suki

In the imp: vanilla buttercreme with a shot of peppermint schnapps on the side. Wet On Skin: *mounds* of sugar cookie dough, with a hot winter beverage that has peppermint schnapps in it. i don't know where the boozy note is coming from, the the peppermint and alcohol seem to be all tied up together in this blend for me so far. i should note that i've never had this experience with a BPAL mint note before, so i don't know what exactly is going on. I'm not finding it off-putting myself, but it Is a bit odd... Dry down: vanilla sugar cookie dough (uncooked), with a touch of mint sugar icing. In all: very light throw. For those who find Sugar Cookie to be a holy BPAL grail, this will be a happy surprise and probably worth getting a few Bags o' Coal for. For me, I shall love this little imp for all it's worth, but will need no more than that.

In the Imp: all spiced eggnog, all the time. Not the BPAL eggnog scent. No. Real, actual eggnog. With cinnamon and clove and maybe a wee nit of rum to keep gramma quiet Wet On Skin: yeah, the clove is coming out proud at this stage. The clove note tends to amp a bit on my skin, but I don't mind- it's the reason I got a bottle of Smiling Spider, in fact! I'm also getting a bit of an eggnog-cookie thing going on, but it's hiding behind the intensity of the clove right about now. Dry Down: Spice cookies. I get cinnamon and clove as the strongest notes still, but there's also powdered sugar and stiff cake, like pfeffernoose in there. In All: this may well be the holiday food scent I've been waiting for. usually the yulr foodstuffs, like Eggnog and Gingerbread Poppet, wind up going strangely floral on me in the drydown. I think the addition of the spices keeps the whole thing in check. Light to medium throw and super yummy, this is an imp I'll treasure- until Beth releases a bottle size, then I'll stock up!

Of the Sack Of Switches scents, this is the one I was most excited about trying. Let's see how it turned out! In the Imp: sour lemon candy balls and a slight hint of sweetness, but nothing as discernable as strawberry at this stage. There's also an edge to it that's reminding me of the first art school I went to, so I think that the lemon is reminiscent of turpentine somehow. But don't let this put you off- it actually smells quite nice in here. Make me feel nostalgic, even *sniff, sniff* Wet on skin: Ah, THERE'S the strawberry! It's not overpowering at all. The combo at this point makes me think most of Strawberry Lemonaide. The way most places add syrup, as opposed to fresh berries, to the lemonaide. It's a candy version of the fruit to be sure, not the fresh note found in, say, Strawberry Moon '09. Dry Down: the strawberry has become more candy-like, but somehow, also more subtle, so there's a balance that happens here. the lemon is more in the background, and if someone passed me while wearing this they would likely ask what that tart strawberry-vanilla scent was. I get no mint, but absolutely a light touch of vanilla is present, which I guess accounts for the "candy cane" part of the deal. In all: light throw, sweet and innocent, this is a pretty scent for holiday and day use, and also one that a child could wear and it would be totally appropriate. Were BPAL to offer a full size bottle next Yule, I'm sure it would be well-hoarded.

In the imp: raspberry lemon fizz. It reminds me of a tart candy I ate as a kid, like Fun Dip, or SweeTarts. It's not beer-y at this point. Wet On Skin: Ok, there's the booze note. But it's light. Not like a mixed drink. Maybe like a wine cooler! The lemon is a fizzy one, to be sure. Reminds me of lemon soda, the light kinds you can get in the U.K. yummy! Dry Down: Lemon candy raspberry soda. I thought this might wind up being more like my favorite berry Lambic, but any booze note I could earlier detect is gone. A wee hint of the ginger ale-esque champagne note is there, and it may very well gain a stronger foothold. I find that it's playing with the lemon aspect in a really sweet and light way. In all: bright playful and fruity. This may well be the one I wear on New Year's Eve, as it has all the elements of a celebration. A fun scent for the gloomy months ahead.

