Amber Tears

I would like to add Kali (blend of the sacred blooms of cassia, hibiscus, musk rose, Himalayan wild tulip, lotus and osmanthus swirled with offertory dark chocolate, red wine, tobacco, balsam and honey.) Reviews here

I have only tried maybe 100 or so blends, so suggestions are appreciated. So far I have loved these enough to purchase bottles:

 

1. The Zadok Allen Vineyard (purchasing every bottle I can find! Insanely beautiful!)

2. Centzon Totochtin

3. Dia de los Muertos

4. The Grave Pig

5. Gomorrah

 

I do have quite a few other bottles, but those are the ones I reach for the most, especially the first two. This is fun, so thanks in advance for the recommendations! Enable away!

Have you tried Kali? (blend of the sacred blooms of cassia, hibiscus, musk rose, Himalayan wild tulip, lotus and osmanthus swirled with offertory dark chocolate, red wine, tobacco, balsam and honey.)<- has chocolate and wine notes similar to centzon totochtin. I'd be a more complex change of pace from just chocolate and red wine. Reviews here

For Zadok Allen Vineyard, I heard the She Crushes for Dead Men Deadly Wine (Poppy wine, chthonic incense, Balm of Gilead, and pomegranate.) was similar. Maybe pomegranate isn't your thing, though. Reviews here

Now the above are out of stock as of right now, unfortunately.

If you like red wine, I would recommend Athens (voluptuous myrrh, golden honey, red wine, and sweet flowers.) Your skin chemistry has a huge factor into how this blend turns out. On myself, Athens is a honey-sweetened red wine (yum!). On my sister, it was just myrrh and honey. Definitely worth trying, at least. Reviews here

You seem to like chocolate/tobacco/booze blends so I also recommend Perversion (Smoky rum and black tobacco with a whisper of steamy leather with a splash of crystalline chardonnay, layered over a sensual, sweet, and deceptively magnetic base of tonka.) Reviews here

Now, this one is only if you like roses: Lilith (Red wine, myrrh, black musk, and attar of rose.) It's one of my favorite GC's. a fresh rose saturated with red wine Again skin chemistry is a factor here. Reviews here

Maybe you would enjoy Elf from the RPG line, for your outdoorsy, and also aloof qualities? Pale golden musk, honeycomb, amber, parma violet, hawthorne bark, aspen leaf, forest lily, life everlasting, white moss, and a hint of wild berry.

 

Alice might also work; it has a hint of honey for your love of beekeeping: Milk and honey with rose, carnation and bergamot.

 

 

That's what I thought of off the top of my head

Excellent, I plan of buying imps of both in my next order. Thanks!

Elf sounds divine (honeycomb! )

You sound a lot like me in high school. Hated every moment and was very reserved, though I was also a bit of a rebel. Don't worry, once you get out into "the real world" things get infinitely better. You do what you want on your own terms and only have to associate with the people you choose.

 

Fairy Wine - An ethereal vintage, steeped with dandelion, honey, and red currants.

Antique - Fossilized amber, juniper berry, wild musk, oudh, vetiver, white cedar, black currant, oakmoss, and leather.

Ranger - Untamed wilderness: buckskin accord with Terebinth pine, Russian birch, black ironwood, elder bark, hay, armoise, juniper, patchouli, galangal root, Spanish moss, and cabreuva.

Aglaea - Three golden ambers, bright musk, peach wine and myrtle.

Tamora - Amber, heliotrope, golden sandalwood, peach blossom and vanilla bean.

Silence - White sandalwood, iris, blue musk, lotus root, moonflower, plum blossom, green tea, white mint and white peach.

Jupiterian Phoenix - Sarsaparilla, juniper berries, Himalayan cedar, Terebinth pine, sweet clove, green tea, nutmeg, and hyssop.

Ship of Hel - Black oak and sprucewood with opoponax, myrrh, black ambergris, and the silent ice of Niflheimr.

(I know you said you don't like aquatics but I picked it for the smoothness and peaceful vibe it evokes. It's not salty if that's what bothers you... a beautiful, sweet ice + woods scent.)

