Jenjin

Blind bottle purchase from the forum. Looking for a sexy red musk. IN THE BOTTLE: Sharp, slightly medicinal and forest HERBS!!!! I'm worried. WET: Medicinal, evergreen SMASH! I'm not getting any sweetness, only strong, sappy woods. What's that in the background? Pomegranate? DRY: ahhhhhh Huffing!!! Glowing, vanilla warmth mixed with plump, burgundy-black fruits so ripe, they're splitting. NOTES: Treasure!!! I have not experienced the original Mme Moriarty, so I can't compare, but this is AMAZING! Complex, multi-layered and purring with lust. I feel completely elegant while I'm wearing this, even though I'm in pajamas. I would say this is as good as my $$$ bottle of Back to Black--rich, glistening and transformative. Sparkling with pomegranate pearls, sweating black plums, wispy vanilla smoke and earthy patchouli, I'm rolling on the satin sheets and may stay in bed until dinner. RATING: 9

Blind bottle purchase from the forum. Looking for the perfect amber. IN THE BOTTLE: Slight wood with a boozy back. WET: Pink oil! Whoa-there's the mahogany and what I can detect as Japanese wood. The honey, frank and amber aren't stepping up yet. DRY: Rich and sexy. The resins and honey blossom after dry down becoming a glowing, throbbing ember of gold. NOTES: This is one of those oils that becomes part of the skin. Sinking down and becoming another level of musk that accentuates and enhances the body's natural scent. Maybe i'm stretching it a bit, but this could quite possibly be the lab's greatest woody amber accomplishment. There is no sourness, bitterness or sharpness to The Gift. The honey notes never go overly sweet while heating up the wood as the "frothing' moves slowly and deeply toward ecstasy. RATING: 10+

Blind bottle purchase from the Dirty South Lunacy Event-wanting more figs. IN THE BOTTLE: Bourbon vanilla mingles with rich, creamy black figs. WET: Evergreen (Fir) sweetness tops and I can also detect the lotus and milky figs. The sandalwood peeks out to balance out the notes. YUM! DRY: Sharp, fuchsia florals blossom from the steam after 30-40 minutes, but the woody resin notes balance things out and bookend the gorgeous, sugary fig mash in the middle. NOTES: Complex and delicious, this reminds me of a fancy tart filling. All dark, creamy and smooth melting warm across my skin. This poor monkey has climbed into my lap and is feeding me diamond studded fruit. I will treasure my bottle. RATING: 9

Blind bottle purchase from the Dirty South Lunacy Event IN THE BOTTLE: Sweet, tangy purple cream. WET: Bright, squirting lime and light honey crushed into earthy lilac blossoms. The fougère tampers the lilac in a lovely way-I can detect a sexy lavender-vanilla background that adds opulence and depth. DRY: Glowing honey amps with a perfect mixture of lime zest and lilac dust. NOTES: If you find a fairy, she will smell like Adante. It is fantasy based and magical. I was expecting it to be sweeter from the honey, but the fougère adds a grounded, man-sex note that turns-me-on and keeps it from going powdery. I get whiffs of purple notes, sticky honey and crushed forest. I see the unicorn. RATING: 9

Blind bottle purchase from the forum. Seeking a pretty marshmallow. IN THE BOTTLE: Sweet, white sugary, vanilla cream. WET: Subtle, perfect marshmallow comes out mixed with with lots of creamy vanilla. DRY: Candied pure marshmallow goodness with a fluffy vanilla back. NOTES: Yep-this is perfect stuff destined for unicorn status. Diamond holy sacred goddess mother of all things buried under Tehama mountain after you've touched the Chintamani Stone and wished for perfect marshmallow. It doesn't go bitter or plastic note like the Easter Marshmallow SN did on me. It blooms and swells into wonderful marshmallow bag goodness you can smash your blissful nose deep into and curl your toes. RATING: 10+

Blind Bottle Purchase from the Lab--looking for a delicious lotus. IN THE BOTTLE: Creamy, sweet golden vanilla with a spicy, indigo flower. WET: Gorgeous buttery floral swimming in spiced vanilla tea. I can see violet blue sugary ribbons laced through ivory cream. DRY: Sexy, sweet lotus with a subtle warm, amber woody finish. Spicy, creamy floral goodness. NOTES: I also have Volcano in Springtime, and it gives me such pleasure to put these to bottles together on my little shelf. They seem like a couple to me. I would never, ever layer them, but they definitely seem like lovers. This is dazzling and complex. I am obsessed with Blossoming Vulva, but have a long and intense love for creamy, floral scents and this vulva opens all the way open to show the divine!!!! Sink your face all the way down into this flower-it casts a spell overall who are within its' vapor. RATING: 9.8

