doomsday_disco

This is mostly about the tea and blood orange on me (but the blood orange isn't a citrus bomb), backed by the smoothest and least champaca-y champaca blossom ever. It does not have any incense-y quality to it whatsoever. It's definitely floral, but not a soapy or a heady one. I think the kamairicha may be a bit deeper than the Lab's traditional green tea note, because it didn't make me think of the green tea that the Lab traditionally uses, but it's hard to describe it just melds with the more prominent orange so wonderfully. I think it's pretty and will definitely be hanging onto my decant to wear it during the spring or early summer. But I'll have to retest it before it goes away to see if I need to upgrade to a bottle. At the moment, I feel like just the decant will suffice, but maybe that's because it couldn't compete with Neglected Calligraphy (which I tested on the other hand at the same time and was glued to throughout wear). ETA: This has become more floral tea and less orange-y after a few months of aging, but it's still a really nice floral tea scent kissed with orange.

Okay, time for what's becoming my traditional pass-some-time-in-the-office-on-a-Wednesday-morning-by-posting-a-slew-of-reviews review dump. 😅 This was one of the first decants I tested in my first round of Luper decants (consisting of only general Lupers and Shungas -- cherries, chocolates, and raunchy hearts will probably arrive next month). I decided that it had to be among the first tested after @HerbGirl's rave review. And it was an instant love for me. Of the decants I've tested thus far (over a dozen of them, with about seven more to go), this is one of my favorites. Neglected Calligraphy is a cool, pine-infused green tea scent, swirled with some ink that gives it a somewhat industrial vibe. The green tea is the perfume-y variety that you would find in something like Shanghai or Embalming Fluid, and it is not like green tea leaves. The terebinth resin has a tinge of smokiness to it, but it is really well-behaved and tamed by the green tea and is no way the campfire found in the terebinth-heavy Gacela of the Dark Death from Yules past. The throw is mostly the cool green tea and pine, but up close, I get lots of ink, which is indeed very-ink like, but also with a slight rubber-y quality. I'd recommend this to fans of Cooling Breeze (another cool green tea scent) and those who like industrial notes sound give it a try as well, because the ink is definitely noticeable in this blend. You do have to enjoy green tea and pine notes, though! I will absolutely be upgrading to a bottle as I can't stop sniffing my wrists. Plus, the name of the scent appeals to me (as someone with calligraphy-esque handwriting that doesn't do calligraphy but probably should).

This review is after testing a very aged decant from 2008. Ichabod Crane is all about the dusty black wool and cream on me. The black wool note is a dark musk with a touch of a grape-like note to it, and I believe it's the same thing representing black wool from last year's Black Julbocken Alchemy Lab. The cream is buttery as hell, so it smells like a very buttery musk bomb on me, alas. I can smell a bit of pepper, but the other notes are nowhere to be found on me because the musky wool and buttery cream are so loud. This one is not for me, but it was fun to get to try an old Sleepy Hollow scent!

My review is after testing a very aged decant from 2007. This started off with a slightly musky cedar-y wood that made me think that the decant might be going off, but it quickly settled into a primarily rosewood scent with a touch of lemon to brighten it up that became more prominent with wear, yet never overtaking the rosewood. I wasn't able to pick up on any of the other notes. I am glad I got to try this, but it's not something for which I could see myself reaching.

This one starts off with a blast of fresh super realistic, freshly turned earth, infused with some earthy vetiver. But as time goes on, it morphs, and I smell like celery!?!?!?! Skin chemistry is wild. Or was there secretly some celery in this field? I am glad I got to try this, but smelling like celery is not for me.

