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Showing results for tags 'Halloween 2011'.
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NOTHING BUT DEATH There are cemeteries that are lonely, graves full of bones that do not make a sound, the heart moving through a tunnel, in it darkness, darkness, darkness, like a shipwreck we die going into ourselves, as though we were drowning inside our hearts, as though we lived falling out of the skin into the soul. And there are corpses, feet made of cold and sticky clay, death is inside the bones, like a barking where there are no dogs, coming out from bells somewhere, from graves somewhere, growing in the damp air like tears of rain. Sometimes I see alone coffins under sail, embarking with the pale dead, with women that have dead hair, with bakers who are as white as angels, and pensive young girls married to notary publics, caskets sailing up the vertical river of the dead, the river of dark purple, moving upstream with sails filled out by the sound of death, filled by the sound of death which is silence. Death arrives among all that sound like a shoe with no foot in it, like a suit with no man in it, comes and knocks, using a ring with no stone in it, with no finger in it, comes and shouts with no mouth, with no tongue, with no throat. Nevertheless its steps can be heard and its clothing makes a hushed sound, like a tree. I'm not sure, I understand only a little, I can hardly see, but it seems to me that its singing has the color of damp violets, of violets that are at home in the earth, because the face of death is green, and the look death gives is green, with the penetrating dampness of a violet leaf and the somber color of embittered winter. But death also goes through the world dressed as a broom, lapping the floor, looking for dead bodies, death is inside the broom, the broom is the tongue of death looking for corpses, it is the needle of death looking for thread. Death is inside the folding cots: it spends its life sleeping on the slow mattresses, in the black blankets, and suddenly breathes out: it blows out a mournful sound that swells the sheets, and the beds go sailing toward a port where death is waiting, dressed like an admiral. - Pablo Neruda A dark purple river swelling with tears of rain, damp violets, and specks of bone thick with green scents that speak of mortality: black dried fruits, opopponax, moss, violet leaf and petal, tobacco absolute, saltwater accord, niaouli, and brushed sage. Wet: Wet dirt with hints of violet and water.. Drydown: Gorgeous, violet, water, and green. As it continues to dry there is the barest hint of fruit in this. And now the tobacco is starting to peek it's head out. This is a clean, violet slightly aquatic scent with some fruit and tobacco. Oddly...this is wonderful...I hope that it will age beautifully.
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BOO Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream. :ghost: This scent, for me, was exactly the same in the bottle, wet and dry on me. That's a first! The sugar and cotton are the two strong notes, with the cream adding a wonderful richness without being overpowering. I'm glad to see cream take a backseat for once, on my skin it usually turns sour. The cotton is fresh, clean, line dried in crisp spring air sheets that haven't been washed with scented detergent. It's sweet, but doesn't scream FOOD, but it does smell eerily like a marshmallow. Not a toasted marshmallow, just a straight out of the bag puffy white marshmallow. One of my favorites from the '09 Weenies, if not my favorite. :ghost:
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PUMPKIN LATTE Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Fresh from the mailbox. In the bottle: Mmm! Pumpkin with a hint of spices and a whisper of vanilla coffee. It's not super sweet. Wet on skin: Pumpkin again, of course! ^^ But I'm getting more of the cinnamon and nutmeg coming up. Dry: Pumpkin has settled down with the spices and vanilla nicely. The espresso is giving this a deep, rich almost nutty note. The cream and sugar add a milky sweetness. Later: PL stays pretty much the same for the rest of the day. Maybe with just a little bit more of the spices coming up again, but they aren't too hot or biting. Overall: This is an OMG!scent. Makes up for any regrets I had not getting PPV last year. I resniffed my decant and honestly, Pumpkin Latte puts that one in dust by PL's awesomeness. I am seriously considering another bottle of this, which I rarely do. If you're afraid of the pumpkin or coffee notes, I'd say don't be. This is a well rounded creamy spice scent with just enough sweetness to keep the spices from misbehaving. I've had it on my skin for a short time and already am completely smitten.