Decant from FB group. I have not tried the previous version. IN THE IMP: Buttery, Sweet syrup, caramelized sugar WET: Absolutely NOT what I was expecting. Where's the sugary carnation? This is all buttered grains. DRY: Bread. Yeasty overall but with an icky sweetness I don't like. NOTES: This didn't work on me. I'm not fond of sweet buttery oat smelling scents. I didn't find ANY carnation, iris, orange blossom or berry notes at all. It was all yeast floating in flat cream. Sad.

Decant from FB group. I have not tried the previous version. IN THE IMP: Tangy, juicy, a little reminiscent of the perfect cherry limeade. WET: Almond and sugared lime/cherry (I guess this is the King Mandarin, but my nose is reading this as maraschino syrup and this point) Refreshing! I can detect a faint trace of the Snake Oil and it's vanilla hiss. DRY: Cascading, sugary white flowers with silvery, almond albino vipers twisting around in a sweet lime waterfall. Every one in a while I get a little airy wiff of perfect beauty. I'm not sure what it is, but it's coming from the Viper!!!!! NOTES: This luxurious snake takes me to the tropics: I've got a perfect tan, the ocean is crystal blue and my drink is filled with flowers. This is such a transformative blend. The Snake Oil gives it body and keeps the foodie notes from going overboard. I'm getting a bottle of this because it's perfect for summertime, evening events and I can only imagine it improving with age. RATING: 9.0

Blind Bottle Purchase from the Forum. Looking for a beautiful violet to wear. IN THE BOTTLE: Sharp herbal floral with a caramelized brown sugar sweetness that grounds it. I'm guessing this is the white sandalwood. WET: Strong orris root front (mashed up iris) It's reminding me of caramel chews from halloween-if they were gentle lavender....The violet is there, and it's lovely and not too sweet. DRY: Soft, sweetly spicy purple flowers. I'm thinking of the darkest purple violets and waxy lavender iris in a dance with a pollen float. NOTES: I've been hesitant to go with a violet selection before. My grandmother wore a violet perfume which was quite common in the '30s-'40s so it seems a bit old fashioned to me. I have tried a few other violet BPAL oils in the past and wasn't attracted. In the case of Purple Snails, the Iris and violet have been caramelized with the earthy sandalwood, creating a gorgeous, contemporary perfume. Maybe there is a more beautiful "light purple" fragrance in the BPAL collection that I haven't discovered yet, but I adore this one. It's an earthy floral, with good throw and feminine mystic. I'm so glad to have this amethyst treasure. RATING: 8.5

Blind Bottle Purchase from the Forum. Curious about the Orris, Iris Root and Pear Stem. IN THE BOTTLE: Fruity, almost a wet lavender. It's reminiscent of violets or other purple flowers. Very tangy. WET: Strong, sharp floral with a creamy coconut base. This might not suit me.... DRY: I'm still looking for the pear. It's a "pear stem" and i'm not sure what pear wood smells like. The coconut has turned a bit from the tart, tanginess of the florals and I'm not enjoying what's happened with the florals. I'm not liking the little whiffs I'm getting..... NOTES: I can imagine a lot of people will love Hidden Pearls. The iris is pretty and the coconut thread makes it gourmand in a way. It reminds me of an asian drink with orchids, and sweetness. Pinks and Lavenders and Lapis Blue. Sadly, it's not for me. I'm going to keep my bottle and see how it changes with time.

Blind Bottle Purchase from the Lab on a quest for a crystalline frankincense option. IN THE BOTTLE: Oh dear-I don't have anything like this! Pure, bright and shining resinous frankincense with a kind of "amber" fog. WET: Softly sweet frankincense, along with a spiciness (benzoin) and slight vanilla backnote. DRY: Uh....I love this. It's so pretty and spicysoft. I know there's no carnation in it, but I'm getting a similar "spice" note. I'm smashing my face into a bunch of dewy carnations. I can also detect a controlled sweetness that takes the beauty of this into the stratosphere. Gorgeous! NOTES: I am awe struck by the Luper update this year. The Contrast has become a treasure for me. The balance between the frank, benzoin and vanilla is perfect and transforms a simple compound into a sparkling diamond. The Contrast is one of my favorites from this year and I'm so glad I have a bottle. RATING: 9.5

