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BPAL Madness!

Brianne

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Everything posted by Brianne

  1. Brianne

    Blood Pearl

    Lustrous, sanguine, soft and lavish: soft orris, blood musk, and coconut. In the bottle: Iris, smells a lot like Black Pearl still On me: It's so funny how much this smells like Black Pearl for about... 20 seconds. Then suddenly, you can smell the difference between the Black and Blood. This is very red - not in a cinnamony kind of way, but all the notes make you think of red. The blood musk is lovely and a little powdery, but just musky enough to keep that iris in check. The coconut is almost not there at all for me, I can hardly smell it. This is really nice though. I like that this is less iris-y than Black Pearl, and more musky. Final note: Lovely musk note in this, I'm not sure if I like it more than Black Pearl, but I do like it!
  2. Brianne

    Peitho

    The Goddess of Persuasion, Seduction and Sexual Wiles. A member of Aphrodite’s retinue, she is also Aphrodite’s daughter and sister to Tyche and Eunomia. Lusty myrtle and jasmine with red sandalwood, stargazer lily, and clove over an opulent, rich bed of warm musk and bourbon vanilla. In the bottle: Jasmine! On me: This is very strong on the jasmine and myrtle at first, but surprisingly, I don't mind it too much because the myrtle works really well with the jasmine. Eventually the musk and vanilla start warming this up and making this a very comfortable floral. I would say this scent is womanly, and almost commercial perfume like. I don't mean that in a bad way, it just makes me think of perfumes like Ysatis. The vanilla and musk are lovely in this, and I think I detect a little bit of sandalwood, but it's never very strong in this blend. Final note: This is a nice warm floral - it's not so floral that people like me wouldn't wear it. The vanilla and musk work wonders for this! I know that I would like a 5ml at some point, but I'm still not decided if I like it enough to get one right away or not. It is very unique though, not quite like any other BPAL I've smelled before!
  3. Brianne

    Swank

    In the bottle: Very alcoholic smelling, and there's something that smells a lot like apple juice On me: This is definitely what it claims to be - pomegranate martini. The pomegranate smells tart, crisp and bright. The alcohol note smells like a clear alcohol, like vodka. It's surprisingly light though. This is very crisp and cooling and fruity. Final note: Someone who likes The Hesperides, will probably like this. I find them to be very similar.
  4. Brianne

    Jack

    Ooh Jack!! *swoons* In the bottle: Buttery, buttery, buttery vanilla like scent. It's like vanilla frosting. On me: Now, I don't normally like foody scents. But here's the exception - anything that is spiced up with nutmeg and clove, is probably going to be something I like. At first, this is buttery pumpkin. The nutmeg gives this a really nutty undercurrent to it, and that lasts for about 3 minutes. Once it starts to settle in, that peach really pops out. And when Beth said "glowing peach" - she meant GLOWING PEACH. That's the only way I can describe it. This scent glows. Peach is definitely the predominant note on me, but it's spiced up with nutmeg and clove, and the pumpkin is faintly in the background. This is so so so gorgeous. Final note: The perfect Fall scent. It's beautiful, and even though I don't like foody scents normally, this is something I would wear all the time. Big bottle for me!
  5. Brianne

    London

    In the bottle: Yup, that's tea rose. On me: After wearing this a while, I'm not sure there is much to say about it other than it's definitely tea rose. I don't sense anything else in this at all. The tea rose gets a little sweeter the longer I wear it, but in a really pleasant way. Final note: I'm not a big fan of florals, and especially not rose - but if I were going to wear rose, it would probably be tea rose. I am going to keep my imp of this just because of it's lovely, slightly sweet drydown phase
  6. Brianne

