whitecrow0

In the bottle: I do not believe this was on my list of scents I wished to try; I received it as a FRIMP with my last BPAL order. Mrm. This is a little sweetly-floral, which is not my usual wont. It's light. I'm not sure about the floral I smell; I think I smell more "rose" than lily, but as I don't actually study many floral scents, I can't actually be sure. Luckily, I also sense something that should be pear. Wet: Erk? Definitely floral. It's not terrible; I think that pear-note is a real help in keeping the cloying feminine pistils-and-stamens down. It's a "light" scent, in that the flavor of it is more delicate than the thick and foody BPALs I prefer. It wafts more than blankets; it laughingly dances around the wearer like a girlish sprite. This is more like the notes one would find in a traditional perfume. It seems clean and bright. It's fresh; the gentle sun of a spring morning. It kind of reminds me of a dryer sheet; I don't mean that in a bad way. It's soft and somewhat comfortable. I am reminded of homes kept by firm but feminine women; homes in which the guest bed is always made and there are flowers in the spotless bathroom. Drying: I'd really like this so much more were it just pears and musk without the florals. The lily's going a bit soapy on me and I'm getting a faint headache from it. It's a bit of a shame, actually, because I quite like the Greek myths and I am a bit piqued to dislike something with a Greek reference. I do enjoy the spicy, edgy pear, but the florals are just too annoying. Afternotes: I'm just too tight-lipped and squinty-eyed trying not to actually grimace with this one. Not only am I not a floral girl as a rule (I've actually kept some lab scents that are rather flowery) but for some reason this is giving me that scent-headache that I associate with little old lady perfume. I'd really like to like it, but I just don't. Scott-sniff: He thinks it's nice, but he thinks other things I prefer are nice, also. Verdict: I think this would be a fantastic scent for someone who enjoyed fresh, yellow-white-green scents with blossoms in them. Unfortunately, I am not such a person. My headache is getting worse and I'm a bit nauseated also. This is not because Endymion is awful; it's simply my poor reaction to it. I was kind of hoping to try this one again, but I am going to have to SWAP! And reallyfastgowashthisoff.

In the bottle: Mmmmmmmmm! Sweet; thick, rich and heavy, yet not overpowering. It's buttery in consistency; a deep foody scent that I could smell all day. It makes me smile in a slow, serotonin-induced manner. There's something dark in it; this is not a sunny kitchen. Perhaps a night-kitchen lit with a fire, however. It's languidly predatory; confident and come-hither. And yet - contradiction! - I don't get a sense of "badness" in it, as I do with, say, Absinthe. Dorian is a sleek, well-fed cat, not a man-eating tiger. Dorian is sensual and oozes contentment. Wet: I definitely get the "sugar" and "vanilla" in the bottle; the lemon comes out as soon as it touches my skin. My poor nose always has trouble picking up tea scents; I don't know if that's my sense of smell and / or simply the way my body reacts to BPAL. I'm supposing the musks were what gave me the darker feeling in the bottle, and I think they're giving the imp a bit of "bite" on my skin. What the heck is a fougere? Okay, ummm... apparently http://www.m-w.com isn't just giving up info anymore... a http://www.basenotes.net/ article states that "Fougere fragrances are one of the most popular men's families. These will often contain Lavender and Oakmoss." Oh. I've never been a lavender fan, but I do seem to like oakmoss. It's in several of my favorite scents. I think I might even be able to detect it on my wrist with a deep sniff. I think I might be detecting some lavender, too, but it's not giving me the willies I usually get, possibly because it's blended so nicely with all of these other yummy smells. Drying: Lemon, sadly, goes away. I do like citrus scents. I'm mostly sugary vanilla now, and that's quite okay. I'm getting the urge to curl up with my cat in the sunlight; this is a smell that invites one to gentle hedonism. Or, perhaps, not so gentle hedonism. It's delicious; I want to lick and bite my wrist. At the same time, I am still not getting any sort of deliberate calculation; it just is. Although, of course, that "it just is" is not going to be changing in any way, shape or form because that's the way it is supposed to be, Puny Human. Very catlike. Closing my eyes, I see a warm, rich brown liquid - kind of like my cooking vanilla extract, I guess. This scent is very indulgent and of-the-moment, with perhaps a touch of playful anticipation. It's nonchalant, and yet it promotes a sense of mindfulness in me; it slows me down and gives me appreciation of ... life, I guess. Afternotes: After some time, the lemon comes back, very faintly. Yay lemon! (Particularly lemon that is not too sharp and oily.) It's a very sweet scent, but I don't find it cloying or sickening (as I do with powdery florals.) It throws well and lasts and lasts and lasts. Gender-neutral; I put some on Scott and loved it; it's a dab muskier on him, yet still sugary and delicious. Alas, he doesn't like wearing BPAL because it's "heavy." [EDIT: He should like it more. It tends to make me very close and cuddly and ... well, we won't get into the rest of it! o.O] Scott-sniff: "That really does smell good." Verdict: Oh, I think this one needs to always be in my collection. I want more Dorian! (And that, I suppose, is one reason he's such a bad boy.)