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THE GLITTERING APPLE OF THE STARS Heirloom Malus, ylang ylang, white and blue musks, crystallized vanilla, tiare, frangipani, and bergamot. This scent is a surprise love! I opened the bottle and got a whiff of musky, sweet apple. It's got plenty of throw and seems to be lasting really long. One tiny drop was enough so the bottle will last a long time. Very pleasant and pretty.
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Known as the Mistress of Bones and the Lady of the Dead, she is the Queen of Mictlan, the Aztec Underworld, who still presides over today's Day of the Dead rituals. Sometimes known now as La Huesuda, she brings peace and joy to the spirits of the deceased, and blesses the living who do honor to those who have passed before them. Copal, precious woods, South American spices, agave nectar, cigar tobacco, and roses. I've never done a first review before... I'm a little scared! What you shouldn't be scared of, if you dislike roses, is the rose in Mictecacihuatl. It's no more than a floral whisper beneath the resins, woods, and spices. I actually wish it were a little more floral (but then, I love me some roses). Mictecacihuatl is a lovely blend of copal (yum!) and wood (I'm not sure what kind, but I'd say NOT cedar, since that turns to hamster cage on me). The spices add a bit of kick, but they're not the sort of "dirty" spices that are in many BPAL blends, they're much lighter and cleaner. I worried that, with the nectar, tobacco, and rose, this might be too sweet, but it's really not. The sweetness just serves to make the other elements less dry. I really like this one, but I might layer it over something with a stronger rose to bring out that note. If you like woods and resins give this one a try!
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The Lady of the Graveyard! Autumn leaves, wild roses, bourbon vanilla, dry chamomile, and a bouquet of bright chrysanthemums and Mexican marigolds. Aw...I'm first? La Calavera Catrina is one of the most beautiful Autumnal scents ever. The Autumn flowers are perfectly blended, and the vanilla sweetens them up. There's a hint of rose, and chamomile, but neither one overpowers the blend. I get a hint (or more a "feel") of leaves, and they are definitely the crunchy sort that have already fallen to the ground. If you liked Flor de Muerto and Nothing Gold Can Stay, I would highly recommend this. 10/10 ETA: I just wanted to add that this has aged so beautifully and I get compliments every time I wear it. Every. Time. It has become really well blended and more perfumey which is just fine with me! Gorgeous scent and I hope I don't run out.
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Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. A celebration of the glory and suffering of the saints and matryrs of the Church. I tottered over to Black Broom to get this lovely - so glad i did! Bear with me, I really cant figure out why i love this so much, but it is really comforting and delicious! out of the bottle - smells just like Harvest Moon when you put it on - the part where it deepens into chocolatey dark corny bread. uhoh, i am hoping this isnt a mislabel! but its definately different from Harvest Moon out of the bottle, darker, softer. upon wearing - de - li - ci -ous!!!!! Its very dark and soft, i cant pick out any particular notes just see in my mind dark wood moulding, marble floor, woolen suits and maybe a little tobacco drydown - It gets a little lighter, like the florals are making a last desperate attempt to push their way through the dark softness, but then settles into a lovely softness, much like velvet but darker and smoother and lighter (is that possible! yes it is!). It has lasted a really long time on me, i put it on like 4 hours ago and i still can a sniffasniff.... This is my FAVORITE oil to date. I cannot stop sniffing my wrist in the most obsessive way! I also must state that this smells NOTHING like what i thought it would from the description!! I didnt immediatly order this when the LEs were announced because i was a little scared of the rose and gardenia aspect of All Saints - I have been having bad luck with florals lately - but whatever the "Autumn Chill" is seems like what helps it mix into something so indescibably formal, delicious and comforting! I wish it was cooler here, this is what i want my turtleneck sweaters to smell like, and makes me want to wear my glasses and a bun in my hair. In a sexy librarian way, of course! edited to add: i wore it again today and its less foody, more resinous, im feeling the church thing a lot more now. I realized that it reminds me exactly of that Claire McCardell Monastic dress, brown jersey with a hood from the 40's, severe and sexy but tres formal. Still hard to pick out any notes. Still feels lovely formal and soft, and yes, monastic.
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Ay, thou art welcome, heaven's delicious breath! When woods begin to wear the crimson leaf, And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief And the year smiles as it draws near its death. Wind of the sunny south! oh, still delay In the gay woods and in the golden air, Like to a good old age released from care, Journeying, in long serenity, away. In such a bright, late quiet, would that I Might wear out life like thee, 'mid bowers and brooks And dearer yet, the sunshine of kind looks, And music of kind voices ever nigh; And when my last sand twinkled in the glass, Pass silently from men, as thou dost pass. Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air. This is the scent I've looked forward to - some of my favorite autumn smells, all rolled into a single perfume. In the bottle, this was sharp and masculine. Ooo, very sharp. Wet, it transformed immediately to the scent of mouldering leaves, with an overtone of men's cologne. Dry, the throw is all wet, decaying leaves (which I find quite pleasant), but unfortunately, when I bring my wrist to my nose, all I smell is cheap men's cologne and a whiff of musk. On the whole, I think my skin chemistry has played me false once more.
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The fear of Halloween. Menacing Haitian vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves. In the Bottle: Ah, my beloved vetiver! And some subtle muskiness lurking beneath. On my wrist, wet: This is lovely. Warm and woody with a little bit of spiciness. The vetiver takes a back seat and lets the other notes come out to play. After 20 minutes: This is a warm, dark green scent That starts out rather strong and fades quickly to something soft and subtle. The individual notes are all present, but they reveal themselves gently. On my skin, nothing in this blend amps or battles with other notes. It's absolutely gorgeous and I will get another bottle with my next order.
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SONNET D'AUTOMNE Ils me disent, tes yeux, clairs comme le cristal: "Pour toi, bizarre amant, quel est donc mon mérite?" - Sois charmante et tais-toi! Mon coeur, que tout irrite, Excepté la candeur de l'antique animal, Ne veut pas te montrer son secret infernal, Berceuse dont la main aux longs sommeils m'invite, Ni sa noire légende avec la flamme écrite. Je hais la passion et l'esprit me fait mal! Aimons-nous doucement. L'Amour dans sa guérite, Ténébreux, embusqué, bande son arc fatal. Je connais les engins de son vieil arsenal: Crime, horreur et folie! - Ô pâle marguerite! Comme moi n'es-tu pas un soleil automnal, Ô ma si blanche, ô ma si froide Marguerite? - They say to me, your eyes, clear as crystal: "For you, bizarre lover, what is my merit then?" - Be charming and be still! My heart, which all things irk, Except the candor of the animals of old, Does not wish to reveal its black secret to you, Whose lulling hands invite me to long sleep, Nor its somber legend written with flame. I hate passion; intelligence makes me suffer! Let us love each other sweetly. Tenebrous Love, Ambushed in his shelter, stretches his fatal bow. I know all the weapons of his old arsenal: Crime, horror, and madness! - pale marguerite! Are you not, like me, an autumnal sun, O my Marguerite, so white and so cold? - Charles Baudelaire, translated by William Aggeler Tenebrous Love: a shivering white musk with vanilla-infused white cocoa, amber incense, and dead, dry leaves. This kid is biz-arre. Right onto the skin this is the crispy, decaying dried leaves note like from Death of Autumn, which I will mourn to the grave. Ooooooh, yeah. Dark, kinda moldy and acidic. My kinda thing. But then...morph...mint? What the hell? It smells like it's changing into the Last Unicorn. Now, with the Last Unicorn I blamed this minty/misty niff on the lilac, but methinks it be the white chocolate! WHY?!?! Gaaaaaah!!!! At this stage of the game, I'm not very happy. My leaves are gone and it smells a lot like lavender and chamomile baby powder and White Rabbit. Again-why? It smells...good...pleasant...like back in 05 when I wore White Rabbit and was nursing my babies...but I'm kind of freaking out. She's changed from Doc Martin's on the pavement to ballet slippers in the nursery, from fall to winter, in a matter of moments. THEN, she sweetens up and mellows out considerably, looses the "minty" and much of the "baby", and becomes more musky...sexier. Now, while it is still a sweet and cool scent, it feels a lot like a cousin of Snow White and Antique Lace. Hours later she's a wisp of clean, sweet, warm, slightly ambery vanilla musk. My kids say I smell really good. Shhh...Me and Sonnet...we are going to have to get to know each other a little better. Maybe I'm just being a gunshy freaky bitch, but I think she's...crazy. Like, she seemed really fierce and independent at first but it turns out she might be really squishy and girly. Is she putting on some kind of act? I know...I KNOW! That's a HORRIBLE thing to say. We are definitely having some issues. I'm just not used to it! I need to get used to it. I want to like her! I have every reason TO like her. She's complex, keeps me on my toes, stays close to the skin, likes to snuggle, good with the kids. It's the SHIFT, it's the mystery mint thing... It's not you, it's ME! I thought you'd be darker, creepier, more autumny. I want to get to know you...I DO! OMG! You smell GOOD! What do you WANT from ME?!?! Sigh... Let's go for a ride, bitch...I think we can work it out. It's gonna be really interesting to see how she works out for other people.
