Avery

I love this. After trying Dyptique's Philosykos (but ultimately having to give said rollerball away after extremely negative reviews from my boyfriend *every* tme I wore it ) I knew that I loved fig scents and wanted to try all of BPAL's because I was sure they have something that I like and doesn't make my boyfriend's nose wrinkle up. I went for Eden and Strangler Fig with too sweet results (although... my chemistry amps sweet... SF was very much like my beloved philoskyos in the first few seconds), I finally got my hands on an imp of Gomorrah. And I may end up having to get a 5ml, I love it! The fig present is completely different from that in either Eden or SF, and is more earthy to my nose, maybe it's the black herbs or the compliment of date and current (neither of which I have tried in other perfumes yet, but I like!). Regardless, this is what I would have imagined more for SF because it feels earthy and gritty, it's got an edge, but an underlying sweetness which lures you in and you're ultimately ruined by... but haha, I guess that's a perfect description for the city in question. It stays deep and mellowly sweet on my skin without smelling too fruity, and unlike the previous reviewer I don't pick up any scent of ruins or decay. It conjures up a deep reddish amber color in my mind's eye, and feels like 'me'. Love it. ETA: I love this more and more as I wear it. I slathered it before I went to sleep last night, and my utter enjoyment as the scent just got better and better on my skin led me to bid on a 5ml (bad me!), which I won. As my enthusiasm for this scent grows I was reading through the reviews more and more and was amused by how many people either described this scent as 'me' or 'not me', myself included. Humm, I wonder if that speaks to the 'naughty' or 'nice' bpal'ers?? Heh. Jinx!!

I have sniffed many of the 'traditionally masculine' scents and said "whaaaaa?" to myself, unable to imagine what man would pull off the smell that to ME was almost too girly to wear. I tend to prefer the gender neutrals, but my favorite favorite by far catalog scent is Tombstone, and it smells just heavenly on my feminine skin. Thinking that this was the way things would go, I put on Dee the other day and POW! Man smell. A little oil got onto my box lid so I could see how good it smelled, but it was the first BPAL I have tried (aside from Juke Joint or Villain, neither of which smelled good to me) that I liked but that was powerfully manly on my skin, far too much for me to wear. But Dee must smell heavenly on the right guy!! Leathery YUM!!

I haven't worn Drink Me more than twice, but just have to write a review. This one made me giggle. As a lifelong Alice in Wonderland fan, I was drawn to all the scents in this category, and love the idea of the 'eat me' 'drink me' scents in particular, as those potions really captured my imagination as a kid. okay, and I have to mention first, I have weird chemistry. Funky strange stuff happens on and in my skin. So, ymmv--my skin tends to blow past the initial stages of a perfume in just a few seconds (for example, with Vixen I get a two second patchouli *blast* that mellows into the ginger orange). But, when I applied Drink Me I had to take in one deep breath as many scents as were presenting themselves to me and were gone nearly as quickly as they went (much like drinking the potion would be, I imagine ) buttery, cherry, toffee, pineapple into a bready vanilla custard, where it stays sweet and undeniably CUSTARD (how does she do this?!) for hours. The dry down reminds me of Beaver Moon a little, if the Beav were custard instead of cake. So fun, ingenious, and unlike anything else. I love how fun this is (but I will likely never need more than my imp) !!

having grown up in the Nevada desert (which is very similar to New Mexico--you got all our weather a little later) the ultimate 'homey' desert scent I have come across is corazon. Okay, so mango seems out there, but somehow when combined with the Sage it brings the orange warmth of so many glorious sunsets and late afternoon sun soaked into the rocks right back. Track some down if you can--there's an auction on ebay right now for a decent priced 5ml!

