kwsix

In the imp: Dark, sugared vanilla with a hint of musk. It reminds me of Snake Oil, which smelled great in the bottle but totally bombed on my skin. My fingers are crossed. Wet on my skin: This smells delicious, but not exactly foody to me. I'm not getting any butter from this at all, just sweet vanilla that's smoky and rich. Drydown: Aha, now the currants have made an appearance. There's a subtle berry smell mixing with the vanilla. And I mean very subtle - if I didn't know there were currants in this, I may not have guessed. There's also something that I can't identify in the background that reminds me of sugared black tea. I am loving Eat Me! It's what Snake Oil should have smelled like on me. I expected a light, foody, cake scent but got an exotic "sugared vanilla tea with a wisp of berry" scent instead. I was so sad when both Snake Oil and Dorian tanked on me, but I think Eat Me is more than capable of filling the void.

I got this as a decant from the lovely shadith. In the imp: Spicy and masculine. I hope it doesn't turn into Eau de Geezer on my skin. Wet on my skin: On first application, this is all citrus. Who knew Count Dracula was so fruity? I like it, but right now it's brighter and more girly than I expected. And very fruity, like fresh squeezed lemons and oranges. Drydown: Now this is more like it. I'm getting clove, patchouli, ginger, and leather, with a sweet creamy undertone of something - is there tonka in this? I haven't read the description since the update so I can't remember. It's very spicy, warm, and woodsy but there's nothing Old Spice about it. This is so appropriate for Count Dracula, because I'm strongly tempted to bite my own arm. I love Count Dracula, and I'm planning to get at least one bottle with my next order. Yes, I would be tempted to devour any man who wore this, but I think it would be sexy and not too masculine for a girl to wear too. This is the smell of power, sex, and mystery in a bottle.

In the imp: Boozy tobacco with rich vanilla creme Wet on my skin: This is very well-balanced, so much so that it's hard for me to pick out the individual notes at first. The rum and tobacco hit my nose first, and I can detect the leather in the background. It's a very "clean" leather note that is identical to the way deSade smells on me. But it's such a subtle leather, that even leather-haters might like this. And oh, the tonka smells wonderful, like a deep smoky vanilla with a hint of coconut. Drydown: I'm very impressed with how this one is working on me. The rum isn't overly boozy and I'm not getting any butter from it at all. The tobacco is staying sweet and woodsy, and the leather adds a clean almost herbal scent. It's still a little spicy, like there could be a pinch of clove in there, but I suspect it's just the play of the other notes. The tonka is so dark and creamy, and I suspect it's what is smoothing out this whole blend so well. As the drydown progresses, I finally get a hint of fruity wine, but it's so gentle that I can barely detect it. Overall: Perversion is a very well-blended and lovely scent on me. It isn't "too" anything, which is amazing because in my experience rum, tobacco, and leather are all notes that have a tendancy to run rampant. It's warm and mysterious and would be dead sexy on a man or woman. I hope my husband likes it, because it would make for some delicious neck-nuzzling. I'm in awe that one little imp can manage to be this boozy, woodsy, spicy, creamy, sweet, and darkly seductive all at the same time without spiraling out of control. Is it really this good, or is it just perfect for my skin chemistry? Who cares? I need a bottle of this now, because I don't think my imp is going to last long.

In the imp: Spicy cherries! It's a mouthwatering, bakery-type scent. It smells just like the time I made snickerdoodles with almond extract because I was out of vanilla. They were oddly delicious, by the way. Wet on my skin: As I'm putting it on I smell almond extract, cinnamon, and cherries. But as soon as it hits my skin it turns to fresh lavender. Where did that come from? Drydown: Still lavender! My skin ate all of the spicy almondy cherry goodness. It still smells good, just in a completely different way than it started. I don't know what is going on with my skin chemistry that could have produced this result, but I get nothing but fresh herbal lavender from application until the scent completely disappears. It's a very nice lavender - very clean and fresh. I expected Eclipse to be sexy and come-hitherish in a foody way, but instead it's a relax and get comfortable scent. Although it would be nice to have that spicy almond smell stick around longer, I'm sold on a bottle either way.

