Faerykin

The Unicorn Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is a light, fresh, airy floral. Wispy and very white. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This lightens a bit, but overall doesn’t change much. Still very definitely a fresh, airy floral. Throughout the Day (10am-3pm): This continues to dissipate until by 3pm it is nearly undetectable. This would make for a lovely spring scent, light and airy – so definitely keeping the imp.

Empyreal Mist Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is light, airy and a bit citrusy. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This lightens dramatically. Very wispy, very light and airy, and the citrus scent is gone. Throughout the Day (10am-Noon): Completely gone by noon, except for my skin – my skin still holds a wispy, light, fresh and airy scent. When The Lab says soft, they’re not kidding. ‘Twas lovely while it lasted. Mayhaps I’ll use it as a meditation blend.

Saint-Germain Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): There is something oddly familiar here. A sweet, tangy citrus. I’m not certain what it is, but I like it. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This is slowly turning into a cologne smell. Mayhaps the familiarity is something I’ve smelled on one of guys in my life. Throughout the Day (10am-5pm): Yup, definitely men’s cologne. I’ll see if-in the boy wants to try it (probably not) before passing it off to Swap.

Dragon's Bone Swiped across wrists and along collarbone ... and a little in the cleavage. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Warm, sweet, woodsy and – as with all BPAL dragon’s blood scents – utterly gorgeous. The dragon’s blood adds a gentle sweetness to the scent of the autumn forest (the scent of trees without leaves). Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The individual notes blend so well that it really does remind me of a draconic ossuary. This is so warm and comforting … so lovely. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This settles to a beautiful, warm coziness. Like discovering a forest clearing in late autumn (after the leaves have fallen, but before the snow) or early spring (after the snow has melted, but before the vegetation begins to bud), standing in a ray of sunlight, with the mystery that is dragon’s blood, hanging in the air – just out of reach. This continues to lighten until I am left with the soft whispers of dragon’s blood. Mmm … another keeper.

Carnal Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on thick and sweet. The thicker fig is the most predominant scent, and it is surrounded by a lighter sweetness. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This continues to sweeten. I can no longer detect one specific note that stands on top. Instead, I get a very sweet, very earthy, bright fruitiness. Very nummy. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This tones down quickly. I am surrounded by faint whispers of fruity, earthy sweetness. This continues to fade to a familiar-foodiness. Not unpleasant, but I just don’t see myself wearing it that often – so off to the Swap Pile.

Eve Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is the scent of feminism - roses with an undercurrent of sweetness. A little more potent than I’m used to, but I’m certain the potency will dissipate with time. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This, like nearly every BPAL I’ve tried, does tone down considerably. I am surrounded by a veil of sweet roses. This is unlike other rose scents, as the rose is tempered by the other notes. It is not as in-your-face as other rose scents. It is quite lovely – and very feminine. Throughout the Day (10am-on): There is a thickness wafting up behind the sweet rose. I’m thinking it’s the honey – a sweet, thick honey that surrounds the ylang ylang and apple blossom, which in turn sweeten and dampen the strength of the rose. Oh yeah, feminine at its peak. The rose seems to morph into a sweet floral – it no longer smells like rose. This is quite an unexpected, yet pleasant surprise. I’ll certainly keep the imp for those times I want to feel feminine.

Zephyr Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on light and powdery, a definite springtime scent. I only hope the powder fades. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): Thankfully, the powdery scent is fading. The musk, sandalwood, vanilla and bergamot are providing a nice blanket for the sweeter citrus and florals. This does make for a very light, breezy scent. Throughout the Day (10am-4pm): This continues to lighten. Breezy is certainly a good name for it. Light, breezy, barely noticeable. I’ll keep the imp to wear during the warmer months.

