korshka

I'm slowly making my way through the Heroines. I would have thought that after spending so much time decanting these Friday night, that I would have more of an idea of them all. But this time, unlike with the Yules, I didn't really notice them as I was decanting. I blame the dogs and having to yell at them to keep them in line all night. The good thing is that since there are extras, I can take my time in trying each of them. So far, I adore Vasakasajja, like Khandita, and not so fond of Kalahantarika. (Khandita and Kalahantarika I tried out at the request of Indicolite in chat Sat night). My little not so great reviews: Vasakasajja Khandita Kalahantarika As far as the decanting itself, it went much better this time. I was able to really knock my way through them. I think this partly had to do with wrapping my index finger up in gauze to protect it from the nasty little vial caps. After decanting the Yules (which were only 6 bottles) my poor little finger was red and had little circles up and down it from those little things. This time, my finger was protected, and because of that, it was much easier and quicker pushing down the little caps. I think I really enjoy the decanting. I hope to do many more circles.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but I do believe it will become a favorite! Wet, when first put on: soft spicy As it dries: It doesn't stay soft for long. It quickly catches fire and explodes into a spicy saffron party. I don't really pick up much of the other notes, but I can tell there are other notes rounding out the scent. My skin chemistry tends to amp spices pretty well, so I'm not really surprised by this. The spicy borders on incense spicy, which kinda confused my nose a little. Overall, I say that this is a bold, spicy love fest. It is fiery and strong. I really do like it.

I have to say that this was the Heroine that I was looking forward to the most - and I was not let down. My experience with it went as follows: "Oooo...yum...oooh...wow" Wet right after applying: Very vanilla/tonka/sweet/creamy/goodness As it dries: the sweet & creamy slowly give way to blossoming tropical & exotic flowers. Once it dries, it is this beautiful exotic orchid that is softened with a sweet vanilla creamy background. It is wonderful. It isn't want I would call overly floral - it is like one single unified flower. I do question a little its staying power & throw. When I first put it on, it seemed power enough, but now, 2 hours later, it's barely there. However, I was a bit light in applying it since I was heading out the door to work and didn't want to be stuck with something I hated strong all day long. Final call: I am so getting my own bottle of this!

Unquenchable desire, seething lust, malevolent sexuality, and voracious hunger lurking beneath a shimmering veil of unearthly beauty: gleaming skin musk, honey and white amber, plum blossom, osmanthus, sandalwood, calla lily, and a light, sensual blend of Eastern spices. I loved it when I first put it on. So lovely, sweet white florals with some spice and wood to round it out. Now, I still like it, but the spice and wood are much stronger with a touch of incense to it. The scent over all is a little light, though, but this could be because I put it on lightly, not sure of what I would get it. I don't usually put on BPAL for the day that I haven't tested yet, but I was too eager to find out what it was like, and I'm so glad I did. I'm going to have think a little more on this one and try it again in a week or so. I might still end up getting a second bottle.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been participating in the forum chat tarot readings, giving some lovely ladies readings. In doing so, I have learn things about myself. First, a little history... I started reading tarot cards in high school, on and off with a friend's deck. When I went to college, I got my own deck of cards and started reading for my friends. I really enjoyed it, but I never did it for anyone I didn't already know. However, after college, I really didn't know anyone other than myself to do readings for, so I kinda stopped. Every now and then I would do one for myself, but other than that...my cards just set and collected dust. That was a few years back. Then I found the thread for us to do tarot readings for each other. I went to a chat or two and just watched. I was a little to shy to speak up; I also had been feeling a little blocked and "off" spiritually. I got a hold of some TAL blends (white light, clarity, middle pillar), and try a cleansing and grounding ritual, which I feel really helped. The grounding part was due to other issues. I was a little light headed for the rest of the day, but I felt much better afterwards. The next day or so was another chat, and I gathered up the strength and offered to read, and I'm really glad I did. Reading tarot in the chat room has done so much more for me than just brushing up on an old skill. I feel like I'm help those I'm reading for. I even learned new things about myself. I found out that I can make a connection with the person I'm reading for; even though, they aren't sitting in front of me - I can still "feel" them, and they have each felt different - which is really cool . It something that I don't think I ever made myself do when someone was sitting right in front of me. I think it was one of those things where you have to lose one sense to make yourself really use another. I am also being able to impart my knowledge on others so that they can evolve as readers. I like that. I like teaching and helping others discover themselves. That is probably why I love my deck. It is so meditative and makes you ask yourself the tough questions about what you are doing rather than just telling your what you are doing - if that makes any sense. It is all just inspiring me to want to do more all around and delve more into these gifts.

