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wolfpangsThis "morning" (actually around 7PM but that's my morning):
Salome: Did I get any mail?
My grandmother: You got a card and a small box--it's in my room.
Salome: Woohoo!
G-Money: It's not that big a box.
Salome: Stop trying to slow my roll!
Translation: Eee! My BPAL order came today! For those of you who don't know, BPAL is the abbreviation for Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and it's a company that long story short, makes perfume oil blends. Because there are approximately a billion scents, one may order samples (or in the Lab's language, "imps") from them and that's what I got today--my first order of samples, six in all.
When you order a set of six samples, the Lab usually throws in an extra imp. So that's why there are seven reviews here. NB: These reviews are based solely on how these scents react with my chemistry; your mileage, as expected, may vary.
Me and scent: I have a good instinct for what will work on me and what won't, so that may have influenced the fact that I pretty much liked every scent I ordered. In general, I like foody scents, some fruits, most white flowers, and boozy notes. I dislike scents I'd describe as cloying--plumeria, most roses, melon.
So yes, the rest of this entry is just perfume oil reviews...and some songs I thought went with the scents.
JAILBAIT (Sin and Salvation): Innocence defiled. Sticky pink bubblegum and the thick, sweet scent of orange and cherry lollipops smeared over a breath of heady womanly perfume.
In the bottle--BUBBLEGUM!!! Specifically, Bazooka Joe.
Wet: BUBBLEGUM with a lollipop back.
Drydown: Just as it's described--candy smeared over a grownup's perfume.
I LOVE this one. The candy smell (well, the gum) turned me off a little at first, which is surprising since I'm a candy girl but once the smell settles, it's heavenly. The "heady womanly perfume" is kind of a spicy musk and it's perfect to temper the overwhelming sweetness. This would be perfect for ma vie en cerise, although I don't know if it'd be that wise to wear this with my cherry prints--sounds like trouble.
Would I buy it in a bottle? Oh honey, yes.
Recommended listening: "Chewing Gum," Annie ("You spit it out when all the flavor has gone, wrap it 'round your finger like you're playing with gum...")
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cleolinda! If you haven't heard this song, you should--I think it'd be right up your alley.
"Watching the Detectives" came up on shuffle while I was trying it and I think that one works, too--"she's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake..." Or in a nod to the next scent, "Lollypop" by Hunter and Jenkins ("I'll say 'Ring Around Roses,' even play hopscotch, but I can't give you none of my lollypop.")
JUKE JOINT (Bewitching Brews): A bawdy, gleefully wicked and unruly scent: Kentucky Bourbon, sugar and a sprig of mint.
In the bottle: Strong whiskey, wild mint.
Wet: Whiskey and mint with a hint of something sweet.
Drydown: Complex mint--mint with whiskey and a hint of something woody and sweet.
Upon drydown, the mint comes to the foreground but is nicely balanced with the other notes. This doesn't really smell like any juke joint I've been to, but then again, I probably wouldn't want to smell like malt liquor and barbecue. It does conjure up the feeling of a juke joint, though--humidity and sweat, strong drinks, and shaking your hips to the best music on earth. It made me really want a glass of ice water! It's a little strong for me, as in, I think it'd be better suited for a man to wear but I love the scent and am practically typing this with my nose on my wrist.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Yes, but for a man.
Recommended listening: "Howlin' For My Baby," Howlin' Wolf ("This bad love she got, makes me laugh and cry--makes me really know, I'm too young to die...") or "Shave 'Em Dry II," by Lucille Bogan ("I'm gon' turn back my mattress and let you oil my springs..."--this song is from the 30s and that's seriously one of the few clean lines I could quote)
HOLLYWOOD BABYLON (Wanderlust): The essence of innocence shattered: glittering Egyptian amber and heliotrope, infused with the sweetness of strawberry and vanilla - dragged into debauch by lusty red musk and a dribble of black cherry.
In the bottle: Fruity candy. Fake fruit but intentionally so.
Wet: Still fruity but the vanilla and strong amber appear.
Drydown: Spicy musk, with a faint fruit scent.
As this dries, the musk and red cherry overpower the more delicate scents. Fragrance as metaphor--I love that. It reminds me of Francesca Lia Block's descriptions of LA a lot, "opiate dazzle" and all that.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Signs point to yes. I'll get it but it's not a OMG have to order next! scent.
