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BPAL Madness!

rayvn1

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Everything posted by rayvn1

  1. rayvn1

    Languor

    This is really lovely! Smoky, sweet opium with a hint of floral in the background. Decent throw and not overly feminine. I'll be looking for more of this one!
  2. rayvn1

    Urd

    Sweet, light floral-ish scent. When fully dry there's a fruitiness to it also. Pretty, but it's going to a better home than mine.
  3. rayvn1

    There's a Certain Slant of Light

    I'm writing a final paper today on Copland's Emily Dickinson Songs, so this seemed like the perfect one to test today Tinny ozone and dust with a faint floral background is what I'm left with after a few hours of wear. Started out pretty strongly floral. I like this a lot, but I think my imp is sufficient. Edit for cat-tail induced typo
  4. rayvn1

    Wilde

    A sophisticated traditional gentleman's cologne, with just the slightest taint of patchouli's passion, tonka bean's decadence, the philanthropy of bergamot, moss' cynicism, the sharp wit of lavender, and the hopeless romantic longing of jasmine and thyme. This is a blast of not good from the get go. This really rings a mental bell like I've tried another BPAL with similar "didn't work" charcteristics, but I can't remember what in the heck it was... I also had a reaction to the "indefinite, singeing, weird note" that paperrose mentioned. It's crazy strong with tons of throw - why is that always true with the ones that don't work? I have another imp of this that I'll try later to see if this is just one of those days or a bad imp, but BPAL's cologne tends to turn to yuck on me anyway. Edited to add scent description.
  5. rayvn1

    The Castle

    Nary a hint of pine or moss to this on me But a deep red, sweet scent of Dragon's Blood with a dusty resin turning up in the dry stage. I could see this as a room in the Castle, but I'd have to mix it with Talvikuu or Jabberwocky or something with strong pine to get the experience listed in the description. I probably will try mixing this with something, because though it's very pleasant it doesn't grab me.
  6. rayvn1

    Anne Bonny

    I had a flashback to Highwayman when I tried this one. Lots of woody, cedary, incense ash in this one. Actually...that's pretty much all this is so far. I'm hoping the patchouli shows up soon but that note is always really faint on me while I amp sandalwood and cedars like nobody's business so this may be it. Ballsy blend, though
  7. rayvn1

    Bed of Nails

    This went on as only a breath of metallic ozone. Now that it's drying a really sweet note is coming out. This is a dead ringer for Victoria's Secret Pink of all things on me! This doesn't have the chemical side to Pink, though. Sweet, refreshing and absolutely lovely but with little throw. I don't think this one is going to last long on my skin, but I love what it's doing right now!
  8. rayvn1

    Nowhere in Particular

    This went on very laundry detergent/Irish Spring for me also. Now that it's drying there's a rich, fresh grass scent dominating everything. Monster throw on this one! Sweet, too. I like this quite a lot but I'm a little worried about it overpowering the Mr.'s sensitive nose. Mmm, sweet, cool mist cropping up now. I'll be really curious to see how this one dries down. Very evocative Edited to say that this lasted an amazingly long time! All day strong and vibrant with the apples showing up several hours into the dry stage. Wow!
  9. rayvn1

    Strangler Fig

    Mmm sweet, spicy vanilla. Dark, slightly woody, and delicious
  10. rayvn1

    Delphi

    The smoke of Sacred Incense of Apollo twined through laurel branches, bay, and honey wine. Ah yes, now I remember why I was apprehensive to try this one. Because I amp wine like a mofo Blech. I don't really like to drink it and I really don't want to smell like it! After a few hours it's dried to something sweet and bearable, but I don't think I want to hold onto this one. Edited to add tag - Whee
  11. rayvn1

    Svadhinaopatika

    Proud, contented, and aglow with joy, she has conquered her lover with her charms, and she knows with all her soul that he is completely and utterly devoted to her. In bliss, she basks in the blessings of the God of Love: golden amber, oude, red sandalwood, massoia bark, honey, and currant. This was one of the wildest morphers I've ever tried! When I applied it I seriously thought the oil smelled just like cooking oil - pretty much odorless. After about two hours though, I sniffed my arm and this rich cloud of golden amber swirled up my twitching nose Light, subtle, warm and fantastic!
  12. rayvn1

