Jump to content
Post-Update: Forum Issues Read more... ×
BPAL Madness!

zankoku_zen

Organizers
  • Content Count

    17,001
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by zankoku_zen

  1. zankoku_zen

    Firethorn Berry Tea

    Bitter black tea with a touch of red currant, rose hips and something else. I think there's a vanilla in there because I smell in the drydown. Good throw, good wear length. Definitely one of the more interesting Crimson Peak blends.
  2. zankoku_zen

    Indulgence

    Cool green flowers (elemi and tobacco flower) with a touch of smokiness. I definitely am amping up the tobacco flower and elemi, and it smells more like a white smoky floral as opposed to a darker smokier blend (given that this has patchouli, etc.). Good throw, good wear length. Cool, smoky, florals.
  3. zankoku_zen

    A Specific Aberration

    This has to be one of the more jarring BPALs with my skin chemistry. I think there is tuberose in this which makes it a weird blend to me since tuberose rarely works on my skin. It's like a smoky tuberose fighting for dominance against frankincense, and it just smells... unpleasant. It smells sharp, and acrid, and just... unpleasant. In other news, its kinda spooky and very atmospheric. Good throw, good wear length. Smoky florals, sharp, jagged.
  4. zankoku_zen

    Ghosts

    Soft watery violet, hint of mums, and frankincense. It smells slightly funerary, slightly incensey and nostalgic. Low throw, good wear length. Soft, watery, floral.
  5. zankoku_zen

    A Shadow In The Elevator

    Plum, patchouli and musk. This smells like dark, slinky, plum. So far, this has been the plummiest Crimson Peak blend I've tried. Good throw, good wear length. Dark, fruity, slinky.
  6. zankoku_zen

    Beware

    Vetiver, black musk, and frankincense. This smells manly and ominous. Good throw and good wear length. Smoky, musky, resinous.
  7. zankoku_zen

    Insects

    Sexy, dusty plum patchouli. On wet, this smelled smokier, like a shiny dark carapace. It has dried down to a soft, female patchouli and purple fruits blend. There's a very Lucille Sharpe quality to it. Smooth, pretty, deadly. Darkly sexy.
  8. zankoku_zen

    Dr. Alan McMichael

    Sweet clovey bay rum and creamy vanilla sandalwood. This smells manly, but polished. Strong, and yet smooth. Good throw, good wearlength. Clove, bay rum, sandalwood
  9. zankoku_zen

    All That I Possess

    Manly. I get clovey leather. So in some ways this kinda reminds me to Spanked? Clove, brown leather, and a touch of amber and sandalwood. It's not as aggressive as Spanked was, but its more of a gentle spiced leather cologne. So I like this better than Spanked, but I've been on a big clove kick lately. It does give you that determination inspiration, but not in your face. Just sort of quiet determination. Clove, leather, rugged.
  10. zankoku_zen

    Between Your Heart And Mine

    Pink roses, yellow roses, and a touch of vanilla wood. There's something almost citrusy to the roses, but the drydown is the vanilla wood in the background. As with all rose blends, excellent throw and staying power. This reminds me to another rose blend that I've smelled in BPAL. Will update the review when I remember. Rosey, sweet, wood.
  11. zankoku_zen

    The Waltz

    Soft white rose, amber, and a touch of what I'd call vanilla fougere. There is a delicateness to this blend, its like a swift movement. I think there's a hint of champagne as well. Actually, this is everything I sort of wished Edith Cushing to be - delicate, slightly vanilla, and very ethereal. Sublime.
  12. zankoku_zen

    Mother Ghost

    So I mis-reviewed Mother Ghost previously. I wrote down the First Time I saw a Ghost instead. I get a TON of vanilla flower, and in a way, this smells like a more ghostly and mature version of Edith Cushing. This is vanilla, orchid, a ton of amber, and a hint of musk. The resemblance to Edith is there since this is actually a very foodie sort of vanilla on a bed of amber. Warm, comforting, but sort of wispy.
  13. zankoku_zen