Recommended listening: Pretty much the entirety of Celebrity Skin by Hole, especially stuff like "Playing Your Song" ("ooh their innocence just like candy, yeah/get so fat on it, it's a tragedy, yeah...") or the entirety of X's Los Angeles or of course, the Misfits (hello, baby)
HELLCAT (Diabolus): A soft, sensual, luxuriant blend with a wicked bite: hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond.
This was my free imp and sounds like one I'd be interested in so I was glad to get the chance to sample it.
In the bottle: Hazelnut and almond.
Wet: Strong almond, with a bit of buttercream.
Drydown: The rum comes forward to battle the still strong almond. The almond backs down and it becomes a spicy butter rum.
It mellows and turns lovely the longer I wear it--comforting as many of the reviews say. This smells like it'd make a great room scent but it just doesn't seem like a me scent.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: My initial reaction was probably not unless it was to use as an air freshener, but it's growing on me.
Recommended listening: "Crazy Fingers" ("Life may be sweeter for this, I don't know/Feels like it may be all right...") or "Help on the Way," ("Crippled but free--I was blind all the time, I was learning to see...") both Grateful Dead--in other words, songs that comfort me
SNAKE OIL (Love Potions): By far, our most popular scent! Magnetic, mysterious, and exceedingly sexual in nature. A blend of exotic Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla.
In the bottle: Something spicy like patchouli. A little vanilla.
Wet: Mmm, spicy.
Drydown: The vanilla is more present.
The vanilla in this isn't the sweet vanilla sugar I'm used to--this is a grownup vanilla. It works well to sweeten the exotic spice and in turn, the Indonesian oils give the vanilla weight. This is a grownup scent and I don't mean as in old lady perfume (the bane of my existence!). It's very art of seduction, the scent of someone who regrets nothing.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Yes, most likely.
Recommended listening: "Like it or Not," Madge or "Gonna Be Some Changes Made," Bruce Hornsby--I haven't talked about it, but I love this song, as in never-get-tired-of-it, think-it's-absolutely-brilliant love. It's the song in the Lowe's commercials, which bugs me because it's way too good for a mere commercial. Bruce is very clever and funny and I think that comes across in this song--it's weird and sexy at the same time, which is quite a feat. As I'm weird, this is one of my gettin' ready songs. ("She led me down to the gritty lake and in it we did wade/She took my hand and put it there--gonna be some changes made")
LOLITA (Love Potions): Bright, sweet and youthful, but swelling with a poisonous sexuality. Glittering heliotrope, honeysuckle, orange blossom and lemon verbena.
In the bottle: Why hello, lemon verbena. Nice to meet you, orange blossom.
Wet: Sharp lemon with a light orange
Drydown: Lemon Pledge. Initial disappointment.
With further drydown, it turns into...what is that? Spicy Juicy Fruit? Nope, Lemon Pledge. I refuse to accept these results!
I shook the imp and reapplied it. Much better results. Now it's sweet and spicy. There's the honeysuckle! It's not my usual kind of scent but I like it.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Possibly.
Recommended listening: Duh, "Lolita," Martha Wainwright ("Mama's not home, we're alone...") or "Youngblood," as done by Ratdog
SALOME (Love Potions): A scent that is both coquettish and sinister. Exotic and lush, brimming with grace and viciousness: almond with star jasmine, oakmoss, red sandalwood and Egyptian musk.
In the bottle: Mmm, sweet! Strong almond and jasmine.
Wet: Jasmine is stronger and the musk comes forward. This smells exactly like bath oil beads I had when I was little.
Drydown: Powdery, spicy jasmine.
To be honest, I wouldn't have ordered this if I didn't share a name with it--those just aren't notes that would have called to me. But it turned out to be one of my favorites--the jasmine mellows out a lot as it dries and the sandalwood grounds it. Smells like yummy incense and hotel rooms.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Definitely.
Recommended listening: "Salome," Old 97's or "Groupie" by New Riders of the Purple Sage or anything by Natacha Atlas
Fin.
Happy belated birthday,titilayo!
Salome: Did I get any mail?
My grandmother: You got a card and a small box--it's in my room.
Salome: Woohoo!
G-Money: It's not that big a box.
Salome: Stop trying to slow my roll!
Translation: Eee! My BPAL order came today! For those of you who don't know, BPAL is the abbreviation for Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and it's a company that long story short, makes perfume oil blends. Because there are approximately a billion scents, one may order samples (or in the Lab's language, "imps") from them and that's what I got today--my first order of samples, six in all.
When you order a set of six samples, the Lab usually throws in an extra imp. So that's why there are seven reviews here. NB: These reviews are based solely on how these scents react with my chemistry; your mileage, as expected, may vary.
