kakiphony

Y’know, for a zombie, you’re alright. A flicker of hero worship, tempered by naivety and an innately kind nature: shaggy leather, sweet rum absolute, and patchouli. In the decanted imp: High, sweet, and boozy. It's not exactly straight-up rum -- there's something woodsy under it and maybe a little wet leather -- but the sweet booze is definitely dominant. Wet on skin: Immediately less high and sweet, and more rounded than it was in the imp. The leather is actually the immediate top note on me, and it's a wet, slick leather rather than the old/dry/rubbed down leather I often get from other bpal leather scents. This is more an Wilson's Leather Shop in the mall than a worn leather jacket. The booze is still very present, and now it's very much rum as the sweetness it lends is very sugar-like (this is dark rum, not white rum, but not spiced rum...) Early dry down (about 20 minutes): This is an early morpher and it starts to dry down and become a skin scent very quickly. After about 20 minutes the leather has settled down and mellowed out so that it's becoming that worn leather jacket (brown, not black, and the liner is long gone, so the unfinished inside flakes off on sweaters), and the booze is mellowing to become less about booze and more about sweetness. The patchouli is underneath it all at the heart, and it seems to be my favorite type of patchouli -- the one that turns into a cross between spicy cookies and the inside of a cedar chest on me. Late dry down (1 hour+): Most of the changing Ian did happened very early on my skin. After an hour, it's very similar to how it was after 20 minutes, just a little fainter and closer to my skin. A dry, woody patchouli heart rounded out and sweetened by top notes of worn leather and a little sweet booze. It's the perfect character scent. You can absolutely imagine a sweet, shaggy guy who has been wearing the same leather jacket for years (which has had more than one drink spilled on it and spent its off-days balled up in an incense filled apartment) smelling like this. Final verdict: What strikes me most about this scent is how playful it is. It's not deep dark and masculine (which leather and patchouli could easily be!), but rather light-hearted and a little sweet, but with a deep heart. A few weeks ago, the people who live next-door to my 3-year-old nephew cut down a bunch of trees. He salvaged slices of the stumps and has been playing with them in his play structure/fort. He pretends they are bread and makes me "sandwiches" that are apparently composed of chocolate syrup, blueberries and catsup. There is something about this scent that reminds me of being up in the fort with him and eating those imaginary sandwiches. It's a little dirty, with wood and bugs and boy, but also sweet and innocent and joyful. Winner. I suspect that, long term, I'll love This Is Your Wilderness more because it's going to age so well, but this is an immediate use love. Reminds me of: Mary Read (but this is lighter), Jolly Roger

