Day 1560 – BPAL’s Carotene

Tags

Amber, apricot, BPAL, chrysanthemum, ginger, ginger root, Halloween, Halloween 2019, Halloweenie, Halloweenie 2019, Halloweenies, Halloweenies 2019, limited edition, mandarin, patchouli, red mandarin, sweet amber, The Fall of the Leaf, Weenies, Weenies 2019, yam

My BPAL Halloweenie scents came in yesterday, so now it’s time to review!

Scent Name: Carotene

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Halloween 2019: The Fall of the Leaf

Scent Description and Notes: “Sunset orange, a marigold-bright throb of light: sweet amber, ginger root, apricot, patchouli, red mandarin, chrysanthemum, and yam.“ -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/halloween-autumn-collection/the-fall-of-the-leaf/carotene-perfume-oil/

Oil Color: A bright and cheery yam color.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from Yowahoshihime.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent and her decanting name. The front of the label has the phrase “Weenies 2019.”  The label art on the bottle is as follows:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/halloween-autumn-collection/the-fall-of-the-leaf/carotene-perfume-oil/

Scent:

• ITI: Wow, that is…unusual.  I’m getting freshly grated ginger, complete with its juices, yam mashed potatoes, mandarin juice, and resin pearls.  There’s a bit of floral from the chrysanthemum underneath, but with the other notes on top of it, it reads as steamed carrots to me.
• Wet: The ginger is less assertive on my skin, replaced instead by warm apricot and heavier resins atop yam and ginger puree. Much of the bright, bitter but lovely mandarin has been replaced by the apricot.  I am just getting pictures of my kitchen in the fall, full of root vegetables and ginger, amid meal prep.
• Dry: 45 minutes after application, the scent still is heavily vegetal for me.  Yam and ginger root with dried apricot, chrysanthemum, and resin remind me of fall soup with a hint of incense for some reason.  I think I’d like this better without the yam.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1543 – BPAL’s Thirteen (13): September 2019

Tags

angelica, bergamot, blue tansy, borage, BPAL, chamomile, cubeba, Frankincense, hops, In Memoriam, king mandarin, Lavender, limited edition, listea cubeba, litsea, mandarin, Oman frankincense, patchouli, Roman chamomile, sandalwood, tansy, thirteen, ylang ylang

Scent Name: Thirteen (13): September 2019

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Limited Edition: Thirteen

Scent Description and Notes: “13 is significant, whether you consider it lucky, unlucky or just plain odd. Many believe it to be unfortunate…

…because there were 13 present at the Last Supper.
…Loki crashed a party of 12 at Valhalla, which ended in Baldur’s death.
…Oinomaos killed 13 of Hippodamia’s suitors before Pelops finally, in his own shady way, defeated the jealous king.
…In ancient Rome, Hecate’s witches gathered in groups of 12, the Goddess herself being the 13th in the coven.

Concern over the number thirteen echoes back beyond the Christian era. Line 13 was omitted form the Code of Hammurabi.

The shivers over Friday the 13th also have some interesting origins:

…Christ was allegedly crucified on Friday the 13th.
…On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the arrests of Jaques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, and sixty of his senior knights.
…In British custom, hangings were held on Fridays, and there were 13 steps on the gallows leading to the noose.

To combat the superstition, Robert Ingersoll and the Thirteen Club held thirteen-men dinners during the 19th Century. Successful? Hardly. The number still invokes trepidation to this day. A recent whimsical little serial killer study showed that the following murderers all have names that total thirteen letters:

Theodore Bundy
Jeffrey Dahmer
Albert De Salvo
John Wayne Gacy

And, with a little stretch of the imagination, you can also fit “Jack the Ripper” and “Charles Manson” into that equation.

More current-era paranoia: modern schoolchildren stop their memorization of the multiplication tables at 12. There were 13 Plutonium slugs in the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki. Apollo 13 wasn’t exactly the most successful space mission. All of these are things that modern triskaidekaphobes point to when justifying their fears.

For some, 13 is an extremely fortuitous and auspicious number…

…In Jewish tradition, God has 13 Attributes of Mercy. Also, there were 13 tribes of Israel, 13 principles of Jewish faith, and 13 is considered the age of maturity.
…The ancient Egyptians believed that there were 12 stages of spiritual achievement in this lifetime, and a 13th beyond death.
…The word for thirteen, in Chinese, sounds much like the word which means “must be alive”.

Thirteen, whether you love it or loathe it, is a pretty cool number all around.

…In some theories of relativity, there are 13 dimensions.
…It is a prime number, lucky number, star number, Wilson Prime, and Fibonacci number.
…There are 13 Archimedean solids.

AND…
…There were 13 original colonies when the United States were founded.

Says a lot about the US, doesn’t it?

This version of 13 is a departure from our usual theme for this ongoing project. So many of us are going through so much right now; it seems right to make an oil that contains 13 herbs, flowers, and resins of peace, tranquility, and grounding: lavender, litsea cubeba, sandalwood, ylang ylang,  king mandarin, patchouli, blue tansy, Roman chamomile, bergamot, Oman frankincense, angelica, hops, and borage.“ -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/13-perfume-oil/

Oil Color: A pale white wine colored oil.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Absinthetics. Her label features the scent notes on the back along with her decanting information and the scent name. The label art is as follows on the front:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/13-perfume-oil/

Scent:

• ITI: This 13 is very much a departure from the previous years.  It’s softly citrus-like (it’s not mandarin, so I think it might be the litsea cubeba) with bright ylang ylang and strong, soothing herbal overtones, especially of chamomile, borage, a sliver of lavender.  There’s an interesting resinous musk under all the herbal elements too.
• Wet: I wasn’t expecting the gentle sandalwood and alluring frankincense to be so forward on my skin, but they waft beautifully forth, followed a few seconds later by the lovely and centering herbal notes.  After 10 seconds, the listea cubeba and ylang ylang with a squirt of mandarin reach my nose, like waves upon waves lapping at the shore.  Dang.  I wish I had gotten a bottle of this.
• Dry: This still had some throw midway through the day, but by the end of the evening, this scent is a sedate and soothing combination of lavender, chamomile, and a hint of blue tansy.