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THE VAMPIRE BRIDE "I am come-I am come! once again from the tomb, In return for the ring which you gave; That I am thine, and that thou art mine, This nuptial pledge receive." He lay like a corse 'neath the Demon's force, And she wrapp'd him in a shround; And she fixed her teeth his heart beneath, And she drank of the warm life-blood! And ever and anon murmur'd the lips of stone, "Soft and warm is this couch of thine, Thou'lt to-morrow be laid on a colder bed- Albert! that bed will be mine!" - Henry Thomas Liddell Icy skin touched by a perfume of violet leaf, white tea, olibanum, elemi, myrrh, wormwood, crypt dust, and saffron with a dribble of blood red musk. The first to review this... Wet: Red musk and the it disappears and White tea from the Unsteady Governess with the barest touches of violet begins to appear. Drydown: White tea, violet, with a dribble of red musk! Mircalla and the unsteady governess had a love child. A beautiful soft, close to the skin sexy as hell love child. The myrrh keeps it grounded and the wormwood is almost non-existent. This stuff is amazing...I see a back up in my future.
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Devil's Eve, Devil's Night, Gate Night, Trick Night, Mischief Night; whatever your name for it might be, the chaos is still the same. Contrary to popular belief, this festival of pandemonium isn't unique to Detroit. Falling on October 30th, it is an evening of mayhem and destruction. On the gentler side, it may be celebrated by practical jokes, an egging, Ding-Dong-Ditch, or enthusiastic TP'ing of your most hated neighbor's trees, and on the more violent side, arson and vandalism. This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk. Well, this is nothing like I expected. I expected it to be heavier and it's actually very light wearing on me. Beth nailed it with "autumn night" as that's what this smells like with a ever so slight hint of sugary/booziness. It is not at all too sweet or too boozy though. They are just very soft in the background. I do smell the note that I smell whenever Beth has a scent with the description "Autumn Winds". I have no idea what it is but it is very evocative of just that. When I was walking outside yesterday, it was chilly and the leaves were falling and I inhaled deeply and thought to myself "now that's an autumn air" and now I've got that in an oil but it's made even yummier with the sugar. This is really lovely and I am glad I bought more than one bottle. I don't think it resembles the Hex (can't spell it) LE at all, so I think those who speculated that this would be close may be disappointed. Although, I can smell just a tiny comparison to it. ETA: I'm noticing something spicy (almost gingerish) in this now. I don't know what it could be but this stage is really yummy. I just touched it up about an hour ago.
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THE SILVER APPLE OF THE MOON White apple with orris, agave nectar, moonflower, white sandalwood, and lotus root. Dry Apple. Not juicy. Dry and Aromatic. Ever so very slightly sweet. The Florals really are also just a whisper on my skin.
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MARSHMALLOW PUMPKIN Marshmallow goo and pumpkin pulp! If you have the Marshmallow Pumpkin scent from last year then you already know what you're getting here... it's marshmallow-y goodness with a bit of spice. I use my bath oils as body oils after my shower. I'm so happy to have a lathering product to use with the scent oil. and the label art is fabulous. The cartoon girl is wearing BPAL socks!
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THE GOLDEN APPLE OF THE SUN Golden apple with amber, hibiscus, carnation, frankincense, golden spiced tea, ginger, and champaca flower. As soon as I saw Golden Apple of the Sun, I absolutely had to have it. I bought a full bottle completely unsniffed and I do not regret it one tiny bit. Golden Apple is a little confounding, but in the most amazing way. It smells clean, crisp and warm all at the same time. In the bottle, the crispness is more apparent and the apple skin is stronger. On the skin, the florals and the amber come through more. The way this oil smells is perfectly in unison with the way that it smells. Overall, I give this scent an A for Apple-y Amazingness.
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HALLOWEEN: LAS VEGAS Ah, love, let us be true To one another! for the world, which seems To lie before us like a land of dreams, So various, so beautiful, so new, Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; And we are here as on a darkling plain Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, Where ignorant armies clash by night. On Halloween in 2007, surrounded by our loved ones, I married the man of my dreams in Las Vegas. True to the nature of our relationship, it was a costumed event - a pirate-themed wedding - and it was as merry, strange, and wonderful as a Halloween wedding should be. Ted, I love you. You are the poetry in my soul, you are the dreams of my heart. You are everything I need, and I love you with a passion that transcends all time, space, and logic. The aftermath of piratical nuptials: walls smeared with red and black frosting, copious amounts of spilled red wine, the leftover contents of three full bars, dry leaves and desert flowers crushed into carpet, tobacco smoke, and champaca incense in a cloud of body-heat amped Snake Oil and Dorian. It has been a few hours but this still lingers nicely. Halloween in Las Vegas (is what it says on the label) is a nice blend. This is VERY reminiscent of Cake Smash on me, but unlike Cake Smash, this actually works. In the bottle this is Delicious cake and frosting mixed with ripe and delicious dark fruits. Once on this edges on the play-dough edge that makes Cake Smash not work for me, but as it dries down, it looses the play-dough! yay! I don't get a lot of frosting from this blend (oddly enough) but I do get the red velvet cake, and faint hints of that dark fruit (must be the booze?) peeking through. On me, I don't get any actual "alcohol" note, if you were worried. I also can't really sense the Dorian or really anything else... except maybe a little incense in the background which keeps it from getting too sweet. This is definitely a hit! Eta: almost 7 years later this is still a wonder. Sweet frosting, non boozy wine, a hit of tobacco and incense. Hedonistic revelry. Love.
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AUTUMN CIDER Fermented apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, lemon zest, butterscotch liquor, and orange slices. I love this one! I's defnitely sweet apple but much more interesting with the spices and then as it dries down it starts to develop something almost slightly sour under the surface. It's great for me, just like Halloween, sort of sweet, but with a bite underneath.
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ELEGY IX: THE AUTUMNAL No spring nor summer Beauty hath such grace As I have seen in one autumnall face. Young beauties force our love, and that's a rape, This doth but counsel, yet you cannot 'scape. If 'twere a shame to love, here 'twere no shame, Affection here takes Reverence's name. Were her first years the Golden Age; that's true, But now she's gold oft tried, and ever new. That was her torrid and inflaming time, This is her tolerable Tropique clime. Fair eyes, who asks more heat than comes from hence, He in a fever wishes pestilence. Call not these wrinkles, graves; if graves they were, They were Love's graves; for else he is no where. Yet lies not Love dead here, but here doth sit Vowed to this trench, like an Anachorit. And here, till hers, which must be his death, come, He doth not dig a grave, but build a tomb. Here dwells he, though he sojourn ev'ry where, In progress, yet his standing house is here. Here, where still evening is; not noon, nor night; Where no voluptuousness, yet all delight In all her words, unto all hearers fit, You may at revels, you at counsel, sit. This is Love's timber, youth his under-wood; There he, as wine in June enrages blood, Which then comes seasonabliest, when our taste And appetite to other things is past. Xerxes' strange Lydian love, the Platane tree, Was loved for age, none being so large as she, Or else because, being young, nature did bless Her youth with age's glory, Barrenness. If we love things long sought, Age is a thing Which we are fifty years in compassing; If transitory things, which soon decay, Age must be loveliest at the latest day. But name not winter-faces, whose skin's slack; Lank, as an unthrift's purse; but a soul's sack; Whose eyes seek light within, for all here's shade; Whose mouths are holes, rather worn out than made; Whose every tooth to a several place is gone, To vex their souls at Resurrection; Name not these living deaths-heads unto me, For these, not ancient, but antique be. I hate extremes; yet I had rather stay With tombs than cradles, to wear out a day. Since such love's natural lation is, may still My love descend, and journey down the hill, Not panting after growing beauties so, I shall ebb out with them, who homeward go. - John Donne Red maplewood, plum leaves, fir needle, wildflower honey, patchouli, hazelnut, and green cognac. I'll be honest, I didn't like this when I tried it yesterday. But I knew I wanted to try it again today. It's a strange scent but I am compulsively bringing my wrist up to my nose, like I can't leave it alone. The throw from a foot away is really nice, yet it becomes odd when sniffing up close. Yesterday I thought smelled very weird, metallic or something. But this may be that wonderful kind of scent that I don't like at first but end up loving in the end. So what does it smell like? I am thinking of a green ectoplasmic mist in a dewy forest. None of the notes stands out; it all seems very balanced. If I concentrate, I can pick out the honey and fir, and possibly patchouli. The balance is a little more fir than wildflowers, and for that reason, I think some people might call this masculine, whereas I think it is completely unisex. It really isn't girly but it's not exactly dude-fume either. : ) I always thought Samhain had a hidden note of honey, and that is what this honey reminds me of.....Samhain but with a shot of green, and something like the sake note in Men Ringing Bells. There's something almost fruity but I think that might be the cognac. It almost seems like it should be a spring scent, but it's not....it's very much a fall scent despite the green-ness. It's like an early fall morning when you wake up and realize it's getting cold already, and even though summer is still in the air, you can't deny that autumn is on the way. Still not sure if I love it. I'm curious about what others will think of it.
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LE REVENANT Comme les anges à l'oeil fauve, Je reviendrai dans ton alcôve Et vers toi glisserai sans bruit Avec les ombres de la nuit; Et je te donnerai, ma brune, Des baisers froids comme la lune Et des caresses de serpent Autour d'une fosse rampant. Quand viendra le matin livide, Tu trouveras ma place vide, Où jusqu'au soir il fera froid. Comme d'autres par la tendresse, Sur ta vie et sur ta jeunesse, Moi, je veux régner par l'effroi. - - - Like angels with wild beast's eyes I shall return to your bedroom And silently glide toward you With the shadows of the night; And, dark beauty, I shall give you Kisses cold as the moon And the caresses of a snake That crawls around a grave. When the livid morning comes, You'll find my place empty, And it will be cold there till night. I wish to hold sway over Your life and youth by fear, As others do by tenderness. -- Charles Baudelaire, translation by William Aggeler. A shroud of gardenia, narcissus, and sandalwood with ambrette seed, white cognac, muguet, davana, and white musk. On me, this is almost all white musk, all the time with a touch of high white florals. I was hoping for that rich cognac smell, but I don't get any of that.
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GHOSTS IN LOVE "Tell me, where do ghosts in love Find their bridal veils?" "If you and I were ghosts in love We'd climb the cliffs of Mystery, Above the sea of Wails. I'd trim your gray and streaming hair With veils of Fantasy From the tree of Memory. 'Tis there the ghosts that fall in love Find their bridal veils." - Vachel Lindsay White sandalwood, tobacco flower, lily of the valley, white carnation, and magnolia blossom with tea rose, labdanum, and oudh. First impressions were that it was a very light and mildly soapy. While it was wet on the skin, it kept that soapy quality, but as it dries, seemed to be less flowery-soap and more damp florals with a touch of sweetness. It reminds me very much of Niflheim, but I'm not sure if is that similar smelling or that the two just evoke the same feel for me. I'll have to do sniff tests with my bottle of Niflheim when I get home. I don't really notice the sandalwood in the blend, which is good for me since I'm not a big fan of the note and it kind of had me on the fence as far as ordering a bottle of this or not. The rose also doesn't seem to stand out, which is nice as I tend to amp rose so much it drowns out some other notes - though since this is white rose, it is probably not as bad. This scent stays very close to the skin and is very, very light. Because of this, this scent doesn't feel like it has a lot of staying power. I can smell it now a few hours after application if I put my wrist right up against my nose, but I don't still smell it like I would with a stronger blend - though admittedly this could be because I tend to apply scents I'm testing quite sparingly. Overall, I really like and light, damp floral scent it has - the only drawback for me is that it just doesn't seem to last as long. If you missed out on Niflheim before it was dced, this would be a good one to get if you don't mind a bit of a soapy phase as it dries.
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ARAW NG MGA PATAY The first half of Undas, this is the Day of the Dead in the Philippines. It is a time to remember those who have passed before you, and to do honor to your ancestors. Crypts are whitewashed, cemetery plots are weeded, cleaned, groomed, and decorated with bushels of bright flowers. Offerings of sweets are made to the departed and shared with the living, and toasts are made in remembrance. A cheerful, raucous celebration of life and death: bouquets overflowing with gerbera daisies, waling waling, sampaguita, ylang ylang, hibiscus, night-blooming dama de noche, santan, and everlasting flower with piles upon piles of bibingka, ube halaya, rice muffins, champorado, purple yam cake, and turon, and plates of gooey kalabasa leche flan. Araw Ng Mga Patay - In the bottle, this smells like boozy banana and flan and rice cakes and all sorts of deliciousness. I couldn't believe it didn't seem to be more popular, because it's so foody and sweet and delicious. However, the moment I put it on my skin, another note comes out that I can't smell in the bottle. It's sour and bitter and I've never smelled anything like it before. As it warms up on my skin, that bitter sourness gets stronger and stronger until it has completely overwhelmed every other note in the scent. I have no idea what it is, as there are so many exotic ingredients I've never heard of before. Whatever it is, it smells almost sweetly rancid, like decaying flesh, and it makes me gag. I'm so sorry the first review of this scent couldn't be more positive, but it's just a terribly foul scent on my skin. I washed it off after about 45 minutes because I just couldn't stand it any more.
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A NOCTURNAL REVERIE In such a night, when every louder wind Is to its distant cavern safe confined; And only gentle Zephyr fans his wings, And lonely Philomel, still waking, sings; Or from some tree, famed for the owl's delight, She, hollowing clear, directs the wand'rer right: In such a night, when passing clouds give place, Or thinly veil the heav'ns' mysterious face; When in some river, overhung with green, The waving moon and trembling leaves are seen; When freshened grass now bears itself upright, And makes cool banks to pleasing rest invite, Whence springs the woodbind, and the bramble-rose, And where the sleepy cowslip sheltered grows; Whilst now a paler hue the foxglove takes, Yet checkers still with red the dusky brakes When scattered glow-worms, but in twilight fine, Shew trivial beauties watch their hour to shine; Whilst Salisb'ry stands the test of every light, In perfect charms, and perfect virtue bright: When odors, which declined repelling day, Through temp'rate air uninterrupted stray; When darkened groves their softest shadows wear, And falling waters we distinctly hear; When through the gloom more venerable shows Some ancient fabric, awful in repose, While sunburnt hills their swarthy looks conceal, And swelling haycocks thicken up the vale: When the loosed horse now, as his pasture leads, Comes slowly grazing through th' adjoining meads, Whose stealing pace, and lengthened shade we fear, Till torn-up forage in his teeth we hear: When nibbling sheep at large pursue their food, And unmolested kine rechew the cud; When curlews cry beneath the village walls, And to her straggling brood the partridge calls; Their shortlived jubilee the creatures keep, Which but endures, whilst tyrant man does sleep; When a sedate content the spirit feels, And no fierce light disturbs, whilst it reveals; But silent musings urge the mind to seek Something, too high for syllables to speak; Till the free soul to a composedness charmed, Finding the elements of rage disarmed, O'er all below a solemn quiet grown, Joys in th' inferior world, and thinks it like her own: In such a night let me abroad remain, Till morning breaks, and all's confused again; Our cares, our toils, our clamors are renewed, Or pleasures, seldom reached, again pursued. - Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea Violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense. This is my first review of a BPAL scent so here goes nothing! In the bottle all I smell is Lavender. Wet on my skin is pretty much the same. As it dries I begin to smell more of the violet musk and ambergris. Completely dry I smell the violet musk, ambergris, and a tiny bit of lavender. There is also something mysterious and beautiful that I can't really identify; probably a combination of the other scents I can't pick out individually as I am not to familiar with them. This is my first Halloween scent and I purchased it unsniffed hoping for the best... And that is exactly what I got! This is a soft, mysterious, and beautiful scent. Bravo!
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PUMPKIN PRINCESS Before the Grand Dame was the Pumpkin Queen, she was a Pumpkin Princess! Bright, sweet pumpkin with vanilla fluff, guava, chocolate-dusted white amber, tiare, red currant, raw honey, and meringue. Oh- goodness, am I the first to review? Wonderful! I have been waiting for this to come in the mail, oh joy! I have been craving a beautiful autumn scent- the leaves are yellowing here in Pennsylvania. The label art for this is pretty featuring a girl in a big bright pumpkin patch. In the bottle- Big, Warm, Pumpkin. On my skin- Pumpkin, but this is not a spicy pumpkin pie but more of a fruit scent. Amber and Red Currant show up and lend more warmth. There is something that smells like caramel. in a few minutes, this morphs into something unexpected but a pleasant surprise- on my this becomes a tropical floral. (I love, love LOVE tropical florals). I was expecting something more like Jack, or something that smelled like pumpkin cheesecake but this is not that at all. The pumpkin in here is not entirely unlike Jack but this is more ambery/sexy than straight up food. My skin tends to eat foodiness and amp florals, amber and sandalwood, so this is not particularly sweet on me. I would be interested to know if others have a similar reaction. Must be the tiare. drydown- This is mostly gardenias and amber, with some harmonious pumpkin and fruit notes. Very sweet, warm and is somehow both autumn- appropriate and tropical. The amber in this is lovely, it's a "glowing" sort of scent. I can see the "princess" title, this sexy but more sweet than vampy. On me though oddly enough it is nowhere near as foody as the notes would indicate. Strange. My complaints is just that it fades somewhat quickly. I will be keeping the bottle- this may be a slatherer.
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JOHN BARLEYCORN There was three men come out o' the west their fortunes for to try, And these three men made a solemn vow, John Barleycorn must die, They plowed, they sowed, they harrowed him in, throwed clods upon his head, And these three men made a solemn vow, John Barleycorn was dead. Barley, beer, blood, and whiskey. In the bottle, beer. I like the sheaf of grain on the bottle as well. Wet on me, beer, barley, the whiff of whiskey, and just a slight tang of salt that might be the blood. Drying, the scent settles into mostly barley and beer.I do get a whiff of the whiskey every once in a while though. The whiskey is more apparent in the throw, and the barley is most apparent on the skin. It's a simple scent, and basic. Also very very tasty. I'm a sucker for the scent of beer, grains and breads. I like this scent, and I only have two complaints. One is that it could be stronger. I suppose this might be a good thing if you didn't want to smell too strongly of alchohol. The second is that it doesn't last nearly long enough. But, long enough would be all day long for me. I suppose I'll just have to slather and reapply.
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THE BLACK APPLE OF SATURN Dried Arkansas black apple, opoponax, cypress, myrrh, tobacco absolute, quince, black musk, and galbanum. I just received this yesterday so maybe it needs to take some time in the bottle to rest. Brand new out of the box it was very powdery, powder being one of my death notes. After a day I put a little bit on and unfortunately I'm not getting much apple from this one. It has lost some of teh powder but I had wanted more apple and less of the other stuff. This one is a disappointment for me. meh.
