No. 93 ENGINEBeeswax candles reflect flickering light onto a brass-coated boiler engraved with the words "Solve Et Coagula". The gargantuan boiler sends torrents of steam into rigid pipes that exert force onto innumerable pistons and turbine blades. The motion is harnessed to propel energy into gargantuan cogs and gears that move liquid metals, herbs, and resins into a series of alembics.
Balm of Gilead, benzoin, frankincense, balsam of peru, beeswax, saffron, galbanum, calamus, hyssop, mastic, lemon balm, and white sage.
I was really looking forward to this one, based on recommendations from some helpful forumites, and it did not disappoint. In the bottle, the beeswax is prominent, and other scents are a bit hard to distinguish. On, other notes make themselves known. Benzoin, saffron, maybe a little lemon balm. This scent is complex and lovely. I can see why it was so highly recommended.
DEEJohn Dee: master of science, alchemy and magic, Hermetic philosopher in the schools of Rosicrucian Christian Mysticism and Platonic-Pythagorean doctrine, and Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer, advisor, cryptologist and spy. With Edward Kelly, he created a field of study and work in Angelic Evocation, and isolated the Angelic language: Enochian. His scent is soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
The tonka and leather are the strongest notes in the bottle. On, as it dries, I get more of the incense and parchment, and very subtle rosewood. This is awesome. Another winner recommended by CaffeinatedAngel (thanks!). This is going to be great on the hubby, too. We may need a bottle.
THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISMBronze gears spin inside a polished wooden case, and an entire universe dances within.
Teakwood, oak, black vanilla, and tobacco.
This sounds right up my alley, but there's a note here — the teakwood? — that smells like the vet's office. I'm not sure if it's a particular medicine, or a pet shampoo vets use, or what, but it definitely smells subtly of vet's office. Otherwise, it's nice. The black vanilla and tobacco are great. I can't get past that, unfortunately.
Edit: I went home and fed my cats, and realized immediately what it is. There's a note in there that smells like Iams (which would explain the vet's office thing).
OThe scent of sexual obsession, slavery to sensual pleasure, and the undercurrent of innocence defiled utterly. Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla.
Amber, honey and vanilla? Sign me up. This is very sexy indeed.
MME. MORIARTY, MISFORTUNE TELLERA colorless woman bursts from an elaborate gold and ruby tent and faints dead at your feet. Soft laughter emits from the dark entrance to the tent, and the scent of musk, black fruits and incense touches your senses. Looking up, you see that the sign hovering above the unconscious woman is adorned with images of the Major Arcana's Tower and reads: "Mme. Moriarty, Misfortune Teller. No fate too grim, no future too bleak." A tiny woman with floor-length black dreadlocks walks out of the tent, stepping over the prone body. She is clothed in deep red wrappings, and is bedecked in golden ornaments bearing alchemical symbols and charms representing eternity, chance, and wisdom. She pauses, looks you over slowly, and then flicks a tarot card at your feet. Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum.
Another scent I was really looking forward to trying, and she doesn't disappoint. In the bottle, I get musk, vanilla, a hint of patchouli maybe, and pomegranate. On wet, the musk and vanilla are most prominent, with a stronger patchouli presence and a subtle smokiness. As it dries, the pomegranate returns, the patchouli softens, and it's a lovely, complex blend. Very nice indeed.
CROWLEYNothing about him looked particularly demonic, at least by classical standards. No horns, no wings. Admittedly he was listening to a Best of Queen tape, but no conclusions should be drawn from this because all tapes left in a car for more than a fortnights metamorphose into Best of Queen albums. No particularly demonic thoughts were going through his head. In fact, he was wondering vaguely who Moey and Chandon were. Crowley had dark hair, and good cheekbones, and he was wearing snakeskin shoes, or at least presumably he was wearing shoes, and he could do really weird things with his tongue. And, whenever he forgot himself, he had a tendency to hiss. Infernal musk, red patchouli, lilac cologne, mahogany, lemon rind, oakmoss, leather, and vanilla husk.
In the bottle, this is a really nice combination. It's mostly musk and lilac, with a hint of lemon rind and leather. On wet, the tobacco begins to come through, on top of the musk and lilac. As it dries, it becomes more complex as more of the subtler scents come out. I really like this one. Works great on both me and my hubby (although, admittedly, a wee bit better on him).
PERVERSIONThe perfect scent to wear to your next bondage ball, dungeon adventure or sojourn to your favorite pleasure dome. Smoky rum and black tobacco with a whisper of steamy leather with a splash of crystalline chardonnay, layered over a sensual, sweet, and deceptively magnetic base of tonka.
In the bottle, I get a lovely, sweet scent. Rum and tonka, with a tiny bit of leather and chardonnay. On wet, the tobacco begins to come through. Dry, it's very nice. Mostly rum and tonka, with those nice hints of tobacco and chardonnay.
LOVIATARThe Finnish Goddess of Agony, Torment and the joy found in inflicting pain on others. The Mistress of Torture, she has transformed in the modern era into the patron Goddess of Dominatrixes. The slap of slick, hot leather punctuates the warm, sensual embrace of black amber, red musk and dark, lascivious myrrh.
Myrrh strikes again. In the bottle, this smells really nice. Leather and amber, with a bit of musk, mostly. When I first put it on, it's leathery with a touch of roses. Then the myrrh kicks in and it's just awful on me. I've got to learn to avoid it.
BLACK PHOENIXOur signature oil. A dark, languid scent. Promotes hedonistic tendencies and extreme self-love. You won't stop kissing mirrors for a month.
