voodoobaby

Yeah, no kidding. My birthday is two days after Passover starts. Now that sucks.

That's not what I meant, but it's a very funny concept. My Blood idea was more based on the idea of sacrifice and salvation. Remember, I like my Judaism with a special Prophesy Sauce and a nice side dish of Christian Connotations. The plagues would be hilarious. Imagine what a scent called Frogs would smell like!

Also glad to know that there are others of the old Biblical faith here. I personally am of the Messianic persuasion (for the most part--I'm kind of a combination of things as far as details are concerned), so forgive me if my suggestions are biased or unorthodox. I personally am wearing Circe at this year's Seder for the spring connotations, but seeing as that is discontinued, I'll suggest something more symbolic. Since the name "Passover" refers to the Angel of Death passing over the doorposts that were anointed with blood, a dragon's blood scent would be great. The obvious choice would be Blood, but since Blood Kiss is foodier and more comforting (reminiscent of the joyful feast eaten while reclining, perhaps?) that might be a better idea. I also like the idea of an herbal scent to represent the bitter herb. Wolfsbane was suggested, which is great, but Yggdrasil would be my personal choice. You could also do a representation of the salt water by wearing an aquatic. Maybe Jolly Roger? Or you could combine both the blood idea and the salt water idea and go for Dragon's Tears. If you too are Messianic, you could wear something with lily in it to represent the Messiah, or even Penitence. Of course, that is bordering majorly on Christian traditions. For general Jewish traditions, I'm fairly sure I read that sandalwood oil was pretty sacred and widely used as an anointing oil. Also, if you want to get creative, in Exodus it describes an anointing oil made of two parts myrrh, one part cinnamon, one part cane (whatever that is), and two parts cassia, with olive oil used as a carrier. Personally, I think that sounds divine. I might just have to make a post in the Suggestions forum. OK...I went pretty crazy with this idea. Can you tell that Passover is my favorite holiday? Still, I hope these suggestions helped!

In the bottle: I get anise again! I think maybe that's supposed to be the tea. Not quite as dry and planty as the black tea I'm familiar with. Other than that, it is a little on the clean side, but not in a post-shower way. Wearing: OK, I've worn this twice and I still don't know what to make of it. On top of that anise/tea scent (which, by the way, is very nice) I smell maybe a wee bit of honey, lemony ginger, and a wee bit of spicy pepper, but that's really it. I was curious about the milk, but kind of afraid of the mention of it...so I'm both relieved and disappointed that it didn't show up on my skin. In this stage, it's overall what I would call bittersweet, in a weird non-earthy way. Later: Much cleaner. I get the linen smell. It's warm and kind of powdery, and quite a bit creamier than the first couple of hours. Overall: Not bad. A unique blend, that's for sure. Like I said, I still don't know what to make of it, but I'm pretty sure I like it. Will keep the imp for days when I feel weird.

In the bottle: Wow, that's strong! Smells more like patchouli than anything. The very strong kind of patchouli, really, not BPAL's normal kind. I'm afraid I won't like this. Wearing: OK. It smells a lot better now. I have to say that it smells very expensive, like a designer perfume. Kind of has the slight alcohol smell, too. I'm really starting to like this. It's dark and earthy, but polished to a nice velvety sheen around the edges. And if opoponax is what gives this the earthy, dark bite, then I must get other blends with this note in it. Absolutely divine. Later: Oh, glorious clove! Sweet, spicy, warm clove! Not that it dominates over the resin smell, but...man, what a combination. I also get a little bit of the plum. Mmm. This is wonderful. I wonder if I could somehow get more. Overall: My goodness, this is a great blend. Definitely in my top 3. It's just a shame that it's discontinued now. Still, this is one classy, fancy, even cruel scent. High class and snobby. I like!

