venusinfurs

Strangely enough, Smut is quite sugary on me. Like a sticky sugary lollipop. I get a slight hint of grape and the musks warm it a bit, but it's a very sweet scent on me. It's one of my favorites, actually! It's sweet while still being a bit dark.

In the imp: Heavy floral, but a "white" floral. Sweet and clean. Wet on skin: Soap. Like most of BPAL's white florals on me Dry on skin: Yuck, I don't think I like jasmine at all...either on me or in general. I know it's not the rose, because I ADORE bpal's rose and I'm not smelling it at all. I'm also usually not a fan of myrrh. I think this needs to go off to the swaps unless it morphs dramatically.

Frimp from the lab. I'm nervous based on the reviews--sandalwood and amber are all kinds of gross on my skin. In bottle: Ok, this smells really odd to me, maybe because I've never tried the really resinous, woody scents, but it reminds me of a cedar medicine cabinet with some kind of menthol medicine. Wet on skin: Pretty much the same. Something smells minty to me, and it is not at all reminding me of light. It smells just like wood. With menthol. Yuck. No warm Patchouli, no warm amber, just yucky mint wood. Dry on skin: Some of the minty freshness goes away, and it starts to warm up a bit (finally). It's actually not making my stomach turn now, and something sweet is coming through (maybe Patchouli), so now it smells more like spicy sandalwood. Not as bad as the beginning, but I'm still feeling a little nauseous from this. I think my skin amps sandalwood, because every blend I've tried with it I've ended up not liking. Off to the swaps...

Ordered a bottle of this simply based on my love for Persephone's rose note on my skin. I usually hate florals, but for some reason BPAL's rose note is sweet and beautiful and not old lady at all on me. In the bottle: A green, wet rose. It's rose, but sharp and a bit cold. There is something bitter and a little earthy lingering also. Wet on my skin: Still as it smells in the bottle, but the bitterness is amped a bit. I'm kind of disappointed because I'm not sure I like that bitter edge. Dry on skin: Ahhh, no more bitterness! Just beautiful, sweet fresh rose! It still has a "cold" feel to it, but I love it. It doesn't smell like perfume at all, but like fresh cut roses. This doesn't last as long as I thought it would. Persephone always seems to stick around on me, but this kind of faded after lunchtime.

I am a bit of a head in the clouds kind of person, so I think I am drawn to these types of scents. I have a lot of recommendations! Ondurdis from this year's yules makes me feel very ice-queen when I wear it. It's cold and piney, but has a hint of berries and spice that adds sexiness to the strong and icy overtone. I don't think it contains any of your notes of doom either (which are surprisingly close to mine...I can't wear amber, jasmine, or violet). Other snow/cold notes haven't had that effect on me, really, so this is one of my new favorites. When I wear Blood Countess I feel a very cold and calculating, narcissistic kind of disconnect. I guess it is very true to its namesake! I agree with the other member who recommended Czernobog. To me, it evokes a very isolated feeling, like pure darkness. It reminds me of the smoke monster on Lost. Black Forest, last but not least. This scent is being lost at night in a huge, cold, dark forest, no civilization in sight.

Free imp from the lab. In bottle: Soapy floral. Every light floral smells the same to me, really. There is something sharp in this one though, could be the lavender or sandalwood. Wet on skin: Soapy floral overload! Lavender and I'm assuming wisteria are the most prominent. I love BPAL's rose note, but I'm not getting any of it. No hint of sandalwood or musk, either. Dry on skin: I smell a bit of sweetness, which must be a hint of the musk coming out. I love white musk and was kind of hoping that soapy lavender smell would go away and reveal sandalwood and musk with a hint of floral. Actually, if anyone has smelled Robert Piguet Fracas, this has a similar flower garden but a little more smell. Just looked up the notes because it smells so similar, and it's actually floral (lillies, jasmine, orange blossom) with sandalwood and musk. I might wear this for a limited time in spring, but I doubt it will warrant a full bottle. It's not really me, especially how soapy lavender gets on me. For some reason I'm getting a sad but bright vibe from this, which would be perfect for a holiday like Easter.

Got this as a frimp from the lab. In the bottle: Aftershave? Really, it smelled soapy and masculine, like aftershave. Wet on skin: Salty and aquatic. Still smells soapish on me. I expected this to smell more similar to Anne Bonny, with that "pirate" something, but it hasn't yet. Dry on skin: It maintained the salty/aquatic character for quite a while, at least 30 mins. The warmer woods and spice started to come out, but it is still very masculine and soapy on me. It smells a bit like a manly version of BBW Sea Island Cotton. It isn't unpleasant, but it's not me. Maybe in the summer months! It could be dead sexy on the right man though! I actually see it more on a preppy New England man with a sailboat than a pirate...haha!

