Balame

Oh man, I want to cry over the fact that I missed/overlooked this one when it was released. (But maybe not, since I'm tired of tears and all that.) Didn't know I was an oudh fan back then. This is a fantastic lavender. A lot of BPAL's lavenders tend to read as very astringent on me, which is a bit depressing since I actually enjoy the herb. The main success I've had is with Who In the World Am I, which is an awesome vanillic/cotton lavender that's much more subdued. Here I get the same softer, sweeter lavender. It's delicate and absolutely lovely. It seems a lot of people found this blend very strong based on earlier reviews, so it must've aged to perfection. This is as close to the actual plant as you can get. The best part is the oudh and benzoin do this crazy thing where, instead of adding a dry woodsiness, make this smell rounded and richer. Almost like a (cleanly) smoky lavender incense, if that makes sense. And... it's fuzzy. I'm not even kidding, I imagine this is what it smells like if you were to press your face into a unicorn's mane. Softly sweet, magical, with a furry warmth. Such a great blend! Now I have another LE to hunt down.

Blue Fire (Papaya, blueberry, lemongrass, and gin) was definitely electric blue. Unfortunately it's dc'ed, but you can still find bottles now and then.

Oh jeez. I'll try to avoid obvious examples like "Mage" or "Warrior" depending on the characters' classes. It's getting late and I'd like to put a ton of thought into this, but off the top of my head: Blackwall: Playing with Dangerous Toys - Blackwall is my Inquisition OTP! I think this suits him because he's always working on those wooden toys for the kiddos. Like Blackwall, it's tough, woodsy and masculine but with hints of sweetness. And Blackwall does have his dangerous side... Captain Cully - He has experience leading others and I see this as "cleaned up" Blackwall. It's a bit cold in feeling but ironically playful. The porter gives it a little bit of gruffness. The softer musk and smack of leather hints at his hidden sense of humor. Dorian: White Peacock - His last name means "peacock" in Latin so I've seen him depicted with them a lot in fanart. This blend is one of my faves. It's a little haughty and flaunts its sexiness, but also very beautiful with a gentle core. Dorian - His namesake! And it suits him. Refined, sweet and a little naughty. The Iron Bull: skekUng the Garthim-Master - Someone described this as a big burly individual having just come from fighting a dragon. It's a match made in heaven. The Soldier - Slight reference to the rigidity of Qunari society... but this solider is all about showing his kinky dominant side with a swirl of cream. Cassandra: Boadicea - Had to think on this one a bit. I knew I wanted one of the Warrior Queens, but wasn't sure which. Had to settle on this because it has dragon's blood, and the Pentaghast family are famous dragon slayers. It matches her well; rebellious, strong, with a kind heart at the center. Rose Cross - Cassandra's gentler side, and speaks to her dedication to the late Divine and love for (certain aspects of) the Chantry. Solas: Dream - With his love of going into the Fade, this would work well. Plus it's an ethereal, sort of mystical blend. Tristran - Sort of a "nomadic" vibe since Solas travels a lot, and gives hints of the flora and fauna he'd have brushed by on his journey. Fenris Wolf - Coughcough. No comment. Varric: Crowley - So while Varric is far from being a demon in the literal sense, you could definitely call him a devil. He's got the charm, the swagger. You sense he's just a bit too clever for his own good. And he has more than a passing familiarity with the dirty underside of business. Protagoras - Our dwarven companion favors a good tale above all else (save for close friends), and I like the interplay of actual "book smell" in this one combined with the waxiness you get from Lights of Men's Lives. It makes me think of him penning a new story about his adventures by candelight, grinning as he delivers a particularly good turn of phrase. Sera: Sugar Cookie - They're kind of Sera's thing. Avenger - I think this one of ideal for her. She avenges the poor and underrepresented like a hyperactive, foul-mouthed Robin Hood. And that spice in her might mean you end up at the wrong side of an arrow if you refuse to see the injustice of it all... because she's survived that life herself. Cole: A Measurement of the Soul - So much of Cole's story is about deciding how he'll choose between his human-ness versus his true nature as a spirit. This speaks to the balance between the two while giving him a proper ghostly vibe. The Gladdener of All Hearts - The boy is Compassion, for goodness' sake! I know his methods are a little suspect at times, but at his heart he's pure innocence, and I think this blend conveys that well. Vivienne: Vain Sorceress - Need I say more? (Couldn't resist the obvious answer to this one.) The Hierophant and The Empress - I specifically chose this one instead of The Empress alone because of how much Vivienne's husband plays into her side story for a time. Seemed fitting, plus she is very rigid in her beliefs when it comes to the Circle. Maybe I'll get to the advisors and Inquis later! Though the latter would vary a lot between different players. My PC was a female Qunari mage, so if I had to pick for her... Eastern Comma - This blend makes me think of a glorious, heavy summer day backed by the rich ruggedness of tobacco. My character distanced herself from her people, an outcast from her own society, so there's a sense of weight/burden despite leaving the shackles of her culture behind. She finds renewed purpose as the Inquisitor and friends along the way brighten her story. The citrus also makes me think of jewel tones, similar to the lights beaming from the spells she casts, or the glowing light that comes from the Mark on her hand... *edit* Here are the advisors. Leliana: Belle Epoque - For the cute, dainty side of Leliana that loves frills, dresses, pretty shoes and parties at court. Full of hope, loyalty and beauty. The Raven - For the hardcore spy, take no prisoners side that wants revenge and will do whatever it takes for the greater good. Whether it's under the guise of allure or whether you don't see her at all, she gets things done. References her dark little messengers. Mata Hari would also be appropriate. Cullen: Knight in Shiny Armor - Cullen is about as much of a good boy as it gets. He's chivalrous and kind but has a strong will. Fettered in the Shackles of the Drug - Cullen's one claim to a "dark side" is that he's gotten addicted to lyrium as a Templar. This is something he has to overcome if he hopes to move on from the past. Josephine: The Golden Apple of the Sun - A friendly, warm scent, that's made more exotic by the spices and champaca. I feel like Josie would smell like wonderful imported tea and other delicacies, plus I like that the name can reference the golden fabrics she wears and her family's trouble with their wealth/regaining trade rights. Ysabel - Fitting for Josephine, as she is both a strategist and wise diplomat. Ysabel similarly had a great, tactical mind and was a large proponent of learning and education. Kind of fitting that she's Spanish as well, since Josie is Rivaini and they seem closest to Spain lore-wise.

