PurringPulsar

Pain In the imp: minty lavender. I know it's the pennyroyal causing the mint effect but it smells more like peppermint in here than the greener pennyroyal scent I've encountered. Wet on skin: fresh, cool, piercing minty lavender. Dry on skin: whoa. Screaming miiiiiiinty lavender, with a touch of green herbs. This is very fresh, almost medicinal in scent, but on me there's a hint of something grey and even metallic about it. It's not as pleasant as the lavender-pennyroyal in Mad Hatter. This is icy, without feeling, calculating and emotionless. Very cold indeed…and ever so intense. After a while: lavender and pennyroyal are very short-lived notes on me so I was expecting them to disappear altogether. But, though they fade considerably (pennyroyal vanishes completely) the lavender seems to stick around, lingering on the skin in a faint, soft, powdery, pale scent which actually reminds me of Waving not Drowning…and it also smells like violet, which is odd. But I do like it, and I like it better than the initial wet stage. The scent disappears completely within two hours. Verdict: at first, this was a cold, cruel, biting mint-lavender. Not a comforting one, this was grey, grim, metallic, very piercing. It was cold, like a bitter winter wind. Not painful though. This scent smells more numb than Numb, ironically. The drydown, despite it's faintness, is a lot nicer, a soft lavender with a hint of violet (?) to it, a lot calmer than before. But due to it's lack of 'grounding' notes, the scent does disappear in a nanosecond-I mean, a couple of hours. One for swaps. I have other mint scents I prefer. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Mad Hatter, Numb

Does Morocco have vanilla? It's not mentioned in the notes but a lot of people describe it as a vanilla scent. I always thought Morocco's sweetness was due to the musk, but maybe there is vanilla in it too? When I first tried it I didn't understand the hype, my imp was woody and masculine. Then I tried another imp and was smitten! My new bottle that I have is creamy-sweet and so divine!

I can't believe no one's mentioned the sublime Queen of Sheba yet. It's like almonds drenched in crystallised honey with exotic spices all around-a golden, luxurious scent.

