Comments | lavenderfrost: I just can't.

lavenderfrost

I just can't.

Jan 24, 2011 00:23

So I just placed another BPAL order.

After a year and a half of gazing longingly at the website and sniffing my favorite imps, I worked up the courage to order a 5ml of Danube and 3 more imps. Juliet and Titania will be next on the bottle!wish list, along with anything I may like from future imp orders.

( The Imps: )

retail therapy, bpal

Comments 9

bluetooth16 January 24 2011, 18:41:48 UTC

What is it with BPAL that everyone gets in a tizzy over? IDGI.

lavenderfrost January 24 2011, 20:56:30 UTC

The product is seriously that amazing. If you like wearing perfumes or body sprays or whatever (or just smelling good) then you'll love BPAL.

They make their perfume oils for more geeky discerning customers - it's nothing like your average department store designer perfume counter. They don't just throw things together that would smell pretty and say O HAI LOOK NEW PERFUME I CAN HAZ PROFITS NAO???

Every scent they do has a specific theme. They have collections of scents inspired by literature/literary characters, history, mythology, folklore, religious figures/symbols (good and evil), aromatherapy, steampunk, Vodoun, comic books, paintings, different famous (and some fictional) places throughout the world, etc. Not all of them are even meant to smell perfume-y (or even good) by traditional standards, they're meant to capture the essence of what it is that inspired them.

I read an article somewhere (can't remember where, exactly) where the author described BPAL as 'perfume for smart people.' That's probably the best summary ( ... )

bluetooth16 January 24 2011, 21:09:30 UTC

Now I'm intrigued, even though I love Juicy Coutoure's perfume. How do I go about testing scents?

lavenderfrost January 24 2011, 21:21:59 UTC

You can order samples - single imps' ears (the official name for the tiny sample-size bottles of oils - unofficially, people call them imps) sell for $4.00 each, or a 6-pack of your choice of samples for $22. If you find something you like, you can order a 5ml bottle for about $18 plus shipping. A randomly-selected free imp is also added with every order you place.

They're a bit on the pricey side because everything is hand-mixed with fresh ingredients after you order. From what I've heard, the wait used to be 4-6 months between placing your order and getting your product because the internet following has always been SO huge and enthusiastic, and they didn't have enough help. Now? I'm probably looking at about a month (give or take a week) to wait.

Cruise the website - every single section is worth perusing, but I'd recommend starting with Illyria (Shakespeare collection), Wanderlust (scents inspired by places), Excolo (gods & mythology) and Ars Amatoria & Bewitching Brews (vixen!perfumes ftw, though BB is a rather eclectic ( ... )

Thread 6

cailamaia January 25 2011, 21:02:56 UTC

Oooh. I'm still working up to the idea myself. I have several imps that I've been toying with the idea of getting, too. A large part of it is that there are just too many that appeal to me, based on their descriptions. ^^;

lavenderfrost January 25 2011, 21:20:57 UTC

Don't even get me started, dude - I put together an order for all the scents I want to try that I had no intention of processing, just to see how much the total would be, and it all added up to about $850. O_O;;

cailamaia January 25 2011, 22:19:39 UTC

o.0;; Yeesh. Mine's probably almost as bad, but I haven't gone through and tired that.