yeahbutnobut

La Belle Dame Sans Merci In the imp: neroli! Lots of orange blossom here… Wet on skin: still neroli, and now I think rose is creeping into the scent… Dry on skin: mmm, not bad! The scent is mainly orange blossom, maybe orange fruit as well, with a little bit of rose. It reminds me of Catherine and Bess but without the rosemary…though there's a slight herbal scent now to this, possibly camomile? I think there may be a little bit of jasmine but I'm not sure yet, there is a greenish scent here as well. But it's mainly orange blossom and rose. After a while: eventually the orange blossom takes a step back and now the rose takes centre stage. it's a bold, yet traditional rose, with a hint of citrus to it…it's not a dry rose though, but there is a hint of bitterness behind it, reminiscent of citrus peel. Then I get rose and a hint of green, with hints of orange blossom. There's also a definite feel of powder to the scent-no bad thing. This to me seems very similar to Bess, but not as sunny/warm/fruity as that scent, this one's a bit more faded. I get none of the aquatics everyone mentions though. Verdict: this is quite nice. To me, it's a less sharp/herbal Catherine and a more muted Bess. It starts off with orange blossom/neroli, which then moves into a soft, powdery rose scent. A full bodied rose with a hint of fruit, it's also quite a bitter rose, but softened by the sweet powder notes. It's a very pretty scent, but I do prefer Bess which is similar to this, but a bit more complex. Emoticon rating:

Storyville Thanks to Blood onmy hands for letting me try this! In the imp: mmm, cocoa and ginger! This smells delicious, a bit like a softer version of Shub with added chocolate! yum! Wet on skin: chocolate ginger with hints of nuts and woods, maybe some vanilla as well…and coffee! Dry on skin: dear gods, this is really delicious! Think the woody vanilla-cocoa of Velvet merged with the sweet, incensy, lemony ginger of Shub Niggurath, with hints of tobacco and coffee! this is a wonderful scent, indeed. It's warmly spicy, sweet, slightly smoky, decadent and rich. there may also be a touch of rum to this, as after a while I get a deep booze note to the scent, maybe it's bay rum. I also get the lovely scent of cinnamon in here. The musk, if there is any, is very discreet for now (not Smut like at all) and there's a delightful vanilla-brown sugar sweetness smoothing the scent down. After a while: eventually, this becomes the lovechild of Shub and Misk U. A muted version of Shub's spicy ginger with a background of dark caramelised coffee. This is goooood. Then it becomes a smoother scent, a soft vanilla musk spiked with ginger and dusted with cocoa and a hint of coffee, giving the impression of a gingerbread mocha. Verdict: this is fantastic stuff! Why do I always fall for the rarities? This is a lovely mix of citrus like ginger and sweet warm cinnamon crackling away with a dusting of nutty chocolate praline, a splash of mocha mingled with rum, vanilla and caramel. A decadent and delicious scent, indulgent and comforting, this is one of those 'must resist urge to eat wrist' scents. This is even better than Gluttony as the 'ultimate chocolate foody scent' since it's not as overly rich and there's a lovely spicy side to the scent to stop it becoming cloying. This scent is just as wonderful as I expected, and since I don't think I'd be willing to sell my soul on Ebay for a bottle, I'll cherish the precious little half imp I have. Emoticon rating:

Doc Buzzard Thanks to Jenpo for letting me try this! In the imp: no pickles, but I do get lime. Lots of lime, and also a masculine cologne base, with resins…and bay rum. I'm sure there's bay rum in here. Wet on skin: now some dark wooden notes creep into the scent, and it starts to become green. Still the lime, resin and bay rum cologne remain. Dry on skin: ooh, this is nice. This is such a unique, complex scent…I'm not sure exactly what's in here, but I can guess…there's something sweetly resinous here-I'm thinking opoponax or labdanum, or maybe benzoin? It's a sweetish scent, and very dark, but with a definite resin feel. There may also be some smouldering myrrh in here, I get that characteristic incense scent from this, it's rich and deep. So yeah, lots of resin and incense here. I also get woods, possibly cedar, dry and also smoky, maybe a touch of sandalwood? This gives it a hint of 'dark green-brown', an earthiness. Maybe some musk too. I think there's also some moss here, enhances the greenness of the scent. The lime/bay rum scent still lingers, though not as strongly. This is masculine but not too much-I really like it. After a while: this then smoothes out so nicely into a smoky resin-wood musk scent with a bright, high note which may be frankincense. the scent is very resinous now, but with that smoothness and woody earthy scent, and a bit of fresh musk, it to me is very autumnal in feel-it also reminds me of another BPAL or two, maybe a mix of Devil's Night with one of the incense blends…yes, come to think of it, it's very similar to Devil's Night, only more incensy and dark. I think there may be a tobacco note at the base of the scent-or maybe patchouli. Over time as the scent develops more, I think it that the deep earthy note underneath is patchouli...now I get a hint of honey-less Luperci to this, Verdict: what a fascinating scent! This is one of those unisex, earthy, incense and autumn smoke that has that trademark 'Beth touch' to it-it's a scent that can only be from BPAL. In the vial, it smells like masculine perfume, a deep bay rum and lime scent. Once it hits the skin, resins and woods come out to play, and the blend's complexity is apparent. I get a load of resinous scents, sweet ones and dark ones, a few brighter resins too, all smouldering gently on a background of dry, earthy woods, moss, patchouli and fresh, airy musk. the drydown is almost like Devil's Night-a smoky depth with light tangy musk, with a bit of sweetness. This is a lot nicer than I was expecting-it does smell a bit masculine, but not so much that it makes me smell too butch (but I'm sure a guy would smell drop dead sexy in this). I'm very glad I got to try this rare scent- I won't need a bottle, but I will be keeping my sample! Emoticon rating:

