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BPAL Madness!

subtlesiren

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Everything posted by subtlesiren

  1. subtlesiren

    Spanked Revisited

    SPANKED REVISITED Whip leather, cardamom, patchouli, and bourbon. I tested Spanked Revisited at Will Call last weekend with much apprehension. Leather? However, if there is leather in this scent, I couldn't find it. To me, Spanked in the vial smells like a warm cinnamon deepened by a trickle of patchouli, and it stayed consistent through all stages on my skin. It was pretty, but too simple to keep me wanting more. In fact, it could almost be a single note of cinnamon, even though that note wasn't even listed (points finger at cardamom). If I had been excited for the leather note, I would be disappointed, however fans of spicy, foody scents might like this.
  2. subtlesiren

    #occupywallstreet

    When #ows was released, I grabbed two bottles unsniffed, a first, because it's for a good cause and I had hopes that it would smell like Banshee Beat smothered in smokey chocolate. Upon first smelling the scent in the bottle, I was a little scared, and still am. It does smell filthy. And smokey. Like burning pencils. And why is all the coco absolute stuck at the bottom in a sludgey heap. Come up and play with this filthy friggin' patchouli! I have to admit, I am testing this scent right before I hop in the shower, just in case it reeks so I can quickly wash it off. Ok, here goes. Still getting pencil shavings. And a headache. Curses to you, cocoa and vanilla, for wimping out.
  3. subtlesiren

    Svadhinaopatika

    Sniffing from the bottle, the amber and honey jump out at me most. I can smell the wood notes and a trace of currant, but I do not know what oude is nor what it smells like. When I apply Svadhinaopatika to my wrist, the honey retreats and what little there was of the currant is squashed by the amber and wood. That said, it is an interesting scent, I think due to the massoia bark, which the scent without it would have drowned in a sea of amber/sandalwood blends. And the currant may be making a comeback, a weak one, but that little bit of fruitiness lightens the scent.
  4. First off, ! Tombeur, from the Vampires Don't Sleep Alone line has all of those notes. The patchouli and vanilla are more prominent than the lavender, but it probably depends on skin chemistry. It is a dark, sensual scent. And it definitely has that Gothic vibe you mentioned!
  5. subtlesiren

    Pallas Athene

    Somehow, I completely missed this update last summer. Thankfully I was able to get imps of Pallas Athene and Hygeia from a lovely forumite. In the imp, the spice and wood notes are the strongest, with the resins hanging out in the background. Once the scent settles on my skin, the resins become the most prominent notes and stay in the forefront for rest of the day. Pallas Athene is a soft scent despite this, reappearing gently throughout the day. This is the first scent that leaves me slightly unsettled for some reason. No idea why, and that won't stop me from wearing - it's just too beautiful.
  6. subtlesiren

    Rhubarb

    The search link is hiding! However, when I typed in rhubarb, nothing came up. When I searched for rhubarb through the forum's reviews section, I found some. Most don't contain the rhubarb note, but rather smelled like rhubarb to the reviewers. Hope this helps!
  7. subtlesiren

    Pussy

    The notes listed would make one think this is a sweet scent, possibly too sweet. However, it's more dusty than sweet. The honey note reminds me of a honey dusting powder I've smelled from a local "sensuality" shop, and the saffron adds a dry spice note. The orange blossom adds a sharp edge while the tobacco attempts to ground the scent. Not really getting much of the brown sugar, and I don't think I could pick out the tonka if I tried. On my wrist, the scent warms up, literally. I love how some of BPAL's perfumes actually give off heat. The sharp citrus notes fades, thankfully, and the tobacco joins the saffron as the most prominent notes. Can't really decide how I feel about this scent. It's like nothing else I've smelled. I will keep it around for now, as I have a feeling I might like it more in the warmer months.
  8. subtlesiren

    Huesos De Santo

    The scent I get from the bottle is Cockaigne and orange creamsicles. On my wrist, the anise seed becomes present, with a hint of flowers. The custard really smooths out the scent, preventing it from being too fruity. Unlike Cockaigne, Huesos De Santo never becomes overpoweringly foodie. The anise seed is what makes this scent interesting, and it's a note I really enjoy. I'm not too into cakey, gourmand perfumes, so I feel like I need very few of these type of scents. Nothing will ever top Cake Smash in the cake department, but this scent is interesting enough to keep around. ETA: This is the 2008 version.
  9. subtlesiren

