PurringPulsar

Envy In the imp: green! It’s mainly green herbs, but bits of lavender, mint and lime are also in there as well. Wet on skin: now it smells like a florist’s shop, this is pure chlorophyll. Dry: yup, this is so green! It smells like I’ve stepped into a florist’s, or have rubbed some crushed leaves on my skin-it’s such a realistic green scent, wet, moist, with a definite feel of spring. The mint adds a coolness but doesn’t smells blatantly minty, the lavender is just barely detectable, but there’s no trace of lime. After a while: huh, what’s going on here? Seems there’s a floral note poking out here, it seems, reminiscent of lily of the valley or honeysuckle. I have no idea where that comes from-I think it’s the way my skin reacts with some of Beth’s ‘green’ notes as I get a similar reaction with some of the greener tarot blends. No more mint, lime or lavender, just this incredible green with a little hint of spring floral. Like leaves drenched by rain-in fact I’d imagine that may be what a rainforest smells like. It hasn’t soaped out on me like some green scents do, either, but it’s quite sharp and a bit astringent. Verdict: this is probably the greenest BPAL I’ve smelt so far. It’s like pure chlorophyll, like crushed wet leaves, like all the cut stems and leaves that fragrance a florist’s shop. Lavender, mint and lime flit through this at the beginning, but then it’s all about the GREEN. I also get something slightly floral which is odd as no florals (apart from lavender) are listed in here, but it’s very natural and doesn’t smell soapy or fake on me-but whilst I quite like it, it’s not a favourite. I’ll keep the imp for any time I feel like smelling greeeeeeeeeen.

Tamora In the imp: oh, this is gorgeous. Sweet fruity amber vanilla, a golden and delicious scent. Wet on skin: peach! This is a lovely gentle ‘peaches and cream’ scent now, but it’s more than just that. Dry: this is such a beautiful fragrance! All the notes in here just work so well-there’s golden amber with fruity peach (well, on my skin, peach blossom smells just like the fruit, it seems) and heliotrope too, surrounded by delightful creamy vanilla. This reminds me somewhat of several ‘vanilla amber’ fragrances that I have tried from other e-tailers (I think these were Ambra de Nepal dupes-I haven’t smelt the original, but these dupes also happened to turn to peaches and cream too), but this is so much nicer, more complex, richer and fuller. After a while: now all the notes have just smoothed out and blended into a lovely, rounded, sweetly golden scent. I can’t make out the notes as I did before but it’s now a smooth vanilla with a bit more heliotrope at this point and a bit of peach remaining. It’s a very well blended scent. I'm surprised-a lot of people mention that this blend doesn't last on them-but it's still going strong on me! After 3 hours or so, it's morphed into this very pleasant vanilla-amber scent with a hint of sandalwood and...almond! That's definitely the heliotrope, as sometimes this note smells a bit like vanilla-almond to me. I'm still besotted by this scent, it smells round and full and very comforting. Verdict: this fabulous scent is like peaches and vanilla ice cream, but so much better-it’s more like peaches and ice cream of the gods! The notes in this scent work very harmoniously with each other to create a fabulous fragrance of golden, sun-kissed sweetness. It bears a slight similarity to some vanilla-amber scents from other e-tailers, but it’s so much better, and more complex thanks to additions like heliotrope, sandalwood and, of course, the peach blossom which smells almost like the fruit in here, which adds a juicy aspect to the scent. I think a big bottle of this scent is needed, pronto!

Absinthe In the imp: eek, sharp booze! This is a ‘clear alcohol’ scent, amplified by anise, made colder by mint. I haven’t tried absinthe so I can’t say if it smells like the real thing. Wet on skin: it now gets greener and more herbal, I get the lemon note. Dry: it’s now the scent of herbal, slightly boozy lemon. It’s a cold, clear, and green scent. It’s not too bad now, the boozy aspect of the scent has toned down a bit, but is still there. The scent is very cool, like it’s been chilled… After a while: the anise note is coming out more, making this smell a bit like liquorice. The herbal-lemon-booze scent still remains. The mint isn’t blatant in this, but it gives the scent a definite sense of coldness, and there’s something very fluid and translucent about the scent as well. I just wish I got cardamom from this though… Verdict: I don’t know what absinthe really smells like but this scent is certainly boozy, clear, and cold…it’s herbal and lemony with a definite anise base. It smells green yet transparent at the same time, and I’m also surprised at how chilly it smells, and I think it’s from the mint-even though the mint isn’t that noticeable. I’m not sure if it’s a perfume I’d wear that often but it’s far more pleasant than I expected, and I think it would be quite nice in summer. edit: it turns to soap on me after a few hours. Dang it.

