Azrhiaz

In the vial: sweet, but not as sweet as straight dragon's blood, the amber warming it up Wet: the amber kicks up and overpowers the dragon's blood. Amber is all I smell. Drydown: stays the same, just mellowing amber. Very good staying power-- am at hour six and it's still kicking. Verdict: Not bad, just eh. I like amber, but more or less in something else. I can't seem to get terribly excited about smelling like amber by itself. It *is* a nice warm scent; there's just others I like better. Off to swap. Edited to note: I just now looked at the other reviews-- interesting that most other folks had the opposite situation-- where's the amber? Possibly just my body chemistry's take on the matter. Hrm.

In the bottle: this smells so familiar to me, and yet I can't put my finger on it. It's all blended, and my nose can't pick out a single note, other than the decided absence of the rose (which I was hoping for). Wet: wait, it's coming to me...definitely amber, but not in such a good way...oh! Got it! This smells like Estee Lauder Youth Dew to me. Drydown: yep, Youth Dew, nice and strong with bells on. Verdict: unfortunately, I hate Youth Dew. Old lady perfume, ecchh. Off to swaps.

In the bottle: peach blossom and heliotrope, almost a whiff of cherry, which isn't listed, but I swear my nose said so... Wet: sweet, sweet peach vanilla. Drydown: much more amber and sandalwood. Very warm and nice; as others have noted, the smell is golden. Verdict: It's quite nice on me, but holy cow, is my sister going to love it. Those who suggested it as a possible present for her in response to my query (she wears Tresor and Casmir) were dead-on. It smells like a much, much nicer Tresor that doesn't make me want to hurl, and on that basis alone, I love it to bits. *gives sister many enormous bottles, throws Tresor away*

In the vial: Oh, YES. Oh. My. Goodness. Honey and wine and a touch of the balsam. Could this be love? Wet: The honey deepens, and the wine explodes. A floral comes out, and it seems to be the same sharp, deep-green one I smelled in Ouija, so I'm guessing it's the osmanthus. Drydown: Now I can catch the tobacco, and the whole mix is just what I hoping it would be, exquisitely blended and reeking of sex. Verdict: Big bottle, stat! Am so happy that, unlike my guess at Old Morocco, this one is for me. Something to wear for those "bad girl" moods. Mwowr.

In the vial: roses, yes-- a not-too-sweet tea rose. Wet: roses, still no ylang-ylang. Not that I mind. I love roses. Still, I was hoping for more complexity. 15 minutes: oh, *there* it is-- the ylang-ylang, and the complexity. They've blended together beautifully. Very nice. Drydown: goes softer and warmer as the rose and the ylang-ylang blend melt together until they're indistinguishable. Verdict: this is so incredibly beautiful. It practically aches with soft, warm longing for something you can never have, which I have far too much experience with, really. It's got wonderful staying power, too-- I put it on at eight last night and could still smell it on my skin at six-thirty this morning. I don't know why this one didn't sell better. My only theory is that it's too much rose for the rose-averse, and yet it isn't a juicy, thick rose for rose lovers-- the ylang-ylang tempers it out. It's just insanely beautiful, though, and I'm sorry it's going away. Going to have to get a big bottle-- the first BPAL I've really loved.

Pandora smells like nothing *but* lotus to me, so you might want to snag a bottle before it's discontinued.

In the bottle: lotus and the tiniest bit of mint. I can't smell any gardenia. Wet: LOTUS. Nothing else. Drydown: Still lotus, all the way. Verdict: I wanted to like this one, because it's one of my favorite myths, but the scent of lotus by itself is kind of "meh" to me. Not bad, just not terribly exciting, and not really me. Still, I'm glad I got to try it before it was discontinued. Will probably swap the Imp. Anyone who likes lotus ought to love this.

I'm planning on being Pandora this year, and will wear that one if it shows up in time. If not, probably Laudanum.

