puck_nc

Origin: sniffie from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial thoughts: This was a freebie bonus, I guess. It didn't occur to me to try it since sage and I don't get along very well and I haven't been ordering the astrologicals in general. In the Bottle: Very grassy-herby, with the fig in the background. Wet: Well hi there, dandelion! I'm not sure we've met before. Light grassy floral. Drydown: Well, wonder of wonders, the sage is behaving itself. The fig has come up sort of under the other notes, adding a fruity dimension to the grass and herbs. Verdict: Hm. I might have to track down a decant or two of this.

Origin: leftover sniffie from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I wasn't sure about this one. I've developed a fondness for Indian cuisine, so the raisin and coconut and almond intrigued me. But red sandalwood hasn't worked on me in the past. In the Bottle: Rich and creamy food elements, sandalwood, a hint of incense. Even though the notes aren't familiar as Christmas ones, I get a holiday sensation from it. Wet: For a second I get an intense blend of sandalwood and coconut, then the other notes start to play. It's a virtual swirl of notes, so blended that I can only catch a whiff of the incense, a dash of clove, a brush of cedar. The foody notes aren't showing up much. Drydown: Eventually the almond milk and coconut get stronger, and I think the lotus as well. The one factor that remains hidden on me is the fruit - I can't catch even a hint of raisin or mango. Verdict: An interesting blend and I think a rather pretty one, but I'm not in love with it.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: The original Lick It is one of my all-time BPAL favorites, one that I have a stash of. I was disappointed that Beth reworked it for 2006 and that version went plasticky on me. I just had to try this one and see which way it goes. In the Bottle: The mint is strong in this one. Stronger, I think, than the original when I try smelling one after the other. I can pick out the sweet more easily in this one as well. Wet: Whoo! Sinus-clearing MINT! I accidentally got my lips too close to my skin taking a whiff and it's stinging as if I'd put mint-flavored Blistex on it. Drydown: The sugar and vanilla eventually creep out and make it more of a candy-cane scent, but this one is still nostril-blasting mint compared to the 2005 edition, which is softer and sweeter to my nose. Verdict: Nope. I will continue to cling to my tiny stash of the original.

Origin: Bottle bought on the forums Initial Thoughts: Blue musk proved to be a winner on me in some blends, and there's honeysuckle, one of my favorite notes. Had to try it as soon as I could afford it. In the Bottle: The mint is strong, and something floral that might be the moonflower or phlox. Definitely a chilly floral. Wet: Um...ew. Something is totally not agreeing with my skin. It's almost litterbox-bad, very sour and hinting of ammonia. Drydown: The sharp tang fades somewhat, but those unpleasant notes are still there. I get more honeysuckle and the musk, but they can't overcome whatever it is that's clashing with my skin chemistry. Verdict: Off to the sale pile for someone else to love.

Origin: Straight from the Lab[/b] Initial Thoughts: I'm a floral fan. Magnolia is a favorite, as is jonquil. It must be tried. In the Bottle: Chilly, ethereal florals. Very gentle. Wet: Oh, this is beautiful! Cool, haunting florals that blend beautifully. I can pick out some gardenia, lily and orchid as well as my favorite magnolia. Drydown: This fades into a very soft light floral, full of the chill of the end of winter and growing warmth of early spring. It's definitely a perfume one wears for oneself, rather than to be noticed. Verdict: I can wear and love this. The question is whether I will reach for it often given my box full of floral blends. I must wait and see.

Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: Honeysuckle and wisteria are two of my all-time favorite floral notes, and to have both in one blend meant I had to try it. But then I read some will-call reviews and it sounded like grapefruit is the star here. I don't care for grapefruit. So, forward with trepidation... In the Bottle: Nose-stinging citrus and ginger. Very bright and crystalline. Wet: A very intense floral blast. The grapefruit isn't front and center yet, but seems to be making the florals much stronger, much whiter. I feel like I'm smelling a cold, liquid light. Drydown: The ginger and tea come out to play. The grapefruit is a bit more clearly grapefruit, but it's still very nicely blended with the florals and other notes. But the fact remains that on me this is not a soft and sweetly feminine floral. This is a floral that demands to be noticed. Verdict: I think I need to hang onto this for a while and see if I use it. I don't see myself wearing it to teach, but perhaps there will be other opportunities.