I got this as a frimp from the lab. In the imp: Hmm...much stronger than I expected, though nice. Like a man's cologne a woman could get away with wearing. The orange blossom is definitely present. Wet on skin: Very soapy, although every "white" flower smell goes dial bar soap on me. I was hoping the leather in this could make it work. Dry on skin: There's the leather! A very fresh, new kind of leather scent though, not the dry and dusty kind. I smell the flowers, which are quite sweet, along with a very faint hint of spice/incense. The scent is still overall very fresh smelling. It's like wearing brand new leather pants on Easter Sunday though--a little odd, but it could work. I'm going to keep my imp, as I don't think this is quite big bottle worthy.

I bought this on a whim. I have never smelled BPAL's snow/ice/winter notes, so I picked this based on the name alone, really. In the bottle: At first I thought pine, but it's not quite pine, but some form of evergreen. Very much like a forest of mixed evergreens. A faint sweetness lingers, which smells like sugar at the moment. The end of the sniff is very cold, sort of like menthol, but doesn't quite smell minty. It's like breathing in cold air and sweet pine trees. I'm liking it. Wet on skin: It's complex, but the pine/tree smell is most prominent, with the second being the ozone/menthol. There is a hint of the berries that others were talking about, but the sweetness fades. It's strong, like wind hitting me in the face, so it's doing its job fitting with the description. I'm getting a little worried though, because the pine tree smell is so strong. Dry on skin: O.M.G. This is a gorgeous scent. The pine and cold wind smell die down just as the berries and sweetness kick in, and they all blend perfectly on my skin. The berries began to get spicier and spicier as the day went on. My skin tends to sweeten every smell, so the strong pine and cold notes really helped to balance out the sweetness. I think I am smelling apple toward the end of the day. It smells christmas-y but not, sort of like a pine tree and some fruit thrown out in the cold in January. I guess it could be? I'm so glad I have a bottle of this. It would be a great everyday winter scent, or even for getting in the holiday spirit! I have never had a scent where it was love and first sniff--usually scents have to grow on me. This has been the first I really can say I love. I couldn't stop sniffing my wrists all day.

I bought this on a whim. I have never smelled BPAL's snow/ice/winter notes, so I picked this based on the name alone, really. In the bottle: At first I thought pine, but it's not quite pine, but some form of evergreen. Very much like a forest of mixed evergreens. A faint sweetness lingers, which smells like sugar at the moment. The end of the sniff is very cold, sort of like menthol, but doesn't quite smell minty. It's like breathing in cold air and sweet pine trees. I'm liking it. Wet on skin: It's complex, but the pine/tree smell is most prominent, with the second being the ozone/menthol. There is a hint of the berries that others were talking about, but the sweetness fades. It's strong, like wind hitting me in the face, so it's doing its job fitting with the description. I'm getting a little worried though, because the pine tree smell is so strong. Dry on skin: O.M.G. This is a gorgeous scent. The pine and cold wind smell die down just as the berries and sweetness kick in, and they all blend perfectly on my skin. The berries began to get spicier and spicier as the day went on. My skin tends to sweeten every smell, so the strong pine and cold notes really helped to balance out the sweetness. I think I am smelling apple toward the end of the day. It smells christmas-y but not, sort of like a pine tree and some fruit thrown out in the cold in January. I guess it could be? I'm so glad I have a bottle of this. It would be a great everyday winter scent, or even for getting in the holiday spirit! I have never had a scent where it was love and first sniff--usually scents have to grow on me. This has been the first I really can say I love. I couldn't stop sniffing my wrists all day.

Source: Free imp from the lab! In the imp: Plastic and cinnamon. I'm also getting a bit of a burnt or smoky smell, which is probably the dark incense. Wet on skin: All cinnamon. I'm really a little disappointed at this point. I can smell a bit of clove, but cinnamon is so strong. Dry down: The cinnamon is backing off. Thank goodness. The blend sweetens a bit, which may be the fruit. Patchouli can go sweet on me as well, and it is starting to come into the background. 10 minutes on skin: This scent is sexy! Like sweet, fresh cinnamon with a dark undertone. Oddly, I smell something that reminds me of Fae. It smells like Fae's older sister...dark and moody. It must be the peach, since that's the only similar note. BPAL's peach on me never smells like peach, just sweet freshness. I like it a lot. Definitely a deep dark red scent. At first I thought this was quite masculine, but now that the peach has come through, I'm not so sure.

