Celtic Goddess

Oh, I am very sad about this one. I had high hopes that this blend, though it includes something edible and foodie, would be a success. I was very happy with The Vine and figured coconut would be less in-your-face food-like than pear. I did indeed get the perm solution smell mentioned by another reviewer...however, on me it's worse. This smells exactly like that pink, foamy soap I use at the car wash (EXACTLY like it). I'm not enthused about that smell when I'm washing my truck and I certainly am not enthused when I smell it on me. No go.

This blend is not at all what I expected but it's quite good. Don't ask me why, but this one always smells like cocoa when I put it on (no cocoa listed...what gives?). This is strange as it doesn't seem to be a complex blend and I haven't had this happen with other honey, myrrh scents. I won't complain, because it is quite decadent and unique (all of which I love). Definately a hit.

I grabbed a bottle of this one because the notes sound very intriquing and, on the right person, they would be. Unfortunately, my body chemistry amps up roses. All I get here are roses, roses, and more roses. Apparently, this happens with all rose blends and I'll just have to stay away from them. Though this isn't a hit for me, it's still a pleasant floral for those days when I feel like roses. None of the other notes stand out, but together they give a hint of something sweet in the background of all those red roses. It's roses with a tad bit of oomph...not bad but not my cup of tea.

I definately get Winter out of this one...it's cold and crisp with a touch of dry leaves. It starts off rather smoky but dries down to a powdery, soapy sweetness. the dry down isn't bad but I do wish it would stay dry leaves and smoke (which is what I love). It reminds me of a stronger version of Samhainophobia.

I just received this one in my latest order...very smoky and strong. It definately fits the dark-brown and murky description provided. The best I can do here is gritty and smoky. I, being strange, just so happen to like gritty and smoky so this is a good one for me.

I wanted to try this one because I love the smell of good tobacco and honey. I definately get the masculine feel mentioned by previous reviewers (this one is a nice men's cologne on me). I seem to have a difficult time pulling out BPAL's tobacco scent, though I keep trying. Here, the tobacco is it's usual sweet, bubble gum self. There is something that smells slightly floral here but it's not the green, fresh floral found in Laurel Honey. Not bad by not me. OOPS! I had some techincal difficulties with the first post, which appeared to have vanished into cyberspace, only to appear again after I added the second post. Sorry about that folks.

I had great success with Laurel Honey so I thought I'd give this one a try. I definately get the masculine feel mentioned by previous reviewers (on me, this is a really nice men's cologne). I have a difficult time pulling out the tobacco in BPAL scents, though I keep trying. Here, the tobacco is it's usual sweet, bubble gum self. It's a nice scent it's just not me. Alas, I shall stick with Laurel Honey for now.

I got this one on a whim because I was looking for something very different from my usual sents (smoke & incense) and I must say it worked out well. I usually stay miles away from anything that will make me smell like a fruit basket or pastry but this one works. The pear is very believable and doesn't remind me of sticky sweet candy. I don't SMELL vanilla but I can tell it's there...it's soft and sweet and in the background. My only gripe is the staying power...It's nice and strong when first applied but vanishes within twenty minutes.

Love this one...I've always liked the smell of church and this one is perfect. It is sweeter than Cathedral and is far more potent (beware, a little goes a long way). My family still follows the Catholic Christmas traditions so this one fits right into the holiday season.

This one was quite a bit lighter than expected. I don't get leaves and smoke but it dries down nicely. On me, this blend becomes honey with a kick. It's sweet with a tad bit of spice.

Unfortunately, this one went all wrong on me. I get no spice and no sweet vanilla. Wet and in the bottle there's a hint of cocoa but it vanishes the moment it hits my skin. Though I don't usually have problems with patchouli this time it went whonky...whonky in the sense it smells like potting soil. It never changed so potting soil it is (not being a plant, this will work for me). Too bad, I had high hopes for this blend.

Devil's Night is warm and rich. Every once in awhile you get a slight whiff of fire and leaves, but mostly it's sugary with a touch of spice. What saves it from being too foody is the musk, which makes the blend a bit rougher and different. I'll use this one when I'm in the mood for sweets.

