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Showing results for tags 'Halloween 2017'.
Found 98 results
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Crystallized glittering shards of lightly spiced pumpkin sugar. Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I love me some Pumpkin Spice Everything hair gloss, but it is STRONG. I have to be very choosy about when to wear it because it WILL make my husband sneeze. I am hoping this will be a quieter version that I can wear more often. In the Bottle: A very sweet version of pumpkin and spice. Side-by-side sniffing says there's more sugar and more vanilla in Pumpkin Sugar compared to Pumpkin Spice Everything which definitely has more of the "spice" vibe with nutmeg and cinnamon. Wet on hair: The vanilla is really coming out for me. So much so that it goes through a plasticky stage. After blowdrying: It softens back to real vanilla, sweet and gently cinnamon over the pumpkin. Verdict: This was almost exactly what I was hoping for. The scent is gentler than PSE and something I can probably wear any time I want. If you are a fan of all the pumpkin things, you should try it. I got two bottles and will probably get more in my next order.
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[No additional description provided.] In the bottle: This smells like dead leaves to me. Forest floor, but decidedly deciduous. It's woody, and slightly green. If i had to give this a color, I'd say it's olive green. It's a bit cologne-like in nature, and while I like the scent, I do hope it changes so i can smell the other notes. Skin Test: again, a little goes a very long way. As it starts to dry down, more of the other notes start to come forward. The dead leaves scent though is definitely the star here. There's a sweet herbal note that i wouldn't necessarily identify as licorice root, and the patchouli is definitely coming out way more on than in the bottle. Some of the sweetness could be attributed to the tonka as well, but I don't outright get the cocoa/vanilla rich notes that i generally associate with tonka. As this continues to dry and warm up on my skin, the tonka and licorice definitely start to come out, and there's almost something sugared about this. At this point, I can't stop sniffing. I do finally get patchouli on this one, but it's not a super funky, wet earth patchouli. It's tempered by everything else and just lends more to the whole "forest floor" feel of this scent. While this wasn't quite what I was expecting, I really do love this, and I'll report back once I've put this in my hair. edit: In my hair the scent smells like the dried down, best version of itself. Not nearly as strong in my hair as on my skin- i have short hair and sprayed it into my hands before applying. I used two sprays. It's just the right amount of scent, and I think it would play nicely with base scents like O and Snake Oil, as well as other licorice scents. If you want to amp the patchouli, i think you could do that too. Ugh-so good!
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[No additional description provided.] Currently obsessed with Pink Peppercorn, so had to give this a go. The perfume version of Dead Leaves and Pink Peppercorn was not good on me. Hoping this is better! Ah...there's cinnamon in the pumpkin pulp. This is mostly sweet cinnamon on me, with a hint of pumpkin and dead leaves. There's maybe a touch of that floral-spicy thing that pink peppercorn does, but barely any. The combo of the pumpkin spice type scent with the dead leaves is pretty special though. Kind of makes it like fall in a bottle. I'm really enjoying it, and will keep my little 5ml and use it.
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[No additional description provided.] Disclaimer: The bottle was *very* cold sitting out in the chilly 40's of Minnesota. In the bottle: 'Juicy' clove. Not straight up identifiable fruit, but a chewy undertone. Interesting. On me: Whoah clove! This is a strong warm spicy clove, with a slightly smokey touch (the ouhd and leaves is my guess). The fruitiness is gone. I'm a bit disappointed as I really wanted a plum heavy blend. But I'm going to let this warm up and settle for a few days, as I've had blends change after a couple of days. But I am going to try layering this with some plum heavy blends like Bordello and The Soul of La Travata. Verdict:While this (at this point) isn't the spicy plum of my dreams, this is surprisingly nostalgic inducing for me. I was a teenager in the 90's, and this is bringing me back to days of dancing at clubs and raves, when smoking indoors was legal, and my friends and I all smoked clove cigarettes. I can smell them. Hear the R&B by R. Kelly, rap by Snoop Dogg and Warren G, and grunge rock by Stone Temple Pilots and Bush. Makes me want to buy some Djarums, open a wine cooler, pop the earphones in and listen to the soundtrack for Baz Luhrmanns Romeo and Juliet. Keeper.
