Day 1035 – BPAL’s Giljagaur

Tags

BPAL, Ceylon, Ceylon cinnamon, cinnamon, coconut, coconut cream, cream, limited edition, milk, sheep's milk, sheep's milk accord, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Giljagaur

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: creeping around gullies until the opportunity to steal milk appears. You do you, buddy. Coconut cream, sheep’s milk accord, and a drop of Ceylon cinnamon.” -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/yule-2015/the-yule-lads/

Oil Color: The color of light, crisp white wine.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Oh, creamy and slightly sharp in the most positive way from the sheep’s milk. The cinnamon is more floral and much more tea-like.
• Wet: The creamy notes are sumptuous, less sharp, and almost vanilla infused. The cinnamon is very much a florid, rich tea note.
  
• Dry: Once dry, there’s a slightly artificial tone in the creamy sheep’s milk, which I think reads as slightly vanilla. The Ceylon cinnamon has a slightly cream of earl grey. It’s nice, but not bottle worthy.

Other Impressions: On my friend Kelly, it smells like warm vanilla.

Day 1034 – BPAL’s Askasleikir

Tags

BPAL, cinnamon, cocoa, limited edition, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Askasleikir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: skulking under dining tables, waiting to abscond with unsupervised food bowls. Don’t blame the dog!  Dregs of cinnamon and cocoa.”  -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/askasleikir/

Oil Color: The color of bleached hay

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Yum, warm dark cocoa and cinnamon. It’s like a delicious hot chocolate.
• Wet: The cinnamon on spicier on my soon, but it’s still absolutely delicious.
  
• Dry: The cocoa becomes less intense and slightly floral. The cinnamon really neediness soft and comforting. This is surprisingly gentle but still delicious once dried.

Other Impressions: “It kinda smells like my grandma when she was baking.” -Kelly

Day 1033 – BPAL’s Hurðaskellir

Tags

BPAL, carnation, fir, ice, iced mint, Lavender, limited edition, Mint, patchouli, white fir, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Hurðaskellir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: slamming doors. What a drama queen!  Booming carnation, iced mint, white fir, and itchy patchouli loudly disrupting a dreamy bed of lavender.”  -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/hurdaskellir/

Oil Color: The color of a dandelion flower.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Comforting lavender is the first note that greets me, followed closely by fir and mint.  It’s a rather clean and refreshing scent so far.
• Wet: Green, astringent, herby (lavender is very clear here), and lovely! I’d actually love a cup of this as tea.  The  lavender and fir are much sharper on my skin, but I tend to love  sharp herb notes and this is no different.
  
• Dry: Sadly, this doesn’t last on my skin.  By the time I got home, it was gone.  On second application, the scent becomes clean and comforting.  The lavender is much more mellow, and mixed with the fir, carnation, and iced mint, it’s equally refreshing and relaxing, like iced tea on a cool spring evening. 

Other Impressions: “It’s like rosemary and other herbs.” -Tony

Day 1032 – BPAL’s Gluggagægir

Tags

black cedar, BPAL, Cedar, Frankincense, honey-gold sandalwood, Leather, limited edition, rum, sandalwood, spiced rum, spiced rum leather, sweet tobacco, tobacco, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Gluggagægir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: peeping in yer windows. What a creeper!  Spiced rum leather, frankincense, black cedar, sweet tobacco, and honey-gold sandalwood.”  -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/gluggagaegir/

Oil Color: Colorless.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Although I’m still recovering from a cold and my sense of smell hasn’t completely returned, this one punches through all of that to present a spicy, smoky, rum-soaked leather that’s slightly peppery from the cedar, tinged with tobacco.
• Wet: On my skin, the tobacco is sweeter, the leather less dominate, the sandalwood (glittering and pure) more prominent.
  
• Dry: After 8 hours, scrubbing the tub with bleach, and using other cleaning products throughout the day, the scent has settled beautifully.  The longevity of the frankincense, sandalwood, and tobacco lend the scent contemplatively innocent and sweetly comforting tone.  The remainder of the rum and leather are gentle and soft but also alluring.  Gorgeous!  

