angelamaria

In bottle: this is a light floral, but once given a little aging it's more present than memory and my notes serve. It's a mix of peony and freesia with pale woods in the background. Almost heady.

Wet on skin: softens a bit and smooths out, it's not as strong as it was in the bottle--it's actually got an ethereal feel going on now. Lighter, but sweeter, and more evenly blended. It's difficult to really pinpoint what flowers I'm smelling.

Dry: soft floral with a very, very light fruity vibe from the peach. I'd say this is something like a "girlier", more "present" The Unicorn--it has that same kind of ethereal feel but with an extra dose of that peach to ground it, I think. It's soft, almost faint, but very pleasant. I keep expecting the carnation to rear its head and give me a dose of clove, but I'm not getting any of that here. Maybe the white variety is good for me?

Verdict: I'm keeping my bottles, I'm glad I chose to take a chance on this.

In bottle: dusty tea roses, a hint of sandalwood.

Wet on skin: the sandalwood starts to bloom warmed on my skin, and the tea roses soften, and starts to go powdery. It's a very pleasant, posh, old fashioned sort of scent.

Dry: tea roses and sandalwood, in equal portions. This is the simplest NYCC scent, but what you expect, you get here. This is a very old-fashioned, but not grandmother-y, and it does stay a tea rose (which is naturally a powdery kind) rather than straight-up powder on me. It's quite pleasant and brings to mind period hats and wallpaper and boudoir.

Verdict: a long time ago I wanted to have a rose scent, but now I have resigned myself to the fact that I just don't like smelling of roses. But this is very, very pretty, I waffled about keeping this.

In bottle: creamy, lemony floral. This is vanilla with lemon and jasmine. It's got a foody vibe to it, although the florals are keeping it from all-out foody. New, it has a sharp edge for me but with a bit of aging that's gone away.

Wet on skin: a bit softer on the floral, and the lemon also dies down. The flowers are more prominent. Soft, pleasant, but very creamy vanilla floral. The jasmine and gardenia are of the heady variety here.

Dry: soft creamy gardenia-leaning floral with a dash of lemon. When I tested this new, it was soft and faint, a bit like posh lotion; with a bit of aging on it, the throw has gotten considerably better. It still has a posh gardenia lotion feel to it. It feels quite voluptuous, but slightly understated, less in-your-face than if the florals were all out there.

Verdict: I liked this new but was on the fence about it, and wanted to see how it ages. It's very pretty with a bit of aging, but still narrowly misses the cut. I like my florals less headier.

In bottle: rose, vanilla, and fig. I can tell this won't work for my skin, as the rose is front and center for me, but it's lovely here.

Wet on skin: unexpectedly, this is cool to the nose, slightly "wintery". I'm getting fig; the (expectedly) powdery rose; and creamy vanilla. It's sweet and almost syrupy because of the honey, but it doesn't tip into foody or candy scale.

Dry: as expected, the rose has flown the coop. Actually, there is a faint rosiness to the powder I'm now getting, so at least it's staying a little bit more than expected, but after 30 minutes in, it's gone for me. There's still fig, honey and vanilla. The rose-powder variety for me is making me sneeze.

Verdict: I didn't expect this to be a winner, and it isn't. It's a lovely scent sans the horror that rose is on my skin, though.

In bottle: this is all soft patchouli, leather and sarsaparilla. This is very lovely! I can see why this is an NYCC favorite. It reminds me of Silver-Haired Bat a bit, but it's not as foody off the bat. Ahem.

Wet on skin: yes, definitely similar to SHB; it's more buttery, but less foody, if that makes sense. I think the sarsaparilla is giving it a definite Tombstone vibe as well. And a touch of something powdery seems to be coming in as well.

Dry: this keeps its Tombstone/SHB vibe, but with sweet leather coming up for me when dry--none of that sharp plasticky leather here. A sweet buttery leather, but soft and feminine--it's got that strength behind it but is all willowy and soft. At this moment I've given it a bit of aging and it's just as lovely as it was new. Based on my notes it's a bit more layered now, with the sarsaparilla/honeysuckle combo really shining here, I think.

Verdict: definitely a keeper! I am trying to cull a few scents from my keeper list and retested this, and it's definitely something.

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

I agree with this. It was definitely from the same scent family for me.

