lavinia

Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. I am nervous to be the first here but everyone is clamoring for a review. In the bottle: This smells like opening a new package of brown sugar- deep, fresh, bright. It reminds me of bartending and making my own simple syrup on the stove-top before work. When the sugar becomes heated and begins to boil, the scent rises up like this. Mmmm...almost like the crusted shell of a freshly-made creme brulee. On my arm and wrist: Whoa! This is suddenly taking on a new shape and I am falling in love There is a snap to the smell now that was undiscernableb/f in the bottle. Its almost spicy and definitely gives an edge to the sugar smell. I keep on sniffing my arm, wanting to smell it agian and again. It reminds me of something...hmm...what is it?? Kinda reminds me of Demeter's Snow fragrance which is clean and makes you feel pure and happy. Except that this being Bpal, it is far more complex and provocative. Something in this smell makes me think of Big Red gum but I don't know why...I don't get a cinnamon hit off this oil but I keep coming back to this impression. A few hours later: This has mellowed but is still going strong. Now, it reminds me of marzipan with maybe a hint of mint or something refreshing like that in it. I love it! This one has really surprised me...I generally don't go in for the sweet scents but this one has bite and legs must be the "skull" in the "sugar"!

From the lab's description: Lush, creamy vanilla and the honey of the sweetest kiss smeared with the vital throb of husky clove, swollen red cherries, but darkened with the vampiric sensuality of vetiver, soporific poppy and blood red wine, and a skin-light pulse of feral musk. How could I resist to purchase a whole bottle of this one, having never read a review on it and never smelling it, after reading this juicy, enticing and jaw-dropping one-sentence description??? I mean, to quote a certain other Bpal fanatic and fellow Lusher*cough...L-a-l...cough*, I am not made of wood people, now am I?? So I took a chance and boy did it ever pay off! I never have even tried any Dragon's Blood formulas before so this was a new experience in every way. In the bottle: I smell vanilla, cherry, wood-notes, and it smells too sweet I would think for me. I usually like deeper and darker oils. I have faith in Beth though and in the description so I put it on both wrists and my throat- as a final vampiric offering On Me: This begins to become complex almost immediately. I am smelling the clove coming through and the wine seething and clamoring to make its presence known. The musk warms it up and the cherry is now showing its vetiver tinged roots which I definitely am a fan of An hour or so later: Wow...now it is warm, very comfortable and sexy on me with the cherry-vanilla brightness barely poking through the winey-clovey-musky mix. I notice when I step out of my car and then wind hits me, a winey-berry sweet note which I hadn't noticed before wafts up towards my nose and I like it. This one is just full of surprises and each one, a good sort of surprise. If this were a person, I would propose. I am very pleased I have a bottle of this one...ahh Blood Kiss...even the name is perfection. eta: spelling boo-boos

Earth sorceress and mother of Mordred, she is, in essence, the harbinger of King Arthur's doom and the downfall of Camelot. She is a sister, or sister-self, to Morgan Le Fay. A bouquet of five night-blooming flowers deepened by dusky violet, purple fruits and the barest breath of medieval incenses. As I am such a sucker for anything to do with the Camelot and magical world of Avalon and such, I wanted this from the name alone. (Hmm...my name is Viviene so maybe Beth will do a Viviane: Lady of the Lake next heehee...but I do digress...) Aside from the mythical allure of this, the mix of night-blooms and violets, incence and yeeessss purple fruits told me this would be a hit with me. In the bottle: This smells exactly like I knew it would...yippee! Reminds me of Black Dahlia and New Orleans a bit and being in a fantasy garden at the stroke of midnight but with whiffs of wet violet bunches and red wine and the hue of purple itself layered neatly over the blooms. On me: I get a little too splash-happy with this and slather it on. It almost is chokingly strong and gives me a headache. I know this is my own dumb fault so I ride it out. It is very potent and vibrant to say the very least...use just a bit when trying at first. I didn't get the incence part of it...this aspect of the blend is very subtle indeed. An hour later: Okay...now I like it. I really do. I feel decadent and royal This seems like a fancy, special-occasion fragrance. So, I decide to wear it to my friend's haute couture fashion show which -a part of the Mercedes-Benz fashion week and certainly deserving of this regal blend- is packed with celebrities and flash-bulbs going off everywhere I look. The Morgause makes me feel special and I keep catching flashing whiffs of this purpley intoxicator. I notice I walk a bit taller when wearing this one and for us short gals, this is key. This is a keeper for sure and perfect for anything requiring extra oomph and for when you want to make sure people remember you...lovely and elegant with a dash of pure purple magic straight out of an Avalonian myth...I will wear this when I want to feel special. eta: spelling boo-boos

