LiberAmoris

I'm learning that if Beth makes a resiny, incensey, ambery blend with patchouli in it, I am a sucker for it. Aureus falls into the same mental category for me as Sin, Cathedral, The Coiled Serpent, and Anne Bonny. I just love these blends as for some reason patchouli really relaxes me. Aureus is like wearing an aura---a deep golden glow. It's very warm and enveloping. There's a note in there that I'm not crazy about in the beginning, but within minutes it's burned off like the sun burning through clouds. Then it's just all kinds of patchouli goodness.

Wow, Crossroads for me is exactly how Penance pegged it: Bayou + Zombi=Crossroads. This is the new math! Crossroads is mossy and a little bit gritty but full of all those hothouse blooms and a slight murky aquatic. It definitely reminds me of a humid summer night in New Orleans, when the flowers pump out scent like the little industries they are and the smell of the river and the gulf is in the air. Even though this is not a Voodoo blend, there's something Voodoo-esque about it to me. Every time I wear this I'll think of one of my favorite cities in the world.

Reading the reviews above, I think the word ‘vintage’ pretty much sums up my experience with Belle Époque. The lily of the valley in the blend is predominant for me and it reminds me of my grandmother’s dressing table, which was always packed with vintage bottles of perfume. Even the scent itself seems honeyed and sepia-toned like an old photograph. The red sandalwood is gorgeous. It’s a lovely blend but it’s just a little bit too sweet for me to wear every day.

The Unicorn on me is like sparkling white grape juice and freesia. I’m sure that if I’d ever smelled a linden blossom I would recognize it in this blend, but for me the nearest corollary was freesia. As others have said, this is an innocent blend. It is very pure and light. It definitely captures the essence of a unicorn quite nicely, and I think it would be really nice in the summer. But in general I prefer my blends a little bit darker or more incense-y. I’m saving my imp for a day when I feel like revealing a little more vulnerability than I’m normally willing to cop to.

I’ve had an imp of Bathsheba kicking around for a while---after trying it immediately when it first came in and not being overly impressed, it hadn’t received another wearing. My loss. I tried it again this morning while desperately looking for the right scent to capture the fact that we’ve now had three straight days of springtime weather. I dabbed a little Bathsheba on and ran out the door. This time, Bathsheba blew me away. It’s one of those so simple it’s brilliant blends, with the three notes working together effortlessly to give a sexy, second skin kind of glow. My skin almost hums with this stuff on. I love the plum in this and the Arabian musk is divine. It’s almost too sexy for a work day---I feel a little bit conspicuous in the office with such a tumult around me in the air. But I adore it. Big bottle for sure.

Dracul is the first BPAL blend I've tried in which I can smell ALL of the notes listed, bar none. I detect the musk, tobacco, fir, balsam, cumin, clove, mint and orange blossom, every single one! On me the overall effect is of a smoky, woodsy orange pekoe with an initial overlay of mint. Or like one of those holiday oranges studded with cloves…hanging in the forest. This is a lovely, dark and haunting blend. Like a forest in a Grimm fairy tale, beautiful but dangerous.

Oooooh…Saint-Germain smells like boys who read lots of books!! *remembers mother once told her she was book- and boy-crazy* Makes me want to go get my boyfriend and my library card…! This is good stuff. It seems like the counterpart to The Caterpillar, which I also really like. The amber, carnation, and lavender are most prominent on me, although taken altogether, they make a delicious combination that I doubt I could dissect without the list of notes. It’s got a bit of a bay rum vibe to it (perhaps there’s a hint of lime in there as well?) but of course, it’s BPAL, so it’s much more evocative than that. I also think this would be tremendous on anyone: man, woman, or child! It strikes me as traditionally ‘masculine’ in perfumery terms but is very, very lovely by any standards.

Reading the reviews for Arachne, I think people have done a great job of trying to describe what I find to be difficult-to-encapsulate blend. On me it’s a watery, fruity floral with a definite lotus/bubble gum note. I was surprised at the sweetness of the blend from the description---somehow in my imagination it was drier and darker. In one sense I felt it really lived up to its name: it’s sweet but there is a definite undertone of something astringent and herbal, which reminds me of the contrast between Arachne’s skill and her conceit. There’s tension in the blend that captures the story nicely. I’m not the biggest lotus fan, so Arachne is going to be given away to a friend who LOVES the lotus!

