Leopard403
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Sniffing this from the imp, the most forward note is a gorgeous juicy realistic pear. It’s so well-supported by the other notes, which lend a creamy background. Sadly, on my skin, the orris note just torpedoes everything else so that’s all I get; and this scent is a little too understated to do much in my scent locket.
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I was a little worried that “black velvet” might read similarly to the black musk in Mircalla, Countess Karnstein (because that smells like Disney-generated fog to me LOL), but IWtL is surprisingly bright. I definitely smell effervescent citrus fizz, most identifiable as bright limeade. Then there is something underneath that smells like a mauve-colored floral, so I think I’m getting more flowering notes from the strawberry and plum than true fruitiness. It’s a fun scent that seems a better fit with springtime riots of colors, so I have a hard time conceptualizing it as a Weenie.
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Full disclosure: I have difficulty picking apart any blends with lavender. It’s often a total assault on my senses so I must indulge carefully and deliberately. I like lavender, but I don’t always want it to scream at me, ya know? So obviously, I can compare this to TKO. Whereas TKO’s lavender is the type that fits in an old Batman episode (e.g. *POW* there’s lavender! *ZAP* smell the herbaceous scent!), the lavender in Lavender Apron is softer and a sweeter. For some reason, my brain keeps mislabeling the name of this scent as Lavender Linen Kitchen Apron, and that’s exactly what it smells like to me. It’s a well loved, faded purple apron, its thick fabric worn soft over time, that has been washed in lavender soap, hung to dry out in fresh air, and donned again to prepare something that requires long blending of confectionery sugar. (Homemade frosting perhaps?) If you bury your face in that apron’s fabric, it’s hard not to feel calm and comforted.
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This is so charming when it’s wet: You really get a cozy foodie scent, chewy and milky and comforting with a distinctive note of pink. Unfortunately, there’s that clove bud. *shakes fist* It takes this blend and turns it right into red potpourri candle. 😔
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I am reeeeeally into the Noix de Coco HG and this is the same cool coconut note with the added benefit of fresh and zesty lime in the forefront. Drink ‘em bot’ up. I’m not sure my nose knows a difference between lime and pink lime, but I’m okay with that; I just wish that lovely lime stayed around a little longer. (It does tend to last a bit longer in my hair than when used as a body gloss. The coconut lingers well in both uses.)
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This is definitely a red-musk-forward scent (which is kind of the nature of red musk, no?) and for the first moment or so that’s all I get upon application. But then, around that musky heart, the other notes bloom and this smells a little floral with a hint of candy-sweet. Less mature and overt than The Elephant is Slow to Mate, which is my current go-to red scent and makes me feel like a badass. In contrast, On Pleasure has a bit more whimsy and is likely to wear better/lighter in warmer weather.
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Black Butterfly Moon: Black Currant and Black Rose Lotion
Leopard403 replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Lotion
This is my first experience with Lab lotion so I’m reviewing both scent and formula. This smells like a “candied rose” blend and reads more pink than black to me. I’m cool with that. Upon application the scent stays close to the skin, so it’s a nice treat for myself without blasting others with a strong smell. Lotion formula itself is VERY nice. I was a little worried at first because there is not a lot of slip, so it is something that encourages you to pat and press the lotion into your skin instead of “rubbing it on.” So it does take a little effort. It’s worth it, though, because there is no stickiness at all; in fact, the skin feels silky smooth and cooled, almost as if there is the lightest coating of dusting powder to it. When someone says “my skin just drinks it up,” I think this is what they mean. I can’t stop touching myself. *wink* ETA: Of note, I bought a decanted sample of this that came in a small jar. I don’t often buy things in jars due to the risk of contamination from dipping fingers as well as the risk of ingredient loss or spoilage with frequent opening, so I am glad that this comes in bottle format from the Lab. However, I imagine this might be too thick for the pump mechanism they have been using. This really would be best suited to a tube (like toothpaste) but manufacturing could be a nightmare, so in the end this might be best in a more flexible bottle with a flip/squeeze cap. My advice is don’t get too hung up on the method of delivery and be willing to decant into your own preferred container if necessary. -
