Neely

Love the label with the sunset and fire! In the bottle: WHOA, knock you on your butt honey meade. Of course the bottle was sitting in my mailbox in TX summer heat. Wet: honey meade, but not knock you down. The honeysuckle is there very lightly on the top. And I get fresh lemon, or lime. Something citrusy but not orange citrus. I hope this doesn't turn into lemon Pledge. Dry down: citrusy sweet, boozy loveliness. No Pledge to be found. This is bright and fresh. Sparkling. 30 minutes: the ivy comes out to play. It smells like The Black Tower on me, but not as ozoney and without the leather. Liber Amoris is right, the ivy seems to harken to Autumn. I love this! Conclusion: This is really wonderful. Eventually it dries down to honey and ivy on me. So glad I got it. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 4.

In the bottle: ummm plastic? Wet: creamy, sweet plastic. Dry down: maybe this is an old imp? This isn't super yucky on my skin, but it isn't nice either. Now it smells like creamy plastic dolls made to smell like rootbeer. You know, like those old plastic Stawberry Shortcake dolls. 30 minutes: OK, I can't believe I left it on for so long, but all for BPAL. This is something astringent and plastic behind something soft. Conclusion: I am so disappointed with my skin. The Magician has been one of my favorite cards since I first found my mom's deck when I was a kid. The deck my dad bought her in New Orleans. Wrapped in silk, I remember The Magician was the first card I ever saw. I have been collecting Tarot ever since. Maybe one of the other oils will do, I intend to try them all anyway, just sorry that this one didn't work out for sheer sentimental reasons. Onward and upward! Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 2.

I got this from my lovely imp pimp Mandragora! In the bottle: Hawaiian Punch, you know the kind I am talking about. Wet: creamy tropical fruit smoothie. Dry down: creamy tropical fruit smoothie. Alas, the mosses didn't ground this enough on my skin. If I pull of fruit or floral scents, it is only because something else keeps them grounded. Unfortunately I am just a big fruit smoothie. 30 minutes: same. Conclusion: tropical fruit smoothie. Which would be a nice summer scent, but I don't like smelling like a drink, cotton candy or cake, sure, drink no. This does not daunt me from trying the other Ofrendas though. Yemaya is lovely. Maybe as a room scent? Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 2.5.

In the bottle: sweet and fruity. Wet: fruity and floral. Uh oh, the floral has that "funk" smell behind it that I associate with paperwhites, or some other white florals. The fruity smell reminds me of apples. This is not what I expected Skuld to smell like. This is very sweet for one of the three Norse Fates. I was expecting something more like Talvikuu, colder and darker. Dry down: Still light and sweet, not really saying "honey" to me. I am looking for a honey scent. But this isn't it so far. 30 minutes: sweet, fresh, and appley. Conclusion: this is very nice, but not rockn' my world. It isn't honey, which I hoped to smell like. The funk of the white flower went away. Overall this is lovely, but not me. I may or may not keep the imp. I want to try this again a few more times before I decide. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 2.5-3.

In the bottle: slightly aquatic. I almost smelled nothing in the bottle, so light is this scent. Wet: salty, watery, creamy. I don't read the notes before the review, so I am dying of curiosity about what is in this one. Especially since on my skin, this is almost so faint as to be not there. I really have to put my nose right to my wrist to smell it. Dry down: creamy and aquatic vanilla. still soft, and close to the skin. 30 minutes: I thought that this would just disappear, but it doesn't. Instead this gets stronger, and surprisingly so. Vanilla amps up with just a hint of spice. It is still a "skin" scent in that it won't make people stop and ask you what you are wearing. But I don't have to put my nose right on my wrist to smell it anymore. Conclusion: This is lovely but I don't think this will be a big bottle purchase. I like it, but don't love it. Too faint for me, I like my perfumes to have a little more ummph. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 3.5.

In the bottle: Athenian bubblegum??? Wet: sweet honey and myrrh. Well, this is going well so far. I like it. Dry down: honey and something dusty? Uh oh, the myrrh turned into dust. It is fading as it dries. 30 minutes: even after reapplying it turned into stale, dusty, honey. WHAHHHH! Conclusion: I love honey, and I am looking for a honey scent. I had hopes for this. I am so disappointed. Stupid skin chemistry. If this had been honey and myrrh, not myrrh dust, I would have been very happy. The search for honey continues. If you have any scents I should try for honey just PM me. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 2.5.