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1031 – BPAL’s Pottaskefill

Tags

birch, birch tar, black licorice, black pepper, BPAL, Leather, licorice, limited edition, pepper, salt licorice, tar, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Pottaskefill

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: eating the scrapings from unwashed pots. Waste not, want not? Salt licorice, birch tar, black pepper, and leather.” -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/pottaskefill/

Oil Color: Colorless.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI:  I was expecting a much darker scent from the description.  Instead, the notes combine to give the impression of dewy grass, leather, and a hint of rock salt.
• Wet: While it’s still incredibly similar in profile to what I had picked up from the imp, on my skin the licorice aspect begins to emerge, making it a tad warmer.  However, the birch tar still smells more like dew and grass to my nose or something vaguely aquatic (like Frederick).
  
• Dry:  The scent fades considerably, leaving only powdery aquatic tones and a pinch of pepper.  This is a strong pass for me. 

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1030 – BPAL’s Stúfur

Tags

barley crust, BPAL, carrot, dates, limited edition, nuts, pie, spelt, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Stúfur

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: stealing crusty bits from used frying pans. It takes all kinds. Chunks of sweet carrots and dates mushed with nuts, topped with crumbles from a pie-like spelt and barley crust.” -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/stufur/

Oil Color: Colorless.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Cloying cream and marzipan with a slightly bitter dusting of nuts on a very sweet carrot cake.
• Wet: It’s very similar on my skin, although the carrot note shyly peaks from underneath the rich and heavy cream, pastry, and nut notes.
  
• Dry: After the second reapplication and dry down, the scent is more powdery than any other discernible note, like  buttercream dusting powder and a smattering of almonds and dates. 

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1029 – BPAL’s Ketkrókur

Tags

BPAL, clove, dragon's blood, dragon's blood resin, labdanum, limited edition, patchouli, resin, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Ketkrókur

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: collecting meat hooks, sharpening meat hooks, polishing meat hooks. Sleep with one eye open? Labdanum, patchouli, dragon’s blood resin, and clove.” -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/ketkrokur/

Oil Color: The color of copper glowing from heat, reddened with iron.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Well, hello clove.  The first note from the imp forcibly assaults my nose. It burns and seethes with the dragon’s blood resin and labdanum, under which the patchouli slowly bubbles in below.
• Wet: Gorgeous!  The dragon’s blood resin is still strong, but the clove has mellowed out enough to allow the patchouli to blood, creating a spicy, resinous, light sweet dream for anyone who loves Woody Orientals.
  
• Dry: After 6 hours,  the scent is sweet, resinous, slightly smoky, and just perfection.  The resins meld beautifully with soft, slightly powdery labdanum, the the patchouli and clove and a lovely depth to it.  On my bottle list you go.

Other Impressions: “Uh, soapy and musky…but nice.” -Tony

Day 1028 – BPAL’s Þvörusleikir

Tags

BPAL, cumin, herbs, kitchen herbs, lemongrass, limited edition, oregano, parsley, thyme, turmeric, wood, wooden utensils, Yole Lads, yule, Yule 2015

Scent Name: Þvörusleikir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: licking spoons and ladles. There’s no accounting for taste. The scent of well-worn wooden utensils, lightly fondled, and a wisp of kitchen herbs.” -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/thvorusleikir/

Oil Color: Colorless

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: Oh, I like that.  Herbs emerge as the first note, a combination of cumin, turmeric, what I think might be sage, thyme, oregano, parsley, and well worn wood.
• Wet:  The wood warms on my skin ans the cumin and turmeric yield slightly to the more astringent herbs.  I pick up something that registers as slightly aquatic and something else that is mildly reminiscent of lemon, under all of it.
  
• Dry: This isn’t a particularly long-wearing scent.  After 4 hours, I get the faint impression of a kitchen infused with only the memory of herbs. 

Other Impressions: “It smells like lemongrass and the center of a Jawbreaker.” -Tony

Day 1027 – BPAL’s Bjúgnakrækir

Tags

BPAL, castoreum, castoreum accord, coconut, coconut meat, honey, Leather, limited edition, pear, sweaty pear, Tonka, tonka bean, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Bjúgnakrækir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: hiding in the rafters, ogling your smoked sausage. Eyes up here, mister!  Sweaty pear and honey with leather, coconut meat, tonka bean, and castoreum accord.“ -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/bjugnakraekir/

Oil Color: Colorless

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Scent: 

• ITI: A blast of honey at the forefront is quickly met by coconut and pear, which softens the honey considerably. It smells like the tropical-flavored Coconut waters that natural food stores sell.
• Wet:  Runts candies and pear.  What an odd combination.
  
