gloame

What an unexpected blend! I don't know what exactly I was expecting with a blend called Black Cat, but I don't think it was roses. Yet, roses is what I get. Endless, dried roses. It's pretty, but I'm not huge on rose perfumes, so I think I'll pass this imp on.

 

Where I'd wear this: Tea with Narcissa Malfoy

Grape? Rose? Grape-y roses. I can't decide if I love this or hate it. As it dries, the grape goes more wine (thankfully) and there's this really unusual mix of dry rose and jasmine. Rose is usually a death note for me, but I love jasmine. Here, the rose is really working and I think I like this a lot. Maybe not enough for a bottle, but I'll keep the imp.

 

Where I'd wear this: A long, dark walk home in a women-kicking-ass movie

Well unless your idea of hell is lavender, then I’d instead call this Tavern of Let’s Have a Nap. It’s a very relaxing scent! Starts out quite lavender-boozy, and dries into more lavender-tobacco. If I were getting a massage and having a drink (which sounds great), I’d imagine this to be the smell. Goes a bit soapy on me…that’ll be the lavender. Relaxing, floral, quiet.

 

Where to wear this: On a rugged, studly man with a dark past

This is really pleasant. Clean, woody, and low-key. Not too dry but definitely not sweet, either. I like this a lot.

 

Where I'd wear this: A "pack light" city-touring vacation, always appropriate

At first I wasn't sure about this one. It comes out so green and sharp. But the drydown is really lovely. feminine and sweet without being cloying. It smells ladylike and upbeat, but still quite soft. It's a very relaxing blend. I got a 5ml of this one from my fairy and I think it was a good decision.

 

Where I'd wear this: Springtime walk through Kew Gardens, wearing a fascinator

Wet: very tangy mandarin/neroli. Stays about the same on drydown. Where is my rum and pink pepper?! I was so stoked for those notes, but my skin is just not having it.

 

Where I'd wear this: A very vibrant day spa

Patchouli (maybe just red? not sure) sometimes goes weirdly bubblegum on me. When still wet, I get that bubblegum here. I was looking forward to the hay and cocoa in this, but I'm getting a dry/spicy bubblegum and little else. On drydown, it does get redder and spicier, and oddly cedar-y. It's nice, but I don't need a bottle.

 

Where I'd wear this: A cornfield maze, when it's still too hot for autumn

Kind of musky peachy. It's a drier scent than I expected. I agree that it's a dirty/smutty scent. Wear length seems super short on my skin, leaving behind only a faint dry-peach after just 4-5 minutes.

I know this was supposed to be dismissively forbidding, but all the notes looked really intriguing to me so I had a fairy pick up a 5ml for me.

 

It is indeed very dismissively forbidding. Wet, it's almost a Pine Sol cleaner sort of vibe, and that really scared me. But it dries down to a nice cedar backed by some blue musk. Not as sweet as I'd hoped (given the honeyed orange blossom) but still very pleasant.

 

Where I'd wear this: A weekend 'off-gridding', Pacific Northwest

Sweet mint tea. As it dries, the mint loosens up, but I stil don't get any peach. The marshmallow may be making it a creamy mint tea, but no fruit. Actually, maybe some cooked fruit, like a peach cobbler, but it's still very faint.

 

Where I'd wear this: Baking for the 4th of July

2015 version:

 

Sweet and tangy. As it dries, it softens into something lemony and sweet with spices underneath. Not getting a cake note, but there is something buttery. It's pretty and autumny. Foody/oriental.

 

Where I'd wear this: All Souls Day celebration, Santa Ana, California

[No additional description provided.]

Much sweeter than I'd expect. It smells like picking out Christmas trees on a cold, frosty night.

At first, quite sharp, I think from the wisteria mixing with cider. Then it mellows into this lovely, fun sweet scent with sweet, soft wisteria backed by just a hint of cider. This was the only Lilith/Fatherhood I bought this year and it was a huge surprise to me. I would never have expected to go for something with sprinkles in it, but this works. It's much more ladylike than girly once it settles. Will probably get even better with age. Low throw.

Where I'd wear this: New Year's Eve party with my niece

Sharp violets. I'm not getting any vanilla or gardenia, which is a shame because I love both. I like violets, but this doesn't do anything extra special for me.

 

Where I'd wear this: Rescuing a princess from a dark tower

I may be the only BPALer who doesn't love HJtC. To me, it smells straight up Fruit Loops. It's not awful, but I really don't love it. Fruity floral. Reminds me of fruit loops. Very grape.

 

Where I'd wear it: A beer garden, late spring

Bright, sweet violets and something green-dry-leafy behind it. A raven sitting in a yew tree, hidden by the bushy limbs, watching everything without being seen. Interesting but I don't love it.

 

Where I'd wear this: A walk through a night garden, Austria

I wouldn't have thought I would like this if I'd been buying from the Lab's website, but I got to sniff it at a Lunacy event and omg. Bought it immediately. Lemon often goes Pledge on me, so I tend to avoid it, and I have loads of pine already (which tends to amp). I expected this to smell like cold Pledge on a pine table. It doesn't. The lemon is a sugared lemon, maybe from the apple. Apple's another hit-or-miss for me, but it's a hit here -- probably because I can barely smell it. And over all that is the snow note. Beautiful. When I bought this, I thought I might be able to give up my Snow White bottle because I thought I'd have enough snow notes. But I need both.

 

Where I'd wear this: New Years Eve, Seattle

First sniff: Aquatic ahoy. Straight up Grandma's bathroom full of Irish Spring. Because I'm super into beaches and the Caribbean, I'm theoretically drawn to aquatics; in practice, I've only found a few I love. This, unfortunately, isn't one of them. And as an aside, what on earth is it that makes aquatics and Irish Spring have 'that smell'?

 

Where I'd wear this: Showering off after a long day, and scrubbing the sand super hard.