So... back when I discovered BPAL in 2013, there were Nymphia candies on offer at the Trading Post, and I bought a tin of those. They were really good (I still have the empty tin), and thinking back on those makes me miss BPTP treats! I never got to try the perfume that inspired those candies until recently. Nymphia is so well-blended that it's hard to pick out the notes, but the standout note when this is first applied and on the final drydown is the coconut, which is soft and doesn't read as foody or beach-like (phew). The cucumber is also soft and adds a light, refreshing quality to the scent, and the spun sugar, apple blossom, and mango lift it up and add some welcome sweetness. But mostly, it's a lovely, dainty scent that's hard to describe just by dissecting the notes. It's not overly fruity, or overfly floral, and the coconut isn't offensive at all. I'm really glad I got to try this and will be hanging onto my decant, but I don't think I need more of this one. This has made me wish for the return of BPTP treats, though.

I tested this with the last drops of a tester, so this might be better treated as an impression than a review (I did get a good amount for a test, but what remained of the decant was very aged). I get mainly a dark blueberry from this. It's not a fresh blueberry, but more of a sweet blueberry with both tart and sweet candy-like elements. It doesn't smell like blueberry baked goods to me, but that could just be because it's a very aged tester. I think I smell some spice in the background, nothing overpowering, but I think it's a spice found in Plunder, but more subdued, because the scent made me think of that at one point. I think this is a really nice blueberry scent, but it's not something I need to hunt down more of (which I'm thankful for, since it's so rare).

Torta Setteveli, a currently available Weenie, would probably be your best bet if you haven't tried it. "A classic Sicilian recipe alternating layers of chocolate sponge cake, hazelnut Bavarian cream, chocolate mousse, and hazelnut praline crunch, all enrobed in a dark chocolate mirror glaze." It's not exactly Nutella, buuuut I think it's the closest you'll get as it is the most chocolate-y hazelnut scent the Lab has offered. A past Lilith, O The Joy of My Spirit!, has cacao and hazelnut notes, and some people have compared it to Nutella, but for me, it was too perfume-y and not strictly foodie. "Crooked hazelnut and tonka with a touch of cacao and black pine." It might be worth it to try Who's Afraid?, a currently available Yule, which also features cocoa and hazelnut notes, but the lemony spun sugar makes it go in a different direction on me (your skin chemistry may differ -- it seems not every reviewer got lemony sugar from it, but that's what I love about it). Here are the notes: "Snowy coconut, hazelnut, cocoa powder, and spun sugar."

What is your favorite Easter candy? Do you like Jelly Bellies? If so what flavors? Do you have a preference for plastic eggs, treat bags, paper, or no preference? Are you interested in some of my homemade brown sugar shortbread? I can do gluten free and/ or monkfruit sweetened. Flavors include "plain" vanilla, chocolate, orange blossom, cherry blossom, lavender, rose, combinations thereof. For those who don't like imps... In the case I find that I have something PERFECT for you in my collection that I want to share, would decanting into a squat itty bitty bottle with a screw top lid or rollerball be ideal? Hi little chick, I just got yet another seed catalog in, and was thinking about the garden. It seems on theme, so do you garden? Would you like anything like seeds? Spring Chick o' Mine, I have a question about mugs! What are your general feelings on mugs/drinkware? Dear bunny, what are your thoughts on these? https://www.thecrownedrabbit.com/pins Dear chick, would you be interested in any of these baked goods? Matcha shortbread Hojicha shortbread Lemon scones Lavender scones Lavender lemon scones Chocolate chip scones (made with Guittard chips) Please LMK if you have any aversions/sensitivities to ACTUAL rose(s). As if someone were to send you flowers... Dear chick, would you be interested in any cute Easter/spring-themed cookie cutters? Also i've been wondering and combing q&a sheets without finding this. Will be making something with chocolate and would like to know which one you'd prefer... Milk, Dark, or White I'm going to pre-order some spring teas (and stock up on the maple houjicha) from Friday Afternoon. Is there a spring tea (or any other tea) that you might like, chick? How do you feel about lambs as part of Easter? Easter lambs were always a part of my childhood, and I often got lambs instead of rabbits (in chocolate or stuffed form). Do you like bees? Is your BPAL wishlist up to date?

