metaldog32

Bastet's Laughter...came to me by way of wickedgoddess...many months ago she was nice enough to sell me a decant...thank you soo much Initial sniff from imp: Candy sweet...kind of like fruity sweet hard candy...maybe watermelon??? Maybe apricot??? Maybe white grape??? I am not so good at identifying fruits but it has the feel of Jolly Ranchers...definitely a sugary and fruity feel to this. Applied wet on skin: Hey..where did the fruity sweetness go??? It was there for just a second and then..I get a warmth from this..almost like a skin scent..it kind of went MIA on my skin..it's a touch sweet..so maybe there is some amber here??? Usually amber is amped with my skin..but right now..I am hard-pressed to figure out what I am smelling. Five minutes on skin: Oh THERE you are candy/fruity/sweetness..you re-appeared again..and I still have that touch of warmness..so maybe this is amber and lotus??? Usually lotus becomes the huge bubblegum gorilla on me and right now..all I am getting is candy/fruity/sweetness..it kind of reminds me of Aunt Caroline's Mojo..and I suspect anybody who lilkes fruity/sweet fragrances would like this. It is definitely a happy scent. You can't brood with this on..hahahahaahahahahahaha Definitely not like Bastet at all..and normally not the type of scent I would gravitate towards wearing..but so far..so good. Thirty minutes later: Still the same notes going on pretty strong. Hour later: The whole melange has softened somewhat..but still has some presence. Two hours later:Poof...almost all gone. Lasting power..again..a bit short..2-3 hours..with the throw again soft. Bottom Line:Bastet's Laughter could put anyone in a good mood. The playful light-hearted fragrance is very uplifting..very positive. A bit too fruity and sweet for my tastes..but amazing on someone who embraces the sweet side of life.. . I am grateful I had the chance to try this.

A gentle vision of purity, goodness and virtue: white tea, carnation and Damask Rose. Maiden comes to me as frimp from the labbies..thank you!!! Initial sniff from frimp: Soft...carnation a bit more prevalent with the rose behind..a touch powdery..not soapy..with a bit of spice..coming from the carnation..the rose is definitely tea rose..white..at least that is the imagery that comes to mind. Applied wet on skin: Still the carnation in the lead with the rose..still a touch of powder..no trace of "greenery" like in Rose Red..the florals here don't feel "freshly cut from the garden"..just a sweet and gentle floral. Five minutes later: Now the florals have traded places..it's the touch sweet and powdery rose leading with the spicy but soft carnation behind..but now it's markedly subdued. The powder note doesn't overwhelm the fragrance..it plays a minor role..at least at this stage it does on my skin. Thirty minutes later: It's more of a powdery rose..not overwhelmingly so though..still a soft and sweet floral. Hour and a half later:Faint rose..sweet and powdery... Drydown: Soft touch of sweet powder. Lasting power on me was 2-3 hours tops and the throw was really soft. Bottom Line:Maiden is a soft and gentle floral..very innocent in feel..perfect for a young girl..or when one to remember the innocence and sweetness of being one.

Cheshire Cat This very aged imp came from a super generous forumite..this is the original imp that had the hand-written labels with the black thread around it securing the label??? How old school is THAT???? Am excited to try this imp..I have a much newer one..but what the heck..I have had this imp for quite a while..let's see how it goes shall we??? Initial sniff from imp:Oh wow...talk about interesting..I get a whiff of citrus..must be the grapefruit...but then right behind it..it's an herbal vibe that is so mellow and aromatic..wow...it's the lavender and the chamomile and the lavender is SO not sharp at all...it's amazing really. Applied wet on skin: Grapefruit is there...but it makes room for the chamomile and lavender..I think I smell some other floral..must be the delphinium?? I don't get the currant yet. Really very interesting. Twenty to forty minutes later: Grapefruit has faded off..leaving a faint essence..but now it's the beautiful herbal bouquet..the chamomile and gentle lavender..with the delphinium weaving in and out.Throughout this period the currant did peek through with the grapefruit..it smelled so refreshing..but I have to say the herbal component made it sing. Drydown: Faint notes of the herbal melange..it's actually a bit soothing..has to be that dynamic lavender/chamomile duo.heheheheheheheheehe Lasting power..not that great..but I expected that..especially when grapefruit is involved...2+hours..and the throw was soft. Bottom Line:Cheshire Cat turned out to be a refreshing but soft herbal floral scent on me. I would find it nice in early summer..on the weekend..when I felt like just being lazy and enjoying the nice weather. A great weekend fragrance..quiet and a bit soothing to me. I will definitely keep my imp and then compare with the fresh version to see how they compare.

Wicked comes to me via frimp from the Labbies.thank you very much!! Not on my original list of fragrances to try, but the myrhh, jasmine, and rose sound like a good combo so why not??? Initial sniff from imp: Smells like spicy incense..this must be the myrhh??? I am not getting much jasmine and if I whiff deeply maybe a touch of rose..but it's all the myrhh at this point. Definitely not delicate-very womanly...and this woman knows how to play hard and dirty. Applied wet on skin: First it's all the myrhh..like the other reviewer stated..a bit of a resinous bite..and then I can smell the floral peeking through..giving it a bit of depth..but I can't nail it..is it the jasmine or the rose?? The myrhh is really all I get..darn. Don't get me wrong..I like myrhh..just curious to see how the jasmine/rose work in this blend. Couple of minutes on skin: Ahhh..now I am registering the jasmine but the myrhh is keeping a tight rein on it. For those people who amp up jasmine to something all consuming this blend keeps it in check..big time. The rose here is really delicate and very wispy..interesting blend. It's more spicy resin with touch of floral on me. Definitely a brooding scent...in feel and not in fragrance it kind of reminds me of Tisiphone. You can feel that this blend is strong and doesn't have any problems pulling all the punches and doing whatever needs to be done to get whatever she wants...hehehehehehehe.. Ten minutes to half an hour on skin:The thick myrhh is allowing the jasmine a tiny bit more room on the dance floor..so it's a bit more in tandem with eachother..but trust me it's all the myrhh taking the lead with the jasmine playing a much more subservient role in this blend..and the rose??? Hmm..only on the tail end..again very wispy. I don't get any soapiness at all from the florals in this blend..just the touch of them which lends this a bit of depth. Drydown: Spicy myrhh softened..if I sniff really hard I think I smell the faintest echo of floral.. Throw is soft to average on me..with lasting power at 3+hours. Bottom Line:Wicked is indeed a very brooding and womanly fragrance. I think she would be perfect in fall/winter. She didn't wow me but she didn't offend me either-so I am glad I got the chance to try her. Since I have Tisiphone for my brooding floral fix hopefully I can find another person who can enjoy what Wicked has to offer. Nicely done.

