puck_nc

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I like trying snow scents, I like florals. In the Vial: Very softly minty snow, with a warmth behind it that's probably the mums. Wet: The mint softens even more, and there's the mum! I think it's my first time getting chrysanthemum as a perfume note so strongly, and I like it! Drydown: Hm. Either the mint has soured or mums don't like my skin. Something has gone kind of stale. Verdict: I'll try it again to be sure, but sadly, at the moment this isn't a keeper.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I love trying snow scents, though not many smell pretty on me. I am not very familiar with narcissus, but I love florals in general and am very willing to try narcissus as a starring note. In the Vial: A strong snowy scent that has an evergreen edge to my nose, with a very sweet, fresh and delicate floral threading through it. It reminds me of other cold green scents...I think I'll be digging out my Mistletoe '04 and my precious half-decant of Skadi for some side-by-side comparisons. Wet: The first whiff of this on my skin is breathtaking! The evergreen is muted a bit without losing any of the cold impression and the sweetly fresh floral is stronger. Drydown: The evergreen strengthens again and now my impression is of a Christmas tree, decorated with lovely garlands of fresh white flowers. Verdict: I like it, but I think I will be doing a few side-by-sides with my current arsenal to decide whether I need a bottle.

Origin: bottle bought through eviltemptressdq's decant circle Initial Thoughts: Love trying vanilla scents. Iffy on rose scents. Like some cold scents with the right notes complementing them. Seeing the comparisons to Snow-White has made me worry, as Snow-White pulled a nasty "dirty-dishwater" trick on my skin. In the Bottle: The first sniff is cold rose. The second sniff brings out the sweet, sweet vanilla. Very feminine and pretty. Wet: The chill backs off, leaving very sweet vanilla and rose. So far, they're playing well together, although I can tell the rose is trying to see if it can pull its famous "stinky cooked cabbage" stunt on me. Drydown: Dammit. The rose is trying really hard to go stinky-bad. The vanilla is keeping it from being terrible the way Peacock Queen went terrible on me, but now I'm hyper-aware that it's lurking just under the surface. And that's distracting me from the very pretty vanilla. And the chilly edge is nowhere to be found. Verdict: I'll probably try it once or twice more in a few days to be sure, but if it stays like this, I probably won't keep it.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I probably avoided this one at first because of the musk-word. Since getting into BPAL I've learned that the lighter musks sometimes behave on me. Still not sure about the aquatic notes, but I've been looking for gardenia lately and needed to round out an imp pack. In the Vial: Watery ginger over a faint floral background. Wet: Very light ginger musk, very aquatic. Drydown: The gardenia blooms and tones down the aquatic to a level I can handle. The musk has not amped alarmingly as musk can do on me. Verdict: Keeping the imp. We'll see whether I use it fast enough to need a bottle.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: Sheer curiosity. I needed to round out an imp pack and threw it in on impulse. In the Vial: Rather herby and masculine. Wet: Dusty wood. I'm not getting any rose yet at all. Just dry and dusty and woodsy. Drydown: The edge and the dust soften, but it's still overwhelmingly woodsy on me. Verdict: Definitely not for me. Might be for my husband. Anyone who loves wood notes ought to try it.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: Anything with star jasmine will make me pause and take a closer look. I can usually handle skin musk without amping it and I hope pink musk is the same. The myrrh makes me pause, as does the white amber; I'm not sure I can get away with the lighter side of the amber spectrum the way I can with musk. In the Vial: Very pink and sweet. Girly without being candy-ish. I find it hard to believe there's so much myrrh and amber and musk in it, since I associate those notes with darker scents. Wet: Myrrh, sandalwood, musk, amber. All the ampers are amping, even though it's a lighter, more feminine amping. I can't find a trace of my beloved star jasmine. Drydown: Gets a little deeper, more womanly than before. Verdict: A lovely scent for those who enjoy musk and myrrh and sandalwood. But not what I was hoping for.

The wax and smoke of millions upon millions of candles illuminating the walls of Death’s shadowy cave: some tall, straight, and strong, blazing with the fire of life, others dim and guttering. Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: Just hoping for that elusive "candle smoke" scent. In the Vial: Sweet and light, with an impression of vanilla and maybe honey. Wet: Light, sweet candlewax with that honey-ish undertone. I get flashes of the impression of a lit candle and smoke, but they're very faint and subtle if they're there at all. Drydown: A bit muskier, and finally a bit smokier. It's a lovely, quietly sweet scent, perfect for someone who wants to know they're wearing perfume, but shouldn't because of a persnickety co-worker or some such. Verdict: Definitely keeping the imp and we'll see how fast it goes.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I tend to try all the Spanish/Hispanic-inspired scents, whether I think they'll work on me or not. And I do love cinnamon. In the Vial: Rich and redolent cinnamon, with streaks of greenery that make it almost a Christmasy blend. Something, maybe the orchid or maybe the quality of the green, is just barely keeping it from crossing that line. Wet: Cinnamon and more cinnamon. The Christmas impression has softened as the greenery takes on a more airy quality. Drydown: The scent grows more dusky and tropical as the orchid comes into play. It's still cinnamon, but much more a cinnamon of nature than a cinnamon produced as a spice. Verdict: I think I like this!

