abejita

Ever since Chrysanthemum Moon came out, I feel compelled to sample anything Beth releases with an opium note. Apple is an okay note for me. It's nothing that sells me on a blend, but it doesn't keep me from buying one either. Poisoned Apple begins smelling like single note crisp apple, completely without complexity. It quickly dips into too-sweet territory. After a bit, it draws back and the screaming apple fades a bit to the opium and oleander. I get the hemlock too, which is interesting. To me, hemlock smells cloying and rotten. Poisoned Apple has the feel of hemlock, but not the rot, if that makes sense. I'm glad I got to try this one, but ultimately it's just not for me. I generally prefer my opium with spices and resin.

I keep saying I'm not a floral person, yet I've fallen in love with Vasakasajja, Dark Delicacies, Beltane, Kanishta, and now Pink Moon. I knew I was fond of carnation from making its acquaintance in Morocco, Maiden, and Alice. But this is the perfect blend to showcase that note. The sugar balances the spice and the phlox seems to just play a supporting, pink-ifying role. This is a happy, playful blend, perfect for spring and summer, and femininte without being childish.

Lately, my sexy blends of choice have been Shub, Dark Delicacies, Morocco, and Mama-Ji.

The Ecstasy of Passion:

Initially, this was the Ecstasy blend I wanted most. I'm a huge fan of vanilla, resins, and spice. When my Inquisition arrived and it wasn't Passion, I was a bit sad. But now that I've tried a decant, I'm in the minority of folks who just aren't into this blend.

On me, it's just a faint and nondescript vanilla/clove/amber blend. I'm not getting any resiny richness or depth. I'm really surprised, these kinds of blends are usually so good on me, but this one is flat and two-dimensional. So weird, but considering how wildly popular and rare this one is, it's probably a good thing.

I was very nervous when I opened my BPTP box and saw the True Love label. I like the scent of peaches/apricots/peach blossom, but unfortunately they tend to amp and sweeten on me until it smells like I've just opened a can of generic peaches in that horrible sugar syrup, like they serve in school cafeterias (or used to, at least).

Lucky for me, that didn't happen at all. This scent remained very natural and bright. I get primarily the patchouli, which isn't a dirty patchouli on me at all. I am not really getting the frankincense note, but I think it is part of what is reining in the peach blossom and making it not go all too-sweet fruity. The carnation is really, really, REALLY beautiful. It works so well with the peach blossom and patchouli. The honeysuckle and citrus aren't so distinct, I think they are just adding a bright, clear feel.

Based on the notes, the instant comparison would be Depraved, but this doesn't smell at all like Depraved to me. The patchouli notes are very different. I have Bakeneko on right now, and I would consider True Love to be in the same scent family. In fact, smelling True Love has made me appreciate Bakeneko more. True Love is so not what I would have chosen for myself, but not only will I hold onto it, I'll actually wear it. I think it fits its name well in that it's happy and bright, but has a mature earthiness to ground it, and spice to keep it interesting. Kind of like, well, real love.

This one just doesn't stand out to me. I am just getting sandalwood and other woods along with a generic (though high quality) incense smell. It's pleasant, but nothing I'll ever reach for. I'll probably pass along my decant at some point.

First impression in the bottle: Bitter cocoa and some dark resin, scentwise. However, I quickly notice that, like others have mentioned, the oil just isn't fully mixed. There is about a half centimeter of paler gold oil, while under that is nearly black. I have to roll and roll the bottle to finally get it mixed, every time I try it. I've never had to do that with BPAL before.

On, wet: Intense bitter cocoa. Fortunately, I love the smell of unsweetened cocoa. There are other things present, but the cocoa dominates.

Dry: Deep, dark chocolate, rich vanilla creaminess, and Snake Oil. This is the Snake Oiliest of the Pit, thusfar, for me. I am usually more verbose in my reviews, but this is pretty straightforward. Richly bitter with a touch of sweet. Snake Oil, but so much better.

The Verdict: I have always liked Snake Oil, but it has never been one of my all time favorites. The Snake Pit has added that special something and I'm in love. Boomslang is dark, rich, and lovely. It's great now, but I just can't wait to see how it ages, too.

I think this is one of those highly under-loved BPAL GC treasures. It was one of the first blends I tried and have recently rediscovered. The cocoa is dry and dark, like in Velvet, the fig adds a round, tart note. I can't figure out what the black palm smells like, but it must be good. The woods linger close to my skin, deepening everything.

If you like this, try Velvet.

Why did I wait so long to try this? Creamy vanilla and clean, sunny linen. There is some floral component, but it doesn't dominate on me. This is a very straight-forward blend, but, hey, we can't be complex every day. I wore this to school one day and one of my students stopped dead in her tracks, inhaled deeply, and exclaimed, "Teacher, you smell soooo good!" I am using up my imp at a dangerous rate and will be getting a 5ml very soon.

