Gateau

Maybe I will just start letting him sniff my stuff and see what he likes. I want to be careful with his skin, but hair was a great place to dab it. Lasted forever, and I could smell it whenever I kiss his little head. Which is a lot. Might try something like Dana O'Shee if I have some around.

Thought I'd bump this one up -- my 2 1/2 year old boy was watching me spray in some Hair Gloss the other day and asked what I was doing. I said I was putting in hair perfume, and now he wants some too! I dabbed a little of NAVA's Bastet's Amber on him the other morning, and it was a lovely clean white amber on his little head. Now trying to think of BPALs that might work on him. Clean fresh sweet baby is what I'm thinking of, and probably GC, because I don't want to waste the SuperPrecious on him! His brothers both love Embalming Fluid, so maybe I'll try some from their shared bottle on him.

What I especially like is that it doesn't have any of that rough edge that some of the other white florals (hello, jasmine!) can get. it's always so lovely and creamy.

I love neroli, but I am always mystified when I read reviews of neroli scents and people describe them as being orange juicy. I don't get orange from it at all, and if I didn't know it was a kind of orange blossom I wouldn't associate it with that at all. It's such a beautiful, warm, sweet floral. I do tend to like it best when it gets to stand out, rather than just being a hint of floral sweetness in something with more dominating notes. Lorelei and Akuma both show it off well.

Absinthe & Lace -- full Autumn Lace -- full Black Lace 2010 -- full Celeste -- 2/3 + full x2 French Tobacco SN -- full x2 Great Vampire Bat -- full Halloween: Las Vegas -- full x2 Hermia -- full Lyonesse -- full Manhattan -- full Morocco -- full Mourning Lace -- full x2 Pussy -- full Romanti-Goth -- 1/2 Snake Oil -- 02/13, 04/13 Spanish Red Carnation SN -- full Summer Lace -- full Two-Barred Flasher -- full Good Judy Gosurori -- full

Blue Morpho is one I love that doesn't have any of the coconut you so often find in tropical scents -- Wild orchid, pikake, honeysuckle, calla lily, agave nectar, pink geranium, violet leaf, and white amber If you like coconut, though, a non-BPAL I like is Coconut Moonstone from Nocturne Alchemy.

I was looking for tiare scents and decided to check this out on that basis. Lovely tiare is in fact here, but even better, it has that beautiful "gilded" or "glittering" amber I love so much in Implacable Beautiful Tyrant HG. It also has some nice overlap with Lyonesse, but more floral. Not strong on the vanilla and the sandalwood does not go very cologney or powdery on me, which is a plus. Must hunt down a bottle.

Bliss? Boomslang? I bet Boomslang would be AHMAYZING with cocoa butter.

For me this was not strong on vetiver at all once applied, though I could smell the smokiness in the decant, and was much stronger on the fruits, especially tangerine, and the sheer coconut. It's not a creamy coconut, more on the underripe side, and fits with the notion of the other green fruits and the green patchouli. Very summery and tropical but not in a beach drink sort of way.

I love the black licorice note and that it sticks around for a long time. Less love for white sandalwood, which makes everything smell like masculine cologne on me. I'd slather it on the hubby, except after about an hour I get a sweetness from the orange blossom and fruits that might not be his thing, though worth a try.

I took a chance on a decant of this, knowing that jasmine is going to be my downfall 99% of the time, but liking the other notes so much I figured it was worth a shot. Off the bat, it's very fruity but that jasmine note is prominent. Not a good thing for me. It's not the worst kind of cat-pee jasmine, but it has that jasmine edge I don't like. After about an hour, the coconut becomes a unifying base for all the tropical fruits and flowers. The jasmine is smoother and sweeter. I don't really get the carnation. It's sweet and tutti-frutti. Not a keeper for me, but certainly not offensive.

This is a very nice rich black leather accord, well blended without the nutty or minty edge I sometimes get. With that I get a rising amount of sharp white sandalwood. Both of those notes tend to amp on me, so I have a hard time getting much else from this. I think on me it's a little masculine, but I suspect it will be very fine on my husband, if I can manage to smear some on him.

I love my florals to be fruity, and if not fruity, then something grassy and fresh. Some of my favorites: Blue Morpho (Wild orchid, pikake, honeysuckle, calla lily, agave nectar, pink geranium, violet leaf, and white amber) -- the agave really fruits it up to me Two-Barred Flasher (Orris root, lilac, galbanum, white tea, Italian bergamot, and blueberry) Amsterdam (Tulips, peony, fresh flowing water and crisp green grasses) Manhattan (sheer amber, black leather, white mint, lemon peel, white tea, grapefruit, kush, teakwood and orchid) Morocco doesn't fit -- it's warm and rich, but I love it, and it shows of the carnation so beautifully. And don't skip Summer Lace! (vanilla cream, caramelized tobacco absolute, white opium poppy, summer honeysuckle nectar, effervescent white mandarin, apple blossom, and green cognac)

Now that I've finally figured out how to use hair glosses effectively, I've been loading up on the Coconut, Vanilla & Tiare HG and just loving that tiare note. What are some BPALs that make good use of this note? I had Pumpkin Princess but swapped it away because pumpkin and I just don't do all that well together. Thanks, enablers! (mods -- I searched for a similar topic and did not find one, but please feel free to move this if I messed up)

