kakiphony

Y’know, for a zombie, you’re alright. A flicker of hero worship, tempered by naivety and an innately kind nature: shaggy leather, sweet rum absolute, and patchouli. In the decanted imp: High, sweet, and boozy. It's not exactly straight-up rum -- there's something woodsy under it and maybe a little wet leather -- but the sweet booze is definitely dominant. Wet on skin: Immediately less high and sweet, and more rounded than it was in the imp. The leather is actually the immediate top note on me, and it's a wet, slick leather rather than the old/dry/rubbed down leather I often get from other bpal leather scents. This is more an Wilson's Leather Shop in the mall than a worn leather jacket. The booze is still very present, and now it's very much rum as the sweetness it lends is very sugar-like (this is dark rum, not white rum, but not spiced rum...) Early dry down (about 20 minutes): This is an early morpher and it starts to dry down and become a skin scent very quickly. After about 20 minutes the leather has settled down and mellowed out so that it's becoming that worn leather jacket (brown, not black, and the liner is long gone, so the unfinished inside flakes off on sweaters), and the booze is mellowing to become less about booze and more about sweetness. The patchouli is underneath it all at the heart, and it seems to be my favorite type of patchouli -- the one that turns into a cross between spicy cookies and the inside of a cedar chest on me. Late dry down (1 hour+): Most of the changing Ian did happened very early on my skin. After an hour, it's very similar to how it was after 20 minutes, just a little fainter and closer to my skin. A dry, woody patchouli heart rounded out and sweetened by top notes of worn leather and a little sweet booze. It's the perfect character scent. You can absolutely imagine a sweet, shaggy guy who has been wearing the same leather jacket for years (which has had more than one drink spilled on it and spent its off-days balled up in an incense filled apartment) smelling like this. Final verdict: What strikes me most about this scent is how playful it is. It's not deep dark and masculine (which leather and patchouli could easily be!), but rather light-hearted and a little sweet, but with a deep heart. A few weeks ago, the people who live next-door to my 3-year-old nephew cut down a bunch of trees. He salvaged slices of the stumps and has been playing with them in his play structure/fort. He pretends they are bread and makes me "sandwiches" that are apparently composed of chocolate syrup, blueberries and catsup. There is something about this scent that reminds me of being up in the fort with him and eating those imaginary sandwiches. It's a little dirty, with wood and bugs and boy, but also sweet and innocent and joyful. Winner. I suspect that, long term, I'll love This Is Your Wilderness more because it's going to age so well, but this is an immediate use love. Reminds me of: Mary Read (but this is lighter), Jolly Roger

Citrusy and classic "clean" scent at first spray, but definitely something herbal as it longer in the air. I'm getting mint and/or tarragon rather than rosemary though... This is not super long lasting, but is very pleasant.

As everyone else has said, this is (really good, not cheap-o) Nag Chama in a bottle. It's a golden, thick, incense scent on the skin. There's a little fruity/sweet at the beginning, and then pure incense for ages and ages. Throw is moderate. It smells like the clothing racks at a shop I used to frequent in college that carried hippie skirts and loads of scarves from Indian. I will wear this loads on the weekend when I can smell how I want, but never to work. If I wore it to work I'd get the reputation of a total hippie!

I did not pay enough attention to this scent, and I'm afraid this review is not as thorough or insightful as I would like. In the bottle this smelled sort of mildly aquatic and a little bit floral to me. I did get plum from it. At first application is immediately amped and smell strongly of aquatics and old lady in a way that made me sneeze (and may be the "soap" smell that others have mentioned.) It read as wet rather than cold to me -- like a sleety, slushy mess rather than pretty snow flakes. Then, I was in a hurry to leave the house, and managed to not sniff my wrists at all during the early dry down phases, so I'm not sure how the top notes bloomed and developed. Several hours later, it has faded to the point of having zero throw and being a skin scent. It's a very pretty resin, with final powder. On one wrist there is something a little bit sharp, which is probably the last remaining bit of the carnation. It's pretty and unobtrusive, but nothing special. I will come back and edit this post once I have a chance to try it on a day when I can PAY ATTENTION.

In the imp: Not as deep as I would have expected from cypress. Light, with something like mint that I think may actually be birch? Wet on skin: Total amping here. This was a quiet scent in the imp and is a LOUD scent on me at first application. It's exactly what the title says: The inside of a box where jewelry worn close to perfumed skin has been stored. A little wood (I tend to read almost all wood as "cedar" because it smells like my cedar chest!), a little powder, some florals, and maybe a touch of dry spice. Early dry down (10 minutes): The amping mellows, but the scent remains large unchanged from first application. This is not (at least on me) an early morpher. Again, it's what it says on the label: The inside of the jewelry box of a rich, perfumed lady. Late dry down (about 45 minutes to an hour): This is really a very stable scent on me. The only real change was from imp to skin. Wood, subtle perfume (more cologne than perfume -- it has some resins and spice and sin't overtly floral) and a little dry spice. It's golden yet deep, resinous, yet heady. Very pretty.

