themerrybaker

Bite my Asp!! This reminds me of cookies baking to the extremes of crispness. Just smokey sweetness on me, no noticeable citrus. A comfortable scent that makes me want a cup of tea.

The great Phantasm vs Embalming Fluid sniff-off indicates that Phantasm, even with the addition of nearly undetectable florals and faint tea, is much more tart than EF. The latter seens very cool and musky by comparison. Phantasm is very energizing and is doing a good job perking me up after some very boring reading. This is the first Lab perfume I'd describe as "zingy". Thanks again to the sweetie who sent this to me.

Although I need another bottle of perfume like I need a hole in the head, I'm glad to have gotten Dark Delicacies. It came packaged nicely in a little black bag, and has a cute little skelly label. When I first tried it on, I guessed patchouli and gardenia and thought "hey this is unusually good smelling gardenia". That's because it contains orchid and devils trumpet instead. I think the coconut adds something cool and cucumberish to the blend. I am a fan of Beth's night blooming flowers, had good luck with Black Moon, and mostly love perfumey perfumes - so this one is very much a keeper.

I was not sure what to think about a perfume whose name reminds me of the Three Billy Goats Gruff but it turned out to be a good one. The patchouli reminds me of the patchouli leaf from the plant, and the musk provides a smoky sweetness. I suppose the pomegranite is in there somewhere, but I don't smell any fruitiness. The Haitian vetiver is a similar almost-bergamot note from Samhainophobia. One caveat. This is a perfume with really nice throw but is not so good up close. If you evaluate this one by sniffing your wrist, you may be put off by a "dirty billy goat sock" smell. That would be too bad, because catching a whiff now and then is such a pleasure.

Baron Samedi is a new GC love. It reminds me of a spicier, smokier version of Bastet. After the almond sweetness fades into the background, the Baron becomes a clove/cinnamon/nutmeg spice bonfire. No bones about it - this is goood. Vetiver lovers will be pleased.

Tintagel is one of the better wine scents for this "never drink wine" type. It is sweet like berries, and the wood does suggest an old castle.

I am amazed at how much Hunger Moon reminds me of Snow Moon, even though they apparently have no components in common. Hunger Moon is more sage and verbena on snow, while the sweeter floral components of Snow Moon are fainter and more delicate above the wood/animal base. They both seem a little coniferous/evergreen to me. Chilly, chilly scents both and good to wear when the weather is being a pine in the ice.

Bean the Demon Queen looks a lot like Mothra the Visigothra. Those three color gals are so wicked.

Maybe you smell what you want to smell, but the cardamom in Bakerneko reminds me a lot of Spanked. There was no way I would be unhappy with an eponymous kitty scent, but the presence of one of my favorite notes make it all the nicer.

Ding Dong. Excuse me, may I borrow a Cup of Death, please? Sure thing, neighbor, and I have these great peaches here..... Mmm, thanks. Those peaches were good, now I'm going to go dig up the garden... I like Cup of Death, and it is interesting how it morphs between peach, wood, and dirt - a description of the lifecycle of a plant. I'm not sure a whole bottle is in the future, though.

I am wondering about my nasal calibration right now, because I get the Great Big Jasmine Stomping on the Woman Clothed With my Stuff. And there's not even any jasmine in here!! No vanilla or demondrops for me, just extreme pseudo jasmine floral. My experience with GRD may be an abherration, but I agree that this is definitely floral.

I love the name Cupid Complaining to Venus, because it seems as if everybody complains about something. Why should my perfume be any different? CCV doesn't have a lot of throw on me, but is a very sweet fruity scent with lots and lots of honey. I haven't made up my mind whether Cupid is the bee's knees or too sweet of a little angel yet .... But no complaints here.

reminds me of hot summer days where even the vegetation is sweating. I especially love the grassy/herbal/dry wet stage of this perfume, and when it mellows into something faintly sweet and tart it is still all good. The initial weediness is what I wanted Roadhouse to smell like and a bottle would definitely get some rotation. Too bad these chickens aren't on the dollar menu!!

They bend the forest and crush the city, yet may not forest or city behold the hand that smites. And yeah, when the forest or city has been rendered as flat as a pancake, the hand pours maple syrup all over the wretched mess. I also seem to be getting a whiff of cocoa from Al Azif. Even though the description is pretty sinister, I find this a comforting warm pajama and hot cocoa kind of scent.

Blood Rose was initially very berryish, with the rose and dragon's blood resin wandering in a bit later. The final drydown is Roasted Rose (maybe Mrs. Dragon wanted something besides flowers for her anniversary?). It reminds me a lot of Hymn and All Saints. Good to try if you are a rose-lover.

Sathariel must have whatever resin is in Jacob's Ladder because I get the same "saliva" smell. I also seem to be getting plum scent here. Hmm, Masticated Plums? Sathariel is an example of how one man's Ruthless Drool may be another's Mouthwateringly Good.

Thagirion is a delightful scent reminiscent of bottled springtime. This is one of my favorites of the Sephiroths - it reminds me of Dirty and The Unicorn. Who knew futility and conflict could smell so good.

Madrid is way too in-your-face cloyingly sweet on me. I think I'd opt for the bastinado if given a choice.

Bengal is what I wanted Silk Road to smell like. I get a deep wood undertone - so it reminds me of a trunk full of spices on a caravan in far away romantic places..... I can see why this one is such a favorite.

Ephemera, Ode on Melancholy, and White Moon. There is a quintessential "sad" smell from some of the BPAL blends and these two embody it for me.

Follow Me Boy, right over to that ylang-ylang plant.... This is one of the more accessible Voodoo blends. Definitely wearable as a perfume. Light floral with roasted grain undertone.

Oya starts out with a very fruity-sweet zephyr before clobbering you with a play-doh tornado. She eventually settles down to a fruity ozone hot desert sandstorm. The very sweet fruit, the heavy "play-doh", and the burnt ozone make for an odd combination on me.

Initially a blast of very sharp eucalyptus/herbal, then dries to the anise scent mentioned above. I'm off to bed now and won't mind drifting off to licorice dreams...

Along with the lavender, chamomile, jasmine, I smell the smoke of an extinguished candle. Nighty-night. Somus is not something I'd use as a perfume, but it is fine and relaxing on the pillowcase.

Carnaval Diabolique Evil Yellow Syrup of Doom. The coconut, vanilla and florals interact with the lemon to make a surprisingly heavy and very,very, sweet scent. I feel like a sticky animate lolly wearing it.