I just knew it would happen but Beth has outdone herself yet again. How does she do it? I'm amazed and flabberghasted. It looks like the updates are going to become even more devastating (financially, that is) over these next few months... So, what do I think of Halloween 06? There are some that really call to me, but luckily most of them are only decant-worthy for now. My bank account is safe for now-at least until Kindly Moon... Bought: ALL SOULS -- An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes. As soon as I saw 'sugared currant' and 'cake' I immediately thought of Eat Me, which I adore. And it has incense, which I also adore. Bought a bottle. SHOGGOTH -- white amber, green coconut meat, iris, palmarosa, Chinese peony, lime, water lily, snowdrop, muguet, lemongrass, osmanthus, wisteria, glassy musk, and hinoki. White amber? I've not seen that in BPAL. I have no idea how it smells (lighter and softer than other ambers?) and I love the coconut meat note in Obatala (better than just plain coconut), so green coconut really intrigues. And it's good to see waterlily in a scent-there are too few waterlily scents. This scent description seems to bring to mind the words 'iridescent pastel technicolour', a mix of white and pale-coloured notes. Will definitely get when I have money/next update: PUMPKIN QUEEN -- The Glorious Grand Dame of the Pumpkin Patch! Regal Egyptian Amber, red ginger, orange peel, mandarin, cardamom, fig leaf and warm pumpkin. This is where the two consciences in my head argue. The little devil says 'get a bottle! it has Egyptian amber and cardamom, and I know how much you loooooove those notes, and you know it's going to be lovely with pumpkin! BUY IT NOW.' but the little angel says 'not so fast! Your skin turns red ginger-or at least the one in the SN-to rubbery asphalt! and that's not a good smell! You have a decant on the way, and if you like it, only THEN you can get bottle(s)!' but then the devil beats the crap out of the angel with a pitchfork... THE BRIDES OF DRACULA -- gleaming skin musk, honey and white amber, plum blossom, osmanthus, sandalwood, calla lily, and a light, sensual blend of Eastern spices. More white amber-now I'm very curious about this. All the other notes-skin musk, honey, sandalwood, osmanthus and Eastern spices look gorgeous too. Especially Eastern spices-this seems like a softer, floral equivalent to Snake Charmer? It's the plum blossom that may go odd on me but it didn't in Peony Moon and there are loads of winning notes here. Will grab bottle! COUNT DRACULA -- black patchouli, neroli, tonka, cinnamon, bitter clove, leather, black musk, coffin wood and fiery ginger. This really does seem like bottled sex. Cinnamon, clove, and ginger? Yum. Leather, patchouli, rich black musk and delicious tonka? I'm there. And it's Dracula...how can I ignore a Dracula scent-and such a sexy one at that? Now I need a man to rub these oils all over... LUCY WESTENRA -- A wanton beauty, corrupt, hypnotic, seductive, and feral: magnolia, iris, Moroccan rose, frankincense, crushed jasmine blossom, blood orange, tobacco flower and white musk. This to me looks like one of those fantastic, complex, rich, resinous and heady rose-based floral scents which I love so much-it does seem to remind me of some favourites of mine, the likes of the Haunted Palace and LitA, the resin-rose scents like Rose Cross and Magdalene, and also Three Brides which I am coveting fiercely. And I want to collect all those wonderful rich musky/resinous rosyscents so I need a bottle of luscious Lucy asap! MISKATONIC UNIVERSITY -- The scent of Irish coffee, dusty tomes and polished oakwood halls. So glad to see it as a GC. Coffee and old books and Baileys. I love it. I don't need a bottle urgently though but this is my favourite BPAL coffee scent so far. Decants and imps: THE HIGH PRIEST NOT TO BE DESCRIBED -- Monastic incense, blood musk, black leather, cypress, pimento, white pepper, and Roman chamomile. Ohh, this looks intriguing. Incense, blood musk and leather are all favourites but this scent may be a little masculine. Worth an imp, for now. THE MUSIC OF ERICH ZAHN -- A ghoulish and tortured scent, suffused with the blackness of space illimitable: ajowan, vetiver, black musk, opoponax, mimosa, and tamarind. I have no idea what ajowan smells like but apparently it's cuminy/caraway-ish which seems interesting, and vetiver is either nice or too much, and I'm not keen on tamarind (hate drinking tamarind juice) but I'm still interested in trying this, just for the opoponax and black musk. NIGHT-GAUNT -- something akin to yuzu, white grapefruit, and kumquat mixed with the snow-dusted flowers of Mount Ngranek. Mmm, sharp citrus! this sounds like a kind of Aizen-Myoo type scent which might be fresh, tangy and light. A tangy, pretty floral with a load of citrus. This will be one for next spring, I think. Y'HA-NTHLEI -- A swirling, lightless, effervescent scent: the deepest marine notes with bergamot, eucalyptus and foamy ambergris. Hmm. suddenly my skin has become quite the aquatic-hater (turns them to soap) but not all of them. This looks very unusual-eucalyptus and ambergris? I have no idea what this will be like-very piercingly cold and nose-decongesting, probably. ALL SAINTS 2006 -- Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. Love the 05 version, may consider getting the 06 just to see how different it is. CREEPY -- This season’s Ridiculous Scent! As creepy as Spooky was spooky, this is the scent of butterscotch-kissed, caramel-smothered red apples spiked with a blast of coconut rum. Mmmm, this looks yummy. Toffee apples and coconut rum? I still want to try a decant since some rum scents can be a little dusty or a little too boozy on me. I want a toffee apple scent that works on me... DEVIL’S NIGHT 2006 -This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk. Love DN 05, may want to see how different this year's version may be-and to have another bottle of DN! To me, it's my Guy Fawkes firework watching scent, so evocative of dry autumn night air and gingery musk. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2006 -- dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus. Hmm, it seems the Dia scents do vary wildly from year to year but since I liked 05 I might get a bottle of 06, maybe this one won't be overtly floral? The 05 version was rather too heady at times, but very pretty. PUNKIE NIGHT -- apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider. This looks very apple-y indeed with the orchard and cider notes. decant. Sometimes apples can be nice but sometimes they can be too sharp on me. But orchards sound lovely-this may be a very natural apple scent. SAMHAIN 2006 -- Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein. Worth trying to see if it's different/the same and for another vintage bottle of this iconic LE. And it smells gooood. SAMHAINOPHOBIA -- The fear of Halloween. Menacing Haitian vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves. Vetiver...now that's either too much for me or just bearable. I dunno but Haitian vetiver, I think, is the strong stuff. I'm reminded of Baron Samedi's vetiver which overwhelmed the scent. But it's got bourbon geranium, which I love! And clove! And autumn leaves! I'll try a decant. SUGAR SKULL 2006 -- Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. Ditto with the other '06' scents-I don't know if I need more SS but I'll try a decant and see if it's the same or different. My 05 has turned to deep, boozy, rummy sugar, but sometimes it's a bit too much to handle. THE BLOODY SWORD -- dragon’s blood, myrrh, black pepper, labdanum, benzoin, leather, fire, and steel. Steel in perfume? and fire? This I must smell. How it will do on my skin I don't know but it has some lovely resin action going on as well-love myrrh, pepper, labdanum and benzoin, and leather usually smells good on me. It may be verging towards the masculine though. CARFAX ABBEY -- The scent of abandoned places, of desolation and emptiness: heavy woods and thin dusty herbs touched by the wafting incense of a nearby chapel. Looks very gloomy and grim but this might be really nice-decant. I have no idea what this will be like apart from dismal and dusty and maybe quite lonely-it may be nicely evocative though. THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS -- Mountain air and the scent of crisp snow blanketing the mountain’s flora: Scottish fir, beech, cembra and mugho pine, rhododendron, currant, honeysuckle, raspberry leaf, dwarf juniper, sedge, meadow grass, snowdrop, rose bay, lily of the valley, starwort, lichen and mosses. This looks quite stunning, I must say. A complex mountain forest scent? If the snow is like Skadi...mmm. I have no idea what cembra, sedge, snowdrop, rose bay (is it like rose, or bay?) or starwort smell like but I do like fir, woods, pine, currant and if the honeysuckle is that new honeysuckle note like in Litha and BatWoman, then this looks very promising. THE CASTLE -- A distant whisper of pine, wet moss and dry leaves passing through vast halls and winding dungeons whose scent bears the memory of blood, faded splendor, imperial elegance and stunning violence. This looks intriguing enough to warrant a decant, though it does seem very gloomy (rightly so, though) but it might be really atmospheric. There's also a degree of mystery and vagueness after the moss and pine-the smell of dungeons? Interesting. JOHNATHAN HARKER -- A respectable gentleman’s scent: lavender, iris, white tea, verbena and white sandalwood. Hmmm, I'm reminded of Usher and Villain when I see this-could be really nice but also too cologne-like, or too manly? I'll try a decant. QUINCEY MORRIS -- Rough on the edges, but possessing the true essence of valor and nobility of spirit: tobacco, vanilla, white pear, cedar, rugged musk and saddle leather. Mmm, this looks very nice-it seems to be Tombstone/Dead Man's Hand-esque. I might want to try a decant since Tombstone's vanilla did go crazy on my skin. I hope the 'saddle leather' isn't too rawhide-like though. How the pear will fit in intrigues me... WILHELMINA MURRAY -- Tea rose, white sandalwood and a flurry of pale, virginal blossoms, smeared with a smoky, blood-soiled blend of myrrh, hyacinth, Daemonorops resin, dark musk and blackcurrant. Another interesting scent, but aren't they all? A dark floral…I love rose, myrrh, hyacinth, sandalwood, not sure about Daemonorops (dragon's blood apparently?). Decant first. R.M. RENFIELD -- Unhinged: moss, cumin, patchouli, Balsam of Peru, and neroli. Looks reminiscent of Dracul. I do like most of the notes but I want to get a decant first. I'd love to know what Balsam of Peru is like-is it that note that turned to lovely amber in Dracul? Mmm... DR. JOHN SEWARD -- poppy smoke, champaca flower, tonka, sandalwood, ginger, white pepper. Poppy/opium can be nice or nasty. But all the other notes look so tempting. Champaca, sandalwood, ginger and yummy tonka? One to try a decant of for sure. Don't need: AL AZIF --A sinister, sinuous incense of summoning, a herald and paean to the Primordial Gods of Darkness, Chaos, Madness and Decay. I adore this scent and I'm so glad it's now GC! But I have a bottle so I don't need more for now, ARKHAM -- A shadowy, unapproachable forest of maple, birch, dogwood, cypress and pine softened by a garland of New England wildflowers: bergamot, columbine, rue anemone, blue violet, creeping phlox, bloodroot, toadflax, and pixie moss. Not so keen on this-something in it went too sweet, and something else made it smell like some old designer moisturising cream my mum used to wear. Something in it screams 'department store body lotion' and the phlox is over-sweet. AZATHOTH -- tangerine, saffron, vetiver, black amber and cedarwood. Way too masculine for me. Scaaaaary vetiver. CTHULHU -- A creeping, wet, slithering scent, dripping with seaweed, oceanic plants and dark, unfathomable waters. Ditto Azathoth. Yes, this has scaaaaaary vetiver as well. PUMPKIN PATCH REVISITED Don't really need more PP-I only liked the apple cider one enough to keep and I have a bottle of that, which is enough for now. ~~~~~~~ Ok, that's done and dusted. I now can't wait for Kindly Moon (I imagine that will be a tiny update of just the moon, like CM was). And then the BPTP updates...I swear that Puddin' hinted at incense going live (a little mention of 'stuff you can set on fire') and if that's the case, I really hope this incense ain't LE, since I have been looking forward to BPAL incense since it was mentioned last year and I want to buy it all! I have a feeling the next Wallet Armageddon big update to look forward to, BPAL wise, is on October 13th. I predict that the CD Thirteen in One freak show scents will go live, along with 13, and...Yules!!! Since the Yule scents went up in mid-October last year, so it seems reasonable. And if this Halloween update was huge, then it's possible that Yule will be even bigger and more mind-bogglingly amazing...

