freyasfae

Okay, first of all, the Crimson Peak really is magical. I feel like they need their whole other rating system than I usually use. They are all so beautiful and inspired. However, this one, still gorgeous, but just didn't quite work for me. I was hoping for more vanilla than rose, and this is largely rose on me. The vanilla starts to come out to play as it dries, but it is very subtle, and I wanted more of a mingling of the two.

Oh, this is pleasently surprising. I got this as a frimp and was convinced it would not work for me because I have yet to find a dragon's blood that works for - it mainly ends up smelling like fruity violets on me, but with the musks (which musk in any form does tend to love my skin), this is really pretty. It manages to be musky, but light at the same time (probably because it gets a bit powdery on me, but not in a bad way). It's not as dark as I had anticipated, more like a white dragon - like Falcor than Kahleesi's dragons. In comparing my response with others, I imagine this goes lighter on me because Dragon's Blood usually goes fruity soap (particularly violet which is a DN on me), but with the musks this becomes less soapy and more white queen.

I think it might be the fern and the lilac that just isn't work for me in this. Usually, lilac goes soupy on me, but wiith other favorite notes of mine, it can usually be overlooked. I think the fern brings out the soupy, acquatic quality that doesn't work for me. Pretty and definitely feels fairy-ish, but not for me.

This is very sweet despite the amber and sandalwood, I mainly got fruity vanilla out of this. Just not for me.

I love the roller balls, and I think they apply so much better, but like LizziesLuck, I am very attached to my BPAL bottles so these are perfect. I am off to order some! Wait wait, so you found roller balls that fit right onto your BPAL bottles?? And the cap still fits and everything?? The rollerballs fit right into the BPAL bottles, however you have to use their cap as the regular cap is not deep enough. I got mine from GotOilSupplies and they work great! I have used the bottles for my other essential oils. I went back onto the site and found these. They should work without having to buy the entire bottle. That is so cool, thanks for the info! I love the idea of a roller bottle, but am way too attached to my BPAL bottles to switch over. My only concern would be the metal, I have heard folks mention metal can react with certain oils/scents?? Someone did mention that in another post so I did some research..... When working with essential oils stainless steel is preferred as it does not react with the oils. Most companies that supply essential oils will also often sell the bottles with stainless steel rollers, so I'm pretty sure if there was a problem with interaction they would be the first to tell you to avoid it. Apparently, aluminum is the metal to be avoided. Plastic rollers are discouraged as some oils (in particular citrus oils) will eventually eat away at the plastic and contaminate your oil, and prevent the roller from rolling smoothly. Keep in mind that the above applies to essential oils and not necessarily to BPAL, but I'm assuming that most of what goes into our beloved scents is the same.

This is a cozy, cottage garden! At first, it smells generally green - a happy garden blooming away in the midst of springtime. Not long though, the gardenia comes out more, and I lurve gardenia! Particularly in this because this isn't quite a heady, white gardenia - the rest of the notes make it gardenia in a blooming cottage garden. Just spring perfection. So glad I found a bottle of this.

I hunted this one down because I saw it recommended somewhere for those who like milk and cream scents, but this is more sweet cream butter than milk, with a touch of lemon and some herbs, then it shifts and starts to go aquatic (makes sense being an island). Being that I adore My Baby and a Baby Goat, I think I was expecting more of that from this scent, but this is much more subdued and less warm than that one. As time passes, it becomes increasingly more herbal and less of the sweet cream which is what I was really looking for out of this.

Lesson learned: mugwort is not for me, because when first applied this is MUGWORT in your face. I smell like a fairy tale witch who eats small children. But it changes pretty quickly as it dries and eventually settles into a wispy and faint moonflower - quite the metamorphosis from aggressive mugwort to delicate moonflower. I really like the idea of this metamorphosis for an Esbat scent, but I really, really don't like the mugwort stage.

At first, this is all blackberry wine on me - to the point it almost smells more like hard candies than blackberry, but it doesn't take long to settle and for more of the other notes to come out - though I can't really discern between the other notes, as it smells like blackberry wine with some herby, woods, nut stuff going on - and a whiff of myrrh (which I can handle in small doses like this!). It has that element of many of the beautiful autumnal scents that the lab makes, but with a blackberry forwardness.

I would recommend ordering one of the imp packs from the lab to get started. They are divided into a variety of general scent categories such as green, gourmand, leather, etc. It's a good way to get started and you don't have to go the work of picking and choosing as it has already been done for you. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/imps-ears/

I hunted this one down for the moonflower which I have come to learn via my BPAL obsession is a note that I adore. Oh, oh, stem-y, lush flowers! Soft, pale purples! I can tell there is moonflower in this, but it's a much less fruity moonflower than usual. I think the aquatic quality of the other notes tempers this quality of the moonflower, and the cucumber just lingers in the background and prevents this from becoming heady florals. The Gibbous Moon is perfect for those who like the ethereal florals that BPAL does so well (which would be me!).

