bpalscentsual

This... isn't doing it so much for me. I tested it alone yesterday and with Smut 2012 today, and it's just not doing what I expected it to do. I expected a bit of cold, and rich vanilla cream. What I got was a 'cold' scent that is not playing well with my nose (I suspect mint as a factor) and very heavy on the cream, not so much with the vanilla. And it's not sugared at all. This is not a sweet vanilla. I disappointed myself, really, as I was hoping for what would basically amount to a vanilla SN that would give some depth to some other blends I have, but really, it just turns to weird doll-plastic scented with a child's vanilla perfume gone slightly sour. Sad. Off to sales.

1/31/2011: Variety of Pleasing Amusements In the bottle: Dear God, it’s the same smoky note that slayed me in the cases of Philologus and Agnes Nutter. Oh dear. I’m already having trepidations about this one. Immediately: Tobacco. Leafy but dry, earthy, and a little smoky (perhaps from the myrrh). That’s honestly all I’m getting. Fifteen minutes: After a few minutes, Tobacco decided they didn’t want to talk to me any more and transferred me to Myrrh’s line. Oh, wait, no, they’re both trying to talk to me at once. I want to like you – stop chatting so loudly! One hour: I want to like this. I really do. But this ends up smelling like a dusty china hutch to me. I’m getting more ‘wood’ than leather, at least when I’m comparing the scent to my leather Filofax. That’s the myrrh, then. Myrrh is skipping lively through the fields and dragging Tobacco with them, while Honey and Leather refuse to leave the house. No honey. There’s nothing sweet about this at all. It’s exceedingly masculine. Several hours: Soft, soft myrrh – but myrrh is all I’m getting now. No tobacco to temper it and make it behave, either. Overall: Really, because of the myrrh, this just smells like a less complicated blend of Voodoo to me. Either I amp myrrh or paying my monthly bill is wreaking havoc on my ability to test. Oh well. Someone out there is going to love this like I don’t. Once I test a few more of my LE bottles, I’ll have to post a sale. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/30/2012: The Vine In bottle: Pear! But not a cold, regal pear. This is a warm, ripe pear waiting to be eaten, and maaaaaaybe there’s honey open on the counter. Immediately: Same on my skin as in the bottle: sweet and fruity. There’s slightly more honey on my skin, but this is still largely The Pear Show. Still waiting on the vanilla cream… Fifteen minutes: This pear isn’t juicy like I’ve just bitten into it. No, it’s more of a skin-of-a-pear kind of scent. Where is my vanilla? One hour: Pear is now coated in a drizzle of honey. Not sugar – this has a distinctive honey-ness to it. I think the vanilla is what’s keeping the pear from being so juice-running-down-between-my-fingers fresh and wet… but where is it? Several hours: Ah. There it is. The long-term drydown has the vanilla cream balancing out everything very well. This smells almost like a bowl of fruit I would mix together for my breakfast. Overall: I’m very surprised at one thing. I’m mildly sensitive to pears, and whenever I eat one, my nose and face itch (no hives, though). My nose itched while I was wearing this. Amazing accuracy. I want to slather this all over myself and smell like this for the next few weeks. Strongly considering a backup bottle or two. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day. ETA: I'm having absolutely no problems with staying power for this one. I'm still getting great throw/wrist wafts more than thirteen hours later!

