KesHiro

Has anyone had a bad reaction to Ulalume?

 

Starry white lilies lend an eerie brightness to the deep black wooded scents of cypress and oak, layered with a touch of crushed dried leaves and the faintest aquatic note.

 

I actually have a pretty extensive laundry list of allergies/asthma when it comes to trees etc., but it didn't occur to me that they might extend to perfumery! A whiff of this one closes my throat up pretty quick. And I have no idea which note's the culprit. Anyone else have a guess?

I loved Ulalume until it nearly triggered an asthma attack. I initially thought it was the dry leaves but I've worn other BPAL oils with that note and not had a problem. The same for lilies, the woods, and the aquatic note. So, as Gwydion pointed out, perhaps it's the concentration of a single note or several lumped together. Good luck! I hate not knowing what's triggered a reaction.

Oh my goodness! Seriously....we need to have a full blown discussion about this blend...not a review.

This is exactly how I feel. I got it today and it was love at first sniff, which is good because I have no previous experience with coffee notes and I was afraid Middle Eastern spices would translate to cassia, which turns into cough medicine on my skin. Still, it seemed full of win . . . and it is for me!

The notes are incredibly well blended; no one particular component overpowers the others. The leather is very soft, almost suede-like, and the hazelnut, spices, and coffee help sweeten it up, though not in a foody way. The tobacco is very faint. I can barely smell it and while I don't amp tobacco, it also usually shows up on my skin. It's closer to pipe tobacco than ash trays.

I think this is a truly gender neutral blend. On women it probably wears sweet but with a bit of an edge thanks to the leather and tobacco. On men, I suspect it would wear manly but with a softer side peeping through. I wouldn't be surprised if this turned out to be one of the top three Yules, if not the hit of the update. That's saying a lot, given that I belong to the Snow White cult.

Snow White 2009

 

Oh . . . my . . . <img src="http://www.bpal.org/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wub.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wub.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wub.gif" /> ~Sweet mystery of life at last I've found you!!!~

 

I can see why this has so many reviews. I'm in love! In the bottle and wet, I get cold, fresh green plants with the faintest hint of vanilla. Maybe some kind of white musk too? I'm not sure, owing to the fact that I'm pretty much a musk idiot. As it dries, this goes from being a wonderful scent to something magical. I get snow, faint green florals, marzipan, fluffy cream, coconut, and vanilla. It's so pretty, light, dainty, and feminine.

 

Quoting myself here. 2009 was my first experience with Snow White. Here is my take on the 2010 version:

Snow White 2010 seems a bit warmer this time around, if that makes any sense. I get more of the marzipan, fluffy cream, coconut vibe this time around, but also the chilly white florals. I know I've made this sound like one hell of a foody scent, but it's not. It simply has elements of the above.

Between the two, I think I prefer SW 2010.

Shoot. I finally find a rose I can wear and the wisteria had go and mess it all up.

In the bottle, this is a lovely, light rose, with a touch of something sweet and creamy. On, it's the same . . . but then the wisteria kicks in and causes the whole blend to go funky. Actually, I can't be sure if it's the wisteria, as the note has worked for me in the past. But it seems like the most likely suspect. For lack of a better description, this ends up smelling like day old sweat and soft roses. Ick.

Thank heavens for scent lockets. In there, it stays pretty and mysterious.

Interesting and not quite what I expected. In the bottle, this smelled like mildewed leather. On, it's leather and burnt brown sugar (probably the vanilla and smoke combo). By burnt sugar, I mean the good kind like on top of a creme brulee, not the kitchen accident sort. I get no flowers whatsoever.

Like I said, it's not what I expected but I don't dislike either. In fact, it seems to be growing on me.

This is a definite must for fans of the perfume oil. It's pretty much the same scent . . . but in a gorgeous bath oil form! Sweet vanilla, a hint of coconut, maybe a smidge of marzipan (at least to my nose) and those white florals. As others have said, it's sweet but not in a foody way.

As a bath oil, Snow White is wonderful; it scents the water and makes it feel soft. The oil doesn't sit on the surface in some disgusting blob but intersperses throughout and leaves your skin feeling nourished and pampered. When used as an after shower moisturizer, the oil almost immediately sinks in. I have wicked dry skin during the winter and this stuff makes it feel like silk. The scent also lingers for a long time -- eleven+ hours -- but it's not so strong as to overpower you. I don't have much experience with BPTP bath oils but if this is the typical formula, I may need to seriously invest in their bath products. It's that good.