I've drunk real absinthe before (I smuggled a bottle back to the States, it's still in my pantry), and all I can really say is, yup, this is absinthe. It's not my style as a perfume, but I really enjoyed adding it to some un-scented Dr. Bronners soap and using it in the bath.

I really wanted to like this one. I love ginger, milk, and honey, so I thought it was a sure thing. However, it was so incredibly light and watery on me, that I could never get a feel for the blend. I tried three times, then passed it along.

What the hell am I doing loving a floral blend this much?

Shadow Witch Orchid and Phantom Queen gave me a clue that I should investigate Beth's orchid notes more. Dark Delicacies has a truly exquisite dark, deep orchid to it. Apparently I like the devil's trumpet, too, though I am having difficulty pinpointing it. Coconut-haters, don't fret. This is not the coconut I typically associate with a BPAL blend. It's very background, adding creamy roundness to the scent. I thought for certain this blend contained vanilla, it must be the tonka. The resins are swoon-worthy, the fruit gums sweeten without making this a fruity blend at all.

Dark, seductive, rich, and flat-out beautiful. This has shot up to my top ten list of all time and I can only hope it will be around for purchase for quite awhile. I will haul this blend out when I want to bring out the big guns, attraction-wise. I feel so hot when I have it on.

If you like this, you might want to check out Vasakasajja, Phantom Queen, Regan, and Shadow Witch Orchid.

I got my Faces of the Heroine decants when I had the flu. Even though I wasn't very congested, my sense of smell was pretty much gone, so I was totally frustrated, thinking the blends were weak or insipid.

Thankfully, I'm better now. Vasakasajja has skin musk, which is always a plus. I have just discovered that I love orchid, though I am generally cautious about florals. I like champaca, but it's a note I tend to amp (not like Forspecial Plate, though). It's behaving in this blend for me, thankfully. The amaranth/tonka/French vanilla thing is working out in a very lovely way. The blend is heavily evocative of its description, the passion and flush of anticipation. It's warm, sweet, and creamy. It's a golden-white, sunlight, skin-warmed blend.

This will be a bottle purchase.

Fans of this may want to try Dark Delicacies.

I have no idea where people are getting the cinnamon from. I don't detect anything remotely similar to cinnamon.

I really like this blend. On applying it, I immediately get a cherry note. It's a wet, liquid version of cherry (not cough syrupy, though). Kirsch-like, even. The chocolate is a nice milk chocolate. The cardamom is very assertive, and that suits me fine. Cardamom is one of those notes that tends to sell me on a blend. After awhile, I can detect the French vanilla, like in Vasakasajja (though this is a very, very different blend, obviously). I never get much of the caramel, so those of you who fear that note may enjoy the 'Hog.

This is what I hoped Vice would be and a lot more.

Throw is medium and wear-length is long. I applied it yesterday evening and woke up this morning still smelling it.

Hm. I'm not sure I "get" this blend. I'm looking for some complexity that I know should be here, but I'm getting almost entirely dragon's blood and vanilla. In fact, this smells a lot like a less sweet, woodier Dragon's Milk.

Oh, wait, there's the floral. Muguet. Now this is shifting towards Dragon's Eye a little.

It just keeps shifting between those blends to me, with a woody base. I'll have to try it again, it just isn't quite doing it for me right now.

Oh, my. I was going to discount this blend because I'm not the biggest citrus fan, but the chestnut blossom intrigued me. I've mentioned elsewhere on the board what a huge fan of chestnut honey I am. Apparently, chestnut blossom has the same nutty, smoky characteristic as the honey. The musk complements the chestnut blossom very well. Despite not being a huge floral fan, I like magnolia very much, and it gives a good creamy/tangy feel to the blend. I'm surprised at how the mandarin seems to be the thread holding it all together. It's unexpected, but it works.

The blend invokes the colors in the painting, and I like that a lot. They are colors I'm not usually so into, but here they appeal.

This is a really understated scent. I love the complex blends, but there is something to be said for something straightforward. This is pure, clear, and genteel. It's a very creamy white scent, delicate and sweet. I can see why this one tends to be popular. It's very accessible. I think it could be a great scent to introduce someone to BPAL.

This is interesting and not at all what I expected. In the vial, I smell dry cocoa powder and something elusively sweet. Rose, but not. On my skin, the scent takes on a deep texture. It's almost like sinking your feet into very expensive shag carpet. The cocoa-y note turns richer and creamier (though not foodie) after it dries. The sweet-tart note (again, not foodie or candylike) has settled. It's very evocative of the plant itself, very red and nubby. I haven't delved into Rappacini's Garden much, but this is a good one.

From the bottle: Creamy blossoms and a whiff of my beloved opium.

On, wet: The French magnolia just bloomed. Hell, it burst into bloom. The jasmine is strong. I have never had a particular problem with jasmine in general, but I can see how the sambac is more... tempered, somehow. This is seriously a lush floral, everything else is hiding right now.

