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BPAL Madness!

sprout

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Everything posted by sprout

  1. sprout

    Carnations

    Bumping the thread due to my newest obsession, carnation. My favorite Carnation perfumes are Hod and Morocco. I have imps to try of Bathsheba and I want to track down Brisingamen. I am waiting for A Thousand Hopes and Dreams and Fears to settle. I will probably never be able to find a bottle or decant of the The Masque. What are some other carnation perfumes to try?
  2. Please feel free to add to my list and tweak it. I need to retry Season of Ghosts. Ginger is always a plus but lemongrass and I don't usually mix. I love real Lemon, lemon verbena, and almost all citrus though.
  3. I love the smell of BPAL Tea, and haven't done a round up of my favorites yet, so, here goes: GC: White Rabbit (I love this so much I tracked down a 10 ml) Dorian Geneviere (technically an LE, but available when the Carnival is live) Theodosius (Earl Grey) Alice Maiden Bewitched (Tea and Blackberries) Cordelia (Overlooked probably due to the floral elements but is a beautiful green tea scent) The Dormouse Firethorn Berry Tea Green Tea Viper! Half-Elf Kumiho Lady Una (Green Tea plus Honey!) Nostrum Remedium The Apothecary The East (jasmine tea made by fairies) Tweedledee & Tweedledum LE: A Holy Man Advises Evoking Mary...(White tea and White leather) A Little More Tea A Peculiar Spirit (Tea and Tobacco, with a licorice vibe) Bewildered in a Dream (dreamy Tea and Lavender perfection) Desert Places (available until the Yules come down, white tea and resins) Diversions in the Chashitsu Eldritch Drunken Constellations (another reason to love this, but the ambergris eclipses the Tea in my opinion) Embalming Fluid Bon-Bon Eusapia First Cry of the Warbler on the Plum Full Moon Geisha in a Green Kimono (gunpowder green) Mars Loucetius (Tea chypre) Men Ringing Bell with Penises (bonus points for artwork, very fresh green tea blend) Phallus Parade (Smoky Black Tea glory) Pumpkin I ( Pumpkin plus gingery Black tea) Serving Tea after Coitus The Teapot The Trappings of the Tea House (vanilla Tea scent of my desire) Venus Genetrix (jasmine tea masterpiece) Maiden v2 Half-Elfv5 Tea blends that seem to be other people's favorites but I don't care for on my skin, due to problematic note inclusions: Embalming Fluid (the chocolate made it wearable in the LE?) Evil Phantasm Plunder Rendezvous at the Bath Shanghai Tea blends that I need to try: Bread-and-Butter-Fly Eros Famine Funerailles Furo Gingerbread, Matcha Tea, and Raw Mint Gossips of Ghost Land Iambe? Insula Ventorum Iulia Koito and Sashichi Lovers in the Tea House Shadwell Harlot's House Treasure Ship Coming In Tweedledum Bon-Bon Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat Tyrranophobia Yurei Omitted blends that have Tea, but it is overwhelmed by the other notes
  4. sprout

    Four Grave Robbers Awaken a Ghost

    This could be the resin blend of my dreams. Galangal starts strong with a gingery punch. The olibanum adds the airy mystery of incense. Drying, the myrrh is in evidence with the barest hint of DBR. The resins here are cuddly and comforting, not too Smoky. Low sillage at the present time, although this will likely strengthen with age. For now it's more of a skin scent. Myrrh is subdued here, glowing and warm rather than cloying. This is spicy incense with a hint of blood and sweet. It's full bottle worthy indubitably.
  5. sprout

    Dead Leaves, Raw Leather, Bourbon Vanilla, and Clove

    Add me to the list of reviewers who get oakmoss like whoa! from this. Like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix whoa. Maybe like Keanu Reeves as Ted whoa! I can detect the vanilla, leather, clove combination, like a distant radio station Riding in and fading in and out on the main Channel playing the song oakmoss night and day. I enjoy Fougere perfumes, however, this is very different than I expected. Wonder if there are batch variations here or we've discovered a new amping ability super power? I will retest, but I doubt that I'll want a bottle. I'm keeping the imp. I like my oakmoss with flowers or Grass and the faint amounts of the other notes means there are other vanilla, clove, leather scents to hoard instead. To be fair, the whole Dead Leaves series are mostly unpleasant for me, must be a skin chemistry thing. I still have October and Samhain to love though and the Dead Leaves with Tobacco and Currant worked out, so I keep trying these. Considering how expensive the Weenies updates can be, I should be grateful for a proverbial death note.
  6. sprout

