Balame

Very fitting I'm sure, I'm resigned enough to the pokey instruments before I get to the dentist to want a scent reminder, though! I wish I had amped the lavender more, because it was almost wholly pennyroyal on me, and the lavender was just a weird, uncomfortable whisper in the background.

I never really thought any scent could disturb me, especially with BPAL being so fabulous, but I was a little concerned by Pain. Some people seem to think it's only "loudly" bright, but to me it smells like you're in a dentist's office with a bunch of violent-looking metal instruments, and oh, that "dentist" actually happens to be a crazed torturer. Not a comforting scent at all, I wanted it off of me. That being said, I actually tend to very much like "dark" scents, as I have an affinity for more unique smells. Pleasant ones - Czernobog - Very musky and wild, like roaming around within a deep forest and sensing the animals around you. Kind of sensual. Kroenen - Dark leather and vetiver yumminess, empowering. Black Tower - To me, this actually verges on ending up breezy sweet and less "intense" after it's had a couple hours of drydown, but early on it kind of reminds me of a dark knight. Elegant and poised, attractive, but with a bit of an attitude. Black Forest - Similar to Czernobog in that it's obviously foresty but it's not really "wild" to me. It smells exactly what I would expect some sort of protective, "good" forest would be like. Like you wandered in and got lost, but it's okay because Mama Forest will wrap you up in her warm darkness and let you have a nap before leading you out safely.

Hmm, Vash. As much as he loves donuts I'd say he himself would smell more of the gunpowder-y scents, so I'd look around in the Steamworks collection. I really love The Robotic Scarab (polished metallic notes, glossy leather, frankincense, star anise, and thin lubricating oils) - it smells exactly like the notes suggest, with very brassy metals but just enough comforting notes like the leather (his trench!) and anise to balance out the "tang". It's also a very "bright" scent to me, which fits with his energetic personality. I also haven't tried it myself, but Phoenix Steamworks might be nice (burnished gold and oiled bronze notes with Abramelin incense and sage). It sounds like it has similar metallic notes as in Scarab, but more of a focus on the herbal quality. I recently got a chance to smell abramelin in Philosopher in Meditation and it's very soothing - a bit resinous.

Eat Me is definitely the best "cake" scent in the GC, however, you may also want to try The Witch's Repast (kvass, honey-drizzled bread, roasted meat, and wine). I know it probably sounds a little scary with the meat, but I've found this one really depends on your skin chemistry. Some people get more of the pepper note (most say it's much more pepper than "meat" per se, thankfully), but I believe many people smell a great, honey-drenched bread. That was my experience, at least. It's actually very warm and comforting with just a bit of a kick, and the "bread" note can definitely make this feel like a delicious honey cake scent if your skin cooperates. The booze isn't super noticeable imo, so it might be worth a shot!

In the Imp: Uh, light herbs and incense? Did this get an incorrect label? Wet: What? I can barely even smell this. Dang, I must've gotten a faulty or super old imp, because I know dragon's blood, like you would recognize a hated rival on the playground. And this is just amazingly soft for it. I guess I can smell some of the familiar spiciness, but it's got none of the usual cherry cloying insanity? Dry: Apparently I'm not the only one feeling like this opened up as a light floral. How very unusual, though. This is the lightest dragon's blood I've ever encountered, bar none, which is great for me because it usually bowls me over. Overall: I'm still amazed by this. I really didn't get any amber, or even dragon's blood for that matter! Maybe my sniffer is broken but this feels like uber light florals and a hint of incense. Very much a gentle skin scent.

In the Imp: The oozing cherry sweetness of dragon's blood. I feel a slight headache already. Dragon's blood and I don't get along, but I will press on! Wet: Thankfully, this is not as crazy as most dragon's blood scents I've tried. It's there all right, but the lotus really, really cools it down and prevents it from going spicy insane incense on me. There's even a slight herbal edge in the background. Dry: Thank you for being kind to me, Blood Lotus. If anything this continued to tone down, becoming less cloying and more refreshing with a bit of a zing. It's still candy sweet but not overpoweringly so, instead sitting in perfect harmony with the relaxing, icy lotus. Overall: Probably the best dragon's blood oil I've tried so far. A great mixture that calms its usual spicy sweetness.

In the Imp: A juicy fruit and floral scent. Getting a big whiff of friendly plumeria. Wet: Fresh pear and plumeria, with a brush of magnolia. Quite refreshing for a floral scent. This is innocent and playful - but in a clever way, not the silly mischievious nature of a little girl, but the patient fun of a young woman. Impressive in that it's not very stereotypical. It seems very balanced to me, well blended. Dry: I really am reminded of a princess by this. A woman you could respect not just because she was born or married into royalty, but because she has a good head on her shoulders. Yet she's still obviously been raised amongst the well-to-do, and has a delicacy about her. Pretty scent. Overall: A great complex and juicy floral. Unique and makes a quiet statement.

