Apple

This... is... amazing. Thank you, ivyandpeony! To make this easier to keep up to date in the future, should we put new comparisons/similarities in new posts, or is editing an old post okay? (I ask because I typically just edit my initial post and put new finds there.)

NOTE: THIS POST IS INTENDED AS SWITCH WITCH HELP FOR THE HALLOWEEN 2008 ROUND. ======================================= A clarification for my poor witch on my vegetarian/animal welfare stance, since I'm sure some of my statements seem contradictory. I believe that the way animals are treated in modern "factory" farming is tremendously wrong, and I do my best to reduce my consumption of animal products when and where I can. I am not vegan; I eat eggs (from free-range chickens) and consume organic dairy products (from pasture-raised cows), and on occasion I will eat wild game and fish. I keep companion carnivores (dogs and cats), and I feed them a raw meat diet. My main issue is knowing that the animals I am eating/wearing had decent lives and quick, humane deaths. It's really hard to know that about things like lanolin, gelatin, and goat's milk in toiletry items, so I prefer vegan bath products, soaps, lotions, and make-up. Likewise with wool and leather... very few items made from animal hide or hair will specify how the animal was raised, so I try to avoid these items. I hope that helps and isn't too confusing; I know it can seem complicated. If you have any questions, just ask! ======================================= ANSWERS TO RANDOM QUESTIONS FROM THE HALLOWEEN 2008 ROUND Leg-warmers/arm-warmers? No thanks. Question: Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? No opinion on Joss Whedon, but I love, love, loved Firefly. Buffy was okay. Never watched Angel. Favorite GC category? I've had the best luck with Bewitching Brews and The Mad Tea Party. I wanted to love so many of the Wanderlust scents, but so far only Sri Lanka has returned my affections. Ragdoll bunnies? Please, no dolls or stuffed animals. I don't really know what to do with them. Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Icewine is deeeeelicious. I tend to prefer very rich, robust, tannic red wines (e.g., peppery Syrah/Shiraz and Petit Sirah), but I also like buttery Chardonnays and wickedly sweet Rieslings. Icewine takes "wickedly sweet" to a new level - in a good way. It's like alcoholic crystalline velvet syrup. Yum! I'm not sure how I would feel about icewine tea, because I typically prefer very robust, tannic teas. Might be good, though. Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? YES, YES, YES. I think I already mentioned my love for Cloister Graveyard in the Snow, which captures and combines some of my favorite photography/painting subjects: snowy winter landscapes, leafless black trees, stone religious structures, and a beautiful graveyard. I would love original (or not-so-original) art based on graveyard photography! Who likes pirates? Pirates are okay, but not a huge love. *whispers* I didn't really like the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, even though I love Johnny Depp. What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? I'm not terribly familiar with this holiday. What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? I <3 Tim Burton. How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? For the most part, I think trinkets = clutter. Do you like floral bath soaps, shower gels, etc? If so, what florals work on you and what don't? Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? While not a huge fan of floral bath stuff, I am far more tolerant of flowers (especially lily of the valley, gardenia, and rose) in my tub than I am of flowers in my perfume. Ditto for sweet scents, mint scents, and citrus scents (assuming there's no scaries in the fragrance). Another question (that hopefully my witchee will answer): What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Didn't get a bottle; don't regret it. Blueberry perfume? Gag. Do you play a musical instrument? I can't sing (but I do it anyway), I can't dance (but I do it anyway), and I can't play a musical instrument (this is much harder to just do anyway, in my experience). I took piano lessons as a kid but didn't stick with it. I tried to teach myself to play the harmonica (I LOVE a bluesy harmonica... or one in the hands/lips of Perry Farrell) a number of yeas ago, but failed. Not having any sense of rhythm makes these types of endeavors especially tough... as does being a hopeless, slackerly dilettante. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? I think that would be awesome! I don't really need any mugs, unless it's a double-walled stainless steel (with stainless steel on the inside) travel mug like this MiGo Senja one. (Though please don't pay this price for one Witchy! Just an idea if you spy one on the cheap.) I would also love strainers and filters and presses and whatnot. I love honey and I do use stevia. Lots of less-good treats or fewer more-good treats? I prefer one or two small pieces of something really good as opposed to a giant bag of el cheapo candies. 'Cuz I'll still eat the cheapo candies (ALL of them), but I don't really enjoy them and then I end up feeling both sick and guilty and "Why did I do this to myself? They didn't even taste that good!" (This is not to say that I expect my witch to buy me expensive candies. Rather, it's to explain that I'm a complete glutton with no self-control whatsoever.) What's your favorite animal? Dogs. The extreme variety in size, appearance, temperament, and aptitude is amazing, and the theories of their evolutionary trajectory are fascinating. And I just love them. I also have special places in my heart for pigs, goats, llamas, guinea pigs, and African pygmy hedgehogs. The elephant is the closest I have to a totem animal. Burned cd's, etc: Call me Trogdor. Question, question (if asked before, please disregard!) I have to say, i finally tried the vosages chocolate with bacon and it's less exciting than i thought it would be. However, the chocolate with the chilis is teh yum! I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? Oh god yes. Tarts? Tarts scare me - no thanks. Um, unless they're the edible kind. In that case, yes please! Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? Probably not off of my non-BPAL wish lists... but, uh, I don't think I'm ready to admit that I have a swapping addiction. And since admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, I don't see myself getting better any time soon. I do keep my BPAL wish list up-to-date, though. Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? My first thought upon reading this was that no, it doesn't get cold here and I never need any winter clothing... and then it occurred to me that there is one winter item that could be handmade on the cheap and that I've been looking for forever (like, for over 8 years) and can't find: a sweater for my chilly little Boston Terrier. Not just any sweater, though (he already has more sweaters than I do)... but one that would be largely immune to a little embarrassing boy-dog problem: the fact that he often manages to pee on his chest. I mean, what good is a sweater that you have to take off before you let the dog outside to go potty? Or one that needs to be washed immediately after every venture outdoors? So, if my witchy-darling is crafty (no worries if you're not!) and likes the idea of the pee-free dog sweater challenge, here's what I'm looking for: A thick, warm, machine-washable yarn/fabric that can withstand frequent washings. It doesn't have to be pretty. A deeply cut-out tummy/chest. (Sort of like a doggie midriff top... except long in the back. A doggie sweater mullet, maybe?) He measures about 14" from the base of his neck to the base of his tail. His neck is about 14" in circumference, and his chest measures 20.5" in circumference just behind his front legs. His name is Milo, and I like to dress him in red (although he's not fussy about color). [P.S. I promise to post the measurements for the distance from the front of his neck to the tops of his front legs and the diameter of his front legs at the top soon!] Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I do and I don't, in cycles. Watches never seem to last very long for me, even nice ones. The batteries always go dead so quickly, and they're no good after that. (And yes, I've tried replacing the battery, but it seems like the replacements only last about a month.) When I'm in a watch-wearing phase, I like silver-toned metal (or marcasite) bands with round, oval, square, or rectangular faces, with black Arabic numerals in interesting fonts. I might like something stretchy and beaded, too... or made with interesting wire... or with a cool antique/second-hand/recycled face. Steampunkish exposed gears and whatnot are also groovy. How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something? If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I feel warm and fuzzy about that idea. My favorite charities are: Farm Sanctuary, the ASPCA, and Planned Parenthood. Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? VeronikaGalt. How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturisers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? Pretty much just BPAL. My soap has some sandalwood oil in it, but the scent doesn't stick around. I use unscented lotions/butters, and my shampoo and conditioner are not strongly scented. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Actually, I am more often try to de-scent my world though the liberal use of vinegar, baking soda, and salt. 00000288.gif BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? This question is making my brain overload. I'm a lustful greedy sensualist glutton, and I don't even know how to begin to answer this. If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? I don't drink coffee that often, but I enjoy the occasional cup of fancy-schmancy flavored stuff. We have a regular filter basket machine. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? The Full Monty! I can't help it; I love me some soul-disco-funk... and who doesn't love Hot Chocolate? ("I believe in miracles... where you from, you sexy thang?") What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? The idea of a Pandora station is a great one, but my witch/wizard might be better off just giving me a mix CD she or he is so inclined... I love, love, love the idea of Pandora, but I don't tend to listen to music while at the computer and that has interfered with me exploring that more. Otherwise, used books, used/burned CDs, used/burned DVDs are all good. Tea and chocolate don't need to be pricey to be nummy. Recipes and homebaked goods would be fabulous. Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? I don't think so... I never use the damn thing. Also, charms sound like the sort of thing I would routinely get caught in doors and drawers and break. I'm hard on my stuff and kind of no-frills. How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Yes please! All of the above. What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? I tend to name my animals whatever seems/sounds right for their personalities, so they're not really named for or after anyone or anything. My Boston Terrier's name is Milo (he just looked like a Milo). As mentioned above, my French Bulldog's name is Betty because we got her as an adult and that was the name she came with (although we more often call her Piggy). They both have birthdays in September; Milo will be 9 and Betty will be 11. The cats are Nix (all black, named by my husband) and Nox (black and white tuxedo kitty). The frogs are Mr. Frog 1 and Mr. Frog 2 (my husband never named them anything else), and the current crew of hermit crabs do not have names... we were too traumatized when the two that we named died. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Nope! English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Rhubarb and custard candy? YUM! Sign me up for anything rhubarb and/or custard flavored... or just a nice rhubarb custard. aroused.gif I noticed that site has Turkish Delight, too. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't like the taste of it (not a fan of rose or of sugary sweets), but I've never tried it and have been curious about it ever since reading The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid. How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? We have a Wii and... some other platform. The fact that I don't even know what other game system we have should tell you how often I play it. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? I don't wear eyeshadow very often. Even though I've been experimenting with it more recently, I'm still pretty sure I currently own more eyeshadow than I'll ever use in my lifetime. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I like plain lip balm. Natural mint flavor is a plus. What is something you've been searching for but just can't find? The perfect clove cigarette scent, without scary chemicals. Bandaids? My witch from last round got me some very cool fairy band-aids, so I'm stocked up at the moment. What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! Thriller. Having a friend who was coerced into doing the Thriller dance in public in order to obtain her birthday present makes this one all the sweeter for me. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? Ooo... what have you got over there? I love imported chocolates, candies, and teas! I've heard of Vegemite/Marmite but never tried it. Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences? *well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Hrm... I don't read fanfic or slash and don't have a particular fandom, but I am intensely interested in slash as a concept. I might also like to read it... I'll have to think of some potentially appealing pairings. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? I don't bead, but I like beads. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I am not a very creative person, so I just mix it all up and don't worry about themes. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Either/both! Would you rather get food or jewelry? Yes! I would love either/both! Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hole (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc? Sometimes. Stuff like that tends to make me feel guilty, because I'll play with it once or twice, and then it becomes clutter. And then it becomes trash. And then I feel both wasteful and like I threw away a gift, which I hate doing. Phobias: Eyes, particularly anything related to injury or surgery, or someone's eyes being forced open. *shudder* Cockroaches. Large fish, even non-threatening ones. (Although sharks horrify me, too, and I've had to cover shark avatars with my hand before... after arguing with myself over how irrational it was.) What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? Just do it. You'll be happier. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? Probably stutter and blush. Then I might blurt out something to the effect that sex should be good, it should be fun, it should involve freedom from infection and unwanted pregnancy and the means and education to achieve those ends. Also, animals have feelings and deserve a fulfilling existence and factory farming should be abolished. And then I might sing a Janis Joplin tune, followed by the Humpty dance. Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots, of course. What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Nothing is coming to mind. I like churches and church-stuff and religious iconography even though I'm not religious or churchy, but I don't really collect any. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? Another thing I'm super-picky/freaky/hippie about, I'm afraid - my poor witch! No dyes, no parabens, no sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, no mineral oil, no synthetic fragrances, no animal bits. This means most soaps (even Villainess) are a no-go for me. Hand-crafted soaps using essential oils for scents are okay; the more moisturizing, the better. I like cedar, sandalwood, and spice scents. If I recall, I think BPTP soaps looked reasonably safe-for-freaks-named-Apple, and I'd be willing to try some samples. Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? October 19th. I may have my Sun in Libra, but don't be fooled... I've got Venus and Mars in Scorpio (and in the Eighth House, no less ). Where are a few of your favorite places? Treehouses The Smithsonian A little cabin in the Smoky Mountains... with a jacuzzi. Attics Milwaukee, WI Old churches New Orleans, LA The Day Chapel at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA Boston, MA The beach: ocean or lake, especially at night Book stores Bakeries Vanilla Creme Kisses? No Kisses of any sort for me, please. I don't like Hershey's... too sweet and and chalky. Do you like kilts and would you wear one? No and no. By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Neither. I'm sort of a mid-morning birdie. What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? GOSPEL! Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? I like it both ways, but I'm more of a kook. Reserved or Raunchy? I'm not terribly raunchy on the boards or with people I don't know, but I have no trouble raunchin' it up at home or with friends. I study sexual relationships and teach a University human sexuality class, so I'm not easily offended. I am, however, easily intrigued. I can haz cone nao? This reminds me of something I forgot to put on my questionnaire. I collect antique/vintage/used books of erotic stories and "health and hygiene" guides, as well as antiquated studies of various aspects of cross-cultural sexuality. I've got guides to marital bliss from the late 1800s, the works of Anais Nin and the Marquis De Sade, a very old treatise on male and female circumcision, "The Guide to Life and Love for Teenagers" from the 1950s, etc. So if my witch happens to find any sexy or hilarious or disturbing little gems like these at a yard sale or used book store, feel free to send them, no matter how beaten and battered they may be! I am very curious about the changing (or unchanging) nature of sexuality as presented in published texts and endlessly fascinated by these types of historic documents. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Wind! I never realized how windy it is near Lake Michigan until I didn't live there anymore. The air here is so still... it's creepy. I love being up high and enjoying the air. Tea or Coffee in the morning? Tea! Every morning. I like the occasional cafe au lait, but only in the afternoon/evening. Fruity snacks or chocolate? CHOCOLATE!!! I have no use for sugary, fruity gummies or hard candies. Would you accept art? Yes! Antiques or Brand New? Yes! Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Not so much. I only like to butt in and "help" others when they're doing those types of puzzles. Trying to complete one on my own is impossible with my short attention span. Favorite artist? I don't really have a favorite artist. I like ink drawings and woodcut prints and Expressionist art (Munch, Kandinsky), and paintings and photographs of the silhouettes of leafless trees in winter (e.g., I love The Cloister Graveyard in the Snow from the Salon). Like many here, I like the art on the BPAL site, especially the Aubrey Beardsley and Harry Clarke stuff. Oh, and I love me some Brian Froud! Favorite poet? This is embarrassing because I have an undergraduate degree (with honors) in writing-intensive English, I'm married to another former English major who loves to read, write, and recite poetry, and I know tons of creative people who do all kinds of writing, but... I am more or less unable to appreciate poetry (particularly formal poetry), because I can't "hear" written word stress or inflection and so meter is entirely lost on me. So, uh, poetry isn't really any different for me than reading a novel, and I mostly prefer novels. Off the top of my head, I do know that I like James Joyce, William Butler Yeats, William Shakespeare, and Edgar Allen Poe. What's your favorite book? This is a nigh onto impossible question to answer. The Illuminatus! Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson and Robert Shea is probably the most influential/mind-blowing/paradigm-shifting book I ever read (hey, I was 18 when I read it). What is your favourite autumnal-seasonal drink? Hot apple cider with mulling spices. Actually, anything mulled or spiced. What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Um, whatever the regular size of socks is. My shoe size is 7W or 7.5W. Not hats for me, please. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? I don't really read comics, but I have an affection for Neil Gaiman's Death character from the Sandman/Endless series (I own the 1993 spin-off series Death: The High Cost of Living), and I wouldn't mind reading more Gaiman comics. Please no anime. Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? Unless you've humanely raised the sheep/alpacas/llamas/bunnies yourself and sheared them with tender loving care, I would prefer not to receive anything made with animal fur, wool, hair, bristles, or skin. Candy corn? With everyone talking about how much they love candy corn, I think perhaps I should stress that I think it is so very, very gross. Please, I beg you, no one send me anything vaguely related to candy corn or those sugary, artificially-colored pumpkin-shaped candies... *shudder* Bugs? Depictions of "pretty" bugs (dragonflies, bees, butterflies) are okay... I don't really need any Cricket-on-a-Stick candies or anything, though. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? I also used to play "Bloody Mary" and "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board". And of course I loooved the Ouija board and any other potentially paranormal experience. I don't remember having a favorite ghost/scary story, though. Do you decorate for Halloween? what sort of decorations? Yes, Halloween is my husband's birthday and we always have a costume party and do a bit of decorating for it: purple lights and pumpkin lights, green and orange glow sticks, rubber spiders, and carved pumpkins. I'm partial to jack-o-lanterns and not a huge fan of witches, black cats, skeletons and the like. I like real bats, though. We're planning to put up a bat house at some point to encourage them to hang out by our house. Dress up for Halloween? Oh yes. I think I've only failed to do so once... and I can't remember why now. The last few years have seen me waiting until the very last minute and cobbling something together from whatever's available at home (which thankfully includes fairly extensive costume-esque clothing and make-up). I was extra lazy last year and wore my wedding dress (which, admittedly was a fairy dress complete with wings). Do you like horror flicks? Not really, but I end up watching a ton of them because they're my husband's favorite genre. Monster movies and ones depicting supernatural events/horrors don't bother me, but I can't stand to watch any that depict gruesome possible-in-real-life violence. If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? I fail at gardening. If it's not a mammal, you don't want me taking care of it. i haz no imp storage. do you? No, and I would love some! Some way to keep the little buggers upright without curling the labels... What incense scents do you prefer? I am super picky about what I will burn. In general, I don't wear scented products (BPAL is a major concession for me), I don't burn scented candles or tarts (unscented beeswax candles only), I don't use air fresheners (with the exception of essential oil misters in the bathrooms for emergencies) or dryer sheets... hell, I don't even use anti-perspirant. This is because I am a hippie freak and worry about things like petro-chemicals, phthalates, parabens, hormone disruptors, and carcinogens. I don't like to spritz, burn, or melt anything synthetic, petroleum-derived, or that contains "fragrance oils". Essential oils are okay in small doses, and I would like to find a truly all-natural incense to burn on occasion. I love the scent of sandalwood, and I also like cedar, frankincense, and myrrh... no nag champa for me (think church, not head shop). Fruit scents are almost always synthetic (and I don't like them anyway), and I don't think I would care for anything floral. I like cones better than sticks, and I've never tried the chunks of resin that you burn in little braziers (at least I think that's what you do!). Fluevogs? I became a fan of Fluevogs in the mid-90s because I loved (and still love) big, clunky shoes and boots with high-contrast details like white stitching on a black shoe. And I adore the signature Fluevog swirl pattern. The pair that I have isn't shiny; they're chunky, matte black Mary Janes with a (surprise surprise) white floral vine pattern. ETA: I am filled with shoe envy/grabby hands/WANT-NOWness for the Lily Darling in cherry with black trim. If they made a synthetic version, I would snap up a pair in an instant. (Actually, at that price, I would probably agonize over the decision for much longer than an instant.) And if they made a black version with white trim, betwixt the two pairs I might never need another pair of shoes. Ever. The Pipsqueak, Obrigada, and Sandra styles are also inspiring a certain level of covetousness in my greedy little heart. Thankfully (?) I think they only come in leather, so my credit card is safe. Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I loathe ballpoint pens and like to use India ink and a brush for drawing (although it's probably been a decade since I last picked up a brush), but I think that me + stylus + ink pot would = inky disaster. I'll stick to rollerball pens for writing, thank you. I will never, ever use stationery as I never, ever write letters. Notecards, sticky notes, and index cards are another story, however. I usually use utilitarian solid colors, but I dig stylized depictions of bees and dragonflies on that kind of stuff. What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Hmmn... that would be everything on my Kaboodle list, with the exception of some of the pricier jewelry. I originally put things on there as gift hints for my husband, which has ended up backfiring spectacularly. You see, it turns out that he doesn't like to buy me things off my wish lists because he thinks it's "cheating" if he doesn't think of some super-awesome perfectly original gift all on his own. I mean, on the one hand I can understand where he's coming from and am very touched, but we've been together for 14 years and he's given me plenty of super-awesome perfectly original gifts... and I would be delighted to receive stuff from my wish list from him! (Of course, there are worse problems to have and I ought to be grateful he cares so much. ) So anyway, those things end up languishing in cyberspace because he won't buy them and I don't feel right about buying them for myself even though most are financially attainable. Silly, eh? Right or left-handed? I'm definitely right-handed, but when I spar/fight I tend to kick with my left leg and jab/hook with my left hand more. Reduce/reuse/recycle? Yes! I don't mind used/recycled/found objects. Crafting supplies? I am not a crafty person. I would dearly love to learn to make wire jewelry, however, and a ton of wire with which to experiment would be useful. Tattoos? I have only one right now: Winnie the Pooh on mah tush. Eventually I'd like to get a leafless oak tree with exposed root system on my lower back and something (maybe a gargoyle?) on one of my hips. I'm also toying with the idea of getting tattoos to cover up the scars on my knees. I've torn both my ACLs and had hamstring ligament grafts done on both knees, and I have three scars on each knee: one from the main incision (a slit a little over an inch long) just beneath the knee at the top of the shin, and two small ones from the "poke holes" on either side of the knee. Any ideas for cool knee tattoos? Favorite time periods? Apparently I prefer modernity and even numbers: the 1920s, 1960s, and 1980s all hold appeal for me in terms of music and fashion. I love art deco jewelry, old blues, soul music and Motown, go-go-boots, "window-pane" bangs and the mod look, punk, New Wave, technicolor hair-do's... oh yeah! Halloweenies? I've ordered decants of Blade of Grass, To Autumn, Ichabod Crane, The Hessian of the Hollow, Wiley's Swamp, The School-House, The Churchyard, Mictecacihuatl, and Sugar Skull, and I'm on the hunt for decants of Meditation in Autumn, Brom Bones, and Gunpowder. I already know I'll be getting a bottle of Graveyard Dirt. What is your favorite part about fall? Where do I start? When I lived in Wisconsin and Massachusetts, I loved EVERYTHING about fall: the cool, crisp breezes, the gorgeous changing colors of the leaves, wearing sweaters and jeans, all the wonderful smells: a hint of snowy chill in the wind, that great crunchy, dried leaf scent, apples, mulling spices, bonfires... god, I am so homesick! My birthday is in October, along with Halloween and my husband's birthday (which is actually on Halloween), and so there is much celebrating. Now that I live in the South, there's only one reason to love fall (Halloween and birthdays notwithstanding): the mercury starts to inch toward a slightly more livable temperature. Slightly. Unfortunately, the humidity doesn't really abate until what passes for winter, so no sweaters, no crisp breezes. Office supplies? Oh god yes. I love blue rollerball pens with micro-fine tips and Post-It notes and binder clips and notecards and notepads and organizational jazz (although I'm terrible at organizing). Favorite Halloween candy? I don't really care for most traditional Halloween candy. In fact, until I joined this forum, I didn't realize that anyone actually liked candy corn... and now I see all these candy corn-heads coming out of the woodwork! I've always been a chocolate girl, and so my Halloween faves were always the "fun size" candy bars, especially Snickers, Twix, and Kit-Kats. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? I love pumpkin EVERYTHING, except pumpkin pie. Yes: pumpkin ale, pumpkin seeds, Thai pumpkin custard, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies... bring 'em all, but leave that nasty pie at home! ============================================= ANSWERS TO RANDOM QUESTIONS FROM THE SUMMER 2008 ROUND Most obscure interest: Canine nutrition/raw feeding. And dog breeds. My brain is filled with breed characteristics and nutrient content charts for things like chicken hearts. What goodies do you love that you can't usually get? I so terribly miss Bagels Forever brand bagels. They are the only frozen/store-bought bagels that taste anything like real bagels to me… but they’re only available in the Midwest. Edit: The poppyseed ones are my favorite. Strangely enough, I have a hard time finding milk chocolate with hazelnuts in it. Just a simple bar with whole, roasted hazelnuts like the kind made by Ritter Sport or Lindt. But my holy grail of chocolate hazelnutty goodness is the Hazelnut Five Star Bar by Lake Champlain Chocolates… and the only store in town that carries it is always out of stock! Edit: Oh, and pens! I cannot find my favorite type of pen ANYWHERE anymore. I love Uni-Ball Vision pens, size: micro, color: blue. I can find the black ones in micro, but never the blue ones! How much do you still enjoy playing with toys? I still like playing with toys. We got a GPS specifically for geo-caching (treasure hunts), I use IMVU as a glorified way to play dress-up, and I like other toys for grown-ups, too. What was your favorite childhood toy? I liked to play with dolls and was deeply attached to several. Some were homemade or no-brand. More recognizable: Cabbage Patch Kids, Barbies, He-Man. Yes, I was a child of the 80s. How would you describe yourself--do you feel that you're shy or outgoing, laidback, high-strung... and in what ways? I’m a little shy, but mostly because I have social anxiety, not because I’m particularly reserved. Once I have decided that a person is “safe” (this can take years), I’m pretty laid back and enjoy socializing. I’m high-strung in the sense that I have a hard time relaxing, but I’m not super-reactive. I’m nerdy and goofy and naughty… and it looks like I’m in good company here! What practical goals to you have for the upcoming summer? 1. Finish my written comprehensive examination so I can move on to the dissertation and escape from graduate school hell. Finally. 2. Ride my bicycle and lose some weight before July 24th… when I will be undergoing a second knee surgery. What’s a talent you are most proud of? This question makes me feel bashful for some reason. Um, I am really excellent at ferreting out information on random topics. And I make killer desserts. Favorite books as a kid? I loved Judy Blume, Madeleine L’Engle, and C.S. Lewis. Haircolor experimentation: Oh yes. I’ve been through the rainbow of fruit flavors on my locks… bleached blonde, blue/purple/pink streaked, orange, red, auburn, eggplant, mousy blonde/brown… and for years I had cherry-red hair with a white streak in the front. Now I’ve given up chemical dyes and use henna to achieve a quasi-natural dark red color. Is there anything that you have been wanting to try/buy but haven't? My covetous heart pines for many things. Jewelry from Wyrding Studios. A scent locket. BPTP atmospheric sprays (“Down the Rabbit Hole” and “Dungeon” sound so fabulous). Vosges chocolates. Religious preferences and patron saints/goddesses/spiritual mentors: I’m not religious, but I tend toward Discordianism and Buddhism in terms of how I conceptualize the world. I find images representing chaos, Buddha, and Ganesha inspiring. I want to know what little treats my witchee likes to be spoiled (or spoil herself) with: I usually spoil myself with food, with high-quality chocolate being a favored treat. What I covet at the checkstand: I never, ever buy them, but I do read all the trashy tabloid headlines while waiting in line. I’m not above accepting second-hand celebrity trash magazines from a friend of mine who does buy them, though. Who needs more bpal storage? I do! I do! My imps are taking over my bedroom, and I would love some method of storing them upright that didn’t involve curling the label. What's your favorite theme or characters? For example, do you like gothic looking items or classical? Do you love Hello Kitty, Harry Potter, etc? Hrm… I like gargoyles and dragonflies, leaves, vines, and scroll-work. I like a mix of modern, gothic, and classical elements. So, feelings on used books (& CDs and DVDS for that matter)? Used stuff is fine by me! What things (that you can put in a box) make you giggle wildly, catch your breath, and touch you deeply? I am easily moved and delighted. Any gesture of thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated by me. Favorite flavors: CHOCOLATE! And almond (think almond extract). Pistachio. Hazelnut. Honey. Whatever flavor Dr. Pepper is. Basil/pesto. Cilantro. Kaffir lime leaves. Chex Mix or Puppy Chow? Puppy Chow, but please don’t send me any! What's your favorite flower? Tree? Snapdragons have sentimental appeal. I like the way orchids, irises, and calla lilies look, and I’m fond of humble violets/pansies. I love twisty vines and branches. I like the silhouette of bare oak trees against a barren, snowy winter landscape. Sports? My first reaction to this question is, “Ugh – no!” because I don’t enjoy things like football, baseball, basketball, hockey, or soccer. But I’ve been involved in martial arts for the past eight years and help run a martial arts school with my husband, so I guess that counts. How about burned CDs? Is everyone okay with those? Do y'all even listen to CDs anymore, or is it straight to the iPod? I don’t have an iPod yet, and I would love CDs. Do you like homemade gifts? Like foodstuffs or crafts? Quite possibly. Pirates or Ninjas? Teehee. Pirate-ninjas, of course. Is any witchee opposed to "naughty" gifts? If no opposition where is the line drawn? I’m pretty open to whatever. I can’t imagine being embarrassed by or opposed to a “naughty” gift unless it was delivered to my work. What's your guilty pleasure? Country music. Ice cream. Fantasies involving Joaquin Phoenix. Celebrity gossip. If handmade stuff is okay, and it all goes horribly wrong, would you want it anyway? Someone up above mentioned wanting the item accompanied by the hilarious story of HOW it went horribly wrong. I second that motion. What did you remember the morning after and wish you'd put on the questionnaire? I wondered if I should have gone into more detail (e.g., listed specific bands/musicians as opposed to just broad musical genres). Are you an indoor person or outdoor person? I am an indoor person who knows she ought to get outside a bit more. Switch witch remain a secret or reveal herself? Ooo… that’s tough. Both options are appealing, so I will be happy with whatever my witch prefers. Edit: Oh, but I'd want to know at the very end at least, so I could thank her! What's your favorite color? BLUE! ---For wearing? I wear a fairly monochromatic palette: black, grey, and white for the most part, with a little pale blue thrown in for variety. I don’t like my clothes to compete or clash with my red hair! ---For decorating? I like bold colors for decorating, but we’re about to move into a new house with a more subtle color scheme. Black items are a safe bet. Do you have a particular decorating style? I have a wonderful appreciation for home décor, but I’m a terrible decorator. (The same goes for music and art: I have no talent for either but appreciate both.) Like I mentioned in the previous question, I tend to like bold, rich colors for decorating, and our current apartment reflects this: the living room has deep red walls with white trim and black furniture; the kitchen has blue-and-white checkered wallpaper, etc. Our new house has a very different feel to it, though, and will be done in more subdued colors in the main living areas. The bedroom’s going to be purple, though. ETA: We're almost done painting - woo hoo! The living room is a very pale yellow/gold (almost cream color), and we went with a plush RED loveseat and oversized arm chair + ottoman, along with a black lacquered wood entertainment center. Bedroom has purple walls and black lacquered wood furniture with silvery grey bedspread. Kitchen is colonial blue and light grey with cherry wood table. My office is yellow with primary blue accents. Do you have pets and what kind of gifts would be good for them? Oh yes, we have many pets. Two dogs, two cats, two frogs, and a handful of hermit crabs. Unfortunately, both of my dogs are battling mast cell tumors (cancer) right now… but they both feel okay and being bully-type breeds, they can always use more tug toys. What sort of crafties do you do and what sort of crafty supplies do you like? I don’t really do anything crafty. I would like to learn to make wire jewelry, though. I have some basic supplies and a book, but I could definitely use more wire with which to learn the various techniques. Are you up to being gifted with anime? Uh, no. For those of you who play video games, what consoles do you own? n/a Mailbox situation, i.e. Can I send you chocolate and melty treats from Lush, or are they going to wind up being really decadent goo? Anything shipped to me in the summer’s heat is likely to end up gooey, but I’d be willing to attempt to reconstitute chocolate. What’s your favorite genre of books to read? This is so sad, but I hardly ever read for pleasure anymore. When I do, my brain is usually so overloaded that I can only handle what I consider “fluff” reading: books about dog breeds, nutrition, or natural/green living, and the occasional Neil Gaiman book. Once upon a time I enjoyed reading about evolutionary biology, the bleaks tales of depressing Russian writers, mind-blowing semi-psychedelic texts, and historic erotica… but now my poor little brain is rarely up to the task of engaging with these materials. Sigh. How would you describe your sense of humor? This is a surprisingly difficult question. Wry, maybe? I like my humor a little on the subtle side, but I also enjoy raunchiness. I think The Onion is the pinnacle of hilarity. What is the hottest and coldest it gets where you live? It never gets cold here, and I really miss winter. I’m in the southern U.S., and it seems to vary from about 30 degrees to 110 degrees, with most days in the 60-90 degree range. Things I find offensive? Most “–isms”: racism, sexism, etc. I’m not fond of displays of blood, gore, and violence, but I don’t know if I would necessarily categorize those things as offensive… depends how/why they are being employed. I guess I find Anne Geddes’ photos offensive. LiveJournal? n/a Favorite TV shows as a kid: I liked “Sesame Street,” Saturday morning cartoons, and “3-2-1-Contact,” but no show commanded more of my childhood devotion than “The Monkees”. Rice Krispy treats, yes or no? Homemade or prepackaged? I love Rice Krispy treats, but only the homemade kind. The prepackaged ones have a weird fake-vanilla-plastic-preservative taste, and something about their texture is… off. However, I haven’t had any (homemade or prepackaged) since I went vegetarian many long years ago. I know that gelatin-free marshmallows exist (and thanks to this thread I’ve learned that apparently you can make them with gelatin-free marshmallow fluff), but I’ve just been too lazy to gather the proper ingredients and make an attempt. Do you still read any children's books? Yes indeed. I'm a big soap fan, so which kinds of soaps do YOU like? Arcana? BPTP? Lush? Super Bad? When it comes to personal care and home cleaning, I’m something of a hippie. Wearing BPAL is actually a bit of a concession for me; I’m pretty militant about all my stuff being vegetarian and all-natural: no animal-derived products, synthetic fragrances, petroleum derivatives, sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial colors or preservatives, parabens, or phthalates. I use the “Sea Buckthorn with Sandalwood” skin care bar by Aubrey Organics on my body and the “Natural Beauty” cleansing bar by Nature’s Plus on my face. And that’s pretty much it. I won’t use Villainess or Lush soap because they contain synthetics, and I’m not familiar with Arcana (and they won't respond to my inquiries - grrr!) or Super Bad. I’d be willing to try BPTP soap. What's hanging on your walls? What do you want hanging on your walls? Our walls are more barren than I would like. I tend to buy unframed art and then utterly fail at purchasing frames… so the lovely images end up hidden away in the back of my closet, awaiting their time in the sun… which never comes. I like wrought iron work and Expressionist art. Phobias: Eyeballs. Scenes in movies like A Clockwork Orange just about kill me. What are you? CORSET or CAMI??? And....why? I have "matronly" upper arms, so it's got to be blazing hot before you'll catch me in a cami. Or bedtime. I wear camis to bed sometimes. But corsets make me swoon. I figure my heaving bosoms provide ample distraction from the upper arm issue. 00000288.gif I love 18th century/Elizabethan ones, and the top to my wedding dress was a Baroque corset from Dark Garden... in a gorgeous iridescent blue (although mine didn't cost that much - yikes)! I've managed to find numerous excuses to wear it since the wedding. Maple syrup? Yes! As for what CD/song/music group I am dying to get my hands on: well, the Monkees, of course! Seriously, I would totally dig some Monkees action (not to be confused with monkey action). Other than that, I would like to be exposed to new and different music... I am terrible about exploring/experimenting on my own, and I love to be exposed to new stuff via other people. ETA: I keep hearing good things about Regina Spektor. Question: receiving (NEW AND UNUSED/non-crunchy) cute undies in a SW package: awesome or creepy? Maybe creepy. Unless they were super-cute. How conventional/weird are you comfortable with? I'm all over the board. I have plenty of mainstream-type stuff, but I prefer more unconventional/weird/unique things. Are you a good witch or a bad witch? YES! Who are your favorite Disney characters? I like the Winnie the Pooh pantheon. Like Wren08, I have The Tao of Pooh and The Te of Piglet... which I first read and enjoyed back in high school and which resulted in a Winnie the Pooh tattoo in college. What's your idea of a great weekend? Not one that takes lots of planning, or that is a special occaision? But your achievable nifty weekend. Sleeping as much as I want. A lack of demands/obligations from and to others. A hearty, delicious brunch with friends featuring French toast adorned with ridiculously gourmet toppings. A hot bath. A good book. A walk with cool, crisp breezes. Hot tea and snuggling with dogs. A good movie and snuggling with my husband. Most obscure travel? Way, way back in 1996 my then-boyfriend now-husband and I took a 5-week roadtrip around the U.S. We lived out of our teeny Hyundai Excel hatchback, alternating sleeping in the car at rest stops and truck stops and camping out in a little tent. We put 11,000 miles on the car and really came face-to-face with America at its best, worst, and weirdest. I particularly enjoyed meeting Reverend Kirby (founder of the Universal Life Church) in Modesto, CA, and visiting the grave of Emperor Norton in the necropolis of Colma, CA. Do you play online games? I do a little bit of developing/content creation on IMVU, but I mostly just play virtual dress-up over there. What kind of coffee/tea/hot beverages do you like? I love black tea, don't care for herbal or fruity ones. I drink Twinings Irish Breakfast or Prince of Wales tea every day. For evenings/weekends/special treats, I really love the Stash Tea's dessert teas (my favorites include the chocolate hazelnut and tiramisu flavors). I also love chai tea and Thai tea. I've had very little luck attempting to make Thai tea at home, however. What about makeup? With the exception of my mascara and lipstick, I wear Aromaleigh products pretty exclusively. I wear concealer/foundation and blush almost every day because I'm self-conscious about my skin. If I have extra time in the morning (ha!) I'll add a light coat of mascara. For evening, I like a bit of grey or black eyeliner and a raisin-y shade of lipstick. I've been trying to experiment more with eyeshadow recently, using silver, purple, and green shades. Homebaked goodies? Yay or nay? Yay. I am a piggy and love teh foodz. Lip balm, yay or nay? If it's all-natural and vegetarian (beeswax is okay), then yay. I'm especially fond of mint-flavored balms. Do you like hair things? Hair sticks? Clips? Ties? What kind? Yes! For boring daily wear, I use a claw clip, ponytail holder or wide barrette to pull all my hair back. But I also like fancy smaller barrettes. I like hair sticks in theory, but I haven't quite figured out how to make them work for me. I don't wear headbands. For all the vegetarian types: How do you feel about leather/leather scraps? Are you politically veggie or just in it for the food? I'm more of a politico-pseudo-veggie, and I avoid leather when I can. That said, I would not be horrified if my witch sent me something made with leftover leather scraps, as long as the leather item wasn't purchased specifically for me. I hope that made sense. Do you prefer one large package, a couple of medium packages or a handful small ones spaced out? Ooo... I confess that I would prefer a couple of smaller packages... I like getting surprises in the mail! But I will be totally happy with whatever my witch decides to do, and I do understand that shipping costs can be prohibitive. What are your favorite scents for bath and body stuff? Ones you don't like? Similar to your BPAL tastes? In general I prefer unscented bath products because: 1.) all too often the fragrances contain nasty synthetics, phthalates, parabens, etc., and 2.) I don't like my bath products to clash with my BPAL. I do like soaps scented with cedar and sandalwood essential oils, and I love almond-scented bath products, though. Would any of you like to receive plants? If so what do you like? (herbals, florals, houseplants, tree seedlings...) Also if the answer is yes, what zone are you in? No, thank you. What insects do you delight in where you come from? I don't know that I enjoy engaging with many (if any) insects. I sort of like bumble bees and honey bees. Fireflies are nice. Ladybugs are acceptable. Butterflies and dragonflies are pretty. But I'd still like them all to keep their distance! Decorative representations of these bugs would be okay, though (like on a card or something). Do you wear nail varnish? If so, what colours? I hardly ever do anymore, but I used to be a big fan of very dark red/maroon/burgundy shades with high-gloss finishes. I just broke the bottle of nail polish from my wedding last year, which made me really sad. The color was "It's Now or Never" by OPI (couldn't have been more aptly named), and I would dearly love to replace it. What are five simple things that you just can't get through the day without? Whenever I'm packing to travel somewhere, I always start to freak out thinking I've forgotten something (and usually I have). When that happens, I just ask myself, "Do you have a toothbrush, clean underwear, and deodorant? Okay then. You're set." In terms regular daily use/support I'd say: 1. A nice mug of tea with milk and sugar. 2. My doggies and their sweet snuffles. 3. A hug and a kiss from my husband. 4. The Internets. My name is Apple and I'm an addict. 5. Chocolate. 5.5. Lip balm/Q-Tips/hand lotion... How do people feel about feet? I'm ambivalent about feet. I love foot scrubs and foot massages, and if I had the money I'd get pedicures all the time. As it stands, my own feet are usually in sad shape. I inherited my father's tendency toward dry skin and massive calluses, and I'm not diligent enough with the callus remover and lotion. I'm active in martial arts, too, and I spend a lot of my time barefoot and with other folks who are barefoot... sometimes with our feet very close to each other's faces. magtongue.gif So I've learned to cope. I've never quite gotten over the popularity of flip-flops, though. I find them ugly and hate being forced to be exposed to other people's mostly bare feet in professional settings. It's gross and distracting. New question! Anyone need scent lockets? Definitely. I haven't gotten one yet (BPTP or otherwise), and I'd like to try one eventually. If you were to get earrings from your SW, what kind would you prefer? Studs? Pull through? Hoops? Dangles? I prefer hoops and dangles, and I have a preference for hoops with posts. Medium-size... not teeny, but not giganto, either. BEVERAGES Favorite non-alcoholic drinks: I usually drink water or tea, but when I'm indulging I also like Dr. Pepper, ginger beer, and cream soda. Favorite alcoholic drinks: red wine (I prefer shiraz/syrah and red zinfandel), dark beer (homebrewed is the best!), lambic, hard cider. For mixed drinks I like MOJITOS, gin and tonics (with Tanqueray), and extra-dirty vodka martinis. If I were to receive a liquor-soaked cake, I'd like for it to be doused in Frangelico, amaretto, or Bailey's Irish Cream. I'm sure I could choke down something drenched in Kahlua, too. I have never cared for rum cake (tastes too boozy), but I'm willing to be persuaded to try it again if my witch has an awesome recipe. Do you like spicy/asian food? Asian food seasoning, anyone? I love spicy food and love Asian food. I probably don't need any Asian food seasoning, however. Unless it's Thai massaman curry mix. Yum! How adventurous are you when it comes to food/candies? Moderately adventurous. No insects or bugs, please... or gelatin. And definitely no maggots. What websites MUST everyone visit at least daily? This goes in cycles for me and is directly related to my levels of anxiety and/or boredom. Right now I'm checking BPAL.org every day. Other frequently checked sites include: GMail Facebook Diaryland (a bunch of my friends have online journals there) IMVU Hats? Not so much. How important is BPAL in your Switch Witch packages? I would looooove some BPAL, but I won't be in the least disappointed if my witch doesn't include any. "Used" BPAL? Ugly BPAL? Empties? Oh yes, this is all fine. I would take drops/sniffies of lots of the things on my wish list, just to be able to try them. Any fix is a good fix! what flavored hard candies do you or don't like? and are you willing to try different things like green tea or some other strange flavors? I also hate artificial fruit flavors, and artificial watermelon and artificial banana are two of the worst. I'm not much of a hard candy person, but I'm intrigued by the idea of the "tea-and-milk" flavored ones mentioned by CordeliaSeduced. I like ginger candies (actually, I like ginger anything). I'd be willing to try some weird flavors. A scent that you adore but have decided that it's impossible to find? Well, I like Graveyard Dirt and it can be really hard to find, but certainly not impossible. I got a sniffie of Voodoo Queen from a lovely forumite and enjoyed it... I'd like to find more of that to give it an actual test. I really enjoyed Spanked and would like more, but I'm not pining away for it. One of these days I would love to test Formula 54 and Egg'd Mailbox, both of which have eluded me thus far. ETA: I've now tried Egg'd Mailbox and gotten a back-up supply of Graveyard Dirt. Hod (from the discontinued Sephiroth series) is probably my most wanted semi-rare, and Voodoo Queen and Gypsy Queen are high on my to-hunt-down list. I'd still love to try Formula 54, but I'm not holding my breath. Is there a perfume company that you've never tried that you are curious about? Oh yes, too many to recall at the moment. I was interested in trying some CB: I Hate Perfume scents, but they have been total bastards about replying to my inquiries. I've contacted them TWICE to ask if their fragrances contained any petrochemicals, phthalates, parabens, or animal-derived ingredients, and got NO response to either inquiry. Ditto for The Body Perfumery and Arcana. When a company won't respond to a potential customer's politely worded request for additional information, it makes me think they either have something to hide or they have terrible customer service, and neither of those options is appealing to me as a customer. Uh, well then. I guess I had a mini-rant built up inside. Please forgive. Back on track: I would like to try some Aftelier p

This is something of a cross-post from the "I want to smell like dirt!" thread, but I find Graveyard Dirt smells like mushrooms, moss, and dirt with no floral or sweet elements... it's that mossy, earthy scent that other blends containing the "grave loam" note share. For me, it's easiest to describe via subtraction; i.e., "It's like X, but without the fruit/flowers/rose, etc." Of course, this is a somewhat misleading way to describe Graveyard Dirt, because it makes it sound like it's lacking something, when it's perfect just the way it is. So, in comparison to other scents that are supposed to contain a dirt note, I would say: Burial - Unfortunately, I can't remember this one too well. Either the pine element or the flowers amped and smothered anything earthy. Crossroads - This was all jasmine on me; if you don't amp jasmine you might get a whiff of the loamy note. Death Cap - Nothing like Graveyard Dirt; all I got was coconut baby powder. Deep in Earth - This is like Graveyard Dirt + roses and is very similar to Zombi. Destroying Angel - Very floral on me, not at all like Graveyard Dirt. Jazz Funeral - This has that same moss/dirt note as Graveyard Dirt, Zombi, and Penny Dreadful, plus a hit of bay rum aftershave. Nocnitsa - This was all bayberry candle on me, no dirt. Nosferatu - A fresh green scent with a spicy berry spike, it has the same dirt/moss note as Graveyard Dirt, Zombi, Penny Dreadful, and Jazz Funeral. Penny Dreadful - Like Graveyard Dirt + ginger cookies. The Premature Burial - This one smells the closest to Graveyard Dirt to me and is currently available from Dark Delicacies. It does have a light floral element, but it's mostly moss/dirt. Zombi - I amp rose, so this was super-strong ammonia-y roses on me... with a hint of Graveyard Dirt cowering beneath. I have rather tempermental skin chemistry, so I'm sure others will chime in with different interpretations and comparisons!

This... is... so odd. With the exception of vanilla musk, all of the notes in Inez thrill me. Vanilla has a tendency to amp on my skin, and musky vanillas either smell like very generic teen body sprays or they go horribly, horribly wrong on me and end up smelling like wintergreen (which I detest). I had my fingers crossed that the spicy carnation and glorious resins would counteract this tendency, and, in fact, Inez does not smell like Pepto-Bismol or a teen girl... nope, instead she smells exactly like my grandmother. I have no idea what note or combination of notes is giving this effect, but it is so striking that I feel like I borrowed a sweater from my Nana (who is now deceased) that still had the remnants of her perfume clinging to it. Does anyone know what commercial fragrance smells similar to Inez? At any rate, here's what I smell: In the imp, Inez is both powdery and foody... not a good sign. On the skin, the powdery-foodiness fades and something sharp and chemically pokes through. I keep thinking I smell dryer sheets, but not dryer sheets... something to do with laundry/clothes... my grandmother's clothes... WAIT! That's it! It smells like Magic Sizing! You know, that spray starch you can use for ironing? My grandmother ironed everything, and everything got a liberal application of Magic Sizing. Inez smells like freshly laundered clothes misted with Magic Sizing and crisply ironed. With some added vanilla. As you can imagine, while not an unpleasant scent memory (or even an unpleasant scent), this is not what I was expecting or hoping for with Inez. And since the vanilla continued to escalate and morph into platiscky nastiness, this one is off to swaps. Sigh.

Sudha Segara! The ginger is citrusy and refreshing, and the milk is comforting. It's a very light, non-intrusive scent and is perfect when you want something calming and centering but not heavy. Great for yoga and at bedtime, too.

Intrigue is pretty much straight-up fig on me; it smells nice but is rather unremarkable. I'm so jealous of people who get a more nuanced effect, and very curious... I wish I could sniff you! Actually, I feel that way about a lot of blends. There are many notes that my skin amps to the exclusion of all others (e.g., rose, vetiver, cinnamon, citrus, jasmine) resulting in so many scents becoming loud single notes on me. I would love to be able to smell them on others so that I could experience them the way they were meant to be experienced. Some of the weirder BPALs I've sniffed: Graveyard Dirt: dirt, mushrooms, and moss Agnes Nutter: after the initial blast of vetiver settles down, that gunpowder note is phenomenal Scarecrow: kerosene? The Forbidding Foyer: an interesting basement-esque note - definitely dank Roadhouse: beer + flowers Penny Dreadful: imagine a gingerbread house covered in moss Seance: smells exactly like my aunt's basement Strangler Fig: fig leaf is such an odd scent I imagine several of the new Halloweenie scents will get some love in this thread, too!

NO! My husband hated Cathouse.. he said it was an old lady smell.. the jasmine is sooooo strong in it. I gotta agree. Cathouse was not at all appealing to my or my partner's nose. It's very traditionally "perfume-y" and quite heavy/strong. I prefer Dungeon.

I was going to suggest this as well, particularly if you've already got a good scent association with a particular blend. The other day my partner had put on some Jolly Roger right before leaving for work, and when I molested hugged him goodbye, some rubbed off on me... and was I ever lonely after he left, with that sexilicous scent haunting me and taunting me! For myself, Bastet makes me feel sultry and sensual, and The Black Tower is what I turn to when I want a darker, edgier sexy scent. You might also try wearing or scenting the room with something you associate with sex. For example, if you like to play with leather restraints/whips/paddles, maybe try some De Sade. Likewise, if you like to feed each other grapes... or drink wine... or smoke clove cigarettes... or use scented massage oils... or burn a particular kind of incense... find a BPAL that echoes that scent and makes you think of getting your groove on. Good luck!

I haven't tried Rhiannon's Dream, and I'm not entirely sure what synthetic civet smells like, but I can definitely recommend some delicious earthy, musky, resiny blends. For Egyptian musk, I must heartily second the recommendation for Bastet (Excolo; luxuriant amber, warm Egyptian musk, fierce saffron and soft myrrh, almond, cardamom and golden lotus). It's one of my favorites, a warm, sensual, spicy-sweet-skin scent. Just make sure you let it dry completely; when it first goes on it's very fruity, almost juicy smelling (I suspect the lotus is the culprit), but when it dries it's musk and amber and sex. If you find Bastet too sweet but would like to try some similar scents, you might like Anubis (Excolo; holy myrrh, storax, balsam, and embalming herbs) and The Lion (Mad Tea Party; a golden, spiced amber, proud, regal and ferocious). For awesome resins + patchouli, definitely try: Anne Bonny (Bewitching Brews): Indonesian red patchouli, red sandalwood, and frankincense. Sri Lanka (Wanderlust): Indian sandalwood and cedar, and the dry incense smoke of olibanum, gum mastic, patchouli and myrrh. Luperci (a limited edition Lupercalia blend): raw, down and dirty patchouli, Gurjam balsam, and essence of Sampson Root sweetened with the heightened sexuality of beeswax, virile juniper, oakmoss, ambrette seed over honey and East African musk. If you find you like BPAL's "red musk" note (I personally do not care for it), you might enjoy: Scherezade (Bewitching Brews): Saffron and Middle Eastern spices swirled through sensual red musk. Fenris Wolf (Diabolus): Rosewood, amber, red musk and a dribble of red sandalwood. Snake Oil (Ars Amatoria): A blend of exotic Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla. Other resiny/spicy/earthy/musky blends you might like: Aureus (Bewitching Brews): True, perfect golden light, refined into an incomparably glorious scent. Baghdad (Wanderlust): Amber, saffron and bergamot with mandarin, nutmeg, Bulgar rose, musk and sandalwood. Bengal (Wanderlust): Skin musk with honey, peppers, clove, cinnamon bark and ginger. Clemence (Carnaval Diabolique, Act IV, The Ladies of the Grindhouse): Patchouli, Kashmiri tea, cardamom, black pepper, carnation, and clove. The Coiled Serpent (Bewitching Brews): A potent yogic oil that stimulates the kundalini, provokes spiritual awakening, and releases the energy seated in your root chakra. Fascinum (Ars Amatoria): Golden amber, golden musk, litsea cubeba, cedar, and saffron. Haunted (Ars Moriendi): Soft golden amber darkened with a touch of murky black musk. Kathmandu (Wanderlust): Saffron, blessed sandalwood, Himalayan cedar and the miraculous lotus of the Buddha with chiuri bark and Nepalese spices. Omen (Bewitching Brews): Oakmoss, juniper berry, myrrh and patchouli. Morocco (Wanderlust): Arabian spices wind through a blend of warm musk, carnation, red sandalwood and cassia. Voodoo (Bewitching Brews): A deep, powerful, resonant blend of myrrh, patchouli, vetiver, lime, vanilla, pine, almond and clove.

This is going to sound completely off the wall, but try Bewitched from the Bewitching Brews category. The first time I tried it, I jotted down that it seemed effervescent and reminded me of ginger ale. I was quite surprised to find that the notes are blackberry, sage, green tea, wild berries and dark musk... ginger isn't even mentioned. A more straight-forward suggestion would be Sudha Segara, also from the Bewitching Brews category: "sweet milk and warm, healing ginger with a touch of golden honey and our blend of Ambrosia". It's not fizzy, but it is gingery. I'd be curious to hear other people's recommendations and the results of your quest. I wouldn't mind smelling like ginger ale myself.

Finally... a perfect chai tea scent! Er, sort of. I've combed the BPAL catalogue looking for something reminiscent of chai, but I never found sweet, spicy, milky tea... only disappointment. Bengal, Plunder, Bakeneko, even Clemence... all broke my chai-loving heart. But Bezoar was a delightful chai-surprise. Sniffing the imp, I could positively drink this stuff. The cardamom is this is so dominant that I smell like a freshly brewed cup of chai while it's wet. If it stayed in this phase, I would run off into the sunset with Bezoar after buying a million bottles before the Carnaval leaves town. But there's something holding me back, something giving me cold feet about giving my heart to Bezoar completely. There's a plasticky note when it dries, the same one I get from Miskatonic University (Irish coffee, dusty tomes, polished wood) and Twenty-One (a martini scent that is mostly gin/juniper). And then... it's gone, leaving only a breathy whisper of scent behind. I'm definitely going to keep my little sample for awhile longer to see if that plastic note fades or if Bezoar gets stronger/longer lasting before making a commitment. He comes on wonderfully strong, but I'm not sure he's got what it takes for the long haul. Ooo... I wonder if wearing Bezoar in my hair or in a locket would help. Maybe there's hope for us yet...

