Akurarei

Hmm, I really thought I had already reviewed this one.... HAUNTED This smells like vanilla SN to me for several hours. After it's been worn for more than 4 hours, I can make the distinction between the amber & musk - but the effect is very soft & gentle. This is very comforting.

This is so good! I get juicy, sweet strawberries paired with a very small hint of fresh greenery and a soothing, creamy note that just reminds me of strawberry mouse. if all the previous Strawberry Moons were like this, I totally missed out

I get the same impression from this Pink Moon, except that I do like chocolate scents

This is a very soft blend - I usually amp cedar, but this is a gentle woodsy, resiny floral. it's very delicate and mellow.

This is a lovely white petal aquatic. It's gentle and soft, with the aquatic aspect being more like fresh cool water rather than the usual slightly tangy,salty aquatic. I really like this, despite it's quick fade.

There are so many notes that just shouldn't work in this blend. Yet, once it's on for at least 2 minutes, it is a very warm & comforting scent, that is also somehow clean & clear. Usually almonds give me a headache when they turn sharp & cloying, but they behave themselves in this blend for me. I really like this one, and just got a full bottle from the Lab.

This is generic soapy florals. Not a fan.

Pink Lace In the Bottle: Sugary, Watery Strawberry On my Skin, Wet: Simple Syrup Strawberries with a Splash of Vanilla & Heavy Cream On my Skin, Dry: Boozy Strawberry Sugar & Vanilla Cream Verdict: I was actually looking forward to a stronger booze note, but this really is lovely regardless. It reminds me of the 2007 Beaver Moon with a splash of booze, paired with a delicate vanilla iced sugar cookie. I really like it!

In February, black bears give birth to their cubs, nurturing and protecting them as the snow melts, the days grow warmer, and winter gives way to spring. Hazelnuts, acorns, black cherries, wild winter berries, and warm black fur dusted by moonlight, honey, and pine needles. In the Bottle: Berrylicious Honey On my Skin, Wet: Honey, Pine, Nuts & the sweetness of the berries, but no actual fruit On my Skin, Dry: Honeyed Berries with whiffs of nuts & woods Verdict: This is very warm & comforting. the throw is surprisingly strong for such a delicate scent excellent job Beth!

Frimp! Yes, as others have said - chocolate, pine & spices/spiced coffee. I can see where the molasses association comes from....but my chemistry keeps the pine hanging out too strongly to venture into the 'foody' classification.

In the Bottle: Heavy use of BPAL's 'snow' note It actually smells more like a Yule blend than a Luper blend. To me, this smells like 2010's Winter-Time mixed with Nuclear Winter On my Skin, Wet: Still heavy snow and a very slight touch of pink blossoms On my Skin, Dry: Snow & Sandalwood (WTF?) Verdict: very different for Spring! A very unique scent that embodies the transition from one season to the next.

Water Dragon 2012 In the Bottle: VERY ORANGE On My Skin, Wet: VERY STRONG ORANGE - there's very little else going on, sadly. On My Skin, Dry: Still predominantly orange, but there is a touch of coconut and sandalwood. It looses it's overall potency quickly, and the orange fades back somewhat, but yep - still a mostly orange scent on me. Verdict: I was looking forward to this being a peony with coconut & citrus scent, but it's almost exclusively citrus. 4 of 10 ranking (though I absolutely love the label art)

Body, Remember In the Bottle: This smells like a Red Lantern bottle On my Skin, Wet: A blast of coconut with a creamy undertone, and something sweet. On my Skin, Dry: Dark Coconut, Musk & Sugared Cream Verdict: LOVE It's indeed very sensual without being heavy or overpowering It's an "up-close" scent that balances foody with sexy

Paladin Frimp Test Of the RPG scents, this one was the one that seemed like the best match for my skin. After wearing it for a little while, I have to say that it just turned to a leather-esque version of potpourri. Sadly, I'm not diggin it

The Phoenix At Midnight In the Bottle: Cool musky florals. it gives me a slightly watery impression as well. On My Skin, Wet: Water, Jasmine & clean musk. this is a very pure scent on me... very distinct ingredients and they play with my chemistry very well. On My Skin, Dry: Jasmine & clean musk - with some residual water notes. I'm not sure how to describe the water notes I'm getting....maybe very delicate wet greenery? ........ I know! it's reminiscent of the Lab's White Tea note! so really it smells like jasmine, clean musk and a cup of delicate white tea Verdict: This is my favorite Phoenix of this year's offerings so far (still need to try Phoenix at Dawn) it's very clean with a beautiful touch of of jasmine and I absolutely love the water/white tea notes that manifest. it's a very soothing and romantic blend. great job Beth & Labbies!

Ondurdis In the Bottle: Crisp Cold/Snow On my Skin, Wet: Crisp Clean Snow, A Clear Wind & a Touch of 'Minerals' On my Skin, Dry: Crisp Snow & Wind, a Hint of Pine....and still a touch of 'Minerals' Verdict: Lovely scent... It's very wintery but subtle.