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: Rose blends are hit-or-miss with me. Sometimes they're gorgeous and sometimes something in the green-stem effect goes haywire and it stinks on me. In the Bottle: Interesting. This reminds me of a department store perfume without the alcohol harshness. It's cool and haunting; the musk and spices are dominant with just a hint of rose. Wet: Chilly spice and musk, and I think I can detect the rose trying to go skanky on me. Definitely a scent to evoke the chill and danger of All Hallows Eve. Drydown: Dammit, the rose has gone sour. Verdict: I rolled the dice and lost. This will go to someone whose skin can treat it properly.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I usually avoid ambers as they amp on me, but since I can usually wear white/light musks, I wondered if the same would hold for amber. And I'm a sucker for star jasmine. In the Bottle: Bright, white, ethereal, cold moonlit florals. They do combine to give an impression of vanilla for me, though I know there's none in the mix. Wet: Hello, amber! Are you going to behave for me? There's a lovely undertone of jasmine that I'd like to have a fighting chance. Drydown: Amber and musk with just that hint of florals. Still light and feminine, but no longer a cool scent on my skin. Verdict: I'll try it once or twice more to be sure, but I don't think my skin does this one justice.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I'm not all that into fruity scents, so my first thought upon reading the name "Peach Moon" was "oh well". Then I read the description of peach blossom and of other florals I like. I bit. In the Bottle: Light and airy peach, woods, and gentle cool florals that give it the night-time quality required of a Lunacy. Wet: The peach impression is there, but it's definitely not a fruity peach. It's the blossom and more woods and tea at this stage. I'm not getting a strong jasmine impression, which I know is a Note of Doom for many people. Drydown: The florals perk up and take the edge off the herby woods. It's a little sweeter but still a very cool scent. Verdict: I think I like this a lot!

Origin: Frimp from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I think I avoided this one when I first made my Giant List of BPAL to Try because I'd had bad experiences with musk. Now I know that "crystalline" musk might be one I can wear without it amping on me. In the Vial: Bright, glassy, cool florals. Definitely a scent that evokes the night. Wet: The jasmine is strong, but not overwhelming among the other florals. The musk is an undertone at this point. Drydown: The florals recede and the musk comes out, but they stay nicely balanced. The Oriental spices are a dusting in the background. It strikes me as a cool, sophisticated scent. Verdict: Keeping the imp and we'll see if there's a bottle in the future.

Origin: Freebie from a recent Lab order Initial Thoughts: I'd pretty much ignored this one because as a rule I don't enjoy overly foody scents. But with the imp in hand, I opened and sniffed and my nose perked up, asking, "So, what's this?" In the Vial: Buttery fruit pastry with mild and comforting spices in the background. Wet: A cinnamon bun, complete with icing and a dollop of fresh butter. Drydown: The butter has backed off, leaving a cinnamon toast scent in its wake. Sugary-sweet bread. Verdict: I think I'll hang onto this imp.

Origin: Sample in my latest Trading Post purchase. Initial Thoughts: I'm not one for using room sprays; I'd rather toss a tart into a burner than go around spraying. But if I were to get a room spray, this would probably be the one. In the Bottle: Hard to tell with the unopenable Squirt, but I get florals from the nozzle. Sprayed: A great whacking blast of floral, with linen underneath to give a dusty impression and just a trace of tea. It most definitely smells like a Victorian parlor. Verdict: Hmm. I may have to think up ways to use a room spray now.

Origin: Straight from the Lab's eBay auction Initial Thoughts: I considered trying for this one at last year's Inquisition, but I didn't have quite enough money to risk it and it was the only one I was interested in. I love Mistletoe with a passion, so I have hopes for this one. In the Bottle: Heavenly Christmas tree with warm spices and a fruity tinge underneath. Wet: Cinnamon spice and pine/fir notes. It's a gorgeous balance of Christmas-y scents and makes me wish it was December already. Drydown: The cinnamon and spice take over a little, but don't overpower the greenery. Now I've got ideas of layering it with the full Mistletoe to see what happens. Verdict: This is beautiful and I am so happy I got it!

Origin: Straight from the Trading Post Initial Thoughts: The name made me think I was in for leather, which is not a favorite scent of mine. Sprayed: Yep, definitely leather, although it's a gentle scent. There's sandalwood and desert grasses and things that are lightening it. It's a warm, welcoming scent and not at all overpowering. Verdict: Leather fans will be overjoyed, I think.

Origin: Straight from the Trading Post Initial Thoughts: I'm not so big on the green tea, but this was a freebie. Sprayed: Crisp and freshly spring, but the tea or sake is giving it a harsh edge. I get very little of the cherry blossom. Verdict: A little too astringent for me.

