PurringPulsar

Parliament of Monsters In the imp: mmm, gorgeous frankincense, very similar to the Pit and the Pendulum. Wet on skin: now a sweeter note, an airy white musk, and some opium appear. Now I get a hint of Stardust mixing with the incense. Dry: oh, this is gorgeous! It smells like Stardust meets Midnight Mass! I know, it’s crazy, but I swear I get the same ‘champagne and white musk’ scent from here as I do in Stardust. There’s definitely a similar opium and tobacco scent, though the tobacco in here is more like tobacco flower for now. But I smell champagne, or white wine, in here too. There’s a beautiful layer of frankincense at the bottom, maybe some myrrh too, a hint of something dusty, but mainly the Stardust-like opium and tobacco with resinous incense. I love this. After a while: hmm, this has turned a little odd now. I now smell olive oil in here, which is weird. It’s not too bad but it reminds me of the olive scent that I got in Yule and Alecto. I still smell opium, and Stardust, tobacco and resinous incense as well…but the olive is a little off putting. However, this does sometimes make the scent smell like a martini, with that ‘champagne’ note I got before morphing every now and then into gin (maybe there’s juniper in here?). A very strange reaction I certainly didn’t expect in this scent. The oddly white musky scent with champagne does move in and out of the scent, as does the strange olive scent, with the gorgeous deep resins and opium still lingering. I’m really torn about this scent…I love the ‘Stardust with incense’ fragrance this has, but that olive note is distracting. Eventually after about three hours, the olive note goes completely. Now the scent is a white musk, white wine and opium scent with smoky, tobacco touched incense underneath-two distinct layers in the scent. It’s very unusual. The scent ends up as a thin, ethereal, dusty smoky white musk with poppy…it reminds me of a less floral and dustier version of Euterpe now. Verdict: this one has me torn. I adore incense scents so much, and the first hour or so of this scent is wonderful. Oddly, this does smell like the lovechild of Stardust and Midnight Mass! There’s opium here but I also smell that same white musk and champagne from Stardust as well…but with an undertone of resins. And then a smell of martinis comes out. (These monsters seem to be partying down in their freak show tent with the booze flowing and the smoke and opium readily available…do the monster mash!) I smell gin here but there’s one note that’s preventing me from enjoying this…a weird salty olive note. I have no idea what this is but it smells like those briny olives or olive oil (not like the nice olive leaf note in other BPALs) and it’s really odd. The scent moves through stages of opium and booze and incense but still keeps that strangely Stardust-y scent. I didn’t smell as much resin/incense in this scent as I hoped. I think I’ll swap this one, if it wasn’t for the olive note, I’d probably love this a lot more. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I’m not sure. I normally adore incense scents but the olive note here gives me pause. If you like this, try: Pit and the Pendulum, Stardust, Euterpe, Midnight Mass, Opium Poppy, Darkness, Penitence, Carceri D’Invenzione

Mr Nancy In the imp: a buttery lime cookie scent (think Sugar Cookie 05) with a hint of something fizzy! Wet on skin: now the tobacco comes out, and the bay rum isn’t turning to soap … Dry: this is such an intriguing scent! There’s a wonderful cookie like note at the base, reminiscent of buttery shortbread biscuits sprinkled with sugar (though the butter isn’t as strong now), and I adore shortbread. Bright, vivacious lime is sprinkled over the cookies, with a masculine scent of bay rum and warm, dry, almost spicy tobacco. This is so good. Very unusual, being a mix of delicious gourmand shortbread and manly perfume, but I think the cookie note makes this scent very unisex. After a while: eventually the sugar cookie note (which is fantastic, and doesn’t turn to plastic…yay for spontaneous poetry!) merges with the lime and bay rum and tobacco to become a wonderfully smooth, warm, sweet and comforting, even quite sexy scent. Very suave and laid back, with an approachable sweetness. The cookies now smell like they are dusted with white sugar and a little cinnamon, and at this point I get a resemblance to Sugar Cookie 04, but without as much spice, and the tobacco and rum notes cooperate wonderfully. Indeed, the tobacco enhances the warm ‘baked’ aroma and the bay rum helps the lime to stick around for longer than usual, adding a fresh tang. This wonderful fragrance of sugary lime shortbread wrapped in tobacco and fresh bay rum is so addictive. Over time I smell something almost like coconut surfacing from the cookie note, and the scent starts to resemble a less caramelised version of Elegba. And then the rum starts to smell like rum and Coke! So now it smells like a yummy mix of lightly spiced shortbread with rum and Coke! Mmm!! And just before it fades, the scent goes into another morph…it turns to sweet gently caramelised incense, almost like Red Lantern! Maybe my nose is wonky but the scent of ‘cookie incense’ I get at this point really rocks my socks. Verdict: I never thought that cookies and masculine perfume (aftershave and tobacco) would go together so well-once again Beth proves me wrong with another unique and delightful scent. There’s nothing overpowering or cloying about this cookie note, it isn’t laden with heavy caramel or treacle like some foody scents can be, nor does it turn dusty or plastic-y. In fact, it reminds me of ‘Christmas shortbread’ I got last year, it was cinnamon shortbread with sugar, so good! And this cookie note is so realistic. I adore this…sugared spicy butter shortbread and lime with an undertone of dry, crisp tobacco and a little rum as well. Sometimes bay rum turns to soap or man’s perfume, but I really like the bay rum here, it even smells like rum and Coke at times. The foody and smoky notes cooperate so nicely in here, and the drydown even smells like cookie incense! I haven’t tried cookie incense but that’s what it reminds me of…almost along the line of Red Lantern, but lighter. I’m now hungry for biscuits…and this time I want to dunk them in rum, not tea! This is a wonderfully moreish scent, so much so that I want a bottle asap! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Definitely! These Carousel scents are so good! This is a potential bottle scent. If you like this, try: Sugar Cookie 05 and 04, Eat Me, Santo Domingo, Isaac, Perversion, Elegba, Red Lantern

Mad Sweeney In the imp: WHOA! *recoils* that’s some mighty strong whisky! It smells just like the real thing, so boozy it’s scary. Makes me wonder if my decant contains real whisky as opposed to a perfume oil. Wet on skin: still strong whisky, but now I smell the oak and barrel woods. Dry: whisky and woods! This is unnervingly realistic-it smells like real Scotch whisky, strong and incredibly alcoholic, I agree with most reviewers in that this isn’t a scent to wear for a driving test! But it’s surprisingly pleasant-under the piercing, almost nose-stinging scent of pure booze is a gorgeous wooden undertone, reminiscent of wood-smoke, aged barrels, and even an outdoorsy scent of oak, a scent which always makes me think of autumn at the park, and freshly cut oak furniture. This woodsy scent is very nice, almost comforting-but the booze is really overwhelming. After a while: holy moly, the throw this has is crazy! It broadcasts it’s intensely boozy scent very far from the skin it was applied to. It does smell a little woodier now though, and loses it’s initial alcoholic hit to become a scent which strongly reminds me of old furniture and wooden floorboards. It reminds me of an old room, it smells aged and dusty and worn, but oddly familiar. I think it is reminding me of one of those old rooms in a stately home somewhere that I visited when I was younger. Brings to mind a whisky cellar in a past era, maybe in the 16th or 17th century, under a grand mansion. The smell of historical abandoned cellars and attics, and fragrant wardrobes and dusty cupboards becomes the dominant scent as the whisky burns off and the wood is left behind. It’s a wonderfully aged wood scent and feels almost cosy. I also smell some bonfire woods coming through over time, the scent moves from worn wooden floors and furniture to autumnal burnt wood, a strong scent of smouldering oak barrels, but it’s not too smoky. At the end though, the scent smoothes very nicely, with a creamy sweet scent coming out. I now smell a little bit of Baileys in here! And I do love me some Baileys. The aged oak and fragrant ancient woods scent is still there, but softened with the smoothness and sweetness of Irish cream. It turns a little buttery as it leaves, almost like a butter rum scent. Verdict: woozy and woodsy, I’m impressed by the fact that Beth has really nailed the scent of whisky in this scent, it’s so authentic. At first, the whisky really bowls me over. It really does smell so boozy, I agree with all the ‘not suitable for driving with’ comments. And not only is it highly alcoholic, it is LOUD. This stuff wafts madly. However, underneath all that whisky is a strangely nostalgic, pleasant and rich wood, probably the barrels and oak, it becomes dominant when the whisky burns off, and something about it brings back a memory from childhood-I’m sure it was one of those old palaces or stately homes where they show how life was back in the old days in Tudor times or something, and I’m sure there was a room or two that had this smell. Not sure if it was the floorboards or the furniture…this is a dusty, aged, incredibly old scent, it’s almost like the wood holds memories from centuries ago. I really like this stage, can’t stop sniffing it. it does sweeten a little at the end as well. A scent both fascinating and fun, I’m glad I tried this out, but I don’t think I’d wear it much. I do like the ancient oaks scent I get at the end but the whisky is too overwhelming for me. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No, the whisky is too much for me despite a pleasant woody drydown. Kudos to Beth for having captured whisky perfectly though! If you like this, try: Isaac, Tavern of Hell, Miskatonic University, Hellcat, Grog

