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I received a very good response with Wanda. Rumor has it Snake Oil has a similar effect, but I have not tested it out for myself yet.

I like the smell of whole coffee beans, or freshly ground, or even a freshly made pot of coffee, but unfortunately, in the vial, it's wet, stale coffee grounds. On the other hand, I'm not sure I would even like the coffee smell that I DO like on my skin as a perfume, so perhaps there's just no pleasing me when it comes to coffee in a perfume oil. On, the coffee is very overwhelming and finally dies down a little bit, but that's when I"m overwhelmed with jasmine, which makes me sneeze and gives me a headache. Not to mention that the coffee is still quite pronounced for some time and coffee + jasmine = one heck of an olfactory nightmare for me. To my nose, the notes clash and make for an unpleasant experience. However, I will admit the coffee eventually gives way to the floral, but unfortunately jasmine and I do not get along. If you like jasmine, you'll probably like the floral drydown. Sorry Beth, I tried. I tried twice, in fact, and had to swap the imps both times. It's right for someone I'm sure, but unfortanately, I'm not one of those people.

First: I love Alice. Dana O'Shee is too foody for me. SS is in the middle. Moving on: I wanted to love this one, and instead I merely like it. Initial impression: Take the carnation out of Alice and replace it with Embalming Fluid. First wearing: Went from Alice/Lemon Pledge, to soap, to gone in under 45 minutes flat. Second wearing: I really slathered this time. I mean, I practically bathed my arm in it. I still get the Alice/Lemon Pledge phase. This lasted for about 30 minutes. Then something really nice happened and the Lemon Pledge, while still there, fades a little bit, and it starts to morph into a very creamy, spicy, honey scent that is only vaguely reminiscent of ginger (it's not a biting ginger like Vixen). It's beautiful and I wish the whole experience was like this 30 minutes of creamy, spicy goodness. It's not as rich or spicy as a chai, but more like those steamed milk drinks with a shot of a flavored syrup drinks they sell, a shot of a spicy honey flavored syrup. But soon, soap. Again. However, because I slathered, when I woke up this morning I could still smell fragrance on my skin where I slathered the Sudha Segara...but that fragrance was still the soap that appeared an hour or so after applying. No more morphing, it appears. Conclusion: Layered with the right single note, it could be fantastic. But due to the beautiful creamy/spicy/milky phase not even lasting a full hour on me, I wouldn't be inclined to purchase a 5 or 10 mL bottle, but could maybe be coerced into an imp now and again. In the meantime, maybe I'll figure out what single notes to layer with some of the other milky scents to get that Sudha sensation...or just stick with my beloved Alice.

Well, my guess is it's very unlikely that they'll be combined. I placed two orders on 08/29/04. Within hours of each other. The first one for Mabon because it was going to be taken off the site when Harvest Moon went up. And then one for Harvest Moon. They did not combine my orders. I even mentioned in the comments sections that I had placed an order a mere couple hours before and it would probably make sense to package them together if it's convenient for them. I have my Harvest Moon. Still waiting on my Mabon. So, when they made the announcement stating they were not going to be combining orders anymore, they were pretty serious. ETA: I just double checked my confirmation emails from CCNOW for those orders. I did put the order number and order contents in the comments when I said I had placed an order just three hours prior, AND they were harvested on the same day, but they've been shipped separately. So I wouldn't count on your orders being combined.

The Finnish Goddess of Agony, Torment and the joy found in inflicting pain on others. The Mistress of Torture, she has transformed in the modern era into the patron Goddess of Dominatrixes. The slap of slick, hot leather punctuates the warm, sensual embrace of black amber, red musk and dark, lascivious myrrh. I don't know why I put this one off for so long. My favorite scent is Wanda, and it's not surprising that Loviatar is soon to ranked right up there. Definitely 10mL bottle worthy, along with my Wanda. I was going to order the limited editions tomorrow along with the lunacy oil, but I am willing to forsake all five of those oils just to get a 10mL of Loviatar. On my initial wearing, this reminded me of that worn suede jacket, or maybe the aviator style jacket. That soft feeling, the same you get with well-worn faded broken-in denim. Comforting, like snuggling in with someone. It evokes many of the same feelings I get with Le Petit Mort and Haunted, that undeniably sexy feeling of someone comfortable in their own skin, rather than the primped up sex kitten. I don't find the leather to be sharp at all, not even in the bottle. This one stays fairly true to the bottle, but morphs ever so slightly to a much warmer, inviting fragrance that lingers on the skin much longer than many of the others. I am in love. I may be missing the dominatrix image this was supposed to evoke, but that doesn't make this any less sexy.

