CocoaLissette

Celery. Kid you not, this deliciously described scent smells like a bombast of celery and sage on me. WTF is wrong with my skin chemistry? People speak of warm caramel, bright mint...those notes flee from bottle to the air. Oiy. Maybe some alchemy will work its magic after a longer drydown.

Weird body chemistry isn't as cool as it sounds, assuming it sounds cool, which it doesn't really...*sigh* as usual, a gorgeous bottled scent goes wonky bonkers on me during drydown. In the bottle, this scent is like liquid butterscotch. I'm not sure if this has changed since its inception since the coffee notes reviewers discussed back in 2005 aren't terribly apparent to my coffee-drinking nose. But the butterscotch is simply divine. On wet, the smell stays sweet and buttery, just luscious. On drydown...er, I get mushrooms. Yes, you read that right, MUSHROOMS. I know coffee, I know butterscotch, and I know old books...and I'm wearing mushrooms. Time for a scent locket...

A few reviewers have mentioned the somewhat unexpected "foodiness" of this scent, which is exactly why I had to try some at Will Call once I gave it a sniff. Mmmmm. Wet, it smelled smoky but in a very pleasant, light way. I love the smokiness of Fall in PA where I live, and so recently tried Brimstone to stay with the theme of crunchy leaves and pumpkin glow. Uh, WOW, Bonfire Night is worlds apart...much gentler, much sweeter, and less deadly (though Brim was so uniquely funky, I stashed away my imp for just the right day! Anyway, I digress...) Bon Night was gentle and woody on drydown, with a luscious hint of sweet, which sold it for me. I felt like I had been standing near a wood fire and my clothing had picked up the scented smoke. I'm not terribly outdoorsy (build a fire? make camp? wha'?), so I loved this!

Pumpkin with white chocolate, caramel, pomegranate, and cream. I was SO EXCITED to try this scent because I love pumpkin everything and also adore sweet foody smells in general--in fact, the sweeter the better (think Mis U, Drink It, Bliss...you get the picture). In the bottle, the pumpkin simply rang with white chocolate notes and smelled absolutely delish. Although it held this sweetness wet, it went bonkerpants on drydown, turning into a cloying, overripe fruity smell. Maybe the pom? Not sure, but how sad (and given my odd and petulant skin chemistry, maybe not surprising). Unfortunately, this yummy is not for me. ADDED Oct. 23: I was heartbroken when this went bleck on me, but it's nice to know the oddness is not entirely my vivid imagination, ha.

I'm newish to BPAL and scents in general since almost all commercial scents turn to alcohol on my skin, making me smell like I'm wearing a pharmacy. Yes, quite the bleck. Obatala is one of the first dozen or so scents shared with me by a good BPALer friend...and I'm in love. In the bottle, this smells watery, like an oceanic rainstorm, but without any ozone tang (which is also a lovely smell, but wouldn't fit in with this softness). Oooh, I love it. Wet, the smell shifts to a soft coconut with butter undertones, and still that glorious oceanic smell hangs on. On dry down I was SO pleased...I'm a foodie and I'm loving that the waft of buttered popcorn follows me around in a wake. Yes, buttered popcorn with hints of coconut and that other undertone (some have suggested milk?). Some people might find that unappealing, but I find this scent gorgeous and sweet, and reminiscent of childhood days spent walking the Pier at long ago pre-casino Atlantic City. My first 5 ml!!!