AEris

This is a weird scent! In the imp, it smells sharp, harsh, almost woody or something. On my skin, it morphed into some kind of wildflowery scent. It smells so weird! I can not put my finger on it. Almost lilac - it's a light spring-floral kind of effect. It's like, something you stuck your face into as a child....something blooming in the neighborhood, some kind of wild blossom. Not a classic-perfumey-floral, something a little herbal but a little creamy....my brain is doing backflips inside my skull right now trying to decide what it's smelling. It makes me think of being a kid and I'm not sure why. Maybe I had dolls that smelled like this or something. It is intriguing. I don't know what to make of it. I think I like it. I'm not drawn to it as something I'd use as a perfume, but I understand the gardenia comparison....it's like, if a gardenia was softer, less intense, and just a little herbal. I do not get grape, and I do not get vetiver. All I get is brain scramblies. 3.9 out of 5

All I smell is a dry patchouli and sandalwood. It is awesome. I am not getting the subtleties of the florals out of this, the lavender is hitting my nose too similarly to the woods, I think. I really like it, though. Not necessarily a masculine scent - I've worn patch/sandalwood before many a time, it brings back a lot of memories! 4 out of 5

Wow, I think this scent totally smells AWESOME!!! I'm wearing it today, I don't care that it's a men's scent. The florals in it sweeten it up just enough for me to pull it off...I hope.... The lime smells incredible with the lavender. Just perfect. It's like they were meant to be together. The musk emulsifies the blend into perfection. The only gripe I have is that it doesn't last long enough. It smells beyond awesome at the beginning, and then some of the notes fade and it turns into a nice skin scent. This is a great blend, Beth is so awesome for concocting it. It smells the way men's cologne should, without harshness and fakeness and 'ugh, dude take a bath, it's cheaper!' Just a clean, fresh scent. I'm an instant fan. I am making a BPAL gift pack for my dad for Christmas, and I think this may be his favorite in the bunch. Enabling I go!

In the bottle, this smells very foody and almondy. On my skin, it softens out immediately. It's almond, backed closely by soft jasmine/honeysuckle, then light honey. It dries down to a nice honey skin scent. It is gentle, not to sweet, feminine, and pretty. A treasure! I knew I'd love it, and I do! A keeper to age, too....I'm sure I'll reach for this in years to come. 4.8 out of 5

In the imp, I smell cool, sweet violets. On my skin, it turns green right away. Then, as it develops a bit more, it's back to violets but with some other notes in the backround. I can smell the dark chrysanthemum and the gardenia-esque creaminess of wisteria. It does get a little powdery, but I have to really concentrate on Powder to notice it. I don't get any banana, but I have to agree with pinkpepper in that Queen Gertrude makes me think of being about 5 years old. It smells like sweet, sparkly youth. I don't know why. Maybe because there were violets in my backyard every spring? It's totally awesome, just my style. I'll slather today and think about it more, but I'm giving it: 4.5 out of 5

This massage oil is fantastic! It is not greasy or heavy, it moisturizes thoroughly and my skin just sucks it up. It literally healed a week of chapped, red, abused hands overnight. The scent of Aquae is lovely, it smells like a spa or something. I was thinking citrus/bergamot, a hint of lavender, a hint of vetiver....and then I read the notes and realized my nose is certainly still unsophisticated It's absolutely gorgeous. Many thanks to Delphinine for the decant, and I plan to buy bottles of all four elemental oils as soon as I can! 5 out of 5 - absolute perfection.

I love the texture of this oil, first and foremost. It moisturizes and then absorbs into your skin like it belonged there in the first place. It doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy or soppy - rather, it just sinks in and leaves your skin ultra-soft and soothed. My hands have been drier this week than they've been in my entire life. They were chapped, red, sore....I used Aquae last night and Terrae this morning and they're back to normal. I've been using other lotions and balms all week and nothing helped; this stuff is like a miracle! I got decants of Aquae and Terrae from the lovely Delphinine at a Meet & Sniff, and I can't wait to order bottles of all four elemental scents. The scent of Terrae is true to form. It is very earthy and grounded. I sense patchouli, but also sage, and something that reminds me of clove. I can't really pick things out, partially because I'm not all that familiar with some of the notes, but it is a lovely earth scent. It's comforting and warm, a bit masculine but not exclusively so. It smells familiar because of the patchouli, but the earthy woodiness is something I've never quite experienced before. It is quite perfect. 5 out of 5.