My experience seems to be shaping up the same as Aurelius'. In the bottle and first on the skin, it reminds me of those Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn jelly beans. I don't like buttered popcorn jelly beans, in fact, I don't like buttery scents...if you do, this might rock your world. Unfortunately, it does not rock mine. I don't get the pumpkin, apples, or berries, in fact, I detected more pumpkin/foody smells from The Hesperides that I got in my swap today. But pretty soon after putting it on I became overwhelmed with a heavy floral, which just isn't my bag. It went very fabric softener sheets on me. I'll edit this a bit later as I let it rest a bit longer, but unfortunately, I think this may be designated to the swap pile. The heavy floral scent is giving me a headache. I just can't be pleased, it seems. Started too foody, and is ending too floral for my tastes. ETA: Up for swaps. I tried. The floral has died down and I'm getting the faintest hint of berry. It's actually not so bad at this stage, but at this point I already have a headache from the fabric softener stage (which I still get a bit of, though it has died down) that I can't enjoy this one. I would have been more receptive if it had started at this stage.

First Impression: "Bubble gum, bubble gum, in a dish...how many pieces do you wish?" Bubble gum. Just, plain bubble gum, but more of a wet, sort of scent, like a piece of watermelon bubble yum that's only been chewed for a minute or two. Or, better yet, does anyone remember that sticky pink gum that came in a tube just like toothpaste? It was kind of loose and a little gritty, but if you chewed it enough it would finally come together like a regular piece of gum? That's what this reminded me of in the bottle and for the first 15 minutes or so on my skin. 30 minutes later: I still get a distinct watermelon-y bubble yum scent, but it's fading just slightly and you can tell that some sort of floral wants to peek through, but again, mostly bubble gum. 45 minutes to 1 hour later: If I concentrate really hard, I can separate a fruity note and a bit of a floral, rather than just getting bubble gum, but it's hard to distinguish notes. There's a distinct "middle of the night" aura just like Moon Rose (just slightly crisp and chilly) coming from what I presume to be the common note of moonflower. The fruity component isn't that middle of the summer, juicy ripe peach dripping down your chin sweet, but it reminds me of those bags of frozen fruit we'd buy from Sam's Club, that has peaches, grapes, and honeydew, and how I could never wait for the fruit to fully thaw, so I'd eat it partially frozen and it was juicy and sweet, but not as juicy and sweet as it would have been had I had more patience. 1.5-2 hours later: This has faded very quickly on me, but it can still be detected. It's not longer bubble gum, but still smells kind of familiar to me. Off the top of my head I'm thinking one of the Colonial at Home candles, but I can't think of which one...perhaps the Chardonnay candle??? I love that candle for bath time, but not on my skin. Overall: It's sweeter in a more artificial way than I expected. So I'll likely finish out the imp, but don't look for this one on my big bottle list. Think I'll be sticking with La Bella Donna Della Mia Mente for my light, fruity scent.

Ok, I know they (BPAL) uses the term harvested when referring to getting orders from CCNow. That term indicates to me that it's something that is done BY BPAL, not CCNow. In other words, they just kind of sit there after CCNow processes them, and then BPAL goes and picks up orders from certain dates when they're ready for them. I could be entirely wrong about that...but that's the impression I get from what I've been reading. However, I do know that the method you choose doesn't really affect WHEN you get your order when it comes to Paypal vs. CCNow, because they process orders by the dates the orders were placed, not by when they actually looked at them. So they may physically see your Paypal order first, but if you placed your order June 17th, you order gets packed and shipped out to you the same time everyone else's June 17th order gets packed and shipped (in most cases). I added the "in most cases" part because there are situations like they're experiencing now with the bottle shortage, where they processed as many orders as they could through a certain date, but couldn't continue as they were out of bottles. So instead of just halting to a stop, they started processing orders after the date they left off on for those people that ordered only imps and didn't have any bottles. Or perhaps they were out of a certain oil and orders with that oil get held up until they get more (like my order with Persephone did last time). Anyway, point being...they ship based on the date your order is placed for paypal and ccnow, not when they actually see it so it doesn't really make one lick of difference which method you use from a shipping perspective from what I can tell..

