LiberAmoris

Osun is so pretty, like a pairing of Honey Moon and Persephone (and I'm glad to see I'm not the only person to pick up pomegranate/rose in this!). I wore this on a warm spring day last week and felt like I was wearing sunshine. I'm trying to keep my collection down to a reasonable size, but I might need a little bottle of this for the summer.

Obatala is my new comfort scent. This was the biggest hit out of my last order, and I've been wearing out my little imp (bottle on the way) all over town. It's a beautiful mixture of shea, milk, coconut, and the loveliest aquatic notes. It's so lovely. Once I get my bottle, I'll be adding a few drops to a milk bath and literally bathing in it.

Oblivion is really hard for me to describe, so let me just start by saying that I *luff* it. The oil itself is very viscous and green. It's definitely an earthy, almost forest-y blend, but then there's the musk and saffron that brighten it up and make it almost effervescent, in a strange way. I'd love to dab some of this on the boy if he'd hold still long enough. And I think I'll experiment with layering this with Dance of Death to see if I can approximate a Tramp-like state.

I'm loving Storyville. On me, it's like Smut meets Velvet. I catch hints of vanilla, patchouli, musk (Siberian and red?), and cocoa. Hours after putting it on, it's still there, chuffing off that glorious musk like misdeeds. I think immediately of the amazing photography of E.J. Bellocq, who photographed the ladies of Storyville in the early 1900s. There's a slideshow of some of his work here, although the images are NSFW (Not Safe For Work), depending on your workplace.

Frumious Bandersnatch smells less like the Queen of Spades and more like Bathsheba to me. Either way, it's definitely in the sexy plum category. I love the carnation here, it really does spice the blend up in such a nice way. On the drydown, the chrysanthemum appears, giving it just the slightest floral edge. Very nice.

I love the Mad Tea Party sub-cat, so was/am so excited to see all the new blends being added. The Mock Turtle's Lessons was one of the first things I tested when my order arrived---and when I opened it up, I was taken aback by the incredibly realistic smell of green apple. At this point I should be used to the quality of Beth's notes, but sometimes they still take my breath away. On my skin, it's apple and mint in equal portions, with a bit of lime and a touch of the linen-y smell that I get from the White Rabbit. It's very invigorating, and a non-traditional aquatic. It does resemble a refreshing summer drink, like an apple martini crossed with a mint julep. On the drydown, it's a muddled mint, much mellower than it was out of the gate. I'll surely keep my imp for the hot weather ahead.

Opium Poppy is one I wasn't sure would agree with me, as opium and poppy are both notes that I've had uneven luck with. But then I remembered that Vechernyaya had poppy, and I heart Vechernyaya. On my skin this softens up considerably and becomes a nearly languorous haze. It's hard to describe, as it falls somewhere between a cloud of smoke and a flower, but it's very compelling. I'll definitely use up my imp---this would be perfect for a night out at the hookah bar.

Odin is woodsy, dark and deep with something golden around it, maybe the amber and musk that draws parallels to Haunted (which I got as well). It's almost like Geek on steroids. It smells like tree sap in the best way possible. This is one I'll be dabbing on the men in my life (boyfriend, coworkers, etc.). Yum.

Olokun's like a super-aquatic! If you love that salty, tangy, oceanic smell, this one is for you. I enjoy aquatics but like them when they're a bit darker or muddled with florals. I think I might use Olokun in my oil burner, as I love the smell of this around me as a room scent, but on my skin it's just a little too potent and intense.

The reviewers above have done a great job---they've seriously nailed it, and I can only agree that Ozymandias smells like a classic perfume, something vintage. It's funny that Sarada mentioned her grandmother, because the first thought I had was that it reminded me of my great grandmother's dressing table, which was always covered in fancy perfumes and powders. I think I'll have to try this one a few more times before I decide if it's me or not. The nostalgia factor is interfering with my assessment of the scent. And it is a bit powdery, but in a way that works utterly with the rest of the 'feel' of it. It smells like another era completely. I have an urge to scent some of my antique tea-dyed linens with this oil. And yet it also smells like an arid desert and temple incense carried on hot wind---Beth's done a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of the poem. It feels ancient and golden.

