mistressfizz

Sniff: Sharp musk, a scratchy resin, hints of amber Wet: Mostly resin, thick with a slightly fruity background. There's something a bit woodsy and herbal, like sandalwood or cedar. Even though it's heavy, it's soft, like a velvet curtain. Dry: Very pleasant dusty resin, with a spicy gentle breath of musk. It's nice but a tad generic.

Sniff: Herbal and floral, with a woodsy base Wet: The woods intensify and warm up, it feels almost like amber, but dark & resiny instead of golden. The floral notes become sharper and I get a slight citrus tang. This is light yet substantial and reminds me of spring on the horizon, with a shadow of winter lingering. Dry: As this dries, the resins grow stronger and wear a veil of ashy incense. The citrus/floral notes evolve into a pleasant spice, earthy and warm, which is wonderful combined with the woodsy resins. As a whole, the scent is surprisingly soft. It has a definite warmth which is gentle yet powerful at the same time. Delighted to have a bottle of this, it's lovely and unexpectedly comforting.

Sniff: Hello, sage! Herbal, grassy Wet: The sage is strong in this one! A richly floral blend dominated by the sharp sage. I also get some sweet notes, combined with delicate white musk. Overall, it's pretty and soft. Dry: Something weird happens as this dries. The flowers turn sour and pungent, almost like they’re rotting. I get more mossy notes at this stage and something akin to wet soil. It’s not unpleasant, but it’s also not what I normally enjoy wearing.

This is quite delectable, sweet chocolate mixed with velvety roses and a dash of vanilla. As it soaks into my bath water, it leans heavily on the foodie side, with the rose providing a pleasant backdrop. Afterwards, my skin had a lingering hint of creamy sweetness and roses, which lasted until I fell asleep. A very charming bath oil!

Sniff: Grassy! Has a golden aura, a bit scratchy and yellow Wet: Florals start to emerge, but it's still got a grassy overtone. Mums are dominant and the overall feel is dry and dusty. I get colors of light tan and wheat, like a herd of dun horses. Dry: As this dries, it becomes warmer, with the amber and frankincense kicking in. The overtly grassy notes calm down, and I get a lovely dusty, wispy, slightly green scent, mixed with sweet chrysanthemum and powdery rose. Soft, warm and comforting, very pretty.

Sniff: Mossy & salty Wet: Damp aquatic notes with a thick layer of sweet honeysuckle. It's clean and refreshing, without the cologne vibe that aquatic blends sometimes have. Hints of green and golden yellow flowers help balance it out. Dry: Stays much the same - a salty breeze wafting over a field of honeysuckle blooms. Even though this is really pretty, I'm not a fan of aquatics in general. I probably wouldn't wear this, but would recommend it for those who like aquatic blends.

Sniff: Thick, rich chocolate with an almost musky base Wet: Mostly chocolate with hints of citrus and sweet myrrh. It's almost foodie, but there's some bitterness and smoke which smudge the blend into darker territory. The flowers are lurking in the background, just a tiny whiff every now and then. Dry: This one really morphs on me! As it dries, the chocolate fades and this ends up all dusty rose and tart pomegranate. Where is the chocolate? Where did the myrrh and darker notes go?

Sniff: Sweet crispy apples surrounded by white flowers Wet: The apples calm down and florals take over the party. This is bright and pretty, fragrant but not heady. I can't detect specific flowers, but it's definitely white and pink. Borders on delicate, but theres an earthy undercurrent which gives it structure. It's very pretty and a good spring scent. Dry: Alas, as it dries, a sickly sour note emerges. Like somehow the flowers started fermenting. I think it might be the wine or sap. Whatever it is, it makes me sad. I love the way this one starts, but the drydown doesnt work on me at all!

Sniff: Oh my, deep brown leather with hints of grass. I think I'm going to like this! Wet: A rich worn leather, no chemical sharpness here. There's definitely spice lurking in the background. It’s not a foodie spice, but pleasantly herbal, refreshing and clean, balancing the heaviness of the leather. It has an almost “formal” feel, ceremonial and solemn, but comforting at the same time. I imagine a dark sacred grove, deer and fox and the occasional bear keeping watch. Dry: The woods & musk become stronger, tempering the leather. I thought this would be Spanked Lite, but it has evolved into something different altogether. It dries dusty leather & woods and is surprisingly light, with a gentle but insistent warmth. A beautiful natural leather blend!

