yeahbutnobut

Pirate Moon In the imp: a faint, but attractive scent of grasses and pale woods. Wet on skin: now it sweetens a little, but it still smells of dry sandy woods, beach grass and palm trees. Dry on skin: oh yes, this is beautiful. Really beautiful. I can smell the woods, and the coconut palm, the greenish notes of grass and balsam, a tang of lime, a lovely dry golden tobacco, and a bit of rich depth from the musk and ambergris and leather. It doesn't smell aquatic but I agree that it smells beachy. It smells like swaying palm trees, warm sands, a hint of salty air, tough beach grasses, the polished beams of a ship made from the finest fragrant woods, and hints of gentle coconut (not suntan oil coconut though) enhance the tropical feel of this scent. This is really beautiful yet also strong and sexy in feel. After a while: the scent becomes even smoother and well blended, and now I see what others mean about it being hard to distinguish what this smells like, other than it smells wonderful. It's just a lovely warm woodsy dryness with a subtle red musk (this musk is much gentler than the usual red musks in BPAL) and a golden sheen of ambergris. I still smell the palm fronds and the sand and salt and grass and a touch of black leather. This scent is one that stays close to the skin. Eventually this becomes deeper and muskier as that sexy red musk note comes out, along with the remaining woodsy notes. Mmm, this is good. There's also something reminiscent of the patchouli and frankincense of Anne Bonny to this…resin-polished ship wood and musk. Verdict: oh yes, this is fabulous. It smells grassy and balmy, but it also smells a bit smoky and leathery, and woodsy, and beachy, and a bit salty and sandy and with just the barest hints of something marine. And it also smells a little bit musky and resinous too. Overall it smells warm and sensual but it's also surprisingly gentle. It's a mix of all kinds of scent families except floral and foody, I think. But it does really evoke standing on the prow of an elegant ship, moored on a tropical island, watching the sun go down in the arms of your loved one (very fitting for the occasion it commemorates). I think this may be my favourite pirate BPAL scent! I'm glad I have two bottles-this is a gorgeous, unique scent which is unisex, sexy and lovingly crafted, and I'm so glad Beth decided to share this wonderful wedding-inspired creation with us. Another reason why I love the lab. Emoticon rating: (this forum needs a pirate emoticon!) Is it a keeper? Aye! If you like this, try: Havana, Anne Bonny, Caliban, Intrigue, Ile de la Tortue, Krampus

October In the imp: whoa, strong masculine cologne, petitgrain, and a mossy autumnal smell reminiscent of the Cobalt Blends Devil's Night scent (not the BPAL DN scent). Wet on skin: the cologne like aspect really comes out, sharp and perfumey. It's a citrus-petitgrain sort of scent, with moss and green sap. Dry on skin: autumnal cologne. The manly, sophisticated yet sharp cologne scent is dominant for now. It doesn't smell ozoney like most windy scents, but it is a cool, tangy note, like a splash of citrus aftershave with petitgrain or neroli. It reminds me of the citrus-neroli top notes I get in scents like Clio, Destroying Angel and Rat King. It almost reminds me of a kind of traditional man's scent, clean cut and classy. Underneath that I smell the more 'natural' notes- moss, tree bark, leaves and sap. There's a lot of moss here, and I'm guessing that there's galbanum here because that smells very much like green sap to me. I don't smell any smoke though and I don't smell much of the leaves either…it would smell more like autumn if it weren't for that sharp, powerful cologne. After a while: the harsh cologne has toned down quite a bit now, some of the petitgrain still lingers but now I smell a lot more moss and dry bark and trees and leaves. Mmm, this is not bad. I think there's a soft musk underneath it as well. The moss is now the dominant note, it reminds me of tree bark covered in thin dusting of green lichen, a dry moss scent as opposed to a swampy one. I also smell a passing hint of dry leaves-but it's fleeting, like a drifting leaf on the breeze. There's also a nice coolness to the scent, it is airy now, not as piercing as before, it is now a smoother scent. The scent then moves into a chypre-like scent of smooth moss and greener notes, along with hints of autumn. It smells very sophisticated-not a perfume that evokes being out in the autumn air, but one that hints at it, and is laced with more classy elements. The scent does seem to fade fast though, which is another disadvantage…all the promised autumnal elements are just swept away, leaving a trace of moss on the skin. It's not bad though. Verdict: this isn't my thing…I was hoping for the crisp scent of an autumn breeze mixed with smoke, earth and crunchy leaves that I know and love and that I've been smelling recently whilst in the park, but whilst this hints at it, it's not quite there. I'm not keen on the pungent cologne-like scent at the beginning, it smells a little too much like traditional men's perfume and it is very sharp and piercing. After this fades I get a hint of woodsy leafy moss and then poof, it's gone. Or very faint. Not for me-I have other autumn scents I prefer. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? it's too sharply perfumey, and doesn't smell exactly like the autumn scent I hoped for. If you like this, try: Clio, Destroying Angel, Ulalume, Hunter Moon 07, Death of Autumn, Rat King

Samhain 07 In the imp: sweet mulled cider! Very similar to previous Samhains, but with more apple. Wet on skin: yeesh, doll heads and eucalyptus? Now this smells weird on me. Previous Samhains never did this to me! Dry: ok, this is bizarre. This smells like past versions of Samhain, watered down a little, and with the smell of plastic doll heads and Vicks Vapo-Rub. Very bizarre. I don’t know what note is doing this but I suspect the mullein. I’ve not smelt that note on it’s own but I’ve heard it smells medicinal, like eucalyptus. Maybe this year’s version is heavier on the mullein and possibly the fir. I smell the spicy cider and sweet baking pumpkin that are so familiar from past Samhains, but that plastic, medicinal note is ruining it. After a while: sadly, unlike eucalyptus notes, the medicinal note doesn’t fade. It reminds me of wintergreen now, but not as piercing. It still smells like doll heads though. I still smell the other Samhain notes but it still smells plastic and a little bit weak, not strong like previous versions. It doesn’t change much at drydown, doesn’t turn into the rich spicy-fruity scent with that hint of earth and booze to it which I loved in past versions. Verdict: I loved the previous versions of Samhain, from the outdoorsy, darkly autumnal 05 version to the foody, comforting 06 version…but this one is disappointing on me. This smells like I’ve smeared Samhain on a Barbie doll. It smells of plastic with just a faint hint of the lovely mulled cider and pumpkin with woodsy patchouli I love from previous versions. It also has a very medicinal, piercing eucalyptus scent to it that I don’t like in here. This seems weaker than past versions as well, fading fast from my skin. I’m swapping this one off…I have enough Samhain 06 to keep me happy. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. If you like this, try: Samhainophobia, Pumpkin Patch scents (any from this year and previous years), Czernobog, Twisted Oak Tree, Jabberwocky

