Red Moon 2004
BPAL description: Our blend for this Moon mixes traditional lunar oils with the warmth of amber and heliotrope, the russet haze of dragon's blood resin and crushed orange peel, and a swirl of summertime herbs: chamomile, rue, elder flower and marigold.
Sniffed: Deep peach/light almost-neon orange colour. Sweet, floral, and a little bitter. I get orange blossom though it isnt' listed as well as orange peel, definitely the heliotrope, chamomile, elder and marigold. Not sure what rue smells like, but maybe it's contributing to the bitterness (which I think is also the orange). Not too heavy on the dragon's blood.
Wet: More herbal, less sweet. Still pretty floral with a slight soapyedge. Loads of chamomile and marigold, more distinct dragon's blood, but still-noticeable heliotrope and elder. I still find it bitter, and I like it less on my skin, but this is oddly appealing, and also quite unique amongst the 1000+ BPALs I've tried. It does have a very red-orange warm feel.
Dry: Sweet resiny herbs and orange peel - the bitterness has worn off, while the amber has emerged. It's resiny and warm, a little perfumey, but not powdery. In fact it is exactly the same as the amber note in Carnivale, and this has a similar feel. The heliotrope is simply gorgeous in this.
Summary: The drydown sort of reminds me of an herbal version of Ladon. For me this is a bit too herbal in feel and I can't shake that damn dragon's blood, but it's quite lovely otherwise. Low throw but great longevity.
Sniffed: Deep peach/light almost-neon orange colour. Sweet, floral, and a little bitter. I get orange blossom though it isnt' listed as well as orange peel, definitely the heliotrope, chamomile, elder and marigold. Not sure what rue smells like, but maybe it's contributing to the bitterness (which I think is also the orange). Not too heavy on the dragon's blood.
Wet: More herbal, less sweet. Still pretty floral with a slight soapyedge. Loads of chamomile and marigold, more distinct dragon's blood, but still-noticeable heliotrope and elder. I still find it bitter, and I like it less on my skin, but this is oddly appealing, and also quite unique amongst the 1000+ BPALs I've tried. It does have a very red-orange warm feel.
Dry: Sweet resiny herbs and orange peel - the bitterness has worn off, while the amber has emerged. It's resiny and warm, a little perfumey, but not powdery. In fact it is exactly the same as the amber note in Carnivale, and this has a similar feel. The heliotrope is simply gorgeous in this.
Summary: The drydown sort of reminds me of an herbal version of Ladon. For me this is a bit too herbal in feel and I can't shake that damn dragon's blood, but it's quite lovely otherwise. Low throw but great longevity.