forspecial_plate

So it's that time of year again, the thrills don't stop until Lupers, and sometimes not even then! There's just something wonderful about sitting down to a brand new bpal Halloween update, ready to break it down. This is just one of my favorite things! Onward..... A Nocturnal Reverie...."Violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense". It's funny, I have been wishing for an elegant, chic, purple incense kind of scent, and what do you know....seems like this could be it! I'm pretty sure I need to try this. Probably a decant, first. Araw Ng Mga Patay....."A cheerful, raucous celebration of life and death: bouquets overflowing with gerbera daisies, waling waling, sampaguita, ylang ylang, hibiscus, night-blooming dama de noche, santan, and everlasting flower with piles upon piles of bibingka, ube halaya, rice muffins, champorado, purple yam cake, and turon, and plates of gooey kalabasa leche flan". Okay, I don't know what most of those notes are. The description makes me think of Diwali, which I do like, but hardly ever wear. I think I can let this one pass, there are many more grabbing my attention. Autumn Cider...."Fermented apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, lemon zest, butterscotch liquor, and orange slices". Not sure about this, sounds very rich, and I don't think I'd like a butterscotch liquor note. I have full bottles of Egg Moon, Spicebush Swallowtail, and Plunder, Blood....and probably other spice scents I'm not remembering. I think I can let this one pass. Boo 2011....."Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream". Not really of interest to me but I would sniff it if someone handed it to me! Devil's Night 2011...."This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk". I love Devil's Night but I never wear it! I still have a mostly full bottle from 2006, and 2 decants from other years, so I think I can pass. But I might like a decant just to compare to other 'vintages'. Elegy IX: The Autumnal....."Red maplewood, plum leaves, fir needle, wildflower honey, patchouli, hazelnut, and green cognac". Something about this list of notes is quite seductive to me! There are a couple of 'iffy' notes but I love taking a risk and being sweetly rewarded. This is a possible blind buy for me, considering it. Ghosts In Love....."White sandalwood, tobacco flower, lily of the valley, white carnation, and magnolia blossom with tea rose, labdanum, and oudh". Tea rose and lily of the valley, in the same scent? This would soap me to the moon. John Barleycorn 2011....."Barley, beer, blood, and whiskey". I am going to pass on this one. No interest in a super-boozey scent. Sounds yucky to me. La Calavera Catrina....."The Lady of the Graveyard! Autumn leaves, wild roses, bourbon vanilla, dry chamomile, and a bouquet of bright chrysanthemums and Mexican marigolds". Hmmm.....probably a pass for me, just because of the roses, but I wouldn't mind sniffing it if the opportunity presented. Le Revenant....."A shroud of gardenia, narcissus, and sandalwood with ambrette seed, white cognac, muguet, davana, and white musk". Hmmm.....probably not for me, but I am attracted to the elegant vibe. Mictecacihuatl 2011..."Copal, precious woods, South American spices, agave nectar, cigar tobacco, and roses". I tried this before and it's not bad, but just a little too much rose for me to truly enjoy. Pass for now. Nothing But Death....."A dark purple river swelling with tears of rain, damp violets, and specks of bone thick with green scents that speak of mortality: black dried fruits, opopponax, moss, violet leaf and petal, tobacco absolute, saltwater accord, niaouli, and brushed sage". Hmm, more purple incense-y chic? With saltwater? Sounds very interesting, but I think a decant first would be prudent! October 2011...."Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air". I love October, have a bottle from the first time it was released, and just never wear it, for some stupid reason. I'm tempted to get another bottle but I think it might be edged out by other new stuff. Pumpkin Latte 2011...."Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg". I have a decant from last year and I think I tried it twice. Maybe I should try it again but it's not the kind of scent I'm after this year. It was too strong and sweet. Pumpkin Princess....."Bright, sweet pumpkin with vanilla fluff, guava, chocolate-dusted white amber, tiare, red currant, raw honey, and meringue". So cute! I'd love a decant, but I know I don't need a whole bottle. Samhain 2011...."Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein". I have been thinking about another bottle for my collection, one of the few scents that I have multiple bottles (and decants, too). I don't wear it much but it truly is....the scent of autumn itself. Probably one of my top 5 bpal scents, ever. Samhainophobia 2011....."Menacing Haitian vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves". I have a bottle from 2006, and I have worn it quite a few times, and always end up getting tired of it. It's very strong and lasts and lasts. There's something not quite right to me, and maybe it's the geranium, because I usually don't like that note. Who knows, but I think I'll pass. Sonnet D'Automne...."Tenebrous Love: a shivering white musk with vanilla-infused white cocoa, amber incense, and dead, dry leaves". Oh, this sounds beautiful. In my mind I'm convinced that it will be great! Seriously thinking of a whole bottle, unsniffed. The Vampire Bride...."Icy skin touched by a perfume of violet leaf, white tea, olibanum, elemi, myrrh, wormwood, crypt dust, and saffron with a dribble of blood red musk". Hmmm, very interesting, but I'm having trouble imagining how those notes will all fit together. I'm intrigued. I may have to find a decant. The Nymphae Avernales...."The nymphs of the Underworld: pomegranate, lilac musk, red rose, red sandalwood, honey, and frankincense". I am not a big fan of pomegranate, and with the red rose I guess I can skip this one. Regina Erebi...."The Queen of Hell: pomegranate, spear mint, black mulberry, and myrrh". I'm weirdly attracted to this, even though I don't like the smell of spearmint, and myrrh is about the only note listed that I do like. Thinking about a decant, for some strange reason. Askalaphos...."The daimon that tends the orchards of the Underworld: pomegranate, wonder-flowers, asphodel, and black soil". I am pretty sure I can pass on this one! The Silver Apple Of The Moon...."White