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BPAL Madness!

torischroeder9

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Everything posted by torischroeder9

  1. Mandarin, carnation, and clove bud. Fresh from the mail, no time to settle -- but I was already getting ready to review other BPAL when this arrived. I couldn't wait; I let it cut in line. Will definitely update after it's had time to get used to its new home. Edit 3/3/19 -- Text in blue is my review now that the scent has had time to settle. In the bottle: Mandarin and clove. It's beautiful spicy orange (the scent, not necessarily the color). Mostly mandarin in the bottle. The clove is detectable, but it's not as much as I remember there being a week ago. On my skin: Wet, it's largely mandarin with a touch of clove. It almost has an orange candy -- the old-fashioned stick candies -- quality to it. (The oil color, by the way, is clear or nearly so.) Yup. Still has that mandarin-dominant, orange spice candy thing going on. The initial drydown is much the same, though the clove has some impressive throw on it -- but since it's just a grace note on the blend for the moment, it's not overpowering. I don't get any detectable carnation as of yet -- though I can't tell if that's still yet to develop on my skin, if it's being overshadowed by the clove, if it's due to the freshness of the oil, or some combination of factors. I'd tell you that settled, the initial drydown is even more mandarin on me. The clove hasn't really started to assert itself yet. (And no, still no carnation.) Given another twenty or so minutes to develop on my skin, and the carnation does make a subtle appearance. It's a supporting note, toning down the super brightness of the mandarin and adding a more delicate nuance of spiciness to the clove. I want to say it's starting to add some sophistication to the blend. (I say "starting to" because it's still very much a background player at this stage, but I can see that as its role as the blend unfolds.) Aaand this is where Twelve Tastes in the Classification of Passion leaves off on me, at least for the time being. Luper and Shunga and evocative title notwithstanding, this is a warm, cheerful, inviting blend on me. The mandarin is bright, the clove warm and happily spicy, and the carnation works to add some unity and balance to the blend. The scent itself would be at home in a variety of venues, including for work or everyday wear (at least as it manifests on me). At this point, a couple of hours after the initial application (which is mandarin and clove on me), the carnation comes out, and it is elegant and sexy as hell. It does take a while to get there on me, but the cheerful warmth of the mandarin and clove is also pretty great, so I can't complain. The throw is on the stronger side of average on me, and we'll see about the wear length -- Mandarin disappears on me notoriously quickly, but clove and carnation can hang around forever... If this perfume were a Luper Goat, it would be a social butterfly Luper Goat with excellent people manners. I can imagine it making the rounds in any given room, nuzzling up to people as a way to ask for treats and pets (which I suppose is a nicer way of saying food and attention). While Twelve Tastes (the Goat!) might push her head underneath someone's unsuspecting hand and while you of course want to be mindful of your fingers when proffering any treat, this is not a goat that's going to knock someone over or chomp any hands off. She has manners -- but also Charm and Game, as well as the confidence to rely upon them.
  2. torischroeder9

