luna65

Thanks to the Lab for the frimp. Imp: The opium has a resin-y characteristic, I find. Skin: VERY strong, whew! Like I'm being beaten with a honeysuckle bush by a angry vetiver monster. Drydown: After a time this settles down to a dark floral which is interesting, but I'm not sure if it's really me.

Thanks to kmasden for the decant. Vial: This seems to be a different leather accord than I have experienced previously in other BPAL blends, with a touch of dry spicyness. Skin: The tobacco really comes out on application, and blends with the leather in a sexy, yet somewhat discreet manner. The musk is truly soft in that it doesn't seem to overly amplify the characteristics of the other notes. Drydown: This doesn't last long, maybe two hours at the most. The musk ends up melding with my skin very nicely while the other elements ultimately fade away. I think this would be wonderful on a man although I'd be disappointed if it demonstrated the same duration of sillage.

Thanks to kmasden for the decant. Vial: Wood with a sweet resin undertone. Skin: This goes on somewhat sharp at first, it's got sort of a perfume-y tone. The incense is the most prevalent element. Drydown: The pipe smoke comes out in the drydown, lending a further sweetness. This is very much a secretive sort of scent (heh), hinting at traditions and evenings of ritual. I enjoy it but have to employ a very light hand in application.

Thanks to the Lab for the frimp. Imp: All the topnotes seem immediately present in the vial, very green and astringent. Skin: The myrrh is a very deep and true heartnote, it comes to the fore very quickly and all the other notes seem to evolve around it. Drydown: This ends up as an interesting blend between the myrrh and the floral elements. I wouldn't have expected the combination to work on me, but it's an intriguing two different kinds of sweetness. I can see myself wearing this when I want to project a specific kind of sophistication.

Thanks to princessbeena for the imp. Imp: The rosewood and bergamot are the strongest here, providing a interesting green/floral combination. Skin: Eventually the violet comes out, and it's not too sweet. I don't really sense any other elements, though I can discern that the musk is keeping all the other notes in check. Drydown: This settles down to a nice powdery floral. It's not really me, but it's lovely for those who enjoy that sort of thing.

All praise and thanks to the Lab. Bottle: Mint grounded in a gourmand base, yes, it smells like Thin Mints to me as well. Skin: The mint comes to the fore after application, but this is nowhere near as minty as Lick It, to my nose. I'm not really getting the "crisp" evocation. Drydown: Like Bloody Mary, this wears very close and soft on me. It dries down sweet, but I get a kind of plastic-y undertone, like I'm smelling a toy which has been scented with vanilla. I'm hoping with some aging that quality will disappear.

All praise and thanks to the Lab. Bottle: This reminds me of Hearth in the bottle, that same smoky savory quality. Skin: The patchouli gives this an interesting character, a lovely spicy wood type. The type of wood utilized strikes me as primarily cedar. Drydown: I get more of the sweetness over time, although just hints of it weaving through the patchouli and woods. I never caught the apricot, I'm guessing it was a very brief top note. But I really enjoy this, it's yet another example of the wonderful things Beth can do with patchouli.

All thanks and praise to the Lab. Bottle: Creamy berries with a sort of sharp undertone. Skin: I applied more than I meant to, but even so this stayed close to my skin from the very beginning. It was interesting to me that the powdered sugar seemed to give the fruit a sort of spiciness while still retaining the sweet quality. Drydown: This ultimately has a very soft sillage on me like Closet does. I had a few compliments this evening, one guy called it "sweet in a good way."

Thanks to princessbeena for the imp. Imp: Spicy jasmine. Skin: This becomes more perfume-y once I apply it, I'm thinking the musk has something to do with that. Many times white/crystal musk accords have that effect on me. Drydown: After a while I get a more aquatic impression, which is probably the iris. Unfortunately, iris and light musk don't generally work too well on me, but it does have that type of sophisticated floral evocation which is nicely feminine. I'm thinking my mom might like this one. . .

Thanks to the Lab for the frimp. Imp: Sandalwood with a piquant bite. Skin: This has a green herbal type of sillage on me. It's a nice masculine type of aura, though not the type that I would normally wear. Drydown: Eventually this evolves into a type of savory scent, very interesting. I would love to smell this on a man!

