LiberAmoris

Yep, Golden Priapus is a lot like O + Snake Oil. There's that mellow vanilla note that's golden and sweet and always just on the line of turning into Play-Doh on me, but staying on the right side of that line. This is lighter on my skin than Snake Oil, but the amber/vanilla combo is very, very nice. It's sexy and slightly foody and some kind of wonderful. I'm reminded of the famous Landman translation of Rilke's Archaic Torso of Apollo.

Come to Me is definitely light and citrus-rosey, like a perfume worn down on someone's skin or the soapy smell of French-milled suds. Unlike the other Voodoo oils I've tried, this is really light and inobtrusive, something sweet and innocent, without guile or motive of any kind. But it works. Within ten minutes of putting this on my skin, my boyfriend got all snuggly with me. Maybe it's just a fluke. But I'll test this one out again tomorrow, layered with some Dorian, to see if there's a repeat performance.

Santo Domingo is very smoky and sultry---like what traditional bay rum cologne would smell like in heaven if angels were mixing it up in vats with a flaming sword. The tobacco here is absolutely mind-blowingly smooth. This definitely does seem like a warm weather blend, like bare skin and smoke from an herbal cigarette, a touch of tanning oil, and a dirty thought. For some reason, and I chalk this up to my wacky nose, Santo Domingo reminds me of a rugged and manly Vinland. Not sure where I'm getting that from, as there seems to be nary a note in common, but that's how it's hitting me. I'm definitely keeping my imp for the dog days of summer. I think this would be so sexy with a halter dress and a great pair of heels.

I like the watery blends, so I was excited to try Undertow, even though I was a little nervous about the lotus which goes straight to pink bubblegum on my skin. But Undertow is a true triangulation between the mint, juniper and lotus. When first applied, the mint is very strong. But after a few minutes everything was balanced again, and the lotus, instead of going gum, went floral-fruity. I love mint so I think I still like Undertow wet, when the mint is more bracing. But the drydown is very nice. Like the tangy sweet smell of water when one accidentally gets a snootful, or the smell of the sea on the air. I'll keep my imp for summertime, when I break out all of my minty blends.

I bought a bottle of Baghdad back when it came out, tested it out, was not terribly excited about it, and tucked it into the back of my box for another day. Eight months later...I thought I'd try this again, and am finding that a little time has been kind to Baghdad. The rose has really mellowed, and the formerly sharp bergamot is now much less prominent. There's still a powdery side to Baghdad that I'm not crazy about, but only when I sniff my skin. In the air around me, it's candied roses and oranges with amber and musk. I still wish I got more spice here, but it's very nice.

Athens really is sweet. On me it's overwhelming honey, with that slightly sour berried wine note. I get just a bit of myrrh. It does seem ancient somehow, straightforward and decadent. It's a golden blend, and strikes me as mead at a bacchanal. There's no blush on the cheek of this honey. I like the idea of Athens, but I don't think I could ever wear this as perfume, as the honey's just too strong for my taste.

I want to love Tombstone, but the cedar is just too sharp for me here to wear on my skin. Besides having a bit of an edge, it elbows all the other notes out of the way. I love what I can smell of the vanilla and sassafras here, I just wish I got more of them. I might try putting a little bit of this on the edge of one of my hoodies to see if it's better off my skin. I always put on a little perfume before I sit down to watch a film, and I really would love to have this for the occasional Western.

The Black Tower is a really complex blend. On my skin is like a darker Mabon, with a splash of Tintagel. There's a note that's slightly astringent and bitter, I think it's the ivy, that strikes me as almost academic. The red wine and ozone are perfectly behaved here, and the overall effect is of wind through ivy, carrying something smoldering and slightly sweet on it from far away. It's incensey but also green. I don't think this is one that I need a bottle of, but I'm keeping the imp. I think this would be an amazing autumn blend on my boyfriend, and there are times when I think I might want to wear a bit as well.

Liquid courage without a hangover? Wolf's Heart seems very useful. Wet, it smells like dragon's blood, jasmine, and maybe a touch of rosemary or eucalyptus? It's warm and herbal. I wore this one today underneath The Living Flame because I was a bit nervous about some things I had to get done. I did feel more confident and strong. What I enjoy about the Voodoo oils is that wearing them causes me to focus on their properties, which in and of itself, seems to help me rise to meet the challenges their use occasioned.

