cuervosueno

I opened this one up, smelled it, and thought, lord no! This smells very "fake" in the bottle, yet somehow familiar. What was it? Then I got it! It smelled like Pez! Yes indeed, just like Pez. Now I like Pez. But I don't want to smell like it, so I pretty much just gave up on this one right away. Then later I remember the tea, the carnation, and I thought surely this lime sugar can't ruin the whole thing for me. So I tried it again, and it is much better on, thankfully. On, it is rounder, fruitier, and not at all artificial, though it is a bit sweeter than I like. It is indeed very "green" in a glowing green candy way. I wish I got more tea, but I'm all about strong tea scents and rarely get them. I get some pear, and not enough carnation. I find this pleasant but not a keeper.

I just got several decants, and tried this one right away, because I was pretty sure I would love it. I do! In the imp I get the mandarin topnote right away, but the buttery pumpkin is under there as well as the spice of the giner. The mango doesn't show up as a distinct note, but adds to the fruitiness of this. When I put it on, it is a golden, rich and fruity blend. Like others have noted, the pumpkin is definitly there, but not as strong as pumpkin in some other blends. I really like this and will be getting a bottle.

Vixen is my fave of the orange blossom scents by BPAL. I like both orange blossom and neroli and tend to talk about them as if they are the same, as they are from the same plant, and I think, if I understand it correctly, the only difference is in how they are obtained. (Yes, I just looked it up, and here is what I got from Wikepedia: "For instance, orange blossoms from Citrus aurantium that have undergone solvent extraction produces "orange blossom absolute" but that which have been steam distilled is known as "neroli oil". I only put this here, because I've been long confused by the difference, and thought other people might be too). anyway, vixen is my fave. I just retried Ravenous (red patchouli and orange blossom), and it is a nice neroli too, but since it is similar to Vixen (and to my other fave Neroli blend, Arcana's The Sweet Trade), I decided I didn't need it. I find it softer than Vixen. For me, neither Catherine or Arcana is a particularly "orange blossom" scent as both are heavier on other notes on me.

I had high hopes for this one, but the musk ruins it for me. It starts out promising, sweet cherry and vanilla. It's not as boozy as I had hoped since it is a cherry liquer--it's more like a candied cherry or cherry pie filling or something. I like it initially, but then the cherry fades down and I get a vanilla musk, and that musk is just too....musky! I don't know, I just don't like white musk or egyptian musk, but sometimes they end up being more a base than an individual note so I'm ok with them, but not this time. Oh well! Off to swaps!

I thought I'd love this, but not so much. It does remind me of velvet--the fabric, not the scent--but old, dry, crumbling velvet that has been dusted with incense ash. I like incense, but I had hoped this would be a bit sweeter from the plum. Instead it is dark and dry. It's ok, and certainly suits it's name, but it is not a keeper for me.

I wore aged black lace for the ceremony, and put on honey moon later that night.

I love Host of the Air too! I think Roadhouse kind of falls into this category--it has a lot of fresh dandelions, anyway, but it does also have hops.

Samhain is similar....that's why I ended up getting falling Leaf Moon, actually, because I adore Samhain, but suddenly, it wouldn't work on me--some odd change in body chemistry--but I can wear falling leaf moon and get the same vibe (though FLM lacks the cider note in Samhain). I don't think anything really smells like Hod, myself. Alice is in the same family, but much creamier. Morocco didn't smell the same to me, but it's been so long, I might have to get a Morocco imp and compare again. Now Burluesque Troupe....hmm...there was something that was in the same family--similar enough that I decided I didn't need the other, because I had BTBT, but what was it I'm pretty sure it was Countess Willy. Not the same, but they both had a kind of chocolately, boozy, and sweet too. Might see if you can find a decant and try it out.

A very kind forumite sent me a bit of this, and I put it on, having no idea what was in it. This is what I thought was in it: sugary vanilla patchouli. It reminded me a bit of Mara Fox's Sugared Patchouli, in fact. Though there was something else nagging at me that seemed familiar. When I saw the note list, I was both, boy was I wrong, and also a ha! Because of the leather! of course, leather! But often BPAL leather amps to the exclusion of everything else on me, and this did not do that. Now I say it smells like sweet, sugared patchouli and leather. I say this even though I am aware it doesn't make much sense given the notes, but this is what it smells like on me. Nice, but not a must-have.

