Rouge

In the vial - Delicious, sweet, thick almond Wet on the skin - This is a very happy scent - the almond is sweet and rich, and there's an undertone of ripe fruit. I can smell something that's almost like bubblegum as well. Lingering below the sweetness, however, is something slightly bitter and herbal that I'm not sure I like. Since I buy the Voodoo Blends largely for magical rather than cosmetic purposes, I'm not too worried. Dry down - There's an earthy, musky note that lingers after the almond scent has vanished. It reminds me a little of vetiver but as far as I know vetiver isn't used in prosperity magic, so I have no idea what this note could be. Magical effects/atmosphere: I certainly feel more alert and awake today and ready to take on the challenges of the work day.

A freebie form the Lab! Leather scents and I aren't the best of friends, but I'm willing to extend an olive branch and give this one a go... In the vial - Very sexy and extremely masculine, full of musk and vetiver. Wet on the skin - Smooth, dark vetiver. It doesn't have the harsh note that I often find in vetiver heavy blends. Instead it's sinuous and rich. Next stages - Supple black leather overtakes the vetiver. Again, it's powerfully masculine and deeply sexual. Dry down - It's just too masculine for me. Definitely one for the swaps pile

I'm really into the red and purple scents right now - in particular cherry and plum. I'm really looking forwards to trying this one! In the imp - Lovely; a rich spicy plum. Wet on the skin - Absolutly breathtaking - a sweet but almost dusky scent full of fruit and flowers. Dry down - There's definitely something candle-like in here, but it eventually fades to a rich, soft scent of carnation and fruit. There's not as much musk in here as I would have liked, and at times the blend is a little too sweet for me but on the whole it's a beautiful and feminine scent that will be lovely for early summer wear. Similar scents - Bathsheba, Blood Countess, Lady Macbeth. If you like this plum note but want something a little darker, try Oya.

It's a beautiful warm day, and just right for testing some summery, fruity scents. In the imp - Very alcoholic! It's strong and sweet, with a dominant note of rum and pineapple. Wet on the skin - Not sure about this one at all. The fruit seems almost... fermented, and there's a sourness that really isn't very becoming. Next stages - Happily, the rum note mellows after a few minutes of wear and the scent isn't quite as sticky sweet as it threatened at first. Dry down - a warm and sweet scent that's somehow almost buttery or milky, which is odd as there are no dairy notes in the ingredients! It'll be gorgeous on someone, but alas not me.

A freebie from the Lab! I generally don't have much luck with aquatics, or leather for that matter, but I love Port Royal, so I'm hoping Calico Jack will work out for me. In the vial - Light but very masculine. Salt, leather and wood. Wet on the skin - I can really smell the sea! It's a clean and woody scent that; full of fresh air and seaspray. It makes me wish I was on the deck of ship with the sun sparkling off the sea and the wind in my hair. Next stages - Luckily it hasn't gone dirty and sour as most aquatics tend to do on my skin, but it's not developing into anything particularly interesting either. Dry down - Now that the saltiness has mellowed down, it's a generic masculine cologne. I probably won't be wearing this again, but I may use it as a room scent.

In the vial - A dark, dangerous and somehow earthy scent. The almond here doesn't smell edible; it's sinister; more like a warning of the presence of of cyanide. Wet on the skin - The almond note and the dark, heavy musk are immediate and powerful. This scent takes no prisoners. Unlike other reviewers, I smell remarkably little jasmine. Next stages - The red sandalwood note is sharp and almost biting but I suspect this willl mellow with time. It seems to have overtaken the almond. Dry down - Sandalwood still dominates, leaving behind a musky, woody trail of scent. Comparisons - The almond note is not unlike the aggressively sexual Black Phoenix blend.

This was a freebie from the Lab. Roses and I don't often get along, but since this blend has amber and tangerine I'm still looking forwards to trying it. In the vial - a very rich and powerful blend; "imperial" is the perfect description. Something here reminds me of Fallen, but I'm not sure exactly what. Wet on the skin - Sweet, rich jasmine and amber cloked in warm tangerine. Next stages - Oh dear, the rose is going soapy and sour, just as I feared. With typical Russian tenacity, though, the other notes aren't going down without a fight. Dry down - Ultimately, this is too heavy on the florals for me to wear on the skin, but I may use up the imp as a room scent. Similar scents - New Orleans shares the same characteristic jasmine, but is much more forgiving to those who can't wear a straight-up floral.

