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BPAL Madness!

shadow

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Everything posted by shadow

  1. I used The Unicorn as a scent for a lotion I made for a mom with two young daughters, I wanted something that wouldn't reek up the house if the girls got into it (which I figured they would). Kumiho is light, but might be too sharp? Dana O'Shee is such a comforting skin smell to me. And I like Amsterdam, it smells like tulips and grass.
  2. shadow

    Oils To Help with PMS and Periods

    High John the Conqueror always seems to lift my mood. It could be completely power of suggestion, but it really seems to help when I'm having a blah morning.
  3. shadow

    Dorian

    Wow. Generally when people rave about a scent, I like it but don't love it. This is one that transcends that pattern. It's wonderful. You're probably thinking there's no way it can really be that good. It can! On application it's very strong black tea with lemon and just a touch of sugary vanilla. Slowly it softens out and blends into a delicious vanilla-y drink, almost chai but without the spices. It is somehow gender neutral. A male or female could wear this with ease, though any man who wore it might get bitten. On the street. In the middle of the day.
  4. shadow

    Spooky

    A maddeningly festive blend of warm, buttery rum, cocoa, coconut, vanilla and a jolt of peppermint. It’s a sweet, decadent, slightly silly scent, reminiscent of rum-laced holiday cookies. Coconut cake. That's what I get for a good solid 4 or 5 hours. Coconut cake. I think I might get a little rum, a bit of vanilla? But mostly coconut cake. I think tend to amp up coconut in scents. I don't actually smell any mint, but when I sniff deeply, there's a slight feeling of coolness in the back of my nasal passages. Weird, I know, and most likely just my imagination, but I thought I'd throw it in there anyway. After 5 hours, I'm left with a sweet foody smell, and I'm getting a fuller picture of all the notes. Cake still dominates, though it might be a vanilla cake now. I might try mixing it with a peppermint essential oil, because I'd really like to have that brightness a little more prominently. I like this, and I'm thinking of trying it as a home scent, though I have to warn everyone that within an hour of putting it on, I got a terrible compulsion to swing by Coldstone Creamery on the way home to get a mint chocolate chip shake. So it may not be a good thing for anyone on a diet.
  5. shadow

    White Rabbit

    It's funny how this is one that everybody's chemistry changes to such different degrees. Right after application I can clearly smell all the different scents. I get the tea, I get the crisp linen, I get the ginger and the milk, and very faintly get the honey and vanilla. But shortly, about 15 minutes in, the ginger comes to the forefront. The lab's ginger is nothing like I ever expect. It's very sharp and clean and fresh, and there's almost a floral note in there, not like the ginger spice, but not like hawaiian ginger flower either. I really love it in Kumiho in the summer time. I wish the pepper lasted a bit longer, but for the next couple hourse it's like a roided Kumiho, sometimes reminiscent of Sudha Segara (like other reviewers have said). Oddly, it changes one more time, suddenly, about three hours in and becomes soft sweet milk with just a little ginger, and the faintest trace of pepper. I quite like this all the way through, but think it's a little too cold for it now. I'll start wearing it regularly in March or April.
  6. shadow

    Tamora

    Oh, wow. I can't believe it! I've had this imp for months and months and have never tried it. I would see it and go, meh. Isn't this peach and amber? So I just kept shoving it aside. Tonight I wanted to try something different from what I usually wear, so I finally went through my untried imp box and pulled this one out. I am so glad I did. Generally amber and I don't do well, it doesn't smell bad, it just tends to go powdery. And fruits usually get too cloying. But this is gorgeous. I see the comparison to Tresor, only this one is much prettier, it has more depth and is more rounded and soft. And I also get the "golden" descriptions. I think this one works because of the vanilla and sandalwood. I've discovered that I really, really love sandalwood, and I'm constantly surprised by the lab's vanilla scents, because I've hated vanilla ever since my early run in with Vanilla Fields as a kid. I'm going to have to get some of this for my sister as she's always loved peach smells. This will blow her away.
  7. shadow

    Snow White

    Hmm, I think Snow White and I are just not meant to be, which shocked me to no end. The first BPAL scent I tried was Dana O'Shee, and I have very fond memories of it. I see the similarities between the two scents, they feel like each other, but Dana O'Shee has a bit of green and grain in it and Snow White is like a big fluffy creamy confection. It is absolutely lovely, and striking, but I find that it has too much throw for me. When I wear it, it's all I can smell. If I ever become capable of giving up some of my oils, I might consider gifting someone with this, but for now I'll hold on to it and see if maybe I was just too sensitive. (Disclaimer - this week I started a new vitamin/supplement regime, and I was already feeling a bit ill this morning, so it may very well be that I was just oversensitive. I'll edit this if it's different next time.)
  8. shadow

    Leather

    Maybe I got a weird one, but my imp of Wanda is much plummier than floral. As a matter of fact, it's a bit reminiscent of Bordello, just not as cloying on me. The leather tempers it and keeps it a bit lighter and much more wearable. Perversion is a wonderful leather blend - it makes me want to start drooling. Over myself. Sad, sad, sad.
  9. shadow

    Recs for those who can't do sweet perfumes?