The Forbidding Foyer In the imp: polished mahogany with a hint of almost resinous varnish. Very much like Riding the Goat. Wet on skin: mahogany, and now a hint of booze comes out, and also a hint of rotting mortar? Dry: oh, I like this. It smells of old wood, dusty stone, a hint of booze and even a touch of incense. Mahogany is the strongest note, a deep brown and rich wood scent. A touch of cognac adds a deep boozy touch to it which is not sweet but also not too alcoholic. There’s also a hint of that dusty stone note I got in the Chilling Cellar. I’m not sure what brimstone smells like (other than sulphur) but I smell no sulphur here, nor do I smell the burning vetiver of the GC Brimstone. In fact, there’s something to this that reminds me of frankincense, and I do love that note so this makes me happy. This incense note also brings to mind Riding the Goat, but without the sweet sticky myrrh I got there. After a while: now the wood has rotted completely. Surprisingly, this isn’t a nasty smell at all-but a pleasant, soft, crumbling wood scent with a hint of moss to it and a feel of slow decay. It smells crumbly and powdery, no longer the solid, strong mahogany of before, but of damp walls with flaking mortar and worm eaten wooden floorboards which could collapse at the slightest footstep. It’s very evocative and dusty and old, but surprisingly wearable. The cognac and incense notes, golden and smooth, still stick around. There’s something to this which reminds me both of the Lurid Library and the Chilling Cellar…it’s a mix of woods and dust and incense ashes and mortar, I think. The scent gets more and more mineral in nature, a dusty, crumbly scent. I love Beth’s mineral notes, so I really like this stage. There’s a feel of something crypt-like to it at times, then it smells like a creaky corridor, and that library scent creeps in every now and then. There could even be a hint of musk…and then I smell dry autumn leaves (like those of Hunter Moon 07), probably swept in through the front door from outside. And then it smells really woodsy once more, but this is a faded, dust-covered wood. It reminds me of the wood scent I got in the Magical Omaha Haunted Mill scent, funnily enough. And then after a few hours drydown, just before the scent fades off, I get the unmistakeable scent of patchouli under the woods. Verdict: this is the scent that defines the Haunted House series-it smells like how I’d imagine a haunted house to smell, all parts of it-hallways, rooms, studies, lounges, cellars and indeed, foyers. Think Riding the Goat’s mahogany lounge scent, but in an older abandoned house that hasn’t been cleaned for centuries, dust gathered everywhere, floorboards rotting and ominously creaking underfoot. Another scent that evokes sound as well as images, this scent ‘sounds’ like the creak of the floor and thudding footsteps getting closer. This smells of gently decaying wood with dust and hints of stone and mortar, with a little bit of cognac, a patchouli undertone and even a hint of incense wafting through. Wonderfully atmospheric, eerily evocative, and it smells surprisingly good as a perfume! I love this one-not as much as the Library but I prefer it to the Cellar, I definitely need more. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! I think I need a bottle or two. If you like this, try: Riding the Goat, Red Queen, Chilling Cellar, Lurid Library, Hunter Moon 07, Aziraphale, Carfax Abbey

Pumpkin V In the imp: mmm, smells almost identical to my beloved Pumpkin Queen, but with a tad more ginger. Wet on skin: PQ, but with more ginger and with blood orange. Dry: now it’s not as obviously like the Queen, but it certainly has a similarity. This one is heavy on the ginger, but thankfully this red ginger doesn’t go rubbery on me, it just smells hot and spicy, a crackling scent. I also smell beautiful blood orange, a fuller, redder orange than PQ. Lemon adds a brighter citrus tone, as does neroli which adds a hint of floral, whilst the gorgeous Bourbon vanilla (my favourite vanilla) and benzoin add a lovely sweetness, almost mimicking the Egyptian amber from PQ, but this one is sweeter and creamier because of the vanilla, and not as golden and glowy. After a while: this sweetens and becomes less spicy over time. the ginger now smells dry, still warm but not as fiery as before. The neroli also gives this a slightly floral aspect, but the blood orange still goes strong. The vanilla is delightfully creamy and smooth, not as golden as the amber in PQ, but a little bit sweeter and fluffier. The pumpkin is there, but isn’t the dominant note, it just plays nicely with the other notes. There’s something reminiscent of Australian Copperhead to it, no doubt the neroli and vanilla, but with ginger, orange and pumpkin instead of Snake Oil. This smoothes out even more, there’s a lovely soft white petal like scent to it now, the orange blossom with a touch of sweet vanilla and dry ginger powder. This is gorgeous and feminine, sweet and approachable. And then after a few hours, I get blood orange once more, and again I am impressed at how long lasting this citrus note is on me. It smells like rich ruby red orange juice with vanilla and just a touch of sweet baked pumpkin-just a hint of it. Verdict: as I thought, this is the Pumpkin Princess, the sassy, youthful version of the regal and golden Queen. Could this fiery, lively, fruity-floral-vanilla-spicy pumpkin scent dethrone the Queen as my favourite pumpkin scent? I still am in love with the Queen’s amber glory, but this one is equally good in a different way, which means it is a two-bottle worthy scent. It’s not often I fall so in love with pumpkin scents but this one has stolen my heart. I just love the creamy sweetness of the Bourbon vanilla, the spicy heat of a very agreeable red ginger note, and the bold and rich citrus of the blood orange, with a very pleasant-buttery, yes, but not annoyingly so-foody pumpkin note. my favourite of the 2007 Patch by a long shot! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Oh yes. I need at least two bottles. If you like this, try: Pumpkin Queen, Australian Copperhead, Akuma, Haunted Palace