Other Impressions: None

Day 1486 – BPAL’s Butterflies and Plovers

Tags

Amber, blood orange, BPAL, In Memoriam, king mandarin, lupercalia, Lupercalia 2008, Lupercalia 2008: Shunga - Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements, mandarin, nectarine, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements, orange, patchouli, Shunga, Shunga 2008, violet, ylang ylang

Scent Name: Butterflies and Plovers

Manufacturer:  Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab –  Lupercalia 2008: Shunga – Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements

Scent Description and Notes: “Blood orange, King mandarin, nectarine, patchouli, violet, ylang ylang, and amber.” -BPAL.org

Oil Color: A lightly yellowish orange oil.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a 5ml standard brown apothecary bottle. The label wrapped around the bottle features the name of the scent in thin white block font just above the collection name, which is  in a baby blue smaller version of the same font.  Below that is the company name, which is in a smaller version of the scent name, although in an orange.  The label is a shunga woodblock print of both of a Noh character, fully dressed save for one crucial part being manually pleasured by a female-looking character. Butterflies adorn his kimono and plovers adorn hers.

Scent:

• ITB:  This is a gorgeous blend of mandarin, blood orange, and well-balanced patchouli tinged with violets. It’s citrus’y but not overpoweringly bright. I like it.
• Wet: Wow, that’s great.  Musky blood orange and mandarian overlaid with a soft, almost anise-like patchouli that reveal ylang ylang and a hint of violet as it settles.
• Dry: Nearly 12 hours later, I’m surprised there’s any scent left. What I am getting is a watery mandarin sweetened with ylang ylang and amber.  It’s feminine, subtle, and lovely.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1389 – BPAL’s Carnaval Rat

Tags

absinthe, acai, acai berry, aconite, aftershave, almond, almond milk, Amber, Ambergris, ambrette, ambrette seed, apple, apple blossom, apricot, apricot flower, Babylonian musk, balsam, Baltic amber, bark, bay, bay rum, beeswax, benzoin, bergamot, berry, bhay, bile, birch, birch tar, bitter almond, bitter wine, bittersweet chocolate, black amber, black cardamom, black cherry, black coconut, black copal, black currant, black incense, black lotus, black musk, black myrrh, black orchid, black oudh, black patchouli, black pine, black wine, blackberry, blackberry leaf, blackcurrant, blackened vanilla husk, blood apple, blood orange, blood-creme, blossoms, blue lilac, blue musk, bone, bourbon, bourbon vanilla, bourbon vetiver, BPAL, bread crumbs, brimstone, bubblegum, Burmese oudh, calla lily, candied apple, caramel, cardamom, carnation, carnaval diabolique, cassis, Cedar, cedar smoke, champaca, champaca attar, champaca flower, chaparral, cherry, chocolate, chocolate truffles, chrome, chrysanthemum, cinnamon, cinnamon leaf, cistus, clary sage, coapl, cocoa, cocoa absolute, coconut, coconut hull, coffee, coffee bean, cologne, copal, coral, corsage, cream, cream accord, creme, crushed candies, currant, Damascus rose, dark musk, dragon's blood, dragon's blood resin, dry bone, dry flowers, dust, embalming herbs, English ivy, fig, fir, fir needle, flickering blue musk, Florentine iris, flytraps, fougere, Frankincense, French gardenia, French vanilla, gardenia, ginger, ginger lily, golden musk, green sandalwood, green tea, guava, hay bale, heliotrope, hemlock, henbane, herbs, hibiscus, High John the Conqueror root, honey, honeyed leather, honeysuckle, hot metals, hyssop, ice-cold skin, Incense, Indian resins, Indonesian oil, Indonesian patchouli, iris, jasmine, jasmine sambac, Kashmiri tea, kelp, king mandarin, kush, labdanum, Lavender, Leather, lemon, lemon balm, lemon flower, lemon peel, lightening, lilac blossoms, lilies, lily, lily of the valley, Lime, lime fougere, limited edition, linden, linden blossom, lotus, lotus root, magnolia, mahogany, mallow, mallow root, mandarin, milk, mimosa, Mint, Moroccan jasmine, moss, mucilage, muguet, mushroom, Musk, myrrh, narcissus, nectarine, neroli, netmeg, nicotiana, night-blooming flowers, oakmoss, ocean spray, oleander, olibanum, olive, olive blossom, olive leaf, opium smoke, opium., opoponax, orange, orange blossom, orange blossom water, orange peel, orange pulp, orchid, orris, orris root, osmanthus, oud wood, ozone, Pale bergamot, pale white berries, palm, palm frond, palmarosa, paperwhites, papyrus, passion flower, pastries, patchouli, patchouli leaf, pear, pepper, Peru balsam, pine, pine bark, pine pitch, plum, plum blossom, plumeria, pomegranate, poppy, raspberry, red amber, red currant, red gardenia, red ginger, red musk, red patchouli, red pepper, red rose, red sandalwood, reeds, rice, rice milk, river reeds, rockrose, Rose, rose geranium, rose otto, rosewater, rosewood, rum, rust, saffron, Sage, salt, sambac, sandalwood, sarsaparilla, sawdust, sea moss, seaweed, sheer musk, Siamese benzoin, singed straw, skin musk, Snake Oil, snow, Spanish moss, spun sugar, star jasmine, Sudanese myrrh, sugar, sugar cane, Sugared coffee bean, sugared cream, sugared incense, sugared nuts, sugared violet, sweet oudh, tar, tarragon, tea, tea leaf, tea oudh, teak, teakwood, Tempranillo grape, ti leaf, tobacco, tobacco smoke, tobacco tar, tomb dust, Tonka, tonka bean, trees, tuberose, vanila flower, vanilla, vanilla bean, vanilla husk, vanilla mint, Verbena, vetiver, violet, violet water, wet tobacco, white amber, white carnation, white clove, white frankincense, white hemlock, white honey, white mint, white moss, white musk, white peach, white pear, white pepper, white sandalwood, white tea, wild plum, wine, wisteria, wood, wormwood, ylang ylang

