rawgirl75

I was so sure Skyborn was going to be perfect, that I almost bought a bottle blind... and now I'm SO glad I didn't. I was expecting a light, pretty, and girly scent. Instead, this goes gender neutral on me, with a topnote combo that strongly reminds me of Calvin Klein's CK One.

Another rec for Shub-Niggurath. It's not quite foody (so not exactly gingerbread or gingersnapsb but yet sort of is). Best described as sweet musky hot ginger as well. I wear it whenever I want to feel comforted. Fabulous aged. I have multiple bottles. Blood Kiss. Heady, mysterious, seductive. If you like languid scents like Dior Poison, you'll probably dig this. (Note: Try to get an aged sample of this if you can. Blood Kiss has a note in it that's powdery when fresh, which goes away with time.)

As soon as I read "3) rain-drenched earthy florals", I immediately thought of Season of the Inundation I definitely remember it more 'watery' rather than snowy as some reviewers said. I was really sad that I couldn't wear it (allergy) because it was really amazing.

Yes, this smells like Smut musk! Thank you brineydeep. It was driving me crazy trying to figure out what scent Jiaolong was reminding me of. On me, I get almost no coffee. Just straight up sugar Smut musk without the patchouli. It even smells a little bit boozy on me. Oh it's gorgeous alright. I'm pretty sure my eyes rolled up into my head the first moment I sniffed this.

I popped in here to support the suggestion of Zorya Polunochnaya - it's gorgeous and very wearable. (It also reminds me a little of Morocco). *Note: it needs a few days to settle from postal shock for the creaminess to come out.

My first blind bottle purchase in a long time because I knew this was going to be perfect - and it is! I finally found a pretty, girly, sweet scent that works (most others usually amp too much on me). This seems in the same vein of scent types as Antique Lace and Morocco. Creamy musk, cool vanilla, white florals. The only downside is that it fades pretty fast on me so I have to reapply by afternoon, but aging should improve it's longevity. I predict that Zorya P. is going to become a bpal classic.

The coffee note disappeared almost instantly on me... and what's left is an incredible, slightly sweet ambrette musk and ancient soft dusty spice. Not at all what I was expecting, and yet probably one of the best scents I've ever smelled. If this passes the slather test next for allergies/migraines, I'll have to start hoarding multiple bottles of this one.

Shadow is REALLY good. I don't know why, but this reminds me of a very simplified Hellhound On My Trail. Hellhound had a note that was very problematic for me (either the galangal, hyssop, or High John the Conqueror root), but this is just perfect! I also think fans Frederic or Plunder might like it too.

I must have an odd nose. In the bottle, it really strongly reminded me of another bpal I used to own (I really popular one who's name I've forgotten). And on my skin, it reminds me of a combination of Velvet Tiger and maybe Question Mark. I don't get any orris or leather. Was not what I was expecting, and sadly not my cup of tea.

You'll likely only be able to find out which note is the problem by testing other scents that carry one of the notes contained in Himerus (juniper, sandalwood, rosewood, lilac, orchid, red musk, or bergamot) and see how it reacts with you. Hopefully it's a note that's easy to avoid. Also be aware that Beth doesn't necessarily list every note contained in her blends, just the ones that are most noticeably prominent. (I'm migraine-sensitive to a lot of notes myself, but recently developed a skin allergy to one that I haven't identified yet, but might be benzoin.)

Rumplestilzchen is pretty awesome too, but might be harder to find as it was discontinued.

It doesn't smell like what I was expecting, but I like it anyways. It definitely needed a week to settle after being jostled around in the postal system, and it still fades too quick right now. I'm hoping that with time, it will last longer. I have a feeling that this scent will be well sought after with a couple of years of aging. [edit] I obtained a partial bottle from a decanter and YUM I love this. [update] Still love it - best scent of 2016 on me. I have observed a couple of things that I should comment on: I don't find it foodie or gourmand. It's quite cologney when wet. Yes too I can smell the sour or rusted metal aspects of it, but those dissipate after a few minutes on my skin. I'm not sure now that it's batch variations or that this is just one of those really chemistry sensitive scents (like how Vetiver turns bacon on some people, but yet grassy herbal on people like me, for example). I say that if this scent sounds like your cup of coffee, take a gamble and try it -- you just might be surprised.

I personally use Crucible of Courage (under the Utility Blends category), but I know some people use Lionheart for similar issues. Crucible of Courage - Imbues you with enormous amounts of courage. Use this blend when you feel weak, scared, or intimidated. Helps you find the strength to confront dangerous or frightening situations. Lionheart - Infuses you with immense amounts of courage and drive. Useful to help you recover from intense depression and ennui. Brings on a positive outlook, renews hope, and replenishes positive energy. Fills your spirit with the courage and nobility of a lion, warmed by the life-giving joy of its solar aspects.