This is really interesting and complex. In the bottle, I get a bit of green, pine-iness, but not in a Pine Sol sort of way. It's something dark and green and foresty. There's also a sweet, fruity scent that neither the hubby nor I can quite identify. On wet, it goes a bit soapy at first. As it dries, however, it returns to this dark, complex green-and-fruit scent. This is going to take some time to wear and think about.
SEVERINLeopold von Sacher-Masoch, the Father of Masochism and sexual surrender, had planned on writing six volumes of erotic literature entitled The Heritage of Cain. Only the first two volumes were completed, the more famous of the two being the notorious Venus in Furs. This novel tells the tale of a man, Severin, that enters into a relationship of slavery and increasingly debauched degradation with his mistress, Wanda. Dry black teas, Earl Gray, and leather.
In the bottle, this has a lovely tea scent (I can definitely get the Earl Grey) with just a touch of leather. On both the hubby and me, it's mostly tea and lemon. It's a very nice scent, but not necessarily something either of us would wear. I like it, though. May keep it and use it to make scented candle tart things.
SUDHA SEGARANamed after the primordial ocean of milk where Lord Vishnu reclines upon the thousand-headed Naga. Sweet milk and warm, healing ginger with a touch of golden honey and our blend of Ambrosia.
In the bottle, this definitely gives me milk and honey, with some lovely ginger. On, it's pretty much exactly the same. Very true to bottle scent. It's quite pretty, but not really stunning. I tend to prefer more complex scents.
AZATHOTHThe Daemon Sultan, Seething Nuclear Chaos ...that last amorphous blight of nethermost confusion which blasphemes and bubbles at the centre of all infinity — the boundless daemon-sultan Azathoth, whose name no lips dare speak aloud, and who gnaws hungrily in inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond time amidst the muffled, maddening beating of vile drums and the thin, monotonous whine of accursed flutes; to which detestable pounding and piping dance slowly, awkwardly, and absurdly the gigantic ultimate gods, the blind, voiceless, tenebrous, mindless Other Gods whose soul and messenger is the crawling chaos Nyarlathotep. Azathoth is the blind, idiot god who sits on a black throne at the center of Chaos. His scent is high-pitched and screeching, both impenetrably dark and searingly bright with the clarity of madness: tangerine, saffron, vetiver, black amber and cedarwood.
In the bottle, this smells really interesting. It's an intriguing combination of notes. On, it just doesn't work for me. I think it's something about the combination of tangerine and saffron, or tangerine and cedar, that just doesn't work for me at all.
FRENCH LOVEA warm, soft, sexual blend. Sweet and alluring. Used to entice new lovers and add an aura of temptation and carnal sin to your environment.
In the bottle, this seems like a sweet, nice scent. Unfortunately, on me it turns straight to powder. Headache-inducing powder.
And on that note, I stop testing for today. *goes to scrub off French Love and put on something non-headachey*
Just reviewing some of the frimps included with my yoga pants/locket order.
Queen of ShebaA woman of exquisite, unearthly beauty, profound intelligence, wit, and exceeding wealth, the Queen of Sheba — called Bilquis by the Muslims and Makeda by the ancient Abyssinians — traveled by caravan to Solomon's realm seeking proof of the king's reputed wisdom. Bearing gifts of exotic spices, a veritable mountain of gold, hearty camels and precious stones, she presented herself to the king and, bearing her heart to him, asked him a series of challenging questions, and was ultimately convinced of the truth of his wisdom, knowledge and judiciousness. In the end, the great king and queen conquered each other's hearts and fell breathlessly in love: the perfect marriage of equals. Her scent is a bounty of golden honeyed almonds and a whisper of African and Middle Eastern spices.
Wow. In the bottle, this smells exactly as described: honeyed almonds and spices. On, it's fabulous! Honeyed almonds, saffron, cadamom, maybe a touch of cumin and more. Pure awesome.
Dragon's TearsBittersweet yet powerful: salty aquatic notes and bursting with dragon's blood.
In the bottle, it reminds me strongly of Sturgeon Moon, with some dragon's blood thrown in. On me, it smells like this at first, with a little stronger dragon's blood, but then it kinda goes weird. On my hubby Ben, though, it's great. The scent stays very true. Really nice.
MasqueradeA festive, dazzling blend, layered in mystery and intrigue. Patchouli, ambergris, carnation and orange blossom.
In the bottle, this smells like patchouli and orange blossom. On wet, the scents are the same, but the patchouli is much softer and the orange scent really comes through. As it dries, though, it takes on a smokiness that just doesn't work for me in combination with the patchouli and orange.
ThanatosOne of the horrible, painful, cruel, brooding, mocking and malignant children of Nyx, he is Death Incarnate, and is seen as a willowy young man, accompanied by a butterfly, bearing an inverted torch and funeral wreath in his hands. In modern thought, thanks to Sigmund Freud, it is the Death Instinct: love of death, destruction and decay, and the desire to embrace the quiescence, silence and peace of the grave. Dry white sandalwood and soft Siamese benzoin over a lugubrious blend of myrrh, Moroccan rose, mastic, tomb moss and a thin whiff of Greek incense.
In the bottle, I get the sandalwood and benzoin. There's also a sweet, vaguely floral scent. It's just a little funereal. On, it almost disappears. Not much throw. But as it dries, the floral amps and it's definitely more funereal. Not a favorite.
Cheshire CatGrapefruit, red currant, dark musk, Roman chamomile, delphinium, and lavender.
