puck_nc

Rice paper, white gardenia, and raw honey. Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: Honey is an iffy note for me, but I like gardenia a lot. In the Vial: Holy cow, that's in-your-face gardenia! I love this! Wet: The honey comes roaring out, trampling the gardenia in its path. This bodes ill. Drydown: OK, whew! The gardenia is fighting back. Now it's a very sweet gardenia with a soft airy touch from the rice paper. Verdict: I'm thinking bottle.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I've had some very positive experiences with cherry blossom in Hanami. Vanilla musk ought to behave and not amp on me. I'm not sure about the moss, but it's worth trying the decant. In the Vial: All cherry blossom and green moss. I can barely pick up any musk in the bottle. It's a very springtime scent. Wet: Now I get more vanilla musk, but the cherry blossom is still predominant. The moss is now a gentle green background. Drydown: Something about this combination is going slightly after-shave on me. It may be the musk amping. I have a hard time picking out the other notes now, although they're definitely still there. Verdict: I'm not sure about this one. I'll have to play with the decant some more.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: Sandalwood often amps on me, but perhaps the vanilla will make it behave. In the Vial: Very light and airy. I think I'm getting all wild rice with a dash of nutmeg and maybe a bit of plum blossom. Wet: Still very light and airy without any ozone, with the thread of nutmeg giving it a delicate spice. Drydown: Oh, this is interesting. The vanilla and sandalwood are coming out and grounding everything and now I can get whiffs of the plum blossom. The nutmeg is still there with its very light touch. Verdict: This might just be a bottle coming my way...

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I'm not sure about the sandalwood. Rose is hit-or-miss on me. I'm not always successful with grape. But the combination of all these notes just called to me. In the Vial: Pear, florals, a tickle of sandalwood, all held together by a lovely sweet background that I think is the vanilla. Wet: Now it's the sandalwood that's predominant, of course. It's my skin after all. The fruit notes are in the background and the rose is trying to pull its green-stem skankiness on me. But the other notes are holding it in check. Drydown: Darn it, I was afraid of this. The sandalwood is amping something fierce; it's a slightly sweet, slightly fruity, slightly floral...sandalwood. Verdict: I won't be looking for a bottle, but I might use up the decant in a scent locket.

Origin: Bought at the Chapel Hill, NC, Whole Foods. Initial Thoughts: While it has a number of floral notes that I like, it also has a few fruit notes that I don't always like, along with the wild card of cream accord. I was glad to be able to try it in the store first. In the Bottle: A cool, creamy floral. The fruits are blended in very smoothly. I can smell the peach and grape, but they're not overpowering. Wet: I get a crush of florals, dragging the peach along for dear life. It is light and spring-like, with just a hint of summer warmth. The jasmine and lily are strong, but not gaggingly so. Drydown: The fruits strengthen quite a bit. It's still a cool scent, but now with a definite citrus tang from the tangerine joining the jasmine and lily. The cream accord is there, but very in the background--I think that's what is smoothing the interaction between the other notes. Verdict: A very smooth scent with a nice balance between fruit and floral. Very suggestive of its name.

Origin: Bought at the Chapel Hill, NC, Whole Foods Initial Thoughts: This one wasn't even on my radar because of the amber and apricot. But when I was trying on several of the Retail Salons in the store--I couldn't remember the exact notes but knew there were at least two I wanted to try specially--I tried this one and was instantly charmed enough to buy the bottle. In the Bottle: A light, gentle, warm spice. It's almost like a dainty version of some spicier BPAL blends. I think I can pick out the oak, sandalwood, ginger and lily. Wet: The amber comes forward, as it always does on me, but it is not amping unbearably. I'm still getting that delicate, sparkling impression, like sunwarmed spun gold. Drydown: The amber gets a little stronger, damping down the ginger somewhat, and that shifting, sparkling dimension isn't as strong. The apricot is finally making an impression as well with just a hint of darkish fruitiness. Verdict: A warm spicy scent for winter...a comforting scent. I just wish it continued the gorgeous wet stage, but amber just isn't a very friendly note to me.