apple with orris, agave nectar, moonflower, white sandalwood, and lotus root". Not a big fan of apple scents, but I do like white sandalwood, and I think I like moonflower but I'm not sure. Sounds like it could be soapy or too floral. I'm undecided on this one. The Golden Apple Of The Sun...."Golden apple with amber, hibiscus, carnation, frankincense, golden spiced tea, ginger, and champaca flower". Mixed feeling on this one....I like the list of notes but at the same time, I feel like it's a kind of scent I've smelled before and never end up liking much. Undecided. The Black Apple Of Saturn...."Dried Arkansas black apple, opoponax, cypress, myrrh, tobacco absolute, quince, black musk, and galbanum". The most interesting of the apple scents to me, this is a possible decant. Not sure yet. The Green Apple Of Venus...."Sweet green apple, apple blossom, sweet strawberry, pink pomegranate, violet leaf, tea rose, and red sandalwood". Never have wanted a scent with strawberry, and not a fan of tea rose either. I shall pass! The Glittering Apple Of The Stars...."Heirloom Malus, ylang ylang, white and blue musks, crystallized vanilla, tiare, frangipani, and bergamot". Not much of interest to me here. I'll skip it. The Changeling...."Blonde wood, linen swaddling, pumpkin rind, and bourbon vanilla". I'm kind of interested in how these play together, and I may seek out a decant. Death Embraces A Young Maiden...."Three dry white sandalwoods with gurjum balsam, guiac wood, ambergris accord, and tea rose". Gurjum balsam sounds like something that has turned out bad before, and paired with tea rose I'm going to say........pass. Expressive Head...."Teakwood, patchouli, green pepper, clove, white cognac, vetiver, and champaca absolute". Wow. That's quite an image! And quite a weird list of notes. Maybe a decant. Garden Of Death...."A harvest of plants that symbolize death in myriad cultures: belladonna accord, iris petals, red poppy, acanthus, manioc, parsley, yam, urd bean, chrysanthemum, acacia, and cypress wood rooted in dark, rich loam". Hmmm....I dunno. Sounds very complex and I'm not really feelin' it, for some reason. But for all I know it might be awesome. Undecided. An Incubus Leaving Two Sleeping Women...."Vanilla-infused white honey, magnolia, skin musk, ylang ylang, and beeswax with patchouli, olibanum, kurundu, and a feral brown musk". Ylang ylang and brown musk are a turn off, and together the whole list of notes sounds....odd to me. Undecided for sure but probably I will pass. La Morte: Mon ironie depasse toutes les autres!....."Pomegranate accord, red rose accord, opopponax, benzoin, champaca flowers, and star anise". Not really interested in pomegranate and rose. The Mandrake Charm...."Mandrake root, olibanum, myrrh, hyssop, basil linalool, and lemongrass". I think I'll probably pass, but I'm not completely sure. It could be great. Sounds kind of like a spring scent to me? Come to think of it, a lot of these Halloweenies sound kind of springy. Undecided. Muse Of The Night...."A soft, resinous indigo musk with black currant, ylang ylang, Tunisian jasmine, opoponax, rose otto, benzoin, Tahitian vanilla bean, and opium tar". That painting is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. But I just can't get excited about the notes. I might have to get a decant just because I love the art. The Night Hag Visiting The Lapland Witches...."Black sandalwood, woodsmoke, Terebinth pine, blue cypress, styrax, frankincense, chamomile maroc, and nutmeg". This is the kind of thing I was after last year, and before that....but now it makes me think of The Montauk Project which I never wear. Undecided but I may get a decant. Nightmare...."Vanilla-soaked linen accord with lavender, opium poppy, Moroccan jasmine, golden amber, white honey, and blackened fruit gums". Ah yes, a very familiar painting, it reminds me of the movie Gothic. This is what I love about all the Salon scents....I want to smell this concept in a perfume. Might be a decant. Post-Mortem Laureatus...."White sandalwood and twining ivy". I always love the idea of the dual-note scents! And I happen to like these two notes, so this is absolutely worth a try. Probably a decant. Sentimental Initiation...."Red and black musks with bamboo, myrrh, bitter clove, patchouli, vanilla orchid, and king mandarin". Could be great but I don't know....I might like a decant just to try. The notes sound like they don't really go together for some reason. Maybe a decant. The Triumph Of Death...."East Indian black patchouli, red sandalwood, dark musk, peru balsam, ambrette seed, vetiver, and ambergris accord". The list of notes does sound great, except I think balsam sometimes turns against me. Still, this is definitely worth a try and I might get a decant. The Gorobble....."A scent redolent of the crusty exterior of burnt marshmallows". Strange....interesting.....kind of want a decant, but my decant list is getting long..... The Seekim...."Cacao absolute, hay, black pepper, patchouli, and incense ash". Another very interesting list of notes. I may have to try it. Sounds clever and weird, maybe something really different. The Ta-Ta...."Boiled leather, carnation blossom, coffee absolute, and tobacco". More weird notes.....this one is not calling to me. The notes don't sound good together but I will watch reviews. The Two-Tailed Sogg...."Pink grapefruit, swamp moss, green musk, orris root, cypress, and honey". More weirdness. Maybe not for me. The Wiley Grasser...."Pine needles, wildflowers, and cotton candy". Too, too weird. I kind of want to sniff this but I doubt I'd end up liking it? Maybe?? The Zoom...."Lime juice, bergamot, Himalayan cedarwood, helichrysum, and dragon’s blood resin". Okay, getting to the end of this breakdown and my mind is a little worn out from all the possibilities!! This one is just not calling to me. Not a huge fan of cedar and I don't really feel like a citrus scent right now. I'll watch reviews and perhaps change my mind. Blood Moon 2011...."A Lunacy inspired by the magnificently morbid fantasies of Edgar Allan Poe: laudanum-stained linen scented by an ink-smeared tobacco musk and phantom bloodstains illuminated by monstrous moonlight". Blood Moon has been hit-and-miss for me, and this one looks to be totally unrelated to the previous ones? So, I'm just not sure. This is one of those wild cards that I may order at the last minute just because I don't want it to get past me. I am attracted by the description, I have to admit.

