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Showing results for tags 'Yule 2017'.
Found 137 results
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Five Golden Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear Tree A ploop of tentacle-green mint, wet juniper, gum mastic, puckered bergamot, cardamom pod, thyme, and vetiver. Wet: I was drawn in by the interesting sounding combo of mastic and cardamom, but so far this is all about the mint and juniper - smells like gin with mint in it, it's very pleasant. It's quite a light scent so far, clean and refreshing. I am quite enjoying it, though I don't know that it would be something I want to wear. More than anything I want to drink it... Dry: The crook of my arm where I have applied this has gotten super cold from the mint! This is definitely refreshing! I really like the combo of mint and juniper. I can't detect the vetiver at all. I do think I get tiny bits of some herbal/spice notes, but nothing I could for sure identify. This is extremely pleasant, clean and refreshing. I don't often reach for mint scents, but if I did, I could see this being a go-to. A must try if you love mint or juniper! This would really having a cooling effect on a hot summer day (seriously, my arm is COLD).
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A strange swirl of hot baked gingerbread biscuits, champa incense, and hemp. Gingerbread Champaca hair gloss is wonderful. This smells like real hot water gingerbread made from scratch with tons of ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and molasses—sweetened just enough to bring it into dessert territory but not so much that the sweetness overpowers the spices—plus a shot of heady champaca. The result is like gingerbread incense, chewy and slightly floral. I don't get any hemp until after the gingerbread and champaca have tired themselves out, and then it adds something that smells a bit like dry grass/"grass" to the mix. It's something I have to actively search for to smell. I would say that the prevailing waft is that of divine gingerbread, so those who fear champaca may have no issues here. Are you the kind of person who loves gingerbread and nag champa? (If so, come sit next to me!) This one may be for you, as it is for me.
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A lively bit of larceny: tinkling amber and well-worn boot leather ensnared by covetous, envy-green strands of mint and raw frankincense. I'm so fascinated by It is Gold! It is Gold! hair gloss. It's such an unusual combo of notes and does smell so green. Mint and leather are strong right out of the gates. The mint is really nice, a very refreshing, super-green mint. Just after spraying, I would say that the strength of the mint might actually be on par with the strength of mint in Lick It. The leather is also strong, though, so they're evenly matched. (I'm getting a brown leather note rather than black, although there are surely leather lovers here who would do a better job of parsing.) The frankincense holds things together at the bottom, knitting these two notes together in a really nice way. As it settles in, it remains minty leather and frankincense, all notes ascertainable, but blended together to create a non-foody mint scent that feels wintry and warm at the same time. I find this scent really head-clearing and calming. I think this will be great during the winter, but also wonderful when it's warm out.
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Red musk, neroli, pink peppercorn, and orange blossom. An initial blast of sexy red musk. After drying down it tames itself and I get a hint of vixen-ish beauty from the orange blossom. For me, the neroli is a barely there brightening agent at first, but does makes its presence known later on. No pink peppercorn jumps out at me, but not sure id even know it if it was. All and all, very well blended and smells divine! Getting a backup.
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Dried fruits, sweet cakes, and gingerbread nuts. So this is who is nibbling hg, with a little less tooth rotting sweetness, replaced by an air of opulence that I cannot place. What is that unlisted note? I dont want to call it perfumey per se...perhaps its a bit of sweet pea? Fits the artistic impression of the name perfectly! But a gilded coach in Candy land!
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Violet petals shimmering with lilac, wild plum, midnight blue musk, and lime rind. Violets are always my jam. So this definitely found its way into my cart. Wet, it smells definitely a little high pitched from the lilac and plum, reminds me a bit of purple wine, for some reason. On the skin, wet, oh, it's a cacophony of smells! I get the sharp citrus snap and bite of lime pretty strong, and then it goes a bit more fruity because of the plum. Over all this is the pale gray-purple of lilac. Blue musk is always hard for me to pin down, but it's binding these high pitched notes down, only a bit. It's still very sharp while newly applied. As it mellows, what is interesting is the oil/citrus/lime bite remains, even if it's not as uniformly LIME as previously. It adds a chewy bitterness to the blend, always a bit of an edge. Over time there's a thrum of violet. Not candy like, but more like melding with the blue musk to create a smooth shadow flower underneath the fangy lime. This reminds me of a much less candy-like Purple Phoenix in some ways, but definitely not grapey or winey. It's got that same dusky purple fruits/floral as Morgause but sharply present, and definitely lime forward. Cold, iridescent white-green-gray-purple with shadows of blue-violet. I think I may have stocked up real fast on this. It's a very bright lilac-violet-lime, once settled.