Thaleia In the imp: fruity honey! It’s like apricots and oranges covered in honey. Wet on skin: it gets tart and sharp, I’m guessing that’s a combination of orange and, yes, gardenia-the variety used in catalogue blends usually goes sharp on my skin. This reaction isn’t too unpleasant though. Dry: I quite like this! It’s an interesting mix of sweet and sugary with a tangy twist-there’s definitely a slight astringency from the gardenia, strengthened by orange, but for now it isn’t off-putting. I get lots of honey, apricots, orange, and I also get the floral notes at this point. It’s a fresh, juicy and crisp scent with a tart bite. After a while: the gardenia tones down into it’s nicer floral scent, and now the scent has become truly delightful. Honeyed apricots drizzled with orange juice lying on a bed of soft fragrant blossoms. It’s a lovely ‘glazed’ scent, like apricots covered with a shiny layer of honey, and brings to mind the colours gold and orange. It still has a tart edge which stops the scent from becoming over-sweet. Then after about an hour or two, the scent is mainly honey and apricot, with a little hint of something that could be tonka. After a few hours, I get a wonderful scent-an apricotty, softly floral scent touched by honey, it's warm and gentle and golden and I love it. Verdict: this is a very pleasant and joyful scent, very sweet but with a juicy tartness balancing it out. I wasn’t sure what to think of the first stage which was a little bit astringent and sharp, but this eventually settles after ten minutes into a lovely honeyed fruit and floral scent which is very nice indeed, but thanks to the orange adding a crisp bite to the scent, it doesn’t become cloying or sickly sweet. It’s a glazed golden-orange scent which is sunny and carefree, and very warm. It certainly made me smile, and the floral-apricot-honey drydown is fabulous. I’m not sure if I want a bottle as I’m not sure about the first stage, but the honeyed orange and apricot smell is really growing on me!

The closest to a grass scent I have found in BPAL is, unfortunately, in an unreleased scent-Val Sans Retour. It also has pine and foresty scents as well as possibly citrus or herbs, but I got a 'green grass in summer' note from it too.

Phobos, if you can get your hands on it, is pure LEMON goodness-it smelt like lemon sherbets on me. Also, the panacea Lustration smells like fresh squeezed lemon and lemon peel (as well as other citrus) but doesn't last long on me.

Euterpe In the imp: hmm, this is interesting. I get fizzy lemon iced tea or lemonade at first sniff. Then I sniff again and I get carnation, and a slight floral scent which reminds me of my local 'exotic treasures' shop, almost like the incense they burn there…maybe that's poppy? Wet on skin: a bubbly, tangy, sherbet like lemon, with hints of powdery soft iris, carnation and white musk. Dry on skin: this is interesting. This scent is very effervescent. It makes me think of that sherbet powder that fizzes and froths in your mouth. It's a very fizzy scent indeed. That's possibly the lemon. I also get a dry, powdery white floral scent that I'm guessing is a mix of iris and poppy. I think I get carnation in here as well, and honeysuckle too. Behind it all is a brisk, airy white musk that seems to 'sparkle', it's a fresh musk. The mix of white musk and iris is very slightly reminiscent of Black Pearl. After a while: this, to me, seems like a 'brighter' version of one of the 'starry' blends-either Stardust or the Evening Star. There's something glamorous about this scent, and after an hour it now really does have something Stardust like to it, which might be the musk and poppy. Verdict: this is a fun, effervescent mix of tangy lemon and light white powdery florals, a little bit of carnation and a soft white musk base. It's a sparkling fragrance, fresh and zingy at first but with a powdery, dry undertone. There is no darkness here, nothing profound-this scent is flashy and bright but the musk anchors it nicely without darkening the scent. At the drydown, it is slightly reminiscent of Stardust. I'm not sure if I want a bottle yet but this is a lovely, light scent that will be perfect for spring and summer days but also good for nights out. edit: I must say that Olympia's icon for this scent is fantastic! Musical muse with an iPod! So clever and so funny