In the bottle: Whoah. Strong. Honeyed, herby incense. It's thick; pungent. A little bit soapy, but there's nothing sweet about it, except perhaps far back in the honey. The first time I sniffed this, I was certain it wouldn't work. But I had to try it, because I am a sucker for Apollo. Wet: Mmmmmmmmm! Sweet honey, with a touch of green to it. Much lighter than in the imp. I find it rather mouth-watering. I feel stickily sensual and really quite earthy, rather than sky-god spiritual. Drying: I used to have a box in which I kept hand-rolled beeswax candles. Every time I opened the box, I got a delicious sniff that powdered a bit as the candles aged. That's what I'm smelling on my skin; warmth, industry, the by-products of plants and flowers. It's heavy, overlaid with a touch of green that adds to the kitcheny/outdoor feel. This is a scent for the sun, for activity and joy. It's a scent for meditation, as well. It's a scent for stories. Afternotes: This is still in my top three with Absinthe and Chimera. I really like the honey smell. It reminds me a bit of some hippie and head shops I've been in; it reminds me a bit of the Medieval Fair. Delphi is a scent I can imagine using not only on my skin, but as a room/ritual scent. It's evocative, foriegn and mysterious. Dusky and fey. It calls to mind the slant of sun on a late summer afternoon. Do you know that scene in Legend, where Lily is moving through the meadow towards the forest while large tufts of ethereal cottonwood drift and dance in the air? That is also what I imagine. I imagine ancient feasts and ancient prayers. The flicker of torch on stone. Columns and statues reaching up to the heavens. The set of eyes not-quite-human deigning to make a bargain. The scent is deep, resonant and strong. The throw is fairly powerful; one needs just the smallest touch on the skin, and it lasts and lasts and lasts. I just took a romp with my dogs, and Delphi works with the activity, the community and love. It works with their dusty doggy smell. However, it really works with cuddling my cat in the sun. Scott-sniff: N/A Verdict: Keep imp.

In the bottle: I was terribly worried, after my nose-wrinkling reaction to Anathema, that opium was not as nice a scent as I remembered; the last time I used it was in candles some years ago. However, Darkness is thick and sweet and good. Heady, almost mind-altering in its lusciousness. I think I am finally learning to pick out the myrrh, and if that's the case, I quite like myrrh. This smells floral - I suppose that's the narcissus - but with a rich, heavy tang that's almost bitter. That sounds perhaps unpleasant, but my nose is very satisfied with the balance. I'm a bit fascinated with sniffing the imp bottle. Wet: Strong, tangy, not quite musky. There's a definite bite to Darkness that I really, really like. I am so pleased so far! Little of the bottle's floral note is coming out on my skin, and that suits me very well, as I'm generally not a fan of florals. Drying: A sweet smokiness. It's softening, mellowing and blending on my skin. No! Come back! I want that seductively bitter bite! Not that I'm complaining that much. This is nice. I'm getting the "pulse point vibration" I get when I really like a scent. Afternotes: Fades all too quickly into something subtle and dusty. Still delicious, but my chemistry makes the "RAWR!" of it fade into a languorous purr, and I really preferred the "RAWR!". It is, somehow, a very clean scent, touched with mystery. I wore it around the house this afternoon, and it didn't quite seem to fit with making tuna sandwiches and watching Family Feud in the light and sunny living room. However, it made me stop in front of my large fireplace. The scent of Darkness wound around the lingering woodsmoke and ash that always faintly permeates the area in the heat of summer. It is a scent for candlelight and ultraviolet, a scent for winter's crisp, sharp edges. Scott-sniff: "Mmm! That's nice!" Verdict: Keep imp.

