I can barely believe how much gorgeousness the Lab has created in the past few months. I have been thinking that after the hugeness of Carnaval Diabolique, Halloweenies, Order of the Dragon, Yule, a whole new Salon set, and the ToT inquisition, they'd probably be taking a break for a while. I thought that the next CD act would be kinda small, the size of one of the first two acts, and I thought that Lupercalia would be on the small side as well. Maybe 6 or 7 bottles.

 

 

Here are my thoughts and what I got:

 

HUNGER MOON. Ozone, white sandalwood, crystallized white amber, verbena, oakmoss, clary sage, and a hint of white citrus rind.

I bought a bottle because I always buy Lunacy bottles. However, I don't expect to like this. Citrus and herbs are usually bad for me.

 

BAKENEKO. Warm amber musk, Satsuma tangerine, black tea leaf, cardamom, cherry blossom and cinnamon.

Again, I bought a bottle because it's a Lunacy blend, but I'm not sure it'll work on me. My skin amps cardamom and cinnamon to overwhelming proportions. Both in the same blend is very probably a deal-breaker.

 

ABHISARIKA. Damascus rose, African orchid, cream accord, and Kashmir musk.

I love the idea behind these. I would have bought the whole set if I had enough money. I heavily debated whether to buy a bottle of this one, and I probably should have. But I just wound up joining a decant circle to buy a decant of it. At least it'll be up for a while so I'll still have a chance to get a bottle later. I don't usually like blends that are too rosy, but the orchid, cream, and Kashmir musk sound wonderful.

 

KALAHANTARIKA. hyssop, lavender, balsam of Peru, jonquil, and elemi.

Potentially too strong for me. I'll be interested to find out what it smells like, but I'm not going to go out of my way for it for a while.

 

KHANDITA. fiery saffron, neroli, severe black musk, rose otto, and a harsh splinter of rosemary.

It's funny, I was all prepared to order this one until I saw the rosemary, and then I balked. Maybe I shouldn't have. I usually like the other notes.

 

PROSHITAPATHIKA. blue iris, fennel, dark musk, verbena, and a drop of star anise.

This is the other one that probably won't work for me. I tend to dislike sharp scents, and the fennel and star anise might be too much for me. Also I usually don't like verbena at all.

 

SVADHINAOPATIKA. golden amber, oude, red sandalwood, massoia bark, honey, and currant.

Um... yeah, I got a bottle of this one. Holy crap. That sounds marvelous.

 

VASAKASAJJA. skin musk, wild orchid, champaca flower, amaranth, tonka bean, and French vanilla.

Had to get a bottle of this one too. It sounds feminine but not overly so, and rich and slightly decadent. I love the description, too.

 

VIRAHOTKANTITA. blue lilac, snowdrop, bergamot, night-blooming cereus, frankincense, Himalayan cedar, and stargazer lily.

This definitely sounds like it will smell like sadness. I bet it'll be very pretty, too. I'd like to find a decant of it.

 

VIPRALABDA. benzoin, Greek sage, hay, melaleuca ericifolia, oakmoss, and blue chamomile.

I have no idea what that will smell like. I'd like to try a decant of it.

 

DOLCE STIL NUOVO. rose otto, carnation, vanilla flower, lavender and jasmine with the clarity of crystalline white musk and the warmth of golden amber.

Eek. Those flowers are usually much too strong on me. I'd try a decant of this, but I doubt it'll work for me.

 

CHINTAMANI-DHUPA. Pound well together sandal-wood, Kunku, costus, Krishnaguru, Suvasika-puspha, white vala and the bark of the Deodaru pine; and, after reducing them to fine powder, mix it with honey and thoroughly dry.

Got a bottle of this because I'm dying to know what it smells like. The description is very intriguing.

 

KANISHTA. black opium, Haitian patchouli, jasmine sambac, French magnolia and kush.

I didn't realize until after I submitted my order that I did NOT have this one in my order. Stupid oversight. I really meant to buy a bottle of this. It will be in my next order. This sounds like exactly the sort of scent that I love.

 

KHAJURAHO 2007. honey, date palm, tuberose, davana blossom, amber, white sandalwood, vanilla bean, Damask rose, and champaca flower.

I had a bottle of this from last year, and although I thought it smelled fine, I never wore it. Sometimes I'd pick it up thinking I might wear it that day, but I always put it back down and picked something else. I like the scent, it's just not me, I guess.

 

LUPERCI 2007. 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.