Wow you guys are all awesome, thanks for all the helpful suggestions! I can't wait to try them all!

I got a sample of this perfume oil, and it's intoxicating, but wickedly expensive. (Like, $300 for 8mLs!) Is there a BPAL that compares? The notes are: Bay Rum, Massoia, Pavarti Sandalwood, Sheer Musk, Vanilla, Earth, Fig It smells incredible. On me, it's an elegant vanilla sandalwood musk with a hint of the earth and a bit of coconutty sweetness from the fig. It's insane. Please tell me Beth has come up with something similar! I also have heard that massoia can be a skin irritant, and can cause rashes and such. It doesn't happen to me, but I know it's happened to some. (Svadhinapatika had massoia in it, and people were complaining about being allergic. Also, July '07's 13 and Black Moon '06 had massoia in it.)

A piney scent where the pine/juniper note does not sharply dominate. Never smelled something like this before, very interesting. I'm also getting a very warm sandalwood, it's almost creamy. A dry woods smell....people who have the "pencil shavings" problem shouldn't try this. Thankfully, I don't, and this works with my chemistry. There's something sweet way in the background, too. I can't put a finger on it, but it's like there's some floral or fruit in there that is making Jupiter much more complex than it was wet in the imp. I like this a lot, and think it's a very masculine blend. A very earthy woman could pull this off, as long as she wanted to smell like dry woods and creamy sandalwood oil! With that hint of sweetness...what the heck IS that?? : -D It comes out more and more as it dries down further....this may not be as masculine as I initially thought. I will still pass this on to a guy so I can see what happens on da men. I think it will be glorious! 4.4 out of 5

Sweet, mandarin oranges with herby florals and a hint of incense. It's bright and sunshiney, but a little too much so for me to wear. Very fruity (someone said Froot Loops cereal, haha now that's all I can think of). It's a very young, fresh scent, and I can see why so many people like it. Just ain't my thang. 3 out of 5

I get rose, citrus, and herbs....smells like a tea party! This perfume lives up to what it's dreamed up to be. It's a nice rose blend, but not one I would wear again (I am extreeemely picky with rose, and not in a sophisticated way, I'm sure). 3.5 out of 5

This is heavenly! I'm a huge jasmine fan, and when I read the list of notes for Melisande, I knew I had to try her out. I bought a bottle unsniffed off ebay, and I have not been disappointed! I would definitely call this a powdery floral, but I'll chime in saying it's not a baby-powder scent. The violet burns off pretty quickly, but the jasmine sticks around. It took a little drydown for the mimosa to come out, and it is super-soft and gentle. Just lovely! I don't get much vanilla or musk, but I'm sure they're working to balance this blend and smooth it out. Honestly, there's something about this scent that is making me think "incense." It's just a shade dark, I guess. I knew it would be impossible for me to be anything less than thrilled about Melisande. Great floral blend, right up my alley! 4.7 out of 5 ETA: Melisande has squeezed her way into my BPAL top ten...and is making a good case for landing in my top five. Exquisite. Every note is a favorite of mine, and they blend together like the intense harmony of a perfectly tuned orchestra. I swear it makes my bones vibrate. I don't know if one bottle will be enough...

This scent is primarily apricots and pomegranate on me. There are cool lilies in the background, and orchid. I am not picking out rose or musk. This one is too juicy and fruity for me, but if you like fruity florals, this will be right up your alley. 2.5 out of 5

This is a soft, fruity blend that's not too juicy or intense - just soft and sweet! The mandarin oranges are gentle and not sour or tangy in the slightest. Some people have mentioned orange candy, which is a valid comparison. The fig is super-soft and subdued. It doesn't go coconutty on me like fig always does; rather, it goes as far as having a fruity smell and stops there. It's almost a berry note to my nose. It almost smells fizzy, like it could be soda or a tasty mixed drink. Very candy-like, but not exactly sugary. It's a happy, childlike scent, and is putting me in a good mood on this gloomy winter day. I didn't think I would like Carnal from the reviews, because I don't always like fruity scents, but this one will be slathered and keeping my spirits up today! 4.2 out of 5

The imp I got of this is aged, 'cause it has the old kind of label on it. The combination of notes ends up smelling like evergreens on me. It's almost like juniper berries or something. I can't pick out lavender at all. It's definitely 'charged,' it's got ozone in it for sure, which is smelling a bit like men's cologne to me. I really can't get past the piney impression! It smells like a christmas tree in a room where a mulberry candle is burning. I can't wear this as a perfume, but I will pass it on to my dad to see what he thinks of it. I find it to be a masculine scent. Nice, but not for a girl like me! 3.3 out of 5

