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Notes to myself and anyone else

Entries in this blog

 

Lily!

Over the weekend I tested a number of scents including Kostnice and Sepulcher. Both of them turned horribly soapy on me. I guess lily is the note that they have in common, that caused so much trouble.   They both developed a soapiness that got stronger and stronger until it was unbearable, and I had to wash them off. Not only that......both scents seemed to 'ruin' my nose for a good hour or two after I had washed them off. In other words, I tried putting on other scents that I really like, just to 'chase away' the horrid soapiness/memory of it, and nothing smelled right to me. It was kind of like trying to drink orange juice after brushing your teeth......everything smelled off in the aftermath of the soapy lilies!   I don't think all lily notes have this effect. I swear I've tried other scents with lily that didn't cause such a violent reaction. But from now on I'll be eyeing that note warily. Already I'm afeared for 2 of the Yule scents (Noche Buena, and the one with candy-charcoal). Now, the candy charcoal one, I was already not real hopeful about because of the violets and lily. But I really want to like Noche Buena. We shall see!! I've already ordered decants of both.
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Lilith And The Jarocho

Posting this because the entire description should be saved somewhere. I haven't tried the scent itself, but I'd like to find a decant. I think I would like it but I just can't justify a whole bottle right now, with my financial situation being what it is.   Lilith And The Jarocho.... In the past eight months since Lilith was born, Ted and I have had many moments of unutterable joy. There is one, in particular, that stands out from the rest as perfect.   Our daughter loves music… everything from the clank of her toy piano, to unending looped choruses of "You Are My Sunshine" (with Moonshine variants) and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (or Bat) sung by her mother at naptime, to a rousing round of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" belted out by her father at playtime, to all the hair band videos she watches on Metal Mania.   This kid LOVES music.   On the last Saturday in April, Ted and I took Lilith to Olvera Street, and stopped at the El Paseo Inn for lunch. While we were waiting for our food, the band came to stand behind our table, and Lili was riveted by their music. At the end of the first song, she clapped! Holy hell, that was adorable. The singer saw Lilith clapping and staring, and walked over to us. This sweet, wonderful man serenaded her.   There was a Perfect Moment -- the kindness on the singer’s face as he sang to my baby, Lilith’s eyes as wide as saucers, her hands in prayer position, and the joy radiating from my husband -- this was a moment that brought me to tears.   This scent is a swirl of everything I felt, sensed, smelled, and saw right then, at that perfect point in time: Jasmine, vanilla, Spanish cedar, moss, marigold, purple verbena, candied tamarind, lime rind, a splash of margaritas on a nearby table, a little bit of Dorian, a little bit of Snake Oil, and a bright bouquet of mal de ojo.
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Lawn Gnome

This scent is quite unusual, and I appreciate the artistry behind it. I have found over 3 tests that I probably won't wear it out and about, but I will keep my decant. It's so unique, I'd like to have it around for when the mood strikes.   Mostly I smell a heavy sweetness, and fruit. I enjoy cooking with molasses, but it's not something I ever thought I'd want to smell like! I found that the molasses combined with the moss and patchouli give this scent an earthy, almost smokey element that is truly compelling. After multiple tests I noticed that the sugary element comes close to banana when I sniff up close, kind of like Mr. Nancy did (until it aged and didn't smell like banana any more). In fact, Lawn Gnome is almost like Mr. Nancy's rugged, outdoorsy cousin. Same family, but more into camping and gardening (duh), not cocktail lounges or fedoras.   The only problem is that something about this scent turns on me far into the dry-down. It becomes just a little flat and almost ashy, but I can't pin down what's causing it. I truly loved the opening stages enough to keep this around.
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Last minute Carnaval breakdown, selected possible purchases