Origin: Totally unexpected frimp from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I chose Vampire Tears over this one because of all the red-flag notes in Midnight Kiss that usually don't work well on me: red musk, aged patchouli, amber. But since the Lab saw fit to share an imp with me, I will try it. In the Bottle: Cocoa and sandalwood and the musk or patchouli are prominent, with a trace of something floral that may be the nicotiana. Wet: Hello, musk and patchouli, my old nemeses. Are you gonna let any of the other notes play? Drydown: No, apparently you're not. I get touches of cocoa and sandalwood and a hint of the berry others have mentioned, but the ampers are holding the line against all comers. Verdict: A nice, thoughful surprise from the Lab, but this one will be passed one.

I only just got my bar of Pumpkin Soap today and haven't had a chance to try it, but I'm already in love with just smelling it through the paper. Rich pumpkin with a good layer of spice to it. When I open the paper, the soap itself is silky to the touch. I'm in the middle of a bar of soap from a meet&sniff swap, but I will definitely be trying this next! I think I'm going to have to judge how much of this to cut off and set aside to scent up my bathroom or bedroom (and hope my husband doesn't complain too much--he already hates the pumpkin sachets in my dresser drawers).

Okay, how could I have missed posting a review of one of my favorite autumn scents? Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: At the time I was still fairly new to BPAL and still learning what I like and what works on me. I think I just remember seeing the incredible list of notes and thinking, "Wow, I gotta try this!" In the Bottle: Autumn spices! A rich, sweet brown scent that immediately made me think of baking for the holiday dinners. Wet: Rich, fruity and herby. Like walking through a farmers' market after the chill has taken a firm grip on the air and all the harvest is there to choose from. Drydown: The florals come out to play, as do the spices. I feel like I'm smelling cider-dipped flowers and it's gorgeous. Verdict: This has been a favorite of mine for the last two autumns and I've been reaching for it again this year as the mornings began to cool off and promise that yes, summer will end. I may have to start trolling the forums and eBay for a backup bottle sometime soon.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I am utterly in love with Pumpkin Patch #4 and Pumpkin Patch #5 from the first round. This was the only one of the new set that grabbed me. In the Bottle: Buttery pumpkin, with a light sweet character thanks to the fruits. Wet: I get pumpkin for about two seconds, then the pear and grape take over. They aren't candy-like at all on me, very much like fresh fruit. Drydown: The pumpkin fades back in, blending very nicely with the pear and grape. It's a refreshing change to have pumpkin and fruit, but nothing that screams "PIE!!!" Verdict: If I use up the decant as fast as I think I'm going to, I'll be needing a bottle of it.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: This was the first Zodiac blend I ever bought. I've never been drawn to them as a rule, and my Virgo didn't have any notes that attracted me at all. But Libra sounded like it might be beautiful if the rose doesn't go green-stem skanky on me. In the Bottle: A blast of cherry cough-drop with a few whiffs of rose and carnation. Wet: Extremely black currant and cherry. I don't remember off-hand, but this is what I would think of for Mad Tea Party's Queen of Hearts. Drydown: And damn...now the rose is coming out but is all green-stem and very little rose. I am fighting to try and get any of the other notes right now. Verdict: This will go to someone whose skin chemistry is more compatible than mine.

