faylie

biz4brent, another thing I thought of is are the bottle labels the same? I would guess that the ones from the LE and GC would be different, at least saying 'Springtime' or 'Picnic' even if there are pictures that are the same.

Ok, so I'm not huge on florals, but like you I love Rose Red, I find Zombi a little too dirty for me, but mix it with Moon rose to add a little sparkle to the dirt and I'm good. I really wanted to like Lucy's kiss but had the soapy experience there. I think you should try Rose Cross. It's like a rich velvety red rose, like you always want real red roses (like those that you get given singly from your sweetie) to smell but they never do. It's a very rich beautiful smell. I find the frankincense plays very much a supporting role here, adds a bit of depth rather than standing out at all, so even if you aren't keen on resins give it a try. Another thing you might try is swiping them into your hair if it is long enough, oils tend to stay a bit truer to themselves that way. It heps with the wafting too. I used to love it when having a crappy day at work, getting a whiff of whatever I was wearing would suddenly make it bearable, if not good. A couple more you could try are London, Wanton, Mata Hari and Bess. All are pretty rosy and I don't recall getting any soap from them. Bess is quite a bright scent, I think the rosemary might stop it getting soapy. I have to say I wasn't keen on Mata Hari, the coffee stayed around for me but on a friend it is lovely. Good luck.

Shub was originally a part of a limited series called Springtime in Arkham (from memory). A few years later Beth brought back part of that series and added some new blends to it and called it A Picnic in Arkham. It is possible one bottle you have is very well aged and the other quite new. I've not tried either so someone else will have to shed more enlightenment, maybe compare some of the old reviews to the new ones and see if that helps. People who have tried both may do a bit of a comparison.

I know Andra has a very comprehensive spreadsheet which has I believe every BPAL ever made on it. You could PM her and ask if she could email it to you. She has done this in the past, I don't see why she would mind doing it now.

I have a tea which I love, it's a black tea with rose petals through it, I think there is also some rose flavour added as the smell is more prominent that I think it would be just from the petals. I have it with milk and honey, so I'd be more than happy with those additions, but I know I'm dreaming to find that close of a match. Is there a BPAL that may be similar? I generally don't spend a lot of time with florals and I only seem to like them if it's just the one floral rather than a bouquet so I'd prefer something rather simple, or even two to layer that may suit. Any help would be great. Thanks. Another I'd like to find is Orange Pekoe tea. Yum.

I think it also depends on what sort of vanilla you are wanting to add. On me Antique Lace is pretty much all bright bold vanilla bean. So for the stronger scents it may be a good one for layering. For a softer vanilla I like Mouse's... I know it has the sandalwood, but I mostly get a soft sweet vanilla and have used it for layering when I want a soft florally vanilla. PM, I agree with you, I find aging can really bring out the vanilla in some scents. The first bottle I bought from the lab (getting on 4 years ago) was Love Me I didn't notice any vanilla in it whatsoever, it was all Jasmine, I went back to it a few weeks ago and there is so much vanilla there it overwhelms the jasmine now. Still love it though.

For me it's Cheshire Cat or Black Cat. Dane O'shee can to a slightly lesser degree, it's more of a soothing happy as opposed to making me smile. I can't remember the last time I wore it but I think Jester is a pretty happy sort of a scent too.

Can anyone give suggestions for something similar to Shanghai Tunnel? I don't find Singing moon all that close on me unfortunately. TIA

Another library worker here. Have you tried Kuang Shi (herbally mango on me), Cheshire Cat (seconded), Baobhan Sith (very clean and light on me), Phantom Queen (nice, light and appley) or even Hurricane for an ozone, although I almost find that one scary

First impression on: An ashtray After reading some reviews to see other peoples thoughts as it wasn't smelling overly golden to me I can pick up the cedar a bit but still ashy. As time goes on the wood takes over but I'm really not getting any golden light which is a shame, Beth's blends are usually fairly true to their description on me. Nope, just staying dry cedar, no golden light at all here

Maybe Endymion? It's a pretty, fruity white floral, Dana O'shea could work but give Whitechapel a go though.