I tested this a few years ago and swapped it out. I should've remembered why. Despite the notes sounding great, this is gross on me. One of the other commenter's mentioned Spencer's (the store) and that's exactly it! Unfortunately it has nothing but negative connotations for me. It smells plastic-y, overly sweet and like chemicals from a cheap fog machine. When first applied the lavender is actually quite nice, but then the white musk amps to an overwhelming, almost sweaty-smelling level. Worse yet it gets mixed with the cloying sweetness of an unrealistic vanilla and weird, high-pitched sage for a mess of incongruent, equally disastrous notes. Clearly a lot of people like this one so it must be my skin chemistry messing with it, or else it's my dislike for heavy musks rearing its head. But I pretty much like all the notes here, so I wonder if it's just their formulation in this blend. Ugh. It's basically the nasty cousin twice-removed from Golden Priapus' family (and I do love me some GP). I rarely dislike blends this much, but it totally makes me think of a creepy/trashy guy who gets way too far into your personal space...

When I first put Druid on I didn't really like it. Smells almost fruity yet spiced. Like a peppery watermelon? The spice is definitely the pitch, anyway. As it dries, maybe around 30 minutes later, the fruity aspect dies off and I get a mix of soft herbs and woods. It's very light at this point and I can barely smell it, though I do like it since it's more of a "foresty robe" now as opposed to whatever the wet stage was doing. Too light for me to get much use out of it though.

Definitely similar to Lights of Men's Lives. A little heavier and boozier overall, with the honey and white musk providing a decadent base, but it's still a gentle scent. Bay rum usually likes to turn into a cloying sugary mess on me, but it's behaving here. There's something vaguely floral, a bit of vanilla, even dusty woods ("harp wood"). To me this is a bard dressed to the nines and singing in a lord's serving hall, all the guests laughing and celebrating, eating their fill. The rum with honey makes it come across as mead-y, which fits the theme nicely. This is a rich blend, but it still comes across as earthy and unpretentious. I feel like it's a good "traveler" scent as well. In that way it gives me a similar feeling (even if they don't smell totally similar) as Tristran. There's a hint of wildflowers on your jacket, the road's dust on your shoes, a trace of mead on your lips, and the body musk from your eager audience. Evocative and perfect for its inspiration.

Yes, definitely a soft and supple brown leather vs heavier black. Highly recommend it if you like the other notes.

