Inanna9

via the Civet Evangelism Sniffing Circle (*waves at SueDonym*): In the imp this is a juicy musky grape, and that's what amps the moment I dab it on. Whoo, buddy...this baby's got throw. The civet gives the grape an edge - more of a dirty, fermented vibe. The sweet-but-herbal note of the sage starts to emerge, and that's when I fall in love. Seriously, I was literally trolling the swap forum while this wafted around me as I muttered must have puck...must have puck... The oakmoss kicks in and the juicy grape starts to tone down, and for some reason my nose starts to interpret this stage as uber-floral. Maybe it's just a skin chemistry thing. But this is the part that lasts (and lasts), and after a while it becomes a bit too much. Sex-up, fermented herbs and flowers. Started out like catnip and now it's just a bit too overpowering.

I'm very grateful to the lovely forumite who frimped me a decant of this, otherwise I would have missed out. I saw straight-up pomegranate and thought, "meh". That was a mistake. This is smooth and tart at the same time - rich and fruity, yet never sharp. And for those of you who mourn the loss of juiciness upon Crypt Queen's drydown, this is perfect for layering. It really revives the dark fruit component when Her Majesty gets a bit too dusty. I've been doing this BPAL thing long enough that I should know better than to judge an oil based solely on its desrciption. So I will eventually have to hunt down some more of this lovely one

That's kind of a tough one. I think Sleepy Moon is pretty unique. I was thinking about this last night, when I was dabbing it on before bed. I can't think of a single blend that comes close, but maybe you could layer a dab of Opium Poppy with a bit of Dirty and one of the lavender sleep blends like Somnus...or maybe Sophia. But Sleepy Moon is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in my book. I hope Beth re-releases it one day.

I'm having a love affair with Rome right now. Such a delicate, pretty rose. It reminds of the note in Agony of Longing (minus the pear and sweet stuff). You have to like your scents on the crisp, herbal side to appreciate this one, but if you do, it's awesome. Top 5 BPAL for me.

Jai Mahal and Mama Ji Grundy and Virgo Indiscreet and Moxie Scintillating and Tokyo Stomp Proserpina and Hellion Crushed and Kali Pearl Diver and...hmmm. I'm going to have to go sniff this again. I get a strong floral note in Pearl Diver along with the aquatics. I know some people have mentioned Thalissa (?) as a good companion, but I haven't tried that one. Oh - maybe Caliban. But I don't have that one anymore, so I'm not sure my memory is accurate. I wore Selkie after a Pearl Diver bath once and it worked well.

i have problems with this too. Moxie is my favorite pick me up.

I get amber and a sweet rose similar to the one in the BPAL's Hope in this. There's a little hint of Play-doh (like I get in Anthelion...and I wouldn't be surprised if they share a component or two), but overall this is a pleasure to wear. But I'd wear this even if it smelled like ass because...damn, it works. Almost instantly and with little more than a dab for me. I've been struggling: SAD-induced depression, carpal tunnel symptoms, and now I'm coming down with some bug or cold. I just put this on and, honestly, I can't really describe in words how I feel right now. Let's just say I feel better, lighter, stronger. Let's just say this works

This is fruity in the vial, with a smooth, dark undertone I assume is the amber. As a lover of all things to do with this myth, I now have high hopes. Alas, it is not to be. You know that smell that comes with spray deodorant? I never use it anymore -- I'm strictly a clear gel girl these days -- but Hymn to Proserpine evokes old memories of eau de Arrid Exxtra Dry. Dead on. It's my fault - my skin chemistry absolutely ravages this stuff. Appropriately enough, I suppose. grumble....

If I place a Lunacy order via snail-mail during the Lunacy (say, today) but it arrives after the oils come down, is my order considered too late to process? The faqs say "Please keep in mind, however, that we will not process any order until the money clears." A very old post from 2004 regarding money orders says, "Please note that if you do send us payment via snail mail your order will be processed as the date it was received", but since that's not how it's currently worded on the site I can't tell whether it still applies. I'd email the lab, but since it's a Saturday and there's a lot going on with the wedding, I'm not sure anyone could get back to me about it today. Anyone know?

It'll just take maybe a little more leg-work. And that adds to the excitement doesn't it? Or irritation, depending on one's attitude. I guess mine's kinda bad. But I think I understand the strategy of making these retail-only, at least the way myth explained it, anyway. And I'll get over it as long as I can get in on a decant circle at some point, because they sound amazing. I just don't want to have to pester east coasters or wheedle and beg on the swap forums. I'm both lazy and cranky

I used to love Gap Grass. I hunt down green scents like there's no tomorrow. The closest thing for me with BPAL would be a cross between Orpheus (a lovely green stem scent which turns a bit perfumey on drydown) and One to Tie Two to Win (which is very, very fresh). If those two had a baby, you might be able to name it Gap Grass.

