If you hadn't guessed, that's the Doctor Who theme tune! I'm so excited because the new series has returned and is starting tomorrow! I love the new Dr Who, and I really want to track down some of the older episodes now.
Dr Who fans may want to check this silly link out for a laugh!
From time travelling doctors to real ones now...I think those sleeping pills my doctor prescribed me are really working. I needed something to reset my sleeping patterns into something a bit more normal (I go to sleep at 2am and get up at 11am-something induced by the drunk and stoned flatmates from hell at campus) but now thanks to those pills, I'm going to be early, and getting up early and feeling bright and awake (which is pretty incredible since I'm not usually a morning person at all!).
I think that little ritual with TAL Determination helped a great deal with me getting my coursework done-it's not finished yet, but it just gave me the impetus to get going and do some good solid work without distraction. I love getting those challenging questions done...they are daunting at first but when I get them done, I feel good!
I'm also excited because my Peony Moon order is winging it's way to me! I hope it gets to me before I go back to uni!
Excuse what might seem like a rambling incoherent post, as I'm half asleep, my mind is blurry and I'm premenstrual at the moment. I have enough RL drama in my life, such as my mother falling out with my godmother and me being caught up in the middle, and I come to these forums to unwind. I just really hope this doesn't get me flamed.
The reason I am feel a little unsettled by these posts is because recently I bought the 'custom scent pack' from the company in question, and I was really looking forward to getting my own scent blended for me. But all these recent posts have me worried and my mind is conflicted. I love the scents this company makes, no matter what people say. I will get the custom scents done and will buy my own bottles but whether I should make my custom scents available to the public, I don't know.
All I will say for now is that I love good quality, ingenious, beautifully crafted and just damn good smelling perfume.
BPAL is obviously my favourite of the lot, making up about 75% or more of my collection, and Beth is one of my role models and I admire her ingenuity, skill with scents and originality, but I do love many others, be they etailers or ones bought from shops (though not mainstream designer ones), and I don't want to be judged for it. I don't want to be seen as weak, an unwise shopper, or easily led by pretty names and concepts, cute labels and tempting note combinations. I don't want others to think I have a 'poor taste in perfume' (I can't help it that my olfactory tastes being so wide or my skin chem being so good-mannered) or to be seen as a bad person just because I like buying and enjoying other non-BPAL scents.
Ok, this last sentence may be an exaggeration of what's going on (a lot of people on this forum do buy other perfumes and they state that they buy other brands, and no-one minds) but I don't want all this to boil down to the banning of other perfume oil threads in the Retail Therapy forum. I mean, there are loads of etailer threads there that haven't recieved any drama, like Arcana or Possets, and a few others I think. So just because one (or two, if you think back to last year's AC kerfuffle, or three if you count Femaledictions, though that was well founded due to actual bad CS and missing orders and so on...that's another story) perfume thread becomes a drama magnet, doesn't mean they all will. I could say more but I am so dumb when it comes to legal matters and business matters so I won't let my stupidity in these fields show. But I love scent of all kinds and if a scent works with my skin chem and makes me feel good wearing it, then I'll wear it and love it, no matter where it comes from.
I know right now a that perhaps some people will disagree with me but this is my opinion of it all right now.
It's my 21st today, and I've found the PERFECT BPAL for the occasion! Namely, Twenty One! And what's better than smelling of booze on a birthday!
I am getting a digital camera. I am going to have so much fun with that little toy.
I also got £100-and I may get more. A part of me says 'put it in the savings account' and another part says 'SPEND IT ON SMELLIES DAMMIT!!!' I know which of my head-voices I'll obey this time
I'm getting my hair done and then I'm off to the bar for a celebratory piss-up little drink. I still can't believe I'm 21 though. I certainly don't feel it! I don't think your spirit ages though-just the body. Inside, I can be whatever age I want to be!
My gorgeous little kitty cat has just gone to the other side now.
She had to leave today-I just got a call that she was so weak today that she couldn't eat, sleep or move much. A neighbour had to take her to the vet where the only option was to put her down. Now the house where she lived is so empty. I'll never hear those odd clicks and 'rrrrr' noises she used to make instead of meows. I'll miss her purrs and her soft fur and those bright white whiskers against a black face, her flashing green eyes, her elegant mannerisms-she was so expressive and intelligent, and so gentle-she'd never hurt a soul. Now without any feline presence in my life, I feel so lonely.
The death of a pet is unbelievably harrowing to go through. It's the second time I've had this now. At least I still have her memories and I know she's still there, albeit in a place that I cannot reach for now-it almost feels like my departed loved ones are on the other side of a plane of existence, another dimension or universe that feels so close that I could touch it, and yet is physically inaccessible. But they are not gone completely.
RIP my beautiful furry friend. You're with your sister now, in a happier place.
eta: I just heard from my mum's friend who was looking after kitty as she slipped away. She mentioned seeing a pink glow in the conservatory where the cat used to sleep. It was probably a sunset reflection but I think it was more than that...I think she was saying goodbye as she followed the sunset, to join her sister among the stars. I think she's truly happy now.
I am wearing BPAL Bastet in her honour, as she was always a true divine feline to me.
Montresor smells like Ribena at one point. Ribena and fruit pastilles. But after a few hours it smells of lovely plum-musk with wine and smoke, much nicer than smelling of sweeties.
