PurringPulsar

The Brides of Dracula In the imp: a sharp, fresh, watery floral scent-this vaguely reminds me of a 'sun shimmer' product I used to have, which I liked the smell of. Lots of osmanthus here. Wet on skin: osmanthus, and plenty of it. This smells very fresh and dewy. I think I get a hint of musk. Dry on skin: I really like this! This is a pretty, fresh, crisp floral scent-I can smell tons of osmanthus topped with lily and plum blossom. I get a very faint hint of smooth musk, and a gorgeous sweetness underneath that must be the white amber-it's the same note I loved in Shoggoth. It's a crisp, tart, fruity floral with sweetness and smooth whiteness underneath. I don't get eastern spices though. It's also very similar to Kindly Moon on me. After a while: here's the honey! It's very similar to the honey in Penitent Magdalene and Et Lux Fuit, a 'whitened' honey scent made pale and almost waxy (beeswax-y?) by the presence of pale floral notes. It's still a very pretty scent, and indeed, it seems very bridal, conjures up images of white brides' dresses and wedding bouquets, but it's not sinister just yet, and osmanthus still rules this scent. it's very much like Night's Pavilion, but whiter, less 'blue' than that scent was. The scent becomes more and more like KM as it dries, losing the honey scent it had, gaining a soft powdery musk-sandalwood note. This scent is clean and white now, and almost aquatic, but with pale dry whiteness underneath. Verdict: this is a very pretty, osmanthus-dominated, white, sparkling floral scent with a hint of honey and light musk and amber to it. it's quite a perfumey scent (in a good way) and it's a lot more floral than I expected, and the osmanthus in here is very strong. I love the shimmering, dewy, almost innocent scent this scent has. I'm not sure if it smells like vampire brides but it definitely brings to mind weddings-white bridal dresses and gauzy veils, and white bouquets. It's a nice day for a white wedding… Anyway, this is a beautiful and delicate scent but I just wish the honey and amber were stronger and I got none of the spices. I'm definitely keeping the bottle I have on order but I only need the one bottle-this is a gorgeous scent but it's very similar to Kindly Moon and Night's Pavilion so I don't need multiple bottles. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes, one bottle. If you like this, try: Kindly Moon, Silence, Night's Pavilion, Ouija, Penitent Magdalene, Al Araaf, Tiger Lily

I had such a great time at the London MnS (spelt like this because it resembles CnS...spelling it M&S makes me think of Marks and Spencers!) with twistedcoil, storme and ellemir. It's wonderful to chat BPAL-to actually talk, exchange and try out BPAL-with real human beings, makes a change from typing behind a grey box. And they were so nice! I enabled twistedcoil and got enabled-now I am hooked on Loviatar. It smells like a feminine Doc Constantine with a wonderful musk-amber going on behind the leather. I have an imp of it on the way but now I want a bottle. Mmm. We spent about two hours talking about our BPAL and loved every minute of it. It's great because my uni friends seem to be so absent these days so I had very little social contact with others during summer hols, so this was such a refreshing change. I hope to do another MnS with them again some time. I have to say that the CD update has been one of the best my nose has ever experienced, both CD and GC scents. Stars of this round of new stuff include Moriarty, CD, Midnight/Midway, Lyonesse, Cockaigne, Three Brides, Gennivre, Candy Butcher, Uruk, Les Bijoux and much more...I'm amazed. Now that I know that my loan will come next week, I have some big orders planned...

I wore Pumpkin King (yes, King) this year, along with Bastet to complement my black cat costume and mask.

Masquerade In the imp: orange blossom, but with something dark and sweet underneath. Wet on skin: sweet orange blossom, with hints of spicy carnation. Dry: mmm, not bad. It’s predominantly orange blossom, that tangy, sharp floral, but there’s a dark patchouli undertone to it as well, just a little hint of ambergris but that’s well hidden under the patch for now. The carnation adds a hint of warmth to it all, I can just about make that out. But for now it’s mainly orange blossom. After a while: once the OB calms down a little, I can smell more patchouli, and ambergris too which is more discernable now. There’s a nice carnation scent to it all as well. Eventually this settles down to a nice spiced patchouli with a hint of citrus-like orange blossom. There’s something almost effervescent about the scent too. the patchouli gets stronger over time but it’s a very nice patch note. It reminds me of Vixen at times, but less sweet, and the patch here seems darker than in Ravenous, but there’s a similarity to that as well. Verdict: this is a very pleasant scent-a mix of tangy and deep earthy notes. at first it’s orange blossom-and loads of it, but when it softens and fades the patchouli comes to join the party along with the ambergris and carnation. The scent at that point is an orange-tinged scent which is indeed mysterious and intriguing but the carnation gives it a fizzy, spicy scent which is very ‘festive and dazzling’ to me-it brings to mind dark purple and orange masks covered in gold sequins. it’s a nice fragrance but I’m not sure if I like it enough to keep it. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Probably for the imp. If you like this, try: Ravenous, Vixen, Maenad

Yew Trees In the imp: an odd mix of green pine and pina colada? It’s strange but I like it. Wet on skin: yes it really does smell like coconut, but with evergreen notes! Dry: well this is a very strange scent, certainly not one I’d associate with yew, but I like it. It smells of coconut milk and berries (or is it pineapple?), and a dark green pine/fir note. It’s an unusual mix of tropical and coniferous plant scents. The ‘coconut’ even smells a bit like the Star, or Spooky, or even like Milk Moon. But it’s quite dry as well, like there’s a scent of bark or wood to this. After a while: the pine/fir has calmed down and now I get a dry yet creamy sweet fruity coconut scent. there’s a dry, bark like note to it as well, like coconut milk and tree bark. Then I smell a hint of some kind of wood too, maybe cedar or sandalwood or maybe cypress? I get the same dry, gritty dark green scent that I’ve smelt in other cypress scents. But I still smell coconut milk. Verdict: this is a weird scent, but I like it. I wasn’t expecting coconut from a scent named ‘Yew Trees’ but that’s what I get here. This scent seems to have elements of summer and winter mixed together…tropical and sweet warm coconut and pina colada, and dark, piercing, chilly pine notes. I’ve never thought of putting the pine in the coconut but that’s what this smells like-coconut milk, creamy and sweet, with a dry bark note and evergreens. Very unique, certainly not what I was expecting but at least I’m not the only one getting coconut here. I’m not sure whether to keep it though-I like the pina colada scent but it doesn’t feel right in a scent that’s meant to represent an evergreen tree which grows in non-tropical climates…but it’s certainly unique! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Maybe. If you like this, try: The Star, Obatala, Black Forest, Nocnitsa, Golden Priapus

