BPAL ~ A Nocturnal Reverie

Hey lovely ladybugs! Today I will be discussing one of BPAL's Halloweenies, A Nocturnal Reverie. I was a bit reluctant to do this post because I wanted to save all my autumn/Halloween perfumes for a Fall-based perfume series that I've already started drafting. But after lurking BPAL's website this morning (and also reading Amanda's recent BPAL/Arcana haul), I knew that my fate had already been written. Speaking of Amanda, she very kindly sent this lovely imp to me. Thank you so very much, dear one!

Scent description for A Nocturnal Reverie by BPAL:
Violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense.



The cold sniff in this blend is straight-up lavender. It's an earthy lavender as opposed to medicinal. Lavender is a scent I have always enjoyed. I remember buying lavender linen sprays and lavender scented lotion in the dark ages before I got into perfume. Lavender is also a perfect scent for me right now, as I'm a huge mess of stress and it's well known for its ability to relax people.

How many times can I say "lavender" in one post? :)

When initially applied, the lavender is still there. However, it is also paired with beautiful muskiness and fig. These notes kind of battle to be the center of attention for awhile. It's incredibly enchanting, like being inside a dark fairy tale with a malevolent creature lurking in the forest.



The drydown on me is a wonderful musky violent scent that I very much enjoy. Sillage is medium, and longevity is absolutely astounding! This perfume lasted all day on me, which is very rare due to my climate and skin type. This is a wonderful Halloween scent that I would happily wear year round. Lavender and lilac haters need not apply ;)

A Dirty Murder of Crows

Recently, Dee was so incredibly kind to send me some imps in the mail, and among them were two from BPAL. She sent me Dirty and A Murder of Crows. I was so excited to have the opportunity to test more BPAL scents, because I haven't been able to purchase anything from them yet. So, once again, you guys are amazing and deserve all the Internet hugs in the world! ❤

Italicized scent descriptions are from BPAL.

Dirty

A wonderful antidote to an all-nighter oozing with drunken, addled perversion and debauchery. A fresh, crisp white linen scent: perfectly clean, perfectly breezy.




Cold sniff: So fresh and pretty, and something slightly floral.

Initial Application/Wet on Skin: I'm getting that mysterious floral note once again. I'm not quite sure what it is. I read a review from bpal.org that said they detected plumeria on initial application, and I'd say that's spot on. My mom and I loved the Plumeria line from Bath & Body Works when I was in high school, so the plumeria in this blend is a pleasant and welcome surprise for me.

Drydown: The drydown for me is 100% fresh, clean laundry. It's so delightful and incredibly realistic.

Final Thoughts: I would definitely recommend this to anyone that is into "fresh" scents. Dirty is also a perfect everyday scent for anyone who doesn't want to smell perfumey. I asked my boyfriend what he thought it smelled like, and he got the floral note in it too. Though it is a simple scent, the possibilities for it are endless. I can see it working for practically any occasion (expect going out, as you'd probably want more of an exotic option... unless you want to have men or women wondering what laundry detergent you use, haha).




A Murder of Crows

Sleek iris and verbena, grey amber, benzoin, davana, and glossy herbs.



Cold sniff: I was stumped when I tried to decipher this scent. I know I've smelled it before, but I didn't know what it was exactly. My boyfriend ran into the same dilemma. If I had to guess, I'd say it's the iris/verbena notes.

Initial Application/Wet on skin: For the first minute, what I believe to be the iris and verbena are present. However, it immediately transforms into a woody and resinous aroma (the benzoin and davana).

Drydown: The most prominent note for me is the benzoin. At least, that is what I believe I am smelling. It is very woody at this stage, and since benzoin is derived from the bark of numerous trees, I can only make an assumption that it's the benzoin ;) It's also very resiny, which I think is the grey amber making its debut.

Final Thoughts: I'm a huge fan of Halloween scents, so this perfume already had an advantage before I even sniffed it. But it's so much more than I expected. It's incredibly beautiful and unlike any perfume I've ever tried. If BPAL ever brought this back, I'd buy a full size in a heartbeat. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Now, to enjoy this lovely rainy Friday! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

My First BPAL and Possets imps!

