ralenth

Imp: Gentle, sweet floral with an aquatic tinge. Wet: Sweetly fruity, oddly reminiscent of Juicy Fruit gum, even though it's not quite that scent. Drydown: Slightly green** floral begins to take over. I don't tend to play nice with lilies, but this is quite pleasant. The initial fruitiness recedes, leaving traces of sweetness laced over the floral scent. Dry: Once it's dry, Prague tends to be a little baby powderish on my skin. It's still lovely, but that baby powder skirting across the top is something I would prefer to avoid. Overall:Prague seems like the less aquatic sister of Danube. Personally, I prefer Danube for skin chemistry reasons, but Prague is quite nice too. ** Think new green not grassy green.

Dry, powdered sugar and gingerbread. Much more subdued than Gingerbread Poppet, but still too sweet for my tastes.

Imp: Honey grahams. Actually not quite that foody, but a sweet, crumbly honey scent. Wet: Sweet honey, but a bit dirty. Naughty naughty. Drydown: Warm and slitheringly sensual. Honey still seems to predominate for me, but something beckons underneath. Honey doesn't play nice with me often, so I am definitely intrigued by that lurker on our playdate. Dry: Myrrh! Oh, and some honey too. Suddenly, it's a warm, honey drenched, sexy floral. Oh my. Overall: This is pretty fantastic. Not sure if it's office wear, but definitely good after hours.

Imp: Minty with a bite. Hmm. Wet: Satan's scope - I kid you not. Minty and evil. Yum. Drydown: Still sharp, but oddly metallic echoes frosted with mint. Dry: Metallic and minty. It vacillates between the two, but Pain is cold, sharp and impersonal. Overall: I adore lavender, but I didn't get any here. That aside, I really like this. Definitely a keeper.

Source: Lab Imp: Fruity rum with tinges of spice. Wet: Slighty powdery floral, very close to the skin. Drydown: Baby powder gone to the tropics. Strange and intriguing, but not really what I had in mind. Dry: Love's Baby Soft went on a tropical cruise. A bit fruity, but no tobacco or rum in sight. Overall: To the swaps.

Source: Lab Imp: Spicy floral with sandalwood undertones. Very lovely. Wet: Sharp, bitter - rats, there is rose in this. Drydown: Sickly sweet baby powder, which granted is better than the thorny mess I get from roses, but not really my thing. Dry: Baby powder all the way. Overall: Good in theory, not in practice.

