angelamaria

In decant: a light, beautiful, bright floral. Sweet and honeyed, and faintly citrusy. There are so many florals in this, and it's well-blended that I can't really pick out floral notes. It's light and summery-y, white with a hint of color.

Wet on skin: this is a weird way of saying it, but the first thing I thought of this was "golden white". That doesn't make sense, but that's how it is to me. Creamy, bright floral, sweet and happy and cheerful. A bit of honey, but also slightly dusty. Creamy and citrusy. This is so beautiful and alive! Feminine and youthful, but not girly. I wouldn't say this is "bouncy", but it IS an uplifting, cheerful kind of scent, a kind of happy contentment in a bottle.

Dry: this doesn't really change on my skin, dry. Beautiful, creamy citrus/floral, bright and cheerful. As it stays longer on my skin, an almost resinous note creeps in and grounds this wonderfully, I'm guessing that's the amber.

Verdict: definitely a keeper blend. Very lovely and cheerful, this is like a gentle pick-me-up.

In bottle: translucent: faint, yellow-white flowers. There's an almost citrusy feel to this, a yellow tinge, but this is mostly white florals, a hint of a creamy base, and ozone. Very lovely.

Wet on skin: very lovely--it's slightly warmer, but retains its loveliness in the bottle. At first, it's a bit sharper on the first sniff, with a faintly powdery tinge. Hopefully that powderiness won't develop more. It's slightly ozoney, which is appropriate for the blend, but it's soft and inviting. It's also not as creamy as I originally thought it was.

Dry: doesn't morph so much--it's largely the same as the wet phase, and thank goodness the powdery note stays at bay, and actually gives this blend a soft texture, a kind of reassuring pleasantness. I'm getting ozone, and a faint yellow-white almost-citrusy floral. As it stays longer on my skin though, this yellow-white floral continues to slide into the "yellow" side little by little, and a sour note develops--not too unpleasant, but a little jarring.

Verdict: I had to retest this, it was so pretty as it was. That sour note in the end quite ruined it for me

In imp: warm, check. Sensual, check. I'm getting orange blossom, a hint of narcissus, and the vanilla creaminess. The orange blossom gives this an almost cologney vibe--very fresh and juicy but tempered by the rest of the notes.

Wet on skin: first on, the narcissus takes center stage on my skin, with a tart orange blossom trailing behind. The vanilla is nonexistent. It does soften up fairly quickly, with the orange blossom and narcissus coming together on the same level and the vanilla making its presence known with a sweet creaminess. Slightly dusty, although I'm not sure where that is coming from.

Dry: this one doesn't morph on my skin. I wish there was more vanilla--I'm really liking the even blend of orange blossom and narcissus, and while the vanilla does give this a creamy sweetness that is pleasant, if the vanilla was more recognizable (not so much to be foody--just recognizable), I would be all over it. The dusty note is still there, but it's not developing, thankfully.

Verdict: nah, I won't be wearing this much, although it is a pretty blend.

Halp!

 

I received this from a lovely swapper, but unfortunately some of its siblings leaked and so the label was rather blurry by the time I received it. I have no idea what it is, and my swapper doesn't remember so I'm turning to you, o forum. Halp!

 

I have a photo: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/95416/mystery-decant.png

 

It's foody, slightly cake-y to my nose, and dry on my skin I think it has berries in it. Not a heavy berry scent, but something like berries, or jam, that sort of thing.

 

As you can see the oil color is yellow.

 

Any ideas?

 

It's definitely one of the Beaver Moons, though which one, I'm not sure. I've only ever tried the 2005 version, and that's straight cake on me.

 

Beaver Moon 2005/Beaver'versary

Beaver Moon 2007

Beaver Moon 2010

Beaver Moon 2011

 

I'm pretty sure that's all of them.

Ooh thank you! It's definitely not the 2011 one, and strawberry doesn't seem to fit with the berry scent I'm getting--while it's a light berry, it's not a tangy berry like strawberry usually is for my nose. Curious. I have a sniffie of the 2005 Beaver Moon, which I just sniffed alongside this, and the 2005 one is a lot sweeter and cakey. So that leaves...2007 or 2010!