I had a bottle from last year, and I thought it was going to smell good on me. I was really excited to try it. But both times I tried it, all I got out of it was juniper. One of my least favorite notes. My husband didn't like it on me either. So I swapped the bottle, and I've never regretted it.

 

NIGHT'S PAVILION 2007. White musk, osmanthus, Nile lily and frankincense.

I may have tried this last year, but I don't remember it very well. I do know that every time I've seen it up for swap/sale I've passed it over rapidly. I believe that I did try it and I thought it was too sweet and feminine for me.

 

THE OBLATION. A stirring blend of dianthus, French lavender, blackberry, and white honey.

I think that poem is wonderful and moving. In the old days when I had a job I would have bought a bottle of this just from the poem alone. However, now that I'm unemployed and my husband decides how much money I can spend, this would have been a risk for me because of the lavender. I couldn't resist signing up for a decant, though. I bet I'll like this despite the lavender.

 

THE PERFUMED GARDEN 2007. Myrrh and Moroccan jasmine with apple peel, Indian sandalwood, myrtle, quince, citron, and thyme poured over soft musk.

I had a bottle of last year's version, and I thought it was too feminine so I sold it. Then I got together with another BPALer and she had a bottle of it she wanted to swap. I sniffed it and tried on a little bit, and I realized that I do like it. It is feminine, but I'm not as anti-feminine as I used to be. So now I have that bottle.

 

RED LANTERN 2007. Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice.

I had a bottle of last year's version for many months, and I finally realized that I never wear it and I might as well sell it. I just sold it a couple of weeks ago. It's a great scent, and I liked it, but I see no reason why a whole bottle of it should be sitting in my BPAL box getting no love when they are lots of people around who would wear it and enjoy it.

 

SMUT 2007. Three swarthy, smutty musks sweetened with sugar and woozy with dark booze notes.

I still have at least three bottles of last year's version. Maybe four. This is one of my husband's very favorite scents on me. I'm not allowed to wear it out of the house.

 

ELIXIR X: GRR. Headache relief.

ELIXIR XI: OOF. Sinus pain relief.

ELIXIR XII: UGH. Muscle ache relief.

I didn't try any of these, but that imp three-pack is very tempting. I think I'll order the imp pack with my next order.

 

And now for the OMG Carnaval Diabolique scents:

 

THE PARLIAMENT OF MONSTERS. Dust, incense, wet tobacco, and a curl of opium smoke.

I signed up for a decant of this. I expect to like it, but I'm not sure I'll like it enough for a whole bottle. I already have other bottles that have a similar scent.

 

ARACHNINA, THE SPIDER GIRL. A swirling, hypnotic perfume of black currant, poppy, red and black musk, lilies, nicotiana, and patchouli.

I signed up for a decant of this too, but that was sort of dumb. I should have bought a bottle. There is no note in there that I don't like. In fact, I like them all a lot. I'm a huge sucker for red musk.

 

ESHE, A VISION OF LIFE-IN-DEATH. The perfume of life-in-death: embalming herbs, black myrrh, white sandalwood, black orchid, paperwhites, tomb dust, and Moroccan jasmine.

The description for this one creeped me out. In a good way, of course. I didn't sign up for a decant of this because I was put off by the embalming herbs. Those usually overpower a blend on my skin. I will eventually swap for a decant of it to try, though.

 

FAIZA, THE BLACK MAMBA. black amber, caraway, oakmoss, green sandalwood, bergamot, jasmine sambac, gardenia, orange pulp, vanilla, blackberry, black musk, white honey, ti leaf, and ginger.

I got a decant of this because there are quite a few notes in there that are usually not good on me. (oakmoss, jasmine, gardenia, ginger). However... those are all notes that have on occasion surprised me by not ruining a blend. So, we'll see.

 

ASP VIPER: Snake Oil with red mandarin, myrrh, and almond.

Want to try a decant. Might be great.

 

AUSTRALIAN COPPERHEAD: Snake Oil with acai berry, amber, cardamom, neroli, and smoked vanilla.

Not sure about the cardamom, but the other ones sound good. Will like to swap for a decant eventually.

 

BANDED SEA SNAKE: Snake Oil with oakmoss, sea moss, and olive leaf.

Hmmm. I'll try it eventually, but I'm in no hurry on this one. Oakmoss and sea moss are usually not so great for me.

 

BOOMSLANG: Snake Oil with cocoa, teakwood, and rice milk.

