Penance

Scarecrow is a very nice freshly harvested field scent in my opinion. I wouldn't say it was like fresh mown grass, but it's definitely a field scent. It reminds me of the country and makes me horribly homesick. Or Val Sans Retour (an up-and-coming) is grassy with some citrus. Hope that helps somewhat!

You know, this is helpful information. After the Baron Samedi Incident (yes, it's capitalized because it was an important - if unpleasant - historical event ), I really needed to know how to get an oil off quick and alcohol just wasn't cutting it. I'm going to have to try the lemon juice and salt method next time I need to rid myself of am oil.

Origin: I got an imp of this from Gemini Noir because I've been having some very bizarre dreams lately and they're starting to really get on my nerves. First sniff: Lavender is really the only thing I smell immediately in this, but it's softer than Somnus (which also smells like pure lavender to me) and less astringent. There's something almost soft or maybe even sweet in the background of this, but I can't pin it down. This one's so well-blended that I can't say anything other than that it smells like soft lavender without the harsh herbal edge it normally has. Wet on skin: Lavender with something else I can't put my finger on in the background. It smells familiar, but the lavender keeps getting in the way when I try to pin it down. I don't particularly like the smell of lavender, so this isn't quite my cup of tea, but if it works that's what matters. I'm not sure what the other note is in here, but as long as it's not one of a handful of "can't/won't wear at all" notes like amber, carnation, almond or anise/fennel, I don't particularly care what it smells like as long as it helps me sleep without the crazy dreams I've been having lately. Dry down: I think I jinxed myself mentioning anise and fennel because one of those is definitely hiding in Baku under the lavender. I really can't stand the smell of anise at all so I'm afraid this one isn't going to get to be sleep-tested because of the anise or fennel or whatever is in this one. The bottom line: I don't know if this one works because it has one of the handful of totally unacceptable notes in it that I won't or can't wear: anise/fennel. This is going to have to find a new home with someone who can put it to good use.

Origin: I didn't order this (foolish me) because I thought it sounded too similar to Ice Queen which I had bought 2 bottles of, so I got a 5mL of this from Sigh. First sniff: Why did I have to order Ice Queen instead of Skadi?! WHY?! This is so unbelieveably gorgeous. I smell pine right out of the bottle, but, unlike Mistletoe, it's mixed with spicy winter berries. I don't normally like berry scents, but...how to describe this...it's an unberry-like berry scent. The pine in this balances it out and I swear, there's something spicy in here. This is Christmas in a bottle, but in a different way than Mistletoe is. This one's like sitting around the family Christmas tree with a mug of mulled cider while Mistletoe is like traipsing through the snow looking for the perfect tree. Skadi is warm and comoforting where Mistletoe is invigorating and clean. Wet on skin: The berries are the most prominent note now, drowning out the pine needle. There's something in this that's reacting to my skin in the same way that Samhain did when it was wet, walking the line between beauty and cleaning fluid, although it may very well be that my hormones are making this go wonky since it is that time of the month. I'm sure it'll go away though because the first time I tested this, it didn't do this. Dry down: Just as I figured, the cleaning fluid stage has passed and now I'm left with gorgeous winter berries and crisp pine needle and a hint of something that (I have no idea how Beth does it) smells exactly like slushy snow. This is so beautiful I can't even begin to descibe it. I really don't like berries as perfume, but this isn't the sweet kind of berry I'm used to, it's more spicy and slightly tart and it perfectly compliments the pine needle in this. I think this may very well be my favorite of all the Yule LE's! The bottom line: Pure Christmas warmth and happiness in a bottle. I love everything about this scent and I'm definitely regretting not getting a few bottles of this when I had the chance. This is perfect!

Just thought I'd throw in another similarity: Phantasm and Embalming Fluid could be long lost twins. Phantasm is like Embalming Fluid + a bit of jasmine on me.

