thecaitycat

In the bottle This really honestly smells like biting into an apple. Not sugary, not spicy, not perfume-y, just biting into a juicy apple that's freshly washed. Wet on skin Freshly washed apple, not overly sweet or overly tart. Emphasis on freshly washed, because there *is* a sense that this apple just came out of the water. Dry on skin after 30 minutes Yep. Still freshly washed apples right out of a sink full of cold water. Thoughts Don't let my sparse wording fool you, because this is gorgeous and I love it! It's so pretty and fresh and autumnal and fruity and perfect for my favorite season. This is the apple scent I needed in my life.

Red currant and rice milk with almond blossom and white tea. In the bottle Juicy, tart red currant with the almond blossom note to keep it from getting overly fruity. We're off to a really good start. The tea isn't obvious but it's there. Wet on skin This softens almost immediately and is less tart, but more lush. I can actually smell something a bit like rice, which is delightful mixed in with the currant and almond blossom. Again, the tea is there but it takes a back seat. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This morphs from fruity to subtly floral as it dries, and the tea note becomes more prominent. I can detect each note, but the sum of them is so much more than their parts. Thoughts This is stunning. Will be ordering another nottle. The throw is average, so it won't overpower but it won't fade into the background either. Definitely a win if you like currant and tea!

In the bottle Patchouli, berries, and something vaguely citrusy. Wet on skin This is creamier, sweeter, and a tad sharper when it touches my skin. Unlike other patchouli scents, this also isn't super strongly patchouli. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The sharpness decreases and the sweetness increases as this mixes with my skin chemistry. It also has AMAZING throw. There's a hint of something lemony in there but this is very much currant, buttercream, and patchouli for me. Thoughts This is one of the longest lasting BPAL scents in my collection, along with one of the most sweetly complex. While it has patchouli, it's not patchouli-dominant, it's much deeper than that. I really love it.

The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I opened my doors to the traveler. Rahat lokum, bitter almond, wild fig, and roasted hazelnuts. In the bottle The first thing I get is strong hazelnut. Strong, sweet, delicious hazelnut, but not quite gourmand. If I sniff more deeply I can also get fig, especially as I breathe out through my nose. Wet on skin I still get more hazelnut than anything else, and I'm not sad about that. I spent 15 years living in Oregon, I love hazelnuts. But this is more complex than simply hazelnut, thanks to the fig, and there's some other nuttiness in there too. Dry on skin after 30 minutes As this dries, it still retains a nutty base but there's something almost floral that peeks out from behind - not quite rosy, but close, and not sweet like a red or pink rose. Hazelnut is still dominant but warmer, less sharp. The fig ties everything together without making it sweet. It's almost spicy, but I can't detect anything specific. Thoughts This was the wildcard bottle out of the five that I purchased. I don't think I own any other hazelnut BPAL blends, and I didn't know what to expect with the other notes, especially the rahat lokum/Turkish Delight. But this is really lovely. When I was a little kid (as in preschool age), I lived overseas in the middle east and traveled to Thailand, and somehow this makes me think of traveling to far away places. This is warm and deep without being gourmand or buttery.

In the bottle Dead leaves, violets, and sugary sweetness. But the dead leaves are at the forefront. Wet on skin This is more violet-forward once this is on my skin. It smells like this candy I bought at a couple of old-fashioned candy stores a long time ago, but with the dead leaves to make it less candy-like and more floral. Dry on skin after 30 minutes As this dries down, this smells more and more like violet candy and the dead leaves note fades, slowly. It really does smell like violet candy! Thoughts So, if anything like this comes back, or if I find this on eBay/Etsy, I'm buying another one, because this is divine and I love it. This isn't as distinctly autumnal as my other Halloweenies, especially once it's dried down for a couple of hours.

2014 version In the bottle Graveyard dirt, something green (ivy? not pine or cypress to my nose), and dead leaves. It smells loamy and dead without being depressing. This is not sweet at all. Wet on skin Oh yeah, this is dirt, maybe right after it's rained, along with dead leaves and that green ivy note. At least it smells like ivy to me or reminds me of ivy. Dry on skin after 30 minutes Still dirt, greenery, and some dead leaves, but also a little bit of concrete or stone - like a grave stone, maybe? And it's refreshing, not musty. I still don't get any sweetness. Thoughts This one is REALLY strong, so beware. A little goes a long way. But it's a lovely, non-floral, non-fruity autumnal scent, and it's unique within my collection.

