lorajc
-
Content Count
3,443 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by lorajc
-
-
When this first goes on, it is a bit strong on me and smells of Beth's icy/slush note. Once it starts drying down, this becomes much nicer on me with the florals coming into play and softening it out. I don't really care for this when first applied, but I love the drydown. It is a soft snowy blend with a touch of florals on me. It is very appropriate for this time of year. It does remind me very much of Ice Queen without the mint and didn't Ice Queen have melon? I can't remember.
-
I'm surprised nobody else noticed that this smells a lot like Dorian. It does on me at least. It's mainly a tea scent but I can smell the sunflower a bit. I get a faint peach also but it's softened by the vanilla. This is a really lovely spinoff of my Love Dorian!!
-
MMMMMMM ........cheesecake with frosting. This is very light and I really need to slather, but this is quite yummy. I had people walking in my office all day the day I wore this saying that something in here smelled really good. Beaver Moon. Decadent and wonderful.
-
I'm so bummed cuz I have a cold and I'm having the hardest time smelling this one in particular. I do smell the nutty/buttery quality at first, but then I get nothing.............
. I may smell just a touch of the cedar smoke....but my nose is not cooperating. I'll need to try this once my head clears up.
ETA: Okay, I wore this today and my nose is cooperating a bit more. I put this on this morning and only got the nutty/buttery scent and then I couldn't smell it. However, it is freezing here and I'm a cold person. When I got in the car with my jacket on and blasted the heat, the scent started to emerge from my jacket and it was wonderful. This is definitely one of those scents that reacts with your skin and is quite lovely. I wasn't sure about this, but wearing it is definitely what made me fall in love with this. It's very comforting in the cold weather. It does wear rather lightly though.
-
I wasn't sure I'd like this, as I don't really care for birch on it's own....but this is really nice. I bought more than one bottle when Beth declared this to be "Skadi Like" without the pine note. She nailed it (and she should know - LOL). This is snow/slush and ice with a syrupy resin like quality to it. This is quite nice......I'll update when I can smell a little better (if need be).
-
I'm not Catholic, so I'm not much familiar with the incense (except at a funeral once)....so I can't compare that aspect of this scent....but I must say that this one surprised me. I only ordered 1 bottle, as I wasn't sure I'd like this, but I really like it. It is not a strong or overly incensy blend. I think I may smell just a tiny bit of rose at first, but it blends with the resins so well that it smells wonderful (I don't really like rose on it's own). This is just an unbelievable scent and I'm really surprised by how much I like it. I'll be ordering more of this one. A very soft and unique scent that is very calming.
-
I agree with Ultraviolet on this one. Mint with slush, ice and snow. The mint calms down on the drydown, but it never really goes away totally (which is a good thing). I'll have to try this more when I can breathe. I like this one and it's got that similar "snow /slush note".
-
I agree with everyone above so far. This is absolutely wonderful!! Vanilla mint!! I've only tested this and have a cold, so I just know I'm going to love this even more than I do right now. I imagine this will really have a wonderful drydown and react well with body heat. I need to order a few more bottles. YUMMY!!
Now the world would be complete if Beth would make a cinnamon candy scent next Yule.
-
Snow Bunny
in Yules
I have a cold right now and I'm having a hard time smelling....but I'll try here. I did want to comment that my husband sniffed this out of the bottle (cuz I bought one bottle for a gift) and he really liked it.
On initial application, this smells a LOT like Skadi. For those of you not familiar with Skadi, I don't know how to explain other than sweet pine with the "snow slush" notes that Beth uses in her blends. I don't know what that is, but I smell the same "snow slush" in Skadi, Snow Bunny, and Tavilkuu. I really like the snow slushy oils, so I like this, but when it dries down, the pine fades quite a bit (which is fine by me, as I'm not big on pine), and a softness takes over (girlie perfume perhaps, but it is by no means "perfumey").....to the point where I can't smell it, but I need to wear this again when I can breathe.
-
Wow.....this is really a gorgeous amber scent. It is very unique. It is one of my favorites so far. This is an ethereal amber scent. I have never smelled the other notes on their own, so I can't comment on which one stands out in particular, but I really like this. I only have 2 bottles and more are going to be on order soon.