Excuse what might seem like a rambling incoherent post, as I'm half asleep, my mind is blurry and I'm premenstrual at the moment. I have enough RL drama in my life, such as my mother falling out with my godmother and me being caught up in the middle, and I come to these forums to unwind. I just really hope this doesn't get me flamed. The reason I am feel a little unsettled by these posts is because recently I bought the 'custom scent pack' from the company in question, and I was really looking forward to getting my own scent blended for me. But all these recent posts have me worried and my mind is conflicted. I love the scents this company makes, no matter what people say. I will get the custom scents done and will buy my own bottles but whether I should make my custom scents available to the public, I don't know. All I will say for now is that I love good quality, ingenious, beautifully crafted and just damn good smelling perfume. BPAL is obviously my favourite of the lot, making up about 75% or more of my collection, and Beth is one of my role models and I admire her ingenuity, skill with scents and originality, but I do love many others, be they etailers or ones bought from shops (though not mainstream designer ones), and I don't want to be judged for it. I don't want to be seen as weak, an unwise shopper, or easily led by pretty names and concepts, cute labels and tempting note combinations. I don't want others to think I have a 'poor taste in perfume' (I can't help it that my olfactory tastes being so wide or my skin chem being so good-mannered) or to be seen as a bad person just because I like buying and enjoying other non-BPAL scents. Ok, this last sentence may be an exaggeration of what's going on (a lot of people on this forum do buy other perfumes and they state that they buy other brands, and no-one minds) but I don't want all this to boil down to the banning of other perfume oil threads in the Retail Therapy forum. I mean, there are loads of etailer threads there that haven't recieved any drama, like Arcana or Possets, and a few others I think. So just because one (or two, if you think back to last year's AC kerfuffle, or three if you count Femaledictions, though that was well founded due to actual bad CS and missing orders and so on...that's another story) perfume thread becomes a drama magnet, doesn't mean they all will. I could say more but I am so dumb when it comes to legal matters and business matters so I won't let my stupidity in these fields show. But I love scent of all kinds and if a scent works with my skin chem and makes me feel good wearing it, then I'll wear it and love it, no matter where it comes from. I know right now a that perhaps some people will disagree with me but this is my opinion of it all right now.

Black Annis In the imp: liquorice, vetiver and something sweet. A little hint of civet. I don't think I'll like this one much but for the sake of the PokeBPAL 'gotta sniff 'em all' philosophy, I'll see what my skin does to it. Wet on skin: sweet black liquorice, sugary vetiver and civet. Not too bad. Dry on skin: hmm, interesting. Very interesting. First I get anise, which strangely smells like it's been sugared, a candy-like scent, like black liquorice laces. Then I get a gritty, scary vetiver note tangled up with damp, wet moss. But there's a deep musky sweetness to it as well reminiscent of Czernobog's vetiver-musk, and then the animalistic breath of civet rises up from the scent. Whoa. This is very unsettling as a fragrance. But thankfully the civet hasn't turned to farmyard or 'old man's breath' yet. After a while: oh dear, the civet has suddenly gone up x10. Yeesh. It wafts too. Now this does smell like bad 'old person's breath'. In here it's particularly nasty, 'predatory' is the word that comes to mind. The sweetness is gone, the anise has hidden behind the vetiver-moss, but the civet rules supreme. This is really an evil scent on me, it makes my skin crawl… Verdict: be afraid, be very afraid. Beth really has captured a terrifying character into a terrifying scent. The vetiver, and anise combine to create a clashing, gritty scent that is sharp and harsh and the olfactory equivalent of the blood curdling scream of the evil, cannibalistic old hag herself. And then I smell the feral odour of her hot, fetid breath (the civet). All around is the mossy dampness of the cave she resides in, and a deceptive sweetness. Then she gets closer and her sickening, animalistic odour gets even more suffocating, like that of a wild beast closing in on it's prey. The civet is really powerful, and too much for me to handle, with that damp, scrubby, dissonant vetiver-moss base providing the same effect that the musical score of a horror movie provides to produce an atmosphere of terror. I must say, Beth has really captured something really disturbing in here, this scent is something I need to take a few steps back from because it's just so atmospheric, and really evokes a real sense of primal fear. I'm impressed though at how a simple vial of fragrance can really evoke a really raw sense of fear though. This scent is not for the faint of heart or for anyone of a nervous disposition. I'd never wear this again but I'm glad I got to try it because it's one hell of an olfactory ride. Now I need to scrub this stuff off… Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? *shudders* No! This one is really scary but it's so well blended and so disturbingly evocative. If you like this, try: Czernobog, Kabuki, Bayou, Debauchery, Puck, Absinthe

White Moon In the bottle: lilies, lilacs and wisteria. Very beautiful, mournful flowers. Wet on skin: lilac and wisteria now. they are a little sharp but seem to behave on the skin. Dry on skin: mmm, interesting. it's mainly lilac and wisteria me with hints of lily, clear moonflower, and dusty violet. I quite like this. it doesn't seem to be turning soapy or dry on me so far too and the wisteria isn't going nasty on my skin. This brings to mind pale purple and white, it is a very lunar scent indeed. Pure, clean whiteness with a hint of lilac. And yes, it does have a mournful feel to it, and it reminds me of Veil and some of the Funereal Oils. After a while: what the? Now it's gone green! And a sharp green scent as well that I have a feeling may turn to soap. It could be the lily doing this, or the wisteria note turning 'wilted'…it's a very sharp, nose piercing scent and it's taking over the other notes. The sharpness tones down a bit but after that the scent seems to have lost it's complexity. It's just one white, sharp, greenish, slightly powdery flower with a hint of dusty sandalwood/violet and wisteria. I can't make out the other flowers, or the musk. The musk, a light white/blue musk scent, only comes out at the end, but that sharp floral note is still dominant here. Verdict: this smelt really beautiful to begin with, a melancholy yet compassionate blend of soft white and purple flowers, soft and fresh and pure and luminous. It was a lovely, true floral scent with a soft, poetic sadness reminiscent of the Funereal Oils. But then one flower-not sure which-started to become aggressively green and sharp and took over the whole scent. it wasn't very nice at all-it reduced what could have been a promising white floral into something flat, without the complexity it started with. It's a shame because it's got a beautiful label and concept, but the scent doesn't work too well on my skin. I'll probably pass my bottle on to someone else. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Maybe I'll keep an imp's worth for scent-locket experimentation. If you like this, try: Veil, Nocturne, The Fox Woman Kuzonoha, Luna, The Moon