Thanks to the Lab for the frimp. Imp: The attar of rose is most prevalent, very sensual. Skin: The sandalwood lends a lovely base, although this gets very strong on me, and I don't really sense the patchouli. It's not my favorite of Beth's roses, but it's another example of how wonderful and true they are. Drydown: This has more body when dry, a really deep complex rose. It's too much for me, but I can appreciate how well-crafted it is, and it lasts quite a long time as well.

Of all the BPALs I've tried with patchouli most of my favorites are LEs, but my favorite GC is Tezcatlipoca. Of the LEs I love Spanked, Red Phoenix, Mme. Moriarty, Schwarzer Mond, and The Masque. I'm of that group where Snake Oil turns to Play-Doh on me, so I have the same reaction to Vixen.

Thanks to Rheliwen for the imp. Imp: The magnolia is entirely dominant to the point where I can't smell anything else. Skin: This is a BPAL that for me has an incredible throw, it's almost a little too much. But the initial impression I get is one of a very classic floral. Drydown: After a time I can discern the musk and the spice. but I never really sense the citrus. It's very heady and seductive, but I don't think I can live up to Her reputation.

Thanks to GypsyRoseRed for the imp. Imp: My notes read "incredibly true apple," and I don't think I could elaborate any better than that. Skin: The oak accents appear shortly after application, and do a wonderful job of complimenting the sweetness of the apple, keep it from being overwhelming. Drydown: This settles down very quickly on me, into a nice soft apple and oak blend. I don't really get any water or greenery from it, but it's lovely! I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but it's definitely something I want to wear come springtime or whenever I need something cheerful. I always associate apples with a sense of cheer for some reason.

Thanks to Sidonie for the imp. Imp: Green and sharp, with an undertone of "perfume," maybe labdanum? Skin: I get more of a sense of the watery characteristic, like a white floral with ozone and probably some iris (as I always associate Beth's iris with that aquatic mood). Drydown: This gets very faint very fast, just a kind of vaguely damp breath. I'm not really big on aquatics (going against my zodiac) but for anyone who does enjoy them, this is definitely a classic one.

Really ridiculous, insanely inappropriate, and staggeringly silly! Cranky groundhog musk sweetened up by chocolate-covered black cherries, cardamom, French vanilla, and caramel. All praise and glory to the Lab. Bottle: I also get a reminder of MB: Closet - a sense of creamy berries - so the cherry and vanilla notes are the strongest in the bottle for me, with an undertone of caramel. Skin: I understand why people are thinking cassia, the cardamom is VERY strong, much like cassia can be. I wonder if the musk used is amplifying a certain quality rather than the characteristic scent. Drydown: Underneath the cardamom the caramel and the chocolate eventually peep out (like the aforementioned groundhog), although on me the cherry never really appears, alas, just a faint suggestion rather than the actual scent. I do like this creamy musk, it has actual tactile weight to it, like taking a big whiff of a piece of cake. In fact, the musk really gives this blend the body that the MBs seem to be missing, as delicious as they are. And the pink lettering on the label gives me the giggles.

Thanks to SevenSins for the imp. Imp: This has a kind of understated masculine quality, you can tell it's wood and herbal, but it's not in-your-face about it. Skin: The cedar is the most prevalent note, of course, but the sage makes for a nice base, a savory suggestion that works well with the other. Drydown: This doesn't last long on me at all, and is mostly cedar, but while it does evolve it is a very strong and clear evocation. But then it just vanishes. No doubt this be very nice on a man, though.

Thanks to the Labbies for the frimp. Imp: This is very sweet in the imp, I guess the "wet" quality is what makes it smell so fresh. Skin: I get a sense of sweet florals, I'm thinking that must be the mimosa, although it doesn't really have a "sharp" quality so much as a "fresh" one. Like fresh-cut flowers. Drydown: After an hour this mellows to a sort of sweet spiciness. It's kind of a gourmand feeling, but not in the way that it makes you think of a certain dish, just the overall sense of something yummy. Unfortunately, my imp cap broke (my first one ) so I'll have to give this one a new home at some point.

