alterosen

Parlement of Foules is one of my faves, too. It smells like roses & raspberries to me. Katrina von Tassel is very soft, sweet & creamy.

If we stretch your parameters to 19th Century literature, there's a bunch of things in Bewitching Brews: Coleridge - Kubla Khan Dickinson - I Died For Beauty Keats - Ode on Melancholy, La Belle Dame Sans Merci Shelley - Ozymandias Swinburne - Hymn to Proserpine Yeats - Ephemera That's just in one category - I know there's many more I'm feeling too lazy to check dates to see who qualifies as Victorian.

***10/6*** If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? EVIL question! I'd probably choose Dorian for its versatility - I always like it (often wear at bedtime) & it can be worn anywhere without feeling inappropriate, but Mme Moriarty, Clemence, Lady Una & Montresor would be in the running, also. ***10/4*** Who here likes Betty Page? I like her but don't need any likenesses How about original Trek Characters? Spock! If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Sure! I'm not sure if I've ever had it ***10/1*** ***9/25*** Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? I'm quite fond of Sherlock Holmes & the Mary Russell books (I think the author Laurie R King is great) Favorite cartoons or animated films?Loony Tunes, Warner Bros, Nightmare before Christmas (& Tim Burton's Vincent short) & Charlie Brown are all I can think of right now Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'm Canadian, so, no thanks. We have Federal & Provincial elections coming up next month, too, so I have more than enough campaigning to deal with now Villains you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking?I'm also in the Spike camp & think Jason Isaacs is drool-worthy as Lucius Malfoy & the horrible fellow he played in the Patriot (no sympathy, just think he's hot). I like Snape because I adore Alan Rickman. Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? I prefer crunchy & though I try to make healthy choices usually, I hate mixing the natural kind together & always end up throwing it out, so I go with my childhood brand, Kraft. I've never come across maple, but it sounds tasty. I like Nutella, too, but rarely buy it because the kidlet doesn't like it & the DH would probably eat it all with a spoon in one sitting. Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? Sure! Medieval, Regency & Victorian are usually enjoyable ***9/24*** What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? Was this an eyeshadow question? If so, I usually wear peachy, golden shades, but would like to try some blues, greens & purples. MAC virgin? My favorite lipstick brand (I live in Desire & Odyssey) but I've never tried any of the other products for some reason 9/22*** About incense: do you like sticks or loose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn loose incense over a bit of charcoal? Prefer sticks -though I like the idea of loose incense & nuggets of resin, it wouldn't work well in my household right now What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? Of the traditional fairy tales, as a kid I really liked Frau Holle (a variant of Toads & Diamonds), the Snow Queen as well as the Seven Ravens, the one where the girl cuts off her little finger & uses it as a key (yeah, I was a bit morbid). So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? no such thing Who needs a recipe box? Perhaps - but then I'd have to organize & print out my recipes instead of reaching into a drawer of crumpled paper I've been meaning to get a binder & clear sleeves for all my copied recipes ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? oh yes! ***9/19*** How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) good idea! What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? blown glass would be so cool & I have failed to learn to knit at least three times Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? yes, to any tunes! Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? candies or baked goods nom nom ***9/18*** How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? with great difficulty unless I have them shipped directly Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I'm pretty picky & prefer to buy my own What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I like mostly like black teas & herbals (I just happened to update my wishlist this weekend) BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? love to try any of them Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like?sure! not a huge fan of raisins ***9/16*** How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? I just group things together as seems appropriate & send til I'm done If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? it would be fun to receive such things ***9/14*** Update - I liked the last Blood Moon but didn't love it & don't look that good in white so I can safely skip that part. I quite like the Moonbeast shirt but don't need it at the moment. I'm getting decants of the two breakfast scents but couldn't find any offered of the fan pack scent (hint, hint) Perfume: cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, plum, musk, blackberry & tea with hints of rose, patchouli, sandalwood, lemon vanilla, clove & cardamom. In real life, I probably smell like baby spit-up, coffee & cinnamon apple crisp with the faintest hint of cat pee Wizard of Oz - I like the movie but am not that much of a fan Paper coffee cups: on occasion ***9/13*** Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? haven't seen it though it looks entertaining ***9/12*** What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? anything - I'm not very familiar with Singapore's culture or products What is everyone's "luck" item? don't really have anything - I feel "off" if I go out without my jewellery however Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? yes, slight preference to Art Nouveau - I especially like photos of AN architectural details What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? emails, e-cards, mail & packages all thrill me How do you feel about Hello Kitty? 'tis okay in small doses 9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? no thanks - I lie! Sock Dreams has some with a cherry blossom pattern that are beautiful. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? not sure... I identify with most of the folks, maybe I'm a bit more timid than some... how about that I was a punk rocker as a teen but now no one would ever guess If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? not into What is your favorite category of the GC? Ars Amatoris, Bewitching Brews, Wanderlust ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? Like quite a bit but not blind to the flaws Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? It's a tad sweet but tasty nonetheless What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? CB:IHP, Arcana, Mythos Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? never have Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? Yes! What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? don't have either ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? no What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Like it but am ok with just one bottle How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? quite fond of them - remember I described my decor as cluttered in the questionnaire Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? should be okay Who likes pirates? Yes - Arrgh! What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? don't celebrate it but love the idea & think the figurines are charming What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? very fond of it If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? happy with either Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? can stand a bit more floral in soap form - don't mind lavender & lily of the valley/muguet in soap but not as perfume, also quite like using chocolate and coffee products but not wearing them Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? like roses & violet the most, not crazy about gardenia & other white florals but jasmine is ok ***9/8*** How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? nom nom, especially love to try unusual honey What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? walk in the crunchy leaves, collect some chestnuts for the cat who loves to play with them, do some baking, plant bulbs & muck about in the garden