Black Butterfly Moon: Black Orchid and Crushed Berries Hair Gloss
Leopard403 replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Hair
It reminds me of my beloved (and discontinued!) Blood Countess. -
It’s always a little daunting to be the first reviewer, but y’all. This is everything I hoped it would be. I’ve been on the prowl for some coconut-forward scents for months now and finally, FINALLY, the beast is sated. Along the way I tried BPAL’s recent Coconut Tree, which was nice but has no real staying power on my skin; BPAL’s Obatala, which I adore but is more buttery than what I craved lately; and my precious hoarded bottle of BPAL’s Coconut Meat SN, which is as close to coconut perfection as I could get though I somehow wanted something just sliiiiiightly warmer currently. Then I branched out to body washes, shampoos, and scented moisturizers that were coconut-heavy, and I was disappointed every time. Turns out it *is* possible to discern “real coconut” scents from terribly fake ones. Shudder. As for my ideal coconut for Summer ‘25, the closest I had gotten so far was in my sampling of Nest’s Balinese Coconut perfume oil. So when this HG first hit the internet I immediately placed an order and crossed my fingers, and was thrilled when it exceeded my expectations. It is exactly the coconut I wanted. No tanning lotion comparisons here, nothing overtly foodie or sweet, and nothing smells notably like coconut milk or coconut water. This definitely feels bolder and meatier than that, and husky in a way. It’s coconut. It’s *a* coconut. There’s something wildly fecund about it. Also worth noting: I used four or five spritzes on the ends of my towel-dried hair, then blow dried it and pinned it up to sleep. That was over 48 hours ago, and I still smell it in my hair. I’ve never had an HG linger that long, especially following a full blow dry. In summary, two words: OB. SESSED. 🖤
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I bought a decant of this because I, too, am confused by the idea of ruby chocolate. Smelling this scent does not create any clarity whatsoever. Sniffing from the decant I smelled something cocoa-based, but that is not true on my skin, even on first application. I’m in my red musk era and that tends to drown out other notes, but I’m not getting that clarion call here, either. I don’t know, this kind of smells like sweetened red wine? Sangria sans overt fruit? I actually quite like it, but I can’t make any damn sense of it. In some way it is familiar; it reminds me a bit of Blood Countess, which I adore.
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Another hibiscus Luper! (And I’ll say again: I didn’t know hibiscus had a scent LOL.) This is a candy floral on me, like if the floral notes were put into a Jolly Rancher-type hard candy, or someone just handed you a sweetened hibiscus tea infusion over crushed ice. Honey can turn too unctuous on my skin, but the scent here just reads as “sweet” on top of a juicy flower smell. It’s slightly green, too. Very refreshing and lasts a surprisingly long time!
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I’m in my red musk era, but I find that other musks are quite tricky. I was hoping that “russet” meant more red-leaning here but I definitely get more of a brown musk that is likely heightened by the patchouli. Not a lot of red here despite the other notes. I don’t get anything that’s honey-like either, nothing sweet or even unctuous as is typical from lab honey notes. This lasts a very long time on my skin, but it’s essentially a commercial perfume musk.
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Right before I started grad school back in the aughts, I worked at a candle and knick-knack shop who did major business with Yankee Candle. I loved that job, but those candles ruined me for life on certain scents. This lab blend, for example, is straight up YC Tulips. I’ve found this to be the case with several floral lab blends, often in the Luper line. It’s not a smell I dislike, but once that connection is made in my brain that’s all it can ever be. I wish I got lily or lilac here, but that bright red wax will always haunt me.
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My first whiff was that bubblegummy lotus but that was gone quickly. This identifiably smells “like flowers” but it’s grounded by a whiff of strawberry Nesquick powder. Hint of something buttery from the iris, hint of spice from the carnation, hint of something green from the peony. It’s really nicely blended.
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Rose Milk is surprisingly gourmand! The almond milk froth and the tapioca do wonderful things together, almost a spongey almond coffee cake sort of vibe. The rose is there and while it’s probably pink (maybe white? It’s definitely not red rose) there is nothing “flowery” or dainty about this scent overall. Lasts a nice long time on my skin as well. I’m into it.