shriekingviolet

Well in the case of spices, I have to say that it's definitely nature over nurture. LOL I'm sure the burning sensation spicy foods can cause on tongues make the element's argument pretty strong. A lot of spicy oils are also common skin irritants, so when someone experiences an awful tingly sensation and has to run to wash the oil off, that further cements the connection. I think in most cases, it's practical associations rather than traditional, since you do hear reviewers who probably have not spent too much time studying elemental correspondence tables use the words airy, fiery, earthy and watery.

I've only smelled the ace of pentacles out of the tarot aces, but it's VERY earthy. As for which fragrances go with which elements, I think that might vary from person to person, though some are pretty easy to associate. I think just about everyone associates cinnamon, clove or other heavy spice notes with fire, while wood notes (like patchouli, redwood, sandalwood) give earth vibes. But I think most scents don't fall directly under one element or the other.

I've always had weirdness from CCNow, even with other companies.

they don't send you an email. You look up your order on their website and it'll show your order status.

It's not just a temp. BPAL problem with CCNow. CCNow is just buggy in general, so I would never use them as a guide. Don't check kids, don't hope it fixes itself, it's like sitting by the mailbox on Sunday hoping the postman will come.

Since quite a few of us are pagan, and many more study, practice or are at least interested in different occult practices. I though it'd be fun to add a forum for discussion of them. Particularly since the subjects are directly related to the oils themselves. Have fun kids.

pick at Random (like out of a hat) and then order quickly before you can waffle over it.

I love Old Venice too. I think it's a good gamble Lora. It's one of the few scents I bought with out trying and I'm glad I did! SUCH a complex floral.

Initial Impression: Fresh, clean and slightly fruity. Smells like a fruit flavored carbonated water. Like those clearly canadian drinks that used to be popular here. After Wearing It: While there was that familiar herby overtone that I usually smell with Beth's voodoo blend when it first hit my skin, this was also noticably sweeter than any other Voodoo blend I've tried. It was sweet and powdery, yet slightly bubbly, light and clean. After it dried down, it smelled light a pale version of Lush's Silky Underwear dusting powder. I like the scent lots on my skin, and it turned out to be excellent as a room scent. Very light, clean and comforting. Would be nonoffensive to most noses. It also was very helpful during my meditation session as I was concentrating of positive affirmations. I found this scent to be very grounding, calming and good for instilling a serene yet confident attitude. I also tried layering this with Snake Oil (which I adore) to help promote a self-assured, upbeat attitude and it smelled fab. Powdery, but still sexy. Final Thoughts: I definitely have to get a bottle of this for banishing neative energies from my personal space as well as for calming and empowering purposes.

Initial Impression: Green, herby and a touch both soapy and spicy. After Wearing It: When I first put this on, I was struck by how herby and soapy it smelled. Very green and almost sharp. Not my kind of scent, but I was in need of a lot of courage today so I persisted! After an hour, the scent smoothed out, still fresh and green but spicy too. Not cinnamon spicy, but in a way I can't quite define. Less ofeensive to my nose, though not something I'd normally wear. As for its voodoo properties, I can't vouch for its wealth and influence drawing claims, but it did strengthen my spine today as I was walking into the doctor's office. It made me feel less vulnerable and remind me that even if I do experience discomfort, nothing bad will happen to me. Final Thoughts: This isn't something I'd buy for the scent alone, so I'll have to wear it a few more times to test out its magical properties.

I couldn't smell any spice in Old New Orleans on me. It was a very heavy floral to my nose.

I'll PM you with the info, in a few minutes. Yeah it's not an actual word, but it damn well should be! Writers get to coin their own words, so that can be mine. Other signs have their own adjectives, we need ours too. And I like my word.

Possible. I tend to fall for more Scorpionic notes, but I don't notice any elemental correspondence. If you don't include the major and minor asteroids, my chart is predominantly air (4 planets) with fire being next (3 + ascendant), water with 2 (sun sign included), and earth with only 1. I'm primarily drawn to earth and fire type notes, but if I were to think about which elements I feel are more dominant in my personality, I could firmly say air and water are far ahead of any fire or earth influences. I do feel Leo influences (my ascendent), but my sun sign overpowers (by a lot) any effect of my ascendent. My moon in Sagittarius is one of my weaker points, at least in zodiac influence. It seems to express itself more on its house position rather than its sign. And in a typical Scorpio way, I tend to run towards extremes and enjoy polarity more than being balanced (much to my psychiatrist's dismay ). Not that I'm flighty, I just am very this or I'm very that. Seldom in between. But maybe I'm just a freak. If you send me your DOB and birth time (if you know it) I'll take a peak at your chart for you!

Just wanted to point out to everyone that the board guidelines have been written up and posted. *points up to the "Board Guidelines link next to "My Assistant"* Everything written inside is pretty much old news for regular members and pretty intuitive in any case, but I'd appreciate it if everyone would take a peek at them and let me know if I made any mistakes or have something you'd like added. Thanks!

Initial Impression: Sweet and slightly spicy floral. Smells of the spoiled and pampered as they lounge around waiting to be waiting on. After Wearing It: When I first applied this, ll I could smell were violets. Sharp, clear violets. As time went on, the violet note mellowed and that creamy chocolate/vanilla scent of tonka bean took over, smoothing the fragrance until it smelled the way satin feels. Wafts of the clove and other spices could almost be detected, but never really asserted themselves. The end result was sweet and powdery, in a way that the smells like it should be coming from a nice dusting power that has the texture of Silky Underwear rather than an oil. The scent itself vaguely reminds my of skinny dip, though it has more sweet and less clove. This scent is soft and comforting, sensual but not aggressive in anyway. It's a lounging around in a rich satin robe with nothing underneath. It lasted a good while too so extra points! Final Thoughts: I really liked this one, though I'm not sure if I like it enough to add it to the list of 5ml bottles I must buy. I need to wear it on a gloomy day, so I can tell if its power to comfort and envelop is strong enough to make it a necessary accessory for bad days.

I don't know about similar per say, but I'm also a big fan of this one and tend to stick towards this perfume family. I think Old Morocco has a similar feel. They don't smell alike, but they have that same sweet-spicy, exotic appeal.

Initial Impression: Fiery and heated, with a slight metallic edge. Definitely smelling some cloves and the slightly resin-fruit combo that I always smell in Dragon's Blood blends. After Wearing It: First on, this was incredibly resiny, almost too much so. The Dragon's Blood note was so heavy and heady it smelled metallic, like copper. And musky. I almost want to say it smelled bitter, but that's not right. It was just vaguely menacing and unpleasant. Maybe like tasting smoke. I was feeling highly disappointed since this smelled so nice in the vial. Fortunately after about half an hour, the Dragon's Blood mellowed (though did not by any means disappear) and the scent was sweetened by fig and emboldened by the red currant (which smelled much stronger than the fig). It smelled ripe, juicy and just a tad sweet while still retaining it's original smoky, musky fiery feel it had in the first stage. Very complex and well-rounded scent. Final Thoughts: Once I got past the initial stage I loved this. It actually reminded more of blood than the Lab's Blood fragrance since it's far less sweet and syrupy and more heated. This might just be my favorite Dragon's Blood blend! (though it'll have to fight w/ Blood Lotus, assuming it does indeed have Dragon's blood in it)

Snake Oil last ages on me (and in my car), it's like the power oil. Scorpio's REALLY strong (it can literally create a buzz if you overapply) and pretty long lasting on me. Sin is another one, though it doesn't last quite so long as the other two. Dana O'Shee actually lasted ages on me (though I did apply with a heavy hand), but I seem to be the only one for that.

Initial Impression: A musky yet sparkling orange scent. Makes me think of disco lights and glittery masks. After Wearing It: You know I usually get some sort of visual/emotional reaction to BPAL scents, but I didn't get any for Masquerade. I don't think I've worn an oil yet that has moved me less. Very strange, I don't know if I was less receptive on Sunday (when I wore it), distracted or what, but nada. That isn't to say I didn't like it though, because I did. It's a nice scent. Very orange, but somehow not in a way that screams "fruity." The patchouli and ambergris (couldn't smell the carnation) really vamp the orange blossom up keeping it from smelling fresh or innocent. The end result reminds me a lot of Karma, though no where close to being as hippie-ish. And I agree with Karyn, it does have something in common with Hot Toddy (though I wouldn't call it a match for the scent) which is wonderful because I loved that bubble bar. Final Thoughts: I did like this, though I haven't decided on how much I liked it. I need to wear it again to see if I was just off that day or if Masquerade is just numbing on me, which in that case, it'd go up for swap.

Initial Impression: Green, fresh and earthy. There's something sparkly here too like the glimmer of light off jewels and new coins. Slightly resiny and sharp. After Wearing It: The copal note was really heavy on me, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. It did make it smell similar to Aureus on me though. The scent smells metallic, like the way metal tastes. It also made me think of freshly minted money, though I suppose this isn't exactly what crisp bills smell like. It definitely does smell like something you might rub into a dollar bill in hopes of attracting wealth. The scent overall was very heavy and sharp, almost to the point of bitterness. It mellowed down a bit so that it was quite so overwhelming, but the copal (and later the patchouli) were always pressing over my skin as if trying to influence my actions. Which I suppose it appropriate for Greed. Final Thoughts: I don't think I could wear this. It smells masculine on me and just not my type. I do want to keep the imp though, rather than swapping it away. It'd be interesting to see how it's work in a money-drawing ritual.

Initial Impression: Very green and wispy. Mysterious. I can really smell the lavender and the sandalwood here, but you can still tell that there's a host of other notes as it smells very complex. After Wearing It: I wasn't sure if I was going to like this when I first put it on. It was soft, and a bit too classic smelling. Classic floral scents usually don't do a lot for me, so I was a bit disappointed and more skeptical. I generally like sandalwood and could definitely smell it , but with the lilac and lavender (which were the other two notes I smelled most strongly), it smelled almost acrid. The feel of the scent was a dusty, rose mauve. The kind you see often in prim suits or sweater sets. And while I would say it started out as an old lady scent, it did remind me of my grandmother (on my mother's side) who's always been very upright and all about looking poised, polished, and respectable at all times. But mantra with BPAL oils is to persist, persist, persist, and so persist I did. And oddly enough after the first half hour, I grew to like it better with every passing minute. I'm not sure if the scent actually changed, or if I just became more open to the entire scent. It's still very ladylike and floral on me, but it's softer, sweeter. Soft and powdery, it exudes gentleness and quite composure. The gardenia and ylang ylang is what I think what I'm smelling for the sweetness (though I at first wondered if I was smelling jasmine) while the orris and violet round out the scent and give it a bit of humor. It feels like a mother figure, but not a scent that makes you feel older or old fashioned, but reminds me of something we all might hope to be. It's wise and compassionate, filled with warmth, gentleness and serenity. She's seen the storms and turmoil life has to throw at us and has learned from it and come out a better person who can face life with such grace. An enchanting and inspiring scent. Final Thoughts: I started out with this scent feeling that it was an inevitable swap, but hours later I've grown rather fond of it, particularly for such an overt, straight floral blend. I'm not sure if I'll end up needing a full bottle of it, but I'll definitely finish the imp ear.

Initial Impression: Oh. My. God. All 3 of my fave notes in one blend and it's so beautiful! I'm having to quell the urge to empty the vial onto my chest and rubbing it in. It's sweet, sexy and husky (yes husky, not musky). It's f**king hot! After Wearing It: First on, this scent was so warm it was almost sweaty. While the honey was definitely apparent, it was the amber that dominated the scent. Rich, heady, sweet, and slightly powdery, but so warm that it seems to imitate elevated body heat. Wonderful, but overwhelming. Something that'd bring you to cross your legs and blush on a subway train, even if you were the only one around. Thankfully though, this mellowed out a bit after an hour or so. As much as I loved the initial fragrance, it was a bit too much to wear out and about (and I rarely feel that way about anything I like). The amber cooled down a bit, blending more evenly with the honey and further sweetened and smoothed over by just a touch of vanilla. The end result feels like warmed velvet, and is very sexy but not as ravaged as the initial effect. Feels like a very nice buzz/afterglow. Final Thoughts: This is a must for honey lovers like me. It's not a straight honey note, but it's a real treat all the same. I will definitely be getting more of this.

Initial Impression: A perfect pirate scent! Smells of fresh salty seas and soaked wood planks. Elizabeth did an excellent job at capturing an "out at sea" scent rather than a "by the ocean" one. After Wearing It: On me the scent is overwhelmingly salty, like sailing on the sea on a very windy day where the waves are crashing over the sides so often and with such consistency it feels like they're dancing to the beat of a drum. I could smell, old well worn leather lacing through the salty air, along with a certain "aftershave smell that must be from the bay rum. This is a really masculine smell, born from men whose women are only their mistresses because they are truly married to the sea, Wearing Jolly Roger is no day trip on a boat, it's about living and working with the water, the source of your joys and livelihood. Final Thoughts: This fragrance is amazing in the way it embodies its name. I couldn't imagine a more powerful scent for this kind of theme. However as much as I appreciate this scent for what it is, I could never wear it. It's too masculine, too salty and just not my style.

Initial Impression: Sinful and decadent. Freeflowing burgundy wine and dark, rich velvets covering every available surface. The red wine and plum are very apparent. After Wearing It: When I first put this on, sweet plum is what screams out to me. Sweet, rich, ripe-to-the-point-of-bursting plum. It's such a sweet scent but not candylike. It's decadent and sinful. The red currant starts to peek around the edges after the oil dries, keeping this a fruity scent but adding another dimension. The red wine doesn't arrive for another which adds a tart backdrop to the otherwise very sweet scent, make Bordello all the more faceted and complex. The amaretto appears last, after the wine note starts to fade, smelling on me the way amaretto always does to me: that bubbly almond disguises as a cherry scent. The end result is a very velvety and indulgent scent that manages to invoke both an aura of dazzling lights and one of shadowy, intimate corners. Quite a scent. Final Thoughts: I loved this. Way more fruity than I usually would choose, but it's gorgeous all the same. My only complaint is that while the scent doesn't fade quickly on me, it never has much "throw" so while I can smell it on my skin, so even when I first put it on I can't smell it much unless I sniff my wrist (then it bursts in front of my nose). Worth keeping though, maybe even getting a bottle of it. I want a candle that smells like this!

Initial Impression: This is a perfect scent for The Caterpillar. Earthy like his home among the fungi on the forest floor yet spicy and incencey. This is all nonsense passed off as wisdom and cryptic statements. "Who are you?" indeed! After Wearing It: On me this was very earthy, almost loamy. Brought up images of of walking through a great, dense forest at dusk, where you have to focus on the moist earth, scattered with decaying leaves so you want trip over a fallen tree branch or exposed root. Any incense notes I smelled (I think I caught some frankincense) served to make the earth tones more grainy. The moss, patchouli and vetivert notes were what really played prominently on me. I couldn't smell the floral notes here much at all. I could make out suggestions of iris every now and then, but other than that I couldn't detect them at all. The scent overall portrayed the home of the caterpillar, but *after* he'd been gone for a while. Final Thoughts: Disappointing! The note list made this seem like something I would adore, but it ended up being *too* earthy and more than a little masculine on me. Not a bad scent, just not something I would wear.