Mnemosyne The scent: I'm using this both in an oil burner and on the skin. In the burner, it's a very fresh herbal scent, I'm thinking eucalyptus, rosemary/thyme, some evergreens? But on the skin it's not as fresh and herbal, it's actually sweet and spicy, and creamy-there's definitely some clove in here. Maybe a little vanilla/tonka, gingerbread spices, almost like Anthelion. It's a gorgeous smell on the skin, I must say. The intent: I used this for it's memory and concentration aiding purpose, by applying to the wrists and burning it as studied. This, to me, is a kinder, gentler concentration aid than, say, Concentration. This is more like having a kindly tutor helping me work out things that are troubling me, but without strictness. I found a lot of my studies made more sense as I worked with this oil. I also felt calmer and more at ease. A nice little coincidence happened when wearing this-after studying I went to watch the Reading festival on TV and the band performing when I was watching was Muse…and Mnemosyne is the mother of the muses! A small coincidence but interesting nonetheless. (And I love Muse's latest material...) I will be applying this oil to my third eye before sleeping to see if it has any effect on dreams. (if anything of note occurs I will update). I would love to use this oil for connecting to the Collective Unconscious, as I've always been fascinated by it. I must say that this oil does make me feel very meditative, which would seem appropriate for exploring the unconscious history of the world or past lives... I will definitely get a bottle of this since this is a lovely oil in both scent and intent.

Chaos Theory III: CDLXXXIX (489) From GypsyRoseRed's decant circle. In the imp: ohhh…GINGER! And not just any ginger, but sweet, sugared, spicy gingerbread ginger with a hint of cream…think a subtler Shub. Wet on skin: yes, this is creamy Shub! It's the same ginger, but less fierce-and I can smell something green too? Dry on skin: now I can smell pine…yes, this smells like Christmas! This smells like a fresh Xmas tree, that wonderful pine needle smell, in a house where gingerbread is cooking. This is the lovechild of Hearth 05 (the pine, maybe the sugary notes) and Gingerbread Poppet. So festive, so comforting, this will be lovely come December. After a while: eventually I think I'm picking up a hint of the caramelised chestnuts from Hearth 05 (or just the caramel), along with the pine. I also get something deep and boozy, perhaps buttery rum, and brandy, and of course, loads of spices-I get ginger, nutmeg and pepper now. I also get smoke here-either incense or fireside smoke, or even roasted chestnuts. After a few hours I get a soft pale wood background to the sugared spicy pine scent, it's either sandalwood or cedar. It's also a creamy sandalwood, reminds me of another BPAL-maybe Underpants? Verdict: this is, to me, like Hearth 05 but much better. It has that same caramelised nuts and pine scent to it but with the addition of gingerbread spices and a gorgeous smooth woody undertone to make it even more delicious. it reminds me of Shub at times, in fact, but has a drydown reminiscent of creamy sandalwood. This scent is warm, comforting, very much one for the winter and the festive season since it really does smell like Christmas tree at the start. Another stunner from the CT decants which, regrettably, I only have a decant of! I also hope that Beth makes scents like this for Yule… Emoticon rating:

Mad Hatter In the imp: minty-fresh pennyroyal over lavender. Wet on skin: sweet pennyroyal, lavender and now I get a lovely sweet black musk underneath. Dry on skin: whoa, this minty stuff is strong. The pennyroyal has a much more intense minty feel to it, hitting the throat with a blast of coolness. Underneath is the lavender and I'm sure I can smell moss there too, like a fougere/chypre scent. And then there's that musk…it's sweet, deep, rich black musk. It doesn't take over but it enhances the scent very nicely. Though it seems this musk is a little bit darker and more feral than the usual black musk. After a while: the lavender and mint fade and now the scent left is musk. It's faint-but close to the skin, it's quite nice. Not as sweet, sleek, and gorgeous as other black musk scents-this is more of a dark musk, slightly sweet, a little bit feral, almost like a darker, less sweet Siberian musk. It also reminds me of one of the musks in Smut, as it has a very slight 'rubbery' scent to it that, oddly, is quite nice here (and it's a lot more discreet than the Smut musks!) it's not the black musk I'm in love with but I like it-at least it doesn't veer towards civet-feral! I don't know but I'm pretty sure I smell moss here…it has that 'powdery light green' scent to it. Odd, since it's not mentioned, but I smell oak moss. And at the end I get something reminiscent of ambergris, as it smells ambery but also reminiscent of other ambergris scents. Verdict: this was a nice scent, and surprisingly sane for it's namesake character. A minty shock of pennyroyal fading to a darker skin musk. Despite it's promise of something feral, it's not as scary as I thought. This isn't the black musk I go nuts over but it's like a dark musk with a sweet, almost smoky feel to it. It's very tenacious and sticks around occasionally surprising me with its throw, despite it's deceptive subtlety. I think there are mossy/ambergris/fougere like nuances upon the drydown. Or maybe my nose is going mad (ha ha!) It's not a bad scent but not a favourite…I like the way it's understated and unisex though, but a bit too understated at times. I do have other musky scents I prefer. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Pain, Casanova, Wilde, Old Scratch

