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Yule breakdown (initial)

Wheee! Keeping in mind, we still have an anniversary update coming.   OAK MOON – Eternally evolving, blooming in power and grace: acorns, oak leaves, oak bark, and oak sap rising through a mist of traditional lunar oils. Yes! I'm pretty sure I need this. One of my favorite perfumes is Chene by Serge Lutens, so Oak Moon is kind of a no-brainer for me, hope I really like it.   ++ YULE 2011 AUTUMN AND WINTER 2011 – Bitter currant and dry leaves. Winter wind at dusk. Hated this last year, smelled like piercing bathroom cleaner. Sorry.   CHANUKKIYAH 2011 – Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig. One of those things that I've always wanted to try, but never got around to. Decant, maybe.   CLOTH OF GOLD – Vibrant yellow petals bursting exultantly through a patch of snow. I never really fall in love with the snow and flower scents, probably pass on this one.   DIABLE EN BOÎTE 2011 – A strangely sinister, unnerving holiday scent: redwood, bitter clove, tonka, hemp accord, and tobacco with peach blossom, black currant, and red musk. The notes look interesting, can't remember why I wasn't interested before. Will have to look up some reviews.   DUST OF SNOW – Snowflakes and hemlock leaves with snowdrop, iris, and Peruvian lily. Sounds soapy, especially the lily. Pass.   EGG NOG 2011 – Sweet brandy, dark rum, heavy cream, sugar, and a dash of nutmeg. I have an older decant, smells like slightly spicy air on me. Pass.   FROST AT MIDNIGHT – The liberating glory of nature, a celebration of wildness of spirit: fierce musk and immortelle, clary sage and oud, terebinth pine and ambrette seed, ivy and tobacco, honeysuckle and orange blossom. Sounds interesting, might be a bit harsh. Will watch for reviews.   GELT 2011 – A bounty of chocolate coins! Dry cocoa and golden amber! I can safely pass!   HALÔA 2011 – Wine grapes, pomegranate, myrrh, frankincense and olive leaf, and the warm scent of offertory cakes. I have enough of this, especially since I never wear it. I like it, though. Pass this time.   JACOB’S LADDER 2011 – The meeting of Heaven and Earth: golden amber, galbanum, benzoin, ambrette, rockrose, costus and tonka. Maybe it's time to try this again, since my tastes have changed so much since I first tried it in '06. I'll have to think about it.   JÓLASVEINAR 2011 – Their scent is a mishmash of snow, dirt, Icelandic moss, marsh felwort, and the smushed petals of buttercups and moorland spotted orchids, with the barest hint of the scent of pilfered Christmas pastries. Another one that I have, like, and never wear. What's up with that?? Pass this year unless the reviews are really different.   LICK IT DISCREETLY – This year's minty double ententre! A sticky, chilly peppermint candy cane with sweet vanilla and an extra jolt of sugar. What will we see next year, Lick It On The Down Low?? LOL! Pass, not my thing.   MAISON EN PAIN D'ÉPICES – This is the scent of a freshly assembled gingerbread house, with swirls of multicolored icing, spice drop lights, meringue snow, pinwheel mint accents, chocolate roof tiles, candy wafer pavers, and jelly candy stained glass. We used a French translation for ‘gingerbread house’ as the name to make it sound fancier. French adds +40% Fancy! Well, this is a possibility, but it's one of those things that sounds good, but I may end up not wearing. Will have to think about it.   MIDNIGHT MASS 2011 – This perfume is a traditional Roman Catholic sacramental incense, most often used during a Solemn Mass. Traditionally, five tears of this incense, each encased individually in wax that has been fashioned into the shape of a nail, are inserted into the paschal candle. This is, of course, represents the Five Wounds of Our Risen Savior. Symbolically, the burning of the incense signifies spiritual fervor, the fragrance itself inspires virtue, and the rising smoke carries our prayers to God. I do not need more Midnight Mass.   