mspixieears

Initially this smells like the men’s cologne Brut 33 (I think that’s the number). What I can pick out is the cedar smoke and leather – a very evergreen sort of scent as it dries down. I like the leathery note in this, makes it very comforting – very foresty. The leather continues to become evermore dominant, which is nice as BPAL leather blends are a treat. Now that the leather has become really prominent it smells like Paco Rabanne for men. A few hours later the leather is gone and I finally get the amber which I must say is lovely, more outstanding than the usual amber used.

Wet, this reminds me of Tutti Frutti flavoured Jelly Belly jellybeans! As it begins to dry the apple blossom shines through making the composition more floral. I do detect something orangey and must confess the note I was most fearful about was orange peel but it’s actually quite lovely. From afar it smells like candied orange, very pleasant! It reminds me a little of Carnal but slightly more floral. Excellent lasting power.

Very musky and boozy, reminds me of Smut and a little of The Parliament of Monsters. It’s very sultry, and think it would be fantastic on a fellow. There is something n it that reminds me a little of leather.

Pure jasmine in the vial and wet on skin. As it starts to dry I get other things, particularly the honeysuckle. The jasmine in this is very pungent and heady – just the way I like my jasmine to be. Fantastic for summer. There is a touch of something innocent about this fragrance, it conjures very summery afternoons for me. I love it.

Instant impression is that it reminds me of Caliban. Ferny and aquatic. I can tell without waiting that this really isn’t my type of fragrance, though it is very uplifting. Slight hint of pine in this? It’s very green in the ferny sense, as mentioned earlier. It does soften to become slightly soapy.

Caramel with the smokiness of tobacco. As it dries either the red sandalwood or patchouli begin to emerge. I think this is a nighttime fragrance. There is an element of spiciness in this – it must be the cinnamon leaf? The caramel mixed with the tobacco gives off a very coffee-ish fragrance. Overall, a warm spicy blend that is mysterious and earthy at the same time. Reminds me of Wulric without the lavender. Gets earthier with wear.

(this is for the 2006 version) Smut instantly reminds me of a muskier, boozier version of Snake Oil. I don’t get so much sweetness from it but it has a while till drydown. As it begins to dry on my skin there is a sweetness emerging amidst the various musks. It’s very honeyed. I think this is preferable for wearing at night and also in colder weather. I tested it in springtime and think it’s a tad too heavy. Amazing sillage and lasting power though.

First things to hit me are the honey and ylang ylang, maybe even the fig. This is a sweet floral fragrance, though as it begins to dry I get the patchouli. It’s all very seductively blended. Sadly, the sweetness doesn’t stay around as long as I’d like. I think my body chemistry eats this up far too quickly and I want it to stay honeyed and sweeter for longer. I like it enough to keep, however.

Swank doesn’t smell of a pomegranate martini to me. It’s crisp, clean and tart and has the zestiness of pomegranate but none of the aromatics of the martini. It has a cologne sort of smell to it and reminds me of a drier version of Bon Vivant. Very uplifting, surely there is citrus in this? Also, very gender neutral.

Smells very strongly of red musk and dragon’s blood. I get the jasmine and vanilla as hints. Reminds me of something spicy and sweet from an Indian food store or grocers – a very familiar smell to me. It starts to settle down as soon as it dries. The vanilla reemerges on drydown, thankfully! It’s generally a very heady scent and reminds me of some of the TAL love oils. Half an hour later it’s faded to the scent of crayons – don’t think it likes me anymore, alas.

I can actually smell the pimento amidst all the wonderful floral things! It has that candlewax scent about it which I suspect is the beeswax? There’s something very fresh in this that could either be the tuberose, calla lily or heliotrope. The red musk gives it a nice, earthy warmth. I wish I could detect the wild plum – sadly I cannot.

Smells like the sea with a hint of green and sour fruit, yet unripened. I suspect that is probably the palm which is very strong whilst the fragrance is wet. It reminds me of the greengrocer’s and not at all in an unpleasant way (I rather like the green, earthy smell of vegetables which is what this specifically reminds me of). Now that it’s dry it’s become very floral with a hint of the mentioned ferns and an even smaller hint of fruit. Maybe that’s the bittersweet wine? The floral nature of the fragrance is very short-lived and it then becomes super-ferny again. Probably my favourite aquatic tried thus far.

Soft and luminescent is about right! What a gentle, delightful blend. It reminds me of something I’ve tried and loved before so definitely keeping. It’s a very comforting scent and feels like it should be worn before bedtime or on an intimate picnic. Something fresh and ferny is beginning to emerge from this now a moment after it dries on skin. There is a slight sugariness that emerges a while later.

I get the sweet pea loud and clear from this scent as well as something sugary. I can see why this is so popular! There is something very old-fashioned about it but I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s very old-world refined and possibly Victorian – or at least induces Victorian imagery – delicate lacing on petticoats and handkerchiefs, scented with this fragrance no doubt.

Wow, this is exactly what I need to clear my sluggish mind! The saffron is very uplifting and the other notes are very herbaceous. I can’t believe it’s so uplifting and also very summery for some reason. I’m not sure that I would use this as a personal fragrance, but probably more as a room fragrance or in an oil burner. I swear I get the faintest hint of rosemary! Very subtly though.

A very soothing, calming blend – because of the dominance of the lavender, ylang ylang and the violet. This could almost be a(n ex-)Voodoo, Somnium or TAL blend it’s so peace-inducing. I’d prefer it it I got some of the white sandalwood and gardenia or if they came out to play. Come to think of it, from far away it smells of those florals mentioned but when I sniff my wrist up close all I get is pure lavender. Nice to try but not sure if I’ll end up keeping the imp.

Deeply floral except for the hint of vetiver (!) which is evident straight out of the vial. I love how strong and potent this one is. This is due to the French florals though I do detect some amber – surprisingly it doesn’t dominate this fragrance as all amber blends tend to on my skin. Was very nice at beginning but an hour later is too perfumey for my tastes.

I get the white grape and peach as soon as I put this on. As it starts to dry down its more floral notes come out to play. I’m most looking forward to the sweet pea as blends with sweet pea tend to be glorious with my skin chemistry! Definitely more floral on drydown. Reminds me a little of The Fairy Market, albeit a grapier version.

Definitely smells like a rainforest! With other things – the florals I detect are probably the steamy blossoms promised in the scent description. Throw is pretty short-lived. There is a touch of something fruity – that must be the sweet tropical fruits. As it dries one is left with the blossoms and fruits – no more of the rainforest note. This will be perfect for summertime, may have to retest it then. Half an hour later it has that candlewax sort of scent that I associate with peony. I wonder if this has peony in it? It smells exactly like Tristran when that has dried down too.

I’m hoping the amber won’t run off and take over this blend – and it doesn’t! I get instant vanilla mixed equally with sweet pea (I adore sweet pea in BPAL blends on my skin!). Tested this before bedtime and was very fitting – it’s a very dreamy, soporific blend. I get the smallest hint of the white sandalwood which is fast becoming a preferred note in BPAL fragrances. There is something slightly sad and wistful about this fragrance – it’s breathtaking. Must see if I can get a bottle.

I have high hopes for this one as I liked sweet pea in all the other blends I’ve tried where it has been a component. A gentle, clean-scented floral, reminiscent of Poisson d’Avril but with less notes, and greener. Almost slightly aquatic. I get a touch of something fruity but it doesn’t seem to be wild pear though jolly well could be! What a perfect springtime blend, very refreshing and not too floral. Would also be excellent on a man as it does have a faint cologne touch to it – like the old fashioned toilet waters. I think I prefer more floral, perfumey blends than this but might retest imp though goodness knows I’ve many others I need to try for the first time! It’s gone in about an hour or so, a bit of a shame.

At first I smell blackcurrant and tobacco when it is applied. As it dries the caramel comes through as do the spices. I don’t smell any of the amber or coconut – bit surprised that I don’t get any of the amber as usually that is a note that gets really prominent on my skin. I’m starting to detect the opium – I’m noticing that Red Lantern is one of those fragrances that smells very different up close and from afar, I think I’d probably have to try this in colder months.

A greener, fruitier Snake Oil upon initial application. I can definitely smell the black musk as it begins to dry, and the Snake Oilness gets dominated by all the other notes. Very breezy and masculine, I love it and would also like to use as a room fragrance. A deeply refreshing scent. It doesn’t have an amazing amount of throw and is a warm, comforting scent as it dries down though retaining the greenness it initially has at beginning. An hour later it smells exactly like Snake Oil.

I thought based on the notes that this would smell like Fairy Market and it most certainly does! But more floral – I can pick out the iris and maybe the bluebells and primrose. It dies down pretty quickly and then the rose comes out. The perfect springtime fragrance. I like it but it’s not remarkable though I think I will keep the decant I have. Now the sweetness emerges half an hour later – this is like a less sweet version of Fairy Market for certain.

Very heavy on the myrrh and slightly spicy. A very dark blend. It has a lot of throw initially when wet but dies down very quickly. I think the benzoin rounds out this blend – softens it. I’d be pushing it to identify other notes – except the balsam which is very nice. Nice to sample but not something I would wear again. Probably would be excellent on a male or as a room fragrance.