    Lullaby

    Oooh. This one is going to merit further testing, I can already smell that. (Ok, that's a horrible pun). Lullaby smells like wispy moonflower, touch of lavender and a touch of sandalwood. It's soft and gentle, and I'm very surprised at how much I'm enjoying this. Low throw, good wear length. This smells like perfumed skin. I am really digging this so far.
  14. zankoku_zen

    Fairy Tales and Lies

    Fairy Tales and Lies reminds me to a rose version of Belle Epoque. It's got that rich, gilded vibe but with roses instead of lilies being the predominant floral. Sadly, I am not a rose fan but its very much in the same vein as Belle Epoque.
  15. zankoku_zen

    Lady Lucille Sharpe

    Plum musk, amber, and a deep purpley smokey lily overlay over it. Lady Lucille Sharpe smells dark and ominious in the gothic way, meaning there's also a certain romantic vibe to it. Good throw and good wear length.
  16. zankoku_zen

    Edith Cushing

    I agree with the commenter that stated that this smelled like BBW's Warm Vanilla Sugar. I get a very warm foodie vanilla, sandalwood, amber and a touch of oudh. Very smooth, very vanilla, very golden. Great throw and wear length. For me, Edith is too foodie. I much prefer Ava as a comparable vanilla-centric perfume.
  17. zankoku_zen

    Grief Water

    Grief Water is a catalyst for deep emotional catharsis. The oils within the bottle force repressed loss, sorrow, and grief to swell inside you until you have no choice but to confront the pain. The result is painful and challenging, but results in a tremendous release from self-inflicted emotional bondage. Use when you are ready to let go of old injuries that negatively impact the quality of your daily life. Purging your grief leaves you wide open to experience a finer quality of joy. Grief Water feels in some ways very similar to Release BO, but at the same time, very different. Release is very cleansing and kinda zippy, but Grief Water felt like wallowing in a salt water pool, which can be cleansing but was more sorrowful than anything else. The bath felt oilier, if that makes sense. But at the end of the bath, I showered and I felt it all sort of drain away. Grief Water is definitely more of a purger in the sense that you have to truly feel some of your emotions before you can let go of them. I followed the bath up with some Fortitude as the experience left me a little empty. ETA: I've had a bit of Grief Water in my fridge for over a year now, and had to pitch it the other day because it was GROWING something. At which point, I decided that it was probably time for it to go.
  18. zankoku_zen

    Still Life with Melon and Peaches Hair Gloss

    Melony peaches, hint of vanilla and darjeeling. Smells very peachy, and melony, and spring-like.
  19. zankoku_zen

    Brainstem Lollipop

    Pale caramel and apple. This really just smells like one of those candy apple caramels but with less sugar. Sweet, foodie, caramel.
  20. zankoku_zen

    Blood Sangria

    Red wine, maraschino cherries, and figs. This smells like a cross between Madrid and Candy Phoenix, with extra cherries throw in. Sugary sweet cherries and red wine. On the drydown, I get a tiny hint of Pez powderiness. Good throw, good wear length.
  21. zankoku_zen

    Starlight and Seaspray

    Furry musk. On wet, it had a salt spray + lime edge on it, but the drydown is all furry musk and a touch of fig. I actually enjoyed this more than I expected. Good throw, good wear length. Tropical, musky, fun.
  22. zankoku_zen

    Dr. Janice

    Tea, grapefruit with lavender and gum resins. On wet, its a very light sparkling scent, but it dries down to a lavender/resin with black tea scent. Low throw but good wear length. Dark, cerebral, contradictory.
  23. zankoku_zen

    Moonbathing

    This is all honeydew melon on me. Honestly, this sort of reminds me to Fee. Green, cool, luscious melons. If you wanted a melon scented, this one is for you.
  24. zankoku_zen

    Lacus Odii

    OI. Blood musk, neroli and pink pepper all fight for dominance in this. And oddly enough, ends up smelling like a spicy version of musky currants. I guess hate smells like currants? Sorry, that's all I've got.
  25. zankoku_zen

    Blood Moon Full Lunar Eclipse

    Peppery woods get overloaded with pomegranate and red musk on the drydown. Way sexier and fruitier than I expected, but I am definitely amping up the pom in this blend. Good throw, good wear length. I can see both the Crypt Queen and Blood Moon 2005 comparisons.
×