voodoobaby

In the bottle: Yikes! Sharp, acrid bubblegum! This is not the pleasant, spicy bubblegum smell I got from Blood, this is bubblegum that was chewed for five minutes and then stuck under a table for a week or two. Well, maybe it will settle down once I wear it. Wearing: Um. Still bubblegum. It's kind of making me sick, which I want to blame on the amber as much as the lotus. OK, I will wait this out. Later: Hmm. Well, the sandalwood and myrrh take over after a couple of hours, but sniffing from my arm I still smell the bubblegum. If the sandalwood thing were to become more dominant, I might like it, but in this case I will have to give the blend a big no. To the swaps!

In the bottle: Um. This is going to sound weird, but it smells like sweat! But I think maybe it still smells good. I can't really tell. For some reason I want to liken the sweaty smell to one of my better male friends, who is a half-arsed athlete. For some reason when he's done playing basketball, the smell of his sweat mixes with what I think must be his deodorant and creates this oddly pleasant (and admittedly sexy) scent. This doesn't smell just like that, but it's the same concept. (Also of note is that I'm sick right now, so my nose might be a little off.) Wearing: Ah, the smell of perspiration goes away as soon as the oil touches my skin. Now I smell cedar, predominantly. Second in command is the frankincense, which always smells incredibly dry on my skin, but that's hardly a bad thing. Later: Sandalwood comes out in the form of the pencil shaving smell a lot of people get. Again, not a bad thing. I love woody smells. Otherwise it stays the same. Overall: This reminds me a lot of Anne Bonny, or maybe a less spicy Kathmandu. I don't love it, but I like it enough to keep the imp.

Reading the reviews, I was hesitant about this one. However, since I love tea and leather and already had Wanda, I figured I might as well give it a try. In the bottle: Strong and citrusy. This is quite a bit sweeter than I imagined it would be. Wearing: This is kind of funny. When I opened the imp to sniff it, a little got on my thumb, which I absentmindedly wiped on my wrist and forgot about. A few minutes later when I crossed the room and rested my chin on my hand, I smelled this floral, almost candylike tea scent, and I thought to myself, "Wow, what smells so good?" It took me a while to figure out that it was me. OK, yeah, I'm slow. Anyway, like I said, this is still citrusy, vaguely floral--but not too much so--and sweet. As promised, there's the tea, and just a wee hint of leather. And also, this is kind of sexy, but it's a very subdued kind of sexy. It's like the guy you see around town every once in a while, and you think that maybe you're attracted to him, but if so, you have no idea why. Later: Gah! Gone in two hours. Darn it, and it was so nice. Well, keeping the imp, which I will promptly use up from reapplying every couple of hours.

In the bottle: Spicy and red! A floral scent lies underneath, with a little bit of fruitiness. Wearing: This takes a little bit to warm up on my skin, but once it does a lovely cinnamon type scent comes forth. I put it on this morning, and my friend said to me, "Mmm, something smells like those cinnamon thingies you get at Taco Bell." It does, but it's much richer and juicy. Later: Has a vague lipstick smell to it, and a wee bit potpourri, but I'm definitely not complaining. Finally, a spicy scent that isn't foody! My only complaint is that it doesn't last long enough. That and I was wanting there to be more leather. Maybe I could layer it with De Sade--I think it would be a lovely combination. Definitely keeping the imp.

In the bottle: Dark, forest green. Woody, floral, and bittersweet. Wearing: Um...rosewood? Is that what I smell? I know there's some sort of rose-related thing here. This is no girly rose, though, this is quite masculine. There's something that smells kind of like oakmoss here, but it probably isn't as oakmoss always turns to powder on me, and this doesn't. Maybe it's Spanish moss or some sort of evergreen. Later: Bitter and less rosey. It's sharp, but still rounded. This is my kind of herbal blend--brooding and dark, as opposed to light and calm. Keeping the imp, for sure.

In the bottle: Fir and mint, with the neroli rounding it out. Wow, this is dark. I've never imagined mint being dark, but it is here. Wearing: The tobacco takes over almost immediately. The evergreen notes are still there, taking second place now. There's something very bitter here, which I'm thinking is a mixture of the mint and balsam. And, luckily, no cumin, as I don't really like the idea of smelling like spaghetti sauce. Later: Clove and musk! Wow, what a great combination! It's now quite spicy, and still very dark. Ooh, I like this very much. It's incredibly sexy. This is one where I wish my guy wore cologne (or...whatever you would call this--"perfume" sounds too girly), as I think this would be great on him. I will definitely enjoy it for myself.

