mspixieears

Judging by the description this doesn’t sound like my kind of scent but I’m testing imps at random so had to give it a shot. It’s definitely very aquatic as the description says and I think would be very suited to a man. It’s a nice mixture with the dragon’s blood. Not something I would really wear though. Ten minutes later and I swear I’m getting something like jasmine – this stage is quite nice and lasted about an hour. Overall, this is very strong and has great throw but still not for me.

It's not a hard and fast rule but the more 'masculine' smelling fragrances of BPAL's I find I prefer in scent lockets or as room fragrances. I do love though that there are heaps of BPAL fragrances that strike me as amazingly gender neutral and I find that there are some I would just love to smell on a male (I once tested Snake Oil on a male friend and it smelled wonderful on him, and it smells equally but differently wonderful on me).

The first thing I get from this is lemon. As it begins to dry, the sandalwood emerges as does the patchouli. The rose is lovely but barely discernible. This reminds me of something else from BPAL but can’t remember what. Maybe it’ll change but too lemony for my liking so far. The rose is becoming more prominent fifteen minutes later making it more pleasant. It will be nice in a scent locket or as a room fragrance.

Immediately I get the narcissus – my skin is most fond of amping up such florals. As it dries down the rose comes out – for once it is not the dominant note in the blend. It strengthens and up close becomes more dominant but from afar narcissus is the strongest. I don’t know what took me so long to try this – it’s wonderful.

Sadly BPAL almond doesn’t really like me…thankfully the sandalwood comes out as it dries down and softens the blend. I can smell something nice and sweet – is that the fig? It continues to become nicer as it dries down. The coconut and sandalwood together sound so odd but it really works. Will definitely hold onto my imp.

When first applied I get the vetiver and then the cinnamon which makes for an interesting mix. It’s a very strong oil. I think so far this is probably a tad too masculine for me. The vetiver makes it very earthy – it really reminds me of freshly dug dirt in a gardenbed. Or more specifically freshly turned soil. I think I prefer this as a room fragrance rather than one to be worn.

This is more floral than almondy which is a little surprising – it started off very almondy but this soon fades. The jasmine makes this a very clean, perfumey scent. I really like it as I love jasmine. The warmth of the patchouli comes through as it dries. I like this blend but it gives me a headache – very heady an hour or so later.

This smells much nicer on skin than it does in the vial – I get blackberries mixed with the cedar which is surprisingly nice. I think a man could equally get away with wearing this too. I also detect the pine but am glad it is not overpowering. This actually reminds me of The Snow Maiden so if you love that (it was also LE) then this is a fantastic substitute! Amazing throw – hardly applied any and it’s very strong. BPAL berry blends really sing out on my skin. About an hour later the berry fades and it’s more gender neutral. It’s overall very pleasing but I might prefer The Snow Maiden after all.

A beautiful, clean scent – I don’t really know what white tea smells like but as it dries I get the ginger. Wonderful mild scent that reminds me of a better suited version of Dirty, though I much prefer this. Is there a hint of lemon or clean citrus in this? It smells like there might be. Yep, there definitely is – it contributes to the cleanness of this fragrance. Doesn’t have much throw and fades relatively quickly.

Instantly sandalwood and apple blossom. It’s very fresh and florally in a springtime sort of way. I get a touch of the lily but none of the fig. One of the lab’s more traditional perfumey scents I feel.

Gleeful! Wonderfully floral, I imagine I get the plum blossom from this straightaway and a touch of something fruity – maybe even plum? Not sure as nothing fruity is officially listed. It’s a very clean floral and on drydown I think I can detect the peony (I think that must be the clean smell) and the musk which is very soft. The lotus grounds it – again reminding me of some lotus bath salts I have (I wish Lotus Moon smelt of those!). Have a bottle of this and very glad, will enjoy wearing again.

Citrusy in a tangerine sort of way – that must be the yuzu. I don’t really get the black tea or cherry blossom on my skin even when it dries though I was pretty sure I got the cherry blossom from the vial. Something more floral emerges after half an hour which I really like – I assume it’s the cherry blossom.

Yummy, zesty citrus mingled with sage which I detect very strongly. It’s a very refreshing scent – very uplifting. As it dries the bergamot and patchouli begin to emerge. I think this would be lovely for springtime and it is very gender neutral. Will definitely be using up my imp. Dries down to a fresh rose. Lovely though gone in a couple of hours.

This is gorgeously heady and the lime prevents it from being too overpowering. I absolutely adore it – it is fantastic with my body chemistry. I shall enjoy wearing this during summer – it’s just perfect for then. Gorgeous floral – I just love the tuberose and jasmine and I think I can barely pick out the lotus – reminds me of these lotus bath salts I used to have. Sublime. Maybe bottle worthy? I also don’t need much of it – the throw is wonderful and strong.

Sweet apricot bursts forth! Yummy and nectarish like BPAL’s peach. As it starts to dry, the clove becomes evident but gently so, it is not at all overpowering. This is a delicious scent, very intoxicating. It’s not as long lasting as I’d like however, and fades pretty quickly in an hour or so to a waxy scent. I shall definitely be keeping my imp and might still get a bottle.

Immediately I get the blackcurrant then the rose comes in beautifully but it is first and foremost a foody, fruity fragrance. It is absolutely mouthwatering and reminds me a lot of rosewater. The rose really is like freshly crushed rose petals mixed with a cakey vanilla and tart, crisp, acidic blackcurrants. It’s very zesty – there may even be a touch of lemon? There also may be a hint of spice. Fifteen to twenty minutes later, my skin amps up the rose and it stops being as foody as it began. The foodiness is still in the background, however, when my wrists are closely sniffed. Aside from Black Rose this would have to be one of the nicest rose blends I’ve tried. It dries down to remind me of All Souls and to a lesser extent Jolasveinar. Might need a bottle, not sure yet!

When first applied I get lavender with a chocolatey type scent – not too sure if they mix very well. The cocoa seemed stronger in the bottle and I thought that would easily dominate when applied. Just under ten minutes later the lavender dies down and the vetiver emerges. It’s nice but not really for me though there is something very comforting about it.

Wet this is a little too green for me, we’ll see how it settles down. Is it the moss making it like so? As it begins to dry, I get the amber coming through. It’s very different to how amber normally is in BPAL blends. I think what is making this earthy is the patchouli, which my skin usually amps. Overall, I think this is a little too green and manly for me, as previously thought. Oops, perhaps I was wrong – half an hour it softens and becomes more stereotypically amberish. Nice to have tried but I shall not be holding onto the imp.

What a deep, dark, deliciously chocolatey myrrh! The smoke and cinnamon actually remind me of The Phantom Calliope. As it begins to dry the cinnamon dominates and makes it smell like Red Hots or cinnamon Jelly Belly jellybeans. The smoke deepens a little too. I wish it stayed how it was when first applied – I really enjoyed it then. I think the cinnamon is also making me itchy, alas.

This is a gorgeous blend, a shame I only have enough for a sniff. I’ve not yet been disappointed by any BPAL blend with mandarin. The mango and white sandalwood are barely detectable and extremely alluring. May need to get an imp of this. Will be divine for summertime.

I don’t like aquatic scents generally but this is probably the nicest aquatic scent of BPAL’s that I’ve sampled thus far. It’s definitely dark though I couldn’t pinpoint why I get that from the scent! I wouldn’t wear it again but I’m glad to have tried it.

Ooh wow, instant red fruits with the smallest hint of spice. This smells like cherry Jolly Ranchers (which I love). Really yummy – I wish I got a full imp instead of just a sniffle, especially when BPAL fruits go well with my body chemistry. Lasting power is excellent. I want more!

I just had enough of this to dab and I think I much prefer it to its twin Hope which wasn't sugared enough for my liking. This seems to be the perfect balance of sugar and rose. Will definitely need another -- full -- imp. I really like this rose blend, more so that others I've tried.

Instant impression wet is gardenia mixed with cherry or cough syrup. That might seem strange but there you go. As it begins to settle I detect the sandalwood, which I like very much. It’s a very nice blend but not as remarkable as I’m used to with BPAL blends generally but I think it warrants a retest. Overall, I think it’s a very comforting blend, but goes a bit soapy a few hours later.

I never realised leather could be so beautiful and subtle till I experienced it in BPAL blends. This is such a refined blend – the leather is very woodsy and fresh at the same time. I think this would be fabulous on a man. There’s something in this that reminds me immensely of Paco Rabanne For Men but a better version. As it dries down I get the loveliness of the rosewood (am a convert since experiencing it in Tristran). Ten minutes in and and the incense begins to emerge. Might it have a tad of red musk? I detect something like that too. Oh my gosh, this just keeps getting better and better – the tonka begins to emerge when it’s dry and really refines the blend further. Unfortunately as it dries down it loses a lot of its throw. A few reviewers have said they pick up something like pine and I suspect I do too. Definitely keeping my imp.