Just like the title says. The Carnaval is leaving for a hiatus until maybe later this year. I'm getting a little panicky at the thought of these going bye-bye. These are my possible purchases, out of the whole Carnaval.....   Doc Constantine....."Sheer musk, cedar smoke, fir needle, black amber and leather" I have a partial bottle, and hardly ever wear it. I think I may have enough. I do love this blend, but maybe it will be reformulated when it's brought back, and that is more exciting to me than getting a new bottle right now.   The Parliament of Monsters....."Dust, incense, wet tobacco, and a curl of opium smoke" I had a decant once upon a time, but swapped it away because I didn't love it, and ever since then I've been just a little curious. Maybe I should give it another chance? Possibly, but I think I'll pass for now.   Faiza, the Black Mamba....."A sensual blend of twisting, exotic, serpentine oils: black amber, caraway, oakmoss, green sandalwood, bergamot, jasmine sambac, gardenia, orange pulp, vanilla, blackberry, black musk, white honey, ti leaf, and ginger" Another one that I used to have a decant of but swapped away. I remember it as being complex, lush, and fruity, almost like a deeper cousin of Men Ringing Bells? But there was some funky note that rubbed me wrong. Still, this is the kind of thing I've been in the mood for lately, so it's a possibility.   Stormclouds Over the Midway....."Thunder-charged ozone, plum-colored incense smoke, opium tar, and wormwood" I tried my decant the other day, and it's much better than I remembered, but still didn't last very long. I think I like Midnight On the Midway just a little better and I have plenty of that.   The Torture Queen...."White amber, vanilla musk, white tea, ambergris, gardenia, and chrome" I think I tried this briefly at Moonarcana's house. Still calling to me, although I haven't done anything about it as of yet! Really should just buy it and be done with it.   Sir Hugh Ockram's Winding Sheet....."Rotting linen, white sandalwood, hyssop, and dust" This has never really been on my radar and I've never even sniffed it. Looking now at the description, I think I stand a chance of really liking it. Hmmmm....   ......and that's it. I do want to get Egle as well, so it would be a 2 bottle order of Egle and something from the Carnaval. I think I have about 3 hours to decide..... : /
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Labores Solis

This is the scent that I can never spell. : /   It has given me different impressions the three times that I wore it. Mostly it is herbal, resins, and somehow slightly woody. I can pick out chamomile, frankincense, and amber. I have never learned to identify saffron (I'm not sure what it tastes like either), but I think it adds a slight medicinial, bitter feel from what I've heard. Not unpleasant at all. At first I didn't think this scent was powdery, but I put some on tonight and applied very lightly (not sure if that made the difference), and it definitely is powdery this time, kind of the same way that Minotaur is powdery.   Anyway, this reminds me of several other bpal scents, like Sol, Sagittarius, and Carceri D'Invenzione as portalkat mentioned. I swear there's a little bit of wood in here. So, do I like it? Yes! I didn't care for Sol all that much, but this seems to be more like what I wanted from that scent. It's unique. I can wear this to work, because it's not all dark and sexy, even with the element of darkness.
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Kouros by YSL

Ah yes.....the legendary Kouros. I bought a small bottle, totally untested, just based on the infamy of this fragrance. It's a love-it-or-hate-it scent, those who love it praise it to the high heavens, and those who hate it invariably mention bodily waste (human or animal, often cat) when describing it. It's pretty cheap and apparently being discontinued, so I went for it.   First try was.....alarming. At first, I smelled a sort of dated men's fragrance, something from the eighties, nothing too earth-shattering. Then, as it warmed up and dried on my skin, I smelled......the elephant house at the zoo. There's a large part of men's cologne, and up close, there is a large part of elephant dung. Interestingly, this didn't totally turn me off the scent, but I didn't think I'd be wearing it again. Very animalic if I understand the term correctly.   Well, fast forward to tonight, and I'm just sitting at home doing laundry. I wanted to try something unusual and it doesn't get much more unusual than Kouros, so I gave it a second try. Yep, the elephant house is still there. But, what's this? I am liking this? Wow, I can see how this fragrance can be addicting, and I think I actually like it! The scent hasn't changed, it's just so.....intimate? I don't know, just compelling and weird, and I am now glad I have a bottle. I think I'll have to try Body Kouros too.
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Knize Ten

Acceptable powdery leather scent. BPAL has better. I'll keep the sample unless I think of someone who would like it who I can give it to.
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Just to keep track...