    Elegba

    I've had a frimp of this scent kicking around in my jar of definitely/maybe imps. Finally tried it out this morning without even remembering what it was, and almost wished I hadn't immediately. Coconut? Then it began to develop and blossom on my skin and I couldn't believe I hadn't tried before now. It's like a tropical Smut! I've never really been one for coconut, but mixed with the rum and tobacco, it is divine. The coconut and rum are the most prominent notes, with the tobacco giving the scent a subtle smokiness. I will definitely be adding a bottle of this to my next Lab order.
  10. subtlesiren

    Snake Charmer

    I've been debating buying a bottle of Snake Charmer for a while now and finally took the plunge. For some reason, I have my doubts it will work, that it will go powdery on my skin. In the bottle, I get mostly musk, amber and benzoin. On second sniff, I get some of the plum and coconut. The scent warms up on my wrist, and the amber is surfacing, dragging the scent into a powdery mess. It's disappearing as I'm writing this, leaving behind a whisper of powder.
  11. subtlesiren

    Door

    Well, I haven't wore three out of the four listed notes, so I have no idea what expect and have my doubts I will like it. In the bottle, Door is a warm honey with dried flowers and herbs. On my wrist, the flowers become sharper as the honey recedes slightly. This reminds me slightly of a tea bag, the chamomile I assume. The honey is not as strong, but it is giving the scent a pleasant dustiness. Quite lovely, and I am surprised that I am enjoying it so much. Glad I gave it a shot.
  12. subtlesiren

    Chrysanthemum Moon

    Can I first say how gorgeous the label is?! I'm not usually drawn to the Lunacy blends, usually too many notes, but the reviews on Chrysanthemum Moon sounded lovely. This is a musky, earthy floral. Not earthy like patchouli or dirt, earthy like sun-warmed, dry, earth. It's scent color is reddish orange, like the beginnings of a sunset when the sun is low and hazy.The warmth increases as the oil dries. I cannot stop sniffing my wrist.
  13. subtlesiren

    The Arbor

    In bottle: Wow, that's a lot of floral. I can't begin to tell them apart, but they are mingling with the creamy red musk and gritty patchouli nicely at the moment. Hopefully they will fade to the background a bit. Wet on wrist: This group of flowers is playing nicely. The patchouli and red musk are tangoing on my skin - one sniff smooth musk, next classic patchouli. Dry on wrist: The floral notes are stepping down as the stars of show, letting the musk and patchouli shine. I love when floral scents work on me, because so few do. This is gorgeous, soft and sensual.
  14. subtlesiren

    Crypt King

    In bottle: Juicy pomegranate with earthy patchouli and just a whisper of ginger and lilac. Wet on wrist: Pepper emerges, along with dusty coriander. The oakmoss is indistinguishable from the patchouli, blending to deepen the scent. Dry on wrist: The pomegranate has faded, leaving behind an earthy scent with a classic perfume feel to it. Something a wealthy gentleman centuries ago would have worn. I have to admit, I was a little scared of Crypt King. It was a complete impulse buy, and soon after purchasing it I regretted it. It's actually quite a lovely scent, however it's just not me. Plus, it's kind of giving me a headache.
  15. subtlesiren

    Hetairae

    In the imp: Sweet, earthy floral. The clove is in hiding thankfully. Wet on my wrist: The dusty honey mingles with the ylang ylang, while the fig and patchouli ground the scent and keep it from becoming a sickly sweet floral blend. Dry on my wrist: This scent clings to the skin and only puts forth a gentle, inviting throw. The honey and ylang ylang continue to be the stars of the show. Hetaire is the earth child of O and La Petit Mort. It's quite lovely. I will enjoy my imp, but don't know if I need a bottle since it's so similar to other scents I own.
  16. subtlesiren

    White and "Light" Musk Recommendations

    Just tested the Lurid Library and on me I get skin musk and books. It's very light and subdued.
  17. subtlesiren

    The Lurid Library

    In the bottle: The first notes I smell are incense and musk, skin musk perhaps? In the background is a note that to me smells like an old book cover. Wet on my wrist: Clean skin musk with that book cover smell. The incense is still present, but has faded into the background. Very different from any other scent I have. Dry on wrist: This is such a unique scent. Freshly-washed skin and books. Probably not a scent that will get much use, but unusual enough to keep.
  18. subtlesiren

