zeldaZ4

I, too, have been using this as an after-shower moisturizer. While most would describe it as sexy, I can't because it reminds me of the expensive bottle of bath oil in my Grandmother's guest bathroom when I was a little girl. All gilt fixtures and fancy wallpaper, that bathroom was elegance personified. The bath oil bottle was cut crystal, the liquid in it a dark rich brown. And the aroma just as dark and rich as the color. It smelled glamorous and expensive and oh how I wanted to use it! If only my mother had let me... It has been years since I've smelled that fragrance. Too many years. But Eldritch Dark is it. And it is glorious! Perhaps there was a little more to my Grandmother than I ever realized.

I do the wand thing, on the strands closest to my ears. My hair is long, so when it swings around I can smell it. Yum, yum. If applying straight from an imp to my wrist, I will often touch my fingers to the imp and run those through my hair. I don't think the essential oils can be damaging to my hair, but I am afraid some might be to my scalp. So I keep the oils away from there. I don't use styling products, and I only do it with oils I plan to keep, so I don't worry too much about contamination. The scent in the hair is very long-lasting! Mmmm mmmmm!

Awwwwww I know how that feels! It's not necessarily the cold that brings me down, but the gray skies. Hugs! I think you are on the right track combating SAD with aromatherapy. I will suggest a few that work for me. They aren't necessarily SUNNY, but they remind me of summer. Titania - this one reminded me of a mid-morning picnic with fruits and tea on a table bathed in watery sunlight. Hell's Bell - the South in Deep Summer. Alcie - a Georgia fruit stand by the side of the road in the blazing sun. This one is one of the "happiest" I own. Pandy - from the same Pandora collection. Another fruity, bright scent. This one has more honey, whereas Alcie is greener on me. Kumiho - reminds me of White Tea and Ginger from Bath & Body Works. Always a mood-lifter for me because it reminds me of a cold glass of my mother's sweet, lemony iced tea. And oddly enough - the new Blue Snowballs is saying "summer" to me! It must be the blueberries. I am sure you will get lots of "sun" suggestions. So many it will make you do this:

Gorobble! The Death of Autumn is my scent, and my mood, today. Growing up in Georgia, Thanksgiving was about when the leaves turned. But I am in Ohio now, where most of the leaves are already on the ground.

Fruity bubblegum! Raspberry? Grape? That's what I smelled when I first dabbed this on my wrist. About an hour later, the fruity sweetness is still there, but it now has a lovely layer of soft florals and cream over it. I don't see a cream note listed - could this be the yeast from the wine? Delicate, wispy and ethereal. LOVE!!!

Just got this one today, along with a bottle of Autumn Lace. I am getting mostly clove, softly wrapped in sweet vanilla. Clove is one of my favorite flavors, and this is just lovely. I never thought of it as a mournful scent, but the color I get is dark purple, so yeah, it IS evocative of sadness and melancholy.

What a great chart! I don't know if it is redundant or not, being pretty new myself. But the formatting on this make it so easy to use.

Got my Frimp fresh from the Lab, so this one doesn't have much age on it yet. It started out as a blast of amber, which quieted down as the old-fashioned florals emerged. I got the overwhelming impression of my Grandmother's dark brown bottle of Youth Dew. Which I actually loved on her, because it smelled elegant and expensive. Hours later, it had faded to the soft creaminess of Bastet. Since Bastet is so much better from the start, and I already have a bottle, I don't need this. But I will put the imp aside to age. We'll see what happens!

Got this as a frimp from the Lab with my Weenie order. Super excited to try it, because it was one I've often heard praised. So BIG THANKS Lab! My first wet whiff reminded me of cinnamon. So then I read the notes. Ah, carnation, that makes sense. On my skin, it all blends together nicely, the carnation, a slight touch of vanilla, and the lovely cedar (one of my favorite notes.) I don't really detect leather, but I am catching a masculine, herbal vibe. Must be the sage and lavender. They aren't strong, just enough to give the blend a touch of spice. So as the minutes wear on, the scent starts to smell familiar. I'm getting a sense of melancholy, then suddenly it hits me - the Avon cologne my father wore in the early 70's. I can't remember the name... was it Deep Woods? My parents were divorced when I was twelve, he died nine years later so it's been a very long time since I've smelled this. I like a lot of the masculine scents. Most of them end up being more unisex on my skin. But this one definitely says "man." And more specifically, "Daddy." I'll keep the imp around for the nostalgia factor.

