The_Merf

In the bottle: This is a "vast" scent, as other people have said. It has an airy quality, because the frankincense and orris are light, and yet manage to block the heavy Snake Oil base from wafting up to hit your nose. Wet: This is sweet resiny at first--the frankincense is sweet and the orris takes on a floral quality in this blend. Drydown and wear: The sweetness starts to go away (at first this actually reminded me of Dance of Death), and we get the creaminess from the Snake Oil base. This one doesn't have as much throw as the other Snakes I've tried, and I will have to test it again to see if I want to keep it, but as always, orris tends to make everything better.

I'm nearly in tears with disappointment. :D In the bottle: On my first whiff, this was great--cinnamon, smoky, barely any myrrh (not that I dislike myrrh, but...). However, on the second sniff, it was all myrrh, and there was just a little bit of smoke. Wet: The cinnamon is there for a second, along with a deep smoke, but then the myrrh emerges and does this bizarre thing that I've never had myrrh do...it combines with the smoke note and goes soapy-wonky. Drydown and wear: As I still smell this, and as I force myself to check Saw-Scaled Viper on the other wrist, I realize that cinnamon might be contributing to both the problems, and indeed, with Priala I am getting a variation on the Red Hots theme, with a heavy dose of myrrh. What a tragedy; I haven't anticipated a BPAL this much in ages.

In the bottle: A whiff of cassia and then GINGER! Wet: All red ginger...except it's vile. Truly nauseating. I don't understand this. I have two bottles of Mum Moon...what is going on here? Drydown and wear: I keep on forcing myself to check this again to see if anything other than the most vile, wretched ginger in the world emerges, but it doesn't. This is literally making me sick to my stomach. ET fix: cardamon is not cassia, silly

Oh dear...this is one of the few "red alert" BPAL blends that just did not work on me from the start. The opium really oozes over the somewhat difficult musk and civet combination. I'm not generally opposed to civet, and it works in some blends that are dear to me, but combined with musk, which I do have a hard time with, there is unpleasantness. There is the effect of something rotting or spoiling on my skin, almost like a warm spicy milk. It's extremely unsettling, alas.

In the bottle: This smells a little bit lighter than I was expecting it to--it must be very heavy on the khus. and the blonde tobacco makes it very sweet. I was hoping to pick up on the orris, blackcurrant and amber, but I can't find any of them here. Wet: Now this was unexpected--this goes to men's cologne on me. It's a nice men's cologne, but for some reason, I have a real vendetta against this scent category (I even had a huge bottle of Wilde, and then one day I couldn't stand it and had to sell it). Drydown and wear: The cologne-y aspect fades and gives way to a very light mixture of khus, sweet tobacco and amber. There's no morphing point to this scent on my skin, and it doesn't make the unique turn that I hoped it would make. Only a few notes dominate on my skin, so this one's been swapped.

In the bottle: This smells a lot lighter than I imagined it would. We all know that resins are usually associated with being darker, but that they can also have a lighted edge too, and that is what we see in this oil. There's also black musk, which is honestly almost as much of a problem note for me as white musk. Wet: This is unbelieveably light on me. It is all olive leaf, spikenard and ginger. Some have mentioned Tzadikim in connection with this, and I see where they get it. Drydown and wear: There is a very brief state of serious myrrh (which is usually longer lasting for me) that gives way to black musk. If you have problems with black musk smelling a bit stale on your skin, watch this blend, because it is one of the worst offenders in this regard (think Haunted). The blend ends up as a combination of black musk and this odd fruity Tzadikim combo of spikenard and olive.

In the imp: A sweet frankincense--one of the sweetest I think I've smelled in a BPAL--combines with sage and lavender fougere. The sage makes it dry and gives it the strong herbal shot that one finds in Lear and Alecto. Wet: The strong herbal influence of the sage goes away pretty quickly on my skin and the sweet frankincense is the most dominant note. However, this does not go straight frankincense, but it has a lot of other things contributing, like labdanum and the slightest hint of the fougere around it. Drydown and wear: Frankincense and labdanum seem like they will last the longest here. The scent ends up being a very interesting take on resins, and even though I have quite a few resin blends, I'm going to hold on to the imp because I quite like this.

In the imp: This is a very difficult one for me to get a hold of. This just smells very fresh, with perhaps the slightest edge of berry. I'm going to guess that this is front the "ozone" charge. Wet: This is rather fresh and clean in a "skin" sort of way. The berry is soft and "light red" (i.e., it's approaching 'pink' but doesn't quite get there). Drydown and wear: The scent does not morph much from its wet start, although the lavender--which is so soft in this blend--does tend to come out a little bit more. For me, this is one of the most difficult BPALs to accurately describe. I know that the musk/ozone charge is doing something, but I'm not entirely sure what.

