Jump to content
BPAL Madness!
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
  • entries
    154
  • comments
    4
  • views
    6,181

About this blog

Notes to myself and anyone else

Entries in this blog

 

Yule breakdown!

BPAL Yule breakdown 2010......”interest scale” of 1-5   Edited after more thought, 10/23 (bold means decant ordered)   Klara....”Honey dusting powder, mandarin, iris, ylang ylang, tea rose, and carnation” Pass. 1/5   Herr Drosselmeyer 2010....”Pipe smoke, sweet leather, woods and linen” Pass. Never was very interested in this one. 2/5   Harlequin And Columbine.....”French vanilla, red currant, sage, balsam, rosewood, mandarin, lemon peel, pomegranate, and cedar” Probably pass, maybe a decant. 3/5   The Soldier.....”Red musk, vanilla cream, black tea, black pepper, leather, and pie” Has potential but I don’t like black pepper in perfume. Makes me think of Lawn Gnome? I think I'll have to try this, so I guess I need to look for a decant. 4/5   Grobvater Tanz.....”rice porridge, candied fruits, heavy cream, powdered clove, and Lebkuchen” Have to find out what Lebkuchen is. This might be good, I have been wanting a candied fruit scent lately. 4/5   The Nutcracker.....”frankincense, black mission fig, and galbanum” Oooh, this sounds good....I’m not always crazy about galbanum but it can be okay in the right proportions. Love the simplicity. This is possibly a bottle unsniffed. Thinking about it today. 5/5   The Clock Strikes Midnight.....black currant, frankincense, blue musk, mugwort, and wisteria” Awww....I love the name and concept! Too bad the notes don’t appeal. Might be worth a sniff. 2/5   The Rat King 2010.....”Dust, wood and feral musk with a fang-sharp undertone” Never was really interested in this one. Might be worth a sniff. 2/5   The Waltz Of The Snowflakes.....”vanilla-laced snow, graceful and sweet, with fir needle and black pine bark” I’m all over the pine! Very interesed! 4/5   Ebenezer Scrooge....”neglected leather, oakmoss, tonka bean, black pepper, cumin, and vetiver” Potential.....but again, black pepper. Hmmm. 3/5   Christmas Eve In The Counting House.....”Creaky wood, thick fog, and dying embers” Hmmm, maybe an ozone scent? Love the concept, I’m interested. 4/5   A World Of Fools......”Figgy pudding with a stake of holly through its heart” Yes! I must smell this. 5/5   Marley’s Ghost.....”grave-cold phantasmal iron links” Well, the metal scents are a little harsh sometimes....too cologne-like....but this does have some potential. Worth a sniff. 3/5   Incessant Torture Of Remorse.....”opopponax, lavender, blackberry, patchouli, olive leaf, myrtle, and white cognac” No clue. There is potential here. 3/5   The Chained Phantoms.....”ice-limned white wine grape, balsam of peru, and chamomile” This sounds good, but it sounds like The Shivering Boy and I already have that, and don’t wear it enough. Possible decant though, pending reviews. 3/5   The First Of The Three Spirits.....”Shimmering white amber, voluminous vanilla, white musk, zdravetz, and summer flowers” Sounds pretty but not really for me. Might still be worth a sniff! 3/5   A Cold, Clear Winter Day.....”Winter tuberoses bending gently in a crisp, cold breeze” I think I can pass on this one. 2/5   The School.....”In the corner of a desolate, dismal schoolhouse, all lonely stone walls, beeswax, and dusty wooden writing desks, stirs the scent of gold coins hidden in forest outside Baghdad, waves crashing against the hull of a Salé pirate ship, the lofty halls of Pépin le Bossu’s court, and a wild child’s home in the woods” Ooooo.....this has a lot of potential.....definitely worth a try. This could be a good 'work' scent, and possible bottle. 4/5   Mr. Fezziwig’s Ball......”Mince pie, dark beer, a well-loved spruce wood fiddle, and bow resin” Sounds really good if the beer is not too strong. 4/5   A Golden Idol.....”antiqued amber, English lavender, vetiver, and tea rose” This would have potential except for the tea rose. No thank you. 2/5   The Second Of The Three Spirits.....”Pine boughs, plum pudding, spiced pears, sugared chestnuts, punch floated with oranges, boughs of holly, and myrica berries” Wow, that sounds awesome. Kind of like Knecht Ruprecht, which I love, but maybe even better? 4/5   Bob Cratchit’s Hearth.....”Glowing firewood and sherry-cobbler” Hmmmm....not even sure what sherry-cobbler is. Is this a boozy scent? Could have a lot of potential if it’s not too boozy. Edit: sherry-cobbler is sherry with orange. Still think this might be good. Reminds me of Philosopher's Meditation. 4/5   Christmas Eve On The Moor.......”Windswept moor grass, grey moss, mud, and stone warmed by a small, comfortable fire” Think I can pass on this one. 2/5   Ignorance And Want.....”Bog myrtle, wormwood accord, carrot seed, lovage, Roman chamomile, orris root, myrrh, and patchouli” I want to try this. Could be another 'work' scent. 4/5   A Game Called Yes & No.....”Mulled wine and marzipan” I think I can pass on this one. It might be nice enough but the mazipan could be a little candy-dusty. 3/5   The Last Of The Spirits.....”Blackcurrant, myrrh, and vetiver” Maybe. Just maybe. 4/5   An Altar To Cold, Rigid, Dreadful Death....”Black cedar, frankincense, and dust” Has potential, might be kind of harsh. 3/5   Shadows Of What May Be.....”A deserted, dismal grave: upturned earth, overgrown grass, and dead weeds” I think I can safely pass on this one. 2/5   Changing The Shadows.....”vanilla, orange blossom, white sandalwood, mate, red tea, and carnation” Sounds very pretty! Maybe a little girlie. Edit: I think this will be one of the more popular, maybe sought-after scents. I will keep an eye on reviews, in case it becomes hard to find some day. Wouldn't want to miss out. 3/5   Whoop.....”crisp winter air, shimmering amber, sweet honey, with a touch of pumpkin pie, pine cone, cranberry, and bayberry” Oooooooh, I want to try this. Sounds totally yum! 5/5   Autumn And Winter.....”Bitter currant and dry leaves. Winter wind at dusk” Might be good......I like leafy scents. Worth a try. Decant first. 4/5   Chanukkiyah 2010.....”Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig” I never tried the previous one. I’d like to try this. 4/5   Egg Nog 2010.....”Sweet brandy, dark rum, heavy cream, sugar, and a dash of nutmeg” The previous Egg Nog that I tried disappeared instantly on my skin leaving behind almost no scent at all. Those notes sound good, but I probably will pass on this. 2/5   Gelt 2010.....”Dry cocoa and golden amber!” I’m not a fan of cocoa scents. My friend really likes this so I know I can always sniff hers if I feel a burning desire to. 2/5   Gingerbread Poppet 2010.....”Warm, cozy gingerbread spiced with nutmeg, clove and cinnamon” The last version of this was just a little harsh for me, a little too scorched. I still have my decant of that and I’ve barely worn it at all. I think I can pass this year. 2/5   Haloa 2010.....”Wine grapes, pomegranate, myrrh, frankincense and olive leaf, and the warm scent of offertory cakes” I love Haloa! Yet another scent that I don’t wear and appreciate often enough. I only have a decant from way back when. Could be time for a bottle? 4/5   Jacob’s Ladder 2010.....”golden amber, galbanum, benzoin, ambrette, rockrose, costus and tonka” I tried this waaay back in 2006, and I remember that it went straight to powder. Now, I have come to appreciate powdery scents a little more. Still, with so many other wonderful things in this update, I think I can pass for now. 2/5   Jolasveinar 2010.....I have enough Jolasveinar. It’s one of my favorite scents and I don’t wear it enough! 1/5 just because I have more than 5ml already.   Lick It Vigorously......”This is a candy cane perfume, minty, sweet and sugared” Never was really drawn to these, although I love the name! 2/5   Midnight Mass 2010.....Possible bottle, one of my favorites. Never bought a bottle before but I have 2 older decants. 4/5   Noche Buena 2010.....still have some of this from before, don’t wear it very often. The lily comes close to being soapy but I still like it. Pass this time around. 2/5   Peacock Queen, Rose Red, and Snow White 2010......have decants already, don’t need more. I do like Snow White an awful lot but I don’t wear it enough get a botte.   Winter-time.....”Sweet, soft snow” Interesting! I would like to sniff this. 3/5   Woods In Winter.....”Wild hemlock and juniper berries scattered in the snow beneath leafless trees bedecked with glittering icicles” I am all about woods! Hope it’s not too much like November. Maybe another 'work' scent. 4/5   Yule 2010.....tried an older one, didn’t like it so much. 2/5   The Last Unicorn......I can skip this whole section. Never read this story so it doesn’t carry any associations for me, and none of the scents sound all that appealing to me.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Sigh of relief

