slave1

BELTANE 2008

In Bottle: Earthy floral

On Skin: The earthiness of this scent is beautiful, it really tames the florals and provides such a nice base. The woods seem most dominant followed by the herbs and then the florals. I truly feel this wraps up so many aspects of Spring. As the scent develops the herbs really start to amp on me, very menthol like and cool. The resins combine with the woods and really add a soft feel that makes this scent sturdy and deep. The florals seem to be the lightest overall, just pretty background notes. Other versions of Beltane have been all about the floral whereas here it’s much more about greens and freshness. It’s a very pretty scent, but not really me. Still, I’ll keep the imp I have. Light throw and short wearlength.

UPA UPA

In Bottle: Creamy coconut happiness

On Skin: Ok, here we go. This is my favorite bar scent by far. Holy crap it’s good. I want to drink my wrist... very Pina Colada!! This is tropical heaven in a coconut shell glass. The coconut is super dominant, like in your face “Hi, I’m coconut!” dominant. The pineapple is very sweet, ripe and yummy with just the right amount of tartness to break through the think creamy tone of the drink. The vanilla adds gorgeous depth to the creamy aspect, and the spiced rum is the perfect base that brings this beautiful blend together. It’s not too boozy and it really makes me feel like I’m on a vacation. The only down side is it does have that powdery feel that coconut blends tend to have on me if I inhale them too deeply. Still, my favorite in this series for sure. Light to moderate throw, short to average wearlength.

In Bottle: Fresh and Asian

On Skin: The bamboo is strongest in this blend and reminds me of the many Asian themed scents BPAL has done over the years… that very clean and bright feel. The palm frond adds to that and the hibiscus offers some sweet floral to bring it down to earth a notch. Still, it’s very vibrant and I’m thinking too sharp on me. It makes me tear up a bit. If you like bright sharp scents, go for it. I think a light spray of it would make for a nice room scent, but it’s not something I personally would go for in a perfume. The trhow is crazy strong and it lasts a very long time on me.

TE PO

In Bottle: Almond lime

On Skin: I smell the cherry tone of the almond right away and combined with the actual black cherry, this scent has a very “cherry” feel. But the tart citrus lime cuts through it and keeps it from being sickly sweet. The orange water is light, just as I thought it would be. The rum is more dominant than the vodka, I think because the sugar syrup softens the harshness vodka can have. But as the scent develops it becomes more and more boozy on me. Soon the vodka wins out over the rum and combined with the mint makes for quite a sharp note. Overall, this scent is a fruity boozey scent with some spice thrown in. Not too sure where the spice is coming from… maybe it’s Jamaican “Spiced” rum? But yeah, a spice note is in there for sure. Average throw and long wearlength on me.

SCREECHING PARROT

In Bottle: Sweet and tart

On Skin: Now this is my dream tropical drink! Yum!!! It has my favorites, rum, apricot, pineapple and pomegranate. All smell very true to their notes and make this delicious sweet fruity and festive! I want a huge glass full! The grapefruit then kicks in and gives a sour bitter contrast, and the lime is super tart and slices right through! The brandy adds to the warm booziness and makes it even more divine. And underneathe it all, a nice spike of ginger that gives just the right amount of spice. This scent is tropical beverage all the way, it’s not shy and it’s totally in your face. This to me is the ultimate Tiki Bar scent. Now… not sure I want to smell like a drink, but wow it sure does smell tasty! Strong throw and average wearlength.

GOLDEN WAVE

In Bottle: Bright orange happiness

On Skin: The tone of this scent is very much bright orange/yellow. The citrus screams out and makes me wince a little because it is super sour. The fruits here a little under-ripe… this isn’t a sweet drink at all. The gin is minty and fresh and the tonic gives it a nice effervescence. This is a perfect pick me up scent and completely energizes me. Here it is 4:45pm at work, I’m tired and want to go home. I smell this and all of a sudden I am AWAKE! Very warm, very bright, very summer day. This is a perfect scent for a party in the backyard and to get you in the spirit of summer. Strong throw and average wearlength.

