invisible iris

THE NIGHT HAG VISITING THE LAPLAND WITCHESThe Night Hag Visiting the Lapland Witches, Henry Fuseli. Black sandalwood, woodsmoke, Terebinth pine, blue cypress, styrax, frankincense, chamomile maroc, and nutmeg. In the bottle: Very woodsy, piney (but in a tar pitch way, not pine-sol at all) and really deep black woodsy. I can smell the charred black sandalwood. Wet on skin: Immediately a resiny sweetness comes through from in the midst of all the deep, dark, smoky woods. The nutmeg isn’t overwhelming, but subtle, and so is the chamomile. Dry: Woods, smoky pine and cypress, with the edge slightly curbed by resiny frankincense and styrax sweetness, with an overall darkly ceremonial vibe. Something almost makes me think there’s vetiver in here, but if there is, it's got a light touch. I like the overall scent and it’s not overbearing. But it’s the scent of being lost and horrified, in the middle of a chill autumn night, in an evergreen forest with a bonfire burning somewhere and dark magicks brewing. It’s a nature-y kind of scent, no cologne vibe at all, but realistic and wild and darkly intense. I smell like a scary forest. It lasts a long time and throws heavily. Verdict: It’s very evocative, and wonderful for a cold spooky night. Almost veers into masculine territory, but remains a woodsy, un-gendered sort of scent. I’m pleased with my bottle purchase.

