kajacana

In the bottle: Straight-up marshmallows. On skin: Marshmallow vanilla cream. Like fluff, only perfume! It's definitely sugary, but as it wears it's almost like there's a light musk in there that's keeping it from just smelling like food. (If you've got these to compare.... to me, Stekkjarstaur is on the spectrum between Boo and Edith Cushing, both of which I also love. It's not as in-your-face buttery/cakey as Boo, but not as musky/perfumey as Edith. It's somewhere in the middle.) This is a really awesome vanilla scent and if you have any desire whatsoever to smell like vanilla or marshmallows, please do yourself a favor and try this.

How have I not tried this before?! It's mostly peach, with a breath of light florals, grounded (but not overwhelmed or darkened) by the oakmoss. I'm not typically a floral perfume person, yet I love this, if that tells you anything. It's more fruity than floral, but the flowers help keep it smelling like perfume and not candy. It's sweet, light, and gorgeous. This would be a perfect scent for summer and even though I just tested it for the first time ten minutes ago, I already think I need a bottle.

You can actually smell the garland. It's tart cranberries on an evergreen garland that isn't fresh anymore, it's been sitting out and has dried up and only the softest hint of pine scent remains. I honestly think it's more garland than cranberry on me at first. But it sweetens up as it wears, and takes on more of a juicy, red quality, with something sliiiiightly soapy in the background. Really happy to try this and will keep the decant, since it's not often a cranberry scent comes up!

This is all berries on me. I'm not getting any yogurt or oats at all. It reminds me of a "wildberry" or "mixed berry" scent; no specific fruit stands out among the rest. On my skin, it's right on the line between a nice, sweet, candy-like berry, versus a super-artificial berry that you might find in a car air freshener. When my nose picks up the sweet candy side of things, it's very reminiscent of Bath & Body Works old Sun-Ripened Raspberry scent, but I'm still getting hints of... slight soapiness? Car freshener chemicals? It's weird. I'd love it if it stayed in the sweet, Sun-Ripened Raspberry range, but there's something about it that I'm just not digging. Really glad I got to try it, though, and will hold on to the decant -- maybe this will work better in a scent locket.

Hey, we are really similar!!! Ginger and honey didn't show up in my list, but I love those too (though pure honey tends to go baby powder on me, and I do better with things like honeycomb or honey mead).

I love this idea! I'm not organized (or patient!) enough to figure out the stats for my whole collection, but I thought of 15 favorites off the top of my head and tallied up the notes in those. I wasn't very precise... I know there are differences in types of amber, types of musk, types of milk, etc., but for the sake of this experiment I just lumped them all together. In order of frequency, out of 15 oils, here are the notes that appear more than once: Amber: 6 Cream/Milk: 6 Musk: 6 Vanilla: 5 Sugar: 3 Patchouli: 3 Coconut: 3 Oudh: 2 Tea: 2 Water: 2 Wood/Bark: 2 Rum: 2 Very interesting! My list leans craaaaazy gourmand, which is not at all a surprise. I'm kind of shocked that patchouli shows up three times (Sumatran red in So Below, aged in Mary Read, white in Edith Cushing -- so all over the map there).

Sugary dark chocolate with marshmallow. I'm also getting the faintest hint of coffee. It's foody, but somehow... elevated? Like, this isn't a bag of mass-produced cookies that you buy for $3 and eat straight from the bag in the car and wipe the crumbs on your jeans. This is a perfect pie that took hours to make and is the elegant centerpiece of the holiday dessert table. Basically it smells really good and if you're a fan of chocolate scents, you need this.

2015 version, first year I've tried. A little green, a little sweet. Definitely getting the olive oil (as it dries, it smells like The Body Shop's olive scent). After it dries, it's like a beeswax candle glowing over a table set with fruit and pastries. Really well blended, and hard to distinguish individual notes. Pretty!

What a beautiful scent! In the bottle: rich, foody, sweet. Initial application: The vanilla immediately leans more perfumey than foody on me (looks like I'm in the minority there), and I'm definitely getting the oudh, which I love. It's almost reminiscent of So Below, only it's lighter and softer. It's like So Below's younger cousin! Drydown: Ah, now I see the comparisons to Morocco -- only Edith is sweeter and more vanilla-y (and it's still that perfumey vanilla musk for me; it doesn't smell like a cookie or anything). I really like this

I sprayed some into my hands and then ran it through my hair. Initially it was all spices, but as it dried it became all about the peach. Delicious, juicy, candy-like peaches, with just a bit of pie to keep it from going full-on lollipop. Sweet, foody, wonderfully peachy, and really really good!

I get the Pez candy quality that others have mentioned, but ONLY when sniffing directly from the bottle. Once this oil is on my skin, it's pure orange marmalade on a buttered biscuit. It's fruity without being Jolly Rancher fruity; bready without being a straight-up loaf of bread. It's foody, light, close to the skin, a big waft of baked goods with a generous hint of something orange. I like it

Maybe try Hellcat? It's one of my favorites, a GC from the Diabolus section: hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond. It's sweet, strong, and foody. If you end up liking Snake Oil and feel like tracking down some limited editions, try... Womb Furie (a Lupercalia scent; those are usually released around February and this one has come back a few times) - Snake Oil and three types of honey Boomslang (from the Snake Pit section of the old Carnaval Diabolique, which might be returning in the not-too-distant future) -Snake Oil with cocoa, teakwood, and rice milk.