In the bottle: Mostly floral with an undercurrent of sharp citrus--either lemon or bergamont. The flowers in this remind me of those in Goth Rosary's Funeral Flowers scent--very sweet and almost rosey. I agree with one of the above posters, this brings to mind marigolds. I'm almost positive I won't like this. Wearing: Holy citrus! That is all I smell now. It's very sharp. Later: And then comes the frankincense. Ah, what a welcome change! The citrus fades off, yet still remains tart and juicy enough to complement the dryness of the frankincense. I agree that there is something extra resiny and incensey about this. Amber is definitely a possibility. Every now and then I'll smell the floral scent in the throw, but it's hardly the most dominant note anymore. Overall: I can't believe I actually liked this. This isn't something I would wear on a regular basis, but I will probably keep it for a special occasion.

In the bottle: Very boozy. This really reminds me of the alcohol smell in Hearth, but thankfully no maraschino cherry. A spicy kind of aroma lies underneath, but it's nothing dramatic. Wearing: Yikes! That's sweet! This is very, very candy-ish, still quite boozy, and a bit cloying. Oh, and pumpkin? Maybe it's the clove reminding me of pumpkin pie, but I swear I smell fresh pumpkin here. Only it's the smell of pumpkin-scented candle wax. Eh, weird combination. I will wait it out and see how it is when it settles down. Later: Ah, that's better. It's a very pleasant, warm, kind of comforting scent as the rum settles down. Now I smell a beautiful, slightly masculine mixture of clove and sassafras, while the bay makes it kind of a dull green. In a good way, of course. I enjoy this one after the drydown, so I will keep the imp. Edit: Gah, either my skin chemistry is really fickle or my sense of smell is ever-evolving. Second time around I definitely get maraschino cherry the first five minutes. Much almond. The rest of it remains the same, however.

In the bottle: A very faint scent. Kind of generic, not too memorable. Wearing: Uh oh, I can already see where this is going. The mixture of orange and sandalwood, for some reason, always goes cloyingly sweet and creamy (?!) on me. And, uh, why do I smell almond? I think I'm likening this too much to Seraglio. Still, this blend kind of gives me a sick headache. Later: Well, this is a slight change. Something in here, after it's been on for a few hours, is turning woody? That's not a bad thing--in fact, it's quite nice. However, by the time it gets to this stage the throw has already worn off, so I have to sniff directly from my arm to get it. Overall: I don't think this is really worth it for me. The bottle isn't completely full, but if I feel I have enough in it to swap out, I will.

In the bottle: Mmm, pear and alcohol. I'm really starting to love fruity scents, and this scent has definitely fed that growing affection. Wearing: Mmm, pear and alcohol. The wine doesn't smell too astringent when it's on the skin, just kind of bitter, which of course I love. And...OK, this has to be my mind playing tricks on me, because I smell lime. I think I'm either crazy or thinking of a margarita. Either way, yum! This blend is a vivid light green, for sure. Later: There's something in this adding a very soft feel to an otherwise tart blend. I think it's the lotus? It still smells like a salty margarita, only with, like, whipped cream or something. It's great, nonetheless. Overall: Wow. I really dig this. It is quite bright and flashy, but not flamboyantly so. I will probably order more when I'm through with the imp.

In the bottle: This is quite soft and sweet. A bit non-descript. Wearing: Ooh ooh! The plum! It's still sweet, but very deep and juicy. The carnation gives its usual spicy performance, but unlike most carnations I've smelled, this is otherworldly. It's floral, but...different. The musk is very understated and serves to add more depth. Later: OK, this is bizarre. It's juicy, but at the same time very dry. It's a lot more robust than it smells in the vial. Overall: I love this! This is right up there with New Orleans on my favorite floral scents list. It's definitely very exotic and quite lovely. Keeping the imp!

In the bottle: Oh, wow! It really is a sort of an aquamarine color. It's quite floral, damp, and very strong. Wearing: Strong indeed! I put on four swipes and, while I love the scent, I was tempted to wash some of it off. It's quite aquatic now, which seems to be taking center stage here. The moss deepens it and keeps it from being air freshener, though, as usually goes aquatic scents on me. Finally, aquatics that don't smell clean! I'm very much liking this. Later: And then comes the mandatory powderiness of the moss. Darn. Oh well, I like too much to not put up with that part. Overall: This smells sort of like a combination of New Orleans and The Apothecary, plus the aquatic notes, of course. While it does smell just a bit generic, it's still quite unique, and definitely a keeper.

