izile

I'm starting to wonder if my skin soaks up everything blackberry. I generally love blackberry-everything, but between this and The Storm, I'm having a hard time finding it. On the other hand, even though I can't smell any blackberry, this is a lovely lilac scent, a bit like the Lilac Wood from the Last Unicorn series, but with a bit more of a woodsier note (maybe I can smell the "bush" part of the blackberry?) - It's a really nice lilac scent either way!

In the imp: SWEET sweet apple! I'm also pleasantly surprised (dunno why, it's the LAB after-all) that they really nailed Honeycrisp apples specifically. Wet on the skin: sweet apple softened around the edges with a creamy note Dry down: Much more subtle, started out with hella throw but now it's dialed back to giving me the occasional "what's that great smell? Oh that's me!" whiffs when I move around. It's still predominantly apple, and a really juicy faithful one, but the sweet milk scent really keeps it from having any sharp edges or "crispness" I've gotten from other apple scents. It's absolutely lovely!!

This one was a big disappointment for me. In the imp it was clean, light, fresh scent, but I really couldn't smell blackberry or violet. Wet: It's still mostly a light fresh aquatic scent, no flowers, no fruits :-( Dry: It's like the slightest sweet hint of almost gone light and fresh. I slathered heavily after realizing how light it was, and this is still barely a ghost of a scent on me :-(

In the bottle: tea rose! hello! This is the same strong tea rose from Dawn: Maiden and/or like Marie, and I'm quite happy about that! There's a kind of dusty soft, almost powdery feel around the edges that I think might be the sandalwood, it doesn't smell "dry grassy" like the hay note I've sniffed before. i can't smell any vanilla. Fresh spritzed: Very sharp tea rose, it's really really rosy, and there's still that aura of the something soft, dusty-powdery, still suspecting that's sandalwood. I'm not getting any hay, and the vanilla orchid might be this background secondary kind of light note that I'm having a hard time pinning down. After a few hours: this one has a moderate throw compared to some of the other rose HGs. It isn't hanging around as long as Onze, but it's not fading as fast as the white or golden rose ones did. The overall effect is a really bright fresh rose with softened edges, a little plush-powdery (not baby powder-y) to make if less sharp as it wears. The vanilla orchid never really steps up for me, nor does the hay. For me, I'm getting 75% tea rose, 20% sandalwood, and maybe 5% background tints of vanilla orchid with dubious existence of hay.

Red rose, Siamese benzoin, and blood orange. In the bottle, this is one of the rosiest of the Rose hgs. There's something else, not exactly citrusy, like the perfume oil, but 'other' Freshly spritzed,warm red roses! The benzoin is there, but I'm not getting as much of the orange as I do when I apply the straight oil to skin. This is a drier version, but a nice rose. After a while - throw is good on this one, this mostly rose with a kind of dry orange peel and slightly resiny finish. Wish it was a bit juicier in the orange department.

This isn't my typical scent, but I was hoping for something to be in the same family as Blackened Vanilla and Cardamom, which I am going through at a surprising rate (especially last fall). In the bottle: It definitely smells like it's in the same family, but maybe stronger, and a bit more acerbic from the tobacco(?). Freshly spritzed: this is strong! It's similar to the blackened vanilla, but maybe not quite as "dark" an impression, and more sharp notes. The cardamom isn't as assertive as in the other, but it's there, and helps warm it up a bit, I also think that could be the amber showing up. Several hours later: wow, this lasts, this has staying power! It's strong, but it's got a nice cozy sweater kind of feel to the scent, would definitely put it in the same feel-family as Blackened Vanilla and Cardamom. This was still pretty strong when I woke up with it the next morning. Was brushing out my hair and was still getting a pretty strong since of it's smell. It's a good thing I like it!

