arabella

First Impression: Musky incense. Dries down to: a soft, dark, powdery scent with an underlying hint of floral. Additional Comments: I'm not familiar with myrrh. The black opium must have been the "musky" hit I got and the floral is the narcissus. This is nice on the dry down but nothing particularly special on me. Lasted: A couple of hours. Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Original Version First Impression: Creamy fruit, musk and jasmine. Dries down to: Thankfully, the jasmine settles down and the whole becomes a rich, slightly powdery, slighty fruity floral - quite lovely but very faint on me. Additional Comments: Hmmmmm - no jasmine in the description, so it must have been the carnation I was smelling. Probably explains why I liked the drydown so much - the amber, which usually works wonders on me, helps too. I'm struggling with allergies right now so I'm not quite picking up the notes properly. The heliotrope is a perfect complement to the carnation and wild berry. I'm anxious for my bottle of the new version to arrive so I can compare the two. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 2005 Revisited Version First Impression: Faint resin-y floral. Dries down to: A very, very faint, fruity floral. Additional Comments: This is one of the most insipid blends I've run across; fortunately, BPAL doesn't have many. There's nothing really wrong with it but it's so faint, even right after slathering, and lasts barely half an hour. Lasted: 1/2 hour, tops. Rating: 1.5 out of 5 ETA: Revisited Version Review

First Impresson: Strawberry Jam. Dries down to: Strawberries - pure, fresh strawberries, sprinkled with a touch of sugar. Additional Comments: This is well blended. Nothing is readily apparent except for the strawberries, and they're ripe and sweet. So far, it's one of the nicer strawberry blends I've tried. A lot of them don't work on me. Lasted: About 3 hours. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

(2004 Version) First Impression: A cloud of confectioner's sugar with a hint of something fruity - berries, perhaps. Dries down to: Pretty much the same with an added hint of vanilla. Additional Comments: I really like this one - it's sweet but not cloying - the fruit gives it a fresh edge and the vanilla makes it rich. I don't know where it's is coming from but I definitely get vanilla. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 4 out of 5 (2005 Version) First Impression: Cotton Candy. Dries down to: Burnt sugar. Additional Comments: If there's any fruit in here, it's just a dusting. This is another sweet one that doesn’t work on me. I'm disappointed because I like last year's version so much better and was hoping for more of the same. Lasted: Several Hours Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Sweet and fruity. Dries down to: Sugar-frosted berries - I quite like this one, it's not too sweet. Additional Comments: I get more black currant than plum and the combination is wonderful. I think it's the wine that's keeping it from being too sweet and I'd never guess there was amaretto in here - it's usually such a strong note but I can't detect it at all. All in all, a lovely scent that could be worn every day. Lasted: A couple of hours. Rating: 4 out of 5

First Impression: Fresh baked gingerbread. Dries down to: Sweet, iced gingerbread - quite yummy. Additional Comments: The nutmeg, clove and cinnamon are very well balanced; I can detect all of them but none "outshines" the others. This will make a wonderful winter house fragrance. Lasted: Several Hours Rating: 4 out of 5

Sweet brandy, dark rum, heavy cream, sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. First Impression: Boozy nutmeg. Dries down to: A milder nutmeg with maybe a hint of allspice and some brandy; then, nothing but nutmeg. Additional Comments: I expected this to be much creamier and sweeter than it is. I got this in a swap, so maybe it "suffered" in its travels or wasn't kept cool and dry. As it is, I'm disappointed in it. I love egg nog and was hoping for more - I could've just mixed nutmeg with any oil to get this. Hopefully, it'll be reissued this year. Lasted: A couple of hours. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Almonds. Dries down to: Cherry pipe tobacco and a hint of smoke. I've no idea where the almonds came from initially, but they disappeared almost immediately. On second thought maybe it was the cherries - I never thought of maraschino cherries, but that's exactly what it was. Additional Comments: I don't get any leather from this one but it is a nice comfort scent for me. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 3 out of 5.