Snow White: Go to Sleep Darlings, Paladin, Dana O'Shee, Okayaki, Braving the Ice El Dia de los Reyes: Miskatonic U, Destructive Vagina of the Fox Spirit, Bengal, Mayan Chocolate with Annatto Seed, Anaheim Pepper, Cinnamon and Vanilla Bean Lyonesse: Mouse's Long and Sad Tale, Tamora, Dorian, Y'ha-Nthlei The Fruit of Paradise: LA MORT: Mon ironie dépasse toutes les autres!, Chanukkiyah, Ezekiel's Phoenix, Persephone, Seeds of the Pomegranate, Leaves of the Poppy Velvet: Atlas, Intrigue, How Doth the Little Crocodile, Cthulhu in Love, Black Pearl

I haven't tried Adam, but Prosperous Flowers of the Elegant Twelve Seasons from the Lupers is amazing. Very well-blended leather amid a bunch of sexy honey, vanilla and incense. One of the best "even-handed" leathers I've smelled, ever. Rogue smelled very perfume-y and generic to me, even though it had the leather in it. Maybe it will read differently on your skin, though.

GC Al Azif - An Arabic term that refers to both the chirping of nocturnal insects and the ambient sound made by the chattering of demons. A sinister, sinuous incense of summoning, a herald and paean to the Primordial Gods of Darkness, Chaos, Madness and Decay. 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. The Isles of Demons - The scent is of wet, dark greenery, carnivorous flowers, volcanic gas, and the hot black musk of the demons and wild beasts that populated the islands. LE An Incubus Leaving Two Sleeping Women - Vanilla-infused white honey, magnolia, skin musk, ylang ylang, and beeswax with patchouli, olibanum, kurundu, and a feral brown musk. Hellhound on My Trail - Bay rum, bourbon vanilla, galangal, hyssop, High John the Conqueror root, tobacco, life everlasting, and brimstone. Succubus (DCed) - The scent of their skin is bittersweet, dusky and terminally seductive. Mimosa, orange blossom, neroli and bergamot with a drop of sweet clove. The Hell-Gate of Ireland - Smoldering brimstone, bitter labdanum, clove, black musk, and copper-colored feathers. The Infernal Lover - A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk. The Wild Men of Jezirat al Tennyn - Fiery, primal, and precociously diabolical: red amber, Spanish moss, Indonesian patchouli, ambergris, red pepper, two cloves, and vanilla flower. I like Al Azif the most out of these... it's much gentler than it sounds, but still has a bit of mystery about it. The current Luper blend, Mars Ultor, actually made me think of an incubus/succubus as well. It has a smoky sweetness that feels alluring but powerful. *edit* Forgot Lucifer, duh! Patchouli, golden amber, deep woods, fig, and vetiver.

That sounds beautiful, thanks for posting it! Haven't tried Alchimia yet but now I'll have to give it a shot. Also, with the new Plague line out it sounds like these two might fit this category nicely: All the Dust of the Land An infestation of Ceylon cinnamon bark, black patchouli, tonka absolute, bitter almond, and frankincense. Blood Throughout All the Land Olive wood, acacia, and juniper, stone and clay, all thick with blood and crusted with dust.

I was fond of Little Metalmark myself, but while there was a mustiness about it, it also felt kind of rainy to me. Like a coming storm (which is a great, evocative thing but not quite as dry as I wanted). Lear is actually one of my favorite GCs! It's definitely dry and warm, makes me think of a sun-kissed log in a forest surrounded by little herbs. I'm taking notes on the other recs btw, just wanted to mention my own experiences with these in case anyone else wanders in curious about the same thing.

Thanks everyone, these are great recs! Already adding some to my wishlist so I can hunt them down. I don't know how I missed Ozymandias in the GC. Based on the description it sounds perfect, though reviews seem all over the place so it'll be interesting to test that out. I did try The Trackless Erg, but sadly it ended up smelling fairly powdery and floral to me. The LEs/unreleased blends sound really nice, so here's hoping I can find them without too much difficulty. Paduan Killer Swarm sounds like something I'd enjoy anyway due to the coconut, so definitely have to make that one a priority.

Spiced, bittersweet fruit and a dark hint of herbs. Strong alcoholic bite, reads as very astringent. So, a sharp and sweet herbal rum. Too sweet and boozy for me, though the vetiver makes it more woodsy as it dries down. Still too overpowering in general.