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A heart beating with anxiety and longing: rose musk, benzoin, and red sandalwood. In The Bottle: The reaction I got just from sniffing the bottle is a visceral stab to the heart, a rose of holidays passed, worn by my grandmother and her sisters in a by-gone era. Not "old lady" perfume, but rather the stuff that women of a different era favored considerably. Wet On Skin: It's weird, there's no myrrh listed in the notes, but the rose comes across as powdery, just as if myrrh were in the mix. Very perplexing! Dry Down: The musk is mellowing upon dry down, and a sweet, creamy aspect has emerged, reminding me of cold cream from the 40's. In All: a sweet and lovely rose scent. Not sure it's for me, but floral lovers will be very, very happy!
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Sweet red velvet cupcakes with thick peppermint cream frosting. When this goes on it is a creamy peppermint over a rich chocolate base. As it dries the chocolate disappears and I am left with something indistinguishable from Mother Shub's Unmentionable Peppermint Creams. I like it, but I wish the chocolate would have stuck around.
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Unbound from her prison-throne, mirror aloft; within her cloak dance the stories of Bathsheba, Deborah, and Mary Magdalene. Plum velvet, red wine, and sweet, dark oudh. Caveat - this is fresh out of the mail. first sniff was the red fruit. Wet down had a nod to coffee syrup but as it's drying it morphs into red fruit powdery incense. I have high hopes. Praying it doesn't go full powder. It's light too not intense. Will revisit in a day or two once it settles. 2nd round ( a few hours later) - Gave in and it's already morphed into something more sophisticated. I'm going to have to think of what it reminds me of - the fruit is not forward now - its more of a dept store sophisticate. Can't wait to see what it turns into tomorrow.
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On my arrival (June 5) all appeared fair enough. I found the mediums established on the second floor of a small house in Ninth Street near Arch. There were but two rooms on the floor, a front parlor and a bedroom; the lower floor under both rooms being occupied as a shop for the sale of musical instruments. In a back corner of the parlor was a walnut cabinet, seven feet wide and eight feet high, with a door that opened into the parlor, and two apertures, five and six feet high respectively, both curtained with black cloth. We had lamp-light, shaded but sufficient to enable us to recognize faces and to see everything that passed in the room. After we had examined the cabinet, the medium entered it, closing the door. Soon at one of the apertures appeared a fair, thoughtful young face, a girl of eighteen apparently, by whom I was cordially welcomed in a low, pleasant voice. She returned and spoke to us several times. At the close of the sitting she twice appeared, robed in white, just within the cabinet door; not coming out, however, into the room: the first time (so I was told) that she had ever shown herself in full form. It was evidently a living, moving, thinking being. Yet I suspended judgment. One of the mediums was out of our sight. Then there was a door locked, padlocked, and otherwise effectually secured, it seemed, but yet a door from the cabinet into the bedroom adjoining. The possibility of a confederate suggested itself. Forty memorable sittings followed. Gradually test conditions were perfected, and every imaginable ground for suspecting deception was removed; and then, instead of failure, all the phenomena came out in greater perfection than before. I select the more remarkable; to copy my notes in full would involve tedious repetition. June 7. Katie allowed Dr. Child to feel her pulse; its beats were distinct, about seventy-two a minute. A lady offered her a gold ring, and asked me to put it on her finger. I did so. The hand, beautifully formed, was like that of a mortal woman, nearly of the same temperature as my own, and slightly moist. At the close of the sitting she advanced into the room, dropped a finger on my head, and touched several other persons. June 9. I gave her a long chain, composed of Violets hair, a present to myself more than forty-five years ago: hoping, as I told Katie, thereby to attract Violet herself in accordance with her promise. I observed that Katie wore the gold ring. But when, at the close of the sitting, examined with a light every nook and corner in the cabinet, neither ring nor chain was to be found. June 10. Katie called me up to the aperture, handed me back the hair chain, and said: Violet wishes you to keep this, in memory of her, until you are called to meet her in her spirit-home. Touching Visitants From a Higher Life, Robert Dale Owen In memory of her: green cognac, rose water, and Italian bergamot. In the bottle, its a beautiful, sweet green scent. The first few hours, it is a well-balanced blend of the bergamot and the cognac, with just the faintest bit of rose to keep it from being foody or boozy. It has a slightly sparkling feel to it, and it is really wonderful... I feel like is almost more like something you could get at a store, except that it isnt artificial-smelling or overpowering. I cant think of how to describe it exactly? Its just gentle and sweet but still unique. As time passed, the rose came out more... and the balance shifted to be more rose-bergamot with the cognac sweetness but no distinct cognac-ness. At the end it was just rose, which turned a little powdery. Overall I really like this one a lot and really recommend it. Its also the type of scent that I think would make a nice gift because I feel like a lot of people would enjoy it.
