slave1

In Bottle: Toxic fumes On Skin: Yes, that’s a terrible way to start a review, and I hate to say anything like that about a blend of Beth’s… but what is that??? It smells like noxious chemicals to me. After a minute or two, the scent tames itself and a cherry note surfaces. This scent seems to be for so many purposes, and most sound pretty good. I’m going to try it out at work tomorrow and see what happens. As it develops, there is a strong floral, sweet and syrupy. Very pretty, and both golden and purple in feel. I have heard people say jasmine and ylang ylang and I’d have to agree with those guesses. A bit too floral for everyday wear, but like I said, I’m going to try it out for it’s true purpose and intent. EDIT: I wore it today and I didn’t have anything obvious happen to me… but people did seem to be a bit nicer and talkative.

A variant on the absinthe theme. Sugared wormwood, hyssop and melissa with calamus, angelica and Dittany of Crete, blended with a Bohemian perfume of vanilla musk, honey absolute and Moroccan spices. In Bottle: A sweet yet sour drink On Skin: Hmmm… I am super excited for this one. I like the original Absinthe scent of Beth’s, but it was never a wearable scent for me. It just didn’t fit me, even though I like it on other people. This blend has the absinthe note, very green and sour… the florals bring an elegant feel, like drinking absinthe in a five star resteraunt. The honey sweetens it just the right amount, but still allows that trademark “tang” to poke through. The vanilla musk is sweet too, but offers a subtle musky base. Finally the spices, they seem more herby than sweet. I smell a bit of a soapy edge to this scent which I’m not to fond of. This is a complex scent and I love to sit here and smell and play with it, but I don’t think I’d wear it too often since it doesn’t quite fit my chemistry and personality. But it could be a special occasion or party scent, it would create great conversation. After an hour it develops into the most delicate and pretty scent. I really do love it. It’s nothing I’d wear every day, but I love how it’s such a different scent for me. I need it for my collection for sure.

In Bottle: Sweet patchouli On Skin: Oh no, the patchouli is taking over this one. My skin and patchouli always seem to be at battle. This patchouli is very dark. With the musk and sandalwood, there is a dark woody and smoky note. The plum helps sweeten it a little, but it doesn’t hide the telltale note of patchouli that bugs me. While it is an interesting scent, it’s not one I’d wear. But I do like the mood it creates. After about 15 minutes, the scent starts to melt into my skin better. The patchouli isn’t as strong, but is still more of an incensey blend. I’d really like my husband to try it if he can get past the initial strong patchouli. After an hour, it becomes a beautiful, warm soft scent. WOW! But it only lasts about another hour and vanishes. If this had better throw and longer staying power, I think I’d get a bottle.

In Bottle: Tea and lemon On Skin: Very floral, a bright white lily. Still a tea note and something very yellow and citrus, a lemon. The bamboo is so fresh and wet. A very pretty scent that opens my eyes right away. This scent smells very asian, I get asian imagery and am also reminded of drinking lemon tea at a teahouse. The throw is strong and the scent has great staying power. I think it’s beautiful, but not something I would wear personally. I’d prefer to smell it on someone else. It’s a bit too bright and tart for me. I do love that it’s an extremely different blend in the Lunacy series.

In Bottle: Caramel On Skin: I am so excited about this scent. It sounded like my “dream” scent since I am a huge sucker for creamy and sugary scents. It is complete caramel at first. I am so craving a Caramel Frappacino now… criminy!!! I was hoping for more of a milky note, but no, this is complete warm melted candied caramel. I guess I could have read the description better before deciding I needed it so bad. I just saw cream and sugar and overlooked the caramelized part. Toffee or a Heath bar come to mind as well as the scent develops. This is a foody dessert scent without a doubt. Oh no! What is this?!?! I get a slight burnt rubber note. Where in the world is that coming from? Luckily that fades, but then the scent fades alltogether. Not much throw or staying power sadly. I love this scent but I know others are wanting it more than me. I think I’ll keep an imp and swap the rest.

In Bottle: Manly man scent On Skin: Now this is “man”. My husband and I both think it smells like Calvin Kein’s Eternity. It has that extreme cologne scent, which may overwhelm some people. The key is to wear it lightly. All of the notes blend together like magic. None dominate or stick out on their own. And the best part, I don’t smell the patchouli!!!! YAY!! This is a winner for sure, my husband and I both love it so it looks like I’ll be getting him a bottle.

In Bottle: A sweet and spicy rose On Skin: Now this I love and I really love it on my husband. The rose is mellowed out by the beautiful deep musk. It helps even out the tartness. The spices are soft and do not overpower the scent. They actually give a nice but warm clean note. Not overwhelmingly masculine, it doesn’t scream “man” or knock you over with woody or heady notes. I think it is balanced perfectly and is a very elegant but noble scent for a man.

