Inanna9

Mint is a big fat tease, I swear. This is such a lovely delicate fragrance, and the mint upon application is Hea-ven-ly. I'm not kidding. The initial hit of tea and lemon and mint with a teeny sweet touch of honey is so perfect, that were it to stay that way, I would wear nothing else. No kidding. It's beautiful. But of course the mint skedaddles within five minutes. I will try slathering more next time, but it's still all right, because what this morphs into is also very pretty. The honey and orange blossom emerge on me and thankfully the tea sticks around to balance out the thick sweetness. Someone described this as Usher's pretty little sister or something like that, and I agree. I may need to get more, especially if it requires slathering. And one day I will find the perfect mint blend. ::shakes fist at mint::

Dirthead that I am, I'm always on the hunt for the Holy Grail of soil scents (well, Graveyard Dirt LE is the actual HG of soil scents, so maybe I mean another HG of soil scents to replace it, since it may never return. But I digress...). This held a lot of promise in the bottle, as a distinctly wet soil aroma wafted and I swooned. However, upon application, the dirt was quickly lost on me (typical - it's like crack, I swear), but what remained was really, really lovely and a very close twin to my bottle of Snow Moon. This is a little heavier on the myrrh while Snow Moon has a stronger berry note, but otherwise they are so close with their cold piney-slushy goodness. The drydown however, is markedly different from Snow Moon, very earthy and sweet, and I'm really impressed with the complexity and nuance of this blend.

Ahh, that's what this reminds me of -- CK One (thanks, roesmoker ) without the alcohol smell, obviously. Honestly, I didn't expect to like this because of the white musk, which is quickly becoming a nemesis of mine. But it isn't taking over (yet) and the verbena and green tea and lime are heavenly! Seriously, refreshing sums it perfectly. The only thing I'm not really catching is the mint, but I'll slather more next time and see if that helps. I went light in case the musk turned it to aftershave. This is nicely unisex though. Fun scent!

Oh bummer. This didn't work on me at all. It has to be a body chemistry issue, because my experience of this is nothing like most of the reviews. There is some note going very wrong, or maybe a combination of them, because all I get is a generic, drugstore perfume smell, with just a touch of nearly rancid honey upon the drydown. A freaking tragedy. I'll give it another try here in a bit, just in case, but regardless, I'm glad I took a chance. I decided a while ago that I'm getting every Lunacy no matter what.

Anyone coveting Blood Moon (or Red Phoenix for that matter) would do well by Tanin'iver. It lacks Blood Moon's grain note, but other than that it's about as close as it gets.

This is a dead ringer for Blood Moon on me, minus the grain note but including the ouch!iburn! factor. Very comforting to know I have a back up when my beloved Blood Moon runs out. Hot stuff

Fruity...Snow? I love it, and this is coming from someone who didn't care for Ice Queen and Skadi (and aquatics in general) at all. It's trying to go the way of wonky hairspray on me, but the earthiness I suspect is not letting it. This is really very (on me) a lovely, pine and fruity-floral aquatic (the fruity-floral being the hothouse blooms maybe...? Dunno.) Good throw, too. Really nice for when I'm in the mood for something different from what I usually wear. I'm glad I took a chance.

dear god, this is beautiful. It all depends on individual chemistry, obviously, but anyone who is usually scared of patchouli ought to take a chance on this. This is a very well-behaved patchouli, content to do its oomphing way in the background without being dirty or sharp, and instead becomes just a soft suggestion of earth and smoke. The red musk and the vanilla bean complement each other nicely, I'm thinking maybe the vanilla even helps to tone down the red musk, since that's another note that can go way over the top. But it stays right where it should in this blend. This isn't nearly as fruity as I imagined it would be, in fact I don't get much of that at all. It has the musky sweetness of Smut minus the booze, and the spicy sweetness of Snake Charmer with a little more red musk in the mix than vanilla. It's suggestively sexy - more "mysterious and sensual" than "sex-in-a-bottle". But it's really hot. Might even make my Top Ten. Well done, Beth!