Wow, this is pretty! If it doesn't fade away too quickly, it might be bottle worthy. It is really strong mandarin in the imp, but sweeter than an actual mandarin orange, more like candied mandarin, or mandarin slices dipped in slightly spiced honey (because I get a slightly peppery note too, which is nice). I don't get booze per se, but this has the most gorgeous golden feel, which I associate with the cognac. I don't get the tobacco as a note either, but when I like blonde tobacco best, it is not so much a tobacco scent as something that adds depth and gold to the blend, which this has. This is really lovely, sweet, but dry, and though it doesn't smell like tobacco per se to me, it makes me think of golden pipe tobacco, dry and unsmoked. With honey. And mandarin. I really like it. It sweet but sophisticated too. And like nothing else I have. If it lasts, I'm getting a bottle.

I love pear, so was really excited for this, even though I worried about the jasmine. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy jasmine, but it tends to go HEY! I"M HERE AND I"M JASMINE! one me, so I was worried it would overwhelm. Which is what happened. It started out gorgeous--sweet and golden without a discernable pear scent--just golden sweet yum. Then I thought, huh what is that white flower in there? (Cuz I'd forgotten about Ms. Jasmine who was getting ready to knock me over the head). Then it went, well, you know. JASMINE is HERE! And it got slightly soapy too. Pleasant, but like, well, jasmine soap. I was sad. Where is my pear? Now some of the pear has come back--it's like pear nectar of over jasmine soap. No wood, and no pepper, sadly. And I forgot that champaca sometimes likes to turn into generic white floral soap on me, so I had two notes going for soap.... So it's not really working for me, sadly. I like little whiff of pear I get, and maybe, just maybe, a hint of wood if I can somehow slide around bossy Ms. Jasmine, but that's not easy to do....

It's like I'm smelling something totally different than what everyone else is....I get a slightly golden scent that isn't particularly like frankincense to me, something slightly herbal and medicinal....slightly sharp, slightly menthol. but overall this is so faint I can really barely detect it.

Yup, honey and snake oil! It's nice, though...smooth and lush honey and the spice of snake oil give it a kind of light cinnamon waft at first...It's really delicious. At first I thought I didn't need it because I have several honey scents, including my fave, Honey Moon, and at first it seemed like this was too faint and fleeting on me. Must have been a day I was trying something really strong, because I put it on last night, and woke this morning and could still faintly smell it. That said, it doesn't have nearly as much throw as O which probably isn't a bad thing...it kind of invites you in closer. Bottleworthy for sure!

Whoa! This is odd! In the imp I get a whiff of green apple, but on me, the green apple takes the backseat to something oddly bubblegum-ish (as others have noted) and then green wood and then ash! This is really strange, kind of like someone peeled some bark off a bunch of twigs then tossed in some bubblegum and dumped ash over the whole thing. Yeah, don't think I need anymore of this.

I like this! In the imp and wet it begins quite woody, but with a bit of undefined fruitiness too. I also get whiffs of soft cinnamon. As it dries and lingers, the wood softens and the fruit is more prominent. When I wore it earlier today I had no idea what kind of fruit might be in it, but simply that there was some. After reading the description, I still don't pick out tamarind or almond or fig--just a bright fruitiness that is not grape--more red if that makes sense. There is a slightly bubblegum note, which makes it seem more like a candy fruit than a real fruit (but it is not too sweet--the wood and herbal notes keep that under control). I also get the slight chocolate vibe people mentioned. What it reminds me of is Alecto--wood, slightly astringent herbal note with something that reads as berries (in Alecto). It doesn't really seem that close to Alecto, but to my nose they might be cousins. I like it!

Lord....tempest in a teapot, and I'm sorry Beth had to step in and respond to something she has already talked about. Repeatedly. Jayne, you're stirring things up for no apparent reason. Wasn't clear if it was curiosity or shitstirring at first, but now it is pretty clear which it is. Why are you so concerned with whether some components might be synthetic or not when you've already told us (repeatedly) about your love of high end perfumes, and even discussed how you like perfumers make things "molecule by molecule" (ie. synthetic). You got your answer about where Beth's components come from (and frankly to suggest she was using oils meant for candles is another example of how you're trying to stir things up). Now stop. If you don't like the perfume, fine. If you do, that's fine too. But this supposed "curiosity" is bullshit. And some people who are concerned about this for so-called health reasons? I'm not speaking about all of you, but some of you have been around long enough to either know if BPAL works for you or not, and don't need to be demanding on that issue, especially after Beth already made it clear where she gets her components. If there is something that people know they are allergic to, that's different, and then you should talk to the lab directly. I really don't see that knowing about synthetic vs. nonsynthetic is going to have much in general to do with health issues (though a specific component might, and then, again, talk to the lab. The fact they will even address these kind of issues says something about their integrity). Anyway, I think that by far the wisest thing to do now--now that we have the information from Beth about where her components come from (not that she hasn't said this all before)--is to ignore the trolling, and let the (non)drama die down.