Would you like a scarf? If so, colors, length, wide or skinny? Bulky yarn or thin and slinky?? How about some dishcloths, for the kitchen? Or spa cloths for the bathroom? If so, which? Any particular colors?? I am NOT a knitter, which makes me extra appreciative of the effort anyone who does knit puts in. I don't wear a lot of scarves for warmth (I have a thermal fleece gator that is my favorite for winter walks), but I DO wear them for fashion! I tend to like thin/slinky yarns better as they can be wound more or few times around the neck and look great! I also do like cowls, infinity scarves, etc. Best colors are always black (always), dark green, bright sapphire blue, or deep ruby red. Or a burst of orange and black! (Orange is my power color.) Dishcloths I can always use and I have ZERO preferences on color for them. Spa cloths are less useful for me. Would you like any of Cat Coven's Halloween goods? It's her original artwork based on medieval art. (It's a limited edition of everything, so hopefully things arent sold out yet.) Nothing I super need, but I do like the glasses! Look at The Green Salmon's webpage The Green Salmon - do you fancy any of the teas, coffees etc? It's a favorite place for me to stop on the coast, and I'll take any excuse to drive to the ocean. Aztec Spice, Fairy realms, Orchid oolong, Rootin Tootin Licorice Chai, and Wynken Blynken and Nod all sound great! What are your favorite halloween/samhain treats to eat? Please be specific. I have access to various candy stores, including healthy candy lol. Homemade treats = Rice Krispie treats and caramel apples. Candy = Mini Reeses, PayDay, Almond Joy, Mounds, KitKat, and Bit O' Honey. But isn't ANY candy really suitable? LOL. Snag Tights I can always, always use black, and of the Halloween specific I love Toadstool, Death's Head Moss, Gully, and Carnelian. I'm a little confused by their chart as I'm pretty sure I've always been a C, but their new chart looks like I might be an A/B? Did they change their sizing matrix? I can look at my tags when I get home tonight... I'm right and I am a C in Snag tights. (I went and looked at my old order confirmation emails!) I don't know WHY the size chart confused me. I think maybe I was looking at clothing and not tights? But yes, under 5'3" in the 6/8 range with a tum makes me a C! UK Stuff! You can't go wrong with candy or cookies/biscuits or snacks! What Halloween things off RedBubble do you like? Share link if possible. There a couple of cute magnets I would put on my office filing cabinets: Ghost in the Pumpkin Patch is cute; I love Fox and Wisps, and Strange and Unusual fits my existing theme nicely. Is there anything you might want from Japan? Snacks (autumn flavors are out~), nerdy stuff, cute stuff anything! As with the UK, candy, snacks, cookies etc are never a wrong choice! is there anything being removed from site or a virtual con scent you are interested in trying? Nothing being removed, but I wouldn't mind trying Blackout Blinds and Dragon Bell Z. Mooscents/Moonlisa I have never tried her stuff despite seeing the name around for years, so I'm not in dire need of anything...but am curious. I looked quickly at the lip butters and I would happily put on any of them, although Black Cat and Goblin Grog are probably the most "me" of them. The soaps looks pretty sold out, and again all of them look like something I'd potentially use, especially the (sold out) Hocus Pocus and Fortune Teller. I'm honestly not super picky about either lip balm or soap, mainly because I go through both so fast! I was wondering whether Tim Tams in any incarnation would tempt my witchee? Any of them would be welcome and eaten with joy! On the less sweet side, are there any other Australian things you might be tempted by? I am not super familiar with Australian snacks, candy, etc but am open to anything! Do you enjoy fanfic? I would be happy to write something for you, and/or read/comment upon/gush over thing(s) you've written, if that's something you'd enjoy... I have read and enjoyed fanfic, but am not a frequent consumer nor do I have favorite topics/pairings. But if you want to share your writing, I'll happily read almost anything! Would you appreciate rare TAL decant(s) in 1 mL amber roll-on bottle(s)? Sure! Especially of sleep/calmness or productivity blends. How do you feel about enamel pens? If positively, which fandoms or topics would you like? I don't really wear or display pins. I do, however, display magnets on my filing cabinet at work and most things that come as stickers or pins tend to also come as magnets. I make lightweight hairfalls, the kind that can be attached to a pony tail or to pig tails. They are good for those of us that are more tender-headed. I use a variety of materials like shibori ribbon, and puffy yarns and pieces of lace and silk. You can use them for every day or as part of your Weenie costume. Is this of interest to you? If so tell me what length, what color(s) and if you want one for a pony tail or two for pig tails. I have never worn one and don't see it as a regular accessory I would use, but for Halloween etc it could be run! Probably a pony tail is more practical for me than pig tails. During my recent travels I got to experience the incredible delight of Serge Luten perfumers here in Paris (imagine if the Lab and Anna Sui made babies inside a Cadbury Cream Egg decorated with stained glass windows and...you've come close to the experience of being in that shop). Anyway, after spending gobs of monies, they loaded me up with delectable samples of their insanely expensive wares- do you want some??? Sure! If you have something that you think I'd like, I'm open to it. Haus Of Gloi just had their Halloween update! Anything appeal to you? https://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/fall-1 Of their offerings I am most likely to use a Bubbling Scrub or a Pumpkin Butter and the scents that most appeal to me are Hex, Kitchen Witch, and Little Hedgehog. From their GC, Apothecary, Eudemonia, and A Place in Space are the most "me." I just came across this Etsy shop (TheGrayMuse) and I WILL BE ORDERING and wondering if you would like something from there as well? I don't see anything I must have, but I do like the stickers. Future Primitive Soaps has released it's fall stuff. Would you like anything from there dearest witchee? https://futureprimitivesoap.co.uk I really like their bar soaps and Owlett's End, North Woods, and Shadow Show all sound great! Other scents that also found pretty awesome: Call the Corners, Inches Lane, No. 11, Rook & Raven, and White Witch. I harvested some elderberries yesterday and I have a lot more out there, so I made a batch of elderberry syrup. Would you appreciate a 4oz bottle of it? YES Do you want anything from Sea Witch Botanicals (I can buy it locally from shops)? Their lip balm tins are seriously adorable and I would love any of them. Ditto the salves. The Hermitage Candle is adorable and sounds like it smells great, as does Quoth the Raven. tell me some Odds And Ends of things you like or want, I know this is open ended, sorry - - gadgetry, stickers, toys, pens, costumery, snacks, decoration, kitchen stuff, etc Little things you can't go wrong with for me include lip balms/tins/salves, cuticle oils/lotions/creams, cool magnets, chocolate and snacks, cloth napkins and handkerchiefs (I carry them in my purse for use in restrooms with blowers!), and purse size hand cream tubes/tins. Gift Certificates you'd like to places that are local to you? I think most of my local places are SO hyper local that they would be hard, although I know my bookstore (https://www.brilliant-books.net) has employees who are magnificent over the phone and online. (And if you need a speedy present for a family member, their book of the month subscriptions are truly wonderful -- so customized and they care so much. I can't say enough good things!) How do you feel about ILNP nail polish and what are your favs from the new Cosmos collection and any others on their site?? I don't paint my nails. It makes them feel like they are suffocating. I am trying to be nicer to my cuticles and practice a little more care beyond "cut to a rough shape" Would you be interested in anything from Alobudra? https://alobudrallc.company.site/products/ That site is a little overwhelming, but I know I would use the bath bombs and I would be open to trying other things like bath milks, teas, etc. If YOU love it, I bet I will too! are there any more “traditional” Japanese souvenirs you’d like to have (think chopsticks, tenugui, washi paper, etc.)