Epiphany

Ah. Rose. Wet on, this is a bloom of fresh rose--with quite a lot of cinnamon. Not quite...painted lady of the night, somehow more of a pretty young girl from a good family dressed up as a painted lady of the night (for Halloween or experimentation, I don't know). Then...it dries and I get the potpourri effect. The cinnamon makes it a very interesting rose potpourri--spice!--but it's still disappointing (and frustrating). Now that I have my hands on a scent locket--I will have to give it another go.

In the imp--honeyed ginger milk. On my skin, it smells of milky candied ginger. It is a charming smell, youthful and uplifting. The spice of the ginger (a really lovely spice, at that) is balanced beautifully with the honey. After a time it goes a bit soapy (which is odd, as there isn't anything in there that should make it do that...), but mostly maintains that lovely candied ginger scent. Also--this is one of the only milk scents that doesn't smell curdled on me, so major pluses for that. While I really love the smell of this, I don't know that it's the right perfume for me--it actually reminds me of an Origins body scrub I gave a friend of mine back in high school--Something I really enjoyed sniffing and knew she would love, but would probably not use myself. And yet--I still would like to have it around...just in case.

This is one of my favorite BPALs, though I've not had the chance to wear it much, as I think of it as scent meant for fall. It is also one of the only ones in which red musk does not end horribly (Pirate Moon is the other). This scent is lovely and confusing, complex and mysterious--I can never pick out a single note (granted I'm not the best at that) except for the chrysanthemum, which is gorgeous, somehow green and dry at the same time. In the bottle it is resin/incense and floral, smoky, roiling, and dark. Totally evocative of the description that goes along with it. Wet, it is much the same, though there is a certain sweetness (not sugary sweet though) to the resin/incense that was not present in the bottle. As it dries, the smell of chrysanthemum just blooms--as though it were being freshly crushed against my wrist.

My favorite color. This was actually one of the first BPAL bottles that I purchased (second hand, on the forum)--About time I reviewed it. This scent is purple--sniffing it, I suddenly understand what synesthesia must be like. In the bottle the grape is a gorgeous backdrop for the cognac, sharp violet, resin, and other fruits. The floral notes are mostly a wafting overtone for me. Wet on, it is quite lush--a ripe scent, which rounds out into something more resinously floral as it dries (though still very much a grape scent). It is a very dominant perfume--regal in fact. In the end, it generally smells like a drier version of the bottle--dried fruits and flowers--not as aggressive as the liquid version and a bit more elegant. The throw is not fantastic on me, though the wear length is pretty good--and on my skin it tends to turn to powder eventually (sometimes it does it right away, sometimes I can have it on for hours before it goes a bit powdery). However, I really love this scent and will now be wearing it in a scent locket to avoid the powder phenomenon.

In the bottle, the tobacco and red musk notes had me worried. Wet on, those soften out quite a lot (this is actually one of the only tobacco and/or red musk scents that I've found that works for me). There is warmth to this one--sun-warmed sand. The lime comes out nicely on drydown, along with the woods. In the end, this is a nice, subtle gender-neutral scent. A warm night on a moonlit beach, with hints of exotic woods, lime, a very nice musky leather, and just the right amount of sweet (the date, I guess). Lovely...Which seems at odds with piracy, but I guess they need to smell pretty too.

In the bottle...this smells like an ashtray, mixed with musk, lavender, and spices. Uh...not good... Wet on...it is much the same ashtray smell, though less concentrated. As it dries, other notes come through--the frankincense and musk. It it a very dry scent, with hints of the lavender, tea, and violet. However, the scent of stale ash is still the strongest thing on my skin. It is not something that I like...so, not for me.

I really wanted to love this. In the bottle, it is strong, bitter, and somewhat peppery. Pungent would be a good word for it. Wet on my skin it is all hyacinth. Now, while I love the smell of hyacinths (which is why I wanted this) they do not, apparently, love my skin chemistry and this ends up being nothing but bitter, strong, and...somewhat sharply green. The rose, which my skin usually amps, is no where to be smelled. And everything else is just buried under that pungency (is that even a word?) It didn't work on my skin...but it smells GLORIOUS on my roomate (who I have successfully enabled). On her it is all...honeyed/beeswax florals, which is what I wanted it to smell like on ME! Foo.

