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It's been really busy at my end with sickness and adjusting to meds, fitting in part-time work, and attending films for this year's Melbourne International Film Festival. I've been wearing my BPAL collection out a fair bit rather than testing. Good heavens, I have a *lot* of bottles! Haven't been testing as much as I'd like as usual but here is a list of what I have used since I last updated this blog. Pollution Madame Tracy Noche Buena 2007 Whoso List To Hunt Berry Moon 2009 The Host of the Air The Deserted Village The Dole of the King's Daughter Velvet Unicorn Velvet Nudie Velvet Bandito Velvet Panther Standouts for me are Madame Tracy, Whoso List To Hunt and Velvet Panther. Off for more testing on this sacred day off from work!
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imp reviews, Fri 10/7/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
I've had some time off work to do what it is I *really* like to do (poetry stuff, that which earns no money you understand...) and in the meantime have found some imps lying around that had yet to be tested. I really need to get back into the routine of testing, seeing as I still order LE decants! Manners Among Men and Women in the Red Light District - a light woody scent. Slightly feminine, and very refined. The blonde wood is lovely because it's so light and melds so well with the apricot. Even with the apricot, I think this would be fantastic on a fellow. I don't think it has much throw on me, but this is due to personal body chemistry rather than the fragrance. I think on the right person this will sing beautifully. The Music of Erich Zahn - all just dirty vetiver on me, I'm afraid. I did briefly test on a male friend and it was so much more rich and complex. But I am fond of BPAL's vetiver - it's very rich and reminds me of fragrant dirt or soil with a burnt aroma added in. Litha 2009 - very, very floral. Most dominant is the honeysuckle. That does die down and it becomes more honeyed later on. I won't be keeping my decant. Nyarlatholep - not really a big fan of ozonic scents, but this one I did quite like - probably because of the incense. That isn't quite enough for me in the end - the wateriness comes back and overpowers the incense. It's pretty nice as far as the oceanic scents go, for me. Villain - this will be devastatingly debonair on a lad, but I quite like it on me, even though there isn't much throw. The lime is just gorgeous and it's a subtle fragrance that speaks volumes precisely because of its subtlety. Might be an excuse to get a new bedtime scent that's unisex...! -
Miss Mapleleaf's adventures
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
On my blog I've just reviewed a few Blooddrop fragrances from the most recent spring/summer 2009 collection. Miss Mapleleaf's garden They're fantastic, and Astrid is really lovely too. -
Meet 'n' sniff for two!
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
A good male friend of mine was kind enough to let me test some BPALs on him so I decided to write up my observations, which you can read at the below link, if you please! blog post comparing same BPALs on two different people -
imp reviews, Mon 27/4/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Been a long time since I had the chance to test fragrances but have a week off and thought I'd get around to trying some BPAL frimps I received. Drink Me - I can't believe it, but this really does smell of roast meat, cherry tart and pineapple. The cherry's too fake for my nose, and pineapple I'm not generally too fond of. This one is more about appreciating Beth's artistry than something I'd wear personally. Inferno - I like the BPALs with fewer rather than more notes. Though BPAL almond doesn't work so well on me, the neroli does. I only had enough for one trial in the imp I got; it's pretty nice but I wouldn't go out of my way to get another. Seance - alas, instant hate. It has that awful fresh rose note that just clashes with my body chemistry and I have to wash this off, can't even wait to see if I eventually get the rosewood. Sigh. Goblin - the benzoin doesn't seem so sweet, but I like the coconut - is much truer and savoury as the actual meat is in real life. Is quite nice to sample after Seance not liking me so much! Djinn - more like a fresh, green forest burning than smoke, ashes and flames. Reminds me of winter and logfires burning. Thorns - oh my, this is a surprise! Dragon's blood definitely but with something like burnt patchouli and maybe benzoin? I can't see myself wearing it but I've put it in the "retest" pile to make sure... It has very strong throw. -