? I'm going to say no but only because I don't know enough to say yes with specifics.If YOU think I would use/love it, try me! Would you like to try Brujita Skincare ? (Ignore the out of stock except for In Your Room collection and Inner Child Ritual candle.) Their quiz tells me I should try: Sea Algae Cleanser, Purple Reina Scrub, Vegan Cream, Jelly Mask Cherry Bomb Aha, Jelly Mask Cucumber Watermelon, and Sandalwood Hydrosol. All the bar soaps also look awesome. Would you be interested in any jewelry or other items made with tiny bones from this shop? There are some Halloween themed ones: https://www.tinybonesandthings.com/s/shop Enthusiastic yes! I really love almost every single piece of jewelry on that site! If you like tea, is there anything you would like from Bird & Blend? https://www.birdandblendtea.com/ I am intrigued by the sticky chais -- especially the regular and gingerbread. I'm also game to try Rose & Cardamom Chai, Dark Choc Chili Chai, Milk Oolong Chai, Moondrops, the Digester, Brighton Rock, and Chocolate Digestives. BloomChic - just discovered them - Take a look at the Halloween stuff, and tell me the link and the size of whatever thing you like! I am actively trying to downsize my closet, so I'm good for now thanks! Poesie Tea! Do you like? Some of my favorites are from this company. https://www.poesieperfume.com/loose-leaf-tea London Fog + Smoke, Merry + Bright, and Olympus all sound interesting. Would you like anything from Trader Joe's? (Pumpkin products are, sadly, not in stores yet, but they will be during this round!) Most of my favorite PJs snacks are on my amazon wishlist. Obviously I don't buy them there, but it's one of the best ways to know to show what I like! For Halloween specific, I remember liking some pumpkin covered espresso beans and the batons a few years ago, and you can never go wrong with seasonal Joe-Joes. Do you have any Halloween traditions? Our campus always decorates and departments have themes with costumes. We have not yet sorted ours out for this year though! What about Halloween-related fandoms? (ie. The Nightmare Before Christmas) Nope! non-U.S folks!!! We always end up asking what we'd like from your exotic-to-us locales, but do you have any wishes for things from the States? I make things from thrifted sweaters that I cut up & make things from. Do you like armwarmers? Yes! My often they are too big for me because I am built like a spider with a thick middle and super skinny arms and legs. Long or short? I like both! Solid color ( elegant) or funky stripes made from multiple sweaters? All of those options sound great Fave colors? For accessories I like black, emerald green, sapphire blue, ruby red, and bright orange. Is cashmere okay? Yup Wool & related blends? ( I never use scratchy wool for arm warmers.) I don't mind wool, even the scratchy kind. I actually kind of like it. (Sensory seeking?) Do you like buttons used decoratively? Sure! I also do coiled & sewn rope work- it's functional art I wrap the rope in fabric & add appliques. I just had my first art show with these- bowls, trivets ( that can hang on the wall when not in use), coasters. Is this something you'd like ? They sound super cool. What sort of Halloween fabric? Whimsical? Witchy, bats, mushrooms, moths? Mushrooms and moths sound awesome and year-round to me! How gothy do you like? Let's say my level of goth is office-goth. So black and a little spooky, but also kind of stylistically conservative if that makes sense. have velvets & sparkly stuff to work with too. What is your preference witchee? Velvet is a big <3, sparkles I prefer in small doses. How do you feel about cherry things? Check out Cherry Republic and let me know if anything catches your eye! Similarly, are you into fancy flavors of olive oil or vinegar? Check out Fustini's and let me know if anything appeals! We also have an awesome store for jams and sauce, American Spoon which you should totally check out! Would you like some locally sourced maple syrup? Finally, I live in a place known for fudge. Do you like it and/or are their flavors you particularly like? My favorite shop is Murdick's if you need to see a flavor list. Anything from the IKEA Halloween store catch your witchy eye? https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/campaigns/halloween/ Nothing I can't live without! https://wildsoulriver.com I own the Magical Nature Tarot and love the feel of the cards. They have candles and teas and tinctures and books of the activist or witchy sort. Anything you see that you'd like? Their teas look interesting and I like the I Love Western Mass sticker (I lived there for 4 years in college!) I live near a Penzey's Spice https://www.penzeys.com - do you cook? - Do you want fancy schmancy spices or spice blends? - Do you have a favorite alternative source that you prefer and or recommend? For example egads I am asking lots of Qs Curio Spice Co, Diaspora etc do ethically sourced spices. - If you cook is there a type of cuisine you are interested in learning more about and would appreciate a starter pack of spices for that type of cooking? Taking this in order... Yes. Sure! Penzey's is my favorite but I occasionally stick my neck in our local shop: Spice & Tea Merchants. They mostly do bags though, and I find those harder to store than jars. There is no one cuisine, but some of our favorites from Penzey's are their vanilla, vanilla sugar, Balti, Rogan Josh, and Fox Point. We've been meaning to try their Pico Fruta and Tsardust Memories. I'm also intrigued by some of their cinnamons and their hot cocoas. Colourpop's Haunted Mansion collection dropped today. If you're interested in makeup or skin care, are you interested in anything from Colourpop? https://colourpop.com/ I'm afraid it would be wasted on me and end up going to my niece, who wants to be a makeup artist. Anything of interest from Cellar Door? (They have candles and soaps.) Some of their soap looks fun! I'm particularly drawn to Black No. 1, October Road, Michigan Moonglow, Sanderson Spice, Pleasant Peninsula, and Manistee Sands. Are you into wax melts, candles, incense, room sprays, or none of the above? Of the above, I occasionally use candles, incense, and room sprays. But honestly I don't use any of them too often because the dog pouts at me! Would you like anything from Luvmilk's Monster Mash? I'd use Bath Salts or Bath Milk and Pegasus and Werewolf and I would add Boyfriend. I dye yarn. Are you a person who crafts with such? What fiber, weights, and colors would tickle your fancy? Would you rather have two different 100g skeins or enough of the same something for a bigger project? I am super NOT crafty and it would be wasted on me. Provided my experiments work, would you be interested in a bar of homemade tallow soap? I promise I will not send you anything particularly suspect, so this is entirely contingent upon my competence. Absolutely! Do homemade caramels or shortbread tickle your fancy? Homemade anything is welcome! because I’m a knitting kind of witch, would you appreciate a pair of hand knit socks. If yes, would you like them in a particular colour? I would love them! Black, gray or striped would get the most wear. What type of spooky season imagery do you like? (Ie. bats, ghosts, vintage Halloween, etc.) I'm a fan of witches and vintage Halloween. Astrid's Autumn Line and Anniversary Tea Party just dropped. Anything you want? I am actually pretty good on perfume aside from my smallish wishlist. I know it's kind of the point here, but I've been trying to make an effort to wear and use what I have rather than just stockpiling. Homemade and preserved food goodies - Which of these things would you like my dear witchie? All are organic and grown or made by me. sun-dried heirloom tomatoes: Yes, would love dried ancho chile peppers - can be whole halves or ground into a delicious powder: Yes, would love sugar-free candied pecans and walnuts or almonds: I don't love most sugar free things. Plain would be great though! gourmet quality fudge in many flavors (formerly from my ETSY shop which I had to close until I have my own home again) please give me an idea the kinds of flavors you like. My more popular ones are Penuche, Choc & PB, Pumpkin pie, Forest fruit (with cherries, blueberries and cranberries), Vegan chocolate: I live in a fudge town, but almost buy it for myself, so I would probably love it. Penuche, maple, and anything with nuts (peanut butter, PB/C, butter pecan etc) are favorites. dried italian plums (pitted): Yes, would love sugar-free canned plum or logan berry jam: Nothing sugar free with artificial sweeteners please. freshly dried rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley individually or in combo: Yes, would love almond flour baked goods (low carb, sugar free, and gluten free) - give me examples of savory and sweet things you'd like: Yes, would love! I love brownies, scones, cookies, biscuits, etc. Really, I like everything! Might you like a witch hat? Later this month I'm taking a class at an area museum where I'm supposed to decorate 2 hats. Also I crochet wicked cute witchy hats. I'm sure I would love it and it would inspire Halloween costumes for years to come! Do you see anything here that interests you? They have dry shampoos, whipped soaps, awesome hand cream, linen spray, sugar scrubs and perfume. https://www.etsy.com/shop/faefragrance/?etsrc=sdt Whipped soap or hand cream would be my choices, and of the fragrances I think Norberta and Honey Cake sound nice. Anything you want from my favorite local tea shop? www.fridaytea.com Maple Houjicha and Underworldsound interesting! How about from my skincare person? drjensbeautylab.com/ Barrier Repair Serum, lip balm (chai or winter mint, so shimmer), Glow Up Serum, the New 20 Serum, and Skin Zen Wash look great. How about from my witchy Chandler? https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeresaLynnsSimpleLux Appalachian Autumn and Stolen Hoodie sound nice. It's also that time of year where I make handmade soap (usually with calendula infused olive oil, tallow, oatmeal and honey) and candles (feel free to specify color