grashopper8

This scent was one of the first BPALs I ever tried (I bought a 6-imp mix pack to start), and when I opened Succubus, I had no interest in even trying it on. All I could smell was bitter orange peel, and I didn't really care for it - wet.... I think I actually put it on my skin a week or two later, and I fell in love after it dried down to a soft, romantic neroli/orange blossom and mimosa blend. The hint of clove is tastefully balanced and therefore quietly in the background, serving as the spine of the overall fragrance, keeping it from becoming too high-pitched or powdery. It's one of my true favorites! I might be biased because it's one of my first BPALs, but it has a special place in my heart and it was the first BPAL I considered buying a 5mL of. Since I didn't write a review initially, I'm doing so now, as I sit here wondering why the heck I don't wear this more often. It's totally my style! Plus, spring is coming, and it's perfect when seeking out for a fresh, happy scent that isn't sharp or cologne-y. Succubus has seduced me! 4.7 out of 5

Clove, citrus rind, musk, myrrh..... It's like a spiced, citrusy Black Lace. It's such a strange combo, the creamy musk against the sharp clove and citrus zest, with the sultry incensey myrrh and Dragon's Blood (aka daemonorops - thanks Wikipedia!). As it dries down, the citrus mellows out and goes more to the background, and the musk, incense, and clove dominate in a creamy-spicy swirl of olfactory intrigue. I have to say that, to me, this scent bears similarities to Gypsy Queen and Voodoo Queen, and I'm willing to bet that it becomes a cult-favorite BPAL scent - especially after it's aged. I don't know if I will get much wear out of it fresh...I will hold on to my decant and see what I think in a year or so, but right now it's a little intense for me to wear as a perfume. (That's my own personal opinion, I am sure that others will think differently : -) Drop-dead sexy as hell. A surprising little gem! 4.4 out of 5

This is sickeningly sweet and fruity on me, with an air of something jasminey like BiggerCritters....it's cute in its own way, but at the same time it's just too much for me. I was expecting to love this one, I'm kind of surprised that I don't like it, but ya never know! I hope I find my decant a more loving home. 2 out of 5

This is narcotically attractive to me.... I'm not sure why, but the plum note is just doing it here. I love the springy florals and the sweet red currant, I love the tea note. (I can't say that I smell sake, but I haven't had rice wine in quite some time and I'm not sure I would notice it as a scent unless it was very strong.) The overall effect is fun, fruity, lighthearted, sweet, playful, young....It's not my typical kind of scent but I'm really feelin' it! 4.4 out of 5

To me, this smells like green tea, a hint of sandalwood, and an air of freshness that makes me think "citrus" without really going there. It's a fresh scent, and it seems floral to me although there aren't florals listed in the notes. Clearly, I'm a bit stumped. : -D Unisex, leaning toward masculine but not exclusively so. 3.6 out of 5

I was most excited to try this blend from the Salon, because Pikake is one of my favorite notes ever and I have been wishing to see more of it in BPAL. I have to say - #1. I don't really smell pikake, and #2. what I am smelling is intense for my brain! This starts out as a sweet candied mandarin orange, but soon softens into something much more complex. At this point, it defies description (by me) and I have to defer to alicia_stardust's entire review above. It's not quite fruity, or floral, or resinous...I don't know what the hell it is. It's very interesting. Not sure how much I really dig it, it's kind of reminding me of Givenchy Amarige for some reason. It's a strange one, I bet there will be some die-hard lovers and some ack-ing haters. 3.7 out of 5

This scent is bright, powdery, fruity honey-musk. Wet, there is a flash of green freshness, but it burns off and the scent warms up. This is the first time I've tried osmanthus, which as I read, is supposed to smell like apricots. It's not bad, but I'm not drawn to it, for whatever reason. Honey and apricots, it sounds delectable. I'm sure it will smell perfect on someone else. 3.2 out of 5

Hmmm.... This smells like a creamy vanilla sandalwood scent to me. I am not familiar with teak as a scent, so I am sure that the woody teak is what is making me thing sandalwood. This reminds me of Yosh's Trompeur (The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things), except much nicer. I will be trying this one again - but I think it's one of my favorites from this Salon series. Sexy! Hypnotic! I can't stop sniffing myself....hehe

haha that's perfect : -D A crisp, fresh, fruity peach scent. It's interesting because it's clean while being peachy, and peach is usually cloying and humind for me. The nectarine dominates, but I can sense the musk and mossy base. It's very interesting, and not exactly bad, but it's a bit giddy for me. (maybe I've just got the winter blues : -P* ) 3.6 out of 5

This started out smelling soapy, but on my skin, it changes to a musky honey amber scent. The freshness of the mint and seaweed is almost gone, leaving just a hint of coolness behind. I really like this at first sniff, I may add more here later once I've slathered it on for a day....Reminds me of Sed Non Satiata. ETA: It's a very pretty light honey scent, with a bit of freshness/greenness that reminds me of green tea. It's almost like a cross between Sed Non Satiata and Gennivre, although it's got its own style. I like it....not overwhelmingly enchanted, but charmed. 4.4 out of 5

Earthy, fruity, soft, and fresh all at the same time. I think it's attractive, not really "me," but very interestingly balanced. The prettier notes leave my skin sooner than I'd like, and it dries down to a light patchouli skin scent. 3.4 out of 5

I have a decant of this, so I am reviewing it for scent only: I think it's fruity, red, and juicy, with an intoxicating swirl of red musk and rich patchouli, the slightest hint of orange, and a subtle underlying nutty foody tone from the nutmeg and vanilla. I agree that there is something very Mme. Moriarty about this, with just a little more going on. Fantastic! Super sexahfied.

