BPAL: Carnaval Diabolique Acts IV & V notes
...since we have until the end of September to order CD and as of yet, I've tried TWO, it's time to get my brain in order. I have been funneling my cash into other things lately-- well, that and I have a ton of perfume that I should probably start wearing before I buy any more, especially as I'm always worried that whatever I buy will smell exactly like three things I already own. Trust me, I like variety. But BPAL's been SO prolific in the last few years, I bet some super blends have been passed over because there's just so much to choose from that it's a bit overwhelming. I mean, I realize that I'm complaining about being spoiled for choice, but I like to test before committing, and this is why I prefer GC updates to LE in general. It's a practicality thing for me.
Still, some of these look great.
STORMCLOUDS OVER THE MIDWAY:: Thunder-charged ozone, plum-colored incense smoke, opium tar, and wormwood.
Ozone. No!
KNUCKLEBONES:: Black musk, bay rum, lime fougere, orange blossom water, gin, and tobacco.
Too dark for me, but probably great on a guy. Again, sounds like every masculine piratey blend they've done for the past two years.
L'HEURE VERTE:: Spilled absinthe, scorched sugar cubes, opium smoke, lilac blossoms, and rose water.
Probably has the potential to be good, but probably a mite too alcoholic for me.
THE BLOCKHEAD:: Rusted metal, leather, and a pop of pink bubblegum.
Uh. Want to smell it, don't want to smell like it.
THE CHAPEL:: Black incense, bitter wine, brimstone, and blood.
Not for me. Again, this seems like a familiar blend. Very reminiscent of the Dracula blends.
THE GRINDHOUSE:: Florentine iris, red musk, mimosa, magnolia, Damascus rose, clove, and vanilla bean.
Have no idea what this would smell like-- a mix of foody and floral. Doesn't pique my interest.
AERONWEN:: Fig, dark myrrh, amber, redwood, nutmeg, tarragon, black musk, and sweet orange.
I was totally there until I got to the black musk and orange bit.
AGRAT-BAT-MAHLAHT:: Amber, cream accord, white honey, apple blossom, skin musk, caramel, and teak.
AGGGH. I want everything but the caramel. Reviews.
ASHLULTUM:: Babylonian musk, vanilla tea, tonka, tobacco, coconut, hyssop, and lilac.
Oooh. One to test, for sure. Not huge on tobacco, but everything else sounds lovely.
CLÉMENCE:: Patchouli, Kashmiri tea, cardamom, black pepper, carnation, and clove.
Probably smells like patchouli-chai. I amp patchouli a lot, so probably not for me.
CYTHEREA:: White sandalwood, patchouli, white amber, orris, bourbon vanilla, champaca flower, and kush.
Kush = vetiver = overwhelming on me.
DIONYSIA:: Wild plum, pomegranate, raspberry, Siamese benzoin, plum blossom, patchouli, frankincense, and mahogany.
Ooooh, sounds all sorts of purpleliciousness, so long as the patchouli is a background note. Revies.
DAIYU:: Moroccan jasmine, chrysanthemum, tea leaf, white musk, and acai berry.
I am overcoming my aversion to jasmine. The berry could make this very wearable provided the florals don't go to soap on me.
EISHETH ZENUNIM:: Honey, ambergris, neroli, white peach, patchouli, and cocoa absolute.
Honey, ambergris, white peach? Heavenly. Neroli, patchouli, cocoa? Blech.
GWYNETH:: Rose otto, tonka, orchid, Calla lily, skin musk, coconut, and Spanish sage.
Lilies go to soap on me.
INEZ:: Golden amber, vanilla musk, myrrh, cedar, carnation, and red sandalwood.
Provided the cedar doesn't go to hampster cage, this could be nice.
MARCILLA:: Blue lilac, lily of the valley, golden musk, beeswax, white ginger, bergamot, green tea, and nectarine.
Ooh. Nectarine. If that's the main note, this could be pretty. Otherwise, the lilies might be soapy.
MARGUERITE:: Rose, rose geranium, myrrh, ylang ylang, French gardenia, tuberose, red sandalwood, and palmarosa.
Too floral for me.
MARIANNE:: Red musk, bergamot, black currant, mimosa, orchid, patchouli, and lotus root.
How many musk + patchouli blends does the world really need? I mean, really?
PARTHENOPE:: Honeysuckle, orris, moss, musk, benzoin, oakmoss, and star jasmine.
Oooh, could be pretty in a summer night air kind of way.
THE ILLUSTRATED WOMAN:: Skin musk, smoky vanilla, pine pitch, patchouli, Indian resins, golden honey, and tobacco.
Again... all go except for patchouli. Maybe.
THE TORTURE QUEEN:: White amber, vanilla musk, white tea, ambergris, gardenia, and chrome.
