indicolite

Ah, Hesperides! A frimpsie! Wet: to quote Nanny Ogg in Terry Pratchett's Maskerade: "apples. Well, mainly apples." My brain is smelling something else with the apples, something it is desperately trying to parse as cookies rather that mould. That must be the bark or the mist (HOW do you put mist in a perfume oil? That is Beth's secret). Apple cookies, alright. Dry: apples. Crisp sweet apples. I had been toying with getting an imp of Shango, which when I tried it from a friend's imp went all apples apples on me, but I think the Hesperides would do nicely for my apple fun. "They must not stop our apple fun! Get out, get out, run run run!" - Dr Seuss. It does not quite match the apple scent I would normally get after eating plenty of apples, but, thank the Excolo, it is not too sweet. "Look! Ten apples on us all! What fun! We will not let them fall!" - Dr Seuss, Ten Apples Up On Top

Mmm, my first Deadly Sin! As a frimp from the lab, they chose to send me my second-most-coveted Deadly Sin (after Wrath; ironically the Deadly Sins I most like the descriptions of are also the Deadly Sins I am plagued with in real life...but let's not go into how Lust complements my personal life - let's just say that, summary of the review upcoming, Lust has definitely found its way into my life, and is likely to stay there ) Wet: ooh, ylang ylang, must have more ylang ylang, it is so fun to say and I like the smell too. Dry: that smells like one of my favourite Indian jewelry stores - so pathchouli is the culprit. But there is something special about this patchouli; it is not overwhelming; I think the myrrh, without showing its own face, is tempering the patchouli so I am not a hippie; well, I am a sexy high-class hippie (is there such a thing as a high-class hippie?). All the same, I wish the ylang ylang stayed a bit longer, and I am still hoping for the myrrh and musk to come out - you guys usually party on my skin like there's no tomorrow, what's wrong today? But I promptly put Lust in my purse imp box, and it ain't going nowhere but to get dabbed again. Actually, I now want to renew it. The same addiction I feel for Nyarlathotep is showing up. Lust, darling, I am going nowhere tonight, so hold your horses, tomorrow maybe. But if you continue tempting me like that, I may need a bottle of you soon.

Love Me is quite woody. Woody and patchouli, but there is a sweetness to it as well. On me it settles down into something sweet and vaguely medicinal, but just the right level of sweetness for me; most of the "sexy" blends are too sweet. This is a scent I would wear just in case it works not to sniff my wrists and go "Ah, good!" but I am wearing it quite regularly.

I was waiting to review my two voodoo imps because I was hoping magic to happen. It hasn't happened yet, but here goes: I love BlockBuster. It is spicy, and yet somehow sweet at the same time; I cannot separate out the notes. It lasts a long time and dries down beautifully. I am wearing it on a regular basis - because I love the scent and so that when the blocks come, I'm a-bustin' them!

Hey, I quite like Wicked. She was not on my wishlist, but I liked myrrh in Masabakes, and Wicked takes myrrh in quite a different direction than Masabakes does. The primary scent is still myrrh, but the jasmine and rose steer it. However, it is beginning to give a sort of metallic top edge which, while tolerable, is not something I want around. I'll put Wicked in the carry-around box, and see if I am feeling Wicked in the next few days.

When she is wet, Morgause on me shows her night-blooming jasmine - she smells exactly the same as Nyx did, so I did a cross-comparison of the ingredients of the two blends - not always the most reliable, but I am pretty sure that is night-blooming jasmine. As she dries, out comes a sharp note, dancing around with the incense, but not letting the incense show and stink everything up. I like this one, but she is not me - she isn't going to be day-to-day wear. I may use her in something else, or swap her.

An epithet of the Morrigan, crow-winged Celtic goddess of war, strife and fertility. Adoration of this Goddess is expressed both through the ecstasy of battle lust and the ecstasy of sexual regeneration. Black orchid, apple blossom, meadowsweet, and rue over Irish moss, hawthorn and red clover. First sniff: Why does this smell like balsam fir? Does everything the lab brews that is woodsy and mossy seem to me to be balsam fir? As it dries on my skin: Hmm, this is quite interesting, and I think it merits a spot in the imp box I carry with me. It is growing floral/herby, but not in your face; it is subtle and quite lovely, My heart does not echo "This is me, this is me!" but neither does it reject this. I will probably use up the imp, although I do not think I will get a bottle. Actually, this would be quite nice to scent silk shirts with.

