Breakdown! I have rated some of these according to my interest, on a scale of 1-5.

 

ALL SAINTS 2010

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.

Not interested. All those flowers sound like soap to me.

 

ALL SOULS 2010

A day of remembrance and intercession. Without the prayers and sacrifices of their families and loved ones, the faithful departed may not be cleansed of their venal sins, and thereby cannot attain beatific vision. On November 2nd, prayers are sung and offerings are made to aid lost souls in transcending purgatory. An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes.

I like my decant of All Souls '06, and I might want more of this. It starts out cakey and turns into floral incense, in a good way. 3/5

 

 

BLUE PUMPKIN FLOSS

Puffy clouds of pumpkin candyfloss with a trickle of blackberry juice.

Not for me, thanks....more for all the gals who've been waiting for this!

 

BOO 2010

Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream

No thank you......

 

CALAVERAS

Clever little satirical poems in the style of epitaphs written to tease the living and ease grief over a loved one's passing. Xocolatl, tequila, copal incense, smoke-dried jalapeños, vanilla pods, and cajeta.

I'll have to look up a couple of these notes, but I am not a big fan of copal (I do like it in incense, but not perfume), and I'm leaning towards nyet on this one.

 

 

DIA DE LOS ÑATITAS

Hydrangea blossoms and rose petals, cigarette smoke, cocoa leaves, and chichi.

Leaning towards no....don't really need a scent with rose and chocolate. Is chichi milk? 2/5

 

FLOR DE MUERTO

The orange marigold, or zempasúchitl, has been one of Death's symbols since the pre-Columbian era. The yellow and orange petals are believed to represent the rays of the sun, bringing joy and light to the souls dwelling in the realm of the dead. These flowers surround Day of the Dead altars to guide the spirits to their offerings.

I am interested, because I just like the idea of marigold perfume. They remind me of my grandma Nena, who liked to grow them. And it seems like they would be sort of a bitter or earthy floral, but really I have no idea. Want to try! 4/5

 

GHOULISH

This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron.

Hmmm....at first I thought no, not interested. But reading it again, it sounds rather decadent and almost incensey, even though it's a foody/drinky scent. Sounds kind of sexy, actually. Decant? 3/5

 

THE HAG

Black musk, bay leaves, galangal, bourbon vetiver, blackcurrant, and rum.

Interesting.....I know I need to try this, so decant. Blackcurrant and rum are the iffy notes. 4/5

 

 

GOLLETES

A circular pastry glazed with pink sugar that symbolizes the sweetness of life and the certainty of death.

Nope, no thanks!

 

HUESOS DE SANTO 2010

Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers.

I like my decant of the last one, but I wouldn't need a whole bottle. Perhaps another decant if it crosses my path. 3/5

 

LAMBS-WOOL 2010

A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove.

I like this scent but in the end it was just too sweet, to the point of being cloying. I want more spices and ale, I think. I'll watch reviews and see if it has changed since last time. 2/5

 

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY

Dewy green leaves colored by Moroccan amber, ginseng, and rooibos.

Ha ha....reminds me of the Outsiders or one of those old teen movies. Anyway, this sounds great, and I'm really interested in trying it. 4/5

 

OCTOBER 2010

Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air.

Well, I love this scent, but I don't need any more unless it has changed a lot from the previous one.

 

PUMPKIN LATTE

Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Worth a decant to sniff but not super exciting to me. 3/5

 

PUNKIE NIGHT 2010

This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider.

Never was very interested in this scent, for some reason. Sounds too fruity with the cranberries, I generally don't like berries in my perfume.

 

SAMHAIN 2010

Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.

I can most likely skip Samhain this year, since I have 2 bottles and several decants of various years already. I do love Samhain, though.

 

SUGAR SKULL 2010

Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.

Hmmm......I have half a bottle from '07, and decants of '05 and '08.....do I need more? I love Sugar Skull, but maybe a decant will be enough for me. 4/5

 

THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE

October twilight. Falling leaves breaking the stillness of cool water, with sweet autumn clematis, feather-soft orris root, luminous white chypre, and muguet.

Hmmmm....kind of on the edge about this one but leaning towards no. Sounds very pretty but orris and muguet sound powdery and/or soapy to me. 2/5

 

HALLOWEEN: BROOKLYN

Flowering dogwood, weeping cherry, Korean pine, camellia, moonflower, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and crab apples.

These notes sound soapy to me, especially moonflower. I'll pass on this one (even though pine and spruce make me want to sniff.....). 3/5

 

HALLOWEEN: LOS ANGELES

The sky on fire: a strange incense of burning brush, junegrass, tumbleweeds, chaparral, and wild sage.

I love the description and the imagery supplied by Beth. I forget what chaparral is but I want to try this. Decant first, probably. 4/5

 

HALLOWEEN: NEW ORLEANS

The distinctive scent of the Mississippi at night mingling with sweet olive and Spanish moss.