What a surprising blend. It's not as terrible as I thought it would be - between the ginger, pepper and sasparilla I thought this would be disgusting mixed together. But I ended up with a frimp and decided to give it a shot. Glad I did! At first the sasparilla comes on strong which smells like a sweetened soda, but it's the balsam that ends up amping on me. Quite smooth and clean. The ginger and pepper are both extremely well-behaved here, neither coming across as super spicy or astringent. There's a subtle hint of something smoky beneath the slick base. I do smell a little gear oil, but this is largely a very clean, very polite skin scent on me. Not what I expected at all. It seriously reminds me of a softer version of Dove soap + gear oil. Maybe it's just how my skin chemistry makes this play out, but it smells more like I thought Neutral would smell than a Gnome. (This is actually less sweet and more... well, neutral than it is.)

Instead of buttered popcorn I get another weird association with this blend. It immediately reminds me of the weenie pumpkin patch. Seriously, it smells very much like a pumpkin pie with a mix of sweetened spices. It’s yummy, but not what I was expecting. The coconut does make an appearance as time wears on, but it’s still less cream/coconut to me and more spiced pumpkin with coconut frosting. At first I thought it was my skin chemistry playing up, but it smells similarly in the bottle and on a cotton pad. I prefer the type of cream the Lab used in Glowing Vulva: more milky sweet than sugary/cakey. I’m wondering if it’s the combo of cream + macadamia that pushes it into pie category. Nice for gourmand lovers, but not what I wanted. Based on the notes it should’ve been perfection, and yet here they just don’t read properly. I would have been bummed this wasn’t the dreamy amber-coconut I wanted if there weren’t so many other winners for me in the Lupers this year. That includes Lovers and a Fan, which has an awesome, realistic honeyed coconut.

Aah, the blend with "dat ass." Straight applied Loucetius reminds me of SweeTarts candy and pine. It's a really weird and kind of unpleasant combo. But as it dries things get better. It's pretty much white tea with a bright orange/citrus layered across it. The champaca slowly starts lending it a bit of powdery floral sweetness, too. Not so floral that it overwhelms, thankfully, but it adds more interest to the blend. If I don't focus that's all I smell, but there is a bare hint of sandalwood in the background. It smells quite typically feminine to me, so it's a little surprising to think this is actually a Mars blend. It's friendly and cheerful. Pretty simple overall, not that that's a bad thing, but I personally prefer it when tea is deepened somehow (like honey/tea or incense/tea) versus everything being this bright. I'm pretty sure most people who like Kumiho would also be into this. Also similar to Geisha in Orange Kimono Admiring a Samurai, though I like that one more because the sandalwood is more apparent.

Something in here is extremely sweet. The chamomile is present but the musk and ambergris deepen it a lot. The heavy musk and ambergris together is just so candy-ish that it’s a bit overwhelming. The chamomile is trying to be all, “Hey guys maybe we could get some greenery up in here? Take down the sugar a notch?” But then the musk and ambergris cut him off all, “Nope.” It smells like a strong, sugary men’s deodorant to me. I think it’s the musk more than the ambergris acting up, as it’s one of my favorite notes and usually adds just the right touch of brightness. As Lunasariel said, the musk is providing an icky synthetic sweetness, but unfortunately I never get the toned-down phase she did. This is a sweet, soapy hot mess on me. Kind of turns into baby powder, actually. Blegh.

Peach spritzer: that’s Mare Nectaris when first applied. And I love it. It’s exactly what I was hoping for. I used to be addicted to the things, especially the bright and fuzzy peach smell. I’d been looking for something like that for a long time. True, juicy, trickle down your lips peach with bright and tingly bubbles. Unfortunately. It is only a glorious peach concoction while wet. It loses everything I adore and turns into soapy/generic peach shampoo as it dries. Why Nectaris? You were perfect early on. I think it's the more commercial-smelling musk that messes up the balance. Screw you, papaya musk.

Vanilla cream, mimosa, and almond blossom. Almond, almond, almond. It’s the cherry medicine kind I don’t like instead of the warm nutty kind. That’s all I smell for a long time, then it dies down into… a whisper of cherry almonds. I get none of the other notes, except maybe the tiniest hint of vanilla. Unfortunately I have a bad history with nearly all almond blends so I’m not too surprised it didn’t work out.