Origin: Ladniappe from the Lab! First sniff: This reminds me a lot of Embalming Fluid only slightly less citrusy. I definitely smell the green tea and lemon verbena in this, but I don't get much, if any, florals from this right out of the imp. I can tell right now that this isn't going to be my kind of scent, but I'll give it a shot anyway, for the sake of reviewing. Wet on skin: No real change from in the imp; it's still lemon and green tea only the lemon has picked up quite strongly now. Now it smells damn near identical to Embalming Fluid (which I also don't like, by the way). I get maybe the faintest hint of jasmine from this now that it's on me, too. It's very clean smelling and reminds me of spring...and it ironically compliments the citrus green shirt I wore today almost to the letter. Dry down: Green tea, strong lemon and a faint background of jasmine. This is definitely not me (at all), but it's certainly not unpleasant, either. I just prefer a much heavier, darker scent to Phantasm's springtime freshness. The bottom line: Not for me by any stretch of the imagination, but definitely a nice clean, fresh scent that would probably be beautiful on someone else.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab! First sniff: Lavender, jasmine and spice jump out at me immediately, followed by musk and rose. I'm really not sure if I love this scent or hate it right at the moment; it could go either way quite easily since the spices and musk appeal to me while the lavender and rose are among the notes I don't generally care for. Wet on skin: Lavender is the strongest note now, but it's not as astringent as it normally is - the spice and musk appear to be softening it quite a bit. I was really worried about the lavender in this, but if it stays like this, I don't mind it at all. This wavers between being herbal, floral and spicy/musky and I'm still not sure whether I like this or not. Dry down: The lavender has returned in full force, along with hte rose and I don't particularly like the result. The two parts I do like - the musk and the spices - have receded so far into the background that I barely smell them at all anymore. I really don't think this is me, as much as I love spice and musk together. The bottom line: Nice but definitely not me. I don't generally do florals, especially lavender, so Sophia isn't quite up my alley. I think she's going to have to find a new home.

Origin: I got an imp of this from SilverAngel. Preconceived notions: I honestly have no idea why I have such a pressing desire to try this one. I don't like egg nog. At all. I don't like the smell of it or the taste of it...to put it bluntly, I hate egg nog and all that it stands for! That being said, the description sounded so amazingly good that I just had to try this one in spite of my hatred for its namesake, so I'm hoping it smells like the description and not like the drink. First sniff: This really does smell like egg nog, but not the cheap kind, the homemade kind, and even though I don't like the way egg nog tastes or smells normally, this smells gorgeous. I smell cream and nutmeg and brandy right out of the imp...it's gorgeous and creamy and altogether edible. Wet on skin: The brandy really takes over once this hits my skin, turning Egg Nog very boozy and less creamy. This doesn't smell like store-bought egg nog, this is homemade egg nog with a heavy dose of brandy. Dry down: Cream and nutmeg with a background of brandy. This is a nice, heavy, foody scent in a way that normally doesn't appeal to me but that, right now, is screaming my name. I don't normally wear this kind of scent, but I can definitely see myself wearing this one. A lot. The bottom line: This really exceeded my expectations. It's lovely and creamy and boozy and spicy all at the same time. I really like this one quite a bit.

Sarada, I have the same thing going on! I like my generic BPAL scented gloves, they're kind of fun. I can wear them and pretend I'm working for Beth.

Loup Garou is piney but has a strong eucalyptus note to it, but it's about the closest you're likely to get, methinks. Mistletoe is pretty unique as far as I can tell. I've never found another BPAL oil that smells quite like it, other than say Skadi which smells like pine, berries and spice.

