mistressfizz

Sniff: Sugar & sparkles! Wet: This is sweet & tart hard candy, over a musky base. Has a fizzy tang and almost raspberry-like sourness. Dry: Well, this fades incredibly fast on me. It dries to just a trace of light musk, then disappears in an hour. It's definitely a scent with a sweet tooth. Sadly, this really doesn't work on me.

Sniff: Whoa, I pick up something citrus, definitely not expected. It's got an incense base, but I didn't think it would be fruity as well Wet: The fruit mellows. It's less tangy and more of a sweet suggestion. There's a brightness to this blend which takes me by surprise. There's hints of yellow flowers and a dry herbal quality, wrapped beneath a core of dense incense Dry: As it dries, this deepens, becomes more dry and heavy. I can still detect soft florals and herbs, but mostly it's a golden incense.

Sniff: Soft wispy patchouli, a gentle muted earth tone Wet: Still very much a patchouli blend, but there's a spicy vibe from the sandalwood, lending an exotic air. This is much richer than expected, almost resinous in its thickness. It's very soft and smooth, quiet yet with a definite presence. Dry: Slightly spicy, powdery patchouli. Sadly, this fades rather quickly on me, but I love its gentle earthiness while it lasts.

Sniff: citrus flavor, kind of like orange cream wafers. not very sharp, but strong Wet: citrus note develops a pleasant tang and continues to brighten. the scent overall is light and crisp, verges on foodie, with hints of cream and lemon and light flowers. Dry: dries astringent and soft. this is more like white or green tea to me, not as robust as most black teas, with only slight earthy tones. It's pretty, a very spring scent.

Sniff: Golden florals, very faint Wet: This is all amber and molten gold, with a dusty background and slightly spicy floral. It reminds of me dried mums in a summer wreath. I wish it were stronger, this is barely detectable on my wrist, even when I tip the bottle right over my skin Dry: Still very faint. Under a lovely haze of golden flowers is this odd plastic odor, like melting vinyl. If it weren't for that sickly note, I would like this much more.

[2006 Version] Sniff: Ah, soft resins, very quiet & smooth Wet: Florals come out, mostly rose. It's a deep, dense rose with just a hint of spice. There's just a tiny bit of sweetness. The resins get dustier. Dry: And this finishes to soap. A pleasant dusty floral soap, with undercurrents of smoke. Soothing and gentle.

Sniff: Light, crisp, and something kind of musky in the background... Wet: Yup, there's musk! A bright musk, bordering on aquatic, with a fizzy vibe. I've never smelled anything quite like this before! Definitely like a cologne, but lacks the sharpness and bite I usually associate with cologne. There's a hint of citrus and a vibrant herbal quality. Dry: I'm really liking this! It dries to a creamy musk, maintaining a light clean tone, but without the pop of the beginning phase. Refreshing and something I'll be reaching for during hot summer months.

My first pumpkin patch! Sniff: Buttery pumpkin, sweet Wet: The grass notes come out to play! Slightly herbal, but not sharp at all, thanks to the creamy pumpkin note. It's not as sweet now; as it warms, it becomes green and more savory than sweet. It's lighter than expected, almost wispy. Dry: Stays light and soft. Not quite dusty enough to be a desert scent, but close. A wonderful gentle mix of pumpkin & herbs, reminds me of hay bales in a grassy autumn field.

Sniff: Definitely get a charred vibe from this. Champaca is the strongest note, with dusty burnt woods in the background Wet: Auuurrgh! On my skin, the oudh dominates, a sharp, sour smell like band aids and rotting dry wall. Underneath, I can detect smoke and some earthiness, but holy crap, my skin is amping the oudh and making a mess of this. Dry: Whew, OK, the oudh burns off after about 30 minutes or so, and I'm left with soft champaca incense. It's not as dark or heavy as I expected. There's a gentle richness of earth & woods, and it doesn't smell like a headshop, more like an outdoor temple. I don't know if the end result is worth the nasty middle phase. My skin chemistry definitely did wonky things here.