In the imp: Very faint. Mild even. One of the least aggressive oils I have smelled in the imp in ages. Wet on skin: A quick sharp jolt of cologne, that very quickly mellows in the nose. There is a bit of high and sweet from the lotus, and then a really soft vanilla-sandalwood under it. Early dry down (5-10 minutes): This is bizarre to me. I expected something complex and rich, and instead I'm getting something really gentle and mild. I don't get the creamy note others have mentioned, but it might come out with time. As it starts to settle, I am catching more of the floral ylang ylang and a little more sweet bubble gum from the lotus. It's a very poppy bubble gum -- more bubbles than glob if that makes sense. There's also just a tiny bit of something plastic (like a Strawberry Shortcake doll) in there which I have occasionally gotten from vanilla. Late dry down (45+ minutes): A delicate skin scent, most ylang ylang and sandalwood. This is soft, warm, and comforting. Very pretty and subtly feminine,

In the imp: Very citrusy and bright. Wet on skin: This applies with a burst of bitter orange and the very quickly there is something sharp and herbal poking up through it. It's loud and sharp, mostly ginger -- and fresh, eye watering ginger at that -- but with a little bit of green spice from the geranium. Early dry down (5-10 minutes): In the early stages this a VERY strong on me. The bitter orange morphs into something more like lemon scented cleaner (pledge, dish soap, that variety) with a healthy kicker of ginger and a little geranium if I hold my nose right up close to my wrist and huff. I can almost detect some more subtle notes waiting to come out as this wears, but they're very faint and absolutely crushed by the citrus/ginger combination. Late Dry Down (60 minutes+): For all the amping in the early stages, this almost disappeared rather quickly. I am left with faintly sweet frankincense. It's rather powdery and so subtle that it could be the skin-scent left behind by a scented soap or scrub.

Starts out as an odd combination of dusty pepper (like the really low quality black pepper you find in diners) and sharp, slightly damp dead leaves. Quickly, the dead leaf odor fades and the sandalwood rises up to make this a little spicy, a little dry, and overall a fairly traditional scent. Low throw, very much a "cologne" fragrance on me -- my chemistry has just devoured anything subtle that was there.

I received this as an extra from the lovely puck_nc, and I am sorry to say that it will NOT be released into the wild to be tested by more of my bpalista friends because OMG I LOVE THIS AND KEEPING IT AND YOU CANNOT STOP ME. Seriously, it's worth the all caps. Puddin', if you read this, I would buy more of this stuff. In the bottle it sort of smelled generically chocolate to me and made me think of the various 13s I've tried over the years. I honestly was not super excited. But I wanted a bath and I was out of anything else pampering so I threw a dollop in. As soon as it mixed with the hot water the scent of this stuff started to bloom. The chocolate is deep and cocoa-like, reminding me of the very quality cocoa powder I use for baking my chocolate porter cake. But there is also a healthy dash of spice in this. It's not cinnamon or cassia (so no worries for the lad bits), but possibly cardamom and saffron. There's also a lovely nuttiness here which reminds me of Queen of Sheba, so I expect some almond found its way in there as well. In fact, I think this smells very much like Queen of Sheba with cocoa. I am in LOVE.

This is the most vegetable of the dead leave scents I have tried yet, and the one for which the dead leaf note lingers the longest. It eventually turns quite powdery -- it's a sweet, dusty powder with just a little dead leaf funk under it. Interesting, but a bit too sweet and powdery for me.

This started out quite vegetable from the leaves, and then the frankincense amped and gave it a strong cologne smell. Over time it has faded and it now fairly pleasant, although I get an underlying hint of BO when I huff my wrists. Not my favorite of these Dead Leaves scents. The BO is just...kind of gross. First one I've washed off.

Much less sweet than I expected from a blend with honey, and the vegetable dead leaf note faded very quickly on me. The oudh was definitely the dominant note, and rose quickly to the surface and controlled the dry-down. I was left a slightly sweet, very resinous scent. It reminded me more of a traditional perfume than many pal blends -- but in a good way. It smelled rich and sophisticated. My husband pronounced it "powdery" and didn't care for it, so no bottle for me. But I thought it was quite gorgeous.

This started off lovely and fresh. Sadly, it has turned into Glade air freshener on me. Specifically, the weird cone shaped ones in the plastic that you find in gas station and camp ground bathrooms.

