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I for one am happy to hear that comparison! I love old classic men's (and women's) scents. I've read about Clubman but never tried it. I do love Great Sword of War, though. : ) Speaking of men's scents, every time I wear Love And Pain, it reminds me of A*Men/Angel Men (which I've only smelled once or twice, but it was pretty memorable).

Helloooooo comfort scent! I can see how this would be a better room scent than a perfume, but I still like it. There are occasions when I want something just like this. At first it's spicy and gourmand, but after a few minutes I start to pick up on the pine and holly. It's lovely. It's like bringing Jolasveinar indoors to warm up by the hearth. I'm actually thinking of tracking down more than my decant.

Carnaval Diabolique is a great lemon scent, and sooner or later it will hopefully be back.

Okay, I'm not sure which note is doing what at first. I put this on and for about 45 minutes, it was a stunning, sophisticated fruity incense deluxe fragrance. I thought uh-oh, another Salon perfume that I have to track down! I love patchouli but there is a certain patchouli that turns sour for me. Apparently that would be Indonesian patchouli because it takes over and kind of ruins Madonna for me, unfortunately. It reminds me of the heavy, sour patchouli that I didn't like in Smiling Spider. : ( I guess it's okay, since I can't afford to get all the Salon scents that I want anyway!

I gambled too. I got really lucky and found 3 lovely forum members with partial bottles of the ones I wanted. Sailor's Den and Lantern Ghost of Oiwa are the 2 I haven't tried before, but they sound really interesting. Love And Pain is the 3rd, which I've tried and know that I like a lot, although I've gone back and forth a few times on it.

I thought that Philosopher In Meditation was a must-have for me, but with repeated testings I finally accepted that I just don't like it. As burning wood/incense scents go, there are a few others I'd rather wear. Philosopher smells fruity and candy-like to me, not in a good way, just in a weird way. Fox-Fires On New Year's Eve was also a disappointment. I thought the notes sounded so beautiful, and when I tried it, it just fell sort of flat on my skin. See, at least there are some I can cross off the list with confidence. Anything to make the decision-making process a little easier!

Our tastes are so alike, as usual. : ) Great idea for a topic, ivyandpeony. I am a little overwhelmed and can hardly gather my thoughts on this, so I have a lot of decision-making to do. This will help a lot! Right now Love And Pain is near the top of my list of last-minute bottle purchases. I've gone back and forth in the past, but I am wearing it now and I do like it a lot. It reminds me of Angel or A*Men (but better). My top 5 wants right now, off the top of my head, would be: Love And Pain Carceri D'Invenzione (how do I not have a bottle already??) And There Was A Great Cry In Egypt (thanks for the Vol de Nuit comment, parrot_suspect! I never made that connection) The Great He-Goat (another one I'm surprised I don't already have) Cup Of Death, Sailor's Den, or Smiling Spider? Can't decide! I haven't even tried the first 2 of those. My favorites are: Cloister Graveyard Sunrise With Sea-Monsters Mad Meg Satan And Death Silence

A few more ideas..... Carceri D'invenzione...."Redwood, red sandalwood, black pepper, blonde tobacco and frankincense" Lear....."White cedarwood, blue sage and bay leaf" Ochosi...."His ofrenda is the soft shea he shares with Obatala, forest herbs, and sprucewood arrow shafts" Aureus...."True, perfect golden light, refined into an incomparably glorious scent".....this might depend on whether you like patchouli.....it seems to be a golden amber/patchouli blend with wood, possibly cedar Magus......"galangal, high john essence, frankincense, cedar, and sandalwood" ....I feel like there must be more that I'm not thinking of. The Pit and The Pendulum is good, although it's an older LE and might be harder to find. And too bad Sri Lanka was discontinued....

I love this! Something told me I might, but I didn't really expect to be wowed like this. I get the fruity bubble-gum top notes, but later this is sultry fruits and spices. This is special. Something about it reminds me of Djinn, which sounds crazy, but it's undeniable. There's nothing burnt about Plum Puddin', so maybe it's the spices? I also think of Joulumuori, which makes a little more sense. Anyway I really like this, glad I took a chance.

