Bpal reviews
Here's all of the reviews I've done of bpal blends, copied directly from the original post at the forums. This is mostly for my reference, but you can totally comment and ask questions or something.
Bewitching Brews
Black Opal
Vanilla stone is the only way I can describe this, and it lives up to it's description. Sadly, it just isn't me at all, though I'm grateful I got to try it! I know there are some florals here, but I can't identify them. I'll have to ask my mom to inhale my hand once she gets home.
Burial
This smells more like cedar than pine to me, and I wore pine all day yesterday. I can catch some juniper, but no patchouli (which I'm grateful for). This is a very mild scent, at least on me. I have to get up close to smell much. I hope the dirt comes out soon. So far, this is nothing like Death Cap.
It's dry now, and wow did it get strong! Ugh, really strong. I may have to wash it off. I like HOW it smells, but the throw is just too much, and I barely put anything on!
ETA: Tried to get a bit off, and now I just think I (somehow) put too much on. It's lovely! I guess I'll need to apply with a toothpick next time.
Ars Moriendi
Embalming Fluid
Lemon, lemon, lemon. Oh, and musk. Kind of. A bit. Maybe a tiny smidgen of aloe. Sigh. I guess I should have expected this. I amp citrus smells like a lemon air freshener. And I'm going to be a mortician too...I really wanted this to work, but unless the musk does some magic, I don't think it will.
It finally blended into a nice green tea scent after two hours. Pleasant, but not me.
Thanatopsis
In the imp, this is very piney. Deliciously piney. It stays the same on my skin, but turns warmer and less sharp. This actually doesn't give me a headache at all, despite how strong it is! I was worried this would smell like cleaning agent, but it's completely pure and foresty. The musk comes through after a while, and smells positively sexy.
After a while of wear, it's softened into a smooth, calming smell, still as woodsy as ever. This is something I'd love to wear to work. I'm going to have to get a bottle of this.
Ars Amatoria
Seraglio
This is very, very, very light on me. I get orange peel and rose mostly, but not nice rose. More like, as CynicalPink said, powdery old lady rose. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from citrus and florals. It also fades very quickly. Oh well, I guess I found something my skin really doesn't like.
Snake Oil
I just got my first set of imps from another BPALer, and had to try snake oil. (Pretty sure it's aged at least a bit, as it came in a decant)
In the imp: Spice, vanilla, and sex.
On the skin: Very, very spicy. Something else starts to come through that I can't really identify. I want to say it's bitter, but not in a bad way. There's definitely some musk. It leaves an orange spot on my skin, but after about ten minutes it's starting to fade. Honestly, it smells like spice and vanilla are having a throwdown on my skin. I'm gonna wait a while and see who wins. Note: At this point I had to put some on the other wrist because it was just too nummy.
Edit: Five hours wearing this and it's still going strong. The stain came back as a large yellow splotch, but I didn't mind. I'm an idiot, so it was nice to have something reminding me not to lick myself. The stain's gone now though, not sure why. The spice has gotten softer, and I've gotten a few compliments. =3 It's not exactly 'me', but I love the smell so much that I have to get a bottle of this. It's blended perfectly. I've been sniffing my wrist all day. Beth, you're a genius.
Succubus
This smelled nice in the imp, but went sour on my skin. It smells like bad commercial perfume that decided to rot. This doesn't like me, I need to scrub it off NOW.
Wanda
In the imp, this smelled like straight-up booze. Scotch, specifically. That ended the moment I put it on. Now? Heat. Sex, heat, and alcohol tinged kisses. Dry, the booze comes back out, but the musk and heat (leather?) stay around. I can smell a hint of roses, but it mixes in with the booze. This makes me want to whip people. >D
Diabolus
Blue Beard
I love this. In the bottle it's sharp, unforgiving lavender spiked with what I guess is the violet. Or vetiver. I'll have to ask my mom when she gets home. Whatever it is, I like it. Lavender has always been my friend, even when it's sharp, so this is like heaven to me.
On the skin, something else comes out. Probably the vetiver, or violet. I'm bad at identifying florals. The lavender lingers though, so I'm not left alone with the scary new strangers. I'm going to keep this on for a while. I like smelling like a murdering husband. XD
Later: I had to wash it off. The lavender completely disappeared and left me all alone with smells that made my head hurt. Lots of things are hurting my head today, so I'll try again in a week or so.