    Now Winter Nights Enlarge

    In the bottle: Chanukkiyah with a dribble of caramel. Slight trace of musk. Wet on wrist: The patchouli is emerging, along with a woodiness. The caramel is fading, not too sad about that. Dry on wrist: There are some scents that, when you put your nose near your skin where you've applied the oil, you feel an actual, physical warmth radiated upwards. This is one of those scents. This scent is as comforting as a warm bath with candles lining the rim of the tub as the only source of light. Or a deep massage on a plush rug in front of the fire.
  19. Womb Furie to me smells like O and Snake Oil. In other words, AMAZING! It is LE but you might be able to find it on the sales pages. Also, there is a chance it appear with the Lupers.
  20. subtlesiren

    The Elephantine Colossus

    In the bottle: Red musk with a background of peanuts and root beer. Wet on my wrist: The root beer fades, while the red musk and peanut are still going strong. A slight woody note, the boardwalk itself? Dry on my wrist: Red musk at it's sexiest, with an earthy nuttiness. This proves that I am a sucker for sexy labels and descriptions. I have so many red musk scents that are really good, but get more love because they have a sexy aura (if that makes sense ). But this scent, an elephant on the label, blows every one of them out of the water. It is sex in a bottle. The phenomenal staying power doesn't hurt.
  21. subtlesiren

    VILF

    In the bottle: Sharp florals and dusty resins. Wet on my wrist: Virtually the same, though the notes are becoming more distinct. Dry on my wrist: This smells good. Really good. The florals and incense create a classy oriental scent, but the patchouli, red musk and leather dirty it up. This is a sexy, rich woman's perfume. A rich woman who was not born into wealth, but got to where she is through less than virtuous means. Did I mention she's sexy?
  22. subtlesiren

    The Infernal Lover

    In the bottle: Pure, unadulterated red musk. Soft though, not sex-deprived. Wet on my wrist: Very creamy and now that the honey is peeking through, also a bit sweet. Dry on my wrist: Becoming a bit powdery, but in a good, comforting way. This is such a simple red musk, but that is what is so good about it. The first time I wore this, I didn't think it lived up to the character it was based on. But the more I thought about it, it actually seems to fit her perfectly. Disarmingly comforting, yet unmistakably sexy.
  23. subtlesiren

    Tombeur

    In the bottle: A cross between The Infernal Lover and Snake Oil with a sliver of Inez. I don't smell any vetiver, lavender, or almond, all the notes I was worried about. This is almost too good to be true. On my wrist: Sure enough, it is. The scent all but disappears on my skin. It reemerges with vetiver in the lead, with the other notes struggling to catch up. I'm getting a bit of lavender, mixed with the notes I smelled in the bottle. Still no almond. What started out as such a typical "me" scent has completely morphed and I can't decide if I like it. Dry on my wrist: Slightly powdery musk, with a hint of lavender. What happened to the stunning, sexy scent in the bottle? Damn you skin chemistry! In the land of amazing musky, sexy, woody scents, this one does not stand out. I will keep it for a while and retest, but I don't hold out much hope, especially since the bottle is from 2010 and has already aged a bit. At least I have VILF to fill my sexy vampire scent quota. ETA: I take it back! Tombeur is GORGEOUS! Softer than VILF, but just as sexy. I need a backup bottle!
  24. subtlesiren

    The Robotic Scarab

    In the imp: Warm leather and expensive incense. Gender neutral. Thankfully, I can't single out the metallic notes or oils, they just meld into the scent. On my wrist: The metal emerges and tips this scent into the masculine spectrum. A little too much so. Dry on my wrist: The scent has softened and become almost comforting. No note is too strong, they are all in harmony. When I close my eyes and breathe in this scent, I see a man in the corner of a very upscale bar. He is dressed well, but in an understated way, and he is never tacky. He has enough money to take him anywhere he wants, but the charm to take him there for free. Especially with the ladies. Would I wear this scent, no. I wouldn't mind meeting that man though...
  25. subtlesiren

    Sed Non Satiata

    In the imp: Cognac-infused honey sweet the dark sexiness of the patchouli and musk. The myrrh is in background, lending an incense feel to the scent. Wet on my wrist: A sweet floral note is emerging, but remains in the way background, and thankfully I am not able to pick out the geranium. Dry on my wrist: All of the notes have melded together to create a sweet, musky, earthy, slightly floral, downright sexy scent. So glad I went digging through my unwanted imps to rediscover this gem that I disliked so much fresh.
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