Delirium1009

In bottle/imp: Segments of sliced oranges lying in gritty dirt.

Immediately on skin: As soon as this was on my skin, the citrus disappeared almost completely. There’s just a light breath of it that gives the blend a very fresh feel. In the front of this now is the violet, and the patchouli is lingering lightly in the background.

After a little while: This seems to have blended quite a bit on my skin. I get a patchouli blend now with hints of sweet citrus and violet and then a little smokiness and warmth in the background. There’s also a hint of the almost smoky ylang ylang, which in this blend smells almost like very smoky jasmine to me, but it’s very light.

Overall Impressions: I usually can’t stand patchouli, but the other notes temper it nicely. It’s a fresh, sweeter patchouli blend, with all of the other notes blending in lightly.

In bottle/imp: The feel of sharp lavender with a light breath of violet and white flowers.

Immediately on skin: This primarily seems to be light lavender and violet, but there’s also something sweeter there and creamy. This isn’t screaming-loud lavender though; it’s very soft and blends nicely with the violet.

After a little while: This has become a very sweet violet dominated scent, but I seem to do that with most violet blends. There’s still the smallest hint of lavender, as well as something slightly creamy, which I believe is the balsam of Peru and just a hint of narcissus/daffodil. There’s something slightly tangy in this, which I can’t really identify, but it’s the only thing really tempering the violet.

Overall Impressions: This is a very violet dominated blend on me, and while I love violet, I need something else with it and this blend just isn’t different enough. There are hints of the other notes, but the sweet violet mostly dominates it. There’s a hint of something slightly tangy and almost herbal, but it’s light and I don’t know which note it is that smells like that.

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. Looks like I need to update my to-be-tried list. I think Dragon's Milk is already on there (if not, it should be), but I'm not sure I would have thought of most of the others. Sadly, O is no good on me, but the rest look rad, and I'm dying to try Chanukkiyah now, yum.

 

If you can, definitely try to get ahold of a bottle or imp of Wezwanie/Hold. It's got this honey/nut sweetness to it and reminds me very much of baklava or a similar pastry. It's delicious!

 

What set was that from? I can't find it anywhere, and search turns up nothing.

It's one of the retail only salon scents. You should be able to get it from any of the authorized bpal retailers or you can look on the swaps forum here.

This is a very refreshing scent. It starts out a bit perfume-y and heavy on the sake with hints of plum and currant, but as I wear it it softens beautifully. After just a little while I'm left with a subtly sweet green tea, plum and cherry blossom scent with a hint of currants. It's very wearable, girly, and refreshing without being overly clean smelling or sweet.

If you're a fan of the lab's green tea scents and enjoy subtle fruity floral blends, I'd definitely recommend this one.

In bottle/imp: A tangy and almost creamy mix of ozone and beeswax… it’s very hard to describe.

Immediately on skin: This is a very well blended scent… and hard to describe, but I’ll do my best! On my skin it smells like ozone plus something creamy but powdery and slightly warm that I think may be the white amber and beeswax. While I don’t know what opaline notes smell like, there’s definitely a cold musk feel to this, kind of like the mineral note in Black Opal. Which makes sense since they’re “opaline.” I also get a hint of moonflower, which is a note I almost feel in my nose more than smell.

After a little while: On my skin right now, this almost smells like a mix of Black Opal and the Oval Portrait, but not quite as cool as either of them. It has a warm feel to it from the beeswax and amber, but there’s a cool muskiness from the opaline notes, ozone, and moonflower. There’s a cold, rocky quality to this, but also a creamy floral feel. The ozone is there, but it isn’t as high of a note as in other blends because of it blending with other notes here.

Overall Impressions: This is a very interesting, complex, and deep blend. The notes all come out and blend together almost seamlessly, creating a scent that is cool and deep, but also warm, musky, and floral. The ozone gives this a crisp feel, while the opaline notes and moonflower add a blue feel to the blend. The white amber and beeswax make an almost warm and creamy base for the other notes.

In bottle/imp: Juniper berry with a soft undercurrent of flowers.

Immediately on skin: The juniper berry in this is strongest… I don’t think it’s the pine because it’s not as heavy or thick as pine usually is on me. There’s a softness underneath, a light breath of warm floral notes. I can’t really separate them from the pine because they’re blended in with it, but I sense some lily of the valley and a little smoky jasmine. There’s a hint of bergamot that makes the scent a little less feminine than I was expecting as well.