imp reviews, Fri 1/5/09 & Tue 26/5/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Fri 1/5 Geek - just a sniffie! Very heavy on the leather, then cedar, pine and such as listed. A nice gentlemanly, old-world fragrance. Wasn't I lucky to get to try! Tue 26/5 Eanach Dhuin - LE decant. A sweet, feminine fragrance - however I do not find it conveys grief, as it's just too cheerful for me. One of the girlier ones I've liked. The Ides of March 2009 - LE decant. I find this quite mind-clearing and clarifying. I didn't initially think anything of it, but I'm now rather drawn to it. Might take to work with me to help my mind stay focussed on things. -
a few Villainess reviews
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Just a few Villainess reviews on my blog proper. I did love them so! scoot this way! Back to the BPAL reviewing...! -
A sunny Sunday afternoon seemed a good time to start testing these pretties. Christine - springtime blooms, seems to be quite a flowery blend. Am hoping for more of the vanilla orchid, as I do love that note so much. This reminds me of a very nice 80s fragrance from my childhood - can't quite remember which one. Erik - this one tends to impress me easily at first, more so than the aforementioned. I love the leather, wood and kerosene. Who would think the latter note would work in such a blend? It does wonderfully. Maud Ruthyn - BPAL, you are killing me. I'm wearing a rose-based fragrance that works on me. Usually BPAL rose hates my manky arse. I think it must be the rosehips, as well as the nectarine note. Going to try this again some other time, but so far, it's behaving unusually well on me. I'm stumped! Silas Ruthyn - oh wow, this is bottle-worthy. Smoky opium is so hard to resist! This is just lovely. Yum.
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BPTP roses & chocolate boxes
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
I decided to test the BPTP roses first, because traditionally, BPAL rose doesn't like me... White Rose - I cannot believe how heavenly this is. I can barely smell the rose, more the vanilla tea (yum!) and I think the orris. There is a hint of something fruity but it's not listed in the notes. If I had enough money, I'd be chasing down a bottle of this. Red Rose - smoky goodness. The clove, Indian musk, tonka and tobacco make this just...wow. I can't believe how suited it is to my body chemistry! This is more of a nighttime blend as compared to the one above, which was more innocent. This is refined, more elegant. Am won over. Earth Ox - smells like lychee sweets, and I happen to personally dislike lychees. I realise I am mad... It does smell a little like plum blossoms later on, but I shan't be keeping my decant. Bony Moon - beautiful, and unisex too. I'm coming to appreciate these lunar oil based blends more with time. The cedar is not too much in this, and it's pretty easy for that note to overpower a blend. The white sandalwood is just gorgeous, nice and subtle. Milk Chocolate Buttercream - more buttery version of Bliss to my nose. I'm not particularly fond of milk chocolate BPALs but this seems a little nicer than Bliss, which didn't like my body chemistry. White Chocolate & Strawberry - the strawberry smells fake, as does the white chocolate, which is by its nature a very fake chocolate! I don't like strawberry flavouring in chocolate so it's not surprising that I don't like this. White Chocolate & Sugared Violets - strangely enough this was stronger on the violets, but they didn't smell as sugared to me as in, say, Faith. I like sugared violets and much prefer Faith to this, where I could hardly smell the chocolate and sugariness. White Chocolate, Marshmallow & Coconut - I can't smell the marshmallow and coconut in this at all...it smells a little alcoholic and not as yummy as the name suggested, sadly. Dark Chocolate & Cherry - the cherry note is too artificial but I do like the dark chocolate in this. I wish the latter were stronger, to be honest. Dark Chocolate & Pepper-Smoked Caramel - this is just fantastic, and wish it were permanent. It reminds me a bit of Arcana's Frilly Underpinnings. Pepper-smoked caramel is just a wonderful idea. It smells delicious and so complex! I may try to get a bottle of this! Easily my favourite out of the Chocolate Box scents! -
Ava Luxe impressions...digging out the BPALs soon, honest! http://www.snarkattack.info/gracenotes/200...a-luxe-decants/
