kajacana

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!!

After a lot of research (i.e. review-reading), I decided to go with Temple of Dreams. It sounds the closest to what I was aiming for. Hopefully roomie will like it! And yeah, totally going to have to warn her to only use a tiny bit at a time in the burner. I learned that lesson myself the hard way the first time I burned BPAL - it was Miskatonic University... so, a delicious mistake, but a mistake nonetheless!

I can't wait to try Hesoid's Phoenix. Looks like a great amber-vanilla...

 

Hesiod (Hesoid? It's spelled differently on the site vs. bottle, it's been driving me nuts) is the BOMB DIGGITY. Such a beautiful variation on typical vanilla. I get a really pure, vanilla-bean impression from it (as opposed to a foody baked goods thing).

TKO is a good sweet (almost marshmallow-y) lavender from the Panacea line, the trading post also has a bath oil in it. I would second Paris as a gift, for me it worked well in a burner rather than my skin.

 

 

Cool, thank you! Good to know someone has had positive results burning Paris (er... you know what I mean! )

 

Anyone else have any thoughts? TKO seems to get mixed reviews - some people get heavy lavender, others don't.

 

See, this is precisely why I should try harder to sniff blends that I don't necessarily think I'll want for myself! Sigh.

Hey there!

Resurrecting this thread to ask for help buying my roommate a Christmas gift.

 

She usually has cheap lavender-scented candles and wall plug-ins in her bedroom. I want to buy her an oil burner along with a bottle of lavender BPAL so she can upgrade to a nicer type of room scent!

 

I need something GC (because it's a gift and I don't want to have to go on any wild goose chases for something potentially used). I've never tried any lavender-dominant blends, and I need something that will smell good in an oil burner. I was considering Paris.

 

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

I also love citrus - some of my favorites are:

Night-Gaunt (Yuzu, white grapefruit, and kumquat mixed with snow-dusted flowers)

Baobhan Sith (Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger)

Whitechapel (White musk, lime, lilac and citron)

Lolita (Glittering heliotrope, honeysuckle, orange blossom and lemon verbena)

 

Out of those, the only one that turns floral at all is Lolita, but even then it's very subtle.

Lolita and Whitechapel are similar, but I find Whitechapel to be a bit more tart, while Lolita is almost sugared.

Night-Gaunt and Baobhan Sith both wear like pure grapefruit on me, with the minor caveat that Baobhan Sith doesn't last very long and goes ever so slightly soapy on drydown.

So out of the above list, Night-Gaunt is the winner for me. I have a 5ml that gets a lot of love

 

And as for foody scents, I'm also going to throw in a vote for Shub-Niggurath, which is like ginger cookies on me and is almost absurdly delicious.

Got this as a frimp - it screams lilac to my nose. The instant I put it on, I was reminded of the lilac bushes that grew in the backyard of the house where I grew up. It's a bright, intense, fresh floral - I'm also detecting some honeysuckle, but no rose. It stays the same through drydown.

 

Honestly, I'm not a floral fan and would probably never wear this, but it is a ridiculously pretty blend. Would be great for an oil burner in springtime (and, now that I think about it, it smells a lot like the Bath & Body Works candle called Spring). If you like florals, you need some Chuparosa in your life.

Finally ordered an imp of this one after being curious about it for ages!

 

In the imp: Mint chocolate, but lacking sweetness.

 

Wet on skin: I can really smell the mint at first, but it disappears quickly. Then the chocolate is strongest for a short time.

 

Drydown: Oakmoss takes over almost completely. I can smell the chocolate fading... fading... until it's merely background noise keeping the oakmoss from reaching its absolute full strength. Not getting any vanilla or pistachio at all. There's a hint of cedar, but it's definitely only a hint - like a woodsy backup dancer in the oakmoss show.

 

I really wish this one stayed more mint chocolate. However, I will say that in terms of concept, this blend is spot on - it truly does smell like a sneaky, cartoonish crocodile! You know the part of the Disney cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland, where the Caterpillar makes smoke "rings" of the Crocodile while reciting this poem? I can totally imagine that smoke smelling like this blend. So cool!

Sweet, warm, foody ginger.

 

There's definitely a sharpness to it as well, but overall it's like gingery baked goods. Really delicious!

 

It has respectable lasting power, too. Just a bit from the imp and I'm still smelling it a few hours later.

Got this as a frimp and it is boggling my mind!!

 

From the imp, wet on my skin, and straight through drydown - this is LEMON.

 

Sugary lemon, very similar to the way Lolita and Whitechapel smell on me. Also reminds me of Lemonhead candies. I'm not getting smoke or incense AT ALL. Super weird, considering the description - I expected this one to be very dark! Does not compute.

 

It's not an unpleasant smell by any means - I quite like sweet citrusy blends - I'm just experiencing some cognitive dissonance because I was not expecting "the blackest of ritual incenses" to smell like I rubbed lemon candies on my arm!

