groovyrooby

LOVE this. It hits so many of my sweet spots: cocoa, vetiver, patchouli, hazelnut. Lord, how I love that hazelnut. And the allspice and nutmeg suggest cinnamon, which I love, but without the itchy burn that usually makes it a sad no-go for me. It's dry and sweet, the loveliest combination of all those wonderful notes, delicious without being foodie. It reminds me of No Man Is An Island, which I adore. It's one of those that, once I sniffed it I couldn't stop thinking about, that nagging idea in the back of your mind of the one you let get away, until I finally tracked down a full bottle. Now I can sleep at night.

Surprise! This is a very piney cologne on me! Kind of air freshenery. Husband smelled some oak notes, but it was all barrel and no aged whiskey as I had hoped. I'm not sure if it's the hearthsmoke that does it, but something fir just buried everything else. Very festive! Definitely get a cozy vibe - people gathered around a tiny wooden bar, sitting on old wooden booths, in a small space full of fir garlands. And probably a big win for folks who like the winter potpourri vibe. But I wanted more musk or amber or whiskey and didn't really find it here. Yet. Not giving up on it completed. I'll revisit with some time to see what more it can offer. Those barrels need some time to fuse with the whiskey, methinks.

Started like toasty caramelized sugar bits of crispy cookie crumbs. Husband thought it smelled like butter rum life savers. The lavender came through for a minute as an herbal spa-like version, distinct and not sweet like TKO. Now, maybe I'm not be the gourmand lover I thought I was. Or maybe it's the BPAL vanilla note or cookie vibe that doesn't work for me. But after half an hour or so, it turned more tangy sour burnt with a plasticky chemical aroma. Something about the caramelly sugar in this and other cookie scents turns into burnt plastic on me, and it's heartbreaking, because vanilla can be my absolute favorite scent. I had a similar experience with Waiting. It's probably just me, and I'm so bummed to be experiencing this as a pattern. Thankfully there are lots of other notes I'm finding work surprisingly well, so maybe it's a wash.

Came for the marshmallow with an extreme aversion to piney Christmassy smells. On me, this is so not for me. Tested from a decant that rested overnight. I like a chilly peppermint, but don't much dig a spearmint. And, sadly, I'm not getting any of the marshmallow. Just a lot of wintergreen and something fruity, two vibes I like the least, even less so in combination. Not what I expected. Husband was like, "nuh uh." He guessed cherry gumball. But it's cherry + pine and I feel like a car air freshener. Marshmallow is completely blowing me off here. Glad I tested first! Maybe some more time would change things a bit, but I think it's too far off the spectrum for me to try again.

This is a very pretty peach. Tested from a decant that rested a few days. I am a peach lover, and this did not disappoint! Sweet, juicy, drippy, peach perfume. Peach candy right out of the imp. I am thrilled the honey played nicely with this one - it has a tendency to go awful and sour on me, so I usually avoid it. But it was just beautiful here! Like a warm, sunny day with peach juice dripping down your arm. The cedar & sweetgum wood smells only add to the authenticity, giving the impression of a peach pit with some bits of flesh left on it. Really nice and bright. A great addition to a peach collection. I also am interested in layering this with I Hear America Singing, which was a lovely amber on me, but didn't have as much depth as I'd like. I think these two in tandem will be wonderful, adding even a warm glow to this delicious summer vibe.

I think my skin just refuses to humor ginger, and it makes me really sad. Tested from a decant that rested a few days. I have an unhealthy love of ginger. I guzzle ginger tea, the real spicy Yogi tea. I snack on crystallized ginger. But so far, neither Gnome, The Apothecary, Mag Mell, Kubla Khan... none of it gives me the ginger kick I'm looking for. This one fared a little better - it was the first thing I smelled out of the imp! But as soon as it dried, it disappeared. ? The lemon in this was warm, which is good for me, and the end result was a nice, simple, warm amber. I just fear I'm missing some of the complexity that should be here. That said, I tested Wisdom, Justice, Moderation on my other arm a bit later, and I think layering the two would be just lovely!