Scent Name: Carnaval Rat

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Limited Edition

Scent Description and Notes: “Derived from the same pseudo-scientific process as last year’s LAB RAT blend, but constrained to the Lab’s Carnaval Diabolique collection. Each bottle contains a slosh of every Carnaval scent currently in stock. The result? An inhalation of the miasma hovering over the midway after a busy, near-endless night of debauchery.

In the interest of peer review, here are our internal notes from the blending process, tracking how the scent evolved as through the collection alphabetically.

A-C: “Chocolate truffles filled with blood-creme, rolled in sawdust.”

D-G. “Two… no, THREE corsaged puppeteers screwing in a hay bale.”

H-L. “Rusty barber’s shears sterilizing overnight in a jar full of rum and rosewater.”

M-P “This is eerily reminiscent of lightning striking a gondola full of off-duty showgirls.”

O-Z “Luminous, opalescent bat wings serving as the bellows for a lunatic calliope, whooshing gusts of wind through blossoms on dying trees, the bark sticky with blood that is, for some mysterious reason, flowing upward. The music! can you hear the music?”

[Sadly, we have been unable to elaborate on these findings as the intern in question abruptly left their post shortly thereafter.]

Eau de Carnaval Diabolique. The cumulative weight of dozens of scents — a cacophony of carnies, haunts, snakes, grindhouse dancers, and other attractions, all simultaneously clamoring for your attention.“ -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/carnaval-rat-perfume-oil/

Note:  I tried my best to distill all the available Carnaval Diabolque notes into the scent note section.

Oil Color: A beautiful bay colored oil.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Absinthetics. Her label features the scent notes on the back along with her decanting information and the scent name. The label art is as follows on the front:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/carnaval-rat-perfume-oil/

Scent:

• ITI: What a melange of notes! Thick, aggressive chocolate cherries, cocoa, black tea, hay, reeds, and brittle bone give way to honeyed hibiscus, cinnamon, atop swaying moss and wild herbs and a hint of fiery patchouli.
• Wet:  The most clear impressions are of red patchouli, chocolate cherries, vanilla mint swirled with bourbon musk and a sinuous trail of kush and cedar smoke.
• Dry: After 17 hours, the scent is still present, although now a subdued tinkling of lavender, lemon balm, cocoa, faint, faded white florals, the subtle tang of metal, and a smidgen of fougere.  I’m intrigued to see how this might shift on someone else, but I actually like.

Other Impressions: None

Day 1363 – BPAL’s Twelve Tastes in the Classification of Passion

Tags

BPAL, carnation, clove, clove bud, limited edition, lupercalia, Lupercalia 2019, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga - Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, mandarin, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, Shunga, Shunga 2019

Scent Name: Twelve Tastes in the Classification of Passion

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Lupercalia 2019: Shunga – Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019

Scent Description and Notes: “Mandarin, carnation, and clove bud.” -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/lupercalia-2019/novel-ideas-for-secret-amusements-2019/twelve-tastes-in-the-classification-of-passion-perfume-oil/

Oil Color: The color of a young white wine.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Absinthetics. Her label features the scent notes on the back along with her decanting information and the scent name. The label art is a shunga woodblock print of a man with six women, each of them taking part in the coupling.

• ITI: The mandarin and clove bud emerge at the same time, giving me the impression of both fresh mandarin flesh and a spiced Orange Julius smoothie, yet the carnation adds a spicy floral with a subtle hint of green that is equally pleasing next two the other notes.
• Wet: At first, the clove bud softly wafts forth, yet soon the mandarin zest rushes forward, adding a lovely citrus bitterness to the scent before carnation softly threads itself through.  However, As this settles, the carnation just blooms next to the clove bud while the mandarin adds a lovely citrus note to the warm, spiced floral.
• Dry:  Beautiful, vivid carnation, delicately spicy and glorious with the addition of the clove bud note.  This is such a spicy, lovely floral combination.  It has good through and longevity as the notes are still distinct 6 hours later.

Other Impressions: I love this in its dry form so much that I’m thinking about getting a bottle.

Day 1356 – BPAL’s Joyous Middle-Aged Couple

Tags

bois de rose, BPAL, Cedar, Frankincense, green mandarin, green tea, honey, limited edition, lupercalia, Lupercalia 2019, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga - Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, mandarin, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, oudh, Rose, Shunga, Shungas, tea, white oudh

Scent Name: Joyous Middle-Aged Couple

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Lupercalia 2019: Shunga – Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019

Scent Description and Notes: “Green tea, white oudh, cedar, green mandarin, frankincense, bois de rose, and honey.” -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/lupercalia-2019/novel-ideas-for-secret-amusements-2019/joyous-middle-aged-couple-perfume-oil/

Oil Color: The color of beeswax-infused body butter.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Absinthetics. Her label features the scent notes on the back along with her decanting information and the scent name. The label art is a shunga woodblock print of a middle-aged couple kissing and joyously copulating. The man has completely disrobed, while she is only partially clothed.

