Lori

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction. I used to work at a store that sold a line of organic essential oils, which were absolutely beautiful, and one of my absolute favourites to put on from the tester was Ylang Ylang, so I was anxious to smell this! I have only sniffed the imp, not tried it on, but I can say that this Ylang Ylang smells different than what I was used to! It has a far more tropical scent, rather than the floral I was used to. Yes, it is floral, but it has a bit of a bite or a spice to it! Quite lovely and I am so glad I got the chance to try it out. :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction. i am so surprised by this scent! I thought for some reason that Tuberose would be more of an earthy, woody rose, but it is sweet and beautiful. Just gorgeous!! I am always surprised at how many different rose scents that there are, and how much I love each and every one of them!

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Decanted, won in Ebay auction. Sniffing this Egyptian Amber, it smells very much like Musk to me. It is soft and sweet. We used to sell two different types of raw amber in the store I worked at. One was dark and one was light. This is definitely more of the light variety. It is sunny and warm, without being cloying. Very beautiful!

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Decanted, won in Ebay auction. At first sniff, I wasn't sure if I liked this or not. It had almost a bitter smell to it, but after a second sniff, I realize it smells exactly what a Stargazer Lily (which I used to grow in my garden, back home) should smell like! It does have a beautiful floral scent, but there is a bite to it, like the pollen that goes up your nose and gets stuck on your counter tops when this flower is brought inside. This is a lily that is not a wallflower! :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Decanted, won in Ebay auction. I am an anomaly in that I have NEVER drank a cup of coffee in my 46 years on the planet! I don't even like the smell of coffee...in fact, sometimes it makes me want to gag. And don't even get me started on coffee breath! God, I have worked in offices where people have breathed down my nostrils with that acrid smell! But this Coffee Bean SN is surprisingly quite nice! I have sniffed it more than once and while, yes, it is coffee, it is pure and earthy and quite enjoyable!

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Decanted, won in Ebay auction. Oh..My..God...this smells absolutely delicious!!! This is like the best vanilla ice cream with caramel topping and whipped cream! Sweet and yet sensuous. I want to eat this!

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction. This is the first time I have ever smelled this scent, and it is quite intriguing! I seem to get a combination of a beautiful floral, combined with tropical fruits and coconut! The colour coral comes to mind. All in all, this must be what Hawaii smells like! Now I want to go (not that I didn't before). This is really lovely and I know someone else will love to get their hands on it. :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction I only received a few drops of this but it was enough to sniff, and I was quite happy to as I have never smelled Lemon Verbena before! This smells lemony, yes, but there is an underlying earthiness to it. Where Lemongrass reminded me of lemon meringue pie, the Lemon Verbena reminds me of something fresh and clean. It has a detergent sort of smell to it, and it makes me think of a fresh house, after a spring cleaning!

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction Mmm...I like this more than I thought I would! It is sharper than Lemon Verbena, which I find more earthy, but instead of smelling like sour lemons (as I thought it would), it smells more like a lemon meringue pie! It definitely has a sweetness to it that I didn't expect. :-) Only problem is now I am hungry for sweets! heheh

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction I had never smelled or even come close to a Wisteria bush for the first 40 years of my life, as I lived in the Prairies, which is labeled a Zone 3 for gardening. However, I always wanted to grow it, and Magnolias, and Bouganveillia and all of the beautiful southern blossoms that only grow in a Zone 9. So, imagine how delighted I was when I moved to Salt Spring Island, on the west coast of Canada, 5 years ago, to find myself staying at the Wisteria Bed and Breakfast! It was early May and soon the Wisteria branches that covered the front of the house were in full bloom. I don't remember them smelling quite so divine as this does, but that makes it even better. Happy times associated with beautiful scent...one can't go wrong. :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction Oh, this is so soft and pretty!! My Mom used to grow sweet peas in our garden, back home. I remember being a child, bare legged and free and kneeling down to smell these and maybe take one to carry with me. I am a real girly girl and florals are my favourite oils to smell and smell like. This oil smells like it should be worn on a summer day, walking barefoot in the grass, with a picnic basket in hand, and flowers entwined in your hair. Did I also say I was a romantic?