Eve In the imp: soft honeyed rose and ylang-ylang. This honey is sweet and gentle, not the sharp honey I get in some scents. Wet on skin: I’m getting a floral I’m not 100% familiar with, which I think is the apple blossom. I also smell ylang and honey. Dry: oh, this is such a pretty fragrance! Now the rose has come out in force. It’s honeyed rose-much rosier and less sharp than Jezebel’s-with heady ylang-ylang and a hint of a dry, light, springy floral which must be the apple blossom. This is a gorgeous scent, it’s warm and sunny, youthfully floral and with something innocent about it. I adore the honey-rose this has. After a while: after about ten minutes, the scent isn’t as sweet and full as before. It’s now become a lot drier, a tad harsher. It reminds me of dried rose petals with dry blossom petals surrounding it-it’s not that fresh rose scent I had before, the rose has dried and wilted. It’s not a bad scent, but it’s not as lovely as before. The ylang-ylang is very piercing now (it’s not exactly the chemical scent others say this note has, but it’s almost like that now, it seems ever so slightly reminiscent of alcohol), and the honey’s gone. It now smells like a drier Silentium Amoris. This stage lasts until the scent fades completely. Verdict: at first, I adored this scent! It was a gorgeous rose with soft honey and the other florals lingering pleasantly in the background. It was delightful! However, this stage didn’t last. The scent then became very dry and almost dusty in scent, like the fresh rose that was before had wilted a bit, and the ylang-ylang also becomes very dominant at this stage. This stage of scent isn’t unpleasant as such, but it’s not as wonderful as the first stage, which was fleeting, unlike the dry, old rose stage that lasts until the end. I might keep the imp of this, but it’s not my favourite rose scent. Emoticon rating:

Delight In the imp: ugh, vinegar! No, I’m not kidding, this smells like vinegar! I’m a bit scared to put it on my skin, it smells sour and unappealing… Wet on skin: still a bit sour and vinegar-y, but now I think I’m getting hints of floral coming out…maybe the tuberose? Dry: hmm, not bad! No more vinegar. This now smells like a soft, almost incense like floral. It smells like floral joss sticks from India, with an almost champa like feel to it. There’s tuberose and jasmine here-I don’t get much of the rose (I think it may be adding a hint of something tart to the scent though), maybe I can smell the frangipani but the scent is a well blended sultry floral, humid and exotic, with a hint of nag champa. It seems evocative of a sultry summer night with heady blooms on the breeze. Strangely, there’s also a hint of salt to it-maybe this is a floral-scented summer night by the sea? After a while: a very soft, almost barely there, scent remains after an hour. I now get a hint of rose, with a little bit of sweet frangipani, I think, with a white floral background. But it’s ever so faint! Verdict: here’s a good example of ‘don’t judge a scent by its imp!’ In the imp, this smelt very off putting-like vinegar! I didn’t want to put it on my skin but I’m did, because the scent changes dramatically into a very pleasant, subtle floral. An exotic and sultry scent, it reminds me of Indian floral incense burning on a humid summer night with the scent of the joss sticks mingling with the scent of nocturnal blooms. It’s not too heady, it’s more like a wisp of scent. It does fade incredibly fast on my skin though, leaving just a bare hint of white floral. It’s a nice scent but too short lived and the vinegar scent it had first kinda freaked me out… I’ll stick with Khajuraho for my Indian floral incense scent. Emoticon rating:

I stink of: Black Hellebore, and Heaven and Earth's Bunny at the Door I'm really not looking forward to next Tuesday. I have my first exam-it's 'contemporary physics'-that's all 20th century physics including quantum, relativity and nuclear/atomic physics. It's going to be a three hour long one, and I'm already scared...however, past exam papers are so helpful. I used to prefer revising through reading, and whilst I still do this, I find doing questions, writing, calculating and practising is more effective. But it's also so monotonous...at least some concepts I was unsure of are sticking in my head. Now, for more studying...*snorts TAL Concentration* At least I have a holiday in Crete to look forward to in the middle of June!