Snow White 2005.... I fell in love with the 2004 version..but jumped at the chance to buy another bottle last year. I finally did my review for the 2004 version this year and figured today was as good as any day to revel in the 2005 version. I also did a comparison with the 2004 version and here is what I came up with: IT.STILLS.SMELLS FABULOUS. Need a bit more?? Okay: Initial sniff from bottle: With both of them uncapped, it's the 2005 version that smells a bit more stronger with that "Play-doh" note..which I happen to love. The 2004 version is actually much more subdued and wafts a bit more on the "cold snow" vibe. Applied wet on skin: The 2005 version again..stonger on the play-doh note with the 2004 version much more softer..with a touch of floral but still the snowy cold note in the forefont. Now..the 2005 version has the vanilla/coconut up behind the play-doh note and I still find it very addictive. Couple of minutes on skin: The 2005 version now is getting the touch of mint..that "snowy" feel is now blooming a bit more on my skin..which is now resembling a bit more the 2004 version. I agree with the previous reviewer..the 2005 version might have a bit of almond or almond-type note which is a bit more prevalent than in the 2004 version..but they both smell amazing. Not so much the slushy notes that I got on the 2004 version. Half an hour on skin:They both smell pretty identical..save for the 2004 version having a bit more of the night blooming flowers..again..it's all very faint and delicate..that particular component..but 2005 smells more vanilla/coconut/touch of almond maybe with the snowy vibe at the tail end..but 2004 is more snowy vibe/slushy note/crystalline floral/coconut and sweetness at the tail end. Both of them smell similar and have the same feel..but there are some subtle difference..overall though..it's just snowy heaven to me. Drydown: Both are identical..just that wonderful melange of soft wispy sweetness and sparkly like snow... Lasting power again is impressive with the 2005 version..12+hours on me..and the throw is soft to medium. Bottom Line:Snow White 2005 is as good as the 2004 version..and one that I will continue to love wearing. Amazing.

The Star... I don't read the tarot although I have always had a fascination with it..so the sole reason for me purchasing a 10ml bottle was strictly on the reviews; again..it boiled down to the whole coconut factor. I am searching for the perfect coconut scent..and although as of now it seems as if Snow White is on top I simply had to try this..the idea of coconut, lime and mint just was too good to pass up. So..I wore it today...it's my good friend's birthday today and I figured he seems like a "star" to me..and willingly annointed my pulse points accordingly at around 1:30pm this afternoon..and this is what I came up with. Initial whiff from bottle: It's all limes...bracing limes...maybe lemons too??? I get the tinge of mint in the back and for a quick second this sort of reminds me of lemon cough drops??? Or maybe lemon zinger tea??? Lemon mint tea?? Hmm...I am not getting the coconut at all here..hmmm... If I close my eyes and think about stars might smell like..the whiff I am getting from the bottle seems appropriate. White heat...glowing steadily...in a positive and loving way..it kind of works actually..but I am a bit apprehensive on how this will translate on my skin. Some other reviewers said this was similar in feel to Spooky and well..that didn't go as well as I had hoped. Applied wet on skin: It's the big lime/lemon tidal wave in the first 5 to 10 seconds...really bracing...and that's all I am getting..along with the wisp of mint in the back. I can almost feel the mint..almost register a cold minty-ness on my wrists where I applied and in the back of my throat when I whiff deeply. Minute later: Lime/lemon combo is softening..and I am finally getting some of that coconut..but on me it's not the fresh unsweetened kind..it's the same sweetened coconut in Spooky...which at this point isn't a bad thing. The mint again is wwwayyy in the back..still a touch but making it's presence known. It's a softly pulsating fragrance right now..as if, in my opinion..it was mimicking starlight. Five to ten minutes later: Surprisingly..the lime is still in the forefront..but the mint has died off and it's all sweet coconut and lime combo. Really sweet coconut on me. Throughout the course of the afternoon I kept getting whiffs of me..first from straight off my wrist and other pulse points and then just the soft wafts from me in general. What was coming from me straight off my skin was the lime and super sweet coconut..which at times veered really close to being somewhat chalky/plastic/stale on me. This was the problem I had with Spooky but the overall haze of fragrance I picked up when not sniffing directly from my skin was one of just gentle lime/coconut. The whole idea of this fragrance is wonderful..it seems to fit the card well..I just wished it translated better on me. I like it..but I don't love it..at least at this stage. I do see a smilarity between this and BBW Coconut/Lime body spray...which I do own and enjoy..but somehow the coconut in that blend was less sweet on me. I might try layering the two... I don't get key lime pie from this either... Drydown: I am surprisd that the lime component lasted so long on me..but it's still there..albeit softened with the sweet cocount...wow. Lasting power was impressive...10+hours on me and the throw was soft. My friend who I took for his birthday this afternoon/evening has a really sensitive nose..most of the fragrances I wear he cannot stand and he didn't mention anything to me about this one..so I have to assume it wasn't aggressive at all. Bottom Line:The Star is a fragrance that represents itself pretty accurately. While wearing this I felt a lightness and radiance that felt comforting..and I enjoyed that very much. Realistically speaking though..the way the actual fragrance translated on my skin....am not sure it would be something I would reach for. The coconut note again is a bit wonky on me in this blend..a bit too sweet at times..but I can see why many people would favor it for summer..it kind of lends itself well to that season. Right now I am keeping the bottle..and will try it again at some point this winter with the BBW but as far as coconut scents go..Snow White still reigns supreme for me.

Monsterbait:Underbed.... This was actually ordered for my sister..foody gal that she is..but I ended up with a bottle when she decided to put in an order herself...and ordered this as well. So..I took the extra bottle. The coconut..always a sucker for that..the angelfood cake I could be persuaded...but cocoa??? Hmm.... ...I had a bit of a lukewarm reaction with cocoa, mint, and my beloved coconut in Spooky..but I was willing to set that aside to venture into new territory. Inital sniff from bottle: Sweet...but with a bit of dryness..that reminds me of cinnamon..so that must be the cassia right??? I don't smell the cocoa..which is a good thing..but what comes to mind is cinnamon like note with toasted coconut and sweetness. This is definitely foody...but kind of fun too. Applied wet on skin: Holy cow cassia!!! Wet it's basically the most dominant note...it demands one to notice and worship it. It's a bit dry but coming up behind it is....well..not much of anything... HAHAHAHA...tricky cassia..you have obliterated almost everything..but I smell the angelfood cake and cocoa peeking through... Okay..so right now it smells like a bakery..not one specific item in a bakery..but just..the vibe is of baked goods..not super sweet..just comforting whiffs of foody goodness. I don't dislike it..but I am also not jumping up and down in love with it either..am still on the fence on this one. Couple of minutes on skin: Cassia has softened up a bit but definitely still in the mix...cake and coconut notes not too far behind. At this point the cocoa note isn't really asserting itself on me. Ten minutes to half an hour: Truly..I swore I smelled chocolate coconut cake..almost like a german chocolate cake. It was me..the wafting of the fragrance was that of chocolate cake/cupcake with some sort of sweet frosting with coconut. It's really foody to my nose..and if it wasn't so heavy with the cocoa vibe..I might like it more. It isn't offensive to me..but I am not the type of girl who seeks to smell like chocolate desserts..I like my chocolate a bit more complex. The cassia is still there..giving it a bit of a dry spicy kick. I kind of like that. You know..this cocoa/chocolate note sort of reminds me of Spooky...I know another reviewer noted this also...and I tend to agree. Sometimes..while whiffing..I can almost register that very faint stale/plastic note that had me conflicted in Spooky as well..but it could all just be my imagination.. Hour to 3 hours: Chocolate cake with toasted coconut frosting dusted with cinnamon. Drydown: Same notes..softened. Lasting power was impressive-5+hours..with throw soft..it wafted lightly around me. Bottom Line:MB:Underbed is a fun and definitely foody fragrance. I see it suitable for fall/winter and a home run for people who love gourmand/sweet scents. Again..the toasted coconut was the lure for me..and if the cocoa hadn't amped as much as it did..I might find myself reaching for this a bit more. Alas..I don't see it happening that much but I might as well try it for the SO and see if he enjoys it.