In the bottle, I get lots of grapefruit, chamomile, and maybe a touch of lavender. On wet, it's pretty much the same. As it dries, it softens and blends very nicely. The lavender is stronger, but it's not bad, as lavender tends to be. It's very smooth. Not my personal taste (I don't like grapefruit much as a scent to wear), but I may get this for Mom for Christmas. Right up her alley, I think.
BluebeardA scent swirling with dark rage, unbridled jealousy, and murderous intent. Violet, lavender, white musk and vetiver.
In the bottle, the violet is strong! Maybe a touch of lavender and vetiver. On, this is pretty nice, actually. The lavender doesn't really come through. It's a nice violet scent, with maybe a little musk and vetiver.
My triple dagger yoga pants and brimstone locket came in the mail today.
This is my first BPTP order, and I am in love. The yoga pants are perfect, soft cotton with exactly the right amount of stretch. Can't wait to wear them to class on Tuesday.
And the locket! The locket! ZOMG, it's even better than I imagined. I'm so happy.
Puddin included a bunch of frimps too, including two I've been dying to try, Queen of Sheba and Dragon Tears.
Also, I bought the L'Autunno set from Maidenhell on eBay, and that came today too! Again, I am in love. I may have a new favorite scent. My hubby and I both are crazy about it. We love fall (we got married last October, the date chosen because it's our favorite season). Maidenhell also included a sample of Villainess Autumn Gala soap. I've been dying to try Villainess, and it smells wonderful, so I can't wait to take a shower.
All in all, a fabulous day. Anyway, now I'm off to the weekly wine tasting at our local wine shop.
ZOMG! My first BPAL Halloween, and everything is so awesome! I'm so happy about the Sleepy Hollow scents. It's always been a favorite story of mine. I've already placed an order....
Ok, I went a little crazy here, but managed to hold off a *tiny* bit.
Harvest Moon
Hellhound on My Trail
Chant d'Automne
Huesos de Santo
Samhain 2008
Sugar Skull 2008
Brom Bones
Fearful Pleasure
Gunpowder
Ichabod Crane
The Hessian of the Hollow
The Witching Time of Night
I really want the Pumpkin Patch, and a few others too, but I'm hoping I can pick those up sometime between now and November. My wallet's already crying here.
I can't wait to try these!
Also, looks like I should be getting the CnS for an order I placed on 8/4 soon too, to wit:
5mls
Mme. Moriarty
Dracul
Crowley
Imps
Queen of Sheba
O
Perversion
Dee
Sudha Segara
No. 93 Engine
The Antikythera Mechanism
Severin
Black Phoenix
Loviatar
Cockaigne
Cthulu
*Cough* So um, yeah. Bad Cam. Think I'll be holding off on the Pumpkin Patch, etc. (or anything else) until October or so... unless the Gaiman lockets go live between now and then...
Just got the CnS for my first order from Black Phoenix Trading Post:
Triple Dagger Yoga Pants
Brimstone Locket
Eeek!
Got the CnS last night, so it should be here by Friday or Saturday I think.
I ordered a bottle each of SGA, Schwarzer Mond & Lune Noir on 7/28, a few minutes after they went live.
So why are people getting C'n'S for orders they placed on 7/31, and I still don't have mine? It's not fair!
Okay, /whine.
It seems like PayPal orders are processed more slowly than CCNow orders. At least, the orders I've placed through PayPal so far have not been shipped nearly as quickly as my CCNow orders (particularly this one).
CROSSROADSThe forks of the road: an in-between place, sacred and tangibly magickal in innumerable cultures and faiths. This scent is dark with mystery, taut with power. A chill twilit garden of blooms over dry earth and mosses, heavily laden with incense and offertory herbs.
In the bottle, this smells so lovely. Florals, but not in the super-sweet way that I don't like, herbs and incense. Yay! Unfortunately, on me it just turns to soap and a perfume-y smell that's not very nice. Oh, well.
FRUITCAKEUnreleased gift-with-purchase, December 2007.
Received this as a frimp with a swap. In the imp and on wet, it smells exactly like fruitcake. On wet, the alcoholic note of fruitcake is particularly strong. As it dries, that softens up a bit and it's this lovely, boozey-fruity scent. I like it.
Looking over reviews, trying to make a little sense of the notes we like/don't like, for future ordering reference.
Likes
Apple (especially apple cider-type notes)
Musk
Tobacco
Vanilla/Tonka
Amber
Leather
Chocolate
Almond/Buttercream
Rum
Spices
Fig
Pepper
Honeysuckle
Vetiver
Sandalwood
Ginger
Clove
Dislikes
Gardenia
Violet
Lavender (if strong)
Rose (if strong; my skin tends to amp rose so it kills every other note)
Almost anything super floral
Sometimes Work, Sometimes Don't
Myrrh
Jasmine
LUPERCIPiss off, Saint Valentine! Lupercalia is an ancient Roman celebration, held on February 15th, that kicked in the advent of Spring with a very, very festive purification, fertility and sexuality ritual. The ritual began near the cave of Lupercal on the Palatine, an area sacred to Faunus, as well as Ruminia, Romulus and Remus. During Lupercalia, Vestal Virgins first made offerings of sacred cakes to the fig tree under which the she-wolf suckled the Sacred Twins. A dog and two goats were then offered in sacrifice to Faunus. The blood of the sacrifice was smeared onto two naked patrician youths, who were assisted by the Virgins, and the blood was wiped clean with sacred wool dipped in milk. The youths donned the skins of the sacrificial goats, wielding whips made from the goat skins, and then led the priests and the Virgins around the pomarium, and around the base hills of Rome. This was a ceremony of great happiness and merriment, and was of particular interest to young women: being touched by the goat-whips young men that led the procession ensured their fertility in the coming year. It is believed that, after the initial rite, male participants would draw the name of an available maiden, with whom he spent the rest of the night. This scent is for the Luperci, the Chosen of Faunus, the Brothers of the Wolf: raw, down and dirty patchouli, Gurjam balsam, and essence of Sampson Root sweetened with the heightened sexuality of beeswax, virile juniper, oakmoss, ambrette seed over honey and East African musk.