In the imp and wet on Erato is a sharp aggressive rose--not a crisp green sharpness like Rose Red, but an older, drier rose. Drying, this is a rose boquet--the other flowers are there, but aside from the stephanotis, I can't pick out any of them individually. This is a rose potpourri that belongs in the parlor of a not-so-Victorian lady. Very rosy. Very pretty. Softly, and subtly sexy.

Straight out of the imp this is warm and very dry. Wet on, that dryness evolves--taking on a very under-the-savannah-sun feel with the scent rock (amber is...not exactly rock...but still...) and spices. I get cinnamon...and things I can't quite place. Dry: This is very interesting--musky, dry, windblown rocks. Evocative of images of blinding sun and yellowed grass. Quite nice, but not something that I would usually wear.

In the bottle: booze and cologne. Wet on: patchouli, musk, and wood--the initial whiff is a bit how Luperci '08 is on me. --Then it changes very quickly to booze and cologne--the musk and wood disappear (for the time). As it dries, various notes peek their heads out (oh! currant! look! rose!) before melding back in to the overall cologne thing that's going on. I like it, but I'm not sure that it is for me...It has that intense ozone/perfume-y smell that Black Ice had on me (except...more masculine). However, unlike the Black Ice, there are other notes holding this down...the patchouli/wood/musk in particular make this a very gender neutral scent. All in all, I'm fascinated with Frederic...I may have to keep him just because it's such an interesting smelling experience (also, I have hopes that I may someday convince my boyfriend to wear it...). I can really see a sailor smelling like this...I would wear this on days that I want to feel like a crusty sailor...or to the Renaissance Festival whislt got-up in wench gear.

In the bottle...this is SO strong. It assults my nose with a medicinal peppery lavender and I'm really not at all sure how I feel about it. (I normally LOVE lavender) Wet on, it continues to be very aggressive--the lavender and resins melding together to create a scent that isn't exactly...lavender, but is very controlling. As it dries, the medicinal quality tones down and eventually disappears. After a time, I'm left with a light lavender-floral-resin. There is something very human to this...like it is somehow just part of my normal skin chemsitry...but better. I can't explain it, but both my mother and my roomate have described it as smelling like "you, but better...". After that first sniff I didn't want to like it...which saddened me. But after a few tests...I can't shake it. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I'm not impressed. Mutable air indeed. Overall...I love it 'cause it's so very Gemini. I've been wearing it when feeling like I don't want to be pinned down.

In the imp, this is bright, sharp, and fresh. Very strong indeed--but the rose reminds me very much of Rose Red '07 (a crisp, clean rose, with a bit of green-ness to it), which I adore, and the pomegranate is adding just a touch of sweetness. Wet on, it is very much like a fruity Rose Red '07 to me...a bright crisp rose with just enough well rounded juice. During the dry-down the rose made its bid for hostile takeover (like rose sometimes does), but after about 20 min. the rose and the pomegranate melded beautifully. It is a round womanly scent in the end, whereas it began as a very girly-flirtatious brew. It is just gorgeous and a new favorite...In my mind it speaks very much to Persephone's descent into the underworld. Anyway. Wow. I'm in love.

In the bottle New Orleans is all jasmine and lemon, with just the slightest touch of honeysuckle. Wet, the jasmine comes out in full force and, as it is wont to on my skin, begins to go a bit soapy. As this one dries, the jasmine surprises me and mellows out--the lemon comes forward, along with the honeysuckle. It is not until it has fully dried that I get hit with the spices. Suddenly--seemingly out of nowhere--it's all cinnamon (with a bit of lemon). Huh...interesting. A morpher this one. Eventually the cinnamon also calms down and it becomes a lovely and well balanced spicy scent with a soft breath of floral and a kick of lemon. Sadly, after about an hour I'm left with nothing but the remnants of my enemy--soapy jasmine. Drat! And I thought I'd finally found a great jasmine scent! (I LIKE jasmine, it just does horrid things when applied to my skin).