I am finally done with early fall term, and I think I got some good grades. I know I passed CPT coding, which I was really worried about for a while. I was worried because I just wasn't getting it and I bombed a test and a couple quizzes, but I finally got the hang of it more or less, and ended up doing okay. So I am on a short break until late fall term starts (a week from today, I think), and just enjoying that even though I'm at work right now. I placed an order with the lab and I'm impatient for that to arrive, but it won't be here for a couple more weeks. It's just a relief to be done with those 3 classes. For the last 2 or 3 weeks I've been really stressed out and was having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Harvest Moon Update

Well, looks like I have to do a note-by-note breakdown for these.   Harvest Moon......dry leaves, mulling spices, balsam fir, cedar, juniper berry, clove, saffron, damson plum, sage, yarrow, and lily twined with Dionysus' sacred grapes and ivy, a bounty of apple and pumpkin, and the amaranth and lingum aloes of Janus, all touched by a gentle breath of festival woodsmoke and sweet wine.   The first nine notes are either 'yes' or 'sure, why not', then things start getting more complicated. Yarrow I just don't know about but I can handle herbal. And then lily....you know, I missed lily the first time I read the notes. Kind of snuck up on me and I usually don't like lily, so that is something to consider. Then we move on to some fruits, more herbs, woods, and smoke.....most of which I like, or don't hate.....except the grape is something to also consider. Overall, I could be interested, and I've never tried Harvest Moon before and this would be a good one to start with, because I do like most of the notes.   Mabon.....Blackberry wine and apple with hops, English ivy, rosemary, hazel, sage, chamomile, sweetgrass, oak bark, wild nuts, and myrrh.   I'm leaning towards no, because of the blackberry wine and nuts, although I might actually enjoy a fall herbal scent. The addition of myrrh makes me want to at least try a decant.   Wildfire.....orris and rose together? No thank you. I don't think there's enough wood to temper those two powder/soap bombs.   So, bottom line, if I'm feeling adventerous I might just grab a bottle of Harvest Moon before it goes bye-bye. Maybe a decant of Mabon if I see one. And I do want to sniff Wildfire, if it crosses my path, but I don't hold out much hope for that one.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

fun, fun, fun

High drama in the ED tonight, but nothing new. We get homeless and/or destitute people who come in with a minor complaint, then after they are discharged they want to stay here in the waiting room for the rest of the night. It's cold outside and they either don't have anywhere to go, or don't have a way to get there. We do have cab vouchers for people, but the charge nurse is usually particular about giving them. I understand their point of view, because once you start giving them out, people want them all the time, every time they come here. So sometimes, people are told no, you cannot have a cab voucher. But then they want to stay in our waiting area, which they can't do. So security gets involved, and they will give a cab voucher to anyone, going anywhere. Another issue is they are only supposed to go to the address listed in their account (their home address). And some of them don't have a home address. So it becomes like a big puzzle. And I am kind of stuck in the middle of it, getting complained at by all sides. I am okay with whatever they decide, but it's not really up to me, so I just sit here looking kind of dumb.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

decant or bottle......

......the inner debate continues.   I want Old Moon. I really do. All of this 'pining' I've been doing for a wintery/pine/fir scent (sorry, could not resist the pun).....and now people are saying this is the perfect one. On the one hand, I already have decants of Yuletide, Ice Queen, Death Of The Grave Digger, Jolasveinar, The Snow Storm, Mistletoe......Shivering Boy......Cloister Graveyard......in other words, many many wintery blends that I really like. More than I could use up in quite a long time. On the other hand.......that addition of 'lunar herbs and flowers' sounds soooo promising....makes me really lustful for Old Moon.......so I just don't know. I can't imagine that decants are going to be hard to find once people start getting this. But I haven't had a pending lab order in so long!   Bottom line.....I have way too many bills right now. I just better sit this one out. : (
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

my first post!

I'm starting this because I have 2 livejournal accounts, but I really don't participate in the bpal communities on lj. I used to be a member of a couple of them, but decided that my lj is not the place for my bpal trading. I still write about bpal stuff but I get the feeling that many people on my friends list probably don't care about bpal. So here I am.   Friday I had dinner with my dad and stepmom, and told them a little bit about my perfume obsession. Actually, I told them about Fabienne and Possets. They both expressed interest, and they might go to a Final Friday where Fabienne opens her studio to the public (along with many other artists at the Pendleton Art Center). My point, and I do have one, is that I would like to make lists of imp packs for my dad and stepmom, sort of a bpal introductory selection of scents. My stepmom says she likes gardenia, so I did a search on the lab's site and came up with a few possibilities. The one that stuck out most was Le Serpent Qui Danse. I think she might like Antique Lace, although I myself have never tried it. She works for Clinique and would probably like the more traditional-smelling bpal perfumes, at least to start out. Other than that I have no idea what her tastes might be, so I'd like to come up with a range of styles for her to try.   As for my dad, I would go for more masculine blends, obviously. The first one I thought of was Casanova. Maybe Whitechapel, Calico Jack, possibly Dracul. For both of them I'm going to stay away from limited edition scents, so in case they end up loving a particular scent we can definitely get more. That said, I would probably let them try some of my LE's, particularly from Carnaval Diabolique. Bonnie (my stepmom) might possibly like Midnight On The Midway, and heck, my dad could like it too (I love it, and I'm a guy).   So for the next couple months I'll be keeping my eyes open for possibilities, and I think there are at least a couple recommendation discussions I'm going to peruse also.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Lily!

Over the weekend I tested a number of scents including Kostnice and Sepulcher. Both of them turned horribly soapy on me. I guess lily is the note that they have in common, that caused so much trouble.   They both developed a soapiness that got stronger and stronger until it was unbearable, and I had to wash them off. Not only that......both scents seemed to 'ruin' my nose for a good hour or two after I had washed them off. In other words, I tried putting on other scents that I really like, just to 'chase away' the horrid soapiness/memory of it, and nothing smelled right to me. It was kind of like trying to drink orange juice after brushing your teeth......everything smelled off in the aftermath of the soapy lilies!   I don't think all lily notes have this effect. I swear I've tried other scents with lily that didn't cause such a violent reaction. But from now on I'll be eyeing that note warily. Already I'm afeared for 2 of the Yule scents (Noche Buena, and the one with candy-charcoal). Now, the candy charcoal one, I was already not real hopeful about because of the violets and lily. But I really want to like Noche Buena. We shall see!! I've already ordered decants of both.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Halloween Update/breakdown

Breakdown! I have rated some of these according to my interest, on a scale of 1-5.   ALL SAINTS 2010 Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. A celebration of the glory and suffering of the saints and matryrs of the Church. Not interested. All those flowers sound like soap to me.   ALL SOULS 2010 A day of remembrance and intercession. Without the prayers and sacrifices of their families and loved ones, the faithful departed may not be cleansed of their venal sins, and thereby cannot attain beatific vision. On November 2nd, prayers are sung and offerings are made to aid lost souls in transcending purgatory. An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes. I like my decant of All Souls '06, and I might want more of this. It starts out cakey and turns into floral incense, in a good way. 3/5     BLUE PUMPKIN FLOSS Puffy clouds of pumpkin candyfloss with a trickle of blackberry juice. Not for me, thanks....more for all the gals who've been waiting for this!   BOO 2010 Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream No thank you......   CALAVERAS Clever little satirical poems in the style of epitaphs written to tease the living and ease grief over a loved one's passing. Xocolatl, tequila, copal incense, smoke-dried jalapeños, vanilla pods, and cajeta. I'll have to look up a couple of these notes, but I am not a big fan of copal (I do like it in incense, but not perfume), and I'm leaning towards nyet on this one.     DIA DE LOS ÑATITAS Hydrangea blossoms and rose petals, cigarette smoke, cocoa leaves, and chichi. Leaning towards no....don't really need a scent with rose and chocolate. Is chichi milk? 2/5   FLOR DE MUERTO The orange marigold, or zempasúchitl, has been one of Death's symbols since the pre-Columbian era. The yellow and orange petals are believed to represent the rays of the sun, bringing joy and light to the souls dwelling in the realm of the dead. These flowers surround Day of the Dead altars to guide the spirits to their offerings. I am interested, because I just like the idea of marigold perfume. They remind me of my grandma Nena, who liked to grow them. And it seems like they would be sort of a bitter or earthy floral, but really I have no idea. Want to try! 4/5   GHOULISH This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron. Hmmm....at first I thought no, not interested. But reading it again, it sounds rather decadent and almost incensey, even though it's a foody/drinky scent. Sounds kind of sexy, actually. Decant? 3/5   THE HAG Black musk, bay leaves, galangal, bourbon vetiver, blackcurrant, and rum. Interesting.....I know I need to try this, so decant. Blackcurrant and rum are the iffy notes. 4/5     GOLLETES A circular pastry glazed with pink sugar that symbolizes the sweetness of life and the certainty of death. Nope, no thanks!   HUESOS DE SANTO 2010 Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers. I like my decant of the last one, but I wouldn't need a whole bottle. Perhaps another decant if it crosses my path. 3/5   LAMBS-WOOL 2010 A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove. I like this scent but in the end it was just too sweet, to the point of being cloying. I want more spices and ale, I think. I'll watch reviews and see if it has changed since last time. 2/5   NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY Dewy green leaves colored by Moroccan amber, ginseng, and rooibos. Ha ha....reminds me of the Outsiders or one of those old teen movies. Anyway, this sounds great, and I'm really interested in trying it. 4/5   OCTOBER 2010 Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air. Well, I love this scent, but I don't need any more unless it has changed a lot from the previous one.   PUMPKIN LATTE Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Worth a decant to sniff but not super exciting to me. 3/5   PUNKIE NIGHT 2010 This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider. Never was very interested in this scent, for some reason. Sounds too fruity with the cranberries, I generally don't like berries in my perfume.   SAMHAIN 2010 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. I can most likely skip Samhain this year, since I have 2 bottles and several decants of various years already. I do love Samhain, though.   SUGAR SKULL 2010 Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. Hmmm......I have half a bottle from '07, and decants of '05 and '08.....do I need more? I love Sugar Skull, but maybe a decant will be enough for me. 4/5   THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE October twilight. Falling leaves breaking the stillness of cool water, with sweet autumn clematis, feather-soft orris root, luminous white chypre, and muguet. Hmmmm....kind of on the edge about this one but leaning towards no. Sounds very pretty but orris and muguet sound powdery and/or soapy to me. 2/5   HALLOWEEN: BROOKLYN Flowering dogwood, weeping cherry, Korean pine, camellia, moonflower, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and crab apples. These notes sound soapy to me, especially moonflower. I'll pass on this one (even though pine and spruce make me want to sniff.....). 3/5   HALLOWEEN: LOS ANGELES The sky on fire: a strange incense of burning brush, junegrass, tumbleweeds, chaparral, and wild sage. I love the description and the imagery supplied by Beth. I forget what chaparral is but I want to try this. Decant first, probably. 4/5   HALLOWEEN: NEW ORLEANS The distinctive scent of the Mississippi at night mingling with sweet olive and Spanish moss. Moss is not always good to me, but sometimes very good to me. Worth a try because I do like aquatics in general. 4/5   HALLOWEEN: SAN FRANCISCO Salt air wafting in from the bay. Rain falling on rain-soaked leaves. Sounds awesome! Decant first, just to be cautious. 4/5   POMEGRANATE I Pomegranate, poet's jasmine, and benzoin. Well, I like benzoin, but pomegranate and jasmine are not thrilling to me. Probably pass. 2/5   POMEGRANATE II Pomegranate, white musk, lemon verbena, grapefruit, pink lime. Yeah...this is probably the least interesting of the pom. scents to me. Pass-ola. 1/5   POMEGRANATE III Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh. Potential decant. 3/5   POMEGRANATE IV Pomegranate, cognac, red musk, cocoa, tobacco absolute, star anise, and thyme. Don't like cocoa that much with a couple of exceptions. Probably pass.....maybe decant. We'll see. 3/5   POMEGRANATE V Pomegranate, carnation, amber, cardamom, neroli, vetiver, black pepper, and opium tar. Hmm, sounds interesting, kind of foppish? Possibly worth a try. 3/5   Pomegranate patch only imp: THE HERAEON OF ARGOS Argive Hera. The temple in the Argolid that was dedicated to Hera, the Queen of Heaven, in her aspect as the Great Triple Goddess. Pomegranate, apple blossom, fig, willow bark, and almond. Not calling to me very much, although I would definitely try it if it crossed my path. 2/5   THE BYRONIC ANTIHERO An aristocratic cologne of titanic passions, moody and brooding. This scent is dark with disillusionment and cynicism: a Victorian fougère and a dashing carnation boutonnière tainted by a cloud of khus, yew, and patchouli. Hmmm, sounds interesting, and did I mention foppish somewhere else? Could be a nice proper dude-fume. Possible decant. 3/5   THE CREEPING MIST A muculent, brumous, ill-omened scent: orris, yuzu, white ginger, linden flower, petitgrain, and lotus. Interesting. Orris tells me to back away, and in general not my kind of scent.....but could still be worth a try. Will watch reviews and possibly try a decant if I see it available somewhere. 2/5   THE DECREPIT HOUSE An architectural doppelganger reflecting a ruined soul: dilapidated planks of mahogany and cypress wood perched feebly on a grim foundation of long-dead leaves, black musk, patchouli, galbanum, tobacco absolute, fragonia, and oakmoss. Yay, another Poe scent! I like them. This looks like a bleak and dreary Halloween scent and it's worth a decant, probably. 4/5   A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint. Aww, the description and concept are reaching out to me with grabbing hands, but I just don't like brown musk. I'm going to have to try a decant of this and hope for the best. This kind of reminds me of the updated Wolf Moon, which I love. 4/5   THE INFERNAL LOVER A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk. Don't usually like honey at all, but still.....I'd like to sniff this at some point. 2/5   ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud. If this is one of those scents where the rose is just a hint, I could be interested. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5     ENCROACHING MADNESS A yellow smell. Old foul, bad yellow things. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, balsam, hydrangea, and helichrysum. I would love to try this just because of the inspiration. But reading the notes listed, I'd have to say 'pass'. We'll see. 2/5   THE SHADOWY AND THE SUBLIME A sudden and shocking insight into the vast, ineffable, overwhelming power of Nature, stirred by a vision or experience of perfected beauty and perfected terror, that changes the soul irretrievably. An epiphany: Moroccan amber, wisteria, ambergris accord, white rose, magnolia, white mint, angelica, bergamot, and myrrh. This probably has too many flowers, and white rose and I do not get along. Love the description and imagery, though. 2/5   THE MADWOMAN Dusty white sandalwood, ragged cloth, and a dry, long-dead bridal bouquet. Just like the preceding scent, love the concept, but not the notes listed. 'Dusty white sandalwood' doesn't appeal to me, and neither does the bouquet. 1/5   ODD PORTENTS Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense. Again with the rose! And I was excited about this one. I might still try this, but I don't really like geranium in perfume either. Another possible decant.... 3/5   THE UNSAVORY GRAVE-DIGGERS An unearthed oakwood coffin, cemetery weeds, and a hint of booze. Sounds a little dank. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5   THE UNSTEADY GOVERNESS White tea and violet leaf. Not calling me. 2/5   .....so looks like I'm pretty safe with a few exceptions. I like the sound of the San Francisco and LA Halloween scents, and a few others like Nothing Gold Can Stay and the marigold one. I'll probably play my usual game and gamble on something I'm not sure about (the marigold scent sounds like a good candidate because I have no idea how that will smell), and get a few decants. I also need to go back and try Lambs-Wool again just to be sure.   And finally, I need to read the text more slowly for the Goth Lit scents, as that could change my mind on one or more of them. I noticed it says Vol. 1.....will there be more volumes? Interesting!
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Boo

Briefly tested.....   Pleasant, sweet, however somewhat undistinguished, this one is just not for me. I have nothing against sweet scents but I wouldn't wear this with so many other scents I like more. Plus this does something a little funky on the dry-down. It reminded me of Anactoria, which was weird.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Yule breakdown continued

Gacela Of The Dark Death....."Terebinth pine, pitch, and clove". After reading the poem, I'm wondering if there will be a sneaky note of apple that wasn't listed? Anyway, clove is the only thing I'm not really sure of here. Sometimes it smells sour to me. Probable decant. 3/5   Hypothermia....."Bone-chilling, heart-stopping cold". Hmm, could this be like Archangel Winter, or something totally different? I do like the cold scents. Probable decant. 3/5   In Winter In My Room....."Pink, lank, and warm: grapefruit, yuzu, tuberose, peony, violet leaf, pikaki, Indian frankincense, and tonka". I don't really get the poem, and the notes aren't really calling to me either. Possible sniff somewhere down the road....unless the reviews catch my eye. 2/5   Joulumuori....."Old Lady Christmas, the sweet, smiling wife of Finland's Joulupukki. Her scent invokes the comforts of Christmastime and the warmth of love and cheerful companionship: a glowing hearth, luumukiisseli, riisipuuro, and sima". So apparently this has prunes soaked in sugar, rice pudding, and a certain mead made with lemons and raisins (in addition to the glowing hearth). Could be a nice warm and cozy scent. Possible decant. 2/5   Lick It Til It's Sticky.....another one I can safely pass on. : ) 1/5   Midnight Mass 2009.....I don't need a bottle, but a decant might be nice. I already have 2 or 3 decants from the past Yules, and I don't really wear this scent, but I always feel drawn to it. Go figure. 2/5   Nes Gadol Haya Sham....one scent in four parts?? I'm so confused! The notes all sound nice enough, but if they're all together in one scent, it will be complex indeed. I'll be watching with interest for reviews and clarification. 2/5   Now Winter Nights Enlarge....."Shorten those tedious nights with a surge of body heat: vanilla-infused red musk, champaca, petitgrain, ylang ylang, patchouli, nutmeg, honey, galbanum, and traces of caramel". This just isn't calling to me all that much.....and there's the dreaded honey, too. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5   On Darkness 2009...."An embrace: black poppy, lavender, thick black incense, black amber, rose geranium, Brazilian rosewood, and benzoin". At first I liked my decant from last year, but after a while I decided it was a little too rich. I might still want some more of this, but I'm just not sure. 2/5   The Peacock Queen.....thanks but not for me. I still have an older decant that I never wear. 1/5   Pink Snowballs...."A lighthearted winter scent: chilly vanilla rose snowballs! Dainty, soft, and certainly unfit for flinging!" Hee hee, I kind of want a decant just because it would be funny for a guy to wear this. What's that perfume you're wearing? Oh, this is Pink Snowballs. So butch!! It does actually sound pretty. 2/5   The Season Of Ghosts....."A scent created to burn away sorrow: bergamot, frankincense, rose geranium, ginger, lemongrass, and blood orange". Lots of citrus, but where's the fire? This could be something nice. 2/5   The Shivering Boy 2009......I probably don't need more of this one. Probably. 2/5   Sleipnir...."Confections spun of hazelnuts, honey, elderberries, and bilberries with a dusting of hay and a bit of carrot". Well......not so much. I just don't like honey (in perfume, that is). 1/5   Snow-Flakes 2009......"The radiance and desolation of winter". I used to have a decant of the older one, and I gave it to my sister. I can barely remember what it smelled like. I might end up wanting a decant this year. 3/5   The Snow Maiden......?? I have a blank spot in my memory for this scent. Are their older versions? No notes? I'll have to look up reviews, but I have a feeling I can pass. 2/5   Snow White 2009.....I'm happy with my decant from '07. 1/5   Snowball Fracas....."Muddy dirt and frost-covered moss from the trenches rubbed into winter clothes and snow impact overspray". Not sure, possible decant. 3/5   Sol Invictus 2009.....never had much of a hankering for this one. I think I actually tried it one time, and it turned to powder. 1/5   When The Winter Chrysanthemums Go....."A gentle flurry of snow dusting the season's last chrysanthemums, illuminated by pale rays of winter's amber-tinted sunlight". Yes, please......possible bottle. 4/5   Yule Cat....."Malevolent musk, a drop of infernal civet, vetiver, club moss, birch, goosefoot, and rowan". No civet for me, thank you! 1/5   ......to be continued.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Whooooa Nelly

I'm a little exhausted....weekends tend to wear me out (the ones when I work, that is), and I didn't get much sleep before work. My landlady showed the apartment to a couple with a little girl. Having strange people in the apt kind of wakes me up and so I couldn't get to sleep after they left, and also, I'm on at the very end of Under The Dome, and I just couldn't put it down to go to sleep. So I had about 4 hours of sleep before work, maybe 5 hrs tops. Anyway....this is okay because in the morning when I get home I will flop into bed and sleep to my heart's content!   I am excited to be moving, but most of all, ready for it to be done (and I haven't even started). I can't wait to be in my cozy little new apartment! It is a funny apartment, probably the smallest one I've ever lived in, and kind of retro but not in a cool way...it has a tacky, 70's Brady Bunch kind of feel. The living room has fake brick on the walls (which I think is awesome).
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Yule

Another one I tried at Sally's, and I've been wanting to try this for a long time. I don't like it nearly as much as I thought I would, but again, this was tested along with about a hundred other scents (exaggeration), so that can distort my impressions. But the wood had a different quality than what I was hoping for (more fuzzy or powdery or something), and it smelled somewhat reminiscent of Rat (I think) from last year's Yule scents, which I already have a decant of, so I probably don't need to hunt down any Yule. It's a good thing to know, and I'm glad I got to try it, because I was really going to try to get a bottle unsniffed.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Lawn Gnome

This scent is quite unusual, and I appreciate the artistry behind it. I have found over 3 tests that I probably won't wear it out and about, but I will keep my decant. It's so unique, I'd like to have it around for when the mood strikes.   Mostly I smell a heavy sweetness, and fruit. I enjoy cooking with molasses, but it's not something I ever thought I'd want to smell like! I found that the molasses combined with the moss and patchouli give this scent an earthy, almost smokey element that is truly compelling. After multiple tests I noticed that the sugary element comes close to banana when I sniff up close, kind of like Mr. Nancy did (until it aged and didn't smell like banana any more). In fact, Lawn Gnome is almost like Mr. Nancy's rugged, outdoorsy cousin. Same family, but more into camping and gardening (duh), not cocktail lounges or fedoras.   The only problem is that something about this scent turns on me far into the dry-down. It becomes just a little flat and almost ashy, but I can't pin down what's causing it. I truly loved the opening stages enough to keep this around.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Helios

(I'm not happy with this review....this is just a first draft)   Resinous scents are kind of a no-brainer for me, to the point where I don't even try all the new ones. But I love, love, love Helios. This is kind of an updated Sol. There's also something reminding me of Doc Buzzard, although I can't imagine which note that would be.   Okay, sorry if you haven't had the chance to try Sol or Doc Buzzard. This scent is kind of woody and spicy, but transcends both of those categories. I guess it's kind of incensey, but really high-class incensey. It kind of makes me think of that ultra-expensive Amouage cologne, one of the Jubilation ones (I can't remember which one I've tried, XXV I think), only without the patchouli. So yeah, I guess I am picking up on the frankincense. But it's not being a big frankincense bully with the other notes, like it sometimes does for me. Everything is in harmony.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Chene, revisited

You just never know, sometimes I end up loving the ones I didn't like at first. I'm talking about Serge Lutens Chene. I wore it a few more times and pretty quickly fell in love, and now I have a full bottle on the way. Way to splurge! No more big perfume purchases for me for a while! (yeah, right....)
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Falling Leaf Moon.....first impressions

First applied, this is lovely! Right away it's very sweet to me, and I don't really know which note is so sweet unless it's the opoponax. Anyway.....I can also smell the rain note, and it's the most lovely, delicate aquatic scent that I have experienced. It's so light and fragile that it's almost lost in the blend, but just strong enough that it stands out if you're 'looking' for it. I love aquatics and this aspect is stunning, but overall I don't consider this an aquatic scent.   After the scent warms and dries on my skin, it seems to actually get stronger. It loses a little bit of the complexity of the very first stage, and the sweetness starts to get to me a little bit. I don't like honey in perfume, and this starts to remind me of honey somewhat.....a little cloying. And this stuff really has staying power and strength!   I can really understand the comparisons to Samhain, but this reminds me even more of Autumn, except without the rose in that scent. I'm going to try applying with a lighter touch, and I refuse to give up on this scent, even though it turns too strong and a little cloying with the honey sweetness. What I learned from Samhain is that after 3 years, the sweetness balanced out with the other notes and it became something almost heartbreakingly beautiful. I hope for the same thing to happen with Falling Leaf Moon!
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Blaaaaah

I am so freakin' excited! And I want to talk about it but I have nobody to yak at.   There is a new game coming out, made by the people who made Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus. I have been waiting patiently for info for a very long time. I knew it would be exclusive to PS3, and I knew I'd have to get a PS3 system just to play this, whenever it comes out.   Anyway, there was a trailer for the game leaked to the internet last week (working title is Project Trico). It looks amazing. It hasn't been confirmed as being real, but I'm betting it is, because it looks too good to be a fake. Apparently the video is over a year old, so the finished product will be even better. I can't wait to play this!!   I would be really happy if it came out this fall or winter. I realize it may take longer, but my fingers are crossed. Hopefully more will be announced at E3 this week.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Another one of "those" moods

I'm at work....I'm bored, anxious, and nervous all at the same time. I want to write things but it's all random and unconnected.   I have 2 final exams Saturday.....well, another one online that is due by Saturday, so 3 all together. I'm freaking out because I think my grades are right on the C/D edge, and I need to do really well on my exams. I can't get any D's, I just can't. If I do, my tuition won't get paid by my employer, and I will most likely have to wait another year to move forward in this program. So yeah, I'm freaking out.   Speaking of work, I am in need of some nights off. I am off this weekend, but Saturday's final exams kind of ruin the weekend. Sure I'm off Saturday night, but then I go back Sunday night, which doesn't leave me much time to do anything. What do I want to do? Well, I've been wanting to visit my friend Kevin in Columbus (Ohio), and to really relax I want more than one night off to do this. Then, next week is my spring break, except I work almost every night. I'm off Wednesday night but that's it. Long story short, I am getting burned out and I need a break.   And these people that I deal with at work are driving me crazy! In fact I have to cut this short because we're getting busy again and I have to actually work instead of typing in a blog.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Pumpkin Patch Breakdown.....all years, all releases!

I've been thinking about the Pumpkin Patches, past and present, and I know there are at least a couple I'd still like to try. Here's a breakdown so I can get it all straight in my mind. There are so many, it's kind of hard to keep track of them!   So, I will rate these on a scale of 1-5, based on interest. Anything 3 or above, I'll probably track down a decant at some point.   Pumpkin Patch '05 and '06......   I......Pumpkin with apple cider and mulling spice. This sounds pretty yummy, but I think my ultimate mulled cider scent has already been found (Fearful Pleasure). I wouldn't mind sniffing this but I won't go way out of my way to find it. However, if I found a cheap bottle, I'd probably grab it for a room scent. 2/5   II.....Pumpkin with cocoa, hazelnut and walnut. Nah, don't like cocoa that much, and not crazy about nuts in perfume either. I can safely pass on this one. 1/5   III......Pumpkin and pomegranate. I'm not a big fruit scent fan either....I already have a few, and they are more than enough to fill that niche in my collection. Pass on this one. 1/5   IV......Pumpkin with sandalwood and orris. I don't like orris that much. I like sandalwood, but I already have plenty of nice sandalwood essential oil. If I ever get the urge for pumpkin and sandalwood, it would be pretty easy to recreate on my own. Pass on this one too! 2/5   V.......Pumpkin with five woods, English ivy and galangal root. Now this one, I have always wanted to try. I tend to like green scents, and a lot of woods work well for me. Some woods go kind of flat for me but this is worth a try, for sure. 4/5   Pumpkin Patch '07   I.......Pumpkin with pear, white wine grapes, and jasmine-laced tea. No.......not for me. Probably smells nice, but just not my thing. 2/5   II........Pumpkin with tobacco, champa flower, carnation, and tonka. Hmm, I thought I had tried a decant of this, but I never wrote a review. It does sound like something I'd like. Tobacco is the only iffy note, but it works for me sometimes. Would like to try except I have this nagging feeling that I already have a decant of this somewhere. I'll have to look for it. 3/5   III........Pumpkin with white chocolate, caramel, pomegranate, and cream. Again, not crazy about chocolate. I remember thinking this sounded interesting when these first came out. Since then, I've had my fill of chocolate and/or fruity scents. 2/5   IV.....Pumpkin with cactus blossom, sage, and sweetgrass. Definitely already have a decant, not a bad scent, but do not need more. 1/5 (would be higher if I didn't already have some)   V.......Pumpkin with benzoin, bourbon vanilla, lemon peel, neroli, blood orange, and red ginger. Yes! Already have a decant, and could probably use another one. I have tested this side by side with Pumpkin Queen, and although they are different scents, it's really hard to tell the difference. 3/5 (would be higher if I didn't already have some)   Pumpkin Patch '08   I......Pumpkin with mango, persimmon, coconut, and myrrh. Already tried it, have some, do not need more! It smells like sweet potato casserole to me. 1/5   II........Pumpkin with black musk, leather accord, tonka, teak, orange wood, and opoponax. Yes, yes, yes! Have a decant, would not mind another. 4/5   IV......Pumpkin with white sage, cherry tobacco, honey, smoky vanilla, cedar, and pine. I had an interest in this one, but I let it pass by because of the honey, probably. Still wouldn't mind trying it, as long as the honey behaves itself. 4/5   V.......Pumpkin with cranberry, strawberry, red musk, red rose, rosehip, frankincense, fig, jasmine, and carnation. No ma'am, no sir, not for me! Red musk, jasmine and frankincense are nice, fig and carnation are okay, red rose can be wearable sometimes, but all together, and with the fruits, make this one an easy pass for me. 1/5   Pumpkin Patch '09   I.......Pumpkin, almond, brown musk, and honey. I usually can't wear honey, with a rare exception here and there. And I don't think I like brown musk that much. Pass on this one. 2/5   II.......Pumpkin, rosewood, red sandalwood, and tea rose. Not really of interest to me, except for maybe the red sandalwood. 2/5   III......Pumpkin, fir needle, pitch, rosemary, and tomato. I am interested in trying this, not sure if it's something I'd wear, but it's unique and I'd like to try it. 3/5   IV......Pumpkin, black musk, tobacco, myrrh, and clove. Reminds me of a couple of the past ones. I wouldn't mind trying it, but I also have lots of scents like this already. Maybe not with pumpkin, though. Interested enough for a decant at some point. 3/5   V........Pumpkin, chocolate, coffee bean, vanilla bean, and hazelnut. At first I wasn't interested because of the chocolate, but the will-call reviews are saying this is heavier on the coffee, which makes it a little more appealing in my eye. Would like to sniff at some point. 3/5
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

bleh.

I have been feeling like crap for the last few days. I don't know what's wrong with me but it reminds me of the way I used to feel when I drank a lot. I've felt kind of spaced out a lot of the time, achey, irritable, about to cry at the drop of a hat, and......just not myself. It really sucks and I don't know if it's the full moon, or if I'm fighting a cold or something, or just allergies, but I don't like this. Do not like this. It's almost like when I had mono, so maybe that is flaring up again. I've read that it can come back after being dormant for a long time (would be years in my case).   Anyway, I apologize for my behavior to anyone who happens to read this.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Yule breakdown part 3!

