Stephanie

Yes, this is amber and dragon's blood. Sounds simple, but it's a gorgeous blend--definitely more than the sum of its parts! This was one of my early loves. It's a sweet, rich floral-like resin scent. It's beautiful--try it!

I was lucky enough to buy this off of the wonderful YoakeNoKami! Thanks girl!! Wow...this is beautiful stuff. It's the most gorgeous, thick creamy vanilla. It is a bit fizzy, at first, but this dies down and then it's all cream and vanilla on me. It's not a candle-y vanilla--it's a foody, custard-y vanilla. And it's totally yummeh! I'm off to hunt down more of this stuff!!! I just wish I bought this the first time around! Please Beth, offer this again someday??

From the bottle--a little like cherry cough syrup--with wood. On the skin, it gets better though. It sweetens up and I get red fruits and woods. But the sharpness of the cherry remains--I get almost overripe bing cherry that's a tad bitter. It's an interesting scent--something different for me. The bottle artwork is appropriately creepy . (It's a nightmare image for me--I have a fear of anything bad being done to my eyes!)

Snake Oil topped with mint ice cream...with a cup of Earl Grey tea. Exactly as described! From the bottle, I get a blast of earthy, sweet mint. On skin, it's sweet minty Snake Oil--with bergamot. Patchouli, vanilla, something herbal and green and citrusy (the bergamot and tea). Love it! A must try if you like mint--or Earl Grey tea. A great version of Snake Oil! Dries down kind of maple-syrupy on me.

Yes, this is sweet resins and woods. Very sophisticated...yet still "pretty". I definitely can sense the red sandalwood in this. Not so much the black pepper. Very nicely done and it melds beautifully on the skin. When this was new, it seemed a little harsh. But now it has grown into itself and become drop-dead gorgeous!

This is just gorgeous!! I detect a creamy caramel, iris, sandalwood and bit of spicy carnation. The scent is very regal and "bright" and it depicts the painting perfectly. I love this! My bottle has aged wonderfully--it's gotten softer, smoother and richer. I think I will need to stockpile. (The Salons are well worth the extra $$. )

Sweet, earthy almond cookies. Dries down to a faint, slightly dusty patchouli. That's all I get--and I it!

I detect balsam and citrus. Maybe some wood and dry hay. A little tea-like. Somehow, I'm reminded of freshly polished wooden church pews warmed by the afternoon sun. It's a summery, hazy, late August kind of scent. And for once, the honey behaves itself for me! (eta: I wrote this without looking at any other of the reviews--and I'm relieved that I'm not the only one that gets polished wood in this! That means my nose is not entirely off. )

Snake Oil with cinnamon, cassia, and red ginger. I have to remember to stock up on this one! This is earthy, sweet, spicy cinnamon Snake Oil!! No playdoh in this, for me. It seems pretty potent and dry-smelling straight from the bottle, but give it a chance because it's wonderful warmed up on the skin! Also, over the past year, it has mellowed into rich, spicy goodness! Spice-lovers, don't miss this! My absolute fave version of Snake Oil.

This has skyrocketed to second place in my Top 5 (the first being Chimera). This is incense, spice and red musk heaven. I think red musk is combination of egytian musk and dragon blood? Maybe that's why red musk is the only musk that works on me--I love dragons blood. I must find the time to wear this more often! I've only now finished my bottle from 2004! And I've gotten several unsolicited compliments today. BPAL has so much great new stuff to try all the time that I tend to forget my favorites.

Straight from the bottle: Lemon-y goodness...and some flowers? Freshly applied on skin: More lemon-y goodness. Very fresh and sweet. I think I can detect some apricot. Drydown: Not much change. The citrus is predominant. Maybe some dry powderiness from the black musk--but other than that, there's not much "darkness" to be found. My bottle is over a year and a half old, I think. And it's been stored properly--in a cool dark place--with my other bottles. So I think it's aging very well. If you like lemons, then you will like this. (Luckily, I them) eta: Actually, the more I sniff this, the more something about it reminds me of Chrysanthemum Moon--it must be the opium smoke. It's a light-hearted, lemon-fresh CM.

This is a very pretty, unobtrusive gardenia scent. I love Monoi oil and this smells just like it. It dries down soft and powdery. This makes me want to got to Tahiti!

In the bottle, this is like sweet Downy dryer sheets. On my skin, I smell sweet flowers, sugar and ozone. Faintly, I do detect something like Midway mixed with electricity and the way the air smells just before it rains. It's nice, but faint and dries down to more dryer sheets. (Which isn't a bad thing, in my book. )

ooo..this is strange. Straight from the bottle, I get fizzy, salty rootbeer! On the skin it's dry bitter wood--ancient-smelling wood--and rootbeer. This is pretty potent now so I'm thinking that, after a few months, this will mellow out and I will get the beautiful-ness that other people are getting.