In the bottle: WAUGH! Alcohol! Pretty, fruity, alcohol, but ... definitely a cocktail. Wet: Yup. Alcohol. I smell like I've been drinking. Well, perhaps not drinking so much as so tipsy I just spilled my Cosmo all over myself. It's very strong and heady; tart and sweet-alcoholic. This is not the imp to give someone who has issues with drinking. I have all but stopped drinking; I have a bit of wine every now and then with Scott - once every few months, pretty much. I am interested in trying some scents which contain red wine, but I don't want champagne BPAL, I don't want martinis, I don't want rum ... and I don't want a Cosmopolitan cocktail. I thought that since I did receive a FRIMP, which is gracious, I'd go ahead and try it, but ... I'm grimacing and my eyes are watering and I feel thoroughly uncomfortable. It's not a bad scent; it's flirty, jaunty, mischievous. But I can smell the alcohol, and that's not anything I want. Drying: I had to wash this off; I simply couldn't stand it. Afternotes: N/A Scott-sniff: N/A Verdict: SWAP!

In the bottle: Whoa! Is that almond? Sweet and foody. And strong. Pleasant, though. Wet: Mmm! This is good! Cookie dough? It's rather lickable. It's creamy and lighter than Chimera is on my skin. Dana O'Shee is fresh and kitcheny-sugary. It feels warm and comforting, comfortable. I can see why this would be "placating." Drying: Drying I start to sense the honey / oatmeal note, though it's still overpowered by almonds. It's a light scent; there's not much throw (I have to bring my wrist up to my nose to smell it right now) but that's not a bad thing. Sometimes light is preferable; subtlety has its place, and too few people utilize it. Afternotes: I had a real "uh-oh" moment during the dry-down process; I could smell the milk and oatmeal, but it was kind of bad; as though it had gone sour, rancid. Luckily, that stage lasted seconds to minutes; Dana O'Shee is back to almonds on my skin, with a faint almost vanilla-ish thickness. I don't really smell honey, milk, oatmeal or sweet grains, which is disappointing. Scott-sniff: "They're all starting to smell the same." Verdict: I'm really rather bemused that it's all almond, all the time. I didn't want it for almonds. Almonds aren't even in the description! However, I like the smell of them. Keep imp to try again. May swap at a later date. [EDIT: After two more tries, I've decided that if I want to smell like almond, I'll slather myself in my Burt's Bees Almond Milk hand lotion. It doesn't smell as sweet, and I like it better.] SWAP!

In the bottle: Mmm! I was concerned with this being too floral, what with the lilac and wisteria, but this is quite pleasant. I never would have picked it out for myself, and I would have been doing myself a disservice. There is a definite floral note, something sharp. But underneath there is a mellowness; I really like that. Wet: Oh, the floral seems to sink into my skin. It's barely there at all right now, which I like. I'm smelling the tartness of lemon and I can sense the musk way back in the mix. (I hardly ever notice the tea scents, which is disappointing, because I adore tea.) Drying: Mrm. Here comes what I'm pretty sure is the wisteria. It might be lilac, but I thought wisteria was a more heady smell. Isn't lilac supposed to be a bit more delicate? I'm not overly thrilled with most florals, particularly more than one flowery note, but this isn't terrible. It is bright and feminine. I'm getting an image of a sunlit bouquet spiked with lots of greenery. It's serene and pleasant; almost placid. It's light and easy to breathe in. (One of the reasons I'm not a floral girl is because some of the scents make my nose and palate burn, although I must also admit I prefer not to smell like a delicate damsel. I don't like pink, ruffles or lace, either.) As it dries further, I continue to get a mostly floral smell, which piques me a bit. I would much rather smell that delicious lemon-green-earthy white, of which, unfortunately, I'm just getting hints. Hmm ... I think as it's mellowing those bits I prefer are starting to seep out? Yes. A bit more light green and citrusy, with the musk faint on my skin. Afternotes: This seems the most "perfumey" imp I've tried so far. It could easily be a drugstore counter formulation. It's gentle and crisp, with a light throw that's present but not intrusive. It brings to mind the idea of medieval salons, ladies-in-waiting gathered to chat while sewing. (Which probably isn't too far off for something named for the daughter of King Lear.) Not something I'd normally pick for myself, but it may suit certain special occasions. Cordelia is a romantic, springtime scent. It's soft, feminine and calm. I can envision wearing it for a happy picnic, for high tea or morning wedding. Scott-sniff: "Mmm-hmm, that smells good." Verdict: Keep imp.

