The Amber Dawn

I don't know how else to describe it, though I don't think I've tried or liked most anything else in this thread I do love The First of the Three Spirits and to me it's a very fruity floral.

Figured this was the place to ask, anybody have thoughts or comparisons on the newest lavender blends? I loooove The Air and The Ether and TKO but I haven't tried many other lavender blends and wondering what the lavender lovers out there think or what their new faves are.

Spring! Anybody swapping their scents as the seasons change, and what are your picks this spring?

Trying to nail down the notes that do and don't work on me, feel like orris is a possible note I amp or don't like, but is there a more complete list of orris notes or easier way to search for LEs with that note?

Trying out The Air and The Ether and not sure if it's the ambergris or the "pale" amber I'm loving.. guess I have to try some more ambergris scents!

Haven't been active in ages, but even when I was I couldn't even really find 10 I liked out of possibly hundreds tested. Returning to some of my faves and I love them even more with age, so any help finding new loves is much appreciated!

Top 5:

The Girl

The First of the Three Spirits

Boo 2010

Door

TKO

 

Alright, lets see what you lovelies think I'd like:

 

1. The Girl
2. Door
3. TKO
4. Black Lace
5. Boo 2010

With Mouse's Long and Sad Tale being that one I just can't bear not to mention but have a hard time fitting in there.

Against Idleness and Mischief (kinda like Door but heavier on the honey), Beaver Moon I 2013 (you have some creamy faves and this is delish)

 

Ooh, I'll have to try those out! Thanks <3

Alright, lets see what you lovelies think I'd like:

1. The Girl
2. Door
3. TKO
4. Black Lace
5. Boo 2010

With Mouse's Long and Sad Tale being that one I just can't bear not to mention but have a hard time fitting in there.

I usually use Boo 2010, but I love mostly sweeter blends so if TKO is too sweet then you probably wouldn't like Boo. (I also like TKO, Mouse's Long and Sad Tale, and Dorian.)

Other than BPAL:

- Try using an eye mask and ear plugs

- Make sure your bedroom is completely dark (black out curtains)

- Lower the temperature or use a thinner blanket if you stay awake from being too hot and vice versa turn it up or use more blankets if you shiver yourself awake (just try to keep the temperature relatively cool and stable all night)

- Try to eliminate any irritants that might awaken you

- Limit any tv/computer/bright screen usage before bed because it tricks your body

- Take some time before bed to meditate or read or otherwise relax and clear your mind and maybe make your drowsy

- Limit caffeine before bed or even just limit caffeine intake in general for a while to give your body a rest from the stimulants

- Don't lie in bed if you can't sleep try getting up and only going to bed when you are tired

- Work out in the afternoons it helps you fall asleep

- Focus on one sound until you fall asleep (really stay focused!) like the hum of your fridge or something

- Try using a white noise sleep app on your phone to help lull you to sleep

- Keep as regular a sleep schedule as possible

- Try sleeping an hour more or less to see if that works better for you (I find a lot of the time I only get 6-7 hours and trying to sleep more just ends with me tossing and turning all night)

Just wantzed to add my bit about a Giant Vulva substitute: I have an aged (cobalt) bottle of Xiuhtecuhtli, and it smells very, very similar to my GV.

Xiu seems more.. orange, though. Spicy orange blossom. But the rest - the sugary, slightly musky floral quality - all GV on me. Xiu will be my go-to scent in case I happen to finish my 2 GV bottles.

A little different than GV but from the same scent family: Blossoms in Springtime.

Ooh I might have to try Blossoms in Springtime now!

And if you like Giant Vulva and Xiuhtecuhtli, then you should try The First of the Three Spirits as well.

Well it's BPTP but Celeste is strong! Probably the strongest one I know.

Other oils that come to mind as being very noticeable on me are Door, Mouse's Long and Sad Tale, Black Lace, and Cake Smash.

Any suggestions for something to try that is mostly that sweet vanilla note, but has some more complicated undertones to tone down the sweetness just a tad and satisfy the spice-lover/fruit-lover/foodie in me?

Have you tried layering? I lover layering Boo 2010 with Black Lace but 2010 doesn't have any lemon in it.

We even have some favourites in common, but I am drawing a blank here! Boo is the warmest, simplest sweet scent I've found. Most of the sweet blends that come to mind aren't vanilla at all!

