sqwook

I think I must be attuned to oakmoss, because once this is dry, oakmoss and soft powderiness is what I'm getting here. Reminds me a bit of what I remember of The Ring, which is also beautiful.

See, for this one, I'm with MuskWing -- I am totally getting a soft, beautiful scent of nag champa burning outdoors in the open air and a light breeze. Not the lab's typical nag champa note, but my scent-memory of what it's like at a particular store I visit, where they always have a single stick of nag champa burning just outside the door, and when you enter the store, the breeze outside the door floats the scent lightly past you. I do not know why it's hitting me this way, given the notes, but that's definitely what it's like on my skin!

I really like this on me. Lately, I haven't been looking at notes at all while I test things, and when this had just dried down, I thought I smelled myrrh here -- all these elements are just blending in a really beautiful way, what I thought was myrrh must be the smoky sweetness of the honey note, but not like the normal honey note which usually does not work for me. Nice. The drydown is a close spice. This is really good. Reminds me a bit of my scent-memory of Nemesis & Gomorrah and others along those lines.

This is beautiful. Vanilla with a lovely perfumey bite when it's wet (I can see the comparison to Angel, during this phase), and then resiny and complex when it's dry. It just gets more & more complex & beautiful on my skin throughout the day. Deeper, richer, warmer, less floral (not floral at all really), and a bit more 'spiced' than I expected -- and also therefore much much /better/ than I expected. I agree with the above comment - "sexy and grown up and yum", haha. Love, love, love!

A lovely honey scent! But what compelled me to pop in here into the reviews section is that this reminds me tons of<b> Xmvlzencab bath oil</b>-- so anyone who was hoping for something similar as a perfume oil, you will need to try this.

This is so great on me! Starts out zingy and bright, like berries plus the zing / tartness of grapefruit, which is a scent I have been looking for in BPAL just FOREVER and nothing has even come close. And then a sweet almost-vanilla rounds everything out underneath, while the berries mingle together, and the red musk just makes it like a perfume and not a food. I just love it. Not too foody, not too saccharine/sugary, not too red-musky. Just perfect. And the drydown is so pretty on me, even 12 hours later - more a berries-and-vanilla-spice at this stage. There aren't many berry-heavy scents I can wear - Fruit of Paradise is another - but this is just great. May need a bottle.

I get sassafras from The Soldier. (weird, given the notes, but I wasn't the only one to get it, so...)

Give Gomorrah a try, too.

Helios is great for high desert.

Hi! There is a thread that is GREAT for suggestions, depending on what you're looking for. I wonder if I can find it. Some things depend on the situation. For example, Mme Moriarty I *do* think is a fantastic "Don't f*** with me" scent, with a lot of sexual undertones - like "okay, you can f*** with me, if I let you, and I shall be totally in charge of that." It would not be good for a work environment if that's what you're seeking. For a work environment, Manhattan and Death & Life Completed both rock pretty hard, in my opinion. I also like Oya. Let me try to find the other thread... Voila! http://www.bpal.org/topic/18942-bravery-courage-confidence-intimidation-power/page__p__201548__hl__power%2A__fromsearch__1#entry201548 Hm, I'm not sure that's the thread I was thinking of, so there may be even ANOTHER one out there. Hmmm....

Emma - Dirty - Yes! If she could get past the name, right? Quinn, yes, it would need to be something pretty, and even with a pretty name and inspiration. And to clarify, in no way would Kurt Hummel actually wear BPAL at all, so I guess what I should have said is that he would "smell like" Dorian -- or maybe 'Death & Life Completed' -- even though it would likely be some kind of extremely expensive haute couture scent. Tina, on the other hand, you know totally wears BPAL, and totally has like 37 favorites, not just one.

That awkward moment when you have 30 bottles in your bpal bottle box but you still want ONE MORE and it's because it's what you think a fictional character might wear. Namely, Kurt Hummel on Glee. Dorian. /is-ridiculous

In the bottle: rich and sweet On me: There's something here that's almost going to red musk (or even jasmine or champa). Not getting caramel at all, which is good, because usually I amp it and it ruins everything. I think I'd most describe this as a purple musk. After 3 hours, it's now really really beautiful - the purple musk/orchid is now backed by sandalwood and tonka.