Trick #2 In the bottle: hmm, this reminds me of one of the Harvest Moons. It's a grainy, fruity, autumnal scent. I smell pomegranate, berries, and pale wood-probably oak, and a 'wheaty' scent. Wet on skin: now the tobacco comes out! And so do the oak, and the pepper, and the pine! Dry on skin: mmm, this is really good stuff1 the tobacco is the strongest note at first, swaggering by with it's smoky dryness, with the fruity, red scent of berries and pomegranate following it. there's the spicy bite of pepper and a lovely woodsy backing of oak with the tiniest touch of vanilla, and a bare whiff of pine needles and patchouli. This is a lovely, dark scent which really smells autumnal to me. After a while: the smoke in here is like that of a bonfire, and there's something here that reminds me of Devil's Night but darker, warmer, less sweet and fruitier, more burnt as well. There are times where I'm worried it may smell too burnt or masculine but it doesn't seem to be, so far. There's a lot more oak now, it's a greenish oaky note too, but not as much vanilla as I expected. The berries and pom are very nice here, adding a fruity touch, and the pepper note is fantastic. Eventually the scent's grainy scent it had when wet returns, along with more pomegranate (and what a lovely pomegranate, so real smelling), and the berries, tobacco and oak, and now, autumn leaves! This smells like the final harvest, the night at the end of all the reaping of fruits and crops, the fallen leaves, and the bonfires lit to bring light and warmth to the lengthening cold nights. Now I smell something almost reminiscent of Hunter Moon to this-I have no idea why but it has the same feel to it. Verdict: this is a fantastic example of a 'non-traditional' autumn scent, in that it doesn't contain the usual notes of pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, cloves etc, but it seems to fit autumn more than any other season. I think it's the combination of smoke from tobacco, with crackles of pepper bringing to mind sparks from a bonfire, with berries, pomegranate and woods and a warm patchouli earthy base binding everything together and a scent of dry leaves scattered all over. It also reminds me of Harvest Moon, but darker-like HM is daytime, and this is night time, the end of the harvest. It seems very fitting for Halloween as well, I think. There's a lovely warmth to it which is gorgeous, like being close to a roasting bonfire on a cold night, with the smells of autumn fruit, woods and foliage all around. It's not one that makes me want to scour Ebay for a second bottle, but I love the feeling this gives and the images it brings up, and the bottle will be kept and cherished. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Definitely. I can't wait to see how it ages too. If you like this, try: Harvest Moon, Devil's Night

Usually drama of this kind doesn't affect me so much (it depends on the intensity of course. This is nothing compared to that wank meme ) but because I'm PMSing it's gotten to me more than usual, I admit. I have seen your blog and I admit that it's made me think. I must say that I don't hate you for it, not at all! The internet is a free 'country' so to speak, and blogs are for opinions of all kinds, for getting things off your chest, and not everyone will agree with every opinion out there, that's human nature. I'm still wondering whether to agree with your analysis or not but I personally have had very good dealings with Michele and have had good luck with some of her scents (not everything from H&E is wonderful but the scents that work are fantastic) but if these claims you are true (and seemingly backed up by Beth) maybe I should stay back a bit for a while? But I can't decide. My nose thinks one way, and my brain the other. I'm especially conflicted about the H&E custom scent order-I've spent 30 bucks on it and I was hoping to get scents made for me and to make them public. Now I'm a little uneasy about it even though the concept is so promising...I don't think I can get a refund but do I even want one?

Bitch In the imp: a sharp green scent reminiscent of either an evergreen note or a herbal note. Could be a sage-clary sage maybe? Wet on skin: a strange ‘herbal infusion’ scent with a hint of fermented fruit. Dry: hmm, unusual but not bad. I now think there may be some camomile here, as this smells like a herbal tea of sorts. Yeah, definitely camomile. I also get a greenish note which may be clary sage, which apparently is a good pre-menstrual herb. Someone said palmarosa…I can’t remember what it smells but I think that’s the lemon-green-rose like note I’m getting. There’s something reminiscent of Hemlock in here as well. I don’t get geranium though-if it’s in there, it’s hidden under everything else. But this smells like one of those ‘woman’s tea’ herbal infusions, a really medicinal scent in the herbal, non-chemical way. It also smells a little like fermenting fruits. After a while: there are times when this scent veers close to rotting fruits on me, but thankfully doesn’t actually smell like it’s gone off. I don’t know what causes this scent but I’ve noticed it in other BPALs. There’s now also a strong pine like scent, or fir, something reminiscent of winter forests, along with camomile and grasses and fruit and wine. It smells like that for an hour but then regains a camomile tea scent. I’m amazed at how much this smells like herbal tea, and I’m sure I also smell a hint of honey now, but this quickly fades. Then I smell rosemary. Verdict: scent wise, I’m not sure I’d wear this as perfume. It smells like herbal tea and herbal remedies, like an infusion of camomile and sage and other mystery herbs, like a traditional remedy for that time of month. It turned to fermenting fruit and pine on me though, which was odd…but then turned back into herbal tea, which is very pleasant. The overripe fruit bits I wasn’t sure about. However, I think this has caused a real personality change. Despite the monthly miseries I usually get, this stuff seemed to get me out of the normal antisocial mood I get at this time, and I was very friendly to my other flatmates when usually I would stay in my room away from others. So it seems to work with effect, I’ll have to test this stuff on cramps. I don’t need a bottle because I think the chocolate scents are better premenstrual cures but for effects, it seems to work. Emoticon rating: for scent, for effect Is it a keeper? I’ll keep the decant.