I think I'm going to expand the focus of this blog and do more of life. We'll see how well I keep this up, but I'm gonna make new effort to try. My new workout program officially started yesterday. I had my one-on-one orientation. It was actually kinda good. I started to worry about what it would be like when I found out that it was "orientation" and not personal training, but the girl was still really good and helped to set me up with a work out schedule. We discussed my goals and what I wanted. Then she went with me through what she wanted me to do and made sure I knew the proper way to use each machine. I now have an hour and half routine set up with half cardio and half weights. She has me using 4 different cardio machines, and I gotta say that elliptical machine works the hell out of my thighs! I'm sore today, from head to toe, but it's a good sore. I worked my ass off kinda sore, and I'm going back today. For the first 2-3 weeks, I'm going to start of doing the cardio part ever day and the weights every other day (it'll probably be hit or miss on the weekends, though). I feel really good though, and I really want this to work. I need the change. Tonight, I have a free 30 mins massage at my salon & spa. Yay - I'm looking forward to that relaxation. Welp, time to get back to work...

I have high respect for those who have enough self-decipline to work out at home. I can always come up with a hundred and one excuses, or a hundred and one things distract me. I also do give it my all b/c no one will see me cheat or skip the section on the dvd that I don't like. So I have to go to the gym to keep me honest . But man, am I sore today!

I was going to post that this was jasmine musk all the way; however, it calmed down. On dry-down, or rather late dry-down, the violet comes out and it is more of a soft floral, sweet floral. The vanilla is not as strong as I would have liked. It has a good throw, especially in the beginning. It's nice, but I don't think it'll be sticking around.

Quite lovely. At first, it was very lemony, and I silently reminded myself of lemons ability to take over and hide everything else, but it didn't. On dry-down, the lemon falls back into the background and allows for a lovely, kinda tropical blend to come out. It is smoky, vanilla-y, coconuty, tropical. I think the tropical is the apricot blossom and the lemon flower intertwining. I think I'll keep my decant, but I don't think I'll get a bottle. It's nice, but I don't think I'll wear it all that much.

In the bottle: Beautiful blend of sugary florals and airy incense. On Me: soap, sad, sad, soap. I keep sniffing and checking. It's there; I can tell, but it is covered up by soap. It's great smelling soap, though. This is the first time I've had this happened. I'm going to try it a couple more time over the next few weeks b/c it's right be fore my period, so I hope that is what is happening. Or maybe like Bearded Lady and its baby powder, it'll clear up and come through clear and beautiful during that time. I'll come back and edit if something changes.

This one, too, goes through so many stages. For the first hour after putting it on, it smelt different each time I smelled it. In fact at one point, mint was all I smelled! Now that it has steadied out - I can try to describe it. It is the perfect cup of tea. It is smooth and calming. It is a little minty, a little sweet, a touch of lemon. I get maybe a vague scent of orange but not as much as the others. The lemongrass does have a little sharpness to it, but it is barely there, which is good b/c usually that is all I get out of blends with lemongrass. I like it. It is smooth, calming, with just the right amount of sweet.

Complex is right. I was overwhelmed by the scent in the bottle. Quite lovely. This goes through so many stages. For the first hour after putting it on, it smelt different each time I smelled it. I think it has finally settled down. I smell the patchouli leaf and musk the most, and the patchouli leaf does give it a tobacco-ish smell. The rest of the scents seem to temper and round out the scent. It is very sexy. I've never tested Snake Oil or Queen of Spades, so I can't account to that. My final thought is that, while quite lovely, I think it is a bit strong and heavy for me.

First let me say this is bad; I know it. I don't usually do the sticky sweet blends, so I'm not used to picking out their scents. DCLVII (657) In the bottle - Bubble Gum, sugary sweetness On dry down - It morphs some. It's still sweet, maybe a little fruity or floral? There's more too it to make it complex, but I can't really tell what. I think there maybe a little musk in there too, but I'm not sure. I don't usually go for the sugary, sweet smells, so I don't know how much is my skin chemistry, either.

This one, I've been enjoying it. It just makes me happy. It is herbal with incense and sweet. I think the sweet is fruit, but it is really hard to tell. It's relatively light - not a real heavy incense. I like it. I think I may spring for the bottle as well.

The most overwhelming scent to Ajna is licorice, licorice, and more licorice. I sniff it and immediately I think of black jelly beans *shudders*. There is also a less prominent scent of eucalyptus/menthol/minty "open your senses up" to it, but I'm afraid I can't get past the licorice - even after dry down. As much as I wish it was - this one just isn't for me.

