Estamets

From a fresh bottle, this is bright red cherries and sawdust. The wood is closer to cedar than mahogany. My spouse said “mmm lumber store!” Now that my bottle is aged a bit (8ish months), this has deepened and softened a lot. I get more currant than cherry; it’s an even darker, saturated red fruit with no tartness. And the wood is very much a dark polished wood with a vanillic base note. It’s that vanilla note that surprised me: it wasn’t there AT ALL when the bottle was new but it’s a strong unifying component now. It’s a completely different scent after aging. If Red Queen is screechy for you, set it aside and come back in a few months. ETA: bottle is two years old now, and she keeps getting smoother and more elegant. The vanilla note is deeper, the mahogany is darker, and the cherries are ripe black cherries straight off the tree. ADORE.

Aging is all about oxidation (that’s why imps age faster than bottles: more access to air). If you’d like your bottle to age faster, shake it occasionally and sniff it often!

FIRST QUESTION: what sizes do you wear for jewelry purposes - rings, etc. No rings please. Necklaces of pretty much any length are appreciated! Earrings that are super hypo-allergenic (I can do gold, silver, and surgical steel posts). I rarely wear bracelets. Question: what's your favorite fall food based treat? Ummmm...... any fall fruits. Ciders : apple, mulled, etc. Mulled wine. Pumpkin pie/pumpkin bread/pumpkin everything else: pumpkin, not just pumpkin spice . I function at my highest when I don't eat gluten. Are you more interested in a spiritual service you haven't mentioned practicing yourself, or would you prefer to receive something you do practice? Do you have a preference for if it's provided in writing/placed in the package vs over a skype/phone call? Any is great! I would prefer a zoom/skype/phone call vs a physical spell, but I accept any and all manifestations of good energy. For item no.5, what kind of thing would you most appreciate? Anything handmade with love! Anything curated for me with care! Anything in particular you're interested in from the UK? I love local art stuff, and interesting treats that you can only get in your neck of the woods. Any interest in apothecary style indies, e.g. essential oils, natural skincare, flower waters? Sure, especially if they're related to the changing seasons and celebrating the passing of time. I don't do floral smells for my body, and I don't scent my house. What is it that you're most wanting out of this fall season? (e.g. that could require magical assistance) I mentioned this in my questionnaire, but I'm looking towards a big... hatching is the visual that's coming to mind, oddly - a new growth spurt, which I would love to support in any and all ways possible. I'm also finding that time is passing by without my noticing lately, so anything that helps me take notice and celebrate the change in season would be great. Books. Are you a big reader? If so, do you prefer ebooks, audio, or printed? Would you enjoy an art or photography book? Do you like poetry? Yes. All the books. Many books. I like pre-loved paperbacks or Kindle editions. I love to read magical realism. I enjoy poetry. I'm not the best audience for an art/photo book. Is there anything typically sold at a Renn Faire that you'd be interested in? Not specifically, but anything that fits into my other gift genres is great. Candles. Any preferences? Taper/Pillar/Votive/Jar/Chime/etc.? Scented vs Unscented? No preference, but I would only like to receive a candle that has a ritual/spiritual significance, since I don't scent my spaces (and I also sell very nice candles in my gift shop that I can take whenever I want). Are there any types of makeup/nail polish that you would or would not like to receive? No makeup or nail polish, please. Is there anything you definitely DON'T want (either because you don't like it or already have it)? I can't think of anything right now. I trust your instinct! Are there any art/craft supplies you currently need? Not that I need, but I do knit and spin and I like adding thoughtful yarns and fibers to my stash. Homemade treats...any likes and preferences?? AND YES, I am also wanting to know what flavor/s of fudge you would love to get if I happen to be your Adept All of them, please. All of the fudges. I don't like raspberries, raw celery, onions, or caraway seeds. Quick question for the group: What are your thoughts on sweet treats? If you like them, what are your favorites? And what is one that you consider extra special? I enjoy them! I especially love anything home made, or local to you, or small-business-made. I prefer fruity, tart, creamy, or dark chocolate, but I love small tastes of pretty anything! Or Butterfingers. I really love Butterfingers and I have a rule to never buy them for myself- they’re a strictly gift/steal/nab from the candy jar treat for me. EDITED TO ADD: I'm avoiding refined sugars at the moment for health reasons! If I were to knit you an adornment would you prefer a hat, fingerless mitts, a cowl, or a shawlette (small shawl, worn like a scarf.) mitts, please! But honestly whichever feels like the most fun, or whatever pattern you're itching to try out. If yes, are you ok with soft wool (I have mostly merino)? What colors would you prefer? yes wool. Blue, purple, black, cream, grey. Do you have a wishlist for BPAL perfume / gloss / atmosphere sprays? Yes, it's in my signature. Are you interested in a sewn or knitted tarot bag? Yes. Would you like to sample our home made liqueurs? (Rosepetal and/or lavender vanilla bean and/or plum) Yes, all of those sounds lovely. I'm most attracted to the lav/vanilla. How about jams? (peach, huckleberry, cardamom plum, cardamom/cinnamon/clove plum, anise plum, ginger jalapeno peach) Yes - no raspberry please. I'm especially a fan of peach jams, but I love them all - we make (GF) pancakes every Sunday and I eat them with jam/preserves. Other canned goods? (green tomato relish, chokecherry jelly) YES! Fudge? YES!! Lemon blueberry zucchini bread? My heart wants to say yes, and my body needs to say no unless it's gluten free ALTHOUGH the rest of my household eats all the things, so I could have a nibble and they would eat the rest.