Black Pearl is powdery to me, and Blood Pearl also, if I remember correctly. I got a baby powder comment when I wore Snake Oil, once or twice. Nyarlathotep turns very powdery on me, after drying for a while. At first I didn't like this but I kept wearing it and grew to love it. In fact, it may have been Nyarlathotep that made me realize I like some powdery scents. Discontinued but Silk Road also turns powdery on me when it dries down. I keep saying "to me" because, like someone else mentioned, this could be a skin chemistry thing, or maybe it's a matter of our perception of 'powdery'. I remember someone commenting that patchouli turns powdery on them, and I was like....huh? But if they are perceiving it that way, I can't argue with that.

Finally got a bottle of this, one of my favorites! Gave myself a pretty intensive application today to get the full experience, as before I only had a 2.5 ml sample. Well, what to say, how to describe this. It's a very 'me' scent, woody, spicy, kind of sweet, also deep, dark and....almost smoldering. Not really an incense, but it has a quality of incense about it. The notes listed are "pine needles, vetiver, incense, fruit, spices, fir balsam, amber". So yeah.....there is a feeling of pine but in no way sharp or cleanser-like. Add to it sugary fruits, but not candy-like....more of a sweetened boozy fruitcake with pine and resins, maybe frankincense? I dunno it just smells damn good. I applied pretty heavily and this seems to be a scent that stays close to the skin. There aren't any "high pitched" notes. According to the box it is eau de parfum strength and in my experience, the stronger concentration of scents seem to stay closer to the skin. That's what my Bois des Iles does, anyway. It's somewhat closer to the way perfume oil behaves on the skin and in the air around me. I love this so much and it just hums in a quiet way....I can't imagine ever feeling like I put on too much. I don't think I'd fill up a whole room with this one, sillage-wise. Anyway, so glad to finally have a bottle! Just in time for late summer going into fall. Beautiful.

Ah yes.....the legendary Kouros. I bought a small bottle, totally untested, just based on the infamy of this fragrance. It's a love-it-or-hate-it scent, those who love it praise it to the high heavens, and those who hate it invariably mention bodily waste (human or animal, often cat) when describing it. It's pretty cheap and apparently being discontinued, so I went for it. First try was.....alarming. At first, I smelled a sort of dated men's fragrance, something from the eighties, nothing too earth-shattering. Then, as it warmed up and dried on my skin, I smelled......the elephant house at the zoo. There's a large part of men's cologne, and up close, there is a large part of elephant dung. Interestingly, this didn't totally turn me off the scent, but I didn't think I'd be wearing it again. Very animalic if I understand the term correctly. Well, fast forward to tonight, and I'm just sitting at home doing laundry. I wanted to try something unusual and it doesn't get much more unusual than Kouros, so I gave it a second try. Yep, the elephant house is still there. But, what's this? I am liking this? Wow, I can see how this fragrance can be addicting, and I think I actually like it! The scent hasn't changed, it's just so.....intimate? I don't know, just compelling and weird, and I am now glad I have a bottle. I think I'll have to try Body Kouros too.