Medea In the imp: this is a bit like a more feminine Hades. I get some floral notes, as well as blackcurrant, cypress, and dark resins. Wet on skin: sweetly floral, heady, rich and deep. This is very nice. Dry on skin: hmm, what's going on here? First thing I get is a heady, sweet floral-I assume it's orchid and poppy. Then I get a bit of cypress and a nice big hit of fruity blackcurrant and some dark myrrh underneath-but there's an odd note there which I'm not sure about. It smells a bit salty or savoury, and a bit dirty -and I don't mean 'good' dirt, like soil-this smells a bit, dare I say, like foot sweat? It's distracting from the more pleasant parts of the scent. I have no idea what this might be… After a while: that odd note still lingers, but underneath it I get the most wonderful juicy blackcurrant scent, rich and juicy, and not like Ribena at all. I think there are still hints of the floral notes and the herbal notes too. But I am not keen of that strange 'sweat' note that I get on top of the delicious blackcurrant note here…sometimes I hate my skin! After about 45 mins-1 hour, it seems like the odd note is fading and I then get a strangely salted fruity incense scent. After an hour or so, the odd note seems to have moved back into the rest of the scent. The result is an unusual mix of herbal, woody, fruity, floral and resinous scents, with a dash of salt and smoke. It's becoming more tolerable now. Verdict: I'm not sure what to make of this. I really like most parts of this scent-the sweet rich floral notes, the juicy blackcurrant, the hints of resin and a little twist of cypress and herbs, but there's another note I'm picking up here that I'm not keen on. It smells a bit 'unclean' on my skin, a bit salty and it translates to a strange sweat like note on my skin-and I don't mean clean sweat! Which is such a shame really because I really wanted to like this scent…it seemed to me like a more womanly and wearable version of Hades when I smelt it in the imp. I probably also have the weirdest skin because the reaction I got from this scent was so unexpected. Eventually the scent becomes more balanced into an interesting resinous fruity floral scent with something herbal to it. I might give this another try, as this strange 'off' note may be a hormone thing, and I have no idea what it could be as normally I get on with most of the notes in here. I may swap this.

Grog In the imp: sweet buttery rum. I quite like this, actually. I just hope it's nice on my skin. Wet on skin: the rum note gets stronger. I love the sugary note that this has, it's like caramel. Dry on skin: mmm, this isn't bad. It's very boozy, that's for sure, but not unpleasantly so for the time being. It's got a nice sugary note reminiscent of Sugar Skull. It also has a slight dusty note as well, which reminds me of Midway and Spooky. However, this seems to go nicely with the scent as a whole, and it's almost like a dusty wood scent in here. I quite like the 'boozy toffee' scent this has, but I'm not sure about the buttery throw this has-I get a sweetly buttery scent around me but it doesn't smell like that on my wrist. After a while: is that coconut? I think I'm getting a very pleasant coconut scent now. Yup, I think it's rum and coconut, which always go nicely together. I still get a hint of that caramelised sugar, but now the rum note is nicely muted and coconut has appeared. I don't get a buttery throw now-I get a coconut whiff around me which my mum noticed and complimented me about! Verdict: I was a bit apprehensive about trying this because some booze scents are too much for me to handle-but this one surprised me in the most pleasant way. At first it's like butterscotch and rum, the rum note is strong but not overwhelming, and it's supported by a lovely caramel scent. Eventually coconut makes it's appearance and the scent eventually becomes a delightful scent of sugary rum and coconut, and I really like this. I'm not sure if I want a bottle yet but I really like this fun and summery sweet rum scent, and if that really is what pirates drink, I want to be a pirate myself…arrr!

Safari In the imp: lavender…it's almost like pure lavender oil. Wet on skin: lavender and nothing else, it seems. Dry on skin: a soothing, gentle lavender scent. It's a very strong lavender scent. This smells very similar to Lush's Waving Not Drowning ballistic…I'm not sure if there are other notes in here-I'm sure there are but all I recognise is lavender. After a while: the lavender remains but is a lot calmer on my skin-it's faded a lot now. I think there may be a drop of geranium in here-or maybe even patchouli, as I detect something else in this scent which isn't lavender. It's very, very light now, almost barely there…but now I've smelt it again, I think it could be patchouli. Verdict: this is a soothing, restful lavender scent. at first the scent is all lavender, but it does remind me somewhat of Lush's Waving Not Drowning. It's a calming scent, but doesn't last long. The lavender fades and leaves a light scent on the skin which I think is patchouli and geranium. This is not a perfume but definitely one I'd use for therapeutic reasons-I'd take this on travels, but I could also use this to help me sleep…I don't need a bottle of it but I'm definitely keeping the imp as it will come in handy. I may also give this to my dad-he's a tour guide who regularly goes to Asia and other far flung parts of the world…he needs this!

