doomsday_disco

The ratio of the two components in this perfume is LONDON FOG with the tiniest whiff of gingerbread. You know that scene in The Grinch where the mouse is about to take the crumb by the fireplace, and The Grinch comes back and scoops it up before the mouse can eat it? That's how fleeting the gingerbread is in this scent. I tested it after it got to settle for a day, so I'm hoping that I'll get more gingerbread from this in a few weeks. During the wet phase, the bergamot in this scent is so strong that it verges on neroli-like and goes through a medicinal phase on me that is off-putting. Then there's the gingerbread crumb next to the milky Earl Grey latte once the scent is dry, but that hint of gingerbread is barely there and you have to get close to the skin to smell it. I feel like you can smell that this latte is made with a vanilla syrup, and there might be a little honey in this sweetening it up, too? Although I don't dislike the end result, the wet phase is so harsh on me that I'm setting it aside and hoping that it improves as it has had more time to settle. And maybe the gingerbread will be stronger by then! Comparing this to Lavender and Earl Grey Cookies, this is much stronger on the Earl Grey, but of course, I think Lavender and Earl Grey Cookies is >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Gingerbread London Fog because I'm a lavender ho, and that one is more balanced, as there's way more Earl Grey in that one than there is gingerbread in this scent.

This starts off peach forward, with some bay rum and patchouli peeking through. The bay rum and patch increase with strength over time, although the peach is still there, just playing a lesser role. It's not something I could see myself reaching for, but I did enjoy this more than straight up Daddy by Effy.

This starts off with a burst of lemon peel that is like lemon candy, but not as sweet, but the white musk and peach are quick to join in. While the lemon is strongest during the wet phase, the white peach and white musk are strongest while dry, and sadly, the peach goes waxy in a chapstick-like way on me. The lemon isn't missing once dry... it's just not as strong as it was initially. I liked this best during the wet phase when it was more about the lemon. Alas, this peach doesn't seem to agree with my skin chemistry.

I've tested this twice and slathered it on my partner a few times, too. I think Vintage Dracula Blow Mold may contain ozone. It would explain that 'soap' smell I got from the bottle when it first arrived, and the bright, clean scent that emerges with the cherry upon application. Specifically, it made me think of the ozone in Lavender Lightning, but I did not try them side by side to know for sure. The cherry in this is not a loud cherry -- it's strongest during the wet phase, and hangs around throughout wear, but not obtrusively -- I agree with Failmingo's description of this fading from red to a pale pink. I get the plastic aspect from this blow mold scent more than from the other one I've tried (the witch one -- I am waiting on decants of the first two, but when my brain saw a cherry blow mold scent, my brain said "what the hell!?" and it fell into my cart), but I still wouldn't let that scare you away from trying this. It's not offensive and overwhelming like some of the industrial scents containing plastic from the American Gods line. The plastic, with what I think is ozone or maybe a slightly effervescent note (but NOT champagne), just perfectly fits the idea of an illuminated blow mold being transformed into scent. As for the amber in this... I do not believe it is the same amber featured in Vintage Witch Blow Mold (which is a white amber, from scents like Schönperchten or Hohensalzburg Fortress). It's a darker, but much quieter amber (only because less of it was probably used), that lurks in the background, never overtaking the bright notes, but I, too, swear there may be some frankincense and/or myrrh in it? Although I was hoping to be bludgeoned over the head with cherry, I do think this is nice. It's weird how alluring it is with its plastic note.

Sleepy Bat lands with a burst of lavender and hops, along with a huge blast of leather. The leather in this is not well-worn and is a really loud black leather, and sadly, it's not a variety I love. It eventually overwhelms the soporific lavender and hops and is the dominant note for a long time, until the chamomile and hay-infused musky ambrette fur emerges and eventually takes over, leaving behind only a hint of leather. I'm not sure if there's brown musk here along with the ambrette, but it does settle into a warm, brown scent by the end of the day. I'm going to let this settle for a few weeks and come back to it. I really enjoy the lavender and hops in the opening, but that leather is a little too much for me -- and while the musky final drydown of the scent is comforting, I really wish the lavender had decided to stick around.

I am mostly getting the re-released Antique Lace (that doesn't have the floral qualities of the original, and that my basic ass self likes more than the original -- heresy, I know) with some caramel-infused musk hovering around the edges. I don't love caramel in perfumes, but bought this because it's a bat-themed Lace, and fortunately, the caramel musk in this isn't overwhelming whatsoever. It has good throw, too. However, I didn't detect any leather.... I wonder if it will peek out with age? I like this, but at this point, I have so many perfumes featuring this vanilla that I feel like I may have to let at least one of them go in order to let this one stay in my collection. I'll have to spend more time with this one to know for sure, but I'm thinking that it's probably a keeper, and that wouldn't even be a question if I didn't have so many scents featuring this vanilla.

