Balame

BPAL's musk is usually overpowering on me, but I saw "hazelnut smoke" and had to try this, because their hazelnut is awesome and I can hardly ever find it in blends.

Straight on and yep, musk overload. I feel like I'm in a head shop and there are people drooling whisky after gyrating around in some drunken, unholy hippy orgy.

But... after it settles, it's freaking good.

It's everything I love rolled up into one sexy little package.

This is soft leather that got drenched in gooey caramel and honey, then splashed with a bit of booze and set in a room full of nutty incense.

HNGH

Yes to the other commenters saying Genital Mountains (ha, who doesn't love the name?) is similar to Red Lantern, but this has a lot more depth to it.

It kind of reminds me of The Final Darkness too, which is another favorite. It's got a heavy but sweet incense-y thing going on.

The vetiver here is also in top form.

It's not in your face, but there's some earthiness underneath all the sweet notes, which I think prevents this from being too candy-ish.

Glad I took a chance on this one, definitely worth it!

Oh yeeees, these are pretty much my two favorite notes (vanilla cream and sandalwood) and BPAL has delivered!

I was concerned about the lotus since it usually turns into an evil bubblegum that ruins things for me, but it's behaving here.

A frothy vanilla is the dominant note, with the lotus bringing a sort of green "flower stem" smell to the mix.

It actually lightens things up in a pleasant way and lends itself to the "springtime" aspect of the blend.

In the distant background is my beloved sandalwood, though it's not super noticeable.

I wouldn't say I can pick out anything as blatantly "woodsy," but sandalwood is great at adding a "creamy" feel in general, which works perfectly with the vanilla here.

This is beautiful and exactly what it professed to be, but somewhat similar to other vanilla and cream scents I own.

I went ahead and ordered a bottle, so it'll be interesting to see how this develops.

There's a hint of a milkiness to Volcano's cream that is unique from other blends (and it's lovely) so I'll be pleased if that gets drawn out more over time.

I just... wha? This is one of those BPALs that doesn't even smell remotely like the description to me. That's fine though, because this is stunning.

I guess my experience most closely mirrors Kris'. This blend isn't cologne-y or "manly" at all. I also don't get chocolate or coffee.

To the contrary I get a veeeery light sheen of teakwood, just a hint of something sweet and woodsy but exceptionally refined.

And I suppose the gentle warmth behind it is the leather, though honestly I'd never have guessed that on my own.

With all my other leather blends it's very obvious the note is there, but this is one of those fantastic skin scents you could probably pass off as naturally "you" with a coy wink.

It's subtle and wears close to the body. I was testing a few things at once and guessed this was just about every other blend before realizing it was Two Old Men.

The first picture that came to mind wasn't a lecherous duo; far from it. Instead I imagined an elegant lady in a steampunk-style dress sitting under a flowering tree on a spring day.

If you leaned close to her, you'd smell the sweetness of the tree diffused across her skin, the heat of her body and the remnants of perfume mingling with the worn leather cover of the book on her lap.

This is so pretty. I don't mean that in a girlish sense, but in a "Whoa, I need to stop and admire you" way. You smell this scent and immediately jerk your head back to get a better whiff.

I don't know what sort of magic is happening between this blend and my skin, but I like it very much.

Gentle, elegant but so beguiling. Like a noblewoman's embrace... did not expect this but definitely a favorite from this year's Lupers.

BUT: I'm trying to figure out which scent with LEATHER in it would be the most appropriate to the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies version of Mr. Darcy with his FABULOUS leather coat (that I actually fell in love with before I decided I loved Sam Riley as Mr. Darcy, even if he's not Colin Firth...)

I haven't seen the movie, but it seems like you're looking for an elegant but "masculine" leather? I would think any of the following could fit:

All That I Possess - Amber, clove and leather... in the background, guiac wood, white sandalwood, and myrrh.

Antony - A warrior’s scent: the green hills and grasses of the battlefields, the resinous incense from the prayers to his Gods, and a touch of the musky leather of his armor. Ambergris and frankincense with sage, and basil.