Lush parlor rooms draped in thick velvets and gilded in gold, unearthly whispering in the distance, fleeting flashes of wraithlike figures rushing just outside your vision, the chill of a phantom presence brushing by your cheek, the inscrutable knowledge that disembodied eyes are peering at you from darkened corners… this is the essence of Victorian-era spiritualism: rosewood, oak and teak notes with wispy blue lilac, tea rose, dried white rose and ethereal osmanthus. Sweet spirits, I smell like teak! Seriously, in the imp Ouija smelled very intriguing and I thought "I could like this." on me it very quickly turned - to very polished, expensive wood. Indeed, I smell like an antique piece of furniture someone sprayed lightly with floral. I'll clean my room and then I'll scent it with you, Ouija my love. Definitely. But alas, you have no place in how I want to olfactorily project myself to the world. Edited to add lab description.

I have drunk about 10 grams of brandy in my life, and it was not apricot, so I did not have much to compare it with. On me this is a very lovely scent (I never figured I would like booze notes ) It is fruity but it is clear, and it does make me think of orange colour and some kind of bubbly drink (but brandy is not bubbly). I think I would put this on at the end of days when I need to forget my woes (ETA: Does that imply that my daily grind is a ghoulish, ghostly brush with the macabre?). A dab of Beth's oil is better for my liver than a shot of brandy!

Dark woody patchouli, all the way, with a subtle edge of apricot underneath. I got what I paid for. Now whether it would be a fave is another question entirely - it would usually take me a few days to find out whether I want a blend again and again. I rather like the woody quality of it (maybe I am a wood-gal rather than a spice gal as I thought) but I somehow suspect it would be happier as a room scent (let's have the room smell Depraved!) than on me. Thanks, Angharad.

On opening the imp: overripe pear, nice! Pear when it has just begun to turn alcoholic (and why do I know that smell?) On drying: floral, very nice, but body chemistry is giving this a metallic edge. Will try Thalia on another day, as I really like pears.

There is something very oddly dark in this blend. I know what myrrh and rose smell like, so I figured it was the jasmine; however, it reminded me strongly of Sheol. Perhaps it is the floral-myrrh mix. At first it almost hinted at labdanum (oh no!) but then settled and behaved itself, and is nwo fairly nice. Probably not on my top ten (although I had high hopes for it) but something I do not regret getting (thanks Angharad!). A very interesting smoky scent.

Silk Road was the first wanderlust imp I ordered, because I figured that one would give me everything, and it did! I love Moscow as well, on good chemistry days, and the fruity airy loveliness of Yerevan. And Baghdad, although on me it is nearly pure nutmeg, but it does give the picture of the city - in its glory days, not now. (Shudders: a "new Baghdad"?) And although I did not like Kyoto, it definitely did its job - as Japanese as I have ever smelled. Go Wanderlust!

Just another vote of thanks and praise to Ra. I had it on for the second morning in a row, and I found myself quietly laughing at my coworker, whose coffee cup has still not done for her what Ra did for me (don't tell her; she is a wonderful girl, but resisting BPAL assimilation). Great pick-you-up!

Khephra (Stations of the Sun: Midnight Sun) on me is quite similar to Haunted - but there is a subtle warmer edge and Khephra dries down spicier. Dragon's Heart and Fallen I've confused in the dark, since they both go musk-musk-musk at the beginning - to me at least. On drydown they are fairly different, and Fallen wins by a slim margin. But then I am a lunatic where Fallen is concerned.

There are great things done to the smell of sun By the hands of the Lady Beth, And once tales of her art reached direct to my heart I awaited with bated breath What she'd do with stations of the conflagrations Of our nearest, dearest star. I loved Ra on the rise, admired Ahathoor's eyes But Khephra I like best by far. It was time for bed, as my weary head Spun from reviewing imps left and right. It was nearly done, and the Midnight Sun I saved for one last delight. Her promise Khephra kept, I knew as I slept That this one was a love for long: She is dark and clear, sun at its nadir, But reminds me of... Red Phoenix's song? No, 'tis Haunted's cup that Khephra summons up In my memory's twisted line. But though Haunted went to friends where it'll be content, Khephra stays here, for she is mine! After a long day, at eve, gladly I'll receive Her on my hand and wrist to confer... So go and buy the Sun's End, for a wonderful friend - But don't ask me to borrow her!

Kyoto Review In Senryu: Frimp of Kyoto Seems quite truly exotic Reflects Japan clear Wet it is lovely The sweet pure cherry blossom Tempers star anise But I have never Since wintergreen Crest toothpaste Liked any anise Kyoto is true To the soul of its city But sandalwood, come! It cometh too late Anise takes, rules and conquers Bring on the soapsuds Poor dear Kyoto I love Japanese culture But prefer Moscow Any good woman Wish to provide a good home For little Kyoto?

