cranberry

Baghdad - Wanderlust (reviewed 8-5-05) Notes: Amber, saffron and bergamot with mandarin, nutmeg, Bulgar rose, musk and sandalwood Baghdad is the first BPAL oil I've tried that's gone generic soapy, powdery floral on me. In the imp it smells pretty good - warm, spicy, saffron but I still get a touch of powdery floral. Is that the amber doing that? I've always had a good relationship with amber so it must be the combination of ingredients and my perception that's doing it. On the whole, it's pretty unremarkable on me and makes me think of doilies, big overdone floral prints on a cream colored background, and dry dusty skin. Not my kind of thing. Oh well.

Picked this up 6-30-06, hopefully I can turn this one around really fast since it's been waiting in my PO for a while. Cordia 2 Alice** - already reviewed the Coiled Serpent** - reviewed Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo** - reviewed Voodoo** - reviewed Libertine** - reviewed Lolita - reviewed Juliet - reviewed I've got all the **ed ones, so I should be able to get this tested and reviewed this weekend. 7-1-06: shipped this out tonight, it was too late for the last mail pickup so it will go out with Monday's mail. 8-6-06: yay, all tried and reviewed!

Alice - Mad Tea Party (reviewed 9-2-05) Notes: milk, rose, carnation, bergamot Alice is sooo pretty. I've had some so-so experiences with milk so I was a bit reluctant to try this but I'm so glad that I did. It's a softly spicy floral with touches of milk and maybe a tad of vanilla. The spicy floral is definitely carnation. Just looked at the notes - no vanilla listed, but I would swear there is just a hint. Anyway - overall Alice is a very soft, pretty scent, bringing to mind petticoats, white dresses and soft pink ribbons tied around the waist. Very sweet and innocent - a perfect springtime scent - I love it!

picked this up today at the PO. Kakiphony 2 Neo-Tokyo** - reviewed Vixen** - reviewed Tweedledee - reviewed Obatala** - already reviewed Leanan Sidhe** - reviewed I've got all but one of these, I'm aiming to get this in the mail tonight! ETA: ok, I've got Tweedledee tested, once I know where I'm sending this it's going out! ETA 7-5-06: this is off to yellowrose! ETA 7-10-06: ok, finally tried and reviewed all scents that were in this pack!

Obatala - Excolo (reviewed 4-19-06) Notes: milk, coconut meat, shea butter and cool, refreshing water In the Imp: buttery rich milk. It jogs my memory of Milk Moon. Which didn’t work for me and I ended up passing it on. The smell in the imp is not promising. On the skin: milk, hints of coconut, but with a twist. At first it is very similar to Milk Moon (or as I remember it). As it wears, the coconut milkyness recedes and I get what I think is shea. It’s slightly sweet but it remains cool and refreshing thanks to the aquatic note. It’s almost a bit minty on me but not quite. Milk Moon was very heavy on me and turns a bit sour, this does not do that at all and I’m so thrilled. It’s a soothing creamy scent, it evokes feelings like those I get from Snow White, my ultimate soothing scent-wrap-yourself-in-fluffy-towels or a great big hug scent. It's completely different but just as soothing. Just beautiful. Yes, this is a very white, pure scent.

Love Me - Voodoo Oils (reviewed 1-16-06) In the Imp: dry bubblegum-type scent. Its an orangy-red color which makes me think that there's dragon's blood in here. On the Skin: Thank god, the bubblegum note vanishes once I put it on. Instead, I get an almost ylang-ylang scent plus cinnamon and an underlying note of musk or civet. I don't think it's jasmine as jasmine hates me, and this is pretty good so far. It's warm, spicy, and very sexy. When I first applied it the other day, immediately out of the shower, I had a wee bit of a reaction to it - my skin turned red where it was applied. As it Drys: Vanilla comes out, wow - this reminds me a LOT of Dragon's Milk. This is just fabulous! There's definitely both dragon's blood and vanilla in here. It has an underlying musky edge to it. The cinnamon mellows out a lot and there's also a touch of incense here. Overall Impression: Warm, spicy, sexy, sultry scent. I don't know that it works for it's intended purpose but it certainly makes me feel sexier, so from that alone it's being effective. I think it's fabulous! I have to get a bottle with my next order. Yum!

Santo Domingo - Wanderlust (reviewed 9-14-2005) Notes: tobacco leaf, bay rum, Caribbean blossoms Santo Domingo was a gift from the lab in one of my recent orders. I'm making an effort to go through my imps, review them and then decide whether to keep them or not. That being said, this is a very interesting scent. In the imp, it's sort of a neutral, slightly spicy scent. Not a lot of florals, no woods, a touch of spice. Reminds me of a medium brown color. Initially on, what I imagine to be the tobacco comes out. That, plus the bay rum. Maybe a touch of lemon. Initially on, it's as in the imp, just rather neutral for me, not evoking much reaction one way or the other. But - once it dries, what a different story. It deepens and becomes rich and spicy. Not real sweet, but somehow it reminds me a bit of caramel. Don't know why as it's not really foody at all but that's what I get. I really get the bay rum, which I really like. Wow - the drydown is really nice. I find it very smooth and soothing despite the spice (which instinctively would get you going). We'll see how long the drydown lasts as I'm only a bit of the way through. In closing, it's lovely - I don't know whether I'll get a bottle but I'll definately keep an imp on hand to enjoy when I want a deep, spicy yet soothing scent.