Preconceived notions: Like VorpalBunny, I thought Skadi and Ice Queen sounded very similar, but I only ended up buying Ice Queen (huge mistake, as I love Skadi with a passion). Since then I've tried Skadi and adore it, so I'm hoping Ice Queen lives up to the hype created by her sister and works as beautifully on me. First sniff: Mmm, I smell the spruce first, but it's softened and tempered by something almost minty smelling and the barest hint of something aquatic and slightly fruity and sweet. There is a certain resemblance between Skadi and Ice Queen...Ice Queen is like Skadi's younger, more innocent sister. She's not quite as strong or intense as Skadi is, but she's equally beautiful in her own way. Wet on skin: Musky and almost aquatically sweet. This is a cold smelling scent, but not in the peppermint and citrus way I'm used to. There's something here that's reminding me of anotehr BPAL scent, too, but I can't place it...I think it's the musk I'm recognizing, although I can't remember which scent it's reminding me of. I get the vague feeling it was one I didn't care for, but I don't know what it was. I'm thinking this is going to end up not being me...there's just something about this blend that doesn't feel right on me. I really prefer Skadi to her little sister at this point in time. Dry down: The spruce has disappeared and so has the musk and I'm left with something that reminds me quite a bit of R'Lyeh. It's aquatic and sweet smelling at the same time and very unusual. Ice Queen isn't bad, but I don't think she's me, to tell the truth. I prefer something a little more woodsy smelling rather than a sweet/aquatic scent. The bottom line: I like Ice Queen enough to keep one bottle of it for now, but not enough to keep both, so one is going to have to go up for swap...hopefully I can get more Mistletoe or Skadi with it.

Preconceived notions: This is the Yule LE I was most eagerly anticipating because I adore the smell of pipe tobacco and this sounded so absolutely perfect, but I'm a bit worried now based on the reviews. Sweet scents really aren't my thing, so I'm hoping Hearth turns into the pipe tobacco and leather scent I'm craving and not into cherry syrup. First sniff: Wow, that is cherry sweet! I expected this to bear at least a passing resemblance to the new formulation of Hellfire based on the description, but the two couldn't be more different and still share some common ingredients. This really does smell like cherry pipe tobacco inspite of the almost syrup-like sweetness of the cherry note. I find that the further away my nose is from the bottle, the more I smell the tobacco and the less I smell the cherry, which is a good sign. Wet on skin: This is definitely cherry, not cherry wood - it smells like the inside of a chocolate covered cherry where all the gooey syrup is, but there's also tobacco under here and a faint hint of worn leather. It's not nearly as candy sweet as I'd feared, although it's far sweeter than I'd hoped for. I have a feeling the cherry note is going to die down as it dries, though, because it already appears to be mellowing. Dry down: As predicted, the cherry is mellowing nicely, leaving a gorgeous cherry tobacco scent that's very comforting to me. The longer this sets on my skin, the more I can smell the pipe tobacco and leather instead of just cherry syrup. It appears my treacherous body chemistry has pulled a fast one on me for once, turning a potentially "definitely not me" scent into something absolutely gorgeous! This is what I expected from Hearth. I'm very happy with the way this one turned out! The bottom line: Hearth was too cherry sweet for me in the bottle and wet on my skin, but once it dried it smelled exactly like I'd imagined it would. Also, this one isn't as aggressively masculine as Hellfire was, which is wonderful because I don't always want something that screams testosterone. I love this one (at least on me)! ETA: Since I wrote this, I've decided I love Hearth even more than I said in my review. Now it seems the cherry syrup smell dissipates much quicker and I'm left with the most delcious, deep, rich cherry pipe tobacco scent. I wear this to bed and it puts me right to sleep! It's so comforting and peaceful smelling and absolutley wonderful. I've got 4 bottles and 2 imps now and I'm in heaven.

Perversion and Tintagel are both nice sweet leather scents. I, personally, love a good masculine leather scent, but both Perversion and Tintagel are nice. Whip is also a feminine leather scent, but in a more floral way.

