allamanda

Although the notes aren't listed and none of the current reviews mention cucumber-like, to me Empyreal Mist has the feel of cucumber. It has an underlying greeness, my nose keeps saying green apple but again none of the reviews get that effect.

A while back there was a flavoured Apple and Cucumber sparkling water available over here (UK, Sainsbury), it was delicious and Empyreal Mist reminds me of it.

Maybe worth a try?

Edited for typo.

I love Hamadryad too. Whilst it isn't the same, Hemlock made me feel the same way, if that makes any sense!! Anyway, they are both gorgeous. Dragon's Bone is also slightly woody and very special.

In my review preparation notes I have written that Tisiphone smells like a Lush shop; it isn't as dark as Red Musk though.

Sorry Krista, not only did I not welcome you to the forum I also totally missed the second part of your question.

I agree with Alice and Chupa, Vixen, Voodoo and Sin are gorgeous, I would also suggest:

Tisiphone - Oleander with black patchouli, ylang ylang, and neroli

Lust - red musk, patchouli, ylang ylang and myrrh.

Nephilim - Holy frankincense and hyssop in union with earthy fig, defiled by black patchouli and vetiver, with a chaotic infusion of lavender, cardamom, tamarind, rosemary, oakmoss and cypress.

If you like fruity scents add these to the list of possibles:

Depraved - Earthy black patchouli swelling with apricot.

Imp - white peach, amber, golden musk and patchouli.

I can't give you definitions, but I can tell you that oils containing Black Patchouli always smell great on me whilst those containing Red Patchouli smell awful!! This is down to my individual skin-chemistry and I am sure there was a thread discussing this a while back, some find Red to be best, some Black. If I find the thread I'll add it.

ETA: OK, the thread is here:

click

and I'll ask for the posts to be merged.

Machu Picchu is gorgeous. I think Pikaki might fit the bill. You could use it with Pele to make it stronger, but it is beautiful by itself anyway.

Fae

Very peachy when first applied but with a slight tang, I think caused by the bergamot. As this starts to dry I can smell the musk, it makes the peach smell very adult.

Although warm and fruity there is a dryness to this, perhaps the oakmoss?

Once dry I’m surprised at how light but full this scent is. The peach is no longer so readily identifiable, just a gently fruity, slightly musky sweet perfume. Very nice.

Dragon's Eye

Dragon’s Blood resin and after a while joined by the lily of the valley and lilac. Nice

After a while the lily of the valley and lilac become very strong, overpowering the dragon’s blood.

Lily of the Valley sometimes becomes quite sour and strange on my skin. This was lovely in the early stages, but I then wound up with a smell of wet socks.

I'm relieved it smelt good on the reviewers above, but sadly not for me.

Dragon’s Bone

When first applied I smell dragon’s blood and wood, rich and sweet. Very nice.

It is quite some time before I notice the orris, sweetly floral and blending beautifully with the other notes.

Once this has been on for a while it is a gentle, understated scent; slightly sweet, slightly woody.

Gorgeous, I like this a lot.

Dissipation

When first applied there is a lovely, light, green, herby smell that I can’t identify. I’m not sure that I’ve ever smelt wormwood, maybe it’s that?

Once this is dry I’m getting a slight smokiness, perhaps the combination of the sassafras and poppy? Either way it blends beautiful with the green herbiness. I keep feeling I can smell mint and my memory is linking this to Hemlock, as though they share a note I especially like.

I reckon I’m a green, herby, smoky fan.

I love this one.

Calliope

Mint, orange and almond when first applied rapidly joined by lavender and then the almond and orange disappear!! Talk about a fleeting whiff.

Once dry I can smell the thyme, gently blending with the mint and lavender (everything else is no longer detected by my nose).

Lovely.

A couple of hours later the thyme is still really strong, I’d need to be in the right mood to wear this one

Cabaret

When first applied I get a brief whiff of the red musk before jasmine overwhelms my nose (normal reaction from jasmine on my skin).

As this dries the red musk is back. Cabaret smells rich, almost as though there is wine in it. Just realised why, something made me think of winegums…

This is lovely on the occasions when I can get my nose past the jasmine. As much as I love jasmine, my skin amplifies it to an unbearable point in many (not all!!) of the oils that contain it.

Mata Hari

When first applied I get a brief hit of coffee; I love the smell of coffee. Almost immediately I can smell jasmine and then the coffee is no more. Jasmine often becomes overpowering with my skin-chemistry and sadly that is just what happened with Mata Hari. I never managed to smell any of the other notes and hours later I am still swamped with jasmine.

eek! I meant Lust!

Vixen is good too. I think I've almost got him to the point where he will wear BPAL himself, no mean achievement let me tell you!!

Lust, Hunger, Psyche, Depraved, Dragon's Milk, Hemlock and Queen Mab. I am very careful about what I wear when I go out!

I'm in the UK.

You need to work out your order, calculate the shipping click here, then PayPal your payment (incl shipping) to:

paypal@blackphoenixalchemylab.com

You list your order in full in the comments box, along with your forum name, email address if different to your PayPal email and submit. You will receive confirmation emails from PayPal and BPAL.