I Turbotax too. It makes life easier at tax time.

I'm weak - I caved. I've been really holding back lately with ordering. I have a ton of stuff to try, so I kept telling myself that there was no use getting anything new until I did something about that huge pile of imps (and even a few bottles). But really - how does one resist the temptation of Enraged Bunny Musk or Monster Bait: Underpants (aka Monster in my Panties!). I just couldn't. But it's ok b/c I'm being put in for a big raise. Please let it go through. This is my little gift for me for getting it. I didn't notice at first that the Monster Bait was only to be up for 24hrs. I would have been really mad if I held off until tomorrow or Monday and realized that I missed it. Hmm...I should go get to smelling to make room for the new stuff!

In the imp it is all almondy and cinnamon, very firey and smoldering, but I know before it even touches the skin what it will be. Scents with cinnamon are always pure red hots on me and not thing else. And that is what it was. Even as strong as the almond was in the imp, once on my skin it was all cinnamon. *pouts* I wish I could wear cinnamon.

The name, of course, attracked me, so I put it on. It's like dragon's blood, but there is something else there. Something intriguing. I kept wanting to sniff it more. I never figured out what it was; it kept slipping away everything time I got close. It doesn't react the same as dragon's blood - it stays more true to form with little morphing. Not bad. I think I'll keep the imp around for a little bit.

So, I grabbed two from the big ol' pile of imps needing sniffing. French Love: A warm, soft, sexual blend. Sweet and alluring. Used to entice new lovers and add an aura of temptation and carnal sin to your environment. The name, of course, attracted me, so I put it on. It's like dragon's blood, but there is something else there. Something intriguing. I kept wanting to sniff it more. I never figured out what it was; it kept slipping away everything time I got close. It doesn't react the same as dragon's blood - it stays more true to form with little morphing. Not bad. I think I'll keep the imp around for a little bit. Inferno: The Dark Side of Fire: cinnamon, bitter almond, and neroli. Heavily spiced, torrid, and possibly conflagrant. In the imp it is all almondy and cinnamon, very fiery and smoldering, but I know before it even touches the skin what it will be. Scents with cinnamon are always pure red hots on me and not thing else. And that is what it was. Even as strong as the almond was in the imp, once on my skin it was all cinnamon. *pouts* I wish I could wear cinnamon. I was going to wear French Love today...but when I was getting ready - I was in a Tiger Lily mood all the way. *sniffs* Mmmmm...honeyed lilies. Spring is nice.

Ok - I'm doing it. I'm adding a blog here. I will dedicate this blog strictly to BPAL - unless other parts of life leak in - it happens - we all know it. I plan to use it to help push me to review scents (I'm horrible at doing this), to update my wishlist, and track what I order. I may also use it to post reactions to all things BPAL - like updates and BPTP stuff. Overall, I have grad ideas. I guess in the end we'll see how many come to be. Thanks for stopping by.

Sweet, fruity, floral. It’s not an overload of sweet. To me…it brings to mind a few pink flowers and a strawberry covered with crystallized sugar dew. As it develops, the sweetness dies down leaving just the fruity floral. It’s very yummy and delicious. I’m still deciding if it is me.

First: I'm not a fan of rose scents - never have been. I like the smell of fresh roses sitting on the table, but when it comes to wearing scents, rose is not one I'll grab. I fully expected not to like this. So why did I buy it? Mr Man. He loves roses. He loves the smell of roses on women. Because of this, I have added roses to my list to try, hoping I can find one we both like. And this is it. In the bottle, it smells like roses overflowing from it. Once on, it smells like straight roses. It doesn't have the green fresh-cut smell. Instead, it brings to mind the small, perfect, elegant arrangement of roses in a small vase so that all there is is a dome of roses. It does come across as clean and rich, haughty and beautiful. It is pure rose with little else. I probably won't wear it every day b/c of my before mention opinion on rose, but I will wear it on special occasions for him and enjoy it myself.

It was a couple of weeks before I tried Florence as part of a whirlwind testing session. It wasn't until Wednesday that I really wore it to fully test it out. It starts off a little awkward but quickly settles down. Again, it comes out very spicy but it isn't all spice. There is a sweet yumminess in the background that I can only assume is the iris and berries. It hides behind the spices and calms and rounds them out. It's very lovely.

I received Sybaris first and fell in love at first sniff. It is full of warm spices and clove. It is very rich and comes off a little smoky. In addition to the beautiful mix of spices is a soft vale of tonka (vanilla-ish). It softens and helps to bend the spices together to keep them from becoming a chaotic and sharp mix.