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction Mmmm...this Violet brings back such happy memories for me! :-) My maternal Grandmother was English, and she would return to visit England every few years. When she would come home, she would always bring us grandchildren back three very important items! One was hard rock candy, long and bright pink! The second was candy mice, sugary goodness! And the third was this wonderful Violet perfume, held in tiny little bottles with a picture of violets on the front. I was almost too scared to use it, as I may never get another, so I would just open it up in my bedroom and inhale the aroma. Ahhh... I now tend to do the same things with the BPAL Le's. This Violet is sweet and innocent and ready for play! I am sure whomever it is passed on to will create wonderful memories of their own, while wearing (or sniffing!) it. :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Decanted, won in Ebay auction Lavender is probably my most favourite essential oil to wear and to use in the house. I have Lavender scented shampoo and conditioner, soap, face cleanser, body lotion, etc. I burn Lavender oil and I light Lavender candles. There are three gorgeous Lavender farms on this island, and there is an abundance of Lavender products to buy here. Still I wanted to try this French Lavender to see how it compared. It compares quite nicely! I have only sniffed it so as not to contaminate the imp, but it has a beautiful soft lavender smell. Yes, the astringency is there but it is not overpowering. This would be a nice scent to burn as a room diffuser or to wear to alleviate stress or just to smell pretty! It is beautiful and I hate to part with it, but now that I have sniffed it to compare, I will pass it on. It is really lovely and whomever gets it next, I am sure will appreciate its beauty. :-)

Well, since I am about to part with all of my much sought after and hard won Single Notes from BPAL, I thought that before they go, I would do some reviews. Imp: Tarted, won in Ebay auction This Peppermint is one of the most beautiful I have ever smelled! All I have done is sniff the imp and the headache that has been my morning wake up call for close to a month seems to want to lift off of the top of my head! I have used Peppermint oil for years, to alleviate headaches and this one feels cool in my nostrils and a little sweet, like a candy mint. It is beautiful and I hate to part with it, but now that I have sniffed it to compare, I will pass it on. It is really lovely and whomever gets it next, I am sure will appreciate its power. :-)

Sniffing the imp: This is very earthy...very dark, but with a hint of sweetness lying underneath. Sounds good so far! Wet on wrist: *shock* Apparently, Lust smells exactly like Grape Kool Aid!! Dry: Ok, the earthiness has come back now, along with a sort of smoky smell. There may be some berries, too. Nice, but I feel like I belong more around a campfire singing Dylan songs than ravaging someone of the opposite sex? Yes, it reminds me of my backyard out in the country in Manitoba, at one of my famous sing-a-long campfire parties! Conclusion: I am not sure if I like it or not...if I want to wear it or not...and one thing I am never confused about is Lust!! I think this one is going to the sale bin. *edited because apparently I am too tired to spell correctly at 11:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Getting old sucks!*

Damn! I am just in *that* kind of mood tonight when I would really like to smell like a sacred whore, but, alas, it is not to be. This just goes pure cinnamon on me. It started out quite a heady, dark floral, and then turned into allspice! I smell like someone's kitchen :-P I married my first boyfriend, and that lasted 20 years, and since then, I have had (and stuck with) one boyfriend, so I guess I am just out of the whoring league. *sigh* You'd think a girl could at least have a night of fantasy, though! :-P

I don't wear ozone or "clean" scents at all. They *always* remind me of Men's Speed Stick deodorant. I am such a lover of rain and, especially, of thunderstorms, but alas, I can't wear them. At first sniff, and wet on the skin, I figured this would be no exception. However, this one is tempting to keep. The lemon in it seems to give it a bit of balance or something. I don't know, but it is sort of pleasant. Maybe it is only my hope that I can get used to smelling like men's deodorant but I think I am going to keep it for awhile. There is a possibility that I could try layering it with something that suits me better. I really would like to smell like a tempest. I am often in one, so it would be fitting!