Oh wow. Oh oh oh oh. Wow. I think I'm in danger of fainting because I keep taking long, deep breaths of the delicious aroma wafting from my wrists and I'm starting to feel lightheaded... In the vial - Sweet vanilla and florals, though not necessarily a foody vanilla. It's very feminine and soft. Wet on the skin - More warm and comforting vanilla. There's certainly nothing sad about this blend! Next stages - The notes in this perfume are perfectly blended; they're a subtle wash of soft, warm notes rather than individual scents layered on top of each other. Dry down - The vanilla sweetens over time but other than that there's little morphing of the scent. Overall impression - This scent makes me think of a Victorian picnic or summer tea party with white lace parasols and creamy linen serviettes. It's going to be perfect for warmer weather! Similar scents - Antique Lace

The scent of the throes of violent passion: entangled limbs, teeth on flesh, furiously grasping hands, the taste of blood and sweat. Golden amber, white honey, red currant, daemonorops, kush, and Arabian musk. This sounded so glorious that I thought I'd treat myself to a bottle of this untested. In the bottle - Thick, sweet amber with an undertone of honey. It's luscious and thickly resinous. Wet on the skin - More amber! It's spicy and dark, fairly oozing sexuality. Next stages - In less than a minute, something primal and urgent emerges; not unlike vetiver but with a dirtier edge. I presume this is kush. Later, though the hauntingly sweet white honey note peeks out once more; the olfactory equivalent of lying in your lover's arms after a bout of aggressive, love-hate passion. Dry down - While amber remains noticeable, the overall feel of the blend has darkened into an earthy and musky atmosphere. Similar scents - The Lion, Blood Amber.

In the vial - This seems quite a dry and harsh blend at first - it's not sweetly smoky like some other incense blends. Wet on the skin - Much nicer! Frankincense seems the prevalent notes here, and I think I smell something almot waxy as well. While it's sober and quite grounded, there's an underlying sweetness that wasn't there in the imp itself. Next stages - Something faintly woody emerges soon after application. It's not unpleasant, just not somethig I'd want to smell like. Dry down - I won't be wearing this as a perfume, but I think I'll try it in an oil burner.

In the vial - Sweet and rich, with the barest hint of fruit. It's like a homemade victoria sponge cake just out of the oven. Wet on the skin - A strong blend of vanilla cake and dried fruits. It's wonderful. All lovers of foody scents should buy a bottle of this! Though it's rich and sweet, it lacks the buttery note that I personally dislike and is less imposing than some other cakey BPAL blends. Next stages - I agree with those who have identifed this as angelfood cake rather than something more buttery. It's warm and delicious, but not too heavy. Dry down - I believe this blend actually get stronger as it dries. Certainly its throw is impressive. Despite this, it stays sweet and sponge cake like, never becoming too rich. Similar scents - Monster Bait:Closet, Cockaigne.

I'm amazed by the glossiness of this polish; even without a top coat it has a rich, liquid shine to it that I don't find with any of my high-street nail polishes. Two coats gives a rich, intense dark red with a tiny hint of shimmer. Three coat gives a brooding, elegant brownish-burgundy that reminds me somewhat of Chanel's Rouge Noir. It seems quite a neutral colour; neither too warm nor too cool. I've worn it now with outfits in cool-toned green and with warmer tones and it seems to coordinate perfectly with them both, so it's highly versatile. I'm rough on my manicures. Usually I chip them horribly in less than 48 hours, but after four days of wear including large amounts of typing, this polish has only superficial damage on the very tips of the nails. Highly recommended!

This was a frimp from the Lab, but luckily it was also on my wishlist. I'm hoping for a scent that can replace my depleted imp of Titania, with the same delicate and icy pear note. In the vial - Sweet and musky. It's stronger than I was expecting, and the pear note is full and round. There's an odd scent which almost remnds me of nail polish remover... but fortunately I like nail polish remover. Wet on the skin - The strange chemical note is still there, but it's quickly overtaken by rosewood and pear. Next stages - Lily of the valley and rosewood seem to have all but overtaken this blend, leading to a rose-like floral blend that I fear isn't going to play well with others in my BPAL collection, but I shall try it a few more times before consigning it to the swaps pile. Dry down - A tiny breath of sweetness tries to escape every so often, and the rosewood-heavy scent finally submerges and dries into a sweet, soft floral. I'm not enthusiastic about the mid-stage notes, but it's final stages are lovely. I think I'll keep hold of the imp and use it as a room scent.

