suki

in the imp: apple potpourri in that glade-room-spray kind way. hmmm wet on skin: picture the apple from SGA but with berries instead of snow backing it up. dry down: it's a strange fruit/floral combination that i can't quite wrap my mind around. i wish i could be more succinct, and normally i am, but this oil is a total indescribable experience for me. in all: fading away quickly and just leaving traces behind, this shares that trait with many of the Tarot oils, which makes sense to me because having a reading should give you the information you need and then just work itself into your psyche to digest as you need it. the Hanged Man also gives the feeling of limbo, and a need to stay where one is, not make any sudden moves. in that way, it is *perfect* for it's name sake.

in the imp: yep. whoever said grape-y was onto something. but not foodie at ALL, if you can puzzle that one out. wet on skin: the grape remains and some floral enters the picture, whoever said Gardenia has my vote. dry down: it reminds me specifically of being in my backyard in the late spring when i was little and the next door neighbor's pink magnolia tree would be in full bloom, with the fragrant petals fluttering by on a soft warm breeze. that's what this smells like. in all: a gorgeous floral, speaking as someone who doesn't care for too many florals! i have to thnk about how this relates to the Hermit, a card that speaks to me of something more austere and cold than this scent- but that won't stop me from wanting a bottle of this anyway!

in the imp: candle wax and some sort of spice-potpouri scent. very church-y as others have said. wet on skin: same. dry down: a light spice mix, subtle enough for daytime use. certainly suit the namesake card. in all: less complex and morph-y than other Tarots i've tried, i like this one, the spice in it has a very "mystical" feel to it, in that old-school church way, like going into a cathedral the day after christmas and getting just the left over remnants and what transpired the day before.

in the imp: very floral, with some herb note i can't yet place. i don't get the Dragon's Blood some have mentioned, but i hope that will change. wet on skin: yup, that's soapy, alright. and it has a hint of whatever the note in Pruno is that made it smell like Pine Sol and gave me a MASSIVE headache. here, however, it seems to be held in check so it's actually pleasant and not vomit-inducing. dry down:soapy heliotrope coupled with a very light version of the musk in Smut. in all: *extremely* odd scent, i find that when i think about it i feel repelled but then i want to sniff where i put the oil on anyway. there's a total contradiction with this oil, and i feel confused about that since the Emperor is all about stability. but despite all the weirdness, i do actually like it. for now, i will be satisfied with my imp and make a decision about a big bottle later... ETA: after a little more time has passed, this scent has lost all it's poor qualities and has become close kin to Smut. it's strange- it's smells like smut without being all sexy and dirty, like a daytime polite Smut equivalent. noting this change, i'm *definitely* seeking out a bottle!

in the imp: yup. almond alright, just as others said. it reminds me a LOT of the almond hand cream by Burt's Bees- a very sweet, very *strong* almond. wet on skin: same. i can see why some people might perceive there to be cherry in this blend. i don't think it's cherry, thouh- i think it's just the almond being sweet and marzipan-like. dry down: interesting. the almond fades away to just a background scent and what's left is a breath of that, plus a touch of spearmint, and a bare hint of orange essence. in all: complex and mysterious as the other Tarots, the High Priestess has a fitting scent- she comes on strong, states her business and leaves after her work is done, with only the slightest hint she was there at all. i LOVE it- i only hope i can secure a bottle!

in the imp: lavender, and strangely, a little chocolate. interesting! wet on skin: the lavender is a bit lighter now, retaining it's sweetness but losing the sharp quality that the herb frequently has. there's a nice "green" vibe to this. i don't get any aqua from this at all at this point. dry down: i'm getting a touch of the anise many folks have mentioned. to me it reads more like fennel- the basic component is the same, but this is more subtle, softer, better intergrated. normally i don't like anything in the anise-black licorice family, but this is really lovely. in all: as complex and hard to pin down as all the Tarots, The Magician is warm and green and herb-y all at the same time. i'll have to try it a few more times before determining if i need to track down a big bottle, but for magickal purposes as well as focusing on the spiritual aspects of this Major Arcana card, i'm glad i at least have a full imp to play around with.

i wore Smut on Halloween because i was sort of a sexy faery and we were at a big punky show, so it seemed pretty perfect. i tone it down for the family oriented holidays: i'll prolly wear something pretty and unusual but not over the top for Thanksgiving, like Tarot:Star or one of the Pumpkins from the Patch this year. for x-mas i'll wear one of the sugar cookies! for my birthday (five days after x-mas. sigh.) i'll go whole hog cause it's MY DAY, dammit! so i'll wear one of my favorites- Snake Oil, Crumpet Rebellion or Dragon's Milk, depending on my exact mood. and for new years? i'm thinking Red Lantern or Sugar Moon