In the bottle, this is a very green scent. Sort of pine-y, but not Pine Sol. Must be the juniper. I get a tiny bit of the beeswax, a little musk. It's earthy and complex. A little hard to describe.
On wet, the musk is more apparent. The earthiness remains, and the juniper is more subtle. As it dries, this becomes quite subtle. Ben says it's very complementary/similar to my natural scent. It doesn't disappear, though. This is a good one. Subtle and natural.
PHANTASMThis delicate, spectral perfume gives rise to an eerie distortion of of the senses. It bestows an ephemeral, ghostly, and truly haunting quality to your presence. Green tea, lemon verbena, jasmine and neroli.
This is very true to the Lab's description. Green tea, lemon verbena and jasmine all the way. It's quite pretty. It also stays quite true on, but wet and dry. When dry, the lemon verbena is definitely the top note. I like it.
THE BOW AND CROWN OF CONQUESTAnd I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
Nobility and haughtiness befitting the Antichrist: sage, carnation and cedar with lavender, vanilla, white musk and leather.
You definitely get the cedar and vanilla from this, with a touch of leather. A little cinnamon too; there's some spiciness. On Ben, this is a bit too generic-men's-cologne. Like, "Oh, it's men's cologne. That's nice." On me, it's spicy and interesting at first, but then it kind of disappears.
PENNY DREADFULAlso called Gallows Literature. A dime novel rife with melodrama, horror, madness and cruelty; a ten cent analogy of vice and virtue in conflict. Soft perfume evocative of noir heroines over rich red grave loam.
Caramel corn and tobacco. Earthy, with a very subtle floral note of the kind I like — not too sweet. On, the tobacco is stronger at first, but balances out after a couple minutes. The floral is even more subtle, but still present. Stays pretty true to bottle scent. I like this one a lot.
TAVERN OF HELLSometimes I would venture from my sepulchre to the jazz of night Paris, where having gathered the colours, I would think them over in front of the fire. I could be seen walking through a funeral corridor of my house and descending down a black spiral of steep stairs; rushing underground to Montmartre, all impatience to see the fiery rubies of the Moulin Rouge cross. I wondered thereabouts, then bought a ticket to watch frenzied delirium of feathers, vulgar painted lips and eyelashes of black and blue. Naked feet, and thighs, and arms, and breasts were being flung on me from bloody-red foam of translucent clothes. The tuxedoed goatees and crooked noses in white vests and toppers would line the hall, with their hands posed on canes. Then I found myself in a pub, where the liqueurs were served on a coffin (not a table) by the nickering devil: "Drink it, you wretched!" Having drunk, I returned under the black sky split by the flaming vanes, which the radiant needles of my eyelashes cross-hatched. In front of my nose a stream of bowler hats and black veils was still pulsing, foamy with bluish green and warm orange of feathers worn by the night beauties: to me they were all one, as I had to narrow my eyes for insupportable radiance of electric lamps, whose hectic fires would be dancing beneath my nervous eyelids for many a night to come. White gardenia, ambergris bouquet, lavender fougere, orange blossom, melissa, tobacco flower, coriander, ebony wood, ylang ylang, absinthe and aged whiskey.
In the bottle, flowers, smoke, and maybe a hint of the absinthe. It's complex and interesting. On wet, it's immediately over-the-top floral (and not in a good way). This does not improve when dry. Sadly, just doesn't work on me.
CTHULUIf I say that my somewhat extravagant imagination yielded simultaneous pictures of an octopus, a dragon, and a human caricature, I shall not be unfaithful to the spirit of the thing. A pulpy, tentacled head surmounted a grotesque and scaly body with rudimentary wings... It represented a monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind. This thing, which seemed instinct with a fearsome and unnatural malignancy, was of a somewhat bloated corpulence... A creeping, wet, slithering scent, dripping with seaweed, oceanic plants and dark, unfathomable waters.
This scent is really hard to describe. It's definitely a "wet" scent, and I get the water plants. Maybe a hint of citrus. It's kind of seaweedy, but not in a beachy way. On, it's pretty much the same. Not really for me.
INFERNOThe Dark Side of Fire: cinnamon, bitter almond, and neroli. Heavily spiced, torrid, and possibly conflagrant.
After reading the reviews of Inferno, I tested this one carefully. Luckily for me, I don't seem to have a problem with the cinnamon. In the bottle (and on wet), this is definitely an inferno. Like red hots. Once I give it awhile to dry, however, it mellows considerably and I get this nice cinnamon-almond-smoke scent. I like it.
Asked my husband to try Chaos Theory IV (CLII) today, and as I suspected, it totally works for him. My bottle is quite masculine, with quite a bit of leather and tobacco, as well as cinnamon and other spices. Very nice.
ALL NIGHT LONGAs if the name didn't spell it out for you. This blend relieves all sexual inhibitions by simultaneously relaxing and arousing.
I really wanted to like this one, so I gave it a couple of tries. In the bottle, I get a lot of cinnamon, and maybe a little cedar. The combination is nice. On me, however, it's not very nice. While I still get the cinnamon, it's underlaid by this powderiness that's just not cool.