Dry: Mmmm, there it is. Ooooopiummmm. So smooth. I am not a big floral person, but the lushness of the magnolia, the clarion sweetness of the jasmine, and that smooth black opium are really doing it for me right now. The patchouli and kush have a light touch. I suspect they are part of what is grounding the jasmine. I love the sweetness of this scent, it's so velvety

The Verdict: A keeper. To me, this scent speaks confidence, sensuality, and a very mature breed of audacity. I can really see how it is meant to evoke the Other Woman. I get a feel of independence. This is the scent of the Mistress, but she is no kept woman. She just can't be bothered with drab social convention. The men who know it want her all the more for it, but she won't be tamed. I don't usually go nuts reading a lot into a scent, but this one is tugging at my imagination.

Medium to strong throw.

First impression in the bottle: My eyes! Heh. It's just a very, very thick and intense woody cassia. That's all I get. Overwhelming enough to catch in my throat. It's the cassia of Monster Bait: Underbed with the dial set on 11.

On, wet: My wrists are warm, but no burn. I would not suggest applying this right after a shower, though. The cassia is still howling, but not to the point where my throat feels scratchy sniffing it. I smell something sweet, but oh that cassia. Pipe down, you! Well, hello cinnamon. It's nice to make your acquaintance. The cinnamon is politely asserting itself, firmly telling the cassia to chill the fuck out. The cassia has decided to be sensible and take cinnamon's good advice and has receded, but not departed. Red ginger is peering in the doorway, probably trying to gauge cassia's mood.

Dry: Red ginger has decided that it is safe to make an appearance. Cassia is contrite and apologizing like hell to red ginger. They have made up and are strongly joined in the scent. The cinnamon is a sweet cinnamon. Like in Australian Copperhead, the Snake Oil aspect is the backdrop. It's there, but not centerstage. Again, this will probably emerge more on aging.

The Verdict: Even before aging, this is a great spicy, warm scent, just not as deep as I'd like. I have confidence that in a few weeks, this will be killer. I am not disappointed, I am looking forward to this one "maturing."

ETA: Strong throw like whoa. I put my wrist down to my side and it still smells like I'm huffing it.

Edited again to add: Hours later and the Snake Oil is much more apparent. It's a great mix with the spice.

First impression in the bottle: Whoa, açai and neroli!

On, wet: The açai is bright and vivid, berrylike without being at all candyish or cloying. It's just like the real thing. What a great note, I hope to see it in other things. The neroli is also bright and herbal. There is some sweetness and vanilla here, I suspect it will emerge more fully any moment...

Dry: Oh, yes. Here is the vanilla and it is definitely smoky. The amber isn't so prominent, just adding a richness and a complement to the vanilla. The açai is calmer, but still a major player. The cardamom seems less spice and more round and full. Kind of like the cardamom in Bastet, as opposed to it in, say, Pumpkin Queen. As time goes on, I can pick out more Snake Oil-ish elements, but they are a backdrop. To me, this is more a scent in its own right than just a "Snake Oil variant."

The Verdict: I am so happy with this. Predictably, I can see it aging beautifully, but it is more than wearable now. It's not like anything else I have tried, thusfar, but it still has that recognizable SO feel to it. I hope very much that this scent is representative of the beauty of the rest of the Snake Pit. If they are all this good, my wallet is sunk.

ETA: Strong throw.

This is a very fun scent. It's shamelessly bright purple and uncomplicated. I can detect the plum, amaretto, and wine very clearly. While it's not something I need a bottle of, I will hold into my imp. It's raucous, that's the word!

When I first got into BPAL, the notes in this scent are exactly what I would have gone for: fruit, honey, rose. I've since discovered that most rose blends aren't spectacular on me, and fruit tends to overpower, especially peach and apple. Honey is hit or miss.

Then along comes Les Bijoux. I picked it up on a whim, tacked the imp onto a bottle sale I was getting from the forum. I figured I'd try it once, it would be pleasant but nothing great, and I'd likely pass it on. But, no. I really, really love it. Though this scent is really nothing like Sed Non Satiata, they both have that honey/skin musk combo that really, really do it for me. The peach behaves itself and the rose and apple are strangely complimentary in a way I'd not have expected. The frankincense and myrrh are not easy for me to pick out in this blend, but I think they are playing a part in grounding it all, taming the fruits and florals, making the honey/musk combo richer and deeper.

Very, very nice. I am going to go take a shower and apply some serious Les Bijoux.

This is what I wanted O to be, wanton, honeyed sexuality. O, unfortunately, was sort of powdery and insipid on me, but Sed Non Satiata is far more robust. I can see where people are getting the "peanut butter" impression, but that is only a brief stage for me as it dries. I have discovered that I love Beth's skin/body musk (that sounds way dirtier than I meant it), and mixed with honey (also in Les Bijoux and Bengal), it's just lovely. Apart from the honey, it's hard for me to pick out any one note. I can tell that the patchouli, myrrh, and musk are combining to make a husky, velvety feel. It really is textured in a way that only BPAL can do for me.

I love this one. It's one of my top catalog loves, and is seriously sexy.

some great recs here, but where is oblivion?