The Phoenix at Dusk In the Bottle: Smells very similar to one of the metal phoenix blends from a couple of years ago...maybe the Quicksilver Phoenix bottle. On my Skin, Wet: a very brilliant burst of bright floral and dripping wet fruits - to me it seems like I'm looking at the setting sun through a slice of a peach after a rainstorm while standing amongst wildflowers. It smells like peaches, gardenias & water in this stage. On my Skin, Dry: A powdery element appears - this has got to be the wisteria (it always turns to powder on me) so it's now wet peaches, powder and a faint background of wildflowers. There is also just a hint of sage too - this lends a cool, crisp feeling to the scent. Verdict: This is lovely - and quite summery! I love that this has such a strong layer of wet peaches on me. and the touch of sage is just delightful. This is a gorgeous Phoenix!

Leather Phoenix I'm going to do my best at actually identifying notes, hence the list: matcha tea, wild frankincense, champaca, petitgrain, star anise, aged oudh, rose taifi, narcissus, Himalayan cedar, 11-year aged patchouli, and black leather accord. In the Bottle: Old leather & stinky, thick patchouli. I don't detect anything else in this stage, just old & dirty. On my Skin, Wet: A blast of the leather & patchouli. after a minute or so, the leather & patchouli die down, and I start to pick up the cedar note. I am also picking up on the champaca & star anise, only faintly. On my Skin, Dry: I think the leather & cedar notes have done some kind of merger - it's a peculiar smell that is definitely NOT floral in nature. the star anise is still there, just barely detectable. the patchouli note comes & goes....I would rather that it left & stayed gone, as this is the version of patchouli that I really dislike. I don't smell any of the following notes right now: Matcha Tea, Wild Frankincense, Petitgrain, Rose Taifi, or Narcissus. ETA: OK, after a couple of hours more, I am getting hints of the tea & the florals. this is turning more interesting, but I'm still not really sure that the tea & florals will overtake the leather, patchouli & cedar. I guess time will tell.... Verdict: I was really hoping that Leather Phoenix would have a nice feminine & masculine balance. The patchouli isn't quite "in your face" but I would describe it as prominent. Black leather is the hard, slick variety, and is probably the biggest reason that the patchouli can't just completely overpower everything else. Cedar amps on me like crazy, so that's why I get such a distinct cedar note. and really, that's pretty much my experience on this one. I would love for other, softer notes to make an appearance in the future. Sadly Leather Phoenix disappoints me, but I still think that it was very lovely of Beth & her Labbies to create something so special for us to enjoy. Thank you Beth for sharing your creation with us!

Winter Heavens In the Bottle: clear & cold smelling - but not overwhelmingly strong like other 'cold' scents On my Skin, Wet: 'Black crystalline' is the best way to describe this one. it's like looking through a heavy crystal vase in a deep dark forest at midnight. On my Skin, Dry: Not as cold now, but still pretty dark & clear. I don't really detect any one note - just the final product, the vision as a whole. it's an atmospheric perfume, not foody or spicy or floral or resiny. Verdict: I really like this one - it's dark but not moody I really like the clear quality of this one, and it's especially nice to have such a clear perfume without the heavy cold aspect. lovely!

Yellow Snowballs This reminds me of Archangel Winter - which is an awesome thing! Cold, snowy citrus goodness. this is just a little bit lighter & creamier though. only a little bit though

Nightmare In the Bottle: Dark & very dry - with a bitter quality to it On my Skin, Wet: The bitterness amps for about 10 minutes. it must be the 'blackened fruit gums' after the 10 minute mark the bitterness goes away and the resin and lavender make an appearance On my Skin, Dry: Evil bedsheets with sleep inducing lavender. hmmm, interesting Verdict: not at all pleasant during the wet stage, and the dry stage is so strangely unique that I don't really know what to make of this one.

On Darkness 2009 In the Bottle: I detect the lavendar & some dark resins/incense On my Skin, Wet: A burst of blackness. It's like everything is covered in soot without smelling like smoke. On my Skin, Dry: Ok, this is better. I get the lavendar again, and the dark incense It does have a slightly smoky touch to it, but it's just a hint. Every now and then I get a whiff of the rose geranium, which adds a dark floral tone to this scent. Verdict: Very unique. It's an interesting mix of dark resins with a dark floral.

White Rabbit In the Frimp: Strong black tea & spicy pepper On my Skin, Wet: Fermented note, pepper & something spicy. I assume that's the ginger On my Skin, Dry: Black tea, cream, & faint traces of either the pepper or ginger...it's just a teeny bit spicy. I get a note of the linen every now & then. Verdict: I didn't like the initial application or the immediate dry-down. the fully dry, several-hours-later version is nice, but nothing special for me. meh. I am glad that I got to try it, I know that most people really like this one. Sadly I am not one of them.

I haven't tried this one personally, but it sounds lovely. no jasmine in sight HERMIA How low am I, thou painted maypole? speak; How low am I? I am not yet so low But that my nails can reach unto thine eyes. Pink pepper, golden amber, honeysuckle, and passion flower.

As advertised - a gorgeous lavendar honey cheesecake! it's about equal parts of each listed item - with a distinct buttery graham cracker crust, but this element just re-inforces that cheesecake vibe.