This goes on as white chocolate and white amber, and I believe it is the same white amber from Schönperchten from some Yules ago. The white amber ends up being the star on me, with the green tea being much more subdued than usual, but lending a brightness to the scent. (I can smell it more 3 hours after the initial application than I did originally, but it never overtakes the other notes.) It's not the same as White Chocolate, Mysore Sandalwood, and Lemon Peel from this year's Luper update, but I'd say it's a cousin to it, with a soft blanket of white amber instead of the Mysore sandalwood, and with green tea lifting it up instead of lemon peel. I'd also recommend trying this if you liked Hohensalzburg Fortress from the Winter Travelogue update, as this has that white amber, but with white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. There's nothing super plasticy about this, so I wouldn't let that bit of the description scare you away. I get a light hint of it when I sniff up close, but maybe it's just the power of suggestion from the name. I was kind of hoping for more green tea from this, but I'm not mad. This actually smells really comforting, and I could see myself using it as a sleep scent.

This got to settle for a day before I tested it. If you're looking for a 13 that is more about the other notes than the cacao, this is for you. It's the least chocolate-y 13 that I've tried (keep in mind that I've tried lots of 13s since 2013, but not any of the ones prior to that). In the bottle, the cacao, sandalwood, and tobacco stood out to me the most. On my skin, it's immediately a sandalwood party, and even though it's red sandalwood and the sandalwood in Kit's description says Mysore, it is giving me Kit (OLLA) vibes. (I also get Morocco vibes, which makes sense since it features a red sandalwood note.) I smell some cardamom and pumpkin along with it, and then some cedar and a bit of pine, all swirled with a light cacao, but when the tobacco and fig emerge, they are a force to be reckoned with.... and then the blend becomes sharper on me as the cognac and oakmoss join those two notes. The sandalwood is still there, but it's behind those notes. And this particular tobacco is too sharp for me. I'm going to let this settle for a few weeks and come back to it, but I think it won't be for me because I wanted more CACAO with woods and pine. The sandalwood in this is really nice, though. I just hope the tobacco calms down!

This is definitely one for licorice fans. It is strong on the licorice root, which has an effervescent quality to it. So slightly fizzy licorice. It's so strong on me that the resins can't even compete with it and are confined to a background role throughout wear. I think it being the root is what is lending the sparkling quality to this scent. I am not a licorice fan, so this is not for me, but if that is your jam, you should give this a whirl.

Swiftfoot is very much about the grass notes at first, but then the stone emerges and becomes more prominent over time, and it's a resinous sort of stone note. The floral note in this remains in a background role throughout wear. This was the scent I was most curious about from this Spiritus Arcanum release, and I'm glad I got to try it! But I know I wouldn't reach for it over other grass or stone scents. Unexpectedly, Cinderpaw is my favorite scent from this Walpurgisnacht drop!

This one is a charred resin infused red musk on me. The resins are more prominent before the musk takes over, and I do get the labdanum more than the others. The vetiver is present, but doesn't take over, and the rosemary is very fleeting, only a poof in the wet phase with the initial blast of charred sandalwood. This is too musk-heavy for me, but it was nice to get to test it.

So this is nothing like A Sorceress, even though they both share 'serpent scale accord' as notes. This is actually really leathery on me. I get some ink with it at first, but then it's a leather party. The resins can't compete with it, and the red fruits are nowhere to be found on my skin. It's not for me, but it was fun to get to try it.

This one is a very high-pitched green scent on me. It's more about the cologne-y lichen and oakmoss, amped up by the perfume-y green musk, than the dirt or oudh on me. And the oudh is not funky. I do think it fits its name, but this would be better suited for those who don't amp up moss notes.

I am getting a floral-forward blue musk from this (or at least, that's what the scent made me think of, although it's not mentioned as a note... maybe it's one of the floral notes mixed with something else?), swirled with some herbs. The florentine iris is the most prominent of the floral notes on me. I'm not able to pick out any mugwort and lavender, two notes I love, but I do smell the juniper and sage amongst the florals. Iris is not my jam, although this is not a sharp variety, so this isn't for me, but it definitely is evocative of its inspiration.

