kizery

This perfume really showcases my total ignorance about how to detect different notes. I seriously have no idea what I'm smelling here. All I know is that I like it. Wet: No idea. I think I do get the earthy smell, but it's soft and nice and feminine at the same time. This is my first time trying an earthy blend, and it's definitely not what I expected. I thought I wouldn't like it. I completely agree with the first review, that it smells like something that you're not supposed to like but do anyway. Dry-down: This is very nice, but again, I don't know what I'm smelling. In addition to the earth smell, I'm getting something vaguely foody, but not overpowering at all. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? I have no idea. What's interesting about this blend is that it doesn't make my nose tickle or tingle the way most scents do. I usually get some kind of sensation in my nostrils when I smell perfumes - and, if it's a perfume that doesn't agree with me, I sneeze or get a headache. This doesn't give me any sensations in my nostrils. It's just pure scent. After wearing for about 30 minutes, I realize that it's made me hungry. I'm so confused by this scent! It doesn't smell that foody. Yep, nothing works up an appetite like red grave loam. After a few hours: The earthy/loam smell isn't as detectable now. It's just a generally pleasant scent. It reminds me of lightly spiced bread baked in a clay pot. And maybe this is just from reading the description, but I totally do picture this as a scent that a badass heroine would wear. It makes me think of the Old West, too. I really, really like this. I think a 5 ml is in my future.

Ephemera was among the first BPAL scents I tried! Here's what I wrote at the time: Smells heavily herbal in the imp. Wet: Smells like mint tea and lilies. I think I smell the chamomile. Very pleasant, in fact, this is the only scent so far that I feel really positive about. I can’t smell the violet at all. Dry-down: sweet florals, chamomile. The rose is starting to predominate and it’s still slightly minty. This scent makes me feel tingly and happy even though it’s “the scent of loss.” I was never good with interpretations . Later, Ephemera has taken on a very soft floral smell. Hours later: now it's kind of irritating and musty . Oh, well. I’ll still keep the imp and see if that mustiness keeps happening. It's worth it, for the lovely first few hours of wearing.

Smells like flowers and cough syrup in the imp. Upon application, the scent is a dark floral. I can’t distinguish the flowers. On dry-down, the scent is still floral, smoky, slightly spicy, maybe a little powdery? An hour after applying, there is mostly a smoky/powdery smell remaining. I assume this is the amber and my chemistry not helping much. The florals don’t last long at all. Also, it seems to have slightly irritated my nose . On the whole, a “heavy” scent, quite lovely at first, but it doesn’t work for me.

In the imp, this smells like grape cough syrup. Wet: A somewhat sharp, green, tropical fruit smell. I can smell the fir, as well. I can’t smell the flowers at all. I didn’t expect to like the smell of the fir because I generally don’t like to smell like a tree. But it works in this blend. Dry-down: The plumeria and gardenias are coming out, and it’s blending so beautifully with the greens and fruits. I really am liking this scent. It is heady, lush, passionate. Hours later, the scent has developed kind of a sickly, rotten smell . I’ll give it another try, though.

Smells like warm spiced bread in the imp and while wet. I love the smell even though I’m not usually into foody perfumes. On dry-down, I can smell more of the peach and a hint of clove. I absolutely love this and NEED 5 mL, but I’ll wait until late summer so I can start wearing it during the autumn months. Years from now, I want to get a whiff of the notes in Jack and be reminded of pleasant autumn days wearing this blend.

In the imp, Phobos smells like lemon candy . On application, I think the lemongrass smell is coming through. I agree with some of the other reviewers that this smells like lemon cleaning fluid, which I’m not thrilled with. During dry-down it softens to a scent of lemon tea. Pleasant, but I’m still not sold on this. As dry-down continues the lemon scent continues to soften, and sweeten, so that it is reminiscent of lemon candy again. On the whole, an uncomplicated scent that is perfect for those who love lemon. I think I would prefer it mixed with something else.

