Bathsheba

[Mountaingrrl00]

The Seventh Daughter, Daughter of the Oath. She was King David’s lover, and the mother of King Solomon. Her scent is breathtakingly lovely, exotic and powerfully sensual in its innocence: carnation, sensual plum, and Arabian musk.

In the vial and on me, this is pretty much all carnation all the time. There's a little fruitiness, but it's very very faint. It evokes memories of high school formal dances.

[lookingglass]

This is beautiful...dark purple tangy plum with pink carnation swirl and dead sexy musk. I can pick out each individual note clearly. A wonderful example of what I love to call BPAL's "fruitientals".

[Meg]

In the bottle: Very sweet and juicy plum.

 

Wet: Plum and soft powdery musk.

 

Drydown: Hmm, this is gentle and spicy. Carnation becomes the dominant note, a creamy soft floral with a hint of spice. Around it there's arabian musk, which is a bit powdery to me but not unpleasant, a bit like skin, really. Plum is hovering around and adds fruity sweetness to the blend.

 

Overall: It's a pleasant, sensual and clean-smelling blend, fresh and sensual at the same time. It's delicate and refined, and clearly womanly - it represents its description very well. It's not my type of scent, though, I find it too muted for me.

[Anbreen]

I LOVE every, single note! And, I had read SOOOOO many positive reviews, that I HAD to have this!

 

I was thus extremely dissappointed, when I found I can't smell it! I can smell something extremely subtle and pleasant, but that's it! No throw, either.

 

HOWEVER...... yesterday, when I first wore it...... guys jumped up to open doors, one escorted me to a store that I couldn't find..... I'm a middle-aged babe, and was having a no-make-up day. But, guys couldn't do enough for me!

 

So... the bad news is that I can't enjoy it. The good news is.. the stuff is a man-magnet!

[jessiesquash]

In the bottle, I'm getting the plum and carnations. I love what carnations do in Alice so I'm hoping this one will work for me too.

 

On I'm getting the same but the musk is coming through, giving it more depth. It's pretty but musk always does odd things to me so its not my favorite. Yep....sometime later, it's just too sweet. It's like the musk is amping the plum. Into the swap box it goes.

[sarada]

Ever have an imp just totally sneak up on you?

 

I have probably had this come by as a frimp a few times over the past couple of years and never stopped to pay attention before.

 

Then I tested a frimp today and ... wow. What is that? Hmm. I always thought this was going to be one of those almondy messes that I can't wear.

 

But it's so sweet, and has just the right balance of spicy floral and fruity sweetness. It's very familiar.

 

Looking at the notes, now, of course -- it has the same sort of family of ingredients as Frumious Bandersnatch, one of my favorites!

 

Carnation once again asserts itself as one of the most magnificent florals, because it never really smells like just "flowers." It's a little musty, a little spicy, and packs quite a whallop.

 

Plum, as always, is one of my favorite fruits. So juicy, and just a tiny bit tart. It's not a deep, bloody, purple plum like Bandersnatch, it's much more light and playful. The musk, also, just serves to whip this all into shape and keep it from fading too quickly.

 

This moves into the permanent imp box, and I'll have to try to remember that it might play well with the Bandersnatch.

[Riven]

Bathsheba smells quite energetic, floral and spicy in the vial. (A bit fruity, too!) Once it's on my skin, it seems as though the warm musk begins to develop and the scent becomes sweeter and more calm. It is not a harsh scent at all, which is nice if you know people who are sensitive to strong perfumes. There is definitely a hint of romance and innocence to it. It feels like the kind of scent I can enjoy wearing on either a warm spring day or a cold winter one. It's got just the right balance of warm and cool for me to make it an appropriate 'year-round' perfume.

 

Bathsheba's floral notes make it romantic and feminine, while the sweet and spicy notes give it a hint of innocence and curiosity. When I put this on, I feel like I should be drinking tea and reading Jane Austin; on the porch or in front of the fire. Or perhaps snuggling with a very handsome English gentleman.

[mspixieears]

This is beautiful! I can smell the plum in this instantly upon application and it’s intoxicating! One of the few fragrances that smells like it is alcohol-based.It also reminds me a tiny bit of a fruitier version of YSL’s Yvresse and BPAL’s Bon Vivant. There is a slight spicy note and the carnation isn’t too floral as the plum is more dominant, which I prefer.