Death Adder In the imp: sweetened vetiver. Very heavy vetiver…but with a hint of creamy vanilla. Wet on skin: mmm, this is actually not the evil Malediction vetiver, but a nutty, sweet variety, improved by vanilla (not Snake Oil yet) and made nuttier by coconut. Dry: oh wow. This scent reminds me of Reunion Island! Vetiver and vanilla, with a hint of tropical coconut, bring back pleasant memories of holidays there. This is a strong vetiver but I really like it-it smells gritty and nutty and dark, but the vanilla and coconut prevent it from smelling too moody. There’s even that lemony tinge that vetiver sometimes has…but this reminds me of some table mats that my mum brought back from Reunion made from vetiver grass, with Bourbon vanilla pods and coconut sweets. After a while: hey, what’s happened to the vetiver? it’s now gone…and what I’m left with is a wonderful sweet and dry yet creamy vanilla-coconut. Hints of opoponax, maybe a little of the Snake Oil too, add a lovely depth and darkness to what would otherwise be a sweet, light, almost fluffy scent, but it’s mainly a summery vanilla-coconut scent. I love this. It becomes even sweeter and creamier, like a delicious coconut sweet, but the vetiver adds grit and a down to earth base to what could easily be an almost innocent candied coconut scent. Snake Oil slithers underneath it all with its musky rich depth. It still reminds me of Reunion though. Then, after a few hours the vetiver really does make a comeback at the very end of the scent. dark and a little bit metallic, this slightly sinister note smells slightly tar-like at this point as well, but fringed with the sweetness of Snaky vanilla. No longer the pleasant coconut on a tropical island scent I got before, now the vetiver is starting to show off. It’s not as evil as some vetiver notes can be though, but I think this one will stick around for a day or two… Verdict: this was a lovely surprise. I was a little worried when I saw that many reviews mentioned heavy vetiver, and yes the vetiver in here is strong stuff that lingers for ages, but I really like this one. What I love most about this Snake is the happy thoughts it brings up of my beloved Reunion Island, where I have spent many wonderful holidays as a child…vanilla and vetiver are scents associated with the island, and they are dominant here, and with the addition of tropical coconut, it just smells even more like an exotic island holiday. It is actually surprisingly light for the first few hours of wear-a cheerful, summery and fluffy vanilla-coconut with just bare hints of vetiver to ground it all…surely too sweet and innocent to deserve a name like Death Adder? Not so. Eventually it’s darker undertones rise up and the vetiver once again is in charge. It’s one of the nicer strong vetiver notes, but there is something a little bit tar-like to it, which I’m not sure about…though the Snake Oil does show up as well at this point. I do love this scent a lot more than I expected to though so I will definitely get a bottle or two of this scent. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! Usually vetiver is too much but this evokes good memories and I love it. If you like this, try: Van Van, The Music of Erich Zahn, Great He Goat, Blood Kiss, Czernobog, Snake Oil

Boomslang In the imp: whoa, dark, deep, rich chocolate. Pure cocoa. Slightly sweet and a little bit like chocolate cake too! The oil is the colour of dark chocolate, and is a little grainy. Wet on skin: looks like I’ve put iodine on my wrist…but thankfully this doesn’t smell like iodine, but chocolate Snake Oil! Yum! Dry: chocolate Snake Oil! Now it smells very, very Snake Oily, but with a covering of rich dark chocolate. This is so delicious. So far, the most Snake Oily scents in the Pit have been the Asp, the Saw Scaled Viper, and this. It is rich and deep and mixes the beautiful vanilla-musk-spice with a sexy, dark, and very realistic cocoa scent. After a while: the cocoa takes a back seat as the Snake Oil comes out even more. There’s still a gentle fringe of chocolate, this still is cocoa-covered, but now the Snake Oil is really showing itself. It smells like the aged stuff I have, with the richer spicier notes and a mature vanilla and musk, they really get on very nicely and work well with the chocolate. I don’t smell teak or rice milk. The drydown becomes even more and more identical to just Snake Oil, which is a good thing, especially since this smells like aged SO, even though it is fresher than my year old imp! I just wish the cocoa stuck around for a little longer…I still smell traces of it but it seems to have merged into the SO as to become almost indistinguishable. But then when I think the chocolate is gone, the cocoa returns once more! Dark and rich yet sweet and cake-like, now I smell like delicious Snake Oil brownies. Which in theory sounds like a delicious recipe but I wouldn’t recommend consuming Snake Oil in any food! This is better than Lump of Coal. The cocoa actually ends up as the strongest note once more as the scent fades after a few hours, with a little bit of amber coming out as well. Verdict: yet another hit from the Pit! Remember the Candy Butcher’s chocolate covered snakes? One of them must have slithered into the tent of freaks and joined the rest of Faiza’s friends. This smells just like the most wonderful fusion of cocoa and Snake Oil ever. Like chocolate covered Snake Oil, or this oil makes me want to nibble my wrist. The cocoa note really shines at the start and finish of this scent-at first it is like fine dark chocolate with a Snake Oil centre, and then the cocoa temporarily leaves and the scent is almost all SO, the aged variety, but I was worried that this would be just Snake Oil, nothing more, which I can get as a GC. But then after an hour or two, chocolate makes a comeback. And what a comeback…it smells like Snake Oil flavoured brownies! This really blows Lump of Coal out of the water. The beautiful dark cocoa mixes so nicely with the deep, rich, sweet vanilla and exotic spices of Snake Oil, this is a perfect match. A wonderful, indulgent scent, this is now my new favourite chocolate scent, and one to get lots of bottles of. The only downside is that it stains, but that isn’t getting in the way of me smelling like SNAKE OIL BROWNIES! *insert Homer Simpson drool here* Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Definitely. Now I want Snake Oil flavoured brownies…I don’t think Snake Oil tastes good or will do you any good if eaten, even if it smells gorgeous! If you like this, try: Snake Oil, Snake Charmer, Asp Viper, Saw Scaled Viper, Wulric, Velvet, Bliss

Mama Ji In the imp: mmm, gorgeous spicy rose and sandalwood. This reminds me of good quality Indian incense. Wet on skin: sweet flowers and spices and dry incense notes. Dry: mmm, this is gorgeous! Sweet heady blooms-not sure what but I’m sure there’s rose and maybe some of the flowers from the GC Kali in here…definitely rose, as I get a slight sharp tea rose/dry rose scent to this. All of these flowers are cloaked in a dry, warm, mysterious layer of spices and something sweet that reminds me of amber. I think there’s sandalwood in here. This smells like the lingering smoke of floral incense, the spices are warm and dry, but aren’t as spicy as I expected-I can’t actually pick out the cardamom or nutmeg here-but they smell like they are being burnt in a joss stick as an offering at a shrine decked with fragrant blooms. It also reminds me of cloth-specifically, saris in colours of red, pink, muted dusky magenta and crimson-which have absorbed the scents of flowers and spicy incense. This is so beautiful and complex! I definitely see the Mum Moon comparisons but this is so much nicer than Mum Moon, because it doesn’t have the sour, ‘grannyish’ note I got there. And the rose is wonderful! After a while: a softer, whiter floral note starts to peek out of the thick layers of spicy incense and rose petals. It could be tuberose, or maybe a jasmine or frangipani note, or possibly event lotus…yes, I think it could either be frangipani and/or lotus. There’s a slight resemblance to the flowers in Kali, those rich and heady floral notes, but this smells more passionate and sultry. I also smell the nutmeg at this point, a strong, fiery spice which is almost savoury, but in a good way. A little bit of cardamom also peeks out and the rose, although fainter, is still there, but evenly spread out amongst the rest of the spicy creamy floral notes. With the sandalwood incense, it seems to me like a feminine version of Chintamani Dhupa. It becomes even nicer with time-it was already beautiful before but the scent is becoming a lot more balanced, a lovely rounded mix of dry spice, incense, flowers and sandalwood, with a little sweetness. There are even times when it smells like an unburnt loose incense mix of dry flower petals, spices and fragrant woods. At the end it develops a slightly musky, almost dirty-earthy feel and reminds me somewhat of Voodoo Queen with creamy white lotus-like flowers. It actually reminds me slightly of the drydown of Chintamani, and also of Bastet without the amber. There may be vetiver or saffron here. and then it ends as a soft white flower fringed with earthy incense…at this point it reminds me of Faiza. Verdict: this is a wonderful, stunning, complex and fascinating scent-no wonder Beth has it as a favourite, this is destined to be a classic. It is floral, spicy, incense like, dry, sweet, smooth and earthy all at once. It starts off by smelling strongly of rose, but this is a rose sprinkled with spices on an altar where sandalwood-scented Indian incense wafts, draped with coloured silks, surrounded by other fragrant blooms. This is a rich and womanly scent which is extremely exotic, a warm and empowering fragrance. it has a similar ‘cloth which has absorbed incense smoke’ scent to it as Mum Moon, but with roses and heady white flowers replacing the chrysanthemum note. the scent becomes even smoother and creamier over time, and changes from smelling spicy to smelling of flowers and incense and even has slight earthy and maybe musky tones to it. Very multifaceted but very balanced too. I think this may be my new favourite Indian-themed scent. I want more of this magnificent mama! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! I want a bottle now!! If you like this, try: Kali, Chrysanthemum Moon, Chintamani Dhupa, Khajuraho, Kanishta, Delight, Faiza, Silk Road

