BPAL Reviews
So, my BPAL order shipped on the first of May, leaving me very excited about it's arrival! Also, their "shiny and new" section is updated. There's a couple of new ones in The Salon that I'm interested in: "FOX FIRES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE GARMENT NETTLE TREE AT OJI" and "MAD MEG", so I may be keeping an eye out for them on the lj resale communities. However, due to previous purchase of shiny new laptop, shall have to keep an eye on Mr. Wallet. And now, your much delayed reviews:
non-BPAL scent included along with the other pretties stormcloude sent me: Bakery Clean
Smelled bakery like out of the bottle but once applied it smelt like old school bubble gum. Wet, dry, whatever, just bubblegum. Freebies are love but we shall not be keeping this one. Far too sweet and sugary. And, well, bubblegum.
MANHATTAN
Sexuality, power, confidence. A meeting of modern, sleek elegance and rich, passionate history: sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid.
Out of the bottle, this smelt strongly of lemon. I didn't expect to like it because of this as I don't care for strong citrus scents. However, when applied this dried out to a very pleasant scent (very strong when wet but lightens as it dries). I make my poor co-worker sniff all of my BPALs on me and this was his favorite. My only complaint would be that it reminds me more of Paris than Manhattan, although I could picture your more upper-class Manhattan ala the Ritz-Carlton/Gucci locales. To me, thoughts of Manhattan conjure up the scent of hot coffee, roasted nuts, and the tang of concrete in chilly air. It seems odd to me that they decided to go with a tea scent instead of a coffee scent for the city. Tea, orchid, and lemon, not much of the mint or the leather. One of my favorites so far as well, despite the discrepancy between name and scent. Good strength/lasting period.
A note on oil strength: They typically take about 20-30 minutes to dry on me and usually linger very well. I apply my oils to both wrists and behind both of my ears. The scent on my wrists tends to last 4-5 hours with a good strength but I'll continue to catch whiffs of scent from the oil applied behind my ears for a good 8 hours.
ANTONY
The embodiment of Classic masculinity. A warrior's scent: the green hills and grasses of the battlefields, the resinous incense from the prayers to his Gods, and a touch of the musky leather of his armor. Ambergris and frankincense with sage, and basil.
Here I smelt the black leather. Freshly applied, it smelled just like the description: green hills and leather armor. Definitly a masculine scent, it dries to emphasis more of the spice notes (sage and basil). This very much made me think of the outdoors in a fresh, wild springtime. However, the overall lasting strengh of this oil seemed to be rather less than the other BPALS I've tried. I think I got a good 3 hours on my wrists and 5 from my ears. Not bad but not an all day scent like some of the others either.
non-BPAL scent included along with the other pretties stormcloude sent me: Bakery Clean
Smelled bakery like out of the bottle but once applied it smelt like old school bubble gum. Wet, dry, whatever, just bubblegum. Freebies are love but we shall not be keeping this one. Far too sweet and sugary. And, well, bubblegum.
MANHATTAN
Sexuality, power, confidence. A meeting of modern, sleek elegance and rich, passionate history: sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid.
Out of the bottle, this smelt strongly of lemon. I didn't expect to like it because of this as I don't care for strong citrus scents. However, when applied this dried out to a very pleasant scent (very strong when wet but lightens as it dries). I make my poor co-worker sniff all of my BPALs on me and this was his favorite. My only complaint would be that it reminds me more of Paris than Manhattan, although I could picture your more upper-class Manhattan ala the Ritz-Carlton/Gucci locales. To me, thoughts of Manhattan conjure up the scent of hot coffee, roasted nuts, and the tang of concrete in chilly air. It seems odd to me that they decided to go with a tea scent instead of a coffee scent for the city. Tea, orchid, and lemon, not much of the mint or the leather. One of my favorites so far as well, despite the discrepancy between name and scent. Good strength/lasting period.
A note on oil strength: They typically take about 20-30 minutes to dry on me and usually linger very well. I apply my oils to both wrists and behind both of my ears. The scent on my wrists tends to last 4-5 hours with a good strength but I'll continue to catch whiffs of scent from the oil applied behind my ears for a good 8 hours.
ANTONY
The embodiment of Classic masculinity. A warrior's scent: the green hills and grasses of the battlefields, the resinous incense from the prayers to his Gods, and a touch of the musky leather of his armor. Ambergris and frankincense with sage, and basil.
Here I smelt the black leather. Freshly applied, it smelled just like the description: green hills and leather armor. Definitly a masculine scent, it dries to emphasis more of the spice notes (sage and basil). This very much made me think of the outdoors in a fresh, wild springtime. However, the overall lasting strengh of this oil seemed to be rather less than the other BPALS I've tried. I think I got a good 3 hours on my wrists and 5 from my ears. Not bad but not an all day scent like some of the others either.