hackess

Cardinal air: the essence of balance. Rose, black cherry, carnation, fig, honey, plum, and black currant. First? Yike. Bottle: Mildly sweet, a little like cherry soda syrup. The more I sniff it, the more effervescent it becomes, but I'm certain that's psychosomatic. Upon application, I'm immediately bowled over with honeyed ROSE...and that's all there is. I was hoping for just a little bit of spicy carnation, a little more red fruit (shocking, coming from me). The rose is creamy, just slightly sweet. It's pretty, and I'm going to leave it on for the afternoon to see if it goes through the transformation from rose garden to fruit basket, but it's not a love at first sniff kind of scent for me. (I do consistently amp rose, so YMMV.)

The keeper of the secrets that are hidden [AB3] at the moment that life begins. Her light is the veil that cloaks the spirit; she is the mediator between the supplicant and the word of the gods. White carnation, cardamom pod, and honey milk. WOW. Bottle: Heady. Sticky honey and floral, just a hint of a green sharp or spicy edge. Wet: A blast of cardamom milk, liquid carnations. Dry: A little sweet, a little creamy. The carnation hangs out for a long time, on me. It's so comforting, I want to wrap myself in it. This is honestly one of the most well-blended scents I've ever gotten, from BPAL or anywhere else, so complex and beautiful and evocative it's bringing me to tears.

[2023 version] Hey, Beth remade Plunder! It's as advertised: all the spices you'd expect out of a pumpkin spice blend - nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, maybe a dash of cardamom. It's a dry scent, which I love, and there's no chance of it going cloying.

I haven't been the first to review something in quite some time - eek! Bottle: This is when it's most redolent, for me. The crumble topping is much more apparent and balanced with the fruit. Skin: I really, really wish the strength of the bottle-smell would last but rosewater lightens it up quite a bit and the gooseberry lends a nice tartness. The crumble hangs out for a little while but it's eventually taken over by rosewater (I amp anything rose so YMMV) and currant. Not much throw but it's a such a soft comforting scent. Really beautiful, and I can see why it was the surprise favorite at the DragonCon booth. Verdict: I ordered this because I had a suspicion it would be reminiscent of Crumpet Rebellion, and it is - sort of. It's nowhere near as strong as CR, but the currant+pastry combo is there. I think if I layered this on heavy with something more pastryish, I could reasonably reproduce CR.

In the imp, it's cherry cola, slightly effervescent but mostly a heavy syrupy smell. Wet, I had first thought it was sour cherry balls, but upon second application it's all pine -- the wood, not the needles -- and what might be juniper. Edit: This one's morphing before my nose...the woodsy smell gives way to a decadent patchouli with hints of cinnamon. It's a very warm and inviting and I wish it had more throw.

Each bottle of Chaos Theory is truly unique, a fragrant fractal, and exercise in the joy of chance and uncertainty! Each is a one-of-a-kind, utterly random combination of scents, the composition of which is based on whim, mood and gut instinct. XXVII (27) In the bottle, it's vaguely green and redolent of lush tropical forest underbrush. Deep green aloe, maybe? On my skin, it turns a little sour and very exotic. I want to say tiger lily or orchid with a touch of ozone; there's something a lot like dryer sheets that's tickling my nose. Light throw and medium wear length. I'm going to need to test it a couple more times before I decide its fate.

A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS At last there came a time when the driver went further afield than he had yet gone, and during his absence, the horses began to tremble worse than ever and to snort and scream with fright. I could not see any cause for it, for the howling of the wolves had ceased altogether. But just then the moon, sailing through the black clouds, appeared behind the jagged crest of a beetling, pine-clad rock, and by its light I saw around us a ring of wolves, with white teeth and lolling red tongues, with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair. They were a hundred times more terrible in the grim silence which held them than even when they howled. For myself, I felt a sort of paralysis of fear. It is only when a man feels himself face to face with such horrors that he can understand their true import. All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to see. But the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side, and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman to come, for it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break out through the ring and to aid his approach, I shouted and beat the side of the caleche, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from the side, so as to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came there, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then a heavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again in darkness. When I could see again the driver was climbing into the caleche, and the wolves disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The time seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost complete darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. —Dracula, Bram Stoker A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint. Cursory review: a cool, crisp scent, evocative of chilly night air, over some of the sexiest primal musks I've ever smelled from BPAL. I didn't get any pine/wood notes once it hit my skin, and little to no ozone, which I usually amp into headache-inducing volumes. If only Wolf Moon or Lycaon had smelled like this! I need to sneak it onto my husband to see how he wears it.