After a little while: The juniper and pine note have faded and blended into the scent leaving a cool bergamot and pine blend with hints of flowers. The lily of the valley comes out in a very nice, clean manner, and there is just a hint of jasmine. As for the benzoin and vanilla, I can’t sense them at all.

Overall Impressions: I was expecting something much different from this scent… something heavier on the florals and lighter on the juniper and pine. On me, this is a juniper dominated floral blend which morphs later to a cool cologne type scent that’s a mix of juniper, bergamot, and clean floral notes. It’s very refreshing and sticks close to the skin.

Chanukkiyah has an interesting sweet bakery type scent, and maybe layering with Chimera would spice it up a bit.

This is a chilly pine blend on me... I was hoping for the berries to peek through, but on my skin it was just pine. There was something to it that added depth but it was cold and didn't add any sweetness to the blend.

Scent wise, on me Lionheart is a very warm blend of amber and a touch of heliotrope. There's a soapiness or a creaminess to it that is comforting, but it's so much more than that.

I find myself wanting to face the scary things in my life recently that are holding me back. I haven't used this for anything as serious yet, but when it came to braving some roller coasters I've never ridden before on a recent vacation, Lionheart really made me feel secure, brave, and gave me the nudge I needed. It didn't work every time (I guess if I'm tired and I don't really want to do something, not even Lionheart will do the trick!) but it really did make me feel braver and more confident in some slightly scary situations.

Now, let's see if I can get over my fear of driving...

ETA: Today was my first try at learning how to drive. I used Lionheart because I needed a LOT of courage even to get behind the wheel, which I've never done before. First, before I left I put a dot of both Lionheart and Determination on a white candle and tried to meditate and calm myself a little. Then I applied a mix of the two for my first lesson. The scent was not something I'd wear as a perfume, but it certainly made me feel more confident and ready to try. I'm not ready to go on the street yet, but Lionheart has definitely made me feel much more secure and confident about trying to learn.

In the bottle, this is slightly playdoh-ish and spicy vanilla. On my skin at first, I get a nice warm vanilla with a hint of saffron, which on me at first smells a lot like cola. So for the first few minutes I smell like super Vanilla Coke

This scent settles down on my skin rather quickly, and it develops into a very sweet, creamy vanilla scent with a warm spiciness. It's very soft and almost a fluffy scent; the warm feel I get from it is so comforting.

It almost feels to me like Tombstone without the cedar, which is the one note I didn't love in that blend. It's a very sweet scent on me, but most of the lab's vanilla blends do that.

Overall, I really love this one!

Nothing cheers me up like Selkie. It's such a fresh, lively scent. If I'm in a bad mood, I put that on and it just brightens my day.

Dorian is what I go to when I need something comforting and cozy.

On me, Nocturne is primarily lavender and rose with a hint of lemon or lemongrass. It's a nice soothing blend and puts me to sleep pretty quickly.

I've used this two nights and the first night I just applied it to my wrists (both sides), chest, and neck. I slept very well and didn't dream much.

The next night I applied as stated in the description (heart, soles of feet, pulse points, third eye, and temples) and got to sleep just as quickly. I slept very well through the night, but I had more vivid dreams than the night before. They weren't bad dreams, but they were detailed and I had a few. Unfortunately I couldn't really remember them after waking.

I find that this oil really works for me. When I apply it, I get a rush of energy but not in a charged up way. I suddenly have focus and it improves my mood and increases my energy level.

As for how it smells, it's very fizzy citrus at first. It seems like a mixture of lemon and orange (or maybe a touch of lime) with a lot of effervescence going on.

After a little while on my skin, a nice warm amber note comes out. The citrus sticks around a bit, but the fizziness fades.

This scent doesn't last more than maybe 3 hours on me, but I have no problem reapplying since it works so well.

Edited later to add: I have stomach issues with stimulants like caffeine, and I really love that Energy wakes me up without giving me any stomach repercussions.

a few weeks ago I won an eBay auction that Puddin put up for a bottle of Sugar Skull, and I'm curious whether or not the year can be determined by the label art as it wasn't specified in the auction. Does the label for all Sugar Skulls look the same?

 

It's a non-glossy paper label, and there's no year on it (because if there was I wouldn't be asking the question).

 

I just bought a bottle exactly like that from another forumite and was told it's from 2005.

ETA: Each year's Halloween blends have different labels, but all the blends from the same year look similar (or at least they did this year). I believe in 2006 there was a mostly black label with a witch on it, and this year there's a colorful background with a swirly black design and colored text (the background and text color is different for each scent).

