AmyO'Shields

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet. Sugar Moon '08 is in my top 10.

 

Wet: super duper uber sweet maple sugar (think Maple Sugar Candy)

Later: Honestly, this one doesn't morph on me, which is super because I love it. The only difference I find between wet and dry is the throw: this calms down quite nicely. At some point I can detect the Mahogany (which I LOVE), but that's it. I LOVE this. 5++/5

 

I honestly hope that the 2011 Sugar Moon isn't flowery...

I actually love this. A bit of Rum, with Leather and Tobacco...this is really nice, and I think I could wear this.

 

The drydown is nice - smooth and almost yummy? I'm surprised since Rum is a note that usually makes me a bit nauseous.

 

I may have to get a bottle someday, not high priority though.

Finally got around to trying this one!

 

Wet this smells like a foody Ginger on me...GINGER?! Wha? Yes.

 

After 20 minutes I smelled the Vetiver...and it was the nicest, most well behaved Vetiver I have smelled (next to Devil's Claw).

 

The Neroli does peek out a bit, but not in a "Hi I'm Neroli" way, more like a "Hey there, nice weather we're having, oh I'm a citrus flower" just a nice understated citrus flower as it should be.

 

I still can't get over the Ginger impression in the beginning...it reminded me of Shub-Niggurath.

 

This is actually lovely, but not something I would ever reach for. 3/5

OK...GO! This is a really nice deep/earthy Patchouli with sweet dried Apricots underneath. After about 15 minutes, they flip-flop and the Apricot dominates for a while. After about an hour the Patchouli takes over again and they snuggle together. 4.5/5 on my skin. YUM.

Of all the Sabbat Oils, this is my favorite (or possibly tied with Mabon 2010). I'm truly surprised that I can't pick out one single note - this blend has aged so beautifully that I can't wait to wear it in just a few weeks! This is Spring in a bottle, and I feel fortunate to have found a bottle!

I was so excited to obtain this bottle that I forgot to review it!

 

Definitely honey, and I smell Chamomile, Frankincense and Honeysuckle...mmmmm

 

After it settles down a bit, I am so excited about the moss! If the Gardenia makes an appearance, she is very well behaved...don't really care for Gardenia much. There may be a hint of carnation here, but it's hard for me to tell - such a great blend!

 

This really is a great blend for Litha. I'm super happy to have a bottle!

This is one of my top ten favorite BPAL perfumes. Lavender, Vanilla, Amber and musk...yes. I never smell any carnation or roses, but the leaves do peak out after a while. This is a perfume for all seasons...it never gets old. I wear this to bed, and anytime I want to feel comfortable. Another absolutely amazing perfume from BPAL. 5++/5

This is such an amazing perfume, very incensey to my nose - red musk, lavender, tea, myrrh, vetiver and tobacco are the notes I smell most. The orchid peeks out after a while and the frankincense lends a mystic quality to the whole scent. LOVE this. 5/5

 

I was wearing this while I was signing up for classes and one of the women behind the counter remarked that something smelled like a candle had just been blown out (and wrinkled her nose). I LOVE that smell, even though Lunar Eclipse doesn't smell like that to me. Oh well!

I was finally lucky enough to score a bottle of this! It's mostly sugary cherry on me, and the dry down is a very soft candy scent. So glad I finally got to try it!

This is my second favorite of the moths. I get mostly tea, pear and lime and that's just fine with me - this is delicious. Perfect for Summer!

4.5/5

I thought this would be my favorite of the moths, and it actually turned out to be my least favorite.

I smell Cardamom and tonka mostly, and this is a very light perfume on my skin. I have been retesting it since I bought a bottle when it was released, but the song remains the same: nice, but not what I was hoping for: a blast of cardamom and vanilla sugar!

3/5

ETA: This has grown on me, but it still isn't what I expected. It smells lovely but is barely there. I just realized how negative my review was (!!) and wanted to soften it a bit! :-)

Lavender, Snake Oil and Dorian in that order. Very nice!

This is my favorite of the four. This smells like Summer rain in Phoenix (ironically), after the asphalt smell dissipates. LOVE. 5/5

This is definitely Spring! It reminds me a lot of Strawberry Moon '09 - without the Strawberry...and with Cherry Blossom. Very nice! 4/5

Loving this! Lots of Tuberose, mandarin and Hyacinth. Sandalwood and Styrax come out a bit later with the musks rounding out the scent.

 

This is so beautiful! may need another bottle before the Lupers come down.

Fizzy Strawberries...this is delicious. I can't wait for my bottle to arrive!