I was always worried about the "five furious musks" in EOM, but had to buy it just for the novelty of it being the first forum exclusive I'd been around for (Formula 54, hello!). But I thought that maybe with the rainforest and orange that I could pull it off. I tend to be 'musky' myself, so why not add a little more? Besides, red musk (at least the kind in Corazon and Kabuki) loves me, so hopefully the darker kind will too! Well, I just received my bottle (mailed courtsey of interception of my lovely Mom!) and... ugh. I highly doubt I'll be reaching for this EVER. It smells like stale perfumey old ladies and, really, bandaids!! oh no! Is this the furious monkey musks? The ambergris? Not sure, but if somebody has any insight into what is smelling this awful on me I'd appreciate being told since I'd like to avoid it in the future. Aww, damn. that was a long way for a mad monkey to travel to create such a smell. Oh well. Maybe when I'm in mailing distance again I can swap it to a better home. for now, it's back in the bubble wrap and hiding in the deep dark depths of my suitcase.

I'm not sure what it is, but something (maybe plural somethings) in this blend and I don't get along. I don't really smell tobacco, or leather, or incense... but this blend turns musky smoky (not good smoke, as far as I go) SWEET on my skin and makes me feel a little nauseous. It doesn't smell masculine on me, but actually reeks of honey (which goes terribly wrong on my skin)--since it isn't in the notes listed, I'm uncertain but would like to pin down which other note goes so wrong with me. I wanted to like this one and tried it a number of times, all of which failed. I do have funky chemistry, for what it's worth.

It seems that I'm in the habit of reviewing the scents that I feel really strongly about (love it or hate it), but I adore Shadow! A sweet swapper included it as a frimp, and I fell in love. I'd been looking for a lemon scent, and this baby is it. It's also the scent that officially made me realize I love patchouli in perfumes too, although I've always hated the head-shoppy "dirty hippy" patchouli reek. I'm a convert! Ahem, back to the scent. Anyway. Previous reviewers have stated that the 'shadow' comes from the direct contrast of bright lemony yellow and the black of the patchouli--in my mind's eye I can imagine a hot summer day where the sun is blazing but I am able to lounge under a lush canopy and study the gorgeous intricacy of the patterns the sun and shadow make on the ground through the leaves. Every once in awhile, because my eyes are accustomed to the relative darkness, I look up and get sun spots. This is the feeling that "shadow" brings to me, and it is my HG (so far) hot summer day scent. It's the best thing about having summer days free to do whatever the hell you please. big bottle love! - (helps with those sun spots ) ETA scent descripption - duh! It really is like lemon candy over a deeper woody base... when I think about the scent I think of a lemon candy covered bridge, the way the wood would smell after living for a long time near a pool of water by the woods, algae and tire swing and cotton buds in the air, et. al., and the board has seen its share of summer sun and has been worn silky smooth in time. The smell is that board in the shade while you can still feel the warmth of the sun. Oh crap--apparently I can't describe the actual perfume! Apparently this one is very visual for me Oh well, I tried. !!

although it doesn't stay this way on me for a LONG time, I have fallen in love with Clio because it smells like a field replete with trees and wild flowers and grasses that has just been rained on. Wow!! It's the first 'natural' smelling perfume I have ever put on that actually smells natural, and I love it. The fresh rain smell lasts for a couple of hours at least before changing into something I like a little less, but it's so worth reapplying. that's why ya gotta have the imp love. eta: necessary changes for clarity

I can't make up my mind about this one. I think I really like it, and it tends to smell on my skin how Elegba smelled in the bottle, with a dash of flowers thrown in (must be the delphinium). This is definitely a morpher, and the end result varies wildly depending on my skin chemistry (which I am the first to admit is unusual). Some days I love it--it's rich, sweet tobacco coconutty goodness that wraps me in its heavenly cocoon. Other days, the flowers amp to hell and it can smell a wee bit powdery for my tastes. My boyfriend also fluctuates between telling me it smells like Vicks cough syrup and "cookie" (which is his word for Misk. U, his all time favorite). I like it a lot, and i t is definitely a keeper, but I need to wear it over several months to see how I truly wear it.

Miskatonic University! It's the one that will turn my boy's head and make him salacious even when he's otherwise focused Granted, he thinks it smells like cookies, but what's that about men and the smell that turns them on the most being baked goods?

Well, I had to try this one for the name. As for rose, this was the loveliest (vanillic) rose I have ever had the pleasure to wear. I am not a floral kind of person, but if I were, this would be a floral that I would love to wear. I did enjoy sampling it, but I always felt as if I were wearing someone else's perfume. OH well!

