starwild

This is a sweet, light, silvery blend. It trots along with the soft flowers and crushes the herbs underfoot. Pretty much the same for me from bottle to drydown, and it's a very relaxing yet not "simple" scent. Really enjoying this one, will keep the imp for sure. Perfect scent for a hot summer night.

The description and name alone amused me enough to convince me to try this, but when I read that it's similar to Lancome Miracle, it was on my to-buy list in a heartbeat (I love Miracle!). Bottle: Sweet and floral and JUST like Miracle. Pinkish and happy and a little bit of greenery. Wet: Fresh, soft, lush flowers. Pink and white and green. Drydown: Here is what separates the BPAL from the commercial scents. It's suddenly less "pretty garden" and more "spaceship crash-landed in pretty garden, crushing the flowers and OH CRAP that green scent is from a little green man!" In drying, I get the crushed wood, and the florals bow out considerably. I love, love, love this scent and will seriously consider a bottle. The only problem is that it fades fast on me.

I am normally resistant to wearing stuff with strong citrus, but Cheshire is not what I was afraid it might be. Bottle: A mixture of very soft and sweet grapefruit with lots of chamomile and a hint of lavender. Wet: I do get a rush of grapefruit, but it's bright and sunny, not candy-sweet or overpowering. The florals are balancing beautifully. There's something a tiny bit bitter, and I actually don't think it's the citrus. Drydown: This is a bright and smiling scent, with a wink and a purr. Nothing scary about this Cat. A little madness, yes, but it's the kind that rubs around your ankles, not the kind that would hurt you. Very glad I tried this, it's different and it's a citrusy scent I can wear. Not overly strong, maybe this one needs some aging.

BPAL violet is violent on me. This stuff knocked me over from the start, and unfortunately it was not a happy experience. Bottle: Violet and vertiver, exactly as described. Wet: Whoa, man, it's killing me already. Too strong, way too strong. Drydown: When it dries, it's STILL too strong. This scent packs a punch that I can't handle, and it lasts forever. I'm afraid I'd be hiding under my bed during the Saturnalia festival. This one's gotta go.

This stuff is like a version of Saturnalia that I can actually wear! Bottle: Dark and spicy, but not intimidating. Wet: Neroli is whacking me over the head with a baseball bat. I love it! Drydown: Spicy violets. If I had to describe this scent with one word, I'd say "harbinger". It's like a herald coming to announce the king's death, at midnight, in a haunted castle. Unfortunately it turns to powder after a few hours. Not my favorite, but the imagery it brings to mind is more than enough for me to keep this imp from bethany.

An imp from bethany! Bottle: Wow, that's seriously dark. Smells like wood. Wet: AURGH. Camphor! Strong, strong camphor! I smell like a medicine cabinet! Oh dear, I'm afraid I've found my first "get it OFF me" BPAL scent. I couldn't stand it. Now reading through the other reviews, it may just be I'll have to wait for it to dry--which I didn't do this attempt--so I'll give it one more try later. But I'm pretty sure this one will be going off to someone who might appreciate it more.

Yet another of my imps from bethany! Bottle: Wet and woodsy, and something like mint? Utterly green (exactly what I'd expect from a green oil!) Wet: What IS that? It's dark and scary. It's pouring rain in a midnight forest, and there's something hunting me. Drydown: Now I'm getting the patchouli, but it's keeping that forest scent as well. I'm also getting a sort of men's cologne scent, but it's not masculine enough to scare me off. This is like nothing I've tried from the Lab, and I really do like it. Unusual play of notes, unusual fragrance.

Another of the imps bethany sent me! Bottle: *cough* that's...strong. Wet: OH NO I am being assaulted by buckets of cherries! Ack! The cherry tart revolution is clamoring for my head! Drydown: You know what this smells like to me? Those scratch and sniff stickers I used to get on homework assignments back in the 1980's-early 90's. It is bringing back some serious memories. This scent is insane, just like the Queen. It smells like cherry-flavored insanity. Later: Ok, now I'm getting some cedar/woodsy scent. I love the name and I love the concept, and I even rather like the scent, but not on me, if you know what I mean. I'm afraid this one might be getting sent on to someone who can handle the cherry.

I got this scent as a gift from the wonderful bethany! Bottle: something floral balanced by the darkness of dragon's blood, but also...this will sound crazy...I'm smelling the sweet note that I get from Sea of Glass! Wet: Very mild. Not quite floral, not quite incense, but a beautiful blend of both. Drydown: It has a deep warmth to it without being overwhelming. This is the dragon of spring with a vine of flowers draped around her horns. There's a subtle sweetness to it from the lily of the valley. After wearing for a while: Mostly floral, but a floral with an oomph! If you're afraid of dragon's blood, this is the one to try, because it's quite gentle. As gentle as a dragon can be, anyway.

In the bottle: Whoo, herbal. Strong, strong herbal--that's the rosemary. Wet: Barely just being balanced out with the floral. Otherwise I'd be tempted to just toss this on some potatoes. Drydown: Okay, now I get more of a sense of what this Catherine is all about. This is a deep green scent that's not exactly spicy, but almost a little peppery from the rosemary, yet darkly weighted by the rose and orange blossom. It's sort of like bittersweet chocolate, not that it smells at all like chocolate--I guess I'm trying to say it's a floral that's had all of its sweetness sucked out. This is an unusual fragrance, lovely and even sultry in a way, but whispering evil thoughts in your ear. I do like it, it's interesting. Will use the imp, probably not a re-buy on this one though.

Thanks, guys! I'm going with Urania this time and will try others later.