    Sturgeon Moon

    I live in Evanston next to Chicago and my school is right on the lake, so how could I resist Sturgeon Moon? This is a wonderful aquatic! I've been let down by many of the aquatic blends, but this smells like my first aquatic BPAL love, Calico Jack. On the plus side, my husband doesn't think this one is a dead ringer for his Grandma's perfume like he does with Jack (Yes!). He does however think it smells like generic old woman perfume, but it's baby steps with hubby and the BPAL so I chalk Sturgeon up as a win It's so sweet, cool and lovely I can't wait for the summer months. I agree with the review that this is what I'd been hoping for with Pisces.
  13. This was the Yule I was most anticipating and I'm so happy with how it's turning out! I have Sturgeon Moon on one arm to compare the rain vs. ocean and Visiting is much less about sea water and more about cold (really cold!) rain with a darkness in the background that seems like the dust in the description. No incense so far, but I'm guessing that will crop up much later if at all. One of the reasons I got into BPAL was in a search for a "just when the rain is beginning" scent and this is great for that so far - best BPAL representation I've found so far
  14. rayvn1

    Toad

    It felt like getting smacked in the nose when I smelled this one on my arm. Not too bad in the imp, though very strong in the "men's cologne" department. On my arm though, this smells a lot like Famine and that one broke my heart The sour, angry vomit is there. Eek! My husband just wandered through the room and wanted to know if the cat had peed somewhere - not a good sign... I've tried to let this sit about an hour but I don't think I can physically stand it anymore. I'm off to the sink and Toad has to find a new home.
  15. rayvn1

    The Sea Rat

    Wow! This is really strong and masculine out of the imp. Really. Strong. There's a faint green-water edge in the background that might be the seaweed. Once it fully dries there are warm berries and musk. Pretty!
  16. rayvn1

    Parlement of Foules

    This is just getting better and better as it sits on my skin. I applied about an hour and a half ago and it's really blossoming now. Good throw and the rose reminds me of one of my favorite BPAL roses, Moon Rose. I'm also wearing Midnight Mass on the other arm and the blend of these two is freaking amazing!
  17. rayvn1

    Midnight Mass

    This is the epitome of incense blends Every time I've tried a BPAL for its incense - THIS is what I was looking for!! Amazing, long lasting, great throw. A dark, rich incense without any of the citrus from the Picnic in Arkhams to get in the way. Simple and perfect.
  18. rayvn1

    All They Had Seen, and All They Had Lost

    Not much rose here either. Mostly a sweet, light flower and a nice freshness to this one. Very low throw and died pretty quick though I'll test it again soon. I still think it's a keeper, though.
  19. rayvn1

    Stranger in Camp

    Oh my, yes! Whoever recommended Talvikuu and Nocnitsa if you like this was right on the money. Sweet, refreshing forest scent. Absolutely lovely, but so faint! It's barely there and then it's gone in about half an hour. I absolutely love this one though. I'll be crossing my fingers that I run across a bottle.
  20. rayvn1

    Highwayman

    Hello vetiver! Vetiver really dominates this blend for me, but not in a bad way. Instead it's really kinda sexy and I would love to "accidentally" splash some on the husband It's dark and evocative - really captures my romance book mental picture.
  21. rayvn1

    Namaste

    My skin amps lemon and cedar to insane degrees so this smells just like lemon Pledge on me Hopefully this will age a bit and bring in the rose and patchouli scents if I leave it on longer.
  22. rayvn1

    Saint-Germain

    This is very dry and masculine on me Yippee! I get something reminiscent of cedar, but it doesn't even get close to turning into pencil shavings - maybe the deep mosses. This smells quite a bit like Doc Constantine on me, dry, manly and woody but not woodsy. I am really liking this!
  23. rayvn1

    L'Autunno

    This lovely and generous frimp was the warm apple cider and spice most reviews talked about but then when dry it became very bitter I may be having a weird chemistry day though so I'll be trying this one again later. Almond doesn't love me so that may be it...
  24. rayvn1

    R.M. Renfield

    I agree with zankoku zen - not too surprising since I got this decant from her It started out warm, soft and subtle but as it dried the scent became higher and higher pitched until it's this shrieking sharp, cold and green scent. Almost astringent smelling. I like this but it is pretty darn unhinged. Can't quit thinking of Tom Waits as Renfield in the Bram Stoker movie and this is a good smell-representation that
  25. rayvn1

    Badger

    I'm with Schmoozy on this one! This started out as dark, warm roots freshly dug from the ground, but fifteen minutes later a really cold note started coming through like eucalyptus or wintergreen. It's really dominating now and making the throw stronger. I like this quite a bit, but I wish it had stayed the warm and cozy smell a little longer Keeper!
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