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BPAL Madness!

a_bear

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About a_bear

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    sexy swapper

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BPAL

  • Favorite Scents
    Hay Moon; Mag Mell; Gingerbread & Leather; Himalayan White Tea, Lemon Peel, & Grass; Wer Opfer Heut Zu Bringen Scheut; Croquet; Sugar Skull

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  1. Freshly applied, I mostly get the clay and the cacao, blending together for a rich, earthy scent. I maybe should've shaken my sample a bit more because the cacao component has as usual sunk to the bottom. As it settles, the fruit and spice come out. From here onward on me the pomegranate dominates, supported by the other fruit and a bare hint of spice. Mercifully, the honey doesn't stand out since it can go too funky on me.
  2. a_bear

    Harvest Moon 2024

    I agree with wendyb! This Harvest Moon is quite gourmand and definitely not cologney. I was hoping for more recognizable corn/cornmeal, but I mostly get oats and apples, with a little bit of spice from the clove. The honey stout is adding sweetness for sure, but if I hadn't checked the notes, I wouldn't have guessed honey or beer. When freshly applied, I think I did get a bit of the soil note and maybe a little scratchiness from that and the patchouli, but they merge into the background and provide just enough edge to keep the scent from being too sweet. It is very strong, even basically fresh out of the mail, so I'll be curious to see how it settles.
  3. a_bear

    Ruby Chocolate, Marshmallow, and Rose Petals

    I've never had actual ruby chocolate, so I don't know what it's "supposed" to smell like and wasn't totally sure what to expect. I was still surprised when I put this on and got a blast of tart red fruit, then a blast of rose. Once it settles down, it's a balanced raspberry rose. The marshmallow doesn't stand out to me, but a gentle creamy sweetness ties the other two scents together. I was worried this might be cloying, and it is quite sweet but not too much so. There's nothing recognizably chocolatey to me in it.
  4. a_bear

    Puff Pastry Apple Roses

    I also don't really smell the pastry or cinnamon in this, and the lemon is prominent. The rose is pretty light and plays nicely with the apple and lemon. Reminds me a bit of the Cherokee Rose SN, which was sort of a light lemony rose on me. If you like the apple/rose combination of Les Bijoux but want a lighter version for spring/summer, this might fit the bill.
  5. a_bear

    Vampire Milk

    I really liked the goat's milk note in Impromptu Goat Yoga, and the reviews made this one sound so lovely... However, to me it smells like butter cranked to 11, and I don't get any clove. I guess my nose is broken 😅. It does mellow out a bit over wearing, but I think it's not for me.
  6. a_bear

    Alice's Evidence

    Spicy fruit! Another review mentions stewed fruit, and I could definitely imagine this as a warm beverage or filling for a holiday baked good. BPAL's rum is usually too sweet for me, but here it's kept in check. Good GC option for fall/winter.
  7. a_bear

    'Tis Strange

    I got a bit of leather up front, but once it settles, it's a cool, atmospheric, mossy scent without veering into cologne territory as moss notes tend to go for me. Maybe I'm over-influenced by the flavor text, but it did make me think of Stephen Black in JS&MN having to parade around Lost Hope.
  8. a_bear

    Pumpkin Spice Everything

    2023 version - As exuberant as the name is, the scent is pretty gentle. It is a little sweet, but only in that some of the listed spices have hint of natural sweetness. Might be good for layering to pumpkin-spicify other scents but very wearable on its own.
  9. a_bear

    Bobbing for Jack O’Lanterns

    I found the peach a bit overwhelming in Jack, but I don't smell any peach in this. It's big Apple Spice, maybe veering into candle or herbal tea territory, but I like it.
  10. a_bear

    Nothing Gold Can Stay

    The dewy leaves + amber give me the same gentle, misty, clean post-rain vibe as Mag Mell. Unlike Mag Mell, it has a warm dried grass/hay aspect that I guess is the rooibos.
  11. a_bear

    Apple Macchiato

    What it says on the tin! Smells like the eponymous beverage, which I thought sounded weird at first, but I actually like it better than its pumpkin counterpart. I'm not sure I could pick out the caramel syrup or the oatmilk exactly, but they provide a bit of extra sweetness and smoothness. Similarly, the cinnamon is pretty gentle. After a couple hours smells somewhat similar to Gingerbread Witch - lightly spiced apples with a sort of grown-up breakfast vibe.
  12. a_bear

    Wayfaring Stranger

    This has mellowed a bit in the months I've had my sample. It's still pretty strong, though. On initial application, it's both sharp and creamy. Settles a bit during wear, and the notes blend really well. The coconut is maybe a bit more prominent than I would prefer, since I'm not a big coconut fan, but it makes the scent more unique. If you ever wanted a moody coconut scent, this one's for you.
  13. a_bear

    Looking for a BPAL that Resembles a Favorite Perfume

    It was a Limited Edition, so not as readily available as some of the scents others have mentioned, but Himalayan White Tea, Lemon Peel, & Grass reminds me of CK1.
  14. a_bear

    Marshmallow Candy Canes Hair Gloss

    This was not quite what I was hoping for. The peppermint reminds me of the one from the Peppermint and Pine duet, which to me has a sort of sour/funky edge to it. The marshmallow is more vanilla than recognizable marshmallow to my nose. The marshmallow/vanilla base does last a long time in my hair - a couple days after application, I was wondering what smelled like cake, only to realize it was my hair.
  15. a_bear

    Namaste

    Mostly sandalwood, reminds me of a scent memory I have involving sandalwood incense. I tested before seeing the notes and didn't realize it had florals. The lemongrass is a bit sharp, but it'll help keep you awake while you're meditating.
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