fairestrocza

In the Bottle: Pink and fleshy, with a bit of bubblegum sugar Wet on Skin: Pink and fleshy (seriously… it gave this impression the first time I sniffed it in the bottle, even though I hadn't looked to see which bottle I was holding), a bit sweet (in the sugary sense) While Drying: A brief phase of true-to-life lilacs, but they soon disappear into the rest of the scent. After a Little While: This reminds me of the spicy undertones of Raven Moon (smoky vanilla is the only listed common note between the two), but with a softer feel on top of it all. Initial throw is significant, but it doesn't last. Skin scent stays strong for a couple of hours. Later: ~3 hours after application, I can still smell this if I stick my nose close to my arms, but there is no throw left to speak of. Final Thoughts: I like this one, but I'm not sure if I need a bottle. I think I'll need to give it another full-day test or two to see if I can get a better feel for its mood, and see if there is any change in its lasting power. Penis Admiration earns a 4/5 on my skin.

This was a last-minute impulse addition to an imp pack. I'd looked at the blend before, and remembered that I wanted to try it, but I didn't review the notes or reviews when I ordered, nor when I tested this for the first time... In the Imp: foody! Wet on Skin: This reminds me of something specific, but I can't quite place it. Something yummy. This should come with a warning label - do not test right before driving somewhere (couldn't keep my wrists out of my face). After a Little While: Aha! Oatmeal! Oatmeal with cinnamon and sugar! No wonder I'm hungry. Later: Sexy oatmeal. (Oatmeal with something in the background giving a sexy vibe). Someone is in the Chicken-Legged Hut making home made oatmeal, wearing nothing but an apron. Final Thoughts: Not what I was expecting. I love it when my random impulses to test something turn out so well! Throw is mid-range for the first several hours, then becomes more of a skin scent (at this stage, the Sexy vibe increases, and the oatmeal impression dies down). Definitely a fun scent! The Chicken-Legged Hut earns a 4/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: juicy! The fruit notes definitely take center stage. The tobacco is in there also. Wet on Skin: peach-orange smoothie; more of a pear note on the second try While Drying: trident gum (either the yellow or the orange twist pack - passionberry (minus the mint)? Tropical twist?); still sugary, but less of the gum impression on the second go After a Little While: Still fruity, but the gum impression dies down and the tobacco shows up a bit more. No booze to speak of. Honey and vanilla may be adding to the softness and/or sweetness, but aren't asserting themselves. Later: next morning: honey scent is lingering on my skin; second try - late drydown is a soft, slightly sweet, almost light musk scent. Final Thoughts: This has decent throw while wet, but is mainly a skin-close scent. The skin scent is fairly strong (I don't have to work to detect it, I just have to be sniffing close to the skin). The close scent seems to have some lasting power. I can see being in the mood for this from time to time, but I think my partial bottle will be sufficient. Autumn Moon of the Mirror Stand earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: deliciously juicy Wet on Skin: Tangerine! A very true to life scent. While Drying: Sweetening up a bit as the other notes start to come into play. (On the second test, this went through a baby powder / baby wipe phase) After a Little While: The tangerine is still recognizable, but sinks into the other notes… just gorgeous. (no longer has the 'I just binged on a bag of tangerines' effect of the early wet stage)… On the other hand, The Boy says it smells like 'the good parts of Old English furniture polish.' (At least it is the 'good parts') I think it is the combo of citrus and cypress. (oh man, there is the baby wipe smell again - why must it do this? it didn't the first time!) Later: The musky aspect dances in and out over a soft tangerine. I'm getting a bit of a thick-headed feeling, but not sure if it is a reaction to the oil. The longer this wears, the softer the tangerine becomes… more musky, less citrusy. But I am developing a headache - really hope it isn't the oil. Pretty decent throw, even after the scent hits later stages. (final drydown is beautiful, even when my chemistry is messing with the earlier stages) Final Thoughts: This is my first blend with tangerine as a citrus note, and I am quite happy with it… I love the initial pop of tangerine in the beginning. I think I'll have to wear this a few more times before I decide if I need a bottle, but I'll definitely hold on to a decant. Final, Final Thoughts: After further testing, it looks like this is one I'll only be able to wear a few days a month, and with a very light touch. That being the case, I am glad that my posse all have decants or half decants, because I do love the smell of this one. Thoos earns a 3.5/5 on my skin (it would be higher if it weren't for my weird reaction to this one.)