In the bottle: Deep, smooth bourbon vanilla.

Wet on skin: This is so hard to describe! I know I'm smelling amber, but the vanilla is still there (a very "vanilla bean" type of vanilla), and all the notes blend so perfectly together. The overall impression I get is deep gold, smooth, very warm, and sweet - but sweet in an incense-y way, not a foody way.

Drydown: Stays mostly the same, but the incense quality intensifies. Absolutely beautiful.


This might be the first scent I ever buy backups for. I'm in love.

In the imp this is really subtle- I practically had to stick my nose in the vial to smell it! But then I get a really light musk or vanilla, almost like a non-spicy Morocco. Not too impressive.

 

And on my skin, it goes straight to baby powder. No thank you. I would love to smell the awesomeness some of the rest of you are getting, but alas.

In the bottle: A muddled mix of fruits. I can pick out the apple, orange, and cherry from the description if I really try, but it's definitely not a sweet or light fruity blend. The overall effect is sour/bitter.

 

Wet on skin: The bitterness and sourness mostly go away, and it gains a little sweetness. There's still a sharp quality to it, like spices.

 

Dry on skin: The drydown is the best stage of this one for me! The raspberry comes out - it smells a lot like Akuma on me, actually, only darker. After some time it turns to... fruity incense? ...which made my mom wrinkle her nose but I don't mind it at all. I probably won't wear this one very often, but it's a fun Halloween scent.

 

 

ETA: This one is STRONG. I put on just one little dot with the cap, and woooaahh.

This is the first BPAL pumpkin blend I've ever smelled, and I'm definitely a fan. I love Dorian on its own, and this is like Dorian in a warm, fuzzy sweater on a cool fall day with crispy leaves swirling around and the scent of fresh-baked pumpkin pie wafting from a nearby window.

 

The pumpkin is strong in the bottle- but more pumpkin spice than actual fleshy pumpkin. It's sweet and buttery, with a trace of cinnamon-esque spice. On my skin, Dorian appears, and the combination is gorgeous. That hint of lemon and the smoothness of the tea are an amazing background for the pumpkin and spice. It's a rich, comfy scent that reminds me of all the best non-spooky parts of autumn.

This is pure ash, both in the imp and on my skin. On drydown there's the vaguest whisper of spice, but I have to really try to detect it. Smells like I rubbed my arm in a campfire pit. And hey, some people love that smell - but I'm not one of those people.

 

If your skin chemistry amps spice, maybe this one will turn out differently for you. But I'm not a fan.

Whitechapel (white musk, lime, lilac and citron) is like sugared lemons to my nose.

Akuma (blood orange, neroli, and raspberry) is one of my favorite BPALs. It does have that blood orange note that you may not like, but the neroli is definitely there. It's a light, kind of sweet-and-sour fruit scent - almost like fruit candy. Definitely worth a try!

Got this one as a frimp in my first order over a year ago. It didn't strike me as anything special at first, but I just re-tested it and WOW. This goes complex, incense-y vanilla on my skin and it is WONDERFUL. This might sound weird, but Morocco is more along the lines of what I was expecting from the famous Snake Oil. But where Snake Oil failed for me, Morocco delivers.

 

It smells like... a more sophisticated version of the old Bath & Body Works scent Warm Vanilla Sugar... laced with church incense. (I have both Midnight Mass and Cathedral, and neither of them captures my familiar Catholic church incense - but this note in Morocco is spot on. It's a beautiful smell and it melds perfectly with the somehow-vanilla-but-not-vanilla.)

 

I'll have to test this one during the day. It seems like a perfect blend for colder winter weather. I have a feeling this might end up being a bottle purchase.

I'm glad someone is finally asking about Tokyomilk Dark because #21 Yesterday (Asuka Rose, Linden, Ginger Root, Aged Wood) is one of my favorite scents ever... *whispers* and if anyone wants to throw in a rec for that one too, while we're on the subject, I would appreciate it!

 

Anyway, for #62, these both have a floral note and a spice/wood note. Not sure how similar they'll be, but worth investigating?

 

-Sybaris (Wanderlust): Bright violet with sweet clove, Mediterranean incense notes and tonka bean

-Mata Hari (Bewitching Brews): Five roses with soft jasmine, warmed by vanilla, fig, tonka bean and mahogany, spiced with a drop of coffee bean

Try Whitechapel (lemon) or The Apothecary (green, herbal). Both definitely fall into the clean/fresh category. I've never burned Whitechapel as a room scent but it could potentially go Lemon Pledge on you, I'm not sure. On my skin it's a light, realistic, slightly sugary lemon, and if you're lucky and that translates well to an oil burner, that would be awesome! Worth trying I think. The Apothecary reminds me of the smell of a spa - all kinds of green, planty things crushed up.

I got this as a frimp, and I'm pretty sure someone was paying attention when they put it with my order. It's like they noticed I like aquatics, and noticed I like spice/vaguely foody scents, and thought... hmm... how about you try those together? Nailed it!