In the bottle: Okay, first, we all know that I totally my first imp of Chimera. I it so much I ordered another imp a few months ago, 'cause I couldn't afford a bottle. My first imp was undoubtedly my favorite scent evah. However, I am reviewing it again for three reasons: 1) How stable are BPAL's formulations? Will this be exactly the same or drastically different? 2) My nose is a bit more educated and I'd like the reference for picking new imps and 3) I'm totally anal-retentive and my goal is to (alphabetically *'.'*) review all of the imps currently in my possession because records are nice, particularly for buying and swapping purposes. Oh! And 4) I don't wanna smell like Cathedral and Cathode any more. OHGODYES! Thank heaven! This is the same Chimera! !!! WUB WUB WUB!!! *Grins like a fiendish fool, shimmies in joy and pleasure.* This is sooo The Best. I don't really smell cinnamon; it's too powdery and sweet for me to identify it as such, at least in its pure form. I'm assuming the other notes are significantly changing it. Some people say, somewhat sadly, that this scent is "play-doh." I get a "play-doh" reference, but I'm not sad about it at all. It's cheerful and comforting. OHGODICAN'TWAITTOPUTTHISON!!! I can not stop smelling this stuff. I can not get enough of it. Wet: I am now willing to try almost every BPAL scent featuring any of these ingredients. This is the happiest, most uplifting, comforting oil I have ever smeared on myself. This imp actually seems to showcase the cinnamon a bit more on my skin (the last one seemed more blended) so I'm getting just a hint of Red Hots. It is sweet, somewhat creamy and delicious. There goes the "pulse point vibration" I seem to get when a BPAL imp works perfectly for me. I am excited and bouncy; since I am relaxing at home, I have no need of masking my moods, and I feel completely, delightfully delirious. Drying: I feel I may have a different definition of "fiery" than does Beth at BPAL. To me, fiery is spicy, dry and aggressive. I don't feel that Chimera is a fiery scent; it's not dry and it's not that aggressive, though it's powerful. It's confident. It's thick, sweet and rich; it would be dreamy except for the fact that it is so vibrant. This scent is very alive. It's sweet, somewhat foody, with a delightful gloopy, buttery creaminess to it. I'm wondering if either myrrh or copal smell vaguely ambery-vanilla? Oh my stars and garters, I don't just want to lick my arms, I want to take bites out of them, they smell so good! I have sensitive skin, and I am ever so grateful that it tolerates cinnamon, which I take can be a very irritating oil for some. I did notice a very faint tingling, but it wasn't that bad. If I ever started breaking out because of this, there would be tears. Chimera is another definite mood-altering scent. I put it on when I am afraid I am going to have a rough day, and I feel more calm and buoyant. I feel protective arms around me, a pillar to lean against (which is probably one of the reasons I associate this oil so much with Rook.) If I put it on when I'm already feeling good, it makes me a bit mischievous. The scent is deep, intense and lasting with a strong but not overpowering throw. It is utterly perfect. I guess I like foody scents? Afternotes: I've tried two of Beth's imps containing honeysuckle, and neither one has given me honeysuckle yet. I am sure that the honeysuckle is affecting Chimera on my skin; I get a ghost of an impression, which I think is contributing to why I keep calling this scent "sweet." But as far as "Honeysuckle! Yes!" - er, no. Honeysuckle is one of the few florals that I know I can stand, and for some reason I associate it with Rook (which irritates the character no end; he doesn't want to smell like flowers, like a "girl.") But in summers past, I've walked past vines so thick they looked like bushes and smelled the blooms wafting on the air ... and have just been transported into a universe where he exists. I originally picked this scent to try because of the honeysuckle. And even though that note doesn't come out to play much on my skin, I still completely this combination of notes with Rook, because it surrounds me and flows through me and makes me happy, gives me strength. It's my tea and Ted E. Bear. I can imagine the character smelling like this (much to his chagrin; you should see the grimaces he's pulling in my mental vision - quit it, Rook, and let me rub my face against your chest! ;}) even though it doesn't seem like a masculine scent. It's warm, thick, slightly syrupy, mellow and bright. Strong and somewhat sexy, but not in an overt, vampy way. This sex is luxuriance, joy and confidence; it's kind of innocent kittenish. Okay, okay, it's 'crownip! ;D Ye Gods. If I never smelled another scent ever but could have this every day, I think I'd live. ;} HahaHA! Tallie won't stop licking me and trying to lick my sweater! Scott-sniff: "It's okay." Verdict: I don't care if they like it less than I do. This is mine and I it and I'm getting a 5 ml as soon as possible! (Since I can't afford the 10.)