I have a cold right now, so I may update this once my head unclogs a bit. I think this is going to be a favorite in the 05 Yules.
Great job Beth on making a unique amber blend that is absolutely heavenly.
-
I wasn't sure about this one at all. When sniffed from the bottle, I thought I smelled vetiver and I can't wear vetiver, as it amplifies on me. After spilling a bottle while inserting a reducer cap (klutz I am), I tested it again and when it dried down, it began to get softer and prettier. There is a topnote that is offputting to my nose, but it seems to be growing on me and is becoming more pleasant. I'm still not sure about this one. This is my birth moon and I want to love it, but I'll have to wear it more. I don't know if I can really smell cinnamon in here. If it is in here, it is very slight and as those above stated, it is cinnamon bark or stick not sweet cinnamon. This is deep and feral but softens up as it wears. I can't pull out dragon's blood if it is in there, but I can't wear DB, so if it is in here, it must be minimal. I'll update this after I get to know it a bit more. I don't really get the vanilla others got either. It is slightly herbal on me, spicy, warm and very unique. The lunar oils do seem to be very slight in this blend, thus the "dimmed" lunar oils. They are more prominent in other lunar blends. You might be able to wear this lunar oil if you normally shy away from the lunars.
ETA: I'm wearing this today and my nose still dislikes the topnote, but it goes away very quickly. This is not a strong blend and actually wears quite soft. In the drydown, I can understand a bit where the vanilla comes in. It does have a creamy feel to it on the dry down which I'm thinking are the grains. This is one of those oils that may put you off at first, as it's really different, but it is sure growing on me. I can smell the cinnamon in it just a bit more today.
-
DREAMLAND
By a route obscure and lonely,
Haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT,
On a black throne reigns upright,
I have reached these lands but newly
From an ultimate dim Thule -
From a wild clime that lieth, sublime,
Out of SPACE - out of TIME.
Bottomless vales and boundless floods,
And chasms, and caves, and Titan woods,
With forms that no man can discover
For the tears that drip all over;
Mountains toppling evermore
Into seas without a shore;
Seas that restlessly aspire,
Surging, unto skies of fire;
Lakes that endlessly outspread
Their lone waters - lone and dead, -
Their still waters - still and chilly
With the snows of the lolling lily.
By the lakes that thus outspread
Their lone waters, lone and dead, -
Their sad waters, sad and chilly
With the snows of the lolling lily, -
By the mountains- near the river
Murmuring lowly, murmuring ever, -
By the grey woods,- by the swamp
Where the toad and the newt encamp -
By the dismal tarns and pools
Where dwell the Ghouls, -
By each spot the most unholy -
In each nook most melancholy -
There the traveller meets aghast
Sheeted Memories of the Past -
Shrouded forms that start and sigh
As they pass the wanderer by -
White-robed forms of friends long given,
In agony, to the Earth - and Heaven.
For the heart whose woes are legion
'Tis a peaceful, soothing region -
For the spirit that walks in shadow
'Tis - oh, 'tis an Eldorado!
But the traveller, travelling through it,
May not - dare not openly view it!
Never its mysteries are exposed
To the weak human eye unclosed;
So wills its King, who hath forbid
The uplifting of the fringed lid;
And thus the sad Soul that here passes
Beholds it but through darkened glasses.
By a route obscure and lonely,
Haunted by ill angels only,
Where an Eidolon, named NIGHT,
On a black throne reigns upright,
I have wandered home but newly
From this ultimate dim Thule.
The shadowy, fitful scent of nightmare, rife with ill-omen: osmanthus and tuberose over pulsating, heated skin musk, spiked carnation, night phlox and vesper iris.I will attempt a short reveiw, however, this is very light on me and my sinuses are not cooperating very well. I put this on my wrist an hour or so ago and it is so faint that I can barely detect it (another scent I hope will strengthen with aging). Maybe after slathering this on, I'll have a different opinion though. I can only detect a very tiny bit of carnation in this in a tiny base of *very light* musk. I'm totally ignorant to vesper iris and tuberrose. I've smelled osmanthus and night phlox before in blends and I can slightly detect them blending in with the musk and carnation, but again it is faint. There is not one signle note that is loud in this blend and no one single note takes the lead. It is very smooth and well blended. This is very understated. If you don't like wearing "perfumey" blends, this is your blend. If you want to wear perfume and don't want to make a statement, this is your blend.