For a GC woodsmoke scent, try an imp of Smokestack. Cathedral is also lovely for incense and cedar, and also GC. I like to wear them both together. The combination reminds me of my old fave for Autumn/Winter, Donna Karan's Black Cashmere. All warm and snuggly smoke, incense, and dry wood.

The most gorgeous colored oil. I considered buying a bottle for that beautiful fuschia alone. It was a lovely citrusy floral on my wrist when wet, but it never went anywhere. Dry, it reminded me of one of those Avon little-girl colognes from my childhood. Nondescript floral that never offends then fades to nothing. Perhaps this oil will benefit from a tad bit of aging in the imp. Like a new Vampire Bride, she hasn't been undead long enough to develop much character.

My fave of the 2012 Weenies so far! At first it was overwhelming burnt wood on my wrist, like the blast that slaps you in the face when the wind suddenly changes course at a bonfire. Very evocative and wonderful scent, but not something I dream of adorning myself with. But then... A smooth dark sweetness emerged, like a bottle of rich brown ale poured over the charred embers. Reminds me of a bottle of pure vetiver oil I once had. This one requires further evaluation! TEN DAYS LATER: We have a Weenie Winner! LOL! I ordered a bottle. This oil has been my scent obsession for the last week. I've nearly used up the imp, carrying it around and slathering it on. This is the perfect story of an Autumn Bonfire. Charred wood and flames fanned by the wind. It's an intense and evocative scent that fades into the sweet warmth of someone's shoulder as you cuddle closer while the leaves swirl and dance. Maybe I should have ordered two...

Didn't really smell much in the imp. Vaguely sweet and lemony, but not what I expected. When I put it on WOWZA! Reallllllllly tart lemon candy! Mouth-puckeringly tart. That lemony candy smell lasted about an hour, then the whole thing turned to maple syrup. Bleccch! LOVE maple syrup, but I don't want to smell like I dragged my sleeve through a plate of pancakes. I guess that's the burnt sugar note that everyone's getting, but I just got pancakes. Kinda Misk-U pancakes. And those pancakes lasted all day. Great if this scent works for you, but not so great for me, ha ha! I'm 0 for 2 on my 2012 Weenies, ha ha! On to imp number three!

In the imp, the most luscious, rich, buttery scent ever. I nearly swooned, then slathered away. This is gonna be sooo good, right??? Hmmmmm.... still smells foody, but more like a Duncan Hines Lemon Cake Mix. Straight from the box, the powdery mix itself, before anything else is added. I happen to like that scent, and have been known to eat the powder (!!!), so yeah, this will work. Hey? What happened? Why did my Lemon Cake Mix turn into baby powder? I guess it's the "cotton" scent. My skin apparently amps it, big time. It got stronger as the night wore on. Less baby powder, more Bath and Body Works Clean Cotton on steroids. Since I don't particulary care to smell like laundry, I will pass on a bottle. Too bad it didn't stay true to the imp. I would have bought it by the gallon!

Got this in a freebie with my Lab etsy order. Love! To me it's the smell of dank decay. I am transported to a cloudy afternoon deep in the woods while the smell of mossy earth and damp oak leaves wraps around me. I smell vetiver I think, like someone has placed his cologne soaked jacket around my shoulders to ward off the chill. Really nice and autumnal.

Ooooh forgot about Titania! LOVE it! Very girlie and pretty.

Pandy says the note is apricot, but on me it comes off more peach.

