ralenth

Wet: Vanilla bean drenched in a soft musk. Drydown: It almost smells like mallow. Celeste remains musky and sweetly flecked vanilla bean. As it dries further, the blend becomes more softly feminine in its muskiness. It's simultaneously genteel and seductive. Dry: Pleasantly sweet vanilla without being too foody. There are occasional tinges of a soft floral, but Celeste remains primarily a vanilla-centric blend.

Wet: Sweet orange and sticky rice. Drydown: As it dries, it remains a cheerful buoyant citrus, but is underscored by a soft resin. Dry: An hour later, it has morphed into cat pee. How sad!

Wet: Dark, grassy vetiver over a bed of fallen leaves. I see the comparison to Gore Shock, as this feels like a very similar vetiver note, but without the less appealing aspects of Gore Shock. Drydown: A smokiness manifests on the drydown, but it is still dominated by vetiver. It almost has a sooty coal quality to it for a bit, but then slides back into a more smoky feel. Dry: A pleasantly subtle smoky vetiver with whispers of a sweet vanilla. This definitely is a lovely marriage between the fallen leaves note, and the vetiver, but isn't overly aggressive or masculine. It definitely smells like autumn.

Wet: Deliciously, dark vetiver. Drydown: Vetiver is still dominant, but as it dries, red roses burgeon underneath, swelling into the dark crevices. There is a brief flash of a powdery note, but it dissipates quickly. Dry: A lovely blend of vetiver and rose. Normally, red rose and I aren't friendly, but this is quite lovely.

Initially, Pink Mood is very much straight up anise, but it softens over time. Dry, it is a delicate pink floral wrapped over black jellybeans.

Wet: Cool frosted jasmine tinged by earthy carrot seed. Drydown: The earthiness subsides, and I am left with an icy, almost ozone-wrapped jasmine. Dry: Mellow sweet jasmine. The overall impression is very light, and sweet, with tinges of a chilliness.

Wet: Sagey lavender with tinges of vetiver. Drydown: Juicy blackberry takes over. The sage curls around the edges, and there is a hint of smoke. Dry: Soft, slightly smoky blackberry with hints of sage. Overall: This is pleasant and sweet without being overly foody.

Wet: Dark dusty resins with tinges of sweetness. Drydown: As it dries, cedar dominates, but then the rose sidles out. She is a classic red rose, which turns green and thorny with my skin chemistry. Dry: Beauty smells like a more feminine take on a Western. Tobacco and cedar sawdust on the floor interplay with the rose.

Wet: Juicy petitgrain with tinges of vetiver. Drydown: As it dries, the vetiver comes to the fore. This is a sweeter, more tempered vetiver than in the Haitian Vetiver SN from fall 2012. The are bright flashes of the orangey petitgrain. There is a little bit of the currant peeking though as time goes on. Dry: Softly orange with vetiver intertwined. The vanilla is faint, rounding out the scent. The throw is minimal. Overall impressions: Three French Hens is nicely balanced. Vetiver and I are often friends, but I don't find it overpowers this blend at all. Three French Hens is slightly sweet without being overly foody. I think this could be a good gateway to vetiver if you're curious.