    This Is Halloween Swap Answers

    I just have to start this ....Cellar Door just posted their Halloween goodies - I love their scents, soaps and candles - which of these might you fancy? Super yes to all glow in the dark soaps. Softer yes to all bar soaps. I am not a candle person. (You don't bring extra fire to the desert.) If you'd like handmade knit items, are you good with soft wools or do you prefer acrylic only? Are there any items you'd love for fall/halloweenie? (Ie mittens, hat, fingerless mitts, cowl, legwarmers) I would actually not prefer knit items as it's rarely cold enough to wear them. (I have a knit hat. It is beautiful. I have a crocheted hat I made. I'm proud that I made it. I never get to wear them.) Anyone fancying the new Paintbox Soapworks or Witch Baby Soap Halloween launches? I love PBSW emulsifying sugar scrub and always appreciate soaps and lotions. Cathedral of Pumpkins and Once for Yes, Twice for No look like interesting scents. I... do not see the Witch Baby Soap Halloween collection, but I am not familiar with their site and may be missing it. Generally, I like body scrubs, lip balms, lotions and hand salves, and soaps in spicy type scents, so if any of those fall in that, I am interested. Would you be interested in an adult Halloween coloring book? I recently backed on kickstarter for one by a local gothic art market near me and it's due in during the swap period. If you mean adult as in R-rated, probably not. If it's just as in "not for little kids," absolutely. (It would probably go into my high school classroom because while I like to color, some of my students love it.) What are some OCYL brands you've been wanting to dabble in? I have dabbled in Hexennacht, Solstice Scents, and Paintbox Soapworks a bit. I don't necessarily need to dabble more, but I'm interested in both perfume oils and bath and body stuff. I am going to Dragon Con for the first time! Which of these BPALs do you want? None for me, thank you. Would you be interested in a bag like we sell in our etsy shop? Oh, dang. Those are super cute (especially the sugar skull one), and I do need a new purse. If you are a yarnie, are you interested in a ceramic yarn bowl? If you are a yarnie, I'd love to gift some yarn from my stash so give me an idea of colors / weight / material / yardage you'd like. I am not a yarnie. Are you interested in trying some of our "thunder butter"? It's like tiger balm or icy hot, but with herbs, beeswax, cayenne or ghost pepper, menthol, wintergreen. cbd version or no? Yes. Curious about the CBD version but would be interested either way. I need to inventory our canned goods but do you like things like peach jam, cardamom plum jam, peach butter, plum butter, pickles, applesauce with nothing added, applesauce with red hots, dried apples or pears, bread and butter pickles, dill pickles, blackberry jam, huckleberry jam, candied jalapenos? Everything that doesn't say "pickles" in it. Any interest in things from our garden like dried mint, catnip, lavender, rose petals, dill weed or dill seeds, sage, rue, mugwort, rosemary? No, thank you. How about alcoholic things like rose petal liqueur, lavender vanilla bean liqueur, various flavors of mead (chocolate orange, strawberry mango, whatever my son is making)? No alcohol, please. I don't drink, and there are weird laws about mailing alcohol to Arizona that I don't fully understand. Pumpkin bread or zucchini bread? How about blueberry zucchini bread with a lemon glaze? Yes to pumpkin bread or zucchini bread, but not to blueberry zucchini bread. I make specialty simple syrups. You can use them in teas or cocktails (and desserts). How do you feel about a Hibiscus simple syrup? I use 2 ounce bottles for these so its just a fun amount. Hibiscus simple syrup sounds good. Format for tea? e.g. teabag vs loose Bag. Do you like spooky themed tights? If so, what are your measurements? I do not wear tights. Pls post your book wishlist! Any and all YA fiction. I make lightweight hairfalls- would you be interested in some? Either to incorporate into a costume or just for your own year-round use? If so, name your colors and preferred length, and if you have any fiber allergies you want me to take note of! I would be interested in a hairfall for year-round use. My school's colors are maroon and silver. My hair is below my shoulders but not down to my shoulder blades; IDK what that is in inches. I am working on making bath bombs. Would you be willing to try my creations? How about wax tarts? What type of scents do you favor? Yes to bath bombs, no thank you to wax tarts. (I don't burn candles or incense or wax melts.) I generally like to wear spicy scents, but I'm much more flexible when it comes to bath bombs (since I'm not going to smell like that as long as if I were applying a perfume oil). What kinds of home smell good things do you like? Linen/atmo sprays, mostly. My question for the fellow pumpkins would you like anything from the bath and bodyworks Halloween line? I love Bath and Bodyworks lotions and would appreciate them in any scent. Purrfect Pumpkin, Pumpkin Carving, and Wicked Vanilla Woods all sound like scents that