Sphaeromachia Gaumeri from the Metamorphosis collection this past August. HIghly recommend! It's bright and sweet, but on me it's grounded with a lovely warmth. I've also heard praise for Lemon-Scented Sticky Bat from the Neil Gaimans, but have never tried it. Sphaeromachia Notes: Iris, iced lemon peel, anise seed, red current, coriander, cilantro, and white musk. ETA, I should also mention Pandy from the new Pandora collection. Not lemon, but very fruity and floral. Also grounded with a lovely warmth. On drydown, it reminds me a little of Lancome's Tresor, if you are familiar with that one. I have an imp but definitely want a bottle. The notes are: Fresh white musk, honeycomb, sweet apricot, elemi, orange blossom, and mischievous pink pepper

Updated Saturday, 6 October 2012 Do you like s'mores and s'mores-flavored things? Adore them! Things that smell like them, things that taste like them, things that look like them! Takes me right back to Girl Scouts. Campfires and burnt marshmallows! Heaven! What's the neatest freebie you've gotten? It can be cool or thoughtful or just totally unexpected, and not limited to BPALdom. Well, it goes without saying that BPAL forumites are the most generous folks on the planet! I was blown away truly, and can only hope to return all the kindnesses. On a nonBPAL front, a silver artist from etsy once sent me sterling silver dragonfly earrings out of the blue. A truly unexpected and touching gift, as we had been conversing on how dragonflies carry messages from beyond, and my grandmother had just died. Would you enjoy receiving cute but useful items like colorful kitchen utensils/gadgets, or bento supplies? (boxes, chopsticks, accessories, etc?) What about things like spice mixes (homemade, or Penzey's for example) Definitely love chopsticks! Both for eating, and for my hair! And I am laughing about this question, because I had already indicated my desire for new measuring spoons on my SW questionnaire. So yes! Lol! Also love spices and mixes of all kinds. Do you like cute, seasonal or fluffy PJ bottoms? Like they sell at Target, Old Navy (they have had cute Halloween ones!) If so, what size do you wear? I wear 16/18 bottoms, so I am not sure target pj bottoms would fit me. If they are stretchy, I would LOVE some. I spend four hours a month hooked up to an IV getting immunoglobulin, so I love comfy things to lounge in. What kind of chocolate do you like? Nuts, no nuts, white,dark, etc? I adore chocolate of all kinds, but in particular the dark stuff! Nuts, no nuts, fruit, coffee, and especially chili pepper are amazing in chocolate! I live near a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Penzeys! What does your little heart desire from any or all of these places? I am lucky to live about half a mile from Trader Joe's myself, but not the other two. I particularly love organic teas and chocolate. Are home made foods acceptable or does the idea of eating strange mailed food disturb you? The strangest mailed food I ever had was some kind of Easter bread with dyed Easter eggs embedded in it from my ex-husband's Greek father, so I say bring it on! Lol! I just gave you $20 and sent you into a "has everything" store ala Walmart and told you that you have to come out having spent it all, and none of it on anything you need. What would you buy? Be as specific as possible! An assortment of greeting cards, all holidays and occasions, because I never seem to have them when I need them. What kind of cuisines do you like? (I mentioned this in my ?aire but curious what my witch may like)And, what are your favorite restaurants? Italian is probably my ultimate fave(pasta!!!), but I am also a huge fan of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Mexican. Do you have an eReader and if so which one? Kindle Touch with lighted cover, and also an iPad. Am trying to restrain myself from buying the new Kindle Paperwhite. Do you like candles, or tart burners, or something? If so, what's your favorite scent to burn? Yes, yes, and yes. This time of year I am going for the more autumnal scents, but nothing that smells too much like real food because my roommate claims they make him hungry! Ha ha! . I'm from Canada - is there anything specifically a witchee might like that is only available here? Did someone mention Maple??? Mmmmmmmm. what are your "fandoms" and would you like a t-shirt from TeeFury if an appropriate one came up? Wonder Woman, Tarot Witch of the Black Rose, Cherri Creeper, Snow White, tees in XL Marzipan Yum, yum, yum! Marzipan = Magic! Would you be interested in washable/reusable muslin “paper” towels (basically muslin squares hemmed around the edge)? Maybe in some sort of box to put on your kitchen or bathroom counter? Yes! Sounds great. Some people think it’s gross, but I have recently switched to handkerchiefs from Kleenex. So much softer on the nose! I could bleach these along with those! Do you drink alcohol and if so, would you be OK with your witch sending you homemade infused vodka? Also, does your state allow alcohol to be shipped through the mail?. I don’t think Ohio allows it… If you get me (or a fellow Aussie, if there are any playing this round) as a witch or witch's minion, would you like to try some Australian specialties, such as TimTams (delicious chocolately cookies), Caramello Koalas (koala shaped chocolates filled with gloopy caramel), Australian native spices or anything like that? Never tried any of it, so yes! If your witch is a knitter, crocheter or sewer, is there a particular type of garment you would love to receive (hat, scarf, wrap, cowl, socks, fingerless gloves, arm warmers etc)? Fingerless gloves sound amazing!!! Is there anyone else in your house (kids, pets, partner) that would really appreciate a small gift being included for them in the switchwitchy haul so they don't feel left out? My two Pomeranians Lucy and Jessie love to chase tennis balls, and as we are always losing them, would love more (I swear all of the furniture in my house has at least ten tennis balls under it!) How would you feel about a taste of (insert witch location here) box? That would be lovely! Since it's been mentioned several