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smellsgood2014-04-19 11:17 am
musyc) wrote in smellsgood2014-04-19 11:17 am
Entry tags:
BPAL Reviews, 19 various
Boilerplate: I smoke, and I have difficulty, as a rank neophyte, with differentiating scents, especially in the floral categories. But I'm learning! XD My process with BPAL is to test and sniff before reading the catalog descriptions so I'm not persuaded by words over smells. Under the cut, sniff reviews, again cross-posted from my journal.
In the categories of Flowers!, Not For Me, and Get It Off me:
All Night Long: As if the name didn't spell it out for you. This blend relieves all sexual inhibitions by simultaneously relaxing and arousing.
Wet - Cinnamon and nutmeg. This smells just like a fresh-from-the-oven spice cake.
Dry - Really quick fade. Cinnamon shifts to something clove-like. Pleasant enough, and this would make a fabulous winter scent for somebody, but I'm not the audience. (Nice, Not For Me)
Oberon: Orchid, white musk, and bergamot wafting over juniper berries, with a gentle touch of soft, earthy patchouli.
Wet - Something floral, a little musky. I know this smell. It's-it's. OH MY GOD IT'S IRISH SPRING. This is exactly Irish Spring soap on me. I'm surprised the oil doesn't have little stripes in it.
Dry - Now someone's scattered talcum powder all over the spring! This is a nooooooooooooo. (Flowers!)
Delight: In ancient India it was believed that a specific combination of flower petals, when strewn across a couple's bed, would amplify desire and sexual pleasure. This blend is a blend of the same floral essences, refined into a gloriously sinful perfume blend. Frangipani, with rose, tuberose, and jasmine.
Wet - Dayum, roses. Rose, rose rose. Spicy roses.
Dry - Powdered roses. No, this is definitely not a workable scent, not on this skin. (Flowers!)
The Apothecary: Tea leaf with three mosses, green grass, a medley of herbal notes, and a drop of ginger and fig.
Wet - SHARP. Something acidic in this. Not a good start.
Dry - Dusty, herbal, a little soapy. Like those decorative dried things in vases. Not for me at all. Washed off. (Get It Off Me)
Yule 2006 (LE): It is Yule, and the Holly King has slain the Oak: blood red holly berry, mistletoe, wild thyme, verbena, cinquefoil, hemp, winter rose, evergreen, frankincense, juniper, and myrrh. (The imp I have does not have the BPAL paper tag on it, only a stickum label, so I'm guessing it was from a decant. Which means I'm also guessing this is the right Yule 2006 catalog description.
Wet - Sharp and pointy. Makes me think of holly and mistletoe, but is that based off the name, because I don't actually know what mistletoe smells like? (Later, after reading the description: Huh. So that was mistletoe. Interesting.) There's something evergreen here, but it's not pine ... spruce? Maybe fir? Not entirely pleasant.
Dry - Evergreen coming out stronger. It's not Eau de Pinesol, but it's still ... it's grating on me. I think it's the frankincense. I just don't care for that. (Not For Me)
Somnus: Named after the Roman God of Sleep. This blend helps bring on deep, restful, natural sleep.
Wet - Oh, sharp. Lavender? Definitely roses, lots of roses.
Dry - Shite, it's powdered roses again. The wet rose stage was okay, but the dry is just POWDER. There's something in this that is similar to Delight, and I do not like it in the slightest. (Flowers!)
Baobhan Sith: Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger.
Wet - Faint citrus, but I'm getting something ... peppery. It's not entirely unpleasant, but I'm not sure I like it.
Dry - Fades to something light and soft, like white musk. The citrus is a little stronger, but I still have to be right up on it to catch that. I think this is too soft and light for me, though I like it. (Not For Me)
Phobos: (Two Imps) Twin to Deimos and child of War, Phobos is the embodiment of terror and mortal fear. Chilling white musk, lemon verbena, white grapefruit and lemongrass.