I instantly wanted a bottle of this when I saw it, since you know, "incense of Inanna" and all. But I have a serious olfactory aversion to almonds, so I played it safe with an imp. I am discovering that almonds burn off rather quickly on me, and with Uruk, what's left after they do is utterly, perfectly gorgeous. It's hard for me to break this down into components since with each sniff all I do is swoon. Let's just sum it up by saying this is a sultry, regal incense blend. Very feminine, but not even a little bit girly. It makes me think of a sacred temple priestess who knows exactly what she's doing. Or the head shop where I used to buy my incense. Depends on my mood. I'm getting a bottle.

I've been starting to cool on red musk a bit lately. Not because I don't like it, but because it's got so much oomph that I was starting to feel like one red musk blend is like the other. But Scherezade is all the best qualities of the red musk blends wrapped in one; teh sex of the musk, the smoke of incense, and the sweet warmth of spice. I'm especially glad that the spices are subtle and sultry rather than sharp and hot. I'm not a huge spice girl, so this to me is absolute perfection And I love that one of my new favorite blends ever is named for a master storyteller. How great is BPAL?

... Blackened sandalwood and misty lavender, with curling wisps of smoky tobacco, nag champa, and labdanum. I had really high expectations for this, nag champa freak that I am. But on, I can't stop associating this with Mercury, no doubt due to the lavender and spice. I'm not that crazy about it as a perfume, but I haven't ruled it out yet as a room scent.

Oh wow, this another one of those "what took me so long?" blends. Urd is a dirtier, slightly drier version of Hellion. Or maybe I should say Hellion is a smoother, sweeter version of Urd, since Urd came first. Either way, they're sultry first cousins from the same sinister, incensey, head-shoppish clan. Digging through the BPAL catalogue is a very worthwhile pursuit, and I'm so very happy I finally discovered this one.

Chaos Theory III: DCCXL (740) This is my first CT3 bottle (actually my first Chaos Theory bottle ever!). I've got two more on the way, but I'm already feeling lucky. In the bottle it smells like a soapy rose blend (this is where I imagine many would groan, but I rejoice--score one for chaos). Once on, it stays pretty true, with the addition of a huge hit of chamomile. As it dries, it develops a little depth with what I'm guessing is opium poppy, because this to me smells and feels like Sleepy Moon's rosy sister--very soporific, and I've been wearing it to bed almost every night since I got it. I'm in love. Sleepy Rose Moon

'05 version This is the blend that convinced me I love tobacco notes DDLM 05 is sexy, sweet and smokey, with a powerful throw. Probably way too strong for summer, but it won't be dropping below 80 degrees until late October for me, so wearing this is my version of wishful thinking. The sweet note is mostly just a hint of honey (and I mean a hint, or else I would probably gag) and the chocolate is more of a dark suggestion, which suits me just fine. In fact, combine it with the florals, incense and tobacco and I call this my nearly perfect blend. I'll be curious to see if there is an '06 version.

The amber in this is sweet and warm, but the initial herbal edge makes it a little too masculine for my taste until it finally dries and mellows out a bit. The final result is really lovely--sweet, golden amber with a soft, musty patchouli and a very well-behaved note of cedar. I'm kind of torn, because it's very evocative and really gorgeous, but just not something I'm sure I want to smell like. Room scent maybe, and fantastic for a guy. I should probably try this again in the winter.

Upon application, this is warm and creamy and spicy. Kind of like wearing a cinnamon roll--so not for me, I'm afraid. Pity, since I have a real soft spot for this place. The long-faded drydown is much more my thing, since it finally allows the skin musk to emerge (and whatever "skin" musk is...it's the best thing evah). But I just can't see myself making it through the Cinnabon stage to get there. I will find this one a new home where it can get the love it deserves.

This has a lot in common with Lotus Moon. I can pick up the lotus and the opium for sure, notes both highly in keeping with the Neptune vibe. There is a really, really faint either citrus or aquatic element that clearly sets it apart from Lotus Moon and gives it a lighter feel. But overall, this is much more powdery than I was expecting--I pictured this as an in-your-face aquatic, but this is very soft and pretty. Dreamy. Very Neptune, very lovely.