In the Bottle: old, well cared for furniture, and olive oil Wet on Skin: sweeter than I expected While Drying: This is a very odd smell. At this phase (this time around) it smells like my friend's brand new leather couch. After a Little While: This has some major throw. There is an odd combination of impressions - old leather wallet, furniture store, warming olive oil in a pan, sitting on a brand new leather couch… Later: Not much change from earlier phases. Throw is still very strong. A long time later, this calms down to a more easygoing oiled leather scent. Final Thoughts: I think this is a bit much on me. I preferred it on The Boy. It is interesting conceptually, but not something I want to wear as a personal scent. This is better than leather scents usually are on my skin, but still a bit much. Olisbos earns a 3/5 on my skin. ETA: Time did not increase my opinion of this blend. I have several friends who were quite entranced with Olisbos, and they ended up with my stock. I asked for the empty bottle back because I loved the artwork, but even opening the box where it was stored was enough to put me off. I ended up giving away the empty recently. I think it was the olive oil that hit me the wrong way. (It turns out that I am not a huge fan of leather either, even when it agrees with my skin chemistry). Ah well, more for those who love it.

How does this relate to the admonitions in other threads not to vigorously shake bottles of BPAL? (similar reasons are given - breakdown of molecules)

In the Bottle: very unusual... intriguing. Wet on Skin: Spicy sandalwood lightly sweetened by honey While Drying: OMG this is good. I can pick out the pepper (just a slight hint - blends beautifully), sandalwood, and honey (not super sweet, just enough). Oakmoss is behaving itself. Not sure what rice flower smells like. After a Little While: Something is triggering the scent-memory of standing around the pool table in my grandparents basement. (a very positive association) Later: Just the right amount of throw - I get the occasional waft of scent, but it isn't obtrusive. Late dry down seems to be mainly honey and a musky scent. Long lasting (24 hours, and could have gone longer if I didn't shower). Final Thoughts: Easily wearable by any gender, though definitely not a girly scent. I like all stages of this one. It is definitely in strong contention to be a bottle purchase. Ronin earns a 4.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: vanilla and anise Wet on Skin: Spicy vanilla and anise, and something that is making it feel flat. I don't notice any cherry blossom or neroli, so I'm guessing it must be the violet leaf that is damping things down. While Drying: The anise could actually be stronger for my tastes. It is present, but muted. I was expecting something along the lines of the licorice in Baku, but this is a lot softer. After a Little While: I think it must be the violet leaf that is killing this for me. (I'm getting a hint of the Wrongness that was Saturnalia). On the plus side, the vanilla reminds me a bit of TKO (mmmmmm). The anise is pretty mellow. Later: This is just not doing it for me. *sigh.* I'll try it again a time or two before I give up hope. Final Thoughts: I had high hopes for this one, but something in it is just not working with my chemistry. Pink Mood earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: Jasmine with something sweet and fruity Wet: I pick up the apple briefly before Jasmine starts taking over. I amp jasmine like crazy, and this is no exception Dry: Jasmine eventually dies off, and the residual scent is nice, but very faint. Not worth the wait. Final Thoughts: I had low expectations for this one, and as expected, Jasmine jumped all over everything else. This is probably lovely on people who have a better relationship with jasmine. The Perfumed Garden earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: red wine, and something sharp, like non-drinkable alcohol Wet on Skin: less wine, more of the sharp note While Drying: wine, plum, and roses After a Little While: I'm not really feeling this one. It is both boozy and perfumey - an odd combination on me. Later: Late drydown is not bad, but I have a hard time getting through the initial stages. Obviously the wrong chemistry for this scent, because it is beautiful on my friend. Final Thoughts: I much prefer Athens if I am looking for a red wine scent. The Zadok Allen Vineyard earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: chocolate and strawberries and chocolate Wet on Skin: chocolate and creamy strawberry While Drying: Maybe the barest hint of white pepper, but ultimately, this smells just like a strawberry filled chocolate candy… ahh, now the pepper is coming through a touch. I'm impressed that this actually smells like a truffle, and not just chocolate and strawberry notes... there is an almost boozy note underneath it all that I associate with boxed chocolates. After a Little While: The pepper picks up and adds a bit of complexity to what might otherwise be a somewhat boring scent. This does not seem like a white chocolate (this is a good thing - I hate white chocolate - it has no business calling itself chocolate if it isn't made with cocoa)… this seems a bit richer. Good throw, especially the chocolate note. Later: I'm really liking the interplay between the notes in this one. Very well balanced on my skin. After many hours, the throw eventually changes to a skin-close scent, sweet and yummy. Final Thoughts: This bottle rode along for a friend in a recent order of mine. I had little interest, but asked if I could try it just for the sake of exploration. I like this a lot more than I expected I would. I'm not sure how many chocolate scents I actually need in my collection… If I thought I'd wear chocolate frequently, I'd consider getting a bottle of this one. In fact, the longer this is on my skin, the more that bottle looks tempting... Final, Final Thoughts: Ah, hell. I think this is going on the bottle list. I wore it again today, and can actually see myself wearing this semi-frequently. The white pepper is enough to make this more than just a chocolate scent. My skin loves this one. My nose loves this one. The Boy loves this one. White Chocolate, Strawberry, and White Pepper Truffle earns a 4.5/5 on my skin.