Can you guys believe I've never tried BPAL or Possets? I'm almost ashamed to admit that! There are just so many indie perfumeries, sometimes it's hard to try a lot a brands (even when they're incredibly popular!). Amanda was kind enough to send me one BPAL imp and two Poppets from Possets! I mentioned these in my post about Amanda's care package to me, and I'm going to use the same picture because it's only 6:15 A.M. where I live and too dark to take any new pictures.

L to R- Theodora, Gypsy Grave, Samhain 2011

Possets ~ Theodora

Beloved of Justinian, she started her life as a prostitute and dancer who attracted the greatest man in the empire. She became the empress of all Byzantium, hated by many and who outsmarted all. It was to her that the proud Justinian turned when others could not give him the guidance. One of the truly great women of the Middle Ages. All the rich and precious resins of the Byzantine empire poured into the blend: musk (both black and red), tears of frankincense, tears of vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver and myrrh, a kiss of 'nard. Kiss of oude.

Theodora was actually the last imp I was able to try, and I'm actually wearing it right now. Oh gosh, this is a beautiful blend. It is THE perfect musky perfume. The musky notes are my favorite thing in this blend! The vanilla is quite strong upon initial application, but it fades pretty quickly. The musky notes take over with perhaps some sandalwood in the background. There is something about this perfume that makes me feel sad. When a perfume has the capacity to evoke emotion, it's a pretty darn good perfume in my opinion!


Possets ~ Gypsy Grave

Every year at Memorial Day in Cincinnati, there is a procession of people who come to the grave of The Gypsy Queen at Spring Grove Cemetery. They come at a very early hour and leave before the public appears, and they offer mounds of expensive flowers, sayings written on little scrolls, prayers and the like at the tomb said to be that of a Gypsy Queen. She was a larger than life sort of person, with extreme passions and tastes. Her perfume reflects that. Masses of gorgeous expensive flowers, combined with a bit of the clove cigarettes she smoked, a deep base of darkest musk which is more oriental and earthy rather than European, a bit of vetiver (but just a tiny bit) and a puff of incense. There is also the small smell of cards in here, their pasteboard pictures being so much a part of her heritage. You would not expect a Queen of the Gypsies to be buried in Cincinnati, but remember that being a gypsy means roaming where your heart pleases. This is a dry and sophisticated blend, strong and slightly unconventional.

This perfume is absolutely beautiful. I've actually already tried it a couple times these past few days, and I kept getting whiffs of it on those days. I realized Gypsy Grave was the reason I was smelling so nice! This is the perfect "graveyard" perfume, with a wonderful balance of earthy and floral notes. The muskiness and clove notes give this perfume depth and make it very beautiful and unique. The incense comes through after a couple minutes and it makes everything come together even better. It is certainly "dry and sophisticated" like the website describes. I love this one enough to purchase a full size, which I will do for my first Possets order! This is actually the best graveyard/Cemetary perfume I've ever sniffed!


BPAL ~ Samhain 2011

Truly the scent of autumn itself — damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.

So THIS is what all the fuss is about! This is sadly discontinued, but Samhain 2011 is absolutely lovely. I am describing this scent from memory, because I am hoarding every drop I have left. This perfume is a beautiful fall scent and is very well rounded. The damp woods note comes out pretty strongly at first, which I am very happy with. Imagine a dark forest in autumn with soggy wet leaves beneath your feet and a faint hint of fir whispering at your nose- that is what this smells like. The apple note comes out strongly on me, but the other notes keep it rounded and out of the "fruit" realm. This is a very beautiful perfume. Not everyone on the BPAL forum liked this one, but I certainly did!

I apologize if this post seems brief, I have to get ready for work now. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Thank you Amanda for sending me these! I really appreciate it! :)

DISCLAIMER: These perfumes were sent to me for free by Amanda. I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of the companies mentioned. All opinions are my own and always honest! Thanks for reading!