Tativa....it has been a few years but I tried the golden champa. I think I had a sample of the 10% dilution, and I remember it really did smell "golden" and struck me as autumnal. I thought it had a touch of honey or apple-like qualities as well. I know there must be a bpal that is comparable but I'm not big on the floral blends, and I'm sure someone else would have better suggestions. Right off the top of my head, I want to say Ulalume might be similar, but that doesn't seem quite right. Hmmm.....I'll think about it some more and I'll be watching the topic, too. Good luck!

Fourreau Noir by Serge Lutens......tonka bean, lavender, musk, almond, smoky accents When I first put this on I could tell right away that it's an unusual, striking creation. I wasn't sure if I actually liked it but, like many other Lutens perfumes, that didn't seem to matter.....just the experience of trying it reminds me of why I got into this habit. So, up close, Fourreau Noir is a little scary, almost harsh and chemical smelling. It reminds me of hot rubber or maybe leather. But the throw is quite beautiful and I think I mostly get the lavender, but the musk is very nice too. It's almost like what I wanted from Miel de Bois, but in the end couldn't love that one. But I do love this. It also reminds me a bit of the tonka in my beloved Chene but this is more.....what's the word....not really sinister, but more like this has a dark secret. This is more of a dressy occasion type of scent. *sigh* Only problem is, there are already at least 3 other Lutens that I want full bottles of! Guess I have to add this to the list!

I am more and more impressed the more I try from this house. I love Declaration, which I first heard about here on the bpal forum, when someone compared October to it. I see the similarity. Anyway, here's what I've tried. There are lots of flankers so it can be hard to keep track. Notes are from fragrantica.com. Declaration....."Top notes are artemisia, caraway, coriander, birch, mandarin orange, bergamot, neroli and bitter orange; middle notes are orris, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, juniper, orris root, jasmine and guatemalan cardamom; base notes are leather, amber, tea, tahitian vetiver, oakmoss and cedar" Wow....just reading the notes, I didn't know all that was in this scent. I didn't love this at first. I thought it was okay, but kind of faint, and kind of unfocused. But as often happens, I was drawn to try it again, and again, and eventually I realized what a beautiful scent it really is. Woods and spices are what I smell, but very light and breezy, kind of like a wind before a storm at the end of summer. Gorgeous. Declaration Essence....."orange blossom, sandalwood, amber, lavender, musk, tea, lime, vetiver, geranium and lemon" I have a mini of this too, and so far have only tried it once. It seems to be sort of like the concentree of Declaration, stronger spices, although the notes don't seem to match up with what I'm smelling. I'll be wearing it again but I do think I like the original Declaration better. Eau de Cartier....."Top notes are coriander, yuzu and bergamot; middle notes are violet leaf, lavender and violet; base notes are cedar, patchouli, musk and white amber" Beautiful, but I've only tested it once. Very, very light and I think I would have to over-apply to get the right amount. Weird accord that, again, doesn't match up with what I read in the description, or rather, I can't pick out individual notes. Just crisp and smart, very nice. Eau de Cartier Concentree......"Top notes are coriander and yuzu; middle notes are violet leaf and lavender; base notes are cedar, patchouli and white amber" Huh. Do they really have the same notes? They are similar but the concentree is definitely stronger and longer lasting. I think I'm more likely to buy a larger bottle of this one, very crisp and refreshing, but with the stronger scent comes a little bit of synthetic feeling. I think I favor this one. Must Cartier Pour Homme Essence...."Yet another beautiful and very light fragrance, this one seems a little more traditional, more suited to the office. I like it but it's so light that I'm left feeling a little slighted. I'll wear the rest of my mini but probably not get a bigger bottle. Yet to try but very interested in: Eau de Cartier Essence d'Orange...."op notes of Eau de Cartier Essence d`Orange bring us a sparkling, luminous cocktail of oranges and bergamot. A heart encompasses sophisticated violets, while a base is enriched with patchouli along with warm and sensual cedar" Sounds beautiful and I'm really thinking about going straight to a big bottle on this one. I love citrus and I've been really in the mood for it, with the hotter weather. Definitely need to try this one!

