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BPAL Madness!

zankoku_zen

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Everything posted by zankoku_zen

  1. zankoku_zen

    13 Crossroads

    Use 13 Crossroads in conjunction with 13 Horizons spray and orange and white vigil candles to open up opportunities, break through blockages, and overcome obstacles, and, in the process, replenish hope. 13 Crossroads can be utilized to expand your options when you feel boxed into stale, monotonous, desperate or destructive patterns or situations. It helps you find healthy, fruitful alternatives, and enables you to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. So I got 13 Crossroads because the description immediately appealed to me. I haven't actually used it for its intended purpose, but I did manage a small sniff/skin test. It was very vetiver (smoky!) on wet, and it dried to a slightly smoky, white floral. However, even this brought about some pretty fabulous results. We will be moving in a few weeks, and had been despairing about finding the right rental place in the school district we wanted within the budget we had set. I put on 13 Crossroads as sniff test for someone else, and not only did we find a listing for a really great rental, but we were able to snag a visit the next day on a weekend. The property was even better in real life, and we put our application in for it (and we were approved). It was a piece of good news in an otherwise shittastic month, and I'm going to bust 13 Crossroads out this weekend for the reason I actually bought it.
  2. zankoku_zen

    Burning the Blue Dark Round Their Moons Atmosphere Spray

    This one is a very soft, slightly faint blend - but I think its the blue musk, chamomile, and just a touch of sweetness. It dissipates pretty quickly, I think. On the other hand, it makes the bedroom smell sort of ethereal without you pointing out that it's a scent making it do it. This may require another test.
  3. zankoku_zen

    Spider Silk Bath Oil

    Light citrus, tons of white florals, whiff of coconut. This was more citrusy and white floral than I expected. Coconut typically is such a beast that it drags everything with it, but not this time. That said, I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of the white floral notes. There's something sharp that is stabbing my nose and I think its the osmanthus again.
  4. Mod Note: This review topic is for the Etsy Small Batch release of Gainful Employment. This oil vibrates on the frequencies of both Earth and Saturn, and is a prosperity and good fortune blend that is solidly grounded: it was created to bring opportunities into your life that will help you to form a strong financial foundation. This incarnation of Gainful Employment contains juniper berry essential oil, Iron-free patchouli essential oil, extract of Job’s Tears (7 per bottle) and guinea grains (extracted in-house), Egyptian frankincense, and oakmoss absolute. Each bottle was charged over eight Thursdays, all during the Hour of Saturn. Rub this oil onto the soles of your feet and between your palms during any part of the process of job hunting. Gainful Employment should be used on brown candles when utilized in a ritual capacity, and can be used to (lightly!) dress resumes and cover letters. This only can also be employed during divinatory practices in order to help you discern the best and most responsible path to financial solvency. This review is for the small batch etsy TAL blend Gainful Employment: Earth/Saturn. Since there are no notes listed for the GC GE version, and while the description on the etsy website references "this incarnation", there is no note of actual different elements. So I am reviewing here in the meantime. Scent description from etsy: "This incarnation of Gainful Employment contains juniper berry essential oil, Iron-free patchouli essential oil, extract of Job’s Tears (7 per bottle) and guinea grains (extracted in-house), Egyptian frankincense, and oakmoss absolute." I have to say that it smells like patchouli, frankincense, and a touch of both gin and oakmoss. Overall, not unpleasant. I dabbed some on my palms to motivate me to keep an eye out on job opportunities and to keep reconnecting with my network as I try to figure out what my next step is career-wise. So far, I've found some interesting job postings and I want to keep myself thinking positively and not succumb to the anxiety that a job search can bring.
  5. zankoku_zen

    Planetary Magick: Venus

    I got a sample of PM: Venus from a recent TAL decant circle. Scent-wise it definitely reminds me to Mantle of Venus. I get an apple like note, violet, lilies and overall it makes me think of MoV scentwise. Except MoV smells almost watery, as if Venus was the original and MoV was slightly derivative. It felt also 'pinkier' in nature. I dabbed this on yesterday and I have to say that I got a boost of self-love and confidence. I can see why this one is so beloved. In some ways, I think of it was a more concentrated version of MoV, while stripping some of the monetary aspects and delving into the core of Venusian energy.
  6. zankoku_zen

    Tarot 2014: Three of Wands

    Three of Wands smells cedary. Cedar, anise, and a good bit of earthiness. This is definitely an earth blend, and it reminds me a bit of the TAL etsy small batch Earth BO. Good throw, decent wear length.
  7. zankoku_zen

