metaldog32

Wow it has been truly FOREVER since I've done a review. Gosh..way too long. Anyway..perhaps in another post I'll fill in all the blanks but for now I'm going to keep this short. Olokun is a frimp compliments of the Lab that I just blindly picked..had no idea what the notes were.. I pretty much used the whole frimp on me today mixed with some unscented body lotion to get the full throttle effect. I pretty much got a clean (think softly aquatic/clean/touch of watery floral) that could be great on a guy or girl. Throw was soft and lasting power probably a good 4+ hours..still has a quiet presence on my skin. It is hot and humid in the Garden State so it could be a good warmer weather scent. It kind of reminds me a bit of Sea of Glass in the dry down and I happen own a bottle of that so perhaps not something I would purchase outright but nice enough to try. Truth be told I have more fragrance than I know what to do with... ..variety is the spice of life as far as fragrance goes.

I bought a 5ml because I love Klimt’s work; he was one of my parents’ favorites. Also keep in mind that the 5ml bottle I have is at least 2 years old..I have A LOT of fragrance and well I took a hiatus from buying BPAL due to some personal and financial challenges. Initial sniff from bottle: I get the citrus with a tinge of something dry..could be the pepper. I typically like the idea of pepper but it really depends on my skin chemistry..sometimes it’s just too aggressive and it just overwhelms everything else in its path. Applied wet on skin: It’s the citrus with the amber and a grit which has to be the vetiver..when I first tried it I felt that the pepper was just too damn dominant..eclipsing everything with a dryness but this 2nd time around it seems to be a bit more friendly with the warmth of the amber and the wisps of citrus that weave in. Interestingly enough this doesn’t waft out on me..the throw is actually a bit soft. Couple of minutes later and it’s actually the tobacco that I smell in tandem with the vetiver..pepper and citrus have kind of disappeared and the general roundness that I get has to be that amber. It’s not bad actually. 30 minutes later: It’s the above muted..almost becoming something akin to a skin scent on me. I almost think I can’t smell anything specific anymore…hmph..interesting. So the throw on me is actually quite low and the lasting power is short..surprisingly so because typically notes like vetiver and amber do last HOURS on me..while this kind of disappears in less than 3 hours. Bottom Line:I was ready to write off Three Gorgons regretfully because I thought the pepper initially had been too aggressive and overwhelmed everything but upon repeat tries I was rewarded with a bit more depth. This is not a holy grail type of scent for me and I almost think it’s a bit too gender neutral for me to pull it off. The amber and vetiver and tobacco actually work well with each other and together they translate on my skin a scent that quietly wafts without sceaming its presence. I think I need a couple more tries with this to decide if I can wear this…

Initial sniff from bottle: Something in here reminds me of ozone..it kind of feels powdery a bit and yes dry..there’s an undercurrent of incense underneath it. Not something that wows me but it doesn’t really repel me either..I’m neutral. Applied wet on skin: Still the bit of ozone dry powder thing going on with the incense. I believe YBNB mentioned something in her review about the feel of it or a note that kind of reminds her of something in Urania and I have to agree..it’s a high pitched ozone type of note that I register. Couple of minutes on skin: This really doesn’t bloom that much on me..it’s staying kind of linear as far as what I smelled in the bottle translating on my skin. That high pitched dry ozone-y like note with a bit of incense underneath it..kind of powdery..not registering anything else. 2 hours later:-The high pitched ozone-y note has faded away and I’m left with a dry muted incense note. I can sort of see what other people refer to golden and resinous but honestly I’m not sure if I’m allowing the imagery of the description of the scent to color my impression. The throw on this not very strong; it’s a bit close to the skin on me and yet the lasting power is pretty good..about 4+ hours. I’ve worn this about 3 times to get a decent gauge on it. Bottom Line: Ozymandias is tolerant enough but on me it renders unremarkable. The notes just sit on me and basically do nothing else..no wafting to something truly evocative. It’s linear and there’s nothing wrong with that..the bottle I inherited from my sister will need to find another home that will love it for the remarkable things it does on someone else’s skin chemistry-I’m meh with it.

