LizziesLuck

Myrrh and I are not always a good combo, but I adore mahogany, so I wanted to give it a whirl. Wet: Interesting!! This is one of those "way more than the sum of it's parts" sort of scents. It's sweet, and almost...effervescent? Maybe there's a polish note in here. There's something at the very heart of this that gives me the same feels as Antikythera - don't mistake that for "this smells like Antikythera" because it doesn't, there's just something that subtly reminds me. The wood, likely. That is gradually overtaken but something that smells, sadly, like a generic cologne. Dry: I amp Myrrh, so eventually that becomes more prominent than the other notes. Warm, sweet, woody incense, with this other unfamiliar note that's almost-but-not-quite effervescent - or maybe boozey would be a better word? Hard to describe. Anyway, I enjoy this, but it's not really "me" and therefore I won't be needing a bottle. It's really different though, to any Myrrh scent I have ever tried (they all tend to go single note on me) and that's noteworthy for sure. Worth trying!

I have a new obsession with pink peppercorn, so I had to try this, even though you never know which dead leaves you're going to get... Wet: I identify this as the "cologne" dead leaves scent. For reference, it was in Dead Leaves and Sugared Cardamom. I can smell the pink peppercorn - it's such a neat note. Combined here though, it smells exactly like a craft store, for some reason - Michael's, to be exact. That's not bad, I always rather like the way Michael's smells, but I don't really want to smell like it. Dry: Once dry it doesn't smell like Michael's anymore. It actually reminds me quite a bit of what I remember Dead Leaves and Sugared Cardamom to have been like - spice plus cologney slightly aquatic dead leaves. It's actually quite a pleasant smell. Unisex. Sort of a spice-clean scent. I do like it, but I can't see wearing it. I think it reminds me a bit of Pageant Queen, too? That commercial sort of feel? I could be crazy. Either way, good, but not for me.

Mmmm! This immediately reminds me of an even sweeter snow angel! And the more I smell it, the more I do wonder if the fruit is maybe a bit of lemon, and then some sort of stone fruit like peach or apricot. It has that "slightly tart" but still sweet aspect that I really like. This is total yum! Light and sweet and just totally pleasant. I feel like I could easily get away with wearing it to work. Who could be offended by the scent of sugar and fruit? I hope the perfume is this good (I can't believe this is the first year I am trying it!!)

This could go all kinds of wrong on me, but also has potential to be great (hello, musk!) Wet: Oooh!! That's gooood! It's reminding me of something...maybe like Unicorn and Ram without the cardamom - it's a very soft, suede-like leather, and a really snuggly sort of musk. Those are the dominant notes on me. It's REALLY good so far. A light skin scent. Leaning masculine. Subtly sexy, but somehow snuggly at the same time. This is nose-stuffed-into-the-crook-of-my-elbow-like-a-dork good. Dry: Oh yes yes. This is indeed my favourite type of leather note, and I do love this musk. Very glad I tried it! I keep catching whiffs and just loving it. I'll have to evaluate whether I have enough scents similar to this already (it does remind me of both Unicorn and Ram, and Hochelaga to some extent) but it is for sure bottle-worthy. And would it ever smell amazing on a man, too!

Mod Note: There is a review topic for Samhainophobia release years 2006-2007, 2011, 2013, and 2016 located here. Per our Review sub-forum topic policy, a new review topic has been created for the 2017 release due to an inexact match with previous release scent description. To be specific, the word 'Haitian' is missing from the 'Haitian vetiver' verbiage used in past scent descriptions. This callout does not indicate knowledge of formulation and is simply provided for transparency on review topics. Fear of Halloween Menacing vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves. Would you believe I have never tried this before? I tried Samhain ages ago. It was horrendous on me. Like, shockingly bad. And somehow in my head this got lumped in with it and I avoided it like the plague. BUT THEN Ajevie started doing half decants, and, well...what can I say, I like to try all the things! Wet: Wow, menacing really is a good word for it. This is HEAVY. Ominous. DARK. I don't hate it, but it's not my thing, yet. It's actually starting to do a burnt plastic thing on my arm, so I'm not really a fan of that. Dry: Tons of vetiver. It must be pretty strong, as my skin often eats vetiver when it's in among other notes. I actually can't really smell the other notes in this. I am guessing some aging would help everything even out, however I am fairly certain this is one of those scents that is just not for me. Glad to have finally tried it though! (And I do wonder if this was a formulation change this year, or just a word omission.

