BPAL imps: White Rabbit, Baghdad, Yerevan, Belladonna
yeah, ankhet, I'm stealing your evaluation format (with slight alterations) so, uh...hopefully you don't mind :P
White Rabbit
BPAL's description: Strong black tea and milk with white pepper, ginger, honey and vanilla, spilled over the crisp scent of clean linen.
In the bottle: I can definitely smell the honey as well as some vanilla and either the ginger or the tea. Oh gods that smells good. Let's hope it's as nice on me.
Wet: Yeah it's the ginger. The honey's still there as well. I think the pepper may be coming out more too.
Drydown: Ginger and honey are definitely the dominant notes. I was hoping the vanilla would come out more, but it's still a nice scent. Maybe a bit heavier than what I would normally wear but I could see breaking it out every once in a while.
Update: I CAN'T STOP SMELLING MY WRIST. It is so yummy! The ginger has toned down somewhat and the whole scent has gotten lighter and if I like it this much after subsequent tests I might just have to order a larger bottle.
Conclusion: keep imp and order bottle
Baghdad
BPAL's description: Amber, saffron and bergamot with mandarin, nutmeg, Bulgar rose, musk and sandalwood.
In the bottle: Not bad, but so far not as enjoyable as WR. I'm not familiar with all the individual notes in this one but I can definitely make out the nutmeg and I think maybe a hint of the orange.
Wet: Ugh, not a good scent on me. It kind of has this "HI, I AM PLAIN BODY OIL" smell to it, rather than having recognizable and pleasant notes (if that makes any sense at all).
Drydown: The "plain oil" smell isn't quite as strong now. I don't think I'll wash it off but I smell too much like potpourri to it again.
Update: After several hours it has morphed into a spicy/powdery scent. It's better than the potpourri smell but I'm still not impressed.
Conclusion: sell
Yerevan
BPAL's description: Brimming with native fruits and flowers, but also imbued with the power of native earth magicks: apricot and pomegranate with deep plum, wild roses, two Middle Eastern pale musks, white orchid, iris and sweet roots.
In the bottle: Light and fruity-delicious! I can smell the flowers too (though I can't distinguish rose/orchid/iris).
Wet: Wow, the fruits all but disappeared! I think the musks must be coming out. It still smells nice though.
Drydown: Yay, the fruits and florals have reappeared! More florals, actually, but I think all the notes are there now in some degree. Yum. It's interesting because when my wrist is away from me I'll catch whiffs of musky-fruit but when I actually sniff my wrist I smell more musky-flower.
Conclusion: keep
Belladonna
BPAL's description: The devil's herb, which he cultivates with skill and pleasure. [...] This scent is a tribute to such a dark and magnificent plant: a rich green and floral blend, earthy and haunting.
In the bottle: Wow that is a STRONG green scent. I liked the faint whiffs I was getting as I struggled to get the cap off (it was being a bitch) without spilling the whole imp in the process, but this is just...whoo!
Wet: Yep, I smell very herbal. And somewhat like a christmas tree?
Drydown: I didn't think it was possible for a scent to be TOO earthy for me, but this has indeed claimed that rare honor. It's just too much. I'm not even getting a hint of florals to help balance it out.
Update: Several hours later it is now a nicer, lighter, grassy-earth smell. Still gonna sell though.
Conclusion: sell
White Rabbit
BPAL's description: Strong black tea and milk with white pepper, ginger, honey and vanilla, spilled over the crisp scent of clean linen.
In the bottle: I can definitely smell the honey as well as some vanilla and either the ginger or the tea. Oh gods that smells good. Let's hope it's as nice on me.
Wet: Yeah it's the ginger. The honey's still there as well. I think the pepper may be coming out more too.
Drydown: Ginger and honey are definitely the dominant notes. I was hoping the vanilla would come out more, but it's still a nice scent. Maybe a bit heavier than what I would normally wear but I could see breaking it out every once in a while.
Update: I CAN'T STOP SMELLING MY WRIST. It is so yummy! The ginger has toned down somewhat and the whole scent has gotten lighter and if I like it this much after subsequent tests I might just have to order a larger bottle.
Conclusion: keep imp and order bottle
Baghdad
BPAL's description: Amber, saffron and bergamot with mandarin, nutmeg, Bulgar rose, musk and sandalwood.
In the bottle: Not bad, but so far not as enjoyable as WR. I'm not familiar with all the individual notes in this one but I can definitely make out the nutmeg and I think maybe a hint of the orange.
Wet: Ugh, not a good scent on me. It kind of has this "HI, I AM PLAIN BODY OIL" smell to it, rather than having recognizable and pleasant notes (if that makes any sense at all).
Drydown: The "plain oil" smell isn't quite as strong now. I don't think I'll wash it off but I smell too much like potpourri to it again.
Update: After several hours it has morphed into a spicy/powdery scent. It's better than the potpourri smell but I'm still not impressed.
Conclusion: sell
Yerevan
BPAL's description: Brimming with native fruits and flowers, but also imbued with the power of native earth magicks: apricot and pomegranate with deep plum, wild roses, two Middle Eastern pale musks, white orchid, iris and sweet roots.
In the bottle: Light and fruity-delicious! I can smell the flowers too (though I can't distinguish rose/orchid/iris).
Wet: Wow, the fruits all but disappeared! I think the musks must be coming out. It still smells nice though.
Drydown: Yay, the fruits and florals have reappeared! More florals, actually, but I think all the notes are there now in some degree. Yum. It's interesting because when my wrist is away from me I'll catch whiffs of musky-fruit but when I actually sniff my wrist I smell more musky-flower.
Conclusion: keep
Belladonna
BPAL's description: The devil's herb, which he cultivates with skill and pleasure. [...] This scent is a tribute to such a dark and magnificent plant: a rich green and floral blend, earthy and haunting.
In the bottle: Wow that is a STRONG green scent. I liked the faint whiffs I was getting as I struggled to get the cap off (it was being a bitch) without spilling the whole imp in the process, but this is just...whoo!
Wet: Yep, I smell very herbal. And somewhat like a christmas tree?
Drydown: I didn't think it was possible for a scent to be TOO earthy for me, but this has indeed claimed that rare honor. It's just too much. I'm not even getting a hint of florals to help balance it out.
Update: Several hours later it is now a nicer, lighter, grassy-earth smell. Still gonna sell though.
Conclusion: sell