In the bottle: Cocoa! Wow! This smells like a chocolate flavored lip gloss I had a while back. Not a deep chocolate smell, but soft, powdery, creamy cocoa. Wearing: OK, here comes the sandalwood. It seems so strong that the cocoa has almost completely disappeared. Oh, but it's lovely and dry. There's a little bit of myrrh, but it's not much--just enough to make the sandalwood a little fizzy and sweet. This is dark, but not spooky. Like true velvet, it evokes a feeling of soft, bittersweet romance. Later: The throw in this lasts quite a while, but oddly not quite as long sniffed directly from the skin. I put it on this morning, around 8, and could still smell it floating around me at 4. Way later, however, the little bit of smell left on my arm has gone back to cocoa. Overall: I wasn't sure I'd like this sniffing from the bottle (too foody), but wearing it, it's gorgeous. Not on my top 10, but beautiful all the same. I will keep the imp.

In the bottle: Mmm, green tea. This smells very much like The Healing Garden's Green Tea Therapy body wash. With a little wood? Odd, but very nice. Light and pleasant. Wearing: OK, here comes the lemon. Prior to this I had no idea what lemon verbena smelled like...but on my skin it's quite like a plain lemon. I just wish the honeysuckle would make an appearance. Later: Soap, but oh, it's a gloriously lovely soap! More along the lines of Irish Springs or something else that smells clean, but not like lye. The tea is still there and everything, but it smells like it just took a bath with something lemony. Overall: This is a rare blend, in that it's light and clean and yet I like it a lot. Cooling and refreshing, I can totally see me wearing this in the summer. Keeping the imp.

In the bottle: Smooth and woody, but with a slight bitterness. Kind of an anise-y smell, though I know it's not anise. Maybe it's just the sandalwood, but I smell cedar, too. Wearing: Um, OK. Call me crazy, but...frankincense?! I swear there's frankincense in this--sandalwood isn't this dry and resinous and doesn't pop out so much on my skin. So...basically what I've got here is a much woodier, sweeter Anne Bonny. Later: OK, frankincense smell has died down a little. I'm getting something herbal and a little sharp to my nose, but pleasantly so. There is a little greenness to this scent, a subtle greenness. And something that makes me sneeze. Overall: Well. Frankincense is always so darn prominent on me. But it smells lovely. This blend is a good woody scent for me, so I think I'll go ahead and keep it. Edit: Oddly, the second time I tried this it smelled completely different from this original review. I didn't get any frankincense. This time it was just plain nature-smelling--grass, wood from fallen trees, and little wild flowers--with something that gives it a very bitter overtone. These are the first flowers I've smelled in a blend that actually smell natural and understated, like a real flower. I enjoyed this blend much, much more this time around.

In the bottle: Hmm. This is kind of non-descript, but lovely. Can't pick out any individual notes, just an earthy sweetness. Wearing: OK... Something in this reminds me of vanilla, but I know it's not because it doesn't turn scorched on my skin. It's creamy, but not foody. Kind of musky in a feminine way. Later: This doesn't last long at all. By the time I went to smell my arm for the "later" section of the review, it was too late--Scherezade had faded almost completely. I'm still not quite sure about this one. It's gorgeous, but nothing über-unique. I will probably keep the imp, try it again, and see what happens.

In the bottle: Holy crap, that's masculine! This is dripping with testosterone, but I'm not sure it's a good thing. It is woody, but really, most of what I smell is vetiver. Wearing: Well, the lemon comes out just a bit, giving it this aftershave smell. Sharp and biting and astringent, yet clean. It doesn't really smell dark, to my nose. It smells like it's trying to be dark--like that greasy guy at a goth club who knows he's not appealing, so tries to be spooky to up his sex appeal. But fails. Later: Fabric softener! Bah. I'm wondering if this is my skin chemistry going wonky from the fact that I'm still getting over my illness. Nonetheless, Incantation and I just don't get along. More swappage.

