ivyandpeony

The lovely cupide430 organized a circular sniff on the LushNA forum of some Carnaval Noir prototype imps she was gifted with, and I am lucky enough to be a participant. Of the scents she has, I have most been looking forward to trying Fire Eater, and my frenzied anticipation did not lead to disappointment. It is a beautiful, beautiful blend, but very difficult for me to describe - I am going to try my very best, since it's such a privilege to get to try this one early and I want to give the clearest picture possible to anyone who's still wondering if this one is for them or not. Fire Eater is very floral. So floral, that to me any hint of other notes like citrus and spice almost seem to be derived from the florals - the way that carnations and pinks smell spicy or the way orange blossoms reflect the scent of their fruit. My nose doesn't pick up any cinnamon, or cardamom, or any spice in that sense of the word. I think there are carnations in there, their spiciness tempered with a sweeter floral. There's a hint of something very juicy in there as well, but it too is tempered and doesn't become as dominant, nor as lush and fruity as the note it reminds me of that's in The Living Flame. Overall the effect is clean, balanced and light. I do wonder how this one would change if I had enough to freely slather, instead of just dabbing a tiny spot on my wrist - I can't wait to find out. If Fire Eater was a color, to me it would be in the fuschia, hot pink and coral family - very summery, as warm as can be without being uncomfortably hot, and intensely feminine. After all, the Fire Eater has consumed the flames, so there isn't a huge fire ablaze here - this is the heat she is giving off and the glow that emanates from her.

Just to add to the suspicions about something being screwy on Thursday (6/30), I too placed a wee order and did not get a confirmation from the Lab. But my PayPal confirmation arrived immediately. There have been other times I haven't received a Lab confirmation, but I have yet to not receive an order, so I won't be concerned unless a memo goes out telling us that 6/30 orders got eaten and we need to re-send them.

Why don't you PM one or two of the other UK forumites first and see if they have had a problem with it - you might get an answer faster. There are many, many UK residents who have been ordering (some since early 2004) and using PayPal, with apparently no mention of a problem with their county being included in their address, since that hasn't come up as a red flag in this thread or as a note to UK customers, has it? Let's see, Donnababe, Miggins, Pookstrell, Purely Cosmetic, Clephan, red_jezebel all come to mind as UK residents, and I am positive there are others I am forgetting (I'm picturing avatars and coming up blank).

This one is really gorgeous - such a nice balance and contrast between the sweet wildflowers and the mossy woods. I picture this one being the forest at nighttime... there isn't anything sunny or bright about it to me, more of the feeling of being in very deep woods and smelling the mosses and flowers that grow with just a bit of sunlight each day. On me, it is definitely more floral than woody, even several hours after applying. But that's not a complaint because the florals are lovely and I am a staunch fan of most all things floral and BPAL. This will likely prove to be one of my favorites from the SIA collection.

Mmmm... I never thought I would associate the words "sexy" and "blind idiot god," but a sniff out of the bottle and I was like, "Whoa!" This is a gorgeous blend although it may prove too masculine for me to wear in the long run. I share the vetiverphobia of the majority of BPAL fans, but the other notes persuaded me to order this one, and it is very interesting to me... This vetiver seems different than the vetiver I have encountered on previous occasions. It is richer, mellower and smoother. Whether it's truly a different vetiver oil that the Lab has used, or a result of its wedding with these other notes, I can't say. But the effect is that of a very expensive perfume, as if the house of Creed had hand-blended a scent for you. Upon application, Azathoth starts out with bright citrus and saffron notes, and slowly dries down to a very deep, woodsy, dare I say BRAWNY base of cedar and vetiver. It was at this stage, after wearing it for about an hour and a half, that I gave up for the night, because this lecherous vetiver was crawling slowly up my arm and I could tell it was not going to take no for an answer. This is one that I am really looking forward to trying again in a few weeks, to see how the notes have blended. For right now, Azathoth is gibbering away in my BPAL drawer (I told him he's resting at a very luxurious spa, having a special isolation treatment, though and he believes me ... blind idiot.)