I am a big fan of warm, creamy, fruity florals, so this is absolutely right up my alley. When it first goes on, I don't get that effervescence, but I do get a bright blast of sweet fruit. I don't really pick out individual notes, but the honeysuckle, apple blossom, and mandarin seem to be blending into something almost tropical, like guava. It's summery and lovely. It reminds me of the early phase of something, maybe Moon of the Terrible. Then the lace base with the vanilla, tobacco, and cognac heats up and blends in. It's creamy without having an actual cream note (which always goes bad on me) and really sticks to my skin in a delicious way. Great addition to the Lace family, and one I expect to wear a lot. It feels effortless, not too aggressive but not a shrinking violet either.

OH YOU EVIL PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE ME HAVE TO HUNT DOWN LEs!!!!

I am sorry these aren't quite in the right order! I will try to keep up and keep better organized! Dr. Who? Not my cup of tea. I'm not really into fandoms anyway. How much do you like lipbalm? Flavored or unflavored? What are your favorite brands and flavors? Not a huge lip balm addict. I like the kind in a tube with an angled applicator that you squeeze. My favorite is Jack Black in Lavender-Vanilla or Lemon-Chamomile. I also like the Korres one. I have it in Wild Rose and would love a lighter color. Do you like and wear lipgloss? Yes! I tend to like it more pigmented and non-sticky. I'm in love with the super expensive Giorgio Armani, but there are several new drugstore long wear versions I dying to try. For those of you whose wishlists contain only BPALs, are there any other perfume companies you like or would like to try out? I'm just starting to check out Conjure and very excited. Having mixed success with Arcana and Nocturne Alchemy. Haven't had great luck with Possets, Violette Market, or Solstice Scents. Would like to try Blooddrop, more Carnival Wax, and Villainess. Your feelings on Adagio teas: If you've never had anything from them, would you be open to trying them? If you HAVE had them and like them, name some favorites blends. And if you had them and dislike them, can you name a few *other* tea companies you're into? I never tried them, but they sound great! I usually get my tea from Upton Tea Co, where my favorites are Earl Grey Blue Flower, some of e Assams, Moroccan Mint, and Baker Street Afternoon Blend. I like black tea, strong and smooth, and I do like some flavors. Like smokey too. What about coffee? ALL YOUR COFFEE ARE BELONG TO US! I love espresso, lattes, cappuccino. Not a fan of flavored coffee. I like it dark and rich and chocolatey rather than citric. I recently got a Chemex and trying to get a little geekier with my coffee. Who is your favourite female of all time? Historical, literary, ANYTHING, and why? Hmmmm, that is tough. Fixated as I am lately on A Midsummer Night's Dream, I might say Hermia. She is little and fierce and loyal and brave. She's loving and confused and tries really hard. Or Turtle Wexler from The Westing Game, for similar reasons. If you were a Disney princess you would be?: I always rather liked Cinderella. She worked hard but wasn't bitter, and her fantasy ball gown was the same as mine when I was about 6. I look more like Merida, though. If you could have one rare bpal which one would you choose? Antique Lace. I've never even gotten to sniff it, and from everything I've heard, I'd love it. I have decants of Storyville and Pinched With Four Aces, and of those, I think Pinched is slightly better for me. Would also love to test Quincey Morris. (Feel free not to answer, I know it's not a standard one!) Are you kinky? In theory, yes. In practice, well, I'm sort of out of practice. Do you enjoy scented candles? Certain sizes that you like? What kind of scents or brands? I do, but I rarely get to burn them because (a) I have little kids and don't love leaving things burning around the house and ( my husband doesn't seem to love room scents the way I do. Types of scents I like best are spicy, herby, and outdoorsy. The type in a glass jar are probably safest, and one of these days I'd love to get a tart burner. Thoughts about South Africa? Have you been here, would you like to go? Would you like to receive anything South African? I have been entranced by South Africa for decades -- the landscape, the people, the rich history, the art. I would love to visit some day, and would love something South African. Do you like Sockdreams? If so, what styles would you prefer? (You can also link your wishlist.) Love them! I will always love OTK opaque or lace stockings and actually right now could make good use of some fun mid-calf to knee-length socks. Do you need hair accessories? If so, what kind or color? I have the worst collection of hair accessories. I have super thick and curly hair, and would love a beautiful barrette, combs, or headband that would work with my hair. What is your favorite shade of blue? Ooooh, good question. Cobalt, I think, but aqua is pretty close. Do you have any kitchen gadgets (a SodaStream, a Kuerig/Tassimo) that you want mix things for? I have a SodaStream at home and would enjoy some sugar-free mixes once in a while, especially citrus flavors. I have a Tassimo in the office and especially like having the latte mixes. If you were to start learning something new (intellectual or craft or hobby), what would it be? I want to learn Spanish. And how to make Amigurumi. What about candy? Do you have a sweet tooth? I do have a sweet tooth which I try to tamp down so I can watch my carb intake. I love very chewy things like caramels, licorice, gummis, especially if they are salted or sour. Do you have an e-reader? What kind? Would you like to get ebooks? I use Kindle on my iPad and love love love ebooks. If your witch is an extremely crafty sort, and she were to send all kinds of homemade foody goodies and handmade crafty stuff - what are items you would NOT LOVE to receive. Please dont hedge on this one...some of us are serious crafters and will be making most of what we send! I would be so honored to receive crafty stuff -- as a knitter myself, I know what goes into it. Let's see, I don't really have a use for things like knit washcloths. I don't have a lot of wallspace to display large pieces, though small ones are great. And my surfaces are so cluttered that tchotchkes won't really find a good home, though practical items like crafted boxes will. Witchee dear, do you like video games? Are there any you want to play? Do you have a large library? I'm not much of a gamer, I'm afraid. Do you have something you do, without fail, as a personal daily habit/ritual? (Examples: pen-and-paper journal keeping, tea/coffee drinking, morning yoga, nightly bedtime reading. I'm kind of thinking on things that would be dear to you and might need small supplies or could use certain extras. ) I start every day with a double espresso, either in a latte or a Vietnamese coffee. I end every day with my knitting and often read a bit before bed. Do you wear nailpolish? What colors do you tend to go for? What are your favorite brands? Are you open to trying indie brands? I love nail polish, and I have a new set of racks to store it on that have many slots left for new ones! I love metallics and duochromes, and I usually wear burgundies, reds, neutrals, greens, golds, and