Just like the title says. The Carnaval is leaving for a hiatus until maybe later this year. I'm getting a little panicky at the thought of these going bye-bye. These are my possible purchases, out of the whole Carnaval..... Doc Constantine....."Sheer musk, cedar smoke, fir needle, black amber and leather" I have a partial bottle, and hardly ever wear it. I think I may have enough. I do love this blend, but maybe it will be reformulated when it's brought back, and that is more exciting to me than getting a new bottle right now. The Parliament of Monsters....."Dust, incense, wet tobacco, and a curl of opium smoke" I had a decant once upon a time, but swapped it away because I didn't love it, and ever since then I've been just a little curious. Maybe I should give it another chance? Possibly, but I think I'll pass for now. Faiza, the Black Mamba....."A sensual blend of twisting, exotic, serpentine oils: black amber, caraway, oakmoss, green sandalwood, bergamot, jasmine sambac, gardenia, orange pulp, vanilla, blackberry, black musk, white honey, ti leaf, and ginger" Another one that I used to have a decant of but swapped away. I remember it as being complex, lush, and fruity, almost like a deeper cousin of Men Ringing Bells? But there was some funky note that rubbed me wrong. Still, this is the kind of thing I've been in the mood for lately, so it's a possibility. Stormclouds Over the Midway....."Thunder-charged ozone, plum-colored incense smoke, opium tar, and wormwood" I tried my decant the other day, and it's much better than I remembered, but still didn't last very long. I think I like Midnight On the Midway just a little better and I have plenty of that. The Torture Queen...."White amber, vanilla musk, white tea, ambergris, gardenia, and chrome" I think I tried this briefly at Moonarcana's house. Still calling to me, although I haven't done anything about it as of yet! Really should just buy it and be done with it. Sir Hugh Ockram's Winding Sheet....."Rotting linen, white sandalwood, hyssop, and dust" This has never really been on my radar and I've never even sniffed it. Looking now at the description, I think I stand a chance of really liking it. Hmmmm.... ......and that's it. I do want to get Egle as well, so it would be a 2 bottle order of Egle and something from the Carnaval. I think I have about 3 hours to decide..... : /

Rated on an "interest scale" of 1-5 Brood XIX...."Tree sap, hay, almond blossoms, moss, hemp, corn stalks, acorn, sweet amber, and rice milk" Well, I don't like nut notes, but other than that I'm fairly interested. I'd love a dry summery scent and this looks like a fancy, lighter relative of Scarecrow (which I already have a bottle of and hardly ever wear). Worth a decant, for sure. 4/5 Atlas...."Mallow, oak bark, coffee bean, hinoki wood, and khus" I haven't grown to love The Arabian Dance as of yet, and that's what this list of notes reminds me of, even though they only share the coffee. But this does look even more promising than that.....I'm all about woods, usually. Preliminary reviews are saying the mallow adds sweetness, and I'm not sure if that would be good or not for me. Bottom line.....worth a decant. 4/5 Brahmin...."Rose otto, red ginger, caraway seed, myrrh, orange peel, mandarin leaf, black peppercorn, and vanilla orchid" Without the rose this would be sort of intriguing, but the rose kind of turns me off. Could be worth a sniff but I'm not actively seeking it. 2/5 Io....."Red musk, pomegranate, cranberry, blackberry, mango, purple sage, thyme, and angelica root" Too much non-citrus fruit, not really my thing. 2/5 Pussy....."Orange blossom honey, brown sugar, saffron, tonka absolute, and tobacco leaf" I am over my aversion to honey, and I will try it in the right combination with other notes. That said, this could be sultry and sexy, or it could be too sweet and cloying. Worth a try, for sure. 3/5 Blue Morpho...."Wild orchid, pikake, honeysuckle, calla lily, agave nectar, pink geranium, violet leaf, and white amber" I like violet leaf and white amber, I think, but I don't like lily or geranium. Think I'll pass on this one. 2/5 Goliath Birdwing....."White sage, lemongrass, lemon balm, dusty beige musk, and drops of anise" Sounds beautiful, and I think I need to try this! I just hope it's not too one-dimensional with all that lemony goodness. Mourning Cloak....."Opoponax, kumaru, cocoa butter, Mysore sandalwood, verbena, almond milk, guiac wood, beeswax, and myrrh" I do not like the smell of cocoa butter, but the other notes sound good. Not sure about this one but it's worth a try. 3/5 Purple Spotted Swallowtail....."Black plum, opium poppy, dusky amber, opoponax, castoreum accord, dried berries, tolu balsam, clove bud, and lime" This is kind of a wild card, because it could be really good, but I just can't imagine what it's like. I really have no clue but I'd like to try it. 4/5

Thinking about wearing Snake Oil to my graduation tonight.

JULIA STONE (The Room in the Tower, E.F. Benson.) And then, with a sudden start of unexplained dismay, I saw that there were two rather conspicuous objects which I had not seen before in my dreams: one a life-sized oil painting of Mrs. Stone, the other a black-and-white sketch of Jack Stone, representing him as he had appeared to me only a week before in the last of the series of these repeated dreams, a rather secret and evil-looking man of about thirty. His picture hung between the windows, looking straight across the room to the other portrait, which hung at the side of the bed. At that I looked next, and as I looked I felt once more the horror of nightmare seize me. It represented Mrs. Stone as I had seen her last in my dreams: old and withered and white-haired. But in spite of the evident feebleness of body, a dreadful exuberance and vitality shone through the envelope of flesh, an exuberance wholly malign, a vitality that foamed and frothed with unimaginable evil. Evil beamed from the narrow, leering eyes; it laughed in the demon-like mouth. The whole face was instinct with some secret and appalling mirth; the hands, clasped together on the knee, seemed shaking with suppressed and nameless glee. Then I saw also that it was signed in the left-hand bottom corner, and wondering who the artist could be, I looked more closely, and read the inscription, "Julia Stone by Julia Stone." Rotting once-white fabric, spotted with mold. I just had to try this, because it seemed not many other peolpe wanted to, and I have a thing for the underdog sometimes. : ) The first thoughts I had were "green" and "fresh", not mildew-y or rotted at all. It reminds me of an aquatic scent that has been dried out. And by aquatic I mean one of the sweeter ones, a little fruity, not cologney in my opinion. But.....the 'fabric' note adds a dry element to this scent, so that it ends up not really being aquatic, just reminiscent of aquatic. As it dries, it strikes me that this is a complex scent. Here and there I get hints of plant-like greenness, sort of a freshly cut stem note, just hints of that though. I also start to smell little 'flashes' of something dark, but that could be the power of suggestion. After all, I was expecting to smell something moldy, so I was actually surprised at how sweet this is. For the record, my nose tends to pick out sweeter notes more than usual, for example, I get a lot of 'sweetness' out of Oblivion. And I should add, there is nearly a powdery element to this scent, almost powdery but not quite. It's actually really nice and I think it will be more popular once people get 'wind' of it. If you like the green quality of Velvet Cthulhu, you may like this as well. I think it's similar to that but softer and sweeter, without the zippy bite that V.C. has. Edit to add.....after a while, this becomes even more dry and more powdery. At this point it reminds me of 51, with the addition of linen or fabric. It still has that sweetness.