Personally even though it is so popular I'd leave Snake Oil for a wee bit, it can sometimes take time for a persons nose to warm to BPAL and it's something that it would be awful to try too early and decide you hated it when a few months down the track might be loved. My 6 for a beginner would be Alice or Morocco Cheshire Cat A floral of some sort, Love me, Lucy's Kiss or Night Gaunt Night Queen Black Pearl Wrath Where I've put more than one it depends a lot on the person, but I would most likely include a vanilla (I know Morocco doesn't mention vanilla but a lot of people smell it) and floral of some sort.

I'm looking for as plain a vanilla bean as is possible. I've found that I love wearing TKO to bed, then by morning the lavender has all but completely gone then layering the remaining vanilla, which is still quite strong on me, with Priala. I'd just like to be able to do that combo without planning it the night before. It'd probably be fine with a light woodsy or spice touch, maybe even a wee herby but not floral at all I don't think. Thanks for any help

So do I have this right: I can use BPAL, just as long as there is no pennyroyal and it would be better to keep it away from skin, i.e. scent locket, on a cotton ball tucked inside pillow (I don't think I could go without Baku for that long) or diluted very much. Am I right in thinking this would apply while breastfeeding too? Thanks, Faylie.

This reminded me a fair bit of Fenris Wolf but while that was a soft, dark warm brown Aureus is more of a honey copper colour. It had a bit of throw, but not a lot, just enough so I could keep getting wafts here and there through the day. I did a top up after lunch and that increased the throw a bit. It's a very comforting, strengthening scent and I can see I'd wear this on days when I need a bit of emotional support.

On me Morocco is a real vanilla bean sort of vanilla and smells divine, it's like putting a few pods into some milk and heating it to make real egg custard or home made icecream. It's so comforting, like being wrapped in a snuggly blanket with a loved one and cuddling. In the imp it smelled a tiny bit gritty but even just wearing it while typing this (it has taken longer than it should as I keep stopping to sniff) it is getting creamier and creamier. 100% yummy. I don't find it an overly strong scent, it's definately a skin hugger. It brings to mind a line from a Nick Cave song; "breathing milky white air from deep in her throat" I noticed it was slightly more spicy when I applied it in my hair and a very faint pinky tinge when on the skin. All in all I love it and although it didn't seem to last overly long, I think it was mainly the throw didnt last all that long, but I did have my hair tied back for most of the day which takes away all the turning of the hear hair wafts, I didn't mind reapplying every now and then, I think about three times over the day.

Is there a BPAL that smells like Strawberry Twin Tub or American Cream, or better yet a mix of the two?

I'd suggest Bastet, very warm, golden and exotic. To me it's the scent of a woman who is sure of herself and very sexy with a lot of class.

Can anyone reccomend a GC similar to Honey Moon?

What would anyone recceomend for a Flying Fox match?

Is there a bpal that smells like Xmas Massage?

I like the drydown a lot too, but this is the first one that my hubby has come out and said it smells nice. Usually it's a turn up of the nose and a difinate no. so I will still wear this anyway, but I'd just like to find one like it in it's wet phase. I have tried Blood Rose, it goes a bit sour from the wine note I think. I love the Ard Draconis ones, but so far haven't found one remotely close, I've tried dragons milk, hide and heart. Also Blood pearl, but rather tropical. I will give the cotton wool a go, but I don't think it's wonky chemistry, just siply due to the oils themselves morphing as the dry.

Can anyone reccomend an oil that is similar to Blood when it's still wet? It changes a lot on me when it dries. Also does it stay the same as wet when it's in a scent locket? I don't have one so I can't tell. Thanks for any help.

I tend to grab for Wrath when I'm in a grumpy mood, I think it gives me an emotional kick in the pants.

Can anyone recommend one similar to the wet stage of Blood? It's the only one the man actually said he has liked before I asked him his opnion. Only problem is he doesn't like it once its dry. Does it stay the same in a scent locket or does it still morph?