are right up my alley -- but I think only Wicked Vanilla Woods is available in lotion forms. Do you have any interest in spooky squishmallows? No, thank you. And would you enjoy spooky stationary? Hmm. Yes, I would enjoy it -- but I'm not sure I have enough need of it. If you're one of those individuals, are there certain herbs, crystals, etc that you do not want to receive? I am not one of those individuals. When you have a distinct preference for one holiday over another, What are some cross over items that actually work for both? Speaking as someone who has a preference for Halloween -- I associate pumpkins, apple cider, bonfire, and hayride motifs with both, at least based on childhood memories. We had a lot of places that did apple picking, pumpkin patches, and hayrides during the daytime, but then also did haunted hayrides at night. Does anything from JiJi Knight spark your interest? https://jijiknight.com/ Not so much my thing. Also another question! I just got the email that the Ectogasm Halloween Collection is live. Does anything interest you? https://www.ectogasm.net/collections/halloween Also not so much my thing. If I were to make you a set of arm warmers/ fingerless mitts, what color(s) & style would you like? I would actually not prefer these, living in a place where we have plenty of heat already. Are you open to trying different indie perfume houses if I find a scent that I think you'd enjoy? Yes, if it's a scent that you think I'd particularly enjoy. I'm trying to curate (and probably cull some of) my perfume collection, so I'm trying to be selective about the more scents I add in. However, I'm never going to say no to a good idea. (Also, there are no such restrictions on bath and body products, since I go through those fast, or samples, since I send those along in quantity.) I love making stickers!! If I could design you some stickers, what would you love to have? It could be halloween themed or not! My art style is a bit simplistic, cartoony, and cutesy, I usually draw fairies but last year I did a swap on reddit and made someone a bunch of halloween dog stickers lol. (Sidenote: They probably won't be waterproof, but they're glossy vinyl!) Dogs! Halloween dogs, fall dogs, winter dogs, dogs dogs. I've got a bunch of small round labels perfect for bpal 5ml label lid art! Name your top 5-10 scents that you'd love to have lid art made for! Just as a fun little extra in your package if desired (Could also work for other companies with lids just like the BPAL bottles) Spurious Cooter Bees. Snake Oil. Frostbitten Snake Oil. Horses. Holding Hands. Pumpkin Doob. Sugar Cookie Satyr. Sugar Cookie Spliff. Please Scream Inside Your Haunted House. I'm going to Disneyworld in late September! I'll be going to all four parks and attending both the Not-So-Scary Halloween Bash and Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. Is there ANYTHING from Disney that you would like? Is there something you collect that perhaps you'd enjoy a Disney version of (tea, socks, enamel pins, plushies etc etc etc)??? No? Homemade canned and baked and concocted goodies? Any aversions? If I could make you some of my fudge, what would you prefer? I love homemade canned; baked goods tend not to make it here in one piece. As for specific aversions, nothing I didn't list in my original questionnaire. No meat (but egg, dairy, honey, etc. are fine). I strongly dislike pickles and anything dill, but partner loves those. Nothing that will melt on its local way to me, which is anything with any kind of chocolate pieces, frosting, candy shell -- and does include fudge. Okay my first question: would you like any decor from Say Target, Homewood, or William and Sonoma? Not to my knowledge? If it's something that is dead-on for something else in my questionnaire, then yes, but I am not looking for any home decor especially right now. Would you like to receive a 2D collage art piece? What overall vibe would you be into? (spooky, autumnal, whimsical, eerie, lovely, occult, bizarre, smutty etc.?)  Maybe? Autumnal and whimsical appeal. Do you like rocks/gemstone jewelry? Prefer polished/smooth rocks or raw/rough? Any favorite stones, rocks, colors that you'd like? Yes. Polished/smooth. My wedding ring is blue topaz, I am a fan of the cool end of the color spectrum, but I have enough turquoise for my whole life. Any interest in the August releases that got announced today? First, I think it's worth noting that I missed this email in my inbox, so this swap question was how I learned there were August releases! Butternut Squash, Patchouli, and Green Fig sounds very interesting, though I'm not sure if it's a need. But it's also something I'd never actually get for myself right now. (I need to destash. I always want more smellies.) And. Oh. My. God. Chocolate Doobsickle. Don't get me that. It's going to be in my cart before I go to bed tonight. Luvmilks seasonal goodies are out! What scents and formats appeal to you, my little pumpkin? Sugar scrubs in anything except Werewolf + Boyfriend leather. Would you like a Pyrex 4-cup Nightmare Before Christmas bowl with lid? Yes. August Tea's fall sale starts tomorrow, 20% off