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[No additional description provided.] Oh, goodness, this is pretty! I am delighted because this really does smell like fresh pumpkin rind at first sniff (nothing like cooked pumpkin). There is something spicy here (but not pumpkin pie spice). The rose geranium is a pretty, almost floral note. I cannot pick up the pomegranate. This is an easy to wear scent, more earthy than foody.
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TRUE! nervous very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? A proclamation of sanity: a dignified bay rum cologne and a hint of respectable lime aftershave, pierced through by glittering shards of madness. Well, since no one has written a review for this yet, I'll give it a try, particularly since I found that I really like this. The primary note is indeed bay rum, given a little zing by the lime. I don't know that this codes as super-masculine for me - I'd call it unisex. As for the "glittering shards of madness," I find myself wondering whether there might be a hint of carnation in here and that's what that refers to. It doesn't scream floral in case you might be worried about that, but the note underneath the two big players mentioned above reminds me a lot of Amaterasu v2 somehow. The overall feeling of this is a bit powdery and a bit "fizzy," not too outrageous to wear while out and about, but also not exactly shy in terms of throw and wear length. Very enjoyable!
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I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men — but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed — I raved — I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder — louder — louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Black opium and screeching blood orange. Could not pass this up with those two notes! The opium is mellow (as opposed to how it comes on in my beloved Debauchery). Perhaps people were put off by the "screeching" blood orange, but no worries. In fact, the orange is the sweet star of the show. It does not have a lot of throw; however, I sprayed it in my braid last night and it was still very evident in the morning. I am happily huffing my hair now! The opium and orange play very well together.
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[No additional description provided.] The dead leaves is the non-cologne, non-aquatic note that I like a lot. The black musk only comes through faintly, but it's good too - dark, rich, almost....sooty? With maybe a tiny hint of anise? Could just be the dark imagery. I like it, but it's very simple, and I do wish the black musk came through stronger.
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But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eve. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man’s terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! — do you mark me well I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. Blood musk and pulsating black pepper, a throb of bitter almond, and cracked pimento. Blood musk, spiked with almond and pepper. This is a peppery musky blend that I can see being well in the Ars Draconis line. Red, dirty, musky. Good throw and wear length.
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Pumpkin spice that brothel! I've never tried Harlot before, so this will be a completely new scent to me. On first sniff I smell alcohol and spice. When on and wet t is very gourmand which isn't my cup of tea but we will see what happens as it dries (while I look up Harlot reviews). I see that rose is a main note of Harlot, but I am not getting much which is strange as I amp rose like crazy. I am just getting a cinnamon cookie smell. I can taste the cinnamon when my hand is nowhere near my nose! The spice smell is calming down, but I am still not smelling any rose.I don't think I will be wearing this one. Fine for foodies, but not for me.
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Mist-shrouded pine and moonflower creeping over flaccid opium poppies. One of the best things about this Tell-Tale Heart collection is that each of the scents really do paint a picture of the exact scenario described, covering a wide base of moods and private horrors within one person's swift descent into madness. The palette of each blend includes flashes and colors and characterizations that set it apart from the others, but they're definitely all part of the same story. I'm a sucker for a pine scent and am wild for Black Forest, so I was very curious about this one. Whereas most of the collection depicts the character's internal state, this one is a reminder of the story's setting. As such, it is a bit smoother and more calm, though the pine note reaches upward in a way that communicates the rising dread of being awake and alone late at night. That piney nerve-jangle consistently pokes through the blanket of mist and dark flower base notes. In the bottle, all I get is the pine -- not the dry scruffy pine of "This Is Our Wilderness," more like the damp juicy pine of Black Forest. Within a few minutes on the skin, the poppy and moonflower and mist have all risen to cloak the pine, just as in the description, creating a landscape where the only dominant effect is darkness. So, if you're worried about smelling like a Christmas tree, this one shouldn't be a problem for you. (That comes later, with the Yule update!) Whereas Black Forest dries down to a sweet black musk, I can tell already that I'm going to be left with a gentle whiff of opium as this evaporates.
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If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye — not even his — could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out — no stain of any kind — no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all — ha! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o’clock — still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, — for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises. Clean wood floors, a clean tub, clean, clean, clean, with no stain of any kind, no blood-spot whatsoever. Embalming Fluid, is that you? It's like you crossed Mr. Clean with Embalming Fluid. There's a slightly soapy drydown which just smells clean. Low throw and wear length.