Roux-ga-Roux In the bottle: this is surprisingly nice. No evil moss monster yet, just a lovely dark herbal-floral scent. Beautifully blended. Wet on skin: a warm, green, slightly herbal powdery floral scent. It smells almost like there's lavender here even though it's not listed… Dry on skin: oh, this is gorgeous! It is mossy, but not in the overwhelming, almost scrubby way that Spanish moss usually is-this is actually more like the soft green powder I get from oak moss. I smell a gentle aquatic note to this as well, not what you'd expect from bog water, this is more like a cool stream. I smell floral notes but can't really tell what they are, and the wisteria note is being surprisingly nice. I also smell the soft woodsy green of cypress, and even something spicy. It actually reminds me of House of Night, very slightly, and it seems that there's a white musk like note to this. It isn't even as humid and muggy as I expected. After a while: the moss gets a little stronger but doesn't become as strong as the moss in the Wild Men of Jezirat Al Tennyn or RM Renfield, or even Bayou. This is a lovely soft green moss, almost velvety, with that soft balmy purple floral note and a hint of what might be hickory smoke. There are also hints of reedy notes in here as well. I find this a very calming scent, actually-and it's so well blended. Eventually, soft hints of aquatic notes come out to smooth out the scent, along with the cypress, herbal floral notes and soft moss. This is very different to Bayou, and I really like the way that the watery note isn't turning to soap (but usually freshwater aquatics are good on me anyway) or smelling like stagnant water like I feared. It really is a soft, almost delicate and incredibly well mixed scent of watery florals and mossy woods and a hint of spice…I can't pick any of the notes out at this point except to say that this is a lovely night time scent of green and purple. Verdict: wow. Just wow. I'm really glad I got a bottle of this despite it containing two notes that can be dodgy-Spanish moss and wisteria, and bog water. I was worried this would make me smell like a scary swamp monster. But this is actually the softest, loveliest mossy-floral-woody-aquatic scent I've come across. Marvellously blended, I can't pick out individual notes here except for this wonderful scent of green and purple velvet, calm and soft, a little sultry but certainly not as oppressive and stuffy as I was expecting-this is a night in the bayou, but with a cool breeze. The Spanish moss really surprised me by smelling not like that unnerving 'lichen of doom' scent I usually get, but more like oak moss, a much gentler, fuzzy moss scent which smoothes out even more to a powdery finish which is almost like a light musk. The wisteria didn't turn harsh on me either-it just merged with the other floral notes to give the scent a delightful floral aspect, whilst cypress adds a nice, deep green woody backing. There's even something smoky and spicy to it, and also a hint of reeds…and the bog water is actually a very agreeable freshwater aquatic, fresh and damp but clean, bringing everything together. I never thought I'd like a swampy scent but I can't help but love this scent, probably my favourite of the Southern scents so far. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes! This is quite beautiful, I think. If you like this, try: Bayou, House of Night, Wild Men of Jezirat Al Tennyn, New Orleans, Dunwich

Ostara In the bottle: fresh, zingy, springy citrus flowers. This reminds me of another BPAL-maybe the Ides of March? Or one of the Asian moons, or Litha? Or maybe Et Lux Fuit? I smell some honey in here too. Wet on skin: slightly sharp but very fresh and bright spring blossoms, and daffodil and grasses! Dry on skin: mmm, this is such a pretty scent-it is very lively and celebratory, makes me think of flowers bursting forth from the soil or buds bursting into bloom like fireworks. It's sharp and tangy, maybe due to the orange and bergamot, but very complex. There's a green grassy note which isn't listed in the notes (maybe the leaf notes?), reminiscent of Beth's general 'herbs' note which usually smells sharp and green on me, here it reminds me slightly of fresh ginger, oddly. I also get daffodil and violet/orris, and of spicy, smoky frankincense and copal (those two resins make a nice pair, I think) adding depth, they even add a little something reminiscent of Litha and King Cobra to it. I don't smell the honey cakes here yet, or the cream for that matter. Just vivid spring foliage and floral notes with a resinous backing. It is a more feminine and complex version of Ides of March as well. After a while: the sharpness does die down a little but it still smells clean and green. But the resins are surprisingly strong here, and they give the scent a wonderful candle-waxy incense scent, which I adored in King Cobra. This dark, incense and candles scent contrasts with the bright scents of greenery, light flowers and pollen that fringe this fragrance. I don't smell honey cakes but I do smell beeswax here which is just as lovely and adds to the 'candle' scent even more. I think the orris is adding even more of a 'King Cobra' feel to the scent…like ceremonial incense wafting out into a lovely spring day. Oddly, it also reminds me slightly of Silk Road at times as well. Eventually it settles into that lovely beeswax and incense scent dominated by the frankincense, smoky and golden, but with a hint of spring grasses, crisp blooms and yellow flowers. There's something to this almost like dandelion as well. it now has much more warmth to it, it’s like a balmy spring day, sunshine and greenery and pretty flowers, but with that mystical addition of incense. The incense notes are all that is left, along with the orris, after many hours. Being a lover of frankincense I adore this stage but it is so similar to King Cobra now, but without the dark feel of that scent…it also reminds me of Litha without the mead notes. Verdict: like the other pagan sabbat scents, this is wonderfully complex, ceremonial and celebratory all at once, and perfectly matching the season. It really is the energy and joy of spring captured in scent-the sudden explosion of green and blossoms that appears, the warmth of the lengthening days, I smell daffodils and grass and hints of blossoms falling from trees, crushed leaves and pollen. There's a wonderful undertone of resins and incense that is almost the opposite of the bouncy springy scent of flowers and greens, but it also complements it in an unusual way. It's almost like ritual incense burning in honour of spring, and also adds a feel of balmy warmth and golden sunshine to the scent. I'm not sure if I need the other bottle I ordered as I do prefer Litha and I was hoping for more sweetness and more of the honey cakes note, it's a little sharp at first. But the drydown is so nice, and this is a beautiful and very evocative fragrance, a perfect scent of the rebirth and rejuvenation of spring. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! I'm keeping one bottle for sure, but I'm not sure if I need two yet. If you like this, try: Ides of March, Litha, Beltane, Et Lux Fuit, Orpheus, Silk Road, King Cobra

Virahotkantita In the imp: a very sharp lily and something like harsh jasmine. Very sour floral scent. Wet on skin: now the lilac comes out, but it's not a nice soft fresh lilac like in Melancholia or Whitechapel, this is harsher and more biting, and smells wilted. Dry on skin: sharp green flowers and wilted lilacs. Where's the bergamot, frankincense and cedar? All I can smell are nasty green flowers that are either wilted or sharply green...in fact it reminds me of that horrible smell of rotten vase water where dead flower stems have been soaking in for too long. It's not on the same level as Evil Gardenia, but these flowers have a greenness which is almost acidic to them. I am not too familiar with snowdrop and cereus so I wonder if that's what I smell? Some stargazer lily notes (not all-the ones in Peitho and Lyonesse are beautiful) can be very sharply green too. This now reminds me of White Moon, but even sharper and dissonant. After a while: this doesn't change much, it still stays as a sharp, shrill, vicious greenish floral. The lilac is a little stronger and I think I get a bare hint of wood, but other than that, it's still not a very nice scent, it's like pickled flowers. The end drydown after many hours is less sour-it has become bitter. But it doesn't improve much. Sour dying flowers. Not me at all. Verdict: this is, I'm afraid, my least favourite of the Heroines. I thought it would be at least wearable, thanks to nice notes like frankincense, but it just went very wrong on me. Shrill, shrieking acrid flowers, wilted and pickled. Some lilacs can be gorgeous on me, but other lilac scents smell sharp and shrivelled. This is the latter, I'm afraid. Ditto with stargazer lily notes, which in here also smells razor-sharp. I don't know much about what snowdrop or cereus (I think that usually sweetens on me-not here though) smell like. but this is a piercing, dissonant, vicious scent on me. I get none of the sweetness mentioned in reviews, or any incense...it doesn't even improve over time-maybe loses it's acidic edge, but it smells bitter and like rotten flowers after a while. It reminds me of White Moon a little-but whilst WM was a little gentler, especially at the beginning stages, this is just a disaster on me. My decant will have to go. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. If you like this, try: Melancholia, Whitechapel, White Moon, Purple Phoenix, Les Fleurs Du Mal, Asphodel, Villain