Crowley - Infernal musk, red patchouli, lilac cologne, mahogany, lemon rind, oakmoss, leather, and vanilla husk.

Doc Constantine - Sheer musk, cedar smoke, fir needle, chaparral, black amber and leather.

Highwayman - Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather

Sherlock Holmes - A fastidiously clean scent, with a dash of pipe and cigarette tobacco. Faintly beneath, you catch the fragrance of a smear of greasepaint, a stray horsehair, and a whisper of Moroccan leather and rosin.

Leather Phoenix - Matcha tea, wild frankincense, champaca, petitgrain, star anise, aged oudh, rose taifi, narcissus, Himalayan cedar, 11-year aged patchouli, and black leather accord.

I think AtIP, Crowley and Highwayman are the most “fancy” while the others are a bit grittier.

There is a bit of difference between "hot" and "sunny/happy days" but you can find a lot of light/cheery/refreshing blends in the following topic.

Best BPALS for SUMMER - is it hot, sweltering, sticky outside?

I would add that Kumiho (A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger) and Obatala (Milk, coconut meat, shea butter and cool, refreshing water) are both pretty popular, clean picks.

Squirting Cucumber is good if you like the scent of cucumber. It's essentially cucumber water + grass, so great for hot days. The Grave-Pig (Fig, oakmoss, mushroom caps and pathcouli), despite having a weird name and notes, is actually super clean too. Seriously, check out the reviews and you'll be surprised. It's a very light, earthy fig blend. The patchouli is not hardcore at all like it is in a lot of other BPAL perfumes.

You might like Y'ha-nthlei (Deepest marine notes with bergamot, eucalyptus and foamy ambergris) as well. It was one of the first blends I tried and I still love it. It's decently rich for an aquatic, and if you've never smelled ambergris before you're in for a treat. It's like a fizzy, almost incense-y amber (but it's not heavy here). It really does feel "foamy" and the sweetness combined with the bright citrus is fantastic.

My favorite metallic scent is The Robotic Scarab. It really does smell like sun-warmed oils on a machine, but in a really nice way.

Macbeth and the Witches also has an awesome metallic tang to it. At some point my chemistry decided it hated that blend and I can't wear it anymore (almost pure ozone) but before it was beautiful warm leather, soft ozone and steel.

I also have to mention The Sword of Surtur. It fades into terrible ozone on me like Macbeth does, but while wet it's the most fantastic, realistic metal blend I've ever tried.

Personally I love Fighter but it's just pure hot leather with a very slight blood note (as in real, salty blood, not incense-y dragon's blood). That might come across metallic to some people but it doesn't react that way on my skin.

Don't think anyone's mentioned Geisha in Orange Kimono yet (King mandarin, tuberose, white sandalwood, white moss, yerba mate, tangerine and styrax). It's one of my favorite orange blends from BPAL, and the tuberose is surprisingly not overwhelming (as many florals become on me). Refreshing yet elegant. The mate/sandalwood combo really makes it feel airy and refined.

Oh hell yes. Where has this been all my perfume-sniffing career?

I adore BPAL's red currant note but most other blends it's in don't work for me. Eat Me is too cloyingly sweet, Anteros was too perfumey, Cheshire Cat is nice but I didn't want it paired with citrus. Regular Lady Macbeth was bad since the berries smelled too synthetic to my nose. Up until now Fairy Wine was my go-to for red currant, and it's still one of my favorites, but sometimes you're in the mood for booziness and sometimes you want something cuddlier.

Enter Little Lady Macbeth. The description is spot-on and thankfully the notes deliver in their truest form. It's all sweet, decadent red currant jam on top of a honey cake. You might think it would be overwhelming, but no! This is a gourmand blend at its best. As LiberAmoris noted, while the currants are sweet they also have a tartness that prevents this from becoming overwhelming. It does go on strong, but the yellow cake note quickly eases off to provide a delicious backing of sweetness without smothering everything else.

Same goes for the currant. For the first 5 minutes or so you may think you overindulged, but eventually LLM turns into a light currant jam mixed with crumbly cake. It's very realistic on me and difficult not to eat my arm, but I'm so happy to have a foody red currant blend that really lets the note shine.