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The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story. Hearken and observe: black iris, French lavender, Roman chamomile, and frankincense. In the decant: Mostly black iris, followed by lavender and chamomile. Wet: The black iris note reigns, still followed by the lavender and chamomile, but then the frankincense emerges and starts gaining strength pretty quickly. But then the lavender reasserts itself, so that it's mostly the iris and lavender. Dry: The black iris note continues to reign, and it's so strong, and it, combined with the sharpness of this particular lavender, are threatening to give me a headache, sadly. Verdict: I was hoping this might be a wonderful sleep blend, but alas, it's not really for me. Still, I think it the iris and lavender certainly make this loud and sharp and fitting for its namesake. If you're a fan of iris, you'll probably enjoy this, but it's just too much for me.
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Pomegranate and maraschino cherry pumpkin floss! This one is a knockout winner for me. It almost had to be: I adore all pumpkin scents, pomegranate, and maraschino cherry. Add floss to the mix and there is almost no way it could NOT work for me. The first hit is that rich, sweet pumpkin scent I adore, with pomegranate adding a tart note. Those two notes seem to be a bit at odds at the beginning, but after it warms up for a few minutes the cherry and floss join the party and smooth everything together. Fruity, not too heavy and not too sweet. I will wear this one a lot all year around.
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[No additional description provided.] Lately I have been branching out into different scent categories, and books/paper is one that I want to try more of. I got a decant of this thinking it would be papery, but now that I think about it, I am worried it will smell more like glue... Wet: Cucumber. That's..unexpected. Oh ok, a newsprint sort of smell is coming through. And something chemical. It's interesting. It smells more like...maybe a printing press? Like paper, but also machinery and oils/lubricants. And somebody's leftover cucumber sandwich. I don't really feel like this is working out for me. Dry: About the same - paper and chemicals with a hint of cucumber. Not my jam! But glad I got to try it. It does smell similar to The Manuscript from CP, if I remember right, so those who enjoy that type of scent might like this.
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When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open wide, wide open and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old mans face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot. A dim ray upon the vulture eye: smoked violets and bulbous orris, threads of crumbling lavender, and wet iris butter. These are still settling from the trip to me, but I just had to review. I'll change this if the scent changes when it settles down. This is an incredible violet, iris, and lavender blend. Dark and spectral at the same time. The iris and lavender blend so perfectly that while I can smell both, I can't tell where one ends and the other begins. The violet (which I assume is also orris here) gives it just a hint of sweetness, but it's a darker and smokier violet than I've encountered in any BPAL violet scent other than Bruised Violet Compound. In fact, this is like a lighter but slightly menacing version of BVC. Throw length seems to be about average on me, but my skin likes to devour oils, so ymmv. Definitely pick it up if you like any of the three notes. It showcases each of them really well.
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Fermented apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, lemon zest, butterscotch liquor, and orange slices. Oh this is good....and I am going on a nose that isn't working 100% (thanks to a cold! ) Sniffing in the bottle, it is surprisingly....light. I sniff the butterscotch....apples... orange... lemon. It is a crisp cider to my nose. In my hair. it stays the same...it has a medium scent, not too heavy as I thought it might be with the sugar, clove, allspice and nutmeg notes, but this really is....sweet, not cloying, and a tad refreshing. You can totally wear this if you work in close range with people. After a few, the apples and butterscotch are prominent. But so not cloying. I will edit/add to this as my hair dries more and my nose is a bit better. But if you are worried this would be too heavy and spicy, it so isn't!! This, to me, is a year round wearable scent.
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Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded — with what caution — with what foresight — with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. Percolating with derangement: flashing spikes of orange blossom, neroli, lemon, and bitter clove in a bubbling mass of opoponax, patchouli, and thick, black vetiver. For now, neroli and clove are the stars of this scent, with a base of opoponax and vetiver. It's not a patchouli-heavy fragrance, though time might bring that note forward a bit more. I feel that the orange blossom and lemon make the briefest appearance when it's first applied. It's kind of cozy and appropriate for cooler weather, without a lot of throw, but it has good staying power on me. Even though there's no wood in it, I can feel the wooden floorboards that creak beneath the narrator's feet as he goes about the week before committing the murder. There's something familiar about this, maybe like a soap that I once used, and yet it doesn't actually smell at all soapy. It feels somehow more expensive than it is. I think it would suit all genders. I have to say that I don't get any impressions of madness, but maybe I'm just a little too familiar with madness to notice.