 

I wish my nose was better at this

 

the '10 was very very fruity to my nose, so my guess is the 07 based on all that

Yay! Thank you 2007 it is then I'm relabeling it but I'll still add in that it was a mystery imp, and just frimp it away to someone, heheh.

Halp!

 

I received this from a lovely swapper, but unfortunately some of its siblings leaked and so the label was rather blurry by the time I received it. I have no idea what it is, and my swapper doesn't remember so I'm turning to you, o forum. Halp!

 

I have a photo: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/95416/mystery-decant.png

 

It's foody, slightly cake-y to my nose, and dry on my skin I think it has berries in it. Not a heavy berry scent, but something like berries, or jam, that sort of thing.

 

As you can see the oil color is yellow.

 

Any ideas?

 

It's definitely one of the Beaver Moons, though which one, I'm not sure. I've only ever tried the 2005 version, and that's straight cake on me.

 

Beaver Moon 2005/Beaver'versary

Beaver Moon 2007

Beaver Moon 2010

Beaver Moon 2011

 

I'm pretty sure that's all of them.

Ooh thank you! It's definitely not the 2011 one, and strawberry doesn't seem to fit with the berry scent I'm getting--while it's a light berry, it's not a tangy berry like strawberry usually is for my nose. Curious. I have a sniffie of the 2005 Beaver Moon, which I just sniffed alongside this, and the 2005 one is a lot sweeter and cakey. So that leaves...2007 or 2010!

I wish my nose was better at this

Halp!

I received this from a lovely swapper, but unfortunately some of its siblings leaked and so the label was rather blurry by the time I received it. I have no idea what it is, and my swapper doesn't remember so I'm turning to you, o forum. Halp!

I have a photo: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/95416/mystery-decant.png

It's foody, slightly cake-y to my nose, and dry on my skin I think it has berries in it. Not a heavy berry scent, but something like berries, or jam, that sort of thing.

As you can see the oil color is yellow.

Any ideas?

In decant: oh, so excited to try this! I'm getting a light floral scent, pleasant--linden, and a demure lily. Definitely not Snake Oily, but I'm getting creamy vanilla, slightly dark and musky.

Wet on skin: hello there, pretty linden blossom and lily. You are lovely, and I love this blend. We've got linden and lily and a slightly spicy vanilla; I can "sense" the presence of Snake Oil, but definitely light. There's also a slightly cinnamony spice thing going on here, sweet and softly spicy. This is working really well so far. Lovely!

Dry: aaaaaand hello, powder Sigh. That's definitely another nail in the coffin: Snake Oil does not work for my skin chemistry, in any amount. It's now a nice spicy floral powder on me, faintly sneezy. Sigh.

Verdict: well, I suppose I should be thankful I don't have to go hunting for this discontinued blend!

In imp: foody, and slightly nutty on the first whiff. The second brings to me vanilla, sassafras, and full-bodied woods. Yummy.

Wet on skin: vanilla and woods, and a hint of that sassafras reminding me of a cross between Tree of Life and The Anti-Saloon League--and considering what this blend represents, it's just fitting. This is really fabulous, and I'm liking this a lot. So yummy!

Dry: this is a very a yummy mix of vanilla, sassafras and woods, and the result is a sometimes-nutty and sometimes-chocolatey overtone. The woods tone down the foodiness of this blend, but not entirely; it's a very nice backdrop against the sweetness of the sassafras and vanilla. This is like ASL with woods, or Tree of Lie with sassafras.

Verdict: I really love the smell of this, just like how I loved ASL, but like ASL, I am not going to be wearing this so much so it's a pass, but oh man, this is so yummy.

In decant: hmm, the first thought that hit me as I sniffed this was "cologne". That's how my nose interpreted the blast of moss I first sniffed, followed by the cherry blossom and that lovely vanilla musk.