Wet - Very strong lemon. Scent as well as mental color-impression. Lemon, lemon, lemon. Something sharp underneath, plus something greenish. It's the scent of Wet-Naps.
Dry - This is still far too much lemon, though it has softened quite a bit and the musk is emerging. This would be fantastic for people who like LEMON, but no. (Get It Off Me)
Thanatopsis: (Two Imps) A meditation upon death. Inspired by William Cullen Bryant's poem. A deep, solemn earthen scent containing pine, juniper and musk.
Wet - PINE PINE PINE PINE. HELLO I'M PINE. LET ME SHOVE PINE NEEDLES UP YOUR NOSE AND GET PINE SAP IN YOUR HAIR. PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE.
Dry - Did not even make it to the dry stage. Couldn't stand it that far. (Get It Off Me)
And in the category of Oooh More Of This:
Dormouse: A dizzying eddy of four teas brushed with light herbs and a breath of peony.
Wet - YUMMY. This is a bubble bath in a clawfoot tub, water just this edge of too hot. There's a white-clothed table nearby, with a silver tray full of sliced fruits - apples, grapes, lemons - and the tub is in the middle of a field of pink and white flowers. Absolutely gorgeous, a smell for a spring blue sky. I love this.
Dry - Soft and feathery. It's a white lace curtains billowing in a breeze, dandelion fluff floating past the window. Fantastic blend of scents. Top notch.
Dragon's Heart: A scent pulsing with vitality, warmth and insurmountable strength: dragon's blood resin, red and black musks, a throb of fig and a sliver of black currant.
Wet - Deep musk. It's the color of old blood in my head. Floral, but a really attractive floral, not too heavy. Something metallic, like a mouthful of pennies.
Dry - I like this. Maybe it's the resin? Black currant? Don't know what it is, but this is a very warm and comfortable scent, excellent for a day like today where the weather's unseasonably chilly.
Aizen-Myoo: Aizen-Myoo is the patron of prostitutes, of joyous, unbridled sexuality and of all forms of erotic love and is worshipped by all those in the sex industry, musicians, and - oddly - landlords. Yuzu, kaki, and mikan with cherry blossom and black tea.
Wet - Citrus and citrus, but not lemon-lime. It's more mandarin, orange ... clementines. That's what I'm thinking of. This smells just like the skin of a clementine before it's peeled.
Dry - I swear, my body chemistry must react exactly opposite to the way Beth@BPAL intends, or something. This is not a sexy scent to me. It's calm, happy, relaxed. The scent of what must be the tea has emerged, and tipped this over into not as entertaining (I would have liked the citrus to stay through all the way), but it's a lovely scent.
Jolly Roger: Sea spray with an undercurrent of leather, Bay Rum, and salty, dry woods.
Wet - Ocean breezes, absolutely. I was inclined to like this for the name alone, but the scent makes it even better. There's a hint of salt just under the clean/wind smell.
Dry - Picking up the leather, oh yes, very nice indeed. I don't think I'm getting the rum, but this is lovely. Delicious indeed.
Glasgow: The rich scent of wild blackberry breezing over gentle rosy heather.
Wet - Lilac? Something very light floral. Something vaguely fruity underneath. It's heather purple, early morning purple. (Ahahahah, so it IS.)
Dry - The berry comes forward a lot more. Like a LOT. Unlike the previous "Celestial Seasonings" experiment failure of Bewitched, this is lightened enough by the heather that it's good. The heather has darkened up, now it's late evening purple.
Tempest (Disc. 2010): A crisp ozone-tinged breeze. The scent of the first gentle rain before the storm.
Wet - Smells like white musk, plus possibly patchouli/sandalwood? Something dry and woodsy. There's a floral hint that miiiiiight be carnation. At least it's reading carnation to me. Something citrus underneath the rest. Very oceanic.
Dry - Ozone coming through strong. This isn't a "rain" scent to me, because midwestern river valley rain must be well different, but it is a very pleasant scent. I like this.