In Bottle: Floral On Skin: This is pretty darn straightforward: leather and rose. It’s a little… ok a lot tart. The rose screams in this which is not for me. While it is pretty, I can’t get past the rose. It still has that old lady note to me. The leather helps “naughty it up”, but still not a scent I like to much. Too bad, because I love almost every one of Beth’s leather blends. After dry down the rose is super powdery and the leather note has turned a little musty. It smells like someone a little sweaty at a club in their leather jacket and they’re wearing a rose oil to cover it up.

In Bottle: Patchouli On Skin: Eeek! Something sharp. At first I thought it was patchouli, but now it seems to herby. This is pungent to an extreme. It kind of reminds me of Somnus. I don’t like it, sorry. It just turns my stomach instantly. It has a heavy incense in it, frankincese I think, and also spices, maybe clove? After the drydown it does sweeten up a bit due to a resin note, maybe myrrh? That makes it more easy to bear. I don’t mind it once it sweetens up and mellows out, but it’s not a fragrance I’d wear. It might be nice as an incense blend to burn.

In Bottle: Clean linen On Skin: I have heard the best things about Pele, so I was dying to try this scent. It is so beautiful and clean!!! It’s a warm clean, not stark. It reminds me of clean cotton sheets straight from the dryer. It makes me yearn for the 2 weeks we spent on our honeymoon in Tahiti. I can smell the sweet flowers, fresh air and general excitement and electricity. This is such a soft, comforting scent… a light ozone I can appreciate and that doesn’t turn to an extreme. I would love to wear this as well as use it as a room spray. I do wish the throw was a bit stronger because it does fade pretty quickly. I’m getting a bottle for sure.

In Bottle: Lemon On Skin: Bright lemon sweetened by a juicy apple. The rose is also tart, but is such a nice partner to the lemon. I would have never thought of a combination like this and it is quite interesting. First off, this is a GREAT “wake-me-up” scent. It literally zings! The fruits are so wet and juicy I want to drink my wrist. It smells like drinking an apple-lemonade on the porch with beautiful roses blooming all around you. A wonderful spring or summer scent.

In Bottle: Fruit leather On Skin: When I first smelled this I smelled fruit leather. Remember that all natural much better for you than “Fruit Roll Ups” fruit snack? Not as sweet as a Fruit Roll Up since I don’t think they’re sweetened. Well, one minute later and it’s Holy Clove Batman! There is also a very light and sweet floral, I’m thinking violet? It’s a pretty scent but the cloves overwhelm me. I will keep it on and see if I actually encounter any luck in the love or money catagories. I’m happily married so I don’t need any luck there, but I’m broke so come on money luck!

In Bottle: Wine On Skin: Wow!! Very boozy, the wine is almost a syrup. Sticky but also a bit powdery. The musks are quiet and hiding... they're there but playing second fiddle right now. I like it at first but then the civet blows everything away. It turns very, VERY feral on me and I get the baby diaper smell. And that is a scent I do NOT want to smell like. Eeek!! The orange doesn't ever seem to surface for me...

CHAOS THEORY II The Butterfly Effect CCXXV: No description In Bottle: Spicy soap On Skin: Instantly I get a bit of an ozone note and also something slightly spicy. Cinnamon? The warmness of the cinnamon and the coolness of the ozone is a very interesting pairing. The ozone gives it a more masculine feel at first. I searched the Forum reviews and couldn’t find a review of this one. Was it mislabeled? Not sure… Anyway, after about 15 minutes is starts sweetening up a bit and there is something I can’t quite place my finger on… I wish there were more reviews of it so I could compare with others. I’m thinking there is a slight floral, nothing overwhelming, but a bit aquatic and that’s what’s causing the ozone note. Very pretty.

In Bottle: Menthol On Skin: The eucalyptus screams out at me. Coupled with the juniper and cypress there is an extreme medicinal astringent note. The galangal offers a resin note that is overpowered by the other strong notes. This is very raw, and a bit feral. A scent that will pry your eyes open and keep them open. I was getting ready for bed before I tested this and all of a sudden I am completely awake. Great for stimulation, but not a scent I’d wear as a perfume or want my husband to wear either.

In Bottle: Sweet floral On Skin: What is this? It’s beautiful!!!! I thought for sure it would have cinnamon, but it doesn’t seem to have any extreme spice to it. Maybe a light musk, and something a little clean and soapy. The floral in it is soft, nothing overwhelming or sickly sweet. This smells perfumey, very pretty and womanly. It reminds me of Venom a little, which also reminds me of a soft mild Dior Poison. I love that it is blended so well that it’s hard for em to even pick out individual notes. The name puzzles me because I get more of a golden feell, nothing red or fiery. I want a bottle of this!!!

In Bottle: Patchouli On Skin: First off, this is the first and only imp I’ve ever spilled on myself. Of course, I hate patchouli… great!!! This is pure patchouli… that dirt and powder note. I hope it works for it’s intended purpose… maybe help my depression? I don’t know much about chakras… It smells very incensey and dark so I’m thinking Black Patchouli? It’s not really my kind of scent but if you like patchouli, go for it!