Pumpkin IV In the imp: buttery pumpkin with a hint of sweet greenness. Wet on skin: buttery pumpkin, sage, and greenery. Maybe a hint of floral. Dry: hmm, this is really interesting. There’s that familiar pumpkin undertone (not as buttery now) but I also smell a lot of herbs and greens. There’s something here that smells almost fruity, like lemon perhaps, or like dried berries or even roses? I’m guessing that’s cactus flower, it does remind me of something I smelt in Santa Muerte. I smell a lot of dry, balmy desert sage in here. It’s a really unusual combination, the foody pumpkin really contrasting with the dry, scrubby herbs and that strange floral. After a while: now the butter returns, moving away from the pumpkin, which I don’t smell as much any more. Now this smells like buttered sage, and it reminds me of herbs used in my mum’s cooking. It’s borderline savoury, but it also has that lovely warm dry herbalness that smells like summer evenings, which I love. The butter note is distracting though. There’s also that dry floral note, which at times smells like an intriguing mix of blackberries and dry rose petals, and at other times, it smells almost like air freshener. Don’t know what to make of this yet. Then the butter fades, and it smells like sage and sweetgrass. This is actually quite nice now. It’s the most atmospheric of the pumpkin scents, it makes me think of an evening in the Southwest US desert. It’s a very dry herbal scent, with just a smidgen of sweetness. The cactus flower has settled into an agreeable fruity floral now. Then the scent gets an odd oily scent which is almost sour, it’s like rancid pumpkin. It’s a shame because I really like the sage in here, but that pumpkin note is being a bit weird. And then it goes back to nice warm sage-this blend can’t make up its mind, and I can’t make up mine regarding whether I like it or not! Verdict: this is a strange one, and I’m torn about it. At times it smells warm and herbal, with a lovely desert sage note, it’s a scent evocative of a warm summer night. But at times this smells bizarre on me-the floral note does weird things and the pumpkin’s buttery scent sometimes turns rancid. This is the most unique pumpkin scent and there are times when the combination works, and times when it just smells wrong on me. I think this one will have to go, despite it’s pleasant sage note. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Not sure. This fluctuates between nice and not so nice…I may swap it. If you like this, try: Santa Muerte, Coyote, Antony, Pumpkin II

Pumpkin III In the imp: my decant has a slight brown residue…maybe cocoa absolute? That’s promising. The scent is chocolate covered pumpkin, like the old Pumpkin 2. Wet on skin: creamy sweet chocolate and caramel covered pumpkin. Dry: now I smell the pomegranate. Mmm, this is delicious. It reminds me of the 13 scents, there’s a similar chocolate vibe going on here. The scent is of pumpkin (not too buttery here) with chocolate (which smells like a mix of milk and white chocolate), caramel (which doesn’t amp on me!) and smoothed with cream (no sour milk here!) and the pomegranate counteracts really nicely with the sweet notes, a bite of tart juicy fruit that prevents the scent from going into cloying territory. After a while: the chocolate and pumpkin have merged, along with the caramel, and this now smells like a chocolate pumpkin pie drizzled with a caramel sauce. It’s thick and foody and calorific, very indulgent indeed! The pomegranate still lingers, with that tart, crisp scent which adds a sharper edge to the heavy sugary notes, and gradually starts to turn to an almost wine like or boozy fruit scent. However, the pomegranate eventually gets smothered by the stodgy and incredibly gourmand pumpkin pie and chocolate toffee sauce scent, and the scent gets more intense and foody over time. The chocolate now doesn’t smell like white chocolate any more, but like moist dark chocolate cake. Verdict: whoa, this is the foodiest of the pumpkins this year. Almost like a variation of the pumpkin scent from last year with the cocoa and nuts, this is very similar-packed with chocolate and sweet sugary richness, but with a bite of pomegranate. Like a chocolate pumpkin pie served with a glass of pomegranate juice. Out of the 07 PP scents, this is my second favourite! But it is so strong, with tons of throw, and it’s heavy, intensely gourmand. A little too much after a while, actually. I think it’s the caramel note. I’ll keep a bit of it because I like this a lot, but nothing will beat Pumpkin V (or Pumpkin Queen) as the best pumpkin scent of all. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes…I’ll keep the imp, still wondering whether or not to get a bottle. If you like this, try: 13 (any version), Pumpkin #2 ‘05/06, Jack, Pumpkin #3 ‘05/06, Vice

The Perilous Parlour In the imp: a soft, sweet pear scent. more like a pear flavoured sweet, but it’s very nice. Wet on skin: a very pretty sugary pear scent. Dry: mmm, I like this. Now I smell more vanilla, and it’s a creamy vanilla, not a vanilla like Underpants or Snake Oil though, this one is softer and more gourmand, I’d say this vanilla is more like the one in Snowblind or the original Beaver Moon. It makes the scent smell like a pear cake or pear ice cream. There’s a slight toasted/baked aspect to it though, in fact, it smells a little bit like vanilla biscuits or cake batter (this isn’t a buttery scent though). The pear is gentle and a little bit tart, it smells more realistic now as well, though more like cooked pears than fresh ones. This is a very gentle scent. After a while: there’s an intriguing, almost smoky aspect to this vanilla, and yet it also reminds me of custard or sponge cakes. The pear is still hanging about, but it’s pretty much all vanilla, but such a lovely, delicate vanilla that smells almost biteable. It’s a whisper of a scent-clinging to the wrist, rather shy, a little coy, but so lovely. It’s a very innocent, youthful vanilla…though it does remind me of the vanilla in Golden Priapus, without all the ‘man woods’. It also reminds me slightly of Dana o’Shee. This gets a little smokier, a little warmer and les sweet, and I swear I smell something almost woodsy to this, reminiscent of GP, but not as evergreen and masculine. The pear does disappear but the vanilla-wood scent, with a hint of something almost like tobacco smoke (not like cigarettes, but like the smoke in Devil’s Night) is very inviting and intriguing. Maybe there’s a little musk now? It’s not as foody at this point. It starts to smell even woodsier and smoky and even starts to veer towards smelling a little bit masculine, but thankfully it stays more unisex on me. Something about it reminds me of Dorian or Theodosius without the tea and lavender/lemon/bergamot notes, with a hint of the vanilla woods of GP. Then the scent regains it’s fluffy vanilla sweetness again, and at this point there’s something about it that’s reminiscent of Fairy Market, which I love. Verdict: this is a very pretty and uncomplicated scent, a soft vanilla mixed with pair, quiet and shy but quite delightful. from it’s fruity start to it’s vanilla stages to it’s sophisticated end of gentle vanilla incense or woods, this is a gorgeous fragrance all round. Not one to hoard, but definitely one to get a bottle of. I think this will get stronger with time. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes-I’ll get a bottle, I have a feeling the vanilla will get better with age. If you like this, try: Thalia, La Belle au Bois Dormant, Golden Priapus, Dana O’Shee, Dorian