Of course I had to get this when it was revisited in 2005 because of it being my ruling planet. Sniff from bottle: Sweet florals…I can’t discern anything individual but maybe ylang ylang?A bit of jasmine? Moonflower maybe? Visual I get when I close my eyes is cool moonlight streaming brightly on a garden bathing the flowers in a silvery light. Applied wet on skin:: For some reason I’m getting a wisp of something herbal along with the florals..getting a bit more jasmine now..am still thinking maybe ylang ylang and yes..something reminding me of cherries sort of..not the cough syrup cherry I get in other blends but fresh juicy cherries and it’s on the tail end. Couple of minutes on skin: It’s jasmine forward and it’s a bit drier..for some reason I keep registering something green and a bit herbal ..but it retains a degree of sweetness that is not cloying. Moonlit jasmine floral indeed. 10 min later I’m wondering if this may have frangipani in here? Something else with the jasmine makes this seem sweet and silvery white..really liking this. Half an hour later-Same as above just softened. Lasting power clocks in at about 5+hours with throw average. Bottom Line: Luna works for me; the jasmine and other silvery feeling florals in here really evoke the namesake. I like this for spring/summer-especially in the evening.

Honey, quince, vanilla, white cognac, Spanish mandarin, and golden tobacco. I ended up getting a decant of this because of all the hoopla on the forum regarding this scent. It sounded like a slam dunk of theShungas with the honey, quince, and golden tobacco. It sounded golden, sweet and perhaps a tad smoky; what could go wrong? PLENTY. Initial sniff from decant: Tart fruit drenched syrup and booze..this makes me queasy. Applied wet on skin: Super tart quince in the forefront with mandarin nipping at her heels..with the cognac rearing its boozy head and roaring. I don’t do well with boozy scents and this is no exception. Couple of minutes on skin:Same notes roaring on but now the tobacco has showed up so it’s super sweet boozy fruit with a side order of tobacco amping on me. On my skin it just smells like boozy fruit with notes of cigar-good quality cigar but cigar nonetheless. This just doesn’t translate well on me. 10 minutes later:Softened but the combo of the sweet booze and tobacco still doesn’t suit me. 30 min later :It’s become very muted indeed…hovering close to my skin..faint echoes of what it was previously. Lasting power is actually pretty good 5+hours with throw average. Bottom Line:AMOTMS was one of the Shungas I was hoping was going to be spectacular on me and ended up being a shocking FAIL.I tried this 3 times to make sure that it wasn’t a fluke and unfortunately it wasn’t. Too syrupy sweet, boozy and fruity for me to carry and the tobacco which I was hoping would temper it and make it more wearable ended up becoming a supporting character of the overall debacle on my skin. I wish I had the success of other people but alas it is not meant to be. Can’t win ‘em all.

Haloes.... I received this decant as a “freebie” from a generous forumite as part of my purchase of some Lupers so I’m sending some “love” ..thank you for being so wonderful. I had the opportunity to buy some retail exclusive oils when they first came out; I went to Shelldoo’s nail shop and walked away with a bottle of To Autumn actually but I don’t really recall if I liked or disliked Haloes. Guess I’m going to find that out now. For the record I tend to do well with blends that contain amber and ginger; apricot/tonka/vanilla are all notes I like but I’m hoping that this doesn’t translate as “foody” on me. Intial sniff from decant-I smell mostly golden sweetness..could be the vanilla or tonka..not getting much of the apricot or oak or ginger or florals. Applied wet on skin:-Hmmm..this is interesting..really soft on me even applied wet;kind of just getting some vanilla sweetness..again no fruit or florals or ginger to speak of… Couple of minutes on skin:My skin is basically eating this up I’m afraid..if I shove my nose right up to my wrist I get some sweetness..but nothing jumps out at me..this sucks. 30 min later-More of the same..just basically invisible throw and very faint snuggly sweetness. The throw on this is negligible at best but the lasting power was decent; 5+hours although it was very soft. Bottom Line: Haloes seem to hold so much promise but apparently I’m not a lucky recipient of it’s gifts. This basically went MIA on me in a matter of minutes so the decant is enough for me. From what I can gather on my skin it sort of had the same type of feel as in Glowing Vulva At Ryogoku Bridge so maybe I can layer the two.

2007 version I think I had purchased this for my sister but she decided she didn’t like it so she gave it back to me. Let’s see if I can make this work for me Initial sniff from bottle: I smell something fruity..and it’s a bit tart so I’m thinking it’s quince instead of the apple peel with a wisp of some floral. Applied wet on skin:Hello there jasmine..it’s in the forefront with the fruit.. Couple of minutes on skin:Jasmine is softening and working really beautifully with the myrrh that has now decide to make an appearance and it’s working in tandem with the jasmine..I’m liking this vibe..slightly heady..kind of lazily seducing me a bit. Fruit has softened considerably to the background but it’s not invisible. 10 minutes laterWonderful jasmine blend with notes of myrrh, sandalwood and the soft musk making it’s appearance in a subtle fashion. Lovely sensual floral that doesn’t scream it’s vibe but just wafts lazily around you. Fruit has kind of become MIA but I’m okay with that. 30 min later -This has become a very muted but not invisible jasmine with the sandalwood and interestingly enough the thyme backing it up. I wasn’t too sure about the thyme..I mean I registered it’s herbal presence but I couldn’t really figure out what the point of it was in here..but maybe with the sandalwood it kind of grounds this..so it doesn’t become this huge terrifying jasmine but instead is the lazy somewhat sensual waft of jasmine/sandalwood/myrrh cloud that just hangs about me. Lasting power is average 4+hours with the throw starting off moderate and ending soft and close to the skin. Bottom Line: The Perfumed Garden is a jasmine blend that I quite enjoy because of the threads of fruit, sandalwood and herb. It’s incredibly feminine and a gives off a slightly lazy sensuality. I think this would work well for evening but I wouldn’t say no to this if I wanted really embrace my feminine side at work either. The throw on me is muted enough that it could be work appropriate. Night blooming jasmine to me almost always triggers to my mind summer evenings so I think I’ll be reaching for this often in the upcoming months.