2014 version In the bottle The essence of sticking your nose into a pile of freshly raked leaves, minus the slugs and grime. I'm also getting something distinctly green, like ivy. Wet on skin Not so much fallen leaves as it is ivy, something cold, and maybe apple in the background? Dry on skin after 30 minutes This becomes subtly more floral as it dries down. Autumnal florals along with the ivy, leaves, cold, and apples. It's also sweeter after half an hour. Thoughts I do so love Autumn! It's my favorite season by far, not just because of my birthday in November. This is really lovely, but also pretty strong on my skin. Definitely not a year-round scent, but something perfect for when I need summer to end and I'm craving shorter days, cooler nights, knitted hats and gloves, and soup.

In the bottle This is... Hard to describe. Without looking at the notes, this smells a little like my beloved cough syrup smell that I love so much (don't judge me). I think it's an effect of the dried fruits and aquatics. A little more analysis, and I definitely smell some violet, a little saltiness, dark fruitiness. Wet on skin A lot like in the bottle, plus some slithering, sinister greenery. But nothing coniferous, more like swampy. It's not gentle. The violet and dark fruitiness is still playing well with everything and the cough syrupiness is dissipating a bit. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This gets drier and spicier as it dries down on my skin without losing that sinister green/purpleness I enjoy in the bottle. I can still smell a hint of violet and fruitiness but the plantiness is more pronounced. It's not a sweet, candy violet. Thoughts This was from a BPAL ebay auction, so this is very well aged. It's also right up my alley. It continues to change slowly as it's on my skin, and it lasts quite a long time with medium-high throw.

In the bottle Snake Oil and almond candy. Yes! Wet on skin Everything I love about Snake Oil, plus almond and marshmallow. So yeah, Snake Oil and candy. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The best way I can think of to describe the drydown is to say that this matures a bit, in that it goes from Snake Oil/candy to Snake Oil/foodie musk, and the incense notes in the Snake Oil come forward more too. Thoughts I bought a second bottle of Wool Phoenix and I'm kicking myself for not buying a second bottle of this, because I love it almost as much. Yet another winning Snake Oil blend.

In the bottle Slightly buttery (?) chocolate, with an alcoholic aftertaste/smell. Like liqueur. Whiskey and chocolate. We're really onto something decadent here. Wet on skin As soon as this is on my skin, the butteriness goes away but a lot of other notes make their debut almost instantly. I get coffee bean and vanilla along with a bit of spicy floral. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The carnation and other spices add more complexity while the coffee and vanilla fade a little bit without fading completely. This still smells like something I would drink if I ordered it as a fancy cocktail at a bar. Thoughts This is like that expensive chocolate liqueur I sip a bit at a time when I'm feeling fancy. Decadent. Overall this is a sweet, chocolatey, and something unlike any other cocoa-based scents in my collection.

In the bottle I don't even know what I can identify here other than something citrus (must be the mandarin) and something herbal and sharp. It's really strange. Wet on skin This is a lot sweeter once it's on my skin. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This is sweet for a few minutes, then goes through another sharp, soapy stage, then becomes less sharp and a little sweeter again. Thoughts I took a chance on this one. "Bright" is a good descriptor for it. I don't hate it. It's actually nice on certain days. But I'm going to let it age some more and see what happens, because letting it sit in my collection for a few months has helped so far.

In the bottle Plum and patchouli are the first things to hit my nose. Love. Wet on skin This is plummy without being really fruity, because the patchouli and tobacco make this deeper and darker. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The plum and patchouli remain the strongest notes on my skin. This is a slow, smouldering patchouli and a velvety plum, complemented with tobacco and spices. I don't smell nutmeg specifically, but I do get something spicy along with the plum. Thoughts Severe and strong, indeed. Patchouli and plum are really, really gorgeous together in this blend. It's slightly sweeter than most of my patchouli blends because of the plum, but it also has that familiar throw of a good, strong, BPAL patchouli blend that I've come to know and love.

In the bottle Crystalline is right. Vanilla musk crystallized in benzoin. Wet on skin This gets more resinous once it's on my skin. Benzoin is almost always kind of powdery on me, but in a nice, fancy way instead of a gross way. The vanilla and musk keep this sophisticated. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This is more and more musk and benzoin the longer it's on my skin. There's vanilla lingering in my nostrils as I breathe out but this is not a tradionally vanilla-esque scent. Thoughts I think this is the first scent I've ever had that is vanilla husk and not vanilla, so I didn't know whether to expect straight up vanilla or more of a hint of vanilla. Something about this is almost woodsy, perhaps owing to the vanilla husk. It's pretty nice. This starts out sharp and after about an hour, it softens a bit while retaining a lot of throw.