The Isles of Demons In the imp: juniper and pine! This smells a bit like Black Forest, actually. Wet on skin: deep green and evergreen scents with a sweet black musk. Dry: interesting. This is a mix of evergreens and traditional winter forest notes, pine and juniper and fir, with some other greenery which seems a little more damp and deep and almost jungle like but not quite. Maybe it shouldn’t surprise me that the scent isn’t as tropical as I thought it would be-these isles are in Newfoundland after all. It’s a lot cooler than I expected as well, misty and damp but cool. There’s a weird scent in the background that’s not sulphurous but it is almost burnt and smoky and weird, could be ‘volcanic gas’, and it’s unlike any smoke note I’m used to…I’m not sure I’m keen on it as it smells almost chemical/medicinal/antiseptic on me. This scent even reminds me slightly of Vinland. The black musk is barely detectable now. After a while: huh? Where have the green plants and evergreens gone? In just 10 minutes of wear, the unusual complexity fades leaving on my skin the scent of…plastic toys. Yes. Not the scented dolls that smell of strawberries or whatever, but plain plastic. It smells like something I used to play with in childhood but I can’t remember what. Possibly a doll of some kind. It’s a smell that also reminds me of some kind of glue, and also the smell of certain clean offices, possibly the type of cleaning products used to clean offices mingled with the smell of photocopier. There’s a bare hint of freshness and sweetness lingering. But it pretty much smells just of plastic toys, and I’m not keen on that. The plastic still lingers after a couple of hours but I do get a soft, light musk coming through. It’s not dark black musk, though it does remind me of Mad Hatter’s musk a bit, but it smells light and smooth. After a few hours, I’m torn…because the musk is so pretty from a distance, I’m getting a lovely white musk throw but the plastic scent lingers close to the wrist. And then who should pop up just before the scent departs? It’s our good friend vetiver! Except that doesn’t seem to improve things, it just means the scent will stick to my wrist for days. Verdict: out of the three ‘unusual, conceptual Phantom Isles’ (the other two being Jezirat and Kumari-they seem to fit into this strange little threesome, in my head), this is my least favourite. After a glorious start of fresh evergreens, damp leaves and black musk, it then turns to plastic on me-smelling just like plastic dolls. It reminds me of some kind of doll I had when I was little, and sure such a scent is a good childhood memory but plastic isn’t something I want to smell like, especially in a scent that should smell like a prehistoric island. There’s a pretty musk scent that pops up but the plastic doesn’t budge. A shame really. This could be a locket scent but for now I’m swapping it. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. If you like this, try: Kumari Kandam, Jezirat Al Tennyn, Vinland, Black Forest

Pontarlier In the imp: a green note that may be fern, lilac and herbal lavender…an almost grassy herbal scent. Wet on skin: so pretty! This is a ‘wet springtime greenery’ scent, and another one of those scents that reminds me of florist’s shops. Dry: now the roses and sugared absinthe (very pretty and definitely reminiscent of La Fee Verte) come out with a fruity tart scent of blackcurrant underneath, and the wet greenery, lavender and lilac in the middle. This is a gorgeously springy scent of flowers, herbs and leaves with a fresh clear and cool note running through it like a mountain stream. After a while: the lilac note becomes stronger now, but something about it now smells a little off on my skin, like wilted lilacs. The greenery isn’t as fresh as it was before as well. The absinthe hasn’t turned soapy yet, which is good. The odd thing about this is that the lilac and green notes don’t smell too pleasant when my wrist is far away from my nose, but close up the lilac smells very pretty, with sugared absinthe and rose. Eventually the scent becomes a dry lilac scent and wilted flowers scent, not as gorgeous as the wet stage. And it’s faint. Verdict: the wet/just dry stage of this scent is so lovely, a fresh spring scent of greenery and watery freshness with lilacs, lavender, roses, currants and even a little hint of the green fairy flitting through the scent trailing her sugared absinthe scented fairy dust…but it’s not as nice after an hour when the lilac note smells a little bit wilted and not as fresh and lively as before. I think lilac has to be well grounded by richer, deeper notes (like amber, musk, wood etc) in order for it to work in BPAL, on me, and in here the green notes turn sour and the scent fades fast after that. This could be one I might use in a scent locket for the gorgeous and evocative wet stage, but I think I might swap this. Emoticon rating: at first, then Is it a keeper? Not for my skin, but maybe a potential ‘locket scent’. If you like this, try: La Fee Verte, Absinthe, Les Fleurs Du Mal

It's most probably O (as in the letter O), which is in Love Potions.

Madrid In the imp: sweet, almost sugared/honeyed red wine. Sweet wine, almost like grape juice. Wet on skin: sweet wine with a hint of clove…almost mulled wine! Dry on skin: mmm, I like it. the wine note here is sweeter and less boozy than other wine notes (Wanda and Lilith) but I love what the clove's doing to it, giving it an almost festive mulled feel. I smell a lovely mimosa note as well, all pollen-y and yellow, and quite dry…reminds me of another mimosa perfume (non-BPAL) I've smelt. After a while: it's mainly sweet red wine and mimosa now, with just a hint of clove. It's very sweet, deep and it's also quite dry too, thanks to the mimosa. It's a nice contrasting scent of deep red clove-wine and sunny mimosa blossoms. This does seem to fade fast though, leaving a faint trace of mimosa and wine on the skin. Verdict: this was such a pleasant surprise. I've been looking for a good mimosa scent from BPAL and this is it. The mimosa in here is like it should be-a sunny, soft, almost dusty-pollen like scent which is very springy to me (I don't get any pee reactions with mimosa-cat pee or otherwise). It contrasts nicely with a sweet, thick (but not too boozy) red wine note that is spiced with clove, almost like cinnamon-less mulled wine. It's an unusual contrast that works very well. The wine isn't as alcoholic as I'd hoped but it's very nice and not sour on me. Not a favourite but one that I like enough to keep the imp of. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Might be. Not a favourite but it's very pleasant and my favourite mimosa scent. If you like this, try: Blood Rose, Lilith, Athens, Tum, Succubus, Masabakes

Jezirat Al Tennyn In the imp: faint, but it smells cool and mineral, with smoke and water… Wet on skin: cool and watery but with a peppery woodsmoke scent. There's a little hint of something almost like gardenia here too, and a pale mint note. Dry on skin: what an intriguing scent! Very unusual indeed-there's something ozone-minty-watery to it which reminds me of Nuclear Winter, but there's a load of spicy smoke wafting over the top of it…it's peppery smoke, a definite scent of burning but it's actually quite pleasant. There's a eucalyptus-mint scent which, with the ozone, gives the effect of a cool wind, and a mineral note which reminds me of damp caves. There's also a sweet and floral tone to it as well, a hint of something like gardenia, the remnants of the 'primordial paradise' maybe? It's like a huge disaster is ready to ruin the paradise with fire, wind and water... After a while: the aquatic sweet floral note, which now smells less like gardenia and more like lily, is slightly reminiscent of Ulalume now…but with peppery woodsmoke. There's still dampness and wet rocks and cool breezes here. It smells like a damp autumn day with exotic flowers and bonfires. It's surprisingly subtle and pretty. This eventually fades to a very pleasant freshwater aquatic-floral with sweetness and smoke with a slight ashy-dusty undertone and a hint of something autumnal. Verdict: this is an unusual yet very wearable scent, strange and surprisingly gentle on my skin. this scent captures all the elements in one-smoky, fiery and spicy notes, that mineral note reminiscent of wet rocks, cold sweet water and chilly breezes, with a floral heart. At first it's like all the elements are blasting over the flowers and I was expecting the scent to become quite apocalyptic or disaster-like in feel. It actually softens to a lovely watery floral with tinges of smoke and wet stone and ashes, and a scent reminiscent of autumn rain falling on lilies and dry leaves and rocks. It actually reminds me of Ulalume with added smoke and with less wood and leaves. It's faint on me compared with Kumari Kandam which had tons of throw. I don't need a bottle but I do like it-very strange and wonderfully conceptual but also very nice as perfume! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Maybe. I do prefer Kumari Kandam but I'm surprised at how wearable this is. If you like this, try: Kumari Kandam, Ulalume (non-wintergreen version), R'lyeh, Olokun, Black Opal, Cloister Graveyard