This review is for the 2011 blend. Sniff: A spike of tart juniper Wet: Herbal and sharp, with a pine scent emerging. This definitely exhibits the classic BPAL "snow" note: minty, slightly sweet brush of vanilla, chilly & light. The hemlock adds a green, fresh feel. Dry: Over time this becomes mostly mint and muted berries. While it's pretty, I prefer Virginia or The Phoenix in Winter, which have similar notes of juniper and snow, but more depth.

Sniff: Faint whisper of mint Wet: Mint is definitely the strongest note. I was hoping for a more herbal greenish scent, with the eucalyptus component, but this is all sugary chewing gum mint, sweet and sharp. Dry: Still sweet, but kind of musky, maybe from the amber. The mint is lighter, pale and lofty. This one is a bit too light for me.

Sniff: BAM, CEDAR! Like sticking my nose into a box of fresh cedar chips Wet: Cedar still dominates, with a whiff of citrus that borders on chemical. Overall it smells like sharp cedar sawdust, green and raw from the tree Dry: Now it gets interesting – this really warms up when dry. It becomes almost like amber and has a glow, like someone glazed a pile of cedar wood chips with a thin coat of liquid gold. I think that’s the dragon’s blood resin. It’s intriguing at this stage, but not something I would want to wear frequently.

Sniff: Light and fruity, undercurrent of sweet musk Wet: Becomes increasingly floral as it heats up on my skin. It's a spring-like floral, bright and uplifting, mixed with sweet pear candy. Honey usually doesn't work on me, but this blend doesn't seem to have the heavy sourness I often get from honey. Instead, this smells like a softer, more floral version of the Perilous Parlor. Dry: Shimmery musky pear and powdery white flowers. Very pretty and feminine - I like it!

Fresh pine, not fake like cleaning products sometimes are. It has a very refreshing herbal sharpness. In the bath, this melts into a beautiful soft fir scent, with tart juniper and a touch of herbs and frost. This is one of the best fir scents I've encountered, it's peaceful and woodsy and green. There's a heaviness to it, which lends a sense of comfort and serenity. Very relaxing.

Sniffing this in the bottle, I got scared because it comes off super powerful florals, with a syrupy cloying sweetness that made me back my nose the heck away. But when it hit my bath - wow, what a transformation! It blooms into lush creamy vanilla and fruits glazed by a layer of glowing rich honey. The stinky florals dissolve away and the sweetness is tempered by an astringency, which might be the "icy" note. Overall it doesn't feel cold (although it's hard to feel cold soaking in a tub of hot water...) It reminds me of a ripe fruit orchard, with light snowflakes swirling around the branches. The yummy fruit notes didn't last too long after the bath, but my skin did have a lingering trace of soft honey for a few hours. I definitely enjoyed this one and was glad I gave it a shot in the bath, despite my initial doubts.

Sniff: Sharp heady rose, with something scratchy and thorny underneath. Wet: The vetiver adds an ozone element, making this like a rose cologne. It's spikey and rich. Dry: This lightens over time, the rose becomes sweeter but still retains a grassy sharpness. Reminds me of an herbal, less sophisticated London. A tad soapy and generally pleasant blend.

Sniff: Juicy and sweet fruit with sharp woods Wet: Chewy gummy candy mixed with dark burnt woods and smoke. It smells like smoking clove cigarettes in a lounge filled with wilting flowers and leftover desserts. My opinion of this keeps flipping; at moments the peach and currants mixed with woods is mysterious and beautiful, but then at other moments the tobacco and clove get too harsh. The red musk isn't strong, but it's definitely there, a dense layer under the other notes. Dry: When dry, the sweetness is similar to fig, spiked with woodsy clove and a hint of powder. An interesting scent, but probably not something I'd wear.

Sniff: Delicate rose, pale and sweet Wet: Rose and sugar over a vanilla base. The rose is very sweet and light, almost like violets. The scent floats in the air, it has a definite soft and wispy feel. Dry: This gets sweeter as it dries and the vanilla becomes more musky. Overall, it smells like sugar cubes dissolved into a pool of chilled rosewater.