what would you do if you found a $50 bill on the ground and a nagging voice in the back of your mind told you that you HAD to spend it on BPAL or else face Death. Also, say they had free shipping (LOL) so don't factor that in. What would you get? This is hard to answer because I'm waiting until I get my Weenie decants to decide what I'll need to order. And I'm positive I'll be wanting bottles of some of those Weenies *urgently*. But setting aside Weenies, I'd get... a bottle of The Coiled Serpent, a bottle of Cathedral, and imps of Le Lethe, Half-Elf, and Aureus. Are there any characters that you love or identify with? Yes, a few quite strongly. I both identify with, and am in awe of, Achilles from Homer's Illiad. Also the character of Socrates as represented in Plato's dialogues. For some reason I find this question easier to answer when I think about ancient stories/characters. With modern or contemporary fiction, I usually find myself relating to (or loving) all of a good novel's characters in different ways. If you are crafty, what's your personal art style? I'm not talking just about what art you like to look at, but what kind of art do you like creating? Do you have a "process" while you're creating beauty? Lately (I don't know why I write "lately," it's been for the past 20 years.. It might be because it's only in the past 2 years or so that I've begun self-identifying as a "writer") my creativity has been expressed through words (in writing), and I'm still navigating toward my own style. I think my writing corresponds most to the Symbolist movement, in terms of style. My "process" involves utter silence and secrecy about my work until I have completed at least a first draft. It's something I say in a joking way, when I'm tempted to "spill" to somebody about my work, because I know it's corny, but it's also true: "I MUST! SHELTER! the GENIUS!" And then I burst out laughing because it sounds so pompous! /art as madness Are there any Arcana Weenies that you MUST HAVE? I don't really know, I haven't looked at Arcana, so probably not. Because I can't keep up with another brand's worth of perfume oil addiction. So what say you? IS an "unexpected" visit/in-person witching OK? I'd need advance warning to prepare myself mentally, as I'm intensely private when I'm at home. Sooo...Cthulhu: yay or nay? As I said in my ?aire, I've never read Lovecraft but would love to, in part because I find Cthulhu and co. rather intriguing. So, yay! (or should I say, Ia?) Is there something that you wish you could do, but you keep putting it off? Not really, nothing in a fun way at least ("going to the dentist" blah). Put your current mp3player (I am the anti-apple, so no ipod ), winamp playlist, what have you, on shuffle, list the first 10 songs: 1. "Somewhere in Between" by Kate Bush from Aerial Disc 2 2. "Spanish Harlem Incident" by Bob Dylan from Bootleg Series Vol. 6 Live 1964 3. "Chanson d'Amour," Op. 27 No.1, by Fauré, from Fauré: Complete Songs 3 4. "Love" by Joni Mitchel from Wild Things Run Fast 5. "The Kick Inside" by Kate Bush from The Kick Inside 6. "Caramel" by Suzanne Vega from Nine Objects of Desire 7. "Blood Roses" by Tori Amos from Boys For Pele 8. "Take This Hammer" by Odetta from The Studs Terkel Program 1957 9. "Sing Another Song, Boys" by Leonard Cohen from Songs of Love and Hate 10. "No Cheap Thrill" by Suzanne Vega from Tried and True I was a little bummed no Cocteau Twins popped up. Do you have any interest in rocks? Not like, polished colorful stones.. but like... rocks. With geologic significance! I am definitely down with geological significance. Witchee, have you made (or are you planning to make) any Lab or Trading post orders soon? And if you did (or plan to), you should share what you're getting Right after the Halloweenie update, I ordered Marshmallow Pumpkin Bath Oil, Spun Sugar Spectre Bath Oil, Lemurian Seaweed, Opium Tar, Tears of the Seraphim, and Eye of Newt Bath Brews, and Sugar Skull Soap. I proooobably won't make any more BPTP orders until after this SW round is over, but if I do, I'll let you know. If your witch were to knit you a scarf/shawl/cowl, which would you prefer, and what features would you want? Would you prefer something light and drape-y or thick and warm? What kind of colors would you prefer? Do you have any fiber allergies or preferences? Scarves, shawls, cowls, any and all of the above! Drapey or chunky, I could do both! (Check my ravelry for favorites to get an idea of my taste) I already answered fiber questions in previous q's.. Witches - speak to me of shower gels! What companies/scents do you recommend/prefer? I don't use shower gel. Do you like/own/wear/want fairy wings or something of the like? Bat wings would be neat! I'm a bats-over-fairies kinda lady. If you have a pet, could you please post a photo of it? I posted a couple in the SW thread, and here is the cats album of my flickr... and for your stalking pleasure, my flickr account in whole, although there aren't too many photos on there. FYI - I LOVE my kitties. They are probably in a 3-way tie for being my second best friend in the universe (after DH), I hardly even think of them as animals, and I could write pages describing each of their individual personalities. But to keep it simple, if I were to divide them into Harry Potter houses, Lilleput (the scrappy little gorilla that we found in a gutter) would be Gryffindor, Saadya (who is my precious baby) would be Huffelpuff, and Razi (the smarty pants boss of the house) would be Slytherin. And any gift for them would be a gift for me. How do you feel about terrariums? I'd love to see one in somebody else's house, but they're not really my thing. What's your favorite horror movie? Anything Hitchcock, especially The Birds. If your witch was the practical type and wanted to include one or more of your everyday essentials, what would those include? I'm talking about the bath products, lotions, face lotions, teas, food, etc that you really use every day. Good question! Um... Tom's of Maine toothpaste, Weleda rose face cleansing lotion, lavender and patchouli EOs, Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle shampoo, hairbands and bobby pins, coffee, vegan chocolate chips, peppermint or sleepytime tea. Jane Austen .. Yay or Nay? Yay! I love Jane Austen, but I haven't read any of the contemporary spin-off/spoofs. I might like to, though! I'll add P&P&Z to my Amazon wishlist (linked from my sw help page). I put up quotes I love in my office and studio to get me going, They range from goofy to sarcastic to inspirational... Are you interested in a hand painted quote? Do you have one in mind, or a topic in mind? I don't think I'm interested... unless the quote was something perfect for me. At the moment I just can't think of anything I'd like to put on display. Do you like period or period-styled paraphernalia? Stuff like postcards, notecards, jewelry, office supplies, what-have-you? The only thing I can think of for office supplies would be an actual antique typewriter. Period-style jewelry would be nice (late nineteenth century Victorian or steampunk). I'd be picky and want it to look genuine, weathered and old. If you like manga, comics, and/or graphic novels, what is it about them that you like, in general? The story, the art/style, etc? Yes, yes/yes. If you could choose a Smack, what would it have in it? I'd let my witch choose, based on my preferred notes (foody, resins, spices, woods...) If you're interested in a handmade pouch/cover for an item you have (phones, tablets, books, keys, kettles...), what would your ideal pouch/cover have? Design, material, additional functionality/features like pockets or lights or secret hidey-holes? All I really have that might could use a cover is my 15" macbook pro, but it already has a black plasticy cover thing on it, but I guess it could always use a bit more padding for travel. Not sure what features I'd want, probably just a cool fabric and a pocket? I'd let my witch be creative here and use her own judgment. Would you like a photo collage based around your interests/favorite colors/favorite themes? Sure. If you're crafty, are you interested in spoonfeather? And if so, what things there delight your eyes? eek, I already have too much stashed fabric! So no, thanks. Colors! What are your favorite colors and what colors do you not like? Pictures and links, people! I like deep colors, like deep dark magenta, deep dark turquoise, or deep mustardy greyish yellow, contrasted with neutrals like all different shades of grey and beige and black and brown. Don't really care for pastels or 'cotton candy' color schemes. This time of year I often get an urgent desire to wear orange. But not bright plastic pumpkin orange, more like the color of orange leaves when they've just fallen off the trees--you know, a little browned-down. What is your favorite word? It would have to be a Greek word. Entelecheia. I'd tell you what it means, and where it comes from, but that would take at least an essay-length explanation, and I'd sound all teachy mcteacherson, and I don't want to bore you! eta: Actually, if you're interested, I went ahead and found the Wikipedia entry, where there is an explanation of the word from Joe Sachs, who was a teacher of mine and is incredibly dear to my heart. 1. Would you be interested in getting a gently used BPAL tshirt from your Witch? Sure. 2. What are the feelings on arm warmers? Color, style, texture, length? Like 'em! Simple is always good, in terms of style... and I feel like you know the colors I'd like by now, neutrals and deep saturated jewel tones. Question: Do you like tarts? tealights? jar candles? votives? I've never used tarts, I can always use more tealights, I like jar candles, and votives are an awkward size for me. Question: What's your favorite flavor? Sour, sweet, bitter, salty? All of the above? I like complex flavors! Sweet/salty is definitely a favorite. So, are there any online gaming witchees who covet purchasable in-game items or other gamer-y stuff? (yup, geek question) Not an online gamer. I just noticed that Cocoa Pink has 5 ml Perfume Atomizers. Yay or nay? Scents you would like? Scents you would NOT like? I don't use Cocoa Pink. Is there anything you'd like from the Mütter Museum Store? Nothing in particular that I found skimming the site. Anyone doing anything cool for Mabon (or the start of fall, if you aren't pagan? Making pumpkin brownies! And chillin with the huz. What is your favorite coffee blend at Starbucks? If you don't have one, what is your favorite roast of coffee? I don't go to Starbucks. My favorite coffee bean at the moment is from a coffee shop down the street from my house, Bongo Java's Hair of the Dog. I love to try different coffees, I tend to choose ones where the flavor description includes notes of chocolate or caramel. (Actually, if you're still in need of ideas, I noticed Bongo Java offers gift cards and that would well-used by me... I just discovered how amazing their house-made sweet potato or pumpkin spice soy lattes are, and those things ain't cheap.) what's your favorite kind of pizza? A well-salted thick crust, umami-rich tomato sauce, sautéed mushrooms and green peppers. (no cheese.) DH makes really good pizza. who are your style/fashion icons? post pics if you want! Ummm I can't think of anyone! I impulsively draw inspiration from a lot of different sources. For example, I saw an old photo of Gloria Steinem wearing circle-shaped glasses and it made me want some circular glasses, and now when I wear them I look kind of like a blond Yoko Ono. If she were wearing John Lennon's glasses. I think Nina Garcia has nice style, also Sofia Coppola. I go for quirky or nerdy elegance. Are there any food items you're craving/aren't able to find around your area? Nashville doesn't offer a ton in terms of vegan variations on things... if there were any way to get vegan donuts, like real deep fried & glazed donuts, then I would probably die from pleasure. But I'm pretty sure it's well nigh impossible to source those by mail, or the shipping charge would make it unreasonable. Other than that, Food Fight Groceries carries a lot of vegan candies and candy bars, some of which I have put on my Amazon wish list. Have I ever tried the coffee spoons, which are flavored chocolates on a spoon that you use to flavor your coffee? I've never tried those. If they're vegan, I wouldn't mind trying. Are you scientifically curious and/or process-oriented? Would you like a project-type gift that allowed you do do something like make soap from scratch, take and (nontoxic-ly) develop photographs using a pinhole camera, use plant dyes on yarn or fabric, etc.? I think I am "scientifically curious and process oriented," but I have so much on my plate right now I'm not sure my brain can afford another creative outlet. What's 'your' song/your theme song? It's changed since the last time I thought about this. It used to be "Tangled Up in Blue" by Bob Dylan. Now it's maybe "Harbor Song" by Suzanne Vega, or "How to Be Invisible" by Kate Bush. What would be your superpower? Invisibility. Do you like homemade snack mixes? I know Puppy Chow was mentioned in a previous question, but what about healthier and more natural type snacks like granola or trail mix? You can put a lot of delicious and fun things into trail mix, yeah? If you say "Sure, I'd love some!" what kinds of things do you like/not like in those kinds of snacks, ie coconut flakes, raisins, certain nuts (allergies??), candy, etc. Give us your list of DO's and DON'Ts! Sure! I'm not huge on raisins, but I don't mind them. I love coconut flakes, all nuts, vegan choc chips, everything I can think of. Do you like charm bracelets? If you had a bracelet, what sort of charms would you want on it? Favorite hobbies, symbols, whatever? Not really my thing. What about little wee creatures for your desk or mantel, like this? They're cute but not my thing. Is there anything you like or would like to try from Bath & Body Works? No, thanks. what would you think of this (with a matching scarf)? Kitxchey kerchief I'd like it! Wool or merino would be perfect for a trip to the store on a medium-chilly day. I might prefer a slightly different version, like this one, which is the "Pauline" on Rav (flower embellishment not required). An autumnal color would be nice. And, here's a question: Look down. What are you wearing, right now? Yoga pants, a fitted long sleeve tshirt layered over a tunic-length camisole, a pair of my husband's argyle socks, and boiled wool slippers. how do you feel about ethical animal fiber, i.e. wool and the like? I'm fine with it. The ethical-er the better. It's the weekend, and you find yourself without a single chore or responsibility for a few hours. Right this very moment, what's the one thing you would do if you could do anything? It depends on whether I was tired from a hard work week. Assuming I wasn't, I'd cradle a hot mug of coffee and spend my day "makin up some shit" (i.e., writing). Would you be interested in regional jams, jellies, or other preserves? Sure! As long as it's not loaded with sugar. Do you have any bedtime rituals? Is there any particular product you have to apply or a certain shirt you wear or an act you perform to get you in the "bedtime" mood? I like drinking some kind of tea, either peppermint, chamomile, or TJ's Bedtime blend. Then a bedtime bpal like TKO, The Butterfly, or Arachne of Lydia. Often a few restorative or forward-bending yoga poses. Then I like to read in bed before falling asleep. Are you interested in today's/any recent Tee Fury shirts? No, thanks. Princess Bride? Yay or nay? "To blave!" Yay! What's your favorite classic fairytale, witches? So many classic fairytales seem concocted to instill horrifying lessons, so it's hard for me to like like them. But the one I find most horrifying is Bluebeard. Is there any kind of international candy you love or would like to try? I don't know of any, but I'm sure there's plenty! What is something totally random (yes, that thing that just popped into your head) that hasn't been covered by any previous questions? grr this question is infuriating Is there any cheesy/non-cheesy Canadian stuff you'd be interested in? I can't think of anything. If you were to go here and create your very own chocolate bar, what might it have in it? Dark chocolate with pistachios and sea salt. Or dark choc with pumpkin seeds, ground coffee, cinnamon, cardamom, and cayenne. Or dark choc with peanut butter drops (if vegan), banana chips, and veggie bacon. Or dark choc with pretzels, pop rocks, cayenne, and coffee beans. Or dark choc with cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, and goji berries. Or dark choc with coconut, macadamia nuts, orange peel, and gold flakes. What is something people are always surprised to learn about you? It depends on which people. Some people are surprised to learn I have a black belt in a martial art. Often people are surprised to learn that I harbor deeply pessimistic metaphysical opinions... I think because I come across as cheerful and friendly. So who else watched Babylon 5? Witchee? If I find Zocalo (Your last, best hope for a good, stiff drink!) t-shirts (or shot glasses amirite?) should I include them? Not me. If you had to decide what your stripper name was, what would it be? Patootie Fairhope Is it weird that (back in 1980) my dad named our family's cat Patootie? Sooooo Witchees, have you ever taken that particular personality test? If so, are you an Analytical, a Driver, an Expressive or an Amiable? I took the survey and it came back Analytical. No single one of these fits me, though. I don't have a well-defined "business or work" mode, since I am basically allergic to "business" and "work" and avoid it at all costs. I am different ways at different times. I think most people are more complex than any personality test can measure... Or at least, I hope that they are. Does the irrationality of that hope contradict my Analytical diagnosis? I think maybe. Or possibly I am just stubborn. Or an over-analytical Analytical. Anyway, I don't put too much stock in personality tests and quizzes as I've never taken one that felt as though it understood me, you know? Also, I seem to be full of contradictions. Which reminds me--I've noticed a number of contradictions in my question answers so far. I hope they don't drive my witch crazy! Don't worry witch, anything you do I will approach with my charitable, grateful self.. not my pessimistic, excessively critical one! Is anyone else afraid of or creepy out by dummies/puppets/Muppets/etc? Other things you're squicked/freaked by that's best left by the wayside? CLOWNS. I don't have an honest-to-goodness phobia of them, but yick. What level of contact were you hoping for from your witch? I'm a newbie, I didn't know what to expect, I put "medium" on my ?aire, but I've since realized I'd be genuinely happy with any level of contact. I'd love the mystery of a witch with super silent ninja powers, but I also love what I've got so far from my witch, which I think is about medium contact? Maybe medium-high, I've got little basis for comparison! What is something totally random (yes, that thing that just popped into your head) that hasn't been covered by any previous questions? This question frustrated me to no end, but I just thought of an answer: I love Shakespeare, my witch! Your favorite restaurant or type of food to eat out. Would you use a restaurant.com voucher? Groupon? Any restaurant with good vegan options is good for me, I particularly like Ethiopian. Me and DH's favorite places to go out to eat are Gojo (Ethiopian), Woodlands (Vegetarian Indian), and PM (a nearby hotspot that has good veggie burgers & fries). I don't know if any of those are represented on restaurant.com/Groupon. Are there any local museums/attractions you keep never getting around to going to? I've visited all the museums and tourist places I'm interested in around here. I was just thinking today that I should look into seeing a local opera, symphony, or ballet performance, because I miss doing that from when we lived in a bigger city... But that's out of witching price range, as far as I know. JONES SODA CO has LE soda packs for The Guild, Buffy, D&D, So Cute, etc. Would you be interested in these, Witchee? No soda for me, thanks. It's Banned Books Week! Are there any books on the list you'd be interested in checking out? I haven't read The Hunger Games, and I think it's on my Amazon wishlist... The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is on there now too. BTW, I really enjoy good YA fiction. Is anyone interested in reading The Night Circus? Yes! Also added to my Amazon wishlist. I have just been enlightened to THESE. Are these flavors relevant to your interests? Sure! All the flavors sound intriguing esp clove cigarette... The only thing that bugs me is I can't find an ingredients list, I'm kind of o/c about checking ingredients. who here would LOVE to get Hershey's Pumpkin Spice kisses, and who would rather not?? I doubt they're vegan. But if they are, sure! I recently saw candy corn in non-candy corn flavors like CHOCOLATE and CARAMEL APPLE. It's not a fancy brand, I just saw it in the drugstore, but who here would like something like that? Same as above. One thing about being vegan and loving chocolate, the no-dairy rule kind of roots out all the cheap chocolates of the world... Witches, did you lament NOT getting one of the condom case/imp cases that got released with the courtesan series??? I don't think I was around for that. I use bullet boxes to store my imps, but it could be something I'd go for? Not sure. Is it just me who is nervous at revealing herself to her witchee, and finding out who her witch is?! No, I'm nervous about that too! (revealing myself to my own witchee, at least, by my writing quirks or something.) And I keep putting off witching decisions for fear that omg I'll choose the wrong thing. On the flip side, I'm curious about my own witch and I hope she likes me ok, as I may have done some oversharing, and I hope I don't come off as a pompous snotty-nose self-obsessed brat, and I too hope I haven't hated on anything that my witch loves... I had a dream where I figured out who my witch was, but now that I think about it, I don't think my dream self was right. I do have a few ideas... But I'm probably way off the mark. What kind of purse do you prefer? Leather, cloth? over the shoulder or crossbody, or something that can do either? Do you like bold bright prints with fun things, or monochrome, solid colours? For work I have a trusty Namaste bag that DH got me, it's kind of rectangular and briefcase shaped so it holds papers and stuff without bending them. Cloth or synthetic leather, over the shoulder is good because crossbody kinda squishes my boobs (how do people deal with that?). But the handle can still be pretty long, especially if it's not a tailored style but more boho. Solid colors are usually better, but I could go with the right print (something Native American or African tribal would be cool, for example). I'm actually in need of a cute casual small purse, for running to the store and stuff. I'm horrible at buying myself purses, it's an addiction that never took hold of me. julep maven monthly boxes: I chose shades of beige and black and blue, and then Portia de Rossi as my ideal partner, and then they told me I was "American Beauty" and wanted to give me a bunch of pink nail polish??? So I'm suspicious of that company. Like commercial socks? Sure! Either totally comfy and/or a crazy color or print for wearing around the house... or work appropriate trouser socks. What kind of bear is best? Polar bears (especially armored ones), koala bears, panda bears, even grizzly bears, but please no teddy bears or other stuffed animals. I have a not-so-secret love for The Broship of the Rings. Are there any prints from her store you'd like? I like them in theory, but they're not really my style. Who here likes Stephanie Pui-Min Law's artwork? I think it's nice, and would be beautiful as storybook illustrations, but it's ultimately not my style. I prefer my art with a little less pretty, if you know what I mean. Do you drink wine? On occasion, but I try to stay away, I get a bit depressive for a few days after drinking more than a half glass of wine. Witchee, would you like anything from this particular Haunt update? I would leave this up to my witch, judging by my previous preferences. I've never tried Haunt before and it seems so difficult to acquire? The Possets Halloween update is also live; does anything in the update strike your interest? Same as above. Who's interested in Halloween: Montreal? Not urgently. Also I just discovered I love Samhain 2011 so much, I can't imagine a better fall blend. Except for The Night Hag Visiting the Lapland Witches, which it turns out I also love. You get a package in the mail containing 3 things you have really wanted more than anything else you've mentioned so far in this thread. (they are all reasonably priced of course! ~$20 or less apiece). What are they? I don't know about the "more than anything else so far" part, or the part about not having mentioned it in this thread. I don't omgwant a ton of particular stuff, I'm more omgexcited to receive things I don't expect and might not buy for myself. -A good book to read beside our wood-burning stove. -Something handmade or hand-drawn or hand-written by my witch (even something small or brief). -Something the color of autumn leaves. how do you feel about hemp? jewelry, soap, etc? Hemp jewelry might not be my thing, but hemp fabric, or yarn, or soap, or other bath products could be awesome. Is there a magazine that you DON'T read because you can't find it near you, but wish you could? Not that I know of, but if my witch knows of one s/he thinks I'd like, that'd be cool. Describe your sense of humour. I LOVE the tv show Community and it is the funniest new thing I've seen in a long, long time and I laugh throughout pretty much every episode. Also I love The Princess Bride, This is Spinal Tap, & most other Christopher Guest movies. I usually think Stephen Colbert is funny. I think Sue Sylvester on Glee is funny. I watch America's Next Top Model because it is ridiculous and I think Fourfour Rich's recaps are hilarious. I like clever but occasionally low-brow parody, and appreciate comedic social/political/convention critique. I also harbor a deep and abiding affection for Charlie Chaplin's oeuvre, and from The Great Dictator always brings a tear to my eye, I think it's this sublime synthesis of comedy and horror and desperate, earth-shattering sorrow. Jane Austen and Shakespeare can both make me teary-eyed with joy and laughter, and I'm in awe of Mark Twain's wit. I often find Plato hilarious, and sometimes Aristotle, and Aristophanes is amazing, but I'm weird about ancient stuff as you probably know by now. (I didn't find anything funny on that okcupid test. It made me "The Prankster" 48% dark, 35% spontaneous, 16% vulgar, clean/complex/light. But that whole test caused my funny bone to cringe.) Do you like reusable grocery bags? If so, do you like the kind that fold up (ie Chico Bags?) I do like them. And use them. I don't know these Chico Bags. I'm about to make an order from Sephora (nothing off of my wishlist, witch, so don't worry about that). Is there anything for you that you would like to accompany my order, if you're my witchee? Any random tidbit from the "natural" portion of their site would be probably be met with joy. Any thoughts on the new Villainess update? I'd be happy receiving literally any of the stuff in the new update, other than what I already purchased with the help of my gift certificate (Moral decay soap, DST smack). <3 as a witchee, would you want your witch to reveal, or is staying ninja/secret okay/preferable? As a witch, would you prefer to not reveal/stay ninja? I'd like to find out who my witch is, but if s/he would rather remain secretive I'd respect the decision. As a witch, I think I'll probably reveal. Is there anything you either didn't like or had never heard of that you're now curious to try thanks to the discussion in this thread? Nothing in particular comes to mind. There are a couple of books people mentioned that have been added to my Amazon wishlist, and maybe a few things from etsy. Would you be interested in the #occupywallstreet scent? YES, QUITE. (But I can't promise I won't cave and buy a bottle for myself.) Do Paintbox Soapworks' Goat's Milk Hand and Body Creams sound like something you'd like to try? I don't buy products with milk in them. But I could possibly go for the Lavender and Pumpkin Luxury Body Butter. it sounds quite nice, and that's a scent I'd go for. Who likes silly items from Archie McPhee??? Please nothing "bacon." I don't find bacon appealing or humorous in the least. I find it murderous, and jokes about it offensive. Pigs are smarter than dogs. I hate the way human beings treat them, it makes me cry tears of rage if I think about it too much or if I pass a truck on the highway carrying pigs to the slaughterhouse. I can't believe how horrible we are to other animals, and it triples my disbelief when people make jokes of it and laugh. I'm sorry witch, I don't mean to be preachy at you, but looking through that site made me angry. (The non-bacon items from there would probably be wasted on me as well.) Nocturne Alchemy's NAlloween Pt. 2 update is live here! (And for a few days, last month's update too.) What do you want? I'm not familiar with the company & have no particular wants. What are you drooling over from the Sock Dreams Halloween stuff? I like the "Kawaii skeleton over the knee" socks (in white). Does anyone want anything from... here...? It's not vegan, so no thanks. For those of you that like candles, do you like stuff from Yankee Candle? And if you had to choose, tarts or candles? The YC store gives me a headache so I stay away. Would you be interested in getting a custom necklace from http://www.etsy.com/.../WhimsyBeading# ? Sure! Is there a movie you want so badly that you don’t own now? I can't think of one. Is there a song on Itunes that you haven’t downloaded yet? Not that I can think of. Is there a rare book you’ve always wanted? I like to collect old books, which aren't exactly rare, but old editions of popular books can be expensive. Is there anything you want to buy yourself but have been too embarrassed (R rated or pg)? Nothing that I can think of. if you were my witchee, would you want some of my hot nuts my candied nuts my nuts covered in butter and brown sugar candied walnuts? Yes! (But could you make them with vegan butter? Earth Balance is a tasty alternative!) Am I the only one? Does anyone else like collector Barbies? Not me, no sir. What small everyday items would you like, that you keep forgetting to get? Emery boards, maybe? Mints to carry around in my purse. Tell me about something you like, and why you like it. I like my backyard because it's overgrown and wild, in an idyllic way. The lady who owned our house before us left all these artifacts hidden back there, like sculptures and concrete faces half-submerged in the earth, and now there are ferns and other perennials growing all around them and it feels kind of like the ruins of a fairy civilization. Small snakes live in the undergrowth, so many finches and cardinals and titmice and squirrels come and twitter through the two old pear trees, even owls occasionally stop by at night, and also bats! It feels so peaceful and wild, it's easy to forget that we live in a city. Question: If you're the MMU type of Witchee, what Geek Chic Cosmetics tickle your fancy? The Win or Die line! I actually would really like anything from it, because at the moment I'm geeking out about Song of Ice and Fire (I'm in the middle of Storm of Swords, which has been the best one so far imho). I love the character of Arya, so "The Pointy End" might be my most wanted... But really, I could wear any of those colors on a daily basis. Except perhaps The Spider... But Varys is so deliciously creepy and sneaky, it makes me like the pinky-purple color better! Would any witchees be interested in Quinn Popcorn? I would, it sounds delish, but I don't have a microwave. DH and I eat stove-popped popcorn all the time though, so now I have to figure out how to make it with lemon & sea salt! Do you own a DSLR camera? Are you interested in a minky camera strap like these? What about anything from Photojojo? My current camera is a piece of junk. I'd love to get back into photography someday, but at the moment it's a hobby that's fallen by the wayside. Is anybody else into film photography? Interested in receiving film, supplies, etc from Lomography? (see above) Do you like liquorice? If so, hard or soft? Sweet or salt? Normally salted or so salt it pulls your face into a fishy shape? And which shapes do you like? Yup! I like old-fashioned licorice, like Oy Panda. Are there any DIY / Crafty / Free / Budget items you'd love to get but haven't noted yet? (Or, maybe you'd just like to emphasize something you may have only noted in passing?) I can't think of anything in particular right now, but as mentioned before I'd love to receive something that was a product of my witch's own handiwork, in whatever medium that might be. Are you musically inclined? Do you play an instrument or sing? If so, what? I love music, and classical music included. I play piano and sing opera and showtunes for fun. I even break my usual no-Disney rule... I am famous, at my house, for my rendition of "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, a song I have been perfecting since I was about, oh, 8 years old. If you are my witchee, would you want some homemade chilli jam? yes plz. Is there anything you would want from NYCC, something you'd like your witch to ask me to pick up? Can't think of anything. What is your favorite kind of cookie? I love cookies! Homemade kinds. Cowboy cookies (oatmeal chocolate chip with pecans or walnuts and shredded coconut), chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies (the kind with fork cross-hatches in the top), ANZAC biscuits, tahini lime cookies (from VCTOYCJ), any kind of shortbread, anything with a lot of nuts or nut meal (like Mexican wedding cookies), anything salty-sweet esp. with fancy salt on top. Also brownies, blondies, and bars, which lately I bake instead of cookies because it's slightly less work. Probably if you make me cookies I will love them, no matter what kind they are. How many boxes are you hoping for? I have no particular number in mind! How do you feel about loose leaf tea in baggies? I mean, I have a TON of loose leaf, would it be okay if I send you samples in some zip lock baggies? Or is that something that would squick you out? You sound like a tea connoisseur. I think I'd be fine with that. How would you feel about getting a custom poster with your favorite quote on it and some cool graphics? I'm an architecture student and can print posters (provided I make them) at pretty much any size using Adobe Illustrator at a low price. Also if you would be interested in this, what quotes would you like? That sounds cool, especially if I had a quote on hand that I wanted on a wall. Sadly I can't think of one. So, witchee, are you interested (in farm honey, fruit butters, preserves, pickles, etc.)? Sure, I'd enjoy pretty much any of that! But I don't have a shortage of this kind of thing either, we've got lots of great farms around TN. What is the best thing you ever ate? Perfectly ripe avocado, diced, tossed with lime juice and smoked sea salt, pressed into a freshly toasted pita. Sublime. Are you interested in anything in the latest round of Lab auctions on eBay? Nope. I would be curious to test small amounts of Snowblind, Midway, and Voodoo Queen, though. What favorite song(s) would you think would translate into a cool or unique scent? The Dreaming by Kate Bush. Anyone interested in VApothecary's Halloween update? A(nother) company I don't know. Interested in anything from the Beaver Moon Lunacy update? I'm buying Beaver Moon and a bottle of #occupywallstreet will probably be ordered by me too. (Backups of the latter would still be appreciated, if that is something you've already planned!) I'd love testers of Loi Krathong and Batty. I sent you with $20 into a drugstore/Walmart (nothing too fancy/imported/expensive, just your average selection), and you are restricted only to the candy aisle. What would you blow it on? Mambas, airheads, and sour patch kids are vegan and I like them. I'm not a huge drugstore candy person. Do you need any winter wear, witchee? Mittens, a nice scarf, a cute hat, more longg knee socks, I can never get enough of these things. Going back to the question about winter wear, are there any colors you would prefer not to have? Pastels. would you still want the project if it was a craft fail???? Sure! What's on your list of formerly fun activities to reclaim, witches?? photography, sewing.. Halloween plans - A midnight viewing of Rocky Horror on Saturday, yipee! On Monday we'll stay at home and hand out candy to the two kids who come by & watch spooky movies, perhaps MST3K. Oh yeah, and grading. poo. As a Witchee, are you interested in clues to your Witch's identity? eee, I love clues! But I might be really bad at guessing. At first I had some suspects in mind (and I had a dream that it was one person in particular), but I don't think I have any idea who my witch is at this point.