Wanted to come in here and say that I just got a CnS, so the three scents I got are not backordered.

Is there a Yule scent that is backordered- something besides Unicorns? I ordered three Yule bottles on the 22nd and my order was harvested on the 11/28, but I still don't have a CnS, and there are people who ordered on 11/2 and they do. I also noticed in the "Come Squee With Us!" Thread that I'm not alone in this...

 

ETA: I notice that no one's gotten a bottle of The First of the Three Spirits yet, and that's in my order...

I'm starting to suspect that there's some sort of Yule or Weenie backorder. I placed an Oct 21st order for Snow White 2010, The Shadowy and the Sublime, and Crowley, and haven't received a CnS. I haven't seen a CnS containing Snow White or new reviews for either it or The Shadowy and the Sublime.

Normally I wouldn't worry but the 21-day mark hits right around the time the Weenies go down.

placed a BPAL order on Sept 19... no CnS yet.. from the CnS thread it seems that mine should have arrived by now maybe?

Is it possible that one of the scents is on backorder? I know Paduan Killer Swarm was holding up a bunch of orders, although it looks like they're now shipping. Did you get any popular Weenies? You're a wee bit past the 14-21 day processing mark and I think it would be all right to email the Lab on Monday. Good luck and I hope you get your order soon!

Sadly, I am apparently one of those people who cannot wear straight up Snake Oil. Fresh or aged, it does not matter. My skin chemistry HATES it. If it's fresh, it smells too sharp and medicinal and if it's aged the scent is overly sweet. I can see why it has such a following, though, and I'm glad it works for so many others. I definitely recommend giving it a try and if it doesn't work the first time around, let it age before writing it off.

In the imp, it's medicinal, herbal lavender. On me, it turns a sharp herbal lavender. I don't know how this helps when it comes to dreams and sleep because I had to wash it off.

Wow, this is strange.

In the bottle, it's spicy sweet incense. On me? Wet through drydown, it's like Fledgling Raptor Moon snagged some vanilla cookies and is now chopping them down in the nest. Far into the drydown (like, five hours later), it's the same but with a touch more spice. It's so very weird but it's also a pleasant surprise. Throw-wise, this one likes to stay extremely close to the skin but it lasts a good seven hours.

If you were disappointed in FRM because it wasn't sweet enough, you might want to check out Inez. It has that woody quality but also a much strong vanilla note.

In the imp: Musky orange blossom. Oh my God, it's 4711! It's the original Santa Maria Novella! My two pre-BPAL favorites! Squee!

Wet: The same as above!

Drydown: And the rose is taking over . . . crap.

Dry: Rose single note. Damn it.

As usual, my skin amps the rose. The good news is that it works in my hair, so it'll get put to good use.

Really? I'm the second person to review this since its release? Weird.

Not quite black, not quite purple, and not quite blue, Smokestack is all and none of the above. It's a luscious navy blue - almost - black with purple - black shimmer. As the previous reviewer said, the description is spot-on. In the bottle, it has tons of shimmer but once on the nail, you don't really see it unless in direct sunlight or very bright light. The shimmer is still there but it is much more subdued. As with all the claw polishes, the sheen is incredible: it looks like you have on a top coat when you don't.

This is a very unique, elegant color. I was showing my friend the three colors I bought and she zeroed in on this one, saying it was on par with something Chanel might put out. It's cool and edgy but also elegant and sophisticated. This would probably be best during the winter but I might just start wearing it now. Given my short nails and a large blop of polish, I could almost achieve bottle color in one go, but I really recommend two. It looks best after the second coat.

I only swatched it and haven't had the chance to give it a full wear. I cannot testify to chipping, wear, dry time, etc, but once it's been given a proper wear, I'll come back and update my review.

Bottom line, for now: gorgeous, a delightful blend of goth and classic elegance, and very unique. Also makes for an excellent base color should you want to put a sheer glitter over it. I found that one thin coat of Zoya Kotori was fabulous.

Holy glittery shiny bronze, Batman! This is beautiful!

Robotic Scarab definitely lives up to the description and then some. This is a deep bronze with warm coppery-red tones and tons of glitter, although that glitter is subtle and subdued in indoor light. Application wise, this one is a total breeze. It goes on evenly and while I recommend two coats to achieve the bottle color, I almost didn't need it with my short little stubby nails.