I adore all things beeswax - was pretty close to blind bottling this, but controlled myself. Can't wait to test this decant! Wet: Umfg. (You know, that noise you make when it's eyes-roll-back-in-your-head-good?) Beeswax, yes (which is glorious, as always.) But the flowers with it and hints of cocoa are what make it so special. These florals smell the way I want jasmine to smell (not like cat pee, which is how it actually smells on my skin). This is really different than any of the other beeswax scents I have. Really interesting! Dry: I'm so sad!!! This turned to straight up high pitched headache inducing floral, similar to jasmine on me but without the cat pee still. Ugh, I had such high hopes. Where did the beeswax go?

Wet: What an interesting mix! This chypre smells a bit like autumn leaves to me, only sweeter. The pumpkin spice is also sweet, but soft and not PUMPKIN SPICE!!! all up in your face. It's a really interesting blend of an earthy outdoorsy smell and a very gourmand smell. Dry: I really do love this - it's dark and earthy, sweet and spicy. Really good. Not sure if I will need a bottle, but I am considering it.

Apparently I somehow forgot to review this! (I just tested my decant and immediately purchased two bottles of it...) Wet: There is a blast of woods at first (not a fan) but then that is immediately overtaken on my skin by deliciously dark, syrupy opoponax and labdanum. Mmmm. Then, the magic really starts when the amber peeks out- on me, this smells just like the amber from Hesiod's Phoenix. Which I adore. Only this is even better. I know some folks thought this smells like Streets of Detroit - I believe that may be due to the word "oil" in the title? They share no notes, and don't smell even remotely similar to me. Just my two cents. Dry: The wood pretty much disappears (which I am so grateful for) and the opoponax and labdanum fade back a bit, and this become all about the glorious amber. I really just want to slather in this daily. I bought two bottles, and I am not sure it will be enough.

I have been collecting BPAL for over 10 years. My work place recently went "scent sensitive". I thought it would kill me, but I have adapted! I think our rules would be applicable to you also - we have to ensure that no one else can smell our scent unless they come right into our "personal space". And that if they do have to be in our personal space (we work in cubicle land and also frequently have to get into vehicles together) that the scent should still not be strong enough to cause an allergic reaction in anyone. My strategy was to switch to clean, light scents that have little to no throw. I go for scents that would easily be mistaken for "clean laundry" or "this person just smells freshly showered". I use only hair gloss that smells like shampoo. I try to make sure that the person who walks into my cubicle, sits beside me at lunch, gets in my car with me can't smell me. But if they DO smells me, I want to smell like something clean and totally inoffensive. I don't want anyone at work to ever know I apply perfume, if that makes sense. This has been my solution to giving it up in the mornings, which frankly horrified me - my job is incredibly stressful, I apply make up and perfume like armour and would feel naked without it!! So here are my go-to scents, both perfume and hair gloss (my hair suffers greatly without HG, no way I am giving it up!) Event Horizon (applied sparingly, it's super light, no throw) Kill-Devil (must be applied sparingly - still testing this to make sure it's appropriate) Ochosi Vasilissa Neutral (I can't recommend this enough, it's so light and inoffensive) Bard (must be applied sparingly) Mr. Ibis (A different sort of clean, I really love this one) The Forgettable God (The cleanest clean laundry you ever smelled) Boober (Slightly sweeter clean laundry) Stormclouds Over The Midway (more of a clean rain feel) The Illustrated Woman (Soft skin scent, when applied lightly) Tamamo-No-Mae Giant Vulva Velvet Nudie Velvet Tiki (This is just super light on my chemistry, might not work for all) Stinky (A different sort of clean scent) Boo (Recently I have been amping this and may have to rethink if it's too strong, but could work for others) Lilith vs. the Giant Crab (Very subtle skin scent on me) Gypsy (another great soft sweet skin scent) Dancing Koi (ditto) Self-Portrait (This has a powdery soft clean vibe) Recalcitrant Dragon (Ditto) Stekkjarstaur (Who ever had an allergic reaction to the scent of marshmallow?? Plus it's super light on me) Bast (Kingkiller, not AG) Funerary Papyri Alternative Facts (It smells like sort of fruity vanilla powdery soap on me - very light) Envy (Seven word story - carrot seed smells really clean to me - apply sparingly though) Chastising Your Dragon (Harder to come by, but an interesting take on clean on my skin) Gold and Tears (again with the carrot seed!) And for HG, these all smell clean or like expensive shampoo to me, or are super light and inoffensive: Apple Marshmallow Hair Gloss Boo Chorion Hair Gloss Departing Like Smoke Dragon Mlerm Kamisuki Kill-Devil Pearl The Moon Reflected in Every Rice Paddy White Tea and Sage Hair Gloss Juniper Mint Hair Gloss Snow Angel Crack of Thunder (This is my new fave for work, I love it!) I hope you find a good amount of things you can wear to work without affective your co-worker! I was really upset at have to change things up initially, but now I find it actually let's me use my collection more freely, as I slather in whatever I want the second I get home, and don't have to worry about who might not like it.