Hmmmm. Interesting. Maybe,
THE BLOOD GARDEN:: Blood accord, bitter clove, English ivy, Tempranillo grape, red currant, oak, leather, blackberry leaf, and ginger lily.
I predict dragon's blood + grape.
BEZOAR:: Copaiba balsam, Tolu balsam, hay absolute, cardamom, and hiba wood.
Herbal and a bit spicy. Not really my speed, but probably will smell nice.
THE BLASPHEMARE RELIQUARY:: Ethiopian myrrh, Damascus rose, boswellia, galbanum, and copal.
Resin + roses. Worth trying.
FAEU BOULANGER:: Mushroom gases, swamp mist, green mint, and bog violet.
RUN.
THE CONTRACT OF THEOPHILUS OF ADANA:: Parchment, Siamese benzoin, infernal incense, red musk, brimstone, and daemonorops.
Oh look. More incense and brimstone and musk. I am surprised.
THE GRAND INQUISITOR'S HERETIC'S FORK:: Coppery dried blood, metal, vetiver, and bonfire smoke.
Nyet.
HAND OF GLORY:: Beeswax, dry leather, black pepper, saltpeter, nutmeg, Mysore sandalwood, and oak bark.
Ooooh, this sounds great! But I kind of shudder at the thought of wearing anything inspired by a hand of glory. Aggh.
LICWIGLUNGA:: Hemp paper, frankincense, dried pomegranate juice, lavender, gum mastic, verbena, fennel, star anise, and Dittany of Crete.
I can't even imagine what this would smell like. Dusty and fruity with lavender?
THE MALTESE CROSS OF SANCTUS GERMANUS:: Golden amber, blood orange, ambergris, lilac, frankincense, and agarwood.
Not usually one for orange.
PICKLED IMP:: Cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and pine sap.
This sounds delicious, but also fall-like. Reviews.
SHRUNKEN HEADS:: Leather tanned with the pulp of Amazon ferns and rainforest herbs.
I love leather. The greenery depends.
SIR HUGH OCKRAM'S WINDING SHEET:: Rotting linen, white sandalwood, hyssop, and dust.
Why would anyone want to smell like dust?
TABULA SMARAGDINA:: Rosicrucian incense.
Not for me.
THE TWO-HEADED GOAT:: Dark musk, pimento berry, oakmoss, birch wood, and petitgrain.
Probably not.
So, to sum up... I want to try: Gennevre, Faiza, Saw-Scaled Viper, Western Diamondback, Priala, Aeronwen, Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht, Ashlultum, Dionysia, Daiyu, Eisheth Zenunim, Inez, Marcilla, Parthenope, The Illustrated Woman, The Torture Queen, Hand of Glory, Pickled Imp.
Also? The illustrations are cool. I was like-- "Ooh, it's
tennyo! And belladonnastrap! HOLY COW, it's Karyn's NIPPLES!"
Still, some of these look great.
STORMCLOUDS OVER THE MIDWAY:: Thunder-charged ozone, plum-colored incense smoke, opium tar, and wormwood.
Ozone. No!
KNUCKLEBONES:: Black musk, bay rum, lime fougere, orange blossom water, gin, and tobacco.
Too dark for me, but probably great on a guy. Again, sounds like every masculine piratey blend they've done for the past two years.
L'HEURE VERTE:: Spilled absinthe, scorched sugar cubes, opium smoke, lilac blossoms, and rose water.
Probably has the potential to be good, but probably a mite too alcoholic for me.
THE BLOCKHEAD:: Rusted metal, leather, and a pop of pink bubblegum.
Uh. Want to smell it, don't want to smell like it.
THE CHAPEL:: Black incense, bitter wine, brimstone, and blood.
Not for me. Again, this seems like a familiar blend. Very reminiscent of the Dracula blends.
THE GRINDHOUSE:: Florentine iris, red musk, mimosa, magnolia, Damascus rose, clove, and vanilla bean.
Have no idea what this would smell like-- a mix of foody and floral. Doesn't pique my interest.
AERONWEN:: Fig, dark myrrh, amber, redwood, nutmeg, tarragon, black musk, and sweet orange.
I was totally there until I got to the black musk and orange bit.
AGRAT-BAT-MAHLAHT:: Amber, cream accord, white honey, apple blossom, skin musk, caramel, and teak.
AGGGH. I want everything but the caramel. Reviews.
ASHLULTUM:: Babylonian musk, vanilla tea, tonka, tobacco, coconut, hyssop, and lilac.
Oooh. One to test, for sure. Not huge on tobacco, but everything else sounds lovely.
CLÉMENCE:: Patchouli, Kashmiri tea, cardamom, black pepper, carnation, and clove.
Probably smells like patchouli-chai. I amp patchouli a lot, so probably not for me.
CYTHEREA:: White sandalwood, patchouli, white amber, orris, bourbon vanilla, champaca flower, and kush.
Kush = vetiver = overwhelming on me.