Cloister Graveyard In The Snow is beautiful: "Three white musks, ozone, frankincense, mint." I like Death Of The Grave-Digger too: "Snow, soil, opoponax and myrrh."

I need a place to keep track of this. These are bottles I want.... Baghari....tried this again, not sure if I need a whole bottle, but it would be good for special occasions. Bleu de Chanel....waiting for delivery! Bois de Iles EDP.....waiting for delivery! Borneo 1834....lovely patchouli Chanel Pour Monsieur (probably the Concentree).....been back and forth on this, wanted the older formula EDT, but the concentree is good too, can't decide which one I like more, or if Heritage would be just as good. Dior Homme Intense......got it! Dior Homme Sport.....I like this because it's more accessible than Dior Homme but I can smell the spirit of Dior Homme in there, underneath the "Sport" part. Would be good for work. Eau de Guerlain.......keep forgetting about this, would love a large bottle! Again, a good one for work! Egoiste.....old formulation.......got it! Encens et Lavende.....this is gorgeous, need to test it a couple more times. Fille en Aiguilles......have wanted a bottle for quite a long time. Just bite the bullet and get it. Heritage (not sure which formulation though).......okay, tried the older formula, and yes it's very good. Bottle would be nice. Jeux de Peau..........scrumptious! Want it! Either this or 5 O'clock Au Gingembre, not sure I would need both. More to watch for on ebay: Caron's Third Man Guerlain Samsara Platinum Egoiste.....need to at least try it Serge Lutens, Santal Blanc or Santal de Mysore (either or, both maybe) ...... 7/29/11.....don't feel like editing above right now but I want to add these to my wishes/interests..... Timbuktu Body Kouros Rochas Man Beyond Paradise Men Dior Homme backup Original Santal by Creed Joseph Statkus Eau de Parfum Querelle by Parfumerie Generale

So, not only would it smell good, but be useful as well! Win-win! : ) I will have to track some down. I keep thinking I might actually have a decant of this hiding somewhere in my collection.

Hmmm, Biwa was kind of on my radar but in the end, I decided to skip most of the Lupers, because that particular update never works really well for me! Maybe I'll regret that decision..... Thanks for the suggestions! I could have sworn I had an imp of Aizen-Myoo around here somewhere, but I can't find it. Maybe I'll tack it on to my next order. As for those others, seeing them listed here makes me want to try them, it's funny how these things don't stand out to me at the time that I first see them. Tanuki sounds really pretty but I can't even remember when it was released. I guess being a guy I tend to focus more on the dudely scents (but not always). I'll have to add that to my to-try list! I like Copper Phoenix but it's more rosey amber on me in the end. I think it's settled, I probably will get a hold of Polynesian Pop before they go away! And that was kind of a mistake for me to put Sudha Segara in the post.....you are right, it's not orangey or citrus. But it's kind of that soft, pretty vibe that I'm after, so I mentioned that one because it stands out in my memory. I like both Kuang Shi and Thoos, but they both do something in the dry-down that veers away from the orange and more into the musk and woods. I know that orange and citrus notes are notorious for not sticking around, so this might be a long shot anyway. But I think Polynesian Pop has a good chance of working for me! Thanks so much for the suggestions.

Looking for something sweet with tangerine and/or orange for spring. Like a sweet, orangey, misty, beach sunrise kind of scent. These are close: Nyarlathotep (I love this but I want lighter and a little sweeter) Sunrise With Sea-Monsters (right vibe, not enough orange for what I want) Sudha Segara....might work, I haven't tried it in a long time, but again I want more orange I'm eyeing the Atomic Tiki Lounge since they are being discontinued soon. I'd especially like to try Golden Wave and Polynesion Pop. I'm also looking at Tweedledee. I'd prefer to fine ONE scent that works for what I'm looking for!

