lorajc

I would have to agree with Clover's remark about violets. I'm not sure I'd say sugared...as I don't think this is particularly sweet. It does pack quite a punch and this is one of those oils that is much better on the drydown on me. I tested this at night and the next morning it smelled amazing. Now, that's staying power. Absolutely no mint. I don't think of it as an icy scent, as my only comparisons of icy would be Ice Queen, Skadi and Frost Moon (all of which I love). This is a totally different direction and is basically a floral....possibly violets and who knows what else.

The first word that comes to mind when I wear this is "Lush fruit" just like the description states. I really can't pick out any specific note and the lunar oils are not particularly strong in this. This is quite lovely and I'm enjoying it very much. This really fades on me also. It starts out with a small bang, but fades quickly. This requires frequent applciations and lots of oil on me. This is done very well.

2005 Version

 

I reviewed this long ago when it was a catalog scent but this is for the 2005 version. This basically smells the same as the old version, although I seem to like it just a bit more. Carnation can smell sour on me sometimes, but it's usually just a phase that only lasts for a few minutes. I do get the berry a bit more than I remember with the spicy carnation. The amber seems to give it just a bit of depth. This is nicer than I remembered. I'll get a lot of wear out of this.

I was iffy on this when I ordered it, as ginger is hit or miss on me, as well as honey. I was hoping this would be the strong cinnamon scent I've been longing for, but it is not. Again, the cinnamon is very understated on me and the honey, pepper and ginger take over. It does smell similar to Chai Tea but I think the musk and honey makes it creamy, as well. I have to wear this a few more times before I make a final decision on it.

I ordered multiples of this because at first I thought this would be a strong cinnamon scent, but it actually is a floral/spicy/hot scent with no cinnamon on me. I'm torn on this one. I don't like it when first applied. On the drydoown, it becomes "hot" smelling, but I can't pinopoint any notes. I think I like it but, again, I need to wear this a few times to get myself "familiar" with it.

This did not work on my skin at all. The Violet & Jasmine amped up and I only got a hint of vanilla. I would have liked it if it would have been the other way around on me. This does (once again) really evoke the Bearded Lady image for some reason. Beth did so well interpretting this series.

What else can be said about this that hasn't already been said? I haven't slathered it on yet.....but it will require much slathering. I love it, as it is the perfect "cotton candy" scent and I have a real sweet tooth. My only complaint is that I wish it were stronger. I think this may get stronger with age like my aged bottle of Dana Oshee that is so much stronger now and I will really love this if that happens.

I was afraid to order this because of the vetiver, but I did anyway. The vetiver is detectable out of the bottle, but it does not amp up on my skin. I found this to be a bit too masculine for my tastes. I also don't like the bourbon note. I've not had terrible luck with bourbon in the past either. I like the Lime, clove, amgergris and musk and those notes make this reminiscent of Voodoo to me.

I wanted to try this but I didn't think I would care for it. I'm not big on "orange" scents, but I was hopeful with this one because of someone's description of it smelling like Rockstar soap. I wish that's what it smelled like on me. On me it was blood orange and pepper. Not me at all. I am more of a berry girl.

This is another favorite from the CN series. The cocoa bean is prominent when first applied but it really calms down in the drydown. This wears very lightly on me. I was expecting something a bit more fruity, but the fig and pomegrante are nearly nonexistant on my skin. The pomegranate is not nearly as tart and strong as it was in the Queen of Clubs. The vanilla and honey are detectable on the drydown with the cocoa blending in softly in the background with the fig. This is one unique and wonderfully smooth scent. Beth sure does have talent for making these unique blends. Freakshow is a perfect example why an "ordinary" person wouldn't wear BPAL. It's really quite unique in a way only Beth could make work!!

When first applied, I wrinkled my nose at this and was ready to wipe it off. It is all pine and moss in my face at first and then as it dries down, it softens and the patchouli comes out to play a bit. The pine is very prominent on me. The grasses and mosses blend in with the patchouli in the background. There is something in here that makes this soften as it wears and lightens it up a bit. I can't detect the leather or cinnamon. I was hoping for more cinnamon (as usual), but I like this a lot anyway.

I wasn't sure if I'd like this one but I ordered it anyway. It turns out that I was right. I don't really care for tobacco but wanted to try this. I agree that it is very medicinal. I think Beth did an excellent job with this collection and conveying the name of the blend via your smell. This is not really me.

I wore this to work yesterday and had the worst day I've had in a long time. I really need to wear this again before I give it a fair review, but here goes. This smells like Sea of Glass to me. If you have a bottle labeled HOM and it has no "crystal" or "sea like notes", you don't have HOM. The amber only grounds it a little. The dry down is only slightly less intense, but does not really morph much on my skin.

I ordered multiples of this because it sounded like I would love it and boy do I ever love it!! It reminds me of Aureus moreso than Snake Oil....although I do smell the similiarties to Snake Oil. This is smoother than Snake Oil. I hardly detect any plum in this and I get no coconut....although I don't know if black coconut smells like regular coconut. This is heavenly. I believe someone once descirbed Aureus as someone putting Cherubs in a blender and putting them on "frappe" and that is this scent. It is golden, warm, smooth and just lovely. This definitely is the Star of the Carnivale in my eyes, along with Gypsy Queen & Freak Show. Lovely scents Beth!!!