Here's what I've ordered from the Yule update, so far.   Decants: Großvater Tanz, The Nutcracker, A World Of Fools, The School, Mr. Fezziwig's Ball, The Second Of The Three Spirits, Bob Cratchit's Hearth, Ignorance And Want, The Last Of The Spirits, Whoop   Autumn & Winter, Haloa, Woods In Winter, Herr Drosselmeyer, Rat King, Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas Eve In The Counting House, Marley's Ghost, Incessant Torture Of Remorse, Chained Phantoms, Christmas Eve On The Moor, Altar To Cold Rigid Dreadful Death   Bottles: The Waltz Of The Snowflakes (along with The Infernal Lover)
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Journals

I don't think I trust the internet enough to really write about some of the things going on right now. I certainly wouldn't post on facebook, and not really on livejournal either, which is dying a slow death anyway (unless I just need to update my friends list a little bit, which is possible).   Anyway, change is in the air, and I'm kind of excited. I seem to have gotten stuck in a loop of insanity, repeating really stupid behaviors, and I'm finally feeling like I might be breaking free. One thing I know for sure is I can't keep doing the same things over and over, and expect things to somehow magically become better.....without changing what I'm doing. I don't want to be too cryptic but again, it's not really stuff that I want to post on the internet....even on a 'private' forum.   My point (and I do have one) is that I'm really lucky right now. I have 2 real paper journals that are only partially filled, with plenty of room left in them. Also, I bought a membership to our zoo, which is right next door to my apartment building. It is so, so easy to just walk a block, show my card, and walk right in.....skipping the whole line for tickets. And as long as it's not too crowded, it is a great place to walk for some exercise, and sit and relax, while writing in my journal. I'm off work tomorrow night so I think I'm going to take a little trip to the zoo and say hi to my animal friends. The cat house makes me a little sad, though, because I feel like the cats would be happier outdoors, with lots more room to roam around. I guess they don't know what they're missing? I hope not. They look kind of sad all confined as they are.
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Jan 2010 Lupercalia breakdown

For my own selfish reasons, because I have to sort out which ones I want, for now I'm only including wants or might-wants.   First the Shungas......   Konseishin The Penis God......"Apple blossom, champaca, fir needle, cistus, myrrh, Peru balsam, and Tan Xiang".....I think Tan Xiang is sandalwood, and I don't see much about this scent that I don't like!   Okayaki....."Olive blossom, cardamom pod, amber, morning star lily, bergamot, and a well-aimed snowball".....will be watching reviews.   Penis Admiration....."Lilac, ho wood, smoky vanilla, galbanum, and tonka".....not sure about a couple notes here, lilac and galbanum, but I'll be watching reviews with interest.   Prosperity Of A Country....."Frankincense, orris root, asuhi, leather, and ginger-infused cream accord"......I think asuhi is hiba wood. I'm really interested in this scent. Could be my "take-a-chance" scent.   Ronin......"White sandalwood, rice flower, honey, black pepper, and oakmoss".....sometimes don't like white sandalwood, or black pepper, and usually don't like honey, but I like the art of this one and will watch reviews.   Now Ode To Ares......   Andreiphontes......"Tonka, benzoin, black sandalwood, and nutmeg".....has potential.   Enkhespalos......."Elder wood, leather, blonde tobacco, and cognac"......has potential.   Enyalios......"Patchouli, frankincense, olibanum, thyme, cocoa absolute, Peru balsam, oakmoss, and juniper".......this could be too much dood-fume, or it could be really fantastic.   Khalkokorustes......"Champaca, pear, cedar, black pepper, jasmine, and red sandalwood".....this sounds like some fabulous love-child between Quincey Morris and Dr. John Seward. I need to try this one.   That is about it for now. I'll be reading others' breakdowns and thinking some more but really, those are the most interesting right now.
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HOOOO-boy

Lots on my mind, and lots to do in the next week or so....and beyond. I've pretty much decided to move when my lease is out which is at the end of November, which means I'm looking at an apartment tomorrow, so I can get things moving ASAP.   The apartment sounds really great, and it's in an area that I like, so I'm really excited and I hope that I like it. It has many more pros than the place where I live now, and honestly, I can hardly wait to move out of there. Cat friendly, laundry in basement, off-street parking, secure building, paid heat and water, nicer neighborhood.....and the landlady seems okay to me, just from the phone conversations we've had. Also it's only a couple of blocks away from the Cincinnati Zoo, which I think is really great (the Zoo is in kind of a bad area but that's not the part where I'm looking.....I'm a little further south of that which is more of a college- and medical-student area).   Other than that, I have a whole bunch of smaller stuff that I need to get done, including cleaning up my current apt so I can be sure to get my deposit back. I will feel a little bad telling my current landlady that I'm not staying, but......well, I can't think of a but. I just never felt at home there, can't stand the neighbors, can't get comfortable in the space....what more really needs to be said? It's a nice apartment but I just for whatever reason couldn't get myself adjusted there. And I'm definitely not staying for another year, and she won't go month-to-month, so there ya go.
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Ho Hum....