ETA: You need to transmit the payment in US$. As the good ladies above pointed out, you can't order from the website.

Hemlock

Green, herby, love at first sniff . Seriously, I ordered a larger bottle within 30 minutes of sniffing this!

As it dries I’m getting a faint citrus note. Not like a pure lemon, more a green, leafy citrus a bit like lemon-balm but more herby and definitely green. Someone trampled the herb garden.

There is something heavier grounding this, oakmoss perhaps? Many of my much-loved perfumes over the years have contained oakmoss so maybe that is why Hemlock seemed so ‘me’ and why I was hooked so quickly.

I compared this to Chanel 19 and it has a similar feel. They don’t smell the same and Chanel 19 is quieter, but, on me, it is definitely in the same vein.

Obeah

When first applied this is incredibly strong and makes me think of cleaning fluids; that often means pine. I persevere and after a few minutes patchouli, initially very harsh, mixing with and then overcoming what I take to be pine, then sweetening and mellowing into Kensington Market sometime in the early 70s. There’s an incense feel, but at the moment the patchouli is too strong to allow my nose to really identify anything else; it doesn’t smell scorched so I’m guessing frankincense rather than myrrh.

An hour or so later and I can smell a floral note, possibly lily but again I’m not sure.

After another hour the floral has morphed to strong jasmine. Jasmine magnifies so much on my skin the patchouli is now barely detectable.

Either my skin and / or nose are really screwy today or this contains jasmine.

Chaos Theory XXXI

When first applied I immediately think of Kitsune-Tsuki and Black Dahlia. I’m guessing plum, orchid, and maybe jasmine.

As this dries I’m catching a whiff of mint and I believe musk, possibly also a touch of leather and tobacco!! Either my nose is even more weird than usual or there’s a heck of a lot of ingredients in this oil.

After wearing this for quite a while it is rich, elegant and slightly decadent. There could be something alcoholic in the mix that makes me think decadent! It really is special, totally gorgeous.

Chaos Theory XX

When first applied rum and almost caramel, but without the intense sweetness. This is making me think of ice cream, interestingly my husband also said, “ice cream” when he suffered the obligatory wrist under nose

As it dries I can detect a woody note in there, I think cedarwood although I’m not positive.

I’m not a rum lover and cedarwood often does strange things on my skin, but I am really enjoying this scent. It is quiet, interesting, on me not masculine, not too sweet and just generally lovely.

Once upon a time Chanel No. 19 and Coco were staples for me, along with Diorella.

BPAL-wise I love:

Dragon's Heart

Old Glasgow

Spellbound

Dragon's Blood

Queen Mab (this ties as top favourite along with Snake Oil)

Of the others on your list; Twilight, Dragon's Eye and The Caterpillar don't work with my skin chemistry (I can't wear Chanel 5 either).

Ouija is nice, but I haven't worn it enough to really comment and the others I haven't tried yet.

Oils not on your list that I can't be without:

Snake Oil

Dragon's Milk (this is just behind Snake Oil & Queen Mab on my loves)

Hemlock (whilst not the same as Ch 19, it has a similar feel although not quite as soft. I applied them side by side on my arm, unfortunately my Ch 19 is 20+ years old)

Kali

Pele

Blood Rose

Szepasszony

Kumiho (this is very green on me, I think you would like it)

The description for Chanel 19 is:

Floral-Green

Top Notes: Greens, galbanum, bergamot

Heart Notes: Jasmine, May rose, iris, ylang-ylang

Base Notes: Sandalwood, oakmoss, vetiver

A search leads me to suggest trying Taurus, I haven't tried it yet but will now!!

Taurus - oakmoss, rose, sandalwood, ylang ylang

One thing I have learnt since trying BPAL is not to write anything off. Although I can now make a reasonable prediction about what I will like, I still sometimes fall in love with oils I thought I would hate. Plenty to try

I reckon you are going to have fun here.

I forgot!!!

Welcome to the madness.

Eclipse and Ulalume bit me, Mercury was *horrendous*, very rapid and violent skin reaction and that was on my lower, outer arm area so on pretty weathered skin. I know Eclipse contains cinnamon, am pretty sure Mercury also does but I have no problem wearing Chimera or Three Witches.

I avoid the cleavage area like the plague, but as others have suggested diluting the oils may work for you.

Has anyone else reacted to Ulalume??

ETA: Just remembered, Alecto bit me too.

Is it common say...if you ordered 2 oils and only one ships? Is the other one on its way?

Did it take a vacation to Miami maybe?

 

xxxx

In my limited experience the Lab usually advises if something is back ordered. I would suggest you email and let them know you haven't received it.

Psyche

Lavender and incense, soft, comforting and peaceful.

This didn’t change from start to finish and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t detect rose or musk.

Another larger bottle on the way.

Dragon's Heart

Dragon’s blood and musk when wet, then almost a leather-note until the fig and blackcurrant appear; not fruity on me but an interesting movement across sharp and sweet.

As this dries the Dragon’s Blood becomes more obvious. Now I can only smell dragon’s blood and (if I sniff hard) musk.

Gorgeous and addictive.