My boyfriend is also fond of Boo.

I'm not sure what you have, but Morocco and Lyonesse would be my suggestions.

Not entirely sure if these are what you are looking for, but these are some of my favourites:

Door - Golden honey, nicotiana, blue chamomile, and cistus.

Kind of bittersweet herbal/floral honey, but in a really good way. Similar to Deadly Nightshade Honey, but better.

Boo - Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream.

Can be hit or miss, since a lot of people have trouble with the cream note, but the 2012 version in particular is supposed to be lemon-y, and I can say this is one of my boyfriends favourites.

Snow White - A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers.

Another one that can be hit or miss, but if it does work for you it's very nice. Sweet and feminine for sure.

Mouse's Long and Sad Tale - Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood.

Sweet and creamy, but complex at the same time, one of my all time favourites.

Xiuhtecuhtli - Copal, plumeria and sweet orange and the smoke of South American incense and crushed jungle blooms.

Very nice tropical scent, light and bittersweet.

Morocco - Arabian spices wind through a blend of warm musk, carnation, red sandalwood and cassia.

Not a personal favourite because I don't feel it suits me, but it might be a nice middle-ground for you because it does have some warmer notes you may like, while still being feminine and creamy.

Also I'd agree that Dorian can be soft and sweet, but may be more neutral than 'girly', I do love it though.

And I would second Zephyr as well. <3

Er, so I hope my very biased recommendations might have something you like.

I wore The Girl for Thanksgiving, but not for any special reason, just because I love it. <3

Your mileage may vary, but I used to think that Deadly Nightshade Honey and Door were in the same scent family at least.

To The Amber Dark - I highly suggest something from Wanderlust for you, and maybe J-Horror.

AMSTERDAM

Tulips, peony, fresh flowing water and crisp green grasses.

CROSSROADS

The forks of the road: an in-between place, sacred and tangibly magickal in innumerable cultures and faiths. This scent is dark with mystery, taut with power. A chill twilit garden of blooms over dry earth and mosses, heavily laden with incense and offertory herbs.

GLASGOW

The rich scent of wild blackberry breezing over gentle rosy heather.

KYOTO

A gentle, soothing blend of cherry blossom, white sandalwood and star anise

LONDON

Venerable Victorian Tea Rose… twisted, blackened and emboldened with wickedness.

^.^ Don't take my word on it, but some of these seem like they may suit you and your free spirit, along with your creativeness. Seems like you're going down many different paths these days (hence crossroads).

Oooh thanks! I'll have to check those out!

Alright, I'm not (that) new to BPAL, but I've always wanted to post here (I've just been too shy). Here I go anyhow!

I'm 25, Aquarius/Tiger, Red-head with hazel eyes and glasses, currently living in Vancouver. For most of my life I had two-three feet of hair--now it's more of an asymmetrical half inverted bob/half boycut. I don't have any tattoos, but I've had up to 12 piercings at one time. I'm tall for a girl, but not tall enough to be "really tall". Always been an academic and a bookworm, first child of two, so I got straight A's for most of my school life.

Up until this last year, I didn't paint my nails, didn't wear makeup, didn't care about clothes or purses or shoes, and didn't use perfume--but in the last year all of those things have starting happening (o_o!). Historically my wardrobe has been purely hand-me-down and second hand, lately I've been coming to terms with my personal issues with money and actually buying new things for the first time in my life.

I have a diploma in Visual Arts, and an affinity for charcoal and oil painting. I've traveled across Europe, lived in South Korea, and worked in a small town in Alberta. I've done a Buddhist temple stay, and I've been in sex shops on three continents. If I had to choose one place to travel to for pleasure, I'd be hard pressed but I'd likely pick Japan or New York.

I love reading and stories in general. I am a pan-fandom geek, I like movies, tv, comics, manga, graphic novels, webcomics, webisodes, videogames, mmo's, and so on. Sci-fi and Fantasy call my name, but I love a good story, particularly if it's 'different'.

I've always been the quirky one, and a beacon for the strange and helpless. I guess I was always accepting, and not judgmental, so that drew people to me. I spent a lot of my high school life questioning gender and sexuality norms and supporting/defending LGBT students and issues.

I'm less flagrantly weird now than in high school, but only because a lot of what singled me out has become normal and popular, and unlike highschool, real life doesn't involve as much enforced socialization with large groups of your peers.