and size, I don't usually scent them, but I do have a clover and apple scent I've been wanting to play with). I can also annoint and dress candles with TALs and herbs. Any interest? The soap sounds lovely as of the candles. I love tea lights, small votives, and tapers -- white is great, as are green, red, and black. Unscented is great, but I'd be game to try the scent you want to play with! Undressed is great -- I have a lot of TALs at my disposal and think dressing them myself is more effective. I also grow herbs which can be culinary or magical. I'd be happy to prepare a smudge or dry some herbs for your enjoyment. I currently have oregano (yellow and standard), mugwort, thyme, sage (purple or garden), tea peppermint, chives, lovage, plantain, comfrey, raspberry leaf, and yarrow. I'm probably forgetting something. Any of those sound really lovely. I've never smudged with herbs and would be game to try. I also make salves! My go to in an arnica, calendula and comfrey mix for healing wounds or chapped skin. This can also be used on pet paws. We do have barely enough time that I could do a custom infusion. The standard sounds really nice to me! Anything in the Paintbox Soapworks Halloween update looking good to you? https://paintboxsoapworks.com/new-limited-edition/2023-weenie-collection/ I think I may have put these on my Pinterest when they first came out, but I'm most interested in Let Me In At Your Window and Nightwalker Soap and scrub, and there are still GC or older collection soaps I have not yet tried. If you have a furry friend living with you, what sort of treats do they like? Beans is prone to pancreatitis so he's actually somewhat limited on treats -- they need to be lower in fat. I give him things with chicken or low cal peanut butter (Zeke's PB training treats are in the pouch). He is however, allowed homemade treats, and most types of dry biscuit treats. Just nothing beef, salmon etc as they tend to be higher fat. What is your feelings on seasonal mugs? Yes or, no? Too many in your house or bring them on?? Complicated. I love Halloween mugs -- one of my very favorites was a big sparkly spider mug I received in a previous switch witch and that sadly lost all its paint in the dishwasher. I also still ADORE my Disney poison apple mug that I similarly received from a witch. That said, I just got rid of a load of mugs at the Goodwill because my cupboard was jammed. So I will say: I will not say no, but it's not something for which I have a NEED. Are your wishlists - Amazon, Etsy, etc - up to date, and if so, are they all linked somewhere that I can find them? Yes! And I think they are in my signature. If they don't work, please let the ringleaders know so they can poke me! Do you have anything you use every day that you wouldnt mind getting more of? I think I listed this on my questionnaire, but tiny hand cream tubes and lib balm for my purse are always needed. Anything you love or need to have from Adagio or Rishi teas? I'm not a giant fan of Adagio, but I really like the Rishi Masala Chai, Golden Yunnan, and ALL their oolongs are terrific! Nocturne Alchemy just dropped their Halloween update! You like the looks of anything? https://nocturnealchemy.com/collections/limited-collection I don't see a thing I can't live without. Is there anything you would like from the Weenie update? I will say that while this used to be my favorite update of the year, my changing body chemistry (thanks perimenopause) has made my relationship with patchouli and musks fraught, and I've never been the biggest gourmand fan. I'm currently in a big frankincense and sandalwood phase. This year the following sound like things I would like to try (and decants are welcome, not just bottles): The Witches Have a Fire Again Fig, Autumn Amber & Tobacco Atmo An Autumn Stroll for a Pumpkin Man Halloween Cat Headless A Man With A Haunted House for a Head Is He...You Know? Things Are Fine How do you feel about stickers? If positively, are there any themes you'd rather not have stickers of? The only place I have stickers is my water bottle and travel mug. They have to be work appropriate. What about crystals, cool rocks, and gemstones? I love them and have way too many. How do you feel about Squishmallows and Squishables? (They have mini and micro sizes for those who like cute plushies but don't have a lot of space.) I am not a big plushie person. My dog would immediately claim them Would you wear enamel pins with chains that are meant to be put on lapels? (Something like this.) Nope! Speaking of enamel pins... The Pickety Witch's Autumn and Halloween collection just dropped. Has anything caught your eye? No need for pins here, thanks! I used to make mobiles out of paper cranes, would you appreciate something like this? if so, what size restrictions do you have, if any? ie., should it take up less space vertically or horizontally? color palette preference? I don't have a lot of space, but if one were made for me, I'd put it in my office hanging above my filing cabinet and bright colors would be appreciated. ordering bulbs from https://oldhousegardens.com and was wondering if my witchee would like some. ( I am always willing to try bulbs even though the squirrels get them every year. I love crocus, tulips, and hyacinths. I love peonies, but am not sure where I'd stick them. Lilies I don't love. Would you like something like "sock arms" if I find time to craft? (Sometimes I make a pattern called Toast or Toasty {one has a thumb the other is just a tube} http://www.afriendtoknitwith.com/2008/09/toasttoasty.html. here are other photos from my blog: https://www.elkaknits.com/?p=845 ) -- If so what sort of colors? Sure! I love black, gray, orange, red, green, and blue! Witchee, what's your take on seasonal-themed Washi tape? It is awesome and would be wasted one me. What about seasonal treats from Trader Joe's? We love nuts, Joe-joes, etc. I make gluten-free biscotti this time of year, lemon and also cocoa varieties: does this sound good to you? Yes. Would you like me to make a music mix for you? I kick it old school with a burned CD. If you're into this, name at least 3 to 5 genres of music you already love, or are interested to explore more of! No thanks. Music is J's thing and I honestly almost never listen to it on my own. Anything here you like? https://bserway.com/ I like the stickers and the Mask ov Deceit Tank is cool. Anything you'd like from my Ren Fest? There is an outstanding garlic based shop I'll be going to next weekend, for my annual stock up of their spice blends & garlic oil blends. Any other Renny stuff that you like? Nothing in particular, but if you've read all this, I trust you to use your judgment! know we are looking at a lot of candles, but if you are into looking at more (and it is ok to say you are not), do any of these strike your fancy? https://www.lakewoodwax.com/candlesforacause (Feel free to take a look at their current and signature scents too but I wanted to highlight these fundraiser scents first!) The Jaguar sounds good as does The Night Before Thanksgiving If you are a person who appreciates tarot and oracle decks, do you have a strong preference about receiving new ones vs gently/barely used? I would be fine with gently used, but honestly I never use the decks I have Are you a Studio Ghibli fan, and if so, what are your feelings about fan made art featuring characters? I am not a fan Want anything from LUSH? Here's the link specifically to their Halloween drop (https://www.lush.com/us/en_us/c/halloween) BUT, feel free to peruse all of it. I will admit to not following the link, but my basic lush line is: I love bath bombs and melts and haircare, but not much else. Part 2 of the Autumnal/Halloween drop from Haus of Gloi is coming this weekend- take a look and see if anything is compelling! https://www.hausofgloi.com (fall part 2 is live on Sunday, here is a list of what is coming: https://www.hausofgloi.com/blogs/haus-herald/fall-part-2) Nothing I can't live without. Also, I live in Philly and will use ANY reason to spend time at the Mütter Museum- anything of interest (including, but not limited to, the well-loved BPAL exclusive for the museum, Ü?) https://www.muttermuseumstore.org I love a lot of it. If you think I'll like it, I bet I will If you are so inclined, do you want or need any natural items or ingredients for spellwork that could be collected from forests, ocean, fields or stream? I also have access to oak gall ink and various other esoteric substances Any and all of that would be welcome. Are you a fan of the show Cobra Kai? I like it (Team Johnny!), but am not a huge fan Do you enjoy any of the scented items from Victoria's Secret? BIG no Would you be interested in receiving a silver locket with papyrus and herbs inside, as a protective amulet? You bet So Witchee mine, are you a spellworker? - any interest in acorns from a tree known as The Mother Oak at my Ren Fest grounds. It is the biggest tree I've ever seen in MI. It is cared for by tree scientists from MSU. It is the mom to every other oak on the grounds. Saturday is Mabon & I will go & gather acorns before the park opens to patrons as I do each year. But this time it's actual Mabon. So Witchee dearest, would you like some? That is an awesome idea, but I actually gather my own every year! Witchee, do you like anything from Lenny Mud? No thank you.

