judas_kiss

I don't think it's a bad thing, but I also don't think one can expect a fragrance company to list all of the oils their blends contain on their public website. It's not fair to the artisans who create the oils. I also don't think it's fair to request an entire list of oils in a particular blend for the same reason: the internet is a shady place and shady people might try to copycat their blends. There is no way you could call Chanel and ask them what exactly is in No. 5, they would never tell you. I think it's totally w/in the spirit of fairness to contact a company and say "I'm allergic to A, B, and C, I'm interested in fragrances D, E, and F. Can I safely wear these oils or do they in any way contain the allergens?" That way, you're just watching out for your health and it doesn't sound like you're fishing for a formula or out to make a dupe.

Ah, I didn't even think of that. Too true too true. I think it would just be best to e-mail the lab directly. Especially if your allergies are so violent and could cause you distress. Better safe than sorry.

This is very true. You may get a list of "notes", but most of the time the listing is some sort of alchohol, colorant and "fragrance" when dealing with commercial perfumes. I'm sure it can get quite frustrating for you. Marty, I agree with the others in you could try e-mailing the lab directly with a full list of things you are allergic to and another list of the perfumes you are interested in trying. It may take a bit for them to reply, but I'm sure they will be happy to help you. I also agree that it may be in your best interest to try some single notes. You can try the Swaps Thread and see if anyone has any of the BPAL single notes up for swap. Good luck!

Got this as a gimp w/my last order... In the Imp, this smelled just like Hellcat with a rather root beer-ish scent lingering in the back ground. Very rummy/cherry/almond in the imp for me. I re-read the description and remembered there was clove in it so finally, after much hemming and hawing I tried it out. I'm glad I did. Wet, this is rummy and clovey. Also, I got a bit of an uncomfortable tingly-burning sensation where I applied it. Probably the clove. Those with super sensitive skin may want to apply this sparingly. But, the tingle went away almost as quickly as it started. I'm still not sure if I like this. It's like a spicier, dryer hellcat as the rum is still very very sweet. Dry, WOW! This smells just like my father after he got his shave at the barber's, only clovey and a bit sweeter. The bay and rum mix beautifully and the rum goes into the background and the spices really come out to play. The sassafras is there too, lending to this a sweeter, yet darker feel. This is a great asexual scent. (Although some women may find it a bit spicey for their tastes). It's almost like a Bay Rum that women can wear. I don't know if it's a big bottle purchase, but I'll be using the whole imp.

I ordered an imp of this for my husband and he tried it after his shower last night. In the imp: Very flowery sandalwood. Some sweetness to the blend (probably the amber). Overall, this smelled very warm and somewhat asexual in the imp. On my Hubby: Wet: HELLO Imperial Florals! On him, this smelled like a very expensive Ladies' perfume. Very sweet and golden, however. It was as if he were engulfed in a golden halo of scent. Lovely, but he was not lovin' this at all. Drydown: The florals faded a bit and mixed with the sandalwood, woods and amber. A bit of the violet seemed to peek out, darkening the blend just enough to bring forth the feeling of a Fallen Seraphim. This is the scent that lingered for the better part of the evening-into the morning when he woke up. Overall, this was gorgeous, but not for him. He really wasn't into the powerful florals that dominated this blend on his skin. I think I'll be trying this one out myself, however, because it IS lovely! I'll update in a few days with a review on how it worked with my chemistry. On me: Wowsa, talk about differences in chemistry and the changes they make. Wet: The sandalwood is very prevailant here. The florals mix with it well giving it a sweetness that's just gorgeous. I'm sure the amber is playing around here as well. This is a very bright, golden scent. Not golden like honey, but golden like the sun. Dry: This doesn't morph much, it just gets slightly darker, dusky. The violet and musk mix themselves in and give this a kind of a clandestine note. What I love about this fragrance is it personifies a "fall from grace". I didn't get a malevolence or wicked intent behind the beauty, I got almost a "loss of pride after the fall" kind of feel. This is great, and my husband, having smelled it on me wants me to get a bottle...I think I'll oblige.

