elka_knits

not ginger but creamy spicy on me are

 

pickled imp: Cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and pine sap.

 

pepper: Wild English roses, French gardenia, vanilla, honey, golden ginger, blood orange, pine resin, pink pepper, crushed berries, tuberose, bergamot, and geranium.

 

defututa: Olive blossom, honey, smoky vanilla, cinnamon, jasmine, sandalwood, and champaca flower.

 

Obviously you can't be a floral hater for the second two although to be honest they don't smell floral to me {I know I am a weirdo}

 

The most gingery scented one I own is

 

MOPSFLEDERMAUS
Brown sugar and ginger root with smoky clove, bourbon vanilla, cardamom, and Indonesian musk.

 

It is a sharp ginger clove mix in bottle and wet. Reviews here

Gratitude for my fairy again. I couldn't decide on which peaches to get this year so ordered one of each. All the peaches had notes that sounded nom and notes that I avoid. I love peach. I love jasmine. I like frank and tea but the words sparkling and aldehyde {aka soapy waxy lemony} are usually the death knell of a scent.

When I opened my package and for the week immediately after this is the bottle I most disliked but now

In the bottle the peach is thick and jammy almost candied sweet.

Fresh on the skin the aldehyde bit is struggling to dominance. I get the lemon {and grapefruit and yuzu} that wants to verge on soap.

I haven't done a full on wear of this one yet. I will report back when I do so. I am kinda scared to put it on and be stuck at work wearing expensive smelling hotel citron based soap.

It is oddly compelling however but I may wait another week {and Saturday} to give it a real go.

It is much more wearable than the champagne peach from first year that shares it's number. I think if you liked that one you would also like this one. The jasmine is not being picked up on by my nose. And I like jasmine :-)

Thanks to my fabulous fairy

 

In the bottle I get almond with a hint of peach at the end of my deep inhales. Almond tends to smell plastic-y and fake to me. Some almond scents are so overwhelmingly almond they make me gag. Perhaps the difference is in almond blossom since this is very nice. The almond seems to lighten the scent somehow. It seems airy. I may also be picking up on the tonka a bit. I do not get the amber or narcissus.

 

BTW the airiness is mysterious. This is going to seem out of left field but the ambergris SN has the same quality--airy salty sweetness that I cannot quite put my finger one.

 

My child got into car with me and said mom I can smell your perfume which isn't something I would have suspected. I also couldn't really smell peach I so maybe my nose is turning a blind spot with these {or is temporarily broken} Another subtle to me scent.

My kind fairy picked up each of the peaches for me mainly because I couldn't decide which I wanted.

 

First pear does not work on me imo and the cream notes tend to be iffy on me [rancied overpowering clotted cream or just creamy cream] Really the only note other than peach that caught my attention was the rose musk

 

In the bottle I got rosy peach cream but nothing that was insisting I put it on.

 

On me I find it pretty nondescript. I actually didn't think it had much lasting power or throw but then the check out gal at grocers complimented me on it @ 6 hours after putting it on and I turned to husband saying I was surprised she even noticed it. He too said he could smell it and he liked it.

 

I guess I get a rose musk with the peach lightening it up a bit. I don't necessarily get ruby fruits, tobacco, or hay from it. The peach - rose combo makes it playful and feminine

 

With the exception of peach {which sucks me in every time}I tend to go for big florientals. Because this one smells gentler to my nose I think of it as very ladylike. NOT old lady but not yet refined or jaded well

I haven't tried the claw polish because I am a paddle brush lover and most indie folks use narrow brushes. However I broke down for this color--the blackened glow-y red that makes up the vast majority of my polish collection--and was lucky enough to score a fairy for dragon con.

The polish applies smoothly and evenly with full coverage on one coat but I did two out of habit. I am not sure I knew it had a slight shimmer from the picture adverting the colors. I probably thought it was a creme but color me happy. I took a picture and may update if I ever upload it anywhere.

PS closer to a paddle brush than not so I expect I will purchase more claw polishes in the future

there is something sharp and white in this to my nose. I am going to have to guess the peony which I ignored in notes list {it goes terribly wrong on me}. It has an asian vibe I guess like water snake? Peony

 

the sharpness is not unpleasant--it lasts all day and smells good. Intriguing really. I sniff it and go hmmm. It is sweet but not sugary and pink with something there keeping me from pigeonholing it. I do have an overwhelming urge to pull out my great vampire bat which also has that sharp high pitched feel to it due to orchid. They are not the same but de vos calls GVB to my mind. I have spent the week wondering where my bottle of GVB is so I can see if I need DV but regardless, knowing me, I do

reminds me of Katrina or Virgins Blood.