Origin: Bought at the Raleigh, NC, Whole Foods. Initial Thoughts: This blend attracted me at once, with the white musk (dark musks amp badly on me), freesia, pear, plum and jasmine. The BPAL violet note can turn very ugly on me if it's not beaten down by many stronger notes. In the Bottle: Smooth and cool and fruity. At first I'm reminded more of The Black Swan, gliding on a glassy pond under a full moon, even though that's another blend and smells totally different. Wet: It's much warmer on my skin to start with. Still fruity and smoothly sweet, but the chill that made me think "night-scent" is gone right now. I can smell the fruits, the musk, some jasmine and maybe some sugarcane. So far the violet is either nonexistent or playing so well with the others that I can't pick it out. Drydown: The jasmine and freesia get stronger, and I think the tangy impression that's developing might be the bamboo. There's a definite "Asian" suggestion now, a bit like a couple of the Asian-themed moons that I tried. The suggestion of chill and nighttime is coming back as well, while the fruitiness retreats. Verdict: A good scent for wearing to work, as it's subtle but refreshing.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I like dandelion and I have grown to love clover. I like some woodsy scents. In the Vial: Very clover and dandelion. I can barely pick out the fir or birch notes. Wet: Not much morph yet. Initially it's a very green, slightly sweet scent as the clover and dandelion play. Summery more than autumn-y. Drydown: The clover intensifies some, but it remains a very light summery floral. The woods never develop overtly on me. Verdict: I like it, but I'm not sure how often I'd wear it. I'll see how much I reach for the decant.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I'm a big florals fan, and this was one of the most floral of the Halloweenies this year. In the Vial: Ooh, dark and rich and mysterious...like the black velvet of night itself. Wet: A deep, sweet, heady floral. I'm not familiar enough with the individual notes to pick them out but the combination is intoxicating. Drydown: Something, one of the florals, is brightening the scent, as if the full moon had risen to cast a coat of silver over the landscape of dark blues and purples. Verdict: I'll try a couple more times to be sure, but I'm thinking bottle.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: If you say "wisteria", you definitely have my attention. Lotus has been hit-or-miss on me, but there wasn't anything that looked like a deal-breaker in the mix. In the Vial: Hmm. Spicy cassia. Greenish bamboo. An off-putting sourness that might be the lotus. I can't find my beloved wisteria anywhere. Wet: Well, it's a dry, dusty autumn scent. More like yellowed grass than the darker smell of fallen leaves. Still no trace of wisteria that my nose can find. Drydown: The cassia comes back to spice it up a bit and make it a bit more like a traditional autumn blend. And there's something almost lemony happening, which might be the orchid-Cymbidium. Verdict: I don't think this one works on me.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I love rose. But quite often rose doesn't love me back. In the Vial: Very fresh greeny rose with a swirl of sweetened cream. I'm a little afraid to put it on and have the green-stem stick erupt on my skin. Wet: Gah, collard-green stank. The honey and cream are trying very hard to beat it into submission, but so far they aren't succeeding. Drydown: I'm starting to think it's a draw. The honey-cream note is sweet and gentle and almost...almost has the rose behaving like rose and not some rampaging mutant stems. Verdict: I have the feeling that it won't be worth getting a bottle, but I'll try the decant again.

Origin: Bottle bought through eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: This has lots of florals that I like. It has blue musk, which sometimes behaves on me. I wonder if white amber will also behave on me. In the Bottle: A cool, sweet floral, very well blended. I think I can pick out the sweet clove and there's a definite fruity impression. Wet: Wow...that's so very different. I get a blast of greenish woodsy notes, like the champaca, tonka and oakmoss have all charged in, guns blazing. For the moment, the floral and fruity notes are completely gone. Drydown: The scent is mellowing a bit, letting just a little pear and floral in. It's now rather dusky and seductive, compared to the scent in the bottle. Verdict: I'll try it a couple more times before I decide whether to keep it or pass it on.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: Harvest Moon '05 is one of my all-time favoritest autumn scents. There's something so wonderful about the balance of fruit and woods and flowers. '06 wasn't the same at all. I wasn't sure about all the notes in this one, but decided to give it a try. In the vial: An autumn blend with a heap of cherry on top. Wet: Hello, spice! The sage and clove have taken over completely! Drydown: Hmm...this one isn't morphing much. I'm still getting a noseful of spice cupboard...the clove and sage just won't let go even though the cherry is putting up a valiant effort to be noticed. Verdict: This one definitely won't take the place of '05 for me. And I have several "spice" scents already...I need to do some side-by-side comparisons before I relinquish the decant.