This is dark honey-cream-amber on me. The caramel isn’t recognizable, but I think it contributes to the dark depth of this scent. I suppose the apple blossoms are there… spouse said it smells tropical. No idea what year the bottle is from, so age could be at play in dampening the blossoms. I feel sensual, enticing, inviting. My skin, but with epic curves, a flowy silk wrap, and a smoldering gaze. And also SO MUCH SEXUAL WISDOM to share, if you’ll just come upstairs…

Oh gosh. I love the BPTP hair gloss formula and what it does for my hair. And I am so sad about the burning plastic disaster that is this scent for me. I don’t know if it’s a funky batch, but I recoil when I smell this in the bottle, and it’s not any better on my hair, though it does all the beautiful hair gloss things for me! I was hoping for a light honey scent to augment my mostly light, soft, sweet perfume rotation, but this one is straight to the swaps pile 😭😭😭

This is a vat of peach preserves in the making. Dark, gooey peach made shiny and caramel-colored with piles of sugar. There is a perfume-edge to this, which could be an animal musk, maybe? Or might just be a tart edge from the peach… For the first time ever, I wish I hadn’t watched Tom & Galen’s review; it made me expect baked goods where there are none. This has rested two full days. Maybe those cream, marshmallow, and vanilla notes will emerge with more time, she types hopefully?? I blind-bottled TWO bottles based on those notes and the T&G review, and I would dearly love to love them.

Lavender marshmallows. I LOVE this blend. I usually run (quickly) away from lavender blends, but the lavender here is fresh, without the sharp medicinal note I get from most lav scents. All the other notes bend together into fluffy sweet pillows. There are whole buds floating in my bottle!! Verdict is still forthcoming on whether it helps my sleep (it has been a very stressful week, so hard to gauge), but I definitely look forward to slathering myself with Sopor before bed!

Lovely balance of cucumber, light cherry blossom, and other crisp green scents (which all blend together for me). This is a perfect hot-day bath: refreshing, light, cooling. Product-wise, BPTP bath oils moisturize my skin like nothing else has ever done. Love, love, love. At night, I’ll also dunk my hair in the bath, then braid it and sleep without rinsing. The next day, it’s gotten a nice deep moisture mask that rinses clean with shampoo.

Fresh imp from the lab: herbal orange smash! I guess maybe there was a hint of chocolate when wet, and I can track some earthier notes if I squint sideways at it, but it’s really just juicy, stepped-on citrus, and bright, nasal-clearing herbs. Oddly, I’m here for it.

All dark chocolate, all the time!! This is gorgeous, and I don’t find it foody at all. I don’t get much of the other notes, but if you like deep dark pure cocoa, you’ll love this. I live in a dry place, and my skin may be more dry than others, so keep that in mind. Also I’m a bath oil newbie so this may be *duh* for some folks, but I would have found this useful: The way I used this was by adding a couple of teaspoons to the running bath water (I heeded earlier reviews that a little goes a long way!). When I got in the bath, my legs immediately felt softer, and the smell pretty much disappeared. So I added a bit more, and noticed oil drops floating on the water. I splashed around with my arms, and those drops disappeared, along with the rejuvenated scent. After that, I applied small amounts of oil directly to my arms, shoulders, and chest, and soaked in the water. Now that I’m dry I smell only the faintest whiff of cocoa, and only when I snuffle my skin, so I think there’s a direct correlation between noticeable scent and how much oil is floating on the water (as opposed to soaking into my skin). I expected my bathroom to be a choc-splosion, but there’s barely any scent left at all. (Will update if the spouse says something different when he gets home.) My skin is so, so soft and luscious. Will definitely continue using, either in the bath or directly on moist skin.