House of Mirrors...how you did confuse me... I bought this off an Ebay auction quite some time ago..and was eagerly anticipating wearing this blend..although I had passed up on it when it was live on the BPAL forum the whole idea of warped glass notes and amber intrigued me to no end. Beth's amber blends have been winners for me so far so this particular blend teased me until I gave in and managed to snag a bottle. Today was the day. I showered..I stood in my unmatching underwear. I cradled the bottle for one moment and then eagerly applied to my pulse points. Immediately...I became alarmed..WTF???? All of a sudden...I am enveloped in a cloud of...Sea of Glass...huh I panicked..thinking somehow I had been duped on ebay...I mean..it smelled identical. The clear aquatic with a touch of citrus..I mean..it is a dead ringer. Kicking myself for being so stupid for trusting non bpal forum sellers..I chastised myself for not being more careful. Until of course..I started reading the reviews. Apparently I have company..lots of people here liken this to the GC scent..I feel vindicated!!! So..now that the panic has died down I put them both on and did the old sniff and compare. Both of them smell identical in the bottle and applied wet on skin. Where House of Mirrors differs is that the amber does round out the bottom of the fragrance giving it a bit of sweetness. All in all it is a very clear and glass-like fragrance..perfect for summer and maybe winter..when it's all crystal icicles on the trees in the early morning..with the sun making everything looks so glittering.

Pumpkin Queen This was the one of the two Halloweenie scents I had to have..the other being All Souls. As soon as I saw amber, red ginger, mandarin, cardamom, and orange peel in the mix it was decided. Although I love pumpkin..I never thought it was a note I would want to wear as fragrance..but the other notes sealed it for me. I was a bit wary..as foody scents typically don't have me doing backflips..but I had to try. Of course..I was one of the few who ended up waiting forever for my Halloweenie order due to the very tricky Pumpkin Queen...but she was so worth the wait. Initial sniff from bottle:It smells like gingerbread.Yup. Gingerbread..with a touch of the orange peel wwwaaay in the back. With the cap off and the bottle a couple of feet away from me what wafts up to my nose lazily is the gingerbread...a touch buttery...and it's foody. Since it isn't sweet and cloying..I don't mind this...it's very appropro to autumn actually. Very much a comfort scent at this stage. Applied wet on skin:Pumpkin and the splash of mandarin... orange peel and a touch of ginger oh my!!! Goodness this is gorgeous..and then this starts to warm up...it's gotta be the amber in this blend because it's all warm and cozy and just amazing. I never smelled Jack and I feel I might never have to..since this is just blowing me away.I think the cardamom is what made me think gingerbread before and cardamom doesn't disappoint me..I love it so. Couple of minutes on skin:Okay..the mandarin has softened a bit and it's a melange of the pumpkin, cardamom, and amber....it's just the warm cloud of comfort. I get a whiff of ginger at the tail end...so I am happy.This is still retaining a bit of that buttery note I got from out of the bottle..but surprisingly this isn't making me feel wretched..it kind of gives it a touch of richness that I find actually appealing. It is a a bit of of a foody scent..but because it is so autumnal in it's feel I can't help falling in love with it. I don't feel like I am wearing pumpking pie or gingerbread cookies..but I do feel like I am wearing an autumnal foody fragrance that doesn't make me feel like a baked good.. I wore this last night to dinner with some friends and my sister said I smelled really good...then again my sis is a huge FOODY fragrance gal..so I can see why she found this blend so appealing. Drying on skin:It's the amber in the forefront..the other notes swirling softly in the back. Drydown: A bit of the golden amber left..with traces of the spices. Lasting power on me was good 5+ hours but throw was soft.... Bottom Line:Pumpkin Queen as LiberAmoris stated is probably one of the best autumnal blends. Sure..it's a bit foody but in all the right places..and I absolutely loved how I felt wearing her. I think the significant other might like it too so I have to see if this scores high snuggling points. I would snuggle myself..hahahahahahahahahaha. I love it.

Punkie Night..... This was one of the Halloweenie blends I figured I had to have..not because I am such a foody gal..but because it seemed a bit whimsical and lighthearted and sometimes..you just want that carefree spirit in what you are wearing. You don't want complex..you just want straightforward. Initial sniff from bottle:Apples and cranberries. Cranberries and apples. Fresh pressed apples..with a tinge of cranberry thrown in. It conjures up apple picking in the brisk autumn air for me.. Applied wet on skin:Cranberry and apple...should I be smelling something else??? No...I don't think so..it's all just that cran-apple wave that has me thinking for a split second of Ocean Spray cranberry juice blends and then cider. Truly it's a fun scent...and linear on me..as it should be. Couple of minutes on skin:More cranberry than apple..and as LiberAmoris stated..this note sort of veers off on me...but it's still wearable. I wore this last weekend and when I hugged my mom goodbye as I headed out the door she said I smelled like holidays..specifically Christmas..and there was delight in her voice. I felt good for making her smile. Sometimes I think Punkie Night wears on me suspiciously close like a Yankee candle..but it doesn't quite go over to that territory. Drydown:It's all softened...with more the cranberry than the apple. Throw is soft..and lasting power is about 3 to 4+hours. Bottom Line:Punkie Night is a fun autumnal fragrance. I found it nice on me..but I think I would get much more use out of it in an oil burner. However..I just might dot some on during Thanksgiving and maybe the days leading up to Christmas just because seeing my mom's smile made me sing inside.

I bought a bottle of this outright simply because I loved Poe's story and because of the whole clove and incense combo. As I have stated in previous reviews I am a HUGE fan of fragrances that use incense and well I happen to be pretty fond of clove too. I have been wearing this for three days. Initial sniff from bottle:It's tough for me...I kind of get a melange..some incense..some floral..must be the carnation..maybe a touch of rose??? Like some other reveiwers have stated..Masque sort of has the same feel as Gypsy Queen but again..this is just from whiffing..nothing yet has touched my skin. Applied wet on skin:Ahhh..it's floral..spicy carnation..a bit of the rose..and yes..I get the incense.. ....this smells good..heady...there is a sweetness to this..I assume it's the honey?? MMMMmmm...I really enjoy this phase. Again..it sort of has the same feel as Gypsy Queen..but it's a different fragrance..just the way it translates on me..heady..a bit complicated. Couple of minutes on skin:It's a bit of a morpher..the players have changed up a bit. Floral has changed up a bit...not so much the spicy carnation anymore..more so the rose and I think the jonquil..but it's tempered with the clove/incense in the back along with something else..maybe this is the labdanum...maybe the patchouli..maybe even the amber??? It's a warm heady melange of floral and incense..but it has the clove/patchouli/labdanum that lends the earthy(not dirt-like) vibe underneath it all. This is the same complicated but intoxicated rush I had when I first tried Kali out..so many notes re-surfacing and then retreating....I loved it. I am loving The Masque right now too. Half an hour:So now it's floral softened considerably and in the back...with more the clove/tabacco/patchouli..which by the way is beautiful in this blend..and a soft roundness which I have to assume is the amber..for at this stage I also get a touch of sweetness..maybe it's the labdanum..maybe it's the amber..maybe it's the honey??? I can't say either way. I can't stop smelling my wrists..and when I applied it in my hair I was loving it too..more floral/honey/incense. Yesterday a male co-worker came over to ask me to do him a favor when he suddenly grabbed me and nuzzled my neck sayng I smell sooo good. HAHAHAHAHAHA..I know!!! Drydown:It's all just a memory now...but what's left still makes me smile...faint whiff of tobacco..sweetened just a touch...I honestly can't make out anything else. Throw is soft to medium..and lasting power is 5+hours. Bottome Line:The Masque is just a hands-down winner for me..almost making it to the "holy grail" status. I love its' complexity and the way Beth has the notes seamlessly transitioning from the top through the heart and then to the wonderful base of the fragrance. Stellar..and something I would absolutely LOVE to wear in the fall and winter. Lurid barbaric revelry and folly should always come to a party smelling this good...