* sigh *   I am not only bored but restless, too. I'm at work and kind of wish I wasn't here. I feel like I have important things that need to get done, but not much time in which to do them. Just restless energy, I guess. And I guess this Mountain Dew I'm drinking probably isn't a great idea.   Earlier today I wore Fearful Pleasure, which I still like a lot. Right now I'm wearing To Autumn, which I also like.....maybe even better. I just like them both, I think. Fearful Pleasure does this kind of musky thing on the dry-down, which I don't like as much.....but it's not enough to put me off the scent. I guess it's the woodsmoke that gives me that musky impression, or maybe it does have some musk, although I didn't see anyone else mention it in reviews.   Anyway, enough babbling for now.
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Helios

(I'm not happy with this review....this is just a first draft)   Resinous scents are kind of a no-brainer for me, to the point where I don't even try all the new ones. But I love, love, love Helios. This is kind of an updated Sol. There's also something reminding me of Doc Buzzard, although I can't imagine which note that would be.   Okay, sorry if you haven't had the chance to try Sol or Doc Buzzard. This scent is kind of woody and spicy, but transcends both of those categories. I guess it's kind of incensey, but really high-class incensey. It kind of makes me think of that ultra-expensive Amouage cologne, one of the Jubilation ones (I can't remember which one I've tried, XXV I think), only without the patchouli. So yeah, I guess I am picking up on the frankincense. But it's not being a big frankincense bully with the other notes, like it sometimes does for me. Everything is in harmony.
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Harvest Moon Update

Well, looks like I have to do a note-by-note breakdown for these.   Harvest Moon......dry leaves, mulling spices, balsam fir, cedar, juniper berry, clove, saffron, damson plum, sage, yarrow, and lily twined with Dionysus' sacred grapes and ivy, a bounty of apple and pumpkin, and the amaranth and lingum aloes of Janus, all touched by a gentle breath of festival woodsmoke and sweet wine.   The first nine notes are either 'yes' or 'sure, why not', then things start getting more complicated. Yarrow I just don't know about but I can handle herbal. And then lily....you know, I missed lily the first time I read the notes. Kind of snuck up on me and I usually don't like lily, so that is something to consider. Then we move on to some fruits, more herbs, woods, and smoke.....most of which I like, or don't hate.....except the grape is something to also consider. Overall, I could be interested, and I've never tried Harvest Moon before and this would be a good one to start with, because I do like most of the notes.   Mabon.....Blackberry wine and apple with hops, English ivy, rosemary, hazel, sage, chamomile, sweetgrass, oak bark, wild nuts, and myrrh.   I'm leaning towards no, because of the blackberry wine and nuts, although I might actually enjoy a fall herbal scent. The addition of myrrh makes me want to at least try a decant.   Wildfire.....orris and rose together? No thank you. I don't think there's enough wood to temper those two powder/soap bombs.   So, bottom line, if I'm feeling adventerous I might just grab a bottle of Harvest Moon before it goes bye-bye. Maybe a decant of Mabon if I see one. And I do want to sniff Wildfire, if it crosses my path, but I don't hold out much hope for that one.
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Happy 4th of July

Writing from work again, only a short shift today and not at all my usual time of day to be here, so it's a little disorienting. I am off at 2:30pm, then I'm free until tomorrow night. I wouldn't mind going out and celebrating a little, but at the same time, I really don't have the money right now, not for another 2 weeks. Also, it's supposed to rain today, and I think I could just as easily stay home, play video games, maybe do some cleaning, maybe organize my bpal collection, etc, etc. We shall see.   Scent of the day is Bad Luck Woman Blues.....just love the moss in this, it's so wonderful.
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HALLOWEENIES! (ahem. A breakdown)