Me and scent: I have a good instinct for what will work on me and what won't, so that may have influenced the fact that I pretty much liked every scent I ordered. In general, I like foody scents, some fruits, most white flowers, and boozy notes. I dislike scents I'd describe as cloying--plumeria, most roses, melon.
So yes, the rest of this entry is just perfume oil reviews...and some songs I thought went with the scents.
JAILBAIT (Sin and Salvation): Innocence defiled. Sticky pink bubblegum and the thick, sweet scent of orange and cherry lollipops smeared over a breath of heady womanly perfume.
In the bottle--BUBBLEGUM!!! Specifically, Bazooka Joe.
Wet: BUBBLEGUM with a lollipop back.
Drydown: Just as it's described--candy smeared over a grownup's perfume.
I LOVE this one. The candy smell (well, the gum) turned me off a little at first, which is surprising since I'm a candy girl but once the smell settles, it's heavenly. The "heady womanly perfume" is kind of a spicy musk and it's perfect to temper the overwhelming sweetness. This would be perfect for ma vie en cerise, although I don't know if it'd be that wise to wear this with my cherry prints--sounds like trouble.
Would I buy it in a bottle? Oh honey, yes.
Recommended listening: "Chewing Gum," Annie ("You spit it out when all the flavor has gone, wrap it 'round your finger like you're playing with gum...")
Attn:
cleolinda! If you haven't heard this song, you should--I think it'd be right up your alley."Watching the Detectives" came up on shuffle while I was trying it and I think that one works, too--"she's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake..." Or in a nod to the next scent, "Lollypop" by Hunter and Jenkins ("I'll say 'Ring Around Roses,' even play hopscotch, but I can't give you none of my lollypop.")
JUKE JOINT (Bewitching Brews): A bawdy, gleefully wicked and unruly scent: Kentucky Bourbon, sugar and a sprig of mint.
In the bottle: Strong whiskey, wild mint.
Wet: Whiskey and mint with a hint of something sweet.
Drydown: Complex mint--mint with whiskey and a hint of something woody and sweet.
Upon drydown, the mint comes to the foreground but is nicely balanced with the other notes. This doesn't really smell like any juke joint I've been to, but then again, I probably wouldn't want to smell like malt liquor and barbecue. It does conjure up the feeling of a juke joint, though--humidity and sweat, strong drinks, and shaking your hips to the best music on earth. It made me really want a glass of ice water! It's a little strong for me, as in, I think it'd be better suited for a man to wear but I love the scent and am practically typing this with my nose on my wrist.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Yes, but for a man.
Recommended listening: "Howlin' For My Baby," Howlin' Wolf ("This bad love she got, makes me laugh and cry--makes me really know, I'm too young to die...") or "Shave 'Em Dry II," by Lucille Bogan ("I'm gon' turn back my mattress and let you oil my springs..."--this song is from the 30s and that's seriously one of the few clean lines I could quote)
HOLLYWOOD BABYLON (Wanderlust): The essence of innocence shattered: glittering Egyptian amber and heliotrope, infused with the sweetness of strawberry and vanilla - dragged into debauch by lusty red musk and a dribble of black cherry.
In the bottle: Fruity candy. Fake fruit but intentionally so.
Wet: Still fruity but the vanilla and strong amber appear.
Drydown: Spicy musk, with a faint fruit scent.
As this dries, the musk and red cherry overpower the more delicate scents. Fragrance as metaphor--I love that. It reminds me of Francesca Lia Block's descriptions of LA a lot, "opiate dazzle" and all that.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Signs point to yes. I'll get it but it's not a OMG have to order next! scent.
Recommended listening: Pretty much the entirety of Celebrity Skin by Hole, especially stuff like "Playing Your Song" ("ooh their innocence just like candy, yeah/get so fat on it, it's a tragedy, yeah...") or the entirety of X's Los Angeles or of course, the Misfits (hello, baby)
HELLCAT (Diabolus): A soft, sensual, luxuriant blend with a wicked bite: hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond.
This was my free imp and sounds like one I'd be interested in so I was glad to get the chance to sample it.
In the bottle: Hazelnut and almond.
Wet: Strong almond, with a bit of buttercream.
Drydown: The rum comes forward to battle the still strong almond. The almond backs down and it becomes a spicy butter rum.
It mellows and turns lovely the longer I wear it--comforting as many of the reviews say. This smells like it'd make a great room scent but it just doesn't seem like a me scent.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: My initial reaction was probably not unless it was to use as an air freshener, but it's growing on me.
