VetchVesper

This is nice. The carnation and ginger make this spicy, but softly so, and it doesn't have the typical cinnamon smell. There's an earthy, smoky, musky thing going on that's really interesting. I think maybe it's from the ginger and amber mixing. I can smell the honey, but it only lends a tiny bit of sweetness.

So... smoky, spicy, slightly sweet honey scent. Gender neutral. Nice and light for spring.

OMG, how I have been binge watching that beauty.

Lemme think....

For Chrisjen, I think I'd have to go with Lady Lucille Sharpe. It's unique, very feminine, but powerful and opulent, with an air of coldness, and I think that fits Chrisjen pretty well. Let's just be glad she's using her powers for good! For Alex, I gotta go with Dwarf. It's just a non fussy man scent, plus it's got the beer. Would Watson be too fuddy duddy for Miller? It's got a fuzzy, worn quality to me, from the tweed note, and the gun oil, and I think Miller is fussy enough (with that haircut) that he might wear some lime fougere.

I kind of love Amos - even though he's crazy... and kinda scary. Ok, very scary. I'm thinking something kind of leather/wood/blood? But still somewhat understated. I have no idea what though. I really think Drummer is an interesting character too, though she plays a small role.

This is a nicely aged Slaugh which I got recently.

It's very root beer intense at first, without the sweet creaminess that's present in Doc Constantine's Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener, which I'm a big fan of. Then the black tea slips in, creating a strong herbal backing. It's like a dark root beer tea. Finally, the champaca takes over the other notes. Sometimes I like champaca, but this is doing a soapy thing I sometimes get from the note. I sort of like it, but it's really odd. I will have to do more experimentation with Slaugh to see if this one's a love or not. It's definitely unusual.

This is really lovely. I don't get separate notes from this unless I really try. I just get a wonderful fruity/floral quality over a soft incensey woodiness. There's also an alcoholic quality I associate with designer perfumes. This smells high end.

It kind of reminds me of Fake News, actually. Maybe the patchouli is similar. Hoiru is softer, and less masculine to me though, and I do occasionally get a dry coconut. I am enjoying my bottle and look forward to seeing how it ages.

I haven't had a chance to test TOO many, but my favorites as of this moment are-

 

Lampades

Laudanum

Doc Constantine's Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener

Morocco

Poisoned Apple

 

(Honorable Mentions of Eat Me, Mary Shelley and Seraphim )

 

Recommendations are always welcome, for I can feel my next itching at my mind already!

It seems like you like sassafras! I'd definitely recommend trying Tombstone if you haven't already. You might also try Gnome, which is a little more of a masculine take on root beer to my nose. You might also like the recent Lilith, Outlaw of Slaugh, if you can find it.

For Morocco, you might like The Mouse's Long Sad Tale. It's another spicy, snuggly vanilla blend.

Verdandi is another nice apple scent, with some dark complexity to it.

And for Mary Shelley, you might like this years Luper, La Prostitution et la Folie Dominent le Monde. It's got the sweetest creamy thing that Sassafras Strengthener has, wth the cool anise thing from Mary Shelly, plus some jasmine.

Hope that helps!

This is so exquisite. Rose is a note I'm picky about. I like it b/don't LOVE it, and often it goes sour on my skin. This though. THIS.

Beautiful, full, sweet rose, with a luxurious, creamy darkness about it. It stays true on my skin and laaaasts. It's perfumey, but not in the way rose so often is. It's like what some rose loving silver screen diva would have on her dressing table. I compared it to Hope, b/c I think the rose has a similar, soft sweetness, but Die Begierde's fuller and more elegant. It actually reminds me of a discontinued tea I used to love, Marzipan Delight, that was almonds, black tea, rose petals, and brown sugar crystals. I might actually need a 2nd bottle of this. Can you tell I like it? 5 billion stars.

Perky, pretty, and vivacious. This almost smells like peppery bubble gum on me at first, but then the florals become more pronounced. There's a wet greeness to them that makes me think Pepper might have been tumbling around in the garden of Jasmine Cottage.

I can dissect this if I try and pick out individual notes, but this really is a lovely balance and blend of notes. I like it better than Jasmine Cottage, which was a little too over the top floral for me. I might need to pick up a bottle of this.

What about the Clive Barker scents? Or Drunk Uncle?

This is a musky, earthy apple. The honey adds a depth and sweetness. I don't get obvious fig, but I'm guessing it adds to the patchouli's earthy sweetness.

This is very sexy in a wholesome, earth mother, hippie sort of way. Eve would smell like this.

