viciousviolet

From Diabolus

 

 

This is a very disjointed scent, so appropriate for a perfume inspired by Lovecraft! The juniper seemed sharper to me than that scent usually does, and the lavender and verbena make it very edgy. In its way, it is very invigorating. It strikes me as a masculine blend, and isn't something I would normally wear, but my husband enjoys it a great deal.

 

PLEASE NOTE: This is not the same as the Picnic in Arkham scent named Arkham (formerly Arkham Revisited), and if that's the one you're looking for, those reviews are here.

Much like so many other BPAL scents, this one has to be experienced. There is no way to describe it other than this is a black rose. Slightly spicy, slightly musky, this is a sinister rose. This is not a rose you give a loved one, it is a rose sent to your nemesis, or strewn on a casket at a funeral. The amber and musk is so subtle its almost imperceptible, but it gives the rose a husky darkness that I have never experienced before in a rose scent. It is altogether lovely and unique.

Black Lotus is lovely. It has that same sense of “darkened tone” that Black Rose has. Normally I find lotus scents to be a little heavy and thick, similar to the cloyingness of jasmine, but the other notes cancel out any stickiness. It is a dusty, soft scent, again so true to its description. The amber and myrrh give it depth and warmth, and the sandalwood thins it out perfectly. To me it is incense in Set’s temple mixed with the scent of lotus blooms drifting down the Nile.

For the life of me, I cannot figure this one out. The only note I pick up individually is almond, though that is not the dominant scent. It is truly a very narcissism-inspiring perfume. It is very warm, deep and sensual, and whenever I wear it I feel lush and sexual. Like I am the living embodiment of luxury. It's a wonderful self-esteem booster somehow, and is delightful as a room scent and a perfume.

Try Old London. It's a dusky, dry tea rose. Very soft, feminine, and classical without being old-lady-ish.

This is a very interesting scent. A sweet floral over vanilla and cinnamon. Maybe rose geranium or gardenia? It started out heavy and sweet and dried down to a husky, sensual floral with a spicy kick.

ETA: I know that many people will disagree with me, but this is like Dragon's Milk with a spicier kick and a shot of sweet gardenia. This is a "dark" scent, without smelling literally dark. How to explain? It's the scent of a pampered, decadent, deviant, truly evil Goddess-Empress lounging on a fainting couch, surrounded by slaves and worshippers.

Very exotic, warm and sensual. The notes in the description are as follows: "the rich scent of buttered rum flavored with almond, bay, clove and sassafras." Though the notes as listed struck me as something that would be a strong, harsh combination, the final scent is soft, very buttery, and truly exotic. The rum isn't boozy, but rather sweet and lickable and the bay, clove and sassafras add a welcome amount of spice. I enjoy this scent on me, but I perfectly adore it on my husband.

Normally, lavender isn't my thing, but somehow Old Paris really worked with my body chemistry. It is a very elegant, light scent. This is a brilliant scent for wearing on a romantic evening.

From Sin & Salvation

 

 

A stern blend. Certainly the scent of corrupt emperors. It is very masculine and clean, with some notes like bay and rosemary that I always associate with men’s colognes. Too, too male for me, but delightful on my husband.

From Love Potions

 

 

A gorgeous chorus of white flowers with just enough exotic tea leaf scent to add a little come-hither. I feel youthful, innocent and virtuous when I wear it without any little girl silliness. It is a sophisticated innocence, if there is such a thing.

When it settles into my skin the scent is so dark and just plain wicked. It's the scent equivalent of the color blood red. I think every girl wants to feel a wee bit evil sometimes and when I do Lilith is what I wear for sure. It is sinister and seductive, the perfume of a succubus or evil enchantress.

I love Haunted. I adore both amber and darker musks, so this one really worked for me. The first whiff is deeper than the drydown, which is softer and more golden than the initial scent. All in all it is one of my preferred "evening" perfumes. My beau loves it on me, which makes it all the better!

From Bewitching Brews

 

 

Again, so hard to describe! I can see why this scent is named after a will o'wisp. I love the scent of true jasmine, but have rarely found a perfume containing jasmine that I really enjoy, as they often seem too thick and syrupy for me. This is an exception. The heliotrope really makes the scent sparkle, and it is both a soft and bright floral at the same time.