 

You know BPAL also used to have a Juniper Berry SN, but it's very old now.

Yea, High school is no walk in the park. I just get told it's simply must be the 'best' years of my life. I only have a year and a half to go until freedom!

anywho, great recommendations! I kinda overlooked Ship of Hel at first because of the ambergris. Now that I read reviews and heard it was a snowy-pine, I'm definitely interested. The others are on my "to test" list. I'll track down some of the LE ones while I'm at it.

I also would like to try this!

Basics:

Zodiac- Gemini

Chinese Zodiac- Ox

I’m very shy, soft-spoken, skittish and avoiding of spotlights. High school is very unpleasant for me because it's basically a social shark tank. I was labeled “Hot” at school due to my looks, but didn’t have a large group of friends due to my aloof-ness and refusal to do drugs (and party). I’m weary of strangers but undyingly loyal to close friends, my boyfriend of 4 ½ years, and family. I’m drawn to herbalism, beekeeping, horseback riding and gardening. I love archery, caring for animals and reading non-fiction novels. I dislike crowds, loud noises, partying and embarrassing memories (whenever I have flashbacks I withdraw into my shell). If I had a choice where I could live, I would live on a foothill in the wilderness. I have a love for coniferous forests.

Scents I like: Realistic Nature smells (looking for a true juniper berry scent), fresh florals, peaches, honeys and red wines

Scents that don't work on me: Cologne-y, artificial-like and aquatic notes.

Here's some more possibilities I found.

Titus Andronicus: Dark musk and black amber with frankincense, red sandalwood, neroli and bergamot.

Dorian: three pale musks and dark, sugared vanilla tea.

Lyonesse: Golden vanilla and gilded musk, stargazer lily, white sandalwood, grey amber, elemi, orris root, ambergris and sea moss.

So is the amber prominent or does it just add warmth? Is it just a dry vanilla?

On the Ulta website where it lists the ingredients, it just lists as "fragrance" so it'd be hard to pinpoint an exact replica. However, here's a list of amber/vanilla BPALs:

If you don't mind sweet pea and sandalwood:

Mouse's Long and Sad Tale: Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood.

If you haven't already tried it:

O: Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla.

If peach blossom and heliotrope doesn't deter you:

Tamora: Amber, heliotrope, golden sandalwood, peach blossom and vanilla bean.

Since the hair oil refers to oriental perfume, here's one thats heavier with musk:

Prurience: red amber and scorched musk with voluptuous carnation, charred vetiver, sensuous tonka, and orris.<- Tonka provides some creaminess.

A tad sugary:

Good: Shimmering celestial musk with vanilla, white honey, acacia, and sugar cane.

Darker vanilla with Orange blossom:

Hunger: Black narcissus, orange blossoms, and vanilla.

I received this blend in a swap (thanks Aviatrix!). Both in the bottle and wet it smelled like lemon grass essential oil with shavings of coconut floating in it. Only when it dried on skin did the other notes peek out. The coconut, anise and vanilla orchid combined for a tropical, creamy-like coconut. The balsam and lemongrass (lemongrass dominating) created a green-ish lemon aspect. To me, it smells of lemon-coconut-anise pizzelles. Being half-italian, it reminded me of our family reunion dessert with rows and rows of plates stacked with different flavored pizzelles. Because it reminds me of such fond memories, this blend was bumped up to one of my favorites.

Curiosity won!

 

The Zodiacs first! Sun: Taurus. Moon: Pisces. Asc. Libra.

Earth Snake.

 

MBTI: I actually got tested more than once for this x,x I hate tests. But the results were both INFP and INTP if I remember correctly.

 

I was born in Germany, well still born. Nearly killed my poor mom in the process (Seriously, no wonder she has grey hair now x,x'). They ended up reviving me and from then on, my life seems to have been (and still is) a tumultuous one. I finally have come to terms I am a conundrum in of myself and have no hope in completely figuring myself out. The animus confuses me so! We moved a lot when I was younger and it seemed to have shaped me in my late teens, being homeless. Though, I have settled now, I feel the need to suddenly uproot and go further East and North.

