New BPAL reviews
Jun. 20th, 2008 06:24 pmI've been mostly getting out of the BPAL fandom overall, although I still have a large cabinet of favorites that I wear most days. The thing is, out of the things BPAL seems to be able to do, I've already got bottles that meet most of my moods and styles, so I'm not really that excited to see all the minor variations. Add to the top of that that the company is putting things out at such a high rate that either they've got people who aren't the main nose doing a lot of the development, or that they're pretty much launching first or second drafts of perfumes. On top of that, the main perfumer is pregnant, and it's a rare woman whose sense of smell doesn't change during pregnancy, no matter how good a perfumer she is.
But I did not entirely resist the large Carnivale Diabolique update, and picked up a few imps from a circle. So far, no winners, but here are my (short) reviews.
The Blood Garden: I didn't order this one, but got an near-empty bottle to try with my other stuff. It's very like my beloved Fortunato, except that Fortunato's lovely sherry is replaced with a mix of grape lollipops and the BPAL Blood accord, which smells like fake dragon's blood magical oil. If I ever ran out of Fortunato and could only get this instead, I might manage. Meh.
Stormclouds over the Midway: Wanted: Ozone, opium, and incense. Achieved: A gentleman wearing too much cologne and hairspray. This is the last chance I give the BPAL ozone note. It was pure in the older stuff like Storm Moon and Thunderbird, but nothing later works for me.
Hand of Glory: I can't decide if I like this one. The saltpeter note is too strong and not pleasant, and reminds me of Brimstone, the first BPAL I hated. And there's not as much beeswax as I hoped. The leather and pepper thing might be growing on me, though.
Bezoar: The description promises smooth. The smell itself starts out reminding me of a wintery, non-cinnamon version of the Lion, one of my favorites, but within a minute it starts smelling like the "harvest" section of Yankee Candle and giving me a horrible headache. In the rare "please wash it off now" category.
I've still got a few more in this batch to go, but I'm not encouraged.
But I did not entirely resist the large Carnivale Diabolique update, and picked up a few imps from a circle. So far, no winners, but here are my (short) reviews.
The Blood Garden: I didn't order this one, but got an near-empty bottle to try with my other stuff. It's very like my beloved Fortunato, except that Fortunato's lovely sherry is replaced with a mix of grape lollipops and the BPAL Blood accord, which smells like fake dragon's blood magical oil. If I ever ran out of Fortunato and could only get this instead, I might manage. Meh.
Stormclouds over the Midway: Wanted: Ozone, opium, and incense. Achieved: A gentleman wearing too much cologne and hairspray. This is the last chance I give the BPAL ozone note. It was pure in the older stuff like Storm Moon and Thunderbird, but nothing later works for me.
Hand of Glory: I can't decide if I like this one. The saltpeter note is too strong and not pleasant, and reminds me of Brimstone, the first BPAL I hated. And there's not as much beeswax as I hoped. The leather and pepper thing might be growing on me, though.
Bezoar: The description promises smooth. The smell itself starts out reminding me of a wintery, non-cinnamon version of the Lion, one of my favorites, but within a minute it starts smelling like the "harvest" section of Yankee Candle and giving me a horrible headache. In the rare "please wash it off now" category.
I've still got a few more in this batch to go, but I'm not encouraged.
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