In the imp: minty and 'green', as others have said Wet on skin: the 'green' is more of a fresh grass than, say, an evergreen. it's a nice variation on the green+mint winter theme. Dry down: i get what zankoku was saying about it going a bit "masculine". To my nose, this is the male counterpart to B340. both contain that cool, light mint, but whereas that one had a touch of perfumed violets to back up the mint, this has a fern/moss green to hold it. In all: one of the more "perfume-y" BPAL scents I've tried. Light throw, gender neutral, and a lovely scent to encapsulate this chilly time of year. If a full size bottle was ever released, I don't think I'd get it, but I shall love this imp for all it's worth. ETA: it's later and the scent has morphed some, become more musky and sexy on my skin. it's now somewhere between a white musk, a pale mint and a dark vanilla. If this keeps up, I may indeed beg Beth et al to make a full bottle version!

I need to say that, first of all, my experience with BPAL Season-based scents is that by and large, I go for the Autumnal in general. But with this round of Phoenixes, it was Summer all the way. I tested it out and left the Will Call and had to go back three days later because I couldn't stop thinking about it, and knew I needed a bottle before it drove me mad with wanting. So here ya go: In the bottle: The red musk and saffron are both the immediate notes. They come on strong, spicy and sexy and somehow have a creaminess to their heady mix. The ozone and wet/aqua notes are surely there, but amazingly, they stay in the background- a first in my personal experience with either of those aggressive notes. *fingers crossed* Wet on skin: More of the same, but it's going deeper now. The warmth of my skin is somehow getting the notes to blend more, interact, open into another layer of complexity. the word that comes to mind is "heady". Dry down: This is Summer In The City, in a bottle. Having grown up in New York City jumping into open fire hydrants far more often than jumping into the ocean at the beach, I can tell you, it's here. The hot wet asphalt, the charge in the air before the heat lightening comes, and the lurid smell of damp bodies in too-close proximity. Oh my YES. In all: What Smut is to Wintertime sexiness Phoenix In Summer is to summertime sexiness. Medium throw, this is one that is clearly going to only get better with age. Not just a keeper, but possibly a scent to get several bottles of. :wub2:

In the bottle: Fresh, sweet lilac and spring grass. I don't mean *perfume* that smells like these things. i mean when I close my eyes, it really, honestly smells that way. Wet On Skin: The green grass is taking a bit more of a front seat at this point with the lilac bringing up the rear. Dry down: the lilac has made a comeback. However, this should not be interpreted as being strong or bossy or overpowering, because it's not in the least. But there is no mistaking it: this is lilac, all the way. In all: light to medium throw, a gentle but determined floral. I personally only like florals on a very, very rare and particular occasion. But when I smelled how this scent bloomed on my skin, there was no question: I HAD to buy a bottle. I know that I will mix this with some of the Violet based BPALs I have, for wearing in these darker months, and come springtime, I'll be happy to wear it all on it's own.

Of all the Champagne scents this year, this one was by far the worst of the lot. In 2008 none of the Will Call Champagne scents were anything more than disasters on my skin. This year, it's thankfully been the total opposite- with the exception of Champagne and Party Hats. Which is ok, really. Except that from the time I opened the bottle of Party Hats just to sniff, I instantly got the same head-achey feeling I got the first time I sniffed Pruno. There is some extremely similar note in both, of the Mr. Clean-strong-disinfectant variety. Not to mention, I smelled no trace of cake anywhere. Meh. In all, I leave this scent to someone else. If they have the blessings of not having my skin chemistry, then they are lucky indeed. for now, I shall stick with Pink Champagne, Sparkling Apple Cider and all the rest.

when all is said and done, this scent becomes Mead on my skin. The boozy-honey that only a fine bottle of fae wine can provide, this scent has a medium throw, good staying power and the ability to be both sweet and food-like without being actually foodie or childish in any way. A lovely scent for the winter months, I also forsee it being quite lovely on balmy summer nights. Total keeper

