zankoku_zen

I really wanted to like this. Really. Agreed in that it is very Snow White Lite - but I get more of the sugar, and on wet, it's more like the sugar in the Lick It series. Wet and sugary, with a hint of mint. I think there's a hint of almond in it, which gives it the Snow White feel. Granted, traditional Snow White is more like a full on tropical drink on me - with coconut, pineapple and almond - than anything snowy. Like it, but not sure its enough to hunt down a bottle.

So now that I've spent some time with Leo Stellium - it is a bright cheery oil. I get lemon verbena, hints of myrtle, rose and cinnamon, and frankincense! Overall, its a very well blended blend. Like others, there's a definite solar/Leo energy to it. And for me, it's a bit like a more energetic version of Anthelion. In that the world gives you a rather firmer nuzzle (it's almost playful), and its like being in a meadow full of flowers in the middle of a sunny day, staring at a very clear, clean pool of water. To me, it's energizing in the deep-well spring of your being, it makes you want to get up and go and explore. And if you were gearing yourself for a large project you're about to tackle - except you're confident you'll succeed. And if it doesn't go at plan, no sweat, you can roll with it because YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR. And the world is your oyster. It's like seeing something new in you, but that has been there all along, just waiting for its moment to... hatch out. And surprise you. (Not really, since you knew you could do it!)

On wet, its a huge blast of snow and menthol. And then it warms REALLY quickly. And I get the same apple note as in All Hallow's Apple (big, red, juicy) with a touch of burlap (a linen-like note). Overally, it ends up being a very clean apple note with the swirls of snow and burlap, but not like apple blossom. Lighter than All Hallow's Apple but definitely more 'apple' than say, the Annurca Apple Blossom SN.' This would make a great room scent.

Foreboding black musk and vetiver. Touch of citrus. This is dark, stink vetiver. PASS.

Root beer-like resin that smoulders into sweet-smoky myrrh. Resin lovers take note!

Bright fruity pom/plum, amber and frankincense. This is a bright, sunny blend, confident and joyous. The combination isn't something that appeals to me, but if you're looking for a fruity resin with a bit of spice give this a try. Most of the time I find that resins aren't fruity, and this one is a lovely unexpected combination.

Roses and black leather. If you love leather, love roses, and want a replacement for Loviathar, give this puppy a try. Strong, sexual, leather.

Epic skin chemistry fail on me. This is jasmine, tuberose and gardenia. It's like my least favorite florals tagged team my skin into something horrible. SUPER PASS.

Musky rose and mimosa blossom. I'm honestly surprised at how much I do enjoy this blend, even with roses are involved. It's a dark rose blend very much like Peacock Queen and Morgause mixed together. If this were a color it would be a deep, rich purple velvet.

Tobacco, honey, hazelnuts and herbs. This smells like a witchy kitchen. Slightly foody, smoky, and herby. Not my kind of blend, but those that are fond of Floating Market, Fairy Market, the Exotic Bazaar and other blends that TAKE YOU PLACES, I'd give this a whirl.

Musk, amber, and orange blossom. This reminds me to Khrysee but more resinous, and yes "scrappy" comes to mind. This is the scent of a nice girl who is completely capable of doing everything herself. Or in the words of the immortal Princess Leia, "Do I have to do everything myself?!?" Yes, in other words, this makes me think of Princess Leia. Womanly, competent, and not afraid to make her own escape.

Slushy snow, black currant, hints of bergamot, plum, and pink grapefruit. Soo,.... I was totally into the idea of Disco Snowballs, due to my love of Swedish pop and ABBA. And in general, it's everything I hoped it would be.... except there is a note that melds together and that doesn't quite work for me. I don't know if its the combination snow + grapefruit or the blackcurrant + something else. Other than that, this is a clean, citrusy, bright bubble of a perfurme and its perfect to bring in the New Years with the sugary glittery pop and effervescence that new beginnings have. Sadly, Disco Snowballs loses against Black Snowballs, which in my house, color me surprised since we're more the Disco Snowball type than the Black Snowball type. Which goes to show you about BPAL.

Smoky vetiver, hint of leather and bergamot. Corrupt Chancellor is a dark, brooding, male cologne. If you like smoky leather blends, give this a whirl.

Knight is a lovely lavender-tinged leather, oakmoss and armor polish on wet. As it dries, I get just a bare hint of vanilla which warms the blend up considerably. It's a nice, clean masculine cologne.

Rich, spicy, foodie. There is SO MUCH going on in this blend. It smells spicy, with a rich cakey smell underneath, and with a resinous base. If you wanted something that smelled foreign and luxurious, use this!

2013 version I get blueberry on wet, and dries to a blackberry predominant slush. There's something that smells almost 'piney from the slush note' and its a very Christmassy blend.

Rich, heady classically feminine violet. Which on me turns a bit powdery. But its a powdery, white floral that puts me in mind of violet pastiles, slighly soapy, and a tinge of iris. There's a 'old lady'/comforting aspect to this single note.

Deeply fruity. This is dark, blackcurrant and figs with a hint of licorice. mr. zee_zee went "What smellies do you have on?", and has requested a bottle. Good thing I like it too.

Strong, slightly swampy aquatic. This smells a little different from the Spanish Moss 2012 note - perhaps richer is the best way to describe it? There's something almost 'stony' about it, and it makes me think of dank castle stones, and green, dewy moss growing on them.

I love both Ice Queen and Snowy Mountains & Kingfisher, and definitely looking forward to testing: Almond Blossom: almond blossom, hoar-frost, and snow-wind Go to Sleep, Darlings: Kiss-soft clouds of spun-sugar snow Winter Stars: starry blue musk with mugwort, white mandarin, rockrose, and snow

Cedar, sandalwood, and a touch of sweetness. It's a really golden WOODY blend on me. I am amping the hell out of the cedar in this one. *sigh* So if wood is your thing, and you can handle cedar (which obviously I can't), give this a try. In it's defense, typically cedar is straight up pencil shavings but in this case it actually smells like a freshly made plank of cedar wood or if you had been chopping into a cedar tree.

This was my experience as well. It smells like a yellow, sharp floral. I don't know if its the spikenard + floral honey, but it seems to veer straight into cat-pee jasmine territory. Skin chemistry fail!

This does remind me to the Rat King +moss +aquatics -dirt. It's mossy, stagnant water, and manly aquatics. Very atmospheric, but not sure I'd actually want to spray my place to smell like this!

Foodie vanilla and amber. Honestly, there is something that reminds me to Serotine Bat, with the vanilla + amber combination but it's much more straightforward. If you like foodie vanilla blends, or sweet amber blends, give this a whirl.

Warm, dusted cinnamon on frankincense. Frankincense lovers take note! This one is deep, warm, resinous and comforting. The cinnamon adds to it, making it a golden, comforting blend. Warm, golden, cinnamon.