In the vial - Rich, smooth, comforting chocolate, and nothing but! Wet on the skin - I'd agree with those who have compared this blend to a single note - I smell chocolate, and chocolate alone. That's not a bad thing, of course Next stages - I believe there may be a hint of hazelnut peeping out from the gorgeous gooey mass of chocolate... Dry down - Once more; a sweet and luscious, creamy scent. The hazelnut, if it was really there in the first place, has been submerged under the lovely melting chocolate note. Similar scents - The closest chocolate note is probably Gluttony; it's a good deal lighter and smoother than Tezcatlipoca or El Dia de Reyes.

I'm on the lookout for a scent for my new Marvel/X-Men RPG character, Maria Santa Cordoba aka "Santa Muerte". She's Mexican, and practices Catholicism but also is a devotee of the Aztec gods. Her mutation takes the form of altering her bone structure. Her bones are pretty much unbreakable and are incredibly dense; being punched by her is like being hit with a piece of marble. In battle she can grow a protective extra layer of bone over her forehead and cheekbones - actually on top of the skin, giving her the appearance of a skull mask. Similarly, her fingers can grow an extra layer of bone which are long and pointed, like claws. Because of all the extra calcium in her body, Maria's skin is utterly white - not just Caucasian white, but as white as paper or chalk. She also has slight powers of necromancy - if a recently deceased body still has the skull intact, she can lay her hands on the dead person's head and tap into their final memories. Personality wise, she's quite friendly, practical and no-nonsense; she doesn't have much time for angst. Before joining the X-Men she worked with charities in the ghettoes of Los Angeles, helping children and families affected by gang violence and by intolerance of mutants. Her main friends are probably Wolverine and Xorn (a bit of selective retconning by the GM there). Now here's the problem. I've never found an Aztec-themed BPAL scent that works for me! Tenochtitlan is too powerfully green and Tezcatlipoca, while lovely new, turns into almost pure leather on me once it's been aged for a while. Santa Muerte itself, which would be the obvious choice, is again lovely in a brand new imp but turns murky and dirty on my skin after aging for more than a couple of months. Any suggestions?

I can't believe I never realised the presence of a tractor was why Scarecrow would have a petrol-like note. *hangs head in embarassed stupidity* I absolutely love the blend, and I've always wondered why that petrol smell was in there... thanks for your post!

I'm in a "purple" phase at the moment and am trying lots of blends witn wine and dark fruits, particualrly plum. This blend sounded so complex and luscious that I couldn't pass it up! In the vial - This is a sharp, thick scent drenched in rich wine notes, with the pale floral note of plum blossom on top. Wet on the skin - The first stages of this blend seem incredibly complex. While the wine and grape notes are the most noticeable, there's also a sharp and almost stinging floral on the surface of the blend that lasts only a few seconds before darkening. Next stages - This blend dries quickly and its throw is noticeably reduced after a few minutes of wear, though the musk becomes apparent once the initial fruitiness has stepped back. Soon afterwards the honey note oozes forwards in a thick, dark drip of scent. Dry down - Sweet and dark, this is a sinister and sensual blend that would lend itself very well to a decadent evening involving seamed stockings, a black silk dress and a glass or three of good wine. Similar blends - Something in the wine note reminds me of Lady Macbeth, though the Illyria blend is somewhat cooler and more herbal. The honey is more reminiscent of Osun and Skuld than the more spicy blends such as Bengal or Hetairae.

In the vial - A very sweet, very graceful rose blend. I can see why this is part of the Sin and Salvation category; it reminds me of the compassionate beauty in icons of the Virgin Mary and of the roses tumbling through the air in pictures of Saint Cecilia. Wet on the skin - Sweet and heady, and predominantly rose. Next stages - The curse of roses strikes again. Rose often turns into a sour note on my skin and I'm afriad this blend is starting to head down that unpleasant road... Dry down - It's fighting back! Although the rose is still threatening to tip the blend over into something that turns extremely unpleasant when it comes up against my skin chemistry, from time to time I smell a sweet and resinous cloud of incense that's intriguing enough to make me want to try again with this blend. I shall probably keep the imp and use it for ritual purposes - it's a little too sweet for my taste in room scents.