On me, Fallen is all sandalwood, musk, and amber, with a twist of purple florals in the center. I do not detect any vetiver, although my skin doesn’t tend to amp up that note in general. It’s incredibly well-blended, but for me it smells like an extremely good cologne---something I would appreciate on others but wouldn’t necessarily reach for myself unless I was in a very specific mood. This is one I’m going to douse the boyfriend in before taking him out. ETA: I love the quote from Milton in the description. Paradise Lost has the most compelling portrait of Lucifer/Satan I've ever read. A wonderful inspiration for a blend!

The Marquise de Merteuil is fantastic. I immediately recognize the galbanum and amber from one of my favorite blends ever…the Queen of Spades. The Marquise is like a peach version of the Queen of Spades to me, not dark and sticky-berried, but elegant and suffused with a somewhat menacing peachy lusciousness. There is so much going on in this blend that it seems to have a kind of intelligence, if that’s not too weird a thing to attribute to a scent. I had the same experience as some of the reviewers above---the vetiver was not prominent at all (yay!) and the florals were extremely well blended. There is something mature and fully-realized about the Marquise that I really adore. I only hope I’ve lived enough to carry off this blend when I wear it!

Kyoto is really interesting…like black licorice in a flower shop. A truly fascinating blend, one of those that I keep sniffing my wrists to catch because it’s just so provoking a combination. The anise is strong at first and then backs off as the cherry blossom comes through. The sandalwood is very light to my nose, in fact I probably wouldn’t even notice it if it wasn’t listed. It just flickers a bit at the edges as a base on which the cherry blossom and anise rest. An hour later, this is a spiced cherry blossom, or an aged cherry cordial. This is one of those blends that I don’t think I need a bottle of, but I definitely want to keep the imp. It’s really a remarkable and unusual combination of notes.

The Lady of Shallot is very pretty, to my nose a floral aquatic that has a lushness to it. I think on the right person it would be divine, but on me my skin brings out a banana note (?!?) that trumps the lovely flowers. In the vial, mounds of white flowers under running water. On my skin, banana cream pie. Many things about me are making sense at this point…skin chemistry is just damnable! I think I’m going to send the imp to my mom, as this is one of those BPAL blends that seems like a perfect ‘gateway drug’ for the uninitiated. In some ways it’s a traditional floral…but it’s BPAL, so it’s an untraditional floral! I think this might be the one to get my mom hooked.

Mmmmm…Magus is chock-full of the woodsy, incensey notes that I really enjoy in Beth’s blends (frankincense, cedar, and sandalwood, oh my!). I agree with the reviewers above---if you like Cathedral, Anne Bonny, or Kathmandu, you might want to try Magus, as they seem like they belong in the same scent ‘family.’ Magus reminds me of the way the books in my office smell when I’ve been burning incense on a regular basis…like smoky books…

Of all the ozone-y blends I’ve tried so far, I think Thunderbird is my favorite! There’s definitely a tang of something from the air, ozone and something citrus. But there’s also something very subtly sweet or floral in there as well, like pear or a wild flower. The overall effect for me is one of cirrus clouds moving quickly across the sky and bright sunlight. There’s something about Thunderbird that definitely soars.

I am loving all the Oblation blends, and Chiroptera is no exception. This smells like lemon-lavender cake to me. Herbal, citrus, with a sweetness that is not at all cloying. I’m usually not the biggest fan of lemon in a blend, as it tends to overpower every other note, but here I really enjoy it. It makes me feel like a little fruit bat! I’m so sorry that it’s being discontinued, as this is one that I might like to replenish when I finish my bottle. But I will just have to use my bottle sparingly and enjoy every drop!

Cerberus is the first Oblation blend I bought, as I just HAD to have it based on the incredible ingredient list. I was really surprised that it wasn’t a bit sweeter---I think the walnut and cubeb give it an odd tang that initially took me by surprise. Wearing it, my skin doesn’t change it that much from the scent in the bottle, but I think I was able to adjust my imagination a little bit and enjoy its dryness and warmth. For me it’s a very rich blend and very boozy, and I definitely smell both the earthy and bitter components of the walnut. Cerberus is very evocative of a dog somehow, as there is something both comforting and feral to it. It’s like running my fingers through the thick hair of a dog---it has a warm animal smell to it that I find really compelling. I will have to be in the right kind of mood to wear Cerberus, but when I am, it will be perfect.