1/28/2012: El Dia de los Reyes Previous scents: Dove deodorant. In the bottle: Yum. A deliciously cinnamon-flavored rich hot chocolate. Wow, this is amazing and foody. Glad I shook it before I put it on, though, because I suspect that the chocolate settles over time. Testing method: Knocked the vial twice against the inside of my left wrist, then rubbed wrists together. Immediately: Yes, there’s my delicious hot chocolate. I’m so glad I smell like this, because then I don’t have the urge to make any. Fifteen minutes: Okay, my skin is turning this into the cinnamon-brown sugar show. However, the throw has all the scents well-mixed. A little coffee on my skin, too. One hour: This has incredible throw, and it smells exactly like I’m drinking a spiced (not bitter) cup of hot chocolate, or as if someone’s making a batch in the kitchen. I would imagine that this would also make a great room scent in an oil burner or as a spray. Several hours: The throw’s turning into more cinnamon, dry and powdery. The cocoa itself isn’t any cocoa from a mix, this is over-the-stove dried-milk-and-cocoa-powder very rich cocoa. I think I applied too much! Less is more with this one, at least on me. Overall: Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I can see this being a very comforting scent on cold winter days with a lot of snow outside. I just wish I had a touch less cinnamon in this, but it’s probably just me and my skin amping this. At least it’s a very herbal cinnamon and not sweet Red-Hots – the brown sugar is very much separate from it. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/27/2012: #occupywallstreet Previous scents: Dove deodorant. In the bottle: Something sharp. I can’t smell anything besides something metallic. Testing method: Two swipes of the wand against the inside of my left wrist. Immediately: Phwoar. What the hell is that? Fifteen minutes: Oh. It’s the patchouli. It’s a perfect patchouli, rooty and earthy and a lot like a wet stone buried in dirt. Unfortunately, this is the blend that made me discover that I don’t enjoy smelling patchouli, or smelling like it, and I can’t take anything else from this blend. Had to wash it off and slather Severin over my wrist to hide it. Overall: Well, at least I know I don’t like patchouli now. Take one down, pass it around, with the imp moving-on thing. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

In an effort to create a pleasing environment during a surprise trip to Yuggoth, we have created a soothing yet stimulating blend of pink pepper, peony, jasmine, mango, kiwi, pomegranate, pineapple, white ginger, serene white tea and light musks. Bon voyage! 1/24/2012: Mi-Go Brain Canister Previous scents: Dove deodorant. In the bottle: What in the world. This is the most interesting mix between a floral and a fruity that I’ve ever smelled. Come to me. Right now. Testing method: Knocked the bottle once against both wrists and rubbed together. Immediately: I’ve smelled this before. I don’t know what the hell it is, but this just seems so familiar to me. It’s like hyacinth and mango both at once. Fifteen minutes: This has become very, very floral over the years. I was expecting much more of the mango, kiwi, pomegranate, pineapple, but it feels like a lot of the ‘juice’ has been taken out of it. At the same time, it’s still very well-rounded by the ginger, tea, musk combination. I really like this, even though it’s especially complex. One hour: This is a very tropical, lush, jungle-like floral. Unfortunately, I’m getting none of the fruit, which was my impetus for purchasing this, but I think it’s lurking in the background to make the flowers more juicy. Very strong, excellent throw. Interesting to smell how it’s aged. Two hours: Way more fruity, but still very floral. And I can tell there’s musk in here too, but everything’s aged and blended together so beautifully that I count myself lucky to have found this. Five hours: Sudden green tea and pomegranate throw. Interesting. I didn’t think this was strong enough to throw a yard from my covered wrists, but I guess I’m wrong. Seven hours: I was convinced my cubiclemate had brewed a cup of green tea. I was wrong. The smell is exactly like sticking my nose in my canister of green loose-leaf tea. Wow. Overall: Seems more summery, and a little bit goes a long way with this, but oh my gosh is it ever beautiful. I can see this becoming a signature scent for me – until it runs out! DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/23/2012: Ops (Will Call November 2010) Previous scents: Dove shampoo and deodorant. In the bottle: Citrusy and sweet. I can already tell I’m going to adore this. Testing method: Three swipes of the wand against the inside of both wrists. Immediately: This is a very rich orange-lemon, citrusy spice cake. Ah mah gah. Is it possible for me to eat my wrists? This is like lemon pound cake from Starbucks. Wow. This is good stuff. Fifteen minutes: The scent was threatening to go Yankee Candle on me, but so far, it’s avoiding plasticky death. There’s more depth being brought out with the top spice notes, and I can’t wait to see how this changes over time. One hour: Definitely getting spicier over time, but still on the verge of Yankee Candle. Is this what people mean by it going plasticky? On a positive note, the spices are genuine baking spices, and they smell very realistic. Several hours: Not much change, except that it’s become fainter with time. I still want to eat my wrist, because it smells like lemon poppyseed cake. Overall: I’m wondering if this would be better in an oil burner as a room scent, but I only have an imp’s worth, so I thin kI’ll continue wearing it on my person. I love foody smells, so this is very comforting to me. I’ll keep it until I use it up. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/22/2012: Desdemona (Illyria) Previous scents: None. In the bottle: Yes, this is definitely more floral than Cordelia. This smells very pink, I think because of the sweet pea. Testing method: Swiped wand twice against inside of both wrists. Immediately: Whoo. That is a floral. A very meaningful floral. The sweet pea in here is meaningful. Whoo. Okay. Fifteen minutes: I was having doubts that I would smell any carnation, because, come on, what does carnation actually smell like? No longer. It smells like a sugared, sweet rose. This is a very heady, heavy floral. Whoo. One hour: Wow this has a hell of a throw. This isn’t pure funeral, corsage carnation, but it’s threatening to do what rose does on me, which is overwhelm me and make me go GIRL YOU STANK TAKE A BATH. Several hours: Oops, just kidding, this is turning spicy-carnation and overwhelming everything else with its sickly-sweet floral aroma. This is floral STANK, totally not agreeing with me, though I don’t know if it’s because of my skin chemistry or my olfactory powers. Overall: I had high hopes for this, but this is not a light floral or one for the faint of heart. The throw and power are insane, even for a small tester bit. I infinitely prefer Cordelia to this, because Cordelia is more watery and white and this is just too much PINK YES HI I AM A PINK FLOWER SMELL ME PINK. Swap pile for this one. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day. ETA: Holy cannoli, what in the world is even going on with this? I washed it off at 6 PM last night because it was way too strong, and I can still smell carnation on my wrist at 9 AM the next morning.

