yeahbutnobut

Oh my, those look beautiful! I'll probably never get my hands on them though, being in the UK and all that but still, I can gaze longingly at the descriptions...some of them look good! No wait...all of them look tempting. Maybe I should stop lusting over more unobtainables. They are not LE though, right?

Aeaea In the imp: a fruity yet fresh and very blue watery scent. Different to other aquatics. Wet on skin: now I smell woodsy notes and a little sweetness. Dry: mmm, this is surprisingly good! I’m not getting anything soapy or detergent like so far. What I am getting is a wonderful scent evoking the deepest sea blue. I smell woods, dry cedar and cypress, like driftwood or a wooden ship, with sweet berries and white flowers, maybe a hint of aloe as well, with a wonderful deep blue oceanic note which is so different to the other sea notes in BPAL. It smells watery, clean, blue and a little salty but not soapy so far. Something about this smell reminds me of summer holidays, actually. Makes me think of the Mediterranean sea, with it’s rich blue colour, I think it reminds me of holidays on the Greek islands. I think it reminds me of a sun lotion or aftersun cream or something? I don’t know, but I do like it. After a while: the strong woods have now calmed down, and now I smell more of the deep juicy currant-like berries and that lovely blue aquatic note with a little hint of floral to it. Still no soap or washing powder, a rarity with marine scents. Could this be the BPAL sea scent I’ve been looking for? I soon get a hint of crisp ozone, but it’s a very nice ozone, no ‘tumble dryers and photocopiers’ like I usually get with ozones that are described as electric. This is anything but…it’s a smooth warm sapphire-coloured sea and a refreshing breeze with hints of fragrant wood and fruits and flowers. It smells like a perfect summer holiday. A soft aquatic floral is all that remains, and the scent hasn’t turned soapy on me at all throughout it’s duration. Now it is just a warm, smooth, slightly salty flowery scent. It is so different to all the other sea-themed BPALs, I can’t compare this to anything because it is unique. Verdict: probably the biggest and most unexpected BPAL surprise of the year, I think. I thought I would hate this. I thought it would be death by ozone on me. But this isn’t at all…in fact, this is the BPAL sea scent I’ve been looking for, the one sea scent that actually works on me! No soap, no washing powder, no dryer sheets, no static electricity. Instead, I get a gorgeous watery-salty scent accented with floral, fruity and woodsy notes which evokes the clearest, most vivid, bluest blue sea. Deep and alluring, azure waves that tempt you to dive in, with sea breezes scented with gentle flowers, balmy woods and a hint of sweet fruit. It smells like the perfect summer holiday, it reminds me of wonderful summer memories, it makes me think of the Mediterranean without smelling of herbs and citrus fruits, there’s nothing electric or poisonous or sinister here, just the scent of water so blue and inviting, like something from a wonderful dream. I’m so glad I claimed a bottle of this from the forum sales. I think this is my favourite BPAL marine-aquatic scent now. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! One of the few sea-themed scents which works beautifully, I’m getting a bottle from the forum sales. If you like this, try: Roux Ga Roux, Selkie, Sea of Glass, Thalassa, City in the Sea, the Phoenix

Cauldron Gunk This is a lovely soap! It’s my first experience with BPAL soaps, as I really wanted to try the unique fragrance that’s only available in this soap…and I’m glad I did. The soap: it smells quite strong-not too strong but definitely not faint or ‘soapy’. The scent is enough to make my little ensuite smell lovely. It’s a pale green colour from the parsley, a nice gunky Halloween green. The texture: a very smooth lather, a little gritty but I don’t mind that. this doesn’t dry my skin at all-I don’t have to apply lotion after washing. The scent: mmm, a gorgeous fresh green tea and floral mix, I can smell the herbs and a little guava, and jasmine too-but this jasmine isn’t bitter or acrid like some jasmines can be-I think it’s because it’s in soap, as opposed to a concentrated oil. This is a fresh and jaunty scent, tangy and green and flowery and a tad spicy, it’s the smell of a cup of herbal tea. Reminds me of Phantasm, Vampire Tears and 51. Refreshing and awakening. And thankfully, I don’t smell any of the eye of newt and lizard’s leg and all that! The scent clings to the skin when dry, but not too much, just a hint of that fresh tangy tea scent, it doesn’t smell intrusive, it doesn’t clash with my other BPAL oils. Overall, I am very pleased with CG as my first BPAL soap, and definitely want to try more of these soaps, they are fantastic quality.

Hunter Moon 07 In the decant: a dry, boozy, slightly perfumey, slightly musky scent. Wet on skin: smoky but perfumey? This reminds me of a masculine perfume with a hint of strong booze and smoke. Dry: mmm, now I see where the Buck Moon comparisons come from! This now smells like a grown up, sophisticated Devil’s Night. Whilst DN was full of sweet playful spice and a youthful musk, this one has a mature musk to it, as well as a bit more booze, a hint of masculine perfume (not generic aftershave, but something classier) with dry notes of crisp autumn leaves and heady smoke. Underneath it all, that soft, furry musk that Beth does so well, capturing the softness and warmth of fur on a living animal without smelling gamey. I swear there’s even a touch of incense to this…but that may just be because this one resembles a coconut-less Brown Jenkins. It gets lovelier by the minute. After a while: this gets better and better. Now there’s a soft earthy-sweet-musky scent to it like Death Cap, but without the wet soil. I wonder if there’s tobacco here since it reminds me of Bachelor’s Dog…mainly because of the musk. But overall, it smells like sandalwood incense now, with musk and smoke and autumn leaves! Mmm! There’s a nice ashy, crumbly quality to the incense note in here, like incense that has finished burning, along with it’s smoke. There’s not as much booze as before-it’s a lot drier in scent now. In fact, this now resembles an incense version of aged Devil’s Night 05 (the 06 version being sweeter and with more of a sugary ginger aspect, which this lacks). I don’t get anything chilly to it. This sweetens over time, almost like there’s a hint of vanilla or amber underneath. It also softens, the soft ashy scent growing, and the furry aspect of the scent becoming more prevalent. It also reminds me of that wonderful dusty incense musk in the Lurid Library. Damn this is growing on me. Then the scent develops a soft powdery aspect (which is almost like a development of the ‘ash’ stage) and I smell a definite undertone of sweetish black musk, in addition to the furry musk and incense/smoke. Verdict: this is much nicer than the previous Hunter Moon…whilst I liked that, I love this one a lot more. At first I wasn’t sure because it smelt very masculine, like a sophisticated men’s perfume. A smoky and smart perfumey scent which then turned gorgeously musky, with that same furry, gently animalistic without smelling like civet. It was soft and I wanted to snuggle up to this fuzzy fragrance tinged with smoke. And the smoke notes in here are gorgeous-there’s a hint of bonfire and crunchy autumn leaves, but then it turned to a wonderful autumnal incense scent, smoky and woodsy and almost resinous, with the same dry quality as Lurid Library, only with a leafy scent instead of a papery one. This gradually resides into a scent of powdery incense ashes and darker musk, and a hint of cosy sweetness. I really like this scent-I love Beth’s furry, warm ‘mammal musks’ and with that fabulous fragrant smoke note it is even more delicious. Definitely a keeper. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes! one bottle, maybe two. If you like this, try: Brown Jenkins, Death of Autumn, A Bachelor’s Dog, Devil’s Night, Death Cap, Lurid Library