I was lucky enough to purchase a decant from Delirium1009-thank you. I love lilac; it’s one of my favorite flowers so I’m hoping this is a win for me. Intial sniff from decant:I get mostly the oolong tea, some sort of floral and the lavender. Applied wet on skin-Okay..still the tea but the lilac is coming though a bit as well ..but it’s muddled..I’m still getting more of the other florals and the musk. Still not registering the ginger. Couple of minutes on skin-Still the oolong tea in the forefront..with the florals right behind it….very pretty..but not as lilac-forward on me as I had hoped. 30 min later- Wow..on me this is primarily the oolong tea with the non lilac florals backing it up and the lavender on the tail end . Either the lilac is so well blended I can’t tell or it’s MIA with the ginger. It’s actually really pretty but again..I was hoping for something a bit more lilac-forward. Lasting power is clocked around3-4 hours and throw is soft to average. Bottom Line Needlework to me is a great choice for a cool summer floral. It’s delicate and cool; I wish I had more lilac translate on me and because of this the decant is all I need. I’ll keep up my search for the perfect lilac outside of Frederic Malle’s En Passant..hehehe

In the bottle -Sweet caramelized sugar..almost burnt. Applied wet on skin: Super caramelized sugar..underneath is wisp of chimney dust..and I think that violets are adding to the super sweetness with the caramelized sugar…I think also that the violet with it’s typically “powdery” vibe is tricking me into thinking I’m smelling the chimney dust…I like it so far. 10 minutes on skin-Oooooo..this is really turning very nice on me. The violet is sheer now..and I get a little bit of lily in the forefront with the sweets/charcoal in the back. The throw on me right now is soft but not invisible. Hour later This does seem like Sugar Skull with violets and candy charcoal. It’s softened up considerably on my skin but isn’t invisible at all with the throw soft. I still keep getting little wafts of the candy sweetness with the dust.. Staying power is impressive -10+hours Bottom Line: La Befana is an interesting reiteration of a candy/sweet fragrance; although not normally what I gravitate towards I find the charcoal the note that seals the deal for me to keep it in my collection. Not something I will pick regularly but it does fit the niche for perhaps late winter rotation.

Initial sniff from bottle: Pulsing red musk backed by wisps of sweetness..I do actually get the melon at the tail end. It smells red to me but not “red hot fire” or “Red Hots Cinnamon” but rather red hot sexy. Applied wet on skin: It’s the red musk and pomegranate..fruit/red musk duo doing it’s thing..the orange blossom is in the back..just hanging out. Have no idea where the melon went. Couple of minutes on skin- Red musk is working seamlessly with the orange blossom right now..so it’s sweet but not cloyinly so..with the sexy musk working it’s magic with the other notes. Pomegranate I don’t get up close but the waft from my arm still confirms that the tart fruit is still hanging around. Can’t be sure about the melon.just not getting a good read. 30 min later:-Still very much present on me and it’s a heady sexy musk/floral/fruit blend. It kind of reminds me of my other favorite red musk blend Glasya. Lasting power is impressive-6+ hours with throw moderate to strong. Bottom Line; Semiramis is quite the sexy blend; if you like red musk then this blend is up your alley. The tart pomegranate with the sweet orange blossom work seamlessly with that red musk on me and I definitely would wear this for dates or going out in the evening with friend to snare someone..hehehe.