Pumpkin II In the imp: rich ‘Pumpkin Queen’ pumpkin with a hint of extra sweetness. Wet on skin: pumpkin, with maybe just a hint of champaca, but it’s mainly a sweet cooked pumpkin. Dry: now I can smell hints of champaca (very sweet but not cloying yet) and tobacco (softly smoky and dry), and maybe some tonka too. There’s something spicy about this which I’m guessing is the carnation, but it’s not an obvious carnation like that of Pink Moon. It’s still dominated by pumpkin though. it reminds me of Dr John Seward, with the opium note replaced with pumpkin. Here’s to hoping the champaca behaves! After a while: champaca has a habit of amping and it does so in here, but it doesn’t turn cloying like it can do. It smells like the champaca in Temple Viper now, strong but not overwhelming. The pumpkin is still there, and it and the champaca are the dominant notes here. the tobacco and tonka play background roles here. The champaca gradually turns slightly incense like, maybe because of the tobacco, it is sweet but I’m surprised that it’s not turning oversweet, especially with the pumpkin there. This is actually a really interesting scent, almost like floral pumpkin incense. It is smooth and gently smoky and warm and foody, the pumpkin adding a hint of something gourmand and slightly buttered to the scent. it’s like Hellion, but not as dark and smoky, and with foody aspect. It doesn’t morph too much and the drydown is a pleasant pumpkin and champaca scent with a hint of tobacco. Verdict: another unusual but surprisingly good take on the pumpkin genre. This reminds me of the strong but not cloying champaca from Temple Viper, but with pumpkin instead of resins. I really like the smokiness of the tobacco and the spicy carnation. Combined with pumpkin this makes for a unique combination! It’s good, but I still prefer the resinous incense vibe of Temple Viper if I need a champaca fix. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I like it but it’s not a favourite, so I may pass this one on. If you like this, try: Temple Viper, Khajuraho, Hellion, Dr John Seward, Pumpkin Queen, Vaskakajja

Thanks so much for the clarification Beth! So willcall pickups are still allowed after all-provided the person doesn't pay the lab, but the person picking them up! Glad that's been made clear.

So does that mean that pickups of any kind-even ones where you pay the person picking them up-are no longer allowed? I usually pay the person who's willing to pick up something for me from willcall-only once have I been told to paypal the Lab for a willcall CP.

That was my interpretation of it, yeah. I take it as meaning you can't send payment to the lab for something before will-call then have a different person pick it up; you have to paypal the person directly for them to get something for you, or you have to come pick it up yourself. I really, really, really hope that is the case! I'd be very sad if will call purchases for people who can't attend are no longer allowed...

I posted this somewhere else, and I'm not sure if it's too early to ask, but... I'm curious as to whether the new, non-Poe exclusive at DD will be GC or LE? And indeed, are the DD-exclusive Poe scents going to be GC or LE? I also noticed on the announcement that 'no third party orders' will be allowed...what exactly does that mean? Does it really mean no more WC pickups for people who can't go to WC?

Vampire Tears In the imp: lemony green tea, verbena and sugared grapefruit. Smells bright and fresh. Wet on skin: it's not listed, but this definitely smells of verbena, not just tea and grapefruit. Dry on skin: now it smells more grapefruity, but it still reminds me of verbena. This is quite nice actually-it's a crisp citrus tea, with astringent green tea, a bite of ginger, some tart citrus notes and just a hint of something sweetly floral. It reminds me of the likes of Phantasm, Baobhan Sith, and Kumiho. It's not bad but for now it is very heavy on the verbena or lemongrass-I know it's not listed but that's what I smell here. After a while: I still smell lemongrass but it's not as powerful as it was before. Now I smell more of the tea itself, the ginger is a lot more prominent now, it smells slightly spicier now thanks to that note, it smells of dried ginger root or ginger powder, reminds me of Asian food. I also smell the iris, and the jasmine and wisteria-thankfully the last two notes aren't turning to evil acrid stank on me like they can do. There is a dryness to the flowers though, like they are no longer freshly bloomed, but they also don't smell wilted. This isn't a strong as it was before. I smell a hint of tonka and honeysuckle at times. The scent gradually becomes dried ginger and hints of lemony dried petals and dry tea leaves. It's a very Asian scent, I think, with that dry ginger and tea aspect. Eventually it turns into just dry ginger and green tea. Not bad, but it's not very complex…it's a little bit flat on me. There are whispers of floral notes but it's mainly just a dry ginger tea mix. After a few hours it turns a little bit bitter and green, the reaction I get with the lighter jasmine/honeysuckle/wisteria scents, but it's not as bad as usual, maybe because of the ginger or tonka? Verdict: this one is pretty, and nicer on me than I thought it would be, but not a scent I truly love. First it starts with a burst of LEMON that to me smells more like lemongrass or verbena, along with grapefruit…this lasts for a while before the flowers and the ginger tea come out to play. The ginger here is a strong one, but it's a pale, dry ginger, hot, but dusty and parched, brings to mind dried ginger powder. It turns into a nice ginger and green tea scent with a hint of floral, which is not bad, but it does fade fast. It's also a little flat on my skin too. The good thing about this scent is that the flowers in this scent didn't turn horrible on my skin. Jasmine and wisteria tend to do this…maybe the tonka was calming them down? So whilst it's not spectacular, it's not a wilted, bitter, flowers-turned-evil mess on me either. It reminds me slightly of Mi-Go, but I prefer that one because of the fruit, this one is a little bit bland on me despite the spiciness of the ginger. not my thing really, so I didn't keep my bottle. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? not sure. I like it but it's not wow-inducing. If you like this, try: Phantasm, Yuki Onna, Baobhan Sith, Gennivre, Kumiho, Embalming Fluid, Mi-Go

