glass_cat

I wouldn't really have picked this out of the pack, since neither patchouli nor apricot are among my favorite scents. I don't have anything really against either, but... you know how it is. I guess that's why frimps are a good thing, eh? It forces us to try scents we probably wouldn't otherwise. Every once in a while we find something that we like. For some reason, I really want to describe this as smelling like shadows. It's so dark, dusty, and earthy. Then there's the apricot in the background lending this a hint of sweetness that contradicts the dark earthiness of the rest of the blend very nicely and makes it feel like it lives up to its name. Overall, this is the smell of digging up fresh earth in your garden so that you can plant a fruit tree. It's an interesting scent, and definitely one I would recommend to those who love earth scents and would like to try one that is really earthy.

I'd been wanting to try an imp of this for awhile, especially since I've really been digging the foody scents this winter. Normally this is the kind of thing that I would spring for a bottle of right off the bat, but I wasn't sure how similar it would be to other blends that I've already bottled that seem similar. Enter the frimp from the lab that I received with my last order. This is a very nice blend.... a lot like what I imagined in my head when I first read the description ever so long ago... and definitely evocative of the concept of gluttony. I smell coffee, caramel, and a bunch of other things that make my mouth water. This is also a nice, long-lasting blend that you don't need to slather in order to smell, and that sticks around long after it's applied. The only problem is that it's very very similar to other blends that I already have bottles of... most notably Miskatonic University. As a matter of fact, at first sniff they smelled identical to my nose. The main difference for me is that the woody, bookish smell isn't there in the background here, which is fitting since Gluttony is all about food and overindulgence. This would definitely be one I'd recommend to people who liked everything about Misk U except for that effect though.

I'm going to go ahead and toss in my vote with the tons you already have for Eat Me. That was a beautiful, divine, cake-like smell that was a real winner on me. I also think you ought to try Drink Me as well. It's quite complex, and smells like a lot of things, but it's definitely sweet and foody and "bakery-esque". I'd recommend that anyone who likes foodie blends at least try an imp of both of those. Honestly, I also found Miskatonic University to be incredibly foodie and very sweet, even though it does have some woody/papery notes in there in the background. It's supposed to smell like Irish coffee, but it always smells like pancakes with syrup and coffee to me. Another just divine one that any foodie-lover ought to try.

Hrm.... well, this was one of those scents I must say that I was really curious about because, like most people, I'd kept hearing over and over about how out-of-this-world incredible this was, so I was pretty excited when I got it as a frimp with the order I received a couple of days ago. On me, this smells very predominantly of lemon. Not that this is bad, because I like the smell of lemon, but yeah... that's what I'm getting from it. I do detect something foodier that is probably the ginger in there too, though. Overall I am reminded of the smell of some type of ginger cookie with lemon icing on it. I can already tell that this is something my boyfriend will love on me. It kind of smells like I've been baking and cleaning at the same time, but it's a good thing, if that makes any sense. It's pleasant, but I'm not sure that I really understand what all the fuss is about, but then so far I haven't when I get around to trying the scents that I hear a ton of rave reviews about beforehand. I definitely like the foodiness of this, but I have other blends that fall into the same category as this does for me that I far prefer... like Eat Me, Drink Me, Tezcatlipoca, and Miskatonic University... and I already have bottles of all of those. This is a little more "wakey-wakey" than those are though because of the lemon. This might be a nice choice for when I want something foodier and more comforting, but want to be alert enough to write or paint maybe. I'm not impressed yet, but this is the type of scent that has the possiblity of growing on me, especially if my boyfriend likes it. We'll see how often I reach for it. EDIT 3/19/07: Well guys, this is definitely one scent that has grown on me a lot over the past month. Aged Shub really is better Shub, so if you're not impressed with it right away, put your imp away for a month and try it again. My boyfriend absolutely loves this on me and actually requests it, and I get so many compliments on it. I'm still not sure this is as "me" as some of my others, but it's definitely yummy enough to necessitate keeping some around... at least an imp or two.

Hmmm... actually I tried The Temptation recently, and it reminds me of Sarah quite a bit. It has a strong peach note in it, so that's probably why. It also seems very wistful, innocent, and girlish to me. The blend as a whole is evocative of that whole ballroom hallucination she has just after she eats Jareth's peach. Also, some of the Rappaccini's Garden scents kind of remind me of the way I imagine the labyrinth itself smelling... swampy, woodsy, and a little earthy. Destroying Angel would be a good one to try if that's what you're looking for, and perhaps Opium Poppy. As for Jareth? I could totally see him wearing something like Whitechapel or Dorian personally... like a British gentleman who is refined but has a dark heart. That's my impression of him anyway.