Pink Moon 07 In the bottle: ohh, I can't believe no one's made the Morocco comparison yet! This is like a sweeter, more sugary, pinker Morocco! Wet on skin: mmm, now it reminds me of Antique Lace with added carnation. This is beautiful! Dry on skin: now it is pure, sweetened, glorious carnation with a sugary topping and a creamy background. I smell a hint of something green, another floral which I think is the phlox, and it doesn't seem to be smelling bad on me like I thought it would! This smells like a carnation bouquet, it smells like Lush Potion/Ruby Red Slippers without roses (I can't believe no one's made that comparison either!), and also like Alice as well, and Hope and Faith. So pink and so beautiful…and so carnation-y, even more than the single note, on me. It smells like a real pink carnation flower, complete with leaves and stems. After a while: the carnation starts to reveal more of its clove like scent and deepens a little. The sugary note now becomes a little creamier, almost like warm condensed milk, and it reminds me of Hod now, with extra spice and pinkness. It now reminds me of the carnation SN a little, but whilst I thought that was much too strong and didn't smell as carnation-y as I hoped, this is just right. It's so true to the flower…and I don't smell any phlox here now, unless it's adding a little more sweetness? It's not the cavity-inducing sweetness I feared though…not at all! Indeed it smells a little bit more Morocco-like now with it's spicy kick (though less mysterious and exotic) and it's creamy sugary background, which I'm sure is turning a little bit musky! Yowee! The drydown is a wonderful soft pink fragrance of creamy vanilla milk/custard with warm musk and lots and lots of spicy Potion-like carnation. This really is a girly comfort scent but isn't childish at all-it's innocent and gentle but the spice and depth of the carnation note makes this a little more grown up. And it just gets smoother and more gorgeous and creamier over time, with a soft musk undertone, until it really becomes the lovechild of Potion and Morocco. Fantastic. Verdict: out of all the April moons I've tried so far, this is my absolute favourite. This is the truest carnation scent I've ever experienced from BPAL so far-if not the most perfect carnation scent of all time. Carnation with that wonderfully 'clove-y' scent to it, like a true carnation should have, but with that pink, frilly, floral sweetness. A little dash of creamy sugar added and this is perfection! I also used to think I disliked phlox, but in here I don't smell it much-in fact, it may be responsible for the lovely hint of green I get at the start and for adding an extra dimension of pink to the scent. I also agree that this scent is the 'lost triplet' of Hope and Faith, and it still smells like sugary Morocco without the musk and sandalwood, and also reminds me of Alice. It does remind me of the previous Pink Moon, but not as over-sugared…whilst I loved PM05, I much prefer this one. It smells like Lush Potion on me as well, which I adore. It just gets more like carnations floating in spicy cream with a hint of vanilla musk over time, warm and fluffy, comforting, and pink and beautiful. I am so glad that my birthday moon smells so fantastic this year! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Oh yes! I'm getting yet another bottle from a forum sale! And I want a third bottle now… If you like this, try: Morocco, Alice, Hod, Antique Lace, Hope, Faith, Ghagiel, Pink Moon 05

Ugh In the imp: whoa, medicinal. It’s like one of those heat rubs, a herbal-menthol scent with some warm spicy notes, lemon, herbs, and a menthol or eucalyptus note. Wet on skin: now the lemon comes out even more, it smells just like lemon essential oil with herbs and spices and menthol. Dry: citrus and spices! It smells like lemon with either cinnamon or clove, but now come to think of it the lemon smells like orange. In fact, this smells just like my Christmas blend, a room fragrance scent I make out of cinnamon, clove, orange and maybe some pine essential oils. This smells just like those festive oils, but blended with something warmer, possibly ginger or pepper, and something cool like menthol or camphor. Maybe also some lemon as it also reminds me of drinking honey and lemon for sore throats. It’s odd that a scent can be simultaneously warming and cooling, but this is just that. Citrus and spice and herbs…there may be a touch of rosemary here, maybe juniper or pine. But it smells mostly like a mix of orange/lemon, cinnamon and clove oils. The scent feels very soothing and warm on my skin. After a while: as it fades, the scent becomes more and more like orange or tangerine peel. Another example of a citrus scent lasting for ages on me (after trying Fire Pig-I wonder if my skin is latching on to citrus more these days?) and it reminds me of the that lingers on my hands after peeling a tangerine. It also reminds me of a type of unusual, exotic citrus called ‘combava’. The fruit is dried and it’s dry, brown flesh is used to flavour savoury cooking. There may also be some bergamot here. This bittersweet, almost toasted, lemon peel and tangerine oil scent lasts for a very long time-an amazing feat for citrus! Verdict: out of the relief scents, I thought this would be the one I needed least (the only muscle ache I get is if I get neck ache in my sleep, that’s how active I am these days, lol), but upon wearing it I realised how versatile this oil can be. With it’s spicy citrus scent with a hint of herbs, it’s like a natural deep heat rub, I could definitely rub this stuff neat (or maybe with a touch of carrier oil) onto any achy bits. But it seems also like an oil I could rub on any general ache-it reminds me of cold remedies with it’s almost Lemsip-like lemon scent (only more natural) and I think this could be rubbed on any sore parts I get when I have a nasty flu that makes me ache…in fact, that’s what I’d probably use this for as I am such an un-sporty person, so muscle ache isn’t something I get often. I do walk a lot though, so maybe I could rub this on achy legs and feet after long strolls or treks...or maybe after dancing too much? Maybe even to relieve period pains (in conjunction with Bitch)? Or even, as it smells very festive and almost pomander-like, as a warming winter massage to relieve the strain of Christmas shopping. I could think of many purposes for this healing concoction. I don’t need a bottle yet, but I will do a full test-run (ie, test it on any achy muscles I might get) and see whether this works as good as it smells-I have a feeling it might. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I think so-it smells good, it feels good, hopefully it works too!

Snake Oil with four mints, bergamot, and green tea. Green Tree Viper In the imp: dark vanilla mint! Think a darker version of Snowblind without butter, or Lick It’s evil sister. In fact…this smells just like mint fudge! Wet on skin: now a hint of earl grey tea comes out, but it still smells like mint fudge! Dry: oh wow, this is delicious. So delicious. There’s a type of mint fudge that I absolutely adore, it is posh and very refined, expensive fudge, sold at the Buckingham Palace shop (I think). It’s mint, sugar and maybe some vanilla and condensed milk. I smell that exact type of fudge here (must be a reaction of the mint with the Snake Oil), along with a fresh cup of earl grey tea. The bergamot and tea make a wonderful earl grey scent just like Theodosius’s tea note, combined with mint fudge, this is fantastic. After a while: as the mint fades, the scent becomes the most delicious earl grey vanilla musk! Think the lovechild of Snake Oil and Dorian or Theodosius! Creamy, fresh, smooth, and delicious, with a citrus tang of bergamot, and the green tea in here is more like a milky dark vanilla tea note as opposed to the fresh astringent citrus like scent I get with green tea. There’s still a touch of mint to it, but it’s almost like a menthol note, fresh and piercing, but it isn’t strong or medicinal and doesn’t detract from the beautiful earl grey and vanilla scent. The mint does go away eventually but the cool creamy vanilla tea is to die for. It just gets smoother and creamier and more delicious as the SO and tea notes merge over time, it is divine. Like a darker Dorian, in fact…and the vanilla at this point gains a creamy scent reminiscent of vanilla fudge (not mint fudge, but still, mmm, fudge * Homer Simpson style drool*) After a few hours it becomes a little drier, with a slight ‘citrus peel’ scent to it, but it’s still really nice…and then it gradually dries down to a really sexy greenish sweet musk, like Snake Oil with a greenish tinge and a hint of tea. I swear I even get something woodsy (putting the ‘tree’ into Green Tree Viper), or something like the fougere in Theodosius, something like cedar or moss. It smells slightly more masculine at this point, but in a good way. I’d love to smell this on a guy. Verdict: this scent reminds me of two of my favourite things: mint fudge, and earl grey and vanilla tea (like the kind Tetley’s make, which I always call ‘drinkable Dorian’). I never thought tea and Snake Oil would be so beautiful together, but this blew me away! First it smells like mint fudge, or more precisely, like a really posh variety of mint fudge which I think is the best ever. Sweet sugary vanilla and mint, it is delicious and gourmand but also cooling and light. But then the scent transforms from one yummy scent into another-creamy vanilla earl grey tea. This is the Dorian snake, or maybe Theodosius’s pet. The bergamot and tea combine to create earl grey, the vanilla just making this even more wonderful, the musk adding a hint of non-foody smoothness. I love the reaction the Snake Oil gives to the lighter notes, the SO itself lightens and becomes almost like Dorian’s vanilla musk. So this scent ends off as earl grey vanilla musk, with a hint of something almost cologne like, and a little bit of creaminess. So good. This will be perfect for summer, I agree-I don’t find it as cooling as Lick It Again though, but the scent of this stuff is such that I will be stockpiling this snake. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Oh yeah. This is magnificent! Mint fudge and vanilla tea? Gimme more! If you like this, try: Snake Oil, Theodosius, Lick It (Again), Dorian, Severin