Love Me (vial): A commanding, dominant oil that increases sexual magnetism, creates an intense and irresistible air of attraction, and amplifies potency.
Wet - CINNAMON. It's like red-hots and Big Red gum mixed together. Clove, too. Musky and sweet mixed together. Not sure about this.
Dry - This is strong. It's smellable in other rooms. Clove is heavier now, cinnamon fading a bit. This is going to be a fantastic fall scent, for days when people are burning leaves and decorating with gourds.
Sin: Thoroughly corrupted: amber, sandalwood, black patchouli and cinnamon.
Wet - Cinnamon, sandalwood. Patchouli, but not overwhelming. Something musky.
Dry - Nice. The patchouli from the wet stage has disappeared entirely and now it's sandalwood and what I'm guessing is the amber. It's delightful.
Rage: Black amber erupting with a dark volcanic surge of fiery dragon's blood and a burst of melati, rose geranium, mandarin and black currant.
Wet - OH NO ROSE. Citrus/fruity/orangy underneath that. Something musk-related in there, and I'm hoping that and the citrus will overtake the rose, because I really like this if the rose fades enough.
Dry - Very soft, very pale. The rose has faded, thank god, and the dragon's blood and currant are stronger. Mandarin faded a lot, but still nice and sweet. Keeper.
De Sade (Disc. 2009): The essence of pleasure heightened by pain: the raw scent of leather.
Wet - White musk? Very soft and light.
Dry - (After reading description.) Leather? REALLY?? Who are you kidding. Okay, this is a beautiful scent, very comfortable and happy, but ... leather and pain? Pardon me while I fall over snickering. After all the raves and vociferous worship I've read about this scent and its sexuality (vials selling for a couple hundred dollars?!), I expected this to turn me into Rita Hayworth. Well, no. There's no sexy value to this at all. It's very lovely, don't get me wrong, but c'mon. I'm getting hayloft and sunshine, nothing to do with pain unless you count how it itches to get hay in your jeans.
Anything in my do-not-want categories is available to a good home, so if you're interested in a scent I've tested, my BPAL wantlist and do-not-wantlist is located here: http://musyc.dreamwidth.org/2014/04/09/bpal_list.html
In the categories of Flowers!, Not For Me, and Get It Off me:
All Night Long: As if the name didn't spell it out for you. This blend relieves all sexual inhibitions by simultaneously relaxing and arousing.
Wet - Cinnamon and nutmeg. This smells just like a fresh-from-the-oven spice cake.
Dry - Really quick fade. Cinnamon shifts to something clove-like. Pleasant enough, and this would make a fabulous winter scent for somebody, but I'm not the audience. (Nice, Not For Me)
Oberon: Orchid, white musk, and bergamot wafting over juniper berries, with a gentle touch of soft, earthy patchouli.
Wet - Something floral, a little musky. I know this smell. It's-it's. OH MY GOD IT'S IRISH SPRING. This is exactly Irish Spring soap on me. I'm surprised the oil doesn't have little stripes in it.
Dry - Now someone's scattered talcum powder all over the spring! This is a nooooooooooooo. (Flowers!)
Delight: In ancient India it was believed that a specific combination of flower petals, when strewn across a couple's bed, would amplify desire and sexual pleasure. This blend is a blend of the same floral essences, refined into a gloriously sinful perfume blend. Frangipani, with rose, tuberose, and jasmine.
Wet - Dayum, roses. Rose, rose rose. Spicy roses.
Dry - Powdered roses. No, this is definitely not a workable scent, not on this skin. (Flowers!)
The Apothecary: Tea leaf with three mosses, green grass, a medley of herbal notes, and a drop of ginger and fig.
Wet - SHARP. Something acidic in this. Not a good start.
