angelicruin

EL NUEVO PURITANO The wicked wrath of moral panic: unmoving, rigid oak, dry leather, tonka, gunpowder tea, and pious olibanum with a core of perverse and furtive vanilla bean, bay leaf, clove bud, and lime. On my skin wet, this is a lightly spicy wood scent with traces of clove and lime. As it begins to dry, the leather note emerges and it eventually fully dries on my skin to a mild spicy wood and leather fragrance on me. Nice, but I'm not sure I would wear it enough to justify keeping the bottle.

In a corner formed by two houses, of which one advanced more than the other, she seated herself down and cowered together. Her little feet she had drawn close up to her, but she grew colder and colder, and to go home she did not venture, for she had not sold any matches and could not bring a farthing of money: from her father she would certainly get blows, and at home it was cold too, for above her she had only the roof, through which the wind whistled, even though the largest cracks were stopped up with straw and rags. Peppermint, spearmint, white musk, and elemi settling into a deepening darkness. Lots of mint and soft musk, which helps soften the scent a little. Lovely, but is similar to several other BPAL winter/snow scents that are mint-heavy.

THE SOLDIER Red musk, vanilla cream, black tea, black pepper, leather, and pie. Creamy red musk, leather, and black tea are the strongest notes on my skin. The black pepper note give the scent a little snap to it. The more I smell this, the more I love it. I think this may be a very popular scent with the red musk & leather note lovers out there.

PYRAMUS Dragon's blood resin, frankincense, amber, white tea, lavender, and golden musk. I love this one! I received it yesterday and wore it last night and this morning it's back on me again. Wet, it starts out just slightly bitterish, but the lavender, tea, and incense notes quickly emerge. The lavender note in this blend is very soft, not at all harsh. The amber is more apparent as it dries and adds more of "dusty" quality to the scent. The musk note is subtle on me. I really don't get the Dragon's Blood resin note at all, except maybe that accounts for the initial bitterness when first applied. Throw is medium---nothing too overpowering. It lasts on my skin for several hours before it really needs re-application.

CHANGING THE SHADOWS “Am I that man who lay upon the bed?” he cried, upon his knees. The finger pointed from the grave to him, and back again. “No, Spirit! Oh no, no!” The finger still was there. “Spirit!” he cried, tight clutching at its robe, “hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope!” For the first time the hand appeared to shake. “Good Spirit,” he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it: “Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!” The kind hand trembled. “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!” In his agony, he caught the spectral hand. It sought to free itself, but he was strong in his entreaty, and detained it. The Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him. Holding up his hands in a last prayer to have his fate reversed, he saw an alteration in the Phantom’s hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost. The dawning of hope and the blossoming of charity: vanilla, orange blossom, white sandalwood, mate, red tea, and carnation. The orange blossom is STRONG right after application. Within a minute or two though, I pick up the vanilla and red tea notes which really blend together with the orange blossom. The carnation note emerges the more it dries on my skin, but is still not very strong against the other notes mentioned.

“You are in the wrong,” replied the fiend; “and instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when he condemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my archenemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth.” Inextinguishable hatred: red ginger and black opoponax with black pepper, stinging neroli, myrrh, and tobacco absolute. Very sharp in bottle and right after application on skin. The ginger settles down a bit after a few minutes and sweetens just slightly with the myrrh and tobacco notes. I'm not sure what I was expecting with this scent, but it smells quite unique on my skin.

THE RAT SPEAKERS For a moment, Richard was blinded by the sudden light. He was standing in a huge, vaulted room, and underground hall, filled with firelight and smoke. Small fires burned around the room. Shadowy people stood by the flames, roasting small animals on spits. People scurried from fire to fire. It reminded him of hell---or rather, the way that he had thought of Hell as a schoolboy. The smoke irritated his lungs, and he coughed. A hundred eyes turned, then, and stared at him; a hundred eyes, unblinking and unfriendly. A snuffling, brown scent: earthy patchouli, sage, russet sandalwood, grimy leather, fig leaf, and lemongrass. I wrote down "ugh" on my review. This smelled horrible on me. It was gritty dirt and patchouli on my skin. Definitely had to pass on this one.