In Bottle: Extreme ash and smoke

On Skin: Ashy/Smokey scents are my least favorite. This is not doing well on me. The ash is very dominant and very dark and sooty. The palm does offer a very light clean tone that peeks out from the background. It becomes a bit stronger as the scent develops. Still, it remains very smokey and not me at all. I have to wash it off… I have that whole campfire feel about me now. Strong throw, unsure of wearlength.

MOANA

In Bottle: Sweet and salty

On Skin: This is a very unique scent. You can smell the salty sea air, the aquatic ocean waves and blended in with it all is a sweet green tone, very fruity and floral. This scent has an extreme ozone and aquatic feel. The tone is green/white/blue, very much tropical and very much the big sea. I like how fresh it is, very clean. I could see this being unisex and liked by many. It’s pretty but not really my style. It has an average to strong throw and fairly long wearlength.

TUPAPAU

In Bottle: Very light floral

On Skin: This is the faintest scent of the collection so far. On me it’s just a whisper of floral and woods. The sandalwood is very clean and white in feel. It has a kind of commercial perfumey quality to me, bordering on hairspray. It feels like a scent for an older more conservative woman, which is not me at all. There is an earthy note but it is overshadowed by the florals. It’s a floral scent but doesn’t feel like a lush tropical blend to me. Not my favorite sadly… Light throw and short to average wearlength.

RANGOON RIPTIDE

In Bottle: Sweet powdery and fruity

On Skin: This scent is a blend of sweet and sour. I smell the tart orange, the splash of sticky sweet pineapple and the heavy passion fruit. The raspberry is stunning and I can almost taste it. The run is the perfect base and brings all the fruits together into a playful party. This scent has a dark feel and is heavier than some of the other “bar” scents. I think it feels like more of an evening scent. For tropical drinks, rum is my favorite liquor of choice and I really want to drink this scent. It’s not exactly a scent I would wear a lot, but it would be great to wear to a party or luau to fit the theme. It has a very light throw and super short wearlength on me.

OPUHI

In Bottle: Sweet gentle floral

On Skin: This is the lightest, most delicate tropical scent I’ve come across. It is absolutely beautiful. The ginger scared me off, but as a blossom it is a totally different note. No spice or typical ginger feel at all. Just a very sweet yummy floral. I think fans of Antique Lace might like it for it’s simple yet effective beauty. This is a perfect scent that feels like a relaxing mellow vacation. While it is tropical, it isn’t in your face or over the top. It’s is subtle and I love it for that. I would love to also use this as a linen spray since it is so relaxing and comforting, yet clean and fresh. A perfect summer scent. I wish I had gotten a bottle. Very light throw and short wearlength.

BLUE FIRE

In Bottle: Sour fruits

On Skin: This is a very tart, fruity scent. The lemongrass is clean and sharp, the papaya is fresh and not quite ripe and the blueberries add a darker sweet tang to the blend. The gin adds to the sharpness with it’s telltale pine note. This scent starts out very sour but mellows out a bit. It still provides a bright stimulating “wake up” feel. It’s a bit sour and sharp for my taste but an interesting scent none the less. Medium to strong throw, average to long wearlength.

THE ROBOTIC SCARAB

In Bottle: Metallic leather

On Skin: Oh yeah, my husband will be wearing this. I absolutely love leather notes on him, and mixed with the cool ozone like scent of the metal, we have a winner. He loves clean scents and this one has a gorgeous crystaline feel to it. A bit soapy, but with a refined cologne edge. The frankincense gives a nice dark contrast. The anise gives a unique sweet and spicy side and the oils add a smooth transition between all the notes. It is pretty sharp which I hope doesn’t scare my husband. I think if applied lightly it is a very elegant scent. A masculine scent for sure. It has a very strong throw and average to long wearlength.

STIMULATING SASSAFRAS STRENGTHENER

In Bottle: Very light rootbeer

On Skin: This is sooooo sweet and tasty! It’s like root beer and crème soda mixed. The sassafras is the obvious dominant note. The vanilla is creamy and the oak is woody and deep. The butter is nice and adds to the deepness without being sickly or heavy. The onycha is dark and resinous but not overwhelming, it has a nice stickyness. I was worried this scent would be overly sweet and too rootbeery, but it is actually lovely and not strictly rootbeer. It’s has many levels and is so unique and captures interest right away. If you wear this, I’m sure you will get comments because it’s unlike anything anyone else might be wearing around you. It has a light throw and average wearlength. A hit with me for sure!

THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM

In Bottle: Sweet, smokey woods

On Skin: Ooohhh… so yummy. The teakwood is that gorgeous creamy blonde note that I have come to love as my favorite woody scent. The black vanilla is very sweet but also dark and deep. The tobacco adds a very smokey note and the oak offers the perfect solid base. This scent does have a more masculine feel, to me it’s like Glowing Vulvas male counterpart, sexy, sweet and drop dead fabulous. It makes me want to lean in, snuggle and maybe sneak a nibble. It’s feels like velvet and is quite warm. I love this scent and know even though I’m a woman, I’ll wear it when I want my more aggressive “masculine” side to show. Absolutely lovely. Medium throw and short to average wearlength.

DRAGON MOON 2008

In Bottle: Spicy resins

On Skin: This is a dark beautiful resinous scent. Nothing shy about it, very in your face resins. Even with the dragon’s blood, I don’t get a red tone from this, it’s more a dark golden brown feel. The resins are warm, the herbs and plant notes are cool. A gorgeous contrast. This scent is so well blended, it’s very hard for to pull individual notes. It’s more a distinct two sides: the warm resinous side and the cool herbal side. It is very harmonious and I can’t say that any note is overwhelming, they all play their own part. It is sexy, exotic and I think it would be lovely on a man or woman. Overall, a very strong scent that makes a statement. Strong throw and long wearlength.

L'INVERNO SOAP

Packaging: Beautiful, label is on pic upside down though. !

Here is pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0684.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0692.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0693.jpg

Soap it self is a light blonde color.

Dry scent: Outdoorsy but so very mild. One thing I've noticed from these soaps is how refined they are. Nothing is loud, brash or overwhelming. They are mink coats you slip into and feel luxurious and totally pampered by. Here, the scent is crisp but also warm. The fir and cedar are woody with a nice sweet sappy tone to them. The white musk is very toned down, not soapy at all like it can be sometimes, just soft and clean. The sandalwood shows itself with that perfect velvety texture that just makes you want to cuddle it. The white ginger offers the lightest spice and combined with the neroli really warm the scent and give it a golden undertone. The eucalyptus is very light , just enough to give the scent the contrasting cool note. The note I don't really smell is the Winter Plum, but it may be part of the sweet undertone I get from the neroli and ginger. Overall a very pretty scent and perfect for winter.

Wet: Will edit when tried

LA PRIMAVERA SOAP

Packaging: Beautiful! Here is pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0684.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0690.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0691.jpg

Soap it self is a light blonde faint sage color.

Dry scent: Citrus yum! Ok this is very subdued and refined. This is not screaming citrus, it's gracing you with it's prescence. The lemon peel and orange blossom are sweet with just a light tartness. The sugar cane is gritty and sweet, the tuberose is feminine and also a bit tart. The bergamot adds just the right amount of greenery and herby feel, it compliments the scent perfectly. And the oakmoss comes in with a earthy gorunding base that brings the whole blend together. This is an absolute joy to smell. It awakens me yet makes me feel like a million dollars. It is the definition of living life in warm luxury. It's refreshing like a big glass of lemonade on a hot day. I will use this for sure.

Wet: Will edit when tried

L'AUTUNNO

Packaging: Beautiful! Here is pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0684.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0688.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0689.jpg

Soap it self is a light tan color.

Dry scent: Sweet and foody. YUM! The almond is dominant at first, sweet cherry nutty. The fig gives it a dark and sticky fruitness, I can actually feel the fruit and taste it. The honey is also sweet (sensing a theme here?) and makes this scent to die for. My favorite so far. The patchouli is not heavy at all, just a darker resinous note that gives a great base to the scent. This scent is very warm and Autumn like, and is again, pure luxury. I would love to curl up with this on a chilly day and let it hug my skin. Eeek! I think I drooled on the soap!

Wet: Will edit when tried

L'ESTATE

Packaging: Beautiful! Here is pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0684.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0685.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v17/icem...ff/IMG_0687.jpg

Soap it self is a light golden tan color. It is SUPER soft and cuts like butter.

