forspecial_plate

I get it now....at first I was mostly picking up on the 'oil' aspect that some other people mentioned above, and I couldn't identify anything 'ambery' about this. I came back to it today after resting for a few weeks. Now I'm getting mostly labdanum, which to me has a really strange scent, like a deep wine resin scent, but it's definitely ambery. This smells great and I'm glad I kept trying it until it worked! It's like a stripped down amber scent profile without any vanilla or any of the 'sweet' parts. I think that people who can't wear amber because it turns to powder, might have better luck with this because it's like the parts of amber that aren't powdery (I could be wrong about that).

This smells to me like apple + water + a big tin tub. It's all apple at first but after it dries, this metallic note comes out that reminds me a little of The Blockhead. But this is clean new metal, not rusted. The water part reminds me a little of Sea of Glass. This is very clean and refreshing. A great apple scent!

This is beautiful, I love it so much. Rose doesn't always work well for me but in this scent it's very balanced with all the other notes. I love everything about this. The familiar bpal pumpkin note is stronger at first but then it fades a bit and the other notes all come out. There's a hint of lemon which I don't know where is coming from but it is so lovely. I love rosewood and I think it helps balance the rose note. Altogether one of my favorite pumpkin patch scents.

I recommend Djinn

I didn't like this at first. I thought it was too high-pitched, and too much like a couple other aquatics I've worn. But after giving it another full wear I discovered I love it. There's some kind of chic smokiness underneath the sea spray. I love sarsaparilla and patchouli, but they are just part of the overall blend here. I love this, and also I got a compliment for it.

Hi, welcome back! Long time no see! I second Alice, that scent came to mind immediately. For me, it's more floral at first, and the creamy part comes out after a little while. Welcome back : )

Both previous reviews used the word "bitter" and I agree - there is a bitter aspect to this scent. The dead leaves note is sharp and strong at first, but the sharpness backs off a lot after a few minutes. All the notes are here, but so well-blended it's hard to pick apart individual notes. I agree that it's outdoorsy. This isn't aquatic, but something about it smells salty somehow - like salt encrusted dead leaves. And the bitter, medicinal quality - that could be blackcurrant, tobacco tar, or both notes combined. For me this wasn't easy to like, I had to grow to like it. It's very appropriate for fall and I'll be keeping it and wearing it again. I have a feeling I'll grow to like it even more as it ages. Today I layered it over a non-bpal amber scent (Amber 114), and it went really nicely with the amber, and almost starts to remind me of Death of Autumn. But on its own, DLBC&TT is much less complex.

Patchouli-lovers take note. This is a beautiful, golden autumn patchouli scent. It's just the right earthy/warm/sweet with a hint of spice. Lovely!

I keep a bottle of F5 at my desk. I don't have any windows and I'm basically underground at the hospital where I work. F5 is a really nice mood lifter for me. But I also bring something different every day to put on after lunch, depending on my mood and what my morning scent was.

Oooh, thank you....I think I have an imp of Jester, didn't realize it's d/c.

Unearthing this discussion because, for some reason, I've been "craving" berry scents a lot in the past 2-3 weeks. I skimmed through this thread, and I'm pretty sure I have imps of Lampades and Lady Una....and a couple others mentioned, like Bewitched and Prunella. Now I can't wait to get home from work, so I can have my own berry sniffing party! : ) Since the thread has been inactive for a few years....anything newer I should have on my radar? Any other berry-lovers out there?

I can't remember much about Philtre d'Amour, I only had a little sample of it. BUT..... I would recommend The Caterpillar, it always makes me think of 'old-school' Guerlain, specifically L'Heure Bleue. Might be worth a shot since it does have jasmine and patchouli (from memory), and does have a powdery feel, in my opinion.

I agree with the Shalimar comparison. The Caterpillar always reminds me of L'Heure Bleue, especially after it has dried down for a while

DCCXCIX (799) Previous review by stellans: http://www.bpal.org/topic/47311-chaos-theory-iv-edge-of-chaos/?p=1212571 My review: Clean musk with a hint of vanilla, a hint of citrus. I get the ozone vibe stellans mentions. She was reminded of Twisted Oak Tree, but I am reminded of November, lighter and sweeter. It's really nice and I like it a lot. Very clean and sometimes too close to soapy but there are times I'm in the mood for this kind of thing.

Premature Burial - which is an older Limited Edition oil, and maybe hard to find (sorry).