Frimp from the Lab IN THE BOTTLE: Wintergreen-reminds me of the top note in Love's Philosophy without the creamy bottom. This is going to be cold. WET: Strong Wintergreen! I can detect some other notes going on beneath it, but the mint is taking up all the space. Uh, oh. I'm coughing. DRY: Wood. Finally, I'm seeing the trees here. The wood notes are much more apparent but it's turning Pine which is death note, glue taste for me. NOTES: After dry down, the Wintergreen has disappeared and the leftover smell reminds me of a pickle pine scratch-and-sniff in a Highlights magazine. This one is an absolute no-go for me.

Frimp from the Lab IN THE BOTTLE: Effervescent, ginger ale bubbles with a very slight sweetness. WET: The champagne notes are strong but fun. DRY: Very interesting with lots of throw. I can smell the bubbly white grape and the bright strawberry is much more apparent. NOTES: I don't have anything like this in my collection. Seriously considering upgrading to a bottle for the summer heat. It has an aquatic feel to it, but its very airy and bubbly. Honestly, its a masterpiece. RATING: 9

Bottle straight from the lab. The name and the components enticed me. IN THE BOTTLE: Fresh, pretty. I can detect the sweet opium and narcissus. WET: Flowery and powdery. Oh, I'm hoping this gets some deepness to it. DRY: Decayed flower smell with a brick of grey powder. NOTES: There are times while I'm out and about, when I catch wiffs of older ladies around me. Sometimes it smells very similar-like they are all dipping into the same powder box while dressing. It reminds me of the artificial perfume they pump into diapers, sanitary napkins and incontinence products. I worry that someday in the near future, I will smell like this to-like I'm fighting to push down the scent of decay with fresh flowers and powder. Darkness takes me to this dying flower place. If I slather myself with it, I become that old woman, pushing a walker who hopes she smells pretty. Maybe this is the Darkness--the corners of the blackest place is always lurking, ready to blanket us with wilted blossoms and dust. This might work on someone younger than me, but at my age it takes me into dangerous territory.

Blind bottle purchase from the forum. Looking for a marshmallow oil. IN THE BOTTLE: Delicate vanilla marshmallow goodness. WET: Whipped, white vanilla frosting made with marshmallow cream. Yum! I could eat this! DRY: Oh no! What's happening! I'm finding an artificial undertone that perhaps goes with the Easter candy reference but i'm not certain I like it. NOTES: I think this is a beautiful and fun fragrance, but just not what i'm into. Finding the right foodie scent is a challenge for me. I wish the wet smell could carry through over time but after wearing this for an hour, I wasn't enjoying what it became. The sweetness turns into something flat and dusty (stale) smelling that while unusual, isn't a scent i'm going to wear much. It is beautiful at first, but after eating a whole package of Peeps, my tummy hurts. RATING: 7

Blind Bottle purchase on a quest for the perfect Magnolia. IN THE BOTTLE: Spun white honey, the lightest vanilla whips, and perfect, sighing Magnolia. WET: Puffs of vanilla chiffon floating over peaks of silvery, white honey while the Magnolia sings. This is winning!! DRY: Magnolia face smash. The sweetness has subsided and left a large, perfect flower. NOTES: The Bride is lifting her dress. Gazing beneath the layered gossamer, the waxy, white pedals fall all around me. I have sunk my face into actual Magnolia blossoms and wished that I could always smell them. That I could roll in them. That I could shove them into every crevice of my body and make them part of me. The Bride has granted my wish. It is probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever smelled. My number one BPAL right now. So many times florals go too sweet, of bitter or plasticy, yet in this instance, they are stable and perfect. One backup bottle-looking for more. RATING: 10+

Blind bottle purchase from the lab because I am obsessed with light, watery, tea scents. IN THE BOTTLE: Wet green floral. I LOVE how this smell in the bottle. It's a beautiful blend of crystal rain and woodsy notes, balanced by steamy mist and greenery. Clean, pure and softy herbal. RAIN!! WET: The floral and bamboo parts amp just after application. Tiny clouds of the clearest, blue-green crystals explode within my mind. I get similar fragrance notes while peeling and slicing a plump, green melon. DRY: I keep getting whiffs of the beautifully blended chypre notes including resinous, sticky stems, soft oak moss and the wet musk. The aquatic element has turned to fog-the rain has stopped an left only steam. NOTES: This is a perfect complement to clean skin. After a morning shower, it mixes with my body heat to make a wonderful freshness I can't duplicate with any other fragrance. I wish the aquatic part was a little more apparent after dry-down but I'm enjoying how it doesn't morph into something overly sweet. Another Luper winner for the warm weather. 9.0