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With cinnamon, clove, allspice, and a bit of apricot. Yum. Frosted Apple Gingerbread atmo is heavy on the frosted apple and spices, with the gingerbread in the background. I pick up the apricot only slightly. I sprayed this and my husband said it smelled like stewed apples—a compliment. Very festive!
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With a drop of neroli. This is pure cranberry jelly for me. The neroli really is just a hint. I love this, it really brightens the atmosphere during the middle of Winter when green growing things and fresh fruit are a pale memory. This is fruity and sweet with a zingy punch from the orange of the neroli. If you like the cranberry in The Jersey Devil, you'll love this.
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Incense swirling through a winter forest. Nice frankincense with just a hint of pine pitch. In truth, I was expecting some smoke & hoping for a lot more winter forest than I'm sensing here. But if you really like frankincense, grab this one.
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Soft grey amber, white patchouli, and roasted nuts. Spritzed on my hand for review purposes, as it's too subtle on my short hair to smell from a distance. I had hoped this would be a soft, warm, slightly salty scent. And it is! The grey amber/ambergris is the star here, although it's not as strong as in Hag Grey, for example. It blends almost equally with the patchouli, which is a soft version that doesn't overpower. It's slightly dusty/woody and is set off interestingly by the ambergris. The nuts actually stick to the background in this, and form one of the most interesting bases I've ever smelled. It's rich and fresh, and if I had to guess at a specific type I think I'd go with walnuts. There's also a soft, nutty sweetness throughout. I'm glad I took a chance on this! It's so unique.
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A dignified appointment for worthy corvids. Golden mango, apple peel, and frankincense. OK, well, since no one else is going to go... In the bottle: Fresh mangoes and I would have guessed apple blossom more than apple peel. First applied: The apple takes a more forward appearance and the mango becomes more secondary, I don't get a lot of frankincense, except for maybe a kind of light, fizzy background note. Dry down: A very realistic and fresh fruity scent. I still think it's probably more apple (and to me it still smells rather apple-blossom-y, but maybe now a mix of peel and flowers) with mango in the background. Seems to fade quicker than some other hair glosses, I'd say it lasts a full work day, but it's pretty faint by bedtime, and nothing the next day. I could have done with a little bit more mango, but I really like apple, so I'd still say this is a keeper!
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Black Amber, Frankincense, and Ginger Root Atmosphere Spray
LiberAmoris posted a topic in Atmosphere
[No additional description provided.] Mmm, this is really interesting—this is really dry, not spicy or sweet. It smells like powdered incense. The amber, frankincense, and ginger root are well-balanced, and the impression I get after spraying is that of a resinous ginger. I have a lot of sweet holiday atmos and I like that this is so different. My husband swiped the bottle for his home office, so he clearly likes it as well. -
A nativity scene. Nice and true to form. I mainly smell the resins with maybe a touch of soft hay. Not too strong, I think it would be good for adding a nice resiny spice to a room or one's clothing around the holidays (or any other time of the year for resin lovers). Be sure to shake especially well before spritzing. Through my clear sample spritzer it's easy to see that the heavier parts of the blend like to gloop together at the bottom a bit.
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Orion, the Hunter, is the Lord of the Winter Skies. At his left shoulder sits orange-hot Betelgeuse, and in the heart of his sword, he holds a nebula that swirls with the birth of new stars. Weathered brown leather, wild fig, Macedonian cedar, fire-red tobacco, pepper, white musk, and cardamom. Oh my goodness this one is amazing. I smelled it at willl call and liked it, but I didn't get a chance to try it on before I had to leave...and then I got it for Christmas! Lucky me! I can pick out the fig, cedar, and pepper the most easily when wet, with a hint of the cardamom... and together those smell a) delicious and remind me a bit of nutmeg. It feels somewhat foody, and really just warm and delicious. As it dries, the leather, tobacco, and musk come out a bit more, grounding it and making it much less of a foody experience. I can still smell warm, slightly sweet cedar goodness, though, with a gentle underlay of leather and white musk. I keep applying it to myself, but also to my husband. It's a great blend of like, comforting yummy and also kinda sexy and masculine - but not in a way where it feels specifically cologne-y or like femme people would feel out of place wearing it. I'm wearing it and loving it. It's soooo gooooood.
