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!