Heavenlyrabbit

MUSE OF THE NIGHTMuse of the Night, Luis Ricardo Falero. A soft, resinous indigo musk with black currant, ylang ylang, Tunisian jasmine, opoponax, rose otto, benzoin, Tahitian vanilla bean, and opium tar. The notes of Muse of the Night pretty much are everything that works on me and the do add up to a magnificent dark floral perfume. Not too dark though. There is a feeling of night air without the piercing blast of ozone. Floral lovers may rejoice, this does showcase the Rose and Ylang Ylang while the Black Currant gives a subtle pay-off. On me this isn't excessively fruity. It reminds me of Purple Spotted Swallowtail from the Butterfly series this summer. Dark notes underneath with something that soars above them. Instead of the Lime in PSS, this has something that is almost bracing, somewhat balsamic and in between the florals. I think what makes this stand out is the combination of the variety of Musk used and the Opium notes. Someday, I'd love to have a Musk sniff-testing party where we could sample all the kinds Beth uses. Such a basic note, yet it can work such magic in its individuality.

ALL IN THE GOLDEN AFTERNOON All in the golden afternoon Full leisurely we glide; For both our oars, with little skill, By little hands are plied While little hands make vain pretence Our wanderings to guide Ah, cruel Three! In such an hour Beneath such dreamy weather, To beg a tale of breath too weak To stir the tiniest feather! Yet what can one poor voice avail Against three tongues together? Imperious Prima flashes forth Her edict to 'begin it'- In gentler tone Secunda hopes 'There will be nonsense in it!' - While Tertia interrupts the tale Not more than once a minute. Anon, to sudden silence won, In fancy they pursue The dream-child moving through a land Of wonders wild and new, In friendly chat with bird or beast - And half believe it true. And ever, as the story drained The wells of fancy dry, And faintly strove that weary one To put the subject by, 'The rest next time -It is next time!' The happy voices cry. Thus grew the tale of Wonderland Thus slowly, one by one, Its quaint events were hammered out - and now the tale is done, And home we steer, a merry crew, Beneath the setting sun. Alice! a childish story take, And with a gentle hand Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined In Memory's mystic band, Like pilgrim's wither'd wreath of flowers Plucked in far-off land. A bizarre blend of pineapple, tangerine, tobacco, apricot, and seltzer coated with hazy amber and heady sun-baked flowers. This radiates off my arm as refreshing and uplifting tropical fruit with swirls of pretty tobacco. Tobacco has never read as "pretty" on my skin. I think somehow it's a darker, dissonant note looped in with the florals. I don't fizzy from what the seltzer is... MAYBE a touch of aquatic? As minutes go by, the amber comes out more. Don't know what the Florals and am interested to see what better noses than mine can detect. Of all things to compare this blend to, I come up with the Salon "Death and Life Completed" mixed with some Tiki blend.

THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS It was a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child’s proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those upper members, bare. It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm. Even this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not its strangest quality. For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark, so the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the dense gloom wherein they melted away. And in the very wonder of this, it would be itself again; distinct and clear as ever. “Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?” asked Scrooge. “I am!” The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance. “Who, and what are you?” Scrooge demanded. “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.” “Long Past?” inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature. “No. Your past.” Shimmering white amber, voluminous vanilla, white musk, zdravetz, and summer flowers. This was the Christmas Carol scent that seemed made just for me and it's the first bottle that came out of the box! Geranium is a good note on my skin. It's depth blossoms so nicely. My impression, soft and pretty. Almost cozy. Whatever Amber went into this- no trace of powder. Whatever Vanilla went into this- no hint of gourmand. A lovely aromatic perfume just a touch on the herbal side. The Floral notes give this a golden glow we'd associate with the Spirit of Christmas Past. Thank Goodness! I was a bit apprehensive thinking the Floral notes might be White. Can easily see a guy or a gal wearing this. So fans who seek out Florals that aren't overtly "girlie" might want to try this.

Orpheus, Franz von Stuck.Pale musk, green mandarin, neroli, benzoin, citrus peel, blue lavender, narcissus, stephanotis, crushed green stems, willow branch and cedar. Intoxicating fresh herbal/floral centered around a heart of chypre. The evergreen/woody notes play the supporting role here, allowing floral/herbals to shine forth. Opens with the citrus, blooms and expands with the florals and levels off into a slightly herbal/floral with the citrus lasting a bit longer then usual on me. A scent that draws you in. It is somewhat refreshing and relaxing. Balmy! That's the word. A scent to soothe the savage beast. Upon reapplication, the florals and herbals are even brighter. This is a classical perfume, in the sense its probably related to ancient formulas. This would be cousins related to other BPAL favorites of mine, Psyche, Sophia and Ides of March Note: I came to insert the comparison of Ides of March into my review after wearing Orpheusagain today and find that LiberAmoris had already referenced that blend in her review... so perhaps that gives an idea of what this is like. Well into drydown, there's a slight herbal soapy-ness. Not unpleasant or overbearing. More of a clean freshness... like Unicorn. Question: why is there a lawn ornament in the artwork? What does the flamingo (or Ibis) symbolize? Edited to add image - clover

PUMPKIN I Pumpkin, almond, brown musk, and honey. The Almond seems to combine with the Brown Musk & Honey for something of a skin scent with a slight earthy tone. It's quite a bit more laid back then many of BPAL's other Pumpkin scents.

