Akurarei

WitchBlade: WitchBlade All the notes sound good! (even the ones that I've never heard of!) In the Bottle: Rich red musk! and Amber! it smells like a clean & warm red musk - I'll attribute the 'sacred metal' as the clean portion of the mixture. On my Skin, Wet: A burst of potent red musk - slowly softening with the metal note(s) and the amber just keeps this blend kind of warm and cozy. On my Skin, Dry: Red musk, sacred metal and a very small trace of the warm amber. This is my favorite blend with red musk ever! I love the intensity of the red musk but not the 'muskiness' of it for more than a couple of hours. This blend is a clean version of red musk, and I can wear it all day long without having that muskiness take over after a while. Verdict: Outstanding! Gorgeous! This does layer well with WB: Sara Pezzini - completely complementary & seamless. I have been wearing this blend alone as well, and I just can't go wrong with it! (even running a little in my hair just before bed- it's just that gorgeous!) 10 of 10 Ranking!! Great job Beth & Labbies! Thank you so much for not only creating this series of scents, but also making it a charitable effort! you guys are the best!

GOBLIN I tried this one yesterday from a Lab frimp. I definitely like the black coconut & benzoin components from this one - but alas the patchouli was too much for me after about an hour. I kept it on for an additional 2 or 3 hours even though I *hate* patchouli to see if the coconut & benzoin do something interesting that drown out the patchouli. They did not so Goblin is definitely not a winner in my book

Witchblade: Sara Pezzini I love this comic and was tremendously excited to see BPAL making these scents! In the bottle: leather & muskiness/sweat... I have to say that the idea of wearing something that smells like sweat isn't too appealing. On my skin, Wet: Sweat & Leather. I haven't had any luck with the Lab's leather note to date - they always go soapy on me. This one seems to be grounded by the sweat and is smelling like oiled leather to my nose. On my skin, Dry: Leather, honey & skin <-- (that looks really morbid & strange, but it's not bad at all!) hooray! a BPAL leather that does *not* turn to soap for me! ::happy dance!:: honey tends to amp on me so it's not really a surprise that this note appears in the dry phase. the sweat note dissipated to a 'skin' note; unusual to say the least, but it's actually kindof comforting. it smells like sun warmed skin - if that makes sense. Verdict: This scent was a gamble, but it just shows that gambles can pay off once in a while! I don't think I'll be wearing this scent by itself, the leather note and sweat at the beginning is a little bit sharp - but I do love it layered with the Witchblade scent. on it's own, I'll rate this one 6 of 10 with the Witchblade scent it gets an 8 of 10 ranking thank you BPAL for making a line of scents to go with this comic! ::love:: ETA (5.24.2010): This just keeps growing on me and I think I'm bumping this rating from a 6 to a 10 out of 10. In addition, I have been wearing this alone and I get nothing but compliments. Plus, since this is the only leather note that has worked on my skin I'm really enjoying what I've been missing from other blends with leather like Loviatar, DeSade, Depraved, Whip, etc. ETA (5.25.2010): Depraved has patchouli, not leather - oops! Definitely buying more bottles of Sara Pezzini!

Naughty! I get the cream note, the golden musk and a berrylicious tea no chocolate or cake for me!

PEACH MOON In the Bottle: Peachy goodness - it smells like freshly sliced sweet peaches On my Skin, Wet: Peaches and Sugary Blossoms! It's like peach slices served with candied rose petals or candied lilies (which don't actually exist IIRC); all while sitting under a blossoming tree warmed by the sun on an early Spring day. On my Skin, Dry: Fades quite a bit, but the scent doesn't morph very much. The dewey-ness from the wet stage goes away but I still smell like fresh peaches with a hint of sugary florals. Verdict: One of the most delicate & juiciest blends I've ever tried from BPAL. 8 of 10 Ranking (only because of the drastic fade - probably solved in a scent locket) This was a beautiful & suprising December Lunacy; I'm very pleased! Thank you Labbies & Beth for the peachy treat ETA: In the bottle this reminds me very strongly of a heavily peached Holiday Moon; could be the tea note that I missed earlier.