Of all the Stations (and I bought the collection) I cannot decide whether I like Ra or Khephra the best. Ra was definitely a great persuador to get up this morning, when I was in that "still time to sleep some more, don't feel like getting up, but can't go back to sleep either" mood. He is herbal, definitely, but like other reviewers have said, a very warm, beautiful golden herbal. I have smelled this once before, in another of Beth's blends, only I cannot recall which one - maybe, probably, I am just thinking of my previous sniff of Ra. In summary, Ra, welcome to my parlour, I am very happy with my bottle of you, and if you are that good at getting me out of my dreary morning mood, you are going to see lots of use.

Ahathoor I cannot quite put my finger on. One would expect the midday sun to be stronger than the rising sun, but Ra is actually much stronger on me, as I wear them both. Ahathoor has a scent that seems to be almost pepper, almost smoky incense without being unpleasant the way some incense is to me. She is quite an interesting blend, and would be useful for those "different" days, hopefully, when I do not feel like something else.

What is wrong? My sunsets do NOT smell of sweet fruit! Yes, on drydown, definitely grape and lots of. And other reviewers described honey; that must be what is ruining the whole thing for me. My tastes do not run to the simple and sweet when it comes to BPAL: honey + me = get me out of here! Now it is drying down to a rather resiny smell. Quite, um, interesting. I will let it settle overnight (I swear, this is the last of the twenty-two reviews I am writing today) and see whether the Setting Sun is any better in the morning, when I will review his comrades in the Stations of the Sun. Be nice, Tumses. But not TOO sweet nice. ETA: No, dear Tum has made no redeeming features, as his resinyness is just not what I want to smell like. And I still have a bottle of him. Maybe he ages well, but the imp has not made me happy.

Twilight. I tried it on once midday (while trying on as many of the Buttload as possible) and once after the shower in the evening. I am theoretically wearing it now. However, my soap, Lush's Twas The Night, also smells of lavender, and poor little Twilight makes no impression ten minutes after application. None whatsoever. Little Twilight, alas, lost the Origin of Favourites By Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Blends In The Struggle For Indicolite's Attention. If you leave no memory of yourself, be you blend, jewelry piece, or man, I have no truck with you, sorry. To the Better-Home Box with you, little Twilight.

Plum and berry go kaboom together! Dear Blood Countess, you are indeed giving me visions of redness (my visualisation of scents gets much better after about 11 pm), and sweetness, but generally I do not care for non-citrus fruits, unless, like with Al-Shairan or Yerevan or something, there are extenuating circumstances. With you there are not. Meaning no disrespect to you, you have no redeeming features for me. I put you in the Find-a-Better-Home box.

A line is dancing in my head: "The very soul of delicacy." It is perfect to describe Zephyr, a quiet, gentle little blend on my skin that does precisely what it said it would: describe a soft nighttime breeze, stirring the summer flowers and blossoming trees, in a bottle. It is the second movement of a nachtmusik (can't vouch if it is the Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, it has been too long since I played it) - soft and slow. I can't even tell apart the different notes, it is so well-blended. Just the image. I think this one fills a good niche in my perfume collection. I am keeping little Zephyr. Whether I will need more of him remains to be seen, but he has a home.

Oh my ears and whiskers, sweet fruit! Well, the clove grounds the apricot, and it is not unpleasant at all. As the March Hare dries, he brings out his tea: it is not listed, but I swear that is tea I smell. Oddly enough, the clove does make me think of rabbits - even though I know from great experience that rabbits smell nothing like that! This is the first Mad Tea Party scent I have ever smelled, and I do think Beth has it right on. I am very fond of the March Hare in an abstract manner, and probably I will retain him. However, Al-Shairan does almost the same thing, in a stronger and nicer way, and I think Al-Shairan is my sweet-clove man. March Hare, you may not see much exercise. We'll see what to do about you, dear.

At last, a scent among my frimps that I actually rather like. It is floral, and at first had a lot of mandarin a-bloom: orange scents seem to go early on my skin. Now it is growing more subtle, and heading towards sandalwood at a brisk pace. Not a love-love-love, but quite an interesting imp that I may use up (laughs at herself, since she has not actually used up any imp yet except when spilling, and it's been a long time since the first imps of March). It hasn't got the deep character of some of the others, but it is not unpleasant.