KatyC

How similar, if at all, are Zombi & Cicuta? I'm really tempted by Cicuta but don't need another earthy rose scent as I love Zombi, and I'm wondering whether the non-rose notes will translate to a similar earthiness.

If they aren't at all alike, is Cicuta comparable to anything else? I've read the reviews and I'm hovering over the order button but being uncharacteristically hesitant!

Thanks!

Can anyone suggest a GC/currently available scent that could replace Flickering Lantern when I run out? I'm failing at picking out the notes in FL, but I think it's the combination of beeswax and wispy smoke that I love.

I use reducer caps because I'm clumsy. It can be a bit difficult to shake enough oil out sometimes, but for me it's worth that bit of patience to avoid losing entire bottles to my stray elbows. That said, if I could find a uk supplier of roller balls that fit Bpal bottles I'd definitely go for them instead - I expect they're easier to use, especially on the neck.

I have to admit I bought this because of the name (I'm a sucker for both night-time references and alliteration, for some reason) and I didn't pay much attention to the notes, though sugared incense did sound nice. I kind of decided that this was *bound* to smell like a fairground at night, some combination of sticky-sweetness and rain/mud.

In the bottle this smells slightly sweet, but not as sugary as I washoping for. The first half hour on my skin it just smelled like pure fabric softener, and that's when I bothered to check the notes & reviews and saw it is actually supposed to be a blue, musky floral.

After an hour or so of wear it's actually turned into a very pretty scent, with a touch of the sugar I was after, but overall it's a touch too generic on my skin to reach for very often. Perhaps if I hadn't had such strong preconceptions it would be a keeper, so that's a lesson learned for me!

The throw and wear-time are very good.

I am in love! I've been searching for a good lavender & peppermint combo for years, and this hits the spot like nothing I've ever tried before.

In the bottle: Strong, cool peppermint with a hint of lavender.

Wet on skin: The mint and lavender balance out, making this my own personal olfactory heaven. At this point I can't really detect the bergamot or mandrake, just the refreshing, relaxing combination of those two notes.

Dry on skin: I still can't find any real note of mandrake or bergamot, but the scent softens and becomes slightly sweeter. I fell asleep shortly after this stage, so can't comment on longevity

From reading the other reviews, clearly this one is very different person-to-person (and bottle to bottle, maybe?).

So for my experience...in the bottle it smells exactly like Haribo sour cherries, right down to the fizziness - I haven't tried Chattering Teeth yet but it's just how I expect that to smell.

Then the moment it touched my skin all the fruity sweetness and fizz disappeared, and it became that familiar bpal musky skin scent. I was pretty disappointed because as much as I like musky scents I was hoping for something a bit more interesting. Over the next couple of hours it kept morphing and went through a worrying 'household cleaner' phase, before ending up as a sweet musk with a slight metallic edge. Definitely an interesting one, with a pleasant end result and I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out next time I wear it!

 

Chuparosa is fresh, airy, rain-washed roses on me to start out with, but some honeysuckle and, like, honey or amber or something also come into play later. I find it lovely, but from what I can tell Chuparosa is one of those blends that reeeeeeally depends on your skin chemistry.

 

Othello is a light, summery rose on me, but if you amp musky or spicy notes this might not be the case for you.

 

La Belle Au Bois Dormant is a very wet rose. The greenery is a little lighter than what you're looking for, maybe, but it really does bring to mind a princess bringing a bouquet of dew-covered roses into her house.

 

Belated thanks for this! Chuparosa and La Belle... sound very promising and I'll give Othello a try too - although I definitely amp musky notes.

This one was a real roller-coaster for me. I love all things lavender and I regularly use relaxation/sleep aromatherapy stuff, so I blind-bottled, fully expected this to be right up my strasse.

In the bottle: Slightly sweet, quite chemically, somewhat lavender/lilac-ish. Not exactly what I'd expected from the reviews here but I applied it before bed in the hopes it would change on my skin.

The first couple hours on my skin: The floral I could smell in the bottle pretty much disappeared, and the chemical note really came to the forefront, along with a herbal/medicinal element. I walked past my husband and he commented that I smelled like insect repellant, and I couldn't disagree. It wasn't absolutely vile but it wasn't particularly pleasant and I was tempted to wash it off before falling asleep, but I decided to persevere.

Middle of the night (approx 4-5 hours after application): I woke up in the night and finally found myself enveloped in the floral marshmallow I'd read about! I couldn't say for sure it was lavender, but it was very pretty and sweet, perfect for sleep. I lay awake for a while smelling myelf, like the little weirdo I am.

So - on my skin the final result is 100% gorgeous, but one has to suffer a little to get there. I'm going to give it another go in case it settles down (I tried it 3 days after its arrival in the post) but with Lullaby and Anaesthesia waiting in the wings I'd be surprised if this ends up being my BPAL bedtime scent.

I have a terrible memory and I thought I bought this for a lavender note, so I was very confused by the strong hit of orange I got when I stuck my nose in the bottle

Anyway, that hit of mandarin is beautiful, and it only improves on the skin when a creamy note appears (I'm guessing from the chamomile), and the sandalwood/tobacco lends a tiny hint of earthiness that prevents the scent being too sweet and girly.

A couple of hours later and the creamy sweetness has softened along with the mandarin, leaving a well-balanced mix of all the listed notes - it's still identifiably mandarin though, so for orange fans I'd say this is a must have.

This would be perfect to wear while drinking sangria on a terrace on a warm summer evening, but it's pretty darn good to wear in my living room on a cold and windy English night! I think a back-up bottle may be in order for me.

(I'll update with longevity comments when I've had a chance to wear it all day; I got it in a package this evening and didn't want to wait until morning to try it!)

I'm gathering up as many BPAL rose scents as I can, but so far I haven't found one similar to Diptyque's L'Ombre dans l'Eau - which is the same scent as their Baies candle (if anyone has the same candle addiction as me...).

Diptyque describe it as follows:

- Blackcurrant leaves, Bulgarian roses -

Reminiscent of a walk in an English garden, filled with Bulgarian rose petals and leaves of the blackcurrant bush. The scent of sap graciously freshens up this idyllic and rural escapade.

I'd describe it as a wet, green rose; not earthy but really just like walking through a rose garden after a heavy downpour. I can't identify actual blackcurrant in the scent, so it's not fruity.

Any recommendations gratefully received!

The Organ Grinder!

Oh my, that does sound good - thanks!

Could anyone recommend a great smokey/tobacco BPAL scent? Happy for it to be mixed with other notes - I particularly love oudh, rose and leather, but it's the smokiness I'm really looking for. Thanks!