everything on the site with code FALL20. Is there anything you would like to try, my Pumpkin? No, thank you. I've recently taken up embroidery, would you like a small (I embroider on 4" hoops) embroidered piece? What sort of design would you like? No, thank you? One member of my family currently does this, too, and I'm still looking for places to display hers. Maybe in the future, but not this swap. Do you wear nail polish, and if so, would you like some? What colors or finishes? I do not wear nail polish. I'm going to the farmer's market tomorrow, and there are lots of great vendors. Would you be interested in soap or chapstick or bath/body products? I'm late on this, but yes. I am perpetually interested in especially chapstick and bath/body. (We use soap too, and I'm interested.) Would you be interested in a tumbler like these? If so, what theme would you like it to be? Glitter or no glitter? What color do you want the liquid to be or would you prefer the blood drip look? Yes. I like the "Ghost Tears" and sort of traditional Halloween stuff, but the "Just the Tip" one was pretty disturbing (for the phrase, not the blood drip). I generally like glitter as well as white/clear or purple, but I do like the blood drip look too. How do you feel about ribbons? Is there anything in particular you are looking for if you'd want some? What about ribbon remnants? Colors/textures? Ribbons... are not a part of my life. Would you be interested in any skincare items? Anything you would not want? Yes. It's a dry climate, so anything moisturizing is especially great. I tend not to use masks -- either the sheet masks or the ones that dry and wash/peel off -- though. Hey, I finally get to ask a question! I feel like with some of the witchy/seasonal stuff it might be helpful to know everyone's signs. If you're interested in that kind of thing, what's your sign? Most relevant: Leo Sun, Scorpio Moon, Leo Rising. Would you like anything from The Pickety Witch? I don't think so, no. New question: Is anyone else interested in the latest Sphere & Sundry release? I am not. Do you have any interest in trying my infused moonshine whiskey? I've been thinking of experimenting with autumn spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove) and maybe a chocolate chai. No alcohol, please. Any interest in spooky shape wax melts in your favorite candle scents? (What are your favorite candle scents?)  I am not interested in wax melts, and I don't use candles. How about lotion bars? I'm really on the fence about lotion bars. I need all kinds of moisturizers,so this seems like a really compact and plastic-free option, but I can never seem to get them to work right. Bird and Blend tea just did their Autumn drop! Anything look good to you? Not so much a loose tea person. Arcana Craves halloween drop! Anything catching your eye? Not in particular? I have another new question! Favorite bands/artists? Perhaps you'd be interested in a DIY patch to sew onto your jacket/pants/bag or maybe pins or a sticker or anything DIY-ish? I mostly listen to country, and I don't really do patches. so these nail polishes keep showing up on my instagram and they are kinda vampy--do you wear polish and do any of these float your boat? NOTE I have never worn Holo Taco stuff so cannot vouch for quality just the vibes are super witchy 🙂 I do not nail polish. If so dearest pumpkin are you a Lushie? Is there anything from Lush you are coveting? Not against anything Lush, just not coveting anything in particular. Because clothing sizing is so notoriously random &&& my idea of cute may be entirely different from your cute... sock dreams? yea or nay? Anything in particular catch your eyes? No sock dreams, thank you. I have been buying soap from https://rockytopsoap.com for at least a decade as they are unscented and less likely to affect which perfume I pull out.... I realize they are not colored and swirly and as pretty but they tend to be super hydrating and luxurious. Do you have any interest in these? Soap, sure, though not shampoo bars from here, please. (Lye in my hair is not my friend.) Nocturne Alchemy just dropped their Halloween 2022 limited collection! I am popping in here to see if anything would strike the fancy of my pumpkin? I am very curious about Halloween 2023 since I love all the notes individually, but I worry that the overall blend is too foody for me to really want to wear. Dia de los Muertos -- Viento does sound right up my alley, though. Here's a question... there's sooooooo many on here about tea but for my fellow coffee gals... do you prefer whole bean or ground?? if there's a choice how do you like your coffee ground?? Yes. I prefer my coffee YES. Given unlimited time and energy, I prefer whole bean, and I grind for an auto drip coffee maker each morning. But. I have coffee because I don't have unlimited time and energy, and I have been living off K-cups since school started -- for us, it's several weeks ago. I also have some reusable K-cups that I prefer to have pre-ground coffee for. My dear pumpkin, are you right-handed or left-handed (in the context of most everyday tasks)? Right-handed.
  3. torischroeder9