In the imp: This smells sort of like sweet honeyed gardenia or tuberose to me, with a touch of resiny spice. On skin: Pretty much the same as in the imp. The tuberose or gardenia is still there, and possibly there’s also honeysuckle, but the floral component is kept from being too heady by the sort of spicy honeyed copal scent. Dry: Mellow honeyed floral and copal, with a touch of spice, or something similar. A languid, luxurious sort of scent, sweet and sticky and nightimey. A little like smelling cinnamon honey next to a cluster of tuberose. Verdict: Not as repellent to me as florals often can be, this is on the dark sticky side of heady floral. Still not for me, but in my opinion it’s one of the nicer white floral bpal blends I’ve tried.

In the imp: Strong bitter, strong sweet! The herbs give it a medicinal quality, and the sweet fruits lay low in the imp. Wet: Some sort of cypress or juniper is what I get when it’s first applied, still very antiseptic. This antiseptic quality doesn’t really go away as it dries, but it gets more dried out and ashen. Dry: Gomorrah is a really strange scent, to my nose. It is quite burnt and ashen smelling, really like a burnt bundle of herbs, and then the syrupy sweet of fig and date sort of squeezes out the edges of the scent. The longer it sits on my skin, the more the syrupy sweet fig pushes the bitter ashy herbs aside, which makes sense because I tend to amp fig. After an hour or so, it’s settled into a slightly burnt FIG. Verdict: Weird, not entirely unpleasant, evocative scent, but still too much syrupy fig for me.

In the imp: Dusty dry clovey cinnamonny orange with mayyyybe a hint of peach. On skin: Still clovey and cinnamonny fruits, and the candy-like peach starts to come out on my skin. I’m getting a bit of a red hots, craft-store-fall-spice-candle kind of scent. Dry: It’s not quite so generic once it’s dried down, but now it smells like a nicer fall-spice candle. A warm and comforting scent. All the listed notes come through for me, clove, cinnamon, orange, peach, with the earthy patch and incenses in the background. The peach I think makes it veer slightly into too-sweet, slightly artificial-smelling territory for me. Verdict: Not what I’m looking for, on my skin it's too much a run-of-the-mill spice candle fall/christmas scent.