[Narya]

Bathsheba is one oil that is placed in it's true and deserving category, a love potion through and through.

 

i can't really descipher the single notes of it, not yet that experienced, but the scent as a whole is sexy and very very seductive. far more than some other oils that are glorified as attractants

 

Bathsheba invokes a vision of a true femme fatale walking beside you, giving you subtle strenght and sensuality with her own energy.

it's spicy and warm, but not distant and closed. musky, almost an evolution of body scent, carefully weaved with aphrodisiacs by some cunning magician.

 

i can hardly imagine any woman not liking this oil, not very much chance of error if you decide to try it out.

 

also, i got a bottle of this blind-methoding, and then later received a frimp. the oil from the bottle is much much better than the imp version. not sure why,but this is what i've noticed with many oils, and has led me to reconsider those i didn't like from the imps...

 

oh yeah, bathsheba has an awesome throw, but on a night out you can slather it because it never gets to agressive, a very interesting trait.

 

tested last night at a party, most conversations with male participants ended up being very "close" as in *i can't hear you from 20 cm away, but i can hear my friend asking which beer i want from 5 meters away*

 

[phedre]

In vial: Spicy musk, sour plum.

 

Wet: This is all plum on my skin, with a bit of spice peaking out.

 

Drydown: Musk is coming out on this, and a slight olive note. Carnation is finally making an appearance and toning down the musk. Overall, this is very pretty with a sultry, sensual spice. I really like this.

[Nia]

On me, there is a mix of fruit icecream (the plum), and strong perfume (the musk is doing weird things to the carnation). That is not entirely a bad thing.

 

Later ther is a warm spicyness when the musk stops having fun with the carnation and they lie sensually side by side. This is not really my thing, as I woudn't go for such a warm perfume without more fruit on it, and I prefer sweet perfumes with a honey or amber touch, but as an experiment with musk, is more succesful than any I've tried.

 

ETA: an hour after applying, I realise that this is making me feel happy and sunny on a very gray (literally and metaphorically) day. There is something comforting here, and the fruit icecream is more like fruit compote.

Edited April 20, 2007 by Nia

[maribouquet]

Bathsheba is not a standout on me - I mostly get the musk, which I like quite a bit. I think it's similar to the musk(s) in Hell's Belle, which I have a big bottle of already.

[purplemoonshoes]

I hardly smell the carnation at all in this one, either in the imp or on me. It's all plum and musk, which makes for a very sophicated, sensual scent. It's kinda the adult version of Follow Me Boy, not in notes but in message- you know, come hither. Definitely a love potion.

On a personal level, it smells amazing on me. I want to bathe in this stuff.

[ralenth]

Bottle: Feminine and sexy. Hard to pick out notes, but definitely some sort of musk and a light floral.

 

Wet: Sensual, musky.

 

Drydown: Carnations dance a bit with the musk notes, but eventually come out to lead. Very nice play.

 

Dry: Settles down to a spicy floral scent. A bit deeper than I'd expect from the initial phases, but definitely lovable.

 

Overall: I never got plum, unless it was hidden somewhere in the depth. I really like this one and could see myself purchasing a bottle.

[modernsaints]

For those not in the know, Arabian musk is heavier than white musk.

 

I learned this when I realized 'everything but white musk is terrible and powdery on me', and I was hoping Bathsheba would keep the nice spicy carnation/plum duo, but sadly, they were no match. So I guess if you like musk this will be a winner; it's dry and faintly sweet and very spicy-delicious in the imp, and I'd imagine it'd do the same on others.

[sparkybish]

In the imp: I can not pick out any of the notes in this. In the imp I smell fruity, and a little spicy.

 

Wet: On my skin it's all juicy. I assume this is the plum. But I don't smell any carnation. And I LOVE carnation so it's a little disappointing. Also it's getting a bit powdery on me. I am starting to smell like an old lady in church.

 

Dry down: Ok, it's not an old lady in church, it's incense used in Catholic rituals. It makes me feel kind of dizzy and my nostrils are burning a little. I really had high hopes for this one, and I am sad. I do want to give it another try during a different time of the month, if you catch my drift. Also I may try mixing this with some single note carnation oil I have and see how it works.