Cake Smash is delicious. In the imp,it is all delicious vanilla and cake, with lovely frosting. I put it on, and as it dries down, a wonderful spice is added to the mix. It really is absolutely drool-worthy, and doesn't turn plastic on me as some cake/vanilla scents from BPAL do. On me, it is very very like Arcana's Adoration, though, so I don't need to get a bottle as I already have a bottle of the Arcana scent.

Oh, this sounded so delicious, though I know it could go wrong. I love cacao, and tobacco absolute is something I love the idea of (though in practice, it doesn't always work). Ok, musk is hit or miss, more miss than hit, but at least it wasn't the dreaded red musk (and even that can surprisingly sometimes work). I read the reviews, and had fits of delight and despair. Like Arcana's Morphine without the heavy patch? Oh, delight! Then people started talking about all the black musk, some in tones of praise, some not. Uh, oh! Not good. So I had no idea. What I wanted was a delicious cocoa with the tobacco absolute, which to my nose is gorgeously blonde and rich. and when I first got this bottle, I was just delighted! It was EXACTLY what I wanted: not foody, but warm cocoa, with the dry tobacco note adding a sexy golden depth. I imagine it was the black musk that also added a sexiness to it. It was pretty much what I wanted, which was, yes, Arcana's Morphine without the club-you-over-the-head patchouli (and I like patchouli, so you must know Morphine was really really too much). The sad thing is, after sitting around the house for a couple of days, the bottle became more blonde tobacco and musk and less cocoa. So now it is a bit too bright/light. I want the chocolate back! I'm thinking what it might need is simply to be layered with a chocolate single note (which will have to be from Arcana or somewhere else) to make it back into the delight I wanted. It might also be nice layered with Bliss. Or perhaps over time the cocoa will deepen and the others will lighten up. cocoa/chocolate is a long lasting note that gets richer over time, so I can hope! For now, I wish for more of the cocoa.

This is my favorite of the phoenixes I tried. In the bottle it has a lovely incense scent, with something else familiar, probably the olibanum. A resin, definitely. On me it, the notes become more distinct. The hemlock gives it a nice sharp evergreen note which doesn't overwhelm, but makes it very seasonally appropriate (and I love evergreen!). Behind that, the scent is dark, powdery, and yes, leaden, but like pencil--ie. soft lead. I can't smell the plum per se, but then again, plum is a note I rarely pick out, but I love the round dark richness it gives to some scents. This really reminds me of....soft lead. If I run my wrist past my hand fast I almost get that scent. But close up it is rich and incensey and delightful. It shares some notes with the other phoenixes I have--a slightly perfumy base, and I wonder if that is the tobacco? I'm not sure it is in all of them, though, but there is something that slightly reminds me of upscale men's cologne in all of them--just a hint, anyway. (And actually I only mean in lead, copper and gold as those are the ones I have) A great scent for a resin/incense lover. As an interesting note, though, on the boy it smells much more sharply metallic with less of the plum sweetness. Interesting! eta: ack! Something has gone horribly wrong with this. Now it smells much more like lead....like pencil lead...but it also has an odd scent like someone who is wearing stale perfume after drinking too much the night before. Ok, I'm NOT keeping this one.

I love amber and frakincense, and I love heliotrope too, so I had to get this. Plus, I just love the idea of it, alchemical gold. I see why everyone is calling it citrus. It has a fresh lemon-like scent, bright and yellow, and behind it is the perfumy base I recognize from the other phoenixes.At this stage it smells kind of like a bright lemony cologne, which was totally unexpected. It softens quickly, and the lemony scent becomes more gold than yellow. I can smell the amber but am not sure about the frankincense--it is a resin that does often have a bright almost citrus note, but it usually isn't that close to citrus, so who knows. I don't get verbena (thankfully--its not a good note on me) I wish I got heliotrope because I love its soft vanilla floral, but I don't get it as an individual note (not like in Tarot: The Sun for example). Overall, this is a very bright and golden scent which settles down into softer perfumy sort of gold. I like it, and find that while it doesn't last as long as I'd like, it is more long lived than copper phoenix. (A few hours). In its last fading stages, however, it is very similar to the other phoenixes....

I ordered three phoenixes, and I thought this one would be my great love, because rose aside, I love everything in it. It was mostly the apricot and honey that drew me, but I was pretty happy with all the notes. And it's not my favorite (that honor would go to lead phoenix). It is lovely, though it just does not linger long enough. To my nose, all the Phoenixes share a certain something; they are recognizably from a similar family or base. I can't really explain what it is, but it is slightly perfumy, but also like incense....like amber incense perfume perhaps? On top of that, Copper Phoenix has a strong rose amber scent to me. I definitely get the rose, but it's not enough to turn off this rose-hater; instead, it is more amber with a hint of rose. I don't get much of the other notes definitively. It does have a lovely copper scent to it--imagine rose gold, for example. I can smell the honey, but it is not overwhelming (which wouldnt' be a bad thing for me even if it was). I have a hard time describing this because it is so well blended it is much more than the individual notes. And if I only had this phoenix, I might keep it. It is just in comparison with the others that I like better, this just isn't different or special enough to warrant keeping, though I may hold on to it for awhile to see how it ages. It also fades faster than the others on me--is gone in a couple of hours.