I agree this is definitely a deeper version of The Hesperides. The amber and herbs really enrich the apple, giving it a kind of throbbing presence. This is Eve’s apple; a complicated apple. It’s also a pretty sexy blend. Sort of like the sexiest apple cider ever! I might try wearing this when I feel like a bit of a temptress. I love the scents that manage to be both relaxing and dashing at the same time---and this is one of those scents for me.

Sophia is a surprise favorite for me. It’s hard to describe, but on me it’s a complicated, refined lavender. It’s herbal and floral and unbelievably comforting and soft. I’ve been wearing this one to bed and it’s the most amazing way to drift off to sleep… I cannot put into words how much I love Sophia. Elegant, refined and therapeutic---with the radiance of wisdom and clarity of vision. This blend to me is an embodiment of the Middle English word gentilesse.

Thalia smelled fantastic in the vial but on my skin went sour for some reason. I was dismayed to say the least. I was on my way to wash it off but was interrupted with a phone call. Ten minutes into the phone call, I smelled something really good. Like a bubbly drink made with pear liquor mixed with a peach jolly rancher. Of course, it was Thalia! Something happened in those ten minutes, and all I can say is…right on! I’m going to keep and enjoy my imp. Don’t like it quite enough to put it on my bottle list, but it's very nice.

Chimera is delicious. I am really excited about this blend because I recognize the base from Dana O’Shee, and here it really works on my skin! (Dana O’Shee did not work for me and I felt like a BPAL heretic!) In Chimera, that same almondy, milky, creaminess is layered with a healthy dose of cinnamon and the result is a cinnamon milkshake!

Holy patchouli butter & jelly sandwich! Urd is right up there next to Sin as one of my favorite BPAL patchouli blends. I went ahead and just ordered a bottle of this because I know from experience that I just can’t resist the blends with patchouli in them. I’m so glad I did, as I love this! The patchouli here is sweetened up considerably with the muscadine, which adds a grapey, almost jam-like note. It sounds wacky, but it goes so well with the patchouli and really dresses the blend up a bit. I would not hesitate to wear this to the office in the summertime, as it’s sort of “ patchouli in heels.” Urd is also really comforting. This is a good Saturday perfume for me, as it’s so earthy and low-key. Love it. ETA: Note to self: read review for typos before posting!

Corazon is my favorite of the Oblation scents so far. Maybe because it’s such a gorgeous pink color, or because the label has a beautiful sacred heart on it, or because it’s such a radiant blend of peppery, fruity, and herbal notes. The notes most prominent in the bottle are the mango and lavender. After applying, it seems to spread out like a glow and positively waft from my person. It gives me a feeling of warmth and compassion when I wear it. Unfortunately, on my skin it does not last that long. But while it lasts, it is amazing! I will cherish the rest of my bottle and mourn the fact that it will soon be discontinued.

Spooky struck me as a haunted tropical isle. Scent-wise, I got mint and coconut and a bit of lime with a smooth gourmand-y chocolate around it. That first blast of mint upon application wears off, and the coconut really comes through. The happy frolic of carefree coconut is checked by something darker and more ominous (the chocolate?) that keeps it from being merely foody or lighthearted. Like a thunderous, dark day somewhere in the Caribbean, or a vacation that quickly becomes complicated. The first day I wore it, I got three completely unprovoked compliments from structural engineers. I don’t know if there is a higher compliment for a perfume than that. Spooky seems to me to share a base with Tarot: The Star. So if you like the coconut/lime in Spooky, you might like also The Star.

Storm Moon was all ozone and Irish Springs on me, but I have to say I really enjoy it on those days when I get that...not so fresh feeling. Like days when I don't have time to wash my hair and end up pulling it up in some kind of impromptu bun and feeling kind of grody. Storm Moon is like a shower in bottle! It is a little soapy on me, but I kind of enjoy a soapy scent every once in a while. I think this will be great in the summertime when I'm riding the subway and sticking to the seat because of the humidity. All I need is a couple of drops of Storm Moon and I will feel as though I'm standing out in a rainstorm. Fresh!

Wow, Titus Andronicus is gorgeous. It would be great on a man (am going to run and apply it to the BF as soon as I'm done here) but it's also great on me. It does indeed smell a bit like Haunted, like a cross between Haunted and Iago (sans leather note) to my nose. I think the amber helps to sweeten it up so it's gender-neutral. I looooove amber. To make it darker and more smoky, I'll layer it with Iago. To sweeten it up, I'll layer it with The Lion or Haunted. Mmmmmm. Very, very sexy.