 

 

w00t! My first review, done!

[willowtreeling]

in the imp, it scared me a little, because it seemed like perfume my mom would wear--grown up, formal, and a bit spicy. I just don't go for that classically perfume-y smell and that is what this little lady smelled like. But I was brave and dabbed some on the back of my hand--the spiciness led me to trust bpal and go for it--as spiciness seems to work on me.

 

wet, on: smelled good, but still had that Je Revien by Worth mommy smell....it must be the musk...I don't seem to get any plum at all and was surprised to see it in the lab description....I guess musk is going to be like rose on me, amped up--but I like that better.

 

dry: warmed up on me and smelled more spicy and musky, till I actually quite liked it. I don't know if I will ever wear it and might give it to my mom, as it does seem more like her than me, but it smelled nice--didn't give me a headache..maybe I could layer this with something to sweeten it up...

[cvelis]

Bathsheba is Blood Countess' sister. They both "feel" the same to me, spicy, sexy and strong. I love them both but will stick with Blood Countess.

[Limelight]

As I sit here with my laptop and write this review, I keep looking out the window over my desk at the smoky blue twilight, and I think, "Yeah, that's what this scent is, early summer twilight, with all that magic and all that sexiness." The plum's sweetness shimmers in conjunction with the musk, and I really think they bring out the best in each other. Carnation has never failed to win with me, but it takes a bit of a backseat here. Not implying that this is a flaw; I think that it supports the other two so well that it's easy to miss. This will be a multiple bottle purchase, I believe.

[Extispex]

In the imp, kind of musky and rich. I like it.

 

On me, hey, this is kind of nice. Mostly carnation at first, but it grows a bit deeper and richer as it dries. The plum adds a hint of fruitiness, and the musk is a whisper of sensuality over the bright spicy floral of the carnation. Its lovely, but I'm not sure how often I'd wear something this sexy.

[Nimthiriel]

In the vial (initial impression):

Sharp carnation and musk. Tickles my nose!

 

Initially on (wet):

As usual, my skin goes all "green!!" and that's all I can sense before it dries.

 

Wearing it (dry):

After 30 mins, it's really rich and warm - it's mostly musk to my nose, but there's certainly something else playing in the background. It's almost gone a little spicy, like mulled wine.

 

An hour later, it's much softer and more of a harmony. Nice!

 

Finally:

It wasn't what I expected, even though it was pleasant, so this goes back in the swap pile.

[500ml]

Love this! Even though I initially mistook the plum for banana (this ehm... happens all the time to me. Well, I like both so it's cool) this blend really works for me. The carnation shows up pretty quick to give a spicy kick to the scent with the musk remaining a a solid note underneath the fruity juicy plum and the spicy carnation throughout. This is amazingly nice.

[laliloo]

I ordered an imp of Bathsheba based on the carnation note - I'm a newbie and I love carnations, so I figured I'd try Bathsheba and Maiden in this batch of imps to see if they like me! Unfortunately, Maiden didn't arrive, so it's all down to Bathsheba now...

 

This is definitely a very sensual perfume - warm and sultry like a heavy, late summer evening. I can just detect the clove smell of carnation, but the plum and musk are slightly winning the battle, making it a fruity, sexy blend. I would wear this if I was going out somewhere posh for the evening - a theatre/dinner trip in the autumn/winter perhaps. This doesn't happen very often, so I won't be getting a big bottle, but it's not an unpleasant scent on me. I'll definitely keep hold of the imp. I don't think I could wear this during the day.

[Bagfish]

Ooooh, I had an imp of Bathsheba ages ago and passed it on, but I have discovered a love of carnation scents, so got another imp from the lab and I am SO pleased I have given this another chance!

 

Bathsheba is spicy carnation plums on me, I hardly smell any musk. This is a warm, deep red scent to me and reminds me of summer and buzzing bees and lounging around with a new boyfriend in the heat. It is slightly sexy in a new relationship sort of way, and evokes stolen kisses and passionate embraces. Very, very lovely

[bryghtrose]

Bathsheba is a very plummy, less refined Aglaea.