Vieux Carre In the imp: mossy, dewy roses. I smell the moss note from Bayou in here. Wet on skin: mossy roses and a hint of jasmine. Dry: hmm, this is very pretty. It’s a floral garden surrounded by damp moss. the moss note is the one from Bayou (appropriate for a New Orleans themed scent), I think it’s Spanish moss, very different to oak moss, to me it smells strong and wet and green and lichen-like, but with the powdery ‘verdigris’ undertone characteristic of all moss notes. This moss cloaks fragrant blooms of rose and jasmine. After a while: the moss note strengthens and becomes more powdery-green, I can smell some jasmine, the kind that sometimes smells wilted on me, but the moss prevents that from happening. The scent gets mossier and mossier over time. Verdict: this is a floral version of Bayou on my skin. Loads of Spanish moss with hints of rose and jasmine. Wet, green, misty, muggy, but not as oppressive as Bayou. This does smell like a garden in deep swampy land, I can smell heat and humidity here. This reminds me of Zombi as well, it has the same decaying feel to it but without soil. The rose is pretty while it lasts but eventually the scent is covered with overgrown moss, this note really amps on my skin in here. I like it but there’s too much moss, not enough flowers. I’m not sure if I’ll get more if it will be released or if it will be like Val Sans, Decadence etc, a scent that probably won’t go public, but I’m glad I got to try this rare scent. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I’m not sure. I like it but it’s not my favourite rose/garden scent.

The Coiled Serpent A potent yogic oil that stimulates the kundalini, provokes spiritual awakening, and releases the energy seated in your root chakra. In the imp: whoa, patchouli! There’s a huge amount of patch in here, more than in any other BPAL, in fact. Wet on skin: now I can smell sandalwood, a really strong, incense like sandalwood, rising up to greet the patchouli. Dry: mmm, I like this. This definitely smells like good quality Indian incense, with it’s strong patchouli and spicy sandalwood. It smells like hippies, but in the best way possible. It reminds me very slightly of Anne Bonny but without frankincense, and the sandalwood is of a lighter, spicier, more incense like variety than the dark, woody note in AB, and I think I can smell nag champa (or champaca, as it smells quite floral in here) in here as well. After a while: the spicy champa scent tones down and the scent becomes patchouli and sandalwood, smoothing out. Oh boy, the patch in here is strong. This really does smell like hippie juice (which isn’t a bad thing, to me). Eventually this scent becomes almost all patchouli, with the lightest brush of sandalwood. possibly a hint of polished cedar. I do get a feel of headshops and wooden chests which held patchouli incense from here. Verdict: this is the most patchouli-ed scent in all of BPAL so far. Usually Beth’s patch is very understated, an earthy base note which grounds a scent without being dominant, but in here it is very strong-this isn’t for the patchouli haters! Along with this powerful patch is a gorgeous spiced sandalwood and a hint of nag champa, and the scent has a definite Indian feel to it, like incense, it seems very fitting for yoga. I do like it’s fragrance though, very mystical and deep, and indeed, quite hippy-ish. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes, but just the imp. If you like this, try: Anne Bonny, Kathmandu, Sri Lanka, Urd

Ladon In the imp: crisp sweet apple and dragon’s blood. Wet on skin: green apples, hyacinth, and a lilac-like dragon’s blood note. Dry: this is very pretty! There’s a gorgeous apple note here, a crisp green apple, not too sweet but not too tart and cider-y either. The hyacinth is there as well, adding it’s springlike feel. The dragon’s blood makes the scent smell a little bit like lilacs, but it also has its telltale red resinous clarity. The dragon’s blood is surprisingly strong, actually. This scent is very springy to me. After a while: eventually the white musk comes out and starts to soften the scent. the apple now smells like apple blossom, the dragon’s blood isn’t as strong, and now I smell a gorgeous hyacinth note wrapped up in soft white musk with hints of apple and DB still hanging around. It’s a very unusual scent but I quite like it. Verdict: this is the springtime equivalent of the Hesperides (which is apt) which smelt quite autumnal to me, this one is more floral and smells like spring, but with the dark bite of dragon’s blood, adding it’s red touch to the scent. There’s a lovely apple note here, with notes of hyacinth and lilac dancing through, all reddened by the DB. This is reminiscent of the softer Dragon scents, like Dragon’s Eye and Dragon’s Tears, softly floral and not too intense, not dark at all. The drydown is an unusual mix of creamed apple and white musk, with a gorgeous hyacinth note and DB…a strange but oddly pleasant scent. I like this but it’s not my favourite dragon’s blood scents-that position still goes to Dragon’s Musk. But this is a very unique and interesting fragrance, as are most DB scents. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Not sure. If you like this, try: The Hesperides, Dragon’s Eye, Dragon’s Tears