blues. Definitely open to indie brands! Name three BPAL scents you hav tried, but are dying to get more of. Hmm, I have no self-control, so I usually end up buying whatever I love, but will paw through my decant and imp stash to see what I want more of. Do you still write real letters on nice stationary to people you like/love? I do! I could especially use stationery that is appropriate for (a) sending birthday greetings and ( sending condolences. Those are the two situations I most often run into. Have you ever tried anything from Paintbox Soapworks? Which products or scents would you prefer? I love Paintbox Soapworks! I love the square glycerine soaps and the Sorbettos. I really would love some Indian Summer. I tend to like her fruity and herbal scents best. Do you like/have space to garden? If so, what do you grow? I have a small garden, where I like to grow herbs, tomatoes, and hot peppers. I also have a little chard and kale, strawberries, blueberries, roses, peonies, and hydrangeas. Do you like sample sized things? Think lipgloss, mascara, bodylotion, scrubs, mini candles, and so forth. I am ridiculously attracted to sample size mini things! Have you tried Fortune Cookie Soap? What products or scents would you like? Never tried them. They look a little foodie for my taste. Do you use solid soaps at all? If so, what kind do or don't you like? I use solid soaps almost exclusively. I like most kinds, and find my skin does well with glycerine types that wash off easily, or ones with moisturizer in them. I also like scrubby bits. I especially like citrus and herb scents in the shower. Have you ever tried Cocoa Pink? If you are curious about it, what looks interesting to you? Never tried! They always strike me as very foodie, and I'm not, but I'm attracted to scents that combine a foodie element with something else, like smoky, earthy, resiny, etc. I wouldn't mind a scrub or conditioner in a scent that fits that description. Also, their Amber White sounds really nice. Do you like Lush? If so, what is your favorite product that is currently available, also, what is a product that you love but has been discontinued? I have never been a big Lush fan. Do witches prefer the answers posted here, but a more cherry-picked number of questions answered, or a more exhaustive list posted in the blog, which means posting here much less? I'm going to collect all my witchee's answers in one document, however you do it. I do like having one place to go to make sure I've caught everything, since the topic starts moving so fast and I find it hard to go through pages and pages of answers. Anyone a fan of Shiro Cosmetics? Any particular products? Eye shadow pigments in general? Never tried them. I do like eyeshadow pigments and could also use some fixing medium to go with. Are there any companies, products, or items you boycott? I don't think so, at the moment. As I am in Japan, what sort of things would you like from there? Candy! Cute erasers or other little desk stuff! Anything wasabi-flavored or matcha-flavored! (matcha kit kats, yummm) Since FB and the FB Gusp group (and the BPAL Sorority which is quiet) have become gathering places...what are some of your favorite Facebook pages you like? Victorian Academy of Magick! Would you like a seashell from Florida? I would enjoy a pretty shell. What craft project do you currently have on your docket or that you want to start? And that craft goodies would be welcome? I have a beaded scarf kit for myself I want to knit up. I don't think I'm missing anything for it, though. Do you read literature/culture blogs or websites of any kind? I'm thinking about anything that would help a putative witch to get a sense of what your current tastes in books, movies, games, genres, approaches to culture and literature and so forth are I read Talking Points Memo for politics, AVClub for TV coverage. I tend to like general interest forums where the same bunch of folks can talk about any old thing. I read The New Yorker in dead tree edition. McSweeney's makes me laugh. How do you feel about traditional picnics (namely the intimate table for two variety)? Old-fashioned basket or something more utilitarian (cooler/insulated bag)? I enjoy picnics, and don't get to go on as many as I'd really like. We have a classic picnic hamper, but it's kind of awkward and heavy so it gets used more in the backyard than anywhere else. I remember lugging it home from a school picnic and cursing myself for taking it. Mostly we use a wheeled cooler to take to things like outdoor concerts. Not as pretty but it works. If you were put in a room with 100 random other people the same age and sex as you, from your country, in what way do you think you would be different from the average? Everyone I know is above average, so I wouldn't stand out at all! That's the way things are here in Lake Wobegon. But seriously, I'm definitely going to be one of the shortest people in the room. I'll be one of only a few natural redheads present. Ditto lefthanders. I'll be talking probably a bit more and faster than others, but mostly to mask the fact that for an apparently extroverted and somewhat dramatic character, I'm actually kinda shy. I will be wearing higher heels than average, probably a touch more makeup and definitely more delicious perfume. I have more than the average number of children per household. I definitely have a higher than average number of educational degrees, since I don't know when to leave well enough alone. I will probably have eaten the largest per capita share of any cured meats in the room. Haus of Gloi did a Reverie update! Do any of them interest you? (Or anything else up currently?) Haus of Gloi perfumes haven't been great on me, though I do like the custom one I made. I might want to try that again. I would also like to try their scrub and body butter formulas, but would want to stick to a light scent, maybe something lemony. Witchee, do you cook? Do you do all the cooking? Is it a chore or a pleasure? I love to cook, but unless it's a weekend, it becomes more of a chore. When I do get to cook for pleasure, I like to take over the kitchen and do it all myself, but my husband likes to cook too so we sometimes work in parallel. Which reading level do you prefer to read in YA or Adult? Or even both? I'm a wide-ranging reader. Even though I mostly read "adult" lit, I do enjoy revisting the YA I loved as a kid, and some of the really good stuff coming out now. Most recent book I read in that category that impressed me was Code Name Verity. Put your mp3 player/online music/itunes/etc on random and list the next 10 songs here: 1. Paper Bird, "Pennies" 2. The Who, "Squeeze Box" 3. Hole, "Gutless" 4. Guns N' Roses, "Out Ta Get Me" 5. Violent Femmes, "Look Like That" 6. Metallica, "Of Wolf and Man" 7. The Fugees, "The Score" 8. Head East, "Never Been Any Reason" (from Dazed & Confused Soundtrack) 9. The White Stripes, "The Union Forever" 10. Dolly Parton, "I'm Gonna Sleep With One Eye Open" I should note that I didn't even realized I owned half this stuff! My husband and I merged our CD collection at some point and ripped them all. what is your favourite object, that you own, ignoring sentimental reasons for attachment? So I guess something you find beautiful, or fun, or incredibly useful. Well, putting aside the miraculous iPad, I really love this little pink plastic case