Metal Phoenix-2008 Of course I had to get this phoenix..it is my natural element in Chinese astrology and one I seem to identify with to a great degree. I also like the smell of cold metal; so I was hopeful that perhaps that would translate into this scent. Initial sniff from bottle: Sweet floral with mallow..if I close my eyes the visual I get is gleaming cool white floral. No “metal” note that I get as of now. Applied wet on skin:A wisp of that metal is there..yes..and it’s nice..I think I get a bit of the carnation along with the sweet honeysuckle and mallow..the tail end is a wisp of verbena which adds a crispness but doesn’t veer into ill-fated Lemon Pledge territory..thank goodness. 5-10 minutes later-Musk has appeared on the forefront but it’s not overwhelming..it works nicely with the floral notes and the mallow..they are however now in the background. 30 min later-At points I did smell the metallic coolness interspersed with the musk and florals but Darn…it’s almost all gone on me! If I huff obsessively at my wrist I think I still smell the musk but is has basically sunken into my skin. Staying power is nominal on me-sadly-and the throw is soft to average. Bottom Line: Metal Phoenix is a bit like an airy gleaming white floral that flits with the cool metallic; I wish I could have enjoyed it a bit more longer on my skin but all this confirms to me is that I will need to re-apply often during the day. I like this for spring.

This is going to be my 200th review..wow.. Chaos Theory V-Recursive Self Similarityv4-“Snake Oil”Series CCXCIV-294 I have never tried the legendary Snake Oil but I have tried some Vipers so I think I have a general idea of what to look for. Again..I bought this back when CT was live..so it’s aged at least a year. Initial sniff from bottle: Snake Oil..and I whiff deeply I think I smell some sort of fruit..maybe some red musk??? Applied wet on skin: Snake Oil and something fruity..I keep thinking it’s a red fruit or maybe something akin to melon..but I can’t be sure. I also think I’m getting some red musk but again..I can’t be sure. Couple of minutes on skin:-Not so much the fruity accord but SO with I think red musk. I also think I’m getting some sort of floral..perhaps chrysanthemum? I like it. Half an hour later- It’s still now just muted SO with traces of the mum and red musk. This blend kind of mimicked to a degree Bien Loin D’Ici and Mum Moon..so I’m thinking that perhaps this does have either red musk or opium or the mums in here..beating under the SO. Spicy floral with red musk/fruit under a layer of SO..that’s where I’m going with this… I’m wracking my brain…because I can’t seem to think what exactly this reminds me of..when BAM …I think I got it. In the beginning I think my CT is like Warrior Queen Semiramis but with SO. WOW. Reason? I actually have a bottle of this WQ and I remember dabbing some on last year; the pomegranate and juicy melon counterbalanced the assertive musk I remember..and that is what slammed into my head while I walked around my apt trying to figure out what this CT reminded me of.. Dry--It’s all just the vanilla/resin/spicy sweetness of SO muted into my skin now.. Lasting power clocks in about 4+hours with throw moderate. Bottom Line: Since I don’t own an actual bottle of Snake Oil this reiteration of the aforementioned kind of fits my niche. It started off a bit sexy and pulsing with fruit and musk but in the end it was closer to it’s original manifestation. I think it would work well in late summer through winter.

Glowing Vulva at Ryogoku Bridge I’ve had this for quite some time; purchased it when it was live in 2008. I go through phases; I have a bit of a hoarders propensity when it comes to BPAL. I needed to create a bit of distance from my stash; I needed some time with my other fragrances. I also needed to rein in my spending; too much of a good thing doesn’t work for me..alas. ANYWAY..I missed my BPAL..missed experiencing and writing my journey with scent so that’s why I’m doing this now. I want to enjoy what I have. So..with no further ado: Initial sniff from bottle: Smells buttery..almost foody…and I get a twinge of perfumey sharpness..maybe that’s the teak? Not sure I’m getting any of the other notes. Looking back on previous posts I see I’m not the only one registering the “perfumey” slant so that’s good to know. Applied wet on skin: It’s the cream with that slightly sharp perfume note which I’m assuming is the teak..the amber’s underneath it all..giving it roundness and warmth and depth..there’s a wisp of something sweet like..but I woudn’t have recognized it as lotus blossom..but that could just be because I’m not experienced enough with identifying notes. Couple of minutes on skin:Creamy muted teak thrust in golden warm amber. All very smooth. Not foody to my nose..I like it. 10 minutes later:It’s creamy amber and it’s nice. Am going to go shovel snow; see how my wrist behaves after some exertion. 2 HOURS LATER.... Dry: It’s still this smooth golden sweet warmth with that twinge of teak twinkling softly. Lasting power is impressive 6+hours with throw moderate. Bottom Line: GVARB is popular and for good reason; I enjoy wearing it and can see reaching for it in late winter and early spring. Keeper indeed.