Now, this has to be my fave so far from this order, and it was a gimp. It was on my wishlist too. I just love this so much. Oh, where to begin? In the bottle: Fresh, floral and a little bit green. This is beginning to make me think that maybe I've found my spring fragrance. On: Oh wow. This IS what I've been looking for in a springtime fragrance. It's a medium-light floral, yet it's sweet (must be the apple blossoms). The touch of green makes it fresh. I'm getting a vision of a maiden with flowers in her hair rushing to the love of her life to give herself to him as he rides home victorious from battle. Don't get me wrong, however, the black orchid keeps this from being too innocent and sweet. It also brings to mind a field speckled with wildflowers and dew as the sunrises and the troops are headed there to battle. Drydown-The moss is stronger now, bringing a bit of earth to this otherwise fairly ethereal scent. This lasted for about 4 hours on me, then slowly faded away as it should, being the Phantom Queen. This is going to be a 10mL purchase, for sure!!!

This is beautiful. At first whiff and application, all I got was rose. A very wet, dewy bright red rose. Then, the sweetness of the pomegranate came through and made this a very lovely fruity-rose scent. It's bursting with joy and life. I think of Persephone running through the gates of Hades, and up into the spring morning to the sunlight of her mother's waiting arms. But, this isn't me. This is going to go into the gift pile.

This is an amazing concoction. I had to try it, considering I've read "The Mists of Avalon" so many times, I've had to buy the book twice. This scent makes me think of the beautiful, flame-haired Morgause silently stealing away under the nights' sky to the Beltane fires to lie with a beautiful young Captain in her husband Lot's Army. Her dark purple cloak billows out behind her and between her breasts lies a medallion given to her during her childhood on Avalon. She has scented her body with precious oils, but the incense from the night's church service still lingers in her hair, the berries from the night's feast still lingering on her lips. This is a regal, womanly and sexy scent. The night blooming flowers are well tempered with the sweetness of the fruit (I get blackberry instead of plum here, but it's probably my chemistry) and the violets and insence darken the blend and give the heady brew a bit of darkness that hints at Morgause's more self-serving nature. I'll be purchasing a bottle of this, be certain of that. It's just an amazing, complicated blend that captures the spirit of Morgause in all her glory.

This was interesting because I got to smell this on two different men. In the imp, this smelled like leather, leather and more leather. Not biker-boy/bar brawl leather, more like the leather on the whip of a cruel gentleman whose spicey cologne has rubbed off on it leaving his scent behind to mingle... On my husband, this turned into baby powder, unfortunately. Not quite sure what the culprit was, but it was pure baby powder. So, we gave it to my BIL to try. On him, this is leathery and spicey. It warms up quite nicely on him and there is no hint of baby powder here. It's rather what I'd imagine an older, rich powerful man's leather chair would smell like. My BIL says it makes him feel more confident when he wears it. He'll be purchasing a bottle of this. I love enabling!!

Blood Kiss is absolutely lovely. It's definitely a more fall-winter perfume. It's nice because the sweetness of the cherry, honey and vanilla really blend well with the clove, poppy and musk. Makes for a very heady, sweet, almost euphoric, blend. I have a bottle on order now. I can't say enough for this one. I'm a bpal newb, however, and don't know all of the scents. Has anyone suggested Persephone? It's pomegranate and roses. It's missing the honey/vanilla, but I've read the reviews and it's supposed to be very sweet. Just a thought.

This was another my hubby tried and I absolutely adore. I can't really get too into it b/c I really didn't open the imp or anything, but I can say that on him, this fragrance is lethal. Dorian Grey, for some reason, comes to mind here. This is a man whose outer self is polished and shaven. His clothes are of haute couture. His smile is that of a switchblade opening and his heart is cold and deadly. This fragrance exudes old world decorum and charm, but it is lethal at it's core. I really love this. A bit light for the winter, but I think he's going to need to break this out come spring! ETA This just gets better everytime he wears it. Absolutely wonderful!

Well, DH has worn this for two days and I am in love with this fragrance. It's a great, everyday fragrance for a man to wear (definitely male here, no question). It's nice for the office and for weekends. It starts out rather aquatic and I was really uncertain about it on him (it smelled like Cool Water), but then it warms up, opens up and...well, this is just a sensual, very seductive scent. It isn't overbearing or demanding like some men's colognes. It brings you closer and ensares you with it's scent. Very bewitching indeed.

Brings peace to the spirit, a sense of calm and fulfillment, and attracts the aid of beneficial spirits. This was another freebie I received and I'm mourning it's loss as while I took a shower last night, my sweet DD decided to apply it liberally all over herself. There was barely enough for me to sample, but I managed to do it. In the vial, I got something of a watery-salty note. Not what I would call green at all, more of an aquamarine. Underneath that, I found there was a bit of a rosey scent. Very faint, however. On application, I got more of the salty-sweet rosey smell I got in the vial. Somehow, this was very comforting. For some reason, the entire time I wore this fragrance, I was brought back to an image of a statue of the Virgin Mary by the sea with a single rose in offering at her feet. (If memory serves, the statue of the virgin is also used to represent one of the Voodoo deities.) This mellowed out into a lovely, clean, almost soapy smelly. However, I did get the somewhat salty smell throughout. This is something I think I'd like to have around when I have very hectic, crazy days. It was very relaxing and centered me well. Not a big bottle purchase, but definitely an imp. Edited to change a stupid spelling error...