I cannot possibly get any closer to describing this scent than the description does! But I'll try. In the bottle: Something bright, sweet, wet. Wet: Like sun shining on a...darn it, I have to say it...sea of glass. Drydown/wearing: I can tell there is a major aquatic note here, but it's almost reminiscent of a strangely acid-less citrus. It doesn't really smell like lemon, but it has the high-pitched tang of it. I also get Easter lilies. This scent is like stained glass windows in a church on Easter Sunday. It also reminds me of the farthest sea in "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," one of the Chronicles of Narnia. I think this is what they might have smelled at the end of their journey. Gosh I love this. It's not my usual kind of fragrance, but it's enthralling. This is what I'd put on before bed, or early in the morning. It's very gentle and refreshing but not pungent or sharp. If you want something like lemon that isn't lemon, this would be a great choice. Edited to add: Ok, I'm going back through this thread and am SHOCKED at how many people had the exact same thought about Narnia and the Easter lilies. Wow, you know a perfume is great when so many different people can wear it and get the same exact imagery. Edited yet again: I actually find myself wearing THIS scent more than any other. It's calming and tranquil, bottled happiness. I am going through this imp so fast, I HAVE to get a bottle. It doesn't have a lot of throw on me, but I wear it just for me, not for anyone else.

This is a super-delicate blend of white roses and moonflowers. It's very clean with the slightest bite of sourness underneath. Bottle: Just a light, almost citrusy-light, floral. Wet: Roses in moonlight. Drydown: Mostly roses for a while, but it fades to moonflower after some time. Later: This has really stuck on my skin surprisingly strongly for such a delicate scent. This is a good one for wearing on days when you need a calming influence, and I'd bet you'd have blissful dreams if you dab a bit on before bed. This would also make a fabulous body wash scent, it's light enough that I wouldn't mind having it all over me. This one makes me feel girly and pretty, but not childish, the way most lighter fragrances behave on me.

Bottle: Dry and roaringly warm; if this is a desert wind, there's a sandstorm coming. Wet: Whoa! Wasn't expecting that. This is very powerful on me. This is a hymn to a vengeful god. Drydown: This smells EXACTLY like one of my mother's perfumes! I think Obsession, maybe? Later: The wind has calmed, and now it's the same scent but with less oomph. It's got a bit more personality now. I can smell different notes but I can't tell what they are. This is the most classically "perfume" fragrance I've tried from BPAL. Not one of my favorites, but I'll keep the imp all the same. This isn't for every day wear, but maybe for special occasions or meetings.

Bottle: Sharp note of something floral over a blanket of floral notes. Wet: Pretty much the same as in the bottle, actually. Drydown: Lovely and full-scented, yet light, floral. This is the smell of a church laden with flowers, but is it for a wedding or a funeral? Later: Now it's mostly soap. This is the kind of scent my mother would pick for me, but I wouldn't choose for myself. Lovely but not for me. Going to swap this one for sure.

Sweet, smoky and sensually wicked. A thick, steamy scent, truly sinister in its voluptuous sexuality. The perfume of a demon's favored consort, or of the devil herself. Oleander with wet, sweet mandarin, lush magnolia, a rush of deep musk and a touch of spice. Bottle: Screamingly high note of magnolia. Wet: Still shrieking magnolia, but mellowing with the oleander and the darker undertone of musk coming through. Drydown: Top note of spice, then equal parts mandarin and magnolia strewn over throaty musk. This works amazingly on me, it's sensual but refined, a little naughty but gentle at the same time. I love how it's blended. The musk is leaning toward too strong for me at the end, but this is a great scent all the same. Going on bottle list. Give it some time, this might end up my signature scent--I'm a southern girl with a thing for magnolias. Days later: OMG. I am in love. Love, love, love. This is ME. This is my scent. It is amazing.

When I opened this, it smacked me in the face with the cherry air freshener scent in public bathrooms. Tried it on, and it turned nicely floral but faded very fast. I'll try it on a different day, but I doubt I'll keep it, just not strong enough for my personality or skin chemistry.

In the bottle: Floral, and decaying wood. Decay in general. This is what the Vieux Carre smelled like on hot summer nights. Wet: Something bright, orangey and spicy, maybe a hint of tobacco. Just a bit of sweetness. Drydown: Cinnamon and old wood. A touch of bitterness under the cinnamon--perhaps it's the sea air. Later: Getting some warm sweetness of rum coming through, but it's still mostly cinnamon and wood. I want to kidnap Captain Jack Sparrow and smear this all over him. Very, very nice. Not a big bottle, but I'll definitely be using this imp and ordering again in the future. Glad I tried this, apparently BPAL cinnamon is very strong on me.

Got this as a frimp! In the bottle: Dark and herbal. Wet: Spicy with a deep, dark undertone. Drydown: Baby power, but spicy baby powder with a hint of bitterness. Later: The myrrh is coming out to play now. I kind of like it, but not sure if I'll keep it.

I just got my very first order today, and decided to pop my BPAL cherry with this scent. I am SO GLAD I did. I can't describe what it was like in the bottle, but when it was wet on my skin, I got an immediate rush of spice that I'm guessing was a combination of the dragon's blood resin and the ylang ylang. Then it hit this amazing, gorgeous, sensual peak about ten minutes after I put it on...it was like the height of a very, very good dream. It was fiery and yet understated. Awhile later, it dried down to a smoky, warm amber that had the perfect hint of sweetness from the poppy. That stayed with me the longest, until it faded out into the faintest trace of the amber. The dragon's blood actually seemed a little weak and was definitely was one of the first notes to fade, and the scent lasted about 4 hours on me...not nearly as long as I'd like, but this smelled so good I can forgive that. I think I'll try another from this line to see if I can get something with a stronger kick of the dragon's blood, but seems I've hit a winner with my very first try! I'm making myself wait and try out all of my imps before buying any bottles, otherwise I'd be ordering a 5 ml of this right now.