reina

Hi! Looking for a bpal match for "Voyage" by Hermes, a lemon-anise-cardamom-green tea unisex scent. It smells gorgeous on my man, and I'd rather invest in a small company rather than a large corporation. http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Hermes/Voyage-d-Hermes-7916.html ....And "Le Parfum Carven" for women, which is a relatively light, white floral with hyacinth and jasmine among other notes. http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Carven/Carven-Le-Parfum-17744.html Any suggestions?

Clasic Girly ones. Hmmmm... How about this months' single note - rum soaked tonka? it should be all rum, almonds and a perfumed kind of vanilla. Not sure how terrifically sweet it would be, but I know tonka beans as an ingredient for cooking, and they smell absolutely fabulous. It's very much of a "woman" scent. The "Goldenrod crab spider" on the limited editions section seems like a fair choice too, with mint, coconut, champaca blossom and lime rind. Heck, I'd love to try it myself! I really recommend "Delight" as a sweet floral. it's HEADY stuff, though. Makes your head kind of spin. powerful, heavy, loads of sillage. for sweet, floral and lemony, the first choice would be something with a dominant magnolia note. It's a white floral which is quite lemony, at least on my skin (my chemistry doesn't like it, I hope yours does). Watch for magnolia-heavy blends.

I'm a 31 year old cook, engaged to be married and an die-hard salsa dancer. I'm pale, skinny, wear purple framed glasses and short burgundy-black hair. I love 50's inspired styles in fashion, the kind that hug your curves. I love feeling like a woman, even though my job leaves me looking, feeling, and smelling like a dish rag more often than not. Inspiration: Palladium mambo dance scene while it did mambo. Google it, you'll fall in love. I live for dancing, and am part of a dance group - we're building a cool choreography at the moment which combines salsa, middle eastern and hassidic styles. My dream is to be a performer, and I do perform every time I'm on the dance floor, even in social circumstances. I love food and wine aside from my job. I'm pretty good at pairing food to wine, and my fiance enjoys my knack for it every time we go out to dine. I love to help, good with advice, I'm also pretty emotional and passionate about things in general. I like knowing my way around things, physically or in situations, I need to be familiar with a place or a situation, or I get frustrated. favorite colors (in random order): emerald green, royal blue, purple from cool violet to warm plum.... Vibrant pink (magenta), cool berry reds, creamy off-whites, creamy pale yellow. favorite smells: fresh pineapple, peppermint, fresh ginger, the air around a citrus tree in full bloom, sweet pea flowers, Sauvignon blanc wines from New zealand, nag champa-soaked scarves (winter love!), peak ripe nectarines, raspberries, limes, oranges, cardamom, vanilla beans, muscat grapes, the sweetness strawberry juice and passion fruit leave on your skin, peony, fresh bread, hazelnut with or without cocoa, pistachio, fresh air of hills and mountains, sea breeze, fresh rosemary. Any recs?

Try Osun. It has that same toffee-ish honeyed vibe. While not a dead ringer for Soft Coeur, it's pretty much in the same family. Soft Coeur smells to me like shisha smoke, the sweet apple tobacco kind of thing that's smoked in a hookah. A bit like burning pink marshmallows. If you can find a scent that smells like charred marshmallows. or layer marshmallows with a charred tobacco note, you might get soft coeur. Perhaps layering Osun with a smokey tobacco scent? Can't hurt.

How about Envy? It's all quite herbal, mint, lime, lavender, with something that smells a tad like dill, too.

I'd also like to add in the fertile category both Machu Picchu (which I have tried), and Manila (which I haven't) in the sense that they are both lush-green, fertile jungle scents, and nowhere on earth will you find more of nature's fertility than in a rainforest. Machu Pichu is a wonderful scent for times you don't want something too cloying, something a little more active. it does remind me of lush leafy green colors, some kind of a natural jungle tribe princess-goddess walking through the leaves and guarding her domaine. Try an imp, I recommend it.

Would love to find a Bpal that smells like Armani's "Acqua di Gio" for men. That's basically all my fiance wears. Any suggestions? Notes: Marine Notes, Mandarin, Bergamot, Neroli, Persimmon, Rosemary, Nasturtium, Jasmine, Amber, Patchouli, Cistus. Thanks!

I'm engaged since August, we don't have a date yet, but I've been thinking about a weding scent lately, as I've also been browsing shop windows since August to get an idea of a dress I'd like to wear. To be honest, I should've been a woman of the early 50's, I sense. A very particular woman of the 50's or early 60's - a woman who danced the mambo all night long at the Palladium in NYC. That's me, I'm a dancer in action and spirit and that's what my man is going to marry. My taste in clothing is also in that theme - classy, form-fitting dresses that don't reveal too much skin but show every curve. I want that for my wedding, and a scent to match. Does that bring to mind any scent? I'd love to hear your recommendations. Basically I'm debating between two styles - one is the white-wearing, more pure or innocent, and the other is that mambo lady. I was thinking of - in the first style - Sudha Segara, Snow White, to try Dana O'Shee, Zephyr, Van Van (for confidence), Obatala, Katharina... in a more festive, sexier style: Chuparosa, Delight (though extremely heavy), certain velvet painting scents (the nudie, the tiki, the panther? if I can find them), Scherezade, Bastet, Elegba...

