yewberry

I have a beekeeper friend whose house always smells of dried roses and beeswax. That's what Mictecacihuatl smells like on me. Most rose scents seem to overpower (no matter the other notes in the blend). But like Ichabod Crane, this floral-forward blend is solidly anchored in dense warmth and sweetness.

 

In the end it goes a little "rose soap" on me, but somehow I can't stop smelling myself anyway!

As a gal who spends a decent percentage of her life with her nose near malted barley, I can say pretty unequivocally that there's no actual barley malt essence herein. There is, however, a most charming quasi-emulation. There's a rich, almost buttery quality to this oil. Like a distant caramel and vanilla (sweetgrass? woodruff?). Over that is the "alcohol", which, again, doesn't smell much like whiskey. It does coat your nasal passages like huffing a leggy tawny port, though. Then comes warm musk and a hint of rusty nail.

 

After a while the vanilla and something traditionally "perfumey" dominates, but the wet and just-dry stages are really delicious. I can see why folks note a masculine quality. Fortunately, my hubby doesn't like men's colognes, so this one's all mine.

 

Light throw (I like to wear it on my neck, for nuzzling), relatively short wear length (on me, anyway).

Pure grassy goodness, straight-out-of-the-mower-bag fresh. Goes a little ozoney on the dry down (rain's a-comin'). I'm having fun layering this with Graveyard Dirt. One micro-drop of GD to a decent slathering of ABoG smells eerily like when I hit a mole hill with the mower! Beltane, here I come!

DCCCV (805):

 

Got this as a surprise decant from a generous forumite. In the imp, a sharp, soapy sweetness that was, to my nose, surprisingly nondescript. As soon as it touched my skin, though, it erupted into a burst of cardamom and juicy fruitiness with maybe just a tiny touch of cinnamon. Its only drawback is that it doesn't last long enough (but BPAL's cardamom note never does). Amazingly delicious, though I really have to slather it to get any throw.

BPAL's dirt scent, pure and simple. Can't wait to layer it, and wear it ritually in the spring when I consecrate my garden.

I'm so excited to find a floral with enough depth to keep me sniffing. The lily of the valley is tempered by something sweet and nutty (beeswax?) and sharpened by pepper. I may have finally found a floral that will work for Beltane!

To say I love Phantom Calliope is an understatement. It's far and away my favorite of the CD scents. But alas, it's not to be. I've heard of people getting instant rashes from fragrances, but despite my sensitive skin, it's never happened to me...until now. Last night I slathered on some PC and headed out the door to a friend's house, but was stopped by my hubby, looking worried. "Your neck is a most unhealthy color", he noted. Sure enough, I had developed an ugly (although, interestingly, painless and non-itchy) rash. I looked at my wrists and inner elbow, where I'd also applied a dab. Similar blooms forming. CRAP.

 

No idea what ingredient or combination of ingredients caused this, but I'm afraid this amazing, complex, and delightful fragrance is relegated to the domain of room fragrance. I'm too nervous even to wear it near my skin (scent locket, etc.). For what it's worth, my rashy skin smelled of cherry cola (that "soda pop" note I love so much in Nephilim--thank you cardamom) whilst wet, and dried down to a warm patchouli-spice with hints of lemony freshness and just the lightest touch of red, ripe fruit.

I wanted to like Glasgow, but on me it was the "granny's parlor" scent others have mentioned. Generic flowers and fruitiness with little depth. Wear length is excellent, though...couldn't wash it off...

I'm so darned happy. I loved Aizen-Myoo, but it turned awful on my skin. Whatever was present in Aizen-Myoo that took such a wretched turn must be absent in Night-Gaunt. And the result is bright, refreshing, and beautiful. I think I've finally found a strong citrus BPAL that works on my skin. Yea!!!

Lovely and evocative. In the imp, tropical fruit. On (both wet and after dry-down), sweet apple, pineapple, the tiniest tickle of banana, and a solid slap of ozone (BPAL's ozone tends to amp a bit on me, so YMMV). The combination is definitely more than the sum if its parts, making for a completely unique blend. I'll wear it in warm weather, with a storm approaching.

4th of July scent?