Although it should have been a hit, Palmyra becomes too typically "perfumey" on me. The galbanum is sharp and paired with the bitter myrrh it just comes across as too commercial, almost alcoholic. Don't get me wrong, the incense/vanilla/amber combo is killer and there's a stage it goes through where it's all sweet resiny goodness. At that point it reminded me of a lighter version of The Final Darkness, which has a similar, drool-worthy amber combined with resins. But unfortunately it didn't last.

After sitting for a while Palmyra became dry in an unpleasantly dusty way, and most of the resins disappeared. Essentially leaving me with sweetened dust. Maybe that's properly evocative of the name, but not something I want to smell like! I couldn't pick out any leather or cinnamon from this blend, so if you're usually concerned about those notes, I wouldn't worry since they're mixed in well.

In my opinion this could have been very much in the same vein as (OLLA) Eve. Almost perfumey with many different notes coming together to create something wonderful and mysterious. This time my chemistry just didn't want it to happen. I definitely don't get the lasting, rich sweetness of something like White Peacock or Variety of Pleasing Amusements in this like thatbrownelf did, but it's good to know others are!

This is so beautiful! It really does convey a magical and nostalgic moment. Quite cuddly too.

I imagine a Victorian girl dressed in lovely frills and poofs of fabric, reading in her picture-perfect room.

It doesn't feel too reserved, though, as she's enveloped in a familiar warmth and surrounded by things she loves.

If I had to guess notes, I would say vanilla, benzoin, soft (not ozone-y) linen, grey ambergris, oudh and possibly a light mint.

In my mind this is a mix of the best aspects of Bourbon Vanilla BO, Implacable Beautiful Tyrant HG and Go to Sleep, Darlings.

Bourbon Vanilla has a vaguely floral vibe to me and comes across as too typically "perfume."

In comparison, TGH has a more edible vanilla thanks to the mash-up of sweeter notes behind it, even though it still feels lady-like.

The mint(?) is very similar to GtS, Darlings or Snow White. It's soft, dainty and sweet rather than candy cane.

And I say IBT because I could swear there's that delicious, rich oudh in the background. Maybe it's frankincense, but my guess is oh-so-lovely oudh.

I actually don't get a "sunlight vibe" from this scent, but there's a cool warmth, if that makes sense.

It feels like a vintage painting. The color and the beauty is there, but it's a bit muted and faded around the edges.

It even comes across a little snowy. Colors: pearl white and goldenrod.

I spray atmos in my hair most of the time, and though I think this is very wearable in general, TGH will be perfect for feeling breezy yet elegant in hotter weather.

Try Forvo! You can hear native pronunciations of letters and words by searching. I found Thvorusleikir on there yesterday so the others are probably up too ☺

Thanks for the tip, you're right! Really fun to hear them. Good ol' Glug is a little gargly, but the "gah-eer" at the end makes it pretty cool actually.

I also like Hurðaskellir a lot. It has a tongue roll and ends with an "ish" whaaa? But so neat! This site is amazing, it really does have a huge set of recordings.

*edit* LMAO all these badass names and then... Stúfur. :F Durdur. Hahaaa I swear it is actually pronounced like that and the guy saying it even has a dopey deep voice, I'm dying...

Ookay, in honor of the nigh-unpronounceable Yule lads... anyone familiar with Nordic languages want to help out?

Askasleikir
Bjúgnakrækir
Gáttaþefur
Giljagaur
Gluggagægir
Hurðaskellir
Kertasníkir
Ketkrókur
Skyrgámur
Stekkjarstaur
Stúfur
Þvörusleikir
Pottaskefill

I know "Þ" is pronounced like "th" thanks to Þórunn from Vikings (the show) but that's about it. Would someone please enlighten me? Especially Gluggagægir which seems like it would sound like someone simultaneously choking and gargling.

I guess since I've been BPALing for so long I've gotten a good sense of which notes work for me (or not) and they usually pull through. There are always the odd exceptions where something that should be amazing based on your top notes turns out funky, but I think putting something like this together will help in picking winners in the long run!

