Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Shungas 2016'.
Found 39 results
-
Golden amber and mahogany with frankincense, ho wood, and frothed white honey. The Gift is a warm, radiant scent. It glows softly but surely--a burnished golden fragrance that is strong but not overwhelming. I was worried that the honey might be too sweet or gooey, but the wood notes keep both the honey and amber from getting too sticky or powdery. It's the olfactory equivalent of sitting in front of a gently crackling fireplace on a chilly night (without any of the bonfire/burning scent associations, if that makes sense). Or maybe snuggling up under the covers with someone you love--waves of comforting, cozy body heat. Truly lovely.
-
Golden amber and bourbon vanilla with sweet oak, blue lotus, and tea blossom. This ended up being very heavy on the blue lotus for me-the overall scent reminded me of Poor Monkey from the recent Yules (which sadly didn't work on me)-I know Poor Monkey had a different lotus in it and I was really hoping the blue lotus here would play nicer but for me, it ended up taking over this otherwise soft and pretty scent. I smell a little bit of the tea blossom as well and for me, it seems like the amber and vanilla just kind of helped blend it all together (I don't get a lot of amber or vanilla is what I'm trying to say here).
-
Pink strawberry, gardenia, blackberry wine, vanilla frankincense, and champaca absolute. Finally, I get to check off a strawberry scent from my list, and this could not be more perfect. Oddly (given the label and the spirit of smut that inspires the Shunga collection), I get a strong sense of nostalgia from this scent for childhood summers at my grandmother's house, which is exactly what I was looking for. The overall impression is not just strawberry; the blackberry wine and the vanilla frankincense bring it a sweet, slightly creamy berry scent. Gardenia and champaca are definitely there as well, but more in the background on me, like sitting in a garden and catching the scent of flowers on the odd breeze. They play more in the drydown but overall the blend stays pretty steady all day. This is definitely candy-like, and playful (fitting to the image, although what the hell are they doing), and may be too unsophisticated for some, but I often wear scents to evoke a mood and wow...this is perfect. Hubby review: "you smell like fake fruit" so...not the same scent for everyone Edited for readability
-
Gunpowder tea, yellow bergamot, white thyme, blackcurrant, red mandarin, wormwood, neroli, and green musk. This scent came across as a bright citrus on me. The wormwood(? I think, I'm not very familiar with it) comes across in the dry down making it a little more green. The currant is light, but present. Overall, a sweet, citrusy green scent. Doesn't last too long on my skin, but it's worth carrying around to reapply!
-
Black amber, Ceylon cinnamon, Somalian myrrh, and pale incense laced with star anise. Very much star anise over a lovely myrrh and a hint of cinnamon. It's quite close to skin, which is odd for me (I amp most of these notes). I think this one is going to need some time to smooth out - I'm going to hold onto it and see if the anise will quiet a little over time.
-
White sandalwood, ti leaf, osmanthus, pink pepper, and white vanilla bark. This is heavy on the tea and pink pepper! I don't get a lot of osmanthus. The sandalwood sits in the background and makes the scent a little more soft and dusty, although I wouldn't characterize this as powdery at all. It is a very spring-like and fresh scent with a little kick from the pepper, and it would also work very well for summer, I think.
-
Lemon peel and white incense. Sometimes the simpler blends can be really stunning, and I've been hoping for a lemon-based one because citrus notes always improve my mood. This is very, very pretty; especially when first applied. The lemon peel lifts and brightens while the incense note gives it depth - I'm not sure how Beth achieved the "white" quality with this incense but that is most definitely what it is. And it's not "lemon Pledge" at all, nor is it juicy, fleshy lemon; it's a bright hint of lemon zest. There is a point about midway through the drydown when it threatens to go funky on my skin, but that hint of funk quickly dissipates and it's back to being light and pretty. The far drydown is a slightly spicy lemon peel. Really nice. A very early-Springtime type of fragrance.