Coral Snake In the imp: crisp sweet apple, a hint of citrus, and gardenia. Wet on skin: why do I smell banana? I know, it’s odd, but I get apples and bananas now. Dry: apples and bananas! Now this smells remarkably like those fruit smoothies I used to make with apples, bananas and orange juice. I smell the sharpness of orange (it’s not as strong as blood orange tends to be) and lemon, crisp apple, and something like banana. There’s a faint twinge of sharp gardenia and some sweet plumeria, but I don’t get the spices and autumnal mulled cider scents mentioned previously (the apple does verge on cider-like at times though, but no spices)-in fact, this smells like the tropical fruit cocktail I expected, and reminds me of Shango. No Snake Oil yet. After a while: oh darn it, now I smell Evil Gardenia. Not the nice gardenia that’s in Faiza, but the one that ruined the likes of Has No Hanna and Lady of Shalott. It’s not as bad as those two scents, but I smell that dry, greenish, harshly acrid flower with cloying, overripe bananas. No more apple, no citrus, and certainly no Snake Oil. The gardenia does go away but the overripe, fermenting bananas scent is still there…there’s a bitter background to it, but I’m really not keen on the sickly fruit scent. Where’s the apple I really enjoyed at first? The fruit smoothie scent? Why on earth am I getting rotting banana? Then, the scent goes back to bitter gardenia again. There’s still a hint of sweetness, thankfully the banana’s gone, but the scent doesn’t smell very nice on me either, sort of like wilted pickled flowers. It’s only after a couple of hours that the scent becomes more acceptable, a soft sweet dry flower scent with vanilla and a hint of banana, the Snake Oil has come out a little now. The apple makes a comeback after about 5 hours, when it becomes a tart cider fringed by dry petals and a hint of sweetness…but I don’t get as much SO as I hoped. After about 6 hours it is nice, musky floral sweetness with a little vanilla. Verdict: this is the only Snake in the Pit that disappointed me. It had a promising start, with a scent of home made fruit smoothies, like the apple-orange-banana smoothies I used to make for breakfast. I smelt banana in here, no idea why, but didn’t think much of it as it fitted with the tropical vibe this scent had…but then the banana turned evil. It took over the entire scent and turned cloying and overripe. And to add insult to injury…the gardenia in here is of the ‘evil’ variety, my nemesis, it added a sharp, acrid, vicious sourness to the scent, pushing the lovely apple scent out of the way. So for a long time the scent was overripe fermenting banana with Evil Gardenia, no apple or Snake Oil, and certainly none of the spices and mulled cider mentioned in other reviews. The scent only becomes agreeable after 5-6 hours, when the banana and gardenia finally depart and the apple returns, and the scent is a pretty floral-fruit-vanilla. However, I really don’t like the stages before this-smelling of almost rotting banana and mutant burning pickled petals isn’t my thing at all. Oh well, at least I have much love for all the other snakes...maybe this might need a little aging? Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. I’m getting a Snake Pit, but this may be the only bottle I sell or swap off. If you like this, try: Shango, Manila, Hesperides, Punkie Night, Australian Copperhead, Snake Oil

Pikaki SN In the imp: a slightly sharp, yet wet and very tropical white flower. Very much like jasmine. Wet on skin: a sharp, but also much wetter, softer and fresher floral scent. Dry: oh, this is very pretty. It smells like jasmine, but more tropical and damp, definitely a Hawaiian scent. Soft white crisp flowers with smooth petals covered in dewdrops. So pretty. It reminds me of fresh jasmine blossoms, but less sultry and heady than most-this is fresher and wetter. After a while: the sharpness fades completely and now the scent is a beautifully creamy, almost fruity-musky jasmine scent. smooth, soft, and beautiful, nothing bitter or biting about this white flower…and I can safely say this is jasmine sambac because this smells very much like the jasmine in Kanishta now, except without all the other notes in that scent. It also reminds me of tiare gardenia, or frangipani, it’s very much an ‘island flower’ scent. The drydown after a few hours isn’t as nice as the fresher stages, it smells like dry flower petals with an earthy and dirty undertone, but it’s not as acridly green as some white floral notes become on drydown. Verdict: this is a very pretty exotic floral scent. I’m sure this is jasmine sambac because it reacts the same way as the sambac blends to-starts off piercing and sharp but then smoothes to an almost creamy white floral scent which is beautiful and tropical, a true island bloom. This is the kind of jasmine I like-despite it’s slightly biting scent at the start, it goes smooth and soft yet heady and floral, not the other way round like some jasmine scents do. This is delightful if worn alone but I’m sure it would be just as lovely when layered. I’m glad I have an imp or so of this rare and gorgeous floral-it’s a holiday in Hawaii in a little vial. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes!

Anaconda In the imp: caramel! Lots and lots of Gluttony-style caramel with Sugar Skull brown sugar. Darkly sweet like treacle toffee. Wet on skin: now I smell Snake Oil underneath that sugary butterscotch layer! Maybe even a little Snake Charmer as well… Dry: mmm, now it’s much smokier, I now smell the tobacco that other people mentioned. This is amazing. I think this could be considered the masculine version of Snake Charmer, although maybe masculine is incorrect since this is very unisex. It’s sweet and foody dark caramel mixed with tobacco and bonfire smoke, with the Snake Oil base behind it. I also smell fruit, like plum, which also makes this smell strongly like Snake Charmer and Mme Moriarty. This is gorgeous and the caramel isn’t as overwhelming now. After a while: the scent’s throw increases dramatically and it smells like the most delicious fusion of Sugar Skull, Trick #2, Mme Moriarty and Snake Oil/Charmer. The perfect dark caramel-nothing cloying or buttery here, this is treacle toffee laced with smoke, over a fruity Snake Oil base. So good. It becomes smokier and develops the nutty quality that a lot of BPAL caramel scents have but never turns sickening, it’s like brown sugar and maple syrup in here. And eventually it fades and the Snake Oil scent surfaces, only it’s drier and more ‘crumbly’ in texture, like there’s a toasted almond aspect, similar to Asp Viper. The drydown is a wonderful balance of delicious brown sugar caramel and Snake Oil. The perfect balance between the two-the caramel doesn’t take over or smell too heavy like it sometimes can. Verdict: this is the most wonderful caramelised Snake Oil scent, the perfect mix of gourmand goodness with the familiar Snake Oil base, shot through with hints of smoke and a tempting, teasing hint of Snake Charmer! The caramel note in here is perfect-not cloying, sickly or with that odd ‘burnt nut’ scent I sometimes get in the foody scents, it doesn’t take over the scent either. The caramel and the Snake Oil are on equal terms here. there may be hints of chocolate to this but I swear I get plum and also something like tobacco. This is so delicious and it lasts for ages on the skin as well, it makes me want to nibble myself. I really wish this was available in bottles, but I’ll make the most of the little implet I have of this, and will also keep the imps I get in my Snake Pit purchases. Definitely one to hoard and covet. It’s almost evil that this is only available in imps! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! I wish I could get a bottle… If you like this, try: Snake Oil, Sugar Skull, Cockaigne, Asp Viper, Creepy, Elegba, Red Lantern, Mme Moriarty