I don't always do well with musks, so I tried this with some trepidation. (Seriously. A lot of musks make me smell like my grandfather, which is a fine thing to smell like, but not really what I tend to for with perfume.) However, I need not have worried. This "animalic" musk fades quickly on me and never turns into Aqua Velva. Wet on my skin this was very herbal with a bit of rounding and powder from the amber. Oddly, although this NOT one of the blends from this collection with pine, it smelled a little evergreen. It faded very quickly and what's left behind a gentle blend of amber and herbs. It's so gentle, in fact, that I find myself wishing it had a little more oomph on me.

Wet, the dominant scent of this on me is the nuts (which have a slight butter note to them) with smoke. However, as it dries it becomes a really interesting blend of frankincense, vanilla, and nuts. It actually really reminds of the Lab's sasparilla blends (Stimularting Sassafrass and Tombstone, but even more so the Organ Grinder). It's drop dead gorgeous and a total winner.

This one really surprised me. While it was immediately citrus heavy when applies, the citrus was spikier and sharper than I expected it to be. It definitely said mockery and guile as in a sharp tongue, and quick witted deception! This is not a gentle citrus. It dries down into a more gentle, incense ash (as opposed to unlit or burning incense) scent with a hint of beeswax and really gentle patchouli. At one point my husband asked me to please some hug him so he could smell me some more. This is a winner.