Hemlock honey. Wet on my skin, I'm just getting honey. I had to look up what hemlock is supposed to smell like and I found descriptions comparing it to a musty or mice-like smell. I'm not sure I am really getting anything musty out of this though. Well, maybe a little. The honey note settles down considerably as it dries, but it's still mostly just honey on my skin.

EHECATL The Aztec God of the Winds. He is one of the faces of the Feathered Serpent, and in this aspect he gave life to the sun and the moon, revives the dead, and breathes love into the hearts all of men. Hibiscus, matcha, white musk, and lime. Lime is very strong & zesty right after application. As it dries, though the lime is still quite pronounced, the musk is definitely there and I get green floral as well. Dries down to lime and herbs on my skin.

JOYEUX NOËL Douglas fir, tinsel, metallic swag garlands, arc flash, and the ozone smell of electrical discharge. This scent is a mixture of pine and berries with a metallic charge. Kind of reminds me of fresh pine air freshener, but I still like it.

RED TIDE Raspberry liquor, cranberry juice, gin, mango pulp, and a mint garnish. Raspberry liquor is strongest note. I also smell the cranberry shortly after application. This is not terribly boozy on me, especially compared to other Luau scents.

Travelers have told us of a plant, which they assert grows in Central Africa and also in South America, that is not contented with myriad of larger insects which it catches and consumes, but its voracity extends to making even humans its prey. This marvelous vegetable Minotaur is represented as having a short, thick trunk, from the top of which radiate giant spines, narrow and flexible but of extraordinary tenaciousness, the edges of which are armed with barbs, or dagger-like teeth. Instead of growing upright, or at an inclined angle from the trunk, these spines lay their outer ends upon the ground, and so gracefully are they distributed that the trunk resembles an easy couch with green drapery around it. The unfortunate traveler, ignorant of the monstrous creation which lies in his way, and curious to examine the strange plant, or to rest himself upon its inviting stalk approaches without a suspicion of his certain doom. The moment his feet are set within the circle of the horrid spines, they rise up, like gigantic serpents, and entwine themselves about him until he is drawn upon the stump, when they speedily drive their daggers into his body and thus complete the massacre. The body is crushed until every drop of blood is squeezed out of it and becomes absorbed by the gore-loving plant, when the dry carcass is thrown out and the horrid trap set again. Barbed, sanguinary greenery, fleshy and sharp. Sniffing the imp, this is a bitter green scent. Applied to my skin, this goes completely rancid. Definitely not working for me.

Thick Turkish coffee spiked with whiskey, with a little bit of mocha to soften the bitterness. In the bottle: coffee, cream, and mocha chocolate Wet on the skin: Mocha Latte Drydown: Still Mocha Latte, but now I can smell a bit of the booziness from the whiskey. Still the whiskey is a very minor note for me. A very yummy scent to wear, especially in the morning.

A massive tree that held, in its lowest boughs, a nest of bare-breasted men and women. The souls sprawled within the Zieba Tree's branches were trapped in reverie, lost for all eternity in their fantasies. A dreamlike, listless scent, misty and hazed, with wisps of white sandalwood, eddying musks the colors of eventide, shimmering pale resins, davana, lemon blossom, orange blossom, and white peach. Sniffing the imp, it's predominantly sandalwood and lemon blossom. This is a very light, girly scent on my skin. It's definitely a floral based oil, but the throw is light enough that it doesn't leave me with a headache like some of the stronger floral blends do. I can pick out the lemon and orange blossom notes and light musk as soon as the oil is applied to my skin. The peach note emerges after the oil has dried down and I just love how it blends into the floral notes.

L'EXAMEN DE MINUIT Enfin, nous avons, pour noyer Le vertige clans le délire, Nous, prêtre orgueilleux de la Lyre, Dont la gloire est de déployer L'ivresse des choses funèbres, Bu sans soif et mangé sans faim!... - Vite soufflons la lampe, afin De nous cacher dans les ténèbres! - - - Finally, drowning vertigo In stark delirium, shamefully, We, levites of the Lyre, lo! we Whose glory was devised to show Sorrow's brave rapture and grief's spark, Have feasted without appetite! — Quickly, let us snuff out the light And hide in the indulgent dark! The rapture of sorrowful things: frankincense, black plum, melancholy lilac, rose otto, and myrrh. On me this is a very strong myrrh, incense, and dark fruit scent. The rose is very subtle and I am not picking up on the lilac at all.