Total almond/cherry in the bottle. Marzipan while wet on skin, and as it dries it turns into... cola? It's like those little gummy Coke-bottle candies, or a Dr. Pepper LipSmackers! Weird! As drydown continues, the LipSmackers and Coke gummies disappear and the leather emerges. It's definitely a soft, worn, brown leather. The sweetness of the vanilla and amber comes out soon after that, and mellows out the leather even more. After drying on my arm for several minutes, it's mostly suede and amber, with a hint of vanilla. It stays close to the skin. I really love this scent, and I'm so glad because I also love the story behind it! (Hint: I tested the 13 from Nov. 2015 on my other arm, and these two smell REALLY good together.)

Hello dear Witch! Thank you for stalking me! Hopefully my questionnaire was useful; this post will be updated throughout the round with additional info relating to the chatter in the Switch Witch thread. (Sorry for the wordy answers -- just trying to give you as much info as possible!) Instagram Twitter Goodreads (only shows books I've already read) Amazon Wish List (For books I haven't read and don't own, but would like to. Kindle editions or physical copies are both OK! And used books are completely fine.) BPAL Wish List Favorite and least favorite notes Etsy Favorites (just to give you an idea of things I like!) My general aesthetic is kind of... I don't know, think Wednesday Addams meets the Cheshire Cat meets the Renaissance Faire, with a hint of pirate and a light flourish of goth, and there you go, that's me! Random stuff I like: -Harry Potter (I'm a Slytherin!) -Nautical imagery (anchors, octopus/squid, ship's wheels, ship being taken down by a kraken, the fearsome briny depths, etc.) -Favorite color is purple (jewel-tone, like the color of an amethyst); second favorite color is forest green -Favorite animal is CATS (especially lions, as I work with them, but I love all cats of all sizes!) -Shakespeare (Hamlet is my favorite, Twelfth Night comes in second) SW Thread Q & A: **updated 10/1** 1. Halloween TeeTurtle tees: These are really cute but I don't think I'd wear one. 2. Scooby Doo: Not my thing. 3. Indie makeup: Yes!!! I've tried a few loose eyeshadows from Aromaleigh and Baroque Cosmetics and I love them. I don't have much experience with other indie brands but would love to try some. Eyeshadow, blush, highlighter, nail polish, and lip stuff would get the most use (I'm all set with eyeliner, as the Urban Decay 24/7 pencils are my holy grail and I have a ton of them). I've actually been searching for a new shimmery highlighter. I will find a use for any color eyeshadow, seriously. Matte is okay but shimmer, iridescence, and/or color shift are even better. Glitter is okay if it's not too intense. 4. Crio Bru: That looks delicious! 5. How would you feel about receiving a hand-painted container for your bpal and/or other treasures? Would you want a big wood box (~50 bottles), a small wood box (~20 bottles) or a tin for carrying imps around? I'm all set with BPAL storage, but if you want to make me a box for storing other things, that would be lovely! 20-bottle or 50-bottle size would both be good, even if I wouldn't be using it for bottles. 6. Who is into K-Beauty (Korean beauty products like sheet masks)? What are your faves if you are? If you aren't would you like to try something? Not so much, unless there's something in particular that you want to recommend. 7. What are some NEW things you've gotten interested in this year? I've been getting really into craft mixology (and yes I'm aware of how extremely hipster that sounds, and it kills me, but what can I do? I love a good drink). Things like shrubs, syrups, bitters, mists, recipes, bar tools, craft-distilled spirits... basically anything I can use to make a pretentious cocktail. Gin and rum are my poisons of choice. Also this year I tried my hand at bullet journaling, but I didn't stick with it and I wish I had. Mine was just a simple ruled Moleskine journal, and after keeping it for a few months I had to admit I really wished I'd gone for the dotted pages (like the Leuchtturm 1917), because those would have been a lot easier for me to grid out. So I'd like to try that again, along with hand-lettering because it makes everything look so pretty. 8. Are you interested in anything from the Moonalisa Halloween update? I've never tried Moonalisa but would happily use the shower gel, sugar scrub, hair conditioner, or body creams. Scents that look good are Carnival Cakes, Coconut Butter Pecan, Little Red Riding Hood, and Pumpkin Waffles & Pecan Praline... actually a lot of them look good but those foody ones would make nice bath & body scents! Oooohh, or the lip butter in Maple Sugar or Dark Rum & Ginger. Also now is probably a good time to mention that I pretty much stick to BPAL for my perfume oils. I'm always happy to try new companies for other products, but for oils I'm a pretty strict BPAL loyalist. 9. What are your coffee and/or tea preferences? I drink both, but I especially love coffee. Coffee preferences: whole beans, no added flavors please. I tend to prefer dark roasts, and Central/South American beans. I like my coffee to be strong but smooth with just a little sweetness. If you have a local coffee roaster you love, I'd love to try it! Tea preferences: black tea, loose leaf. Earl Grey, Earl Grey Cream, and Masala Chai are favorites. Flavors and herbals are okay, I just don't care for rooibos, green teas, licorice, mint, or anything floral. In terms of gadgets, I currently don't have a way to brew loose-leaf tea at work, so a portable loose-leaf brewing apparatus would be nice (like one of those infuser travel mugs, or even just a silicone tea ball that I can throw in my lunch bag without worrying about it breaking or clanking around like the metal ones). 10. Do you enjoy stationery? I'm not a connoisseur or anything, but sure. Nice paper for writing letters might be nice -- nothing too flowery, though. Washi tape, stickers, pens, etc. are all good -- I mentioned in a different answer that I want to start bullet journaling again, so anything for that would be nice. As far as notebooks/journals go, honestly I don't need any more, except for a dot-gridded one that I could use as a bullet journal... but I am up to my ears in blank ruled journals already. 