I’m not familiar with vetiver at all, but judging by the description of the blend, that is ALL I can smell in this. On application, my reaction was “GAH! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!” All of the vetiver, and none of the florals come through for me on this blend. I love the idea of this scent, and I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt so I kept wearing it… thirty minutes after applying, it gave me a massive headache. I guess I learned the hard way that vetiver doesn’t work on me! Or maybe it's just the blend. If I'm feeling masochistic I might try some other blends with vetiver.

In the bottle, this smells like cinnamon syrup with something smoky – frankincense, maybe? I’m not sure I’ve ever smelled frankincense before so this will be a first. Wet: Strong, dark smell of cinnamon and what is probably frankincense. Not sure I can detect the violet. This is a “dark” scent that might work on me because it doesn’t have strong musk or vetiver. Having smelled cinnamon in conjunction with soft roses in Harlot, this is a more sinister take on my favorite spice . During dry-down, I think the frankincense is strengthening, but I’m not sure. Still can’t smell violets. I’m surprised that I like this perfume, because I’d been beginning to think that only soft, light, girly-girl florals work on me. Maybe Faustus will disprove that! About 15 minutes after applying, I can smell the violet; it now dominates over a pleasant undercurrent of spice. I’ll add more when I’ve worn it for a longer length of time, but I think I can happily say that I’ve found darkly-themed blend that finally works for me!

Sniffing the imp, I’m a bit dumbfounded because it seems to have a “tropical,” fruity smell, but I am way ignorant about notes . Wet: Sweet. Still seems tropical fruity. Maybe that’s how I’m interpreting the sage and/or sweet pea? Dry-down: Now this is softening to a somewhat herbal, floral smell. THAT’S the sage and sweet pea. What was the tropical smell, then? Tonka? I wish I were more note-literate . I like this soft scent. I’m beginning to think that my body likes to amp up strong musk, so I hope this won’t happen here. About 15 minutes after applying, I’ve still got a nice herbal, floral smell. Within about two hours, this has all but vanished on me, but I still adore it. I'm tempted to buy myself a bottle and just slather it

My pre-application imp sniff reminds me of a sweet alcoholic beverage. Maybe a flavored vodka. I’m not sure, though. Wet: It’s hard to detect anything specific in this. It definitely had that “sweet alcohol” scent on application, but now the florals are beginning to come out. This is a confusing blend, probably because I’m not used to air and aquatic notes. As dry-down continues, I am really liking the combination of the sharper “mystery” notes and the floral. This is a fresh, clean scent. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last very long at all. I’ll keep the imp, though.

In the bottle, this smells like almond oil. Not that I mind. Wet: Still smells strongly of almonds but changes rapidly. On dry-down, the complexity of this blend is coming out. I smell something slightly sweet and spicy, and I’m snot very literate with my notes so I don’t know which of the first four notes it could be. I like it, though. Yummy. About a half hour after applying, this has taken on a very musky smell. It seems masculine. I might try putting some on my husband and see how it works on him. I’m not sure yet how I feel about Bastet. I’ll keep the imp and wear it a few more times, but I’m not sure if it’s the right blend for me. Later: My body loves to amp up musk, and not in a good way. Ugh. To the swaps it goes

First review ever, and I'm also a total ignoramus about notes and perfume in general. I'm giving it my best shot In the imp, this smells smoky and somewhat acrid. Applying this to my wrists, I can smell what seems to be incense, as well as a soft floral. In the crooks of my elbows, I can smell the cranberry, but not on my wrists. This is a soft and pretty scent, definitely with a hint of a spicy incense. These notes combine really well. On dry-down, I’m beginning to realize that this scent will be for my enjoyment alone, as it is not strong at all. But that’s okay . This perfume softens quickly to a sweet floral and berry smell with a spicy, smoky undertone. Wonderful scent, but for those wanting a strong perfume, this is not it. Luckily, my chemistry doesn’t scream “MUSK!” with this one.