Dragon's Eye In the imp: clear red dragon's blood, it's clarity enhanced by soft florals. Wet on skin: now the floral notes come out more, lilac and lily of the valley. Dry on skin: this is very nice. It does indeed have a piercing clearness. I smell lilac and lily of the valley, gentle spring florals with the red scent of dragon's blood. I have no idea what galbanum smells like-I'm assuming it's that slightly greenish, piercing and slightly sharp scent that I get here, but I'm not sure if that's that, or just another one of the notes interacting with dragon's blood. After a while: the lily and lilac notes are now dominant, with dragon's blood in the background. this is a light, gentle, dewy springtime scent now. The drydown is pretty much all floral, a pretty flowery scent. Verdict: for a scent with dragon themed name, this scent is surprisingly pretty and dainty! At first, it's very clear scent of dragon's blood enhanced by lilac, and the florals play nicely with the dragon's blood. As the scent dries down, the flowers come forward and the scent is fresh, gentle, and very much a scent of springtime, soft dewy lily of the valley and lilac. It's a very nice scent-not a big bottle contender but I think this will be very nice for spring. I just wish it were a tiny bit fiercer to suit it's dragon theme.

The Black Tower In the imp: I smell wine here, as well as something fresh and rainy, and something green as well. Wet on skin: now I get the burnt smell coming through…it smells like deep wine, leather, and something burnt. It reminds me of another BPAL but I can't remember which… Dry on skin: whoa, this is very unusual! A really chaotic and conflicting mix of scents. There's fresh, windy/rainy ozone, dry woods, fruity sweet wine, deep leather, smoke and fire, scorched grass, a hint of metal…it's one of the strangest BPALs I've tried so far. It's a real clash of harsh notes, almost like a battle, it's quite an apocalyptic scent. It reminds me of, I think, hints of Tintagel and Geek. After a while: the scent now smoothes down into a dark, moody, slightly angry scent of deep wine, leather, burnt grass and woods, and metallic ozone. the ozone now is a bit stronger now, giving the effect of wind, rain, and the metal of swords and armour. This ozone freshness on top of the dark, slightly fruity, burning background is like a flash of silver against charred black and crimson red. I can't get over how dark and atmospheric this scent is…it's like nothing I've smelt in perfume before. As time passes, the scent gets like a conflict and more like the desolation mentioned in the description. The charred woods and wine move away and the cool, metallic, rainy ozone moves forward, and I detect the deep green of ivy. This is ozone of the 'good' kind-it doesn't soap out on me. It's an ozone note that smells like typical English weather-wind and rain. This now smells like the field where a momentous battle has occurred, devastated and burnt, but still haunted by the clash of swords and the ghosts of long dead soldiers, now ravaged by the gales of autumn. Verdict: this is probably the strangest, most unique, most unconventional BPAL I've smelt. It's a really chaotic blend of harsh, burnt, intense and sometimes conflicting notes. It's a scent encapsulating destruction and the devastation that follows. The predominant scent is that of burning woods and grasses-it's like smoke, fire, it smells charred and blackened. Then there's the wine, which is surprisingly strong here, adding it's deep red fruitiness. There's a background of leather, a hint of ozone on top, all these notes come together in an almighty clash. It's quite an unsettling smell, very much one of conflict or cataclysm, there is nothing reassuring or gentle about this scent. This scent is very dark and loud, very atmospheric. It then settles, the battle ends, the ozone becomes dominant and the smell is now a tiny bit calmer, yet it feels destroyed, barren, weather beaten, and still has the memories of the cataclysm that happened before…but it's not really my sort of scent. It was an interesting experience to wear it though…but I think it's one for swaps.

Snowblind In the imp: butter and mint. It's a buttermint scent…but I'm worried the butter will be too much for me… Wet on skin: now the butter fades and it becomes more minty and vanilla-y…it really smells like Murray Mints now. Dry on skin: yum! This really does smell like vanilla and mint! It bears a striking similarity to Murray Mints, or buttermints, but with more of a buttery vanilla scent which makes me think of raw cake batter! I'm getting a buttery scent throw around me-I'm not sure if this is from my skin though, or some I accidentally spilt somewhere, because on my skin it's not very buttery now, just pleasantly so. It is different to Lick It, this one has a more creamy and foody vanilla scent to it, whereas Lick It was vanilla-musk and mint. It also cools the skin slightly. After a while: this scent has warmth to it, oddly enough. It felt cold at first, but now most of the mint has burnt off, I get a wonderful vanilla cream scent that is warm and very comforting to smell. It's like wrapping yourself in a blanket of sweetness. It reminds me of the creamy vanilla background of Beaver Moon, but with a slight hint of mint instead of cinnamon. This is a very soft scent; it's a scent you want to 'bite' into, like dough or cake. It lasts for ages too...and the drydown after about 6 hours smells just like sugared almonds! You know those almonds in a pink/silver sugar shell you get at weddings? That's exactly what this smells like now-I've been looking for a BPAL with that smell, and I found it. Verdict: I'm very pleased I acquired an imp of this pretty legendary scent. This is the scent of buttermints and cake batter-a delicious foody vanilla mint scent. There's a definite butter aspect to the scent that is not too bad in this. I love the soft vanilla scent of this-it's different to Lick It, as this one is richer and foodier, it reminds me more of raw cake mixture, whereas LI was candy canes and vanilla musk. LI is cooler, and has a harder 'texture', whereas this is warm, and feels softer and 'chewy'-I know this sounds odd but that's the only way I can describe it. I'm still undecided about the slight buttery throw the scent has for the first ten minutes, but I adore the creamy vanilla cake drydown-it's a bit like a minty Beaver Moon-and the drydown after 6 hours is like those wedding sugared almonds-and I love that smell! This is a fun, delightful, cosy and creamy mint scent and I'm glad to have an imp of this…it's a wonderful scent for winter, and I may want to hunt down a bottle one day.