I have period pains. I really don't want to go out tonight but I have to...I just want to sleep. I also wish my mum didn't call me every five minutes to tell me about pointless things like stamp collecting and stuff. And I wish she could understand my BPAL/smelly things addiction. She says 'you have too much perfume! Stop spending so much on perfume! stop using the internet or you'll go short-sighted! Stop chatting online with people in America that you'll never meet!' I know she's my mum but at times I wish she could just let me do what I bloody well want. I'm 21 in a week's time!
Oh, and that Corinne Bailey Ray song irritates the shit out of me.
...but the tart doesn't smell of cherries! I burnt a tart for the first time yesterday-it was Alternative Breeding's Einstein-and I'm very impressed. They are stronger than scented candles-so strong that not only did my room smell nice, but the whole house did! The smell is lovely too-a refreshing herbal cucumber. And a very appropriate scent to revise my physics work with! I have loads of tarts to try out but since tarts take longer to burn away than candles, I'll have to wait until this one is done...
I am so busy trying out new imps that my bottles don't even get the attention they deserve! So today I tried out my bottles of Seraglio and Cairo for the first time. (I bought Cairo in August.) I'm glad Seraglio doesn't have the 'soapy almond' note I got in a recent bottle of Queen of Sheba (which I usually adore) and an imp of Port au Prince-I think that was a certain batch variation that went a bit awry on my skin when the usual almond notes don't do that. But the sandalwood is more pronounced, and I love that. And my bottle of Cairo isn't as lemony as the imps I tried, this one smells more like sweet red wine with myrrh and other fruits, and also a hint of papyrus and lotus, and a dry note that makes me think of hot sand, which is fitting.
To be honest, I don't feel bothered to do my coursework. The procrastination bug kicks in again, it seems. I'm getting through it veeeeeery slooooooowly. But maths is an absolute beyatch. Thank goodness I can go and see my tutors every now and then, when they are not at any conferences...
My tastes in chocolate are getting more and more expensive. Sure, I love my Cadbury's and have been eating more Creme Eggs than is healthy, I just want something a bit more luxurious for Easter this year. I love all those yummy cinnamon and cardamom chocolates or the ones with strawberries and cracked black pepper and coffee beans and lemon peel and so on. I have my eye on one particular choccy egg or two but they are very pricey...about the price of a BPAL LE bottle each. maybe I shouldn't bother with chocolate and just buy more BPAL-especially if it smells of chocolate.
Currently smelling of: Gluttony and Midway
Currently burning: Darkswan Egyptian Honey candle
I have eaten too many Easter eggs today. I got the pricey one I wanted (not the one I originally planned to get, since I discovered that it contained something a bit icky) and also got loads of other choccies from my mum and dad. I also ate brownie ice cream and chocolate cake. I still want to eat choccy, but stomach says no.
However, despite this chocolate overdose, I am craving...pizza. Which is odd. But I am seriously jonesing for a proper pizza right now.
The most annoying thing about bank holidays is...NO POST! And that means no new BPAL! I am looking forward to my Peony Moon so much that it seems my life won't be complete until it arrives...
Oh, and Doctor Who was really good. I think David Tennant is fantastic (sorry CE fans, but although both are very good actors, I think DT is cuter!!) I can't wait for next weeks episode. From the looks of things, it's going to have ninjas and werewolves!!!
I had such a great time at the London MnS (spelt like this because it resembles CnS...spelling it M&S makes me think of Marks and Spencers!) with twistedcoil, storme and ellemir. It's wonderful to chat BPAL-to actually talk, exchange and try out BPAL-with real human beings, makes a change from typing behind a grey box. And they were so nice! I enabled twistedcoil and got enabled-now I am hooked on Loviatar. It smells like a feminine Doc Constantine with a wonderful musk-amber going on behind the leather. I have an imp of it on the way but now I want a bottle. Mmm. We spent about two hours talking about our BPAL and loved every minute of it. It's great because my uni friends seem to be so absent these days so I had very little social contact with others during summer hols, so this was such a refreshing change. I hope to do another MnS with them again some time.
I have to say that the CD update has been one of the best my nose has ever experienced, both CD and GC scents. Stars of this round of new stuff include Moriarty, CD, Midnight/Midway, Lyonesse, Cockaigne, Three Brides, Gennivre, Candy Butcher, Uruk, Les Bijoux and much more...I'm amazed. Now that I know that my loan will come next week, I have some big orders planned...
Currently smelling of: Snow Flakes for that whiff of idealised festive weather (we never get snow these days-not until January anyway), plus a dab of Sol Invictus, because he's the real reason for the season...
This year I had the smallest amount of presents so far. Mainly because my main present was an iPod. Yay! Finally I get my very own antisocialising machine (that's what my dad calls it)! I'm very pleased with my iPod and can't wait to put all my music onto it.
Apart from that, I also got chocolate, a lovely knitted hat (usually knitted stuff at from relatives at Xmas is a bad thing but not this!), a little bit of money, and the compulsory gift of underwear.
This year, it's been a very relaxed Dec. 25, no rows, no stress, just a delicious non-traditional Xmas dinner (turkey and sprouts? No way.), generous amounts of wine, and the Best Mince Pies In The World made by my mum-no other mince pies will do. Now I'm looking forward to the Doctor Who Christmas special, which will make this day end very nicely, I think.