-
LURID -
Shocking, horrific, fierce, savage, sensationalized, luminous and hazy: black currant, Bulgarian lavender and white musk with a dollop of thick resin and a voltaic charge of ozone notes.I don't know about shocking and horrifc, but this is one of those BPAL scents that drawns you in. When you first sniff it, you might find it odd and yet alluring in some way. You keep trying to think of a way to describe it or pull out a certain note and you can't but something in the scent makes you start liking it more and more. You're strangely intrigued and baffled at the same time and then the scent just starts becoming addicting to you and you must have it. This is what Lurid is to me. Now....if you pinned me down and forced me to pull out specific notes, I would probably say that the black currant is noticeable, although not prominment and not at all **too fruity**. It strangely mixes with the lavendar and other notes to make a very unique and mysterious blend. I think I'm going to have to purchase a 5 ml. It just keeps sucking at my brain and luring me in.
Also, for those of you who are frightened by the OZONE word -- this is not aquatic at all. I think it is only ozone in the sense of the slight voltaic charge -- that must be the part that's sucking at my brain. I must go now before it eats up too many more brain cells. I need all I have left. LOL
ETA: I really cannot say enough how truly unique this one is. If you want a signature scent that won't come close to anyone on the street. Get this. If you dare to be different, get this!! I'll shut up now (I'm rambling).
-
Considered a great honor, this is one of the most distinguished aspects of New Orleans culture. Its roots lie in the customs of the Dahomeans and Yoruba people, and is a celebration of both the person’s life and the beauty and solemnity of their death. The procession is lead by the Grand Marshal, resplendent in his black tuxedo, white gloves and black hat in hand; almost a vision of the great Baron Samedi himself. The music begins with solemn, tolling dirges, moves into hymns of sorrow, loss and redemption. When the burial site is reached, a two-note preparatory riff is sounded, and the drummers start the second-line beat, heralding the switch in music to joyous, upbeat songs, dancing, and the unfurling of richly decorated umbrellas by the “second line”: friends, family, loved ones and stray celebrants. Strutting, bouncing, and festive dance accompanies the upbeat ragtime music that sends the departed soul onto its next journey.
Didn't he ramble
... he rambled
Rambled all around
... in and out of town
Didn't he ramble
... didn't he ramble
He rambled till the butcher cut him down.
His feet was in the market place
... his head was in the street
Lady pass him by, said
... look at the market meat
He grabbed her pocket book
... and said I wish you well
She pulled out a forty-five
... said I'm head of personnel.
Didn't he ramble
... he rambled
Rambled all around
... in and out of town
Didnâ't he ramble
... didn't he ramble
He rambled till the butcher cut him down.
He slipped into the cat house
... made love to the stable
Madam caught him cold
... said I'll pay you when I be able
Six months had passed
... and she stood all she could stand
She said buddy when I'm through with you
Ole groundhog gonna be shakin yo' hand.
Didn't he ramble
... he rambled
Rambled all around
... in and out of town
Didn't he ramble
... didn't he ramble
He rambled till the butcher cut him down.
I said he rambled
... lord
... 'till the butcher shot him down.
Bittersweet bay rum, bourbon, and a host of funeral flowers with a touch of graveyard dirt, magnolia and Spanish Moss.
This is going to be short and sweet, as this scent did not work on me and I don't like to do negative reviews. In short, I cannot wear booze scents with more than a hint of booze in them and this is just a touch too much bourbon for me. I'm not really into dirt scents either and this is mainly bourbon and dirt on me with florals and moss in the background.
ETA: Upon a 2nd and 3rd try of this, the booze is nowhere near as prominent. I may need to test this further. Actually last night after it dried down for an hour or so, it smelled really good. -
Orchid tubers have been used extensively by witches in their love philtres, both to promote amorous attention and the attainment of true love, and, conversely, to wither misplaced passions and sever romantic bonds. This perfume is a dusky orchid, subdued and ethereal.