In the bottle: sweet, sugary candy pile! I'm definitely getting the orange candy factor others have mentioned. I thought this was going to be just another version of Sticky Pillowcase, but so far, nope. A totally different candy animal. Wet on skin: The orange is coming out more. I can see what someone was saying about it being like Orange Creamsicle in it's own way. It's also promising to be a slightly more candy version of Orange, if you can believe it, and for all of us that will probably never have the good fortune of procuring even a tiny drop of that scent, this is shaping up to be a good consolation Dry down: Sweet orange candy, perhaps of the Pixie Stix variety, which is to say, sweet and candy-ish for sure, but actually not overpoweringly so. In all: If you've been looking for a promising substitute for the uber-rare Orange, or else just trying to find a candy scent that isn't too childish, this is a total keeper. I long ago got rid of many of my back-up bottle, but this one might be worth hoarding. Echoing CherryCherry's sentiments, I'm really looking forward to layering this scent!

In the bottle: There's definitely the musk note that is so prevalent in Smut, right off. Which is great, because that's one of the reasons I was interested in trying this scent. I also smell a combo of cream and leather that, when combined, make a facsimilie of anise that some have mentioned. It also is slightly root-beer-y in nature. I'm intrigued, even though the notes do not, at this point, seem to be meshing in the least. Wet on skin: The leather is only a subtle background scent right now, for which I am grateful, since that is a note that my skin usually amps tremndously. The musk seems to be shifting to accomodate the leather, becoming more of a dark or black musk, like in Enraged Orangutan or something- rather feral, animal-like. I'm also getting the first hint of the black tea, which is adding some balance to the mix. Dry down: Well. Okay. So. All those notes that I already mentioned? They are all here, only now, they've decided suddenly, without warning, to play nice together. To my boyfriend's nose, it "smells like a Christmas drink", but to mine, it's a combination of Smut, De Sade, Love's Philosophy and one of the Enraged animals. Sweet, musky, dark and with a hint of sugary licorice. In all: one that promises to absolutely get better and better with aging, this is a sexy scent with medium throw and possibilities for the long winter nights that lie ahead...

From beneath her skirts emerge eight gingerbread children: gingerbread, French vanilla, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and marshmallow cream. My choice in BPALs has changed over the years. I started out as very heavy on the foodie scents, but more recently that's tapered back a bit. Gingerbread Poppet, for instance, was one I used to love, but I got rid of it last year when it became apparent that I was no longer going to wear it frequently enough to justify keeping it. But I think this one might be more attuned to where my olfactory sense is headed... In the bottle: definitely getting the lemon-ginger combo so many have mentioned. I think it's actually less about lemon, and more about the tang that fresh ginger actually has, like when you break a piece in two, or grate some for making tea or bread. It's strong, but not over powering. Wet on skin: more of the same, but with an added sugar element. It reminds me of the original Strawberry Shortcake dolls that my generation played with in the '80's. There was a Lemon Meringue doll that I had, and the smell was like this note: lemony, soft and sweet but somehow not very food-like. It's becoming more noticeable the longer it sits on my skin, warming in this wet state. Also, for whatever strange value it's worth, my cat just tried to lick my hand where I'm testing it, something she only does when it passes her kitty "food test". (and no, of course I didn't let her actually lick my hand! ) Dry down: This is a totally different animal than any other ginger-y BPAL I've tried. Not the Gingerbread of Poppet, not like Mother Shub and not even like the gingerale aspect of any of the Champagne scents, this is it's own thing. Strange and almost undefinable, this scent is an enigma! In all: A good day time scent, and something that leaves me feeling warm in these cold, dreary winter months, Mother Ginger is a ginger scent for those with a more adult-oriented love of food scents. Not too sweet or sugary, this perfume is more like a warm hug in a bakery than over-eating a cookie house the day after Christmas- and those waiting for such an experience will find themselves very satisfied indeed.