I have a super-aged imp of Brimstone which I took for a test-drive the other day. I think it might be from my first imp order! Anyway I get a lot of myrrh in it. It really jumped out at me, never noticed myrrh in that scent before. Not sure if the aging brought it out. I love myrrh and now I feel like getting a bottle of Brimstone just to put away for a few years.

I got this for my mom because she always used to sing a song about yellow snow. I was disappointed that the name is almost impossible to read on the bottle. But the yellow snowflakes are pretty. And I just had to try it, of course. It starts out with a piney sort of snow note and a little fruit, reminding me of Ice Queen. It's zingy and zippy. I agree that it might be good in hot weather, as was mentioned above. Later when it dries down, the vanilla cream and lemon drops make it kind of a suntan lotion smell for me and the snow note kind of disappears. I still like it, and I still think it would be good in the summer. It's sweet and mellow and yellow, lol. Not much more to say. I like Carnaval Diabolique better as lemon scents go, because that one has a little incense/musk intrigue going on. But this is good and I didn't get it for me anyway. My mom thought it smelled like cedar or pine when she first put it on. I didn't get her thoughts later on because there were a million people there.

CXCVII..... I don't really like this one and I'm not sure how to describe it. I think there is vanilla but it's the kind that turns plasticky like a doll head on me. Maybe a little fruit or berry, and maybe a little tropical floral. It's not terrible but I wouldn't wear it.

MCCLI.... I think that Moonarcana gave me this one. It's a very soft spice scent. I can smell clove and possibly ginger. But it's so soft and light, and not really foody except for a little bit of 'bread' note in the very beginning. I want to say there is a very sheer musk, something light that makes it more perfumey as opposed to gourmand. Hard to pick apart but very pretty. It's like the female counterpart to Plunder. It's a winner and I should wear it more often!

I have a little decant of vintage VdN, and I just tried some on to reply here. I bet there is something in the bpal catalog but I can't think off the top of my head which one. At first I was thinking The Harp of Cnoc I'Chosgair but I don't think that's quite right. That might be closer to Samsara with its vanilla and sandalwood. Vol de Nuit is a light, spicy, powdery floral with amber and galbanum which is kind of a greenish resin note. I bet someone has an amber Chaos Theory that smells like it. But I'm still feeling like there's something GC that might work. I just don't know the powdery florals very well. Edit: You know what.....after a while I realized, it is reminding me of Silk Road, except I think Silk Road has more spices. I know that's discontinued, sorry.

Leather Phoenix reminds me of a classic floral-leather chypre, without the moss that most chypres have. There is a 'skanky' (in a good way) animalic undertone but I don't know what that is....maybe the cedar or oudh? I think this scent is soft and pretty, elegant, and when I wear it I can't stop sniffing my wrist because it's so interesting. It doesn't change much as it dries. If you think that leather scents are masculine by default, this one might surprise you. The leather is really balanced with the softer prettier notes, and overall I'd call it unisex. It also really fits with the other Phoenix scents that I've tried, if you consider them a 'family' of scents. There is a dark layer in my bottle that's really hard to mix with the rest of the oil. I don't shake any of my bottles but I rolled and rolled it, and tipped it back and forth, and some of it mixed in but there is still a little thin layer at the bottom. I wonder what that is? I'm thinking it must be the aged oudh.

I love Egoiste! And I'm sort of on the lookout for a bpal scent that is similar. Egoiste has notes of sweet orange, rose and rosewood, vanilla, spice (coriander I think), ambrette seed, and sandalwood. Very lovely orange/sandalwood/rose/vanilla scent, with some spices. Notes vary depending on where you look them up but the rose is not central to the scent....it is a supporting kind of rose. I have my eye on these, and they all happen to be Yules: Harlequin and Columbine (from last year)....."French vanilla, red currant, sage, balsam, rosewood, mandarin, lemon peel, pomegranate, and cedar" Thousands Of Lights....."Indian ambrette seed, beeswax, champaca flower, saffron, Italian bergamot, frankincense, oak bark, and vanilla orchid" In Brightness And In Joy....."Divine mercy: sweet winter berry, orange blossom, frankincense, golden sandalwood, angel's trumpet, and red rose" I am not too familiar with the lab's rose scents, just thought I'd put it out there and see what people thought. And I will report back on what I find, too. : )