TWILIGHTAn enigmatic, otherworldly scent, brimming with power and mystery. Lavender and jasmine, with a touch of glowing honeysuckle.
In the bottle, you definitely get lavendar and jasmine. It's very pretty. On me, however, it just smells like Pine Sol.
Anyone want to trade for either of these?
ALECTOUnceasing In Anger
Olive leaf, raspberry leaf, vetiver and cedarwood.
This is a very outdoorsy, natural scent. I can definitely smell the olive leaf and raspberry leaf, and just a hint of the cedarwood. The combination of scents is very autumnal, like apples and hay. Very nice.
I ordered the July LE's, and they arrived Saturday. In addition to Chaos Theory IV, Sturgeon Moon and Penumbra, the labbies sent frimps of The Lion, Ouija, The Bow and Crown of Conquest, Alecto, Succubus and Twilight. Here are reviews of a few of those, plus Salome, which I recently got from an eBay order.
CHAOS THEORY IV: THE EDGE OF CHAOSEach bottle of Chaos Theory is truly unique, a fragrant fractal, and exercise in the joy of chance and uncertainty! Each is a one-of-a-kind, utterly random combination of scents, the composition of which is based on whim, mood and gut instinct.
In the bottle, this one smells very strong. Clove, and maybe a bit of menthol smell. Pepper. It's very complex. On me, it's pretty harsh at first, but softens once it's dry. Again, complex and hard to describe, but it seems a bit masculine for me. Going to try it out on the hubby.
STURGEON MOONA month of bounty, when the fish are plentiful and the corn grows high. This is the scent of breezes passing over the Great Lakes, mingling gently with traditional lunar herbs.
Sandy shores and sweet fresh water, lichen, green algae, and whitestem pondweed, with benzoin, cyclamen, moonlit musk, cucumber, blue poppy, and agave.
In the bottle, I get some very interesting citrus. Starfruit? It's not quite grapefruit. Cucumber, agave and a tiny bit of light musk. On, it's very citrusy. The cucumber and agave are much more subtle, but the underlying musk does come through. This one is pretty nice. It's lighter and fresher than my usual style, but it's really nice for summer.
PENUMBRAThe observer's space within a partial eclipse.
Rich purple musk, moonflower, red sandalwood, black amber, oakmoss, copal, lavender, neroli, tobacco, and pomegranate.
In the bottle, very pretty. Definitely get the purple musk and.... maybe lilac? Must be the moonflower. On, the musk softens and it smells fruity and sweeter. I think that's the pomegranate. It reminds me of Bordello, only muskier and less boldly fruity (definitely no bubblegum here). The tobacco comes through subtly, too. Very nice. I like it.
THE LIONThe dry, glorious warmth of the Savannah. A golden, spiced amber, proud, regal and ferocious.
This was on my wish list, and I was so excited when I saw the frimp. In the bottle, it smells wonderful. Warm vanilla and exotic spices. As the lab description says, it just smells warm and golden. On wet, even spicier, with that wonderful vanilla under it. Sexy! Ten minutes later: NOOOOOOO! Baby powder. Sigh.
OUIJALush parlor rooms draped in thick velvets and gilded in gold, unearthly whispering in the distance, fleeting flashes of wraithlike figures rushing just outside your vision, the chill of a phantom presence brushing by your cheek, the inscrutable knowledge that disembodied eyes are peering at you from darkened corners… this is the essence of Victorian-era spiritualism: rosewood, oak and teak notes with wispy blue lilac, tea rose, dried white rose and ethereal osmanthus.
In the bottle, this one seems interesting. Exotic and a little dark, although a bit floral for my taste. On, it smells exactly like Mrs. Meyers Clean Day geranium-scented cleaning products. These are great for cleaning my bathroom and kitchen, but I don't want to smell like them.
SALOMÉAnd when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
A scent that is both coquettish and sinister. Exotic and lush, brimming with grace and viciousness: almond with star jasmine, oakmoss, red sandalwood and Egyptian musk.
In the bottle, this smells very true to the description. I get plenty of almond, layered with lovely jasmine and musk. It smells wonderful. Unfortunately, on me, it smells just awful. The almond disappears, and the jasmine becomes overpowering and harsh, with a sort of herbal scent like sage. Definitely not for me. Off to the swap list.
VAMPIRE TEARSRegret born from ceaseless longing: wisteria, white grapefruit, neroli, green tea, jasmine, white ginger, honeysuckle, iris, and tonka.
I love Midnight Kiss (another eBay find), so I decided to try Vampire Tears as well. This is very different, but also great. It's a very pretty scent. On me, you can definitely smell the jasmine, wisteria and honeysuckle, with just a bit of the tonka. Very nice, and it lasts pretty well for me too.
ELIXIR VIII: BITCHSnappy-quick PMS relief.
Not having PMS at the moment, I can't testify to its effects in that regard. However, it smells great, and I could see how it would work. In the bottle, I get a refreshing herbal scent -- dill and mint, mostly -- that is very relaxing. On my skin, wow! So herby-spicy. I smell like Thai food (which I love, actually, so that's not a complaint). Neat. I like this one.
NOCTURNEAn olfactory serenede. A somber, contemplative scent -- dreamy and subdued. Deepest violet touched with lilac and tuberose.
This is beautiful. Very feminine and pretty. I don't usually like too much floral, but this is very nice. Not heavy or sticky-sweet. A keeper.
Last few scent reviews from my 7/9 order from the lab.