Hmm...I get grape-flavored civet from this one. I'm too lazy to dig out my Bacchanalia and do a direct comparison, but that's definitely the blend that sprang to mind upon first sniff. The civet-vibe morphs to a tamer musk as this dries, but the sweet grape sticks around for me. I may get a bottle of this, because I kind of like it. ETA: okay, curiosity got me off my butt and now I'm wearing Bacchanalia. They are nearly identical when they're wet-right-out-of-the-bottle. But there's definitely civet in Bacchanalia...not so sure anymore about War. Bacchanalia's going feral while War is turning almost candy-sweet and floral. Blood Lotus is a nice comparison. I love this, but I'm not sure I'll need a bottle since I have one of Blood Lotus. War would be a cool signature scent, though. Imagine explaining that one to your co-workers

I smell a little of Parlement of Foules in this, and a little bit of Hope, but it's a little more complex than that. Thank GOD the opium behaves itself. The first time I wore this, the rose tried to go sour and sharp on me like BPAL roses sometimes do, but every time I've worn it after, it has been nothing short of gorgeous. It's a very versatile scent: pretty and playful enough for daytime, but with a depth and complexity that makes it do-able for evening too. And of course, if you love rose, this one rocks. I love it more and more each time I wear this. I can see it becoming a favorite later - when I'll have to go hunting down bottles, of course.

I agree with etherealchild that this is a more sophisticated version of Blue Moon. But I really, really miss the almosty-minty, cucumber coolness of the first version. The florals are the same tender sweetness as before, but take a little longer to emerge this time. First, it's juniper and a hint of something Asian - a tea-tinged almost-spiciness that I think is related to the oud. Then it gets very watery as the cucumber comes out to play and the florals bloom: orchid and buttercup, and I may have caught the ylang-ylang, but this has already faded to almost nothing, so I can't remember. Blue Moon definitely requires slathering. Overall, they're close cousins for sure. And comparing something fresh out of the bottle with another blend that has been aging for almost three years is probably an exercise in futility. The new Blue Moon is gorgeous and ethereal -- just as it ought to be -- so now it's just a matter of deciding whether I need one more bottle or two before it goes away for a couple years

I lovelovelove lavender, but some people hate it. I would think a good, relaxing room scent might be a light sandalwood of some kind. If you've ever sniffed TAL's Meditation, I think that's the perfect room scent: grounding and serene, but not too heavy. I haven't tried Tushnamatay yet, but I recall hearing that it's similar to that. I could be wrong, though. A couple more that come to mind like that are Namaste and Black Lotus. Good luck!

If she likes her patch on the heavy side, she may particularly take to Urd and Depraved. And I would definitely give her Mme. Moriarity. That's such an amazing patchouli that I'd hate to see anyone miss out, and if she falls in love with it, she'll have at least 6 months or so to stock up. Anne Bonny is loved by many so I'm sure you'll get recs for that...I never care for it, though. My favorite almost-straight-up patchouli is The Coiled Serpent.

I'm just going to have to face the fact that I can't wear carnations. They go completley nutso. Sadly, for me there was phlox in this; they got their frilly purple butts kicked by all that spice before this could even dry. And the sugar turned into that burnt-maple syrup note I don't care for. My birthday moon. A tragedy, all around. But Aries more than makes up for it

This smells like a match dipped in dragon's blood. And then lit. I love it! Okay, it gets a little more subtle than that - it's actually quite gorgeous. I was pretty worried about the pepper and ginger, but they are spot-on perfect and very well-behaved. When wet, the pepper is a bit strong at first, but that's so appropriate, don't you think? I'm floored how well Beth has interpreted the essence of a fire sign like Aries. I can't wait to smell Sagittarius. In fact, I think I'll be collecting the whole series. Brava!

Electra, have you tried Ostara? I don't even know how to begin to describe it, but it's definitely sunny in a very unusual way.

There's something about Black Moon I find very calm and comforting, just not in a warm, fuzzy way.

This is probably a skin chemistry thing, but there is a huge difference to me between skin musk and white musk. White musk is clean, but it's a little sharp, and dries down to something vaguely masculine on me. Skin musk is hard to describe, but it's warmer, sweeter and softer. It does kind of smell like sugared sex once it dries down. It's very subtle and round (don't know what I mean by round, exactly - maybe that it has depth?). And there is sort of an airy, ethereal element to it at the same time. That confusing litany is all I've got But all I really know is that skin musk, I love...white musk, not so much.

After an initial burst almost-buttery caramel and a waft or two of cherry, this quickly dries to a rich cardamom and cocoa. And I don't really hate it, which is saying something. It made for nice layering when I put some Snake Oil over it later, and kept the SO from going Play-Doh on me like it usually does. As a non-foody, it might be useful to keep around. I could add just a tiny depth of foodiness to things without being at the mercy of these notes like I usually am. Hmm..... *ponders the possiblities*

Dreamland, The Brides of Dracula and Buck Moon (sorry about the all LE thing). Buck Moon would probably be the hardest to score. I haven't tried La Petite Mort yet, and I love skin musk. I will have to check that one out.

Can anyone point me to a picture of this year's Khajuraho, or tell me if the label is the same as last year's? Thanks.

I like my lavender as astringent as I can get it, and it certainly starts out that way in Kalahantarika. It starts to remind me of Baku, but it mellows pretty quickly as the other notes come out to play. I wouldn't recognize some of these notes, like the elemi and balsam of Peru (?), but I detect the light, creamy floral that must be jonquil and the sharpness that's probably due to the hyssop. I agree that this smells almost medicinal, but very much in a panacean sense. It's sharp but strangely soothing - I feel the same way about Kalahantarika as I do about Somnus. I don't know if I'll need more than a decant though, because Somnus works even better in that regard.