Balame

I’ve been wanting to try this scent for ages, but for some weird reason I never see it in the swaps forum. So I just bit the bullet and ordered an imp! On first sniff it’s definitely complex. I mainly get the mandarin backed by a creamy, wispy background of vanilla, sugar and light ginger. It’s similar to Morocco, but more orange-y and dry. I don’t know why I don’t love it, because normally I’m all over anything with creaminess. I think because it seems more orange peel than orange juice? If it was richer and warmer I might be into it, but as it stands it smells like a watered down version of Scrappy Damsel (which I like more than this). Not super impressed, but I’m glad I finally got to try it.

Lemon mints! That’s it. Doesn’t make me think of “desolation,” more like a lemon sorbet or something. It’s not unpleasant, just not what I expected. Simple and bright. In a similar vein to Jabberwocky, I’d say.

As kashmira said, this is primarily clove, red musk and copal. I’m pretty sure the clove would be overwhelming if it weren’t for the musk, but it gets smoothed out quite a bit. And boy is it musky musk musk. Not heavy or animalistic per se, but somehow… earthy without smelling like earth. The copal adds some sweetness but stays fairly light. I would call this is a warm, comforting scent with some heat from the spices.

Man, the blood notes in the Ragnarok blends are playing really nicely. I can barely pick them out, if at all. It went AWOL here. This is quite a companionable stone. It smells like musk and grassy vetiver. As much as I love vetiver I’d rather just have the SN versus this, since I think the musk actually softens it a bit. Definitely not sweet, but not intimidating either. I think this would be nice on a guy, or even as a business scent for a woman. It smells weirdly professional. Like, I could imagine a nice office smelling like this. It’s clean and plain but comfortable.

This was secretly the scent I was most excited to try from the Ragnarok scents. I don’t know, it just sounded so intense and violent. You don’t get that from perfumes much. At first sniff it succeeds at its mission! I almost gagged, not even joking. It’s a very dry, gritty bone with some slightly salty blood warming things up in the background. As it dries I smell sweet smoke/ash. You know that’s actually what’s most disconcerting? I don’t mind the blood and bones and desolation, it’s just the unsettling sweetness that makes it seem so wrong. Did some perverse, perfume-drenched sadist sneak onto the battlefield to take in the gory sights? Ick. Would I actually wear this? Uhm… no. This is definitely a scene-setting blend though. Very evocative, very BPAL.

In my opinion nothing really has the same sort of beauty as Glowing Vulva, but some similarities people have noted are: Antikythera Mechanism Morocco Haloes Blossoms in Springtime MB: Underpants Love's Philosophy This is from another e-tailer but has also drawn comparisons: Heaven & Earth Essentials' Voodoo Punani

Similar to Golden Priapus: Rogue, Doc Constantine, Tombstone, Banshee Beat Phoenix at Dawn: Spinning Multicolored Metallic Pinwheel, Harlequin, Cheshire Cat Rum-Soaked French Tonka: Anne Beany, Ashlultum, Western Diamondback

This is a very subtle scent at first. I get light musk and some sort of resin, which smells a bit spicy. The grasses are dry and warm. Not getting any amber, but perhaps it's helping to sweeten this and give it some glow. Something puts me off the more Coyote dries. I get more and more of a white floral component, which smells commercial and kind of baby powder-ish. Don't know what's causing it but it's definitely not my thing.

Are you only looking for GC scents? Because I think some LEs might get fairly close, and they might not be too hard to find in the forums. Like: Pink Moon - 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. Sugar Plum Fairy - Sugar plums, vanilla-infused sugar, tiare, amber musk, apricot peel, and a light dusting of cacao. Cheshire Moon - A lunatic's blend of lunar herbs and blossoms, with lemongrass, guava, pink grapefruit, banyan fruit, hibiscus, and cherry blossom. Pink Phoenix - Vanilla bean, honeycomb, sugared pear, sweet pea and a dribble of strawberry. Strawberry Moon - Wild strawberries, strawberry flower, strawberry blossom honey, vanilla-infused sugar, early summer grasses, and milky dandelion sap. These might not be exact matches but they'd probably be close or evoke a similar feel. I think the current GC recs are good as well, and you might even like Glasgow. Not very similar notes, but it's definitely a light yet juicy floral.

