diachrony

At first I wasn't sure what to think of this one ... the myrrh seemed to take over and I couldn't detect any of the other notes ... A few hours later and I smell just like pancakes! Pancakes slathered in real maple syrup. It's giving me cravings! And this is where the fragrance settles in for the duration. The throw isn't very strong, and the maple isn't overwhelming ... but it definitely smells like delicious syrupy pancakes. Yum.

I'm not too excited by most florals, but for a variety of reasons I did want to try this, and I also like to experiment. It's a very pretty fragrance ~ a bit strong on first application, but quickly settles down into something delicate. I'm not good at recognizing floral notes ... but it has a nice fresh Spring-y sweetness. However, my skin eats it up and within an hour or so I can't smell anything at all. I will probably try layering this with something more musky or incensey to bring more warmth and depth to the sweet florals and to improve wearlength.

Unfortunately, One to Tie, Two to Win isn't playing as nicely with my skin as it has for the other reviewers so far! I've worn this two days in a row, to the same result. The first 45 minutes are rather overwhelmingly grassy ~ pungently so. Definitely unsubtle; my sister found it offensive. After those 45 minutes, the grass mellows way down and the sweet flowers become noticeable ... it's very pretty in this stage, a lovely fresh springlike scent. However, at this stage it also loses its throw, fades rapidly and within an hour is gone altogether. Poof!

My skin has been eating up most scents lately, so Minotaur isn't as intense on me as it seems to have been for previous reviewers ... but it is long-lasting. I love it! I agree that it seems like it will age marvelously ~ and I have to get myself another bottle ASAP. This is a beautiful resiny blend that's spicy and sweet but not too sweet; rich and warm and, at least for me, very wearable and comforting. I get the "luminous honey dust or sweet gold powder" feel that Forspecial Plate refers to, as well. Just a wonderful blend, and if you love resins you must get a bottle before it's gone.

Yep ... all done!

*groan* Okay, something that has been confusing the heck out of me for some time is how to calculate shipping when paying by PayPal. Initially I used CCNow for most of my orders, but decided I'd rather use PayPal and not my credit card. However, I kept re-reading the info on the BPAL front page regarding paying via PayPal vs. CCNow, and could see no mention of what to do re: shipping charges. I also tried to find this info in the forum and, until today, was completely unsuccessful ... I kept thinking "there MUST be information on this!" yet I could never find it! (For some reason I didn't think to check the Lab's FAQ, and I don't know why, except I can't brain properly.) So ... for my past two orders (that includes the one I made yesterday) through PayPal I didn't calculate ANY shipping. I figured the Lab would email me and let me know what I owed on that, if it was a problem. They didn't on the first order, but now that I've finally found the information in this thread and seen the FAQ on shipping rates, I'm thinking I should just go to PayPal and forward them the shipping amount. I was going to ask for advice on this, but I know I'm just going to go ahead & do it before there's time to get a response. (Any advice welcome, though!) I think it'd be a good idea for the Lab to include a link to shipping information right in the announcement on the front page where they explain their preference for PayPal when not using a credit card! (I know ... sometimes I'm embarrassingly slow to figure things out.)

Mama-Ji is an absolute delight. Warm, beautiful and comforting with deliciously smooth spice. The spices here don't kick, bite or tickle; instead, the mellowest, non-smoky incense waft blends in perfect harmony with unobtrusive, delicately sweet florals. Early on, the dry, sweet spice notes somehow made me think of biscotti, minus any bakery or foody feel ~ this is not a foody fragrance. Later, I detect a hint of rose ... a lovely creamy soft hushed whisper of rose under the nutmeg. Everything blends so well and smells perfectly beautiful from initial application till hours later, and it just fades gradually, lasting quite awhile without ever being obtrusive. A definite top ten for me. Top five, more likely.

Bakeneko is a charming little kitty with just the right touch of feisty playfulness. On initial application, the spices have a rather loud bite ~ on me it seems to be first cinnamon, then cardamom, taking the front stage, but they quickly step back as the notes balance out. The satsuma note is yummy and very definitely present. After a few hours everything has gentled down into a soft, mellow coziness with just a little spicy kick when I nuzzle my wrist. This is delicious and comforting; warm and bright, spicy and sweet, like a cup of hot orange chai tea, with just enough added sweetness to overcome tea's usual faint bitter note. I'm glad I got a full bottle!