So it's that time of year again, the thrills don't stop until Lupers, and sometimes not even then! There's just something wonderful about sitting down to a brand new bpal Halloween update, ready to break it down. This is just one of my favorite things! Onward.....   A Nocturnal Reverie...."Violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense". It's funny, I have been wishing for an elegant, chic, purple incense kind of scent, and what do you know....seems like this could be it! I'm pretty sure I need to try this. Probably a decant, first.   Araw Ng Mga Patay....."A cheerful, raucous celebration of life and death: bouquets overflowing with gerbera daisies, waling waling, sampaguita, ylang ylang, hibiscus, night-blooming dama de noche, santan, and everlasting flower with piles upon piles of bibingka, ube halaya, rice muffins, champorado, purple yam cake, and turon, and plates of gooey kalabasa leche flan". Okay, I don't know what most of those notes are. The description makes me think of Diwali, which I do like, but hardly ever wear. I think I can let this one pass, there are many more grabbing my attention.   Autumn Cider...."Fermented apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, lemon zest, butterscotch liquor, and orange slices". Not sure about this, sounds very rich, and I don't think I'd like a butterscotch liquor note. I have full bottles of Egg Moon, Spicebush Swallowtail, and Plunder, Blood....and probably other spice scents I'm not remembering. I think I can let this one pass.   Boo 2011....."Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream". Not really of interest to me but I would sniff it if someone handed it to me!   Devil's Night 2011...."This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk". I love Devil's Night but I never wear it! I still have a mostly full bottle from 2006, and 2 decants from other years, so I think I can pass. But I might like a decant just to compare to other 'vintages'.   Elegy IX: The Autumnal....."Red maplewood, plum leaves, fir needle, wildflower honey, patchouli, hazelnut, and green cognac". Something about this list of notes is quite seductive to me! There are a couple of 'iffy' notes but I love taking a risk and being sweetly rewarded. This is a possible blind buy for me, considering it.   Ghosts In Love....."White sandalwood, tobacco flower, lily of the valley, white carnation, and magnolia blossom with tea rose, labdanum, and oudh". Tea rose and lily of the valley, in the same scent? This would soap me to the moon.   John Barleycorn 2011....."Barley, beer, blood, and whiskey". I am going to pass on this one. No interest in a super-boozey scent. Sounds yucky to me.   La Calavera Catrina....."The Lady of the Graveyard! Autumn leaves, wild roses, bourbon vanilla, dry chamomile, and a bouquet of bright chrysanthemums and Mexican marigolds". Hmmm.....probably a pass for me, just because of the roses, but I wouldn't mind sniffing it if the opportunity presented.   Le Revenant....."A shroud of gardenia, narcissus, and sandalwood with ambrette seed, white cognac, muguet, davana, and white musk". Hmmm.....probably not for me, but I am attracted to the elegant vibe.   Mictecacihuatl 2011..."Copal, precious woods, South American spices, agave nectar, cigar tobacco, and roses". I tried this before and it's not bad, but just a little too much rose for me to truly enjoy. Pass for now.   Nothing But Death....."A dark purple river swelling with tears of rain, damp violets, and specks of bone thick with green scents that speak of mortality: black dried fruits, opopponax, moss, violet leaf and petal, tobacco absolute, saltwater accord, niaouli, and brushed sage". Hmm, more purple incense-y chic? With saltwater? Sounds very interesting, but I think a decant first would be prudent!   October 2011...."Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air". I love October, have a bottle from the first time it was released, and just never wear it, for some stupid reason. I'm tempted to get another bottle but I think it might be edged out by other new stuff.   Pumpkin Latte 2011...."Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg". I have a decant from last year and I think I tried it twice. Maybe I should try it again but it's not the kind of scent I'm after this year. It was too strong and sweet.   