This is seriously gorgeous on me. It starts out all bright apple and very subtle coconut with just a little floral -- light, sweet, yet sophisticated. As it dries down and fades it turns a little powdery, but in a yummy I-want-to-lick-my-skin way. The coconut is the lingering scent, but with a sort of vanilla floral tone. Really, I can't describe how lovely this is. It's the surprise winner out of all the apples for me.

What are some of your favorite stocking stuffers? Candy, nuts, lip balms (tinted and regular), little tubes of hand lotion, socks and tights, tea, small kitchen items (like measuring spoons, silicone baking spatulas, spices and fancy salts, etc.), bath indulgences, tiny liquor bottles, tiny hair ties, and inexpensive jewelry. Is there anything in particular from another country that you can't get in your own country you'd like to get? What's most important to me: anything in particular from The Netherlands you'd like to get? In general, I love to try candy (especially chocolate), teas, spices, packaged cookies, and dried fruit/nut/snack mixes from other countries. I'm more a fan of consumable items than of knickknacks. I’m not sure what is from the Netherlands in particular though! Have you tried licorice candy before and do you like it? I like black and salty black licorice, but am not a fan of red licorice. (Also not a fan of gummy candies.) If you were to receive Christmas/Holiday ornaments or other decorations, do you care *when* you receive them in the swap? Early would stand more chance of getting put on the tree this year. We usually put it up mid-December and leave it up until sometime between the 26th of December and the first of January depending on how lazy we are being and how quickly the needles are shedding. Anyone like popcorn and what kinds? I do like popcorn, although I will admit that we mostly cook the microwave stuff because we don’t have an air or stove popper anymore. I like butter + salt and pepper and cheese toppings. There is a place near us that does things like truffle salt and butter or Sri Racha Lime butter and it is amazing. For pre-bagged already popped stuff, salt, pepper, and cheese are best. Caramel sticks in my teeth…but gets eaten anyway. Anyone a fan of http://www.cthulhulives.org/solstice/ I had never heard of it, but it looks entertaining. However, sheet music is not for me, and I don’t currently have a working CD player. is there any kind of photo you'd like to have? Landscape, critter, flowers, other? If so, what size would be good for your environment? Or would you like a set of notecards instead of a print? I am actually starting to run out of useable wall space in my house for art, which is a very odd problem to have! That said, notecards would be lovely. I like landscapes, foxes, flowers, really almost anything. Would you be interested in anything from this site? Maybe the disappearing Klingon mug? But really, my mug cupboard is already so full I've started having to stack things! Would you be interested in receiving cards against humanity's "holiday bullshit"? Maybe? I've never played Cards Against Humanity, but in theory is sounds fun. I don't have enough friends???? Would you be happy or annoyed or anything in between to receive a tentacle kitty? They are very cute. If one came to me, it would immediately be claimed by my niece. She has already taken over my Nagini, which I don't mind because watching a 2 year old walk in the front door and shriek "My Nagini! Mine!" and hug the snot out of a stuff snake is pretty much unbeatable for cute.)

Vanilla scented plastic with an undertone of the cheapest red hots made. What happened to me? My chemistry is destroyed!!!!!!!

Finally tried the decant I have had languishing in a "to be tried pile for forever" and am sort of shocked at the results. I expected something pretty mild and close to the skin -- vanillas with resins tend to dry close to me and be very nice, only smellable if you hug me, work appropriate sort of scents. I applied a tiny bit of this to my left wrist and then rubbed it with my right wrist. That's all. I am amping something in this wildly. This is NOT a close to my skin scent -- this is wafting all over the place to the extent that I kind of think I should go wash it off before my officemate gets here. However, it is smells GOOD to me, not bad. So I am torn. This is very heavy on the clove, which is riding on a wafting, very floral and powdery vanilla. I'm not getting much depth from the resins, this is all powder and clove. If I had to give this lace a color, I'd say it's yellowed, old fashioned, thick lace -- the kind that you'd find in doilies or large collars of victorian dresses, but OLD and having been stored in an attic with scent balls for ages and ages.

Like so many of the reviewers before me, I find myself asking: How did I wait so long to try this? I think the lilac and musk scared me. Florals tend to make me sneeze and a lot of musks go old man... But not this one! In the decant: Complex, perfumey, sweet and herbal, with a little of something dry in the background that might be the leather.. Wet on skin: A little musk and a lot of leather, but somehow also this reads as very herbal to my nose (this could be the ti leaf). The lilac is there I think, but is NOT a sweet blossom scent if that makes any sense... Early dry down (about 20 minutes): As this fades on me the throw gets closer to the skin and the scent becomes more blended and complex. It is hard to pick out individual notes, but I smell good. It's more feminine that I imagined, and it has grown sweeter with a bit of really dry leather in the background that makes it almost powdery (or sueded). Late dry down (a couple of hours): This is a very light scent and quite traditionally feminine on me. The lilac never did come on too strong -- it reminds me of blossoms that were left in a vase to dry out and crumble. It's the top note, riding on a base of powdery leather and quite sweet skin musk. Overall, the impress I am getting is of a sweet, subtle floral and herbal blend that soaked into the collar of a suede blazer years ago, and that you can still smell when you hold it up to your nose and sniff. This is pearls worn with gray suede. I think I love it.