This is by far my favorite of this years chocolates. In the bottle it's thick, boozy milk chocolate, with an undertone that makes me think of ripe, sweet bananas. The cinnamon in this is very slight, as is the coffee, much less than El Dia De Los Reyes.

Foodie smells always go a little fakey on my skin, but this is still pretty nice on me. Still very chocolaty with almost a coconut under currant. Bananas? Coconut? I dunno what note is reading wonky, but I like it. If you're a fan of Bliss, this will probably make you drool.

Juniper is a death note of mine, and hence, I never would have picked this one up, even though the other notes look promising. Luckily, perks of decanting, I got to try it out. I'm surprised to find, the juniper behaves itself!

L'Idole is intriguing in the bottle, an unusual blend of notes that's some how spicy, metallic, earthy, and foresty all at once. I think the black pepper is keeping the juniper's pine soliness in check.

On my skin, the sage (love) and juniper (hate) blend to create a soft, cool foresty smell. The amber is also very prominent, putting one toe into baby powder territory, but then stepping back firmly onto the side of rich, ambery goodness. I don't get any leather on the skin, nor obvious cardamom, though it might be adding to the coolness. Eventually, L'Idole pretty much becomes amber on my skin. It's a nice journey though.

I think this could be really fabulous and unusual on the right chemistry. On me it's pleasant, but not bottle worthy. I might have to experiment on the hubs though.

A dark, chewy tobacco mixed with lavander and woody patch at first. This strikes me as very masculine.

The rum begins to come out on my skin, but it doesn't lend any sweetness. This still smells like man to me - well dressed, holding a tumbler of expensive rum, and harboring ill intentions I might like to join him in.

It begins to soften and smooth out, and I might really like this. I might be able to wear it too. I think it's a keeper!

This reminds me, at first, of Apple I, a Weenie from a few years ago. It's all vanilla cream and sweet, juicy apple. The lavander starts to peek out on my skin, which is nice until it starts to bully the other notes. Everything's being overshadowed by sharp, dirty lavander. I miss the sweet apple.

Eventually this settles down and becomes wearable, but it never really achieves the right balance on me. If you wear lavander well though, this might be a win.

I haven't smelled the Countess, nor anything quite like the lovely Lucille, but you might try Obsidian Widow, Wanda, and Morgeause.

Also, there's an entire thread on Femme Fatale recs! http://www.bpal.org/topic/23708-femme-fatale-scents/?p=506331

Hi Marianast! Welcome to the forum.

For New Orleans, try Nyx, Twilight, or Bayou. They are all lush florals with similar notes to NO. You might also try Shanghai, which has the lemon and honeysuckle combo, but is going to be a much lighter, fresher scent with the tea. Also, just fyi, lemon verbena doesn't always behave the same way as lemon, depending on your chemistry.

For Whip, ya gotta try Wanda. It's a more complex Whip with less rose and a dark fruitiness from the wine. You might also try Highwayman, which is also lush florals over leather. Everything named so far is in the GC (general catalog)

If you want to get adventurous and join the Luper fun - L'Agonie has that yummy apricot like Grand Guignol mixed with blood orange. It's like a dark, evil, delicious fruit punch. Importune Me No More is a robust and elegant floral with lots of jasmine and rose bolstered by spicey/clovelike carnation. If you like leather, as I do, the Pleasures of the Imagination scents are just beautiful and the SN Riding Crop is fantastic for layering. There are still plenty of decants of Lupers floating around that people are looking to swap/sell, so you don't have to commit to the full bottle. BUT, if you DO buy a bottle, there's a good chance you can swap it with someone on the forum if it doesn't work out. Lots of information! Hope it helps.

Very pretty, cool white florals. Lots of wisteria and jasmine, which is a bit harsh upon initial squirt, but calms down nicely after a few seconds. Classic.

Side note - I love that the graphic on this one is classy. You could actually leave this one out for polite company.

This smells wet, green, and mossy - like tropical forest after a rain. It's refreshing and light and could almost pass as a commercial hair product scent. Not to say it's generic, just unobtrusive and pleasant. It doesn't come off as soapy.

I think I actually like it more on my skin. The tea is more obvious there and I too get a subtle fruitiness. The moss and sandalwood make a soft, fuzzy backdrop, but I don't smell any incense like I was hoping for from the sandalwood and myrrh. It's well blended and complex, but too light for my tastes. Pretty though.

On me the orange came across as lemon, very bright and not particularly sweet, with a backing of green tea. As this wears, it turns into a soft, honeyed green tea similar to the one in Serving Tea After Coitus. It's a pretty scent, but not really me. Probably good for someone who enjoys fresh, light scents that aren't too sweet or floral.