In the Imp: Seems like a very light gardenia. Wet: I do get the "twilit garden", sort of a juicy but verging on overly sweet floral. Still reminds me of gardenias, but I believe jasmine is there as well. Not smelling incense or complex earthy notes. Dry: Weird, still never moved past those two florals, though they softened a bit and got powdery (not in a bad way). Even though I don't loathe this, it isn't for me. Overall: A surprisingly typical, pale floral blend. I was expecting some intricacy from BPAL's "loamy" notes but never found any of that, or the smokiness of incense.

In the Imp: There is definitely patchouli in this. I'm a bit of a patchouli connoisseur, so I'm pretty darn certain. Also, musk. Hubby and I are already insanely into each other, so I hope it isn't too good or we may make the house explode! Wet: The nice, creamy patchouli provides a grounding affect as well as a resinous note. Something to the effect of citrus here as well, maybe bergamot or neroli? But it's actually not overly spicy, instead helping to warm the scent. Dry: Well, I wouldn't say this is the "fire" of love. Maybe a candle or something. But it's still good! It's creamy, fresh, and warm all in one. The patchouli is very sedate and playing nicely with the citrus. Both refreshing and relaxing. Kind of a lazy day scent to me. Overall: I like this, but it's forgettable in my book because nothing really stands out. I've had great patchouli scents and I've had great citrus scents, and this one is just sort of dawdling in the middle of "okay" for both. It would, however, be a good sleeping scent in my opinion. Heh, more pass out than make out!

In the Imp: Lots of florals. Ooh, funkadelic rose and sweetness. I'm scared. Wet: I put just the tiniest bit of this on, and of course I'm amping the bloody lilac like crazy. I so do not like that note. It's cloyingly sweet and a little rancid on me. Not flattering! Dry: Yeah, dirty rose and lilac. Not good. Overall: Another floral that I just don't understand. Old lady-ish and rotten.

In the Imp: That is some kind of spiced, boozy grapefruit. Not bad. Wet: The ginger combined with the juicy fruit and booze somehow make this like gum to me. A little goofy, like "cinnamon pinapple grapefruit punch!!" or some other cheesy name a company would come up with, but you know what? It's a darn good fruity bubblegum. Dry: Essentially the same, with the grapefruit (and possibly pineapple) remaining dominant and the ginger right behind. Overall: Not really my style, but it's not a funky or "cheap" smelling scent. Obviously for someone fun-loving and playful. Yummy fruits with a warm kick.

In the Imp: I've actually tried Obatala numerous times trying to like him, but unfortunately I just can't get him to work for me. So, unpopular opinion here, finally breaking down for a review... in the imp it smells nice enough, like delicate coconut and almost like there's a white floral in there. Wet: At first it starts out heavy on the shea, with rich creamy goodness. Very relaxing and sort of reminiscent of a really pleasant, all natural sunblock. Dry: But then that wonky coconut comes out. And it is a wonky coconut to me. Somewhere in this thread I believe someone refers to it as coconut "crayon" moreso than a real coconut, and I wholeheartedly agree. Something about it feels synthetic. Not chemical, but simply not real, and it drives me absolutely nuts. It's a bit too watery for my taste and just... not pleasant, somehow. I wanted to love this, but it falls short. Overall: I'm not going to argue that this isn't a relaxing scent, because it is pleasant. But I feel that for the description, it's less "purely" a tropical getaway and more of a bottled tropical cream trying to replicate that feeling.

In the Imp: Candied lemons and gin. Wet: I'm kind of reminded of blueberry Pez candies, which at least aren't cloying as the notes in some of the other Luau Lounge scents have been. I like the freshness the lemongrass brings out, and the papaya lends a smooth sweetness that isn't overwhelming. Not getting much of the booze. Dry: I feel like this is what all of the Luau scents should be. Been vastly disappointed by others, but this is truly reminiscient of a blueberry/papaya drink, without being either astringent or sickeningly sweet. Overall: A great scent for chilling on an island with a fruity drink... or pretending you're doing so. Possibly the best from the set in my opinion.

In the Imp: This sounds like it's going to be too floral for me, but from the imp it's actually an extremely light lemony (myrtle) musk. Wet: Softly sweet jasmine and lily with lemons. Nothing is overly astringent or in your face; it actually kind of reminds me of a tea. Surprising, since lily is usually a note that overwhelms (and ruins) everything else for me. I think this imp is fairly aged so maybe it's calmed down over the years? Dry: Pleasant. I'm not a floral fan so I wouldn't wear it, but I could tolerate it easily on someone else. It really is very notable how soft and sedate the florals are in this, as they're usually cloying and overly sweet. To me this is simply an agreeable, delicate citrus/floral blend. Overall: Think I'm one of the lucky ones - if this was too crazy on you initially you may want to let it age a while and see if it softens up, because once it does it's quite nice.