DIONYSIA:: Wild plum, pomegranate, raspberry, Siamese benzoin, plum blossom, patchouli, frankincense, and mahogany.
Ooooh, sounds all sorts of purpleliciousness, so long as the patchouli is a background note. Revies.
DAIYU:: Moroccan jasmine, chrysanthemum, tea leaf, white musk, and acai berry.
I am overcoming my aversion to jasmine. The berry could make this very wearable provided the florals don't go to soap on me.
EISHETH ZENUNIM:: Honey, ambergris, neroli, white peach, patchouli, and cocoa absolute.
Honey, ambergris, white peach? Heavenly. Neroli, patchouli, cocoa? Blech.
GWYNETH:: Rose otto, tonka, orchid, Calla lily, skin musk, coconut, and Spanish sage.
Lilies go to soap on me.
INEZ:: Golden amber, vanilla musk, myrrh, cedar, carnation, and red sandalwood.
Provided the cedar doesn't go to hampster cage, this could be nice.
MARCILLA:: Blue lilac, lily of the valley, golden musk, beeswax, white ginger, bergamot, green tea, and nectarine.
Ooh. Nectarine. If that's the main note, this could be pretty. Otherwise, the lilies might be soapy.
MARGUERITE:: Rose, rose geranium, myrrh, ylang ylang, French gardenia, tuberose, red sandalwood, and palmarosa.
Too floral for me.
MARIANNE:: Red musk, bergamot, black currant, mimosa, orchid, patchouli, and lotus root.
How many musk + patchouli blends does the world really need? I mean, really?
PARTHENOPE:: Honeysuckle, orris, moss, musk, benzoin, oakmoss, and star jasmine.
Oooh, could be pretty in a summer night air kind of way.
THE ILLUSTRATED WOMAN:: Skin musk, smoky vanilla, pine pitch, patchouli, Indian resins, golden honey, and tobacco.
Again... all go except for patchouli. Maybe.
THE TORTURE QUEEN:: White amber, vanilla musk, white tea, ambergris, gardenia, and chrome.
Hmmmm. Interesting. Maybe,
THE BLOOD GARDEN:: Blood accord, bitter clove, English ivy, Tempranillo grape, red currant, oak, leather, blackberry leaf, and ginger lily.
I predict dragon's blood + grape.
BEZOAR:: Copaiba balsam, Tolu balsam, hay absolute, cardamom, and hiba wood.
Herbal and a bit spicy. Not really my speed, but probably will smell nice.
THE BLASPHEMARE RELIQUARY:: Ethiopian myrrh, Damascus rose, boswellia, galbanum, and copal.
Resin + roses. Worth trying.
FAEU BOULANGER:: Mushroom gases, swamp mist, green mint, and bog violet.
RUN.
THE CONTRACT OF THEOPHILUS OF ADANA:: Parchment, Siamese benzoin, infernal incense, red musk, brimstone, and daemonorops.
Oh look. More incense and brimstone and musk. I am surprised.
THE GRAND INQUISITOR'S HERETIC'S FORK:: Coppery dried blood, metal, vetiver, and bonfire smoke.
Nyet.
HAND OF GLORY:: Beeswax, dry leather, black pepper, saltpeter, nutmeg, Mysore sandalwood, and oak bark.
Ooooh, this sounds great! But I kind of shudder at the thought of wearing anything inspired by a hand of glory. Aggh.
LICWIGLUNGA:: Hemp paper, frankincense, dried pomegranate juice, lavender, gum mastic, verbena, fennel, star anise, and Dittany of Crete.
I can't even imagine what this would smell like. Dusty and fruity with lavender?
THE MALTESE CROSS OF SANCTUS GERMANUS:: Golden amber, blood orange, ambergris, lilac, frankincense, and agarwood.
Not usually one for orange.
PICKLED IMP:: Cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and pine sap.
This sounds delicious, but also fall-like. Reviews.
SHRUNKEN HEADS:: Leather tanned with the pulp of Amazon ferns and rainforest herbs.
I love leather. The greenery depends.
SIR HUGH OCKRAM'S WINDING SHEET:: Rotting linen, white sandalwood, hyssop, and dust.
Why would anyone want to smell like dust?
TABULA SMARAGDINA:: Rosicrucian incense.
Not for me.
THE TWO-HEADED GOAT:: Dark musk, pimento berry, oakmoss, birch wood, and petitgrain.
Probably not.
So, to sum up... I want to try: Gennevre, Faiza, Saw-Scaled Viper, Western Diamondback, Priala, Aeronwen, Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht, Ashlultum, Dionysia, Daiyu, Eisheth Zenunim, Inez, Marcilla, Parthenope, The Illustrated Woman, The Torture Queen, Hand of Glory, Pickled Imp.
Also? The illustrations are cool. I was like-- "Ooh, it's
tennyo! And belladonnastrap! HOLY COW, it's Karyn's NIPPLES!"