• Dry: As it settles, the coconut meat and pear seem to overtake some of the honey, but there is still the impression of runts that makes this scent a bit too foody for my taste.

Other Impressions: “It’s like banana bread made out of banana runts.” -Tony

Day 1026 – BPAL’s Kertasnikir

Tags

beeswax, BPAL, candy, hard candy, limited edition, strawberries, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads, Yules

Scent Name:  Kertasnikir

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Yule Lads: Yule 2015

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: stealing candles from children. Such a scamp!  Beeswax, strawberries, and bits of hard candy.“ -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/kertasnikir/

Oil Color: The color of marmalade.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Absinthetics.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the name of the scent in bold orange font. Her decanting information is in green.  The font of the label features the same label art as the bottle, which is the name in light yellow, shadowed font.

Image from http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/kertasnikir/

 

Scent: 

• ITI: It smells like honey cakes, artificial berry freshener, and fake sugar.  It reminds me of the scent of a bathroom in a fancy hotel.
• Wet: At least the hard candy scent is now that of the cinnamon old-fashioned hard candies that were wrapped in clear paper. Sadly, the beeswax is still honey cake, almost urinal-esque (blame honey notes on my skin), sprayed over with fake strawberry. So far, this is a “No” or me.
  
• Dry:  The longer it dried, the more than the artificial strawberry emerged.  There was still an unmistakable candy and lavatory gist to it that made me want to wash it off.  To the swap pile it goes.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1025 – Solstice Scents’ Tenebrous Mist

Tags

Amber, aquatic, bay rum, Musk, rum, sandalwood, sea, sea spray, smoke, Summer 2014, tea, tea leaves, white amber, wood, wood smoke

Scent Name:  Tenebrous Mist

Manufacturer: Solstice Scents – Summer 2014

Scent Description and Notes: “Soft Musks, White Amber, Sea Spray, Sandalwood, Bay Rum, Tea Leaves & Wood Smoke ” -Solstice Scents

Oil Color:Colorless.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). The imp has a black cap and a parchment-colored label that features the name of the company and the website in black font with the name of the scent written in ink along the blank portion of the label.

Image from http://www.evolutionofafoodie.com/2014/12/indie-weekends-solstice-scents-winter.html

Scent:

• ITI: Steeling myself for a heavy dose of aquatic nastiness, I’m instead met with wood smoke, rum, strong tea leaves, and salty sea spray.  It definitely feels like a beach.  In fact, it reminds me of walking along the shores near Monterey.
• Wet: It’s much more aquatic – watery, salty, sharp – on my skin, but the amber musk does a decent job of  tamping down the quality of the aquatic somewhat.  I do really enjoy the sandalwood and tea notes that drift under the sea spray.
• Dry: Much to my surprise, the aquatic tones from the sea salt note have nearly faded away completely.  Instead, I’m left with tea leaves, rum, musk, sandalwood, amber, and a hint of smoke.  I like it much more once dried. 
  

Other Impressions: “Hmm, that’s nice.  It’s spicy but it smells like incense, too.” -Kelly

Day 1024 – Solstice Scents’ Winter Dove

Tags

carnation, cream, nutmeg, sweet cream, The Woodland Collection, vanilla, vanilla crystals

Scent Name:  Winter Dove

Manufacturer: Solstice Scents – The Woodland Collection

Scent Description and Notes: “Vanilla Crystals, Spicy Carnation, Nutmeg, Cream. ” -Solstice Scents

Oil Color: Mostly clear and colorless but with a beautiful copper cast.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). The imp has a black cap and a parchment-colored label that features the name of the company and the website in black font with the name of the scent written in ink along the blank portion of the label.

