Jump to content
Post-Update: Forum Issues Read more... ×
BPAL Madness!
Post-Update: Forum Issues

RedRoseMaze

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    118

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Blog Entries posted by RedRoseMaze

  1. RedRoseMaze

    BPAL: The Unicorn

    By RedRoseMaze,

    The Unicorn
    Category: Mad Tea Party
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    THE UNICORN
    A misty, almost luminous perfume: wispy linden blossoms, white flowers, and a touch of sweet herbs.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: A clean, fresh, and clear floral smell. It’s soft and light.
     
    Wet: I get a sweet floral scent. I’m not accustomed to linden blossoms, so my first impression was something similar to lily of the valley, but I could be wrong.
     
    Dry: It’s soft and faint. The herbs blend well together into a light, feminine scent. Unfortunately, it fades away very quickly.
     
    Verdict: It’s lovely, but it doesn’t have much impact, which I think is really too bad because, otherwise, it would be the perfect blend for spring. On the other hand, someone who rarely ever wears perfume and wants to stay away from strong scents, would probably adore this.
     
    More reviews: Mad Tea Party: The Unicorn
  2. RedRoseMaze
    Yules: Lick It Vigorously
    Category: Limited Edition
    Quantity: bottle
     
    Description:
    LICK IT VIGOROUSLY
    What else could possibly be more lickable at Yuletide? This is a candy cane perfume, minty, sweet and sugared.
    [Please don’t literally Lick It. I need no cheerful holiday lawsuits, thank you!]
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Hmm, sweet mint... It’s very fresh, green, and maybe a little bit spicy.
     
    Wet: A lot of sugar comes out as soon as it touches my skin! It smells like mint-flavoured candy, no doubt possible; it also feels very fresh... I might even say cold...
     
    Dry: Strangely enough, it turned almost vanilla and floral on me (one day, I’d like to know what’s wrong with my skin chemistry); however, it’s still fresh, yet softer and more delicate.
     
    Verdict: It’s a funny perfume, it really smells like a candy cane, sweet and minty, even though it turned soft on me.
     
    More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Lick It Vigorously
  3. RedRoseMaze
    Yules: Rose Red 2010
    Category: Limited Edition
    Quantity: bottle
     
    Description:
    ROSE RED 2010
    The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: A velvety red rose, fresher than in a flower shop.
     
    Wet: It’s a bit too strong at first, it’s annoying for my nostrils; however, it gets better after 10-15 minutes.
     
    Dry: It’s much better now. It’s a delicate floral scent, feminine, romantic, and almost a sacred rose.
     
    Verdict: For those who might be turned off by its initial strong throw, my advice would be to let it dry completely before judging it. It becomes subtle and almost sweet over time.
     
    More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Rose Red 2010
  4. RedRoseMaze
    Yules: Snow White 2010
    Category: Limited Edition
    Quantity: bottle
     
    Description:
    SNOW WHITE 2010
    A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: So soft and delicate... I smell a bit of vanilla and sugar, but I’m not quite sure what else.
     
    Wet: It smells sweet and floral, almost foody. It reminds me of Dana O’shee, only colder and crisper.
     
    Dry: It turned into vanilla, coconut, mint, and almond, with a floral background.
     
    Verdict: Overall, it’s lovely; however, I really got into it when I went outside. The cold winter air improves it somehow; it becomes even crisper afterwards.
     
    More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: Snow White 2010
  5. RedRoseMaze
    Yules: The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: KLARA
    Category: Limited Edition
    Quantity: bottle
     
    Description:
    The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: KLARA
    Honey dusting powder, mandarin, iris, ylang ylang, tea rose, and carnation.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Sweet, powdery and clean. I smell a strong note of honey.
     
    Wet: Honey and mandarine, with a little bit of iris and carnation.
     
    Dry: Tea rose and ylang-ylang come out strong... maybe a little bit too strong.
     
    Verdict: I don’t know, it’s just missing something. It smells like a Lush soap, or baby powder. I would have liked something more unique than that.
     
    More reviews: Limited Edition: Yules: The Nutcracker Acts 1 & 2: Klara
  6. RedRoseMaze
    Atomic Cheesecake
    Category: Starlite Oasis
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    ATOMIC CHEESECAKE
    It’s all about the pinup. With their peek-a-boo poses and pouty lips, these blonde bombshells, buxom brunettes, and randy redheads are the ultimate art of seduction.
    Pure, unadulterated cheesecake, vanilla bean, vanilla musk
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It does smell like cheesecake! I smell cream cheese and vanilla.
     