Scorpio 07 In the imp: mmm, deep rich resinous musk, reminds me of Minotaur. Wet on skin: musky resins with a twist of basil and dragon's blood. Dry on skin: I like this. It's heavy on the opoponax, something I was hoping would pop up in Aries, and for now the dragon's blood isn't taking over (though I can definitely smell it, and in here it's quite metallic). I also smell the basil, which in here smells a little bit like green anise…or is that the wormwood? I'm not familiar with the scent of wormwood itself but there's something absinthe-like over all the musky resins. A slight greenish, ghostly whisper of herbal anise over the dark musk, which is sweet and viscous and dark, and merges nicely with the opoponax. After a while: the herbal absinthe note does fade by now, and I now smell more of those fabulous musky resins. The dragon's blood is incredibly well behaved here, like the DB in Red Moon was, only here it's a lot more obvious but it fits in with the other notes. The mix of opoponax and musk is fabulous-rich, dark, this is mysterious, sweet and deep and enticing. It's like a dark room, a dark cave, something unexplored and shrouded in shadows, tempting you, there's that same feel that I got from Minotaur of wanting to discover this scent and get lost in it. It is a thick and almost oppressive sweet darkness, but it smells really nice. The dragon's blood does get strong and does threaten to take over…and in here it smells bloodier, with that bite of iron to it, and less floral. Now this smells like the Cracked Bell and the Telltale Heart, a metallic resinous musky affair, with an ominous, foreboding vibe to it. It then stays like this until the end, remaining that blood-stained sweet musk with a hint of sinister incense. Verdict: this one really took me by surprise! This looked like it would be like a musky-herbal Aries, which sadly, despite being my sign, smelt weird on me, but this smells far better than my own sign's scent! The dragon's blood, which I usually amp to high heaven, is subtle here, and the opoponax, which I adore, is nice and strong, boosted by the musk. There are hints of dark herbs at the start which are really nice, but they fade, and the scent then becomes dominated by that fantastic resinous musk. It reminds me of a blood-tinged Minotaur or Schwarzer, with that same blood note that I got in things like the Cracked Bell. This also reminds me of Dragon's Musk with a bit more oomph and a bit less dragon's blood. This scent is gorgeously dark and full of depth and mystery, and it smells both dangerous and sexy, and I love that. This is one I'm definitely keeping my bottle of. I think having my sun (and Mercury and Venus) in the Scorpio-ruled eighth house might explain why this is really good on me. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes! If you like this, try: Dragon's Musk, Telltale Heart, Cracked Bell, Blood Amber, Event Horizon, Minotaur

Beaver Moon 07 In the imp: yes, this is strawberry cheesecake! Mmm, creamy sweet strawberries. Wet on skin: now I smell a more sour cherry base, cutting through the creamy strawberries. Dry on skin: cherries topped with strawberry cream. The cherry note isn't as super sweet as Bloody Mary, not that sweet cherry pie scent, this is a little bit more like a sour cherry sauce. It's very nice though, but I fear it will go medicinal like the cherry in Jailbait did. The strawberry note isn't as cloying or sour as it can be, probably softened nicely by that vanilla cream which reminds me of the base of the original Beaver Moon, a cheesecake base with just a hint of spice, but not as spicy as the original. It also reminds me of Tokyo Stomp. After a while: mmm, the sour cherry has sweetened completely and is definitely not like cherry throat drops. Now it smells like a sweeter Bloody Mary, but with a delicious creaminess. And yes, I do agree with the comparisons to strawberry ice cream and cheesecake. It smells like strawberry ice cream with cherries and little bits of meringue and white chocolate, actually! YUM! Like the sort of delicious ice creams I've eaten in Italy. Oh yeah, that's the stuff. This is way better than Bloody Mary actually, and it's the kind of scent I was hoping to get from old Pink Moon and Pink Phoenix. Eventually this smells like the same delicious vanilla from Underpants, but with added strawberry. Oh yeah, this is good. And the strawberry isn't turning to that sharp-sweet scent that I am not crazy about-the vanilla softens it up. There's also a sprinkling of sugar over it all, just like in Bloody Mary, but not as super-sweet and lollipop-like. The sugar note gets stronger, sweeter and pinker with time. I still have that ice cream scent and it also smells strongly of white chocolate, which I love, and it's so hard to find a white choc scent that actually smells genuinely like it! But this one nails it, and I want to lick my wrist. The drydown is a sweet white chocolate flavoured ice cream with strawberries and liberally sprinkled with spun sugar. Verdict: when I went on holiday this year, I had the most delicious ice cream…a scoop of white chocolate ice cream with whole white chocolate Easter eggs in it, with a scoop of strawberry ice cream made with fresh berries. This-or at least the drydown-smells just like that fantastic gelato. This has the same fun, gourmand feel as the Monster Baits with a cheeky hint of the old creamy vanilla cake scent of the old Beaver Moon. It starts off smelling very cherry, and I fear it will go down the Jailbait route (that smelt medicinal on me) but luckily it doesn't, and turns to creamy strawberry and white chocolate. Some strawberry BPALs have an odd scent to them which is sweetly cloying and very sharp at once when they hit my skin-not this one, thanks to the vanilla cream. This also has, on me, the most genuine white chocolate scent, and as a lover of that stuff, this makes me very happy. This scent is definitely worthy of being described as scrumptious. This is truly scrumptious stuff-just as wonderful as the original Beaver and my favourite strawberry BPAL scent. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes! I think I need more. If you like this, try: Bloody Mary, Pink Phoenix, Marshmallow Poof, Bon Vivant, Mania, Eat Me

The Atrocious Attic In the imp: a gorgeous sweet floral lavender. Almost like Antique Lace or Hope with lavender. Very promising! Wet on skin: mmm, sweet lavender and gentle floral notes. Dry on skin: oh, I like this a lot more than I expected. The lavender is soft and sweet, like the one in TKO (but without the weird plastic smell I got there) or Yvaine. I smell a lily note, but it's not the cutting, harsh soapy scent I usually get with calla. I also smell rose and a gentle violet, and a hint of dusty sandalwood grounding the flowers. Over it all is a sweet, sugary vanilla scent-the child's perfume perhaps? Whatever this is, it is beautiful, not at all the stuffy, musty old-fashioned scent I was expecting. This is sweet, very much like Antique Lace. After a while: the lavender is gradually taken over by violet, but this violet is not a dusty old violet, but a sweet, candied violet like Faith. The rose is gorgeous and the lily has gained a soft cleanness, but doesn’t smell soapy. I also smell more of the sandalwood. But it's the sweet vanilla sugar scent that I smell here that really makes this scent very endearing. It reminds me of a younger and more ghostly version of the Salon scent Monna Vanna. The scent becomes powdery as time passes, but this is a good powdery scent, and it fits in with the theme of the scent, the dustiness and antique feel, but there's still that gorgeous vanilla perfume, which has now merged with the flowers. The sandalwood is also getting stronger, makes me think of the wooden beams of the attic and boxes that have stored perfume, vanilla pods and flower petals. Eventually this becomes a beautiful blend of Hope and Faith with a hint of Fairy Market, with a touch of powder and sandalwood, and a delicious vanilla extract scent running through it. Fans of Possets Frou Frou should try this, as I get a similarity here to that scent. After a few hours it reminds me of a sweeter Bearded Lady. Verdict: I wasn't expecting to love this, I feared a scent of dusty violet and dry roses with screaming lilies, but this is actually one of the most beautiful floral blends ever. Fans of the sugared roses or sugared flowers perfumes need to try this! It is a beautiful, soothing scent of soft, rounded florals with a delicious vanilla topping. The scent is dusty, but not in an unpleasant way-it's a gently dusty sandalwood, a soft powder that pops up every now and then. It's the kind of dusty smell I love, evocative and adding a feel of age. The lavender is gorgeous, the lily doesn't go sharp and horrible, and the violet smells like it's coated with sugar, and the rose binds all the flowers together so nicely with that vanilla perfume. It's a wistful vintage scent to me, there's a lovely feel of nostalgia, happy memories stored in the attic, now covered by dust. It's traditional but also smells quite youthful and also comforting. It's almost like a more floral take on Antique Lace. I love this one so much that I need at least two bottles of it. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes, and I want two bottles! If you like this, try: Antique Lace, Hope, Faith, Bearded Lady, Monna Vanna, Versailles, Victoria