To me, eggnog smells like a spicier version of Beaver Moon. I had to try them to compare on each wrist, but while I found that the Beaver mellows out and grows into itself, with eggnog I get a blast of spices and then plastic. Oh well, at least it's just an imp (and I am so glad to have the Beav!).

Yummmm!! I love this. This is now one of my definite top 5 BPAL scents. It is like cinnamon sprinkled cheesecake, and/or cupcakes with cinnamon creamcheese frosting, or even cookies (that's what my boy smells, and he says it makes him HUNGRY ). This doesn't wear very long, and has great throw for the first 20 or so minutes, but then fades down to a delectible skin scent. I am SO pleased with the Beav. feel the need to add: I acquired an imp of Eggnog and they smell *very* similar both in the bottle and wet out of the imp, but then eggnog goes through a very fast spiced up phase and turns to plastic on me, whereas Beaver just mellows with no plastic HOORAY! ETA: This has fast become my favorite BPAL to wear, day in and day out. I still love and adore several other scents, but find my way to the Beav most frequently. Last night I applied before bed, and found that (whether it was an instance of peculiar chemistry, or that the oil is changing on me) it smelled of the soft spicy sweetness that redhots give off, on top of the blanket of vanilla cheesecake goodness. Definitely more cinnamon than previously, but still absolutely deeelicious!

I wish this smelled like delicious amber honey on me. However, all it is is a sickeningly sweet BABY POWDER. No way, jose.

*sigh* I had majorly high hopes for Snow White, but now by the time I hooked up with a bottle, I realize that it is not the coconut toasted marshmallow cloud I had been hoping for, but really... lighly floral with a plastic/fake undertone. It is not me at all. I am hoping that maybe at a different time of the month it may smell better on my skin (early start) but I don't have high hopes... Snow White makes me sneeze. Oh, and my boyfriend who has long told me about this mysterious smell that strippers have in his experience, said that it smells like strippers, which I guess is a good thing in the right context? But not on me, and he agreed that this was not a "me" smell. Oddly, Tombstone has much more of the warm marshmallow feel that I was looking for here. Will update if I change my mind. If not, it'll be a 2004 bottle off to swaps.

I love this one... on me it is by far the most successful CN scent. It *sort of* reminds me of how I expected Kunstkammer to smell... there's an orange undercurrent that is really delicious, but the chocolate and fig come dancing in together and create a LOVELY, soft and sweet (but not TOO sweet) scent that I love to wear. It does not have a lot of throw, but I enjoy "personal" fragrances a lot, so this one works out for me. I expected the fig to be stronger, but love it just how it is.

Uh oh. I'm hoping I can chalk it up to a funky chemistry today (not tomorrow please!) and that my most awaited Halloween fragrance is going to stay how it smells on my skin in the first hour: it was delicious--warm, boozy chocolate musk being carried on a chill autumn breeze with dry leaves skittering around in the background and not turn to the musty sweat of a delinquent boy throwing eggs. Oh please. I am afraid, as this is what it transformed into! this may be my first real BPAL heartbreak. Will update with either decision to swap or (hopefully) my change of heart. ETA: Nope, this scent is not for me. After the sweet and enticing drydown, all I get is "thuggish musk" *sigh* Already swapped.

Yum!! I actually smell the creamed corn out of the vial like some others have, but it's not pure corn... there's definitely something carmel lurking underneath. Wet on the skin it instantly transforms to a flash of sweet familiar candy corn, and then it starts getting more complex. There is the dusting of cinnamon, and a rich caramel essence. Ohhh it is sooo good. It mellows fast, but this becomes an absolutely delectable skin scent. This does not morph after wearing for awhile, it just gets a little softer. mmm. It is simple, but it isn't plain. Trick or Treat completely exceeds my expectations for not TOO sweet not TOO foody goodness. I am excited to see how this wears, but think that I will have to be in the right mood to wear it. It's definitely not as 'light' as Midway.

