prettybird

I had to check- twice- to make sure I hadn't already reviewed this one. I can't imagine why I didn't, as I got it ages and ages ago and it's one of my favorites. This is one of my favorite scents for professional wear. It's very lemony and clean, with a nice sweetness as well. Something about it reminds me of very expensive hotels. Now that I reexamine it, it smells more and more like Severin without the tea. It is very lovely, but I think overall I prefer my big bottle of Severin.

I picked an imp of this one up from the CBLDF at Comic-Con. Yay! In the bottle: WHOA. I can't put my face too close to it, because it burns my eyes. On skin: Thankfully, the WHOA astringentness of it dies down as soon as it's dry. Unfortunately, so does all the whiskey. Fortunately, it turns all clovey and herbal. I've just realized what it smells like- it smells exactly like Djarum Black cigarettes. I really like it, but it's not what I expected from the description. It is delicious, though. ETA: The more I let it sit, the sweeter it gets. After the clove scent wears down, it starts to smell like some currently unidentified baked good. This is an awfully complex scent, but I think I'm totally in love.

For those interested in such things, the vial comes in standard TAL packaging (white on navy blue with a purple border), and the oil itself is light brown in color and slightly sticky. I have to say that this is not what I was expecting. I was expecting something more akin to The Apothecary or Sea of Glass, something rather light and herbal. It is somewhat herbal, but also somewhat heavy. It's got sort of a resinous quality to it- I find it very hard to pin down, which seems highly appropriate for a Daoist ritual oil. It's hard to pick out any one note, because it is so harmonious. I've yet to be able to use it in meditation or ritual, but it's very soothing, very serious, and very centering. I did anoint a piece on my shrine with it, and I'm very pleased with its residual scent (is that a term, or did I just make it up?). It's light but present, and not distracting in the least. Overall, I think it's quite appropriate and quite pleasant.

Scent: Oh man, I love how this smells. It smells very buttery and caramelly to me, with a faint acrid tang that cuts through the sweetness very nicely. It's quite boozy as well- I think whiskey, maybe? It's quite strong (I may say this because I spilt it all over the first time I opened it) and doesn't change much on the dry down. Even though I was accidentally wearing quite a lot, I didn't find myself growing tired of the smell. There's something about it that reminds me of High John the Conqueror (the BPAL version, I don't know that there's a TAL), which seems appropriate to me. I found it instantly invigorating- I giggled, for Pete's sake. Even if it was a total dud, ritualistically speaking, I'd totally wear it as a perfume. Efficacy: Holy crap. I wore it to work, because I have a couple projects that have to be finished very soon that have been dragging out for several months. And let me tell you internet, I tore it up. In a very literal sense, I got my obstacles out of the way once and for all, and there was much quick thinking and creativity involved. That energy definitely stayed with me all day. A caveat: While I totally kicked butt, took names, and was generally awesome, I found myself- and my coworkers found me- somewhat meaner than usual. I felt like nothing so much as a raging bull (or possibly an avenging angel). Use with caution. I used the spilled liquid that I couldn't get up with an eyedropper to scent a page in my writing notebook, as I've been having a touch of the writer's block lately- we'll see if it helps! ETA: I've gotten the same kind of effect in my writing as I did wearing it- I've been able to muscle through my writer's block in a big way, but it's very unrefined, frantic writing. Oh well, that's what editing's for!

It's really hard to describe this scent, mainly because I don't know what any of the things in it smell like alone. Floral, in a "wind across a field of flowers" way. Whatever they are, the notes used are a very good choice, because it very much evokes Central America to me.

Not nearly as citrusy as I was expecting. Only the lime really comes out, especially in the bottle. As soon as it hits my skin, it's like a musk explosion, and not in a good way. I'm a bit torn- I sort of like it, but it suffers from the same too-lasting problem that Water of Notre Dame has. I think, ultimately, it's headed for swaps.

I desperately love this scent. It's very good for everyday wear- sophisticated, smooth, and subtle. The honey really moderates the wine. I again fail to get grape, but I seem to be grape-blind or something. This is definitely on my vial list.

Tea roses, among other things. It's very comforting, sort of... lavender (the color, not the fragrance). My main complaint about this scent is that it's too long lasting. I put it on in the morning, and I can still smell it at 9 at night, and it starts to give me a headache by then. It's very nice, but it's not for me.

Rec'd in swap from Miseraya. It's hard for me to review this scent, because I can barely smell it when it's on! My skin just seems to swallow it whole. All I can get is the faint whiff of ribbon candy, even when I slather. Unfortunately, I think this is going to have to go back in the swap pile.