Storm Moon..how long I have had thee.. It's true..it's been an awfully long time. I mean..I got this bottle late in the game..and have been sitting on it. Why??? Didn't seem the time was right. I knew that alot of people found this particular lunacy hit or miss but I had to get a bottle..the name alone was so freaking seductive..who wouldn't like the imagery conjured up for a stormy lunar evening??? Call me romantic but I had to get it. I have been wearing her all day and here are my thoughts: Initial sniff from bottle:The first whiff is a tidal wave of ozone....BAM!!! Yep...it's aggressive..but honestly..it's just not offensive to my nose. I have always liked ozone in fragrance and although this doesn't feel feminine or pretty I am digging it. I get a touch of citrus on the bottom but it's all pulsing ozone and yes...I can see people likening this to laundry detergent. I don't..but I can see the parallel to the laundry detergent/mens fragrance just the same. Applied wet on skin:Ozone, ozone, ozone..with a touch of citrus...if I am sniffing straight off my wrist. Interestingly enough though..after a couple of seconds..I get the lunar oils..yep..they are a bit subdued from the ozone..but after a coulple of seconds they peek through with the ozone..and waft a bit here and there..I can only get the impression of them if Idon't stick my nose near my skin. It's a bit bracing but it's clean and airy and has presence. I do like it very much. My skin does ozone notes better than straight up citrus..somehow citrus can veer to the the Lemon Pledge dark side and the ozone in this blend keeps the citrus note behaving. Couple of minutes on skin:Ozone is softening a bit..with the lunar oils that lend a touch of mint-like and floral vibe a bit more presence...this feels like a true aquatic..not so much bracing now..but clear...a windswept and rain slashed aquatic..the slight tang of ozone..the faint blush of floral...and all around the edges..a really brief whiff of faint incense..but only if I concentrate really hard..which could all just boil to my imagnation..hard to tell at this point. Now..I happen to like aquatics very much..and this is no exception. I know..I am probably in the minortiy regarding this lunacy blend..but I really am enjoying it. The lasting power on this is about 5+ hours on me..with the throw soft. Drydown:Here is where it gets interesting. After some time..the ozone layer fades off..and I am left on my skin is this really very pretty aquatic..gentle clear echo of floral with the touch of lunar oil and this clear smelling almost rain-like note.Underneath all of this is a soft whiff of something herbal..but not medicinal. I could smell it faintly around me at work and kept wondering.."Is this me that smells so good?" It didn't resemble the opening and middle of this scent...but it became this really tranquil and gentle aquatic floral. Bottom Line:Storm Moon is a pleasant surprise for me. I knew that the ozone might be a bit much but I figured I would meet it head on..and it worked wonderfully on me. I can see this as a summer scent..but I actually could wear this in the winter too. This ozone/aquatic/floral really represents the stormy lunar phase accurately..all I need now is a chilly windswept rainsoaked evening to enjoy the olefactory ride all over again. Well done.

All Souls.... I have always been partial to both All Saints and especially All Souls Day..although not a holy day of obligation, All Souls is a nice way to remember all of our loved ones and the ones we don't know..so this purchase was strictly out of pure sentiment. On to the review: Initial sniff from bottle:Hmmm..this is kind of hard to describe...it is sort of foody...a bit like a baked good..not overly sweet or anything like that..a touch buttery..but again..this isn't really overt when sniffing..and maybe I get a touch of incense..but that's it. No currant to speak of.. Applied wet on skin:The baked/buttery note is first there...and then in the course of a couple of seconds I get the currant note....it shows up and then settles behind the baked good note. It's definitely got the the ofertory cake vibe going..and all of this on my skin although not invisible is quiet...it's a quiet fragrance on me..which isn't a bad thing at all. This sort of reminds me of All Saints but isn't as incense/floral forward. Couple of minutes on skin:It's the quiet duo of the cake and currant...and the cake isn't sweet. I like this very much...even if it is at this point a bit linear on me. When I was wearing this yesterday..all throughout the day I kept getting whiffs of me..and I swore..I swore I was also getting a bit of floral..maybe a lily/jasmine note??? Of course..I could be just imagining this..but that's what I was registering. As of right now..again..it's just the cake/currant duo. Drying on skin:Now the currant is in tandem with the cake note..and I am also getting a touch of the incense..it's not super heavy that incense note..but I am convinced that it is the note that rounds out the fragrance and also is giving me that "floral" touch I thought I was hallucinating about. It's really subtle..and I think it works well with the fruit/bread/cake notes. Throw is soft on me...and lasting power is good...5+hours . Drydown:Notes softened so that they are all just faint echoes on my skin. Bottom Line:All Souls is a good fragrance for fall/winter. On me it is a quiet and contemplative scent....and although the notes are a bit "foody" they do translate on my skin nicely. A welcome addition to my fall/winter rotation.