The Queen's Salon In the decant: a sleek, soft, sweet, sophisticated floral. There's an almost honeyed nectar to the scent. I think it's a kind of lily. Wet on skin: now I can smell rose! And maybe a soft musk, or amber, or vanilla…maybe even gardenia (the good kind that doesn’t turn to nastiness on my skin). Dry on skin: this is gorgeous! This reminds me strongly of the Haunted Palace, which I love-it's that same decadent floral with sweet opulent base notes. I smell red roses here, maybe a bit of orange or a citrus note-not the blood orange of HP but maybe a softer orange-some creamy gardenia and possibly lily as well. Maybe even night blooming jasmine, magnolia or tuberose-there's a heady sweet white floral to this. I'm sure there's amber here because I get a sweet golden undertone to it all. I also think there may be vanilla and/or musk. After a while: the scent now becomes more faded and dusty in feel. It's not as rich and full bodied/fruity as HP now, I still smell roses, white flowers and amber perfume, but this now has a scent to it reminiscent of antique cloth. It's almost like silk, in fact, but it's dusty and it's a cloth that has absorbed the scent of fragrant woods, flowers, spices and perfumes. I definitely get a 'boudoir' scent to this, but this is an old boudoir which still remains the same way after many decades, all the perfumes and cosmetics and dressing tables covered in dust, nostalgic, and definitely ghostly. However this doesn't smell stuffy or frumpy at all. This is a really lovely 'old fashioned' scent. I think there's a hint of chrysanthemum here…it does smell a little bit like Chrysanthemum Moon but without the incense, opium, or that 'potpourri' note. Then the scent becomes even sweeter and more floral, and now it reminds me of a much more full bodied version of Schaflende Baigneuse. I'm pretty sure there's skin musk in this scent-it has that powdery, pale tone to it. Maybe there's honeysuckle and honey here? I still smell red rose and amber and rich floral notes as well as that 'antique cloth' but the florals are more defined now. After a few hours, an intriguing papery note comes out, or maybe it's a woodsy note? It reminds me of old paper though, and seems to fit in nicely with the dusty, haunting, old tone this scent has. Verdict: damn, another rarity that I'm in love with. I was hoping this would smell like Lydia (which was soapy on me) simply because it's so hard to find, but no! The queen has to smell good enough to lust for more! This is a beautiful, sophisticated and wistful blend, starting off with an almost Haunted Palace-like mix of amber, rose, musk and a citrus note, maybe some soft white florals. Gorgeous and glamorous, a feminine and classy scent which speaks of luxury. The scent then turns a little dusty (that's a good thing) and there's a scent of old fabric to it, like curtains and bed covers and evening dresses all covered with a tinge of that lovely rose-amber perfume and dust. It's a faded and antique scent that seems to evoke the memory of a boudoir of a rich, smart, classy lady, and her perfumes and powders and vases of flowers. This is a wonderful and womanly scent and I wish I could get more. I'm glad it smells similar to the Haunted Palace because I have quite a nice stash of that scent, but I love the Queen's Salon enough to crave more of it (hopefully without trading my organs!) Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes-and I want more! I fear being involved in Ebay wars for this…

Aeris In bottle: mmm, soothing lavender, with herbs and something sweet. On skin: I smell more citrus when it's on the skin, specifically orange blossom. It's a lovely sweet lavender and orange blossom scent with a hint of cypress and grass. This is really nice-it's relaxing yet also stimulating, it calms the mind yet also makes me feel alert. I think the green/woodsy notes help to ground it a little, but the blend feels light and fresh, it has a kind of almost cologne like scent to it, it reminds me of those French lavender soaps/perfumes my mum likes, which is no bad thing. Eventually the scent turns to a lovely dry grassy scent, I'm guessing that's the sweetgrass. I get hints of lavender and orange blossom, but it's mainly woodsy cypress and grass, but it's a light scent. I get the impression of a breeze blowing through a meadow from this scent now, grasses and wild flowers swaying in the wind. It's a very agreeable scent, and I'd like to try this for it's properties of stimulating the mind-I think this would be a nice oil for a pre-exam massage, I think! It seems to be a scent for soothing and sharpening the mind at the same time. The oil texture is wonderful! It feels smooth and silky but not greasy at all-the skin absorbs it really well, my hands don't feel sticky or oily, and my skin feels so moisturised! Since I don't have many people to massage me most of the time, I'd use these oils as a moisturiser.

Aquae In bottle: mmm, rich bold geranium and a hint of camomile. On skin: the geranium turns a little more herbal now, less 'rosy' as before, I also smell more of the camomile, but there's also something sharp here that I'm not sure about…it's almost bitter, and vaguely reminds me of hair dye? I was tempted to say ylang-ylang but there's none in here, it seems. However, this odd note is short lived and disappears within five minutes. Now that's gone, I really like the mix of geranium, sandalwood and lavender I get here…it is soothing. I don't know if it smells watery to me, though it does remind me of a herbal tea or a herbal bath-so more of a warm water smell, which is an interesting and different direction for a water scent. Eventually the lavender fades and the sandalwood really comes out and mixes nicely with the geranium, which now smells balmy and a little rosy, a bit more floral. I also smell that golden herbal scent of camomile, but I don't get too much frankincense-just a hint, but not too much. This is very soothing, I must say. It gives the same impression as taking a nice hot bath and just letting the tension float away, without getting wet. So that's the water association. So now I know what to use when I'm in my halls room, where I have no bath, and feel like I need to take one-I just slather this stuff on. As I said with Aeris, the texture of the oil and the way it absorbs into the skin and moisturises it is fantastic.

nevermind, it's off topic.