Gosh, I wish I got more of the orange blossom! Tested from a decant that rested a day or so. I came for the orange blossom and pink pepper, hopeful that the lemon peel would be more of an oily lemon. I have a hard time with lemon - it's one of my favorite flavors in sweets, but I cannot roll with anything that strikes me as too cleaning-solventy lemon. I just love Lemon Peel, Orange Blossom, and Marshmallow and was hoping for something along those lines. Sadly, I think the marshmallow is vital, and should have known that's a key difference between desserts and cleaning products. This lemon was screaming on me, and I think the pink pepper tipped the scales to dry astringency - very Pledge-like, wood polishy. Eventually the floral peeked through a bit, a little funky, but not enough for me. The balance was overall not in favor of my preferences.

Shoot, this did not work out on me as I understand it has worked out for others. Tested from a decant that sat for a day or so. I am thinking I love each of these components. In discussions on BPAL Parlor on the facebooks, I heard it was too caramelly for some. One person's too caramelly is my heaven, so I was hoping for sweet and rich. I got something more along the lines of what she was hoping for - all carnation. Spicy pink floral. I can barely detect the tobacco after some time, up really close. But definitely not the predominant note I was hoping for. I'll give it a go in some time to see if things have changed. That tobacco can be awful reluctant to play.

Really pleasant dry grasses. Tested from a decant that rested a day or two. Reminds me of Wer Opfer Heut Zu Bringen Scheut, which I love, but more spice and a different kind of sweet. Starts black peppery, then the sweet comes via spicy cardamom, like a nice masala, dry and aromatic. I get a whiff of green pepper for a second, but I think this is what balsam does on me - it quickly turns to dry almost anise spicy. Clove comes in last. If I didn't already have Wer Opfer and love it so much, this would definitely be a big bottle upgrade for me. Still considering anyway.

I was drawn by the latter half of the description, but I mostly get the front half. Tested from a bottle after sitting a few days. This reminds me very specifically of a black pepper bar of soap I once loved. Sharp, dry, bitter black peppercorns, which I love, and a soapy, not powdery background. A little pine comes eventually comes through. It is like a cool gust of refreshing air. Husband said it smelled "clean". I told him I thought it was the incense smoke from across the room, but nope - it me. Really pleasant, not what I usually go for, not what I expected, but nice. Definitely silver, cool, refreshing, calming.

Gorgeous scent for peach lovers. Would also make a great scent for a professional scent. Tested this morning (just following instructions!) from a bottle that arrived in the mail yesterday. I am a peach note junkie, and this is no disappointment. Out of the bottle it's the strongest - sweet and juicy - but it settles down quickly. I get a little something lemony and grassy, kind of how I wish lemongrass would whisper instead of scream on me. A little dry grass, warmth, and an aromatic suggestion of peach. This is one I would describe as a more traditional 'perfume' scent. It's delicate and sophisticated. The peach calms down into a faint sweetness, but it endures as a light musky floral. It's got this great aura quality to it that I seek out. It casts a lovely glow of sweet (not gourmand) and floral peach that makes its presence known, but doesn't walk in the room ahead of you and doesn't differ much up close. It's a great addition to my peach collection, closer to Fae than Alleviate the Frenzy - less suggestive, more intriguing. Very happy I blind bottled this one. If it were one of my samples, I'd probably put it on the upgrade list.

I think @starbrow nailed it. This is the sweet spot of dusty earthy & yummy sweet for me. And yes, I also adore Cafe Mille et Une Nuits. I blind bottled this one when I heard the Dum Spiro Spero line was coming down. All the notes were promising for me, except the cassis was a little questionable. SO glad I went for it. The patchouli comes off tweedy, the sage green and slightly vegetal like celery, and they are a brilliant bitter balance for the sweet hazelnut coffee. Altogether it's a confident and composed coffee cocoa woody spice, and reminds me a bit of another favorite - Aged Vetiver, Chocolate, and White Sandalwood. Moderate throw, good wear length, and I feel I can wear this in a lot of contexts. Very thankful I grabbed this when I had the chance.