Faiza In the imp: honey and deep, woodsy, lightly spiced, earthy fruit. Wet on skin: honey and ginger pop out first, followed by blackberry and caraway, and flowers. Dry: ooh, I like this. It is honey and blackberry at first, with a little hint of orange, over a warm spicy woodsy green floral layer. Very complex and twisting. It’s dark and black-green and a little damp, but also warm, scaly and dry. The flowers then come to the fore, blossoming beautifully (and the gardenia in here is of the gorgeous variety!) amongst a light sandalwood note covered in moss and with the gritty spice of caraway and ginger. Underneath it all, amber and vanilla and musk add their deep sleek sweetness. After a while: the florals tone down a little, and the scent becomes almost masculine, but definitely unisex. The wood, musk and spices are dominant now. It’s almost green but now quite, more like a green sheen on a black-tan-gold scent. It smells predominantly of toasted caraway (which is more gorgeous than I expected), fresh sandalwood, dark viscous musk and a very pleasant blackberry (this isn’t the infamous ‘cat pee’ blackberry). This is very mysterious, and the notes seem to merge into each other-it’s hard to make individual notes out. The sandalwood, heated softly by ginger, topped with gentle moss and caraway, gradually becomes the dominant note. I don’t smell as much honey or flowers at this point. It’s a murky fragrance but not oppressive. There are moments when the amber peeks out of this exotic woodsy berry darkness, and the musk adds its slick black depth to it all. Such an unusual but very wearable scent. The drydown is where the honey and amber come out again and the scent gains an earthy, almost dirty feel reminiscent of some of the patchouli scents, even though patch isn’t listed as a note…maybe the musk is giving this an almost sweaty (but not in a bad way! More like clean sexy sweat) feel to this scent. It also reminds me of a feminine Luperci at this point, with it’s honey and musk and moss and woodsy greenness. Verdict: this is a very complex scent, it could have gone in a spicy, fruity, woodsy, floral or sweetly musky direction, but overall the scent is both moistly dark green, and also scaly and dry, it is an exotic scent where the woods and moss are dominant, with spices adding warmth here and there, and a hint of musk and fruit at the base. In fact, all the notes blend so well that it’s hard to pick any one note out. The honey makes a fleeting appearance on first application but fades away to make way for low-key flowers, green woods and dry spices, though it returns at drydown. It’s surprisingly unisex-anyone who fears the jasmine and gardenia need not worry-they are very subtle here. Indeed, there are moments when it smells almost masculine but thankfully not too much. It is totally different to the other serpentine scents like Snake Oil, Charmer and the Pit scents, in fact it reminds me a little bit of Luperci, but really and truly this is scent is quite unique…very BPAL but different to most BPALs I’ve tried. It’s not my favourite snake-themed scent but I like this a lot and will eventually get a bottle of this seductive, snaky lady before she slithers away. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Sure it is, I think I’ll get a bottle some day. If you like this, try: The Oblation, Snake Oil, Luperci, Kanishta, Bitter Moon

Isaac In the imp: holy crap, alcohol! This smells like straight-up bourbon, nothing added. So boozy! Wet on skin: still pure bourbon, but now I smell tobacco adding it’s crisp, smoky touch. Dry: sweet woody tobacco, almost like that of a pipe, with a shot of bourbon, no ice. I was hoping this would be like the sweet bourbon I loved in Juke Joint, but this is different-firstly it’s a much truer bourbon (JJ was more of a sweeter, almost resinous-patchouli boozy scent with mint) and secondly, it smells a little too realistic for me, like I spilt bourbon on my wrist. It’s so alcoholic, I don’t think I should drive wearing this scent! There is a dry, dusty, smoky background to it though…I don’t smell much cologne but it may be that the bay rum is contributing to the alcoholic scent I get here. After a while: now the booze smells more like light rum than a heavy bourbon, but it’s still very much an alcoholic scent. Only now, I smell more tobacco…but it’s a fresher tobacco than most, it smells almost like there’s cologne there too, but it’s a nice cologne, not a sharp, overwhelming one. The aftershave-splashed tobacco scent is almost like a lighter version of Herr Dross, and there’s a pale, dry dusty scent to it, probably the bone note. But despite its boozy note, it’s a very light, airy scent, thin and transparent as the remaining scraps of skin that attempt to cover Isaac’s bones. It’s actually a very pleasant, almost fatherly-definitely gentlemanly-tobacco scent, but seems a lot fresher and crisper than that of Herr Dross, Hellfire etc, even though it does resemble the pipe tobacco note from those scents. There does seem to be a little more ‘manly perfume’ showing up at the end, as the scent evolves from booze and smoke to become a scent of distinguished, grown up tobacco cologne. Verdict: this, and Mad Sweeney, are the booziest BPALs I’ve encountered. At first it’s pure bourbon, very alcoholic and woozy, this isn’t the lovely mint julep of Juke Joint here, this is straight up booze. But after some time, this burns off a little and the tobacco comes out, as well as the perfumey notes, and it turns into a light, soft, tobacco cologne. The tobacco note isn’t as heavy as some, this is a crisper, paler tobacco, and the cologne and aftershave notes are surprisingly nice-I was expecting this to smell really perfumey, but the cologne here is very refined and with the tobacco, it gives the impression of a very sophisticated men’s fragrance. It does have a dry, dusty feel to it, which seems apt for the character, and the scent as a whole is subtle at drydown. It’s quite a thin scent, bare and indeed, quite skeletal. So whilst this fits the character perfectly (and I’m impressed at how genuinely alcoholic it smells at first, even if it is too much for me) I think this scent is a little bit too masculine for me to pull off. I’d love to smell this on a guy, but for now I think I’ll swap/sell this. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No-it’s much too boozy and manly. If you like this, try: Hellcat, Juke Joint, Hellfire, Herr Drosselmeyer, Carceri D’Invenzione

Hellfire A scent celebrating Sir Francis Dashwood's Order of the Knights of St. Francis of Wycombe, also known as the Hellfire Club. A swirl of pipe tobacco, hot leather, ambergris, dark musk and the lingering incense smoke from their Black Mass. In the imp: huh? I have dregs at the bottom of my imp, a solid residue that needs to be gently mixed into the oil. The scent…honey? I smell smoky honey or smoky beeswax here. Weird. Wet on skin: now I smell the tobacco, leather and incense (there's definitely some myrrh here)…but it still smells honeyed. Dry: honeyed pipe tobacco. This is a really intriguing scent. The dominant scent is a 'grandfatherly' tobacco scent, warm and woody and rich, slightly comforting too, with a hint of honey. I smell bitter myrrh-based incense smoke and worn leather in here as well. It brings to mind a darkened room, men smoking pipes, leather chairs, wooden tables and polished wooden floors, and ritual incense burning. But the pipe tobacco gives it that cosy quality that is also in the likes of Herr Drosselmeyer. After a while: eventually the honey fades and the tobacco's soft and woodsy scent becomes stronger. This really does smell like Herr Dross now, with it's leather and pipe tobacco. I don't smell the musk or ambergris here but I do get a woodsy note at the back, and I still get incense. It's a very complex smoky scent, warm and dark and shadowed, and also gentlemanly. Like Dee with added tobacco. The scent stays pretty constant, a warm, incense-wrapped woodsy tobacco, with that almost honeyed twist coming back every now and then. Verdict: this is a pleasant, if a little masculine, tobacco scent. there are some tobacco notes which smell rich and warm and comforting to me, this is one of them. It's a very sophisticated, a gentleman's scent, pipe tobacco with worn leather seats, but there's an oddly honeyed scent at times, and also a gorgeous bittersweet incense that winds it's way through the scent. It reminds me of Herr Drosselmeyer and Hearth 04-that 'grandfather smoking a pipe on a comfy leather sofa' scent, with added incense. I like it but it's a little bit too manly for me, I think. Grown up and mature, this is the scent of an older man, but not really my thing...though I can't stop sniffing myself, it has something cosy yet mysterious about it. I think it's the way this smells almost like Dee at times, but I prefer Dee to this, I think. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No, it's a little too masculine, but darkly intriguing and also oddly comforting. If you like this, try: Dee, Herr Drosselmeyer, Perversion, Ogun, Isaac the Living Skeleton, Les Infortunes de la Vertu, Parliament of Monsters

Australian Copperhead In the imp: a very sharp fresh berry, somewhere between pomegranate, apple and cranberry. Wet on skin: crisp, wet, fresh and sharp berry…and smoke? Dry: mmm, this is interesting. This acai berry smells very much like a cross between an apple and a redcurrant now, it even does the strange ‘foamy cider/appletiser with a hint of sweet potato and floral’ reaction I get with many apple scents (that’s no bad thing though-I like it here), it reminds me of the Hesperides or Punkie Night. I get some smoke, presumably from the smoked vanilla…I wasn’t expecting it to be smoky like that though. I don’t smell the neroli or cardamom (which I was really hoping for) or the amber, but I really like this for now, it’s an unusual apple-berry scent which seems to be sweetening… After a while: oh, now I really like this. The tartness of the berry has toned down dramatically and the scent is like a sweet apple mush-you know when you mash up apples, or grate them? That’s what I smell here, with a hint of vanilla and maybe some amber and the tiniest hint of spice. It’s very nice and soft, almost fluffy, like a mousse, but also fresh and light-this is definitely one for the warmer months. I then get the same fluffy ‘apple-berry mousse’ scent but even sweeter, deliciously vanilla infused, warmed by amber and with a little neroli, perhaps the barest hint of cardamom. This cardamom isn’t the strong spice from Enraged Groundhog, Phantom Calliope or Alone, but a much softer cardamom. The drydown is pretty much the same gorgeous fluffy white fruit scent with a gorgeous hint of amber/vanilla. I don’t get much Snake Oil here but it’s very pretty nonetheless. But then, about five hours into wear, the most beautiful, beautiful amber surfaces. Sweet, rich, and juicy, this is a sugared fruity amber which just glows with sweet radiance. And it smells really strong at this point, emitting a scent of golden amber beauty. I was huffing my wrist like a mad thing when I was in bed and the scent had reached this stage, that’s how good it was! Verdict: I’ve never eaten or smelt acai but this scent is really interesting…it’s a very tart, sharp berry but on me it smells very apple-like, crossed with pomegranates or cranberries or currants, it’s different to apple but it has similar qualities on my skin. It smells like tart fruit juice which then turns to a fluffy ‘fruit mousse’ scent with a bit of vanilla for sweetness. Very pleasant and summery, I like the way the vanilla counteracts the biting tartness of the berry. But this is nothing compared to the drydown. It’s all well and good smelling like fluffy berries, but after a few hours of wear, the amber turns up and steals the show magnificently. And what an amazing amber note this is. Glorious and golden, it has the fruity qualities that came before but with a glistening golden sweet resinous scent which is breathtaking-and also surprisingly strong. I adore this amber drydown so much, but the berry scent, with it’s tangy, almost playful scent is perfect for warmer weather, so this is another snake scent that I have fallen for. My paypal fears the prospect of me buying a Snake Pit. I think I need to stock up on this…I bet a bit of aging will make that amber note even more spectacular. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! This is a lovely, fresh yet sweet summer scent with a magnificent finale, I need a bottle or two. These Snakes are really wowing me! If you like this, try: Snake Oil, Hesperides, Punkie Night, Rosalind, Jester, Ladon, Hymn to Proserpine

