CreamyJade

For me 2010 was a really good BPAL year because many "must haves" blends for me came out: ~ Infernal Lover (Halloweenies 2010): a sultry sexy creamy red musk with honey undertones. ~ Tombeur (Vampires Don't Sleep Alone, still available): It's been mentioned, but it's worth mentioning a fourth and fifth time! ~ WILF (Forum exclusive, still available): ~ Brian's Schwarzer Mond, along with Ted's Luna Negra and Beth's Black Moon made a comeback last month. ~ Celeste from the Trading Post is also worth noting if you enjoy very vanilla gourmand scents. ~ Spanked made a comeback also in a revisited form! Great, great year.

Loosening of the Obi and Manners among Men and Women in the Red Light District both have the rice wine (almost sake) feel that's really nice and I also very much enjoy Diwali, which has a rice flower note.

In the decant: Roses, with something almost citrus-like (?). Wet on skin: ROSE. Rose with leather and a bit of opium. Dry on skin: A dark, lush, slightly green rose, with the tiny hints of leather and opium. Final thoughts: I don't dig rose, but I wanted to try to see if the opium and leather (which I love both in reasonable doses) balanced the rose. It doesn't. I should know by now that roses and me just disagree...

In the decant: Tobacco, something akin to cologne. Wet on skin: Tobacco, no hair dyes, but something sweet and slightly soapy, almost chemical, a bit of resins. Dry on skin: Sweet florals, tobacco smoke, a hint of resins. Final thoughts: I was surprised when I received my Bats Day 2011 decants, because, as it's been mentionned, the oil is a greenish blue hue! This is oddly nice for something with "hair dyes" in it, but a bit too floral for my tastes at drydown. It's unlike anything I've ever tried from BPAL though...

In the decant: Black leather, patchouli, resins, incense. Wet on skin: It's more musky when it hits my skin, I detect the same patchouli, resins, leather and incense as before. Dry on skin: It's patchouli and leather at the drydown, very similar to Spanked, although without the spices. Final thoughts: This blend is pleasant, not sweet though, but it might be a bit too "leathery" for my tastes (I've been on a vanilla kick for a few months now). I have bottles of Spanked for when my needs for leather arises. I think I'll pass my decant on to someone who'll love it instead. Try if you like: Loviatar, Spanked, The Black Rider.

In the decant: Foody lighty spiced red musk, a slight buttery note. Wet on skin: A beautiful rich foody vanilla, slightly boozy red musk, spices, hazelnut, a hint of cocoa and/or tobacco. Dry on skin: Oh my! I love this. It's a slightly boozy, slightly foody high class vanilla musk with hints of cocoa, tobacco, spices, resins and nuts. Final thoughts: I think Storyville lives up to its expectations when dried and working with your skin chemistry. Unfortunately, Storyville has a bittersweet meaning to me, as I bought two decants from different sellers one week apart, but one never made it home... I cherish my decant dearly, wear it only rarely and I'm always on the hunt for more, as it is truly marvelous. I'd love a bottle... but then again, who wouldn't? Try if you like: Elephantine Colossus, Wezwanie/Hold, Devil's Night, Smut, Snake Oil.

In the bottle: Saffron and orris, some vanilla bean. Wet on skin: Dry orris, some spice from the saffron and vanilla. Dry on skin: It takes a bit of time, but Celeste dried to a warm slightly foody vanilla, a hint of saffron and orris on my skin. Very pleasant! Final thoughts: A beautiful warm, slightly spicy vanilla scent! Much less cotton candy vanilla than the prototype, I find that the released version of Celeste more pleasant to my nose, because of its slightly spicier nature and drier aspect. It has moderate throw and lasts a while before needing another application. Also, don't be put off by the first sniff, the drydown is completely worth it. I have a backup already, but I fear it won't be enough! Try if you like: Clockwork Couture: Female, Snake Oil, King Cobra, Antique Lace, Black Lace, Red Lace, Liz

In the bottle: Butterscotch (with heavy boozy notes), woods, a tiny whiff of vetiver. It smells like manly spicy cookies. Wet on skin: Rum, spices, vetiver, woods, a clean musk. Dry on skin: Musky, smoky, slightly sweet, somewhat spicy, a bit boozy, woody blend. The scent loses some of its sweetness (but not all) while drying. Final thoughts: Somewhat unexpectedly, the rum was what made my nose recoil in horror when first sniffing the bottle - I indeed detected a note I hated: caramel. Fortunately, it turns out that Wrestlers has a good drydown on my skin, although somewhat generic. It lacks the "oomph" effect that woods-musk-spice-resins combo blends I wear usually have on my skin. Maybe Wrestlers would indeed be better on a man? Try if you like: Shub-Niggurath, Raven Moon, Minotaur, Schwarzer Mond (although Wrestlers's nowhere near as extraordinary, to me, as Schwarzer Mond)