Pumpkin Princess....."Bright, sweet pumpkin with vanilla fluff, guava, chocolate-dusted white amber, tiare, red currant, raw honey, and meringue". So cute! I'd love a decant, but I know I don't need a whole bottle.   Samhain 2011...."Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein". I have been thinking about another bottle for my collection, one of the few scents that I have multiple bottles (and decants, too). I don't wear it much but it truly is....the scent of autumn itself. Probably one of my top 5 bpal scents, ever.   Samhainophobia 2011....."Menacing Haitian vetiver, patchouli, and clove with a shock of bourbon geranium, grim oakmoss, and dread-inspiring balsams pierce the innocuous scent of autumn leaves". I have a bottle from 2006, and I have worn it quite a few times, and always end up getting tired of it. It's very strong and lasts and lasts. There's something not quite right to me, and maybe it's the geranium, because I usually don't like that note. Who knows, but I think I'll pass.   Sonnet D'Automne...."Tenebrous Love: a shivering white musk with vanilla-infused white cocoa, amber incense, and dead, dry leaves". Oh, this sounds beautiful. In my mind I'm convinced that it will be great! Seriously thinking of a whole bottle, unsniffed.   The Vampire Bride...."Icy skin touched by a perfume of violet leaf, white tea, olibanum, elemi, myrrh, wormwood, crypt dust, and saffron with a dribble of blood red musk". Hmmm, very interesting, but I'm having trouble imagining how those notes will all fit together. I'm intrigued. I may have to find a decant.   The Nymphae Avernales...."The nymphs of the Underworld: pomegranate, lilac musk, red rose, red sandalwood, honey, and frankincense". I am not a big fan of pomegranate, and with the red rose I guess I can skip this one.   Regina Erebi...."The Queen of Hell: pomegranate, spear mint, black mulberry, and myrrh". I'm weirdly attracted to this, even though I don't like the smell of spearmint, and myrrh is about the only note listed that I do like. Thinking about a decant, for some strange reason.   Askalaphos...."The daimon that tends the orchards of the Underworld: pomegranate, wonder-flowers, asphodel, and black soil". I am pretty sure I can pass on this one!   The Silver Apple Of The Moon...."White apple with orris, agave nectar, moonflower, white sandalwood, and lotus root". Not a big fan of apple scents, but I do like white sandalwood, and I think I like moonflower but I'm not sure. Sounds like it could be soapy or too floral. I'm undecided on this one.   The Golden Apple Of The Sun...."Golden apple with amber, hibiscus, carnation, frankincense, golden spiced tea, ginger, and champaca flower". Mixed feeling on this one....I like the list of notes but at the same time, I feel like it's a kind of scent I've smelled before and never end up liking much. Undecided.   The Black Apple Of Saturn...."Dried Arkansas black apple, opoponax, cypress, myrrh, tobacco absolute, quince, black musk, and galbanum". The most interesting of the apple scents to me, this is a possible decant. Not sure yet.   The Green Apple Of Venus...."Sweet green apple, apple blossom, sweet strawberry, pink pomegranate, violet leaf, tea rose, and red sandalwood". Never have wanted a scent with strawberry, and not a fan of tea rose either. I shall pass!   The Glittering Apple Of The Stars...."Heirloom Malus, ylang ylang, white and blue musks, crystallized vanilla, tiare, frangipani, and bergamot". Not much of interest to me here. I'll skip it.   The Changeling...."Blonde wood, linen swaddling, pumpkin rind, and bourbon vanilla". I'm kind of interested in how these play together, and I may seek out a decant.   Death Embraces A Young Maiden...."Three dry white sandalwoods with gurjum balsam, guiac wood, ambergris accord, and tea rose". Gurjum balsam sounds like something that has turned out bad before, and paired with tea rose I'm going to say........pass.   Expressive Head...."Teakwood, patchouli, green pepper, clove, white cognac, vetiver, and champaca absolute". Wow. That's quite an image! And quite a weird list of notes. Maybe a decant.   Garden Of Death...."A harvest of plants that symbolize death in myriad cultures: belladonna accord, iris petals, red poppy, acanthus, manioc, parsley, yam, urd bean, chrysanthemum, acacia, and cypress wood rooted in dark, rich loam". Hmmm....I dunno. Sounds very complex and I'm not really feelin' it, for some reason. But for all I know it might be awesome. Undecided.   