In the bottle: a very dry rose indeed; definite lilac, slight dusty quality that I always associate with lilac. Moderately cool and mysterious, and very Victorian. Wet: rose comes out, but not overly so; my skin loves rose (not that I mind, as I love it back), but this is probably the most restrained rose I've ever smelled. It minds its manners--a Victorian lady? Something sharp and green, too-- not light, cool green, but more of the green of crushed rose leaves. Perhaps the osmanthus? Not sure, am unfamiliar with osmanthus. 15 minutes: a bit of rosewood coming out now, and a nice spiciness. Drydown: more rosewood, and I love woody scents. Very nice. Verdict: this is a very pleasant, not-too-frilly floral. I'd wear this as a work fragrance. It seems to be lasting moderately well, currently at four hours, although it's beginning to fade. I do wish it was stronger and had more throw, however. I tend to like stronger scents.

In the bottle: very interesting-- first whiff is definitely medicinal, but in a good way. Cool and smoky. Liking this in the bottle very much. Wet: the sassafras really comes out, but the smoky quality is still very much in evidence. It doesn't smell root-beerish to me at all, although it *is* very dark and syrupy, somehow. Perhaps that's the poppy. Drydown: the sassafras mellows out and blends enchantingly with the smoke. The cool, medicinal quality fades. Verdict: as an example of the perfumer's art, this is amazing. I completely agree with prior reviews that compared it to what Johnny Depp must have smelled like in From Hell. This is what I've always imagined an opium den would smell like, and somehow Elizabeth stuffed that in a bottle. Am *very* impressed. I don't think I'd order a big bottle, because I think I'd really have to be in the mood to wear this one. It's certainly not an everyday scent for me, and it doesn't scream "sexy" to me, either. Rather, it's for those times when one wants to be coldly mysterious and languid, and maybe a little dangerous. I do think I'll keep the Imp. Edited to add: I forgot to mention-- my cat, Poppy, freaking LOVES this. Get. Cat. OFF. Me!! *is licked practically to death*

The intoxicating perfume of exotic incenses wafting on warm desert breezes. Arabian spices wind through a blend of warm musk, carnation, red sandalwood and cassia. My first 5 ml. purchase, a leap of faith. I was *so* sure I would adore this...but I'm going to have to dissent from the majority opinion on this one. In bottle: soap, and overwhelmingly carnation. Not quite what I was expecting. I can't smell any spice or sandalwood at all. Not thrilled at all at first sniff. Wet: sharp, soapy, heavy carnation. I definitely don't like this. I'm getting "funeral parlor" and not in a fun, gothy sort of way. Still, am trying to see if it improves significantly on the dry down. 15 minutes: oh, God, I smell like RAID. I hate this. UGH. Went to wash it off and, of course, it stuck like mad. Washed six times and used alcohol and I could still smell it. Note to self: carnation is obviously not your friend, avoid in future. *sigh* Off to swap pile. Fortunately, I got an Imp of Ouija and an Imp of Laudanum today too, and those are making me far happier.

Deep mahogany and rich, velvety woods lacquered with sweet, black-red cherries and currant. My first review (whee!), and my first BPAL scent (but not for long-- *stares at mailbox*). First opened: wow, CHERRY PIPE TOBACCO. Very aggressive-- just opening the Imp made my bedroom smell like a pipe shop. Hum. Apprehensive. Initial on skin: More cherry coming out, but it doesn't strike me as cough syrupy as some other reviewers found it. It's a good cherry, if that makes sense; a juicy black cherry, not artificial or maraschino. Still not sure I'm liking it, though, as I generally don't like smelling like food. An hour later: Has mellowed out nicely. Still smells like cherry pipe tobacco to me, but in a good way, not overpowering. I can't smell currants, but that might just be my nose. Final thought: a very interesting scent, and most assuredly conjures up The Red Queen for me. I'm using up the Imp, but I don't think I'll get a big bottle. Too many others that sound more "me". Interesting/curious thing-- the first wearing it lasted for *hours*-- literally about thirteen. After that, though, it seems to fade much more quickly. Don't know if my skin just got used to it and decided to suck it up, or what. Edited to add: I've continued wearing this while waiting on my orders, and it's really grown on me. I still don't think I'll order a big bottle, but only because there are so many on my wish list. This is really a lovely, warm scent, and it definitely exudes this strong, "don't mess with me, bub" aura. It does not, however, have much "throw". Still, I love sticking my wrists up my nose with this one.