Golden rose, frankincense, and vanilla bean. First sniff in the sample - light, sunny scent, not overly rosy, but hard to define exactly what anything smells like Freshly spritzed: The golden rose is a nice note, it's floral and soft, but kind of sunny and gentle. The frankincense is really coming to the top and taking the lead, though. The vanilla bean, I honestly didn't even notice when I was applying it, mostly frankincense with a little sunny rose backdrop. A few hours later: Not a lot of throw to this one as it calms down. It's very soft, bordering on powdery-soft, but not baby powder. The lingering scent is hard to define, like when it was first in the bottle, I don't really smell "rose" or "frankincense" or "vanilla bean" at this point. It's just a kind of light melange of something soft and slightly "sunny" smelling. I will say, it's only been 2-3 hours, and I don't get much scent off my hair unless I pull it around and huff the ends, this one is a lot quieter than the rest of the rose HG's I've tried so far.

Red roses, agarwood, red patchouli, benzoin, and black currant. First sniff in the sample: a little sharp, very rosy, and sooo much patchouli. Freshly spritzed: SO MUCH PATCHOULI. Wow.. rose? currant? anyone? bueller? NOPE JUST PATCHOULI! Several hours later: it calms down, and a bit of rose and a hint of sharp fruit on the edges, but mostly this is for patchouli lovers (and I am not one).

With rose and carnation, I had high hopes for this one. In the decant - smells kind of powdery light rose and what I think is oudh Fresh application - the carnation is staying really far back in the background, but the rose is up front, with the oudh. It's a very powdery, soft, "velvety" is a good word for it scent. It's not a fresh/green rose, or a lush or creamy one. Few hours later - this one lasts, though! It's a close smell, not a huge through, but I keep catching whiffs of it even with most of my hair back. It's still super powdery, but this isn't baby powder of doom powdery, it's just a kind of dry, light, softness. Now, it's generically "floral" and I think I can pick up some carnation, but it's not the bold spanish red carnation I love, it's a lot more polite and background-y. The rose is there, but not what I'd really think of as "rose" when I imagine that scent. Glad I didn't get more of this one, I don't think I'd wear it again.

It’ll rattle your teeth more than it rattles your junk: fizzy champagne, orange blossom absolute, Italian bergamot, and dry vanilla. I haven't done a full day's test on this yet, but the first sniff and spritz are lovely! First in the bottle, it's the classic Black Phoenix champagne note that I love! There's a little something citrusy around the edges. Tiny spritz: the champange is all fizzy and bubbly, but now there's this soft orange carried along with it, it's not powdery or overly floral like I'd expect from the orange blossom, I'm thinking maybe the bergamot and the orange blosssom blend together to create a new kind of soft, but not exactly floral, but not juicy orange scent, it's really nice! And right there, popping up to wave hi and then dance back into the background is this light, soft, very dry vanilla. Have you ever had a dry vanilla soda? One of those sodas where they barely put any sweetener in it at all, and it's mostly like a scented seltzer water? It's a bit like that. It's not sweet, not foodie, not rich, creamy, or any of those things. Maybe it's closest too vanilla orchid, but that's probably the orange blossom lending to that, but it's lovely! It's vanilla, but if you're generally not a vanilla fan, this might be the one for you! I think this is absolutely gorgeous!

Blue lilac, peach blossom, plumeria, pink rose, and ylang ylang. First sniff in the decant, PEACH, I got more peach (and like fruit more than flower) on first sniff than anything else, but there was a kind of pinky-purple light floral scent behind it that came next. Fresh application: Beautiful, light, floral halo. The peach blossom is definitely blossom now, and the lilac has taken center stage. The rose is playing second fiddle quite happily in the background, and (for me) the dreaded ylang ylang is no where to be smelt. Hour or so later: It's soft, light, not much throw. The flowers have all largely blended together now and give me the feeling of being in a fresh spring garden. I love this!

