BPAL sniffing notes 60 - Lurid, The Black Rider, The Robotic Scarab, Alecto

The Black Rider - As she stood there a third man on horseback came galloping up. His face was black, he was dressed all in black, and the horse he rode was coal-black. He galloped up to the gate of the hut and disappeared there as if he had sunk through the ground and at that moment the night came and the forest grew dark.

But it was not dark on the green lawn, for instantly the eyes of all the skulls on the wall were lighted up and shone till the place was as bright as day. When she saw this Vasilissa trembled so with fear that she could not run away.

Black leather, oppoponax, tobacco, and black amber.

In the vial, I swear to god there's rose in this. I smell leather and roses. This is what I expected Whip to smell like. Color, red so dark it's almost indistinguishable from black.

Wet on my skin, I can smell the leather distinctly, which is unusual. I'm wondering if the 'rose' note I'm picking up is a combination of the oppoponax and the black amber, though. The tobacco is standing out nicely, which I like. I'm usually pretty fond of tobacco notes, though.

10-15 minute drydown - So far, it's drying to leather and tobacco. Very nice. If it stays like this, it's a definite bottle purchase. It's reminiscent of Parliament of Monsters, but without the incense-y notes, so a little softer.

30 minute drydown - Slightly powdery, but not in a bad way. Amber has a tendency to dry that way, but it wasn't unexpected. I think this is a definite bottle.

*****

Lurid - Shocking, horrific, fierce, savage, sensationalized, luminous and hazy: black currant, Bulgarian lavender and white musk with a dollop of thick resin and a voltaic charge of ozone notes.

In the vial, it kinda reminds me of window cleaner. Helloooo, lavender and ozone. The black currant is surprisingly strong and sweet, too, and the resins present a nice strong base. Color, electric blue.

Wet on my skin, I'm getting black currant and lavender, almost exclusively. It smells like candy.

10-15 minute drydown - Ok, there's the ozone again. I was starting to wonder. :-) It smells very... clean, though. It almost reminds me of shampoo.

*ACK!!! Now I know what it reminds me of and why it bothers me. It's starting to smell more and more like Ultraviolet!!!!! GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!!!!!

*****

Alecto - Unceasing In Anger - Olive leaf, raspberry leaf, vetiver and cedarwood.

In the vial, it smells like furniture polish. What is it with me and cleaning products today? I think it's the olive leaf - Olisbos gave me a very similar feeling. Color - olive.

Wet on my skin, it's nowhere *near* as unpleasant on. This is a pretty masculine feeling scent, IMO, though. I think the cedar is giving that impression. Hopefully it doesn't turn to straight pencil shavings on me.

10-15 minute drydown - Now, it's almost all cedar and vetiver. Not a bad combo, either. I think this would be nicer on Josh, though.

*****

The Robotic Scarab - Pinpoints of red light beaming from its eyes scan the room, and in a flutter of leather wings, it scuttles across the wooden floorboards.

Polished metallic notes, glossy leather, frankincense, star anise, and thin lubricating oils.

In the vial, it reminds me of a machine shop or a garage. It has a tinge of 'generic cologne' - probably the leather and star anise, something vaguely petroleum based, and a hint of exhaust. I know it sounds weird, but that's what it smelled like when I opened the imp. Color, oilslick black.

Wet on my skin, oh wow. I'm getting leather and frankincense, with a little sweetness from the anise and a bit of the acridness from the 'lubricating oils'. This is so much better than I expected.

10-15 minute drydown - There's a little bit of sharpness coming out from the metallic notes, which is nice. That keeps the frank from being too heavy. This is soooo much nicer than I anticipated. Definite bottle material.

30 minute drydown - Spoke too soon. Apparently, I amp mineral/metal/oil notes. Erk. All of a sudden, I smell like a gas station. That interesting, not unpleasant petroleum acridity I was smelling... now smells like I spilled half a gallon of Unleaded on myself. Same thing happened with Inganok Jewelers, but not as bad. Whew! Stinky!