Burial In the imp: sweetish juniper! It’s almost like pine in here… Wet on skin: now I can smell the patchouli, dark and earthy under the piercing juniper. Dry: mmm…now this is starting to remind me of something very familiar. Yes, that’s right-it smells like Lush Tramp! It’s that same foresty patchouli, but with sharp, bright juniper, so it’s not totally identical to Tramp, but very close. And I’m quite a fan of Tramp, so I really like this…even though it’s a little bit more masculine. After a while: rose??? Yes, now I’m smelling rose here! That’s not a bad thing at all since I love rose, but I wasn’t expecting any in here. It’s rose and earthy, dusty patchouli. This scent now smells like dry earth (not wet soil-this is crumbly, dusty dirt) scattered over dried rose petals. Verdict: at first, of all the BPAL scents rumoured to smell like Tramp, this is the closest. It’s not identical, this scent is actually a more masculine, piercing, almost medicinal version of Tramp, it’s not as dark and doesn’t have the moss, but the earthy patchouli and forest scent is very close. But then it changes and an unexpected rose note pops up, and it smells like an old funeral bouquet of roses, dry and dead, on top of dry, dusty earth. Very evocative. I do like this scent, not enough for a bottle, but I will keep the imp. Emoticon rating:

Black Hellebore In the imp: a very pretty floral. It’s quite heady and ‘perfumey’ but in a good way. Wet on skin: mmm, this is lovely. I think the floral note is almost like peony, with a hint of ripe fruit. Dry: gorgeous! This is a beautiful fragrance-heady rich floral with a hint of fruitiness to it. It is indeed a peony scent, much richer and deeper than Peony Moon, with a hint of rose to it. There’s a sweet note that reminds me of fruit, not sure what kind of fruit though. There’s also that crisp, tangy ‘spring blossom’ scent to it as well, with a bit of green. There’s a definite dark feel to it. After a while: it’s not long before the scent becomes headier and more like classic perfume in feel and the throw increases. There’s now a hint of something tangy underneath, a note I can’t identify but which reminds me of expensive perfume. The fruity peony scent still remains, but the scent also darkens even more. This is a very sophisticated scent now, something that feels mature. The drydown is that deep floral, now with some dark, earthy, ashy notes, probably tobacco and/or vetiver, possibly a little cedar or something woody, but it’s not very smoky, it’s more like a dark, slinky scent with a tinge of something reminiscent of good quality men’s perfume. This must be the green, rooty scent mentioned in the description. Verdict: I like this one a lot better than I was expecting. I get no herbal green earthiness until the end. First this is a rich, powerful floral scent, deep and heady, a scent reminiscent of peony and sweet ripened fruit with a hint of green and tart rose to it, and an undercurrent of classic perfume, which strengthens upon drydown. Over time the scent darkens and becomes more mysterious and sophisticated, at the end the floral note is then covered with earthy, gritty greenish notes-yet these are smoothed out with that 'posh perfume' note. This is a very grown up scent, there’s definitely something classy about it, but also quite dark. I’ll be keeping the imp of this because I’m not sure about the drydown (it’s almost like men’s perfume by the end) but I love the burst of rich heady flowers I get at first. Emoticon rating:

I stink of: Ozymandias (this is so beautiful second time round-there's an almost Antique Lace-like quality to it, like AL in a desert breeze, with Egyptian musk behind it) I'm a little bit surprised I wasn't picked on in the wank thread...I'm not sure whether I should be glad or sad about that. If there was a comment like 'OMG that stupid little yeahbutnobut/miss isis uk should go mummify herself or something if she's so into Egypt yada yada yada' would have probably made my day but really and truly, that thread did sicken me to the core. My self-torturing, curious side of my brain makes me want to go and read it more and it does become more laughably immature the more I read it. But seriously, comments like name calling and bitching about people's weight or saying that their av sucks belongs in primary school, not what should be an adult community, and the few moronic comments about Beth remarketing the same blend under a different name/using premade blends/lying about natural blends...the words 'horse', 'flog' and 'dead' come to mind. My campus is under invasion by these really weird bugs. Not the usual wasps and flies and occasional mozzies I see every summer, but daddy-long-legs. These aren't the gangly, clumsy, somewhat farcical bugs that come out during the autumn, but a new breed altogether-these things fly elegantly, land perfectly on windows as opposed to the usual flailing of legs before landing, have markings like a wasp, and have huuuuuge legspans. I mean, huge-like the width of a tennis ball. They freak me out. It also makes me wonder if that urban legend about daddy-long-legs being the most poisonous creatures on earth is true...thank goodness they aren't able to use that poison because of their lack of sting or fangs! In a week or so, I have my first exam. It's about quantum physics, nuclear physics, and relativity. Nice brain-scrambling stuff. I need to get revising a bit more-it's a truly fascinating and mind boggling module, but the maths involved in quantum makes my head throb so much...must stop forum-ing. Must begin studying.