I only swatched this over the weekend, so I cannot testify to dry time, wear, chipping, etc. Once I give this color a proper spin, I'll come back and update my review.

In the mean time: gorgeous color for the late summer and all through fall.

Absolutely gorgeous. This is a beautiful, classic deep cool berry. I think the first reviewer summed it up best: a winter berry that's not pink, red, or plum but all of the above. I can see wearing this for a night out with friends, a date, a formal function, an informal lunch, or a family gathering -- it will fit all those occasions, as it is so versatile. This is definitely one of those colors where you wear it, not the other way around. How people interpret it is depends on your outfit and demeanor.

Application wise, I need two coats to get something resembling the bottle color. The silver particles are visible in the bottle, but they did get a bit lost on my nail. Still, there is something pearly and metallic about this polish and the sheen is super shiny. It looks like you're wearing a top coat even if you're not.

I only swatched this over the weekend and so cannot comment on dry time, wear, chipping, etc. I will update once I've given it a proper spin.

Bottom line: a gorgeous berry that will get lots of use in the fall and winter seasons.

It might just be my nose and skin chemistry, and I wouldn't say that this is an exact equivalent (more like second cousins), but I find a similarity between Okayaki and Theodosius, the Legerdemain. With Okayaki, I get vanilla with touches of bergamot and cardamom. With Theodosius, I get the vanilla and bergamot vibe but with the addition of tea and musk. I would also say that Theodosius smells very similar after about three hours of wear, but your mileage may vary.

Long story short: Dorian's suave, sophisticated (though no less mischievous) older brother.

In the bottle, Theodosius is the best quality Earl Grey tea with extra bergamot. Wet, the vanilla emerges and hangs along the edges of the scent; I suspect the jasmine leaf is there too, as there is something vaguely floral in the background. I cannot, however, detect it unless I jam my nose into my wrist. As the oil dries, the fougere develops and after thirty minutes, the white musk rounds out the blend. Ultimately, I'm left with something that smells like an extremely expensive, well crafted, and exclusive niche fashion house cologne. I mean this in the best way possible. This would make a great enabling fragrance: it has a mainstream quality to it while retaining those elements that make it unique to BPAL.

If Dorian is the playful and mischievous Victorian gentleman, Theodosius is his cooler, reserved, and sophisticated brother. He dines and shops in only the best establishments and looks effortlessly stylish at all times. His jokes are drier and his tastes a bit more high brow. He may seem aloof but he's really just a nice, quiet guy who prefers observing before jumping in. If Dorian seduces with playful pats on the behind, Theodosius does it first through thoughtful comments and playful expressions before moving into physical contact.

Great scent and it's going into my top choices!

This is one likes to morph around. How appropriate for a moth.

In the bottle, I get the same creamy spicy vibe I get with Okayaki, minus the bergamot note and with the addition of sugar. Once on, you would think that this was a cardamom single note blend. It's very dry, spicy, dusty, and almost woody. I love it. As time passes and I sniff my wrist, some of the sweeter, creamy notes (the vanilla and tonka are the two most likely culprits) begin to emerge, albeit very slowly. It's an interesting olfactory experience as this goes from super dry spice to one with something sweet in the background that slowly but surely blooms. It's like a moth breaking free of its chrysalis. After about an hour, I'm left with a vanilla musk with the faintest touch of spice. It's very sweet, almost a bit too much, and it almost gets a bit too gourmand for my tastes, but I still like it, both on its own and for layering with other blends.

This has absolutely no throw but I like skin close scents, so this is a not problem. It is a very simplistic and straight forward blend. But you know what? I don't care. Sometimes all I want is a vanilla skin musk. Gypsy is soft and soothing, very comforting, and yet also manages to be sensual because it stays so close to the skin. Only you and the person you let close enough will smell it. Glad I bought a bottle and it'll be getting lots of use during late summer/fall.

Edit: typos

Frimp in one of my orders.

Rose happens to be one of my death notes, as it pretty much takes over the blend and turns it into a single, flat, one dimensional mess. Love the flower, hate the fact that I amp it to the high heavens. Still, I had hope for this one, as the name is pretty and the combination of notes sounded intriguing.

I have to say that of all the rose based blends I've tried, this one almost made it to my "must buy" list. For about an hour and a half, this is a beautiful, cool, creamy rose. From imp to wet to drydown to dry, I get rose with hints of coconut and a soft, sweet, creamy musk. Oddly enough, I also smell something tea-like way in the background (?!). Maybe it's the orris?

