I think I was so excited by the prospect of finally finding a scent with myrrh (and no patchouli) that I completely dismissed how many floral notes are in this scent. Until this imp order arrived, I was a total BPAL virgin, and for that matter not really exposed to scent experimentation. That said, I do know my scent profile is dark and sweet, and myrrh is one of my favorites (I keep a hunk of resin in my purse.), and florals are not generally my cup of tea, which is why I wasn't super excited when in the bottle it had so much floral.
In the Bottle: What is this? Is this what Shalimar smells like? I imagine this is what Shalimar smells like; incense, floral, and powder -- I get very strong powder notes while it's in the bottle. I can't pick out any individual element, but maybe with more experience I'll know enough of what I'm smelling to name them.
Wet: Incense and powder. Warm, spicy, and a little masculine. It reminds me a bit of the original Old Spice (which my dad still uses exclusively), but with something sweet -- maybe rose, maybe narcissus, maybe amber. Why did I ever think rose would stand out with my chemistry if I knew myrrh and other spices blend better?
Dry: I'm all spice now. Strongly myrrh mixed with frankincense, and so little of anything else I can't possibly identify what might be mingling there.
Overall: Something about the particular spicy warmth of this scent prevents it from being what I'd ever consider a signature, but I do smell spicy and amazing. It's much better and more mellow than I anticipated when I opened the imp, which was a huge relief. I don't know that I'll be getting a 5mL for this, but I am happy to have tried it.