Wheee! Keeping in mind, we still have an anniversary update coming. OAK MOON – Eternally evolving, blooming in power and grace: acorns, oak leaves, oak bark, and oak sap rising through a mist of traditional lunar oils. Yes! I'm pretty sure I need this. One of my favorite perfumes is Chene by Serge Lutens, so Oak Moon is kind of a no-brainer for me, hope I really like it. ++ YULE 2011 AUTUMN AND WINTER 2011 – Bitter currant and dry leaves. Winter wind at dusk. Hated this last year, smelled like piercing bathroom cleaner. Sorry. CHANUKKIYAH 2011 – Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig. One of those things that I've always wanted to try, but never got around to. Decant, maybe. CLOTH OF GOLD – Vibrant yellow petals bursting exultantly through a patch of snow. I never really fall in love with the snow and flower scents, probably pass on this one. DIABLE EN BOÎTE 2011 – A strangely sinister, unnerving holiday scent: redwood, bitter clove, tonka, hemp accord, and tobacco with peach blossom, black currant, and red musk. The notes look interesting, can't remember why I wasn't interested before. Will have to look up some reviews. DUST OF SNOW – Snowflakes and hemlock leaves with snowdrop, iris, and Peruvian lily. Sounds soapy, especially the lily. Pass. EGG NOG 2011 – Sweet brandy, dark rum, heavy cream, sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. I have an older decant, smells like slightly spicy air on me. Pass. FROST AT MIDNIGHT – The liberating glory of nature, a celebration of wildness of spirit: fierce musk and immortelle, clary sage and oud, terebinth pine and ambrette seed, ivy and tobacco, honeysuckle and orange blossom. Sounds interesting, might be a bit harsh. Will watch for reviews. GELT 2011 – A bounty of chocolate coins! Dry cocoa and golden amber! I can safely pass! HALÔA 2011 – Wine grapes, pomegranate, myrrh, frankincense and olive leaf, and the warm scent of offertory cakes. I have enough of this, especially since I never wear it. I like it, though. Pass this time. JACOB’S LADDER 2011 – The meeting of Heaven and Earth: golden amber, galbanum, benzoin, ambrette, rockrose, costus and tonka. Maybe it's time to try this again, since my tastes have changed so much since I first tried it in '06. I'll have to think about it. JÓLASVEINAR 2011 – Their scent is a mishmash of snow, dirt, Icelandic moss, marsh felwort, and the smushed petals of buttercups and moorland spotted orchids, with the barest hint of the scent of pilfered Christmas pastries. Another one that I have, like, and never wear. What's up with that?? Pass this year unless the reviews are really different. LICK IT DISCREETLY – This year's minty double ententre! A sticky, chilly peppermint candy cane with sweet vanilla and an extra jolt of sugar. What will we see next year, Lick It On The Down Low?? LOL! Pass, not my thing. MAISON EN PAIN D'ÉPICES – This is the scent of a freshly assembled gingerbread house, with swirls of multicolored icing, spice drop lights, meringue snow, pinwheel mint accents, chocolate roof tiles, candy wafer pavers, and jelly candy stained glass. We used a French translation for ‘gingerbread house’ as the name to make it sound fancier. French adds +40% Fancy! Well, this is a possibility, but it's one of those things that sounds good, but I may end up not wearing. Will have to think about it. MIDNIGHT MASS 2011 – This perfume is a traditional Roman Catholic sacramental incense, most often used during a Solemn Mass. Traditionally, five tears of this incense, each encased individually in wax that has been fashioned into the shape of a nail, are inserted into the paschal candle. This is, of course, represents the Five Wounds of Our Risen Savior. Symbolically, the burning of the incense signifies spiritual fervor, the fragrance itself inspires virtue, and the rising smoke carries our prayers to God. I do not need more Midnight