Dry - Dusty, herbal, a little soapy. Like those decorative dried things in vases. Not for me at all. Washed off. (Get It Off Me)
Yule 2006 (LE): It is Yule, and the Holly King has slain the Oak: blood red holly berry, mistletoe, wild thyme, verbena, cinquefoil, hemp, winter rose, evergreen, frankincense, juniper, and myrrh. (The imp I have does not have the BPAL paper tag on it, only a stickum label, so I'm guessing it was from a decant. Which means I'm also guessing this is the right Yule 2006 catalog description.
Wet - Sharp and pointy. Makes me think of holly and mistletoe, but is that based off the name, because I don't actually know what mistletoe smells like? (Later, after reading the description: Huh. So that was mistletoe. Interesting.) There's something evergreen here, but it's not pine ... spruce? Maybe fir? Not entirely pleasant.
Dry - Evergreen coming out stronger. It's not Eau de Pinesol, but it's still ... it's grating on me. I think it's the frankincense. I just don't care for that. (Not For Me)
Somnus: Named after the Roman God of Sleep. This blend helps bring on deep, restful, natural sleep.
Wet - Oh, sharp. Lavender? Definitely roses, lots of roses.
Dry - Shite, it's powdered roses again. The wet rose stage was okay, but the dry is just POWDER. There's something in this that is similar to Delight, and I do not like it in the slightest. (Flowers!)
Baobhan Sith: Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger.
Wet - Faint citrus, but I'm getting something ... peppery. It's not entirely unpleasant, but I'm not sure I like it.
Dry - Fades to something light and soft, like white musk. The citrus is a little stronger, but I still have to be right up on it to catch that. I think this is too soft and light for me, though I like it. (Not For Me)
Phobos: (Two Imps) Twin to Deimos and child of War, Phobos is the embodiment of terror and mortal fear. Chilling white musk, lemon verbena, white grapefruit and lemongrass.
Wet - Very strong lemon. Scent as well as mental color-impression. Lemon, lemon, lemon. Something sharp underneath, plus something greenish. It's the scent of Wet-Naps.
Dry - This is still far too much lemon, though it has softened quite a bit and the musk is emerging. This would be fantastic for people who like LEMON, but no. (Get It Off Me)
Thanatopsis: (Two Imps) A meditation upon death. Inspired by William Cullen Bryant's poem. A deep, solemn earthen scent containing pine, juniper and musk.
Wet - PINE PINE PINE PINE. HELLO I'M PINE. LET ME SHOVE PINE NEEDLES UP YOUR NOSE AND GET PINE SAP IN YOUR HAIR. PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE.
Dry - Did not even make it to the dry stage. Couldn't stand it that far. (Get It Off Me)
And in the category of Oooh More Of This:
Dormouse: A dizzying eddy of four teas brushed with light herbs and a breath of peony.
Wet - YUMMY. This is a bubble bath in a clawfoot tub, water just this edge of too hot. There's a white-clothed table nearby, with a silver tray full of sliced fruits - apples, grapes, lemons - and the tub is in the middle of a field of pink and white flowers. Absolutely gorgeous, a smell for a spring blue sky. I love this.
Dry - Soft and feathery. It's a white lace curtains billowing in a breeze, dandelion fluff floating past the window. Fantastic blend of scents. Top notch.
Dragon's Heart: A scent pulsing with vitality, warmth and insurmountable strength: dragon's blood resin, red and black musks, a throb of fig and a sliver of black currant.
Wet - Deep musk. It's the color of old blood in my head. Floral, but a really attractive floral, not too heavy. Something metallic, like a mouthful of pennies.
Dry - I like this. Maybe it's the resin? Black currant? Don't know what it is, but this is a very warm and comfortable scent, excellent for a day like today where the weather's unseasonably chilly.
Aizen-Myoo: Aizen-Myoo is the patron of prostitutes, of joyous, unbridled sexuality and of all forms of erotic love and is worshipped by all those in the sex industry, musicians, and - oddly - landlords. Yuzu, kaki, and mikan with cherry blossom and black tea.