Spooky...how long have I had thee??? Pretty long time..at least 6+ months..I scoured the boards and Ebay...finally..I got lucky. Being a coconut fanatic..I had to try this..absolutely had to...the idea of coconut and mint was just too good to pass up..so I set my sights on acquiring a bottle. So..it's been in my cold drawer..waiting for the time...to show itself to me. Here is how I want to sort of start it off: SO...Sunday...this past Sunday..I am standing in front of Tavern on the Green..it's 9am..windy..a bit chilly..and yes..I am there to try and run 5 miles in the Poland Marathon Kickoff Race. I put Spooky on...and proceeded to inch along the course. I was slow. I was laboring. I am not in good shape. I haven't run consistently in MONTHS. I am running..if you want to call it that..when I ovehear two runners: Runner#1-Hey...do you smell that??? Runner#2-Huh??? Runner#1-I swear..I smell coconut...you smell it??? Runner#2-Oh...yeah..yeah I do..but it's not like suntan lotion or anything... Runnner#1-No you're right..someone must be wearing it..and it smells really good.. So yep..although I was slow as a snail..even in the throng of people running a race..my BPAL managed to make some people stop and wonder what the heck was so nice smelling..am glad I was able to provide for them a nice olefactory experience...hehehehehehehehehe ANYWAY...onto the official review: Inital sniff from bottle:Mint...a bit of cocoa...a tinge of coconut. It smells sweet..but since the mint is in the forefront..I don't get overbearingly sweet..because that would be just too much for me to handle. I think I also get a twinge of rum..but I can't be sure. Applied wet on skin:Peppermint...and then it's like York Peppermint Patty...which is okay..and then I get some wonderful coconut..and then..then..a stale note. In fact..it's the dreaded plastic note..and it's the first time I am getting it FULL FORCE..this can't be good...please..go away??? I want to like Spooky..but this note is making me feel weird. Am waiting it out to see if it settles down or something.. Couple of minutes on skin:This is really just reminding me of the peppermint patty..or maybe like other reviewers described..the thin mint. Meh..I was hoping for more coconut and mit and less chocolate..so I am holding out. There is still that odd stale/plastic note hanging on..which really bums me out..it prevents me from loving this blend...I am kind of just tolerating it. It's funny...if I wave my wrist in front of me or whiff deeply..I get more cocoa and mint and stale/plastic note..however what wafts around me is more coconut..the sweetened kind...with a touch of the cooca..and this I like very much..but it's only when I don't whiff straight from my skin...darn. Drying:The weird note finally settled down..but it's all still soft mint with the cocoa moving into the background. I can't say I really smelled the rum..but maybe it was part of the weird note that was making me feel uneasy??? I just do not know. This definitely reminds me of peppermint candy canes...soft mint.. Drydown:Soft note of the mint...some sweetness..from what I have no idea..maybe the coconut..but I can't smell it at all from my skin.. Lasting power was impressive..really impressive...8+hours..and throw was definitely soft to medium. Bottom Line Spooky is definitely a sesonal scent..if not for Halloween but also a good foody scent for winter as well. It had a bit more chocolate then I care for in a fragrance and that stale/plastic note was a bit concerning but all in all I did get some nice compliments. I love this oil during it's wet phase..but that can't be enough for me to keep it for my personal rotoation. I am thrilled I got the chance to try-my sis smelled it on me and liked it..I will give her the bottle and see how she does with it-otherwise it's off to the sale pile.

Midnight on the Midway..one of only two CD scents I bought. What was the draw?? First off...I like the imagery the name of the scent conjured up for me..the idea of a midnight or noir-like carnavale..seemingly fun but seductive with hints of pleasure and fantasy..with an undercurrent of...something sinister?? I don't know..I guess I have a bit of a vivid imagination..hahahahahaha. Secondly...I do like incense..especially in my fall/winter fragrances..it's a component/note that I am intstantly drawn to..and well couple that with a touch of sweetness, some night blooming floral and lightning..well..I am intrigued enough to make the purchase. I have been wearing it all day today and here are my impressions: Initial sniff from bottle:Something akin to citrus..perhaps lemon..maybe lemon verbena and floral..it's gotta be the night blooms. Not exactly what I was expecting..but it's early. There is a sweetness too..but no incense to speak of. It actually smells perfume-like..the old fashioned kind..so this really throws me for a loop. Applied wet on skin:Night blooms are in my face..and it is one in particular..that smells an awfully like jasmine...although I swear that something in this is making me think violet too..like that roaring and headache-inducing violet in Numb...uh-oh..please don't let that happen here... It's kind of an aggressive floral right now..almost a tad bit soap-like...but I am waiting it out....the lemon vibe is nowhere in sight.. This isn't at ALL what I was expecting..but then again..I wasn't expecting anything like Midway either..so right now I am just going with the flow of this blend. Couple of minutes on skin: So now the teetering vicious violet note has seemed to have evaporated and I am getting more of a jasmine note...and this is something I can deal with. I have never been too keen on florals..but since I went to Spain I now have very good memory associations regarding jasmine..especially night-blooming jasmine. This still has a bit of a perfume like quality to it..kind of old-fashioned..and every so often I am now registering a bit of the incense..but it's light and it's as if it is floating softly over the floral...I am usually used to the incense being the predominant and stronger note..so it's kind of interesting that at this stage it's playing the supporting role..interesting. When I walked to see my sister and some friends for lunch...I kept getting wafts of this fragrance..but instead of straight up jasmine..I kept getting subtle waves of the sweet and light incense interspersing between the jasmine..but if I sniffed real close all I get is jasmine..it's as if the other notes are just floating out of my reach...and only come to me at their will instead of me commanding them on my skin. This again isn't at all what I expected. Drying:Floral..and at the tail end it kind of has a soap-like tinge..but I am okay with it..because there is some sweetness too...and yes...like some others stated...I get wwwaaayy in the back a very faint metallic echo..I like that very much...maybe it's the airy incense too??? I have no idea. Oooooohhh..the sugary incense starts mellowing into the back...really nice. Drydown:Almost invisible...with the barest and I mean barest breath of incense and sweet. Throw is soft to medium..the strongest in it's wet phase and when it's had a couple of minutes to warm up on my skin. Lasting power is actually not bad...4-5+ hours. Bottom Line: Midnight on the Midway is definitely not what I had expected..but then again..the notes were dead on. I think the expression of the notes caught me off guard because I was expecting more incense and less floral..but I do like it. I actually would wear this as a winter scent..especially in maybe January because it kind of gives me a bit of a cold like vibe..not cold like as cold feeling...just not warm and inviting..it's a bit stand-offish...but there is something so alluring too. The airy wispiness of the incense with the heady jasmine kind of has me a bit confused..but in a good way. Not a holy-grail fragrance for me..but definitely a thought provoking one...am glad I have my 5ml.

So..when I originally ordered this lunacy I really didn't think I would go ga-ga over it..I mean..the description basically told all I needed to know..foody, foody, FOODY. But..I loved the whole whimsical concept..and it is a lunacy..so I knew it a bottle would be mine. Today is the first day I have worn Beaver Moon and even with my wonky/congested nose I got the following: Intial sniff from the bottle:Buttercream frosting..a hint of mint..maybe some cheesecake??? Cheeky indeed...this is all about sweetness and foody..and all though I usually run for the hills..this has me smiling... Applied wet on skin:Cake and frosting..vanilla..buttercream..or maybe it's cheesecake..and yes..I get the lunar oil vibe underneath..a bit of minty-ness underneath it all..it's not super sweet to the point of cloying..but yes...it is indeed foody..but I kind of like it.. Couple of minutes on skin: Warming up the lunar/mint vibe burns off..and it's all cake and frosting...I have to admit it..I am really into it..I have no idea why..but what can I say??? I do kind of always liked cake and frosting that was non-chocolate..sooo maybe the sweet butter cream/vanilla vibe along with the comforting cake note is just conjuring up good memories or something...I am really surprised I am liking this so much..hahahahahahahahaha. Drying on skin:Cake..and the lunar oil is peeking out again...the waft of the buttercream/cheesecake has softened but it still has presence. Funny...when I was walking to work today in brisk NYC..I kept getting wonderful wafts of this..and it was keeping me in a happy mood..I kept wondering if anybody was getting whiffs of me...it just seems such a cheeky scent..in a comforting way. Drydown:Lunar note...pretty much gone..but that cake/frosting duo is STILL there..just softer..but not invisible... Amazingly..this has some impressive lasting power..it's been almost 6 hours and it's going on...throw is soft to medium. Bottom Line:Beaver Moon is actually a surprising hit for me. I definitely love it for fall/winter..as I kind of liken it to a bit of a comfort/snuggle scent..good for when your significant other wants to nuzzle. I will absolutely hoard my 5ml bottle..and would seriously consider getting another bottle..if I could ever find one.