Even though I don't get any leather at all, I love this scent. It turned out to be a pretty good "everyday" scent for me. It is sweet and the Dragon's Blood is prominent, and yet, there is something tangy about it...not smoky, tangy. It's unique and not at all generic perfumey (which is excellent).

Okay, I still haven’t quite decided if I love this or not. This one is like Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde…one day it’s all sweet vanilla and something really spicy and intriguing and the next day it’s sugar and rubber (what the heck!?). I think I’ll reserve final judgment on this crowd pleaser and allow the oil to age…here and now, I give it a tentative thumbs-up.

This one is absolutely gorgeous. It’s sweet and spicy but not at all foody. I don’t get the leather in this one but the beeswax is amazingly warm and creamy. The nutmeg, pepper, and oak bark turn this into something really unique. So far, this is one of my favorite scents from BPAL (I just ordered and received my backup bottle). Too bad you can’t get Hand of Glory in lotions or soap form…I’d slather it on in globs.

I decided to try this one to see if the additional scents would mellow the weird transformation from spice to rubber I get with the traditional Snake Oil. Luckily, it did do the trick. Western Diamond back is a sweeter, more herbal version of Snake Oil. Though I definitely can smell the Snake Oil it doesn’t get all rubbery on me so I’m all smiles right now. Oddly, this one reminds me of a crisper, more in your face Tombstone.

Heavenly incense. Dark, spicy, and smoky. Can’t tell with my untrained nose what the individual notes are but swirled together they are flat out amazing. Thrown in my last order…big thanks as this one was on my list of the things to try!

Unfortunately, this one is pure cinnamon on me, nothing else...like Christmas potpourri. Not bad but not my cup of tea.

Apparently, I really like the leather blends from BPAL. This one is a really soft, worn in jacket leather scent with just a hint of sweetness. The leather is quite strong, and it remains strong, so if you aren't a leather lover this isn't for you.

Grabbed this one because lavender always makes things interesting and, until Bluebeard, never dominated fragrances (at least not on me). Oops. The lavender here doesn’t dominate it overwhelms…in the bottle, wet on the skin, and dry this is pure lavender. It reminds of an old perfume my Oma in Germany used to send my mother. This isn’t bad but you really need to enjoy the salty-tangy smell of dry lavender (kind of like old lavender pressed in a book).

Cathedral smells just like the Catholic church I spent a good deal of my childhood kneeling in. I always found the churchy smell to be warm and inviting so this one is another winner for me. It has just a hint of incense and is dominated by a soft, polished wood smell (I picture church pews warmed by the sun filtering through stained glass windows). So far, this is my favorite "mellow" blend...I think peacefull is the perfect word for it.

I was a bit worried about this one because of the chocolate...I hate smelling like food...but this stuff is pretty amazing. The chocolate isn't the sweet cake-like chocolate you usually get in perfumes but is quite mellow on me (as the reviewer above stated, it smells like cocoa powder). I don't get the leather but I do smell the patchouli and florals. All together they make a really unusual blend that I would love if it had better staying power. Unfortunately, this really pretty scent disappeares within twenty minutes.

Since I am fond of the smell of burning wood and leaves this one is a win for me. On me, this smells just like a perfume called Burning Leaves by CB I Hate Perfume. I absolutely love that perfume so the fact that I can get my greedy hands on a cheaper version from a classy company makes me very happy. It's pure woodsmoke, burning leaves, and something sweet (don't ask...I have no clue what the sweet stuff is). It's also pretty strong so a little goes a long way (another bonus!).

Stand and deliver! Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather. I thought I'd post my first review about the first scent that made me a fan of the Lab. First, let me say, I couldn't resist trying a fragrance called Highwayman (it's the weird professor in me). Second, I love smoky scents and this is definately smoky. I didn't realize I was vetiver fan until I tried this one...and warning to those who aren't, this is heavy on the vetiver. I don't really get the cinnamon but there is something floral in there...more rose than gardenia on me. The leather is drop dead sexy. This has a soft, worn in leather smell...not the whips and chains plastic-like smell I get from Vixen. When it dries down it's all soft leather and smoke with just a tiny hint of flowers. Gorgeous. My imp is empty and I'm depressed but I am waiting on a bottle so there is good reason to think happy thoughts.