This smells a tad soapy/aquatic in the bottle, but on my skin it quickly evolves into a soft, creamy spring bouquet of sugared florals It's playfully innocent, sweet, and waiting to be sullied. I think I might have found my Easter scent for this year!

ETA: Wanted to add, there's something in the dry down of this that was driving me crazy with it's familiarity. Then I realized it's the musky floral note in SN Limited Edition Action Figure. Qui Aime Bien doesn't have the plasticy notes though.

Woah. An explosion of fruity, jammy grape and blackberry supported by incense. Then something creamy and sweet. I guess it's the patch, but it almost reads as vanilla cream to my nose. Not necessarily the "vanilla cream" note, but actual vanilla cream. Weird. Unabashedly fruity and dark. I think I might love this. We shall see how it dries down.

Reminds me a bit of Tis the Voice of the Lobster and Forest Reverie. Also, like Purple Phoenix with less perfumey floral and more incensey darkness.

Oh yeeeeeessss...

Just what I was hoping for. Very much a leather single note on me. This is not soft, genteel, kid leather, nor hard, black, shiny leather. It's brown, worn-in, comfortable leather. It's very nice, and I'm really going to enjoy blending it with other things.

I could see how this could also be used to "masculine" things up if that's something you're looking for.

Yum.

Huh....

The Deep Ones was one of the first BPAL scents I ordered. My husband is a huge H.P. Lovecraft fan, and he wanted to know what such squelchy abominations would smell like. When we got the imp, it smelled like... soap. I've gotten frimped several times over the years with TDO's and it's always been ... soap.

But NOT today. TODAY I smell lotus, ambergris, and a teeeensy weeensy bit of soap, which is really odd. Is my chemistry changing? Am I smelling stuff differently? Has lord Dagon finally called upon me to join him in the briney depths?!

No idea, but it's certainly interesting to smell this the way other's who enjoy it might be smelling it. Soft, clean, sweet, salty, and a bit reminiscent of foamy sea froth. Not a love, but certainly a like.

So many of my BPAL loves are dripping with dark and red musks!

 

I love the white musk drydown of Fae and wish there were other BPAL blends that had the same feel: it's so creamy and really hangs around; the other notes fade into it seamlessly. Antique Lace did it, too... :cry2:Any other white musk recs that don't screech?

I cannot for the life of me wear anything at all with a white musk in it. No matter how good the rest sounds, if 'white musk' appears it's going to turn into a screaming cheap soap. Same goes for florals. The only 'whites' I can wear are patchouli and sandalwood. Sob. That said, basically every other musk is beautiful on me. Skin musk can end up smelling like, um, clean sex, if that makes any sense? You might have better luck with warm color musks (red, brown, black, and furry). I haven't tried green musk, so I can't speak to that. But give those warmer, darker colors a try. Coyote is a great furry musk, and I'm 90% sure our beloved Snake Oil has red musk in it. Raven Moon is a good black musk that isn't too difficult to find even though it's an LE. I know I've tried something with brown musk that had a similar kind of fuzzy/furry scent to it, but I don't remember off the top of my head.

Have you tried Fae?

Endymion, Aeval, and King of Hearts had the same white musk in their dry down on me. Aeval especially reminded me of Fae, which I guess makes sense. I don't know if the other notes appeal to you, but you might try those.

I received this as a frimp from the lab last year and found it pleasant, but didn't pay it too much attention after the initial few sniffs.

This spring, I'm really enjoying it. At first, I mostly smell white tea, which always has a citrusy quality to my nose. Then I smell lots of sweet, bright vanilla, but beeswax reads as vanillic to me, so I'm not sure if there's vanilla AND beeswax I'm picking up, or it's just the beeswax. It's pretty and gentle. I don't really get anything "lilac" in this, but I could see how it might have a floral smoothing down the edges.

Mostly, this is just a sugared, beeswax and white tea scent. It smells almost candied without being gourmand. I wish I'd had a chance to check out the finished version. C'est la vie.

This makes me think of a young girl, in her Sunday dress, at an Easter egg hunt.

It's simple, sweet, bright, happy, and soft. IT'S VERY FLORAL. If your the type of person that goes around in the spring, sniffing all the tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and yes, pansies, and you want to smell like you belong right along with them, check this out. It's honestly a bit too much for me usually. I like my florals mixed with something. BUT, when I get in the right mood, like now, where we've had spring rains the last 3 days, it's nice to know I have an imp of this one.

I don't have any issues with chemical smells, powderiness, or soapiness. This is just all flower, all the time. That said, I generally, can wear florals w/out chemistry issues.