taramarie

Strangler Fig smells like sitting on the ground in the middle of a fig tree orchard -- wood, leaf litter, and a touch of fig. I think this one's definitely gender neutral. It's nice but it's not me.

 

ETA: After wearing this for a few hours, I now like Strangler Fig very much!

I cannot figure out what Somnus smells like. I just know that on my skin, it smells sweet. I mean really sweet -- so much that I've stopped wearing it and just scent my sheets with it. That seems to work pretty well at alleviating my insomnia.

In the imp, Bewitched smells like woods and berries, but on my skin, it's just berries. It's like a sweeter Baneberry. I like it but I don't think I'll get a bottle of this.

A little sweet, a little bloody, Blood embodies every sense of the word "sanguine." I'm just not sure if it's me. I'll have to wear it more then decide.

 

I may have to update this after I try Dragon's Blood on its own.

Unfortunately, the cinnamon in All Night Long irritated my skin everywhere I put it except for my wrists. It smells like cinnamon potpourri or a cinnamon-scented candle, definitely not sweet enough on me to smell like Big Red gum.

I'm single, so no SO to try this on (it was a frimp from the Lab), but it's not making me amorous.

Still, this would be a great room scent.

I'm just getting a straight floral -- none of the four notes stand out from the others. Not that that's a bad thing, it's just not spectacular on me.

 

However, I do think a bottle of this would be a great gift for someone who loves floral scents but hasn't discovered BPAL. I'd also suggest this to someone new to BPAL who's still overwhelmed by the choices.

Fittingly, there's something odd about the April '07 13. Mine's brown while other people say theirs is clear. Same scent, though.

While I love the way Tokyo Stomp smells in the bottle (just like Yankee Candle's Jack Frost or, as hologhost said, a minty sugar cookie), unfortunately my skin had a very bad reaction to the peppermint -- redness and burning are not good.

 

I don't think aging will help, so I'll pass it on (hopefully enabling the recipient ).

I could smell dark chocolate before I even opened the bottle. Once opened, I could see the cocoa had separated, so I rolled it several times. Even then, the oil wasn't fully blended, but I was determined to try it anyway. I dipped the end of a cotton swab in and when I pulled it out, it looked like I had dipped it in chocolate syrup.

This oil is like thin chocolate syrup. I had to dab the oil on with one swab then spread it around with another so I didn't look like I had spilled Hershey's on myself.

But the smell... A dark chocolate base with clove, catnip, and other herbs. I find it very comforting. Those not into foody scents should probably avoid this one.

I didn't get anything but floral from Zorya, not that I'm complaining. My nose keeps telling me there's honeysuckle, even though it's not listed. Maybe if I let the imp age, I'll get more spices and musk. Still, it's a very pretty scent, definitely in my current top 5.

Yemaya smells just like a watermelon Jolly Rancher, not that I'm complaining. There might be another melon, but nothing else. It's a good summer scent.

Wet: I smell earth and decaying plant matter. It's similar to what I got from Black Rose wet or Destroying Angel all the time. Either they have similar notes or there's something wrong with my nose.

 

Dry: A gorgeous cologne smell, one that I think could easily be gender neutral. It smells very familiar but I can't name it. I'm not really familiar with any of the notes listed for Azathoth. Still, everything seems to be well-blended.

 

I don't think I'd get a bottle of this, but I think an imp always on hand would be a good thing.

I don't get anything from Baneberry that smells dark green or herbal. What I do get is berries. My brain has settled on raspberry and blueberry. It's not too sweet or too strong. I like it, but I don't think I'll buy a bottle anytime soon.

Sed Non Satiata is pure musk from the time I open the imp to several minutes after it dries, then there's a hint of geranium. It's a very sensual scent, perfect for a hot date.

In the imp and wet on my skin: Dirt with a hint of roses.

 

Dry: The dirt smell goes away, thank goodness. Another Destroying Angel I don't need. I'm not very familiar with amber or musk, but there's something besides the rose. I think the musk might be stronger than the amber. They seem to be playing nice with the rose, however.

 

It's a nice scent, but it's not really me.

Poisson D'Avril is the scent of a Spring bouquet. I smelled rose when I first applied it but now I smell all the flowers except the rose, not that I'm complaining. I can't smell the honey at all, but that's good since it would have made it too sweet. This would be the perfect pick-me-up scent for a rainy day or a cold and snowy day in the dead of winter when you're anxious for Spring.

 

I like this so much that I may buy a second bottle before it disappears.

On me, Love-Lies-Bleeding is a heady mix of dark chocolate and roses, with a hint of strawberries. I think it would be perfect to wear to a romantic dinner. It's competing with Persephone for my favorite.

Eris on me smells like a lighter, creamier Euterpe. Not that that's a bad thing, I just was expecting something totally different.

 

This imp is going into my aging pile. Maybe after it's aged it'll smell more distinctive.

I also love the packaging. Bliss soap looks like an expensive, handmade chocolate bar and smells like a Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds bar.

 

Unfortunately for me, I live in a hard water area, so the soap doesn't lather very well. Still, it gets me clean. I don't know if I'll buy another bar when this is done.

 

If you don't have hard water, I'm sure the Bliss bar will live up to its name.

In the imp: Brownie batter.

 

On my skin: Bliss wavers between brownies and Count Chocula cereal. Not that I'm complaining.

Moon Rose smells of wet roses and another floral, which must be moonflower but I can't be sure since I've never smelled that. It's very feminine and pretty and I think it would be excellent for rose devotees of any age. I'll definitely get a bottle of this.

Got Baku as a frimp a few days ago and finally decided to try it last night. On me, it smells like eucalyptus, lavender, and mint. Very relaxing. I can happily report that I had no nightmares last night.

 

Baku just might become part of my nightly routine, if only because I feel so decadent putting on scented oil at bedtime.

Persephone is one of my favorite Greek goddesses, so I would've bought this without even knowing what was in it. Having said that, this blend is exquisite. In the imp and on my skin, I smell roses with a tart, fruity base. I've never smelled pomegranate before, so I assume it's that. I can't stop sniffing my wrists.

 

This is definitely going on my bottles wishlist.

In the imp and on my skin, Two, Five & Seven is roses galore! Tea rose comes off the strongest, but that's probably because I used to wear tea rose perfume. Still, this is better -- fuller, more bodied. I can't detect any grass, but I think if I let the imp age, it might come out.

 

This is going on my wishlist of 5 ml bottles for sure.

On me, Maenad is the scent of warm, spicy strawberry jam. I'm definitely getting a big bottle of this.