I'm still undecided on this one. At first (first hour or so), this is a strong green-rose that reminds me of the Empress. I am one of the people that cannot wear rose most of the time. There are a few exceptions, but in general, it amps up on my skin, as does Beth's jasmine. After the rose stage starts to calm down, the tobacco leaf, ambergris and tonka come into play. I'm not sure I like the tobacco leaf. I'll have to wear this a bit more before I make a final decision on my bottles. This might grow on me. If you love the Empress, I'd give this a try, as they smell very similar to me.

Wow, I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed if they didn't order this. This is not "animalistic" like people were probably thinking it would be. Musk can actually be clean and fresh smelling (for those familiar with it). This is how the musk is in this blend....very light and fresh. It is very light and herbal with the lunar oils brightly sparkling around over top of the musk which smells like a white musk to me. The herbal note is more prominent at first and then as it dries down it all blends together and melds into an herbal, slightly aquatic (lunar oils) skin musk.

This was the first of the Carnivale Noir scents I reached for (although Snake Charmer was left out of my order .....which would have technically been the first one I grabbed had it been in the box). I really like this. I expected to but I was worried about the smoke part of it. It works wonderfully on my skin and is perfectly balanced. I can smell the neroli when first applied (I actually thought it was plum) and then it melds into a carnation, incensy musk with the fruit tone off in the distance just barely detectable. This is surely one of my favorites from the collection so far. My only complaint is that it didn't last long on my skin.

For some reason, I expected this to be a lot more tart than it actually is. It is all strawberries and cream on me, but it is not a tart strawberry and it is not really super sweet. It's hard to describe. I guess it smells more like a strawberry syrup with cream undertones. I do not smell the lotus or sage at all. This wears EXTREMELY light on me and I really slathered it on. I really wish my skin would amp this up a bit. I think I've used almost half a bottle already. I do like this and would be interested to see if I could get the scent to waft a bit if I would get overheated........but that rarely happens.

I usually can't wear BPAL honey or jasmine, as they amp way up on me. Honey Moon is an exception to this. It does get a bit jasminey when first applied and smells very floral to me with the combo of gardenia and jasmine, but after it dries down for about 30 to 40 minutes, the florals start to soften and the honeys come out. It is a very soft honey and not at all loud like I've had scents go in the past. I just am addicted to the dry down on this scent. I make myself go thru the jasmine/gardenia phase because the end result is so worth it. I really like this and it tends to lift my spirits when I wear it.

I'm sure this scent will be perfect for some people, but there is something that goes bitter and sharp on me. I had high hopes for this, as I'm loving Beth's mint blends. Everything is fine until this sharp note begins to dominate on me. I don't usually type reviews for scents I don't like because I always feel bad.

I don't really care for poppy, but I purchased this, as I was hoping it would be more musk and patchouli on me. The patchouli is barely noticeable. The poppy screams on my skin and I can't tolerate it.

Another one with jasmine that I chanced it and purchased, as jasmine usually screams with my chemistry. I'm still undecided on this one. I like it, but I don't know if I like it enough to keep it. The jasmine is prominent at first, as are the other florals with the spiciness as a back drop. It does not smell musky to me at all. I was hoping for a bit more musk and spices, as I don't particularly care for jasmine and midnight flowers. This is pretty balanced and no one not really stands out. I must be smelling the cereus because there is something that my nose doesn't recognize. I'll have to test this more and will update if necessary.

Red musk does not usually do well on my skin, but I tried this despite that fact. I'm still not sure if it's a keeper, but from the testing I did, it is a rather pleasing scent. It's mostly rosewood, orchid and lilac on me with the sandalwood making it smooth. The red musk doesn't scream at me. This is a very nicely blended scent. Need to give it another testing. I will update when I do.

The jury is still out on this one. At first, it is all jasmine and moonflower on me (I don't care for Beth's jasmine or moonflower), but I got it cuz I love all of the other notes. I still need to test this more, but after the initial stage, the lily blends in and the currant is barely detectable. The sandalwood and frankincense, more or less, give a depth to the scent, but the moonflower and jasmine remain pretty prominent on me. I may have to swap/sell this one. Of note - I usually cannot wear Beth's jasmine blends and this is no exception. Try Peitho if you want the jasmine to be less prominent (at least that's what my skin says).

 

ETA: I really wanted to love this, as I'm a Libra and Venus is my ruling planet.

Never thought this day would come -- especially with a scent that's description starts out "lusty jasmine". I chanced the jasmine dread factor (on my skin) and tried this because of the other notes. Best thing I ever did. I love this one. It is very unique. The jasmine is drowned out by the clove and lily and the musk and bourbon vanilla give this an extreme softness that is to die for. As the person above stated -- if you can't wear Beth's jasmine, try this one. You won't regret it. Lovely. I really can't pick out any specific notes except for the musk and bourbon vanilla which lend a creaminess to the blend. Very unique. Nothing quite like in in the entire line of BPAL I've sniffed (which is quite a bit).