Poenari

I ordered a bottle to go with my Oct 32 and 33, because *of course!* My bottle has rested in the dark for a full two weeks, so it's time for a full wear test. Ok, why do I smell apple? That's the initial take... cinnamon apples, the kind I order as a side at Cracker Barrel. Rather than pumpkin, I get apple from this. Even after drydown, this wears on me like warmed soft cinnamon apples. More cinnamon than in cinnamon applesauce, and sweeter too! I'm not mad about it, just surprised. It dries down to a soft cinnamon apple scent. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. I will wear this all autumn and winter!

I have let my bottle rest in the dark for nearly two weeks, and applied liberally to each wrist this morning. At first I get a blast of sugar plum! Very recognizable as the same note as my Sugar Plum Snake Oil, which I have been wearing a lot this holiday season. This dries down quickly and the lavender shoves it out of the way! It's the TKO kind of lavender, and there is that sweetness to it from the marshmallow. Ok, after 20 minutes this has calmed down drastically and ends up as a sweet lavender plum! I don't know how it works, but damn it works beautifully on my skin. I feel like it will be too sweet for me to wear as a sleep scent, but I'm going to try it out. Sometimes extra sweetness keeps me awake instead of putting me to sleep. However, this would make a great sleep scent for a child! I'm going to try it out on my grandson this afternoon and see what he thinks. He's 7, and has recently been having nightmares caused by playing a Roblox game that scared him. My daughter and I have been talking to him about how to chase away nightmares and I have sprayed some TKO room spray on his pillow. This would be an excellent complementary scent!

Finally testing my decant, which has been aging since June. This is as described... Mainly a bouquet of sweet spring flowers... I can't tell which ones, but when I think of spring flowers I think of peonies, lilacs, tulips, hyacinths... along those lines. Lilies usually jump out at me, so I'm not including them here. It's sweet, floral, and I don't get an actual incense note at this point, but I think it's what's keeping the bouquet from being too sharp and heady. Upon drydown, the smoky incense begins swirling around the bouquet. This is another lovely spring scent.

I'm very happy with this variation of Snake Oil. Nothing will replace the OG for me, but this one is a lovely take on it. Snow White is not one that I can wear... I've tried many different vintages of it over the years, and each one shrieks into my sinuses and needs to be scrubbed off within a half hour. Not so with the addition to Snake Oil! Firstly, I was surprised that it's a gentler Snake Oil, not as prominent as in the recent Bobbing for Snakes, which I massively love. But the snow note is lovely when blended here... It adds a frosty chill without irritating my sinuses. I am glad that I blind bottled this one. It's a worthy addition to my Snake Oil collection. I haven't tried it for sleep yet, but I plan to.

I find this to be TKO on steroids! I don't mean that in a negative way at all. Snow White has never worked for me, as it goes shrieking into my sinuses. TKO is strong on its own, with an initial blast of lavender before it dries down to a sweet marshmallow lavender. So adding the snow note has jacked it up, but not at all in a shrill manner! It blasts me into an inner calmness that swiftly sends me off to sleep. I love this. And I can still smell it in the morning. Lovely.

I apparently love to wear cider more than I like drinking it! I blind bottled this one and Pomegranate Cider, and have other ciders from previous releases too! This cider is exactly as described. There's the fruitiness of apple, just a hint of pumpkin, and all the lovely pumpkin spices! I wore Pomegranate Cider yesterday, and this one isn't as strong on me as that one was. But this is another lovely autumnish cider to add to my collection and I look forward to wearing it all year round.

This is as described, a lovely pomegranate cider. I make a version of this using cranberry juice cocktail and frozen orange juice concentrate, with all the usual mulling spices. This smells exactly like mine tastes and smells while simmering, except substitute pomegranate for the cranberry. It's sweet juicy warm and spicy and just lovely. Great throw and on me wears forever.

Ok so I ate nearly a carton of Spumoni last week while petsitting my grandpups (don't judge!?) so it is fresh in my mind. This is definitely capturing all three of the gelato flavors! At first I get the cherry and pistachio, but after drydown I get more of the chocolate. I applied this early this morning, around 6:30, and it's now after 1:00 PM and I catch wafts of the scent, especially when I move my arm/wrist. It isn't super sticky sweet, or too foodie, or too strong to annoy anyone. My husband has only ever complained about chocolate notes in any of my BPAL, and although the chocolate remains the most prominent note after drydown and some fading, he thinks this is very nice. It's a lovely representation of Spumoni, which was my dad's favorite ice cream. And I love having the ability to sniff and wear a scent memory of my dad! ???

This is exactly what I hoped for when I ordered a blind bottle! The cranberry has that sweet tartness, not very strong, and it seems to be tamed by the skin musk. I was intrigued by a couple other of the cranberries but didn't want to risk something strong or sharp. This is neither. It's very wearable for any occasion, especially in close quarters. It's a pleasant perfume that is neither too fruity nor too musky and wears close to the skin.