I recommend that you look at this thread... http://www.bpal.org/index.php?showtopic=3245 That thread can be found in the announcements section and updates where they are in the shipping. They try to update it at the end of every week. As you can see from that thread, they are only shipped through 06/11/04. Your order was placed on 06/15/04. I would venture your order should be shipped at the end of next week barring flying rabid monkeys taking over the lab and destroying everything. And yes, I realize it looks like your order has shipped. Unfortunately, it more than likely hasn't. CCNow is a peculiar little company. Your business transaction is with them. They consider the transaction to be complete when they deliver their product. However, the product is not your oils as far as CCNow is concerned, it's the information you entered about what oils you're ordering. It would be like if you went to CCNow, told them what oils you want to order and they wrote it down on a piece of paper. That piece of paper would be their product that they have to deliver. So when they say shipped, they actually mean that they delivered the information about your order to BPAL. BPAL then takes the information, fills the order, and sends it to you. If you are in the US, it is shipped via the USPS and you should receive a click and ship notification from USPS.com telling you it has shipped. Yes, it can be confusing. But like I said, based on the available information, I would guess your oils will be shipped at the end of next week. I wouldn't worry if I were you.

Hopefully this hasn't been covered already, and I did a search in this section of the forum just to make sure as it's been awhile since I've read this thread in full, but... WHITEWASH??? Is there anything similar? I think those on the LUSH forum are well acquainted with my love of Whitewash. It's sandalwood, and the original had lemon, but the majority of the ones I have contain mandarin instead, but I love it just the same...and there's more, but I don't know what. I open it up and sniff it every time I'm in the bathroom. Is there anything? Beth, can you please make something that smells like it? Oh please?

Question that I meant to ask in my earlier comment... Beth? Anyone with an answer? I think I know the answer to my question, but I just want to make sure I'm on the same page since you mentioned earlier about the shipping updates on the forum. When he does make a shipping update, you know...the "Shipped through..." ones, if I order through CCNow, in terms of shipping updates, would I go by the date in which I physically put things in my basket and check out, or the date in which you, BPAL, actually got my order "delivered" from CCNow. And yes, I do feel the need to put the equivalent of air quotes around delivered when referring to CCNow. Did that question make sense? I think I know the answer, but I just want clarification, cause knowing me, I'm probably wrong.

You know, the more and more I read the custom scent threads, the more I want one. I've been toying around with doing one as a Christmas gift to myself, but I might wait, as I've only gotten into BPAL recently, and have SO MUCH to try, still. But I have a landmark birthday coming up in a year. I could try a lot of BPAL in a year. Of course, after reading one of the other threads, I have now completely fallen in love with the idea of getting a customized scent for when I get married. Not something that would fit the wedding day itself (like matching the bouquet or the "wedding mood") cause I'm sure I could find that in the already existing scents, but it would be such a neat thing to have something that's so uniquely "me". Maybe next summer for that birthday though...

1) Thank you, Beth, for understanding my point. I was worried that perhaps it would get misconstrued. And for what it's worth, I have a 2) I think what you have written is fine. 14 business days is a perfect amount of time. It's a bit of wait, but it's also a special product and not so outrageously long that it would deter people from ordering, imo. You have built yourself some leeway with the "14-21" and the "in excess", but have also recognized that as you work the kinks out it should speed up a little, and therefore gave us hope with the 10 days. While I like to think that stating how the USPS works would be overkill and unnessary, and that most people can use common sense, I know that's not always the case as I experience this with my job all the time. Sample conversation... Customer: So, I'll get my *insert appropriate item here* tomorrow? Me: Sir, you only just called today. All items are mailed the next business day. Customer: So, you'll get me my item by tomorrow. Me: No, sir, it will be mailed tomorrow. Customer: Well, then I'll get it the next day. Me: It's very possible, sir. Customer: Well, just when will I get it? Me: As I just said, all items are mailed out the next business day on our end. We are not the post office, however, so I can't guarantee just how long it will take your item to get from *my town* to *your town*. Customer: Oh. Or my favorite...which I think you'll like. Customer: I didn't get my item. I always get my items on Wednesdays. Me: Sir, you only called on Monday, and was mailed on Tuesday. It has only been one day. Customer: But you don't understand, I ALWAYS get it on Wednesday. So what are you going to do about it? I can't go without this item. Me: Well, you have to allow 7 days for the post office to deliver it. It has only been one day. If you still don't have it after 7 days, we can reissue your item. Customer: Well, what if it's lost? Can't you find it? Me: Sir, your item was sent yesterday and we don't track the items we send. Who do you speak with when you have problems with your other mail? Customer: The post office? Me: Exactly, so why don't you start with them, and if you don't receive it in 7 days, we'll reissue it. Yeah, I have that first conversation conversation at least 5 times a day, the second one at least once. So at least you know that other people deal with it, too. But seriously, I think most people are able to figure out that you don't control the USPS or Customs. Don't try and speak for other people. Stick with what you know and set realistic expectations, and it'll all be fine.