MIDWINTER’S EVE 2011 – A melancholy, deep scent, poignant and brimming with nostalgia. The perfume of sugared plums over a breeze of winter flowers. I do not need to try this again.   NOCHA BUENA 2011 – A celebration of the Nativity: the light, uplifting incense of the Misa de Noche Buena, purple sage, and a vibrant bouquet of plumeria, chrysanthemum, tuberose, Angel's Trumpet, Mexican tiger lily, dahlia, and azucenas. I have either a decant or bottle of this already, and don't really wear it. Pass. That seems to be a recurring theme here.   ÖNDURDIS – The Ski Lady, jötunn goddess of winter, bowhunting, mountains, and skiing. The scent of winter wind blowing over snow-capped mountains. Well, hmm....worth a try. Possible decant.   PEACOCK QUEEN 2011 – In dramatic contrast to the soft innocence of Snow White and the dew-kissed freshness of her sister, Rose Red, this is a blood red, voluptuous rose, velvet-petaled, at the height of bloom. Haughty and imperious, vain, yet incomparably lovely to the eye, but thick with thorns of jealousy, pride and hatred. I really don't need to try this again. Pass.   PINK SNOWBALLS 2011 –A lighthearted winter scent: chilly vanilla rose snowballs! Dainty, soft, and certainly unfit for flinging! Pass. Still have an old decant.   PUMPKIN MASALA ROOIBOS – Rooibos tea with red ginger, green cardamom, fennel, peppercorns, almond, and licorice, sweetened with coconut sugar and jaggery. This is a possibility but the sugar and spice scents don't always work for me (see Egg Moon and Spicebush Swallowtail). Worth a decant but I won't get my hopes up.   ROSE RED 2011 – The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut. I like Rose Red but never, ever wear my old decant. Pass.   SNOW WHITE 2011 – A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers. Don't need more Snow White. Pass.   SUGAR COOKIE 2011 – The Devil's Bake Sale returns! Never been interested in this one. Pass.   WINTER HEAVENS – Black midnight winter skies glittering with points of light: chill air, champaca flower, white musk, fir needle, papyrus reeds, and grey amber. Could be interesting, could be soapy. Worth a possible decant. Maybe.   WOODS IN WINTER 2011 – Wild hemlock and juniper berries scattered in the snow beneath leafless trees bedecked with glittering icicles. I get this one confused with Snow Storm, which I actually like better. This scent is very earthy and cold without a drop of warmth or sweetness. I think my decant from last year is enough for me.   YELLOW SNOWBALLS – Because I am very, very crass this year. Slushy white mint, vanilla cream, lemon drops, grapefruit, and yuzu! I want a bottle of this to give to my mom! She would laugh.   YULE 2011 – It is Yule, and the Holly King has slain the Oak: blood red holly berry, mistletoe, wild thyme, verbena, cinquefoil, hemp, winter rose, evergreen, frankincense, juniper, and myrrh. Didn't like this when I tried it, pass.   ++ FRANKENSTEIN AMIABLE AND LOVELY CREATURES – honey and rosewater with fig, patchouli, night-blooming jasmine, and white almond. Kind of turned off fig after The Nutcracker, pass but I'll watch reviews.   BEAUTIFUL AND ADORED – rose musk, white gardenia, English pear, vanilla bean, red currant, and honey. Pass.   A BLOT UPON THE EARTH – black plum, Spanish moss, opoponax, davana, vetiver, and opium poppy. I'd like to try this, it sounds rather promising, but who knows.   BREATHLESS HORROR – icy white musk and thick olibanum with niaouli, carrot seed, white mint, and camphor. Pass, I think. Something else had niaouli but I can't remember what. I'll watch reviews of this.   A COMPANION OF THE SAME NATURE – skin musk, red rose petals, mums, carnations, white linen, and sunlit amber on a bed of soft dry leaves. Sigh.....probably pass, not 100% sure though.   THE COUNTRY OF ETERNAL LIGHT – icy wind, depth hoar, and frost-limned lichen. Might be kind of nice, might be kind of soapy. Not sure about this one, but sigh....yet another icy scent? Eh.   