All of these scents are sort of in the same vein as listed, so I'll just make some broad recs. Kroenen is a dark, elegant and incense-y leather with a touch of metallic bite. Rigorous Love reminds me of Body, Remember. It's a bit lighter but has a similar soft, sweetened coconut. Others that would fit with this lovely list are: Leather Phoenix Perversion Haute Macabre Old Demons of the First Class Our Lady of Pain Mircalla, Countess Karnstein

Thank you Ella, BoneBone and tziporra for the recs. I've tried several of those with varying levels of success (Lady Death: Savage, Dee and Variety of Pleasing Amusements are all favorites as well) but some of those I haven't considered and sound tempting. The Organ Grinder and Xiuhtecuhtli seem intriguing in particular. We like similar notes. Try Sheol, Golden Apple of the Sun and Midnight Mass for some beautiful frankincense blends. A good boozy vanilla is Celeste, and I'd also recommend Tombstone, Snow White and/or Go to Sleep, Darlings. (Snow White and Go to Sleep have a bit of a coconut vibe in addition to the vanilla, btw.) Oh my gosh - hunt down some Kagema for something similar to Plunder. It might come across a bit masculine, but I swear it's like the sexiest pirate ever. Maiden is a bit too floral for me, but I'll reiterate Silence as a beautiful tea blend that also has a soft floral (iris). Definitely check out the popular Kumiho if you haven't already too. Brown Jenkin is a nice, dusty coconut/orris. I have to put my fave coconut Black Pearl out there too. Intrigue is like chocolate coconut incense. Oh, and Raptures and Roses of Vice is a beautiful creamy rose coconut. Might be close to RPD. I haven't tried Queen but it sounds a lot like La Mort. It's a really yummy rose incense with the juiciness of pomegranate. Red musk and tea for Lady, hrm. Have you tried Semiramis? It doesn't have any florals but it's a nice red musk + red fruit blend. I have no idea what Temple smells like, but from the reviews it seems like a creamy, tropical rose? Raptures and Roses of Vice might be good for you as well. For a spicier rose maybe Forgive Us Our Virtues. And I can't comment on Sybaris because violet and cloves sound like death to me.

Dayum! I opened this and totally freaked out. Was expecting a nice sweet tobacco and maybe some patchouli, but instead it smells like spicy green peppers. IT'S GALBANUM, BITCHES. Totally in your face. After that rude intro I'm still stuck with the obnoxiously green note. It's super potent and backed by the chamomile, which isn't doing it any favors by also being sharply herbal. "Astringent" and "bitter" are definitely good words for it. Yet it does chill out after about 10 minutes. While it's nowhere near as hardcore, the galbanum still provides a little zest now softened by a creamier white musk. It's actually nice at this point and delicately sweet. I find the coconut peaking out, which is subtly beautiful. I had hoped the tonka and coconut would take the lead, and while they have, it's ended up the exact opposite of its energetic start. The drydown is little more than a whisper on me. Quite sad about that. The final stage is worth waiting for, but for me the sillage is almost nonexistent.

Luscious mango with cool freesia, sugary apples and a light kiss of lavender. What a lovely mix! Usually scents with this much fruit or rose would be way too sweet for me, but this is pleasantly refreshing. It's playful, yet dry enough to come across as adult. It definitely has a bit of a tropical vibe even though I'm not picking out the coconut specifically. It's sweet with a bit of kick behind it due to the herbal lavender. Very relaxing; puts me in a vacation mood (if only)! Flirty, pretty and carefree. I have to say though, the longer it sits the drier it becomes, and for some reason this makes it come across as alcohol-based. More like a mainstream perfume. The wet stages were so gorgeous but it was not to last for me.

My top picks switch around a bit depending on my mood, but these always get along with me: 1. Atlas ... Mallow, oak bark, coffee bean, hinoki wood, and khus. 2. French Tobacco SN ... A very faint citrus-like twang and an almost animalic caramel richness. 3. Black Pearl ... Coconut, Florentine iris, hazelnut and opalescent white musk 4. Satan & Death with Sin Intervening ... Opoponax, benzoin, orange blossom, mahogany, karakarounde, white tea and vetiver. 4. White Rider ... White leather and sandalwood. For Dracula, maybe Old Demons of the First Class, VILF or Crypt King (I know, that one's a PITA to find). Mme. Moriarty I think might be a bit similar to Blood Kiss and Womb Furie. Or Pickled Imp. Jareth for Knight. And it's not super similar but for some reason the soft rose from Seance coupled with the creamy hazel makes me think it's in the same line as Love. I think Baobhan Sith is sort of like a grapefruit version of Kumiho. White Rabbit is a nice clean tea as well. Haven't tried Feel-Better Flowers but I'd guess TKO or Fairy Bites might be similar. You'd probably like Capax Infiniti too. The Lilac Wood sounds very green and the most fresh, grassy oil I've tried is probably The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. Spirits of the Dead for Holiday Moon. Silence is really lovely if you can find it. There's actually a whole thread dedicated to scents similar to The Unicorn! I think The East has its own thing going on but it does evoke a similar vibe. Same with Enchanted Wood Florist which seems to fit with your love of fresh scents.

