[BPAL] Reviews (part 1)
Jan. 28th, 2007 04:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kittydesadeNot so much posting these for people to read and take information from? I'm sure there are better reviews, I'm horrible with the personal comments. But these are my impressions of the scents I've tried so far. I'm kind of curious to see what people think of them.
BASTET
Bast, Ubasti, Ailuros, Ba-en-Aset. Represented as both a domestic cat and a fierce lioness, she truly evidences traits of both. She is the Mother of All Cats, Goddess of Sensuality, Fertility, and a guardian and protector of women. She is also one of the Eyes of Ra, and in that aspect is an Avenging Goddess, seeking retribution and punishing enemies of her people. Luxuriant amber, warm Egyptian musk, fierce saffron and soft myrrh, almond, cardamom and golden lotus.
In the bottle: The first thing I smell is definitely the musk. Followed closely by the almond for some reason. Amber and myrrh. I have no idea what lotus smells like? I can't find the saffron.
On my wrist: Okay, the smells keep going in and out. There's the almond, then there's the saffron for a second, there's the musk, that's the myrrh. Still no idea what cardamom or lotus smell like. It's actually not that bad. I'm trying to think if I'd wear this anyway. Not feeling very Bastet-y? It's growing on me the more I sniff my wrists.
After a few hours: Fades after three to four hours. It's a little sweet, but there's a part of me that feels all gold and sensuous and like I should be wearing gold and purring while I'm wearing it. It was also weirdly energizing. This may be a bottler. It's going on the list, anyway.
BLACK CAT
A very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes.
In the bottle: Not too bad. Fruit, with a sharpnes underneath of musk. Am pressed for time so if it wears well I will try and find out what kinds.
On my skin: EEW. Soap. It went instantly soapy. I now wash it off because, again, am pressed for time, do not have time to let this dry and figure it out. Disappointing! Meh!
DARKNESS
The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave,
The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before;
The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air,
And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need
Of aid from them -- She was the Universe.
Bottled gloom; the essence of oblivion. Blackest opium and narcissus deepened by myrrh.
In the bottle: Actually, I don't even have to open the bottle. I'm pretty sure that's the opium I smell, or possibly the myrrh. It's been a while since I smelled myrrh. It's strong and a very little bit bitter and it actually doesn't smell like something I'd wear. Let's give it a shot.
On my wrist: Helps not to splash it when you open the vial. Yep. Definitely the black opium. It's mellowing down after a few minutes, but. Still doesn't smell like something I'd wear. Possib... well, no, it's mellowing. The opium's fading behind either the narcissus or myrrh. We'll see after a couple of hours.
After a few hours: The opium has faded, but not enough, and now I think I know why I dislike this. It smells of magick shops. Extra k for extra pretensions, the kind that have dim lighting on purpose and large leatherbound copies of the Necronomicon and are run by people who take Crowley way too seriously. (As opposed to the kind who take Silver Ravenwolf way too seriously.) It's not a bad scent? But it's not one that makes me want to go out and buy a bottle. Alas.
HERR DROSSELMEYER (Yuletide 2006)
Magus, toymaker, and Godfather to Klara. An enigmatic man, seemingly somewhat sinister, but bearing a gentle air and a sincere love for children. This scent is dignified, refined, but dark, and hints towards esoteric mysteries and the secrets that tie mechanics to magick. Pipe smoke, sweet leather, woods and linen.
In the bottle: OMG OMG OMG. It smells like Christmas at my grandmother's house. It also smells weirdly like some kind of grape wine (yes I realize that's a redundancy, but I smell grape, dammit.) Maybe I mean a dark wine? Not sure. Like a .. cordial! A grape-ish cordial.
On my wrist: Okay, NOW it smells like sweet leather and pipe smoke. And, still, some kind of cordial or wine. I see dark liquid of some alcoholic sort. It also smells like all my fantasies of Godfather Drosselmeyer in his study, oh yes it does. It's a lot less sharp. I hope it mellows quickly, though; this isn't going to be something I can wear very often. I just don't have the occasions for it. Unless I wear it around the house to put me in a Victorian mood. Here comes the transvestite again.
LADON
In the bottle: APPLES. Sweet apples. Candied apples.