I'd probably give you Tempest as my top pick. The instant I smelled it, a garden on the morning after a rainstorm was exactly the mental image I had in my head. Sea of Glass is lovely as well, but to me it smells more "oceany" and less "rainy", if that makes any sense.

This is actually a scent I ordered for my boyfriend, due to his being really impressed with the other BPALs I've ordered him, as well as fascinated with the Jack the Ripper case. He also really liked some of my more citrusy blends on himself as well as on me (for example... Envy) so this seemed like a no brainer. This is a lovely scent. Very evocative of a Victorian gentleman, but someone who might have a very dark heart... much like most people's mental image of Jack the Ripper. It's very fresh because of the lime, and the florals keep it rather refined-smelling without being overpowering and making you think "OMG flowers". This is definitely one I would recommend you get if the "Victorian gentleman's blend" style perfumes work well on you, or especially on your guy. This is a bit more masculine than some of them to my nose, but I can imagine most people wouldn't find it so. Probably not for me personally (I will stick with my beloved Envy) but I absolutely love it when my boyfriend wears this. I request it often, as a matter of fact.

This was frimped to me a couple of orders ago by the lab, much to my great delight since I'd been interested in it. The very first time I wore it, I knew it was going immediately to the bottle list, and so it has since. A bottle is expected in my next order. This blend is everything I'm currently digging in a scent right now. It's fruity and sweet with that fabulous juicy plum, a little bit foody and buttery due to the amaretto, and very sexy and opulent in general. It certainly lives up to it's name, but in a good way. Blends like this are my pick for nights out, special evenings at home with my fiance, or perhaps those days when I just want to glam it up, because sometimes I do... red lips, curled hair, heels and all. Bordello is great for that, especially if you are like me and find that many of the spicier blends that are typically thought of as "sexy" aren't really you. It also makes a rather nice holiday or cold weather scent, due to the warmth of it overall. Very nice.... very glamourous... very festive. Easily one of my new favorites.

Wow... this scent is a real experience! I've been developing a real liking for Beth's foodier blends since the cold weather set in, so I decided to treat myself to bottles of both Eat Me and Drink Me, as I'm just wild about Alice In Wonderland and the Mad Tea Party collection in general so far. Ever since I was a little girl I have wondered what the liquid in that "Drink Me" bottle most have smelled like, and thanks to BPAL I've gotten my chance to find out. When I first unscrewed the top, I smelled pretty much just the "buttered toast" part of it all. When I dabbed a little on, I soon began to smell everything else. The toffee and something else that smelled like hazelnuts was very strong right off the bat, but after a while I started to smell the pineapple, the "cherry tart", and a vanilla-esque note that has got to be the custard. I didn't detect any turkey, but honestly I can't say that I'm bummed about that. This morphed a ton during the first ten minutes or so that I had it on. I'm usually not a fan of morphers, but that actually seems fitting for this particular blend. Now that it's settled down a bit and become what it wants to be, it smells mostly of hazelnuts and... I want to say... red wine? There's maybe a hint of something yeasty and comforting that smells like bread in there as well. It's nice! Drink Me is not only a lot of fun to experience, but it's surprisingly wearable. A wonderful addition to your collection if you like BPAL's foodie blends.

One of my BPAL-related resolutions for 2007 was to catch up a little on my reviews. I'm actually kind of surprised I haven't reviewed this yet, as it's become one of my staples, but then I acquired this one before I was really in the habit of coming to the forum to post as opposed to simply read reviews. In the bottle, I wasn't sure I liked this at all... and I mean at all. Like someone else above me, I was blown away by a note that smelled a lot like tobacco. There was also something that reminded me ominously of pickles, which are one of my least favorite foods on the planet and just about the last thing I would actually want to walk around smelling like. I could barely smell the flowers I was hoping for, and I was beginning to wonder if I had made a grave mistake in bottling this right away, as I tend to do with scents that I really think will work well. Luckily, it changes drastically once applied. The pickle smell disappeared altogether, and the tobacco leaf faded into the background, enhancing this scent and lending it complexity instead of ruining it, allowing the orchids and roses to take center stage and blend beautifully. Once it dries down, it's a gorgeous, unique rose-based blend that is very feminine without being overly innocent, and it has incredible staying power. Magdalene isn't the blend I wear most often by any stretch of the imagination, but it is one that has grown on me over time to the point where I couldn't imagine my BPAL collection without it. I usually reach for it when I want one of my beloved rose blends, but don't want it to smell too rosey or overly girly.