Merry Christmas/Yule/Hanukkah/(insert winter holiday here), Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate (or have celebrated) at this time of year, make it a good one and enjoy yourselves! *hands out more of the Best Mince Pies Ever to all*
Ok, so I admit I didn't splurge as much as I thought, which is a good thing because student loans don't arrive until late September. I'm making another order on Saturday because my dad gave me some money and I'm going to put it in my bank account tomorrow...ok, so what do I think? Update musings...
The ones I got-bottles:
F5
Aloe, white musk, lime peel, fresh mint, seaspray, verbena and green tea.
I love it. F5...what a cool, minimalist, modern name for a scent. Almost mainstream, and fitting with it's notes. I wonder if it will smell like a fresher, more gender neutral Berenice with a little bit of Embalming Fluid? The only note that could turn odd is verbena which can be gorgeous or soapy.
MME. MORIARTY, MISFORTUNE TELLER
Red musk, vanilla bean, pomegranate, patchouli leaf and wild plum.
This has such a stellar cast of notes. It also brings to mind Snake Charmer. How could I refuse a scent named after Beth herself?
THREE BRIDES -- Moroccan rose, king mandarin, red sandalwood, Egyptian amber, orchid, carnation, benzoin, tonka, calla lily, vanilla flower.
This reminds me of the Haunted Palace with hints of Moscow or LitA. I adore Egyptian amber, rose, red sandalwood, carnation, vanilla (vanilla flower sounds especially nice-it seems like it will be softer than the bean) so I think this will be fantastic on me.
The ones I got: imps
LES BIJOUX
Skin musk and honey, blood-red rose, orange blossom, white peach, red apple, frankincense and myrrh.
Reads like a who's who of favourite notes and notes I like and won't ruin the scent. I should have got a 5ml straight away.
TANIN'IVER
Lilith’s monstrous dragon steed: dragon’s blood resin, patchouli, pomegranate, myrrh, mimosa, cassia, blood musk and smoke.
What an amazing cast of notes. I adore cassia, blood musk and myrrh. Like pom, patch and mimosa. The smoke and DB could be either nice or not so good. But the surefire winner notes outnumber the questionable ones, so this one's destined to work on me.
MANHATTAN
sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid.
Could this be my new favourite of the leather scents? I am reminded of that other fantastic leather scent, Bow and Crown, only this looks more slick and sophisticated, and more complex, maybe sharper. I'm interested to see what kush is like-is it really cannabis?
URUK
Thick bitter almond and heady night-blooming jasmine with saffron, cinnamon leaf, red patchouli, river lilies, bergamot, fig leaf and the sacred incense of Inanna.
This looks like it will be stupendously beautiful. I do like jasmine-night blooming ones work nicely on me. Saffron, patchouli, fig and almond are all good. Cinnamon, water lily and incense are favourites. if this doesn't work, I will cry...the Sumerian civilisation is my second favourite ancient civilisation...
COCKAIGNE
milk and honey, sweet cakes and wine.
Hoping the milk and honey are more Dana, less Milk Moon. And CAKE! Gimme cake! cake! I want cake! I vant ze cake!!
LYONESSE
Golden vanilla and gilded musk, stargazer lily, white sandalwood, grey amber, elemi, orris root, ambergris and sea moss.
This looks absolutely spectacular. I love vanilla, musk, stargazer, and sandalwood. I'm a bit iffy about grey amber, if that's the note that turned sour in Ides of March. Elemi I'm not familiar with. But this looks very, very promising.
Will get:
THE PENITENT MAGDALEN -- Immortelle, lily of the valley, gaiac, amber, honey, white sandalwood, almond flower, blonde musk, and hyssop.
The gaiac, immortelle and almond flower are unknown to me so I can't wait to see what they smell like. Honey (the sweeter, the better), amber, sandalwood and musk are favourites. This is set to be another stunner.
CARNAVAL DIABOLIQUE
opium smoke, lemon flower, heliotrope, tuberose, black musk, vanilla, coconut, apricot flower.
The opium smoke worries me, but the other ingredients either intrigue me (lemon flowers-the flowers of the lemon tree, I know for a fact, smell gorgeous) or delight me. Heliotrope, black musk, vanilla, coconut, are all favs, and apricot flower intrigues-will it smell like the fruit?
MIDNIGHT ON THE MIDWAY
sugared incense and night-blooming flowers.
Mmm, looks interesting. Vague, but promising. I'm just a little worried that the nasty variety of gardenia could be among those night bloomers. But it could be like Midnight with added candy floss and incense...
MELISANDE, THE PUPPET MISTRESS
Jasmine sambac, dark musk, violet water, vanilla bean and mimosa.
I wonder if 'jasmine sambac' is a rich, deep, heady jasmine? Violet water looks interesting. And it has vanilla!
GENNIVRE, L'ARTISTE du DIABLE
Hyson tea leaf, pale mint, sugar cane, orange blossom, lemongrass, and honey.
Once Macha said this was inspired by Moroccan tea, it made me even more eager to try it. But lemongrass could overwhelm it all. But this looks so promising, so fresh and sweet.
THEODOSIUS, THE LEGERDEMAIN
Earl Grey tea leaves, a white fougere, jasmine leaf, pearlescent white musk, and vanilla bean.
First thing that pops into my mind is Dorian. I loooove Dorian. So if this is Earl Grey Dorian, I will probably adore this (if it smells like Tetley's Earl Grey Vanilla tea, I will do a glee-squee). I wonder if jasmine leaf is floral, or leafy?