Here are my answers to in-thread Switch Witch questions, plus a "I ALREADY BOUGHT IT" section that I've incorporated in case you see something and are wondering if I have it (not that I'd expect anyone to buy me things from some of these shops as they can be pricey). I promise not to buy anything off of my wishlist, but also don't want my witch to feel like they need to get anything off of it. (Amazon got rid of the universal wishlist, so I have to create a new one.) Etsy Universal Wishlist (Books were linked from Amazon for ease, but I love supporting indie bookstores and am happy with used books! Also, some things on here are things to show my taste, but wouldn't expect anyone to buy. $24 for a dishtowel? Pffft no, it would have to be on sale.) I ALREADY BOUGHT IT: Apple Butter and Pumpkin Butter from Williams Sonoma Figural Pumpkin Stoneware Mugs Faux Halloween Book Boxes from HomeGoods Fred Boo Cubes Fred Decatitated Ice/Candy Mold (a disappointment, do not recommend) Ghost Spatula from Target Halloween Bats Double Old-Fashioned Glass from Crate and Barrel Loungefly Disney Winnie the Pooh Pooh Bear & Friends Pumpkin Patch Allover Print Lanyard - BoxLunch Pie Spatula from At Home Skeleton Wine Glasses Stemless Skeleton Wine Glasses Sur La Table Fox & Owl Hand Pie Set Sur La Table Pumpkin Potholder SO MANY HALLOWEEN SHIRTS from Defective Pudding Uniqlo The World of Clamp: xxxHolic shirt Uniqlo The World of Clamp: Tokyo Tower shirt Winnie the Pooh fall ankle socks, pack of 5 from BoxLunch 8/29 would you like a scarf? If so, colors, length, iwide or skinny? Bulky yarn or thin and slinky?? A scarf would probably be wasted on me since it's too hot to wear one here for most of the year. (I wouldn't say no to a dark red Night Circus-esque one to take on vacations to colder climates, though). How about some dishcloths, for the kitchen? Or spa cloths for the bathroom? If so, which? Any particular colors?? I am down for some dishcloths! Purple or grey would be great, but whatever floats your boat. 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.) The Cheers! and Twilight Cat stickers are great. 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. The Divinitea tea looks good, as well as the Japanese Cherry Green Tea. No teas with anise or stevia, pls. What are your favorite halloween/samhain treats to eat? Please be specific. I have access to various candy stores, including healthy candy lol. I usually bake a lot of pumpkin things during this time... I plan to focus on apple in September and pumpkin in October. I like to try a lot of Trader Joe's pumpkin offerings. Would you like any of these Snag Halloween tights? And if so, which of their sizes? https://snagtights.com/pages/halloween A lot of these are cute! I like the Fright Night Belladonna ones and all of the striped tights. Also is there anything you would particularly like from the UK? Mr. Kipling's Angel Slices and Bird and Blend tea. I love Cadbury Crunchies, too (I can get those here, but I wouldn't say no to a gift Cadbury Crunchie). 8/30 What Halloween things off RedBubble do you like? Share link if possible. Not Halloween, but these xxxHolic shirts, all black: Ichihara Yuuko Classic T-Shirt, Unisex Size L xXxHolic - Sexy Ichihara Yuuko Classic T-Shirt, Unisex Size L Watanuki and Mokona in color Classic T-Shirt, Unisex Size L XXX HOLIC Classic T-Shirt, Unisex Size L xxxHolic - Ichihara with Flowers Classic T-Shirt, Unisex Size L 8/31 Is there anything you might want from Japan? Snacks (autumn flavors are out~), nerdy stuff, cute stuff anything! I love Japanese Kit Kats, rice crackers, Pocky, Pretz, and am down to try non-fishy snacks. I have been on the lookout for Yokohama Butter Sandwich Cookies (found them once in a konbini here and never again) 🙏 and Okinawan matcha chocolate chip Chinsuko. I don't know what it's called, but I once had a Japanese Hi-Chew-like lemon candy, but it had like, little lemon crystals inside? I am on the lookout for that, too. I love xxxHolic and would die if I received something xxxHolic-related, especially Mokona! Anything CLAMP-related aside from Chobits would be (but especially xxxHolic or X/1999). I'm into a lot of other anime as well and mentioned some of those fandoms in the enamel pin question... and I have not had any luck finding anything Pompompurin x Sailor Venus in the US. is there anything being removed from site or a virtual con scent you are interested in trying? I would be interested in decants of the peach and apple cobbler scent and Peach & Kumquat. I bought bottles of the aromatherapy scents that I didn't want to miss out on: Blackout Blinds, Recovery Room, and Unclench. Moonalisa.....she just released her new Halloween scents, lip balm, candles, and soaps, want anything? (mooscents.com) I already ordered from her! 9/1 I was wondering whether Tim Tams in any incarnation would tempt my witchee? I love Tim Tams! I've had the normal, dark chocolate, and mint varieties. We also have caramel over here. I'd be tempted by limited edition flavors! On the less sweet side, are there any other Australian things you might be tempted by? Not vegemite. 😆 (I've had it.) But I love trying foods from different countries! 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'd be down to read a Doctor Who one! Would you appreciate rare TAL decant(s) in 1 mL amber roll-on bottle(s)? I would! How do you feel about enamel pins? If positively, which fandoms or topics would you like? I love enamel pins! I have a pin board and need to get others, but I typically wear them on my button-up work shirts as long as there is more than one prong on the pin. (If not, then it doesn't really stay put very well on a shirt and has to go to be pin board only.) Here are some fandoms that I like: Doctor Who, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Fruits Basket (I have a few fan-made pins), Studio Ghibli (I currently have soot sprite and Haku pins from Spirited Away, but no other Ghibli pins), Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Our Flag Means Death, What We Do in the Shadows, Good Omens (I have two sets of Good Omens lapel pins). If I didn't note having any pins for a particular fandom, it is because I currently do not! I also have the Ectogasm bat lapel pins from last year's Halloween swap and tons of pins from The Pickety Witch. I'm into anime, and I think the only non-Fruits Basket anime-related pin that I own is Luna from Sailor Moon in a witch hat. Some of my favorite anime (aside from Fruits Basket) are xxxHolic, Ouran High School Host Club, Revolutionary Girl Utena, and I'm currently loving NANA and the new Bleach arc. 9/2 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 was already graciously gifted your hairfalls in Krampusnacht. 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??? No, thank you! Haus Of Gloi just had their Halloween update! Anything appeal to you? https://www.hausofgloi.com/collections/fall-1 No, thank you! 9/3 I just came across this Etsy shop (TheGrayMuse) and I WILL BE ORDERING and wondering if you would like something from there as well? The lavender pin would be nice! Future Primitive Soaps has released it's fall stuff. Would you like anything from there dearest witchee? https://futureprimitivesoap.co.uk Why do all of the whipped soaps have to be sold out? I have waaaay too many bar soaps, but would still be interested in Grumpy Pumpkin, Owlett's End, and Hot Orange Danish. Of those, the Danish actually sounds the most enticing. 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? If you have some instructions on how best to use it, I would be down! Do you want anything from Sea Witch Botanicals (I can buy it locally from shops)? No, thank you! Hirons Drug Store - which is basically an Unbelievable place to browse for every kind of eclectic, fun, spooky, weird, and even useful thing you could want - so 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 I always enjoy stickers and washi tape as I like to decorate swap packages with them. Since I'm a double Taurus, you can't go wrong with snacks! Sprinkles would be welcome as well as kitchen stuff. Gift Certificates you'd like to places that are local to you? I would say Brew Tea Bar, as that's the best tea spot in my city, and I'm there every other day and will likely be there every day once their pumpkin chai tea comes out next week. (They infuse real pumpkin and spices into the cream cheese on top.) But it doesn't look like they have gift cards available online. And the Matcha Cafe Maiko (matchalv.com) we have here is rebranding to Urban Matcha and is currently closed for a few weeks and are revamping their website, so I don't even know if they have gift cards for purchase online. Then I was going to say Sorry Not Sorry Creamery, a local Vegas ice cream spot, but they don't have online gift cards either. So perhaps Salt and Straw? They have online gift cards and unique ice cream flavors. I just had their pumpkin-spiced tiramisu last night and adore their honey lavender ice cream. 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 rarely wear nail polish, and ILNP is now the only nail polish I will wear, buuuut don't buy me any because my partner is trans and I will need to order nail polish from them for her birthday in October. Would you be interested in anything from Alobudra? https://alobudrallc.company.site/products/ No, thank you! are there any more “traditional” Japanese souvenirs you’d like to have (think chopsticks, tenugui, washi paper, etc.)? I would love those things! 9/4 Would you like to try Brujita Skincare ? (Ignore the out of stock except for In Your Room collection and Inner Child Ritual candle.) Only if there's a great fragrance-free moisturizer for dry skin that you recommend. 