Ask the f-list (BPAL addicts edition): recommendations, please

[geekchick]

Of all the imps I got *mumble* years ago, the only one I'm even close to using up so far is Old Morocco (apparently now known simply as Morocco). I'm picking up a full bottle of it and figured I might try imps of some other stuff while I'm there. I would love some suggestions from those of you with more recent experience of the scents than I have.

• The stuff I wear most frequently that isn't BPAL is Anna Sui (year-round) and Lucky You (summer).
  
• I like warm and spicy, particularly for fall/winter scents.
• I love All Souls, and it smells really good on me. I like Cathedral okay, but I don't wear it much.
• I love rose scents, but they turn to baby powder on me in about five minutes and so probably shouldn't be the primary note. (Although that isn't stopping me from really wanting a bottle of Peacock Queen.)
• Black Forest sounded good in theory, hated it in practice; that sort of scent is apparently not for me.

So, what would y'all suggest?

Comments

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Try 'Silk Road' and 'Kathmandu'.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Also maybe Cairo, and maaaaaaaaaaaybe Black Tower?

[geekchick]

I thought you might have a suggestion or two. ;)

Have you tried Baghdad? I've got my eye on that, and Silk Road sounds promising. Thanks!

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

Baghdad is the same kind of thing - it would probably work for you. (Sadly none of these types of scents work for me at all. :-D) You might also like Bastet (one of my favorites) and The Lion - both nice warm wintery smells.

[nixieq.livejournal.com]

if amber scents work okay on you, i would most definitely recommend the lion. LOVE that one. in fact, i just ordered a bottle of it, so if you want the imp i have (i could even top it off once the bottle arrives >;) you're welcome to it.

for a rose scent, try chuparosa. i think we were talking about that one recently, actually -- it's a much more gentle and light rose scent, not the kind that turns so quickly. it is a voodoo oil, so iffen you believe in that stuff, read the description. but i really like the scent. it's very light and doesn't wind up smelling so much like old lady lotion on me, and there's a hint of citrus in it as well.

for a WONDERFUL warm & spicy scent, you might try dsh's sensual spice. i just ordered a bottle of that, too, so again -- you're welcome to my imp of it. i actively dislike most of her stuff; there's some underlying note to a lot of it that just turns AWFUL on me, and a lot of her stuff is too traditionally perfumey for my taste. but that one is spot-on, and one of my favorite comfort scents. (honey, vanilla, and nutmeg. YUM. i almost want to chew my arm off when i'm wearing it, it's so good.) i'll also be getting an imp of toast from dsh, which looks to be similar but more cinnamony. i'll let you know how that one is.

queen of sheba (back to BPAL) is pretty good, too, although it's one that changes pretty dramatically as it ages. the imp i bought a few months ago is much more distinctively buttery-almondy with more a hint of spiciness; the 1+ year old bottle i bought smells almost like incense with just a hint of almond.

another of my faves is hell's belle. you've got to like magnolia and jasmine for that one, though. it's got a nice smoky-spicy undertone to it as well.

hmm... those are my top-of-the-head suggestions. good luck!

[geekchick]

You and phinnia have both recommended The Lion, so I think that'll end up in my imp order.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hrrm...

My scent preferences are almost opposite yours -- sharp citrus or 'woodsy.' I have, in fact, been known to wear men's cologne, usually Polo (very clean and heathery).

That being said, I love 'Whitechapel' - lime and musk. A scent that works for either men or women. I also like 'Seralagio,' which is very almondy/nutty.

Not sure if that helps...

[geekchick]

Oooh. Seraglio actually sounds pretty appealing (love sandalwood). Thanks!

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

Bummer that All Souls is LE, although there's always a chance it'll be back next year.

I noticed that both of the first perfumes you mentioned have jasmine in them. Do you like BPAL's jasmine? I personally can't wear it because it amps up and becomes old lady soap on me, and I'm not alone in this. But if it works for you, you could try Mata Hari (has rose though), Namaste, Rapture, Moscow, New Orleans. You also seem to like fruit, yes?

Shub Niggurath is also very popular.

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

Oh, also Scherezade. It's too spicy for me but many like it. And Chimera, Wrath, Snake Oil, Sin, White Rabbit, Vixen, Sudha Segara, and Tanin'iver.

Some of these I can't wear because I'm highly allergic to cinnamon oil, as are lots of other people. But cassia is fine for me and I like Morocco.

[geekchick]

Oh, I've got a mostly-full bottle of All Souls still, I'm in good shape there. =)

Do you like BPAL's jasmine?

You know, I have a single-note jasmine from someplace else and I don't actually like it. Apparently it's gotta be blended.

[geekchick]

Oh, and thanks! I'm going to check out the recommendations later this evening.

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

I've just noticed that many people have the same problem with jasmine that I have, or maybe it's just BPAL's jasmine note. Namely that it overpowers everything else and/or gets soapy. Jasmine, while not my favorite, is otherwise okay by itself.

[anmorata.livejournal.com]

I'm a big fan of Dorian, but it's musk and vanilla. But not waffle-batter vanilla. It's different. :)

I'm a foody smell fan, though, so that probably won't help you. :) I'm not familiar with any of the newer scents in the last year or two, though.

I really should dig out my BPAL box and try some of them again.. hmm.

[asetwoman.livejournal.com]

I too am a big fan of Dorian. Mmm, Dorian...

Btw, you might also like Theodosius from the current LE Carnaval line. Very Dorian-like, although a little more gender neutral.

[anmorata.livejournal.com]

Very cool. Thanks for the tip! :)

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

This reminds me that I've wanted to try BPAL stuff for a long while ... and I'm currently out of scent. Hmm ...

[nixieq.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, one i totally forgot: laudanum. it's very sharp-spicy, not sweet at all, so i usually mix it w/ O.

(sorry, this is how my brain works. i seriously was walking down the street yesterday when that popped into my head.)