Lycanthrope

So, my first lab order ever came with reducer caps (Fenris Wolf and Whippoorwill), and I've been having a dog of a time trying to figure out the best way to apply. I've tried dropping onto my wrist (huge drop! Too much Fenris!), ... rolling the edge of the reducer outside ring along my wrist (works well, but for how long?) ... tipping my finger against the central reducer opening and getting some from there (apparently the oil reservoir around the central doohickey retains oil, because I got a slathering there ... and most recently, pressing the top cap (!) on my wrist because I found out oil gets caught inside the screw-part of the bottle and cap. If anyone with reducers knows the best way to control oil dispersion I'd really appreciate it... I'm still on the fence on reducers vs. nubblies and am going to make a huge bottle order in about two weeks, so I'm driving myself nuts trying to decide if I want to have them reduced or leave them with the nubblies. Personally myself I would feel more nervous applying from the polyseal bottles, as I am a klutz.

I was fortunate, through the generosity of a forumite, to get ahold of an imp of Bed of Nails, hence breaking me into the world of Carnaval Noir. Many thanks to you, you know who you are So, down to business. In the imp, I immediately get a big whiff of a sweetly citrus, grapefruit like aroma with something grassy or woody anchoring it. The reviewer that mentioned bright, shiny nails is right on - this aroma brings to mind cold bright light (not fire!) glinting off of new, metal spikes. Wet on skin, it's still mostly grapefruit and citrus, but as it dries it starts to adopt a sweet, lightly minty aroma similar to Incantation. It's a fresh, basil-herb aroma that sweetens and becomes lightly powdery over time. So far, Bed of Nails is a bright, but cold fragrance to me. Over time, I get a hint of something metallic (how does she do that?) layered over dry, dry and subtle woods and herbs. Over an hour or so, it stays subtly on my skin a definitely cool, gray-green scent. As much as this is a very unique shapechanging scent (from brightness, to herbal freshness, to slightly tangy woods), it's not something I envision needing a bottle of. I will definitely enjoy the imp!

Sacred Whore of Babylon is a very spicy, but very 'white floral' blend on me. What I pull out of this mad cacophony of floral is gardenia, jasmine, tuberose, bright roses, lilies, tulips and daffodils. Of course, this means that I'm rushing straight to get this off me because it's united three of my floral archnemeses under one oil... And yes, I smell like a florist who specializes in roses, lilies and gardenia. Yikes!

This is pretty much a spearmint peppermint blend on me. However, after application, the sweet minty spearmint heads for the hills because this is peppermint's day. And... afternoon. And evening, and night. Peppermint. It's the real deal, too, since this is remarkably cooling. After a long time, I can detect some grapefruit, but it's still mostly just mint to me...

In the Bottle or Imp: Yuzu. Grapefruit. Bright citruses that my skin amps to forever and beyond. I also get a nice little anise bite, just like that tickling at the back of your throat after you've downed a shot of good ouzo. Wet, on Skin: Grapefruit, definitely, but now I'm picking up on a blend of fruity notes, apricots and peaches, mixed with a new green herbal freshness, a dry bamboo essence. Drying/Drydown: Anise rises more here, but doesn't stay for long. The entire fragrance has sweetened and is very fruity at this point, and now I get a faint creamy apple. Over Time/Longterm: This reminds me of Garnier Fructis, in that it's a medley of sparkling fruit essences, apples, apricots, pears and pineapple, over a green and slightly bitter base, with a creamy floral over it all. Final Verdict? Not my style. Too bright and fruity for this wolf.

I don't know about this one. It's either the notes not agreeing with me, or the fact that I don't associate myself as a 'sun' person... it's just not my personality. In the Bottle or Imp: Faint light floral notes with a hint of frankincense. It's a sparkly, yellow wildflower fragrance. Wet, on Skin: Benzoin? I smell more sweet resins, and sweet woods, playing base to chamomile and maybe a hint of jasmine. Drying/Drydown: Sweet incense, with vanilla and guiaicwood. Over Time/Longterm: Fades fast. Gone in an hour. Final Verdict? Short staying time, and too light for my tastes. But, may be useful for brighter days out on the town.

In the Bottle or Imp: Deep, dark myrrh, very soft florals, moody and wet ones, too... an undercurrent of other resins that do sparkle, but are also malicious and moody. Wet, on Skin: Patchouli pops up, a spicy and dark mysterious floral, like jasmine but not as pungent... I can't quite place it. It's wet and powdery but not in a bad way! Drying/Drydown: Sandalwood, dry pepper, myrrh and that mystery floral. Over Time/Longterm: Very incensy, sweetens as it dries down. Final Verdict? Reminds me of an Aveda Chakra-type perfume called Mizan, in that it has that sensual spiciness blended with sparkling floral notes of jasmine, rose, and ... other less well known flowers This is very nice. Not a big bottle, but I'll enjoy the imp.