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 No, thank you! If you like tea, is there anything you would like from Bird & Blend? https://www.birdandblendtea.com/ Gingerbread Rooibos (tried this in their advent calendar last year and loved it), Campfires and Vampires, and I'd be interested in trying one of their sticky chais. No Baby Spice, pls. I ordered a huge bag of it last year thinking I'd love it... and I did not. 9/5 BloomChic - just discovered them - Take a look at the Halloween stuff, and tell me the link and the size of whatever thing you like! There are several cute things here. I'm going to mention the one I love most and would not have to worry about sizing on: this super cute cardigan with purple bats. Size M or L, but L would be better as then my partner could wear it, too. Poesie Tea! Do you like? Some of my favorites are from this company. https://www.poesieperfume.com/loose-leaf-tea I like Fearless and Osbourne House. 9/6 Would you like anything from Trader Joe's? (Pumpkin products are, sadly, not in stores yet, but they will be during this round!) I asked this question and have a few in my city! Do you have any Halloween traditions? We watch Halloween cartoons and movies leading up to Halloween, but mostly cartoons. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a must every year. I have a Halloween tree and have decorated it for the past few years, but my cat Haru is a force of destruction and knocked the tree down several times last year and broke some of my Nightmare Before Christmas ornaments... so no tree this year. What about Halloween-related fandoms? (ie. The Nightmare Before Christmas) The Nightmare Before Christmas, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, What We Do in the Shadows... I'll add more if I can think of them. I am not into gore-y horror. 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? N/A I make things from thrifted sweaters that I cut up & make things from. Do you like armwarmers? I love them! Long or short? Either. Solid color ( elegant) or funky stripes made from multiple sweaters? Funky stripes! Fave colors? Black, purple, grey Is cashmere okay? Yep! Wool & related blends? ( I never use scratchy wool for arm warmers.) I think so! 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 ? I cannot really envision this... I love handmade things, though! Is there no dangling rope? Because I feel like that would just tempt Haru, who can somehow jump really high. What sort of Halloween fabric? Whimsical? Witchy, bats, mushrooms, moths? Whimsical, witchy, bats, cute ghosts, cute Halloween, or something elegant and Abigail Larson-esque... How gothy do you like? Max goth have velvets & sparkly stuff to work with too. What is your preference witchee? Velvets are fine... sparkly stuff, as long as the sparkle doesn't get all over me... 9/7 How do you feel about cherry things? Check out Cherry Republic and let me know if anything catches your eye! I LOVE cherry. I don't know why I didn't think to list it as a favorite flavor. White or green cherry tea, cherry jams or preserves, cocktail cherries, or cherries that can be used for baking would be great (just no pre-made baking mixes... I bake everything from scratch). Similarly, are you into fancy flavors of olive oil or vinegar? Check out Fustini's and let me know if anything appeals! I have never tried any flavored oils or vinegars, but I'd be down to try the flavored oils! Whatever would be great with roasted vegetables or salmon... We also have an awesome store for jams and sauce, American Spoon which you should totally check out! The Sour Cherry Preserves, Lemon Curd, Rhubarb Marmalade, Honeycrisp Apple Conserve, Apple and Cinnamon Preserves, Black & Blueberry Conserve, and the Quince Conserve with the Riesling sound lovely! Would you like some locally sourced maple syrup? I'd be down for that! 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. The cherry and chocolate + cherry fudges sound interesting. But I can't eat a lot of fudge since it's so rich. Except for Greenwoodtree's pumpkin fudge. That is so unbelievably amazing. I miss her shop. Anything from the IKEA Halloween store catch your witchy eye? https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/campaigns/halloween/ No, thank you! 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? The anxi-tea sounds good. I live near a Penzey's Spice https://www.penzeys.com - do you cook? I do! - Do you want fancy schmancy spices or spice blends? I'd be happy to have them! - 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. I go to my local spice shop called Sheffield Spices and Tea, buuut I've ordered some vanilla extracts and spices from Penzey's before. I'm low on the single vanilla but still have plenty of double. (But vanilla is expensive, so I wouldn't want my witch to be buying it for me!) - 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? Not sure about a specific cuisine, but I'd like to try Za'atar! Oh! Or something that could be handy for recipes cooked in a wok. I do have Szechuan peppercorns, tho. 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/ No, thank you... and I say this only because I have recently bought and swapped for way too much make-up this year, when I rarely wear it, and a lot of that was from Colourpop's Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh collections. (I also bought some of the wet n' wild Alice in Wonderland make-up.) Anything of interest from Cellar Door? (They have candles and soaps.) No, thank you! Update: I asked this question in the hope that my witchee would want something. I'd be interested anything Basic Witch. Are you into wax melts, candles, incense, room sprays, or none of the above? I enjoy wax melts, candles, and room sprays, but indie only. Would you like anything from Luvmilk's Monster Mash? I asked this and am waiting to see if my witchee wants anything! Will update this if my witchee doesn't want anything. 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 not crafty. 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. No, thank you. (I'd be down to try homemade soap, but I am mostly vegetarian, so no tallow.) Do homemade caramels or shortbread tickle your fancy? Shortbread ftw! What are your chocolate preferences? White, milk, dark? What inclusions (fruit, nuts, none, etc.)? Gimme as many details as possible. Milk and dark chocolate, but milk is my favorite. White chocolate in moderation (as in, it's like swirled with some other chocolate or enrobing a dark chocolate or wafer or something) is okay. I like fruits and nuts, but tend to prefer chocolate with none. Although cherry and almond are chef's kiss. I make mixed media art (like collaging kinda). Is a mixed media art piece (small like an altoids tin or small canvas) something you'd be interested in? I would love that! What music platform do you use (Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, etc.)? Do you like receiving music recommendations? I use Spotify Premium. I am down to listen to music recommendations and tend to listen to music that has been recommended to me on my days in the office. HOWEVER... I am picky with music and aside from 80s stuff, tend to listen to some obscure stuff. I feel bad when someone is excited to show me music and I shoot down song after song. 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? That would be so lovely! I think purple would be great. What type of spooky season imagery do you like? (Ie. bats, ghosts, vintage Halloween, etc.) I love goth-y (like Abigail Larson's art) and cute Halloween (like Rhode Montijo, Cat Mallard, and Defective Pudding's art styles). My partner and I are big fans of cute ghosts. And I love bats, pumpkins, black cats, corvids, and vintage Halloween is great, too. Pls no gore or spiders. (But a cute spider with like, a happy face, is not a deal breaker on something with the main focus not being a spider.) Astrid's Autumn Line and Anniversary Tea Party just dropped. Anything you want? I am buying everything I want. (Which is to say, I'm buying 4-5 bottles and a fuckton of the anniversary decants and hoping they'll still be in stock by the time I get to test them (because Astrid does not restock scents unless they sell out immediately and there's a large demand for a restock.) The tea party scents are killing me. 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 - No, thank you! dried ancho chile peppers - can be whole halves or ground into a delicious powder - I'd be down for that. sugar-free candied pecans and walnuts or almonds - Yes to all 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 miss your fudge so bad. 😭 I love the pumpkin pie fudge, but I've also never tried penuche and would like to try it one day. dried italian plums (pitted) - No, thank you! sugar-free canned plum or logan berry jam - I haven't had loganberry before! freshly dried rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley individually or in combo - Any of these would be useful! almond flour baked goods (low carb, sugar free, and gluten free) - give examples of savory and sweet things Yes... something sweet like cookies or bars. 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. That would be so cute! 9/9 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 I can't find the scent notes? The whipped soap looks nice if you think there's something in a scent profile I enjoy... 9/10 Anything you want from my favorite local tea shop? www.fridaytea.com I have a few teas from them on my Universal Wishlist! How about from my skincare person? drjensbeautylab.com/ [Can't access website on gov computer] How about from my witchy Chandler? https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeresaLynnsSimpleLux These candles look cute, and I'm also down for wax melts, although I wasn't able to find any scent descriptions. 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? Olive oil or oatmeal and honey soaps sound nice, as do candles, and I'm fine with anointed candles as well (I dabble). 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. I wouldn't mind culinary herbs! Oregano, mugwort, sage, thyme, and peppermint would be good. I am not averse to the others... I'm just not super familiar with them! 