Chimera

In the bottle: Hard to identify. Smells warm, with an undertone of something I want to call spicy, but not food spice -- earthy spice, resiny spice. On, wet: Very similar to the bottle, but warmer. On, dry: Wow. I've encountered very few BPAL scents so far, but still, this is the first one that retains the same feeling wearing that it did wet in the bottle (for me). The warmth really blooms once it dries down. I can't think of any other way to describe it except ... bottled warmth. This really appeals to me. Later: The scent has gotten spicier and earthier over time. Still very nice. Still amazingly warm. An element of creaminess has appeared. The whole scent has gotten somehow smoother, rounder. Let me sum up: This is good for me. It strikes me that it could seem very sophisticated, but it doesn't have to be. This would seem right to me whether dressed for the opera or in my standard jeans and white t-shirt. It's a very skin-like scent. It stayed close, which I always like. I'm too picky to give in and call this a signature scent, but it's the first scent I've tried (ever, in my life) that doesn't make me feel like I'm wearing someone else's clothes.

This was an imp freebie. In the bottle: Spicy fruit. Very nice! On, wet: Musky spice. On, dry: The spice is gone instantly. I have to type the rest of this from a prone position on the floor because the musk in this blend just whacked me up side the head and I'm feeling a little dazed. It has only been about 3 minutes and I miss the fruit (plum, I guess) already. And the spice (carnation, I guess). As a matter of fact I miss every scent that was in this room before I put this oil on. Aagh! Musk! Blinding musk! Later: Now that I've calmed a bit and given myself (and the oil) some time to settle in, let me say that this will have to be washed off. I gave it a shot, but it is overpoweringly musky on me. I'm not saying it smells bad; those who appreciate musk would probably say that I smell good, but if there's one thing my perfume-novice mind firmly decided on early in my youth, it's this: musk should never be single note and it should also not, I repeat not, dominate! (Okay, that's two things.) Obviously, that's just my prejudice and preference. Let me sum up: Urg. This will make a wonderful perfume for someone else. Hopefully someone I don't know and don't hang out with. It reminds me strongly of a commercial perfume from the past; my brain's a little fuzzy (can't think through the cloud of musk!), but I'm thinking Cinnabar. Maybe. The plum/carnation scent from the bottle would have been a gorgeous perfume, especially for me, I think. But unfortunately my chemistry would not allow that. Edit: My DH just told me he likes the perfume I'm wearing. Obviously, he's one of the musk-appreciators I mentioned above. [sigh.] There are some things you'd just rather not know about a person.

I have no real experience with scents, especially when it comes to identifying components, so this review is aimed at the scent-novices like myself who have to go on impressions alone. In the bottle: Exciting stuff! Chocolate, but not straight chocolate, more like bittersweet chocolate-covered cherries or creams -- dark chocolate with a somewhat sweet undertone that's not a component of the chocolate itself. I had chocolate-creams made with rose water once, this reminds me very much of that. Also, tobacco. Not a burning cigarette or cigar, more like a straight dried leaf of tobacco. On, wet: Same. On, dry: The strong chocolate instantly disappears, as does the tobacco. What I have is a combination of scents that are so blended they're indistinct. Absolutely nothing dominates. There's a pervading sense of something clean-smelling, almost soapy. When I sniff repeatedly at my wrists and really concentrate I believe I can still faintly pick out the chocolate, but maybe that's only because I know it's there from my first out-of-the-bottle whiff -- sort of a lingering scent-memory. What I get now is florals -- soft, but not caught-in-the-back-of-my-throught-sweet. I'm also strangely reminded of beeswax. Later: The scent stayed close for about the first hour, after that it came off me in waves. There's a certain sweetness (personality-wise) to the florals, but there's something blended in the background that keeps it from being girly-feminine. I'd like that something to be stronger, more of a foil to the florals than it is. Let me sum up: Overall, not bad, but not me. I wish the strong chocolate and tobacco hung around on me longer than it takes the oil to dry. All day would be nice. The wine scent and a very faint hint of the chocolate and tobacco popped out briefly at odd intervals over the course of the day, but only at a distance from my wrists, not close up. On a certain level I can appreciate the well-blended, chamelon-like quality of this oil, but from the description I was expecting something darker. All in all, I get the impression of a pleasant, expensive soap, with the occasional hint of something deeper. It's a nice scent, but on me it doesn't do what it's supposed to.

This is my second-ever review. For those who didn't read my review of The Lion I'd like to state that I have no real experience with scents, especially when it comes to identifying components, so this review is aimed at the scent-novices like myself who have to go on impressions alone. In the bottle: Fruit! Sweet fruit! Exotic sweet fruit! I just realized I haven't had breakfast ... On, wet: As above, but less sweet. Now that I'm past the initial "wow!" rush of scent from the bottle, I can say that the scent is hard to identify. It reminds me vaguely of pears and lime-soaked papayas, but it's neither of those things (here's where my ignorance becomes a real problem). The old part of my brain that knows hunger yells "fruit!" and insists I search for the tree to pluck it from, the new part that likes to label is at a loss. On, dry: The sweetness has gone a little powdery. And now there's a warm, non-fruity undertone. Later: The scent stays close. The sweet fruitiness is faint almost to the point of fading completely, replaced by somewhat sharp fruitiness, though that isn't my main impression. The strongest notes at this point are something floral -- but not bouquet-floral -- and the the warm, non-fruity undertone. Having just peeked back at the description of this oil, I'd have to guess the floral is cherry blossom. Let me sum up: Overall, I like it, but it doesn't blow me away (in fairness, no perfume ever has). I think it would be a very nice, light perfume for warm and sunny days (and the nights that go with them). I like the fruitiness after the initial sweetness has faded, but in the end the sweet-ish (I assume cherry blossom) floral is too dominant for my tastes (almost one-note at the end of the day). In my continuing forays through the world of BPAL scents, I bet I'll find that sweet florals in general do not appeal to me. We'll see. I would wear this again, but I hope to eventually find something more ... me.

This is my first review. I have no real experience with scents, especially when it comes to identifying components (as far as I know, Sandalwood comes from shoes and Amber is a color). I'm aiming this review at the neophytes like myself whose descriptive vocabulary is severely limited, and who have no idea what it means when someone says "I detect a faint hint of vetiver." In the bottle: Strong, warm spice with something faintly sweet, and even more faintly sour (not in a bad way). On, wet: As above, with a slightly more pronounced sourness. On, dry: Almost immediately the spiciness and sourness fade, sweetness is dominant. Still warm. In fact, that's what is really making an impression on me. The physical feeling this gives me is the same as when I wrap my hands around a cup of hot cocoa and breathe deep. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing in this reminiscent of chocolate, and the sweetness isn't a sugary sweet (more like the sweetness of a field of wildflowers and grasses in the middle of summer). What I'm trying to say is that it's somehow a relaxing warm sweetness. But oddly, I'm not sure I like it. Later: The scent stays close, which is what I prefer. (Given the choice of enticing others to lean in, or forcing them to step back, I prefer the former.) In very little time after drydown it develops a powderiness which, if anything, enhances the sweetness. The very faint sour note comes back (again, not a bad thing), but the spiciness never does. The staying power is good (but scents always last on me -- usually longer than I want!). All in all, a relaxing and comfortable scent, but I'd be happier with it if it retained its spiciness. This scent doesn't suit my personality, but I would certainly recommend it for those who want a warm, earthy-sweet scent.