Dry scent: Warm, sweet and deep. I smell the beezwax, it's super sweet and waxy. The vanilla heightens the sweetness factor. The golden amber gives it it's warmth and a velvety feel. The carnation is also soft and offers a nice floral spike that balances the sweetness. The cardamom is probably the lightest note, a very delicate spice that helps warm the scent. I also get a bit of booziness. Yes, a kind of fruity wine note. I'm not sure where it's coming from but it's very delicious and adds to the decadent feel of this scent.

Wet: Moderate suds, very silky texture. The scent is very light... only downfall. I love strong scents... But it is still beautfiul and makes me feel like a queen. After rinsing and drying off there is no oily or waxy residue, just a faint scent that sticks close to my skin. Mostly I smell the carnation, with a bit of beeswax. This soap is absolute luxury. I savored every bit of it and can't wait to try the others.

WORM MOON

In Bottle: Dirt to an extreme

On Skin: I am so mad I didn’t order this shirt. This has to be one of the best labels EVER! Anyway, on to the scent… the dominant note is dirt. Massive amounts of earth. Then I smell the sweet dark red fruits… actually quite pleasant. The florals are very pretty, not overwhelming at all. The blood note is also sweet, I’m thinking Dragon’s Blood. The wood and dirt notes are dusty but also quite moist… odd to imagine I’m sure, but that’s how they smell to my nose. As far as Beth’s dirt/earth scents, this is one of my favorites since it is so complex and has so many levels. It’s actually quite pretty and feminine. I think I’ll be wearing it a lot! Light throw and short to average wearlength.

HEXENNACHT 2008

In Bottle: Musky outdoors

On Skin: The fir is the dominant note, but this isn’t a crisp fir, this is a soft and heavy fir. It has the smoke of incense drifting around it, and the dark night air. It is indeed a scent of darkness, lit by a glowing red fire. The colors it brings to mind are dark green, red and black. The amber gives a gorgeous resinous velvet base and helps soften the fir’s sharp needles. There is a sweet spice in the background and a light herbal note. I love that this scent is both cool and hot. A blend full of contrasts. A medium throw with a long wearlength on me.

APRIL FOOL

In Bottle: Dry floral

On Skin: The rose amps quite a bit here, very sharp and sour. The lemon blossom adds to that effect as does the tangerine. Rose, lemon and tangerine… yep a whole lotta sour. The parsley is very green and herbal while the huckleberry offers a sweet and fruity note. The nicotiana is what brings the whole scent together. It’s the base and is darker than the other notes. It softens the edges and makes this scent quite wearable. While it is too much of a rose scent for me to wear, I’d love to smell it on someone else or use it as a room or linen spray. Medium throw and long wearlength.

TIKI KING

In Bottle: Dark resins and coconut

On Skin: Oh my god heaven! Here I thought Tiki Queen would be a “me” scent, but I like Tiki King on me even better!!! I am a total sucker for coconut and usually white coconut works on me best, but I think the mix of notes here fit the black coconut and make it divine on me. This scent is actually not that masculine at all, despite the name. It’s very deep and sweet with just a slice or tart lemon dashing through. The bark gives it a deep earthy note, and the black musk is freaking gorgeous. I want to rub this all over me… it’s like a very exotic suntan lotion scent. This has to be one of the most amazing BPAL scents I smelled in a long time. It is like the beach at night, sexy and inviting. I just want to curl up with this and smile. I think I will be needing more and this will be my “Go-To” summer scent. Strong throw and long wearlength.

MARAE

In Bottle: Sweet and planty

On Skin: This scent to me has a very green and white tone. I smell the florals, but I also smell their greenery. When I was in Tahiti for my honeymoon, I noticed the air almost always smells like orchids and tiare. I get that from this scent right away, very fresh and very vibrant. The gardenia is sweet and milky and compliments the other florals very well. The incense is very light, just a nice subtle resinous base that softens the blooms and makes this a unique floral scent. Overall, a pretty scent but not as vanilla heavy as I’d hoped. Still, it reminds me of Tahiti and that’s a damn good thing! It has a light throw and short to average wearlength.