My bottle is direct from the Lab. Bottle: Delicious Irish coffee, blended nicely, no sour notes at all. Skin: After a few minutes the polished wood accord comes to the fore and at first it's a little overwhelming. It's not bad enough to make me ill but I really have to be patient to let it die down. Drydown: A friend/co-worker had a great desciption upon sniffing my wrist; he said, "It's like someone spilled a mug of spiked coffee on a polished wooden floor." (Maybe I can enable him, he's born to write reviews! ) I love this when it finally melds with my skin, it's all warm and sweet and cozy, just like a reading room would be when you've come in out of the rain and can take advantage of a hot beverage and plenty of books to read.

This is a review for the 2007 version, direct from the Lab. Bottle: There is virtually no difference between the new version and last year's, to my nose. Skin: I noticed that the oil is much thinner in body when new, I found that interesting. The "new" blend does have a high, sharp smell, the top notes of caramel and currant are pretty much invisible. I get a sort of sour note - not sour bad, just sour - which I'm figuring is the opium, like before it's processed. Drydown: The drydown is much like the "old" in that it eventually evolves to a spicy tobacco blend, although the spice is much more prevalent in the "new" blend. I guess my ultimate loyalty is to the aged version, so I think my bottle is due for a six-month hibernation.

Thanks to Blood onmy hands for the decant. Vial: Cocoa and resins, and perhaps just a slight hint of floral. Skin: The leather and the patchouli are so gorgeous. Drydown: I get a sense of the incense, the smoke, hanging in the air, floating over the other notes. The cocoa returns as well, after a time, with more sweetness than I sensed in the vial. This is now officially one of my Top Ten: an incredible blend of earthy, sweet, spicy and ultimately incredibly tempting, as does the Lord which it evokes.

“The Beautiful One Is Come”. Egyptian iris and olibanum with red and white sandalwood, soft myrrh and a breath of North African herbs. Thanks to Teggy for the decant. Decant: Sandalwood and myrrh, resinous sweetness. Skin: I like the iris accord in this one, it's pretty and fresh, not cloying. And given my chemistry, it's pretty much all I can smell. Drydown: I get more of the myrrh later on, it blends nicely. This is sort of a stately floral, as befits the inspiration, with a feel of refinement and remove.

Thanks to kmasden for the decant. Vial: Sexy spicy vanilla musk. Skin: I get the Snake Oil comparison immediately because I sense that same sweet powderyness, but this doesn't decay on me. Instead the musk really intensifies the spice elements. Drydown: This continues to be powdery without going Play-Doh on me, thank the Pantheon! I wish I could discern the plum (as I've loved that note in other blends), but I think the amber-vanilla mix is pretty much dominating my chemistry. It's not as "heavy" as I thought it would be, but I imagine this is how SO was supposed to smell on me, so I'm enjoying it, in that I don't think I've ever really experienced amber like this.

Thanks to Teggy for the imp. Imp: A sort of dry, spicy quality, and the peppery greenness of the sage. Skin: The leather accord in this reminds me so much of Spanked, this is the one I like! So it must be that the cedar has a more spice feeling (perhaps assisted by the carnation) rather than woody to help lend that impression. Drydown: The flower notes end up more herbal, I think, because of the sage and the cedar. I believe the musk in this one is accentuating the leather, in that I'm only getting a faint suggestion of sweetness, but I like the way this works on me, most definitely.

Thanks to kmasden for the decant. Vial: Lemon and opium. The former really is sweet like candy and the latter gives an interesting quality to the former, like almost a wood or green accord of some kind. It amazes me how different it is compared to other opium evocations of the BPAL library. I guess the sweet quality of the lemon may be assisted by the coconut, but I can't discern the coconut specifically. Skin: The flowers are more prevalent now: that kind of fresh, rather than sugary, sense of sweetness. Pretty in a way that I can enjoy, rather than cringe at. Drydown: The flowery impression passes fairly quickly and then there is the smooth, almost creamy quality of the musk and vanilla. The lemon flower is still very strong, almost raucous, which is appropriate for the concept, to my mind. That sense of one particular scent atop a group of similar notes, like there's always one particular odor which catches your attention when entering a place which lends itself to olfactory overload. I understand the syrupy evocation that some others have commented on, it really does have a thick and heavy quality to it for me, teetering on the edge of being too much, too decadent. In that sense I feel it lives up to its' narrative, so to speak.