Sniffing the imp: Before I read anyone else's reviews here, I had the same reaction as many. This smells just like the old hippie shops of the 70's, particularly my favourite one, which was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Portage Avenue, called Orientique. I visited Winnipeg when our family went in to see my two elder sisters and for Highland Dancing and Piping competitions. After a comp., my Dad would often give us a bit of money to go shopping with and this is where I would head, to get some muslin tops, perfume oils and incense. Very happy memories!! I have been trying to find the "Orientique scent" for years and finally managed to get a perfume oil through my job that smells a lot like it. But, I think this is even better! I did try a bit on, and unfortunately, it goes powdery on me and doesn't smell anywhere near the same, but I want this one for sniffing, anyway, so I can close my eyes and go back to that time, again...a time I have been recreating my entire life. Yes, I am an old hippie. :-)

Sniffing the imp: I am getting the vetiver and strong florals, and also something that smells a bit like bubble gum to me. I find that Violet does that, so maybe that is what it is. No peach coming through to this nose. Wet on wrist: Uh oh...this is pure baby powder on me right now!! How did that happen? Defnitely no peach and where did the vetiver go? Drydown: A very, very soft powdery floral. Not what I expected so off to sell it goes.

This poem by Tennyson and the paintings by Waterhouse are gorgeous, but it was when Loreena McKennitt set the words to music, that the Lady of Shalott formed a huge association for me. I was going through a period of grief in my life, and would come home, lie on my couch, snuggle under my favourite afghan, and put on The Visit by Loreena, while I let the tears flow. Part way through The Lady of Shalott, her voice and the words would calm and lull me into a floating sleep, much like the lady lying down in her boat, floating down to Avalon. I even dedicated a personal web page to the poem and to Loreena, for comforting and aiding me through that difficult time. The pictures in my head were of such wondrous beauty of towers, forests, lakes and love unrequited that it would be hard to imagine any scent could do it justice. And Loreena, herself, who is now associated with the song and poem forever more, is also a gorgeous, ethereal, pre-Raphaelite creature, whom I have been lucky enough to have seen in concert numerous times. My fondest memories are of sitting in a field, with 20,000 others, in Bird’s Hill Park, at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the entire park and its residents silent as we all listened to her play her magical harp and sing these words. So, on to the scent. It starts out very sweet and innocent as the Lady in the poem was. At first, I thought it was too floral and sweet...I wanted more of the forest and the tower captured in it. But as it dries, it morphs into a more watery and moody floral and it is gorgeous! I am still forming an association with the words, song and Loreena to it. But, I think it does the Lady and her songstress the justice that they deserve.

I am scenting the room with this, in an oil burner, right now. I had two imps, but one sprung a big leak, and it has been scenting my house for weeks, anyway, so I figured I may as well dribble out the last of the imp and let it do its thing. Now, I am going to test it, the usual way: Sniffing the imp: Mmmm…a perfect Rose scent, and something sweeter alongside of it. Smells a bit like Sweet Pea, but that is not in this. It must be the Lily of the Valley. God, this is gorgeous!! Wet on wrist: The flowers are still predominant. I don’t smell any of the incense, yet. When it has been scenting my house, I would walk in the door to a beautiful smell of white roses and that is the same thing I smell on my wrist. Drier: Still…a pefect rose…heaven sent. I have had visits from angels, since I was a child, and when they come, they leave a scent of roses behind…much…like…this. The fact that one imp burst and was scenting my room happened just as I went to do a workshop called Angel Medicine, with Doreen Virtue. I kind of figure that this was the angels way of letting me know they were going to be around. Dry: Wherever the incense is, it is well hidden! This is still, pure, perfect rose on me. And I couldn’t be happier. While my precious Rose Red is the quintessential long-stemmed red roses given by a lover and placed in a vase of water, Hymn is one perfect white rose, held out by a different lover…one that has wings. Beautiful..absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful! This makes me feel surrounded by beautiful, benevolent spirits just as Water of Notre Dame does. I wore W of ND when I did the workshop and now, these two oils will be the ones that I wear, while doing healing work with my Spirit Guides and the Angels. And that will be happening, tonight. I have been going through a very hard time, lately, and while I have called on my angels for help, I haven't really been present enough to be listening, being caught up in my own well of emotions that come from the ego...frustration and anger and sadness and loneliness and hopelessness. Weighted down by all of that, it was hard to remember to lift my head up and see the light and let it lift me up and take my cares and concerns away. Tonight, I will shut off the ego noise in my head and heart that does not come from Spirit, and work with and only with my Spiritual Guides and Guardian Angels and be thankful that they have been with me, as long as I have been here. I know that they are standing by, arms and wings outstretched, waiting to help me, and that their help comes from the most beautiful Loving Source. And I know I come from that Source, too. I just need reminding, sometimes. Hymn reminded me. Thank you.