Bought a decant of this. I bet those notes smell lovely with snake oil.

 

CORAL SNAKE: Snake Oil with blood orange, red apple, lemon peel, plumeria, and gardenia.

Hmmm. Probably not. Apple, lemon, and gardenia are usually no-nos for me.

 

COTTONMOUTH: Snake Oil with linden blossom, calla lily, passion flower, and narcissus.

Snake Oil with a bunch of floral notes? I'm not sure what that will smell like. I'd like to try a decant of it, though.

 

DEATH ADDER: Snake Oil with vetiver, black coconut, vanilla, and opoponax.

I allowed myself to buy ONE Snake Pit bottle unsniffed, and this is the one I chose. I bet I'll love this. Opoponax, vanilla, and vetiver are three of my favorite notes.

 

GREEN TREE VIPER: Snake Oil with four mints, bergamot, and green tea.

Mint is usually not my thing.

 

HABU: Snake Oil with ho wood, teak, black musk, and bamboo.

I carefully considered this one. I didn't buy a decant of it but probably should have. This will be one of the first ones I'll be looking for when people start swapping/selling their decants.

 

KING COBRA: Snake Oil with orris, frankincense, and copal.

I like copal but frankincense tends to make blends too high-pitched and sweet on me.

 

SAW-SCALED VIPER: Snake Oil with cinnamon, cassia, and red ginger.

Much too hot for me. I had a vial of Beth's experimental cinnamon Snake Oil, and it was too cinnamony for me. I like plain Snake Oil better.

 

TEMPLE VIPER: Snake Oil with sugar cane, frankincense, champaca, opoponax, labdanum, and hyssop.

This one might be one I like despite the frankincense. I truly love champaca and opoponax, so I bought a decant of it.

 

WESTERN DIAMONDBACK: Oil with leather, tonka bean, red sandalwood, and sage.

I didn't get a decant of this, mostly due to my dumbness. I should have. I will look for this one first when people start selling/swapping decants.

 

HOPE & FAITH, THE SIAMESE TWINS. Hope is sugared violet, Faith is sugared rose.

Love the description for this one, but those florals usually don't work for me.

 

ISAAC, THE LIVING SKELETON. Bourbon, tobacco, dry bone, bay rum aftershave, and sleazy cologne.

I bought a decant of this because I think my husband will like it.

 

KATANIYA, THE CLOCKWORK WOMAN. Gentle flowers over hot metal, shocked to life with electricity.

I don't know what this will smell like. I'd like to try a decant eventually. I often like the metallic blends, but I already have several of them.

 

MESKHENET, THE VULTURE MAIDEN. Frankincense, hyssop, hibiscus, river reeds, orris root, palm frond, and olibanum.

I don't think those notes will work for me. I'll try a decant eventually, but it's not high up on my list.

 

THALASSA, THE GALAPAGOS MERMAID. Seaweed, kelp, salty ocean spray, bitter almond, night-blooming jasmine, frankincense, and benzoin.

VERY unlikely to work for me. I don't like the scent of seaweed and kelp at all.

 

TIRESIAS, THE ANDROGYNE. Dark, moody, and bittersweet: black currant, patchouli, tobacco, cinnamon leaf, caramel, muguet, and red sandalwood.

Great description, and I love the song Gloomy Sunday. I think I might like this one a lot -- I bought a decant of it, and I'm betting it will be my first CD Act III bottle purchase (after Death Adder, of course).

 

THE WILD MEN OF JEZIRAT AL TENNYN. Fiery, primal, and precociously diabolical: red amber, Spanish moss, Indonesian patchouli, ambergris, red pepper, two cloves, and vanilla flower.

I wonder if my husband would like this. He liked Fire Eater. It's just too hot-sounding for me.

 

WULRIC, THE WOLFMAN. Friendly, charming, and cuddly, but possessing one hell of a mean streak: cocoa absolute, French vanilla, birch tar, lavender, bourbon vetiver, wild musk, clary sage, and cistus.

This might smell very good on my husband. I bought a decant of it so he can try it.

 

ZARITA, THE DOLL GIRL. white carnation, iris, orange blossom, and sugared cream.

This will probably be too feminine for me, but I wouldn't mind trying it.

 

PRIALA, THE HUMAN PHOENIX. Three deep, dark myrrhs, smoke, and cinnamon bark.

I bought a decant of this, and I'm really impatient to try it. I love myrrh and smoke. I wonder if I will end up wanting to buy a whole bottle.