times, and I've also offered to nacho witch some, would you you like to receive wild rice and or maple syrup? I promise to include recipe ideas with the wild rice. Oh yummy yes! I have 5 bushels of tomatoes sitting in the kitchen right now that are supposed to turn into red sauce tomorrow, so would anyone like a basic red sauce (spaghetti sauce) to make its way to them? I would swoon with happiness! Would you be interested in having a bat adopted in your name?A bat or any other animal! My mother adopted me a manatee! Some of your favorite artists? Classic and modern? Renoir, Cirro Marchetti If you could have an image or certain subject painted for you on any type of "canvas" (on a box, on paper, on a canvas, and so on) - could you point your witch to some of these images? Mermaids or Red-tailed hawk Is there a GC scent that's been on your list for ages but keeps falling off the bottom of your order because of the LEs? Ages for me is only a matter of months! Titania is the one I hope to get next! I've been getting into indie nail polish brands recently. What's your favorite indie brand of nail polish? Or what's your favorite mainstream brand of nail polish? Or are you not big on polish? It is my passion and obsession! Any and all! Would you be interested in beer, wine, or other specialty beverages from your Witch's area? Not sure it’s allowed in Ohio! Are there any crafts/skills you've wanted to learn but haven't gotten around to? And if so, would you be interested in supplies and tutorials? I full to the brim with things I never have time to make due to work driving me crazy! I am stocked up for retirement (if it ever comes!) Do you Ravelry? And if so, what's your handle over there? Would you be interested in gift patterns from your queue? Who likes Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? Those sound like a mouth orgasm! Yes please! What does your kitchen look like? Colors/style? A disorganized mess! Witchee, what are your favorite quotes? “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” Put your iPod/MP3 player/what-have-you on random and list the first 10 songs it plays! 1. Montego Bay-Bobby Bloom 2. The Hard Way-Mary Chapin Carpenter 3. Love in Action – Todd Rundgren 4. Echa Pa’Lante-Thalia 5. Sound of Freedom-Gary Pine and Dollarman 6. It Won’t Be the Same This Year – Vince Gill 7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Michael Bolton (two Xmas songs in a row? How does this happen?) 8. That Voice Again-Peter Gabriel 9. My Mistake-Marvin Gaye 10. I Want to Give it All – Air Supply What's one random thing you really like and one random thing you really dislike? Like: Dislike: Cheese! Especially cheddar and American. Go figure. I think I am the only person on the planet. Also celery. Which often comes with Cheese. Blecch. But I am guessing my witch is unlikely to send me celery. ☺ Are there any herbs that you haven't been able to lay hands on that I could send you? There's an herbal shop I really like here in NYC called Flower Power that has quite a wide selection. Any and all herbs! If there are no "witchy" shops near you, is there anything I can pick up for you from Enchantments? Thank the Goddess I have a lovely “witchy” shop nearby, but new stones are always welcome! Hey Witchee! I want to send you a delivery. It could be cupcakes from a local bakery, it could be a singing hugging bear-a-gram, it could be a bouquet of flowers. But it will be something that you need to be there to receive. a) Are you OK with "special deliveries"? I work 9-5 on a place that requires special access to get into ☹ Is the address in your questionnaire the best place to reach you for said deliveries? No, sorry c) If the delivery requires a phone number (as say, some florists do) would you be OK with that information being tracked down by your Witch or asked of you anonymously? I wish I could! Great idea, witch! What are some things you are OK with receiving gently used or homemade, and some things you absolutely do not want if they are gently used or homemade I am okay with any gifts anyone is kind enough to give! Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions? Sitting on the front porch, with all the neighbors on their front porches, handing out candy and talking to each other across the yards while the sun slowly sets Are you a gamer (of any sort - video, casual, tabletop) and are there any games you want? Nope! Do you like coffee? If so, what kinds? Flavored, fancy, basic? Beans or ground? Ground, any flavor, any kind! Would a Starbucks gift card make you happy or do you prefer your local place? I’d be berry happy! Would you be interested in BPTP CANDY? Yes, please! CUSTOM-Made Pottery?? yea or nay? coffee mugs, rustic or more elegant? a set of bowls? soap dish? bird feeder? something alltogether different? and lastly, good colors for glazes...? butter dish with a handle on the lid (requested by my roommate!) Burgundy/hunter green would be good. Songs that you keep meaning to buy but never get round to it? Buying all on iTunes these days! Latest Pink album! Movies that you love but forgot to put in your questionaire?I don’t remember what I put in my questionnaire! LOL! Roman Holiday, GWTW, Stage Door, The Sound of Music, Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Best in Show, Steel Magnolias, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Princess and the Frog, Avatar, Last of the Mohicans, Sabrina… is that enough??? I have LOTS of faves! Name one movie you keep meaning to buy, but just never get around to getting? Stage Door with Katherine Hepburn and many other wonderful actresses! Any favorite Bath & Body Works scents/products? Trying to get away from them! Haus of Gloi is offering custom perfumes - would you like one? What would your ideal blend be? Don’t know yet! BPAL is overwhelming enough! So far I am loving honey scents the most, but don’t know what an “ideal” blend would be Any Bath, Body or nutritional type items you would love to try from a Natural and Organic food store (similar to Whole Foods) that you don't buy because they are a bit too pricey? Would love more pink sea salt or organic coconut oil Tell me of