1/21/2012: Severin (Ars Amatoria: DISCONTINUED) Previous scents: Dove shampoo and deodorant. In the bottle: Tea. Tea with lemon. I’m very excited about this, as I won this in an auction off of eBay, and I can’t wait to slather this on my person. Testing method: Knocked the bottle straight against both wrists. Immediately: Ah mah gah this is amazing. This smells like I just brewed a cup of tea, put a very small amount of sugar in it, and stuck a slice of lemon in it, and I’m cozy in a room with soft textures about to tuck into a book. This is actually a lot of lemon smell. Unsurprising, as I’m beginning to suspect that I amp citrus. Fifteen minutes: The 'lemon' must be the bergamot from the Earl Grey, I’m expecting. Ah, and here’s the leather. It’s still a little cold, like it’s a winter morning and I’m just now sitting in my favorite leather chair as I wake up with my tea. One hour: This is only getting better with time. The leather is warming up, and I, too, am getting more and more comfortable with this. I can see how some people might say this is masculine because of the Earl Grey and the leather and sexual because of the leather, but honestly, this is a very comforting scent to me. Several hours: I never want to not smell like this. Over time, the tea is wearing away and all I’m left with is the leather, just as if I finished my cup of tea but don’t want to get up from reading my book. Overall: Sorry for all the poetry, I’m just completely in love with Severin. He’s sensual, but at the same time, that sensuality is comforting and almost non-sexual to me. I’m so glad I was able to nab this, and I’m determined to use the whole thing. I don’t want this to just sit on my shelf looking pretty – it deserves to be used! DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/20/2012: Cordelia (Illyria) Previous scents: Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant-antiperspirant. In the bottle: Sweet, light floral. Testing: Two swipes on both wrists. Immediately: This is like Sweat Pea from Bath and Body Works, but with much more depth. Fifteen minutes: What’s that one white flower with the waxy, leaflike petals? That’s this. This is deepening from merely ‘sweet’ into ‘sweet and tangy’. Very feminine. One hour: I am pleased to report that this is a floral without anything musty or musky about it. Very “white” flowers, too. This is evocative of how I interpret Cordelia’s character. Several hours: The floral has deepened somewhat from a pure white to a light blue. This is starting to echo the sadness in Cordelia at her exile. It seems longing. Overall: I’m testing Desdemona soon as well, but it may be in for a run of its money. I’ll use this imp of Cordelia and then some, maybe. Lovely, refreshing, feminine floral. Addendum: I wrote this review without the scent description at hand, and I didn’t get anything like musk, lemon, tea, or cedar from this! I'm starting to wonder whether I didn't pick up Desdemona by mistake. However, this is pretty much The Wisteria Show, so... DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/18/2012: Voodoo (Bewitching Brews) Previous scents: Suave for Men shampoo/conditioner, Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant/antiperspirant. In the bottle: Before I opened it, it smelled slightly sweet. Once I actually opened it and let it wash over me, it was nothing but sharp pine and perhaps lime. All the top notes just leap out. Testing method: Two swipes against the inside of my left wrist. Immediately: Oh. Uh. Wow. That’s… pungent. None of the sweetness is coming out, and all I can really smell is an odd blend of pine, lime, and clove. Fifteen minutes: This has calmed down to “a pine sprig in a glass of Coca-Cola”. That’s really the only phrase I have to describe this. One hour: The notes are separating out enough that I can distinctly tell what some of them are. The pine, which was really amped up when it was wet, is now kept in check by the medium-toned clove. Definitely getting the myrrh and patchouli, and the lime is turning the pine somewhat funny. There’s none of the sweetness that I associate with vanilla, and I don’t get any of the almond either. This is very spicy in an herbal way. Several hours: This is now all myrrh and clove and vanilla. Good and warm, if a bit spicy. Somewhat faint, as well – I don’t get much throw out of this. Overall: This was a frimp, I’m not emotionally attached to it, and this isn’t a scent I’d want to wear until the imp runs out. Onto the swap pile it goes. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/17/2012: Arcana (Bewitching Brews) Previous scents: None. In the bottle: This smells sharp and woody. Something sweet lingering, but I’m wondering if that isn’t just from opening my box and getting residual sniffs of whatever’s in there. Testing method: One swipe of the wand against the inside of my left wrist. This is a strong one, and I didn’t need more than that to get a good idea of what I was getting into. Immediately: Pine-Sol. Some kind of pine cleaner. Pine. Evergreen. Pine. Blech. Fifteen minutes: Okay, not so piney, but still very woody. This is calming down to what the inside of my chest of drawers smells like. One hour: Only now am I getting the full bouquet of notes that’s in here. The rosemary’s been the thing funking with my nose, but the frankincense is coming in now and telling it to behave and let the verbena and lavender have a turn. This is half-woody because of the rosemary, half herby because of the verbena, lavender, and, well, the rosemary. This smells like a full branch of rosemary, not just the little flecks you put on your Italian food. Several hours: Yes, this gets much softer and more bearable over time, like walking into an old wooden shop that uses dried herbs to scent the shelves where they lay out their wares. The rosemary is still the most prominent thing for me, but I don’t mind so much. Overall: Not emotionally attached to this, since it was a frimp from the Lab, and I don’t like the funky pine cleaner thing it’s doing to me at the beginning. Lovely, but not for me. Need to make room for more smellies, so into the swap pile it goes. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/16/2012: Jazz Funeral (Ars Moriendi) Previous scents: None. In the bottle: This is a sharp, somewhat dank floral. Not something I would have chosen for myself, but it’s… kinda different, and nice for a change. Testing method: Swiped wand twice against inside of both wrists. Immediately: I’m really getting the dirt out of this first thing. Smells like a garden. Yeah, smells like early spring gardening, when you’re tilling in mud and clay to get your perennials planted. Fifteen minutes: This is calming down into a deep floral. I think the rum and bourbon are helping to settle this a little and not make it so sweet, but this doesn’t smell like alcohol. One hour: This has gotten much lighter on my skin. A very “Southern” floral – the magnolias are coming through. The soil has almost entirely disappeared, and the bourbon and rum are warming up the florals to keep them from getting too sweet, light, or papery. The scent itself seems slightly humid, but not sticky. Several hours: Smells very sugary. Not syrupy-sweet, but like a sugared blossom. I thought the booze would be a lot stronger, but this is fading out sooner than I’d expected. I did get a “yes, that smells good” from The Pickiest Person In The World, so. Overall: I like how it starts, I like the range, I like the not-overpowering floral. I like the dirt. I like everything about this. I’ll use it ‘til it’s gone –which might not be very long! DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/15/2012: Y’ha-Nthlei (A Picnic in Arkham) Previous scents: Dove shampoo and Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant-antiperspirant. I’m also wearing Mad Hatter on my other wrist as part of testing. In the bottle: Medium-toned floral with some wetness behind it. It smells like I’m going to like it significantly better than the last few I’ve tried. Testing method: Two swipes of the wand against the inside of my right wrist. Immediately: I never knew an aquatic could smell feminine. I’ve always associated it with masculine scents. There’s a breath of flowers, like they’re floating on top of the ocean, or like I’ve been crying before I try to smell a bouquet. Fifteen minutes: Here comes the aquatics, but yes, this is very light, as opposed to Cthulhu, which is much darker. This is the sea on a partly-cloudy day, whereas Cthulhu is the sea on a partly-cloudy, storm-threatening night. Getting a little of the eucalyptus, too. One hour: When I tried this before, by now it had turned into ‘old lady perfume’. Now that I’m not testing as much at one time, it’s staying relatively calm. Just goes to show that the amount makes all the difference. Several hours: … Somehow, it still ended up going old-lady perfume and slightly powdery. Is it the bergamot? The ambergris? I need to get better at identifying individual notes. Overall: I’m not emotionally attached to this and I’m not completely in love with it like I am with Cthulhu, so it’s going onto the swap pile while it still has some left in it. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/15/2012: Mad Hatter (Mad Tea Party) Previous scents: Dove shampoo, Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant-antiperspirant. I’m also wearing Y’ha-Nthlei on my other wrist as part of testing. In the bottle: Seems pretty well-rounded, but very light and fresh. I smell mint. This makes me nervous. Testing method: Two swipes of the wand against the inside of my right wrist. Immediately: Mint. Minty minty mint mint mint. A combination of peppermint (candies?) and the herb mint, but this goes straight to mint, either on my skin or in my nostrils. Fifteen minutes: Calming down to lavender, and yes, I get some ‘pungence’, but overall… still very minty. One hour: Okay, here comes the citrus. This is one that’s taking a while to bloom on my skin for whatever reason. Wearing it with Y’ha-Nthlei makes the aquatic come out more, and the lavender isn’t as sharp. Several hours: Yeah, this is mellowing out to something much softer – still lavender, but not with all that sharpness. I can almost smell some sugar in here. Overall: I have bad scent associations with mint, so obviously, that’s what my nose goes straight to. There isn’t even mint listed as one of the ingredients, so I’m guessing it’s the lavender ‘cologne’ issue. It takes a while to bloom and the mint at the beginning makes me feel half-sick, so into the swap pile it goes. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/14/2012: Mourning Cloak (Metamorphosis 2011: The Butterflies) Previous scents: Dove deodorant and some eau de toilette that I washed off my wrists last night. In the bottle: I have slight synesthesia, and I have to say that it smells exactly the same color as it looks: a translucent tea-like color. Rich and brown and down to earth. I'm having some trepidation about this: it's an LE decant, that's for sure, and it's definitely not something I would have chosen for myself. Testing method: Wand swiped twice against the inside of both wrists. Immediately: This changes immediately after application on me. In the bottle it was warm, but on my skin it’s blooming into something woody and almost spicy. A little goes a long way with this. Fifteen minutes: There’s a lemony, citrus-esque sharpness underneath the woods and the ‘earthy’ flavor. For some reason, when I hold my wrists away from my nose, this is what all of my BPAL packages smell like, and so I associate it with something joyous and nearly magical. I’m wearing fingerless gloves right now, and the band on my wrists has picked up the smell. It smells really good on the fabric, and I’m glad for this happy accident, because now it means my desk drawer smells like this. One hour: Definitely liking it more on my gloves than I am on me – my skin is doing something funky to this that I don’t quite understand, but the gloves are retaining the musky bit that I smelled in the bottle. Several hours: Wow, this has staying power. It’s a lot heavier than most of the scents I like. Not much throw, though. Overall: This was a freebie and I’m not emotionally attached to it. Into the swap pile it goes. Someone else will love this much more than I do -- but I'm not trading it away until I can rub it all over my gloves.

This review won't be as detailed as my others, as the moment I opened the 5ml, something about this scent went up and punched me in the nose like a flint knife to my sinuses. It was somewhat like furniture polish in that it was very sharp, seemed poisonous, and made me gag and tear up. I rimmed the top of the 5ml against my wrist, hoping it would change with skin application, but if anything, it only got stronger. Even when I washed it off, it still clung there. Incredible throw and saving power, but that's not a good thing for me. Overall, I'm very disappointed. I just wanted to smell like a day out at the gun range! This just teaches me a lesson: get decants of LEs if I can to actually test them before I buy a 5ml. This bottle is completely full and will be going up for sale as soon as I set up my PayPal account, which is now going to get expedited as I don't even want to look at the label again.

I have to agree with whoever said 'furniture polish', except for me, the second I opened the bottle, something in the perfume went up and punched me in the back of the nose like a flint knife to my sinuses, so hard it made me gag and tear up. I rimmed the bottle on my wrist and it only got worse, and then it had incredible staying power after I tried washing it off! This isn't as detailed as my other reviews because I was plain disappointed by this. I just want to smell like a library! It must be the incense, but I got the same nostril-punching note from Agnes Nutter. In the future, I'm going to be buying as many decants of LEs that I can before actually purchasing a bottle, just so I avoid situations like this. And I'm going to read the reviews on the forums! Perhaps figure out whatever that specific scent is that left me reeling in the most horrible way.