Neil Gaiman
Spider
I can't really tell what exactly is in this because it only smells like one thing to me; my dad. I put this on right before visiting my dad, and couldn't tell the difference between my wrist and him. It's very light on me, and I can barely tell it's there. It's very comforting though, so I think I'm getting a bottle.
Ars Draconis
Dragon's Blood
This is strong. Very, very strong. I smelled it in the imp and could tell right then that it was really good quality. I think my mom hit the mark when she said it was 'like nothing I've ever smelled before'. Personally, I get a bit of cinnamon and cherry. It's very...red. Very, very red. A dark red. Very nice. Sadly, it fades on my skin, but that could just be me and my runny nose.
Edit: It WAS my nose. The dragon's blood is still strong and delicious ten hours later. I may be getting a bottle.
Dragon's Musk
I put this on right after I became acquainted with plain ol' dragon's blood, just so I could be sure to pick it out from the musk. I'm glad I did, because this is MUSK in flashing, Hollywood billboard letters. And musks? They do amazing things on my skin, and the dragon's blood resin just makes it even more amazing. It actually creates the illusion of a bit of saltiness. Please excuse me when I say, this smells like a huge dragon peen. In the best way possible. I only say this because this is a very hot smell, that comes in waves. Like it's throbbing. I literally want to lick my wrist, and kind of wish it'd had the decency to stain my skin so I didn't make that mistake. This makes me want to have my way with anyone and everyone. I *must* have a bottle of this.
Even so, I'm kind of afraid to wear this in public.
Rappaccini's Garden
Death Cap
I didn't get to smell this in the imp....because the imp ended up on me. Not all of it, just...some. Cue flashback to me as a kid playing in the garden. It was creepy. It smelled just like old plant roots with soil still clinging to it. Everything that came out of the imp ended up on my fingers and the label, so I desperately tried to get it all to the back of my hand. I didn't succeed. Two hours later it smells like I've been working in the garden.
But wait, there's more. It's a sexy garden. More specifically, a mushroom....a sexy mushroom dryad. I kid you not, that's the visual I got. A deadly, beautiful mushroom dryad that lures you in with her coy smile and musky scent....just before sucking the life out of you. The thought of that is just so unique that I think I'll hold on to this imp.
Of course, I put this on right before trying to go to bed, so your mileage with dryad lady may vary.
Picnic in Arkham
Al-Azif
My first impression of this was "Holy shit, this smells like an evil book!" I was stunned. I don't think it's a mental thing, I opened the imp thinking it would smell like plain ol' incense and dirt. No. It smells like the Necronomicon. Dark, musty, and there's something evil in it that makes me shiver. The 'evil' note edges off and then comes the sweetness. Like I pulled the book down, saw what it was, went 'oh crap', but couldn't help but read just one page. And then one more. It lures you in. This scent gives me shivers, and I begin to shake every time I sniff it. The throw isn't that great, but it clings wickedly to the skin. Like it's trying to steal my soul or something.
Of course I'm going to be seduced and get a bottle.
Edit: I just realized...if I sniff it reeeaaally closely, I get a slight whiff of rat piss. I used to own a bunch of rats that I loved dearly, so I know that smell. It's not a bad smell, just really nostalgic. Then I realized....IT KNOWS WHAT I LIKE!!!! IT'S ALIIIIIIVE!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
*cough* But really, there's a little bit of musk in the blend.
Last edit, I swear: And just like that, it's gone. Within two hours it's almost completely faded. Let me tell you, I could feel this thing trying to get me to reapply. But I stayed strong. I fought the beast! I stood tall in the face of evil!
...who am I kidding, I was just too lazy to get up. And I'm still getting a bottle. *sob*
Excolo
Anubis
Honey and Myrrh. The Honey seems to act as the base, at least on me. It's a delicious scent that smells warm yet oddly empowering. It's lasts a good time, and has excellent throw. Most sweet things tend to smell sickly sweet on me, but this isn't. The honey in it doesn't smell like sugar, just honey. Pure, beautiful honey. I don't like it enough to get a bottle yet, but I'll be holding on to the imp.