 

not lasting long on my skin.

 

Will end up buying a bottle nonetheless

lid of imp broke so destined for trash before swaps.

Smells slightly bleachy or like chlorine. Like you went swimming in an over chlorinated pool or are in a laundromat and the wasps of the chemicals are about but not like snorting either directly, In my kinder moments, when reflecting upon the scent instead of actually wearing it, I think naw it wasn't chlorine it was citronella bug spray-ish. But since the lid to imp broke and I spilled it all over my desk all I can say is thinking bug spray is like remembering your high school years as one wild party instead of living the awkwardness and angst.

I really wanted to love this one too. I mean Joy Mojo? Who couldn't do with more joy?

 

**wafts of anise in there as well for those who look for that

huh thought I had reviewed this but apparently not...

 

okay so color me a weirdo but I get papaya

 

new release... I skipped it first time around...

 

so strongly papaya I see the black seeds and the bright orange flesh and every darned thing.

 

guava and I are not close... I eat guava paste being from Brazil... and it is not sticky guava paste it is most definitely papaya on me and I LOVE IT

I am surprised I haven't gushed about this one. But on reflection it might be because it defies description.

 

First off let me say I do not know what the heck quince is... what it tastes like, what it looks like, what it smells like. I have had quince chutney a friend made for me but that was heavily spiced being a chutney and was eaten with Indian food so any quince-iness was lost in flavor explosions.

 

I like all the notes in this blend and they all like me back. {except for the aforementioned mysterious quince which I have no idea of our mutual like status}

 

The tobacco-- I am so confused by all the licked an ashtray gross reviews. Seriously this is the caramel french tobacco sn tobacco not some weirdo ashtray thing

 

the honey is rich and sticky

 

the cognac adds that sweetness you find in the laces. I do not get booze per se.

 

Overall this scent is an impression. I say apricot jam often but since there is no apricot in it I guess that makes me sound stupid. It is a rich orange golden color. Like a stained glass with light pouring through it. Or marmalade dripping down the side of a piece of toast--slightly warm sticky sweetness. It is very rich without being outright foody regardless of all my jam/marmalade/caramel efforts to describe it.

 

It vibrates with warmth

 

It is slightly sexy without being in your face about it. Sexy in a down to earth lush sort of way... you just want to sink into it. Like rich velvets and silks and darkened corners which doesn't sound very earthy but I did start of saying it defies description.

 

I have worn it daily for the past month or so with only a few breaks. For those that know me this is not typical. It definitely is the perfect autumnal scent.

Does not smell at all what I expected. My fairy said it was very fruity and peachy with a strong you will love it. My fairy is usually spot on and I love her so much. I appreciate her picking up my goodies so much <3

 

I get something green like stems from this. I bit grasslike or dandelion scented... sweet like sugar or sweet tarts a hint of vanilla and peaches then poof! Gone. I have not had my hair eat up a scent before. I mean I have 27 bottles of HG and this is the first I cannot smell within 15 mins. I reapplied and got the same green sugar sweet tart maybe peachy vanilla poof! results.

 

I sprayed a LOT on, waited 15 mins and ran my hair under my nose from --there are 2 feet of hair length here to run my nose along and I do not get a trace of anything from where I can start rubbing my nose on it to tips. Nothing, Nada, Zip, and Zilch. I am so disappointed. If I really struggle and use my imagination I get a bit of Venus Verticordia from it... sweet dandelion musk at the very tippy tippy ends.

 

It smells great in the bottle tho so I will spray it on my entire freaking body tomorrow after my shower and use it as a moisturizer.

there is no star in front of this one so I guess I didn't review it? How is that possible?

 

on scent base I gave it 5/5 stars with the note LOVE THIS. For those who don't know the only other scents to earn 5/5 are my beloved Pallas Athena, Bakeneko and Anesthesia {purely for sleep purposes not for wearing as a scent}

 

It replaced Dragon Milk as my go to day scent mainly because Dragon Milk smells plastic-y on me when I first put it on and that doesn't happen with Def. Dragons Milk is good after year 7 but who wants to wait that long to avoid the in vitro and wet stages? I put it in the same category as Dragon's Milk believe it or not-- creamy lush scent that on me feels like it stays close to the skin. I don't care how others perceive it. I think of it as a snuggly comfort scent.