This is where I'll post answers to Switch Witch questions... Preface: So many thanks for taking the time and effort to read this! While this page contains many specifications, ultimately it's the thought that counts and I will be deeply grateful for whatever it might please you to send my way. MY SWITCH WHICH ?AIRE (slightly updated version) Basic Info Pets: 3 cats, Saadya, Razi, and Lilleput ("Lilly"), all male. Children: Nope and never. Religious orientation: unaffiliated pagan. Favorite Holiday: Yule. Occupation/Major in school: I teach philosophy at a university and write fiction. Living arrangement: I live in a house with my husband (& cats). Livejournal/Blog/Website: I don’t currently have one. Organizations/Causes/Activities: I practice Iyengar yoga and am vegan for ethical reasons (I donate to Farm Sanctuary), other than that I don’t easily affiliate with any organized groups that I can think of. BPAL Favorite BPAL oils: Anne Bonny, Banshee Beat, Banded Sea Snake, Mme. Moriarty, The Butterfly, Arachne of Lydia, The Coiled Serpent, Elephantine Colossus, Tree of Life, Philosopher in Meditation, Snake Oil, No. 93 Engine, Eat Me, this list is ever shifting & expanding. Favorite notes: patchouli, frankincense, golden amber, vanilla/tonka, honey, beeswax, myrrh, cake, tobacco, clove, moss, cedar, cake, red/black currant, plum, sandalwood, cedar, red musk, mandarin and bitter orange notes like bergamot or petitgrain. Favorite non-BPAL perfumes: I don’t wear non-BPAL perfume. Least favorite notes: Florals aren't really my thing, I often dislike vetiver, I usually can't wear leather, milk/cream, fig, blackberry, pomegranate. Fruits and florals are generally risky unless combined with something resinous/smoky/dark/dry. Also: NO NEROLI EVER please. Least favorite non-BPAL perfumes: Don't have any. If Beth made a custom blend for you, what would the notes be, and what would you want the label art to look like? Hmm… patchouli, clove, black vanilla, and black currant? Like a cross between Banshee Beat and Arachne of Lydia. Something simple and dark, with a scent that was difficult to place. The label would have on it something obscure and mysterious, like a magical or alchemical symbol. Clothing & Jewelry Hair type: Long (mid-back), blonde-ish (natural color), straight-ish (depending on how it’s dried), fine with a tendency to go flat. Skin Type: Fair, sensitive, combination skin. Allergies (specifically B&B related): None that I know of. Other things to avoid: Synthetic chemicals (SLS, parabens, etc.) make me break out. I usually go with ‘simpler is better.’ Tub, shower or both? Tub! I love long, hot, luxurious, good-smelling baths. But sometimes I’ll shower if I’m in a hurry. Favorite bath & beauty products: I love scented bath oils & essential oils (either pleasurey-perfumey or aromatherapeutic, depending on my mood), bath salts, salt or sugar scrubs, scented soaps (BPTP and other small/indie/local companies), minimalist balms and oils like coconut and argan oil, lately I’m experimenting with organic (-ish) dry shampoos. Clothing Style/Fave garments: Casual-comfy-loungy while at home, like Alternative Apparel tees and yoga/sweatpants. For work, J-Crew-y (classic, simple, polished, pencil skirts and drapey cardigans) with a twist (shades of goth, punk, motorcycle, vintage, or hippie). I love scarves, linen, silk, or woolen, woven or knit, patterns and plaids. I also like handknits. I lust after expensive vegan footwear (OlsenHaus is my favorite brand), and occasionally wear heels but mostly flats (I'm kind of tall). Favorite clothing colors/colors to wear: Neutrals (black, greys, tans, browns, navy) with occasional flashes of saturated bright colors (blood red, deep magenta, forest green, marine blue, teal, mustard or yellow ochre). I like brightly colored or (tastefully done) animal-print accessories for mixing and matching. I don't really wear pastels or white. Type(s) of jewelry worn: Most of the time just my wedding/engagement ring, but I sometimes wear necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. When I wear jewelry it’s usually simple or minimalist… but I’m totally into experimenting with bolder jewelry and accessories in interesting or unexpected shapes and textures. Ring/wrist/collar size: Ring size 4-7, depending on the finger (ring finger is 4.75). I'm not sure about my wrist size, I usually go to the smallest notch for women's watches... Jewelry - gold or silver? Either one, but I tend toward gold (I also like distressed or blackened silver and brass). Do you have any allergies to metal? No. Favorite gemstones: Anything with a deep/brilliant hue or earthy striations, hematite, moonstone, jade, quartz. Sock/Shoe Size: 8 to 8.5 (39 EU). Lifestyle Style/home decoration style: Velvet, steam punk/industrial, occasionally art nouveau, turn-of-the-century or exotica antiques in the front of the house. And brightly-colored minimalist mid-century modern in the back. (I like both interior decorating styles and have trouble choosing between them---though to be honest, the mid-mod rooms are increasingly encroached upon by the eclectic vibe. ) In general, I like quirky things in my living space, where you look at it and can't tell where it came from. I love decorations that have to do with nature, or any kind of animals, including mythical or totem animals--like cobra-shaped candelabra, little sculptures of scarabs or spiders, Ancient Grecian or Egyptian relics, African tribal, archeological artifacts, fossils, anything old, textured, with historical or spiritual/ritual associations. I’m fascinated by 18th century science, I especially like vitalism and artistic works inspired by it (for example the drawings of Ernst Haeckel), also by what 19th century imperialist cultures thought of as exotic, any kinds of items that relate to these things. I'm always looking for antiques/curiosities to set on the mantle or hang on the wall. Favorite decorating colors: I love juxtaposing bright, rich, or deep colors with darker and muted neutrals, wood grain, rock-textures, and industrial metals. In general I like clever contrasty decor--for example, pairing a neon color yarn to make a traditionally crocheted lace doily. Things you collect: Other than BPAL, old books, including old technical manuals and steampunk or Victorian-era fiction. Also antique watchworks or other mechanisms, anything that could be put on display on a coffee table or mantle as a curiosity. Tarot cards/decks. Favorite music: I tend to like artists rather than genres--I love love love Kate Bush and Suzanne Vega, I really like Cocteau Twins, Siouxie and the Banshees, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave… I have a special fondness for Freddie Mercury (of Queen). I mostly like dark and ethereal, atmospheric shoegazey, or poetic songwritery type stuff. Least favorite music: Contemporary country, rap, hip-hop. Vegetarian/Vegan?: (Please be as specific as possible to reduce confusion!) I eat a vegan diet (no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, butter, whey, casein, etc.) with the exception that I *do* eat (and love) honey. I *do not* wear leather, but I *do* wear, and use, wool and silk. Other food restrictions: None that I can think of, I tend toward what I think of as “healthy” or “whole foods,” but at the same time I love (vegan) baking and have a ginormous sweet tooth. Favorite flavors: Chocolate, peanut butter, coconut, coffee, hazelnut, caramel, lemon, strawberry, raspberry, hm I love pretty much all flavors, as long as they’re natural flavors, and especially if they’re flavored with the real thing (for example I love banana bread, but dislike most banana candies). I don’t care for artificially flavored foods. Favorite foods/drinks: I love chocolate and nuts, all kinds of baked goods especially ones involving peanut butter, chocolate, and/or coconut. I like sour gummy candies in moderate amounts! I also love heirloom and Native American varieties of dried beans. I drink coffee everyday, and tea most afternoons, I like trying all kinds of coffee and tea including black, oolong, green, red, white, herbal, etc.--I like flavored teas, but I prefer natural-flavored instead of artificially-flavored teas. I don’t drink soda except for the very occasional high-quality root beer. Favorite authors/genres: Favorite fiction authors include Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Mark Twain, of contemporary authors I consistently enjoy Michael Malone, Philip Pullman. I like almost any genre of fiction, as long as the story is engaging and well-written and not too masculinity-centric. I’m very interested in smart women authors. I particularly love immersive, well-written fantasy books, because they seem best able to grab my attention and really absorb me. Currently making my way through GRRM’s Song of Ice and Fire, which I like. Due to my schooling/work, I’ve spent so much time in the past decade reading scholarly or classical texts that I haven’t put enough time/effort into contemporary and fun/light fiction of all kinds, I’m behind everybody else who reads for fun, and I’m currently trying to remedy that… I love an author who can be clever/witty/funny but also serious/profound/poignant in the same sentence. I also love French & English poetry, favorite poets include Baudelaire, John Milton, Gerard Manley Hopkins, W. B. Yeats, Dylan Thomas, Wallace Stevens, Phillip Larkin. Least favorite authors/genres: I don’t have particular least favorites, but if an author takes her/himself too seriously, or is too contrived or pretentious (there are exceptions to this!), it’s kind of a warning flag that I won’t love their work. Books/authors you'd like to read, but haven't yet: I’m a bit curious about H. P. Lovecraft, never got around to picking up any of his stories and I wonder if I’d like them. I could also use a nice Edgar Allan Poe volume (have read, but don't own). In general, I’m open to suggestions. How do you feel about receiving gently used books as gifts? I’d like that! I prefer used books over new, as long as they're not underlined or highlighted. Favorite stores (including clothing stores): I prefer to stay away from corporate giants, but I rely on Whole Foods and Whole Body for staples. I love browsing local antique stores looking for funky/weird/quirky/exotic/curious stuff, including the book section of antique stores, and also used bookstores. Favorite online stores (including B&B stores): Other than BPAL?.. Amazon for pretty much everything, J. Crew for work clothes, Endless for shoes… I like browsing etsy for handmade and antique or vintage items. I prefer buying from people rather than companies, and in most cases I prefer simple/natural/handmade over complicated/artificial. I like old, weird things, and don’t mind ‘used’ at all, but I don’t have any particular people/stores that I frequent... Magazines you subscribe to: None. Magazines you like, but don't subscribe to: None.. I’m not a big magazine reader. Favorite movies: Parody comedies like The Princess Bride, This Is Spinal Tap, MacGruber, silly stuff that makes me laugh no matter how foul my mood. I also like movies that are nostalgic or comforting like Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal (The Princess Bride scratches this itch too), random cheezy 90's movies that remind me of being an angsty teenager, Miyazaki films like Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo. I like BBC-style adaptations of English literature (Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, etc.). I’m not a huge horror/gorey movie person, if I watch too much scary stuff I get anxious and can’t sleep at night. But I enjoy good psychological horror every now and again. Favorite TV show(s): I love, and love to talk in-depth about, Survivor. I also love HBO’s Game of Thrones, I like the TV show Community, and My Little Ponies: Friendship is Magic, My So-Called Life (and also Huge), The Colbert Report. I’m a fan of Joss Whedon (Buffy, Firefly, Dollhouse), although I think I have a bit of Whedonverse fatigue. Hobbies/crafts done: I knit and spin yarn (my Ravelry handle is bizbis, if you’d like to see things I’ve made). I prefer to work with (and wear) non-synthetic fibers (wool, silk, etc.). Wishlists *Please note I do not expect to receive anything from my wishlists, they are mainly to give an idea of my tastes.* BPAL Wish List (including SW/SF Help): here Other website Wish lists (amazon.com, etc): Amazon, Etsy Random Questions: - On a scale of 1-5, how organized are you? Maybe a 4? I’m habitually messy, but lately I’ve been pretty good at keeping the house neat.. except for the kitchen, it's a hopeless mess. - Where, outside of the U.S. would you love to visit? (if you're international, this can be anywhere) Ireland, Scotland, Vietnam, Thailand, Athens, Egypt, Ethiopia, New Zealand, Antarctica. There aren’t a lot of places I *wouldn’t* like to visit, but travel is expensive and kind of stresses me out.. In reality I’m a hermit and a homebody, I take my cue from the cats and like to stay comfy in my own famliar territory. - Do people tell you that you act older, younger, or your age? Most would say older. People who know me well say younger. My husband says both. - What animal do you feel like the most? I identify most with the Wild Bactrian Camel. I think it would be my spirit animal, if I had one. But I also love bats, owls, and unicorns. And obviously cats. - Your favorite feature about yourself: Physically I suppose I like my… eyes? Or my hair, which is longer than I’ve ever had it, and I’m trying to learn to take care of it/style it better, but it makes me feel like a princess. - Do you live in a neighborhood or in the middle of nowhere? In a neighborhood. Kind of a quaint old neighborhood. - If you were a tree, what would you be and why? A weeping willow, because I think I look similar to one (my hair kind of… does that flowing weeping shape thing), it seems to me like a good tree for a quiet person (I’m pretty quiet, and can be kind of shy/softspoken/introverted), and weeping willows seem so peaceful and breezy to me… but weeping willows can also be sinister (like Old Man Willow from Fellowship of the Ring) and wise, and I like that about them. But sometimes I’m thorny, so I have non-weeping willowy moments where I’m more like a prickly shrubbery. -Have you ever thought, "oh, I'm going to get myself one of those one of these days" but then never do? List 1 under $10 and 1 over $10. For a while I’ve wanted a nice beeswax and/or scented candle (or more than one!), which could go for under $10, although it could also be over $10 depending on the quality/size. Also I always mean to buy myself some interesting hair accessories (barettes, combs, pins, headbands, hairsticks, jaws thingies), but I never get around to it--those could also be either under or over $10, depending. - Has a stranger ever told you that you did something really well? What was it? Hm yes, baking. - Do you like garage sales (boot sales)? Yes but I’m quite picky about what I purchase from them. - I like to slather my food in …: I love condiments of all kinds... Hummus, mustard, honey mixed with mustard, ketchup, sriracha, vegan mayonnaise, bbq sauce, vinegars of all kinds, kimchi, fancy salts, nutmeg, homemade vegan cheezy sauces, tahini, peanut butter, almond butter, chocolate, Braggs, nutritional yeast… the only (vegan) condiment I can think of that I don’t absolutely love is hot sauce, hot sauce is just OK. - State fairs or carnivals? Carnivals. Although in reality I find them a bit disturbing, human beings can be the scariest things in the universe, and carnivals are a visceral reminder of that. Notes (Here's where you can add additional information you'd like your Switch Witch to know!): -I’m quite picky when I choose things for myself, but when it comes to gifts, I value most the thoughtfulness put into it. I love when somebody shares something with me that they themselves love in whatever capacity (anything from a bath/beauty product they think is awesome and that I would like too, to a book/movie/artwork that is close to their heart, or something handmade, etc.). -Also, I love details. Detailed things and just in general, details. I love things that are interesting in a subtle way, where you have to take a closer look to see. -Despite my interest in unicorns and cheezy/nostalgic TV shows and movies, I tend not to go for cutesy home decor/personal accessories. But there are exceptions to every rule… -I have kind of a dark/cynical/pessimistic view of the world, and so I love artwork/literature with dark themes. But I also appreciate levity. -My sun sign is Cancer, Scorpio is my rising sign, and my moon is in Pisces. I have stubborn exoskeletal tendencies, and I'm very emotional. (Oh and also, interested in astrology!) -I enjoy tarot also, I use the Thoth deck (although I think Crowley was pretty much crazy). I’m interested in Hermeticism and alchemical symbolism. QUESTIONS FROM THE SWITCH WITCH THREAD... Twitter/LJ/FB? I have no Twitter and no LJ account. I do have a FB account here. I never use it and don't keep track of anything on it, but I might end up using it to stalk, so... friend away! (just let me know you're from bpal.org.) From the Weenie update, what are you most wanting to try? I ordered a crazyton of decants and the bottles I was already sure of, so I'm set on Weenies for now. I basically wanted to try any Weenie that seems not-too-floral, and is resiny, smoky, woodsy, or foody. Who's into nail polish? What colors/brands? It's the sort of thing I don't often buy for myself, but would enjoy receiving as a gift. I have no brand preference, as I don't use it enough to have an expert opinion. Colorwise I'd probably go for dark colors (like in the black/almost black range, including dark browns, dark blues, etc.) and then deep bloody reds, and I'd totally have fun playing with other quirky neutrals, or even greyed-out colors or jewel tones. Is there a quote (or lyric or part of a poem) that really resonates with you or is your favorite? Ha yes, count me in with people who could come up with a ton of these... Nature loves to hide. (A Heracleitus fragment) From my sig, Pantodapais memigme--na chroiaisin, a Sappho fragment that means something like shot with a thousand hues or in a million mixed hues. Another Sappho fragment - Eros deute m'o lusimeles donei, / glukupikron amachanon orpeton, translated by Anne Carson - Eros once again limb-loosener whirls me / sweetbitter, impossible to fight off, creature stealing up. (I love Anne Carson's translations of and books on Sappho, and I don't actually own any, so...) Any number of lyrics from Bob Dylan songs.. - I wanna be with you in paradise / And it seems so unfair / I can't go to paradise no more / I killed a man back there from "Spirit on the Water". - The entire song "Ain't Talkin'" is too amazing to extract a single lyric.. - The priest wore black on the seventh day and sat stone-faced while the building burned / I waited for you on the running boards, near the cypress trees, while the springtime turned / Slowly into autumn. from "Idiot Wind" (that whole song is one of my favorites, esp. the bootleg version.) "Fern " by Dylan Thomas is perhaps my favorite poem I've ever encountered, extra especially the following bits: it was air / And playing, lovely and watery / And fire green as grass; it was all / Shining, it was Adam and maiden, / The sky gathered again / And the sun grew round that very day. And My wishes raced through the house high hay / And nothing I cared, at my sky blue trades, that time allows / In all his tuneful turning so few and such morning songs / Before the children green and golden / Follow him out of grace. And the last three lines of that poem slay me dead. Dream candle? Scent, color, type (tealight, votive, pillar, jar, tart, etc.), throw... I could go either for an unscented rustic kind of beeswax candle, or I'd love a scented candle, but I *am* a bit picky about scents... the Yankee Candle store gives me a headache, so I've never even tried YC and would steer away from anything strong in that way. Simpler and less synthetic/artificial is better for me in general, I'd go for similar scents as are in my favored notes esp. patchouli, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood. I can always use tealights, otherwise pillars or jars would be best. I've never used tarts before & don't have a melty thinger. Do you like knitted goodies? If so, what would you like and what colors? I do. I knit, but there are so many things I never get around to knitting for myself because I always knit them as gifts. Especially scarves, cowls, fingerless gloves, hats... I love me some handknit accessories! In undyed wool, neutrals, tweeds, bright or deep hues. Also... I love hand-dyed yarns (semi-solids, mostly). What GC do you live in mortal terror of the lab discontinuing, but never get around to buying? Aureus, Cathedral, Fenris Wolf, Sin... My GC bottle stash hasn't caught up to my GC wishlist yet. Would you be interested in homemade edibles that are NOT sweets? Any specifics? Absolutely! Bread or savory baked goods, spiced nuts or seeds, dehydrated snacks, homemade granola, canned/jarred things, vegetables, pickles, relishes, chutneys, jams. (As long as it's vegan, I'll probably like it.) Yo, yarnies! Do you do Ravelry? I'm bizbis on Ravelry. ("bizbis" is how I pronounced my name when I was little.) Do you have wishlists for non-BPAL e-tailers? No. I'll try to work on that though and update with a link... PC or Mac? Mac. What is your favorite animal? I'd still have to say the Wild Bactrian Camel. Also bats and owls and cats. But also whales, especially humpback whales... they're so awe-inspiring and wonderful. Oh, and I have a soft spot for pigs too. I like lots of animals. What are you going to be for Halloween? I don't know yet, I'm dreadfully uncreative for Halloween! I'll probably dress up as a witch, I like witches. Or as Janet for a Rocky Horror Picture Show midnight screening. If you could have a piece of oil painting jewelry (pendant, pair of earrings, or ring) with absolutely anything painted on it, what would it be? (If you prefer wall art instead, same question as above.) A camel (a Wild Bactrian one of course!) or an owl. Or maybe a curvaceous fern leaf of some sort, I like fern imagery. Or an octopus. I'd probably go for either a pendant or wall art. How do you feel about nick-knacks? I like certain kinds (antique, vintage, curio, steampunk, industrial, natural science-y, ethnic, exotic, etc), but nothing plastic or mass-produced, and it should be heavy enough so that kitties wouldn't knock it over. What traditions (family, holiday, or otherwise) are important to you? Observing seasonal holidays (solstices, equinoxes) but in informal ways, sitting around the wood-burning stove during the cold season, drinking hot toddies. Sitting on the screened porch when it's temperate, doing Yules-y things at Yules like decorating a tree and exchanging secret gifts. Lots of homey habits to go with the changing year. Oh, and we adopt a turkey every Thanksgiving from Farm Sanctuary, and the turkey's picture sits on the table when we eat dinner. That one's really special to me. Do you like going to the movies? Not so much, I prefer to watch movies at home for $ and coziness reasons. What are your favorite restaurants? There aren't many in my part of the country that can offer up a very good vegan meal... DH and I like a local Ethiopian restaurant, as well as a local vegetarian Indian restaurant. Do you play any video games? Not really, although I enjoy rpg's when I have/take the time to get immersed in/addicted to them. But I kind of have an addictive personality, I got too addicted to WoW at one point, so I tend to avoid. Do you like any anime? I like many of Hayao Miyazaki's films, but I don't avidly follow less mainstream anime. Do you have an E-reader/iPad/something similar that you need a cover/case for? No, so far I haven't crossed over and still read regular old paper/cardboard books. Also, no iPad (not even a cellphone! yes I can be somewhat of a luddite ) How much do you like jewelry? like, if you were to get a shit ton of it during the round, how excited would you be? I like jewelry well enough, but a shit ton might be overdoing it for me, as I don't wear very much of it very often. How would you like to receive some of your Witch's favorite recipes, tailored to your likes/dietary restrictions? And specific wants? Veganizing recipes is something it's taken me and my husband a while to learn how to really do well (there are certain tricks to upping the umami etc.), and vegan baking is a whole nother kind of chemistry (some recipes being easier to adapt than others). So while I'd love to get a recipe for a favorite food, I wouldn't really expect an omni witch to go to the trouble of tailoring. Do you need any boxes to store your smellies in? What would you store in said hypothetical box--imps, bottles, supplies, all of the above? Not really, I have BPAL storage taken care of. Muppets: yea or nay? Yea to Jim Henson studios, for the most part. I especially like muppets when they're being dark or weird or subversive or funny... But I prefer watching them on TV rather than owning muppet paraphernalia. And from a feminist perspective, I resent the character of Miss Piggy. Do you have an affinity for Calvin and Hobbes, Peanuts, The Far Side, and other comic strips? If so, which is your favorite? I appreciate the humor of Cavin and Hobbes and The Far Side, and I like A Charlie Brown Christmas. But in general I'm not a follower of comic strips. Favorite Mythological Creature? Unicorns. And Typhon. I love mythological creatures in general, monstrous ones and gentle ones alike. Do you like hair things barrettes, headbands, flowers? Yes and I don't have nearly enough of them. I probably wouldn't get a lot of use out of those hair flowers though, they're a bit attention-grabby for me to wear to work. For hair accessories I'd prefer understated, modern, or folksy/natural in a clean/minimalist way. Do you like to burn incense? If so, what are your favorite kinds...sticks? cones? resins? What are your favorite scents? Not so much. I like the idea of it, and the smell of incenses, but I don't really like the smokey delivery. Harry Potter - a fan? If so, what house are you? I *thought* I was a Harry Potter fan, until I read the Pottermore thread and realized I didn't know what a HP fan was. I do like Harry Potter, the books more than the movies. If I were to be sorted, it's hard to say... I'd most likely be Gryffindor. Or Ravenclaw. Probably Gryffindor, if I'm being honest with myself. If you were to receive a gift card, what places would you like to get one from? Amazon. A yarn store might be cool, either Jimmy Beans Wool, Webs (yarn.com) or Eat Sleep Knit, or some place like that. Sephora. Is there a particular myth/folktale/legend/fairytale/godstory that you're drawn to? Leda and the swan. Theseus and the Minotaur. Other stories about monstrous offsprings of the human and the divine. If you RP, tabletop, forum, or otherwise... Do you have any original characters you'd like to see art of? If so, please give information! Even if it's a link to a web page or a profile or picture! I don't RP. If you could see anything, what would it be? Can be a person, an event, a landmark or monument, an object, etc. And it doesn't