In the bottle this doesn't smell much different to me than Fruit Moon. On, it's almost identical to Fruit Moon but with a sprig of Juniper. Both are really good scents on me though, so that's a plus

BOO 2009 (I'll do a proper review later) I put this on a while ago, and initially it was all sugar. now that a couple of hours have past, it smells very soft, creamy, and clean. it's a very comforting scent.

Fire Phoenix: Anniversary Blend In the Bottle: Very musky, I think I was expecting lots of smoke & cinnamon, but there's definitely neither one of those notes present. For a 'fire' scent, it's very calm and borderline cool smelling. Maybe it's just my nose? On my Skin, Wet: SPICY & MUSKY! yeow! that's pungent! I don't like scents that envelop me this much. It's almost all musk with the kitchen cabinet full of spices, like all the spice bottles are open and being fanned into my face. On my Skin, Dry: Musky still but not nearly as intense, thank goodness! It's developing a nice soda-ish undertone that is fizzy and jubilant. I guess that's the sasparilla I don't smell the spices as much anymore, though I keep smelling something that reminds me of coriander. I wish that the tobacco would appear as I love the Lab's tobacco note (strangely enough!) Cubeb berry, what & where are you? I would like to meet you! Please!? Verdict: A very nice & unexpected interpretation of 'fire' I don't care much for the initial wet phase, it's *really* strong. the dry down is very soothing and really rather comforting. 6 of 10 rating!

Wood Phoenix: BPAL Anniversary 2008 In the Bottle: Woods and a deep purple berry - but it's definitely heavy on the woods On my Skin, Wet: Woods and the fig are prominent - I don't think I've ever tried anything with a walnut note in it, so I can't tell if it's playing some part in amping the woods. The woods are not dry though, so maybe the walnut 'oil' (as in real life nut oil) makes the woods extra lush instead of that generic "processed pine/lumber" feel to some of the lab's wood notes. On my Skin, Dry: Surprisingly faint - I tend to amp cedar all over creation, so I guess there is either no cedar in this or something else is eating the cedar up entirely. The fig smells very much like Acai Berry to me once it's dry. That's a first - normally fig smells bitter or sour to me, but not this time...just sweet and subtle. In the Scent Locket: OH MY!! Wood Phoenix definitely belongs in the scent locket for me! It's become Australian Copperhead + deep, dark, lushious woods! LOVE IT!! Buying another bottle!! HOORAY! 10 of 10 Ranking!! GORGEOUS!

Moon of Small Spirits: What hkhm said, exactly

Sybaris I finally tried this one last night. And it was awful on my skin! The violets were soggy and dead - very putred. and they were mixed with spices. very disappointing

Lady Lilith: Forum Only In the Bottle: Smells very much like Beaver Moon 2007 to me - I guess I smell the vanilla cream the most. On my Skin, Wet: Like a mandarin Beaver Moon 2007! Cream! Vanilla! Mandarin! oh, wait - there's a hint of musk peeking out - I can't tell if it's the red or white variety though. On my Skin, Dry: Still very creamy vanilla. the mandarin has subsided somewhat, and the rose is coming out now. still vaguely musky - but I don't know my musks well enough to tell you whether it's the red or white one. maybe both? so - it's pink musk! Verdict: I LOVE that this starts out like a mandarin Beaver Moon 2007! it becomes more complex as it wears, and luckily for me the notes are gorgeous! 9 of 10 Ranking!