Here are the notes for those 2 sub-series...... Visions of Autumn I - White cedar, black pepper, golden amber, bay leaf, and 4-year aged oudh Visions of Autumn II - Gurjum balsam, rose geranium, opoponax, violet leaf, brown leather accord, and patchouli Visions of Autumn III - Bourbon vanilla, aged patchouli, honey, and Ceylon cinnamon Visions of Autumn IV - Somalian myrrh, orange blossom, champaca flower, and verbena Visions of Autumn V - Haitian vetiver, tea leaf, Himalayan cedar, and apricot rind Visions of Autumn VI - Oakmoss, lavender absolute, petitgrain, rockrose, white patchouli, and sage Visions of Autumn VII - Tobacco absolute, myrrh, opoponax, black sandalwood, and black pepper and the Dead Leaves series: Dead Leaves and Tobacco Dead Leaves, Black Pepper, and Sandalwood Dead Leaves, Bourbon Vanilla, and Myrrh Dead Leaves, Frankincense, and Copal Dead Leaves, Honey, and Oudh Dead Leaves, Red Musk, and Neroli .....again, I didn't try any of these, but they all sounded pretty good and I think they were variously popular

The whole Visions of Autumn sub-series, from Halloweenies a couple years back, sounded really great but I never tried any of them. That's only because I wanted all of them and couldn't narrow down my choices! I'm sure others here can recommend specific ones. Not sure if you like the lab's dead leaves note, but there was another sub-series in the last Halloween update that was all dead leaves scents. They're all called "Dead Leaves and..." with other notes. Again, I couldn't narrow down my choices so I didn't pursue any of these. And speaking of Halloweenies, La Femme de Satan was my favorite from the last Halloween update: "Red musk and cacao with clove, caramelized tobacco, aged patchouli, red currant, black leather, and vanilla-infused amber". Definitely suitable for a man or woman! And finally, Bram Stoker is worth a try, and it's in the general catalogue in the Inspiration section: "Bourbon vetiver with opoponax, Italian bergamot, and hay absolute". I enjoy it quite a bit. I might think of more later on....

Off the top of my head... The Seekim...challenging but rewarding Pallas Athene Ooooohh I had another one, I forget now. I'll think of more. I'm guessing you're ok with LE? Welcome back!