The Red Queen In the imp: dark, woody cherry-almond. Wet on skin: this reminds me a bit of Hearth 04’s cherry wood note. It’s deep, woody and a tad smoky. Dry: now the woods come out to play-I think I’m getting the mahogany. It’s a sweet, dark wood-and yes, it smells almost like furniture, but that’s no bad thing. There’s an almost dusty feel to the scent. I get the sweet fruitiness of cherries as well, a little bit of currant behind it all. This is a very unusual scent. After a while: this smoothes out nicely. I’m now getting that soft mahogany wood smell with cherries, a brown-red scent. In fact, I swear that at some points it smells like cherries in chocolate! Or a chocolate cake with cherries? It’s lovely and sweet now, less dusty and less dry, and a bit creamy. Verdict: this was a very interesting, unconventional scent. It starts off very dark, heavy and woody, with a dry, dusty feel-yet it is richly fragrant and fruity, the scents of mahogany and cherry making for an unusual fragrance. The drydown is even nicer-not as dry as before, smoother and sweeter with chocolate like tones to it, and with a fruity, creamy feel. I like this a lot better than I expected so I will keep the imp. Emoticon rating:

Stargazer Lily In the imp: beautiful lily!!! This smells really gorgeous. It reminds me of Black Lily, only lighter. It doesn’t have the ‘spicy’ scent of stargazers, but has a hint of greenness. Wet on skin: the green note sharpens a tad on my skin, and now I get the impression of white lilies and green leaves. Dry: not bad! It’s not as ‘wow’ as it was in the vial as now it’s a little bit sharper and much much greener, but it’s still a lovely scent. However, it doesn’t really smell like a stargazer lily-to me, this actually smells like honeysuckle at some points. And there’s a lot of green to the scent-like stepping into a florist’s full of lilies and leaves. It does seem to become less sharp after I put it on the skin though, the flower is coming out. After a while: it’s not stargazer on me now-it’s lily of the valley mixed with honeysuckle! That’s no bad thing, but I was hoping for stargazer lily…the scent is very green and crisp, almost tangy now, and also a lot drier. Verdict: whilst this is a lovely scent, this isn’t stargazer lily to me. Stargazers have a complex, heady, rich, sweet, and spicy scent. But this is more like a mix of white lilies, lily of the valley, and honeysuckle…a fresh floral with a lot of green to it, touched with dew. It’s not a bad thing-I’ve heard that the true scent of stargazer lily is very difficult to replicate as a perfume, which is a shame…I’ll still have to keep searching for my holy grail of stargazer lily scent. But this is a nice SN, though it’s one of those notes I prefer as part of a blend, rather than on its own. It does smell gobsmackingly beautiful in the imp, though… Emoticon rating:

The Apothecary In the imp: sharp green tea and grass, with some tangy herbs. Wet on skin: fresh green tea and grass! I like this. Dry: not bad! This scent is green to the extreme! It’s moist and fresh, with sharp notes-tea and herbs-rounded off by the mosses and a dewy touch of grass and the warmth of ginger. This scent is zingy and springy, full of life and freshness. I love the wonderful moistness of this scent, it’s like dew (how does Beth do that?) and there’s a touch of fruity sweetness from the fig. After a while: I wonder if there’s some sage here? I’m getting that soft, deep green, herbal scent from here…the ginger has warmed up nicely and I can really get the fig now, that fruity-earthy-tangy green scent. And I love the grass! Over time, it seems that the mosses, grass and fig are becoming the centre of attention in this scent. And that’s a good thing. At the end…I swear I’m getting vetiver. Where’s that coming from? I swear my skin loves to detect supposedly non-existent vetiver in scents. But that’s no bad thing, since this is a light vetiver which blends nicely with the fresh moss. At this point, the scent becomes a little bit more masculine. Verdict: I wasn’t sure whether I’d like this-I was worried it would be too sharp or masculine, but it’s actually a really lovely scent. A pleasant take on the theme of a green scent, it’s a fresh, tangy, moist mix of tea, ginger, grass and fig with a soft backdrop of moss. It smells dewy and refreshing, a very good scent for summer. At the end, I do get an unexpected vetiver note, but that could just be my weird skin. But this is a very nice scent and I will keep the imp for now. Emoticon rating:

Amor In the imp: almond, almond, almond! With a hint of cherry. On skin: when wet, it’s still almonds (very bitter, boozy ones-not sweet like Bastet or Eclipse’s) with a hint of something alcoholic. This does remind me of Decadence. When dry it turns to orange! Yup, I now get oranges, fizzy oranges to be precise-almost like Orangina! Fizzy oranges with a hint of rose in the background, and some spice-possibly pepper. This is quite nice-it reminds me of Parfum Maroc by B&I, and also a little bit of Seraglio (only less rich/woody) and Decadence (though less foody/boozy), though this is far more orangey. There’s also something almost wet, not quite aquatic, but giving the feel of water or juice. However, with it’s watery, effervescent feel, also reminds me of bathing in Lush Bollywood! Verdict (scent): this is a lovely, lively scent! It starts off with boozy almond but then becomes a fizzy orange with a hint of gentle rose and spice, also a little bit of cherry and something watery. This isn’t a sexy blend as such but it’s playfully amorous and very flirtatious in feel. As for whether this works-well, I’ll update the review when I try this for it’s purpose. But I’m glad it can be worn as perfume. Now, I’m wondering if this scent will prompt a spontaneous hug from the guy next door?? Emoticon rating:

Venom In the imp: oooh, rich sweet jasmine! This is lovely! Wet on skin: still sweet jasmine, slightly fruity thanks to the berries, with just a hint of resin and lime. Dry: mmm, I quite like this! It’s sweet jasmine but with a cold bite to it, there’s a cool, airy, slightly green note here-maybe it’s the galbanum? Probably, because I smelt something similar in Marquise de Merteuil. The lime is barely there, but I really like the opponax resin scent underneath the jasmine, it’s not obvious but it deepens the berry-jasmine and makes it richer. This does have a very sophisticated feel to it. As to whether it smells like Poison, I can’t say since I’ve not smelt that, but it does feel like it could make a good ‘posh perfume’ scent but without being blatant about it. After a while: for about two hours, wafts of deep jasmine come off my wrist and surround me with scent. It’s so beautiful! After two hours, the scent on my wrist is a lot warmer, and softer, almost musky…a resinous jasmine scent, dark and exotic, sultry and sexy. Verdict: This is a wickedly good scent, I really like this a lot-it’s got a fantastic jasmine note-rich and deep and heady, very similar to Cabaret’s to my nose-it’s similar to Tunisian jasmine which I adore. The sweetness and intensity of jasmine is enhanced by berries and opponax and cooled by chilly, piercing galbanum. This scent is sophisticated and grown up, and quite sexy! It makes me feel grown up. It’s such a shame this has been discontinued, seemingly indefinitely, because this is a fabulous scent and I will cherish the imp I have of it. Emoticon rating:

Embalming Fluid In the imp: fresh green tea and lemon! Tangy and bright. Wet on skin: green tea and lemon, very, very tangy indeed. Dry on skin: now I get a hint of another green note, less tangy but still fresh, this might be the aloe. This is a very pleasant scent-it's a classic green tea and citrus scent, a refreshing and tart blend. it does remind me of other green tea non-BPAL perfumes but I think the aloe note is making this a bit different…yes, it's aloe alright, it smells so clear, green and cool! After a while: the tea note mellows very nicely and the scent gets greener, probably thanks to the aloe. I get a little hint of musk, but it's so subtle-it's still tea dominated. It also smells like a tangier, less floral Berenice. Over time it gets more and more green and aloe-y, with musk grounding the scent nicely. Verdict: this, of course, smells more lively than it's name implies! This is fresh, tart and light, a bright and tangy blend of tea and lemon at first, sunny and zingy. It's a scent that really wakes me up (not what you'd expect from a scent called Embalming Fluid! Though it does smell like Spirits of the Dead as well…) and it eventually dries down to a green and fresh aloe-musk scent, a bit like Berenice without the lily and linen. This is a really nice scent, uncomplicated and clean, and it's a good BPAL take on the classic fresh green tea theme. I do prefer some other tea, lemon and musk scents better but this is nice enough to keep the imp, it's a good everyday scent for summer. Emoticon rating:

Iambe In the imp: a sharp-ish, fresh, fruity floral scent. I think I get gardenia. Hopefully not the evil type. Wet on skin: the gardenia goes sharp, as usual, but it's not as bad as usual… Dry on skin: not bad! This gardenia does go sharp and dry on my skin but not evil and acrid-the overall tart scent is probably a combination of it and tea. But underneath it is a lovely rose-patchouli blend, reminiscent of the rose-patch from Nemesis, with a lovely amber sweetness. There's something almost fruity about this scent, for some reason, almost like pomegranate! I know it's not listed as a note but I'm getting a pomegranate vibe from this-that sweet, red, and also tart scent. After a while: the rose and amber merge nicely with the patchouli to form a deep, rich and earthy rose with a touch of sweetness, reminiscent of the rose in Queen of Clubs and Nemesis. The tartness of gardenia tea is still there but has toned down, and a scent almost like citrus has appeared. The 'pomegranate' scent returns at the end, and the scent develops an almost musky/earthy undertone. It's that fruit-floral-earthy-musk drydown I love so much that I've found in other BPALs, only with the tang of tea on top adding an interesting edge to it all. Verdict: this was a pleasant surprise, this is a very pretty, light, and joyful scent with a surprisingly fruity aspect to it. it's both tart and sharp but with a lovely sweetness to it, it's juicy and fresh and here's the surprising part-it turned to pomegranate on me! Yep, that's right-pomegranate with a hint of citrus (that's the tea). But deeper sniffs bring out the rose and amber with a light cover of gardenia and tea on top. This is another scent where the gardenia reacts not too badly on me-it does sharpen on my skin but that just adds to the tart fruit side of the fruit. The drydown is that lovely earthy fruity-pomegranate scent with an almost musky feel to it, and it reminds me of a mix of Thaleia and Queen of Clubs' drydowns. I like this a lot-not enough for a bottle but the imp is a keeper, and I think it will be a nice early autumn scent. Emoticon rating:

Caliph's Beloved In the imp: cinnamon! This smells very much like Bengal without the honey. As right now, I have no man in my life, and therefore no sex life, I'm just testing this for now and keeping the decant for when the right time comes… On skin: it's such a shame this can't be used as perfume, because this smells so beautiful to me. Think Bengal with the honey replaced by amber and with added cardamom, with a hint of musk and red sandalwood. A wonderful, golden scent, warm and sensual, reminiscent of spice markets in the romanticised Arabia of the 1001 Nights...it's such a gorgeous scent, incredibly exotic, and very sexy indeed, I definitely have nosegasms when I smell this! Right now I have no man in my life, but I definitely want to use this when I do-I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if I got laid when wearing this! (Review will be updated if needs be.)