Yes, luscious green indeed! Blackberry, Green Tea, Sage, Musk - they are all here and in such a lovely way. I have been wavering back and forth about this one for about a month. The first time I tried my imp, it didn't smell like much to me. Yesterday I tried it again and ordered a bottle. This is perfect for Spring/Summer - not sharp, but with quite a bit of throw and very pretty. 4.5/5

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet! One of my absolute favorites. I wore this to bed last night instead of Ephemera...

 

On my skin this is Teak/Black Vanilla/Oak in that order. Delicious. The Black Vanilla is very sweet which is a nice balance to the astringent (but lovely) Oak. Teak is one of my favorite notes - if you like Teak, don't let this one pass you by. After about 25-30 minutes the Tobacco comes out and switches places with the Oak...absolutely wonderful.

 

This is a very comforting unisex perfume. Definitely a 5/5 in my book.

One of my favourite perfumes is Amour by Kenzo, I'd love to find a BPAL that's close to it :

Frangipani, cherry blossom, white tea, frankincense, thanaka wood, rice, vanilla.

Any ideas?

 

 

I'm thinking there is a Salon perfume that may be close. I will have to skin test Amour and a few salons and will reply back here when I do.

OK. Third time IS the charm! I had tested this twice before today and was starting to get depressed...the first 2 tries I didn't smell anything but Rice Wine.

 

Wet - RICE WINE, with an itty bitty bit of vanilla and white musk. Quite a bit of throw...

Dry - What a nice skin scent. Not so much throw now, and the Vanilla and Musk are more prominent with the Sandalwood providing a subtle base. The Rice Wine is still present, but has softened.

 

This is very nice, and I'm sure it will age beautifully. 4/5 in theory, 2/5 on my skin

 

ETA: When my boyfriend came home from symphony rehearsal tonight, I asked him to smell this on my wrists. He told me that it smelled like my skin but better. Um, that's a win. So, after 4 hours: this is a perfect skin scent.

This is definitely a keeper.

 

Wet: My brain tells me I smell lots of Frankincense (could this be the Champaca?) and soft Leather.

 

Drydown is amazing - warm, spicy, not heavy on the clove (thank goodness) and I'd even call it uplifting.

The Sandalwood becomes more prominent after about half an hour, and this Sandalwood is GOOD (creamy).

 

5/5 - I love this.

YUM. Orange-y (citrus-y) effervescent sweetness! This is delicious...

Nude Woman Reclining smells very similar to Armani's discontinued Mania for women (black cap) to me...but better. Just saying...

Kypris is beautiful! I was so excited to have a perfume with Rainier Cherry in it - and it doesn't disappoint!

 

Wet, this is ALL Cherry, Sugar Cane and Almond...I can't tell which kind of Cherry or Almond, but they are both there and strong!

 

After about an hour, the Cherry defines itself as a Rainier and the Almond softens and takes a backseat to the Benzoin and Vanilla Bean which are stunning...spicy and creamy without being too sweet. The sugar cane calms down as well...

 

A bit later this perfume morphs into something amazing - there's still a hint of Cherry here, the Almond is indeed bitter (and balanced by the Benzoin and Vanilla bean) but now the tart bitterness of lemon peel and softness of the Rose water shows up with just a touch of honey...just a bit.

 

After about 4 hours I think I smell the Balsam...I thought he would show up in the very beginning loud and proud, but it just didn't happen.

 

I never get much of the Honey, Balsam, Rose Water or Lemon Peel, but they are there - working together behind the scenes.

 

This would be a perfect perfume to wear to the Portland Japanese Garden in the Springtime! Medium throw, long wear, subtle beauty.

 

Definitely a 5/5 and I think this would be wearable year-round here in the Pacific Northwest.

Oh wow...I've never been first to review!

I did not like this at all when I applied it this morning...not at all. Something was too sharp, or bitter, or both.

THEN an hour went by and I started wondering what was smelling glorious: yup, it was Nude Woman Reclining.

Wet - sharp, biting florals with something musky (ambrette seed?) lurking in the background...not good...

Honeysuckle identifies herself after about an hour and is perfectly balanced by the Galbanum and Vanilla (a hint of green and some cream).

There's a hint of Jasmine (a clean Jasmine though) here and the muskiness is enveloping the entire perfume like a cozy scarf...

THIS is a perfume, folks. I feel weird posting a similarity, but: does anyone remember the amazing discontinued Mania (for women) with the black cap? This doesn't smell identical, but it gives off the same vibe. Mania is still one of my favorite perfumes, and I would say that Nude Woman Reclining outshines the Armani...buries it, in fact.

This perfume gets a 5++/5 for me. Multiple bottle purchase for certain.