In the Bottle: soft… can't quite place this scent, but it is familiar Wet on Skin: soft floral with a blue musk character While Drying: nothing is really jumping out at me, just a general floral impression After a Little While: A bit of the blood orange or neroli is expressing itself. The majority of the flowers are still sticking together in a melange that I associate with other 'night-blooming' blends. It seems like I should be smelling this in a different body product… maybe shampoo or soap (it does not smell soapy on me, but seems like a scent that would be added to soap). A hint of the blue musk is still there, but no red musk to speak of. Later: This gets less floral with time (in fact, Just in Time to prevent me from getting sick of it and renew my interest in wrist-sniffing). Oh… yes, now we're talking… red musk and amber, with just a hint of neroli slip in like a lover surprising you with an early return from a voyage. Late drydown is warm, slightly spicy, and absolutely gorgeous. Final Thoughts: I was hesitant about this one - quite a few flowers listed - that generally doesn't bode well - but red musk is fantastic on me, and there were enough non-floral notes that I figured it was worth a shot. This started out ok, but nothing special, and just when I was about to write it off, it had this amazing transformation that knocked my socks off. I wish the late stage had a bit more throw, but the close scent seems to be lasting. (Apparently the throw is greater than I thought. Three of us were testing various blends and after a few hours I kept smelling something gorgeous. I didn't realize until I was in bed that it was ME). Two Loves earns a 4/5 on my skin. Two Loves: Bachelor number one is the nice guy who always calls to thank you after a date, is polite (if slightly socially awkward), and brings you flowers from time to time... but is missing that *spark*... Bachelor number two, on the other hand, is the unreliable commitment-phobe... you never know when he will show up, but you keep going back, because when he kisses you, you can feel it down to your toes...

In the Bottle: Uh oh. Irish Spring Early Warning Sensors are going off. Maybe some decay (fungus) in there too. Wet on Skin: Fresh, but yay! A slight sweetness is holding the Irish Spring at bay. While Drying: Almost but not quite floral sweetness (must be the herbs), fresh, more light-hearted than I would have expected for the Miskatonic Valley - maybe this lovers retreat is a good idea after all. There is something in here that I am associating with the misty note from The Black Tower, but not as prominent as it is in that blend. After a Little While: The herbs provide a sweetness without becoming cloying the way many florals do on my skin. It has the effect of a floral, without the Bad Things that often accompany actual florals. Final Thoughts: I was pretty excited about this one… and disappointed with the smell I got as I was decanting. But on the skin, this is lovely. I was hoping for Herbes de Provence - what I got was better… not as specifically identifiable as HdP, and probably a better scent as a result. The throw is low-moderate, fading fairly quickly to a skin scent (light application - a heavier hand might alter this) after a couple of hours. The Steeple earns a 3.5/5 on my skin (though The Boy rated it 4/5). (edited for typing fail)

