slave1

FAIRY WINE

In Bottle: Honey!

On Skin: Oh wow, there’s my honey!!! Full on!!! The red currants are next, a bit winey in tone and slightly tart, an interesting contrast. The dandelion is very soft, a grassy background note. I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about this scent, it is gorgeous!!! Bottle worthy for sure. I wish it was a bit stronger… but I’ll just slather. It’s a slightly floral honey scent with a sprinkle of wine. A perfect sunny day! You must try this! Light to medium throw, average wearlength.

FRUITCAKE

In Bottle: Fruity cakey yum!

On Skin: First I smell cake and spices… sweet spices and very soft. The fruit is also there, purely candied and sweet. This does smell like fruitcake… very much so… sticky and foody. It is moist but not drenched in rum… just a little kicker, a boozy note in the back. I really love this scent, it is confort in it’s finest. While I’m not a fan of fruitcake, I sure do love how it smells! This is the perfect holiday room scent and I feel festive right away! Everyone in the office wants to know what I’m wearing, and when I see Fruitcake, they’re like… someone brought a fruitcake?!!?! Kind of funny. A very fun and holiday filled scent, thank you so much to the lab for sending me this lovely little imp. Strong throw and average to long wearlength.

ROSE RED 07

In Bottle: Pungent rose

On Skin: Rose hates me, it’s a fact. It always turns so sharp and sour on me… to the point I need to wash it off. Why??? It makes me so sad. Here, it’s the same old story, rose hating me. But I can tell you, it is a true plush red rose, freshly picked… there’s even a little dirt on it offering a nice earthy note to contrast the sharp perfumey bloom. It stays very true to all the variations of this scent Beth has made over the years. Sadly, it is not for me, but those of you who love rose, this will be your holy grail. Very strong throw and average wearlength on me.

MIDWINTER'S EVE 07

In Bottle: Plum gum

On Skin: Plum is one of those notes that just adopted me. I never ever thought I’d list it as a favorite note, but there are so many scents I LOVE that have plum in them, that I’ve come to accept it as a winner. Here, it is very sweet, almost like plum bubblegum. Which as I look back at the forum, is exactly how I described it the first time I tried it several years ago. So… it hasn’t changed much in this formulation. I also still see it as being a candle scent. Very warm, juicy and sweet… absolutely purple in feel. This and Snow White are probably my 2 favorite Yules this year. It has a medium throw and a fairly short wearlength.

JOLASVEINAR 07

In Bottle: Dirt and cake

On Skin: Odd combination right? The cake note is strongest on me at first, and then the mosses and dirt take over. I don’t really smell pine in this years version, like I did in last years. No, I’m wrong… here comes a bit of pine, not as strong as last years, but in there for sure. I think it’s the snow note… The florals are light and I wouldn’t really call this a floral blend. It is sweet and dark, and very outdoorsy… with a random splatter of cakey goodness. An outdoor foody blend… comforting in feel. Not one I’d wear as a perfume, but would like to use as a room scent. Fairly decent throw and long wearlength.

KRAMPUS 07

In Bottle: Bitter dusty leathery musk

On Skin: This smells almost exactly like last year’s version. Pure dark musky leather. So sexy and naughty. The red musk takes on an almost “blood” note. Seriously, you know the smell of drying blood? I get that here a bit. Not in an awful gross way at all, if anything it just adds to the naughtiness of it all. The sweet musk and leather keep it good in my book. I really loved last years blend and this one just about lives up to it. I think last years was a tad more deep on me, whereas this one is a little dustier. Still, a gorgeous dark and slightly sinister scent. Strong throw and long wearlength.

ANGERONALIA

In Bottle: Sweet floral

On Skin: This is quite a pretty white scent. I smell the sweet gardenias right away, they go very creamy on me. I can smell my favorite honey, but it is very well blended with the other notes. Actually, all the other notes mix in so well, I really can’t place them all individually. This is a good thing in patchoulis case since it hardly ever works on me. I would call this a sweet floral, with a light tart fruity touch… but not a “fruity” scent really. The background is soft and sensual… a light blanket of snow that doesn’t feel cold… movie snow! Very pretty and a nice variety for a floral scent, also very gender neutral. Light to medium throw, average wearlength.