I am bowled over by this update! The scents this Yule are amazing. Instead of last year's predominantly icy/snowy theme, this one contains scents of all different kinds. There are icy/snowy ones, but there are also foody, floral, resinous/incensy, woodsy, spicy, old and new, drawing from traditions the world over, including Jewish, Greek, Icelandic, Indian, Mexican, Italian...there are scents based on poetry, history, mythology, or just plain tongue in cheek humour (lick me baby one more time! I can't wait to see what the label for that one looks like!) and that's what I love so much about this update. I am getting loads of decants, and I've bought a few bottles too. I'm glad that the LEs in this update are all long term, so I didn't feel pressured to order. I think the Lunacy order will be a big 'un. My mum will be enabled with Sag (depending on notes), and I can't wait for new Gaiman scents! Now. The rant. I FUCKING HATE POSTAL STRIKES. Ok, they may be over, but so many of my packages have been held back in the backlog chaos that ensued from about five days of strike. And I get the feeling there are still strikes going on. The packages that made it through so far are: BPAL, Nocturne Alchemy, Heaven and Earth, the Atrocious Attic decant from Tramp, and my Mythos Mixtures Halloween decants from Evil Enablers. But there's a whole lot of stuff that hasn't arrived, I'm still waiting for packages from: -Mythos Mixtures -Silk Road Soaps -Magical Omaha -Blooddrop -Cobalt Blends -Heaven and Earth (I made two orders, this second one may not be sent yet, so it's early days) -Love Potion -Possets -Callisto -Aeaea decant received! -October and PPIII from Aevalin -Chilling Cellar and Forbidding Foyer from Nursekins -PPV from LJ -Perilous Parlour -Bonfire Night recieved! -All souls 07 from LJ -Death of Autumn -Massage oil decants -Decanting vials -Queen's Salon decant -Pumpkin Cheesecake and Spiked Punch decants (it's still early days for these) I may be missing some things. I'm also expecting tickets for the Tut exhibition but I have no idea when those will be sent. I'm just listing my pending orders and swaps to keep track of what has gone MIA and fear will be lost in a strike-induced black hole never to be seen again. Some are replaceable, but others (like the Caffeinated Death in the MO package) are not. I am not blaming the companies or swappers/sellers for the losses at all so don't worry. I am blaming all this crap on the shoddy postal service and the postal workers who decided to go all on us these last couple of weeks.

I'm slowly sorting out my collection of BPALs and seeing what imps/bottles I still like and which ones to sell. And I've discovered that some of these are aging gorgeously. I tend to notice the difference when I haven't worn a certain scent for a while, though I'm sure scents I wear regularly are also maturing gracefully as well. There are some scents which don't change much and still smell the same as before-which, if it's a scent I love, is a very good thing. Here's my list of scents that are even lovelier now: Et Lux Fuit (aged about 1 year and a bit)-the oddly soapy scent it had when fresh is fading, the amber is getting stronger, and the honey! Now this reminds me a little bit of Al Araaf and Spirit of the Komachi Cherry Tree. Alone (aged about 2 years)-OMG! At first I was worried this would be a bit too sweet but then the patchouli, richly matured, shines and mingles with cardamom, labdanum and sandalwood in the most amazing way. The floral notes in here are also prettier. Berenice (aged about a year and a bit)-it's lost it's 'designer perfume' scent and turned into a feminine Mr Ibis. Svadhinaopatika (since February)-OMG!! The amber in here has become wonderfully rich and golden and magnificent. This now smells like a honeyed version of the Lion. O ain't got nothing on this unspellable stunner! Hope (since February)-the sugar/vanilla musk really becomes richer and more beautiful, softening the rose. Meskhenet (since February)-the frankincense has become stunning, and that odd 'gardenia' note it had when fresh has faded considerably. Now it smells like Nefertiti. This oil is now thicker and there is residue at the bottom-a scent to roll. 13, the original (since June 05)-ohh! The chocolate has become richer, the sharp tea note is mellower, the iris pops out more and there's something almost honeyed to it. Haloa (since December 06)-oh wow! Now this smells like mulled wine and incense with sweet cakes! So festive! It's lost the odd 'sherbet' scent it had when fresh. Lotus Moon (since summer 06)-the amber has become richer and the scent has more oomph now. Black Pearl (about a year old)-the musk and iris have become much richer. Dee (two year old imp)-DAYUM this ages magnificently. I can't wait to see how my bottle gets. Hymn to Proserpine (about a year old imp)-I swear this gains Snake Charmer nuances when this ages. I get plum and cherry as well as the pomegranate/currant and amber now. Have a bottle, hopefully it will age like this. My new bottle of HtP smells spicier/sandalwoodier than my imp. Penny Dreadful (at least two years)-when I last tried it, my imp was a year old. The notes get richer and more floral and it smells stunning, though not as earthy-foody as when fresh. There's a vetiver note which really shows up with age. Anubis (two and a half years)-the sharpness this had when fresh is much calmer and the resins are much richer, more honeyed. Bastet (almost three years)-like a cat, this one's personality changes, each time I wear it. (but it always smells good!) But the myrrh note gets much stronger over time. Zorya (at least two years)-richer, stronger, more beautiful and well mixed floral. One of the few 'plain jasmine' scents that doesn't turn stinky on me. Nefertiti (at least two years, maybe more)-the woodsy incense notes become richer and smoother, loses it's greenness. Aged Nefertiti is amazing. Queen of Sheba (about 1-2 years)-I swear there's Egyptian amber in here. I get a lot of something that smells like it under the spiced honey and almonds now. Black Lily (1 year)-loses that odd metallic coldness and becomes pretty much all lily gorgeousness. Magdalene (2 years)-the rose and orchid just mature so beautifully. Snake Oil and Charmer-what can I say that hasn't already been said? The Lion (about 2 years)-the amber just gets more intense and lovely with time. Great Cry in Egypt (since summer 06)-the red musk is really intensifying in the best way, and so are the resins. Regan (2 years)-I swear there's honey in here. It's been a year or so and it smells really, really honeyed now, like floral O. Not complaining-I love this honeyed orchid scent! Bengal (1.5 or 2 years)-OMG this becomes like a more intense and spicier version of the Lion when aged. I'm sure there's amber lurking in here. Queen Mab (2+ years)-gets more intense and rich and full bloomed with time. Haunted Palace (since late 05)-who says citrus notes degrade over time? The orange in here has become creamier and softer, if anything. Beautiful amber-rose-orange-musk.