Wow, Oya is some serious stuff. It's one of those blends that I sniff in the imp and think maybe it's not for me, and then try on my skin and am properly seduced by. In the imp, there's a strong plum note that verges on cherry/almond and a tangy animalistic edge that seems a bit at odds. Once on my skin, it smells a little bit like the child of Black Phoenix and Blood Countess...? Then it starts to dry down and really meld with my skin. A half hour later, I'm working at my computer and wonder what smells so good. Yeah, it's Oya. The plum in this really reminds me of my paramour, the Queen of Spades, and then there is an incensey but not heavy mix of what smells like herbs and florals thrumming underneath that. There's still a bit of an animalistic purr to it that makes it sexy and strong, like its namesake. I'll definitely be using up the imp. I think this would be great for going out.

I'm enjoying the Monster Bait series---there's just something so childlike about them, like a pure surrender to the joy of sweets. Underbed is a much 'drier' blend on me than Closet was, probably due to the cassia, which is quite strong at first but backs down on my skin pretty quickly. After a few minutes, I smell like angel food cake, unsweetened chocolate, and the barest dusting of coconut. It's good. I'm a foody girl, so maybe I'm inclined towards the gourmand blends anyway, but even my boyfriend noticed this one. He said I smelled like a 'spicy cookie', which is a running joke as everything smells like that to him, even the florals... But after he said it, I realized that the drydown of Underbed really does smell just like a snickerdoodle. So maybe he's on to something there.

Mmmmm, cake. I swear that BPAL has helped me curb my sweet tooth by releasing these ultra-foodie blends that are perfect for assuaging a craving! Monster Bait: Closet does smell a bit like Beaver Moon, but adds yummy blackberry along with that bourbon/buttercream note. I was really excited to find out that the bourbon here is perfectly amenable with my skin chemistry, as booze notes often aren't. The drydown on me is absolutely red velvet cake, with blackberry buttercream icing on top. It's very rich and decadent.

I think I might just love every blend with peony in it. Peony Moon is gorgeous, with that perfect peony note that instantly calls up the image of an actual peony bloom, pink and slightly vulnerable. Underneath the peony I smell something that I think I recognize from the Water of Notre Dame, maybe it's the reeds. It's aquatic but not ozoney. And on the drydown, the soft woods. Totally stunning stuff. I will cherish my little bottle and happily use it up.

Fortunato really is like a dark sherry---and I really can smell the oak and catacomb stone. I'm not so fond of the boozy blends, but thought I'd take a chance since I love patchouli and I tend to enjoy BPAL's fruity-patchouli blends. On this skin, the orange and berry notes are playful and loud, but they evaporate quickly and leave the rose hip and patchouli. I can still smell the oak note. It reminds me a bit of Urd or Depraved meets Bess somehow, because of the intersection of fruit/patchouli notes and grape/orange notes. Even with the patchouli to temper it, I think it might just be too sweet for my tastes. But I'm awfully glad to have tried it---it's a great capture of the Poe story.

Boy am I glad I got a scent locket. Because I really like The Masque---it's a lovely complex incensey blend with woods and clove, and mouth-watering honey and carnation to boot---and on my skin it goes straight to powder. The first hour is ok, and then, powder. Rotten skin chemistry. But in my scent locket, it stays multi-faceted, yay! As others have mentioned, The Masque bears resemblance to both Luperci and Gypsy Queen. The carnation and clove are really yummy together, and the overall feel is of something very rich. So far, my favorite of the Maelström.

Usher is definitely like Dorian's genteel but unhinged relative---drinking tea. When I wear this I pick up notes that I recognize from blends I already know and love: Lurid, The Dormouse, and Villain (as Brianne and yeahbutnobut have already mentioned). Usher strikes me as a 'dry aquatic'---how it's possible for something to smell dry and wet at the same time is a mystery to me, but it does. The tea note is the most prominent on my skin, even a few hours in, and it's divine, like opening a fresh tin. I think Dorian will remain uppermost in my heart, but I like Usher enough to keep it. I think it might be fun to put some Usher on the boyfriend when I'm wearing Dorian, sort of like a His and Hers corrupted elegance set.

