Orodemniades

I'll write a better review later but Oh. My. Gods. Venom is black. Deep, moist, warm black. It's the odor of an incense I used to have when I was a kid, a powerful, non-foody sweetness that reminds me of seduction and the figures of Circe and Medea and sirens singing sailors to the deep...and, actually, my icon. Let the mad Oracle of Delphi whisper in your ear... Gah, why didn't I try this yesterday so I could have included in my Carnival Noir order! A 10ml, perhaps two, is most definitely on the cards. Oro

Imp: Mm, gently sweet spices, like Morocco but not quite as dry. Wet: oo, there's a dry wood in here as well, but I can't figure out which one. There's a slightly bitter tone too. Drydown: This has the gentleness of Dana O'Shee, but it's far more interesting! I just can't stop sniffing - and in a first for me, I slathered it everywhere, instead of just on my wrists. Overall: Queen of Sheba is a confident yet subtle scent, definitely for the woman who knows herself and isn't afraid of announcing that she knows she's a powerful sexual being. I'm not talking about looking a particular way, mind, but the real deal - someone who knows who they are and what they want and is sure as hell isn't afraid to ask for it. This reminds me of Morocco, but whereas the sandalwood in that amps on my skin, here it's the honey and almondy goodness. Fabulous! Oro, glad she got the 5ml unsniffed.

Imp: Argh, my nemesis, Jasmine! Wet: Jasmine and...vanilla? Drydown: Still jasmine and vanilla, but now another floral has come through, and there's a musk in here too, I believe. Something in here reminds me of birch beer or sassafrass, but I can't place it. Overall: If you like or can tolerate jasmine, this is a nice - if still a little overwhelming - creamy version of it. I won't be wearing this often, but I'll see what I can see the next time I do tarot work. Oro

Imp: Ah, african violet! Wet: Violet with...stuff...can't really smell the gardenia or vanilla, but I know something else is in the mix. Drydown: Okay, a bit of powder now, but still - violet! Now I can smell the vanilla, too. 10 minutes later: Eh? I know I put this on, but where did it go?! Every now and then I'll move and get a very faint whiff of violets and vanilla, but it's so faint that I'm not sure if anyone else can smell it either. Overall: this is absolutely lovely...when it's wet. Alas, my skin loved it so much it sucked it up like water in a desert. I might apply to my clothes and hair next time, and see how it goes. But I gotta tell ya, I'm bummed this didn't last on me oro

Imp: cherries and wood Wet: more cherries and wood, but still soft, kind of reminds me shampoo or conditioner, but without the foody aspect. I like. Drydown: This reminds me of something...but then again, so do many BPAL oils! Seriously, though, it's on the tip of my brain. I love rose, but I can't smell much rose in this, while the plum, orchid, and iris are the top notes. Overall: A pleasent scent that I would wear if I didn't have other oils that call out to me on a daily basis. I'd keep the imp, because I do like it, but y'know, I think I'll sell or swap for something else. Oro

Imp: it's lemon pithy - not the peel or the flesh, but the smell and taste of the white pith; lemon oil and bitter. Wet: it's mellowing now, a lemon green, like some of the plants I used to pick growing up in Vermont, like crushed lady slipper stems or something. Drydown: and now that's morphing too...okay, there's patchouli in this? I have no idea what it is I'm smelling, here, but patchouli isn't part of it. How odd. Overall: This is a pleasant, slightly astringent oil that eventually morphs into woodiness, which I assume is the cypress. It's an alright perfume, nothing I can see myself choosing to wear while I have other woody perfumes that I like more. Oro

Swank reminded me of a spray perfume. That's not a bad thing, but I didn't particularly care for it. Oro

Imp: Oo, there's something in this I don't like! It smells really familiar though, spicy like ginger, but floral, maybe lavender?? Wet: All I can smell is that note and it's icky...gah. Reminds me of how a dentist's office smells, especially just after they shoot you up with novocaine or xylocaine. Drydown: Oh ye gods, please let that odor go away...here are some lemons and cardomom...say, I think it's the cardomom that I don't like. And, upon reading more reviews, I think there's a very strong undertone of myrhh, too. Overall: Not only do I have a headache, but I think this oil is just too remeniscent of the dentist for me to wear! Or keep, for that matter. Oro

