tziporra

Oh, I am so glad I swapped for a 5ml of this!!!!!! In the bottle it's all lime. On I get lime and mint and tea, which doesn't surprise me. And it smells like Lancome's AromaTonic (the green one) which I lovelovelove. But with mint, which is fine with me. Usually these sea things go all masculine on me, but this one is fantastically feminine and fruity on me. Round and happy (just like me these days!). A definite keeper. I can hardly wait to make it into a body spray!!! Perfect for post-shower. Best, Tzi

This was a frimp from the lab. Thank you Labbies!!!!! I open the imp and I smell ROSE. Which breaks my heart, because I don't know how I'm going to do another review about a perfectly lovely floral oil which just goes all potpourri Rose on me without sounding like a broken record. Or how to explain ONE MORE TIME that it's not that I don't like rose, because I do, but I want a perfume oil to smell complex and layered and not like a single note. But that's what I have to do. Because while there may be some other notes in Versaille, all I get are roses. Which is sad because I really like amber, and I would love to get some of those oranges other people talk about. Even Jasmine, which I also amp, is no match for the big rose in this blend once it dries down. Sorry Tzi

"Why the RUM??!!!??" You know, the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean where Captain Jack awakens on the deserted island to find that Swann has built an enormous signal fire using the secret stash of rum? Anyway, it took me forever to actually try Hellcat because of the burning smell. For some bizarre reason I originally thought it would be a good scent to try on my daughter, so I swiped it on her unsmelled. WRONG. She smelled like a tiny roadhouse, complete with spilled rum & coke and cigarette smoke. Or maybe a trash barrel fire. In any event, it was weeks later before I recovered enough from the experience to try Hellcat on myself. Much better. It is a very heavy scent wet on my skin. A dark mixture of burnt sugar almond and buttercream. Sweet but very very smokey. It lightens up after about twenty minutes to a caramel-y candle smell, although I can still catch whiffs of the almond from time to time. Very nice for a foody smell. But, philistine that I am, I keep thinking -- "boy, I wish there where some flowers in this." I can even smell the "hole" where the floral scent belongs! Which just goes to show that I should only be allowed to review florals. Best, Tzi

So, I LOVE the rich heady complex scents. Like: Kali Medea Blood Countess But they don't seem right for spring. And today I am seized with a desire to store all my boots, buy a suede bag, and break out the open toed shoes. Which seems to indicate that spring is on it's way! I don't want to lighten up, exactly. But I do need to move toward scents that smell a little more like spring and a little less like a midwinter holiday party. I like Lotus (Black Lotus is very good on me), Hyacinth and Honeysuckle - but I need a lot of depth with them to not get the "eh, nondescript floral" reaction. I like aquatics, but only the ultra-feminine ones with lots of flowers. I love Ulalume, but it reads more fall-like on me (leaves plus lots of lilies). Ideas? Best, Tzi

Thanks to Shollin for enabling this very geeky sniff. I believe her exact words were, "If you can't own a $2000 Magic card, at least you can smell like one." Hee. The first scent from BPAL that made my husband sit up and ask in a delighted tone, "what is THAT you are wearing." I wouldn't have thought Lotus all by myself, probably because of a long-held dishsoap association, but it turns out that lotus works on my skin. And amber is always delicious on me, and myrrh serves to balance everything out. So, yeah. I'll be buying a bottle of this. Partially because I like it a lot. Partially because my husband adores it and I want to wear it for him. And partially because I need something to wear for playing Magic Best, Tzi

I don't know if you've noticed me swanning around the BPAL board moaning and complaining about Blood Countess giving me a headache and it just wasn't FAIR that something so delicious and gorgeous made me sick. Well. Apparently the great Lab Frimper took pity on me when sending me Medea. Maybe they were just sick of hearing about my unrequited BC love. I know, I know. Poppy is not opium. And Black Currant is not Plum. And in the imp they are nothing alike. Medea wafts a soft purpley floral scent, with just enough of something to grab my attention. Wet, I'm worried, because it's all myrrh and jasmine (you are right again, there is no jasmine in this blend, so my nose is reading something weird). But then; oh heaven! It's all sticky currant and smoky poppy and lovely orchid. It reminds me of watering the Nicotiana plants (yes, there is none of that either - but this is a scent memory so it doesn't have to make sense) and getting the sweet of the florals with the smoky edge of tobacco, and catching just a whiff of raspberries from a few rows over. And a little of Paul Smith Woman as well Anyway. Yes. I must immediately go squander more family resources purchasing a bottle of this. Especially since the frimp the lab sent is already half gone. Best, Tzi