In the bottle: Deep chocolate, with a creamy undertone Wet on my skin: The chocolate blooms, and it's very very deep and rich. This seems much darker than the lab's other chocolate scents. But as it starts to dry, it lightens up and other notes come out to play. Drydown: This smells delicious. I want to lick my wrist! The chocolate is getting very faint now, and the creamy notes are coming to the forefront. It's smelling less and less foody as time goes on. It's sweet and creamy, and it's not an overly sugary scent. It reminds me of something I've smelled before . . . OMG, this IS chocolate-covered Snow White! Summary: The Candy Butcher is lovely and delicious, but not as innocent and sticky-sweet as some of the lab's other chocolate blends. This will be a good stand-in for Snow White. After it dries, the chocolate recedes and it becomes practically indistinguishable from Snow White on my skin. I'm definitely going to need a bottle of this, especially if Snow White doesn't come back this year.

This will be quick, because Swank is very true to the lab description on me. I get a strong pomegranate martini throughout all the stages. It's delicious and crisp, and very heavy on the alcohol scent. I really like it, so I wear it frequently despite the fact that those around me probably think I'm indulging in 3-martini breakfasts.

Eris was another lucky frimp from the lab. In the bottle: Watermelon candy! Wet on my skin: Watermelon candy! It's so juicy it's making my mouth water. On ther drydown: Surprise - watermelon candy! I also get a hint of soft white florals and something spicy that I can't identify. Summary: This is a juicy, fruity, girly scent that would be perfect for a sweltering summer afternoon. It's playful and sweet and would work best on the young and young-at-heart. It isn't one of my all-time favorites, simply because it's a little too innocent for me, but I do like it and will definitely keep the imp. Next summer, when the sun is beating down again, I may even go for a bottle.

How can something so good in the bottle be so wrong on my skin? In the bottle Mum Moon is all that and then some. Wet on my skin and throughout the drydown she's just plain wrong. There's no spice, no incense, no opium smoke, and no discernable mums or musk. There's just a very sharp (and not in a good way) floral I associate with many commercial department store perfumes, paired with a generous helping of B.O. Is red musk my Waterloo? I'm not sure, but something is disagreeing with my body chemistry. It went so wrong that it even made me grouchy. I seriously envy those with good Mum Moon experiences. Maybe this is the scent that will goad me into trying a scent locket, because I really love how it smells in the bottle.

London was a frimp from the lab, and a very well-timed frimp. The lab frimped me with Euphrosyne in my last order, and I love it so much that I decided to work my way through all of the tea rose blends. I should also mention that I am a reformed floral-phobe. BPAL florals have broken all of the rules for me. In the imp: Glorious tea rose Wet on my skin: On first application, this smells just like nail polish remover. Which, oddly enough, isn't a bad thing. Keep in mind I also enjoy the smell of gasoline, permanent markers, and hot tar. Drydown: The nail polish remover scent is gone, and London is back to the lovely tea rose I smelled in the imp. But there's still something acidic beneath the tea rose, something sinister and almost poisonous-smelling. Again, that isn't a bad thing. It's like tea rose with intent. I picture a beautiful, delicate lady with a perfect pink and white complexion sitting in a sunny room. She asks you what you think of her rose garden, and as you gaze out the open window she silently slips something evil and deadly into your drink. But then again, I have one heck of a wild imagination. This one stays true throughout the drydown, and has surprisingly more throw and longevity than I expected such a soft floral to have. I really like it, much to my surprise, and my husband likes it too. I won't be wearing this one every day, but I don't think I'll have any problem using the imp and then some.