Kumari Kandam In the imp: a more ozone-citrus-aquatic variant of the Snow Bunny/Skadi ‘snow’ note, with something warm underneath. Wet on skin: the hothouse blooms and something akin to jungle greenery come out underneath the pine-menthol-ozone frostiness. Dry: now it starts to remind me of Ice Queen! This is really interesting…I can smell a smooth and powdery stony scent-the mineral note from Black Opal-in here as well. This reminds me of Ice Queen meets Snow Moon, with Black Opal and some jungle plants added to it…and also a hint of sweet resin and smoke. This scent is both hot and humid and also icy cold at the same time, which is really unusual. After a while: this seems to stay the same, I think it warms up though and loses it’s citrus sharpness. I smell more of the stone and clay now, and the aquatics still retain their frosty scent but that seems to have melted now-the aquatic note in here is very good on my skin, not turning soapy at all! I still smell the floral greenery and there’s a little bit of smoke wafting over the scent…and I swear that I can smell the tiniest hint of vetiver. There’s also something almost sweet and lightly musky here. Verdict: one of the most unusual, complex, and interesting scents ever. I agree that this is a conceptual scent, like a masterpiece of modern art, not traditional at all. There’s almost a feel of Chaos Theory about it, mixing together mineral notes (yes…I’m amazed at how Beth can make scents with mineral notes!) and icy aquatics with jungle greens and flowers, a dash of incense smoke on the top and vetiver at the base…it shouldn’t work, but it does. It also smells like Ice Queen has gone on holiday to an exotic island of rainforests and caves and has frozen it, a paradise now glaciated…a scent of contrasts and complexities but also a stunning perfume which will make heads turn. All in all, a fascinating fragrance. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes. I might get a bottle when I run out of Ice Queen. If you like this, try: Black Opal, Cloister Graveyard in the Snow, Death of the Gravedigger, Snow Bunny, Snow Moon, Dublin, Nuclear Winter

Again, my paypal falls victim to the fragrant black hole that is Beth's ingenuity. Here's a little analysis of the scents offered today, what I got, what I want, what I might want in small doses etc: I bought: 13 (revisited) cocoa and vanilla beans, Mysore sandalwood, star fruit, orange rind, red amber, fig leaf, mimosa, rooibos tea, bourbon geranium, rose otto, nutmeg, and lavender. I hoped that I would avoid 13 if it was the same white choc orange scent (which I love, but I don't need more for now) but then Beth unleashes something that tops it. I love cocoa, vanilla, sandalwood, amber (red amber's a new one-I need to try H&E's version too), rose, nutmeg and bourbon geranium...and I'd love to see what Beth's starfruit and rooibos notes are like. And how all these notes mesh together in this scent! SOL INVICTUS -- A radiant blend of solar oils: golden amber, saffron, heliotrope, hibiscus, citron, frangipani, frankincense, tangerine, mock orange, and orange blossom. Oh yes! I want to smell like a pagan sun-god on December 25 (that's where the date for Xmas originates, after all). I'm also hoping this would be what I hoped Et Lux Fuit was on me. It shares some components but hopefully the tropical florals and the saffron and frankincense will make it richer, warmer and lovelier than ELF was on me. I'm also reminded of Ra, which I love. This looks ideal for anyone who may get SAD in winter, I don't suffer from it too badly but the long nights-and the cold-sometimes give me winter blues, this is the perfect cure. YULE -- It is Yule, and the Holly King has slain the Oak: blood red holly berry, mistletoe, wild thyme, verbena, cinquefoil, hemp, winter rose, evergreen, frankincense, juniper, and myrrh. I'm collecting the pagan sabbat oils (well, the ones that are easy to acquire as bottles!) and this sounds gorgeous, wonderful, evocative...I wonder if it will be the scent opposite of Litha? (They do share some notes...) Not sure what holly berry, cinquefoil and mistletoe smell like but the other ingredients are pretty awesome. This sounds like an amazing mix of evergreen forest scents, resins, herbs and rose. This looks even better than Yuletide, which smelt like a Yankee Candle on me. LILIUM INTER SPINAS --Hibiscus syriacus, white sandalwood, lily of the valley, apple blossom, and green fig. I have no idea what the hibiscus note is like but I'm curious...LotV can go soapy, apple blossom is so-so, green fig can be sharp, but this could go either way-the poem is beautiful as well...so I got an imp. HORREUR SYMPATHIQUE -- blood musk, golden honey, thick black wine, champagne grapes, tobacco flower, plum blossom, tonka bean, oakmoss, carnation, benzoin, opoponax, and sugar cane. Holy shit, this sounds magnificent! Look at all these wonderful notes-blood musk, honey, wine, champagne, tonka, carnation, resins, sugar...this looks like one of those amazing complex and fantastic BPALs, reminiscent of the Masque or Sed Non Satiata...I just had to get an imp. Should have got a bottle. LOVE-LIES-BLEEDING -- The velvet flower. A lush, thick, luxuriant bloom, bold and red. Ditto Devil's Claw, but the name is gorgeous. I used to call those plants 'monkey tails' when I was little. The real name is much more evocative. But what will it smell like-blood? Something fuzzy, perhaps? Imp. THE TEMPTATION -- attar of rose, calla lily, palmarosa, peach blossom, wisteria, rice flower, and black musk. This sounds like a fascinating floral-I'm intrigued by the rice flower. Not sure about wisteria (can go off on me) but the other ingredients are promising-love rose, peach and black musk. Imp. MANIA -- Screeching white musk collides with a howl of red musk, with sharp white grapefruit and pale strawberry leaf. Musks! I adore red and white musks. I've never smelt strawberry leaf, would be interesting to see if it smells like greenish strawberries...but the musks! I'd love to see how the grapefruit comes into it as well. Imp. HALÔA -- Wine grapes, myrrh, frankincense and olive leaf, and the warm scent of offertory cakes. CAKE!!! The description reminds me of All Souls with wine, or Cockaigne with resins, which sounds so delightful. mmm. But the olive leaf worries me-does it smell like olives? I think it did in Alecto, but I love Tzadikim Nistarim, which has olive but doesn't smell of it. I've bought a bottle because...CAKE!! Will get eventually: BLACK LILY -- Breathtaking darkness, a vision of grace in shadow. I've tried the prototype and I'm torn, because it veers from stunningly beautiful to metallic and weird on my skin. It's a 'locket scent', for me. I might try an imp of this to see if it's changed. DEVIL'S CLAW -- A yellow-bright and smoky brown-black scent, horned, pronged and strange. I have no idea what this will smell like. Brown and yellow? Smoky? I have no clue, will wait for reveiws. Maybe imp. SLOBBERING PINE -- Dewy, wet, whiplike and sticky. Hmm, the name's great and a little bit gross, but if it smells like pine resin...I love the smell of pine sap. It's messy, sticky stuff but it smells gooooood, not Xmassy or disinfectant-y at all. THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS -- A funereal bouquet laid on cemetery grass: longiflorum lilies, white rose, chrysanthemum, and carnation. This reminds me of Santa Muerte and Sepulchre, which I quite like. Very flowery and traditional, maybe a bit mournful, but it could be beautiful. Maybe an imp. And now for y00ltide goodness!!! BLACK ICE -- Lovely, dangerous, slick, and bitterly cold: chilly white sleet-like notes with a hint of vetiver, a breath of smoky asphalt, and winter wind Asphalt? I don't really like the idea of smelling of asphalt...and vetiver can be scary at times. The icy and windy notes sound so interesting though...Beth is amazing at conjuring up weather scents, despite me not getting on with storm ozones or seaspray, they are still so evocative. Decant. THE DARKLING THRUSH -- Snow, darkness, and icy air illuminated by the thrush’s song: warm amber, soft orris, and melancholy violet. This sounds beautiful. Snowy and wintery airy notes? Yum. Amber? Oh yeah. I quite like orris and violet too. Decant for now, but it sounds promising. HERR DROSSELMEYER 2006 -- Pipe smoke, sweet leather, woods and linen. Tried it last year, think it's ok but don't need more. Too manly and smoky-in a nice way, but not on my skin. JACOB'S LADDER 2006 --The meeting of Heaven and Earth: golden amber, galbanum, benzoin, ambrette, rockrose, costus and tonka. I adore this scent, maybe I'll get more? I already have two 05 bottles, but I might want to see if this has changed. JÓLASVEINAR -- Their scent is a mishmash of snow, dirt, Icelandic moss, marsh felwort, and the smushed petals of buttercups and moorland spotted orchids, with the barest hint of the scent of pilfered Christmas pastries. I like snow, dirt and moss, have no idea what marsh felwort, moorland spotted orchids or buttercups (well, vaguely) smell like but previews say this smells like a real Xmas tree, with soil. But it's the Christmas pastries that grab me. To me, that means MINCE PIES!!! If this has even a slight mince pies scent to it, I'll need more, but for now, it's a decant. KNECHT RUPRECHT -- The snow-covered foliage of the Black Forest and the fruit and woods of apple and almond trees. I wonder if this will smell like Black Forest+snowy notes? Or maybe BF sans musk, but with snow in it's place? If so, this sounds really interesting with apples and almonds...decant. KRAMPUS -- Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches. Oh, this sounds so fun! Like Spanked for 06! I'm not sure about the dusty rags though-but red musk and leather, like Loviatar! Decant, maybe bottle. LICK IT AGAIN -- Every holiday season should be full of lewd suggestions and filthy double entendres, right? This is a new take on last year’s Lick It – a peppermint candy cane with an extra jolt of sugar. I adore Lick It, have 2 bottles, love it's minty coolness and it's vanilla-musk drydown. But if this is a new formulation with more sugar...I might need to get this too! MIDNIGHT MASS 2006 -- see Jacob's Ladder 06. THE SNOW MAIDEN -- Ylang ylang, osmanthus, spring berries, and daffodil cloaked in hoarfrost. Not sure what hoarfrost smells like (cold, obviously) but the floral/berry/daffodil notes look gorgeous. This scent sounds beautiful and ethereal, delicate and icy, and I need to add more to my 'snow' collection, but it's a decant for now. SNOW-FLAKES -- The radiance and desolation of winter. A vague description huh? I have no idea if this snowy scent will be like the Skadi/Snow Moon/Bunny snow, Snow White snow, Cloister Graveyard/Ice Queen snow, or something completely different...I'm intrigued though, plus it's another one for my snow collection. Decant. STARDUST 2006 -- This scent reflects the futurism, self-indulgence and excess of the Glitter 70’s: champagne, hyacinth, tuberose, ylang ylang and flashing white musk with jonquil, tobacco flower, white sandalwood and a pale poppy. See Jacob's Ladder 06. THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT -- Embrace your villainy: balsam, myrrh, mandarin orange, bitter clove, artemesia, rosewood, nutmeg, dark musk, smoke and cypress. This sounds very interesting. I love myrrh, orange, clove, nutmeg and smoke, have no idea about artemisia, the other notes sound good, but this may be a little masculine. Decant. This was a spectacular update of course-lots more ice and snow than expected, none of the old faves back (well, some of the 05 faves are there) but a very interesting direction for Beth to go in...I don't know if there'll be a Yule part 2, would be cool if that was the case though.