This is indeed a peaceful, calm-inducing blend. I can see why Beth thought it appropriate to be one of the dream collection. I haven't yet worn Oneiroi to bed, but I did put it on earlier this afternoon when I was feeling really anxious and worrisome, hoping that it would help me, and it did that very well. I could certainly see how smelling this in my sleep might help to induce a more restful, soothing sleep experience. Oneiroi is strong enough to definitely be able to smell it, but it does not scream or shout, which is a balance fragrances must achieve in order for me to truly be able to fall in love with them. It's also clean, soft, and feminine, so it's incredibly wearable for someone like me. Although I do often wear perfume to bed, I think I will be reaching for this one most often when I wish to feel soothed and peaceful in general. It does the trick wonderfully.

This is rather a nice scent, and I could see how this could be very sexy in the right setting. I'm not sure I'm the best person to report on the voodoo effects of this, as my boyfriend tends to get excited by pretty much anything that smells really nice and isn't too loud, but he did really like it. This is definitely something I would put on to wear to bed or snuggle up next to him for a quiet afternoon in when it's rainy out. The description is accurate. It is very relaxing, but its spiciness succeeds in arousing the senses at the same time. The dominant note in this was definitely cinnamon for me. It was so dominant that I'm not really sure I smelled anything else in it for some time after I put it on. After a while though, I did detect something much sweeter... perhaps honey? It smelled a lot like honey anyway. The blend as a whole morphed quite a bit during the time I had it on, and it didn't last as long as some of BPALs other "spicy" blends, but it was a pleasant scent nonetheless. Would I buy a big bottle of this? Doubtful. That's mostly because I already have similar scents that appeal to me much more, are more complex, and seem to produce the same sorts of effects, most notably Lust and Penny Dreadful, both of which I would recommend to people who liked the general idea of this, but didn't quite fall in love.

For some reason, my fiance seems to feel that the lighter, cleaner, "girlier", less spicy scents are sexier on me. Perhaps it's because I really don't look or act like an innocent type in the least and the contrast is interesting? I'm really not sure. He goes nuts over Antique Lace, Sea of Glass, Juliet, and Tempest of all things. Really... he can't keep his hands off when I have on any of those.

Calliope is the first of the muses I've yet tried. Seems odd since I'm into so many of the arts, but there it is all the same. Her scent is a beautiful collection of citrus and herbal notes... an invigorating blend that wakes me up and gets my mind going the way that a scent inspired by a muse absolutely should. I'm actually surprised that something with such strong green and citrus tones is so pleasant on me. Usually those are the very things I avoid, but this blend seems to be one of the ones that works, and beautifully so. As someone else before me said, this is rather kitchen-y, but not at all in a bad or unpleasant way. It's a wonderfully clean kitchen first thing in the morning with the sun coming through the windowsill and warming the fresh herbs that are lovingly grown there. I will definitely be pulling this imp out the next time I want to get some writing done. It's a perfect scent for such an activity. Would I "big bottle" this? Probably not, but only because it reminds me strongly of Envy, which I have a big bottle of and already use often for waking myself up enough to get some writing done and such things. Also, this one doesn't have quite the staying power on me that some of my other similar scents do. Otherwise, this is a beautiful blend. I'll certainly be finishing and savouring the rest of my imp.

I just got Danube as one of my latest frimps, and I put some on the other night to relax with my fiance and watch a couple of movies, as it smelled kind of calm, light, and flowery in the imp to me, and those are his favorites. It's actually a really pretty scent, and he just loved it, but there's something about it I'm not sure I like and I can't put my finger on it at all. One of the flowers in it is almost too sweet for me, which I never thought I'd hear myself say, and I'm almost wondering if I have bad personal associations with that particular note... whatever it is... that I don't recall, because my dislike of it almost feels like that as opposed to something really not working on my skin. I may have to give it another try some other time though, as I'm getting over a sinus infection right now, and that's probably not the best time to try something new. Although this is nice, and I think I could grow to like it enough for my boyfriend's sake to finish the imp, I don't see myself bottling this at all. I have other similar scents that work much better on me, and give off that "cool" aquatic feeling but without that odd mystery note that puts me off in this one.