Goblin In the imp: vetiver? I have no idea why I smell vetiver in this sweet, dark, patchouli scent… Wet on skin: ok, not vetiver, but it's the same patch from Malediction, with a hint of sweet coconut. Dry on skin: dirty, earthy, autumnal patch and crisp, dry, grated coconut husk. Maybe a hint of vanilla like sweetness from benzoin. The patch in here smells just like autumn soil on my skin…wet earth full of dead leaves slowly decaying, with an undertone of the distinct patchouli scent. This wet leaves and soil scent does fade quickly to leave pure patchouli with sweet sugared toasted coconut on top. The coconut is a desiccated scent like grated coconut shavings that you sprinkle on cakes. This is really nice, actually. It's patchouli and coconut, simple as that, and it's a combo that works. After a while: I think this, and the patch in Smiling Spider, is the most definite patchouli note in all of BPAL. A lot of BPAL patch notes do that autumnal musk/old dusty paper/incense-y earth thing on me but they don't smell too obviously like patch-but this one does. And that's no bad thing, this is a lovely rich patch note which feels like it has aged for a while-a very mature, robust patchouli. The coconut sweetens this shadowy note, adds a dry, snappy, toasted and sugared feel to the dirty patch. The benzoin adds a lovely sweet vanilla scent with a hint of amber to this earthy-nutty scent. The scent gets sweeter and more coconutty, reminiscent of those little coconut sweets, but the patch also gets darker and fuller. I think I also smell more of the benzoin now. It's also one of the few scents that seems to get stronger and more intense over time, instead of fading. The coconut retreats after a couple of hours or so and I'm left with sweet patchouli, almost like patchouli with a sprinkling of vanilla sugar on top. Lovely! Verdict: a simple yet effective combination, this smells just like what it says-patchouli, coconut and benzoin. The patch in here is powerful stuff, and it is definitely patchouli. It's not the BPAL patch that smells like autumn soil or earthy musk. This is 'Hello! My name is PATCHOULI!' patchouli. No mistaking this patch note-it is strong, potent and dirty (in a good way). It smells almost like matured patchouli, a little darker and less 'hippie' than you'd expect. The coconut contrasts nicely with this dark patchouli, it's a dry, husky and sweet coconut, nothing like tropical coconut but definitely like coconut shavings. Very desiccated in scent, but approachable. On top of that is the vanilla-like benzoin adding a lovely sweetness. The scent overall is sweet and mischievous but with a shadowy undertone. It's definitely not for patchouli haters because that note is very obvious in here. Because of the intensity of the patchouli here, the scent lasts for a very long time on me. I like it, but not enough for a bottle-I like my scents to be a little more complex, but I'm keeping the imp, I think this will age really nicely. I also think this will be fantastic for layering. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? maybe-I think aging will make it really good. If you like this, try: Depraved, Smiling Spider, Malediction, Brown Jenkins, Black Pearl

Kubla Khan In the imp: a sweet vanilla-tinged, almost buttered, jasmine-centred floral. Wet on skin: gorgeous jasmine and vanilla, very much like Peitho or Bigger Critters, but more exotic. Dry on skin: this is so pretty. It is very floral, but it's a lovely sweet floral tinged with smoke and spice. This reminds me strongly of Peitho, one of my favourite jasmine/lily scents, and one of the few scents where the jasmine doesn't turn acrid. This bodes well. I smell jasmine with rich vanilla and a hint of pale opium, and sugared lily (sugared in the same way as the florals in Hope, Faith and Pink Moon are sugared, yum!) and a hint of dry golden hay and tobacco. There's an interesting mix of slightly dewy, cool (icy?) sweet flowers contrasting with a dry base of hay and smoky notes. This is also reminiscent of the Perfumed Garden, that same jasmine, but with a different layout of notes. I don't smell roses yet. After a while: the floral notes blend together really nicely by now, and merge with the sugar and vanilla to create a scent of sweet glorious flowers-there's something luminous and otherworldly about this floral scent. I am reminded of another BPAL now but can't say which…maybe Midnight on the Midway? All I know is that this smells so beautiful. There's a touch of opium to the flowers and a hint of sun warmed hay, and maybe just the barest hint of rose, but I don't get leather here. The champaca is being very well behaved here, it's not amping to that overripe cloying fruit scent, it's adding it's sweetness to the floral notes but not taking over. I think I know what this reminds me of now-Vaskakajja (sp?), but I think this is much, much better than that scent. Ok, call me crazy, maybe my nose is being odd, but I've finally worked out what this reminds me of…Mr Ibis. I know, there aren't many notes in common apart from sandalwood and vanilla, but that's what I get here, that same pale, cool Egyptian musk scent, only this one is sweeter (there's that fantastic 'sugared flower' note to it) and more floral and smoky, but I definitely get a resemblance. The scent gets smoother, creamier, there's a lovely light musk aspect to it. It eventually turns into a well blended mix of vanilla and ethereal flowers with a glow of musk and a haze of subtle smoke, hints of hay and sandalwood grounding it nicely. Nothing soapy, nothing acrid, just a seamless blend where everything works together. I swear that I get a little bit of amber popping up at the end. Verdict: if anything could sum up the idea of 'poetry in scent', this would be it. This has a mixture of notes I love (rose, vanilla, sugar) and notes that can turn bad (lily, champaca, jasmine, opium) and the note list was so diverse and contradictory that I thought this could either be spectacular or messy. Thankfully it's the former, and it is so beautiful. The jasmine is perfect-not a bitter flower but a heady sweet one, and the lily is sugared with that fantastic sugared vanilla musk that I love from the Twins and Pink Moon 07. The opium is subtle yet exotic, the vanilla is decadent and rich, and there's a hint of hay and incense, but it's mainly a hypnotic sweet floral. All the notes blend harmoniously. But then the scent gets even better-the notes merge together and a luminous musk appears. I have no idea why I get this glowing pale musk but I do, and it reminds me of Mr Ibis, with added sugared flowers and a hint of poppy. I love Mr Ibis so this is a very good thing. The scent just continues as a smooth well-blended floral sweet musk until the end, and I love it. Along with the likes of Peitho, Perfumed Garden (06) and Bigger Critters, this is one of my new favourite jasmine scents. A truly spectacular fragrance. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? Yes, and I need a bottle asap! If you like this, try: Peitho, Monster Bait BiggerCritters, Kanishta, Perfumed Garden, Midnight on the Midway, Languor, Vasakasajja, Mr Ibis