DAYS AND NIGHTS IN VAULTS AND CHARNEL HOUSES – grave soil, necrophagous insect chitins, moss, mold, dried blood, rot, dirt-smeared wool, and sweat-drenched citrus lilac aftershave. Sounds rather horrid, will watch reviews of this one.   THE DEEPEST MYSTERIES OF CREATION – wild frankincense, rose otto, hyssop, and oude. Pass. Thankfully I have not caught oude fever like so many.   A DENSE AND FRIGHTFUL DARKNESS – black musk, vetiver, myrrh, opoponax, hemp, crushed sage, oakmoss, and tobacco. Don't know, could be nice, will watch reviews, maybe a decant.   A DREARY NIGHT OF NOVEMBER – bone-white sandalwood, ink-black vetiver, Spanish moss, bitter clove, beeswax, and lotus root. Sounds like a strange one. I'll watch reviews.   THE HORRORS OF MY SECRET TOIL – vetiver and rose. Eh, no. Pass.   INEXTINGUISHABLE HATRED – red ginger and black opoponax with black pepper, stinging neroli, myrrh, and tobacco absolute. Sounds harsh. Will watch reviews.   INSUPPORTABLE MISERY – violet leaf, saffron, gunpowder tea, bruised lilac, and despairing lavender. Not calling to me. I will watch reviews with interest.   THE MOON GAZED ON MY MIDNIGHT LABOURS – Moroccan musk, black opium poppy, clove, and orris root. Now this, this could be interesting. I'll have to think about this one.   MOCKING THE INVISIBLE WORLD WITH ITS OWN SHADOWS – olibanum and murky ambergris accord with verbena, white sandalwood, and wisteria. Olibanum scares me, makes me think of one of the Gaiman scents that was horrible on me, either Ligur or Hastur or whatever they're called, I always get them confused. Will probably avoid this.   PALE STUDENT OF UNHALLOWED ARTS – fading Georgian cologne and split O3 molecules. I think there was some chatter surrounding this one, I'm kind of interested but the notes aren't calling me? We'll see.   PRIDE OF WISDOM – Roman chamomile, rosehips, ginseng, and fig. Ginseng stinks. Not crazy about chamomile, either. And fig....touch and go. I'll watch reviews.   THE REWARD OF MY BENEVOLENCE – boneflower, olive blossom, white sandalwood, clary sage, Himalayan cedar, and oakmoss Boneflower? I think not. Sounds soapy and/or papery, especially with white sandalwood. I'll read reviews.   SOLITARY AND ABHORRED – carrot seed, East Indian patchouli, white tea, and peru balsam. Could be interesting, sort of on my radar, but I'm not going to rush to get a decant. We'll see.   SORROWFUL AFFECTION – lily of the valley, tuberose, pink carnation, green tea absolute, orange zest, bourbon geranium, and blue musk. Nah, pass.   TILL DEATH – white rose, black locust blossom, French magnolia, globe amaranth, iris root, and honeysuckle. Hell to the naw.   A TORRENT OF LIGHT – eucalyptus petals, white mint, white amber, and ozone. Does not sound appealing.   WORKSHOP OF FILTHY CREATION – electricity-scarred cypress beams, ancient stone slabs, damp metal, the coppery tang of coagulating blood, and ozone. Pass.   ++THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL THE LAST EVENING OF THE YEAR – Snow settling on cold skin, tea rose petals, and dusty, threadbare linen. Pass.   COLDER AND COLDER – Peppermint, spearmint, white musk, and elemi settling into a deepening darkness. Pass.   A WONDEFUL LIGHT – Three radiant ambers with honey, linden blossom, bourbon vanilla, and orange zest. Pass, possible decant but pass for now.   THE MOST MAGNIFICENT CHRISTMAS TREE – Spruce pine with hints of silver birch and warm, dark woods. I want a decant.   THOUSANDS OF LIGHTS – Indian ambrette seed, beeswax, champaca flower, saffron, Italian bergamot, frankincense, oak bark, and vanilla orchid. I want to try this because the notes resemble Egoiste. Possible decant.   IN BRIGHTNESS AND IN JOY – Divine mercy: sweet winter berry, orange blossom, frankincense, golden sandalwood, angel's trumpet, and red rose. Sounds pretty, possible decant, even with the rose.   THE COLD HOUR OF DAWN – Esprit de eucalyptus, blue musk, davana, frosty iris, and tagetes. Pass again!
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Yule 2015 breakdown