I have that has dividers inside for storing all my teeny little knitting notions. I also love my pink leather retractable measuring tape. How big is too big...for something to hang on your walls? If I'm painting you a pretty picture, are there maximum dimensions that you have/prefer? Probably around 18x24. Our house is pretty small and we're running out of wall space! Gift cards/vouchers - yay or nay? If you like them - which stores would you like one for? Online is best -- BPTP and other of the forum's favorite e-tailers would be great. Also WEBS yarns, Sephora. Is there anything from Australia you would like? eg: snacks (yes, you can ask for Tim Tams!), books, magazines, memorabilia? I am not that familiar with Things Aussie, so surprise me! Do you have any problems with swearing or particularly off-color humor? FUCK NO! What style is your sense of humour? Definitely tend to the more verbal/cerebral and dark than the purely physical, but if it's good physical, situational, etc. I love it. Opinions on table top games, from cards and board games, to dice and rpgs. What do you like? What don't you like? Favorites? Any classics you like? Do you collect any? I especially like games that don't take up a lot of space, like things you can do with a pack of cards and a set of dice, or games that are made up of a special set of cards. I also play Scrabble. Not a collector. What would you like from the most recent BPAL update? What are you planning on buying for yourself and what would you like to try? Nothing screamed instant bottle purchase. I bought a few decants. Is there a literary character you identify with? Even if it's not spot-on, just someone you found yourself having that "I identify with this" feeling? Harriet the Spy, Turtle Wexler from The Westing Game, Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden. Hermia. What are the three books you most want to read right now, and which you don't already have? I really want a good book on life in the Jewish shtetls around 1900 for something I am working on. It's summer, so would like some fun stuff, like the latest Jennifer Weiner, Shopaholic, etc. Would you like something from Empire Edibles? (http://www.etsy.com/...s?ref=top_trail) Oh my gawwwwd, I NEED the Earl Grey caramels! And really any of the other caramels can come along for the ride. Is there anything small you try to collect from everywhere you visit? I like to pick up a magnet for my fridge. Witchee, I know that SW isn't about what you get... but could you name one thing you would be heartbroken not to get and one thing you would be a-ok if it didn't make it in your box? (i.e. do you REALLY want perfume oil of some sort, or would you be totally heartbroken if there was no Lush in your box, etc I love being surprised by my Witch, and try to have no specific expectations. I just want contact! You have no idea what even getting an e-card means to me. It's just so lovely to know someone is thinking of me. So, no contact would be disappointing. On the material side, I would be very surprised, but not let down, to not receive anything smelly the whole round, since it is what brings us together. Do you like tarot cards, pendulums and rune stones etc? If so, what type? Very much love Tarot. I am in search of the Art Nouveau/Symbolist art deck I can see in my mind's eye, but am very open to all kinds of decks. I tend to prefer the more detailed kind of illustrations, rather than very abstract, hazy type. I also have a small collection of stones and crystals. What fandoms do you belong to? None, really. Never been my thing. What cheers you up? Getting snail mail. Who or where would you most want to haunt? Who would you least want to be haunted by? Great question! I would like to haunt something like an old estate with grounds that people visit now as a preserve and museum, because I think the atmosphere would be so conducive to haunting and people would be thrilled by it. It would be a fun way to stay in contact. I would not like to be haunted by a pompous or irritable ghost. That would be incredibly annoying. What question do you hate to answer? What kind of animal/tree are you -- I just don't think that way. Also the classic "who in history would you most like to have dinner with" is an impossible question to answer. What is the best compliment you have/could receive? You are a wonderful mother. Would you like anything from an European country? Any particular food or goodies, magazines, books, whatever would be available to your witch in his/her country. Yes! Food, fashion magazines, makeup, stationery supplies would be my top picks. Do you like bags? If so, what type (rucksack, clutch, shopping bag) colour and would you like/need a new one? I like bags and really need to edit my collection. I'd really like a small bag that is good for going out in the evenings with room for essentials. I usually carry bags that are too heavy and gigantic. What's your favourite comfort food(snack or candy etc) and/or drink? This will sound weird, but I like to cut up a tart apple, slice a hot dry sausage, and have that with a glass of wine if it's evening or a Coke Zero if it's daytime. Would you be interested in someone writing out for you a favourite recipe, or finding or devising one which they think you'd like? If so, please provide your favourite ingredients, info on how you like to cook/store and use food, and any intolerances - unless all of these are in your questionnaire, or you don't like the idea. (I'm not saying I'd definitely do this, unless someone is keen, and it wouldn't be the only gift). I guess for other witches this might include something like a knitting pattern - not my thing but would you like that? Or indeed would you like a picture created for you (if so what kind) or a story written? (sorry if this feels a bit Spanish Inquisition!) I would love a special recipe, and I think my questionnaire is pretty good on this point. I am a fairly competent cook and like to use whole foods and relatively natural ingredients rather than prepackaged stuff. But also would be delighted with a knitting pattern, original story, or original art. I'd be honored, actually, to receive it. If you knew you were going to live comfortably for say 800 years, what profession, calling or project might you pursue with some of your extra years, which you imagine you may not do in the life that you have? I'm on the verge of pursuing a new career, so I would like to say teaching and writing. Is there any thing - an object, a donation on your behalf, some research done for you, whatever - that your witch could do about this that you would like? And if you can't think of a present, would you rather she/he (I!) didn't either and confined themselves to things you are already involved in? I'm about to embark on a new writing project that will need research, but right now it's hard for me to be very specific about what I'd need looked at. What colors/style is your kitchen decor? And do you entertain in your home? My kitchen is cream and a soft green, sort of 50s retro colors to match the age of the house. Lots of wood too. We do entertain quite a bit. Are your ears pierced? Yes. Do you like stuffies/stuffed animals/art doll type thingies? If so, any particular type you'd love to get? Sadly I have little room for this, but do love peacocks of any kind. Switch Witch is, of course, all about