Wolfsbane In the imp: pine! Or is it juniper? Maybe a bit of both? it's an evergreen-herbal scent. Wet on skin: it's not as sharply pine-y now, I get a hint of something darker and greener underneath-maybe something woody? Dry on skin: mmm, this isn't too bad. It's along similar lines to Belladonna-one of those 'poisonous green' scents, but I think this one's a bit milder. I think this has vetiver in it, as well as pine and/or juniper, and possibly some cedar, because I get a hint of something woody and dry to this. That wood note may also be sandalwood? There may be the slightest hint of patchouli here but that could be my nose/skin being funny. I also get a very slight sweetness. After a while: this scent has dried down to a pleasant, sweetened vetiver scent. It's a gentler and lighter vetiver than the one I got from Belladonna. There's also a sweet note in here that may or may not be floral. It's pleasantly smoky as well at this point. Someone mentioned it being like Lush's Cosmic Dreamcatcher and I agree, though it doesn't have the frankincense scent to it. I get no rose whatsoever from this. Verdict: this is similar to Belladonna, because it has a pine/juniper beginning and a vetiver ending, but it's a lot less intense and dark, a bit sweeter and less 'toxic' in scent. It has a lighter vetiver note that is quite pleasant, it may also have some cedar/sandalwood as well as some evergreen notes, and also a sweetness which could be a soft floral. No roses though. I like it, but I'm not sure if it's me yet…but I do prefer it to Belladonna. It also bears a slight similarity to Cosmic Dreamcatcher. I think it would be nice on a guy…preferably one who looks like Remus Lupin in his Marauder days (though I'm more of a Sirius girl myself…)

Blood In the imp: cherry! Red juicy sweet cherries. Wet on skin: red cherries with sweet myrrh, I think. Maybe a touch of clove. Dry on skin: mmm, I quite like this! The dragon's blood is more apparent now, with a very realistic cherry note, as well as deep sweet myrrh and cloves as well. It's a very nice mixture, a sweet, fruity, deep scent that has resinous-spicy warmth. The cherry and dragon's blood go nicely together. After a while: the scent gets deeper and 'stickier', it has this really dark sweetness to it, I think the myrrh contributes to this. I like the way the clove enhances the scent, adds a spicy bite to the overall fragrance. There's a metallic aspect to the scent as well, I think-which is very appropriate for blood! Verdict: I picked a very appropriate time to test this-namely, my time of month, lol! I was very surprised at how nice this smells. Sometimes some cherry scents go a bit medicinal on me but this doesn't-it's like the cherry in Hollywood Babylon, a deep, sweet, fruity cherry, it's an authentic cherry note. The dragon's blood enhances that cherry whilst adding it's clear, red, slightly metallic scent, whilst myrrh is probably what makes this scent darkly sweet and sticky, and I also get a clove note in here as well. It's a very red scent, sweet, thick, warm and deep and even a bit metallic. I'm not sure if I'd wear it much but I really like it, I think I'll keep the imp.

Spanked In the imp: sexy, spicy leather. Think Alone meets De Sade…its cardamom leather goodness! Wet on skin: glorious cardamom with dark rich leather. The patchouli and bourbon aren't too noticeable yet. Dry on skin: this is wonderful stuff. It's mainly leather with cardamom at this point, but dang, it smells so good! I think I catch glimpses of patch and bourbon (I think it’s the bourbon adding a dark boozy sweetness to the scent) every now and then but for now, it's all about spicy leather! I love cardamom so much and in here it's wonderfully prominent. After a while: this gets darker and the leather note deepens, with the boozy sweetness of bourbon coming through. It still retains that yummy cardamom scent, and the patchouli just adds even more of a dark, earthy base to the scent. This scent is wickedly sexy in the naughtiest possible way! This lasts an insanely long time on my skin, and the final drydown is smoky black leather. Verdict: I wish I'd pleaded naughty and got a bottle of this-it's wonderful stuff. A sexy, dark, wicked little blend of dark, deep, shiny leather but with a delightful cardamom note on top. This is Alone and De Sade's lovechild. The bourbon adds a slight boozy sweetness and the patchouli lurks in the background, but the result is a fabulously naughty fragrance that makes me want to do bad things! Who thought getting a Spanking was so good?