Image from http://www.evolutionofafoodie.com/2014/12/indie-weekends-solstice-scents-winter.html

Scent:

• ITI: Thick clotted cream, infused with rich vanilla and a light dusting of nutmeg.  It’s well balanced and not overtly cloying, which is what I had expected.  It reminds me of a fantastic cream pie but without the crust.
• Wet: Once applied, the nutmeg asserts itself much more as does the darker elements of vanilla. The cream is still  present, warm and inviting under the emergence of the stronger notes. Finally, the carnation peaks out from underneath, adding a spicy floral sophistication to Winter Dove.
• Dry: The carnation fades to more of an alto rather than a soprano. The cream and spicy nutmeg retain some sweetness, but it reminds me more of the type of sweetness one might find in a Cafe Vienna.  It’s a pleasant scent, warm, feminine, and sweet enough to  be remarkable without being cloying. 
  

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1023 – NAVA’s Bastet

Tags

Amber, Bastet Incense Accord, black sugar, Blue Purnima, crystalline, Halloween 2016, Incense, limited edition, Spice, spices, sugar

Scent Name: Bastet

Manufacturer: Nocturne Alchemy – Halloween 2016

Scent Description and Notes: “‘Preparing for the Halloween Masquerade I wanted a perfume that was subliminal and still very sensual and feline as I walked the ballroom floor peering through the mask of a Cat Goddess. With the purrfect blend of soft spices, Bastet Amber, Crystalline, soft incense, Black Sugar and Blue Purnima (Bastet Incense Accord), I was ready to embrace the evening with the moon high in the distance looking out past the guests and into the Halloween night.‘” ~Bastet
” – http://www.nocturnealchemy.com/ha20ban.html

Oil Color: Clear.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). The company has its website in lowercase black font along the bottom of the label just underneath a Vapothecary.  Above that is an image of an angry Jack O Lantern, and above tat is “sample” in larger, all caps font. The entire label is a cool silver color, the color of the silver label dots one might find at Office Max. The back of  the label displays the name of the scent in larger black capitalized font. Along the spine is the phrase “Perfume Vile” in an Arabic-inspired font in a rusty pink color.

Image from http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-42950465129556/new-halloween-2016-bastet-anubis-3.gif.

Scent: 

• ITI:  It’s oddly sweet, resin-imbued, and somewhat floral.  It reminds me of molasses cookies topped with candied ginger.
• Wet: The black sugar, incense, and crystalline notes are the most evident when first applied.  Spice emerges slightly thereafter, but the combination of spices reads more as baking spice than as distinct notes like clove or nutmeg.
  
• Dry:  After a good 12 hours, the scent is faint on my skin -black sugar and a touch of the impression of incense.  This is a pass for me. 

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1022 – Alchemic Muse’s Bloodlust

Tags

Amber, blood orange, dragon's blood, dragon's blood resin, Incense, iron distilled patchouli, myrrh, orange, patchouli, resin

Scent Name: Bloodlust

Manufacturer: Alchemic Muse

Scent Description and Notes: “A penetrating, sanguine scent flowing with sensuality. Dragon’s blood resin, heady incense, and iron distilled patchouli saturated with blood orange and thickened with amber and myrrh.
“-AlchemicMuse.com

Oil Color: I cannot tell since the imp bottle is amber in color, although the oil has a slightly copper tone on my skin.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). The label is printed on a nice quality sticker paper that has an aged blue color and what is supposed to mimic aged, slightly burned pages around the edge.  The Label features the name of the company in stylized script at the top, underneath which is the designation of products made.  Below that is a Baroque mantle piece of art that frames the name of the scent, which is in bold Gothic stylized font.  Below that is the phrase “perfume oil sample” in lighter and smaller font.

Image from http://www.alchemicmuse.com/products/bloodlust-perfume-oil

Scent: 

• ITI: Pleasant.  The dragon’s blood resin is sweeter, as if mixed with hibiscus and tampered down by the orange and  myrrh.  The resin is soft and sweet just under the dragon’s blood and orange.
• Wet:  The orange is sweeter and more pronounced once the scent chances upon skin, but the overall sweet and pleasant mix of resins, incense, light floral and myrrh remain the same.
  
• Dry:  Patchouli emerges as the scent dries, overpowering the subtle floral of the dragon’s blood and the sweet tones of orange.  Instead, I’m left with a dry patchouli, mild but slightly acidic orange, some incense, and the faintest hint of myrrh.  It’s okay, but I loved it so when still wet. 

Other Impressions: None.