Picked this up at the PO tonight. (7-12-06) Pink Owl Pack 7 Dana O'Shee** Santa Muerte** - reviewed Satyr - reviewed Thalia** Venice - reviewed Wilde** weird, I was sure that I had an imp of Satyr floating around my house, but I couldn't find it. I've got most of these so I hope to move this along quickly. ETA 7-12-06: OK, I've reviewed the 2 imps I don't have so this is ready to send to Spacekitty. Yay! ETA 7-15-06: dropped this off at the PO yesterday, it's on its way.

Santa Muerte - Excolo Notes: rose, chrysanthemum, vetiver, cactus In the imp: like cocoa but not quite. Ok, at second sniff I see that it’s rose, with darker smells. It’s strange how that first impression was so different from the second. On the skin: this is a soft scent, gentle. Smells like honeyed roses tempered by something I can’t describe. Maybe it’s the cactus, it’s just so soft smelling. This is a quiet scent on me and it stays close. I may be getting a hint of the chrysanthemums but I’m surprised that vetivert hasn’t shown up. Overall impression: I like this a lot but doubt that I’d ever reach for it. The cactus added such an interesting scent to this blend and I feel like I had a completely new olfactory experience because of it.

In the imp: like cocoa but not quite. OK, at second sniff I see that it’s rose, with darker smells. It’s strange how that first impression was so different from the second. On the skin: this is a soft scent, gentle. Smells like honeyed roses tempered by something I can’t describe. Maybe it’s the cactus, it’s just so soft smelling. This is a quiet scent on me and it stays close. I may be getting a hint of the chrysanthemums but I’m surprised that vetivert hasn’t shown up. Overall impression: I like this a lot but doubt that I’d ever reach for it. The cactus added such an interesting scent to this blend and I feel like I had a completely new olfactory experience because of it.

Whitechapel - Wanderlust Notes: white musk, lime, lilac, citron In the imp: citrus On the skin: citrus initially, mainly lemon. This is a really light scent, and although I only applied a small bit to my skin, I have to sniff really hard, right next to my hand to smell anything. There’s a touch of fuzzy white musk. Now this is reminding me of Satan and Death with Sin Intervening or some of the older, discontinued scents that had lemongrass as a component. There’s a strange scent here that’s a combination of the citrus and musk I think that I just don’t care for. The citrus smells like lemongrass, which is never a good thing for me. This scent and I do not get along. And I don’t think we ever will. <0 stars.>

In the imp: citrus On the skin: citrus initially, mainly lemon. This is a really light scent, and although I only applied a small bit to my skin, I have to sniff really hard, right next to my hand to smell anything. There’s a touch of fuzzy white musk. Now this is reminding me of Satan and Death with Sin Intervening or some of the older, discontinued scents that had lemongrass as a component. There’s a strange scent here that’s a combination of the citrus and musk I think that I just don’t care for. The citrus smells like lemongrass, which is never a good thing for me. This scent and I do not get along. And I don’t think we ever will. <0 stars.>

This is last package I picked up in the mail today (6-13-06) from spacekitty. There are many in here that I don't think I have and I haven't tried yet, so this one will move more slowly. Arylkin #1 contents: Envy - reviewed Harlot - reviewed Hesperides** - reviewed Imp** La Belle Au Bois Dormant - reviewed Laudanum** - reviewed Manila** - reviewed Shadow Witch Orchid - reviewed Zorya - reviewed *(I like this one, hang onto any imps that come my way) 6-16-06: shipped to Cordia Saturday. almost done reviewing all the oils - I've got dupes of the starred ones, so I should be able to move through these (except I just got my DM order!)

Laudanum - Sin and Salvation Notes: nutmeg, sassafras, black poppy, myrrh In the imp: mainly sassafras, spice and myrrh On the skin: mmm. Sassafras. Spice. A touch of bitterness. The spice smells hot, like there could a touch of pepper in here with the nutmeg. The sassafras makes me think of gourmet root beer and makes this scent almost edible. As it wears, this scent really become dry and dusty. Later, it become quite dark and sultry. It lasts a while too.

In the imp: mainly sassafras, spice and myrrh On the skin: mmm. Sassafras. Spice. A touch of bitterness. The spice smells hot, like there could a touch of pepper in here with the nutmeg. The sassafras makes me think of gourmet root beer and makes this scent almost edible. As it wears, this scent really become dry and dusty. Later, it become quite dark and sultry. It lasts a while too.