In the bottle: Sweet, fruity, lovely in the imp. Will it work on me though? Wet: sweet fruity jasmine. We could have a problem Houston. Florals and I don't like each other. Dry down: I did worry about the Jasmine, as like her friend rose, they like to beat me up and mug me. But this has a darker base of notes that makes this grounded. this is really nice. 30 minutes: dark and yummy, with a floral floating on the top. Conclusion: I really like this on me, surprised that I would. I am going to wear it a few more times before I decide if a big bottle is in order. Keeping the imp definitely. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is at least a 4.

In the bottle: sweet, fruity, green, almost bubblegummy. Hmmm, I am not so sure this is going to work... Wet: still sweet, slightly fruity, and just this side of bubblegum. Like gum that has been chewed awhile, ewww that sounds gross. What I mean by that is gum that is still sweet, but not SWEET, like it is when you first chomp down on it. It is pleasant on me, surprisingly so, with my and florals hatred of each other. Dry down: sweet, soft florals with green. Like green grass blanketed with small flowers that you would miss if you didn't look for them. And a breeze that wafts some distant flowering bush your way. It also smells of dew, like those little flowers in the grass are covered in dew and a jar of honey, or a beehive is nearby. Lovely, absolutely lovely. 30 minutes: same as the dry down. Conclusion: I love this and I didn't think I would. Nor did I think it would love me. Florals and I tend not to get a long at all. But this, this is different. This is honeyed, green floral. My only problem, my skin eats it up in a few hours. Luckily, I am not adverse to slathering and reapplying. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 4.5 (due to skin eating it).

05 Version Ok, again, please forgive me if this isn't to my usual standard of review. I can't find my notes as I just moved. And thanks to my imp pimp Mandragora, she sent this to me. Who loves me baby? In the bottle: sex in a bottle. This is musky, smokey, and darkly floral. Wet: musky sexy goodness, and roses drying in rafters that have cresote from the candles and incense on them. Smokey roses. OMG! I never thought I would love this scent. I thought the neroli, or the rose would plot with my skin to make this smell awful. Instead I want to shag myself, or get rogered in the worst way. *checks description to see if warning labels are on Gypsy Queen* I keep thinking of those Tag body spray comercials, but for this scent. Is it safe to go outside wearing this? Dry down: OMFG! It just smells the same, but stronger, darker, richer, better. I need this perfume! I don't just want it, I NEED it! This is sexy, this makes me feel alluring and beautiful and hawt (aint illusion grand? ). This is totally femme, femme fatale! Conclusion: I didn't even bother to put a 30 minutes in here, as it is the same wonderful femme, killer, scent. I am going to cry, cuz an imp is all I have. Why does my holy grail number one out of top ten have to be an LE? Rating 1-5 on my skin, this is a 5+.

Ok bear with me, this is from memory as I just moved to my first house and I can't find a damn thing, including my reviews! In the bottle: carmelly, funnel cakey goodness. Wet: carmel apples, funnel cake, and some salt water taffy. Dry down: The carmel apples are eaten, only their cores remain. The funnel cake is a memory, all that is left is the sticky resdue of powdered sugar. I still have some saltwater taffy in a plain white paper bag, and what do I see? I see the fairy floss/cotton candy stand! I know I am already full, but what the heck! I have to have some, but what color? I chose pink. 30 minutes: totally fairy floss and salt water taffy! This is amazing. I think I need to find a bigger bottle. I don't know what it is, but this is fantastic. It isn't a perfume smell I would normally want. But Beth's genius at making a perfume smell like cotton candy, and it brings up comfy childhood memories of carnivals that I went to in Europe as a child. Love this. Conclusion: I am going to have to see if I can find a bigger bottle of this. This is that cozy, blankie, comfort kind of smell that I can use when I feel the world hates me. Bravo Beth and the labbies! Rating 1-5 on my skin, this is a 5.

Anyone know an equivilant catalogue sniffie for Gypsy Queen '05? I love '05. I am praying that '06 smells the same, but it may not. So anything smell like GQ?

In the bottle: very musky, earthy, vetiver. Oh I hope this doesn't go pencil shavings on me. Wet: uh oh, pencil shavings! Dry down: vetiver, musky, musty. Wait, what is that? A creaminess has creeped in shyly when vetiver wasn't looking. Ahh, heliotrope, my lovely, welcome! Now I smell like pencil shavings with coconut cream. It certainly softens up the musty, pencil shavings. 30 minutes: pencil shavings and coconut cream. This is very soft now. Conclusion: this is very interesting, but I need to try it again before I decide to swap or get more. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 2.5-3.