An Incubus Leaving Two Sleeping Women...."Vanilla-infused white honey, magnolia, skin musk, ylang ylang, and beeswax with patchouli, olibanum, kurundu, and a feral brown musk". Ylang ylang and brown musk are a turn off, and together the whole list of notes sounds....odd to me. Undecided for sure but probably I will pass.   La Morte: Mon ironie depasse toutes les autres!....."Pomegranate accord, red rose accord, opopponax, benzoin, champaca flowers, and star anise". Not really interested in pomegranate and rose.   The Mandrake Charm...."Mandrake root, olibanum, myrrh, hyssop, basil linalool, and lemongrass". I think I'll probably pass, but I'm not completely sure. It could be great. Sounds kind of like a spring scent to me? Come to think of it, a lot of these Halloweenies sound kind of springy. Undecided.   Muse Of The Night...."A soft, resinous indigo musk with black currant, ylang ylang, Tunisian jasmine, opoponax, rose otto, benzoin, Tahitian vanilla bean, and opium tar". That painting is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. But I just can't get excited about the notes. I might have to get a decant just because I love the art.   The Night Hag Visiting The Lapland Witches...."Black sandalwood, woodsmoke, Terebinth pine, blue cypress, styrax, frankincense, chamomile maroc, and nutmeg". This is the kind of thing I was after last year, and before that....but now it makes me think of The Montauk Project which I never wear. Undecided but I may get a decant.   Nightmare...."Vanilla-soaked linen accord with lavender, opium poppy, Moroccan jasmine, golden amber, white honey, and blackened fruit gums". Ah yes, a very familiar painting, it reminds me of the movie Gothic. This is what I love about all the Salon scents....I want to smell this concept in a perfume. Might be a decant.   Post-Mortem Laureatus...."White sandalwood and twining ivy". I always love the idea of the dual-note scents! And I happen to like these two notes, so this is absolutely worth a try. Probably a decant.   Sentimental Initiation...."Red and black musks with bamboo, myrrh, bitter clove, patchouli, vanilla orchid, and king mandarin". Could be great but I don't know....I might like a decant just to try. The notes sound like they don't really go together for some reason. Maybe a decant.   The Triumph Of Death...."East Indian black patchouli, red sandalwood, dark musk, peru balsam, ambrette seed, vetiver, and ambergris accord". The list of notes does sound great, except I think balsam sometimes turns against me. Still, this is definitely worth a try and I might get a decant.   The Gorobble....."A scent redolent of the crusty exterior of burnt marshmallows". Strange....interesting.....kind of want a decant, but my decant list is getting long.....   The Seekim...."Cacao absolute, hay, black pepper, patchouli, and incense ash". Another very interesting list of notes. I may have to try it. Sounds clever and weird, maybe something really different.   The Ta-Ta...."Boiled leather, carnation blossom, coffee absolute, and tobacco". More weird notes.....this one is not calling to me. The notes don't sound good together but I will watch reviews.   The Two-Tailed Sogg...."Pink grapefruit, swamp moss, green musk, orris root, cypress, and honey". More weirdness. Maybe not for me.   The Wiley Grasser...."Pine needles, wildflowers, and cotton candy". Too, too weird. I kind of want to sniff this but I doubt I'd end up liking it? Maybe??   The Zoom...."Lime juice, bergamot, Himalayan cedarwood, helichrysum, and dragon’s blood resin". Okay, getting to the end of this breakdown and my mind is a little worn out from all the possibilities!! This one is just not calling to me. Not a huge fan of cedar and I don't really feel like a citrus scent right now. I'll watch reviews and perhaps change my mind.   Blood Moon 2011...."A Lunacy inspired by the magnificently morbid fantasies of Edgar Allan Poe: laudanum-stained linen scented by an ink-smeared tobacco musk and phantom bloodstains illuminated by monstrous moonlight". Blood Moon has been hit-and-miss for me, and this one looks to be totally unrelated to the previous ones? So, I'm just not sure. This is one of those wild cards that I may order at the last minute just because I don't want it to get past me. I am attracted by the description, I have to admit.
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Halloweenie breakdown