Maybe... Wanton - Palmarosa, red sandalwood, attar of rose, patchouli. 51 - Green mandarin, neroli, honeydew, white amber, guava, freesia, white and green musks hovering over desert scrub, smashed wood, and the dry, biting scent of night air over the Groom Lake salt flats. The East - Bluebonnet, passion flower, freesia, jasmine tea, mint, thyme, and redcurrant. Tristran - Redwood, tonka bean, white sandalwood, lemon peel, patchouli, rosewood, coriander, and crushed mint. Kumiho - A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger. Rakshasa - Sandalwood with rose and patchouli. Most of these are fresh, pretty florals but I threw in a few darker scents since Ravenous was an almost win. Some are un-impable but you should be able to find decants floating around the forums. I think almost all of the Stardust line would be perfect for you. Lots of delicate, flowery but ethereal scents there. There are a few honey musk/vanilla notes among them, but I still think blends like Lady Una and Victoria might be worth testing.

Strong wet tobacco and (sandal)woods at first. Bit of a dry papery note in the back. I get the coconut comparison by Monday, it smells almost exactly like the one in Al-Azif. Pretty sure it's a resin of some sort. This starts out robust but quickly dries to a softly sweet incense blend. It's a lot like Al-Azif, come to think of it. I lose the tobacco completely and it's just coconut suntan oil, light musk and resins. The leather finally comes out around 20 minutes later which darkens it up, but for some reason it smells almost... sweaty? Surprisingly it isn't "bad" just unusual, but it's not working too well with my skin chemistry.

I love INTJs. Sadly only know one in person, and female INTJs are even harder to come across. If you do end up starting that game company, I'd love to know about it. Did you know that more and more otome games are being translated by Japanese companies lately? They're essentially dating sims/visual novels. I wish many of them had more RPG elements but some of the stories are pretty fun and interactive. Regarding acacia, I've heard some people say the following creates a similar vibe: Cupid Complaining to Venus - Apple blossom, fig, white peach, honey absolute, red sandalwood, and wild thyme. Also, this one has acacia actually listed but I've tried it and feel like it might be too sweet for you by itself: Good - Shimmering celestial musk with vanilla, white honey, acacia, and sugar cane. For recs purely based on personality and what seems to be a love for boozy notes, licorice and leather... Macbeth and the Witches - Lightning-charged ozone, steel, myrrh, mugwort, colophony, ajowan, and leather. Le Père Fouettard - Whip leather, coal dust, gaufrette, and black licorice. Tarasque - Spiced tea, leather, liquidambar, and labdanum. Mary Read - Salt air, ocean mist, aged patchouli, sarsaparilla, watered-down rum, leather-tinged musk, and a spray of gunpowder. Hunger Moon - Ozone, white sandalwood, Gum Arabic, crystallized white amber, verbena, oakmoss, clary sage, davana, and a hint of white citrus rind. The Coil - Ozone, eucalyptus and mint with purple orchid, passionflower, white ginger, and purple lotus. Coyote - The warmth of doeskin, dry plains grasses and soft, dusty woods warmed by amber and a downy, gentle coat of deep musk. Tenochtitlan - Amber, hyssop, coriander, epazote, Mexican sage, prickly pear and Mexican tulip poppy. Tombstone - A rugged, warm blend of vanilla, balsam and sassafras layered over Virginia cedar. Corazon - Glorious red musk and a halo of golden amber with a touch of wet mango, lavender, and purple sage. Western Diamondback - Snake Oil with leather, tonka bean, red sandalwood, and sage. 51 - Green mandarin, neroli, honeydew, white amber, guava, freesia, white and green musks hovering over desert scrub, smashed wood, and the dry, biting scent of night air over the Groom Lake salt flats. Eh, went kind of crazy there. Hopefully some sound like you might enjoy them! I tried to pick out more masculine aquatics as well as a few others that might be a match... The Spell of the Eastern Sea - Sea salt, kelp, and twisting willows. Jolly Roger - Sea spray with an undercurrent of leather, Bay Rum, and salty, dry woods. Calico Jack - Sea air, driftwood, waterlogged kelp, and the memory of plundered spices sprayed over worn leathers, rough musk, and the salty wooden floorboards of the Revenge. Kingsport - Salty ocean breezes touched by a numinous, incandescent mist. Galvanic Goggles - Metallic notes with Indian musk, tobacco flower, and African balsam. Antony - A warrior's scent: the green hills and grasses of the battlefields, the resinous incense from the prayers to his Gods, and a touch of the musky leather of his armor. Ambergris and frankincense with sage, and basil. Knight in Shiny Armor - dapper lavender fougere with white carnation, sweet oakmoss, clary sage, crisp leather, bourbon vanilla, and a hint of armor polish. Krampus - Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches. No. 93 Engine - Balm of Gilead, benzoin, frankincense, balsam of peru, beeswax, saffron, galbanum, calamus, hyssop, mastic, lemon balm, and white sage.