    Looking for scents that smell like chai

    Layer of White Rabbit plus Saw Scaled Viper?
  7. sprout

    Tumbling Over a Ghost

    This was mainly moist soil and moss at the start with a hint of beeswax. Drying, a hint of pine. Ivy is missing in action for me, a shame, as I love it. Later, an hour or more into the drydown, the wax assumes prominence. This is the most realistic "dirt " scent I own. The only problem for me is that the scent is turning my stomach a little. I'm not certain if this is a primal scent association that is preconscious for me, or a true, visceral reaction to the moist, fecund material that so accurately depicts dirt. Frequently, the presence of benzoin component in fresh state gives me a similar nausea but ages into a grand, sweet smelling, vanillic base note. I will need to retest this. I may wish to acquire a bottle, as I love the beeswax from the Lab, and it's glorious here, but my tummy has issues with the dirt. Odd, considering I was that weird little girl who actually ate (well, tasted) the mud pies I made in my back yard.
  8. sprout

    Third Charm

    Take the red musk from Snake Oil add Tricksy and incense, and we have third charm. I can definitely appreciate the popularity of this Weenie. Drying, the wood base is more prominent, and sets this apart from a simple layer of Snake Oil and Tricksy. It keeps getting better. Every time I think I have enough Red musk perfumes, Beth creates a masterpiece like 3rd Charm. So, to recap, we have Snake Oil Red musk plus smooth as that proverbial baby butt patchouli, sweet honey, wood support, and champaca incense. I was really hoping this was a duplicate of something else that I already own so that I would be content with my half bottle but I see the error in my thinking and will add a full bottle to my last 2016 Weenies order. Worth. The. Hype.
  9. sprout

    Witch Dance

    For me, this was 50/50 Sugary bonfire with grapey Red musk (2016 version). Maybe something like blackberry wine but that accord is subtle, bonfires in the distance, and Smut type Musk coated with sugar. If Devils Night, Smut, and Samhain have a 3 way orgy with a sexy Witch baby as the result, this is what she will smell like. Quintessential BPAL Halloween, yet not a duplicate of anything else I have, this does incorporate elements of many favorites, Smut, Devil's Night and Samhain primarily.
  10. In the imp, the opoponox is forward with more than a hint of the "black " wine. Wet, opoponax is perfumey and almost like hairspray. The Black wine is dominating the scent, however, and strikes a chord between Black currant and blackberry. There's a herbal component beneath, like Baneberry but it's subtle. Dry, the wine recedes a bit, the opoponox is more resiny and maybe there's something like Blood Musk. The herbal component is more evident, it reminds me of sleek, shiny, deep purple berries. For shits and giggles, I goggled spindle tree sap. I've no idea what it smells like, but it is a plant associated with the Furies and is poisonous in excess, consumption of the berries is fatal to sheep, goats, and horses (and children!). In small doses, the berries are medicinal as a purgative. So this blend really grew on me after 3 tests. The Black wine is like nothing else in my huge bottle collection. So I will seek out a full bottle, although I almost blind bought this just because of the mythology association with Furies and Clytemnestra. So I really wanted to like it. Opoponox can make or break a blend for me and I wanted to be sure that the drop of blood wasn't overpowering DBR, is the chief reason I tried a decant first. I really love the black wine aspect here. This reminds me of Insects from the Crimson Peak series, minus the citrus chypre.
  11. sprout

    A Pale and Glimmering Light Appeared Before Him

    In the imp, Jasmine is in evidence, with a sweet, indistinct backdrop. Wet, this is quite floral forward, but the oleander and jasmine share equal footing. I agree with above reviews which described the floral component as Southern and humid. Having lived in the deep South, this certainly evokes memories of moist, warm nights. The beauty of these White florals is that they aren't high pitched or headache induction type. The rockrose provides a comforting support of sweet fuzziness, like whispy White feather down. It reminds me somewhat of orris, but more woody and no Violet. The scent of baby powder but not powdery. This lasted about 4 hours for me with modest throw. I am anticipating it will wear well in the summer where I can't take anything too potent or heavy. Drying, the ambrette lends support but doesn't eclipse the rockrose. The florals last but fade away slowly in potency. This is a sweet, soft floral reminiscent of warm, humid nights with soft, warmth coming from the resins. You have to appreciate jasmine to enjoy this, it is present but balanced by the oleander. I love this, but that's not surprising given the notes. I am hoping to score a full bottle. There are so few perfumes with Oleander that I think I need this and something about ambrette and rockrose is very comforting. I did not appreciate any smoke like notes here, just soft and sweet resins, which seem to glow like the art.
  12. sprout

