Ghost of a Rose

In the imp: All 3 scents are identifiable, and beautifully balanced with the amber/musk slightly dominating the rose, which makes for a very elegant floral. On me, wet: Now the amber and musk are considerably stronger than the rose, but the rose is still there. Even wet, this is more subtle than most rose fragrances. On me, drydown: The scents are coming back into balance, with the rose now equal to the darker notes. A more complex rose scent - for grown-ups rather than young girls or old ladies. Sophisticated, but in a feminine way rather than an edgy way. After 1 hour: It's now more like a classic rose scent but still with a spiciness of incense. After 2 hours: Mostly the spicy incense of the amber and musk, with just the faintest hint of rose. After 3 hours: The scent is still pretty much all incense, but has now grown very faint. Verdict: The description is right on the nail. This is a formal and elegant perfume that would be perfect for special occasions. But it could also be an option for work, because the throw is more discreet and it is less in-your-face flowery than most rose-based fragrances. It also would be a great candidate for a perfume locket, in order to preserve the beautiful balance that this blend has in the bottle. And for someone who doesn't normally like rose scent but wants to experiment, this might be a good one to try. My rating: 5

This was a frimp from BPAL. In the imp: The first thing I notice is the scent of honey, then my nostrils are hit with the much stronger and super-sweet smell of hard cherry candies. On me, wet: The same two scents, but now they are equal in strength. On me, drydown: The excessive sweetness and the candy-ness dissipate rapidly as it dries, leaving behind a much more complex and intriguing fragrance. I can still clearly identify cherry, but now it's blended in with other more sophisticated notes so that the overall impression is no longer so fruity. Is it my imagination, or do I smell a whiff of florals and an even fainter hint of something incense-ish - amber, maybe? After 1 hour: The cherry candy has come back for a curtain call, but since the scent is weaker now, its not too obnoxious. After 3 hours: 100% honey, gentle and utterly realistic - gorgeous! I must have been mistaken about the amber, since on me that's usually the longest-lasting note in a blend. Verdict: I don't normally care for fruity scents on my body (although I like them fine as air fresheners.) But this one is complex enough to not be teenybopper or overly foody. I like! I wouldn't wear it to a formal occasion, but I think it would be fine for work if applied sparingly. I never thought I'd say that about a fruity perfume! My rating: 4

What's not to love? Every one of these oils are among my shortlisted top faves. Yeah, I'm a flower child. In the imp: Oil is a clear pale yellow, the color of hay. My first impression is pure frangipani. I'm channeling a heavenly fresh plumeria lei that I was given in Hawaii on my honeymoon. My most-favorite lei ever. I've been in search of a true plumeria fragrance ever since. It's a shame that BPAL doesn't sell Single Notes anymore, because this is it. On me, wet: The frangipani and jasmine dominate. I love how perfectly balanced they are and how the sweet frangipani calms down the sharp soapy note that Jasmine tends to have. I can detect the rose and tuberose as well. I'm awed! On me, drydown: Alas, the jasmine has stolen the show and except for a hint of rose, I no longer get the other lovely flowers. At least the jasmine still isn't too sharp. After about 20 minutes: All jasmine. Thank goodness I do like jasmine. But I miss the other flowers. After about 1 hour: As the jasmine looses some of its oomph, I can now detect a hint of frangipani again; as well as a hint of the tuberose. Rose seems to be hiding. And jasmine is still the dominatrix, but things are starting to come into a more equal balance again. After a couple of hours: A lovely soft floral scent, with no specific flower identifiable. Verdict: A morpher, one that is constantly changing on my skin over the span of the first 2 hours. One of my very favorite BPAL fragrance blends, and definitely bottle-worthy. I think I'd especially love this in a perfume locket, in order to retain the wet scent in which all 4 flowers are present and identifiable. My rating: 5, would even be a 5+ if the frangipani note didn't disappear so fast on my skin.

This was a frimp; and it's almost eerie how accurately Elizabeth (or whoever packed my box) zeroed in on my personality. So far this is my favorite perfume in the box. I love it more than the ones I picked out myself and paid for! In the imp: Love at first sniff! Gorgeous lilac and rose. The oil is a medium-light pinkish gold that perfectly duplicates the shade of fine rose-gold jewelry. On me, wet: I could swear I was wearing a wrist corsage of fresh lilacs and pink roses. The scent is so real, so fresh, and so vivid that I can practically see them . . . Yet - even wet - not aggressively strong. On me, drydown: It's become powdery, but in the best possible way, like an expensive, delicate, and highly refined luxury powder for a pampered lady of the century past. Now I'm picturing a soft mink powder puff in a sparkling cut crystal powder jar with a silver lid decorated with pearls . . . On me, 3 hours later: The florals are still around, but they've now taken a supporting role to the spicy incense notes, with the amber and sandalwood in the starring roles. Verdict: Exactly as described. The mandarin is indeed light, so as to be unnoticeable as a specific note (and that's just the way I'd want it), while adding a bit of sparkle. The incense-y oils add depth and longevity while letting the florals shine on their own for a generous span of time. Some might find this fragrance too old-fashioned, but I've always thought I was born in the wrong era, so for me it's perfect. The innocent elegance of an earlier time. I'm madly in love, and lusting after a full vial. This is a "must" for those who love rose or lilac scents. My rating: 5+

