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BPAL Madness!

slo

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Everything posted by slo

  1. slo

    Honey, Tuberose, and Vanilla Sugar

    This smells soo much like what i remember lush's honey i washed the kids and it's sooo good! I get mostly the honey and vanilla sugar, which smell like the most delicious honeycomb/honey toffee with maybe the sliiightest floral edge to keep it from being over the top sweet/foodie (but sweet and foodie is my jam). Tuberose is one of the few florals I can do, so I was looking forward to it and expecting something with a little more of a tropical vibe a la arcana's honey craves the tropics (even tho I realize the only note they share is honey lol). Anyway, its not that but I'm not mad about it. It's soo comforting.
  2. slo

    Dead Leaves, Marshmallow, and Pistachio Cream

    This might be a gourmand for those of who don't like gourmands and a dead leaves for those of who don't like dead leaves (me). I'm getting a bit of a perfumey vibe from the dead leaves, but it actually smells clean - as others have said, it's not anything I'd peg as "dead leaves" if I didn't know. It's tempered by the creaminess/nuttiness of the pistachio/marshmallow, but keeping those notes from going too sweet and foodie. Its really wearable! I'd be happy if it doesn't change much with age, but we'll see!
  3. slo

    They Shut Me Up in Prose

    I wasn't looking at the notes when I tried this and def thought there was some macadamia nut in there. And I don't get osmanthus at all. But I do love it for all the other reasons reviewers above me have said more eloquently.
  4. slo

    Gingerbread & Lemon Sugar

    So I got this one cuz gingerbread and lavender sugar from last year might just be my favorite yule ever and I thought if this was anything like that except lemony it would be a winner...in the bottle it kinda smells like it could be, but on the skin is a different story ha. Some of the reviews scared me a bit cuz lemon tends to go to cleaner on me (except lemon sticky bat and other sugary/sweet lemons) - luckily this doesn't do that for me! It's not at all what I expected , but I do like it.. On drydown, there is no gourmand, gooey, rich gingerbread here. It's more of an effervescent ginger - coupled with the lemon, which reads more like lemon candy than lemon sugar crystals - I'm getting a ginger ale/lemon soda vibe with maybe an extra dash of spice lurking in the background.
  5. slo

    Overlooking the Garden

    this reminds me of on the porch in the rain in the aquatic-vibe sense, but "rain" is just about the only "aquatic" i can do - it smells fresher, less sharp, aaalmost soapy, but like clean earth/air. this one seems even more "springtime" tho with the grass instead of bamboo. .the grass might be a little much/too literal for me to personally want to wear, but if you're into that you'll like it 😛 the amber adds a sweet, sun-kissed quality, but on my skin it almost clashes with the grass. overall, I'm happy to be wearing it today after what feels like years of rain (i'm a California girl, I have no tolerance lol), hoping the sun will come out soon. it's a nice mood-scent and i'll enjoy my decant in this winter-spring transitional rainy weather, but it's probably not what i want to smell like regularly. regular wear and throw.
  6. slo

    Travel Buddies

    This one is great aromatherapy! Soothing and uplifting at the same time. Unfortunately, on my skin the lemon amps in a sharp sort of way I'm not too fond of. I want to love this and lemon so so bad 😭
  7. slo

    Ubi Bene, Ibi Patria

    I'm in the camp that wanted to like meditation buddy..and for the most part did..but wanted it to have something "more." This might be it. Wet/in the imp: smells spicy sweet, intriguing - goes on very much like bubblegum tho. Like pink bubblegum with some spice hmmm... Drydown: the pink bubblegum vibe fades out pretty quickly , but it stays sweet (more sugar cookie I guess), but the sweetness is tempered by the incense and a touch of lavender - it's aaalmost floral but I wouldn't call it rose if it weren't listed. straight rose rarely works on me, but the lab's "rose petals" for some reason is usually ok. this isn't even "rose petals" to my nose tho - it's almost more like carnation since there's some spice in there. the Florida water isn't aquatic per se but combined with the amber it just gives this a floating, ethereal vibe. It's soothing, but in a daytime wear way for me. Average wear and throw. This could be a surprise hit of the Lilith travelogue for me.
  8. slo