I got this free from the lab. I will start with saying I was so nervous, considering I have disliked almost every amber I've encountered, except the amber in Bastet, but I think that was because it was hidden by other notes. It usually goes total sweet baby powder on me. In the imp: Smells very green floral. I'm thinking that is the myrtle/carnation/apple blossom. Hmm...maybe promising, although it is actually a bit more sharp than I'd expect. Wet on skin: Wow, I guess that's why I hate amber! I smelled none in the imp, but as soon as it hit my skin it was all amber and flowers. Surprisingly, though, this amber stays sweet and warm instead of dull baby powder. I'm intrigued. Dry on skin: Fresh and sexy! The amber(s) blend gorgeously with the sharpness of the greens and the sweetness of the flowers. Most of my bpal scents are spicy and drop dead sexy, so I've been looking for a more "everyday" scent. I may have found it! Who would have guessed with 5 ambers, which is usually my note of doom. This is a very close to the skin scent, as it doesn't have much throw, soft and sweet but nowhere near cloying, but it's still interesting and feminine enough to enjoy wearing.

This is the first lunar BPAL I've ever bought, luckily it was a good choice In the bottle: Very sweet, honey with some nuttiness. Like others have said, though, it's not really foody. Just sweet and pretty. Not really smelling any fruit, fur, pine at all. It smells kind of like how I wished O smelled on me! Wet on skin: WOW hazelnut. All nut. It made me very nervous...I like hazelnut, but I don't want it to be ALL hazelnut! Dry down: Hazelnut is still very present, but thankfully dying a bit. There is a beautiful musk note in this blend. It's warm, comforting cherries, hazelnut, and honey, with musky furry awesomeness. I also detect something "cold." Must be the pine and moonlight, although I have never specifically picked out a pine note in this blend. It is absolutely amazing how much the musk/fur/pine blends together so well to smell like my cat when she's been sleeping under the pine trees in our yard. I can't specifically pick out any berry either. If the scent had a color, it'd definitely be brown! I think it captures perfectly what the description says: comfort, warmth, days turning warmer, but still that hint of lingering cold. This is a very versatile scent. It could be used for cuddling up on the couch, or a day of skiing or hiking when it's chilly. I can see it being a beautiful intimate date kind of scent too. There is something sexy about it, despite being evocative of a Mama Bear. It's definitely a winter kind of scent. Weird that another reviewer said this was beautiful with Bewitched, because I was thinking this could be worn in the spring/early summer if layered with a greener berry or pine scent, like Bewitched. It's complex so I will probably let it age some. Most of the more complex blends are better that way!

I got two frimps of this scent from the lab. It's my first voodoo blend! In the imp,it smelled very floral and green. That could be vetiver, as some people have said. I've never tried a blend with that note so I'm not sure what I'm smelling. On my skin it is a VERY strong floral. I don't know where everyone else is getting cedar, because all I smell is sickenly sweet floral. Not really liking it so much. It does have a bit of a warming effect on my skin. The spice (ginger or cinnamon?) comes through at the end, but something powdery is also starting to come through. After an hour it was much better, a warm ginger woody scent, but I don't think I can get through the first part. I rarely have scents morph like that on me, though, so I'm excited to try other voodoo blends!

I got this as a freebie from the lab. I would have never ordered this on my own! Imp: Lots of orange. Fresh, green orange, not sweet or sugared orange. Wet on skin: Fresh orange is still strong, but now it's slightly floral. Smells like an expensive men's cologne to me. Smells summery, but like a sultry summer night in a jungle, not a day at the beach. Dry on skin: Wood? Maybe that's the smoke I'm smelling, but there is not a hint of flowers left on me. The orange faded some, so now it's a smoky woody orange. Still very masculine, but still seems more like a "summer" cologne. I like the smell of it, but not sure I like it for me. Maybe I will give it to the fiance Overall: Not the orange creamsicle and plumeria I was hoping for, but still an interesting and well done scent. Definitely not my style, but might hold on to it in case I ever get in a mood. I think my chemistry amps smoke to the point of overpowering everything else in this. After about 5-6 hours I smell like a cedar box with no hint of anything else.

I got this as a frimp from the lab. In bottle: very floral, a bit green On skin: Quite strong and soapy. Goes a little more soft/powdery as it wears on. On skin after 10 minutes: Ahh, a little bit of incense finally! I like BPAL's rose note, but I can't smell it at all. It's all soapy and lily on me, until the spicy incense comes out a bit. I don't hate it, but it's a very pure/white smell that I can't see myself wearing very often. Maybe to church services on Good Friday or Christmas Eve, or a child's baptism. I'm not a huge fan of soapy florals, but this one is very well blended.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it yet, but Hairy Toad Lily! It is a very layered scent....at first I was like EW! then Hmmmm...then ok not so bad...really quirky and strange. Plus the lack of actual description/notes makes it even more fun to guess exactly what it is. CENTZON TOTOCHTIN has a very odd blood smell. I like the blood smell in other blends, but this one just seems unsettling to me. Could be because it's combined with wine and chocolate! Someone once sent me a freebie of a partial bottle of Bride of Dracula. It smells like a musty box with an old woman's perfume, accented by some kind of potent acidic smell. Really gross but I keep it just for novelty's sake. Odin is another blend I find sort of odd...but it works. It's dark and masculine, so you may actually like it. It's old man tobacco and gin smell, with a sweet top note and a hint of spice. Like hot peppers! Jazz funeral has been said a few times now, but that is a great recommendation. I love how unique that blend is.