The first review freaked me out because lavender and I do not get along! But there is no lavender in Earl Grey tea, and no lavender in this blend either, whew! There is, however, a very clean note as the first reviewer notes. Wet, there's a similar medicinal quality to some lavenders, so I totally see the comparison, and agree that this is flirting with Drier Sheet Land. The laundry note recedes quickly on me, and a barely pre-ripe peach emerges. A peach when the flavor is fully developed, but the juices aren't going to run down your wrists. This is my favorite time to eat a peach, but right now this perfume is “eating that peach next to a drier vent.” Currently, all I’m getting is sharp peach laundry. No black tea, bergamot, milk, or vanilla syrup; no woolly sweater. I am desperately hoping those bass notes show up after more rest!!

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS: Cross stitched halloween ornament? Sure! My favorite ornament for my winter holiday tree is a severed finger 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don't have a Halloween tree. Which Harry Potter house are you? Ravenclaw, but JK is transphobic trash so I prefer no HP references. Collage pack? I am not a collage artist, but I would love to receive this! I send bits & bobs to my friends across the country now and then, and several of them are visual artists that work with collage elements sometimes. So, yes, I would love one, but I would be passing it on to others. Are you excited about DragonCon smells? Yes yes yes!!! I'm so excited about vanilla wafer & peach cream, fuzzy peach sweater, working title, and peach brandy snake oil! I've already located a fairy and a decanter for myself though 🥰 Do you like any art from these two sellers? They are local artists and I will probably pick up some stuff for myself soon! Yes! These are both wonderful- would especially appreciate small prints, stickers, or other more personal-sized items for my office, water bottle, etc. I make beautiful and very lightweight yarn-and-ribbon hairfalls - would you like a set in the colors and length of your choice? If yes, name up to four colors and length in inches! Remember- this can be part of your Halloween costume! yes yes! I always wear my hair in a topknot (because I haven’t gotten a haircut in aaaagggeeesssss and it’s sooooo loooooong), and I would love to zhuzh it up. Fave colors: blue, purple, black, cream. The Paintbox Soapworks Weenie collection went live today! Would you like anything? Flavors: Hex on the Beach, once for yes twice for no, GOAT products: any! The Pickety Witch is taking pre-orders for their new Halloween pins (estimated ship date: early September). Have any caught your eye? Harvest Crow. Zeep's Spooky Collection drops some time next week. Here's the scent list. Would you like any wax melts, candles, whipped soaps, sugar whips (whipped soap/scrub hybrid), body butter sugar scrubs (moisturizing scrub), meringues (lotion), bath bombs, or bath rocks from Zeep? Body care is always welcome! These flavors sound good... 🦇Boo-nilla Scream – Sweet and creamy vanilla bean with hints of fall spice and everything nice! 🕸Hocus Pocus - Take a walk through the graveyard to the Sanderson sisters house and smell the scents of the smoky fire under the cauldron, crunchy dried fall leaves, and the sweet temptation of roasted marshmallows and brown sugar! 🎃 Jack-o-Lantern- Sweet pumpkin, spiced vanilla marshmallows, and hints of smoky bonfires Does anyone here like vintage halloween?  I don't decorate for Halloween. It seems like a lot of shops’ Halloween lines have items related to the same standard fandoms, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Hocus Pocus, Disney’s Haunted Mansion, Beetlejuice, Addams Family, etc. Do any of those (or other ones) particularly resonate with you? Not really. How do you feel about atmospheric/novelty scents and novelty food items? Things like "new car candle" or "eyeball jawbreaker" or whatever. I scent my body, not my house (too many opinionated adults live here to find scents we all like!). I'm always down to try a novelty food though. If you like tea, how do you want it delivered? Loose? Bags? Tiny little messenger pigeons (subject to availability)? I prefer loose leaf and parachuting wombats. Would you prefer to receive ONE HUGE (more expensive) GIFT and 12 inexpensive ones, a few more expensive, or all about the same price? Hmmmmm..... This is hard. I like quality (e.g. it's not going to fall apart in a day). So probably one nicer thing and then some useful stuff (e.g. from the dollar bin at Target). I think... Most of all I appreciate thought so I would rather receive 13 things that cost you nothing but that you curated thoughtfully. What are your fandoms, if any? Firefly, Lord of the Rings, Stephen King, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Betty White, feminist icons in general Do you collect things like tarot decks? If so do you have a wish list or a list of ones you already have? Would you like a silk tarot bag? I would love a silk tarot bag! I prefer to select decks myself, but I would be thrilled to receive a pre-loved deck that needs a new home. Do you like rocks/crystals? What colors / kinds? Would you like them with holes drilled (either as a pendant - you'd need to stick a bale in, or a bead?) I don't really collect crystals or have preferences, but I keep the ones I've received as gifts, and I'm always open to assistance in grounding my energy, growth, and creativity. I am more likely to keep it carefully placed in my office rather than wearing it, so no holed. My mom has an etsy store - she makes bags. Do you love anything from it? We can also do box bags, draw string bags, dice bags, etc. and if you want a different type of material or a different fabric pattern, I'm open to links to specific things. (yes, we have harry potter things. We