Based on this, does anyone have recommendations? It would be greatly appreciated

Yeah!

Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht - Amber, cream accord, white honey, apple blossom, skin musk, caramel, and teak.

Alma Venus - Amber-infused blood orange with Italian neroli, ambergris, orange flower absolute, French beeswax, tuberose, Himalayan cedar, and honey.

Avunculus - Orange blossom honey, white coconut, and pear with flecks of golden amber that glimmers like sunlight on water.

Cockaigne - Milk and honey, sweet cakes and wine.

Contemplating the Moon through an Open Window - Milk accord, tuberose, oakmoss, Asian pear, opoponax, and carrot seed.

Dee - Soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.

Geisha in Orange Kimono Admiring a Samurai - King mandarin, tuberose, white sandalwood, white moss, yerba mate, tangerine, and styrax. (One of my fave tea/mandarin blends.)

Ivory Vulva - Marshmallow root, coconut, macadamia milk, cream accord, and a drop of golden amber. (This was one such example where something that sounded great didn't work on me, but you'll likely have better luck!)

Kubla Khan - Roses unfurl amidst dancing waves of serpentine opium smoke and amber tobacco, golden sandalwood, champaca, tea leaf, sugared lily, ginger, rich hay absolute, leather, dark vanilla, mandarin, peru balsam, and Moroccan jasmine.

My Baby and a Baby Goat - Fuzzy baby goat musk, goat’s milk accord, wild rice flower, and a little bit of farmer’s market honey. (Best milky honey scent ever!)

Serving Tea After Coitus - Green tea, heady honey, white plum, ambergris accord, and vanilla flower.

The Waltz - Champagne musk, ambergris accord, white rose, rosewood, and vanilla amber.

And definitely try Iulia as Lizzies recommended.

Hi Fleur, welcome! It's always easier to give recommendations when people put together nice lists like this. I'm not a floral lover, but I can definitely help you with the other types of blends.

Bliss - The serotonin-slathered scent of pure milk chocolate.

Embalming Fluid - White musk, green tea, aloe and lemon.

Midnight on the Midway - Sugared incense, flickering blue musk, and night-blooming flowers.

Mouse's Long and Sad Tale - Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood.

Obatala - Milk, coconut meat, shea butter and cool, refreshing water.

The Candy Butcher - Bittersweet chocolate with a heavy cream undertone.

The Lights of Men's Lives - The wax and smoke of millions upon millions of candles illuminating the walls of Death's shadowy cave.

Tamora - Amber, heliotrope, golden sandalwood, peach blossom and vanilla bean.

Vasilissa - Creamy skin musk and blushing pink musk with soft sandalwood, white amber, dutiful myrrh, and star jasmine.

Y'ha-nthlei - The deepest marine notes with bergamot, eucalyptus and foamy ambergris.

And well, you've already got Mouse Circus and Miskatonic U on your list. My personal favorite BPAL perfume is Atlas (Mallow, oak bark, coffee bean, hinoki wood, and khus) which hits on some of your favorite notes. It smells like a glowing bonfire with melty marshmallows, soft incense and coffee beans. It's a limited edition but blessedly not too hard to find if you look for people selling decants here in the forums.

Hi everyone! I'm super new to BPAL and am currently making up my first order with scents that I think I will like based on their descriptions and notes, but it's always fun to hear from others what they think too!

Baobhan Sith - Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger.

Bewitched - Blackberry, sage, green tea, wild berries and dark musk.

Brisingamen - A glittering mantle of rich golden notes: five ambers, soft myrtle, apple blossom and carnation.

Delight - Frangipani, with rose, tuberose, and jasmine.

Fairy Thorn - Vanilla musk twirled with tuberose, Siamese red benzoin, cassis flower, Irish moss, white sandalwood, plum nectar, violet leaf, and apple petals.

Siren - White ginger, jasmine, and a touch of vanilla and apricot.

The East - Bluebonnet, passion flower, freesia, jasmine tea, mint, thyme, and redcurrant.

