lookingglass

<div class="bpal" style="background-color:transparent; border: 1px dotted #000033; color: #000099; padding: 5px; width: 90%; align:center;margin:0 auto 0 auto"><i>Kali, the Black One, is the fearless Goddess of Destruction, Creation, Energy [in her Shakti aspect] and Dissolution. Also named Kaliratri [black Night] and Kalikamata [black Earth-Mother], she is the fiercest aspect of Devi, the supreme mother goddess. Kali is a protector Goddess, the destroyer of evil spirits and guardian of the faithful. She, along with her consort Shiva, represent the unending cycle of death and birth, sexual union, creation and destruction. Kali annihilates ignorance, maintains the natural order of the world, and blesses those who strive for spiritual awareness and knowledge of true holiness with infinite tenderness and motherly love. The constant, unending Work of Creation is called the "The Play of Kali". This perfume is a blend of the sacred blooms of cassia, hibiscus, musk rose, Himalayan wild tulip, lotus and osmanthus swirled with offertory dark chocolate, red wine, tobacco, balsam and honey.<!-- bpal scent end --></i></div> Wet, this scent is thick and juicy. There is a heavy, lusty sweetness along with the alcohol blast. On the drydown the florals steal the show. Hello rose...definately a key player, but it dosn't waft up towards me, I have to go to her. She is dancing with the other notes. The chocolate darkens. When I wake up the next morning, this scent still pleasently lingers. There is a slightly chocolatey, cooked fruit smell deep in my skin. My 3 year old son says it smells like smoke. This scent reminds me of the sacrifical offering that may be made to Kali. Ooooooom Kali Maaaaaaaaa....

At first it is really sweet and fruity...for the first hour I didn't think I liked it...reminds me of a bayberry candel my mother had as a child...then cotton candy, but a little spicy... the backseat of an old boyfriend's car (strawberry air freshener?). 2 hours later the fruitiness has mellowed, melded with my skin, not fermented, as I was fearing. The thick, almondy ameretto lingers. There is a whispering breath of wine. This was a gift from the Lab (thank you so much). I would not have chosen it, but I will definately wear this to summertime evening parties! Edit 8/12/05 This has turned into both my and DH's favorite. After I have worn it a few days in a row, it builds up and is a really sexy sweetness without a fakey fruit smell. I relish in the almondyness, but DH, who "says" he dosn't like almond, wants to eat it up, too. I get lots of compliments...Definately a big bottle!

When I got this in my order (for my husband) I took a quick sniff and really smelled the lavender...it kind of turned me off because I have used a lot of natural bug repellants with lavender! But then my husband walked by me and OMG! A HOT resinony goodness wafted all around him! I chased him around saying, "let me smell you..."! As it dried out more, I could identify the nag champa. It is my favorite insence, but not a single note I usually like on skin. It was so amazing what the lavender did to it...kind of cleaned it up...made it fresher, while still smoldering lingered. A SEXY, complex, scent that I want him to wear everyday! Edit to add: A year later and over 300 BPAL's sniffed...this is still his favorite "everyday, everywhere" scent. 'Just grabbed up a 10 ml.

In the bottle: A fresh, sharpness...almost fruity and flowery. The ginger and tea seem to be on top. Wet: Linen, still very clean and fresh. It is not at all what I expected! Dry Down: The floweryness mellows out into honey...Much like I imagine the transformation that the nectar goes through as the bees work. The vanilla emerges, caressing the honey. Delicious! Dry: slightly peppery, fruity sweet and creamy. The honeyed tea lingers. Very light and dreamy. I'll definately have to slather!