More BPAL reviews
Apr. 12th, 2006 08:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beetigerWell, I didn't actually get any comments on the last round, so perhaps you guys aren't interested after all, but hey, it's content.
RED LANTERN (LE)
Their description: Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice.
In the bottle: Rich butterscotch.
On the skin: Definitely more complex, but still the primary note is butterscotch. Takes a few hours to settle into a buttery indulgent scent that isn't mainly confectionery. Definitely not for me.
WANDA
Their description: a deep red merlot with a faint hint of leather, sexual musk and body heat over crushed roses, violets and myrtle.
In the bottle: Heavy grapes with sweet floral notes. Kind of like you'd imagine a vineyard might smell at crush time. A little too reminiscent of Manschewitz.
On the skin: Develops to a much nicer,more mature winey/floral note. Has a real Bacchae vibe. I think not really for me, except maybe in a very specific context when I want to smell like wildness and wine.
VEIL
Their description:A quiet scent, soft, calm and enigmatic. A perfume of mystery, of whispers, and of secrets behind secrets. White sandalwood, lilac, gardenia, violet, orris, lavender and ylang ylang.
In the bottle: Feminine floral.
On the skin: Soap. Girly scented soap. I smell like I just got out of the shower and used a floral-scented soap. Ugh.
GREAT SWORD OF WAR
Mandarin, tonka, saffron, black tea, cocoa, tobacco leaf, sanguine red musk and five classical herbs of conflict.
In the bottle: I have no idea what this smells like ,but it's very interesting and complex.
On the skin: Wow. I get cocoa and mandarin first; the mandarin gets dominant for a bit, and then some of the tobacco and herb notes kick in. Very confident but not arrogant or aggressive blend. Feels very blended with my natural energy, and empowering. I love this!
KATHMANDU
Their description: The scent of sacred incense swirling up the steep slopes to Swayambhunath Stupa. Saffron, blessed sandalwood, Himalayan cedar and the miraculous lotus of the Buddha with chiuri bark and Nepalese spices.
In the bottle: spicy, a little wintergreeny? No, wait, that's camphor. (A key ingredient in Buddhist incense, so that makes sense.)
On the skin: The cedar shoots right out and is nice, but the camphor's way too sharp for a perfume, medicinal. (Not a bad model for the zukoh if I work on that soon.) As it sits on the skin a bit, the cedar and the other incense spice notes are mellowing out the camphor, and it's really starting to smell like the zukoh (body incense)I've tried. Defintely one that grows on you. Probably not going to wear this as perfume, but maybe an inspiration to get going on that project.
WHITE RABBIT
Their description: Strong black tea and milk with white pepper, ginger, honey and vanilla, spilled over the crisp scent of clean linen.
In the bottle: Ginger and black tea. Very British and playful.
On the skin: More like a lemon tea with a piece of candied ginger floating in it. The pepper starts to come out too, in a bit, reminds me of a complicated tea biscuit. Feels very cheerful.
(Quick personal note: for those of you who may have seen various posts dipping in and out of existence, yes, I'm dealing with a moderately serious bout of my lifelong cyclical depression right now. Yes, I'm trying to ride this one out without drugs. Yes, I'm feeling very lonely and could use more contact from pretty much everyone. beetiger AT LJ works.)
RED LANTERN (LE)
Their description: Golden amber, blonde tobacco, Sudanese black coconut, rich caramel, black currant, white opium and delphinium laced with a sensual blend of Asian spice.
In the bottle: Rich butterscotch.
On the skin: Definitely more complex, but still the primary note is butterscotch. Takes a few hours to settle into a buttery indulgent scent that isn't mainly confectionery. Definitely not for me.
WANDA
Their description: a deep red merlot with a faint hint of leather, sexual musk and body heat over crushed roses, violets and myrtle.
In the bottle: Heavy grapes with sweet floral notes. Kind of like you'd imagine a vineyard might smell at crush time. A little too reminiscent of Manschewitz.
On the skin: Develops to a much nicer,more mature winey/floral note. Has a real Bacchae vibe. I think not really for me, except maybe in a very specific context when I want to smell like wildness and wine.
VEIL
Their description:A quiet scent, soft, calm and enigmatic. A perfume of mystery, of whispers, and of secrets behind secrets. White sandalwood, lilac, gardenia, violet, orris, lavender and ylang ylang.
In the bottle: Feminine floral.
On the skin: Soap. Girly scented soap. I smell like I just got out of the shower and used a floral-scented soap. Ugh.
GREAT SWORD OF WAR
Mandarin, tonka, saffron, black tea, cocoa, tobacco leaf, sanguine red musk and five classical herbs of conflict.
In the bottle: I have no idea what this smells like ,but it's very interesting and complex.
On the skin: Wow. I get cocoa and mandarin first; the mandarin gets dominant for a bit, and then some of the tobacco and herb notes kick in. Very confident but not arrogant or aggressive blend. Feels very blended with my natural energy, and empowering. I love this!
KATHMANDU
Their description: The scent of sacred incense swirling up the steep slopes to Swayambhunath Stupa. Saffron, blessed sandalwood, Himalayan cedar and the miraculous lotus of the Buddha with chiuri bark and Nepalese spices.
In the bottle: spicy, a little wintergreeny? No, wait, that's camphor. (A key ingredient in Buddhist incense, so that makes sense.)
On the skin: The cedar shoots right out and is nice, but the camphor's way too sharp for a perfume, medicinal. (Not a bad model for the zukoh if I work on that soon.) As it sits on the skin a bit, the cedar and the other incense spice notes are mellowing out the camphor, and it's really starting to smell like the zukoh (body incense)I've tried. Defintely one that grows on you. Probably not going to wear this as perfume, but maybe an inspiration to get going on that project.
WHITE RABBIT
Their description: Strong black tea and milk with white pepper, ginger, honey and vanilla, spilled over the crisp scent of clean linen.
In the bottle: Ginger and black tea. Very British and playful.
On the skin: More like a lemon tea with a piece of candied ginger floating in it. The pepper starts to come out too, in a bit, reminds me of a complicated tea biscuit. Feels very cheerful.
(Quick personal note: for those of you who may have seen various posts dipping in and out of existence, yes, I'm dealing with a moderately serious bout of my lifelong cyclical depression right now. Yes, I'm trying to ride this one out without drugs. Yes, I'm feeling very lonely and could use more contact from pretty much everyone. beetiger AT LJ works.)