Sniffing the imp: Sweetness of flowers with a backdrop of Vetiver. Wet on wrist: The vetiver comes through stronger at the beginning, sort of peppery, like bullets being fired on the fair maiden. This is invoking the poetry nicely. Drier: Florals that are all spiced up! And there is that crack of the leather whip! Dry: An eerily, beautiful scent that invokes the night, the danger, the love and the madness of a tale told with sadness and regret. I am loving this one. I want to listen to Loreena McKennitt’s version of Highwayman, while I lay back, close my eyes and smell this scent. I am finding more and more catalogue scents that I want big bottles of, and add this to the list! I am glad to find that I like more than just the LE’s! It has just taken me a long time to get around to wearing and reviewing the catalogues as I have spent the past 6 months catching up on old and buying new LE’s. But, the catalogues that I have been trying on, lately, are as good, if not better than the majority of the discontinued oils and LE’s I have managed to get at exorbitant prices. So, bravo, Beth, and my wallet is bowing to and thanking you! :bowdown:

Sniffing the imp: Oh yes, yes, yes! This smell sort of like my beloved Hearth! All sweet and smoky! I can’t wait to get this one on!! Wet on wrist: This is Hearth, but with a bit of rum, too! Drier: This still smells like the cherry pipe smoke in Hearth, to me, and I couldn’t be more thrilled! I have been hoarding Hearth in case it never comes back, again. This isn’t the same, but a close second. Dry: Sweet, smoky, foody love. I am so happy there is a Hellcat for a catalogue blend. For those who can’t find Hearth, this is as close as you may come! The greatest thing about the BPAL scents for me, is there seems to be ones for each part of my persona. And Hellcat suits the tiger inside of me just fine!

Sniffing the imp: Oh…pure, gorgeous amber…mmm…I love that scent! Wet on wrist: Still amber, but gorgeous and light and golden, not dark. And now, there is a floral scent coming through…I think it is the myrtle! Smells soft and sweet and not as sweet as apple blossom which I know is in here, and love, as well. Drier: The amber, and myrtle have mixed with something a bit spicier, probably the carnation. The apple blossom is here now, too, but not overpowering as it often does. It must be all those 5 ambers reigning it in! Dry: God, forget about men not being able to resist my charms! I don’t want to resist them! I LOVE the way I smell!! I have the most beautiful golden amber necklace (I have pendants of amber in all colours, too but this is the one that will be forever after known as Freya’s necklace!) and when I wear it, I will wear Brisingamen! And since it is a favourite necklace, I will need a big bottle of this, so I can slather the scent on my neck, and then place the necklace around my throat and let it absorb the oil into its own golden light. And I will feel like the Goddess of Love that I have been called and have been known as.

Before I review, I will mention that I have a tarted imp, won through an Ebay sale. So, I don't know if the aging will have made a difference. Sniffing the imp: Oh, pure, sweet orange. Like a Christmas orange! Wow, the regular BPAL scents I have been trying today are really reminding me of Christmas...I guess it will be here before you know it, and there is getting quite a chill in the air here! Wet on wrist: Sweet, sweet orange. It still reminds me of a Christmas room spray scent. But I quite like it! Drier: I walked outside for a moment, and the cool air blew this scent back into my nostrils and wow, it smelled great! Still like Christmas oranges, but it had more of a tang to the sweetness. Dry: The orange has faded and it is a bit more perfumey now. I never quite got the fig which is great cause I don't like it in blends much. This is beautiful, though, and I will wear it again, and maybe even use it in an oil diffuser and scent the room while I am decorating the Christmas tree...which is coming sooner than I think!