In the bottle: When I tried this back in April (I believe) I was disappointed to smell Polo. However, I tried it again last month and got a positive reaction from Scott (and I didn't smell the green manly cologne smell.) So let's see what we get today! Okay, I am still thinking "green," but somehow creamy. Pleasant. Personally, I'm liking it more than Cathedral. Ohwait! Mint! I wasn't sure I'd react well to mint - I'd like to like the smell of mint; I do generally find the taste refreshing, but sometimes the smell can make me kind of headachy, snappy and sick. In the bottle, the mint is zingy and refreshing, lightening the rest of the imp in a playful way. Wet: Hrm. Complex; the mint seems to be on the top here. I am getting a teeny-tiny hint of Polo, but it's not intense. I'm supposing the mosses are grounding and balancing this scent. I've had good reactions with oakmoss in the past, or so I believe; it's been an ingredient in several perfumes that work very well with my personality and skin. It seems decently layered; although I'm getting an impression of wintergreen or spearmint gum, I can't say that that is exactly what - particularly all of what - I smell. That overpowering cold, sharp zing that makes me sick when people pop their gum in my face isn't giving me a huge headache here. I'm not thrilled with how minty it is, but it's not awful by any means. Drying: And I still wish I had a better scent vocabulary. There's a smoothness; I'm not sure I'd use the word "creamy," but that's the impression I'm getting as the layers settle into my skin. It's not a foody scent, though I am reminded, ever so slightly, of an ice cream parlor. No heavy sweet scents in the air; that refreshing coolness. I'd prefer more moss and less mint on my skin, but this really isn't as bad as I'd feared. It does seem refreshing; it seems much more a summer than a winter scent. It's bright and green and a bit masculine. As it dries further, I can sniff a slight warm tang that lands on my tongue; I find this note rather pleasant. I'm wondering if it is the ambergris? It would be the note to convey Cathode's "electricity." Afternotes: I can see very well how someone else might find this one pleasant. I do not dislike it. Unfortunately, although mint chocolate chip is one of my favorite ice creams, I'm still a bit agitated when I smell mint. I think it's quite well done, but this is just a bit too fresh and zingy for me, and I can't think of a way to use it in my writing. Scott-sniff: "I like the other one (Cathedral) better." Verdict: Sorry, kids, but since Daddy and I are both a bit ambivalent, I'm going to swap this one.

In the bottle: There's that weird - well, it's not an odd scent, it's just that I haven't been able to put a name or better description to it yet - note that is, I think, in Anne Bonny; the "pine" that I am pretty sure isn't pine. There may be a bit of smokiness underneath, or that may just be in my head, suggested from the description. But that one scent is all I smell. I actually really like churches, so I had high hopes for this; I also thought it would make a good Greyhaven reference. But I'm not sure it will work. Wet: Okay. I smell smoky wood, which is better than the Anne Bonny whatever in the bottle. There is something resinous there. It's ... I am not sure I'd describe it as pleasant, but it's calming. Oddly, this doesn't smell as "masculine" to me as some imps with floral notes do. It smells more neutral. There was a brief spike of the Anne Bonny-ness which made me twinge "Oh, no!" - but before I could even finish that thought, it went away again. Back to the woodiness, which is of course not an outdoor forest, but a pencil shaving, sandalwood incense, new unpolished furniture/trim sort of smell. I can handle the woodiness. Perhaps not as an everyday scent, but it doesn't make me want to toss the imp. Drying: Sweet with a bit of a tang. I just let my best friend (Jet) in and it goes really well with her canine-and-dirt; a fresh, dog-huggy smell. It's thick but airy; I get wafting cedar, a hint of pine and a sweet resin. I don't smell a cathedral, which is a disappointment. Afternotes: It's interesting, and complex to my nose, with continuously shifting scents on my skin. I get a brief spike of something sort of amber-lemon, a millisecond of something not quite vanilla, a teasing hint of tang, but mostly shifting wood and resin under a thick top note that's a sweet cedar. I don't find anything wrong with this scent; it doesn't make me as uncomfortable and not-myself as Anne Bonny. It's not as heavy and strong a scent. But there's something about it that isn't me; it's more like me in a place I'm a bit antsy to move from, to get on to somewhere else. It's a scent for movement. I'm not getting anything definitely Greyhaven about it; it's not Ragnar, it's not St. Etiennes, it's not the woods above The Cliffs. Almost, but not quite. [EDIT: This scent lasts. I should mention that I tried a tiny drop on my arm last night before I went to sleep, and I drifted off very comfortably. When I awoke, my arm smelled bright and clean; I personally prefer the scent at that stage. And I just tried to wash this off to dull the scent, because I'll be trying another imp on my other arm, but after a big sudsing, it is still there.] Scott-sniff: "Mmm! I like that!" Verdict: Heh, I guess my family likes it more than I do! Not that I dislike it; I just wasn't certain, and there are so many BPALs I want to smell. I'd been considering keeping it "for now" and offering it for swap if I saw something I reallyreally wanted in trade, but I suppose I'm back to keeping the imp. I don't think I'll order it again, however. And I think I'd like this better on a day when we get out more. It's a scent, on me, which asks for sun, laughter and fresh air.

