lavinia

I wore French Creole to an interview today and I think it went well!

From what you have, I would maybe do Desire in a light way

I wore this to work when I first got it and my female co-workers were all very vocal about loving it on me and kept saying how soft and pretty it was and nice in a sublte attracting way. Now, mind you, I stuck my arm under their noses- and even then, they weren't overwhelmed at all. I think the "desire" effect, depending on how this one opens up and dries down on you, would be a positive one. It makes people -male and female- more friendly and open to me when I wear it.

If you wanted to ground it a bit, maybe a teeny touch of 3 Witches over this. This is b/c I do notice with the money and luck and good fortune voodoo blends I have, they usually have a clovey or spicy light note to them.

I think that could only be a good thing.

Let us know what you end up doing and good luck!

 

eta: spelling boo-boos

As I am such a sucker for anything to do with the Camelot and magical world of Avalon and such, I wanted this from the name alone.
(Hmm...my name is Viviene so maybe Beth will do a Viviane: Lady of the Lake next heehee...but I do digress...)
Aside from the mythical allure of this, the mix of night-blooms and violets, incence and yeeessss purple fruits told me this would be a hit with me.

In the bottle: This smells exactly like I knew it would...yippee! Reminds me of Black Dahlia and New Orleans a bit and being in a fantasy garden at the stroke of midnight but with whiffs of wet violet bunches and red wine and the hue of purple itself layered neatly over the blooms.

On me: I get a little too splash-happy with this and slather it on. It almost is chokingly strong and gives me a headache. I know this is my own dumb fault so I ride it out. It is very potent and vibrant to say the very least...use just a bit when trying at first. I didn't get the incence part of it...this aspect of the blend is very subtle indeed.

An hour later: Okay...now I like it. I really do. I feel decadent and royal This seems like a fancy, special-occasion fragrance. So, I decide to wear it to my friend's haute couture fashion show which -a part of the Mercedes-Benz fashion week and certainly deserving of this regal blend- is packed with celebrities and flash-bulbs going off everywhere I look. The Morgause makes me feel special and I keep catching flashing whiffs of this purpley intoxicator. I notice I walk a bit taller when wearing this one and for us short gals, this is key.

This is a keeper for sure and perfect for anything requiring extra oomph and for when you want to make sure people remember you...lovely and elegant with a dash of pure purple magic straight out of an Avalonian myth...I will wear this when I want to feel special.

eta: spelling boo-boos

From the lab's description:

 

 

How could I resist to purchase a whole bottle of this one, having never read a review on it and never smelling it, after reading this juicy, enticing and jaw-dropping one-sentence description??? I mean, to quote a certain other Bpal fanatic and fellow Lusher*cough...L-a-l...cough*, I am not made of wood people, now am I??

 

So I took a chance and boy did it ever pay off!

I never have even tried any Dragon's Blood formulas before so this was a new experience in every way.

 

In the bottle: I smell vanilla, cherry, wood-notes, and it smells too sweet I would think for me. I usually like deeper and darker oils. I have faith in Beth though and in the description so I put it on both wrists and my throat- as a final vampiric offering

 

On Me: This begins to become complex almost immediately. I am smelling the clove coming through and the wine seething and clamoring to make its presence known. The musk warms it up and the cherry is now showing its vetiver tinged roots which I definitely am a fan of

 

An hour or so later: Wow...now it is warm, very comfortable and sexy on me with the cherry-vanilla brightness barely poking through the winey-clovey-musky mix. I notice when I step out of my car and then wind hits me, a winey-berry sweet note which I hadn't noticed before wafts up towards my nose and I like it. This one is just full of surprises and each one, a good sort of surprise.

If this were a person, I would propose.

I am very pleased I have a bottle of this one...ahh Blood Kiss...even the name is perfection.

 

eta: spelling boo-boos

Okay- Black Pearl...here we go:

 

In the bottle: I get a hit of something that smells like a cross between Tart-n-Tiny candies and that old-fashioned Violet candy. Crazy,,,cause I know there's no violets or anything tart in here.

 

On my wrist: Now I get the creaminess. This is quite voluptuous and round. The liquor and the hazelnuts give it an anchor. It is very soft and undulating by the minute.

* okay...quick sidebar: I just noticed that I used the words voluptuous and round to describe something called "black pearl"- wow...that Beth is good*

 

After an hour: This reminds me of Lush's Snowcake soap in a strange way...creamy, silky, nutty but instead of rose there is iris. There is a component that is coming into play that isn't quite agreeing with me though I think it is the coconut. I really haven't worn an oil that has this in it yet. I am confounded. I keep sniffing my arm- I like it yet I don't the longer I wear it. The coconut and the iris may not be working with my skin chemistry oh I am sad about this.

I may have to find another home for this little beauty...

I am stubborn and this is hard to admit but Black Pearl doesn't like me.

mmm...Every night I wear Oneiroi to bed

It is lovely jasmine with lavender and sandalwood too I think...smells amazing.

I love Old New Orleans too!