Recommended listening: "Crazy Fingers" ("Life may be sweeter for this, I don't know/Feels like it may be all right...") or "Help on the Way," ("Crippled but free--I was blind all the time, I was learning to see...") both Grateful Dead--in other words, songs that comfort me
SNAKE OIL (Love Potions): By far, our most popular scent! Magnetic, mysterious, and exceedingly sexual in nature. A blend of exotic Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla.
In the bottle: Something spicy like patchouli. A little vanilla.
Wet: Mmm, spicy.
Drydown: The vanilla is more present.
The vanilla in this isn't the sweet vanilla sugar I'm used to--this is a grownup vanilla. It works well to sweeten the exotic spice and in turn, the Indonesian oils give the vanilla weight. This is a grownup scent and I don't mean as in old lady perfume (the bane of my existence!). It's very art of seduction, the scent of someone who regrets nothing.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Yes, most likely.
Recommended listening: "Like it or Not," Madge or "Gonna Be Some Changes Made," Bruce Hornsby--I haven't talked about it, but I love this song, as in never-get-tired-of-it, think-it's-absolutely-brilliant love. It's the song in the Lowe's commercials, which bugs me because it's way too good for a mere commercial. Bruce is very clever and funny and I think that comes across in this song--it's weird and sexy at the same time, which is quite a feat. As I'm weird, this is one of my gettin' ready songs. ("She led me down to the gritty lake and in it we did wade/She took my hand and put it there--gonna be some changes made")
LOLITA (Love Potions): Bright, sweet and youthful, but swelling with a poisonous sexuality. Glittering heliotrope, honeysuckle, orange blossom and lemon verbena.
In the bottle: Why hello, lemon verbena. Nice to meet you, orange blossom.
Wet: Sharp lemon with a light orange
Drydown: Lemon Pledge. Initial disappointment.
With further drydown, it turns into...what is that? Spicy Juicy Fruit? Nope, Lemon Pledge. I refuse to accept these results!
I shook the imp and reapplied it. Much better results. Now it's sweet and spicy. There's the honeysuckle! It's not my usual kind of scent but I like it.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Possibly.
Recommended listening: Duh, "Lolita," Martha Wainwright ("Mama's not home, we're alone...") or "Youngblood," as done by Ratdog
SALOME (Love Potions): A scent that is both coquettish and sinister. Exotic and lush, brimming with grace and viciousness: almond with star jasmine, oakmoss, red sandalwood and Egyptian musk.
In the bottle: Mmm, sweet! Strong almond and jasmine.
Wet: Jasmine is stronger and the musk comes forward. This smells exactly like bath oil beads I had when I was little.
Drydown: Powdery, spicy jasmine.
To be honest, I wouldn't have ordered this if I didn't share a name with it--those just aren't notes that would have called to me. But it turned out to be one of my favorites--the jasmine mellows out a lot as it dries and the sandalwood grounds it. Smells like yummy incense and hotel rooms.
Would I buy it in a bottle?: Definitely.
Recommended listening: "Salome," Old 97's or "Groupie" by New Riders of the Purple Sage or anything by Natacha Atlas
Fin.
Happy belated birthday,
titilayo!
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Date: 2006-01-24 11:08 pm (UTC)I have a feeling you'll love Stardust. Hmm, what else... didn't you say you ordered Smut? Another good choice, given what you like. You might like Queen Mab--I think it does have jasmine and white florals, very popular. Seraglio was all almond on me for some reason--that might be another good one. For booze you might like Swank--exactly like a pomegranate martini. And I think there's one that smells like Cosmos--might be The Hamptons. Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo are both rummy/tropical; you seem to like smoky stuff, so Perversion has smoke *and* rum. Elegba and Jazz Funeral might also be worth looking at--it's like, you don't want 18,000 rum scents, but you can look at the variations she's got and go, "Oh, I want the one with the coconut, not the one with the cocoa," or whatever.
And if you like Snake Oil, you might want to try getting hold of some Snake Charmer. I don't have anything to decant with, but I *do* have a bottle of that.
Me, I *love* fruit/foody scents, and my favorites there are probably Tamora, Glitter, Beaver Moon (cheesecake! hee!), Fae, and Dorian. (YOU MUST TRY DORIAN.) As for voodoo, I don't know what you're ordering, but AC's Joy Mojo and Wolf Heart are *awesome.* And I don't like the smell of Water of Notre Dame per se, but I swear to you it cured a migraine.