Fun! Best of luck with your jobs and writing. I've tried to choose scents that would evoke the characters' personalities based on both name and scent. Mostly GCs so they'll be easy to obtain. Jessica Liz - A light, feminine vanilla floral perfume and a swirl of smoke and leather. Oblivion - Dark musk, wood spice, labdanum, patchouli, dark African woods, and saffron. Intrigue - Black palm, with cocoa, fig and shadowy wooded notes. Hunter - Leonine amber, tanned hides, clove, and clary sage. Chloe Alice - Milk and honey with rose, carnation and bergamot. Mouse's Long and Sad Tale - Vanilla, two ambers, sweet pea and white sandalwood. Aelopile - Glowing amber and citrus, labdanum, verbena, cedar, and oud. Avenger - Plush vanilla bourbon and rum accord with pink pepper, patchouli, clove, pikaki, golden amber, caraway, tuberose, and jacarandá-da-bahia. Kindred Lion - A golden, spiced amber, proud, regal and ferocious. Bloodlust - Dragon’s blood essence, heavy red musk, Indonesian patchouli and swarthy vetiver with a drop of cinnamon. VILF - Patchouli-infused honey, red musk, red sandalwood, red ginger, pink pepper, Peru balsam, dark Eastern florals, Himalayan cedar, smoky vanilla, bitter clove, and leather. Hellfire - A swirl of pipe tobacco, hot leather, ambergris, dark musk and lingering incense smoke. Tir Sea of Glass - A scent of inimitable purity, crystalline grace, and limitless light. Ameles Potamos - The River of Unmindfulness: bittersweet black water swollen with forgotten tears. The Sea Foams Blood - Blood rising through an ocean wave. The Deep Ones - Black algae, drooping seaweed, salty brine, and crushed coral. Tierney Det. Patrick Gleason - A classic men’s cologne splashed over a leather trenchcoat and a hint of gunshot residue. Captain Cully - A cocky light musk with leather, tonka, a dusting of dry woods, and a splash of porter. Mad Sweeney - Barrel-aged whiskey and oak. Mr. Vandemar - Opopponax, costus, black pepper, black sandalwood, and polished metal. Shax Voyeuristic Monkey (LE) - Three brown musks, galbnum, saffron, golden honey, myrrh, cumin, and patchouli. Incubus - Spectral white musk and the heart-stopping chill of sheared mint, fanned by caramel-touched body heat, and the diabolical sensuality of black musk, nicotiana, and sage. Tombeur - Vanilla-infused sandalwood, blood musk, antique patchouli, vetiver, lavender, bitter almond, amber, and a trickle of Snake Oil. I'm trying to think of the most masculine jasmine I know... probably: Highwayman - Vetiver with gardenia, blood red rose, night-blooming jasmine, a dash of cinnamon and a faint hint of leather. Similarities between perfumes recommended for Jessica, Kindred and Shax: Amber, musk, patchouli, vetiver, leather.

I was wondering what made this scent heavier than what I was expecting, and echo the "It must be musk!" comments. It's definitely Rogue stripped of the leather and near-floral hemp. What's left is a sweet, muted pine on a bed of thick musk. It doesn't read as cologne to me. The musk is actually quite warm and soft, not the type you'd expect in a more aggressive scent. I can see (smell?) this being worn by anyone who likes a touch of comforting woods without the bitterness you'd expect from a pure pine note.

