Inanna9

Anyone coveting Blood Moon (or Red Phoenix for that matter) would do well by Tanin'iver. It lacks Blood Moon's grain note, but other than that it's about as close as it gets.

This is a dead ringer for Blood Moon on me, minus the grain note but including the ouch!iburn! factor. Very comforting to know I have a back up when my beloved Blood Moon runs out. Hot stuff

Fruity...Snow? I love it, and this is coming from someone who didn't care for Ice Queen and Skadi (and aquatics in general) at all. It's trying to go the way of wonky hairspray on me, but the earthiness I suspect is not letting it. This is really very (on me) a lovely, pine and fruity-floral aquatic (the fruity-floral being the hothouse blooms maybe...? Dunno.)

 

Good throw, too. Really nice for when I'm in the mood for something different from what I usually wear. I'm glad I took a chance.

dear god, this is beautiful.

 

It all depends on individual chemistry, obviously, but anyone who is usually scared of patchouli ought to take a chance on this. This is a very well-behaved patchouli, content to do its oomphing way in the background without being dirty or sharp, and instead becomes just a soft suggestion of earth and smoke. The red musk and the vanilla bean complement each other nicely, I'm thinking maybe the vanilla even helps to tone down the red musk, since that's another note that can go way over the top. But it stays right where it should in this blend.

 

This isn't nearly as fruity as I imagined it would be, in fact I don't get much of that at all. It has the musky sweetness of Smut minus the booze, and the spicy sweetness of Snake Charmer with a little more red musk in the mix than vanilla. It's suggestively sexy - more "mysterious and sensual" than "sex-in-a-bottle". But it's really hot. Might even make my Top Ten.

 

Well done, Beth!

I instantly wanted a bottle of this when I saw it, since you know, "incense of Inanna" and all. But I have a serious olfactory aversion to almonds, so I played it safe with an imp.

 

I am discovering that almonds burn off rather quickly on me, and with Uruk, what's left after they do is utterly, perfectly gorgeous. It's hard for me to break this down into components since with each sniff all I do is swoon. Let's just sum it up by saying this is a sultry, regal incense blend. Very feminine, but not even a little bit girly. It makes me think of a sacred temple priestess who knows exactly what she's doing. Or the head shop where I used to buy my incense. Depends on my mood.

 

I'm getting a bottle.

I've been starting to cool on red musk a bit lately. Not because I don't like it, but because it's got so much oomph that I was starting to feel like one red musk blend is like the other.

 

But Scherezade is all the best qualities of the red musk blends wrapped in one; teh sex of the musk, the smoke of incense, and the sweet warmth of spice. I'm especially glad that the spices are subtle and sultry rather than sharp and hot. I'm not a huge spice girl, so this to me is absolute perfection

 

And I love that one of my new favorite blends ever is named for a master storyteller. How great is BPAL?

I had really high expectations for this, nag champa freak that I am. But on, I can't stop associating this with Mercury, no doubt due to the lavender and spice. I'm not that crazy about it as a perfume, but I haven't ruled it out yet as a room scent.

Oh wow, this another one of those "what took me so long?" blends. Urd is a dirtier, slightly drier version of Hellion. Or maybe I should say Hellion is a smoother, sweeter version of Urd, since Urd came first.

 

Either way, they're sultry first cousins from the same sinister, incensey, head-shoppish clan. Digging through the BPAL catalogue is a very worthwhile pursuit, and I'm so very happy I finally discovered this one.

Chaos Theory III: DCCXL (740)

 

 

This is my first CT3 bottle (actually my first Chaos Theory bottle ever!). I've got two more on the way, but I'm already feeling lucky.

 

In the bottle it smells like a soapy rose blend (this is where I imagine many would groan, but I rejoice--score one for chaos). Once on, it stays pretty true, with the addition of a huge hit of chamomile. As it dries, it develops a little depth with what I'm guessing is opium poppy, because this to me smells and feels like Sleepy Moon's rosy sister--very soporific, and I've been wearing it to bed almost every night since I got it. I'm in love.

 

Sleepy Rose Moon

'05 version

 

This is the blend that convinced me I love tobacco notes

 

DDLM 05 is sexy, sweet and smokey, with a powerful throw. Probably way too strong for summer, but it won't be dropping below 80 degrees until late October for me, so wearing this is my version of wishful thinking.

