BPAL Reviews
I've reviewed all the bottles from my last order, still have the imps to test. All have been tested!
Lilith Victoria: Oh, this is really pretty. In the bottle I smell lavender and the sugary tea of Dorian. And I smell the same when I put it on my wrist. A little later, the smoky hot goodness of Snake Oil comes out. Dorian and Snake Oil blend so well that it's hard to separate them out. I do detect some lavender, but not so much the vanilla flower, lily of the valley or fennel, but that may just be because I don't know what they smell like, so I can't recognize them. Still, it's a really lovely perfume, like a softer, slightly powdery (in a good way) form of Snake Oil.
Chant D'Automne: I took a chance with this one, because of the khus (another name for vetiver). On my skin, that's all I get, straight up smoky grassy strong vetiver. But I know how magical BPAL can be, and I let it stay. It mellows out and I can begin to smell the leaves and whatever else that makes it smell so much like walking outside on a Fall night, particularly after it's rained; there's no hint of water in this, but rain tends to amplify the smell of leaves. There's something sweet in there too, I can't tell if that's the nicotiana tabacum or the blood musk, but it's quite nice. I have no idea where or when I'd wear this, but it's fascinating.
Fearful Pleasure: At first all I get is apples. Like the apples in Snow, Glass, Apples but minus the coldness. I was all set to be disappointed, but then I remembered, wait! BPAL magic could happen! And it did. After a short while, it became more like apple cider, which is very cool to have in a perfume. Then a few minutes more, the spices came out! This perfume is exactly like mulled apple cider on me, and if I sniff carefully I get a hint of oranges. It's so very awesome and will definitely get some wear from me.
Sloth: Totally not what I expected. This is definitely dark, definitely heavy, but it's very nice. It's sweeter than I thought, and the myrrh blends so well with the vetiver that latter isn't overpowering or even especially strong, as I usually find it - it's more in the background, really. This perfume's musky and syrup-y, and maybe a little dusty, like old books. There's a review that says it's like an old library that's been shut down and abandoned for years, which is an apt description. As it dries more, it mellows; I like that it's not too strong, but it's still lovely and comfortable. Very neat, and a total surprise, I like it a lot!
Le Serpent Qui Danse: This one's a bit odd. I assumed everything in this to be sweet (violet, vanilla, gardenia) but I get bitter greens instead. I get no vanilla in this on my skin, and I usually amp vanilla. Really, really peculiar, it doesn't seem to be doing what it's supposed to be doing. The bitterness is mellowing out a bit now, but not by much, it's still herbal greens. Maybe it's because I'm not familiar with violets and gardenias (clearly, one of these days I need to go to a garden store and sniff everything :x) If I had to compare this to anything, it'd be a dirtier version of Squirting Cucumber.
A couple of reviews mention they're getting something green on top of violet, so maybe I can assume it's the gardenia. Also, now that it's dried down more, and if I don't sniff too close to the exact spot, I can pick up some vanilla, which does make the whole thing nicer. I can almost maybe pick up something else sweeter that could be the violet, but I'm not sure if my mind's desperately seeking it and faking it or if it's really there. If so, it's still much too weak.
In conclusion, it's an interesting lesson, and I'll be keeping the imp (maybe even testing it a couple more times down the road, see if it changes as it ages), but it won't get much play.
Iago: Wow, this is strong, both literally and metaphorically. At first, on my skin, I get leather with a side order of vetiver. Now the vetiver has subsided a bit and the leather is prominent, though it's mellowing slightly now. There's a nice hint of something else that must be the black musk. All in all, it's a nice leather scent and I like it but not something I could wear; besides, I already have my feminine leather scent in Wanda. Too bad I don't have a boyfriend, I could use a guinea pig :x
Port-au-Prince: Wow, this is unique. At first I just get the almond, but the scent morphed on me while I was typing up the Iago review. I finally understand what clove smells like and that's at the forefront now, and almond's more in the background. I can discern some other note in there too, but I can't tell if it's the rum, bay or sassafras. A moment later and I get something that seems like.. cinnamon? I think I get more rum too. In any case, it's a really nice, spiced scent (not spicy, just... spiced), and quite warm. Tasty, tasty! I'll think this will get used more than other imps. I like that it's good for a regular day, no special occasion or anything, I can put this on and just go out.
Bloodlust: Very dark and spicy, even the oil itself is dark. I can pick out the vetiver, the patchouli and the cinnamon. I'll try to school myself on what the dragon's blood essence and the red musk is like. There's some sweetness coming out now, which is I think more of the cinnamon asserting itself. I find it similar to Iago, perhaps because of the musk and the vetiver, but it's sweeter. A few minutes later I'm beginning to get the musk, and I'm getting a cherry note, which, from reviews, is the blood essence. It's a good, unisex scent. I don't think I'm dark or sexy enough to pull off something strong like this, but who knows! Maybe one day I'll feel evil and seductive, then I'll reach for it.
Queen Alice: Wow! Not at all what I expected. It's a delicious, sweet, boozy perfume. I thought the florals would come out first, and the "hint of inky treacle, sandy cider, and wooly wine" would emerge in the background, but it's the other way around. This is a sweeter, girlier version of Mad Sweeney. I can pick out a bit of the cider and the wine, the flowers are still in the background but are nicely rounding out the alcohol and the syrup. Just like Port-au-Prince, this is a surprise favourite, but I think I like Queen Alice more. Yummy!