Veil - White sandalwood, lilac, gardenia, violet, orris, lavender and ylang ylang.

I suppose I'll give this a go.

Adam - The scent of the wood of his guitars, the rosin from his violin bow, the musty wool of neglected Oriental carpets, the plastic, metal, and magnetic tape of his reel-to-reel, the dust that permeates everything.

Black Lace - A delicate sugar-spun vanilla cream cotton, stained by tobacco and incense, Indian musk, and drops of cognac.

Boo - Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream.

Ghosts in Love - White sandalwood, tobacco flower, lily of the valley, white carnation, and magnolia blossom with tea rose, labdanum, and oudh.

Horror Sympathique - Blood musk, golden honey, thick black wine, champagne grapes, tobacco flower, plum blossom, tonka bean, oakmoss, carnation, benzoin, opoponax, and sugar cane.

(Not So) Penitent (Mini) Magdalene - Candle wax, smoke, red sandalwood, a dusting of kitchen spices, and a dribble of vanilla ice cream.

Shelley, Byron, and Keats - Red roses and pale carnation with a draught of laudanum, smears of opium tar, a hint of absinthe, and mercury ointment.

Tombeur - Vanilla-infused sandalwood, blood musk, antique patchouli, vetiver, lavender, bitter almond, amber, and a trickle of Snake Oil.

Welcome! A few that haven't been mentioned:

Coconut: Lovers and a Fan (this is actually coconut and honey, which is delicious), Harigata II, So Below, Obatala, Paduan Killer Swam (coconut and spices)

Caramel: Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht, Red Lantern (also has coconut)

Strawberry: Kitty, Strawberry Moon

Vanilla: Boo, (Not So) Penitent (Mini) Magdalene

Marshmallow: The Gorobble, Little Maggie

I love coconut!

 

Obatala turns to sour milk on me, makes me sad. I love Elegba, though it's not super coconutty on me, and Red Lantern is amazing, but again not coconutty. I have Eden, Goblin, Brown Jenkins and Roses, Pearls and Diamonds on my "to try" list, and possibly Death Adder. Am I missing anything? Any new scents that are coconutty?

Lovers and a Fan is an amazing honey/coconut from this year's Lupers. And no Black Pearl on your list? My favorite GC which smells like amaretto/coconut.

So, I'm going through my bottle of Mars Ultor like mad, which is... not good. Does anyone have any recs for a GC or more common LE equivalent? (Note list: "Black amber and smoky vanilla with cistus, benzoin, caramelized tobacco, and blackened nutmeg.")

Unfortunately Mars Ultor is one of the most unique scents I've smelled from BPAL, so I've been having to ration as well. The closest blends I can think of are also LEs for the most part, but they still might be more readily available. Red Lantern is sort of similar, so is Eyes Made Strong and Grave with Sleep. Both of them are heavier, though. Nothing I can think of really has that unusual smoky airiness that Ultor does.

If I had to come up with some GCs, maybe Antikythera Mechanism and Hellfire. In fact, Hellfire would probably be your best bet. It's got the sweet smoky musk, tobacco and incense. Still going to be heavier overall, but it's not incredibly far off.

Any recommendations for fizzy or sweet rose blends, anything like Lush's Rose Jam or Cocoa Pink's Lychee Rose Macaroons?

For something close to Lush's Rose Jam you might want to try La Mort (Mon ironie depasse...) I know Missy upthread said it smelled like potpourri on her skin, but it was really beautiful to me, and I usually don't do rose. It's very thick, sweet and sticky. The velvety rose note is super present but the pom is just as in your face with lots of succulent sweetness. It's realistic rather than cloying and does give me something of a foody vibe like Rose Jam did. Very womanly and sexy. I would say it's a bit darker and stronger overall, but still has that lip-licking vibe.

For fizzy, try Roses, Pearls, and Diamonds. The "crystalline musks" and coconut do wonders for making it brighter and more sparkly-smelling.

Well, there's Nyx (Greek Goddess of Night): Night-blooming jasmine, warmed by myrrh, lifted by the promise of rose.

