maijasu

I ordered an imp of this mostly because I was curious about all the hype. I didn't expect much though, as root beer is not one of my favorite things and I certainly don't want to go around smelling like I spilled some all over myself.

But...this is AMAZING! I do smell a slight resemblance to root beer, but this is much more complex. The vanilla is not plasticky at all, and there is also something deep and resinous about the scent. This is the first BPAL I've tried in a long time where I just couldn't stop sniffing my wrists. So yeah, I think I'll be getting a bottle.

I'm a ginger fan, and I War. On me, there is no bitterness at all, and it's not even that dry. It's sweet but not foody (I turn to Shub for my foody ginger needs). I sometimes can't wear patchouli, but it doesn't turn dirty in this blend; instead, it melds with the musks and ginger into something very smooth. I wouldn't call it particularly fiery.

Now, bear in mind that I'm pregnant, so my nose and hormones are a little off from normal. Still, if you like ginger, this is definitely a blend worth trying.

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever smelled, and I've tried a whole lot of BPALs. It's spicy carnations with honey and cream. One tiny drop on one wrist was enough to make gorgeous wafts of scent throughout my car this morning. I am so glad to have snagged a bottle of this right before it went away.

Mmm, fresh cucumber and green grass! This is so fresh and crisp, perfect for summer! It doesn't last too long, and it's very light, but I'm still a huge fan. Very glad to have a bottle of this one!

This is foody deliciousness, morphing into soapy rose. I should just stop trying anything with roses in it. Swap.

This is the perfect summer scent! It's fruity, with non-soapy florals and very clean-smelling musk. I adore it, and I'm so glad it's in the GC so I can tame my hoarding instincts. Otherwise, I'd need several backups.

I'm getting mostly herbs and musk from this, and very little honey or caramel. It's ok but not what I was expecting, and I'm not sure I'll be keeping it around.

Ohh, I love this!!!

I smell the flowers and the fruits and the sweet honeyed cakes, and they combine to make something deliciously happy, bright and springlike. This is just gorgeous, and I can see myself wearing it whenever I want to cheer up.

A huge winner!

I really wanted to like this--I even ordered two bottles of it! And the bottle art--so adorable! And I love carnations. How could this possibly go wrong?

And yet, go wrong it does. Something about it smells almost sour on me. Very weird. I definitely preferred the last incarnation of Pink Moon, and I'm glad I have a bottle of that one. The '07 version will need to find a new home.

Note: Faith and Hope both smelled gross on me too, so maybe there's just something about sugared florals? Anyway, I know lots of people who don't have such wonky skin chemistry will love this.

On me, this morphs from black pepper to SN dragon's blood, with no other notes to be found. It doesn't smell bad, but I'm not particularly fond of it, either.

Umm, where are the fruit and spice? On my skin, this is very woodsy, with maybe a hint of musk. I actually like cassia, but I'm not getting any here. Something about this just doesn't smell right on me. Swap!

At first, nauseating sweet wine. Luckily, it dries down to something much nicer, a blend of foody and creamy and floral with a hint of apple. Still, the wine just doesn't agree with me.

I'm another one who can't wear the Misk U oil--the "dusty tomes" just don't work as a perfume for me. But this soap is all sweet coffee, and so lovely and moisturizing. It didn't leave much scent behind, but that's just fine with me. I'd definitely buy it again, and I'll probably try some other scents too!

This is very sweet wine and berries on me. It's surprisingly cheerful for a something based on Lady Macbeth. Very nice.

This is a very pretty, fresh apricot scent. I smell the musk and orange blossom in the background, and they mingle very well. The overall effect is sweet and feminine. I do like this a lot, although I may not need a bottle since I already have Fae and Aglaea.

At first, this is a gorgeous, fresh, minty apple. I smell the aquatic notes too. Unfortunately, its lasting power is less than stellar, and my chemistry seems to be turning it a bit too floral. Still, I love it in its wet stage, and I might even try it in a scent locket were it not for all the other lovely fresh, summery BPAL scents that don't go a little odd on me.

This is a pretty, smoky floral. It's a bit perfumey, but it doesn't go to powder or soap on my skin. I like it quite a lot, although I don't often wear this type of scent. Fans of Chrysanthemum Moon should check this out as a less spicy, GC alternative.

Have I not reviewed this? It is incredible, and perfect now that the weather is getting very warm. It's fruity, sweet, and tart. It makes my mouth water. Yum.

At first, this is overpowering red wine, but it dries down nicely into a perfect rendition of my mother-in-law's spiced grape jam. Delicious!

This is a nice musky clove with vanilla. I do like it, but I'm not gaga over it like so many people seem to be. Luckily, I just swapped for a decant, as I would have been disappointed if I'd swapped away a whole bottle of something rare or paid an exorbitant price for this. I'm undecided on whether or not to keep the decant, as there are so many other spicy-sweet BPALs that I love even more and which are easier to obtain should I run out.

I didn't expect to like this at all but decided to give it a try anyway. It's actually surprisingly pleasant! I'm not getting the dirtiness from it that some do; I think my skin really likes the musks in this. It smells clean and fresh but still sexy, if that makes any sense at all. It's also a little bit sweet.

An unexpected keeper!

On me, Lolita is a sweet, fresh, slightly green floral. It's very springlike, and not soapy at all. I'm not getting the lemon verbena, but I have no idea how old my imp is, so that may be why. Overall, it's very beautiful and feminine. Nicely done!

Kweku Anansi is smooth, clean, and slightly sweet. I smell a hint of citrus, but the other notes aren't jumping out and asserting themselves. This would work very well on a man or a woman, I think.

I'm very grateful to the forumite who sent me a frimp of this, and I believe I will pass it along so others may try it. I'd certainly consider a purchase of this if it ever became available in the GC.

Mmm, I love this! It's fresh and light and minty, with the tea and cherry blossoms peeping through. It's perfect for warm weather, which is just starting up here in the South, so I believe I'll need to put a bottle in my next order.

This was a lightly spicy scent on my skin, with the flowers staying in the background. It doesn't have much throw, but it works as a scent to draw you in. I couldn't stop sniffing my wrist the whole time I was wearing it yesterday. A definite keeper!