******9/18***** If Beth made a perfume called "switch witch" what notes would be in it? What is your favorite cookie type? Alcohol? Yes, please. My SO doesn't drink, so we don't often have much in the way of alcohol in the house. I'm a big fan of red wines, port and dark ales. I'm coming around on lighter ones too now. DC/non-DC? I don't need a DC. I already know you're thinking of me. <3 Anyone ready for the new carnaval update? Noooo. I am in denial. I still haven't even tried acts four and five yet. Too many updates. What is one thing you constantly keep with you that you constantly lose? Lip balm. I swear, it just loves to play hide and seek. I think it's the kitties, to be honest. ******9/17***** Are you into 80s movies (like i am ) if so, which are your favorites and who are your favorite characters? Yes! I grew up watching them. The campier, the better! I almost named our kitten Mogwai. Do you like Villainess soaps? What are your favorite scents? I like their smooches and whippeds, but not the soaps. My favorite scents are Quick or Dead and Paradise Misplaced. Do you mind artificial colors in your food? I prefer to avoid them. Who wants hair pretties?(headbands, barrettes, pony-o's, scrunchies, bobby pins, hair clips, etc) I have short, fine hair. I like barrettes and thin headbands (no teeth please). I can always use more, as long as they're not too heavy. Big Dipper Wax Works: If you were my witchee, would you like any of the scents/sizes that are available on clearance? No thanks. I am on an origami crane kick recently, so I wonder if anyone will be interested in origami crane earrings, origami crane in a glass vial (~1.2cm wide) phone charm/pendant or just a container filled with cranes of different sizes. How do you feel about clothing/accessories made from animals? Anti-fur, leather, shells, etc.? Does even faux wig you out? How do you deal with stress? What's your favorite way to unwind? You're given the opportunity to apprentice at any trade (or craft) of your choosing for the period of one year. Your mentor may be any currently living person. Which field of study would you choose, and who would be your mentor? What are your favorite fruits? Pomegranates ******9/16***** Who is musically inclined? What instruments (voice counts) do you play? Would you enjoy sheet music? Me! I play several low brass instruments and the Bb clarinet as well. No sheet music, though, please. Favorite musicals? Which of the seven deadly sins is most likely to be your undoing? Anyone want a nickname and embroidered headband from PandaBite? Not really? I do love headbands, but I don't want a name on one. I have seen a lot of yankee candles haters..... personally i like yankee candle (some of them, anyway). do you or don't you, and if not, what candles do you like? this assumes you like candles. otherwise, what specific home fragrance do you use? No, thank you. I don't do much for home fragrance other than occasional BPTP spray. The kitties make faces. I swear, they do! Would a "gift" donation to one of the organizations/causes you support be a great gift, or a lame gift? ******9/15***** Does anyone have any symbols they consider to be personally significant or talismanic? The phoenix, the raven. Are there any Gods, Goddess, or other mythological figures of whom you're particularly fond? I used to teach a comparative myth class. I'm not particularly drawn to any god/goddess, but I do love trickster tales. Is it any wonder that American Gods is my favorite recent novel? Super villain or vigilante? Which would you like to be? Which would you like to receive? I can have a super villain of my very own? Please send me John Simm. What mythical or fantastic race of creatures (dragons, unicorns, griffins, elves, dwarves, faeries, etc.) do you most identify with, and why? How do you feel about Dia de los Muertos? Are you interested in sugar skulls? Catrina (or other) skeleton figurines? DDLM is my favorite holiday all year. I am a wee bit obsessed. Do you have a favorite poem or poet? ******9/14***** For the crafty people out there: would you prefer something crafted or crafting supplies? Can you use pill boxes, a hard ID case, coin purse, etc? Any songs you are desperately into at the moment? What's autumn like in your neck of the woods? What do you love and/or hate about it? What's your favorite product(s) at Trader Joe's? If you're caught in front of the tv, what are you watching? Any Amy Brown art fans? How do you feel about Halloween music? (mix CDs, what have you) Who else is reeeeeally looking forward to Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland? Is there a store that you love which does not have a location near you (but that has a physical presence somewhere, not just online? Why do you love it so much? Lolcats....yeah or nay? What is your favorite creepy folk story or legend? If your witch were to either write something for you or put together a collection of ghost stories, would you rather have it in writing, recorded as an oral telling, or both? If you had the funds to comission an original painting for yourself, what would it be of? What would it be like- colors, size, style? ******9/12-13***** What's something you're really looking forward to in the semi-near future? What fictional character do you most identify with and why? Could you use a 'travel' imp case? How many should it hold? As a witchee, would you prefer to have many little packages sent to you throughout the round with a not-so-big final package or fewer things throughout the round with one huge final package to seal the sweetness? What is your idea of the perfect evening at home? Are you on any social networks (MySpace, Twitter, LJ, Facebook, Bebo, etc)? If so, make with the links! Are you open to new friends? What kind of