your taste preferences. Dry/sweet? Red/white? Lager/ale/porter/stout? Fruit? Spice? Hops? Sour (brettanomyces, etc)? Sweet, fruity, no hops, no sour! are there any if MeiLin's books (e-book or print) you'd be interested in? ooooh sounds wonderful! Never read any. Thanks for turning me on to her! I'm about to be near a Lush store next week, is there anything you might like from there? Oooh, Honey I Shrunk the Kids soap!!! Witchee, will you be gone from your normal mailing address at any point during the round? Nope! I’ll be here! Are you a Disney fan or does even thinking about Disney make your head hurt? If you're into Disney, would you like something from the Happiest Place on Earth? Love ANYTHING related to a Disney Princess (Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White especially) dear witchee, would you, could you use an electric candle warmer? Yes!!! Do you lust after some new socks/tights? Sox are always appreciated! You are meeting up with someone on a casual lunch/early afternoon thing. This person is someone you want to impress/look good for (for whatever reason, not necessarily romantic, and not necessarily for business either). What would you look like, given the contents of your wardrobe/etc? Long flowy burgundy skirt, pumpkin colored v-neck sweater and suede boots. You are to be let loose in a clothing store of your choice, to pick a full outfit, down to the shoes, the accessories, etc. and things would be altered to fit you if needed. What store would that be, and what would you look like? I would look like Stevie Nicks in something from a vintage thrift store. All black and purple and turquoise lace with legwarmers and black granny boots. You open a box from the post office to reveal the 3 things you want most right now. What are they? (caveats: size doesn't matter, but they have to be tangible/buyable). New summer tires for my car, homemade shoes from Soft Star, new clogging shoes for my roommate/best friend who is competing for Miss Gay America next month! WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF!!! movies, comedians, black humor, your partner, a comic strip? what? Britcoms, especially Keeping Up Appearances and As Time Goes By. Also the movies Office Space and Monty Python’s Holy Grail Candy Corn? Yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!! I live in Japan. Anything you would be interested in from there? Anything that doesn’t cost too much for you to ship! Rice candy! If you have cats, do they like catnip toys? If you have doggies, would they like a super-reinforced canvas toy with a squeaker in it? Yes to both! If you have kids, what are they into? Just furbabies of the canine and feline kind. And they are into EVERYTHING ☺ How do you feel about wearable knitted lace? Shawls, wraps, and the like? OMG I would wear something like that everyday! Looking at the warehouse, I notice that our lovely Greenwoodtree is able to do chart readings and/or forecasts at a very reasonable rate. Is this something you would want? Would LOVE a reading of my Natal Chart. November 16, 1965, 8:07 PM in Melbourne, Florida Do you have a forum buddy? Someone who knows you and/or your tastes well enough to answer questions on your behalf? Too new! LOL! But I am not picky in the slightest! I like everything that doesn’t bite me first! And even THAT might be interesting… If you are on Livejournal, would you appreciate LJ stuff like paid time, custom userheads, stuff like that? If you are NOT on LJ but are on other sites that have similar paid-for services (Flickr, for example?) would you, and what are those sites/etc? Not on LJ or anything else. All my time is spent playing SW Ketchup! LOL! if you are into tarot, what is your favorite card? Depends on the day! Today it’s the Queen of Wands. I want to be her! would you like your own set of handmade rune stones or worry stones? Ohmygoodness handmade rune stones!!! I wold swoon! Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or none of the above? Love all of it! Gum, hard candy, soft candy, or none of the above? Yes, yes, and yes please! Loose tea or tea bags? Do you need anything for your loose tea? (Filters, presses, etc.) Filters would be loverly! I used bags and loose. Do you do Goodreads or LibraryThing or a site like that? If so, can I see your to-read list, please? My Kindle is stocked with enough reading material to last my entire life! LOL! What is your holy grail "I'd kill to just have one drop in an imp" bpal scent? I don’t know! Too new! Perhaps some of this fabulous aged Snake Oil that I keep hearing about and years away from aging myself! Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting? Still waiting on my decants to know which ones I like! Will edit if they arrive. if you wear earrings, do you have pierced ears? Yes, four holes. Three in one ear. HAUNT - don't have any experience with the brand, so don't feel pressure to go out of your way. GODIVA - if you want to, BRING IT ON! NYCC - Would LOVE to try Nymphes de Pave! California: Love any and all Disneyanna, particularly Snow White, Cinderella, & Sleeping Beauty. And Alice in Wonderland. And Princess and the Frog... And... IngenuiTEA: Sounds interesting! Fusion Sweets: Sounds yummy and I love supporting Etsy vendors (altho I have NO IDEA how to make a wishlist there! I looked! I promise!) Comics: Too many to list here!!! LOL! And I'm trying to cut back! Running SERIOUSLY short of storage space! Are you dressing up for Halloween, Witchee? If so, is there anything you're looking for to complete your costume? I have a lovely black velvet cape lined in purple satin in which I sit on the front porch and hand out candy and wave to neighbors. A matching hat would be lovely, but not required! Sooo much fun! Do you need any accessories for your smartphone (case, skin, etc)? While everyone else is upgrading, I downgraded! Talking and text only. I figured with an iPad, a Macbook, a Kindle, a GPS in my car and my PC at work, why pay for the extra connectivity? Loves me lil Dumbphone! Altho when my contract is up next year, I may be sorely tempted by the iPhone danggit. Apple design beckons like a seductive Siren's call...