THE BEAR PRINCE
Shaggy fur, snow-flecked and rose-touched.
I am interested, but I will have to read some reviews first. Bit of a wild card.
CHANUKKIYAH
Olive oil, beeswax, glowing amber, sweet sufganiyot, pomegranate, and fig.
Nah, never had an interest in this one.

THE CROSS OF SNOW
Cypress, Spanish moss, and clove bud with labdanum, Italian bergamot, and white tobacco flower.
This sounds nice until I get to white tobacco flower - I have a feeling that will be soapy on me. I'll read reviews.

DED MOROZ
Light, darkness, kindness, and malice: golden amber, white amber, redwood, teak, bois du rose, sage, tree moss, and snow.
1 bottle is enough. I do like this one.

DIABLE EN BOÎTE
A strangely sinister, unnerving holiday scent: redwood, bitter clove, tonka, hemp accord, and tobacco with peach blossom, black currant, and red musk.
I haven't been interested in the past, I will read some reviews but for some reason the peach blossom turns me off. It doesn't sound like it goes with those other notes. Perhaps I am wrong.

EL DIA DE LOS REYES
Hot cocoa with cinnamon, coffee, and brown sugar.
I had a decant once upon a time, wasn't crazy about it. Too gritty or something.

FAUNALIA
The scent of a thick, starlit, unspoiled forest, with a burst of wild musk, opobalsamum, black bryony, mandragora, and hemlock.
Sounds good, but I already have a decant somewhere, tried it and it didn't work all that well for me at the time. Maybe I'll dig it up and try again (if I still have it, which I'm not sure of).

FRAU HOLLE
Snow-covered pines, witches herbs, bestial musk, flax, and ethereal flowers that represent both birth and death.
Pretty much same as what I wrote for Faunalia above.
GELT
A bounty of chocolate coins! Dry cocoa and golden amber!
Nah - not interested in this one. It smells good on my friend Moonarcana, though.
IN WINTER IN MY ROOM
Pink, lank, and warm: grapefruit, yuzu, tuberose, peony, violet leaf, pikaki, Indian frankincense, and tonka.
Hmm, I'd try this if it was in front of me but I'm not going to pursue it. Just not grabbing me.

KRAMPUS
Sinister red musk, black leather, dusty rags, and wooden switches.
Yes! I want a bottle. I have a decant from a few years ago and I've always liked it.

LA BEFANA
Candy charcoal, winter lilies, parma violet, a sprig of cypress, a poof of chimney dust, and holiday sweets.
Again - I have a decant somewhere, wasn't crazy about it. Maybe will try it again but not really on my radar.

La Cloche fêlée
- - -
Bitter and sweet it is on these long winter nights
To sit before the fire and watch the smoking log
Beat like a heart; and hear our lost, our mute delights
Call with the carillons that ring out in the fog.
What certitude, what health, sounds from that brazen throat,
In spite of age and rust, alert! O happy bell,
Sending into the dark your clear religious note,
Like an old soldier crying through the night, "All's well!"
I am not thus; my soul is cracked across by care;
Its voice, that once could clang upon this icy air,
Has lost the power, it seems, - comes faintly forth, instead,
As from the rattling throat of a hurt man who lies
Beside a lake of blood, under a heap of dead,
And cannot stir, and in prodigious struggling dies.
- Charles Baudelaire, translation by Edna St. Vincent Millay
A new interpretation, inspired by Millay's translation-
A soul, cracked across by care: blood and ruin, smoke and sorrow, incense and ice.
This sounds promising and interesting. Maybe worth tracking down a decant or partial, and I'll certainly be watching for reviews.