11. Cocoa Pink and Haus of Gloi: Cocoa Pink, no. I've tried their conditioner and didn't love it. Haus of Gloi, maybe. Love their pumpkin butter's texture but I've sampled most of the GC and have never been impressed with their scents. Ghost Puffs is probably the only one I'd want to try (in pumpkin butter form) from their fall list. 12. Would you be interested in a Halloween wreath? Those are really cool but I don't decorate for Halloween, so no thanks. 13. Lush Halloween stuff: I love Lush... like... too much. Honestly though, nothing in the Halloween collection is calling my name. I'm not a fan of most of those scents, and as cute as they are, I wouldn't use bath bombs or bubble bars. Some Lush standards that I do like are D'Fluff, the new Just to Clarify or 1000 Millihelens jelly masks, Brazilliant shampoo bar, Yuzu & Cocoa shower cream, Scrubee, Shades of Earl Grey or Soft Coeur massage bars... ugh I could go on but I'll spare you!! 14. Future Primitive: OMG YES. My last wonderful Witch, Dallandra, sent me their whipped soap and conditioning hair rinse in Blackcurrant Damson Frangipane, and I LOVED them -- especially the hair rinse. Since then I've come very close to ordering more hair rinse on several occasions, but never have because of the high shipping cost. I always look at the Dark Carnival scent, and from the fall list, Toffee Moon Face sounds amazing. 15. Are there any UK things you'd like to get? Besides Future Primitive, there's nothing specific I can think of. But regardless of where my Witch is from, I'm always happy to try things that are local to them! 16. Are you into podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Would you like any merch related to any of them? Favorites: The Alton Browncast, Awesome Etiquette, Spirits, Gilmore Guys, and The Baby-Sitters Club Club (two grown men dissecting the Baby-Sitters Club books for conspiracies and sinister hidden meanings... I can't explain it, it's hilarious). I don't want any merch from any of those, though. But I'm happy to take any podcast recommendations! 17. Nui Cobalt Designs: Never heard of this shop -- if you think I'll like something from there, I trust you! 18. Sihaya & Co.: Never heard of this one either, but I love a good candle, and these look really nice! Scents: Hocus Pocus, Port Royal, and Nassau all look amazing (love that there are pirate candles!). 19. ILNP: Nail polish is always good -- I've never tried ILNP but have wanted to for a long time. Holos, glitter, and color shifts are all right up my alley. As for colors, I feel like if I started listing ones I like, I could go on for pages -- so I'll just say that I'd particularly like any sort of purple, gray, or blue (especially combos of any of those), or any interesting black. It's probably easier to list the colors I DON'T like -- those would be yellows, bright oranges, and anything neon. 20. Are there any hobbies or crafts you've been thinking of trying, but haven't had the chance yet? As I rambled about in an earlier question, bullet journaling in an elusive dot-gridded journal, along with hand-lettering. 21. Would you want to receive a custom spell kit or magical tea? If so, what purpose would you want it to be for? No thanks, spells & such aren't my thing. 22. Do you like poetry? I don't dislike poetry, but I don't go out of my way to read it. 23. Handmade critters, stuffed animals, or custom repaints: Handmade critters or stuffed animals could be cute. 24. Yarn: No thanks, I wouldn't use it. 25. Would anyone like a donation made in their name to a cause or charity? That's such a nice gesture! I mentioned a few of my favorites in my questionnaire. 26. Wishes from the last 2 updates: Oh man, I don't even know. I've been avoiding looking too hard at the updates to make sure I save money for Weenies. 27. Stuff from Japan: Anything you want to send that represents where you're from, I'd love to receive! From Japan specifically, unusual Kit-Kat flavors would be cool. 28. Nail wraps: Never used them before but I would try them! 29. If you were to receive something hand knit, what type of item would you like? Long (forearm length) fingerless gloves/arm warmers, regular-length gloves with or without fingers, a beanie-type hat (no flaps, pom poms or tassels, please), or thick socks to wear around the house at night. Colors: for the socks, any colors! For the rest, amethyst purple, black, or charcoal gray, or some combination of those. 30. If you could be ANY character from a film, TV show or book, who would it be and why? Luna Lovegood, because she's eccentric and clever and calm and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her, and she has a knack for dealing with magical creatures. 31. If you could hop into a time machine and travel anywhere/anytime, where would it be and why? I'm fascinated by the English Renaissance and Colonial/Revolutionary America, but I don't know that I'd want to travel to either of those times because, you know, dubious living conditions and constant danger and even worse societal conditions for women. But if I could visit with a free pass for safety, I'd pick one of those. 32. If you could invite 3 famous people to a BPAL meet and sniff, who would you invite? I honestly can't think of 3 famous people who I'd want to hang out with AND who would be likely to appreciate BPAL... so I'll just go with the 3 famous (using that word lightly) people I'd most like to meet right now: Lucas Steele, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dave Malloy. 33. Do you like and/or want anything from Elements and Artifacts? Everything is gorgeous but I'm not seeing anything in particular that calls to me. 34. Would you like something hand sewn by your Witch? Sure! A scarf or some kind of bag would be cool... maybe a tote bag, or a smaller makeup bag, or a laptop case to fit a 13" computer? Clothes would be cool but I'd be nervous to have you work so hard on something without knowing for sure if it would fit. 35. Costuming accessories: No thanks. 