09/12/17 Here's a great local soapmaker I love--y'all see anything you would like? https://littleseedfarm.com/ The Clay & Kefir, Vanilla Bean, and the Geranium Rose bars might benefit my skin. Also, I always like lip balms. What are your favorite/preferred Halloween/autumn icons/images? Any to specifically stay away from? I like black cats, bats, sugar skulls, and owls. Do you eat candy, and if so would Halloween candy be welcome? Specialty candy from local or unusual sources? Chocolate? I do. I love chocolate, and weird candy. 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 are a teacher's nemesis. I don't need one. Any zentangle lovers, people who would like to try it, or would you want a piece of someone else's zentangle art? No, thank you. Any love of hair toys, clips, ribbons, fascinators, mini hats, etc? I just cut my hair very short this week. What local goodies may be of interest? Local Honey, jams,candy? Ooo, honey. I love regional foods. Are you interested in any prescription services like serial magazines, Birch box, ipsy? I get the Sephora Box and BoomBox, but neither is really floating my boat these days. Would you like funky Halloweenie costume makeup like Gothic eyelashes, nail effects, black lipstick, etc.? No. I love Halloween, but cheaper makeup destroys my skin. How do you like to listen to music? CD, 8 track tape, mix tape, Pandora or Spotify, I-tunes? I play a lot of music through Youtube at work, and Spotify at home. Do you prefer reading on Kindle or actual book? What kind of books do you like? Would you like to be surprised with a scary, classic, horror book? I have a Nook, but I love physical books too! I like fantasy and sci-fi most often, but I am a voracious reader. 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? I bought a Yankee Candle frosted glass votive holder that had a cat on it. It gets moved between upstairs and downstairs a lot. I do not have a tart or incense burner. EO diffusers do not work in our outlets. Witchee: are you interested in crafting materials? My classroom kiddos have been requesting that I teach them origami as a "bonus." I am currently out of origami paper though. 09/11/17 I'm in Japan, is there anything specific from here you would want? I love Japanese food and candy. I am also mildly obsessed with matcha. How do you feel about nail wraps? I have some from Espionage. I wish I could get a top coat to work well with them. They seem to be more trouble than just painting my nails. If you were to receive something hand knit, what type of item would you like? hat, cowl, handwarmers, etc. and what color(s)? - would you use knitted washcloths? a scarf? Are you allergic or sensitive to any fibers? My skin can be sensitive to harsh fibers. I would use anything you lovingly made with pride. If you could be ANY character from a film, TV show or book, who would it be and why? River Song because her sass appeals to me. If you could hop into a time machine and travel anywhere/anytime, where would it be and why? Ancient Rome, but mostly because I spent forever studying it. If you could invite 3 famous people to a BPAL meet and sniff, who would invite? Can I invite Beth, Ted and Lilith? I think they're be pretty entertaining to hang out with. Do you like and/or want anything from Elements and Artifacts? You can be vague like "yes" or "no" or name specific past pieces you coveted or current ones you love, whatever works best. No, thank you. Would you like something hand sewn by your Witch? A dress, shirt, skirt, infinity scarf, something else? I would be honored if my witch made something. Anyone want any kind of costuming accessories or makeup or odds and ends? I am apparently headed to a masquerade. I am apprehensive. 09/10/17 Are there any hobbies or crafts you've been thinking of trying, but haven't had the chance yet? No. Would you want to receive a custom spell kit or magical tea? If so, what purpose would you want it to be for? Banishing negativity, perhaps. Do you like poetry? Yep! Anyone like handmade critters, stuffed animals, or custom repaints? I always think that handmade critters/stuffed animals are super cute, but so does my cat. He especially likes to eat felted things. Would you enjoy any designer/specialty yarn for your own craftyness? No. Please provide wishes from the last two updates. Halloween: Dead Leaves and Pink Peppercorn; Dead Leaves, Coconut, and Champaca Blossom; Dead Leaves, Tuscan Leather, White Amber, and Mimosa Blossom; Chiroptophobia; Nebulaphobia; Groan of Mortal Terror; The Dead Hour of the Night; The Wild Audacity of My Perfect Triumph; You Fancy Me Mad Lilith: Admete; Cemetery Creep; Closet Raid; Dancing Among the Tombs; Do All the Good You Can;, Ego Sum Lux Mundi; NYC Snowball Fight; Paying Her Respects; Potamides; Storyboard: The Tempest; The Goddess of Mischief; Valuable, Powerful, Deserving; Vampire Princess Other wishes: Lordy, SN: Flor de Maga 09/09/17 Would you be interested in things from Future Primitive? (http://futureprimitivesoap.co.uk/) Their bath stuff looks amazing. I have a bath addiction. Are there any UK things you'd like to get? I hear the chocolate is better, but nothing specific. I do love Doctor Who and Harry Potter, though. Are you into podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Would you like any merch related to any of them? I used to listen to the Nerdist, but haven't been lately. I don't need merch, though. Would you like something from Nui Cobalt Designs (https://nuicobaltdesigns.com/)? I'm always fascinated by this site, but haven't purchased anything yet. I've been eyeing the Clean Slate and Road Opener Bath Spells. Or maybe some of Christina's lovely Halloween candles at Sihaya & Co. (https://www.sihayaan...lection-candles)? They look lovely. I do love the sound of The Patapsco Female Institute and Fortune Teller: Ogham. ILNP? Who would love one of their awesome holos like MEGA or one of their amazing chromes? http://www.ilnp.com/ They're really pretty. I would love something more cool neutralish (but I do love crazy colors too - there are so gorgeous bright ones) like Chleo, Ballet Slipper, or Sweet Pea. 09/08/17 Do you enjoy stationery? I'm thinking cute/quality notebooks, washi tape, stickers, fun pens etc. I do like stationery. I love writing letters, and have a real weakness for stickers and stamps. Nice pens are my absolute kryptonite though. Are you interested in anything from Cocoa Pink? I've used CP Shampoo, Conditioner and Scrubs in the past. Some scents that look interesting are Harlequin Mask, Lucid Dreaming, Nate, Rebellion, and Zombie Apocalypse. In the past, I have liked The Enchanted, Green Tea, and the Un-Red as well. - Or Haus of Gloi? LE: My absolute favorite is Beguiled (a summer scent). I keep forgetting to get more until after it is gone EVERY time. However, I see there are leftovers, but omg, I need to get ready for work. Please, please, please, let me remember this later. From this update, Grimoire, Spider Silk, and the Horseman intrigue me. I need to message them about ze cinnamon to check though. GC: I know already like Depravity (haha, I know, so me), Imp, and Satyr. Eudemonia and Litchi Milk Tea also look promising. Products I like: Pretty much all of it, but especially the scrubs. I adore the softness of the bubbling scrubs. Would you be interested in a Halloween wreath? I was looking at a Dia de los Muertos wreath in Michaels, but it was ugly as all get out, and had no marigolds in it. I wouldn't mind a spooky wreath. I adore black cats, ravens, and sugar skulls. If the bf objects, I can always hang it on my classroom door. Have you seen this: https://www.bustle.c...llection-80733? (Lush Halloween collection.) And what would you like? Well, as the owner of an adorable house panther, black kitty things always make the list. I also noticed some grapefruit scented things returning this year (I see you Monster's Ball and Ectoplasm), which I am always delighted with. 09/07/17 Are you interested in anything from the Moonalisa Halloween update? I adore Moona's scrubs and bath salts, but I've used some of her other products as well. Some of the scents that looked promising were: Cassandra's Cauldron, Full Moon, Smoldering Havana Charmer, Sweetgrass and Smoke, Witches Milk, The Witching Hour, and Green Witch. I haven't ordered anything yet, but I usually ask if there's any cinnamon in what I'm interested in first. I'm not usually a foodie lover, but I tend to make exceptions for scrubs. What are your coffee and/or tea preferences? - Coffee: whole beans or ground? Whole beans. - Flavor and roast preferences? I tend to drink low acidity medium roasts, but I'm usually good with anything light or medium. I love the taste of a dark roast, but sometimes they upset my stomach. - Tea: black, green, herbal, flavors? Mmm, yes, tea. I could use more in the herbal department, but I like tea in general. My favorite tea shop back home was called Souvia. - Loose leaf or tea bags? Either is fine. - Anything specific you don't like? No cinnamony teas (looking at you chai) due to allergies. - Are you in need of any gadgetry? Sometimes, I use those fillable tea bags. I used to have a cute infuser, but it ran away in the last move. The ball-shaped ones never seem to keep the tea out of my cup. 09/06/17 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? That would be super neat! I think a large box or the imp tin would be most useful, but honestly, I'd appreciate anything at all in the BPAL storage department. I have a problem! Who is into K-Beauty? What are your faves if you are? I am obsessed with sheet masks. I have also done the double cleanse, but have gotten a little lazy lately. What are some NEW things you've gotten interested in this year? Could be anything, from a new hobby, new genre of book, new healthy way of living, new fav brand of whatever... I have been exploring the paleo diet, but I am not strict at all. Merely curious... 09/05/17 What are your feelings about Scooby Doo? My mom loves it, so I saw it a lot as a kid. Now, I kind of wonder about what it was trying to teach me. Ah, overthinking everything, per the usual... How do you feel about indie makeup (read: loose eyeshadow, blush, highlighter)? I enjoy it. As a very talented flusher, I don't tend to buy blushes, but pretty much everything else is fair game. I don't wear much in the way of loose glitter either. I prefer more natural products. I drink this stuff almost everyday would anyone else be interested in trying it out? https://www.criobru.com/ I'm always up for adventures in the food department. 09/04/17 Would you like one of the Halloween Teeturtle shirts? https://www.teeturtl...alloween?page=1 Spooky Kitties and Spellbound are super cute, but I don't really need any more tee shirts. I will admit that Boo Sheet made me laugh loudly.

Wet: Lusciously fruity and sweet with a hint of crushed petals. No distinct notes jump out at me here. Drydown: A little plummy, and tinges of violet. Lots of unindentified notes are still swirling in the mix. Dry: A softly floral dusky plum. Overall: Quite pretty, though not my usual style.

Wet: Frankincense and rose. Drydown: As she dries, the jasmine swirls into the mix. It gets spicier as time passes, which must be the cinnamon coming into play. The frankincense mellows, and the rose all but disappears as it develops. Dry: Muted frankincense with soft blooms of jasmine. There are still tinges of spiciness. The throw is minimal.

Jasmine dominates, but honeysuckle and creaminess round the blend out. Headily feminine. About thirty minutes after application, a sour milk note peeks through, but it settles back down to sweet cream about another fifteen minutes. An hour after application, Eostre is a soft cream with a hint of floral. There is no trace of the initial brazen jasmine. I loved the wet and drydown stages on my skin, but dry Eostre would make a perfectly inoffensive, feminine office scent. I wish she had stayed a little more "Hello, Miss Jasmine and Honeysuckle." Her final phase reminds me a lot of Nonae Caprotina, but with a soft floral instead of fig and myrrh.

HELLBOY Aftershave, candy wrappers, brimstone, and cat. At first, Hellboy is a sweet, almost powdery aftershave. As it dries, a bit of smokiness comes out, but is still predominantly the sweet cologne. Then, out of nowhere comes this crazy litterbox smell. Whoa. I was expecting fluffy kittens, not this. Then the cologne takes back over and it's all baby powder and aftershave again. I wanted to love it, but clearly my skin does not agree. ETA: After an hour, it chilled out to a nice, subtle masculine aroma. After six hours, it was still hanging out. It's nice and neutral if I can make it through the first hour.

Soft, beautiful balance of beeswax and ho wood. It feels almost floral with a tinge of myrrh.

On me, Ghost Houses is mostly magnolia with a tinge of dewy grass. It is soft, sweet, and lovely.

Bottle: Sweet red wine with hints of vetiver. Wet: Vetiver sweetened slightly by hints of the wine in the background. Drydown: The balance shifts, and the wine hums softly, underscored by hints of resinous musk and a teensy bit of vetiver. Come back, vetiver, come back. Dry: Soft, and faintly boozy wine. Very little of my friends, resin and vetiver, to speak of here. Pretty, but ultimately not me.

Bottle: Fruity sweetness that is reminiscent of Fun Dip. Wet: Grape and bubble gum candy floss. Tooth achingly sweet. Drydown: A sort of light candied floral. This is hard to pin down, but it is sweet, and wispy. Very light, and hugs the skin closely. Dry: It's almost a candied sweetpea. Delicate, and innocent.

Bottle: Ethereal aquatic, with underlying cool greenery. Wet: Pale florals and soft aquatic. If mist could be distilled, it might smell like this. Drydown: As she dries, the green notes bell out, and a hint of musk and stone peep out from the mists. The musk grows warm, and furry (like a feminine Rat Speakers), and then calms down again. Dry: Reminds me of Danube a bit, but a muskier older sister who has a thing for marble. Overall: Unfortunately, Sarah makes me sneeze. She is lovely, but she will have to go live elsewhere.

Aged since 11/2011. Bottle: Intense resinous floral. Wet: Aggressive, yet feminine. Drydown: She gets sweeter on the drydown, but the predominant notes are a visceral musk and amber-tinged vanilla. Dry: Sweet, complex, but completely gorgeous. It is reminscent of blending Clockwork Couture: Male and Clockwork Couture: Female together.

Bottle: Warm, muted resins with a vegetal tinge. Wet: Reminscent of Rat Speakers, but rolled around in some jungle foliage. Warm, snuggly. Drydown: It barrels straight down Powder Lane. It's a musky powder, but still a powder. Dry: Achievement unlocked: baby powder single note.

Bottle: Peppery soft musk. Wet: Straight up spicy peppercorns. Achievement unlocked: secret pepper single note. Drydown: The peppercorns dissipate rather quickly, leaving behind a soft skin musk with hints of basalm and a faint pepperiness. Dry: The end result is a sweet muskiness that clings to the skin with a teensy bit of spice. This is much nicer than I was expecting from its initial stages.

Bottle 122: At first, 122 is muted fermented purple grape. It is very soft, but strikes me as being halfway on the way to wine. On the drydown, there are hints of red rose. As it dries, the rose becomes the dominant characteristic, but the effect is very mellow. Overall, on my skin it is very muted with minimal throw.

Bottle 91: At first, 91 is fizzy lime soda with a muted buttery foodiness underneath. On the drydown, there is a faint aquatic note that dissipates quickly. Once it has dried, it has melded into a creamy lime citrus scent. It is very light and refreshing.

Wet: Lavender tempered with silky vanilla. Oh, this has aged well! Drydown: A slightly muskier cousin of Dorian, light and airily sweet. Dry: This is much closer to aged Dorian than aged Snake Oil on my skin. It has a slight depth that my Dorian does not have. Verdict: I like this, but I am not sure if it is different enough from my aged Dorian to hang onto it.