taramarie

I'm not familiar with any of the notes, but Ochosi has a very fresh, outdoors smell. Like maybe the forest after it rains. I can't really describe it better than that. Ochosi's definitely a gender neutral scent. I love it, even though it's definitely not a typical favorite. I'll definitely put this on my wishlist.

To me, Tushnamatay is wood and floral, but it's so light that it's hard to be sure. It's pretty, though, but definitely not me -- I want a scent with real presence. I think I'll pass this on to someone else.

Wet, Saturnalia's musty, earthy and green, like just the leaves of the violet and no flowers at all. I guess that's the vetiver. After it's dry a while, the vetiver takes a back seat and the violets come through. Compared to Faith, Saturnalia is definitely darker and deeper violets. I like it a lot, though I like Faith a little better.

As far as I know, they don't have any notes in common, but Tisiphone smells like a darker version of Euterpe or a more feminine Azathoth. Either my nose is still untrained or it's how they react to my skin chemistry. Either way, Tisiphone's gorgeous. Part floral, part masculine cologne, all good. I'll definitely put her on my wishlist.

I'll start by saying I was wary about trying Hymn since frankincense and myrrh make up the incense used at Mass and I'm not fond of that smell. Thankfully, I don't smell them at all. What I do smell is lily of the valley with a rose base. If these are church flowers, they're flowers in the church's garden, not in the chapel.

The flowers smell so good together that I'm definitely putting a bottle of this on my wishlist.

I don't get a sense of darkness and secrets from Intrigue, unless the secret is someone's drinking hot cocoa in Strangler Fig's fig orchard.

 

In the imp and wet on my skin, Intrigue is autumn leaves and woods. Since autumn leaves aren't listed, maybe that's the black palm. Dry, Intrigue smells a lot like Strangler fig, except less fig and a hint of cocoa. I think I'll age this one and see if it becomes more unique.

Dracul is definitely the kind of scent that I never would have bought on my own (the idea of black musk and tobacco together was a definite turn off and I've been burnt by clove before), so I'm glad the Lab gifted me with an imp.

 

In the imp, I smelled mostly the tobacco. On my skin, sure enough, the clove burned, but not much and certainly not enough to make me wash it off. The sensation went away once Dracul dried. Now, I smell fir, maybe a little tobacco, and the musk. I like it but it's very masculine and not really me. I'll pass Dracul on but I'm glad he came my way first.

As soon as I opened the imp, I was convinced that I had a mislabeled imp of Persephone -- the rose and apple smelled just like Persephone's rose and pomegranate. But once dry, I could recognize the apple as apple. I've never smelled ylang ylang before and I don't smell any honey. This is a gorgeous scent. I'm definitely putting a bottle of Eve on my wishlist.

London on me starts out smelling like a pale pink tea rose then it slowly turns dark red. It's like a Victorian lady who goes to high tea in the afternoon dressed in a pale pink, ruffled dress with a high collar then attends a high society ball in the evening dressed in garnets and shoulder-baring red silk. I like it, but I think it would smell better on me layered with something else.

In the bottle: First sniff, roses and sugar. Second sniff, vanilla sugar. Wet on my skin: Strong, slightly green roses, vanilla sugar, and a hint of floral soap. Dry on my skin: Roses dusted with powdered sugar.

 

Hope's pleasant enough, but she's overshadowed by her sister. Still, I'll keep her around.

In the imp and on my skin, The Red Queen is sweet cherries and nuts. I don't know where the nuts are coming from, since they're not listed. As it starts to dry, the woods come out. At one point, I get a whiff of cedar. Dry, the cherries have settled down and are mingling well with the woods.

 

While I don't think it's really me, it's a very nice sent, one I'll definitely keep around.

In the bottle: First sniff, pure violets. Second sniff, vanilla sugar.

 

On my skin: This must be what candied violets are like. I think I'm in love! Faith is definitely for floral lovers of any age. It's soft, sweet, and so, so feminine.

 

I'll be sorry when Faith leaves town with the Carnaval, but until then, this is going to be a whirlwind love affair.

In the bottle and wet on my skin, The Candy Butcher smells like dark chocolate and very yummy. But before it even dries, my body chemistry turns it to coconut and amps it. Coconut isn't a bad scent, really, but it's not what I wanted. But I'm sure The Candy Butcher will make someone else very happy.

On me, Cobra Lily is slightly spicy, honeyed lilies with a hint of orange. I love it, even though it's fading fast. I may have to get another imp of this and find a way of making it last.

To me, Asphodel is straight plumeria. Just gorgeous! I smell like I'm back in Hawaii, sitting in my backyard and smelling the plumeria tree. It's a very light, summery scent. I may have to get a bottle of this.

In the bottle, Boomslang is spiced chocolate. The consistency is like thin Hershey's syrup (just like the newest 13). On my skin, it was still spiced chocolate and very yummy. Unfortunately, it started to burn, so I had to wash it off. I think I'll try it as a room scent.

I could smell tea rose wafting from Rose Moon before I even opened the bottle. Wet on my skin, I smell tea rose, jasmine, lilac, and lemon. Tea rose is definitely the strongest note. Rose Moon is like a cousin of Two, Five, & Seven and Persephone.

 

Beth is a master of rose blends, and this is one of her best.

 

ETA:

 

I was in denial, but now I must face the facts -- once dry, Rose Moon turns to floral soap on me. Damn you, crazy body chemistry. Oh well, I'll pass this on to someone whose chemistry is more agreeable.

In the bottle, Blue Moon is flowers and herbs, with bay the strongest note. Mmm... Wet, it's straight floral and pure gorgeousness. As it dries, the woods start to peek through.

 

Overall, this has to be one of the best BPAL scents I've tried yet! Bravo, Beth!

If you like strawberries, I totally recommend Maenad -- on me, it smells like spicy strawberry jam.

For clean florals, I suggest Euterpe (you'd have to like white musk), Delight, and maybe Zorya (it has spices but my body chemistry never picks it up). For fruits, I'd suggest Yemaya -- it smells like melons.

I've had irritant contact dermatitis from All Night Long, Coral Snake, and MB: Tokyo Stomp. Cinnamon and peppermint do not like me at all.

 

Eris, however, was another story -- headache and lightheadedness. It's too bad, since I really wanted to like it.

 

So, that's 4 out of the 29 that I've tried so far.

On me, Baron Samedi's mostly rum, but I also got whiffs of earth, caramel, and nuts while it was still wet. I think Capt. Jack Sparrow would definitely approve of this one, but it's not for me.

In the bottle: Mostly apple, a little bit of flowers, and maybe some spices. Very nice!

 

On my skin: Same as above. I've never tried Snake Oil on its own or any of the SO blends before. Unfortunately for me, there must be clove and/or cinnamon in it, since Coral Snake really irritated my skin. It's a real shame, since it smelled so good in the bottle.

 

Oh well, I should be able to enable someone good and proper with this.

In the imp: leaves, woods, and lilies

 

Wet on my skin: Hooboy, this stuff is pure autumn leaves. It's strong and very earthy, reminding me of Destroying Angel.

 

Drying: Leaves and lilies.

 

Dry: Lilies with the barest hint of leaves. It's now a lot weaker -- I have to hold my wrist up to my nose to smell it at all.

 

I never smell woods on my skin, which is a little disappointing. I'm hoping the lilies will get stronger if I age this. Otherwise, I don't see myself buying a bottle of this.

Wet, R'lyeh smells like seaweed and murky water. As it starts to dry, I'm getting whiffs of evergreens.

 

I expected grapefruit and got Christmas trees. Weird.

 

This one's definitely not for me. Though, it might make an interesting room scent come December.