36. What are your favorite/preferred Halloween/autumn icons/images? Any to specifically stay away from? To be honest, I'm not too much of a Halloween celebrator... don't dress up, don't decorate... so anything along those lines would probably be wasted on me. If something is less specifically Halloween and more general fall-time spookiness that could be appreciated year round (by, uh, a spooky person), that's much more my thing. Ravens, crows, black cats, bats, and leafless trees are all cool. I also collect (ethically sourced) animal bones, and I have a weird love for very old cemeteries. As for things to stay away from, that would be zombies, vampires, and anything gory or involving human body parts (severed hands, eyeballs, stuff like that). 37. Candy: Yep! Flavor preferences are in my questionnaire. I will be honest here and say that I probably don't need the classic "Halloween candy" type... like, it's hard enough for me to resist picking up a giant bag of Kit-Kats or Mini Twix every time I go to Target as it is, so I definitely don't need any more sent to me in the mail! BUT, if it's something a little more unusual or local/regional, that's cool. And yes I like chocolate (milk better than dark, but dark is OK especially if it's mixed/filled with something else). 38. Do you want Fidget spinners, desk toys, or other frivolous things that you look at and decide you don't need enough to spend $ on but would make you happy to have? Fidget spinners and desk toys are a no for me. 39. Zentangle: I had to Google this, but WOW. I love this! Would like to learn how to do it AND would like it if you decided to make me something like this. 40. Hair clips/mini hats/ribbons/etc.: No thanks. 41. What local goodies may be of interest? Local Honey, jams,candy? All good. I love trying regional foods from other places. Also coffee -- one of my favorite things to do when I travel is try local coffee shops/roasters. (Also distilleries, but gin is much more expensive than coffee and much harder to ship, alas!) 42. Subscription services: Probably not any makeup-related ones, but if there's something else you think I'd appreciate, I'd be willing to try it. 43. How do you like to listen to music? Lately I've been using Spotify exclusively. The only place where I can still listen to CDs is in my car, so I think I need to finally accept that I'm living a post-CD life. 44. Do you prefer reading on Kindle or actual book? What kind of books do you like? If I had to choose I'd pick a physical book, but I also really love my Kindle, so either is fine. Book preferences are pretty well addressed in my questionnaire. 45. Candles, Incense, or wax tarts? Do you have favorite brands or Weenies scents for the home? Would you like to receive a wax tarts burner, incense burner, essential oils diffuser, or Halloweenie themed candle holders? Candles, yes. Usually I go for the Bath & Body Works ones (Marshmallow Fireside and Pumpkin Pecan Waffles are my two favorite fall scents from them, but any non-cinnamony pumpkin one would also work)... and I'll happily try other brands. Yankee Candle is okay but PLEASE no Witches' Brew, I know that scent is well beloved but I can't stand it. Wax tarts, I do have a diffuser but I rarely use it. Incense, I don't have a way to burn it and also my roommate dislikes it, so better skip it. Halloween candle holders, I wouldn't use them unless they were less Halloween Specific and more Generally Spooky. 46. Are you a gamer? No, not at all. 47. Beer? I like it occasionally, but it's not my favorite thing to drink. Dunkel, Helles, and Belgian Whites are usually what I go for, and occasionally a Stout or Porter. 48. Booze? Yep! Gin (particularly various American Dry styles that showcase interesting botanicals with juniper as the backup dancer) and rum (somewhat aged but not too dark) are my favorites, and I also like tequila. Not a big fan of whiskey. I mentioned this earlier but I'm really into craft spirits, and I'm on a righteous mission to expand my gin palate. Favorites right now are Greylock from Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Massachusetts (which doesn't distribute where I currently live which is a GREAT TRAGEDY UGH), Bluecoat from Philadelphia Distilling, and McElroy's Corruption from Tom's Town Distilling right here in KC... and my favorite "commercial" gin is Bombay Sapphire. I could talk about gin for a long time... I'll spare you. I'm not sure how relevant any of this is for Switch Witch anyway! 49. Wine? I like it better than beer but not as much as spirits. Favorites are Pinot Noir and Merlot, or any red that's not too intense with the tannins. 50. Hair falls? No thanks. 51. For those who watch certain movies every year for Halloween, what are those movies, whether horror or not? Any favorite horror movies that aren't necessarily on the annual-viewing list? How do you feel about fan-made merch for these movies? To be honest, I'm not much of a movie watcher... I can binge-watch TV shows like a champ, but for some reason my attention span doesn't usually jive with sitting down to watch a movie at home (and I hate going to movie theaters because they tend to be just an expensive way to listen to other people's chewing noises). So I don't really have any movies that I watch every year. That being said, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic and I'll admit to loving Jack Skellington, go ahead, throw me in Hot Topic Jail. I also REALLY DO NOT LIKE horror movies, I'm a huge wimp, so none of that for me thanks! Fan-made merch for movies in general, I guess it depends on what it is. 52. Do any of you potential Witchees have any kitties, puppers, or youngling humans you want spoiled in your packages? No pets and no kids here. 53. Is there any interest in any of the fragrance oils from the Nocturne Alchemy Weenies update? Nope, when it comes to oils I'm a BPAL purist. 54. Is there anything you want from the trading post (or trading post etsy) that is available to order right now? From the Post, hair glosses -- Pickle, Zoe, and Wednesday, in that order. From the Post Etsy, Porphyrophobia claw polish, Peach Pie perfume oil. 55. Would you like some Halloween or other themed decor in the form of a banner? No thanks, I really don't decorate for Halloween. 56. Do you live near a Trader Joe's? Yes I do, thank the Lord!!! Don't know what I'd do without it. So I'm probably good on TJ's stuff, though I wouldn't be mad if you felt the need to send me some of their dark chocolate peanut butter cups or gummy penguins. 