    My son has adopted June Gloom as his own. But it has quite a lemony scent, so that might not be the best thing before bed. I haven't tried Dragon's Bone, but it's the first one that popped into my head, too. Wow our kids are lucky. When I was little I had Love's Baby Soft. Or Exclamation.
  10. shadow

    Skadi

    This does feel a bit like Dublin to me, but it comes off brighter, cleaner, a little sweeter - I'm guesing that's the berries. Dublin goes thicker and almost carnation spicy on me. The first time I tried it, I didn't think I was going to like it because it does have a bit of cleaning solution on me right out of the bottle. Fortunately it doesn't take too long for it to melt into my skin and become something beautiful. I'm very glad I got this, it's wonderful and bright. I wore it tonight to a New Year's party and was very pleased as it's pleasant but not overpowering.
  11. shadow

    Arachne

    I was very surprised by this scent when I received it. From the description I had expected that it would be a very soft, pale smell. However, when I applied it, it seemed to slowly get stronger and brighter and sharper. There's something a bit edgy in there, and while I don't think I like it as a work perfume, I think it would be a nice weekend perfume - when I need a little something because I'm out shopping and trying to maneuver through crowds of people. I do wonder what it is in here that's so sharp and bright - generally, other than certain roses and jasmine, florals go soft and sweet on me, not loud.
  12. shadow

    Florence

    Now I know what people mean when they say they smell like those old Strawberry Shortcake dolls. It's not quite like that on me, but it does smell like some old childhood toy. I generally have bad luck with berries (get WAY too sweet on and drown everything else out) and amber (soft golden powder). So I kinda suspected going into this one that I might have bad luck. I tried it anyway, because you just never know when something might work out despite funky chemistry. It's actually not unpleasant on, but I do get the berry, the powder and something slightly plasticky. Since it reminds me of something I played with as a kid, I might keep it around for sentimentality's sake. I can tell by smelling the imp that it must be wonderful on people who don't have my problems.
  13. shadow

    Regan

    I could have sworn I'd reviewed this a long time ago, but I must be smoking something. If only I knew what... Regan is a wonderful addition to my collection. I almost never wear it on its own, though it's perfectly lovely, rather I use it to sweeten other scents that I find too spicy or dry or cold. It has the sweetness of vanilla, but never develops that overpowering baked goods quality. Actually, it's vanilla like, but not quite, as there's a soft greenness in there somewhere. I'm guessing that's the orchid but I don't know for sure. I love it with Kathmandu and itmakes Bayou smell like wild honey on my skin (just the smallest dab).
  14. shadow

    Marquise de Merteuil

    This is the very expensive perfume of a very wealthy, confident woman. Haughty and vivacious all at once. I loved wearing it today, but also realize it is not for me. I felt a little bit self conscious, like I was drawing too much attention to myself. For those of you who don't have those wallflower tendencies, I highly recommend this. Even if it's just for playacting. It was a very heady floral on me, and the peach brightened it, but never really smelled like peach to me. The amber also never turned to powder, which is odd because generally it does.
  15. shadow

    Delphi

    Delphi is a scent I've been dreaming about almost since I joined the forum, so I nearly cried when I opened the imp and smelled something unpleasant and really strong. I sucked it up, quit being a big sissy bedwetter and applied. It only took like two minutes for it to morph into something beautiful. I get spiced honey, with something light and dry to lift it up and keep it from being heavy or cloying. It's really absolutely beautiful. I don't really get an incense like smoke smells, and I don't know what laurel smells like, but I'm guessing it's the laurel and the bay that balance it and keep it beautiful and wearable for me. I once read a book that described an ancient temple scene vividly, stone steps, bright sun, vendors selling things to sacrifice to the gods, and this fits that scene perfectly - I see spiced honey cakes and fragrant herbs as offerings. Thank you Beth!
  16. shadow

    Nefertiti

    All I can say about this is it's absolutely lovely. Sensual, feminine, beautiful, graceful, perfectly blended. It's wonderful and I love it. No one note seems to stand out to me. It's warm but doesn't go dry or hot. It's sweet but not cloying in any way. It's soft but has presence.
  17. shadow

    Hell's Belle

    This starts out absolutely beautiful, and completely different from most of my other BPAL's. I don't even have the words to describe it - okay, I'll try, but I don't really have anything specific - just impressions. It's sensuous, that's probably the best word for it, definitely sexy, rich, deep - this is the perfume of a woman who is at ease in spikey heels, snug skirts and clingy tops - all made by exclusive designers. Unfortunately for me, about a half hour in the dreaded baby powder curse comes in and knocks me out - I'm guessing it's the musk. I'll try it again to see if maybe it was just bad timing on my part.
  18. shadow