Darkness In the imp: dark, indeed. Smells like really heady perfume…I'm tempted to say Opium but I haven't actually smelt that perfume! Though opium is indeed listed as a note in this. I also smell narcissus. Wet on skin: the smoky aspect of the opium comes out now, though it retains it's perfume like scent, which may be mixed with myrrh and narcissus. Dry on skin: a very heady, dark, heavy smoky perfume. It's like a swirl or a fog of scent, descending like a noxious cloud…it reminds me of traditional perfumes, the heavy opium fragrances I must have smelt on my mum's dressing table as a child. A lighter narcissus note peeks out sometimes and I think the myrrh just adds to the dark, smoky, slightly incense like background of the scent. After a while: it softens, the smoke fades, but it still smells like posh perfume on me…which in some cases I don't mind, but this one's a bit too mature for me. It's more like something my mum could take. Verdict: this is a very deep, heady, heavy scent. It's very much one of the more 'perfume like' BPAL scents, in that it smells like a traditional posh perfume you can buy at a department store. This isn't a complaint-some of the 'perfumey' BPALs can be very nice, but this one's a bit too heavy and mature for me. It's a real opium scent, very intense, quite smoky and mysterious, but it's not my thing.

Vixen In the imp: a bit like Ravenous, but with stronger orange blossom. Wet on skin: mmm, this is nice. I think I get a bit of ginger now. Dry on skin: oh yeah, I like this. I swear I'm getting a musk effect here. This is a bit like a deeper, warmer Ravenous, with elements of Sin. Deep patchouli with tangy-floral orange blossom and warm, sultry ginger. Very sexy! There may be some red musk here, or maybe that's the patchouli reacting with another note, like what happened with Sin. After a while: like Sin, I now get a lovely sweetness that comes out, a darkly sweet background which seems to be a completely different note to the ones listed. It's almost like a musk or vanilla like background, with hints of soft orange blossom flitting through now and then. I'm impressed by this blend and the way the notes are interacting. Or maybe it could be my hormones…(this is a time of month review!) Verdict: this is the lovechild of Ravenous and Sin. This is a simple, yet delightful blend of patchouli, ginger and orange blossom that creates a scent which is sweetly sensual and earthy, yet also tangy and fruity-floral, with a spicy warmth. I also get a note that resembles musk or vanilla in here…whether it's an actual musk note that's not listed or just the reaction between the other notes, I can't say, but the result is very pleasant. I'm always amazed at how complex even the simplest BPAL blends can smell, there's always more to them than what's listed, it seems. I think this may be a future big bottle blend.

Love Me In the imp: warm, sparkling cinnamon. There's something else here, maybe another spice note, but mainly cinnamon. Wet on skin: this smells gorgeous, a slightly smoky, slightly herbal, sweet cinnamon scent. Dry on skin: this is a very delightful scent! It has lots of cinnamon, but there's something else enhancing it that I can't put my finger on…maybe it's a floral note? There's something sweet to it, a bit juicy as well. There may be amber or vanilla in here too? Possibly a soft musk note too? I also get something slightly herbal as well. The scent is warm and inviting, spicy and sultry. After a while: ah, it's jasmine. That's what the mystery note lurking under the cinnamon was…a soft flirty jasmine scent. This note now peeks out, adding a heady, voluptuous floral aspect to the scent. There may also be vanilla or stargazer lily in here, because I'm getting a scent reminiscent of Peitho in here-but that could be my hormones doing crazy stuff to my skin-I'm testing this during my time of month! It's almost like a spicy version of Peitho, which is a scent I love. This is gorgeous stuff. By the end of the scent I get a scent which may be dragon's blood or red musk. It's a sweet, sensual scent, very slinky, still retaining it's spicy jasmine scent, now I get something like incense, and vanilla or tonka. It's a sexy-spice scent on the same lines as Chimera, Sin and Snake Oil. I don't get civet, bubblegum or Coke from this-though I see where the people who say it's Coke like get it from-the spice note has an effervescence to it. There may be lotus in here as well-maybe that's where the bubblegum reaction comes from? Verdict: this may be a new favourite of mine from the Voodoo collection. I don't have a lover to test this on (which is such a shame) but this is a wonderful scent, sultry, sexy, and very spicy! It's a delectable cinnamon-jasmine scent, there may also be some vanilla, musk, incense and maybe something herbal underneath it all. This is a warm, alluring, tempting scent, spicy and delicious with a rich heady floral sweetness. I think I will need a bottle, just for the scent itself…and if also happens to bring me better luck with love, that'll be a bonus!

