SmellsPrettyGood2Me

Wet, beautiful honey and chamomile tea, in that order, with a sticky sweetness that is almost sneezy. Upon initial application, the honey and pollen practically explode onto the skin, even with a very sparse dabbing. The tea does not come back until 10 minutes later, and at that point gives more rooibos than chamomile. Do I even know what hyssop smells like? It isn't medicinal or minty here, which is what The Google tells me to expect, and it's definitely not licorice, either. This is a cheerful fragrance that, not in the notes but in the feeling it evokes, reminds me of Clinique Happy. Not at all blind buy safe if you're averse to honey as it is the opposite of subtle. Great projection and lasted a good 7 hours, getting even softer and more enjoyable as time went on.

Many thanks to the thoughtful forumite who added this as a freebie-with-purchase, it's really pretty! Rose and I are frenemies, but with a sigh of relief I get none wet in the imp, just a fresh green lilac stem and blooms. Applied to skin, the scent stays green and just the barest hint of a dewy rose lurks in the background. I am not sure what this absinthe note has in common with the lab's GC scent of the same name, but I really enjoy the former and not at all the latter. The currant is a soft kiss of sweetness and not particularly remarkable or distinctive. It's not clear how much of the overall pleasantness is an original feature of the scent and how much depth and balance is due to the aging of the sample itself. Either way, it's lovely, spring-like and very pleasant to wear. I will certainly use this up and enjoy it!

Gently carved wood warm with a maternal love that reaches beyond death: rose-infused amber and soft golden sandalwood. What should be a lovely wood and understated rose scent in the imp is instead the dreaded sandalwood dill note. Super bummed! It has only been in the last 6 months that some sandalwood variants go full on pickle to my olfactory receptors, and I wish I knew why. Applying to skin made no difference, and the dill lasted through dry down. This was a lab frimp so I am 100% sure it is a Me Problem and not a Sample Problem 😔

Pretty! I love the peony note in here; my imp is very aged and all of the other notes have melded together into something pleasantly and lightly floral but otherwise non-specific. Very low sillage, and longevity was fleeting at around 3 hours. I will enjoy using it up in an homage to BPAL history.

Fruity red table wine and a pot of wildflower honey! This is a bright scent, not cloying, and surprisingly refreshing. I would never have tried this if not for having received a frimp, but it was really enjoyable to experience. Not a heck of a lot of difference between wet-in-imp and dry-on-skin for me, which is fine. The potency and sillage of the scent dropped off sharply after about 2 hours and was almost entirely gone around hour 5. Agree with others that this is very wearable in warmer weather, and it does not turn sour on sweaty skin. Pleasant and sweet.

Incredibly intimidating when sniffed in the bottle, to the point of me wondering if this was going to be a huge mistake to actually put on my body. I applied just the tiniest, daintiest drop to the back of my hand so that I could scrub it off quickly if needed. Then I waited 30 seconds. Pardon me as I proceed to burst into a spontaneous and vigorous rendition of "Good King Wenceslas", because this is exactly what he smelled like when he trod that deep and crisp and even snow with his page before they later huddled (cuddled?) in front of a roaring hearth. Pine! Smoke! Burning medieval herbs! If you are happy to smell of these things, BPAL has this scent for you. Beautifully balanced clean pine with smoldering wood that is incredibly evocative of a winter evening forest tromp, followed then by warming yourself in front of the fire as the smell of sap melting from your clothes fills the room. A single bottle, sparingly applied, will last you several seasons; recommended playlist pairing is Mannheim Steamroller's 1984 Christmas album (Wenceslas / Podiven romantic fanfic optional 😉).

An intro for anyone new to BPAL in how amazingly well Beth does tobacco notes. Wet, it's really punchy, rich, and deep -you'll want to take big, long sniff swigs from the bottle to really get it all up in your nose in it's purest form. On initial application the tobacco allows the labdanum to enter the scene and a beautiful leathery vanilla brownness starts to bloom. The incense and benzoin stay at a low hum until about hour 3-4 when the tobacco finally starts to soften. If you like your scents swarthy, swaggering and sweet, this will probably be as much of a hit for you as it was for me. Very robust sillage and great longevity.

2024 version! I simply love this. BPAL does a fantastically chewy patchouli here and sets it up next to the red musk in a way that feels more like a duet than a blend. For those that are honey shy, do not fear! It's very subtle here, as is the vanilla that only really comes out to play a couple of hours after application. The comparison to Red Lantern is apt, as I enjoy that as well. Very sparse little wafts of caramel hit me from time to time as I move my arm. This scent is a lot sexier than it seems to get credit for! Pru Halliwell smells like this, I guarantee it!