• ITI:  Now that’s an delightful green scent spritzed with orange!  It reminds me of a mossy forest floor, wrapped up and transported to a drawing table laden with bright, exquisite rose blooms and ripe mandarins.  The cedar and frankincense add the right amount of woody aromatics to tie everything together.  I was honestly worried about the oudh since my last encounter was less than pleasant, but so far, this one is playing nice!
• Wet: It shifts a bit on my skin, but it’s still so pleasant.  At first, it was mandarin and cedar with a cup of fine green tea, yet the rose warms after a few seconds, along with the honey and frankincense, bringing me back to that wonderful still-life scene. The reminds me of some fabulously high-end bottles I smelled in Harrod’s perfume section in London. As long as this settles well, I’m going to need to grab myself a bottle.
• Dry:  The scent has faded much more than anticipated. I think I noticed it fading around hours 6, but around hour 10, I’m left with a very tiny whisper of scent – bois de rose, white oudh, and a bit of honeyed green tea. While I wish this had more staying power, I could certainly be happy to re-apply during the work day.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1350 – BPAL’s Three Lovers

Tags

BPAL, carnation, Cedar, cedarwood, dried red currants, Himalayan cedarwood, limited edition, lupercalia, Lupercalia 2019, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga, Lupercalia 2019: Shunga - Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, mandarin, Musk, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements, Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019, red currants, Rose, Shunga, Shunga 2019, silk, violet, violet silk, white musk, white rose, wood, yellow rose

Finally, I’m on to my favorite section of the Lupercalia updates!  There’s something about the unusual combination of subtle tones ranging from hay to green tea to yuzu that makes me so eager to test as many as I can from this sub-release.

Scent Name: Three Lovers

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Lupercalia 2019: Shunga – Novel Ideas for Secret Amusements 2019

Scent Description and Notes: “White and yellow roses, violet silk, Himalayan cedarwood, mandarin, white musk, carnation, and dried red currants.” -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/lupercalia-2019/novel-ideas-for-secret-amusements-2019/three-lovers-perfume-oil/

Oil Color: Colorless on my skin.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard brown apothecary bottle.  The label wrapped around the bottle features the name of the scent in bolded leaf green block font just above the company name, which is in a smaller version of the a shadowed white version of the name’s font.  The label is as follows:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/lupercalia-2019/novel-ideas-for-secret-amusements-2019/three-lovers-perfume-oil/

• ITB: Wow, that is a flower market’s dream set against the Seine!  The yellow and white rose notes are so fresh and vibrant against the subtle waftings of cedarwood and violet silk.  Carnation flickers briefly between the top and bottom notes, while the mandarin and musk notes undulate against the florals. It’s elegant, feminine, sumptuous, and vibrant all at one.
• Wet: The mandarin is stronger once applied to my skin, but the creaminess of the musk mellows out any harshness that might have been present from a citrus note. Carnation cheerfully and mingles with a dried, earthy red currant while tender yellow rose subtly sits atop a cedar chest. I’m not detecting the violet silk in this stage, but I do hope that it shows up later.
• Dry: After 10 hours, the scent has mellowed down into a yellow rose powdered musk with a hint of carnation.  Nice!

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1250 – BPAL’s Bellicose Clam Alchemy Lab

Tags

BPAL, BPAL Anniversary, BPAL Anniversary 2018, Citrus, grapefruit, king mandarin, lemon, lemon peel, limited edition, mandarin, Musk, pink grapefruit, Sweet Sixteen, white musk, yuzu

Scent Name: Bellicose Clam Alchemy Lab

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – BPAL Anniversary: Sweet Sixteen

Scent Description and Notes: “If America’s political outlook doesn’t improve soon, this one is still a solid rebranding option.

Yuzu, pink grapefruit, King mandarin, white musk, and lemon peel.”  -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/sweet-sixteen/bellicose-clam-alchemy-lab/

Oil Color: Colorless

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Yowahoshihime. Her label features the scent notes and her decanter information on the back. The front has the name of the  scent and company name along with the label art, which looks like

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/winter-collection/sweet-sixteen/bellicose-clam-alchemy-lab/

• ITI: Bright and effervescent grapefruit pulp, bright yuzu, and lemon rind joyously leap forth from the vial.  What an uplifting combination.  It makes my mouth water!
• Wet: Yes, that’s a stunning scent.  Grapefruit, ruby and juicy, sweetened with yuzu and garnished with lemon peel makes more a a citrus perfume that rivals the juicy veracity of The Body Shop’s old Satsuma formula.  As it settles, the musk begins to creep in, adding a dreaminess to the bright, vibrant citrus notes.
• Dry: 8 hours later, it’s a deliciously beautiful white musk and very subtle citrus.  Even after significant wear time, this still has a little bit of throw and presence.  This is a winner for me.

Other Impressions: I imagine layering this with a fizzy champagne or crisp snow note would make this absolute heaven.  If you are a citrus lover, then give this one a try.

Day 1239 – BPAL’s The Tastes of the Duke Were Peculiar

Tags

absinthe, anise, black currant, BPAL, currant, gilded vanilla flower, Halloween, Halloween 2018, Halloweenie, Halloweenie 2018, Halloweenies, Halloweenies 2018, iron, iron shakles, king mandarin, laudanum, limited edition, mandarin, Masque of Red Death, neroli, opium poppy, opium., poppy, star anise, The color of, vanilla, vanilla flower, Weenies, Weenies 2018

Scent Name: The Tastes of the Duke Were Peculiar

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Halloweenie 2018: Masque of Red Death

Scent Description and Notes: “But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel. The tastes of the duke were peculiar. He had a fine eye for colors and effects. He disregarded the decora of mere fashion. His plans were bold and fiery, and his conceptions glowed with barbaric lustre. There are some who would have thought him mad. His followers felt that he was not. It was necessary to hear and see and touch him to be sure that he was not.