    Honeyed Weed, and Dandelions

    In the decant: Yup. Sweetened weed with an undercurrent of something green (like, normal plant green). On my skin: Wet, it is sooo much honeyed weed deliciousness. I say this as someone who unabashedly loves the Lab's honey notes and weed notes. As it dries, the green undercurrent becomes discernible as... have you ever crushed a dandelion stem and seen the milky sap stuff come out? And smelled it? That's what it smells like. It's nice sharp, bitter note to bite through the honeyed weed. This is where it stays on me. I actually wish I got a touch more of the dandelion since that would absolutely give me a reason to bottle it (as it is, I have no small number of honey and weed scents). But this is lovely. Maybe I will see how it ages....
  4. torischroeder9

    Cacao, Black Leather, and Incense

    In the decant: Cacao and sharp black leather. On my skin: Wet, while the leather does come through, it's the cacao that first blooms on my skin. As it dries, though, it's a lot of black leather coming up. I can still smell the cacao near my skin -- and a bit of smoky incense there too -- but it's the leather that by far dominates the throw. Um. I had high hopes for this one, and I might still sit with it a little while and retest the decant after it's had time to age. But right now, it's too much screeching leather and too absent on the other notes for me.
  5. torischroeder9

    Bronze Dildo

    In the decant: Musk and patchouli. I definitely get more woody (pun intended) than metal, though. On my skin: Wet, there's a little bit of metal and a lot of stank. Like, I'm double-checking that there's no oud listed. As it dries, the stank dials back, though so does the metallic note. The green cardamom also starts to come out, so it's that plus patchouli now. Um. And that's where it stays. So. I think this is not my favorite.
  6. torischroeder9

    Martial Arts

    In the decant: Smooth and sweet, though not cloyingly so. It reminds me of my decant of Mad Sweeney, actually, after I've worn it for a while and the whiskey's burned off -- so I'm guessing what I'm smelling a lot is the oak and whatever is smoothing it out (I want to think vanilla, but it really could be amber). On my skin: Wet, it's just like in the decant but better, all smooth, slinky, silky woods. (Note: My husband has just smelled this from several feet away. He says it's nice and that it smells like cinnamon. I don't get cinnamon, but I do think I smell nice.) As it dries, the lovely headiness of this fades back a bit, and I get more of what I'm sure is the bamboo and amber (and less of the vanilla and oak). I also get a note that I can't identify but that is decidedly similar to something I pick up in Stung by the Cock Tree in Hell, so I'm wondering if it's the mushroom note. While the drydown here is very nice -- it's warm and smooth and sweet without being cloying -- I think I love Mad Sweeney's rough edges a little more.
  7. torischroeder9

    Stung By the Cock Tree in Hell

    I bought this for the title alone. If the scent works, that's just a bonus. In the decant: Something creamy and buttery and utterly unexpected, grounded by something that could be patchouli or moss or even oud. And then ti leaf. On my skin: Wet, it's ti leaf and some of the other notes -- maybe tobacco leaf, maybe red pepper -- combining to give a milder sensation of... almost menthol. And still that creamy, buttery note, just once -- but it is fleeting. As it dries, I get more of the hinoki wood and moss, though tinged with some ti leaf as well, giving it a... it's not a sharpness, but it is a high note. Given more time to develop, I get more of the moss and patchouli. The hinoki doesn't disappear, but it does hang back, as does the ti leaf. I'm not getting discernible red pepper or tobacco leaf. The mushroom could be anywhere. Eventually, the ti leaf does fade, and I'm left with a woodsy, mossy scent. I like it, but it's probably not a distinct enough iteration of this for me to want to bottle it.
  8. torischroeder9