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imp testing Mon 26/1/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Some good old-fashioned GC testing, people! Devil's Claw - this truly is bright (yellow) and smoky black at the same time. How'd they manage that? Sadly, doesn't quite suit my body chemistry. Wanton - ooh-er, rose attar likes me in this blend with sandalwood and patchouli. Holding onto my imp for further testing! It does smell of something else I've tried before in the Ars Amatoria I think. It's very Indian and sensual. Tintagel - lavenderish vibe at first, then berries. I don't get all the notes listed but that's okay. Keeping imp for further testing. Velvet - at first, this is the gentlest chocolate fragrance ever, but sadly goes sour. I guess it's to be expected as milk chocolate BPAL doesn't tend to like me. Phantom Queen - floral - old-fashioned, clean florals. Apple blossom and meadowsweet love me, and it's just perfect for this summer day. Magdalene - very sober blend - labdanum is a little too musty, and was worried that white roses wouldn't like me. Sadly, this has virtually no throw on me. It's a pretty quiet blend, but that's fine. Vicomte de Valmont - very understated cologne. About half of the notes in this I love, and half hate me quite a bit. The sandalwood and musk are most prominent on me but the mint bothers me. -
imp testing Sat 24/1/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
(We can has Obama, yea!) Anyway, onto the fragrant stuff. As received from Apple... Buck Moon - not the usual Lunacy oil. I became more fond of lunar oil base last time in hospital and really like this one. It's more of a skin musk than an animalistic one, with a hint of forest scents. Also a little sweet and stays close to the skin upon drydown. It's beautiful in a dreamy way. F5 - Reminds me a lot of Shanghai. I can imagine this would have been very popular when it came out. I really like it, uplifted me completely which was good as my mind was quite sluggish! Les Anges Dechus - tobacco is lovely, but the other things that temper it on drydown means it's essentially not suited to me, which is a bit of a shame. Keeping the first two, the latter will go in my "find new homes for" bag. -
Have opened the shoebox where I am storing some yet-to-be-tried BPAL 5mLs. Am ashamed to say that the first one I've tested has been untested for so long... Crypt Queen - a dark, fruity, slightly sinister blend. The darkness is tantalising, though I think it's suited to cold weather/night wear. Bit too intense for daytime/summertime. Amazing throw though. This is a finely crafted blend, make no mistake. Et Lux Fuit - wow, this really is as sunny as they say. It's also a bit creamy, and has a different sunniness to it than, say, Sunflower. I put this on specifically because I need the cheer. Will get a fair bit of wear this summer I think! Lune Noire - subtle. Upon application, I get the orchid, gardenia and pear. Stays close to the skin, but wow, how adorable this blend is! Not quite as dark as the name implies, quite light actually - in feel and in scent. Love. Chintamani-Dhupa - heavy and incensish as promised though I swear I get unsweetened cardamom from it too. These blends tend to work well with my skin chemistry (is it because I'm part Indian?). It is indeed sensual.
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I managed to test a whole bunch of Salon fragrances while I was in hospital, but there are still a few I've not had the pleasure to try. So thought I'd get them out of the way. Cloister Graveyard in the Snow - this is the BPAL 'chill' or winter note to a tee. I don't get so much of the ozone or musks, just mint, really. Death of the Grave Digger - the BPAL chill note, dirt, then opoponax and myrrh. I like the opoponax and myrrh, and this is an artful blend but not something I'd wear as a personal fragrance. Silence - a clean floral scent. I've tested a few Salons & LEs that remind me of this already. It's quite a typical perfumey scent in a way. Three Brides - Moroccan rose is nice, and sweet. The sandalwood in this is earthier and deeper than the one in Silence, I quite like this fragrance. Suits my body chemistry a bit better because it's not so 'clean'. A warmer version of Silence, I think. The Fox Woman Kuzonoha Leaving Her Child - thought this would be nicer on me, but has little throw. I can smell mainly white tea and wisteria. Don't think I'll be keeping my imp.