First sniff: I smell mint first and foremost as soon as I open the bottle...it's a soft mint, more like butter mints than Altoids, if that makes sense. I also get a bit of eucalyptus and some strong aquatic notes in the background. This is very wintery smelling, but not in a pine needle or Christmas cookie kind of way. Wet on skin: Very light...it's minty and aquatic at the same time, which is an unusual combination for my nose and one I'm not sure I really care for. There's also a bit of lotus here that's worrying me as lotus has a nasty habit of going all wonky on my skin. It's not a bad scent by any stretch of the imagination, I'm just not sure it's going to end up being me. I may be wrong, though...it wouldn't be the first time something had ended up working after I thought it was going to be a failure. Dry down: Frost Moon is nice and clean...minty and aquatic at the same time, like a frozen pond. I was worried about this one even before I ordered it, but I had to try it anyway, just in case, and I'm glad I did because now that it's dry, it's working beautifully for me. The bottom line: This smells lovely! I was really quite worried about this one since it has lotus in it and lotus tends to give me headaches and smell funky on my skin and aquatics seem to be disagreeing with me lately, but it appears my fears were unfounded. Frost Moon is a beauty!

A melancholy, deep scent, poignant and brimming with nostalgia. The perfume of sugared plums over a breeze of winter flowers. First sniff: I couldn't figure out what this reminded me of apart from saying it was sweet and fruity and almost cloying, so I asked my fiance and he said, "Smells like fruit punch." Well, to quote Mugatu in Zoolander, "He's absolutely right, you know!" Who would have seen that one coming? I was expecting something more plummy with a sugary sweetness overlying it, but it's pure fruit punch to my nose...very odd. Wet on skin: Very sweet and almost artificial smelling in a way that reminds me of Hawaiian Punch...I can't escape the fruit punch vibe in this, no matter how hard I try. This is a very lighthearted smell to me and quite innocent smelling, but it's really not me by any stretch of the imagination. I'm glad I got a chance to try this, but I don't see it turning into anything that's going to be up my alley. Dry down: It smells almost like sweet jelly now...but with that fruit punch undertone that's been there since the beginning. This is definitely sweet...sugar plums aren't quite what come to mind when I smell it, though. I don't particularly care for super sweet scents, so maybe that's why this one isn't speaking to me. The bottom line: This just isn't working for me. I don't care for sweet, fruity scents and this has too much of a fruit punch vibe for me to be able to wear it. I'm going to be swapping this one.

I know it's been mentioned before, but Snow White smells like Snowcake when it's wet.

Preconceived notions: I was afraid to try this one even though it sounded so gorgeous because some people said they smelled almond in this and almonds make me sick, and I do mean sick, but Beth assured me there's no almonds in this blend at all, so I'm quite eager to try it. I'm expecting something almost marzipan-like with a bit of coconut...maybe creamy, but not cold. First sniff: Mmm, Snow White is very creamy and does remind me of marzipan (which I never really thought smelled like almonds, to tell the truth). This is beautiful and pristine smelling, but not cold at all. It's more cream than white and very smooth smelling, if that makes sense. Wet on skin: Now I smell amonds, which is really strange considering that there's no almond whatsoever in this. It's still very creamy smelling, but definitely almondy in spite of the lack of almond in the oil. It's a soft almond, though, not a strong, nutty almond. Dry down: Hurray, the almond has disappeared! Now I get a soft, creamy coconutty kind of scent that reminds me of a Yankee candle I can't remember the name of. It's not cold, in spite of the name...more soft and creamy, like warm milk. This is a very calming, beautiful scent. I never imagined I'd love this one so much! I think I may have found the perfect scent for my wedding in Snow White. The bottom line: I never dreamed I'd love this one as much as I do. I don't care for the wet almond stage, but once Snow White dries, she's gorgeous: soft and creamy and delicate and feminine without being floral. I love this one!