La Flamme In the imp: spicy! It's that slightly savoury 'voodoo spice' mix, with a bit of cinnamon (I think) and musk. This oil so very, very dark. On skin: when wet, there's a slight metallic feel to this scent, I also smell some cloves? It seems this oil is staining my skin! But when dry, I get a deep, rich musk. I think it's red musk, with a definite spicy feel to it. It's warm and fiery, deep and rich. This smells very hot indeed (is there a hint of chilli here? I still smell cloves, or maybe carnation) and slightly sweet, maybe a hint of something tangy and herbal-fruity? Yes-it's lemon, but of a herbal kind, either the balm or the grass. The combination of spicy lemongrass/balm with red musk is an unusual, but delightful combination. Over time, it sweetens nicely (is there vanilla here? maybe tonka or benzoin?) and the musk becomes more prominent. There may be a touch of patchouli here too? The scent is definitely akin to the likes of Snake Oil, Scherezade, Lust and Smut. Verdict (scent): this scent does fit the name-a warm, sensual, red flame of a scent, sparkling and passionate. A unique blend of deep, sexy musk, with tangy lemon balm/grass and hot spices. This is a truly gorgeous scent and I'm glad this oil can be worn as perfume. As for it's purpose, I'm afraid I have no lover to test this stuff on yet, but from it's scent, it seems like it can definitely do the trick! (will update this if needs be.)

I stink of: Death on a Pale Horse, Perfumed Garden, and a bit of Aegis. Whoa, what an update that was. Another formidable slew of beautiful stinky things. Lotus Moon is even more intriguing than I expected. I love lotus, and I adore rose and amber too. I'm curious as to how the opium and pine will play along. I'm hoping the pine doesn't amp like in Hearth 05 when it went a bit OMGPINE!!! for a moment before becoming nutty-sweet, and that the opium is the same yummy kind as Red Lantern and Sleepy Moon. Litha-oh mah gawdz. I'm hoping Beth does all the sabbats this year-if Beltane and Litha are anything to go by, anything is possible. (in other words...more Mabon, pleeeeaaase?) I had to get this summer solstice scent-it's got a lot of ingredients I'm not familiar with and a lot of stuff I really like-and it has mead!!! Those Salon scents seem so awesome-pricey yes (thank goodness for decant circles!) but I bet those scents are going to be worth every buck. There's something almost like they are LEs, even though they are GCs-maybe it's the new, exciting, expensive and unusual ingredients? They all look so tempting but the one that grabbed me, predictably, was the Egypt one. I mean, looking at the notes, I know it is going to work. It reminds me of one of my favourite non-BPAL scents, a perfume called Isis with honey, myrrh, cardamom and amber amongst other things. It also seems like the ultimate kyphi scent, with yummy red musk instead of the usual wine used in that incense blend. Don't get me wrong, I looooove Cairo (the wanderlust scent) but it doesn't smell like any of the kyphi blends I have-this one seems like it will though. Other Salons I might want to take the plunge with include Bat-Woman (I love those nocturnal scents that Beth makes!) and Lucretia (VANILLA MUSK!!!), Orpheus (may be a tad masculine but dammit, it's Orpheus! Mythology rocks!) and The Death of Sardanapal (this seems very exotic and resiny-spicy, hopefully the lemongrass won't take over) and all of them really, but since I am a bit broke from my orders, I'm going to get decants for now and then decide.... Talking of killing my wallet, my credit card took a real battering today, not just with BPAL. I bought new shoes-I needed new trainers (that's Brit-speak for sneakers) and Lush moisturiser-am I the only girl who uses Cosmetic Lad? I call it Cosmetic (insert Little Britain impression here) Lady! I just love it's texture and it's scent-white chocolate orange, yum. I also bought some posh chocolate because as I said before in this blog, I don't do cheap choccy as much as I used to. Pink peppercorn white choc is more my thing, yum.

