ChupaChup

I love everything about Old Morocco except the sandalwood. For some reason, that note on my skin just sucks all the sweetness out of a blend. I love the spices and the carnation in this, but it's just too dry and masculine on me. It's funny, Queen of Sheba on me is what I hoped Old Morocco would be and others find QOS too dry Good thing Beth makes both of them, we're all happy

This is the prettiest of the Voodoo blends I have tried so far. From the other reviews, I was expecting a sweet grass kind of smell, but to me it is a more mowed and slightly rotting grass smell. It's the same note I detected in Red Devil that doesn't agree with me, I think it might be vetiver. However, the vanilla sweetness in Van Van more than compensates for that note and the soft powdery drydown is wonderful. I got this for a friend of mine who is going through some hard times, we put it in her oil burner and just talked, it was very soothing. She also loves it on her skin and puts some on her crystals after she has cleaned them and charges them in the sun. So far, things have been going a lot better for her

I also find this to be a slinky, sexy oil. In the vial, the dragon's blood and cinnamom smell delicious. I love it wet on my skin, but as it dries, an herbal note appears that doesn't quite agree with me. After a couple of hours, the herbal note goes a little powdery, everything blends together and it smells lovely. Don't think I want to go through the drydown again, though, so off to swaps it goes.

This is the prettiest of the earthy scents I have tried so far (The Caterpillar and Burial being the others). I find it soft and comforting, very grounding. However, the little tinge of "dirt" that I smell makes me think this is a little too masculine for me.

The Sun is a warm, sparkling scent. The heliotrope is gorgeous, a soft kind of orange (as in the fruit) scent with a tiny bit of spiciness that others may detect as cinnamon, although I can't make out the cinnamon myself. There is some resinous note that grounds this, possible amber or myrrh. Lasts about 2 hours which is pretty good for a citrus scent.

I got this in a swap from the bubbly Northernminx, thanks! Greed starts of very bright and sparkly, reminding me of Eclipse, with the almond and heliotrope notes. As it drys down, it does get more earthy. I can definitely detect the copal and the oakmoss, my nose can't find the patchouli. At this stage, it does get more masculine, as others have mentioned, so I don't think the oil is quite right for me. I swiped some on the boy and thank goddess, we found a BPAL oil he really likes! I have been trying for quite a while to enable him It smells really delish on him. ETA: My boy ended up ordering a 5ml of this and this bottle has a lot more patchouli in it. After about two hours, the patchouli fades enough so that it smells like the original imp. Still a stunning winner!

Vixen is one of those oils that just keeps growing on me. The first time I wore it, I really didn't like it, the ginger was way too strong. But I was on my way out so I left it on and after about an hour, it started to smell just plain yummy. The ginger was softening and the orange blossom was emerging. We had to drive almost two hours to where we were going and by the time we arrived, what must be patchouli (although it smells more like myrrh to me) developed and I felt really sexy. When I walked in, I immediately got several complements on my perfume, which is always a good sign! The next few times I wore it, I was still bothered by the ginger during that first hour, but now I actually look forward to its kick. I think that strong note was so new to me, my nose didn't know what to make of it but now it craves it. I am also getting that lovely vanilla aroma others are mentioning, it happens several hours into the drydown. I adore Vixen now and want to get a big bottle or at least work to always have an imp on hand.

Hellcat was one of the few BPAL oils that was just too much for me. It smells like a combination of Gluttony and Hecate, two oils that I love by themselves. Together, they were just sensory overload, overwhelming. Aptly named oil, though