Coyote
For me, this was that one scent that made me buy bpal in the first place (Coyote is my animal, and a scent based on him is just awesome in my opinion). I just got it today, and it doesn't disappoint.
When I first opened the imp, I had to make a little 'oh~' sound as I sniffed it. It was just that good. Leather, wood, musk....delicious. Now that it's on my skin, it's more musky and the leather is coming out over the wood. I've only had it on for about ten minutes, but I think I'm in love (as long as it doesn't do something wonky in the next few hours. >>)
Later: So wonderful, I can't stop smelling my wrists, and I've been wearing it all day. This works SO well on me. I need a bottle of this now.
Carnaval Noir
Fire Eater
It smells like fire, I kid you not. Flowery fire. I normally don't like florals, but I love this. There's a bit of spice and maybe ozone? Whatever it is, it's making sure the florals don't get out of control. It burns to smell it, but in a good, firey way. (Even though that doesn't make sense...) It doesn't have much throw, but it's strong when you do smell it, and tends to linger. I'll see if it evolved after I wear it for a while.
Been wearing it for about two hours now. It's starting to smell a lot like commercial perfume. Most of the people that have smelled it have said something like "Oh, I like that! It smells like something I used to wear..." I really loved it when I first put it on, but now I kind of want to wash it off. I was hoping for some more smoke, but it seems like my skin doesn't like it.
Wait, it's softening a bit. I'm getting more of a faint, spicy musk. This is changing a lot on me. Whew, I'm relieved. It's kind of soapy now, but the smoke quality keeps me sniffing my wrist. It's starting to disappear. I have to shove my nose up close to smell any at all, and I've only had it on for two hours. I think I'll keep this for when I want something really subtle, but I won't be hunting down a bottle.
ETA: Okay, this is weird. One wrist is nice and soft cinnamon, but the other is baby powder! I need to try this again, it's just too odd. o.0
Final edit, I promise: I swear there's Patchouli in here. I must amp it like crazy. I can pick out a bit of sandalwood, but it's turned into something not so nice because of the patchouli. I love sandalwood, so this makes me sad. I think I'll try this in a few weeks to see if it's just my body chemistry. If not, I'll have to swap it. Patchouli makes my head hurt. @.@
Conclusion? I need to narrow things down. .___.
Bewitching Brews
Black Opal
Vanilla stone is the only way I can describe this, and it lives up to it's description. Sadly, it just isn't me at all, though I'm grateful I got to try it! I know there are some florals here, but I can't identify them. I'll have to ask my mom to inhale my hand once she gets home.
Burial
This smells more like cedar than pine to me, and I wore pine all day yesterday. I can catch some juniper, but no patchouli (which I'm grateful for). This is a very mild scent, at least on me. I have to get up close to smell much. I hope the dirt comes out soon. So far, this is nothing like Death Cap.
It's dry now, and wow did it get strong! Ugh, really strong. I may have to wash it off. I like HOW it smells, but the throw is just too much, and I barely put anything on!
ETA: Tried to get a bit off, and now I just think I (somehow) put too much on. It's lovely! I guess I'll need to apply with a toothpick next time.
Ars Moriendi
Embalming Fluid
Lemon, lemon, lemon. Oh, and musk. Kind of. A bit. Maybe a tiny smidgen of aloe. Sigh. I guess I should have expected this. I amp citrus smells like a lemon air freshener. And I'm going to be a mortician too...I really wanted this to work, but unless the musk does some magic, I don't think it will.
It finally blended into a nice green tea scent after two hours. Pleasant, but not me.
Thanatopsis
In the imp, this is very piney. Deliciously piney. It stays the same on my skin, but turns warmer and less sharp. This actually doesn't give me a headache at all, despite how strong it is! I was worried this would smell like cleaning agent, but it's completely pure and foresty. The musk comes through after a while, and smells positively sexy.
After a while of wear, it's softened into a smooth, calming smell, still as woodsy as ever. This is something I'd love to wear to work. I'm going to have to get a bottle of this.
Ars Amatoria
Seraglio
This is very, very, very light on me. I get orange peel and rose mostly, but not nice rose. More like, as CynicalPink said, powdery old lady rose. I knew there was a reason I stayed away from citrus and florals. It also fades very quickly. Oh well, I guess I found something my skin really doesn't like.