In-Thread Bonus Questions: Craft supplies: Between me and sis, we're all over the place. The things I don't have and could use would be the things I always forget about when I'm actually IN a shop, like a masking fluid for watercolor paintings, or add-ins for acrylics or even oils. I have tons of paints, but I never get the OTHER stuff most people use. Also, forgot to mention in my questionnaire. I was working on this one painting, and I was trying to find a paint pen, fine point, in a nice opaque white. Both Blick's I went to up here were sold out, and since Pearl Paint closed, I feel lost in the city's art supply world. Paint pens that I could use to finish details on paintings would be nice. Fantasy Type Books: I'm all over it! Tolkien, Lewis, Gaiman, Pratchett, Moore, LOVE LOVE LOVE. If I don't know it, that's cool too. My old boss gave me a lesbian fantasy romance novel, totally something I'd NEVER pick up on my own, and I really enjoyed it! (more romance, less sex, and kinda like a badder-assed Sookie as a witch-lesbian). So, don't be afraid to throw me your old favorites. Also, don't care about paperback condition, as long as the last 5 pages of the story isn't missing, that'd suck. Music: MP3s, I have an old zune, and mp3 player on my PC. - Please feel free to expand my horizons, EXCEPT, I -loathe- country music, and hardcore rap, so, go anywhere else, from Blackmore's Night to Opera, to George Crumb and Kronos Quartet, to Finnish Death Metal, and J-Pop, and everywhere inbetween - even blue grass is fine, just NO Country! are you interested in preloved tees like BPTP ones? If so, styles and size? More than likely, yes! I have a (it has a tree on it?) tissue tee I adore, and standard bella babydoll tee for Candles Moon, a "Nice" tee and a Krampus tee. I really like their tees. I'm a size XS or Small (somewhat depends on which cut of shirt and from what producers. For the old bella babydolls, probably a Small, but the newer/thinner (or if anyone has an old tissue tee they don't want anymore) an XS is probably better. Do you have a need for costuming pieces? Anything specific you’d like/ not like? Nothing I can particularly think of now. I mean, I could use a better chemise for ren faire weekends. I think mine was actually a child's, considering it barely comes down to the top of my hip, and the sleeves are barely long enough to tuck into the top of my bracers. Othrewise, I have ears, bracers, chain belt... if on a weird fluke anyone has kinda rennie style sandals in a size 7.5, that would be amazing, but seems highly unlikely. Interested in vinyl art toys (kid robot & such)? I really try and avoid random pointless STUFF, I just don't have the room for it... that said, I have a deep weakness for Unicornos from Tokidoki. I already have quite a few. Would love to find Fumo, Bambu, Caramelo, Sakura, Yuki, Sirena, Honeybee, Prisma, Diamante, Hanako, Miso, Fuego, Galactica, Gaia, Summer, Adios & Caramelo.... (I'm not very good at my personal minimalism when it comes to pony-things.) I have collected art faster than I can frame it. Anyone interested in prints from Independant artists or do you have a specific decorating scheme happening in the house? (Which is, of course, ok) I generally love independent art, but I don't have a lot of wall space left at this point, so I should probably pass. Do you use K-Cups and would you like a variety of coffee/tea? - no K cups How do you feel about cosmetic samples as long as they're "clean?" I'd love getting samples! Generally I'm super pale (and pink! or "clear and full of blood"), sensitive skin, love any anti-aging stuff, and I love trying out hair products, though I'm SUPER picky because I have long hair (trying to grow longer, always longer!) . Do you have any use for holiday/Christmas ornaments? If so, what themes/styles do you prefer? - no thanks Buying fandom related and "cute" items: I try to avoid - with the exception of a very few - IF THEY ARE VERY SMALL (I have an old printer's drawer hanging on my wall now, that gives me a place to put *TINY* things, so.. if you found something that was around 1-1.5 inches tall, it'd fit on that. I like Firefly/Serenity, MLP, LOTR, harry potter universe stuff could be cute, too - but the key is *TINY* Would you like to receive silver rings that are worn but still look like new? If so: what ringsize do you wear? And any specific styles that you like? Or silver earrings (brandnew)? No earrings, I don't have pierced ears (unless someone wants to get rid of some vintage rhinestone screw backs! I collect those!), and rings, I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but I do like tiny sterling silver delicate jewelry, and when it starts warming up, I'd be more likely to wear rings when I won't need gloves. I think my fingers range between a 6 and a 7, depending on which finger it is. Do you like animals? If so: any favorites? I do. I love horses (unicorns and pegasi) most of all, but also adore dragons, griffons, and in the "real world" (ha), wolves, foxes, cats, and the occasional raven, hawk, or owl. (bonus points for also fitting into the aforementioned "TINY" spectrum. Fragrance oils other than BPAL: ​ only essential oils please (and I have mint and sweet orange already) ​Jewelry making supplies: ​probably not, I have a hoard of gemstones (for prong or bezel setting), but haven't been making jewelry a lot this past couple of years. It seems unlikely someone would be wanting to get rid of the kind of jewelry stuff I could use, as it'd be so easy to resell for decent money. And I don't do beading or stuff like that. Lularoe Leggings? no thanks Could you use Melitta filters for coffee? pass Jewelry making addendum: Gemstones? I do have a literal hoard of gemstones (cut, polished, semi-precious, mostly garnet, amethyst, some quartz, topaz, mostly small pieces now) - does anyone do the kind of jewelry making where they'd be able to use something like that? Good to learn on in a jewelry making classes. Cookbooks (or Magazine back issues) anyone? - Another thing I hoard, and I'm trying to clean up my stash. And if yes, do you have a kind you'd like or not like? Personally, I no longer need anything basic or beginner. But I'd be open to