Fruit of Paradise that you mentioned is a good idea to re-try, and you might want to try Hymn to Proserpine again. Maybe Skuld. Also, Lampades. And, oddly, Black Lotus perhaps - it doesn't actually *have* a fruit note, but the sweetness of the lotus puts it into the same feeling, for me, and it's balanced by the spices so it doesn't become too lotus-y. Also, if you don't mind perfumey top-notes, Bette Noir is good.

Nobody? *sadface* You might try Grr perhaps - some people get a sage, eucalyptus feel from it. Also, if the essential oils aren't anything like the shower gel, than it could be a blend of lots of different things *including* eucalyptus & rosemary - I'm not familiar with it, so I can't say. Does it smell to you like there other notes in it, and if so, what might they be? That might help people come up with suggestions. >Is there a way to find this info on the site? The search function wasn't working for me. I never liked using the search, whereas I *love* using spreadsheets, so I downloaded a spreadsheet that someone had made. I find it super-easy to search within a spreadsheet, and I can add notes to myself on which ones I want try, what I've already tried, add in new scents when they're released, etc. I use the spreadsheet Hackess maintains, though there are others. The link is here: http://www.hackess.com/bpal.xls and you can find it in the future by going to her member profile - it's in her "About Me" signature. http://www.bpal.org/user/6364-hackess/

On the reaction side, the notes in those blends aren't the common ones that people react to (cinnamon is one to watch out for especially) but if your skin reacts to even those, then I'd use a base you already know to be fine for your skin, rather than trying both a new base and new scents. That way, if you have a reaction, you'll be better able to isolate the cause.

For me, I love The Ring, so I caved and have 2 bottles on the way. Kypris is also really really (really) beautiful.