I totally fell for this description! Milk and winter snow are also notes I usually enjoy, so I had to hunt down a bottle and try this one out. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. There is an incense note, I assume from the "sacred candles" that doesn't work for me (as most incense notes do not) and combined with the blackberry ends up seeming like incensed (pun intended) blackberries on me. As other reviewers have noted, this is also a very strong scent, it made me a little light headed!

I am on a gardenia kick right now and when I read the description of this, I had to hunt down a bottle, which I fortunately found. When first applied, I was concerned this might veer too much into generic perfumy for me, but it didn't take long before that went away and settled. At first, it was a bit fruity and almost too sweet, but then it settled down into this lovely, light honeyed gardenia. The rice paper gives a light, airy quality that befits the name and also connotes the linen quality some reviewers have mentioned. I imagine I will be returning to this quite a bit this spring and into early summer.

Magnolia is one of those florals that like jasmine is right on the cusp of love or hate for me because of the indolic qualities of it. The first time I wore this, those properties were thoroughly enjoyed, yet the second time, it was too much. I tend to like magnolia more when it is blended with several others as it is usually too heady for me, which is the case here.

I had just a scant bit left in a sniffie someone sent me as a frimp. This is gorgeous smokey vanilla (of the non-foodie kind) at first, and I was hoping it would stay that way, it got smokier and the leather emerged as a it dried, and I liked it a little bit less despite liking the BPAL leather and smoke notes. It was just such a lovely smokey vanilla at first that I nearly bought a bottle right then, but alas the drydown wasn't just quite right. Of course, if I were rich, I would buy a bottle, but I am not, so it is going in the "I wouldn't turn it down" pile.

I hunted down a bottle of this on the sales forum because of the lab's marshmallow note with rose. This is very sweet, but I still find it delightful. Close up, the rose is there, but the throw is like cotton candy floating around me. It makes me feel girly and light. Update: I noticed this when I first opened it, where it had this sort of playdough scent to it, but I just kind of shrugged it off because the other notes were so delightful, but overall, I could never shake the playdough and ended up putting this one in my swapbox for someone else to love.

Oh, this is a rich, foody scent, and one where the peach is working for me, probably because the sweetness is countered by the other notes. Decadent is the best way to describe this!

Y'all, I think I found my BPAL Southern Belle scent, it's the Bride from this year's Lupers. I am cross-posting my review because this is what I thought of when I tested it: "Now, this is the Southern Belle scent I have been needing. Many of them are too heady for me (and too literally humid), but this is a non-sultry Southern Belle - the kind who makes chiffon pies and brings them to the church fundraiser. She prefers pearls to diamonds, and always makes sure her underwear matches her outfit, you know in case of car wreck or other such "accident."

Now, this is the Southern Belle scent I have been needing. Many of them are too heady for me (and too literally humid), but this is a non-sultry Southern Belle - the kind who makes chiffon pies and brings them to the church fundraiser. She prefers pearls to diamonds, and always makes sure her underwear matches her outfit, you know in case of car wreck or other such "accident."

Really enjoying this for a summer scent. Usually, the teas are too weak on me, but the neroli and ginger ground this scent and give it a little more substance and staying power. I plan on wearing this more in the summer, but on the fence as to whether or not I need a bottle.

I was wondering what was lurking in the background that I didn't like and sqwook identified it - there's a cinnamony touch that I just don't like on my skin. It is subtle, but I really don't like cinnamon so it kind of ruins the rest for me. If you don't mind a touch of cinnamon, this is a very pink pepper forward scent with a touch of teaness and dusty sandalwood. The osmanthus wasn't distinct on me.

After sniffing this, I had to go immediately dig up my imp of Squirting Cucumber to compare. This is sweeter and softer with the minty green tea, not the strong grassy greeneess of Squirting Cucumber. It reminds of Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea, which I adored as a fresh scent as a teenager.

Swoon! This scent is gorgeous! I will be buying a bottle and wearing it A LOT come fall - it is perfect for falling leaves and cozy sweaters. I mainly get sweet hops and tobacco from this on a pile of hay, the beeswax is very subtle, and the pumpkin rind seems less obviously pumpkin and more overall fallish. *runs off to add bottle to cart*

This was just mainly lotus on me - I didn't get a lot of the other stuff (it was there, but very subtle). Methinks lotus may not be too friendly to me. I am starting to notice a pattern...

Very pretty, springy and sweet, could also work for summer, and the carnation doesn't kill me. I don't need a bottle, but nice to try!