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: I've been waffling about this one for a while because of the mention of lemon in the reviews, so I'm hoping it's not so lemony on me. I love ozone and incense, so I'm glad I got a chance to try this without taking a risk. First sniff: Oh, wow, this is really unusual! I can definitely smell that metallic tang that means ozone and the incense notes in this. It's a very unusual combination, but not in a bad way by any stretch of the imagination. Wet on skin: Ozone...it's almost lemony smelling but with a background of incense smoke. I don't like lemon, so I'm hoping this veers away from the Lemon Pledge territory once it's dry. Right now, the lemon smell is becoming quite strong as it sets on my skin. I can still pick up the incense in the background, but the lemon is really overpowering it right now. Dry down: There we go, the lemon has disappeared and now it smells like ozone and incense again, but with an underlying aquatic sweetness that I recognize from several other BPAL aquatic scents. I was worried about this one while it was wet, but now I really like it again. I'm one of the few big fans of true ozone and I love incense/resin scents, so Nyarlathotep is right up my alley, even if it is a combination that I never would have imagined would work. The bottom line: Very unusual. Ozone and incense smoke are the quintessential odd couple that just seem to work together. I love this in the bottle and once it's dry, but I could do without the wet stage.

Origin: Got a 5mL of this from Velvet, since I was a fool and didn't order it while it was still available on the site. My impressions: Oh my God, this is so good! It smells almost exactly like Constant Comment tea, which (in my book) is the sign of a good clove single note. This is so gloriously clovey that I want to cry! Absolutely perfect, and this is coming from a die-hard clove lover.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. First sniff: Very strong vetiver with a background of myrrh. This does seem somehow sluggish and almonst stagnant, but not in smell, in feeling. I'm a bit creeped out by this one, mainly because of the name...most people don't know about it, but I have a bit of a phobia of sloths and this smells like what I think a sloth might smell like and it's giving me the creeps. Wet on skin: The myrrh picks up and almost drowns out the vetiver. I'm not sure if I love this or hate this, to be honest. I keep wavering between being creeped out and liking the way the myrrh and vetiver smell together. I don't dislike vetiver, but I'm pretty freaked out by this blend and the connotations it has for me. Dry down: Myrrh with a background of vetiver. I still can't decide if I want to keep this or not. I'm very ambivalent about this one, constantly going back and forth between liking it and feeling creeped out about wearing it. The bottom line: I have a feeling this one's going to continue to give me the creeps, so I think I'm going to have to get rid of it. I don't see this emotional reaction I'm getting going away, so Sloth is going to have to find a new home.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. First sniff: Oh, wow, I can smell a little bit of everything in this. I smell the white ginger first, then the vanilla and apricot (which I never used to like and now I can't get enough of) and finally the barest breath of jasmine. This isn't quite foody or floral, it's somewhere in between and utterly gorgeous. Wet on skin: Apricot and vanilla are the most prominent, but there's a hint of ginger and jasmine underneath. I recognize the apricot immediately because of my love of March Hare; the others are vaguely familiar smelling but somehow still recognizable. This is feminine without being too girly and I actually really like it! Dry down: Vanilla and ginger are the most prominent, with the apricot and jasmine in the background. I really like this one. It manages to be feminie without being girly, which I greatly appreciate. The bottom line: I'll be keeping this one for when I want to smell a little more feminine. I really love the ginger, apricot and vanilla in this.

First sniff: Oh my God, it's Christmas in a bottle! I adore the smell of pine and this smells just like a fresh cut Christmas tree. There's nothing artificial about this one; this is pure, natural pine trapped in an itty bitty vial. Why didn't I order this?! This is exactly the kind of scent that I love! Wet on skin: As soon as this hits my skin it morphs into a dead on duplicate of the smell of fresh snow and pine needles. There's somethin crisp and watery about it on top of that wonderful pine scent...this is so beautiful, I'm kicking myself for not ordering a few bottles of this. Dry down: The snow scent has disappeared and I'm left with pure pine goodness again. I can't imagine a better Christmas scent than this. It's so me and so beautiful. I can see myself wearing this one all year-round. The bottom line: Gorgeous; utterly gorgeous. An instant favorite. I'm going to need a few bottles of this one, methinks.