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. I have perpetually dry skin thanks to living in the desert and am down for a salve! 9/11 Anything in the Paintbox Soapworks Halloween update looking good to you? https://paintboxsoapworks.com/new-limited-edition/2023-weenie-collection/ I am eyeing Putney Road, bar soap or mini scrub, but I'm hoping they restock something for my witchee! 9/12 If you have a furry friend living with you, what sort of treats do they like? Haru loves treats. He has only had Orijen ones (original and tundra, I think). He is a little chonky, though (his annual check up this past weekend put him at 17 pounds... but he's not a small cat as far as his length/frame go). 9/13 What is your feelings on seasonal mugs? Yes or, no? Too many in your house or bring them on?? I am very picky with mugs. I have a lot of them, so I have to be strict with allowing more into my cupboard due to space. That said, there are a few that I have been eyeing: a Depeche Mode meme mug on my Etsy wishlist, the white pumpkin mug from Anthropologie, and this style of ghost mug (lots of places have their own versions of this -- I missed out on the most quality one that was either from Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma, as they didn't have it in store. I would only be interested in a version with the ghost going and not a happy face ghost). Are your wishlists - Amazon, Etsy, etc - up to date, and if so, are they all linked somewhere that I can find them? My wishlists are at the top of this blog. Do you have anything you use every day that you wouldnt mind getting more of? Nothing I can think of at the moment! Anything you love or need to have from Adagio or Rishi teas? No, thank you. I am anti-Adagio for the reasons Twi has specified in her wishlist. While I'm not against Rishi tea, there are much cheaper teas on my wishlist. Right now, I'm really loving August tea and would especially like to try their pumpkin Psychocandy one. List here things you wish you would've added to your questionnaire Pls no Funko Pops or Q Posket Figures. It was too soon to say when I was filling out my questionnaire, but I recently finished the anime NANA and it has become one of my all time favorites. I can't remember if I specified in my questionnaire, but I don't tend to like things with phrases on them. (A Halloween countdown is fine, but "Live, Laugh, Love" or "Blessed Fall" is not.) 9/14 Nocturne Alchemy just dropped their Halloween update! You like the looks of anything? https://nocturnealchemy.com/collections/limited-collection I spent too much on Astrid, so I promise not to buy any NAVA. I would be interested in any of these, decants or bottles, buuuut I don't reach for my NAVA oils too often and find a lot of their scents to be too similar, so perhaps decants would be best if anything? Here are the scents that caught my eye: From the new LEs: Midnight Veil Tea Witching Hour Tea Shape Shifting Tea October Musk Haunted Portrait Helena Hackley (most curious about this one and the teas) Haunted Portrait Jackson Graveston Haunted Portrait Tavern Teddy From the Resurgence: All Hallows' Moon (hissing at violet) Conversations with the Moon (always have to make sure NAVA's cinnamon isn't the kind that burns) Hallow Cat Cupcake (iffy on coconut and bourbon vanille) Is there anything you would like from the Weenie update? I am likely to buy any bottles and decants that catch my fancy. How do you feel about stickers? If positively, are there any themes you'd rather not have stickers of? I love stickers! No gore, pls. What about crystals, cool rocks, and gemstones? No, thank you! (I just got some lovely rocks in a swap.) 9/15 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.) They are so cute! I like the tiny Squishmallows that turned inside out (I didn't let myself buy the owl in a vampire cape and he's no longer in stock at my store), and for the Squishables, I like the micro size due to space. I have a few of the tiny Squishmallows that turn inside out into a different squishie from last year. From Squishables, I have the normal size Plague Doctor and the micro Luna Moth (who has been named Plink!). Would you wear enamel pins with chains that are meant to be put on lapels? (Something like this.) Yes! I have a two sets of Good Omens pins like this and the bat lapel pins from Ectogasm. Speaking of enamel pins... The Pickety Witch's Autumn and Halloween collection just dropped. Has anything caught your eye? I like Jiji's First Halloween (but it's currently sold out). I don't care for the rest of this year's offerings and already have the ones I like that are not new to this year. 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? While I think this would be neat, it would be an unresistable temptation for my younger cat, Haru. 9/16 ordering bulbs from https://oldhousegardens.com and was wondering if my witchee would like some. No, thank you! 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? Yes, I love arm warmers! Black, purple, grey, or green would be great, solid colors, stripes, animals or moons.. Witchee, what's your take on seasonal-themed Washi tape? Love! What about seasonal treats from Trader Joe's? I already went and grabbed what I wanted. I make gluten-free biscotti this time of year, lemon and also cocoa varieties: does this sound good to you? Sure! 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! A playlist would be fine, but I don't have a CD drive on my laptop. 9/17 Anything here you like? https://bserway.com/ Stickers! 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? I can't think of anything specific, but would be down for Ren Fest things. 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!) VII from the charity scents 9/18 none 🎉 9/19 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? No strong preference, but I need to actually explore the two decks I have... Are you a Studio Ghibli fan, and if so, what are your feelings about fan made art featuring characters? I am a Ghibli fan and noted some of my favorite films in my questionnaire, I think (Whisper of the Heart is my favorite, with honorable mentions to Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle). I do not mind fan made art, but would prefer it the art were on something like a sticker or a tote bag or something like that, since my apartment's theme is Goth/Every Day is Halloween. 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. No, thank you! 9/20 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) No, thank you! 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 No, thank you! 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. No, thank you! Are you a fan of the show Cobra Kai? I don't know anything about it. Do you enjoy any of the scented items from Victoria's Secret? No, thank you! Would you be interested in receiving a silver locket with papyrus and herbs inside, as a protective amulet? Sure! 9/21 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? No, thank you. Witchee, do you like anything from Lenny Mud? The Dalek spoonrest. 9/22 From previous questions you've answered, I know a lot about the teas you'd like from specific places, but I want to know your more general tea preferences. Black, green, white, rooibos, oolong, herbal? My preference is for white, green, and herbal teas, preferably flavored ones or ones with stuff like fruit pieces and flowers in them over plain ol' tea leaves. Oolongs and black teas are okay in moderation. Barley tea is good, too. Pls no: anise, mushrooms, pu-ehr, or smoky teas (I do not consider hojicha to be smoky... more toasty). Japan is particularly big on their green tea and hojicha (roasted green tea), any interest? I enjoy these and have some already but wouldn't say no to more. I like using matcha for baking and I love hojicha even more than matcha (and have some powder to try to incorporate into shortbread, but I haven't tried doing that yet). The only Japanese green tea that I am not a fan of, to my knowledge, is kukicha. My partner has given me an extraordinary amount of rooibos from South Africa. It's amazing and I'd like to share, so would you like some? I used to hate rooibos. Now I like some varieties, but they have to be flavored. I cannot do straight up rooibos, alas. Despite being uk based I’m probably gonna have to make a torrid order because I fell in. Anything catch your eye while I’m doing it? No, thank you! (I don't dislike Torrid, but I'm at the smaller end of their sizing and go there for my trans partner.) 9/27 How do you feel about nail wraps, like from Espionage Cosmetics? They are having a tempting fall sale. Anything catch your eye? https://espionagecosmetics.com/collections/itsfallyall23 No, thank you! Is anyone into colouring in? No, thank you! I do not currently own a table and doing that on the tall kitchen island would be uncomfortable. 😅 9/30 Since I'm starting to get ads for holiday shop stuff coming in, witchees who are winter holiday afficionados, are there any decorations, treats, etc. that you would be looking for? Off the top of my head: the Christmas discs for the OXO Cookie Press. I would also be interested in this Grinch-themed silicone mat and this adorable Christmas Tree pie decorating kit. 10/2 I just came across this kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/paulinafae/halloween-dreams-playing-cards I do own almost all her decks and I know they are kinda busy for readings but I still like them. Do you? No, thank you! 10/10 would you like any whole dried cayenne peppers or fresh red pepper flakes? Sure! 10/12 I will be attending the Bloodmilk Sphinx and Snakeskin event here in Philly tomorrow! Would you like a bottle of Dream Skin, dearest Witchee? I would be down to try it! 10/13 Anything you crave from yesterday's 2nd Weenies drop at BPAL? I will end up ordering everything I want as either bottles or decants. I have no restraint.

