puddingcat | BPAL: Tombstone; Fire of Love

Wanderlust: TOMBSTONE
A celebration of one of the first commercially produced perfumes of America's Old West. A rugged, warm blend of vanilla, balsam and sassafras layered over Virginia cedar.

This proves I like their "masculine" scents. This is warm and slightly vanillaish and yes, the sassafras mixes with that to give it a slight rootbeer smell, but it isn't artificial or sweet at all. Perhaps if rootbeer were served warm and alcoholic? There's a slight sharpness, but it is still wet so I'll see whether that fades.

Yes, it does fade,leaving a smoky vanilla with undertones of resiny wood; it reminds me of scented wooden balls you put in drawers to keep moths away and make your clothes smell as if you live in an autumnal forest. I really like this; not as much as Laudanum (:p) but it's easily a second-rank choice.

Oddly, Sausage seems to like it too. He's come & sat on my lap & purred & purred, and keeps sniffing my hand. Given how powerful this scent is, I'm surprised; I thought he'd sniff, sneeze & run off wailing bitterly.

Except. 2 hours later and it's gone sharper and more artificial. Bum. It's ok, but not as special as it promised.

Voodoo Blends: FIRE of LOVE
A catalytic, potent love oil used to spark (or rekindle) the flame of desire between lovers.

Similar to Tombstone in the vial, but turning slightly sharper on my skin. People on the forum refer to ginger, white pepper, musk, cedar, wet wood, tobacco and (fake) civet (and also nappies, pine air freshener and creosote). It's verging on too sharp while still wet, although nice and warm underneath.

Later on, I can understand the creosote comparisons, and the wet wood. The gingery top note has faded, but something tobaccoey is possibly coming through. OK, but not special.