    Medea

    I too have always loved Medea. I just instantly connected with the character, and while I can't say that I have a single thing in common with her story, I hold it close. When Beth put the description for the scent out, I was at once thrilled and a bit apprehensive, because I wasn't sure if it would work on me and I desperately wanted it to. I can't pick out any individual notes in this blend. All I get is a picture of scenery, and most of that is preconception, I'm sure. But I get rocky gray coastline, and scrubby brush, with occasional vivid blooms and blue, blue ocean. Something beautiful, but strong and rugged and uncommon. I was going to go on about what type of scent it is, but feline.by.design did such a great job, I'll just second her. Yes womanly. No girly or prissy. Oh, and the currant didn't come out fruity on me, which was a big part of my fear.
  19. shadow

    Nemesis

    I haven't completely let it dried down, it's only been about an hour, but I don't think it's going to morph too much more, except maybe in my favor. At the beginning all I get is... Bengay? What? It's a very sharp, strong, muscle rub-ish scent. Then that goes away and it's like sharp cinnamon and clove. That's like 5 minutes, and then I get a really pungent wood. Like cedar only on roid rage. I'm going to guess that's the cypress. Then the patchouli comes out, and I'm thinking I'm going to have to wash it off. So far this has not been a good me scent. But then I wait 10 more minutes, and the fig comes out. Normally fig goes too sweet on me, but here there's just enough to balance and round out the other earthy scents. Then I think I get a bit of ginger, and it lightens the entire blend. I now cannot stop smelling my wrists, as this may be the first patchouli blend I've liked. It's very dark and very gorgeous, and all the scents have blended together into a mysterious, sexy, vampy smell.
  20. shadow

    Dublin

    The scent of misty forests, damp alder leaf, and the gentlest touch of white rose. I thought I'd reviewed this one already! When I do finally get around to ordering bottles of the regular scents, this will be on my list. I find myself reaching for this imp more than most, and I actually slather. Well, what I consider slathering, which is one dip in the imp, maybe two, then rolling on my wrists and neck/chest. On me it starts out lightly piney, green and clean and fresh, and then a little sweetness, I'm assuming the rose, comes out. It's near perfect there, but then it deepens a little bit and there's spiciness. Not food spice, more like a planty spice (ala carnation), though I didn't see any of that in the description. All three notes blend until it becomes this perfect scent - fresh, pretty, not too girly, but not actually masculine. My 4 year old son said I smelled like a forest with pretty things in it and my husband said it was an elfin scent, but he really doesn't know anything about that. Either way, I love it and it's very inoffensive, so I can wear it to work without feeling paranoid about the fragrance police.
  21. shadow

    Why do scents turn to baby powder on me?!

    Musk does it for me, too. I'm not positive about white musk, but I know for sure that the darker musks do. I think amber sometimes dries down a bit powdery, but musk might also be in the blends that I think of as ambery.
  22. shadow

    Somnus

    I got the lavender right away, mingled with that unpleasant, sharp cat pee odor that I think I've narrowed down to jasmine. Generally if I put a "jasmine" blend on, it takes 2-3 hours for that particular note to die down enough to make the scent tolerable. This took 4 minutes. I was ecstatic. Even though I was stressed and strung out on caffeine, the scent got softer and warmer and eventually put me to sleep. Dead sleep. It was wonderful. I'm trying it again tonight to see if it was some weird fluke. We'll see how it stands up to more work stress and a venti pumpkin spice latte + 1 large cup of coffee after 4 pm. (If I wasn't afraid of drowsing off at work, I'd probably wear this as a scent, once the inital application dries, it really is a pleasant smell. Oh well, Saint Germain will have to satisfy my new lavender appreciation.)
  23. shadow

    All Saints'

    Oh, another gorgeous blend from the lab. I get the Harvest Moon comparisons immediately after application. There's that warm, rich foody smell - pumkins? Butter? I don't know what it is, but it overpowers everything else at first. I guess that's the autumn breeze part, because it just wafts away VERY quickly, and then the rest of the scent comes out. Where Harvest Moon turns into huge autumny colored blooms, I get formal white flowers. With the richness of the incenses underneath. It really is beautiful, and may be one of my favorite florals so far. The autumn breeze eventually does come back, but as a wispy supporting player, just enrichening the scent and rounding it out so it still has substance. It's really beautiful. Oh, if Samhain is a harvesty autumn afternoon, and Hunter Moon is a cold autumny night by a bonfire, this one is like a clear cold day, after all the leaves have fallen off the trees, right before the first snow. It's that short time right in between autumn and winter.
  24. shadow

    Hunter Moon 2004

    Generally anything with an alcohol note goes extreme on me. If wine is in a blend, all I can smell is wine, in the case of Mabon, I got this weird apple beer smell. Hunter Moon is the first scent with wine as a note that I've been able to wear, and I adore it. Where Samhain smells like mulled cider and crisp brown, red and orange leaves in the late afternoon, Hunter Moon smells like mulled wine and a blazing bonfire on a chill night. Crap, she did it again. Now I have to stop myself before I start waxing poetic. Hunter Moon = yummy, sexy, dark night smell. Perfect for autumn. It's already winter here, but that's not going to keep me from enjoying it.
  25. Dissipation (which unfortunately is discontinued I believe) reminds me of Blue Moon. It's a little more substantial though. I like it.
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