57. Do you like to cook and/or bake? Could you use any specific ingredients (spices, oils, salts, extracts, etc.) or kitchen utensils/gadgets? I love cooking and baking, it's one of my favorite ways to relax. I can't think of any specific kitchen gadgets or accessories I'm in need of, but if you find something cute, by all means! As for ingredients, I'll take pretty much anything. My most frequently used spices are whole nutmeg and crushed red pepper flakes, but I'll really find a use for anything. 58. Bike or beach related stuff from Ocean City, MD: Not a biker, so no bike stuff. Beach stuff, I guess it depends on what it is, but if you think I'll like it then okay! (Bearing in mind that I live in a landlocked state.) 59. What is 1 thing you would love to see in your final box? Can be ANYTHING - your choice. Ugh, I hate to put stipulations on my Witch!! Really, truly, honestly... my lovely Witch, WHATEVER you send me I will appreciate it!! The fact that you're taking the time to read all these absurdly long answers and consider what I'd like means more to me than any specific item. 60. Who would love some USPS eclipse stamps? You know, I was lucky enough to be in the path of totality for the eclipse (Liberty, Missouri!), and it was REALLY cool and incredibly beautiful. Although I'd use the stamps for practical reasons, I'm not a collector or anything, so probably not. 61. Favorite gemstones? Amethyst, tanzanite, black pearls. 62. If you enjoy jewelry do you like discrete and elegant, flashy and gaudy, small and light, or large and chunky? I like... unusual. Probably not gaudy or chunky, but all the rest of those descriptors could be okay depending on the piece. 63. Any love of pirates or SCA? Pirates, yes. SCA, nah. 64. Is there anything you would like from Disney World? Nothing specific, but I love The Lion King (especially Nala, as I currently work with a lion named Nala) and the Cheshire Cat. 65. Are you a Potterhead? If so, to which house do you belong? Yes, and I'm a Slytherin. I'm part of the "Harry Potter Generation" for sure... the first book was published in the U.S. when I was 10 and I read it shortly thereafter, and the seventh book was published in the summer between my first and second years of college, so I'm one of those people who quite literally grew up with the series. The books have a very special place in my life and I've reread them several times over the years. I like the movies a lot too (except Prisoner of Azkaban... Alfonso Cuaron's direction was cool but that film was an unforgivable butchery of the book in my opinion). I'm really not into any of the newer stuff, though... I haven't seen Fantastic Beasts and it really doesn't interest me... and Cursed Child, ugh, don't get me started... I haven't read or seen it but I did read a detailed plot synopsis and I was pretty much horrified. 66. How do you feel about chokers? Sure, why not? 67. I'm in France at the moment, is there anything here you might like? I'm in Provence, the land of lavender, so if you like that flower in particular just say so! French things are welcome, though I can't think of anything specific. Lavender isn't my favorite, though. I think it smells pretty but I don't want to smell like it, and I don't want my house to smell like it.... and I really don't like eating/drinking it. 68. Are you into divination? Nope, not at all. 69. Sock preferences: I like socks, and I'm not picky about colors or fibers (though I will say that striped is always good). I mentioned in a previous answer that if you want to knit me some warm around-the-house socks that would be lovely. If you're not a knitter, I'd still appreciate that type of socks, store-bought edition. I also like knee-high striped socks quite a bit. 70. Previously-loved books and BPAL: Both completely fine. 71. So what are your favorite fandoms? To be honest I'm not much of a fandom person. I have things that I like, but I'm not a cosplayer and I don't do conventions, I don't write or read fanfic, and I'm just generally not too engaged with the social aspect that I feel is a key part of fandom participation. That being said, I guess Harry Potter is a big one. Doctor Who (favorite Doctor is Ten), Lord of the Rings... can't really think of anything else. 72. Think Geek: Hogwarts coasters, Slytherin pajama pants (S), TARDIS tea towels, TARDIS pajama pants (S).... there's probably more but that's at first glance! Basically steer towards Slytherin or the TARDIS and you can't go wrong. (I do already have a TARDIS blanket and light-up vworp-vworp cookie jar, though.) 73. Anything you forgot/miscellaneous extra info: Nothing I can think of! Honestly, Witch, if you've stuck with me this long and read all of this, I'm impressed. But do feel free to have a minion poke me if you need more specifics on anything. 74. If you could decorate your house (or one room) in any one theme, what would it be? Covered this in questionnaire -- LotR Elf kingdom style. But I also appreciate rustic woodwork. 75. Aprons: No, I wouldn't use it. 76. Black-and-white striped knitted little guy: He's cute, but no thank you. 77. Do you like Broadway shows/music? If so what are some of your favorites and/or ones that you hope to see or listen to eventually? Would you like merch from your favorite shows or CDs from shows you want to listen to? Covered this in questionnaire, but YES, I'm a musical theatre fan (fan only -- definitely not a performer!). I grew up just north of New York City and have seen a lot of shows over the years (gotta love the discount TKTS booth), and now on the rare occasions that I visit home, going to a show in the city is something my mom and I like to do together. Favorite shows that I've seen on Broadway are: Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Something Rotten, Into the Woods, Les Mis. Favorite shows that I haven't actually seen: Hamilton, Next to Normal, Chess (though I love the recorded version with Josh Groban, Adam Pascal, & Idina Menzel). Also recently I've been listening to a lot of Waitress and Come From Away though I haven't seen those either... and most recently, when I was home in August my mom and I drove up to Massachusetts to see Company which had Aaron Tveit in it, and seeing him perform live was a dream come true. I am DYING to see Hamilton, like the rest of the world, but I'm waiting to go with one of my friends who also loves it, and we need to wait til it tours in KC next year. I could just see it one time when I'm visiting home, but I really want to go with her, and I have this weird thing where I won't buy any Hamilton merch until I've seen the show, so no Hamilton stuff I guess (unless you make something!). Merch from other shows would be cool, though I don't know what that would be, but feel free to use it as inspiration if you're crafty. I'm good on CDs because I gots me the Spotify. 78. NYCC/Edmonton Expo: I'm not sure what they have there but if you find something you think I'll like, I trust you! 79. Imagine you're going to the most gigantic art & craft show imaginable, and money is no object - what kind of things would you gravitate towards and probably spend money on? Include as specific as you want to get! Probably unique jewelry or frame-able art, like paintings or drawings. I don't really go to craft fairs but when I'm at places like Ren Fest, I tend to go home with a lot of jewelry and new art for my walls. 80. See's Candy: I'm not familiar with this but I do love marshmallows... 81. Coloring books: I have a Wild Savannah one with all African animals, which I love because a lot of them are animals that I work with. But I've had it for almost a year and I'm not even halfway through it yet so I don't think I need another one. 82. Animi Causa: Just taking a quick glance, this stuff looks so cute! Cutesy animal kitchen accessories are my jam (I have a can opener shaped like a toucan... I'm that kind of person). I love that Nessie ladle! 83. If I were to find an adorable autumnal/Halloween-y dish/flatware/etc. design, how many settings would be needed in your household? Well, it's me and my roommate, and about 80% of the kitchen stuff is mine, and it's a lot of mismatched hand-me-downs, and the word "settings" doesn't really apply because we don't have a kitchen table or any kind of dining table... soooooo.... !!! Haha, anything is fine. I kind of enjoy having lots of different plates and bowls that don't match. 84. TrueLemon apple cider: Sure! 85. Baths? Showers only for me. 86. What style/make/etc of phone do you have? What about size of tablet? Laptop? Would you like decals, skins, or cases for any of these? I have an iPhone but I'm probably upgrading it soon and I'm not sure what model I'll end up with. No tablet... my laptop is a 13" MacBook Pro, it has a hard case already. Some kind of soft zipper case would be useful but it's not something I desperately need. 87. Are you interested in anything from Bath & Body Works? Covered candles way back in question #45. I was actually in there today and they have new smaller candles -- I really liked the Currant and the Clove ones. Other than candles, I can always use pocket bacs, shower gels, scrubs, hand soaps, car scent pods ... and I like their new Salted Caramel Apricot and Spiced Pumpkin Cider scents. Really the only things I dislike from there are the body lotion (the runny kind -- the thicker creams are fine), and scents listed in my Least Favorite Notes... and the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent, UGH, not for me. 88. Crystals? No thanks. 89. Pumpkin or zucchini bread? Yup, I like both of these. 90. What kind of homemade cookies are your favorite? Oatmeal with chocolate chips. 91. Could you use a muscle rub? Sure, my neck and shoulders are an unholy mess. 92. Interested in trying some of our rose petal or lavender vanilla bean liqueur? No thanks, not a fan of those flavors. 93. Homemade honey, jam, candied jalapeños, dried apples... If you make it and want to share it, I'm sure I'll enjoy it! 94. Do you need any kind of dice bag, tote, project bag, cosmetic bag, pencil bag, pillowcase...? Small makeup bag or tote bag would be useful. 95. Do you collect the art cards that BPAL sends out? Any in particular that you are looking for or definitely don't need? I do keep these, and I have a few of my favorites on display. I tend to like the ones that don't have images of people. 96. Do you like this beautiful art, and she makes stickers and prints...SOOOO gorgeous: https://www.shannatr...om/paperprints/ Um, hell yes, those are beautiful. My favorite is Corvid Love, but I also really like The Dahlia Tree, The Poppy King, and Treasure. 97. Favorite animals or wild creatures or mythological creatures? Any and all cats (especially lions, jaguars, black-footed cats, and black cats), black rhinos, giraffes, orcas, dragons. 98. Depeche Mode swag: Not my thing. 99. Take a Knee and SN: Flor de Maga: I am 100% in support of both of these causes and am so happy the Lab continues to do charitable scents like this. I don't think either one would really work for me scent wise, but I'm curious about Flor de Maga because sometimes florals work nicely on me, I just don't know what this particular one is like. 100. Is anyone here into zero waste, plastic free living, urban homesteading, or any simplicity/minimalism-esque lifestyles? If so, could you use any tools or equipment? I would like to be better about this than I am. I try to be conscious of how much single-use plastic I'm using, and I think I've done a decent job at cutting down recently, but I'm nowhere near as efficient as I should be. As far as urban homesteading, my living situation isn't permanent enough for that... and I'm not really into minimalism either, though I appreciate and respect it as a principle. So to answer the question, yes, I'd be open to things that would help replace some of the unnecessary plastics in my life. 101. Haus of Gloi: Covered in question #11. 102. Farmer's market stuff: Honey is good, candles are good.... I don't use too much hot sauce apart from Sriracha, and I live in Kansas City which is pretty much BBQ headquarters so I'm good on BBQ sauce. 103. Smolder Cosmetics: Any of the Loose Glam Dust highlighters, I can't even pick a favorite, they all look pretty. 104. Strobe Cosmetics: Some of those eyeshadows are gorgeous, particularly Druid and Unicorn Tears. 105. Hello Kitty stuff: No thanks.