I DIED FOR BEAUTY
The Venusian splendor of ylang ylang and violet stirred by hyssop, frankincense, and grave loam.
Love the loamy scents (apart from Zombi) so this could be lovely. Like ylang, hyssop and I love frankincense.
THE JERSEY DEVIL
Pitch pine with blackberry leaf, cranberry, cedar wood and tomato leaf.
What an interesting note list. Good to see cranberry and tomato leaf here. I've never smelt tomato leaf and I've seen it's praises sung on this board so much it's aroused my curiosity. This could be a gorgeous nature/garden sort of scent for autumn. Imp.
CALIBAN
The scent of the salty seas, bittersweet wine, palm and tropical ferns.
This looks like a good summer scent-I like the marine notes so far. Fern and palm and wine looks like a very unique mix.
LADON
The hundred-headed dragon that guards the garden of the Hesperides: dragon’s blood resin, golden apple, apple blossom, white musk and hyacinth.
DB and apple? Interesting. And there's hyacinth! Apple blossom can be dry on me, but I'm hoping the apple note is sweet.
MAG MELL
The warmth of amber, the puissance of white ginger and the clarity of verbena, with fresh green grass, lush sage and cleansing droplets of summer rain.
This looks intriguing, indeed-fresh and clean and green. The rain may turn odd on me, but this looks amazing. I would love to see how the amber works with the fresh, bright notes.
PONTARLIER
Swiss ferns, lilac, blackcurrant, Gallic rose and lavender with a dollop of sugar and absinthe.
All the ingredients apart from absinthe look gorgeous so I'll get this soon.
PORT ROYAL
Spiced rum and ship’s wood mixed with the body-warmed trace of a prostitute’s perfume and a hint of salty sea air on the dry-down.
Arrr! I need to get this for it's piratical associations. I'm a bit intrigued and slightly concerned about the 'prostitute's perfume' though. To my modern-day mind it brings to mind cheap, sleazy scents, but back in the old days, such perfume must have smelt a lot better (and this is Beth, mind, and she doesn't do cheap, tacky stuff!) so I have high hopes for that.
DEATH OF THE GRAVE DIGGER -- Snow, soil, opoponax and myrrh.
I wonder if this snow note is that lovely pine-citrus scent from Skadi and Snow Moon etc? This one looks intriguing-snow and soil and resins? Wow.
ELIXIR VIII: BITCH -- Snappy-quick PMS relief
YES I NEED THIS. (is currently going into the dreaded monthly mood.)
ELIXIR IX: TKO -- Sleep, sleep, and more sleep.
Ditto. I hope this will be the mother of all soporific scents. My insomnia is so bad that I need something equivalent to chloroform-hopefully this will have that effect but with a nicer smell.
Ones I'm interested but unsure of:
THE PHANTOM CALLIOPE
black cherry, patchouli, cassis, cardamom and verbena.
Love cardamom. Not so sure about cherry and verbena but this is worth a decant too.This seems like it will be sharply fruity but...cardamom!
THE CANDY BUTCHER
Dark chocolate with a heavy cream undertone.
Oh dear. If this does a Bliss on me (ie turns fake and bland smelling) I will cry. My dream is that it smells like that delicious, thick, indulgent, rich hot chocolate I drank all the time when I was in Paris. Both in the bottle and the skin.
THE ORGAN GRINDER
Almond milk, sarsaparilla, tobacco smoke, black patchouli and white pine bark.
This sounds a bit masculine but I'm intrigued by almond milk and salsaparilla...
PULCINELLA & TERESINA
Labdanum, cedar, teak and red rose.
Seems like a nice, uncomplicated mix of notes-and I love some rose.
DOC CONSTANTINE
Sheer musk, cedar smoke, fir needle, black amber and leather.
Aagin, seems masculine but definitely worth a try. I need a boyfriend now to test these on.
XANTHE, THE WEEPING CLOWN
Guava, orange peel, white pepper, spun sugar and apple blossom.
Guava...mmm. I've not smelt a guava perfume before. Apple blossom is hit or miss. Spun sugar looks yummy.
ANTONINO, THE CARNY TALKER
White musk, wild plum, vetiver, black coconut, verbena, fig, and lavender.
The notes here are making me drool but I'll get a decant for now, especially if the vetiver is too strong. But plum, white musk, coconut? mmm. King of Spades, anyone?
THE TAVERN OF HELL
White gardenia, ambergris bouquet, lavender fougere, orange blossom, melissa, tobacco flower, coriander, ebony wood, ylang ylang, absinthe and aged whiskey.
The ingredients that give me pause are gardenia (can be the Note of Doooooom on me), absinthe (can turn to soap) and whiskey (may be too boozy). Other notes sound a bit masculine. I wonder if melissa is lemon balm though.
THE ISLES OF DEMONS
The scent is of wet, dark greenery, carnivorous flowers, volcanic gas, and the hot black musk of the demons and wild beasts that populated the islands.
Hmm. This sounds very feral, very wild. And the 'volcanic gas' is kinda offputting (sulphur??) But I might give it a try. I want to see what it's like to smell like prehistoric times.
JEZIRAT Al TENNYN
The Dragon’s Isle: smoke and fire, earth and wind. The rage of the elements blasting over a primordial paradise.
Oooh, a vague description. Will wait for reviews.