 

The sweet note is mostly just a hint of honey (and I mean a hint, or else I would probably gag) and the chocolate is more of a dark suggestion, which suits me just fine. In fact, combine it with the florals, incense and tobacco and I call this my nearly perfect blend. I'll be curious to see if there is an '06 version.

The amber in this is sweet and warm, but the initial herbal edge makes it a little too masculine for my taste until it finally dries and mellows out a bit.

 

The final result is really lovely--sweet, golden amber with a soft, musty patchouli and a very well-behaved note of cedar. I'm kind of torn, because it's very evocative and really gorgeous, but just not something I'm sure I want to smell like. Room scent maybe, and fantastic for a guy. I should probably try this again in the winter.

Upon application, this is warm and creamy and spicy. Kind of like wearing a cinnamon roll--so not for me, I'm afraid. Pity, since I have a real soft spot for this place.

 

The long-faded drydown is much more my thing, since it finally allows the skin musk to emerge (and whatever "skin" musk is...it's the best thing evah). But I just can't see myself making it through the Cinnabon stage to get there. I will find this one a new home where it can get the love it deserves.

This has a lot in common with Lotus Moon. I can pick up the lotus and the opium for sure, notes both highly in keeping with the Neptune vibe. There is a really, really faint either citrus or aquatic element that clearly sets it apart from Lotus Moon and gives it a lighter feel. But overall, this is much more powdery than I was expecting--I pictured this as an in-your-face aquatic, but this is very soft and pretty. Dreamy. Very Neptune, very lovely.

I'm just like filigree_shadow when it comes to this; dragon's blood is my comfort scent. I have a very old stash of it, nearly twenty years old, and it is my personal fiery wall of protection. I break it out for banishing and boosting power in rituals.

 

Wolf's Heart has dragon's blood aplenty, and works very well with similar results, using just a quick dab on my heart chakra, and sometimes one on my solar plexus. Maybe it's a Pavlovian response, but I often feel stronger just smelling it. And it's the result that counts anyway, so count me a fan of Wolf's Heart.

 

This also has a woody note to it, very similar to the one I detect in the chakra blends upon their drydown, so I have every confidence that this blend is put together well. I'll be curious to try the TAL version, but it will have to be really amazing to get me to give up my bottle of lovely red Wolf's Heart

I like to use The Magician on days where I have very specific goals I want to accomplish, especially if it involves creative projects. I usually anoint my palms with and rub them together vigorously. It will often cause them to tingle for several minutes afterwards.

 

The scent is on the medicinal side it the bottle, and becomes a strong, root-beer like anise blend with a hint of lavender. It dries down to a warm, woody cedar note that lasts for hours. Very appropriate.

 

I've been really impressed with the Tarot oils. I think they're remarkably attuned.

I'm so often wrong about civet, but I could have sworn I caught a whiff of it upon first sniff. Maybe there's just a drop in here as a fixative or something. Regardless, this baby is sweet, musky and animalistic, just as she should be. Like a down and dirty Hellion at first, which dries down to a sandalwood version of Smut. Really sexy, and not one you'd break out for Sunday brunch. Damn, but Beth has made wicked smell yummy

This is the prettiest citrus floral. And I think it's just me, but I get a strong hit of tea off of this. In fact, it smells an awful lot like how The Dormouse does on me. It's really fresh and sweet and light. I guess evil has all sorts of disguises

The stuff is teh sex to me, I can't even tell you guys. I'm sure that's some indication of having 2nd chakra issues or something (but who doesn't?)

 

There's definitely a very feminine, powerful floral in here, and it does smell very much like how dragon's blood smells on me--but it's not over the top. The orange color of the oil is another good clue that DB probably is a component.

 

That floral is nicely held in check by a musky, syrupy-sugar base that is just...guh. Love it. There seems to be a hint of something earthy or spicy--just a hint, and I'm thinking maybe a bit of patchouli. It's very subtle.

 

I could wear this every single day simply as perfume, but I don't because these Chakra blends are hella powerful. I use them with intention and a good dose of caution. But I'd wear this one on a date--it would be perfect for that. If I ever start dating again (not till I've resolved my 2nd chakra issues, methinks )

This is so fun!