I placed my second order two days after receiving my first. So obviously I was pleased with the product. I don't mind waiting for a quality product. In fact, I expect it. But I did take issue with how the shipping statement was originally written for a couple of reasons. a) I wasn't aware of how CCNow worked when I placed my first order, I wasn't a member of the boards at that time. So when it said shipped, I assumed that my order had shipped to me, because hey...that makes sense with how 95% of the other online businesses work. It also fit in with the original timeline stated on the shipping statement. The original timeline stated something to the effect of "We strive to have orders ship within two to three days, but due to the nature of our work orders may take in excess of 14 business days." That's fine. I understand that, but that statement gave me the impression that the MAJORITY of orders (50-68%) go out in that two to three day time frame, that it's the rule, not the exception. Then I joined the boards and it seemed like that was a very unrealistic expectation and so then I kind of went back and interpretted the old statement as "Well, yeah, that's what we strive for, but really only 5% of the orders actually meet that and the other 95% we just go ahead and take that full 3 weeks or more." Anyway, I read the new statement. I think it's a lot better. Cause I know for me, and obviously for others who felt the need to pipe up and say they didn't mind the wait, it was more about setting realistic expectations, than it was about waiting. (especially for those customers who don't frequent the boards and don't necessarily know what's going on). And hey, if things actually work out where you get it out in that 2-3 day time frame, well then the person gets pleasantly surprised rather than thinking "Yeah, it's about damn time they did what they said they were going to do."

No one specifically asked for this, but I got a sample of Old Amsterdam thrown in my order and the first thing I thought was Fox in the Flowers, which seems to be love or hate on the LUSH forum. I, personally like it and think it's spot on, though not as headache inducing as Fox in the Flowers. It may also satisfy those Gavarnie/Jungle people (though it's been awhile since I had Jungle, and it's not as deep as Gavarnie, though if you layer Old Amsterdam with just a touch of the single note frankincense, you'll come pretty darn close).

I do see that there is an update, and I do appreciate it greatly. In a world where you order things from amazon.com and get them the same week you order, it's nice to be assured where you are in the queue when something, by nature, takes longer. I liken changing/adding on to an order to being in the grocery store, having the cashier ring just about everything up and you realize you forgot the milk. Maybe it's just me, but I don't make the four people who have been waiting patiently behind me wait for another 10 minutes while I go run to the back of the store and get milk. I finish, then I'll go back for the milk and run through the express line. I know LUSH, where I have spent a great deal of time and money, used to allow people to amend their orders up until their card was charged, I believe, but then they stopped allowing that as it was interfering with them getting orders out in a timely manner because they had to stop what they were doing, send someone to look for the order, then redo the order (I think they only had four or five CSRs total at that time, with three on any given day...I don't know how many they have now though). I know they did make an exception to that rule for me once though, when I called in an order, was told they didn't have a particular product anymore even though it was on the site...I contacted them to let them know that I wanted to order it, but was told it was sold out, so they may want to take it off the site. A senior member of the staff contacted me to let me know it wasn't sold out afterall and allowed me to add it onto my order since I was given misinformation. My point in telling that story is...I think we all appreciate great customer service, and while I haven't received my first order yet so I can't comment on product, I will commend the BPAL folks for being so interactive and communicative with their customers. However, you can put me in the camp of people who would not mind if you instituted a policy about not being able to add on or change orders once an order is placed. Many, many other companies do the same thing, and I think it's perfectly reasonable, particularly if you're looking to expand your customer base and will be dealing with increased orders, unless you have a system like amazon.com where customers can amend their own orders up until the time the item ships/the card is charged. Just some food for thought...

Even though I am relatively new, I would like to chime in and say I think it would be nice, and if at all feasible, maybe a regular announcement that could be made maybe every two weeks (every week if feasible...but every two might suffice)? Just a quick note saying all orders through such and such a date have shipped or all orders except those with such-and-such product have shipped. I understand it's just one more thing to do, but might be worth it in the long run if it reduces the number of individual emails asking about the status of orders so that maybe they'll be confined to those orders that may be genuinely lost or taking an exceptionally long time. I know I've been very tempted to email about the status of my order, but have refrained thus far in hopes that maybe one of the updates will answer my question.