KUMARI KANDAM
Thick incense, clay, stone, and hothouse blooms with a spike of frost, a hint of decay, and heavy, dolorous aquatic notes.
This also looks very intriguing, with it's notes of clay, stone, decay and frost. Now those are things you don't see much in perfume. Will wait for reviews.
CLOISTER GRAVEYARD IN THE SNOW -- Three white musks, ozone, frankincense, mint.
Decant. The ozone could spoil it but I'm a sucker for musk and frank. This might be wonderful for hot summer days.
THE FOX-WOMAN KUZUNOHA LEAVING HER CHILD -- White tea, cherry blossom, wisteria, star jasmine, and teak.
I'll get a decant but this seems like another one of those lovely, zen-like Asian scents which Beth does really well.
SILENCE -- White sandalwood, iris, blue musk, lotus root, moonflower, plum blossom, green tea, white mint and white peach.
THAT PICTURE IS AMAZING. I love the musk in Nuit, so this blue musk looks good. A lot of the other notes look good too but this may go all 'Budding Moon' on me, and I wasn't so keen on that moon. Decant.
So yeah, that's the update rundown. Wow, what an incredible one that was. Luckily a lot of scents will be up either indefinitely or for a year so there was nothing too urgent here. All I can say now is...roll on Chrysanthemum Moon!
Now that I've returned home from my weekend away, I'm wondering...which city is better? London or Paris? (There's only one way to find out-FIIIIIIGHT!!! if you watch Harry Hill you'll understand!)
As to what BPAL I will try today...maybe Eos. The weather is crap and I want to smell springy.
I also hate my new post-woman. I swear she delivers my stuff to the wrong houses. Or she's deliberately stopping me from getting parcels. So many things I have bought online from the States (including my Balthazar statue) have, apparently, mysteriously disappeared when crossing the pond. Maybe the postal planes with my parcels flew over the Bermuda Triangle or something...
I know when I'm addicted when I notice little references to BPAL in everyday life. Such as a rerun of the Simpsons that mentioned the Telltale Heart. That instantly solved the decision of what BPAL I should test tonight. TTH it was! And I do like it, but not as much as Great Sword of War which is similar...
I can't get over how wonderful Anthelion is...there are times when it smells like gingerbread with creamy vanilla. Seriously. It actually resembles something from another etailer, but much nicer and with that magickal feel to it that only Beth can do. And it works...I think i will get round to doing a candle ritual or even a meditation with this stuff...I feel so cheerful and calm tonight, less argumentative too. Is that a result of the Anthelion? I also feel a lot less menstrual as well. I think that maybe another reason.
I hope that Beth does something fun for tomorrow. I also hope that anything released tomorrow (if that happens) will be up until at least Wednesday/Thursday? Why? I want to make a big order on my birthday!!!
I also hope my Peony Moon order gets sent asap...
Currently smelling of: Oblivion, Monster Bait: Underbed, Yemaya, Frumious Bandersnatch
First, the elation:
-I got my Peony Moon order! I got 5 bottles-Peony Moon, Underbed, Saturn, Uranus, and Oblivion (even though I wanted Ozymandias-more on that later), and all the imps I ordered, and also loads of frimps. Most of which I've tried-save for Bess, Shadow and French Love which I can't wait to try (especially Bess!)
-So far, these scents are working fantastically. Underbed is such a fun spicy cake scent! Oblivion is intriguing and I think it will grow on me. Frumious Bandersnatch and Yemaya are also much nicer than I was expecting-well, I knew they would be good, but not that good!
-I got an email from my stroppy maths tutor (yeah, he has tantrums like a five year old!) saying I didn't need to do all 50 maths questions in my coursework, just 12 of them. That takes a great weight off my mind.
And now the frustration:
-I didn't get the bottle of Ozymandias I ordered...I got Oblivion. Which is lovely because I like Oblivion and it'll save me from buying a bottle, but I was looking forward to Ozy most out of this update-despite reviews saying it smells like old fashioned perfume or soap or ozone-it's Egyptian, dammit! *childish sulk* (I emailed the lab-I've heard they sent replacement bottles for free. They did that with Red and Pink Phoenix, which spilt, so maybe they'll do that with my missing bottle of Ozy!)
-I think Paypal hates me now. I had put in some funds and sent some e-cheques that should have cleared on the 13th. Ok, so the Easter holidays slowed things down a bit but that means they should have cleared today! So why haven't they? I have a love-hate relationship with Paypal, for one thing, it enables me to buy stuff online, like BPAL. But it's also slow and annoying (why is it that UK e-cheques and funds take 2 weeks to clear when US ones take 4-5 days???)
-That stupid radio DJ says that the new Doctor Who sucked. Correction-he's the one who sucks. Has he got no taste? *wishes she could telepathically smite idiots who say stupid things like that, especially during states of PMS*
-And yes, the monthly hormonal eruption has started to stir. From now on for at least a week, I am dangerous.
Wearing: Peony Moon, Osun, Saturn and a bit of Mandrake.
I got my first ever Paypal phishing email today. One of those 'you need to update your details or your account will be suspended!!!' ones. Stupidly, I accidentally clicked the link, but as soon as I saw the link wasn't legit Paypal, I closed the window quick as lightning before it even loaded. Then I reported the fucker to Paypal. Changed my password. I hope such people get what they deserve.
Phishers deserve to get their balls pecked out by vultures.
Currently smelling of: Eclipse (delicious cinnamon-heavy bottle, mmm), and will smell like Bathed and Infused Italian Wedding Cake after my bath.
I saw something weird in the sky today. It looked like a little piece of rainbow-but it wasn't raining-it was a sunny, hazy day. And rainbows usually form in the part of the sky opposite the sun, usually against the raincloud. This 'fragment of rainbow' was actually in the haze just to the left of the sun, and just stayed there for about 20 minutes and at times it was quite bright, it looked almost like a muted, colourful, second sun, whilst at other times it looked like a faint fragment of rainbow. It was a beautiful but strange phenomenon-I have no idea what it is and what caused it though-I'm guessing it's the same mechanism that causes rainbows but normally hazy clouds don't go all rainbow-y! I just wish I had a camera at the time...
I really am going to miss living at home. No more of my mum's lovely cooking. No more peace and quiet. No more lovely smells. I have to go back to my little room where I have to put up with constant NOISE from the boys-be it extreme bass from their awful hip hop/RnB music (the bass is so high, it's almost tremor-inducing!), having to hear them vomit every morning because they drank too much, hearing them chat loudly and drunkenly in the corridors at 4am, and hearing the guy opposite making his girlfriends scream with the door ajar (I really hope the screaming isn't what I think it is!!) so everyone can hear how much of a ladies' man he is, and the early morning prank fire alarms set off by the drunk boys. I also have to put up with the messiest, greasiest kitchen ever, and the stink of those awful chicken nuggets and fried sausages and George Foreman grilled burgers, and the sheer stupidity (and the smell!) of the boys in my flat-they seem to have evolutionarily reversed back to their ape stage. Their girlfriends are not much better, yapping like deranged chihuahuas at 3am every morning. And the boys smoke weed despite the uber-strict no smoking rule for our halls (so strict, that no candles or incense is allowed in the rooms!) and the stink of the stuff seeps into my room all the time...
But another thing I'm not looking forward to is exams. Loads of exams and tons of coursework. I'm struggling with the maths coursework already, it's giving me real grief! And I have to do physics coursework as well, three lots of it, including one about quantum physics, which is very fascinating, but the maths behind it brain-meltingly difficult! Stuff about one-dimensional boxes and semi-infinite wells and so on...oh, my poor head...
I'm hoping to come back next weekend-to a nice new bottle of UNDERPANTS!!! I am really looking forward to trying these pants on, seriously. And the Raging Rabbit too!
Currently smelling of: Bess (first time testing), and the Lion (smells of sugared amber iced tea!)
I just have to show this little flash off: hmm, Enraged Bunny Musk, anyone?
Holidays are now finished...as intensive studies season begins. Coursework and exams!
I'm back on campus and a little bit homesick, though not too much. I have my BPAL to console me, thank goodness. The stupid boys have returned and invited their girls in, but they've been pretty quiet so far. I'll see what happens as the night progresses.
It'll be nice to see my friends again tomorrow, but also annoying to get back to studies and loads of coursework. I have maths coursework due in on Tuesday and as usual, I'm procrastinating again! Must get back to work...
Currently smelling of: La Bella Donna Mia Mente (which smells like Budding/Peony Moon with autumn leaves and pomegranate today!)
I just had the misfortune to taste the most disgusting tomato sauce ever. It wasn't even stale, or cheap (this is one of the TV chef-endorsed, pricier sauces), it was just gross. It tasted like VOMIT. I wasted a good portion of pasta on that shit. Never again!
And I managed to give in my maths assignment. Thank goodness that's over! Now, two more physics assignments to do. The quantum physics one is making my brain do somersaults in my skull...
And I want my Underpants. My mum says that the infamous USPS package I am awaiting isn't here yet
I stink of: Zero and Thagirion. Both are very nice, but I'm preferring Thag's light creamy springy floral scent right now...
Ugh, I'm almost done with my coursework. So many deadlines over these last two weeks. And those assignments really are more like pain in the ASSignments! Especially that quantum physics one...one thing's for sure, my brain had some serious exercise this fortnight! I am not looking forward to exams at all.
It was actually WARM today, finally! I hate cold weather and sometimes where I am in Hertfordshire feels like the North Pole, and after a particularly long and cold winter, it's good to have some decent spring sunshine, and it feels good being able to wear a t-shirt outside without freezing! I love warm sunny days-I'm not one for rain and moody greyness, or stormy weather, I'm afraid.
I'm really worried about the state of my Underpants/Bunny order-it's still MIA even though it's been sent! I've never had a two week delay for BPAL-I'm in the UK but BPAL orders usually get there faster than most other international orders! I emailed the Lab on Saturday and still haven't got a reply (that may be due to the move though). If I don't get my order by this Saturday or by next weekend, should I email the Lab again, or would that be considered impolite/annoying? I don't know how long to wait before an order is considered truly 'lost' in the mail...
I stink of: Death on a Pale Horse, Perfumed Garden, and a bit of Aegis.
Whoa, what an update that was. Another formidable slew of beautiful stinky things.
Lotus Moon is even more intriguing than I expected. I love lotus, and I adore rose and amber too. I'm curious as to how the opium and pine will play along. I'm hoping the pine doesn't amp like in Hearth 05 when it went a bit OMGPINE!!! for a moment before becoming nutty-sweet, and that the opium is the same yummy kind as Red Lantern and Sleepy Moon.