Fuzzy, soft white mouse's tale! Both dry and sweet and a little melancholy! Just like its name! I get sweet pea and vanilla and incense. There is a dry paper-like sandalwood that seems a bit peppery. I does smell white and fuzzy and warm. Kind of like Coyote in its fuzziness. I like this. It's easy to wear and "cute"--in a BPAL way.

I like this one a lot. Incense-y cranberries. Dark purple and magenta. Plum-like. Layers well with rich, fruity perfumes like Badgely Mischka. Not too sweet, a touch of smoke. Evocative of the fall, but very wearable in the summer One of my favorites. If you like fruit in your fragrances, try this on for size. It's dark and delicious, like a banquet at midnight. My 2005 bottle has aged very well.

At first, when I smell this straight from the bottle, it seems like a very complex, richly textured men's cologne. I mean it's beautiful but it seems kinda manly. But when I have it on, it morphs into something gorgeous!! Spice, woods, sweetness, bitterness, vanilla---sooo yummy!! It smells so multi-dimensional. It's hard to describe--but you have to try it! I know this sounds corny and cliche, but it's like a mysterious place, full of hidden wonders. Like an island at dusk riddled with caves and seawater with a mysterious bonfire in the distance. You have to try it this!! It's best on the skin.

This is definitely cucumber! Like a fresh green cucumber. Strangely, it turns into a bit like a cucumber raita to me (an Indian condiment made from yogurt). I think it would be good to layer with Yemaya (cucumber/melon anyone? )

Morocco is in my top 5. I get soft sweet carnation and spice layered over a base of warm sandalwood. This is very easy to wear and it melds into the skin beautifully. It's a "pretty" scent but the spice and woods give it character and lend an air of the exotic. And it gets softer and smoother with age. Simply lovely.

This is a scent that was made for wearing on skin! It blooms in the heat and melts beautifully into the skin. I detect something fresh-smelling yet warm, something evergreen-like and powdery. I'm surprised to see coconut listed as one of the notes. It so well-blended that I don't detect it at all! The drydown is like soft powder, pine and salt. Sounds weird, but somehow, I like it! I say this smells best on skin because, today as I went to reapply some more in the afternoon, my clumsy butterfingers tipped over the bottle and spilled half of its contents all over my desk!!! And the spilled scent reminded me slightly of carpet cleaner and dryer sheets! --generically clean, powdery and fresh. But it definitely doesn't smell that way on my skin! It comes alive on the skin. Wear this one with pride!

A Will Call is when the Lab opens to the public. It happens during every full moon. And there will be an Announcement about it a few weeks prior. Currently there are two Will Calls: One at the Lab in the West Coast and another in in the East Coat at shelldoo's salon. Hope this helps! Welcome to the madness that is BPAL!!

I love Blood Pearl! I'm thinking blood musk is combination of dragons blood resin and red musk? Either way, the combination is beautiful! Please don't be afraid of the musk--it's gorgeous in this (not peanut-ty or sweaty at all)! I love how the orris and coconut blend into a kind of sweet "dustiness". It's so different and compelling. "Lustrous and saguine", indeed. You have to try this if you like Black Pearl!

Oh my god, my 2004 bottle has finally aged into something wonderful. It's deepened and softened into a lovely, rich gingerbread snap. In the beginning it was a sharp, curried rice. But now, it has grown into itself and is beautiful. I'm glad I've hoarded 3 extra bottles! It's a a cozy, spicy scent that is very comforting. Someone had mentioned that it's like you're wrapped in a warm, thick blanket and I'm inclined to agree! I love it! I hope it shows up again this Christmas! So the lesson is, if you don't like it fresh, please put it aside to age--you'll be glad you did!

This a very dry herbal chocolate. I do smell a bit of fresh apple (blossom?). But overall it's a very dry, herbal scent--overlaid with dark chocolate. I can't detect the spices right now. Definitely more chocolate-y then the previous 13's. Sadly, it seems too bitter on me.

Okay I've been testing this since last night--and I'm still not sure about it. And I got a horrible comment from my husband this morning: As I was applying it, he said it smelled "like pee"! ... I don't think it smells like pee--but there is a potent, honey-like note that is very apparent when it's freshly applied. Honey can turn urine-like on me. Maybe the amber used has honey as it's major component? On drydown, it's sweet and soft and a little bitter. I think I like it and I think it will get prettier as it ages. But I think I'm a little traumatized from that pee comment.