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Pumpkin floss with threads of dark chocolate! Just got this today... also, forgive me, I am trying to get over a cold, so I might need to edit this later! But just can't wait to dive into it! In the bottle, there is a light chocolate to me, and something spicy... mildly spicy... smells a bit cinnamon-y. On skin, if you have smelled/tested Pumpkin V 2009, it reminds me of that, but more of the cinnamon coming out. It isn't overpowering, but my nose might be lying to me now. Dry down, I get more of the chocolate emerging, but it isn't crazy heavy.... it is light and the spice backs off, but still there. I don't get pumpkin from this. Doesn't last long on me...even as I am writing this, it is fading already. BUT again...might be my stuffy nose not wanting to cooperate. It is yummy and not too foody or pumpkiny.
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[No additional description provided.] So, lemon and I aren't friends, but couldn't resist something called "cream amber", so here goes! Mmm! I had not taken into account how clean this might smell!! I love clean HG scents for work. The lemon is really sweet, almost candied, and I am digging that. It's a light scent, with the dead leaves note a dry, subtle one. I don't know as I am getting the cream amber, unless that's the lovely sweetness I am getting. Anyway, this is a great, totally non-offensive clean smelling HG, and I will happily wear it to work.
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[No additional description provided.] this is my favorite out of the three DL scents I got. The pink peppercorn in it is similar to the one in Fake News. it has that tickle-your-nose, sweet-but-spicy quality to it. Combined with the DL note, it is truly lovely and innately autumnal. A relatively simple scent, only two notes, that does not morph or change on the skin. Beautiful on it's own but I'm very much looking forward to layering it.
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Mod Note: There is a review topic for Samhainophobia release years 2006-2007, 2011, 2013, and 2016 located here. Per our Review sub-forum topic policy, a new review topic has been created for the 2017 release due to an inexact match with previous release scent description. To be specific, the word 'Haitian' is missing from the 'Haitian vetiver' verbiage used in past scent descriptions. This callout does not indicate knowledge of formulation and is simply provided for transparency on review topics. Fear of Halloween Menacing vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves. Would you believe I have never tried this before? I tried Samhain ages ago. It was horrendous on me. Like, shockingly bad. And somehow in my head this got lumped in with it and I avoided it like the plague. BUT THEN Ajevie started doing half decants, and, well...what can I say, I like to try all the things! Wet: Wow, menacing really is a good word for it. This is HEAVY. Ominous. DARK. I don't hate it, but it's not my thing, yet. It's actually starting to do a burnt plastic thing on my arm, so I'm not really a fan of that. Dry: Tons of vetiver. It must be pretty strong, as my skin often eats vetiver when it's in among other notes. I actually can't really smell the other notes in this. I am guessing some aging would help everything even out, however I am fairly certain this is one of those scents that is just not for me. Glad to have finally tried it though! (And I do wonder if this was a formulation change this year, or just a word omission.
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We do lie beneath the grass In the moonlight, in the shade Of the yew-tree. They that pass Hear us not. We are afraid They would envy our delight, In our graves by glow-worm night. Come follow us, and smile as we; We sail to the rock in the ancient waves, Where the snow falls by thousands into the sea, And the drownd and the shipwreckd have happy graves. Thomas Lovell Beddoes Yew berries and cypress boughs, ropes of kelp and sea spray. I haven't tried any of BPAL's other sea/themed scents, so I can't say how this stacks up to them for comparison. I tried this at New York Comic Con with no plans to make a purchase, but I ended up buying a whole bottle because I couldn't think of any BPAL scents I've tried that smelled like this! In the Bottle: saltwater. Wet: Salt and cut greens. There's an astringent quality on the edge of the salt that immediately reminded me of The Beer from the Marshwoman's Brewery -- which made sense when I looked up the notes, because they both have yew berries. Dry: The cypress comes out here, but it's wood drenched in salt water -- like standing at the edge of a dock in the winter, or being underway on an old galleon. If you've ever been to a maritime history museum which recreates historical boats and their construction, this will immediately put you in mind of that. For lack of a better word, it smells nostalgic. In Sum: A unique scent that stands out for me among all of BPAL's products that I've sniffed over the years. I would recommend it more as a room/atmospheric scent than for use on yourself, but it's immensely refreshing and bracing. If you want a little bit of the sea to keep in a bottle, this would be the scent for you.
