skin and musk scent.

It's at once warm but also refreshing. How does she do it?

Purchase again?

Yes, for my mate but not for me, it's comforting and sensual but not necessarily "me". Even though it's not "me" too much, it's there with the "B list" Lunacy blends in my mind anyway.

Rating 1-5 (5 being best)

4

In the bottle

It smells kind of green and woody.

On

It's really herby but a tad sweet too. Mmm, it gets nicer as it stays on. There seems to be some green grass smell, some light woodsy smell, a few herbs, and a fresh floral smell as well.

It becomes sweeter as it blends with my skin.

30 minutes

Dries down to a lovely, sweet and airy herbal scent.

Throw:

average

Scent category:

herbal/floral

Summary

There may be some smidgen of amber or vanilla. I'm not positive what the lovely, sweet note is.

This lasts a good amount of time, I've had it on for 3 hours and it's lovely. It's much prettier even when completely dry.

Purchase again?

Yes.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

In the bottle

resinous, herbal and fruity goodness with a teeny bit of floral.

On

On my skin, Temple: Witches smells resinous, herbal, mildly floral and fruity.

There might be some heliotrope in here as well as amber but I'm not sure. Maybe black lotus too?

Sorry to disappoint but I'm afraid this will be a poor first post review because I can't for the life of me pick out any notes other than general floral, resin, etc. Perhaps the next reviewer can pinpoint these notes.

30 minutes

This becomes much more floral on me as it is drying.

It's becoming a little soapy as well but nothing heinous.

Throw:

average

Scent category:

Resin/Herbal/Floral/(Fruity?)

Summary

A lush, thick yet bright and fruity scent initially. An nice undertone of herbals.

As it dries it becomes more floral in nature. Not a sweet floral as Jasmine or Plumeria, not Rose either.

Becomes a tad soapy on me when dry.

Purchase again?

Maybe

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3.5

3.5

BPAL blends which include Black Cherry single note as one of it's ingredients:

Fruit Moon, Hollywood Babylon, Vice.

In the bottle

Oh yummy.

On

Hmm. Smells better in the bottle. It's a bit cough medicine-like on my skin.

It has good throw though.

30 minutes

It lasts for quite a while, and hour and a half later it's still there.

Throw:

more than average

Scent category:

Fruity

Summary

When wet, it's a bit cough mediciney but nothing gross or anything.

It's takes on a "smells like a band-aide" smell while drying on my skin.

Dries to a cherry somewhat medicinal scent.

Purchase again?

No

1-5 rating (5 being best)

3.5

4

BPAL blends which include Cinnamon single note as one of it's ingredients:

Al-Shairan, Aries, Blood Lust, Bengal, Chimera, Eclipse, Faustus, Geek, Gingerbread Poppet, Harlot, Hermes (TAL), Highwaymen, Inferno, Malkuth, Mars, Sin, Three Witches, Umbra, Wrath.

In the bottle

not as strong as I thought, it actually smell sin the bottle of some kind of baked good, not a full on strong cinnamon as I thought.

On

So nice, sublime, oddly enough.

It's warm and wonderfulyl spicey in a golden way not a bright red way if that makes sense.

It smells like a freshly grated cinnamon stick.

30 minutes

It's still the same as when i put it on half an hour ago which is good. It hasn't lost any of it's strength of scent either.

Throw:

This has more than average throw.

Scent category:

Spicy

Summary

I can't get over how fresh this smells. It actually has the smell of the outdoors in it.

Purchase again?

Yes. a 5ml.

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4

4.5

BPAL blends which include Peppermint single note as one of it's ingredients:

Spooky. At this point in time I'm unsure whether "radioactive" or "winter mint" and other descriptions are meant to assume peppermint or spearmint, etc. When I identify this I will edit and add.

In the bottle

bright mint

On

Wow this is some kinda good mint. It's nto sweet like mouthwash, nor is it to bitter or peppery.

As I'm smelling it, it really clears up the sinuses in the most gentle but marvelous way. Good throw too. This is a perfect specimen of peppermint.

30 minutes

It's still there which is good but it isn't as bright.

Throw:

more than average

Scent category:

Herbal

Summary

Oh this is lovely, it's a fine choice for aromatherapy too just by itself. It seems to promote energy.

Purchase again?

Yes! A 10 ml

1-5 rating (5 being best)

4.5