have to be on this planet, or in this time period, or in this reality! Plato. I'd want to talk to him though, not just see him. When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? To make it a little brighter? I put on Banshee Beat. For heavier comfort needs, I make peanut butter blondies to eat with (soy) vanilla ice cream, and sit myself down in front of endless episodes of past seasons of Survivor. TV knitting for after I'm done eating, and then a foot massage from DH completes that scenario. - What are your thoughts on comics? Any you like? Any you have been wanting to try? Favorite characters? The only comic books I've read are Joss Whedon ones (Fray and Buffy Season 8), which I enjoyed. I'd be interested in trying some good graphic novels, especially classics like Maus, Watchmen, From Hell, etc. Are you musical? Do you play an instrument, and if so, what? If not, what do you wish you could play or do? I play the piano, although I'm out of practice. I wish I practiced more consistently. I also like to sing, but in no official capacity. Just goofing off around the house I sing opera (Mozart is my favorite but also Bizet) and make up songs. I secretly aspire to write an opera, about being at a shopping mall during the holiday season. It would be all postmodern and atonal and, if successful, rather horrific and surreal. DH says I should try to write more earnest songs, and make an album, so maybe I'll try that one of these days. Does anyone garden? And if you do, what do you grow? If not, would a starter garden kit be something you'd be interested in? I plant vegetables at the beginning of each growing season but am horrible at keeping up with the weeds! Tomatoes, okra, peppers, and squash so far have been our most successful crop. I'm not an awesome gardener by any stretch, but I don't really need gardening supplies. Do you decorate for Halloween? Is your decorating taste elegant, kitschy and fun, or scary? I don't know, I haven't thought about it yet. It probably depends on what fancy strikes me... I could be swayed in any direction. Unfortunately, not too many kids seem to trick-or-treat at our house, so if we decorate it'll just be for me and DH. Do you have any symbols or totems that have special meaning for you? A Hugieia pentagram like this. Also the Thoth deck's princess of wands has been meaningful, ever since my Saturn return. Is anyone fond of programs like Adopt a Tree/Highway/Library/Manatee/Acre of Rainforest/bat etc? Sure! Any and all adoption or donation programs for animals or plants in need. What #1 actor, director, author and/or musician are you obsessed with? I try not to get obsessed with other people, especially ones I don't know in real life. I'm probably slightly obsessed with Plato, and also Sappho. (Does it count if they're long dead?) Bob Dylan maybe, although I have a feeling he puts the best of himself in his songs, so I don't feel the need to know him personally. That goes for Plato too, actually. Are you interested in anything from the Villainness Bad Apples update? I've never tried anything from Villainness before! But I'd love to try either the soaps or the little candles. And honestly, any of the Bad Apple scents sound nice. (As long as they're not too flowery, and the quality is high, I'm generally less picky about soap/candle scents than I am with perfumes...) If you have a pet, would he/she/they like to receive a treat or a toy as a gift? Does your pet have any dietary restrictions or other preferences w.r.t. said treat? My 3 cats would appreciate either treats or a toy. We feed them a grainfree & mostly raw diet, but sometimes make exceptions for treats, but nothing with artificial flavoring or a ton of preservatives please. Also, they love catnip toys, kitty teases & cat dancers of all sorts. What are your top three "I want to try them but I think I'll never get to try them" (or, "I've tried them and I want moar moar moar, but I don't think I'll ever get any") scents/bath oils/sprays? Storyville, Pinched With Four Aces, Elf v4--all ones I haven't tried ever (I didn't put East African Black Patchouli SN because that's laughable). Is there a particular artist and piece that you would like a print of? If so, what is your max size that you could spare on your walls? Anything by Odilon Redon, print or poster. I have a lot of wall space so no size restrictions. If you are in to beauty and makeup related stuff, what kind of stuff do you like? What is your skintone and hair color? Are there any beauty products you've wanted to try but just never purchase? I am not a huge user of makeup, partially because I'm a timid purchaser of it. I'm interested in experimenting more with lip and eye colors. I prefer natural/organic/mineral-based and my two current preferred brands are Bare Escentuals and Korres. I'm very fair with a neutral skin tone and blue-grey eyes. I've always wanted to try Tarte lip stains (probably matte, but I could go for any version). Questions: Do you like coffee or tea? Would you be interested in trying some different types? Both and yes. Unground coffee beans would be preferred, as I grind my own. Are there any CDs/Albums you've been wanting but haven't bought yet? What format do you prefer? (i.e. mp3, actual cd, record, etc) No, not really. But I would absolutely love to receive a mixed CD of songs that my Witch likes and wants to share. Are you going away for any part of this round? Yes. I will be leaving town between Oct. 18-23. I'm going into the woods for a yoga retreat. Somebody will be checking my mail & bringing in packages while I'm away, but I shan't have access to internet. (lol "shan't") If your witch were going somewhere on a vacation during the round, would you want a little souvenir? Sure! As long as it isn't plastic, please. Do you enjoy any outdoor activities? Do you have a favorite form of "exercise"? I enjoy light hiking. In the past I've really enjoyed camping, but at the moment we don't have the necessary equipment. My favored form of exercise is yoga, although my practice is, in theory, primarily spiritual in its orientation. Any witchees with a ravelry account have any favourited patterns that cost money that would be a welcome gift? I'm too spur-of-the-moment in my pattern decisions to make good use of a pattern given as a gift, so no thanks. Witchee, are you a fan of musicals? If so, which ones? I love Steven Sondheim's musicals. I strongly dislike those of Andrew Lloyd Weber. I also deeply love classical opera, especially Mozart. There was a year or so when I was obsessed with Wagnerian opera, in particular Tristan und Isolde, but that was a sickness and I have mostly recovered from it. I am fond of the thrift. Do you mind lightly used goods? Please be specific! I prefer to limit my thrifted clothing to outerwear or vintage wool skirts, things that aren't typically worn next to the skin. Or big (mens, usually) wool sweaters, for salvaging and reusing the yarn. I'm fine with thrifted books, decorative house stuff, etc. Do you have an Etsy shop? Do you know of any Etsy shops that are Switch Witch friendly? No. Would a gift or a postcard from Disneyland make you squee with delight or puke into your mail box? I maybe wouldn't puke, but no thanks. What are your favorite types of Halloween candy? I stay away from Halloween candy, except for the fancy, yuppified "all natural" Halloween candy I get from Whole Foods, which is typically on deep discount by Halloween day. If I'm going to eat sugar, I want to get the best bang for my caloric buck. (Also, I have no clue which nestle or hersheys candies are vegan, so I stay away from them altogether.) Do you prefer soap or shower gel? Please give examples of your favorite scents or brands. I like soap, creamy cold-pressed soap, as moisturizing as I can find it, and made with as natural/simple ingredients as possible. I'm leery of florescent or over-the-top brightly colored soaps, I prefer mine in more natural-looking shades. At the moment I mostly use this patchouli-scented soap from a tiny local company (probably owned by some TN hippies--there are a lot of hippies around here) whose name I don't recall. I would love to have some more complex or luxuriously scented soaps, I have been eyeing Snake Oil Soap for a while now, or Villainess soaps (Byzantium, Asphyxiate, Canaan, Dulces en Fuego, Jai Mahal, Killer Beez, so many) look divine. I'd tend to go somewhere in the earthy-resiny-spicy-vanilla-foody spectrum of scents. But then I'm not picky about soap scents, as long as it's not too floral or candy-fruity. If it's too "bright" a scent for me to use in a relaxing bath, then I'll use it in the shower. Or in the kitchen. How do you like your chocolate? For example with nuts, mint, peanut butter, caramel? Obviously dark, since it's gotta be vegan. Beyond that I love it most ways, especially with nuts, peanut butter, caramel, coffee, or sea salt. I love salty sweet things. Beads! Do you use them? Would you want some? What sorts of beads do you like? No, thanks. Anyone like anything in particular from Think Geek? No thanks. Anyone here like caramels? Sea salted caramels?!?! I love sea salt caramels (as long as it's vegan). Would you like a hand dyed or hand painted scarf or wrap or other item? If so, what colors/designs/fabrics do you like? Sure, I love scarves and wraps! I like natural fibers like wool, silk, linen, hemp, etc. And neutral, bright or deep colors, saturated jewel tones. Or I'd go for anything with a bohemian vibe. I'm not big on flowery prints or patterns, but I like abstract, animal, Native American or African tribal, gothic, or any other sorts of exotic designs. Or anything symbolic. Does anyone here like stones? Just pretty polished stones for use in whatever purposes? I suppose so. I'd gravitate toward larger ones (like, larger than a fist) that would make interesting display pieces. Do you work/study at a desk and enjoy interesting or cute office supplies? No, thanks. Pinterest, do you have boards you want to share or are you following anyone with great boards you want to share? No. Would you like to receive e-books? And if so, in what format? No, thanks. If you have kids, would you be interested in getting things for them? And if so, what are they interested and what sizes are the wearing now? No children. Would you be interested in a felted handbag? Do any of these styles appeal to you?http://tinyurl.com/3o2epzl (there's at least one guy-friendly style, too!) I would totally use & love one of the hobo-shaped bags, with a longer shoulder-strap handle (the chevron one I think is kind of like this?), my personal tastes would tend toward using a shade(s) of undyed wool (like Eco wool or something), aiming more for a minimalist or bohemian vibe than an overtly craftsy one. Are there are patterns, motifs, etc that you especially like? I think I answered this somewhat in the ?aire. Not big on florals, but I dig tribal, exotic, animal-print, um sometimes retro mid century modern sort of stuff. It also kind of depends on whether it's for clothes or home decor. Witchee, would you be interested in having a special tea cup/coffee mug/glass to drink out of? Sure! I love hand-thrown pottery and ceramics, I treasure and use over and over again hand-thrown mugs and bowls that I've received as gifts in the past. Factory-made mugs with words, logos, or phrases on them aren't my style. If you're a tea drinker, is there any specific tea you would like to receive, not just the kind/flavor but also the type/packing--i.e., tea bags, loose tea, compressed, etc? Any and all would be fine with me. I find loose or compressed tea is usually of higher quality, and it seems more special for whatever reason. How would you feel about kitchen towels and other similar household objects, if they are pretty or a souvenir? I'm utilitarian when it comes to kitchen towels. I can always use more, but I'd rather they work well than that they look pretty. How did you dress up for your last party or compulsory-formal-dress occasion? It took me a while to think of the last time I dressed up fancy. I prefer simple formal wear, minimalist black dresses, understated and elegant is (at least) the goal. Do you enjoy puzzles/riddles? (Cryptograms, Sudoku, Crossword, Jigsaw, etc) I enjoy puzzles, but not really sudoku or crossword puzzles. Jigsaws are nice for relaxing, especially with family during the holidays. Otherwise I like math and geometry puzzles, creativity and problem-solving puzzles, strategy games that involve puzzles, etc. When DH plays video games we often switch off, he'll do the more fightery reflex parts, and I'll do the puzzley bits. (Is that grossly stereotypical of us??) Can you sum yourself (whether it be personality, life's goals, ethics, whatever) in 10 words or less? Everytime I go back to this question it makes me laugh out loud. The short answer is "no," but since that feels like cheating, I hope it's slightly less cheatery to borrow from Basho: "I regret picking / and not picking / violets" How about little bottles of booze? Ya wanna? What kind? No, thanks. What are your views on fudge and brownies? (Also, if you live in a warm place, where the fudge might melt, that'd be helpful to know. Or, if you're diabetic and fudge is death, that'd be useful to know, too.) I love fudge and brownies! (vegan please.) I live in a warm place. I don't know if fudge would or wouldn't melt. Also, what about mochi? Love it, hate it, baffled by it? I love mochi too. Anything from the BPTP update? I'll update my wishlist. Does anyone like kimchi? Yesss! If there's a way to ship it, at least.. Would you be interested in a sample box(from somewhere like Birchbox or loosebutton)? I don't think so. You have to place a Lab and Trading Post order. Right fuckin' now. No spending limits. What do you buy? BPAL: Bottles of every Halloweenie and Pickman's Gallery blend that doesn't contain more than 1 or 2 floral notes, and also a bottle of Le Lethe, plus bottles of Cathedral, Aureus, Fenris Wolf, The Coiled Serpent, O, and Sin. BPTP: One of each Halloweenie, one of each hair gloss excluding the fig & white sandalwood one. Paintbox Soapworks - anything you're interested in, in general or from the latest update? No, thank you. Do you guys have any sports that you follow obsessively? How about favorite teams and/or athletes Not a sports person. How do you feel about notebooks/journals/stationery? Anything you need or particularly like? I don't need any at the moment. Does confetti/glitter make you angry or fill you with glee? No glitter, thank you! Fabulous witches and witchees, perhaps you all could note of you've received MeiLin's goodies? Or if you want? I'll just include all original written works in this question. As long as it's in paper form (not electronic), sure. How do you feel about stuffed animals/plushies/general soft, cuddly things? If you like them, what kind of animals would you be interested in? I dislike stuffed animals in general. I'm basically the Grinch! How interested would you be on somewhat personalized bottle cap labels? I don't label my bottles with stickers, so no thank you. When you're miserably sick (*sniffle, cough!*) what are the things that comfort you the most? Emergen-C, miso soup, a wool blanket, mindless TV preferably of the cartoony variety. What constitutes ultimate luxury to you? (go crazy!) Getting away from it all in a cedar cabin in the woods... while still having somebody skilled in the art of vegan cookery fix 3 meals a day for me and DH. What do you really NOT want? Artificial flavors, artificial colors, anything tested on animals, anything containing animal flesh or products (other than honey), anything containing SLS or parabens, unnecessary plastic... Witchee; interested in anything from Lush? I'm inclined to prefer other brands (due to artificial colors & SLS). Do you blog? Would you like a header for your blog, a layout, etc? I don't blog. Would you be interested in a handmade bookmark? Sure, the only problem is that I always loose bookmarks! do you like chex puppy chow or muddie buddies (ingredients: semi-sweet chocolate chips, PB, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, chex cereal)? would you want to get some from your witch / nacho witch? (note - I dont follow the recipe exactly...mine have more choc/pb yumminess) Sure! Puppy chow is one of my guilty pleasures, I make a batch every Yule. (However it can be tricky to source vegan choc. chips and powdered sugar, and I don't know the status of name-brand chex.. sorry if I'm high maintenance ) How would you feel about receiving a Groupon deal for something in your local area? If there is anything you WOULDN'T like, mention that also. I didn't know what Groupon was so I googled it and I'm pretty sure no thanks. Are you more prone to order out or cook at home? Would you be interested in cookbooks, kitchen utensils, and the like? If so, anything specific? Cook at home! Cookbooks, kitchen utensils, and the like would all be appreciated! I think these sorts of things can be found in my amazon wishlist. How do you feel about maple syrup? LOVE the real stuff. How do people feel about little pocket shrines, maybe something inspirational/motivational to keep in their purses/backpacks/whatever?(Like these: http://www.art-shrin...cketshrines.htm) I think they'd take too much space in my already-crowded purse. What about team Sugar Skull????? Meaning do you like real sugar skulls? Things with sugar skull designs? Sure!.. But I'm afraid they might not be vegan? I do like sugar skull designs, though. I have a few things that I do every Switch Witch round, would you find that boring and unoriginal? Nope! That's cool! Do you like Star Wars? Original Trilogy? Prequels? Spin-offs? Favorite characters? There were years when I loved the original Star Wars trilogy. Not so much anymore, though. Do you like beef jerkey, I know some may be vegatarian, but where I live beef is a staple and beef jerkey abounds. If so do you it really thin, hard and crunchy or thicker and softer. No, thanks. Also do you like or racier ecards from time to time and do you need to be warned if something may be not safe to open at work. I don't check personal emails at work, so no need for a warning... But I'm a bit leery of racy ecards? Doctor Who? Yay or nay? (please don't make me cry by saying nay) I like Doctor Who, but I haven't kept up with the most recent seasons... (sorry!) I have a question. I have a couple spare Doctor Who stickers. If my witchee is a fan, would they like a couple Doctor Who stickers in their package? Hm, they should probably go to somebody else who will really cherish them, so no thanks! anyone love Buffy/Angel? I went through a HUGE phase.. but now I just like, not love. Witchee: How would you feel about gummies? Like, gummy bears? Gummy werewolves? Gummy vampires? I LOVE gummies, especially sour ones, and have missed them since going vegan. If my witch could track down vegan versions of any variety of candies, that would be awesome. Witchee: How would you feel about a totally original Gela-skin for your laptop/iPod/phone? Stickers? Decals? I use protective covering on my laptop that would prevent me from using it, so no thanks. Since this is a Halloween round, what's your Creepy threshold? Are you a cartoon bats and smily pumpkins person or a skulls-and-bones the-dead-are-rising kind of person? Are your fairytales dark or Disney? Creepy but not gorey, the original dark and weird Grimm fairytales for me. Are your ears pierced, Witchee? Do you have any other piercings? Would you like to receive any items of jewelry for these piercings? My ears are pierced, but now that I think of it, I don't really enjoy wearing earrings. They feel weird. So I don't think so. How do you all feel about Whoopie Pies? I'd love a vegan version. Who here likes to receive cosmetic, skin care, perfume samples (of the sephora sort-not just BPAL), makeup brushes etc etc. I'm not big on cosmetic samples, other than BPAL. Unless it's from a select few brands (without SLS, parabens, etc.), and it's ok for sensitive skin, I probably wouldn't use it from fear of a bad skin reaction. Are you looking for a certain kind of DVDs to spruce up your collection right now? No, thank you. Does anyone like postcards? Is anyone willing to be a Nacho witch for postcards? I'm "meh" about receiving postcards. I'd be willing to nacho witch some postcards, though I'm not going anywhere flashy. Team Tofu? Yes AND Team Tempeh. Anyone going to see any good concerts this fall? Not that I know of. Do you like Star Trek? Original TV series, films, spinoff series, etc? Favorite characters? I like it ok but not a big fan. Witchee, would you like a framed photograph and of what? I can't think of anything. I like photography in theory (and dabble in it some), but in practice it's not really my decorating style. Unless it's old-timey photos in a multimedia piece or something, that could work. *thinking outloud* Dear Witchees, are you interested in sample boxes such as The Little Black Box or Sweet Diva boxes? Sample boxes just seem a little gimmicky for me. But if you can find something that you think I'll like based on my q's, then go for it. Do you wear t-shirts? Are there particular things you like on them? Would you like one designed by your Witch? And, if you don't mind saying, what size t-shirt do you wear? I wear t-shirts around the house and to bed and to exercise in. I prefer tissue tees and the like, with scoop, wide, or v-necks, in 100% cotton. I could think of any number of designs... Symbols or iconic deity stuff, something ancient Egyptian would be really cool. I prefer not to wear slogans or words. I wear a size S typically, although it really depends on the maker and style (American Apparel and Alternative Apparel I go for M instead). How do you feel about pumpkin scented things? Not perfume related, but soap, candles, etc.... As long as it's not too artificial, I love pumpkin scented stuff. Has anyone else heard of or does anyone else love Glamourkin? I don't like to wear words, so they're not really my style. If you had an international witch, is there anything you would like from the UK? (Or Australia, Belgium, France any other country we have witches from. Nothing I can think of in particular... Something folksy, indigenous, or otherwise historical/local would be cool. if you answered 'Mac' to the Mac/PC question previously issued by another participant, please tell me what kind of computer you have, what peripherals you own (like the wireless trackpad, wireless vs/wired keyboard and mouse), and whether you're interested in Apple-related items (stickers, keychains, other things with the logo, etc). I have a macbook pro 15" and also a mac mini hooked up to the tv with wireless keyboard and mouse... but I'm not really interested in apple-related paraphernalia, I don't think. I'm pretty minimalist in my tech deco desires, I try to let the electronics disappear into the background so I can pretend they don't exist.. ALSO- who here is on TEAM SOCKS?? SOCK PREFERENCES? Sure! Especially now that the weather's cooling down, I'm getting in the mood for socks... warm woolen ones, good for wearing in boots or just around the house are always nice. I've always failed at handknitting myself socks (my tension always changes from the first to the second, and I'm intimidated by 2-at-a-time socks), so that would be awesome if my witch is into that. Would you like/wear a pair of these? http://www.ravelry.c...rary/yoga-socks If so, what color? Sure! I haven't tried them before, for my practice I might want a narrower under-foot area, for more foot-to-mat contact. Or just legwarmers might be an interesting choice, for my witch's information I have longish rather skinny calves. Is there anyone here who likes toe socks? You know, those socks with a place for each toe? Sure! what strange misc. items would you love to receive that you just haven't gotten for yourself? Gee, um... I can't think of anything. How do you feel about franken polish? Are you okay with all chemicals, or would you prefer 3 free? Would you want glitter or holographic glitter? What colors would interest you? Sure! I'd prefer 3 free. For wearing on fingernails my preferences are pretty boring (see above q), but for toes I could go for all kinds of glittery fun, I suppose... Dear witchee, how do you feel about lip balm? Favorite style (twist up tube, pot, tube with wand, etc.)? Favorite flavors? Flavors to avoid? Favorite brand? Do you need more right now or are you set? Are you one of those people who could never have enough lip balm even though you have a bowl on your dresser overflowing with them and 10 in your purse and an order for more on the way? I love lip balm and can always use more. I go for the natural stuff. Would you be interested in getting fountain pen inks or art supplies via JetPens and or DickBlick? No, thanks. I have all the art supplies I need. For those interested in watercolors, how would you feel about getting a palette filled with paint from my watercolor tubes but not getting the paint itself? No, thanks. How do you feel about getting art supplies in general? (copic markers, watercolor, brushes, paint, sketchbooks etc.) No, thanks. How do you feel about Threadless tshirts? Not big on them.. Again, I'm super picky about wearing words. If you were turned loose in a basic drug store (CVS, Walgreens - a pharmacy with attached mini-mart, basically!) with a $20 bill, what would you pick up? Something boring and practical that I was out of... mouthwash, maybe, at the moment. Darling Witchee, would you enjoy farmer's market pickled veggies (green beans, garlic, asparagus, etc) or fresh canned peaches or something of that nature? Sure! As I've said elsewhere, if it's vegan, I'll probably like love it. Do you prefer color or white photographs? Nature or abstract? Any and all could work, depending on the style. But as I said above, my decorating style lends itself more to surreal or multimedia-ized photographs than to realism... maybe sepia? oh WITCHEE (not that i have you yet) would you be interested in something like this? https://lostcrates.com/how-it-works It looks cute, but I don't need any more pencils/notebooks/etc. I may be going to the Chiles & Frijoles Festival this weekend. I'm not really sure what all I'll find (doesn't that sound promising ), but I'm guessing lots of chiles and pinto beans and related things. Interested? YES PLZ to chiles and pinto beans and any & all related things. Ok, super cute or what? http://myfurrybones....34&cat=1&page=3 I honestly can't decide. Amigurumi, yes or no? Quirky amigurumi works for me... What are some of your favorite paintings? (famous or undiscovered?) Feel free to link to examples! At the moment I'm a little obsessed with Odilon Redon, e.g. "Saint John," the painting in my avatar. If you could have an image painted for you - sky is the limit - what would it be? Either something kind of psychoanalysis/archetypey/surreal or something completely abstract, I think. It would depend on the style of the painter. 1. Name your 3 favorite types/flavors of tea - Earl Gray, Chai, Jasmine Green Tea (runner up, peppermint tisane) 2. Name your 3 favorite scents for candles - I don't really have 3 favorites. At the moment I'm craving something decadently foody... Or something fall-inspired. Would you like any ecotools makeup brushes? Sure, I could go for that. Do you like Legos? Espe