Lucy's Kiss Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is another gorgeous rose blend. Elegant, sophisticated and beautiful … very Victorian – like a trip back in time. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The rose is surrounded by a veil of spice. I say veil because it is quiet, soft and mysterious. I was hoping for a bit more kick to the spice – but this is nice. Throughout the Day (10am-on): The spice is much more prominent on my skin – and slowly coming forth in the air around me. This is quite lovely. Uh-oh, this totally morphed once again into something I’m not too happy about. It reminds me an awful lot of the dry-down of Harlot – the second time I wore it (an almost decaying rose smell – like the smell of the water the cut roses were in – after the roses have died). Okay, now I just catch faint whiffs of spicy rose. Interesting ... I dunno, I think I’m gonna have to give it another try, since Harlot only went sour the second time I wore it – damn skin chemistry!

Golden Priapus Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on thick, sweet and a bit powdery. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The vanilla quickly rises to the top as the other notes provide a sparkling backdrop. The vanilla makes it sweet, while the other notes temper that sweetness. Throughout the Day (10am-on): I really can’t smell much of anything but vanilla … a sweet, almost cloying vanilla that just doesn’t stop. Yup, giving me a headache. I fear I am going to have to start avoiding vanilla – it seems way too overpowering for me. Off to the Swap Pile with you!

Liber Resh Vel Helios: Tum Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on thick. The rich scent of honey surrounded by a golden veil. A warm scent, indeed. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The honey takes a back seat as it is overwhelmed by the golden veil. The scent feels orange and yellow to me – like the golden horizon of the sunset. There is something beginning to peek its way through the veil … could it be grape? How odd. A splash of purple just entered the horizon ... of course, it lasted all of 10 minutes. This is certainly a swirl of notes – as there are so many it is difficult to distinguish between them. A little spicy, a little incensy/resiny, a little sweet … very reminiscent of a gorgeous sunset. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This is still a swirl of notes. Spice, resin, incense … is that myrrh? It really is a lovely, warm scent, and it really does evoke the vision of a beautiful sunset. I think this contains one of those notes that gives me a headache. Either that or it is just one of those days. I’ll probably give it another try before passing it along – but, chances are I won’t keep the imp.

Vice Swiped across wrists and along collarbone ... and a little in the cleavage. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Mmmm …rich, decadent, sweet chocolate with a slightly herbal undertone. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The green, herbal scent moves forward a bit … surrounded by this thick, rich, sweet chocolate. Mmmm … nummy. Throughout the Day (10am-on): The herbal note dissipates and I am left with a sweet, veil of chocolate. Not really detecting the cherries at all – at any point in the morphing of the scent. Unless, that is what is sweetening the chocolate. Either way, this is very comforting scent. It didn’t do much to curb my cravings, but it did bring upon a sense of peace and happiness. Oh, and it’s incredibly long-lasting – nummy indeed. Keeping the imp … lets see if it makes the Big Bottle List. EDIT - The hubby liked it ... so it looks like an addition to the Big Bottle List.

Nine-tailed fox demon of Korean lore who transforms into the visage of an irresistible beauty in order to seduce men and lead them to their doom. A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger. Kumiho Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Lemon? Very potent lemon … how odd. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The prominent lemon scent fades to a background of citrus. It is still quite sharp – a definite eye-opener. Throughout the Day (10am-1pm): This really calms down quick. I only catch faint whiffs of citrus. I would definitely place this as a spring or summer scent – as I could certainly see myself slathering it on for days spent in the sunshine. So, I’ll keep the imp, but no bigger bottle for me.

Wrath Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): By the Gods – this is incredible! Three Witches meets Dragon’s Blood with a kick! Cinnamon, Clove, Pepper, Dragon’s Blood … mmm, mmm, mmm. This goes straight to the Big Bottle List. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This continues to warm up. The dragon’s blood adds a nice sweet backdrop to the spiciness of the cinnamon, clove and pepper. Still utterly gorgeous. Throughout the Day (10am-on): Much sweeter than Three Witches, this is definitely a Dragon’s Blood scent. Sweet and a bit spicy, I must try layering it to see if I can make it spicier ... mmm … nummy indeed.