KNOCKOUT DROPS Bourbon vanilla, white mint, and white chocolate with a squirt of lemon meringue and a dribble of absinthe. The Mint/Lemon/Absinthe all combine together and makes me think of some sort of cocktail. It's nice but I am literally drawing a blank on other descriptive terms. This is a perfume that is both there and not there. I think in warmer weather this would be great for when you want something nice but not necessarily attention getting. Like a good work scent.

Plum honey, passion fruit, pomegranate, benzoin, French lavender, blonde tobacco, black currant, vanilla bean, lemon balm, Tunisian opium, violet sugar, clove, and white grapefruit. This is a jumble of scents which matches the Shunga perfectly. Slightly sweet and juicy fruits with a hint of spice and smokiness. This wafts off my skin giving an uplifting and energetic mood. Definitely unisex in the best possible way. I read this as a casual, daytime scent.

WHOSO LIST TO HUNT Whoso list to hunt, I know where is an hind! But as for me, alas, I may no more; The vain travail hath wearied me so sore, I am of them that furthest come behind. Yet may I by no means my wearied mind Draw from the deer, but as she fleeth afore Fainting I follow; I leave off therefore, Since in a net I seek to hold the wind. Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt, As well as I, may spend his time in vain. And graven with diamonds in letters plain, There is written her fair neck round about, "Noli me tangere, for Caesar's I am, And wild for to hold, though I seem tame." Sensual brown musk, rich amber, English rose, oak bark, and moss. This is a very wearable Musk with more presence than many other BPAL musks have on me. Musk that works very well with the Moss. The Rose is there but seems off in the distance and perhaps hinting at the inaccessible nature of the prey. Amber adds a certain richness. Is there Oak Bark in here? This does give an image of being in a wooded forest. People who have trouble with Rose or who don't usually get much out of Musk might give this a whirl. Very pretty and restrained Floral that presents itself as a Musk/Moss girl.

Just in time for Lent, cher! A native of Louisiana, this Cajun lycanthrope stalks the swamps, forests, and fields of Acadiana and New Orleans in search of prey. It is believed that if one breaks Lent by failing to give alms, fast, or pray for seven years in a row, she will be God-cursed, and will transform into this snarling beast at every sunset, a slave to her desperate, mindless hunger until dawn. Spanish moss, swamp jessamine, bog water, cypress, hickory wood, lobelia, sweet flag, wisteria, and marsh milkweed. Okay, I really like this in the bottle. There's floral notes topped by a slight aquatic and Beth has captured a murkiness. Upon first application, I was really pretty skeptical. Something in here is very Pungent (capital "p") and masculine. Within about 30 seconds the perfume started developing. So now this is an androgynous blend. Can smell the Spanish moss; can't smell the cypress. An aquatic floral with a paradoxical earthiness to it. Much more substantial than most aquatics. WAY more complex. This softens a bit more and becomes very centering. This changes ALOT as it wears. And it also takes on a different character when smelled at a distance. Later in the day, the florals give way to moss and still later the slight aquatic edge comes back. Please give this a chance.

SUGAR MOON No way to see him on this moonless night --- I lie awake longing, burning, breasts racing fire, heart in flames. Sugar cane, black currant, violet musk, black orchid, gardenia, plum nectar, carrot seed, teak, strawberry, and dusky rose. This is marvelously sexy. Deep and kind of dark. Not that sweet though this may be because my skin chemistry rips through sweet notes quickly. I can't distinguish the separate florals. They are a bouquet. A very nice balance between the florals and the fruits.

KITTY Kitty Fisher was born into a life with very few prospects for advancement. She was the daughter of a modest Lutheran silver chaser, and in her youth, she worked as a milliner's assistant. Longing for something more, she capitalized on her natural beauty, her wits, and her boldness, and launched a career as one of Britain's preeminent courtesans. Her beauty was legendary, and she was the muse of many famed artists of her time, including Joshua Reynolds, Philip Mercier, and James Northcote. Her barbed wit, free lifestyle, and love of excess constantly landed her on the front page of Britain's gossip rags. She fell in love with the grandson of Admiral Sir John Norris, and gave up her career to marry him. She settled in as lady of the house, and turned her talents to building her husband's fortune and generously providing assistance to the poor. French vanilla, tot house orchids, strawberries, white sandalwood, bergamot, and honey. Kitty is a beautiful and timeless scent that tugs at my heart. She replaces Regan and Shadow Witch Orchid for gorgeous Vanilla and Orchid/Florals. Though this is way less 'floral'. Although she is sweet, there is nothing cloying about her. The Strawberries are fresh in from the warm sun and not candy.