 

It makes a pretty good room scent with the eucalyptus and orange, and the pine behaves itself well, despite what you might think upon first sniff out of the bottle. It does smell a bit Pine Sol-ish initially.

 

But on, the orange note is amazing. I have a lot of trouble getting orange to stick around, but this is three hours later and I can still get a good, juicy whiff. This is in the crook of my elbow though--on my wrist it's not nearly as strong. I don't know what the deal is with that particular skin-chemistry fluke, but I do find I often amp different notes in different places. Go figure.

 

Overall, a great pick-me-up scent.

I hate almonds. I'm almost at the point where I can't get past the sniffing stage if the almond note is strong. But that's the stage where it usually smells the worst to me anyway, so I'm glad I tried Dana O'Shee.

 

This is a beautiful vanilla cake scent, without being to cloyingly foody. And I completely agree with everyone who compared her to Snow White. Snow White is one of my top 5, and I squeed when I realized I had the perfect GC blend for making into lotions and hair products that I could layer with it.

 

In fact without Snow White's musk, Dana O'Shee is a perfect everyday, every occasion scent. Love!!!

I can't stop sniffing my wrists.

 

This is quite unique and so, so pretty.

 

It definitely smelled of bubblegum lotus in the bottle, which I happen to like just fine, but bubblegum haters need not fear, because this instantly morphs into something warm and feminine and sophisticated.

 

The opium stands out the most for me, and combines perfectly with the sweetness of the lotus. The other components are very subtle; I catch just a suggestion of rose and amber, and maybe they help the pine behave, because it's a really lovely pine note--not a sharp, Pine-Sol one, but a soft resin instead.

 

I have a feeling this will be like Sleepy Moon, where the more I wear it, the more it grows on me. I already like it a whole lot, but it has such depth and complexity that I feel like I'm only just beginning to fully appreciate it.

 

Well done, Beth

This is a decant, and I am not sure which version it is.

 

Wet, I get a hit of creamy vanilla and generic floral, but this quickly morphs into a powdery violet that felt very stuffy and old-ladyish. No rose, maybe a little jasmine, and the powder may be from the amber, which will do that on me sometimes. But the most discernable note was violet, and I'm not sure it's one I'm crazy about. I will have to test some other blends that have it, but Bearded Lady is sadly not a good floral for me.

Hi Cariad!

 

Dragon's blood is one of my favorites--I could easliy wear it as a single note. There's a lot of really nice blends with it, so I'll just name a few you might like off the top of my head:

 

Dragon's Bone is really pretty and more subtle (I think) than some of the other Ars Draconis scents. The dragon's blood keeps it from being too dry. It might be my favorite.

 

Red musk is kind of intense, but works so well with DB--Dragon's Heart is definitely worth trying, Bloodlust is pretty sexy with the vetiver as well (and just a hint of spice), and if you're really into spice, you might want to try Wrath.

 

Blood Amber is gorgeous, and Blood Rose is another favorite of mine--the wine and the rose are perfect.

 

I'm not much of a gourmand either, but I do love Dragon's Milk--again, the DB saves it from being too foody, but you might find it too sweet. Worth a try maybe.

 

Hope that helps--welcome to BPAL and the forum

Yay! A blend with ginger that doesn't go all wonky on me!

 

This is so bright and lovely--all the mouth-watering citrus of grapefruit, tempered by the white tea to an absolute perfection. The apple blossom is creamy and soft, and frankly, I don't get ginger at all, and I don't mind one bit! It's fresh and feminine, and the throw is amazing--which is a good thing, since there is something in here that wants to give me a headache if I sniff too close and too deeply.

 

That's okay--I'm happy to just waft the prettiness

Sadly, this is not for me at all. It's not that it smells bad--it smells nice--but it turns very masculine. It would be fantastic like this on a guy, but the musk is nauseating to me.

 

I don't know if I can blame this on the white musk or not, since there are other blends with it that I love. It may be the combination of components going wrong, as I don't get any green or lemon--just a dime-store aftershave aroma. I'm sure it's my chemistry making mincemeat of this mad bunny, and it's also possibly a monthly issue. I'll hang on to this and try it another time before I give up.