[truncated]
LIBERTINE
Like a puffed and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads.
Rosewood and chamomile with bergamot, violet, red sandalwood, primrose and Arabian musk.
In the bottle: There's something sharp that I think is the musk, underneath a lot of something... almost too sweet. Which isn't bad? It is vaguely... overripe, which is the libertine's way, a great deal of the time. I think the sweetness is the sandalwood, maybe the primrose or rosewood?
On my wrist: The rosewood definitely is coming out here, and the violet. There's still the sharpness of musk, though. It's a very... it's a smell I associate with males. I don't know why. Snarky males. Snarky effeminate males. I'm just not sure about this one yet, but at least it's not unpleasent.
After a few hours: It's almost completely faded. It's not bad? I just can't see myself spending 15-20$ on a bottle of this. It's something I might put on for Faire. Maybe. If there was nothing else. Eh. Probably not a keeper. Alas. I could have enjoyed wandering around going "I'm wearing Libertine." Sadly, he buggered off elsewhere.
MORGAUSE
Earth sorceress and mother of Mordred, she is, in essence, the harbinger of King Arthur's doom and the downfall of Camelot. She is a sister, or sister-self, to Morgan Le Fay. A bouquet of five night-blooming flowers deepened by dusky violet, purple fruits and the barest breath of medieval incenses.
In the bottle: Three different impressions here: flowers, fruit, and soap. All of them conflicting. At least it's not bland soap. I'm not sure I want this on a regular basis, though. Let's try.
On my wrist: Still smells like fruity bath product. Disappointing, from Morgause. Wait. Some of the bathiness is going away. Sure, let's try this a while.
An hour later: Okay. All the bathiness has gone, but most of the smell has gone too. I'm just not sure about this one. I may have to try it a few more times to decide whether or not it's a bottler. Or maybe I just need to apply it to the throat rather than the wrists?
On the second try: Now here's something weird. I'm fairly sure scented oil isn't supposed to do that. About twenty five minutes in, both times, it went in the space of a snap from soapy to pleasently floral. Does that seem right to you?
O
The scent of sexual obsession, slavery to sensual pleasure, and the undercurrent of innocence defiled utterly. Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla.
In the bottle: See, this is what I was afraid of with all those fruit scents. In the bottle there's cloy. And now I'm sneezing, although that could just be because I just woke up and I sneeze in the morning. Not sure. We'll see how it dries. (As a note? I left it half-open while I sneezed so my hands didn't shake and I didnt' get it all over myself when trying to apply? There's the amber. Less with the honey. It's better at a distance and not stuffed up the nose for sniffing.)
On my wrist: Ahhh, there's the amber. Okay, less honey and vanilla. I feel better. And it is still sweet, but not as horribly sweet as it was in the bottle. Maybe I just need to sniff it at a distance. Like, almost arm's length distance. The amber's definitely the strongest scent to come out on my wrist and I think that's the third or fourth time that's happened. But it's sweet. The vanilla and honey seem to be cutting some of the semi-sharpness that is amber. This may be more of a work scent than the title indicates. We'll see, since I'm wearing it to work.
After a few hours: DEAR GOD. This stuff lasts for-bloody-ever. I put it on around 8.30 in the morning? At 10.30 at night I can still catch a whiff of it now and then, still smell it on my wrists. Holy hell.
TWILIGHT
An enigmatic, otherworldly scent, brimming with power and mystery. Lavender and jasmine, with a touch of glowing honeysuckle.
In the bottle: Mostly the lavender, some of the jasmine, which isn't coming out to be a very nice combination. Now my nose itches. Actually that's probably just because, again, it's morning. Maybe the lesson here is don't try stroke and sniffing BPAL in the morning. It's not that bad? We'll see how it goes.
On my wrist: Ah, there's the lavender. Less of the jasmine. Not smelling any honeysuckle, which is sad, because I love honeysuckle. It's not bad, far as that goes. It's just... not any different from the lavender or jasmine I already had. Meh.
An hour later: It's starting to go a little soapy. This may also be influenced by the fact that I have a lavender scented soap? Although I didn't use it. Mmrph. I doubt this one's going to be a bottler. The lesson here may also be, never get anything with lavender and jasmine in the same blend.