you.....but if your Witch was so inclined, are there wee little ones in your home that will get jealous and are just too young to understand why you won't share the love, who maybe need a touch of Witchee love all their own, to distract them while you hide all your lovelies?!? I do have three boys (see my Q'aire) who would love to be included, though definitely not required. After all, this is all about ME ME ME. My oldest boy is actually a BPAL fan. Is there a Quote that resonates with you, or that you particularly like a lot. Would this be something you would like artwork made of for your walls or a shirt/bag/scarf? I've always liked the Bob Marley line "In life I know there is lots of grief but your love is my relief." I don't know that I want to display that boldly, but on something small and personal I would love it. Also, STARBUCKS, Yay or Nay? Anything you particularly like? Yay! I drink a lot of latte, espresso, macchiato, and chai. Is there someone on the forums (within SW or not) who knows you really well and might be able to help with stalking? Yes, holborne is my IRL BFF so she knows all and is really good at keeping a secret too. She will totally not reveal and will probably even help you trick me. Babypopje and Stella Luna witched me in previous rounds and I bet they can help too. If you happen to find out who yours is, how much would it bother you? it will feel a little anticlimactic, but won't really bother me. Do you use waxmelts or tarts? If so, which ones do you prefer? I never have but wouldn't mind starting. Do you enjoy drinking hot chocolate, and would you like stuff to make it with, or to add to it? I have hot chocolate only once or twice a year, but I love the spicy kind. Have you ever tried Spoonfudge? Would you enjoy it if your Witch would send you some? Which of the flavors would you like? I've never heard of it! Sounds dangerous. I do try to avoid too much in the way of sweets, but I have lots of people at home willing to help. What's your opinion on Moonalisa? Any favorites or products you'd like to try? I've never tried Moonalisa because I loathe flash sale/competitive shopping and can't get into all the work you have to do to get in on her releases. So if someone wants to do the work for me, great, but I'm not going to start. Are there any BPALs that you loved the idea of, the imagery - whether artwork or description - but which didn't work out for you? (I'm asking because if they did, you might mention them elsewhere, but if not, the imagery might be helpful) Not in terms of artwork, because with my aging eyes I can barely even read the labels. I am CONSTANTLY taken in by the scent descriptions, but I just find that certain notes make a blend something I can't wear. Examples: I love scent descriptions that talk about greenery and earth, but in real life, very green scents and dirt scents make me smell moldy. Do you have any symbols or totems that are meaningful to you? Peacocks! I'm not even sure exactly what they mean to me, but I am very drawn to them, to the point I got a big peacock feather tattooed on my abdomen last summer. I feel much the same way about fireflies and dragonflies. When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? After some solid cuddles with my three boys, I like to sit down with a book or magazine (on my back deck if it's a nice evening) and enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail. Would you like if your witch sent a regional pop/soda? If so, what type (Root beer, creme soda, cola, citrus-flavored, chocolate-flavored, etc...)? I love soda, and don't drink it much anymore due to (a) sugar and ( possibly even worse artificial sweeteners. So I'd love something special to savor! I love root beer/birch beer, cream soda, black cherry soda, and spicy ginger ale/ginger beer. Or surprise me! Ninjas or Pirates? Werewolves or vampires? Zombie or Cthulhu? Of all those, Pirates. Zombies gross me out, and the rest leave me cold. Vampires are the least annoying, unless they're the kind teenagers like. Do you want to receive one big package or a bunch of small ones? Digital stuff all at the end when the box should arrive or as we go? I like them sprinkled, and there is some little kid in me that wants a reveal package at the end I can hold in my hands. Do you welcome knitted items? If so, what would you like most? (amigurumi, washcloth, socks, shawl, shawlette, scarf, wrist warmers, hat, etc.) Do you have any favorite fibers? How about any fiber allergies? Favorite color for knitted items? I am a knitter myself, so I would absolutely love some of my Witch's handiwork. Would especially love socks or a hat. I like variegated yarns, no real fiber preferences. My colors tend to be jewel colors with black, and especially purples and teals. Do you have any long trips coming up? If so, could you use things to occupy yourself? I think we'll be heading from Long Island to Boston by car this summer, so that will be a decent length trip. I will definitely bring my current knitting project (whatever that may be at the time) and wouldn't mind having some good vacation reading for my Kindle app on the iPad. I'm thinking good genre stuff like detective fiction, maybe some true crime, and that's when I like to catch up on the better comic novels about women and relationships. I'm going to Jungle Jim's next week (it's basically a massive international food gasm in Ohio, look it up); would anything interest you?Did you say food?? Hot sauces, spices, and wacky-flavored potato chips are always welcome. Name three things that you could use, but might not necessarily think to get for yourself? A new (inexpensive) fountain pen, novelty socks, a cute iPhone case Does anything from the TP Etsy update interest you? I think I'm good for now on that stuff, though there are some TP GCs I would love (I have a wishlist on the site). I just found out Oreo is launching ones with watermelon flavor in the USA only. Is it something you would enjoy? Dear god, no. Why would anyone want to ruin a perfectly good Oreo with fake watermelon flavoring? What are the three BPALs you would most like to receive - one GC, one not-hard to find LE, and one HTF LE from your dreams? GC--Depraved, Alice, or Carnal (probably in that order). LE--Delight & Consternation (took a pass on a full bottle). HTF--Antique Lace, Pinched With Four Aces. If you don't consider yourself in a "fandom" (and I get that ... I don't really go overboard on my liking of any TV show/Movie/etc), are there any TV shows or Movies that you really like and/or watch regularly or any actors/actresses you wouldn't leave standing in the rain (unless you like looking at them sopping wet, in which case ... well, nevermind)? I kind of have a thing for the entire cast of Oz, and I seem to lap up anything Timothy Olyphant or Jason Isaacs is in. So, dear witchee, would you like some Tw*twaffle soap or scent or lotion? I have a soap sample which I haven't yet tried. I think it's probably a little foodier than I generally go for. Has anyone asked about tattoos? Do you love them? Hate them? Have any? Want any? I love high quality tattoos. I have two -- a crescent moon in a night sky that has my sister's profile, and a full-color peacock feather. My next is in the planning stage -- clusters of cherry blossoms I'm going to have sprinkled all over my body. If you knit/crochet, what sizes of needles do