 

Socially, I am awkward as heck! I'm this tall, lumbering thing that'll get random bouts of uncontrollable energy and start bouncing all over the place! I tend to lean towards helping others. Feeling their pain in a way. Sometimes, it backfires and I get bitched at. I also have a terrible time expressing myself on the get-go, which leads to a lot of miss-communication, misunderstandings or people taking my words and twisting them to better fit their outcome. As I tend to leave a lot open. Let's just say, that what is in my head and what gets openly expressed are entirely too different! I leave out key points, thinking I already put them out there! Wonderful lessons I tell ya!

 

I am both old and young in the soul. I feel as though I am born in the wrong era, feeling as though Pre-Indo European is where I need to be. Where as, I'm young enough to continue to chase fireflies and approach animals with a sense of wonder (That goes for humans too).

 

I have also learned a while back, that I can easily grasp onto languages. Anthropology, History, Linguistics, seem to be my forte. I also tend to go through "Cycles". From random mediums of art, to writing, to cooking, to languages. My spirituality is sacred to me, but I do not let it run me via books, or how others deem it to be. I'm told to follow what I know is right and that's a lesson I am still learning.

 

I'm chaos, everything I do seems to be such, yet I am viewed as laid back and happy. I'm also a gift giver, which has led me to be used that and sometimes I give trust before it's earned. It leads to a lot of "Dammit! *Hits self repeatedly* You dumb-fuck! You should have known better!" I also, in person swear waaaaaaaay too much...

 

I'd write more, as I feel that doesn't even seem to be a coherent idea of what my personality is @,@ but then I'd feel waaaay too narcissistic >,<!

 

Scents that seem to (not) work for me: O (So far, it smells like wet mold and play-doh ) anything else, somehow works for me...

A few off the top of my head, I might update later

Delirium, Rose Cross, Morgause, Crossroads, Venice, Chuparosa,The Liliac Wood, Dana O’Shee, Iambe, iole, Pele, Versailles and Séance

Edit: Update

Ooo, I'll play.

 

Currently

 

Kali

Sin

Blood Kiss

Tombeur

Love Me

Perversion (Smoky rum and black tobacco with a whisper of steamy leather with a splash of crystalline chardonnay, layered over a sensual, sweet, and deceptively magnetic base of tonka.)

Chimera (The fiery, volatile scent of cinnamon, thickened by myrrh, honeysuckle, and copal.)

Womb Fury (Snake Oil and three types of honey)

Umbra (East African black patchouli, cedarwood, vetiver and a dribble of cinnamon.)

Hellcat (hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond.)

Hell's Belle (Oleander with wet, sweet mandarin, lush magnolia, a rush of deep musk and a touch of spice.)

Centzon Totochtin (Bittersweet Mexican cocoa with rum, red wine, and a scent redolent of sacrificial blood.)

Athens (voluptuous myrrh, golden honey, red wine, and sweet flowers.)

My favorite bpal for leather is Rogue from the RPG series (Soft, well-worn black leather, hemp, and rosin). I bought a bottle for my boyfriend for Valentines day because it's seemingly inspired by Assassin's creed, but I couldn't help but sampling it myself. I must say, I tend to avoid leather in my perfume, but I loved it! Its not the sharp smell of just-cured or stiff leather, but well used flexible leather. I could tell the difference since I ride horses. The rosin gives the slightest hint of resin and the hemp gives a teeny bit of dried grass, but doesn't affect the leather's integrity. It's veering on the masculine side IMO, but it's great.

I would also appreciate some suggestions for my next order.

• 
   
  
• Lilith Red wine, myrrh, black musk, and attar of rose.
  
• Athens voluptuous myrrh, golden honey, red wine, and sweet flowers.
  
• Pandy Fresh white musk, honeycomb, sweet apricot, elemi, orange blossom, and mischievous pink pepper.
  
• The Flowers Cleave Apart Honeyed jasmine, white neroli, red sandalwood, champaca, and raspberry wine.
  
• The Obsidian Widow Pinot noir, dark myrrh, red sandalwood, black patchouli, night-blooming jasmine, and attar of rose.
  