    The Chamber of Content

    In the imp: fruity apple Wet: Honey and apples Drying: juicy apples paired with honeyed carnation and a musky, nutty support which is the ambrette. Another full bottle worthy creation. The carnation makes this different enough from straight honeyed apple. This is a lovely carnation scent with the apple balancing the spice of the carnation and sweetened with a hint of honey. Love this, it's going into heavy rotation in the Springtime and Summer. Like a more mature Alice tasting an apple.
  13. In the imp, Honeyed florals Wet: creamy florals, Orange Blossom Honey and a hint of mallow (more floral, not foodie) Dry: magnolia petals, waxy and dripping with honey. So, a creamier The Bride with honey instead of sugar and orange blossom bringing an orange Creamsicle impression, from a distance, the wild Musk is apparent and it's glorious, I have to qualify my review to state that orange blossom tends to be sweet on me. Wow, I was worried about the neroli but it isn't sharp at all. If Muse of Fire and The Bride had a Honey covered Creamsicle baby, this is what that baby smells like. Must. have. full bottle. Edit to add, late drydown is Honey covered marshmallows. Love this!
  14. sprout

    The Red Egg

    I was anticipating a skin reaction to the cinnamon but fortunately that didn't happen. In the vial, this was mostly cassia. Wet on skin the cassia is the most dominant note but the musk is present as is the myrrh. Unaged myrrh is unpleasant to my nose or maybe it's just my skin. Coffee makes this a little bitter. This phase oddly evokes a red egg. It's almost like flan with coffee liquor and cinnamon (my nose reads the cassia as cinnamon). In a way this phase reminds me of the Trading Post scent Great London Spaghetti Hunt. It is not unlike a creamy egg based dessert sprinkled with cinnamon. Drying there is a phase where the myrrh becomes quite powdery and amps. My skin does this fairly consistently and YMMV. Drydown phase revealed the musk. I love the egg shell Musk. It is delicate and light as an egg shell and seems fragile. It is different from white musk. It is a bit reminiscent of the musk from the Monster bait series. I really like the imp and will be pursuing a full bottle because I enjoy Musk based scents and this Musk is Heavenly. The Red Egg nailed the concept for me. The unpleasant myrrh powder phase should improve with a little age. Brava!
  15. sprout

    Crisp, clean sheets

    I would suggest Lady of Shallotte
  16. Lady Una with blackberry leaf, but is a sweet blend due to the addition of honey Firethorn Berry Tea, very tart Black tea with mystery fruit (or perhaps Beth really distilled Firethorn berries, they smell similar to tart red fruits to me) Yurei, white tea with hibiscus The East, Tea Leaf and red currant Apothecary, Tea and fig FBT is probably closest to what you're looking for Searches for Pomegranate didn't find any Tea notes Search for persimmon turned up no results!
  17. sprout

    ISO *Perfect* Winter Scent!

    For snow plus berry: Midwinter's Eve! Perchta Snow Maiden I hate to mention Rares but Ice Queen too For Snow plus sweet: Snow White Snow Flakes Winter-Time Night Guant
  18. Mother Ginger Flesh Eating Reindeer from Uranus Shub Niggurath (3rding the suggestion) Gingerbread Poppet (hard to find but not impossible) Gingerbread Sin Ginger Skulls Vespertilio Proterus (seconding) Saw-scaled Viper I have a thing for ginger myself , these are the sweeter, foody gingers that I like, I can go off on other categories if you like
  19. sprout

    My Little Grotesque

    Quintessential cupcakes blend. The only way to hate this is if you dislike buttercream, Vanilla, or Cardamom. This blend be truth in advertising, my hearties. Truth with a capital "T" It smells like delicious, freshly baked but cooled, Yellow cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing then dusted with Cardamom. I am not sure if there are spice ampers, batch variations, or my skin turns things sweet (probably that), but I am getting 30/30/30 Yellow Cake/buttercream/Cardamom. Full bottle acquired, hoard mode activated!!! Throw is average, dry down a little better (longer) than average. I think I can actually let go of things like Cake Smash and Sprinkle cake...
  20. sprout