THE BEAR PRINCE Shaggy fur, snow-flecked and rose-touched. I am interested, but I will have to read some reviews first. Bit of a wild card. CHANUKKIYAH Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig. Nah, never had an interest in this one. THE CROSS OF SNOW Cypress, Spanish moss, and clove bud with labdanum, Italian bergamot, and white tobacco flower. This sounds nice until I get to white tobacco flower - I have a feeling that will be soapy on me. I'll read reviews. DED MOROZ Light, darkness, kindness, and malice: golden amber, white amber, redwood, teak, bois du rose, sage, tree moss, and snow. 1 bottle is enough. I do like this one. DIABLE EN BOÎTE A strangely sinister, unnerving holiday scent: redwood, bitter clove, tonka, hemp accord, and tobacco with peach blossom, black currant, and red musk. I haven't been interested in the past, I will read some reviews but for some reason the peach blossom turns me off. It doesn't sound like it goes with those other notes. Perhaps I am wrong. EL DIA DE LOS REYES Hot cocoa with cinnamon, coffee, and brown sugar. I had a decant once upon a time, wasn't crazy about it. Too gritty or something. FAUNALIA The scent of a thick, starlit, unspoiled forest, with a burst of wild musk, opobalsamum, black bryony, mandragora, and hemlock. Sounds good, but I already have a decant somewhere, tried it and it didn't work all that well for me at the time. Maybe I'll dig it up and try again (if I still have it, which I'm not sure of). FRAU HOLLE Snow-covered pines, witches herbs, bestial musk, flax, and ethereal flowers that represent both birth and death. Pretty much same as what I wrote for Faunalia above. GELT A bounty of chocolate coins! Dry cocoa and golden amber! Nah - not interested in this one. It smells good on my friend Moonarcana, though. IN WINTER IN MY ROOM Pink, lank, and warm: grapefruit, yuzu, tuberose, peony, violet leaf, pikaki, Indian frankincense, and tonka. Hmm, I'd try this if it was in front of me but I'm not going to pursue it. Just not grabbing me. KRAMPUS Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches. Yes! I want a bottle. I have a decant from a few years ago and I've always liked it. LA BEFANA Candy charcoal, winter lilies, parma violet, a sprig of cypress, a poof of chimney dust, and holiday sweets. Again - I have a decant somewhere, wasn't crazy about it. Maybe will try it again but not really on my radar. La Cloche fêlée - - - Bitter and sweet it is on these long winter nights To sit before the fire and watch the smoking log Beat like a heart; and hear our lost, our mute delights Call with the carillons that ring out in the fog. What certitude, what health, sounds from that brazen throat, In spite of age and rust, alert! O happy bell, Sending into the dark your clear religious note, Like an old soldier crying through the night, "All's well!" I am not thus; my soul is cracked across by care; Its voice, that once could clang upon this icy air, Has lost the power, it seems, - comes faintly forth, instead, As from the rattling throat of a hurt man who lies Beside a lake of blood, under a heap of dead, And cannot stir, and in prodigious struggling dies. - Charles Baudelaire, translation by Edna St. Vincent Millay A new interpretation, inspired by Millay's translation- A soul, cracked across by care: blood and ruin, smoke and sorrow, incense and ice. This sounds promising and interesting. Maybe worth tracking down a decant or partial, and I'll certainly be watching for reviews. Père Noël Bright Sicilian oranges and sweet tangerines with a clink of lavender candy and a drop of anise. Hmm, this sounds bright and pretty. Maybe too candy-sweet? I will watch for reviews. MIDNIGHT MASS This perfume is a traditional Roman Catholic sacramental incense, most often used during a Solemn Mass. I have a bottle and some decants, I have always liked Midnight Mass, but I don't think I need any more right now, unless it's different this time. Some of my decants are different, so I'll be watching reviews. NOW WINTER NIGHTS ENLARGE Shorten those tedious nights with a surge of body heat: vanilla-infused red musk, champaca, petitgrain, ylang ylang, patchouli, nutmeg, honey, galbanum, and traces of caramel. This sounds not quite for me. I don't like very many scents with honey or caramel. Both together = probably not for me. NUCLEAR WINTER Annihilation. The ice, desolation and barrenness of nuclear devastation shot through by a beam of radioactive mints. Never really had an interest in this one. PAYSAGE The pale moon pouring magic: Tunisian opium and mugwort with blackened bourbon vanilla, tuberose, glittering white musk, datura accord, wild plum, and tobacco absolute. Hmmm.....this has potential but I usually don't like opium in scents. I'll watch reviews but will probably pass on this one. THE PEACOCK QUEEN In dramatic contrast to the soft innocence of Snow White and the dew-kissed freshness of her sister, Rose Red, this is a blood red, voluptuous rose, velvet-petaled, at the height of bloom. My one decant of this is enough, although I will try it again to be sure. POOR MONKEY cold first winter rain poor monkey, you too could use a woven straw cape Compassion: pink lotus root and fig milk with ylang ylang, bourbon vanilla, soft myrrh, fir, khus, and sandalwood incense. Ok I love the concept and list of notes, although it's a little sweet and cuddly for me, this time I'm looking at the name, concept and description as a whole, and really have my eye on this one. Possible bottle and I'll be watching reviews for sure. Kind of reminds me of the notes in Chintamanhi Dhupa (which I don't wear that much). ROSE RED The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut. Same as Peacock Queen but I do like this one a little better and actually wear it from time to time. Not enough to want a bottle. THE SEASON OF GHOSTS A scent created to burn away sorrow: bergamot, frankincense, rose geranium, ginger, lemongrass, and blood orange. Well, I do like citrus but bpal's citrus has a way of smelling like candy on me, for some reason. I'll watch reviews. THE SNOW-SHOWER Flake after flake - All lost in the dark and silent lake: a snowflake dissolving into an indigo pool of blue jasmine incense and violet leaf. This sounds really nice. It would be hard to pass up something with blue jasmine incense. I enjoy jasmine and that sounds especially good. I'll watch some reviews first, I have a feeling some people will get jasmine single note from this. SNOW WHITE A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers. Once again, my decant is enough. I like how it smells but I rarely ever wear it. ++ THE YULE LADS Askasleikir Favorite pastime: skulking under dining tables, waiting to abscond with unsupervised food bowls. Don't blame the dog! Dregs of cinnamon and cocoa. I love cinnamon, but not cocoa. Probably pass on this. Bjúgnakrækir Favorite pastime: hiding in the rafters, ogling your smoked sausage. Eyes up here, mister! Sweaty pear and honey with leather, coconut meat, tonka bean, and castoreum accord. I will pass for now because of honey, but I'll be watching reviews because Quincey Morris has: "tobacco, vanilla, white pear, cedar, rugged musk and saddle leather". Sounds at least a little close to me and I love Quincey Morris. Gáttaþefur Favorite pastime: sniffing doorways. Everyone needs a hobby! Baked bread, apricot, mandarin amber, and CO2 of butter. Sounds interesting, warm and sweet, but maybe not really my thing. Giljagaur Favorite pastime: creeping around gullies until the opportunity to steal milk appears. You do you, buddy. Coconut cream, sheep's milk accord, and a drop of Ceylon cinnamon. I don't really go for bpal's cream or milk notes. This isn't calling my name. Gluggagægir Favorite pastime: peeping in yer windows. What a creeper! Spiced rum leather, frankincense, black cedar, sweet tobacco, and honey-gold sandalwood. On my first pass-through this one stuck out to me, but I'm not completely sure. I'll have to read some reviews. Hurðaskellir Favorite pastime: slamming doors. What a drama queen! Booming carnation, iced mint, white fir, and itchy patchouli loudly disrupting a dreamy bed of lavender. Not calling my name. This combination of notes sounds a little strange to me. Kertasníkir Favorite pastime: stealing candles from children. Such a scamp! Beeswax, strawberries, and bits of hard candy. Never been interested in bpal's strawberry note. I shall pass. Ketkrókur Favorite pastime: collecting meat hooks, sharpening meat hooks, polishing meat hooks. Sleep with one eye open? Labdanum, patchouli, dragon's blood resin, and clove. Not into dragon's blood these days. Once upon a time I would have been really into this. Skyrgámur Favorite pastime: indulging his yogurt fetish. Whatever floats your boat! Berries, skyr, and oats. Really don't want to smell like oats and I have a feeling skyr might be a yogurt note? Or cream? I will pass. Stekkjarstaur Favorite pastime: harassing sheep. Nobody's perfect. Wooly sugared marshmallow root. Don't really care about marshmallow. Stúfur Favorite pastime: stealing crusty bits from used frying pans. It takes all kinds. Chunks of sweet carrots and dates mushed with nuts, topped with crumbles from a pie-like spelt and barley crust. This is a big 'No' for me, definitely pass. Þvörusleikir Favorite pastime: licking spoons and ladles. There's no accounting for taste. The scent of well-worn wooden utensils, lightly fondled, and a wisp of kitchen herbs. So wood and herbs? Sounds ok but not really calling me, I will read reviews though. Pottaskefill Favorite pastime: eating the scrapings from unwashed pots. Waste not, want not? Salt licorice, birch tar, black pepper, and leather. Sounds good, but I'll read reviews first. Licorice sounds good but often doesn't work for me, but I do like the combination of these notes. I'll have an eye on this one. ++ YULE SINGLE NOTES Ah, the scents of the season! Mix and match to create the perfect perfume to accompany any awkward family gatherings! FAKE BAYBERRY CANDLE Not really IRRESPONSIBLY UNWATERED CHRISTMAS TREE Not into fir like I used to be UNSUCCESSFUL CRANBERRY GARLAND Don't really like cranberry or berry scents DAY-OLD HAM Doesn't sound appealing in the slightest FIREPLACE CINDERS Probably not but there was a time I would've been all over this. I'll watch reviews DUSTY ACCUMULATED MENORAH WAX Nah, I'll pass RAPIDLY DISINTIGRATING POMANDER I like the pomander smell but disintigrating sounds dry and powdery, I'll watch reviews DRUNK UNCLE ??? Not really? but I'll watch reviews UNMANAGEABLE SNOWDRIFT Nah, not really into snow notes any more..... ++ SNOW FALLING FAINTLY THE SNOW AT DAWN Snow afire with the morning's first rays of orange blossom, neroli, and rose gardenia. Nah THE SNOW AT NOON Blinding white in the noonday sun: white mint, eucalyptus, glittering elemi, white tea, silver fir, and camphor. No THE SNOW AT DUSK Swirled grey and purple in the gloaming: snowdrifts shadowed with opium tar, wild plum, Siamese benzoin, champaca resinoid, muguet, and carnation. Nah THE SNOW AT MIDNIGHT Silence: frozen blackcurrant bud, myrrh, ciste absolute, frankincense, and oudh. No. SO........Krampus and Poor Monkey? And a lot of review-watching!