As far as I know I haven't smelled pine rosin before, so at first I worried Rogue would turn into an obnoxious Xmas tree + leather. Thankfully those concerns were unfounded. I can smell the pine, but it's lighter and softer than a typical evergreen note. On first application the hemp is very green and grassy, verging on floral/fruity. It then chills out and gets drier. BPAL's leather is of course lovely and this one smells natural but somehow more modern than other combinations. More biker jacket than bodice. Overall it's a warm, sweet and woodsy leather. As a few others have said, it comes across as "cleaner" than what I was expecting/wanting from Rogue. Especially comparing this to two of the other leathers in the RPG line, it's not as impressive. Fighter, for example, is a really badass and strong leather with a metallic tang. Ranger is a gorgeous brown buckskin leather with a more realistic forest backdrop than I'm getting here. Plus, all the Riders in the GC (especially White) do a good job of pairing leather with something unique to make them stand out. I can definitely see this layering well with another oil, preferably something that would dirty it up and make it less flouncy, but I'm too lazy to experiment when I have so many good alternatives.

This is different. I was hoping to smell coconut as one of the main notes, but mostly it's "oily labdanum" with musty moss. It's reminding me exactly of... wet dog. Not even joking, certainly not anything I want to smell like. Some people were saying it's a pretty, citrusy aquatic but not on me. I do get much more of the citron as it dries, and the labdanum/moss recedes considerably, but it's still not what I was envisioning. In the end Boundless almost perfectly evokes a fizzy drink (think Mountain Dew) gone flat. An improvement over wet dog, yes, but still not anything to get riled up about. Bummer.

For me, Beautiful and Adored was one of those scents that smelled ridiculously good in the bottle, but was underwhelming when skin tested. On first sniff it focuses on all the notes I love: the creamy vanilla, juicy pear, rich red currant and luscious honey. I can pick them all out and it's SO. YUM. Yet as it dries the florals take over, and I'm pretty much only left with the gardenia and rose musk. There's a hint of pear and honey remaining, but it's mostly a floral party. Not "bad," but unfortunately not me.

I tested this oil no less than 6 times before finally biting the bullet and swapping it away. It's a gorgeous, well-blended and womanly scent. In the end, the rose was just too much of a main player to make it a match for me (I'm almost never compatible with florals). What initially attracted me was the pomegranate. It was the pom I always dreamed of - rich, juicy and full, with just the right amount of tart bite. The opopponax and champaca lend it a dark, incense-y background that contrasts perfectly with the fruitiness. But then, the rose hits. It's a sumptuous, velvety, fresh red rose in bloom. It's beautiful, but again, for me strong floral components are usually deal breakers. What almost made this one of my favorites is how perfectly balanced it is. The rose is right in your face, but so is the bitter pom and sweet incense. A lovely mix of contrasting notes. For anyone who enjoys fruity florals on the darker side, this is definitely a must try. I never was able to pick out the anise very well, which is probably for the best as it normally turns into gross licorice on me.

I'm surprised to see so many people calling this a dry scent because to me it's pale, yet juicy and sweet. The apple is pleasantly realistic, though it's been made more sugary, likely thanks to the agave. There's a sort of "twinkle" to this oil, a round softness from the powdery orris. It does get drier as the oil sits, but it remains light, pretty and feminine. I don't think that the lotus is very candy-ish, instead it pairs well with the moonflower for a vaguely aquatic, clear muskiness. The sandalwood helps ground the scent but it's not very noticeable, so if it's not normally a note you enjoy I think you could get away with it here. As a whole, the scent is very well-blended and evokes the artwork. Beautiful, dreamy, ethereal. A good choice for those who like fruity but "perfume-y" scents. It could be a cousin to Silence, a similar fruit/musk/aquatic, but it's sweeter and more womanly.

It's been around for a long time, but my favorite aquatic is still Y'ha-Nthlei from the good ol' GC. It seriously smells "magical" to me and has this sparkly quality from the ambergris. It's simultaneously foamy, warm and reminiscent of the sea. You might like Lyonesse. Despite having many of my favorite notes, it got too powdery on me and the salty/sweet combo just turned weird with my chemistry. A lot of people love it though, so it's worth a shot. Oh, and definitely Silence! In my opinion it's more on the fruit/musk side rather than purely aquatic, but it has watery qualities (blue musk, lotus root, teas). It's a really soft, soothing scent. It's tough to find these days but I cherish my bottle and think tracking one down is totally worth it. Cthulhu in Love is great but it's not as watery as the others. More incense/chocolate/kelp to me (which is actually really good, I swear), so there's at least a hint of the sea in there. Lastly, Vial of Holy Water. I haven't gotten to try this one yet, but it sounds really clean and lovely. People seem to describe it as white musk, ozone, mint and cucumber.