In the Bottle: An exotic baked good (caraway and neroli dominant)... the neroli is similar to the scent I associate with cranberry-orange muffins, but so much more appealing - maybe a muffin made by a high-end bakery that focuses on health (I'd expect to find tasty seeds in this muffin) without sacrificing taste. Wet on Skin: very unusual, very exotic… While Drying: I'd almost classify this as a foody blend, but more savory than sweet After a Little While: golden spiciness; the bergamot is tempering the sweetness of the neroli Later: everything pulls together to form a beautiful, golden scent Final Thoughts: Neroli is one of my favorite notes, but it can occasionally go to syrupy on me. Here, it is beautifully complemented by the other notes. Throw is decent in the beginning, but it becomes more of a skin scent after a few hours. (This initial test was a very light application - I'll have to try it with a more liberal hand next time). While the caraway is definitely present, I do not get a licorice vibe from it. Khrysopelex earns a 4/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: hmm, a lighter, slightly floral version of Hemlock? Wet on Skin: initial blast of strong medicinal disinfectant, with a background that reminds me of Hemlock (bright, piney, slightly lemony) While Drying: the medicinal smell is sticking around, and is now being joined by something nasty and sharp After a Little While: the camphorous smell is lingering… I would much rather have eucalyptus than camphor. This must be revenge for the 30 or 40 nightshade plants I ripped out of the garden last summer. Later: The camphor tames after a while, but this comes nowhere near being as wonderful as my Hemlock. By the time the camphor dies off, the throw is extremely minimal. I get a faint lemony scent in my elbows, and nothing on my wrists. Final Thoughts: I imagine this is what I would smell if I were to put on Hemlock and then go to my mom's house to help her polish silver (she has those little camphor blocks that are supposed to prevent silver from tarnishing while in storage). Belladonna earns a 2.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: deep and sweet Wet on Skin: warm, a bit spicy, a bit incensy, a bit sweet While Drying: A brief slightly musky phase, but overall a warm, slightly gritty scent with an edge of sweetness. The scent sticks fairly close to the skin. All the listed notes seem to be present without any one being dominant. After a Little While: This reminds me a bit of Ravenous/Rakshasa/Hunger type blends, though the peach blossom is much less candied than orange blossom can be. The vanilla and spiciness make me want to bury my nose against my wrists. Later: Fairly low throw, with the scent sticking closer and closer to the skin as time passes, but I wouldn't mind reapplying this one from time to time… it is sexylicious. Final long-term drydown is a slightly musky vanilla Final Thoughts: I have a feeling that this imp will disappear fairly quickly, unless I can find the willpower to save a little so I can see how it ages. Tamora earns a 4.5/5 on my skin. ETA: This scent has grown on me and is now one of my main go-to scents. Just fantastic. Age has improved the throw and given this a lovely resonance.

In the Imp: slightly sweet, stem-y floral Wet on Skin: a lovely scent dominated by poppies While Drying: hmm, poppies are amping After a Little While: Ugh. This has become too heady, bordering on cloying. I can't pick out the acai or the honey, but they might be to blame for the bad turn the poppies are taking - almost rotten/musky… that is probably the honey being difficult. Later: Much later this settles down a bit, but it retains the rotten/musky tone that happens periodically with honey on my skin Final Thoughts: Poppies have worked well on my skin in other blends, so I am not sure if it is their prominence, or the interference of the other notes that is making this turn on my skin. Fortunately, I have a friend with neutral skin chemistry who adores poppies. I think this will end up living at her house. Slippery Poppy Tincture earns a 2/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: perfumey and floral Wet on Skin: lemony rose While Drying: yup, rose After a Little While: the variety of rose that has a slightly lemony twist on my skin Later: only lasted about 4 hours Final Thoughts: The imp I tried was probably about 3 years old. This might have more staying power and complexity lab fresh, but as it is, it was a fairly straightforward, simple rose scent. As for voodoo properties... I wore it on the 5th expedition to try to find bridesmaid dresses for my friends, and we did end up ordering the dresses that night. Who can say Come to Me earns a 2.5/5 on my skin

Do you remember what time you placed the order and are you in a time zone that's behind CCNow's? I had this problem with my last order. I had placed it around 11:30pm West Coast time and when I went to check the status, it kept telling me that there was no record of such an order. I then saw that CCNow is based somewhere in the Central Time belt and tried checking my order with all the info, except with the date moved up to the next day (10/22 instead of 10/21). And it worked! I hope the problem is as simple as that! Let us know how it goes! I have had the time zone issue. I have also noticed that CCNow likes to pretend that my orders don't exist until they are actually harvested by the lab, then the tracking page starts working for me again. People in another thread have also mentioned that the date line seems to be buggy, and does not like 2010 dates.