There's nothing wrong with that at all. Those are my favorite scents, the ones that at first I don't like, but they grow on me and I end up loving them. There have been quite a few. A great example for me is Dzongkha by L'artisan, I didn't like it at all at first, but I kept thinking about it, and wore my sample over a stretch of time, and ended up falling in love with it and bought a bottle. And have received compliments on it. The thing about bpal - I think the majority of the scents could be worn by a man or woman (as has been said many times). Just because something is flowery or powdery, doesn't mean a man can't wear it. It's just because of traditions or mindsets or whatever - once upon a time all men smelled powdery, and women's scents were more mossy and thus could perhaps be considered masculine by our modern standards. I wear what I want although sometimes I am a little more self-conscious if I'm wearing a very floral scent, but in the end it doesn't matter - most people passing you in your day-to-day life aren't going to think more than once about what scent you're wearing, and if they think you smell like a woman, maybe they think you just hugged a woman or something. But really, forget about what other people think, especially if you love it, just wear it for yourself! Langour is a great scent and you should wear it if it makes you happy. And the weird thing about "powdery", is that different people are going to have different perceptions about what is powdery and what isn't. I have one friend who, whenever I wear Snake Oil he says I smell like baby powder, and I'm like....hmmm, ok, I disagree, but in the end I don't care, because I'm wearing it more for me than for anyone else! And I personally like scents that are a little "powdery", but that grew over time, I didn't always like that. I ordered Palmyra but haven't received it yet. Can't wait! I love cinnamon and it always catches my interest.