In the bottle: Popsicles! Those cheap little popsicles you get that come in assorted flavors. This is oddly cold to my nose, and quite fruity. Wearing: Well, it warms up considerably when applied. It's still quite fruity and tart. For some reason I'm thinking Bordello, only more complex. It's very difficult to pick out individual notes here, although the blackberry is quite apparent. Later: It's getting easier to pick out the notes, but still not very. On top of the blackberry I can for sure smell the ivy, and a little bit of sage, but little else. Oh, and the myrrh. No woods at all, though, which is a little bit disappointing to me. Overall: Well, this wasn't what I expected it to be. I was expecting something a little darker and woody, not quite so sweet and tart. However, I still really like it, and while this is good on its own, I think I will layer it with another (non-BPAL) scent I have that's patchouli and sandalwood and see how that turns out.

In the bottle: Hmm. Much sweeter than most of the real leather I've smelled. Not a bad thing, though. Wearing: As soon as it hits the skin, it morphs into the smell of my boyfriend's leather jacket. Bitter and dark. However... Later: This goes back to the sweeter smell from in the bottle, but a bit different. It is leathery, but not pure leather to me. There is a definite muskiness that distinguishes itself from the leather smell. The more it sits on my skin, the smokier it gets...oh wow. Did I mention how much I love leather scents? Overall: I could bathe in this! Well, OK, I take that back, I probably couldn't considering it's relatively strong. However, it's wonderfully decadent, addictive, and lusty, and right up there with Loviatar for second sexiest scent (nothing can beat Perversion, though). Yay for De Sade!

In the bottle: Tropical and sweet and, oddly, lovely. I usually dislike tropical, but...mmm. It's mostly a robust, authentic coconut, but there really is a slightly dark tone to it. Wearing: Smells vaguely alcoholic now, but not in a bad way at all. I think this is due to the hazelnut. It's buttery and thick and, thankfully, not floral at all. Later: Well, it's gone even sweeter and a bit generic now, but I really don't care. This is the only tropical blend I've liked so far, and I think I can deal with the weird after scent to get that very nice, almost dark scent to begin with. Overall: I hated coconut, among other things, before I found BPAL. On top of my love for Perversion, I think this will restore my faith in the scent. A keeper.

In the bottle: As with some others, this smells to me very strongly of jasmine. Only fruity and bright. It's very, very strong. Wearing: Well, it's starting to take on a synthetic smell to it. Wow, this is sweet. Some people say this smells fiery, but it smells candy-ish to me, and not really in a good Bordello-like way. Later: Hmm. Well, now it's smoky, which I like. All I have to do is get past the first hour or two and it's fine. I think this would be lovely for layering, and maybe for a bath or a candle. I'm not sure I would wear it alone, though. Edit: OK, um, nevermind. Can we say "soap"? I did use the imp in my bath and it was very nice for that purpose, but again, definitely not something I would wear.

In the bottle: Spicy dragon's blood, with a little bit of sandalwood sharpness. I'm kind of scared of this one. Wearing: Hmm. Orris comes out and adds a bit of powdery floral. Something in this is very, very sharp and astringent. I hope it gets better later. Later: Nope. This is the smell of a typical, alcoholic, store-bought fragrance. I'm really not digging it. Off to swaps!

In the bottle: Hmm. I can't really describe this one. It's very soft and rounded at the edges, but definitely not light. It's full-bodied. And for some reason I get lemon? It could possibly be the mimosa, as I've never smelled it before. Wearing: Smells like Indian food? I still can't really pick out any notes, so I'll just leave it at that description. Not bad, so far. Later: OK, I like the spicy, kind of smudgy/hazy feel this has when sniffing directly from my arm, but the smell that it projects around me just isn't working. It's almost creamy and a bit too sweet for my tastes, and for some reason reminds me of Seraglio. I really wanted to like it, but sadly I think I will have to pass it on.

In the bottle: Very, very deep and dense cranberry. Mmm, tartness. This is the actual berries, not the juice. Wearing: OK, this is really odd, but I smell wood. In fact, the wood smell actually pushes the cranberries out of th way. The final result is a spicy, tart woodsy smell that reminds me of a forest in autumn. It's pretty consistent and lasts a while. Will keep the imp.