    Holding Hands

    In the bottle: I can definitely pick out apricot cream, clary sage, and white tea. The combination is a little jarring, but mostly because I don't have a good mental scheme of these notes together. On my skin: Wet, it's sharp, crisp white tea first, followed by clary sage and then coconut milk. As it dries, the scent's throw stays mostly about the clary sage for me, though I can detect the apricot cream rounding it out -- and the coconut milk close to my skin. Given more time to develop, the apricot cream comes out a lot more, to the extent where I can say it's the blend's main note on me -- but not to the extent that the supporting clary sage disappears. The coconut milk, however, does seem to fade from detection, but that's not a bit unusual on my skin. This ends up being a very skin-close scent, which I prefer for this blend, I think, because the apricot cream could be cloying in a scent with lots of throw. But it's fruity and creamy and cut through with some nice herbal greenery. It's bright and cheerful and... maybe not quite as delicate as some of the peony and cherry blossom Shungas that I've tried, but much closer to that vibe than, say, boozy musk and leather.
  9. torischroeder9

    Streets of Detroit

    In the bottle: Black musk and lots of rich, deep myrrh. On my skin: Wet, it's just like in the bottle. As it dries, the black musk tempers it and makes it go just a little powdery. It evokes stickiness, but I don't actually get any motor oil. I have never smelled a street in Detroit like this, but I like it.
  10. torischroeder9

    Spurious Cooter Bees

    In the bottle: When I first got this, I noticed a lot of sweet ginger, like ginger candy. Now (after resting 2 days because I can't help myself), I'd say it's a little less sweet and even more gingery. And fizzy, almost like ginger ale. Like, if a "little ginger buzz" is the bees, this is an entire swarm. On my skin: Wet, the honey peeks out to make sure it's not just gingery bees. As it dries, the ginger comes back out again. I do still get some sticky honey sweetness, and the ginger has lost a little of its fizz, but this stage is a lot of ginger backed by a little honey. It stays really steady after that, a lot of ginger backed up by a little honey. I like this a lot since I have a lot of honey perfumes already, but my number of "keeper" ginger perfumes is pretty small. (Just one. It's Vixen.) I do anticipate that the honey might strengthen a little as the blend ages, since that's what I've know BPAL honey to do in the past, though I hope it doesn't overwhelm the lovely ginger note here.
  11. torischroeder9

    The Queen of Hearts

    In the imp: Cherry with a touch of floral, almost inverse to the scent description. The floral here is not super distinct, such that I almost envision cherry plus cherry blossom. On my skin: Wet, it's screaming cherry candy all the way. As it dries down, more of the lily comes through though cherry is still very prominent on me. The longer it stays on me, the more the lily comes out, such that it morphs into lily with a touch of cherry. It's a little rounder than just floral, but it's now mainly a strong floral. I will be honest and say that neither lily (any kind) nor cherry are notes that I wear particularly well. I was fully prepared for this to be a hot mess on me. It is not necessarily to my personal taste, but it is surprisingly un-mess-like.
  12. torischroeder9

    Eclipse

    In the imp: So very much bitter almond. On my skin: Wet, it's basically alcoholic almond extract, bitter almond with extra alcohol bitter at the end. As it dries, something -- I'm guessing the frankincense -- makes it go a little powdery. I also get some of the vanilla. This stage is considerably nicer and softer than the bitter almond extract first act. A little cinnamon comes out later, but it's not much. While I'm happy the almond doesn't end up taking over, the final scent is pretty but not terribly remarkable on me.
  13. torischroeder9

