Xanon

As was mentioned before, I am reminded of A Blade of Grass (which is one of my top ten BPALs). For me though, this is not the grass aspect of that blend, but the leaves portion. Its like Beth took that leaf note and blended it with the feeling I get from Nostrum Remedium. Ginseng and rooibos evoke the feeling that the wasabi and honey give me from that blend. I do not smell amber at all in this one, but that is fine by me. I am really happy with this blend... more so that I thought I would be.

I am really glad I picked up an imp of this before I went out an got a bottle. In the imp: green and astringent, not getting any leather at all. Wet: Oh there is the leather. And greenery! But wait... this is not smelling rain forest-ie to me... Dry: I can place it now. This smells like Pais de la Canela - just swap out the cinnamon for leather. Overall, this is not bad. I love leather, and this is a nice solid leather note. The greenery is what throws this for me. It is more evergreens to me than what I would associate with rain forest. Lovely, just not what I was expecting.

I had hopes for this one, but sadly I was disappointed. In the imp I smell something along the lines of laundry detergents and Ivory soap. Wet on my skin it is all magnolia, which, in this blend, turns powdery. Dry, I get more of the other notes listed, and it is much improved, but the magnolia's powdery effects are making this a disaster on my skin. It would probably be really pretty on someone who has better luck with magnolia.

This is awesome! In the bottle I get a thinner version of Dark Chocolate and Pepper-smoked caramel. Much more spicy though. Wet on my skin its all cinnamon and a hint of chocolate and yeast. When I say yeast, it is totally faint, but adding to the beer feel. Dry this is really lovely. Someone mentioned chai spices, and I have to agree. This is chocolate and chai lightly lingering on my skin. Light to moderate throw, and pretty modest lasting time. Happy that I tracked down a bottle of this as it is going to get some serious use.

I absolutely love this blend! It *should* not work on my skin as I have issues with Black Licorice and amber...but it is BEAUTIFUL! Wet I get bitter clove and the licorice with hints of the ginger cream. Drying I get more of a dry feeling, I think that is the coconut shell, cinnamon bark, and the tonka making an appearance. Mmm, I can see where the Snake Charmer comparisons are coming from. But this is lighter on my skin, where as SC is a heavy and think scent. Totally dry I am getting all the bits from the drying stage, plus something that is very faintly green. I am guessing the stinging nettle. I am totally impressed by this blend. Before the Bees go away, I am going to be picking up a back up bottle.

This is amazing! I am not a big Snake Oil girl, but this? Whoa! Now I get why people rave about aged SO, it is just beautiful. I have tried this both in the water of my bath, and as an after-shower moisturizer. I like is best after the shower, but it was beautiful in the tub too. Very relaxing, and I smell divine!! Super incense-ie at first, with lovely vanilla a bit after my skin cools down from the hot water. I am in love! Definitely going to grab a second bottle of this before it goes away. (PLEASE MAKE IT LAST FOREVER)

Like Catseye, I think it smells amazing in the bottle. Nice and spicy and fruity, I was excited to put this on. Sadly, it was a huge morph-er. There was a moment of plastic coconut and apricot tinged with lemon sugar, which was smothered by vetiver. After a little while all I could smell was apricot and vetiver. It was not all that bad, and the Hub actually liked it. It lasted like WHOA! I put it on at 3:30 in the afternoon, and could still smell it when I got up at 7:30 am. However, a friend of ours asked if I had showered in Axe body products. *SIGH* Not really my thing.

Jerusalem cherry infused honey. ME! I had the same feelings that Ralenth did, except that this IS my thing. Green and honey. It gets a little softer as I wear it, but I don't lose the green vine goodness. Totally a hit for me.

I love green earthy blends... but this is not my thing. I am totally sad because all I am getting from this is furry carmax lip balm. Sad Pandas.

Totally surprised by this. In the bottle: Intense clove and sage. Nothing that is making me want to put this on my skin. Wet: Okay, this is getting better... but there is a period at about the 5 minute mark where this completely disappears from my skin. Dry: Oh, she came back! Sneaky Hunter! And she comes back in much better form! This is a golden colored scent. But not bright gold, more like the color of the grasses in Africa, muted but golden none the less. The clove is now much diminished and the sage is lighter, making this blend absolutely stunning on my skin. Overall, I am really impressed by Hunter. I am very happy that I have a bottle of this.

This is making me hungry for curry. In the vial I get a lot of the citrus rind and wasabi root, oh and curry. Yes. Oddly I like it. Wet: Curry and lime. Oh, I am getting REALLY hungry sniffing my hand. This is a really fun blend. Drying down this starts to develop a bit more. I am getting more balsam and herbs and less spices. Still have the citrus rind, but I am also getting some of the advertised wood notes. Dry: Light citrus and herbs, much more green and yellow in feeling. Overall: I really am surprised by this. I liked it in the vial and thought that at the least it would be fun to have as an atmosphere oil. But this is actually quite wearable. Beth, mad props for creating something that captures so completely the feeling that I got while reading the scene of the Floating Market in the book. You are a gifted artist.

I have been in love with this blend since first I sniffed it at the Bay Area Meet 'n Sniff last year. I was very graciously able to swap for an imp of this... I am forever thankful. In the vial: Oh, hai sexeh. Spice and wood. Yum. Wet: Oh there is the leather. Mmm, clove like in Hell Gate of Ireland, and ginger, along with what has to be the coffin wood. Its a little bit piney. Dry: This is amazing. Very subtle and yet rich at the same time. Nothing is overpowering the other notes, it is all working in harmony. Dark, sexy, harmony. Overall: Lust. I can't pull my nose away from my arm. THANK YOU RALENTH!