Death on a Pale Horse In the imp: silvery citrus (yes, it does seem 'silver' to me) with a hint of sandalwood and fresh mint. Wet on skin: whoa, this is sharp! Must be the yuzu, which to me is like uber-grapefruit. I also smell a background of pale woods. Dry on skin: now some deeper notes come forth-the lavender is there now but isn't very strong, I get a tinge of patchouli and possibly geranium too. This dark depth is under the silvery, almost sparkling scent of citrus and musk and grey woods and the flashes of mint on top. This scent is ghostly yet very intriguing and complex…it smells fresh yet empty, there are definite layers of dark and light here. At times it smells masculine but not too much. The citrus tones down over time but still hangs around to add it's tart brightness to the scent. After a while: the sharpness this scent has is indeed like that of a scythe blade-it's bright and cutting and whilst it doesn't smell blatantly metallic, the scent seems to evoke that. It does smell a bit more masculine now (at times the sandalwood has a cedar like feel to it), but I'm getting more musk now…I love white musk, and it seems to go very nicely with the lingering citrus. The vetiver in here isn't the heavy, intense stuff that lasts for ages on my skin, but a gentler one, it's merged with the patchouli to form a shadowy scent under the tangy, lighter notes. Eventually, this scent becomes a very lovely, if slightly manly, fresh white musk with the last remains of citrus, a hint of sandalwood and vetiver. This white musk reminds me very slightly of the fresh white musk in Oisin. I didn't get any lily in this scent at all. This scent is very subtle but occasionally I get these wafts of it even when I'm not smelling my wrist, and they do take me by surprise! And then, the final stage, my favourite bit of the scent. A subtle, tangy white musk on a bed of sandalwood and smoke. I love these light musk-sandalwood-smoke combinations-I've smelt something similar in a few other BPALs, and I'm very fond of them. It's a very close to the skin scent but so nice, it's a peaceful scent, quite meditative and oddly comforting. Verdict: this is a very intriguing blend indeed. It's a scent of contrasts-sharp, bright notes over a layer of dark notes. It's very silver, to me-a shimmering silver citrus-musk with pale sandalwood over the deeper notes of lavender, patchouli and a gentle vetiver. It's a scent that's slightly alive at times, yet also evocative of the image/symbolism of death (the shining silver sharp scythe, for instance). It's empty and sorrowful, mournful even, yet it's also peaceful, serene, there's a sense of hope to this scent-a glimmering light above the dark. The soft musk-sandalwood-smoke drydown is beautiful. This scent is, to me, quite a contemplative one, very complex, definitely unisex verging on masculine. I like it enough to keep the imp though-it's a unique, well-crafted, and fascinating scent to get to know. Emoticon rating:

Aegis In the imp: this smells of lavender with something sweet and also a hint of spice. It's a lovely scent. In my neighbourhood, I don't really feel safe. There have been reports of burglaries and shootings. The kids here are all thugs and do all sorts of dodgy things like mugging people, breaking into cars and houses and so on. I don't feel safe when I walk down the street because the people are so creepy and/or rude and they make me feel very uncomfortable-I always get these scary old men looking at me with that leery, dirty look in my neighbourhood. So I thought I'd use this oil to do a protection ritual for my house and myself, because right now, protection and peace of mind are much needed. I used the imp wand (this came in a decant) to draw a circle around myself, and visualised being surrounded by protective energy. I then used a cotton bud (q-tip) soaked in the oil and drew around the frames of the doors and windows of the house, again visualising a shield of energy protecting the house from anything harmful such as burglars and vandals and so on. Finally I dabbed some oil on myself, again, visualising and focusing on feeling protective and calm. Verdict (scent): the scent is very pleasant indeed. Not one I'd wear as perfume, but I like it. it's lavender and lemon verbena with a hint of something reminiscent of olive, and some jasmine and other florals and possibly a hint of spice. Verdict (intent): I will wait and see if this ritual I performed did any good but since using the oil I definitely feel some energy (as I do when I usually perform/take part in rituals), warm and soothing, around me. I feel calmer and more confident, less anxious, less worried, more at ease, my mind is still, I feel less nervous, but I also feel energised. I will update this if anything else of note happens.

I find Baghdad to be similar to Gypsy Queen, but GQ has an added carnation-amber thing going on, Baghdad's also a bit woodier... Anyone who regrets missing Underpants, try mixing Antique Lace with Morocco. The combined scent of the two is darn close. I also think adding a dash of Midway (though that's LE too) helps.

Monster Bait: Underpants In the bottle: vanilla caramel! Mmm, yummy. I also detect something reminiscent of Morocco. This is delightful! Wet on skin: oooh, here comes the sandalwood, and the saffron, adding a gorgeous spicy aspect to the creamy vanilla-toffee scent. Dry on skin: wow! This stuff is fabulous! It smells very much like Morocco and Antique Lace on my skin-it has the dry spicy sandalwood from Morocco, the creamy vanilla from AL, and just a touch of caramel and saffron. This scent is both warm and dry and also creamy as well. I swear I also get a tiny hint of musk and…AL's clean clothes note? Laundered lacy knickers even??? How appropriate! I also get a hint of the dusty scent that rum notes can turn to on my skin, but it's very small, and doesn't damage the scent in any way. At times, this scent reminds me of Midway as well. After a while: this scent has throw! I get wonderful vanilla wafts around me when I wear this. After a short while it turns into this wonderful, wonderful scent which is, to me, a combination of Morocco and Antique Lace: sweet vanilla (in here it's like the finest vanilla ice cream!) draped in light caramel, with a spicy sandalwood base and hints of something almost like musk. Oh yeah, this is gorgeous. I want to lick/eat/shag my wrist. But right now, my nose is magnetically attracted to my wrist and won't come off… It stays as this wonderful vanilla-sandalwood with a hint of spice for ages afterward. This scent is simultaneously exotic and sexy and also very comforting at the same time. Verdict: believe the hype! Underpants (or as I call it, Knickers) is fantastic! Think a mixture of Morocco, Antique Lace and Midway with a little bit of caramel. It's delicious, exotic and incredibly sexy. Creamy, spicy, sweet, dry, woody, with hints of musk to it-and even a hint of clean clothes, which to me says clean undies! The sandalwood adds a lovely dry base to the delectable vanilla, saffron adds warmth, and the rum is barely there. Despite its foody notes, this scent isn't overly foody at all on me, which is a good thing. It also wafts very nicely so I'm always getting this beautiful vanilla-sandalwood scent around me even when I don't sniff my wrist! I absolutely adore this stuff and I wish I could get more! Now I'm thinking of some really cheeky layering combos for this: Underpants with Beaver Moon, Smut, Lick It, Eat Me… Emoticon rating:

Enraged Bunny Musk In the imp: it's the herbal scent from Buck Moon! Sharp green herbs with a hint of the musk to come underneath. Wet on skin: an almost soapy greenness, but it also reminds me of some of the Asian moon scents-that green tea and bamboo scent? Though this is a bit more grassy. It also reminds me of the aloe-musk scent in Berenice. Dry on skin: ooh, what's this, gallivanting through the grass? Nibbling at the clover and looking all cute like? It's a fwuffy widdle bunny wabbit! Yup! This scent is now developing its fluffy scent-under the green notes is a hint of soft powdery white florals and musk. It's very gentle but I'm hoping it strengthens as the scent develops-it's a very promising scent there. The green notes above it sometimes seem like lemon or green tea-there's a sharpness to the scent reminiscent of citrus or tea. This to me seems like a gentler version of Buck Moon-whilst that was sexy summer night musk, this is cutesy spring day musk, but with a bite of green to it. After a while: oh no…it seems to be fading! The scent which lingers on my skin is a very, very light fresh white musk with a tinge of tangy green. This isn't the deep, rich, velvety musk of Buck Moon-this is softer and subtler. Although faint, it's very pleasant, it's understated but it smells sunny and springy, it's a warmed second skin scent accented by the new growth of leaves and clover and grass. Hmm. A little springtime 'frolic' in the grass? Rolling over in the clover? After a few hours, this doesn't fade, like I feared it would. It's still very soft and close to the skin, but now, I get a very lovely white musk scent-it's slightly sharp thanks to the green notes that came before-now these green notes smell more grassy and like clover, and less like tea/citrus. I like this a lot-and it smells more and more like cut grass over time, it's like the scent of mown lawns on the breeze, a scent which is so springy/summery. Verdict: this is a lovely scent! This bunny smells anything but enraged on me. The scent starts off very green-tangy sharp green herbs reminiscent of Buck Moon's herbs, but also reminiscent of tea, like in the Asian moon scents, or the aloe note in Berenice. But gradually, over time, the musk comes out. This is a very gentle musk, and the scent is quite faint-it sticks close to the skin with its wisp of fluffy white musk with a smidgen of green grass. But I actually really like this subtlety. It is soft and discreet, a whisper of white musk brushed with the green of springtime. This scent is delightful in its understated ways, and I think it will grow on me. Emoticon rating: (I just HAD to use that emoticon!)

Dirty In the imp: a gorgeous floral! This does resemble clean laundry, but washed with the finest detergent. This is a clear, clean but not soapy floral. Wet on skin: it’s now a little bit fruity! This is lovely and fresh, perfect for summer. Dry: mmm, I like this! It’s very strong scent, but a lovely one-watery florals and very sweet juicy fruits (pear, with a background of breezy ozone and clean linen. This is the finest quality sheets washed with the ‘detergent of the gods’ (the only way I can describe this scent-this isn’t a fake, cloying or soapy scent whatsoever-it’s what washing powder should be) drying in the sunshine, blowing in the breeze. It’s warm yet fresh, dry yet moist, it’s surprisingly wonderful! After a while: after a while it sweetens a lot, it’s fruitiness increases, and the scent reminds me of a cross between Budding/Peony Moon and the unreleased Toxin. There may be a touch of light musk here too, and I think there’s plum blossom in here as well, maybe some melon as well. The drydown is pretty much the same-a sweet, light fruit-floral with clean cloth and ozone. It doesn’t get oversweet, which is a good thing-I think the ozone/aquatic notes in here prevent this from happening. Verdict: I was a little bit worried that a scent based on clean laundry would turn to soap or the dreaded washing powder on me…not so with Dirty. This is the best clean-clothes scent I’ve smelt, miles better than any Bold or Daz or Ariel or Persil, that’s for sure! This is what laundry should smell like-fresh, fruity, floral, sweet and clean with a bit of ozone. It’s a light, breezy scent which is perfect for summer. Now, if only there was a way I could add this to my washing machine to make my clothes smell Dirty!! Emoticon rating: