Lucretia

I really liked this one at first, but it ends up being too sweet with the vanilla. It smells quite foody too me, in that pumpkin pie sort of way. I can detect the citrus note for sure. This is really nice but it just turns really cloying on me after about a minute or two. Bah. The same thing happened to me with Pumpkin Queen so I'm not shocked I guess.

I'm so silly, this was nothing like what I was expecting. Teach me to assume that spices will be the dominant note. lol. This scent is amazingly evocative. It really does smell like a dark night with a big smoky bonfire to me. It smells like a dark autumn. It's a dark, wet, smoky, and did I say dark, scent. It's perfect for what it is, but ultimately I can't wear scents this smoky or dark. I think for someone who enjoys the scents evocative of bonfires this would be lovely though. edit to add that the final dry down, like 6 hours later, is really pleasant. The spices are prominent now and the bonfire has died down. It smells like a nice autumn day. I don't think I can wait that long though for it to be mellow though. On me at least, it lasts for hours but has morphed a great deal.

I was expecting this to smell sweet, but not at all! This is all incense and honey and spices on me, it reminds me quite a bit of the final dry down of bastet, although not as overpowering. It's not at all what I was expecting, but in this case that may be a good thing. I wouldn't wear this in the summer, but this would be perfect for rainy days and feeling cozy.

I get a huge whiff of wine and spice when I first put this on. It then morphs to the treacle and cider, with a hint of florals I guess. This smells warm and comforting to me. I'm not entirely crazy about the dry down as wine has a tendency to go crazy on me, but I really do enjoy this. It doesn't last more than 2 or 3 hours on me, so I'm glad I got a bottle to begin with.

Every now and then I get bored with what I have, and then a scent rekindles my love. This is one of those. I lost my spreadsheet of oils I tried when I got a new computer, but this smells like other snowy scents at first (skadi maybe? I don't know). But it mellows to a beautiful crisp snow, pine, and almond. This isn't a novelty scent is in the way some winter scents are (i.e. amazing, but not the best for every day wear). This is quite a traditional perfume as it mellows, which I didn't expect! I could see myself wearing this to work on an almost daily basis. Really, it's beautiful. Not too sweet, not too much forest, not minty. Just right.

The mint always surprises me in this one! It passes quickly though, and I'm left with a snuggly baby powder smell. Not in a bad way either. Nice smelling babies! Powder and violets. Very nice!

I posted two of the essays I'm working on in my LJ (see link in my sig) for those of you who are interested. It's friends only, but if you mention you're from bpal I'll add you. Other than that, GRE scores have been sent, transcipts have been sent, most of my letters of recommendation are in (but not all yet I still have a month though, soooo I just need to chill about that). Things are on track!

At first I didn't know what to make of this. It reminded me a bit of citrus dryer sheets. All manner of citrus with something soft and dry. this, like other yule blends, has grown on me a lot. It's not so much amber and saffron as I hoped, but it is a very mellow, golden, citrus (orange mainly). This scent smells like a texture to me, which is very odd I know, but it's the only way I can describe it. It's sort of.. fluffy, and airy. Like a down pillow. I guess my point is, I can't normally wear citrus because it's too sharp, but this is really muted, and I like that. It's not the spicy blend I hoped for, but it is a lovely citrus and frankincense.

So glad I swapped for this one, it's just what it sounds like! I knew I wanted this, but had been put off by some of the reviews. This is honey lilies, with a bit of plumb and amber. It's smooth, and soft, and reminds of a silk slip and little marabou slippers. It's feminine and coy, but also sexy to the point where it is a real killer. Love this! Will wear this for sure when I want to feel glamorous and sexy.

this smells like those scented cupcake dolls they used to have back in the early 90's. It's sweet vanilla, but also something that smells burnt which reminds me of plastic. I like this, but more because of the memories it evokes than because it's something I want to smell like.

oh how I want to love this one, but I really don't. At first I get spices (sort of like chai) and something lurking that smells horrible on me. I take a sniff and smile at the spices but I'm repulsed by what's under them, which I think is myrrh or balsam. These generally don't work on me, and I guess it's the case here too. After a few minutes the ugh factor subsides and I get rosewood and spices. Smells sort of like a rosewood box that someone has been keeping spices in. Also smoky, like incense. At this point I actually like it, but I can't abide the dry down! We'll have to see about this one, I may need to give it another chance. I also wonder how this would age. ETA OK, I tried this one again, and I actually like it now. I know what to expect during the dry down so I'm not as put off by it. This is in essence a very serious rose scents. This is neither dewey roses at a wedding nor hauty roses on an older woman. This is roses in a library, roses at a funeral, the damn goddamn serious roses I've smelled. It's actually very beautiful, and a nice warm winter rose what with the spices and all. It grows on you!

This is to die for I say. It reminds me a lot of traditional perfumes in that it is predominantly floral on me. A very, very well blended, light, cold, and sweet floral. I really, have not got a clue what the flowers are, but it’s beautiful. I can’t really notice the vetiver beyond the fact that there is something in there tying it all together and keeping it from getting too sweet and light. This a little masculine in the drydown phase, but when it’s settled I really wouldn’t call it a manly scent. It smells like a winter breeze when you’re walking home from work. Normally the winter scents are either mint or cucumber on me, but this is neither, and I love it! It’s also light enough to be a good work day scent. Although I may very well slather for those cold winter nights.

I've been waiting for a week to review this one because it is such a morpher. Even day to day it varies on me. sometimes I get pumpkin pie ice cream. Buttery, spicey, sweet, pumpkin with what reminds me of vanilla graham crackers. Yummy. Other days, she is really is a queen and I get something spot on for Marquise de Merteuil except with pumpkin and minus the vetiver. I like her, but I also find her a little bit cloying. I like pumpkin queen when I intentially smell my wrist, but when I get a whiff just randomly she sort of bugs me for some reason, especially when she is in her haunty mode. I'm really torn about this one! I like it, but we'll see how long she sticks around.

I couldn't put my finger on it, but after reading Angharad's review I do smell crayons! Apple scented crayons! I like this at first, and I sort of like smelling like a candle, but the mulling spices end up sort waxy on me. Ah well. I like it well enough though.

So far: all letters of recommendation packets turned into professors. One professor is done already. GRE scores were ordered today transcripts will be ordered via mail tomorrow SOP started for one school Everything else on hold until NaNoWriMo is over My deadlines aren't until January so I'm good still

I feel the same way actually. I tried the whole wiccan thing for a while, but realized I just felt stupid. Same goes for a whole of other things. I want to believe, because part of really wants these things to be real. But I know they aren't, and right when I think I've come to terms with it, I realize I still feel somewhat empty. I think tarot cards have somewhat filled that void that for just because from my perception it taps into your subconciousness, not some sort of magical power, and that allows me to both transcend the daily while still being rational. I guess my two cents are, don't feel obliged to believe in anything. If it doesn't seem rational, chances are it isn't rational. There are too many people out there who walk around blind to reality. I think we should all try to feel better about ourselves as skeptics because the world could use more of us.

As much as the prosepect of applying to schools excites me, it also scares the crap out of me I'm only applying to local schools, although I may apply to some fancy ass school like Harvard and Yale, because I chances of my getting in are slim to none anyway. I hate being on my own. My family is here. My boyfriend is here. Is it so wrong to not want to move? Rearranging the list somewhat, as UMD doesn't have any faculty in American studies who share my interests. My interests being, the policy and history surrounding childcare, and role of mothers through time. I mean obviously, my interests range like crazy. I'm also fascinated by the student movement in the US in the 1930's and plenty of other topics, which is exactly why I like interdisciplinary subjects like American studies. I'm so worried about placement after graduating through. I googled some alumni from GWU's program, and something like only 1 in 5 actually came up at all, and only in 7 as professors. eep. Granted that could mean a lot of things, but still. I would hate to do all that and not have a job to show for it! The list (again) -GWU - American studies, public policy -UMD-College Park - Women's Studies, Government (political economics), maybe history -Georgetown - Government, history and for fun, let's say Harvard and Yale for American civilization. Oh, and just to share. This is what I have to work with. GPA: 3.91 Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa GRE: 630v, 730q, 6 analytical

Thanks for the advice! I'm only applying to local schools though at the moment, so I guess I'm stuck with the tiers that are around here. I feel like I have at least two tiers, so we'll see!

This smells like fancy hair conditioner to me! I mean, I'm sure it doesn't really, it's just I had a conditioner that had this scent when I was a kid. It's soapy, and reminds me of gold dust for some reason. A very dry scent. I mean, it's dead on for the description, I just can't shake my associations with the scent from my childhood though.

I wasn't crazy about this one at first, but I'm very glad I gave it another shot. This reminds me a lot of what hamadryad used to smell like before got all piney and crazy smelling. It's a woodsey scent on me, rather like traditional perfumes in the floral notes. This is really nice, I love the woods and florals combo, especially with the spices to tie all together. It starts with a lot of lavender for me, which fades to boozy woods and a hint of florals. I just wish it were a little bit stronger. This will very possibly go on the big bottle list since I miss hamadryad so much, but we'll have to see how long it lasts on me. It's a bit faint after 3 hours so far.

Zephyr is by far my favorite light musk

oooh! love! This is like Bastet light, or Salome without that irritating herbal note. Starts of strong almond, and after about 10 minutes the spices start coming out. I can see the soapy comparison at first, but it settles very nicely into a warm, light almond spice scent. Bastet ended up being too heady for me, but I think this one just right! The florals really help mellow out the spices, and in turn, the spices stop the jasmine from going insane on my skin. On the big bottle list for sure!

I wouldn't worry about it too much! People rarely, rarely look as good in reality as they do on myspace. Most people post only their very most flattering pictures, and even then don't hesitate to photoshop them. If anything it just means that you've grown up and have a life that doesn't revolve around making people on the internet think you are hot shit.

Alright, I'm actually going to use this for something~ keeping track of my grad school aps. In short, I'm applying to PhD programs this winter before I finally bite my tounge and settle for a practical career and an MPP. So far the list is UMD-women's studies UMD-american studies GWU-american studies possibly georgetown- government but I feel this topic area may be a little out my league with my current background (a BA in economics)

Thanks for the encouragement!