Origin: sniffie from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I love trying pumpkin scents, but the red ginger scared me off. I wouldn't have tried this, except my decantress threw in an almost-empty bottle as a sniffie. In the Bottle: Pumpkin!!! Followed by a wave of sweet, hot spice. Wet: Ginger!!! Sweet and hot but overwhelmingly ginger. My skin is actually burning slightly where I applied it. Drydown: Okay, the ginger's calming down a little and letting the pumpkin back in a bit. But not much. This is first and foremost a ginger scent on me. Verdict: It was nice to try it, but now I know red ginger isn't a good note for me.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: One of my favorite fall perfumes is a wood/smoke/leaf scent from another company. I was curious to see what the BPAL interpretation might be. In the Bottle: Jeez, green and dank and sour! It's more evergreen than fallen leaves to my nose, and it's as if the gorgeous Mistletoe somehow went rancid. A more cautious second sniff produces a more woodsy aroma. Wet: Okay, once it hits my skin it's muuuuuuch better. Woodsy with hints of smoke and a touch of spice in the background. Drydown: The spice comes out a little more on me. Verdict: It's a beautiful scent portrait of October, but I think I like the other perfume better. I'll probably pass this on.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: I will try almost any vanilla scent that doesn't include a deal-breaking note. I like pear very much in Juliet. In the Bottle: Wow, a pear so sweet I think several of my teeth just developed cavities. Wet: If Jolly Rancher or other candy-makers used pear as a flavor, this would be it. Pear, positively singing with sugar and sweet vanilla. Drydown: Hm. I see what others are saying about not much throw. But even close to the skin it remains a beautiful sweetly fruity blend. Verdict: I think I'm gonna need a bottle of this one.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: This sounded utterly sweet and feminine...if the violet will behave on my skin. In the Bottle: Wow...soap. 100% soap. I've heard of the soap issue on people's skins before, but I've never smelt it in the bottle like that. Wet: Lavender and sandalwood with an undertone of florals. The soapy impression lingers. Drydown: It blends together some, and the florals bloom more. The violet does not come out to stank up the place as it often does with me. It stays a quiet and feminine scent, but that soapy edge remains. Verdict: I may use up the decant, but I already have several light florals that don't remind me of soap.

Origin: decant bought on LJ Initial Thoughts: I didn't look before I bought...I thought this one was the one for sinus headaches. But since walking my child to and from school every day, I've developed a bit of pain in my left Achilles tendon, so I thought I'd give it a try. Scent: As others have reported, there's eucalyptus. There's lemon-citrus. There's a dash of pepper. All together it does smell rather medicinal, but it's not offensively so. Effect: I rubbed some into the sore points on my ankle. There was a cooling effect at first, and gradually everywhere I'd rubbed turned warmer. About ten minutes after applying I tried poking at the sorest spot and got zero pain! The tendon still feels...well-used if I move my foot around, but at this time it doesn't ache. This certainly seems to work as advertised. I'm going to get my husband to give it a try on his knee when he gets home.

Origin: imp from the Bag of Joy at the Maryland Swim & Sniff Initial Thoughts: I literally picked it for the name alone...a name I had absolutely no memory of despite over two years of BPAL fandom. In the Bottle: Overwhelmingly herbs and grasses Wet: Lavender and fern. Incredibly herby. Drydown: The lilac comes out to play, but so does the absinthe, making the entire thing oddly boozy. Verdict: Off to the swap/sale pile.

Origin: Imp picked out of the Bag of Joy at the Maryland Swim & Sniff Initial Thoughts: A couple of lucky picks recently have made me warm up to tonka a bit. And sweet pea is always good. In the Bottle: tonka with the sweet pea backing it Wet: sage comes roaring up, making a very strongly dark green scent Drydown: the sweet pea develops, along with a bit of musk, but the dominant note is still the sage Verdict: An interesting, deep scent, but not one I'd reach for.

Origin: Imp picked up at a meet & sniff Initial Thoughts: The BPAL violet doesn't tend to play nicely on me unless it's buried in a lot of other notes. In the Bottle: Sweet, fresh violets at first, then hints of the tonka. Wet: The incense amps up a bit, preventing the violet from doing its usual skanky number on me. Drydown: The violet is really, really trying to do its nasty thing on me, but the incense and tonka keep sitting on it and holding it to a sweetly floral undertone. Verdict: A nice scent, and I think I could use up an imp of it.