This is such a gorgeous and perfectly wearable blend. It has become my daily fragrance since Christmas and at the rate I am going, my bottle will not let a whole year. It's a perfect skin scent on me, subtle with a deeply resinous dry down and just a little bit of ripe, sweet, citrus fruit. Golden is exactly the way to describe this one. I don't really get incense from this, although that may be because I associate incense so strongly nag champa-type and smoky smells. Instead, the frankincense in this is very much unburned frankincense resin to me. (It smells like the frankincense tears that come on my favorite soap and that I hoard like a dragon.) And don't let my "sweet" comment scare the non-food people. This is NOT a cloying sweetness or a sugar sweetness. This is a golden syrup sweetness that is subtle, but delicious. It's a sweetness I associate with cuddling up under super soft mohair blankets freshly clean from a bath, not of candy. The throw on this one is mild for me, and that's part of why I can wear it as a daily scent. It sits close to my skin and no one would notice it unless they hug me, but I can smell it and I smell dang good.

Future Primitive: I have never tried anything from them before. I am always open to being enabled to new fabulousness. From the Autumn 19 line, the scents Just Witch, Four and Twenty Blackbirds, and Opium Den seem right up my alley. Do you like smallish knitted stuff (hats, fingerless mittens, scarves, toys, etc. -- be specific!)? Yes, I sure do. I love love hat mittens, arm warmers, and scarves. Not so much and toys. Easy Fingerless Mittens Love Pfeilraupe Asymmetrical Scarf Love Odyssey Shawl Super Love Close to You scarf Love Rikke Slouch Hat Cute, but I have a small head so hats can be tricky... Simple Yet Effective Cowl Love Knitted Pumpkins No thank you Little Bear Stuffy No thank you How do you feel about thrift store finds (assuming they're in good condition and have been thoroughly cleaned before shipping)? I love it. I love shopping at and receiving items from thrift and vintage shops as well as garage/boot sales and estate sales. My only request is that fabric items be laundered or left in the sun for a day or two if they are smelly. (Sun is SERIOUSLY the best way to get rid of moth ball etc smells!) I especially love vintage hankies (floral, embroidered etc), silk scarves, and jewelry (my Etsy wishlist has lots of vintage jewelry on it as a guide for what I like. Some of the prices there are CRAZY and similar pieces are dirt cheap at estate sales!) I may have bought several full size Rituel de Fille makeup items in a frenzy over their whole vibe. If I tested something once or twice (and it can be sanitized), would you be interested? I don't wear a lot of makeup, partly because I am lazy and partly because I'm just not very at applying it. That said, if you have something you think I would enjoy and could be trained to use properly, go for it. I am fine with properly sanitized testers. Are you interested in trying different skincare products from higher end, clean brands? I'm not super into trying skincare just because my skin is so reactive. But, again, if you know it doesn't contain any of my known problematic ingredients (which are on my questionnaire) and think I would like it, go for it. Any interest in anything from Torrid, noting their "fangirl" and Halloween collections are updated? I am not in Torrid's size range. (I generally wear somewhere in the vicinity of 6 to an 8, size small or medium t-shirts depending on the cut.) What on the following list would you like to receive something related to (or have something donated to in your and Joni's honor?) · animal rescue · pie · dogs · bears · turtles · inappropriate candies (either in shape or in contents—ex., boozy candies, creatively shaped peanut brittle…) Honestly, I would be happy with however my witch interprets this part of the challenge. Crazy shaped candies or pie would be eaten, donations are great, etc. I'll be going to Seattle, London and Paris during this round- anything you'd love to have from any of these locations? Nothing in particular, but anything that strikes you would be loved! Is there anything you would particularly like from Japan? Stationary, bento supplies, a particular snack, etc. The fall flavors for kitkats this year are Chestnut, Sweet Potato and Apple Pie. All of those KitKat flavors sound fascinating, but especially chestnut. Bento boxes and sauce cups are well loved in my house, but I don't use picks or cutters etc. Stationary would probably not be used. Food, sauces, candy, etc are always well loved. Thinking about really good natural food stores like Natural Grocers or Whole Foods, if you could have ANY bath and beauty or body care items, what would you love? I love bath bombs from those stories, and tubes of lovely hand cream. Also what kind of treats, snacks, foods, condiments, bulk items, teas, housewares from the same natural food stores would you love? I'm a big fan of nuts, nuts mixes, and trail mixes. I love tea and have a whole section on it on my questionnaire. I also love fancy jams and jellies, sauces, and marinades. Also, are there any particular sustainable kitchen or household items you would love to receive? Beeswax wrap, bamboo kitchen cloths, produce bags, reusable sandwich bags, and bamboo "paper" towels. Did anything catch your eye from the Liliths? I have ordered nothing from the Liliths, not even decants, so no worries about doubling up! The ones I would most like to try are Back in Blueblack, Generation Spooky, Lazy Daisy, My Tiger, Social Justice Paladin (probably the most desired of all), You're A Daisy if You Have Perfume Oil, and Go Hawks!. Would you like anything from Lush? Basically any bath bomb or bubble bar without cinnamon in it (ouch!) will be deeply loved by me. I also like some of their haircare products. I tend to paste a lot of lush stuff on Bath, Body & Fire Pinterest board, but it's far from an exhaustive list. I don't love there facial care stuff (to many reactions) or the shower jellies. I've become very interested in non-talc powders since I seem to be off all deodorant due to reactions... 9/26/19 So, there's a Euro coin of some denomination coming out with Asterix on it for the 60th anniversary and, while I'm not a coin collector, I've loved Asterix since before I could read and therefore really want one or two of the coin just to have. Is there anything kind of weird and niche about which you feel this way, fellow witchees? That sounds super cool, but I'm not an Asterix fan, so it's not for me. Kickstarter (and similar): Any thoughts, witches? I love the Kickstarter concept and have backed several things over the years. I don't have my eye on any in particular right now, but if you see one that you think is right up my alley, I am down with that. 9/28/19 Do you have an Etsy/Goodreads/Amazon or anything else wishlist you’d like to share? My amazon wishlist (which is books I want) and my Goodreads (which is books I own) should both be linked in my signature. If the links don't work, please let the ringleaders know! And what’s your preferred wrist/necklace size? Does anything from Bird & Blend take your fancy? It's hard to go wrong buying me tea unless you buy chamomile! I think I wrote a small treatise on this in my questionnaire, but I like blacks and oolongs best, followed by herbals. At first glance Great British Cuppa, Earl Grey Creme, Chocolate Digestives, Dark Choc Chili Chai, Terry's Orange Choc, Lady Lavender, Smoky Russian, Elderflower Prosecco, Coconut Milk Oolong, the Digester, and The Big Smoke all look great. Knitting questions have have been asked, but how about wash cloths, anyone need any? What colors?? I could always use dish cloths and I'm not picky about colors. is there anything from World Market that tickles your fancy? I don't have one near me, so I have no idea what they have right now! I say if it strikes you as me: Go for it! 9/29/19 There's a special thing happening over at Rituel de Fille this weekend, where some gorgeous makeup items are coming back for just a couple of days. I'll be placing an order Sunday or Monday- anything that might strike your fancy, either from the special sale or from the site in general? (https://ritueldefille.com) Nothing in particular, but as always if you think I will love it and need it in my life, go for it. How do you feel about tarot or oracle decks? Would you be interested in any (for artwork or for mystical purposes)? New or used? I have one ancient Tarot deck which I almost never use. In fact, I don't even know where it is. That's because it has just never resonated with me. I would love a deck that does. (The deck I have doesn't seem to be available anywhere, so Iw wouldn't worry about duplicating. It was called Renaissance, but the cards are actually very plain.) I would prefer new just because I wouldn't have to cleanse it, but used is NOT a deal breaker. Would pigment samples from companies like M.A.C. or Notoriously Morbid tickle your fancy? If so, what colors catch you eye? I use makeup for infrequently that I think they would be wasted on me. 9/30/19 do you have a favourite saying or quote? I do not. How do you feel about spicy foods, and where on the Scoville scale do you hit your limit? I like spicy food quite a lot. I think my max is probably in the Habanero level depending on what it's mixed with and prepared. How do you feel about coloring books, especially those pertaining to a personal interest or fandom? I have been given two amazing ones and both times a child stole them. I love them in theory, but it seems like I am really bad about ever getting to use them! 10/1/19 A few questions have been asked about knitted items--are crocheted equivalents acceptable? (crocheted fingerless gloves, shawls, etc.) Any fiber issues? Knit and crochet is GREAT!!! I have no fiber issues, but do tend to prefer natural fibers (i.e. cotton, wool, silk, linen and blends) to acrylic and polyester just for environmental reasons. But any yarn you have is FINE with me. Really. I just so appreciate people who can make things! About the Weenies: please list what you've bought or are definitely purchasing for yourself *as well as* what you would like to possibly receive from someone else! I have bought nothing and I am really trying to NOT but anything. That said, I lusting after Flesh of My Flesh, I am All In a Sea of Wonders, The Sleeping Draught, Voluptuous Wantonness, and His Red Mouth. I'd also love to try Mictecacihuatl, The Empty House, and The Shadowed Veil. Additionally, I use hair gloss in the winter/dry months and Picturesque Figure sounds great. (I tend to like scents with a lot less strength in my hair because it's so near my nose and they linger so much! So, although I love patchouli in my perfume oils, it's too much in a hair gloss.) Dear Witchee, are you at all boozy? Anywhere between hard cider to straight whisk(e)y? And any interest in the "unusual" stuff? (unusual as in non-mainstream, local craft ciders or meads, regional fruit wines, experiments from local distilleries, etc) I am a drinker and love unusual and regional things! I think I wrote a small treatise on that in my questionnaire too... 10/2/19 Nail Polish: Do you need or want some? If so, what colors and brands are you interested in? I don't paint my nail. Does anyone else do nail wraps? Nope. What about postcards? I am so bad about sending mail that they would be wasted on me. Is anyone interested in anything from the Nocturne Alchemy Halloween release (or, presumably, anything else from the site)? They are not a brand I have ever tried! I'm not opposed to trying something. Blood, Hemlock Cat, and Hekate Cat all sound interesting. (I found their collections/scent lists a little confusing!) How do you feel about salt? I don’t mean, like, salted nuts or potato chips. I mean straight-up salt, like alder-smoked finishing salt or Hana Flake sea salt. LOVE! Seriously. We're big fans of interesting salts. One of my very favorites to use on homemade crackers is black lava salt. I am totally into trying ALL THE SALTs. 10/3/19 I am infamous for baking (shortbreads savory and sweet, poundcake, various cookies and bars), butter caramels (flavored or plain), and catnip. Are any of these relevant to you or your household? Umm...all of them except catnip. But I especially love shortbread and caramels. Do you like to cook and do you need/want any spices for such pursuits? I love to cook and can never have too many spices, sauces, etc. Would you wear any of these? Fern , Nuada, Manannan, Duleek Abbey or an infinity scarf or tube cowl tall enough for a hood (like this scarf or this cowl for shape example)? I would totally wear any and all of those! Do you have any utilitarian needs for everyday life? Things that would help or that you've been needing or wanting for work or whatever? Some small things that I can always use are handkerchiefs, Kleenex packets, anti-bacterial hand wipes, small tubes of hand lotion, Elf wax pencils and clear mascara/brow gel. What kind of vegan snacks do you like? And vegan chocolate...favorites? I don't have any in particular, but tend to like all the snacks! 10/4/19 How would you describe your crafting style? Whimsical & Cute? Elegantly modern? Totally Traditional? I have no crafting lifestyle. I have two left thumbs. 10/6/19 So....we are about to process a metric f*ton of green tomato relish, which is basically bread and butter pickles but with sliced green cherry tomatoes. Is this relevant to any witchees? I love almost all food, but am not always a fan of sweet relish. That said, I would totally try it and my husband would probably love it! How do you celebrate Halloween/Samhain? Do you dress up? Would you like something for your costume? And am I the only person left on the planet who wears socks? I do celebrate and I usually dress up. There seems to be some question as to whether my department is participating in the annual costume thing this year though, so I am irked at them. I tend to wear tights more than socks because I usually wear skirts. 10/7/19 Are you interested in anything from Art Of Tea or Adagio Teas? I am totally interested in all tea that isn't chamomile. I especially love flavored blacks, oolongs, and pu'erhs. I make light-weight hairfalls, doll-style, using a variety of fun stuff, like ribbons, lace and soft batting. Would you be interested in receiving a set in the colors of your choosing? It would be immediately stolen by my niece. And a quick question here--I'm going to this amazing looking event on Saturday--does my witchee see anything they might be interested in? https://www.facebook.com/events/903999316607440/ (the Oddities Market) That looks so cool and I am so jealous. I want to go!!!! A bunch of the stuff looks really cool. I would totally be into creepy jewelry, random horrible taxidermy, candles, and art. For art, something I don't have to frame is preferred because I have a STACK of things I am trying to save up to frame. In the realm of creepy/spooky Halloween I really love imagery with ravens/crows, spiders, skeletons and watches -- basically think atmospheric and spooky rather than twee like pumpkins, ghosts, and black cats can be. 10/8/19 How do you feel about enamel pins? Love them, hate them, slightly interested, totally indifferent? Generally I'm not a huge fan simply because I no longer have a dedicated place for them and they tend to get stolen by my nephew, who is a little magpie. (My jean purse is long gone!) However, that said, I've recently seen a few that I just love, including a Skeleton one that says "I am not nice" and Wild Feminist pins. So...I guess I like certain really awesome ones, but am not exactly a collector if that makes any sense! 10/10/19 what is your T-shirt/shirt of choice Size? For ladies cut tees I prefer a medium. Traditional men's cuts, a small, and I tend to cut them at the neck, arms, and waist. There's a new thing out there called a "unisex" which is basically a slimmer cut version of a men's T often in stretchier fabric, and I like those in mediums too. Really, you can't go wrong with a medium unless it looks abnormally huge. 10/11/2019 OCTOBER LUNACY! I know turn around time is unlikely, but just saying (JUST SAYING), dear Witchee, did anything catch your eye? I adore the Hunter Moon t-shirt, would love to try imPEACHment, Peach Chypre, and Palo Santo and Sandalwood. https://archaichoney.com/bloodmoonbotanica (Britton used to run Haus of Gloi.) Witchee, are you interested in any kinds of things from the Blood Moon Botanica update? MOON DEW (will have a presale should it sell out) Looks great with no known danger zone ingredients! HIGH MOUNTAIN ARNICA OIL No thanks SAINT JOHNS WORT OIL No thanks CALMING ELIXIR Sadly, no, the chamomile makes it a no go FIRELIGHT TURKEY TAIL TINCTURE No thanks, I sometimes have issues with mushroom tinctures (I seem to fine with chaga tea though) YARROW ALDER HEALING SALVE I could absolutely use this DEEP FOREST OIL Probably would not get used in a timely fashion at my house. PEACH LEAF ELIXIR Would be great to have on hand for winter DRAWING SALVE Probably gentle enough for me. LINDEN & CALIFORNIA POPPY ELIXIR This sounds very interesting ENGLISH DAISY FLOWER ESSENCE Daisies, like chamomile, are in the ragweed family and I need to avoid them. also I took some beading classes and have been making bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Would you be interested in any? If so, how big is your wrist or how long would you like your bracelet? Any preferred styles of beads? I am always into jewelry, more necklaces and earrings than bracelets. I'm pretty sure my measurements are in my questionnaire. I don't have preferred bead styles but currently like BRIGHT things and could use some more reds, oranges, and purples in my life. 10/13/19 If I was to donate to an animal rescue on your behalf as the "lucyboo" component of this swap, is there one in particular that you would choose? The local one here is AC Paw, but I'd be equally pleased with a donation to one local to you OR to one which was local to Lucyboo. 10/15/19 What is your very favorite Halloween candy? If you don't have one/don't do candy, what's a seasonal treat you love? I am easy with Halloween candy. I love peanut butter cups and basically all the candy that comes in the variety bags with them. I also really like pay days and sugar babies/daddies and Bit O' Honey which I see more places at this time of year. But I also love fall treats like caramel apples, plain apples, cider, doughnuts, etc. Basically, there's not much I don't like except gummy candies. I just got an email from Lush that their Christmas stuff is now up online! anything you might like? Christmas is the only holiday we really decorate for because we usually host at least one meal at my house (Eve or Day). I love ornaments for our tree, and random awesome things for our mantel. (One of my favorites is a Star Wars snow globe!) I don't actually own any wreaths or garland, which at some point I should remedy. I could also totally use my Christmas linens (napkins, placemats, etc) and dishes. 10/18/19 If you were my witchee, would you enjoy home made (canned) preserves? I'm going home to Can All The Things & I'm thinking some bananas foster butter/sauce might be a nifty thing for you. I love homemade canned things, but I am allergic to bananas. Anything else I would love though! 10/19/19 I am in Las Vegas is there anything you would want from here? I can't think of anything in particular and I think you're either back or coming home today! But really, anything that strikes you as "me" or that would make me smile would be loved.