First Impression: Aquatic and floral. Dries down to: A warm watery floral - lily of the valley, if I'm not mistaken. The mental image I get is a glass full of ice sitting next to some stems of lily of the valley on a table in the hot sun - the glass is sweating profusely. Additional Comments: I love what the amber does to this one - it makes it feel warm and cool at the same time. Although many have mentioned a citrus note, I don't get any at all. This oil is perfect for hot summer days. Lasted: 3-4 hours. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

First Impression: Dragon's blood and strong musk. Dries down to: A toned-down blend of the dragon's blood and strong musk with a hint of patchouli. Additional comments: I don't get cinnamon at all and I think it's the vetiver that's amplifying the musk. Although I like dragon's blood and patchouli, this one's too "musky" for me. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Very strong almonds. Dries down to: The almonds disappear, almost immediately and then there's a brief wave of burnt rubber and finally just a faint clove-y kind of scent. Additional Comments: I wish it was bay rum, but on me, it's anything but - well, maybe a bit of bay but no rum whatsoever. I got this thrown in as a gift in a swap, so maybe it's just old. If the opportunity ever came up again, I'd definitely retry it. Lasted: A couple of hours. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Sparkly, fruity wine. Dries down to: A very light, fruity wine - not unpleasant but nothing special either. Additional Comments: From reading the description, I see I'm way off base on this one. I don't get florals, woods or herbs at all. Maybe the imp was mislabelled. Lasted: About an hour. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Sweet orange. Dries down to: It doesn't. This one disappeared almost immediately. Additional Comments: I'm almost happy I didn't get the raspberry note. I love raspberry and I would have been really disappointed if it was there along with the orange as they raced past me and jumped off the cliff. Lasted: About 5 minutes. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Musk and gasoline - there must be jasmine in here. Dries down to: A musky jasmine with a brief hint of citrus. Then, the jasmine recedes a bit, the citrus disappears entirely and a light spiciness, maybe pepper, licks the edges. The mental image I get is of an oily puddle at a gas station with a jasmine wrist corsage laying in it. The corsage fell off a girl's wrist on prom night when she and her date stopped for gas and something to drink. Additional Comments: It's tolerable when if finally dries down but also very faint. This is another one of the jasmine scents that does not work on me at all. Others have mentioned carnation and rose but I don't get either of those, nor do I get cinnamon or dragon's blood. Mostly, I just get an oily jasmine. Lasted: A couple of hours. Rating: 1 out of 5

First Impression: Oranges. Dries down to: A lighter orange scent - almost like diluted orange concentrate, or orange jello. Additional Comments: I get nothing but orange. I had hoped for more punch from the black pepper. It does have a richness which I'm guessing comes from the benzoin and/or olibanum, but, unfortunately, this one fades very quickly. I'm hoping that, with age, it develops more of the elusive spiciness and lasts longer. Lasted: Maybe, an hour. Rating: 3 out of 5

First Impression: Toffee covered strips of orange peel. Dries down to: A gorgeous, creamy, juicy, lightly sweet, fruit and cocoa blend and just as I think I'm going to die of ecstacy, it disappears. This is too much of a tease - it's really so unfair. Additional Comments: Another exquisite blend - alas, not for me. I'll try it in a scent locket and hopefully, that'll satisfy my cravings for it. Lasted: 15 minutes. Rating: 5 out of 5 (During the first 15 minutes) 1 out of 5 (After the first 15 minutes)

First Impression: Evergreen needles. Dries down to: A clean, outdoorsy scent - like spring in the pine forest. Additional Comments: For some reason I'm not getting the patchouli, cinnamon or leather and I was hoping I would. It appears that pine amps up on my skin the way rose does, squashing all in its path. This would make a nice car air freshener scent but it's not something I would wear. Lasted: 3-4 hours. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: Whoa!! This is metal, so bright it hurts my eyes, with pure, clean water flowing over it. Dries down to: An aquatic metal. I never got any wood at all. The mental image I get is of someone sticking their tongue to a new, metal pole in the freezing cold of winter and then hoping the bright sunlight melts the ice enough to free their tongue. Additional Comments: This is one more for the "enabling gallery" - it really showcases another aspect of Beth's amazing range. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 3.5 out of 5