Yes, I must add my voice to the chorus of "oh my lord Watermelon Jolly Ranchers for all!" From the first sniff in the bottle all the way to dry down, this is the main scent that appears on my skin. Only after it's been on my skin for many hours does it change at all, which is unusual, as most BPALs have the tendency to morph on me at some point, usually more than once. But Sugar Plum Fairy is most certainly an exception. Which is very good news in this case, because that Jolly Rancher thing pulled me in and kept me there. This was the scent, out of all *nine* of my recent BPAL acquisitions, that I wound up wearing on Christmas Day. Like I said, many hours after application, it did change a bit, but the change went from somehow not-too-foodie-watermelon-candy-yum into a light but pervasive sweet and gentle sugar/floral combo. I did not at any time get the cacao, which I'm slightly disappointed about, but it's such a lovely scent that it matters not. And if I *really* felt the need to mix in chocolate, I could always put on a touch of Bliss with it or something One extra bonus? My pregnant friend hugged me goodbye on Christmas Night and took a deep sniff of me and said I smelled "delicious"- high praise indeed since she's in the throes of morning sickness and most smells are making her retch right about now...

i lost the meticulous notes i took at EC Will Call on all the smellies i got to try, but i can say that this one stood out as a highlight for me. warm and nutty, in a walnut oil kind of way, with a sweet, but not overly-foodie finish, this scent was spectacular, and makes me look ever more forward to the last two CD acts going live! i just can't wait.

I want to make it clear that I'm actually not a fan of black licorice as a rule. My boyfriend bought this bottle and, being a good BPALer I feel it my duty to review it. But by all means take my review with a grain of salt if you're a fan of anise et al... In the bottle: The cocoa dominates. A variation of the lovely, dry cocoa from Gelt: not sweet or milky like Bliss- just Cocoa. The licorice is in the background but I find I don't mind it. Wet on skin: The licorice comes to the fore a bit, but there's balance. I find I'm hopeful, even. Drydown: This is turning out to be a real morpher, with the dominant note changing every few minutes. Sometimes it smells exactly like chocolate-covered licorice nibs, then it switches to a ghastly NyQuil-intense black licorice, then all the anise elements fade back and the dry cocoa emerges once more. On and on it goes... In All: I'm really glad I tried this, actually. I recognize that this scent isn't for me, but I'm interested to see how it differs on my boyfriend's skin, as I have a feeling that his chemistry could turn this into something less cold-remedy and more sexy than it seems on my skin.

i'm not getting *any* of the jasmine/dragon's blood stuff others have mentioned most frequently. mostly i get milk chocolate, dark vanilla and just the merest hint of spice: possibly cinnamon or nutmeg, as the spice note reminds me of Eggnog '07. it's not a complex scent, but it's very lovely and comforting and i can see wearing this as a good all-around daytime scent, in sort of the same capacity of Antique Lace. i've not yet worn it out of the house, so i don't know about it's magickal potency, but honestly, i kinda hope it doesn't work in that way, because i'd really like to get a bottle of this with my next order low to medium throw, not a morpher on me at all. if you like non-foodie vanilla and spice, you'll really like this!

of my recent order, this was the one i was most excited about. let's see if it measures up to my expectations! in the bottle: mostly the caramel. it reminds me of Hearth, but without the pine note that ruined it for me. *crosses fingers* wet on skin: still strong on the carmel but there is something odd that i can't quite place. is it the nutmeg? the galbanum? i can't figure it. it smells a little like old mushrooms. man, i sure hope this resolves in the next phase. dry down: it has stayed the same. in all: i'm more than willing to age this and see how it changes. so many of the notes are pure win on me: the red musk, the vanilla, champaca, patchouli and honey. maybe some of those will come out to play in a month. for now, it'll just have to sit quietly in my box... ETA: it's about 20 minutes later and the scent has *totally* changed. now it's the sweet earthy quality of Violin Resin (aka Rosin) and i'm SOOOOO loving it!

this is for the resurrect, i never had the fortune of experiencing the original. just sayin'. in the bottle: i get the carnation coming on strong, but there's also a black musk note i'm picking up on that has me worried: that type of musk usually turns to wet cardboard on me. i hope it gets better. wet on skin: hmmm. i am getting that hint of vanilla creaminess that others mentioned. the musk seems to be behaving. for now. dry down: the musk from the bottle seems to be waaaay in the background. there, but behaving. whew! as for the rest, it's all spicy carnation and sweet vanilla, but the combo strangely smells like the old style Barbasol shaving cream we used to pelt each other with on Halloween night when i was a kid. so far, i am strangely into it, though. in all: i'm going to see what a bit of aging does. i have this feeling that given time this sent will become full-on yum, with no weird Junior High associations.