A question: Any recommendations for a BPAL scent that smells similar to Snow Glass Apples?

 

Background story:Bought an imp of Snow Glass Apples for a friend who was keen on trying BPAL perfumes,and now she's head over heels over it.Finding a bottle of Snow Glass Apples is difficult due to the super limited availability of the bottle-so any suggestions would be much appreciated.=)

You might try mixing a snow scent like Kumari Kandam with an apple scent like one of the Apples from last year's Weenies... Glittering Apple of the Stars would be my recommendation, but it does have a sweeter and somewhat more flowery scent than SGA.

Glittering Apple of the Stars is definitely more flowery/fruitier than SGA, and less cool/wintry, but if you layer something light and cool/snowy you might get something you like

I'd be interested in a quick ATC swap as well

I agree postage would be the biggest hurdle here. Maybe you can just set a number of bottles? I wouldn't mind participating even if it's just like 10 bottles, although personally for 10 bottles I'd be a little worried and box it up myself As a rule when I rehome, anything more than five bottles, I box, but I'm just paranoid that way. More than 10 bottles might be a bit too heavy though. I'm not sure. Singapore has no flat rate options so everything is dependent on weight for me.

HOWEVER, again, if it's too much trouble, it's all okay! Please don't feel pressured to make it worldwide as opposed to just US/EU (and anyway it seems I'm the only one not in US/EU that is interested--I know it's likely AU will be too expensive to ship for them). I wanted to join mostly for the novelty because I've never been in a circular swap before. I've smelled a good number of BPAL already (and have a bunch I've yet to try/decide on) so I did just now think that maybe I'd end up with a package with all things inside being something that I've already tried

Oh! A padded envelope works too, certainly! And yes, it would be way cheaper for me as well. Sorry, I don't mean to imply anything by saying a box (did you mention only padded envelope in your first post? Sorry--I was skimming at work--I might have totally missed that--still skimming actually lol--and can I add more em dashes here pl0x)--and 10 bottles is pretty good, in my opinion. Two envelopes moving in the opposite direction is also interesting, although that would mean two different things for you, the organizer, to track, so I think it really depends on how comfortable you are with that

That sounds like a fabulous idea, Honey and KittyHawk! I wish I could participate, but alas

I want to include everyone!

So, let me be more specific - I'd try to make this open for people outside of the EU and the US as well!

This will require some planing anyway in terms of planning the perfect route. So, yeah.. let's make this a worldwide thing!

I think the best thing to do is also say how heavy the box is (bottles + box for shipping etc) so those outside the EU/US can gauge if they would be okay to ship that package elsewhere. Like, I know I'd be okay with paying higher postage since it's a box, but up to a certain point, yknow? If folks know the weight, they can do the computation themselves. As well as registration costs (if needed).

I know that to most places in the EU shipping is about 1-2 weeks from Singapore, although there are some outliers. Recently Netherlands has been taking a while, I'm not sure. Australia is the same, I'm not sure but there are places that are super quick, and some that take a snail's pace.

That sounds like a fabulous idea, Honey and KittyHawk! I wish I could participate, but alas

So what are your recs? Do you have any "vetiver for the vetiver-adverse" recommendations? Are you going to buy the single note while it's available?

The only scent I have that has vetiver in it is Wulric, and it's not apparent to me at all, so I don't know if that is a good rec for "vetiver for the vetiver-adverse" folk as I'd never smelled a vetiver that I've wanted to try.

The 12 days swap sounds fun!

In bottle: sharply medicinal, aquatic, and a stronger lavender note than Blauer Mond. Actually, right now, it's almost all lavender for me, I can't get past it.

Wet on skin: lavender and...a multitude of other notes that are hard to pinpoint. It's thankfully a softer lavender than the bottle scent, and the aquatic feel is gone, leaving behind a clean, almost laundry-fresh lavender scent. Quite pretty. I think I will have good sleepytimes tonight.

Dry: soft, soapy lavender, and something powdery: I'm not sure what that is. Also, the iris is doing its grandmothery bit for me, which is a shame; still, it's a very clean and soothing scent, with soft lavender almost calling you to sleep and sweet dreams, which is quite apt for this lunacy blend.

Verdict: maybe I should keep this for sleep? It really is quite soothing, if I don't get too close that I smell the grandmothery iris note. It's not something I would wear out as perfume though.

