mxtine

Amber, cinnamon, clove, and something grassy but not fresh green grass. The spices are very soft. This is like Bengal's little baby sister. I'm getting a warm feeling where I applied the oil so I'm thinking it's a reaction to the cinnamon. That sucks because this smells so yummy.

Jasmine, fresh greens (?), and honey. A little plasticky. Not for me.

Stardust 2006:

 

I was initially drawn to this because of the name Stardust and the description..."This scent reflects the futurism, self-indulgence and excess of the Glitter 70's". It's probably the most perfume-y BPAL I've smelled, because it reminds me of my mom's perfumes from the 70's. There's a comforting powderiness and I can definitely pick out the white musk, tuberose, and sandalwood notes. I'm getting a little Fracas vibe from this, which is great. I would wear this out whenever I get around to feeling like a Dancing Queen.

The Holy Grail of Coconut has been found.

 

I smell like delicious sweet coconut (Coco Lopez!) and creamy tropical flowers. What more can I say? It's love at first sniff...and I'm buying backup bottles on my next order.

First sniff from the bottle, this smells like nothing. I dabbed some on my forearm. Still, nothing. I took a shower, then went back to re-test. When I opened the bottle I got a faint whiff of pretty gardenia, but it disappeared. I applied the oil again to both forearms, and a little on the crease of my elbow. I smelled something green and sweet, perhaps the oakmoss and green sandalwood. A few minutes later I smelled fresh orange, like when you peel an orange and get the spray on your skin. Minutes later I smell blackberry, then vanilla (this is when I'm reminded of Lady Una with the blackberry-vanilla-ti leaf combo), then a luscious amber and bergamot.

 

This oil is beautifully blended and I'm amazed at how each note emerges in a whisper. Unfortunately it doesn't have a huge throw, but it's absolutely gorgeous anyway.

 

ETA: I just tried this again after several months of aging and it's developed into a deep, shimmering green musk. It's so lovely! It has also developed a nicer throw than it did while it was fresh.

I bought Snake Oil in April and didn't review it because I wasn't sure I liked it. It was very strong & medicinal in the bottle, and too intense and sticky on my skin. I was very depressed, because I expected this to be "IT" from the Lab description. I decided to let it sit so I can try it later.

I started wearing it a couple weeks ago and it grew on me...as in SWOON. Snake Oil is creamy, spicy, intoxicating and sexy. I love putting it in my hair because it smells even more divine.

This perfume works so well with my chemistry. It's the perfect vanilla. I'm going to buy a few more bottles to age and see how much better this stuff can get.

ADDED Aug. 14:

I found a bottle of Snake Oil from 2007. It smells pretty much the same but less musky so the vanilla stands out more. I layered this with Smut and got fresh Snake Oil.

Potting soil, which is not good compared to fresh earth dirt because it can smell musty. On the dry down I smell something very resinous emerging, and it's giving me a weird taste in my throat.

 

 

Not my thing.

Warm, woody and fresh sandalwood with a drop of patchouli. It's pretty but if I want to wear sandalwood I already own an essential oil that smells a lot sweeter.

Herbal honey, slightly menthol. I love the Lab's honey and this is very interesting, but it's not to-die-for.

This seems like a rose scent I could wear. It's like a sweeter version of Stella McCartney which I always secretly loved but never owned.

 

The plum, bergamot and sandalwood are delish, and the rose isn't an in-your-face-headache-rose but more like rosewater.

 

After a few minutes, all I smelled was rose so I layered some Graveyard Dirt to get an idea of what Zombi would smell like and WHOA delicious.

Cherry candy, this will give you cavities!

 

I like that it's not boozy or minty because I was expecting that dreaded "cough syrup" smell. I feel like dumping the imp into my bottle of Blood Kiss to make it smell more cherry and less vetiver, but I'm not brave enough.

 

Never mind, as it's drying, I smell apricot. No more cherries. Sad.

ETA...I finally got a bottle of this and realized I reviewed it before I realized I LOVE red musk.

 

I've noticed a few comparisons to Red Lantern, which I thought was overpoweringly sweet, buttery and unwearable. This is smoky-sweet carmel and thick golden honey perfectly balanced with red musk, ylang ylang, champaca flower, and patchouli.

This was a sniffie frimped by BuxomM. I've always wondered what quince would smell like in a perfume, because it sure tastes good in membrillo (spanish quince paste/jelly that tasted so delish with manchego...i digress).

 

Anyway, it's tart, boozy, and syrupy. Smells like apricot hookah tobacco, which I love. At first I thought I would like a bottle but now it's a little overwhelming. I'll keep the sniffie anyway.

Hello chocolate brownie batter mix ! It dries down to Frangelico liqueur on my skin, which makes me want a glass.

 

Very intense with a lot of throw. It's a nice idea but I couldn't imagine smelling this all day due to the intense sweetness, and I'm pretty sure it lasts that long.

Sugar Skull 2005

 

Caramelized sugar with unrecognizable general fruitiness--cotton candy? It somewhat reminds me of Loli.Goth, but not as bright.

 

I like sweet scents like this. I may hunt down a bottle in the near future.

Wet, all I smell is verbena...or is that sugar-drenched green tea with lemon? It's morphing into caramel. My skin sucked this up, because after 15 minutes, it's gone with a faint sugar scent on my skin.

 

I didn't smell any form of chocolate in this, but I didn't hate it.

Ginger and coconut are favorites but not in this blend. Smells like dusty, cheap chocolate candies. The cardamom gives it a sourness that's not appealing. Ok now it's getting plasticky. No...

I tested Demeter's Dirt years ago and had a strange fascination with the smell. I've always loved the smell of fresh, wet dirt; and this perfume has captured that completely (it's making me crave mushrooms). There's something sweet in here on the dry-down, too.

 

I truly love this and I'm happy I bought a whole bottle. I can't wait to layer this with my floral imps.

SCORE!!

 

I'm so happy this didn't smell chocolatey! This bottle is over 1 yr old, and it's aged beautifully. Sugary spices: GINGER, anise, nutmeg, and allspice OH MY!

 

 

ETA:

I wore this all day and had to mention it has incredible lasting power. I kept smelling brown-sugary sweetness.

Spectacular.

 

I couldn't pick out specific notes, because this is so well blended. It smells like a combination of Chanel No. 5 & YSL Opium. It's wicked, sexy, and sophisticated.

 

I couldn't be more thrilled with this scent. The dry-down reminds me of a stuffed animal a boyfriend gave me when I was in 10th grade...he spritzed it with his cologne.

killing my bank account!

I finally got my paws on a bottle of this (how cute is the little goth girlie? ) to see what all the fuss is about. It smells like stuff that I usually don't like to wear: bubblegum, strawberries and peaches; but the musk and pale woods gives the sweetness a little edge. I really love this.

Earthy. Decaying wood, figs, and fresh cut green grass. Very interesting. I like to sniff this but I can't imagine smelling like it.

Dried grass/herbs, like the dried floral section of a craft store. Smells nice, but not for me.

Swaps pile..

I bought this because hoped it would be similar to YSL In Love Again, a perfume I used to love but can't stand anymore due to the alcohol.

 

Wet, I expected more from the red currant and grapefruit notes. Finally, they come out to play on the initial dry down, then chamomile comes to temper the tartness. 5 minutes later, a cotton-candy sweetness comes out, making this smell like raspberry lemonade. This goes a little powdery towards the end but it's still tart and pretty.

 

I might consider a bottle of this when I'm bored.