Thanks for the frimp, labbies! In the imp this is a blast of hot dry air. Like opening the oven door while baking a spicy cookie. Wet it's a spicy MANLY cookie. I smell like a rugged desert man. Like Mad Maxx maybe. Or Viggo Mortinsen in Hidalgo. I need a drink of water. As it dries I get a second of piney-ness, but then it settles down into incense-y manliness, so well blended I can't pick out any notes. This is one of those scents where I sit here thinking "this smells so good! but I could never wear it!" Probably since it's at such odds with this stage of my life - fecund earth-mother. I'd feel the same way if I put on a tuxedo. Best, Tzi

Ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh...... This is lovely. I have been working through the peach/apricot blends trying to find one that worked well, and I think we have a winner!!!!! In the imp this is lovely fresh peach. It's very inviting. I want to slather it on right away. Wet I get lots of peach and wine up close, and a waft of florals a little farther away. Perhaps the myrtle? As it dries the amber definitely comes out, deepening the peaches. It's not a baking peaches kind of smell though, more like a peach candle -- but a delicious high-end peach candle. When dry the peach and amber and floral edge have blended beautifully and now it's hard to pick out any notes. It's just a warm glowing spicy scent, edged with musk. GORGEOUS. Oh yes, this is going on my big bottle list. Best, Tzi

I'm feeling sad about my skin and the BPAL fig note. I've finally decided that the dusty incense-y note I smell on my skin in all the fig blends, is, in fact, the fig. So I'm probably not going to find a creamy sweet fig like Fresh's fig soap, or the fig note in Eau D'oolong. If you can't tell, Gomorrah smelled very incensey (I had a moment of sandalwood like others here) on me. Not much else. And these spicy incense-like scents just aren't working for me. So it's nothing against the blend, I know lots of people who want to smell like this (or better, probably, since their skin won't do this to the poor fig). But it's not me. Sigh. Best, Tzi

Imp: Lots of Jasmine. I'm worried about this because I amp Jasmine, and while I enjoy the scent, I'm looking for a floral that isn't all "JASMINE" on me. Wet: A loud jangly discord of Jasmine and Lavender. I feel better, because I'm hoping the super-sharp lavender note (which I adore) will beat the Jasmine into submission. Although this stage disturbs me, it's a pleasurable disturbance. Drydown: A moment of heady floral wonder. This is exactly what I'm looking for, but alas it doesn't last. Dry: All jasmine. Sigh. Figures. My husband, interestingly enough, says this smells like a vacuum cleaner. I wonder where that scent memory comes from? Best, Tzi

Absolutely lovely if I were a man. I keep thinking I AM a man when I smell my wrist. But I'm really pregnant, so that seems unlikely. Just like beautiful expensive after-shave lotion, spiked with citrus. No flowers, but much more pleasant than the listed notes might lead you to believe. I'd definitely find hanging around the guy wearing this to be very pleasant. I think I'll try dousing my husband at some point. Best, Tzi

In the imp: Yummy yummy. Very juicy fresh pear. Wet: Pear and rose and musk. Very light and pretty. The pear doesn't seem as fresh and juicy now, probably because the flowers are perfuming it up some. Dry: Light and pretty. Which is code for "Not Tzi's Thing" - I like a big scent that knocks you down. But this musk is gorgeous on me, and I'd like to find it in a bolder blend. My husband said "it's generic perfume" when I had him sniff, but I don't agree. It's just that us hard-of-smelling people have a harder time distinguishing between these light lovely scents. Best, Tzi

Try Oblivion! I get a very dark lovely resinous feeling from this one, and it's LOVERLY. No flowers. Best, Tzi

Okay, I'm gonna reply to my own request for suggestions with some suggestion! I searched the review forum, and compiled a semi-list of scents where people referred to an "old lady perfume" smell. I threw out the ones that smelled like "old lady soap" or "old lady powder" and I threw out most generic rose blends, since I'm not looking for a generic rose blend. This list proved that I really do like a LOT of the scents (the ones I've tried) where people compared the scent to old lady perfume, so this really is a great search criteria for me. So my theory that "old lady" can be shorthand for perfume-y sophisticated chic is bearing out. Anyway, I look forward to working my way through this list, since the ones here I've already tried I either really liked or didn't work for skin chemistry reasons rather than dislike of the blend itself. Peitho Marquise de Merteuil Shroud Voodoo Lily Haloes Kubla Khan Vixen Languor The Winter of Our Discontent Archangel Winter Black Lace Nocturne Goneril Madame Tracy Twilight The Caterpillar Rose Red The Peacock Queen Nemesis Eos Ophelia Machu Picchu Crypt Queen The Atrocious Attic Marie Belle Epoche Libra 2007 Cathode Antique Lace Venice Phantom Ouija Delirium Ozymandias Gennivre, L’Artiste du Diable Melisande, The Puppet Mistress Eve Perversion Florence The Witch Queen Lucy's Kiss Lilith Darkness Fox Fires on New Year's Eve at the Garment Nettle Tree at Oji Garden Path With Chickens Red Devil La Petite Mort Bien Loin D'Ici Pink Moon 2007 Viola Chrysanthemum Moon Black Pearl Poisson d'Avril Three Gorgons Aglaea Wicked Mata Hari Blood Countess La Bella Donna Della Mia Mente It's a pretty diverse list! Enjoy! Best, Tzi

I'm a founding member of the wrecked fruit-of-the-month club. I grew up on an apple orchard, and can still smell the rotting fruit, rotting leaves, dirt and crisp autumn scents that permeated the air. YUM. And I LOVE Depraved. Anyway, I can't recommend Tweedledum. It's fruity in a way my four-year-old appreciates but not me. I don't know if you've tried Blood Countess, or if you can handle florals at all, but this is another of my true loves (except for accursed headache it gives me) although the fruit is more preserved than rotten. The scent overall is dark and rich. I'm closely watching this thread for more recs! Best, Tzi

Hey all, I've had a very severe reaction to Blood Countess both times I've tried it (waaaaaahhhh!!!! I love Blood Countess!) -- the first time a headache that lasted twenty minutes during drydown (and that I hoped was blood sugar, not Blood Countess, related) the second time a headache that lasted all day. In the 65 BPALs I've tried, this is the first to give me a headache. I'd really like to avoid the problem note in the future, though, if possible -- if only so I don't fall madly in love with a particular scent that I have no chance of ever being able to wear. From the description: "Corrupted black plum, smoky opium and crumbling dead roses covered by a deceptive veil of Hungarian lilac, white gardenia and wild berry." Any ideas on what it might be? I have worn lots of lab rose blends with no problem, ditto with the opium. I'm thinking plum or berry, but Bathsheba and Hanging Gardens both have plum listed as a note and I was fine there. Hanging Gardens also lists Gardenia.... Anyway, if you have a similar reaction to Blood Countess or any of these notes, I'd really appreciate a holler! Thanks so much, Tzi

I LOVE BLOOD COUNTESS. It's definitely in my top 3 blends.... EXCEPT for the stupid raging headache I get every time I wear it. I think maybe it's the plum? I'm fine with opium in other blends, I've tried acres of rose without incident, gardenia is a favorite note of mine.... I guess it could alternately be the "berry"? I did do Hanging Gardens and Bathsheba with no reaction, although they don't list "Black" Plum like Blood Countess. Anyway, I want something with the feel of Blood Countess but without the horrible headache. Any suggestions? Best, Tzi <EDITED TO MAKE MORE SENSE TO THIS THREAD INSTEAD OF THE ONE IT WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN>

Received Niflheim as a frimp from a board sale. Not something I would have picked, although I'm becoming more open-minded about aquatics. Didn't get anything much from the imp. Faint flowers maybe. GAH!!!!! Band-Aids! This smells exactly like Languor wet -- so maybe there is Narcissus in this and that's what does the band-aid impression with my skin chemistry? I can't make another guess based on the description. I know that Languor eventually calms down, so I wait the requisite half-hour even though I would love to wash it off right away. Starting a head-ache though.... Dries down to a nice cool aquatic floral on me, and I can no longer pick out any notes. Really pretty, but there are blends in this category which suit me better. Wish I got more darkness, but since I can't really take the band-aid wet smell it's just as well that I don't love the drydown on this. Best, Tzi

I never never never in a million years would have tried this, simply because of the word "aquatic" in the description. In the outside BPAL world aquatic equaled yuk to me. And think what I would have missed! Wet, this is all heady lilies and aquatic notes, like a dripping bouquet. And then (hooray!) the lilies begin to rot. There is a moment of lily perfection, when the blooms look past their prime, and your whole house is filled with the heady smell of them, and the green guck on their stems is just starting to send off warning signals that you are going to have to throw them out no matter how much you love them and your dear husband for bringing them to you... Ulalume is that smell on me. What BPAL brings home to me is how much I love flowers, food, booze and people just a little past their prime. I can't stop smelling myself! Tzi

Yay! Endymion is in the mail for me as well! Thanks for all the tips! Best, Tzi

Seduction, sensuality, the Act, and the aftermath all in one. The scent of warm, damp skin flushed with the glow of passion, touched by the luxuriant potency of ylang ylang and myrrh In the imp: A little something herbal maybe? Wet on my skin: ROSE Dry on my skin: ROSE ROSE ROSE ROSE. I think maybe I smell something spicy fighting to get out behind the rose, but it's a losing battle against the GREAT BIG ROSE. I can't tell you how many promising blends just turn into rose oil on my skin. I like rose, but since I can wear any of a million imps and be smelling like a rose, I don't think I need a big bottle of any of them. Sigh. Best, Tzi ETA: I was worried when I finally looked at the list of notes and rose wasn't even listed! But others are getting the big rose too, so I hope I'm right. I don't see how that scent could be anything but rose....

In the imp: Bay rum. I love bay rum. On my skin: Aren't there supposed to be flowers in this? Checks description. Yup -- blossoms is flowers. I get all rum and sexy-man scent. In fact, this blend is THE most masculine scent from bpal I've tried. Where are my flowers??????? This is a gorgeous men's cologne on me. I feel like I've been necking all night with a hot pirate and he's lent me his leather frock coat to walk home in.... It's a little salty sea air, a little boozy from the bottle of rum we shared, with a warm leather edge (I'm not claiming I get a leather note, the blend just reminds me of leather-jacket smell). Waaaaaaaaaaaay too manly for me. I need to go roll in Blood Countess now. I will definitely try it on the Man, though -- unlike some other bpal cologne-y scents I've tried, which have been too sophisticated for him, he may connect with this. Of course, it'll probably be all Caribbean blossoms on him! Best, Tzi

I've been looking for a fruity bpal that works on me.... most just get eaten up by my skin (it must be very hungry). Soooooo..... I was nervous about Depraved because patchouli is touch-and-go for me, depending on what it's blended with. But I was simultaneously attracted to the description because, well, I like my fruit wrecked. I want my apples and cider fizzy, my peaches soft to the edge of rotten, and I'm happy to eat the berries left after I sort out the ones that have molded. Thus Depraved is my nearly perfect fruit scent. It smells exactly like walking through the apricot orchard and smelling the fallen oozingly sweet apricots on the ground, mingling with the scent of dirt and rotten leaves and all those wonderful heady orchard smells. Delicious. But you may not think so. This is definitely a fruit I can wear. And one I want to wear, to boot. The big bottle list threatens to permanently overwhelm the scent budget. Best, Tzi ETA:It's Tu B'Shvat today (Jewish New Year for trees) and this scent was in cosmic resonance. I ate dried apricots all day.

Oh yuuummmmmmm........ Event Horizon smells exactly like the beautiful drydown of Languor on me, but without the 25 minutes of hideous burnt plastic to get there. I can't stop smelling myself. Wet I got a lot of a sharp scent that I misidentified as lavender because I wasn't looking at the notes. Is it the opium? I haven't smelled it in the other opium scents I've tried. Anyway, whatever it is it dries down quickly leaving behind a swirl of scented smoke and the sweetness of flowers. This is not a sweet scent on me at all, but the florals do keep this from going all-male on me. Others have described this as a head shop or magic shop scent, and I do get that because of the incensey drydown, but since there is no sandalwood or patchouli here this doesn't ring my new age alert system bells like so many other incense based scents. Like others, I was dying to try this because I'm a physics geek. But I also have yet to find an Opium blend from the lab that doesn't work on me in the end (not counting the first half-hour of Languor I guess), and this is no exception. Very Nice. Tzi

Marquise de Merteuil smells very nice and floral-y in the imp. Once on my skin I get lots of jasmine before the scent dries down to a nice soft floral warmed by amber. Alas, I never get any peaches or heartless corruption or anything strong at all except that moment of jasmine at the beginning. On me, this scent reminds me of a "couture", sophisticated perfume wet -- I wished it stayed that way dry! Not for me. Best, Tzi