In the imp: Pine wood and fresh pine needles, in their sticky state. Wet: This remains pretty constant. It's warmer than something like Black Forest. There a connection to earth and nature here, though I don't get the dirt note as much as other people. Drydown and wear: The pine/fir stickiness is predominant as the oil dries; the resinous quality dries down. I finally start to sense some of the earth that people are talking about, but this is basically the essence of fresh pine needles.

A negatively charged scent. Ambergris, Spanish Moss, oakmoss and three electric mints. In the imp: Minty! Wet: The "electric" part of this scent's description had always put me off, but this is actually quite interesting on my skin (I would say that the snow/mint/winter category is the category of BPAL where I have done the least testing). It's all mint at first, and very much reminds me of my Mint Medley tea, which is peppermint and spearmint. After a few seconds of contact with the skin, the oakmoss starts to emerge. Drydown and wear: As the herbal edge of the oakmoss started to emerge, I was afraid of smelling "stale," as herbal notes often have problems combining with drastically different notes, like the mint. However, this remains pleasant on my skin, and the strength of the mint "burns off" and leaves a mixing of oakmoss and ambergris that almost reminds me of Black Cat, except with a mint cloud around it.

In the imp: Not green at all...this is soft and berry-like. I just finished trying The Oblation, so I recognize the basic blackberry/currant note right away. Wet: This is not much of a morpher on me. It is a very bright and sharp berry, unfettered and quite natural. I imagine a wet berry, still waiting to be plucked. Drydown and wear: The remains "berries in the rain" on me. I've been looking desperately for a berry scent, and I'll probably hold the imp, but like other berry-based perfumes, this one is particularly light on me.

In the imp: This smells really beautiful...it's a simple blend, but I can detect both notes and they go together really well. Wet: This is a very juicy blend at the start, and the pomengranate note is the most powerful one. Drydown and wear: This doesn't quite maintain its vitality, and the rose takes over as the strongest note. It's a bit of a dusky rose, but there's enough pomengranate to keep this interesting. It's one that I will have to mull over.

Snake Oil with vetiver, black coconut, vanilla, and opoponax. In the bottle: I was terrified after reading these reviews--I have plenty of vetiver. However, what I smell here is very balanced. I get a hint of vetiver, but there's also the coconut (giving a bit of Perversion to this), vanilla and general Snake Oil-ness. Wet: The coconut and opoponax are really strong. This smells a lot like Perversion on me, with a bit of green from the vetiver. I'm so glad I like this so far...I was concerned about the Snake Pit, since while I don't dislike SO, it's not one of my 'must have' blends. I love this variation though. Drydown and wear: This continues to be a blending of Perversion and Snake Oil on me, with the slightest whiff of vetiver at the end. I wish it wasn't quite as much like some other oils I own, but I think that, as with all SO based stuff, aging will give it a unique quality.

In the bottle: Rose, rose, rose. However, this is a very full and elegant rose. Wet: More roses! Drydown and wear: The basalm starts to come out, and unfortunately there's a bit of the stale edge that can come with honeys and basalms. It's not overpowering, but there are other rose blends I wear better. I'm afraid I'm going to have to swap this.

In the bottle: This smells very nice. I can smell the dusky orchid and the thinness of the sandalwood and dust notes. I don't really pick up on the herbs, myrrh or jasmine. Wet: This is a very dry scent, and I'm surprised orris isn't on the list of notes. Again, I detect the orchid and a thin floral that is probably the paperwhites and sandalwood mixing. It's very much like the bottle, but as one might suspect, it is a very light scent. Drydown and wear: I've had this happen before, but I can't remember with which perfume. The herbs and myrrh are mixing together to form a somewhat stale scent that is overwhelming the rest of the blend. There is a slight jasmine edge to it, and the dustiness of the scent (and the orchid, which I love) is quite overwhelmed. I think this one is going to have to go off to swap.

In the bottle: Despite the fact that this is a real jumble of notes, the vetiver and ambergris are the standout notes. Wet: I'm really stunned by this. I'm a big resin/clove amp-er, so the fact that this smells basically like Lenore (i.e., vetiver and lemon) with some ambergris is really surprising to me. Drydown and wear: OK, this does become more complex as it dries down, but oddly enough, now it reminds me of Geek (the patchouli/opoponax combination). The resin does become noticeable, but it is still drowned out by the vetiver and ambergris. I guess the "smoke and grasses" are helping to give some of the "Geek" vibe, but I wish this scent would morph a little more.