Chaos Theory V-Recursive Self Similarity-“O”Series LVIII-58 Definition of recursive-pertaining to or using a rule or procedure that can be applied repeatedly. A while back (2009) I tried this several times to get a sense of what I was smelling. I failed miserably. I still think I’m going to fail miserably because although I think I have a good sense of smell my olfactory discernment is incredibly limited. I hope that I get my sh*t together to send imps of my CT’s to people on this forum who have the sophistication to tell me what they smell because I’m so very limited in this fashion. In ANY case..I will do my best. Disclaimer: I think I’ve only smelled O once so I don’t have a lot to base my impressions on. Sniffed from bottle: Beachy O; best way I can describe it. It’s that honey sweetness intermingled with an accord that I identify with BPAL scents that are “beachy”. The vibe to me here is laid back and casual. There’s no salty seawater or any ozone notes here..but this blend reminds me a bit of Pirate Moon.. or maybe Jolly Roger…just a tad. Am thinking that maybe this has a touch of bay rum in here? I found an imp of Baron Samedi and took a sniff; I’m pretty sure what I’m smelling my CT is bay rum. Applied wet on skin: Same as in the bottle; just reminds me of summer..a relaxing day at the beach. Couple of minutes on skin: It’s become very much a skin scent..not very assertive in it’s throw..still keeping the initial elements but it’s muted a bit. 10+minutes: More muted echoes of O intermingled with my skin..again the feeling of this is a laid back/slightly sweet/beachy fragrance. Dry(30+minutes):This is still wafting out nicely; it’s more the “O” elements but underneath that is what I think is bay rum. Throw is average and lasting power clocked in at about 4+hours Bottom Line: It’s unisex and makes me think o warmer weather; honeyed beachy bay rum is what I come away with. I’m not in love but I do like it.

Initial sniff from bottle: For me the strongest note wafting out is the red currant; it’s tart and behind it I believe it’s some sort of sweetness which I will assume is the vanilla and/or benzoin. Not getting any of the other notes. I like the sharpness of the currant with the undercurrent of sweetnes..it’s bracing. Applied wet on skin: Tart currant and yes the blueberry…it’s the two if them with the green tea and a wisp of ginger..it smells fruity but not cloyingly sweet.. Couple of minutes on skin: The fruit punch has softened..and I’m getting more of the vanilla/ginger/benzoin. I detect a “freshness” on the back end and I’m thinking that’s the coriander. Still enjoying this immensely. Not sure I register the red musk which is odd because I usually can pick that out from the get-go. Ten minutes later: Red musk has moved a bit to the forefront but the aura of the fruit creates a lovely veil over it with the sweetness of the vanilla/benzoin. Green tea and ginger are very muted and are in the back as wisps. 30 min later: It’s all now just musk and sweetness..but the throw around me is still that bracing fruit..I really enjoy this blend. The throw on this is impressive and lasting power is good-6+hours. Bottom Line: I think I really like this because for some reason it kind of reminds me in feel a bit of Hungry Ghost Moon..it’s that heady ginger/vanilla/tea mix shot through with the sharp fruit that makes this so appealing to me. The coriander added a bit of freshness and the musk gives it longevity. I’m not a huge fan of fruity scents but this one really works for me so I’m keeping it and loving it. I like to wear it when I want to embrace the pretty/girly side of me. I also think this would work quite nicely in summer.

I like Black Opal from the GC and if you can get some Berenice I think that would fit the bill quite nicely as well. For reference: Black Opal-A play of geological darkness and jagged brilliance. Soft and luminescent with flashes of black fire Berenice-A cerebral scent, dry, and white. This is a perfume of thought, not heart, and of unforeseen pain and sudden obsession, touched with uncertain twilight and ambiguous horror. Stargazer lily, white musk, clear aloe, blonde amber and winding-cloth linen.

