lanablade

In the imp: Mmm... I can't even pick out anything other than this smells like the ocean to me. Wet: ...eucalyptus...? I swear I smelled it for a second, but then it was gone. Sea air warmed by rich woods. Dry: Rum and spicy wood. Smells like pirate. This is a completely perfect scent, and it just shot on to my 'must have a bottle' list. Smells like Captain Jack Sparrow. Yum!

First off, let me mention that my imp of Hellcat had a sheared top when I received it, and in the effort to get the cap out so that I could put a new one in, a good half the imp got spilled, so I smeared it on in preparation for an evening out. In the imp: it's very faint, but I think it's spicy rum under lots of almond. Wet: Sugar and spice with a hint of everything nice for kicks. Then, attack of the killer cloves, CatMan. I guess that must be the rum. Dry: I think that's hazelnut and buttercream. I can definately smell the mead/rum/booze in there somewhere, too. It's still really spicy, though. I agree with the pie spice comment from above. This is interesting, but I think I like it. Maybe it's because the top was sheared and it leaked everywhere, but this just doesn't seem to be a coherent fragrance on me. I may have to try getting another imp to double check.

In the imp: Sweet lemonade. Wet: Lemon and tea and musk with a very sweet vanilla threading through all. Dry: Soft and sweet. I can see where someone got the 'deoderant' note from, because it does remind me of dryer sheets if I think hard. That note/combination isn't overpowering, though, and the vanilla tea is more than pleasant enough to elevate it. That said, if dryer sheets smelled like this, I'd dry my clothes every day before wearing them. This would make a great fabric spray or room scent. It's very clean and fresh, but still deep and... magic. Like all BPAL.

In the bottle: Sweet and sickly. I agree with the bad pipe tobacco comment from above. Wet: Still sickly sweet. There's something behind the sweet, too, that's making me dislike this. Might be the woods. Dry: The sickly sweet calms down fairly quickly, thank heavens, and I can finally start picking out individual bits. The leather smells wonderful, and is given depth by the woods and smoke. I smell no linen, so perhaps that's the ick note from the wet stage. When I breath deep and get all the smells at once, it has almost the same FEEL to me as maple syrup. Sweet, dark, rich. Surprisingly nice. When I first got this two weeks ago, it was all sickly sweet from start to finish. I'm glad I gave it a second chance, because the dry state is actually very pleasant. I don't LOVE it, but I do find it a fascinating blend. Hopefully it'll get even better with time.

In the bottle: Sweet, spicy, but sharp, too. Wet: Clove and maybe a hint of ginger if you sniff close, but the throw is sweet leather and woods with a hint of musk and tonka. Very pleasant. Dry: The throw gets sweeter and the clove calms down and becomes this generally spicy smell. I actually got this one about two weeks ago, but the first time I tried it, it was so weak and disappointing that I set it asside to bloom a bit before trying it again. I'm glad I did. It's gotten so much more beautiful with age, and is now everything I'd expected of it. Definately a keeper.

... This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk. In the bottle: Sweet autumn night. I wish I could be more specific, but that's all that comes to me. Sweet air from a night when the leaves are changing colors. Wet: There's a sharp note if I sniff closely... Wood from a bonfire, maybe. It only stays a moment, then it fades into a sandalwood smell. The throw is surprisingly sweet, definately musky and with just a touch of smoke. Dry: There's a spice in this that comes out as it dries (I think it's clove). It's really quite wonderful and very complex. The sweet is still there, as is the smoke, which really deepens as it dries. The musk mingles in between the sweet and the smoke really beautifully and keeps either one from becoming too much. The sandalwood scent never really goes away, but it does step back and allow the much spicer bits to come forward. I can see exactly how it fits the name. It does seem to me a wonderful smell for a night in autumn with friends, walking along after having a spiced (and well spiked) cider or wasail or whatnot and enjoying the beauty of the night... and possibly contemplating mischief. When I first tried this one two weeks ago, it was incredibly faint and somehow seemed disjointed. I'm so glad I set it asside to set rather than just swapping it away because it really has improved immeasurably in just that short time. I didn't think I was going to like it, but I find that it's really grown on me. Yay Beth. Beautiful.

In the imp: fruit. Either the apricot, the orange, or both really pops out at me. There's some flowers, but they're in the background. Wet: Interesting. Really beautifully blended. The fruit is there, but it's so perfectly intertwined with the florals that nothing really jumps out. Maybe the apricot. And underneath it all is a really wonderful powdery creamy somethingorother. Dry: Mostly floral and that powdery creamy bit, with the occasional whiff of fruit. I wore this to a movie, and with standard application, it's already mostly gone by the end of the show. Light and beautiful, but definately one to slather or reapply frequently. I like.