In the bottle: Woods (think oak), balsam, ambergris, something smoky (like vetiver) in the background. Wet on skin: Dry sharp blonde woods, balsam, ambergris, golden honey, hint of rose. Dry on skin: Woods, vanilla, ambergris, honey, rose (just a bit, not overwhelming). Final thoughts: I wasn't expecting to like this very much (mainly because of the rose), but I couldn't resist the theme and painting. I'm happy with it - it is a lovely, romantic blend for spring and summer. Try if you like: Haloes, Heavenly Love and Earthly Love

In the decant: Brown musk (similar to the one in Brown Jenkins), champaca, light leather. No cloves (which is strange because I usually amp that note). Wet on skin: Sandalwood, musk, champaca. Dry on skin: Light sandalwood, sweet champaca, a bit of musk and perhaps some vanilla. Pretty! Final thoughts: This should've been a bottle purchase right when I saw the notes, but the leather made me hesitate and now I'm wanting a bottle instead of a wee decant. The throw is light, but present, and the scent lasts a while. On my skin, the drydown is somewhat similar to Temple Viper, with added toasted sandalwoody goodness. Try if you like: Temple Viper, Panther Moon, Brown Jenkins

In the bottle: Oak, vetiver (very light), vanilla. The blend is sweet in the bottle. Wet on skin: Soft leather, vetiver, woods, vanilla. Dry on skin: Slightly smoky and powdery amber, with dragon's blood, vanilla flower and fig. Final thoughts: I like this one! It seemed like an agressive blend just by looking at the notes, but the result on my skin is a very pleasant, warm, slightly resinous amber. I thought I liked Zenobia more, but I now lean towards Boadicea. Try if you like: The Nutcracker, Dragon's Milk, Haloes

In the bottle: Cinnamon, cassia and warm resins. Wet on skin: Cinnamon, cassia, resins Dry on skin: Warm resins, incense and cinnamon/cassia - it doesn't have too much throw, it's more like an enveloping warm glow. Final thoughts: I didn't get a bottle when it first came out on the site and had to hunt one down on eBay to satisfy the voice in my head that thought I might like it (plus, the ouroboros theme is something I'm fond of). I'm surprised there's no amber listed in the notes, as my nose is mistakenly associating it with scents with golden amber (maybe it's the dammar gum). While it's not a perfume I'm often reaching for, there's something in that bottle that calms me completely and that is very comforting. A beautiful resinous warm scent. Try if you like: Bengal, The Lion

In the bottle: Very fruity red musk, with sweet vanilla cotton. Wet on skin: Raspberry! This is the first BPAL perfume I've tried with this specific note (to my knowledge) and I was really afraid it would ruin the blend on my skin. Surprisingly I quite like it. As it slowly dries, I also get the pomegranate, blackened sugar, a bit of patchouli and resins, along with red musk. Dry on skin: Red musk, vanilla, tobacco, just a bit of red fruits. Yes! Final thoughts: Red Lace is good. Very good. Unfortunately, it doesn't have much throw, though it has staying power. The "throw" factor is what is keeping me from ordering more (ok, maybe I'll order just one more bottle). I much prefer Black Lace's potent throw on me (especially the original blend), but I'll keep my bottle of Red Lace for those days and nights when I need something sexy that sticks closer to the skin. Try if you like: Black Lace, Pomegranate IV, The Infernal Lover

I did! But it was too "teaky" for me ;~; It's true though that I could always layer (and it doesn't stop me from wishing they would make a perfume oil matching Mahogany Hall!).

I'm looking for suggestions to something ressembling the Mahogany Hall atmo spray from the Lab. There's not many scents with the mahogany note in the catalog, unfortunately...

In the bottle: Musks, juniper berry, patchouli. Wet on skin: Musks and the outdoors - juniper berry, chocolate peppermint, sandalwood, massoia bark, they're all coming out together now. Dry on skin: Musks, delicious, slightly sweet, heady musks. Final thoughts: This is good! When I first tried WILF on my skin, my nose was under the impression of smelling a plum-less Snake Charmer at times, and straight Snake Oil at others. To my nose (and on my skin), at drydown, WILF really ressemble Tombeur, though somewhat less potent, and without the rich blood musk. If I hadn't already bought a million bottles of Tombeur, I think I'd need a couple of back ups of this one, but I'll be faithful to the cheeky lady werewolf looking at me from the label and just keep her as my one and only. Try if you like: Tombeur, Snake Charmer, Snake Oil, Panther Moon

In the bottle: Sweet, fluffy vanilla orchid, a hint of leather. Wet on skin: Leather, a more floral vanilla orchid. Dry on skin: Soft leather, a gourmand vanilla orchid, light oakmoss, something almost like ambergris on my skin (the clay?), and a bit of the spice of the tonka bean. Final thoughts: I got to try this magnificent blend at a meet and I fell in love at first sniff. Truly beautiful, I think finally getting a bottle ended my quest for the perfect vanilla scent (well, along with Snake Oil)! It has a medium throw for the first two or three hours, then it fades and stays very close to the skin. If it stayed longer, I'd surely love it even more, but I'll take what I can get from this one. Try if you like: Liz (a bit darker and more floral), Perversion (boozy), Antique Lace, TKO (lavender), the Lab's marshmallow note