Ok, so what are your attention-getting scents? I tried searching this forum, but I'm not necessarily looking for sexy scents or just scents with tons of throw, although those are elements of what I'm looking for. I am quiet by nature and need to sort of break out of my shell (particularly because I want to catch the attention of many people: this one guy I see frequently and have a crush on , my boss so he'll know I exist and do good work, networking with other professionals, going out with friends, etc.) Scent helps to get me in the right mood, and I haven't found the right type of scent yet. I love love love Smut, Snake Oil, Samhain, and Sacred Whore of Babylon, but scents tend to go all warm and sweet or girlish almost on me, making them awesome but subtle. I like Vixen, but I feel like it can be too much (and a few people have told me it smells like an old lady's perfume, lol). So what do you wear when you want to be social and noticed? I hate amber, but if it's in your power scent, well, post it anyway

I love everyone's suggestions! Halation, it sounds like we have similar chemistry. Amber goes powdery on me and everything else seems to go soft and sweet, except musks. I will definitely try your suggestions. Fenris Wolf sounds amazing, and I have had one good amber experience (Bastet), so it's not a 100% deal breaker when blended in a certain way. Love Me is really tempting, just based on the description alone. Thanks everyone! I never would have found those scents on my own.

I got Bastet as part of my first set of imps ever, and I still to this day love that scent. Unfortunately, every other scent with an amber note has given me this sickly, powdery, grandma perfume smell that makes me nauseated immediately. I thought I'd love O (LOVE vanilla and honey notes) but it was just nasty powder that gave me a headache! Maybe it's just Egyptian amber that I like, which would make sense since I have found different musks, patchoulis, etc. smell differently on me, and some I like more than others. I liked some of the suggestions in this thread, so maybe I will give another amber scent a try eventually!

I have a bottle of Samhain that I absolutely love. It was my first BPAL scent! I bought it from the sale boards, full bottle, unsniffed, unfamiliar with BPAL. So, you can say it started my addiction. I have never gotten pumpkin from it. It's more of a hay/leaves/forest/apples and spice scent. I lived in New Hampshire for three years, and it reminds me of fall up there. I live in southern PA now, and fall just smells "different" in New England. October smells like it too, but it is a less spicy/sweet version of Samhain, in my opinion. I got a sniffie of Wiley's Swamp from someone in the sale boards with an order, and it instantly reminded me of fall in PA. Kind of a wet, decaying smell compared to New Hampshire's sharp, crisp, dry coolness. Bonfire Night smells like highschool to me! Seriously, beer and fires. It's awesome, but I don't think I would wear it as a perfume or even as a room scent. Just something to sniff every once in awhile! Pumpkin Latte and Gingerbread Poppet are both very warm, comforting, foody type fall scents. I am anxious to try more of the "sweet" halloweenies, since I've mostly been trying the "dead, decaying leaves" type, so I'm going to switch it up this year.

Samhain has a note that smells like hay/dry decaying leaves. I quite like it, so I should try some of the other scents mentioned here!

An ancient formula that inspires unrepentant decadence, lechery and debauch. I was scared to try this one due to a lot of bad ratings. I'm glad I gave it a chance though, it's a gorgeous scent! In the bottle: FLOWERS, with a hint of sweet fruit. Wet on skin: I wish I knew exactly what flower note this was (most are saying Gardenia, but I'm really not good at picking flower notes except rose) because it works on me. Smells like dewy wet flowers with cinnamon and sugar. Dry on skin: Still fresh flowers with cinnamon and sugar. This is sort of turning into a fresh scent rather than a sweet scent. I love it. Very sensual and feminine. A seductress would totally wear this.

Anne Bonny is the first scent I have tried that smelled like I really thought its namesake should! This is totally evil, mischievous, pirate woman. In the bottle: Strong scent, smells of patchouli and is very incense-y. Wet on skin: Smells kind of complicated for only having three notes! Soapy and dry, with a pungent sharp resinous scent lurking in there. Dry on skin: The dryness and sharpness is still there, but the soap scent fades and it gets a little sweeter. There's something in there I'm really not a fan of at all. It could be the frankincense, as I've never tried a scent with that note before. Very woody and slightly spicy. I'm not getting much of the patchouli at all. This is a unique scent, but I'm not sure it's for me. I might try it a couple more times, then send it to the swaps.

Berries with something green, like berries on a bush. Bright, but not without a hint of something darker lurking. I'm assuming that's the musk. This is surprisingly lovely, especially for summer.