In the imp: ...uh... I think my nose is broken because I swear I smell chocolate. Weirdness in the extreme. Wet: This reminds me of Montressor's younger, better behaved, sister. It's got the same fruity smell as Montressor and Urd to me, but softer and backed by something soothing. Dry: Mmm... this gets softer and sweeter as it dries. A wonderful creaminess pops up and I'm adoring it. I didnt' expect to like this one because I didn't like Montressor, and Urd, while pleasant wasn't my thing, so I'd sworn off berries. This, however, has restored my faith in fruit. Lovely.

I got this based on many comparisons to my beloved Perversion, but sadly the 'incense' component must be myrrh, which doesn't get along with me at all. All I get from this is myrrh, myrrh and more myrrh. Very depressing. I want to love this one, and I'm planning on giving it another try later, but for now I'll go sulk with Bordello, which is turning out surprisingly nice.

In the imp: Aaaaaalmond. And something deeper, maybe the musk. Wet: More almond. It's really strong for a few seconds, then poofs out of existance. The Myrrh really jumps up and says HELLO after that. I think I've finally indentified Myrrh as one of the scents that hits my nose as 'PERFUME'. Dry: Yay. The almond came back, and brought a friend. The myrrh, thankfully, has stopped jumping up and down for attention and is blending pleasantly with the almond and musk. The longer I wear it, the more complex it gets. I think myrrh is going to have to go on my list of 'potentially dangerous' scents because it makes my eyes burn if it's too strong, and (like Dragon's Blood) is too much to wear near my face. Once the myrrh was beaten into submission, though, this was a very pleasant scent. Just not for me.

In the imp: Woah. I get so many smells from this it's hard to distinguish. Definately chocolate. Something sharp, and something spicy, and then just a touch of something sweet, which must be the rum. On Wet: No chocolate, which I've learned my skin refuses to bring out. (Not a bad thing in my book) Definately sweet rum, and a hint of something spicy. Dry: Rum and a touch of wine, and still that something spicy. Someone mentioned Dragon's Blood, and I have to say that if that is what it is (and I can kinda see where they'd get that impression) it's much calmer and well behaved than it usually is on my skin. I like the idea of this one, and I don't hate the scent, so I'll probably be just fine with only an imp.

This reminds me of Montressor, only MUCH MUCH lighter. I don't get anything smokey or deep from it, just light happy berries. Lovely, but not me.

I got this as a frimp in a swap, and not being a floral person, put off trying it. Sadly, when I finally did try it, it turned to bad motel soap on my arm, and I had to wash it off.

Since no one has made a reply, I'll take a stab at it... The only thing I could find that SOUNDED similar (I've never smelled Aeropostale Girls, and I'm not a fan of tropical fruits) was Machu Picchu. Sweet tropical fruits burst through deep, wet rainforest boughs, enormous steamy blossoms, over thin mountaintop breezes, mingled with the soft, rich golden scent of Peruvian amber. I hope that helps.

On me, this smells like vanilla with a touch of musky honey if I sniff close, and the throw is baby powder with a touch of honey. The longer I wear it, though, the more honey and less baby powder I get. I'm witholding judgement until I get the full range, but I don't think this and I will be getting along.

First off, NONE of the notes in this are things I wear with frequency, or even like. That said, I expected to dislike this immensely, but I was frimped it in my last order and I always try everything I get, lest the elves and goblins at the Lab mark me as a Bad Bunny. ...and... I... I... I like this one. First off, might I say that I honestly smell zero mint. I smell something earthy, maybe the mosses, and something vaguely spicy and 'perfume' smelling (not in a bad way, I just have no idea how else to describe it.) which I assume is the ambergis. It's not a scent that really jumps out at me at all. It just has this comforting 'really expensive perfume with a name you can't pronounce, but found in a shop in Europe the last time you flew there in your private jet' PERFUME smell. Not at all commercial or generic, but very instinctively recognizable. I probably won't buy a bottle, but it's definately been well worth the try. Thank you Lab Elves.

In the Imp: Caramel. Really really good gourmet caramel. Wet: This has a very sharp sugary note for the first few seconds, then calms down to a definate coconut and tobacco scent. I can smell the rum and coconut mostly on the throw, not really if I sniff up close. Dry: A slightly astringent tobacco (might be the rum) up close, and coconut macaroon throw. Yum. REALLY dry: Very soft tobacco and coconut. I really like this one. Yay one for the favorites box.