Lilith Victoria: Oh, this is really pretty. In the bottle I smell lavender and the sugary tea of Dorian. And I smell the same when I put it on my wrist. A little later, the smoky hot goodness of Snake Oil comes out. Dorian and Snake Oil blend so well that it's hard to separate them out. I do detect some lavender, but not so much the vanilla flower, lily of the valley or fennel, but that may just be because I don't know what they smell like, so I can't recognize them. Still, it's a really lovely perfume, like a softer, slightly powdery (in a good way) form of Snake Oil.
Chant D'Automne: I took a chance with this one, because of the khus (another name for vetiver). On my skin, that's all I get, straight up smoky grassy strong vetiver. But I know how magical BPAL can be, and I let it stay. It mellows out and I can begin to smell the leaves and whatever else that makes it smell so much like walking outside on a Fall night, particularly after it's rained; there's no hint of water in this, but rain tends to amplify the smell of leaves. There's something sweet in there too, I can't tell if that's the nicotiana tabacum or the blood musk, but it's quite nice. I have no idea where or when I'd wear this, but it's fascinating.
Fearful Pleasure: At first all I get is apples. Like the apples in Snow, Glass, Apples but minus the coldness. I was all set to be disappointed, but then I remembered, wait! BPAL magic could happen! And it did. After a short while, it became more like apple cider, which is very cool to have in a perfume. Then a few minutes more, the spices came out! This perfume is exactly like mulled apple cider on me, and if I sniff carefully I get a hint of oranges. It's so very awesome and will definitely get some wear from me.
Sloth: Totally not what I expected. This is definitely dark, definitely heavy, but it's very nice. It's sweeter than I thought, and the myrrh blends so well with the vetiver that latter isn't overpowering or even especially strong, as I usually find it - it's more in the background, really. This perfume's musky and syrup-y, and maybe a little dusty, like old books. There's a review that says it's like an old library that's been shut down and abandoned for years, which is an apt description. As it dries more, it mellows; I like that it's not too strong, but it's still lovely and comfortable. Very neat, and a total surprise, I like it a lot!
Le Serpent Qui Danse: This one's a bit odd. I assumed everything in this to be sweet (violet, vanilla, gardenia) but I get bitter greens instead. I get no vanilla in this on my skin, and I usually amp vanilla. Really, really peculiar, it doesn't seem to be doing what it's supposed to be doing. The bitterness is mellowing out a bit now, but not by much, it's still herbal greens. Maybe it's because I'm not familiar with violets and gardenias (clearly, one of these days I need to go to a garden store and sniff everything :x) If I had to compare this to anything, it'd be a dirtier version of Squirting Cucumber.
A couple of reviews mention they're getting something green on top of violet, so maybe I can assume it's the gardenia. Also, now that it's dried down more, and if I don't sniff too close to the exact spot, I can pick up some vanilla, which does make the whole thing nicer. I can almost maybe pick up something else sweeter that could be the violet, but I'm not sure if my mind's desperately seeking it and faking it or if it's really there. If so, it's still much too weak.
In conclusion, it's an interesting lesson, and I'll be keeping the imp (maybe even testing it a couple more times down the road, see if it changes as it ages), but it won't get much play.
Iago: Wow, this is strong, both literally and metaphorically. At first, on my skin, I get leather with a side order of vetiver. Now the vetiver has subsided a bit and the leather is prominent, though it's mellowing slightly now. There's a nice hint of something else that must be the black musk. All in all, it's a nice leather scent and I like it but not something I could wear; besides, I already have my feminine leather scent in Wanda. Too bad I don't have a boyfriend, I could use a guinea pig :x
Port-au-Prince: Wow, this is unique. At first I just get the almond, but the scent morphed on me while I was typing up the Iago review. I finally understand what clove smells like and that's at the forefront now, and almond's more in the background. I can discern some other note in there too, but I can't tell if it's the rum, bay or sassafras. A moment later and I get something that seems like.. cinnamon? I think I get more rum too. In any case, it's a really nice, spiced scent (not spicy, just... spiced), and quite warm. Tasty, tasty! I'll think this will get used more than other imps. I like that it's good for a regular day, no special occasion or anything, I can put this on and just go out.
Bloodlust: Very dark and spicy, even the oil itself is dark. I can pick out the vetiver, the patchouli and the cinnamon. I'll try to school myself on what the dragon's blood essence and the red musk is like. There's some sweetness coming out now, which is I think more of the cinnamon asserting itself. I find it similar to Iago, perhaps because of the musk and the vetiver, but it's sweeter. A few minutes later I'm beginning to get the musk, and I'm getting a cherry note, which, from reviews, is the blood essence. It's a good, unisex scent. I don't think I'm dark or sexy enough to pull off something strong like this, but who knows! Maybe one day I'll feel evil and seductive, then I'll reach for it.
Queen Alice: Wow! Not at all what I expected. It's a delicious, sweet, boozy perfume. I thought the florals would come out first, and the "hint of inky treacle, sandy cider, and wooly wine" would emerge in the background, but it's the other way around. This is a sweeter, girlier version of Mad Sweeney. I can pick out a bit of the cider and the wine, the flowers are still in the background but are nicely rounding out the alcohol and the syrup. Just like Port-au-Prince, this is a surprise favourite, but I think I like Queen Alice more. Yummy!