First Impression: Nectar glazed flower petals. Dries down to: Sugar-smoked flowers. It's a lovely, smoky-sweet floral, but very light on me. Then, after a while, it turns into a smoky, waxy, orange scent. Additional Comments : This is a floral for those who hate florals and/or a citrus for those who hate citrus. It's beautifully blended and slightly exotic. Reading the description, I'm not surprised to see amber and neroli. The carnation and rose surprised me, though. I can usually pick them out - especially rose, because it normally smothers every other note. I really wish this were stronger and lasted longer on me. As it is, I can't justify a big bottle purchase. Lasted: I could barely smell it after an hour. Rating: 4 out of 5 (for the scent) 1 out of 5 (for intensity and longevity)

First Impression: Sweet, fried dough. Dries down to: Everything the description says - it truly is a Midway scent. I get more funnel cakes than anything else. The Ex opened here today and will run for the next two weeks. This reminds me of that smell that's always in the air down there while it's going on, especially when it's hot. It also reminds me of the way our kitchen smelled when I was little girl and my grandmother made "pachki" - sweet, fried jelly doughnuts. Additional Comments: I like this one but don't know if I want a whole bottle of it. It's a great nostalgia scent for me but it's too sweet for me to wear. Lasted: Only an hour before it faded considerably. Rating: 3 out of 5 (5 out of 5 from the nostalgia aspect)

First Impresson: Smoky citrus. Dries down to: The only note I can pick out is mandarin. After a very short while, it all muddles together into a faint, dry, exotic blend. Then, the sweet clove peeks out - again, very briefly. Additional Comments: It's a nice blend - at least, I think it is. It fades so quickly on me that I have to stick my wrist right under my nose within five minutes of application to even be able to tell I'm wearing anything. Lasted: Five minutes, before almost totally disappearing on me. Rating: 1.5 out of 5 (It's just too swiftly fleeting)

First Impresson: Hot, buttered popcorn. Dries down to: More buttered popcorn. This is what it is. Additional Comments: This is an interesting novelty scent. I know I'd never wear it out but it's a fun one for enabling - it showcases Beth's limitless range, along with Brimstone, Bliss, Lightning and so many others. Last night I wore it to bed. My husband loves buttered popcorn. I know where I'll be wearing it in the future . Lasted: 3-4 hours. Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (5 out of 5 for realism)

First Impression: This smells like Snake Oil. Dries down to: Very similar to Snake Oil but much richer and deeper. It feels like there's amber giving it the richness. After a while, the coconut comes out but very quietly, and it's holding something fruity by the hand. Additional Comments: Because of the House of Mirrors/Snake Charmer mix-up, I was lucky to get two imps of Snake Charmer. I love Snake Oil (I ordered a 10mL bottle of it recently - my first 10mL) and these imps will be a nice complement. If I hadn't ordered the Snake Oil, I would definitely be ordering a 5mL of Snake Charmer. This is a near perfect scent for me. Lasted: Several hours. Rating: 4.5 out of 5

First Impression: I hate to say it but it smells medicinal - like some type of unguent - and a bit astringent. Dries down to: A non-descript slightly medicinal, slightly earth-y, slightly resin-y scent. I can't pick out any notes and it's very weak on my skin. Additional Comments: Again, I'm surprised by the description. I get no tobacco or ginger, whatsoever. I do get an undertone of the elemi (peppery, citrusy) and the opium. The balsam and rosewood make sense, too. In fact, out of all the notes, it's got more of a balsam feel to it than anything else. I don't hate it but it does nothing for me whatsoever. Lasted: About an hour. Rating: 2 out of 5

First Impression: OMGWTFBBQ !! - This has to be the most amazing floral I've ever smelled, it was "love at first sniff". Dries down to: Doesn't change much on my skin - I absolutely love this oil. I can't pick out any specific note, they're blended together so well. It's floral without being "over the top" about it. It makes me feel sexy, feminine, classy and smart all at the same time. Additional Comments: I had mixed feelings about trying this one - the lily, jasmine and rose are usually "no-nos" on me, while my skin loves amber, violets and vanilla. I'm so glad I was able to get an imp of this to try (Thank you OriginalWacky ); I'm ordering a bottle or two before CN disappears. Lasted: Three to four hours. Rating: 5 out of 5