VetchVesper

Brazen and beautiful, unconventional and daring. The scent of soft white leather gloves and the sharp crack of a riding crop mingled with tobacco, clove, incense, and opium smoke seeped into sugar-spun vanilla lace, all stained with green cognac, sweet dried red fruits, and wild plum. Lot's of leather in the bottle, and it is indeed that SN Riding Crop leather. Brown but with just a touch of sharpness, with something animalic underneath. Oudh or musk maybe? When it touches my skin though, this becomes a poof of smoke. Very masculine and harsh. This is fresh from Darkdel, so I'm hoping it just needs some rest time and will calm down dramatically. Ok. Smoke and leather relaxing. Now I'm getting some of the soft, glove leather. Something sweet, but unidentifiable starts to peek out, but there's a lot of notes I'm missing. Hmmmmm... Oh dear. I just accidentally put some Miss Forcible on it, thinking I was reapplying Smoke & Lace. 😕 ..... Huh. .... I rather like the combo. Well who'd have thunk it. Reapplying Smoke & Lace on the other arm. ...I'm beginning to get the sense of a metallic clove and tobacco. It smells like cigarette tobacco to me, which goes with the picture, but its a little jarring. This still smells very male and sort of comforting. Like - I could actually see a leather wearing, heavy smoking cowboy smelling like this naturally. I think I might be barely getting a hint of plum in the background, but.... it's a dry plum, if that makes sense. No sweet, fruitiness here. This is like Bensiabel if he was told to shut the f@*k up, climb out of that fairy tale, and toughen up. Maybe a touch of Marquis De Carabas. I ... might... like this? I feel like it needs some revisiting after it's mellowed. I also feel like it could really grow on me. Time will tell. As a side note - There are lyrics from a Joni Mitchel song I've always loved - "He lives in another time/ Ladies in gingham still blush/ While he sings them of wars and wine/ But I in my leather and lace/ I can never become that kind." Smoke & Lace and Crinoline & Lace seem to encapsulate the line for me. Very different scents for very different ladies.

This is a delectable tea blend, and smells like something I would %100 slurp over ice or boba. There's a fruity/floral sweetness, along with a honeyed brightness that I associate more with green tea than black. It's refreshing and realistic smelling to me, and I'm highly tempted to purchase a bottle for summer.

This is reminding me a lot of Tweedledum, though it definitely has its own vibe, along with more complexity. Ripe, earthy fig and woody patchouli are the most prominent notes on me, with the hay note joining the party during dry down. I don't really get a purple vibe, nor do almond cream and guava make an appearance other than, perhaps, to add some sweetness. It goes a bit masculine on my skin actually, and I'm a bit bummed about it. BUT - if you're into fig scents and/or Tweedledum, you'll probably enjoy this.

@ShadowEtienne Alas for your musk allergy! The cocoa in Cock Stamen is only perceptible to me now, after years of aging, and the vanilla in L'Agonie is also very much a background note. Of course, skin chemistry varies. To my nose, both have that succulent juiciness that makes me think of the BEST fruit punch. 🙂 Good hunting and happy sniffing.

@ShadowEtienne Late to the party, but I thought I would add to Prince of Cat's excellent recommendations: Cascading Silks, Cock Stamen, Argento Sunrise, L'Agonie, Last Tavern at the Town Gate, and Worm Moon 2021. (Other years might also work; I'm just not sure if they all have the same notes.) The Gilman House Hotel is a great aquatic, if you can find it, and smells to me, how Cthulhu should have smelled if it hadn't gone straight to soap. Stargazing at Sea might also be up your alley. 🙂

Muskity-musk! Quite possibility kitty musk! I'd wager civet because of the feral, but cozy, animalic feel I'm getting. This also seems like it belongs in the same family as Yule Cat. Dark and fuzzy evergreen notes, and a touch of sweet snow, cling to our festive goat's fur, and as the scent wears, I get something like frankincense: dry, spicy, and warm. It's likely the wool or some trick of my nose, but it gives this goat gravity. I like this, but I don't need more. It's great for the concept though, and if you want to smell like a delightful, wintery woodlands beast, this is for you!