***9/7*** Favorite animals - domestic cats, Tigers, otters, crows, ravens Caramels or unusual chocolate - yes please!! delicate_fangs sent me some Fleur de Sel caramels in the Winter Round & they were divine I also took part in the chocolate swap & discovered that not only do I like chili & chocolate, especially if there's other spices like cinnamon involved but that I just really like chocolate of all kinds A lot. Munsters vs Addams family Both! I watched the Munsters religiously as a child but also really enjoy the Addams family cartoons Tea stuff I love it but don't necessarily need any more Pet treats & toys The kitties are crazy about catnip anything & would probably have fun with those feather on a bendy stick things Birthdays I like to keep things mellow & usually request my Mum to take me out for lunch & my DH to take me out for dinner (so basically, I have a plan to eat all day long) Tarts? I don't have a burner so I haven't tried any but I'd be game Burned CD's/DVDs? Sure! ***9/6*** What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? I'd love to find a bottle of Autumn (Salon), Devil's Night If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Jane Yolen, Neil Gaiman & Charles deLint ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Angel, Dresden Files I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I'm all set for blankies, thanks What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? potato chips, chocolate, cinnamon buns/croissants & I'm always game for pizza Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I may buy Lunacies or specials if they appeal but will always let Witchy know (I've ordered Lilith Victoria & Lady Lilith) Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I need a new watch, actually - I usually go for a silver face & black strap but would love to find something black & purple or with a picture on the dial or something kind of gothy for a change. Perhaps my witch could point me toward a retailer? How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? Grand idea! So many good causes - I'd let my Witchy choose. ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I'm very fond of art nouveau & the Pre-Raphaelites Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I'm already covered For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose bag usually but I have strainers if need be Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Absolutely! Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? I think my previous Switch Witches (JennyGardener & delicate_fangs) would be good for advice since they sent excellent prezzies in earlier rounds. IRL, I've had coffee a few times with Ishtar ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? I'd like almost anything Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? no If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? cone-shaped filter What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I'd love to find the one for Grossepoint Blank How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I like to use complimentary soaps & lotions & often put BPAL in unscented lotion Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above?Candles & occasionally incense BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I love velvet & chenille scarves/garments, the feel & smell of fresh washed bedding & have mostly fragrant plants in my garden ***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Yes, to all of the above What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Our two black cats, Pamplemousse & Maximillian, have names chosen just because we liked the sound (my husband named the grapefruit & she's regal looking but quite goofy so it fits). The grey & white cat, Grendel, is a fighter & bully so naming him after Beowulf's monster was appropriate. ***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm quite fond of the book & illustrations (but not the Tea Party scents, unfortunately). That tea set someone linked to was great! Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Somewhat, my favorite series were DS9 & Voyager but favorite characters are Spock & Picard (with a girl crush on Sevenofnine) Do you have phobias? heights, flying, driving, crossing big bridges, maggots How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Either Would you rather get food or jewellery? Both are very desirable Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc? I have a great fondness for wind-up toys (tin or otherwise) English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? violet or blackcurrant flavoured candy Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Sure! I'd prefer it to be somewhat humorous, though. Harry Potter, Buffy, Star Trek, LOTR, Lovecraft Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? small children = not currently beading Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? sometimes themed, more often a mix Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Very much! What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? an inexperienced doctor led me to believe I might have cervical cancer (fortunately it was nothing) ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! I loved the Monster Mash as a kid, also This is Halloween from Nightmare Before Christmas How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? 