grashopper8

Yeah, I have to chime in here, too. I was hoping for a lot more from Love's Philosophy, but I think the interesting edge that the saffron gives (and this is mostly in the wet stage) is overshadowed by the disapppointing cheap vanilla note. This vanilla is not the smooth, rich, foody vanilla that I've smelled in other scents. This is flat cream soda, dirtytrip!

It smells like a cheap vanilla candle to me. I agree that it's similar to the vanilla in Tokyo Stomp. Major bummer. At least it's saving me a smidgeon of money!

1 out of 5 (the 1 only being for the interesting back-note of saffron/wintergreen in the opening stage)

Right now there is Harikata. Osmanthus, honey, golden musk, vanilla flower, and ginger. While I got more osmanthus than anything else many reviews say that it is almost pure floral honey, so I guess it depends on chemistry.

Seconding the Harikata rec! This one is limited edition and will not be available after March 23, so it's an act-fast kind of gamble....

As for General Catalogue scents, I'm also seconding Tiger Lily.

You may also like Queen Gertrude and Juliet.

Have fun sampling!!

I bought a 5mL on ebay, and I don't think it was aged long because it's in an amber bottle and the label is brown with a star/eye symbol.

This scent smells a lot like Gingerbread Poppet at the beginning, and dries down very similar. Maybe there's an extra spice in there, like anise or something, but it's very similar to GP for me.

If you're looking for a non-foody ginger scent, you should try Silk Road. Shub is a little less cakey than GP, but it still smells like actual gingerbread.

I like it, not sure if I'll keep my bottle in the long run, but I'm glad I finally tried it, because Shub TP soap is really nice (I got to try a sliver once upon a time).

4 out of 5

I smell soft, powdery lilac with a hint of fresh wild greenery at the beginning (I'm assuming that's the fern note). As it dries down, it becomes a soft, single-note lilac on me. It's very feminine with my chemistry, not a masculine lilac like His Station and Four Aces. I like this enough to keep the imp, but I don't see myself craving it often enough to warrant a 5mL. If you're searching for a pretty spring lilac scent, don't miss out on this one!!

4.2 out of 5

I can smell ginger, and maybe a hint of cinnamon or some other spicy essence, but other than that, this is a mysterious spicy blend with a zing of crispness to it (maybe something vaguely citrusy, like bergamot or lemongrass?). I'm also getting the rice-dust impression at the opening that someone else mentioned in a previous post....

It's very unique to my nose. The closest thing to Silk Road that I've ever smelled (which is not to say that it smells identical) is Zinzibar from the Body Shop, and the main note in Zinzibar is ginger, so that must be why I'm dragging that comparison out of my dusty bwain.

This is quite lovely, my favorite frimp from my last Lab bottle-order-binge. So different!!

4.8 out of 5

Apples and herbs. It smells exactly how I expected it to from the description. Not bad if you're an apple-seeker, but I'm not interested in Verdandi, myself.

2.5 out of 5

On me, To Helen smells remarkably like a slightly sweeter Versailles. Both have amber and roses, so this makes some sense.

 

On the subject of my dear, sweet love, Sleepy Moon: there's really no substitute for it, but Belle Epoque is sort of like Sleepy Moon's more girly, less deep younger sister.

I freakin Love this thread!!!!!!! coldandsleepy, Sleepy Moon is my #1 BPAL. Belle Epoque is now on my radar. If you like it and you like SM then I know it'll jive on me : -D

If you can find an imp of aged Juliet, try it out - it's not exactly the same as Sleepy Moon, but it's got some kind of similar vibe to it.

51 reminds me of Kindly Moon. Not identical, but if you're a KM fan, you've got to try 51.

: -) An Area 51 perfume? Man I love BPAL....

This scent is fun, playful, and bright. It's got a greenness to it that isn't sharp or dirty-smelling, because it's balanced out by the fresh fruits.

51 reminds me of Kindly Moon more than any other BPAL.

It smells a little generic-perfumey, like Herbal Essences or B&BW Juniper - a fruity-floral. There's a clean musk that bridges the sweet herbal/hay/freesia notes with the juicy guava/melon fruits.

Cute! I probably like it enough to try the imp a few more times, but I'm not enamored any further than that. It's just so familiar! But still pretty.

3.6 out of 5

At first, this smells strangely fruity-fresh, and I agree with the 'melon' comments.

After it dries down, it's an herbal, clean floral - almost aquatic.

I can see it being a winner on someone else, but I'm not workin' it very well.

2.3 out of 5

I love jasmine, but I'm also pretty picky about it, and I'm not wild about the jasmine note in this blend. Overall, it's a powdery floral without much of a backbone, and it doesn't have any personality on me.