Chaos Theory III: DCCLXXI (771) From GypsyRoseRed's decant circle. In the imp: oh mah gawds. Musky vanilla. Snake Charmer style. Oh my. Wet on skin: no, this isn't just musky vanilla, this is vanilla musk and HONEY! Dry on skin: Wow. Just wow. This is the lovechild of O and Snake Charmer. It has O's honey, although the honey here is actually more like Osun or the honey SN, it has a real wild honey or honeycomb feel to it, you can smell the flowers that are in the honey. It smells like beeswax as well. And underneath is the deep rich vanilla from Snake Charmer/Oil with musk-it's not as strong now because the honey's taking centre stage but this stuff is phenomenal. After a while: still a beautiful, soft, powdered honeycomb with gentle blossoms with deep vanilla-amber underneath. This is like O but ten times better. I get musk under it all-could it be Siberian musk? Don't take my word for it but I get a slight resemblance to the SN of this musk. It could be red musk but I'm sure it has that dark feral twist that reminds me of the Siberian variety, which mingles harmoniously with the tangy aspect of the honey. After some time, I think I can safely say that I think there's Siberian musk in here. it smells very much like my SN, layered with wildflower honey. This is along similar lines to Sed Non Satiata now (sexy musky honey), as well as O, or like honeyed Snake Oil. The honey note then softens so delightfully and it's like honey dust on my skin-with a powdery quality-over musky vanilla. Verdict: so far the CT bottles I've bought for myself and tried haven't wowed me that much, but the decants have blown my mind. This is the sexiest honey musk ever. It's like Sed Non Satiata or O on steroids, or honeyed Snake Oil. It's got the most delicious honey note ever-a tangy yet delightfully sweet honeycomb scent with hints of wild meadow blossom. And it has Siberian musk. Oh yes indeedy. That sexy, deep, muskiest of the musks. SM with honey, with backings of delicious vanilla, possibly amber as well. Another stunner among the CT scents, another one I wish I had more of-though LVIII is still my all time favourite. Emoticon rating: Previously reviewed by maijasu. Chaos Theory III: ???CIL (bottle leaked, number got smudged) In the bottle: holy moly, this is MANLY in the extreme. This is masculine woods-possibly cedar and cypress, with a lot of other very dark and very butch notes. Wet on skin: still very masculine. I now smell patchouli and tobacco in here. Dry on skin: this now smells like the Ultimate Man Scent. deep, dark, masculine and greenish black, it's heavy on the woods, with hints of incense-I get patchouli, possibly some leather as well, maybe some resins? I think there may be cedar here with cypress causing that OMGMANWOOD! (hehehe that sounds naughty doesn't it? I am talking about trees here, don't worry!), maybe some herbal notes? Moss and ambergris too? Possibly some pepper, maybe resins? It reminds me of very expensive men's designer perfume. But it's much too manly for me. After a while: I get a feel of 'deep green' and something watery in this scent. It's deeply earthy but also fresh, cool, almost like there's an aquatic note tucked in there…it gives the impression of water which is a deep blue green colour. This is what I hoped Jolly Roger smelt like…it also has the murky, almost earthy scent that Oblivion had, but this is less sweet. This becomes sharper, tangier over time and starts to gain a 'cologne' scent, and it reminds me now of aftershave. It does remind me of a certain brand of aftershave, not sure which. I think there may be a little bit of vetiver now. Verdict: usually most BPAL 'men's scents' are very gender neutral, very wearable on me. But this is probably the most masculine BPAL ever. It truly is 'BPAL Pour Homme'. It smells like really expensive aftershave. It's very well blended though-less of a chaotic scent and more like something regular and traditionally structured, in fact. The scent itself deep woody notes (cedar, I think, and a few others) in a dark coating of what I think may be patchouli, leather, light vetiver, maybe some tobacco, and possibly some green notes and aquatics and something tangy. The overall feel I get is of the colour teal, murky blue green, graduating to gold-accented teal. This is the scent of a clean cut, sophisticated man who has refined tastes and likes to follow convention, and he likes to show off how rich he is. Very traditionally masculine. But way too much for me. I think I will need to swap this, as this is a scent much better suited to an older man than to me. I'd recommend this scent to anyone trying to wean their boyfriend off the Brut and onto the BPAL. Emoticon rating:

R'lyeh In the imp: yup, now I know what everyone means by 'evil grapefruit'. This smells like grapefruit in resins with a hint of salt. Wet on skin: grapefruit! Whoa, that's grapefruity. There's something underneath that's sweet, dark, incense like and woody. Dry on skin: ack. Now I smell the sharp, acrid, celery-like scent of Evil Gardenia. But in here, it seems appropriate. The scent is indeed that of grapefruits turned evil. The bitter fruit is covered with salt instead of sugar. It rests on a bed of driftwood floating above a murky ocean with seaweed (though the seaweedy scent here is quite nice, not a horrid rotten seaweed scent), with hints of dry, brine-pickled gardenia petals. It's very salty and indeed, very much a marine aquatic…but with a dark side. After a while: now it does the dreaded soap thing. I have no idea why but a lot of the aquatic scents have been turning to soap recently. But it does remind me of Dirty so it's not too bad a soapy scent-the grapefruit edge is gone now, leaving a white floral 'clean laundry' scent with the bite of harsh gardenia and dry, grey woods. it gets even more dissonant over time-that odd mix of soft clean laundry, gritty driftwood, ozone-shocked gardenia and murky seaweed. Verdict: why is it that most aquatics I try these days-especially the salty ones-go terribly awry on me? (if this affects my ability to wear Sea of Glass and Penthus, I will cry…)This happened with Pool of Tears, Jolly Roger and Isle of the Dead and now this…it smelt odd as soon as it touched my skin and I think there's that nasty gardenia note here that turns celery like on my skin, along with a truly bizarre mix of salted grapefruit, pale scrubby woods and murky algae filled water. Which all seemed appropriate at first, until something in the aquatic turned to-you guessed it-soap. Evil soap with a dry, dark, gritty, uncomfortable and clashing undertone. I think this is going for swaps… Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Jolly Roger, Isle of the Dead

Namaste In the imp: lemongrass! With hints of the other notes, but powerfully lemongrass-centred. Wet on skin: a punch of zingy lemongrass with cedar underneath. Dry on skin: lots of lemongrass on a soft, gentle bed of woods, it's very piercing and bright, but herbal too. It's pretty much taking over the scent for now, not in a bad way, but I want the sandalwood and rose to come out. I'll wait a bit since lemongrass can act a bit like a hyperactive kid at first, screaming for attention, but then runs out of steam and calms down a bit. After a while: ah yes, now the lemongrass has calmed down, and the jasmine comes to play, followed by woods. The scent is a citrus-spiked floral scent now, which is actually quite pleasant, and the combination of lemongrass and jasmine strikes me as a very Asian scent. The scent then morphs into a scent of rose, jasmine and sandalwood with very little lemon left. It seems to stay that way-the scent is very soft now though, but it does have a feel of incense to it at times. Verdict: at first this was uber-lemongrass, not as much as the Vortex, but heavy on the sharp lemony scent. It did tone down a little bit though, turning into jasmine-sandalwood, then a powdered wood and rose scent. It's a nice scent, but more like something I'd use as a room scent due to the woody incense vibe it has, but it's a little bit plain as a skin scent (after the lemongrass phase) on me. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: The Vortex