I tested this over the weekend, applying it to wet hair one day, and dry hair the next. I would say this is primarily a green tea hair gloss infused with some citrus (more grapefruit than bergamot!) and a bit of perfume-y white amber. I do think you have to like some citrus in order to be able to enjoy this, but the grapefruit in this, while present and longer-lasting than some other citrus notes, is not as strong as I was hoping it would be (even though it is the second strongest note after the green tea). I actually did pair this with Shanghai the second day that I tried this, and they went really well together since they share the same green tea note and both feature citrus; in fact, I may start pairing that scent with this hair gloss now instead of Informal Tea (Green tea, white sandalwood, and white amber), which is very similar to this, but if you replaced the sandalwood with pink grapefruit. As far as the throw/longevity goes: The scent did not disappear when applied to wet hair like some hair glosses do. I could smell this whenever I lifted my hair to my nose for several hours throughout both days, but I could not smell it without directly smelling my hair. Then again, maybe that would be different if I had gone for a walk on a windy day, or if I hadn't decided to season a brand new wok this weekend to make J. Kenji Lopez-Alt's bibimbap recipe. (My apartment still smells like smoke from seasoning the wok. Halp.) So while my grapefruit-loving self wanted this to be more unabashedly grapefruit, I still enjoy this as I'm also a green tea fan, but I'll be more likely to pair this with green tea scents than citrus ones.

I initially passed over this due to the fig, but then the above review made me want to try it, and a very kind forumite sent me a tester! This is indeed very strong on the black cherry. I get the red currant in the musk only briefly when first applied, and then it becomes a black cherry and fig party. The fig in this is super dark. Like, I kept thinking that there might be some stealth patchouli in it because it is so earthy. And it remained primarily a black cherry and fig scent throughout wear. I think the musk probably helped to ground the cherry so that it wouldn't be so fleeting, but it's not a main player like Cherry Red's red musk. I really love the cherry in this, but that dark fig note is so strong and earthy! I do think you have to love fig to love this one, as the fig is what is keeping me from loving it (even though the cherry is so damn good). I wish I had the fig-less experience of the above reviewer! I'm going to retest this before it goes away to see if the fig has calmed down at all (too bad it is not the fig from Dead Leaves, Vanilla Bean, Pink Fig, and Brandied Dates!). Thank you to the lovely forumite who decanted from their decant so that I could try this (I know how much of a pain in the ass that is -- you are so appreciated!).

So... I generally pass over all dead leaves scents because those accords do not agree with me (either turning to cologne or bell peppers in most circumstances, and sometimes being headache-inducing). And fig and I are typically not friends. But all of the reviews here saying that this is basically chill on the dead leaves or that they're non-existent, plus off-forum reviews comparing this to Reflected Vulva, made me really, really want to try it. And I am so fortunate that a lovely forumite responded to my ISO and shared some with me. This is indeed the least dead leaves-y dead leaves scent I've ever come across. I don't detect any dead leaves at all, although I suspect they're adding a touch of sophistication in the background. I think I'm mainly getting the pink fig, and possibly the brandied dates, but the fig in this is completely unlike any other fig note I've come across from the Lab. I don't know if it is combining with the brandy of the dates to have this effect (this scent isn't boozy whatsoever), but it has this almost cherry-adjacent vibe on me. This, combined with the vanilla bean, make me understand the Reflected Vulva comparisons, even though they technically don't share any notes. This is so much better than I thought it would be based on the notes. I'm glad that the reviews swayed me enough to try to find a decant and that a kind BPALer swooped in to answer my call (thank you, @LavenderCoffee ! ). I may have to grab more of this before it goes away, and now I know not to dismiss fig as a scent note outright if it is the pink variety.

When I first applied this, without looking at the notes, I thought I was smelling mahogany, but that must have been the amber and frankincense with some of the warm, chewy hay. The white mint joins in (I was surprised -- I thought it wouldn't stand a chance against these notes), adding a light coolness to contrast with the warm notes. Over time, the oakmoss emerges and gains strength, as it is wont to do on me, and it mostly becomes a mossy resin scent infused with some warm hay and musk. Oddly enough, the patchouli in this did not stand out to me! (I would expect not to get the mint from this, but not the patch!) I wish the oakmoss hadn't ended up being the dominant note, as I was enjoying how the warm resins and hay played off of the cool mint.