A few hours later: Disappeared except for the faintest scent of lavender after a few hours. Not terribly useful.
BASTET
Bast, Ubasti, Ailuros, Ba-en-Aset. Represented as both a domestic cat and a fierce lioness, she truly evidences traits of both. She is the Mother of All Cats, Goddess of Sensuality, Fertility, and a guardian and protector of women. She is also one of the Eyes of Ra, and in that aspect is an Avenging Goddess, seeking retribution and punishing enemies of her people. Luxuriant amber, warm Egyptian musk, fierce saffron and soft myrrh, almond, cardamom and golden lotus.
In the bottle: The first thing I smell is definitely the musk. Followed closely by the almond for some reason. Amber and myrrh. I have no idea what lotus smells like? I can't find the saffron.
On my wrist: Okay, the smells keep going in and out. There's the almond, then there's the saffron for a second, there's the musk, that's the myrrh. Still no idea what cardamom or lotus smell like. It's actually not that bad. I'm trying to think if I'd wear this anyway. Not feeling very Bastet-y? It's growing on me the more I sniff my wrists.
After a few hours: Fades after three to four hours. It's a little sweet, but there's a part of me that feels all gold and sensuous and like I should be wearing gold and purring while I'm wearing it. It was also weirdly energizing. This may be a bottler. It's going on the list, anyway.
BLACK CAT
A very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes.
In the bottle: Not too bad. Fruit, with a sharpnes underneath of musk. Am pressed for time so if it wears well I will try and find out what kinds.
On my skin: EEW. Soap. It went instantly soapy. I now wash it off because, again, am pressed for time, do not have time to let this dry and figure it out. Disappointing! Meh!
DARKNESS
The waves were dead; the tides were in their grave,
The moon, their mistress, had expir'd before;
The winds were wither'd in the stagnant air,
And the clouds perish'd; Darkness had no need
Of aid from them -- She was the Universe.
Bottled gloom; the essence of oblivion. Blackest opium and narcissus deepened by myrrh.
In the bottle: Actually, I don't even have to open the bottle. I'm pretty sure that's the opium I smell, or possibly the myrrh. It's been a while since I smelled myrrh. It's strong and a very little bit bitter and it actually doesn't smell like something I'd wear. Let's give it a shot.
On my wrist: Helps not to splash it when you open the vial. Yep. Definitely the black opium. It's mellowing down after a few minutes, but. Still doesn't smell like something I'd wear. Possib... well, no, it's mellowing. The opium's fading behind either the narcissus or myrrh. We'll see after a couple of hours.
After a few hours: The opium has faded, but not enough, and now I think I know why I dislike this. It smells of magick shops. Extra k for extra pretensions, the kind that have dim lighting on purpose and large leatherbound copies of the Necronomicon and are run by people who take Crowley way too seriously. (As opposed to the kind who take Silver Ravenwolf way too seriously.) It's not a bad scent? But it's not one that makes me want to go out and buy a bottle. Alas.
HERR DROSSELMEYER (Yuletide 2006)
Magus, toymaker, and Godfather to Klara. An enigmatic man, seemingly somewhat sinister, but bearing a gentle air and a sincere love for children. This scent is dignified, refined, but dark, and hints towards esoteric mysteries and the secrets that tie mechanics to magick. Pipe smoke, sweet leather, woods and linen.
In the bottle: OMG OMG OMG. It smells like Christmas at my grandmother's house. It also smells weirdly like some kind of grape wine (yes I realize that's a redundancy, but I smell grape, dammit.) Maybe I mean a dark wine? Not sure. Like a .. cordial! A grape-ish cordial.
On my wrist: Okay, NOW it smells like sweet leather and pipe smoke. And, still, some kind of cordial or wine. I see dark liquid of some alcoholic sort. It also smells like all my fantasies of Godfather Drosselmeyer in his study, oh yes it does. It's a lot less sharp. I hope it mellows quickly, though; this isn't going to be something I can wear very often. I just don't have the occasions for it. Unless I wear it around the house to put me in a Victorian mood. Here comes the transvestite again.
LADON
In the bottle: APPLES. Sweet apples. Candied apples.
[truncated]
LIBERTINE
Like a puffed and reckless libertine,
Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads.