Havest Moon....this is going to be a tough review because I am sick as a dog and honestly am not too sure if I am registering fully all the notes in this blend but I am going to try... Initial sniff from bottle:Fruit driven...I want to say apple...definitely the plum...maybe pomegranate and some other stone fruit..the cherry maybe??? I don't get much in the way of florals, herbs, grains...just for now..with my wonky nose...I get fruit..and it's soft..not super aggressive..but not invisible either. Applied wet on skin: ...this is really my favorite phase...right here...when the fruit melds with some sort of floral...wow does this smell good..even with my congested nose I can still appreciate the notes..and in the back of my throat I get a catch of something...I want to say it's a dusty note..so maybe it's the wheat??? Couple of minutes on skin:If I keep sniffing my wrist..which I will do..it's still the fruit and the floral..but it softens a bit...and now I get more of the herbal..it's not really medicinal or bracing but it does give a bit of depth that lends the blend to feel really very autumnal. I have to say this particular blend kind of reminds me of Frapin's 1270...which uses dried fruit, woods, vine flowers, and honey. I love that fragrance as well and would love to layer the two..hmmm.. Drying on skin:The florals are now more on the forefront..with the fruit playing softly in the background...I can sort of feel the "lunar oils" present in this blend..but I don't know if they are really truly there since they aren't listed..must be my wonky nose again. Am going to have to definitely do this again when my nose isn't so clogged..meh. Throw on this is soft...strongest at it's wet phase..re-application for me is at the 3+hour mark Drydown:No fruit to speak of...just maybe the touch of hazlenut/with some sort of faint wood..could be the hickory...and that's it for my nose. Bottom Line:Harvest Moon 2006 is quite beautiful...and I am so glad I went ahead and bought the 5ml. I love the autumnal feel I get from this blend and would be curious to try the other blends from prior years. It's perfect for this time of year and look forward to layering it with my hoarded bottle of 1270...although it truly is beautiful on it's own. I will try to update this when my nose is clear..just so that I can give a better review.

Blood Moon...this one was a bit hard to pin down. I mean..literally... Last year I was in Spain when this came out..so I was kicking myelf big time for not ordering a bottle. Hunting high and low..I was lucky enough to get an imp from a wonderful forumite..thank you so much LiberAmoris...and then I actually procured a bottle for my sis and I. Yes..it took last week for me to finally try it out. I have been wearing it for about 3 days..and these are my thoughts: For the record..I am completely in awe of people who can review like 10-20 scents in a day..my nose can only do like 4..tops.. BUT... I digress...onto the review: Inital sniff from bottle:I will be honest..something in there made me feel uneasy. Another reviewer said she thought she might be smelling vetiver..I kind of felt the same way too. It's like it's vetiver with some sort of spicy note..seems like cinnamon...and if I leave the bottle uncapped and let it's waft come to me..it's almost like there is a sort of creamy vibe also. I don't do well with vetiver at all...and although at first whiff I want to like it..something restrains me...it's okay..but not wow. Applied wet on skin:Spicy cinnamon and that note that makes me feel uneasy/unsettled again. Folks..I don't get feral...I just get big time cinnamon..almost like the cinnamon bark note in Bengal..that weird/unsettling note that makes my stomach uneasy..maybe it's vetiver...and the creamy note..I guess that could be the grains??? Am not loving this phase..am kind of just tolerating it. The first time I wore this and I got to this phase I was sure that this would be a no-go..and mourned the idea of actually putting a lunacy blend to the sale pile...I mean..how could this happen??? I am a lunar child and up until now almost every lunar blend has been pretty good on me...it was...disconcerting..but I guess..bound to happen. Can't win 'em all kid. Couple of minutes on skin: Okay..that weird/unsettling note is backing off..along with the cinnamon bark note..and although it is still spicy..it has that creamy vibe a bit more in tandem and a subtle sweet note kind of peeking through...I am at a loss on identifying what that could be. The usual lunar oils that I can pretty much register in a lunacy blend again seem a bit MIA here..but it's still kind of early. Drying on skin:Spice...and now...I sort of get on the tail end a faint floral note...could this be dragon's blood??? Or is it the lunar oils...and wwwwaaaayyy in the back I swear I can sort of smell something faintly..metallic. Maybe my nose is wonky or something but this is what I register.There is a note here that supports the cinnamon/spice note and I suspect that is the musk....maybe that is what gives it a touch of sweet??? It's not an overt sweet..but it is there nonetheless. I don't really register the forest herbs or wood. Hmm..I wonder if the wood note is what I am reacting to when I first sniffed it??? I don't think so because I normally love blends with wood in them...darn..I wish I knew. Or maybe..maybe it was the forest herb??? Hmm...much to consider.... When I re-applied this at work before I went out to lunch, the same co-worker who liked Eden on me asked "what smells so good?" Yippee..I might have enabled another!!! Lasting power is about 4 hours..and throw is strongest in the wet phase...all in all a soft to medium throw. Drydown:Here is the best part of the fragrance for me...it's all softly spiced musk with the touch of sweet...and way in the back I get a faint floral touch and I swear...it's like a super faint metallic whiff....call me crazy but I get that. Bottom Line This was a morpher..and not one I can easily dismiss nor embrace. Blood Moon wasn't the animilastic, hunt-type fragrance for me. I never got the feral rush-so it was kind of hard for me to commiserate with others about that aspect in my review. I kind of wish I got that..so this is a bit reminiscent of when I tried Devil's Night..no campfires or burning leaves for me..it was all sugar cookie and a touch of spice. Blood Moon kind of reminds me of a 2nd cousin to Bengal...and in this regard I find it suitable for fall..definitely. I am so glad I got the opportunity to try it but am on the fence as to whether I should keep it for fall rotation. The opening note puts me at arms length with it..I have to be in a specific mood to wrestle with that so that I can get to the very appealing drydown. My sister's bottle will definitely go to the sale pile..not her type of scent at all. C'est la vie.