Moss is not always good to me, but sometimes very good to me. Worth a try because I do like aquatics in general. 4/5

 

HALLOWEEN: SAN FRANCISCO

Salt air wafting in from the bay. Rain falling on rain-soaked leaves.

Sounds awesome! Decant first, just to be cautious. 4/5

 

POMEGRANATE I

Pomegranate, poet's jasmine, and benzoin.

Well, I like benzoin, but pomegranate and jasmine are not thrilling to me. Probably pass. 2/5

 

POMEGRANATE II

Pomegranate, white musk, lemon verbena, grapefruit, pink lime.

Yeah...this is probably the least interesting of the pom. scents to me. Pass-ola. 1/5

 

POMEGRANATE III

Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh.

Potential decant. 3/5

 

POMEGRANATE IV

Pomegranate, cognac, red musk, cocoa, tobacco absolute, star anise, and thyme.

Don't like cocoa that much with a couple of exceptions. Probably pass.....maybe decant. We'll see. 3/5

 

POMEGRANATE V

Pomegranate, carnation, amber, cardamom, neroli, vetiver, black pepper, and opium tar.

Hmm, sounds interesting, kind of foppish? Possibly worth a try. 3/5

 

Pomegranate patch only imp:

THE HERAEON OF ARGOS

Argive Hera. The temple in the Argolid that was dedicated to Hera, the Queen of Heaven, in her aspect as the Great Triple Goddess. Pomegranate, apple blossom, fig, willow bark, and almond.

Not calling to me very much, although I would definitely try it if it crossed my path. 2/5

 

THE BYRONIC ANTIHERO

An aristocratic cologne of titanic passions, moody and brooding. This scent is dark with disillusionment and cynicism: a Victorian fougère and a dashing carnation boutonnière tainted by a cloud of khus, yew, and patchouli.

Hmmm, sounds interesting, and did I mention foppish somewhere else? Could be a nice proper dude-fume. Possible decant. 3/5

 

THE CREEPING MIST

A muculent, brumous, ill-omened scent: orris, yuzu, white ginger, linden flower, petitgrain, and lotus.

Interesting. Orris tells me to back away, and in general not my kind of scent.....but could still be worth a try. Will watch reviews and possibly try a decant if I see it available somewhere. 2/5

 

THE DECREPIT HOUSE

An architectural doppelganger reflecting a ruined soul: dilapidated planks of mahogany and cypress wood perched feebly on a grim foundation of long-dead leaves, black musk, patchouli, galbanum, tobacco absolute, fragonia, and oakmoss.

Yay, another Poe scent! I like them. This looks like a bleak and dreary Halloween scent and it's worth a decant, probably. 4/5

 

A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS

A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint.

Aww, the description and concept are reaching out to me with grabbing hands, but I just don't like brown musk. I'm going to have to try a decant of this and hope for the best. This kind of reminds me of the updated Wolf Moon, which I love. 4/5

 

THE INFERNAL LOVER

A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk.

Don't usually like honey at all, but still.....I'd like to sniff this at some point. 2/5

 

ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES

Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud.

If this is one of those scents where the rose is just a hint, I could be interested. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5

 

 

ENCROACHING MADNESS

A yellow smell. Old foul, bad yellow things. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, balsam, hydrangea, and helichrysum.

I would love to try this just because of the inspiration. But reading the notes listed, I'd have to say 'pass'. We'll see. 2/5

 

THE SHADOWY AND THE SUBLIME

A sudden and shocking insight into the vast, ineffable, overwhelming power of Nature, stirred by a vision or experience of perfected beauty and perfected terror, that changes the soul irretrievably. An epiphany: Moroccan amber, wisteria, ambergris accord, white rose, magnolia, white mint, angelica, bergamot, and myrrh.

This probably has too many flowers, and white rose and I do not get along. Love the description and imagery, though. 2/5

 

THE MADWOMAN

Dusty white sandalwood, ragged cloth, and a dry, long-dead bridal bouquet.

Just like the preceding scent, love the concept, but not the notes listed. 'Dusty white sandalwood' doesn't appeal to me, and neither does the bouquet. 1/5

 

ODD PORTENTS

Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense.

Again with the rose! And I was excited about this one. I might still try this, but I don't really like geranium in perfume either. Another possible decant.... 3/5

 

THE UNSAVORY GRAVE-DIGGERS

An unearthed oakwood coffin, cemetery weeds, and a hint of booze.

Sounds a little dank. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5

 

THE UNSTEADY GOVERNESS

White tea and violet leaf.

Not calling me. 2/5

 

.....so looks like I'm pretty safe with a few exceptions. I like the sound of the San Francisco and LA Halloween scents, and a few others like Nothing Gold Can Stay and the marigold one. I'll probably play my usual game and gamble on something I'm not sure about (the marigold scent sounds like a good candidate because I have no idea how that will smell), and get a few decants. I also need to go back and try Lambs-Wool again just to be sure.

 

And finally, I need to read the text more slowly for the Goth Lit scents, as that could change my mind on one or more of them. I noticed it says Vol. 1.....will there be more volumes? Interesting!