you need? I knit. I could use smaller sizes of DPNs, but will have to check stash to see exactly what. What styles of artwork do you like? Many types! I grew up with an artist grandpa who exposed me to centuries of art. I have a special fondness for work from the Symbolists through the Art Nouveau, plus Arts & Crafts design. If you cook, would you be interested in-hand made spice mixes/rubs? That sounds great! Would you like mexican vanilla or silver rings/necklaces? MEXICAN VANILLA! ALL FOR ME ME ME!!! The Conjure Oils update (http://conjureoils.com/emporium.htm) looks absolutely fabulous...I didn't know she made soaps and candles and whanot. Is there anything from the Oddment Emporium you would like? Most of these seem to have at least one note that makes it less appealing. However, I'd really like to try Voluptuary (despite red musk), Fire Dragon Parasol, and Heliophobe. What is your favorite color? Peacock blue-green, if forced to choose just one. But I also am very drawn to bright pink. What is your favorite season? Summer, but I find spring exquisite and fall fulfilling too. If you could live anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would it be? I'd divide my time between Bali and Paris. I live near the Brown and Haley outlet - makers of Almond Roca and Mountain Bars - would you want anything from the outlet? For nut-haters, they have nutless Roca For the no-sugar folks they have sugar-free as well. I would love to try the no-sugar options. I also have an Oberto jerky outlet local to me - any wants there? I sort of ridiculously love jerky, especially spicy or teriyaki flavor. It's a good snack for the lowcarbing. How do you feel about home-canned goods? If you know what you're doing, I'm delighted to try. I've made green tomato chutney myself and nobody died, so if I can do it, you can do it! Would love fruits, pickles, or jams especially. Do you like BPTP clothing? Do you know, I've never tried any. What size do you wear of: Baby-doll T's Regular T's yoga pants I'm betting M in the baby-dolls because I hear they run small (and that's my preferred type of T-shirt) and S in the other stuff. Also, what is your favorite lunacy (or non-lunacy) T-shirt that you don't already own? I don't have any! I loved the artwork for Weeping Branches Moon and Oak Moon especially, and I would KILL for Molly Crabapple or OLOP. Or other clothes from BPTP? The T-shirts grab me more than anything else. What else do you love from the Trading Post site, and need to have? I have a wishlist there under gateau that expresses my hopes and dreams! Is there a particular movie genre that you like (Fantasy? Drama? Romantic Comedy? Musicals? TV-Series, etc), and what format would you prefer: DVD, Blu-Ray, or something in the cloud (like Amazon, iTunes, Flixster, etc)? I like sexy thrillers (why don't they make these so much anymore) and non-romantic, non-gross out comedies the most. Two classics I adore that express it well: Tootsie and 9 to 5. Also love TV series, but doing a good job on killing those via Netflix. Amazon is an easy one for me to use for cloud services because I can easily watch via Tivo. DVD or Blu-Ray both good. -Following up on the Adagio question from earlier, what are you top five wishes, for teas and blends? I've never really looked at Adagio. I like black tea with something smoky, vanilla, and spice. -Do you have anything that you do ritually, every summer? Visit one of my oldest friends with another oldest friend and spend the weekend by the pool drinking a vast ocean of Dark N Stormys, and eating. Also going to Tanglewood to watch the fireworks. -What are your top five wishes from ThinkGeek? Haven't combed through the site in a long time, but I like clever desk items -- post its, note pads, pens, paper clip holders, erasers, that sort of thing. -Seen anything lately that makes you go OH HOLY FUCK THAT'S AWESOME!! ? Cherry blossom colored ink at Jet Pens. Also that Neil Patrick Harris will be starring in a revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, my favorite show, but there isn't much you can do about that for me. Do you like audiobooks? If so, do you have/would you like to try Audible? (I'm an addict, myself.) I am not a big listener to audiobooks, but the ones I've done I've loved. The problem is I listen while driving, find my mind wandering, and then have trouble getting back to my place. But I'd love to try again for reading while knitting. I love a good ripping yarn with lots of good voice characterizations. Two I loved were Rumpole of the Bailey stories and Tim Curry reading Anne Rice. I don't usually love Anne Rice, but he did it so well. Chocolate: Love? Hate? Allergic? If love, what are your faves? Not a chocolate addict, but I like it a lot. I like dark or rich milk, and adore caramels. The addition of chili spice or salt is always loved, and I like nuts. I know Canadian chips can be different than others, how does "dill pickle" or "ketchup" sound? I love love love crazy potato chips. My MIL (who lives in Vancouver) often brings bags of things like Lamb and Mint Chutney chips. As for the classic Canadian types, I prefer dill pickle to ketchup. Salt & Vinegar is a big favorite. If you were getting a custom Haus of Gloi blend, what four notes would you choose? Summer notes listed here and you can click through to the whole list from there. This was mine but I'll answer anyway. Something like: anise, white vanilla sugar, white amber, and a bit of something, I don't know, maybe musky or woody. QUESTION! Do you like Kickstarter? Are there any projects up that you really like? I've supported a few, but I don't generally browse there, I have to hear about it from another source. QUESTION! If you have an Etsy wishlist, what are your top 5 favorite things on there? The price is unimportant, not because I'm rich, but because I'd like some inspiration. In no particular order: peacock iPhone case, mask necklace, initial necklace with charms for each of my kids, laser-cut peacock feather leather cuff bracelet, twin buckle wide belt or corset belt. Festival this week -- includes an "encampment" and an art faire. any interest in trinkety things from the encampment or cards/prints from local artists I love charms and dangly arty earrings How do you feel about glitter? does loose glitter make your skin crawl or would you bathe in it? I love glitter! Bring it on! Just don't make it explode all over my house. Do you want/need/like/collect journals? If so, do you prefer lined or unlined? I love them! I tend to save them instead of using them up, but I love to hoard them. Lined best if larger, but little ones can be either. Does the idea of wearing a plant as jewelery give you the warm fuzzies or the heebie jeebies? Sounds lovely but I will kill it and that would be sad. Gourmet popcorn, yes/no? What do you like: glazed, savory, candied? Nuts or not? Any flavors you wouldn't like (like Bacon CHeeseburger, Pizza, Watermelon, Root Beer Float, Hot Chili Dark Chocolate)? Or if any of those sounded interesting, how weird is weird enough? Love anything salty-sweet, like salted caramel, with nuts, etc. The ones you list don't sound good to me, except for Hot Chili Dark Chocolate. Question: I make my own hair gloss, would you like some detangling and very shiny hair gloss made by me? This is a 'cone rich blend, not the least bit natural. Sadly, I avoid 'cones.