    Son of biggerCritter

    Wet/in bottle: sweet citrus (not just lime) coconut, like a (virgin) tropical drink On skin: lemon usually goes to cleaner on me, but lime is usually OK. Not sure about lemon balm..I've taken it as a tincture but not quite sure what it smells like in the perfume world. I thought this was turning to cleaner tho and was about to throw it in the destash pile when DH came home and I got the highest compliment ("mmmm you smell good")..so I guess I'm keeping it? Dry: what my nose interprets as cleaner goes away and the scent overall is pretty soft, but it's like a creamy citrus flavored macaroon (the coconut kind as opposed to the French ones) - heavier on the coconut and pretty foodie, but with a soft edge. I'm not mad about it. I think this scent will shine better in warmer weather tho.
  9. slo

    Jojo the Dog Faced Boy

    I got this based on the reviews that the leather isn't very strong because all the other notes sounded so lovely to me, but I do not do well with leather. And I'm happy to report I get maaybe 2 seconds of super soft leather max Soo if you're looking for a leather blend this definitely isn't it, but if you're looking for a clean cuddly spa scent this is definitely it! Wet/in bottle: this is way sweeter and more perfumey than I expected - it almost has a floral aspect. Based on this impression alone it was headed to the destash pile ... On skin: fresh and cuddly all at the same time - it really is like a spa fragrance in that it smells clean and relaxing, but for me it's the elusive daytime lavender. I'm a lavender fiend but only have one or two other lavenders that I enjoy wearing during the day. It's not a sharp lavender/it has a little sweetness (maybe from the sage?) but it's really not a super sweet blend anymore. I think the sage keeps it fresh and the musk keeps it warm - it's an interesting concept, but it works! Drydown: it's aaaalmost soapy, but in a way I like - like a high end soap rather than irish spring. Low throw, so its like clean, straight from the spa skin - great for work. I don't think to wear this one cuz much the smell from the bottle is a bit off-putting, but I have to remember what it's like on skin !
  10. slo

    Jongleur

    Wet: yummy resinous, spice blend - not too dry, but not to sweet. Warm and well blended. On skin: the cedar really amps on me, but the spices are still there in the background, like the wood is infused with them. Drydown: the cedar remains the strongest note throughout, but it's a warm non hamster shavings wood (on me at l least) and everything else is so well blended and just so lovely, as if you opened a box filled with spices and incense and all the things that I love. A hippie scent without patchouli i.e., what im always on the hunt for! Def recommend if you love wood, resins, spice, and incense half as much as I do 😛
  11. slo

    Ginger Cardamom Hair Gloss

    This is a yummy sparkling fresh ginger, not at all foodie, almost summery to me - reminds me of the ginger in vespertilio, which is one of my favorites. There is a bit of a dryer spice behind it, but could be just the power of suggestion of cardamom. I almost wish this had a creaminess or fruity element tho to make it deeper/less "one note" as it were, but I guess that's what layerying is for 😛 Also, seems to fade a bit fast, but I had that same problem with the ginger note in vespertilio (as much as I otherwise adore it).
  12. slo

    Incolumitas

    Not much to add to all the amazing reviews, but I would like all the buckets of this please! I enjoyed last year's black Friday decants (stillness and silence), but was happy with just the decants. But not this year, incolumitas is basically everything - it's the most perfect lavender, with the softest touch of sweet sage, warmed by vanilla and the faintest whiff of earthy patchouli to keep it all in check. I would say it's in the same family as daybreak (probably my all time fave lavender if someone forced me to choose), but just a touch less sweet and more grounded - I don't want to say more perfect because I can't get my hands on more
  13. slo

    And There Was A Great Cry In Egypt

    THIS is a prime example of why not to judge a blend by how it smells in the bottle . wet/in the bottle: i'm an incense/resin lover, but this smelled far too astringent/masculine/cologney and like the bad kind of woods (threatening hamster shavings). I was ready to instantly throw it in the swaps, but decided to give it a go since it really is a collection of many of my all time fave notes (and others that are usually at least OK with not one "death" note). drydown: Within five minutes this developed into exactly what I wanted it to be - warm, but dry, lightly spiced incense and wood. I don't really have anything else to add to all the glowing reviews, but I also agree that throw and wear is pretty light (esp for a resinous blend on me) lesson learned to reserve judgment!
  14. slo