Thanks!

In the imp, I smelled ceylon cinnamon. Sweet and simple cinnamon with an fruity tinge.

I accidentally dumped half the imp onto my skin and realized how strong this blend is . Now that it had time to morph on my skin, I really can't label this a foody scent, it has a unique white floral quality to it (jasmine?) and incense. Perhaps my skin chemistry is being quirky, or I put too much on, but I smell strongly of chocolate! The chocolate pushed the incense and jasmine far into the background and made it borderline gourmand-y.

This scent is demanding my affection. Do I want a 5ml? Maybe. Maybe I'll cave in

Edit: I wanted to add another testament to how strong this blend is. While applying it days ago, I unknowingly spattered a teeny bit on my bed stand. I walked into my room one day and noticed white speckles festering on the black paint. I smelled the fluids causing this, and it was Love Me! It ate the paint off I'm not sure if this is typical, I know perfume oils are concentrated. Maybe I used cheap paint. No, I'm really not upset over it. If anything fixing it is giving me something to do (being home schooled has it dull moments). But wow, it's strong and I can still smell Love Me on the shirt I wore with it.

As for the Conjure Bag concept of it, noticed that whenever I wear it, I'm all like "oh my god I need a full bottle ASAP". It was a constant nagging in my brain to send another money order for a 5ml. When I took a shower the next day and removed it I was kinda meh about it. I only insanely crave it when I smell it. So Love me is for my affection.

I can't speak for the other Lupers, but Lovers in the Tea house is more of a lemon blossom-y amber with a little sake than matcha tea. It is there, but the tea gives more of a refreshing tinge to it than anything else.

Although, from a single review, I heard that Furo from the Shungas smells like straight black tea with a breath of bergamont. I'd wait for more reviews before trying it, but perhaps it's the tea note I'm looking for.

My Lupercalia package just arrived and yes Jennifurious, I was quaking with excitement! Jasmine, honey, raspberry and wine are four of my favorite notes; I was psyched to get all of them in single bottle. So without further ado:

In the bottle: Jasmine, jasmine and more jasmine. Floral and sweet. This kind of worried me, for a straight jasmine note can turn into plastic on my skin. I’m hoping the other notes would make the jasmine behave.

Wet on skin: A SWEET jasmine. The honey isn’t prominent, but makes the jasmine lightly dusted with sugar. The raspberry wine isn’t in the foreground either. I recognize it, the astringency of wine and raspberries, but it’s just enough to tickle the nose a little. This also has a realistic lemon blossom quality to it, which I assume is the neroli.

Initial Drydown: As this blend dries, the jasmine tones down and let the other notes have a turn. The raspberries are stronger, but I tend to amp wine. Almost like smelling a fresh jasmine flower next to a bucket of freshly crushed raspberries.

Drydown later on: Not much of a change, this blend really clings to my skin for a floral blend. Good throw, with barely a dab on my left wrist I can smell it without smooshing my nose against it.

Verdict: This blend didn’t turn into plastic. I love this, and this turned out even better than I expected. If you hate jasmine, you might find The Flowers Cleave Apart too heady. But if you're like me who LOVES jasmine and LOVES raspberries, you'll adore this blend.

I bought this with my first BPAL order. I’m very excited to try this, my first perfume with a wine note:

In the Imp: Pomegranates? To my nose it smells of rosy pomegranates.

Upon first application I smell the attar of rose. Not a powdery old lady rose, but a voluptuous red rose straight from the gardens. This fresh floral is paired with a sweet myrrh note, sun-warmed fruits and slight boozy-ness. Since I’m under 21 years old and not allowed anywhere near alcohol, I’m not totally sure what red wine smells like. I do like the smell of wine so far. The second I turn 21, I’m sniffing the nearest wine bottle.

After wearing this blend and receiving compliments from my classmates, I determined that I love this scent. It’s sweet and floral yet has a foxy, mischievous undercurrent to it, like something a villainess would wear. Throw is good and lasted about six hours until it needed reapplication, which is good because my skin tends to eat up blends with myrrh. If this scent were a color, it’d be a devilishly dark ruby.