Some other night-related blends - some of these are LEs:

Blacker Than the Raven Wings of Midnight - Black tea leaf fougere with black sandalwood, opalescent vanilla, osmanthus, 18-year aged Indonesian patchouli, and the suggestion of ancient incense smoke.

Darkness - Blackest opium and narcissus deepened by myrrh.

Hecate - Deep, buttery almond layered over myrrh and dark musk.

Intrigue - Black palm, with cocoa, fig and shadowy wooded notes.

Night's Pavilion - White musk, osmanthus, Nile lily and frankincense.

Oblivion - Dark musk, wood spice, labdanum, patchouli, dark African woods, and saffron.

The Final Darkness - Black amber and shimmering moonflower blackened by opoponax, khus attar, smoked oudh, and myrrh and all swallowed by the fathomless depths of a lightless ocean.

The Night-Raven - Indigo musk, wild plum, rose geranium, benzoin, night-blooming jasmine, and patchouli.

The Phoenix at Midnight - Indigo musk, black iris, orris root, rosewood, night-blooming jasmine, and honeysuckle.

And I know this sucks since it's DCed, but if you can find someone selling it, Queen Mab is a warrior and the goddess of magic and poets (similar to your character). The notes are: Black orchid, sandalwood, night-blooming jasmine, osmanthus, Somalian rose, and Chinese musk.

Another harder to find blend is Our Lady of Pain (Sumatran patchouli, blood musk, white lavender, opium tar, and black orchid). I think it would suit her perfectly. It's deep and dark, but also sultry and warm. Understated but powerful. The patch and blood musk make it feel a bit feral, like a force of nature, underneath all the elegance.

Thank you so much for your recommendations, Balame! You did a great job, really all of them sound great. Some of them were even on my wishlist already (TKO, Morocco, Dana O'Shee).

Thank you, I'm happy to hear it! I had way too much fun picking out creamy, thoughtful "sleep" blends for you considering your profession. I can totally see some of the spicy scents working for you as well though, which I think suits based both on your love of travel and enjoyment of Snake Oil. It's always fun exploring new things!

Also, I agree with defending your friend--I'd do the same! I remember I was very confused with Se7en for a multitude of reasons (I watched it years ago, pardon me if I get anything wrong) when one of the guys was taken to prison for shooting the murderer.

You're very welcome, and I KNOW! What was up with that? It seriously blows my mind to realize there are people out there so dedicated to justice/following the rules that they would throw someone in a cell for ensuring the safety of others, even if their means were violent. I'm sure we could spiral into a whole discussion about vigilantism and how that could either help or hurt society, but man, I'm just too loyal to my friends for reason to win out all the time.

I love when I manage to hit on the type of blends people like! Doesn't always happen but I try my best. I think there's definitely at least some crossover based on personality. In an extreme case it's more common for a tough/manly dude to wear a heavy cologne than a fruity blend, after all, though I have smelled surprises now and then!

Haha, regarding how many oils I have now... maybe it's best not to say. But hm, I would say around 35 bottles and 60+ imps? Goodness knows I've had more at certain points in time, I try to cull as much as possible to avoid going crazy. Some members' collections put mine to shame though. They easily have 100s of bottles, and let's not even get started on the imps/decants. I was never big into perfume at all until I discovered BPAL, but I love that indie blends don't tend to overwhelm as much as commercial stuff. Even for those that aren't "me," it's always fun to experience how an experience, emotion, concept or memory is captured within a single bottle. I would say Solstice Scents and Arcana are my other favorites.

As far as memorization - I've been lingering around the forums since '09 (yeesh, feels like it was only yesterday) so I guess it's just exposure. You end up testing more and more, remember blends that stand out, or at least think, "What was that one with amber and jasmine from the Ragnarok update..." and then find the info online and refresh yourself. Or think, "Hey, The.Little.Red sounds like a creative, sweet unicorn, so I need to find that one unicorn blend again."

Congrats on getting Kumiho and TTLB! I really love the clean, crisp sweetness of Kumiho (I'd say it's one of the most popular GCs) and TTLB is a delicious fruity blend. I hope you love them!