Sturgeon Moon 2008 In the Bottle: Clean water with a single white bloom On my Skin, Wet: SWEET WATER! amazing! Beth is truly an artist! This sweet water has a pale green impression to me, and is rimmed with a single white bloom, very faint, but just enough to give it s little dimension. On my Skin, Dry: GLOWING sweet water - it's a beautiful bright day, where all the colors are paler from the immense white light, and I'm sitting next to THE cleanest little pond in existance! A gentle breeze takes the scent of the pond and it's tiny white flowers to me and I take a deep breath and just feel refreshed! Verdict: incapsulated imagery! this is the most amazingly evocative scent in my collection - I adore it! 10 of 10 ranking!

Lune Noir In the Bottle: very similar to Black Moon IMO....I smell citrus and orchid florals On my Skin, Wet: Very clean and bright - bubbly - not at all dark and ominous! I smell delicate lemon florals and clean aloe like qualitities....strange. On my Skin, Dry: Still very clean. The lemon scent I am getting is still there but the aloe scent I was getting is replaced with a "water pear" - it's the strangest pear incarnation I've ever some across! I really like it though! very unique lemon/pear scent! Verdict: strange morphology going on but the delicate water lemon pear outcome is very unique and quite compelling! not much throw, which is the only sad note. 6 of 10 Ranking!

Mead Moon 2008 In the Bottle: Boozey Honey On my Skin, Wet: Boozey Honey - AMPED On my Skin, Dry: Boozey Honey - with a touch of something else that I can't place...it seems dusty, yet isn't...seems floral but isn't...seems musky but isn't...etc. Verdict: pretty much stays the same throughout - I think I would be happier with it if I could figure out what the heck is going on with it on that final drydown where it becomes a kaliedoscope of impressions. 4 of 10 Ranking!

Blood Moon 2008 In the Bottle: Musk and Incense On my Skin, Wet: Musk and Incense - the "blood rimmed lunar oils" seem to be making an appearance, because the impression I get at this stage is DARK RED. On my Skin, Dry: The musk settles down some, and retreats into the background. the Incense is sharing the spotlight with the lunar oils, and it has moved into a blackened red incense phase. Verdict: beautiful! I was somewhat fearful that the musk would be overpowering and make me stinky, but instead it was predominantly incense - and I love incense blends so this one is a gem. 9 of 10 Ranking!

Harvest Moon 2008 In the Bottle: Faint "grains" smell - an idealized farm with golden fields of wheat. On my Skin, Wet: Dry and sharp! This is what I was expecting from Hay Moon! I was expecting the wet stage to present the grapes and clove, but they did not make an appearance. I don't know what Fennel smells like, so I can't say what is making this scent so dry on me. On my Skin, Dry: Golden "grains" notes again, with a pop of berry-cherry-grape. Retains an overall dry feeling though, which I think is appropriate for a fall lunacy. Verdict: Unexpected! I think I could wear it more often if it did not have such a dry, biting onset. but the drydown is very soft and lovely - evocative of a lazy fall night on a rural, desolate road. 7 of 10 Ranking!

Chaos Theory IV: Edge of Chaos CXXVII (127) Yay scent experiment! I wonder if the Labbies had a mad scientist movie fest going on while they made these bottles. In my bottle: Oranges pierced with cloves and an undercurrent of chocolate and apples (similar to Samhain, IMHO) On My Skin, Wet: Yes! an orange scent! There are DEFINITELY cloves present too - it smells very home Christmas potpourri to me! My family loves to make the oranges with clove piercings for the house when it's cold out, and this scent captures that tradition PERFECTLY! On my Skin, Dry: Still that lovely orange and clove scent, just gorgeous! I also am smelling a slightly resinous note hiding underneath all that citrus deliciousness...my guess is amber. MAYBE it could be a very small amount of sandalwood - every now and then I can't tell those two apart if they are not a major component. Verdict: mine is a 10 of 10 ranking!! I absolutely ADORE my CT4 - I'm so glad I took a chance on it, because part of me was terrified of receiving something like orange blossom SN or patchouli SN. one turns to burnt plastic on me and the other is simply disgusting on me. FORTUNATELY - I got one that both suits me and plays well with my chemistry. THANK YOU BPAL! ETA 6.3.2010: This no longer smells delicious. It's still cloves but all the other beautiful stuff seems to have gone away. Now it smells strongly of cinnamon and cloves. While I think those two scents are pretty on their own, I don't particularly care for cinnamon in my perfume. Aged this scent has gone from 10 to 4. So sad!