MOTHER SHUB'S SPICED LAIT DE CHÈVRE Nothing warms the cockles like a mug of Mother Shub's egg nog! Goat's milk egg nog with coffee liqueur and spices imported from the Crimson Desert! In the bottle, it's boozy egg nog. Wet, this one's got a really sharp note, almost reminiscent of cough syrup. Thankfully, that passes super quickly to give way to a warm, lightly spiced creaminess that reminds me of some kind of candy I know I've had before. Not too creamy, not at all milky (read: sour), slightly nutty, and perfectly spiced with cassia and nutmeg. Puts me in the mood for a nice warm holiday beverage! I wish it had more throw, and my skin is eating it. If it had more oof, I'd love it.

MOTHER SHUB'S PFANCY PFEFFERNEUSSE Fit for the finest oblation -- and your holiday table, too! Sugar-sprinkled pepper nuts with a bit of cinnamon, a bit of clove, a little cardamom, and a hint of nutmeg. I want to eat my hand. It smells *exactly* like the little cookies. Somehow Beth even got the waft of powdered sugar that tickles your nose. After a few minutes, the powdered sugar gives way to the spices and OM NOM NOM NOM. It's a pretty light scent, but I only put a dab on the back of my hand. No throw to speak of, but again, I barely applied so I could test it without irritating my coworkers.

PUMPKIN PIE BATH OIL Devilishly decadent and a little bit ridiculous! I was thrilled to see a pumpkin pie bath oil show up on the last update. I love pumpkin pie, and anything spicy and autumnal is right up my alley. The scent is DIVINE. The tiny bit of spice I got in the bottle amped like whoa when applied. In the bottle, I also get a fairly strong whiff of what's probably pumpkin and buttery crust, but what reminds me very strongly of SEX, a little musky and rich and oh so devilishly decadent. Applied, it's all clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and star anise -- all the beautifully warm spices that go into pumpkin pie. I only just used it in the shower, applying the usual way by putting a small amount in my hand and then rubbing over my arms, shoulders and upper chest. The scent is strong and makes me want to eat my hand. Those with extremely delicate skin should probably not apply. I don't normally get red patches when I use spicy blends, but this one made the crooks of my elbows and the skin under my breasts (plus a nipple and my nose, which I must have accidentally touched while I still had oil on my hands) BURN. As is normal with BPTP bath oils, it's definitely moisturizing; my skin is soft to the touch.

Out of the imp, I'm struck by how quickly the throw on this could overwhelm - if your skin is anything like mine, a little goes a long way. It's well-balanced, but I'm not sure I love it on me. I'll give it a public test to see how others react to it before I add it to the swap box.

Starts out soft and fluffy, with lots of honey and sugar. The sandalwood and orris add a lovely backbone - a pillar of strength, like a warm supportive hug. It's intoxicating and comforting.

TBH, I didn't expect to enjoy this; none of the listed notes are things I typically love -- but it's gorgeous. The resiny benzoin only comes out in the vial, for me. On my skin, the amber is in the forefront: bright and warm, then the vanilla kicks in and prevents it from overwhelming (whew - apparently I amp amber?). Cypress is a soft lemony green note on drydown. It's a confidence-booster of a scent.