Pumpkin I In the imp: buttery pumpkin lightened by something sweetly floral and fruity. Wet on skin: pumpkin soaked in sugary sweet grape juice! Dry: pumpkin and Glitter! Yes! This smells very similar to the candy sweet fun goodness that is Glitter, but with a note of baked pumpkin added! The grape and pear are giving me the Glitter resemblance, they are sugared to the max and are almost like bubblegum, and I think the jasmine is playing the part of the lotus (and this jasmine, so far, isn’t turning to evil sourness on me!). The pumpkin is sweet and rich and warm, with that buttery tone to it which is like pumpkin pie. This is a fun scent! After a while: eventually the scent’s juiciness does tone down a little and it turns into a scent I associate more with grape flavouring than true grapes. Most BPAL grape notes don’t smell like that on me but this does. It still smells like Glitter, and now gains bubblegum tones just like Glitter did, though there’s always that pumpkin note smelling buttery and pastry-like. There’s also a harsh bitter scent, almost like something chemical to it, which I’m not keen on. Hopefully that’s not the jasmine note going bad. I don’t smell any jasmine tea to this though. The bitterness gets stronger as the grape soda or jasmine comes out more. However at times it smells a little bit like nag champa, which seems odd but that’s the same smell I get with aged Glitter. It is a little bit chemical, reminiscent of some kind of hair product, and bubblegum like (this smells more like bubblegum than lotus does!) and I’m not so sure about that. I don’t smell as much pumpkin now. The scent becomes sugary again and loses that bitter note at drydown, when it smells like a soft, fruity pink sugar scent. Verdict: at first, this is incredibly pretty! It’s Glittery pumpkin-a sweet buttered pumpkin mixed with Glitter, the pear and grapes and bubbly floral notes of that scent smelling lovely with the foody, warm pumpkin. This is girly and youthful and candy-sweet. but then the scent goes a bit odd on me and smells more like bubblegum. Not good bubblegum (like the scent I get with lotus) but fake grape-flavoured bubblegum with a bitter chemical aspect which I am not keen on. It still remains very sweet but a little too fake for me. I really wanted to smell jasmine tea here since I love that stuff, but I get nothing like that here-just fizzy grape bubblegum and neon-coloured pumpkin covered in brightly coloured sugar, but it’s not the kind of sweet scent I like-mainly because of that odd chemical note. I’m picky with my pumpkin scents, and this one just isn’t for me. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Not really. If you like this, try: Glitter, Pumpkin Queen, Jack, Thalia, Perilous Parlour

The Chilling Cellar In the imp: this certainly doesn’t smell of vinegar, this smells of sweet red wine, berries and pastry? Wet on skin: sweet wine and berries and a sugary, crumbly, almost floury mix… Dry: mmm, I like this! I’m surprised as to how gourmand it initially is, it smells almost like a fruit crumble! The wine note in here is gorgeous-rich and red and sweet, with hints of berries. Under the wine I smell powder which certainly leans towards being mineral in scent, like plaster or cement, but it smells sugared too! However, there’s also something about it that reminds me of Crypt Queen. I think it’s the blood note? It doesn’t smell of dragon’s blood, it’s more like a metallic-fruity dark red depth to the scent. After a while: the mineral and metallic notes do gradually move the scent away from the fruit crumble introduction. It still smells sweet and fruity, but now I smell more of the crumbling stone and clay, and the blood. Now the stone/mortar notes smell very similar to Black Opal-cool, sweet, stony, and powdery. There’s a hint of cement to it which is surprisingly nice-it fits with the theme and adds atmosphere. The blood note is dark and deep and has a definite tang of metal to it-I wonder if there’s also a smidge of the ‘Mme Moriarty’ patchouli, or maybe pomegranate, to it? I’m thinking it’s pomegranate because of it’s redness and juiciness. Then I smell the powdery orris/violet I’ve seen mentioned, but also more of the blood. And then the sweetness comes back. It’s almost back to the crumble stage again, but the powdery, dusty, metallic notes prevent it from being too much like a warm autumnal dessert. This is really fascinating. Then I smell a tinge of vetiver at the very base, and the scent over that is a lovely crumbly stone and clay scent with hints of dust and a bright stain of red fruits. There’s definitely a feel of something subterranean to it-that coolness and chilly, slightly decayed stone and mortar of a cellar where sweet red wines and liqueurs are stored and matured. It’s such a strange scent but I really, really like it. I can’t stop sniffing it and trying to make sense of it. It reminds me of a fruity, incense-less Cracked Bell. The note disappears after a few hours, and the scent is that of vetiver with a slight metallic tone under a dusty, slightly sweet and stony scent, with a hint of powdery orris. Verdict: this is a really unusual scent-smelling like a dusty cold cellar with oddly gourmand fruity tones to it. I’m really surprised at how strong the wine note is here. Thankfully it’s nowhere near vinegar, this is like a really sweet dessert wine. There are berry tones to it, fruity and red and rich. Under that I get crumbly powdery notes, definitely mineral in nature, like the cool stone of Black Opal, with a blood accord reminiscent of Crypt Queen and a metallic bite (a good metallic scent). the most unnerving thing? This smells just like a fruit crumble at times. I wasn’t expecting that…it’s almost like the comforting scent of an autumn fruit crumble made with the sweetest wine wafting from the kitchen down into the cellar. I wasn’t expecting this in this sinister cellar scent but I really like it, as I love fruit crumble. The dessert scent does tone down and the blood-stained cellar scent becomes stronger, and it makes me realise that I really love Beth’s mineral notes, and the blood note is good too, like a fruity red musky scent with a hint of vetiver or patchouli like Mme Moriarty. I do prefer the Foyer to the Cellar when it comes to the more ‘mineral/atmospheric’ HH scents, but I’m getting a bottle of this one. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! this scent is so unlike any other and I need a bottle. If you like this, try: Crypt Queen, Lady Macbeth, Black Opal, Cracked Bell, Carfax Abbey