Ladies of the Grindhouse: Inez In the Bottle: Vanilla and woods - something akin to hot sand(!?) On my Skin, Wet: SUNTAN LOTION!!! Oh no! On my Skin, Dry: Weird - now it smells like bronzing oil. You know that stuff from the 80's that was just an excuse to saute yourself on the beach with? that stuff. Verdict: Befuddled. All the notes sounded so promising too! I have no idea how well this will age, but I'll give it a shot and see if that helps any. if things do not improve after three months, I'll likely find a new home for Inez. 2 of 10 Ranking! ADDED Oct. 23: Inez: Carnaval Diabolique I thought I posted a review for this one already, I did a search for my screename but nothing came back. If this is the second post, my apologies! In the Bottle: Red Sandalwood ALL THE TIME. Quite potent too! On my Skin, Wet: Strong, sharp red sandalwood mixed with pungent cedar. There is nothing soft and inviting about Inez in this stage - I was hoping for vanilla and amber with touches of sandalwood. On my Skin, Dry: Mostly red sandalwood, but less sharp now. The cedar is still hanging out but has calmed down some as well. I *think* I can smell some vanilla now, but it's so smothered by the sandalwood and cedar I can't really tell for sure. 2 hours later: OMG! Sweetly spiced vanilla cookies! Totally random but so good! I really hope this deliciousness lingers the rest of the day Verdict: Very strong of woods at the beginning, almost *too* strong. Drydown is nice, but nothing spectacular. Then BAM! the best bakery cookies I have come across to date 8 of 10 Ranking!

Glowing Vulva at Ryogoku Bridge Bought this fresh from the Lab - thought it smelled like soured cream when I first tried it...but thought there was potential lurking under that sour note. So I let it age since March and decided to try it again. In the Bottle: HEAVY cream and bitter herbs. Ok - the cream part makes sense, but the 'bitter' and 'herbs'? On my Skin, Wet: The herbs aren't as bitter and they morph into the Teak note - it definitely takes on a wooden scent. Cream subdues and amps a Vanilla current instead. There is a gentle note somewhere in here, and I can't tell if it's the amber or the lotus blossom trying to surface from under the vanilla cream river and around the teak boat. On my Skin, Dry: I should note here that most BPAL scents tend to fade somewhat as they dry - but not this one! on the contrary, this one gets more powerful and potent the longer I wear it! that *might* be a first for me! Anyways, it's amber that has surfaced at this stage. I also detect a return of that herb note from the bottle - I think I can attribute that to the Lotus Blossom since there is no other explanation so, I am left with the following image for 'Glowing Vulva': A thick Cream river with shores of bitter herbs; and as I embark on the little Teak boat, the river becomes less thick and more of a sweet Vanilla Cream river slowing flowing under my little Teak boat - a very relaxing journey. As the sun warms the river, little golden Amber fish appear just under the surface of the Vanilla Cream river and around the perimeter of my little Teak boat. The little Amber fish smell warm and slightly powdery - something a fish can never be, but hey - it's nice of them to smell like something other than 'fish', right? So there it is: a nice little surrealish image that this scent conjures for me 8 of 10 Ranking!

Hay absolute, tall grasses, dry honey, mallow, cardamom, amber, and wheat. Hay Moon In the Bottle: nothing - no smell at all. On My Skin, Wet: AMBER - the best amber note ever! it's not dry at all - something I was expecting from this lunacy. On My Skin, Dry: More amber - so lovely and warm and golden. it's a little bit drier now - perhaps the wheat and grasses coming into play? lovely amber and a touch of something that reminds me of the death of spring and the birth of fall. Verdict: 9 of 10 ranking! this is far more soothing and golden than I was expecting. from the concept I was expecting a rush on the Claritin. Thankfully not ^_~ Well Done!