Origin: Lagniappe from the Lab. Preconceived notions: Oh, goodie! I've been waffling over ordering this one for a long time because of the hazelnut, but now I get to try it! Thanks, Labbies! First sniff: Mmm, deliciously dark smelling. I can definitely smell the cypress, oakmoss and frankincense in this, all of which I love. I honestly have no clue what oude is, so I can't say if I smell it or not and, so far, there's no hazelnut, which is wonderful as nuts and I don't get along. This is dark and dangerous smelling, like a forest at midnight but with an underlying spicy resinous quality that makes it a little less threatening smelling. This smells so unbelieveably good so far, I hope it smells this good on me. Wet on skin: Very woodsy smelling. The cypress and oakmoss really come through strong when this is wet. There's still a faint spicy resin in the background, but this is mainly the deep forest at midnight. This is so gorgeous! I never dreamed I'd love Danse Macabre this much! Dry down: This reminds me of Loup Garou with frankincense added. It's woodsy and gorgeous, but spicy and resinous at the same time. I love this blend; it's perfect for me! The bottom line: I waffled about this one for a long time, but this is absolutely gorgeous! I'm going to have to get a 10mL of this one immediately.

Origin: Got an imp of this from Mrs.Black. First sniff: Vaguely aquatic but sweet smelling, almost like those Sour Patch watermelon candies they sell at the movies. Strange, but true. Wet on skin: Aquatic, like Water of Notre Dame is aquatic...it's tranquil smelling but with a strange sweetness over top of it that's making me think of sugared pink grapefruit now....or more like the Sour Patch grapefruit candies (I know, I know...again with the candy comparisons!). I'm not sure what to make of this, it's very unusual and not headache inducing like most aquatic scents are for me. Dry down: No real change from when it was wet...it's reminding me of something I can't quite put my finger on. It's almost like sugar water strangely enough, which is totally unexpected and not at all unpleasant. I'm just thrown by how light and sweet this is...I would have expected something dark and unnerving, not light and almot comforting, but then my reactions to oils have little or nothing to do with the descriptions most of the time, so maybe it's not totally surprising. The bottom line: Unexpectedly sweet and almost summery smelling. I don't know what's in it, but it reminds me of eating watermelon by a lake. H.P. Lovecraft is spinning in his grave!

Origin: Got an imp of this from Kimmer. Preconceived notions: I honestly didn't know what to expect from this. I wanted to try it purely out of curiosity, to be honest. First sniff: Dandelion and beer, but not an unpleasant stale beer, more fresh and foamy. I don't drink beer because I can't stand the smell, but I really, genuinely like this! I also get the faintest whiff of tobacco in hte background, but somehow this manages to be a fresh, almost paradoxically clean scent, not the dirty spilled beer and stale cigarettes scent I associate with bars and truckstops. This reminds me of something, but I can't put my finger on what it is...it's not an unpleasant memory at all, so it can't be a bar I'm remembering - nothing good has ever happened to me in a bar - maybe it's a person I'm remembering...although I don't know who it could be. Wet on skin: Mainly dandelion on me with a hint of hemp and beer in the background. I think this reminds me of going to the county fair when I was little...it seems the most likely explanation for the happy feeling I get when I smell this. This is a fresh, country kind of scent to my nose and I really like it, which is somewhat surprising as I never expected to love this...maybe like it, but not love it. Dry down: I can smell the hemp and tobacco more now but the dandelion and beer are still prominent. I'm almost positive it's the county fair this is reminding me of now and I really like the association. Some of my happiest memories come from spending summer days at the fair. The bottom line: I tried this out of pure curiosity, but I'm officially in love with this scent. Not because of the notes in it (although I love tobacco), but because of the memories it dredges up.