Mass. MIDWINTER’S EVE 2011 – A melancholy, deep scent, poignant and brimming with nostalgia. The perfume of sugared plums over a breeze of winter flowers. I do not need to try this again. NOCHA BUENA 2011 – A celebration of the Nativity: the light, uplifting incense of the Misa de Noche Buena, purple sage, and a vibrant bouquet of plumeria, chrysanthemum, tuberose, Angel's Trumpet, Mexican tiger lily, dahlia, and azucenas. I have either a decant or bottle of this already, and don't really wear it. Pass. That seems to be a recurring theme here. ÖNDURDIS – The Ski Lady, jötunn goddess of winter, bowhunting, mountains, and skiing. The scent of winter wind blowing over snow-capped mountains. Well, hmm....worth a try. Possible decant. PEACOCK QUEEN 2011 – 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. Haughty and imperious, vain, yet incomparably lovely to the eye, but thick with thorns of jealousy, pride and hatred. I really don't need to try this again. Pass. PINK SNOWBALLS 2011 –A lighthearted winter scent: chilly vanilla rose snowballs! Dainty, soft, and certainly unfit for flinging! Pass. Still have an old decant. PUMPKIN MASALA ROOIBOS – Rooibos tea with red ginger, green cardamom, fennel, peppercorns, almond, and licorice, sweetened with coconut sugar and jaggery. This is a possibility but the sugar and spice scents don't always work for me (see Egg Moon and Spicebush Swallowtail). Worth a decant but I won't get my hopes up. ROSE RED 2011 – The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut. I like Rose Red but never, ever wear my old decant. Pass. SNOW WHITE 2011 – A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers. Don't need more Snow White. Pass. SUGAR COOKIE 2011 – The Devil's Bake Sale returns! Never been interested in this one. Pass. WINTER HEAVENS – Black midnight winter skies glittering with points of light: chill air, champaca flower, white musk, fir needle, papyrus reeds, and grey amber. Could be interesting, could be soapy. Worth a possible decant. Maybe. WOODS IN WINTER 2011 – Wild hemlock and juniper berries scattered in the snow beneath leafless trees bedecked with glittering icicles. I get this one confused with Snow Storm, which I actually like better. This scent is very earthy and cold without a drop of warmth or sweetness. I think my decant from last year is enough for me. YELLOW SNOWBALLS – Because I am very, very crass this year. Slushy white mint, vanilla cream, lemon drops, grapefruit, and yuzu! I want a bottle of this to give to my mom! She would laugh. YULE 2011 – It is Yule, and the Holly King has slain the Oak: blood red holly berry, mistletoe, wild thyme, verbena, cinquefoil, hemp, winter rose, evergreen, frankincense, juniper, and myrrh. Didn't like this when I tried it, pass. ++ FRANKENSTEIN AMIABLE AND LOVELY CREATURES – honey and rosewater with fig, patchouli, night-blooming jasmine, and white almond. Kind of turned off fig after The Nutcracker, pass but I'll watch reviews. BEAUTIFUL AND ADORED – rose musk, white gardenia, English pear, vanilla bean, red currant, and honey. Pass. A BLOT UPON THE EARTH – black plum, Spanish moss, opoponax, davana, vetiver, and opium poppy. I'd like to try this, it sounds rather promising, but who knows. BREATHLESS HORROR – icy white musk and thick olibanum with niaouli, carrot seed, white mint, and camphor. Pass, I think. Something else had niaouli but I can't remember what. I'll watch reviews of this. A COMPANION OF THE SAME NATURE – skin musk, red rose petals, mums, carnations, white linen, and sunlit amber on a bed of soft dry leaves. Sigh.....probably pass, not 100% sure though. THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL LIGHT – icy wind, depth hoar, and frost-limned lichen. Might be kind of nice, might be kind of soapy. Not sure about this one, but sigh....yet another icy scent? Eh. DAYS AND NIGHTS IN VAULTS AND CHARNEL HOUSES – grave