The swirl of a thousand glittering vices: absinthe and laudanum, opium poppy and neroli, star anise and black currant, whip leather and iron shackles, gilded vanilla flower and King mandarin.”  -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/autumn-collection/halloween-2018/masque-of-the-red-death/the-tastes-of-the-duke-were-peculiar/

Oil Color:  The color of wheat.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard 1/32 ml imp that has been decanted for me by Yowahoshihime. Her label features the scent notes and her decanter information on the back. The front has the name of the  scent and company name along with the label art, which is as below:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/autumn-collection/halloween-2018/masque-of-the-red-death/the-tastes-of-the-duke-were-peculiar/

• ITI: On first sniff, I’m getting absinthe and star anise  with an herbal quality to it. As I concentrate, the neroli becomes more distinct, but the absinthe and star anise are the star players so far.
• Wet:  Ah, there’s the laudanum, mingled with the neroli – exotic and nefarious – while the star anise and absinthe lurk in the background, outlined by faint vanilla flower.  It’s dangerous and rather alluring at the same time. I’m a fan, so far.
• Dry:  After 4 hours, the scent is a musky combination of faint vanilla flower and hints of mandarin with a touch of spice.  The absinthe has completely faded, as has the star anise.  It’s definitely a shifter, but enjoyable in each stage.

Other Impressions:  None.

Day 1147 – BPAL’s Kubla Khan

Tags

Amber, amber tobacco, balsam, bewitching brews, BPAL, champaca, dark vanilla, ginger, golden sandalwood, hay, hay absolute, ice, jasmine, lily, mandarin, Moroccan jasmine, opium smoke, opium., Peru balsam, sandalwood, smoke, sugar, sugared lily, sun, tea, tea leaf, tobacco, vanilla

Scent Name: Kubla Khan

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab –  Bewitching Brews

Scent Description and Notes: “

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree:
Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
Through caverns measureless to man
Down to a sunless sea.

So twice five miles of fertile ground
With walls and towers were girdled round:
And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills,
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;
And here were forests ancient as the hills,
Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted
Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover!
A savage place! as holy and enchanted
As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted
By woman wailing for her demon-lover!
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething,
As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing,
A mighty fountain momently was forced:
Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst
Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail,
Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail:
And ‘mid these dancing rocks at once and ever
It flung up momently the sacred river.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran,
Then reached the caverns measureless to man,
And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean:
And ‘mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!

The shadow of the dome of pleasure
Floated midway on the waves;
Where was heard the mingled measure
From the fountain and the caves.
It was a miracle of rare device,
A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!

A damsel with a dulcimer
In a vision once I saw:
It was an Abyssinian maid,
And on her dulcimer she played,
Singing of Mount Abora.
Could I revive within me
Her symphony and song,
To such a deep delight ‘twould win me
That with music loud and long
I would build that dome in air,
That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed
And drunk the milk of Paradise.

Through sunlit caves of ice, roses unfurl amidst dancing waves of serpentine opium smoke and amber tobacco, golden sandalwood, champaca, tea leaf, sugared lily, ginger, rich hay absolute, leather, dark vanilla, mandarin, peru balsam, and Moroccan jasmine.” – https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/bewitching-brews/kubla-khan/

Oil Color: A very faint peach wine color.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz).  The label wrapped around the bottle features an Art-Deco inspired phoenix with name of the company next to the phoenix. On the other side, the title of the scent written in large, clear black font outlined with red on the front.

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/bewitching-brews/kubla-khan/

Scent: 

• ITI: Mmm, that is delicious.  Dark vanilla and sugared lily practically embrace the sweet mandarin, while the champaca, amber, and sandalwood festoon a resinous veil over the scent.  There’s a touch of hay absolute the more I try to concentrate on the scent, but I’m surprised I’m not getting any jasmine or balsam.
• Wet: The hay absolute is much clearer on my skin while the mandarin steps back to allow the Moroccan jasmine and ginger to take over. Sugared lily still abounds and champaca still reigns true, but the opium, tobacco, amber, and sandalwood are lost under the notes my skin tends to amp (I’m looking at you, jasmine).
• Dry:  What’s left after a full day of running around is a nice blend of vanilla, a hint of sugar, and just a whiff of faded opium smoke.  I really enjoyed all phases of this scent, so in the “to buy” list it goes.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1082 – BPAL’s Blood Bespattered Locks of Grey

Tags

Ambergris, anise, bay, bay leaf, BPSL, Cedar, grey oudh, Ides of March, Idus Martiae, khus, lemon, lemon peel, limited edition, mandarin, oudh, star anise, white cedar

Scent Name: Blood Bespattered Locks of Grey

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Idus Martiae

Scent Description and Notes: “Woe for the blood-bespattered locks of gray, alas for the rent robe, which you assumed, it seems, only that you might be slain in it!

– Cassius Dio

Ambergris and bay leaf, lemon peel and regal mandarin, white cedar and khus, grey oudh and star anise.” –https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/blood-bespattered-locks-of-gray/

Oil Color: Clear on my skin.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard BPAL brown apothecary bottle.  The label wrapped around the bottle features the name of the scent in bold, white letters set just above the name of the company, which is in smaller, bold white font. The label art is as featured:

Image from https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/idesMAIN-1.jpg

• ITB: Ah, delightfully soft, grey ambergris floats above the faintly beautiful mandarin and white cedar.  The star anise is surprisingly gentle as a bottom note.  I’m also picking up something faintly peppery underneath it all.
• Wet:  Yes!  The cedar and ambergris are delightfully grey and foreboding, like the think Humbolt fog that settles over the sound, obscuring everything under its spell. A touch of lemon – the light far off in the fog.
• Dry:  After 10 hours and a walk, there’s no scent left, so be prepared to reapply.  Upon second dry-down, the scent has become soft and sweet since the ambergris has mellowed with the emergence of the oudh while the cedar has vanished.  There’s a touch of sweetness from perhaps the mandarin, but it’s so ephemeral that I can’t really identify it save for adding sweetness to the scent. If you wnjoy ambergris or soft resins, you might consider giving this a try.  As for me, I’m happy I have a bottle!

Other Impressions: None.