Easter Candy - do you like it? If so, what types? I probably don't need huge amounts of candy. I do like the Cadbury mini-eggs (the all-chocolate ones, not the ones filled with stuff.) What scent(s) are you petrified of getting DC'd? All dcs make me sad, that I'll never be able to pick up another imp sometime. Silk Road was in the keep-an-imp, don't need a bottle category, but it sucks to know that it's the latest to have fallen victim to DC issues. Most of my top ten that are GC, I've picked up backups of. Violette Market Update is up. Do you covet anything from it? Nope! (I'm also not gonna look.) Wine? I like wine! Reds are preferred. And while I theoretically like dessert wines, the massive backlog of them in my closet tells me that I never actually drink them. Wine is a with-dinner thing in my household. Paper goods, anyone need? including resume paper, and formal stationery as well as casual cards. I'm all set at the moment, though I do love notecards, so... I wouldn't turn them away. What is a scent that you've been trying to find even a sample of for a very long time to no avail? (What bottle would you die to get your hands on - even a partial?) Hm. That's a good question. I haven't been *actively* trying to find them, but of LEs/unimpables, the things I'm most intrigued about trying lately (so even half-decants would work) are Banshee Beat, Les Anges Dechus, and possibly Sybil. Is there anything in your life that you'd like advice or a "selfhelp" book for?: (ie finances, eating healthier, meal planning) I'd mostly like to actually follow the advice I already know to be helpful. If your Witch lived near you, would you be happy or creeped out to get a "coupon" for a service like cleaning help or babysitting or dogwalking or coffee out with your Witch or something like that? Would you be creeped out if a local minion personally delivered a package to your house from a far-away Witch? No, I think it would be AWESOME! But I'd rather get a phonecall first than a person on my doorstep, is that okay? I mean, I'd want to welcome someone in, and to do that I'd need a bit of straighten-the-house notice. Let's say I have a pair of something you collect, would you like one of them and we have matching things? These questions are so deliberately vague, sometimes I just want to laugh and say, "I have no idea what the **** you are talking about!" lol. Um, sure, I'd love one of those! I love those. They're my favorite. ha. Do you like poetry? Sure! What types of scents do you like to scent your home? Which do you totally avoid? I like warm scents, spicy, resiny, woodsy. Not *too* foody, though I do like things with vanilla. Also zingy citrusy scents. I avoid florals. What are your thoughts on comics? Any you like? Any you have been wanting to try? Favorite characters? Not as into it. How do you feel about nail polish? What colors do you like? Sparkles? No nail polish. Household/kitchen goods/gadgets? I think I'm okay here. Ok geek check - what sort of geeky things do you do? Do you read comics/graphic novels? Are you obsessed with something (a TV show maybe?) Do you work in a geeky field? Do you play rpgs like Dungeons and Dragons? Would you like gifts related to any of these? Oh, gosh. I'm plenty geeky (of the torchwood/dr who variety) but cant' think of any gifts related to it that I'd need. I'm also a botany/geology geek. Do you have a favorite fabric? If someone were to make you a fabric item, would you prefer it be out of any fabric? e.g. velvet, satin, silk, cotton, bamboo??? Would this change if it were an article of clothing vs. a bag/pillow/blanket/somethingelse. Um..I don't think I have a favorite fabric. It probably would change depending on what the object was. Anything with the Worm Moon update that you're already lusting after? Have decants coming! Would you want an invite to a site that is invite-only ex. Diaspora, Demonoid, etc. If so, what? No thank you. Pillows? What size/designs/colors would most interest you? As someone else mentioned, any pillow becomes a cat-bed-fuzz-zone. purses? bags? What style/colors? no thanks. Decorative scarves for hair and/or creative accessorizing? What colors? I love scarves, and own zillions. If you see something that looks like me, I'm sure I'd love it. Would you like anything from Starring Fragrances. They make awesome hair stuff, natural deoderant, and home fragrance (and a ton of other stuff, those are just my favs)? Not familiar with them. If you were able to get a vintage or prototype bottle from the upcoming West Coast Will Call, which one would you want? na. DVDs, Blu-Ray, both, neither? both. Sock Dreams? What kind? (anklets, footies, etc.?) Hey, I just lost a half-hour at Sock Dreams! Arizona is not conducive to tights. I *do* need some fashion help, but I'm not sure those tights, while awesome, are the answer. Since this is a price capped round, would you rather get one "big" thing or lots of "little" things or don't care? Whatever works for you! Do you like pirate-related things? Probably don't need anything. Other than some cool boots. Soaps? Be specific: if there are BPAL soaps you want to try or are dying for more of, tell all here! Also, any other companies people like or love? Villainess, maybe? Or Lush? What flavors??? I'm ok on soaps at the moment. What periods of art do you love most? Like, if someone was going to get you a tapestry or a box or some other item, what period would you want it to most resonate with? the pinks and golds of Rococo? the clean geometry of Art Deco? The romanticism of Art Nouveau? The strange lines of Cubism? Medieval, art nouveau, pre-raphaelite Would you like caffeinated lollipops? Nope. Copied CD's or DVD's? Not unless they're mix cds, or cds where the artist said copying them is ok. I'm going to Disneyland in a couple of weeks, is there anything I can get you? Mmm, probably not. Booze? Yay or Nay? what kinds? I like wines of the red variety Steampunk inspired items? Yay or nay? Um... sometimes! Do you like amurigami dolls? They are very cute. I don't really need more stuff, per se, but a little amurigami quail would be loved should one appear. Pirates vs Ninjas vs Zombies - who wins? Which do you love most? I love pirates the most. Best costumes. Who would