This is a very old imp, so I imagine it smelled a lot different when it was fresh. Now, I get a mostly powdery (maybe amber.. definitely not orris), cuddly musk scent and the ghost of ginger. I say the ghost of ginger because it has the slight effervescence that the Lab's fresh ginger note has, but it is very short-lived. I so wish I had gotten the cherry and cola that some of the other reviewers got, but it was still fun to get to try it!

The first time I tested this, a day or two after the decant arrived, it was primarily a rose-y aquatic (primrose and salty sea water). The second time I tried it, it was much greener. I googled Grass-of-Parnassus and saw that it was a floral note and not actual grass, so I am not sure if it is the leaves of the willow or something in the aquatic note or what. It is very loud and is the main note I get in the throw of the scent. Eventually, it settles into mostly aquatic primrose, but the greenery is still there. I wanted to try this because I've been to the Orkney islands in April 2017. It doesn't remind me of the Orkneys, but it was still fun to get to try it and it's worth a try if you'd like a floral aquatic scent.

I was surprised that this one wasn't a red musk and plum bomb on me. It starts off with a chewy patch being the most prominent note, backed by a little smoky vetiver. Then a bit of lily joins in, but then it ends up morphing again and the plum and red musk have arrived, but again, it's not as loud as those notes usually are on me because the white musk is there with them and it is somehow even stronger than the red musk on me??? (Unexpected.) It stays that way for a while, but after eight hours, it's mostly patch and white musk on me with just a hint of plum and red musk. This isn't a scent I could see myself reaching for, but I'm glad I got to try it and that the red musk and plum didn't end up being bullies!

This is not the laundry bomb that some other fabric scents have been (woot!), but it does feature a fluffy, yet perfume-y vanilla musk-infused cotton that kind of reminds me of the porcelain in Pediophobia. Is it the vanilla musk or is there stealth cognac doing that?! I am not sure, but it definitely gives me Pediophobia vibes. The fabric is accompanied by a slightly waxy make-up note with a hint of fruitiness to it, and it's so realistic that it makes you go, "How does Beth do that!?" I also think there's a floral note in this that may be adding to the perfume-y vibe, and I'm not sure if it is iris or something else, but it makes it too perfume-y for me in the end. I do recommend giving this a try if you're looking for a scent like Pediophobia or are interested in this, but afraid of this being straight-up laundry (it's not!). I really appreciate the artistry behind this scent, but I'm being very picky about what stays in my collection nowadays, and I don't think I'd reach for this over scents like Cognac-Stained Sheet Ghost and Pediophobia. ETA: I think the mystery make-up floral may be orris.

I grabbed a bottle of this after reading Little Bird's review. The first time I tested this, a day after it had arrived in the mail, it was mostly red velvet cake (with its chocolate and slight tang) with a hint of cherry, and then an even smaller hint of cologne that was detectable by the end of the day, but mostly, I got a honeyed scent after a day of wear? And I assumed that was the alcohol, but I wasn't sure what would come off like that except for perhaps mead, and I don't think anyone is making fruitcake with mead. I tried this again several days later. The realistic red velvet cake is still there, but there was A LOT more bright cherry after a few more days of settling. I don't think it's maraschino cherry, because even though it's bright, it's deeper and redder than that. There's still only a hint of cologne behind the much stronger cherry and what remains of the cake by the end of the day, but it's so light that it's hard to discern what it may be comprised of -- perhaps a little white musk or moss? Who knows! Seriously, don't let the cologne scare you away from this if you're a cake-lover. (You do have to like cherry, though.) On this test, I didn't not experience any honeyed aspect to the scent after it had been dry for several hours, so that just goes to show how much letting a scent settle can make a difference! If you like cake and you like cherry, you should give this a whirl! I initially passed this up thinking I didn't want any cologne in my cake, and that I didn't want any fruitcake as far as cake is concerned, but I let myself be swayed, and I'm pleasantly surprised!