Origin: Decant I picked up somewhere Initial Thoughts: For the longest time this has been sitting in the "special" corner of my imp box. I think I kept confusing it with Chesed or Chiroptera, thinking it was an LE. Time to test it and see if I'll wear it; I adore honeysuckle. In the Bottle: Cinnamon sugar. I don't know if it's the honeysuckle making it so sweet, but something is. Wet: The myrrh comes out to play, but the sweet cinnamon is still strongest. Drydown: Something is causing an almond-like quality and the cinnamon tones down a bit so I'm left with a very pastry-ish smell. But still a very cinnamon-y pastry. I can't find the honeysuckle at all, more's the pity. Verdict: *looks at too-large pile of imps* It's a nice scent, but I'm honestly not sure how often I'd reach for it.

Origin: Won a decant on eBay Initial Thoughts: One of the things I adored about springtime at the apartment complex my husband and I lived in for several years was walking to the bus stop past the waterfalls of wisteria growing in a wooded area. It's a scent I love, that I associate strongly with spring and renewal. In the Bottle: Definitely wisteria, but a perfume-y version of wisteria. It's sweeter and heavier, more soapy than the scent of the fresh flowers to my nose. Wet: On my skin a green edge appears, a bit more like the real thing. The soapy element is still there. Drydown: The soapy element gradually fades and I get a gorgeous bright noseful of pink wisteria, just as if I'd buried my face in a branch full of the flowers. Verdict: If ever Beth decided to bring back the single notes for a limited run, I'd so snag a bottle of this in order to wear it regularly. As it is, this precious will join my few other SNs in the special corner of the imp box.

Origin: decant bought in an LJ sale Initial Thoughts: First I was going to get both Sportive Sun and Gibbous Moon. Then I was just going to get Gibbous Moon, because the amber made me second-guess myself. Amber often amps up on me. But I had a financial hiccup and let the deadline pass. So when someone offered a bottle of Gibbous Moon and a decant of this, I jumped. In the Bottle: Very, very spicy amber. Wet: A blast of very hot amber. Drydown: This time the amber doesn't stomp the other notes into the ground. The cedar comes out, backed by a warm mishmash of floral with a hint of spice. But it clings very closely to my skin...not much throw that I can tell. Verdict: Well, it's an amber that I can wear, but it seems to fade so gosh-darned fast. *drums fingers*

Origin: Bought in an LJ sale Initial Thoughts: At first I was going to get both Sportive Sun and Gibbous Moon. Then I was just going to get Gibbous Moon. Then I had a financial mini-crisis and couldn't get either before they were taken down. The reviews made me regret missing this one, so I grabbed a bottle when I found the chance. In the Bottle: Floral with a heavy green leaning...probably the cucumber. Very fresh and inviting on this broiler of a day. Wet: The moss leaps out to join the cucumber, with a light and airy floral mix behind them. Drydown: Ooh, I smell my hyacinth! And I think I smell lily as well--or maybe that's moonflower. I'm not sure what moonflower smells like, exactly. It's still wonderfully light and cool and floral, but greener than Blue Moon Verdict: I adore hyacinth and I think this is the first perfume oil I've found where it is a dominant note. I'm so glad I managed to snag a bottle of it!

Origin: decant bought on LJ Initial Thoughts: It sounds like a light and pretty floral. In the Bottle: Weak herbal tea. Wet: A blast of grassy notes. Drydown: The sweet comes out along with some high herbal notes. But it's also very strangely over-the-counter perfumey. Verdict: Nice, but it isn't grabbing me by the throat and demanding to be worn.

Origin: decant from eviltemptressdq's circle Initial Thoughts: Magnolia is one of my favorite springtime scents and there just don't seem to be many perfumes where it's a dominant note. In the Bottle: Almost pure lavender to my nose, but a very cold lavender. Wet: Very, very lavender. If there's any magnolia in there at all, my nose can't find it yet. Drydown: It takes quite a while, but the magnolia finally fights to the surface. It doesn't really stand out on its own, but takes the egde off the lavender, making it sweeter and gentler. Verdict: I can see using this as a sleep scent and may be getting a bottle if I use the decant up fast enough.