This hardly happens to me, but I didn't even want to try this one on my skin. It smells like wood and patchouli to me, but it has a dusty, dry air about it. I don't think it's my thing. Sorry! Edit to add: I tried it on my skin, and the sandalwood warmed up, but the patch is still dusty and dry. I honestly kind of hate it.... ADDED Nov. 1: Ew, this is all pencil shavings. Come to think of it, I thought I reviewed this already. (?) Not a fan, anyhow.

Hi olive! I think that I understand that you're speaking in general and business terms, and when you refer to 'options' you are talking GC blends, LE blends, and single notes as options. I found your comment particularly curious because I see BPAL from the opposite perspective, which is that they have so many damn options that I'll never ever have a chance to try half of everything. Between all of the limited blends, the hundreds of GC perfumes, the Trading Post, and TAL, I think that the overwhelming array of choices is a huge part of what attracted me to BPAL in the first place. I hope to be optioned till the day I die from BPAL....hopefully Beth and Ted's little angel-bibby will carry on the tradition!

I have since found that Titania, Squirting Cucumber, and Green Phoenix is a fun Tranquil-breezes-esque combination. Nothing beats the original though....glad I've got a half-bottle of the cologne spray : -D

Seduction smells like ylang-ylang to me, but for some reason I don't really like it.

Ummm...... I don't know what to say about this fragrance. It is certainly another unique, one-of-a-kind BPAL blend. Wet, it starts out smelling like a creamsicle (orange and vanilla) although it's grapefruit, I know. That aura quickly disappears and then suddenly it smells like jasmine-bomb and angel food cake. It's so weird! I think I like it, but wow! It's sooooo weird!!! My bwain is scwambled.

This smells like body odor to me. No thank you! Edit to add: Hmm, weird, I tried it a couple months later, and Now I can smell the peach blossom thing. I think the patchouli is a little out of place, and maybe that's what smelled like Eau Bo the first time around. I still don't like it though Such is life.

Budding Moon is a candied fruity scent that smells fresh, bright, heady, creamy, sweet....all at the same time. I can't pick out notes because most of the components in this perfume are unfamiliar to me. I'm not sure if I like it or not, but it is very light-hearted and fun. A puzzler for my nose....

This is a bit too high-pitched for me. I don't usually dig aquatics so much, so maybe that's part of it, but there's just something about this blend that makes me feel headachey. Not a fan.... 2 out of 5

Thursdae that's hilarious! I have yet to finish a bottle off, and the ones that I have that are low are from decanting (and none of those are less than half). It's hard for me to commit to a scent for more than a day or two, because there are so many BPALs to try and so little time!! And there are so many of them that smell just intoxicatingly gorgeous on me, that I don't find myself becoming very monogamous with a single blend for long. However, I still have some serious favorites, and I know which blends I will be likely to empty out first: #1. Sleepy Moon (my favorite sleep aromatherapy, good thing I have 6 bottles! ) #2. Chimera (a new infatuation - cinnamon vanilla with a woodsy edge and enticing style! I wore it several days in a row, and I just traded for an aged bottle, and I'm in heaven! It will go fast....) #3. Snake Oil (yeah it doesn't get much better than that, does it? ) Great thread!

Very pretty, soft, feminine, delicate, sweet.... It's almost a honeyed floral scent. Very well blended, the incense note is very faint and adds just a hint of warmth and roundness. The green/grassy note is also not too intense - it offers some balance for the sugared wildflowers but doesn't ever take over. The wet stage is more complex than the dried-down fragrance. After wearing it for a bit, I just smell a light, powdery floral dusted with sugar. I'm very glad I tried it! It's a little too sweet and innocent to be something I'd wear often, but it definitely makes me think of spring faeries. 4.3 out of 5

This reminds me of Ralph Lauren Polo Sport, Estee Lauder Pleasures for Men - cool, sexy man scents that get my blood flowing. This smells like the guy I had a crush on in high school. Holy frickin hell this conjures up some strong memories! I almost feel giddy and nervous, I'm standing at my locker trying to act cool and the hottest guy in school is telling me a joke and I am careful not to laugh too hard because I'm so tense and he's so Gooorgeous.... This scent is soooo sexy. I love that I can get a BPAL like this! A man-fume that is alcohol-free and totally sexified for my man to slather on, something that isn't $80 a bottle and watered down with alcohol and preservatives. Those of you who are interested in finding men's cologne-type scents that are a little more special than commercial scents, yet are totally approachable, should definitely try Wilde. And, Villian. Both are fan-freakin-tastic! 4.8 out of 5

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!! I totally love BPAL myrrh, and this is certainly no exception. There is an earthiness about QoS, but it smells more like sweet soil than something pointedly "dirty." I am also getting a hint of incensey sweetness (aside from the myrrh), and it smells a touch like grape soda (kind of like Temple Viper, but just a hint of grape rather than a dominating force). My favorite myrrh BPAL so far! It's honestly almost single note myrrh on me after it dries down for a few minutes - and it droooool fabulous! I'll treasure my decant. I only wish that I tried it when it was new and fresh, because I bet that through aging some of the supporting notes have faded and mellowed out. 4.7 out of 5

Brr, this is chilly! There is a hint of pine or juniper, with a cool woolmitten/snow note and an icy, aquatic base. It's a high-pitched whistling winter wind. People who are drawn to snow/aquatic blends should definitely try to grab bits of the Ice Queen. I happen to not be one of those people, so I will be passing my sniffie along to share. It kind of almost gives me a headache....It's just too fresh for me, even though I can appreciate why it has so many fans. 2.5 out of 5