I know I've smelled this before, but that's really not surprising to me. I'm having a hard time getting past the "this smells like that one shop on Bourbon Street across from Preservation Hall" sensation to what it actually smells like. Someone up thread said it doesn't have sharp edges, and I completely agree. I don't really like to wear this as a perfume, because it smells like it ought to be an anointing oil. I suppose that's appropriate, though, because it does make an excellent anointing oil- particularly for tarot and road trips (...cause that's a logical combination...).

The ginger is really overpowering in the vial, but it's not so bad on. It is really striking, and the vanilla comes out- though it's the scent of vanilla beans, if that makes sense. It's also sweeter as it warms. It reminds me of War, though it's not nearly as sharp. My particular imp has aged some, which I think really improved it. But a caveat! This is a very dark, very red oil, and it WILL stain when wet.

Rec'd in swap from Miseraya. This was a rare disappointment from the lab. I was really psyched up for it, because I absolutely love leather/tobacco scents. Unfortunately, the ambergris is really strong on me, and it sours out the rest of the notes. I ended up passing it along to a friend (who seems to have the opposite of my body chemistry), who absolutely loved it. Not a bad scent, just... not for me.

Swapped Saturnalia, which never did work, for this. I'm.. terminally ambivalent over this scent. I don't dislike it, but I don't like it either. It's... overpowering. It definitely doesn't remind me of vampires, but it definitely reminds me of Shojo Beat, over which I am also ambivalent. It's a moot point though, because it makes my mom ill, so I can't really wear it.

This smells exactly like a tiger lily. I love tiger lilies. End review, time for a drink.

I kept wondering what made this smell so foody, but it's the honey and blood orange. It is a very down to earth scent, which is very appropriate. It also makes me feel oddly creative. As far as the notes go, I don't get the gardenia, but apparently it's not my night for florals. Very fun, overall.

I have to say that I completely agree with edenssixthday: it is The Worst Smelling BPAL in the bottle. Quite honestly, it smells like . Fortunately, that goes away on my skin. Unfortunately, it's... just boring. It goes soapy very quickly. On the whole, I'll stick to Caliban.

Rappaccini's Garden: Forever reminding me that I don't know plants. This is awfully lovely. It's a very bright, cheerful scent. It's not "green" though, whatever that's supposed to mean. It definitely has a clean laundry thing going on, but when has that ever been a bad thing?

Oh my, this is lovely. I, er, don't actually know what heather smells like, and it really doesn't smell of blackberries, so I can't attest to that. It smells… very expensive, like walking into a very chic boutique or something. But at the same time, it's sort of innocent and sweet. I don't know that it's really my speed, but it's very, very nice.

This was a first: a frimp that was on my wishlist! I was very pleasantly surprised. At first blush, this is a whole lot like Bastet. It's lighter, though; I think it's the amber missing. It makes me feel the same way, though- very soothed and relaxed. It's oddly sweet, too, almost like… bubblegum? It gets even sweeter on the dry down. It's quite versatile- I can see wearing it to the opera as easily to the grocery store.

Lord, this is a complicated scent. Everytime I smell it, I smell something different. The rosemary definitely prevails over the orange for me, making it an oddly foody scent. I don't get the mint or roses at all, which I'm not really complaining about. I get less of the grape as it dries, more rosemary. This is an odd statement to make, but: I don't like smelling it, but I like smelling like it. I'll definitely be using this imp.

Two words: DO WANT. Unf. Usually I have some nitpick, but this is absolutely perfect. It is just what I wanted. It smells like walking through a cemetery. It's a lot like Thanatopsis, but it lacks the pine note, which I've never really gotten along with. I just can't stop sniffing myself.

This is nothing like I was expecting, but I have no problem with that (cause I was expecting it to smell like Elegba, and well, if I want that I've got a big ol' bottle). It's very reminiscent of Juke Joint, only spicier and better. The moss really comes out, and once again I am struck with the realization that I really like smelling like something bizarre. I really don't smell the magnolia or the flowers, which is frankly fine by me. It only gets spicier on the dry down, which I think is the dirt coming out. This is definitely a keeper.

I… can't say I really care for this. It smells a whole lot like Helena to me; maybe it's just because I've smelled them right in a row, but it's sort of non descript. Very, very rosy, but not in a good way. It's not that it's a bad scent, and on the right girl it could be a very good thing, but it's not for me.

It's very rosy, which is usually a bad thing. But, for some reason, this works for me. I think it's the lilies coming through. It has mad crazy INSANE throw, so it is not to be taken lightly, but I quite enjoy it. I wouldn't buy more, but I'll definitely be using my imp.

Sometimes I feel like the scent names are pastede on yay. Lolita is a big exception. It does exactly what it says on the tin. It reminds me a lot of lollypops, but with a sharp, acrid undertone. I love me some verbena, and it does not disappoint. …Did I just love a floral? WTF is that about?