This was a total shocker to me. Tested from a decant that rested for days. My initial impression was smoky and spicy, almost food spicy, something tasty in there, like a burnt hot dog over a fire? That didn't last long. This turned 95% floral and a faint hint of smoke. Big blooms, all jasmine, and I really like it. Husband says "earthy," so maybe he found the patchouli. If I look for it, I think I can pull out maple dark sweetness, maybe a trace of pine. But I would absolutely consider this a floral on me. Tested again a couple days later - same experience. Smoky floral. Considering upgrading to the big bottle to fill my current big-floral need.

Fascinating smells and an impressive feat. Tested from a decant that rested over a week. This one has a lot going on! Starts with a green woody smell, freshly cut wood. Gets a marbly cool polished stone vibe and turns into a high-end shampoo smell, very clean and foamy. Ended kind of waxy, just like lacquered wood with a hint of varnish. Overall had a nice amber glow with that legit polished wood smell up close. Husband was impressed when I told him the name - "it's cool they can actually make something that smells like that idea." I say sm

Adore this. Tested from a decant that rested for a week or so. This convinced me I must be a red musk fan. Started dry incense but turned the perfect blend of warm, dry spices. Black pepper, cumin, like a toasted & freshly ground masala. Just love this. Gave up on testing for the day and just put on more when it died down a bit a few hours later. Close, furry, nutty, and sweet. I was hesitant about the 'smoked' and 'fruits' bit of this, as I haven't had much luck with fruits, and smoke can be too much. But this was gorgeous. Going big with this one. Edited to add - yep, went big. First test out of the bottle, after sitting a day, husband says I smell like candy (which is a BIG WIN for him ). And I agree! Along with the delicate musk is a rich, fruit sugar smell. Just love it. So many layers. I smell gorgeous.

Gosh, surprised this one hasn't gotten more love and attention! Tested from a frimped decant that's been resting some days. This is all sweet and dark vibe on me. First whiff is maple, then I get a sense of something aromatic and floral, but also darkly sweet. Like a soft, lurking, subtle lily, or the black narcissus of Hunger. I almost had a deep fruits sweet, stone fruits early on, but again, very subtle, which was welcome, because fruits don't usually work well on me. Beyond those first flourishes, not a whole lot of evolution in this one, but good throw and staying power. Adding to my GC faves list.

Wow not at all what I expected! Tested from a decant that's been resting about a week. I expected dark and musty (which I kinda like) but this is not at all that! Which I also like! Bright and fresh to start, herbal, almost minty. Husband said it smelled "kind of clean. I like that. That's nice." Dries down to a faint smell of books, soft and clean, sandalwood papery and leather spines, just a touch lemony. Really pretty, very close to the skin. Went back for more and wore it out to the store today. (this being Covid times, wearing a smell on an outing is kind of a big deal) I get a bookcase passage that opens with a gust of wind that suggests whatever's going on at the end of the passage is more current, clean, and contemporary than the room in which you found the passage. You thought the musty old place was long abandoned, but when you pulled that volume off the shelf and the door popped open, you realize there is life and activity hidden behind the walls.

Dangit this just did not work for me. Tested from a decant that's been resting about a week. Lemon-y notes are one of those groups that can go either way on me - either they sing (anxiously ordered Lemon Peel, Marshmallow, and Orange Blossom before they take it away, I love the bergamot in Figure in the Attic Window) or they scream. This is a screamer on me, drowning out all those other beautiful notes. All I get is LEMON of the harsh cleaning product variety. Once the lemon finally quiets down, I get a whisper of musk, but that's about it. Doesn't last long on me, which was good in my case.

Well I love black licorice and apparently I love smut, too. Tested twice from a decant. It's sweetest at the very outset, almost grapey. But once the anise comes in it completely takes over, and this is not really sweet at all! More rooty. Almost sarsaparilla. On me, it's like the good, thick Panda licorice, not the candy sweet twists. It's a sharp, high anise with great throw over a lusty, spicy base. Really nice. I just love how I smell right now.

