zankoku_zen

Construct has the same clear, resonant metallic note as Android and Torture Queen. It's the clear crispness of the metal in Android, but it's closer to the metallic note found in Torture Queen. I think this has both a hint of clary sage and gardenia, as it's got a slight creamy quality that is the same as aged TQ. Mmm. I love it, but then again, I very much enjoy clear metallic blends.

I definitely get the clove and cardamom, and perhaps a touch of cassia. This probably has a touch of vanilla, and amber, and my guess would have been sandalwood as well, as it goes a little powdery but that could be either the amber and/or cassia. I'm leaning more toward it having sandalwood, as the powderiness is the same kind I experience with Jingu-Kogo. As it dries, I do get a little bit more of sweetness, and I can see how honey could be a component. But on me, it's definitely the clove and cardamom I smell. ETA: Tried it again. Definitely with the clove, cinnamon, cardamom assessment, and this time I can definitely smell the black pepper. I think I'd love it more if it wasn't for the black pepper. Also, it needs to be just slightly sweeter for my tastes.

This one is definitely green, fruit banana (very light on the banana aspect - in fact, didn't recognize it as a banana until I came to review it) and greenery. Fruity and fresh. As it has dried, something muskier has come out underneath, almost slightly bitter. I liked it on wet, but definitely not on the drydown.

This one definitely has dirt, and another component... that makes me think benzoin (I could be entirely wrong) because it's warm and slightly musky and kinda makes me think of turpentine. I just know I've tried blends before that have had this component and it always ends up in warm, slightly musky and odd reminiscent of turpentine. Yeah. So not for me.

This one is a sweet, and surprisingly wearable blend. It does remind me a little of 13 as it's a smooth chocolate plus hints of peanut butter and other sweet things.

This one is a softly lemon herbal. Kinda like a Ricola cough drop. It doesn't last long. I am however, going to actually use it in the throat chakra and see what it does.

Wisteria and pomegranate are the most prominent notes. Somehow on me it kinda smells like some sort of bathroom cleanser. GRRR.

Perhaps a TAL would also be helpful? I find Anthelion and Radiance of Ra might be appropriate.

Ah Giallo, at the beginning I caught a swirl of things but one of them was citrus + tobacco. You had me very excited at this point. However, as you dried, I get more of the amber and flowers. Thankfully jasmine makes a very late appearance, but overall, this is a dark, potent floral. It kinda reminds me to Mystery, vibe-wise.

I definitely get the pine on this. It is especially wicked strong on wet. It's spicier than usual, and as it has more of a musky base. As it dries, I get the leather and slight metallic tang to it. This smells like running around dark woods with your sword unsheathed wearing leather pants. Enemies beware!

Definitely smell the menthol on wet, and as it dries, it's this green plant + patchouli blend. I find this blend to be very dark and medicinal.

I only had a teensy bit to test - and I do believe it has freesia and some fruit in it because it was bright and fruity when I first swabbed it on. In fact, if I had more this would probably have a long throw on me. I am guessing: freesia, perhaps peach and lotus, maybe lily and apple. It's actually kinda pretty. And very much what I would see a young girl wearing.

This one was definitely an incensey sort of blend, but I did get ALOT of sandalwood out of it, especially on wet. I'm thinking it has both a touch of amber and perhaps a little orris. It strikes me as a 'dusty' and 'dry' sort of incense, as opposed to the rich, smoking kind.

Okay, this definitely has menthol/eucalyptus in it, as it dries, I get more of the cherries and cinnamon. Perhaps a touch of almond. But in general, this is a cinnamon + dragon's blood blend. The oil itself is RED. On the drydown, I believe I smell some sandalwood. Meh.

No basil or galangal, which were two of the notes I was most excited about. This is really an herbal dragon's blood, less spicy and floral than it is most of the time... but still dragon's blood resin.

This one smells like a cherry icee! Definitely get cherries, lotus, perhaps a hint of almond and a hint of jasmine. As it dries, I definitely get more of the almond/jasmine going on. On wet, it was very 'watery' and very cherry. Interesting, but not for me.

This one definitely has vetiver and it BLOOMED on my skin. It's a very masculine and strong smoky blend. I think it has vetiver, cinnamon, leather and maybe some dragon's blood in it. Overall, it smells chaotic and smoky.

I am guessing this has some pear, and definitely lotus, as in the beginning this had a big burst of sweet fruit, almost like a bubble. After an hour, its more of a juicy fruit bubblegum sort of smell, and yes, watery all around. Interesting, but not for me. Oddly enough, I did get a golden globe image in my head, but not like it's the Sun but rather looking at the picture of the Sun.

Oh god, this so doesn't work for me. It's got musk and probably civet and maybe some amber. But the result is like musky MOTH BALLS. Epic fail.

Alas, Yorick. You smell like lilies, dirt and spilled cola. There's something sharp in this blend that I do not enjoy.

Cardinal fire: the essence of identity. Black pepper, honeysuckle, opoponax, dragon’s blood, and wild ginger. Oh lord, this is a mess. So I get the creamy honeysuckle floral in your face with a big shot of pepper but underneath, I get the spicy cherry like dragon's blood. It's all over the place and all over. I really need to stop trying pepper blends...

Thanks for the pics. OMG Strawberry Moon is adorable! And ditto on the Julie Dillon. Those are AMAZING. BPAL should think about an artwork book - pics of all the labels and the t-shirt designs.

Alright, I have to say that at the beginning, this was like a vanilla creamy plastic. Little booze. Now that I've had it on for an hour, it DOES smell like Egg Nog - although very very faint, and almost no throw. Which is sad, since it smells pretty delicious.

There is lavender in this, but there's also lilac... which has been known to do strange things to my skin. And it does... but I am also guessing this has some myrrh in it, because despite all the herbal goodness, there is a warm base to it. Maybe wood? It's hard for me to guess because of the lilac in the blend.

Woo.... I can definitely smell the verbena in this one - strong, citrus but definitely verbena, as opposed to lemon. It's a little sharp and herbal. I get maybe a whiff of anise, and powdery florals. Intriguing, but not for me.