In bottle: a rather strong herbal blend--I sniffed this and felt like it was going straight to my guts. A slight greenness, but predominantly autumn with orange and yellow leaves. It's very well blended, slightly cool, with a slightly fruity vibe--or rather, juicy, not fruity.

Wet on skin: this softens considerably, but stays true. It loses a bit of its fruitiness, and a smoke note is coming out--which is weird, I don't see any smoke notes there. Maybe a component is turning powdery.

Dry: and the fruits came back! This is definitely a fruits and dried leaves scent; maybe they've finished harvesting and are enjoying the fruits of their labors? After a bit on my skin, an "oaty" scent is coming up for me, making me think of having an oatmeal dish with lots of fruits mixed in it.

Verdict: while not something I would wear, this is a very evocative scent, very apt for the harvest moon.

In bottle: medicinal, green and aquatic. I'm getting lavender, sage, jasmine, and ambergris, and altogether it's a slightly floral herbal blend, "cool" to the nose.

Wet on skin: I think the hyssop is coming on on my skin--it's now a bit strong actually, but other than that addition, there is nothing different from the bottle scent. Maybe a tad softer.

Dry: the green is fading, leaving behind an almost creamy aquatic sort of scent with almost-sorrowful flowers. Dry, this reminded me of a softer Evening Star, but with a dose of hyssop--and I'm not really a fan of hyssop so Evening Star stays. This blend is hyssop and jasmine in an aquatic background, in a nutshell, getting softer and softer the longer it stays on my skin.

Verdict: without the hyssop, I think this might give Evening Star a run for her money; it's soft and pleasant and comforting with a light touch of melancholy that is really pretty.

In bottle: honey, apricot, and pink pepper. And an almost candyish orange blossom; and one month on, sniffing this from the bottle again, I'm struck immediately by that candyish orange blossom note. This is kind of like a sister to PL176's orange creamsicle. It's like a floral orange creamsicle.

Wet on skin: I can't rightfully tell if it's gotten more floral or more fruity on my skin; my early notes say "soft white and pink floral", but one month on I'm getting the florals, yes, but mostly the orange and apricot. Initially I'm getting a light, almost ethereal but still very present scent, that I started worrying about it getting soapy, but right now I'm sniffing it and I'm getting an almost jammy orange and apricot blend, definitely not "ethereal".

Dry: even fresh from the lab, dry on my skin, that aforementioned lightness is gone, the pepper getting deeper and the honey getting sweeter and the fruits amping. The apricot's come into its own somewhat, not so much of an orange blossom blend now than an apricot and orange blossom one. Definitely jammy, and I'll bet the honey isn't doing it any favors.

Verdict: a rather yummy fruity blend, but alas, I don't wear fruity blends!

In bottle: this blend kind of hits almost every feminine scent family: it's fruity, it's floral, it's green, and a dash of soapiness for good measure. Nectarine and green musk, plus oakmoss to reign it in a bit. There is no noticeable change one month on.

Wet on skin: a green nectarine blend, almost boozy, but also soapy...quite soapy. There's a hint of a berry scent as well. As it dries, it gets a definite aquatic feel...sea buckthorn berry, is that you?

Dry: this doesn't change so much from the wet phase, other than a slight softening of the fruitiness. It's definitely a soapy aquatic green blend. Also, quite interestingly, I'm getting that same grandmothery/oily note that orris and some white musks devolve into.

Verdict: This would be a beautiful green blend, were it not for the soapiness. It was quite apparent in the bottle for me, and never really went away.

In bottle: fresh from the lab, it's rather sharp in the bottle, with oak, leather, and amber, with an almost smoky feel. The jasmine is giving it a slight floral sweetness overlayed with with a vanilla creaminess, but those last two notes are more of an afterthought. Seems to be well blended. One month on, however, this is very much a jasmine blend, with a hint of woods and vanilla.

Wet on skin: fresh, this is fig, vanilla, black amber, hint of leather; I'm not sure if it's smoky or powdery on me. It's very well blended and so it's difficult to pick out specific notes, and is quite in the middle of being gender neutral. Aged for a month, however, all jasmine, all floral. When a bit of that jasmine's worn off, I'm left with leather and woods, slightly smoky, and a hint of vanilla creaminess. The jasmine never really disappears.