Wet on skin: ohh, this is so pretty. The strongly cologney feel is gone, and it's now a super creamy moss/cherry blossom/vanilla blend. It's beautiful, ladylike, and yummy without being foody. Absolute love! There is a bright, pleasing coolness to the blend, not minty but definitely cool. I don't have any idea where that is coming from, but it's very pretty.

Dry: wait...this is quite a morpher. On me, anyway. As it dries and stays longer on my skin, it slowly loses its femininity slowly but surely, creeping ever onwards to a gender neutral scent and then on to a rather masculine (if slightly unisex) scent. Looks like the cherry blossom has all burned off It also fluctuates between being soapy and not.

Verdict: oh, I'm so sad at how this dried on me. The wet phase, with the cherry blossom at the forefront and the moss keeping things in check, was absolutely divine. The dry phase is another matter entirely, with the moss just rampaging all over the place and the shy cherry blossom retreating all the way.

In the imp: description is pretty spot on: it's a green herbal--something close to lavender to my nose-- with a kind of rose/peony tone, but not light, not "friendly": a kind of dark, almost-brooding flower.

Wet on skin: this is a creamy green/herbal scent with a bit of those florals in it. It's actually refreshing without being bright or light: a more "quiet introspection" sort of refreshing (does that even make sense), like the feeling you get after you've wrestled with an idea for a while. This feels alive and vibrant without being sharp or bright or cloying.

Dry: the florals have come out more now, on par with the green herbal notes. It's creamy and almost heady, but the green/herbal notes do keep the flowers in line, resulting is a very pretty and girlish scent that does not go towards childish or even teen-ish. It's very well balanced, a simple, uncomplicated, beautiful scent.

Verdict: the blends in this category just doesn't get a lot of love, I feel. I suppose it's a bit too simple for most folks, but that's the beauty of it for me. This is very pretty, and I've gone and ordered a bottle.

In decant: dark, slightly sharp. I'm getting plum, musk, beeeswax, and a hint of heliotrope almost smothered by incense. Not a very good beginning for me :/

Wet on skin: plum, musk, heliotrope, beeswax, and incense. Actually, the incense is not too bad here, its actually somewhat nice-smelling. It's a bit heavier than I'd like, but it doesn't automatically break this blend for me. The calla lily and heliotrope is divine, but sadly, the red musk is slowly getting quite powdery.

Dry: dry, I'm quite amazed: It's sweet and creamy without going overboard, a pleasant blend of calla lily, heliotrope, and beeswax. It's turned to something almost stunning...if the red musk wasn't there stomping over everything with its oily-powder-iness. I suppose this kind of makes sense to have the Witch Queen seem so young and sweet and pretty and then suddenly go all weird on you. I mean, I'm sure it works for those who don't have my skin chemistry, but red musk has never really worked for me

Verdict: oh well, it was a nice try.

In decant: ohhh, this is so nice. It's a gentle, light floral, mostly white with a few hints of pale colors. Nice! Why did I not test this before?

Wet on skin: right off, I can tell that the white sandalwood grounds this and makes it a bit dry, white the florals are so...beautiful, and light, and uplifting. The florals are well blended, there is not one that lords over the rest to my nose: there's a bit of spice, a bit of sweetness, a bit of a bite, and oh! Is that the crystal musk? It's GORGEOUS. OH MY I WANT THIS NAO.

Dry: musky-soft florals, with a slight powderiness that isn't out of place. Oh love. It's a very pretty musky floral, well balanced, and delicate-feeling but ever so present and with a smile that makes you wonder if it knows more than it's letting on. As it stays on my skin, the throw intensifies, but sadly there's this weird sour/grandmothery vibe that has started to bother me: one of those flowers aren't playing well, or possibly the petitgrain; and I'm betting whatever makes some white musks turn grandmothery on me, something of that is in this crystal musk.

Verdict: I was quite, quite sad upon finding that sour/grandmothery thing at the later stages. It was such, such a pretty blend before that, and I was already planning to update my ISOs and decant this wonderful thing into a roller bottle for my own use. Sigh, the horrors of skin chem

*snip*

Well, I know The Unicorn and Cottonmouth shared linden.