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A splort of honey in a pile of snow. In short, this is pretty much Snow White with a prominent honey note, from what I can remember of Snow White. At the very least, it's very similar. The honey works nicely -- a sweet second skin scent reminiscent of Christmas goodies and cold air. It's not something I would normally wear, but it will make a nice cozy Christmas scent. Also of note: I had my husband sniff it blindly and he described it as "some kind of citrus leaf?" I don't get that, but it was cute and might be worth mentioning.
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EGG NOG Sweet brandy, dark rum, heavy cream, sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. Oh, Mama. This one is DEAD ON ACCURATE. I am madly obsessed with Egg Nog. For me, the Holidays wouldn't be the same without it. And a good batch of Egg Nog has a scent to it that is equally as appealing as the taste. And BPAL's limited edition masterpiece has that scent... the smell of the perfect batch of Egg nog, served up in an antique crystal and gold trimmed goblet. Brimming over with spice, rum, sugary goodness, and oh, oh, oh... that BRANDY. It really leaps out at me and my happy little nose! That's my 'First Whiff' experience. Now *on* gets even better... After some dry down time, the rum is really prominent. But it's accented by the nutmeg and the brandy. It's so sweet and subtle. Warm. Inviting. Almost... alluring. I can't believe I'm wearing an "Egg Nog" scented oil! It's downright delightful and so far, it's really holding. The spice of this scent gets better and better with my body warmth, too. About 30 minutes later: It's still going fairly strong. Much of the other notes had faded off, but that rum is still there. Sweet, sweet rum. I couldn't resist... I HAD to do a re-app, just so I could sniff the contents of the bottle again. I decanted some straight to an imp, and am applying from that so that I can really slather it on now. I hate Holiday shopping, and so I have decided this is going to be my "Holiday Shopping Blues Pick-Me-Up" scent. It does the trick! -Leslie
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A tribute to Lajos Pap, a spiritualist medium whose specialty was apporting snakes, lizards, rats, and frogs – live and dead – during séance. A pattering of night-creatures: indigo musk and patchouli croaking with oakmoss and a skittering of gleaming black olibanum. In the Bottle: Inky and dry in the bottle. Very intriguing. The oakmoss is apparent On the Skin: That indigo musk is stunning - slinky and velvety dark. Quite resinous, initially but the musk adds a gorgeous elegance. I like the use of the word "skittering" in the description because this is slick, dark and dry reminiscent of an insect carapace. On the Drydown: I almost get a dark purple (indigo?) floral from this. It is truly magnificent and dark as night.
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The new discovery of “Table Moving,” by means of an unseen power from the human hand, has only been introduced into England within the last few weeks; but it would be difficult to dingle out any scientific subject which has with such rapidity, taken so extensive a hold of the popular mind. If we travel by railway carriage, steamboat, or omnibus, this is the universal topic of conversation. From the aristocratic saloons of Belgravia to the “Parlours” of Whitechapel – the Green Park to the Cat and Mutton Fields, “table moving” is all the rage. From the Royal Institution, where the secretary pokes his head through a forest of electrical apparatus, to inform the audience that the facts are established, down to the humblest Mechanics’ Institute, all are full of it, and the tables, to quote the words of the old song – “are all a moving, move, move, moving,” – Every evening party must of course have its experiments; accordingly, gentlemen come provided with very elegant chapeaux for the occasion, and many an innocent flirtation occurs consequent on the proper arrangement of the little fingers of some of the fair operators. As “sweet eighteen,” with her blue eyes and golden locks, gracefully links her little finger with Charles’s, in a retired corner, what wonder if the hat should tremble? And Charles, being of course fond of poetry (his very name is a guarantee for that), cannot resist softly breathing into Lucy’s ear, that exquisite line from Waller, on his fair one’s harp – “Touched by that hand – who would not tremble too?” And after a little more conversation of a strictly scientific character, they feel quite satisfied with the success of the experiment. Mamma, who has been watching the progress of the magnetic influence at a distance, “has no patience with such nonsense, and wonders young men and young women cannot find something better to do.” She forgets that there was a magnetic influence at work about twenty years since, and what little trifles served as conductors then. – Table Moving, its causes and phenomena: with directions how to experiment A spirit-touched courtship: sweet orange blossom, white honey, jasmine tea, white sandalwood, green apple, and lily of the valley. In the bottle - Very buoyant, happy greenery. Wet - Warm. I get lots of honey. Sweet green springtime scent. Drydown - I'm smelling honey, but thinking nectar. It actually reminds me of the Nectar hair gloss, and I'm picturing a miniature butterfly garden. Tickles my nose a bit. I'd have to re-sniff my decant, but my mind is drawing parallels between this and Venus Verticordia, which I also liked. This has more going on, though. Less grass, more tea. It gets less heavy as it wears. By the end of the day, this was a spectral memory of spring. Verdict - Just lovely. I can't see anyone being offended by this. Might even be a good work scent, since it doesn't have much throw.