    PPH07

    PPH07 smells like L'Autunno - I get damp leaves, oakmoss, musk and tinge of orange. It's gender-neutral to manly with a strong throw and good wear length.
  8. zankoku_zen

    Thirteen (13): March 2015

    So this smells like cocoa, lemon verbena, hints of lavender and a bajillion other kitchen herbs. This actually makes me think more of a TAL blend than a perfume blend. In that it doesn't smell like something you would just wear because it smells pretty, but because it has a purpose. Herby, chocolately, cool.
  9. zankoku_zen

    Cuchulain’s Fight with the Sea

    Manly aquatic cologne. I get sea spray, juniper and a hint of patchouli. UGH. This is what mermen smell like. Rough, clean salty water, and just a pinch of cool. Off to try this off on mr. zee_zee. Watch it not work.
  10. zankoku_zen

    Dark Rosaleen

    Sexy pine, golden amber and frankincense. I had no idea how sexy pine could smell. This is feral, wild, and highly sensual. In the so not typical way. Slightly masculine, probably gender neutral-ish. Sticks close to the skin, average wearlength. If you ever fancied sex with an Ent, this is probably what it smells like.
  11. zankoku_zen

    Fairy Thorn

    Fairy Thorn is the Ava of the fairy world. Take Lady Una, but turn her into a fairy version of Ava. You know, white vanilla skin, sweet swirls of tuberose and apples, and just a touch of sandalwood. It's eerie, otherworldly and ethereal --- all of which could also be applied to Ava, but this one is slightly more floral, and has more of that floral feral aspect. Good throw, good wear length. This makes me think of a young Titania, more fairy princess than fairy queen.
  12. zankoku_zen

    Silva

    An oil of growth, fecundity, stability, and opportunity. All earth and air: cypress, white pine, cedarwood, and birch tar with elemi, lemongrass, lavender, and styrax. To auspicious beginnings! I busted out Silva for a little bit because I have a meeting that I think could boost my career. Disclosure: also wearing Eloquentia. I dabbed Silva on a few chakra points (not the throat one, since I've got Eloquentia in there), and then smidge on my left wrist so that I could do a scent review as well. Silva smells like lemongrass and woods, with a whiff of lavender. On wet, I had a really strong association to thai food because lemongrass just sort of fills your nostrils. Cedar was prominent but you also get the cypress and pine. It's just very woodsy and lemongrassy. As for feel, this feels like you're reaching UP. Like you're a tree, firmly planted, but you're reaching out to the sun and the breeze. It's a sunny day and you're doing you're best to keep growing. Very uplifting, but with a very action oriented component. I am going to treasure my Silva bottle. HARD.
  13. zankoku_zen

    Black Supermoon 2015

    Super dark aquatic. It's dark patchouli. And just that. DARKNESS. On wet, it's a giant hit of vetiver, patchouli with a touch of aquatics. It dries down to a super duper dark patchouli with a touch of benzoin. It's just dark, inky, and well, DARK. Super strong on me as well, good throw and wear length. Very masculine.
  14. zankoku_zen

    Chaos Theory Hair Gloss

    So I received 1/2 oz of the "Scapula Vanilla based HG", no number. I have to say that it smells heavily of both vanilla and cherries. In some ways it reminds me Hollywood Babylon, so I think it's black cherry and vanilla.
  15. zankoku_zen

    Sin Hair Gloss

    So, I'm indifferent to Sin as a perfume. But as a hair gloss, I think this smells amazing. I get a ton of sandalwood, patchouli and just a hint of amber to sweeten it all up. I've come to realize that aside from Dorian, I tend to like some of the heavier-presence hair glosses. I've restricted myself to only keeping my top three hair glosses - and while I really like this, it's not capable of dethroning my three favorites at the moment.
  16. zankoku_zen

    Dragon's Milk Hair Gloss

    ERMAGHED. The throw on this is astronomical. I got an empty to sniff, and boy, you uncap it and it just WAFTS out. Dragon's Milk - honey, DBR resin and vanilla. All up to 10X. If you loved Dragon's Milk, then you definitely need the hair gloss. As for myself, its almost too much!
  17. zankoku_zen

    Midnight in a Silent Grove Atmosphere Spray

    Pine, moss, oak and a hint of juniper. In some ways, this makes me think of anything vaguely New Orleans, and I think its that spanish moss. For those of you that have been fans of the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil - give this a whirl. It's dark, brooding, and powerful. It smells of darkened, misty forests and shadowed woods.
  18. zankoku_zen