COUNTESS WILLIE Sophisticated, dramatic, well-traveled, glamorous, and worldly, Countess Willie V. Piazza, owner of the French Studio, was a trendsetter in style and fashion. Countess Willie was an educated woman, a patron of the arts, and possessed an impressive library of rare volumes. She featured many historic jazz musicians in her House, including Tony Jackson and Jelly Roll Morton. Unlike many of her counterparts, she was known for having a kind heart and a generous, loving nature. She was fiercely protective: when a patron of her establishment, the nephew of a prominent New Orleans cleric, committed a heinous act of sadism against one of her ladies, Countess Willie shot him dead. Chocolate plum musk, red musk, amaretto, candied fruits, and red ginger. It's like the Lawn Gnome and Crypt Queen had a wild, romantic affair, and this is their secret lovechild. It's delicious and sweet, definitely sexy but subdued. I love it and I want to roll around in it.

Thank you for the frimp, Labbies! I giggled when I saw the name. This is SO refreshing after the heatwave my region's been experiencing: a cooling green aloe with mint and a tinge of ozone.

In the bottle, it's...y'know the caramel flavoring syrup for coffee? It's that, the second it hits your cup. Sweet, but not saccharine. It rolls around in the back of my nose and makes me crave a macchiato. No spice, no dry or dusty here, just a sticky coffee I want to slurp. Wet: Right away, it's dry, sweet tobacco leaves & warm spices. There's a hint of something creamy in the background, as though I'm drinking Kahula in the study while appreciating unlit cigars. It's rich and warm and makes me think of sitting on a leather armchair commandingly...seductively. Dry: I licked my arm, it's that sexy. It reminds me so strongly of the sandalwood lotion an old flame used. I've been using a drop at a time, so the throw isn't huge, but this doesn't feel like a scent to be broadcast. It's intimate, for dark deeds in dark corners. You know exactly what you're doing, and you're annoyed by interruptions. ...It's going to be hard to resist wearing this all the time.

In the imp, the scent reminds me of hazelnuts. It's nutty and warm. Upon immediate application, it sweetens a bit -- roasted hazelnuts dusted in powdered sugar! I LOVE this one!

The fingertips themselves are aflame, yet the desiccated skin is not being consumed. Beeswax, dry leather, black pepper, saltpeter, nutmeg, Mysore sandalwood, and oak bark. Bottle: Waxy and sweet, with a tiny bit of nutmeg's comforting spice. Wet: Tons of beeswax, and then soft & supple well-worn leather. After a few minutes, it starts smelling like fetish night at the local goth club: wet leather, skin musk, and just a touch of smoke (presumably the black pepper trying to mimic cloves). I think it'd smell great on a guy. Dry: It's...dry. Dry hot leather, dry tree bark, dry sandalwood, cold melted beeswax pooled into a hard disc. I don't know how best to describe what type of scent I'd categorize this as. It's evocative of its inspiration, and that's a little creepy. I'm not recoiling from the notes themselves, and I love the artwork, but it's not something I will reach for again and again.

This is amazing. I put the tiniest drop on my wrist to test and I cannot stop smelling the gorgeous, intoxicating spiciness. It's true to the flower. No comment on throw, since I put so little on, but it's lasting for at least a hour so far.

Bottle: Pumpkin spice syrup drizzled over an extra-strong latte. I want to lick the bottle. Skin: I want to lick my wrist. This is Spanked Lite. It's sex with a handsome doctoral candidate on an hardwood table, surrounded by old volumes with illegible spines and yellowing pages, until the shocked librarian ventures into the stacks to shush you for making too much noise. You've lost a shoe and half the buttons are missing from his shirt, having rolled into dusty dark corners after you pulled it open rather forcefully in your haste. In sum, on the right guy, this would be absolutely irresistible. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to the college library.

Hey all, just a heads up - I've been super busy with work and will be traveling out of the country for a few days starting tomorrow, but I'll get the spreadsheet updated by the end of next week.

Spreadsheet has been updated to include Red Lace, Bony Moon, and the Lupercalias!

MeiLin's question got me thinking... Do people still want the spreadsheet maintained, or are the majority of you moving to the Stash Manager exclusively?

I suggest installing OpenOffice (http://download.openoffice.org/), a free office productivity suite.

Alrighty - the four Horrid Novel scents, Champagne flight, and WILF have been added!