BLACK LACE

In Bottle: Vanilla floral

On Skin: I don’t see florals listed as a note here, but this scent is very helivly floral on me. The vanilla is second in line, really sweetening the scent and making it smooth and creamy. The florals are sharp, making me think there must be some form of rose in here, but then they quickly fade and I am left with beautiful smokey and resinous vanilla love. The funeral description fits perfectly. I picture an antique black lace hanky… scented with this. The smokey incense is beautiful, maybe that’s where the florals were coming from, a floral incense. The musk is dark and exotic and the cognac is a nice rich boozey note that lies at the bottom of the scent. This scent is very perfumey and very feminine… and perfectly Victorian. I have a bunch of Victorian inspired clothing and this scent is begging to be worn with those outfits. The cotton and sweetness of the scent reminds me of Monsterbait Underpants. This is totally “Black Lace Underpants”. The scent finally mellows out to mostly vanilla and musk… a perfect scent for me. So happy I ordered 2 bottles. This is a huge favorite for me. Light to moderate throw. Average to long wearlength.

MISTLETOE 07

In Bottle: Pungent herbal pine

On Skin: I get a very sharp piney herbal note from this, just like fresh cut mistletoe. It smells exactly like the last version of this scent. Very much “Christmas”. It brings to mind all the happiness and décor of the holidays. It reminds me of when I was a kid and my family had just brought home our tree and we were all full of excitement and pulling out the boxes of décor. The entire house smelled like the fir tree. This is another scent I’d love as a room scent, and not one I’d wear as a perfume. I am so impressed by the way Beth’s blends can evoke such great memories and feelings. Strong throw and long wearlength.

THE PEACOCK QUEEN 07

In Bottle: Rose

On Skin: Pure severe rose. For some reason the 05 version of this scent worked on me somewhat. This years blend does not. It is extreme tart, sour rose and even makes me eyes tear up a bit. I keep thinking someone has brought in a bouquet of roses… not a bad thing at all, but not a scent I like on my skin. Anyone who loves rose must have this scent, it and Rose Red were made for you guys. I’ll stick with the sweet innocent Snow White. Strong throw and long wearlength.

THE FRUIT OF PARADISE

In Bottle: Tart pomegranate

On Skin: Ooo! A true pomegranate scent! Wow! So tart, bright, red and juicy. It is dark and has a perfumey edge to it. The fruit is ripe and dripping with it’s juices. I want to eat and drink it! Slightly powdery after dry down, but still gorgeous. This is a great oil to wear as well use as a room scent. It has that same sweet powdery candy feel Snow White has but amped and more tart. I love this and am sad the wearlength is pretty short. About 10 minutes into wearing it it has almost completely faded. I need to make a lotion and body spray of this to layer and enjoy all day. Light throw and short wearlength.

DIWALI

In Bottle: Dirt and incense

On Skin: Wow, what an interesting combination of notes. It covers so many bases! Foody, woody, spicy, incensey…. The fruits are nice, not like a tropical punch of fruit salad at all, just notes that blend and compliment the scent well. I wouldn’t call this a fruity scent at all. The coconut and almond milk give it a gorgeous creaminess. The other notes don’t stick out enough for me to say, “I smell the cashew.. or clove… or rasins…” As the scent develops, it’s foody qualities fade and it becomes much more about the woods and incense. I really like that there are no many notes, yet they meld and make a very significant blend that isn’t really dominated by any note. The closet blend that resembles it is Hungry Ghost Moon, but I do think HGM is more on the fruity side whereas Diwali is more on the incense side. It has a moderate throw and an average wearlength.

HALOA 07

In Bottle: A berry tart

On Skin: The grapes come out first… very sweet and a little over-ripe. Then I smell the offertory cakes, giving the sweet tart crust feel. The incense gives a sweet smoky background, but there is something that is just “off” to me. Something I didn’t get from last years blend. Is the olive leaf going funky on me? Last years blend worked on me, this one doesn’t really. It also fades super fast. It turns into a slightly herbal incense blend with grapes in the distant background. Oh well, still not a bad blend, but I think my bottle from last year will be enough for me. Light throw and short wearlength.