Strength is definitely one of my personally favorite cards, so I've been very anxious to get to try it. That said, here we go: in the bottle: I'm certainly getting that "green" note some other folks mentioned. It's not mint to me, or even grass. It's more like...moss. Moss in a sun-dappled forest. In Autumn, after the air is cooled from a hot summer. wet on skin: that wonderful green remains. there's a slight tang present now, as if i'm eating a very tart green apple while sitting on some moss in that forest. but it's not foodie, just very "green". dry down: as with all the Tarot oils i've tried, this one morphs pretty dramatically once dry down is complete. the green is replaced with a sweet, but subtle resin. sort of like amber, but not like the BPAL amber i've smelled before, more like a natural from-the-tree sort of amber. definitely a "skin" scent- little throw, but very "warm" without being musky at all. in all: all the various aspects of sunshine in a bottle form, this isn't the intense "orange" i got from the Tarot:Sun oil. it really does read like the Strength a person gets from being in touch with our brightest star, and all the strength that implies. totally unusual, and a total keeper.

in the imp: thick orange marmalade and myrrh resin. wet on skin: same, but the orange is a bit more candy like now. dry down: the orange settles down a LOT. the myrrh becomes a bit more subtle and something that smells *vaguely* of frankincense comes out. this isn't strong, though, it's just adding some depth to the scent. in all: very 'incense-y' for sure, but not like many other BPAL incense combinations that seem to have more sweet resins in them, like copal and myrrh. this is lighter for a resin, if that makes sense. which means that if you fancy the incense notes but find them more for evening use, this might be a great "daytime" version for you.

having lived for some years in the deep deep South, i can say that CatHouse gets is right. the notes of bourbon vanilla, honeymusk and magnolia are strongest in this blend, and while those same notes in a fragrance might be on the heavy side, there's actually something rather light and fresh-smelling about this blend in the air- and on my linen! i got a Goblin Squirt as a gift from another Forumite and i feel really lucky for the chance to check this out. the only experience with the Post's atmosphere sprays was during the Summer Inquisition, and all those were on a bit too on the heavy end for me. CatHouse is much more what i want the air around me to smell like. in all: i think i'll use up this Goblin tester and see how sad i am when it's finished if i'm really as bummed as i suspect i'll be, then i reckon i'll get me a Big Un!

in the bottle: jasmine, gardenia, honeysuckle. wet on skin: the jasmine is becoming more of the dark Indian variety, and the Gardenia is just fabulous, as it usually is in BPAL blends! dry down: gardenia mixed with a touch of white coconut and tempered by a drop of Indian jasmine. in all: totally gorgeous, absolutely perfect for a scent based on this particularly mysterious Tarot card.

in the vial: sweet, resiny. i can't pick out any notes at this point. wet on skin: like eating a piece of citrus fruit while standing next to a summer bonfire, under a big warm evergreen, getting dry after playing in the rain. dry down:this smells magickal. more accurately, like something i might anoint myself with before performing magick. sweet, resinous, and totally yummy without being food-y, this is a total, total keeper. in all: i'll be getting a big bottle, alright- probably several!

in the vial: plums and...rain? wet on skin: yup- plum incense and ozone alright! dry down: plum perfume and ozone. in all: a bit more "perfume-y" than i like my scents, this one might be good for enabling your conventional perfume-loving friends. for me, though, i think i'll pass...

in the imp: sweet candy fruit wet on skin: more of the same- reminds me of this hippy solid scent my mom had when i was a baby- it was supposed to remind one of Hawaii or something. oh, the 70's. anyway, this does have that "tropical island" energy about it. sweet, fruity, and the florals have a strong gardenia emphasis. dry down: same, with the fruit outweighing what i believe to be the lotus bit. in all: this fades on me MUCH too fast- i found i had to spruce it up with a little Pink Moon to extend it's life. but it's a really divine scent, so even if i have to slather myself with it, it's a really beautiful one to have.

in the imp: it's...wow. spicy and warm and musky. definitely has a middle eastern vibe to it. wet on skin: the clove is coming out a bit more now, but the -saffron?- is bringing out a warmness i'm really digging. like cassia, but less potent. dry down:yup- saffron and amber win the day. spicy and warm, with a lighter than expected throw. i'm Arabic and i have to say, this oil has a really beautiful Arabic feel to it. i'd like to wear this wile walking on a chilly beach to feel a bit warmer.

in the imp: heavy aqua note, a touch of neroli in the back ground. wet on skin: all water note, allll the time. dry down: the water is joined by a bit of ozone- no sandal wood or neroli in site. in all: as i'm not a personal fan of aqua OR ozone notes and the bad plastic smell they become on me, this is NOT a scent for me in particular. *however*, if you adore the Lab's water and/or ozone notes, stock up on this one, because you'll love it all day long.