The Adoration Of The Mi-Go....."Luminous, otherworldly wet and piquant odors mingling with black incense, the pitch-stench of Yuggoth, and fungal lichens". Will watch reviews. 2/5   Mother Shub's Spiced Lait De Chevre....."Goat's milk egg nog with coffee liqueur and spices imported from the Crimson Desert!" I should be more interested, but this just isn't calling to me for some reason. 2/5   Mother Shub's Pfancy Pfeffernuesse......"Sugar-sprinkled pepper nuts with a bit of cinnamon, a bit of clove, a little cardamom, and a hint of nutmeg". LOL, it's all spice, all the time! I may end up trying this but I don't like pepper in my perfume. 2/5   Mother Shub's Toothsome Banketstaaf....."Tubular pastries oozing with spijs, glazed with apricot jam, and dotted with glace cherries". Um, what's spijs? I don't get very excited about most fruity scents, so I'll probably pass on this one. 2/5   Mason And Jenkin's Port Jelly....."Red and sticky!" Well, not so much for me. 1/5   Old Man Ackerman's Instructional Toys......I'll be watching reviews for this one. 2/5   The Smilin' Servitors' Hyperdimensional Holiday Hits....."A discordant scent, silvery and strange like a lunatic's tinsel garland: freesia, eucalyptus, and yuzu, with sicilian lemon, massoia, opoponax, night-blooming jasmine, white bergamot, and copaiba oleoresin". Will watch reviews. 2/5   Pet Magah Bird....."A prism of scent, an explosion of multi-colored feathers: blood orange, black plum, sugar cane, guava, frangipani, coconut, pimento berry, violet, caramel, and pear". A prism of scent sounds very pretty, but with all that fruit, I'm going to pass. 1/5   The Black Temple Burlesque Troupe......"Cacao, black musk, and tobacco absolute". Sounds kind of good except for cacao. Once again, I'll be watching reviews, but I bet this will be popular. 2/5   ....okay, I am at work and I should actually do some work. I'll finish the breakdown later!
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

non-bpal review/Czech and Speake No. 88

Czech and Speake No. 88   "No. 88 is the signature fragrance from Czech & Speake. From its Aromatics Collection, No.88 is a blend of woods, bergamot, geranium, rose otto, cassie flower, frangipani, vetiver, and sandalwood. This gorgeous fragrance is worn by both men and women." (description from The Perfumed Court)   I was attracted to this because I read Morrissey wears it (and Elton John, too). I was so glad to find a source for a sample.   This is fabulous! It's a rose scent, but unmistakably gender-neutral, although some may find it masculine. The closest bpal I can think of is Thanatos, but No. 88 is definitely lighter, fresher, and not as powdery (not that I dislike Thanatos). It's definitely woody, but also floral and slightly fruity. It strikes me as a versatile scent.....I could wear this at work (and I did), or out on the town, or for a formal occasion. I would call it almost a studious rose scent, but dark, hinting at naughtiness.   Now I need to try their Cuba scent, because I definitely want a bottle of one or the other. This stuff is pricey and only available from the UK, so it's going to be a treat to splurge and indulge myself. If Cuba is as good as this, it's going to be tough to decide. I could absolutely wear No. 88 on a regular basis.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

That Feeling again

I guess basically it's insecurity that I'm feeling. NYE was fun, but ever since then I've been worrying that I made an ass of myself....said the wrong things.....acted like a dumbass......etc. I hung out with 3 of my friends, 2 of them are a couple I know, both very good looking, good friends, always gracious to me and I know I worry needlessly. They were nothing but nice and let me crash on their couch, invited me to a great dinner, went out of their way to make fun drinks I hadn't tried before (caiphirina? I don't know how to spell it), but I can't seem to just let go of my worries and just have fond memories of the whole night. I envy them because I am single and when I let myself think about it, not really happy about it, so I usually just try to focus on school and work. Anyway.....just feeling totally unworthy and trying to write about it to get it all out. Really nothing new in my world.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

Custom scent

Not that I'll likely ever get a custom scent, but I've been thinking about one in the last few days. It's kind of like a song I can't get out of my head.   It would be like a more masculine version of Snow White. I'm imagining a pure white mixture of rice cream (is there such a thing?) and coconut milk, infused with ginger, with a dash of nutmeg and cardamom on top, possibly a hint of clove. It's in a wooden bowl with a scattering of pine boughs around it. All of this is outside on a blustery, snowy day. Snow, rice cream, coconut, almond, ginger, spices, turbinado sugar, balsam fir. Maybe some woodsmoke, or frankincense, just a hint of something to give it a bit of a rugged edge. Ooh, maybe some cherry too? Just a little bit, not enough to stand out a whole lot. It's possible some kind of floral would be good, but I don't know florals well enough to say which one.   It would be something between Snow White, Jolasveinar, and Cloister Graveyard In The Snow.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
 

M. Micallef, Avant Garde

Notes: bergamot, grapefruit, cocoa bean, tobacco, incense, Russian leather, tonka bean, grey amber   I better review this now because this is the 2nd time I've worn it and probably won't try it again.   It's not terrible, just not for me. Basically it reminds me of Miller Vs. California. It has a very similar mix of leather and fruits, and there is even something papery, maybe the grey amber, or something about the incense notes. Sometimes incensey blends smell sort of papery to me (Heavenly Love And Earthly Love). Not a lot of cocoa bean or grapefruit that I can detect, and the bergamot is more of a suggestion of fruit than a specific citrussy note. Anyway, this is actually a nice scent. I think I just don't like leather scents all that much, with a couple of exceptions.
forspecial_plate

forspecial_plate

0
Sign in to follow this  
Followers 0
×