In the bottle ALMOND, like sweet almond, not blossomy almond. Candy almond, thanks to the fig and cardamom. Wet on skin True to form, because I amp rose like no one else can, I smell rose as soon as this hits my skin. It's a sweet, full, red rose that blends nicely with the spices and sweets I smelled in the bottle. This is still a bit candy-like, but not a typical sweet shop candy. This is the candy you bring back from a trip abroad. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This gets more rosy the longer it's on my skin, but the rose stays well-blended rather than taking over. The spices and fig keep the rose sweet while the almond kind of fades and becomes a background note instead of the forefront like it is in the bottle. Thoughts This was one of the two Deliver Them From the Hands of the Wicked scents I knew immediately would work when I looked at the notes. Almond, fig, rose petals, and a bit of spice and oudh? Yes please. This is really, really pretty. One of my two favorites from this fundraiser.

In the bottle Patchouli. Fig. Rich. Expensive. Powerful. More than you can afford. This is what I had expected on first sniff when I bought this in 2016, and it's what I smell now. Wet on skin This is a deep, rich patchouli and fig tempered a little bit with vanilla. Amazing throw. A little goes a long way. Dry on skin after 30 minutes Still patchouli-dominant, but the vanilla and fig are swirling in along with it to make it thick and pillowy and luxurious. Expensive. Thoughts HOW have I not reviewed this yet? This is so, so good! It's the perfume oil equivalent of putting on my best suit, then driving to work where I'm in charge of everyone and everything. I lovelovelove Wool Phoenix, and this is like Wool Phoenix' older, more aggressive sibling.

In the bottle Fruity sandalwood, mainly sandalwood and strawberry. There's also a little hint of coconut if I let it linger in my nose, but fruity sandalwood is what I really get. Wet on skin Less strawberry, more currant, more sandalwood, but also more like everything has been warmed up in the sun for a while. The sandalwood takes center stage within the first couple of minutes, so we'll see what happens once this has been on my skin for a while. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This is still more sandalwood than fruity, but the fruits and coconut keep this from smelling like a lumber yard on my skin. This really does smell like wood and fruits that have been warmed in the sun, perhaps with some coconut on the side. The coconut almost gives it a vanilla-ish twinge at times. Thoughts This one is interesting. I don't dislike it, but it's not one of my immediate favorites. It's growing on me the longer I wear it. Not sorry I bought the bottle, and I will continue to wear it. This could be good for all genders.

In the bottle This is berry-forward but neither light nor heavy because of the resins. It's kind of mellow on first sniff. The myrrh is present but not overpowering at all. Wet on skin My skin amps currant and other berries, and this blend follows that general rule. It smells pretty much like it does in the bottle after about a minute, with the resins lingering a bit so this isn't a sharp berry scent. It's *really* lovely. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This doesn't morph on my skin so much as it becomes better blended. So it's more of a wonderfully resinous berry instead of berries and resins. Thoughts With myrrh being the first note listed, I was the slightest bit hesitant even though currant and blackberry are two of my very favorite things. Myrrh and I get along as long as it's in small doses. In this blend, rather than blanket itself over all other notes, the myrrh kind of acts like a syrup to tie everything together. This isn't a super sweet blend, but syrup seems like a good descriptor for the myrrh because this is a welcoming, soothing, calming blend that's not unlike a cup of blackberry tea. This one is a keeper and I love it a lot.

In the bottle Tea rose and a soft, woodsy note. I swear that tea rose is NOT sweet like other roses. This is tea rose. Wet on skin This remains rose-based, but expands upon that note to include the bois de rose and a little bit of lilac. I'm not getting any tea yet. Dry on skin after 30 minutes Rather than come out as a strong tea note by itself, the tea here links everything together and makes this floral blend a little bit less... Floral. It's like GC London but elevated into something more sinister, a little more sophisticated. Thoughts A+, would buy another bottle if this comes back. In contrast to other rose-based blends in my collection, this doesn't have an extreme amount of throw. I wouldn't call this a good scent for people who dislike rose, but if you like rose but don't like to be engulfed in it, this might be one to try if you get a chance.

In the bottle Sharp rose. Not alcohol-based perfume rose, but definitely not a sweet rose either. A sharp, bright rose. Wet on skin Still rose. Think of a deep, reddish-purple, mature rose. Not a sweet rose. This is it. Dry on skin after 30 minutes Other reviewers who say there is a bit of a wine note are onto something, here. This is a really beautiful, mature, snobby rose, and there *is* a hint of red wine. Again, not a sweet red wine. Thoughts Out of all of the rose scents in my collection, this is the purest, most "Don't touch me, wait for me to come to you, IF I deign to grace you with my presence, you swine" rose in it. I adore it. It's not sweet. It's not soft. It's not kind. It's the kind of rose Cruella De Vil or Ursula the Sea Witch would wear.