Danube is a nice option to try, although I found it a bit heavy on some kind of citrus note which turned a little bitter on my skin. kinda like grapefruit. I would definitely recommend trying Szepasszony and 51. Szepa is like a lighter version of Danube, and 51 definitely bears some kind of resemblance to commercial scents such as Clinique's "Happy", and Davidoff's "Cool Water" (for women).

I'm currently trying a spritz of L'artisan Parfumeur "Havana Vanille" which is a realtively new scent from them. the notes in it are quoted as such: "vanilla pod infused in old rum, clove, leather, crystallized dried fruit, a 'ball of vanilla and powder', narcissus, helichrysum, tonka bean, benzoin, tolu, musks, vanilla absolute". Now, on me, the two prominent notes are vanilla, followed by narcissus, and it's slowly turning more powdery with time, so it's not a BIG "ball of vanilla and powder". The rest play in the background and are well-blended enough so I can't detect them individually at all. um.... so, based on this impression, and considering I already have and LOVE Snow White, what BPAL scents are similar in note? (edited for spellies) ETA: LE Feu D'Issey. I remember trying the "light" version that was released shortly afterwords, and quite liked it, as it was a nice candied scent. I can't quite remember what the regular Feu... smelled like. oh, and I'm also wondering about a discon. perfume. Castelbajac. it was designed like a hot water bottle, with red plastic sides. it was based on a sweet almondy smell, although not quite almond. like an ethereal almost-marzipan. lovely it was. Top Notes: orange blossom and almond. Heart Notes: cyclamen and lily of the valley. Base Notes: patchouli, musk, vanilla and cedar. Any ideas on what may smell like it?

Just wanted to add to my review from April that my b/f likes this: "you smell like caramels". I'm wearing it now almost exclusively when paired with something red, I don't know why but the energy is right for red seduction. A pair of red high heel sandals with black tights and a sexy red top. It's not a "red" scent though, not by a long shot. I may need a bottle of this.

Baker's Dozen! I'd go for: -51 (the closest thing to a commercial perfume Beth does, and that's said in a good way.) -Destroying Angel (to show how Beth can take a traditional 30s style scent and turn it upside down. so familiar yet so different - Chanel no. 5 that I can actually WEAR!) -Xiuhtecuhtli (the first BPAL I fell in love with. it can work on either man or woman, and very sophisticated) -Van Van (conjure bag) to show another side of BPAL's scent alchemy. those new to bpal will notice how empowering it is to one's psyche and be intrigued. I know I was. -Sudha Segara for being so clean, so warm, so womanly, so calming. a totally different, and fascinating take on a "clean" scent. -Wanda for a scent that screams WOMAN!!! - one that is masculine to the extreme - one for citrus - one for "tropical" - one for "oriental" spice and/or resins - one for green/herbal - one for fruit (berries or summer fruit like peach or apricot)

51 is a cool, flourescent green floral scent that is somwhat feminine but with something extra on top. it reminds me of Davidoff "Cool Water" for women. it's relatively young in feel, so it's up to you. the complete opposite of it is Destroying Angel. it's a bit Chanel no. 5-ish with an earth note that opens the scent. It isn't cold but it's rather aloof and haughty. Like an older matron who is very refined but you don't want to mess with her. good with a black cocktail dress or a chocolate brown pantsuit with stilettos underneath. How about other ones from Rappacini's Garden? Black Hellebore, Squirting Cucumber.... I'll be back with more recs soon. ETA: Back! from the LE's, Hellgate of Ireland seems crazy good if you want to scare someone "Smoldering brimstone, bitter labdanum, clove, black musk, and copper-colored feathers." How about "The Lady on the Gray" from "The Graveyeard book" series (Neil Gaiman)? "Ethereal, opalescent, and radiant: pearly sandalwood, white amber, tobacco flower, orris, castoreum bouquet, soft resins, and pale petals." Absinthe from Bewitching Brews, and Envy from Sin & Salvation. both are lovely herbals. I've tried Envy on me, and it's a beautiful, clean sweet herbal with a slight citrus edge. a "Spa" scent if you will. smells like an extremely posh shower gel. I recommend it. Lightning: "The electric tang of ozone, marine notes, and a drop of sharp rain." Sudha Segara: "tea, with milk and ginger". Now, this isn't cool authority but it's clean and represents a woman whose personality is mature and very comfortable in her skin. it's pure and immaculate. "High John The conquerer". it's one of the "conjure bag" series, and it's not necessarily for scent but for its effects on psyche. This is going to help you command authority. it's a strong herbal scent. "Van Van" - also from the conjure bag series. This one, I tell you, WORKS! it only takes a small dab and re-vamps any frazzled nerves and stress to feel human again. if you're stressed and need help holding your head up high, this is your blend. right, time for sleep. good luck!

How about Destroying Angel for one of the darker female charachters... Bellatrix or something? Destroying Angel smells sinister enough for Slitherin.

rock concert... something fun and a little on the dark side. I'd say perhaps Slippery Poppy Tincture, Famine, Mama Ji, and most of all... I think I personally would wear Tavern of Hell.