1/11/2012: Delirium (Bewitching Brews) Previous scents: Dove shampoo and Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant/anti-perspirant. In the bottle: Apple – not the hard kid, the soft, somewhat mealy kind – and rose. Testing method: Swiped wand three times on inside of right wrist, twice on inside of left wrist. Immediately: Apple, rose, and a teensy bit of lemon. I don’t understand why this is called Delirium. The notes make perfect sense together for me. Fifteen minutes: Uh-oh – the lemon is coming out a little more, but the rose is threatening to turn powdery on me! Not that powder is bad, just… I don’t like it. One hour: Apparently my skin turns everything to rose, because that’s all I smell – one very dusty, powdery rose. I’m sure the apple and lemon are tempering it from smelling like a prom corsage, and if I try I can still smell everything well-blended, but when my nose isn’t attached to my wrist all I get is rose, rose, rose, rose, rose! Floral and feminine. Several hours: This is a very light scent, and not much remains here. All I have to say, once again, is rose. My skin just really amps roses, I guess. Not a very heavy rose, but perhaps a pink one, because overall, this scent is pastel pink to me. Overall: I got this for free and I’m not emotionally attached to it. Into the swap pile it goes, and now I have a warning not to go too near anything that has a rose note for fear that it will overpower the others. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.

1/10/2012: Cthulhu (A Picnic in Arkham) Previous scents: Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant/antiperspirant. In the bottle: Smells like one of my brother’s aftershaves or shower products. Masculine. Testing method: Two swipes of the wand across my collarbones, two swipes of the wand on the inside of my left wrist, knocking the vial against my right wrist twice, rubbing together. Immediately: Yes, this is sharp and masculine. I don’t know if it’s because it’s an aquatic that it’s doing this to my skin, but wet? Definitely a man’s cologne. Aqua di Gio or something. Fifteen minutes: Okay, now I’m getting the more briny parts of it. Something’s tempering the ‘clean’ scent I normally associate with aquatics into something more like the ocean. The masculine bits are still there, but this hasn’t had time to sink in. Besides, I like smelling masculine every once in a while. One hour: Yes, this is turning into ocean water and brackish seaweed. Reminds me of vacationing at the beach and the smell of the seaweed that washed up on the shore. I’m not sure that the ‘waters’ are ‘dark and unfathomable’ but it’s still very ocean-y. If I had to associate this with anything, it would be House Greyjoy from the A Song of Ice and Fire series: a gold kraken on a black field. We Do Not Sow, indeed. Several hours: All that really remains of this is the smell of wet sand in the crotch of my bathing suit after a long day at the beach. And honestly? I like that smell. I understand that it’s not for everyone, though. Overall: I have an imp of this that I'm probably going to use until it runs dry, but I don't think this is a re-buy for me. Not for now, anyway. This seems more of a 'summer' scent than a 'winter' scent, if only for the overall beachy tone to it. DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day. Edited to add my customary disclaimer.

1/3/2012: Embalming Fluid (Ars Moriendi) Previous scents: Fresh out of the shower using Dove shampoo, Dove ‘fresh’ scented women’s deodorant/antiperspirant. In the bottle: Smells somewhat like kitchen soap. Mostly getting the aloe and lemon. Testing method: Two swipes of the wand on the inside of my left wrist, knocking the vial against my right wrist twice, rubbing together. Immediately: Lemon lemon lemon lemon lemon. A little aloe. Fifteen minutes: Getting the green tea coming through now. Shoved my wrist in a relative’s face and got a ‘yes, that smells good’ out of it. I feel particularly clean. One hour: Mellowed out quite a lot. The musk is holding everything down nicely and making it more well-rounded. I smell the green tea particularly. Seems the sharpness of the lemon gives way to the green tea. I think the aloe is just disappearing in my nose. Several hours: Aloe and white musk barely clinging to my skin. This one sinks in really fast on me – it’s already almost gone. Overall: This is my favorite BPAL scent, mostly because it smells clean without being overpowering. It's true that this is a very 'light' scent as it sinks in quickly on my skin and is very faint overall, but I don't mind as long as I smell this good! I've received several compliments when I wear it, though people turn their nose up at the name and ask whether the formula shouldn't have a little formaldehyde in it! DISCLAIMER: Due to differences in skin chemistry, inherent olfactory powers, and other scents that an individual might use throughout the day (i.e. scented deodorants, shampoos, room sprays, cooking odors), these oils will smell different on every individual. This review is only intended to illustrate my personal experience wearing it throughout the day.