60's rock, world music, grunge Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? I've received several nice books but haven't bought more copies, yet What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? sparkly/opalescent mineral - searching for a great mauve/lilac/purple, also like copper, teal & smokey blue (I have blue-grey eyes) Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? tinted in plum or anything really (not huge fan of peppermint flavored) What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Jill Thompson's Scary Godmother t-shirt or magnets ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? - nope Who here has an etsy shop? not me What are your two favorite etsy shops? Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. - I only use Live Journal for the decant circles. ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? it won't be too bad but hire someone to complete some of those household projects you've been asking DH to do & save yourself a lot of aggravation If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? I would probably turn bright red & mutter something incoherent Robots versus zombies: who wins? Mr Roboto What would zombie say? Brains! Where are a few of your favorite places? rocky beaches by the ocean, woods with lots of evergreens, Rome, San Francisco Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? N/A What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? can't think of anything Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? - Addict? Oh Yes -see SW Help wishlist Do you like kilts and would you wear one? - like but wouldn't wear BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? What's your favorite book? can't have just one! What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? I have large feet (10) & a big head (22 in) Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Sandman, Books of Magic, Castle Waiting, Courtney Crumrin, Scary Godmother - don't care for Manga Symbols that are meaningful to me? crescent moon, ourobouros, world tree, leaves By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? more a middle of the day person What's your favorite type of music to hear live Celtic Favorite Seasonal Drinks- cider & pumpkin lattes, I also crave spicier tea than usual ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? I like doing crosswords occasionally Favorite artist? modern: Ursula Vernon (Beelzebear,Elder Clean, Wolf & Fireflies) James Christensen Favorite poet? Mary Oliver Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? - Both Reserved or Raunchy? - Both, it depends on the company Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? - Earth Tea or Coffee in the morning? - It used to be tea but after having kids it's strong coffee Fruity snacks or chocolate? - Both & together Would you accept art? -Yes! Antiques or Brand New? - Both with slight preference for antique What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I usually just browse the newly added section Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? - Angora/mohair gets in my eyes What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? the Hitchhiker one Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I do, except maggots squick me out i haz no imp storage. do you? Kinda but it's nothing fancy ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? lots of herbs, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, roses, dahlias, poppies & many nice smelling perennials What incense scents do you prefer? Shoyeido for the win! cinnamony sandalwood & patchouli Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? decorate with pumpkins & lights mostly, some years I dress up & others I don't Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? black cats, witches & skeletal trees are my favorites & I have a soft spot for Cthulhu Do you like horror flicks? I love Vincent Price but not modern horror Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? no What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I like pretty patterned paper ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)?Hmm...there's a few things listed on my sw help list What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? - The Pumpkins & Fearful Pleasure (I have decants of the Pumpkins & bottles of Samhain & Fearful Pleasure on the way) Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? - I've been contemplating getting one for 20 years but can't commit to a design Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? - Yes What is your favorite crafting supply? I like making cards so blank cards/envelopes in different colours & hole punches in fun shapes Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? - Lefty Any period of time that you love? ancient Greece, ancient China, Middle Ages, Regency & Fin de Siecle ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? - the smell, crunchy leaves, heirloom apple varieties Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites?- fun pens, notepads, sticky notes What's your favorite Halloween candy? - little chocolate bars. I hate candy corn & molasses taffy, but am curious about the seasonal Hershey kisses. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? - nope, not taking part ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? Etsy, local shops What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? - Soup, roasted seeds, bread & pie as well as BPAL's Pumpkin Patch #1 & #4 (2005/06) & Pumpkin Queen.

