zankoku_zen

Loads of white musk, rose and orchid, a hint of vanilla and amber. I am not kidding when I say a ton of white musk. This has great throw, and great wearlength. Oddly enough, it does smell motherly. Unfortunately, it smells like a old-timey floral with the rose and musk combined, and I just can't handle it. PASS.

Musk, myrrh, touch of sandalwood and a ton of poppy. This is a slightly soporific musky resinous blend. Except its not restful. It's the sort of sleep that happens in a horror movie before the ghost shows up. Just as you're about to fall asleep, something creepy happens and then you know you're not alone anymore. Decent throw, good wear length. Musky, resinous, creepy sleepy.

Cold piney snow, hint of wood and clay. Honestly, Crimson Peak smells like it would be right at home as part of the traditional Yule update. Like a more masculine version of Ice Queen. And perhaps, slightly more sinister? Good throw, good wear length.

Bitter black tea with a touch of red currant, rose hips and something else. I think there's a vanilla in there because I smell in the drydown. Good throw, good wear length. Definitely one of the more interesting Crimson Peak blends.

Cool green flowers (elemi and tobacco flower) with a touch of smokiness. I definitely am amping up the tobacco flower and elemi, and it smells more like a white smoky floral as opposed to a darker smokier blend (given that this has patchouli, etc.). Good throw, good wear length. Cool, smoky, florals.

This has to be one of the more jarring BPALs with my skin chemistry. I think there is tuberose in this which makes it a weird blend to me since tuberose rarely works on my skin. It's like a smoky tuberose fighting for dominance against frankincense, and it just smells... unpleasant. It smells sharp, and acrid, and just... unpleasant. In other news, its kinda spooky and very atmospheric. Good throw, good wear length. Smoky florals, sharp, jagged.

Soft watery violet, hint of mums, and frankincense. It smells slightly funerary, slightly incensey and nostalgic. Low throw, good wear length. Soft, watery, floral.

Plum, patchouli and musk. This smells like dark, slinky, plum. So far, this has been the plummiest Crimson Peak blend I've tried. Good throw, good wear length. Dark, fruity, slinky.

Vetiver, black musk, and frankincense. This smells manly and ominous. Good throw and good wear length. Smoky, musky, resinous.

Sexy, dusty plum patchouli. On wet, this smelled smokier, like a shiny dark carapace. It has dried down to a soft, female patchouli and purple fruits blend. There's a very Lucille Sharpe quality to it. Smooth, pretty, deadly. Darkly sexy.

Sweet clovey bay rum and creamy vanilla sandalwood. This smells manly, but polished. Strong, and yet smooth. Good throw, good wearlength. Clove, bay rum, sandalwood

Manly. I get clovey leather. So in some ways this kinda reminds me to Spanked? Clove, brown leather, and a touch of amber and sandalwood. It's not as aggressive as Spanked was, but its more of a gentle spiced leather cologne. So I like this better than Spanked, but I've been on a big clove kick lately. It does give you that determination inspiration, but not in your face. Just sort of quiet determination. Clove, leather, rugged.

Pink roses, yellow roses, and a touch of vanilla wood. There's something almost citrusy to the roses, but the drydown is the vanilla wood in the background. As with all rose blends, excellent throw and staying power. This reminds me to another rose blend that I've smelled in BPAL. Will update the review when I remember. Rosey, sweet, wood.

Soft white rose, amber, and a touch of what I'd call vanilla fougere. There is a delicateness to this blend, its like a swift movement. I think there's a hint of champagne as well. Actually, this is everything I sort of wished Edith Cushing to be - delicate, slightly vanilla, and very ethereal. Sublime.

So I mis-reviewed Mother Ghost previously. I wrote down the First Time I saw a Ghost instead. I get a TON of vanilla flower, and in a way, this smells like a more ghostly and mature version of Edith Cushing. This is vanilla, orchid, a ton of amber, and a hint of musk. The resemblance to Edith is there since this is actually a very foodie sort of vanilla on a bed of amber. Warm, comforting, but sort of wispy.

Oooh. This one is going to merit further testing, I can already smell that. (Ok, that's a horrible pun). Lullaby smells like wispy moonflower, touch of lavender and a touch of sandalwood. It's soft and gentle, and I'm very surprised at how much I'm enjoying this. Low throw, good wear length. This smells like perfumed skin. I am really digging this so far.

Fairy Tales and Lies reminds me to a rose version of Belle Epoque. It's got that rich, gilded vibe but with roses instead of lilies being the predominant floral. Sadly, I am not a rose fan but its very much in the same vein as Belle Epoque.

Plum musk, amber, and a deep purpley smokey lily overlay over it. Lady Lucille Sharpe smells dark and ominious in the gothic way, meaning there's also a certain romantic vibe to it. Good throw and good wear length.

I agree with the commenter that stated that this smelled like BBW's Warm Vanilla Sugar. I get a very warm foodie vanilla, sandalwood, amber and a touch of oudh. Very smooth, very vanilla, very golden. Great throw and wear length. For me, Edith is too foodie. I much prefer Ava as a comparable vanilla-centric perfume.

Grief Water is a catalyst for deep emotional catharsis. The oils within the bottle force repressed loss, sorrow, and grief to swell inside you until you have no choice but to confront the pain. The result is painful and challenging, but results in a tremendous release from self-inflicted emotional bondage. Use when you are ready to let go of old injuries that negatively impact the quality of your daily life. Purging your grief leaves you wide open to experience a finer quality of joy. Grief Water feels in some ways very similar to Release BO, but at the same time, very different. Release is very cleansing and kinda zippy, but Grief Water felt like wallowing in a salt water pool, which can be cleansing but was more sorrowful than anything else. The bath felt oilier, if that makes sense. But at the end of the bath, I showered and I felt it all sort of drain away. Grief Water is definitely more of a purger in the sense that you have to truly feel some of your emotions before you can let go of them. I followed the bath up with some Fortitude as the experience left me a little empty. ETA: I've had a bit of Grief Water in my fridge for over a year now, and had to pitch it the other day because it was GROWING something. At which point, I decided that it was probably time for it to go.

Melony peaches, hint of vanilla and darjeeling. Smells very peachy, and melony, and spring-like.

Pale caramel and apple. This really just smells like one of those candy apple caramels but with less sugar. Sweet, foodie, caramel.

Red wine, maraschino cherries, and figs. This smells like a cross between Madrid and Candy Phoenix, with extra cherries throw in. Sugary sweet cherries and red wine. On the drydown, I get a tiny hint of Pez powderiness. Good throw, good wear length.

Furry musk. On wet, it had a salt spray + lime edge on it, but the drydown is all furry musk and a touch of fig. I actually enjoyed this more than I expected. Good throw, good wear length. Tropical, musky, fun.

Tea, grapefruit with lavender and gum resins. On wet, its a very light sparkling scent, but it dries down to a lavender/resin with black tea scent. Low throw but good wear length. Dark, cerebral, contradictory.