Chaos Theory III: LVIII (58) From GypsyRoseRed's decant circle. In the imp: Egyptian Musk! Yes! This smells very much like Ozymandias and Great Cry in Egypt, but fresher and less 'golden' with an airy tangy musk. Wet on skin: a tangy, fresh, cool airy musk with a darker red musk underneath with resins. Wow. Dry on skin: ohhh. Oh this is what I dreamed of from CT. It has the 'night air musk' of Nuit, the deeper resin-touched musk of Great Cry, the sand-dusted incense of Ozymandias, plus a note that is chilly and sparkling, almost like anise meets mint, but not quite-it lacks the medicinal aspect of anise and the mintiness of mint. This is a desert night in scent. Cool and dark and sparkling with a billion stars and silver moonlight over the dust and sand below, still retaining some of the day's warmth, a little skin musk, and a hint of incense on the breeze… After a while: this does become a tad warmer, the musky incense gets richer, and the scent begins to get more golden. I think there's some amber coming through. This scent is very visual and tells a story-as I said, the first stage was night, now dawn is approaching. The warmth gets more and more pronounced over time, as does the musk. It's the same red musk as Great Cry, with amber, frankincense and possibly cardamom, but with a more muted saffron than Great Cry-this is gentler, and now it brings to mind a beautiful sunrise over the dunes. There's just a bare hint of dusty sandalwood…I'm also getting hints of some of the notes of Jacob's Ladder now. And the end stage? Pure glowing amber and musk…beautiful translucent amber, like my E. amber single note. A new day has dawned and the morning is serene and golden. Verdict: excuse the visual-laden review but this does bring up a lot of imagery… this scent is like the perfect blend of all the best bits of some of Beth's Egypt themed scents, and paints a beautiful picture. At first, it's night in the Egyptian desert. Chilly and star-filled, soft sand under your feet, and the scent of crumbling stone ruins (pyramids even?) all around, with the warmth of skin-scent musk and you just catch a little hint of ancient resin-a remnant of a distant past, wafting in the crystalline air? Then the sky's glitter fades and the warmth of day slowly returns…the sun is about to rise as golden notes start to penetrate the scent, amber and resins and deep red velvety musk, these golden notes warm up even more over time reaching a beautiful golden finale of spiced amber and musk. This is my dream CT blend. A fusion of Ozymandias, Great Cry, maybe a hint of Nuit too, which starts with a sparkling night breeze and ends in a scented sunrise. Such a shame I only have a decant's worth of this magnificent scent. I pine for more... Emoticon rating: Previously reviewed by shadith.

Sybaris In the imp: ohh, this is stunning. Sweet clove and violet and tonka, in fact, this reminds me of the White Cat by H&E, or even Anthelion! Wet on skin: soft powdery violets dusted on top of spiced sweet tonka. Beautiful. Dry on skin: this is such a wonderful scent. In here, the violets are anything but dowdy and old fashioned, they are decadent and gorgeous. Their powdery, soft, gentle scent contrasts nicely with the bold, deep, warm clove and the delicious and rich and creamy sweet tonka, with hints of other spices enhancing it all. This is superb! After a while: all the notes merge as one, yet still remaining individual and distinguishable. Soft powdery cool violet with the wonderful clove-tonka make for a beautifully harmonious group of notes. There's a gorgeous spiced warmth to the scent, and it's also a lot drier now, not as creamy. And the throw is impressive. There are times when it really does smell floral, like a fresh violet, yet sweeter. It is a little bit soapy at times though, though not in a bad way…I think it's the violet, since I got a similar reaction from Ultraviolet. Verdict: this is so gorgeous! This, like Perversion, has the delicious tonka note that guarantees a 'love at first sniff' reaction. The exact same tonka, I'm sure, but dusted with violet and enhanced by clove. The scent is almost foody-decadent but not quite, it's also got a gentle outdoors/floral feel to it but with that indulgent undercurrent. There are times when it reminds me of Anthelion-yeah, I know it may not be appropriate to make comparisons to a ritual oil, but it's got the same creamy clove, and I now think there's tonka in that as well. But that could be my odd skin. And it really does remind me of a violet-tinted, less foody version of White Cat by Heaven and Earth, which I love. I'm not sure if I'll get a bottle just yet since the violet does become slightly soapy at times, but it's a definite keeper and a potential for a bottle. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Perversion, Le Serpent Qui Danse

I think I'll use this blog to blather about BPAL and smelly stuff. My LJ needs updating but my life has been so unexciting it's unreal. Seriously. Apart from little perks like my cousin and her children staying over (little Claire is the sweetest thing ever-I've never seen such a well behaved, helpful, and ever so polite 5 year old girl!) and massive lows like my impending maths exam not much is going on, apart from the little pleasures and indulgences, like BPAL... This Black Moon update, though small, looks fantastic. Here's a little detailed breakdown: BLACK MOON: BETH'S CREATION The absence of light: motia attar, black orchid, mugwort, English pear, cucumber, blue lotus, jonquil, massoia, calamus and crystal musk. I've never smelt motia attar but if this smells like my jasmine attar that I have, I will be so happy-I think motia attar is jasmine perfume distilled in sandalwood *swoon*. Black orchid is the note that grabbed me in Queen Mab, that beautiful sweet rich floral. But it's the blue lotus that grabbed me most. I thought 'no way, not the famous blue lotus, perfume of the pharaohs?' I have a bottle of blue lotus perfume from Egypt and also a BL absolute-I love this stuff. However, I've heard there's an Indian blue lotus as well which I've not smelt, not sure if Beth will use the Egyptian or the Indian variety but either way, it looks stunning. Crystal musk looks like it will be beautiful. And massoia...I need to try Lost for Words (by Arcana) to see what that's like. All in all, this looks like it will be even better than Blue Moon (omg that sounds like blasphemy! ) SCHWARZER MOND: BRIAN'S CREATION The keeper of secrets: opoponax, Tunisian black amber, night musk, antique patchouli, zdravetz, terebinth, myrrh, and Pimenta racemosa. Ohhh RESINS!!! I love opoponax, myrrh and amber (Tunisian amber? If it smells like my Attar bazaar stuff...) and the zdravetz looks intriguing-geranium resin with supposed hormone balancing qualities? That I must see! I'm very curious about terebinth and what that smells like. And I'm also wondering if the pimenta will smell like bay rum or like allspice. But it's the antique patchouli that grabbed me. I'm a huge fan of another perfume etailer's AP (hint, it's the one with the 50-year old patch) but I have a feeling that AP done BPAL style will blow them out of the water. Ohhh. And the night musk? That brings to mind all the gorgeous night-time musky scents, will it be a Buck Moon musk (insert nosegasm here) or a Nuit musk? I can't wait to find out. I am coveting these scents like nothing else. The Black Moon scents eclipse (geddit? Eclipse? ) my previous covetings of CDs!