In the Imp: a bit alcoholy/perfumey, some questionable flowers Wet on Skin: a bit powdery, jasmine is definitely present (jasmine is generally not my friend) While Drying: heady, bordering on cloying; just floral, no spices detectable at this point After a Little While: something is turning a bit sour; smells like a bad floral air freshener trying to cover up nasty bathroom smells Later: the nasty bathroom smell is calming down a bit, but I'm starting to develop a headache… this has got to go. I got side-tracked on my way to wash this off… a faint spice note comes in at the end, but now it smells like someone ran out of the floral air freshener and started using a spicy one on top of the lingering floral scent... while chewing bubblegum (?!) Final Thoughts: this is an old imp, so lab-fresh might be better, but there are several hundred other things I would rather test Zorya earns a 1/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: woody, herbal, a bit sharp Wet on Skin: there is a scent in here that is not quite licorice, but reminds me of making gingerbread houses as a kid While Drying: very sharp; The Boy says it smells like something you would find at Nordstroms. I agree that there is a bit of potpourri character. Stingingly fresh. After a Little While: A bit more of the wood is coming through now. Still astringent. Hard to pick out individual notes. There is a note in here that is quite pungent and slightly soapy - I recognize it from other blends, but I can't remember which. Could it be galangal? Later: Where did it go? It was so strong, and then *poof* gone. Final Thoughts: I think I need to let this one sit around for a while and see if age improves its temperament. Yggdrasil earns a 3/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: a sweet floral, and something is saying 'Purple' to me; a bit of light citrus the second time around Wet on Skin: This reminds me of a box of soaps (4? 5? different kinds) I got at the perfumary in Grasse, France… soaps that smelled impressively like fresh flowers, not soapy… so, soap in a *good* way, as far as soap goes (What was in that box? Lavender, rose for sure, and ahh yes, violet - that must be my Purple. There was also a pale yellow wrapper - can't remember what that one was). While Drying: rose for sure, and something citrusy (I get that sometimes from rose), over the smell of hot laundry (slightly superheated clean button-down mens shirts) After a Little While: the laundry is cooling off now, but I can still smell the violet perfumed hand soap Later: This is such a nostalgic, homey smell for me. I'll have to try this again and see if I always get that scent-memory from it. (my second skin test did pretty much the same thing, with one addition - a weird, but brief, musky sharpness pushed its way in at one point). Hmm, this seems to soak into any fabric it touches, much more than other scents, and my sleeves are retaining just the soapy violets smell. Final Thoughts: For me, this is a very homey/comfort scent. This did not feel aquatic, and is unlike the other 'clean' blends I've tried (I often get single-note-Irish-Spring, or dryer-sheet with 'clean' scents, but not here). I love the blends that hit my scent-memory triggers. Throw is decent, but still fairly delicate (on second thought, it does have its in-your-face moments, but overall feel is still delicate). On me, this one lasts quite a while, though the intensity decreases significantly. I can still smell a tame violet scent on my wrists 12 hours later. This is not typical of the types of blends I gravitate toward, but the scent memory triggers appeal to me. Water of Notre Dame earns a 3.5/5 for scent, 4/5 for memory triggers, on my skin.

In the Imp: cologne; the bff smells citrusy flowers Wet on Skin: I'm getting musk, with just a touch of patchouli underneath; citrusy flowers While Drying: fresher on the wrists (musks), sweeter in the elbows (patchouli); poppies are pretty subtle to my nose After a Little While: Starting to pick up the poppies… not bad… probably better with a bit of age to bring out the patchouli more. White musk works on my skin. Later: I finally figured out what the bff means by "citrusy flowers" - I think it is the way the musks are interacting with the poppy - gives it just a hint of citrus-like brightness; the poppy never gets overpowering; the patchouli is pretty subtle (I could actually handle a bit more - maybe age will bring it out) Final Thoughts: Probably don't need a bottle, but I'll use the imp from time to time Vechernyaya earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.

In the Imp: perfumey Wet on Skin: the floral note is pretty aggressive at first While Drying: very sweet, a similar sweetness to that which I get from fig/plum notes. Not liking this stage so far. After a Little While: over-the-top floral with an almost-cloying sweetness Later: a touch of musk starts to come through, and the floral dies back a tiny bit, but I don't think this is my kind of scent. Final Thoughts: I may keep this around to see if age helps bring out the patchouli and tame the floral sweetness… or maybe not - I am developing a headache. I will need to test a few more orchid blends to see if it works for me somewhere else. Oberon earns a 2/5 on my skin.

I received this as a frimp through a forum purchase In the Decant: a friendly, warm scent, with pine beneath Wet on Skin: similar to the imp, but I have to work a little harder to find the pine While Drying: a very Christmasy smell… sweet plum begins to emerge - smells like candy After a Little While: very sweet/sugary plum, with a touch of musk (not a fan of this stage) Later: slightly sweet musk Final Thoughts: Never got any florals with this. The pine wood smell was fantastic in the beginning, but then disappeared, never to be found again. Wet phases were great. Drydown was nothing spectacular on my skin. L'Inverno earns a 3.5/5 on my skin.