Pirate Moon! Crowley- infernal musk smells pretty red to me The Grindhouse is indeed yummy. Also joining in on all the Mme Moriarty love - for sexiness, I would choose this one over Snake Oil anyday (my DH would probably protest since he likes SO more than MM, but vanilla & I have a troublesome relationship)

My favorite apple by far is Pumpkin Patch #1 (the '05 & '06 version). Pumpkin w. apple cider & mulling spice - basically spicy baked apples. One of my first BPAL loves. I can't wait to try Fearful Pleasure & see how it compares!

Scrumptious! On me, this is a peppery citrus/fruity floral with a background of non-powdery amber. Not too sweet, not too peppery, not too in-your-face floral - another perfect summery fragrance.

I can't get enough of Dorian right now, with Lady Una a close second. So, I guess I'm with the other people who've been recommending the tea scents (though sadly, Severin is pure bug spray on me) Last summer, I was wearing Titania & Mum Moon a lot for that sweet fruity floral kick. It's only moderately humid here, though, those two might be too strong if it's sweltering.

I love using slices of the BPTP soaps as sachets in my clothes drawers & in the totes I store my linens. Even a small slice really infuses things nicely & you don't have to worry about oil stains. My favorites are Shub-Niggurath, Dorian & Snake Oil. Perhaps Miskatonic University would fit the bookish vibe you're after?

I really like Phantasm (green tea, lemon verbena, jasmine & neroli). The tartness of the tea, citrus & verbena keep the jasmine from overpowering everything in sight. It's a great summer evening fragrance (provided you can wear lemony scents without having them turn into cleaning products). There are similarities to Embalming Fluid & Shanghai but I feel it's a bit more girly/feminine because of the jasmine.

I cherish my imp of Parlement of Foules so I was very happy it was re-released this Lupercalia & I could order a bottle. When I first tried it, I was expecting it to be very close to Rose Cross since they both have similar notes (white rose & resins/rose & frankincense) but they're really quite different. I must be the only person who's getting the smell of berries from the resins in this It's more pronounced in the 2006 version than the 2008, so it might be partly an aging thing but is most likely my odd nose At least there's no sign of molasses. For me, this is a lovely light sweet rose with a few raspberries on the side - yum! Very much a warm weather scent, while Rose Cross is more resiny & cozy so I prefer it in winter. They both remind me of the scent of old roses rather than that of modern varieties.

I adore this scent! When it came out, I thought the notes all sounded nice but knew I would have to try it before I could justify a bottle purchase. I finally found some in a swap & moments after I tried it on I was trawling the sales pages for a big bottle I was a bit afraid after reading the reviews that the blackberry would go bad, but thankfully, no cat pee, just tart berry goodness with a honey background. I often amp vanilla & find it cloying but this combines nicely with the green tea in a similar fashion to Dorian though there's no citrus listed in the notes. Honey & blackberry are generally scents I don't really get that excited about but this combination with the Dorianesque vanilla tea & musk with hint of spice is incredible. My only quibble is that it's quite light & requires slathering & reapplication throughout the day if, like me, you want to be surrounded by a Lady Una cloud. Fortunately, I now have a bottle on the way & can try doing some layering with lotion & major slathering. I imagine this will be one of my warm weather staples.