Carnal In the imp: this is very similar to the fig SN-it has a sharp, greenish bite with something sweet behind it. I think the mandarin makes it sharper. Wet on skin: yup, still like the fig SN, but I think I can just make out a tangy citrus scent. Dry on skin: now the mandarin is more apparent, and it's a sugared citrus scent to me, like sweetened mandarin juice on top of crushed, just ripened figs. It’s tangy, fruity, a bit sweet, with a slight astringency. Think Fig SN but with an orange like topping. Not bad! After a while: still fig and mandarin. The fig note 'ripens' like it did with the SN, but this time with the sugary citrus note on top. It now begins to smell a bit like apricot jam…which is interesting, as apricot isn't listed and wasn't there before but the two notes combined create the effect of sugared apricot. Amazing how the two simple notes combine to make a completely different note…is this how Beth makes her bouquets, I wonder? Verdict: this is very similar to Fig SN. It's pretty much the same fig but with a mandarin orange note added to it, which adds a citrus aspect to the scent, but it is a sugary orange scent which is lovely, and it bonds with the fig in quite a nice manner. The scent is tart and tangy, slightly astringent, but with a definite sweetness to balance it out. It sweetens more upon drydown where it reminds me of fruit preserve and jam. I must admit I prefer fig and mandarin as components in more complex blends, though I must admit they work together nicely in here and by the end there's a little bit of alchemy that goes on between the two notes and an apricot like note surfaces. (It's funny how that happens with these simple, two-note scents-with Ravenous the patchouli and orange blossom merged gradually to make a completely different note come out after a while.) It's ok, but not a favourite. I think it may grow on me though.

Desdemona Innocent, soft and pure: sweet pea, carnation and water lily. In the imp: a fresh, moist floral, slightly green, a bit soapy. Wet on skin: this is pretty! It's not as soapy now and the floral notes become more pronounced. Dry on skin: this is so nice. A sweet, pretty, gentle floral scent where I can make out the sweet pea and a slight hint of carnation. I also get another floral note-this one quite sweet and a bit aquatic-which I think could be the waterlily. This is youthful and feminine, fresh and spring like, with a bit of warmth imparted by the carnation. After a while: the sweet pea strengthens nicely, it's now a soft, almost white, floral scent. The other flower notes still stick around in the background but it's pretty much all about the sweet pea now. I get something a bit green now as well. Verdict: I was a bit worried that this would smell really soapy on me, but on my skin, this floral scent really (excuse the pun) bloomed on me. It's girly, floaty sweet pea and waterlily, but the carnation gives it a nice twist, and makes it a little warmer and more down to earth, I think. It does get soapy at times but not in a bad way-this is a very pleasant and gentle scent. not sure if it's a favourite but I like it a lot. I'd also love it if there were more scents with waterlily, I'd like to get to know that particular note a lot better.

Hymn In the imp: gentle rose with a definite lily of the valley note. This smells lovely. Wet on skin: fresh and delicate lily of the valley, with resinous rose. Dry on skin: I really like this. It's similar to Rose Cross, All Saints 05 and Kostnice…I think it's almost like a mix of all of them, but with a pure white, spring like lily of the valley note. The rose adds a bold floral richness to the scent, whereas the frankincense, myrrh and other resins add depth. The dewy lily note makes this almost ethereal and virginal, gives it a sense of purity. After a while: this settles down nicely, the lily and rose notes are now balanced out with the resinous background adding a nice base to the scent. This is a very nice scent, like a lighter, 'angelic' All Saints. Verdict: this is another 'flowers and church incense' scent along similar lines as Kostnice, All Saints 05 etc. This has a rich, bold rose scent mixed with resinous notes, but there's lily of the valley in this, which adds a dimension of lightness, freshness, a dewy feel of springtime to the scent. it brings to mind the wings of a dove, it's pure white and ethereal, gentle and virginal, fitting with the scent's theme. At first this lily note is quite strong, but as time passes, it blends in nicely with the other notes as the rose and resins become more apparent. I am very fond of this but I'm not sure if I prefer it to the likes of Rose Cross and All Saints, not sure if it's bottle worthy but I'm keeping the imp.

