SophieCedar

This is my first with blood musk. I can see why it's labeled such. Iron/metallic-like and red. The fruit comes out as a natural grape smell instead of a candy like artificial one. The carnation and opoponax are a nice spicy and floral addition. I really like this one! Very indulgent, dark, and sensual.

This smells like a slightly more masculine version of Sin. That's all! I like it though. Dragon's blood essence in there?

Received as a frimp. I wouldn't have bought one because of the egyptian musk (we're not friends). Not bad. Definitely as most others are saying, I smell heavy grape candy in the bottle. Wet: the grape smell is still prominent. I can smell a bit of straight ylang ylang. Must be the way the ylang ylang is tempered by the rest of the ingredients? Dry: still grape-ish however the musk took a breather. Not bad but wouldn't buy a bottle.

2 of my biggest scent hates out there are green tea and melon. Which is why it disturbs me that I like this scent. As soon as I sniffed the imp I started to giggle. I think the green tea takes that plastic/rubber smell out of the melon? I wouldn't wear it, but will gladly stick my nose in the imp when I need a smile.

I smell like cinnamon candy. I think I sensed some arabian/sweet sandalwood oh the initial wet. Not a fan. oh well

In the bottle this is a complex scent to me. I can't pick out any dominant notes. It truly is beautiful and glowingly white and silver. This deepens BIG TIME on the skin as the jasmine comes out of hiding. However, it doesn't loose it's dignity. A sweet tinge develops as well. maybe the lemon peel. I really like this one!

Unintentionally, I started to get sleepy right after smelling this. Very strange. Pine, dirt, and a soft blanket of mosses. Reminds me of laying down for a nap at the base of a tree in my local Maine woods. Watch out for nymphs and sasquatches. Paul Bunyan doesn't exist though. He's just a creepy 50 ft tall statue across the street from a sad casino in Bangor. Update.. I tried this again today and WOW it smells amazing on my skin. There's a floral undertone on naturally sweet/floral skin (like mine). This is my new favorite. Cleared my head too! Aahhhh. Try it layered with a touch of Ladon.. amazing.

Got this as a frimp. I really don't like melon smells. there's just something about it that's too damn strong for my nose. Regardless, I liked the idea of backing it with the sea moss. I think I could be converted if it had one more earthy or green element added. I didn't take this as a true wet fruit melon smell. Slightly artificial but not kid's sticker melon. more like cocktail or candy melon.

The magnolia is pretty radiant. I feel bad for the people that got only a jasmine rose combo on their skin. There is an elixir-like spice to this in the imp that melds with your skin chemistry when applied. Mine does a wonderful dance with this one. Smoky rose for sure but catch it best while it's wet on the skin. Jasmine plays the fence with me. If it doesn't like it's company, then it will boss everyone around. It's apparently happy with the crowd. Horray! Drydown about 5 minutes later, the magnolia is still going strong. Yessss....

Sanctified indeed!! Ok, so I actually buy frankincense and myrrh natural pearls from my local co-op, in loose bulk. I was surprised that it didn't smell like church when I first burned it many moons ago... Church version is a bit different from what they sell in co-ops. This sure is church and it smells like the clean and pure version instead of the earthy pagan version. Very fresh. Frankincense and myrrh, but like it took a bath and traded the birkenstocks for polished oxfords. Not bad but it turned to straight up floral soap on me? oh well...

Color impression was a pale opalescent gray-green. This is a strong floral, we've established that. The narcissus smells nice as a front note. I don't get any cypress on my skin whatsoever. This is a well-rounded floral, hence the sense of an old lady's perfume. However, I feel it's lacking that synthetic bite that was popular during previous decades when popular culture was rushing forward in technology, then breaking for tea or stitch and bitch sessions. I wouldn't classify it as a sad or mad or glad scent. It's like being in emotional limbo.. does that make sense? No. Uh.. this is a difficult one. I can see sitting in a principal's office, much younger, and thinking that this scent could strike fear and anticipation in me if the secretary was wearing it. WEIRD.

If a werewolf smelled this frikkin good, I would let him take an appendage.. maybe two. In bottle: smells strongly of vetivert and cocoa. I see others had this same impression. Not really sure why the vetivert appears to take such a front seat only in bottle? Anyways, intriguing. I could tell I was in love on first sniff. Wet: all the sweetness of the cocoa and vanilla combine forces and explode in the warm up. The birch tar is SUCH an awesome addition and comes out pretty strong on me. The tempered lavender is a perfect top note. Surprisingly enough, I can pull a definable clary sage note (one of my favorites). Drydown: Softens into cocoa loveliness. There is a familiarity of some men's soft cologne but I think it's just the vetivert melding with musk and a sweet note (typical men's balance). This scent makes me realize that no matter how smell obsessed my life has always been, how distinguished my nose may be, or how much I dream of doing a job like Beth's that I'm severely under-talented for it.. *bow's down* Best gender neutral scent I've ever smelled. I may need to hide the bottle from my sweetheart!!

In imp: sure smells like dirt and snow. Similar to death of the gravedigger however it's colder and crueler. Brrr... Wet: same however I can smell the mint a little more now. I know there's 3 white musks in there however the ozone/dirt smell is so powerful! Drydown: the frankincense never really makes an appearance on me. I would call this a novelty scent. I would maybe use this for perfuming letters to people I don't care much for (jk I wouldn't bother to write to someone I don't care for)

In imp: smells like a dentist's office..? Weird. Wet: vetivert and oak moss. I think the champaca flower and ambergris is making this smell like the dentist's office. The suspects start to make themselves known! Drydown: this gets spicy and the vertivert stays. leather comes out. oak moss softens. This is a meddlesome, mischievous monstrous scent. Not in a bad way but not for me.