Revisiting my collection and looking for what seems to be the likely contenders this year. I tend not to go for "cooling" smells too much (like aquatics, snow/ice, or mint) but what I do look for is something that smells very clean and fresh, like I've just taken a shower. Boober is great for that, and grassy things like Amsterdam, The Doormouse, Rosalind. I also like citrus-herb combinations like Arcana or Happy Baby in a Long Dress for hot days. Even Manhattan, with the lemon, mint, and orchid, feels right in the summer. The one "cooling" scent I go for when it's hot is Absinthe & Lace. Then there are the times I want to feel decadently hot and sweaty and sticky, just revel in the sultriness of the summer heat. For that I love Depraved, that sticky sweet apricot with the earthy patchouli just screams "hot outdoor summer sexy" and Pussy with all that honey and tobacco makes me feel like I'm part of the outdoors. Lady Una sort of bridges the gap for me -- the honey connotes warmth, but the muskiness and the tea make it fresh. Blossoms in Springtime is like that too. I'd consider wearing those in polite company in the summer, while Depraved is something I'd only wear to go out with my husband on a summer night.

My supremely kind fairy delivered two bottles of this for me, so of course I dived right in. Wet, I get all the sugar and spices and something smoky. As it dries down, I definitely pick up that incense note that folks are mentioning. As Great Vampire Bat was the winner for me last year, and I adore that incense note, this is a good thing. This is like a spicy, non-floral version of that. After a couple of hours, I get pure Indonesian musk, which is a lovely brown non-sweet, non-powdery musk. I don't pick up the incense or spices anymore. I'd like to see if this gets more blended with age so that it doesn't move as much in phases as much as present all those phases a little more mingled. If it doesn't, I might not need that backup bottle, but if it does, I'll be really happy to have it.