Wet, it smells just like the description - violet and ylang ylang, backed up by an incense note of frankincense, with a soft mossy scent creeping around way in the background. As this dries, it turns powdery and a bit soapy, and the mossy/earthy scent comes out a bit more. I like it at the beginning, but after this chicky dries, she starts rotting away and complaining about how she wasted her life. Cleverly orchestrated, and fitting for the poem, but I won't be wearing this. 2.7 out of 5

This is a crisp, fresh scent that is gentle at the same time. I'd classify it as herbal, with some apple blossom dancing around in there, and a slight hint of creaminess. It's very pretty, feminine, clean, and happy. A little bit like Singing Moon, but not as disctinctive. I won't wear it, though, because it reminds me too much of other things I already have. It's not exactly generic-smelling....I'm not sure why I don't like this more. It just makes me shrug my shoulders, and reach out for something else to try. 3.4 out of 5

Wet, this smells divine - it reminds me of Toblerone Chocolate Orange, a yummy Christmas treat I used to get when I was young. It's a lovely swirl of citrusy orange blossom, rose, and honey. As it dries, the orange blossom disappears in a few minutes. Jezebel turns into baby powder and rose on me. Maybe a slight hint of honey... Dried down further, it's honey with rose. (Not a honeyed rose, but honey with a hint of rose.) I like it, and I think I'll wear it today, but I'm not blown away. If the orange blossom stuck around (which it never does on my skin), I would buy a 5mL. ETA: So, I slathered a bit and put some in my scent locket, and I really don't like it. The honey in Jezebel smells strongly like baby powder (this doesn't happen all the time to me, but sometimes - and especially if an imp is fresh). I got this imp from the forum, so it probably wasn't brandy-new. This smelled like baby powder with a hint of rose allll day. I'm just not a fan. If you are looking for a baby powder scent with a hint of rose and a faint tickle of honey, Jezebel is your girl. Also, I think that if I hadn't put it in my scent locket, I might have gotten more honey out of it, because in the locket it never really 'dries down' or interacts with skin chemistry. Off to the swaps from me though!

Saw-Scaled Viper is the spiciest BPAL I've smelled so far. Plunder is also spicy and warm. It's like chai tea without the creaminess or sweetness, but still yummy.

This is a soft, lovely, wearable rose scent. It is delicate and feminine and 'smooth.' I can get hints of opium poppy and the slightest honey-powder sweetness in the background. Just beautiful! I can understand the hype. 4.5 out of 5

This has an incensey, woody quality to it from the frankincense, but the florals cool it off a bit. I like it, but it's a little powdery/soapy on me. It's just not unique enough to my nose for me to wear again. I'm glad I got to try it, though. 3 out of 5

peaches and.....peaches and.... licorice? musk? This is a sparkly, fruity scent, but not cloying or sticky-sweet in any way. The ripe juicy peaches are balanced from being too cutesy-fruitsy by the complementing herbal and floral notes, and the white musk is like a slowly-blinking lover's gaze. This is smooth, soft, and attractive. I don't think I would wear it often, but it's pretty and young. Definitely a scent for a teenage girl to try, when she's sick of less-sophisticated fruity-fresh commercial perfumes. If I was in high school, I'd snag me a boyfriend with Fae! 3.7 out of 5

This is a very clean-smelling, almost soapy perfume. I saw the word "astringent" used to describe this, and I think it is more of a softly clean smell, not quite biting. There is an undercurrent of incense. I do not detect tuberose or caila lily, but it's so well blended that they might just be swirling together in an unrecognizable harmony. I think it's nice, but it's too soapy on my skin for me to swoon over. 3 out of 5

This smells like baby powder on me. Amber does this with my chemistry, so I'm not even sure what amber is supposed to smell like. I can smell a hint of spicy carnation in there, and it balances out the sweetness of the powder just a bit. It's attractive and very smooth. Smells the way drizzling caramel looks (in smoothness and color, not smelling like caramel at all though). I can see why this is a love potion. It is a bit too "clean" on me though, and not sultry enough, simply because of amber misbehaving. What a little brat. I am amber's aunt-with-no-backbone, and when I babysit, the lil' stinker tears my house apart and I can't control him. 3.3 out of 5