Ina Garten Davita

YAY! Kim is lovely

Oh yes, Zephyr is the most wonderful light musk. Mmmmm! Hollywood Babylon?

I really liked Jack in his original glory, but I ADORE Jack in his new formulation! First Impression: Creamy dreamy spiced pumpkin drizzled with hot caramel. Second Impression: It's staying true to the glory in the bottle. I'm so happy right now. The longer it dries, a layer of warm peach pie comes out. Oh, this is so delicious, mood altering and wonderful. Final Analysis: Yes, this is a holy grail autumn fragrance for me, as it's foody and not floral. Very good on the skin. I just added this to my bottle wish list.

Decadence just screamed Christmas to me. Also Old Port au Prince is like holiday mulled wine.

I adore Blood Lotus. It's thick, sexy and juicy-sweet. Lotus and dragon's blood.

First Impression: Why oh why does Mabon smell like cherry Hall's mentholyptus cough drops to my nose? Why? Second Impression: That cherry menthol is starting to fade and I'm getting hazel mostly with just a touch of blackberry wine and cider. I'm having a really hard time deciphering this one. Final Analysis: Mabon and my skin aren't playing nice together. This one is going to be swapped away, most unfortunately. Harvest Moon is my holy grail autumn scent.

Questions such as this need to addressed by Nella, who is the customer service goddess for Black Phoenix. Please send her an e-mail at answers at blackphoenixalchemylab dot com.

I don't know if this will help but I purchased a set of very swanky olive oil from NapaStyle as a gift for my moms back when I was still living at home in Boston. It was in the midst of a very cold winter. UPS delivered it and never rang the bell so we didn't know it was out there until someone came by and told us there was a box on the porch. The oils were frozen and I freaked out and called NapaStyle customer service and they said that freezing the oils would in no way effect the flavor/aroma or texture, just to let them sit at room temperature until ready to use. And they were just perfect and quite delish drizzled on moms homemade pizza. Will perfume oils be the same, perhaps. It's worth a try. Just make sure there is enough room in the vial or bottle for expansion.

Persephone has a very similar drydown to Rose Red, to my nose when I tried them side by side. In fact I actually prefer Persephone.

First Impression: Cedar and more cedar. Second Impression: My wrist smells like dark cedar drenched in lemon-ass. I can't smell the cinnamon. Final Analysis: Ok, I've finally figured out the note that turns to lemon-ass on me. It's the vetiver.

You have a future as Dean of BPAL University, Mama!

I wanted Block Buster for when I'm working on a new crochet pattern and it's not coming out right. I'm hoping it works. Here's the news on the scent... First Impression: There is cinnamon in here, I think. Second Impression: A very quiet scent of cinnamon and a delicate floral. Final Analysis: This scent is very homey and calming.

jj_j generously decanted me some of Heliotrope into an adorable tiny cobalt bottle. My one true love. It's so beautiful, it leaves me breathless and speechless.

The wonderful thing about getting to try a prototype of an unreleased scent is the complete and utter surprise. Decadence has stolen my heart. First Impression: I can tell there is dragon's blood in this by the color. Oh yes, almond liquer, dragon's blood and cinnamon. Second Impression: This is oh-so-good. Amaretto mulled with cinnamon, cloves and orange peel blended with dragon's blood and sweetened with a touch of bourbon vanilla. Glorious, edible, sexy. Decadence is a spot-on name for this scent. Final Analysis: I'm in love. This is going to be a perfect wintertime perfume. Need more!

There is a long post here about long lasting recs. Veil and Snake Oil last quite well on me.

I had a headache and a sneezing fit immediately after applying and sniffing Machu Picchu. I've never had such a full on reaction like that to any of the preciousss.

Melpomene is a very relaxing aromatherapy type blend. Nice for bedtime.

First Impression: Mata Hari, in the vial smells just like the taste of those little Italian candies...the coffee flavored ones with the soft creamy coffee center. Second Impression: On my skin the creamy coffee center remains but it's blended with jasmine and roses in the most amazing, I can't flipping believe it ways. The tonka and vanilla are adding a warm sweetness. It's absolutely the most unusual, "who'd've thought" fragrances I've ever smelled. I can't stop sniffing it. Final Analysis: I adore this, love the coffee, love the flowers...and she really seems to love me as well. Wow.

First Impression: Harvest Moon is all buttery, warm pumkin pie out of the bottle. Second Impression: The buttery pumpkin goodness morphs rather quickly into a gorgeous autumn floral with a touch of apple wine blending in. I really enjoyed wearing this. It's rich and so very autumn-y. Final Analysis: The whole experience of Harvest Moon lasted about four hours and I loved every minute of it. I put this in my scent locket as well and as I enjoyed the blanket of rich fall flowers and apple wine floating around me, I got the buttery pumpkin goodness wafting up the entire time. I will enjoy every last drop of this. Beautifully crafted.

I bought Horn of Plenty for the benefits, not the smell so I'm not going to do my usual review. I've been dabbing it here and there and handling the imp a lot since I got it yesterday. This morning in Target I found a small pile of dollar bills on the floor just under a clothing rack as I leaned over to pick an article of clothing that had fallen down. Coincidence...perhaps, excellent...most definitely. I'm keeping this baby and going to keep dabbing!

I wanted to know what Val San Retour meant so I googled it. I came up with "Le Val San Retour" is a song by Alan Stivell on an album called "The Mists of Avalon". First Impression: Lovely pine with that eucalyptus vapor feeling. Second Impression: Cold and crisp, snow on a beautiful Christmas pine. Final Analysis: Very evocative of Christmastime.

Machu Picchu: A fortress city of the ancient Incas, in a high saddle between two peaks circa 50 miles (80 km) NW of Cuzco, Peru. The extraordinary pre-Columbian ruin, 5 sq. Miles (18 sq. Km.) of terraced stonework link by 3,000 steps; it was virtually intact when discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. First Impression: Tropical fruits, wet and sweet. Second Impression: Where is the amber? I'm not getting it... everything else according to the description is spot on. This is very strong and is giving me the start of a headache. Final Analysis: Nice, real nice...but it's headache and sneeze inducing. Very rare for me to have a reaction like this.

Melpomene was another generous extra today. First Impression: Geranium, lavender, mint...in that order. Second Impression: This is lovely, if a bit sharp. I'm finding it nicer than I thought I would given my history with lavender and mint. Final Analysis: I would never had tried this, the lab did a good thing in adding her to my package. A very nice "aromatherapy" scent. Would make a lovely liquid hand soap. Far nicer than anything Bath and Bodyworks has. This also would be a relaxing sleep scent once the initial sharpness dries down.

First Impression: Sudha Sigara is quite ginger-y. Second Impression: On the drydown it begins to bloom...creamy and soothing. Honeyed ginger cream. It's a very quiet scent, no throw from this beauty. Final Analysis: I would love to see an entire line of posh spa products with this scent. Picture it...A warm steam room scented with this ambrosial fragrance, being slathered and rubbed with this honeyed ginger cream. The ultimate in pampering and relaxation.

This was a generous toss-in from the Lab lovelies. First Impression: Bayou is green, most assuredly. Second Impression: Green, damp, mossy, watery...the description suits the fragrance full on. Final Analysis: The long drydown reminds me of the original Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo of old, which surprises and delights me. It's not a "me" scent, but I might just give this one another go.