I absolutely love Mi-Go Brain Canister and I can't wait for someone to ask me "What perfume are you wearing?" Out of the bottle and when just applied, I get an odd, "off" note that reminds me of a specific off note that I get from Machu Picchu. But unlike the note in that blend, this fades away within a minute, so I am happy to stick it out. (I'm just one of those people who can't make it through say, a 10 minute dry down of something I don't care for.) Then Mi-Go becomes very bright, sweet and fruity, but morphs into a very well-balanced melange of lightly spiced florals and tropical fruits within 30 minutes or so. It pretty much remains that way for me until it's faded about 3 1/2 or 4 hours after application... re-slathering is fun. I'm probably going to make a little parfum spray soon and see how that affects its longevity, just for the sake of science and whatnot. This is really a gorgeous blend - even though I am kicking myself for reading "The Whisperer in Darkness" last week in anticipation and thoroughly freaking myself out. Hope the next Arkham line with include Mi-Go Repellent to keep away those creepy crustaceans from outer space...

Minilux is absolutely correct - I knew that Hexennacht reminded me of something and I think it's the smoky notes from Hunter Moon. Those were the only notes that really showed up on me with HM, so I swapped it away, but combined with whatever magical goodness is in Hexennacht the smoke is divine. There's also something about Hexennacht that reminds me a bit of Samhain, another autumn scent that despised me... maybe it's the forest component? Again comparing LE to LE... I get a very strong Sugar Skull vibe from Pink Moon for about the first hour or so. Perhaps it's just the way my nose interprets the sugar or strawberry notes in there. Certainly no complaints here - I love Sugar Skull, and I love Pink Moon whether it's smelling sweet or morphing into floral loveliness.

I have tried The Hanging Gardens 3 times since Monday, so obsessed have I been with this one! When I open the bottle, I can almost see a swirl of colors emerge from the bottle to match the myriad notes that I detect - kind of like a Peter Max painting. There are juicy fruits, lush flowers and earthy woods with a hint of sweetness that seem to anchor it all. Once applied, The Hanging Gardens morphs on me to a sweet fig with a woody undertone, which reminds me very much of Hetairae. And as it dries down, it basically fades to fig, and very quickly at that. I am not one to give up on a scent quickly. So I will definitely hang on to this bottle and try it again at different times of the month, to see if there's something odd going on with my chemistry that's making my skin absorb those beautiful notes I can smell in the bottle. I am not disappointed in the least in this blend, only in my skin's odd behavior with it... it is so lush and gorgeous that I would probably take the plunge and purchase a scent locket before you could pry it from my hands.

I was thrilled, almost flabbergasted even, to obtain a bottle of this one recently since I was still living in that OTHER world, the one without BPAL, when it was released. I had tried the Queen of Spades and sadly, she just didn't work for me. But the King and I have hit it off. First, this is a plum-berry scent that I can wear, and that alone is thrilling because those notes very rarely work on me. I don't detect the coconut, but I think it must be the vanilla and white musk, two of my favorite notes, that smooth the fruits and make them compatible with my chemistry. The oakmoss seems to give this scent an earthy, spicy base and ultimately the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, leading me to wonder what kind of magic is in this little bottle.

Out of the bottle, Ides of March smelled like pure rosemary to me. But once I applied it, the rosemary stepped back and other notes began to swirl together. Like several other reviewers, I found that the different notes blend together so harmoniously and smoothly that it's difficult, if not impossible, to identify any single one. To me, Ides of March is very soft, but bright green like the first leaves we see in spring. The two qualities don't seem like they could co-exist in one scent, but here they do, in another example of a little Lab magic. This one will be uplifting and cheering for spring and summer... and brought out for a sniff or two in the dead of winter to revitalize me and keep me going.

Ides of March has a spring-green border and the little symbol above the Black Phoenix name is in the same color. It's a really pretty shade of green.

My experience with Chango is similar to several others'. Since I don't use it for ritual, I'm reviewing it purely on fragrance... The fruit notes out of the bottle are truly heavenly. Although I had trouble picking out exact notes, I would describe this as a huge bouquet of sweet tropical fruits. Once I applied Chango to my skin, however, I began to detect the musky, animalistic note that others have experienced. I have to say that this is the most intense animalistic, civet-esque note I have ever smelled in one of Beth's blends, or anywhere other than around a real live, large animal. Perhaps it's blended with tobacco that intensifies it, as Clover suggested, because I thought I did get a whiff of that too. But having read a bit about Chango, it sounds like he would be quite pleased with the oil that Beth has created in his honor. Such a lusty orisha would surely appreciate the intense musk in there. And I have sent this blend on to a good home where it will be much appreciated.