In the bottle: Sharp, herbal and green. With maybe a very small hint of floral. Yikes, this one's potent. I'm scared. Wearing: The violets come out, softening the blend quite a bit, thankfully. However, it's still very sharp thanks to the lavender and vetiver. Still, it's not nearly as masculine as it was in the bottle. Later: I went to bed with this oil on my arm, and before morning it had turned into a typical floral, but it was still very strong. I slept well, admittedly. However, I'm not sure what to make of this one. I like the violet smell, but something in it really is just too much for me. I think I'll have to swap it out.

In the bottle: Sharp and woodsy, and slightly animalistic. Wearing: Pine! Much pine! It gives it a very metallic smell. There's also a smokiness here, but it's faint. This is not a friendly scent. Later: Sigh. This is me coming to the realization that I cannot wear ambergris. It goes all sickly sweet on me and is not appealing...which is a shame because I really liked the smoky metal smell when I first applied it. Ah well, into the swaps it goes.

In the bottle: Wow. This is, like, Discount Honey Warehouse over here. And a floral, which has to be the ylang ylang. Wearing: Definitely smell the honey, but! There's this note that makes it funny smelling and musty...which has to be the ylang ylang. Darn it, I was afraid that was going to happen. The note hates my skin with a passion. Well, with that aside, I smell something sweet that isn't honey, probably fig. And...apples? Odd. Later: Powdery, yet foody. And kind of perfumey. Overall: I love honey, but I hate ylang ylang. This one is definitely not me, and will be swapped out.

In the bottle: Craft store! The very essence of a craft store. Potpourri, dried flowers, wicker baskets, wooden garden benches, and fruity scented candles. Wearing: Well. This smells evil. Yes, it's turned from a regular craft store to an evil craft store. With more spices of darkness and fruits of wrongdoings. I think the craft store smell comes from gardenia...and I swear there's cinnamon in this, judging by the fact that I keep smelling that dry cinnamon stick scent and the fact that the oil burned a little upon application. I also smell something very, very much like red wine, which is probably the berry. Above all, the prominent notes are plum, gardenia, and rose, as well as whatever spices are giving it the potpourri scent. Later: Well, this doesn't change much, to tell you the truth. No later for you! Overall: I really, really like the smell of craft/candle stores. Honestly, I do. But I don't want to smell like one myself. This is a gorgeous scent that should be worn by someone closer to the hearth than I am. I'll either swap it out or keep it for my oil burner.

In the bottle: Candy-sweet berries mixed with a deeper, fresh greenness that's probably sage. So far it's a very misty scent; ethereal, yet with substance. Wearing: The moment it touches my skin, it turns very clean and light. This is the perfect late spring scent, when it first starts turning to summer but the breezes are still cool. It's for some reason reminding me of a clear soap I had once that didn't smell soap. Cool and refreshing. Later: I get the sugar note, and call me crazy, but is that strawberry I smell? Think a fresh strawberry dipped in powdered sugar, throw in some other sweet treats, and you have the smell I get. It's yummy, but it's not deep at all--this is one I consider a little two-dimensional. However, it's fresh and light and carefree, and perfect for the lovely Oklahoma spring weather. I will probably wear this a lot before the season's over, particularly on leisurely strolls through the neighborhood or anything having to do with sun.

In the bottle: Musk! And lots of it! I smell the wood too, but to my nose it's certainly not a dry and dusty wood--it's damp wood that's covered in lichens and moss. A calm, fuzzy scent. When I first sniffed this I spent quite a while in the process, giggling, almost getting high off of it. It's pleasant, to say the least. Wearing: Ooh. This is the same smooth, spicy musk in Blood Kiss. The amber comes in as a suggestion rather than something that really jumps out, lending a sweetness to the blend. I'm not getting any woods or grass, just musk and amber and spice. Gender neutral, but it leans quite a bit on the masculine side. 15 minutes later: Wow! This has turned red on me. It's gotten a little sharper and more intense and passionate, but not in a sexual way. Maybe it's just that I'm getting over strep throat and my skin is still doing weird things...but this is gorgeous! Couple hours later: Hmm. It's gone a little fabric softener-y. While this is a drawback, I don't care, I like the earlier stages too much to pass this one up. A new favorite, for sure.