 

If I remember correctly, there was some discussion about this when the discons were announced and I believe it was linden/linden blossom that was the problem component (ie the one behind the discontinuation). Such a shame, because linden blossom is gorgeous and Cottonmouth was one of my favourites from the Snake Pit. I'm just glad I have a couple of bottles hoarded away

Oh, darn. So any linden blossoms that get released now is a different linden, then? (That sounded like a tongue twister...different linden then!) I got a couple bottles of A Wonderful Light but man, it's just not the same. Also, amber powder. Sigh. I'm hoping it's just the amber that is problematic there.

I've got some Cottonmouth incoming to test ( this community) and I don't know if I'm hoping the Snake Oil ruins it for me (since it's odd on my skin chem) or the linden blossom saves the day. :s

Well, I know The Unicorn and Cottonmouth shared linden. I looked through, and I saw a few had ylang ylang or various types of sandalwood, so there could be some sort of specific sandalwood or ylang ylang component that's no longer available.

Yeah, I also looked through the notes and couldn't really find a similarity between them! Maybe it's one or two components. Looking through the reviews they don't all feel alike. The Unicorn and Ether have the same ethereal feel, possibly Cottonmouth too (I've yet to try it), and I Died For Beauty and Little Sparrow and The Macabray are similar light scents.

I know, this is super late and probably no one really cares by now, but I'm so sad for this beautiful component that died.

 

I care! Oh my god, you guys, I just found out The Unicorn was discontinued! Super late, I know, but I was basically on a four-year hiatus from BPAL and didn't even think to check if my favorites had been discontinued while I was gone. I'm so heartbroken. It's been one of my main scents for so long. Now I'm suddenly being overtaken by this feeling that I need to buy all the bottles of it I can find! I've still got one . . . but I don't want to be afraid to wear it. I hope and pray that whatever that component was, an alternative is found and this scent can come back.

Oh I'm so sorry you only found out now I'm also scared of running out too, it's such a light scent that I slather it when I use it!

Anyway, I'm testing The Darkling Thrush right now, and it's super lovely, but I feel like I've smelled this before recently! I've gone through my blends with snow notes in them and I can't seem to find out what this is, exactly. Anyone have any ideas?

 

I was just testing some things last night and was struck by how The Country of Eternal Light and Dust of Snow seemed like variations on the theme of The Darkling Thrush. Have you tried either of those recently by any chance?

Oh! Yes, I should have. I don't have Country of Eternal Light anymore, but I do have my 1/5 decant of the latter and OMG you're right--they are very similar! And they rather dry down the same as well--I didn't get Dust of Snow because it went a bit "oily" on me after a while, and I got the same "oiliness" 30 minutes later on Darkling Thrush.

Thank you! Man, I'm envious of you folks with such good scent memory

I hate following myself, but I was juuuust skin-testing Ether and looking at the notes here on this board, and noticed it was disconned in January last year. And I was suddenly struck--I knew that The Unicorn was disconned January last year (because I had cursed myself for not being into BPAL earlier!)--these two lovely blends obviously have one the same component that was problematic!

So I went and looked through the news archives and discovered all the blends that got disconned the same time as Ether and The Unicorn.

Cottonmouth

The High Priest Not to be Described

I Died for Beauty

Little Sparrow

The Macabray

Melancholia

Pannychis

I know, this is super late and probably no one really cares by now, but I'm so sad for this beautiful component that died. Does anyone know what exactly this now-gone component is?

One of these days I need to do a deathmatch or ALLLL~ my "snowy" blends.

 

Anyway, I'm testing The Darkling Thrush right now, and it's super lovely, but I feel like I've smelled this before recently! I've gone through my blends with snow notes in them and I can't seem to find out what this is, exactly. Anyone have any ideas? (And I haven't tried Dublin or Moon of Small Spirits, which is what Vega said above [and which is what made me look up this decant anyway].)

 

I think snow notes along with vanilla is my doom.

