beeboppin

I was very interested in trying this, since it is such a favorite...unfortunately, the imp I received smelled strongly of lemon, a scent I am not usually fond of. I've noticed this in many perfumes; often 'tea' seems to go hand in hand with lemon notes. I might be able to work with just a drop of a fresh lemon scent, but the lemon here seems strong and artificial. I will try another imp of Dorian, maybe fresh from the lab. I'd love to experience what all the fans see in it!

This is another of my niece's blends that she graciously allowed me to sample. I got none of the wonderful autumn forest, apples or pumpkin so many raved about. I got Vicks VapoRub and mothballs, in the bottle and on my skin. After about an hour, I could detect a bit of spice and patchouli, but it was too little, too late. This one just isn't for me.

A kind soul sent my niece a little partial imp of this as a gift, and she passed it on to me. So LOVELY! If this were part of the general catalogue, I would certainly buy a 10ml. It is thick and warm, complex, slightly sweet rose; sophistocated and timeless. I applied only a drop (about half of what I posess), and it tenaciously clung to my wrist for more than 8 hours. This scent begs to be slathered! I'm very happy to have read the reviews, I will now seek out Othello and Tarot: The Empress, since a couple of helpful forumites mentioned that they have some similarity to Love in the Asylum. I do wish it would be rereleased!

Ah yes, you speak of my dream blends! Thank you for allowing my thread to remain for now, I hope more ladies/gentlemen will share which BPAL's they found obnoxiously loud and tenacious. Those should be just perfect for me... Perhaps I have (luckily) already found my ultimate BPAL in Snake Oil...I just hope for one or two more 'ultimates' to mix it up a little. I'm still weaning off the various Chanels, Diors and Guerlains. While BPAL blends certainly smell more real and interesting to me than the department store fragrances, they seem far more subtle. Or perhaps just less intrusive and aggressive. I've begun to fear that I have forever killed my scent receptors with too many of the alcohol-laden, 'nerve gas' perfumes. Thanks for the great ideas, and for graciously sharing your thoughts, ladies! I will try every suggestion made here, and enjoy doing so!

Does anyone have rec's for some long lasting blends with good sillage? I got some thoughtful recommendations from Olympia regarding blends that have good sillage for her, but of the ones I've tried, I haven't had the best of luck. Incantation had sillage but didn't last, Jack and Wanda had sillage but they didn't agree with me for other reasons. So far, Snake Oil is the only blend I've found to satisfy me on both requirements. Any other ideas? I'm willing to try anything that doesn't contain lemon or jasmine (for some reason, the BPAL versions of these notes just won't work on me). Thanks for any ideas!

Snake Oil really doesn't need another review, but I noticed something interesting which no one else has mentioned. Snake Oil shares similarities (even down to the occasional 'Play-Dough' note) with a newer fragrance, People of the Labyrinths' Luctor et Emergo. PotL is a 'cult' perfume that sells for an outrageous $165 per bottle. I tested them side by side, and it is amazing. While PotL has a cherry/almond note, and Snake Oil is spicier, longer lasting, and far superior, there are similarities. I keep trying to think of ways to let PotL fans know about the lovlier-and-more-affordable original: Snake Oil! Snake Oil is simply divine! Heavy and rich with deepest darkest vanilla, clingy musk and sexy patchouli, swirled with exotic incense. It lasts almost forever, with sillage worthy of any classic Chanel or Guerlain. Reminds me just a bit of the old school Orientals, such as Opium and Shalimar, but with a unique, dark and modern twist. I can see why this has such a widespread following. I think it would do very well, released commercially on a large scale. I have received many compliments on this; but even if I'd never received any, I would wear it just for me. Sexy, and yet somehow comforting at the same time. Sooo decadent. I plan to buy several bottles, and experiment with making eau de parfum spray and lotion, as well as stockpiling plenty to put back and age. I now live in fear that Ms. Elizabeth will suddenly decide to retire, close the doors of her dark and edgy House, and take my newly discovered Snake Oil along with her. Nooooo! Perhaps I should stockpile even more than I had originally planned, so I can sleep at night...

I love pumpkin anything, and I've really liked most of the BPALs I've tried, so I had high hopes for Jack...but with my chemistry this evolved from a BUTTER-laden beginning, through a strong PEACH candle wet stage, then to a burnt PLASTIC drydown. Weird, and so disappointing that I can't even detect any of the pumpkin or spices others are getting. I have now transferred those high hopes to the wish for another GC pumpkin blend. Or maybe the Pumpkin Patch will return in the fall!

I really liked this at first, a rich sweet floral that smelled 'lavender' to me. Unfortunately, after drydown, it went very plastic-chemical-ick with a strong, unpleasant and intrusive throw. I have had good luck so far with BPAL vanilla and orchid notes, so I'm at a loss...I suppose I will blame the stephanotis.

Ohhh...this is wonderful! Sweet, deep, smokey, sexy. I'm a mature (read: much older than probably all of you) woman, and hadn't had much hope that many of the BPAL blends would work for me. Some of the scents are just too light and/or youthful. Black Phoenix was a lovely surprise; enough presence to satisfy even me, a regular wearer of YSL Opium and Chanel Coco. Totally unique and so sexy, and wearable by any woman of any age who still enjoys her feminine power. On me, it begins as a delicious smokey almond and cherry, and deepens to pure Heaven with time (again just like sex: it gets even better as you get older!). I believe a dark musk is at the bottom, as the drydown is addictive and nearly eternal. BP has usurped Snake Oil as my favorite BPAL blend.

My sister applies a drop of Alice to her 3 year old daughters' hair bow in the morning. So sweet! People always say she smells wonderful.

I wore a single drop of Alice on my wrists to a stressful job interview yesterday; not only did the interviewer say (as I left) that something smelled "so lovely", I walked out with a solid offer! I got the job on the spot (pending drug and FBI screenings, of course)! In the interest of full disclosure; those with my backround are rather in demand in this area. I probably would have gotten the offer had I arrived drenched in Snake Oil, and dressed like Britney Spears on a Cheeto binge, but still. Alice is just so light and perfect, applied lightly, it's as if you'd used fabulous body care products, instead of perfume. I'd applied so little in fact, that I was surprised the lady noticed it. I think those who have warned us to be cautious with any scent in these situations are right.