Lemon always lifts me up. I am new to BPAL, but I got a decant of Sphaeromachia Gaumeri and I was in lemon heaven. I've heard it compared on this forum to Lemon Scented Sticky Bat. It was energizing, yet warm and comforting at the same time. Good luck to you!

REALLY HIGH HOPES!!! Wet - Wood & men's cologne. Not as much throw as I'd hoped. Waiting… As it dries, the golden teak is starting to emerge. Still very light. Lovely, but light. Don't like it as much as Dee or Cathedral yet… Getting lighter, and lighter. Meh. I am beginning to think the Lab's vanilla disappears on me. I don't smell it in the Fabled Snake Oil, and I don't smell it in this. Wish I did! Cuz I LOVES me some vanilla. This is going in the aging box with the Snake Oil to see what happens... An hour and a half later - there's the vanilla! And it is fabu! Rather like Guerlain's Spiriteuse Double Vanilla, which I MELT for. Slightly smokey with only a touch of wood. Yep, aging box! This could be REALLY good! ETA: Slathered on some more, before tucking it away in the Age Box. The Vanilla Finale was so wonderful I thought, why not? Now that I know that the vanilla smells like, I can actually detect it wet. I guess that's what this Education of the Nose is all about! The vanilla is not strong, but it is hiding in there. These BPALS are a continuously unraveling mystery...