This was a freebie in my first lab order. I tried it last night after my shower and it was like I was hit with memories of playing in a field as a child. This brings to mind youthful idealism, white gloves and tasteful, pearly-pink lipstick. Very clean smelling, but not at all soapy. Very feminine, but not at all girlish...more of a young lady-ish scent, emphasis on Lady. It's still very hopeful, youthful and, dare I say, virginal? This is a beautiful, spring-time fragrance. Not for me, as I'm in a sultry place with my fragrances right now. But, it's still absolutely lovely.

This was delish for about 5 seconds on me, then it went somehow seriously and irrevocably wrong. I don't know, it went somehow...burnt butter on me. I'm chalking this up to my hormones/body chemistry due to pregnancy and will be trying this again after I give birth and see if my chemistry likes it then. ETA: I couldn't help myself and tried this again. This time it smelled really festive. I smelled rather like a redheaded rumball, LOL! It was a fun fragrance, but just too sweet and foody for me. I think it will make a DELIGHTFUL room scent, however and I'm going to try this tonight.

This is my second review and I'm still pretty new at this, but this scent was so emotionally tender, I couldn't help but post something about it. In the bottle, I get a very strong carnation smell. Sweet, slightly spicey. On, however, I get a very milky/sweet honeyed carnation. As it dried down, it kept the milky carnation smell. The bergamot never really materialized for me. It was, however, LOVELY! This reminds me of my sweet little four year old daughter playing at being grown-up. Puttering about the living room in an oversized "lady-like" hat perched precariously on her little red head. Muttering to herself while she's pouring tea for teddy with my pink lipstick smeared on her cute little cupid's bow mouth. Smiling, buttercream frosting smeared across her face (and sundress) after her brother's birthday party. However, I think it's just too girlish and sweet for me. I am just too darn jaded for this scent. But, I'll be keeping an imp on hand for her to wear when she feels like playing grown-up and needs a little "pick-me-up". Her words, not mine.

This was the first BPAL I've ever tried and it's just delicious. In the imp, I got a very sweet, thick black cherry. It was very dessert-like, but with a naughty undertone. On, this was just amazing. At first all I got was cherries, very sweet, but not what I would call "foodie". It's a more sensual cherry. As time went on, this really began to smolder. I got a bit of the clove, vetiver and wine as well as the original sweet honeyed black cherry scent. Overall, I really loved this. It was absolutely yummy. I think I'll be purchasing a 5 ml bottle of this, or at the very least always have an imp on hand.

Thanks so much, Tart! That's what I thought. CCNow's kind of goofy. I think I'll probably do PayPal next time.

Gracie, were you talking about the "Shipped Through..." thread in the BPAL Announcements section here: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?showforum=9 ? I was wondering that as well. That FAQ only deals with CCNow clarification, which I understand. I think what Gracie and I are wondering (or at least I am) is when Brian posts that orders are shipped through October 7th in the "Shipped Through" thread, does that mean that those are orders the lab received on the 7th, or are those orders actually placed up through the 7th, but received by the lab sometime after that (around the 14th, methinks.)?

Thanks so much for clearing this up for me, spaceprostitute and tart! I appreciate it. It's really great that they have these forums for these kinds of queries so that they don't get bogged down with e-mails with the same question!

Not everyone receives a Click 'n Ship notification for their order. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Ah...is it random or is it something that you have to request on ordering? I don't remember it being an option on ccnow, but I have sleep deprived mom mush brain these days, LOL! I'm just WAY too excited about getting these little babies into my grubby little hands.

Alright...I was confused about this same issue because my order says "shipped" on the 27th of Oct and my card was charged then as well. But I was beginning to worry as USPS priority mail usually takes 4 days tops to get here, and it's been 6 (including Saturday). Let me make sure I understand what has been stated here. "Order shipped" just means that BPAL has received your order and is in the process of filling it. Is this correct?? If so, does one get an e-mail notification when your order has actually shipped or is it more like going to the mail box and "Surprise! Your smellies have arrived!"?