In the bottle: sweet vanilla and woods. Yummy! Wet: vetiver? Sweet vanilla and smoke. This is divine! Dry down: sweet, smokey patchouli. I am surprised at how sweet it is, but sin can be sweet can't it? 30 minutes: this dries down to very smokey vanilla goodness. Conclusion: I love the dry down, smokey sultry vanilla. But I am going to have to use the imp more to decide if I want a big bottle. I do like this. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 4, maybe 4.5.

In the bottle: florals, Jasmine to more accurate. At least it smells like Jasmine to me. this does not bode well. Wet: Jasmine, with the funk Jasmine has. Dry: Jasmine. I get no earth, no moss, no herbs. Just Jasmine. Stoopid skin! 30 minutes: stinky Jasmine. I left it on in the name of scent review, but I would have washed it off a long time ago otherwise. Conclusion: as with anything having jasmine, and/or most other florals, it isn't for me. My skin just amps the floral and doesn't let go. I smell like I have been mugged by hundreds of flower pots. It would be one thing if I amped florals in a nice way, but I don't. I am disappointed, Hecate smelled awful on me, so I hoped Crossroads (her venue) would at least work. It would have been useful for ritual purposes. Alas, no. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 1.

LOL, I am the one who bought this from LittleGreyKitten, and it did get a good home! I love this! Thanks LittleGrey! This is '05 version FYI. In the bottle: fresh, creamy, clean goodness. Reminds me of Dirty, but I like this better. Wet: a touch, faint, breah of lemon? Or maybe it is grapefruit. Whatever it is, it hasn't taken over as citrus and my chemistry seem to like to do. This is fresh clean and aquatic. I am in love already. Dry down: clean, creamy, aquatic. I really can see the house of mirrors in a creepy carnival from the 30's. LOL, I know Beth releases this in the Summer, but I keep seeing this as the House of Mirrors for Dark's carnival in Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes." I can see gas lights reflected off the mirrors in their wooden frames at night. 30 minutes: this is a bright sparkling lovely scent. This is so fresh and clean, I am going to wear this all Summer long to stay cool in the already oppressive Texas heat. I want another bottle. I know I have to try all the aquatics Beth offers, they do so well with my skin. Any suggestions? Conclusion: love, LOVE, LOVE!!!!! Not only is it clean, fresh, and creamy, but it has great throw and lasts and lasts. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 5.

In the bottle: metallic tinged, bloody chocolate. This is the most true to blood smell that I have ever experienced with the "bloody" BPAL scents. Wet: bloody cocoa. This is alot like The Cracked Bell but with chocolate. Dry down: cocoa tempers down a bit and I get incense like in CB. Nag Champa to be precise. Mama likey! 30 minutes: the cocoa has come back but blends beautifully with the incense. Wow, this smells like The Cracked Bell and Velvet had an illicit love child together. This is like CB but darker, and bloodier. Like the snow melts from the broken and burnt down cathedral in the woods, revealing more blood, and dark throbbing forboding. I am in love. Conclusion: wish I had a second bottle. I love this. This is my beloved CB but dark and tormented. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 5.

In the bottle: yummy Earl Grey tea! Wet: yummy Early Grey tea with blackberry? I am really liking this. Dry down: soft Early Grey tea, clean sweet, lovely. He is like Dorian's older more uptight and straight laced brother. Ohh mama likey! 30 minutes: creamy, yummy tea. The citrus is gone. Just creamy tea. Yummy!!!! Conclusion: Oh I do love this. This is like my beloved White Rabbit minu the pepper and ginger. Luckily I have White Rabbit to get when this runs out. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 5.

In the bottle: freshly turned earth with flowers resting on top just like a newly dug grave. Wet: freshly turned earth with graveside flowers. Dry down: the freshly turned earth becomes dominant and the flowers really fade to a supporting role. 30 minutes: fresh dirt and flowers seem to meld and become one with each other as if the flowers are sinking into the grave. Conclusion: I find this strangely soothing rather than horrifying, like being buried alive would be. In fact I put this on to calm my nerves before bed and slept wonderfully. It is interesting to me that at a Meet N' Sniff, all the Maelstroms smelled slightly different than the ones I got from the lab. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this or not. When I tried it then I didn't get any florals at all. Luckily, the florals from my own bottle didn't behave the way they tend to, which is bad. So, I do love this one. I will not hoard it though. One bottle is just fine. When I run out I will look to the catalogue scents to get a "dirt" smell. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 4.

bottle:In the musky wine and berries, but not sweet. Wet: berries, wine, and musk. Dry down: berry wine with musk and something very mineral like the stone of the catacombs. Oh yeah, this is what I am talkin' about! 30 minutes: berry wine. I think this needs to age a bit more, and I will try it again. I tried it at a Meet N' Sniff, and it smelled different on me then. More stone, less berry. I suspect it is all in the aging, just like a good sherry. Conclusion: I like it a lot, but I don't need to hoard anymore bottles. The label rocks, especially since it goes with Montressor's label. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 3.5-4.