bought most of it before JKR showed herself to be a twat since we buy lots of bolts at the same time - yes, we have a whole room stuffed full of fabric.) OH MY GAWD THESE ARE SO COOL! I'm a knitter, so I would LOVE a project bag! Of the patterns posted now, I especially love: Bones, Mistress of All Evil, Binx, Grady Twins, Twilight Ravens. Let's say you want something knitted. What are you most interested in? I also knit! So if I am your partner, I would be thrilled to receive something small that you think would be fun to make - maybe something you've never done before, or your favorite pattern, in the colors I've listed in my first set of answers. Are you interested in receiving any of the following homemade / home dried / home canned goodies? (just erase the ones you don't want when you answer to make it easy?) (see list in this post under spoiler because long) YES ALL OF THEM PLEASE How do you feel about oracle decks? I don't know anything about them, and would love to learn. Would you like witchy/ritual oils/sundries? Any limitations (e.g. deities you won't work with)? Sure, but I'm not very witchy so is there a "witchy 101" option? Is there anything you would like to try from the UK specifically? (e.g. Lush exclusives) ooooohhhhhhhhhh maybe candies & foodstuffs, or anything made by a local artist/maker. Oh, and are you into astrology? A little, but not overwhelmingly so. I'm a sag. What size shoe do you wear (inc wide/narrow, etc)? 9.5/10 wide in US women's Do you like/would you want to receive comic books? Any favorite genres or characters? Sure! I love manga and graphic novels, and I generally prefer stories created by women & non binary folks. Happy to be a new home for pre-loved volumes. Would you like a palm stone, or anything else, from Haute Macabre? Yes please! I don't have specifics, but their stuff is beautiful and I would be happy to receive any of it. I love As Above (with So Below sometimes), and have been wanting to try the Haute Macabre smell. What's your favorite flower(s)? carnations, sunflowers (for my mom in law), rosemary when it's in bloom, any fruit blossoms. What's you favorite woodland creature? ALL OF THEM. That's not helpful. Okay. Foxes, wolves, owls, beavers... HEDGEHOGS. Final answer. Do you prefer receiving a big box with all of your goodies, or is it okay if one or two things are shipped directly to you separately (with notice!!) for customs/shipping cost purposes (i.e. if there's something customs might not allow in from the States that can be shipped from within your country)? Shipping separately is fine - whatever makes this process easy and joyful for you. Would you like a fabric face mask? If so, do you prefer a dome shape or a pleated shape? No thank you, we make them ourselves and have nailed down my personalized pattern. I have a literal stockpile of skincare products. Can I interest you in cleanser, sheet masks, moisturizer, sample things etc etc.? Or a general pampering package? What is your skin type? yes please! I have fair skin, pretty well balanced, I'm turning 40 this year, I shave my pits (every 2-4 days) and bikini line (occasionally) but not my legs. I usually just wash with water and exfoliate a couple of times a week, and I have a nighttime oil that I like but I never remember to use it. So what I'm saying is: my skincare cabinet is empty and would happily be filled by your stockpile! I love a facial steam and mask, though I'm out of the habit. I am barefoot most of the time so my feet can always use love. I am allergic to mosquito bites so if you have a good salve, I'd love that. Anything from here? ChocolateStorybook on Etsy Sure! I'm especially interested in pickle, buttered popcorn, or any of the flavors that I listed in my original questionnaire. I have been enjoying the incense from here hand-dipped incense sticks | Hexennacht and here Hand-dipped incense sticks | Mr. Hex (mr-hex.com) Any thing interesting from either site? I don't burn incense. Would you like some delicious coffee? If so, do you prefer whole bean or ground? If ground, what grind? Also, light or dark roast? Flavor preferences? My household drinks dark roast, whole bean. I am personally not opposed to an interesting flavor, especially if it comes ground for a pour-over and individually packaged so I don't have to share Additional Notes: I DO celebrate Thanksgiving, and my birthday is Nov 27! I'm turning 40! I love me some pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin cheesecake. I love love love to support independent artists & makers, so please consider adding something from your favorite humans, especially if they're local to you. PLEASE NO GLITTER I may be going to the Renaissance Fair this weekend (if not this weekend then soon and multiple times), any Ren Faire goodies you may like? Not off the top of my head, but keep my general list in mind I always go to my town's local Farmer's Market and they have booths selling things like candles, Gourmet Pickles, Flavored Oils and Vinegars, dog treats (like bones and animal feet), honey, and bath products. Would you like any of these things? YES PLEASE. Any pickled/canned foodstuffs or ingredients, love hot baths (esp salty muscle soaks), and I'm rabid for honey. I don't have a dog, but I have lots of friends who have dogs, and I love treating their furbabies. Do you have a preference for numbered packages for each night of the swap vs randomly selecting from unlabeled goodies? Whatever is easiest for you! If you didn't say much about your reading preferences in your survey but would be interested in receiving books, can you elaborate a bit? Magical realism, mystery, sci-fi, horror.... Are you interested in cocktails, be it recipes, infusion kits, tools, supplies, specialty bitters? Yes please! All of the things. Bitters are especially appreciated Any significant other or other special person? Like if I