THE SILVER APPLE OF THE MOON White apple with orris, agave nectar, moonflower, white sandalwood, and lotus root. Dry Apple. Not juicy. Dry and Aromatic. Ever so very slightly sweet. The Florals really are also just a whisper on my skin.

The Nones of the Wild Fig, held on the 7th of July and celebrated only by women, is a festival of fertility honoring Juno Caprotina. Both goats and figs are sacred to Juno in this aspect, goats being notoriously randy, and figs being prolifically seedy. The milky sap of the fig tree also links to the concept of fertility, and to Juno as Mother Goddess. The scent is of goat’s milk, ripe fig, and a hint of sweet myrrh. Please note: no goats were milked in the process of creating this scent. It is an accord, and this scent is vegan. This is a straightfoward scent as it smells like a combination of the stated notes. A certain warm creaminess, a certain dark fruity lushness and a certain mysterious bite from the myrrh. Ultimately, the Fig is the predominant note. For me, the Goat's milk is not like any other BPAL cream or milk scent. Less cloying and more pungent. If I had to pick out another BPAL to compare the Goat Milk accord to, it'd be what I remember of the most recent Milk Moon. This strikes me more as an autumn or cool weather perfume because even though it's fairly light for something that features "milk" and "fig" it's got more of a warming quality that draws one inward. This isn't sweet at all. Definitely unisex. Sort of reminds me of bath/skin products. Not because it smells clean or soapy in any way but because it comes across as a traditional high end Fig moisturizer and soap. Like how Coconut/Vanilla blends do the same for me at times. If I knew how to make soap, I'd use half of this in a batch of soap and the other half in some moisturizer.

THE FLOWER SONG Unknown, Written during Egypt's New Kingdom To hear your voice is pomegranate wine to me: I draw life from hearing it. Could I see you with every glance, It would be better for me Than to eat or to drink. Pomegranate wine, lotus root, river reeds, hyssop, and barley. In the bottle: where is it, there's something in there? Once on a river of scent flows out. Herbal, fruity, boozy. Lotus Root can go bubblegum but I can't find it here. Barley... I drink barley tea all the time. Can't find it here. River reeds? This has a rejuvenating effect on me. But then, pomegranate, wine and hyssop make for a happy Heavenlyrabbit.

Golden rum, apricot liquor, pineapple, pomegranate, ginger, brandy, grapefruit, and pink lime. This was the Tiki Bar scent that my intuition kept saying "Buy, Buy, Buy" even though while reading the notes my Rational Mind was like "No No No". Glad I listened to her, cause this is a BPAL Booze Lover's dream. Rum runs all throughout this and it's sweet boozy goodness gets big wet kisses from all the fruit. Apricot and the various Citrus notes. Ah, ginger! Just enough to keep this from being a sticky, cloying mess. LOVE!

In the kitchen were frogs roasting on the spit, and dishes preparing of snail skins, with children's fingers in them, salad of mushroom seed, hemlock, noses and marrow of mice, beer from the marsh woman's brewery, and sparkling salt-petre wine from the grave cellars. BEER FROM THE MARSH WOMAN'S BREWERY A beer flavored with marsh arrow grass, yew berries, purple foxglove, and giant hogweed. Got this for the Beer note. This does smell like Beer but not so much that it seems like I just spilled a pint. This is beer with a fresh and herbal aspect and a vague floralness. A very nice Kitchen Smell from a small cottage on the edge of a field.

White sandalwood, pikaki, 'umi'umi-o-dole, and plumeria. Another exquisite floral... done to perfection. The florals here seem to be much more active and present themselves more individually than in Marae. Perhaps it's the Sandalwood gently touching each of the florals at different times. One moment the perfume wafting off my wrist is this and soon after it's that. I am getting a Daytime Floral. Tropical, yes but not necessarily an evening or formal. I'd say that's the Pikaki and Plumeria which have always seemed to me as youthful and friendly notes. Don't know what umi'umi-o-dole is and hope someone shares. Twilight Eyes kindly sent me the info that umi'umi-o-dole is Spanish Moss. No wonder I liked this so much.