 

Crow Moon is very similar to Darkling on me (though not *quite* as lovely)

I haven't tried that either! Hmm. Maybe it is just that the lab snow note is very notable for me that I immediately feel like there's a kinship to all the bottles.

I have also realized that the thread is for disconned GC blends I was trying to find this thread again (because of the Darkling Thrush mention) and randomly entering addresses.

So to stay somewhat on topic, I will suggest something another forumite and I were talking about just a while ago--I feel amazed that I haven't seen anyone yet suggest that Wulric the Wolfman dries to something slightly similar to Antique Lace. It's like chocolate Antique Lace on me. And for some reason, Faith is like violet Antique Lace, even if Faith does not have any vanilla.

Maybe it's just my weird nose.

One of these days I need to do a deathmatch or ALLLL~ my "snowy" blends.

Anyway, I'm testing The Darkling Thrush right now, and it's super lovely, but I feel like I've smelled this before recently! I've gone through my blends with snow notes in them and I can't seem to find out what this is, exactly. Anyone have any ideas? (And I haven't tried Dublin or Moon of Small Spirits, which is what Vega said above [and which is what made me look up this decant anyway].)

I think snow notes along with vanilla is my doom.

In the imp: vanilla, almost minty, and honey-sweet (although I felt it was more "sugary" than "honeyed"). Slightly spicy from the pepper and ginger, and almost foody but not tipping over.

Wet on skin: peppery, almost citrusy vanilla. This was the first time I thought that I must amp citrus, whihc is nice since I generally like citruses but sadly it burns a bit fast. Honeyed vanilla and tea, slightly minty. This is quite promising at this stage. This also reminds me of this White Rabbit candy we used to eat back at home, the chewy kind that you can eat the translucent wrapper as well. Ah, memories.

Dry: citrusy honeyed vanilla. There is a bit of a kinship with Dorian, but this is a lot more honeyed, sweeter, gentler; a milkier, honeyed dorian, which I am loving. As it ages on my skin, the linen note comes out a bit more, rather like the linen in Antique Lace. However, about two or so hours in, the milk note goes sour on my skin and it gets quite gross.

Verdict: sigh, too bad. I did not hope for much with this blend because Alice also went sour on me, but after the wet/early dry phase I was hoping that wasn't going to happen. Oh well! Otherwise, it's such a pretty scent and I'm sure will be well-loved.

In bottle: I'm getting resins, and a crisp golden orange color impression. This isn't exactly citrusy--there may be a bit but I tend to amp citrus a bit so I'm sure I'll be able to get that once it's on my skin. There are light florals here too, and something faintly dusty which sounds perfect for the desert feel. The story mentions "cinnamon and sandalwood smoke"--no smoke here, but yes on cinnamon (or cinnamon-like--it's somewhat faint) and sandalwood.

Wet on skin: still a resiny, smooth golden orange smell. This is more full-bodied warmed by my skin--I'm not sure which note I'm getting, it may be patchouli or vetiver (they can be similar to my nose at times). Maybe both? Spicy, and as it dries it gets a kind of peppery feel. Someone pointed out a line from the book/story: Virginia Boote returned with a filled shopping basket. "Here," she said. "Red sandalwood and patchouli, vanilla beans, lavender twigs and sage and cinnamon leaves, whole nutmegs, garlic bulbs, cloves, and rosemary: everything you wanted and more. -- this sounds fairly close. When I originally tested this I had no idea I amped clove (or what exactly clove smelled like), but I did say in my notes that I think the spicy smell I'm getting is clove. No citrus.

Dry: sadly, the desert dustiness has overtaken the blend once dried and given a couple minutes on my skin. Resins, vetiver/patchouli, and spices--I noted clove and sage.

Verdict: I was lucky to have been able to try this lovely blend, but sadly the drydown was quiet dismal on me! It does smell like deserts and the phoenix, though!

In the decant: wow, the separation here is...well, interesting. Well, cocoa absolute can do that after warming it up and rolling it around to have the oils mix, I'm getting chocolate and herbs. It's a little confusing to my nose. Chocolate, lavender, sage. Not exactly a "good" combination.