As Autumn24 mentioned on the Bust Lounge, BPAL has a way with roses. Normally, I am not a fan of the scent, as it puts me in mind of old ladies’ cold creams or the depressing scent of flowers at a wake, but the variety of rose scents that Black Phoenix has come up with has changed my mind about that flower. I never knew a rose could be as mysterious and dark as Black Rose, or as wet and succulent as Persephone’s rose, or as wicked and winey as Blood Rose, or as dry and lovely as Old London’s, and Eve is no exception. Eve is a crisp, light rose perfume with the tartness of apples and just a little bit of honey. I imagine this was the scent that Biblical Eve bore when she descended from the Tree of Knowledge. This is the perfect springtime floral.

There is a Baudelaire poem that I love that I found on the BPAL LiveJournal community a while ago. I had never read it before, and I found it so beautiful and moving.

 

Even when she walks she seems to dance!

Her garments writhe and glisten like long snakes

obedient to the rhythm of the wands

by which a fakir wakens them to grace.

 

Like both the desert and the desert sky

insensible to human suffering,

and like the ocean's endless labyrinth

she shows her body with indifference.

 

Precious minerals are her polished eyes,

and in her strange symbolic nature

angel and sphinx unite,

where diamonds, gold, and steel dissolve into one light,

shining forever, useless as a star,

the sterile woman's icy majesty.

 

Which BPAL perfume do you think fits this scent? I think that the Black Phoenix perfumes really do a perfect job of capturing feelings and personas (Arrrr, matey! I feel like a pirate every time I touch Anne Bonny!), and this poem conveys something I want to feel in a scent. Does anyone have any suggestions?

From Love Potions

 

 

Beautiful. Just plain beautiful. The scent is exquisite. A light floral and musk with pear, and the pear note is perfectly fresh and clean. A Sunday morning scent, IMO. One of my all-time favorites.

From Bewitching Brews

 

 

I found Eclipse to be a very cheering scent. The initial scent is a bit too strong for me, but on the drydown it is warm, golden, sweet, and has a very lively, happy and strangely comforting quality to it. To be blunt, it is a great scent to wear when you have PMS. Eclipse has reversed quite a few of my bad moods!

 

Edited to add, my sister is very sensitive to cinnamon, and this scent made her skin red and itchy. It did not have that effect on me.

A soft, very melancholy scent yet utterly lovely. It is gently floral and the drydown has a distinctive lavender note to it. Very peaceful and wistful. It does put me in mind of lost loves and regrets. Wear it when you're watching a sad film, and I daresay you won't stop weeping for a fortnight!

Later I found that the scent of this oil takes the edge of anger off of me. It's a bit hard to explain, but using the scent as an aromatherapy inhaler after an argument gets rid of that "red haze" for me. I feel calmer, more forgiving, and it gets my head cleared up enough to be rational again.

From Sin & Salvation

 

 

Again, this perfume is perfectly aligned with its description on the BPAL site. It is the scent of leather, hot, passionate and very sexual. I insisted that my husband wear this on the night of our second honeymoon, if you get my point. 8)

From Love Potions

 

 

A thick, sensual perfume. The visual I get from this scent is of a jaded, spoiled harem girl languishing amongst silks and cushsions on a fainting couch. There is a sharpness underneath the initial muskiness, and a definite sexuality to it. Perhaps it is the civet and musk? All in all, a very sexy mix. Almost too wicked for me!

Single Note

 

This perfume is simply identical to a true carnation flower. Just enough floral, just enough spice.

To me, this is a softer version of my beloved Haunted with a clear floral note added. I enjoy incense scents, and found the lilac in Bruja to be very clarifying and softening. Though I did not love it wet, straight out of the bottle, the drydown is sexy, smooth, and makes me feel deep and exotic. Gypsy-like.

 

I think the lilac is what would put one in mind of the little old lady scent. My gramma used lilac scented talc.

A wine-rose combination, very rich and bloody and sexual! Not as wet as Persephone, nor as dark and dry as Black Rose. The drydown on me was gorgeous, soft while still being robust. One of my favorite rose blends.

From Bewitching Brews

 

 

The name really does fit the perfume. It is a husky, dark scent with a wet sweetness. The clove is what makes the scent bitter, I think. All in all, it's perfect in the sense that it really does look, smell and feel like you're dabbing a little blood behind each ear. However, it will certainly be too much for someone without an appropriately vampiric nature.

From Sin & Salvation

 

 

True to the description, this scent is perfect for wearing to a party or a night at a dance club when you're just out to have a debauched good time. This is a very husky, feral scent. The grape isn't light, as in white grapes or a light wine, but rather huge, ripe juicy black and red grapes crushed into a dark, thick musk. Very much the scent that Dionysus himself would wear!