Gorgeous in the vial; nasty strong baby powder on my wrist. Sometimes cinnamon behaves this way & ruins a blend for me by turning super sweet & amping like crazy. If only it would stay smelling like cinnamon - I'll take redhots any day over this stupid powder! Sigh. Hours later there's a hint of musk & rum.

For some reason, Imp smells like peaches & black tea to me. The notes don't suggest tea (peach, amber, patchouli, musk) but that's how my nose reads it. You may find it a bit sweet, though. I think it's really yummy. Your best bet for finding those discontinued scents is the swap & sales threads or to post an ISO. I've found people to be very helpful & generous (all you fabulous evil enablers out there, stand up & take a bow!) Good luck!

I was surprised by the green aquatic-ness of this wet. I was expecting something along the lines of Fae because of the notes but they're really not similar at all. I'm not sure if it's my cup of tea but my 4 year old son wanted to wear it, so there's some support for this one in the household I'll have to revisit it later.

Great review before this one! I'm on the fence about this blend. I love the smell of it wet (I spilled some on my table & it smells grand) but on me after drydown it's teetering on the edge of becoming baby powder. I suspect the amber is the culprit. The creaminess is really lovely but I haven't decided if it's too cloying or not with that hint of powder. I'll have to try it a few more times because I want to like it I agree with whoever mentioned the similarity to the Body Shop's Woody Sandalwood (& that I wore for years)

I William Blake & I was really looking forward to this one because it has so many notes that I adore. Unfortunately, I got the super cedar effect with sour wood/pencil shavings overpowering everything else. I never sensed any rose or sandalwood & the spices only came out faintly after hours of wear. Someone else mentioned Pulcinella & Teresina & the cedar in it behaved the same way on my skin, amping like crazy. No fair! I love the smell of cedar - why doesn't like me? Perhaps it will be better on the husband.

Pumpkin Patch #4 from 2005 & 2006 (pumpkin, sandalwood & orris) is a nice slightly spicy scent that has a bit of a yeasty component to it according to my nose. I find it very comforting & it definitely fits into the baked goods category without being sickly sweet (unless you slather) It's not that rare, so you should be able to find some on the swaps page.

Versailles is rather nice. It has a very sophisticated feel with the combination of citrus, rose, amber & jasmine. After testing it, I immediately thought my mother might like it, which is a first (she likes Lancome's Magie Noir & not much else).

