kscha2017

Hemp and mossy soil soften and "blur" the sharp cologne bite of the dead leaves. Reminds me alot of Graveyard Dirt mixed with slightly damp, newly-dried autumn leaves. This is lazy, dreamy, floating, sexiness. Warm, but with a hint of unsettling coldness underneath. Once fully dry, I get a background appearance of something slightly bitter/sour - not sure if it's oudh or the dead leaves breaking through. It's not unpleasant, though it may be just a tad sinister/foreboding. Somehow it fits with the lazy-dreamy-floatingness. A scent for an irresistibly sexy male zombie, maybe? I am not able to pick out the frankincense by itself.

I would have sworn I reviewed this already, but apparently not. This was, I believe, the 2nd BPAL scent I ever tried (via a frimp from a friend) and it remains my favorite of all. Based on the name, description, and reviews, I never would have tried it because none of those things told me I would even remotely like it. However ...

 

It smells just like the woods where I hike often. I'm frequently out there and stop mid-stride, thinking "it smells like BPAL out here," and wondering why because I know I didn't put any on before going out there. It smells like wet black earth, sunshine on brackish puddles, moss, mildew, musty mushrooms, pine sap, last autumn's dry leaves crushed into the dirt, rotting logs, decaying plants, and fresh air. And it makes me so happy. It's beautiful and perfect, how could it be "evil incarnate"?

Oh yeah, this is sheer perfection. A beautifully balanced blend, gentle and sweet. Just like I remember my favorite store in my college town where I used to buy incense, prayer shawls, Tibetan beads, henna, and Buddha icons. I usually only spray twice but I sprayed 5 times. I need all my stuff to smell like this: hair, skin, clothes, car, etc.

Just sprayed/wet: I got strong allspice, and dragon's blood (I don't like this).

 

Drying: Spicy dragon's blood with a hint of cotton candy (cheering for cotton candy, hoping it gets stronger).

 

Dried: Dragon's blood and a hint of cotton candy (glad the allspice is gone, this is ok, still want a bit more cotton candy).

Lemony ozone and a distant hint of (purple) incense. Evokes a sense of nighttime and apprehension, somehow, and reminds me of being a kid at the outdoor theater late at night with heat lightning on the horizon. For that sense/atmosphere memory alone, I thank you. Then I tried this paired with BPAL'S Stormclouds Over the Midway and *swoon*. It's as awesome as I had hoped.

This is gorgeous, swoon-worthy even. So fresh, wet, the sense of dark, lush green plants alongside clear, fresh water. There is a sweet floral (rather like honeysuckle) that runs equally strong with the green and aquatic side. A hint of something dry and brown is off to the side. Having spent the morning along the shore of Lake Michigan, this smells nothing like it (which is good). It does, however, evoke quite vividly the tall grasses, cattails and wildflowers, along the riverbank that empties into the lake, at the height of summer - a place I visited earlier this week. This is a very uplifting, positive scent, bold and strong.

I was a little apprehensive about this due to the opium tar and wormwood, thinking it may induce a migraine. Now I kinda wish I had ordered 2 bottles right away. I like this. It's ozone and incense, both dark and disturbing. The atmosphere and emotion stand out, equally a feeling as much as a scent. I can tell it's related to Midnight on the Midway, one of my favorites, and I'm eager to try this paired with the Post's Crack of Thunder Hair Gloss.

I was eagerly awaiting this one for the lilac, lily of the valley, beeswax, bergamot, and nectarine. Wet or dry, I expected to love this. However, I'm only getting an odd, unpleasant coconut-like musk. Perhaps that's the golden musk? It's giving me a headache and I hate coconut. Very light scent, I expected there to be alot of throw but no. I bought two bottles because of the lilac and lily, so I will put them aside for awhile and see how they, or my chemistry, change. Lilac and lily, please come out!

I will never stop being amused by BPAL's ability to make scents that evoke a sense of something such as "gravelly". Fresh out of my decant and wet on my skin, this is gravel. And more than that, it's a "fuck you" kinda gravel. Strong, bold, unforgiving, leave you bleeding on the shoulder of the highway in the middle of nowhere. Not overtly masculine, however; a tad bit perfumy. I had a headache when I tested it and for a moment was afraid I was inducing a migraine. But then the scent dried down and tamed a bit, morphing into a softer, almost distant asphalt with, I swear, some warm, dusty, black-purple feathers mixed in. A pretty scent now, but ever so often, the "fuck you" gravel peeks out again. I would wear this when dumping someone or quitting a hateful job. I think it would be put to good use in some ritual work too.

It's glorious! Pure, sharp, cold, fresh, juicy lime. I could smell it immediately upon opening the shipping box. I need all the bottles!

This is lovely. Straight out of the bottle and onto my skin, it's a sweet pine and dry grasses scent with a hint of fresh air. I will need more.