first off, i want to say that as a silversmith, i felt that it was pretty much necessary that i get a hold of this oil. my own relationship with the metal is complex, and the stakes are high we'll see how it measures up compared to my very intimate relationship with this most precious metal... in the bottle: i'm getting the strange but delicate scent of mallow, a sweet gentle whiff that reminds me of incense i used in high school so i'm betting that's the moonflower and a hint that peeks in that's almost like...dirty socks. i'd bet money that's the mugwort wet on skin: the moonflower dominates. i have to say i usually don't do florals except for very specific rose or ciolet blends. this one, so far, is holding my attention, though. dry down: this scent is a morpher, not from stage to stage, but from minute to minute. moonflower is the dominant note, but trails of pear come in for a moment then flits off again. something that reminds me of vanilla flower rears it's head (starwort? mallow?) then vanishes again. in all: beautiful, etheric and hard to capture in a still state, this oil perfectly reflects my darling metal. whether i'm a girl that can wear something this light is another question, but this scent encourages me to contemplate this question.

in the imp: yup. hazelnuts. sweet, roasted hazelnuts. wet on skin: more of the same, but yes, i too detect a faint aqua tippy-top note. normally i detest aqua, but so far, it's being held in check. dry down: yeah, this is so weird its like a CT blend. sugary roasted hazelnuts and a bowl of sea water nearby. in all: i'll hold on to this, but it's so odd i'm not sure i'll wear it.

in the imp: juniper, and what smells like the champagne note from last year's xmas offerings. wet on skin: much the same. like a boozy holiday punch, or strong martinis up with a twist. dry down: yeah, this is the champagne note. which, like the beverage itself, gives me a bad headache in all: glad i got to try something fun, but off to trade...

in the bottle, i found the grape to be pretty strong, more like a white grape wine than just grapes. the carnation was a good balance. wet on my skin, the sugared aspect that i know so well from such beloveds of mine as Faith, Hope and TKO started to show itself, which is what i was hoping for. on the dry down, it becomes fully the Sugared Carnation love i was hoping for, a perfect addition to the others i already mentioned several hours later, the sugared aspect has faded and the white grape mixes with the carnation to become a very soft skin musk. it reminds me, in fact, of a drug store perfume i wore 20 years ago in high school called "skin musk". in all: very little throw- and i slathered it- very light and delicate, but with a definitely specific presence. this is lovely all around, and am very happy with it

in the bottle this was very buttery and the eggnog spice aspect was very much present. once on me it became a total morpher. now, my experience with the various eggnog scents in the past has not been so great, as they always end up as just burnt sugar on me. this one, however, is staying just lovely. sweet and milky, it reminds of condensed milk in a big way. it's light, but doesn't fade, and the milk note doesn't sour on me the way milk Moon and some others have. in all: a perfect snuggly scent. i'll be getting me a bottle for sure!

in the bottle, this oil was exactly what i had expected: pumpkin latte all the way. once wet and on dry down, it became overwhelmingly cinnamon-pumpkin on me, heavy on the cinnamon. i know it's not listed in the notes, but it's there just the same. the throw is VERY strong, and the staying power is astounding. too bad it became far too overwhelming for me

2009 version, hot from the Lab in the bottle: mexican hot cocoa, straight up! wet on skin: much of the same, with a hint of brown sugar to sweeten the pot as it were. dry down: same! in all: a super yummy mexican cocoa of a scent, this is a foodie-lovers paradise! i could gnaw on my hand all the live long day. this is a good cousin to Great Revered Ones, but a winter version as opposed to GRO's harvest type. replace corn with cinnamon and brown sugar and you've got it. possibly need a second bottle!