telophase | BPAL review: Mata Hari

Mata Hari

BPAL Description In the Bewitching Brews collection. A renowned exotic dancer and courtesan, possessed of aristocratic elegance, matchless charm, an iron will and a streak of fearlessness. The actual events of her life have met with much speculation, and to this day it is unclear whether or not she was truly a German spy. Despite shaky evidence of her guilt, she was tried for espionage by a closed court-martial and was executed by a French firing squad in 1917. Her scent is striking and bold with a delicate yet dark undertone: five roses with soft jasmine, warmed by vanilla, fig, tonka bean and mahogany, spiced with a drop of coffee bean.

In vial: A mocha floral - not straight coffee, but with the vanilla modulating it.

Wet: The mocha dies, and a blend of things takes its place. Can't quite pick anything out. There's something a bit harsh in there.

Dry: Sort of faint, with that harsh note predominating. Gets a bit soapy after a while, then mostly vanishes. I can tell it's still there by the way it makes my nose stop up.

Notes: Cat not happy that I woke her up and is now all cranky. The forums report that many times, if left on long enough, it'll turn into something really nice. We'll see if I can stand the harsh note and the allergy that long - it's making my nose close up like Crossroads. Wonder if it's the jasmine? ... Not turning into much of anything, just getting subtler and subtler, except for whatever it is making my nose stop up. Guess I'll wash it off.