Eden...just the name alone sounds dreamy...no??? I bought a 5ml outright because of the coconut..I won't deny it..I am a bit of a coconut fanatic..and although I don't normally embrace sweet/foody scents if a scent has coconut in it's notes I am willing to delve into foody waters...I am that weak for coconut. Funny thing is..most of my favorite scents don't have coconut...I don't know..it's a strange fascination with it... Anyway...so this was the second choice my significant other wanted me to wear...so although Dragon Moon didn't score any big points...I figured I might as well try this one. Here it goes: Wafting from uncapped bottle:I smell...coconut. Not the dried sweetened kind..no,no, no..it's all unsweetened..fresh coconut meat...it has an almost wet quality to it...and all of this is about 2 feet away from my nose with the bottle uncapped. Initial sniff from the bottle:Still the unsweetened coconut..but I also get a whiff of the figgy...and that's about it. I like it. Different than the other BPAL scents that I have tried with coconut in it's notes. Applied wet on skin:Hmm...here the first whiff is coconut but almost immediately the fig is front and center...so now it's almost all fig...a tad sweet the fig is...it's different than the other BPAL blends with fig in it..maybe that's the fig leaf??? Perhaps that is what lent the blend a bit of a fresh/wet quality that I registered earlier??? I don't really register the honeyed almond milk yet..or sandalwood but it's early. Couple of minutes on skin:Interestingly enough...the figgy note is in the background...kind of MIA..and I get the coconut..but what is in the forefront a bit more is the sandalwood....way in the back I get a touch of sweetness.....it's all the way in the back and it's the honeyed almond milk..that I know. I want to say this is very evocative of summer..but I don't mean it in "suntan lotion" or "beach" way. It kind of reminds me of warmer weather..exotic locales...but nothing screaming sun and searing heat. Darn..I wish I had a better way to put it...kind of like a an exotic locale that was quiet and tranquil..best I can do. Maybe like a shady grove in Israel??? Egypt??? I am grasping here... Drying on skin: Sandalwood is prominent on me..and with the fresh figgy note, fig leaf, and coconut close behind...the sweetness from the honeyed almond milk is still in the back..kind of weaving in and out... When I wore this to work a couple of days ago a co-worker came over to my desk and said I must be the one that smelled good. She smelled coconut..and then she said pineapple too...huh??? I took the compliment anyway. I don't register the pineapple...but everyones' noses are different. Throw on this is soft to medium. I can smell this wafting around for quite some time..4+ hours..so lasting power isn't bad at all. In the hair it lasts even longer...and I get more of the coconut/honeyed milk notes. Drydown:Sandalwood echoes with a touch of sweetness...funny...I sort of smell a touch of the pineapple my co-worker swore she smelled..but maybe this is all just my imagination... It's all good. Bottom Line:Eden is definitely an early summer fragrance for me. I really enjoyed the way Beth used the coconut/fig/sandalwood notes here..a nice variation of my much beloved coconut. Since my significant other hasn't had a chance to sniff this on me, maybe I will put it on the rotation schedule for the days I come over.

Dragon Moon is one of two scents my significant other requested I wear this weekend. I went with this one because he was born in the year of the Dragon..plus...this IS a lunacy blend and well...when can I say no to one of those??? So..I have been wearing it for a day...so here are my thoughts on it: Initial sniff from bottleFruity...not a sweet fruity..but fruity nonetheless..I think I am registering the cherry blossom..and something a bit tart. I kind of had my pulse quicken a bit..for whatever reason this initial sniff sort of reminded me of another lunacy blend...Red Moon..so to have something that might come as a close second would be fantastic. The wafting I get from the bottle is definitely fruity..a bit tart and very appealing. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Applied wet on skin: The tart fruit is there for a quick second and then I too get the dreaded slide to lemon furniture polish...NNNNOOOOOO!!!! It's skating awfully close to Pledge-like tendencies..but I don't want it to go to that lemon dark side. Couple of minutes on skin:Okay...it's veered away from Lemon Pledge..thank goodness..but it still retains that tart like quality...sort of citrus-like..I wonder if it's the bamboo reed or tea doing this??? I kind of just get citrus like melange with some sort of faint floral..must be the dragon's blood..or maybe it's the cherry blossom??? All of this is a bit bracing...and to tell you the truth..the traditional lunar oils that I can usually pick out in a lunar blend certainly aren't here..that's what makes it kind of different. It's definitely different..and I think I like it. The throw on this is medium. Drying on skin:The lemon-note is softening up considerably..and it's more in the background with the floral permeating softly to the forefront. Not quite so bracing..but I still don't get the sandalwood. Drydown:Sharp notes exited the building and now I get the sandalwood which anchor the echoes of the floral/bamboo/tea party that had been getting it's groove on my skin 4 hours earlier. Lasting power:4+ hours Bottom Line:Dragon Moon is one of the more unusual lunacy blends. I definitely was thrown for a loop with the bracing/sharp qualities of this one..but giving it time to warm on my skin paid off. I like it...and I think I will probably wear it late spring to summer. Addendum:SO didn't go ga-ga over the scent..said it reminded him of air freshner or dryer sheets..but no matter..I wear what I want. This just won't be on the rotation when I sleep over..

Bengal..... I remember when this first came out...I was just finishing my order and having it process through CC Now when I remembered I didn't check out the Wanderlust update. Once I read about it..I knew I had to purchase a 5ml..no screwing around with an imp. Ginger? Cloves? Pepper? Honey?? I mean this was making me swoon..the perfect fall/winter scent ..I was sure I was in love. So..I have had Bengal on for a week. First layered over my Hetaire scented body cream and then just standing alone. This is what I came up with: Initial sniff from bottle: Two words people:Chai tea. Yep..like many other reviewers before me, this totally smells like a nice hot mug of chai tea..actually it really smells like the actual tea bag before it is steeped. Spicy cinnamon..and no..I do not get the Red Hots association but it is cinnamon strong with a faint kick of ginger in the back. I don't really get the pepper or honey or anything like that yet..but it's early. Applied wet on skin:Cinnamon..and the pepper are here..along with the sweetness of the honey..not very aggressive the honey..just lending some sweetness to temper the cinnamon/pepper duo..and again..it's the ginger in the back. It's almost like wearing chai tea..at first sniff. Spicy sweet. Reminds me of falling leaves and brisk autumn days. Couple of minutes on skin:I do get a slight tingling in my cleavage and everywhere else where I applied..so I don't know if I have an allergic reaction to the cinnamon bark..but I can deal. Cinnamon has actually softened and it's more like the honey and cinnamon with the ginger and the pepper dancing in the background. This really does smell wonderful...kind of cozy and sweet/spicy.. It's almost a foody scent..which I don't do..but it has enough of a touch exotic to make it very wearable for me. Drying on skin: Skin musk has now made it's presence known..and it's all a warm melange of the honey/skin musk with soft touches of the cinnamon/pepper/ginger...I really am enjoying the blend. This kind of reminds me of L'Artisan's Tea For Two and I am already thinking about layering the two. Throw on me is medium..if I apply it in my hair it REALLY lasts a long time..and lasting power on me is actually pretty good...about 4-5 hours. Drydown:Warm and spicy sweet skin musk. Bottom Line:Bengal for me is very evocative of fall. It's not the holy grail of fall scents for me but I am thrilled to have the 5ml in my rotation. Spicy sweet goodness that is ideal for sweaters, jeans, long walks under an autumnal sky..nicely done!!