I'm genuinely not sure which of these two notes isn't working for me here. The saffron is really pungent wet and on skin, but as soon as it starts to dry down I get some sort of weird plastic Play-Doh type aroma. The tonka bean pulls very almond-y, which is unfortunate as almond and I don't get along at all. I feel like it should smell better on me than it actually does, and I'm kind of bummed about it. I really want to try to make it work though and will probably look for another duet to pair it with, to see if adding some complexity to it creates better outcomes.

It's incredible how much this smells like a draft of cold, dusty air as soon as you open the vial. Is there a tiny hint of banana here on top of that funnel cake that I never noticed in other Please Scream variants, or doth my nose deceive me? Smells more of liquid batter than fried cakes on skin, underneath a hauntingly lovely dark attic atmospheric note. Stunning, in the best possible way! Projection was strong and emotionally evocative, even with very light application. 10/10 absolute perfection for any kind of spooky time or place. Love it!! Please consider bringing this back again - maybe it's too late for this year but for 2026? A girl can have (haunted) dreams...

No sharpness to this lemon, neither wet in the bottle nor dry on my skin. It's not a sugared lemon, either - more like highly diluted lemon scented water. The mallow flower is surprisingly strong here from the get go, for a note that usually takes a supporting role to other bolder top notes until drydown. Whatever vanilla this is comes through as dusty and woody, and I'm wishing the amber was sweeter and out to play to give it some much needed warmth. The musk is soft and barely present until an hour or so in. Where I usually either really like a scent or decide it's not for me, White Cat is in the rare ether of ambivalence. It's nice enough, I guess, but reads a bit like generic gift basket hand lotion on my skin. I will keep it for days when I want to smell like light, inoffensive powdery puffs of air.

Wet and dry, honey lemon Pledge furniture polish. Instead of ancient Egypt I'm in a late 19th century Victorian in San Francisco, shifting awkwardly on a horsehair chair as an elderly woman with a 1960's bouffant pours me a cup of tea in her grandmother's china. Every inch of the home is chock-a-block with ephemera, but also spotless, including the curled wooden arms of my seat that have been buffed until they did not dare do anything but shine. Somewhere on the mantle, tucked behind photos of someone beautiful and undoubtedly long dead, is a bouquet of dried flowers that still have a lingering, powdery aura, noticeable when the air in the house shifts just so. This scent transports me somewhere it never intended, and I loved the journey.

I liked everything about this, except for the neroli which in my aged imp was just not bright enough (even with the bergamot) to create balance with the dark musk. I much preferred it 3-4 hours in when it was only the middle and bottom notes left, without the sweet citrus to confuse my nose. Will pass this on to someone with more appreciation for that note with the hope that they find inspiration in it that I did not.

Malegance - a made-up adjective to describe an elegant male quality, be it of mind, body or soul. Dee is the embodiment of malegance, an aroma that you'd find wafting in your direction from the quiet, tweeded gentleman of a certain age sitting next to you, who paid for his first class ticket and is politely ignoring the fact that you most certainly do not belong there. Too many rosewood scents are overpowered by other notes, but BPAL let it shine here. There is a burnished quality to the leather note that smells well worn, but premium. Very lightly sweet, comforting, and comfortable. I wish all of my sweaters smelled like this!

I've been avoiding testing this on skin as it smelled a bit too minty/mentholated in the imp, and as such it went right into the destash pile. Or so I thought? Somehow it ended up falling under a couch cushion and I rediscovered it a year later. Terpines and sour grape bubblegum. I don't hate it, but can't imagine a situation where I'd actually wear it? I'm pretty sure it's the wasabi that is giving me the trouble here because there is an acidic, woody bitterness that didn't dissipate on the dry down as I had hoped. Too punchy for this old broad but there is a Gen Alpha trendsetter out there who would revel in how non-mainstream this scent is. Gives high school detention vibes.

One of my top 5 favorite Snake Oil variants! The cinnamon, ginger and cassia all contribute equally to the spicy sweet way this wafts up from my skin. Thank you cinnamon for behaving for me! Deliciously sweet but not foody, with medium longevity and sillage. My bottle is secondhand and beautifully aged, to the point of being downright comforting. It seems smart to buy another bottle now and put it away for a few years to really come into it's own. This is the signature scent of a former hippie turned B&B host, who gives every guest a hug when they arrive and before they leave.