Day 1064 – BPAL’s Mythological Scene, with a Warrior Addressing a Lady Outside a Classical Mansion, Two Maidens Riding Unicorns Behind

Tags

ambrette, ambrette musk, Art of the Unicorn, Art of the Unicorn Part 1, bergamot, bourbon, bourbon vanilla, BPAL, butter, Florentine orris butter, king mandarin, Leather, leather accord, limited edition, mandarin, Musk, orris, patchouli, red sandalwood, saffron, sandalwood, vanilla, white patchouli

Scent Name:  Mythological Scene, with a Warrior Addressing a Lady Outside a Classical Mansion, Two Maidens Riding Unicorns Behind

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Art of the Unicorn Part 1

Scent Description and Notes: “Florentine orris butter, red sandalwood, white patchouli, leather accord, and ambrette musk with a drifting eddy of King mandarin, wild bergamot, bourbon vanilla, and gold-limned saffron.”  –https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/mythological-scene-with-a-warrior-addressing-a-lady-outside-a-classical-mansion-two-maidens-riding-unicorns-behind/

Oil Color: A slightly apricot-tinged pale ale color.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz).  This is a sample from Mystery213.  The label features the name of the company and the name of the scent.  The bottle art is as follows:

Image by Susanna Duncombe fromhttps://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/mythological-scene-with-a-warrior-addressing-a-lady-outside-a-classical-mansion-two-maidens-riding-unicorns-behind/

• ITI: The first note reminds me a bit of mineral oil mixed with the almost insect-like quality of ambrette.  Soon thereafter fallow mandarin, saffron, sandalwood – altogether the scent seems to be more reminiscent of fruit cake than I had expected.
• Wet: The scent retains its vaguely insect-like quality.  I think the ambrette note really isn’t too fond of me, as most of the other notes play nice with my skin chemistry.  I do pick up orris butter and saffron with  a touch of bourbon and patchouli, but the other notes seem lost on my skin.
• Dry:  After 12 hours, the scent is just faint hint of bourbon vanilla and the memory of patchouli.  On reapplication, the mandarin and bergamot settle to become a scent more reminiscent of  tea with orris butter and sandalwood made overly sweet by the ambrette note. It’s a pass for me.

Other: “It’s like tobacco and maple syrup.” -Tony

Day 1038 – BPAL’s Gáttaþefur

Tags

Amber, apricot, baked bread, BPAL, bread, butter, C02, limited edition, mandarin, mandarin amber, yule, Yule 2015, Yule Lads

Scent Name: Gáttaþefur

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

Scent Description and Notes: “Favorite pastime: sniffing doorways. Everyone needs a hobby! Baked bread, apricot, mandarin amber, and CO2 of butter.” -https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/the-yule-lads/gattathefur/

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: Thick pastries, laden with brown sugar, candied raisins and apricot come to mind.  It reminds me of a buttery fruit cake.
• Wet: There’s a bit more mandarin amber on my skin, but it still reminds me of a buttery pastry with candied fruits.
  
• Dry: Okay, I like this better once dried.  The apricot and mandarin are sweetened, as if by a light dusting of brown sugar that has started to caramelize on a rich, flaky pastry.  I’m almost tempted to get more, but I don’t know how often I’d want to smell like such a yummy pastry. 

Other Impressions: “Yeah, yeah.  Fruit cake and black pepper.” -Tony

Day 994 – BPAL’s Red-Spotted Purple

Tags

blue cedar, BPAL, Butterflies of Louisiana, carnation, Cedar, hinoki, hinoki wood, Lime, limited edition, mandarin, metamorphosis, Metamorphosis 2014, Metamorphosis: Butterflies of Louisiana, Musk, plum, plum rind, thyme, white carnation, white mandarin, white musk, white thyme, wood, yuzu

Scent Name: Red-Spotted Purple

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Metamorphosis 2014: Butterflies of Louisiana

Scent Description and Notes: “White thyme, yuzu fruit, hinoki wood, blue cedar, white carnation, plum rind, white mandarin, and lime-tinted white musk.“ -bpal.org

Oil Color: An energy drink yellow.

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 orange bold font, and her decanting information in green.  The font of the label features the sample label art as the bottle.

Image from http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com

Scent: 

• ITI: Oh, this one is fabulous!  The yuzu is bright, sweet, and delightful paired with the plum and lime.  Oh my gosh, I’m starting to panic just a tad that I may have missed out on something incredibly special.
• Wet: The yuzu and mandarin are just incredibly succulent on my skin while the lime and plum provide a delightful fruity balance to the bright, sparkly, light citrus (lime reads as fuller and darker to me, something that is even a bit savory at times).  I”m also picking up wafts of spicy carnation and a blueish musk, although no cedar.  This is a stand-out scent so far.
• Dry:  A winner still!  Plum peel, mandarin, yuzu, carnation, a gossamer musk, and a faint white thyme.  I’m rather miffed that I did not  test this earlier as I would have bought a bottle.

Other Impressions: This scent received notice from two individuals, the one seated next to me who immediately asked if it was BPAL and demanded to smell it. He thought it was fantastic as it was light, complex, and unusual.  The second noticed from across the room and commented that it smells much better on skin than it does when I opened the imp.

Day 971 – BPAL’s Rapture

Tags

Arabian musk, ars amatoria, bergamot, BPAL, Egyptian myrrh, jasmine, love potions, mandarin, Moroccan rose, Musk, myrrh, neroli, night-blooming jasmine, Rose, Sumatran rose

Name:   Rapture

Manufacturer:  Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab –Ars Amatoria: Love Potions

Scent Description and Notes: “Sensual ecstasy, the blinding red fire of the apex of sexual pleasure: Moroccan rose, Sumatran rose, mandarin, Egyptian myrrh, night-blooming jasmine, bergamot and neroli thrust into Arabian musk.“ – bpal.org

Oil Color: An apricot color.