    Sacred Whore of Babylon

    In the bottle: Gardenia. Dammit. On me: You might have assessed from the above comment, that I am not a fan of gardenia. It's not because I don't WANT to be, but unfortunately I find gardenia on me to be overpowering and an almost sickly heavy floral. This does not seem to be an exception. I find gardenia to be rather headache inducing. I am hoping some other notes might kick in on this though. Nope. I think there might be something a little spicey back there, maybe cinnamon. If so, it's being totally destroyed by the menace known as gardenia. A while later, this is warming up a bit, but gardenia is still pretty dominant. If the gardenia would back off just a little bit more, I might actually like this. I'm going to try it again another time and see if I can get some more of that warm spicey scent to show up. Final note: If you like gardenia, you may like this. If you're like me though and gardenia doesn't work on you, you may find yourself disappointed in this one. The spicey note is really nice and actually works well with the gardenia, but I still find the gardenia a little overpowering.
  7. Brianne

    Bliss

    In the bottle: Mmm hmmm yup that's chocolate On me: Honestly, what more is there to say about this? It's pure milk chocolate. It's delicious and surprisingly not too sweet! It's kind of a light chocolate scent, it's not overwhelming, yet it's just as decadant as the real deal! Final note: For those days when you feel you might succumb to the calls of a chocolate binge, use this to help control that craving! I know it's working for me!!
  8. Brianne

    Nuit

    In the bottle: Jasmine - but a slightly airier Jasmine than usual On me: At first, this is all jasmine. It's just about all I'm getting. I'm not normally a fan of jasmine, even though I think it can smell pretty - it's just too floral for my tastes. There's another floral peeking up in there and I think that must be the moonflower. I don't neccessarily recognize it, but I know it's not the jasmine. Woah now, what is that? There is a bitter smell creeping up now. It must be the "incense" note, though it doesn't smell like anything I'm familiar with. It's bitter that's for sure. Now it's fading a bit, but it's still present. It's not awful at all, just took me by surprise. So far this is very floral with a slight incensy note. This is really all I'm getting from this particular scent really, it's floral with incense. Final note: Wish I had more to say about this one, but I just didn't get much else from it!
  9. Brianne

    Ultraviolet

    Electrifying, mechanized and chilly -- the scent of crushed blooms strewn on cold metal. Lush violet and neroli spiked hard with eucalyptus and a sliver of mint. In the bottle: Strong on the violet On me: Immediately I get a rush of eucalyptus. My reason for picking an imp of this scent is because it mentioned mint. And I'll buy anything with the hope of a minty fresh scent. That being said, I don't particularly care for eucalyptus. I don't hate it, but I don't want to smell like it either. So, I knew I was taking a risk on this. My mother however, LOVES eucalyptus and will wear just about anything containing it. The very minute I applied this to my skin, sitting next to her, she said, "Oooh what is that??" and it was then that I knew this would not be for me lol. It's a good bet that if my Mom adores it, I won't - and vice versa. This is very heavy on the eucalyptus and violet - it has this very green smell (I don't think violet comes off as particularly floral really) - like fresh crushed herbs. It's extremely fresh and clean smelling. The mint does come through, but in a barely-there compliment to the eucalyptus. I do like the mint in this, but this is probably a little TOO green for my tastes. My mom loves it though, and I think anyone who likes things like The Apothecary and Hemlock (two of her faves), will like this as well. Final note: Green green green and fresh fresh fresh
  10. Brianne

    All Night Long

    In the bottle: red, hot, cinnamon On me: Goes on very cinnamon, but the cinnamon doesn't stay strong for very long - before too long it's more earthy and backed up by what I think must be myrrh and sandalwood. I'm getting earthy smooth sweetness like sandalwood, and a little bit of wood shavings like myrhh. The cinnamon still keeps me from hating this though, since I don't usually care for the whole wood shavings smell. So far, it's nothing I particularly like or dislike either way. It's not unpleasant, but I have cinnamon blends I like better too. Final note: This got zero response from my fiance, and though I think the smell is generally nice, it's not really something I'd wear on a regular basis. I'll probably try it for it's "effects" again, but I don't see myself buying a bottle.
  11. Brianne