ETA 2: The grouped scents, like the Pumpkin Patch and Haunted House blends had their own sets of labels though. Those were different.

I hope this isn't as confusing as it's seeming now that I'm reading it back!

I found Victoria to be a very pretty and nicely balanced rose and lily scent with a nice touch of vanilla musk. If she likes those notes, she might enjoy it. I don't think it would be too mature of a scent for an 11 year old.

When I first put Dorian on, it is a slightly musky tea scent with a hint of citrus and men's lavender cologne (from the fougere I'm guessing). As I wear it, the vanilla comes out beautifully and sweetens up the scent. Upon drydown, this scent is best described as vanilla earl grey tea with a hint of men's lavender cologne and a sexy, warm muskiness. This scent lasts for hours on me (I have some on I put on 5 hours ago that is still as fragrant as when I first applied it this morning), and is a very comforting scent. It's my favorite bpal scent for sure!

It's a lovely, unique work of art

I love the lab's TKO perfume oil and since I moisturize nightly as well, I thought this would be a great way to combine the two.

My husband massaged my shoulders, neck and upper arms with this a couple of nights ago. It smells exactly like the perfume oil: the lavender is a little sharp at first, but it calms down quickly to a lightly sweet and comfy marshmallow lavender scent.

The massage oil rubs in easily and sinks in beautifully. After just a few minutes of massaging, my skin was moisturized but not greasy at all. I fell asleep quickly, just like when I use TKO perfume oil.

A definite winner in my book!

Spiked Punch was a scent put out during the recent Trick Or Treat Inquisition this past Halloween in the Trading Post. It smells like fizzy fruit punch to my nose... it's boozy at first, but that note disappears almost immediately on my skin. It might be hard to find, but you might luck out on Ebay or in Swaps.

ETA: more info on the inquisition.

I haven't tried Pearl Diver, but I like Gloop with Marshmallow Poof and Sugar Buzz with Sugar Skull.

In bottle/imp: Tropical floral.

Immediately on skin: This is a very complex floral… and it’s quite a bit fruity and very sweet. I looked up the first component, mai’a, to see what it smells like, and it’s a banana plant, but I don’t find a banana note in this at all. It’s very cool and tropical.

After a few minutes: This is a very floral blend, but it’s quite refreshing. I can pick out the hibiscus and moon flower, and a slight warm spiciness from the ginger. The lab’s orchid always turns sweet on me, and this blend is no exception; but it’s subdued and gorgeous.

Overall Impressions: Even though this blend is very floral, I find it to be rather cool and refreshing. It’s a very breezy scent, and the sweeter flowers like the orchids are balanced out by the cooler (what I call “bluer”) flowers like the hibiscus and moon flower. There’s a slight fruitiness, but it’s very subtle and nice. Overall, this is a great tropical smelling floral blend and it’s very bright, cool, and cheerful.

In bottle/imp: Strong, sharp pine.

Immediately on skin: This smells like the quintessential pine scent. It’s sharp and piney without any other notes.

After a few minutes: This is pretty much all pine on me, like sticking your head in between the boughs of a pine tree and inhaling a scent of the needles, sap, and bark. It’s a chilly scent, and unisex in feel on me.

Overall Impressions: If you enjoy pine scents, or are lusting after SN Pine, find yourself a bottle of this one. It’s strong and sharp and definitely unisex.

In bottle/imp: Melon and plum, with a touch of sweet orange and sweet florals.

Immediately on skin: This is a sweet, fun, fruity scent. It smells like melon and plum mixed together with an undertone of sweet floral notes. It’s airy and not syrupy… the flowers do a good job of keeping this from being too sweet. This scent is very juicy, refreshing and fun.

After a few minutes: This has softened up and blended together quite nicely on my skin. The main feel of it is still fruity, with a lingering feel of melon (the bamboo combining with the black pine and other notes perhaps?) and plum. The persimmon is lending a sugary note that is fun and playful, and there’s a subtle base of wisteria and cherry blossoms. I would describe this upon drydown as a fruity, fresh melon and plum scent with a hint of sweet blossoming flowers.

Later on: This softens up as time goes on. It just blends into my skin and the melon note dies down to a soft fruitiness and I am no longer able to pick out any particular notes.