win? Hm. Ninjas. For those who like lipgloss, lipstick, tinted balms, etc, what colors do you wear (and warm? cool?) and do you prefer something sheer or more opaque? How do you feel about shimmer? Neutral and warm, I think. Either sheer or opaque. I don't like the balms that you have to use your finger, and I stay clear from goopy/sticky glosses. Shimmer is fine. What's your favorite animal? Or is there one that's particularly significant to you? As pets, cats. Quail, phoenix. Do you like wearing things in your hair? If so, what kind (snap clips, scrunchie, headband, etc), how big & crazy (lowkey, bigger the better), and colors. I'm very selfconscious about my hair so I'm not wearing hair things right now. Piercings? - ears?? - elsewhere? nope. Chocolate. With stuff in it? Are you more a plain chocolate lover, a chocolate and normal items lover (normal items being nuts, fruit, caramel) or do you like weird stuff in your chocolate? (weird stuff being curry, chilis, balsamic vinegar, floraly things) I feel like just saying Yes. I prefer dark chocolate, and part of that is because I can eat a very small piece and feel satisfied, as opposed to with other chocolates where I might eat the whole bar all at once, which would probably not be advisable. surprise! the world has given you the day off. You hear that, no chores, responsibilities, or budget you have to follow. What would you do in those 24 hours? No budget, too! Wow. Private jet to the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Hiking. Yummy dinner. Do you have any blogs you regularly read? Not blogs regularly, other than friendsfriends lists. Do you need another bpal box? If so what would your fantasy one look like? I wouldnt' mind another cigar-box-sized box, the kind that has a clasp. What would it look like? If I were doing it, I'd probably decorate it myself. My current one uses images cut from magazines representing (on each side of the box) earth, air, wind, fire, and spirit. There's lots of things a second one could look like. Natural beauty is always a thing with me. And art nouveau. Do you enjoy gardening? If so, what kind of stuff do you grow? Vegetables, flowers? I haven't been gardening here. We're renting. We've moved to AZ, and actually it kinda annoys me that our landlord asked us to water her roses. I wouldn't mind irrigating for food/utility, I guess, but for roses, arg. There's better uses for water. Social Networking sites: FB & LJ, links should be in my questionnaire. favourite artists or specific paintings? Mucha, Waterhouse. how about mix CDs? Love it!!! Especially feel-good music, in any of the different ways that could be. Hey, how do folks feel about little e-goodies, like links to stuff your witchee likes? (articles online, pix, fic, etc). Send 'em over! Tim Tams? Yes or no? Chocolate Creme, Caramel, or Dark Chocolate? Don't go out of your way. They're tasty enough, but definitely the kind of thing that gets eaten too quickly. (Nom.) Also, my mailbox gets pretty toasty. Is there any "classic" literature (Hemingway, Dickens, Elliot, Bronte, Hugo, Wilde, etc.) that you would like to add to your collection? Not at this time. candles and/or aroma melts: yay or nay? Candles yay, especially votives because they can burn (relatively) safely (given my punky cat) in a glass cup. Get your music player, what are the first 13 songs on Random? 1 Beidh Aonach Amarach - Gaelic Storm 2 Bill - Jane Monheit 3 Blue Light - Rachael Sage 4 Loch Na Fooey - Fern Knight 5 Your Lips Are Red - St Vincent 6 Come By The Hills - Rita MacNeil / Fire in the Kitchen 7 Baker Baker - Tori Amos 8 Mi Nada Um Ca Tem - Maria de Barros / Putamayo Women of Africa 9 Gravity - Sara Bareilles 10 Crucify - Tori Amos 11 Dancing Past Elysium - Emily Bezar 12 Iowa - Dar Williams 13 Creature of the Wood - Tricky Pixie Huh - Shuffle is always so interesting, the patterns that come out. I swear I can go for hours on shuffle & never hear a Tori Amos song, and 2 come up within 13 songs. Astrological charts and interpretation/ reports? Sure! So how does everyone feel about receiving ebooks? Great! I have a kindle. Would you rather have HUGE list of things your witchee wants to try or just a highlight list? Whatever works for you. Huge is probably easier to find random things, but really, mostly I just don't want anyone to stress out about switch-witch. Baked Goods? Yea Nay? Yay! If not Baked goods and you are changing eating habits..a book of recipes perhaps that will help the new eating lifestyle? I'd rather have you wave your magic wand & get rid of these extra 15 pounds without changing eating habits. If you were to make an order RIGHT NOW (Not that any of you will make any bpal orders until SW is over, because you do NOT want to mess up any plans your witch might have!) What would you order (from lab, forum, DD, TradingPost, etc). I have a gunga BPTP decant/sample order coming in soon, so I might want something from that. I'm planning to order a BPAL bottle of The Ring, because it comes down in like a week and I don't want to leave it to chance. My wishlist (link in my sig) should be up to date, including bolding items that I'm most interested in trying. Probably highest on the want-to-try list is an imp of Moonshine & Mist. What level of nudity are you fine with on items? Ex: none, tasteful, erotica. What kind of items are we talking about? lol I know the ?airre asked about gently used books and if you like garage sales, but would you like other kinds of gently used items that may have come from a garage sale? sure. Do you like cooking seasonings, like the kind you can get in ounce sizes? If so, things you'd love to try out? YES. I especially would love to try whatever multiple different kinds of Jamaican Jerk / blackjack jerk seasoning that you might be able to scrounge up from your area. My local grocery stores have not been ideal in this regard. Do you like any particular kinds of green or black teas or coffees that could also be gotten in bulk? I do like tea, especially black teas. Favorite snack foods (and can they be from bulk section as well?) Macadamia nuts. Popcorn (airpopped). Dark chocolate. Boy, I think I need to get some more healthy snacks in the rotation, but apples make me feel STARVING which does not help.