Chuparosa In the imp: roses and honeysuckle, the scent of flowers and nectar. How pretty! Wet on skin: sweet nectary flowers, jasmine and honeysuckle, and a few other flowers I can't recognise. Dry on skin: such a pretty scent! I get a dry-ish floral here which I'm sure I've smelt before but I can't name it now. I get jasmine and honeysuckle. Possibly some lily and tropical flowers. A soft dry, sweet, pale background…maybe some white sandalwood? I get a little rose but not as much as I expected. I also get something that I'm sure is violet. But all in all, it's a sweet bouquet of flowers. After a while: I think its lily. What sort of lily, I can't say (I'm guessing calla), but the scent has calmed to a gentle greenish lily scent with a beautiful sweetness, fringed by jasmine. I can smell nectar here, that's for sure, which is appropriate for a scent named after a hummingbird. There are times when this scent becomes a beautiful soft white floral, slightly powdery, very sweet, delicate and delightful. The end drydown is a not very nice greenish sharp jasmine/honeysuckle scent which isn't as lovely as some of the earlier stages. Verdict: this is such a pretty floral scent! Gentle, dewy, full of nectar, heady but still delicate, this is a soft bouquet of fragrant sweet blooms which I can't identify for certain, but I'm guessing lilies, jasmine, honeysuckle, possibly gardenia (of the nice kind), tropical flowers. The scent is sweet and moist and does indeed have a soothing, merciful feel to it, almost compassionate, not forceful, and at times this scent is a beautiful powdered sweet floral. the end stage is not as nice though-it's doing the dry green thing that a lot of jasmine/honeysuckle scents do on me, but I think I might keep the imp since this scent is so pretty and girly and lovely. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Eos, Moscow, Belle Epoque

Light Myrrh In the imp: bitter resin. It reminds me of real myrrh resin ready to burn, but also has a slight boozy kick. Wet on skin: burning myrrh! Dry on skin: hmm, this isn't too bad actually, considering it smells like it's burnt. This is the myrrh from Black Lotus, Wings of Azrael, Nyx and Athens. Not the unburnt, sticky, dark, delicious, sweet myrrh from other scents, but a scent of dry myrrh resin on the censer. Smouldering, blackened, bitter resin, a real incense scent, with a hint of wood and pepper, but it's not bad on it's own-it can distract in blends (but not always) but smells quite nice alone. After a while: it stays the same (burning bitter myrrh) though it becomes drier and a tad woodier. There's a nice sweetness poking out through the burnt scent though. Verdict: now I know why some myrrh scents turn burnt-smelling on me whilst other smell lovely and sweet and deeply resinous…this is the burnt myrrh that turned on me in Black Lotus. It's not too bad on it's own-an odd, dry, smoky, charred scent with a peppery aspect, like myrrh when it's burnt black as opposed to it as a fresh resin. I actually don't hate this as much as I thought I would but I'm not keen on it (though it's nice in moderation in some blends). I would love to try the dark myrrh now to see if that is the myrrh I really love. Glad I got to familiarise myself with the light variety though. Emoticon rating:

Chaos Theory CCXXXIX (239) Received in swap. In the imp: patchouli. Lots and lots and lots of patchouli. Whoa. Wet on skin: still mainly patchouli but I can smell something sweet there as well as a cool note reminiscent of anise or absinthe, or even mint. Dry on skin: this is very unusual! This scent is both warm and cool, both heavy and light at once. I get a deep, dark patchouli note-probably red patchouli judging by the colour, but this is dramatically contrasted by an anise like note that reminds me of the BPAL Absinthe. A cool, alcoholic, almost medicinal and minty anise scent with sugar, this is a very odd combination but it's not bad! my only concern is that absinthe can turn to soap, and anise can turn medicinal. After a while: eventually, a clearer and sharper, still medicinal scent does peep out of the 'absinthe' and I think it's either wintergreen or eucalyptus-it can't be mint since mint does fade fast, but this has just strengthened. At the same time, a black leather and tobacco note starts to surface from the dark patchouli base. The scent altogether is very much a masculine scent, reminiscent of a well crafted men's perfume or aftershave. Soon after, a sweet resin, possibly amber, starts to make itself known as well, as well as a green note which could be fir or pine. And then…sandalwood! This scent has done a total 180 and transformed into sandalwood, sweet and incensy, fringed by the remains of patchouli and leather but with none of the absinthe or wintergreen that came before. Mind you, the more I smell it, the more I think it may be rosewood, cedar, or a mix of several fragrant woods. It's woody, that's all I'm certain of. And then, soon after, vanilla/tonka comes out. Whoa, this one morphs like nobody's business. Eventually this smells a bit like Perversion, only more leathery with patchouli and woods (cedar?), before going back to being patchouli dominated, with a hint of moss or ambergris. Verdict: another bizarre scent experience, but one that dries down very nicely into what I think is a very sophisticated man's perfume. It starts off as a very strange scent-patchouli and absinthe, but then it morphs and twists and changes into leather, tobacco, tonka, amber, fragrant woods and then settling down into a very pleasant patch-leather-tobacco with a hint of amber and woods, a scent which reminds me of good masculine perfume. it's very odd, the way this changes so much but that's the nature of CT scents and why they are so good! I'm not sure if I'll keep this since it's a bit too manly for me at the end, but very interesting to try! Emoticon rating: Previously reviewed by terrierhead.