In the bottle: Hmm. Just hmm. I tried Brimstone first and hated it. This, luckily, does not have the sharp, biting, Vics Vapo Rub smell that Brimstone has. And it's not nearly as strong. Wearing: Hmm. I don't know what to make of this. All I know is that I really like it. It is fiery, but it doesn't have the burning wood smell I was expecting. It's spicy, for sure, and while it does kind of smell like fire and ash, at the same time it's sweet and smooth. There's also more than a hint of incense in this, but a full-bodied incense rather than the typical dry, two dimensional smell most incense scents give off. Later: It gradually smooths out even more, but otherwise doesn't change. Overall: This is one beautiful scent. While, like I said, it doesn't exactly smell like burning wood, it embodies the symbolic concept of fire perfectly. It's a definite autumnal scent, and for some reason reminds me of the Middle East. A keeper! ETA: I forgot to mention that, while wearing this, I feel incredibly relaxed and laid back. This would be a good scent to wear when I plan on just hanging out and being comfortable.

In the bottle: Oh wow! Leather! This automatically brought me back to when my mother and I were living in North Hollywood and she frequently bought tanned leather and Sharpies from this one leather store to make these beautiful bracelets. This is the exact way I remember those bracelets smelling--leather and the magic marker smell of Sharpies. Wearing: The only way this has changed is that it has blended in so very well with my skin. It smells of oiled leather now rather than the more suede smell it had in the bottle. As a comparison to De Sade...this is everything I wanted it to be. On me De Sade smelled more of a musky men's cologne with a hint of leather (which was great for what it was), but this! This is the single-note leather that I've been looking for. Overall: I live in Oklahoma now. As a native Californian I kind of dreaded buying something cowboy themed, but I couldn't pass up a new leather scent. While this does embody the cowboy thing perfectly, it's more of an Old West, romanticized cowboy scent rather than the boring, cocky range boys I know personally. I love this!

In the bottle: The sweet jasmine smell of dragon's blood, a bit darkened. Wearing: Aye, soap! Especially in the throw. I should have known. However, on closer inspection, it seems that the soapy smell is exclusive to the throw. Sniffing directly from my arm I get something more along the lines of an old attic. Dusty, musty, and slightly sweetened by perfumes that have aged for decades. Later: Well, the poetic attic visual is gone, and it actually does smell like leather now. At first when the leather note was coming in, it was the leather from Loviatar, which to my nose always kind of smelled like Pepsi (in a good way!). After a few minutes in the leather stage, it's the leather from Perversion. Sweet, smokey leather. With still a bit of Pepsi. I think maybe there might be myrrh here. No matter, just as long as the soapy jasmine smell has died down for the most part, I'm not terribly unhappy. Overall: I'm...not sure what to make of this one. It certainly is an interesting combination, and I love the drydown...but the throw! Will give this much thought on whether I plan on keeping it or not. ETA: Way, way later it turns into fabric softener! Darn. I really have to come to terms with the fact that I can't wear dragon's blood. Swap pile it is.

In the bottle: Dirt! Fresh dirt from the garden, with the evergreen smelling more like grass than anything, and a cool sweetness. Wearing: Hmm. This reminds me of an expensive man's cologne, but not an overpowering one. It smells kind of clean and green, fresh and cool--as promised, like night air, only it's more of an impression than a direct smell. I get something slightly candy sweet that's similar to the wine in Mabon and Hunter Moon. Later: This has turned all candy on me now, more berry than anything, still kind of chilly. Overall impression: This is what I would call a refreshing blend, but nothing overly cheerful or light. It's more like a full moon night with a cool, energizing breeze, and you don't want to go to sleep because the energy in the air makes you feel so awake. In fact, it's perfectly evocative of night in this sense, as that's the time of day that I feel most alive. Love the scent, keeping the imp.