Libra In the bottle: like Lady Luck Blues, but with added cherry. Honeyed rose with black fruit. Wet on skin: now I smell almond-like notes from the cherry, and geranium? Where's that coming from? Dry on skin: now more of the fruits come out in full-I smell sweet plum, black cherry, tangy currant and fig. I also get something vaguely lemony-I have no idea why-and also rose geranium, along with regular rose and honey and spicy carnation. In fact, all the notes are present (along with a few which aren’t listed) and are very nicely balanced. This smells gorgeous, very feminine, luxurious and rich. After a while: now I smell more of the plum and honey, warmed by carnation, along with currant, the rose (and geranium?) and at this point, it really does smell like Lady Luck Blues meets Rose Moon but with more fruit. It also reminds me of the currant and roses of Knave of Hearts but without the ultra-gourmand notes. It's surprisingly herbal-lemony, almost soothing, like honeyed herbal rose petal tea. Then the scent becomes a lot more even, the notes merging and the scent of honeyed rose becoming more apparent, backed by the plum and currant. I also smell something airy and powdery to this, almost like violet or orris or sandalwood, even though they aren't listed. The honey is gentler than in Lady Luck but a little stronger than in Rose Moon. I still get that hint of geranium. The airy scent becomes a little green/herbal, almost like palmarosa more than geranium now, but still the honeyed rose and fruits remain. It's not a sticky heavy fruity honey scent though-this is light and the notes have merged even more nicely. The plum comes out a little more on drydown. Verdict: I have my moon in Libra, so I'm very glad that I like this scent. It reminds me of other scents in the honey-rose genre, like Rose Moon, Jezebel, and Lady Luck Blues, only this one is fruitier, and also has an unexpected herbal aspect as well. at first there's a load of cherry but this backs down to reveal a luxurious blend of flowers and fruit, which seems very womanly, voluptuous, a true Venus scent. There's a hint of something like geranium to it, and the notes are very nicely blended and nothing stands out too much. The scent changes very slightly into a fruity stage, then goes back to honeyed rose and then it develops a herbal airiness, which is very pretty-not as rich and fruity as before, but lighter and smoother, maybe even a little more herbal. This is really good-I love honey and rose scents, I do prefer Rose Moon and Lady Luck but this one is very nice indeed and it works a lot better than many of the other zodiac scents have done so far. Definitely a keeper. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? I'm keeping my bottle. If you like this, try: Lady Luck Blues, Rose Moon, Bordello, Alice, Knave of Hearts, Jezebel

The Lurid Library In the bottle: a soft golden musk with incense and dusty paper. Smells very promising! Wet on skin: dusty books and the shelves they rest on, as well as a manly, leathery musk. Dry on skin: mmm, this is gorgeous. Golden incense smoke, old books, a hint of wooden shelves and musk. It reminds me both of Aziraphale and Dee (more like Dee, in fact, but gentler) a lot less cologne-like and less woodsy than Aziraphale, and less leathery and tonka-y than Dee. This reminds me of something from Dogs Playing Poker-maybe the incense from Riding the Goat, but this is more like the lingering scent of incense clinging to yellowed pages instead of mahogany panelling, there's none of the tobacco. The musk is smooth, warm, and almost fuzzy. It reminds me of another BPAL but I can't say which one. It's a dusty scent, but in a good way-it feels powdery, old and worn, and ancient. This is what I was hoping Clio would smell like. After a while: this has become a lot fainter, but not in a bad way. I see what the other reviewers mean about this scent being ghostly, spacious, or a scent that can just be glimpsed from the corner of the nose. It's very ephemeral, soft, muted. Now I smell less of the musk and more of the dusty, faded papery book notes…I'm amazed as to how much this does smell like old books! I still smell the incense smoke, which is now even more like a faded yet distinctly resinous-woodsy scent (there's definitely frankincense here) which now seems to cling to the dust that covers the room. I also get a hint of leather, and this is like a less intense Dee. This does seem to get fainter, not as throwy, but that glow of golden musk and papery incense still lingers. It's still gorgeous and it's one of those nuzzly scents where my nose is glued to my wrist and doesn't want to let go. And then just as soon as it threatens to leave, the scent returns, this time with more musk, that lovely warm snuggly musk which is tinged with incense. This is powdery, and that's a compliment…there's a crumbly feel to it now, a mix of ashes and dust, still with that papery undertone. Now I am reminded of the dusty incense from Carfax Abbey, but without the strong herbs and violet notes from that scent. The drydown of this scent is that wonderful bookish musk (a softer version of Devil's Night's thuggish musk) and wispy incense…I think I'm having another nose-glued-to-wrist moment! I don't get anything remotely floral in this scent, other than perhaps the faintest hint of orris for that powdery old feel? Verdict: this is amazing. I liked Aziraphale and love Dee, but this one tops them when it comes to smelling of books. At first the old books and a musk note are prominent in here, with a hint of incense which lingers in the room, and I also catch a hint of leather binding of the books, and centuries of dust gathered on the shelves. I get the impression of a room with a faint hint of ghostly scent as opposed to a full on perfume. I find the scent very inviting…it makes me want to open those books that haven't been opened for so long, blow the dust off the pages, and discover the secrets that lie within these tomes. It's a quiet scent, but this quietness works here… libraries are quiet places after all! The incense note is gorgeous-soft and smoky and a little ashy, like resins that have just burnt. The dusty papery-woodsy notes of the library itself are spot on. And the musk is gorgeous and comforting, a gentle and slightly golden warm musk. Oddly, though this smells gentle close to the skin, it has surprising waft! the more I wear it, the more I love it. it's very unisex-I think a man would smell wonderful wearing this (imagine smelling this on a sexy bookish guy, I'm drooling at the thought) but it also smells beautiful on me. the perfect scent to wear when curling up on a rainy day with a good book. This is love. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes-and I need more! If you like this, try: Dee, Aziraphale, Clio, Mr Ibis, Mr Jaquel, Riding the Goat, Carfax Abbey

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but...the Emathides. I say it 'emma-thids' in my head, but I have a feeling that because it's Greek, it should be e-math-a-dees. Which pronounciation is correct?

Schrodinger's Cat In the bottle: sparkling citrus, soft lavender, and Spanish moss (not oak moss). Wet on skin: fresh mint and fizzy citrus, with herbal lavender and green moist moss. Dry on skin: mmm, this is wonderful! It smells primarily of citrus and mint (no chocolate yet) and it reminds me of Arcana's Each to Each, which is also a citrus-mint scent, but with lavender and moss replacing the vanilla, this isn't as sweet. For now I get a lovely sweet grapefruit and lime, like Croquet, the citrus notes are lively and energetic like a little kitten, but there's a contrasting sedative lavender note that attempts to add some calm to the scent. The tangerine is lovely and orange-y. I smell the mint and moss (which is wetter than expected, but very nice), and there I get a resemblance to Cathode. After a while: the grapefruit is lasting for a surprisingly long time here! That and the tangerine are the dominant notes now, with that undertone of green soft moss underneath. It still smells bright and playful as it did before, not as hyperactive, but still lively. I think I also smell a hint of what could be zdravetz-it's herbal but it's not lavender, but I can't say for sure. I still don't get the chocolate note. The grapefruit fades slowly leaving behind a mossy-herbal base which is very pleasant. I'm amazed as to how long the citrus notes last in here-usually only blood orange and yuzu last this long on me, but the grapefruit is sticking around for ages, as is the tangerine. I still smell moss, but it's not as squishy and swampy as before, it's now more of a fuzzy (furry?) base for the citrus notes. Once the citrus is gone, there's a very, very faint moss scent, so barely there, like a hint of green. So yes, it fades quickly but is one of those rare citrus blends that lasts longer than average on me. Verdict: I've been waiting so long for this scent to come out and this quantum kitty has really surpassed expectations. I currently have the most playful, mischievous little kittens who are even more hyper than toddlers high on e-numbers, and this scent brings to mind their antics-with all that effervescent citrus, it is full of energy and exuberance and zing. One thing's for sure, this cat is very much alive! It does fade fast, but for a citrus scent, it's one of the longest lasting of it's kind. the happy tangy notes, especially the grapefruit, stick around for at least two hours. There's a hint of lavender and a pleasant mossy undertone, which is green and soft, slightly mossier than expected, but very nice and Cathode-like which seems fitting for a physics scent. The drydown is a barely there moss with the grapefruity ghost of the playful kitty that came before, lingering like a Cheshire Cat's grin. (Indeed, with that grapefruit and possibly the concept too, this scent is definitely a sibling to the Cheshire Cat scent.) I love this scent and I adore the cute label on the bottle which makes me doubly glad that I bought a 5ml. This really is citrus purr-fection! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes! This paradoxical puss is mine for the keeping! If you like this, try: Cheshire Cat, Croquet, Fire Pig, Cathode, Tweedledee, Night Gaunt