The High Priest Not To Be Described...and there... sat a lumpish figure robed in yellow silk with red and having a yellow silken mask over its face. To this being the slant-eyed man made certain signs with his hands, and the lurker in the dark replied by raising a disgustingly carven flute of ivory in silk covered paws and blowing certain loathesome sounds from beneath its flowing silken mask.
Monastic incense, blood musk, black leather, cypress, pimento, white pepper, and Roman chamomile.
In the bottle, this has a complex, musky aroma. You can definitely smell the white pepper, and a sharp herbal scent from the chamomile. On wet, it's definitely very sharp and loud. Once it's dried for a few minutes, it's MUCH softer. You definitely get more of the musk and incense, and the pepper's nowhere near as strong. The chamomile also comes through, which is interesting and light with all the heavier scents. I really like this one a lot.
NephilimDark children conceived from the union of Fallen Angels and the Daughters of Men. According to lore, the angel Shemhazai led a group of his angels to earth to instruct mankind in the ways of piety and righteousness. After a time, the angels became prey to earthly desires and began to lust after the daughters of man, and thus they fell. They instructed their mortal mates in the arts of conjuration, summoning, necromancy and other magickal arts. The fruits of their union are the Nephilim: possessed of superhuman strength, cunning, and infinite capacity, and hunger for, sin. Venerated as heroes by some, vilified by most, the Nephilim eventually annihilated one another in a cataclysmic civil war instigated by the angel Gabriel as punishment for their transgressions. Holy frankincense and hyssop in union with earthy fig, defiled by black patchouli and vetiver, with a chaotic infusion of lavender, cardamom, tamarind, rosemary, oakmoss and cypress.
Out of the bottle, I get a strong aroma of bitter chocolate, fig and a bit of cardamom. I definitely get the "earthiness" on this one. On my skin, the chocolate aroma softens (but isn't gone), and the fig is a bit stronger. I also get the cardamom and tamarind, and maybe a tiny hint of rosemary. This is one is very complex. It's interesting and I like it.
LanguorAn opiate torpor, soporific, trancelike, and sublimely languid. A poet's morphine dream, a listless journey into a gentle dream and the precipice of intoxicated madness. Paperwhite and black narcissus, three lilies, black poppy and tuberose and a hint of hypnotic opium den haze.
In the bottle, this one smells very sweet and floral. I definitely get the narcissus and lilies. On, it gets very heavy. Way too floral and perfume-y for my taste. Oh well, it was a frimp.
Tomorrow (or sometime or the next few days): reviews from an eBay order I got today. Vampire Tears, Bitch, Nocturne and Salome.
Another review from my 7/9 order.
OberonOrchid, white musk, and bergamot wafting over juniper berries, with a gentle touch of soft, earthy patchouli.
In the bottle, this smells so nice. Musky, yet fresh and green; it's pretty sexy. Unfortunately, neither I nor my hubby can wear it. On both of us, it smells too soapy and too powdery. A shame.
All Night LongAs if the name didn't spell it out for you. This blend relieves all sexual inhibitions by simultaneously relaxing and arousing.
In the bottle, I get musk and spices, maybe a little patchouli. On my skin wet, there's less of the patchouli and more musk. Dry, it's mostly spices and muskiness, with a slight sharp scent. Maybe ginger. This gets nicer the longer it's on. I like it, but unfortunately Ben (my hubby) doesn't for some reason.
Calico JackSea air, driftwood, waterlogged kelp, and the memory of plundered spices sprayed over worn leathers, rough musk, and the salty wooden floorboards of the Revenge.
In the bottle, I get leather, tobacco and mint from this, with a hint of woodsiness. On wet, it smells a little bit soapy and maybe too masculine. As it dries, it's more tobacco-y. I can't decide if this is too masculine for me or not. Ben likes it, though; he says it smells "very natural." He hasn't tried it yet, but I think it will be really nice on him. I like it too, though.
HavanaDate palm, dried tobacco, snakeroot, and leather.
In the bottle, this is all tobacco and mojitos to me, with a hint of a very natural, herb-y smell. On my skin, it maintains this scent pretty consistently. The longer this is on, the more I like it. It's sexy and fun. Definitely a winner for me. I think it will be awesome on Ben, too. I'll probably get him to try this one tomorrow.
KumihoNine-tailed fox demon of Korean lore who transforms into the visage of an irresistible beauty in order to seduce men and lead them to their doom. A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.
In the bottle, this has the sharp, refreshing scent of ginger and fresh lime peel. On my skin wet, it smells pretty consistently like that too. Sadly, Kumiho completely disappears on me as soon as it dries. Bummer! Will have to look for another use on the forums.
DraculNamed in honor of Vlad III, Tepes, of the Order of the Dragon. Black musk, tobacco, fir, balsam of peru, cumin, bitter clove, crushed mint, and orange blossom.
In the bottle, I get pepper, spices, a hint of tobacco, extra dark chocolate (like 80% cacao - maybe that's the bitter clove?) and mint. On wet, the tobacco smells a bit stronger. Once dry, this is very well integrated and complex. It's difficult to pin down, although all the notes I get out of the bottle are still there, plus a hint of the musk. This one smells great on both me and Ben. We love this one!
WarShe finished the drink, hefted the sword over one shoulder, and looked around at the puzzled factions, who now encircled her completely. 'Sorry to run out on you, chaps,' she said. 'Would love to stay and get to know you better.'
The men in the room suddenly realized they didn't want to know her better. She was beautiful, but she was beautiful in the way a forest fire was beautiful: something to be admired from a distance, but not up close.