In the imp: Chocolate... and spice. Wet: *cough* Um... Chocolate... toffee... and spices. This one is STRONG. My sister who was OUTSIDE MY ROOM was saying she could smell something 'awful.' (She thinks all BPAL is icky.) Dry: No more chocolate, although if I stick my nose to my wrist and breath deep, I think I can smell a touch of the remnants. I definately smell the pralines and hazelnut. And with my wrists down to write, I smell mostly a slightly burnt toffee smell. I guess that's the coffee/caramel smell everyone's been talking about. This one is... interesting. I wasn't keen on a chocolate perfume, but fortunately my skin doesn't seem to care for chocolate either. I doubt this will fall under favorites, but it is unusual enough to keep around.

In the Imp: I'm one who smells no grapefruit in this. I smell citrus, but it's not strong at all. Just pleasantly clean and fresh and just a tiny bit sharp. I smell zilch on the tea, either. Wet: Oooo. I like this one. I can definately agree with whomever said this is like Clinique Happy, only way way way better. It's still slightly sharp, but not unpleasantly so. It's backed by something soft and sweet and clean that really tames it. Dry: Mmmm. Very soft and pleasant. I don't really smell flowers individually, but I can tell they're there in the soft sweetness. I can still smell just a hint of pleasantly juicy citrus in the very depths of this scent. I didn't expect to like this scent because it's very not me, but I really do. I probably wouldn't wear it enough to warrant a full bottle, but it's definately something to keep as a change of pace.

If you like Kuang Shi, you'd love the Mandarin Orange Creme Brulee at either Dishes or Cravings, the fantabulous buffets at Treasure Island and Mirage hotels in Las Vegas. (I forget which had it... I think it was Dishes.)

In the bottle: OMGLEATHER. *blinkblinkblinkblink* Yowza. I didn't think leather could be so readily identifiable. Wet: Still leather. Sweetened a bit, though. I can catch whiffs of the tobacco in the background. I can't find the pear, though. Dry: Leather. Which is funny because I figured the leather'd fade out after a while. Nope. The tobacco has shifted to just a background note giving a little bit of depth, and still no pear. I don't think I'll have reason to wear this by itself, but I'm betting it'll be fantastic layered with something else to help add a bit more depth. ETA: I put Mr Morris in that box reserved for aging, and then forgot about him. Until today (it's been about a month), when I decided (without telling him) to annoint my fiance's leather jacket (which doesn't smell leathery enough). I pulled out Mr Morris, and what did I find? Pear. There's pear and tobacco and OTHER SMELLS in the leather. I was so happy. My fingers smell fantastic, and so does the boy's jacket. I'll have to do another proper review of Mr Morris now that he's a bit older and wiser. I get the feeling he's going to age FANTASTICALLY. Huzzah for older men!

Quincey Morris. Whoa nelly... In the bottle, this is L.E.A.T.H.E.R! I haven't tried it on yet (I just got my order, and I'm out of sniffable test spots), but OMGLEATHER.

My fiance likes citrusy/aquatic/clean/light scents..... everything not me. So I went through and was trying to find some good scents for us both. I put this on my list, and lo and behold, the wonderful elves at the Lab frimped me before I could order it. In the imp: Light. Very, very faint mango... some musk... I can't really catch any orange, but there is a slightly sharp scent in there. Wet: Holy orange rind. Smells like orange rind tastes, bitter white bits and all. Thankfully it backs off within minutes to a very nice and BEAUTIFULLY blended soft citrus musk. Dry: Delicate and gorgeous. The orange fades pretty fast into the background. I can definately pick up the sandalwood. Maybe some musk, and a big of mango. The scents work so beautifully together that it's just an all around pleasant, soft scent. ETA: This seems weirdly familiar to me... I can't place it, though. I didn't think I'd like this one, but I really really do. We'll see what the boy says.

In the vial: Chocolate and sugar... kinda like a chocolate pixy stick. Wet: I get chocolate in this scent for about two minutes, then thankfully it's gone. (not a big chocolate perfume fan) What's left is a very sugary, almost pez or pixy stick smell. Sharp and sugary to my nose. Dry: This is a surprisingly subtle scent, from start to finish. Once dry, I just get these nice whiffs of sugar and (I THINK) fig. If I stick my nose to my wrist (as I do. Often. My fiance used to worry because I sighed so much till he noticed I was sniffing my perfume) I can smell something vaguely spicy. Sadly, I smelled no mint, but I'm going to give it another try later. I've noticed my sense of smell has been off lately because of the dry air.

PINE. Not pine-sol cleaner pine, but middle of summer, hot, logging camp pine tar everywhere pine. And lots of it. That's almost all that I get from this scent. There's something else underneath it that makes me vaguely nauseous, too, sadly. I wanted so to love this scent, but it just doesn't love me.