I'm a big rose fan & am still searching for the ultimate scent in that category. I have over 40 very fragrant varieties growing in the garden (mostly old roses & David Austins) & find perfume hard to measure up to the real thing. Having said that, Beth has a huge number of rose blends and anyone (except the absolute rose-haters) is sure to find several to their liking. Some of my notes on the rose scents I've tried: GC London - pretty tea rose, a classic (my imp is different than the aged bottle I acquired which has an acrid background or bitterness to it - rather disappointing) Two,Five & Seven - rather sharp & overwhelming Marie - lovely rose & violet Harlot - sweet, faint & powdery, couldn't sense the cinnamon Rose Cross - love the rose & resin combo, like an old moss rose Persephone - juicy rose with a berry finish Zombi - couldn't sense the rose in this, only the dirt which turns spicy & ginseng-like: neat! Moon Rose - aquatic, green-tinged rose, not my thing Black Rose - too heavy for me Blood Rose - nicely sultry & fruity, then gets sharp & the rose disappears under the dragon's blood Whip - sharp rose & the leather note turns my stomach Seraglio - rose, almond & orange work together wonderfully on me Rakshasa - rose, patchouli & sandalwood: a really nice blend if you like strong woody notes Eve - perfumy, honey & sharp rose: changes to honey & apple blossom, a bit musty Knave of Hearts - caramel with hint of black currant & fleeting rose Maiden - nice & spicy but the carnation gave me a headache Viola - sweet & pretty: seems kind of innocent & young, girly? The Rose - similar rose as Rose Red but not as strong or long-lasting, nice for when RR seems like too much Snooty Rose - I would have guessed there's cedar in this - the sandalwood is not behaving, perhaps aging will help Miller's Daughter LE/Unimpables Rose Moon - bright tea rose, hint of other florals, bit too fresh Pulcinella & Teresina - too much resin for me, I smelled like pine sap Victoria - sweet tea rose, hint of lily & musk, a bit soapy Rose Red '07 - bright juicy rose with a hint of earthy honey ('05 is a bit earthier, both are fabulous ) Libra '07 - lovely fruity(cherry) rose, not as tart as Persephone Parlement of Foules - nice: sweet rose with raspberries. This is my #1 - the rose blend I wear the most Peacock Queen '07 - tea rose, a bit sharper than London Silentium Amoris (DC) - rose & ylang ylang, I had high hopes but the rose is too sharp for my tastes Hope - sweet (duh, sugared rose) like the rose in Harlot/Lucy's Kiss but much stronger, little bit powdery Queen of Clubs - strong dirt note fades to nice berries, roses far in the background Tabula Smagdarina - like P of Foules with slightly sour wood note Lady Luck Blues - honeyed floral with spiced rose, lovely skin musk finish April Fool - citrusy rose with touch of green, rosy berry finish Katrina von Tassel - sweet Hope-like roses with cream, honey not very noticeable; this one can feel a bit thick & cloying sometimes Autumn (Salon) - rosy, then autumnal smoky leaves, hint of apple (this one is so very me - must track down a bottle) Blasphemare Reliquary - bubblegum, powdery rose with a sharp edge RETEST Eustephanos - very sweet, thought there was honey & peach in it (actually pomegranate), rose in background contributing to general sweetness RETEST Pothon Meter - interestingly spicy, pepper combining with something to become almost gingery, not very sweet or rosy but very enjoyable Unity Set 1) Red Rose - not very rosy on me, strong tobacco/fir combo with the Indian musk is a bit harsh 2) White Rose - fruity & creamy (hint of coconut?), not super rosy either but very nice 3) Combined - very nice, complex Gwyneth - sweet coconut & sage, bit of a sharp floral/rose note, goes to harsh cleaning product (orchid & lily= nasty on me) Chaos Theory IV CMXVII - soft roses & lilies, spicy floral, bit too powdery Last Rose of Summer - a woody rose that works on me! Madeline Maud Ruthyn The Masque

Miskatonic University - I don't get any coffee, wood or whiskey just buttery caramel.

I found Calliope to be very peppery, though I think it's actually thyme. This is one of the soon to be discontinued GC's.

I wish I could help. I work in a library, too, but we're not supposed to wear scent to spare those of our co-workers with chemical sensitivities & allergies so I haven't had a chance to notice if things work or change. I keep imps in my bag in my desk to sniff during the day if necessary to keep myself happy. It's a large open building, anyway, so it's probably not the same kind of stuffy atmosphere (though the Special Collections division is a different kind of beast). Good luck!

I'm also a big fan of Samhain. It's not as sweet or buttery as Jack but is a bit similar with the apple & spice with an addition of smokiness. You might want to keep an eye out for some of the old Pumpkin Patch blends (2005 & 2006). Pumpkin Patch #1 is full of spicy apple goodness & Pumpkin Patch #4 smells like buttery baked goods to me though it's pumpkin with sandalwood & orris. I haven't tried any of the new Pumpkins yet so I'm not sure how they compare. Another good autumnal scent is Harvest Moon. Though it has a floral aspect, to me the fruit & leaves are what really comes out. I also really like Sugar Skull. It's a hard one to describe. The sugar note isn't caramel but rather like sugar melting (if you've ever made candy or caramel yourself, you'd recognize it) with light fruit (I get pear) & a bit of spice & smoke as it dries. If you get some Shub-Niggurath, make sure to try it layered with Miskatonic University. On its own, MU is pretty caramelly but added to Shub somehow brings out this fabulous smoky note in addition to the general yummy gingeriness.

There's always Black Cat, and Velvet has a nice soft fuzziness about it while still being sexy I wouldn't say my cats have that kind of scent but it evokes the feeling of fur, if that makes sense. Bastet would also be a good choice. It never hurts to smell like a goddess when attending a party!