I got to try this because the very kind Molls saw my BPAL Santa wish plea, and sent me an imp--thanks! I like it, but not enough to get a bottle. I really like BPAL honey, but have honey moon (my fave) and Litha (the older version--very honey heavy), so I figured it would have to be spectacular for me to feel I needed more.... I was also surprised by the blast of lemon. It reminded me of lemon pez. It's a nice, sweet, appealing scent (ironic given that it is a scent for Crib girls), but more lemony candy then honey. After awhile, the honey does come out, but it still mostly lemony with some honey rather than the other way around (which means it might work for those who honey doesn't usually work for). It really really reminds me of a TAL oil, but I can't remember which one right now--but the scent is very similar. Bastet's Laughter, maybe? It's one I don't have anymore of, but one that I thought smelled like citrus pez! I'm glad I got to try it.

How odd to think I never reviewed this, given it is a favorite of mine, but since I just got a new bottle from Dark Delicacies, let me review it now and make a comparison between the aged and fresh BL. Actually, they aren't to different, but still... Old (Aged) Dark Lace: Opening the imp, I get a blast of sweet golden booziness. I'm not a booze lover in perfume, but this is rich golden vanilla booziness, like the best bourbon vanilla ever (though it is sweeter than a traditional bourbon vanilla--the cognac I assume). It does have just a hint--like an afterimage--of floral when wet, and it is at this stage that it most resembles Antique Lace, though a grown up, slightly drunk, and very sexy Antique Lace. the tobacco never shows up as a distinct note to me, but it is something that gives this a golden feel (which, now that I think of it, is pretty much a "blonde tabac" note to me). It is very rich and sweet, and reminds me of a deep amber color. I also don't get incense as a separate note, but it is part of the dark sweet blend, that has a slightly smoky impression (while smelling nothing like smoke) One thing I like about it is that it lasts and lasts, and is rich and sweet on, and while it is nothing like any commercial perfume I've tried, it gives the impression of a very rich and expensive eau de perfum. I get a lot of compliments when I wear it. Fresh Dark Lace: Blast of booziness again when opening the bottle, but this time it is a little rawer edged, not as smooth. While it is very similar on, the floral is more than an afterimage here--it is stronger and slightly powdery. This reminds me more of a floral incense--you know how the ashes of incense hold the scent but is more powdery? Like that. It reminds me more of cloth holding with incense ash on it rather than incense itself, and more than an actual floral. there was something in it that I was almost reading as leather--just the tiniest hint--but now after sniffing it for awhile I don't get that, but I think I can smell the tobacco a bit more in this one, which is a somewhat masculine note that I might be interpreting as as leather. It is a bit brighter than aged, and as I said the floral part is a bit stronger, but mostly what I note is that the individual notes are more distinct in BL when it is fresh, but aged, it is just one gorgeous harmonic whole that is richer and has more depth than the fresher bottle. So yeah, I'm stashing this baby away, since I can wear my aged BL when I need a BL fix.

This is nice in the bottle: spicy and kind of dark, just like the little pfferneusse cookies... It's really quite lovely, kind of like gingerbread. On me, however.... ..that lovely gingerbread scent does not last nearly long enough. It's good for about 20 minutes, and then it turns to burnt plastic--you know, the kind of smell you really never want to smell in your car in particular, because it means something is burning that absolutely shouldn't be, like say, the clutch? or the brakes? yeah, that smell. I am not pleased, because it really is a tasty scent in the bottle.

The scent of a vampire cowboy: Sweetgrass and tumbleweeds, cedar and white sage, dusty, wet leather, woodsmoke, and blood. I was given this as a frimp by a super kind and generous forumite, and it was a total surprise: I never thought I'd get to try it! I'm kind of hit or miss on leather scents, because I seriously amp leather, though sometimes, if the scent is good enough, I don't care. And this one is, indeed, very heavy on the leather on me, and while it is that phase, it is ok, if not great. But after about 20 minutes or so, suddenly it is all sharp cologne and leather: imagine aquavelvet spilled on a new leather jacket. Wierd too, because I don't know what that cologne note is....I usually love sweetgrass and sage, and I imagined this to be kind of like Coyote, which I do like. But it's not. Very sad, because it's just my chemistry doing this, but I gotta admit, it is pretty awful on me. And it LASTS! I passed it on to someone I hope will enjoy it more than I did.....