There's a pear note in Peacocks which is nice. And, it's not a listed note in this one, but Nothing Gold Can Stay had a pear-or-melon fresh feeling to me.

(chais - ah, sorry - I thought you were just looking for alternates in general, of which Volt could be just one - sorry! Hope someone who has tried Volt can chime in! )

Chairmolokom & nrl1978 - you can do a search in this thread once you are in it by finding the "search" box (with the forum skin I use, it's up near the top right of the screen) - make sure it says "in this topic" and then put in your search string. Yes, there are tons of suggestions in this thread for Antique Lace, and The Coil is also discussed relatively recently (scroll to the top of the page). plainjean - Searching for Tiger Lily on the forum is trickier because so many other results come up, but reading through the review thread you might be able to find some comparisons. I noticed that someone felt that the floral had some similarities to Alice, and the honey-note to O, so maybe some layering? You've probably tried those two already, though, but maybe there are other comparisons.

This is really really good on me - surprisingly so, given some of the other lackluster reviews. It starts off somewhat nutty, and then becomes soft and somewhat powdery-perfumey, smooth, and then over many hours, it's a skin-close spiciness of frankincense. I *love* oakmoss, and it's not sticking out on me here as it usually does - it usually makes things go more masculine than I wish them to, and it's not doing that here. I also don't get any type of overwhelming patchouli, other than perhaps that spiciness. No mint, either. And I even get compliments on it. (Actually, two different compliments from two different people on different days, and normally neither of those people mention anything.) So it's not just me being weird in thinking it smells nice on me. This is now on my want-bottle list.

I am a fan of Slobbering Pine, too! Interestingly, I don't get pine from it really, and... that's okay by me. It goes almost golden-fruity, while still staying bright and clear, and for me, that makes it a winner.

Smoother & sexier than expected! I agree with whoever said it smells more like tobacco than typical woods (though not the overly-sugary-ness of some of bpal's tobacco notes), even a tinge of smoke while it's wet. I get absolutely no rose at all, and I am extremely susceptible to it. I'm not getting any pine at all, either. Smooth, tobacco, and a sweetness that must come from either vanilla or honey. Fantastic! I'm surprised I'm not hearing more chatter about this - it seems like it would be ridiculously popular. I wonder if the woods-and-balsam listed notes have made some people think it would be more masculine than it is. I think it's the unisex (and awesome on a woman) equivalent of Moxie Nouveau's Girls With Cigars (blond tobacco, amyris, and ambergris, sweetness of blackberry, and the earthy spice of clove). Really great.

You posted it in the discontinued GC thread. And here's my answer: On me, Niflheim is like a more damp / green Gomorrah, so you might wish to try Gomorrah. You could also check the review thread for Niflheim& see if others compare it to other scents.