The first thing that came to my mind was Nosferatu (desiccated herbs and gritty earth brought to life with a swell of robust and sanguineous red wines). I don't know if it's supposed to smell like blood, or if my experience is common, but to me Nosferatu smells nauseatingly bloody, like iron-rich blood, but with a definite fermented (or rotting) sweetness to it. The scent actually reminds me of Something about the combination of the mineral-rich dirt note plus the color cue of the red wines, maybe? Obviously, your mileage may vary.

In the imp: Sweet, spicy, resiny darkness. It’s hard to describe. It smells like oozing resins in a dark seaside cave. On skin: The seaweed gets saltier for a moment, and it reminds me of men’s shower soap, but the tobacco and clove come out too, and then the peppers, which counter the aquatic-leaning seaweed. The more it dries, the more assertive the myrrh and opoponax become, and the more the seaweed mellows. Dry: Predominantly tobacco, and peppery clove with sweet resins. Some darkness comes from the peppers, but it also has a sticky sweetness from the opoponax and tobacco that dominates the bitter elements. There’s some note at work that I don’t care for, and I’m guessing it’s the seaweed (or possibly mandrake), that makes it smell just a little wrong, kind of herbal or salty or chemically. The word narrow comes to mind, a narrow scent, but I realize that’s not very helpful at all. Verdict: I thought I would really like Ekhidna, but in the end I think it’s just okay. I’ll keep my imp for a while and give it a few more tests, but right now it’s not for me.