A gentlemen's blend, possessed of dignity, charm and refinement, but in truth masking a corrupted, hideous, soulless core. White musk, lime, lilac and citron. I'm loving Whitechapel. Wet, it's strong lemon/lime. Very strong. But as it dries down, the citrus gets creamy and mellow and the lilac and musk really blossom. I love the Lab's white musk, it's so dreamy. This is another blend that would be great during the dog days of summer, when it gets really hot and I don't want to be surrounded by an incensey perfume. I'm keeping the imp, eventually I might have to get a bottle.

Black Forest on me is all kinds of black musk. That's the note that my skin loves in this blend, and it manages to even drown out the pine, juniper and cypress. The woods are in the background, so it ends up as an outdoorsy black musk on me. Not at all unpleasant, but something that I think I might like more on my boyfriend. I think I might go dab a little bit of this on him right now.

Wanton really does smell like female power and sexuality from another era. I smell like a Suffragette. I'm able to detect the rose (love rose, and it's glorious here), sandalwood, and patchouli (barely) and I guess the sharp note I'm catching must be the palmarosa. I wish I got more patchouli from this, but it's still very evocative and mellow. I don't think this is a blend I'll need a bottle of, but the rose is flipping some happy switch in my brain so I'll definitely be keeping my imp. I just love rose, it's like an affliction.

Oleander with black patchouli, ylang ylang, and neroli. Tisiphone is a blend I've sort of been putting off testing, as it contains ylang ylang and the double ylang is not good on me. But here I can really only smell it when it's wet----as it dries, the blend becomes a lush floral, slightly incensey and dark. The patchouli is truly an underpinning here, it's so well-blended that I'd never know it was one of the notes unless it was listed. I enjoyed Tisiphone much more than I thought I would, but it's not something I need to try again. Even the fleeting wet ylang ylang stage is almost too much for me.

Another gorgeous incense blend! This absolutely smells like dragon's blood, smoke, and metal, all with a healthy dollop of red musk. It lasts and lasts on my skin, and after just putting on a drop, my boyfriend came in and asked me if I was burning incense, so the throw is pretty good as well. The Cracked Bell is much lovelier than I thought it would be and utterly wearable!

Another old skool BPAL blend. I tried Port-au-Prince at the beginning of my BPAL addiction but gave my imp away and didn't get another until the Lab threw in one as a freebie (thanks!) in my last order. Wet, this is loads of almond. As it dries, it's very buttery, but that quickly morphs into the dry clovey rum blend that I have all through the drydown. It's like clove cigarettes...yum. This isn't something that I'll ever need a bottle of, but I'm hanging onto my imp for those days when I *really* want a clove cigarette. Like now.

Antony is so much lighter than I would have guessed from the description. On me, it's an ambery herbal blend, light on the resin and vauguely outdoorsy like the scent memory of the woods on clothes after a long walk through them. It's much prettier and softer than I would have thought from the name, and strikes me as gender-neutral, although some of my favorite BPAL blends are on the quote-unquote masculine side, for what that's worth. Antony reminds me of some of the religious blends, probably due to the frankincense. It's sort of like an outdoor church. Nice.

Well, I'm always looking to 'add an aura of temptation and carnal sin to my environment.' So French Love was a must-try. The Labbies threw this in as a frimp in my latest order (thank you!), and I have to say, this is a Voodoo oil that I would buy a bottle of not just for the effect, but for the scent! It smells to me like an idealized version of those iconic candy conversation hearts! It's really kinda scrummy, and my boyfriend thought it was nice too. I get dragon's blood, lilac, and the tiniest brush of ylang ylang. I think I might be wearing this on Valentine's Day, layered with Smut.

Black Dahlia is one of the blends that I feel a little trepidation in wearing because of the namesake. It's really a very lush magnolia and jasmine blend, though, and very pretty. It doesn't feel dark or haunted to me, just mysterious and sensual. I love magnolia, so this is a keeper for me. I can't wait to dab this on this summer and go out.

Budding Moon is like springtime in a bottle! It's so fresh and pretty, another green-ish moon blend. I primarily smell the Chinese Musk, the peony, and the plum blossom. The roots (lotus and ginger) seem to ground the blend and give it a feeling of things growing (and budding) as they do in the spring. The lotus root does smell a bit like orris, only maybe a little subtler. Like a traditional Chinese brush painting of a plum blossom branch. So glad that I got a bottle.