First of all, I have to say this is a lovely oil. But I had to swap it away. I felt I should write a review as it leaves me. The first time I tried Serpent's Kiss, I only put a dot on the back of my wrist. The aroma that wafted up was lovely, that sweet, spicy kick of dragon's blood with a touch of cinnamon. But as I leaned in to inhale more deeply, something about it struck real terror in me. My heart seemed to stop and I got that clutching sensation at the base of my throat. I had to wash it off. It was the weirdest thing, I've never had a reaction to a BPAL scent like this before. It could be the power of suggestion, I definitely have a phobia of snakes, but I had no problem with Snake Oil. There is some note in this, that when combined with the dragon's blood and cinnamon, really smells like what I imagine a snake's breath must smell like, just before he bites you. Elizabeth really got what she was going after in this blend! It took me three weeks before I could bring myself to try this oil again. First, I went to Whole Foods and tried to identify the note that bothered me. I tried vetiver but actually cassia came closer to what this smells like to me. By itself, it didn't bother me. Anyway, I tried to wear Serpent's Kiss another time, I made it through the day and I loved it, except when I inhaled deeply and that was so disturbing I decided I couldn't wear it any more. Leaving it on longer, I did notice the cinnamon coming out more and it is a "volatile" blend, as hypothermya says. This oil had great staying power on me and if you're not a wimp like me and love dragon's blood, I seriously recommend giving it a try. The color is gorgeous, a fiery red like the eyes of the Basilisk in Harry Potter!

Thanks for your ideas, Mandarin. How is the ammonia used, do you dilute it in water and wipe down all surfaces? And what is a "witch's jar" and what kinds of things do you put in it? I can have her do these things while we are waiting for the oils. I can't get over how sweet and helpful people are on this board

Thanks for your advice I ended up getting Dove's Heart and Horn of Plenty for her. Luckily, since you both mentioned it, I also have Van Van coming in a swap. I could use a little purification myself and it sounds like it smells really good, too. I'll probably try a little of the Horn of Plenty with her

I have been taking homeopathic medicine for sinus pain, it works better than any drug I have ever tried and no side effects. I get one called Sinusalia by Boiron. You can get it at most healthfood stores and the Vitamin Shoppe has the best prices I have seen, either online or in their stores. Boiron also makes a homeopathic remedy for PMS. Sorry you aren't feeling well

I don't think I can add much to the wonderful descriptions other forum members have already posted but I wanted to put in my big ME TOO! This starts out as very bitter almonds on me, but after about 10 minutes, they begin to sweeten. It must be the honey doing that but it's not the same, clear note of honey that I get in Old Athens, just a background sweetness. Then the wonderful spices emerge. This seems to bloom on my skin during the day and ends up very sweet. I like the sweetness but worry that it may be too much for those around me, although I haven't gotten any complaints. My imp of Queen of Sheba somehow developed a slow leak and I panicked, my clue to get a big bottle. It's on it's way to me now! Good stuff

This was my first orgasmic oil from BPAL (you guys know what I mean!). In the bottle and when first applied to my skin, I get that cherry cola smell that I recognize in other BPAL scents, usually a good sign that I am going to like the oil But as soon as it dries, Voodoo becomes the most incredible, gorgeous blend of scents...sweet, tangy, spicy, creamy and sexy. I didn't know all that could fit into a perfume and not smell chaotic. I really can't pick out ANY individual notes, I have to re-read the description and force myself to more imagine them than actually find them. Voodoo also has great staying power, at least 10 hours without a reapplication. Voodoo is my courage oil, whenever I am going to be in a situation where I am unsure of myself (meeting new people, public speaking, etc.) I wear it and I feel calm, reassured and safe. It's like I'm in a protective bubble and nothing can harm me. I already have this in a big bottle, I panicked when the imp was half full and hoarded it until the bottle arrived

I originally bought Tombstone for the boy and he didn't think much of it, even though I thought it smelled great on him. But I have to admit, it smells even better on me! When it first went on, I was afraid it was going to be too dry and woody, that the cedar would do what sandalwood does on my skin. But boy, that vanilla is strong. It wrestles down the cedar and they both blend together to become the most amazing aroma. It's kind of hard to describe, the vanilla's sweetness is taken away by the cedar and the cedar's dryness is taken away by the vanilla. I can't sniff out the sassafras by itself, or the balsam, but I think they must be the magic that makes this blend work. Once my imp is gone, big bottle for me!

This is such a lovely, soft and comforting scent to me. It smells like oatmeal cookie dough! None of the notes stand out separately, I don't detect the almond that others have mentioned but I can believe it's in there. It fades a little too fast to be a good daytime scent for me but I love wearing it late in the evening. It lasts until I go to sleep and gives me peaceful dreams.