I'm not actually a fan of eating donuts, and I especially dislike glazed donuts. That being said, this smells wonderful. I get chocolate glazed donuts, with the slightest hint of maple frosting. Creamy, sweet, delicious. Stays the same on drydown and never changes.

I am finally getting around to testing this. My first impression: "this is unmistakably a Lilith scent!" It has that creamy sweetness that is so prevalent in many of the Lilith blends, especially in the last few years. My daughter and I love to drink bourbon cream, so I know that smell quite well and it is definitely what I get right off the bat. It calms down and the hazelnut comes through, but everything is grounded by the wood notes. I usually amp frankincense and do not here, it's very much a supporting player and does not stand out. Overall this is sweeter than I expected, and another lovely Lilith to add to my collection!

I know I've had frimps of Persephone before, but apparently never reviewed it. So I received another imp in a recent Lab order and in the spirit of the holidays decided that now is the perfect time to try her and review her! One thing that makes me very happy is that I have finally learned after many years of struggling, that there are more BPAL rose scents that I can wear then I used to believe. Clearly I've trained my nose, and now I rarely encounter a rose that goes to soap on me! Pomegranate is usually a fruit that I like to wear in the right mixture. Well Persephone is clearly the right mixture! Initially I definitely get rose- a sweet lovely rose. There is barely a hint of pomegranate here. Upon dry down, however, the pomegranate shows her darkness and blends perfectly with the rose, deepening it and keeping it from going cloyingly sweet. After 45 minutes, the blend remains true to the dry down stage on me. A lovely rose blend. I'm going to pass on my sample to my hair stylist, who also loves roses and pomegranates, and I have a feeling I will be buying her a bottle for next year's Yule gift! (I already have this year's gift, plus no time left to receive a bottle before I see her tomorrow!)

This is lovely! Spiced apples and pumpkin, with a creamy candy corn sweetness upon drydown. I get pumpkin first, but the apples come out right behind it. Just as described, and another wonderful addition to my collection!

I love Beth's dragon's blood, but honey is iffy on me. I don't think I have any bpals with copal, though, so when offered a partial bottle in a swap, I was game! The dragon's blood is the opener, in the bottle and on my skin. Then the honey shows up to play! This is a thick sweet honey note and it mixes well with the dragon's blood! Hooray! After a while, the two mellow out and I detect a sweet bright muskiness that must be coming from the copal. What a lovely trio! This something I will wear when I need a scent that is "me" but not overwhelming to those around me. It's a lovely sweet resinous scent - perfect for a bright sunny autumn to winter day!

First sniff and I'm hooked! This now has to be one of my favorite Snake Oil variants. I'm very happy that the Snake Oil is definitely there... it's up front and center. But it only takes a minute for the apples to show up... a spicy apple, nothing fresh or green about it, as if it's been simmering on the stove and cooked down to softness. It blends into the Snake Oil and now I have a spicy apple Snake Oil, exactly what I had hoped for. I had a decant of Coral Snake way back in the early days of the CD release, and while nice, it wasn't enough to warrant a bottle. This one is deserving of backups, if it ever returns. Oh I hope so, but in the meantime, I'm delighted that I was able to swap for this and will cherish it!

Sweet patchouli, reminiscent of Banshee Beat/RR but sweeter. The patch is the same. Then HELLO HONEYSUCKLE! Lovely scent, and I'm glad I got to test this, but fortunately I have a lot of other patchouli scents in my arsenal and won't have to stalk for this.

Sweet wine and tart pomegranate. Sweeter than I expected, and not nearly as dark! Dries down to a slight spicy fruity pomegranate wine. This is lovely. Reminds me of Seven Word Story: Lust in many ways. If you like that one, you should like this one too. And they are different enough to need both!

Oh this is just wonderful. At first sniff, it reminds me of my beloved Autumn Leaves and Haitian Patchouli hair gloss! Wet, the patchouli note is right there, sweet but dry, and very grassy. It's one of my very favorite of all Beth's patchouli notes. As it dries down, the bay comes out, blending a spiciness into the patch. The tobacco is the glue that holds it all together. It's not distinct, so not a specifically chewy tobacco. After drydown, there is a real blending of the notes and it remains a warm, dry, and grassy blend... Like tall dry pampas grass, not lawns, but patchouli dominant. This puts me in mind of Puddin's Gourd of Deprivation atmo spray... Not the same, of course, but in the same family. I just looked back through the reviews, and the 2014 Halloweenies from the Lab and Trading Post included both of the scents I am reminded of here! That was one of my very favorite years for Weenies and I broke the bank on buying that year. If you have any favorites from that collection that includes patchouli (Tricksy too!) get this one! The vibe of this trio is very similar. Backup bottle for sure!

Being a sweet coconut and patchouli, I'm surprised that no one has compared this to Goblin! The red patch is gentler and sweeter but the coconut is a similar note. Not as sweet as Silkybat, but a similar vibe. This is lovely!