Rose and resins/incense isn't really in my wheelhouse, but my decanter kindly frimped me a tester of this, and I have to say... it's much better than I would have expected based off of the notes. I get a really jammy red rose (it is probably jammed up from the wine) with lots of incense. I thought that the amontillado would be the same grape scent from Drops of Amontillado (an exclusive imp from a few years back), but there's no blast of grape here (woot). Dragon's blood can be problematic on me, but it's not going wonky here. Oddly enough, I'm not really getting much clove, tobacco, or myrrh, but that could be because it's a tester (I did have a good amount to apply, though). It's still not something I need a bottle of, but I'm really glad I got a chance to try it. While it's not something I would gravitate towards wearing, I do think it's one of the nicest rose + incense blends I have tried.

Golden apples are my favorite type of apple, and I hadn't really found a scent that I've really loved with that variety of apple (Sjöfn was too sweet for me; the original discontinued Hesperides scent was more like green apple candy to my nose than any golden apple). But this? This is true, sweet, realistic golden apples. They smell so refreshing and perfect for late summer, and I'm reminded of picking apples as a kid. There are touches of wildflowers and honey, but it's really hard to pick out any other notes, as it all just blends into the most wonderful golden apple scent. I have been wearing a lot of apple scents as of late, and none have been as swoon-worthy as this one. I'm going to spend more time with my decant to see if the scent changes at all, but I'm likely to pick up a bottle of this before it goes away. If you're an apple fan, you really need to try this one! ETA: This has become greener with a few weeks of rest, but I'm still not able to pick out notes like leaves and mint.