In the bottle: Mmmmmm!!! This smells delicious! Not quite edible, as there's a definite piney underscent, perhaps a bit soapy, but that makes me think "fresh and clean!" I think - I hope I'm going to like this. Wet: It's not in the descriptions, but there really is something piney or green. The sage, maybe? My nose knows nothing. But I'm getting more of an "under the dense canopy" feel than I am of "Yummy! Berries!" Drying: Ah, here come the berries. I'm going all mouth-watery. This scent doesn't seem as intense on me as, say, Absinthe. Absinthe totally wrapped itself around me and had its way. I feel more power over myself with Bewitched, but I'm getting a similar "pulse point vibration." I want to smell this. I keep extending my neck and sniffing, like a hound who has found something totally enthralling. It's like being ensnared in a spiderweb; I am certainly big enough and strong enough to burst through it on my own - it's an ethereal thing - but it's definitely there, and it's definitely affected me. The soapiness seems to have diminished; my wrists smell very pleasant. I thought I detected a faint vanilla scent, buttery or creamy. That couldn't be the musk, could it? The berry fragrance doesn't seem overly synthetic; it's juicy and fragrant. Dusky. I get a sense of herbs, though as it dries it seems to lose that deep green. This isn't necessarily a detraction, as I adore berries and if it wants to smell like berries, hey, I'm happy! [EDIT: As it dries a bit further, the slight sharpness of the sage comes back into play. This scent is also long-lasting; it doesn't throw far, but it stays on my skin.] Afternotes: This is a light, teasing scent, something to seek out rather than something that swaggers up and claims "I'm here!" Sweet, fruity, creamy, and a bit airy. Mellow and confident. It's smooth; the scents and underscents blend together in a way that reminds me of a crisp and pleasant summer kitchen, or a light and comfortable sitting room with the faintest calming potpourri. I feel very pleasant and centered; aware, mindful, positive. I feel ready to live, and dream. A bit earthy, but a bit more brightly fey. It may be a "young" smell - if not Maiden, then vibrant Mother - and I hesitate just a bit because of that, but overall, I am lovestruck. This is a definite keeper. Mineminemine. You can't have it! Scott-sniff: "Mmm-hmm! You smell good!" Verdict: Definite keeper. I would like more, also. Perhaps not a 5ml yet, but at least an imp always around.