The Island of Winds: chilled white tea leaf, astringent white musk, and eucalyptus petals biting through ragged osmanthus blossoms, crystallized white amber, and ice-limned cedarwood. I'd blindly bought Insula Ventorum based on multiple Willcall reviewers comparing it to Spirits of the Dead (which is a longtime favorite of mine), but was shocked to find it not what I expected at all. To tell you the truth, I can't shake the feeling that this reminds me a lot more like Okayaki. So I looked up the notes to both and compared them this way: IV has Tea, Okayaki had Bergamot - both lemony like. IV has Osmanthus blossoms, Okayaki had Olive blossoms. Both IV and Okayaki share a similar Amber note. Both IV and Okayaki share a similar Icy note. I can also see a similarity to Spirits of the Dead, which shares Tea, Blossom and Wood notes. But it's that Icy Amber part of IV that pushes it to Okayaki territory for me. A love child of Okayaki and Spirits of the Dead perhaps? I had let go of my bottle of Okayaki awhile back, when it aged into something I couldn't wear. I think I'll hang onto IV for awhile and see where it goes. [Oct 30]: I found my decant of Okayaki, so I skintested all 3 - Okayaki and Spirits of the Dead on one arm and Insula Ventorum on the other. Reviews were correct that IV *is* more like SotD, but when I layered Okayaki over the SotD, it was so much closer to IV. [Apr 22]: I'm glad I kept my bottle of IV - it's aging wonderfully and has become a favorite.

What about one of the Lilith blends out right now? I bet Little Lady Macbeth would be up your alley. Or maybe one of the Weenies, like The Witches? Since you said you want sweet and loud, I'm going to support the recommendation for Snake Oil. I think it's right up your alley IF you make sure to let it age a little. When fresh, it sometimes has a burnt rubber smell to it, but that goes away with age. And the throw on it is loud and lasts a long time. Also if you like cinnamon, then try Chimera. I find it sometimes overpoweringly sweet and loud too.

Well I haven't smelled the gentlemen, but how about Spider, the convocation or vicomte de valmont? Another scent that should be hoarded but alas appears frequently on the sales pages is aubin grandpied bunmanchi. It's amazing in hot summer weather and nice when it gets colder, too. Thank you, I haven't tried any of those, and they all sound interesting! This perked my ears up! Vicomte de Valmont is my favorite so I am watching everything suggested to you with a lot of interest, haha- a bunch of things being suggested are sounding interesting to me- though your description of Jareth is scaring me- I've been wanting to try that one really badly. I was hoping it wouldn't be as sweet as Dorian. Obviously skin chemistry varies from person to person, but I didn't find Jareth to be anywhere near as sweet as Dorian. The leather and oude probably help out quite a bit with that. I actually can't wear Dorian (I think I have a mild allergic reaction to it, my eyes get puffy if I wear it), though I do like it on my husband... but Jareth is one of my favorite BPAL scents. Oh! this is good to hear! Though not that you are allergic to Dorian- I'm sorry to hear that! Do you know what note might be giving you an issue? I'm going to be trying Dorian again, though last time, all I smelled, and I mean, all I smelled was vanilla cookies and not a hint of the other notes. Jareth sounds more like what I wanted Dorian to be. I'm hunting down a decant if I can because I am new therefore not gutsy enough to just go for a bottle of something unknown. My skin has done some really interesting stuff with BPAL, but it's been picky. I wasn't expecting that. Thanks for the explanation of the differences for you between Jareth and Dorian- I love hearing how scents compare and change from person to person. Jareth and Dorian were both way too sweet for me. The only similar bergamot scent of that family that works is Theodosius the Legerdemain (from CD)

Narcisse Noir sounds like Hunger. You'd want it aged to get the smoky incense effect.

I think Beth uses black patchouli in her 'dirt' note. It would make sense that Count Dracula would need dirt Why not seek out some dirt? Like Graveyard Dirt or Burial for example.

Ambergris is 'fresh', white musk is 'clean'. Moss, geranium and orange blossom are common notes in some modern 'fougeres'. Mint helps with the fresh as well. I think you should begin with those as a place to start. I think you might like The Black Tower (GC) "A sepulchral, desolate scent. Long-dead soldiers, oath-bound; the perfume of their armor, the chill wind that surges through their tower, white bone and blackened steel: white sandalwood, ambergris, wet ozone, galbanum and leather with ebony, teak, burnt grasses, English ivy and a hint of red wine."

A sister of Butterflies, Flowers, and Jewels Attending and The Girl. Ultra feminine. Totally gorgeous. I feel beautiful just wearing it.

I agree with OctoberGwen that it's very much a member of the Lace family (I can smell the same base lace element that I get in Black Lace, Red Lace and Autumn Lace here as well). One of the notes is acting a bit powdery on me right now, but the other Laces did the same thing on me in their first year as well. Those aged into glorious scents, and I can immediately tell that Beautiful Death will do the same. The tea note isn't overpowering, but rather adding a bit of fresh 'sweet tea' to the blend. The belladonna berry juice is slightly fruity mulled wine-like to me instead of whole mashed berries and this makes me super happy because fruits and I usually don't go well together. Am super happy I took a chance on this and am going to cellar it away until next year when it'll become perfection. ps. Tobacco and chamomile are normally death notes for me in many other blends, but neither is giving me any grief here (if either of those are holding you back). Basically, if you love any of the above named laces, you'll wish you got this too. pps. And..... it triggers a migraine on me... Damn my allergies

I use the TAL oil Crucible of Courage to calm my anxiety. Maybe it might work for you too?

Maybe it's my chemistry, but aged Chimera is very smoky sweet to me.

Mictecacihuatl 2013 has agave nectar - very cactusey Oh, and Dia de los Muertos 2013 has sweet cactus blossom as well.

I like The Tell-Tale Heart for creepy factor: This is a swollen, pulsating, thudding scent, heavy with dread; a steady, unceasing, throbbing harbinger of retribution and doom: blood musk, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, dragon's blood resin and vetiver.