gloame

I may be the only BPALer who doesn't love HJtC. To me, it smells straight up Fruit Loops. It's not awful, but I really don't love it. Fruity floral. Reminds me of fruit loops. Very grape. Where I'd wear it: A beer garden, late spring

A sad sea, crisp and limey. Frigid, somber waters around a desolate place. This is very lonely. The gardenia is lovely. A very rare aquatic win for me! I would consider a bottle! Where I'd wear this: The beach, Cornwall, dead of winter

Sweet pea from Bath and Body Works. Fruity floral, bright, and happy. Pretty, but doesn't stand out to me. Where I'd wear it: The school dance.

Bright, sweet violets and something green-dry-leafy behind it. A raven sitting in a yew tree, hidden by the bushy limbs, watching everything without being seen. Interesting but I don't love it. Where I'd wear this: A walk through a night garden, Austria

I wouldn't have thought I would like this if I'd been buying from the Lab's website, but I got to sniff it at a Lunacy event and omg. Bought it immediately. Lemon often goes Pledge on me, so I tend to avoid it, and I have loads of pine already (which tends to amp). I expected this to smell like cold Pledge on a pine table. It doesn't. The lemon is a sugared lemon, maybe from the apple. Apple's another hit-or-miss for me, but it's a hit here -- probably because I can barely smell it. And over all that is the snow note. Beautiful. When I bought this, I thought I might be able to give up my Snow White bottle because I thought I'd have enough snow notes. But I need both. Where I'd wear this: New Years Eve, Seattle

First sniff: Aquatic ahoy. Straight up Grandma's bathroom full of Irish Spring. Because I'm super into beaches and the Caribbean, I'm theoretically drawn to aquatics; in practice, I've only found a few I love. This, unfortunately, isn't one of them. And as an aside, what on earth is it that makes aquatics and Irish Spring have 'that smell'? Where I'd wear this: Showering off after a long day, and scrubbing the sand super hard.

Light, woody, and fresh. Totally unexpected for something that smells like an ossuary. I think this is only the second Dragon I've tried (the other being Dragon's Blood) but I really dig it. It kinda reminds me of the Renaissance Festival. The orris is nice and pale, kinda creamy almost. The woods are dry and light, and not at all overwhelming. Where I'd wear this: Browsing stalls at Renn Faire

This was my only DISO. Found and purchased a blue bottle from forums 8/2017. Not as luscious and jasmine-y as the bottle I had before it was discontinued. Has gone kind of flat and dusty with hardly any jasmine, so this was definitely not a blend that aged better. When fresh (or at least younger than this) Peitho smells like the perfect Easter church flowers and made everything feel like spring. It smells more like a funeral now—but if that's what you're looking for, it's perfect! I may end up tossing this one. Whomp whomp.

The scent of wisteria, Cymbidium, lotus blossom, and cassia buds drifting on a breeze through gently swaying bamboo reeds. I bought the 2012 version from the Lab and it was one of my all time favorite Weenies. Then I saw they had the 2008 version on the Etsy shop and I couldn't resist. This is a review of 2008, since my 2012 was all gone, but they feel very similar to me, so the batches were stable. Almost tangy-green at first—smells wet, like a heavy rain on top of a pile of leaves. A little cinnamon-spiciness to warm it all up and make you feel cozy after walking through the damp leaves. It's not too sharp, not sweet at all but has an undercurrent of something almost-sweet. This always reminds me of autumn in Washington, DC/Takoma Park, MD. Where I'd wear this: Walking to the Metro in September, Takoma Park, MD

Bright, wet dirt. A little bit of fresh grapefruit peeking through. It's overwhelmingly fecund; the heavy, nutrient-dense soil of the rain forest. Where I'd wear this: Searching for Nargles, Amazon

Green lemons and tea. It does remind me of another BPAL scent, but I can't think of what it is. Where I'd wear this: Taking tea in the solar, windows open

Musk, where? This smells like a light fruit-floral to me. Something melon + violets maybe. Pretty, but not enough to buy a bottle. Where I'd wear this: A spring picnic somewhere grassy and humid

Very reminiscent of Golden Priapus and Theoi Nomioi -- very nice "wow, forest" blend. The eucalyptus is super California and the ginger is less a note and more a foundation for the others. It adds to the scent, but doesn't stand out. Where I'd wear this: Camping, full moon

Wow, what? This smells like chocolate and spice to me. Nathan says it smells like holidays. Really really lovely. After a second application, I get that bready note like in Mari Lwyd—a bit of fermentation. Ugh, I fucking love this. Where I'd wear this: New Year's Day, baking for luck

Love love love love LOVE love. Woody chocolate, a hint of crispness, a hint of mossiness. It's reminiscent of more recent 13 blends. Nothing at all like a crocodile, and everything like perfection. Can't stop sniffing and I need a bottle! Where I'd wear this: Dry summers, grabbing an ice cream

I hate to say this, but sometimes patchouli+fruit blends go kind of... diarrhea on me. This is one of those times. Hard pass.

Thorny vines and a bit of fruit. No jasmine to my nose (and I go looking for jasmine). It's creamy but prickly, sweet but sharp. Orange with a creamy bite. Pretty! Where I'd wear this: A mimosa-only brunch

Sweet, warm, almond sand. It smells like early morning in an ancient Middle Eastern market. Everything's sleepy, but it's already warm and delicious foods are already baking in ovens. Kind of nondescript but very lovely. I like it. Where I'd wear it: Browsing stalls in Hebron, early morning

YUMMMM. I knew I was going to love this and I was not disappointed. I get gooey strawberry preserves, extra sugar, a little lemon, and the warmest, most delicious cream on top. (I wish I'd gotten 2 bottles. I almost did. What what I thinking??) I don't get cream cheese, oddly; just cream. No cheesecake for me. It's RED, warm, dripping with sugary goo, and I swear I'd lick my arm if I could. I am SO HUNGRY after smelling this, so it's probably not a good idea to wear it grocery shopping. Where I'd wear this: Buying every dessert at a real French patisserie

Wore this to my H and I's first date. <3 Deep, sighing tobacco. Warm, thick, sleepy eyes and lazy smiles. It's so full of presence, I could smell this all day and feel like I've eaten. Background hints of nag champa; feels very white and creamy. My fave. Where I'd wear this: Dates, always

Tropical fruit, like something you'd get at a Boba Tea shop. Loads of melon; lychee, mandarin, and peach. Candy-like and very pink. I was born in the Year of the Ox, so I was really happy to get my hands on this. It's not my typical type of scent (I wish it had a bit more dragon's blood), but it does cheer me up! Where I'd wear it: New Years in South America

Odd - reminds me of an unusual candy I ate as a child. Cherry and lavender together, maybe? Ahh, yeah. this dries down into a very unusual cherry blend. Interesting! Where I'd wear this: Tea parties with nieces

Definitely sharp, at least wet. It feels very cool, but not minty. I would say this is an arctic fox. Wow, the 'bite' really sneaks up on you! As it dries down, it totally morphs -I still wouldn't immediately think 'white tea' or 'ginger' when I smelled this but I can almost see it; like they come together to create this more, lemon-like astringence. I keep sniffing this one; I'm confused, but I think it's good! Where I'd wear it: For Miracle Mornings

Used to think this was lemon apple, but I just got another imp and it is... not at all. It's all rose now! Where I'd wear this: Performing The Great Gatsby

BNNU bottle from the forums. Wow, way greener than I anticipated. The oakmoss is very forward. Green tea and mint are next. I expected this to be a very strawberry-heavy blend, but it's really not. Light and fresh and definitely "green". Where I'd wear it: Getting the seeds ready for sprouting