LICK IT ONE MORE TIME

In Bottle: Sweet peppermint

On Skin: Ah the holidays. Here they are… in their candy splendor. This makes me want to suck my wrist. Yes, my wrist is beginning to resemble a candy cane more and more by the minute. The scent is so convincing! Sweet, minty… dipped in a vanilla coating keeping the mint from being too sharp or harsh. Yum! I don’t normally wear mint scents, but this one just screams festiveness. It’s perfect for a holiday party or a gathering around the fireplace. This scent is very cold, and it actually numbs my wrist a little. Very fun. It is heavier on the peppermint compared to the last 2 versions, it’s not as sweet. But I love the chill it gives. It would also make a fabulous holiday room scent. Strong throw but short to average wearlength.

GINGERBREAD POPPET 07

In Bottle: Pure spice

On Skin: This scent is super fresh moist gingerbread. This is not a batch of cookies that have been sitting around for a week after someone baked them and brought them into the office, this is a just opened oven containing a big batch of healthy sized gingermen ready to come out and tempt you with their soft centers. I smell all the spices, the nutmeg especially. The ginger is full force, this scent really seems edible. Never has a scent been so dead on. I don’t like to wear ginger as a scent, but this is a must have scent for me as a room spray. It’s instantly warm, inviting and festive. Very yummy!! As the scent develops, the cinnamon begins to overpower the nutmeg and the scent seems very spicy, almost hot. It finally settles into a more spicy scent, rather than a sweet foody scent. Still, it’s quite delicious and anyone who likes spices and gingerbread needs multiple bottles of this. Strong throw, average to long wearlength.

SNOW WHITE 07

In Bottle: Candied berries and light florals

On Skin: Snow White has always been my favorite of the traditional BPAL Yule blends. It is just pure happiness. It is so sweet and soft, so feminine and pretty. This years formula stays true to form and I can’t tell the difference between the previous years blends. The berries are warm and powdery, sweet like candy. The blooms are hearty yet coated in sugar, and the snow is light, just a sprinkle starting to melt under the winter afternoon sun. A blend that is both warm and chill in feel. No matter when I smell Snow White, I am instantly put in a good mood and feel like it’s the Christmas season. Love it, love it, love it! I can never get bored of Snow White. Light to medium throw and average wearlength.

EGG NOG 07

In Bottle: Creamy boozy egg nog

On Skin: Oh yeah, this has a “wang” to it… somebody was very generous with the rum and brandy this year. But… wait… after about 2 minutes this scent totally sinks into my skin. I mean I can barely tell I put it on. Nooo!!! Come back!! It is so strong in the imp, it must have some staying power… So I reapply. The cream and sugar are swet and pure bliss. The nutmeg makes me salivate and crave to drink this whole imp staright. Watch out. Ok, not going to do that, don’t worry. But… there it goes. Fades within 2 minutes. It does leave behind a trace creamy note, but nothing like the gorgeous foody bliss it started out as. The booze has completely vanished. After 10 minutes I smell nothing, not even the vanilla. *whimper*. While I LOVE the scent, I’m heartbroken it has no plans of sticking around long enough on me for anyone including myself to enjoy it’s godliness. Light throw and shortest wearlength I’ve ever encountered in BPAL.

CHRISTMAS ROSE

In Bottle: Winter florals

On Skin: Very light and gentle. A sweet floral blend that is just an echo in the chill winter air. Remember this is NOT a rose scent, some people are confused by the scents name, but it is a hellebore scent, not rose. A fragile scent, just peeking out and hiding away from the cold. Powdery and white in feel, like a soft blanket of snow. It smells quite sugary, like a candied bloom. It has the creaminess of gardenia without being overwhelmingly cloying or overly sweet. For anyone wanting a subtle floral blend, this scent should be perfect for you. It’s very light and has the “come in close to smell me” effect. Several people have mentioned a effervescent note and I too smell that. Quite interesting. Like a sweet floral champagne. Very light throw and average wearlength.

THE SNOW STORM

In Bottle: Fir tree

On Skin: This smells like outdoors at Christmas time to me. So beautiful and bright. The clean sweet fir note from the trees, the crisp clean ozone of the snow and chill air, and the woodsy leaf notes from the cedar. The mint is light and just adds to the clean ozone note. I agree that it reminds me of Skadi, and Skadi is my favorite tree/winter scent. Outdoorsy yet still sweet and wearable. I also smell a sweet berry note that helps the scent from being too sharp. A gorgeous winter blend and perfect for both wearing and using as a room scent. Moderate to strong throw and long wearlength.