Okay I wanted to get this one just from the name alone. It looked so alluring in its blue bottle, I had to take a chance. I am pleasantly surprised that yes, it smells really great l It reminds me of a cross between Big Red and Juicy Fruit gum. It is fruited with melon and I also smell orange zest and lots of fresh citrus coming straight out of the bottle. There is a depth of nutmeggy-cinnamon- cloviness which makes it irresistible. The cinnamon comes to the forefront once it is on the skin. Once I have it on, it becomes a sweet tangy spice. Invigorating! I wore this the other day when I was dealing with money and having to handle some negotiations and I have to say it gave me a confidence and I like to think "drew" some money to me! I will wear this again when I need something to go my way. It doesn't last terribly long- a few hours on me- but I do really like the way it smells and makes me feel whenI wear it. I think it could be good also for alter use and for candles. Thanks Black Broom and Bpal!

I am from the deep south and am quite homesick. For those of you who have tried em all, what is the ultimate southern blend that will evoke home to me and smell delicious ? I am overwhelmed by the choices-so far, I am thinking: Old New Orleans, Midnight, Voodoo, Haunted, Black Dahlia, or maybe Come to Me. What do y'all think? I like mossy, jasminey, orange blossomy, musky scents. What sums that up? Thanks in advance!

Just bought a bottle tonight...mmmm...on the skin, it wears similarly to Chaste Moon a favorite of mine

This one is fabulous. The name from Baudalaire appropriately enough translates to "quite far from here" and it does transport you. I wore it today and woo hoo, got so much attention, I think I need to save it for when I need to bring out the big guns! On me, it reminds me like others have mentioned, of a blend of Scherazade, O and as I am sniffing right now, I am getting Hexannacht if it were more honeyed. O + Hexannacht...mmmm It does seem to have a touch of jasmine which gives it a richness. The jasmine hint reminds me of New Orleans. Seems from the reactions to be a real hit or miss type scent and fortunately for me, its a hit! The honey and caramel accord here is sexy and not overly foody or sweet like in Red Lantern or Sugar Skull which works best for me. I say, this oil is for when you need to amp it up and get what you want

I am wearing this right now and can't stop sniffing myself. It smells on my skin exactly like how I smell when I have bathed with Lush's Skinny Dip gel. This is a very good thing because I still miss SD in the gel form (the body butter just isn't the same). It is chocolately, softly spicy with herby flowers. The fig gives it a fruited subtle sweetness but the sandalwood grounds it. A+ from a very happy camper

So sexy I LOVE this one. I hate fruity scents too so I don't get the fruity comparison some are picking up on or maybe my skin is just doing something different. In any event, I love it and it's making me feel like a vampy Indian princess on the make The skin musk and the amaranth plus tonka is a good combo on me. Its musky with soft orchid coming through but not in an overpowering way. Very rich and nuanced. If anyone wants to unload a bottle, please please shoot me a pm.

Macha is right--- this is a keeper In the bottle and before drydown, the cardamom is the main event. However, within a few short minutes, it suddenly shifts gears and becomes a soft lightly spiced floral- I definitely get the tabacco and the tonka which are great together so B., you were right, this is my kind of oil! It reminds me of Lush's Skinny Dip because it is spicy and creamy with flowers peeping through- just more rosey instead of violets or of Lush's Sore Labours Balm b/c its a very yummy and exotic soft "chai latte" type floral. In Bpal comparison, it is reminscent of Chimera on the drydown...so lovely...the softness of the honeysuckle tempers the spice- pleasing yet a tad complex. I love it and am glad I didn't just go off the initial cardamom whiff~ its a changling

I want to say that I did not think this oil was a "me" scent but at Bpal tonight I sniffed it and then put some on and became addicted and had to buy some It is very similar to Pink Sugar---lots of sugary and sweet on the top but grounded by the deeper notes and the black currant perhaps? Very very nice stuff and certainly more than silly

I wanted to share that Harvest Moon is fuggin' amazing For those who like to think in terms of other bpal oils, it reminds me of Hamadryad with waaaaay toned down cinnamon and a splash of Perversion winey sweetness and a dash of Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo...heavenly Everyone will love this one! It is pure autumn- woodsy, fresh light herbs with wine that is sheer and aquatic...mmmm... I didn't try the prior incarnation from last fall but from reading the reviews, I definitely think this one is different. I don't get foody or buttery just woodsy, freshly aquatic, winey with light spice My guy friend who rolled with me to grab it sniffed it from the bottle and said, " smells like fall!" Thank you Beth!