Hi! I second the above link. You can also head to the Reviews subforum --> Limited Editions (scroll down) and find threads for each of the current CT series. I ordered Oriental and Gourmand this round. My Gourmand is spot on what I expected (toasted nuts & chocolate), while the Oriental reads more in the floral category to me. Take the chance; it's fun

This starts out on the skin as bright, fizzy, sweet ginger ale, which I really like. I used to have the ginger ale perfume from Demeter, and when freshly applied, this smells almost exactly like that. As it dries down, though, the smoke and gear lubricant emerge, which turns the blend much darker. The delicious soda aspect all but disappears, and I start to smell a weird spicy candle burning in a mechanic shop. Not too pleasant. I wish this one stayed in the ginger ale phase, because once it dries it's really not for me. But I will say, it's unique and intriguing, and it would work perfectly for someone who likes a slightly foody/slightly metallic combo in their perfume.

In the bottle: Nuts, and maybe the tiniest hint of chocolate. On skin: Smells a lot like Wezwanie/Hold to me, which includes hazelnut, so maybe it's hazelnut? It smells toasty! There's something in there that's rounding out the blend really nicely, which I'm guessing is chocolate, because I think I'm getting a very faint whiff of cocoa. It's not sweet, though. I'm picturing dry roasted hazelnuts lightly dusted with cocoa powder. I like it a lot!!