2007 version I came into my 2007 bottle quite by accident. My sister had bought a bottle and decided she didn’t like it. She gave it back to me and for quite some time it just stayed in the dark recesses of BPAL stash. I never thought to give it a try at least not initially because from the description it sounded too sweet and flowery to me. I finally did, however, give it a try last year. Whenever I do try a new BPAL my condition is that I cannot go to something else that is new until I do a review of the oil I’ve tried. So.. Khajuraho and I became stuck with each other. I would wear other BPAL’s..ones I’ve tried and reviewed..but I always ended up going back to Khajuraho whether I wanted to or not. I can be a bit rigid sometimes…hehehe Anyway..the whole point of this is the following: When I first tried this on it wasn’t my favorite. I tolerated the fragrance. I mean..I totally got the whole fresh banana smell in the opening and I have to say..I wasn’t really that thrilled. It’s a creamy fruit/floral smothered with honey and I swore…it wasn’t me. But something happened after having Khajuraho on for a couple of minutes. All of this becomes quite intoxicating actually. So you can imagine my surprise that after 5 minutes I’m beginning to realize how great this is. You get the champaca flower with it’s spicy slant melding with the creamy tuberose and damask rose and that creamy fruit settles down..weaving through all of this. The sandalwood gives me a bit of an anchor so this doesn’t become just fruity floral..there’s a bit of backbone here to secure it..ground it a bit. It snuck up on me..and made me realize why so many people go hog wild over it. I had been ready to dismiss it as just another iteration of a fruity floral but quite frankly..it’s just brilliant. You can imagine how surprised I was when I realized I had almost finished the bottle. It’s all gone. I finished it this week. And..I did this without realizing it. I mean..I would wear .. Khajuraho..absentmindedly. It wouldn’t be my favorite pick or my “go-to scent”. I would wear it when I wanted to try something new and then remembered I still need to write a review for it. I’d put it on..sometimes grudgingly but always after the first 30 seconds I would be a bit intrigued..because I couldn’t figure out for the life of me why I would want to wear something that smelled like banana in the opening and then find myself kind of loving it so much after 5 minutes. I couldn’t pinpoint it…and now..well..after going through a 5 ml I finally did. So…this isn’t my normal structure for a review..but since I only have an empty bottle to refer to I figured better this than nothing at all. Khajuraho in my opinion deserves all the hype and hoopla. It’s a sweet/spicy floral tempered with creamy fruit and honey with a bit of amber to give it roundness and sandalwood to give it a bit grounding. I have loved wearing it and think it’s great for anytime..but particularly summer evenings.

I haven't tried many BPAL..but one that really made me feel uncomfortable was Bluebeard How can violet, lavender, and vetiver be scary? I don't know but it gave me disturbing dreams so I put it at arms length moving forward. Do not pass. Do not collect $200.

I bought this way back in 2006 because I liked the idea of having a sun based fragrance..they always remind me of my father. It also didn’t hurt that this particular Yule blend had the golden amber/frankincense/orange trio going on. So far I’ve tried Sol, The Sportive Sun, and Leo. All of them have been pretty good interpretations of the sun on me; let’s see how I do with this one. Initial sniff from bottle: It certainly smells like golden sunshine to me; I register the amber straight away and the some sort of citrus..so I’m not sure if it’s the citron, tangerine, or mock orange. I also get a bit of a wisp of floral with a tinge of that frankincense rounding up the back but they are very subtle..at least to my nose. So far so good. Applied wet on skin: Saffron and amber and citrus…it’s warm but not cloying…really do like it. Couple of minutes on skin:More tangerine and mock orange now..with the amber sitting in the back..not getting so much the frankincense or the floral just yet..but it’s still early. 20 minutes later::Okay..here’s the frankincense now..making more of an appearance with the amber and now faint citrus. Interestingly enough I do get a bit of a lazy floral weaving in here..but it’s blended seamlessly in here so I can’t register exactly what it is..what I do know is that it does lend a bit of sweetness. It does remind me of a bit of a herbal resinous warm scent with touches of fruit and floral although in the later stages the latter notes take more of a supporting role with the amber and frankincense becoming more prominent in the latter stages. Lasting power on me is very good; 8+ hours with throw average. Drydown: It’s an echo of a bit of a dry amber with the frankincense wisp on the end and a touch of perhaps powdery like sweetness which I think on me is attributed to the amber but I can’t be sure. Bottom Line: Sol Invictus as other people have commented does represent to me the sun at winter solstice..I love it’s notes that give me warmth but the frankincense kind of reminds me that it’s warmth is suspended in the clear cold winter skies…love it for now and it’s a definite keeper.

Soft, velvety fur and warm musk, brushed by forest woods and dusted by dry leaves. Ivanushka…I think the reason why I took a chance on procuring a bottle was because I thought perhaps it might be something that would be akin to Coyote..another BPAL fragrance that many people love. I’ve never had the chance to try that so I figured why not role the dice with this furry little guy. Plus the story of little Ivanushka did something to heart strings..sap that I am. Initial sniff from bottle: Soft musk..a bit on the powder slant..something in there keeps it from being cloyingly girly..maybe it’s the brush of the woods. Applied wet on skin: Snuggly clean musk…it kind of does remind me of fur..like my cat Leo..clean downy white fur. A couple of minutes on skin: Oakmoss hit the nail head on the head..this also reminds me a bit in feel with Blood Pearl but this doesn’t share the coconut. It’s a soft musk with almost a dry creamy feel to it. 40 minutes later: Definitely still going strong..all slightly sweet wood and that furry comforting musk. Drydown: Snuggly sweetened musk ..really softened now..but very comforting. I’ve worn this about 3-4 times now and I do have to agree with some reviewers..there is a bit of an resinous bite in the opening that did kind of run along the lines of something sour…but I also have to say that Magdalene also does that to me as well..perhaps they share a common note??? Not really sure but it’s fleeting nonetheless. Bottom line: Ivanushka fits the bill for that comforting niche. It doesn’t have an overwhelming throw but it makes up for it with just it’s sheer snuggle factor. Not a home run but I like it enough so it stays put.