Sniff: Citrus blast! Lemon/lime flavors, very bright. Wet: Strong citrus notes, the tartness of grapefruit and yuzu really stand out. There's something slightly musky too, just a tad sour. I also get a cold chilly undertone, similar to the pine note others have mentioned, with a whiff of mint as well. Mostly it's tart and sharp. Dry: Wow, this really morphs on me. I was feeling iffy about the sharp wet phase, but as this dries, it mellows and takes on a creamy texture. After an hour or so, it smells like a delicious citrus mint gelato, smooth and sweet and soft. Quite lovely and not crass at all!

Sniff: Woods and smoke, hints of sweet, like pipe tobacco Wet: Dark but not heavy, with mossy undertones and a furry pelt-like note, which I think is the leather. It's not overtly leathery and has none of the chemical sharpness found in some leather blends. There's a subtle sweetness from the florals. Over time, a bit of ozone and spice emerge, soft and elegant and just short of becoming cologne. This is such a complex and well blended scent. I picture a hunting lodge in winter, surrounded by stuffed animal heads, the gleaming polished wood of guns, a faint trace of aftershave and sweat, dirt and straw caked boots and a cold draft pressing against the window. Very rich yet also comforting and content. Dry: After a few hours, this settles to a beautiful musky patchouli, woodsy and warm. It smells like a well worn fur coat, very old world and sophisticated. I'm quite impressed, this is interesting and unique. I'm so glad I have a bottle to slather!

Sniff: Soft flowers with a spike of herbs and something almost minty Wet: A warm floral scent that strongly evokes certain colors: lavender, ivory, celadon, light and wispy and dreamy. There's a touch of sweetness, which along with the astringency of tea and sage, balance out the flowers nicely. Dry: My skin smells like I just washed with expensive herbal soap! Very feminine and fresh.

Sniff: This smells like...grass? Weird, not what I was expecting at all. Dewy grass, with hints of light wood, very outdoorsy. Wet: OK, I don't know where the grass smell is coming from, but it's still there. Now I'm getting the flowers too, wafting over the grass. The jasmine is strongest, sweet and light, followed by hints of rose and honeysuckle. I get impressions of ochre and tan, with dusty woodsy undertones. Overall this is very soft and gentle, fragrant without being heady. Dry: This settles into a beautiful light floral musk, very quiet and peaceful. It's fresh without being powdery or sharp, and has a calm grace. Simply lovely and fits the embodiment perfectly.

Sniff: Sugary and pink. Not so much fizzy to me, but crisp and bright. Wet: This is a dead ringer for lemon scented sticky bat. It smells like a lemon drop hard candy, dusted with a layer of powdery sugar. It's tart and sweet at the same time. There's a strong citrus note and some sourness which I think is the wine grape. Dry: Still very sugary on me, but now I detect a faint, almost soapy trace of carnation and rose. The best way I can describe this is a sweet and sour lemon musk. Pretty but a little too bright for me.

Sniff: Citrus! Sharp, almost like ginger, with amber lurking underneath. Wet: The sharpness fades and amber grows stronger. I get hints of spice within a lush golden warmth. The florals start to peek out, mixing with the fruit notes and preventing them from becoming too sweet. There is a comforting heat and glow to this scent; the image I get is a cat resting on the sun-warmed tiles of a veranda overlooking a Mediterranean garden. Dry: An amber that doesn't turn to powder! This remains warm and golden, with the florals becoming more prominent. Rather than blazing, this is more of a gentle persistent heat, very pleasant and invigorating.

Sniff: Sharp ginger and tea, with a musk undertone. Wet: Becomes more floral and subdued. The sharpness fades and now this smells like a wreath of preserved flowers. There are grassy notes and hints of citrus and herbs. Earthy without being "dirty" and has a very autumnal feel, crisp and golden. Dry: This is more musky, red and almost feral. Very interesting, this is the only blend I've tried that actually gets headier over time! The flowers grow warmer and stronger, it's a bouquet of dried stems over a bed of musk and old leaves. Pretty and soft, but also hinting at something deeper.