I SO wanted to love this. Both the concept and the notes (minus the white grape) were things that I really love. Sadly, Milk Moon smells like rancid baby's breath on me--soured breast milk and rotting fruit. Yikes. In the bottle there is something in it that I find rather appealing--I think the honey and the fig--but once on my skin those notes are so overwhelmed by the sour-milk and the sharp fruit (which I believe to be the grape) that I had to go wash it off (mind, it did not want to wash off...Naturally, because I hated it, it lasted for a VERY long time...wheras my lovely Men Ringing Bells and Spell of Amorous Love last about five seconds). Sigh.

As the three notes in this are some of my favorites I had really high hopes. And Fairy Wine does not disappoint. In the bottle I get mostly currant and honey, but I can sense that sharp grassy-green hint of dandelion that I love so much. Wet, the dandelion blooms out of the mix, balancing out the currant and honey sweetness. As it dries, the wine-flavor really begins to come through. The currant deepens, and begins to smell a bit grape-y, but the honey and danelion keep it from going too far into the realm of grape-candy (grape likes to do that on me). It is light and lovely and reminds me of the homemade wines that a family friend would always bring to parties (dandelion was always my favorite). Beautiful!

White musk, rose-swirled amber, pink grapefruit, and jasmine. In the imp grapefruit! I love grapefruit! Wet, the jasmine amps up, as it is wont to do on me, and overtakes everything else ever. No more grapefruit for me! However, this jasmine is quite nice on its own and it is soon accompanied by musk, rose (also a not I tend to amp) and finally the grapefruit comes back through (this morphing took place over a very short amount of time). Then. Soap. Drat. Jasmine does that. It was a nice sniffing experience, but nothing I'm too ecstatic about. After being on me for an extended amount of time, it is very soft, still soapy, and quite pretty, but it has none of the lovely bright grapefruit citrus that I was hoping for.

In the imp, Lover's Parodies is all lovely, bright, gorgeous tangerine. Wet, it is all tangerine and jasmine...mostly jasmine as my skin amps jasmine (it also generally turns jasmine to soap). As it dries a sweet resin and a soft woody undertone begin to mellow the bright floral/fruit. The jasmine also tones down quite a lot. The ti leaf also starts to come out. What is interesting about this one for me is that all of the notes seem to stand apart from one another very uniquely, while at the same time melding into one very complex scent. They are all wrestling for supremacy, tangerine fighting jasmine fighting ti leaf fighting resin. In light of the scent's name, this seems very appropriate, however it is a bit unsettling. I think this is quite lovely. Bright and grounded all at the same time, but it is not a 'me' scent. I may well hold on to the imp for times when I want something very different from my usual, but I don't need any more than that.

This is such a fresh scent...there is certainly a sharpness to it, a chill breeze whipping through a too-thin sweater. It isn't a scent that I can describe by note, so much as one that is evocative of a mental image: a chilly day, warmed now and then by the sun peeking through the overcast sky. Fields of heather, a picnic lunch. It smells like...nothing that I can place, but at the same time it is familiar. There is a bit of sweetness, but it is offset by a jarring sharp note. Not being familiar with the precise smell of heather is probably detrimental to my ability to place this one, but I do smell the blackberry--not berries so much as the plant itself. It is somewhat haunting due to my lack of ability to pin it down--one moment it wants to be sweet, one moment sharply bitter, and then the next it is a soft and delicate blend of the two. Very interesting.

Being aware that orange blossom and my skin/senses are not friendly and for the fact that sugary-cream scents are (usually) not the best on me, I was prepared to hate Zarita. In the imp it is pretty much orange blossom and sugared cream and on my skin it is the same. However, the bitterness that I generally get from orange blossom is mitigated by the cream and it's very interesting...there's something almost smoky to it...but not a typical smoky. Honestly, it reminds me a bit of how the treacle in Bonfire came out on me, but it is not as aggressive. After it dried for a bit, I did start to detect a hint of peppery-ness--which I guess came from the carnation. Hours later, it had melded really nicely with my skin...the cream was no longer so smoky smelling and the orange blossom had calmed down. There was a subtleness to it that really spoke to the description of "soft yet sociopathic". At the end of the day it is not a scent for me, but it is interesting and quite lovely in its own way. It's one of those that I'm really glad I had a chance to smell and will be passing on to someone else.