I must have the weirdest skin chemistry, because even though EOM is full of animalistic musks, it smells downright elegant on me. It is, as others have mentioned, much lighter than one would think, given the name. On, I get carmelized musks and the barest brush of orange peel. I can smell the rich amber, but the rainforest extracts elude me. It's very, dare I say...pretty? Even hours later, it's warm skin musks with amber. It wears very close to my skin and is a definite 'lean in and smell me' blend. I'm so glad I got this one, as it has been a true and pleasant surprise.

Sleepy Moon has its own place on my nightstand, next to my Somnium blends. I love the bamboo/ chamomile/ lavender intersection in it, as well as how well-blended the ylang ylang is, as I normally cannot bear even a little bit of the double ylang, in any amount. It feels very contemplative to me, like restful, restorative sleep filled with working dreams. I think this would also make a great blend for meditation or just general relaxation.

Baba Yaga was a frimp from the Lab (thanks!). I get no pineapple, just a fruity-floral (pear or berry and a floral melange similar to the kind in Vinland and Beltane?) over a resin-musk base and maybe a touch of something sweet, like honey or vanilla? There might be a bit of sandalwood in here, as well (?). It's the kind of floral that even people who aren't crazy about flowers might like, especially if they enjoy light resins and musks.

I love the Keats poem that inspired this blend, so I've been aching to try this ever since it was released. I mean seriously, how gorgeous are these lines: Though seen of none save him whose strenuous tongue / Can burst Joy's grape against his palate fine... Only Keats could make melancholy so sensual. Ode on Melancholy surprised me because I'm used to an aggressive lavender top note whenever I see it listed, a note that I enjoy and that fades quickly, but always seems to be readily apparent right away. Here, the lavender is very subtle, and it's actually the wisteria that's strongest. Even the rose is very subdued. I don't quite know how to describe how wisteria smells to me, but it seems like a dry 'white' floral. It's fresh, but pitched 'high' and has a slightly watery component to it. It's the kind of floral I associate with the smell of hair spray, except that Beth's note is way more dimensional than that. As it dries and mellows, the white sandalwood and musk appear. They last for hours and hours, mingling with the remnants of the wisteria. There is something melancholic about this, and very restrained. I'm not sure I'll ever need a full bottle, but I'll treasure my imp.

Woo, Laudanum is some strong stuff! Right out of the vial I get a smoky root beer, laced with what smells like clove but must be the nutmeg. As it dries down, I get a warm, sexy myrrh enfolded with the spices. I also pick up on something with a menthol edge to it that fades after the first hour. Laudanum is like the dark side of the Victorian period. This is no sitting room perfume. This is darting through back alleys, avoiding the the throw of gas lights, and keeping 'unsavoury' company in the best way possible. Laudanum is the smell that clings to one's jacket after a night in these circles. I'll be keeping my imp to wear when the mood strikes me.

The tale of Cupid and Psyche is both a perfect love story and an allegory for the soul's search to reunite with Deity. This is the scent of true love, your heart's deepest, purest desires. Bulgar rose, Chinese white musk, lavender, orchid and frankincense. Psyche has a couple notes that are iffy on me: orchid and frankincense. But I love lavender and rose, so I wanted to give it a go. On, the lavender looms and blooms large, and I can smell a bit of rose. But the orchid lends an edge that makes me feel uneasy, and the frankincense makes the blend turn sour on my skin, as it is wont to do. As much as I'd like to love Psyche, it just doesn't mesh with my chemistry. For a lavender/rose blend, I prefer Sophia.

My little imp of Zephyr has been getting quite a bit of use lately, as the weather has turned a bit warmer and it just seems right. The lemon verbena/white musk combo here is just so creamy and warm. The sandalwood and vanilla come out on the drydown for me and round out the white florals perfectly. Zephyr definitely reminds me of Dorian, sans tea, and the lemony base of Chiroptera. Lovely stuff.

Wow, strong cedarwood and bay leaf! Very rugged and traditionally masculine. The notes are so strong and piercing, there’s a kind of warlike intensity to them. The sage only comes through on the drydown for me. Really glad to have tried this one. It was quite an experience, but it’s a little too powerful for me.