Cascades of vanilla cream and voluminous poufs of gleaming coconut with white cognac, adorning a phantasmagoric farthingale of white musk, tobacco leaf, tea roses, and elemi. OOooo..... This is all floofy, froofy, fancy vanilla and coconut on me. It reminds me a bit of the Pickle HG from a few years ago, but it's a little richer and more buttery at first. Just a tad. The tobacco is light and subtle, but I can detect a hint of it in the background. I'm not getting much rose. I think I smell the elemi, which I am only a little familiar with, so correct me if I'm wrong. It's kind of a light, dry, chilly note. It smells a bit ghostly. Crinoline & Lace smells very pale, very cool and airy, with a distinct vanilla vibe that's sweet like the lightest of cakes. This will be very fun for spring and summer.

Fruitier and sweeter than its non-batty predecessor, Batty Perversion smells more playful/whimsical than the very naughty original. The leather and tobacco are less forward, to my nose, and the mix of rum, tonka, and fruity chardonnay make me think of delicious, spiced apricot jam. Or maybe the extra gooey innards of a fig newton, downed with a shot of good, dark rum. Either way, I like it very much, and it's different enough from the original to make both worth hoarding. P.S. I think it will also make a very fun holiday scent.

For me, this is nearly a dupe of the re-release of Antique Lace, which is certainly not a bad thing. I have never smelled the original, but I agree with VioletChaos that this is slightly less sweet that the 2017 v. I don't get leather, but I do get something a tiny bit more sophisticated, and a tiny bit less marshmallowy vanilla. But basically, if you need more AL in your life, you'll go batty for this.

Lots of jasmine, the lighter kind that is sweet and bright vs. heady sexpot or sumptuous and grand. It makes me think "pink," though it's listed as white. The pear lends juiciness, and the sugary aspect is quite noticable. I get a teensy hint of creamy mint and moss, but otherwise, the rest of the notes just blend into a lovely, pillowy melange that adds complexity to the sugared jasmine. This does smell pastel to me, but more bright than hazey or buttery - like dyed eggs nestled in Easter. I can see the Last Unicorn references, as in: this could fit nicely into the collection. The creamy mint/moss combo also reminds me a lot of the Cacao & Black Moss base. So that, without the cocoa, and will juicy, sweet spring florals over the top. Overall, a subtly complex, spring floral, that you probably have to be on speaking terms with jasmine to enjoy, but is well worth a conversation if you are. 😉

Not going to lie, I am a little disappointed in this one. I absolutely adored my partial of the 2020 version. I was hoping buying this year's Luna Azul would rectify my lack of the previous version, but, despite having the same notes, this is a very different offering. The dark, caramelized aspect of the previous version is missing here, while the ephemeral blue quality, present in so many other lunacies, is a star here. I get a lemony aspect that I can only assume is the frankincense. Oddly, @doomsday_disco's impression of lemon and incense, in "Cotton Candy Blue Moon," is what I get here. This is pretty, in its own right, and probably more stereotypical of past lunar blends than 2020' s heavier, sultry blend. My scent impression: An exotic lunar garden lays before you. Its white pebble-strewn paths meander amidst lush, luminous blossoms that soak in starlight and spill out sweet scent. Soft incense smoke swirls in eddies, ephemeral and teasing, as they drift from the halls of Queen Serenity's palace.

I hadn't experienced BPAL's cotton candy note before this, but I haven't really cared for other companies'. However, I generally like BPAL's sugar notes, and the Blue Unicorn Moon was so much fun, I thought I'd give this a try. Not for me, unfortunately. I think I have smelled this cotton candy note in other brands I didn't care for, but it doesn't really smell like cotton candy to me. (Probably why I don't like it.). I also get a vague whiff of the blue raspberry-type, candy note in some other bpal offerings. This might be what Doomsday Disco is reading as lemony, because it has that citric acid candy vibe. Think kool aid, pixie stix, or sour punch straws. I also get some "moon musk:" the typical white/bluish musk in the lunar blends. I think "blue" and "crystalline" are the descriptors to focus on here. But for those wanting a fluffy, moon confection, this might disappoint. I'm curious to see what those more familiar with the lab's cotton candy note will think.

