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juushikaI've been testing some of my undecided and free imps, thus why so many of these reviews are simply "meh." I have much better luck with most BPAL. I will probably risk sending mail again to pass these on—to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sisterite and kaimetso, probably, but feel free to raise your hand if any of them appeal.
MARQUISE de MERTEUIL (GC, Diabolus)
Stately, bold, aristocratic and cruel. Opulent galbanum and amber, glistening peach, and a bouquet of French florals, with a merciless undertone of jonquil and heartless vetiver.
This was a frimp from the Lab.
On me: A difficult scent to describe. The bulk of it is a pleasant and almost creamy scent—perhaps the combination of amber and peach—but it's surprisingly nondescript. At it's edges, the scent is somewhat unusual, a bit masculine, perhaps a little darker and sharper, but again it's hard to pin down.
Verdict: The scent isn't unpleasant, but it's a bit nondescript, a little too much of a bland men's cologne. This isn't one that I would have picked for myself, so I'm not particularly disappointed, but I'll probably pass it along.
DESTROYING ANGEL (GC, Rappaccini's Garden)
Papery white notes evoke the grace of this fungi, grounded by thin, crisp soil.
After falling in love with Death Cap, I went on the hunt for another mushroom and dirt scent.
In vial: Sharp and bitter. A pale dusty soil.
On me: The scent loses some of its sharpness, but it retains a bitter edge. The dust dies down, but the soil remains dry and thin. After the drydown, it develops something more organic, rounding it out—the fungus growing from the soil. It's a pale scent, white in color.
Verdict: Destroying Angel is pale and dry, a bit bitter, rounded out by an organic note at the center. The Lab's description fits it perfectly. Unfortunately, the scent doesn't have much of a personality—soil and fungus, definitely, but nothing more than that. It's not bad or unpleasant by any means (though I'm not fond of the bitterness), it just simply doesn't stand out or appeal to me. I'll probably pass this one along.
ZEPHYER (GC, Bewitching Brews)
A gentle white scent, breezes laced with the scent of springtime blooms and citrus. Lemon, lemon verbena, neroli, white musk, white florals, white sandalwood, China musk, bergamot and a drop of vanilla.
This was a frimp from the Lab.
In vial: A pale, mildly astringent, yellow scent.
On me: As soon as it goes on, the scent develops a blossoming floral note which I can't quite pin down—it just feels generally perfumey. Although the scent is remarkably smooth, the astringency takes a little while longer to fade. When it does, it takes with it my ability to locate the scent—it's still there, but it's faint and elusive. Then the scent sweetens up (no doubt the vanilla), and becomes a sweet, light, pale generic perfume, skewed towards light florals and a pale fruit which I can't name.
Verdict: From the notes, this scent isn't my style; wearing it doesn't surprise me any. It's pale, light, and elusive, a bit generic perfumey to my nose (which, admittably, is untutored in the way of pale and citrus and floral scents), unremarkable and just not my style. I'll pass this one along.
THE UNICORN (GC, Mad Tea Party)
A misty, almost luminous perfume: wispy linden blossoms, white flowers, and a touch of sweet herbs.
The reviews of this (as luminous and sparkling) intrigued me enough to pick up an imp.
In vial: Faint, pale, and sweet.
On me: As soon as goes on, the scent opens up. It's slightly herbal and slightly astringent (the astringency fades a bit in time), but the bulk of the scent is a pale, white/yellow floral sweetness. It's almost colorless. It fades quickly.
Verdict: The Unicorn reminds me of Antique Lace, only it's softer and yellower, and it lacks AL's cloying vanilla. It's sweet, light, and pale, but unfortunately I don't get the sparkling or luminosity that I was hoping for—so the scent is pleasant, but it doesn't quite grab me. I'll admit I'm a bit disappointed. I'll probably pass this one along.
COYOTE (GC, Excolo)
The warmth of doeskin, dry plains grasses and soft, dusty woods warmed by amber and a downy, gentle coat of deep musk.
I love musks, and the description sounded similar to The Lion (which I adore), so I had to try this one out.
In vial: It does remind me of The Lion, but darker. Dry grasses, deep musk.
On me: When it goes on, the scent loses some of the sharpness from the vial and it fills out. To my nose, the musk is similar to Satyr. It's distinct, rich brown, and a bit powdery. The dry grasses, however, round out the scent and prevent the sweet edge that musk often has on my skin. The grasses lighten and sun-warm the scent into a golden brown.