Initial sniff from bottle: I’ve sniffed this so many times..and still I have such a hard time deciphering what I’m registering. Is it a smoky caramel? Amber and black orchid maybe..with that drop of a violet..maybe it’s more rose..I really cannot be sure. I know that I don’t smell the lavender..or the black currant or the cedar. I don’t know what olive blossom is supposed to smell like so I looked it up and one website offered me this: Crisp orange and olive leaf are infused with a green grass accord and fresh ozone. A hint of lily and muguet intermingles with a base of musk, sandalwood, and oakmoss for a warm, long-lasting finish Applied wet on skin: I think I get that slightly smoky caramel again..but it is intermingled with something that does smell a bit like grass/ozone but that’s definitely being muddled with a floral..violet/orchid..again for me the lavender is really very subtle. It does seem to make me feel like the scent is a bit dark and glossy..sleek somewhat.. Couple of minutes on skin:Okay…now I’m getting the lavender but it’s not the whomp in your face aggressive lavender..nope..this is more akin to what others have described as crystalline..and it really does marry well with that blue musk and amber. This does seem to be rather relaxing blend on me..even though it’s a bit sweet and kind of dark..but not in a menacing way..just in that glossy raven-like way..I guess that’s the violet doing it for me. I do like it. 30 minutes later: (1am)-It’s now more crystalline lavender/amber/olive blossom/blue musk. This does have a good waft/throw. It does still retain a bit of that caramelly sweetness..though..I still do like it very much. Lasting power on me is actually pretty good; 3-5 hours with throw average Drydown: Same as before..just really softened. Bottom Line: I wasn’t too sure I would be bowled over by this but I have to say it’s been a bit of a sleeper hit on me. I really like it for the office that could work all year long but I suspect I will probably reach for it most during the fall and winter. It stays put.

Chaos Theory-The Edge of Chaos-MCLXXIV(1174) This is the 2nd bottle I chose out of the 7 randomly to try out and I’ve been wearing this off and on to try and get a sense of what I’m smelling. My mom said that she really liked it; it somehow reminded her of the waft she gets when she wears Poison by Christian Dior but I don’t see the similarity. I wore it today because something in this blend-a specific note actually reminds me of something else I’ve tried in the BPAL catalog but for the life of me I can’t remember!!! Anyway onto the review. I did dab on some Haunted on my clean wrist because for whatever reason I think there has to be some of that black musk in this particular CT blend. Initial sniff from bottle:I’m not sure…I think I do smell that black musk with something..fruit driven. Perhaps a black fruit? Maybe plum??? A wisp of maybe something tart..and for whatever reason I think a tad fizz like..I’m not really good at identifying the mélange. After sniffing Haunted on my arm I’m pretty sure it’s the black musk and possibly maybe some amber in here. Applied wet on skin: It’s a bit sweet fruit-like..maybe and then what comes up surging to the front is most definitely musk..of the black variety..and maybe amber??? There’s a sweetness here I’m having trouble identifying.. Couple of minutes on skin: This is when the black musk is obnoxious. I mean it’s all you can smell…with a slightly citrus like wisp on the tail end that really makes me think it’s amber because Haunted wears like this on me too. It’s very heady and kind of dark…. 10 minutes later:It’s still predominantly the black musk but there’s something else in here giving it a golden slant..and I’m really not sure it’s amber because there is no powdery off shoot that I sometimes register with amber. The visual I get when sniffing this is deep dark musk shot through with threads of something golden.. Definitely heady and kind of sexy. 20 minutes later:Drying this kind of reminds me of Haunted and maybe Jacobs Ladder??? It’s all just heady, a bit dark but with golden overtones. No floral, no red/black fruit that I can discern…that slight wisp of citrus I thought I had registered earlier is gone as well. This has really good throw. Drydown: Similar to what I get with amber dominated fragrances that Beth creates; it’s like golden downy warmth. Lasting power on me is impressive 5+hours with throw average to strong. Bottom Line: This will work nicely for fall and winter; a hybrid on some levels between Haunted/Jacobs Ladder. I’m loving it.