I'm pretty much solitary, I don't have any social life or friends thanks to my work schedule, and I spend most of my free time when I'm not at my jobs playing PC games, reading, painting, organizing stuff, walking in the park, taking photos, or indulging in one of my current obsessions (lately, shopping for new makeup, painting my nails, and BPAL).

If you're looking for a "fresh fabric" type smell, I'd say try Zephyr. I just got it and whenever I put it on I feel like I'm laying on a big fluffy sun-warmed blanket, on a big antique bed, laying in the sunlight in a south-facing attic bedroom on a dry-hot day. It's probably the most evocative scent I've tried, in terms of visualization, I don't usually interpret scents visually but this one just sticks with me. The dry-heat, sun-warmed blanket smell might be something you'd like though.

Someone had posted in their swap post I think, Bpal bottles with 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 imps full. Does anyone know where that pic is on the forum?! Thanks!

I don't know... but I have these two, if that helps:

Number One

Number Two

Alright, maybe out of left field here... But I've recently fallen head-over-heels for How Doth the Little Crocodile and I was wondering if there was anything else you guys can recommend that are in the same vein? I've tried a tonne of chocolate scents, but wood and nuts are usually very disastrous deal-breakingly bad notes on me and this one just breaks all the rules. (I see in the review thread references to Tombstone, Velvet, Boomslang, Wulric, and alot of other chocolate/woodsy scents that were all terrible on me.)

Also, does it mellow with age? Alot of people in the reviews seem to be describing something much more strongly choco-mint than what I seem to be experiencing... Am I going to have to cellar it?

Threadkiller?

Anyhow, I came here to confirm that for me at least, Xiuhecuhtli and The First of the Three Spirits are very very similar, but not exactly the same. If you're pining for some (or more) of The First, Xiuhecuhtli should soothe the itch at least.

I actually tried Xiuhecuhtli, The First of the Three Spirits, and Giant Vulva, all together last night. Giant Vulva is definitely more citrus-y and the easiest to single out of the three--but definitely in the same scent family. The First seems... rounder and smoother than Xiuhecuhtli, but almost too much for me sometimes. Xiuhecuhtli seems closer to Giant Vulva when wet, but on the dry down I had a hard time telling it apart from The First, except it seemed simpler and cleaner, almost sharper (but not stronger, just more direct if that makes sense).

I still like all three of course.

How would you compare and contrast Door and DNHoney?

 

On a totally unrelated note, I think Tzadikim Nistarim smells and feels a lot like Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse.

DNHoney is very very similar to Door out of all the other BPALs that I've tried. I find myself catching whiffs and thinking, "Is that Door? No, not quite". Mead Moon is also close, but not quite. Tobacco Honey is like a much stronger, less sweet version of Door.

So far Door is the best at what it does, and I haven't found anything that does it better--but DNHoney comes the closest.

Blood Countess, maybe? Or Dionysia?

 

Blood Countess: Corrupted black plum, smoky opium and crumbling dead roses covered by a deceptive veil of Hungarian lilac, white gardenia and wild berry.

 

Dionysia: Wild plum, pomegranate, raspberry, Siamese benzoin, plum blossom, patchouli, frankincense, and mahogany.

 

I've never smelled Dark Kiss, so I'm just working off the listed notes. Those are the most similar ones that I can think of right off the top of my head.

Oooh! Thanks! I happen to have a bit of both of those, so I can easily bring them in for her to try out. I'll still keep an eye to the spreadsheets, but it's a good start.

Alright, trying to enable a coworker, and she says she likes Bath and Body Works Dark Kiss.

Here's the excerpt from the site:

"...voluptuous berries, tempting blooms, sensual incense and night musk for this daring and seductive fragrance.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Incense, Mirabelle Plum, Black Raspberry

Mid Notes: Amber, Burgundy Rose, Geranium, Peony

Base Notes: Dark Vanilla Bean, Labdanum, Vetiver, Sensual Balsam, Musks"

"... is a seductive blend of dark berries with a kiss of vanilla to unleash your most primal passions

Key fragrance notes: sensual incense, Mirabelle plum, and night musk"

Anyone know of a BPAL that may fit the bill? I'm going to scour the site later, but wondering if anything comes to mind for anyone.