spark

It didn't have a Lab label, so it's presumably either a decant or non-BPAL... but the Lab hasn't released Ceylon in bottles, so it's probably not a decant. I'd guess it isn't BPAL.

Isn't Ceylon the old name for Sri Lanka?

Kali is one of my top 3. I actually get very little rose or floral... on me it's all cocoa (not "sweet" chocolate), honey, and wine. I luuuurve it.

I'll echo the London recommendation -- it's darker and richer to me, but some people find it lighter. It could go "pink" or "dark" on you.

For dark, Othello is a possibility. Some people get more musk from it. I get very dark rich sexy gorgeous roses.

Mmmm... 13...

13 is a great scent. I ended up giving a bottle to my best friend's 70+ year-old mom, she loved it on me so much!

I'll chime in that ankle skin is probably a little tougher (even though it hurts like a U*(IAWRJKIJNHIFAE$WR to wax it). But another thing to keep in mind, although it doesn't sound like your problem here, is that skin is generally more sensitive right out of the shower. For example, I can't apply Samhain right when I dress. I have to wait 1/2 an hour or so.

Still, I'd be careful with the R'Lyeh: itchy/burny red splotchies are one thing; an actual RASH that has to heal is entirely another!

Actually I have tried Athens and it was all honey sweet.

I have Nosferatu around here somewhere. I think I tried it once but I'll dig it out. I'm not into earth but I don't notice it in Zombi and love Queen of Clubs, so it's worth a shot.

I have tried Lady Mac and Tintagel, too, to tell you the truth, but I don't have any notes about them. I don't think it "registered" that I like wine until I smelled Wanda on my collar.

Okay:

I just tried Wanda and I am LOVING the red wine... on my clothes. On my skin it's pure leather.

So what's the best purest red wine in the catalog?

This is complicated by the fact that I've tried most of the oils with wine...

Blood Kiss: evil vetiver.

Blood Rose: too fruity.

Bordello: too fruity.

Centzon Totochtin: gross.

Kali: I love it but it's not winey.

Lilith: yuck.

Madrid: meh.

Wanda: leather.

So pretty much my remaining choices are Lady Mac, Nosferatu, and Tintagel. Unless I am missing something...?

Wet: Mint and something... most likely lotus. However, Nine Mysteries dries down to a very clear violet. The mint and lotus vanish completely after an hour or so, and I am left with a lovely light violet.

Wet: DAMN this is sweet!

As it dries, I get some hints of nuttiness. But overall, Gluttony doesn't seem to change too much as it wears. It's not a bad scent, but pales in comparison to my (hoarded) Sugar Skull. Pass.

The search for a wearable jasmine continues...

New Orleans goes on and stays on as a heavy, heavy jasmine. (Jasmine tends to do this on my skin.) There is a touch of "decay" underneath it, so as best as I can tell with my chemisty, this is very well done. Sadly, though, my chemistry ruins it.

I believe Egyptian musk is also in Othello (my beloved).

I must be one of the few who don't like Alice...

To be fair, Alice was a comparison test: I was looking for carnation, and I don't like it as much as Desdemonda and Maiden. Alice went on rather watery and stayed that way. I suspect this is due to the particular version of rose it contains.

Sadly, Alice gave me no milk, honey, nor creaminess. Just a watery blandness.

Oakmoss, as opposed to Spanish Moss, is very dry and dirty -- it's very much an earth/dirt smell. (Spanish Moss is very green and lovely.)

It's quite strong, as well, which surprises me because I haven't picked up this scent in the moss blends I've tried -- the only time I smell moss in moss blends is when Spanish Moss is present.

Not a keeper.

I found Sweet Grass to be extremely lemony, which was a surprise -- I was not able to pick out anything like fresh-mown lawn or dry hay or anything else. Just lemon.

Holy cow.

I suppose I should have guessed that this would be GINGER.

It is not gingerbread. It is not sweet. There are no other spices. It is just ginger, strong as all heck.

I enjoy ginger in blends. This frightens me.

For your purposes: London. Hands down.

I love rose, so I love Zombi -- but that's green and mossy. Othello -- but it has some musk.

I do not like the Empress... too watery.

Persephone and Blood Rose are very round and fruity. Lovely, but not "pure" rose.