Bottle Design and Artwork:  This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz).  The label wrapped around the bottle features an Art-Deco inspired phoenix with the name of the company next to the phoenix. On the other side, the title of the scent written in large, clear black font outlined with red on the front.

Scent:

• ITI:  Strong neroli and jasmine with touches of bergamot – not bad, actually.  It certainly helps wake me up.
• Wet:  The mandarin and musk warm up on my skin, which pair really nicely with the neroil, jasmine, and bergamot.  Not bad.
• Dry:  The  mandarin and neroli diminish as it dries and jasmine takes its spot as the note to amp them all.  *Sigh*  In the swap pile you go.

Other Impressions:  None.

Day 945 – BPAL’s Ava

Tags

almond, BPAL, limited edition, mandarin, Musk, Only Lovers Left Alive, red mandarin, tuberose, vanilla, vanilla musk, white almond

Scent Name: Ava

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Only Lovers Left Alive

Scent Description and Notes: “It’s always a bit weird with family. A scant two-hundred years old, there doesn’t seem to be anything that roots Ava to her past. Her scent is utterly contemporary, and, like her personality, it is impulsive, capricious, and dangerous. Voluptuous and brittle, lovely and toxic:  sheer vanilla musk with tuberose, red mandarin, and the sweet poison of white almond.“ -http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/only-lovers-left-alive/

Oil Color: A deeper strawberry blond color.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant from ralenth.  On the back, she has the notes of the scent, the side features her decanting information, and the front features the company acronym, the title of the scent, the collection, and the date, along with a scent-appropriate image.  The label art for the bottle is below:

Image from http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/character-scents/ava/

Scent: 

• ITI:  The almond reads as anise to me, but when the vanilla and tuberose notes start to some through, the scent evolves into something deceivingly innocent and intriguing.
• Wet: In contrast to Kit, Ava is light, girly, and refreshing on my skin.  The mandarin, tuberose, and vanilla make it reminiscent to a certain extant of Victoria’s Secret’s Victoria scent, but this one is a bit more pleasant with the addition of the musk.  I can’t pick up the almond, however, on my skin.  I’m wondering if it will develop once I give it a chance to settle.
  
• Dry: It’s very pleasing once dried – a combination of almost marshmallow-esque vanilla musk and almonds against mandarins and tuberose is just delightfully sweet and girlishly agreeable.  I may need a bit more of this one.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 939 – Victoria’s Secret’s Noir Tease

Tags

Amber, apple, benzoin, benzoin laos, freesia, gardenia, jasmine, lychee, magnolia, mandarin, Musk, pea, pear, praline, red apple, red delicious apple, sandalwood, Sexy Little Things, sweet pea, vanilla, Victoria's Secret

Scent Name:  Noir Tease

Manufacturer:  Victoria’s Secret –  Sexy Little Thing

Scent Description and Notes: “Flirt. Play. Tease! Seductress meets coquette in this boudoir-inspired fragrance from our award-winning Sexy Little Things collection. The warm blend of black vanilla, frozen pear and blooming gardenia wraps you in modern glamour. Our signature atomizer makes this eau de parfum the ultimate in retro cool. Show it off!

• Fragrance type: Warm
• Top notes: Mandarin, lychee, frozen pear, red delicious apple
• Middle notes: Sweet pea, jasmine, gardenia, freesia, magnolia
• Dry-down notes: Benzoin laos, vanilla, musk, praline, amber, sandalwood.” -Victoria’s Secret website

Perfume Oil Color: Blush pink.

Bottle Design and Artwork:  This is a larger and squatter sample 2.66 ml/.09 fl oz vial with a  clear body and a black cap with matching spray nozzle. The bottle itself is clear glass with black font throughout.  The name of the scent is in large, stylized font while the type of perfume, amount, production information, and location are all in much smaller surrounds placed around the vial.

Image from https://www.victoriassecret.com/beauty/sexy-little-things/tease-eau-de-parfum-sexy-little-things?ProductID=4422&CatalogueType=OLS

Scent:

• ITV:  On first sniff, I’m met with a pleasant, soft, femininely sweet scent – it’s floral, but not overtly white or imposing due to the combination of magnolia, sweet pea, pear, and red apple over the gardenia and jasmine., yet there is also a foody muskiness to this from the praline, vanilla, musk, and amber that makes this scent a little more racey than one would normally wear to the office.
• Wet: Oh, that’s much sweeter on my skin.  The pear, apple, and praline aren’t nearly as balanced on my skin as it was on the testing strip. However, as it settles, I’m now getting a bit more lychee, mandarin, more powdery aspects of sandalwood, vanilla, and amber.  There’s almost a creme brulee sub-note here.  As a non-foody, I’m actually not put off by this entirely, which I think might be due to the juicy fruit notes and florals over top.
• Dry: It’s super faint, but it still largely retains the sense of warm, sensual fruits and florals with amber, mandarin, and gardenia still being faintly distinguishable.

Other Impressions:  “What’s that pink bottle you tried on in Bangkok? Versace’s “Bright Crystal”?  I can’t remember exactly what the bottle smelled like, but I immediately thought of that one when I smelled this.  It smells like flowery bubblegum.” -Tony

Day 938 – Oscar de la Renta’s Something Blue

Tags

Ambergris, ambrette, ambrette seed, bergamot, bourbon, bourbon vanilla, cashmere, cashmere wood, fleur de narcisse, Italian bergamot, lily, lily of the valley, linden, linden blossom, lychee, mandarin, Musk, neroli, Oscar de la Renta, stephanotis, vanilla, white musk, wood

Scent Name: Something Blue

Manufacturer: Oscar de la Renta

Scent Description and Notes: 

Discover Something Blue, a fragrance to cherish forever. Inspired by life’s most magical moments, this romantic fragrance opens with a sparkling burst of mandarin and linden blossom and warms to an irresistibly sultry finish with notes of bourbon vanilla and white musk. A removable ring engraved with the designer’s signature logo is a symbol of Mr. de la Renta’s abiding devotion to his beloved clientele. From this day forward.