Deception and despair: rose geranium and tea roses with mahogany wood, bourbon vanilla, and apple peel. In the bottle In the bottle I get apple at first, and then some rose upon exhaling. The rose, geranium, and apple all linger in the nostrils. Very pretty. Wet on skin Floral apple. But sweetly floral apple, not a cloying, perfume-y floral apple or a fake apple. A juicy apple. A little bit like you might think apple blossoms smell when you see a picture of one. The interplay between the apple and rose is very well-blended so that I can detect them both, but they're not fighting for attention. Dry on skin after 30 minutes While this remains a very rose/apple/geranium scent, the vanilla and a little bit of something woodsy help to temper things and make this more complex as this sits on my skin. It's not strictly fruity or floral. Thoughts This is one of my very favorite Yule 2017 blends, after Blackcurrant Sufganiyot, and I really hope to track down another bottle. There are other apple/rose scents but nothing quite like this. The Fox Sisters has really good throw without being super in-my-face, so a little goes a long way. This is a frequent flier in my collection.

In the bottle Smells like sticking my head into a box of cocoa pebbles, plus maybe a little something more in the background. Wet on skin This smells a bit less like dry chocolate cereal and more like cocoa powder by itself once it's on my skin. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The amber gives this a softer, less foody edge the longer I wear this, but this is no doubt a CHOCOLATE scent. YUM. It doesn't change much, and it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Thoughts This is a very well aged 2008 bottle. If you're on the fence about buying Gelt and you're afraid it might just be straight up foody chocolate, try it anyway, because this is borderline without going over the edge into overly foody chocolate

In the bottle I'm getting black musk, followed by some plum. No lemon yet. It's bordering on perfumey but not in a bad way, just not in a fruity way. Wet on skin WHOA black musk. This is immediately black musk and it takes a minute for this to be anything else. The plum creeps back once this dries down a little bit but whoa. Dry on skin after 30 minutes The longer this is on my skin, the more the different notes meld together a little bit more. There are little hints here and there of lemon and sugar to keep the black musk from completely taking over the plum. Thoughts This has a slightly sinister edge to it. The black musk is a note I like in small doses, but this has mega throw so I probably wouldn't wear it to work. I like it, not one of my favorites for every day, but it's kind of fun. I'm curious to see how it will age over the next few months.

In the bottle Fried dough. Powdered sugar. Sweet blackcurrant jam. Need I say more? This isn't attempting to be any more complex than what the label says it is - blackcurrant sufganiyot! Wet on skin This is *almost* buttery on my skin, but it's thanks to the fried dough, and it's gorgeous along with the sugar and blackcurrants. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This gets sweeter and a wee bit softer as it spends more time on my skin. The fried dough doesn't fade, exactly, but it's as if you bite into the sufganiyot and now the jam is covering everything and making it smell like blackcurrants with some fried doughnuts and sugar, instead of the other way around. Thoughts Well, I bought a second bottle of this so that I wouldn't run out too quickly, if that tells you very much about my thoughts. This has amazing throw, a little bit goes a long way, and it's safe for me to wear at work! I SO wish I'd jumped on the BPAL sufganiyot train sooner. If there's a sufganiyot scent this coming Hanukkah, I will buy two of them.

In the bottle Smoky, incense-y pomegranate in the bottle. Colorful and luxurious. It smells very purple. Wet on skin There's a green element to this once it's on my skin that I'm inferring is from the date palm. At the same time, this becomes sweeter and more juicy. Dry on skin after 30 minutes This doesn't morph as much on my skin as most of my other BPAL blends. This is still incense and pomegranate with a little bit of green. It's very lush. Thoughts Most of the time, pomegranate has a crisp, fresh quality to it. Not so for this pomegranate. This is rich, deep pomegranate, thanks to the incense. The longer it's on my skin, the more the cypress wafts over the pomegranate, which is really lovely.

In the bottle I get the same jolt of blueberry that I did from Lilith's Blue Unicorn Moon, minus the bubblegum note and plus something else. This is sweet! Wet on skin The blueberry note is still the most dominant, but the tangerine note also comes out and it's a little bit like a delicious popsicle. A grown-up popsicle like you might find at a farmers market. Very fruit-forward but not juvenile or one-trick. Dry after 30 minutes This stays fruit-forward on my skin, but gets a nice, icy floral edge to it, which helps this retain that grown-up popsicle appeal. It doesn't smell alcoholic at all, don't get me wrong! But it smells fruity and summery without smelling innocent or juvenile. The blueberry also really meshes well with the tangerine to keep this from being a mostly citrus-based scent. Thoughts This has pretty good staying power on me without having enormous throw, which I appreciate. I'm probably going to hunt for another bottle somewhere, because this is something I could absolutely wear to work without smelling like I'm obviously wearing perfume or overpowering anyone's nostrils. If you are curious about this but are a little leery of citrus, this might be a good one for you.