In the bottle: (Although I'm trying to be as detailed and evocative as possible, this review is a bit short and sterile. I wore the scent yesterday, and when I am at work, I don't have time to read BPAL forums, or scribble more than the briefest of notes to myself. Yesterday I didn't even get to do that. So I am operating from memory.) Pleasant, but rich and heavy. I consider it spicy in an almost masculine way (which is probably why I thought "Old Spice" in my last review.) It smells kind of woody, foresty. I'm not sure if that's the sandalwood (which, in my incense, usually doesn't give me a forest feeling; it's lighter when I burn it, bare and desert-essence Middle Eastern) or my nose's interpretation of the combination of scents. The spiciness isn't a foody smell; I'm not certain how to describe it. My nose feels full. *'.'* Wet: This becomes darker and richer with my chemistry. It's almost overpowering. I can't say it's unpleasant, but I do feel rather overwhelmed. I'm not certain what eiather patchouli or frankincense smells like on its own, and I'm very interested in trying them in other combinations, because nothing about this imp screams "horror! uncomfortable!" to me, though I do feel that it is wrong for me and my image of myself. It's not what I prefer to smell; I'm just not thriled with everything all together, in combination with my skin. Drying: This throws really well (perhaps too well.) The previous times I have worn it, it has always been noticed. It's been complimented upon, so I continue to try it out, hoping that I will like it. But I don't feel as though I smell like myself, and that's a very disorienting feeling. I don't care for it. (The feeling, that is.) The scent remains quite noticeable / strong for hours. While I appreciate not smelling like a hothouse, I don't pick up the "incensy" sensation that others in the forum have described, which I think would make me feel less aggressive. I am afraid that this scent is just a bit too "butch" for me. Afternotes: I'm not picking up any Greyhaven characters, so I don't think I'm going to hang on to this for writing purposes, either. If I could not trade it with someone else, I wouldn't mind using it as a room scent. But, as Scott would say about some other items I have tried, it is "heavy," and that looming quality just isn't conveying anything I particularly care to share with my nose or with others. I am glad to have tried the scent, though it was not on my list of first-picks. It has broadened my spectrum and interested me in trying the notes in other combinations. Scott-sniff: N/A Verdict: SWAP!

In the bottle: Oh, I still have such an uneducated nose, such a dearth of scent vocabulary. This smells masculine to me; floral, but a dark, calculated bouquet, as if created for a (nefarious) purpose other than mere enjoyment. I'm picturing blooms that are drooping and "overripe." There's also something spicy in there. (I don't know whether or not it's the vetivert?) Wet: There's a tanginess to this that I can practically taste at the back of my mouth. I can feel a fuzz, a buzzing on my palate. I'm not entirely comfortable with that. I'm not sure if it's the opium or the vetivert, but something seems as if it should be pleasant - however, I find it not. Not directly, just a sort of unease I'm associating with, projecting on to it. I was really hoping that this would "work" for one of my Greyhaven characters - the description called to mind one of my darker men, such as Eldritch, Kage or Jason, though I had high hopes it would fit Rade. Alas, it most definitely isn't Rade. It might work for Sam. It has his calculation and slickness. I must admit, I tried this once before, right out of the shipping box and away from any note-taking, and was severely disappointed because that day all I could smell on myself was Old Spice. (Now, I once said Anne Bonny reminded me of Old Spice, but in a good way. Anne Bonny doesn't have any of the same notes in it. My nose and my brain need help, obviously. But I think the reason that I smelled Old Spice with Anathema was that it did turn sort of soapy on my skin.) Anathema was going to be my first definite swap, but now that I'm trying it again, I'm not smelling the same thing, and I'm not certain. Still... I don't think I want to smell like this. Drying: There's a bit of a powdery or soapy feeling coming to play. It's very strange, but I did not smell the honeysuckle either time tried this imp. There's a hint, but it's ... wrong. Twisted. This is disappointing and disconcerting. I'm associating this scent with someone who has power; a kind of white-collar power and social standing. A slick lawyer who fleeces his clients for all he can get (though he does win their cases.) Not staid enough to be a banker. Not a doctor; there's no hint of "trustworthy" or "comforting." A bit too upper crust and established to be a used car salesman. A politician, perhaps. But this is the scent of somebody I just don't trust. It puts me on edge. It's rich, and it's a dark floral. As I read the forums, I'm beginning to think it's the opium note that is bothering me. I notice that the word "menacing" cropped up more than once; I can "smell" that. Afternotes: Okay, there's the honeysuckle, but it's still off; bitter and soapy. This scent, on me, seems musty and cloying. It's too heavily floral for me personally, and perhaps a bit too floral for Sam as well. I think at least one of my male characters might like to smell completely manly. The more I think about it, the more this smells like a bossy older lady used to getting her way. A grande dame. Compared to my completely positive reactions to scents such as Absinthe and Chimera, this one is a definite throw-away. I'm vacillating about getting rid of it, because I'm a terrible pack-rat, and what if? What if I don't find another scent that channels Sam as easily? Well, then, I guess I could try another imp. Life is too short! I don't want to smell like this. I don't like it. It was different before, but I didn't like it then, either. And there are too many other interesting descriptions out there to try. I just hope that someone who has good experiences - or hopes for good experiences - with honeysuckle or opium or vetivert will want this after I've stated what I think. o.O Scott-sniff: N/A Verdict: SWAP!