Sugar pumpkin, only very sparingly spiced (if at all), with what smells to be something dry and husk-like underneath the oud. It almost has a buttery nuttiness to it that is really pleasant! This oud is quite moody and pungent on the dry down, but softens up after the first couple of hours. Agree with others that this has strong projection and longevity; it also transfers to and lingers on clothing even after a run in the wash! Best kept for evenings when you're feeling mysterious and but not mischievous; the goblins will smell you coming a mile away.

This was a thoughtful freebie from a fellow forumite! Wet in the imp vial the carnation is very front and center, but once applied I have the sense of other white florals being present. The musk is a bit pungent rather than powdery. I wish the carnation was a bit sharper in the drydown as it hangs back a lot. I don't get the same juicy plum that others experienced, either. On me it's largely a musky generic floral that smells pleasant enough but nothing to be especially infatuated by. I do think it would make for a lovely sachet scent for your unmentionables drawer if your vibe is old fashioned florals.

What a refreshing, clean scent! I would consider this a baby aquatic in that there is more of a green/chlorophyll vibe than anything salty or algaeic that would have a strong ocean feeling. The eucalyptus is incredibly subtle, not at all camphoric or minty, which I appreciate. A great scent for spring, summer or anytime you just want to feel fresh. I bet this would also make an amazing Hair Gloss and I am going to try to see if I can hack up a little sprayer to do that as it would be a great pick-me-up for Second Day Hair. Medium projection and about 6-7 hours longevity on clean skin.

How beautiful! I just love the lab's hay notes, and I feel like I smell it here even though it's not listed in the description. This leather is sweet and bright, and really plays nicely with the sandalwood. I would say this is the most delicate of the Rider scents, by far. I feel foolish for having slept on this as a go-to summer scent as it doesn't overpower or go sour on sweaty skin at all. Projection is low, comparatively, and it lasted all of 5 hours, getting more gently sandalwoody as time went on. Absolutely lovely and for sure an upsize to a full bottle (or two).

Nuttier than I expected! Smells like a candied praline in the imp, then wet on skin it is a roasted, glazed salted pecan on top of a fluffy coffee cake with a small ribbon of spices woven through it. Exceptionally realistic! I really have to get my wrist up in my nose to catch the rum, as it is present but not dominant as a note. I like this. I can see it being very cozy in winter months when you want to smell of baked goods without the guilt that comes from actual gluttony.

Lavender is one of my favorite relaxing scents, but Lurid is anything but sleepy! The ozone note is simply fantastic, and the black currant is quietly fruity. This is a perfect scent for those lazy, humid, languid days of summer when you need a little something to perk up your senses! Wears well for about 3 hours then starts to rapidly fade, which makes sense because there are not really any strong base notes here to anchor the scent. I gladly reapplied twice throughout the day as this is a freshie that had me huffing my arm at every opportunity. This is a hidden gem in the GC collection that should be on hand for those days when you want to smell good and want an easy grab to get there.

I had passed on a few Velvet frimps without trying them, on the basis of not caring much for cocoa as a note, but after trying Velvet Brick recently and liking it I wondered if I should give the OG base a try. BPAL got me again! The Swiss Miss (without marshmallows) vibe wet and on initial application really morphs into a pretty sandalwood scent with a dry Tootsie Roll-esque vanilla undertone. All of a sudden I'm 8 years old and scratching and sniffing the rear end of a My Little Pony doll at my friend Allie's house like it's 1988 again. If you like cocoa scented plastic pony butt, as I do, you will love Velvet.

What a gorgeous fruity floral! Both wet and on initial application I get predominantly photorealistic ripe pear, which makes the bold white florals I usually shy away from a lot more tame in contrast. I agree with others who describe this as creamy on the dry down, and the honeysuckle is a light enough touch to not be overwhelming. Very wearable and probably about as safe of a floral blind buy as I have come across from BPAL yet. I would wear this late March/early April to bridge between spring and summer. To make it more "mature" and cold weather friendly I'd layer with a bit of sweet patchouli.

I try not to look a frimp horse in the mouth, but if you don't love cherry (and I mean REALLY love cherry, particularly in a highly concentrated saccharine reduction format) you will not be able to even open this without being completely overwhelmed by it. The lavender is there, too, but it stands no chance against that much cherry. Can't bring myself to put this on skin, so I will immediately redirect it to my niece who will probably adore it.