Event Horizon In the bottle: deep, rich Schwarzer Mond-ish incense with smoky opium. Wet on skin: opium and wonderful black orchid mingles with sweet, dark resins. Dry on skin: oh wow, this is good stuff. This is like Opium Poppy meets Schwarzer Mond/Minotaur. The opium is very nice in here-not too overwhelming but definitely fitting in, adding it's smoky incense scent. The orchid adds a little bit of floral, and the resins are just fantastic, with dark, sweet, myrrh like opoponax taking the lead. This is the kind of opium I like. After a while: now I get a little more smoke, a slightly burnt aspect to the scent which increases the dark, pitch black feel this scent has but doesn't smell too charred. It smells like the burning myrrh note I've smelt in Black Lotus. It smells like the incense resins in here are now smouldering along with the opium, but there's still that sweet benzoin/opoponax note. Contrasting with the blackened notes I smell orchid, which is ethereal and delicate, like the last glimpse of light being sucked into a black hole. At this point it reminds me of Eshe, another favourite of mine, but without the herbs or dust. Something about the papery yet heady poppy note in here reminds me of the paperwhite note in Eshe. The scent loses it's brief burnt note but still smells smoky and hypnotising. It also smells sweeter, a little more floral-resinous now. The opium and resins become strong again after a few hours, before the scent ends as a wonderful amber-like smoky opoponax drydown with a hint of opium. Something about it reminds me of Oblivion even though the scent is different, the feel of the scent-the dark, shadowy depth of it-is similar. Verdict: I'm picky with my opium scents so that note concerned me, but as an astrophysics student who recently did a group project on black holes, I couldn't resist the name, and had to get a bottle of this scent, and I'm pleased I did. It is heavy on the opium but this is an opium scent which works…dark poppy smoke wrapping around black orchids on a base of beautiful, dark incense. The resins are the same wonderful sweet deep resins as the likes of Schwarzer Mond and Minotaur, thick and rich and gorgeous opoponax and benzoin with tones of amber and myrrh. Damn, I love resins. At times the opium gives the impression that the resins are burning dryly, and the orchid adds a floral smoothness and a resemblance to the Emathides. I love this blend of absolute darkness, it lures me into its blissful black hole of scent and I can't stop sniffing it. I think this is my new favourite dark opium scent (with Kubla Khan being my new light opium favourite) and I am so glad I bought a 5ml straight away. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? of course! If you like this, try: Emathides, Opium Poppy, Minotaur, Schwarzer Mond, Eshe, Medea, Oblivion

Crypt Queen In the bottle: rich and fruity and earthy, with wine like tones. Reminds me of Mme Moriarty and Trick #2 with more fruit. No bubblegum whatsoever. Wet on skin: oh yes, this is like Mme Moriarty, with the pom, plum and patch, but this is fruitier and also floral. No evil gardenia yet. Dry on skin: mmm, this is gorgeous. I can smell pepper now, adding it's dark heat to the scent. This is earthy and gritty with rich red fruity floral tones to it. The patchouli is the same as Mme Moriarty's, that woodsy-smoky-incensy scent, though the pomegranate and plum may also be helping to make this smell like that. The pepper adds a spicy bite, I smell tangy raspberry, whilst I get a faint hint of something metallic-the blood note? It's not blatant, and it's not dragon's blood either. The floral notes are not as strong as the fruit, but I can definitely smell the rose in here. It reminds me of Trick #2 with it's fruit, patch, pom and pepper mix, and there's something almost like Blood Countess to this as well, though not as plummy… After a while: this gets stronger-the throw increases and the fruit notes (especially pomegranate) become richer and redder in feel, crimson coloured, and the patch also strengthens. This is now like Mme Moriarty without the Snake Charmer-ish background, with rose instead of vanilla. I really love the combination of fruits and pepper in here, it reminds me of a chocolate bar with raspberry/strawberry and pepper, which I love, only this time there's no chocolate. There's also a metallic feel which in here also really works, it's like the metallic scent in Cracked Bell. This scent is darkly decadent and gorgeous. The scent gets smoother, a little sweeter, and even lovelier as it dries, with the patch and fruit merging wonderfully, with the pepper still adding it's crackling warmth. It becomes more and more like a peppery Mme Moriarty (without vanilla) as it dries, and I love that. I think I'm getting a little bit of musk now. Verdict: I am so glad I got a bottle of this, because this scent is wonderful! I was worried by the blood and gardenia but luckily, in here, they both smell good, and the scent is a delightful mix of dark juicy fruit and fragrant flowers interred in earthy, smoky-incensey patchouli and sprinkled with pepper. It seems that Crypt Queen is the lovechild of Mme Moriarty and Trick #2. This is like Mme, the same pomegranate, plum and patch, but with flowers instead of vanilla, and a bit of spice and even something pleasantly metallic/gritty. It's almost like a fine red wine in feel, it is mature and robust. It also reminds me of Persephone with darker nuances, indeed, this scent is Persephone in the underworld. I love this luxurious and sinister scent, it smells confident as well, full of oomph, a delicious femme fatale fragrance which is just perfect for autumn, and it turns velvety and smooth over time as the notes blend. I bet it will age wonderfully too. I love this fragrance so much, and I love the little coffin! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? of course! This is fantastic. If you like this, try: Mme Moriarty, Dark Delicacies, Blood Countess, Persephone, Trick #2