I was surprised to see a decent number of reviews didn't scream WHITE TEA! I'm really sensitive to white an green tea, so maybe my nose sensed danger and kept shrieking the whole time. In imp: white tea and cherry blossom. I'm hesitant to try this so I apply with a grimace. Wet: oh boy. tea. Screeching tea burning my nose. Why did I do that? Jasmine is there but not saving me a bit. Drydown: still tea. I really wish I could tolerate white and green tea and envy those that get all the beneficial antioxidants. My nose burns and I need to wash this off. I am the definition of insanity right now.

Curious why this was discontinued? Anyone know? Anyways. When I got my first ever BPAL shipment I was so excited that i accidentally dropped this vial and poured it all over my sweetheart's laptop (contained and no damage but a very pretty smelling computer for a bit! hahha) In imp: Intrigued and thrown down memory lane.. floral soap. Very victorian perfumy classic smell minus overt rose. Reminds me of staying overnight at the oldest inn in Salem MA, the Stephen Daniel's house. Not because of the actual inn, but because of the romantic french-euro gaudy renaissance boutique down the street. I always bought soap there because I forgot it the first time, then it became tradition! Wet: about the same with a slight frangipani smell? Drydown: a white, clean floral with a slightly sweet back. Lilies for sure, slight spice, and slight sweetness.

I would call this Oneiroi's manly half. In Imp: Lavender, pine or cypress?, eucalyptus, and a sweet sage maybe? Wet: same but warm Drydown: the eucalyptus smell sticks around and softens a bit. Nice herb bouquet and this sweetens a bit (my skin?). I would prefer to use this in a bath or facial steam rather than on my skin.

I truly enjoy the process of this one. In imp: just like many others, lavender and jasmine. That's all at the moment. Wet: LOVELY. the lavender and jasmine team up and cast it's spell. I smell elements of ylang ylang? Bergamot comes out. mugwort? hmm.. Drydown: The lavender softens after doing all that hard work of putting you to sleep. The jasmine stays prominent but not overbearing. This is really nice for maintaining a state of serenity. I like using it on my first day back to work after a weekend.

You know, I'm not saying this because it has the word "Egypt" in the title, however, there is an element of Egyptian musk in this. That's not a bad thing! I think anyone that loves Egyptian musk would find this highly appealing. It's like the "pure" version. In imp: musk, cardamom, myrrh, and cypress for sure. Wet: saffron, cardamom, amber, very sweet with the honey. Drydown: There's a sugary cereal element (thanks alot skin...ugh) with powdery wood. I like it however it doesn't work well on me.

Oh my. Where to begin. This reminds me of a perfume oil that an old friend made called Aphrodisia I. Lovely and pulls you in quickly (as sin would or should). In imp: each note is definable. this is a very balanced, well-blended scent. Wet: Oh boy. My skin loves this. The amber blossoms nicely. Cinnamon hints without sharpness. Just a lovely spicy woody scent. Patchouli is playing nice with everyone. Drydown: the low powder level of the sandalwood and amber is perfection. No soapiness!! Horrayyyy! The cinnamon gives this a "lesser dragon's blood" feel to it. Such a sexy scent. I can't stop sniffing my arm!!

I had no idea such morbidity could smell so cheery! In Imp: orange blossom and opoponax. Very bright like a floral infused glass of orange juice. Wet: Pop! Orange attack with a touch of tea. The mahogany and benzoin is circling around the lighter sharper notes... Really does evoke 3 unique characters. Interesting! Drydown: I think this would be more appropriate on someone else's skin. Better on a man or someone that does well with roses. I smell like an orange creamsicle. Oh well.

In imp: peach and plum are there and the blue musk is super apparent. Wet: this is where it gets fun. the musk slips away with the peach. The iris appears with the plum blossom and moonflower. *sigh* Drydown: hint of green tea. I know the mint is mixing in there however it's not super prominent. This is lovely. A true gem. For some reason this brings back memories of wandering around in the middle of the night (think riverfronts, arboretums, and graveyards) in spring, lovelorn and a hopeless insomniac. *sigh......* FUN!! This is a romantic blue scent that really evokes the first warm days of spring with lush fresh plantlife and cool nighttime air that stirs you out of your bed and outside for a long pensive dreamlike stroll. The breeze is soft and crisp and everything is still. The flowers are cool and fragrant. A bird sings and you race home so you don't break your spell by having to face the sun. Seriously!

I preface this review with the fact that I usually hate watery elements. However, I really like this! In Imp: Wood for sure, watery notes check, stargazer lily. hmm ok? not getting any rose Wet: the cypress and water musk jump right in my face. the water musk passes quickly (whew) and the cypress is BEAUTIFUL with the stargazer. I smell a resin that must be the mix of the benzoin and sandalwood. Drydown: bit of a letdown at first because the florals subsided on me, leaving me alone staring cypress in the face. It basically farted in the elevator and everyone else got off quickly. Then SURPRISE! the florals are back. Happy endings. I love them.

Very bright and green. Wet: the lavender is off on a running start then mellows through the citrus and neroli. Very green. this is a perfect pick me up. Drydown: narcissus, green stems, willow and cedar pop out slowly. My skin is singing along. Amazing. I love using this as my cheery morning scent. Wakes me up, keeps me happy. I really couldn't ask for more out of a scent in this category; especially considering how finicky I am about green and citrus.

Strange.. In imp: lily's there, wood is there, vanilla musk is there. Wet: fig? where's that coming from? My skin is doing strange things to this.. Can smell geranium for a split moment then POOF gone. Drydown: a little violet, more vanilla, and kashmir wood. I still smell geranium faintly however I think this is the violet mixed with the mandarin. Eh. I mean it's nice but I wouldn't run out and buy a bottle. Just not for me I guess...