Jamaican rum, almond liquor, orange water, sugar syrup, lime peel, black cherry, vodka, and mint. Te Po was a big ole question mark... but I had to buy three Tiki Bar scents (my own weird quirk on buying BPAL scents in odd numbers) and this was what fell into my basket. Almond is really hit or miss for me. Mostly miss. This is very pleasant. So that's a relief. I'd also fretted about Black Cherry being TOO Cherry Cola or something. It's there but it just smells fun and youthful. The Mint and Lime Peel play nice back-up to the Booze and Almond. Oh, the Sugar Syrup doesn't seem to make this all that sweet. I think it blends with the Black Cherry for the slight Dr. Pepper effect. Put the Lime in the Coconut and drink it all up! On to Upa Upa...

Bourbon vanilla, red musk, galbanum, ambergris, sweet clove, petitgrain, and golden amber. Sweet wonderful and warm incense. The Clove is subdued at first but picks up as my skin brings it forward. Good news for those who like spicey. Since this is Passion, it makes sense it'd be a warm scent. This is possibly the most beautiful scent I've got from BPAL yet. It reminds one of Ahathoor and the like but sweeter. I thought that red musk and I didn't get along, but this is orgasmic. Addendum: further comparisons would be a richer Three Witches or more incensey/less foody Gingerbread Poppet (original blend) with Clove swapped out for the Ginger.

Attar of rose, violet, white pear, Queen Elizabeth root, and freesia. This is a Wedding bouquet, IMO. florals wrapped with a white silk ribbon. This is wafting off me and making me long for spring. At turns I can pick out the Rose and the Violet. Somehow the Violet seems to blend most into the Pear. The Queen Elizabeth root seems to add the slightest touch of sweetness. Divine but a bit 'old fashioined' and that's a compliment coming from me. Yet another Classic.

Wild woods, Bulgarian rose, tolu balsam, vanilla absolute, ambergris, honey, and vanilla. This is so very, very smooth. The woods are pleasantly aromatic. The rose is really subtle. The vanilla is also laid back. Surprisingly unisex. In fact, it's verging on masculine. Is there a touch of vetiver in here? Something vaguely feral. Very little change from bottle to skin to wearing.

Nothing there is beyond hope, nothing that can be sworn impossible, nothing wonderful, since Zeus, father of the Olympians, made night from mid-day, hiding the light of the shining Sun, and sore fear came upon men. On July 22, we will be experiencing a total solar eclipse. This is the Labores Solis: the sun’s rays expressed through frankincense, amber, heliotrope, saffron, and chamomile, crossed with Luna’s Artemisias, manifesting in darkness. Incense made from Summertime herbs. The Heliotrope adds its special touch, a slight vanilla sweetness, to the mix. If there were an Incense made to resemble a Cottage Garden that mixes herbs with some flowers, it might be quite like this. The Herbs are more predominant than any Florals that might be in this.

The Spirit of the Eve of Samhain, an aspect of Cailleach, the Divine Hag, in her Destroyer aspect. While Brìghde rules the time between Beltane and Sahmain, Cailleach rules the Dark of the Year. On the night of Samhain, she transforms into Carlin, harbingering the death of the land and the onset of the snows. On Beltane, the Great Crone is slain by Brìghde so springtime can reinvigorate the land. Black sage, ivy-twined rowan, thistle, snapdragon, heather, gorse, fumitory, and anise. This has the fresh green one associates with evergreen without seeming like Christmas. There is a slight floral overtone from the Snapdragon with the Anise adding a subtle interest. VERY Green/Brown and lovely. It is much less heavy-handed than many other "Green" scents from BPAL. It exceeded my expectations which I purposely kept low on seeing "Black Sage" listed.

Resurrection of the Flesh, Luca Signorelli. Frankincense, hyssop, heliochrysum, ylang ylang, copal, angelica, and rose geranium. Contains so many of my favorite notes, this was a 5ml without giving it a second thought. Franincense, Hyssop, Ylang Ylang, Herbals. Deep yet lofty. A touch of sensuality in its spiritual form. That is what I wrote down as a description, so for me, this successfully evokes its subject matter. As a perfume, it has the unusual property of opening with what I'd consider the bottom notes first (Frankincense and Copal) with the top notes unfolding later (Ylang Ylang & Herbals). I get an Opening with the deep, slight sweetness of Frankincense and then comes the soaring flora and penetrating herbals. Very good throw and long lasting. Would wear this for many occassions and any season excepting really light-hearted romps, weddings. IMO, a perfume that tends to be a bit more mature.

PLUM PUDDIN’Sultana raisins, red currants, candied orange peel, allspice, clove, nutmeg, sherry, and cognac. Plum Puddin from Puddin! The alcohol is strong in this one. Even for me... my skin usually burns it off. This is more reminiscent of Raisin Liqueur or Rum Raisin Ice Cream... with spice. Happy and festive. Shockingly less foodie than I thought it'd be. I'd layer this with something like Mitzvah or Beaver Moon.