    Slime Queen

    There's a "cotton candy" tea at David's tea I adore - for the smell as much as the flavor. I always thought it would make a beautiful perfume. That's almost exactly what this is. A divine pink sugared light tea.
  15. slo

    The Pit & The Pendulum

    I wore this on one wrist and midnight mass on the other today for a comparison. they are both gorgeous incense blends (that have aged beautifully), but the pit is definitely drier and more woodsy. the pit to me is actually more "churchy." but I didn't grow up in the church, so it's kind of my imagination what "churchy" smells like - maybe more solemn, a slight herbal quality, and and with the heavy wood from the pews - like you can really feel the weight of it, as opposed to midnight mass which is definitely sweeter and lighter in spirit. it's comforting tho - great for a crisp grey day like today when i feel rain is coming. good throw and wear too.
  16. slo

    Blue Pumpkin Floss Hair Gloss

    blue pumpkin floss might be my favorite pumpkin and I really like pumpkin so I was super excited to get it in hair gloss too! wet: this is definitely blue pumpkin floss, yum! dry: this doesn't have the same complexity that the perfume has on my skin - with the perfume i feel like i can smell the individual sugar crystals and it's truly blue and pumpkin and the weirdest combo but it's blended so well it's magical. Here, I just get the blue (yes, I smell the color) and the pumpkin (sweet, spicy), without that crystalization floss effect. ultimately, pumpkin takes the day. i really do love it tho and will be picking up a bottle, even if it doesn't have the same magic as the oil.
  17. slo

    Sweet Strawberry Gingerbread

    wet: in the bottle all i get is a blast of strawberries - super sweet and juicy. drydown: the gingerbread starts to emerge, lending a little spice and warmth, but it never goes full-on foodie. maybe it's the mint that's keeping it a little "fresh"? but i never detect mint as an individual note. it starts to take on a little bit of a cabbage patch doll smell, but it never really turns plasticky soo yay! sweet strawberry is definitely the dominant note throughout wear - at first it seemed more like fresh, ripe strawberries, but on final drydown it blends with the other notes to be more hard candy. good wear and throw. I see this wearing well in the spring or summer, maybe layer with extra gingerbread for true foodie/winter.
  18. slo

    The Orange Window Hair Gloss

    wet: juicy, fresh oranges dipped in honey yummm dry: this goes to chewable orange vitamins (that's better than cleaner, right?) i love orange in theory, but it so rarely behaves with my chemistry/nose and unfortunately this is no exception for me - ymmv!
  19. slo

    California Leaf-Nosed Bat

    Wet: this goes on as a beautiful desert floral - dry, but a little sweet with some spice in there. hard to pick out individual notes, but maybe just because i'm not that familiar with them. anyway, it's totally unique and worth trying. however... dry: within 5 minutes this goes straight to soap on my skin! boo hoo chemistry. hard to say which note is doing that? but if i had to guess i'd say maybe the sagauro? just read it can smell kind of like melons and while i don't necessarily get "melon" from this blend, it is a death note for me. on final drydown a little green and a little spice come back to at least make this a pleasant/expensive smelling soap, but still a little heartbreaking.
  20. slo

    Three Children with a Goat Cart Hair Gloss

    I agree with the above...I looove the resins and teak and there is just a hint of lemon to freshen it up/keep it from being so heavy. Lemon tends to go cleaner on my skin, but I do love the smell and it's so nice to be able to wear it in my hair without my chemistry messing it up! the leather is definitely somewhere in the mix there too, tho, and I'm not so much a leather fan so that might be the one thing keeping me from jumping on a bottle. It's also kind of low throw (not necessarily a bad thing for me)
  21. slo

    Southern Yellow Bat Hair Gloss

    The patchouli in this to me is actually the strongest note. It's not a heavy/dirty patchouli (more of a sweet earthiness), it's just the note that stands out the most to my nose - DH (unfortunately) can't stand patchouli and the second he walked into the room after I had sprayed my hair he wrinkled his nose and said he didn't like the smell. The pumpkin and amber come out next, and I don't really get much almond at all, but once dry I do get this warm, brown, kind of earthy sweet, but not quite foodie, pumpkin blend. As a pumpkin and patchouli lover, I do think it's quite nice soo if those notes are your jam, give it a try, but if not it'll probably be a pass.
  22. slo