Hi’iaka In the imp: a very pretty watery floral. A little faint, a little crisp. Wet on skin: green! This has a slight ‘crushed leaf’ scent, along with something almost like banana. Dry: a sharp, slightly bitter green, like the crushed stems of flowers from the florist’s. There’s a sweeter floral underneath that tangle of wet greenery, possibly the orchid? I also smell something which is like banana-I think someone mentioned that one of those floral notes is banana flower? That explains why I smell it here. But sadly one of the notes seems to be turning a little icky on me…either the green or the banana note. It actually reminds me of Poisson D’Avril, but with tropical blooms added, even though I also smell something reminiscent of bluebells or lilac here. After a while: ack, that bitter green scent is taking over. The sweet floral scent that I got before, even the banana which threatened to turn cloying, is trampled by this all-consuming greenness, like some kind of mutant weed growing through the scent and killing the flowers. The only flower that remains is a pretty hibiscus, a tart and crisp bloom, and maybe one of the orchids. But apart from that, the weedy bitter greenery has overgrown. Eventually this just turns very sour and acrid on my skin, bitter and wilted. It smells like all the promised tropical blooms have died, there’s even a hint of ‘stale vase water’ to it. After that, it fades away fast, which, in this case, is a good thing. Verdict: I was hoping this would work-Pele was a weak disappointment on me and I hoped that her sister’s scent would fare better. sadly, tropical flower scents are incredibly hit or miss, this one being a miss. To me this is Poisson D’Avril, Hawaiian style. And Poisson didn’t work on me-it was a mix of bitter grass and soapy flowers, which I also get here. The green sharpness here also reminds me of the bitter green weedy grass of One to Tie. There’s also an odd banana-smelling note here which I’m not crazy about. The scent has the potential to turn beautiful but then the greenery takes over and it’s not a nice greenery, but a suffocating scent of bitter plant stems which then turns to vase water and wilted blooms. I was hoping this would be a bright, summery, tropical scent but this ain’t my thing. I much prefer Ile de la Tortue as my island jungles and exotic orchids scent. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? No. If you like this, try: Pele, Love in Idleness, Midnight, Asphodel, Manila, Poisson D’Avril, One to Tie

Bonfire Night In the imp: whoa! Burning vetiver! Like Djinn but without the spice/resins, sweeter than Agnes Nutter. Wet on skin: vetiver, vetiver, vetiver…and smoke. And a hint of beer! Dry: oh yes, this does smell like the 5th of November. It’s not as obviously vetiver now, because the wood smoke is now the dominant note. And it’s an amazingly realistic smoke note-like charred woods on a blazing bonfire, and a hint of peppery gunpowder from the fireworks lighting up the autumn sky. It smells just like the smoke that lingers on my clothes when I stand too close to a bonfire, and I love that scent of burnt leaves and smouldering wood. Of course the vetiver enhances and deepens the smoke. I also smell a hint of sweetness, but it isn’t the heavy treacle I was expecting. I also smell the faintest hint of beer, but it doesn’t smell like ‘student on a pub crawl’ on me, it adds an interesting touch to this smoky, earthy scent. After a while: the smoke is still there, it doesn’t change much, though I do smell more of the vetiver. it smells very tarry indeed, but in a good way. Normally I’m not keen on the asphalt-smelling vetivers but in here it works well with the smoke. It’s mainly smoky woods and burning though, the perfect bonfire scent, with the faintest touch of sugar to it-but not full blown treacle. For a tarry, burnt, vetiver-heavy scent, this isn’t bad at all. It is very evocative for me. The scent becomes a surprisingly pleasant and soft sweet burnt wood scent (I think there’s sandalwood here now) with vetiver. It’s like the gently glowing embers, warm and ashy and with smoke lingering. This is growing on me-I’m very surprised. It is the perfect bonfire scent. Verdict: here in the UK, the 5th of November is a bigger deal than Halloween, and I am so pleased that Beth made a scent for it. I thought, from the notes, that I would hate it, but this is the surprise hit of the Halloween series. This scent is incredibly evocative of its namesake night. It’s the BPAL that evokes so perfectly the scent of bonfires. The charring woods and scorched leaves, the gunpowder smoke hanging in the crisp air, the bang and crackle of fireworks, a sweet hint of sugar gently softening it all. One of the smokiest BPALs, don’t wear this scent too close to a smoke alarm, it’s bound to set it off. That’s how authentic it smells. The beer and treacle are very subtle but add a little more atmosphere to the smouldering scent. And the tar…well, on me, that’s vetiver, a strong vetiver, but in here I like it because it really enhances the bonfire scent. the drydown is almost like an incense-tinged pyre, with the wood notes becoming more aromatic in nature, with a touch of ash to it. This is too smoky for everyday and I still prefer Devil’s Night as my more wearable smoky scent, but it’s the most accurate-and my favourite-autumn bonfire scent from the Lab. This is what I wanted to get from Agnes Nutter and Brimstone. I’m certainly getting a bottle. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! Surprisingly good. Need a bottle. If you like this, try: Djinn, Agnes Nutter, Brimstone, Mad Meg, Devil’s Night