Melpomene In the imp: mint, lavender and orange blossom. Wet on skin: orange blossom gets tangier, and I get a little hint of geranium. Dry on skin: tangy orange blossom cologne! This really does have a fresh, zesty, citrus cologne scent to it, with a hint of darker cypress wood, and a little bit of geranium. It's not a bad scent, and it's a lot more 'happy smelling' that I expected the muse of tragedy to smell like… After a while: soap. That's right, soap. I don't get cypress, mint, lavender or passion flower, just orange blossom soap-now usually most orange blossom scents don't soap out on me but this one certainly has-it's a citrus soap reminiscent of the stuff you get at hotels. Not something I'd like to smell like. it continues to smell like hotel soap all through the scent… Verdict: this is, I'm afraid, my least favourite of the Muses. It smelt ok at first, a bright mix of orange blossom and herbs, pretty and surprisingly citrusy. But then it turned quite tragic on my skin-it smelt like soap. Citrus soap, and nothing else…I'm wondering if the orange blossom did this but usually I have no problems with this note, but in here it just went to all-consuming soap. One for swaps. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Santa Eularia, Calliope

Phantom Queen In the imp: orchid! The same beautiful sweet orchid as Queen Mab's. This smells very promising. Wet on skin: orchid with hints of dry herbs, probably clover and also apple blossom. Dry on skin: this is a lovely scent. it's dominated by that fantastic rich orchid note, full bodied and sweet, but it's contrasted nicely by a 'wildflower' scent with hints of green. I'm not familiar with hawthorn, rue and meadowsweet but I think I can smell the clover and apple blossom here-mainly clover, and apple blossom here smelling almost like apple fruit. It's a lovely outdoorsy scent, very much a scent of meadows and spring enhanced by that fabulous, deeply floral orchid note. After a while: still as lovely as ever but now a lot lighter and drier. The orchid's still there but the apple blossom has lent its 'dry petals' aspect to the whole scent, and I think I can smell a little moss. It's a light, almost ethereal scent. Verdict: this is a very pleasant scent, and the best bit about it is that orchid note. It's the one I adored in Queen Mab and indeed I think this queenly scent is very much like a lighter, more ghostly, less heavy version of Mab. Heady and sweet orchid with lighter, crisper notes of apple blossom, clover and meadow herbs. It's a delightfully springy scent, feminine and breezy and very pretty indeed-I still prefer Mab's richness and depth to this but I'm definitely keeping the imp of Phantom Queen. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Queen Mab, Regan

Dragon's Tears In the imp: salty dragon's blood! Wet on skin: fresh dragon's blood! Now that's unusual-usually DB isn't cool and wet… Dry on skin: mmm, not bad! There's a load of dragon's blood here but it's really cool and fresh smelling, thanks to the aquatic notes-it's slightly salty but not soapy, but it's a very clean scent. Very unusual, this mix of red, heavy resin with crisp watery notes… After a while: this softens so nicely, and the dragon's blood gains even more of a floral scent than usual. The scent is now of a soft powdery flower, like a lilac or lily, with a hint of the resin at the base. A soft, clean floral scent with a bit of incense. It's an odd, but lovely transformation. I can't smell the salt water though. This soft, muted, almost powdery lily like floral scent remains all through the scent. it's really nice, but this soft white flower is resting on a red, almost ashy, incense like base. It also has a note that for some reason reminds me of crayons and candle wax, but despite that, I really like it! Verdict: this was a pleasant surprise. Whilst not my favourite of the Draconis scents this did react a lot more nicely (in an unexpected way) on me than expected-it turned from salted dragon's blood to a very pleasant white floral scent, a touch powdery, a touch sweet, but very very floral indeed. Almost like a lilac-lily scent. I have no idea what happened or what notes caused the briny aquatic to turn flowery but I like it. it's gentle and sweet, but the dragon's blood at the base lends it a red, smouldering, and in here, a somewhat waxy smell reminiscent of the dragon's blood candles at the local new age shop, and also, oddly, red pencils. It's a lovely scent-not sure if I'll keep it since I have other DB scents I prefer but I'm glad the aquatics didn't turn to soap in here. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Dragon's Blood, Sea of Glass, Dirty

Jolly Roger In the imp: fresh aquatics! Like a wave crashing on the shore and splashing me in the face! With a hint of wood. Wet on skin: fresh, fresh aquatic notes, with a hint of wood and leather. Very cool as a scent-this sea is cold. Dry on skin: not bad, though now the aquatic note does veer towards smelling like laundry. Like it's been freshly washed! It's no longer the fresh sea spray I got before, more like the smell of the local laundrette. There's a hint of saltiness and wind to it though that reminds me of cold storm waves slapping on the hull of a wooden ship-I smell the wood under it all, a pale, greyish wood scent. I don't smell the rum or the leather though-just the ozone-aquatics. After a while: and then it all turns to soap. I smell like someone's put me in the washing machine. It smells so much like detergent it's scary! But then the OMGSOAP! phase dies down and I can now smell leather! This improves the smell a lot more. It now regains its truly marine scent and now there's dark leather added to it. It still smells very clean and 'freshly washed' but not as overwhelmingly so. And then after that brief leathery interlude it goes back to OMGSOAP!!! But then after many hours it switches into a pleasant sweet white floral with a hint of leather! Talk about a shapeshifter…it also smells a little bit like non-violetty Numb with a hint of Dirty. Verdict: whoa, this scent is as unpredictable and as changeable as a stormy sea! First it's pure sea spray up my nose. Then it's sea spray and driftwood. Then it's detergent-yup, it turns to Eau de Laundrette on me. And then the leather comes out to calm the scent of clean laundry before the soap goes crazy on my skin once more before calming down again at the end. What a bumpy ride this scent was, veering between 'hmm, not bad' and 'who put me on spin cycle?' all the time. That's the thing with aquatics and ozone scents-they can be really nice on me, or they can be really soapy-this was the latter. I think I'll swap this. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: De Sade, Numb, Sea of Glass, Dirty, Pool of Tears