Vinland Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is cool, wispy, fresh, and a bit tangy … lemon? Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The lemon tang goes away and I am left with a cool, crisp, wispy, fresh, sweet field of grass and wildflowers surrounded by thick forest with the mountains in the distance. The fresh breeze blowing over makes this truly enchanting. Individual notes are lost to me – as half of them I wouldn’t even be able to identify if I tried – but that is just fine. This scent is marvelous … very northern. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This calms considerably. I am still surrounded by the scent of nature … the cool, crisp, mildly floral scent of an open field up north. I detect the barest beginning of this turning powdery – I do hope that fades. This has reached close enough to the almost-powdery stage to make me turn my nose (reminds me of Unseelie) … and it smelled so nice in the beginning. Bah! Damn skin chemistry! Oh well, off to the Swap Pile.

Dream Formula I: Oneiroi Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Ooh, lavender. There is a depth behind the lavender that adds a bit of mystery – I really like this. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The only change this makes is that it softens a bit. It really is a very beautiful blend, and I cannot wait to use it for its true purpose. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This finally begins to really dissipate around 4pm, but I still catch faint whiffs – so nice lasting power. I cannot wait to see what dreams I have tonight.

Bloodlust Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is absolutely gorgeous. I adore dragon’s blood, and have yet to find a scent with it as a note, that I didn’t enjoy. This dragon’s blood is surrounded by a deep darkness that is evocative of the darkness of late autumn and winter … where we go to work in the dark and come back home in the dark. Very enchanting. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This sweetens a bit, but the murky darkness is still there. I can’t detect any other specific notes behind the dragon’s blood – they are blended so perfectly – but I know they are there, and the depth they add to this scent is gorgeous. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This remains its sweet self, only it lightens a bit – so instead of darkness I get a nice foggy overcast feeling (which I love, by the way). ‘Tis interesting though, instead of rage and conquest – I actually have thoughts of calling a truce. Utterly gorgeous (as I knew it would be) and long-lasting. Definitely keeping the imp … and who knows, it may end up on my Big Bottle List.

Black Phoenix Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on thick and rich. Musky and a bit powdery. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): I am definitely getting a hint of almonds. Thick, rich, powdery, musky almonds. Interesting. Throughout the Day (10am-on): The powderyness is giving me a headache. Oh well, wasn’t a “me” scent anyhow. Off to the Swap Pile.

Zombi Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): I can detect the roses, and they are certainly the darkness of dried roses. Also, they are surrounded by a thick, deep earthiness that I’m not certain I like. A very brown scent, redolent of freshly turned grave earth. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): That thick, deep earthiness becomes more prominent. It isn’t completely unpleasant, just not a scent for me I’m afraid. Throughout the Day (10am-4:00pm): Oh yeah, this is definitely the scent of old, dead flowers in a graveyard – either right after the rain so the scent of the earth is fresh, or right next to a new grave. Anita Blake eat your heart out! So not a scent for me. Off to the Swap Pile with you.

Hunter Moon Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This smells like Triple Goddess, the Pagan Bookstore in Okemos, MI. I love the smell of that store, and the fact that anything purchased there retains that scent for a time. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): Something deep is coming to the surface. It adds a nice backdrop to this very-earthy scent. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This mellows very nicely, though the strength weakens – and I did slather it on. It is a very pleasant scent that brightens my mood considerably. Quite Yummy. Very earthy, woodsy, warm and grounding. I am catching the hint of something medicinal – especially if I sniff my wrist. But, it is an herbal medicinal and it adds a very nice balance to the blend. After a while, the medicinal hint fades and I can detect berries, which is probably the wine – very nice. Not as strong in its lasting ability as the other Limited Editions I have tried, but still present as I leave for home – very nice. Also, this has certainly had a run for its money, keeping me focused during a rather hectic day. I love autumn, so it would only make sense that autumn scents have a way of keeping me grounded – I haven’t disagreed with one yet *knocks on wood*. Three for three when it comes to unsmelled 5ml purchases.

La Bella Donna Della Mia Mente Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This goes on very sweet. I can certainly detect the pomegranate. It is a very juicy scent. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This remains a very sweet, juicy scent. Though, it warms considerably, and becomes light and airy. Quite Lovely. Throughout the Day (10am-2pm): Not much changes here. Still, warm, sweet and juicy. A nice soft scent, reminiscent of early autumn. This is another one of those scents that doesn’t last long. By 2pm, it was all but gone. Still definitely worth keeping the imp.