Wet on skin: whoa, this was quite tingly on the skin. Mostly chocolate, and the herbs have receded, but still around to give a bit of character to the chocolate. The vanilla is coming out. Quite creamy, lovely.

Dry: chocolate, soft lavender, and vanilla. Not nommy, which is good--there is an herbal, almost floral tinge to this which keeps it from going foody with the chocolate and vanilla. The vanilla is to die for, that same lovely vanilla in Antique Lace. Creamy chocolate and french vanilla, with gentle herbs and florals.

Verdict: gosh, every time I sniff this, I am blown away. It's a non-foody chocolate, and a very lovely vanilla, smooth and creamy and absolutely fabulous. Definite must-keep!

In decant: tobacco flower, sweet pink flowers, and faint resins. There's a green sort of five here, somewhat feeling.

Wet on skin: smoky floral, resinous, and almost vanilla-ey. Very pretty! I'm getting soft sandalwood, slightly powdery amber, and faint pink and white flowers, fresh and sweet. I'm quite in love! Such a beautiful, ethereal scent.

Dry: this doesn't morph so much from wet to the dry phase, aside from a further smoothness and a lessening of that vanilla-ey feel, which I assume is the amber--makes sense, if the amber is a bit powdery. Smoky florals (which is, I suppose, why whatever powder the amber is turning into, it's well camouflaged)--this reminds me a little of Liz without the leather. Tobacco flower, white flowers, and soft resins. Very, very wearable floral.

Verdict: oy vey. When I first tested this I was worried it would be difficult to find, and I'm right. Since it was a more expensive general catalogue/special edition scent, likely not a lot of people have bought this lovely scent before it got discontinued. I'm so sad. It's such a beautiful scent and so slather-worthy I'm having difficulty with my lone decant!

In bottle: oh beautiful rosy vanilla. There is a high rose note at the end as well, pure and white. A slight sweet coconut meat note too, if I think about it.

Wet on skin: beautiful white rose and creamy vanilla. There is a hint of plastic though--we'll see if it will develop, right now it's quite indistinguishable. The rose IS powdery, but it's not overwhelming the scent and I can still get the rose somehow too.

Dry: faintly rosy vanilla. Beautiful and understated and elegant. Later on, I'm quite wowed by the drydown of this vanilla, an Antique-Lace-y quality that's fabulous. Sadly, a little bit further from this stage, my old nemesis the rose just steals everything away again, and I'm left with a faintly rosy powder.

Verdict: I included this in my keepers for a while, but after maybe three all-day uses I've had to bow my head in defeat: the rose just won't let things be. It's a very beautiful scent while it lasts, though!

In imp: a bright white almost-floral scent (maybe the sage, mixed with the other notes) with strong, juicy berries.

Wet on skin: the sweet, full-on fruity berries are syrupy sweet, and I can't seem to get any of that nice floral quality I smelled while in the imp. Throw is faint. There is a slight powderiness to this blend as well, not too unpleasant--it helps keep the berries from being overwhelming.

Dry: a straight up sweet, syrupy berry, almost going into the jam/jelly territory. There's a streak of coolness, almost minty, but refreshing against the strong berry note. The powder is gone. Actually, this is almost all berry, all the time--I'm not getting anything else. Young and vibrant scent.

Verdict: definitely a bit too fruity even for my BPAL-newbie self. My notes say "almost single-note berry?" even though I obviously didn't have any experience with single notes, haha.

I think a lot of it depends on our own perceptions. I've never thought of "stone" from Black Opal, whether in the bottle or on my skin, but I know others have. I just assume that my nose just isn't picking up on some notes as others are, and that's fine, that's just the way it goes.

I assume that notes like stone don't mean that Beth crushes stones to put it into BPAL...although I don't know, does she?! I never take anything like that literally -- i.e., stone, dirt, crypts, etc. -- but the description can definitely evoke that scent, or the feel of that thing.