socks? How often do you update your wishlist? May I help you fill out your costuming wardrobe (assuming you costume)? Are there articles you are seeking to enhance your a) Halloween costume, Renfest attire, c) Cosplay, d) Steampunk accouterment? So, who has a store or ETSY shop or knows of a shop of a fellow BPALer that everybody needs to check out? Not me. Who are your favorite artists/illustrators/art periods? What's your stance on cranberries? Do you mind receiving used (in good condition, of course) CDs or DVDs? Do you have a crush on anyone famous? Do you have a crush on any literary characters? Would you like fanfiction or fan art based on this/these people? You're at home, or out, and you want a snack. Something that will get you through to the next meal, or through to the end of school or what ever. What do you grab? Do you have a favorite bpal bottle art? Are there any decants from the Halloweenies, Literary Vampires, Gris Grimly, or Hellboy that you would be interested in receiving? Please, no. The horde of bottles in my dining room attest to the fact that I do not need decants. Ever. I do, however, need a team of flying monkeys to get them out the door. ******9/11***** There has been a lot of talk about chocolate, but none about Candy! What is your favorite Candy? What candy do you hate? I don't eat a lot of candy, but I have been crazing Twizzlers. Someone sent some minis to me recently and sparked a craving. I do not like peanut butter flavored or filled candy. Oh, and beet candy if it exists. Please don't be sending that. Do you have a Blu-Ray player? We will soon! Do you have any objections to receiving downloads? Is your internet connection fast enough for you to download large files like music easily? Are there any songs, albums, movies, or TV shows that you can't find/haven't been released that you want? In short, Arr! ******9/10***** Are you interested in things like home remedies for ailments, cleaning solutions, etc.? Yes! I am very chemically sensitive, so these natural goodies please me greatly. If you do any kind of craft, could you use supplies? What kind? knitting needles, yarn, amazing fabric, pinking shears, cool thimbles or pincushins, jewelery making supplies, beads, etc.? What's your favorite pain-relief remedy or ritual? Do sounds make you happy? What ambient noises make you smile? When you receive your SW packages...do you like receiving things that are individually wrapped inside? or unwrapped? or both? Of course, we're all going to be grateful no matter what our witches give us, but for the record, what is your anti-present? Tell us something that you think your future witch might give you that you absolutely, unequivocally DO. NOT. WANT. What BPAL scent have you never tried but always wanted to? What scent have you tried and LOVED, and haven't been able to get more of and why? I know we're all scent sensitive here. What are your favorite non-perfume smells? Day in the life stuff? Coffee drinkers, what types of beans to you like? Kona, Sumatra, Kenya..etc. How do you like them roasted? Do you like flavors, such as hazelnut, vanilla, etc. in your coffee? Who has a birthday falling in this round? For those of us who like chocolate, do you like anything /in/ your chocolate, like fruit, nuts, or for the more daring among us, chilies? Are there any childhood shows/movies/games/books/etc. that still hold a really special place in your heart? ******9/9***** Super power? If I send you whole spices or coffee beans, would you be able to grind them or would you prefer them preground for your convenience? For the tea and coffee drinkers: Opinion on tea- and/or coffee-related accessories/etc? (Teaware, sugar crystals, infusers, tea chests, etc)How do you take your coffee (or tea)? Black or with cream and/or sugar? Restaurants you'd like a gift certificate to on Restaurant.com? In your perfect world it is chocolate and...? How do you scent your home: tarts, reed diffusers, BPAL, candles? What's your favorite dessert treat? Ice cream? Cake? Pie? Fudge brownie cake with pie flavored ice cream on top? Mochi. Mmm. Oh, and rice candy Do you believe we control our destiny, or does our destiny control us? What one thing that is missing from your life would you like to have above all else? ******9/8***** What was your favouritest job ever, and why? Baking cakes for friends' weddings. I think the why is obvious. Which three albums would you take to your apocalypse bolt hole and how would you power the generator? What GC scent have you been putting off getting since it'll "always be there"? ******9/7***** Any cooks? Could you use anything cooking related? Aprons? Cookbooks? Measuring Cups? Recipes? Herb/Spice containers? Fancy Spices? Dish Towels? Cocktail napkins? Amazing Beaded Pot Holders? (like from our very own Pottersville! ) Something else? Are you an avid reader? What's your favorite book/series? What's your favorite candy to stock up on at Halloween? What are your phobias? What is your favourite flower (or plant)? Duct tape purses and wallets and things are pretty darned cool. Who else thinks so? An anonymous benefactor gives you $500 (or an equivalent amount of money in your currency of choice) with the following stipulations. You must spend all of it within a week: any money left unspent must be returned. You must spend at least half of the money on yourself. You may not use it to pay off debts or bills of any kind. What do you do with the money? ******9/6***** You're in the kitchen at the end of a pay period and groceries are pretty scarce. Do you take the five ingredients you find first and make something fabulous, or do you order take out? I get inventive! I don't stock a deep pantry as I try to avoid preservatives, but I can always manage to generate a few meals out of it, even when it looks bleak. If you could decorate/redecorate any 1 room in your home, what would it be and how would you decorate it? I just got the go ahead to decorate our living room with a skeleton theme. Thanks, BPTP, for giving me the excuse I needed to make my case! Any rabid sports fans out there? What teams do you root for? What's your favorite animal? (You can have more than one.) This is how the world ends... zombie apocalypse, robot uprising, alien invasion, return of the elder gods... which doomsday scenario do you prefer (or make your own!)