Père Noël
Bright Sicilian oranges and sweet tangerines with a clink of lavender candy and a drop of anise.
Hmm, this sounds bright and pretty. Maybe too candy-sweet? I will watch for reviews.

MIDNIGHT MASS
This perfume is a traditional Roman Catholic sacramental incense, most often used during a Solemn Mass.
I have a bottle and some decants, I have always liked Midnight Mass, but I don't think I need any more right now, unless it's different this time. Some of my decants are different, so I'll be watching reviews.

NOW WINTER NIGHTS ENLARGE
Shorten those tedious nights with a surge of body heat: vanilla-infused red musk, champaca, petitgrain, ylang ylang, patchouli, nutmeg, honey, galbanum, and traces of caramel.
This sounds not quite for me. I don't like very many scents with honey or caramel. Both together = probably not for me.

NUCLEAR WINTER
Annihilation. The ice, desolation and barrenness of nuclear devastation shot through by a beam of radioactive mints.
Never really had an interest in this one.

PAYSAGE
The pale moon pouring magic: Tunisian opium and mugwort with blackened bourbon vanilla, tuberose, glittering white musk, datura accord, wild plum, and tobacco absolute.
Hmmm.....this has potential but I usually don't like opium in scents. I'll watch reviews but will probably pass on this one.

THE PEACOCK QUEEN
In dramatic contrast to the soft innocence of Snow White and the dew-kissed freshness of her sister, Rose Red, this is a blood red, voluptuous rose, velvet-petaled, at the height of bloom.
My one decant of this is enough, although I will try it again to be sure.

POOR MONKEY
cold first winter rain
poor monkey, you too could use
a woven straw cape
Compassion: pink lotus root and fig milk with ylang ylang, bourbon vanilla, soft myrrh, fir, khus, and sandalwood incense.
Ok I love the concept and list of notes, although it's a little sweet and cuddly for me, this time I'm looking at the name, concept and description as a whole, and really have my eye on this one. Possible bottle and I'll be watching reviews for sure. Kind of reminds me of the notes in Chintamanhi Dhupa (which I don't wear that much).

ROSE RED
The perfected winter rose, dew covered and freshly cut.
Same as Peacock Queen but I do like this one a little better and actually wear it from time to time. Not enough to want a bottle.

THE SEASON OF GHOSTS
A scent created to burn away sorrow: bergamot, frankincense, rose geranium, ginger, lemongrass, and blood orange.
Well, I do like citrus but bpal's citrus has a way of smelling like candy on me, for some reason. I'll watch reviews.

THE SNOW-SHOWER
Flake after flake - All lost in the dark and silent lake: a snowflake dissolving into an indigo pool of blue jasmine incense and violet leaf.
This sounds really nice. It would be hard to pass up something with blue jasmine incense. I enjoy jasmine and that sounds especially good. I'll watch some reviews first, I have a feeling some people will get jasmine single note from this.

SNOW WHITE
A chilly, bright perfume: flurries of virgin snow, crisp winter wind and the faintest breath of night-blooming flowers.
Once again, my decant is enough. I like how it smells but I rarely ever wear it.

++ THE YULE LADS
Askasleikir
Favorite pastime: skulking under dining tables, waiting to abscond with unsupervised food bowls. Don't blame the dog!
Dregs of cinnamon and cocoa.
I love cinnamon, but not cocoa. Probably pass on this.
Bjúgnakrækir
Favorite pastime: hiding in the rafters, ogling your smoked sausage. Eyes up here, mister!
Sweaty pear and honey with leather, coconut meat, tonka bean, and castoreum accord.
I will pass for now because of honey, but I'll be watching reviews because Quincey Morris has: "tobacco, vanilla, white pear, cedar, rugged musk and saddle leather". Sounds at least a little close to me and I love Quincey Morris.

Gáttaþefur
Favorite pastime: sniffing doorways. Everyone needs a hobby!
Baked bread, apricot, mandarin amber, and CO2 of butter.
Sounds interesting, warm and sweet, but maybe not really my thing.