-
Vanilla silk, patchouli leaf, sweet benzoin, and smoked honey. This was one of the ones I was MOST excited about. Let's see if my premonition holds true! In The Bottle: Sweet without being cloying and, yes, I detect that silk note that was in Black Silk. And it's just as lovely and hard to pin down as before. Wet On Skin: The benzoin is showing up now that it's got a surface to bloom on. The vanilla silk is holding steady. It's *really* hard to describe- something like if you put vanilla musk in a steamer and then steamed your delicate underwear with it. THAT'S what it would smell like. Dry Down: The smoked honey and patch combo has, strangely, made this go a bit powdery on me. I don't mind, because I can tell that when this scent has had a chance to warm up and age a little, that it's all going to meld and blend a LOT more.
-
Whipped vanilla cream and white sandalwood with a touch of lotus root. In The Bottle: Cream and dusty wood- like a sweeter, gentler version of Glowing Vulva Wet On Skin: Okay, the GV part doesn't last, but that's okay, because this is great on it's own- now it's that glorious sandalwood note from Tombstone, with the sweet cream note from Love's Philosophy. This is...awesome. Dry Down: A beautiful, warm creamy-woodsy fragrance. Lovely for daytime use, as it's not too imposing, and it's definitely a skin scent, that stays close. But I can also seeing it be a little sexy on some people. *Definitely* glad to have a bottle!
-
Strawberry cream, white musk, and orris root. Ooh it appears I'm first I tried Enveloped in silk yesterday but I've been dealing with a cold so I wasn't sure if my nose was being 100% honest with me. I can say however, that this HG smelled absolutely amazing regardless! It reminds me of strawberry ice cream and bizarrely... I get a slight whiff of dr.pepper lip smackers. This is a good thing though. I wonder if dr. pepper is made with orris root?! Upon waking up this morning I realized that my nose was finally working and my first instinct was to sniff my hair. AHHHH it smells so good. Sexy, creamy strawberry musk. It smells exactly like its description. Simple. I'm concerned that I'm gonna have to get several more bottles of this.
-
Blue musk, white frankincense, wisteria blossoms, and lemon peel. This one smells like the most delightful spring night! The wisteria is blooming and there is a faint balmy breeze. It's soft but potent at the same time. I'm getting a bit of the lemon peel at first, but after a while it is gone, leaving only breaths of fresh dewy night air and clusters of beautiful wisteria blossoms. So lovely!
-
Incense-blackened oudh and bourbon vanilla with tobacco absolute and 9-year aged patchouli. I'm a sucker for all of these notes, and the perfume they are brought together to create here is lovely. it is however on the soft side. if you are drawn to big delectable vanilla, gritty sweet tobacco or funky filthy patch, that's not what you'll find in this bottle. rather, P&D is more of a subtle experience with each of these notes. it's a little smokey at the start from the oudh, and after a few hours of wear, a soft and respectable patchouli can be sussed out. but overall, this is all about the blend, and it's one that I don't quite have the perfumer's vocabulary to do proper justice to in describing. it's very pretty and wearable and gentle. as I have and treasure so many fine bpals that showcase the big-n-dirty side to the listed notes, it's wonderful to experience this different side to them. a lot of vanilla blends and tobacco blends tend to have a sweetness to them, sometimes caramelly, sometimes plain old sugar-dusted, and this does not, which I am liking. it's a yin to many of my yang bottles.
-
Wild plum, blackcurrant, honeyed green tea, wisteria, and a flutter of cherry blossoms. Origin: Straight from the Lab Initial Thoughts: I will always pay attention when wisteria is in the mix. I love that scent and there are not nearly enough perfumes out there that feature it. There were no deal-breaker notes involved, though tea sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. I'm hoping for yet another distinctive oriental floral like other Shungas I've fallen for in past years. In the Bottle: Plum and blackcurrant are the strong notes here, with the other notes playing background. Almost juicy and fresh. Wet: I think I'm getting the wisteria and some tea, but the blackcurrant will not be budged from its place. It's a little darker and sexier now than in was in the bottle. Drydown: On the one hand, I'm getting more wisteria and cherry blossom as the fruits back down. On the other hand, something is smelling really musty all of a sudden and I can't figure out what. Verdict: I think I'm going to sit on this one a few days. I am getting over the flu and maybe the meds I'm taking are monkeying with my skin chemistry. I think it's got the potential to be a lovely spring scent heavy on the fruit and I want to love it.
