alicia_stardust

This is very refreshing and meditative to me, even though I do not like lemongrass. It comes across as mostly lemongrass, cedar, and patchouli on my skin and it stays that way for the duration. There's a touch of dewy floral in there, too.

This is mostly lush and voluptuous rose on me, but I get the coffee bean and vanilla. It's a completely unexpected combination but if you like roses this is worth trying out. It's very commanding and feminine.

Inez is beautiful! She's very amber-centric with oodles of carnation. As the oil dries it starts out as a blast of amber and carnation and then, for about five minutes, it takes on this almost spicy quality. I think it's probably the carnation. After that, there's a sort of musky quality that enhances the amber and carnation. It isn't until a while later that I things settle out enough to pick up the cedar and red sandalwood, and later, the myrrh. They add a nice oomph and depth to this blend. Definitely a keeper!

Ashlultum starts out with a watery-floral essence to it, and I can definitely pick up the hyssop and lilac. Behind those stage-stealers is the most intriguing mix of musky tea and tonka and BEAUTIFUL coconut. I really love that hint of coconut in there. I wish my skin picked up a little less of the lilac and hyssop but, really, this is a lovely and fitting blend and the Babylonian musk is so beautiful when it mingles with the coconut and tobacco, tonka and tea.

This is definitely rose, but it's not high-pitched or in my face. I think it's because there's a sort of mossy undertone and a hint of the sage that peeks through. Of course, the lily adds its mark and there is a bare hint of skin musk. The tonka, which tends to smell like a deeper and richer vanilla to me, adds a creaminess that combines *so well* with the coconut. I think the rose is most prominent but the tonka-coconut just barely sits behind that while the other notes add some subtle background noise. Sophisticated, feminine.

Marcilla is hard to pin down, but I think I'd say that it has a sort of watery summer vibe to it with a touch of both floral and fruit. It's warm and bright from the bergamot, nectarine, white ginger, and musk. The tea sort of adds a mellow note and it seems to go well with the watery lilac and the lily. So there's an aspect of warmth and sun, and an aspect of cool and diffuse floral-tea. Overall I find this to be sweet and light, feminine, soft. The nectarine and bergamot keep this bright, yet not too bright. It's almost a calming sort of blend. Moderate throw, average wearlength.

This is so freaking cool. I mean, it starts out smelling EXACTLY like those hard, pink Bazooka and Dubble Bubble gums that you could get for 5 cents as a child. They were rock hard and they all had that same distinct bubble gum flavor in an ungodly shade of pink. After a few minutes the bubble gum scent is taken over by a smooth leather. Beyond that, it's the metal that I believe makes the leather shift into smelling like a man's cologne in a good way! And I'd say the leather is more of the hot and dark variety that tends to amp into a slight pitch. I love the way the bubble gum and leather/metal play off of each other. It is the most bizarre combination and you know what? It works!

Clemence is amazing! It starts out as an initial WHAM of patchouli, cardamom, and clove, but the really interesting part is the way the tea really mellows them. They don't come across as too swarthy or too dry. But then! Oh, then the carnation really comes through and it's sort of a sweetly spicy and hypnotic carnation that's almost creamy. That completely counterbalances the spices and patchouli and there's this lovely little dance between each side. For quite a while, this reminds me of LUSH's Potion lotion with the patchouli having replaced the rose. This is definitely a keeper.

The Blood Garden is all blood and sweet-sticky grape at first. There's an almost plant-like undertone to it; probably the ivy and blackberry leaf. There is a subtly sweet nuance in there that makes me think of the ginger lily, but it is barely noticeable. What really and truly dominates this blend from start to finish, even with all the other nuances in it, is the slight bite of the blood accord and the bitter clove with just a hint of leather. It's really lovely... deep, red, dark, indulgent.