In the Imp: A slight amount of patchouli amidst an astringent background. Wet: Wow, this smells almost exactly like a perfume one of my relatives used to wear. Sadly, it was not a good one. I can't even remember the name, it was so stereotypical - heavy on the alcoholic scent and super "Nordstrom"-like musks that are supposed to be sexy but just seem like they're in every perfume people who have a lot of money but not a lot of taste use. Dry: Basically the same. If the patchouli came out more I think it would make this a bit earthier and not so "Oh DAHLING that dress is so yesterday," but as it is it's still hovering, scared in the background. Overall: Total shoe-in for major commercial perfumes. I got into BPAL exactly because I've never enjoyed those, so I'll be passing this on.

In the Imp: Strangely NOT soothing, like lavender and pepper? Weird. Wet: Jasmine jumps out supported by lavender, and something quite herbal in the background. The jasmine is super strong, so much that this is actually sharp to my nose. Not very good for sleep, I'd imagine, and especially since I'm not fond of very sweet scents either. Dry: Baby powder and jasmine. It does lighten up a bit, but it's still far too sweet for me. Overall: Good traditional sort of floral oil, and it seems to be helping people sleep, so give it a shot if that's your thing. But anyone who dislikes "cutesy" smells or feels heavier, more languid scents are better for rest, best to avoid.

In the Imp: Extremely strong white floral. Wet: Huge overkill on the lily. Powerful, overwhelming, cloying lily. Do not detect much rose at all, and what I do detect only adds to the insane amount of sweetness. Dry: Guh, I think the dry stage has just made this even more heady. Not fond of this at all. Overall: You'd better ADORE lily and not mind it going uber sweet and powdery on you.

In the Imp: Verbena and citrus. Verbena always puts a smile on my face, it's effortlessly bright and cheery without being obnoxious. Wet: This is quite clean, almost like a citrus laundry solution (but no worries, not chemical). The ginger is there but it's not settled into its full spiciness yet. I'm not a fan of ginger so I wish it would stay as it is now, but I have a feeling it'll amp up later on. Right now it's pleasantly sweet. Dry: Hm, the ginger isn't really amping too badly. That's nice. I'm mainly left with a creamy base that has citrus and a hint of sweet amber. I had my mom try this and the ginger went crazy on her, a super bright spiciness, but on me my skin has actually almost swallowed ALL of the scent within 30 minutes. Overall: I like this well enough for when I'm in a really energetic, go-getter kind of mood, but it has almost no staying power with my skin chemistry.

I think you might really like Frumious Bandersnatch. Bandersnatch musk, redolent of spicy carnations, wild plums and chrysanthemum It's a fruity/floral but with a far more fall-based note collection. The plum is really ripe and decadent, and the carnation is truly spicy - so much that I initially thought cinnamon might have been in it. So, it's a much "warmer" collection for fall, but it still manages to stay light and overall has a "sparkling" quality while being more zesty in its spiciness. You also might think I'm crazy for this one, but Tavern of Hell - White gardenia, ambergris bouquet, lavender fougere, orange blossom, melissa, tobacco flower, coriander, ebony wood, ylang ylang, absinthe and aged whiskey I know, the name makes it sound like it'll be overwhelmingly spicy... but believe me, this is an awesome juicy floral. It's a bouquet of fresh, sweet flowers with a blot of ripe citrus in the middle (the ylang ylang is great as well), and the booze doesn't overwhelm it, instead giving it a more mature/sexy/smoky feel. If you asked me what these were in the context of faries, I would say Bandersnatch is the older sister fairy coming into her own, slowly exploring her sexuality but still quite innocent and wide-eyed with the world, while Tavern of Hell is the sexpot who's seen it all but still somehow manages to be refreshing to be around and everyone's drawn to her. I'd say Bandersnatch is closer to Titania in "vibe", but if you're willing to go with something that's a bit darker for a fall scent, ToH is worth a try as well. By the way, for anyone wondering about a Fairy Wine substitute/test - Osun is an imp-able, creamier version of it. Still like Fairy Wine more for it's fresher feel, but Osun has almost the exact same grouping of herbs amidst a softer base.