And when it was grown late, his servants made haste to their lodgings, and Vagao shut the chamber doors, and went his way. And they were all overcharged with wine. And Judith was alone in the chamber. But Holofernes lay on his bed, fast asleep, being exceedingly drunk. And Judith spoke to her maid to stand without before the chamber, and to watch: And Judith stood before the bed praying with tears, and the motion of her lips in silence, Saying: Strengthen me, O Lord God of Israel, and in this hour look on the works of my hands, that as thou hast promised, thou mayst raise up Jerusalem thy city: and that I may bring to pass that which I have purposed, having a belief that it might be done by thee. And when she had said this, she went to the pillar that was at his bed's head, and loosed his sword that hung tied upon it. And when she had drawn it out, she took him by the hair of his head, and said: Strengthen me, O Lord God, at this hour. And she struck twice upon his neck, and out off his head, and took off his canopy from the pillars, and rolled away his headless body. And after a while she went out, and delivered the head of Holofernes to her maid, and bade her put it into her wallet. And they two went out according to their custom, as it were to prayer, and they passed the camp, and having compassed the valley, they came to the gate of the city. And Judith from afar off cried to the watchmen upon the walls: Open the gates for God is with us, who hath shewn his power in Israel. And it came to pass, when the men had heard her voice, that they called the ancients of the city. And all ran to meet her from the least to the greatest: for they now had no hopes that she would come. And lighting up lights they all gathered round about her: and she went up to a higher place, and commanded silence to be made. And when all had held their peace, Judith said: Praise ye the Lord our God, who hath not forsaken them that hope in him. And by me his handmaid he hath fulfilled his mercy, which he promised to the house of Israel: and he hath killed the enemy of his people by my hand this night. Then she brought forth the head of Holofernes out of the wallet, and shewed it them, saying: Behold the head of Holofernes the general of the army of the Assyrians, and behold his canopy, wherein he lay in his drunkenness, where the Lord our God slew him by the hand of a woman. Dried blood, boiled wine, leather, galbanum, onycha, tonka bean, and pomegranate. Oh gee, my first time starting a topic ANYWHERE on BPAL...hope I am doing this correctly! In the bottle, I smell wine and pomegranate. Wet on the skin, the wine and pomegranate are still dominant, but I can detect the leather and blood notes as well now. As it dries on the skin, I smell the wine, pomegranate, and blood. Not bitter, but not super sweet either. This is going to age very well, I think. And I will definitely be keeping my bottle and considering a back-up before Yules comes down.

Powerful Sumatran patchouli and enigmatic Brazilian copaiba with pao d’arco, cacao absolute, bourbon vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, and tobacco. This scent is strong patchouli on my skin while wet. As it dries, the patchouli note settles somewhat and I begin to smell the tobacco note more strongly. Fully dry, the patchouli and tobacco notes are well-balanced with wafts of vanilla and spice.

I. THE MAGICIAN They asked St. Germain's manservant if his master was truly a thousand years old, as it was rumored he had claimed. "How would I know?" the man replied. "I have only been in the master's employ for three hundred years." Burmese rosewood, olibanum, benzoin, turmeric, currant leaf, and oude. In the bottle, woodsy and vaguely sweet. Upon initial application to my skin, the rosewood note is very much there. The turmeric makes this quite spicy on my skin. I'm undecided on this scent, mostly because it is making my skin smell like Indian cuisine and, while it smells good, I'm not sure I want that scent as a perfume. I'll likely let it settle a while and then re-test.