This is mostly about the strawberry on me throughout wear. The rhubarb is next in prominence, although it's more noticeable during the wet phase than during the dry. The strawberry and rhubarb combo are giving me New Year's Kitty Tea Party vibes, although this obviously has none of the other foodie elements. Over time, the scent becomes more perfume-y as its sea salt and pink amber add some high-pitched elements to the scent, making sure it is nowhere reminiscent of jam by the end of the day (although the ripe, squishy strawberry remains one of the dominant notes). It was only during the dry down that I thought I may have picked up on the barest hints of leather or patch, but they were so fleeting, so I wouldn't avoid this scent because of those notes. I was here for the strawberry rhubarb phase of the scent, but I appreciated it less once it morphed into a high-pitched, aquatic scent overlaid with some strawberry. I can't see myself reaching for this over New Year Kitty's Tea Party, but I'm glad I gave it a chance!

In the vial, I get lots of green tea with the twang of yogurt and some mango. On me, it is mostly about the refreshing green tea note, and I believe it's the same one from Neglected Calligraphy. It is infused with some mango (I believe it is a different variety than the one in the Red Mango and Green Tea duet, but I'll deathmatch and update my review), and a bit of yogurt, but less yogurt than I got from the vial. I could not stop sniffing this and am considering upgrading this one to a bottle, which I didn't do with the duet. But I have so many green tea-heavy scents already... do I really need another one? Can I justify it when I have a mango void in my collection, even though this is more about the green tea? MAYHAPS.

This trio features a non-indolic agarwood note, although there's still a hint of hay-like farm-iness to it, there's no poo-dh. It actually mostly smells incense-y, like you've wandered into a metaphysical shop, and I believe it may be responsible for some incense notes in some of the Lab's scents. (Alas, my mind is blanking out on specific examples.) I was also expecting this to be sweeter with vanilla and tonka notes, but I'm not able to pick out the vanilla at all, and the tonka is not as prominent as it is in last year's A Breton Sorceress or The Little Owl. It's not something I need more of, but I'm glad I got to try this non-funky oud.

Unclench is different from Grr, the discontinued Panacea scent for headaches (which I've missed), but they both share strong peppermint notes. I wondered if this would be similar to Travel Buddies, which shares all of these notes. But I get more eucalyptus from Travel Buddies than this scent, which is more about the mint. The eucalyptus and the brightness of the lemon are noticeable once the bracing peppermint calms down, but I wouldn't say this is a eucalyptus-heavy scent. I was honestly expecting more eucalyptus! I cannot attest to this one's effectiveness against headaches yet (although I'm sure it will work wonders), but I can say that this is one for peppermint fans. And as a peppermint fan, I'm really happy I grabbed a bottle of this. I probably should have grabbed multiples of these aromatherapy exclusives.

Recovery Room is mostly about the citrus on me. It smells like a freshly peeled tangerine, with hints of patchouli and lavender. I'd put it in the same family as Holiday Survival Juice, an uplifting TAL scent. Yet, even though this is uplifting, it somehow is comforting enough to aid in sleep as well (despite the bright citrus). Blue tansy is typically a really strong note, so I'm surprised I didn't get blasted with it here. Perhaps it and the ylang ylang will be more noticeable after this scent has had more time to settle (although I did let it settle for almost a week before trying it). I'm really happy to have a bottle and wonder if my tangerine-heavy experience will last.

I am having the same experience as twi. This is mostly about the palmarosa, a really bright note that's somehow able to aid in sleep despite its brightness. I was not able to pick out palmarosa in blends prior to obtaining this scent; after this scent, there's no mistake as to what palmarosa smells like. It is waaaaay stronger than the lavender and sandalwood, which were just whispers in the background. And I let this settle for several days after it arrived before testing, so I don't think it's mail shock... but maybe the lavender and sandalwood will become more noticeable with more settling. It's effective at its purpose. I slathered this on and was able to easily drift off to slumberland (something that's not an easy feat for me). Although this isn't as lavender-heavy as I had hoped, I'm really glad to have a bottle.

Even though the scent description lists sandalwood first and says this contains four varieties, Pyramid of Skulls is predominantly about the tobacco on me, and it's a very dry, non-sweet variety, backed by some sandalwood. I could not pick out which varieties of sandalwood are at play here because the tobacco was so loud on me. I am really glad I got a chance to try this one, but it is not a love for me.

This is clove af. A very bold, black clove, backed by some patchouli. Fortunately, I'm not getting any acrid smoke, and although I thought the fur would be super musky, it's not... maybe because nothing can compete against the clove. I'm not mad.