Siberian Musk In the imp: sweet musk! This reminds me of Smut, EOM and possibly Dragon's Musk, this is a rich, sweet, vanilla like musk, almost like red musk or black musk. Wet on skin: sweet, rich, dark musk. This is so sexy. Dry on skin: wow. Just wow. This is a magnificent musk! Deep, rich, dark, sweet, almost incense like, with a vanilla like feel and a feral twist. I wonder now if the what I sometimes detect in scents as a 'black musk' may actually be Siberian musk instead-there's a similarity, this is also slightly like red musk but not as fruity or spicy. I'd say this was between red and black in the musk spectrum. After a while: the scent gains a slight 'skin' scent to it, but not a light fresh skin scent, this is much sweeter and darker and feral. It's become more rounded now, and slightly more wild as well, but still retaining that vanilla like sweetness. There's something here that very slightly reminds me of some kind of hair product (shampoo from the hairdresser's?), but it's not too strong to be distracting. The throw is impressive as well-I get wafts of almost vanilla-amber sweet dark musk all around, though near the wrist the scent is less sweet. Verdict: another wonderful musk single note from the Lab. I can see why this is so loved and sorely missed. It's raw and wild musk tempered with sophisticated, sexy sweetness. It's animalistic in the best way-it doesn't smell like an animal's backside but has that feral feel, as well as rich, sweet, vanilla and amber like overtones. This is to me, very similar to both red and black musk but it's also a very different entity to both of those. I still prefer red, white and Egyptian musk, but I think I will become even more attached to this one the more I wear it. This is a unique musk that I've encountered in very few BPAL blends and I would love to see Beth make more Siberian musk scents. Emoticon rating:

Viola In the imp: tangy mandarin with roses and other florals, hints of wood, resin…a complex, rich scent! Wet on skin: mmm, this is nice. The mandarin is nice and tart, with the roses and florals following… Dry on skin: this is gorgeous! Predominantly rose, enhanced by rich lily, a hint of citrus, and with a lovely background of woods, amber, myrrh and a little hint of moist moss. This is such a pretty scent, very feminine and grand, with a lovely complexity to it. It's almost traditional smelling but also with an innovative mix of different notes behind the florals. After a while: moss, lily and lots of rose are the dominant notes after a while, there's a slight greenish quality surrounding the rich floral notes, but I can also make out the dry fragrant woods underneath, maybe a hint of sweet amber gilding it all. Very pretty. It's much greener and mossier after a few hours. Not as complex and rich as it was before. Very moss-rose at the end. Verdict: at first, I was delighted by the rich rosy scent accented by a complex and diverse range of notes like amber, moss, woods, myrrh and lily. It had something almost traditional to it but not old fashioned. A very feminine scent with a nice depth to it. over time it became greener and more mossy with hints of rose, though not as glorious as the first stage. I'll keep the imp but I don’t know if I'll get a bottle. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Thanatos, Sepulchre, Three Brides, Zombi

Come to Me In the imp: very, very faint, but I smell a tangy floral. I know I've smelt it before but I don't know what it is! Wet on skin: oh, I know this scent. What is it? I think it could be lily of the valley, but I may be wrong… Dry on skin: this is very pretty. A soft, slightly tangy springtime floral scent with an almost citrus like feel, it's also reminiscent of one of those English perfumery soaps I've smelt in a department store, maybe Crabtree and Evelyn's stuff. I think its lily of the valley. Very soft and pure and innocent, white and dewy, this does smell a tad perfumey though, very different to other BPAL lily scents. After a while: the soapy aspect does increase over time, and it really does remind me of posh lily of the valley soap at times, before developing a lemony soap scent and then fading to a white soap with a hint of lily and lemon. It's waaaaaay too soapy now, which is a shame. Reminds me of the bars they put in hotels, actually. Verdict: at first, this smelt so pretty! A gentle, innocent white floral touched with dew, springy lily of the valley, a soft, sophisticated scent reminiscent of what I call 'posh English soap'-the finely milled soaps that come in traditional floral scents and are much more suited to people older than me. The soap aspect of the scent becomes stronger over time and it turns from posh soap to cheap hotel soap! It has a slight lemony scent to it, which enhances the soap scent, but I'm not keen on this. I have other love-related voodoo scents I prefer (like Love Me) and this one doesn't seem like it will get any guys coming to me, at least not on my skin. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Belle Epoque, Hymn

Intrigue In the imp: green fig and cocoa. This reminds me of Freak Show. Wet on skin: tangy fig, a sprinkling of dry cocoa, and wooden notes. Dry on skin: mmm, I like this. The fig does eventually settle down, becomes less tangy, and more ripe fig like in scent, which I love. The cocoa is there but isn't obvious, I can just make it out. There are some gorgeous deep wood notes, possibly palm as well as other woods, maybe cedar, at the base of the scent. The scent is dry, earthy, deep and fruity, very unusual, slightly reminiscent of Carnal, Freak Show and Strangler Fig. After a while: the fig note sharpens a bit, and the Freak Show resemblance gets a little stronger. It's chocolate-coated fig with a hint of something almost citrus like to it, on a soft woody background. This tang does ease after a few hours to give a very pleasant smooth chocolate-sandalwood-ripe fig scent that is delightful, if a little soft. This becomes sweeter and lovelier upon drydown after many hours. Verdict: I'm very fond of this intriguing scent-it does get nicer upon drydown, I must say. The first bit was the 'green fig' note I sometimes get from BPAL fig notes, not bad but not ripe enough for my tastes. But this mellows, mingles with the cocoa and palmy woods and becomes so much nicer upon drydown, with nuances of incense, warm sandalwood and sugary treats of chocolate and sweet figs. I'm not sure if I'll keep it though since Freak Show and Strangler Fig do have similarities to this but are a lot more complex and the incense-fig note in SF is a lot richer and sweeter which I prefer, but I do like this. Emoticon rating: If you like this, try: Carnal, Strangler Fig, Velvet

White Musk In the imp: beautiful, clear, gentle white musk! Wet on skin: such a stunning, soft white musk. This is so nice… Dry on skin: ohhh, this is so beautiful. It's white musk, pure and simple. But possibly the best white musk ever! Surprisingly complex for a single note (as is to be expected of musk) this scent is fresh and white, a pure, clean scent with a hint of powder, a subtle, almost vanilla/sugar like sweetness and a gorgeous skin scent all mixed into one. I am impressed. After a while: this doesn't change much, it stays as gorgeous as ever, a soft powdery white scent which smells so comforting, so pleasant, but despite it's softness, has a lot of throw. It sweetens so nicely over the hours, almost like there's a little smidge of creamy vanilla hidden in there. It ends on a very clean finish, not as sweet as before, but a delightful clean skin scent. on me, it sticks around for ages! Verdict: this is another reason why, along with many others, wish for the impossible…a re-release of single notes. This white musk is one of the finest white musks out there, and that's no exaggeration. Subtle, soft, pure, white, gentle, sweet, clean, creamy, with a delightful skin scent twist, this is a wonderful single note which has enough complexity to wear alone and has a lot of presence and throw despite it's gentleness. A beautiful, well crafted musk note which I would love to get more of! Emoticon rating: