Gluttony
by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

A brief glance at the notes (in foetidus' review, below) would lend one to think Gluttony smells like a 4-scoop ice cream sundae, but it's actually much more successful (per the BPAL website, 'hops' is a note that foetidus missed). There is also a little more development and progression then I've experienced in the few BPALs I've tried (but that is so few I cannot generalize from them).

It starts of with a distinctly nutty, hazelnut blast. The nuttiness eventually subsides into a less distinct toffee note sitting on a light bed of buttercream, the effect of which is to smell like a buttercream-nut cookie batter. The toffee lingers, eventually meandering into a coffee/cocoa base. Longevity is incredible 10+ hours with just a dot of oil.

While sweet, the composition is just dry enough (probably the hops) so as to make the composition miserable, though if you don't like gourmands you should stay far, far away from Gluttony. It's important to remember that BPAL fragrances are highly conceptual and are one aspect of an artistic 'piece' that includes the art, themes, poetry, and other writings on the BPAL website. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins, and thus one must view its absurd over-the-top gourmand nature in that perspective - it's supposed to be sinfully rich and decadent. As to whether it's wearable that is on the skin of the beholder, but for a few bucks you can own a truly outrageous gourmand.

6th April, 2009.

Another BPAL gourmand: Chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, praline, cinnamon, vanilla, and buttercream – all the yummies you can think of. It’s so busy and sweet that I can’t tell how well it’s structured and balanced – the sweet is in control and the scent is in a sort of mess in my opinion. You know, it’s quite hard to dislike something like this because what can you dislike about the smell of chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, praline, cinnamon, vanilla, and butter cream? I suppose that I can say that I like it in a sort of I-wouldn’t -wear -it sense. Gluttony deserves a look and sniff if you are into this sort of gourmand thing.

10th October, 2008.