I second 51 and whoever recommends Sudha Segara. 51 because it's very fresh and light (I would've also recommended Neo-Tokyo had it still been in the catalogue - it's even nicer IMO), and smells very much like a department store perfume done right for a change. Sudha Segara for being warm and gentle but still unique enough to be remembered by. However, if your skin amps milk notes or makes them go sour like crazy I'd go for 51 instead. SS is tea with ginger + lots of milk. Pele works well, I think, because it's so light and inoffensive Szepasszony is good if you're an aquatics person. Especially if the interview is in the summer. Envy is great for herbal lovers. it's sweet, clean, unisex veering towards citrus. very much a "spa" scent.

I really wanted to love this. The jasmine is rather lovely, but as the scent dries down it morphs into this strange floral scent that made "Midnight" a no-go for me. Sorry, Eos, you're beautiful but you're not for me.

I'm surprised by how Chanel-esque this scent is. It's added this surprise scent of dirt but beyond it is a powdery scent that's somewhere in the family of Chanel no. 5. It's really mature and classic, I can totally imagine wearing this to a VERY elegant, formal evening. Surprisingly good! I don't know how often I'll wear this, but it's a keeper.

The lily has a quality that kind of singes my nose, in any blend, but whereas some notes seem to tame it, others do not. Black Lily had that thing that singed my nose in a very unpleasant manner. Sorry BL, but it's off to swaps for you..

I really hoped to love this one. I love the croquet scene in the book, and the concept of having a blend of that scent was so appealing.... Unfortunately, it was not to be. The type of citrus here is somewhat unpleasant combined with the other components here, and the type of sweetness that is left after the citrus fades is a bit disturbing. Something about it smells "off". Not as in spoiled or rotten, but just unsuitable for my skin. Sorry... off to swaps.

wet - strong! definite honey - It has a "voodoo"-ish vibe, and to me it shares some connecting lines with "Queen" from the conjure Bag series. Only Queen is herbs turned to baby powder and Osun is much more organic. up close it smells bit like a type of medicine syrup I was given as a kid. not a bad thing, but not something I'd like to smell like. This needs to be appreciated from a good few inches away. There's some kind of floral or fruit there, I'm not sure I can recognize it by name, but I'm sure it's there. as it dries it mellows out and the slightly medicinal quality goes away. At that moment it starts smelling like Kali after the chocolate and wine have died down. Honey and flowers, and good stuff. There may be lotus in this, you know? I'm going to sleep and I'll see what it smells like in the morning. Morning - dry: It faded considerably by 10 AM. There's just a faint trace of it as I woke up. it still smells like the more fresh stage of Kali, which is great. I like Osun better than Kali on the drydown. Sweet and feminine, very womanly, I like it. This imp is a keeper.

Luminescent, glowing, and otherworldly: green mandarin, neroli, honeydew, white amber, guava, freesia, white and green musks hovering over desert scrub, smashed wood, and the dry, biting scent of night air over the Groom Lake salt flats. This is a beautiful scent, however I swear I smelled an exact designer perfume like this one several years ago - a big name. I can't remember what it's called. But it's a perfect smell for those who want to introduce BPAL to people with somewhat more commercial tastes. I like the imp, definitely a keeper, and one of the best choices for a summer perfume out of the entire BPAL catalog.

I think it's the copal that catapults this scent to a higher level. I get the lemony quality from it, and vanilla quality, it's quite "perfumy", as in it wafts in a way that is tickling to the nose in an almost synthetic way, but it's not cloying or blatantly artificial, it's just flirting along the edge. The copal is what makes it special. it grounds it, gives it that creamy quality that is shared with Xiutecuhtli - in fact that vanilla creamy copal is exactly the same in Xiu. It's the part I love best about it. it's within the same family of Xiu, but significantly sweeter, more vanilla, and with lemon instead of orange. I think it's beautiful, really sensual in a light, rather clean way. The dry down is beautiful. I'm so glad I ordered a full bottle of this. Great job! :love!:

There's a reason I'm wary of scents wit violet in them. This blend is a good example. on me, it's just violet. Nothing there to temper that dusky, dusty, unpleasant quality that violet has to my nose. I don't think I get any neroli in this. I smell some of the Iris in it, but honestly I prefer Iris to violet any day. off to swaps.

Interesting. This reminds me of a lip balm I had flavored "chocolate-orange-mint". It smells very similar, like a slightly cocoa-ish fruit candy. I need to see whether it'll grow on me with time. I'll add a more detailed review soon. ETA: the straight out of the bottle wet stage does smell like that lip balm I've mentioned. It proceeds to smell like an upscale chocolate candy, something like milk chocolate with strawberry. At no stage is this a true strawberry scent on my skin, which I really wanted it to be. Then the cocoa element fades gradually to allow a vanilla with a slight strawberry note to linger on my skin. I like smelling like candy, it's simple, nice, and makes people hungry all in all, I'm glad I got a bottle of this. I'll be wearing it in times I want something pink.