Oh my gosh, no, I think you're completely right! I just checked a few sites for ISFJ, and it's so me, with a few minor exceptions, while INTJ is... iffy at best. I just took the test again for funsie's sake and I got INTJ-T, though, so maybe I'm just bad at taking surveys?

I'm so glad! Yes, I ended up browsing descriptions of other types after getting my result (INTP) because it seemed close but not quite. Then I read the proper one and it was like everything clicked into place (INFP). I think for me, and it might be your case as well since we're both introverts/probably F, but a lot of the questions can make it seem like you're overly emotional if you give "feely" type answers. And I mean, I'm just barely on the F spectrum (I was literally 1% away from T last I checked), but it matters.

For a question like, "When solving a problem you consider the rational approach to be the best," I would knee-jerk answer yes because duh, I'm not going to jump to conclusions because of my feefees. But I realized that while I do analyze things logically, my emotions also play a big role. If I was in a situation where my best friend just stabbed someone because the "victim" had killed their kid months ago, then you know what? I don't care about the fact that my friend is a murderer and that, logically, they really should be in jail. I'm gonna' stand by them. I had to consider the questions a bit more deeply. Which is important for the, "Is justice more important than mercy?" one as well. It was sort of a revelation in itself for me to realize that other people would not always do the same in a similar situation. (Not saying someone is a bad person for not wanting to get involved with that, it's just very different from how I would react.)

Another thing that helped was looking at myself from an outside perspective. I'm in my head a LOT, so it was hard. And I can kind of sound like a jerk sometimes - to myself. But while I might see a woman crying about her boyfriend who's cheated on her for the third time and think, "Wow, you are an idiot. How can you be so blind?" in reality I'm probably going to go, "I'm so sorry, how can I help you?" So for a question like, "When making a decision, you rely more on your feelings than on analysis of the situation," my answer will actually be yes for the most part, because a lot of my visible reactions end up being based on feelings of compassion (unless I actively dislike someone). F types are not eternal carebears and T types are not robots, it's just the basis for how those types arrive at intelligent conclusions. And yes, the tests can be misleading so I think recognizing yourself in a description is far more valuable than basing it on the questions alone.

I don't think being ISFJ is bad at all though; they are wonderful, kind and creatives types. (And I wonder how many in that 13% also ended up mistyping themselves!) Remember MB explains just one facet of your personality, and we are constantly changing. Enneagram is pretty interesting too and can help fill in gaps and account for differences. For example, I'm a 5w4 which is a bit unusual for an INFP and accounts for my more scientific bent; you may similarly have a unique enneagram configuration for your type.

I'm glad you think my recs might suit you! I tend to write down whatever comes to mind (I was feeling the Asian-inspired and fruity-floral blends for you) and unfortunately that included several LEs. But the good news is you should be able to find decants of them, including 13, from other members swapping or selling here on the forums. Although LEs disappear from BPAL's site, goodness knows a lot of members still have things that didn't work for them or they've simply moved on from. Often for very reasonable prices! You can find people who have them by using the search function in the swap/sale sections. Here's a few more from the GC for good measure, though!

Bon Vivant - An effervescent blend of crystalline champagne notes and sweet strawberry.

Croquet - Pink lime, pink grapfruit, white nectarine, wild rose, sage, woody patchouli, bergamot, and ornery hedgehog musk.

Endymion - A sweet, wistful blend of d'Anjou pear, Lily of the Valley, bois du rose and white musk.

Mouse's Long and Sad Tale - Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood.

Vasilissa - Creamy skin musk and blushing pink musk with soft sandalwood, white amber, dutiful myrrh, and star jasmine.

And yes, LoML is currently out of stock but will be back. The other GCs in my original list are Kumiho and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat.

The last time I took the Briggs Meyer(?) test, I believe I got INTJ, although I don't remember for sure. I'm not sure how accurately the test reflects me, though, if only because I took it over two or three years ago.