Dionysia is THE ultimate blend for plum lovers, or for anyone that likes deep purple-red blends. There's a strong vein of juicy plum and pomegranate and red raspberry that is sweet and dark and red. It is only offset by the weight and depth of the patchouli, resins, and wood. I especially love the way the patchouli peeks into all those fruits. This definitely has an indulgent, sultry, wine-like feeling to it... a perfect blend for a Dionysian lady.

Marguerite is rose, but there's an undertone that's sort of green and dewy and somewhat herbaceous. I know that the rose geranium is noticeable especially at first, but then the gardenia and waxy, dusky tuberose shift the blend over to more of a regal, smooth floral. I do get a touch of the myrrh and sandalwood especially after the florals have settled out. Those lend a nice bit of depth to this lovely floral. It's definitely for rose lovers, but it's a very different sort of rose blend, and one worth checking out because of that. I can't think of anything to compare this to!

This is deep, dark, swarthy, and a touch menacing. There is a definitely vetiver-like tone, dark and intense, with a bit of incense and a dark pool of bloody, juicy wine. This is an excellent dark, menacing blend and it is very, very intense. I bet it ages really well.

I smell peach, neroli, and a hint of patchouli in the bottle. As the oil dries, those three notes remain at the forefront, but then the cocoa absolute really starts to make itself known. This has a sort of gently earthy, sweet, sensual vibe to it. The amber warms it, the honey sweetens, and the peach and patchouli really take off the longer I wear this. I saw a lot of reviews saying that this was a really light blend on them, but on me it had a strong throw and a long wear-length. Especially that peach! I think I could smell that with a patchouli undertone about 6+ hours after application.

This is a beautiful and foody honey-caramel blend, but it's not heavy or cloying. The skin musk adds a sensual aspect, especially when the apple blossom also shows itself. I get a touch of the teak and cream accord but they remain in the background and seem to enhance the honey and caramel. I know the amber is in there but it doesn't really stand out to me as long as the caramel and other notes are taking center stage. One thing that really strikes me about this blend is how well it reflects the artwork for it! This wears long and strong and a little goes a long way.

This smells a bit on the masculine side to me, and it's a very nice one at that! It has a definitely black musk bite with a gentle hint of the gin, rum, and lime just beyond that. After some of the booziness settles out and disappears I can detect a hint of the warm tobacco and orange blossom. It's a little on the masculine side for me, but it's one that I'd LOVE smelling on a guy.

HAAAAAAAYYYY! Oh, wait. This has a dry, summery, grassy feel to it. It sort of glows and has a touch of honey sweetness and cardamom kick when wet. As it dries, it takes on a more direct hay vibe and becomes much drier and stronger. For a short while, it makes my eyes water which is a very rare BPAL occurrence. After it settles down, though, it goes back to having a more mellow grassy, hay-like tone. I do get a touch of the mallow and wheat, but I can't tell for sure if I'm picking up on the cardamom or honey once the oil has dried. Super strong throw, unisex, and a great summer lunacy. Kinda makes me want to roll around in the... hay.

This is a sweet, golden, mildy fruity honey mead. I thought I was going to be able to pick out the notes more individually than this, but this really comes across as a beautifully blended gestalt. I can't get over how divine the honey is! It's not too sweet, there aren't florals that take over, and it's not too musky of a honey. This is one of my favorite Lunacy blends of 2008 and I can't get enough of it! It wears long and semi-close to the skin. Also, fans of "O" might want to check this one out.

This version of 13 is lovely. I don't get any apple blossom and especially not apple. What I do get is something that's a very sweet and waxy white chocolate that's melded with loads of dark chocolate. Beyond that I get a warm, dry incense spice. The allspice and nutmeg really show themselves after a short while, and the tonka seems barely there but I think it adds a rich, warm nuance. I'm not really sure if I can even detect the honeysuckle because every time my nose searches for it I find the dry spice of the resin/sandalwood/spice combination. Long wear, strong throw, lovely blend that's just a bit foody but is kept in check by some of the other notes.