specialized or weird cookbooks like the cookbook from Hannibal (the tv show), (I LOVE my Feast of Thrones cookbook!) or specialty ones like ones on Japanese food, or something more specific like a little book of ramen or pho. (I don't have any non-Western European/US cookbooks that aren't fantasy worlds). I will also take old/used food magazine issues (I subscribe to Bon Appetit, so not them), but I will take old back issues happily, even in somewhat ratty condition. (I have a problem, I really do.) Table cloths, placemats, runners, napkins, dish towels - no thanks BPAL storage boxes - I don't really need any more boxes, if anyone had extra of those spent ammo cases that fit imps perfectly, I always need more of those 5 strange things, off the top of your head that you need? silicon coated wire whisk new cheese cloth new batch of super-sculpy (any amount really) silicon mold for filled chocolates matcha green tea powder Travel books. - Guatemala? It's looking likely I'll have a work trip there in June. I know nothing. Nightlight. - no thanks Could you use any spices, herbs, or salt? Sure, I don't think I've got any dill weed or fennel seed, no curry powders, dried chilies, and I believe I'm out of nice dried thyme (I normally dry my own, but I messed up my last batch right before winter and had to throw it out :-( ) What about reusable totes or bags? I am overflowing, so no thanks. Discworld books: YES! My collection is a bit spotty, I'm up to Wyrd Sisters (haven't started it yet, and it's a library book, so would totally take a paperback copy). But I already have (ahead of the game thanks to an auction lot my Mom won): soul music, eric, thud, lords and ladies, carpe jugulum, unseen academicals, raising steam, and the discworld companion Least favorite scent? myrrh, musks, resins, spices, incense, foodie Nail polish colors? I have a pretty epic stash, and have been doing more nail wraps as time goes by. I think I have a few BPTP examples on my w/l. Bathtub? Bubble Bar? I do have a bathtub, but I don't use it often in the winter, because there's a window in the bath and it makes it super drafty, but once it warms up a bit. I also do lots of foot tub soaks, so I could use it! how do you feel about knitted things?? More specifically washcloths or scarves?? Colors you love/hate? And fibers you like or don’t like?? I have plenty of knitted things, so I'm probably good. But it's a good place to remind that I don't like synthetic fibers, I try and stay away from polyester, acrylic, and rayon (unless it's certified green bamboo rayon - gotta protect the orangutans!) and I'm all about strong colors, but loathe greys/beiges/neutrals Do you have a preference for more fitted women's style tees, or are you fine with a basic crew neck? I prefer a more fitted women's style tees, v-necks preferred, but not a deal breaker otherwise. If you were given a choice of a top that was navy and tan stripe vs a more cobalt blue base with a jewel tone stained glass pattern, does one or the other sound preferable? Neither? Both? No stripes, no tan. Stained glass pattern sounds pretty, though, and love jewel tones. Are you okay with receiving a book that is completely within your areas of interest, but that is in the middle of a series? (Assume a standalone storyline that might reference events in prior books but that is not dependent on them.) Please no. I approach series very carefully (I was "traumatized" as a kid by only being allowed to buy the first Secret of the Unicorn Queen book, loved it, and it was promptly discontinued. 30-cough-years later, I still can't get book #6 to finish the series without paying an outrageous amount (so I won't do it). And I lived in fear of Stephen King never finishing the Dark Tower the whole while I read it. Would you be interested in graphic novels within your areas of interest? Yes! Love graphic novels! I have the last Sandman one, and have kept up with Pretty Deadly trades and Injection. Would you be interested in new or very gently worn shoes, if so, what size? Possibly? It seems unlikely they'd fit. I have very narrow feet with a very high arch, in sandals I can wear a 7.5, sometimes a 7, rarely an 8, and in boots almost always an 8, and other closed-toe shoes varies between 7.5 to 8, rarely 8.5 - shoes are crazy man. Do you enjoy Tokidoki? Unicornos, I have the list/first answer in my link Would you like fabric with one of your favorite fandom on it but chibi/cute style characters? No thanks, sis does the fabric arts, not me. I have a bunch of baking ingredients in my pantry that need to be used up. Would you be interested in receiving any baked goods (like cookies or scones)? if they're gluten free No thanks, also a baker (but not gluten-free) Any interest in books about learning other languages? maybe? Been trying Duolingo with Japanese, but it's a beta, so a book might help. Any interest in reading poetry or plays? I can be into poetry if it's funny, quirky, or has a historical cultural twist to it (Southern or Irish/Scottish mostly) Do you enjoy audiobooks? Not really Any of this year's Lupers you still need/want to try? Check my wishlist. I *STILL* haven't gotten any of my decants yet, so I'm kinda getting frustrated over here. There were so many in this great update, I couldn't dare do blind buys, but last I checked the website, my decanter hasn't even gotten a CNS yet! Could you use any tealights? Sure! I have an extra book light. Could you use one? Yes! Any BPTP swag you would like or are in search of (stickers, bumper stickers, pins, etc.)? I always like stickers and buttons, but I've got a pretty good stash. Would you like any unused tins for tea storage? I'm good, thanks Would you be happy to receive homemade jams/jellies? Yes! I hate how commercial jellies and jams put so much crap in there - I like almost all jams, not too big on marmalade, but my favorites are blackberry, plum, and (dare I dream... muscadine/scuppernong) Gardening stuff and or seeds?? yay or nay? If yes, whats your climate/zone? Sure! 7b Yay or nay? accessory scarves? yknow, the sheer or silky kind? colors, length? no thanks, I never know how to wear them. Tabletop gaming stuff? Board games? Yay or Nay I do like games.. why not!