wanted to send you specialty cocoa for a date night, would that be OK? I am making up the cocoa part, but you get my drift. Yep, I've got a husband and we do date night every Tuesday. Both of our moms live with us and we both work from home; it's important for us to have a weekly escape. Is there something that you definitely prefer to not receive in any category (anything to avoid if you hadn't/forgotten to mention)? Glitter. Are there patterns/prints (more guidance than general Halloween/Autumn) you like for things or are you open to whatever I may find that speaks to me? I lean towards modern-ish/geometric prints. I like many things with cute animals. Also whatever speaks to you If you happened to list some favorite fandoms earlier, would you also name your favorite character(s) from those fandoms? Firefly: literally all of the characters Lord of the Rings: Merry & Pippin, Arwen, the river Bruinen Do you have an Amazon link? Can you post it?? I don't have an Amazon wishlist. I have a terrible habit of buying myself what I want. if you are a knitter/crocheter, are you over on Ravelry? If so, what’s your user name there?? Yep: theemilystamets I would love to request folks to to put their wish list in this thread and link in their signature. I would love to decant from my oils if I have any my person is looking for! 8/20/21 I make homemade fire ciders, would that be of interest? Non-alcoholic and they are quite fiery. Yes, I love fire cider! Are you interested in getting other BPAL items besides perfume, like hair gloss, bath oils or T-shirts? Yeppers! All of them appreciated. Tshirts: women's XL preferred Y'all with furbabies... Are there any food allergies/sensitivities or quirks to know about? Nope! My Suby really really REALLY loves turkey. And Zooker wants his pyramid tomb to be filled with fishing pole toys with feathers at the end of the strings. I wouldn't put Suby through a costume trial, but Zooker would probably be totally into it - he's a 12-14 pound orange & white asshole. Frankenbags Sure!! Ethically Sourced Butterflies or Moths Sure, if they're ethically sourced and cruelty free. I may have preemptively picked out 2 Halloween-themed mugs with cute matching spoons, before I knew who my match was going to be! So I leave it to you: Bat, or Cat? (I'll keep the other ) cat, please! 8/22/21 If you mentioned aversions to any common Halloween decor items (skeletons, witches, spiders, etc.), how encompassing is that? Specifically, is a "kid friendly" drawing of that same item on a piece of decor (like, a book cover or wrapping paper) still a preferred pass? This wasn't me. Would you be interested in receiving a never-used eyeshadow palette from Nororiously Morbid (gothy colors) and/or a never-used eyeshadow palette from Pretty Vulgar (romantic neutrals)? The romantic neutrals would probably work for me. 8/23/21 I live in Japan. Are you interested in anything specifically Japanese I could get for you here (doesn't necessarily have to be Halloween themed)? For example, are you a fan of the anime Demon Slayer and want merch? Are you interested in trying some fun kit-kat flavors? Do you need a new set of pretty chopsticks? Yes!! There are these wasabi almonds that I ADORE. I love pretty chopsticks. And I'm down to try all the Kit Kat flavors. ALSO anything local that you love, I would love to experience! there is an excellent chance teeturtle will have a sale in time for this swap: anything (particularly tshirts or socks) that appeal? Sizes? Women's XL tee. Avo-Cat-O. Boba Cat. Fox counting stitches. Relaxolotl. Socks: same styles as above, Raging Raptor, Space Cat. Haus of Gloi Fall Part 1 drops soon, anything here you like? https://www.hausofgloi.com/blogs/blog/fall-lineup-2021 Products: pumpkin butter, bubbling scrub, perfume oil, butterbomb, handmade soap, Flavors: Ghost Puffs, Pumpkin Queen, Golden Corn Cakes, Tranqulity (butterbomb only) Ghost Kisses lip balm Brown Sugar Latte lip balm 8/24/21 Could you use a journal or sketchbook? Always. Do you need BPAL storage? Imps? Bottles? I have a good storage solution for home, but I could use one for traveling. Do you wear socks? What kind? No show, ankle, knee high, over the knee? Fibers? Not very often. When I do, I generally prefer ankle, but I work in a very cold warehouse sometimes so taller socks are great if they are also very warm. Do you have a favorite candy(ies) [or prepacked individual snacks] that you wouldn't mind filling up your box as packing material? Or teas/coffee blends you'd enjoy? If you prefer none of this, that's fine too! tea would be great! I'm going down the Shore for a few days! Any treats you'd like from a cute beach town- salt water taffy? Fudge? Wrist fans? Tie-dye beach dress...? hmmm.... not that I can think of. I'll never say no to a Women's XL tank top though. How do you feel about fancy marshmallows? I love them! I also make them from scratch at home. So my caveat is: I love them IF the actual marshmallow is really good (vs being a mediocre marshmallow with gobs of yummy stuff stuck on it). We've asked about candy, but let's talk specifically about gummies. Do you like crazy shapes, sweet/sour? All gummies, all the time. Seriously, you can't go wrong with me and gummi unless it's one of my death flavors (raspberry, celery, caraway). I like them sour, sweet, funky flavors. ALL. OF. THE. GUMMIS. Anything from these Etsy shops? Kodiak Sea Charms,: seaglass necklace. Halloween Hill Studio, these are beautiful, but I wouldn't display them. Grave Markings - vinyl sticker "this is my art" What about the Mutter Museum's gift shop? Black scarf with skulls, eyeball earrings, those skeleton earrings are amazing but that's a lot of $$$ for this gift exchange! 