The Wild Men of Jezirat Al Tennyn In the imp: exotic, richly spiced ambergris, almost musky, golden and warm. Wet on skin: mmm, spicy ambergris. I smell Spanish moss too-but it’s actually being nice in here! Dry: wow, this is amazing stuff. It smells like mossy amber sprinkled with warm spices. Normally I’m not crazy about Spanish moss but it seems to work nicely in here, providing a cool, wet contrast for the spicy warm amber. The pepper is hot and fiery, backed up by the sweetness of clove, all surrounded by the exotic aroma of amber and a deep, earthy patchouli. Like the GC blend named after the island where these wild guys come from, this scent unites the elements into one scent, but this smells better and warmer than Jezirat Al Tennyn. After a while: oh dear, the moss is now dominant! It’s not bad, at least it’s not becoming oppressive like it can do, there’s still that peppery warmth prevalent in the scent, and a hint of rich resinous amber. It’s just that the scent has moved away from the almost sophisticated and slinky amber tones into something more primordial and swampy, damp and marsh-like…but with sparks of pepper all around. Then, after the mossy blast recedes, the spices return. It’s mainly pepper (which smells like chilli meets regular peppercorns) over a warm skin scent of ambergris. This would be fabulous on a man. It doesn’t have the amber sweetness it had before but now the patchouli is a little more evident. The drydown to this is very nice indeed, a dry, golden patchouli sprinkled with warm spices and with a glint of ambergris, and the remnants of moss. Verdict: whoa, this scent is intense, complex and full of contrasts. The two dominant notes in this are ambergris and moss, both are very different (the ambergris is warm and golden, a little musky, the moss is cooler and wetter and dirty-earthy), and over it all is a hot, fiery scent of spices and a deep patchouli undertone. The scent is a battle between the moss and the amber, when the amber wins the scent is like an exotic perfume spiked with pepper, and when the moss takes over the scent becomes green and wet and swamp-like. That being said, this isn’t oppressively mossy, I’m not a fan of Spanish moss but in here the other notes stop it from becoming a rampaging swamp-monster. It’s a scent of earth, fire and water mainly, very elemental and primal, quite wild as the name implies, and with a gorgeous spiced patchouli-amber drydown. I admire the complexity and facets of this scent, almost like Luperci with amber and a sprinkling of pepper, I’m debating whether to get a bottle though. it does smell a little too manly for me at times, but there are stages in this scent which I really like. But for now, I’m keeping the decant. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Maybe. It does get a little masculine and really mossy at times but I love the spicy amber-patchouli. Maybe one bottle, but not yet. If you like this, try: Jezirat Al Tennyn, Luperci, RM Renfield, Bayou, Cathode, Omen

Luperci 07 In the imp: fresh earthy damp patchouli with a hint of honey. Wet on skin: mossy patchouli with honey and beeswax. Dry: mmm, this is very similar to last year’s, only a little more mossy. I smell mainly moss, patchouli, and something woody or rooty (Sampson root?) with a slight hint of sweetness from sandalwood, mingled with a skin musk. It is an incredibly earthy scent, it seems to evoke nature, the wild, the forest. The moss is surprisingly strong and seems to remind me more of the heavier, more oppressive Spanish moss than the usual softly powdery oak moss I got in the 06 version. After a while: the moss never develops the overwhelming quality of Spanish moss but it is the dominant note. it strengthens more upon drydown as the scent gains an almost dirty quality…the patch sure is strong in here! but the honey/beeswax are nowhere to be seen, or smelt, not now at least. Earthy, dirty, masculine and wild, I also smell a hint of something darkly woody, almost like vetiver, and also something musky to it as well, like warm skin. It gets darker and smokier over time, and I swear that this really does have a drop of unlisted vetiver hidden under all that moss and patchouli, as my skin is amping that note up, as usual. It also has a similar ‘root and soil’ scent to Mandrake. Verdict: this is very similar to last year’s, but I find it a little less honeyed and sweet, and a lot more mossy and dark, and masculine. It does have the same honeyed mossy patchouli to start with but I think the moss used in here is much more potent than the softer moss in 06, though not as overwhelming as the moss in Renfield. The dirty, earthy scent is also more evident, it is quite a wild scent but doesn’t smell animalistic, and it is very much a scent of the forest, mossy dirt and tree roots. Very evocative, and a little bit more virile than last year’s. the drydown is oddly like vetiver, dark and heavy and clinging to the skin for a long time. I like this, but I prefer the 06 version which has more honey/beeswax, a softer moss note, and also has a gorgeous incense scent running through, which I don’t get as much of in this one. I also find this version a little too manly for me, so I think I’ll sell/swap my decant and make the most of my bottle of Luperci 06. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I have a bottle of 06, which I like enough so I think I’ll pass this decant on. If you like this, try: Mandrake, Hetiarae, RM Renfield, Cathode, Gnome, Samhainophobia, Omen, the Wild Men of Jezirat Al Tennyn

Banded Sea Snake In the imp: powdery green mosses, with the oily-sweet scent of olive leaf. Wet on skin: powdery but wet mosses, fruity-sweet-oily olive leaf, and a hint of springtime greenery. Dry: mmm, this is surprisingly nice! Oak moss and sea moss are nice mosses on me, smelling green and softly powdery as opposed to some mosses that smell like humid swamp lichen. The olive leaf is the star here though-it’s a note that is pleasantly oily, and sweet, and fruity and green all at once, but doesn’t smell like olives…though I’m sure I’ve smelt an olive oil moisturiser with this scent as it is oddly familiar. I also smell crushed leaves and grasses and soft sweet notes that are almost foody…and a little hint of a sea breeze wafting over it all. It actually reminds me of Lyonesse meets Tzadikim Nistarim with a hint of one of the greener mossy scents… After a while: it smoothes to a very soft, gentle, sweetly green scent. It’s mossy and creamy, and also surprisingly sweet (maybe that’s the Snake Oil?), with an aspect of fresh wet greenness to it, like cut grass. This is very smooth and also surprisingly soothing, it reminds me of a good quality moisturiser-it’s got an oily creaminess to it, like a luxurious balm I’d like to rub all over your skin…it also reminds me of an aftersun cream, but that’s probably because of the strong summery feel this scent has, it’s almost like a summer holiday scent even if it doesn’t smell stereotypically tropical. It’s green and gold, sunlight streaming through trees into clear sea water… And over time, this really does become like Lyonesse’s serpentine cousin. That’s probably why I love this so much. It has that same creamy beachy mossy vanilla musk feel to it, only with a bit of olive leaf added. So gorgeous. It also has impressive throw. It brings to mind the image of a beautiful mermaid-type woman that has a snake’s tail instead of the tail of a fish. (And seeing other reviews, I definitely can smell something like Dorian in here!) Verdict: this 'Snake Oil on the beach' scent really, really took me by surprise in the best way possible. I originally thought ‘hmm, mossy Snake Oil. Could be nice, could be a bit meh, not sure about the olive’ but then I tried it…and now I’m besotted by this slithery, summery snaky scent. It smells mossy, for sure, but this is the wonderful soft powdery vanilla-moss-musk with ‘a hint of the sea’ from Lyonesse, one of my favourite scents. And the olive leaf in here is amazing, it is oily, but in the best way possible-think the sweet, golden ‘anointing oil’ scent of Tzadikim Nistarim, it makes this whole scent smell like a luxurious fragrant body oil or cream that I want to slather all over. And it also makes me think of summer and exotic beaches, even though it contains no salty aquatics or typically tropical notes. It seems as though Snake Oil actually transforms into a gentle, gorgeous, Dorian-esque vanilla-musk when mixed with softer notes (the same also happened with Green Tree Viper and Cottonmouth) instead of smelling heavy sweet patchouli and spiced incense, and I love this reaction. This beautifully smooth, sensuous scent will be worn a lot during the summer months when regular Snake Oil may be too heavy to wear-I need to get a bottle or two of this unexpected hit from the Pit! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? This is surprisingly good, actually. Definitely a bottle candidate for summer. If you like this, try: Green Tree Viper, Lyonesse, Cottonmouth, Tzadikim Nistarim, Yemaya, Haloa, Lycaon, Snake Oil, Dorian