Lucy Westenra In the imp: a sweet orange-white floral-rose with a hint of smoke. Smells like Three Brides, but less resinous/sweet. Wet on skin: whoa, this is gorgeous. Rich sweet flowers with white musk and sugared orange! Dry on skin: this is beautiful! A full bodied and feminine scent, this is a mix of heady but gorgeous floral notes (magnolia, rose, jasmine, powdery iris as well) with a fabulous and very true blood orange-it smells like blood orange juice. The white musk lifts the scent fantastically and binds everything together, and I can just about make out the frankincense. There's also a sweetness to it all. After a while: eventually the paler florals and white musk tone down a little, and something deeper comes through. I now smell more of the frankincense, the rose, and a smokiness which may be tobacco flower. There's still that fantastic blood orange (one of the few citrus notes that sticks around for a long time), and the sweet white musk and other flowers, but now there's an even balance of the darker and lighter notes. This is so good. There's something about this scent as well which is almost incense like, with an almost opium-like feel, or even something nag-champa-ish, but not quite. Maybe it's frankincense-wow, I love this note anyway but it's doing amazing things in here. There's also the red rose and musk and iris which have all teamed up to form a sumptuous and velvety base to the scent. And the blood orange is still there. After about 4 hours…wow, the blood orange is still sticking around! And the frankincense has got stronger. The white musk and paler florals still stick around as well, but the 'velvet' feel of this scent, made red by the rose, is even more apparent. I get just a tinge of jasmine, a very good jasmine note which isn't turning harshly green at all. There are also times when I smell something almost like Alice...this is Alice's evil sister, it seems. Verdict: this is competing with Three Brides and the Haunted Palace as the best 'opulent, feminine, rose-based complex citrus floral and resinous' scent. In fact, this may become my favourite rose scent. Though this does fall in the same category as Three Brides etc, it is completely unique-I love these very different, 'like no other' fragrances that Beth is coming up with now. Lucy is a stunning heady floral blend with a sharp, juicy bite of blood orange, the almost powdered smoothness of white musk and the slight smoke of tobacco (flower) and frankincense. This scent brings to mind crushed red velvet, deep and luxurious, with incense, oranges and flowers over it. The blood orange stays for an insane amount of time for a citrus note (no bad thing, blood orange is the best orange note of all) and the frankincense just adds the most fantastic, almost hypnotic incense scent. This just gets better and smoother with wear and I have a feeling this is going to age very well. Beautiful, beautiful stuff. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I'm keeping the bottle, and want more. If you like this, try: Three Brides, Haunted Palace, Love in the Asylum, Rose Cross, All Saints, Moscow, Lucy's Kiss