-
Beeswax and hay absolute with sweet hops, pumpkin rind, and tobacco. This is definitely the same pumpkin/hay combination that I smell from my bottle of Pumpkin I from 2012 and I love it. There is a tiny tiny hint of beeswax lending a creaminess with the tobacco and the other Autumnal notes. I don't detect any hops at all and that's just fine. This is very much a Autumn scent and I think I will put it away until then. It is very stunning and definitely unisex.
-
Blood orange, wood amber, and white tea. I put three squirts of this in my hair and it still smells strongly several hours later. next time I will use a little less. I LOVE this scent! The wood amber is lovely, no woody smell or pencil shavings. It somehow smells clear and not at all fuzzy or powdery if that makes sense. Blood orange blends with the amber, if you hate the creamsickle effect that orange plus vanilla can have you probably will not like this one, at least not in your hair. To me, the amber smells deeper and more complicated than vanilla and it adds up to something absolutely amazing. I can't really smell the tea but there is a brightness to the scent that could be from white tea. This is glorious and I could wear it anywhere. It smells very familiar, like a scent I've smelled before but I can't remember what. It is a bit similar to Tocca Stella (but richer, more complex and longer lasting) and in the same family as Chantecaille Frangipane although it has been a long time since I smelled that and I could be mis-remembering. On my wrist the amber comes out more. It smells less casual, sexier. I need at least another bottle of this, possibly two. I will not be spraying all the things because that would mean less to spray on me! Edited to add: I could still smell it on my hair the next morning. I love this but am thinking I might try some Ithe hair glosses before I decide which one to get backups of.
-
Cherry blossoms falling into folds of red musk, bourbon vanilla, and strawberry cream. I'm going to sound like a broken record but the Lupers this year are so expertly and perfectly blended and the Instructional Manual is no different. The first things I smell are strawberry and red musk. All 4 components of this perfume are equal though...I can smell all of them but no one stands out to me. I think lovers of Hollywood Babylon, Mania and Smut will be really happy with this one...I know I am. It verges on being a tad foody but never gets there. I feel like this is the same strawberry from Strawberry Sufganiyot. A very beautiful blend, and the cherry blossom doesn't fight with the strawberry. If you think you might love this, you're probably right. Eta: The cherry blossoms seem to come forward more in the dry down...this one morphs! :-)
-
White gardenia, frangipani, rose peony, plumeria, and vanilla orchid. On first whiff, straight from the bottle, this was VERY perfumey, in an "Avon fragrance" way. I think it's the peony and plumeria, combined with gardenia that gives it a very feminine, floral edge. Almost old fashioned, and a bit unexpected for BPAL--almost a commercial, traditional fragrance, although with most fashion houses today going to either very aquatic stuff or gourmand fantasies, this harkens back to an earlier age, like that of Elizabeth Arden or Estee Lauder fragrances. Very feminine and dainty. Dry down is a creamy, refined white floral. Overall, a nice scent, but not one I'm blown away by. A solid 3 out of 5.
-
Minted green tea and cucumber. Rendezvous at the Bath smells exactly like the scent description, and I'm so happy with it! It is a sophisticated green tea and cucumber scent that is fresh, soothing, and gently invigorating. I was also pleasantly surprised by its longevity because I generally have lower expectations in this regard to these kinds of light/ fresh scents.
-
Tangerine, red musk, ti leaf, vanilla orchid, and white honey. Secrets of the Hanamachi smells like citrusy musk, a touch of honey, and orchids. It's a contrast of pleasant florals with a very sexy background. Definitely asian in vibe.
-
Lemon peel and white sandalwood with sweet amber and black tea. This one is a bit of an odd duck. From the tester, it smells like an oily paper umbrella to the point that I was questioning whether to spritz or not. I ended up using a tiny bit, and the strongest note you get is lemon, sandalwood and then amber. It actually smells pretty clean and fresh. Very spring-like. If you simply went with what it smelled like at first sniff from the spritzer, you probably wouldn't spray it!