This is a golden scent. In the imp I get honeyed tobacco--picking up on the Kush I suppose. Thankfully, once it's on my skin it settles down to a lovely balance of honey, musk, resin, and ripe red currants (though the currants do attempt to be grape-like, they mostly stay in check). An hour or so into the drydown, it is amber and musk for certain, sweetened by the honey, with just the slightest hint of currant. The kush seems to have disappeared. I really like this scent, but I'm not sure that I love it. It is...nice, but doesn't make me constantly smell myself. I was really expecting to be more excited about this one--but even though it's a sensual scent, I think the fact that I smelled the really dirty Luperci '08 first spoiled me. This one is not nearly as...orgy-tastic.

Lovely. In the bottle, I suddenly understand what crystal musk smells like, this...clear, cold, musk. Rather than a fuzzy musk. There is also the sweetness of sugar-cane, which is not at all overwhelming. Wet on, subtle and soft...and when I say soft, I mean it evokes images of downy clouds and feathers. Magnolia is a scent that I love, and it begins to come through. As it dries the davana and ambrette, I think, help to give it a certain sharp floral-ness, without it being too flowery. It is very well balanced for such a white scent (I have been discovering that white florals like to take over on me). The lavender here is also very nice--it is not the harsh lavender that I sometimes experience. This is a very...grown up scent, I think. It makes me want to sit up straight and hold my head high. I also feel a bit as if I should be wearing a white gown and sitting on a cloud with a lyre, but that's just me. My only complaint is that it seems to fade off bloody fast. Foo.

This one...just goes all wrong on me. I think it's the florals mixing with the thyme, musk, and perhaps mint, as in the bottle it has a certain mixed-up astringinet quality. On my skin it ends up smelling like...musky sugar (and not in a good way), which quickly fades to a white-floral soap. Soap. Soap. Too much soap...an overwhelming floral soap. Yikes. This is one of the first BPALs to which I've had a frighteningly negative reaction. Sadness!

I was so sure that I would like this...I wanted to love it! I mean...I've been obsessed with Alice ever since I was a kid. In the bottle, it was all sugar-guava, very, very sweet and fruity (though not as candy smelling as Earth Rat is to me). On my skin, the sweetness/guava is not overwhelming, but it also doesn't do anything else. The lemongrass makes a bid to come out, but only ends up smelling slightly waxy. Same with the grapefruit. The floral/herbal notes are barely there against that sweetness. All in all, it doesn't fade down badly, it just goes dull. Nothing exciting on me, just a sugary-fruit that is very soft and faint. I almost cried. It has gone on to a more loving home, but lord. It's hard to give up such a lovely bottle (I console myself with Chrysanthemum Moon's bottle art and hopes of another Alice themed LE someday...Even though the Cat was always my favorite character. Maybe Bill the Lizard will show up..."there goes Bill...") Drat! It still makes me sad!

In the imp it is dirty and spicy. Wet, I get this sort of befuddled rose/patchouli combination struggling against the sandalwood and cedar. As it drys, the cedar wins. I now smell like a cedar chest. Hm. Not what I was hoping for. I gave it two hours and went back for another sniff. It almost disappeared...very...faint note of cedar/sandalwood, with a bit of that rose and patchouli. The dirty spicyness from the imp, which suggested more nutmeg and clove, is no where to be found. I applied pretty liberally, but perhaps I need to test it again. Though...I'm not sure about that cedar thing.

Woah there! In the imp it is all sugared melon...melon candy! Maybe with some tangerine, or other citrus notes backing up the melon flavor. I want to eat it...wearing it...I'm not sure. I'm not a big fan of sweet notes and this is the sweetest thing I've smelled yet (granted, I tend to avoid them) On my skin, it is much the same. Sugared melon! MELON! It's a very loud scent, very sweet, and very happy and uplifting. This one is bright. Drying, some of the other notes begin to come through...deep inhales bring out the peony (which I love and was hoping for more of), but that melon will not quit. Several hours later and after a shower, it is still doing a happy melon dance on my arm. Very yummy, but not for me in the long run.