Black Dahlia..frimp compliments of the Labbies...again thank you!!! It's the last fragrance I am trying for the evening as I am running out of room on my arms... Intial sniff from imp:Holy cow...this is some lush florals going on there..almost like nightblooms..all heavy and super-fragrant. I think I smell predominantly the magnolias..as I grew up with a magnolia tree in the backyard of a house we used to live in..but I also think I smell the orchid as well..definitely not for the faint of heart but yes..definitely voluptuous. I am impressed. Applied wet on skin:Oh.My.Goodness. This is amazing. Magnolia and orchid and some sort of round note filling it with a fullness that is absolutely heady. I feel like I am drowning in some serious and sexy floral. Lush and dark and heavy with intent. Couple of minutes on skin: Jasmine is coming out to play..and it's got the magnolia/orchid meeting it head on so it doesn't overpower. I am getting some of the rose..definitely classic rose..and in the back I think I get the amber which rounds all of this out..but honestly this whole melange of florals is just simply genius. I am just stunned as to how gorgeous this is on my skin. Completely and utterly stunned. This isn't a delicate floral..it has definite presence..but it's just so hypnotically sexy... Drying on skin:I don't think I register the smoky rose..but I do detect the rose with the magnolia/orchid/jasmine melange and all of this is just one big super sexy party on my skin. Definitely feminine, definitely lush, definitely sexy and definitely not at ALL what I was expecting. I was expecting some loud,brash, super heavy floral. Sure..this is a bit heavy and lush but not loud or brash..just confident and lush. Throw is strong...lasting power is also formidable... The black amber in this blend and on my skin is actually more of a supporting role..I think the amber lends a roundess that makes the florals work seamlessly with eachother. Usually with black amber I get a "baby powder" vibe..but luckily that component is absent on me right now. Drydown:Gorgeous hothouse florals..still lush..just markedly softer..but definitely not non-existent. Bottom Line: Black Dahlia is a home run for me in the way of florals. I don't usually gravitate towards florals..least of all in either the fall or winter but this lush fragrance just might change my mind. Definitely not a work scent..but it could do wonders on a date or at some summer evening soiree. Heck..I just may put some on the next time I sleep over my significant others..this is a genius floral and I am DEFINTELY buying a 5ml in my next order. Bravo!!!!

Khephra...frimp compliments of the Labbies...many thanks!!! Not something on my list of oils to try but the "midnight sun" sounds intriguing. Initial sniff from imp:Something a bit sour or pungent??? Maybe also lavender in there..am not too sure though...almost citrus-like..but kind of darkly so..I hate to say this..but if I whiff deeply enough it almost smells like lavender and...pickle juice??? That can't be right....but it's definitely a pungent citrus/sour note with a touch medicinal..almost eucalyptus like on the tail end..I am baffled..and embarassed I can't do a better job at describing..mea culpa. Applied wet on skin:Okay..no pickle juice..just lavender...with something a bit sweet, a bit resiny sort of..with that faint medicinal note in the back again. It's an interesting mix...the resiny lavender with that herbal/medicinal note way in the back. Couple of minutes on skin:Lavender has left the building...and all I am really getting is some sort of resiny/spice wafting going on..it seems very much like a skin scent on me. Gone is also the herbal/medicinal note I was registering in the beginning as well..this is interesting. Drying on skin:Still the resin/spice waft blooming softly..this definitely has a "warm" feel to it..but it's not in-your-face..it feels like it's a soft fading warmth..kind of like the last rays of the sunset before it moves completely into twilight and then...dark sky. I am registering a touch of powder..every so lightly..but it's still the same players on my skin. Throw is definitely minimal..Khephra is definitely a "skin" scent on me. Drydown:I am registering basically powder...and skin scent. That's it. Bottom Line: Khephra is a nice blend..but not something that has me doing cartwheels. I am happy I had the chance to try it though..it definitely has potential but for me I think my imp might be better off with someone else who can truly appreciate it's beauty.

Oneiroi comes to me by way of frimp..thank you Labbies!!! Not on my list of original oils to try, but the idea of lavender and sandalwood sound nice. Jasmine and I are a bit tempermental with eachother..I find that in certain blends I love her to death and in others..well..it can get loud. Let's see how this one works for me. Initial sniff from imp:Soapy lavender...it's a bit sharp...but it's not offensive to my nose. Almost sharply clean smelling....I get a tinge of floral..but it is the lavender that I register immediately. Applied wet on skin:Hmmm...it's the slap of the lavender..but fast behind is the jasmine approaching..and I think on the tail end I am getting the sandalwood??? Am not sure if the sandalwood is working right now on me..but I will wait it out and see how the notes play. Couple of minutes on skin:Lavender and jasmine are playing very nice on me now and that sharp note I think was the bergamot..it's softened..and I get a bit of an herbal note...the jasmine has sweetened and actually this all just very calming and soothing. Wow. Drying on skin:It's sweetened jasmine with lavender echoing in and out. I don't really register the sandalwood/mugwort..but then again maybe the mugwort helps sweeten the jasmine??? This really is a very soothing scent on me. I am pleasantly surprised. Throw is soft to medium Have to get back to the lasting power-it wafts nicely though. Lasting power clocked in at 3 hours. Bottom Line:Oneiroi surprisingly worked well. I really am enjoying the lavender/jasmine combo and I suspect this might work wonders for me during the week when I am so stressed from work I find myself staring straight up at my ceiling with my mind racing. I will wear this to bed and maybe try it in an oil burner. This imp will not go to waste. Well done Beth...and thank you.

Serpent's Kiss comes to me by way of frimp from Labbies..thank you once again!!! Not something I was interested in trying because of the vetiver. Vetiver usually ends up smelling like hay on me-however..it's a freebie and one NEVER knows how things will end up working on one's body chemistry. So..I guess I will dive in and see how this all works out. Initial sniff from imp:Ummm...spicy..sort of like cinnamon...with a slight floral note that has to be the dragons blood..and a plant like or hay like note..that has to be the vetiver. I have to say...it kind of makes my nose wrinkle a bit..it doesn't automatically make me all giddy..but I am willing to try. Funny...this sort of reminds me of what I registered when I took a whiff of Mars..I wonder if that has vetiver too???Hmm.... Anyway..back to Serpent's Kiss.... Applied wet on skin:Definitely cinnamon like note leaping off at me....and I guess the vetiver is there too...the floral note is nowhere in sight..so I can't really register the dragon's blood. I wish that dragon's blood translated more on me like dark cherries..but instead it usually smells like floral..which isn't a bad thing..but I would have liked the fruity note that other people register with this particular blend. Right now all I am getting is a strong cinnamon/vetiver combo which kind of makes my stomach unsettled. Couple of minutes on skin:Still the cinnamon/spice/vetiver party going off and out of control on my me..but now I get a slight tinge of the floral..which is my dragon's blood. All of this isn't horrible..but it really isn't doing anything for me either. It's just...cinnamon with a hay/plant like note that kind of really puts me off guard. It's not offensive..it just doesn't tickle me pink either. I tolerate it. Drying on skinOkay..this has kind of thrown me for a loop. It's now softened considerably with spicy cinnamon/hay notes...kind of like Red Hots..but now the floral is a bit more in the forefront..huh??? In this stage this is actually more tolerable for me...a floral with a bit of a softly spicy kick..it's not bad...not making me swoon..but not making me gag either. Hmm...I am a bit intrigued here.. Throw on me is medium. Lasting power is about 3+hours. Drydown:Soft spicy notes..with the tinge of the floral I get from the dragon's blood bringing up the back. Not bad at all. Not loving it..but not hating it either..am not quite sure how I feel about it. Bottom Line: Serpent's Kiss kind of leaves me feeling..confused? I wasn't expecting a warm cuddly scent..and I didn't get one. The notes in the beginning made me feel uneasy because of the similarity to Mars but in the end..I was left with a melange that was actually very interesting. I can't embrace it..but I can't reject it either.Serpent's Kiss I think would be good in the fall..maybe early winter. I myself don't love it/like it enough to warrant a bottle..but the whole experience was valuable insofar as getting my nose to sit through a bit of a confusing olefactory journey.