Blind bottle purchase from the lab. IN THE BOTTLE: Sweet, smoky with a balance of patchouli, vanilla and benzoin base. WET: The notes are very well blended at this point. The earthy patchouli swirls with the vanilla silk, along with dark notes mixed in. At this point, the benzoin gives off a slight camphor that is blanketed with smoked honey. DRY: The sweetness amps over time. Definitely getting strong benzoin and vanilla notes overall with smoky honey clouds. The patchouli fades into the background, providing a soft, herbal waft to the blend. NOTES: This was surprising to me after dry down. After my bottle arrived I sniffed it and thought, uh patchouli. I didn't apply any, yet thought I knew what it would become on me. Overall, I would describe it as slinky~~. It does have some similarities with Shalimar and BP Vasilissa for me, but it stands on its own. It does have some risks while wearing-out of all the lupers, I suspect this one could be the one that drives men wild. I could barely keep up with my husband the other night when I wore it. Also, it simply makes me crave all kinds of sweets-especially those super soft sprinkle sugar cookies. Will probably keep this one for special occasions and date night me thinks. RAWR! Impressions of the Floating World is classic, beautiful and pheromone inducing. Wear at your own risk. RATING: 8.5

Blind Bottle purchase based on comparisons to my beloved Kumiho. IN THE BOTTLE: Very similar to Kumiho but I detect a bit more sweet citrus (the neroli) along with the ginger tang of Kumiho. WET: Crystalline, white tea folding into a sweet, honeyed and somewhat metallic note, with green and spicy notes. DRY: The citrus fades down and a sweet, white floral amps. Full Moon also has a base note that I have never detected in Kumiho. I'm thinking of dry reeds or maze--taking me to the "shifting grasses in the moonlight". NOTES: So pretty! This is a masterpiece addition to BPAL's other tea blends. I'm enjoying how it has a softer "mellow" tone compared to Kumiho. Full Moon is a refreshing, summer scent for adding luminous light to indigo nights. RATING: 9.5+

Blind bottle purchase from the lab because I am obsessed with light, tea scents, citrus and floating. IN THE BOTTLE: Wet citrus, effervescent tea, cool green with an absinthe ground. It's so nice I want to pour it over a sugarcube and drink it. WET: Enchanting, fizzy, citrus mixed with a touch of tart blackcurrant and wormwood, thyme herbal spice. DRY: Ahhhh, this is perfectly balanced and becomes a quiet yet spectacular fragrance. The bergamot and mandarin have smoothed into a green, crystalline treasure. I can detect the slightest bit of sweetness coming, probably from the blackcurrant. NOTES: Crisp, tart and refreshing, Geisha develops into a masterpiece, without ever becoming powdery, soapy or morphing way beyond its' intent. The wormwood works so well with strong citrus tones, creating an airy, crisp tea creation that I love to apply first thing the morning. It's like a sparkling, warm weather sunrise. 9.0

Skydiving without a parachute. Blind bottle purchase from the lab on a quest for a fun, red fruit scent. Plus, I just love the cover art on this one. So awkward! IN THE BOTTLE: oh my! Please pass me a sugary slice of that shivering, white cake absolutely drenched in plump, almost ripe strawberries. At first whiff this is a sweet, sparking strawberry that raises my eyebrows and ignites the senses. I'm not sure about this! WET: Is it red? It smells red. Anyway, after application, the strawberry explodes all over the place. Not shortly after, it changes again! Cherry Blossoms are falling, falling all around me AHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhh. This is fruity goodness. I don't have anything like this-am I too old to wear this? DRY: The strawberry disappears, white, spinning cherry blossoms and red musk with a touch of the lightest, whipped cream swirl around. The red musk burns its way to the surface, transforming what was once a sweet, girly strawberry, into a scent with so much depth and personality-It smells expensive!!!! NOTES: I don't have anything else like this because I fear strawberry perfume. I don't want to smell like burying your nose in a redheaded, calico wearing strawberry shortcake bush. The Instructional Manual has blown my mind-morphing and transforming itself from little girl to high class, silk swaddled courtesan. I am fortunate to have a bottle of this and sense it will age into something even more beautiful and hypnotic with time. RATING: 9.0