In the Bottle or Imp: Pine and balsamic notes mixed with a sweet amber. Wet, on Skin: Sharp, sweetened pine with vanilla and spice. Very golden feeling, but golden light breaking over a rolling pine forest. Drying/Drydown: Vanilla-pine, with a musky amber base. Very unique. Over Time/Longterm: Vanilla amber musk. Final Verdict? The pine makes the blend masculine, but it also to me makes it slightly disconcerting - I'm used to my pine being in green, herbal blends, not with such a sweet vanilla amber blend. It makes this blend feel... holiday-ish... if that makes sense. Keeping the imp, but it's not a big 'un.

In the Bottle or Imp: Cherry, fruity florals and a hint of musk, sweet resins. Wet, on Skin: Sharp, citrus florals... neroli? I detect jasmine and other white florals as well. Drying/Drydown: Gardenia, Tuberose, Jasmine and a light citrussy musk. Under it all is a very... rich brocade of resins and amber. Over Time/Longterm: Sharp as a whip, still a bright, sweet white floral. Final Verdict? Refined, elegant, and complex. But not something I can get away with. Keeping the imp for diffusion use.

In the Bottle or Imp: I really get a lot of ginger, pine, and musk coming straight out of the imp. Wet, on Skin: There's a pungent note, I've smelt it before in Czernobog, so this must also have a civet bouquet. Not entirely pleasant, but, yes, it does conjure an image of a virile goat-man. It has a touch of medicinal pine. Drying/Drydown: Civet, vanilla. The blend is sweetening now, while still maintaining the pine. Over Time/Longterm: Vanilla, musky civet. Final Verdict? Not my thing. Too strong, but it could be used in the right mood.

In the Bottle or Imp: A very rotten, waterlogged aroma struck me immediately on opening the imp. Very damp, mildewy, not pleasant in the least. But, I'll give it a chance. On it goes. Wet, on Skin: Still sort of cauliflowery, but there's shades of aquatic peeking through, thank goodness. It pulls the dankness away from the vetiver, and it's starting to smell more like trees pummelled by rain and thrown to the ground. Drying/Drydown: Yikes. Salty water and rotten wood. This is North Carolina after a batterin'. Over Time/Longterm: Dirty, murky water. Fallen trees and busted up lumber. Clay mud swirling around, mixed with liquid and slushing around your toes. A feeling of shock. Final Verdict? How do you bottle an event, Beth? Whoa. I can't wear this as a perfume, but... wow. This is crazy go nuts mad cool.

In the Bottle or Imp: Very interesting. A sweet, honey tea with a touch of herbs. Wet, on Skin: Deep fleshy fruits, perfumey, figgy honey. A drydown of said crushed herbs... Drying/Drydown: Vaguely reminds me of LUSH's Jungle conditioner, and is very sweet and perfumey. Florals and feminine, which may not work so well with me. Over Time/Longterm: Ends up very faintly floral, mostly figs and honey. Kind of like a fruit leather smells like... Final Verdict? Pleasant, but I don't think this makes my list of favorites.

In the Bottle or Imp: Myrhh, it's mostly what I get. A hint of frankincense too, this is like snorfing a bowl of mixed resins before they're lit with charcoal. Very true to the resins. Wet, on Skin: This is great! I feel calmer already... this reminds me of very holy places, where I feel out of place for being an atheist but can feel the energy faith has imparted to a location. Drying/Drydown: Whoa, this myrrh is dark, and bitter. Over Time/Longterm: Eep. The myrrh just took over, and it's too much. Pungent. Final Verdict? It was good up until the myrrh, very true, took over. I might keep the imp and use it as a room scent.

Probably no new stunning revelations, but how can I get away without reviewing this? In the Bottle or Imp: Vanilla, with a hint of peppery spices. Wet, on Skin: Vanilla... maybe a little ginger, cardamom, pepper. Drying/Drydown: A warm, ambery vanilla... creamy and sweet. Over Time/Longterm: Doesn't change much. Final Verdict? Fairly one-dimensional for a BPAL scent, but it's nice. I can see why it's wildly popular... I've never really been a vanilla guy myself. Keeping the imp for tradition's sake.

In the Bottle or Imp: Lavender, with sweet honeyed amber and a drop of musk. Wet, on Skin: Oh! That's tonka, not honey. I'd recognize that slightly burnt vanilla anywhere... mmm. The initial lavender burst has subsided into light floral with amber and spice tones. Definitely nag champa incense, I can envision the wispy smoke. Drying/Drydown: An incensy, floral musk. Very exotic, and unique. Over Time/Longterm: Sweetens a touch due to the tonka, stays a nice, spicy musk with light sharp floral remnants. Final Verdict? This is good, very good. I may have to bottle this one.