This again is a very unique plant/floral blend that is very hard to describe. I've only tested on a small area and my sinuses are acting up, so this will be very brief. This is indeed very subdued. I really like it but it may be a little too light for me. I will need to slather this one to be sure. If you like unique, subdued, ethereal scents and like orchids, but you're looking for an orchid scent done "Beth" style this may be exactly what you want! I find it to be strangely fruity, but just ever so slightly. I don't actually think it has fruit in it....but I think the blend is tricking me into smelling something slightly different. This is a very mysterious and intriguing scent. I didn't think I'd like the Garden scents too much, as I'm totally ignorant to plants and flora, but I rather like this and Baneberry so far. -
ALL SAINT'S 2005 -
This is the other Samhain blend that is slightly noticeably different than last year's blend. Does everyone remember last year's All Saint's had that buttery top note that was in last year's Harvest Moon? and then when it dried down, the incense and Autumn wind came thru? At least that's how last year's wore on me. This year's is a bit rosier in the top note and ever so slightly on the dry down. Other than that, I think it's pretty much the same only without the buttery top note. I think this may be slightly weaker than last year's. I remember 04's used to have to get thru a really strong phase on me before I felt comfortable in public. I don't think this one will do that. All in all it is the rose/gardenia floral mix with the myrrh and incense as a base. I haven't yet got to the Autumn wind, but that part usually doesn't appear until the scent is very faint on me and I've just applied an hour or so ago. I may update this after I actually wear the scent.
-
A poisonous fruit-bearing member of the buttercup family. The scent, like the plant, is dark green, herbal, and plump with bulging black fruit.
I've only tested this so this is subject to change. This is a very different berry scent. I don't really know how to explain it. It's not too tart nor too sweet. It is an herbaly type of berry scent that is slightly sweet and slightly green. It is not overtly strong, but rather soft. I think I like this and may purchase a bottle. I've got to wear it first. -
I only tested this so this is subject to change. When first applying, I can't really detect any notes. There is a strong top note of something I don't care for but it goes away as it dries down. I guess what I'm mainly smelling is a combination of patchouli, cardamom, and sandalwood(spicy and woody) with a very soft touch of gardenia in the background. This is another well blended masterpiece by Beth and no one note competes with the other. It is a very balanced blend. This is my other favorite so far, although I'm not sure this is the type of patchouli I usually like. I think this smells like black patchouli. I may need to purchase a 2nd bottle of this also.
-
In the greenest of our valleys
By good angels tenanted,
Once a fair and stately palace -
Radiant palace - reared its head.
In the monarch Thought's dominion -
It stood there!
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair!
Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow,
(This - all this - was in the olden
Time long ago,)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
A winged odor went away.
Wanderers in that happy valley,
Through two luminous windows, saw
Spirits moving musically,
To a lute's well-tuned law,
Round about a throne where, sitting
(Porphyrogene!)
In state his glory well-befitting,
The ruler of the realm was seen.
And all with pearl and ruby glowing
Was the fair palace door,
Through which came flowing, flowing, flowing,
And sparkling evermore,
A troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty
Was but to sing,
In voices of surpassing beauty,
The wit and wisdom of their king.
But evil things, in robes of sorrow,
Assailed the monarch's high estate.
(Ah, let us mourn! - for never morrow
Shall dawn upon him desolate!)
And round about his home the glory
That blushed and bloomed,
Is but a dim-remembered story
Of the old time entombed.
And travellers, now, within that valley,
Through the red-litten windows see
Vast forms, that move fantastically
To a discordant melody,
While, like a ghastly rapid river,
Through the pale door
A hideous throng rush out forever
And laugh - but smile no more.
The moment before the ruin, frozen. The scent of captured glory, of glowing pearls and rubies, of golden sunlit joy and regal grandeur: red rose, Tunisian amber, blood orange, toasted vanilla, heliotrope, gardenia and red musk.This is another one I just tested and have not worn, so this is subject to change. I expected this to be heavier, but it is fairly lightweight. The blood orange is apparent when wet. After it starts drying down, I get a melange of amber and gardenia with a slight vanilla tinge in the background. This is very well blended. It's not heavy on the red musk either, as I sometimes can't wear Red Musk and it's too heavy on me but this scent must not have that much in it, as I don't get that heavy feeling. I really like this. I may need to purchase a 2nd bottle of this one.