    Jupiter Nourished by the Goat Amalthea

    Wet: When I first sniffed this I got the most beautiful goat milk (creamy with a little earthy) with ambrosia (non-specific fruit, a touch of marshmallow even), and golden honey/nectar (adding a touch of sweetness/juiciness to it, but in an earthy/organic way) - it was heaven! drydown: this went to straight butter on my skin pretty quickly. I didn't see that happening to anyone else in the reviews, but after about 30 mins that's all I get! It's a very rich, organic butter with maybe a touch of sweetness, not so much baked goods foodie to me as just raw, fresh butter - i could see that being someone's thing (it's basically what I imagine white larry smelling like based on the notes without having actually sniffed it), but that's not really my thing. Throw and wear length are better than average takeaway: if the initial stage lasted longer (or if I wanted to smell like butter) this would be an instant bottle/backup bottle purchase. as it is, i'll probably hang on to my imp.
  23. slo

    Ghost Faced Bat

    I love these notes. Half my collection is creamy, sweet, vanilla, and/or coconut. It seemed like a no brainer. Wet: my mind concluded the note was "coconut milk" rather than "sugared coconut meat" and "condensed milk" when I first sniffed this in the bottle and on the skin. Not bad, just not sure it's what I wanted from this blend - nowhere near as sweet/foodie as I expected and it's not a tropical coconut either - to my nose, it's basically the coconut meat sn with a dose of milk. Drydown: As it dries, the benzoin with my chemistry threatens to go a little gasoliney, but it calms down and combines with the vanilla to give a nice depth to the "coconut milk". I don't ever get much, if any, honey note. although it does seem to sweeten up a little bit, it's more sugar/vanilla than honey to me (or maybe it's just a light honey). This scent lingers for quite some time and the longer it's on me the more I like it- it's comforting. ultimately, though, I think I have plenty of scents in the creamy/coconut/vanilla category that I like more from start to finish/agree better with my chemistry. average throw, good wear.
  24. slo

    Cabras

    I got this one because pine, sage, and juniper all tend to work super well on me/I like those notes, but i didn't have anything "foresty" or predominantly any of these notes in my collection soo it kind of felt like a niche to fill. Ivy was the one note I have less experience with and didn't know so much about and as the reviewer above, that seems to be the number one note that stands out to me. Wet: I definitely get a blast of sticky pine, but there is also something almost aquatic - I'm guessing that's the ivy since it's not something I'm really familiar with. Drydown: as it dries the pine backs of some - I was definitely expecting something more woodsy or herbal, but this isn't either. It seems to lead toward masculine, which isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's clean and fresh and green without going soapy. On final drydown there is a very slight sweetness if i look for it hard (maybe some sage or juniper finally peeking through). Final thoughts: not what I expected, but it still fills a hole in my collection that consists of mostly girly/creamy/spicy stuff - good for when I'm in the mood for something "crisp" and clean. I will still be on the lookout for that pine/sage mix tho cuz that sounds fabulous! Average wear and throw. If you love ivy, this is for you. If sage or juniper are death notes, this could still work.
  25. slo

    Pumpkin IV (2007)

    It's been a number of years since the last review - just got my hands on an aged bottle Wet: slightly spicy, slightly buttery pumpkin with a dryness to it - altho pumpkin is definitely there, it's not really a heavy/gourmand type of scent Drydown: the pumpkin fades into the background fairly quickly (less than 30 mins), leaving behind a dry, sweet herby floral with just a hint of warmth to ground it and keep it from going full desert. It's quite lovely (especially for a warm fall day when you want something seasonally appropriate but a heavy foody scent just doen't seem right), but unfortunately stays very very close to the skin (after an hour I can only catch a trace if i smash my nose into my wrist) and disappears all to quickly on me glad i got my hands on a bottle for slathering, but i can see myself reaching for other, longer-lasting pumpkins more. i really love all the notes here and what they're doing - just wish it lasted longer/had more throw!
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