In the bottle: Jay-sus, that smells pink (as others have said...like the label). Indeed, if this were a CT bottle where I didn't know the notes, I'd peg it for lotus. On the skin: The pink immediately loses its edge and this doesn't act like lotus at all (thank God). What emerges is a combination of the dianthus and blackberry. As others have said, it is very tart and fresh. Drydown and wear: The berry note continues to dominate, but loses its lush freshness. Sometimes a waft of the "pink" note comes up, but when I sniff my wrist, it is gone. Other times, this sort of smells like grape-flavored Bubblelicious gum. I'm really torn on this scent. While it is not all that strong, it is a nice, interesting take on the clean scent, and it would be a lovely perfume for spring.

Thanks to Tempest Teapot for the imp--I see that this was much better behaved on me than on her! In the imp: Vetiver dirt (as opposed to patchouli dirt...it's a very fine distinction. ) Wet: Wow, where'd the cedar come from??? Drydown and wear: Seriously, this smells like a Sin and Salvation refugee on me...it's a weaker version of Penitence or Midnight Mass. Very, very interesting...as it dries down even more, you get the rootiness.

Thanks to Tempest Teapot for the imp! In the imp: I smell more patchouli/dirt/vetiver than anything. I don't really pick up on the resin. Wet: Yarrr, 'tis dirt here...maybe vetiver, probably patchouli. It makes the incense sort of stale on here...I took a big sniff of this one and started coughing. Drydown and wear: Much more dirt here...this is not playing nice on my skin and I can't figure out why, as these types of oils usually work well on me.

In the imp: This is certainly very earthy, but it's a sweet earth and not in the same way as a myrrh-laced imp of Dance of Death. I like the description above; this is a foody sweetness. Wet: This smells like earth + sunscreen...like I had sunscreen on and played in fresh, upturned dirt. Drydown and wear: Now this smells like sunscreen and lotion--it actually reminds me of Intrigue, without the smoke that comes from that oil's drydown. Coconuts, sun, a very warm scent, and an interesting oil. Thanks to Tempest Teapot for the imp.

Thanks to Tempest Teapot for the imp! In the imp: I really don't know what to make of this. I have no real stance on lillies--they work in some blends for me and not in others. This smells floral, but it's hard to describe. Wet: This is a strong blast of floral, and it smells odd...I am not well-disposed toward it. Drydown and wear: This one goes through a lot of changes! After the initial blast, it becomes powdery and almost, but not quite, soapy. It then does another morph into this great spicy floral (I hate using that phrase in reviews because it can mean so many things, but...). This is quite nice.

In the imp: I smell the berries and the florals. I really can't tell them apart, as I don't know these florals well enough, but I am well-disposed to it. Wet: This is a nice berry with some bite. After dealing with a lot of berry scents that faded away on my skin rather quickly, I like this. I'm not sure, but I'm going to guess that it's the birch and/or maple leaf that's providing a strong base for this oil. Drydown and wear: This is berry with something else--I think it's the maple leaf, or maybe the bark...or maybe the floral. I don't know, to be honest, but I do like this a lot. It's one of the more unique GCs I've tried in some time.

I've only had the dreaded "amoxil" effect with one other oil--Undertow. Blood Lotus comes off as a sweeter version of amoxil. This is 99% pure bubblegum lotus on me, with just the tiniest hint of dragon's blood. Off to swaps with it!

In the imp: You know, this smells quite pretty, on account of the rose and peony, I imagine. I'd been wanting to try this, since it is the plant associated with the fixed star Algol, which is conjunct my Sun. Wet: Very floral (peony, not rose), with just a faint trace of green. This is a very pink scent when it is wet, and I don't mind it (a sentence that I did not think I'd ever type). Drydown and wear: I'm not sure about this on the drydown; I'll have to try it again. It goes very green and clean on me, and actually smells a bit soapy/men's cologne-y. However, given its association, I want to give it another chance.

How sad is it that this is the first Salon scent I've tried? In the bottle: This smells really light, and I'm having a hard time picking out any of the florals. This is odd, being that rose and orchid, among others, are powerful. I do get the slightest hint of the mandarin. Wet: This is really, really pretty. It's very floral at first, with the rose and the calla, but not the orchid. I can also smell the vanilla and tonka. Drydown and wear: I love this. I really do. I start to get an orangey citrus--which I usually hate--but here it blends beautifully with the florals. I get the picture of a pink and orange flowers in a bouquet, and it's all quite lovely. /need to get more Salon bottles...