Galen

thanks, indicolite! Qleefot it is. thanks! that's really useful - I find that the vowels are always the hardest thing to get right in another language... true. As an Arabic speaker, I can tell the difference between what you're describing as k and q and I can fully appreciate why it's so difficult to describe the difference in sounds... Funnily enough, in Arabic the letters would be Qaf (pronounced almost Qof) and Kaf (pronounced almost Kef). Interesting. In Arabic transliteration 'gh' tends to signify a more guttural resonant letter that doesn't sound much like g at all pronounced ghain- although I don't know whether this is a shared letter between the two alphabets, they are very close on many letters... Apologies if I've come over all geeky in return...

when first applied, this smells waxy, sweet and deeply resinous. half an hour later, these component aspects of the smell have melded together to give a sweet resinous smell with a "high" aspect to it. a little later the fragrance has softened to something which is equally resinous and soapy. The sillage/waft is soft, warm and spicy. Extreme drydown is soft and a little bit sweet and a little bit spicy - comforting and classy at the same time. Overall, I'm smelling something resinous and a little sweet with a high soapy note floating lightly over the top

I have to agree with that - Black Rose is the only rose blend in the catalogue that I can wear at all, and I really like it. The only exception is Wanton - Feminine sexuality in it,s rawest form. Palmarosa, red sandalwood, attar of rose, patchouli. - in which the roses take a back seat.

Does anyone have any tips for pronouncing the Qliphoth oils? or the word Qliphoth itself? I have so little idea how to say it that I can't even keep the spelling in my head! and while we're in that Illuminations category of the General Catalogue how about the other Sephiroth and the Chakras?

The Masque has a deep resiny smell from application through to dry-down, but that smell morphs distinctly - at first I can smell sweetness, richness and a hint of biscuits (cookies). On dry-down it's more a hint of soapiness mixed with the resiny depth. Unusual!

undoubtedly Aunt Caroline's Joy Mojo - this is my get-out-your-bed-there's-a-whole-day-waiting-for-you scent. When my alarm clock goes off and I hit snooze, if I'm vaguely alert enough to grab the imp I (used to) keep under my pillow and dab some on my hand then a slow process unfolds: first, I've got something I can hardly smell on my hand which is vaguely bright :snuggle further under duvet: then the smell starts unfolding as it blossoms on my hand into something bright and warm and sweet - like mid-morning sun coming through the window. Even though I'm still cuddled under the duvet, my brain has started to be alert but still comfortable and warm. Within a couple more minutes or the next snooze alarm, I'm alert enough that I know I'm not going back to sleep, and I just roll out of bed without too much hassle... I gave my imp to someone desperate for it a couple of months ago; I think I'm going to have to nab a bottle with my next order! ETA - I did write a fuller account of my waking-up BPAL experiences here. link tweak --Shollin

the new one is beautiful... but... I'm a bit of a traditionalist, and I suspect that I'll continue to prefer the old style labels... "I've grown accustomed to her look; Accustomed to her voice; Accustomed to her face..."

if I buy a locket I'll be putting Scheherezade in it - it's gorgeous and sexy, but it goes awfully wrong on my skin - accidental splash on my clothes remained beautiful for days after. A perfect candidate for scent locketing...

Peppery floral at first, this quickly develops into a very smooth blend - rich and feminine without being flowery or heady. As it dries down further I can smell something softly resinous and a touch of coconut... A truly beautiful blend, although it's quiet and doesn't call to my need for something that is both beautiful AND startlingly unique.

warm certainly, like all the Stations of the Sun, but this one starts out fresh and bright. On the skin it gets warmer and brighter, but there remains a herbal predominantly fresh note making it almost sharp. Dries down to a sweet balance between warm resin and fresh herb...

me? with great difficulty I have no memory of the correction I've had for proper Scottish pronounciation and only have one Wiccan friend who lives north of the border - I'll have to ask her and get back to you...

It's not really THAT similar, but the only catalogue blend that shares a mango note with Corazon is Kuang Shi: Limited Edition Corazon Proceeds go to Safe Haven For Donkeys in the Holy Land. The scent of divine mercy, pulsating and throbbing through the heart of every living creature. Glorious red musk and a halo of golden amber with a touch of wet mango, lavender, and purple sage. Kuang Shi Bust out the dzang dzi! This scent honors the zombies of Chinese lore. Mandarin orange, white musk, mango, and white sandalwood. no amber or rich red musk I'm afraid, this blend goes in a different direction - more dry (white musk, white sandalwood) and citrus (mandarin orange) but still has lots of juicy mango...

jewelbug - I think I'm the one who asked before... Unfortunately, I haven't found any bpal that smells even vaguely like Jungle...

Why yes, yes it does. Btw...I believe Beth should take a bow for the three lovely Phoenix labels. I created the logo, but it was her lovely design sensibility that's responsible for the label. So purty. wow! a set of three phoenix blends with three phoenix* on them - how cool *apparently phoenix doesn't have a plural - after all, there can be only one

:jaw drop: wow! those 2 phoenix are so classy! :wonders if GC Black Phoenix has a new label to match: and Snow Moon's sooo shiny!

ooh chemistry trivia - we like it thanks!!

What about: Wanton Feminine sexuality in it's rawest form. Palmarosa, red sandalwood, attar of rose, patchouli. or Rakshasa This haunting, exotic scent is named in honor of the shapeshifting demons from Hindu mythology. Sandalwood with rose and patchouli. (Gender neutral) Personally, I really like Wanton despite most roses going funny on my skin, so I can heartily recommend it

water is the only thing that expands when it becomes solid. everything else contracts, making water bloody goddamn miraculous*, actually *or unusual if you want to be all prosaic about chemistry...

I'll take your high school physics and raises you a high school chemistry oils can freeze solid; ones which are commonly solid at room temperature are called fats... but "oils" usually freeze at much lower temperatures than water...

don't forget Antique Lace as well! soft and powdery vanilla + white musk

Dana O'Shee has been likened to Snowcake, although tbh I find that it is Sweet Almond SN that smells like Snowcake...

just reporting back that I now understand why Scherezade is so beloved; yup, it's damn sexy - not on my skin you understand (it doesn't smell right at all with my skin chemistry), but in the same way as Love Me - on fabric (or a scent locket MIGHT just work ) - ROAR!! that red musk + spices effect is beautiful indeed

Macha - lovely lovely Rappaccini's Garden labels! I'm hoping to fall for one of the new additions that I have imps of. If not, I NEED a pretty labelled bottle, so I may just have to buy a bottle of Black Rose - which is nice but not a huge favourite of mine; still one of the few rose blends I like, so clearly I need to fill the 'rose' gap in my bottle box

Pele? floral, much lighter, and a bit sweeter than Ginger...

FRESHLY APPLIED - A smooth olive-like smell. DRYING, DRYING - Masculine, spicy and a little woody. Still very mellow but with a slightly bitter note making its presence felt. No, it's not a bitter note; it's the emergence of a slightly herbal, slightly sweet note that I *should* be able to identify, but it's beyond my memory just now... DRY DOWN - Ooomph! It's shifted on me... Now all that I can smell is that lighter sweeter herbal note with just a hint of a darker base underneath. How bizarre... OVERALL IMPRESSION - It starts out very smooth, very sophisticated, very unique. and rather masculine. It turns into something much lighter and herbal