Imp: Oo, once again there's a pickle smell in the background...can't quite figure out what it is...the lily, maybe? Wet: Mm, roses! But...not really? I'm not a big fan of frankincense, but I can live with this. Drydown: The frankincense morphs with the rose and I get different whiffs of each everytime I sniff my wrist. The lily adds a high note, and I'm glad to report the pickle smell is gone. Overall: I wasn't too sure of Kostnice at first, but as the hours have passed it morphs yet again into incense, and I would agree that there's something worshipful about it. Don't know if I'll get a big bottle, but I'll certainly use the imp. Oro

Imp : Cherry 'n' stuff...kinda reminds me of birch beer, with a hint of root beer Wet: Ooer that is strong! Drydown: Do I really want to smell like this? It's awfully cherry, with an astringent woody note at the very very end, way in the back of your throat... Dry: Say, what's happened here? This hasn't morphed into something odd, it's still the same scent, but the cherry/root/birch/sassafrass has mellowed, and the woodiness has come through. Overall: I love this! It morphs from incredibly strong to mellow, sweet (but not foodily sweet, despite the birch beeriness), and woody. Absolutely gorgeous, something I can definitely imagine wearing to work. Must get a 5 ml, I think! Oro

Imp: Smells like food-grade vegetable il and violets. Violets? Eh? Wet: Violets! Okay, I know it's the iris, but I think this is going to go into my violet pack. Drydown: OMFG, I love this!It's creamy and rich, like a hazelnut latte with lashings of cream, but sipped after you've eaten a violet pastille. Overall: Need a 5 ml. Possibly a 10ml. This reminds me a little bit of suntan lotion, but even more of relaxation on a warm summer's evening, drinks in hand, watching the sun set. Oro

I could have sworn I reviewed this already... Imp: Wet and sweet, kind of vaguely floral Wet: Mmm...nice...but will it last? Drydown: Oh, lovely wet green florals! It's sweet, but not overpoweringly so, and there's this green undertown that smells like, oh, I don't know...a damp meadow at twilight? Overall: Gorgeous!! I ordered a 5ml, but I think it'slikely that I'll be ordering a 10ml soon. I frequently wear this to work, or out on the town when I'm shopping. I adore this scent, and am so glad that I took a chance and bought it unsniffed! Oro

Imp: Smells softly sweet, much like...play dough?! Wet: Okay, more of the same, but a little stronger. I can just barely smell some amber on the bottom. Drydown: More of the same...but now it's dry playdough with a hint of 'green room' smellm, maybe a bit makeup-y? Overall: It's an oil that doesn't change on me. I've been wearing it to bed for a few weeks now, and quite honestly, it's a little...blah. After reading such rave reviews, I'm disappointed that this doesn't work on me. Oro

Imp: booze! Wet: more booze! Drydown: I guess that's dandelion I smell? And gah, hops...this is the most bizarre scent ever! I feel like I'm drunk just sniffing this. Overall: I'll have to wait to see what the full effect is like, but I'm so impressed that this has even been created...how do they do it?? Oro

I smell like a Ludens cough drop. 'nuff said. edited to add that while I don't like this scent, I really appreciate the chance to find out what I do like! Oro

When I put this on, I was positive I wasn't going to like it. There's a deep woody note that I really disliked, when I first sniffed the imp, and something quite astringent. About 20 minutes into wearing it, though (swiped on the wrist), the lily came out and topped the woody note and the whole thing turned into loveliness. The undertones are dry and dusty, which I chalk up to the woods, but the lily wets and sweetens to wood. I really like this, and although I doubt I'll buy a bottle, I'm definitely keeping the imp. Oro

Lavender. It's just not my friend. And the lavender is this is so bitter that after less than an hour I'd layered something else over it. Which is a pity, because I quite liked everything else. Oh well. To the sales it goes! Oro