    Bathsheba

    I have, in the past, loved this scent. I have, apparently, not reviewed it. In the imp: Musky carnation, mostly. I'd believe plum if someone told me, but it's not something I'd pick out unannounced at this stage. On my skin: Wet, it's a big swirl -- carnation and then plum and then musk. As it dries, it feels like both the plum and the musk work to support the carnation. They're very strong supporting notes, but I'd say the blend is plummy, musky carnation rather than any other way around. This is where it stays on me. The musk grounds it and adds depth, the plum is juicy, but carnation is the strongest on me. I like this a lot, but I think the plum makes it a little too sweet for my skin chemistry.
  14. torischroeder9

    The Cat

    In the bottle: Honey, benzoin, and cedar. I get the comparison to baby wipes, but only, I think, because I read it first. I don't think my brain would have made the association unbidden. On my skin: First, this oil is thick and sticky. It's not as viscous as my aged Boomslang or even regular Snake Oil, but it's definitely a notch above the consistency I normally see in BPAL perfumes. Wet, it's honey and benzoin. The resin makes the honey less overpowering without contributing too very much strong scent of its own. As it dries, I get a touch of the cedar but not much.
  15. torischroeder9

    Five Golden Rings

    In the bottle: Amber and orris with a bit of lemon peel. On my skin: Wet, it's almost powdery amber and orris. The lemon peel is only detectable on the very initial application. It disappears immediately when the scent starts to dry. As it dries, I get the distinct tang of agarwood. Maybe lemon peel too. Still definitely amber and orris. Hrm. As the agarwood tang fades, so does the scent's whole throw. It's dusty amber and orris but now very faint.
  16. torischroeder9

    Bilquis

    In the decant: Honey and myrrh, which makes it really deep and rich, followed by rose otto. On my skin: Wet, the rose and lily jump to the top of the scent, though they're immediately followed by something rich and spicy. It might be the warm musk, but it's not terribly unlike spiciness I often get in scents with fig leaf as a note. As it dries, the spiciness plays up in the scent's through, though it's still quite a lot of rose close to my skin. Um.Though. The rose gets bigger and bigger the longer I let it sit on my skin. It is a beautifully overwhelming, intoxicating scent and a superb representation of its inspiration. Ultimately, however, I do not need this much strong, heady honey-rose.
  17. torischroeder9

    Mr. Jacquel

    In the decant: Super spicy amber with a hint of patchouli and hyssop. On my skin: Wet, it's a very deep golden amber. As it dries, the spices come back out, but the rich, resinous quality of the amber remains. It stays pretty amber-heavy on me. I can't say there's no patchouli and no hyssop, but they're not at all prominent. It's mostly deep amber and spices. It is quite nice though personally, I have some amber blends I like better.
  18. torischroeder9

    Spider

    In the decant: Ginger and lime, with something else rounding it out. On my skin: Wet, it's ginger, lime, and vetiver. While not necessarily lining up with my scent preferences, it's not actually a bad combination. As it dries down, I regret my word choice. Spoken too soon. This stage is definitely reminiscent of an aftershave or cologne my dad used to wear. (To be fair, this is my memory of my dad when I was a kid, so, like, a man in his later 30s or early 40s. It is not Grandpa Old Spice.) After time, the scent stays fairly stable, but the throw dials way back (to the extent that I can smell another scent, applied much earlier this morning, on my other arm over Spider). Yup, faint reminder's of dad's cologne.
  19. torischroeder9

    Mad Sweeney

    I feel like I tested this once long ago, but I did not review it then. Also, I am now definitely re-testing since having seen the American Gods TV series (unfinished as it is). In the decant: Straight up smooth oak whiskey. Like, I am going to put this on my skin, and my husband is going to wonder why I'm drinking at ten o'clock on a Sunday morning, it's that distinct. On my skin: Wet, the oak actually amps up a lot, smoothing out the fiery whiskey edge of the scent. As it dries, I get a little of the whiskey back, but it's predominantly smooth -- almost vanilla-smooth -- oak. My tiniest nit to pick is that this seems way smoother and more elegant than any iteration of Sweeney I've imagined or seen. But. The scent itself is gorgeous, and I would consider needing it in larger quantities.
  20. torischroeder9