 

What does it take to earn 5 stars? I have to love it love it love it from the minute I open the bottle through deep dry down... My eyes literally rolled back when I first opened Pallas and she reminded me of my BPAL love. Def was like that.. well not the eye rolling back bit because Pallas has that honor but I got her with a large order and it is the only scent that I wear. I am almost done with my first bottle and have a second sitting here ready to fill in. I have gone through every imp of it I can get my hands on.

Wait! I haven't reviewed this. Color me gob smacked. I have a ton of this one. Well not literally. But I have finished 3 bottles and still have more tucked away. I spray it on my bedsheets. I know I have written that I spray my sheets with this in the mornings before making the bed and then smell sweet rosy happiness when I crawl into bed at night. I tried Cathouse as a GC sub but something made my skin itch when I used Cathouse. I love this one so much.

 

It is not an in your face rose. No thorns or greenery that I can detect. Soft and pretty tea roses. Nothing sharp or bitter to tickle your brain when trying to sleep. Just soft billows of prettiness. I am addicted to this

I don't smell the pine, cypress or any of the woods. I guess it is all a jumble. I also don't smell the flowers or moss. It is sharp like a jolly ranger and cool somehow. I guess that is the bergamot being sharp and lemony although it doesn't smell lemony just that tang you get from citrus. For me this scent is more about how it feels than how it smells. I feel cool. I feel sharp. I feel airy.

Regardless I won't wear it. To swaps

clove generally doesn't work on me and I slathered this on this morning without checking notes. Lovely lovely. I didn't know what I was smelling other than what I think of as old school bpal creaminess. Incense resins... what was it? So imagine my surprise to see clove listed.

 

I reapplied and do get a dry-ness I associate with cloves and the scent is foody but I am not getting citrus or peach. In fact with the exception of incense I am getting none of the listed notes. My imp is old... very very old. Maybe that is why.

 

Will have to find a fresh imp somewhere because I have been thinking to add it to my buy list but I suspect all the fruits have worn off.... and the spices have faded as well. Of course it may just be spectacularly blended but I won't know until I try an imp that is less than umpteen years aged.

almond is usually heinous on me but here it gives a cake-y feel to the scent. The fig is rich and dense... like a preserve. I am not sure I love this one. In the bottle it isn't so good although I am getting a bit of citrus or pom type of bright fruitiness lightening it all up tho generally I would say this is a heavy deep scent--dark for lack of another word. Some honeys do that on me .... the sexy lady bits some people say tho I tend to think more musky man bits myself. Sexual and raw either way but not naughty. I cannot explain it. I vote this a fall scent. Not because it is cozy but it has that husky loamy vibe. It is very earthy without being a dirt scent.

purchased for decant circle. Starts out jasmine stinky but quickly morphs into rich semi sweet scent due to I suspect the fig and amber. Unfortunately I get headaches a couple of hours after putting on any leather BPAL scent no matter how lovely. I would otherwise plan on wearing this all fall-- it has a nice depth to it. Very lush and it smells monied to me. Like tweeds and pearls old money monied that doesn't have to put on airs--down to earth. Also the fig is sexy. Just under TOL {on my swaps page due to headache}

 

PS I like jasmine but it almost always starts out stinky. If you do not like jasmine this is the jasmine of selbsterliebt or the jasmine SN not the gentler night blooming jasmine. I find this particular jasmine rich and sugared. I love it

 

scentwise I would give it a 4/5 because it does need a half hour to blend and bloom on my skin {a scent has to rock through all phases to earn a 5 in my book} Or maybe I am cutting it down a grade due to headache ;-(

I went looking for this because miss stellamaris likes it so much. I know I had an imp of it. After hours of searching I looked on scentbase to see if I had made any notes or put it in my frimp pile or whatnot. Here is that review:

 

in bottle~ very smoky. Like cigarette tinged hair or person.... cigarette over perfume

omg wet on skin..rancid sweat socks smell what the heck is in this? vanilla no way. Cherries a bit... that wine sourness that morphs into beauty in Athens maybe. Clove seems to be a problematic note for me... harsh and back of throat tickle like when smoking a clove cigarette {which I loved the smell of but still} maybe that is where I am getting the cig connection from. I am not getting vetiver. This scent is a definite morpher but it is from one gross thing to another gross thing with a hint of sweetness underneath. So much promise. So much skin chemistry ruining half the notes.

thinks the lab has more than one amber

 

red moon and bakeneko both have flowers in them... but bakeneko is amber *musk* so that might be the awesome on you.