Y'know how when you're walking through the woods, and that incredibly sweet scent suddenly wafts through on a mild breeze? Yggdrasil is just like that, except it's in highly concentrated form, and it's not floral!. I have no clue as to how that works, as to my nose there are simply no florals - and yet it's incredibly sweet. Yggdrasil's less green than I, a dedicated tree lover, would like, but ya can't have everything. I doubt I'll be buying a bottle, but I'll probably get another imp after this one is used up. Oro

Where is this dark everyone keeps talking about?? I'm getting a high, thin floral that while not unpleasant, just isn't what I imagine Medea would be like. This is more Iphegenia (before she gets on the boat! ). It's a strong scent which is just turning slightly powdery on me, quite sweet, a sweetness with depth, mind, it's simply too high a scent - in fact, it reminds me of when you eat too much hard candy and your stomach goes all sour? That's what I mean by high... Overall, it's a lovely oil, but perhaps not for me. UPDATE: Well, it's a day later and I'm ordering a 5 ml! It's still a high scent, but it does become deeper and warmer as time goes on. So, um, yeah. Oro

I Nocturne! Ultraviolet is chilly and lovely, while there's a lot of African Violet in Le Serpent Qui Dance, sometimes it's just not what I'm in the mood for. I want the little violets with their happy faces, the ones you find in the woods back home... Oro

Imp : Hmm...smells like cinnamon and something sweet, which I shall assume is the dragon's blood. Wet: Juniper! and, and, stuff! There's some leather, and the bay and dragon's blood. Drydown: It's fainter now, but quite warm, like coming into the house on a sunny midwinter's day, shaking the snow off your hat and stamping your feet to knock the clumps off your boots, then settling down in front of the fire with a hot drink and having a good ime with your friends and family. Overall: I've got a 5ml already on order and I only tried the imp 2 hours ago! What's truly amazing is that I don't like dragon's blood, yet everything else in this is taming my skin, dragging that dragon's blood into the background. Woohoo! I think it's the blood that's making it a bit grapey, and the bay is just fantastic! I am in Oro

Grape soda. In the imp, it was grape soda. And so it was wet on my skin. And during drydown. Three hours later, I still smelled like grape soda. Oro

Imp : Definitely rose...could be tea rose, but it doesn't have that high, sinus-clearing dryness, so perhaps not. And something that I assume is pomegranate, something that smells sweet on top with, oh, something, ahem, rotton-ish at the bottom? Odd. I hope it goes away. Wet: oo, yucky...but rosey! Sharp, a little green... Drydown: Mm, rose goodness, a dark green, wet, on-it's-way-to-maturity rose, not the youthly virginal tea rose. very nice! Overall: I'm not in love...but...I did buy a 5ml. I just know that there are days when this is going to simply rock my world! This doesn't last very long on me, although I could catch the faintest whiff of it about 7 hours later, so I pour it on everywhere...at least an hour before I leave the house, mind. Oro

Wow, this is...different. Imp: Er...smells like minted lavendar, but I'll give it a try anyway. Wet : ew! It's metallic! No, it's, it's, it's recycled air! Yes, that's exactly the smell of a Greyhound bus after the doors have closed! Or a fresh airplane! I want to smell like this!? Drydown: Well this is better, it's less eucalyptas-y and more violet-y...might be able to wear this after all. Overall: Okay, I've only been wearing this for about 15 minutes, but I think I quite like this. It reminds me of laundry that's been drying in the sun and wind, that initial sniff when you gather it in your arms. It is at first a very chilly scent, and while it never warms up, it goes from chilly to fresh, in a lovely morning kind of way. Maybe it's the caffeine of BPAL? Oro, who's not sure if she'll buy a bottle, but she's definitely keeping the imp

Wicked and vicious! A sharp, cruel blend of lavender and pennyroyal. Oo. Imp : Minty, with a sweet undertone. Wet: Mint, with lavender. Drydown: Mint, but with the scent of freshly cut wood underneath, which must be the pennyroyal. 15 minutes later: No sir, I don't like it. Or rather, I don't like the lavender. The pennyroyal doesn't bother me at all, yay! Overall: I won't be wearing it at all. Off to the swapses it goes! Oro