In the vial: Wow, a very complex and unusual scent - so much so that it's almost impossible to identify any particular note or ingredient. Rather medicinal - perhaps due to the balsam or saffron? The spiciness of ginger is the only specific thing I can pick out - here it is hot and peppery. Or maybe that's the vetiver. There is a bitterness that might be from the black tea, although for me there is no recognizable scent of tea (and I brew and drink black tea every day, so I expected to recognize it.) In spite of the apricot and honey, there's only a hint of sweetness or fruit, and no trace of the apple blossoms. On me, wet: Much the same as in the vial, but sharper and even less sweet - salty, even. (I can relate to the person who mentioned pickles - I'm thinking: the dill ones.) The new sharpness is due to a piney scent that's probably the balsam. On me, drydown: Now I'm picking up a strange rubbery note that reminds me of new tires. The peppery note is still holding strong. After about an hour: All rubber and black pepper. Later ETA: After a couple of hours, the rubber mysteriously morphed into woodiness. Now it's a soft, pleasant, wood-and-black-pepper scent. I like it a lot better now. I'd rate it a 4 if it had been like this the whole time. Verdict: I'd definitely call this a masculine fragrance. It's the strangest scent I can remember ever smelling, so strange that I can't even decide whether I like it or hate it. I am very intrigued by it, though. I'm always fascinated by things that are very unique. Even if I were a man, I don't think I would wear it very often. But it will be perfect for those times when I get bored with my usual fragrance types and want something completely different. And I'll only wear it when I am alone, for fear that others would think it unpleasant. My rating: 3, more for uniqueness rather than actual appeal.

In the imp: In-your-face fruity and cloyingly sweet. Smells very much like maraschino cherries - on steroids. It's the amaretto that makes the fruits smell like cherries. On me, wet: Same as above. I'm getting everything but the wine - in other words, all the sweet stuff. On me, drydown: Fortunately some of the extreme sweetness has calmed down. Still very fruity and sweet, though, with just a faint hint of nuttiness. On me, after a couple of hours: The fragrance remains remarkably consistent and has lost its aggressiveness, to become much more wearable. The burgundy never does make an appearance on my skin. It seems strange that this is a clear, colorless oil. It smells like it should be a deep purplish red! Verdict: It's a pleasant scent, but too sweet and too fruity for me to wear very often as a perfume - and never ever for when I want to present a professional or elegant image. It might be fun as an occasional change of pace for casual times (note that it would likely attract wasps outdoors.) It is strong, so apply sparingly. Where it would really shine would be as a kitchen air freshener, in an oil warmer or a candle - it would make the kitchen smell like you were baking a cherry pie. My rating: 3 as a perfume, 4 as a room scent

In the imp: I mainly notice wood, lemon, and mint. On me, wet: A fine piece of wood furniture, recently polished with lemon oil. On me, drydown: Teak, citrus and orchid, nicely balanced. On me, after about an hour: Teak with a little orchid. The final note is a faint orchid, once the teak has faded away. After about 2 hours, the scent is almost completely gone. My teenage son likes this a lot on me, but thinks it too floral for a male. On me skin, it is a more subtle scent than many essential oil perfumes. I agree that it is elegant. I don't really pick up the leather or the tea. The most dominant notes for me are the wood and the floral. My rating: 4 stars

In the imp: Rose and jasmine, strong On me, wet: Mostly strong sharp jasmine, with a hint of rose and mandarin On me, drydown: Softer jasmine with a little rose On me, about 1 hour: Very soft jasmine, now with a bit of myrrh. On me, after several hours: The lasting note is a gentle incensey myrrh, with no trace remaining of the florals or the other oils. This is one of my favorite BPALS, although perhaps I should warn you that I do love strong florals and that Rose and Jasmine are among my favorites. It does settle down very quickly. I'd like to try it in a scent locket to see if the florals will last longer that way. My rating: 5, planning to buy a whole vial in the near future.