Sniff: Dusty, dark, with a woodsy spice Wet: Surprisingly thick and creamy, with an oddly milky note, like spiced yogurt. I was not expecting that! There's a kick which is not at all like the cinnamon spice from baking or apple cider. This is woodsy and dry, reminds me of roots and leaf tinctures. Dry: Mmmmm, this dries smooth, the kick of the cinnamon has melted into a lovely earthy spice, deliciously dark and just the right amount of dusky powder. One of my favorites from this Shunga update!

Amazingly, I got a frimp of this with a recent BPTP order! Thanks, Puddin! Sniff: Light and vaguely sweet with sharp ozone. definitely watery & aquatic Wet: Stays light and fresh, the ozone/water notes become more pronounced. There's something almost nutty in the background, mixed with a hint of fruit and mint. It's like a cocktail with a splash of fruit juice and a side of salty snacks. Dry: Something kind of greasy/oily emerges as this dries and there's a hint of sweet tobacco (I think this is what the initial nutty note evolved into). It seems more far flung and ethereal in this phase. The ozone is not as sharp and the salty flavor is more gentle. In the end, it's like a soft, clean cologne with hints of sweetness.

Sniff: Dark and slightly resinous, with a hint of something sharp, like citrus or herbs Wet: Not what I was expecting at all! I thought this would be dominated by florals, but it's more smoky and spicy, with a tingling bitter edge and earthy/mossy background. Dry: Powdery, spicy incense. It's a rich blend and borders on being warm. But the herbs create a sharp unsettled tone that prevent this from being too soft. It's dark and dense. I like it, but I'm not crazy about it.

Sniff: Beautiful deep resin, with hints of warm amber Wet: A complex & dark frankincense, woodsy and dense and soft, with a comforting solid warmth, like having a wool blanket wrapped about you. Glorious! Dry: And here is where I break down -- as this dries, it turns into total baby wipes on me. Occasionally, I get a whiff of the amazing incense notes, but then it goes back to a sour powdery mess. This is the first time a resin blend has done this to me...

Sniff: Sweet fruit juice mixed with an earthy muskiness Wet: Definitely earthy, but not in a "dirty" headshop way. It's more like being underground. There are also notes of fruit and spice, but not quite sweet, more sour. It's kind of like being in a wine cave. There's a sense of cool earth and sharp stone, but also the tang of sugary fermentation. Dry: Sadly, this turns to pure baby powder when dry. Every now and then, I get a whisper of the delicious earthy/fruity wet phase, but then it fades back into powder. If it weren't for the dry down, I would love this one.

Sniff: Sharp musk, a scratchy resin, hints of amber Wet: Mostly resin, thick with a slightly fruity background. There's something a bit woodsy and herbal, like sandalwood or cedar. Even though it's heavy, it's soft, like a velvet curtain. Dry: Very pleasant dusty resin, with a spicy gentle breath of musk. It's nice but a tad generic.

Sniff: Herbal and floral, with a woodsy base Wet: The woods intensify and warm up, it feels almost like amber, but dark & resiny instead of golden. The floral notes become sharper and I get a slight citrus tang. This is light yet substantial and reminds me of spring on the horizon, with a shadow of winter lingering. Dry: As this dries, the resins grow stronger and wear a veil of ashy incense. The citrus/floral notes evolve into a pleasant spice, earthy and warm, which is wonderful combined with the woodsy resins. As a whole, the scent is surprisingly soft. It has a definite warmth which is gentle yet powerful at the same time. Delighted to have a bottle of this, it's lovely and unexpectedly comforting.

Sniff: Hello, sage! Herbal, grassy Wet: The sage is strong in this one! A richly floral blend dominated by the sharp sage. I also get some sweet notes, combined with delicate white musk. Overall, it's pretty and soft. Dry: Something weird happens as this dries. The flowers turn sour and pungent, almost like they’re rotting. I get more mossy notes at this stage and something akin to wet soil. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s also not what I normally enjoy wearing.