This is a beautiful scent... one of those ones that, as someone else before said, is simply very wearable and pretty. It's a perfect scent for warm weather, or to wear anywhere you wouldn't necessarily want your perfume to "shout". My only complaint is that it doesn't last as long as I'd like on my skin, but I suppose that's what slathering is all about. I could always try putting it in my hair or clothes as well. To me this is very much a peach-scented perfume. I don't smell much else in it, although the peach does seem to layer itself over a general light floral smell for me. It's not a bad thing at all, but simply how I perceive it. I like that it's "peachy", because peach, or peach blossom, are notes I have never really given consideration to before, so perhaps I should do so in the future. Would I buy a bottle of this? It's hard to say. It's still mighty cold out, and I just don't wear from this family of scent when that's the way the seasons are, but I would definitely consider it come spring or summer. I'm sure I'll be looking for some lighter, fruitier blends to upgrade then, and this one will certainly be considered if the imp continues to grow on me the way it has.

Before I started expanding my scent horizons through BPAL, I was one of those people that thought they hated scents that had any type of dominant foody element to them. However, thanks to lots of good frimp lovin' from the lab, I've tried my share by now, and they've grown on me to the point where I'm beginning to actually seek them out. I'd been thinking about trying Misk U lately for that reason, and had planned on ordering an imp soon, but lo and behold... I got it frimped to me with the order I received yesterday! Really, the labbies must be psychic. This scent is pure, unadulterated heaven. To me it smells like buttered waffles and maple syrup with hazelnut coffee and cream on the side to wash them down. (I'm weird... I actually don't really like to consume either of those things, but I dearly love the smells, so this is perfect for me.) I also strongly smell the oakwood, and something else wonderful that smells like paper. I can't even imagine what specific note that could be. It's so very like strolling around a huge, wonderful, old library with a hot mug of some delicious flavored coffee in your hand, trying to decide what you'd like to read that it's ridiculous. The combination of all the different elements in this is extremely pleasant and comforting. (I think Antique Lace just earned itself some fierce competition as far as favorite bedtime/comfort scents are concerned.) My boyfriend hasn't smelled this yet, but I know he's going to go absolutely wild over it. He loves the foodier scents that I wear sometimes and wishes I'd wear them more often. I myself seriously can't stop smelling my wrist. This is so familiar, due to the "waffles and coffee" impression I keep getting, yet so different from anything I've ever smelled before at the same time. Miskatonic University gets an enthusiastic, unwavering A+ from me. This is definitely going to be one of the very next bottles I order.

Oh my God... I'm in your boat as well. I lived in Monterey for most of my life and moved away a couple of years ago. I miss it so much. I could cry when I think about it. The scents that remind me the most of home are Sea of Glass and Tempest, but Tempest sounds closer to what you want since it has a very definite "green" feeling to me, while Sea of Glass is a bit more floral. Tempest definitely reminds me of afternoons spent sitting on my favorite bench under the cypress tree at the water's edge, watching the fog roll in. Maybe it will do the same for you. OMG, thank you, glass_cat! I will have to hunt down an imp of Tempest and try that. One would think that with a few hundred imps, I might have it, but of course not I can't even believe how much I miss Pacific Grove.................I wonder if your favorite bench was the same as mine It sure could have been! I used to work as a vet tech at an animal hospital in Pacific Grove and would often take my lunch break by the water. My bench was the one that was a little bit off the dirt bike/walking trail, right under a cypress tree and right at the edge of this cliff-like drop-off. I liked how the trees kind of cut you off a little bit from the trail behind you, so you felt like you had some privacy to just sit by yourself. Best place ever to sit and watch the fog or read a book!!

Oh my God... I'm in your boat as well. I lived in Monterey for most of my life and moved away a couple of years ago. I miss it so much. I could cry when I think about it. The scents that remind me the most of home are Sea of Glass and Tempest, but Tempest sounds closer to what you want since it has a very definite "green" feeling to me, while Sea of Glass is a bit more floral. Tempest definitely reminds me of afternoons spent sitting on my favorite bench under the cypress tree at the water's edge, watching the fog roll in. Maybe it will do the same for you.

Oh yes.... I agree with you about Asphodel. It's one of my favorites.... melancholy, but in a quiet, wistful way as opposed to a heartbroken way, if that makes any sense.