This is a lovely cute scent! Exactly what it says, lemon sugar and lavender, just very fresh and bright. I think it will be a lovely summer scent, something to put on when I've just had a shower and want to preserve that feeling of freshness and clean without smelling soapy. It's also the kind of thing you could wear to an office and not annoy anyone.

Gingerbread Poppet!

Chiming in with everyone else--this is a very creamy, worn leather. It's got a lot of nuttiness. The almond isn't that cherry sort of kind, but more like the creamy almond milk note in Brood XIX. No plastic at all in the leather, but it's sort of drowned out by the creaminess, which I suspect is enhanced by the vanilla. I don't pick up the oak leaf or patchouli at all, but suspect they contribute to the overall nuttiness. So far it's too creamy for my taste, but I'm curious to age it a bit and try again.

Hard to improve on any of the prior reviews or the Lab description. This is a salty, sweet, ambery, oceanic musk. If you want something marine that isn't a soapy aquatic, you need this. If you love Lyonesse, you need this. Utterly wearable. Immediately snagged a backup bottle.

I was excited to try a decant of this, but not at all sure if it would agree with me. I'm fairly recent to the world of enjoying musks, and didn't really have a sense of what "vintage musk" would smell like, plus buttery foodie scents and tea don't always agree with me. Wet I got a distinct cookie scent, but not so buttery that it turned me off. I got an instant sense of what vintage musk means, and the tea added, if anything, a briskness. Early in the drydown I got the same sense of anise cookies littlebeky describes. It's more anisey than many scents I have with anise as a listed note. I love anise cookies, so this was not a hardship. Eventually the cookies took more of a back seat (fine with me) and I get a very clean-smelling musk. It reminds me a lot of one of my favorite non-BPAL perfumes, Bastet's Amber from NA. This was a strong scent, too, lasted through the night and into the next morning. Not sure yet if this is something I will turn to, but definitely keeping the decant and plan to give it more wear to see.

More art nostalgia here. My grandfather was a commercial artist. He freelanced and worked from his studio at home. He also painted (oils) and did a lot of pastel work. I spent endless happy hours by his side, in his basement studio in my grandparents' house in Queens, drawing or posing for him and just soaking it all up. Then I studied etching and spent a lot of time in studios filled with the mingled smells of thick ink, solvents, oiled presses, and wet paper. I felt like home. This is what it smelled like. Absolutely took me back 40+ years to these very specific places. Bless you, Beth, for making this. I'll enjoy every drop of my decant. I know my mother and sister will get a charge out of it too.