Whip In the imp: fresh, wet, juicy rose. Maybe a dark leather undertone, but mainly rose. Wet on skin: freshly bloomed, moist, slightly green rose with just a hint of De Sade's leather. Dry on skin: what a glorious rose! The rose note in here is so genuine, very fresh and fully bloomed, almost dewy, but also warm and slightly fruity with a nice tart bite. There's a leather note under that rose, it adds it's sexy depth to the scent, enhances the rose nicely. But for now, the blend is predominantly rose with just a slight undercurrent of leather. After a while: still a fruity lush rose, but with a bit more leather now. This is a polished black leather note, like De Sade. The rose is quite nice on top of it. The drydown of this scent is reminiscent of cologne. It's like a rose cologne, or a perfume-y rose scent. Quite fresh and light. I don't get very much leather now. I do get a lovely scent wafting from me, it's got very good throw. Verdict: this is another lovely rose blend. The rose in this scent is fresh and moist, slightly fruity and warm with a slight tang. It rests upon a fairly subtle bed of leather, which to me reminds me of De Sade's polished black leather, though it may be a bit softer. The drydown is almost like a perfume scent-like a cologne scent, which is pleasant, but unexpected. I love the fragrance that wafts around me though during drydown though, different to the wrist scent. It's nice, but I'm not sure it's my favourite BPAL rose yet.

Allegory In the imp: I get an almost pine like scent. That may be the juniper. There's a hint of orange sweetness as well. Wet on skin: the orange comes out more on the skin, it's a sweet orange scent, it sweetens the juniper-cedar notes up nicely. Dry on skin: to me, this is along similar lines as Jabberwocky-a piercing evergreen/foresty note combined with orange. The scent is bright and sharp, almost like pine. I get piercing juniper against a solid cedar base with sugared orange, an unusual but very pleasant combination. I don't get civet yet. Maybe I'm one of the lucky folk who don't amp up that note to poo-like proportions! After a while: yup, now I think I detect the slightest smidge of civet. It's enough to add a tiny bit of something animal but not in a repulsive way. It adds something slightly feral to the scent, it smells like a sunlit forest where you can detect the slightest scent of the animal life there. The scent is also a little bit sugary, which is unusual…but very pleasant. At some points in the scent, I get a cherry candy like scent, reminiscent of Kunstkammer (that must be the orange, and something else?) and, strangely enough, Lush's Rock Star/Creamy Candy. Now that is bizarre! I think it's my pre-menstrual skin playing up…but if it makes orange, juniper and civet smell like Rock Star, that's a good thing! Verdict: I think that civet isn't too bad a note on me. I hardly get it in this at first…this is very similar to Jabberwocky on me-a forest scent with orange. It's piercing and fresh, and quite masculine, but the orange is pleasantly sugary to my nose. As it dries, it does the strangest things on my skin…at times the civet shows up slightly to add it's feral touch, and at other times it becomes a cherry candy scent, like Lush's Rock Star! It's unusual, and my skin chemistry is obviously wonky today but I like it. This is a very nice scent but I'm not sure if it's me yet, and I'm letting a friend try it out…I'm glad I've tried it though. I may get more if it is brought back/resurrected.

Virgo In the imp: moss, patchouli, something reminiscent of perfume-maybe some musk and narcissus? This is a very earthy scent for an earth sign. The oil is brown and there are 'dregs' at the bottom of the imp-I'm not sure if that's contamination or if this oil does have solid natural residues? Wet on skin: patchouli and oak moss, a very deep scent, but with a lighter 'perfume-y' note on top, adding a bit of sophistication. Dry on skin: I think this is slightly reminiscent of The Caterpillar, Lush Tramp and BNever's Smargadine, thanks to the patchouli-moss combination giving this a dark, deep, earthy and almost 'dirty' feel, like a forest floor. But there's a light hint of musk and narcissus, possibly some rose too, on top, adding a brighter aspect to the scent. I think the apple may be giving this scent a slight tartness, but it's not very apparent in here. But the scent is very 'BNever' to me, I think. After a while: the moss scent gets stronger. This really does remind me of something from BNever, possibly 1000 Kisses Deep? It's a greenish-brown scent, very appropriate for an earth sign. Verdict: I decided to try this out because I have a Virgo ascendant (and it shows…I'm so picky, fussy about food, slightly perfectionist…) and I really like this. It smells a bit like something from BNever or Lush, and also reminds me of the Caterpillar. It has a depth and earthiness thanks to the mossy patchouli base, but with a brighter, more perfume like topping of narcissus, musk, and a tiny bit of rose and apple. The mossy note gets stronger upon drydown. This is a really grounding and calming scent-something I should wear if my Virgo rising tendencies get a bit too much. It's not as gorgeous as Aries but I really like this.