Kumiho is the first scent I've worn that stays completely true through the drydown. It smells exactly the same in the bottle, wet on my skin, and until it fades away. It's very fresh, crisp, and bright. The tea and ginger are well balanced, and I pick up a citrus scent too. I really like this one. It's very feminine to me, but not in a delicate floraly way. It's more the scent of a strong, confident, and empowered woman.

Oh Dorian, you heartless bastard. You went and done me wrong. In the imp and wet on my skin, Dorian is simply gorgeous, all sweet tea and creamy vanilla. But something terrible happens to me on the drydown. My skin turns the loveliness into cloying artificial vanilla, reminiscent of Vanilla Fields (which I loathe). I tried to call his bluff and wait it out, hoping that he would show me his good side again, but it was no use. I really, really tried to love him. Based on the word on the street, I almost made the ultimate commitment (10 ml!) before I even knew what he was all about. I'm glad I waited. Dorian may be a beautiful, seductive devil, and he may be going all around town satisfyin' all the other ladies and gents, but for me was just a big tease.

In the bottle: Apples! Fresh, sweet-tart apples, and a little spice. Wet: More apples! Very nice, reminds me of a crisp fall evening outside on the grass, watching the moon peek out from the clouds. This is a very complex scent. I smell lots of things that I can't specifically identify - spices, herbs, fruits, and grains. Drydown: It is sweet, without being too sweet. On me, it's definitely more outdoorsy and fresh than foody, although it does remind me of a spiced apple cake. I'm getting a balanced combination of apple, wheat, spice, and cane sugar. The herbal notes are still here, but they're very subtle. Summary: lushiejane nailed it - it is like walking through an orchard, under the trees next to a wheat field, in damp sweet grass, on an autumn evening. I had to mow the lawn this evening, and I thought I was losing my mind because I kept smelling HM06 even though it had long left my skin. Then I realized I was mowing over some apples that had fallen from our trees. The grass smelled like wheat because we had gone too long without cutting it, and the air was sweet, damp, and cool from the rain getting ready to move in. This was the first Moon I bought directly from the lab, and I'm very happy with it. I don't know how often I'll wear it, but I'll definitely reach for it whenever I'm in the mood for a warm outdoorsy autumn scent.

In the bottle: Neo-Tokyo is fresh, soft, and feminine. It's also a little chilly. If this scent were a color, I think it would be cool white, with silvery pink highlights. Wet: This is a very modern and playful scent. It reminds me of delicate blossoms and bamboo over frosty cool air. I suppose the frosty air scent is from the ozone and metallics - it reminds me of taking a deep breath on an icy cold day, but without the pain. My husband said it smells like shower-fresh skin, or a really nice dryer sheet. Yes, he meant it as a compliment. Dry: I really like this. It's very modern and sophisticated. The bamboo and cherry blossom make it very clean and girly, but the ozone and metallics add a complexity that keeps it from being boring. As the scent fades, it goes a little powdery on me, but it still smells very lovely and not at all like baby powder. Summary: Neo-Tokyo is perfect for me to wear to work when I want a more subtle but still unique scent. To my unsophisticated nose, it smells a little like Chanel No. 5, but much more pleasant and interesting. From the description, I never would have chosen this one, so I'm very lucky that a thoughtful forumite sent it to me.

Any suggestions for me? Alcohol doesn't work, lemon juice and salt don't work, and washing with soap and water does nothing. I haven't tried using vodka, because the only vodka I have in the house is Grey Goose. Maybe I should buy some cheap vodka.