Overall Impressions: This is a nicely balanced blend. It’s fruity, sweet, and floral, but not overly so of any of those. Even though melon isn’t listed, I can smell it as a note and the plum as well (more so the fruit than the flower). There’s a softness about it; it’s not like fruit syrup, but like a watery nectar of all these things put together. The flowers in this aren’t overpowering and just add a nice base to the scent.

In bottle/imp: Sweet and very fruity cool floral.

Immediately on skin: This scent smells sparkly, if that makes any sense. It smells dynamic and pretty. The lotus is the most identifiable note, and it is mixed with a more bitter floral (the poppy?). The blend is fruity, floral and sparkly (I would say it smells silver to me) with a slightly bitter undertone of poppy and a base of very chilly amber.

After a few minutes: This blend is very interesting… It has developed a spicy feel to it now, which really blends nicely with the cooler notes. It’s probably the white sandalwood, though the other notes are still coming through nicely. This is well blended, and everything is working together. It’s very difficult to pick out the notes other than the lotus and poppy; the scent is just a very pretty, cool fruity floral with hints of bitter poppy and a warm spiciness sprinkled throughout.

Later on: The bitterness of the poppy has really receded, and the blend is just pretty, soft, cool, and spicy. It’s hard to describe how it manages to be warm, yet cool at the same time, but the combination of the sandalwood, lotus, and white amber are just that.

Overall Impressions: This is a very pretty blend. It’s not overly strong, or fruity, or floral. It’s just soft, cool, with a nice hint of spice from the sandalwood. The lotus and poppy are identifiable, and the amber adds a nice dry, chilly base to the scent, but this is just beautifully blended. It really is a sparkling scent… not in a champagne or bubbly type way, but it just is.

In bottle/imp: Sweet figs with a light nuttiness and a floral undertone.

Immediately on skin: Though I expect them to be the strongest note, the honeys aren’t loud in this blend (at least, not yet). It’s a nutty, creamy, floral and very sweet scent. I can pick out the almond, fig, carnation, jasmine, and tonka, but they are all blended together to create a very decadent scent. The combination of the fig, almond, and jasmine is very interesting and surprisingly pretty. The honey is there, but it’s not strong. Instead, it’s drizzled lightly over everything else, smoothing out all of the notes and balancing the blend.

After a few minutes: Jasmine… lots and lots of heavy jasmine. Usually I love this note, but the lab’s jasmine is somewhat bitter on me. There are still other notes fluttering about in this: the sweetness of the honey, the creamy warmth of the fig, a light fruitiness from the apricot, and a touch of tonka and almond. They all blend nicely, and what has developed on my skin is a creamy, sweet, and slightly nutty and fruity jasmine scent.

Later on: After a couple of hours, a coolness comes over this blend very reminiscent of Oval Portrait. But it’s still heavy on the jasmine on my skin, and light on the other notes.

Overall Impressions: I was expecting “OMG HONEY” from this, and that’s not what I get, but it is a very unique blend. It has a lot going on, and the notes are well blended, but the jasmine stands out most of all on my skin. It’s sweet, but not overly so, and the honey isn’t very strong for those afraid of it. But if you’re afraid of jasmine, I hope this doesn’t morph the same way on you as it does on me. As I stated earlier, I would describe this as a creamy, sweet, and slightly nutty and fruity jasmine scent that develops a cooler feel after a couple of hours of wearing.

In bottle/imp: Ozone, sharp musk, and citrus.

Immediately on skin: This is a sharp scent, and IMO very masculine. It’s very metallic with a lot of ozone going on and a citrus type feel to it. It smells like men’s cologne, just very refined and strong. It’s wonderfully blended. It almost reminds me of a sharper and stronger version of Door 13. It’s a sharp, cold metallic ozone scent with a clean edge to it.

After a few minutes: Ah, now I get the “Mechanical” part of this blend. After wearing this for an hour or so, there’s an oily scent that comes out. It blends with the metallic ozone in a way that really does remind me of gears and metal. It’s not as sharp anymore, and the oily note has softened up the blend. It still has a cleaner, masculine cologne type of feel though.

Overall Impressions: Though this blend brings pictures of oily, shined metal to mind, it really seems to be a wearable blend. It smells strongly of ozone to me, with a metallic feel and an oily undertone. It is masculine to unisex, but I could see how this could morph to be slightly more feminine on some. It’s not my personal taste, but I could see both men and women wearing this. If I had to compare this to an existing blend, it would be that it’s a stronger, sharper version of Door 13, plus that oily undertone (and a little less citrus and more ozone). It’s an imaginative blend for sure!