Brisingamen

[badseed1980]

I have had an imp of this for several years, but never really used it. I just gave it a try at the recommendation of some lovely folks here on the forum. I'm so sad, though--it's not doing anything for me. I'm actually thinking of washing it off. I tend to love BPAL amber scents, and two that this one has been compared to--O and Haunted--are scents that really work well for me. But somehow, this one is just striking me as very heavy and unpleasant. I can detect some good notes in there, but they're all wrapped up in stuff that is not very nice. It's weird because I'm someone whose favorite non-BPAL perfume is Habanita by Molinard, which is an extremely old-fashioned scent, and I really don't mind a bit of sharpness in some perfumes. On me, though, Brisingamen is unpleasantly sharp, sour, and old-fashioned. It reminds me of some old perfume bottles my grandmother had--ones she bought for the vintage bottles rather than for the perfume, which she never wore. I can get a BIT of the spicy dusty sweetness that other people mention, but it's only a trace, and so fleeting while the rest of the scent lingers. It's possible this might eventually fade into something wearable on me, though.

 

Now, interestingly, I was going to get up and wash it off when I was done writing this review, but it's almost like it heard my thought, and it may in fact just be starting to transform into something a bit more mellow and wearable. OK, Brisingamen, I'll give you a little while longer and maybe sniff some coffee beans before I sniff my wrist again.

 

EDIT: Nope, sorry. it's not happening. The offensive smell toned down after a while, but never turned into something I really liked. I ended up washing it off and replacing it with Haunted, which is SO MUCH nicer on my skin.

Edited March 31, 2022 by badseed1980
adding my latest impressions

[monocainsheresy]

A pale gold scent. Mostly amber and herbal myrtle, with a surprisingly strong creamy floral note from the apple blossom. The carnation lends a hint of spice when wet but disappears on me during the drydown.

A happy medium between wet spa and dry forest.

[Lecter]

Fresh blossomy goodness! I don’t seem to get any spicy mess but it’s a pleasant clean warm scent which reminds me of spring 

[crystaltongue]

I still can't decide what I think of Brisingamen. It is definitely rich ambers, but there is something almost medicinal about it that lingers more than any other note. I love the hint of carnation, but the apple blossom is lost to me entirely. Truly, a mysterious scent.

[ShadowEtienne]

Brisingamen is confusing on my skin, and while I like parts of it, I don't think that it was meant for me.

 

There's definitely amber in this, but it's a muddled sort of amber on my skin. I think that some of the amber notes are working and some aren't, but it's just a little too much amber all around.

 

I love the myrtle and apple blossom notes hanging out right behind the amber, and I wish that they would take the lead on this scent. They're a delicate floral and herbal combination that works nicely together.

 

The carnation is nowhere to be found on my skin.

 

Overall, I think this one just isn't playing nice with my skin, and I'll pass it along to someone who it works better for.

[quantquill]

It is fascinating to read all the reviews and see how differently people experience Brisingament. BPAL frimped me on an order last year and I've tried it twice. This should work on me -- amber loves me. Apple blossom, myrtle, all good. But unfortunately, it doesn't suit me. 

 

Smells like a very traditional, expensive perfume, heady florals with an undertone of high-end powder, the amber slowly peeks out on drydown -- I agree with the "golden" description.  

 

Asked my guy to sniff my wrist. He leaned in for a big snootful and leaned back, coughed, and said, "That's some insane old lady perfume."

 

So, yeah. Doesn't work with my skin chemistry, even though allll the notes should work on me. I appreciate being able to try it in a sample!

[gentle-twig]

A very smooth and round amber and apple blossom scent. Apple notes can be rough for me, but this one is nice. Nice is really the operative word here all around. The ambers are difficult to pick apart. Definitely sweet and bright ambers, not a lot of labdanum in these.  I can detect the Myrtle and carnation if I really try, but they are very much supporting players, suggesting a barely there but very welcome (to me) bitter/herbal/spicy apple skin when paired w the apple blossom and those big globular ambers. If those notes were amped up, or if the ambers were more labdanum-forward, think it could have been an unexpected hit! As it is, it’s not really for me. Too sweet and smooth. But I am charmed by its autumnal romance. And impressed that an apple fragrance can smell this refined!