In the bottle: Sharp. Almost lemony. On skin: Floral, probably white. Maaaaybe lilies? Loses its sharp quality almost entirely, and Im not getting lemon anymore. Kinda soapy, though, which is not necessarily a bad thing -- it smells light and clean.

Nothing too exciting, but here are some BPAL photos from my instagram (@kajacana) : [EDIT: thank you nathanielhebert for the image tech support!!] So Below Talvikuu '12, Boomslang, All Souls '14, and Morocco Wezwanie/Hold and The Lion Samhain '13, Night-Gaunt, Hellcat, Hesiod's Phoenix (misspelled label!), and some imps Milk Chocolate Coconut Cardamom Rum & Ginger Truffle, Bezoar, The Apothecary, and Octopus Speaking of Octopus, that's a classic case of Bought It For The Name/Label Art (and Keeping It For The Same Reason!)

This dries down to a very light, white/green floral on me. I can pick up the juicy scent of fresh fruit lingering in the background, which keeps the blend sweet instead of sharp. I don't usually like florals, but this one is light and clean, not at all cloying, so that's a plus. I would recommend 51 to someone who was hesitant to try perfume oils for the first time, because a lot of people expect oils to be IN YOUR FACE and this one is definitely not! It's approachable, wearable, soft, and in my opinion scents like this are the perfect gateway to BPAL-Land. If you're a fan of commercial perfume, and you tend to favor light florals, green scents, and a springtime vibe, then you would probably like this blend.

What about Fairy Bites (GC, from the Labyrinth collection)? Osmanthus and raw honey with lavender, chamomile, white peppermint, raspberry, honeysuckle, thyme, bergamot, and Dracula orchid. It's like sweet minty berry chamomile tea, really light and pretty. I'm not a fan of florals, but even with the lavender and orchid (two notes that usually get the side-eye from me), this is a very smooth and wearable blend.

So Below is a frakking miracle. Need more detail? Okay, here we go. In the bottle: Guys, I literally do not know what I'm smelling but whatever it is, it's making me swoon. Something amber-y, I'm sure, because my nose recognizes a wisp of a hint of something that reminds me of, like, The Lion. But there's something more complex about this one, something else there in the initial sniff that makes me go "HMMMMMM YES TELL ME MORE." Initial application: Heavens to Betsy. It's amber, it's coconut, it's soft and sweet yet also powerful (a little goes a long way) -- methinks the Sumatran red patchouli gives it that extra punch, that je ne sais quoi which elevates this blend into something truly unique. Drydown: Not a ton of throw, but I can smell it on my wrists as I type, and I only put on a single dab from the reducer cap. It is ridiculously pretty and I want to hug it but unfortunately I can't because it is a perfume oil and I am a human. ^That, exactly. It's not foody coconut, it's not fleshy raw coconut, it's not suntan-lotion coconut, it's not Obatala coconut... it's darker, more like the shell of the coconut (HOW MANY TIMES CAN I SAY "COCONUT" IN ONE SENTENCE, MY GOD, I'M LOSING CONTROL OF THIS REVIEW). It smells like I'm sitting under a coconut tree wearing sweet amber perfume. (Actually it smells like the ecstatic dance of my soul, but that, I'll admit, is a rather more abstract concept and therefore probably useless to you, dear reader.) Some amber turns to baby powder on me. Some doesn't. This doesn't. It's got a slight powdery quality, if that makes sense, but I'm not getting powder from it. There must be something in the blend to offset the powder factor. I love cardamom but I can't distinguish it in this blend. I'm also not getting any of the usual in-your-face patchouli-ness, which is fine by me (although I don't know the first thing about distinguishing between the different varieties of patchouli). And I have no earthly idea what black copal is supposed to smell like, but the Google tells me it's a sweet resin, and that seems right. So Below is coconutty, resin-y sweetness. It's perfect, I love it, the end. This review brought to you by a really big glass of wine.

Creamy coconut made extra nutty by the macadamia, plus a really beautiful, light amber. I can see how some people might get buttered popcorn from this, but for me it's staying on the sweet side of foody. The coconut in this blend isn't that suntan-lotion, pina colada type of coconut... it ALMOST reminds me of the coconut in Obatala on intital application, but the comparison stops there because the foodiness takes over quickly. I also agree with the above reviews which have said the buttery factor goes away and the scent morphs into something almost spicy after several minutes. It's almost like a spicy coconut cookie. I really like it!

In the imp/initial application: this is EXACTLY the bourbon vanilla of the Trading Post's bourbon vanilla bath oil. A really perfumey, non-foody, rich vanilla. Drydown: the fruity sweetness from the apricot comes out. I'm not getting any cardamom, just this really nice mix of bourbon vanilla and apricot (I'm guessing the "preserved" apricot could translate to "apricot preserves," because it's definitely got more of a jam vibe than a fresh fruit vibe for me.) It softens quickly, leaving that beautiful bourbon vanilla with a boost of extra sweetness. Not a lot of throw, but I could definitely see myself slathering this one in the summer. The cardamom barely peeks out after several minutes, not super detectable but serving to round everything out very nicely.

Maybe Laughter of Loki from the Ragnarok LEs? "Serpentine green musk with fiery red ginger, sweet basil, alder leaf, white patchouli, cistus, and mistletoe." ETA: Can't find a good GC so far, but maybe Dawn: Cernunnos (Terebinth pine, basil, green sandalwood, fig leaf, armoise, lemon balm, cypress, myrrh, black cedar, and juniper) or Cathode (Ambergris, Spanish Moss, oakmoss and three electric mints)?