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BPAL Madness!

Amoraexcena

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Everything posted by Amoraexcena

  1. Amoraexcena

    Zorya Polunochnaya

    I couldn't put my finger on what this reminded me of at first. Then I was reading a bit about Only Lovers Left Alive (as I ordered some Ava/Eve), and vampires... And it hit me. It's The Girl! I had a bottle of The Girl that I let go of. Something about that scent curdled on my skin, and I sadly couldn't wear it. Best for someone who could give it the love it deserves, right? Zorya is a version of The Girl that I can wear. It's definitely a cool, ethereal floral-vanillic-amber-musk. More similar to the original Antique Lace than the most recent reincarnation of AL, which I find much sweeter and almost-foody vanilla. This is much more crystalline and certainly not edible, but I find it very wearable. So does my boyfriend. On him, it's a little more musk-forward. Just ordered another bottle to tag along with Ava and Eve. If you ever need a The Girl replacement, this is definitely along those lines. It works way better than TG on my skin so big winner for me. Top 5 maybe. So glad it's not an LE!!!
  2. Tonka absolute, ylang ylang, benzoin, and smoked vanilla musk. This is an extremely richly sweet scent. I was hoping for something a little more mild, but this is full-on, BPAL-strength smoke-heavy vanilla-musk and ylang ylang. It's sexy and sultry and bordering on cloying. Subtlety isn't the specialty here. It's kind of what I imagine Ted and Beth's bedroom to smell like, actually... If it had a bit more dark incense or something. If you like "classic" BPAL heavy-sweet vanilla, don't let this pass you by. If you want anything lighter, this is not for you.
  3. Amoraexcena

    Kamisuki Hair Gloss

    So I tore myself away from Moon Reflected for a brief moment to try using this, and it's gorgeous. Agree with all the reviewers - it's refreshing white tea and cherry blossom, with strawberry adding sweet fruitiness, making the blend gourmand, not floral. In my hair, it's more than a drop of strawberry - I'd say it's equal parts strawberry, cherry blossom, and white tea. It screams sunny, breezy spring day to me, so I'll go back to Moon Reflected and IBT while the temperatures are still in the single digits here, but I imagine this will be my go-to soon. I really wish Ted would sell soap/shampoo/co-wash/conditioner with this scent. They would be marvelous.
  4. Amoraexcena

    The Moon Reflected in Every Rice Paddy Hair Gloss

    A similar rice note to Boomslang, but for me it's better without the cocoa - it blends perfectly with the vanilla and musk. I can't tell what iris root smells like, but I imagine something grounding it. For me the scent is quite strong - I applied after blowdrying my hair. It's lasted 8 hours and is still going strong. It smells sticky-sweet yet refined and comes in lovely wafts when my hair moves or when I run my fingers through it. Love. I'd want this in perfume form too.
  5. Amoraexcena

    De Vos’ Unicorn

    To me, this is a lovechild of Sugar Plum Fairy and TKO. Gorgeous, sweet, vanilla-marshmallow-peony with a soft, calming dusting of lavender. I don't get any rose, and I usually amp that note to the high heavens. It's my favourite peony scent by BPAL for sure, and my favourite BPAL scent this year. I got one for one of my best guy friends and he's also obsessed. It's stunning. I think I need another bottle or two of this!!! Edit to add that the drydown of this is similar enough to Antique Lace that I'm probably going to hoard this like crazy. The throw isn't as much, but it waffles and lingers in much the same way, too. LOVE this, going to get at least three more... Get this if you like sugary florals like Mouse's LST, Antique Lace, Sugar Plum Fairy, TKO, Butterflies Flowers and Jewels Attending, and Hope & Faith!
  6. Amoraexcena

    Tonka Recs wanted!