One reviewer above (tempete) said to mix well before applying - good advice for all BPAL scents. And when I tried it both ways, it did make a huge difference! I agree with tempete that, in the unmixed vial, the Dragon's Blood was the predominate scent; and that the musk was much more apparent after mixing. Unmixed, from an imp that has been standing upright for several days: In the imp: Rose-scented soap. (The rose-like scent comes from the Dragon's Blood.) On me, wet: I'm channeling Ivory soap (or is it Dove? Something like that, anyway), with a little musk in the background. On me, barely dried: The soapiness has evaporated, leaving a lovely rose-like scent. So far, I haven't gotten caught much of the musk at all. Well-dried: The musk is definitely apparent now, equal to the floral-fruitiness of the Dragon's Blood. After about 45 minutes: Only musk is detectable. After mixing well: In the imp: Musky rose-scented soap with a bit of sharpness. On me, wet: Ivory soap equally balanced with musk. On me, drydown: As the soapiness has evaporated, the musk comes out more and more. Still plenty of floral though. After about 45 minutes: Only musk is detectable. The musk is still going strong 2 hours later. I love this blend for the rosy scent of Dragon's Blood, with the musk adding depth and longevity. My rating: 4

In the imp: Rose. Love it already. On me, wet: Rose, rosewood & hazel On me, drydown: Beautifully balanced blend of rose, rosewood, and hazel, all equally prominent. On me, after several hours: The scent remains remarkably consistent over time, leaning only slightly toward woodiness as it fades out. Gorgeous and elegant, one of my all-time favorite perfumes from anyone! I've already ordered a big bottle. My rating: 5

In the Imp: Fruity and flowery. Watermelon and strawberry predominates, with gardenia also discernible. On me, wet: Mostly fruity, with the berries especially noticeable: Blackberry, strawberry, with some watermelon. On me, drydown: Blackberry, with a hint of gardenia, and some musk starting to come forward. The more time goes by, the more the fruitiness fades and the musk and wood comes out. On me, after a few hours: All incense: wood (sandalwood?) and musk. Maybe just the faintest hint of blackberry still lingering. My rating: 4

Interesting how this affected people in such very different ways. Here's my take on it: In the Imp: I instantly loved it! Sharp, bitter, green scent evocative of orange blossoms together with torn orange leaves. Very fresh and lovely. Not at all fruity. On me, wet: Same as above, but softer; and now I'm also getting some sandalwood and maybe a little musk coming out. Not detecting any mango or orange fruit at all. Unfortunately, the wonderful orange blossom scent is fading very quickly. On me, drydown: Mostly sandalwood. The orange blossom/leaf scent is now very faint. On me, after a couple of hours: Soft sandalwood, with barely a hint of orange blossom. I especially love this in the imp, for the orange blossom scent. I want to try this in a perfume locket and an oil burner, to see if the orange blossom note will last longer that way. My rating: 4. It would be a 5 if the orange blossom scent lasted longer.

I'm looking for a true orange blossom scent: that is, one that smells like the actual flowers of the orange tree. They have no trace whatsoever of the scent of the orange fruit or orange rind. I have been unhappy with nearly all fragrances labeled "orange blossom" since most perfumers just don't seem to get it that the flowers smell nothing at all like oranges. It's one of my pet peeves. I've lived with orange trees in my backyards for 50 years, and believe me, I know the difference. Orange blossom is one of my most-beloved scents in the world, and I've searched for decades for a fragrance that can make me (and my home) smell like that any time of the year. But I don't care for the scent of the fruit in a perfume - I don't want to smell like something to eat! (BTW, Trader Joe's makes a liquid handwashing soap that has a very authentic orange blossom scent, but of course I can't use that as a perfume or home fragrance.) Torrilin's post (#26 in this thread) linked to a review that I was really interested in (comparing Orange Blossom vs. Neroli), but unfortunately only members registered to that site can view it. Torrilin, if you see this, could you possibly PM me a copy of that review, please? Thank you! And I'm particularly interested in Beth's versions of both Orange Blossom and Neroli. Has anyone tried the BPAL single notes for both? How do they differ? Do either of them have the true floral-not-fruity scent I'm looking for? Can anyone recommend a BPAL fragrance blend that smells like real orange blossoms without any trace of the fruit?

In the Imp - Sharp, clean, dishsoapy (not necessarily a bad thing) scent with florals On me, wet - Sharp floral with some citrus, still dishsoapy. On me, drydown - Much of the floral is gone, now more citrus, especially lime. Reminds me of men's cologne. On me, after a few hours - soft, mild patchouli & musk. I don't identify rose at any stage, just misc. florals. My rating: 4 out of 5