inurbanus

On my skin, this is soft flowers, juicy fruit, and toilet cleaner. It's one of those scents that demands to be worn in warm weather. I like this okay, but can't see myself wearing it that often. There's just something in this one that does not cooperate with my body chemistry. Because of the violet and rose, it reminds me a little bit of Anna Sui perfume, so if you like that you might want to check this one out. 3/5

Tea and honey over linen. White Rabbit is a comforting, beautiful scent with incredible throw that lasts and lasts. It puts me in the mood for Spring. It's also one of those scents that make you wonder what smells so good, only to realize that it's you. Rabbit is a "classy" scent that can be worn anywhere. I like to wear it when I feel studious; for some reason, it helps me concentrate. It's definitely one of my faves. 5/5

Sea of Tranquility starts off as a tangy ozone layered over soft, fruity flowers. Then, it changes into a gentle, but complex floral over a bed of delicate sandalwood. It's hard to describe Sea, because it encompasses three different scent categories: it's clean, floral, and fruity all at once. It also is very changeable, and what you smell one minute might not be there the next. This is a "quiet" scent -- you might not notice it right away, but when you do, you're blown away by the depth of it. Above all, it lives up to its name -- it is a tranquil blend, confident but not aggressively so. I love this one to bits, but I wouldn't wear it every day -- I need to be in a certain mood when I wear it. 4.5/5

Have you checked out this thread? And I would rec Lucretia from The Salon. It's very sophisticated, and is one of those blends that really makes you appreciate the complexities of perfume.

I have the 2007 version, which turns out to be sugared plums veiled by soft flowers. The mood this one conjures is wistful -- it's incredibly sweet and girlish, but at the same time there's a certain sadness underlying everything. I could easily see a little girl wearing this -- it's so juicy and sweet, and very candy-like. Be warned, though: I like my fruity BPALs to be sweet, so I love this one, but those who like their fruits more tart might not care for this. I know I'm going to be wearing this one a lot -- it's just so good, and it satisfies my sweet tooth. 4.5/5

Gingerbread Poppet is pretty straightforward -- when I put it on, I smell like gingerbread. It's rich, deep, and smells like it's hot out of the oven, although that last part might just be my imagination. If you love the foodie or spicy scents, you need to check this one out. I would wear this one anywhere, but it seems perfect for rainy days when some special comfort is needed. 4/5

Lotus root, mogra, mango, tamarind, cardamom, clove, almond milk, cashew, rice flower, coconut, supari, raisins, and incense crafted from aloeswood, red sandalwood, cedar, and spikenard. In the bottle this is fruity resin, but once it's on me it expands to a delicious mixture of tropical fruits and spices. Diwali is a lot of fun -- it's flirty and makes me feel energetic, for some reason. It's also one of those perfumes that I want other people to smell on me; I would wear this to a party. This scent is very strong and lasts a long time, so it's perfect for dancing the night away (or whatever). Even if you don't like BPAL's fruity scents, I recommend giving this one a try: you might be surprised! 4.5/5

Thin, dark, and shadowed. A scent that offers no sustenance, comfort or satiety: lemon peel, white sage, frankincense, lavender fougere, sandalwood, vetiver and labdanum. The Scales of Deprivation has turned to powder on me, but before it went, I could smell something deep and mysterious, more resiny than herbal. It reminded me of a perfume my grandmother wears, maybe by Estee Lauder? It is hard to pick out the individual notes in this one -- the only one I could really identify was the frankincense. This is a nice scent, but I can't see myself wearing it. Like others have said, I bet this would smell great on a guy. 3/5

Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig. Mmm...this is good stuff. Chanukkiyah is the most sophisticated foodie blend that I've tried -- it's like Monsterbait: Bloody Mary's grown up cousin from the city. The amber and beeswax create a base that glows with warmth. The fruits are full and tart without being sour -- they add some sexiness but don't take anything away from the base. Luckily, I don't get any butter from this one, but there is spice note that is very inviting. Chanukkiyah is so wonderfully blended that you can smell the individual components without them competing with each other. It smells kind of commercial, but in a good way, like you've bought something from a distinguished perfume house. I think this one is gorgeous and can't wait to wear it in the future. 4.5/5

Maybe Bon Vivant? It seems appropriately fizzy.

I've been wanting to try Bastet forever, so I got super excited to see this frimp among the BPAL I got for Christmas. Thank you, Lab! Anyway, Bastet starts out as a warm, heavily spiced amber and myrrh combination. It was very "perfumey" and I didn't care for it too much. But then, it quieted down and the lotus came out to play. Now, this is a warm, sweet, luxurious amber. It's one of those "clingy" BPAL's -- it stays close to the skin, and I have to admit that I'm disappointed at how little throw this one has. But the scent is very beautiful and I completely understand why this one's so popular. 4/5

White Rabbit is a really great wearable pepper.