In the bottle: Strong red musk with unidentifiable spices and a musty herbal tone. Really, the red musk is very dominant. Wet on skin: Strong, spicy red musk a lot of spicy heat from the pimento. Strong and unsubtle. More fire than blood to my nose. Early dry down (10-15 minutes): The red musk and spice in this is reminding me very much of how Vixen used to dry down on me before my skin chemistry started to change with middle age: Spicy, dry, Amish style ginger molasses cookies mixed with the inside of a cedar chest. There's a dry, not quite powdery (more sawdusty) quality, along with spices. Late dry down (hours after application: I kept expecting some of the other notes like tobacco and vanilla or rose to show up at some point during the dry down period, but they never really did. On me, this is a red musk heavy blend and stays spicy and hot rather than ever getting dark, blood, or too complex. While the initial throw was strong, as this dried down it became much fainter and it wears very close to my skin (I like this quality). What I'm left with a spicy, almost powdery red musk scent. I maintain that, to me, this is a very fiery scent. It's oddly not at all what I expected from the description and I completely blame my (new, less fun) wonky skin chemistry.

New Sock Dreams wishlist (I only just learned they had this function and I do love window shopping...): http://www.sockdreams.com/_users/wishlists/6167acd8de66b7b Chaos Theory: Bottles/imps more than once (or ANY repeated items for that matter!) are with me. In fact, I think a little varied repetition can be fun. (Really, someone could just send me 13 different candy bars and I'd be perfectly content!) Sizes: I think I listed sizes, but in case not... Women's cut Ts in a medium, tights in s/m or a/b or one size or whatever, and socks in the size that fits a size 7 shoe (which is the bog standard size). Forearms size: My forearms are skinny. I think my wrist has about a 6 inch circumference. I had to have the jeweler take like 4 links out of my watch... Foreign items: Yes please to candy, cookies/biscuits, food, drinks, whatever (odd stuff is fun too!). I'm also kind of a fan of cozy British romance novels and mysteries. Yarn: I like wool, cotton... really everything. The thing I dislike is the yarn that pills the minute you wear it, but I am so craft challenged I don't even know what that is. I adore cowls, fingerless gloves, scarves (straight or infinity), cute little hats, and shawls. I don't wear those head/ear bands because they slide right off my head (my hair is super slippery!) Homemade baked goods/candy: Love. Not dietary restrictions. Pens: My daily pens are Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball Extra Fine (the kind with the little window in the size that shows the ink). I can always use more as my husband is a pen thief. I use blue and red, and would love to also have green and purple. Not so much black. My question: If you are a tea lover, are there any companies or vendors that you would particularly like to try (etsy, teavana, republic, stash, adagio, etc)? I'm intrigued by a lot of the fandom blends on adagio (like the Magic Potions, Women of Comics, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, the female classic authors series, the Buffy series that contains Love's Bitch, etc) as well as the Harry Potter blends from easy vendor Worts and Cunning (which sadly, now seem to be unavailable). I am also a big, big fan of the Kusmi teas. I'd love to try tea by Dammann Freres (which I just heard is the brand served for High Tea at Bergdorf Goodman). But really, I'm always happy to try almost anything!!! (And I will add that single/a few bags of things are FINE for tea trying, especially for a days long swap. I know whole boxes can be expensive, so if it's something you have, feel free to just grab me a sample!) Dearest swappee, have you seen the launch of this year's Yankee Candle Boney Bunch line as well as other Halloween items from there? Are there any you'd particularly like to get? The adorbs tart warmer? The taper candle holder, perhaps? Yankee Candle is a mystery to me, simply because I can't actually walk into the store. Too many scents in too small a space makes my sinuses go insane. However, this does not mean I don't like candles and tarts. I do! I just rarely shop for them in person in a store devoted just to them. Because this question came up, I actually went to the website to browse. The Boney Bunch decorations are not my cub of tea (see my questionnaire comments about not dusting), but the simpler votive holders (skeletons, witches, the crow and pumpkin silhouettes) are awesome as is the Steam Pumpkin Gears jar candle holder. Of the fragrances, Happy Halloween sounds good, and I know from past experience that I like: Balsam & Cedar, Harvest, Pumpkin Ginger Bark, Sage & Citrus, and Treehouse Memories. I'm also a big fan of Archipelago Botanicals candles (which I tend to be able to find at huge markdowns at TJ Maxx), especially Havana, Milano, Stonehenge and Babylon, and I've been keeping my eyes peeled for anything and everything from the Wood collection on sale! I don't remember if I have a candles/tarts section on my etsy wish lists, but if I don't, I should. I need to do an overhaul there at some point in the near future. I'll update here if I find the time... In general, I tend to like candles and tarts that are either wood/resinous (but not patchouli), lemon/herbal, or spicy. I do NOT like musk or patchouli in candles, am not a fan of fruits, or florals, and sweet scents need to be ground with spice or resin. Thank clean, masculine, deep and subtle rather than rich, sweet, or lush. What are your favorite tv shows, movies, topics of geekery, famous persons, specific objects (like tarot or harpsichords), memes, cultures etc. that you would like to receive items themed around? Wow! That is a seriously broad question which I will do my best to answer. TV Shows/Movies: I still love Harry Potter and happily welcome Slytherin (my Pottermore house) and Ravenclaw (my Sorting Elite house) items. I love a lot of other media, but I don't think any of them would lend themselves well to items I would use, although subtle Wonder Woman items are great. My wish lists tend to gravitate more toward literary themed items like Poe, Shakespeare, children's books, etc. I like library and book themed items, as well as microbrewery stuffs (t-shirts, stickers, etc), and I have seen very few fox and tree adorned items I didn't like. I don't think there are any particular cultures I am interested in, except to say that I am a fan of learning how to cook from MANY cultures, and international food tends to fascinate and inspire me. If you've said you like coffee: Do you prefer whole beans or ground? Do you like flavored coffees? If you've said you like coffee: Do you prefer whole beans or ground? Do you like flavored coffees? I very, very rarely drink coffee any more as my stomach hates the acid. When I do, it's pour-over whole bean, not to be a snob, but just