Skydiving without a parachute. Blind bottle purchase from the lab on a quest for a chocolate addition without too much sweetness. IN THE BOTTLE: What the heavens is this? Upon first sniff, I can detect a chocolate, but also spice and a booze shot. The real story is a secret until this creation mixes with body heat. WET: Well! Here comes the dark chocolate along with a slap of clove and a spank of pepper. Och! I'm liking this! DRY: I'm smashing my face into lavender pink spring flowers. This smells just like spicy Stock blossoms! YUM! Smooth, pepper/clove top notes with amber and vanilla mid-tones making an appearance here. The chocolate takes a step back, folding itself into the spice in delicious ways. NOTES: This is so sexy. I feel so delicious while wearing it. It's deep, warm and soothing yet not heavy. Very balanced and beautiful. UPDATE: Honestly, I don't know who will read this, but I have been wearing this all day, and i'm in so much love. I keep catching little whiffs of it and its so gorgeous. Little notes of soft sweet spice, creamy vanilla, and chocolate. Overall it reminds me so much of sinking my nose into a boozy, hot cup of Mexican champurrado. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh Yes! Back-Up Bottle here. RATING: 9.8

Blind purchased bottle several years ago based on the citrus and white tea notes. IN THE BOTTLE: I can definitely smell Grapefruit, but it doesn't bite, and is accompanied by a whiff of sweet Apple. WET: Strong, sweet pink Grapefruit smoothed down with Apple blossom. Not much different from the bottle-just stronger. The other notes aren't detectable yet. I love this in the bottle--It's so fresh!!! DRY: Ok-this is where Baobhan Sith relaxes and eases in for the Vampire Kiss! The Grapefruit fades dramatically and The Apple amps. I also get hit by the White Tea which I'm not so sure I like, but never the Ginger Note mentioned in the description. If anything, the Ginger is the flower blooming in the background, and not the root. NOTES: I still wear Baobhan occasionally in the hot summer, but the lack of the Grapefruit after the dry down isn't to my liking. It is much like slicing open a Pink Lady Apple and breathing in deep but Im not enjoying the accompanying White note. It looses some depth and energy when the Grapefruit fades and just goes "pretty" with a fruity APRICOT finish which is very odd. RATING: 6.5

FRIMP from the Lab IN THE IMP: Wet, bitter orange muskiness with a yellow pink cherry note WET: The strong orange is muscling out the patchouli at this point. Is that patchouli??? A spicy, metallic background is lurking behind the flowers. Has a bit of an "artificial" quality to it-these orange blossoms might not be real after all. Not sure about this one. DRY: The orange and patchouli notes settle down together in an equal way, resulting in a someone flat finish. Reminds me of drinking orange soda after it's been sitting around for a day-where's the fizz? NOTES: I can definitely see this on the right person. It has a tangy, pink-orange quality, but my thoughts turned to baby aspirin while wearing it. RATING: 6.0

This is another long-time favorite of mine. i have gone through so many bottles of Alice over the years, she is a definite partner in crime. IN THE BOTTLE: Lots of stuff!!!! Fresh, fat Pansy, Carnation, Pink Rose Buds, Bergamot, White Tea, Sugar Cookies, Cinnamon, Honey drip, melted vanilla ice cream. WET: Spicy, fresh carnation and a certain Bergamot Fizz. The spiciness sizzles your senses and ignites the imagination, while the milk cream swirls around and through to soften and subdue. DRY: The lovely part of wearing Alice, is that she stays fresh and consistent throughout the day. The florals never seem to get tired, just softer and dreamier. NOTES: Many of the Mad Tea Party oils have a certain complexity and multi-layered quality to them which I love. Each one is like examining a sparkling gem with it's dazzling facets and inner smokiness and power. Sparkle on Pink Diamond! Alice is the definite winner for me out of all of them-maybe because she has been with me for so long. As I am getting older, I'm not certain I will be able to wear her much longer. She is a more youthful scent I'm afraid, and might not be so pleasurable on a middle aged lady. Plus, I have many other BPAL scents now that have taken me deeper into the rabbit hole. Alice will always have a place within my spirit box, but perhaps for my daughters to explore. RATING: 9.0