 

In the imp: Very boozy - strong rum.

 

Wet on skin: The sarsaparilla, leather, and salt emerge.

 

Dry on skin: I get a vague whiff of the "men's cologne" thing that others have mentioned, and even a little potpourri if I try too hard to pick out the notes. But it all melts together so seamlessly that it just ends up smelling really good - the whole is better than the sum of its parts. I can see how some of the notes might be amped on some people and turn this one in a very unpleasant direction, but on me it totally works.

 

General impressions: This blend is complex, rich, and warm without being heavy. It's kind of like a less boozy, spicier version of Hellcat (which I also like). Reminds me of a worn leather bag full of spices. It's one of only two BPALs I've ever worn that make me think, okay, this just smells like me (the other is Dorian). Definitely going to order a 5ml.

This blend is definitely grapefruit (one of my favorite scents of all time, perfume or no!), but somehow softer than I expected. It's more grapefruit peel than grapefruit flesh, as others have mentioned, but I don't get any bitterness at all, which is nice. It turns a little soapy on my skin, but remains very pleasant. Mostly the tang of the grapefruit fades a bit and the warmth of the - ginger? tea? apple blossom? - pushes through and slowly takes over until, alas, the entire scent evaporates into nothingness much too soon. I had to put quite a bit on to get any throw at all, and even then it was minimal and within an hour and a half I couldn't smell a thing even when my nose was against my arm. Really unfortunate. But if you like the smell of grapefruit, this one is definitely worth a try - maybe you'll have better luck with the staying power.

Received this one as a frimp and was pretty intimidated by the description! Any sort of smoke or burning thing is usually an automatic NOPE for me.

 

But this blend really just reminds me of a big basket full of fruit and flowers. It's actually really pleasant and sweet in the imp and wet on my skin. It dries down to a soft floral that's juuuust one tiny step away from becoming baby powder, so it's not my favorite, but even then it's not bad.

Received as a frimp.

 

Overpowering floral in the imp, dries down to pure violet. There's a strange depth under the floral notes that definitely doesn't agree with me. Maybe the moss? It's something earthy and it makes this blend more interesting than violet alone, but it's not for me.

Soooo I don't actually know what ambergris smells like. I ordered this bottle because a) I can't resist octopus-themed things, and b ) it sounded all kinds of ocean-y and that really appealed to me.

 

This is such a unique scent, I can't even think of what to compare it to! It's much too strong sniffed straight from the bottle, unpleasant even, like a bad bathroom air freshener. But once it's dried on my skin, everything mellows out and it becomes soft, cool, smooth, vaguely plant-like, with a hint of salt. Honestly I'm looking at the list of notes and salt is the only one my nose can recognize, but the combination is really lovely. It makes me think of a beach - but not a tropical beach... more like a New England beach. Cold water, warm breeze, rocky shores.

 

I probably won't wear it very often but I like it!

 

[Edited for typo]

 

 

Zookeeper! What a fantastic job.

 

...for a cat lover and kindred spirit who's ok with toys strewn about the house...

 

LIL' MENES FELINE ENTERTAINMENTS 2012 (YULE: THE MISKATONIC VALLEY YULETIDE FAIRE)

A delightful selection of Ultharian cat toys and offerings, guaranteed to propitiate even the orneriest kitty!

 

THE CAT

Sleek, black, dark, and clever: benzoin, honey, cedar, and dark musk.

 

BASTET

Bast, Ubasti, Ailuros, Ba-en-Aset. Represented as both a domestic cat and a fierce lioness, she truly evidences traits of both. She is the Mother of All Cats, Goddess of Sensuality, Fertility, and a guardian and protector of women. She is also one of the Eyes of Ra, and in that aspect is an Avenging Goddess, seeking retribution and punishing enemies of her people. Luxuriant amber, warm Egyptian musk, fierce saffron and soft myrrh, almond, cardamom and golden lotus.

 

WULRIC, THE WOLFMAN (CARNAVAL DIABOLIQUE)

Friendly, charming, and cuddly, but possessing one hell of a mean streak: cocoa absolute, French vanilla, birch tar, lavender, bourbon vetiver, wild musk, clary sage, and cistus.

 

THEODOSIUS, THE LEGERDEMAIN (CARNAVAL DIABOLIQUE)

Earl Grey tea leaves, a white fougere, jasmine leaf, pearlescent white musk, and vanilla bean.

 

...and finally, one of my top BPAL scents of all time, because I think everyone should try it...

 

WILF

Warm fur coupled with red and black musk, vanilla bean, patchouli, champaca flower, juniper berry, chocolate peppermint, frangipani, browned sandalwood, ferntop ash resin, and massoia bark.

 

eta- How could I have forgotten Bastet?

 

 

Great suggestions, thanks!!

Wulric sounds really interesting, I'll have to try and track some down. And the saffron and cardamom in Bastet are right up my alley!