In the bottle: Sweet, a little spicy, and very warm. I can't identify a specific note yet, but it smells delicious. If scent were a color, this would be golden. Wet: This smells very rich and warm on my skin. It's very subtle though. I'm still having trouble identifying the individual notes at this point. I think I'm mainly smelling the honey and patchouli, but everything is blending together very well. The spice scent is a little ambiguous. I would have mistaken the clove for cinammon if I hadn't read the description. My husband sniffed me and said "Mmmm, honey, vanilla, and cinammon." Dry: Ok, I can definitely distinguish the clove now. It smells lovely mingling with the honey and patchouli. The fig is making an appearance, but it's very light. Everything is well-balanced, and it's somehow managing to be very sweet without being too sweet. I think I'm in love! Summary: Hetairae is wonderful on me, very warm, slightly foody, and softly seductive. All of the notes stay balanced and true, and I absolutely love the subtle spicyness of the clove. It will be wonderful in the fall, but isn't too heavy for spring and summer either. Hetairae is moving into my current top 5.

In the bottle: I smell dark chocolate, tobacco leaf, and musk. It smells rich, earthy, and slightly masculine. Wet: Aaaaack, yuck, what happened? I'm overpowered by artificial lemons, and I don't like it at all. The lemons not only smell artificial, they smell angry. Where are they coming from? How does mandarin translate as lemon, especially when I didn't smell any citrus in the imp? Maybe the herbs of conflict have something to do with it. I know I'm definitely in conflict with this smell. I somehow resist the urge to scrub my wrists raw. I am desperately hoping that the drydown will bring something tolerable. It smelled so good in the bottle. Dry: Oh no, nothing has changed. I can't smell anything but lemon-scented bathroom cleaner. If this were a natural lemon scent, I might be able to tolerate it. As it is, I'm really looking forward to never having to smell this again. I avoid smelling my wrists for a half hour. Unfortunately, time isn't on my side. I find myself analyzing the scent, trying to decide if it reminds me more of lemon scented Mr. Clean or Lemon-Fresh Pine-Sol. After 45 minutes, I give up and douse myself with rubbing alcohol until the smell is gone. Summary: Now I understand why this is the sword of war. I would be warlike too if I had to go around smelling like this all the time. Someone compared this to 13. On me, this is the total opposite of 13. I LOVE 13, but this was nothing short of a disaster on me. I hate to admit defeat, so I'm tempted to try it again in a few weeks (months?), which I know deep down is an irrational thought. Oh well, at least it goes down in history as the first BPAL that smells like ass on me. Lemon-scented ass, mind you.

In the bottle: I smell rich chocolate and sweet oranges with a soft hint of tea. I definitely smell milk chocolate, not white chocolate. I normally have no trouble telling them apart, so I'm not sure what's going on here. Not that I'm complaining, because it smells wonderful. I'm just a little worried that this will be too "foody" on me. I love eating chocolate oranges, but I don't particularly want to smell like one. Wet: The chocolate blooms right away but almost immediately fades into the background. The citrus moves right up front, and I'm relieved to find that it's soft and natural like sweet fresh fruit. I seem to be getting more tangerine than mandarin, but I can definitely smell both. The currant is there too, rounding out the citrus with a touch of deep berry. There is nothing harsh or sharp here - no citrus-scented cleaning product, no cloyingly sweet chocolate. The tea is still noticeable, but it's taking a backseat to the fruit right now. This is absolutely lovely. Dry: Wow, this keeps getting better and better, and isn't nearly as "foody" as I expected. I still have soft fresh fruit over a base of chocolate, but something delicately floral, probably the iris, is coming into play now. The tea is becoming a little more prominent and adds some smoothness to the blend. It's all working together very nicely. I can't stop sniffing my wrists! After about a half hour, the fruit, tea, and floral notes seem to be shimmering around over the chocolate. They aren't conflicting at all, just swirling around and taking turns as the main attraction, while the chocolate is content to luxuriate in the background. After two hours, I have to put my wrist right up to my nose to catch a whiff. In three hours, the scent is all but gone from my skin. Summary: This is an amazingly well balanced blend. Each note smells perfect, and the whole is even greater than the sum of the parts. The fruit, tea, and florals seem to float like sunshine over the warm chocolate. I never thought a fragrance could be so subtle and fresh, yet so wonderfully complex.