Midnight Kiss In the imp: I don't smell anything like cherry coke or grape soda here. It smells like patchouli, dark chocolate and dry wine. Wet on skin: now the red musk comes out, along with amber, and the scent sweetens. Dry on skin: mmm, oh yeah, this is good. This is very good. It reminds me of the likes of Hollywood Babylon, Spellbound, and Lust, it's a sexy sweet red musk enhanced by fruit, amber and incense notes. The cocoa in here is not too sweet, it's a dry bitter cocoa, and the wine note is sweet but not too sweet. The red musk is wonderfully rich, a tiny bit floral in here (maybe from the nicotiana? I smell no tobacco here), and the amber just bonds with it in the most perfect way. Red musk and amber are a match made in heaven. The patchouli adds depth and there's some dryness from the sandalwood, but for now it's a fruity-floral red musk with amber, patchouli and cocoa winding through it. Mmm. In fact, to me, this smells like the autumn version of Red Moon 07. After a while: the intense patchouli-cocoa scent I got retreats a little, I now smell more of the musk and wine, with an emphasis on the wine. I must be one of the lucky ones because it's not amping to grape juice proportions in here. But it definitely smells like sweet yet slightly tart red wine on me, mixed with red musk, and the wine enhances the musk's fruity redness. The amber is still entwined in the loving arms of red musk and the floral scent is a little more prominent now. This is a very voluptuous scent, sensual and entrancing. The scent then becomes very gentle, as far as red musk scents go, this one is surprisingly soft, a sweet fruity musk with a hint of earthiness and amber to it, gorgeous but it sticks close to the skin. I smell a faint hint of chocolate once more, but it is fleeting. But I can't stop sniffing that divine mix of musk, amber, patchouli and wine, it is moreish and delicious. The only disadvantage is that the scent does seem to fade a little fast, with just a trace of musk and patchouli lingering. It's a lovely scent but I'm a little surprised at how my skin is eating it, especially with aged patchouli, which generally sticks to my skin like vetiver does. Though in the end it does stick around, even if it is just a whisper of scent. Verdict: I love BPAL musk, and Beth is masterful with her red musk scents, and this one is another classic BPAL red musk scent. Very similar to some of the finest BPAL RM scents, the musk here is a sensual, sweet, full bodied and exotic one, not too feral though, it really resonates beautifully with fruit and resin notes, in here the wine and amber mix with the musk and boost it's sexy fragrance. The patchouli adds earthy depth, there's also a hint of floral to it which also bonds nicely with the musk, and then there's that lovely cocoa note which adds just a hint of sweet chocolaty goodness to it all, makes it a little bit different. This is a very romantic scent-the sort of thing to wear for Valentine's Day and any hot date. I love this one loads, but I'm not sure if it's my absolute favourite red musk just yet. At times it smells very similar to a few of my other beloved RM scents, and sadly it seems to fade faster than most RM/patchouli scents do. I think this scent will improve with age. If I let my bottle sit around for a year or so, I bet it will get richer and deeper and longer lasting. I'm still debating whether to keep my backup bottle, but I'm certainly keeping one bottle. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? oh yeah. One bottle for sure. If you like this, try: Hollywood Babylon, Spellbound, Scherezade, Red Moon 07, Blood Lotus, Lust, Velvet, Tezcatipoca, Smut

Black Widow In the imp: mmm, an intoxicating wine and roses scent with a hint of incense and jasmine. Wet on skin: now I smell the patchouli and jasmine a little more amongst the sweet wine and rose. Dry on skin: whoa, the jasmine has amped a great deal now, but isn't turning bitter like it can do. This is quite nice-it's like Glasya, but not as animalistic. The rose, jasmine and sweet juicy wine are dominant, but patchouli, sandalwood and myrrh add an intriguing incense like base to the scent, dry and a little bit smoky, the myrrh in here seems to be the 'light' variety which smells a little burnt. It also reminds me of Lilith, and I wonder if there's a hidden ylang note. After a while: I love the incense-y, almost nag champa like, slightly spiced scent of the sandalwood here. Despite this the myrrh, a note I normally adore, smells a bit burnt in here, this could be because of the jasmine as well. I smell a hint of rose, but it's much drier in scent, I don't smell the sweet juicy wine that came before. It smells a bit more charred as well, almost like a rose incense stick burning, actually. It becomes less floral-boozy and turns to charred myrrh and sandalwood joss sticks. It's not bad but I'm not too keen on the burnt bitterness I get. Verdict: I like this one, but more at the start. At first I get a wonderful burst of juicy wine spilling over roses and jasmine blossoms, with an undertone of exotic dry sandalwood incense sticks gently burning. I love the rich sweet juiciness of the wine here and the fact that the jasmine in here works nicely. I also love the spicy, incense-like feel of the sandalwood and patchouli. But then it develops an odd burnt scent, not a nice burnt/smoky scent, but a thin, charred, bitter scent that I'm not crazy about. The scent loses the juicy rich floral scent and turns oddly flat and bitter, but then becomes incense-y again. I like this, but oddly it's not as spectacular as I hoped it would be. I do love a lot of the notes in here, but it's not wowing me. There are similar scents to this that work better on me. Ultimately it's more of a scent that I like than one I dislike, but I think I'll swap this off. At least it's not a rarity I will lust for more of! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? not really. There are others in this genre I prefer.

Door 13 In the imp: a chilly, masculine, metallic, perfumey, citrus-herbal ozone. Wet on skin: ack, generic man's perfume! Dry on skin: I should have known…it's a metallic scent, so naturally it turns to sporty deodorant on me. This smells much too generic for my liking, I'm afraid. It does remind me of a man's perfume-not sure if it's Cool Water or CKOne or something-but it's very cologne like, a fresh scent of green masculine notes and ozone. However, I smell this more and it becomes more interesting…it is chilly and cold and I do get the 'feel of icy metal upon skin' feel from this, and I also get something almost like that shuddering feeling of biting metal foil. It is like clean steel with a hint of electric ozone to it, but I still smell manly perfume here. After a while: now this smells like Lightning. Maybe a little more perfumey, a little less crackly, but definitely with a touch of harsh, metallic, electric ozone to it. it still smells of generic sporty body spray, but now the 'electric' side of the ozone is starting to surface, and that is not good news. It doesn't go into the fully electric 'office appliances' scent that I dislike so much, but it does still smell like men's cologne with a little hint of steely ozone…maybe also a hint of washing powder. But definitely perfumey. It now resembles a less floral version of Kataniya. The scent goes into a clean laundry scent at drydown, which isn't bad. Verdict: this is not my kind of scent at all. It seems there are two types of metallic scent in BPAL, the metallic notes which are nice on me (a lot of them are the 'bloody' metallic scents, actually) and some that turn to pure generic sporty perfume on me. This is the latter. It smells just like one of those sports deodorants, with an added spark of electric ozone, another one of my nemesis notes. The drydown is a lot more interesting, that's when I smell the metal note smelling more metallic, cold and almost threatening, with a tingle of electricity. The scent smells mechanical and chilly, and very clean. There are hints of floral and citrus to it as well. but overall, I'm not keen on this, it smells too mainstream at the beginning, and winds up smelling too ozoney. I sold this one off. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? no.

And you know, there's a Whole Foods in London now.... I thought it was Asda that was bought up by Walmart, not Morrisons...and Asda's the closest supermarket to my uni *hides* I shop there out of necessity and student budgets, not choice! I dunno, I'm cool with the idea of exclusive scents even if they are way out of my league...to me, this is like the Dark Delicacies exclusive, except there's more than one scent. Although DD is available online (not sure if they ship overseas) and these are not. But I don't think I'm being cheated, or that it's greedy, or that the Lab are purposely making some blends to tease the people who don't live nearby. I don't think it's like that at all. I like Myth's reasoning about it. They seem easier to obtain that the Convergence/Bat's Day/Intergalactic exclusive scents and I suppose swaps, decants, CPs etc can be made. And the retailers will benefit hugely. Is there official word over whether these are GC or LE?