No no no. Damn it!! I was really excited about Snake Charmer, but didn't know to be worried until I got my sample of Snake Oil and HATED it. Yuck!! So... Snake Charmer is indeed very much like a slightly altered version of Snake Oil. Both make me smell geriatric and fully powdered. Maybe spicy baby powder on old lady. Ick ick ick! So completely not for me. I am becoming really hesitant to sample to very popular fragrances, as it seems they don't work on my wonky chemistry! I would love to swap this for a different LE.

Oh. My. God. This is the catalog scent that I came to BPAL for. I knew I'd have more luck with the "gender neutral/masculine" scents, and this, by far, blows those that I have tried out of the water. Whatever it is that happens with vanilla on my skin is a really good thing, but combined with the cedar and sassafrass (holy yum!!!) this is DIVINE. I was out of town this weekend and was able to introduce a group of friends to BPAL and make them all slathering junkies, but I had several instances of "ohhh you smell soooo good" and taking my wrist or neck and big deep narcotic inhales (from both males and females). I need a 10ml of this one. Even my boy conceded to really liking it, and that is saying something!! Okay, so some actual information about the scent. Directly on, the cedar is predominant, with the vanilla and sassafrass undercurrent. As it wears the cedar grows softer and blurs into this smoky woody sweet and 'dusty' (without the same kind of dusty that, say, MiskU or Midway have) and wears for HOURS as an ever mellowing lusciousness. So much better than my single note vanilla. I am a convert. My first catalog love. I can see this on a man or a woman, whatever, it sure works on me!! Thank you!! *** ETA: This is becoming my signature scent, as it is working its way into my consciousness and I need to make sure it's part of my general aura, as well. LOVE. Sadly though, it seems that the more I love it the more quickly it disappears on me... maybe it's just my lust for its strength that I need to keep reappling. I have a 5ml I'm working my way through right now, but have in mind stocking up on a couple of 10mls when I get the chance. Oh, and in the bath it changed a great deal. *strong* cedar smell... I felt transported as if I were in a mountain air cedar hottub surrounded by the twinkling stars at night and the cool breeze blowing through the branches of the trees. Wow! But, I do prefer the scent of Tombstone on my skin and will likely save the rest for direct dousing.

MMM!!! Okay, this might be a bit preemptive since I've only been wearing absinthe for a few minutes, but this is what I had hoped ultraviolet would smell like! I get the mint strong out of the gate, but then it mellows down into a lovely swirl of mint and anise. I love this!! This is the best hot weather scent I've tried (thus far, or in my life!), and I think I'm going to try to order a bottle of it and the newly sampled Eden when I place a Yule order. LOVE it. Doesn't really smell like Absinthe, but that might be for the best, since real absinthe has a harsh bite that this is lacking. Yay! A real catalog love!

This one has something in it that just does not agree with me. It's the musty earthy smell that is akin to the reaction I have to vetiver, but not as strong... I don't know maybe there's just *less* vetiver and it's mingling with moss? Whatever it is, this is not what I want to smell like. To me it's not fresh, not uplifting, but smells rather acrid, along the lines of bad body odor, or "that smell" that certain old people have. Whaver it is, it doesn't agree with my chemistry. Off to swaps!

Well, at least I'm not the only one on who this is straight-up incense store. I was really hoping for something more complex and sexy, but... plain incense. Not really "me". *sigh*

This is all honey mead on me. I thought I was really going to enjoy it, but apparently my chemistry decided against me. Not sure I can pick out any more notes than that, but it is a warm sweet smell that just swells with a meady undertone that eventually becomes nauseating on me. To my nose, it is quite different than hearth and doesn't share the same tones. That one didn't work on me either. Alas. Swaps.

This one I wanted to love. Based on the description it sounded *right* up my alley,like something that I would want to smell like every day if possible. Sadly, on my skin it is HEAVY, dark, deep, cherry and cloyingly sweet--almost sufficatingly so. I didn't get any pipe tobacco, but it was more... hot candied cherries and chocolate, almost like they had been left to melt by the fire and burned a little. Noooo!! I am very sad that this didn't work out, and am still very much on a quest for the pipe tobacco smell I crave (perversion and elegba don't have the tobacco note I'm looking for either). Guess I'll just have to keep on looking.