If Laughy Taffy made a violet flavor, this would be it. Not very sophisticated, but very fun, Violet Behemoth packs a juicy wallop of PURPLE right up front, then retreats to the background after making his grand entrance. He's a far gentler giant that initial impressions imply. Though violet dominates, the fruits support the scent, aiding in its candy vibe, while indigo musk, a note I simply adore, has a subtle role here, tying everything together and upscaling things just enough you feel like you are actually wearing a perfume and haven't just filled your pockets with pulverized, wildberry skittles and splashed yourself with purple drank. (Don't knock it till you try it.) Anywho, for the young at heart, who love violet and/or PURPLE, and need more kaiju in their life, get him before he stomps away. 💜

Eucalyptus! Mint! And the ozoney stone note the lab uses. The scent is quite sharp in the bottle, bracing, but my skin calms it down quite a bit. This is like a Lick It with none of the sweetness. I'm pretty sure there's some white musk going on too. This is similar to a lot of BPAL's other minty offering, but it's fun that it's horror themed. 🙃

In the bottle, very strong on the herbal cocoa, with a dash of clove. Reminds me of some of the earlier 13's. I'm actually wanting less chocolate, so lets see what happens on my skin. CLOVES! Cause I amp it. 😁 But now it's calming down and the more herbal smells are coming through. Awwww... I smell like a bunny. ☺️ There's a gentle, natural sweetness that reminds me a bit of the sweetness in carrot seed, and the cocoa gives the impression of sweet, dusty earth, spiked with a little metallic tang from the cloves. My impression is of sun-warmed prairie. I like this! It's along the lines of what I was hopping for. It's warm, well-blended, and very grounding. There's also quite a bit of complexity, making it interesting. For those who like natural/naturey fragrances, or comforting brown musk scents, this is a good one. Get it while it's still hare! 😂

Initially, a bold, candied, fruity rose I've smelled in several of the labs recent offerings, including Rose Moon 23. I'm not too keen on it. Reminds me of Rapture Pig's rose. I'm hoping for more complexity on the skin. Sniffing my wrist, this is still very much about the rose, but it's softening - smoothing out into something more natural, but still very pink. Dare I say, this is Barbie's rose? Coconut emerges, and now it's Barbie at the beach, in her checkered swimsuit. I'm not getting much more than that, pink rose and coconut. Simple, but entirely pleasant. It's very reminiscent of Roses, Diamonds, and Pearls, but has more of a satin finish, if that makes sense. It's not really blowing me away, but I'm not an avid rose collector. We'll see if To Lallie blossoms into something more unique after a few months.

Without looking at the notes, I got almond blossom and something almost herbal/minty, with a bit of light fizziness(the amber). It's a little bit hairspray, but not in a terrible way. Then an airy incense note starts to emerge. It smells very spring appropriate (for gently warm weather) and it's reminding me a lot of a more tepid Cat Chasing Butterflies. Not getting any honey or milk. Incense is becoming the predominate note as it warms up and the fizziness is gone, as is my CCB impression. I'm not impressed yet, but I just got it in the mail, so perhaps it will gain a bit more personality after it sits. I will return and report if it does. PS @Jenjin Skimming the reviews, the first words my eyes alighted on were, "the poop was beaten gold..." T'was a weird and amusing moment.

I'm not usually a fan of straight up dessert scents like this, but I do like dark chocolate, pistachios, and cherry mixed with florals and resins - just not all together maybe? 🤔 Anywho, I thought this one might actually work for me. What I get is a lot of roasted, salty pistachio, backed by a boozy/cough syrupy cherry, and a hint of bitter chocolate. It's not really working for me, nor is it smelling like something I'd really wanna eat. It's almost savory? Might have to just be happy eating the real thing

@Luk Gooped Familiar is a cinnamon candy sort of scent from this year's weenies and features a black cat on the label. Cheshire Cat and Schrodienger's Cat are both general catalog scents you can get samples of. The label won't have a cat, but they're both fun, bright scents I think would work nicely for a tween or kiddo. The above suggestions are all really good too. 😸