Origin: half-imp bought from joseybird on LJ Initial Thoughts: I love the smell of coconut, the taste of coconut. This one's been on my try-if-I-ever-get-the-chance list for ages. In the Vial: Rich, fresh coconut. I get just the barest impression of the suntan-oil idea so far. Wet: On my skin it's creamier and warmer, sparring between foody and suntan-oil scent. Drydown: Good grief, my skin ate that one fast! Right now I have to jam my nose against my hand to get the barest whiff of the coconut. It's drier now, sun-baked without smelling like suntan lotion. No more foody-sweet impression, but the real coconut meat opened and left to dry in the sun. Verdict: I may try a dab or two for layering experiments. I'd definitely put it in a scent locket if I had a bottle.

Origin: Decant bought off eBay Initial Thoughts: We have a few mimosa trees in the neighborhood. I am neither in love with nor repelled by the scent. But single notes of any kind are hard to find, so I snagged this one. In the Vial: Well, I'm having a hard time placing it. Somewhat floral, somewhat herby, a bit on the acrid side rather than sweet. Wet: Interesting. This gets a musky element from somewhere and warms up. I like it much better on me than I did in the bottle. Drydown: Some of that herbal feel comes back, but now it blends better with the other facets of the note. It's musky, it's herbal, it's floral and it's rather nice. Verdict: A very interesting note. If I had a bottle I'd be trying layering experiments to see if I could enhance one shade or another of the scent.

Origin: Sniffie bought on LJ Initial Thoughts: I don't think I've ever had the chance to smell chamomile in its fresh form; it's always been the dried herb or the tea. In the Vial: How interesting! It's sweet and tangy and herby all rolled into one! There's a lovely fresh green-ness to it. Wet: Not so sweet now. Still tangy, still herby, but absolutey no trace of the dustiness I often attribute to herbal notes. This is so very much the note of the fresh flowers/leaves/whatever chamomile is like in a garden. Drydown: The sweet returns a bit and now I get a bit of "tea" impression. Probably because of my habit to dump sugar into any kind of tea. Verdict: This is a pretty, unharsh herbal and I would buy a blend with this in it.

Origin: Decant bought off eBay Initial Thoughts: Fan of florals, me. And I love lilac. In the Vial: Full-on lilac. Very fresh and evocative of spring. Wet: I can almost smell the dew dripping off the petals, this is so fresh and clean and inviting an interpretation of lilac. Drydown: Hmm. I'm getting a rather earthy tone all of a sudden. The absolute bursting beauty of the lilac is fading quite a bit. It's still a nice floral, but the initial rapturous bloom is gone. Verdict: Darn, the wet stage is so utterly gorgeous. But I have a scent locket and I might use a little in it, since I do have a full decant.

Origin: Decant bought on LJ Initial Thoughts: When I first plunged headlong into BPAL, I quickly learned that certain notes would amp in the worst way on me. Notes like patchouli, amber, myrrh, incense and musk. For a while I just avoided any scent with the word "musk" in it. I forget which scent I tried that had either white or pale musk in it that worked on me, but it led me to discover that the lighter spectrum of musk might behave on me with the right notes surrounding it. So, with the chance to try white musk alone, I was curious. In the Vial: That is very pleasant. A light musk, a flirty note rather than an overpowering one. A crystalline clear musk. Wet: So far so good. There is no huge amping of the scent, although I don't know if that's simply because there's no other notes for it to interfere with or because my skin plays nice with it. I get a slight creaminess and the tone becomes a little more sultry than it was in the vial. Drydown: Interesting. It grows lighter and a bit less sexy. I can't pin down the very faint undertone that has developed...is it citrus? Is it floral? Whatever it is, it's fascinating. And then the musk gently reasserts itself. Verdict: I could see myself wearing this alone, if I had more than a half-decant. But now I know for sure that white musk is a winner on me. ETA: Since I put this one I've gone to a potluck where I prepped food and washed my hands numerous times, and slept the night through. I can still smell this lovely musk on my hand where I tested it. It has very little throw but tremendous staying power on me.

Origin: decant bought off LJ Initial Thoughts: Once I get beyond pines and firs, cedar and sandalwood, I really can't tell one tree from another by smell alone. So I thought I'd try this one when it became available. In the Vial: Smells like a tree. Seriously, it's an interesting combination...I get a dry note, something dusty and arid and kind of like sawdust, but there's also a rich undertone that is very smooth and kind of cedar-y. I think it captures a just-cut-from-the-trunk scent. Wet: The dry note is the winner, but it's not sawdust-y anymore. It's somehow both dry and smooth, something I wouldn't have thought possible. Drydown: Hmm, this one is a fader on me. I have to work to find the scent after about fifteen minutes. Verdict: It's a beautiful wood note. I'm glad I got the chance to try it and I think it would blend beautifully with other notes. I'll be on the lookout when Beth lists redwood as a note in future perfumes.