Oh I love this so much! This has the same leaves note as in my beloved Dead Leaves, Red Musk, & Neroli. I never would have dreamed of blending that note with Snake Oil and Dorian, but that's why Beth is the perfuming genius and I'm not. I can definitely detect the Snake Oil this, but not so much the Dorian or lavender. I really hope that Beth can blend more when the BIG MOVE is completed. I had intended to order a bottle but it sold out before I could do so. At least I was able to order a decant! In the meantime, I'm going to try layering my own Snake Oil and Dorian with SN Pile of Fallen Leaves to hold me over. I know I can't replicate this beauty, but perhaps I can find a way to placate myself until this returns. 11/24 Update! I acquired a bottle last year and put it away. I tried it today, after wearing Copperhead Snake on Dead Leaves all day yesterday. I wanted to do a comparison. Now I can really detect the lavender after this has aged for so long! Maybe a hint of the Dorian, too. Anyway, this is gorgeous and I'm so glad I have a full bottle. But if you missed out on this, secondly get yourself Copperhead Snake on Dead Leaves while it is available! They are different enough to have both, but if one is all you can get, then I wouldn't really have a preference because both are wonderful Snake Oil w/Dead Leaves scents!

Lovely wildflower honey and vanilla, with the red labdanum adding a sweet musky note to this. It's not complicated, it's very pretty and brighter than I expected. Decent throw and wear length.

Yes! And it's excellent!

ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES Hark, Ambrosio, while I unveil your crimes! You have shed the blood of two innocents; Antonia and Elvira perished by your hand. That Antonia whom you violated, was your Sister! That Elvira whom you murdered, gave you birth! Tremble, abandoned Hypocrite! Inhuman Parricide! Incestuous Ravisher! Tremble at the extent of your offences! And you it was who thought yourself proof against temptation, absolved from human frailties, and free from error and vice! Is pride then a virtue? Is inhumanity no fault? Know, vain Man! That I long have marked you for my prey: I watched the movements of your heart; I saw that you were virtuous from vanity, not principle, and I seized the fit moment of seduction. I observed your blind idolatry of the Madonna's picture. I bade a subordinate but crafty spirit assume a similar form, and you eagerly yielded to the blandishments of Matilda. Your pride was gratified by her flattery; Your lust only needed an opportunity to break forth; You ran into the snare blindly, and scrupled not to commit a crime which you blamed in another with unfeeling severity. It was I who threw Matilda in your way; It was I who gave you entrance to Antonia's chamber; It was I who caused the dagger to be given you which pierced your Sister's bosom; and it was I who warned Elvira in dreams of your designs upon her Daughter, and thus, by preventing your profiting by her sleep, compelled you to add rape as well as incest to the catalogue of your crimes. Hear, hear, Ambrosio! Had you resisted me one minute longer, you had saved your body and soul. The guards whom you heard at your prison door came to signify your pardon. But I had already triumphed: My plots had already succeeded. Scarcely could I propose crimes so quick as you performed them. You are mine, and Heaven itself cannot rescue you from my power. Hope not that your penitence will make void our contract. Here is your bond signed with your blood; You have given up your claim to mercy, and nothing can restore to you the rights which you have foolishly resigned. Believe you that your secret thoughts escaped me? No, no, I read them all! You trusted that you should still have time for repentance. I saw your artifice, knew its falsity, and rejoiced in deceiving the deceiver! You are mine beyond reprieve: I burn to possess my right, and alive you quit not these mountains. —The Monk, MG Lewis Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud. I really hoped that since this has so many notes of WIN for me (daemondrops, vetiver, clove, frankincense) that Ecclesiastical Excesses would be a spicy incense perfume with just a hint of rose. Once again, rose takes over everything else and amps to !SOAP! After the drydown, it has mellowed to a frankincense-rose blend, but nothing more. Disappointed.

I thought I reviewed this years ago but apparently not. I recently received a new imp of this and wanted to compare to my original thoughts. Once upon a time, when I was a wee bpal noob, I tried many varieties of rose scents. I found that they always turned to soap in my nose and on my skin. Rose Moon (2007) was my birthday moon and was happily the first rose that I could wear. I later found Zombi and fell in love - the dirt note kept the rose in check from turning to soap. Clermont became another favorite because the opium works so well on my skin with the rose. Fast forward 15 years, and my skin chemistry hasn't changed but my nose certainly has! I have finally learned to discern that tea roses and pink roses are best on me when they are the main notes; darker roses when matched with strong spice and incense notes; thus leading me to a new understanding of Beth's lovely rose blends and how I can now wear a wider variety of them! This is pink and sweet and innocent until fully dried down. Then it slowly blooms with a slightly powdery finish as the spices rise. Lucy's Kiss is another win for me! I'm so happy to find another lovely rose blend that I can wear.

Metallic bronze musk, indeed! This is amazing. The initial scent is a metallic and musky blast. Fortunately, the rest of the notes come in a whoosh of scent after the dry down, keeping this from going screechy in my nose. Patch, amber, and oakmoss- check! I do not get cumin from the green cardamom, thankfully, as I don't care for cumin as scent or seasoning. The tonka rounds it out with a sweetness. This is a prettier scent than I had expected!