Have you tried "Please Scream Inside Your Snake Oil?" Maybe a similar vibe but extra foody. "Sin in the Pumpkin Patch" is pretty great if you can find it. The sexy resins have just a touch of foodiness and I think the cinnamon is amped up a touch from the pumpkin spice. Lastly, I'll draw your attention to "The Obsequies of an Egyptian Cat," - Sweet myrrh, saffron, red labdanum, ambrette seed, terebinth resin, Damascus rose, honey, cardamom, and cacao-infused patchouli. No cinnamon, but with the cardamom, myrrh, patchouli, and honey, there's a really gorgeous, slinky golden spiced vibe you might really dig. You're making me want to go wear cinnamon now. 😁 I like the note, it just tends to really drown out everything else. I find Ceylon cinnamon works a lot better for me though. Do you register any difference between cassia and Ceylon?

This one is...odd. I don't really get a tea vibe per se. What I DO get is a dark, dry jasmine with a bitter edge. The blood musk is giving this a sugared quality, while also lending to the bitterness. There's something almost soapy or minty lurking faintly in the back. Perhaps whisps of anise from a black tea note? If so, that's the only clue I'm getting that it's here. I don't know what the "yellow" part of the amber means, but the amber just seems to be grounding this. It's an interesting melange to be sure, and the discordant notes seem to be coming together as it dries down. It has an oddly Victorian goth vibe to me, like something someone would wear in one of Poe's stories. ETA: Ok, upon comparing this to two other yellow amber scents - "Sunrise Kimono" and "Leave Marks" - I CAN detect a fair bit of the note here. I think it's actually responsible for the sugariness as it comes across as a powdery, sugary, light amber, not warm or rich, but slightly more complex, and less high pitched, than white amber. I'm kinda digg'n it.

I can't usually do cinnamon, (amp it to high heaven) but the few I've found that I adore are Defutata, Hatta, I Wish I Were Your Mirror, Behind the Veils, and Adventuresome Encounters. Dead Leaves & Cinnamon Buns, Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pie, The Carousel and Sara, Mother Bear are also really nice.

I don't really get corn, which I'm %100 okay with. I get more of a husky, musk, cream of wheat smell, loaded with lots of butter and sugar, sitting next to a vase of fresh peonies. Ceres reminds me a bit of a foodier "In Omnibus Caritas," but the peony and amber are quite present and keep this from being just a straight up gourmand. I feel like a sexy Miss Muffet would wear this. I think I can resist getting a bottle, but I'm very happy to keep my imp, and highly recommend anyone who likes these kinds of creamy grains scents to check this one out. It's very nice. P.S. I would slather the heck out of this if it was a lotion. Mmmmmm....

Huzzah! I've been wanting to get my hands on this for a while. It's not what I expected (not sure what I expected, really) but I DO like it. At first sniff and application, it has a strong herbal, almost aquatic, cologne vibe. Much of this is from the strong sage, but I think the patch is actually adding to this vibe. This isn't a warm, earthy patch; it's a sophisticated, debonair, and heartless kind of patch. As the perfume warms on my skin, I can better differentiate the notes. The mate's mintiness mingles with the sage, keeping that cool, herbal vibe floating on top. Below those notes, I can detect the opium and narcissus, which is honestly, very reminiscent of the CG Darkness. This also reminds me of Indulgence, one of my top 10 favs, from the CP line. BSSG has a similar cold chill floating over that dark, glossy patchouli and deep, resinous base, but it lacks the incense I so love. This is much more herbal and reads as masculine to my nose. Christian Grey might smell like this, but I'm not sure I want to.

Sniffing this in hindsight, this is similar to Penis Bound w/Gold Ribbon, just a little sweeter and a little less musky. This smells like good lemon pound cake, drizzled with wildflower honey. It's quite foody, and quite hard not to like, but I think I do prefer PBw/GR's hint of musky sourness that just seems a little more unusual. If I had to eat one though, I'd definitely go with Amor.