skepticism

Oh wow, this is really really tart grapefruit. If you're a big fan of citrus and pure tartness, then you'll probably like this. The grapefruit is so strong that I can't make out any other notes, which is a bummer. I really like the smell, but I don't know if it's something I would wear. It reminds me of a generic Gap body spray I used to wear. Maybe if it had a little bit of floral warmth to dull the the tart edge then I would like it more.

Can't give an accurate in-vial testimony because the label was stained with oil from a different imp. This smelled like New Orleans on me when wet, but with strong addition of lemon and something green and "fresh" (aquatic, maybe?). Am I smelling gardenia again? Not much has changed when it dried, which I liked. It's still got that sour, strong, white floral kick it had when wet. This is going in the "I love this" list.

In the vial and during wet application I get a lot of jasmine that's sweetened by the other notes (probably the comibination of lily and sandalwood). It's a very feminine scent. As it dried the sweeter notes became more pronounced and the jasmine totally disappeared. The musk is very soft and compliments the sweetness well. I like this scent but it's on the cusp of too sweet for me. I think it's a nice blend for people who are indifferent to jasmine but still want to make it work.

I felt like it had too much sage and dark musk for my skin chemistry. I wasn't really sure if dark musk a musk I like, but it might also be the fact that the sage puts a damper on it. I found it a bit weird that I didn't like this for the reason that it was also a woody scent I didn't like. I'm all about woody notes, but this didn't work for me. It also dried very very powdery and almost reminded me of dried up play dough.

I think this is a great scent for jasmine lovers. In the vial it smelled like a delicious, sleek floral with a touch of sourness/ferment left by the pinot noir. Upon wet it was just rose rose rose, with what smelled like fermented jasmine. Mmmmmmm! I likened the fermented note with the honey wine in Delphi, which is another blend I like. What I found really odd was how I didn't pick up any of the myrrh, sandalwood or patchouli, even when dry. I found that odd because sandalwood and patchouli are notes that are notorious for barging into the foreground with my particular skin chemistry. I really like this scent, but I actually already have a few other favorites with beautiful jasmine notes. It looks like I'll have to take all those jasmine blends and put them into Round 2 Testing to cut it down to the 1-2 I like most.

The only thoughts I had while wearing this was "sweet, very very nice, girly." I know that's not much, but those were my exact thoughts. It had a tinge of something that allowed me to foreshadow an unbearable lightness of sweetness. It dried very sweet on me, but the impression it left on me while it was wet was good enough to counter it. It's a very soft, feminine scent. When it dried, I couldn't help feeling like I was more ladylike that usual. Maybe it's the bergamot? I really like bergamot, but I'm really picky about how it's blended. Not for me.

Smells very spicy on my skin, with a very sleek sweetness to it. It's hard to determine whether or not the sweetness is floral or fruity, or maybe a mixture of the two? I dabbed a tiny drop on my wrist and it spread into the air like wildfire. Cinnamon isn't really my thing unless it's very subtle, so I will have to pass on this.

The resiny and woody notes layered and turned smokiness/blankety-ness(?) of the frankincense into a scent that is very clean, light, woody and herbal. In the vial I could smell the toasted hazelnut on the tail end, and it was there for a brief moment when wet. But it just turned back into frankincense/woody during the drydown. It doesn't have such a strong throw, which I like when it comes to blends with incense. It gives you just enough incense throw to appreciate it and love it. This is going on the 5ml wishlist!

This smells like charred wood that's been soaking in saltwater for days. Do I smell laurel too? I think the vetivert adds that entropic mess that's associated with a hurricane, but it doesn't really smell anything aquatic or reminiscent of it if the name and description were not there to evoke those connections. I really enjoy woody smells, but this is really too smoky for my taste.

The vial and wet/drydown stages were a far cry from each other when I sampled this imp. In the vial I caught a cool, clean note that rings aquatic with a slight cold ozone feel. The coolness settles over the hothouse blooms (which faintly reminds me of New Orleans) and gives it a soapy, clean sweetness that's not too sweet. Wet: Whoa, this immediately warmed up on my skin. The clay and incense are coming to the foreground, and there's something rich, thick, and syrupy that completely blanket the coolness and the floral note. The drydown ended up powdery and warm-sweet (like the way vanilla notes usually dry on me). All the cool notes and floral notes are gone. I have to compliment Beth on creating such a curious blend. It's cool in the vial and warm on the skin, and it ranges the gamut of floral/cool to warm/incense. I think it's really complex and interesting, but because it dried powdery and vanilla on me, I'm going to have to say no to this.

I was struck with a strong, sharp citrus scent out of the vial, possibly from the orange blossom and rose blend. The second I dabbed it on the rose appeared. The rose note I'm getting from this smells green and unripened. It's not the incredibly sweet, powdery rose that I've experienced in Rose Cross and Two five & Seven. As it dries the rosemary takes a small step from the background and connects the rose and orange blossom in a very very subtle warm, spice. Throw is in the midrange, and I'll have to get back to this regarding the staying power. But so far I have nothing but 5ml love for this blend.

Antique Lace Nostalgia encapsulated. A soft, wistful blend of dry flowers, aged linens, and the faint breath of long-faded perfumes. Wow, that is strong, warm vanilla. This is was not what I expected. I assumed "linens" would be something cleaner and ozoney, but I was wrong. Barely a drop and it's permeating my skin and the air around me. This is one of on the only BPAL blends I've encountered where a little goes a long way. It's so warm, sugary, and sweet sweet sweet. Saying sweet three times is a bit of an understatement, but I don't think copy+paste spamming it would be acceptable. It's definitely a "soft" sugary smell, but it's a softness that endures, which I think is beautifully indicative of its throw and staying power. If you like warm, sweet floral, and vanila, then this is for you. But this is 200% not for me.