Origin: Bought for me at San Diego Comic-Con Initial Thoughts: "Sexy vampire apples", to use Neil's words. Benefit for the CBLDF. Had to try and nab one. I've tried apple-y scents before and the ones with a lot of warm autumn notes tend to work on me (Harvest Moon '05, Creepy layered with Jack). In the Bottle: Extremely cold green apple. I can smell something minty and I agree about the melony feel that has been mentioned. But yes, this is an apple sitting in the snow. Wet: The apple nearly disappears at the moment on me. It's all snowy, slushy, green and eucalyptus. Drydown: The apple reasserts itself, but the cold and mint stay put, making it a crisp green apple encased in ice. Verdict: This is a lovely interpretation of the story in scent and I'm very, very glad I got the chance to try it.

Origin: partial vial bought on LiveJournal Initial Thoughts: I don't usually go for overly fruity notes, but pear is one I have enjoyed very much in some blends, so I've been on the lookout. In the Vial: Holy cow...that smells exactly like a fresh pear! There's a bit of tart to keep it from being too candy-ish and a bit of sweet to keep it from being too on-the-tree green. Wet: On my skin the pear takes a dive to the sweet side. There's a syrupy element that I associate with canned pears that wasn't there before. Drydown: This one does indeed grow faint fast. But what I can still smell has taken on an almost floral edge, an undertone of musk. It's still pear, but on me it turns more into a pear perfume than a pear single note. Verdict: Interesting. I'd definitely wear this alone or layered if it were readily available.

Origin: Tester bought off eBay Initial Thoughts: Like many others, I had equated neroli with citrus. I don't remember what blend or blends scared me away from neroli, but since it was part of a pack, I will test it and see exactly what it is. In the Vial: Wow...that's...that's...nothing like I expected. It's a lovely spring/summery floral with a spicy bite to it. Almost makes me think of carnation with a light citrus tinge. Wet: Not much morph yet...a pretty floral with some sass to it. Drydown: The spice takes a musky turn, a lot like the way most dark musks will amp on me and drown out the other notes. It's almost to the point of being like Mama-Ji on me, a very spicy blend with a floral foundation. Verdict: Very curious. I need to go looking through my reviews and see what it was that scared me away from neroli. If it's part of an otherwise musk-free blend, it might be all right. But this amping action alongside other ampers would probably kill a blend on me.

Origin: Tester bought on eBay initial Thoughts: Ever since I fell head over heels in love with Bearded Lady and found I like Juliet and Ophelia, I have tried to get my hands on a bit of the stargazer lily single note to see what it is like alone. It was the reason I bought blends like L'Inverno and Kindly Moon. So now I finally get to see what it's like. In the Vial: A beautiful creamy white floral. Wet: I get a blast of the lovely floral, with a hint of alluring sweetness underneath, and then it seems to disappear almost immediately. Drydown: All right, the scent comes back and it's absolutely beautiful. All the lush sweet floral with just a touch of muskiness. Verdict: If I ever get the chance to afford a decent amount of this, I will buy it and wear it alone. And I will definitely be trying any blend that features this note.

Origin: Tester bought on eBay initial Thoughts: Bergamot is usually way too citrusy for me to enjoy alone. But it was part of the pack so I test it. In the Vial: Very herby lemon. Wet: Extremely tangy green herbal with a citrus feel to it. I rather like it at this stage. Drydown: Hmm...it's getting greener and herbier. I get almost no citrus at all now. A very different experience from when i've used bergamot room oils and such in the past. Verdict: Nice to know that bergamot isn't likely to go super-citrus on me in a blend.

Origin: Tester won on eBay Initial Thoughts: Ylang ylang isn't one of my favorite scents, but I can think of only one or two blends where it seemed to be the problem note. This was part of a set, so I am trying it. In the Vial: A crisp white floral with a strong herbal element. Wet: Now it's reversed--herbal with a strong floral undertone. It skates close to being acrid on my skin, but is not quite there. Drydown: It's morphing a bit to take on a citrusy element. Verdict: An interesting note, but definitely not one I would wear solo.