Whatever is in this spray I just have to say it's fanf*cking tastic. Not my usual style of doing a review but I figured I'd just say it now and to Puddin to let him know that I absolutley LOVE this room fragrance. In fact..when I figured out that it was a freebie and NOT available to purchase in a full size I panicked. So..I have only allowed myself the honor to smell it twice and that was like 6 weeks ago. I have to agree with the other reviewers; for me this came off as a slightly sweet melon spray at first with some musk and then that burned off a bit and yes..I did get something akin slightly to maybe a sweet leather..maybe tobacco???Now that I read other reviewers maybe I'm just being bowled over by what people are describing as bay rum. Whatever that combo is my toes curl instinctively when I walked into my bedroom and slid between my sheets. I love it. I want to hoard bottles of it if I could. Please let it be available soon??? Please???

I bought this because my Dad was a Leo..and I wanted something to represent him in my collection. Didn’t hurt that there was that wonderful amber and frankincense and saffron..nah..that was just icing on the cake. Hehe. I’ve been wearing this off and on..for almost a couple of months now. Not making enough time to write a review; then again..maybe I just needed some time to formulate what I thought and still think I’m smelling. Maybe I just wanted more time with this little cat..because it smelled so good. Sigh. Initial sniff from the bottle:Yummy amber and saffron..with a tail wisp of that frankincense..almost indiscernible really..but for now..it smells golden and regal. Applied wet on skin:It’s that amber and saffron duo all right..dancing up a storm..with frankincense muted but still bringing up the rear. I think muddled in there is the graceful chamomile but I can’t be sure. Couple of minutes on skin:Yep..I can see the comparisons to Bastet and/or Pumpkin Queen..it has that vibe that must be coming from the Egyptian amber and saffron. Definitely golden but not overtly sweet..I don’t know if the chamomile is lending a bit of dry sweetness but there is a degree of that in here. I have been and continue to enjoy this. 10 minutes later:I never got any “orange” vibe..no on me it’s all the golden amber and saffron with the frankincense muted on the tail end…just a wisp of it.Chamomile is also on the end giving me a breath of herbal in the back of my throat when I breathe in the fragrance. It’s definitely a lazy languid lion in the hot sun..and I love it. Half an hour later: Still going strong…golden dry warmth. Lasting power on me isn’t bad; 3-4 hours with average throw. Bottom Line: Leo 2007 for me is a definite winner. I like it for late summer and early fall and it totally represents to me the Leo personality. I wear it when I want to remember my dad and when I want to come across as a larger than life presence..definite keeper and one that I would consider getting a 2nd bottle.

Chaos Theory: The Edge of Chaos-CCLVII-257 I bought 2 bottles of the CT for this year; I usually buy them for my sister and all of hers have been winners as far as what she likes to wear. The only one I had ever bought for myself was from the last CT offering and although masterfully blended just didn’t suit me. I knew I was gambling this time around but isn’t that part of the fun? This is my review for the first bottle up. Initial sniff from bottle: I remember when I first sniffed this I was convinced what I was smelling was fruit; not of the berry kind..no this had me thinking along the lines of possibly a citrus maybe??? Maybe a summer fruit??? Whatever it was it smelled slightly tart and wet and just kind of juicy. Sniffing it again from the bottle it’s definitely fruity and juicy…a little sweet. I wonder if it's sugar or lotus??? It reminded me of something else I had worn in the BPAL catalogue but it was just floating above my reach..grrr… Applied wet on skin: Yep..it’s that fruity juicy slightly sweet but wet almost green waft and then it hits me. This sort of reminds me of Holiday Moon …and I compare them side by side. Kind of the same vibe..perhaps this has some white/green tea as well??? Really very appropriate for summer..I love its’ floaty waft. Couple of minutes on skin: There’s a bit of sweetness that creeps in on the tail end of the scent which kind of reminds me of another moon except this time it’s Hungry Ghost Moon which I absolutely love. I want to say that I also think I may register a touch of cucumber but I can’t be certain. Still loving this. Whereas Holiday Moon had the bamboo and oud this doesn’t. This also doesn’t include any ginger either but there is that sweetness and juicy-ness that is really very enjoyable. I’ve worn this 3 times and I think it’s a perfect choice for warm weather..I feel very pretty and cool and put together in this blend. I think it layers nicely over the Frenum bath oil or anything that may have white/green tea notes. The throw on this is soft to average and the lasting power is a bit light-I’m lucky if I can 3 hours. Bottom Line: This bottle stays put. I think it’s a great choice for the sticky and hot dog days of summer. If you like Holiday Moon/Hungry Ghost Moon then this oil is right up your alley. Similar in feel but still different enough to enjoy. Which..I do enjoy. Thank you Beth and the labbies for giving me something fabulous as always..