Giljagaur
Favorite pastime: creeping around gullies until the opportunity to steal milk appears. You do you, buddy.
Coconut cream, sheep's milk accord, and a drop of Ceylon cinnamon.
I don't really go for bpal's cream or milk notes. This isn't calling my name.

Gluggagægir
Favorite pastime: peeping in yer windows. What a creeper!
Spiced rum leather, frankincense, black cedar, sweet tobacco, and honey-gold sandalwood.
On my first pass-through this one stuck out to me, but I'm not completely sure. I'll have to read some reviews.

Hurðaskellir
Favorite pastime: slamming doors. What a drama queen!
Booming carnation, iced mint, white fir, and itchy patchouli loudly disrupting a dreamy bed of lavender.
Not calling my name. This combination of notes sounds a little strange to me.

Kertasníkir
Favorite pastime: stealing candles from children. Such a scamp!
Beeswax, strawberries, and bits of hard candy.
Never been interested in bpal's strawberry note. I shall pass.

Ketkrókur
Favorite pastime: collecting meat hooks, sharpening meat hooks, polishing meat hooks. Sleep with one eye open?
Labdanum, patchouli, dragon's blood resin, and clove.
Not into dragon's blood these days. Once upon a time I would have been really into this.

Skyrgámur
Favorite pastime: indulging his yogurt fetish. Whatever floats your boat!
Berries, skyr, and oats.
Really don't want to smell like oats and I have a feeling skyr might be a yogurt note? Or cream? I will pass.

Stekkjarstaur
Favorite pastime: harassing sheep. Nobody's perfect.
Wooly sugared marshmallow root.
Don't really care about marshmallow.

Stúfur
Favorite pastime: stealing crusty bits from used frying pans. It takes all kinds.
Chunks of sweet carrots and dates mushed with nuts, topped with crumbles from a pie-like spelt and barley crust.
This is a big 'No' for me, definitely pass.

Þvörusleikir
Favorite pastime: licking spoons and ladles. There's no accounting for taste.
The scent of well-worn wooden utensils, lightly fondled, and a wisp of kitchen herbs.
So wood and herbs? Sounds ok but not really calling me, I will read reviews though.

Pottaskefill
Favorite pastime: eating the scrapings from unwashed pots. Waste not, want not?
Salt licorice, birch tar, black pepper, and leather.
Sounds good, but I'll read reviews first. Licorice sounds good but often doesn't work for me, but I do like the combination of these notes. I'll have an eye on this one.

++ YULE SINGLE NOTES
Ah, the scents of the season! Mix and match to create the perfect perfume to accompany any awkward family gatherings!
FAKE BAYBERRY CANDLE
Not really
IRRESPONSIBLY UNWATERED CHRISTMAS TREE
Not into fir like I used to be
UNSUCCESSFUL CRANBERRY GARLAND
Don't really like cranberry or berry scents
DAY-OLD HAM
Doesn't sound appealing in the slightest
FIREPLACE CINDERS
Probably not but there was a time I would've been all over this. I'll watch reviews
DUSTY ACCUMULATED MENORAH WAX
Nah, I'll pass
RAPIDLY DISINTIGRATING POMANDER
I like the pomander smell but disintigrating sounds dry and powdery, I'll watch reviews
DRUNK UNCLE
??? Not really? but I'll watch reviews
UNMANAGEABLE SNOWDRIFT
Nah, not really into snow notes any more.....

++ SNOW FALLING FAINTLY
THE SNOW AT DAWN
Snow afire with the morning's first rays of orange blossom, neroli, and rose gardenia.
Nah

THE SNOW AT NOON
Blinding white in the noonday sun: white mint, eucalyptus, glittering elemi, white tea, silver fir, and camphor.
No

THE SNOW AT DUSK
Swirled grey and purple in the gloaming: snowdrifts shadowed with opium tar, wild plum, Siamese benzoin, champaca resinoid, muguet, and carnation.
Nah

THE SNOW AT MIDNIGHT
Silence: frozen blackcurrant bud, myrrh, ciste absolute, frankincense, and oudh.
No.

SO........Krampus and Poor Monkey? And a lot of review-watching!

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