And she held her sword, and she smiled like a knife.
Red ginger, black spices, patchouli, honeysuckle, and three blood-soaked red musks.
This smells very strongly of pepper and ginger in the bottle. On, it starts to soften once it dries. Give it a few minutes, and I still smell the pepper and ginger topnotes, but there's an underlying sweetness. It's a little bit almondy, maybe. It's very nice once it chills out a bit on my skin. I actually like it quite a lot. It's very complex and interesting.
Queen AliceAt this moment the door was flung open, and a shrill voice was heard singing:
'To the Looking-Glass world it was Alice that said
"I've a sceptre in hand, I've a crown on my head.
Let the Looking-Glass creatures, whatever they be
Come and dine with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!"'
And hundreds of voices joined in the chorus:
'Then fill up the glasses as quick as you can,
And sprinkle the table with buttons and bran:
Put cats in the coffee, and mice in the tea —
And welcome Queen Alice with thirty-times-three!'
Then followed a confused noise of cheering, and Alice thought to herself `Thirty times three makes ninety. I wonder if any one's counting?' In a minute there was silence again, and the same shrill voice sang another verse:
'"O Looking-Glass creatures," quoth Alice, "draw near!
'Tis an honour to see me, a favour to hear:
'Tis a privilege high to have dinner and tea
Along with the Red Queen, the White Queen, and me!"'
Then came the chorus again:
'Then fill up the glasses with treacle and ink,
Or anything else that is pleasant to drink:
Mix sand with the cider, and wool with the wine —
And welcome Queen Alice with ninety-times-nine!'
Carnation, posies, and white amber with a hint of inky treacle, sandy cider, and wooly wine.
In the bottle, I get a strong (pleasant) apple scent. On, it's apples and mint. Once it dries, this very nice, musky sort of undertone develops. Very feminine and nice. I like this one.
ShoggothIt was a terrible, indescribable thing vaster than any subway train – a shapeless congerie of protoplasmic bubbles, faintly self-luminous, and with myriads of temporary eyes forming and un-forming as pustules of greenish light all over the tunnel-filling front that bore down upon us, crushing the frantic penguins and slithering over the glistening floor that it and its kind had swept so evilly free of all litter.
An amorphous, radiant, incandescent scent. Ever changing, protoplasmic and primordial: white amber, green coconut meat, iris, palmarosa, Chinese peony, lime, water lily, snowdrop, muguet, lemongrass, osmanthus, wisteria, glassy musk, and hinoki.
In the bottle, it has a licorice-y smell, but on me, it smells musky and complex, with a pleasant citrus note. Nice.
Miskatonic UniversityA venerable New England university, whose vast library holds many rare, diabolical and obscure arcane works, including one of the few surviving legitimate copies of the Necronomicon. Home to innumerable scholars of the esoteric and the occult, and the notorious Dr. Herbert West.
The scent of Irish coffee, dusty tomes and polished oakwood halls.
I was really looking forward to this one, and it didn't disappoint. In the bottle, it's complete and total Irish coffee. My hubby also got a caramel popcorn sort of scent. On my skin wet, I can also begin to smell some nice tobacco notes. Once it dries, the whiskey softens and I get this nice, tobacco-whiskey-coffee combination that sort of reminds you of a nice cigar shop. It's complex and interesting. I think the hubby and I will both be able to wear this one. I love it.
WhipAgony and ecstasy: black leather and damp red rose.
Exactly as advertised right out of the bottle. Leather and roses. I like it. On my skin, however, you can mostly just smell the roses, and I'm not sure I really want to smell like roses. Unsure about this one. Will try again and see how it does over the course of the day.
BordelloA decadent, deep perfume, lusty and luxuriant. The scent evokes images of velvet-lined Old West cathouses, tightly laced corsets, rustling petticoats and coquettish snarls of pleasure. Bawdy plum with amaretto, burgundy wine and black currant.
Very fruity in the bottle and wet on skin. First thoughts: wow, this is a fun scent. As it dries, I start to get a bubblegum smell. Once it dries, however, there's more of an underlying musk, but it's still really fruity. This is a fun scent. I like it.
Black CatA very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes.
To me, this smells exactly like a local natural foods market called Harvest Moon. It has a sort of minty/menthol scent, combined with patchouli and maybe a little licorice and/or eucalytus.
Snake OilBy far, our most popular scent! Magnetic, mysterious, and exceedingly sexual in nature. A blend of exotic Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla.
Oh, wow. I think we have a new favorite here. This scent is pure sex. It's very complicated, difficult to say exactly what it smells like, but it is hot. Smells even better on than it does in the bottle. The hubby definitely approves. Excellent.
BewitchedDeep, luscious green and berry scents that evoke images of woodland witchcraft and the raw power of nature: blackberry, sage, green tea, wild berries and dark musk.
In the bottle, this smells like musk and licorice. On me, at first the licorice is a little strong. As it dries, the musk comes back, and it smells just like absinthe. Once it's been on for a few minutes, it's very nice. I like this one.
MasabakesMasabakes is a Cantabrian demoness that governs lustfulness and lechery. In order to tempt virgins to corruption she employs the aid of her lackey, the imp Tentirujo. Under the cover of magickal invisibility, the imp caresses maidens with mandrake root, instilling uncontrollable passion and wantonness in the unsuspecting girls. Thick black currant with the darkest, deepest myrrh, a drop of bitter mimosa and the slightest touch of mandrake dust.
Pepper, smoke and menthol. This smells way too much like Hall's cough drops or Vick's Vapo Rub to me. This one is definitely not for me.