-
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2005
I have only tested this and have not worn it, so this is subject to change. I think out of all of the Samhain blends, this one smells the most different from last year's. The chocolate note that is detectable on first sniffing the 2004 version is not in this blend. This has a strong top note of something I'm not familiar with. It is the scent of faint incense smoke, crackling leaves and I smell some slight florals. I was slightly disappointed at first, but on the dry down, it smelled closer to the 2004 version. I don't really know how to describe this scent other than what I've typed above. I had a hard time reviewing last year's as well, as my nose is not familiar to notes in it.
-
The sticky sweet scent of candy corn!(I only tested this on my arm - have not yet worn it - so I may update this)
This oil smells kind of "corny" out of the bottle. I don't know how else to explain it, but when applied it smells more like sugar skull without the brushed fruits (for those of you that aren't familiar with Sugar Skull, it was basically a sugar scent brushed with fruits). It has a very slight buttery/honeyish tinge to it. I also get a tiny bit of that "burnt sugar" scent that also came thru on me with Sugar Skull but it passes thru that phase. I was unable to wear last year's Sugar Skull due to a skin reaction, so hopefully I'll be able to wear this. This is a fun Halloween Scent. Thanks Beth! -
Devil's Eve, Devil's Night, Gate Night, Trick Night, Mischief Night; whatever your name for it might be, the chaos is still the same. Contrary to popular belief, this festival of pandemonium isn't unique to Detroit. Falling on October 30th, it is an evening of mayhem and destruction. On the gentler side, it may be celebrated by practical jokes, an egging, Ding-Dong-Ditch, or enthusiastic TP'ing of your most hated neighbor's trees, and on the more violent side, arson and vandalism. This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk.Well, this is nothing like I expected. I expected it to be heavier and it's actually very light wearing on me. Beth nailed it with "autumn night" as that's what this smells like with a ever so slight hint of sugary/booziness. It is not at all too sweet or too boozy though. They are just very soft in the background. I do smell the note that I smell whenever Beth has a scent with the description "Autumn Winds". I have no idea what it is but it is very evocative of just that. When I was walking outside yesterday, it was chilly and the leaves were falling and I inhaled deeply and thought to myself "now that's an autumn air" and now I've got that in an oil but it's made even yummier with the sugar. This is really lovely and I am glad I bought more than one bottle. I don't think it resembles the Hex (can't spell it) LE at all, so I think those who speculated that this would be close may be disappointed. Although, I can smell just a tiny comparison to it.
ETA: I'm noticing something spicy (almost gingerish) in this now. I don't know what it could be but this stage is really yummy. I just touched it up about an hour ago. -
I haven't read any of these reviews but I did see someone mention roses somewhere. I don't get any roses out of Beatrice. On me, Beatrice is more spice than florals which is fine by me. I really don't wear too many florals, but this is an exception. This is a lightwearing spicy floral on me. I can't pick out any of the individual notes, but it is really lovely.
-
Wow, this IS really different from last year's version. I've worn this twice and both times, it smelled different. When first applied it is fruity (apple/plumy) and as it dries down the brown sugar comes thru with the spice and it's gorgeous. The florals round it out but they never scream. This is really a lovely autumn scent, but it is a bit lighter wearing on me. I really slathered it on. I love this.
Red Phoenix
in Limited Editions
Posted · Edited by lorajc · Report reply
This is another one that I don't really love when it's first applied, but the drydown is absoultely gorgeous. I can't always wear Red Musk, so I was a bit worried about this one. It starts out with the same bitter top note that I detect in Blood Moon, but when it dries down........it is a spicy wonderful blend. This also does very slightly burn my sensitive skin when first applied (almost like a cinnamon blend) and I smell something that resembles cinnamon, but it is just a spice.....not sure what that note is. The notes are blend together well and one particular note does not stand out on me. I can't even pick out the patchouli or plum on it's own. This is PERFECT and I LOVE it very much. I'm glad I bought multiples of this one.