Snake Oil
I just got my first set of imps from another BPALer, and had to try snake oil. (Pretty sure it's aged at least a bit, as it came in a decant)
In the imp: Spice, vanilla, and sex.
On the skin: Very, very spicy. Something else starts to come through that I can't really identify. I want to say it's bitter, but not in a bad way. There's definitely some musk. It leaves an orange spot on my skin, but after about ten minutes it's starting to fade. Honestly, it smells like spice and vanilla are having a throwdown on my skin. I'm gonna wait a while and see who wins. Note: At this point I had to put some on the other wrist because it was just too nummy.
Edit: Five hours wearing this and it's still going strong. The stain came back as a large yellow splotch, but I didn't mind. I'm an idiot, so it was nice to have something reminding me not to lick myself. The stain's gone now though, not sure why. The spice has gotten softer, and I've gotten a few compliments. =3 It's not exactly 'me', but I love the smell so much that I have to get a bottle of this. It's blended perfectly. I've been sniffing my wrist all day. Beth, you're a genius.
Succubus
This smelled nice in the imp, but went sour on my skin. It smells like bad commercial perfume that decided to rot. This doesn't like me, I need to scrub it off NOW.
Wanda
In the imp, this smelled like straight-up booze. Scotch, specifically. That ended the moment I put it on. Now? Heat. Sex, heat, and alcohol tinged kisses. Dry, the booze comes back out, but the musk and heat (leather?) stay around. I can smell a hint of roses, but it mixes in with the booze. This makes me want to whip people. >D
Diabolus
Blue Beard
I love this. In the bottle it's sharp, unforgiving lavender spiked with what I guess is the violet. Or vetiver. I'll have to ask my mom when she gets home. Whatever it is, I like it. Lavender has always been my friend, even when it's sharp, so this is like heaven to me.
On the skin, something else comes out. Probably the vetiver, or violet. I'm bad at identifying florals. The lavender lingers though, so I'm not left alone with the scary new strangers. I'm going to keep this on for a while. I like smelling like a murdering husband. XD
Later: I had to wash it off. The lavender completely disappeared and left me all alone with smells that made my head hurt. Lots of things are hurting my head today, so I'll try again in a week or so.
Neil Gaiman
Spider
I can't really tell what exactly is in this because it only smells like one thing to me; my dad. I put this on right before visiting my dad, and couldn't tell the difference between my wrist and him. It's very light on me, and I can barely tell it's there. It's very comforting though, so I think I'm getting a bottle.
Ars Draconis
Dragon's Blood
This is strong. Very, very strong. I smelled it in the imp and could tell right then that it was really good quality. I think my mom hit the mark when she said it was 'like nothing I've ever smelled before'. Personally, I get a bit of cinnamon and cherry. It's very...red. Very, very red. A dark red. Very nice. Sadly, it fades on my skin, but that could just be me and my runny nose.
Edit: It WAS my nose. The dragon's blood is still strong and delicious ten hours later. I may be getting a bottle.
Dragon's Musk
I put this on right after I became acquainted with plain ol' dragon's blood, just so I could be sure to pick it out from the musk. I'm glad I did, because this is MUSK in flashing, Hollywood billboard letters. And musks? They do amazing things on my skin, and the dragon's blood resin just makes it even more amazing. It actually creates the illusion of a bit of saltiness. Please excuse me when I say, this smells like a huge dragon peen. In the best way possible. I only say this because this is a very hot smell, that comes in waves. Like it's throbbing. I literally want to lick my wrist, and kind of wish it'd had the decency to stain my skin so I didn't make that mistake. This makes me want to have my way with anyone and everyone. I *must* have a bottle of this.
Even so, I'm kind of afraid to wear this in public.
Rappaccini's Garden
Death Cap
I didn't get to smell this in the imp....because the imp ended up on me. Not all of it, just...some. Cue flashback to me as a kid playing in the garden. It was creepy. It smelled just like old plant roots with soil still clinging to it. Everything that came out of the imp ended up on my fingers and the label, so I desperately tried to get it all to the back of my hand. I didn't succeed. Two hours later it smells like I've been working in the garden.
But wait, there's more. It's a sexy garden. More specifically, a mushroom....a sexy mushroom dryad. I kid you not, that's the visual I got. A deadly, beautiful mushroom dryad that lures you in with her coy smile and musky scent....just before sucking the life out of you. The thought of that is just so unique that I think I'll hold on to this imp.