Dry: fresh, what's left is a very even mix of black amber, oak bark, sharp leather, and red sandalwood. One month on? Jasmine jasmine jasmine, amber, a hint of leather. And jasmine. And red sandalwood and jasmine. Oh, did I mention jasmine already?

Verdict: I'm quite sad at how this blend aged. I thought this had a good chance of aging into something wonderful on me, but with that jasmine? No, not going to happen.

In bottle: pink cotton candy, vanilla, and cookies. And a hint of that popcorn too; very sweet and foody, but not entirely ~piiiiiink~ because of the wood. This is a very lovely wood note.

Wet on skin: the poopcorn note and wood is more prominent here, not so much the pink: just a hint of it sweetening the blend up: kind of the opposite of the bottle note actually, with the popcorn and wood dominating over the pinkness.

Dry: sadly, this has gone all plasticky popcorn and cream on my skin. I'm not sure where that cream-plastic came from, but cream usually means plastic on my skin.

Verdict: I didn't expect this to be a keeper, but it's a very lovely blend, a keeper if I wore foody blends.

I'm also waiting excitedly to see if there will be Switch Witch this Halloween. I'm drowning in work right now but I could use a pleasant distraction like SW!

Can anyone tell me how Arrival at the Sabbath ages? I really like it but if it gets too iris-y or gets foodier as it ages, then it isn't for me.

:D

 

Anyways, I had an aged bottle and as far as I can remember it was pretty much all smoky caramel. But in a grown-up way, I can't say it was very foody or floral. Salon blends are a lot more difficult to figure out.

Damn, it was one of the Salons I crossed off my list as I was paring it down. Now I have less than 24 hours to decide if I live on instant noodles for a while lol or hope someone will have it up or something. :/ I am a bit disillusioned with The Changeling for being too~ foody, but this seemed just right. (Not that they are similar--that's just my brain being crazy.)

Can anyone tell me how Arrival at the Sabbath ages? I really like it but if it gets too iris-y or gets foodier as it ages, then it isn't for me.

In bottle: soft flowers, a touch citrusy, a touch aquatic. It's hard to say what I am getting from it: there are some florals, but this is not a floral scent; some greens but not a green scent; aquatic, but not an aquatic scent; etc. There's a hint of a cologne-like feel to it--probably the ambergris. Light, almost airy, and gender neutral but leaning towards feminine.

Wet on skin: on my skin, this is a crisp version of the bottle scent, with more sweetness and a touch bit cooler. I don't really know for SURE what davana smells like, but I was reminded a little of The Girl--though this is a very very different feel from The Girl. It's very well blended.

Dry: I think the "bog" elements are now showing through. There's a lot more presence now when dry, and it's a darker scent--well, "boggy" and "marshy" but not dirty--just a murky green sort of scent but with a thread of freshness. After about 30 minutes in, a soapiness comes out, a boggy marshy soapiness that also has a slightly ticklish, grainy feel to my nose. Looking at the label art, this really does convey that kind of feeling. It starts off light and ethereal in the bottle and wet, but becomes dolorous and languid and deep when dry.

Verdict: I think this will continue to develop as a deeper, darker slightly boggy scent, which means this ultimately isn't for me. The bottle and wet scent is definitely up my alley though, this is very lovely.

Can anyone tell me if Pink Snowballs is very similar to Victoria? They both have vanilla and rose, Pink Snowballs is one of my favorites but I only have one bottle.

I'll try to test when I get home, but to my memory they aren't similar. Pink Snowballs has a chilly quality that Victoria doesn't have, and Victoria is a bit dusty on me, IIRC.

Victoria is a yellower oil, and is a slightly-dusty deeper rose scent. Pink snowballs is a bit girlier, a touch foody vanilla (which isn't to say it's foody at all--because it isn't. It's just foodier than Victoria). It's also noticeably cooler. Something like Pink Snowballs is the girl that grows up to be Victoria.

On my skin, Pink Snowballs is a fresh and cool rose scent--the lab's snow note plus the barest hint of cut greens somewhere along with the predominant gentle rose note. Victoria is an elegant rose, tending towards dusty, with a hint of the lily (or other floral at any rate). It's still a fresh rose but it doesn't have the coolness nor the hint of green in Pink Snowballs.