    Pepper

    In the decant: Very light florals and spice. I can pick out ginger but not pepper. On my skin: Wet, everything runs together even more. It's florals and light spice, but I can't pick out any individual notes. As it dries, gardenia becomes the dominant note on me. I can still detect the ginger and a bit of the pepper, but the other floral notes are pretty hidden behind the gardenia. This is definitely a fun, spicy floral. I was (as I always am) hoping for more spice and less floral.
  21. torischroeder9

    Eostre of the Dawn

    In the decant: Mostly honeysuckle, tempered by a light skin musk. On my skin: Wet, the throw is all skin musk -- but light and sheer -- while the skin scent is still dominated by honeysuckle. As it dries, the skin musk becomes by far the dominant scent, though it's tinged with both florals and milk. This is exceptionally pretty and sexy on me. I kind of want to get a bottle of it immediately. Given how temperamental milk can be on me, I should definitely wait and retest. But the spectacularity of this scent is tempting.
  22. torischroeder9

    The Floating Market

    In the decant: From the scent description, I can make out balsam, citrus rind, and "strange." On my skin: Wet, it's really got the "innumerable" thing going for it. It might be a bit of balsam and a bit of citrus ring, but it's also got so very much cacophony. As it dries, the citrus unmuddles itself a bit from the rest of the scent. I also get something almost like menthol or eucalyptus. Also, the skin where I'm testing this scent feels cool, like it might if I'd rubbed some Icy Hot on it. Given time to develop, it becomes slightly herbal and slightly smoky. A lot of the citrus dissipates fairly quickly, and the menthol vibe goes too, though that takes longer than the citrus. It's still a lot of notes together, though, and I don't know that I love the melange they become, though there's certainly nothing unpleasant about it.
  23. torischroeder9

    Sugar Plum Snake Oil

    In the decant: Much candied plum with a little bit of patchouli underneath. On my skin: Wet, I get an ultra sweet bubble gum note. Not sure where that's coming from, but it's very distinct and very powerful. As it dries, the bubble gum goes away pretty quickly, and it's back to very sweet sugar plum with a hint of patchouli. Aaaannnd... that's where it stays. Phenomenal cosmic sugar plum, itty bitty Snake Oil. As a Snake Oil lover, I am disappoint.
  24. torischroeder9

    Sugar Cookie Satyr

    In the decant: A blast of sugar cookie first, though I can detect the Satyr musk under it. On my skin: Wet, it's even more sugar cookie. The musk doesn't disappear completely, but it does dial back even from the scent in the imp. That doesn't last too long, though, as the musk becomes apparent as the blend dries down. I'll echo others' reviews of being like Snake Oil in its vibe, in that it is decidedly sweetened, spiced musk. The fresh version of Sugar Cookie Satyr feels more in your face than Snake Oil ever gets on me, but it comes without the stank that fresh patchouli can get. (I mean, I love that stank, but I also know it can be a polarizing note.) I got a decant of this on a lark since the combination (Sugar Cookie is usually too sweet on me, Satyr is usually Too Musk) seemed like they might cancel out each other's objectionable bits.This they do, and it is wonderful. I might need a bottle, come next payday.
  25. torischroeder9

    Just as the Clock Struck Twelve

    In the decant: White musk, cacao, and damask rose. On my skin: Wet, it's cacao competing with rose. My skin chemistry history says rose will win, but you never know. As it dries, true to my skin's form, it's all rose. I maybe get a little effervescence from white musk and a little grounding from patch, but right now, this could absolutely be an iteration of a rose note on me. Given more time to develop, the rose becomes even more dominant. At this point, the cacao and white musk are only the barest hints of ideas on me. It's mostly damask rose with just a touch of drier grounding from the sweet patchouli. The effect is a damask rose that's not fresh, green, or growing, but that's neither wilted nor completely dried, either. The throw is very far on me, but that is generally true of me and roses of any kind, so YMMV.
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