A mournful, poignant scent, thick with foreboding. Soft golden amber darkened with a touch of murky black musk. In the imp: Lemony ambery, with the slightly effervescent scent of black musk. I love golden amber, and black musk often works for me, and I hope to love this blend. But BTBT went horribly powdery on my skin, so if, as they say, this is the same black musk note, then I’m in trouble here. On skin: It’s sharply resiny, I agree with the reviewer above who said lemon pledge. The effervescent quality of black musk has died a bit, but I think it may be going to powder.. yes, especially in the throw, I’m starting to get that harsh, empty, flat, nihilistic powder note. Dry: Lemon pledge baby powder, and now I understand what it means for a scent to smell like a diaper. Not a dirty diaper, but a fresh, chemically, plasticky powdery diaper. Brings me back to the babysitting days of my youth. Yuck-o. Verdict: A skin chemistry fail from a blend I really liked the sound of. Ah well, there are other BPAL fish in the sea (er, the G-sea ). I think I’ve done my due diligence and it's time to go shower. (eta scent description)

In the imp: Weirdly effervescent (lime?) piney vanilla with dark stuff lurking. It smells kind of like 7-up spilled on a forest floor of pine needles. On skin: The vanilla is immediately more prominent and smooths out some of the effervescent quality, but there’s still a strong pine component. Earthy notes emerge more, and I smell almond, but it’s basically merged with the vanilla and pine and adding to a cookie-smell. It’s like an almond cookie smashed into the (now dried up and sticky) 7-up-soaked pine needles. Weird, some combination of notes here is giving my nose a sassafras accord.. or that might just be the vanilla note going a bit plasticky and reminding me of Tombstone. Dry: Almond/vanilla with a hint of clove and pine (reminds me of Pickled Imp), and hardly any influence left from the patchouli/vetiver that could have saved this from being too cookie! for me. And plasticky. It turns my stomach a bit. Verdict: I’ll keep the imp on hand in case it improves with age, but for now I don’t like it. Sad, because all of these notes (except vetiver) are theoretical winners and I had high hopes for the blend.

In the bottle: Cocoa and strong, harsh wood with a hint of bitter mandarin and galangal, and I detect the salty masculinity of sage. Straight away this reminds me of Atlas, and also Wulric, both of which were ruined for me by an implacable vetiver. I have high hopes that this will work much better. On skin: On skin this is immediately gentler than in the bottle. I get softer woods with dry cocoa, faint tonka, and a mysterious matcha note. With a deepening, folding-inward influence from sage and galangal. It is already an interesting and well-blended whole, and everything just converges to become smoother and softer as it dries. Dry: Softly, gently harsh woods, smooth bitter warm galangal/mandarin, a hint of salt-watery sage, and a dry sweetness from cocoa/tonka/matcha. Complex and blended so that each time your nose recognizes one note, it’s carried along smoothly to another counter-note, and this happens again and again, so that you want to keep inhaling the scent because it’s almost like your nose is being led along by a melody. The components here are diverse, and most aren’t what I’d call pretty. But the whole here is greater than the sum, and the way the notes play off of each other in their differences is… apt. When I think of the inspiration for the blend, and that it is for RAINN, it makes sense. Out of bitter and dry parts, to grow something that is full of life and beautiful. Verdict: Holy moly, this is a crazy success. I love it. How does Beth do this? Tree of Life is amazing, heart-breaking lovely. I think it goes on my short list of ‘anytime’ scents, elegant and mysterious but also powerful & comforting.

Oh how I've grown to love my bottle of Half Elf v5. At first sniff, it's sweet honey with a hint of something I hesitate to identify as creamy floral because I don't find it unpleasant at all. Very quickly the scent settles to become sweet, fresh honey, maybe with some tonka or vanilla?, and what I'm almost certain is oud. The scent of the oud is faintly woody but also slightly musky, creamy, even a little musty. It adds a chewy depth that I can't get enough of, in fact I think I am obsessed with that oud note. Or whatever it is in reality. So, an interesting, subtle, natural-foresty-loamy honey blend that I think would be perfect for, say, a half-elf maiden with a creamy moon-shaped face, hair all tangly from being wild in the woods or some such. It's on the light side, so I find myself slathering whenever I wear it, which gives it plenty of strength and throw. I haven't tested the released version, but I kind of wish that this wasn't just a prototype.

ooh fun. Ned Stark: Highwayman Catelyn: Whoso List to Hunt Jon Snow: The Black Rider Arya: Anne Bonny Sansa: The Lady of Shalott Joffrey: Whitechapel Cersei: Hunger Jaime: The Bow & Crown of Conquest Tyrion: Perversion or Wilde Littlefinger: Envy The Spider: Viola Drogo: Wild Men of Jezirat al Tennyn Danaerys: Dragon's Milk Viserys: Wrath, or The Sea Foams Blood Now all I want to do is curl up and read...