? In the year 2525... if man is still alive... what sort of future do you imagine? (apologies to anyone who gets that song stuck in their head!) Do you believe in magic (or magick, if you prefer)? What does it mean to you? If you found the puzzle box from Hellraiser, what would you do with it? ( and would you be able to resist playing with it? ) ******9/5***** Do you like pinup art/images? What are your plans for Halloween? Have you made any yet? Do you have any traditions? Who are your BPAL forum buddies? You know, people I could conspire with to Witch you! What is your favorite color? Any other steampunk fans/lovers? Describe your ideal picnic lunch. Where would you go? Who (if anyone, and yes there can be multiple people) would accompany you? What sort of food would you take? And, of course, if a picnic lunch sounds like a horrible idea, feel free to say so! ******9/4***** Any Gamers here? What kind? Board games? RPG? Miniature? MMORPG? Yes. I like card games, board games, and MMORPGs. I used to like to paint miniatures, but I never really got into playing with them. Is anyone playing this round of SW into ABJ? (asian ball jointed dolls) Not me! They look neat, but I would fail at sewing. What is your favorite Halloween icon? It's a tossup between owls and bats. Imagine that you're given a shoebox-sized time capsule, and you are asked to put any number of items in the box that symbolize who you are. The items can be may be anything you can imagine, and money is no object, but they must fit within the box. Which items do you choose? My tattered childhood Greek myths book, my favorite black kitty ears headband, a sonic screwdriver replica and my library card. Are you involved in any long-term, ambitious project? something like decorating your house or saving for a trip to the other end of the world, for example. I just got the go-ahead to decorate the living room in a skeleton theme! Woo! Favorite kind or take out kinda burger? Whats your burger preference? Veggie,meat or ???? Patty melt from this local place called Hungry Hound. Delicious, heart attack. Mmm... Whats your favorite childhood toy? I used to have a stuffed baby orange tiger named Pumpkin that I dragged everywhere. If you have a pet, what kind of gifts would be good for them? Two lovely kitties, Lina and Rumbles. They are love waffleweave paper, pipe cleaners, packing peanuts and many other things that were never intended to be toys. Any treats or playthings sent to them will be greatly appreciated. They always investigate the boxes first anyway. Do you Tweet? What is your Twitter name? Yep. I'm ralenth there as well. Are you on Ravelry? What is your Ravelry name? Nope. Couldn't knit to save my life. ******9/3***** What are everyone's favorite Halloween-y/Autumn-y/spooky movies? Are there any you don't own but would like to? My copy of Nightmare Before Christmas (which is one of my favorite movies ever) has been missing ever since we moved from Phoenix. I keep forgetting to replace it. Are roasted pumpkin seeds and home made chex mix the best fall snack foods, or what? I adore roasted pumpkin seeds. I have never had chex mix, however. Whats your favorite pie, my dear SW's? Pecan. Mmm... What kinda socks are you wearing tonight? None at the moment. I think my kitty has been hiding my socks again. He has a thing for toes and I swear he is plotting against me. Do you like socks? Blankets? Wrist warmers? Arm warmers? Headband? Shawl? Or what kind of knitted thing would you love the most? I adore socks when my kitty isn't stealing them. I also like scarves and am curious about shawls. As for headbands, I like them, but my hair is short, so only the traditional ones for me. How do you feel about ghost stories? Do you like to tell the old tales around a campfire? Read true accounts on the web way past your bedtime? Do you like to pick up a good anthology of Poe stories on a blustery day? Or is all that too scary for you? I am not big on gore, but I do love spooky or creepy stories. Poe FTW. Who here is LOVING Warehouse 13? I don't have a tv, but I think I would watch it. Another question! Coffee or Tea? Why limit yourself? Both, please! Interested in locally produced products? Food, skincare or both?Olive oil? Lavender oils or soaps? Definitely! Does anyone in here wear a lot of dangly earrings or collect pendants of all kinds?? How about hair clips or pony tail band things? I really don't have any jewelry except for my scent lockets. I do find dangly earrings very appealing, though. What is your favourite historical period? Late-Republican/Early Imperial Rome. What other hot beverages everyone likes for fall? Mulled cider. Did you order anything from the most recent update? I'm running a Lab update decant circle over on el-jay, so I have that covered. I haven't made a Post order yet, but I am trying to be good. Vampires or Werewolves? Or some other monster? I'm equal opportunity for monsters. What sort of odd or regional foods do you crave? Collard greens and fried okra lately. Californians think I am crazy, obviously, as there are none to be found around here. I am also cuckoo for anything prickly pear (like the desert baby that I am) and cactus taffy. Oh, Cerreta, how I miss you.