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DED MOROZ Grandfather Frost! Accompanied by his granddaughter, Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden, he bestows gifts to virtuous and hard-working people, rewarding their decency and integrity, and punishes those who are lazy, shiftless, and unkind, killing their fields with frost, cracking the trunks of their trees, and destroying their homes. The first incarnation of Father Frost was not at all benevolent. He was the personification of the darkest aspects of winter, winter's destruction incarnate. He kidnapped unruly children, and slew people capriciously by freezing them to death. Light, darkness, kindness, and malice: golden amber, white amber, redwood, teak, bois du rose, sage, tree moss, and snow. The label is the same as all the 06 Yuletide scents. waaahhhhhooooo, this finally arrived, i couldn't wait! in the bottle:very light scent, slightly green smelling and something almost minty, this smells somewhat familiar, yet not something i can readily place my finger on. wet: hmm, yes there is something slightly minty here, even though i don't see mint as a listed ingredient, but it isn't a pepperminty scent, i am getting i think spearmint? and the very faintest whiff of "snow" and the barest touch of sage. this is such a soft scent, up close i get something greenish, and minty, but so amazingly light. the waft of teh scent is a soft almost powdery scent, but not old lady powder, more the soft fuzzy powder type feel. not florally, not slushy, just a fuzzy, almosty hazy, minty, goodness. i also at this point can detect an aura of redwood, it confused me at first i was thinking evergreen, but then when the scent settles, i realized it was redwood and teak, more redwood though. the longer this is on, the more the scent settles and melds into this beautiful, comforting scent, it is definitely a cool scent, definitely a soft scent and definitely a scent i am proud to own. adding after a long drydown time, this does get a hint of rose, it is a very soft rose, not sharpness even hinting at the edges, and teh amber really starts to step forward as teh mint softens i really hope beth can resolve the component issues, and offer this. i love it.
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When haughty expectations prostrate lie, And grandeur crouches like a guilty thing, Oft shall the lowly weak, till nature bring Mature release, in fair society Survive, and Fortune’s utmost anger try; Like these frail snow-drops that together cling, And nod their helmets smitten by the wing Of many a furious whirlblast sweeping by. Observe the faithful flowers! if small to great May lead the thoughts, thus struggling used to stand The Emathian phalanx, nobly obstinate; And so the bright immortal Theban band, Whom onset, fiercely urged at Jove’s command, Might overwhelm, but could not separate! - William Wordsworth Observe the faithful flowers: snowdrop and sweet pea, wintersweet, winter-flowering honeysuckle, and deep purple honeywort. On Seeing a Tuft of Snowdrops in a Storm is a really pretty winter-into-spring floral. Wordsworth's sonnet* about the noble snowdrops, underdogs of winter, is a lovely inspiration for this snowdrop-strong blend. Appropriately, snowdrop is the strongest note on me, with sweet pea and pale honeysuckle right behind. Dry, it's a waxy, lightly buttery, pale white and yellow floral with a salty, almost marine flume. *Arguably, the grand tension/conflict in Wordsworth's poetry is Nature versus God, which we see in high relief in this particular work. I highly recommend reading The Prelude (the 1805 version, not the 1850 version!), if you haven't already.
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Soft poofs of chilled marshmallow. This to me is a combination of sweet snow and a pine or fir snow. It has a chilly edge at first but then is just fluffy marshmallow snow and sweet greenery. Very festive!