You want London. Trust me on this.

Oh -- haven't seen any rec's for Lucy's Kiss, but that one's just wimpy.

Apple Blossom goes on me as sort of a generic white floral. But it's not a "pretty" one on me; it's kind of sharp. I suppose there is some greenness to it. But I can't pick out anything overly subtle or interesting. Not BAD, just a "meh."

Can anyone tell me if there are any scents that smell similar to Ace of Hearts?

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Possibly London, although I think Ace is a little sweeter. Ace is pretty pure rose on me.

I can't give a real review of this as I only dabbed it on at Black Broom, along with about 9 other things, but it's definitely cinnamonny and pleasant. I didn't get the impression of anything resinous or heavy.

You know, there are some astrological theorists who perscribe to the belief of 12 celestials for 12 signs... meaning that two of them haven't been found yet.  Yes, I'm guilty of reading Linda Goodman.  Maybe I just don't *want* to see Virgo share a scatalogical planet with Gemini.

 

I remember reading somewhere that the planet for Virgo is actually the asteroid belt... meaning the planet is nonexistant!  Oh phoo!

 

Another theory about the planet for Virgo (and I'll preface this by saying that the theory predates Star Trek ) is that Virgo's ruling planet is Vulcan. When Vulcan is discovered and comes more into our planetary consciousness, Virgo will lose some of the more hyper-picky perfectionism (which comes from a speedy, nervous planet like Mercury ruling a sign that naturally tends toward more depth and wisdom) and realize its full potential. Soooo, you think we're superior and smug NOW? Watch out!

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Bumping this with interest because that planet may have been found.

I wonder if you can combine those theories... celestial 11 is the asteroid belt and 12 is the new planet? Interesting. Not sure what that says about Virgos... maybe that the asteroid belt needs to be given some credit? Or maybe the new planet is Virgo's. Then who gets the asteroid belt: Libra or Taurus? Who gets to keep Venus?

I may have to get back into this a little. I was the ghostwriter for astrology.com nearly 10 years ago, and I have forgotten almost everything. Interestingly, for this thread, my chart is almost entirely air and water. Mentally I am drawn to the idea of fire. Most of my favorites are florals. Queen of Clubs is the first earth to work on me (I love Zombi but don't get "earth" from it; it's a green rose).

Hmmm.

Additionally, I'm looking to find a non-LE sibling to Living Flame.  Any suggestions?

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The Living Flame is to me the child of Othello and Wildfire. Wildfire's another LE; I found Living Flame to be a pale imitation. Othello doesn't have the dragon's blood but it has a similar feel, just done much better.

To address a few points from the last page or so...

I definitely notice more overall sensitivity if I've just gotten out of the shower. Samhain, for example, is fine when I am thoroughly dry, but definitely ouchy if I put it on while my skin is still damp.

And -- while not specifically BPAL-related -- when I work out, I notice that my face will sting if I've recently applied any irritating products. (Like, when I was using Retin-A, my skin felt fine most of the time but hurt like hell when I sweated.) I imagine that sweating, since it opens up your pores, could lead to irritation, even if your perfume isn't fresh.

Finally, I have heard that inside your elbows is actually very thin skin -- it doesn't SEEM like a place that would be sensitive, but apparently it is.

All that said, the only "random" oil I've had a reaction to, apparently for none of the above reasons, was Cordelia. I have no idea what could have caused that.

Wet, Blood Lotus is bubblegum (lotus) and musk. I don't actually pick up any dragon's blood; I think it's lost in the lotus.

As it dries, it fades to sweet musk. I don't pick up any spiciness at all. For me, not a keeper.

I went uh-oh as soon as this hit my skin.

Wet: It smells like real jasmine... which is disastrous on me. Night-blooming jasmine is botanically completely different from "real" jasmine, but looking through my notes on other night-blooming jasmine scents, I'm seeing a pattern I hadn't noticed before. I think it's the note that gets disagreeably heavy on me.

Wearing: Doesn't seem to change much. There's a "pee-y" undertone that I associate with BPAL jasmine fighting it out with my chemistry. Sadly, I don't get any fruit, spices, or resin... just a heavy-duty and not particularly nice (on me) floral.