I love Tiger Lily! I'd have to say that that's my favorite springy scent right now, as it's one of the only florals I can wear that doesn't go powdery or soapy or sour. I also like New Orleans and Roadhouse, but those remind me more of summer than spring. Of course, this is coming from someone who's much more of an autumn/winter scent person.

In the bottle: A sweet, dark floral blend. It is sharp, I think from the opium because I get the slight hairspray undertone that I got in Darkness. And also a leathery smell, for some reason. It smells quite masculine. Wearing: Mmm, honeysuckle. I can smell a little touch of vetiver, just being earthy and heavy. You know, I never would have thought that honeysuckle and vetiver could be good together, but this is, and it is gorgeous to boot. Gorgeous in a kind of sluggish, evil way. The best way to describe Anathema is deceptive. Sure, it's sweet, but at the same time it's completely corrupted. And for some reason this strikes me as very sexy. Later: Now it's incensey. And, oddly, I get a greenness... Oh! It smells like green tea! This isn't a totally friendly green tea, though; it's...fiendish...yet still not quite unfriendly. And also a touch of vanilla? Where am I getting all these notes? Well, doesn't matter, it smells divine. Overall: Did I mention that this is sexy? It's the kind of sexy that glares at you down its nose, both harsh and stuck up, yet still totally irresistible. Though it's floral, it's a no-frills kind of scent, and again plainly masculine. I really wish I could get my boy to wear this, I think it would be great on him. Edited because, after wearing it again, I paid more attention to the notes I smelled and had to majorly add to the review.

In the bottle: Ooh, musk and spices! This one seems promising. Wearing: Yay, here comes the sandalwood! It's not overpowering, though, it just mixes nicely with the spices. A few minutes later a floral note emerges, but this is a masculine flower, not a feminine one. Something earthy and slightly licorice-y comes out -- cassia? Like the sandalwood, the slight licorice really doesn't overpower, it's just a breath of the smell. This is best described as bittersweet and earthy and kind of exotic. This is definitely the smell of a Middle Eastern marketplace. Later: Grr! Within a couple of hours it's gone. That makes me sad, it was so beautiful. Well, I'm keeping it, for sure; I'll just have to keep applying it. Overall, this is love. Mmm, Morocco.

In the bottle: Ooh! White musk and tea! And why am I smelling a slight floral scent? Oh well. I really, really like this so far. Wearing: I found that the longer I wear this, the cleaner it smells. Oh, and it's very sweet, almost cloyingly so. Still, I think this is very nice. Later: Well, I have identified the note that turns to burnt rubber bands on me: vanilla. Darn it, and I like vanilla so much! Well, it's definitely not as bad as O was on me, this is more smokey than anything. Which, when it comes right down to it, isn't bad at all, as I love smokey scents. But yeah, this is all vanilla on me now. Sad to see the other notes go, especially the tea, but what can you do? Overall: Very nice, although I like it better in the bottle. While I will wear it, I'd like to find other ways to use it that wouldn't require direct contact with my skin. I'm thinking I need to invest in a scent locket. When I do wear it, I think I will layer it with De Sade, as an addition of leather sounds absolutely divine. Edit: I just need to say that the more I wear this the more I love it. And I mean LOVE it. This is in my top five now. In fact, I could bathe--nay, drown--in Dorian. Mmm.

In the bottle: Very candylike. I smell some citrus, probably orange or something similar. The florals are there, but it takes second command to the tart candy smell. Wearing: The main note is now a bouquet of flowers. I smell lily for sure, and I think lilac. It's now very green. The whole thing is like eating an orange in the middle of a bright, sunny, green garden. Despite this imagery, it is at the same time quite deep. This would be perfect for spring. Later: Hmm. Powdery fabric softener, but still tart. I don't particularly like it in this stage, but it's lovely in its earlier stage. I will definitely be wearing this on Passover this year, but after that I'll have to think about whether I'm keeping it or not.