In the bottle: Oak, white flowers, a bit of ginger, apricot. Wet on skin: Oak, fluffy vanilla (think TKO drydown), white flowers, tangy ginger, spicy tonka, a bit of apricot. Dry on skin: Vanillaed oak, with hints of amber, white flowers, apricot and tonka. Final thoughts: I picked up a bottle of this at the New England Will Call, as I was always interested in trying it, but since it's a retail only Salon, my chances were somewhat slim of acquiring a bottle! It's a very warm, comforting woodsy vanilla scent. The oak and tonka give the blend an interesting depth and the apricot adds a slight fruitiness that I really enjoyed. Beautiful, I'm keeping this one for colder days. Try if you like: Antikythera Mechanism, Antique Lace

I'll be going to see the Nutcracker ballet tomorrow, so I'll be wearing...The Nutcracker!

In the bottle: Creamy red musk, vanilla, pie, anise, black tea. I get no leather. Wet on skin: The red musk drowns all the other notes (but I have no problem with that). Dry on skin: Creamy red musk, vanilla, anise and just a whiff of buttery pie crust. Final thoughts: This was one of those that's supposed to work right away just based on the notes, so I was really surprised when I got my bottle, sniffed it and recoiled in horror: it was like heavy cream turned sour with a buttery note I couldn't shake off. Therefore I didn't try it. It was left alone in the reject box (well, with the other rejects) until a friend mentioned she was suprised I didn't like it because it was all red musk and leather on her. I wanted that too! I tried it again hoping to find what she sniffed and I kind of did, but the leather disapeared. A month of aging rendered the blend sniffable to my nose and therefore testable. It's not the awesome red musk & leather hoardable blend I was hoping for, but I'll keep my bottle (for now). Try if you like: Infernal Lover, Smut, Pomegranate IV, VILF

In the decant: Almonds, boozy wine. Wet on skin: Cherries, spices, wine, almonds. Dry on skin: Sweet red fruits (almost a warm oven-baked red apple sort of smell), a touch of wine and spices. Final thoughts: What a surprise! I was cautious when I picked this up since wine (and well, almond) notes can turn awful on my skin, but this one's very nice. It's spicy, warm and red and has a good staying power and throw. I'll upgrade my decant to a bottle before the Yules leave. Try if you like: Montresor, Ghoulish

In the bottle: Lavender, a bit of something akin to rosemary (less harsh, though) Wet on skin: The sweetness of a slightly foody vanilla comes out, the lavender is still there and the herbal note is weaker. Dry on skin: Fluffy sugared marshmallow vanilla with lavendar undertones, perhaps a bit of champaca. Final thoughts: I bought a bottle on the search for my perfect vanilla, and thought immediatly "lavender marshmallow" sounded like the perfect mix to put me sound to sleep. TKO has the same vanilla than a slightly foody Chaos: Vanilla I received earlier this year. I'm happy with the blend, it's very comforting. I'll use it regularly on me (and probably on the boyfriend too) for those nights while it's hard to sleep. Good find!

In the bottle: Red musk and sweets! Wet on skin: It goes through that buttered popcorn stage for a minute, which made be recoil in horror (even though I love JellyBelly's buttered popcorn jellybeans), then it calms down and smells more like the oil while in the bottle. Dry on skin: Tangy red musk, a handfull of buttered sweets, a sip of rootbeer. Good throw that one. Final thoughts: I wasn't certain I'd appreciate the sweets in that blend (I've never cared for over-foodies like Midway), but red musk pretty much sells any blend to me (almost!), so I had to try it. Considering this scent will never be released again, I'll cherish my bottle, though it won't be one that I'll hoard. Try if you like: Infernal Lover, Smut, Snake Oil (though Elephantine Colossus has no vanilla that I can detect)

In the bottle: Bamboo. It's kind of overwhelming, slightly aquatic. I don't like it. Wet on skin: The bamboo note is still strong, unfortunately. Dry on skin: Finally! Snake Oil with woods and black musk. Now it's lovely! Final thoughts: The drydown of this blend is fantastic, though I've yet to give Habu a full try. The bamboo note is strong in the bottle and when wet on my skin (which I don't like), but Habu dries into a very pleasant woody and musky Snake Oil. The drydown is reason enough for me to keep the third of a bottle in my collection, but not for a full one (unless I buy a whole Snake Pit!). Try if you like: The snake pit, Wood Phoenix

In the imp: Beeswax, honey, it's slightly smoky though not much Wet on skin: Beeswax, light honey, warm vanilla, a bit of smoke Dry on skin: Vanilla, light honey and beeswax. Final thoughts: Less agressive than O, the Light of Men's Lives is a very nice light comforting honey, vanilla and beeswax scent. It doesn't finish as powdery as O (you can blame the amber), which is why I like it on my skin a bit more than O (I find it also more wearable, at least during the day). I get no smoke whatsoever when the blend is dry, which is a shame. It's on the bottles to get list. Try if you like: O, Womb Furie