I had to order Hades based on the black narcissus alone - one of my favorite notes - although I was unfamiliar with some of the other ones. So I was a bit nervous to try it out. Not to worry though - this one is drop dead beautiful. Out of the bottle and freshly applied, Hades is earthy, woodsy and a little smoky, with barely a hint of what's to come. The smoky note seems to fade immediately and within a few minutes subtle, sweet floral notes sneak to the surface, grounded by the deep woody base. Everything seems to work in harmony and the result is a spicy fragrance that hints at floral, hints at sweetness, hints at earthiness, but would be very difficult to describe without the notes identified for me. This is one that would work wonderfully on women or men, truly gender neutral... in fact I would love to smell it on my husband, but we all know, he "doesn't wear perfume." So I will anxiously await your reports, men of BPAL (all 5 of you) and women who can slather it on their men.

I feel so lucky to have acquired a bottle of Lion Heart when the generous and lovely LupaWolf made a trip to Altered Realities. Like many, I was fascinated with the description of White Light and thought that was what I needed. It was sold out, and I think that was the universe's way of telling me, "No, you really need Lion Heart." I wasn't familiar with many of the Twilight Alchemy blends, but had suggested I'd like something to help with strength and positive energy as a back-up. I have to admit to feeling a little chill when I first read the description, knowing I had a bottle was on the way. Lion Heart smells absolutely beautiful - in the bottle it reminded me a wee bit of Jezebel, honey and floral notes, though not orange blossom. The florals are green and fresh and the honey-ish note invokes a feeling of golden sunlight. These notes stay dominant for quite some time, but then become a little mellower and more herbal as it dries down. I haven't tried it in my oil diffuser, since I really like to have it within sniffing distance on my wrist so I can focus on its special purposes and concentrate on the things that I need strength to change. And you know, it's much easier to use your medicine when it smells so gorgeous and sunny. As to its efficacy... The week that Lupa had mailed my bottle, I was having a very difficult time, recalling last spring when my beloved dog suddenly became ill, shaking, hiding from me, eventually stumbling and losing the use of his back legs... all of which was caused by the spinal tumor that eventually led to his death. I love spring, he loved spring, and it was horrible that he didn't get to enjoy his last one. Just the angle of the sun in the sky would bring a lump in my throat recalling the sleepless nights with him, emergency vet visits and drives all over town trying to get a diagnosis as well as get him some relief. I could keep myself together during the day, but I was having "procrastination" insomnia, and when I finally turned my lamp off my eyes would well up with tears and I would cry myself to sleep. And of course, all of this was exacerbated by the fact that I suffer from an extremely stubborn and hard-to-treat case of depression. The day that I got my bottle of Lion Heart, I went ahead and applied some on my wrists and neck in the afternoon and again at bedtime... And that was the first night I fell asleep without crying in six days. Since then, I haven't had the night-time tears visit me once, I've just experienced a little of my usual PMS rollercoaster and that's it. I'm still struggling some with my grief, and I will probably have to closely monitor my depression for the rest of my life. But I feel like I've been given a special and rare weapon to add to my arsenal and to open new pathways of thought in dealing with this joy-draining, soul-stealing disorder.

I have an imp of cinnamon single note that I sniffed specifically for this reply. I got a sweet cinnamon from it, similar to the scent of Dentyne gum (but of course more complex than that). The only cinnamon that's actually burned my skin is Inferno, and I still have a big bottle on my wishlist... I'm just planning to dilute it. If I end up having to dilute it too much then I'll use it as a room scent. But it's so beautiful. I added about 1/3 an imp to a 4 oz bottle of body wash and it is very intensely scented, but no irritation problems, so I know it can be done... I was wondering, it seems to me that people fall in the "Eclipse" group or the "Chimera" group, but not both... is there anyone who can wear both? Eclipse did not work with my chemistry at all, but Chimera is so fantastic that I ordered a 10 ml. I never knew what a cinnamon freak I was until I started trying BPAL cinnamon blends. I love Harlot and never in a million years would have imagined adding cinnamon to rose would produce such a lovely result. Three Witches is completely swoonworthy, another BIG bottle purchase for me. And after reading this, I definitely have to revisit my imp of Hamadryad!

Thanks for posting those pictures, Silvertree! Of course ALL of our BPAL oils are special, but I do love when the lab has time to do something special with an LE label. I'm so looking forward to the SIAs... curious about Beltane and Hexennacht labels too (and kicking self for not ordering just a bottle of Hexennacht... kick kick kick).

The skin on the inside of your elbow is usually the most sensitive on your body... lots of products that tell you to patch test first, like mustache bleach , suggest you use the skin there for some reason. Anyway, I would just avoid putting Snake Oil there if it isn't making you break out anywhere else, or putting some unfragranced lotion on first to create a little barrier.