In the bottle: Sweet, with an underlying sour or bitter tang; the dark essence of licorice oozing over tart lemon. I find the scent thick and yet elusive. It's pleasant but not pretty; more obsessive and interesting. Wet: Today the lemon is really coming out on me, which I don't mind at all, as I really like citrus scents. I think the lemon is what makes the scent so teasing and ethereal. I can't really detect the licorice, which I usually smell, nor any of the other notes in the mix. Drying: Ah. I think I'm beginning to smell the licorice. I can't stand the taste of licorice, but the smell is rather pleasant, particularly when one is in a mood to be a bit dark and ... oh, what's the word I'm thinking of? I'm seeing a Mona Lisa smile, but instead of a simple "Is she smiling or isn't she?" it's a definite smirk. The question becomes, why is she smirking? Is it because she is knowledgeable and competent and can take you - although it amuses her to humor you for now, or is it because she's playing with you, and she's dangerous? [EDIT: I think the word I was looking for was something similar to "enigmatic."] I strongly associate this oil with my Greyhaven character Anise. Anise is a vampire who has been around several centuries. She was a completely different person when she was a human being. Going through what she did, combined with a latent weakness, turned her into something cruel and insane. She's wily, and she follows some rules, but she's out for her own pleasure, and her pleasure is pretty twisted. (However, I don't find her an unsympathetic villian; I find her seductive and fascinating.) Absinthe makes me feel her delicate brashness, her confidence, her mad embrace of darkness and hedonism. The scent's coming into full bloom now, enveloping me in a thick blanket, like the opium and occult incenses she tends to burn to fill up her space. It's heady; it's intoxicating. It makes me feel as befuddled and disoriented as Kage was when he first tripped into her lair; I can understand why he just let her have her way. It's like a drug. It's also something of an aphrodisiac. I'm not certain I am open enough to describe what this is doing to my nether regions; suffice it to say I don't want to walk; I want to recline and stretch like a cat. I want to roll, and if I have to stand upright to move, I will do so with a calculated swing of the hips. My pulse points are vibrating. I feel very physical and naughty - which brings me back to that smirk. I think the smirk is a warning of darkness. Afternotes: Ah! An all-too-brief period in which the notes swirled around each other and I wasn't certain about what I was smelling. Sweetness with a bite. The scent rolled like smoke, like grumbling thunder, oozing around me and gaining power. I felt as though I was slick and dripping, warm and absolutely satisfied to be in myself. It seems to have the perfect throw; very intense just at my skin, but moving out just a foot or two, it becomes something to draw you in. Holding my wrist out at arm's length, I can't really sense it (though I must admit my nose has been terribly assualted by me drawing in huge breaths, because mmm!!!) - I don't think it's overpowering, and it may be akin to the "second skin" effect described on the forums. The licorice is definitely layered with other scents now. I think I am detecting the wormwood, which is quite subtle on me - and oh! I'm pretty sure that's the cardamom! (Which is also just a deeply layered hint.) I'm not detecting any mint or greenness. I'm trying hard to categorize this; it's certainly not floral. It's not really foody, even with the strong licorice scent that is brought out by my skin. It's not incensy / spicy, or musky, or watery. It is not a pink, light, girly-girl feminine; it has a dark, seductive and almost solid bite to it. It therefore may not be entirely work safe. ;} [EDIT: It's a powerful scent, and strong. Not in the "hit your nose" sense, but in the visceral reaction it creates. I got up and moved around the house and was struck by how it seemed to fit. The smell of the oil mingled perfectly with my lunch (homemade fried rice with bacon and green onions, an orange, and hot black tea) - so perhaps it is foody - and just worked in the darkness of my bedroom as well as the bright living room. It's a bit gothic, a bit esoteric, but it's aggressive and alive rather than gloomy, and physical rather than spiritual. Further notes: As always, the smell seems to fade on me within two to three hours, but in trying to wash it off to try another imp, it just won't part from my skin! It has more staying power than I gave it credit for; it just shrinks to me, rather than the air I inhabit.] I am in absolute heaven. This is a definite mood-altering scent. Scott-sniff: "I like it." Verdict: I am entranced by this imp. I don't want to take the smell off! It is one of the BPAL scents that have made a huge impact on me. I'm sure I'd be despondent should I run out; I'd consider a second imp, but I fear I'd worry about running out of that. Therefore, I feel justified in considering a bottle. I just wish it wasn't a whole $12.50 for 5 ml. I certainly can't afford the 10.