Rum punch is not improperly called Kill-Devil; for thousands lose their lives by its means. When newcomers use it to the least excess, they expose themselves to imminent peril, for it heats the blood and brings on fevers, which in a very few hours send them to their graves. Sugar cane, molasses, oak wood, and honey. Kill-Devil perfume is not good on my skin. My chemistry turns it weird and dusty with hints of burnt sugar. BUT I knew from experience I don't have those same issues with HG, and this sounded like the perfect, sweet gloss. And it is. Primarily sugar cane, to my nose, with hints of oak, a slightly floral/lemony honey, and a bit of the depth of the molasses. It's perfect, it will literally go with any scent that has some sweetness (which is pretty much my entire collection). Thanks to everyone who voted for this, as I am so so happy to have it!

In my head this is like My Little Grotesque with apple. We shall see how it is in real life! Wet: Fresh juicy apple with spicy cardamom. Hints of sweet cake underneath. I find cake notes to be really dominant on me often, but this is subtle. Gosh I love cardamom, and it's great with the apple. I'm really enjoying this so far. Dry: Sad face. This turns to mostly just apple on me, and then it does what fresh apple scents do on my skin and disappears. This is not the cardamom cake scent with apple that I hoped for, it's a fresh apple scent with hints of cardamom cake that don't last on my skin. Not sure if I'll bother trying to ago it, as I don't think age will change a scent like this much? I don't know. As it is right now, it's not for me.

Wet: Mmm I was not expecting this to be spiced apple, but it is, and it's lovely. Like apple and apricot pie filling, if that were a thing, with a blob of creamy marshmallow on top. Surprisingly homey and comforting. I had kind of gotten away from gourmands, but am recognizing there is still a place for some of them in my collection - this is the type of gourmand I still really enjoy. It's like a warm hug. I sometimes struggle with apple notes smelling artificial on me, but this smells like a real (cooked) apple. Dry: I really love this scent. It smells nothing like I thought it would. Of the two I picked up (6 & 7) I thought this would be the "iffy" one, but it's the one that's better on my skin. It's a warm, slightly gooey (if that makes sense) bakery scent, kept from being too sweet or candy-like y the apricot and lemon. The spice in this is literally perfect. I think it's very light on the cinnamon, because normally that would be overpowering on me and easily identifiable. This is more like a mix of spices - nutmeg and ginger, maybe even some mace? Apple pie spices. I guess this does smell a bit like apple pie, but apple pie with a unique, amazing twist. YUM. Really happy I took a chance on it.

Wet: Bubblegum (lotus) and Dragon's Blood. Kind of what I expected! It's what I consider to be the "floral" version of DB - high pitched, sweet - not my favourite, to be honest. This is very heady. I feel like too much of it might give me a headache. Dry: Sadly, this is pretty "meh" on me, as the notes are just not ones I enjoy, personally. On my skin it's a very simply union of lotus and Dragon's Blood. Just not to my taste.

Wet: Ermagherd, so much lemongrass!! I bet this would make awesome bug repellant, but so far it's not something I want to smell like. Blerg. Dry: Not a mopher, still a big pile of lemongrass. Love it in my soup, not so much in my perfume. This one is not for me!

Freshly sprayed, this is marshmallow and crisp, tart apple in equal measures. YUM. It's light, and utterly inoffensive, and likely perfect for me to wear to work. It doesn't morph much at all in the initial drydown. I thought the apple would dissipate, but it's still very present. I quite like this! I am not a huge apple fan, but this is really nice - not too terribly artificial smelling. This will be a great scent for me to wear to work, as it smells very much like it could be the world's best apple shampoo.

Found this in my "to test" box, and cannot for the life of me remember when I got it, or why? Lol (But I don't have a problem, I can quit whenever I want...) Wet: VERY high pitched and perfumey. Florals and Frankincense come through the strongest. The florals are trying to go a bit soapy. Hoping it'll settle on my skin, because there's some promise under there. The musk note peeking through is glorious. Dry: This settles into something fairly pleasant on me - resins and florals- but it doesn't WOW me. It's just...pleasant.

I love all these notes, but curious to see how they play together. Wet: The pepper kind of slaps me in the face. I kind of like it. Hoping the other notes start to shine through a bit more though, I like scents with more sweetness to them than this currently has, but the pepper is a really neat scent. It's perfumey in this, the way that cardamom can be perfumey (in a good way! It is, after all, perfume.) Dry: Sadly this remains all about the pepper on me. I do like it, it's just such a strange scent to me, I can't see ever wearing it. Too bad, I think if I hadn't amped the pepper so much it might have been great.