    I searched, browsed, etc... unfortunately came up blank. If there's already a thread to this, please meld this into it! And if there IS a tonka thread, please add it to this useful list to prevent other tonka-lovers like me from cluttering<3 Wikipedia: The tonka bean is the seed of Dipteryx odorata, a legume tree in the neotropics, of the Fabaceae family. The seed is black and wrinkled in appearance, with a smooth brown interior. Its fragrance is reminiscent of vanilla, almonds, cinnamon, and cloves. It had been used as a vanilla substitute, as a perfume, and in tobacco before being banned in some countries. Its use in food is banned in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration. It is featured in some French cuisine, particularly in desserts and stews. The seed contains the anticoagulant coumarin, which can be lethal in large doses. Many anticoagulant prescription drugs, such as warfarin, are based on coumarin. The plant has its origin in Northern South America (Guyana, Orinoco region). Main producers today are Venezuela and also Nigeria. It can be a deathly poison, but alluring and warm and comforting.... love it. I'm planning on trying Perversion and Western Diamondback soon. What do the experts recommend?
  7. Amoraexcena

    Implacable Beautiful Tyrant Hair Gloss

    This is perhaps my favorite scent since Antique Lace. It's a gorgeous sweet resin-centered blend, with oudh adding depth while ginger gives it a slightly airy top note. In its golden feel it reminds me of Haloes, Morocco, and Lyonesse. The throw works a lot like Haloes too. It doesn't really smother you in scent like some BPALs do, but more of a wafter - you won't smell it all the time (and thus desensitizing you), but will waft when you move. I only used 2 squirts though, so if you wanted to be enveloped in this, I'm sure you could use more. Brilliant, 10/10. A must-try for anyone who likes sweet amber. I got a bunch of Silkybat as well this order, and I had overinflated expectations for that one and IBT. The former was nice and I'll definitely use my bottle, but IBT exceeded my high expectations. THANK-YOU PUDDIN' for making this a GC, because I'm sure I'll get one with every post order from now on.
  8. Amoraexcena

    Snow Scents!

    Awesome list I'm not usually a huge fan of snow (the only one I wear regularly is Snow Moon '05) but I can't wait to try Go to Sleep, Darlings. It sounds too lovely.
  9. Amoraexcena

    Searching for the Perfect Vanilla?

    I can't wait to try Hesoid's Phoenix. Looks like a great amber-vanilla...
  10. Amoraexcena

    Aromatherapy recs for NaNoWriMo

    IBT hair gloss. And while you're at it, you can add a description of the smell of your character's hair somewhere.
  11. Amoraexcena

    Arana

    Interesting. This is much less sweet, especially just out of the box, than I was expecting. It's got a slightly medicinal sharpness that reminds me of fresh Snake Oil. SO takes three years of aging before I can wear it... I wonder if this is going to take as long? That said, this isn't unpleasant as is, not at all. I would just love if it were a little sweeter. It layers well with Banshee Beat so that's how I'll be using it for now!
  12. Amoraexcena

    Mrs. Palmer's Establishment Atmosphere Spray

    Mrs. Palmer's Establishment is a little sweeter than I anticipated. It definitely has a cherry pipe tobacco vibe to it, but thankfully the leather, patchouli and vanilla counterbalances it. It works really well with Mahogany Hall - especially when I'm not in the mood for too much sweetness in the room, I spray Mrs. P once and MH twice. Great combination
  13. Sugar Plum Fairy!!!! watermelony goodness for the summer The Wiley Grasser Snow Moon 2005 Tamamo no mae Sibyl Dorian Banshee Beat
  14. Amoraexcena

    Yemaya

    Definitely honeydew juice concentrate in an imp. On my skin, Yemaya became significantly more complex. It reminded me of Titania a bit - icy cool, fresh and fruity, pale mint/blue in feel. There's definitely some lily in there - I amp lily, and I have a feeling that on someone else this could be a lot fruitier. On me, it's about half floral, half fruit. Maybe a smidge of darker green moss in there, but barely detectable. Quite nice! I don't usually like lily of the valley perfume but this has enough honeydewy sweetness to temper the screaming white floral.
  15. Amoraexcena

    Allergy Questions, Allergies and other reactions to oils

    Lyonesse burns my skin in its pure form, which is SAD because I love the scent However, I've found that dilution - specifically, making it into a solid perfume - has worked wonders. No more burning!
  16. Amoraexcena

    Searching for the Perfect Vanilla?

    I love Liz... so glad to see it get some love
  17. Amoraexcena

    BPAL for fancy, elegant and formal occasions

    CONGRATS!!! I certainly hope that I marry someone who will love perfume as much as I do. I have a few recs for scents. I'm coming at this from a best-pairs perspective, while trying to keep in mind the Steampunk theme. -Dee or Black Rider and Liz Liz is one of my favourite perfumes. It's a beautifully soft, sweet leather-floral. It pairs GREAT with Dee. -Dorian and Sybil These two are incredible paired together, but it might be a little difficult getting some Sybil - it's RARE. I bet a lovely forumite would be willing to gift some though for your wedding! I have a bottle... I bet you'll both love both scents. -Robotic Scarab and Morocco These two have a "golden" and exotic feel to them. The latter is a bit sweeter and would complement RS well I think. -Antikythera Mechanism and Antique Lace These two would be great together (both non-foody vanillas) AND they both fit the steampunk theme. Again, however, Antique Lace is... not quite as rare as Sybil but certainly expensive. Even imps will go for $10-20 on Ebay nowadays I think. WORTH IT THOUGH. I dished out $300+ for a 10 ml once upon a time.
  18. Amoraexcena

    Requesting Recommendations for Newbie

    Isn't everyone here absolutely lovely!? Good luck in your search! I second the rec for Morocco.
  19. Amoraexcena

    I do love cedar...

    I personally quite like Intrigue: A sultry, exotic scent that inspires devious plotting and clandestine affairs. It is a scent painted in artifice, veiled in deceit, and slithering with whispered secrets. Black palm, with cocoa, fig and shadowy wooded notes.
  20. Amoraexcena

    Castitas Bath Oil

    This is quite nice! It's a surprisingly clinging, strong scent, so use it sparingly! I use it mostly as a spot-moisturizer - on my heels, elbows, that sort of thing. But like all the other BPTP bath oils, it's amazing in the bath tub and it'll give you uber soft skin all over. Lovely for the winter too
  21. Amoraexcena

    Spun Sugar Spectre Bath Oil

    This definitely is a cousin of Sugar Skull in the bottle, minus some jam and brown sugar. I didn't get much of the lemon mentioned upthread - maybe aging has toned it down somewhat. It's a lovely texture in the bath. My skin felt extremely soft all day (I took the bath last night.) However, mental note not to dunk my entire scalp underwater - I did shampoo but I didn't get all the oil out, so I look like I have rather greasy locks today. I'll have to wash my hair again well tonight.
  22. Amoraexcena

    Exotic Bazaar Atmosphere Spray

    I've only had this for a few months, but aging is already showing wonderful signs. I definitely need a big bottle of this in my next BPTP order. Sweet, somewhat nutty, golden resinous: a complex spice scent that I wouldn't wear but is utter divine as an atmo spray.
  23. Amoraexcena

    Autumn Lace

    An October funeral, 1888. Black linen and delicate, sugar-spun lace suffused with the scent of tobacco, black tea, Indian musk, liturgical incense, and cognac, with a drop of laudanum and crushed Autumn leaves. Mmmmm. Autumn Lace is definitely my fav of the lace series since the original Black Lace. It's definitely in the same category but is more wearable in my opinion. The incense and cognac are well balanced with the sugar and linen, and the musk comes out once it settles into your skin. The tea, laudanam and leaves I can't distinguish separately but they definitely give this scent a more golden-brown feel than Black Lace (which, in colour of scent association, is ink black). Autumn Lace also a little similar to Tattered Lace but minus the slightly strange lemon I get from that one. As an aside, a rather famous October funeral in 1888: Elizabeth Stride, who was killed by the Ripper. May she rest in peace.
  24. Amoraexcena

    Sweet lemony floral?

    I definitely +1 the Dorian rec, and also the Midwinter's Eve. Definitely a sweet fruity floral, lovely.
  25. Amoraexcena

    Sibyl

    I tried this without remembering any of the notes listed - I vaguely remembered I wanted a The Girl that actually works on my skin. I put it on, and I couldn't for the life of me name any note. It's VERY well blended. My first thought was: Joyful Moon and Midnight on the Midway's sensual coupling produced this. Now that I look at the note list and reviews, I'm a little surprised. I don't usually get along with honey at all and I thought tea rose was my least favourite type of rose. I guess not. This blend is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm sad that not many people got to try it because it's so exclusive...and because I wouldn't mind #grabbyhands me some more. It's complex in the best way possible - it's definitely not too citrus-y, not foody from the vanilla, the tea rose doesn't overwhelm, there's only a hint of cognac, honey doesn't amp to high hell on me, the olibanum and musk grounds it... Props Beth, you're incredible. PS: it's not much like The Girl, which is more... white, cold, birch-y, not nearly as sweet. The only common factor, in my opinion, is how well blended they are.
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