Vial: Resiny incense with anise in the background. I'm convinced I might actually like this, which is a surprise since I don't like anise. It definitely has that "glossy" which I attribute to the anise. Wet: Accck, I think I slathered on too much. It's smelling more like anise now, and my mind is waffling between like and dislike. It smells of frankincense and myrrh swathed in anise-cured leather. Dry: Severe conditions test run (read: running at the gym)! Oh boy, this really warmed up on my skin. There's a rich warmness draping the other notes that's very reminiscent of vanilla. Yuck. Throw is very stong on me. Not sure if I want to test out the lasting power since I don't really like it in the first place. I'm labeling this on the cusp of masculine. If you like anise and resins, then this blend is for you.

I this blend! It's so earthy and wet and clean. I can trace a sharp citrus note that reminds me of a lavender + mint lotion I use. It smells like exploring the depths of a huge forest right after a spring rain. It's dark, but not heavy; clean but not too soapy. Going on the 5ml list!

It's a lingering, benevolent spirit that watches over you in a foggy graveyard at the first dawn. Emphasis on "lingering" because this blend had no staying power and very little throw on me. There's a floral scent here that doesn't sit well with me, and I know it's not the lily. It's a subtle powder that masks the freshness of the floral and the ivy, and it gives me a faint headache. Not for me, really. It's definitely your thing you enjoy very, very light floral with a dab of cleanliness and powder.

It's pure anise on me, blech. I can definitely smell the lavender and eucalyptus underneath, but those notes are waayyy down there. I practically have to attach my nose to my skin to detect the latter notes, and by the time I find them I already have a headache from the licorice smell.

The clove, orange, and peach mix together with the cinnamon and make me feel like I'm wearing bubblegum perfume. Cinnamon is something I usually don't get along with, and when I do get along with cinnamon it's very rare that it lasts all the way till drydown. It's the sweetness of the orange and peach that ruin it 100% for me. Looks like this is a thumbs down.

Definitely hitting the menthol notes more with this scent. The juniper barely adds a tinge of spices that rounds off the sharp mint. There's this lingering whiff I get after every sniff that doesn't sit well with me, and the drydown is a very pronounced, powdery medicine scent on my skin. Undertow is not my thing.

This wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be, nor do I associate the scent with the description, but it still smells heavenly. If academia had a smell then this would be it. The tonka bean, cypress, and patchouli mix so well together. I feel like I'm in a giant room full of freshly sharpened Ticonderoga pencils. It's such a soothing, woody scent. I can't pick up any sweet or sugary notes at all, which is fine by me. I decided to go a little crazy and layer Cthulhu over it. Now I feel like I'm flirting with a hot, tentacled librarian.

Vial: lemon peel and grape with mint on the tail end Wet: orange peel and grape, kind of a sweet citrusy aroma Dry: didn't expect the rosemary to pop up. I always thought that rosemary was such a submissive note, especially coupled with strong sweet/citrus notes. Eh, Bess was a little too sweet for me. It made me feel like I had just spilled juice all over myself.

Vial: frankincense, rosemary and woody notes with orange lingering on the tail end Wet: frankincense, incense and woody with rosemary Dry: It's trying to go citrusy and floral, but the incense and wood notes are overpowering it by a good degree. Kind of citronella, but not quite It definitely didn't antagonize my nose, but I don't think that a blend that reminds me of citronella is something I'd wear. Maybe I would diffuse/oil burn it, but not inside the house.

Vial: Mmmmm, smokey benzoin and myrhh complimented by a touch of sandalwood. Reminds me a lot of Anne Bonny. I guess sandalwood is very pronounced on my skin. Wet: Very smokey. The sandalwood note is more faded and the rose is coming to the foreground. Dry: AHHHHH! Incense, incense, incense everywhere! I'm such an incense freak that I had to like this. I'm not too sure if it's something I would wear, but I think I'll keep the imp to burn in my oil burner.

Vial: Very beautiful floral smell, probably the lotus...although I would probably agree that is more reminiscent of cherry. It's kind of veiled by an air of something ... perhaps the musk Wet: Smooth almond notes laced with cardamom. Not smelling anymore of the lotus/cherry notes. The almond and cardamom feel like they're on the threshold of going sugary/sweet, but musk and myrrh are keeping them in check. Dry: I don't know how to describe this sugary smell. It's not too sugary, but it's still there, fleetingly. I think the amber decided to situate itself finally. It faintly smells of the perfume my Filipina grandma and aunts used to wear, but maybe about 1/15 of the intensity. I'm a little ambivalent about this blend. I immediately wanted to jump to my "It's to sugary!" conclusion, but there were other notes that held me back trying to convince me to like it.

I could not trace any rooty, woody notes and especially not any green ones. The minute I uncapped the imp and applied it to my skin all I could smell was a brown sugary, heavy warm smell that kind of just oozed into the air around me. Since I wasn't keen on the smell, I dabbed about 2/3 less than I usually do. The foody/sugary smell was still very, very strong. Don't think this scent is me, even as a sniffie.

AHHH, I abolutely love gardenia! I was trying to pinpoint the floral scent and when I came to the review page the light in my head finally flashed. I love the spicy cinnamon that sort of seductively crawls all over the gardenia. This is absolutely amazing that I like this scent, considering that I'm not a big fan of spicy/cinnamon notes. Me wants this! ETA: Oh no, big update -- the dry-drydown was more vanilla that I could stand. Not a trace of white floral or cinnamon left. That makes me really sad since I was excited to like something that was not to vanilla and spicy at first.