taramarie

As I'm applying Golden Priapus, I can smell pine and rosewood. But once it's on, it's a lot of pine and a little juniper over vanilla. (I'm starting to think I amp pine.) Golden Priapus reminds me a lot of Mistletoe '07. I think it's neutral enough for women to wear, and I definitely want a bottle.

In the imp, Deep in Earth reminds me of Destroying Angel -- a decomposing plant smell. I guess that's the moss. On my skin, it's rose geranium (which to me is like rose, but slightly different) and mostly dirt, but the moss is still there. I like this a lot more than I thought I would.

On me, Blood Countess is just plum and berry. I'm a little disappointed that the other notes aren't showing, but this is still a nice summer scent.

Ephemera certainly lives up to its name. On me, it's muguet and calla lily with a little bit of tea rose and maybe a hint of violet. It's so light that it's hard to be certain. I like it, don't get me wrong, but I don't see myself wearing it often.

In the imp and on my skin, Sea of Glass is an aquatic, slightly salty floral. It's very close to Tempest and Pool of Tears. I can maybe get a crystalline note, but on me, Sea of Glass is definitely more Sea than Glass. I'll keep it for now.

The essence of innocence shattered: glittering Egyptian amber and heliotrope, infused with the sweetness of strawberry and vanilla - dragged into debauch by lusty red musk and a dribble of black cherry. In the imp, Hollywood Babylon is mostly strawberry. It smells almost exactly like Maenad. Wet on my skin, it's strawberry, vanilla, and cherry, in that order. This is really good. This is what I expected Beaver Moon '07 to smell like. Dry, it's just strawberry and once again smells like Maenad. I'll keep it for now and see if it ages into something more distinctive.

On me, Wicked is mostly jasmine over a faint, soapy rose. The myrrh was present when it was wet, but now it seems to have vanished. I like jasmine, but this blend's a little unbalanced on me. Someone else can have it.

On me, 51 has a top note of salt, a middle note of citrus, and a base note of light musk. This is a light, neutral scent that is ideal for summer. I'm so in love with this and I want a bottle ASAP!

On me, Black Annis is just black licorice for an hour or so after I put it on. I'm guessing that's the anise. Then something musky comes through, and I assume that's the civet. I can't stand black licorice, so this will have to go.

Wet on my skin, Catherine smells like rose and rosemary with maybe a hint of orange blossom. Drying, the rose is gone. The rosemary and orange blossom are nice together, but very light. Dry, the rosemary is stronger, but the orange blossom is gone completely. This is nice, but I'm hoping aging will make it stronger.

A sensual blend of twisting, exotic, serpentine oils: black amber, caraway, oakmoss, green sandalwood, bergamot, jasmine sambac, gardenia, orange pulp, vanilla, blackberry, black musk, white honey, ti leaf, and ginger. On me, Faiza is jasmine, gardenia, and orange pulp. It's very light and feminine, perfect for summer. I may need another bottle of this.

Wet on my skin, Marae is mostly gardenia. Dry, a light bubblegum scent takes over. I think vanilla orchid is the culprit since I got the same reaction with Opuhi. Someone else can have this.

Les Fleurs du Mal seems to be just wisteria and rose on me, no lilac. Not that I'm complaining -- this is a perfect spring and summer scent, so feminine and pretty. I may need a bottle of this.

Envelop yourself in the soft, sensual embrace of gentle sandalwood warmed by cocoa vanilla and a veil of deep myrrh. On me, Velvet is cocoa vanilla with a little myrrh in the back. It's lovely, I just wish it were stronger.

Wet on my skin, Depraved is pretty much evenly split between the patchouli and apricot. As it dries, the patchouli grows stronger. Dry, the apricot is pretty much way in the back. This is okay, but not really me. I'll pass it on.

Honestly, I didn't think I'd like Penitence. Frankincense and myrrh aren't usually notes I get excited about. But when it's just the two of them together, something good happens. The frankincense seems sweeter than usual and the myrrh beneath it is deeper than usual. I'm definitely keeping this one around.

Wet on my skin, Thalia is pear and a little bit of plumeria over champagne. As it dries, the plumeria vanishes and the pear gets stronger and deeper. It's a very feminine, summery scent. I love it!

Wet on my skin, Omen is juniper berry over myrrh and patchouli. As it dries, something turns soapy, and I suspect it's the juniper berry. Dry, it settles down again. This very nice, but not exactly me. Still, I'll keep it around.

On me, Poisoned Apple is mostly juicy apple with a hint of something else. It's very nice, but I think this one needs to age a bit before I wear it again.

On me, Snake Oil seems to be sandalwood and vanilla, with the vanilla getting stronger as it dries. Unfortunately, it started to burn, so someone else can have this.

In the bottle, Opuhi is vanilla and spice. On my skin, it turned to a light bubblegum scent, as if there's lotus hiding in it. Then it started to burn so I had to wash it off. Someone else can enjoy this.

In the imp, Eat Me is white cake with very sugary frosting. Wet on my skin, it's currants over white cake, but no vanilla. Drying, it's all very currants. Dry, it's juicy currants and maybe some vanilla. I like this a lot, but I don't need a bottle right now.

On me, To Helen is rose and moonflower plus a note that I can only describe as "brittle." I assume that's the opaline notes. I don't get any ozone at all. This is a lot like Moon Rose, and while pretty, I prefer Moon Rose. Someone else can have this.

On me, Black Opal is soft (almost the point of powdery) and dark. It's very sophisticated and lovely, something I'd recommend for someone new to BPAL.

On me, Schrodinger's Cat is just the tangerine and sugared lime. It's very fresh and light, perfect for summer. I'll try aging this to see if the other notes come out, but it's good the way it is.