Origin: Straight from the Trading Post Initial Thoughts: I'm not exactly a jellybean person or a foody scent person, but if they want to give me a free imp, I'm not going to argue! In the Vial: Anise and sugar. The sugar tames the worst of the licorice scent. Wet: Still sugar-drenched licorice. At the moment it's a very pleasant, playful fragrance. Drydown: The anise gets a little stronger and the sugar-sweet fades a bit. It's also staying very close to the skin. Verdict: Hm. It's not bad, but probably others will love this much more than me.

Origin: Frimp from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I prefer berry to be a supporting player rather than center stage, so it never occurred to me to order this. In the Vial: A huge blast of sweet fruity berry, almost to the point of a fake-fruit scent on a candle or toy. Wet: It's a more natural scent on my skin, but still 100% huckleberry and currant. I often amp neroli, but I can't find it in here at this stage. Drydown: The neroli emerges, taking the edge off the sweet fruit, but the scent is turning somewhat candy-ish. It's reminding me a bit of Frumious Bandersnatch, which I love, in being a cheerful and bright scent. Verdict: And this is why frimps are good. I'm going to play with this some more and see if it grows on me.

Dew-covered berries and fresh green grasses with a faint breath of spring flowers. Origin: Fresh from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I don't see any deal-breaking notes, but neither do I see favorite notes. This will be a shot in the dark. In the Vial: Very fresh, spring-green and outdoorsy. I get the same shampoo impression that others have mentioned. Light and cheerful. Wet: Not much different on my skin at the moment. The berries are maybe a little stronger, but it's still a clean, airy, green scent. Drydown: Well darn. Apparently one of the spring flowers in the notes is one that likes to turn soapy on me. Yeah, it smells really clean...too clean Verdict: Not for my skin, but those who like springtime and grassy scents should give it a try.

Origin: Fresh from the Lab Initial Thoughts: This was one of those shot-in-the-dark choices to round out an imp pack. The descriptions of light musk and light sandalwood appealed as they don't tend to amp on me. In the Vial: Light and crystalline, shimmery and sparkly. My mental image is of a chilly mountain stream, with the moving water flashing beautifully in the sun. The fruit and fruit blossoms are there, but crisp rather than sweet. Wet: Lightly musky and more floral than in the vial. That sparkling stream is now in the woods thanks to the resins. Drydown: The lemon blossom turns more lemony and starts clashing a bit with the musks. It's not a horrible clash, but it's no longer as pretty as it was on me. Verdict: I'll probably try it in a scent locket, but I don't think I'll be buying a bottle.

Origin: Fresh from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I knew I was going to try this one as soon as I saw carnation and no deal-breaking notes beside it. In the Vial: Wow, it almost smells like bubblegum. Very candy-sweet with just a hint of floral and a dash of pepper. Wet: The carnation shows up, but the pink pepper and sugar are still combining for that bubblegum note. Drydown: The carnation is trying, but is being tamped down by the sugar and pepper and the daisy has shown up only to add an earthy edge that is clashing horribly with the bubblegum. Verdict: The Daisies are too High-Strung for my skin. *pouts*

Origin: Fresh from the Lab. Initial Thoughts: This one is a complete shot in the dark. The only note in it that I know I enjoy is the mint. In the Vial: MELON! With a dash of citrus from the lemon balm or lime rind and a slight herbal trace from somewhere. But it's definitely MELON! Wet: It's more just melon now, with the tea emerging to tone it down so it's not so MELON! The herbal impression is stronger right now. The citrus is almost nonexistent and I have yet to detect mint at all. Drydown: The melon fades and the citrus perks up, with the tea holding firm all the while. Someone's comment upthread of a selection of teas on the tray is apt, I think. Still no mint, though. Verdict: A playful, interesting scent. I wouldn't have thought I would like it after the initial MELON! start, but it's pretty. I'm not sure I'd get a bottle of it, though.

Origin: Fresh from the Lab Initial Thoughts: When rose works well on me I love it. But all too often rose turns green-stem skanky on me. Knowing that Rakshasa's sandalwood and rose work very well on me, I thought I'd give it a shot. In the Vial: I smell mostly sandalwood and plum. I can understand the impression of "snooty", but no rose yet. Wet: Again, the sandalwood is the primary note. I think the plum is making it a little sweet, the bergamot is making it a little airy. Drydown: Darn. The rose shows up and it's the skanky rose. It's not the overwhelming cooked-greens stench that my skin caused in The Peacock Queen, but it's present and persistent enough, possibly in combination with the oud, to turn unpleasant on me. Verdict: The Snooty Rose must go to someone who will make it behave.

Origin: Fresh from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I needed something to round out an imp pack and "honey-sweet" caught my eye. In the Vial: Rich, sticky-sweet honey indeed. Lotus gives it just enough lift to avoid inducing cavities. Wet: A burst of honey and then the lotus comes out in a beautiful sun-sweet floral. Drydown: I am getting the full natural lotus made wonderfully sweet with the honey. It's not candy-like at all on me. The drydown has developed a spicy side that is fascinating. It's not quite anise, it's not quite carnation, but it's adding a very sexy feel to the scent. Verdict: I like it a lot. I'll see whether I need a bottle by how fast I go through the imp.