In the Imp: The second Salon decant I've bought of late. If it's even half as good as Macbeth and the Witches, I'll be overjoyed. Smells like soft incense and raisins/a heavy (realistic) grape in the imp... guessing that's the kyphi. Wet: Very well-rounded and smooth. The incense is gentle and not smoky at all, instead making me think that this would be what patchouli smelled like if it wasn't so intense and had a pleasantly sweet grape undertone. I almost feel like patchouli IS in this, but just barely peaking out (maybe it's the abramelin). Definitely nice, whatever it is. This is not your cooped up, musty philosopher. More like the one that goes out and parties at the local festival in ancient Greece to "better experience life" so they can draw "more accurate conclusions about human nature". Doesn't mean they're not intelligent though, far from it, just more willing to live life to the fullest rather than stay cooped up with books 24/7. Dry: Deep, juicy, rich grape surrounded by a thin waft of incense. A delicate sweetness made more mature. Crazy good. Overall: What a quandry, I love this. If I buy too many Salon bottles I may go broke, but I'll smell darn good doing it!

In the Imp: So excited to try this, my first Salon scent! From the imp, wow. I'm not sure I can place any single note. It's warmly herbal, but not spicy - I think the "leather" is keeping it calm. The ozone is nice and not overly sharp. Wet: Soooo niiiice. Holy crap. I can't even form words right now. This is ALMOST like cologne, but it's too light and unusual to be a spot on match. Instead it takes cologne's best qualities and alters the rest. This is an understated strength. I get very, very gentle, sun warmed leather amidst just the tiniest bit of ozone. I really think it would be too languid/hazy without it, but it definitely adds just the right amount of interest. The colophony, which I didn't recognize, is apparently a resin, and I do get a small amount of outdoorsy trees in here. It's amazing that all of the notes are so incredibly gentle, yet you can pick out each of them. And, together they make quite the statement. Dry: Basically the same, perhaps more of the herbal quality of the ajowan comes out (similar to thyme), but everything is still second fiddle to that stunning, supple leather. I wouldn't say this matches the art, but hey, it's still gorgeous. The image, to me, evokes a coldness and detached quality. Instead, this oil is like a king/queen stripped down from all the regalia and in their more casual riding clothes, after they've been out sweating during a summer's day hunt. They are more raw and "real", but still undeniably out of your league. HOT. Overall: Love this. Lots. Makes me feel more confident overall just smelling it. Definitely need to upgrade my imp decant to a bottle, and it's the first one I've needed in a while. *edit* Spelling errors because of excitement!

In the Imp: STRONGLY green orchid. Wet: Smoky and sharp, all labdanum, all the time! Almost verging on being alcoholic. The flowers contribute nothing except a vague green feel in the background. Oddly, it's not sweet. At all. Dry: Dustry, dry, and alcoholic. Acrid, even. The florals do come out a bit more once it dries, but they're just barely there. Soft little whispers of sweetness in a barren landscape. Overall: Very difficult to wear, and a little "old lady". Not very good, unfortunately.

In the Imp: Hmm. Sweetpea. Been a while since I smelled it. A tolerable floral for me, since it's light. Wet: The water lily is cool and clean, in the true sense of the words. The sweetpea and carnation are still elegantly floral in the front, but in the background there's a real water note, if that's even possible. Fresh water. I kind of wish the florals would go away just so I could smell that alone. Dry: This is a very different sort of floral. It harkens a lot to a truly natural setting, like sitting on the edge of a crystal clear pond, with delicate little flowers scattered along the edges. Beautiful, not powdery or false. The water lily must be creating this effect, and it rocks. Overall: One of the very few florals I think is pleasant. Not enough to keep it, but hey, I can still appreciate it! Fresh and gentle, with hints of sweetness and pure, clean water.

In the Imp: A pleasant and sweet pine note. Wet: Very soft foresty scents, especially considering they are the bulk of the notes in this. The ambergris and musk are really doing a heck of a job toning them down and making this... languid - that would be a perfect word to describe it for the moment. It's actually soothing, not eerie at all. Juniper would be the gentlest of the tree notes and its definitely on top. Dry: Despite being relatively sweet, this is not sugary or fake. It's like walking through a dense evergreen forest at dusk and you start to feel sleepy so you lie down for a nap at the base of a tree. It's the scent of body warmth, trees, and calm natural surroundings. The forest is black, but it's a darkness that envelops you and keeps you safe at night. Overall: Warm but refreshing, a pleasing combo. This would be a wonderful scent to put yourself to sleep with!

Kitsune-Tsuki are malevolent Japanese spirits, akin to western werebeasts: women are possessed by the spirits of foxes, who compel them to perform acts of wickedness and mischief. Asian plum, orchid, daffodil, jasmine and white musk. In the Imp: Plum and jasmine. Smells like a great tea. Wet: Very juicy scent. The sweet plum is complimented by the white florals and and musk, and the jasmine gives it additional "roundness". Not overpowering, instead fresh, and vibrant. Dry: This has an understated elegance to it. It is definitely playful due to the plum, but the florals also give it a maturity and sexiness as well. I love how juicy this stays. Overall: A very nice scent, both light and complex. To me, someone who would wear this often is sweet, intelligent, and also very fun/pleasure-seeking.