For something like Bulgari, if it's the one in the yellow bottle, have her consider either Old Venice or Ave Maria Gratia Plena. I think Old Venice is a little closer in notes but it's more heady and a little sharper than Bulgari whereas the Ave Maria Gratia Plena is closer to the fresh feeling and complexity of Bulgari. Darkness reminded me of Channel No 5. Sorry, I'm not familiar with the other scents your mom likes but Xiuhtecuhtli is a gorgeous floral that smelled like Gucci Rush to me and Midnight is a very creamy floral. Good job with the enabling!

My skin seems to amp up sandalwood and with that and cedar in Old Kathmandu, all I could smell was dry wood. I never got the lotus in this and I was dying for some kind of sweetness. After about half an hour, the spices appeared. The saffron smelled a little funky but whatever Nepalese spices are, they are wonderful. I would love to see those spices in another, sweeter blend. All in all, not something I will use but I'll see if the boy likes it.

Old Athens really blew me away. I ordered it because I wanted to try another oil with myrrh, I find I love that note. I was a little worried I wouldn't like it because other oils with red wine in them didn't work on me, they tend to go sour, but Old Athens is brilliant. I smelled the wine in the vial but as soon as it hit my skin, the honey took over, and I mean TOOK OVER. It's not a sickeningly sweet honey on me either, it's glorious. It rises up and envelops me like a warm hug. Then after about 15 minutes, the wine reasserts itself, the honey wrestles it down and a lovely gentle spiciness emerges (that must be the myrrh). After that, it just melts into my skin, a lovely blend with no note dominating. If there are any floral notes in here, I can't sniff them out! Oh, and the wine never smells red to me, it smells golden like mead or even retsina. I had some Greek friends when I was in college and Old Athens reminds me of festive dinners at their houses. I can picture myself surrounded by loud, wonderful people, smelling retsina, baklava, grape leaves and something with exotic spices cooking in the kitchen. It makes me feel so warm and happy. Today I was wearing it and sat outside in the warm breeze at a cafe, it was heavenly smelling it swirling around me. Gee, can you tell I love this one? Lasting power for me is pretty amazing, overnight until I took a shower, at least 18 hours. Gallon size, please.

This is a scent I really like in the vial but it disappears on my skin and I can hardly detect it. In the vial, it reminds me of a classic perfume (I'm thinking something like Channel 5, although I can't remember exactly what that smells like) and I even detect the aroma of alcohol. But as soon as it hits my skin, the top notes disappear. After about half an hour, the lovely myrrh comes out, but that's all I ever get

This was a generous freebie from the lab, thank you so much. When I first put it on, it reminded me of Old Venice and I was waiting for the violet and rose (which I am learning rarely work on me) to hit me in the face. But the scent never became aggressive like Old Venice does on me, so I went to look up the notes for each and found that although similar, AMGP does not have rose or violet, yay! As it dried, it became deliciously creamy and more reminiscent of Midnight, a favorite of mine. It must be the white flowers? I'm not a big fan of more heady florals but this one is soft and round enough to be a definite keeper.

Yay, my first review. I thought I'd start with the oils that didn't have a lot of reviews yet. I LOVE Hemlock. This was a generous extra from the lab. I probably wouldn't have tried it since the notes aren't listed in the description and there were no reviews at the time. It wasn't what I was expecting, I thought poison would smell more evil but this is a clean, pure scent. Probably great for poison, huh, who would suspect? This oil doesn't morph on me at all, it smells the same wet as it does upon drydown. To me, it's definitely a green smell, but not the pine others have mentioned and I get no smoky aroma. I get the smell you get when you walk into a florist and they are cutting the stems of flowers, it's like you smell the sap from the stems and not the flowers themselves. I think there may be a drop of something evergreen (balsam?) and some lime, with a tiny bit of white florals hiding in the background. The fragrance does not have a lot of staying power, two hours at best, and usually that would cause me to cross it off my list. But this is so refreshing and uplifting, I wouldn't mind carrying it around for touchups. It's also great for layering when you want to amp up the green in other fragrances. Wonderful with the non-spicey vanilla scents like O. I did have one weird day when Hemlock smelled a little sticky sweet like a lime lollipop but thankfully that has't happened since. This is on my expanding big bottle list!