DorianThe only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden to itself. Inspired by and created for my beloved Tedwin: my eternal, beautiful, wicked Dorian Gray. Refined, elegant, and lovely, with a noble bearing and seemingly gentle air. This blend is an artful deception: a sweet gilded blossom lying over a twisted and corrupted core. A Victorian fougere with three pale musks and dark, sugared vanilla tea.
In the bottle, I get pepper, musk and something sweet (the sugared vanilla). This one is soft and feminine. On me, it's musk, pepper and spice, with that soft, underlying sweetness. I really like this one.
That's all I've tried for now. More reviews to come.
Ordered: 7/9
CnS: 7/16
Arrived: 7/19
(Bless those speedy labbies!)
Imps:
Miskatonic University
Havana
Bewitched
All Night Long
Black Cat
Snake Oil
Dracul
Nephilim
The High Priest Not to Be Described
Kumiho
Bordello
Whip
Chakra set (Sahasrara, Ajna, Vishudda, Anahata, Manipura, Swadhisthana, Muladhara)
5ml Bottle:
Good Omens: War
Frimps:
Masabakes
Languor
Dorian
Calico Jack
Shoggoth
Oberon
Queen Alice
All Night Long
Iambe
The labbies were very generous with the frimps. Thanks, guys! I am currently sniffing myself into oblivion, lol.
I won an auction today on eBay for a 5ml bottle of Inferno, 10% of the proceeds to benefit Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc. in St. Pauls, NC, through eBay's Giving Works program.
I visited the BCRS website, and oh my. This is a wonderful organization. If you go to their "Meet the Cats" page, there are some wonderful stories, but be prepared with a box of Kleenex close by. Some of these are sad, sad stories (although they have a happy ending). I wish 100% of the auction went to this organization, and I plan to donate to them as soon as I am able.
If you see any other auctions that benefit Blind Cat Rescue & Sanctuary, please consider bidding (here is a link to a list of eBay auctions that benefit BCRS). You can also just visit their website and click the "Donate" button. These seem like truly good people doing wonderful things for blind cats.
I picked up a couple of new scents from eBay, Midnight Kiss and Blood Kiss. I like them both pretty well.
Midnight KissEternal desire, unquenchable passion: red musk, cocoa absolute, Nepalese amber, red sandalwood, aged patchouli, nicotiana, and blood wine.
In the bottle, smells strongly of cocoa, almost chocolate syrup, and smoke. Can definitely smell the musk and patchouli. On my skin, it's a much softer chocolate-y smell. A little smoky. A little wine-y. Kind of like body incense. A keeper.
Blood KissLush, creamy vanilla and the honey of the sweetest kiss smeared with the vital throb of husky clove, swollen red cherries, but darkened with the vampiric sensuality of vetiver, soporific poppy and blood red wine, and a skin-light pulse of feral musk.
Musk and clove. A little bit of a pot smell. It smells better on Ben than me. On my skin, it doesn't smell nice at first, but gets better after a few minutes, a little cinnamon once it dries a bit. Doesn't last long, though.
I have the following for swap, some that don't love me and some that I've bought bottles of. These have only been tested once or twice. All are stored in a cool, dark place, in a climate-controlled, non-smoking home.
This is my wish list, but I'm open to suggestions and would be willing to swap for something non-wishlist if there's something you think I might like. Here is a link to specific notes that I like/dislike.
If you want to buy: I will sell LE/Unimpable decants for $2, GC imps for $1, or take the GC lot for $15. Chant d'Automne is $17. Sturgeon Moon is $16. Hony Mone is $18.
PM me if you're interested. Thanks!
Bottles
Chant d'Automne (Halloweenie 2008, full)
Sturgeon Moon (full to just below the top of the label)
Hony Mone (full to just below the top of the label)
Halloweenie 2008 Decants
Harvest Moon
Hellhound On My Trail
Huesos de Santo
Gunpowder
Ichabod Crane
The Hessian of the Hollow
The Witching Time of Night
Other Limited/Unimpable Decants
Blood Garden
Chaos Theory III
Chaos Theory IV
Crowley
Hony Mone
L'Autunno
Lune Noir
Luperci (2008)
Lydia
Mama-Ji (*note: this is a lab imp ordered from CBLDF, not a decant)
Midnight Kiss
Mme. Moriarty
Mr. Ibis (*note: this is a lab imp ordered from CBLDF, not a decant)
Mr. Jacquel (*note: this is a lab imp ordered from CBLDF, not a decant)
Schwarzer Mond (2008)
Sturgeon Moon
The Illustrated Woman
Vampire Tears
War
Western Diamondback
GC Imps & Decants
Full to the top of the label or just below, unless otherwise noted.
Azathoth
Bitch (decant)
Caliban
Crossroads (label is a bit oil stained)
Cthulu
Deathcap (decant)
Djinn (decant)
The Dodo
Dorian (decant)
Dragon's Eye
Eternal
Florence
Grog
Haunted
Horreur Sympathique
Hymn
Inferno (decant)
The Isles of Demons
Jezirat Al Tennyn
Kurukulla
La Bella Donna Mia Mente
Ladon
Languor
Maiden
Masabakes
Moscow
Nanshe
Nocnitsa
Nuit
The Obsidian Widow
Penitence
Queen Gertrude (x2)
Santa Eularia des Riu
Severin
Shoggoth
Swank
Tavern of Hell
Thanatos
To a Woman
Twilight
Ultraviolet
Wanton
Wrath
Xiuhtecuhtli
Y'ha-nthelei
Zephyr