It's quite beautiful and stays close to the skin, which I happen to prefer. The rose is strong but the other notes put up a very good fight and hang in the background, keeping this from turning into a single note nightmare. Sadly, after about ninety minutes, they give up and I had to wash this off around the two hour mark because I was so irritated.

Highly recommend to rose lovers and those who want a soft, creamy floral that doesn't rely on the usual big white blooms. In the meantime, I am determined to make this work and will experiment with layering and scent lockets.

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but I just now noticed how similar dry Baobhan Sith is to Fresh's Sugar Lychee lotion and perfume. I was about to put the lotion on my hands when I stopped to smell it, smelled two hour old Baobhan Sith on my arms, and thought, "Huzzah! A match!" I do find it very bizarre, as the only note they have in common is grapefruit:

Sugar Lychee:

Top -- grapefruit, Italian lemon, lime blossom

Heart -- lychee, lotus Flower, freesia

Base: sandalwood, tonka bean, amber

I'm so thrilled! Now I've found *TWO* BPALs that match my Fresh perfumes! (Dorian is a great dupe for all the Fresh Sugar lovers).

I bought this on a total whim, something I don't often do. I'd read numerous posts on Mr. Ibis, read through the reviews here, and thought, "What the heck, why not?" Sometimes impulses are a good thing.

In the bottle, I get soft green aloe. It's very refreshing and clean! Wet, it's the same, maybe with some musk. There are about twenty scary minutes where this turns into Elmer's glue; I don't know what note is causing this, but I'm glad I don't amp it and that it goes away. Further into the drydown, the papyrus note emerges. Dry, this is fresh paper (!) and aloe. I can't detect the vanilla flower, but I think it's there . . . something faintly sweet hangs around the edges of the fragrance.

This is a clean, fresh, skin close scent. It's perfect for those days where you want to wear something but don't want your perfume to attract too much attention. It's also good for those days where you want something light and refreshing. Glad I went with my whim and purchased this!

Normally I'm not into the lunacy blends but this is the first one that truly resonated with me. The imagery, the poem, and the notes -- all of it seemed . . . right. So, I went ahead and decided to risk a bottle.

I'm glad I did.

On me, this is a warm, sweet, spicy, woody scent. I'm not sure I get the fluffy feathers others have mentioned but I get the impression of something soft and golden. Both the sweetness and spice are on the mild side, adding an extra oomph to the fragrance rather than overtaking it. I can't seem to pick out individual notes, as this oil is very well blended and my skin isn't amping one over the other. It's very comforting, like a warm blanket or a hug from a loved one.

My one disappointment, echoed by so many here, is that the bourbon vanilla isn't a smidge stronger. I would have been over the moon (yes, bad pun!) if I got more vanilla. As it is, this is a lovely sweet spice/wood.

This doesn't have much throw and stays close to the skin. I prefer my scents to skin close, but those who want lots of throw might be disappointed.

SophieCedar, your dress is so beautiful! Congratulations!

Hmmmm. Based on what I own, I would toss my vote in with Dorian -- it's sweet and pretty but also a little seductive. I like how someone else suggested Ronin! I wouldn't have thought about it but I do find it a subtle, pretty scent. The combination of rice flower, honey, pepper, sandalwood, and moss make it like Dorian -- pretty, classy, but ever so slightly seductive.

I second Mme. Moriarty as a candidate -- I always get a vintage vibe from it. Maybe also Countess Willie if you like the scent? The chocolate plum combined with the red musk, ginger, and candied fruits make it sweet but sophisticated, seductive and classy (at least to me ).

Again, congratulations and I hope you have a lovely wedding!

Edit: some additional info

I'm curious to know how similar are Bordello, Countess Willie, Dionysia, Blood Countess and Lady Macbeth from each others. They all seem to be in the same dark fruits/berries range...

I can't compare Dionysia, Blood Countess, or Lady Macbeth, as I've never tried them, but I own both Bordello and Countess Willie.

On me, Bordello is quite sweet: once it dries, I get currants, plum, and amaretto. Countess Willie is very similar but the red musk and ginger really temper the sweetness. I still get plums and amaretto, but it's much more sophisticated. A lot of people have called Countess Willie the older, grown-up sister of Bordello and I'm inclined to agree.

Sorry I couldn't help with the other scents!