-
Iris root, gleaming orris, pearlescent white vanilla, sweet coconut milk, and pear stem. I'm very into creamy white scents so I jumped on bottle! The pear stem and coconut milk were what I was looking most forward to about this scent. In the bottle: Very light and sweet. The orris root gives it a soft violet-like vibe. There's a little green from the pear steam. It's creamy but I can't detect the coconut or vanilla specifically. On wet: The orris develops, and is strongly iris. The vanilla is floating around but it's not super sweet either. The testing patch on my chest has apparent coconut where my wrist does not. Dry: Creamy, and delicate. The orris root is the star but it's subdued, soft and reminiscent of candy. The coconut milk and vanilla creates a creamy base, and the pear stem adds a freshness. It's just the tiniest bit of green tartness. So perfect for spring. Overall: Very beautiful, and if I didn't have so many creamy scents already I'd definitely keep it! If the pear stem was more prominent it'd be no question. Since orris is similar to violet I think those fans will be into this, it's definitely an interesting variation on that tune. This could also be for people who want to like violet but find it too bold.
-
Labdanum incense, wild plum, and pink pepper with smoky vetiver, red clover honey, and saffron. On me this smells like dark and beautiful plum incense. It's not too dark but couldn't rightly be qualified as sweet either. It feels so balanced. I'm not familiar enough with vetiver or labdinum to pick out which is which, but they don't feel too dark or grungy like I was worried they would. The pink pepper and saffron and red clover honey balance it all out. What results is something just about perfect. It's another scent that I love and is going to age beautifully. I'm very happy with my bottle purchase.
-
French lavender, white frankincense, Himalayan cedar, and jasmine sambac absolute. I was hesitant to be the first to review this (such a responsibility!) since I am laid VERY low by the flu and suspect my sniffer is not up to par. That said, I received my order yesterday (including this and Recollection bath oil and a jar of Lust Smooch) and when I am sick, a hot bath is truly the ONLY thing that makes me feel better (and even then only when I'm in the tub) ... I figured even if I couldn't smell it, the therapeutic properties of lavender would be good for me so I poured a little bit of this into the tub. And, amazingly, I ABSOLUTELY could smell it ... and it is divine! I've always been a little bit bummed that there are not more lavender products (any lavender products?) in the BPTP thermae line because the Lab's lavender scent is so fabulous, alone and in combinations with other scents (still hoping for a lavender/chocolate blend!). This is VERY lavender-heavy, at least to my flu-burnt-out nose. I actually got zero jasmine from it (and I like jasmine) ... I suspect the sandalwood and cedar contributed to the soft, round fullness of the overall scent. But basically I was able to float in a soft, hot bathtub with lovely lavender wafting into my sinuses ... and for about a half-hour I was painfree. Maybe when I'm healthy I will be able to pick out the other notes as well ... but if it stays like this, lavender with benefits, I'll be very happy. I realize I will probably never get my dream bath oil, Envy, but this is by far the next best thing!
-
Sugared red musk, cardamom, and honey. I ADORE all three of the notes in this, and have never had any of them go "wrong" on me, so I was hoping this would be divine... And it friggin well is, like I can't even tell you. Like, eyes roll back up in your head good. The red musk and honey are perfectly balanced, and the cardamom makes this unique and interesting. I LOVE it. Love. It will pair beautifully with any sweeter perfumes containing red musk - I can't wait to wear it with Now Winter Nights Enlarge. Make no mistake, this is sexy. Like, verging on not being able to wear it to work because no one (including me) who smelled it would be able to concentrate... Red musk lovers, go get you some, and spray it on all the things.
-
Jasmine tea, mate, and yellow bergamot. The Teapot is pretty and refreshing! On my skin it is fresh and bright. The Jasmine is soft and pretty, the bergamot sunny and yellow. I'm not too familiar with mate so I can't say for sure if I'm picking up on it. It's a well blended scent. Overall, this is a very pretty tea scent with lovely soft but sunny floral tones. I imagine I'll enjoy wearing this a lot in the spring and summer.