Of course, I put this on right before trying to go to bed, so your mileage with dryad lady may vary.
Picnic in Arkham
Al-Azif
My first impression of this was "Holy shit, this smells like an evil book!" I was stunned. I don't think it's a mental thing, I opened the imp thinking it would smell like plain ol' incense and dirt. No. It smells like the Necronomicon. Dark, musty, and there's something evil in it that makes me shiver. The 'evil' note edges off and then comes the sweetness. Like I pulled the book down, saw what it was, went 'oh crap', but couldn't help but read just one page. And then one more. It lures you in. This scent gives me shivers, and I begin to shake every time I sniff it. The throw isn't that great, but it clings wickedly to the skin. Like it's trying to steal my soul or something.
Of course I'm going to be seduced and get a bottle.
Edit: I just realized...if I sniff it reeeaaally closely, I get a slight whiff of rat piss. I used to own a bunch of rats that I loved dearly, so I know that smell. It's not a bad smell, just really nostalgic. Then I realized....IT KNOWS WHAT I LIKE!!!! IT'S ALIIIIIIVE!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!
*cough* But really, there's a little bit of musk in the blend.
Last edit, I swear: And just like that, it's gone. Within two hours it's almost completely faded. Let me tell you, I could feel this thing trying to get me to reapply. But I stayed strong. I fought the beast! I stood tall in the face of evil!
...who am I kidding, I was just too lazy to get up. And I'm still getting a bottle. *sob*
Excolo
Anubis
Honey and Myrrh. The Honey seems to act as the base, at least on me. It's a delicious scent that smells warm yet oddly empowering. It's lasts a good time, and has excellent throw. Most sweet things tend to smell sickly sweet on me, but this isn't. The honey in it doesn't smell like sugar, just honey. Pure, beautiful honey. I don't like it enough to get a bottle yet, but I'll be holding on to the imp.
Coyote
For me, this was that one scent that made me buy bpal in the first place (Coyote is my animal, and a scent based on him is just awesome in my opinion). I just got it today, and it doesn't disappoint.
When I first opened the imp, I had to make a little 'oh~' sound as I sniffed it. It was just that good. Leather, wood, musk....delicious. Now that it's on my skin, it's more musky and the leather is coming out over the wood. I've only had it on for about ten minutes, but I think I'm in love (as long as it doesn't do something wonky in the next few hours. >>)
Later: So wonderful, I can't stop smelling my wrists, and I've been wearing it all day. This works SO well on me. I need a bottle of this now.
Carnaval Noir
Fire Eater
It smells like fire, I kid you not. Flowery fire. I normally don't like florals, but I love this. There's a bit of spice and maybe ozone? Whatever it is, it's making sure the florals don't get out of control. It burns to smell it, but in a good, firey way. (Even though that doesn't make sense...) It doesn't have much throw, but it's strong when you do smell it, and tends to linger. I'll see if it evolved after I wear it for a while.
Been wearing it for about two hours now. It's starting to smell a lot like commercial perfume. Most of the people that have smelled it have said something like "Oh, I like that! It smells like something I used to wear..." I really loved it when I first put it on, but now I kind of want to wash it off. I was hoping for some more smoke, but it seems like my skin doesn't like it.
Wait, it's softening a bit. I'm getting more of a faint, spicy musk. This is changing a lot on me. Whew, I'm relieved. It's kind of soapy now, but the smoke quality keeps me sniffing my wrist. It's starting to disappear. I have to shove my nose up close to smell any at all, and I've only had it on for two hours. I think I'll keep this for when I want something really subtle, but I won't be hunting down a bottle.
ETA: Okay, this is weird. One wrist is nice and soft cinnamon, but the other is baby powder! I need to try this again, it's just too odd. o.0
Final edit, I promise: I swear there's Patchouli in here. I must amp it like crazy. I can pick out a bit of sandalwood, but it's turned into something not so nice because of the patchouli. I love sandalwood, so this makes me sad. I think I'll try this in a few weeks to see if it's just my body chemistry. If not, I'll have to swap it. Patchouli makes my head hurt. @.@
Conclusion? I need to narrow things down. .___.