Litha-oh mah gawdz. I'm hoping Beth does all the sabbats this year-if Beltane and Litha are anything to go by, anything is possible. (in other words...more Mabon, pleeeeaaase?) I had to get this summer solstice scent-it's got a lot of ingredients I'm not familiar with and a lot of stuff I really like-and it has mead!!!
Those Salon scents seem so awesome-pricey yes (thank goodness for decant circles!) but I bet those scents are going to be worth every buck. There's something almost like they are LEs, even though they are GCs-maybe it's the new, exciting, expensive and unusual ingredients? They all look so tempting but the one that grabbed me, predictably, was the Egypt one. I mean, looking at the notes, I know it is going to work. It reminds me of one of my favourite non-BPAL scents, a perfume called Isis with honey, myrrh, cardamom and amber amongst other things. It also seems like the ultimate kyphi scent, with yummy red musk instead of the usual wine used in that incense blend. Don't get me wrong, I looooove Cairo (the wanderlust scent) but it doesn't smell like any of the kyphi blends I have-this one seems like it will though. Other Salons I might want to take the plunge with include Bat-Woman (I love those nocturnal scents that Beth makes!) and Lucretia (VANILLA MUSK!!!), Orpheus (may be a tad masculine but dammit, it's Orpheus! Mythology rocks!) and The Death of Sardanapal (this seems very exotic and resiny-spicy, hopefully the lemongrass won't take over) and all of them really, but since I am a bit broke from my orders, I'm going to get decants for now and then decide....
Talking of killing my wallet, my credit card took a real battering today, not just with BPAL. I bought new shoes-I needed new trainers (that's Brit-speak for sneakers) and Lush moisturiser-am I the only girl who uses Cosmetic Lad? I call it Cosmetic (insert Little Britain impression here) Lady! I just love it's texture and it's scent-white chocolate orange, yum. I also bought some posh chocolate because as I said before in this blog, I don't do cheap choccy as much as I used to. Pink peppercorn white choc is more my thing, yum.
I stink of: Ozymandias (this is so beautiful second time round-there's an almost Antique Lace-like quality to it, like AL in a desert breeze, with Egyptian musk behind it)
I'm a little bit surprised I wasn't picked on in the wank thread...I'm not sure whether I should be glad or sad about that. If there was a comment like 'OMG that stupid little yeahbutnobut/miss isis uk should go mummify herself or something if she's so into Egypt yada yada yada' would have probably made my day but really and truly, that thread did sicken me to the core. My self-torturing, curious side of my brain makes me want to go and read it more and it does become more laughably immature the more I read it. But seriously, comments like name calling and bitching about people's weight or saying that their av sucks belongs in primary school, not what should be an adult community, and the few moronic comments about Beth remarketing the same blend under a different name/using premade blends/lying about natural blends...the words 'horse', 'flog' and 'dead' come to mind.
My campus is under invasion by these really weird bugs. Not the usual wasps and flies and occasional mozzies I see every summer, but daddy-long-legs. These aren't the gangly, clumsy, somewhat farcical bugs that come out during the autumn, but a new breed altogether-these things fly elegantly, land perfectly on windows as opposed to the usual flailing of legs before landing, have markings like a wasp, and have huuuuuge legspans. I mean, huge-like the width of a tennis ball. They freak me out. It also makes me wonder if that urban legend about daddy-long-legs being the most poisonous creatures on earth is true...thank goodness they aren't able to use that poison because of their lack of sting or fangs!
In a week or so, I have my first exam. It's about quantum physics, nuclear physics, and relativity. Nice brain-scrambling stuff. I need to get revising a bit more-it's a truly fascinating and mind boggling module, but the maths involved in quantum makes my head throb so much...must stop forum-ing. Must begin studying.
I stink of: Black Hellebore, and Heaven and Earth's Bunny at the Door
I'm really not looking forward to next Tuesday. I have my first exam-it's 'contemporary physics'-that's all 20th century physics including quantum, relativity and nuclear/atomic physics. It's going to be a three hour long one, and I'm already scared...however, past exam papers are so helpful. I used to prefer revising through reading, and whilst I still do this, I find doing questions, writing, calculating and practising is more effective. But it's also so monotonous...at least some concepts I was unsure of are sticking in my head. Now, for more studying...*snorts TAL Concentration*
At least I have a holiday in Crete to look forward to in the middle of June!
I stink of: Spellbound
I'm burning: Wildberry Aromatic Teak incense (which smells oddly like Lush Bathos to me...)
Done two of my exams already. I'm very pleased at how I did with my contemporary physics paper-just a a couple of questions confuzzled me but apart from that, it was all good. The maths paper was awful though. I don't think I did well on it at all. Oh well, I hope I do better on the Astrophysics exam this Thursday-it's the paper I feel most confident about. I'll be so happy when those mofos are out of the way! and I won't have to live in that dump of a flat with those idiotic arsewipes that I had to put up with for the last year...
Finally, the weather's improved! I love it when it's all sunny and warm-not too hot, just pleasantly warm, the way I like it. I can go out in a t-shirt without freezing...and in about two weeks time, I'll be in Crete! Yay! I'll miss not having internet access (and forum access) but I'll be away somewhere away from home for a week or two, and I love Crete, one of my favourite places...hopefully I'll have a nice summer job waiting for me when I return. I seriously need a job, it's near impossible to get a 2 month summer job round here, all the part time jobs available are aimed at gap year students, it seems. But I need to be kept busy for the next two months and to, erm, fund my BPAL addiction!