The jury is still out on Clémence, if only because I wanted so much to love her. Of all the new Carnaval scents released during the last update, none caught my eye more than Clémence. I very rarely order bottles unsniffed, but I could not resist her charms and took the plunge. First whiff from the bottle and I'm not impressed. I'm not too concerned, either... I'm curious to see how she'll bloom on my skin. First dab on the skin and I'm still not impressed. Very spicy, and cola-ish. It smells familiar... and masculine... but sweet. It's like someone took a can of Coca-Cola and blended it with a bottle of Old Spice aftershave. Not at all what I was expecting. As it dries, the scent becomes even more aftershave-y, and there's a salty tang that makes my mouth water. This part of the dry-down reminds me very much of Port Royal. I don't smell the tea (not surprising because my skin eats tea notes, but I am ever hopeful), clove (again unsurprising because my skin also mutes clove, but again I cling to hope), or nutmeg... damn, damn, damn! These were the notes I was most hoping for. The first time I tried this, I didn't get any patchouli, either, which was fine. I like it as a grounding note, but I don't like for it to stand out. On a second wearing the patch was more noticeable, but not overwhelming. I'm not exactly sure what carnation smells like, but I like other blends that are supposed to be heavy on the carnation (Alice, Zarita, Euterpe). Clémence doesn't smell like any of those, though. I think the black pepper is contributing a savory quality, and I definitely smell the cardamom the most, at least initially. So, on me Clémence is a spicy masculine aftershave blended with Coke and salt. I sure hope she improves with age.

Have you tried The Passionate Shepherd to His Love? It was a Lupercalia LE from this year. You might also like Garden Path with Chickens from the Salon. Both of these were more floral than grassy on me (but I do tend to amp florals), and neither had a strong jasmine component. I'd also like to second the recommendations for Rosalind and Amsterdam. If you like dandelion, you might want to check out Roadhouse and One to Tie, Two to Win, too.

Try Scarecrow. There's a definite kerosene/gasoline/flammable liquid note in there. (Aeval had a similar note on my skin, but I think that might have been a skin chemistry thing.) For a cave scent, I'd second the recommendations of Shanghai Tunnel and The Chilling Cellar for the stone/cellar/clay note, and I'll throw Graveyard Dirt, Jazz Funeral, and Jezirat al Tennyn into the hat for the moss note and humidity. He might also like Burial, Nosferatu, Penny Dreadful, Zombi, or The Premature Burial.

Tartchef and I are not quite scent twins, but I suspect our skin chemistries are similar and we're definitely in the same extended scent family. I'll second her recommendations of Sudha Segara and Bastet as lovely skin scents. White Rabbit also gets an honorable mention from me, along with Alice. For about half the month those two meld with my skin in a me-but-better way, while for the other half I amp the hell out of the vanilla in both and they become sharp, powdery, and overwhelming. Bastet and Sudha Segara seem to stay wonderful all month.

Oh, not to worry... I am enjoying the journey. It's hardly a tragedy that I've had to try so many BPALs in my quest. And thank you for the heads-up on Formula 54. I'm a rose amper to the extreme (and apparently a clove muter), so I will avoid selling precious body parts, plasma, etc. to obtain it.

I managed to snag decants of Mad Meg and The Smiling Spider in a swap with a lovely forumite, and I've now tested them both a couple times. The good news is that the black musk in The Smiling Spider behaved itself and didn't turn the whole blend into baby powder upon contact with my skin, and the cinnamon and vetiver in Mad Meg were similarly well-behaved. The bad news is that I didn't get much in the way of clove or tobacco out of either one. I'm clearly in the minority in this regard, and I thought perhaps my nose was wonky, so I had my partner (who also loves clove cigarettes) give me a sniff when I had Mad Meg on one wrist and The Smiling Spider on the other. He declared The Smiling Spider "okay" and Mad Meg "candle-y". When I asked if he thought either one smelled like clove cigarettes, he shook his head and said decisively, "No. Not at all." Sigh. It looks like I will have to chalk this up to a skin chemistry failing. My skin apparently loves cloves as much as I do, and it devours them before I even get a chance to catch a stray waft! I'm still holding out hope for Three Witches and Count Dracula and dreaming of Formula 54...

Bastet is my favorite sexy scent: it's a warm, sensual, spicy-sweet-skin scent that both my partner and I love. I mostly wear this one for evenings in, but it's also nice for a romantic dinner out. When I want something darker and edgier, The Black Tower makes me feel sultry and powerful (and is also a hit with the man). This one has good throw, and I like to wear it as an evening out scent. The wine and leather make it seem appropriate for bars, clubs, and dancing. Nemesis, Perversion, C. Auguste Dupin, De Sade, The Premature Burial, Penny Dreadful, and Ra have all engendered favorable responses of the sniff-and-pounce variety, though none as strongly as Anne Bonny. The first time I tried it, I didn't think it was all that special and I almost swapped her away. For whatever reason, I decided to give her a second try later in that evening. At some point I was snuggling up to my partner when he asked if I was wearing new perfume. I said yes, but that I didn't think it was that great, and I offered him my hand to sniff. He went crazy, huffing my hand and telling me how delicious I smelled, followed by attempts at ravishing and the admonishment to not wear Anne Bonny to bed if I actually wanted to sleep. Needless to say, Anne Bonny has become one of my favored stay-at-home sexy scents! On him, I go wild for Jolly Roger. I love the way it smells all on its own (it was the first scent that made me understand the concept of "sex in a bottle"), but the way it mixes with his skin is just so... Nosferatu has started to have a similar effect on me, although that's more a result of conditioning than a direct hit to my innate olfactory hot spot.

Thank you - good to know! I will have to look that one up...

Me too. I've looked high and low and have yet to find it in the BPAL repertoire, but Graveyard Dirt is the closest: mushrooms, moss, and dirt with no floral or sweet elements. The other scents that are supposed to contain a dirt note that I've tried are: Burial - I can't remember if it was the pine element or the flowers that killed this one for me, but it wasn't good Crossroads - this was all jasmine on me; I'd stay far away if you're trying to avoid florals Death Cap - coconut baby powder Deep in Earth - the rose geranium in this amped way up and turned into the same rosey ammonia I get from true rose blends Destroying Angel - also very floral on me Jazz Funeral - has that same moss/dirt note as Zombi and Penny Dreadful, plus a hit of bay rum aftershave Nocnitsa - this was all bayberry candle on me, no dirt Nosferatu - a fresh green scent with a spicy berry spike, it has the same dirt/moss note as Zombi, Penny Dreadful, and Jazz Funeral Penny Dreadful - ginger cookies plus moss/dirt The Premature Burial - this one smells the closest to Graveyard Dirt to me and is currently available from Dark Delicacies. It does have a light floral element, but it's mostly moss/dirt Zombi - I amp rose, so this was super-strong ammonia-y roses on me Demeter's "Dirt" is probably your best bet, but you might still want to give these others a shot. Good luck!

Yay! Congratulations!

Ooo... good to know! I haven't tried either of those yet. Thanks!

Good luck! (You have my utmost sympathy; I hate oral defenses.) Have you tried Sudha Segara? I find it very grounding and calming.

Oh, how I wish! No, on me Valentine of Rome was the scent of the incense and candle section of a sunlit New Age shop... nice enough, but unremarkable as a personal scent. I've tried two more blends recommended in this thread: Blockbuster and Dracul. Unfortunately, neither smelled like cloves or tobacco on my skin. Blockbuster was an utter disaster, an unexpectedly gross jasmine-like floral. Dracul was pleasant enough, but also surprising. I was expecting something uber-masculine, but it was very light and sweet. It smelled like lime cola at first, then as it dried it started to remind me of Voodoo. When finally dry, it was powdery with a hint of plastic. And so the search continues!

Although lovely and woody in the bottle, The Clod and the Pebble was pure rose after a few moments on my skin... no cloves for me. But perhaps it would work for other clove cigarette seekers.