    Wet: It’s pretty much the same as in the bottle. It’s very creamy, rich, warm, and decadent. If it’s based on a real cheesecake, I want the recipe.
     
    Dry: I smell the vanilla musk a little better, but it’s still a lot of cream cheese. Overall, it stays true from beginning to end.
     
    Verdict: It smells delicious! It’s like a real cheesecake, served fresh and tender; it’s only missing the berry sauce.
  7. RedRoseMaze

    Good Judy: B

    By RedRoseMaze,

    B
    Category: LGBT & More
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    B
    N/A
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Citrus and... bergamot?
     
    Wet: Yes, I do smell a sweet herb such as bergamot, as well as citrus or orange.
     
    Dry: Now, I’m getting something floral, possibly honeysuckle.
     
    Verdict: It’s golden, vibrant, and the citrus scent smells clean, of course. Overall, it’s a nice gender-neutral blend.
  8. RedRoseMaze
    Bread Pudding
    Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    BREAD PUDDING
    Warm bread soaked in milk and eggs and spices. Baked golden bubbly and served drenched in an ooey-gooey vanilla rum sauce. Delightfully rich and satisfying!
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: I smell a mix of bread, eggs, spices (especially cinnamon, yum!), vanilla, and a bit of rum.
     
    Wet: This really smells like french toast (or “pain doré/pain perdu”; as usual, please forgive my french) with spices, and some sort of a rich vanilla sauce, with a strong sugar undernote.
     
    Dry: Yeah, old bread or old cake soaked in a preparation of milk and eggs to remove dryness. It took some time, but I finally got some of the rum back. And as usual, the perfume turned sugary-sweet on me.
     
    Verdict: Not bad; but maybe a little bit too “french toast”, the ressemblance is just too obvious for me. Other than that, it’s lovely, and so yummy that it makes me want to bake.
  9. RedRoseMaze

    Good Judy: Cannoli

    By RedRoseMaze,

    Cannoli
    Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    CANNOLI
    A cannoli baked up right...Good Judy style! Creamy ricotta, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate chips, nuts and candied fruit all stuffed into a crispy baked shell. Sinful! Mama would be proud.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Another foody perfume... Sugar, vanilla, cream, chocolate, and something fruity in the background.
     
    Wet: It really smells like pastry, with raisins, cinnamon, vanilla, ricotta or thick cream... It’s very sweet!
     
    Dry: Now, I get the candied fruits, in a sugar-coated shell... However, the fruits smell like an artificial essence, that’s my only disappointment.
     
    Verdict: Hum, this smells delicious! It might be a little bit too rich and decadent though...
  10. RedRoseMaze
    Chocolate Chai Muffin
    Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    CHOCOLATE CHAI MUFFIN
    A cakey, not-too-sweet, muffin flavored with chocolate powder and chai spices. This muffin is scrumptious!
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Oh my! Spicy chocolate! Those warm, exotic spices seem delightful when mixed with the cocoa.
     
    Wet: As soon as it touched my skin, it turned into bitter spices, with an subtle note of musk. There’s a little bit of chocolate behind, but it’s not as strong as in the bottle.
     
    Dry: After a few minutes, it turned herbal; that’s weird. If you are familiar with the (fake) chocolate essence sold for soap-making, mix it with spicy herbs, and that’s what you get.
     
    Verdict: Honestly, I feared that it would be the cousin of Forbidden Desire; but fortunately, it’s not as sweet, and its spiciness gives it a very sexy aspect.
  11. RedRoseMaze
    Cursed Cameo
    Category: Curio Shop
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    CURSED CAMEO
    Don’t be fooled by its beauty, by its seemingly delicate nature! Well over one hundred years old, this cameo is a splendid piece of jewelry marred by a fearsome curse. Given to a scorned wife as pacification from her flagrantly cheating husband, the wife was rumored to have dispatched of each of her husband’s affairs with a chilling and cold-blooded fervor, all while wearing the cameo. Now the cameo is cursed to bring torment and discord to its wearer, keeping them forever miserable and alone. Well, yes, I don’t see why you can’t hold it. Only please refrain from putting it around your neck. We are not sure how swift-acting the curse is. Come to think of it, maybe it’s best if you didn’t hold it at all. One can never be too careful! White lily, iris, jasmine, magnolia, grapefruit, peach
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It’s soft and feminine, in a graceful way. I can identify the notes of lily and magnolia.
     