 

Well our tastes are not very similar at all but I wore the heck out of Red Moon 2007 this spring. The other scent I kept reaching for to deal with the monsoon of 2015 was an old favorite Bakeneko. If I didn't have a back up I wouldn't mention it is on the lab's etsy site right now but I do so you might as well pick up a bottle

 

Warm amber musk, Satsuma tangerine, black tea leaf, cardamom, cherry blossom and cinnamon.

 

TKO is always good for sleeping

Thanks! I will have to check out Bakeneko. I have an imp of TKO& it is lovely.

I appreciate the suggestions!

 

If you send me your address I will send you a wee half imp of it from my not used back up bottle that I got from etsy oh within past month. I noticed you said you don't like amber in your notes of post but it is in both red moon and bakeneko. Both also have a citrus in them. Both read as warm snuggly scents to me. I alternated wearing the two all spring this year. I only ship on saturdays so it will be a week but it pops up quite frequently on etsy. Thank the heavens. I have finished a bottle of the kitty and restocked more than once.

So recently my favorite bottles have been:

1. Red moon 2007 (I had no idea I loved red musk so much)

2. Whip

3. The Lovers (Gaiman)

4. A Commentary

5. Nocturnus (for sleeping)

 

I have a box full of sweet scents I don't reach for much so I'm looking for new recommendations & my faves are sort of going in several directions. I did purchase Mdme Moriarty & am waiting patiently (kind of ) for it.

I am certainly open to other good sleep scents as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any recs!

Well our tastes are not very similar at all but I wore the heck out of Red Moon 2007 this spring. The other scent I kept reaching for to deal with the monsoon of 2015 was an old favorite Bakeneko. If I didn't have a back up I wouldn't mention it is on the lab's etsy site right now but I do so you might as well pick up a bottle

 

Warm amber musk, Satsuma tangerine, black tea leaf, cardamom, cherry blossom and cinnamon.

TKO is always good for sleeping

Thank you everyone for the recommendations, everything sounds so good! I'm only wary of things with rose because even the most subtle rose can make my stomach turn, but after so many glowing recommendations for Alice and a love of carnation I may have to try it out, it could be the rose to change my mind!

 

 

I'm really excited to try these out, time to start shopping!

 

Unlike others I get a strong rose from Alice but I call it my schizophrenic scent. It vacillates between a soft tea rose and spicy carnation one after the other. I probably amp them both and they duke each other out for dominance on my skin. In fact I think that was my review of alice on forums

I would add Bien Loin D'ici.. I personally don't particularly like it because of the caramel and for the record I don't really get a ton of red musk to it: red musk, benzoin, caramel accord, golden honey, and spiced Moroccan unguents

seconding Door

So in the disappointment field there has always been a few slots

 

the why do you use your magical cloaking power to totally erase all vestiges of scent from the air?

the why do you use your magical amping power to overwhelm all nuances from this blend?

and ugh note of hate {usually the above amping power is involved in these}

and the I like these notes so why is it meh?

 

A meh blend is Door. Everybody loves it and well I have no clue what anything but the golden honey really smells like in a bpal scent but honey is delicious on toast and on me so I gave it a shot. I try it over and over again to no avail. Years of aging have done nothing for this scent. Why do I mention Door? Because....

 

This smells exactly like Door. Despite not having a single listed note in common. I would be willing to bet my bottle is mislabeled. I mean I am sure it isn't since it hasn't happened yet in all the years of pal buying but this smells EXACTLY like Door.

 

And thus a new slot of disappointment has been created in Elka's personal Bpal universe... a scent that should smell gorgeous but smells like something else that is meh. This is not the scent association I would have hoped for. And seriously I know and love everysingledarnednotelistedinLovedtoDeath so it isn't like me buying Door with no real clue of how much I like chamomile in a scent {Door smells like Echinacea to be honest but that is on me and to my nose--other people love it}

 

2023.08.18: Oh hai there.  So I have been putting this on quite a bit lately.  Like I put that black velvet bag in to reach for pile and I ended up loving this.  And guess what? Loved2Death no longer carries this.  After reading my above review it means I should buy a bottle of Door and let it age 8 years?  Or try and hunt some down.....