This is quite delectable, sweet chocolate mixed with velvety roses and a dash of vanilla. As it soaks into my bath water, it leans heavily on the foodie side, with the rose providing a pleasant backdrop. Afterwards, my skin had a lingering hint of creamy sweetness and roses, which lasted until I fell asleep. A very charming bath oil!

Sniff: Grassy! Has a golden aura, a bit scratchy and yellow Wet: Florals start to emerge, but it's still got a grassy overtone. Mums are dominant and the overall feel is dry and dusty. I get colors of light tan and wheat, like a herd of dun horses. Dry: As this dries, it becomes warmer, with the amber and frankincense kicking in. The overtly grassy notes calm down, and I get a lovely dusty, wispy, slightly green scent, mixed with sweet chrysanthemum and powdery rose. Soft, warm and comforting, very pretty.

Sniff: Mossy & salty Wet: Damp aquatic notes with a thick layer of sweet honeysuckle. It's clean and refreshing, without the cologne vibe that aquatic blends sometimes have. Hints of green and golden yellow flowers help balance it out. Dry: Stays much the same - a salty breeze wafting over a field of honeysuckle blooms. Even though this is really pretty, I'm not a fan of aquatics in general. I probably wouldn't wear this, but would recommend it for those who like aquatic blends.

Sniff: Thick, rich chocolate with an almost musky base Wet: Mostly chocolate with hints of citrus and sweet myrrh. It's almost foodie, but there's some bitterness and smoke which smudge the blend into darker territory. The flowers are lurking in the background, just a tiny whiff every now and then. Dry: This one really morphs on me! As it dries, the chocolate fades and this ends up all dusty rose and tart pomegranate. Where is the chocolate? Where did the myrrh and darker notes go?

Sniff: Sweet crispy apples surrounded by white flowers Wet: The apples calm down and florals take over the party. This is bright and pretty, fragrant but not heady. I can't detect specific flowers, but it's definitely white and pink. Borders on delicate, but theres an earthy undercurrent which gives it structure. It's very pretty and a good spring scent. Dry: Alas, as it dries, a sickly sour note emerges. Like somehow the flowers started fermenting. I think it might be the wine or sap. Whatever it is, it makes me sad. I love the way this one starts, but the drydown doesnt work on me at all!

Sniff: Oh my, deep brown leather with hints of grass. I think I'm going to like this! Wet: A rich worn leather, no chemical sharpness here. There's definitely spice lurking in the background. It’s not a foodie spice, but pleasantly herbal, refreshing and clean, balancing the heaviness of the leather. It has an almost “formal” feel, ceremonial and solemn, but comforting at the same time. I imagine a dark sacred grove, deer and fox and the occasional bear keeping watch. Dry: The woods & musk become stronger, tempering the leather. I thought this would be Spanked Lite, but it has evolved into something different altogether. It dries dusty leather & woods and is surprisingly light, with a gentle but insistent warmth. A beautiful natural leather blend!

This review is for the 2011 blend. Sniff: A spike of tart juniper Wet: Herbal and sharp, with a pine scent emerging. This definitely exhibits the classic BPAL "snow" note: minty, slightly sweet brush of vanilla, chilly & light. The hemlock adds a green, fresh feel. Dry: Over time this becomes mostly mint and muted berries. While it's pretty, I prefer Virginia or The Phoenix in Winter, which have similar notes of juniper and snow, but more depth.

Sniff: Faint whisper of mint Wet: Mint is definitely the strongest note. I was hoping for a more herbal greenish scent, with the eucalyptus component, but this is all sugary chewing gum mint, sweet and sharp. Dry: Still sweet, but kind of musky, maybe from the amber. The mint is lighter, pale and lofty. This one is a bit too light for me.