    Wet: Without any surprise, the flowers came out first.
     
    Dry: As it dried, I started to notice something juicy and sweet, which I assume is the peach and grapefruit. It’s funny, because it leaves a little bit of an aftertaste, but maybe that’s the curse?
     
    Verdict: I find it hard to write a review on this one because I’m completely addicted. If you like blends of flowers and fruits, you should try this one.
  12. RedRoseMaze
    Diamond
    Category: Limited Edition (April 2009)
    Quantity: 5ml bottle
     
    Description:
    DIAMOND
    April's birthstone, Diamond is known as the stone of innocence and purity, and inspires matters of the heart. Diamond is said to encourage self-confidence and independence and counteract jealousy. Diamonds are energy amplifiers so be cautious: it amplifies negative as well as positive. Diamond purifies and detoxifies all of the body’s systems, rebalancing the metabolism, and building up stamina, strength and treating allergies and chronic conditions. White peach, champagne, white hibiscus, white amber
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It smells white and clear. It reminds me of my mother’s garden, with fruit trees and hibiscus plants around every corner.
     
    Wet: Mostly hibiscus and peach, with a little bit of champagne and amber.
     
    Dry: Slightly less peach, and more champagne and amber.
     
    Verdict: What a clear and fancy scent! I think I just found my new “special occasion” perfume.
  13. RedRoseMaze

    Good Judy: Femme

    By RedRoseMaze,

    Femme
    Category: LGBT & More
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    FEMME
    N/A
     
    Review:
     
    Ok, I’m going to look stupid, but I didn’t know the meaning of “femme”. In French, a femme is a woman, but I thought that was too broad. I searched for an expression with femme in it, and I found “femme fatale”, which was an interesting theme, of course, until I searched “femme” in Wikipedia and found out what it means. Well, at least I’ve learned something... On the other hand, a femme could also be a femme fatale, right? Anyway, let’s move on... The scent has no description, so this is going to be a challenge for my nose. I’m sure I’m going to be completely off the track with this one.
     
    In the bottle: The first thing I think about is grape punch. It’s sweet and delicate, with a little something floral.
     
    Wet: Now I have images of flower trees in bloom (maybe lilac?), and a fruit (peach?). Whatever it is, I still get delicate florals with something fruity and juicy.
     
    Dry: This review is about to get worse... It reminds me of wine a little bit, but mostly of a fruit punch I used to drink when I was younger, which was made of grape, cassia, berries, and some other fruits I forgot. It’s not as floral as before, but it’s still sweet.
     
    Verdict: I’m getting a retro pin-up feeling out of this one. It’s feminine, seductive, and very sexy!
  14. RedRoseMaze
    First Creation
    Category: Unreleased Blends
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    FIRST CREATION
    N/A
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It’s very soft, a little bit floral, with something sweet, such as vanilla or honey.
     
    Wet: It’s already more herbal, lemony, maybe even with a spicy background note, but I can’t find what it is.
     
    Dry: Still soft, creamy, lemony, and floral. It’s a bit old-lady-ish, but it smells clean and soft.
     
    Verdict: Yes, it’s a bit old-fashioned, but it smells good; and the ingredients are very mysterious!
  15. RedRoseMaze
    Forbidden Desire
    Category: American Gothic
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    FORBIDDEN DESIRE
    Desire is a powerful creature, shape-shifting yet solid as the imp who visits you during the night. The urge grabs a hold of you. Your every impulse demands action. Consequences be damned, as damned as the doer of the deed. Lust takes control. Your thirst must be quenched. How sweet the taste of forbidden desire on your lips. Right or wrong, desire has won. White chocolate, vanilla bean, sugared musk
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Chocolate, and maybe a little bit of spiced vanilla.
     
    Wet: It’s a lot of chocolate… It smells like cake, probably because of the little note of vanilla.
     
    Dry: Chocolate and sugar overload!
     
    Verdict: I’ve tried to wear this one a few times, and every time I did, I found myself with an uncontrollable need to eat a chocolate bar, or a piece of chocolate cake. This can’t be good for my health! I understand why it’s called “forbidden desire”… This foody scent is just too foody for me, but I can imagine very easily why someone else would love it.
  16. RedRoseMaze
    Fruit Judy
    Category: Limited Edition
    Quantity: bottle (2ml)
     
    Description:
    FRUIT JUDY
     
    Fruit Judy is the companion blend to Flower Judy. All together, there are 21 notes, all fruit. A sweet and tangy mix of berries, citrus, and tropical delights!
     
