iskhavin

For me, this had a weird foody note when it was new - like cookie crumbs. And there's still a tiny hint of that, but now it's beautifully developed into what it was meant to be - a soft aquatic amber with gentle florals.

This is my oldest BPAL, at 16 years (same age as my daughter!). I didn't have it when it was new, but based on the reviews, the lavender and neroli were stronger then. It's very smooth now, and still totally smells like purple - dignified, sleek, a little mysterious. I'd wear this on an evening out someplace fancy, or anytime I want to feel divinely feminine (but not girly).

This one has aged beautifully - warm and fuzzy, dry spices, comforting. A hint of coconut (I think that's the massoia bark). Where I got some on my sweater, has a different character - more floral, airy, even a hint of fruitiness. Delightful for these chilly fall days!

Clean and fresh, almost aquatic. I get a hint of sweet berry, soft pale musk, and a light violet plus other mild florals. I'm envious of the folks that got more woodsy notes! Alas, my skin chemistry likes to make sweet notes extra-sweet.

Re-opening a very aged (between 6 and 10 years) imp and I wonder what it was like when new, because "shocking, horrific, fierce, savage, sensationalized" are the opposite of descriptors I would use. Perhaps some of the sharper notes have rounded out or vanished with age. To me, it's delicate, delicious, airy, perhaps playful. Dominated by white musk with a vague fruitiness from the black currant, but none of the heaviness I would expect from that and resin. The lavender is distantly in the background, and that plus the ozone create a sense of freshness, but in a light, gentle way (not an overbearing air-freshener way). Like a springtime sunshower.

Sadly this has a heavy fecal tone, I assume from the black agarwood, with sweetness from the myrrh. On my skin it settles into something pleasant after a bit, but I'd only recommend this one for folks who already know they love the black agarwood note. I don't get much lavender or moss at all.

I remember when this was new, it had a play-doh like off note, so I put it at the back of the box and forgot about it. Tested it again and it aged into something lovely! Like the memory of a rose, with a warm aura of pale wood. Beatific, delicate and halo-like, with a surprising amount of staying power. I get no lavender from this, not directly anyway, but perhaps it helps create the calming aura of this scent.

This is a very strange one for me, I get smoke in the vial, then black pepper when it goes on, and then after 30ish minutes I get... band-aid. I left it in my dresser for a long time hoping it would mellow with age; just tested it again today. I'll have to pass this one on to someone whose skin chemistry makes it pretty!

Juicy, almost syrupy pomegranate, with an undertone of oakmoss and amber. I agree with the above comment that it's a sophisticated red fruit scent, if your skin chemistry doesn't pull it too far to the syrupy-sweet or masculine side.

Initially a LOT of sharp cedar on me, but dries down - eventually - to a lovely raspberry balanced out by a whisper of remaining cedar and vetiver.

Hothouse blooms probably includes magnolia or gardenia or jasmine; has a definite heavy white floral aspect that, on me, overrides the aquatic and green elements that I can sort of detect. A lovely scent but not for my skin chemistry!

For me, starts out sweet and floral with a definite earthy note, and a hint of something a little woody and spicy (ginger, maybe?). Dries down to what I'm fairly certain is vetiver - a masculine dark green note.

To me this is a gentler musk than most of the black musk blends I've sniffed. More golden. This is very similar to Lyonesse but simpler and sweeter. And there's a slight "fuzziness" that could either be the sandalwood or the musk.

Menacing, meaty black leather and ink. A hint of something citrusy peeking through - is that the "ghostly chill"? This one is definitely spooky.

So far, Lyonesse and aged Plunder have been some of my favorites. Morocco is great on my boyfriend but there's something in it that doesn't work well on me (maybe the saffron). I'd love some suggestions for sandalwood/musk and sandalwood/spice blends, with minimal florals.