Violet and lavender. The violet makes the lavender smell sickly. No matter how many times I try, I just cannot like violet. In anything. Unless you literally can't smell it at all. *sigh*

Wet: This is a gorgeous, resiny leaf scent. It reminds me of Autumn from The Salon, without the rose. It's gorgeous. I find some of the dead leaves notes to be too bitter for me, but the sweetness of the resins balances this beautifully for me. I have called a lot of scents "fall in a bottle". Autumn is one of them, some of the Harvest Moons...but this one is more "fall in a bottle" than any I have smelled so far. I hike daily in the woods near my house, I can see this being a fall favourite for that hike. Dry: Still reminding me very much of Autumn. Sweet, rich and resiny, swirled with fallen leaves. Lovely!

I adore apricot. I adore clove. I tried to pretend for a long time that I didn't want this, but I knew I was lying to myself - so I snagged it when I had the chance! Wet: OMG, as advertised, juicy sweet apricot preserves and gorgeous sweet clove. SO YUMMY. I am not a huge tart person, but I want to eat this tart. It's just utterly glorious. I think there's hidden hints of bakery vanilla in here too. Dry: I think there's maybe a hint of custard hiding in this tart? But either way, it's outrageously awesome. I don't care much for most gourmands anymore, but apricot is an exception. I adore this and will cherish it.

Wet: Mmm. I don't know exactly what I am smelling, but it's sweet, rich, and lovely. It might be olive blossom - I've only smelled it in one other thing, and I hated it there, but this is gorgeous. Like, so lovely. Dry: The amber is pale and light, less sweet and rich than some ambers, but still lovely. Hints of the coconut come through nicely - kind of a dry coconut note. But I think what still stands out the most is that oh-so-pretty olive blossom! I have no olive blossom in my collection (until now). Glad I took a chance and blind bottled this. I think it'll age well due to the amber. Looking forward to wearing this in spring!

I shouldn't be trying this yet, it's a resin scent and it just arrived in the mail and I should be letting it settle...but I NEED to know if I should be ordering the HG!! Wet: So just in case you didn't know, Frank and I don't get along well. I think he's a bully. And this is a Frankincense scent, for sure. But it's like...VANILLA Frank, and vanilla and I are best mates. Somehow vanilla managed to take Frank in-hand and force him to behave, and this is GORGEOUS so far. Good lord, I love this. I must look ridiculous, the way my face is stuffed into the crook of my elbow. The scent is lighter than I would have anticipated, it doesn't smack you in the face with incense. It smells antique. And expensive. Dry: This is difficult to describe. There's a pale golden Frankincense, light and sweet and beautiful. It's sort of enveloped in this dry, dusty vanilla. It's really gorgeous. Different, and interesting while still being elegant and wearable. Glad I sprung for a bottle. Will be getting at least a decant of the HG.

Wet: Sweet pine (not the sharp acrid kind that smells like cat pee on me) and something that smells like almond/cherry? Oh duh, after looking at the notes again that'd be the almond blossom. I was expecting a vanilla and patchouli combo, but this is all about the pine and sweet syrupy almond on my skin. It's quite lovely! Just not what I was anticipating. I do get hints of patchouli, but it's not dominating. On my skin, it's not the same patchouli as Banshee Beat, though there are similarities. It's got the same smoothness and sweetness, but it's drier and earthier on me than BB patchouli. This is great though and getting better and better as it warms on my skin. Dry: It goes through a brief phase where it DOES smell like BB patchouli, but it's short lived. It fades out to the dry, dusty patchouli smell I dislike (smells like dirt on me) mixed with a sweet fig note that I really love. There are things I love about this scent, but overall it's not for me.

I don't NEED anymore florals, but I am always drawn to scents that are vague in the listing of notes. Plus - flytraps! Wet: GREEN! And poisonous. I agree with Dark Alice, Poison Ivy would totally smell like this. It's downright sinister. I think I actually smell fungus or mushroom in it. You know when you're tramping through the woods, and it's a green time of year, slightly misty, and you step on a puff-ball? That's what this smells like. Wet grass and plants and earth and puff balls. Interesting! Dry: The throw from this is a lovely green, sweet floral, with hints of sophisticated high-end perfume. Very compelling! Nose to skin though - MUSHROOMS. Weird! not sure how I feel about it, will need a second test, I think.

Florentine iris, red musk, mimosa, magnolia, Damascus rose, clove, and vanilla bean. 2017 version Wet: Really fruity red musk - there's a note that smells almost like cocoa, then morphs into something wine-like, then it's like an earthy patchouli note - none of those are listed, I am thoroughly confused. But I like it. I actually think it's the iris! Iris usually smells like violet on me, and I hate it's face. But here with the red musk it's rich and lovely. This is interesting! Kind of high pitched, as it dries, from the florals mixed with the musk , I suppose. Dry: Red musk with hints of iris aka violet. NOT GOOD. Sad, this had promise. I shall age it!