King Cobra In the imp: huh? This is odd as the strongest scent comes just after the initial sniff-a kind of after-smell if you like-and it’s of raisins and smouldering incense, or the wine-frankincense of Haloa. Wet on skin: yup, it really is like Haloa, this one. Resins and buttercream and wine! Dry: now I smell a little more of the copal, it smells drier and more ‘crumbly’, and also less sharp than frankincense, it reminds me of the resins in Tezcatlipoca or Xiuhtecuhtli. this is a gorgeous scent! It’s the same frankincense from Lycaon and Haloa, which has a wine-matured scent to it, smouldering with the drier, glittery gold scent of copal. I can’t make out the Snake Oil or orris yet but for now this is a gorgeous mix of golden, bright, regal resins gently burning. But I swear there’s some myrrh here. I smell myrrh resin here even though it’s not listed…and olive leaf as well. After a while: eventually the incense becomes even drier and warmer. This scent is probably the scent that reminds me most of gold, not the colour or golden sunlight, but the metal itself, it even has a hint of something metallic about it, and it sparkles. It makes me think of gold nuggets mixed with dry golden resins, and brings to mind royal golden crowns and jewels. I can’t really make out the SO but I think the orris adds a dusty aspect to the smokiness that now wafts from this fragrance. And then, something wonderful surfaces…the scent of blown out candles! Yes! I now smell a gorgeous scent of candle smoke wafting around the gold-nugget resins, and now the scent reminds me of Arcana’s Holy Terror, there’s even a scent at the base like polished wood. And then it becomes a delightful church incense scent-the copal seems to have faded leaving the lingering scent of frankincense smoke left behind in a shadowy church or temple, lit only by the glimmering light of candles. It’s amazing how this now really smells so much like a church, it reminds me of Carfax Abbey but without the dusty, herbal, old fashioned and airy feel of that scent, but there’s a feeling of space and emptiness, like it’s no longer resins smouldering, but a huge spacious hall where incense has burnt. It also reminds me of that beautiful smouldering candle smoke enhanced frankincense in Mara Fox’s Sugared Frankincense & Myrrh, which I adore. Verdict: I think I need an entire Snake Pit. This is another truly spectacular serpentine scent, a scent that evokes pure glistening gold, and empty sacred halls of temples and churches where incense and candles once burnt. First it is very similar to Haloa, in that I can almost smell sweet wine in there, but then the resins do their thing, frankincense and copal mixing and smelling so wonderfully golden, dry and sparkling. Very regal indeed, fit for a king of snakes. But then, the scent suddenly transforms into the most amazing incense scent, the scent of burnt frankincense and candle smoke lingering in a spacious, dark, sacred building. The frankincense note in here is fantastic, I love the way it smells like it’s been smouldering gently (not charred though) and it smells smoky and mesmerising…and the candle smoke and a little hint of dusty orris make this even more atmospheric and mysterious. Despite the lack of a Snake Oil scent in here (on me), this is totally gorgeous from start to finish, this is another Snake I need to stockpile, and I can’t wait to see what age does to this beautiful fragrance. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Oh yeah! I want lots of this! If you like this, try: Haloa, Lycaon, Carfax Abbey, Resurrection of the Flesh, Tezcatlipoca, Xiuhtecuhtli, Greed, Penitence, Snake Oil

Temple Viper In the imp: mmm! Smells like Snake Oil (or even Charmer) with golden resins. Wet on skin: now the sweeter notes come out, the champaca and the sugar cane. I really hope the champaca doesn’t turn this to banana incense… Dry: mmm, this is good! It’s a very sweet incense blend, but the frankincense tempers that sweetness so that it doesn’t turn cloying. It smells exotic and golden, richly resinous, and the frankincense and opoponax are wonderful here, and they seem to prevent the champaca from becoming too much like overripe fruit. I can’t really smell as much Snake Oil now but I think it adds to the overall sweet incense feel of the scent. After a while: now the frankincense has moved out of the way and the champaca takes centre stage. but this isn’t the cloying, over-sweet banana blossom I feared. It is sweet and fruity but pleasantly so. Now the scent smells strongly like this year’s Khajuraho which I love! Only this time the sweet vanilla-honey has been replaced with sugar, and the other flowers have been replaced with resins. Fruity-floral incense goodness, I agree with Bagfish in that this is a mix of Khaj and Snake Oil, although I don’t smell too much SO yet. Then it smells like exotic incense with a pink candy like coating, which I love! Like a swirl of pink, terracotta, gold and deep maroon. At this point, I also detect a little of the Snake Oil underneath, the rich patchouli and vanilla. Then it becomes a lovely sugared champaca scent. Very pink, funnily enough, but very pretty as well, almost like sugary nag champa…only slight remnants of resins remain now. I can’t smell as much Snake Oil now either. The end scent is like sugared incense and pink flowers, light and sweet but also gently ashy and softly smoky, and more like nag champa than before. It also smells like lotus now, which is very nice…and I also get a slight hint of candle smoke. Verdict: this is a beautiful sweet incense scent, with aspects of both rich and resinous at the start of the scent, and an almost sugary drydown. I think the champaca note that Beth uses in these recent blends is much nicer and softer, and doesn’t turn to evil banana on me. This is another Snake Pit scent I adore. It reminds me of those sweet incense scents like Midnight on the Midway, Cairo and Khajuraho, a delightful mix of almost candy-sweet notes and deep resins. I love the just-dry stage, a wonderful mix of frankincense, opoponax and Snake Oil, but then the champaca comes out to play and adds a very pink sweetness, soft floral covered with sugar over a softer incense base...very pretty. However, this isn’t cutesy frilly pinkness, this is exotic and complex pinkness, like a pink version of good quality nag champa, there’s something smoky and mysterious behind the sugar. The Snake Oil in this plays hide and seek, sometimes showing up, at other times hiding behind the sugary champaca and soft incense. And the drydown, when remnants of sugar and flowers mingle with candle smoke, is lovely. I was worried that it would be cloying but thankfully it wasn’t-I love this! I think aging will make it even more fantastic. One to get a bottle or two of! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Definitely a bottle candidate. And a few more bottles for aging. If you like this, try: Khajuraho, Hellion, Snake Oil, Snake Charmer, Vaskakajja, Midnight on the Midway, Chintamani Dhupa

The Perfumed Garden 07 In the imp: the jasmine in here is much sharper than it was in last year’s. Wet on skin: sharper, biting jasmine over a fruity-incense base. Dry: damn, this jasmine is a pretty fierce little flower! And usually Moroccan jasmine is beautiful on me. The reason I adored last year’s PG was due to the softer jasmine note which at times reminded me of Lush Fairy Jasmine. The jasmine here is much sharper, almost viciously so, and more like the regular jasmine notes, or maybe the sambac…if it is sambac, it may calm down and become beautiful in five minutes. I smell the fruity notes underneath, but not as much of the incense as last year. After a while: eventually the jasmine loses it’s bite and I get a scent of jasmine and fruit slightly reminiscent of last year’s…but it’s not the same. The jasmine still has a bitterness to it that I’m not keen on (though this may fade with age). There’s none of the sandalwood and myrrh I got last year. And the jasmine doesn’t turn creamy and smooth at all…and it doesn’t remind me of Fairy Jasmine. There are moments when I think it will improve and turn smooth and creamy, but this jasmine seems to retain it’s bitter, almost wilted scent. Finally after many hours the sandalwood incense comes out, and the jasmine is more acceptable. Verdict: I loved the Perfumed Garden from last year. It was a beautiful smooth jasmine enhanced by bright fruit and warm incense. The jasmine in that version was fantastic on me-heady and sweet but soft and smooth, like jasmine flowers should smell, in fact it reminded me of Fairy Jasmine, both fresh and now aged, it is even nicer. The jas in here though…now that’s a different story. It hates me, pretty much. And I’m a little shocked since I usually love Moroccan jasmine (like the one in Eshe, and Urania) but in here it smells just like the one jasmine note that doesn’t agree with me-it smells sharp, harsh, biting, and acrid at first. It does lose its initial sharpness but I don’t like the bitter aspect of the jas that lingers in this scent from start to finish, it smells like dead jasmine flowers as opposed to fresh ones. I get hints of the incense background from last year but the jas overpowers it for most of the time here, and I don’t smell as much of the fruit either. I think this decant will have to go-I have enough PG 06 and the jasmine in this version doesn’t agree with me. (Actually, I now agree with what reenie212 says in her review-it does smell like nail polish remover!) Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No, I prefer last year’s. If you like this, try: Feu Follet, Eshe, Black Moon, Peitho, Nuit, Nyx, Hanging Gardens, Kanishta