    Hunting for the ultimate _____ blend

    Okay I have a few holy grails to suggest. I am searching for the perfect Leather scent (please not Loviatar, I can't afford it). Jammy Rose Ambergris Petrichor Night air Vanilla with Amber Carnation (I'm on a carnation quest at the moment with leather a close second) Wine
  21. sprout

    Hunting for the ultimate _____ blend

    Try layering Scarecrow or SN Bonfire with your favorite Forest/wood blend? Also, it's old, so possibly tricky to find, but there was a BPAL perfume called Wildfire. Also, I can't miss an opportunity to plug The Ifrit and Agnes Nutter. (You'd have to layer to get the forest)
  22. sprout

    The Dead Can Hear and the Dead Have Sight

    If you are a fan of Zombi, you're probably going to love this. The roses are somber and subdued, which is a new experience for me. The ivy and moss bring astringent balance to the sweetness of the roses. These smell like the flowers, very natural, not powdery or soapy. Some roses smell almost fruity to my nose but these don't, this is more of a white rose. Drying, the balanced rose and ivy maintain a presence as the moss and shadow musk join the dance. This is a nice Musk of the not quite Black variety, fairly androgynous. The moss is a fuzzy base without the sour I get from oakmoss. I'm guessing closer to Spanish moss. Overall, the composition is very balanced yet all the notes are well represented. The rose is a restrained floral, bringing sweetness and moisture to the dry ingredients, peppery ivy adding some astringency and likely keeping the rose in check, and moss and Musk providing a warm, fuzzy base. If you have wanted a Rose that behaves itself, this could be the perfume of your dreams. If you collect Rose scents, you probably already ordered this. I started my review comparing this to Zombi, and this lacks the dirt and arid quality of that scent, it's more moist, if you will, but this would be quite at home with the Ars Moratoria line. This may become a bottle purchase for me as I'm looking for behaved Rose scents and this is different from most of what I have, my previous Rose acquisitions tend to be the more fruity, jammy types and I like the ivy and moss here. This would be fantastic layered (I'd like layering with dirt or wood but incense or cake combinations would be interesting too) I'm wondering too how the musk will age, will this be like the loved Crypt Musk? Only time will tell.
  23. sprout

    The Avenging Vase

    Yes, there are some who will say this perfume suggests women of a certain age. I agree with nostalgic, vintage, classic, and even grandmotherly. But these are not bad connotations. This does evoke an earlier and more flower centric age of perfumery and an Era where make up products were scented with Rose water and violet. The rose is indeed divaesque initially, over a bed of what could be cosmetic cream, as in cold cream. This isn't Ponds purchased from your five and dime though, it's something exclusive and probably costs more than $100 per ounce. It does remind me of Clown White, but less vanilla. Drying the iris makes her appearance, upstaging the rose, which is teetering on the edge of powdery and soapy. Rose and Iris battle for a few minutes, but Rose is no match for Grand Dame Iris. No soil here, just regal iris, pale and almost violaceous, a watery rose water backing, in a bed of expensive cosmetic cream. This is beautiful. I am a stay at home wallflower type that rarely goes to parties so I'm not sure that I could use a full bottle of this but Lawd! it is beautiful. I love iris as a note and I'm quite tempted. I may get a full bottle yet. If you are looking for a Springtime floral that isn't high pitched or cloying, you have a match.
  24. sprout

    Rain Scents

    Thunder Moon, Waiting, Poisson D'Avril for rainstorm Pool of Tears, Sea Foams Milk, Y'ha Nthlei, Windward Passage, Cristobal, Gold and Tears for salt water My favorite aquatic is Lady of Shallot, Sea of Glass gets honorable mention, as does Water of Notre Dame With respect to searching, I find the best ideas by going to the Directory on the Lab's website, and clicking on their categories, especially individual notes, but they have themes also like Rain, Rage, etc. It's time consuming to search this way, but worth it. Also, if I love a particular BPAL perfume, I search the review thread and hunt down samples or read reviews of what others consider to be similar scents
  25. sprout

    When your favorite GC blends are discontinued

    I've never sniffed The Temptation but La Bella Donna Mia Mente has some notes in common, Peach blossom, Musk, Rose.
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