I definitely get the ice wine note in this! It's sweet but crisp and has a fermented edge. It takes me a bit to fish the apple out of the scent, as I think it's still very grape-y. The red currant didn't show up much to me, but maybe contribute a slightly sharper edge to the cold fruitiness of the scent. I really like this one!

A dignified appointment for worthy corvids. Golden mango, apple peel, and frankincense. OK, well, since no one else is going to go... In the bottle: Fresh mangoes and I would have guessed apple blossom more than apple peel. First applied: The apple takes a more forward appearance and the mango becomes more secondary, I don't get a lot of frankincense, except for maybe a kind of light, fizzy background note. Dry down: A very realistic and fresh fruity scent. I still think it's probably more apple (and to me it still smells rather apple-blossom-y, but maybe now a mix of peel and flowers) with mango in the background. Seems to fade quicker than some other hair glosses, I'd say it lasts a full work day, but it's pretty faint by bedtime, and nothing the next day. I could have done with a little bit more mango, but I really like apple, so I'd still say this is a keeper!

In the decant: oh that seems strong! More carnation I think than anything. Wet: It's like SN: Spanish Red Carnation with something else that's faint, and it feels like it's fading fast. Dry: Just like SN: Spanish Red Carnation, except maybe a bit lighter/fainter. I don't think this will last on me as well as the SN does.