because it is less likely to make me ill. Is there an item that you would like but you never seem to buy for yourself as other things often take preference (darn those bills)? Not in particular. I've been on and off no-buys for a while, so my perfume oil, bath and body, jewelry, and tights addictions have been very meagerly fed. If you listed you like books: what kind of books? What are your favorites? Do you also like the "English classics"? Are there any books or writers that you really don't like? I am what might be described as a discriminating dabbler. That is, I read authors and books from a very wide variety of styles and genres, but I have a limited tolerance for bad writing, trite or formulaic plots, and bad characterizations. Of course, some things I love other people think fall smack into those problems so... The best thing to do is probably to look at the "What I am Reading Now" thread for my various posts (which give opinions on things I have read) and my (huge, crazy) amazon wishlist, which contains the stuff that at some point I saw in a blog and thought "Hey, I might like that" or is by authors I know I like. What are your favorite musicians, favorite singers or bands? Anything or anyone you really don't like? I'm not sure I have favorites. I listen widely and like a lot, although most of what I discover "new" tends to be at least a few years old because I am just not that hip. Lately, I've been seeding a Pandora Station with the Alabama 3 and that has led me to The Heavy which I really love. My other most listened to Pandora stations start with the B-52s (lots of fun 80s), Talking Heads, and David Byrne. I listen to a lot of alt-country, and I think if I can seed my personal station around a theme rather than a band it might be something like "Subversive gospel with ska, blues, punk, rock and electronica influences." Do you like Japanese/Korean snackies? If so do you prefer sweet/savory or both? I have no idea? There are none out there that are tried and true favorites, and I'm not sure I've ever tried any Korean ones... I can say that I am a fan of Japanese Kit-Kats, but not so much of pocky (OK, not earth shattering) and seaweed crisps (pretty gross). I like both savory and sweet, although my sweet tastes tend to be more on the chocolate end than the fruity/gummy spectrum. Do you prefer light lotions or thick butters and do you like scented or unscented? Both textures (thick is for hands, elbows and knees, light is for everywhere else) and I like both scented and unscented, although I prefer light scents to strong/wafting ones. Basically, I don't want anyone not physically hugging me to smell me. (This is also how I feel about my perfume and is why I am not, to date, a fan of hair glosses.) Do you like small crossbody bags? I am really, really absurdly particular about bags, but yes I do like small cross body ones. They have to be big enough to hold my kindle, keys, wallet and phone, but not much bigger. And if there are separate pockets for each of those things, I am in love. Do you collect anything? Not on purpose. I can't help it that scarves, jewelry, tights, books, and bpal follow me home! What are some of your favorite things about fall/Halloween, or what do you look forward to? I most look forward to cooler weather that allows me to start wearing tights and wool turtleneck sweaters again. Also the changing leaves, more days off with my husband after summer's rush, apples right off the tree, and not needing to run the AC (my bills go down!) But autumn is bittersweet for me. It's my favorite season weather-wise, but I'm all too well aware about what comes next, and winter can be hard for me physically (Raynaud's), financially (ancient house = crazy heating bills), and emotionally (something about the dark, cold nights makes me miss my husband more than usual). do you bake or cook & if so (or even if not!) would you want Halloween-themed kitchen stuff or sprinkles or similar? I love too cook and bake. Any kitchen stuff of any these, is always welcome. Horror themes? I am OK with almost all horror tropes. However, I do not love gratuitous violence. I mean, if it's integral to the plot, sure, but I don't like torture porn or dwelling on those bits and I want stories where good triumphs in the end. For bath and body products: do you have a bathtub or shower? Both! And I do use both. Do you own a wax/oil burner? (If no, would you like one?) I have one, but it is missing. A replacement would be swell. Would you like loose, fancy tea? Yes! Incense, y/n? Yes, but I am picky. I mainly burn Fred Soll natural resin incense. The only ones of his that I do NOT like are Ceremonial Rain, Egyptian Musk, florals, hemp, fruit and the Patchouli blends. Everything else I love (but I am partial to the Pinon, Pine, and the cedar, sage, and sandalwood based blends). What is your favorite fall activity? Being outdoors in gorgeous weather, drinking a beer, and playing with my niece and nephew. I'm in Japan, anything specifically Japanese-y you want? Japanese Kit-Kats are the best. Please briefly describe (color, style, preferred type of beads) or provide a picture of (if it is suitable), the type of necklace (if any) you would be interested in getting. If you do not like necklaces, what kinds of jewelry (if any) would you want to wear? I love necklaces and earrings. For things that are meant to be worn close to the throat (with open necked blouses, etc) I prefer a length of 16 inches. But I do appreciate some longer options (18-20 inches) which I can wear with turtlenecks and sweaters in the winter. My etsy has a wide variety of styles and beads/gems I like and you can get a great idea of my style there. (My etsy wishlist is MASSIVE because I love window shopping.) What about hot chocolate/malt drinks? I like them, but am picky. I'm not a huge fan of powder unless they are really good. I love the kind of drinking chocolate that you melt in the milk. How into the day themeing mentioned in the first post are you? All themed? A few maybe if they are fun? Not at all? I have no preference. Speaking of DVDs - are you interested in receiving movies and if so, what sort? No DVDs unless you think I'd really love it. We're almost an all digital media family now. Back to the books - if you said you would like books, would you prefer I send you, say, my favorite Halloween anthology or something else spooky/scary, or something off your wishlist/want-to-read on goodreads? Anything you love and think I would too (not already on my GoodReads list which means I have read it) is great, as is anything off my wishlist. Please note that "To read" on GoodReads means I already own it and it is in my stack. Amazon is the true wishlist. Process question: Do you want to know who is sending to you right away, or would you prefer to be surprised on the last day, to the extent possible? Likewise, do you have a preference for specifically numbered packages or for reach in and grab according to your fancy? No preference. Would you be interested in solid perfume? What about lip balm? Sure! I'm most interested in tinted balms/lipstick/stains at the moment as I'm trying to learn to wear them. There was a lot of mention of not wearing costumes/not being allowed to at workplaces. Would you be interested in goth style or Halloween-themed(pumpkins, ghosts,etc.) normal clothes to wear instead, and what would be suitable? Jewelry or accessories are best. Day of the dead/ Dia de los Muertos stuff? Sure! Does anything from this shop catch your eye? I put a couple things on the wishlist, but much of it is too sweet/foody for me (or has musk which I tend to not love.) Do you have aversions to any animals or insects? Nope. How do you feel about canned foods like jams and things along those liNES? Love. How do you feel about stickers (and stationery in general)? Ambivalent. How do we feel about fibercrafting (knit, crochet, etc.)? wearables? crafted critters? If you would like a scarf or something similar, would you like it to be themed, like fall colors, or have a skull or other halloweenie motif/border? I love all wearable. Fall colors that emphasize COLOR rather than brow/rust/goldenrod are great. Halloweenie motifs are fine, but so are plain or floral or whatever. I'm just in awe of people who can craft things with their own two hands. What makes you feel pampered? Quiet time with a good book (in my chair with tea or a drink or in the tub), delicious good, a great cup of tea, good beer/wine/scotch, having my hair blown out, dressing up, dabbing perfume on the inside of my elbows, putting on a pair of brand new tights, having someone cook for me, and brushing my hair. We've covered what critters you don't like, but what about the critters that you DO like? What are your favorite animals/creatures, real or imagined? My favorites are ravens/crows, foxes, and serpents. Canadian stuff: Sure. Paintbox Soapworks: I think there is a good bit of it on my etsy wishlist. s there is any TAZO tea you have a hankering for? None in particular. How about any Teavana tea? Any kind you think I would love. How about Starbucks coffee beans? If so, ground (and for what kind of filter) or whole bean? How about Starbucks coffee via (italian, columbia, anniversary, vanilla latte?) or Iced coffee via (caramel or regular?) Fruit flavored via (berry hisbiscus, cool lime, strawberry lemonade?) Pumpkin Spice Latte ? Starbucks K-cups or Verismo pods? No coffee please. I also don't use the syrups, and I think pods are the devil. But any tea or tisane is cool and I DO go to Starbucks for iced tea and scones sometimes while I shop (there is one in my grocery store). Coffee/tea travel mugs or ceramic home mugs? Sure! Coffee maker (french press) or tea steeper? I'm all set thanks, although another tea steeper is always nice to tuck into bags etc. How would you feel about a gently-used card game? For example, something I may have purchased several years ago and maybe played with my daughter *twice* before she became a moody teenager, and too cool for card and/or board games? Sure! Alcoholic beverages in your goodies-- yay or nay-- if yay, what kind? Sure! I'm kind of a beer snob, but I LOVE trying things I can't get here. I love IPAs, Belgian golden and tripel styles (and Belgian IPAs... But not so much dunkels), porters, and stouts. I don't love sweet fruit beers, but like the ones that are more tart. I do like sour beer, including barrel aged varieties. I also like wine -- the dryer the better -- and scotch. My husband is a bourbon drinker, but its too sweet for me. CANDY CORN--- YAY OR NAY? Nope Name at least one thing that you really wouldn't like to receive in your package. I can't think of anything that any of you would realistically send me. Candy corn? Does anyone especially like or want anything from cost plus/world market? I don't know what they have. Surprise me! Does anyone need any small kitchen items or utensils? I always need measuring spoons. They run away like stray socks. Also little mise en place bowls and tupperware are always useful. Dearest Pumpkin- do you have a preference of edible/drinkable vs. non edible items in your package? Would you prefer your package heavier on one side or the other? No preference. And now, a new question: to sort of piggy-back onto the question about small kitchen items, do you like to bake or cook, and if yes, are there any special ingredients, spices, or decorations for baked goods (like sprinkles in seasonal shapes or those decorative picks you put on top of cupcakes, for instance) that you would like? I love to cook and bake. Things like special salt varieties, spices, really nice oils, herbs etc are always useful. Sprinkles would give me an excuse to bake something for my nephew! Hey, Pumpkin! How do you feel about lounge pants/pajama pants? Love. Do you have long, medium, or short hair? What kids of hair accessories do you like to use? Should length. I use those tiny rubber bands for braiding bits back off my face, and I could really use some small clips to section it off for drying in sections with a brush. If I were going to the mountains tomorrow, for the apple harvest, would you wanted some dehydrated apple rings??? Sure. If you have an Etsy favorites list, are all of the things on the list things you'd be happy to get, or are some of them gift ideas for other people, or stuff that you've already bought and loved but don't need more of, or for any reason not something you'd want to get in this swap? It's all things I would be happy to receive. Do you like Hello Kitty? Not really. Would you be interested in gently used BPAL tees going back several years and/or 80s/90s goth-industrial-generally morbid tees all in crew neck/Men's style, size M - L, all black or dark gray? Sure. Although I will say that I don't really wear any of the lab shirts if they have things like the imps in stockings or pinup girls or anything that could be classified as even slightly risqué. Creepy birds, antlers, florals, bees, etc though, I'm all in. I generally prefer women's tees, but I am saving up shirts for a quilt, and am also not above cutting necks and arms to make them more flattering. How do you feel about superheroes? I love them. In fact, my whole family wore Super Hero gear to my brother's wedding. Batman and Wonder Woman are house favorites, but I love many others too. How do you feel about Star Wars, especially extension universe comics? I like Star Wars, have never read the comics, but would like to do so. And my husband would think it was the coolest swap ever. How extensively have you sampled the Lab's Weenie wares? Any past releases you are dying to get your hands on? Years you missed? In years past I have sampled quite a lot. There's nothing I missed and long for (except that one long ago pumpkin with champaca). I tend to like Samhain, and loved Samhnainophobia to the point of hoarding before I went through a weird chemistry change and now amp patchouli in a dirty rather than delicious way. I'm sure I'll update my wishlist when they come out this year, and anything I missed and wanted should be there now.

A decant of this came my way from the fabulous Puddin' with my t-shirt grab bag fulfilling a long-held dream, In the imp: A sharp astringent scent laid over the top of something deeply resinous. I'm also getting a dark musk. Wet on skin (at application): different than in the imp, but by degrees... The astringency is tempered to become herbal and I'm now reading that resinous quality as a woody note with some dry spices on top. I still think there's musk at the base, but it's not dark or swarthy -- maybe a skin musk or a really light version of a red musk? This is very much a melange scent to me -- right now, it smells very like opening my imp box... Dry down: Memory is a tricky thing. As I sit her sniffing myself, I think I smell exactly like my favorite aunt used to back in the late 1970s and early 1980s when she wore a green floral chore called Ma Griffe by Carven. As I huff and try to figure out the notes of this intoxicating smell, it becomes clear that I am NOT smelling Ma Griffe, and yet... It smells like Ann. There is. Dry wood on one wrist, something not unlike a cedar, overlaid with dry herbs and spices. The other wrist is greener, wetter and fresher. On it, there is pine (maybe fresh cedar boughs so as opposed to the aged wood chest of the other wrist?), something sweet and just a bit floral (jasmine? A floral honey?), and in distinct herbs and spices. This is powerful, with lots of throw. It's not really masculine to me -- more powerful than gendered.