soil, necrophagous insect chitins, moss, mold, dried blood, rot, dirt-smeared wool, and sweat-drenched citrus lilac aftershave. Sounds rather horrid, will watch reviews of this one. THE DEEPEST MYSTERIES OF CREATION – wild frankincense, rose otto, hyssop, and oude. Pass. Thankfully I have not caught oude fever like so many. A DENSE AND FRIGHTFUL DARKNESS – black musk, vetiver, myrrh, opoponax, hemp, crushed sage, oakmoss, and tobacco. Don't know, could be nice, will watch reviews, maybe a decant. A DREARY NIGHT OF NOVEMBER – bone-white sandalwood, ink-black vetiver, Spanish moss, bitter clove, beeswax, and lotus root. Sounds like a strange one. I'll watch reviews. THE HORRORS OF MY SECRET TOIL – vetiver and rose. Eh, no. Pass. INEXTINGUISHABLE HATRED – red ginger and black opoponax with black pepper, stinging neroli, myrrh, and tobacco absolute. Sounds harsh. Will watch reviews. INSUPPORTABLE MISERY – violet leaf, saffron, gunpowder tea, bruised lilac, and despairing lavender. Not calling to me. I will watch reviews with interest. THE MOON GAZED ON MY MIDNIGHT LABOURS – Moroccan musk, black opium poppy, clove, and orris root. Now this, this could be interesting. I'll have to think about this one. MOCKING THE INVISIBLE WORLD WITH ITS OWN SHADOWS – olibanum and murky ambergris accord with verbena, white sandalwood, and wisteria. Olibanum scares me, makes me think of one of the Gaiman scents that was horrible on me, either Ligur or Hastur or whatever they're called, I always get them confused. Will probably avoid this. PALE STUDENT OF UNHALLOWED ARTS – fading Georgian cologne and split O3 molecules. I think there was some chatter surrounding this one, I'm kind of interested but the notes aren't calling me? We'll see. PRIDE OF WISDOM – Roman chamomile, rosehips, ginseng, and fig. Ginseng stinks. Not crazy about chamomile, either. And fig....touch and go. I'll watch reviews. THE REWARD OF MY BENEVOLENCE – boneflower, olive blossom, white sandalwood, clary sage, Himalayan cedar, and oakmoss Boneflower? I think not. Sounds soapy and/or papery, especially with white sandalwood. I'll read reviews. SOLITARY AND ABHORRED – carrot seed, East Indian patchouli, white tea, and peru balsam. Could be interesting, sort of on my radar, but I'm not going to rush to get a decant. We'll see. SORROWFUL AFFECTION – lily of the valley, tuberose, pink carnation, green tea absolute, orange zest, bourbon geranium, and blue musk. Nah, pass. TILL DEATH – white rose, black locust blossom, French magnolia, globe amaranth, iris root, and honeysuckle. Hell to the naw. A TORRENT OF LIGHT – eucalyptus petals, white mint, white amber, and ozone. Does not sound appealing. WORKSHOP OF FILTHY CREATION – electricity-scarred cypress beams, ancient stone slabs, damp metal, the coppery tang of coagulating blood, and ozone. Pass. ++THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL THE LAST EVENING OF THE YEAR – Snow settling on cold skin, tea rose petals, and dusty, threadbare linen. Pass. COLDER AND COLDER – Peppermint, spearmint, white musk, and elemi settling into a deepening darkness. Pass. A WONDEFUL LIGHT – Three radiant ambers with honey, linden blossom, bourbon vanilla, and orange zest. Pass, possible decant but pass for now. THE MOST MAGNIFICENT CHRISTMAS TREE – Spruce pine with hints of silver birch and warm, dark woods. I want a decant. THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS – Indian ambrette seed, beeswax, champaca flower, saffron, Italian bergamot, frankincense, oak bark, and vanilla orchid. I want to try this because the notes resemble Egoiste. Possible decant. IN BRIGHTNESS AND IN JOY – Divine mercy: sweet winter berry, orange blossom, frankincense, golden sandalwood, angel's trumpet, and red rose. Sounds pretty, possible decant, even with the rose. THE COLD HOUR OF DAWN – Esprit de eucalyptus, blue musk, davana, frosty iris, and tagetes. Pass again!