    This limited edition does not have a time limit, but rather a quantity limit. There are 50 2ml amber bottles (with screw-cap lids) available. These are not "shorties", but rather the tall thinner bottles for easier use. There is no formal recipe so this blend will never be recreated. Once they are gone, they're gone!
     
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It’s a tutti-frutti! It’s not easy to identify the 21 fruit notes, but so far, I’m guessing apple, grape, banana, berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.), and a few more I’m not so sure about.
     
    Wet: Again, I’m guessing apple, berries, pear, banana, mango, pineapple… It’s sweet!
     
    Dry: It turned a bit tangier, orange and citrus must have found their way through.
     
    Verdict: What can I say… It’s a fruit salad! What’s interesting in this case is that those 21 fruit notes, once blended together, create something new. Everyone can tell it’s fruity, but no one can pinpoint a precise fruit note without hesitation. Personally, I can’t wait to wear this one next summer, although the bugs might fall in love with me…
  17. RedRoseMaze
    Gosurori
    Category: Anime & Manga
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    GOSURORI
    GothLoli’s depict a demure, well-bred yet stylized blend of dark, brooding Gothic and cute, childlike Lolita…a throw-back to the genteel, prim and proper eras. Whether wearing Victorian, Rococo, or Edwardian, knee-length dresses, petticoats and crinolines, ribbons and lace, over-knee stockings, boots or Mary Janes, top hats and parasols, Gothic Lolita’s are in perfect style! Anime/Manga include Bizenghast , Rozen Maiden , and DOLL . Earl Grey, sugared rose petals, vanilla cream
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Sweetened Earl Grey tea and rose. Or what you would get if you dropped a rose in your grand-father’s favourite tea… It smells good, actually.
     
    Wet: It smells a bit more like rose once on skin, with a sweet creamy note (vanilla?).
     
    Dry: Tea, rose, sugar, cream, and vanilla cupcakes… I think it’s got all the ingredients for a successful loli tea party!
     
    Verdict: I had mixed feelings toward this one at first, because I’m not a fan of anime or manga, and yet I was curious enough to try it. It’s like an old woman’s perfume with added sugar, and it’s very elegant. I will certainly try some more from the Anime & Manga collection.
  18. RedRoseMaze

    Good Judy: Gothic

    By RedRoseMaze,

    Gothic
    Category: Punk
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    GOTHIC
    Dramatic and romantic. Moody, mysterious and morbid. Pale skin. Black and jewel-toned velvets mixed with lace and leather. Influenced by the supernatural and the creative. Black roses planted in graveyard dirt. Blood-red lips inhaling a sweet-clove cigarette. A crushed velvet choker cutting into smooth pale flesh. Beautifully dark and sweet.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: I do smell a rose, and something herbal, mixed with clover. It’s almost lemony.
     
    Wet: Yeah, I definitively smell clove, but it’s sweet and soft, with a background note of cigarette.
     
    Dry: A mix of (black?) rose and clove. It’s dark, bitter, and mysterious.
     
    Verdict: It’s too bad this one is not available anymore; it’s gender-neutral, not too feminine. However, I suppose it competed with the American Gothic collection. Thanks for the remaining sample, Gary!
  19. RedRoseMaze
    Gravy
    Category: Signature Scents
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    GRAVY
    Gravy is Good Judy's signature scent! This is some awesome sauce!
    Two warm, buttery vanillas folded into creamy cocoa butter and poured over spicy warm resins. Soft and glowing. Warm and comforting. Nice and sweet, with something a little mysterious and dark underneath.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: I smell a mix of spiced vanilla and cocoa butter. It’s very yummy, like warm cookies or cake.
     
    Wet: A warm and very buttery vanilla, with a note of chocolate, and some resins underneath.
     
    Dry: It still smells like warm cake, with a resin under-note. It seems worthy of Mary Jo’s bakery.
     