    Bright Fortune

    Oh man, I totally forgot to review this one. Bright Fortune to me was bright and cheery, and melony. And we didn't get along. At least, not really. I sort of felt like two people on a date that are trying too hard to like each other because everything in your dating profile says that should. I tried it a few times and we never seemed to gel, I think. I much prefer Tyche's Kiss for the luck part, and for the overall cheeriness, I'd pick Sunlight.
  19. zankoku_zen

    Money Draw: Quick & Dirty

    This review is overdue, and its from a few weeks ago. Money Draw: Quick and Dirty is like the love child of TAL's Money and Aunt Caroline's Money Draw. Or maybe just an amped up version of AC's Money Draw (which is unreleased but available). It definitely doesn't feel like a prosperity blend. Progressus feels more like a prosperity blend that Money Draw: Q&D. It's cinnamon, earthy (I swear there's some patchouli cavorting about in there), and some white floral. This smells like old coins - its got a metallic smell to it. Which is what makes me think of TAL Money. If I am recalling correctly, I just needed an infusion of cash, and used it to promote my bpal sales page. And it worked. I sold an inordinate amount of BPAL (someone in fact, wiped out almost all of my LE decants), and it was just what I needed. Sometimes, you just need cash, and I think this delivers the goods.
  20. zankoku_zen

    Eloquentia IV

    Oh god, oh god, oh god. I had a very instant and visceral response to this. I really didn't get lemon. I got mostly an all spice/cinnamon combination, with some citrus on the edges and a whiff of mint. But really its the allspice/cinnamon. It doesn't smell perfumey at all. It just smells good. Which to me makes me feel good about the oil. I wore this today because I have a meeting with an old coworker of mine and we're going to be discussing my career, and I just wanted to be eloquent and prepared. It has a different feel from Charisma. Charisma to me feels like you're putting your best foot forward (ie - this is the best you, look at how shiny you are!). Eloquentia is about being articulate. Charisma has a bit of an impression/dazzle factor to it. Eloquentia feels more about "I know what I'm talking about". Both of which are great confidence booster.
  21. zankoku_zen

    Earth Bath Oil

    Fecundity * Growth * Wealth * Stability * Endurance * Heartiness * Abundance * Prosperity * Practicality * Determination * Responsibility * Loyalty * Dependability * Wisdom * Patience * Strength * Sensuality * Humility * Secrets and Hidden Things I'm only reviewing the scent of this one because I received a decant and it sort of leaked all over the bag. It smells very cedar, very woodsy, and there's a very grounding element to it. I got some of my fingers and was surprised at the throw of it. It practically reeks of woods and earth. I can see this being very grounding. I may give this a whirl in the next few weeks and report back.
  22. zankoku_zen

    Release Bath Oil

    I received some sake scented bath salts, and decided to treat myself to a bath. Because it said "purifying", I went ahead and also added a few drops of Release to the bath oil. It felt good. Like a good cleansing sort of - "it's Spring and time to shake off the winter blues" sort of way. It smells lemony and clean. I'm working on several things on multiple fronts, and Release - both as the perfume oil, and as a bath oil, are very good at letting you let go of things. I almost prefer it as a bath oil, because you can just sort of dunk yourself in, be purified, and see it all drain away, if that makes sense. Sometimes the tangible part of the experience can be very powerful.
  23. zankoku_zen

    Beautiful Death

    Tobacco, cognac, sandalwood and lace. This one is dark, brooding and reminds me to Black Lace without being the same. I really amp up the sandalwood and lace on wet, and it dries down to a tobacco/sandalwood/lace bit, which is quite nice. I get maybe a tinge of vanilla after about two hours. Dark, gothy, brooding.
  24. zankoku_zen

    Thirteen (13): February 2015

    Tons of white chocolate, some herbiness to it, hits of fruitiness from the strawberry and mandarin and a swirl of jasmine and carnation. This is a very sugary, very edible white chocolate. I am amping the white chocolate like no one's business. Of course, huge throw and huge wear length. PASS.
  25. zankoku_zen

    Wooden Goat

    Super amped up sweetness. A ton of golden fruit (lychee, mandarin, orange, peach), with bamboo, plum blossoms, and peony. It's got the throw of Fire Pig but amped up on fruity sweetness and peony. It's actually got huge throw, and huge wear length. It's too much for me. Everything got dialed up to 11. EVERYTHING.
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