Fragrance Notes:

• Top: Italian Bergamot, Mandarin, Neroli, Linden Blossom

• Heart: Stephanotis, Fleur de Narcisse, Lily of the Valley, Kiss of Lychee

• Base: Ambrette Seeds, White Musk, Ambergris, Cashmere Woods, Bourbon Vanilla.” -http://www.oscardelarenta.com/fragrance-and-beauty/shop-by-brand/something-blue/l0064100/something-blue-edp-spray-3-4-oz

Oil Color: Colorless.

Bottle Design and Artwork: This is standard 1.5 ml clear glass vial with a  robin’s egg blue applicator cap. The vial has silver, lower-case, Italic font displaying the name of the designer.  The name of the scent is in small block font above it in the same filler color.  The only other marking is “004” on the vial.

Image from http://www.oscardelarenta.com/fragrance-and-beauty/shop-by-brand/something-blue/l0064100/something-blue-edp-spray-3-4-oz

Scent: 

• ITV:  “Something Blue” is a very light and clean scent with tones of green and citrus under white florals. It reminds me of a crisp garden party just after a fresh rain.
• Wet: The green here is a bit bitter, but it’s somewhat balanced by the narcissus, stephanotis, musk, linden blossoms, and cashmere wood.  However, I don’t get any of the warmth from the vanilla bourbon or ambergris that the notes normally provide, which would have been nice.
• Dry: I’m a bit disappointed as the scent fades to only a papery, slightly watery (lily of the valley) ghost of its former glory and only after two hours and a brisk walk.  I wish this had more staying power, but I’m not willing to shell out money for something that vanishes so quickly.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 926 – BPAL’s Sissy, The Ascendant

Tags

blue lilac, BPAL, chamomile, feathers, fig, king mandarin, Lilac, limited edition, mandarin, Musk, opoponax, Pretty Deadly, red musk, sassafras, smoke, vanilla, vanilla bean, vetiver

Scent Name: Sissy, The Ascendant

Manufacturer: Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Pretty Deadly

Scent Description and Notes: “Sassafras and smoke for black vulture feathers, and King mandarin and red musk for the deep red-orange of the vulture’s face. Blue lilac and chamomile / opoponax and vetiver for the blue and black of her eyes. Vanilla bean and fig represent her innate goodness and instinctive kindness.“ -blackphoenixalchemylab.com

Oil Color: The color of fresh motor oil.

Bottle Design and Artwork:   This is a standard vial / imp size (1/32 oz). This is a decant a fellow bpal forumite who assisted me in procuring a few other Pretty Deadly scents.  The imp has a small label  with the name of the scent centered horizontally in large, stylized black font.  Below that is the name of the company, the date, and the collection information in thin, small block font. While the imp label does not have any graphics, the original bottle artwork is below:

Image from http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/pretty-deadly/

Scent: 

• ITI:  It reminds me of Zebra bubblegum (the one that was tropical flavored but that died out threw chews in) plus blue sage and settled sassafras.  This evokes Route 66 for me for some reason.
• Wet:  The sassafras jumps out and screams for attention. I’m a bit surprised because I’ve never had it so strong before.  I can pick up a bit of the mandarin, some vetiver, and lilac, but for some reason, the combination reads as a little civit-like (and not in the awesome musky way) on my skin.
• Dry: Thankfully, the scent dries down into a more palatable combination of musk, vanilla, fig, vetiver, and dusty feathers with a touch of chamomile and opoponax on the horizon.  It just took three hours to get past the urine phase.

Other Impressions: None.

Day 904 – Catherine Malandrino’s Style de Paris

Tags

Amber, Catherine Malandrino, Citrus, gardenia, jasmine, mandarin, Musk, orange, orange blossom, pear, sweet jasmine

Scent Name:  Style de Paris Manufacturer:  Catherine Malandrino Scent Description and Notes: “Birchbox Breakdown: When we seek out a new perfume, we prefer to go with one that’s layered and complex like we are (if something is going to define us, then it better represent, right?). This scent from fashion designer Catherine Malandrino hits all the right notes with a playful yet sophisticated oriental fragrance mixed with fun fruits (think: Italian Mandarin, ruby red grapefruit, and Nashi pear). Like her renowned, sought-after designs, it’s the perfect blend of chic Parisian style and the infectious energy of New York City.

How it Works

This multifaceted perfume has citrus top notes that open up to aromas of lush orange blossom, sweet jasmine, and fresh gardenia. The fragrance rounds out with hints of amber and musk, leaving behind a lovely blend that captures a flirty but refined mood.”     -Birchbox.com

Perfume Oil Color:  Cannot tell through black plastic of vial.

Bottle Design and Artwork:  This is a standard 1.5ml sample vial.  The vial is a black plastic with marigold writing tat features the name of the designer and the type of perfume (eau de).

Image from http://www.birchbox.com/shop/catherine-malandrino-style-de-paris-fragrance-3-4oz

Scent:

• ITV: It strikes me as an older scent trying to be young through its use of bright fruits (I do think pear is one of them) long with gardenia and amber.  However, there’s a powdery quality to it that makes the scent skew older than it should, diminishing some of the bright airiness that would have made this scent appeal to a younger audience.
• Wet:  It’s more juicy fruits on my skin than powdery floral, which is nice Pear is sniffable once again, followed by orange blossom and gardenia with a touch of citrus and some musky amber.  There’s an odd note in there somewhere that reads like a cardboard box, so I’m not completely sold on the scent.
• Dry: Now that it’s had time to settle, I like the scent much better.  It’s less powder and cardboard and more fruity and  resinously sweet, like amber and caramel soaped pears infused with orange blossoms, a hint of musk, and gardenia.  It’s worth the dry-down.

Other Impressions: None.