My new BPAL love, Venom, smells exactly like something LUSH.  I think it's Sex Bomb.  I'm 99% sure it's sex bomb.  I'm desperately searching the house for a sex bomb to see if I'm right.

mmm...I adore Sex Bomb so please let us know if that is what Venom smells like

hey Cuddley...don't know if you saw but I made a post asking for help finding something that smells of violets and chocolate with spicy/clovey in it and everyone suggested Old Sybaris!

They said it is violets with a cinnamon/spicy note and kinda reminds of chocolate- I think this plus Bliss- which is pure chocolate- would be a good combo for Skinny Dip lovers

Ooh thank you all for the words!

I cannot wait for Old Sybaris now

I think a bottle of Bliss is in my future...

Ahhh violets

This is so mystically lovely. I wore this tonight- a rainy Sunday evening- and was flitting about town for dinner and coffee and also ran a few errands. Every now and again, I would catch a whiff of myself and smile.

I got a few compliments as well.

This one smells of wet violets in the garden that are muted a bit by the proximity of the lavender bush and the wafting of the lilacs and the tuberose across the path...heavenly...so relaxing and quiet in tone with flashes or hits of brightness...not a loud fragrance at all.

Rather, it makes me think of that quiet girl off to the side who is a bit enchanted and mysterious and the more you look, the more you are drawn in.

I think that Laura in "The Glass Menagerie" would've thought this blend dreamy and if there is ever a thing as "blue roses", this is what they would smell like

 

 

eta: spell check

I am trying to find something in the violet range that has a bit of spiciness and yummy chocolate in it.

Is there anything Bpal that recalls this combination?

I have coming in my order:

Saturnalia, Faustus, Old Sybaris which are all violet oils.

Am I missing one?

Or is there a combo that could effect this?

Thanks bunches

Hi Cuddly

I too am a lover of Skinny Dip and the notes that make it special are the white chocolate, the cloves, creamed coconut and the mystery blend which includes violets

I would get a fragrance- do a search- that has cloves, violets and chocolate in it.

Maybe even layer some over each other? Like find a spicy violet that is not so sweet or too feminine for your father...I am waiting for the Faustus I ordered to get here It has violets with frankincence and cinnamon I think. That could be a good one and then get some Bliss which is milk choccie!

For Potion, I am waiting patiently for my Maiden to arrive which is supposed to smell like it.

Keep us posted...

 

On also, on the Silky Underwear note, I forgot to mention that I was also told that Faustus dries down to a similar effect.

 

eta: just noticed above where someone says march hare and skinny dip are compatible...and i also was thinking that b/f they discontinue the single notes this month, Cuddly, maybe you should get the Sweet Clove and the Violet singles.

hey pixie

i agree on the old kathmandu note and also think you should skip naiad. it has neroli in it which is orange and this one is very citrusy which you said you don't like.

i would suggest you try the dragon's blood stuff cause dragon's blood- anything has a strong sweet cherryish smell. that's probably why the blood lotus would be good for you.

you probably would like bon vivant too- strawberry champagne.

i will get back to you with more when i think of them.

I would love to find one similar to Gavarnie/Flowertub/Jungle and one similar to Silky Underwear/Alkamaar/Fairy Jamsine/All that Jas - any thoughts??

 

 

Well, for Flowertub or for Gavarnie, I recommend Hamadryad. i wrote this in my review too

For Silky Undies, I ordered Saturnalia which I was told is like it and haven't received it yet but I will let you know.

I have Oneiroi which has a strong and great jasmine note.

let me know if anyone comes across anything else that matches these Lush items!

Okay I wanted to get this one just from the name alone. It looked so alluring in its blue bottle, I had to take a chance.

I am pleasantly surprised that yes, it smells really great l It reminds me of a cross between Big Red and Juicy Fruit gum. It is fruited with melon and I also smell orange zest and lots of fresh citrus coming straight out of the bottle. There is a depth of nutmeggy-cinnamon- cloviness which makes it irresistible. The cinnamon comes to the forefront once it is on the skin. Once I have it on, it becomes a sweet tangy spice. Invigorating!

I wore this the other day when I was dealing with money and having to handle some negotiations and I have to say it gave me a confidence and I like to think "drew" some money to me!

I will wear this again when I need something to go my way.

It doesn't last terribly long- a few hours on me- but I do really like the way it smells and makes me feel whenI wear it.

I think it could be good also for alter use and for candles.

Thanks Black Broom and Bpal!

This is divine I have been wearing this to bed every night since I bought this one. It smells like Lush's Flying Fox shower gel. Wow...an amazing combo of soft lavender and jasmine woven through with many other relaxing notes. I think I can detect maybe some sandalwood in here.

I put it on my wrists, inner arms, throat and temple every night and climb into bed and let the beauty of this one take me over...heady but in a soothing and comforting way I am glad I took a chance on a big bottle cause I certainly am using it!

Gosh, I love love love this one!

Smells green and mossy with a thin thread of white flowers wafting in and out and all the while, there is the amazing core of spicy cinnamon which anchors the oil

I feel so cozy when I wear this and nothing smells quite like this one but yet, it compliments so many other fragrances...it goes well as others have mentioned with Lush's Flowertub and Gavarnie soap and their Pied de Pepper lotion as well.