Tonight I tested Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, and it reminds me of the late dry stage of Scarecrow. Might be useful information for the man in your life if he likes traditional or classic masculine scents from the seventies or eighties.

I'm wearing Bvlgari Black right now and strangely enough, it reminds me of Doc Constantine.

How to describe Red Lace.....to be honest I thought I was smelling anise when first applied, but I think that was a trick of the red musk and raspberry, perhaps? Anyway, once it dries, I get a lot of sweet, slightly powdery vanilla cotton and sandalwood, but there is an adult side to this scent. Sultry, that's the word I kept thinking of. I never got the 'ashtray' effect from tobacco until now, and I swear there is a smokey ashtray aspect that somehow is perfect in the context of this scent. I'm getting something like the effect of slightly stale smoke in the air, making this kind of decadent and a little drowsy, like the morning after a wild party. Side note: I was worried about the raspberry but I barely smell anything fruity in this scent at all. In fact, I also got a bottle of Black Death in this order, and Black Death smells more fruity to me than Red Lace.

First of all, quoting myself: .....looks like I got my wish with a few of these. I also noticed a fair bit of chypres or chypre-like scents. I'm excited but I think I can narrow these down to just one or two bottles, and maybe a handful of decants. There were quite a few scents that I was able to remove from the list without hesitation. Color key: Bottle Decant Shimmery Chypre Black text means still up in the air about whether to hunt down a decant, put it on wish list for later, or let it pass by altogether OLISBOS 2011 – polished wood, well-loved leather, and olive oil. This has possibilities, but I'm not very hopeful. It's a possible decant just to try it because I don't want to rule it out completely. Olive oil will probably make this smell strange and not for me. We'll see, maybe. RED LANTERN 2011 – Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice. This sounds so sensual and appealing. I'm almost positive I've tried one of the older versions, but I don't own any and I may want a decant this time around. TIME DOES NOT BRING RELIEF – Remembrance: Parma violet and leather accord with beeswax, Egyptian musk, orange blossom, white tea, lavender, myrrh, and copal. Kind of a half 'n half list of notes, some I like and some I don't like. It's worth a try. I think it could be too soapy or perfumey. ++ LUPERCALIA: NOVEL IDEAS FOR SECRET AMUSEMENTS BURNING VULVA – Vanilla-infused amber, leather, beeswax, cyclamen, oakmoss, peru balsam, orange blossom, red ginger, tonka, opoponax, myrrh, and black pepper. This is in the running for a bottle! I will watch the will-call posts for impressions. COUPLE ENGAGED IN LOVEMAKING – Honey, lemongrass, black tea, white ginger, and grains. Well, this is a possible decant but it might get squeezed out by others with higher priority. There is something appealing in the combination of notes but honey might be a sticking point. I used to think I hated honey in perfume but now I'm not even sure any more. Sometimes it's okay. COPULATING MICE – Bergamot, clove, hazelnut, pecan, lavender, tonka, and thyme. Perfectly cute scent, would be a good decant choice. I don't like nuts in my perfume but I want to try this. And who knows, it could surprise me. DANCING KOI – Brown musk, leather accord, toasted sandalwood, clove, labdanum, and champaca. Brown musk worries me but I want a penis scent, and this looks like the one most likely to work for me. Toasted sandalwood in combination with brown musk might be too fuzzy and.....brown. I know I have to try this, for sure, and it might be a bottle purchase. FESTIVAL MASK – Rubbed sage, ti leaf, osmanthus, immortelle, patchouli, amber, and mandarin. Could be nice, interesting notes, worth a try. Decant but not bottle (unless it surprises me, of course, but that goes for all of these). HARIGATA II – Coconut, white amber, hazelnut, and anise. See above note about me wanting shimmery white scents. Hello, here is one! Could be odd, but it's worth a try. LOOSENING OF THE OBI – Rice wine, white sandalwood, vanilla bean, and white musk. Again with the shimmery/white scents for spring. I want to try it! SPRINGTIME PLAYFULNESS – Green and brown musks, coconut husk, wisteria, lemongrass, hydrangea, cranberry, woody sandalwood, and ripe squash. Hmmmm...another penis possibility (I love trying the penis scents). Can't imagine what this will smell like, so obviously I need to try it, right? That artwork is simply too much. I may have to get it for the label alone. That is high quality comedy. TEA – Darjeeling tea, lemon verbena, star anise, and honeycomb. Hmmm....sounds like a nice, fresh spring scent. Not my usual thing (and there's that honeycomb.....), but looks to be worth a try. YOUNG PINE SAPLINGS – Cream, clove, ginger, and honey. Have to really think about this one! I love spicey scents and this looks like a good one. I'm not afraid of the cream as much as the honey, but combined with spices that honey might be tamed. Definitely need to try this one. ++ LUPERCALIA: ODE TO APHRODITE APATOUROS – Deceptive One – Black fig, green tea, opoponax, ciste absolute, myrrh, carnation, nutmeg, and Brazilian vetiver. I'm guessing this will have a citrus vibe, grounded by spices and vetiver. It's worth a try but might be too much like some other scents I have. I might have to compare this to some of last year's Lupers that did not work, so I can compare notes and decide if I want to even try it. APHROGENÊS – Foam Born – Orris root, iris, white honey, white sandalwood, coconut, and cherry blossom. Again with the white and shimmery. I have discovered that I like white sandalwood (I used to think I didn't like it). Yup, probably have to try this one. KYTHERIAN – She Who Conceals Love-Affaris – Black narcissus, purple orchid, neroli, white sandalwood, ambergris, plum musk, jonquil, thyme, oakmoss, and grapefruit. I'm curious bacause this sounds like a floral chypre. It looks interesting. NIKÊPHOROS – Bringer of Victory – Black currant, patchouli, blood orange, oakmoss, galbanum, benzoin, and white mint. Another chypre? Want to try. ++ LUPERCALIA: VENUSTAS MALE NUDE, ARMS UPSTRETCHED – Dark musk, linen, and red chypre. Yes please! My number one choice for immediate bottle purchase, unsniffed. Wasn't there a white chypre in one of the Yule scents? I wish the lab would give us a whole series of chypres of different hues. I'd have to try all of them! MANILUS HURLED FROM THE ROCK – Frankincense, leather accord, sandalwood, Himalayan cedar, nutmeg, and violet leaf. I've been flip-flopping on wanting to try this, but I think I'm going to have to try a decant. I almost want to pass it up but it has just enough potential. THE RING – Antiqued amber, frankincense, patchouli, hay, oakmoss, skin musk, and white mint. Hmm, another chypre-like scent?? Sounds pretty interesting, and I think I'll definitely have to try this. WRESTLERS – Vetiver, guiac wood, peru of balsam, two musks, labdanum, saffron, and rum accord. Another must try, but it may not work. This is another scent that I'm having trouble imagining what it will smell like. I'd like to find out!