I'm in love. Really... in love. This scent is incredible. I'm so glad I took a chance and went straight for the bottle with this one, because I could bathe in this. It was exactly what I was hoping it would be, and perhaps even a little bit better. This is a walk in a lush, green garden when it has rained the night before and will likely rain again within a few minutes. Every leaf is damp and glistening, and the air is not only as clean and crisp as it could possibly be, but is charged with a gentle electricity that just makes you feel.... alive. That's probably one of my favorite smells in the entire world, and that is Tempest to a tee. This will make me a wonderful oil to wear when I want to feel creative, as I find that I always feel so when it is rainy or stormy out. Wearing Tempest is, even as I type this, tricking my brain into thinking that's what the weather is like out, and consequently my fingers are itching to paint something while poetic phrases simultaneously race through my brain. It's incredible. I highly recommend this scent to anyone who is a sucker for aquatic or ozone scents, as this is definitely both in equal parts. If you like this one, I'd also recommend that you try Sea of Glass and Loralei, as this seems like it could be a close cousin of each... especially if you like more of a floral tone to your aquatics.

Something about Loralei smelled very sad and melancholy to me. I honestly can't put my finger on what it is, but my guess is it's the ylang ylang. Anything that contains that tends to strike a melancholy chord with me. Then again, so do aquatic scents, which Loralei also is. Even though I don't think either is intended to be a melancholy scent, Tempest and Sea of Glass both produce that feeling for me as well.

This really is a lovely scent... truly. I got it as a frimp from the lab maybe a month and a half ago with my last order, and since then I've worn it a couple of times. It's one of those scents that tends to slip my mind most of the time, but I was digging around in my BPAL box last night for something I hadn't worn in a while, and I settled on this one, so I thought perhaps it was time to squeeze in a review. Empyreal Mist is one of those blends that smells divine when it's on, but when you're not actually wearing it, it's tough to really recall what it smells like. I think the main reason for that is I honestly can't identify any of the notes and single them out. I tend to mentally organize my BPALs into categories... fruity, spicy, rosey, vanilla, lily-ish, et cetera... and Empyreal Mist defies that system so completely. However, if I had try to describe it, I'd probably call it "light and unassuming". It just smells "good"... not even really as if you are wearing perfume. To me this is what it would smell like if you could bottle one of those little moments you have sometimes when you're walking in a park or some such on a clear spring day, wasting a little time, and for just a moment, you catch a hint of some wonderful smell on a breeze that you can't quite identify. It's like a mixture of modest flowers, fresh breezes, and perhaps a breath of fruit, yet not like any of those things. It's beautiful. Definitely one to try if you're looking for something understated and fresh to wear to the office without overpowering your co-workers, or a light scent to put on if it's hot out in the summer.

This is another one of those scents where I went straight for the bottle, because it had one of those descriptions that was just so "me". Fruity florals and me get along famously... light ones, heady ones, smoky ones... it's all good, so it was kind of a no-brainer. Plus it's based on Titania, my all-time favorite Shakespeare character, which hardly hurt. It's a lovely scent, but I will say it was a lot stronger than I was expecting, which other people interested in Titania should be aware of. I know that very strong, sweet florals aren't for everyone. I was personally imagining this would be a much lighter scent, but it's actually quite heady and almost soporific. Definitely more of an "evening" perfume, in my opinion, or something to pull out for special occasions. It's sweet and ethereal like the fairy queen this is named for, but it's sheer strength calls to mind the Midsummer Night Dream itself: a topsy-turvy, heady and dreamlike reality. It's also surprisingly seductive, which I'm not sure most people normally associate with this variety of scent. That's great for me though, as the "sexy" scents are usually too spicy for my taste, so this will give me something to reach for when I want to feel a little more glamourous and alluring than usual. As far as individual notes, this is one of those blends where I seem to be getting everything in equal amounts, although at times I feel like I can pick out the grape, sometimes the pear, and especially the peach. As far as the floral portion of it, I can definitely identify the sweet pea, but can't really single out any of the other flowers. None of that is necessarily a bad thing though. Everything just blends together very well on me. If I had to sum up the overall scent, I'd describe it as the olfactory equivalent of eating from a silver dish of juicy ambrosia and chasing it with sparkling white grape juice from a crystal goblet. It's a cheerful, magical smell indeed. Definitely something I really like that has a certain possibility of becoming something I dearly love more and more with each wearing.

Well, Undertow was definitely a cold, minty-esque scent. It was a bit medicinal at first to me though, although it smelled very nice after it settled down a bit. I also would like to second, or third, the votes I already saw for Mad Hatter (that's one of my boyfriend's very favorites) and especially Envy. Envy is just divine.... truly.