    Eden

    In the bottle: Green and fresh like green tea On me: This is such a refreshing scent, right away it smells clean and green - which I assume must be the fig leaf. The fig is in there too, adding a tart, yet earthy back up to the green smell. After wearing this for half an hour, I still don't really detect any sandalwood or honey, and definitely no coconut, but that's okay with me because this is one pretty scent. Final note: I could see myself wearing this anytime when I need to feel fresh and cool (like any super hot and muggy day like this one!). It's very refreshing and unique, I love it! I do wish that the sandalwood and coconut were a little more present on me, but aside from this, I'm quite happy with this blend. EDIT: Oooh! Tried it on a second time and there's the coconut! It's so very faint, it just kind of makes this a little more tropic like. This is so a great summer blend! EDIT: And hours later I can still smell this AND it's very sandalwoody now lol. This has changed a lot over time, and I'm very pleased with all of it's stages and how long lasting it is!
  12. Brianne

    Blood Kiss

    In the bottle: Cherry and what I think must be vetiver, it's faintly in the background and a strange note I can't identify. On me: I am afraid of cherry. I will admit it. Cherry usually smells awful on me, and I don't really like the smell of it in general anyways. But this scent really works well on me. It's gorgeous. It's not so cherry that I smell fruity, it's just a nice compliment to the vanilla and honey (which is faint btw) and what I *think* is vetiver. It smells like patchouli to me, so I don't really know. I'm not a fan of patchouli, but this is nice. The musk was much stronger on me when this was wet, but now it's more in the background. This is a smooth, sexy, vampy scent. I could see myself wearing this for a night out, a night in (if you get my drift), or any time I want to feel vampy. THis would work really well just about any time I think. It's kind of a mood lifter in my opinion, I think you could be feeling really blah and this would make you feel a lot better Final note: The vanilla and honey remain rather light on me, and the cherry is a nice compliment. This is earthy, spicey, sensual. Love it!
  13. Brianne

    White Rabbit

    In the bottle: An unusual combonation of crisp, airy linen and honey On me: When this goes on wet, I get a powerful whiff of tea and pepper and ginger. As it starts to dry a bit, the honey comes out a little more, but not too much so. The ginger and pepper seem to be predominant on me so far, making this an oddly spicey scent. Ahhh wait, there's the tea! It's delicious! Now the scent is mostly tea and honey on me. I'm sad to say that it's quite hard for me to smell though, for some reason, this scent is very faint on my skin. I keep waiting for the vanilla, but I'm afraid I can't really detect it. The linen scent is still there, but just faintly in the background, which is a nice edition to the tea scent I think Final note: I like this a lot because of the tea scent, but I wish it had more throw and was longer lasting on me. I'm still considering a bottle, but I'm really going to have to slather this one on when I wear it lol.
  14. Brianne

    Tamora

    In the bottle: This smells like a glittering, dewy scent On me: The peach blossom and heliotrope really come out at first to me, it's the first thing that really strikes me about this scent. Neither are very heavy, and give a light, airy and sparkling impression. The sandalwood, amber, and vanilla aren't far behind and they give a slightly more earthy edge to this otherwise fae like scent. Despite the notes in this, it's not actually very sweet at all. It's an interesting scent and gives the distinct impression of being both warm and cool, both earthy and ethereal. The sandalwood in this is absolutely gorgeous, it's a little more subtle than I usually like, but it just works so well in this blend. Final note: This is really pretty. I could easily see myself wearing this on Spring Days, or on days where I'm feeling particularly full of fae like mischief. EDIT: This reminds me a LOT of imp. It's quite similar in "vibes" so if you like Imp, you'd like Tamora I'm sure!
  15. Brianne

    Cathode

    In the bottle: unusual mix of sharp and sweet On me: At first, it's wet, sweet mint! Oh glorious mint! Oh and there is the ambergris with that familiar, cologney spicey/musky scent. Oh wait. And what is this? Eeeei. I think the moss is adding a really funky note here. It's like "*deep sniff* ahhh! lovely spice and musk, what a warm, sharp and spunky scent! WOAH something weird there". It's just kind of throwing me off, because it's very much UNDER the other notes, but it doesn't quite work with them the way I'd like on me.The moss is making this a rather unsettling blend. Final note: I dont' hate this blend at all, it's just - as I said - rather unsettling. The moss never really seems at ease with the mints and ambergris, though those two work together beautifully.
  16. Brianne