I'm searching for a scent to wear to my work Christmas do - something mysterious and elegant with dark red fruits. I'm hoping this could be it! In the vial - There's a sweet but sharp note that somehow reminds me of almonds... like cyanide but in a good way. The red musk is very sensual and grounding. Wet on the skin - Again, quite a sharp scent. The cherry is rich and dark but for me it's not as noticeable as the other notes; on first application the anise takes centre stage. Next stages - Musk and anise continue to dominate, with a luscious, deep fruit tone providing a background. Dry down - When the anise finally softens, Kabuki dries to very sensual and elegant scent. Another winner for the Asian-themed blends! Similar scents - The red musk note is very similar to that in Scherezade, while the anise note reminds me very much of Kyoto.

In the bottle - I smell sharp, fresh ginger with a deep and dry undertone of spice. It's less sweet than I was expecting, but is still absolutely delicious. Wet on the skin - This is wonderful. It's bright and fresh and almost astringent. Next stages - I think there's a little lemon in this - just the tinest sliver of zest. It's very appropriate for me as I always use lemon icing when I bake ginger cakes or biscuits. Dry down - The clove and nutmeg notes linger on after the ginger has wafted away. The blend leaves a dark and almost woody trace behind. On re-application, it's a much more rounded and dense scent as the new spike of ginger mixes with the spice notes left behind from the first application. Similar scents - The deep, resonant spices of Mama-ji are here, as are the "murky" clove notes of Jack. And of course, all ginger fans need to try Shub-Niggurath.

I've had a craving for chocolate scents lately. It was a tough decisison whether to order this Yule LE or the Candy Butcher, but I decided on El Dia de Reyes as the scent description sounded a little more complex. In the bottle - Deep, warm and uttterly delicious. The cocoa isn't light and milky, but instead thick and dark with only a hint of sugar. This isn't a drink forchildren unless they have very sophisticated tastes! Wet on the skin - Chocolate and cinnamon, with coffee skirting the edges of the scent. The cinnamon note doesn't have the fierceness of blends such as Saw Scaled Viper - it blends perfectly and lends a little touch of heat to the scent. It's just the right amount to warm you up on a cold December day! Next stages - While the cocoa note remains the mellow heart of the scent, the coffee builds over the first few minutes of wear. Dry Down - An hour after the first appliation, the blend dries into a comforting, drowsy coffee with a touch of rich, soft brown sugar. Similar scents - Try this if you liked the initial Irish Coffee stages of Miskatonic University but didn't like the dust and wood notes.

I second this! It's the ultimate fairy queen scent. On me it's a lovely pale pear and white floral scent, but I don't think it ages very well and in fact mine turned rather muddy and sour after a while. I'd get an imp and use it liberally on your skin and hair for a month or two.

In the vial - Beautifully fresh and green, with a strong lavender note. This is what I would imagine the smell of a kitchen garden in Tuscany or Provence to be at sunrise. It's gorgeous; a clean, herbal scent. Wet on the skin - More herbs; mint and thyme especially. The lavender is still strong. I smell no lime just yet. Next stages - As the lavender receeds into the background more herbal notes begin to emerge; I smell wet, crushed basil. The scent never warms, but stays cool and fresh throughout. Dry down - The final notes of this blend remain fragrant and fresh mint and herbs. It would be lovely in an oil burner to wake you up on tired days! Similar blends - Calliope.

In the vial - Jasmine and lemon. It's not the sweet lemon of New Orleans, but a sharper and greener note. Wet on the skin - Fresh and zingy lemon verbena, underscored by green tea. Next stages - The scent is light and soft, happily lacking in the "bathroom cleaner" edge that lemon verbena often develops on my skin. Dry down - The faintest hint of neroli adds a slightly sweet and powdery edge, but the verbena and green tea remain at the forefront. Since my collection of citrus scents havn't aged particularly well, I shall be using this as a room scent and buying more in the spring. Similar scents - Muse, Shanghai, Jonathan Harker.

In the bottle - Slightly burnt, rich dark caramel and juicy red-gold apples. There's a hint of alcohol in there too, almost like a strong cider. Wet on the skin - The apple is far more complex than I originally thought - there's not only a lovely rounded golden apple scent but a juicy green one as well, and I think there's a gentle, almost musky red apple too. The caramel note is subtle, and definitely a background player. Next stages - A soft dark brown sugar scent begins to emerge a few minutes into wear with a very faint hint of cinnamon. Delicious! Dry down - The sugar and caramel notes linger on for a long time after the apple has been cruched up. They're deep and rich, and not at all cloying. This scent would be wonderful in an oil burner or added to a scented candle. Similar scents - If you like the initial warm, rounded apple notes, try Ladon. As far as the caramel goes, I've never tried anything quite like it. It's darker than Hellcat or Gluttony and not as syrupy as Bien Loin D'Ici.