boomtownrat....for dark and spicy vanilla, you should try Snake Oil or Madame Moriarty. They are pretty much must-try bpal scents although not everyone likes them. I haven't smelled the lotion you're talking about, though. Love your icon, I love Klaus Nomi!

Pallas Athene is warm and sweet, orange and woods with a little spice. I think the spices and amber add a little sophistication. I wore this to work and it lasted all day. The orange flirts with candy sweet, balanced and grounded by the wood and amber. Overall this is very good. I don't get a lot of powder from the amber, maybe a little but I don't have a problem with amber like a lot of people do. Actually I wouldn't mind if this were more powdery. Seems like it would be like Velvet Tiger or Three Gorgons.....I would say it's sort of close to Three Gorgons....but I haven't compared closely. I will update if I find any big differences that need to be mentioned. But I think if you like them you would like this too.

I like it too! At first I thought I didn't like it. It goes on me like a powdery poof of green ivy. But you know.....sometimes I can be in the mood for a little powder. And a lot of times, when I don't like a scent, I know I should probably try it again. So anyway, if you're familiar with the lab's green ivy notes, you will recognize the ivy here. When I sniff up close there's something kind of rubbery, like the inside of a balloon. Don't ask how I know what the inside of a balloon smells like. Just kidding, we all know that smell. But that is a minor part of this scent and not everyone will get it. Lots of times when I review something, people might read it and think, "Huh? Did he get a mis-labelled decant??" It's okay, don't worry. I just get weird impressions sometimes. Not sure what else to say about this one. It's fresh and a little sweet, and I'm getting major powder, but it's kind of dandified and there are definitely times when I want that. If you have ever tried Habit Rouge by Guerlain, this reminds me of that same kind of slightly raspy powdery notes, only this is more stripped down and not woody. I had written this off already but now I'm rethinking that decision.

Toasty, earthy, and bakery are all pretty accurate. This wasn't what I was expecting. I can't distinguish linen or vanilla at all, and I wish those were a little stronger in the mix. This reminds me of Bonfire Night but not quite as smokey. The Changeling doesn't seem like a really strong scent but it lasts and lasts for a long time. I like it but it doesn't stand out enough for me to seek more. I will probably keep the decant and wear it from time to time.

Your review for the Seekim is making me think that I need this. I love patchouli and incense and ash, so I must love this. I ordered the Gorobble and Night Hag/Lapland Witches because burnt marshmallows appeal to me and woodsmoke in the latter made it a must have. I swear, I always seem to be drawn to anything with ash, embers and smoke notes. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's the incinerator in the backyard when I was growing up in the hills of Los Angeles. Okay, I think that I just dated myself. The patchouli in The Seekim made a weird comeback after having it on for over 6 hours. I was at work and all of a sudden started smelling patchouli. I knew it was me but it was still strange!

The Seekim is my big winner but I know it's not for everyone. Muse Of The Night is really beautiful, but I'm not sure I can pull it off.

Uh-oh.....sorry Wulric but you've got some competition! Don't be too jealous. : ) When I wear this, it starts out weird and chemical and synthetic-smelling, and I didn't think I liked it at first. But then the hay and ash work together to create this ghostly, ethereal feeling that is silvery and shimmery, and this is what I love. I usually don't like cocoa or cacao that much, but it fits perfectly with this particular weird combination of notes. I don't remember anything else like this.....it brings to mind Wulric, but I think Wulric is more warm and snuggly (but still kind of wild), whereas The Seekim is light and ghostly. Eerie. The patchouli isn't heavy, but see, I love patchouli so it makes sense that it wouldn't stand out to me. The shimmery quality does remind me of Sluagh a little bit, just the tone of the scent, but I don't think they have any notes in common. [As a side note, I was hoping this would be something like Serge Lutens' Chergui, but it's actually more like Chene, another shimmery ashy scent....and my favorite non-bpal perfume] The Seekim is light on me so I think I might need 2 bottles, so I can wear as much as I want!

Nope! Frankincense oil should cost around $10 or $15. I checked 2 different sites that sell essential oils that I trust and that was about the average. It's not one of the more expensive oils. I got a sampler for around $20, it's a few 2ml bottles of different varieties of frankincense, very nice to smell the subtle differences. Did anyone else think there was a bit of shortage of frankincense in the new Halloween update? I only see it twice, in Nymphae Avernales and Golden Apple Of The Sun. [or maybe this is just the first time I've noticed it not being used a lot]