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BPAL Madness!

a_bear

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Everything posted by a_bear

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. a_bear

    Leanan Sidhe

    Cool floral mist. The mist element reminds me of Mag Mell, but since the florals in this one go screechy on me, I much prefer Mag Mell.
  15. a_bear

    Jack

    I mostly get peach rather than pumpkin from this one, which isn't bad, but warm, lightly spiced peach is more of a summer than a fall scent to me.
  16. a_bear

    Maiden

    The rose is almost herbal, and the tea really comes out on the skin (vs. just sniffing it in the imp). If you like any of these notes, this one's worth a try. A really good scent for spring.
  17. a_bear

    Bathsheba

    With musk and carnation, I expected a bolder scent more like Morocco, but on application I got a light, soapy floral. It opened up a little bit with wear, and I could recognize the carnation and plum, but between the two, I think I prefer Morocco.
  18. a_bear

    Harlot

    Unsurprisingly, it smells like rose, but I don't really get any cinnamon or anything resembling incense from this one.
  19. a_bear

    Depraved

    So much patchouli, and it is a really dirty, filthy patch. I got a bit of apricot on application, but it's really all about the patch with this one.
  20. a_bear

    Epidote Phoenix

    Smells like standing in a coniferous forest on a sunny day. Sort of similar to Theoi Nomioi, but warmer and without the campfire and stone.
  21. a_bear

    Only a Sip

    Smells like Christmas potpourri, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Lasts less than 1/2 an hour on me, though.
  22. a_bear

    L.A. River Pumpkin

    Big bold perfectly ripe pineapple up front with a hint of dried grass. I don't know what prickly pear smells like, but the fruity elements of the scent have decent staying power. I don't particularly smell anything vegetal like pumpkin, and there's no spice to be found. The green musk is pretty tame - this does not seem to be the Irish Spring green musk from Frog Moon.
  23. a_bear

    Lollipop Smut

    This is delightful. Surprisingly light given the listed notes for Smut. I couldn't pick out the exact flavor of the lollipop, but it is sweet and fruity.
  24. a_bear

    Bobbing for Smut

    Light and sweet, not particularly boozy. The red musk doesn't stand out too much to me, and it's definitely not heavy or savory as it can sometimes be. In general Bobbing for Smut reminds me a lot of Lollipop Smut but with a bit of crisp apple instead of candy.
  25. a_bear

    Pomegranate, Brown Sugar, and Tobacco

    This also smells like a pomegranate single note to me. I get maybe a hint of the brown sugar at the back when it's dry. My bottle is really new, so we'll see how it develops. I don't have high hopes, though, since brown sugar and tobacco are not shy notes in my experience.
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