I tested this several days ago and then immediately had to make it my scent of the day because it is so wonderful. This is spice-infused, creamy marzipan buttercream pistachio milk custard goodness. It's more spice than I was anticipating, but there's no cinnabomb here. I get more clove than cinnamon, actually! The marzipan, pistachio milk (which features a true pistachio note, not an extract), and buttercream are the strongest notes when first applied, but the marzipan doesn't last as long as the other creamy notes, and the spices become more noticeable with wear. It smells absolutely delicious, and I want to gnaw my arm. Of the five Lupers that I blind bottled, this one is my favorite! Definitely one for gourmand lovers.

This starts off strongest on the lychee (which has a slight rose aspect to it), but the lime, yuzu, and white musk are quick to join the party, and it ends up being a citrusy white musk party for a long time. Then the lychee peeks its head out once more, but the scent is pretty soft by that point, and still tinged with citrus and white musk notes. I can smell a hint of blackberry by the end of the day, but it is by no means a main player on me (I'm glad about this, as it was the only note I was side-eyeing when I ordered the bottle). I don't get the vanilla, green tea, or red currant at the moment, but I am hoping that they'll emerge once this has had more time to settle (this test is after one day of settling). I like this, but I wish it were stronger and that I were getting some of the vanilla and green tea. I'm hoping those notes will become noticeable after this has had more time to settle. In any case, I think it will be great during the summer months, and I recommend it to those who are pining after Grapefruit, Yuzu, and White Musk (it's not as strong as that scent, but the yuzu and white musk in this made me think of that one).

This goes on with a bright cherry and lime, but the white musk quickly barrels through, hell-bent on becoming the dominant note. It is almost like a cherry limeade slush, but without all of the sugar. Alas, the cherry is pretty short-lived. It is never as strong as it was when first applied and drifts in and out of the blend. It becomes mostly about the white musk and lime, with an emphasis on the white musk. By the end of the day, the citrus-tinged white musk reminds me of the final drydown of La Joconde from Winter Travelogue update, if one were to replace the bergamot with lime. I think this smells nice, but I really wish the cherry had been stronger and stuck around longer on me. But this test is after only a day of rest, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping I get more cherry once it has had more time to settle.

This starts off strongest on the white chocolate, but then the chocolate calms down, and it becomes more about the strawberry and calvados over time, settling into a boozy strawberry scent. It's not bad, but I can't see myself reaching for this over other scents featuring a strawberry note. I wish the white chocolate had stuck around longer on me.

Oh wow. This is making me realize how much the cognac in scents like Cognac-Stained Sheet Ghost and Pediophobia give it that perfume-y, porcelain-like feel. It strongly reminds me of those scents, with the bergamot and cognac being the most prominent notes at first, and the cognac winning out over the bergamot. It is not boozy whatsoever, though, and I wouldn't have guessed there were oudh in this if the note list hadn't mentioned it. The association with those scents is so strong that I keep thinking there might be vanilla in here or something else aside from the cognac that reminds me of those scents. I think this would have been very popular if more people hadn't seen the oudh and noped out. It's not something I need more of, since it is so very similar to the scents I mentioned above, but this is really nice.

Lady Death: Savage is one of the Lab's more mainstream-esque scents, but it is not in the same vein as scents like Butterfliers, Flowers, and Jewels Attending or Ava. It is difficult to pick out the notes, but the grey amber is noticeable in the beginning. Over time, it becomes less resinous and more floral, with the jasmine not being super heady or indolic. I'm not able to pick out the vanilla, but this is very well blended. While I think it is nice, I don't think it's something I would end up gravitating towards, but I'll hang onto the decant for now so that my mom and brother can try it one of these days. This is the kind of scent that's exactly in their wheelhouse.

I get water from this at first, along with some concrete, but eventually, it becomes resinous on me, and I keep thinking that that resin is oudh. It's not funky or anything, and I wonder if it's part of the cement accord? I wish this had stayed as fresh water and concrete on me, as I enjoy concrete notes. Alas.