The first time I tested Eat Me was from a lab-fresh imp. It started off buttery, then turned to delicious currant & cake, and then turned to powdery powdered sugar. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't very interesting. So I said meh and forgot about it. A couple weeks later, I read some suggestions that there was red musk in Eat Me. And red musk, which , always does better on me with (at least) a couple weeks of age. So I thought hm, and tested Eat Me again. With much better and more delicious results. On skin: It still starts off extremely buttery cake, and while wet it remains rather buttery, more like scones than cake, with a schmear of red currant jam. Dry: As it dries, the buttery note burns away to naught, leaving vanilla cake with a hint of red currant combined with the addictive sweetness of a tiny bit of red musk. Not many fruit notes work for my skin/nose, so I cherish them when they do, and the currant here definitely works for me, not cloyingly fruity just red faintly tart-sweet. The overall scent still has a barely powdery texture, but it doesn't overwhelm the cake. So, vanilla cake with a hint of red currant & musk. While it is a delicious blend, I would not ultimately call it foody, especially the scent that throws. The red musk holds it back from foody. It still says "eat me," but more in a figurative sense, you know, like "eat me." Verdict: Yes. Bottle ordered.

In the vial: This smells like cologney peanut butter. Weird! On skin: A little less peanut butter and more cologne. I *think* the peanut butter is coming from vetiver, strangely enough. And what I’m calling “cologne” might be a combination of olibanum and ashes? I dunno. As it dries down, the black mosses become more and more prominent. (Peanut butter completely disappears!) The whole scent really mellows. Dry: Dry black moss on scorched ashes with an underlying earthy sweetness. I can detect the vetiver, especially in the earlier stages Elli’s Song has a small amount of the deep black green sickly sweetness that I get in other vetiver blends, but here it’s massively dried out and held under control by the ashes & moss. The overall scent is dessicated and empty in a gentle and resigned sort of way. Like the smell of the fireplace the morning after you’ve had a fire, with moss. Or a bonfire in the woods the misty morning after. I find it oddly comforting, earthy and damp, and there's a nihilistic, organic purity here. It does an amazing job with the concept. It has excellent (& not too heavy) throw. Verdict: Beautiful in its own way and irresistibly haunting. I'm shocked at how I love Elli's Song, considering I was about to write off vetiver as a note of doom. The scent has gotten even better with repetition and as I've adjust my expectations to what it offers. (I love it when I feel like a BPAL blend is educating me, and this is one of those times.) Over a couple weeks of testing, it's gone from an intrigued “maybe” to a definite bottle purchase with my next order.

Hmm. I ordered my black moons on 6/30, and it took them a while, and at some point I emailed customer service and they said there was a backorder on Luna Negra, and that was causing the delay. So I know at least at one point they were having delay issues with it. But then I got my CnS last Monday (the 25th), and it arrived on Wednesday. So I think you're right to email the lab and make sure.

A tester from Mellifluous. In the vial: Like a white musk cologne. Some kind of wood (oak or teak? or maybe dried leaves), and a chemically note, like white musk or white metal and leather (reminds me a little of Palladin, actually). On skin: Cologney wood and leather, but again with a light aura of chemically white musk. As it dries more of a sweet vanilla/tonka comes out, and the hint of leather stays. The wood mellows or even disappears as this dries, or blends with the leather. After some time the leather mellows significantly too, and blends in with the light musk, which is still chemically and astringent. Dry: I get notes of tonka and maybe tobacco or a hint of sarsparilla (something brownly herbal and softly creamy, and something that makes it chewy, like almond milk?), and then either dried leaves or teak, a small amount of leather, I think there's oakmoss, and white musk. I read it as a masculine white musk blend (with a tonka/oakmoss fougere but no lavender). The longer it’s dry, the more the harsher notes (dried leaves/teak, leather, white musk) mellow down and the sweet brown creamy chewyness of the tonka becomes dominant. Verdict: I haven't tested ASL, Celeste, or Elf v4, so I can't speak to those comparisons. At first I was going to say that Phyllocrania Paradoxa v1 is like a chewy brown Paladin, but as it dries It becomes more like The Organ Grinder with tonka and white musk. So, like a cross between Palladin and The Organ Grinder. It’s nice in the late dry stage. I wouldn’t seek it out, because I find the white musk (esp. when combined with the hypothetical dried leaves or leather note) to cause a chemically irritation in the back of my throat (I have a similar problem with both Palladin and 51). I was glad to have a chance to try it though.

In the imp: An interesting mossy and warm rose, you can tell there’s more than just rose going on here, like the musk and amber are ready to burst out and take control. On skin: Rose with a sweet but organic brown woody resiny musky atmosphere around it. In this context, the amber and musk combination reads almost as caramel or treacle, but definitely as furry and warm. Dry: Fresh, subdued rose juxtaposed with a cloud of brown foresty furry warmth. Not overly woody, but wood softly adds to the warm brown notes cushioning and contrasting with rose. It’s on the sweet side of floral/resin but not in an especially heady or headache-inducing way. I still get an odd almost treacle-like sweetness, which is probably coming from the somewhat unusual warm/cool combination of amber and rose. The brown musk does a good job of evoking the wild body-feel of the hind (I don’t detect a leather/suede note). When I sniff close to my wrist it smells ever so slightly musty, but further away the overall scent is much nicer. Verdict: I usually dislike wearing rose, so I wasn't expecting to love Whoso List to Hunt. I don't love it, and I won't be getting a bottle. Still, this is probably the most pleasant rose and the most successful rose/resin blend that I’ve yet come across. It strikes me as a good rose scent for those who don’t often like rose.

Hm.. It's hard to argue with No. 93 Engine, but I like the idea of Philologus for Dumbledore too. It suits his warmer, more serious moments, I think. eta: Plus, on a man? I can report that Philologus is very nice.

In the bottle: Frankincense, palm fronds, and river reeds. On skin: I’m getting similar notes as from the bottle. Frankincense, olibanum, river reeds, and palm frond. Shortly the orris appears, adding a violet-like slither---that has the potential to ruin Meskhenet for me if it takes over. Dry: When sniffing close to my wrist I get frankincense/olibanum (can’t really distinguish the two), palm frond, river reeds, and orris, in that order. But the throw loses some of the frankincense and is therefore surprisingly light and mild, consisting mostly of palm frond and river reeds (it actually reminds me of how hearts of palm taste, almost salty in an odd but good way). Thankfully the orris is tame, and I never detect any real floral, so no hibiscus or hyssop (unless hyssop is an herbal blending with the other plant notes). While not aquatic, this is an organic take on "clean". It’s mild, ever so faintly milk-soapy, refreshing, but also vital and calming (not energizing), with a lingering date-like sweetness (this is how frankincense usually develops on my skin, and I find it wrist-huffingly pleasant). The blend smells vegetal but also arid, the interior milky sap of a desert plant accompanied by sweet frankincense. Verdict: Organic and pure. Meskhenet is nothing like what I expected, but I’m glad I got a bottle before the CD went dark because I really enjoy it. Especially nice to wear after a shower or bath and definitely work-friendly.

In the vial: A somewhat darker, woodsier Snake Oil, including a stronger (black) musk and a bit of cocoa. On skin: Cocoa Snake Oil with hints of the woods, I’m also getting juniper berry I think that makes it slightly medicinal and sharp to my nose. This is an incredibly complex blend. Dry: I get red musk slightly more than black musk, but black musk is there being heady and dark. Black musk is sometimes more than my headache-prone self can handle, but here it’s okay. Also chocolate (with an extreeeemely faint breath of peppermint), and a bit of vanilla, but their sweetness is being pulled aggressively back down into the murky musky furry depths by the complex darkness of all these middle notes. Sandalwood is the most recognizable for me, but something also smells like tar or pitch, which I think must be juniperberry or ferntop ash resin or a combination of the two. And patchouli is roiling down in there too, adding an earthy warmth to the deep wood/tar. The flowers are way under control or maybe overpowered by these other darker notes. WILF to me smells like an extremely moody SO. I find WILF more pleasing and wearable than Wulric, as it doesn’t have the death-note of vetiver, but in a similar dark furry vein. All in all it’s a powerful, moody, animalistic blend. Verdict: I like WILF. The one problem I have with it is that it is a lot of work for my nose… which has been lazy, of late, and often it doesn’t want to deal with this kind of olfactory complexity, and it would rather wear something simple and reliably pleasurable like Snake Oil. So even though I was excited to try it, I kind of doubt I'll be springing for a bottle. ETA: Nope, nevermind! I love it and a bottle it is!

In the vial: Rancid fizzy white chocolate. This is really unpleasant so far. *ahem* I get what Midnight Aeval means. On skin: Same as in the vial. It seems like it’s trying to be gin and white chocolate, but it smells like rotten fakey chemically white chocolate to me. Dry: Okay, this is much better dry than it was wet. But I still don’t like it. It’s like white chocolate with a side of herbal mouthwash. Or juniper, I guess. It’s very sweet and white-chocolatey in its throw, but also kind of curdled and weird. It smells like a white chocolate Easter bunny with a hangover. My nose alternates between thinking “mm, creamy!” and feeling queasy. Admittedly, it does soften significantly over the next hour. Verdict: Easter bunny analogy aside, I believe this faithfully replicates the smell of a white chocolate martini. I guess I just don’t want to smell like a white chocolate martini. D’oh.

This is the 2010 version with no apple. In the Bottle: Musk and cognac, so potent and heady that it's difficult to distinguish notes, sweetened slightly with vanilla. At first I worry that it’ll give me a headache, but it doesn't. On skin: I get a cream cotton note--the cotton is more of a texture for me, not a "clean linen" note--with darker incensey/musky/tobacco swirling around behind it… and a boozy, brain-tickling cognac. It’s still very “bam,” heady and woozy in this stage. Dry: Prominent notes of tobbaco and boozy cognac, with sweet cottony vanilla and an unobtrusive but haunting musk. The headyness has really calmed at this point. For a while I thought it had faded down to a relatively light scent because it didn't seem intense when I put my nose close to my wrist. But then I realized that my skin was giving off huge wafts of dramatic but at the same time delicate throw. The cream cotton has a definite feminine and almost velvety texture. I agree that this scent is more aloof than Red Lace, Black Lace is elegant and buttoned-up, high-waisted or corseted sensuality. Victorian gothic in style, a scent that makes me feel underdressed and in the wrong context, like instead of sitting at home I should be at a dimly-lit salon where somebody is solving a murder mystery. Verdict: I don’t know how often I’ll wear this, as it’s got a more formal vibe than I normally go for. But I think it's lovely and I’ll be glad to have my bottle for special occasions.

Banshee Beat is so amazing, simple, and basic, that I've put off writing a review because I have no idea where to start. In the bottle, freshly applied, and dry: It is a straightforward blend, it does not morph. It smells like patchouli, black vanilla, and hemp. It's one of those blends where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The fibrous quality of the hemp in combination with the deep and complex patchouli makes the overall scent like sticking your nose into a freshly-split, moist, sticky, and earthy vanilla bean. It's amazing, beautiful, sweet and black and earthy and sexy and prescription-strength comfortable. Verdict: I die for Banshee Beat every single time I put it on. It is without a doubt the single most nose-pleasureful blend I've yet tried. I stashed over ten bottles, thinking that would give me a few extra to swap or whatever. But in all seriousness, I don't know if I'll ever be able to part with any of them. I want Banshee Beat forever, and I'd like whatever I don't use please to be entombed with my dead body for use in the afterlife. And just to imagine how good it will be when it ages!!!

In the bottle: Minty, with a hint of bergamot and tea. On skin: The vanilla of the snake oil is immediately evident, and it goes really well with the bitter orangey bergamot. There’s still a fairly minty green tea present, as well. Oh my, I love this. It’s fresh, cool, and deep, and a great blend for warm weather. Dry: The mint is still there, with hints of bergamot and a leafy, matcha-like green tea note, so that the whole top of this blend is cool, green, and refreshing. The SO, as the blend’s base, contrasts so effectively with the cool top notes, that this scent almost defies logic. It is green and cool, and simultaneously deep and vanillic. I find it to be the BPAL equivalent of green tea ice cream, but with a hint of SO spice. Verdict: Another variation on SO that, while substantially different from the original, works extremely well. Green tea vanilla coolness. Green Tree Viper is amazing and I love it.