EL DIA DE REYES

In Bottle: Chocolate and spice

On Skin: YUM! Oh my god! Usually I am not a huge fan of chocolate scents, just because they have a tendency to smell artificial. This is not the case here, this smell like a big chocolate mocha with foam and cinnamon on top! It is DELICIOUS! I want a bottle of this, a lotion of this, a soap of this and a tub of this to bathe in. Pure yum!! The chocolate is very sweet and very creamy, it smells more like milk chocolate than cocoa. Cocoa usually tends to be a little more bitter and powdery on me. As the scent sinks in, it does become a little powdery, but stays very sweet, probably due to the tasty brown sugar giving it an extra sugar rush. After about an hour of wear, the chocolate has drifted to the back and it smells more like coffee. Still quite tasty, but a little more bitter and faint. I still love it. It has a low to moderate throw and average wearlength.

CHANUKKIYAH

In Bottle: Sweet and delicious

On Skin: Wow, bottle worthy! This reminds me a bit of my Brown Sugar and Fig lotion, which I LOVE. I smell the fruits, the gorgeous amber, and deep honey, and also a brown sugar/caramel note. It is so pretty! Sweet and foody but not sickly sweet, yet it’s also sexy and sultry. Yes a perfume can be both! It is so warm in feel and it instantly comforts me, yet it also kind of makes me feel like a sex-cat. Hell yeah, this scent is multiple bottle worthy. I loves it! I do wish it was a bit stronger, but it just means I’m going to slather so no biggie. 5 stars from me!! Light to moderate throw and average wearlength.

NOVEMBER

In Bottle: Pine and ozone

On Skin: The pine screams out of this at me. Very very sweet and sharp, almost like a pine single note. I don’t really get leaves though, I get pine needles. With a nice crystal clean snow ozone note. Very crisp and cold. I love how this scent is gender neutral, and how the feeling it invokes makes me want to pull a blanket around myself and cuddle with my man. It feels likes winter, it feels cold, it feels like a true shiver running all through me. Pine scents don’t work on me, but I would LOVE this as a light room scent, especially since I have an artificial tree and miss the smell of a real tree. It has a strong throw and like most pine scents on me, a long wearlength.

LA BAFANA

In Bottle: Candy!

On Skin: Yummy! I smell the sugared sweet fruits of Sugar Skull, mixed with caramel. The lily is almost non-existent on me, I wouldn’t know it was in there if I didn’t read the description. The violet is sweet and purple, very soft and quiet. There is a dusty kind of funky note in the back that isn’t liking me, but that note vanishes pretty quick luckily. A candy foody scent for sure, with just a smidge of floral and smoke. It’s quite pretty and tasty, I just wish the blend would last longer on me. It’s has a very very light throw and the wearlength is super short.

NOCHE BUENA

In Bottle: Herbal floral

On Skin: Very heavy floral, and very purple in feel. The florals blend very well and are dominant with plumeria leading the way, and the sage offers a nice sharp herbal slice through the sweet blooms. The incense is also light, more in the background, but keeping the scent from being cloying or too floral. I am not a huge fan of florals, but I do like this one. It has depth and doesn’t overwhelm me in a clowd of flowers. A perfect balance and very nice feel. A harmonious floral blend with a very feminine side. Moderate throw and average to long wearlength.

EL AMOR Y LA MUERTE

In Bottle: Clove and resin

On Skin: Very spicy, the clove jumps out at me. The resins are sweet and so velvety soft. I don’t get the Voodoo Queen so much as some people have said.. I can see similar elements, but I LOVE Voodoo Queen, and this one doesn’t do much for me. I think it’s because the clove is so very dominant and clove tends to go metallic spice on me and I don’t like it. I do love the perfumey side of this scent, and wish it could be more dominant. The patchouli is clean and actually works on me, horray! The orris, benzoin and opoponax are freaking gorgeous, they’re notes that almost always are pure love on me. The red sandalwood, is tame and kept in check. The rose is slightly sour, but it helps give a perfumey edge. I do like the scent, I just wish the clove would hide a bit more. Moderate throw and average wearlength.