This sounded wonderful.....but.....something turns soapy. Spicey soap. I am attracted to "black" flavored notes but pretty often, they end up turning on me (except black musk....I wear that pretty well). So, I'm blaming the black amber and maybe opoponax, but who knows really. Just not for me.

Hmmm. Well, there was a chance this might smell good to me, but I've tried it 2 or 3 times and I just can't get myself to like it. I had a couple of excited minutes today when I thought it smelled like fruity incense, something I would like, but then it sort of smoothed out and just smelled like fruity plastic erasers or something from grade school. It turned cloying but not in the usual way that honey does, so I really don't know what is disagreeing with me here, but it's just not working out. I ended up washing it off, unfortunately. : (

I was excited to try this, especially with mate absolute. The notes all sounded pretty good, actually, except maybe for the rose infusion, but I was willing to take the chance. Well, it was just not meant to be. I don't even know how to describe this, soapy metal? It does remind me a little of Copper Phoenix, but this is.....murky? I don't know, I just know I don't like it. : (

This is fantastic, proper and refined, like the best-smelling after shave in the world. I am reminded somewhat of other dudely leather blends, but I can't recall which ones. I applied pretty heavily (for me) and I felt that it faded pretty quickly, but it's >8 hours later I'm still picking up the scent around me. To me this is a masculine scent, spicy leather I guess but I can't describe it more than that. I mean, I think I can smell oakmoss but who knows. I couldn't tell you if this is a fougere or chypre or what. I guess it kind of fits in with chypres but it would be a deluxe leather chypre in that case. Why bother picking it apart. Since I'm guessing most people can't try this (unless it is more available some time in the future), I would say Count Dracula is the closest other bpal I can think of. They are not the same but it's an approximation. Poe is more refined and elegant, but still rough, and very serious. Not much 'playful' about this scent.

I was afraid of "brown musk", because I've encountered brown musk and other brown notes like sandalwood and such, in other scents, and they were not my friends. But I really like Wolf Moon ('07 in particular being one of my favorite bpal scents), and I knew I had to get this, and as it turns out, I really like it. Wolf Moon in all its incarnations is about woods, musk, a bit of spice, and slushy, watery snow. Pretty simple. The three scents are different but they all capture that same mood or feeling, pretty much exactly as the descripton reads. I personally don't think "Pine!" when I wear this. It's just a chilly, woody, musky, slightly slushy scent with a bit of spice. Compared to the past Wolf Moons......this one is very much like the last one ('07), and I tested them side-by-side to smell the difference. The '07 version has a more prominent cedar note, and it kind of jumps out if you test them together. Other than that, it's practically the same scent. The older one from '04 is very much a softer scent, prettier, lighter, and more aquatic. It reminds me of a babbling brook in the middle of winter, in the woods, in the moonlight. The musk and spice are just hints in the background. The newest version is kind of flip-flopped from that......that is, the musk and woods, and maybe a bit of spice (but not like a cookie jar or anything like that, maybe just a hint of ginger or maybe it's the musk I'm smelling) are in the foreground and the slushy snow is sprinkled on top. Sorry for rambling.....Wolf Moon '10 is a keeper!