In theory, the Dodo sounds pretty tasty (except maybe for the evil lemon peel of doom). Unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Upon skin testing, I was quoted as saying: "No wonder the dodo is extinct! It smells just wrong!" The red musk gets all twisted up in the fruits on my skin and warps into an unsettling, uncoordinated bag of crazy. A very persistent crazy.

Source: Lab Bottle: Crisp, fizzy juniper. Dry, cool and sophisticated. Wet: Effervescent, clean boozy with juniper notes. Drydown: It goes a bit Christmas-y on my skin, which saddens me. The bubbliness fades really quickly and the booziness begins to increase. Dry: Gin and Seventh Generation Emerald Cypress & Fir toilet cleaner. The longer it stays on my skin, the further down the scary path it goes. Woe! Overall: Beautiful in the bottle, but sadly my skin didn't play nicely.

Source: Tested surlygurl's aged bottle at the MNS. I remember sniffing a much younger bottle of this at one point, and not being too excited. Surlygurl said that back when it was new, it reminded her of walking past an Indian restaurant (which is sort of what I remember). A few years later, Sol Invictus is delightful. It's all golden light and swirls of frankincense. It melds so beautifully on my skin and I can't pick out the notes. It's golden and smokey and fantastic. I'll either need to track down an older bottle or hide the '09 version until it reaches this point. Yum.

Source: Puddin's eBay enabling Wet: Sharp, bitter floral. Drydown: The same edgy floral note I can't quite pin down and soft musk radiating outward. I also detect a bit of a powder note as lilies and I don't play too nicely. Dry: Bitter, cool, and unsettling. Overall: Unnervingly reminds me of Psychological Horror. I don't know what the association is, but something in this makes me incredibly uncomfortable. This is going off to the swaps.

I rarely buy bottles unsniffed, but I was pretty sure this sleek devil would sweep me off my feet. Bottle: Sweet, dark and deliciously masculine. Wet: Darkly sweet amber, wrapped in oiled leather. Drydown: As TBR dries, his smokiness comes forth (kind of like the way it did with Liz, but with amber instead of vanilla). He's got a very rugged muskiness about him. Dry: I can see the comparison to Brom Bones, but The Black Rider is far more sophisticated. Dry, the leather is a little more understated, but still present under the broody ambery musk. Overall: Fantastic addition to my leather collection.

Bottle: Biting green swirled over honey. Wet: Tart absinthe with a tinge of sugar. Drydown: As it dries, LFV reminds me of smoky green tendrils, curling around the creamy sweetness of an exposed throat. Beguiling, green, and sexy, LFV tantalizes with the the promise of delicious abandon. Dry: After thirty minutes, I get a bit of a morph into bright green and jasmine, but it quickly slips back into the musky verdant teasing scent of the drydown phase. Overall: I'm certainly not going to let this go one go anywhere. Definite keeper.

If you're concerned, you can always e-mail the Lab with your order and reference said e-mail in your paypal payment (example: See e-mail titled "ralenth's Monstrous Yule order part Q"). BPAL customer service is awesome.