Hamadryad Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Oh, this is nummy. Warm, woodsy, cinnamony goodness. This goes straight to the Big Bottle List. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This is utterly gorgeous. I should have slathered much more on – but I tend to be a bit stingy when it comes to imps, being that I want them to last forever. *giggles* Oh, what a wonderful Friday scent. Throughout the Day (10am-1pm): This fades way too quickly, as it is nearly undetectable in the air around me. Must slather next time … must order Big Bottle! Other sadness … my skin smells like powder. Oh well, still going on Big Bottle List.

Dia De Los Muertos ... This is a Mexican paean to La Huesuda: dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus. Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Right out of the bottle, the chocolate is quite prominent. Then … there is something oddly familiar with this scent, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It is candy-sweet and calming. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This is still that warm, pleasant, familiar scent. I still can’t place it, and I really enjoy it. I think it is a mixture of the funeral bouquets, candies and chocolates. The individual notes blend exquisitely – as is often common with BPAL, the Lab-Goddess is quite extraordinary. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This is still a complex, oddly familiar scent. I don’t know if it’s the funeral bouquets (long story involving my grandfather who died before I was born), or the memories of celebrations in the Russian Orthodox Church Hall with food, incense and people smoking cigars. This scent evokes memories of both. I see myself surrounded by old family members, some who have passed and some who are still with us. I see us celebrating life. The scents of food, flowers, cigar smoke and incense wafting about. This is a perfect scent for the time between Samhain and Yule, when the veil between the worlds is thinnest ... for it evokes many comforting memories of those who have passed. As this slowly fades throughout the day, it becomes a light semi-floral – really difficult to explain. As I sniff my wrist, I am confronted with that oddly familiar scent, while the air around me is a bit lighter, a bit breezier. Still warm and ever-so-lovely.

Samhain Swiped across wrists and along collarbone ... and a little in the cleavage. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): This is utterly phenomenal. I cannot detect any specific note over the others, it is blended so exquisitely. Instead, I catch little whiffs of each note with the others behind it … the fir needle, the patchouli, the spices. This is so warm and sweet – a little woodsy, a little spicy and a whole lotta nummy. Something told me I should have purchased a 10ml instead of just a 5ml … I should have listened to that something, for I will truly miss this once it is gone. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): This continues to exude the air of autumny goodness. It is warm, grounding, and oh so lovely. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This has calmed a bit, but the notes still swirl and meld as beautifully as they did when I first applied it. My skin holds the distinction a bit better than the air around me, as I can detect the apple and mulling spices are more prominent there. The air still holds wisps of patchouli, fir needle and spices. Absolutely Gorgeous! Even though it slowly fades, this scent is still present as I leave for home. So, definitely long-lasting … and still gorgeous! EDIT: This scent was still present at midnight as I got ready for bed ... I just could not stop sniffing my arm.

Barring the Halloween LEs?!? I'm gonna have to side with Laurel_the_Woodfairy - Jack II layered with Three Witches. I'm testing it today - and it is so nummy.

Rapture Swiped across wrists and along collarbone. Initial Wet (8-8:30am): Roses and jasmine, with an underlying thickness. Very sensual. Initial Dry (8:30-10am): The jasmine takes a front seat while the roses and that thickness surround it. Indeed, this is still quite sensual. It is difficult to detect any specifics under the jasmine as they blend rather well, but I know they are there. The other notes are just this thick blanket surrounding the jasmine. Throughout the Day (10am-on): This softens considerably. The underlying thickness is actually quite a lovely backdrop to the fading jasmine and mild rose. Hmmm … no headache. I was very leery to try this scent due to the fact that I had thought that I was allergic to myrrh. After both Chimera and Nyx gave me awful headaches – and the only note that appeared in both was myrrh. *shrugs* Mayhaps there is something else present in those two scents … mayhaps I can start looking for scents with myrrh in them, as I am quite pleased that I am not getting a headache here. It is a long-lasting scent, as it is still present as I leave work. Overall, a rather pleasant scent, but not one that stands out to me – so off to the swap pile.