I was surprised by Hetairae when I tried it, but not disappointed, since I didn't know what to expect from the patchouli. On me, the honey note is very prominent at first, but as it dries down, I get a gorgeous blend of sweet - spicy - and woody notes, which I think must be the fig, clove and patchouli. This is one of those oils that truly blooms on your skin. It can't be judged just from sniffing the imp or even from the first 10 minutes of wear. It's funny, the thought that popped into my head, verbatim, when I first sniffed my imp: "These smells all just met each other." Meaning, they almost seemed a little disjointed, a sensation I also got when I first tried Euphrosyne (which I would liken to a giant jasmine SLAP). But after I had put it away for about 6 weeks, lo and behold, a gorgeous, balanced vanilla-floral blend that's now one of my favorites. My feeling with Hetairae is that a month from now it is going to be INCREDIBLE... mellower, and those smells are all going to know each other really, really well. I will wear it again in the meantime (and I actually have a 5 ml on the way, a custom purchase from a swap), but I'm looking forward to seeing this one age too.

I honestly think everyone should go put an imp (at least) of this on their wish list NOW! I'm green with envy that some of you had the foresight to order a 5ml unsniffed... Silk Road is hard to describe but it is truly beautiful and I'm wondering if it is one of those blends that will morph to the wearer so that many, many of us will fall in love with it. I have compared it to so many other blends in my mind... Snake Oil's little sister without the vanilla? Sudha Segara's cousin, less ginger, more of another spice? Overall, it's a gorgeous sweet and spicy blend with occasional reminders of something floral. This will be a fantastic blend for hot summer days when you're dreaming of slathering yourself in your heavier spicy scents but afraid of overwhelming the crowd... hell, it would be a fantastic blend for taking out the trash or walking the dog! Go get some, now!

I have been trying lots of new oils, many of which are floral, so it's proving a little difficult for me to attempt to describe the differences between them. But I would have to describe Prague as a very bright and clean floral. It's truly beautiful. Although its sunniness does invoke thoughts of spring and summer, I'm such a fan of florals that I will probably wear it year round, particularly when I need a little break from the more prevalent rose and jasmine scents in my collection. This would also make a fabulous room scent... I picture buying a bouquet of lilies, then putting just a few drops of Prague in my diffuser to create the illusion that I have filled the house with them. I'm so glad I took a chance on a bottle instead of an imp, because I would probably have had to dash off a random order for Prague and Silk Road by now...

I never got any incense from Black Phoenix, just that cherry Coke - almond scent... Hearth was very similar on me, and Kabuki is very cherry as well. Queen of Sheba is a huge favorite of mine, but on me it is extremely spicy, start to finish! Sorry if I am just duplicating other's suggestions... but I'd just try and get my hands on imps of what people have recommended and try them yourself, since you can see that body chemistry can really affect what you get out of these.

I find this fig single note very rich and intense. I wore it alone as a perfume recently and was amazed at its throw. Although I didn't pick up any notes that seemed artificial, this seems more deep, fruity and raisiny than a simple fresh fig, like sweetened figs to the Nth power or maybe even a fig wine. I don't think I will wear it alone again, but layered with something spicy or woody to temper the sweetness, I think it will be gorgeous.

Would you believe that I bought this when single notes were discontinued back in October of 2004... received it in December... and just now tried it? I'm such an idiot - I really love this one! I often feel left out because many of the fruity notes don't work on me... particularly apricots and berries... but this pomegranate is just gorgeous. It smells ripe, juicy and both sweet and sour simultaneously and has more depth than many fruit notes. If you have smelled too many icky potpourri or candle scents, this single note is SO refreshing. I am going to be playing with this one a lot!

This may well be my favorite of all the single notes I have been lucky enough to try or acquire... I love carnations and I mourn the fact that they don't even seem have that much fragrance anymore, at least the ones most florists carry. Beth captured the perfect carnation in this single note, sweet, spicy and just a little hint of "green." There are enough nuances to this that you can wear it alone, which I love. It's such a great example of the fabulous single notes BPAL produced...

I couldn't believe my luck when I was able to get my hands on a bottle of this, which I split with a favorite BPAL friend. We are fortunate ladies indeed. This single note is the juiciest, creamiest scent of pear I have ever experienced from a bottle - it's the aroma of an authentic, beautiful perfectly ripe pear held close to your nose and multiplied by 20. It has enough complexity to wear alone as a perfume or to amplify the pear note in some of my favorite blends such as Endymion. Anyone trying to pass off synthetic pear fragrance on the unsuspecting public would spontaneously begin to flog themselves in shame upon sniffing this incredible creation... really, it's just so good.