Bottle: Woodsy cologne, then spicy resins. Raven Moon seems to be shifting around in the bottle... with each whiff, I'm catching a different dimension. Wet: Smoky and woodsy, dipped in delicious resins. Drydown: Soft, tendrils of smoke brush against my skin. The brazen raven of the wet stage appears to have winged away. Dry: Soft, smoky musk that hugs really close to the skin. Overall: Dry, it smells a lot like I expected Black Butterfly Moon to smell (at least conceptually). It's gorgeous and I think it would make a great layering scent. It's a little more subtle than my usual fare, so I'm not sure how much play it will get solo.

Imp: Green and gardenia and a bit antiseptic. Something sinister seems to lurk in the background. Wet: Green floral, definitely tobacco flower here. Drydown: Come back, tobacco flower! A little powdery, but soft, blended green scent. Dry: Gardenia and a soft shade of green. Throw is medium. Overall: I hate when I feel vague in reviews, but this one was difficult to pin down. I was hoping for more of the dark woodsiness, but it is a well balanced green floral.

At first, TLSJ was all black jellybeans (mmm, anise). As it dried, it rounded out with some cinnamon. I'm not a foody, but I can safely say that I could hoard this. The throw is minimal, but it seems to have a good deal of staying power. Why are these LE Frimps always my favorites?

... This is a Mexican paean to La Huesuda: dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus. DDLM 2009 Bottle: I really smell the cereus in this blend. It makes me think of home. Wet: Super floral! Mmm, cereus, I love you. Drydown: A little cidery, but still mostly floral. Dry: More subdues than the initial cereus onslaught. It's sweet, and a little smoky, very well balanced. Overall:The 2009 version of DDLM smells really different to me. I remember previous versions as being foodier. It seems more likely that I will wear 09 before reaching for another vintage.

Wet: Leather, with a pinch of lavender. Drydown: It's a bit like mixing Dorian and De Sade, though a bit more cologne and less tea. Dry: Smoky leather, mmm, but the cologne is a bit more dominant. Theres almost an aquatic tang to the cologne. Overall: No surprise that I really love this one. It's like Dorian took a dip in Fit of Artistic Enthusiasm and then put on his leather coat for an evening out. Definite win.

At first, it's an airy minty floral, which quickly morphs into minty bitey roses. As it dries down, it almost exclusively becomes a creamy mint, almost like Tokyo Stomp on my skin, but a little heavier on the mint. This one is not for me.

Source: Bottle from Lab Wet: Warm spicy pumpkin and rich roasted coffee beans. Drydown: Another case of disappearing pumpkin! I'm left with the feisty spices, warm and rich, but a bit too harvest potpourri. Dry: Spice, but a teensy bit of butteryiness that might be some pumpkin trying to fight its way out. Overall: I wanted a coffee scent very badly, but this did not live up to my expectations. It's a lovely spice scent if you are looking for one, though.

Source: Lab bottle Wet: Straight up pumpkin, though not buttery. Dydown: The pumpkin does go somewhere, and I'm left with this spicy clove mixed with myrrh and a tinge of sweetness. Dry: There's a teensy bit of pumpkin peeking out of the spice pile. It's very nice and wearable, with minimal throw. Overall: Nice, but I would like to see more pumpkin. Will retest later in the month for a final verdict.

Source: Lab imp In the imp: Sharp, green with magnolia. Oh, how I love magnolia! Wet: Very aquatic, with little tendrils of greenery wrapping themselves around my ankles? Drydown: Green aquatic. Reminds me of Danube, but more humid and lush. Dry: Beautiful, heady aquatic. Very green, but not overly floral. Overall: This may have just knocked Danube out of my go to aquatic spot. I love it!

Not sure if anyone has asked this, but is there something close to Sacrifice?

At first, Baneberry is tart blackberries with sharp vines coiling around them. Tantalizing. As it dries, the blackberry becomes more prominent, lush, juicy and beguiling. I want to reach into the greenery and pluck them out and smear them all over my face. The throw on this one is pretty impressive. The green notes become darker, more menacing, so rethink my blackberry eating binge, and revel in its herbal-berry glory instead. Dry, Baneberry is a little musky, but still predominantly dark, sharp green and blackberry. I could see myself wearing this again.