8/27/21 I grow mugwort and it's harvest season. Would you like dried leaves for bathing or tea? Or a bound bundle for smoke cleansing? (Its said to be excellent for divination or lucid dreaming, but do not use if pregnant.) its also a digestive bitter and tastes great on chicken. Ooohhhh my first exposure to mugwort was in Bugbear Doula, ha ha! I would love some for bathing, or tea, or seasoning the chickens that I raise and process myself. I grow loads of other herbs and I'm drying them now. Any favorites you might like? Mint, basil, oregano, chives, lemon balm or others? We grow a lot of herbs ourselves (except mugwort!), so no thank you. I grew a huge load of onions and garlic. Any interest? Garlic, sure! Feathers? I have geese, ducks, peafowl, chickens and quail. So I collect their shed feathers and share them with people I like. I raise chickens - I've got plenty of spare feathers, but thank you! I grew a boatload of Green Shiso this year and plan to make a shiso pesto with it. Would you like some? (Nut wise it has pistachios) Sure! I also plan to experiment with infusing it in vodka. I'm planning a plain shiso infusion and a shiso citrus infusion. If they turn out would you like some? Yes please, a small amount. My husband's quarantine hobby has been cocktail making, but we don't use vodka much. Still, I'd love to try some for the novelty! Would you be interested in this hand sanitizer dispenser/keychain that doubles as a light (its eyes light up when you press between its eyes!)? It's super cute, but I don't have anywhere to hook it to If you're into tabletop games, what games do you already own, and/or what type are you interested in? Oh gosh, I own lots. I should get a catalog going! My elfster wishlist has some games and extensions that I've already researched and decided on, but haven't purchased yet. My family are big fans of cooperative games that can be played with 2-4 people. 8/29/21 DO YOU LIKE TRUE CRIME STORIES? YES! DO YOU LIKE SEASONAL MAGAZINES ON BAKING AND DECORATING? Not especially because I don't want to store them anywhere, but I would appreciate specific articles that were clipped out if you thought I would like them. If you are enthused by the idea of receiving coffee, do you want whole bean or ground? AND do you have flavors that you like (or definitely hate and never want again)? Whole bean if it's not flavored, ground if it's flavored (otherwise the rest of the family *ahem*myhusband*ahem* will be mad that the coffee tastes like gingerbread or whatever for months to come). Flavors to match the ones I've listed above. 8/30/21 Would you be interested in some very size-inclusive tights? There are Halloween patterns, but also most colours under the sun, and are very comfy. Sure! I like a good tight. I like bold solids colors, or fun festive holiday prints. What about indie chilli sauces/chutneys/jams? What type of chilli/spice level? yes please! medium to medium-hot spicy. Like 3 or 4 out of 5. In case anyone else shares a love for adorable tiny plushies, any interest in v soft and cute vegetable/fruit plushies? There are also small animals. No thank you. The Polish Pickup/Indie Pickup is live for wishlisting, and will ship in time for this swap (this year). Anything strike your fancy? (It's not just nail polish...there's jewelry and bath scrubs and wax tarts and all manner of things. It's fun!) https://polishpickup.com/ Anything that matches my answers above. I don't paint my nails. 8/31/21 Anything here sound good to you? https://gryffonridge.com/ Um, yeah. Literally all of it. Hayden Evens Art has released some new Halloween and Disney-themed prints and stickers. Do any spark your interest? No Disney for me, please. But the other work is cool! Would be happy with stickers or a small print. I like the Dolly Parton image. So would you hate or be into more miscreant Halloween vibe decor - like wholesome figurines repainted, creepy dolls, goats with horns, (fake) animal skeletons, things in jars? Is anything too dark, morbid, or recoil worthy? Okay, I love this aesthetic, and I would prefer something I can hang on the wall in my office rather than 3-dimensional stuff that I have to dust. I lean towards whimsical and spoopy, but I appreciate a good dark piece with a thought provoking message. do you use any sorts of semipermanent dyes or do anything fun/wild to your hair? are there any hair products you like? No, but I've been wanting to! My hair is super long, medium brown, super straight and fine, and can always use extra conditioning, so I've been curious about those color-adding conditioners. Prefer blue, purple, teal. what about skincare? i am pretty into k beauty and am curious if others are interested in any aspects of this. I'm a better audience for one-off treatments, rather than something I have to do every day. So masks, steams, etc. 9/2/21 Cellar Door Bath Supply Co.'s Halloween & Fall collection is out (https://cellardoorbathsupply.com/collections/halloween-fall-collection😞 anything you might be interested in? Bar soap, rather than candles. Flavors: Eerie ectoplasm, Lavender Pumpkin, Michigan Moonglow, Once Bitten, Pumpkin Chai Latte, Samhain Cider, Sanderson Spice Regarding tea, what type of tea do you prefer? Black tea, green tea, herbal tea? Any type of tea you really don’t enjoy? I literally drink all the teas. Prefer loose leaf. Prefer whole ingredients over "fill-in-the-blank flavor." 9/4/21 are you interested in eco-friendly menstrual products? There are some beautiful gothic print reuseable pads I'm looking at specifically. No thank you, I'm happy with my cup 9/6/21 Bath and Body Works? I know this is a bit of a love em or hate em company, but I really love their foaming hand soaps and scented hand sanitizers and my kids like their body wash, so I'll be placing an order with the next good sale. Anything that catches your eye? I would be most likely to use a bar soap or liquid/foam hand soap in the flavors I've listed above. Home made apple sauce? Yes, please, if you're using a lab-tested canning recipe!