In the bottle: dark musty incense, very nice! Wet: dark musty incense. Please, oh please don't morph! Dry down: deep dark incense, heavy and woody. It didn't change on my skin, but stayed true to its beautiful dark self. I am in love. 30 minutes: still dark, deep woody, musty incense. Ahh, incense, how I love thee, let me count the ways. When this is gone I will have to try Cathedral and Penitence. Conclusion: Deep woody, musty incense. Truly incense of the Inquisition! But NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION! Sorry, a little Monty Python humor, couldn't help it. I do love this. Nice job lab! Rating 1-5 on my skin, this is a 5.

In the bottle: berry, berry, berry with something dark under it. Wet: berry with something dark under it. This is very sweet on me. Dry down: sweet musky berries. 30 minutes: sweet musky berry, it really doesn't morph at all. Conclusion: No vanilla, no oak. I am so disappointed. I tried this at a Meet N' Sniff and it smelled fabulous on me. The berries calmed down and vanilla and oak made it smell so good. So, I bought a bottle. But I have tried it twice now, and it smells sickly sweet and musty. I traded this with Spanish Violet for Usher, which does smell good on me. Feel the love SV! Rating 1-5 on my skin, this is a 3.

In the bottle: cassia, which registers as cinnamon to me as well. Also a grainy smell, like Blood Moon. This is very similar to my nose. But this is more floral than Blood Moon. Wet: cassia, and a subtle floral? This is like Blood Moon's sweeter younger sister. I am in love, so far. Dry down: spicey,grainy, with something sharp underneath. I am loving this. 30 minutes: cassia (that smells like cinnamon), grainy goodness with a citrus undertone. Two people who smelled it and said I smelled like a candle, in a good way. One person said incense. Since both are good smell conotations, I will have to say, I love the Red Phoenix. Pink was too girly sweet for me, but Red kicks butt! Conclusion: great staying power and throw, this is so lovely. Yet another LE that I love, *sigh*. Maybe there is a catalogue scent that is similar? I gotta quit buying LE's and falling in love. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 4.5 (just cuz of the candle thing).

In the bottle: citrus, wax, and something woody. Smells like furniture polish on old antique furniture. Nice as it makes the name have visuals for me. Wet: amber turning slightly powdery on me, with citrus. Dry down: amber still trying to go all baby powder on me, which it sometimes trys to do, and a candy note has crept in. 30 minutes: this turns into a bright citrus amber that sparkles. The powder is gone. I love it in this phase. But I don't like what I had to go through to get here. Conculsion: it turned creamy and woody, which is really pleasant, but this is not for me. I will send my imp to my pal Mandragora, as a gift. She loves this one. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 3.5.

In the bottle: very clean sweet grassy smell. Wet: very clean sweet, sweet, SWEET (can you say SWEEEEET? I knew that you could) grass. I am surprised by how sweet it is, and I shouldn't really with honeysuckle in it. Dry down: sweet grass, but the sweet is toning down a bit, which is good. I haven't gotten scorched grass. But warm grass. A field of golden, sun warmed, Autumn grass. This becomes almost "cologney" on me. But stays just this side of a perfume counter. 30 minutes: I love this! On my skin it becomes "masculine" and not floral, which is good. There are very rare exceptions to me wearing a floral. This "masculine" scent is right up my nasal alley, so to speak. Or would that be passage? This is wonderful. Conclusion: again this is a scent, along with Jack, where I can have Autumn any time of the year. I can see myself using this when Texas summers seem to drag on forever, and what little Autumn we get will never come. I will use this to remind myself, that yes Virginia, there really is a Fall. Rating 1-5, on my skin this is a 5.

In the bottle: rich creamy buttery goodness. Wet: butter and pumpkin spice. Yum! Dry down: butter starts to fade and the peach comes out to play. I get peach and spice going at it while pumpkin watches in voyeuristic fashion. 30 minutes: peach and pumpkin with spice. The butter really has left the building folks. I really like this. Talk about having a perfume that I can have Hallowe'en all year round! Conclusion: in the end this faded down to peach. But it took hours to do so. Great lasting power and throw. Very comforting.I love this, I think I will have to get a big bottle. Rating 1-5 on my skin, this is a 4.5.