In the Bottle or Imp: I think this may have the 'barest touch of juniper' mislabeled, because that is all that I smell when I uncork the imp. It's very potently eucalyptus, refreshing, astringent and medicinal all at once. Wet, on Skin: Cool and minty sensation on the skin, a pure eucalyptus tempered with a little sweet pepperming. Drying/Drydown: Peppermint, dry woods, cedar and eucalypt. Over Time/Longterm: Sweet, mild, rosemary mint with a touch of eucalyptus. Final Verdict? Really not what I was expecting from the name and description, and certainly doesn't bring to mind werewolves. Maybe a refreshing, misty forest, but not lycanthropes

The pearl of the Italian Renaissance. Elegant iris, bright berries, gilded amber and velvety spices. In the Bottle or Imp: This is a sweet and delicate floral in the imp, with maybe a hint of amber, plenty of gentle iris/orris over it all. Wet, on Skin: There's a burst of berry, but it's not overpowering or strong. It stays just underneath the soft resins and sweet, somewhat aquatic iris. Drying/Drydown: Iris, woodsy wildberries and soft sparkling resin. Over Time/Longterm: Wet and powdery floral amber. Final Verdict? Not bad. But, not big bottleworthy.

In the Bottle or Imp: Grapefruit and citrus, mostly. A touch of yuzu? A little floral. Wet, on Skin: Still a very bright citrus, there's ozone trying to get past it but I amped the grapefruit up Drying/Drydown: Here's a tiny grassy note peeking meekly, I think it's a bamboo freshness. The citrus is fading some, and the blend feels colder than it did before. Over Time/Longterm: Citrus with a light grass note and powdery floral. Final Verdict? Not my thing. Swap!

In the Bottle or Imp: Sweet, fresh vetiver, bright citrus and a touch of spices. Wet, on Skin: Wet soapy herbal, with a bright grassy topnote. Drying/Drydown: Sandalwood, lemon, and a slightly pungent dry wood base. Over Time/Longterm: Minty fresh with dry woods. Final Verdict? This is very much like Bath and Body Works' 2003 release of Vetyver, a slightly spicy, sweet and warm herbal blend with a very grassy feel. There's even that similar mint-yet-not-mint aspect of the fragrance.

In the Bottle or Imp: Um. Cauliflower. Oh my. That's all I get. Oh no. Wet, on Skin: A rousing blend of dragon's blood and... steamed cauliflower. Not working on me. Drying/Drydown: No, no, ugh. This has become steamed vegetables on my skin. It's the vetiver, which in this case doesn't work with me and makes it very... pungent. Not in a good way. Over Time/Longterm: Eventually becomes a cinnamon resin, but I cannot completely shake off the vegetable aroma. Final Verdict? Ah, this time vetiver turned bad on me. This must be the famed vetiver reaction Swap to someone who this works on!

In the Bottle or Imp: Apple floral with a gentle herbal base, maybe some light wildflowers. Wet, on Skin: Fruits have appeared... it's kind of apple-pineappley, very bright and airy florals here, not rose, jasmine, or any deep, potent floral. Drying/Drydown: Oops. It's gone nondescriptly soapy. Maybe with a touch of dry herbs. Over Time/Longterm: Kind of like LUSH's Rainbow Worrier, what with the dry and dusty herbs at the base. However, the soapy floral never really goes away. Final Verdict? Sigh. Soap. Swap.

In the Bottle or Imp: Kind of rosey floral with mild peppery herbs... and vanilla. Wet, on Skin: Creamy vanilla with a hint of sandalwood, rose, ylang-ylang and jasmine. Drying/Drydown: Oooh! Patchouli and sugar? How strange! And the jasmine really pops out here, but the entire fragrance is sweetening... Over Time/Longterm: Patchouli and strawberry? Rose and Jasmine? It's a very feminine, alluringly sweet and yet similarly sexy fragrance... Final Verdict? ... just not on me. I can't pull off sugared vanilla strawberry

In the Bottle or Imp: Dragon's blood resin with a slight minty green herbal essence to it. There's also a tiny pungent cherry-musk kick. Wet, on Skin: Warm, sweet and sensual resin with a touch of fruity green, earthy berry. Drying/Drydown: Slightly tart, berry scent hovering above the wet, resinous notes. Over Time/Longterm: Very red resin notes with a light fruit overtone. Final Verdict? Pleasant, but the fruit sort of knocks this one out of possible loves. Keeping the imp for when I feel like it... but not a bottle.

In the Bottle or Imp: Pine, cypress, and other forest woods mixed with a pungent musk. Wet, on Skin: Pine, pine... a hint of brighter green, but not much. Eucalyptus? Drying/Drydown: The musk comes out to play with the pine. An interesting combination, like an evil forest glen. Over Time/Longterm: Deep, slightly woodsy musk... Final Verdict? I like it, but there are lots of other much more complex BPAL blends that I prefer. This is very remniscent of Dracul to me, without the extra sweet and complicated top notes.

This starts out so weird on me, but turns into absolute wonder. In the Bottle or Imp: Bitter resins and dark green, mulched herbs, with a citrussy, sweet and yet dry punch. It at this point is not pleasant to me at all... I get a hit of benzoin and galbanum mixing together that just makes me cringe. Wet, on Skin: A very lightly honeyed, basil-like herbal with a bunch of sweet resins and incense notes roiling underneath. Drying/Drydown: I get cypress at this point, but the primary fragrance is still that of a deliciously honeyed resin, coupled with dry, crushed herbs and sweet incense smoke. Over Time/Longterm: Deliciously mysterious. Even weak, it's like nothing I've ever used before. Final Verdict? Oh yeah, this is a big bottle.