Agnes Nutter In the imp: holy crap! Vetiver, and lots of it! This is probably the 'evil' variety that smells of asphalt/rubber on me… Wet on skin: smoke! now I smell lots and lots of smoke, like standing next to a bonfire. And vetiver. Dry on skin: ok, now I get the nails, a fresh metallic airy note which is borderline perfumey. But the dominant note is SMOKE. Fire and burning woods and bonfires and gunpowder, this smells like the 5th of November. The metallic note almost smells like cool damp autumn wind here, and rain too, but even the rain won't put out this fire. I'm amazed as to how genuine the burning woods note is in here-it smells like I've been standing next to a wood fire and the smoke is clinging to my skin. After a while: the 'rusty nails' note has taken over now, and like other metal notes, now turns to sporty perfume on me-it contrasts dramatically with the smoke. It still smells like it's smouldering, and it is still very vetiver-y (now more so than before), but now there's a spritz of generic cologne to it which I'm not crazy about. Eventually this becomes almost ozone like, but with vetiver. The cool, fresh, bracing metallic perfume is very strong now (reminds me of Macbeth and the Witches with added smoke now), but there's still the burnt wood, and the vetiver, which is almost like tar in here…and I think this perfume will stick to me for days… The drydown of this scent is men's perfume, pure and simple. A smoky sports cologne. Verdict: I love the character of Agnes Nutter so I was hoping her scent would work-but sadly, it turns into men's deodorant with smoky vetiver on me. It starts off really well though, as a roaring bonfire of smoky and charring woods, so genuine that I fear that I may set off smoke alarms with this scent! The vetiver fits in well here, really enhances the smouldering scent of burning wood and thick black smoke from a huge bonfire, with a hint of chilly rain like ozone. Sadly, as the fire reaches it's peak, I don't get anything explosive like I hope I would. The vetiver and metallic 'nails' notes turn bad and the scent goes very wrong on me. The vetiver smells like burning rubber, but it's the metal note that really lets me down by turning into a really generic sports deodorant smell-like something I'd expect young boys to wear, but it's not something I like to smell in my BPAL. and this perfumey scent clashes with the charred, tarry vetiver in a way that I'm not keen on. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? no. If you like this, try: Djinn, Brimstone, Malediction, Devil's Claw, Macbeth and the Witches

Tristran In the imp: rosewood and greenery. This reminds me of something, maybe a shop I've been to, but I can't say what or where. Wet on skin: coriander leaves (mmm) and lots of woods. maybe a bit of lemon. Dry on skin: whoa, this is really, really woody. Like walking through a forest woody. I smell redwood and rosewood and a lovely sandalwood note (smells just like the White Sandalwood SN). The coriander note, which smells of the green coriander leaves as opposed to the pungent, spicy seeds, adds a very green aspect to the scent, hinting at the forest where the trees came from. There's something almost sap-like to this, like breaking a twig off a tree and smelling the green sap inside, it has a slight spice to it. I also smell a hint of sweet tonka and patchouli. After a while: the woodsy, greenish scent gets stronger, it's almost like pine resin or some other kind of sticky sap oozing from a tree. So green! In fact, it reminds me of galbanum. At the same time, this also gets drier and smells more like very exotic wooden furniture, sculpted from rare and fragrant woods, in a dusty store where incense has been burning. It almost makes me think of a furniture store in Camden Market-woods and incense. Maybe not the smell of the shop itself, but the feel of the scent, reminds me of that. The sandalwood really shows off now, boosted by the redwood, and the rosewood isn't as 'pickled' as it can sometimes smell-this is a good rosewood. This is nice but it does seem to be turning a little bitter at drydown, and a little masculine. it's very different from most manly scents out there-it's now very green and woodsy, like fresh timber. It goes between exotic wooden furniture and forests every now and then. Eventually I smell moss? Yes, moss, almost like Spanish moss, growing on wood. In fact, this now smells like Roux Ga Roux or another one of those cypress-moss scents. Verdict: this is definitely a man's scent, but not in the traditional sense. I love the way this smells both very natural and also a little exotic. The woodsy notes, combined with the green notes, give the impression of walking through a forest of tall trees, but not in the usual 'pine/evergreen' sense, this is more like a deciduous forest, green leaves and sap, the smell of strong, powerful tree trunks and bark with moss. There's a feel of adventure to this scent, makes me think of hiking through the woods. at the same time though, I get a nice spicy scent to this, the sandalwood is gorgeous in here, and the coriander smells delicious. I even get a hint of incense at times. it's a very lovely and different take on the usual woodsy theme, and I think it would smell fantastic on a guy. It's a little too manly for me at drydown though, so I probably won't keep it, even though I love the incense-meets-outdoorsy scent I get for the first hour or wear. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? maybe the imp. If you like this, try: Jupiter, Yggdrasil, Winter of our Discontent, Carceri D'Invenzione, Séance, Stranger in Camp

Shadwell In the imp: tobacco cologne with a bare hint of milk. Surprisingly perfumey and a little caramelised. Wet on skin: a thick, rich pipe tobacco with a hint of Mr Nancy's foody-sugary scent to it. Dry on skin: now I smell the 'mildew', which thankfully doesn't smell like true mildew, but more like moss, with a cologne like aquatic to it which is slightly rainy and fresh in feel. Under that I get the tobacco, smelling less like ashtrays and more like a sophisticated pipe tobacco with a hint of treacle. I also smell the milk, which is a light, soft, cool milk note which thankfully doesn't turn sour. But the dominant note is the manly cologne and tobacco, a perfume a lot more sophisticated than I'd expect from Shadwell (though I'd expect the real Shadwell wouldn't smell so good-this is a pleasant scent!) After a while: after that intense blast of cologne and sticky tobacco, this now fades into something even nicer…a gentle sweet milk (still nothing sour), almost like coconut milk but not quite, and a hint of lighter tobacco. Now it smells more like roll up cigarettes, but in a nice way. this is like Mr Nancy, but gentler, less sugary, and fresher. It seems to go between smelling like men's aftershave and cool milk every now and then, the tobacco always present. I much prefer the milky stages to the 'raincoat' stages, but the tobacco does seem to be veering towards ashtray territory now, which is apt for Shadwell, but not so good for me! The ashtray stage does fade and the scent ends up as a kind of milky tobacco cologne with a hint of sweet coconut to it. The condensed milk note smells very true now, almost like the condensed milk in kulfi (which I adore) but without the spices, and with aquatic-sporty perfume, powdery moss and dry caramelised tobacco (think Red Lantern and Mr Nancy). Verdict: Shadwell's scent is unique, interesting and contradictory, a mix of opposing notes that seem to work well together. There's an aquatic component which is lightly mossy, a smart manly perfume, a tobacco note that moves from pipe to cigarette, and a gorgeous sweet milk note which isn't remotely sour. That's my favourite thing about the scent, in fact-the condensed milk note is so nice, comforting and sweet. however, the scent does have moments when it turns a little too masculine for me. the 'mildewed raincoat' note, a mix of moss and rainy aquatic notes, does turn a little bit like a manly aftershave, and this is accentuated by the tobacco which at some points smells a little too much like cigarettes for me. but I like it. it's a lot more agreeable than I expected a Shadwell scent to be, that's for sure! I also love the way that Beth makes such unusual mixes of notes, some of which sound really off-putting (who'd have thought mildew could smell so good?) work really well together, like in here. Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? not really, but it's a very interesting scent! If you like this, try: Incubus, Mr Nancy, Ogun, Red Lantern, Elegba, Obatala

I can has Schrodinger's Cat label pics nao?