Warm and woodsy. Aged wood, unlike the fresh sharp Cedar tang in Cathedral. Soft and comforting, like my grandfather bringing firewood in from the pile, then snuggling next to him in his old leather chair and reading from his floor-to-ceiling library. Dee wraps itself around me like a hug from my Grandfather in his cashmere sweater. Mmmmmmmm...... Got this imp straight from the lab. It is going in my potential-bottle-box for a little age.

First testing of the partial bottle I got from Ralenth. I was intrigued because of the Yeats connection. I was lucky enough to take the trip of a lifetime to Ireland in 2008. This oil takes me back there, to his grave at Drumcliffe churchyard in County Sligo, where the church doors have gleaming brass handles in the shape of swans, and his simple black headstone stands in stark contrast to the ornately carved 9th century Celtic high cross commanding the ancient ground. The flat topped mount of Ben Bulben looms overhead, impossibly green and surreal in its shape. His last poem: Under bare Ben Bulben's head In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid. An ancestor was rector there Long years ago, a church stands near, By the road an ancient cross. No marble, no conventional phrase; On limestone quarried near the spot By his command these words are cut: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by! —Under Ben Bulben, W.B. Yeats This oil smells of Ireland, the cool wetness of the River Shannon where I took a picture of a Swan swimming in the wake of our little boat. Of the bee-loud glade of the lake isle of Innisfree. And although I didn't expect it to, it smells much like the perfume Innisfree I bought in Dublin. The same sharp green notes that remind me of shamrocks and heather and moss-drenched stones in the wood near Kylemore Abbey. A treasure! ETA: am wearing this in anticipation of St Patrick's Day tomorrow, and it still smells of Green Magic. Perfect!

In the bottle, all I could smell were raisins soaked in cherry cough syrup. Uh oh, why did I buy this? The dreaded cherry! But then, on my skin... What a lovely surprise! Black cherry must be better on my skin than cherry. This is warm and fruity. Wine soaked Autumn fruit, warmed in a glazed stoneware mug. Sitting on the front porch on a golden afternoon, drinking the richly spiced mixture while glowing leaves swirl on the wind. A few minutes later, I'm joined by my best friend, a mug of October ale in his hand. The wind blows through the trees in my neighbor's yard, bringing the slightest hint of balsam and pine. This is really complex and evocative on me. Many beautiful things going on - as befits a Harvest. So glad I got a bottle!

OnSkin: Mmmm… wet, it smells like my Pomeranian fresh from the groomers, which is a GOOD thing! All warm fluffy fur, clean sweetness, and Happy Doggie Kisses. It's green & fruity & sweet & warm. It's well-blended. Individual sandalwood & musk notes don't stick out. Instead, there is a soft, sweet warmth as if I buried my nose in Lucy's fur and inhaled the scent of her clean skin. I can't pick out the individual fruits, but there is a juicy green scent, like when Lucy bursts out of the groomer's front door and rolls with delight in the dewy grass. This is beautiful, and I think it might be love! Waiting for drydown... An hour later, this oil has stayed true to itself. It is sweet, soft, steady and warm. A comforting scent. Lucy has curled up next to me, sleeping peacefully.