You're welcome - I tried LLaM again last night, and thought of a couple more recommendations. Absinthe - "An intoxicating blend containing wormwood essence, light mints, cardamom, anise, hyssop, and the barest hint of lemon" Absinthe and Lace - "A scent of dissipation and ennui: green cognac and icy absinthe, louched, spilling onto lace that is drooping with neglect and darkened by tobacco smoke" These are a little more obvious because of the anise, especially Absinthe and Lace - that one has a sugary aspect that might be more like LLaM. I think the "lace" note in that whole series is a kind of sugary cottony linen. I noticed last night that LLaM has a more sugary sweetness than what I remembered. Also, Black Annis - "a mixture of damp cave lichen and oak leaf with a hint of vetiver, civet and anise" Black Annis is a lot more earthy and mossy, without any sugary sweetness, but it does have a big anise note going on that you might like. I stand by Mad Hatter because I think the "gentlemen's lavender-citron cologne" part, and the cool herbal pennyroyal note, are reminiscent of LLaM. Good luck, hope this helps.

I have a mini-bottle of this, and a full-size bottle of the Leau version. (I also have a mini of the feminine one, just wore it yesterday - man that stuff lasts and lasts!) Mad Hatter is the first thing that comes to mind, even though it doesn't have the licorice or anise note, it has a similar clean-musk vibe. Also maybe: Bow & Crown of Conquest

To me this is lots of red musk, with some sweet vanilla-like fougere that reminds me of hay or sweetgrass. Read on for the more detailed, long-winded review.... : ) I was confused by the impression of vanilla. So I looked up fougere again, and found that it would generally contain lavender and fern, plus some tonka/coumarin. Reading further I found that tonka and/or coumarin gives the impression of sweet grass or newly mown hay, and I thought "aahhh......that makes more sense". Also the tonka would be more of a base note, which matches what I am experiencing, the hay coming out later (rather than when first applied). This doesn't remind me of the more 'masculine' or manly bpal scents that I've tried, it is more of an incense-y, red musk-heavy scent on a backdrop of sweetgrass or hay. On casual sniff, I would mostly pick up the red musk and it's very familiar to other bpal red musk blends. But the fougere does make this stand apart. I don't smell mandarin, so it must be just contributing to the overall feel of the scent. This is a winner and probably my favorite so far of the Halloweenies this year.

Thank you for the rec, I have purchased a bottle of aged Snake Oil, can't wait to try it out I just realized, Waltz Of The Snowflakes might be even closer. It has a cool woodsy quality that I get from Eau Duelle.

I've worn Eau Duelle, it's not too much of a stretch to recommend Snake Oil. Eau Duelle is a little woodier maybe.