I am in love with this, partly because the smell is more faint. My biggest battle with both bpal and bptp scents is that they are often too strong and "wafting" on me. I want to be able to smell me when I sniff my skin, and I want someone hugging me to be able to smell me, but I do NOT want others in my office area to notice my scent. I'm an under-the-radar perfume wearer. This is PERFECT. It's a lovely, rich, resinous vanilla that stays exceptionally close to the skin. It works great for dry elbows and layers beautifully on the occasions when I want a little more scent (i.e. going out, date night, etc). I've paired this with my old SN Madagascar Vanilla Run (SO SEXY) and Arcana Devilish, and it's beautiful with both.

I think I may be the one dissenting voice here: This smells like powder and old lady perfume. My husband's immediate comment was, "Why did you just make our house smell like my mom?" I think it's the vanilla that is not working for us. It's a kind of fake, powdery vanilla we're familiar with from things like Love's Baby Soft. Not a winner at chez kakiphony.

I used this to moisturize my arms (concentrating on my elbows) after my shower. In the bottle it was a deep, herbal honey. On my skin the herbs quickly take over the honey. This fades nicely, and I'm left with moisturized skin that smells great up close, but doesn't have much throw. (I am a huge fan of "not much throw." It makes it possible for me to wear scent at work without overpowering my officemates.) It fades into a dry herbal scent, with a bit of something deep, sweet, warm and maybe just a little woody and a little bit musky at the base. It's quite lovely.

In the bottle: Lots of orange blossom (which I love) with some other florals in the background (probably the tuberose, but I'm having trouble picking out notes). It's very "perfumey" in the bottle and while I love orange blossom, this is complex and might be too much for me... I put it on with trepidation. Wet on skin: Interesting. The orange blossom is gone in a blink and I'm smelling mainly and white florals that I can't quite identify. There's amber under it, lending a slightly powdery throw. I'm hoping the mellows and I get less florals because right now, I smell like the dreaded elevator perfume. Early dry down (10 minutes): This is already settling, thank goodness. I'm still getting more tuberose than orange blossom, but the honey and beeswax are coming through. The beeswax has a slightly burned quality on me, almost more like a candle that has been lit and then blown out than a hunk of plain wax. It's an interesting combination -- sweet, and floral, yet with deep resins at the base. I'm liking it at this stage. Late dry down (about an hour): My body chemistry must be just eating orange/citrus in all forms for some reason lately. (I've noticed this with my beloved Vixen as well.) On my skin, I've gotten almost no orange blossom OR neroli out of this blend. Certainly, none of the "bright citrus" described by other reviewers. This has settled into a mainly amber scent on my skin, with a powdery finish. It's deepened by the resins and maintains a touch of sweet white florals. It's quite elegant, and perfectly pretty, but a little generic to my nose. I smell like I'm wearing "Perfume" with a capital P (like a generic scent that would come in a white bottle with plain black lettering). It's nice, but just not very interesting to my nose. I think I'm coming to a place in my personal chemistry and bpal evolution where I need more interesting and unusual blends. I've found that complex blends with lots of notes, and blends that pair florals with resins seem to all smell the same on me rather quickly. This is almost certainly ME and not the oils. I suspect it has to do with my changing body chemistry as I approach my 40s. It seems like the blends that work best on me now are spicier, or have more leather and smoke. If I have to say goodbye to all my beloved orange blossom, I am going to be very sad.