Midway and Sugar Skull both remind of dessert and eating bad things

Al-Sharain on me is like a spicy candy Atomic Fireball! The cloves and cinnamon are the main thing but what makes it sweet is the orange, the peach and the incense. It is the closest to what you are describing imo.

Mine was my lucky number- #7 I adore this one...seems made for me. From the bottle to arm it stays pretty true to its magnolia base. It definitely has a sparkly effervescent thing happening and is lightly spicy. Reminds me of Hell's Belle in a way- another favorite of mine. so, in a nutshell, it is southern belle glorious magnolias in creamy spice Thank you Beth!

I would suggest O or Seraglio. Both are tremendously sexy and what I find myself reaching for when I want a sexy fix

This is beautiful and so me It is woodsy, smoky, incensey and yet goes beyond Mistletoe or Skadi or Samhain on me. Those were all more "environmental" and never became "second-skin" on me like a lovely, gorgeous perfume I am drawn to again and again. In the bottle, I get the soft spicey incense along with the woods. On the skin, the honey-ocean-melon note comes through and is equal in strength to the woods and incense smoke. After a bit, I figure it out...it is a strange mix of woodsy spiced incense sort of like Hamadryad minus the cinnamon, kind of like Icon by Lush only softer and with more layered prettiness, and Blue Moon! I get all these layers...wood, incense, smoke, fir, aqua and cucumber- melon. It is as if the witches revelry in the woods around the fire with the incense burning has a magically otherworldly seaside feel with fruity wine being shared all around I love this so much...A+ Beth!

Oh god, I love Black Magic. *adds seraglio to her ever-growing wishlist* <{POST_SNAPBACK}> i love black magic and i love seraglio but see no resemblance btw. these two. i am sure they can layer together well b/c they are both wonderful but black magic is the scent of ylang ylang, clary sage and geranium. seraglio is orange peel, sandalwood and rose. just my 2 cents galen , for the crashcourse smell, i get the lemons and the sandalwood there the strongest so maybe explore the possibilities with those ingredients in bpal oils.

I would have to say Love Me and on me, Chimera stays good thankfully- I have a big bottle of this!

I would highly recommend Dorian .

The Living Flame and Venom are very similar- Venom has lime whereas TLF has pink grapefruit...both are yummy Chaste Moon is similar to Dana O'Shee and Sudha Sugara. Hetairae is like O crossed with La Petit Mort and Patchouli single note.

I wrote this in my Hetairae review but it reminds me of Flying Saucers with patchouli thrown it It has the earthy depth of honey that the Saucers have...mmm... Chaste Moon is similar to Snow Cake with a heightened gormand-vibe.

This is gorgeous I wish I had known how much I would love this b/c I would have gotten another bottle! It is very simple and stays true from the bottle to the skin on me. It reminds me of Antique Lace layered wonderfully with Sudha Sugara or Dana O'Shee Beautifully creamy but not foody and sheer, light, comforting with a hint of vanilla-soaked musky flowers. How does Beth do this again and again...? A+

This is quite lovely and reminds me straight out of the bottle of Venom. When I put it on, I get more of a pink grapefruit note with the florals rather than the lime that Venom has in it. It is soft and glowing and very beautiful with soft lighter flowers in the blend. I don't get anything heavy about this except a touch of light musk in there and maybe a resin. Initially I thought it wasn't for me but now, I am second-guessing myself because I just put more on and it is quite haunting and similar in ways to other Bpal yet very stand-out and remarkable I am glad I took a chance on this LE...a fruited glowing soft floral...ahhhh!

Well, I love this one It has a base note of O which I am crazy about and then the ylang ylang in there reminds me of La Petit Mort. Wet and in the the bottle, it does smell herby and sharp. The patchouli is the strongest note when it is wet and drying on my arms. It is lovely almost like a single note. This mellows out quickly for me. The amber comes into play and it becomes a cousin to Queen of Sheba and Bastet. It is a very warm and sexy skin scent and I can't stop sniffing my arm Quite lovely indeed- It wears on me rather like Lush's Amazonian massage bar minus the tangerine/citrus note which is great and if you love Flying Saucers bbs like I do, this is very close eta: forgot to write about the patchouli