    Verdict: Gravy is very decadent, and it opens my appetite. However, it’s not as decadent as Atomic Cheesecake, but it has an interesting (or even sexy) spicy aspect.
  20. RedRoseMaze
    Hanami
    Category: Limited Edition (Spring 2009)
    Quantity: 5ml bottle
     
    Description:
    HANAMI
    Hanami is the Japanese tradition of viewing the flowering trees. When the Sakura (cherry) and Ume (plum) Trees blossom, spectators arrive in throngs to view the ephemeral and beautiful flowers and picnic on foods and sake. The Hanami tradition is as anticipated and celebrated as Leaf Season in America.
    Sakura blossom, ume blossom, sake
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: This smells like spring to me, and walking through the apple and cherry trees in bloom. Although, in this case, it’s cherry and plum…
     
    Wet: The flowers are exploding under my nose. The plum came first, and then the cherry.
     
    Dry: I’m still getting a lot of the flowers, but with a little bit of sake as well. It’s strange, but it smells a bit like spray net…
     
    Verdict: Hanami has a serious, mature feeling. I don’t doubt this could be an elegant Japanese woman’s favourite perfume.
  21. RedRoseMaze
    Honey Patch
    Category: Resinate
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    HONEY PATCH
    In the wild, unadulterated lands of the free, grows the honey patchouli tree. Earthy, warm, and golden. Patchouli and two sweet golden honeys.
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Honeyed, sweetened patchouli; yet, the patchouli is quite strong.
     
    Wet: What a sweet honey! I can’t decide if it’s herbal or floral (maybe both?), but I can smell the honey very well, and I can almost imagine its texture. Yum.
     
    Dry: The patchouli comes out as it dries, but it keeps a good balance with the honey.
     
    Verdict: This perfume has a little bit of a borderline personality, always on the edge between honey and patchouli. Honestly, patchouli isn’t my thing, so my enthusiasm was limited from the start. However, I have to admit that this blend is interesting.
  22. RedRoseMaze

    Good Judy: Jolt

    By RedRoseMaze,

    Jolt
    Category: In The Mood
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    JOLT
    Wake up! Get revved and ready to go go go! Cuban coffee, black tea, double shot of espresso, spices
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: It’s spicy; I identify clove and pepper.
     
    Wet: More clove! There’s some dark, maybe even black, coffee behind it.
     
    Dry: Finally, I get the black coffee and black tea, but it’s still very spicy.
     
    Verdict: Overall, it’s masculine-neutral; interesting, but just not my thing.
  23. RedRoseMaze
    Key Lime Pie
    Category: Mary Jo's Bakery
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    KEY LIME PIE
    A southern Florida treat loved by all. Fresh, tart key limes blended with sugar, egg yolks and sweetened condensed milk, all poured into a lightly baked graham cracker crust. This one will make your teeth ache!
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: An intense smell of sugary graham crust.
     
    Wet: Sugar, cream (or milk), egg, and graham. The lime is very subtle.
     
    Dry: Overall, it doesn’t have much throw, and the lime note quickly fades away.
     
    Verdict: It’s sweet and creamy, but not for me. Another one in the “future soap” box...
  24. RedRoseMaze
    Lava Rocket
    Category: Starlite Oasis
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    LAVA ROCKET
    Turn it on. Warm it up. Watch it erupt. Get ready for blast off baby! Cassia, clove, black pepper, molten musk, orange lava
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: I smell cassia, pepper, clove, and a little bit of musk. So far, it’s alright.
     
    Wet: Hmm, spicy! I get clove and pepper first, then musk.
     
    Dry: Now it’s just old musk...
     
    Verdict: No, not my thing, it’s just too oldish, and maybe a little bit too masculine for me.
  25. RedRoseMaze
    Love Potent
    Category: In The Mood
    Quantity: sample
     
    Description:
    LOVE POTENT
    Ooh la la! Love is life! Good Judy’s Love Potent is a precursor to the ultimate experience in life. Love for life. Love for yourself. Love for another. Male, female, and everyone in between…however you love, whomever you love… let love shine from the deepest, darkest part of your soul to the infinite far-reaches of the universe. For without love, we have nothing. Rose, spiced musk, bay, violet, gardenia, jasmine, ginger
     
    Review:
     
    In the bottle: Spicy rose and flowers.
     
    Wet: At first, it’s a spicy mix of rose, violet, gardenia, jasmine. Then, I get a faint scent of musk and bay.
     
    Dry: After a while, musk and ginger take over the flowers. I’m still getting a little bit of violet, and maybe another flower, but I don’t know which one.
     
    Verdict: This is sexy, and maybe even empowering; but unfortunately, it doesn’t last very long. The two times I’ve worn this one so far, I kept adding some more on my skin, so the sample is already half-empty. Because of that, I hesitate to buy a bottle. Otherwise, it’s lovely.
×