I almost did not skin test this. The vetiver was amazingly sharp in the vial. But, as I am constantly reminded with BPAL, you have to at least try it. Wet: Sandalwood and Hibiscus and Ho wood! Vetiver it tempered down by the other notes. It is still there, but totally kept in line. Dry: Mmm, warm and lovely. Not sharp at all. The white tea is present now, as are the floral notes. Something is hinting at citrus, but I could be making that up. Wow this is really lovely. Overall, I am not sure if I am going to need a bottle right away, but this is going to be a go to scent in the Autumn and winter, I can tell. Really surprised be this.

Wow, I like this. Wet: I get the leather, which is a note that I LOVE, as well as a slightly musky honey dusted skin. Nice. Dry: The leather is gone, BUT I am left with a very familiar scent. Oh! Has anyone ever tried the Karma Sutra Honey Dust? Its a more adult version of baby powder that has a light honey scent. Well that is exactly what this smells like. Even down to the powdery feeling. Overall, I find this a really interesting blend. I am okay with my imp for now, but I may pick up a bottle in the future.

In the bottle: Mmm, exactly what I was expecting. A little boozey, lots of cherry, and dark vanilla. Wet: Oh wow, this is getting better. More creamy, but a little bit of spice from the Egyptian musk. Wow, I am impressed. Dry: This gets really faint, but holds VERY close to the skin. Overall, this is beautiful. A good one to wear around people who are sensitive to perfumes (in the office, etc.) Lovely blend.

Oh. Swoon. Lust. Drool. In the bottle: A bit sharp. Leather and metal. Hmm, but it is intriguing. Wet: Oh, give it a little space and it starts to really develop. Definitely black leather, but not like Black Rider which I thought was more pleather. Dry: Oh Hai Sexeh! Musky worn leather, machine oil, metallic... all I need is a man to put this on. Unfortunately DH is not into it. Mayhaps I'll sneak it on him while he is sleeping.

Bottle #126: It is becoming apparent that I need to let bottles rest before making up my minds as to how they smell. I honestly thought that this was aqua-net hair spray when I opened it. However, today is another story. There is something smokey in there, along with a little bit of incense and herbs. It is really interesting. But once it gets on to my skin it goes powdery. It probably has amber or orris in it as those two notes turn everything to powder on me. Verdict: Very interesting, but not really for me. *SIGH*

Bottle # 167 This one had me guessing at what the hell is in it. When I first sniffed (fresh from the mail box), it was kind of like sniffing fruity cookies. But the kicker: was it melon fruit or berry fruit? There is something else in here that I am not getting. Today, about 3 days later, in the bottle it smells like vanilla, Carmel, and green apples. Wet on my skin, I am thinking that it could be apple blossom... GAH, my nose really is not good at picking out these notes. When dry, it is VERY pretty. Not too foodie, which I am happy about. It leaves my skin smelling like creamy vanilla fruits, with a hint of something golden. Verdict: Best Chaos for me thus far. Even the hub thinks it is pretty.

It took me a while to actually try this one out. I am not a fan of lavender... too much like those underwear drawer sachets and hippie soap. Carnation and I have an iffy relationship too. It's either creamy or powdery on my skin. Due to those two notes I held back on trying this. But a friend of mine is in love with this blend because of its leather. Being the leather fanatic that I am, I finally decided to grab an imp with my last order. Man, I should have done that AGES ago! I am absolutely in LOVE with this blend! Wet, I smell the sharp sage and cedar, it makes the leather note a bit sharp too. Drying I start to amp the vanilla and carnation, making this a creamy leather. Oh nommy! Dry it is all leather and creamy vanilla with the barest hint of lavender. It is stunning! Not at all masculine, more unisex. I have made a lotion with my imp and ordered a bottle of this goodness. 5/5 for lasting power too!

This started out smelling like a medicinal mint. Probably the muguet and white sandalwood making a weird combination. At the 5 minute mark this is perfect! A dusty vanilla with Silver Phoenix... I really like this! 5 minutes after that... what happened? Oh it's YOU orris! You make pretty things turn sickly powdery on my skin. Lame Sauce, I really loved it there for a minute.

On the initial application I got a lot of dirt. I was kind of afraid that would be it for this blend. After about 10 minutes of letting it sit, I get green husk of a corn field. Nommy! Oh, there is a little white corn in there. Now about 20 minutes later I am left with a pretty sunny cornfield and some dirt. I like this! Pleasantly surprised!

Let me start by saying that I really like rose and wood blends. This is a well balanced blend. I think that the rose has a bit of a green tinge to it, which I like. The incense is light, as is the tobacco. I get a lemony note that hints at polished (with pledge) wood. The longer it sits on my skin, the more the green and lemon come out. Kind of sad... where is the smoky incense from the initial application? I had high hopes for this. We'll give i another try in a day or two and see, but this might hit the swap box.

Pleasantly surprised by this one, as I am not a huge lavender OR magnolia fan. I swapped for this out of complete curiosity, as Yvaine is my favorite character in Stardust, and it actually paid off. In the bottle all I get is sharp lavender, but with something else. Perhaps that is the crystalline note. Freshly applied I get the lushness of the magnolia mixing with the lavender. Gee that's pretty. Dry gets a little powdery but it is still beautiful. Not sure how frequently I am going to reach for this, but considering I thought that this was going to be total fail, I am VERY happy with it.

In the Imp: sharp green grass clippings. Initial on: still green grass, but there is something a little dirty and sunny coming through. Dry: Stays much the same as the initial application, but just a little sunnier. Lovely.

Oh man, I really love this one. Spicy and smooth, with some metallic tinges. The sandalwood is beautiful. It does get a little powdery, but not in an unpleasant way. I don't feel like people are giving this enough love. If you liked Hell Gate of Ireland, then this is a must. As some have noted, this is amazing layered with Female.