Wet - Citrus and citrus, but not lemon-lime. It's more mandarin, orange ... clementines. That's what I'm thinking of. This smells just like the skin of a clementine before it's peeled.
Dry - I swear, my body chemistry must react exactly opposite to the way Beth@BPAL intends, or something. This is not a sexy scent to me. It's calm, happy, relaxed. The scent of what must be the tea has emerged, and tipped this over into not as entertaining (I would have liked the citrus to stay through all the way), but it's a lovely scent.
Jolly Roger: Sea spray with an undercurrent of leather, Bay Rum, and salty, dry woods.
Wet - Ocean breezes, absolutely. I was inclined to like this for the name alone, but the scent makes it even better. There's a hint of salt just under the clean/wind smell.
Dry - Picking up the leather, oh yes, very nice indeed. I don't think I'm getting the rum, but this is lovely. Delicious indeed.
Glasgow: The rich scent of wild blackberry breezing over gentle rosy heather.
Wet - Lilac? Something very light floral. Something vaguely fruity underneath. It's heather purple, early morning purple. (Ahahahah, so it IS.)
Dry - The berry comes forward a lot more. Like a LOT. Unlike the previous "Celestial Seasonings" experiment failure of Bewitched, this is lightened enough by the heather that it's good. The heather has darkened up, now it's late evening purple.
Tempest (Disc. 2010): A crisp ozone-tinged breeze. The scent of the first gentle rain before the storm.
Wet - Smells like white musk, plus possibly patchouli/sandalwood? Something dry and woodsy. There's a floral hint that miiiiiight be carnation. At least it's reading carnation to me. Something citrus underneath the rest. Very oceanic.
Dry - Ozone coming through strong. This isn't a "rain" scent to me, because midwestern river valley rain must be well different, but it is a very pleasant scent. I like this.
Love Me (vial): A commanding, dominant oil that increases sexual magnetism, creates an intense and irresistible air of attraction, and amplifies potency.
Wet - CINNAMON. It's like red-hots and Big Red gum mixed together. Clove, too. Musky and sweet mixed together. Not sure about this.
Dry - This is strong. It's smellable in other rooms. Clove is heavier now, cinnamon fading a bit. This is going to be a fantastic fall scent, for days when people are burning leaves and decorating with gourds.
Sin: Thoroughly corrupted: amber, sandalwood, black patchouli and cinnamon.
Wet - Cinnamon, sandalwood. Patchouli, but not overwhelming. Something musky.
Dry - Nice. The patchouli from the wet stage has disappeared entirely and now it's sandalwood and what I'm guessing is the amber. It's delightful.
Rage: Black amber erupting with a dark volcanic surge of fiery dragon's blood and a burst of melati, rose geranium, mandarin and black currant.
Wet - OH NO ROSE. Citrus/fruity/orangy underneath that. Something musk-related in there, and I'm hoping that and the citrus will overtake the rose, because I really like this if the rose fades enough.
Dry - Very soft, very pale. The rose has faded, thank god, and the dragon's blood and currant are stronger. Mandarin faded a lot, but still nice and sweet. Keeper.
De Sade (Disc. 2009): The essence of pleasure heightened by pain: the raw scent of leather.
Wet - White musk? Very soft and light.
Dry - (After reading description.) Leather? REALLY?? Who are you kidding. Okay, this is a beautiful scent, very comfortable and happy, but ... leather and pain? Pardon me while I fall over snickering. After all the raves and vociferous worship I've read about this scent and its sexuality (vials selling for a couple hundred dollars?!), I expected this to turn me into Rita Hayworth. Well, no. There's no sexy value to this at all. It's very lovely, don't get me wrong, but c'mon. I'm getting hayloft and sunshine, nothing to do with pain unless you count how it itches to get hay in your jeans.
Anything in my do-not-want categories is available to a good home, so if you're interested in a scent I've tested, my BPAL wantlist and do-not-wantlist is located here: http://musyc.dreamwidth.org/2014/04/09/bpal_list.html
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