in the imp: sweet pear perfume. wet on skin: the pear is becoming less perfume-y, more like the fresh pear in the Perilous Parlor. which is nice! dry down: the rear is still sweet, and juicy, but it's as if someone took a fresh ripe pear and floated it in a Wedgewood Bowl of Lily of the Valley fragrance. in all: a possibly satisfying substitute for someone obsessed with Perilous Parlor. for me, the floral is a bit too cloying for my tastes...:shrug:

i must start by saying that the Sun is one of my absolute favorite Tarot cards. so much so that i have elements of that card tattooed on my body. so my hopes are high for this oil. let's see if it meets them: in the bottle: a beautiful orange citrus. yes, i'm getting a bit of that "herby" thing in the background others mentioned, but it's very subtle. the main thing is the bright, sweet orange, much like biting into the fruit on a warm summer day. wet on skin: much the same, i'm pleased to say. i also want to note at this point, that the orange here is very natural. this is not candy orange or the orange in natural cleaning products. this is just light sweet fruit. dry down: in the dry down, the oil has become more like orange zest, less like the fruit inside. i'm assuming it's the herby aspect coming a little more to the forefront. i personally get no heliotrope, amber or wood notes from this, but i really don't mind. in all: a light, natural citrus- this may well be the orange oil i've been waiting for! i find it to be warm, "sunny" and very cheerful. yes, Tarot:The Sun lives up to it's name sake, and i couldn't be happier.

in the vial: strong leather wet on skin: same. dry down: SAME! only the barest breath of musk at all- and i'm *really* searching for it. in all: i guess i was hoping for more musk in this blend to level it out. instead it seems to be more of a straight up leather single note. and if that's your thing, by all means- get several bottles of this. for me however, i think i'll pass.

in the vial: all sweet rose. wet on skin: more of the same, with a hint of powdered sugar dry down: sugared rose, very much like Hope. in all: it's a nice enough floral, but i guess i was hoping for something a bit more complex, a more challenging counterpart for ole Ichabod i feel personally that i'm satisfied enough with Hope that i don't need a botle of Katrina. but then again, i'm not hugely into florals, so if you are, getting a bottle of Katrina may very well be the perfect thing.

in the bottle: coffee, pine tar (must be the scorched fields!) and pancake syrup. interesting! wet on skin: more of the same, but i think the incense goo is kicking in- there's something VERY potent and kind of resin-y in here. dry down: this scent is *really* hard to pin down. i'm smelling something "fresh" and "green" but nothing like that is listed, so i'm guessing it's the incense note? it's not like any other BPAL incense i've smelled before, so it's just a guess. the coffee and syrup are in there, but they're really subtle and keep flitting in and out. in all: i don't know that i'll wear this much on it's own, at least not during these upcoming cold months. however, it blends *perfectly* with the Pancake Breakfast scent, so maybe that's what it's best for- the two balance each other really well. in that way, it reminds me of the complexity of the 4 Seasons inquisition and how the scents got better as you layered them with their various components.

in the bottle: syrup and butter! wet on skin: the boysenberry makes itself known, but doesn't overpower. yup- this is a pancake breakfast, alright! dry down: it has morphed slightly, leaving all traces of pancake and butter behind and what's left is Boysenberry Syrup. YUM! in all: definitely for the Foodies, like myself, but not overpowering either. the throw is actually pretty light, stays close to the skin, and really leaves me with the impression that i just enjoyed a great weekend breakfast with friends- nothing more or less.

i had suspected that the whole CT line was one i should avoid. i just don't do well with uncertainty, and my fears were confirmed with the two that i have tried. the first one started out quite pleasing- all resins and spice, right up my alley. but within 20 minutes, my skin turned it into manly-man cologne. the second go sounded intriguing, as hazelnut was mentioned by the person i swapped it from. but unfortunately, it was hazelnut mixed with whatever is in Pruno that makes it smell like Mr. Clean on me. instant headache even after scrubbing it off with water and soap, it stayed with me and it's only now, 45 minutes later, that i can say it's turned into something that doesn't make me want to chew my own arm off to flee. no, Chaos Theory just isn't for me.

first of all, i must say that i LOVE the illustration on this bottle- it is SO cute, and exactly what little Lilith must surely become with her particular set of parents! but i digress... in the bottle: fresh Snake Oil, cream tea and a hint of lemon. wet on skin: yup- that's Snake Oil and Dorian, alright! dry down: the Snake Oil is actually not overpowering in this blend. Dorian and the vanilla flower are balancing it nicely, creating something impish, graceful and a bit naughty in all: yummy, musky and sweet, i have to say, of the three "baby" oils, this one, to me, seems most adult- the one i'd mostly likely wear to a club when i wanted to make sure i got plenty of suitors to choose from as dance partners!

in the bottle: vanilla flower and the musks in Smut. wet on skin: wow. this is just superb. i'm getting hints of violet-which i LOVE-plus something almost lemony, and then hints of the musks coming in and out. dry down: while i maintain that the musks are straight out of Smut, make no mistake- this is it's own scent for sure. that lemon aspect continues to go in and out, dancing with the violet and the vanilla flower, they weave an intricate dance. and i adore it. in all: complex, beautiful and instantly lovable-just as it's namesake must surely be!