Rosewood and chamomile with bergamot, violet, red sandalwood, primrose and Arabian musk.
In the bottle: There's something sharp that I think is the musk, underneath a lot of something... almost too sweet. Which isn't bad? It is vaguely... overripe, which is the libertine's way, a great deal of the time. I think the sweetness is the sandalwood, maybe the primrose or rosewood?
On my wrist: The rosewood definitely is coming out here, and the violet. There's still the sharpness of musk, though. It's a very... it's a smell I associate with males. I don't know why. Snarky males. Snarky effeminate males. I'm just not sure about this one yet, but at least it's not unpleasent.
After a few hours: It's almost completely faded. It's not bad? I just can't see myself spending 15-20$ on a bottle of this. It's something I might put on for Faire. Maybe. If there was nothing else. Eh. Probably not a keeper. Alas. I could have enjoyed wandering around going "I'm wearing Libertine." Sadly, he buggered off elsewhere.
MORGAUSE
Earth sorceress and mother of Mordred, she is, in essence, the harbinger of King Arthur's doom and the downfall of Camelot. She is a sister, or sister-self, to Morgan Le Fay. A bouquet of five night-blooming flowers deepened by dusky violet, purple fruits and the barest breath of medieval incenses.
In the bottle: Three different impressions here: flowers, fruit, and soap. All of them conflicting. At least it's not bland soap. I'm not sure I want this on a regular basis, though. Let's try.
On my wrist: Still smells like fruity bath product. Disappointing, from Morgause. Wait. Some of the bathiness is going away. Sure, let's try this a while.
An hour later: Okay. All the bathiness has gone, but most of the smell has gone too. I'm just not sure about this one. I may have to try it a few more times to decide whether or not it's a bottler. Or maybe I just need to apply it to the throat rather than the wrists?
On the second try: Now here's something weird. I'm fairly sure scented oil isn't supposed to do that. About twenty five minutes in, both times, it went in the space of a snap from soapy to pleasently floral. Does that seem right to you?
O
The scent of sexual obsession, slavery to sensual pleasure, and the undercurrent of innocence defiled utterly. Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla.
In the bottle: See, this is what I was afraid of with all those fruit scents. In the bottle there's cloy. And now I'm sneezing, although that could just be because I just woke up and I sneeze in the morning. Not sure. We'll see how it dries. (As a note? I left it half-open while I sneezed so my hands didn't shake and I didnt' get it all over myself when trying to apply? There's the amber. Less with the honey. It's better at a distance and not stuffed up the nose for sniffing.)
On my wrist: Ahhh, there's the amber. Okay, less honey and vanilla. I feel better. And it is still sweet, but not as horribly sweet as it was in the bottle. Maybe I just need to sniff it at a distance. Like, almost arm's length distance. The amber's definitely the strongest scent to come out on my wrist and I think that's the third or fourth time that's happened. But it's sweet. The vanilla and honey seem to be cutting some of the semi-sharpness that is amber. This may be more of a work scent than the title indicates. We'll see, since I'm wearing it to work.
After a few hours: DEAR GOD. This stuff lasts for-bloody-ever. I put it on around 8.30 in the morning? At 10.30 at night I can still catch a whiff of it now and then, still smell it on my wrists. Holy hell.
TWILIGHT
An enigmatic, otherworldly scent, brimming with power and mystery. Lavender and jasmine, with a touch of glowing honeysuckle.
In the bottle: Mostly the lavender, some of the jasmine, which isn't coming out to be a very nice combination. Now my nose itches. Actually that's probably just because, again, it's morning. Maybe the lesson here is don't try stroke and sniffing BPAL in the morning. It's not that bad? We'll see how it goes.
On my wrist: Ah, there's the lavender. Less of the jasmine. Not smelling any honeysuckle, which is sad, because I love honeysuckle. It's not bad, far as that goes. It's just... not any different from the lavender or jasmine I already had. Meh.
An hour later: It's starting to go a little soapy. This may also be influenced by the fact that I have a lavender scented soap? Although I didn't use it. Mmrph. I doubt this one's going to be a bottler. The lesson here may also be, never get anything with lavender and jasmine in the same blend.
A few hours later: Disappeared except for the faintest scent of lavender after a few hours. Not terribly useful.