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Thu 2/1/09 imp testing. Well, mainly the first two imps, but the rest are ones I think the male persuasion could wear very easily. Dorian - bliss. I must have a bottle. Why is this so damn good! Wilde - what a lovely, refined olde-world blend. Not something I'd wear, but I do very much like it. Would love to try it on a lad. The Dormouse - this is very light on my skin. Takes a while for it to become truly fragrant and can smell green and lemon teas. Gets floral when it's dry. Definitely keeping my imp. Tezcatlipoca - cocoa, then patchouli, leather, incense and something floral. After that's all faded, left with something quite fecal in a pungent jasmine sort of way. Tweedledum - sweet at first with the fig then freshens up because of the green, unripe mango and green tea. Becomes musty on drydown with the patchouli. I prefer this upon initial application. Tweedledee - quite feminine, and strangely, almost foody. I love kumquats as I grew up drinking a drink based on them, and white tea, white pepper and orange blossom are all so subtle! A refreshing scent. Bloodlust - dragon's blood loves me a lot more since I changed meds. This smells amazing, musky and floral, oddly enough. Lust - dark, manly. Strong and a lot less sweeter than Bloodlust.
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imp testing, Thu 1/1/09
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
And the first imp tested for the new year is... Brisingamen - lovely, dreamy ambers and a hint of floral. Something doesn't sit quite right on my skin, sadly. This is odd, given that usually ambers love me. Casanova - dismissed it at first because the lavender was too strong, but I actually really like it now that it's warmed up on me a little. -
imp testing Sun 28/12/08
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Flower Moon - just got enough to test this, and wow, it's gorgeous. Quite girlie. I think I love tulips and daffodils (actually, have always loved daffodils from an early age - reminds me of my childhood in England). Would definitely try to get a bottle. Cordelia - these Asiatic blends tend to suit me - except the lemon! Drat. I love all of the notes, but that seems to be a tad too strong on me. I'll retest one day in the hope that it's died down a bit. Miskatonic University - Irish coffee incarnate. I don't like it...yeah, I know, not a popular view, but I don't tend to like foody, sweet scents generally speaking. Can't believe how true this is though. -
Up on the chopping block: Faith - I was wrong to think I could even get rid of this. My bottle is only a third full, and I'm contemplating getting another. Beaver Moon 2007 - like Eat Me but with red fruits, plummier. Don't think I can part with this either. Vampire Tears - I like the jasmine and the pink grapefruit, but am torn about this. It's a maybe. Kanishta -after trying these, best try all the Indian-scented in one and compare them accordingly. Keep: Faith, Beaver Moon 2007 Retest: Kanishta, compared to her own 'Indian-similar' fragrances in my collection Retest: Vampire Tears
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Schwarzer Mond - the resurrected one. Wow. This is punchy! Dark, and sexy too. Am so glad I got this in 5mL form! It just gets better and better on my skin, and smells magnificent from afar (ie. when my nose is not glued to my wrist!) The Gaoler's Daughter - wet, peach! As it dries down, the gardenia becomes more prominent. Such a girlie, flirty scent, am surprised there aren't more reviews for it. It's a very innocent yet cheeky blend. Not sure if it worth a bottle. Pickled Imp - Very strong of cloves, then cinnamon and pine come out. Doesn't seem so vanilla-ish, but will let it age a bit or stand and this should improve it. I initially got this confused with Bezoar, which I may actually prefer. Belle Epoque - fresh bottle, needs ageing, as imp had much more vanilla. It'll be a bedtime scent for me. It is gorgeous, and subtle and timeless. That's it for now, or I risk sensory overload!