War In the imp: savoury, potentially rubbery red ginger and pepper, with sweet musk. Like a sweeter Aries. Wet on skin: savoury ginger (no rubber yet) but underneath that is a beautifully creamy musk note. Dry on skin: whoa, this ginger is hot stuff! There's a hint of hot rubber to it, but this is appropriate, it brings to mind War's motorbike speeding down the motorway at the end of the world…I even smell a hint of asphalt. But this doesn't distract from a gorgeous creamy soft musk at the back. This is the same wonderful red musk from Red Moon 07, and also some of the floral red musk scents-it's almost like Blood Lotus with honeysuckle instead of lotus, and a lot of spices added. I also smell the blood musk from Blood Moon and Cracked Bell in here, very sensual and warm but with a bite of metal. I smell black pepper as well as ginger, maybe even some black cumin? These aren't cosy spices, they are edgy, fiery and gritty. But the floral musk contrasts this beautifully. After a while: the spices tone down and the rubber disappears completely. Seems that now all I smell is Carmine Zuigiber's feminine beauty rather than the way that she brings conflict wherever she appears. That wonderful creamy red musk, floral and voluptuous, is the dominant note. I don't smell popcorn here at all, like I have seen mentioned in other places, but I smell the same grainy undertone that Red Moon (and Blood Moon) had. There's a hint of spice, but it's mainly musk now. There's still a hint of dryness, but the scent becomes creamier, more floral and lush. It's like the musk is mixing with the honeysuckle in the most amazing way, there's something magnolia like to it. this then becomes almost lotus-like and this really does smell like Blood Lotus. I think I smell dragon's blood too, but this isn't the 'evil DB' that amps on me. I also smell the variety of patchouli that smells like autumnal soil on my skin. Verdict: this is so much better than I expected. This is what I wanted Aries to be like-in fact, this should be my Aries scent from now on. The red ginger worried me but in here it's not too bad-it's gingery and dry, but not too rubbery. The spices are nice and dark, as is the patchouli. It's the musks that are the stars of this scent. I love red musk, so a triple whammy of red musk is three times more awesome. I can actually differentiate between two of the musks in here, there's a 'floral-creamy' red musk and a 'bloody' red musk. Those remind me of Red Moon 07 and Blood Moon respectively, two of my favourite moons, so this makes me happy. The floral-creamy musk does the most amazing thing on drydown-it lifts the honeysuckle (which doesn't smell soapy in here at all) and makes this flowery note smell rich and strong, with a silky, sensuous sweetness underneath. It reminds me of other floral-red musk combinations, like Blood Lotus and Unheavenly City. This scent is fitting to the character-beautiful yet dangerous, indeed. A floral musk which is feminine yet powerful and confident. I will need to buy more of this some day! Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? definitely the imp. Maybe a bottle, but not now. If you like this, try: Red Moon 07, Saw Scaled Viper, Chrysanthemum Moon, Aries 07, Blood Moon, Blood Lotus, Cracked Bell

Victoria In the imp: a crisp, sharp tea rose. Almost like the Peacock Queen. Wet on skin: oh, now the gorgeous vanilla musk comes out! This is going all Hope-like now. Dry on skin: this is gorgeous! Now I smell lily in there, but it's not a soapy lily, or too sharp. This is a delicate white lily and rose fragrance softened by an exquisite vanilla musk. Yes, it does remind me of Hope, but it also reminds me of something else…maybe Kindly Moon, or Peitho, because of the lily? Or Et Lux Fuit, because of the vanilla musk? Maybe Dolce Stil Nuovo? Yes, probably Dolce, without the lavender. There's also something here almost reminiscent of honey, or honeycomb/beeswax. The musk is ethereal and airy. After a while: this is a very pleasant floral white musk now. This is what I hoped to get from Dolce, but that turned to brine on me (such a heartbreak). This has a fresh saltiness but it's not brine…this is more like a sea breeze blowing over roses and lilies. That's what I hoped to get from those aquatics. It's not as sweet now, but it smells fresh and sophisticated but also youthful and carefree. The slightly salty phase does eventually back down and it becomes a crisp floral, roses and lilies, with that fresh white musk. I also smell the vanilla now, it's like powdered white sugar over roses, so pretty. The scent soon turns into a gorgeous mix of Hope's rose and Kindly Moon's floral musk, only this time with a less complicated floral aspect. I have no idea why I smell something almost honeyed which gets stronger over time, but I like it. A honeyed vanilla rose, like a lighter version of Lady Luck Blues, is what I get at the end. Verdict: this is such a pretty rose scent! Definitely related to Hope, only not as sugary, this one is more mature, reserved and delicate, not so much sugared as subtly sweet. The stargazer lily is just right in here-not soapy, this lily is pale and demure, and mixes nicely with the crisp, youthful rose. The vanilla musk is fresher and not as sweet as expected-at times it turns a little salty, but it is lovely. I'm reminded of the lily and musk in Kindly Moon. This is a light, feminine and gentle scent, airy and dainty but also grown up. There's even a little hint of honey at the end. This is the sort of scent I was hoping to get in Dolce Stil Nuovo…it reminds me of that scent, but this one is nicer. I might want to get a bottle one day but not yet. I'll keep my decant, but I'm definitely buying some for my friend, whose name is Victoria! That'll be her pathway to enablement… Emoticon rating: Is it a keeper? yes, the imp. Maybe I'll get more… If you like this, try: Hope, Kindly Moon, London, Dolce Stil Nuovo, Bearded Lady, Berenice, Lady Luck Blues

It's been ages since I've written in here huh? But I need to announce the arrival of two darling new additions to the family...my long awaited new kittens, Serafina and Smurfette. I got them via a shelter from someone who wanted to sell his kittens-and I was not expecting the almost dangerous level of CUTE I saw when I met the kittens. it was so hard choosing two kittens from a litter of six adorable little fluffy bundles of joy. I ended up choosing eventually and I think I chose well-the kitties are so sweet and playful and are always chasing each other and jumping about and just doing the sort of cute kitten stuff that makes me all wobbly inside. Sera is the grown up one with more black than white on her face, and she is also the more mature and and clever kitty, whilst Smurfette is the energetic, playful, mischevious little rogue who has one eye in black fur and the other in white, almost like an eyepatch (mum calls her the little pirate). I am so pleased to have these wonderful darlings in my life-I haven't been this happy in ages! I will post pics asap!