Very sweet, almost reminds me of the Beltane oatcakes I make topped with lingonberries, oddly enough. A bit too foodie for me, but I am fond of both Odin and mead, so ...

I think this is the most beautiful BPAL creation so far. If a starry sky could have a scent, this would be it. Fresh, cool night with diamond stars overhead. Just you and your Self, marveling at the immensity of the Universe. Breathtaking. I immediately ordered another bottle. Will likely order a few more.

On me, this smells like ... well ... nothing. But a nothing with potential. It brought a strong image of the blackness of space with the tiniest pinpoint of silver starlight just barely beginning to become visible, perhaps more like a feeling rather than actual seeing. Rather ineffable. Very unlike anything I've encountered before. Brilliant!

My first bottle from the Post. This is a dark reddish-plum with very fine same-color sparklies (2 coats applied). I don't get any other colors shifting in and out. This polish feels so different from any other I've tried - it's rich, creamy and thick but dries quickly.

 

Edit: Ahhhh! Perhaps it needed a moment more. I am now getting a color shift, from the reddish-plum to bronze to bronzy-green to black-with-red-sparklies to plum-with-red-sparklies. Nice.

Fresh. Green. Holly. Chilly and vibrant. This will be beautiful in summer too as doesn't seem to convey "snow" and, of course, isn't a "Christmas tree" pine or spruce scent. I will probably dab this on as a perfume too. Update: happy to note it is long-lasting on me and is still there after a couple washings.

I can't say much other than it's as described: patchouli chypre and fir. It is colder than cold! Icy, tomblike. It also, perhaps oddly, reminds me of the sassafras drink from Ren Faire (rootbeer and black licorice), but with something sinister slipped in. It's glorious and orgasmic. I need more.

Green, indeed. Swampy, amphibian, oozing green. Creepy green. Reminds me alot of the Plagues' scent from awhile back "Smite All Thy Borders with Frogges", which is a favorite of mine. They pair well. Love it.

*swoon*

 

Wildflowers trampled into thick, black mud by unicorn hooves. I swear, I can smell the hooves. I smell daisies in particular. I'm getting a tad bit of crushed greens too (leaves and stems). And the woman's gown ... a slight whiff of fabric.

 

The wildflowers are there but don't overpower the bold patchouli. If you like patchouli, you probably already ordered this. If not, do so. If you -don't- like patchouli, pass on by. It's strong. Wild, like it's name.

 

I love-love-love patchouli. I thought East African Black Patchouli and Ask the Nearest Hippie were my patchouli Holy Grail scents. I was wrong. This is my patchouli Holy Grail scent.

Reminds me a little of Fruit Stripe gum we had as kids, but chewed while drinking warm 7-Up on a hot summer night. Totally fun, carefree, and sweet.

What can be said but that it's the perfect olfactory interpretation of the artwork. On me, the musk, grass, and apple blossom stand out, all equal in strength, with just a hint of mint and pine in the background. It's as if I were sitting right there at the water's edge. It's gentle yet mysterious and otherworldly. Perfection.

Surprise, it smells like Guatemalan coffee. I opened the bottle and a big plume of spiciness burned my nose with a brewed coffee note peeking through. I opened the bottle again a few hours later, and this time there was the expected spicey-chocolate-floral-coffee blend. I haven't tried it on the skin yet, but if this has any throw and staying power, I'm gonna have a hard time resisting a 3rd pot of the brew on the days I wear it.

A frimp in my recent order. Very similar to Anaesthesia which is towards the top of my Favorites list and a frequent go-to scent. Pain is not quite as strong, I would say, and I think Anaesthesia lasts longer, but if I couldn't get Anaesthesia anymore, this would be a perfectly acceptable substitute. It will be added to my Wish List.

Received this as a frimp in my last order. Holy moley, this totally evokes the idea of dragon's milk even though I never thought of the concept before smelling this. It's rich, thick, warm, spicey and delicious. I imagine the fat content is off the charts.

My nose's opinion on this is opposite of VioletChaos. I'm used to a "rounder", sweeter sandalwood. This type, on me, has a bit of a sharp, almost bitter current running through it. It also strikes me as a slightly "cooler" note than the Indian I typically go for. I was daydreaming about what I could pair it with as I awaited its arrival, but upon sniffing and slathering, I've decided the boldness deserves center stage: it will be worn alone. It also hangs on quite a long time: I applied the way I usually do at around 2:00pm and I can still pick up the scent now at 10:30pm.

 

Another awesome thing: when I chew on eco-friendly, unpainted pencils or tinfoil, I get that deep ache in my molars. Know what I mean? The moment I opened the bottle and sniffed, I got that same ache in my back teeth. LOL. Powerful stuff. Very glad I decided to order 2 bottles right away. I shudder to remember that I almost decided not to order at all, thinking to save my $$ for something else. If you like sandalwood, don't hesitate to buy this. I'm imagining it's going to age splendidly if it's this remarkable on Day 1.