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Yule 2008 testing, part 1
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
It's the Yules! Am writing more detailed notes in my imp journal, but here are some of my thoughts in summary about the Yules. I got a set of decants of all of them. Le Pere Fouettard - I had to look up what 'gaufrette' was - a thin, fan shaped waffle wafer. Nice, not too foody at first, then whip leather makes an appearance, and gradually takes over the foodiness. When leather is at its strongest, the liquorice becomes known to my nose. An artful blend, but not something I would wear. There's A Certain Slant of Light - ozonic, barely there. Very little staying power on my skin, which is fine really, am not too fond of these sorts of blends, as they tend to smell very male-colognesque on me. It smells minty in the vial. Visiting the Temple of Auspicious Fortune Alone On the Winter Solstice - definitely get the rain at first! Wow! Then it gets musty, rather than dusty, and has an Eastern/Oriental feel. Much later it starts to get incense-ish. Again, not one I'd wear, or scent my environs with. Lines Written Among the Euganean Hills - a more complex version of The Snow Maiden - sleety, chilly and berryish, but then it gets rather minty to my nose. The Magi - I don't think I appreciate the complexity of this blend. I get the frankincense but it's too hard to tell what the other things are. Perchta - has the characteristic BPAL chilly note, which is lovely. A hint of something spicy, then all the florals come out. Am keeping my imp. The Head of Holofernes - wine and pomegranate are evident at first. This is actually quite lovely, and will be keeping my imp. Don't so much detect other notes, and had to look up what onycha was! Butter Rum Cookie - just as the name says! Has almond, which is behaving on me (BPAL almond does not like me so much) but does get a little cloying after a while. It is yummy, though. Gelt - wow, smells exactly like the coins. I love cocoa, and am surprised that the amber is quite muted in this blend. Will end up retesting. Midnight Mass 2008 - am surprised it doesn't have more throw, but is really true to its name: smells exactly like mass incense. Be a nice blend to wear at nighttime. I actually got a bottle of this straight-off rather than just a decant. Snow White 2008 - got 2 bottles by accident! No matter, it means I don't have to use sparingly, and will be my actual fragrance on Christmas Day. Bottle-worthy: The Head of Holofernes, Midnight Mass 2008 (got bottle), Snow White 2008 (got 2 bottles). Keeping imps: Perchta, Butter Rum Cookie, Gelt. -
imp testing Tue 23/12/08
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Black Cat - smells wonderful. Spicy, rosy sort of scent. Am very much hoping it will do what it says it can do! Perhaps I didn't put on enough. The Lion - oh wow, I like amber, but this is just heavenly. Sunny, spicy and slightly sweet. -
imp testing Sat 20/12/08
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
Nanshe - smells like lemon balm at first, then becomes a lemon scent that sort of gives me a bit of a headache. However, I do know that this is supposed to do something, so wore it nevertheless overnight. Oddly, I didn't recall my dreams though slept a bit better than usual, so don't know if it helps with the interpretation of dreams. I suspect that this is something you have to use over an extended period of time? -
imp testing Fri 19/12/08
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
The Lab gave me squillions of imps and so I've started testing them. Les Bijoux - bah, hates me. Reason? Rose. I can smell a lot of the other notes, but not the ones I love. Yeah, red apple doesn't much like me either. Sigh. Intrigue - ooh, this is sexy, in a very understated way. A little too dry for me, though the fig does sweeten it up ever so slightly. I don't detect the cocoa which was a bit disappointing. I won't keep it but would love to see what it smells like the on menfolk. Sin - a much less intense version of Smut I feel! But no throw on me, odd given that Smut has amazing throw on me. Wanted to keep my decant, but it dried to nothing on me and became crayonish. Shame. Amsterdam - I don't know what tulips smell like, but this is lovely, it's a very fresh floral, sort of green yet watery too. Sri Lanka - first is fresh sandalwood, then incense-like sandalwood mixed with cedar. The cedar is nice too, but this has such a gorgeous sandalwood. It stops smelling so sandalwood-laden, however. -
in the spirit of culling
mspixieears posted a blog entry in confessions of an olfactory orgasm addict
I retested a few 5mL bottles I had to try and figure out whether or not I should find them new homes. These were: Tiresias, The Androgyne - a lot of people are saying they want to stock up on this. I bought a secondhand bottle, only half-full to try and its throw on me is amazing and it's quite unique, but not something I'm enamoured with. I do have a home for it though...have a girlfriend who was rather partial to it. Will give to her! The Perfumed Garden 2006 - I love the jasmine in this, but not super-keen on the rest. Am genuinely torn, no idea if I should get rid of it or what. Libra 2007 - bah, rose! This didn't like me at the beginning, and still doesn't. The Emathides - oh my, this has developed into a beautiful, herbal blackcurrant scent. The fruitiness is very subtle, however. The throw is not as strong as I'd like but I can't bear to get rid of it. Stay: The Emathides. Go: Libra 2007, Tiresias. Undecided: The Perfumed Garden 2006.