Agnes Nutter, for the fireworks, of course!

 

My annual summer party is this Saturday. We always have a big bonfire...I think Agnes would go quite well. Thanks for the suggestion!

Finally, a blend with just a touch of vetiver. It's wonderful as a supporting note, dancing politely with cedarwood and leather. If there's any other wood note in this, I'm not picking up on it. Something slightly sweet and powdery in the background (a flower, perhaps?), which softens the edges of an otherwise masculine blend.

 

I think this is destined to be a favorite. May need to acquire myself a bottle...

I love Tum. Figures it's been discontinued.

 

Wet, I get (very oddly) freshly-bruised valerian root. I suspect this is the "sweat sock" odor others have mentioned. Fortunately, I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes the smell of valerian, so even the weird wet stage appeals to me.

 

On the dry-down, undefinable flowers and amber emerge, as does cardamom (yum). Though the throw is minimal, the cardamom note lasts for hours. Goodbye, fair Tum. I hardly knew ye...

I'm not sure why I never tried Lear before. I adore cedarwood, love sage, and think bayleaf is spiffy. I'm glad I finally took the plunge. Goes on single-note cedar. The drydown reveals a charming, almost fruity sage (like some of the fruit-scented salvias I love to grow). The bay peeps out a bit, but never in a "gentleman's cologne" way. It's perfectly balanced, and exactly the kind of warm, woody/resiny fragrance I love.

I love the lab's patchouli notes. So deep, warm, and woody. This blend is primarily (to my nose) this lovely patchouli, with the slightly sharp sweetness of orange blossom. At once deep, mysterious, and impish.

The description was so romantic, I hoped to love Scarecrow. Alas, I could only smell the cleaning products others mentioned. Then (ack!) lilies, thick and cloying. This is the first time I've ever had to rush to wash off a BPAL scent. Bummer.

I really like this one. The notes are so well-blended that it's difficult to pick them apart. Fortunately, the vetiver isn't out front, but gently in the background, supporting notes of frankincense and cardamom (a Pepsi-Cola note that always smells "fizzy" to me). The black patchouli is there, but again as a supporting note, creating a rich, sweet-but-not-flowery base.

 

Complex, gentle, and actually lasts a while on me. Not much throw, but I didn't expect it with such a delicate fragrance. This one's for neck nuzzling, definitely.

I went walking on the bluffs around Burrows Channel in Washington Park (Anacortes, Washington) in the early fall. Emerging from the Douglas fir and madrona forest, I found myself suddenly in the open, high above the water, surrounded by wind-twisted Rocky Mountain juniper. The red clay soil was littered with dusty blue fruits, creating striking contrast. Then, equally striking, came the scent of the sea amidst a resinous waft of juniper.

 

No offense to Ms. Parker, but closing my eyes and sniffing my wrist, I'm not at a nightclub, but on an ocean bluff overlooking the sparkling water, surrounded by ancient trees.

In the imp, it's mostly cedarwood. On my skin it's an almost 50/50 mix of sandalwood and cedarwood. Hints of frankincense peep out after a few minutes, but overall it's just cedar and sandal.

 

I like to layer Velvet with Mandrake, and this blend reminds me of that, without the cocoa.

I'd already fallen in love with this fragrance when I decided to bring it with me on a car trip this summer/early fall. Opening the imp next to my husband (who was driving) provoked an "Oooooh, that smells niiiiiice." And this from a guy who generally hates anything but the most basic essential oil blends.

Cedarwood and over-ripe berries on me. The tomato leaf note is there mostly at the beginning, mellowing at the dry-down. As others have mentioned, it's a strangely appropriate winter holiday fragrance, despite smelling thoroughly sun-drenched to me. Weird. I would also second the comment on throw--this one's amazing. The best throw of any BPAL scent I've tried.

Received this little gem in a swap. It smells pretty much like patchouli and cedarwood on me, though all stages, and doesn't mutate much. After about 20 minutes, though, I detect a warm, almost creamy anchoring note. Could be sandalwood (which I adore) and maybe some sort of flower?

 

I love incensy blends, and this is right up my alley. A masterfully evocative blend.