Verdict: Love this blend! I instantly went and bought a full bottle.

I’ve been anticipating this scent for a while, and decided to splurge and purchase this.

In the bottle: Orange blossom. It smells citrus-y without the acidity with a nectar background. There’s sweetness peeking out.

Wet: Apricots and orange blossom are mingling together. Almost candy sweet so far, like peach lollipops.

Dry: Ah, much better. The honey comb separated from the apricot and blossom, amped and gave the sweet, pollen-dusted scent of honey I just adore. The orange blossom and apricot gives a fruity background that curbs the sweetness. Very nice

Dry one hour later: Throw and lasting power is fantastic, the honey is still there but the apricot softened. Orange blossom is still cheering the honeycomb on.

I put two drops of Pandy on a cotton ball and tossed it in my purse. The scent lasts such a long time on cotton and I’m graced with wafts of this scent every time I pull out my debit card. My mother adores this scent and describes it as “The honey-drizzled blossom smell”. She gives me random hugs when I wear this, which I’m sure just to smell it.

Verdict: Pandy is my signature Spring/Summer scent and I’m surprising mother with a bottle of this on her birthday.

Uruk was a frimp in my order. Almond happens to be my least favorite note and a migraine-inducer for me. I do adore incense and jasmine, so I’m giving Uruk a shot.

In the vial: Straight almond extract, the kind you bake with . Oh dear, I don’t like where this is going. Keeping a bottle of Advil nearby.

Wet on skin: It’s still a harsh cherry-ish Almond but with a nice smoky incense beginning to waft in from the background. Where’s my beloved Jasmine?

Dry: Some more notes are coming into play. A dashing of cinnamon and the sweetness of jasmine add depth to the almond and smoke.

Dry later on: Same but slightly softer.

This blend is quite the morpher. Sometimes I get a lovely waft of jasmine, sometimes I smell of excellent incense, and other times the dreaded almond punches me in the face. I’m glad I got to try this, actually. Uruk enforced my love for jasmine, but reminded me to avoid almond. This isn’t a bad scent, per-se. Uruk is just not my cup of tea. I will definitely recommend this blend to those who like almond, though.

Harlot was a freebie in my order, thanks BPAL!

In the imp: smells of purely dried roses. Akin to crumpling wilted roses in my hand.

Wet on skin: slightly powdery roses with faint whiffs of cinnamon. Not attention-grabbing bakery cinnamon, but enough to warm up the scent. I'm fortunate my chemistry doesn't turn this blend into red-hots so far.

Dry: as it dries, it shifts into a more sophisticated rose perfume. Which to my nose, is different from a potpourri or an old lady floral. Still a tad powdery for my tastes, though. In connection with its name, I imagine a professional, strong-willed harlot. Similar to Red Harrington from the movie: The Lone Ranger (if that makes any sense). I certainly walk a little taller when I'm wearing it.

Conclusion: I like this scent and I'm keeping the imp. It'd be good for days I need a self-esteem boost. I just wish it gave more semblance to a fresh rose and less powdery. The staying power was light, also. For the most part, I will stick to using my beloved bottle of Lilith, which contains the wine+rose+myrrh note my nose craves.

Anubis- my first imp to try. Yay!

In the imp: sweet, slightly floral. Different than the mental image of the Egyptian god of embalming.

Wet: weak at first, I can only smell when I sniff my wrists. As it dries its throw improves. Still slightly floral.

Initial dry down: floral no more! The myrrh note i adore finally announces itself and the storax sweetening it slightly. Resiny and pleasingly powdery.

Dry: throw is moderate with all the myrrh goodness. I also get a very, very, very faint after-smell of aged books (weird body chemistry?). Unexpected, but wonderful. This is a great studying scent.

This blend evokes memories of my experience as a novice pagan, when I used resiny incense while meditating or reading. This smells ancient to me, wise. I will invest in a 5ml of this blend.

Edit: this blend layers well with LUSH's Godiva shampoo. Jasmine curbs the powdery-ness.