L'Inverno In the Bottle: Lily, white and bright. Also a hint of the white musk - also quite bright. On my Skin, Wet: the white musk amps tremendously at this point! I still get a "bright" impression instead of a "cold" impression - I'm not sure why though. as this begins to try, the lily makes a comeback. On my Skin, Dry: I don't know if this is a trait of the white musk or if the musk and lily combination is responsible, but now I am getting sandalwood. it could be the pine that is registering differently for some reason. Strangely, I do not smell plum, benzoin or the orchid notes. Verdict: lovely scent - I haven't tried it in conjunction with the bath oil yet, but I'm sure that the combination will be just as delightful. the thing that does bewilder me on this though is the "bright" impression I get instead of a "cold" impression - it seems more Spring than Winter on me. quite different from all my other BPAL scents though! 7 of 10 Ranking!

Dionysia In the Bottle: Patchouli - lots of it On my Skin, Wet: lots and lots of Patchouli. some red berry is trying to come out, but patchouli is the hands down winner on this one. On my Skin, Dry: the patchouli has receeded a little bit. the red berries are all out and about, but instead of alternating between raspberry, pomgranate and a red (to my brain, anyway) plum - I just register them all at once and they become SN cranberry. Verdict: Disappointed - I was hoping the patchouli would be a background note instead of the stage hog. I did like the fact that the red berries grouped together made cranberry. as a whole this smells like a Christmas scent to me for some reason - there's nothing about it that should remind me of Christmas , but there you have it. 3 of 10 Ranking.

Thirteen - Purple Label In the Bottle: Herbs & chocolate - interesting combo! On My Skin, Wet: Cardamom - definitely. Possibly the fig - there's a "earthy" fruit quality to this stage, but it's too indistinct for me to be able to properly identify it. mmmm....chocolate, chocolate, chocolate. On My skin, Dry: Still predominantly Cardamom, but it's sitting on a base of herby chocolates now - and the impression is drier than before. I guess the mysterious fig note has gone away now. Verdict: A dry herby chocolate? very captivating, but a little too unusual for a regular scent. I think people around me would get the munchies and then I would have to leave the room so I don't wind up on the menu Other Comments: I was really hoping my cat would go bonkers since this has catnip listed - but alas, I think my chemistry must have swallowed that note since the stinker was decidedly uninterested in my wrist. Oh - maybe the drier fell in the dry stage was the sandalwood making an appearance! that would be exciting! 8 of 10 Ranking!

Pumpkin V - Pumpkin Patch 2007 In the Bottle: Pumpkin! - this smells more like the pumpkin while it is whole - no grin on his face yet; nor does this pumpkin smell foody at all, so it's definitely not pumpkin pie or cider smelling...nope - just a fresh off the vine pumpkin. On my Skin, Wet: Freshly cut pumpkin and vanilla! the vanilla is rather sweet and foody, but the pumpkin is still just a fresh veggie and not yet a delicious autumn pastry. I can smell something akin to a resin, but I don't remember if amber was a listed note on this pumpkin. On my Skin, Dry: More sweet vanilla and soft wafts of pumpkin trapped inside that delicious golden resin smell. this is just breathtaking....it's a warm golden autumn evening sitting outside with mini pumpkins nestled around you while drinking some vanilla flavored drink! Verdict: A sweet foody vanilla without being too overwhelming...the pumpkin seems to keep the vanilla in control but still allows that delicious sweetness gently float around you. I'm a sucker for resin - and this resin is perfect! just a little teeny tiny touch of spiciness but mostly that warm inviting glow that reminds me of looking at a lit fireplace through frosted glass on a warm, but slowly chilling, evening. 8 of 10 Ranking!