Not my fave - it's very plain, to me.

2 out of 5

Wet, I smell fake almond, which I absolutely hate (sorry).

On my skin, all I can smell is clove.

Meh.

2 out of 5

Rose, citrus, and jasmine.

This is very pretty and super-feminine. An interesting rose blend.

Soapy.

I still like it, though.

3.8 out of 5

Weeeeeird!

Mushroom perfume???!

In the imp, it smells like grass, but if I think about it, it smells like mushrooms, just super-concentrated.

On my skin, it smells almost floral. Paper-white? Does that mean Narcissus?

Weeeeeeird!

Not for me, but truly original. It ends up smelling strangely clean. I almost like it, but it's just so Out There....

3.3 out of 5

Banana candy and woodsy florals.

Nah, not a fan...

2 out of 5

I smell lemon candy and tuberose.

The lemon quiets down some, and all I can smell is tuberose. It's probably because of the creaminess of coconut contrasting with the florals, but it all comes together to be distinctly single-note tuberose on me.

Did I say tuberose?

: -)

3 out of 5

ADDED Nov. 1:

Creamy coconut and lime, with heady tropical flowers.

Kind of reminds me of B&BW Lime Verbena.

It's a little sweet for cool weather, I would classify this as a summer scent.

Fun, but not quite me....

3 out of 5

I smell cherry candy and vanilla. It smells like fake strawberry vanilla on me.

Red hard candy.

Cute, but not my style. Makes me a bit more cheerful, though, to be quite honest! A youthful, girly candy scent.

I don't see myself pulling it off as a perfume, but it's a sweet little pick-me-up as aromatherapy. I'd buy a candle scented with Aunt C.

Dragon's Blood and Opium Poppy.

The fragrance is enhanced by a slight touch of amber, and a lovely swirl of ylang ylang. It's fantastic! A keeper.

I'm definitely a fan, I knew I would love it, but still....Smile!!

4.4 out of 5

This is an earthy incense (not because of patchouli or anything, but the cedar gives a hint of woodiness). The amber and musk are sweet and creamy but in the background, not trying to take center stage. I'm interested in the way that the hay-like saffron complements the fresh cedar. Fascinum sweetens up a bit as it dries down, and the amber and musk come out a bit more. I like it - not love, but it's charming all the same.

3.7 out of 5

Honeyed jasmine.

This is sweetly light, but as much as I love honey, and as much as I adore jasmine, they don't work on me when they're together in the same vial. I'm sad because I was looking forward to loving it, but I'm sure someone else will give my imp a loving home.

3 out of 5

This is a soapy floral on me. I can understand the clove and spice comparisons, although I am instead sensing the spiciness of carnation. It's got the saponified air of plumeria. I understand the references to rose, honeysuckle, and clove, but to my nose, whatever's in here makes me think of carnation and plumeria.

It's pretty, but I'm not sure it's a winner with my chemistry - it's awfully soapy.

3.4 out of 5

Yeah, um..... This is perfect.

I am typing with one hand because I can't drag my nose away from the slather-point.

I like vetiver, so I'm biased, but this scent is just fabulous!!

Vetiver is dominating so far, but backing it up is gorgeous tobacco, Snake Oil spices, and smooth musky myrrh incense. The more it dries down, the more the vetiver settles into the blend, and the more intoxcated I become.

Lunar Eclipse is an insanely dark tobacco and spice scent. I feel like to wear it, I'd have to be cautious about not slathering because it's so intense. I really can't stop sniffing at it, I'm completely entranced!

I love this. Beth, you are a Goddess!

5 out of 5

In the bottle, it's a nice fruity scent with something definitely cakey/buttery going on, but on my skin, the cake note disappears.

It's got the BPAL lunar herbal florals for sure, and I am strongly reminded of Singing Moon. The Cheshire Moon has more fruit, but it's very tastefully done fruit. I can smell the guava, even though my only reference for this is Ocean Spray Mauna Lai "juice." (Which, I have to point out, is the best pink fruity drink in the entire universe and I was Obsessed with it when I was younger, and now I want to buy some and make mixed drinks with it to see how it rocks my tastebuds as an adult.)

The citrus/grapefruit note is very subtle and more of a balancing note for the sweet guava and complimentary to the lunar herbs and florals.

Overall, Cheshire Moon is finely tuned and perfectly balanced. It has a subtlety to it that I did not expect based on the note list. It's a cheerful fruity floral with the signature BPAL lunar essences to add extra style and complexity.

Beautiful!

4.6 out of 5

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