I'm sorry to randomly play armchair psychologist in a rec thread, but you do not sound like an INTJ at all. I have several INTJ friends and have done a ton of research on their type in order to better understand them (they can be quite elusive to me) and a lot is not lining up. I know there's no "perfect" representation of any type, but I would guess ISFJ based on how you describe yourself here. I only say this because I mistyped myself for some time and it was pretty enlightening to find out my real type years later, so maybe it will be helpful to you.

13 (February 2015) - White chocolate with thirteen luck boosting elements: pomegranate pulp, red mandarin, five-finger grass, stephanotis blossom, star jasmine, pink carnation, white chamomile, irish moss, Jamaican ginger, acorn blossom, a pinch of sweet basil, a drop of peppermint, and strawberry juice.

F5 - Aloe, white musk, lime peel, fresh mint, seaspray, verbena and green tea.

Inganok Jewelers - Gleaming stone and silver.

Knight in Shiny Armor - Dapper lavender fougere with white carnation, sweet oakmoss, clary sage, crisp leather, bourbon vanilla, and a hint of armor polish.

Kumiho - A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.

Lights of Men's Lives - 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.

Spirit of the Komachi Cherry Tree - Cherry blossom, blue lilac, lavender monofloral honey, white sandalwood, and Asian pear.

Startled Toad - Golden amber and coconut with frankincense, frothy vanilla, carnation, sweet aged patchouli, and lemongrass.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Bat - A sparkly, batty little scent: green tea, melon, mint, lime rind, and champagne grape with lemon balm, mullein, and toadflax.

Velvet Unicorn - Spun sugar, sparkling rainbow candies, strawberries, merangue, and cherry fluff.

Don't be afraid to give recs even if you're a newbie! You can totally base your recs on the blends you've already tried, even if that's a limited amount. Or simply go by name, such as "Fighter" for someone who seems confident and strong. It's not required of course, but I know people like hearing from various members.

I love this thread, but I'm totally drawing a blank when it comes to recommendations. I hope it's OK if I ask for some, though?

Aziraphale - Ethereal musk, blonde woods, and dusty Bible accord.

Bewildered in a Dream - A disorienting eddy of French lavender, black tea, orange blossom, sharp green tea leaf, pink flowering thorn, and a blot of inky resins.

Bewitched - Deep, luscious green and berry scents that evoke images of woodland witchcraft and the raw power of nature: blackberry, sage, green tea, wild berries and dark musk.

Boadicea - Amber, fig, vanilla flower, oak, patchouli, vetiver, dragon’s blood resin, leather, and neroli.

Lamia - Pale orchid, vanilla amber, black currant, white peach, champaca, coconut, Arabian myrrh, Burmese vetiver, and oude.

Managarm's Bloody Jaws - The offspring of Fenrir, known in whispers as the Moon-Hound, the Moon-Snatcher, the Enemy, He Who Hates: ironwood needles and blood-matted fur.

Pele - Muguet and Hawaiian white ginger enveloped by warm, damp tropical blooms.

The White Witch - Gold-flecked honey amber pulsating with red musk, patchouli coeur, bourbon vanilla, inky vetiver, pomegranate rind, myrrh, blackened violet leaf, and blood red rose petals.

Hope this helps, I can't wait for your suggestions!

Your English is great, you don't sound like a kid at all!

Bard - A ridiculously charismatic blend of bay rum, honey, and white musk mingling with the scent of harp wood and lute strings and the twang of horn brass.

Dana O'Shee - Offerings of milk, honey and sweet grains were made to placate these creatures, and it is that the basis of the scent created in their name.

Katrina Van Tassel - White rose and honeyed cream.

Love and Sleep - Fig milk, vanilla, orchid and ylang ylang.

Morocco - Arabian spices wind through a blend of warm musk, carnation, red sandalwood and cassia.

(Not So) Penitent (Mini) Magdalene - Candle wax, smoke, red sandalwood, a dusting of kitchen spices, and a dribble of vanilla ice cream.

The Flower Song - Pomegranate wine, lotus root, river reeds, hyssop, and barley.

TKO - No notes listed but general concensus is lavender and vanilla.