Woof. Prepare yourself: this does what it says on the tin! I’ve worn this 3 or 4 nights, not in a row. I have found it most effective when applied to the front of my neck. Vivid, somewhat gnarly dreams. I do have issues with stress dreams, so I’m going to wait use this again until I’ve spent the hour before bed watching videos of cute bunnies or something. I applied with intention, but my subconscious obviously has its own ideas about what I need to work through. Scent wise, it’s light & herbal. My spouse said “ooooh what are you wearing? You smell different,” an improvement over when he kicked me out of bed to shower when I tried a tiny dab of Somnus on my temples 😂

Beautiful! Soft brown leather a’la Haute Macabre and Western Diamondback. A hint of sweet Snake Oil. Something lovely and resinous when I bury my nose in it. Perfectly blended. Subtle yet consistent throw. Going on 5 hours and I still get gentle whiffs from my shoulders.

It's been a minute since this guy got some love, so lemme pour it on. I wouldn't have believed that something could be both DRY and SNUGGLY, but here we are. The overall effect is sweet on me, with a slight edge from the sandalwood. There's a faint hint of perfumed smoke from the incense. This is coconut husk, not coconut, and I get all the brown husky beauty of that note with zero sunscreen. The orris is dry, yes, but also creamy, and the musk plays nicely with my skin, making this addictively huffable. Lovely throw, and the scent is soft enough that I can enjoy it without being afraid of blasting anyone else with it. Brown Jenkin is in my top 10.

This is primarily cardamom, which I amp, and which happily stays RAWR biteable (rather than screechy or scared-cat-sweaty). The bright cardamom is softened by brown leather, with juicy Smut in the mid ground. Snake Oil is there, waaaayyyyyy in the background, and I’m pretty sure it’s what’s blending everything together and keeping the cardamom in check. I am SO excited to see how this ages, and I’m really glad I invested in 3 bottles 💃

Golden, waxy honey with a hint of plant underneath: a juicy floral or a delicate berry. Maybe both? Not at all similar to BPAL’s Belladonna. This a nice honey blend, and makes me think of spring!