I'm just like filigree_shadow when it comes to this; dragon's blood is my comfort scent. I have a very old stash of it, nearly twenty years old, and it is my personal fiery wall of protection. I break it out for banishing and boosting power in rituals. Wolf's Heart has dragon's blood aplenty, and works very well with similar results, using just a quick dab on my heart chakra, and sometimes one on my solar plexus. Maybe it's a Pavlovian response, but I often feel stronger just smelling it. And it's the result that counts anyway, so count me a fan of Wolf's Heart. This also has a woody note to it, very similar to the one I detect in the chakra blends upon their drydown, so I have every confidence that this blend is put together well. I'll be curious to try the TAL version, but it will have to be really amazing to get me to give up my bottle of lovely red Wolf's Heart

I like to use The Magician on days where I have very specific goals I want to accomplish, especially if it involves creative projects. I usually anoint my palms with and rub them together vigorously. It will often cause them to tingle for several minutes afterwards. The scent is on the medicinal side it the bottle, and becomes a strong, root-beer like anise blend with a hint of lavender. It dries down to a warm, woody cedar note that lasts for hours. Very appropriate. I've been really impressed with the Tarot oils. I think they're remarkably attuned.

I'm so often wrong about civet, but I could have sworn I caught a whiff of it upon first sniff. Maybe there's just a drop in here as a fixative or something. Regardless, this baby is sweet, musky and animalistic, just as she should be. Like a down and dirty Hellion at first, which dries down to a sandalwood version of Smut. Really sexy, and not one you'd break out for Sunday brunch. Damn, but Beth has made wicked smell yummy

This is the prettiest citrus floral. And I think it's just me, but I get a strong hit of tea off of this. In fact, it smells an awful lot like how The Dormouse does on me. It's really fresh and sweet and light. I guess evil has all sorts of disguises

The stuff is teh sex to me, I can't even tell you guys. I'm sure that's some indication of having 2nd chakra issues or something (but who doesn't?) There's definitely a very feminine, powerful floral in here, and it does smell very much like how dragon's blood smells on me--but it's not over the top. The orange color of the oil is another good clue that DB probably is a component. That floral is nicely held in check by a musky, syrupy-sugar base that is just...guh. Love it. There seems to be a hint of something earthy or spicy--just a hint, and I'm thinking maybe a bit of patchouli. It's very subtle. I could wear this every single day simply as perfume, but I don't because these Chakra blends are hella powerful. I use them with intention and a good dose of caution. But I'd wear this one on a date--it would be perfect for that. If I ever start dating again (not till I've resolved my 2nd chakra issues, methinks )

This is so fun! It makes a pretty good room scent with the eucalyptus and orange, and the pine behaves itself well, despite what you might think upon first sniff out of the bottle. It does smell a bit Pine Sol-ish initially. But on, the orange note is amazing. I have a lot of trouble getting orange to stick around, but this is three hours later and I can still get a good, juicy whiff. This is in the crook of my elbow though--on my wrist it's not nearly as strong. I don't know what the deal is with that particular skin-chemistry fluke, but I do find I often amp different notes in different places. Go figure. Overall, a great pick-me-up scent.

I hate almonds. I'm almost at the point where I can't get past the sniffing stage if the almond note is strong. But that's the stage where it usually smells the worst to me anyway, so I'm glad I tried Dana O'Shee. This is a beautiful vanilla cake scent, without being to cloyingly foody. And I completely agree with everyone who compared her to Snow White. Snow White is one of my top 5, and I squeed when I realized I had the perfect GC blend for making into lotions and hair products that I could layer with it. In fact without Snow White's musk, Dana O'Shee is a perfect everyday, every occasion scent. Love!!!

I can't stop sniffing my wrists. This is quite unique and so, so pretty. It definitely smelled of bubblegum lotus in the bottle, which I happen to like just fine, but bubblegum haters need not fear, because this instantly morphs into something warm and feminine and sophisticated. The opium stands out the most for me, and combines perfectly with the sweetness of the lotus. The other components are very subtle; I catch just a suggestion of rose and amber, and maybe they help the pine behave, because it's a really lovely pine note--not a sharp, Pine-Sol one, but a soft resin instead. I have a feeling this will be like Sleepy Moon, where the more I wear it, the more it grows on me. I already like it a whole lot, but it has such depth and complexity that I feel like I'm only just beginning to fully appreciate it. Well done, Beth