Verdict: It's ironic, considering my deep love of Satyr and the similarities that these two have to my nose, but I don't have much of an opinion about Coyote. The dry grass and musk is a pleasant combination and it's certainly evocative, conjuring the image that it represents. But, all told, the scent doesn't stand out or really appeal to me. I've been hanging onto this imp for a while, retesting and indecisive, but I think it's finally time to admit that Coyote doesn't grab me.
sisterite and kaimetso, probably, but feel free to raise your hand if any of them appeal.MARQUISE de MERTEUIL (GC, Diabolus)
Stately, bold, aristocratic and cruel. Opulent galbanum and amber, glistening peach, and a bouquet of French florals, with a merciless undertone of jonquil and heartless vetiver.
This was a frimp from the Lab.
On me: A difficult scent to describe. The bulk of it is a pleasant and almost creamy scent—perhaps the combination of amber and peach—but it's surprisingly nondescript. At it's edges, the scent is somewhat unusual, a bit masculine, perhaps a little darker and sharper, but again it's hard to pin down.
Verdict: The scent isn't unpleasant, but it's a bit nondescript, a little too much of a bland men's cologne. This isn't one that I would have picked for myself, so I'm not particularly disappointed, but I'll probably pass it along.
DESTROYING ANGEL (GC, Rappaccini's Garden)
Papery white notes evoke the grace of this fungi, grounded by thin, crisp soil.
After falling in love with Death Cap, I went on the hunt for another mushroom and dirt scent.
In vial: Sharp and bitter. A pale dusty soil.
On me: The scent loses some of its sharpness, but it retains a bitter edge. The dust dies down, but the soil remains dry and thin. After the drydown, it develops something more organic, rounding it out—the fungus growing from the soil. It's a pale scent, white in color.
Verdict: Destroying Angel is pale and dry, a bit bitter, rounded out by an organic note at the center. The Lab's description fits it perfectly. Unfortunately, the scent doesn't have much of a personality—soil and fungus, definitely, but nothing more than that. It's not bad or unpleasant by any means (though I'm not fond of the bitterness), it just simply doesn't stand out or appeal to me. I'll probably pass this one along.
ZEPHYER (GC, Bewitching Brews)
A gentle white scent, breezes laced with the scent of springtime blooms and citrus. Lemon, lemon verbena, neroli, white musk, white florals, white sandalwood, China musk, bergamot and a drop of vanilla.
This was a frimp from the Lab.
In vial: A pale, mildly astringent, yellow scent.
On me: As soon as it goes on, the scent develops a blossoming floral note which I can't quite pin down—it just feels generally perfumey. Although the scent is remarkably smooth, the astringency takes a little while longer to fade. When it does, it takes with it my ability to locate the scent—it's still there, but it's faint and elusive. Then the scent sweetens up (no doubt the vanilla), and becomes a sweet, light, pale generic perfume, skewed towards light florals and a pale fruit which I can't name.
Verdict: From the notes, this scent isn't my style; wearing it doesn't surprise me any. It's pale, light, and elusive, a bit generic perfumey to my nose (which, admittably, is untutored in the way of pale and citrus and floral scents), unremarkable and just not my style. I'll pass this one along.
THE UNICORN (GC, Mad Tea Party)
A misty, almost luminous perfume: wispy linden blossoms, white flowers, and a touch of sweet herbs.
The reviews of this (as luminous and sparkling) intrigued me enough to pick up an imp.
In vial: Faint, pale, and sweet.
On me: As soon as goes on, the scent opens up. It's slightly herbal and slightly astringent (the astringency fades a bit in time), but the bulk of the scent is a pale, white/yellow floral sweetness. It's almost colorless. It fades quickly.
Verdict: The Unicorn reminds me of Antique Lace, only it's softer and yellower, and it lacks AL's cloying vanilla. It's sweet, light, and pale, but unfortunately I don't get the sparkling or luminosity that I was hoping for—so the scent is pleasant, but it doesn't quite grab me. I'll admit I'm a bit disappointed. I'll probably pass this one along.
COYOTE (GC, Excolo)
The warmth of doeskin, dry plains grasses and soft, dusty woods warmed by amber and a downy, gentle coat of deep musk.
I love musks, and the description sounded similar to The Lion (which I adore), so I had to try this one out.
In vial: It does remind me of The Lion, but darker. Dry grasses, deep musk.
On me: When it goes on, the scent loses some of the sharpness from the vial and it fills out. To my nose, the musk is similar to Satyr. It's distinct, rich brown, and a bit powdery. The dry grasses, however, round out the scent and prevent the sweet edge that musk often has on my skin. The grasses lighten and sun-warm the scent into a golden brown.
Verdict: It's ironic, considering my deep love of Satyr and the similarities that these two have to my nose, but I don't have much of an opinion about Coyote. The dry grass and musk is a pleasant combination and it's certainly evocative, conjuring the image that it represents. But, all told, the scent doesn't stand out or really appeal to me. I've been hanging onto this imp for a while, retesting and indecisive, but I think it's finally time to admit that Coyote doesn't grab me.