I can’t speak to the effects of this one yet (will update if I notice anything!), but am happy to share my notes on the scent! Perfectly balanced; no single note stands out and everything is behaving on my skin (no screaming cedar or nauseating heliotrope), but I can track each note if I put my mind to it. It wants to lean into Baby Wipe Territory; it never gets there, but that adds an interesting, and I would say useful, edge to the experience. This is a clean, glowing scent. It feels more like a scent for creative and emotional abundance than specifically financial abundance (they’re all intertwined, but you know what I mean). As the notes say, it is nurturing, like a hug from my kindergarten teacher before I go on stage for a tap recital. It feels like transluscent, pale-gold sunlight. Short throw: perfect for a pre-endeavor meditation, or a wrist scent that I could whiff secretly while in The Thick of Things. I would happily use this as an atmo scent during a writing session. I imagine it would add a clean, warm safety to a space without smelling like an air freshener. Hoping this makes nightly dinners with my co-habitating mom and mom-in-law a little softer for me.

...late evening arm test... In the bottle: a whole lotta not much. Wet (8pm): soft, puffy white, maybe the teensiest hint of lemony herby something? It's a light version of the lemon edge I get from sugar cane notes. But mostly this is soft and gentle, barely-there. Early Dry (8:15-9:30ish): still soft and white and puffy and fluffy and delicate. Baby's breath doesn't have a smell to me, but if it did, this is what it would be. I don't get any clover (I imagine the top notes have aged out of this bottle), and the whole effect is soft and fluffy without being baby-powdery. Late dry (???am): OH MY GAWD -- many hours later, when I woke up in the middle of the night to pee, I sniffed my arm expecting the soft sleepy time pre-bed scent, and was jolted awake by THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, GOLDEN, SHINY MUSK. HOLY SHIT THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL. It's almost ambery in its metallic vibe, but definitely sex-forward. A complete 180 from the earlier scent. My semi-asleep brain decided this is perfect for date night because it's soft and sweet at the beginning, then ragingly sexy and assertive right around (I think?) after dinner cocktail time. Late late dry (7-10am): there's still a nice sweet, gentle, skin scent, very different than the early dry stages - more vanillic. What a joyful fucking journey. It's *actually* date night tonight, so I'm going to test my theory and see how it goes.

Have recently discovered that I love a good fur note, as evidenced by emerging obsessions with such scents as Small Brown Cat and Buck Moon 2021, as well as Brown Jenkin and The Butterfly which do not have a fur note listed but are, indeed, quite nuzzly and fuzzy, respectively. What are your other fave fur scents? Any other snuggly, nuzzly suggestions? (I have The Cat, Kimi Ga Dai Wa, and Bugbear Doula on order, yay!)

Coyote went really powdery on me 😭 I’m hoping that was from over-aging of my imp, and I will 100% try a freshy when it comes back in stock. Updates: Unicorn & Ram IS MY LIFE. It starts so snuggly, and dries into a beautiful woody perfume. My mom said it took her straight to the 1960s. The Kangaroo is also SO SNUGGLY. I need to give it a full test, but I liked the nighttime wrist swipe I did. I’m really digging these cozy scents for bed time! I really want to try Ivanushka but it’s a bit out of my price range, especially since I now have several bottles of other great furry, snuggly smells.

I agree! I don’t get much fur, but it is very comforting. I don’t do rose, so Bear Prince is out for me, sadly.

This is much, much lighter than I anticipated. In the imp, it's almost lemony, which I imagine is the sage-like mugwort lightened by chamomile. Wet: This is like a crystalline hug. That tea note brings a clear, watery sense that feels so clean. It's sweet without being sweet sweet - not fruity or flowery or gourmand at all. Like a lemonbalm cough drop? On the dry down, the lemon transitions into more of an herbal spa smell. It has a lovely, rooty texture that's a cousin of orris without going powdery. I literally feel like I'm getting healthier just by sniffing this! Sadly, I don't track the fur, but I'm sure it's contributing to my deep love of this scent. This is definitely comforting! I first tested this late in the evening and I kept sniffing my wrist every time I turned over in the night. I see myself leaning on this when I have a cold, cramps, or sadness.

This is zero sweet, 100% spice with a beautiful underpinning of dark coffee. On me, this is yummy, earthy, perfectly-blended holiday spices, and the coffee plays a background role, adding a unifying acidity that brings this out of gourmand-land (oddly). It’s what I want to drink if I can’t be with my family on Thanksgiving. It’s Christmas coffee without venturing into craft store territory. Really nice! I recommend for lovers of baking spices and/or coffee, and folks who want the hominess of spice cake without venturing into sweet.

Despite being a heavy-hitting leather, I find this scent soft and comforting. It’s husky and grounded, but there’s a lightness to it that floats in a way that makes me think of amber (without the metallic tone my brain attaches to actual ambers). The vanilla, leaf, and husk turn this into a friendly and elevated soft brown leather on me. I don’t get any patchouli, but maybe I don’t know what aged black patchouli smells like 🤷🏼‍♀️ I absolutely adore this scent. It does remind me of the As Above / So Below pairing, with less floatiness.