    Sybaris

    In the bottle: Cinnamony floral?? On me: Oooh clove. I love you clove. It's not so in your face though, it's pretty mellow, and is mixing well with the other "spices" to give a nice, earthy spice scent. Nothing really specific, just an all around pleasant spiced aroma. Okay I don't know if I could identify violet, but I'm guessing that's what this floral is. It's really peeking through those spices, and it's pretty nice. I would say the spices/clove and violet are about neck and neck. They mesh really well together. Final note: I'm not sure why I'm finding this one hard to describe outside of what I've already said, but it is really pleasant. It's not something I think I need to go buy a bottle of right away, but it is something that I will own a bottle of eventually. Just a comfy spicey scent, not overwhelmingly sweet or spicey, just right
  17. Brianne

    Yog-Sothoth

    In the bottle: A little like Dirty, only more masculine smelling On me: At first, this smells like a man's cologne. It's pretty strong, a little musky, and has some unindentified bite to it. It does make me think of Dirty, but also Cool Water. After a little while, it's still pretty cologne like me, I detect musk and it's coming off as a warm "empty" scent. There is something spicey in there too, but it's also sweet. Very strange. This scent also has a lot of throw, I keep smelling it, even though it's only on one wrist, and my wrist is nowhere near my face. This scent is so hard to describe. It's somewhat clean, somewhat airy, somewhat musky, somewhat spicey, somewhat empty and all together hard to pin down in words. Final note: Even in the later stages of this scent... I can't figure out how to describe it. It's very pleasant, it's actually rather comforting and I think it would smell fabulous on a guy. I plan on wearing this myself, but I also plan on making my fiance wear it lol.
  18. Brianne

    Strawberry Moon 2005

    In the bottle: Beautiful, lush, strawberries! On me: When this is wet, there is no mistaking the smell of strawberries and cream. Luckily, neither of them come off too sweet, or candy like. After just a few short minutes, the cream note disappears on me and I am left with wonderfully fresh, earthy smelling strawberry. Not long after, the green tea and what I *think* is the ylang ylang, become the predominant notes on me with the strawberry as a nice, tart, juicy background. Thankfull, the lotus never comes out on me. I love how green this smells! Final note: I have to say that I had buyers remorse after purchasing this. I immediately thought that I had made a mistake, between the lotus and cream notes, and that surely this wouldn't work on me. I am so glad that I was wrong. I do love strawberry, but I don't like anything that is candy sweet, and this is so NOT candy sweet. I love it.
  19. Brianne

    Seeking grapefruit advice

    I'm with you on the grapefruit! Indeed, the popular grapefruit scents were discontinued thanks to the hurricane. However, there is still Maegara, which was reformulated but still says grapefruit in it's ingredients. Also, the reviews for R'lyeh all suggest a grapefruit smell - which is actually why I have this scent on order even
  20. Brianne

    Thirteen (13)

    In bottle: Wierd note of chocolate with something odd and sharp behind it - I think it's the orange but it's hard to tell. On me: This is such a unique scent and I'm afraid I have a hard time coming up with much to say about it other than I love it! On me, it's smooth, but LIGHT chocolate and an airy tea with just a touch of orange. It's not too sweet, but it is creamy smooth, and somehow fresh at the same time! Final note: I am so glad this will be coming around again sometime, because I do so love this scent and I feel like I will easily use up this bottle. So UNIQUE!
  21. Brianne

    Katharina

    In the bottle: A rather sharp combonation of apricot and floral orange On me: Oh wow. This is glorious! I have to admit that I wanted to try an imp of this for the sake of trying it, but honestly I had no expectations of liking it. I thought I'd probably feel pretty "meh" about it because of the apricot and orange blossom. But this just goes to show that a) there's just no telling what you're gonna like when it comes to Beth blends and I'm a musk girl. This goes on pretty fruity when it's wet, but as it dries down that apricot is wonderfully tart and juicy, but not really sweet. This makes me think of tea, even though it doesn't have a particularly "tea" like scent to it. I definitely get a flavored tea vibe from it. The longer this dries, the more I love it. In the long run, this becomes a fruity, sparkling, warm musk. Final note: Don't be discouraged by the apricot if you're not a big fan of fruity scents. You just might like it anyways, like I did! I adore this, I'm definitely getting a bottle.
  22. Brianne