In Bottle: Musk and patchouli On Skin: I smell patchouli, or something with that earthy dirt smell. The amber is very light, sadly… I was hoping for it to be a dominant note. The musk is a bit feral which does give a “doeskin” feeling. I also imagine burying my face in a coyote’s fur after he’s been napping in the sun and getting that animal sleepy smell (my dogs get it). The woods and grasses smell like a field in fall, not quite fresh but not dead either… just dry and earthy. The patchouli note has faded (yay!) and the amber surfaces a bit more sweetening the blend. This scent is very light, not much throw. It’s also calm and peaceful which is a bit of a contradiction to the “Chaos” description. After about 20 minutes it fades into my skin.

In Bottle: Holy cherry Batman! On Skin: These are some sweet cherries! Ludens cough drops… The mahogany has such warm depth and coupled with the wood note brings about a much more interesting cherry scent then some of the other BPAL cherry blends I’ve sampled. Dark and a little earthy, this kind of reminds me of the drink Cherry-Pom. Very tasty but not really a “perfume” scent. It also reminds me in a slight way of Hearth 04… that cherry pipe tobacco feel… comforting and warm.

A gentlemen's lavender-citron cologne unhinged by the feral pungence of black musk and a paroxysm of pennyroyal. In Bottle: Dark mint On Skin: Pungent is right! Wow, this reminds of something… My 6th grade teacher used to smell like this mixed with cigarettes… Not so good… LOL! There is an overall minty scent. The pennyroyal gives a sharp and bitter tone while the lavender also pierces through. The citron note seems to be lemon or something bright. The black musk encases it all in a dark blanket that is actually a bit scary. I could truly identify this as being a Mad Hatter scent, Beth is amazing!

In Bottle: Sweet pine On Skin: I love amber and vanilla so I thought this scent would be a hit for sure. But sadly, woody blends are just not my cup of tea lately. The juniper and pine jump forward and lead the scent. The sandalwood offers a softer lighter buffer, and the vanilla and amber offer a nice sweet warm base. This is a man’s scent for sure, very rugged. I don’t feel the carnal lusty description though. For some reason, the woods are screaming construction site at me, like freshly sawed wood and sawdust. I agree with the Carmex note above as well... there is something slightly medicinal and Carmexy about this scent. Still a nice scent, just not for me or my husband.

In Bottle: Vanilla smoke On Skin: I thought I’d like this, but there seems to be a smokey note not agreeing with me. Maybe the cedar? The vanilla is sweet, warm and gentle and tones the scent. The balsam is light, not overly piney or anything. The sassafras gives a light root-beer note that adds to the sweetness. I do picture the Old West, how interesting. I feel like I just walked into a bar in Deadwood. The smell of wood and dust… very interesting. A unique blend that is very masculine. The throw factor is low thow and the scent itself fades on me in about 10 minutes.

I also wanted to say something about the labs customer service. They are WONDERFUL! I've only had 2 problems in the years I've ordered from them. The first was a Milk Moon that leaked in transit from the lab to my home. I emailed them, they got back to me that day, and resent another bottle with my next order. The other was when I got a mislabeled Snake Charmer that was actually Hall of Mirrors. Again I emailed them and they got back to me either that day or the next (I don't remember exactly, but it was crazy fast) and they emailed me a fresh true Snake Charmer with my next order. They have always included fun frimps... and I beyond thankful for that because it gives me a chance to smell scents I might not have given a chance. All contact with the lab has always been VERY friendly, polite and enjoyable. I've even shared a few personal messages with Beth here on the forums and she is an amazing woman running my favorite company in the world (sorry to be so sappy but it's true). Anyway... sorry to babble, but I just wanted to give Beth, the lab and all it's employees major kudos. I don't know how they do it all sometimes... but they could teach a bunch of other companies some good business lessons that's for sure. A super big thank you for all your hard work!!! Now that would have been a scent my husband himself would have ordered!! I'm TRYING to get him into BPAL, but The Bow and Crown of Conquest is the furthest I've gotten so far.

In Bottle: Girly floral On Skin: Sweet Pea… the name fits it perfect. It is such a sweet innocent scent. I think this is the alltime most “girly” flower and embodies the feeling of a child. A very white/light pink scent. Vibrant, fresh and juicy. A little ozoney/watery which adds to the freshness. The throw on this is unlike any scent I’ve reviewed… as is the staying power, everyone will notice it. I love that Beth uses such great quality oils. This smeels perfectly fresh, like it was just cut, nothing artificial about it. I am not the biggest fan of florals so it’s not a scent I’d wear on it’s own, but I’m thinking of layering it with other pink scents like Pink Phoenix or Pink Moon.

In Bottle: Sweet vanilla On Skin: This is vanilla in a syrup form. So delicious. It reminds me of my honeymoon in Tahiti where vanilla beans were everywhere and in everything. My favorite was leaving one in a sugar bowl so the sugar becomes vanilla flavored and that’s exactly what this smells like. I would LOVE a bottle of this… gallons of this!!! This and honey single note are the scents I really would love to bathe in and have my skin permanently smell like. It is very simple and pure, a scent that could be layered with almost anything. It isn’t overpowering and the staying power is decent. This is my husbands favorite scent on me…