Yeah, it's ages since I've written in here...
I need to find a way to keep myself occupied on Saturday evenings now that Doctor Who has ended. OMG what an ending as well...I was almost crying.
HERE BE SPOILERS! (for anyone in the US that is)
Spoiler
DALEKS V. CYBERMEN!!! The ultimate deathmatch! But I think that extermination is much worse than mere deletion...I thought the Daleks were destroyed by the time vortex-possessed Rose at the end of the last series but it seems you can't exterminate all the Daleks!
And Rose's final fate-that was really emotional. I won't say it all but the bit where the Doctor seemed all lonely and where his speech got cut off was very sad-we never got to hear him say he loved Rose, that almost got the tears going...until Catherine Tate (awesome British comedienne-of 'am I bovvered' fame) appeared and I almost cracked up. Roll on Christmas!!
Ok, other news. Crete was amazing, and I would love to post some pictures here-I may do so soon.
I also hope France win the Cup tomorrow. I can say that because I'm half French and I think the French team rock.
I've also got myself a bit of voluntary work if I don't get the job I'm hoping for this summer-well, sort of. I get to work at the nearby cat shelter! I don't care if it's non-paid work, I love cats and being around those gorgeous furry things makes me very happy indeed. I get to work with some of the most beautiful kittens-some of them were climbing up my trousers and sucking my fingers! So adorable. And then there's the 'hugging cat' who jumps on the chair and puts its front legs around my waist, like a hug. These cats are either donated to the shelter or are found on the street and are nurtured by the staff and volunteers until they find new homes-and if I ever want to get another kitty, I can go and get one here!
I really can't wait to get my Lotus Moon order as well. So much new BPAL on the way. I should technically be a very happy bunny right now but PMS is preventing that stupid pre-menstrual headache!
I stink of: Tulzscha, and sweat...ick.
Well, maybe step-aunt is more accurate. I just got some wonderful news from my older half sister-she's pregnant! I'm so pleased for her, I always though she and her husband would make wonderful parents. The baby's due January. This is so exciting!
Anyway, it's the hottest day of the year-so hot that even my BPAL ultimate heat-beater, Tulzscha, isn't working. Maybe I should apply some Lick It, since that worked wonders in Crete. I love sunny hot weather, and it's the same temperature here as it was in Crete and I coped with it ok there, but for some reason, it's much more unbearable in London. Maybe because it's not coastal or dry heat, or simply because there are no decent pools in the vicinity to dip in-I'm craving a dip in an outdoor swimming pool right now, or a dip in the sea...
And I think I might be getting a job come August-I've had a lot more offers for some simple courier jobs, market research/telesales and even a job at Lush. I hope that I can get at least one of those jobs. Although maybe not when it's too hot, since the Tube is treacherous at this time of year...
I think I'll use this blog to blather about BPAL and smelly stuff. My LJ needs updating but my life has been so unexciting it's unreal. Seriously. Apart from little perks like my cousin and her children staying over (little Claire is the sweetest thing ever-I've never seen such a well behaved, helpful, and ever so polite 5 year old girl!) and massive lows like my impending maths exam not much is going on, apart from the little pleasures and indulgences, like BPAL...
This Black Moon update, though small, looks fantastic. Here's a little detailed breakdown:
BLACK MOON: BETH'S CREATION
The absence of light: motia attar, black orchid, mugwort, English pear, cucumber, blue lotus, jonquil, massoia, calamus and crystal musk.
I've never smelt motia attar but if this smells like my jasmine attar that I have, I will be so happy-I think motia attar is jasmine perfume distilled in sandalwood *swoon*. Black orchid is the note that grabbed me in Queen Mab, that beautiful sweet rich floral. But it's the blue lotus that grabbed me most. I thought 'no way, not the famous blue lotus, perfume of the pharaohs?' I have a bottle of blue lotus perfume from Egypt and also a BL absolute-I love this stuff. However, I've heard there's an Indian blue lotus as well which I've not smelt, not sure if Beth will use the Egyptian or the Indian variety but either way, it looks stunning. Crystal musk looks like it will be beautiful. And massoia...I need to try Lost for Words (by Arcana) to see what that's like. All in all, this looks like it will be even better than Blue Moon (omg that sounds like blasphemy! )
SCHWARZER MOND: BRIAN'S CREATION
The keeper of secrets: opoponax, Tunisian black amber, night musk, antique patchouli, zdravetz, terebinth, myrrh, and Pimenta racemosa.
Ohhh RESINS!!! I love opoponax, myrrh and amber (Tunisian amber? If it smells like my Attar bazaar stuff...) and the zdravetz looks intriguing-geranium resin with supposed hormone balancing qualities? That I must see! I'm very curious about terebinth and what that smells like. And I'm also wondering if the pimenta will smell like bay rum or like allspice. But it's the antique patchouli that grabbed me. I'm a huge fan of another perfume etailer's AP (hint, it's the one with the 50-year old patch) but I have a feeling that AP done BPAL style will blow them out of the water. Ohhh. And the night musk? That brings to mind all the gorgeous night-time musky scents, will it be a Buck Moon musk (insert nosegasm here) or a Nuit musk? I can't wait to find out.
I am coveting these scents like nothing else. The Black Moon scents eclipse (geddit? Eclipse? ) my previous covetings of CDs!