Khajuraho is like incense in heaven. White flowers, tuberose, and sandalwood, all sweetened with the vanilla and honey and amber. The longer this wears on my skin, the more gorgeous it becomes. Sandalwood is not always my favorite note, but it stays in check and does not take over. This is exotic and seductive, but I can also see myself reaching for it when I want something after a long and tiring day. It's very relaxing. The longer I wear it, the more the vanilla comes out. It gets lighter and lighter, like it's drifting away and taking me with it. Some combination of the notes is coming across as strawberry to me, and that's a good thing. Meditational and sensual. It's an amazing combination.

The Perfumed Garden is like sex on me. I know that Smut is supposed to be the down and dirty VD blend, but this is really animalistic and take-me-now. I definitely get loads of the yummy apple peel when this is wet, but soon after this is husky jasmine and fruits with musk...and lots of sex appeal. I don't want to say the "C-word" (civet) but there is definitely something primal in here that, frankly, works. Just ten minutes after applying, the jasmine submits and the musks take over. It smells a little like musky pikaki at this point, with a dusting of fruits. It kind of makes me want to tackle the first person I see and bend them to my will. Yes, I do believe that per the description, The Perfumed Garden could 'inspire sensuality and inflame passion.' Yes indeed.

Parlement of Foules is a pretty straightforward blend of white rose and resins on my skin. I can see how some people have mentioned that they thought this was sharp, as the resin gives the rose an edge that roses have in some of the penitential blends like Rose Cross or Kostnice. But on me, that element dissipates pretty quickly and I'm left with a rose that has a very slight leather edge (?) and beautiful resins. I think I smell frankincense and maybe myrrh. I'm glad I got a couple of bottles because this strikes me as both reverential and classically romantic. I can see myself reaching for this as a comfort scent on a day when I just want to wear something that makes me feel lovely.

Mmmm, honey. Luperci is much more honey-ed than I thought it would be, although duh, honey *and* beeswax. But it's not the bright sweet honey note I've found in other blends. Here's it's more about the beeswax than the honey. The patchouli is really balanced between the beeswax and the oakmoss. The juniper is similarly subdued and is really more present in the wet stage, at least on my skin. This is terrifically well-blended! On the drydown, Luperci is honey and musk and patchouli, with an almost golden, ambered halo around it. It feels a little like Sed Non Satiata meets Geek (sans leather and cinnamon) to me, with the grassy notes from The Lion. But it defies comparison. A few hours later, it's a second-skin scent that smells like honey musk and the outdoors in the best way possible. I can see this being fantastic on my boyfriend, but I will have no problem using up my bottle by myself!

Night's Pavilion strikes me as definitely a nighttime blend, a combination of both velvety darkness and scintillating, white stars. It smells much more complex than the four listed notes led me to believe. In the bottle, it's a peppery frankincense with just a hint of the osmanthus (which to me resembles freesia). On my skin, I smell the 'starry' notes---the white musk and the osmanthus. The frankincense doesn't overwhelm in this blend or even come across as itself. It's almost as if the frankincense lowers a veil over the florals and blurs them, tones down their strong 'white' scent, and makes them glimmer duskly. In feel, this reminds me a bit of Gypsy Queen. It doesn't smell anything like GQ, but both are mysterious, dimmed florals that are deeply sensuous. Truly beautiful and an utter surprise. I'm definitely going to pick up another bottle before the VD blends are gone.

Red Lantern is indeed very pretty. In the bottle it smells a lot like Elegba, but once I put it on, it’s literally an explosion of different notes. The caramel note reminds me of the caramelized edge in Miskatonic U. Just as in Misk U, it has a facet that’s almost like candle wax on my skin, in a good way. The tobacco bears a resemblance to the sexy tobacco note in Perversion, although here it’s lighter and warmer. I can’t smell any of the other listed notes, although I catch a ruddy note every once in a while that I suspect is the black currant. The drydown is really the best part of Red Lantern on me. It’s predominantly black coconut and tobacco, with that caramel rounding everything out. So lovely. There’s a tracery of what smells like beautiful florals with exotic spice that works in the very, very background, like a whisper. There's something very tropical about this to me (must be the coconut) that is making me long for warmer weather. Until then, luckily I have my bottle of Red Lantern.