How would you say Kindly Moon rates in terms of stargazer? Maybe it's the moonflower in there that I'm loving. I love Lyonesse, and if that's a strongly stargazer lily scent then that's a wonderful thing! I'm also liking Black Lily a lot (actually a love at first sniff kinda thing) but I have no idea what kind of lily it is. darklorelei, I think that's the thing, it does seem to be usually paired with other strong notes, so I just get them all mixed up. Especially the floral ones so I can't tell what I'm smelling.

I thought that the dry down of the Oct 2006 v of 13 was pretty damn close to Flowerbomb.

sin's a pretty dark scent. sexy dark, but dark nonetheless.

Nocturne - Funereal Oils Notes: violet, lilac, tuberose In the imp this smells most strongly of violet. On the skin, the lilac comes out and joins the violet. As it dries, the tuberose is there too, providing a floral lushness that is just tiny bit sharp. I really like lilac so I do like this scent despite the sharpness. As it wears the sharpness diminished and it becomes softer and smoother. Now the violet comes back. This is a really pretty scent!

In the imp this smells most strongly of violet. On the skin, the lilac comes out and joins the violet. As it dries, the tuberose is there too, providing a floral lushness that is just tiny bit sharp. I really like lilac so I do like this scent despite the sharpness. As it wears the sharpness diminished and it becomes softer and smoother. Now the violet comes back. This is a really pretty scent!

Ra - Excolo, Stations of the Sun Notes: none listed In the vial, this smells of heliotrope and frankincense. On the skin, this smells sunny and warm. Heliotrope, frankincense, amber, a touch of citrus. There’s warmth here, some kind of spice. I think there’s a touch of lavender here, maybe hyssop too (if that’s a principal scent component of White Light and Anthelion, of which I smell some similarity). Yeah, this smells like a TAL. Maybe that’s not too surprising since it is an Excolo scent. I love Anthelion and White Light, but I only use them when I really need them. But I do enjoy their scent, so this is a good substitute when I only want to enjoy their scent but don’t need their other properties. Anyway, this is a warm, spicy, soothing scent that is just beautiful. The oil I’m testing has a bit of age on it, probably 1.5 yrs or so, so that could be part of it. The citrus only lasted for couple minutes and it dried to this ambery-lavender-spicy-resiny scent. Wow, just wow.

In the vial, this smells of heliotrope and frankincense. On the skin, this smells sunny and warm. Heliotrope, frankincense, amber, a touch of citrus. There’s warmth here, some kind of spice. I think there’s a touch of lavender here, maybe hyssop too (if that’s a principal scent component of White Light and Anthelion, of which I smell some similarity). Yeah, this smells like a TAL. Maybe that’s not too surprising since it is an Excolo scent. I love Anthelion and White Light, but I only use them when I really need them. But I do enjoy their scent, so this is a good substitute when I only want to enjoy their scent but don’t need their other properties. Anyway, this is a warm, spicy, soothing scent that is just beautiful. The oil I’m testing has a bit of age on it, probably 1.5 yrs or so, so that could be part of it. The citrus only lasted for couple minutes and it dried to this ambery-lavender-spicy-resiny scent. Wow, just wow.

Seraglio - Love Potions Notes: sweet almond, mysor sandalwood, bulgarian rose, neroli, nutmet, clove, orange peel In the imp: almonds On the skin, a combination of almonds and soft roses. I don’t really care for rose scents, so I’m not liking this one. It reminds of a Voodoo Oil. It’s a powdery rose. I’m not getting any of the sandalwood, spices or orange peel. After it’s been on an hour or so, the rose is very soft and gentle. There’s still not much more going on, just soft, powdery rose. This is not a scent for me. (and I love mysor sandalwood - pity I'm not getting any in this scent).

In the imp: almonds On the skin, a combination of almonds and soft roses. I don’t really care for rose scents, so I’m not liking this one. It reminds of a Voodoo Oil. It’s a powdery rose. I’m not getting any of the sandalwood, spices or orange peel. After it’s been on an hour or so, the rose is very soft and gentle. There’s still not much more going on, just soft, powdery rose. This is not a scent for me.

This was one the Halloweenies that I was most looking forward to, and ordered a bottle right away in addition to the decant I was getting as part of a circle. In the imp this reminds me a lot of Eat Me. I smell currants and cake. With an underlying base of incense. This is a light scent and when I first applied it, it was like I had a scent block on it or something, I just couldn’t smell anything. Sniffing hard though, there is a hint of cake and butter with incense as a backdrop. As it wears, the incense really comes out with the cake taking a secondary role and the currants all but disappearing. It stays a predominantly incense scent. The resins are dry, not sticky. I really like the drydown, but the beginning doesn’t do it for me. I find the combination of foody and incense smells offputting. I have some good incense scents already so I don’t need to keep this one. I ended up keeping the imp but the bottle has found a new home.