Best green tea from BPAL yet? I think so. It smells exactly like chilled green tea, very refreshing. But there's also a lovely richness and suddenly it turned into honeyed tea! Still cool, but sweetened in the best of ways. The plum is perfection; juicy and sweet but not candy-ish, adding to the brightness of the tea. There’s a soft touch of floral vanilla, but it adds just the right amount of creaminess without becoming cloying . I can’t pick out the ambergris on its own, but I know that’s what’s giving the blend its charming fizzy “twinkle” (as in Y’ha-nthlei). It’s more prominent when wet and contributes to deepening the blend as it dries. It actually keeps this from being too fruity and moves it into more mature territory. An amazing summer blend. Bright, carefree and lovely. I want to snuggle into this scent and lay out in the sun all day.

My second favorite blend from the Lupers this year! At first the patchouli comes on a bit strong, but it quickly turns into a seamless, gentle blend. Patchouli, honey, leather and soft incense are all here. The notes feel smooth and seductive together. It’s similar to A Variety of Pleasing Amusements with its leather/honey combo, which was another Luper blend I loved. But it’s less in your face and more “come hither dear stranger." More complex, elegant and subtle. It has the delicate, sweetly spicy saffron that’s gorgeous in Lovers and a Fan as it is here. Overall it reads as a creamy, spiced vanilla and honey backed by woods and leather. Absolutely delicious yet graceful. Even a bit mysterious. It feels like a decadent dessert I want to indulge in, if that decadent dessert were a very good-looking nobleman/woman. Very happy this one turned out the way it did, as I was having the worst trouble trying to hunt down more Variety, and I like this even more.

White coconut, thick wildflower honey, and threads of saffron. Wow, where do I start with this blend? First off I want to ditto everything Leopard403 said. This is my favorite Luper this year (perhaps ever), and indeed what I wanted from the vulvas – from Love’s Philosophy as well, which was just plastic and spice on me. This is warm, creamy and seductive… yet subtle. And it has possibly the best coconut and honey I’ve smelled from BPAL. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It perfectly evokes the image/scene, and it’s really seductive to me. Like accidentally walking in on a crush disrobing on a hot day. Somehow everything smells heated. The honey is SPOT on, exactly like it just came from the hive. Rich and sweet and almost overwhelming in its luxury, but in a good way. It drives home the feeling of being hot, caught up in a sticky sweetness. The coconut is similarly decadent but gentler in comparison, adding the cooled feeling of the "fan." Also a true scent, not plastic-y as is can be in other blends. That's a huge plus for me, as I love coconut but it rarely smells right to me in perfumes. The saffron adds just the right amount of… well, what I can only call a “tingle.” A bit of spiciness, but not “spicy hot,” more like a sweet cooking spice. Similar to the subtle zing that blends like Morocco and Penitent Mini Magdalene possess. Most definitely a new favorite of mine; I need several bottles. Natural but sexy, sticky sweet but not cloying, plus a delicious frothy coconut. Is it getting hot in here, or is it just my perfume?

Not what I was expecting, but certainly not bad either. As others have said this starts out in a surprising way. It smells like an almost alcoholic nutmeg to me. Deep and sweet, but also dry and airy. Brighter than I imagined. There’s a soapiness and a little bit of a fruity/citrus vibe from the cistus. During this stage I don’t hate it, but it smells a bit generic and/or cleaner-ish. However, as it dries it becomes quite the charmer. The amber and tobacco suddenly show up and darken the blend, giving it a sweet, incense-y and throbbing base. Yet the cistus remains and now an amazing vanilla helps overlay it with that same cool and airy feeling. The cistus also becomes less fruity and simply rounds out the amber. Something of a play in opposites. Sweetly smoky but not cloying. Makes me think of a succubus/incubus or an attractive someone giving you beckoning glances from the shadowed corner of a bar. Enticing, seductive, but also comfortable. I like it despite the weird wet stage. I’ve never smelled tobacco thinned out in such a pleasing way before. Give it time to settle since it’s a morpher.

Like zankoku noted, the label art for this is epic. I wanted to like it just for that, but let’s get to the blend itself! The lemongrass is nice; I’ve always loved the smell and was excited to see it here. It reads true: bright, fresh and citrusy, but not high-pitched or overwhelming. I don’t really get any patchouli woodsiness, but I smell a delicate red floral (carnation) and yes, “frothy” vanilla which somehow feels very liquid and smooth. The Lab did a great job on that note. Overall it makes me think of Thai tea. For some reason I feel like some hip, young J-pop artist would smell like this. The blend is bright and happy but primarily citrus/floral on me, where I would’ve preferred the amazing vanilla take front and center. I wish the frankincense and patch developed more on me, because I think they could have darkened it up enough to suit me more, but unfortunately they’re not really present. A pleasant and unique scent, but not my style.