The Mock Turtle's Lessons is an aquatic that is one of the best "clean" BPALs I have gotten to try. Initially I would have branded it unisex, but the appearance of mint and a hint of floral make it more feminine. This reminds me a lot of soaps that I've used in the past described as "smelling like the ocean". Indeed, it's very cool and watery, but with depth. This one isn't as fruity as I thought it would be. There's a lot of throw and it's long lasting. I think this would be a great one to wear to work -- it's interesting, but professional. 4/5

I have the 2007 version. This was the biggest surprise of the Halloweenies for me -- I thought I would amp the woods and end up smelling like a gym sock. This did not happen; I smell like spicy cider when I wear this. It's warm and comforting, but there's a little *something* lurking the in the background (probably the patchouli), making this the perfect scent for Halloween or Fall in general. I love this because it's yummy but not in a fake way -- I don't smell like a candle store. This also is one of the BPAL scents with the best throw on me. 4.5/5

For the first five seconds, this smelled like a public restroom on me. Then, it turned into soft honey with a little bit of floral. Occasionally, I get a whiff of grape. I don't smell any of the musk, unfortunately. I really like this scent, but there's very little throw, and I would prefer something a little more full-bodied. 3/5

Three honeys blended with seven fruits, flowers, and herbs of passion, pleasure, and joy: honeysuckle, fig, carnation, apricot, jasmine, tonka, and almond. Honey Mone is my Christmas miracle. When I saw honey, almond, and fig listed in the notes, I was sold, even though it also contained jasmine, which is my arch-nemesis note. I started to panic when I saw so many reviews mention the jasmine, but for once it actually works. In the bottle this is warm almond, which smells very foody. On my skin, it's soft jasmine with a little extra sweetness, which I guess is honeysuckle. This is very spring-like and dainty; if I went to tea-parties it would be perfect for those . I'm just happy that something with jasmine works on me! 4/5

Wanda smells like grapes layered over "new car smell". It kind of reminds me of a room with a leather sofa that's been doused in air freshener. It could have been a lot worse -- I don't have a good track record with leather. I bet that this one is fabulous on those who do. 2/5

I was disappointed the first time I tried this -- I really wanted the spicy Morocco and not the vanilla one. But after wearing it a few times I've decided that I really like it. This is smooth and creamy, with just a little spice to give it some depth. Picture a snickerdoodle in a bottle and you'll have Morocoo. Another thing I like about this one is that it's pretty but laid-back -- you can wear it anywhere. It's perfect for class, a date, or even a visit to your grandma. 4/5 *Edited for grammar.

Smut confuses me; I'll take one whiff and hate it, then I'll take another and love it. Right now I'm loving it. It takes about a half an hour to sweeten up, but when it does it's delicious. As far as throw goes, it's a clinger -- it hugs my skin, inviting someone to get closer. Some of the sexier BPALs sometimes make me scratch my head, as I don't think they smell very seductive, but with Smut I can definitely see it. (Or smell it, I guess.) I would recommend this to those who don't usually like the foody blends -- this one is very evocative of food, but in a sexy, sophisticated way. And I would save this one for the evening. 4/5

I'm on a quest for the perfect white floral, so Madeline sounded like the perfect Poe to try. This one is a thick, heavy bouquet, dominated by white rose. Occasionally I can sniff some dirt or ivy, but they come and then go. I was expecting Madeline to be a little bit fresher, but overall this one is lovely. It's definitely not something I could wear everyday, though. Anyone who likes Zombi or Languor should give this one a try. 4/5

Right after I put this on, it changed into something rank and musky. Luckily it soon shifted to a sweet aquatic with a hint of fresh flowers. I can get a little bit of lily, but this definitely does not have a lot of throw on me, and it disappears after about an hour. There's nothing wrong with the scent of this one (after the musky smell goes away), but it's so faint that there's not really any point to wearing it. 2.5/5

I don't usually like herbal BPAL, so the rosemary in Catherines' description worried me a little bit. I wasn't expecting anything special from this one, but I'm happy to announce that Catherine is fantastic! As soon as I opened the imp, it was like walking into an Aveda store. I've been on the hunt for a good Aveda "smell-alike" for some time, and Catherine is it. The rose is fresh, but now overbearing, the rosemary adds warmth and depth, and the orange blossom "lifts" the scent. This one is a perfect "everyday" scent for me -- I'm definitely considering getting a big bottle. 4/5

My first thought when I put this on was "Oh no, I smell like a table!" Luckily the wood lightened up and the hazelnut came out, making a soft, sweet woody blend. I didn't get any rose from this one, but I would not hesitate to say that this and Ouija are cousins. This one struck me as being laid back, but feminine. It's the kind of scent that would make a good first impression; it smells nice, but in a non-threatening way, so it would be a good choice to wear to a job interview or on a first date. 3.5/5

Titania is my go to pretty-princess BPAL. It's very sweet and ethereal. I also think Maenad (strawberry and orange) would work.

For the first 30 minutes, this is strong resin, then it mellows into sweet coconut incense. While I liked the first stage, the second one really rocks my socks. It's warm and sweet without being cloying. Unfortunately, it also doesn't last very long. It's very comforting, and I like wearing it as it's so cold outside right now. I would definitely recommend this if you like Cathedral, All Souls, or Midnight Mass. 3.5/5