Kindly Moon In the imp: a beautiful fresh and fruity-floral scent. This smells gorgeous. Wet on skin: yay, the gardenia doesn't seem to be going off on my skin! instead, the peach note comes out and the fruity-floral scent deepens. Dry on skin: this is beautiful. Such a compassionate, gentle, warm floral scent. It's mainly peach and white flowers, like lily and gardenia (the good variety!), also watery osmanthus and moonflower, with just a hint of airy blue musk and possibly beeswax too. This is a wonderful bouquet and everything mingles so well here. There's a clean scent to it, almost fresh, but it doesn't smell soapy. After a while: I see where the Night's Pavilion comparisons come from-there's a similarity here thanks to the ethereal musk and osmanthus. This one's a lot more floral-complex and fruity (peach blossom smells just like the fruit on me, which is all good!). There's a clean, crisp white flower note to this that reminds me of Empyreal Mist or Sundew, as well. There's also that 'lunar/nocturnal' scent to this, puts me in mind of a springtime garden at night under the moonlight, or a dew covered wedding bouquet. There's something about the drydown after a few hours that reminds me of clean linen, that crisp white clean scent, and it also reminds me of tart apples. Now I get a definite resemblance to Sundew and Dirty. And then it starts to remind me of Bearded Lady, probably thanks to the stargazer lily-only this scent is whiter…white as moonlight. But the clean linen scent doesn't fade. There's only one disappointment…where's the vanilla and beeswax? Verdict: this is such a beautiful floral fragrance, fresh and light and delicate but also well rounded, well blended. I was scared of the gardenia, but most of the time, the gardenia in LE scents is of the good variety-and it certainly is in here. There is a similarity to Silence, but whilst that scent was distant and reserved and cold, KM is approachable, welcoming, and warm. It really is like a kindly bouquet of gentle white flowers. I adore the wet stage of this scent so much that I wish it lasted longer-the drydown, reminiscent of certain clean/springy scents and some other floral scents, is very pleasant, but not as wonderful as the first hour or two of wear. I think this scent will be a lot nicer for spring and summer, and it seems like the perfect scent to wear to a wedding. I wish I got more vanilla, but even so I'm very pleased with this scent. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Oh yeah. So glad I got a bottle. Will keep it for warmer weather. If you like this, try: Silence, Sundew, Empyeral Mist, Bearded Lady, Night's Pavilion

Czernobog In the imp: hmm, not bad! This is actually quite nice, a red/black musk and myrrh scent, sweet and deep, with a hint of earthiness. None of the civet I expected! Wet on skin: it gets a little bit pine-fresh, but also a bit deeper as the musks develop. Dry: this isn’t as scary as I expected. It’s actually a pleasant, dark musky forest scent, along very similar lines to Thanatopsis, and maybe Black Forest and Odin as well. This one’s a little bit muskier, with a black/red musk taking the lead, and yes there is something more animalistic about this musk than usual, but not the full on civet-fest I feared. Underneath it is a scent reminiscent of pine, and a little vetiver. It’s a forest-musk, but much darker, more shadowy and foreboding than the others. After a while: after an hour…still no blatant civet! Just a pleasant black musk and forest greens with the sinister undertone of vetiver and a sweet, dark myrrh. There’s a slight hint of something feral, but it’s not turning to poo or anything scary like that. And the vetiver doesn’t take over either. There are times when this scent reminds me a little of Typhon, which I love-it’s the same black musk and vetiver combination. Only just a little bit more animal. And then the scent develops a little bit more and sweetens, there's something almost vanilla like here now. I now agree with a few reviews saying this is like Snake Oil...there's that SO vanilla musk to it, only grittier and more animalic. Verdict: I used to think that Black Forest was my ‘Hogwarts Forbidden Forest’ scent, but actually this scent seems to fit that description better. This is a dark, beastly, spooky forest scent, the place you know you shouldn’t venture into, but you can’t help it. I admit I was a little bit apprehensive to try this after the reviews, but it’s not as bad as I expected-it does have a brush of civet, but doesn’t smell like farmyards or old man’s breath like some civet scents do-this is more sweet musk heavy, with green, earthy, evergreen notes, a hint of vetiver. In fact, I actually think Thanatopsis is more civet-y than Czernobog. I also think this scent would couple well with Nocnitsa-it has that same oppressive shadowy forest feel, only x10. I like this a lot more than expected, but I don’t know if I’d wear it much though, there’s a chance that there may be the odd day when the civet may amp, so I may swap this. But now I don’t fear the Slavic god of evil and darkness...he’s tamer than I thought he’d be. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Not really. If you like this, try: Black Forest, Odin, Thanatopsis, Dracul, Nocnitsa, Debauchery

The Fox Woman Kuzunoha Leaving her Child In the imp: gentle jasmine and wisteria, covered in dew. Also some tea. So pretty! Wet on skin: something in here (tea? Jasmine? Wisteria?) goes very sharp on my skin…and I now get cherry blossom. Dry: a very sharp jasmine-wisteria-tea scent with a hint of slightly soapy cherry blossom in the background. I love the smell of real wisteria, but it seems BPAL wisteria is one of those notes which can be either lovely (Cabaret) or ruinous (Seraphim) and I’m afraid it seems to be going funky on me here. The star jasmine and tea, notes which I usually like, seem to be too sharply green in this scent. I can smell some pale teak under it all but it’s just a sharp wisteria-tea scent which my skin can’t take. After a while: the scent eventually goes acrid-green, slightly like wilted flowers, not very pleasant at all. The tea is still too sharp, as is the wisteria which now smells like dead blossoms, and the jasmine develops that green-oily smell that I sometimes get (though usually star jasmine doesn’t do this). I think the cherry blossom may be making this scent go nasty on my skin-this smells a bit like Dragon Moon, which I didn’t like. The flowers in here smell even more wilted as time passes. Verdict: this was such a disappointment. This was very pretty in the decant, a serene Asian floral scent, but once it hit my skin it turned very bad. The notes went very sharp, acridly green, and a little bit soapy. I now know that the cherry blossom note doesn’t really like me most of the time, I didn’t like it in Dragon Moon and it doesn’t like me in here. The wisteria also goes sharp on me, the jasmine turns rotten, the tea is too tart. Even the touch of teak doesn’t redeem this scent. I think this scent would do better as room scent, or on someone who’s skin is nicer with cherry blossom or wisteria-so like she left her child, I’m afraid the fox-woman will have to leave me as well. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. If you like this, try: Dragon Moon, Kyoto, Phantasm, Shanghai, Kumiho, Holiday Moon