Coming in to review after 2 years of aging in a cool dark place to say: Wow. What is soma exactly? Because when I got this two years ago it was all ozone and frankincense wet which dried down to a very slightly green and spicy skin musk. Two years later this has lots of bright, clean, white florals when wet along with the ozone, and they linger. It's something like gardenia and maybe jasmine? Definitely not lilies (thank goodness!). But very, very, very different from when I first tried it. This is one that is aging and opening up in unexpected and interesting ways.

This is the second hair gloss I have tried, after Mitzvah. This scent is MUCH stronger than Mitzvah, really lasting throughout the day and wafting out from my head rather than settling down and just being a kind of subtle "you smell nice" if someone sniffs my head thing. I will definitely need to use fewer sprays than I did with Mitzvah for a subtle effect! The scent on me is very-cinnamon heavy with a lingering red musk. It's a DRY hot scent, like a dragon wallow in the desert, much more spicy than sweet.

This is very sweet when first sprayed -- all caramelized sugar, a very sticky, childlike sweet scent. After drying/styling it settles into a very subtle much deeper sweet smell for me. It smells quite like the way tonka does on my skin, and is much more sophisticated than the description implies or the fresh spray would lead me to believe. If it were a color, it would be a deep burnished gold.

Citrusy and classic "clean" scent at first spray, but definitely something herbal as it longer in the air. I'm getting mint and/or tarragon rather than rosemary though... This is not super long lasting, but is very pleasant.

As everyone else has said, this is (really good, not cheap-o) Nag Chama in a bottle. It's a golden, thick, incense scent on the skin. There's a little fruity/sweet at the beginning, and then pure incense for ages and ages. Throw is moderate. It smells like the clothing racks at a shop I used to frequent in college that carried hippie skirts and loads of scarves from Indian. I will wear this loads on the weekend when I can smell how I want, but never to work. If I wore it to work I'd get the reputation of a total hippie!

I did not pay enough attention to this scent, and I'm afraid this review is not as thorough or insightful as I would like. In the bottle this smelled sort of mildly aquatic and a little bit floral to me. I did get plum from it. At first application is immediately amped and smell strongly of aquatics and old lady in a way that made me sneeze (and may be the "soap" smell that others have mentioned.) It read as wet rather than cold to me -- like a sleety, slushy mess rather than pretty snow flakes. Then, I was in a hurry to leave the house, and managed to not sniff my wrists at all during the early dry down phases, so I'm not sure how the top notes bloomed and developed. Several hours later, it has faded to the point of having zero throw and being a skin scent. It's a very pretty resin, with final powder. On one wrist there is something a little bit sharp, which is probably the last remaining bit of the carnation. It's pretty and unobtrusive, but nothing special. I will come back and edit this post once I have a chance to try it on a day when I can PAY ATTENTION.

In the imp: Not as deep as I would have expected from cypress. Light, with something like mint that I think may actually be birch? Wet on skin: Total amping here. This was a quiet scent in the imp and is a LOUD scent on me at first application. It's exactly what the title says: The inside of a box where jewelry worn close to perfumed skin has been stored. A little wood (I tend to read almost all wood as "cedar" because it smells like my cedar chest!), a little powder, some florals, and maybe a touch of dry spice. Early dry down (10 minutes): The amping mellows, but the scent remains large unchanged from first application. This is not (at least on me) an early morpher. Again, it's what it says on the label: The inside of the jewelry box of a rich, perfumed lady. Late dry down (about 45 minutes to an hour): This is really a very stable scent on me. The only real change was from imp to skin. Wood, subtle perfume (more cologne than perfume -- it has some resins and spice and sin't overtly floral) and a little dry spice. It's golden yet deep, resinous, yet heady. Very pretty.

In the imp: Very faint. Mild even. One of the least aggressive oils I have smelled in the imp in ages. Wet on skin: A quick sharp jolt of cologne, that very quickly mellows in the nose. There is a bit of high and sweet from the lotus, and then a really soft vanilla-sandalwood under it. Early dry down (5-10 minutes): This is bizarre to me. I expected something complex and rich, and instead I'm getting something really gentle and mild. I don't get the creamy note others have mentioned, but it might come out with time. As it starts to settle, I am catching more of the floral ylang ylang and a little more sweet bubble gum from the lotus. It's a very poppy bubble gum -- more bubbles than glob if that makes sense. There's also just a tiny bit of something plastic (like a Strawberry Shortcake doll) in there which I have occasionally gotten from vanilla. Late dry down (45+ minutes): A delicate skin scent, most ylang ylang and sandalwood. This is soft, warm, and comforting. Very pretty and subtly feminine,

In the imp: Very citrusy and bright. Wet on skin: This applies with a burst of bitter orange and the very quickly there is something sharp and herbal poking up through it. It's loud and sharp, mostly ginger -- and fresh, eye watering ginger at that -- but with a little bit of green spice from the geranium. Early dry down (5-10 minutes): In the early stages this a VERY strong on me. The bitter orange morphs into something more like lemon scented cleaner (pledge, dish soap, that variety) with a healthy kicker of ginger and a little geranium if I hold my nose right up close to my wrist and huff. I can almost detect some more subtle notes waiting to come out as this wears, but they're very faint and absolutely crushed by the citrus/ginger combination. Late Dry Down (60 minutes+): For all the amping in the early stages, this almost disappeared rather quickly. I am left with faintly sweet frankincense. It's rather powdery and so subtle that it could be the skin-scent left behind by a scented soap or scrub.

Starts out as an odd combination of dusty pepper (like the really low quality black pepper you find in diners) and sharp, slightly damp dead leaves. Quickly, the dead leaf odor fades and the sandalwood rises up to make this a little spicy, a little dry, and overall a fairly traditional scent. Low throw, very much a "cologne" fragrance on me -- my chemistry has just devoured anything subtle that was there.

I received this as an extra from the lovely puck_nc, and I am sorry to say that it will NOT be released into the wild to be tested by more of my bpalista friends because OMG I LOVE THIS AND KEEPING IT AND YOU CANNOT STOP ME. Seriously, it's worth the all caps. Puddin', if you read this, I would buy more of this stuff. In the bottle it sort of smelled generically chocolate to me and made me think of the various 13s I've tried over the years. I honestly was not super excited. But I wanted a bath and I was out of anything else pampering so I threw a dollop in. As soon as it mixed with the hot water the scent of this stuff started to bloom. The chocolate is deep and cocoa-like, reminding me of the very quality cocoa powder I use for baking my chocolate porter cake. But there is also a healthy dash of spice in this. It's not cinnamon or cassia (so no worries for the lad bits), but possibly cardamom and saffron. There's also a lovely nuttiness here which reminds me of Queen of Sheba, so I expect some almond found its way in there as well. In fact, I think this smells very much like Queen of Sheba with cocoa. I am in LOVE.

This is the most vegetable of the dead leave scents I have tried yet, and the one for which the dead leaf note lingers the longest. It eventually turns quite powdery -- it's a sweet, dusty powder with just a little dead leaf funk under it. Interesting, but a bit too sweet and powdery for me.

This started out quite vegetable from the leaves, and then the frankincense amped and gave it a strong cologne smell. Over time it has faded and it now fairly pleasant, although I get an underlying hint of BO when I huff my wrists. Not my favorite of these Dead Leaves scents. The BO is just...kind of gross. First one I've washed off.

Much less sweet than I expected from a blend with honey, and the vegetable dead leaf note faded very quickly on me. The oudh was definitely the dominant note, and rose quickly to the surface and controlled the dry-down. I was left a slightly sweet, very resinous scent. It reminded me more of a traditional perfume than many pal blends -- but in a good way. It smelled rich and sophisticated. My husband pronounced it "powdery" and didn't care for it, so no bottle for me. But I thought it was quite gorgeous.

This started off lovely and fresh. Sadly, it has turned into Glade air freshener on me. Specifically, the weird cone shaped ones in the plastic that you find in gas station and camp ground bathrooms.

This is seriously gorgeous on me. It starts out all bright apple and very subtle coconut with just a little floral -- light, sweet, yet sophisticated. As it dries down and fades it turns a little powdery, but in a yummy I-want-to-lick-my-skin way. The coconut is the lingering scent, but with a sort of vanilla floral tone. Really, I can't describe how lovely this is. It's the surprise winner out of all the apples for me.

What are some of your favorite stocking stuffers? Candy, nuts, lip balms (tinted and regular), little tubes of hand lotion, socks and tights, tea, small kitchen items (like measuring spoons, silicone baking spatulas, spices and fancy salts, etc.), bath indulgences, tiny liquor bottles, tiny hair ties, and inexpensive jewelry. Is there anything in particular from another country that you can't get in your own country you'd like to get? What's most important to me: anything in particular from The Netherlands you'd like to get? In general, I love to try candy (especially chocolate), teas, spices, packaged cookies, and dried fruit/nut/snack mixes from other countries. I'm more a fan of consumable items than of knickknacks. I’m not sure what is from the Netherlands in particular though! Have you tried licorice candy before and do you like it? I like black and salty black licorice, but am not a fan of red licorice. (Also not a fan of gummy candies.) If you were to receive Christmas/Holiday ornaments or other decorations, do you care *when* you receive them in the swap? Early would stand more chance of getting put on the tree this year. We usually put it up mid-December and leave it up until sometime between the 26th of December and the first of January depending on how lazy we are being and how quickly the needles are shedding. Anyone like popcorn and what kinds? I do like popcorn, although I will admit that we mostly cook the microwave stuff because we don’t have an air or stove popper anymore. I like butter + salt and pepper and cheese toppings. There is a place near us that does things like truffle salt and butter or Sri Racha Lime butter and it is amazing. For pre-bagged already popped stuff, salt, pepper, and cheese are best. Caramel sticks in my teeth…but gets eaten anyway. Anyone a fan of http://www.cthulhulives.org/solstice/ I had never heard of it, but it looks entertaining. However, sheet music is not for me, and I don’t currently have a working CD player. is there any kind of photo you'd like to have? Landscape, critter, flowers, other? If so, what size would be good for your environment? Or would you like a set of notecards instead of a print? I am actually starting to run out of useable wall space in my house for art, which is a very odd problem to have! That said, notecards would be lovely. I like landscapes, foxes, flowers, really almost anything. Would you be interested in anything from this site? Maybe the disappearing Klingon mug? But really, my mug cupboard is already so full I've started having to stack things! Would you be interested in receiving cards against humanity's "holiday bullshit"? Maybe? I've never played Cards Against Humanity, but in theory is sounds fun. I don't have enough friends???? Would you be happy or annoyed or anything in between to receive a tentacle kitty? They are very cute. If one came to me, it would immediately be claimed by my niece. She has already taken over my Nagini, which I don't mind because watching a 2 year old walk in the front door and shriek "My Nagini! Mine!" and hug the snot out of a stuff snake is pretty much unbeatable for cute.)

Vanilla scented plastic with an undertone of the cheapest red hots made. What happened to me? My chemistry is destroyed!!!!!!!