A COLD, CLEAR WINTER DAY “Good Heaven!” said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. “I was bred in this place. I was a boy here!” The Spirit gazed upon him mildly. Its gentle touch, though it had been light and instantaneous, appeared still present to the old man’s sense of feeling. He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten! “Your lip is trembling,” said the Ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?” Scrooge muttered, with an unusual catching in his voice, that it was a pimple; and begged the Ghost to lead him where he would. “You recollect the way?” inquired the Spirit. “Remember it!” cried Scrooge with fervour; “I could walk it blindfold.” “Strange to have forgotten it for so many years!” observed the Ghost. “Let us go on.” They walked along the road, Scrooge recognising every gate, and post, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to other boys in country gigs and carts, driven by farmers. All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it! Winter tuberoses bending gently in a crisp, cold breeze. The usual minty snow note mingled with tuberose with a creamy vanilla quality in the background. Just lovely.

A melding of science fiction and horror in which extraterrestrial life forms come to Earth in order to… * Colonize the planet * Harvest humans for foodstuffs * Enslave humanity * Destroy the planet * Use probes to perform uncomfortable sexual experiments … among other nefarious objectives. Examples: War of the Worlds, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Plan 9 From Outer Space, the Day the Earth Stood Still Slick, spiced space fruits and residual tentacle goo. This blend smells citrus-based. Grapefruit seems to be the strongest note on my skin, but I am also getting lemon & lime as well...along with something resembling corn syrup. It seems to be a light fragrance on my skin (not a ton of throw). Not sure how long this will last, but I really like it. If you like citrus blends, I recommend it.

I can't believe I'm the first to review this. Puddin was kind enough to include a goblin squirt of this with my most recent eBay order, so I wanted to post my impressions of this prototype. I'm terrible at picking out individual notes without lab descriptions, so please bear with me. Based on the name, I was predisposed to thinking that this would smell a bit moldy aquatic and, well, for lack of a better word "swampy", but that is not the case. Initially, this is a fresh green scent. I'm getting lemon-lime citrus and herbs from it. As I sniff it more, I'd also be inclined to believe that there may be a "dust" or "dirt" note in it as well. The dust/dirt note comes out a few minutes after spraying, not initially---or at least I didn't pick up on it initially. This spray is reminding me a just little of what Toad Hall smelled like on my arm.

FRUITBAT FRUITBATH Plump plums, ripe pomegranate, sweet mango, kumquat, yuzu, melon blossom, and Boquila berries. Applied on my skin, not in bath: Fruity! Melon is strongest on me, but I tend to amp the Lab's melon note, so not a surprise for me. I would swear there are strawberries in this one too if I didn't see the note listing. It's sweet...it's fruity...it's exactly what I thought it would be.

Zenobia was Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. She assumed leadership of her nomadic tribe after her father’s death, eventually marrying King Septimius Odaenathus. Zenobia seemed a contradiction: chaste, dark-eyed, and lovely, but able to drink, fight, and make war like a man. She fought, on horseback, alongside her husband in many battles, and ruled the Empire with a fair and just hand after her husband’s passing. To her people, she was the Lady of Victory, conquering several Roman provinces, including Egypt, and expelling the prefect, Tenagino Probus, who was beheaded after he led an attempt to seize back control of the territory for Rome. Her conquests enabled her to control many vital trade routes, further earning her the ire of the Romans. Unfortunately, she eventually overextended her reach. She was betrayed, and then captured by Emperor Aurelian, displayed in chains in a triumphal procession through Rome, her Empire dissolved. Rather than capitulate to misfortune, she made a new life for herself, and became a Roman matron, philosopher, and socialite. Orris, amber, balsam, calamus, and frankincense. Inside the bottle, it's mostly orris and frankincense to my nose. I tend to use the bath oils directly on my skin, rather than in a bath. On my skin, the orris is definitely there, along with the calamus note that is sweetening the scent on my skin. Amber is very subdued...it's definitely there, but not as strong as amber usually is on my skin. Frankincense is very faint on me and I'm not really picking up the balsam note either. It's mostly this lovely sweet root scent on my skin. A very relaxing scent. I could definitely fall asleep wearing this.

Lacquered beech wood and old books. I love this scent. It's old books and sweet, smoky wood notes on my skin. Definitely the surprise hit for me from the WKAP scent collection. This one is going to age beautifully.

DET. PATRICK GLEASON A classic men’s cologne splashed over a leather trenchcoat and a hint of gunshot residue. Just skin tested at C2. My notes describe this blend as bitter, Leather, Metallic, & Gunpowder.