I have no basis for why I think this, but I say both of those the same way. =)

I thought I would like this, but not love. I was so wrong. I adore this one. It's a lot more subtle than I expected yet it's deep and languid and sexy. It sits close to my skin but seems to have a strong presence nevertheless. I get mostly a light absinthe scent which tends to remind me of bright green liquid, a touch of anise, a touch of wormwood, and a touch of lemon. The light absinthe scent is sweetened by the sugar cubes to take away any herbal bitterness, yet it's not too sweet because the opium smoke whisks in and adds an element of dryness and sophistication. I can only barely detect the lilac and rose water, but I can tell they do add in some subtle floral nuances. As time passes, this settles into a semi-smoky, semi-herbal absinthe blend. It's really quite remarkable and while it doesn't smell like La Fee Verte or Absinthe it is a must-try if you like either of those.

This is gorrrrrgeous! The notes in this are clear and almost crisp, yet still remain ever so commanding and sexy. In the bottle I smell red musk, vanilla, and mimosa. As the oil dries the red musk and mimosa are the strongest, but there's a nice layer of iris over them and a touch of the vanilla underneath everything, subtle and nuanced. After some time has passed the red musk mellows out a bit and I get more of a floral quality... but not too floral. Truthfully, I can only lightly smell the rose in there. Between the other two florals and the musks and mimosa, it just seems to have a lot to compete with. The only note in here that I am barely, if at all, able to detect is the clove. Overall this is extremely commanding and sexy. There's a strength here but it's also very feminine without being anywhere near a typical floral blend. And, of course, musk is love. This is probably one of my most favorite Act IV blends so far...

This is predominantly pine-pitch and resins, dark and inky. The pine pitch is heavier, darker, and more sticky-resin than I'm used to so it really does not come across as a Yule blend. This blend is really well balance. The pine and resins are offset by the warmth of the vanilla, the natural sweetness of the honey, and the lovely glowing skin musk. It's not until after an hour or two that I can detect the patchouli and a distant hint of smooth, golden warm tobacco. This is really unique and one that shouldn't be missed.

In the bottle this smells so much like the long-gone LUSH Skinny Dip shower gel. Oh, beloved. The white sandalwood is gentle and light, yet dry. It sort of blankets a smooth layer of itself over the top of the amber and orris. There is a touch of a dry powder quality but it's not sweet or baby-powder-like. It's more of a sophisticated perfume powder that's airy, dry, and sexy. The patchouli keeps this blend anchored well and it really melds well with the sandalwood, amber, and orris. Beyond that, the bourbon vanilla and champaca seem to add a rich warmth that is truly to die for. I really love this one! It's so sophisticated and sexy and seems to stay true for a long while.

Parthenope is mostly moss and oakmoss on me. There's a touch of powder to it at first. Instead of this going too salty and aquatic and high-pitched, the musk sort of deepens everything into a salty, earthy blend that's green and damp. The honeysuckle and jasmine definitely sweeten things up but the mosses and musk really seem to keep center stage through the duration. The orris and benzoin add a nice touch of duskiness and warmth which keep this anchored as a mysteriously murky and sexy blend with an edge of darkness.

This definitely starts out with acai berry at the top of everything; it's dark and juicy and has just a tiny hint of astringent bite. The moroccan jasmine sits just under that and it seems to hold just the right amount of sweetness and headiness as it mingles with the chrysanthemum and tea leaf. Something about the other notes in this, whether it's the acai or the tea leaf or white musk, really seems to alter the jasmine's behavior in a very good way. This is the part where I say that if jasmine is an iffy note for you, try this one anyway! Overall this has a sort of mysterious and layered Asian tea/floral vibe to it. The acai and tea leaf go so well with the florals. This doesn't really come across as too fruity or too floral and I think the tea and white musk really pull their weight in preventing that. Gorgeous and sexy and it sticks around for a long time with very little morphing!