crow-toes

I really do like BPAL’s cocoa scent - it’s rich and earthy without being sweet. It layers so warmly and naturally with the incense and leather. The faintest hints of florals add an extra note of intrigue, so different and yet fitting to the blend. I don’t know if it’s my type of sexy just yet, but it is seductive for sure.

Very woodsy! Deep forest pine, murky woods, a touch of the spice of juniper. I'm not getting much moss, leather, or musk while wet. Once it’s dry, the suede and musk really do come out and bring a nice rounded warmth to the scent. It morphs more than I was expecting - I wish the intense pine stuck around a bit more dominantly on my skin.

The berry scents in this are delightful - juicy without being cloyingly sweet. The musky undertones are a lovely addition that really round things out once it dries down. For something so fruity, this works remarkably well on my skin. I don’t think this will ever be a full bottle for me, but I’ll definitely be reaching for the imp again. A later edit: I keep coming back and lingering over the scent. A smokey blackberry sage tea… I think it’s really growing on me. This might warrant more than an imp.

This one's a no-go for me. Eucalyptus is turning out to be one of those notes that I just can’t wear - all I can smell is cough drops.

This goes very one-note on my skin - I’m basically only getting the very sweet blood orange. Definitely a bummer, since without the incense to make it smokier and earthier this one’s just too fruity for my tastes.

Irish coffee, mostly dominated by the brown sugar and whipped cream. The coffee is very much in the background, and I’m not picking up the dusty tomes. Incredibly sweet to my nose - not one I think I'll be wearing much.

Oh my god, I love this. Delicious warm blended spices. Not sweet - just rich and cozy and decadent.

Pineapple rum cake, maybe? Lots of caramelized sugar scent, a dash of something boozey, and a faint whiff of pineapple. Very definitely smells of dessert - not my style, but an interesting combination.

Very fresh and clean, mild, and low throw. Comes across as a fancy but fairly neutral soap. Herby and slightly floral, very very minimal on the citrus. no individual notes are standing out. I'm unfortunately not getting any noticeable fig or ginger on my skin. Overall on me it’s… nice? Entirely inoffensive. But a bit boring and soapy for my tastes.

Wet: Wow, spicy, resinous, and intensely cocoa - nothing sweet, just smoky and earthy. It’s invigorating and complex. Dry: This scent smooths out a lot. It’s still spicy, but the cocoa is much more understated. Resinous, rounded, and balanced - but not as unique as its wet scent. Overall, I’m not sure I’ll often find myself in a mood to wear this, but it is a fascinating experience.

Musky with a touch of vanilla and honey. Not particularly complex, but pleasant and cozy. Fits in a similar sort of mood for me as Dee and Jezebel, but doesn't have some of the depth I love in those. Good for layering, but not a standalone for me.

Sweet and orangey. A very fresh scent, but not one I like for myself - too tropical.

This one goes way too sickly sweet on my skin for me. Makes me think of Yankee candle shop? I'm picking up vanilla cupcake with pine and fake cinnamon, maybe. This imp is headed for the pile to share with my sister - sweet doesn't seem to do such strange things on her!

This is the sweetest incense- and resin-based scent I’ve come across. From looking at some of the other reviews, I suspect it’s the dragon’s blood? It’s a lot fruitier than I was expecting from the description, almost as if there’s some pineapple or other tropical fruit in the mix. I’m not getting the balsam coming out on my skin, and am finding myself wishing for more wood and smoke. Overall, it’s a nice scent, but not going to be my go-to for moody incense - and dragon’s blood might be getting some hesitation from me in the future.

I was a little hesitant about the marzipan notes in this, since I suspected it would be too overwhelmingly foody for me. I could definitely pick up the myrrh in the vial, though, so I was hopeful about how it might wear on my skin. Unfortunately, it got washed off early without me even picking up on either those notes. Something about this really doesn't work on my skin - it goes sour with a touch of cherry cough drops.