It is very calming and when you feel spun-out, give Hamadryad a whirl!

I always get asked what I have on when I wear it.

This is definitely a big bottle for me down the road

I thought Oneiroi smelled very similar to Flying Fox, but it's a little more floral in a different direction from the jasmine. Make sense? either way they go along the same lines 

I am sooooo in love with Oneiroi right now...I wear it to bed everynight and yes, it does smell like Flying Fox...these two go hand-in-hand

To the above question re. Silky Underwear, I was told that Saturnalia has a similar quality- I have an imp on its way to me and will let you know as I am mad for Silky Undies!

Queen of Sheba and Snowcake go well together and so do Pied de Pepper and Red Devil or Hamadryad- which yes, also goes with Flowertub!

2004 Version:

 

First of all, I want to say I never have smelled the 2003 version so I can't speak for comparing or contrasting the two. I just am giving my impressions of this one coming to it fresh

 

In the bottle:

 

I smell a fresh and sweet woodsy elixir with a touch of piney bitterness underneath.

Really nice and outdoorsy

 

On Me:

 

This is really heady straight out of the bottle...very green and almost acrid on me. There is a sharp mustiness which I am trying to detect...hmm...could be the pumpkin or maybe resin.

 

About 30 minutes in:

 

This has settled down and now it is really agreeing with me. The sweet and gentle notes have come out to play and a friend has commented that I don't smell like I am wearing a nice perfume but rather I smell nice

This makes me think of the month of October and November when excitement is in the air and things become special and memorable. I know this sounds odd but this oil is full of "mood" and is atmospheric rather than drawing attention to itself in a showy way.

It makes me feel cozy and protected like sitting near to the campfire after walking through the dark woods.

Mmm- I didn't get a chance to try the last version but this one is beautiful...not foody, not overly sweet...just the exact smell of the season which also happens to be this scorpio's favorite time of the year!

 

Thanks Beth!

I am nervous to be the first here but everyone is clamoring for a review.

 

In the bottle:
This smells like opening a new package of brown sugar- deep, fresh, bright. It reminds me of bartending and making my own simple syrup on the stove-top before work. When the sugar becomes heated and begins to boil, the scent rises up like this. Mmmm...almost like the crusted shell of a freshly-made creme brulee.

On my arm and wrist:
Whoa! This is suddenly taking on a new shape and I am falling in love
There is a snap to the smell now that was undiscernableb/f in the bottle. Its almost spicy and definitely gives an edge to the sugar smell. I keep on sniffing my arm, wanting to smell it agian and again. It reminds me of something...hmm...what is it?? Kinda reminds me of Demeter's Snow fragrance which is clean and makes you feel pure and happy. Except that this being Bpal, it is far more complex and provocative.
Something in this smell makes me think of Big Red gum but I don't know why...I don't get a cinnamon hit off this oil but I keep coming back to this impression.

A few hours later:
This has mellowed but is still going strong. Now, it reminds me of marzipan with maybe a hint of mint or something refreshing like that in it.
I love it! This one has really surprised me...I generally don't go in for the sweet scents but this one has bite and legs must be the "skull" in the "sugar"!

hi all thanks so much for all the help!

all of the selection does make is somewhat daunting to know which direction to go with all these oil blends...

i think i will be trying some bayou in addition to all the ones i had listed before- and maybe a single note of spanish moss-

i have an imp of black dahlia en route to me now-can't wait-i love magnolias- i grew up with 3 magnolia trees in my front yard so that scent is so ingrained in my head, i will feel at home right away.

take care all!

ps-

fairywingmaker- i grew up in the bayous just 20 miles from houma- that was the closest city and we went there whenever we went shopping. you definitely should check out your roots- you would like it- i think

absinthe- thanks i like your avatar too. mine is a snapshot of the gish sisters- lillian and dorothy where they were young and cute as a button- i love silents so that tends to spill over into everything i do...thanks though!

 

edited to add: oh yeah catapillar too!

Wow! this smells so lush and nice! It reminds me of fragrances by annick goutal...very floral but in a upscale and decadent way. I like this on me and can't wait to test it around a boy toy to see if it is effective as a man-magnet. I suspect it will be!

I am from the deep south and am quite homesick. For those of you who have tried em all, what is the ultimate southern blend that will evoke home to me and smell delicious ?

I am overwhelmed by the choices-so far, I am thinking: Old New Orleans, Midnight, Voodoo, Haunted, Black Dahlia, or maybe Come to Me.

What do y'all think?

I like mossy, jasminey, orange blossomy, musky scents. What sums that up?

Thanks in advance!

i have worn this one twice and i must agree with the above review that it is "bottled angst"-pure and unadulterated

it reminds me of the smell of sheets after frenzied sex...really!

it creates a feeling of delicious edginess that is a wee uncomfortable but makes you want more.

this one can get you into trouble if you let it. i did the other night

i rather like wearing vice. it does smell exactly like chocolate but not a synthetic sweet type chocolate- rather a dark bittersweet bar drizzled with cassis. i am very drawn to this one its dark and deep yet delicious! its got an unusual bite to it that gives the kick i like...mmm.