In the bottle: Hmm. Minty. And lemony. I normally wouldn't think that a mint/lemon scent would be too exciting, but this is. I credit it to the faint bitterness that the wormwood provides. Wearing: The anise comes out, as does the wormwood a bit more. Now see, anise oil straight makes me sick, but this is gorgeous! The mint and lemon are still clearly here, but not as much as the anise. It is, as expected, very green, but it's more of a bright and sparkly mint green than an absinthe emerald. The scent stays consistent as well, which can be a good thing. Overall: I don't usually like fresh scents, but I love this. It's heady, yet undoubtedly energizing. And the boy likes it, which is unusual. This is so definitely a keeper.

In the bottle: This is quite a bit sweeter than I expected. It smells very earthy, but not dirty. Wearing: Ooh, sandalwood! It just pops out and gives the blend a little bit of a sheen, so to speak. The frankincense is there, but definitely not as strong as the sandalwood. And the patchouli isn't even making an appearance, which I was hoping would happen as the note gives me a headache. This is another one that surprised me. I thought this was going to smell positively dark and aggressive, when really it's almost kind of pretty. However, it is as strong and full-bodied as I wanted, and it has plenty of throw. It's like a beautiful, quiet and intimidating woman in the room whose presence speaks louder than words. Later: Frankincense. Very, very dry frankincense. Ooh, I smell like incense! This is so lovely. I will definitely wear this when I want to feel laid back, but not so much that I feel weak.

In the bottle: OK, this is going to sound bizarre, but this smells vaguely of cocoa in the vial. It's a tart and fruity cocoa, though, if you can imagine. Sweet, but deeply so, not candy sweet. Wearing: Ah, a pleasantly pungent peach (forgive the alliteration). Peach, and...cedar? My nose has been smelling cedar all day. It must be the patchouli, but it doesn't smell like any patchouli I've ever smelled. Very woodsy, I like it a lot. And oddly, I want to eat my arm. Later: This is mostly wood now, but still has some peachy tartness. Mmm. Overall: This is an odd, contradictory scent. On one hand, it's dark and earthy, but on the other hand, it's bright and sparkly. Yet somehow it works. I very much like this and will definitely keep the imp.

In the bottle: Hmm. Smells very alcoholic and kind of animalistic. And...vetiver? My nose always wants to pick out vetiver in these dark scents. Wearing: Ah, here comes the leather. And musk. And something like myrrh? Maybe that's what was masquerading as vetiver in the bottle. This is quite masculine, but not overpoweringly so. In fact, that was a surprise to me. I expected it to smell stronger and more...evil...or something. This is more mellow than anything, but it's a mellowness that could easily be broken by the rage beneath the surface. Later: Pipe tobacco starts coming out. This is Loviatar's darker male twin. It's not as sweet, but it is somewhat sweet. However, it doesn't seem to last too long, which was another surprise. Oh well, still good. Overall: Love it! This is definitely a new favorite of mine. Keeping the imp, for sure.

In the bottle: Moist dirt and dead leaves. This is what it smells like a day or two after a good, windy storm, when the soil is still damp and the leaves lie trampled over it. Wearing: Hmm. Like Nosferatu, this kind of goes sour on me, but not in a bad way. It is very unusual. The roses come out, dead and brown, but somehow have perfectly preserved stems. This is definitely an "undead" kind of smell, but on top of the obvious zombie imagery I'm thinking mummies as well. The smell is of many, many years passing from an ancient time, yet still manages to maintain a "flesh" of sorts. Despite this, a certain smell of decay remains. Very interesting. Later: This is one that I tried on before I went to bed, and it lasted all night. However, like all mossy scents do on me, this turns powdery. I like the blend pre-powder stage enough to keep the imp, however.

In the bottle: This smells like a really, really good red wine. With flowers. Wearing: Ooh, leather! The alcoholic note stays for a few seconds, then retreats into a slight fruitiness with the flowers still backing it up. This is quite lovely. Later: Smelling directly on my skin, it's dusty, powdery flowers, but around me is still the smell of the wine. The leather remains simply to thicken, deepen, and slightly darken the blend, not to jump out and make things overtly sexual. Overall: Beautiful! When I'm in a super leather mood I will stick with Perversion, but if I want a little hint of it in a more feminine, sophisticated context, I will wear this.