Jump to content
BPAL Madness!

zankoku_zen

Members
  • Content Count

    13,746
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by zankoku_zen

  1. zankoku_zen

    L’Essence de la Passion

    Red musk and carnation (where have I smelled this before) with an O-type honey becoming more prominent on the drydown. Sultry, sexy, honey.
  2. zankoku_zen

    Pink Moon 2012

    The name of this moon refers to the color of wild ground phlox, a primary component of this Lunacy Blend, which is one of the most widespread floral signposts of springtime in North America. This Lunar blend is soft with phlox, tulip, daffodil, pink columbine, delphinium, pink carnation, peony, and muscari, dusted with pink sugar and honey, bourbon vanilla, a hint of white chocolate, and a touch of the first strawberries of the season. OMG - this decant must have come from the heavy on white chocolate/strawberry because it smells JUST like White Chocolate Strawberry did on me, with the added dimension of a slight but very sugary overlay of PINK flowers. I can also smell hints of vanilla and honey. On the drydown, its slightly more floral and the carnation comes out with a touch of spice. But overall, STILL smelling like chocolate --- meaning on drydown, chocolate covered carnations. Super pink, super sweet. Very pretty, but not my type of scent at all --- too pink, too sugary, too foodie.
  3. zankoku_zen

    White Chocolate with Lemongrass, Coriander and Almond Cream

    White chocolate, whiff of lemongrass and coriander. On the drydown, the almond becomes more prominent. Actually, this is much nicer than I thought it would be. I think both the lemongrass and coriander cut the sweetness and make it slightly savory.
  4. zankoku_zen

    Wake

    A blast of grapefruit and orange turns into a citrusy tuberose blend with a hint of gin. It actually smells like a fun, spring-like cocktail from that upscale bar that tends to do weird-infused liqour. The kind that perk you up with that twist of citrus before you realize you've just downed an entire glass of gin. And somehow you've taken to munching the flower arrangement next to you.
  5. zankoku_zen

    Dream

    Strong, crisp lavender, pillowy opium and musk and oudh. With a touch of rose being sour. It's calm, peaceful, and salty lavender. PASS.
  6. zankoku_zen

    Revenge

    Herbally, musky, hairspray. Revenge smells like an angry, has been debauched woman. The kind with deadly accuracy and a cachet of weapons. It smells... angry.
  7. zankoku_zen

    Le Cafe Du Rat-Mort

    Herby, minty and this DEFINITELY has gardenia. Which I am sad to report that because of my BPAL skin chemistry I have associated with wet wool. At first, there is a note that definitely smells like hairspray, but there is anise. I think this will need to find a new home.
  8. zankoku_zen

    Swamp Atmosphere Spray

    This one is a dark, swampy aquatic with hints of white floral. It has some jasmine, and aquatics and there's a hint of dirt and dust to it as well. It makes me think of the BPAL version of Bayou combined with New Orleans. Too overtly floral for my tastes, but it totally makes me think of the South in the summer. Heady, watery florals.
  9. zankoku_zen

    Okiya Atmosphere Spray

    I find that the sake and green tea are pretty strong, with the cherry blossom component as an overlay. It smells crisp, clean, slightly floral. I can see the comparison to the Sakura room spray, but Sakura was ALL wisteria to my nose. I think I may need a BIG bottle of this.
  10. zankoku_zen

    Chaos Theory VI: Recursive Self-Similarity v7

    #205 Rich, bourbon vanilla, light musk (my guess is white) and a hint of shea butter which adds a slight watery dimension. This one is a creamy, vanilla musk scent. Overall, it sticks close to the skin, and has very low throw on me.
  11. zankoku_zen

    The Doom of Beauty

    Doom of Beauty starts off as lavender, violets, and a hint of citrus and dries down on me to a sage, rosemary, hint of roses blend. Herbal, rose, garden.
  12. zankoku_zen

    Waraizome

    Sadly, waraizome does not work for me. The sandalwood combined with the sassafras and the anise produces something that sort of smells like b.o. on me. SAAAAD.
  13. zankoku_zen

    L’Essence du Chagrin

    Soft lavender, hints of geranium. On wet, it's much more piercing because of the lime, but on wet, it warms up because of the notes of vanilla and rose. Soft, haunting, painful.
  14. zankoku_zen

    Blood & Champagne

    Fizzy champagne note and dark vanilla, which gives it that cola edge. I have to say that I may love this Champagne blends most of all. EPIC.
  15. zankoku_zen

    Candles Moon

    Candles Moon 2012 Milk, hint of ozone, and beeswax. This one is a creamy, breezy blend. Occasional swirl of fruity blackberry. Much lighter than the 2010 version on me.
  16. zankoku_zen

    Liadain and Curithir

    Oh god, this is this years Host of Air. Traces of honeysuckle, lots of green ivy and moss. It's slightly aquatic, very clean with just a hint of sweetness. I can see this going to 'soap' on some people - and it veers into that territory for me, but GODDAMN does this smell nice.
  17. zankoku_zen

    UMU1

    To me UMU1 is delicate flowers, sugar, and something that ends up like plastic. For the delicate flowers I am guessing tulip and perhaps bluebell in it. As for the 'plastic' that comes out - it is a bit scorched earth like, and I know I've smelled it in other blends - so it could potentially be a type of vanilla or a fruit note that does not play well with my skin. I did not get any grape on my skin, which is sad because I do smell it in the vial. Perhaps the grape note turns plasticky?
  18. zankoku_zen

    All about plum!

    This one sounds pretty good too. What about Sugar Plum Fairy? Is that strong? Sugar Plum Fairy is the only plum blend that has worked for me. It's light, sugary plum. Not too sweet though.
  19. zankoku_zen

    Raspberry Thumbprint Cookie

    Seriously, a raspberry cookie. It's got the fruity boozey raspberry (not too sweet) and the cookie crumble (not too buttery). Pretty delicious. On the drydown, the raspberry goes a little plasticky on me. But now I want cookies!
  20. zankoku_zen

    Pumpkin Hard Candy

    Sweet pumpkin candy. Sugar, pumpkin and hints of citrus. I actually find it quite pleasant, not too overly sweet or buttery pumpkin. In fact, this may be my favorite BPAL pumpkin blend.
  21. zankoku_zen

    The Fairies

    Soft, white flowers! Defnitely dandelion (which lends a little milky sharpness) and apple blossom. Like Host of Air, it's got a light airy quality to it but slightly more sugary and fruity (possibly because of the huckleberry wine). Light, airy, floral.
  22. zankoku_zen

    Water Dragon

    GINGER, peony, quince, plum blossom and a hint of citrus. This smells like ginger candy on floral steroids. Who is trying to mask it with dryer sheets. Sad, since I was very looking forward to Water Dragon.
  23. zankoku_zen

    Thirteen (13): January 2012

    This one is one spicy chocolate blend. I smell anise, ginger, nutmeg and then a swirl of herbs, with a hint of chocolate. Out of all of the thirteen blends, I have to seem this is the one with the strongest 'vibe'. It smells like something you would use in a ritual. Not entirely decorative chocolate. This is the chocolate that you use to bribe gods with. But when bribing gods, one has to be careful...
  24. zankoku_zen

    Dark Chocolate with Tulsi, Tumeric and White Ginger

    Chocolate + spices. For me, I smell mainly the ginger with a dash of turmeric. It's smooth, gingery chocolate. Sort of like if the gingerbread man doused himself in chocolate.
  25. zankoku_zen

    The Hell of Great Heat

    Resins, patchouli, cinnamon and a heavy dose of red musk. This is the sort of sexy redolent blend, along the lines of Mme Moriarty/Smut for all you red musk lovers out there. Dirty, sex, red.
×