This was a bit of a risk for me. Lots of elements here can go really wrong, but somehow this is a best-case scenario for all of them! Tested from a decant that's been resting about a week. Starts out really chilly. Almost minty cool and green with a hint of lemon. I'm 50/50 on lemon being a love or too like a cleaning product. The bergamot is a winner here for me, not sharp or shrill, but very close. I get a light powder from frankincense, but not the powder that can be a major turnoff for me, just soft and dusty. Anise is the last to appear for me, and it blends beautifully with the lemon. About 2 hours in and it's mellowed into a faint green spice. This is one does well to capture the haunted house vibe. A shiver in the beginning and a lingering, warm hint of presence to finish. Lovely.

2020 version - tested from a decant that rested a few days. Thank goodness I'm not the only one who says green pepper! Spot on! Just like I got from Dead Leaves, Tunisian Amber, and Smoked Balsam, this starts out with a distinct whiff of green pepper! Amazingly green and crisp. And just like the DL, it morphs quickly away from chlorophyll to dry, woodsy leaves. I love it.It's like all the smells that strike me with awe when hiking through the woods in the Fall - dry, crackly leaves and the spice of oakmoss - the smells that make me gasp *oh gosh what is that can I please smell like that* are here. Nailed it, y'all. I will add this to the rotation of bottles I reach for to keep that fresh, autumn hike vibe when I get home and take off my boots.

I might have found a vetiver that doesn't work for me with this one. Tested from a decant that's been resting a few days. Starts out spicy and herbaceous, almost like cinnamon but without the burn, sharper and greener. This one fits the haunted house vibe best of all those I've tried so far. Settled dust in a cluttered old mansion. The incense comes through later, smoky and high. I'm afraid I like my vetiver with a hit of something sweet, and this doesn't have it. I'm not getting any of that from the burgundy or cacao, and nothing velvety smooth. This precise combo is giving me all the bitter version of the notes. Doleful, yes. But more bitter incense plume coming though on me than I enjoy. Not for me, this one.

Not at all what I expected! Tested from a decant that's been sitting for a few days. This starts very green-smelling to me. Wet like bamboo or soy. Makes me think the leaves are so heavy because they're damp, but not a petrichor rainy wet. Floral and almost fruity, like a melon. Almost got a ripe lily for a second there. As it warms up a bit, the green tamps down and it's just a light, sweet, wildflower floral to my nose. Kind of like Wer Opfer Heut Zu Bringen Scheut, which I love, but not as dry grassy. This is a little sunnier. Very pleasant.

I am unfamiliar with the Laces, but maybe I need to get there. Tested from a decant that rested a few days. My first thoughts were sweet and maybe violet, for the soap bubble solution vibe I was getting. And almost something like sweet orange oil. The bubbles didn't last long, though, and it's turned into a warm, sweet golden glow that reminds me of Zorya P. It's a classy perfume smell, and I'm guessing it's the pale/white amber and cognac/tobacco they have in common. It's like a rich, creamy dreamsicle with something floral dressing it up. Casts a nice aura of scent. Really pretty, would be nice for formal occasions but perfectly lovely to sniff while working from home all day, too. Gonna hafta dig into the tomes of Laces now, I suppose.

Oh gosh I love this. Tested from a decant after several days sitting from the mail. I love me some vetiver, but it seems I need a hit of sweet to go with it. Doleful Pipe Organ was a little too musty for me, to the point of mildewy. This one, however, is really my jam. I don't usually have luck with honey, either. I get old sweat sour with most of them, but this is exactly how I wish it would smell on me - high, thin syrupy sweet and slightly floral. Add a whiff of recently snuffed candle to the air, and I'm in heaven. First impression was incredibly sweet, almost caramel. Has mellowed into a super cozy, enveloping, warm glow labyrinth that would rather you charm you into exploring its chasms indefinitely than permit you to leave. Great throw and little morphing. Edited to add: just tried Thieves' Rosin for the first time, and this is exactly what it reminds me of - honey rich and sweet, warm waxy polished wood. Love both of these.