    The Hierophant

    In the bottle: Spicey, but not clearly cinnamon - just a round about spice On me: This is PRECISELY what I was thinking about The Heirophant when I wore it today. It is strongly reminescent of The World at first - a sharp spice - cinnamon coming full force at first, but then back by something very green and herbally. It's a curious mixture, but not unpleasant at all. As it dries down, it becomes a more mellow, woodsy cinnamon - kind of soft - not candy like and sharp as it was at first. The herbal smell is still there, but it's also softened as well and now this reminds me a great deal of Hamadryad. Final note: Aside from the cinnamon, distinct notes are hard to pick out in this. But it is very nice. I'm not quite sure I need a bottle of this, given that I like Hamadryad more and it reminds me a lot of that. But I just might!
  23. Brianne

    The Lovers

    In the bottle: Very strong, kind of floral/herbally smelling, but...not quite at the same time On me: I don't get a single bit of cinnamon with this at all. Not a trace. At first there is a sharp herbal spiciness which I think might be what people think is cinnamon, but it quickly disappears. I get a lemony kick too, but it's not like citrus lemon, it's more like lemongrass - it's soft and a little soapy. There's nothing really spectacular about this blend at first, it's not unpleasant, but it's not great either. But I find that the longer I have this on - though it gets fainter and fainter - the more I like it. Eventually it becomes a soft, feminine, and of course - romantic - smelling blend. It makes me think of something Philosophy would make, it just has that kind of vibe to it. Final note: I'm torn between wanting a bottle and not wanting a bottle. I'm not sure how often I would wear this, but when this has dried for a while, it's so pretty that I feel like I *should* have a bottle of this. It's funny, but this is not particularly floral, herbal, sweet, or citrusy. It's very hard to decipher!
  24. Brianne

    Thanatopsis

    In the bottle: Gack! Pine! Very strong, Pine-sol smelling pine. On me: It goes on wet, pretty much exactly how it smells in the bottle. Very strong, cologne like pine. I was turned off by this at first, since I'm so NOT a fan of pine. This was a freebie from the lab, so I was extra determined to give this a shot though. After about 10 minutes though, maybe even 15, this dries into a warm, spicey musk. It's really lovely. Thanks to BPAL I've discovered I'm a big fan of musk, and I think anyone else who enjoys musk, will surely love this. Final note: It seems very masculine until it dries for a while and then I think it's a perfectly gender neutral scent. Could be sexy on a man OR a woman. I like this a lot, I'm not sure there is a bottle in my future, but I will keep the imp for now and see how often I end up reaching for this
  25. Brianne

    Lampades

    REJOICE!! REJOICE!! A blend with lily in it that not only can I WEAR, but I LOVE! *clears throat* On with the review - In the bottle: Fruity. General berry like, not so much cranberry like. On me: I was certain - *certain* I tell you - that I would not like this after I put it on my skin. At first, it was exactly what it was in the vial. Fruity, fruity fruity - juicy berries, and yet somehow it smells like grape juice. I'm so not a fruity type of gal, so I thought this was going to be easy for me to dismiss. "Not so quick though!" Lampades said to me. In about 5 minutes that juicy fruity smell had really mellowed out! Suddenly it wasn't an overwhelming berry scent. I could still smell cranberry, but now it was light, musky, spicey - even slightly woodsy. This is such a complex scent that I can't pick out notes aside from the cranberry, but I can say that the smokey/spicey quality of this is sexy as hell. Final note: Clearly, I love it. But what's better - is that this is the first scent in a while that my fiance has actually commented on with more than a "yeah that's nice". In fact, I didn't even have him smell this one, and he caught a whiff of me and exclaimed "Wow I like that!". So bottle of this for me, that's for sure!
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