Here are my thoughts. I need to write get it on paper (or on computer screen, as it were) so I can figure out what decants I want. And what bottles. Here we go....   edit: decant desires bolded   BLACK BUTTERFLY MOON Soft, deep, and luminous: Lady of the Night orchid, benzoin, opopponax, currant, black chypre, white gardenia, ambergris, damp, wooded mosses, and black lily. The notes sound nice, except for black lily. I don't feel the need to try this, though. Probably somewhat feminine and perfumey.   THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER A quiet, solitary scent: white rose, frankincense, Arabian sandalwood, neroli, orris root, and patchouli. With 'Rose' in the name, I can safely pass on this one. Not that I hate rose, but I don't really like orris and the combination here would probably be soapy and/or powdery.   SHADOWLESS LIKE SILENCE Dry leaves and white sandalwood, rock moss, cypress, and dry, lifeless roses. Dry, lifeless roses sounds powdery or soapy to me. Another I can pass up. Edit: preliminary reviews are saying the rose is faint.....maybe a decant after all.   SUMMER'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT Doomed summer, supported on the shoulders of winter and autumn: citrus-infused Baltic amber, red valerian, marigold, blood orange, and sunflower subdued by somber myrrh and dry geranium alongside the leaves of autumn and a breath of winter wind. Sounds nice enough, except it does sound like at least one other blend that I already have a whole bottle of (Red Moon, the newer one). Worth a decant.   UNDER THE HARVEST MOON Blue and white musk, summer roses, wild crimson leaves, grey amber, carnation, lavender bud, and vanilla bean. Sounds very perfumey which I know is a lame adjective but it describes the kind of scent that I'm trying to avoid lately. It's just the word I use for a particular quality that I don't know how else to describe.   BITE ME Croquembouche with almond silk and a drizzle of caramel. Nah, not so much.....I'd sniff it given the chance but not going out of my way to obtain some.   BOO Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream. Definitely not. I'm not into cotton/linen notes, or cream for that matter. Worth a sniff, though.   CARLIN Black sage, ivy-twined rowan, thistle, snapdragon, heather, gorse, fumitory, and anise. Just not sure about this one.......worth a decant just to find out. I like herbal scents from time to time.   CREEPY 2009 A return of 2006's Ridiculous Scent! As creepy as Spooky was spooky, this is the scent of butterscotch-kissed, caramel-smothered red apples spiked with a blast of coconut rum. I swapped my bottle from '06, no need to try it again. It's nice enough but a little too rich for me.   DEVIL'S NIGHT 2009 This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk. One of my favorites, but I already have enough to last me a long time. I may get a decant if the reviews indicate it's different from the past ones.   DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2009 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. Never have tried this, I may end up with a decant eventually. I just don't like chocolate in perfume (usually).   FEEDING THE DEAD A barrel of beer, a pyramid of cakes, and three sticks of incense. I am interested, enough for a decant.   THE HELL-GATE OF IRELAND Smoldering brimstone, bitter labdanum, clove, black musk, and copper-colored feathers. This is one of the more interesting prospects. The only worry is that sometimes black musk is powdery. But not always. Decant.   LAMBS-WOOL A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove. Warmed milk is the only thing holding me back from a decant. I will watch reviews.   POMONA Azaroles, nuts, and apple blossoms with red apple pulp, mulberry, blackberry, and pomegranate juice. Nahh, too fruity for me. I'll stick with Possets' Pomona.   SAMHAIN 2009 Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein. I am so stocked up on Samhain in its past incarnations, that I really don't need more at this point. Especially since I don't even wear it that much.   SUCK IT Sexy and suckable: black cherry brandy. This sounds like it could be nice, just not sure. Possibly a decant?   TRICK OR TREAT 2009 The sticky sweet scent of candy corn! Even cornier for 2009! - cuz corny is how we roll at BPAL. I might like a decant, to compare with my older decant. I do like the sweet comforting scents every now and then, and the older one has a nice touch of spice.   Pumpkin Patch I Pumpkin, almond, brown musk, and honey. Brown musk and honey make this a no-go.   Pumpkin Patch II Pumpkin, rosewood, red sandalwood, and tea rose. Nah, not so much. Worth a sniff some time, maybe, but not priority right now.   Pumpkin Patch III Pumpkin, fir needle, pitch, rosemary, and tomato. I would like a decant. I love pine and fir scents.   Pumpkin Patch IV Pumpkin, black musk, tobacco, myrrh, and clove. Possibly worth a decant, we'll see how much I have to spend.   Pumpkin Patch V Pumpkin, chocolate, coffee bean, vanilla bean, and hazelnut. There's that chocolate again.......again, worth a sniff, but probably not a priority right now.   TATTIE BOGLE Hay, gunpowder, patchouli, autumn herbs, and sun-baked wood. Could be nice, if I ever ran across a sniffie.   ARIADNE BRUNNELL Poppy flowers, peat, sphagnum moss, gardenia, and white water lily. Sounds good except for the lily. It's not one of my more successful notes.   CLARIMONDE Pallid skin musk, white roses, and a languorous vapor of Oriental perfume. Again, perfumey. This will be very perfumey. Also I think skin musk reminds me of honey, which is a note I really don't like very often.   CRISTINA Chestnut trees, juniper berries, violet leaf, labdanum, dazzling, moonlit white musk, and night-blooming summer flowers. Hmmm, could be worth a decant, just not sure on this one. As far as autumn scents, this is probably lower in my priorities, but it could be a nice scent.   COUNTESS DOLINGEN OF GRATZ Hailstone-pounded cypress boughs, olibanum, and an ozone blast of lightning. Definitely want to try a decant of this.   THE GIRL A seductive, serpentine white scent, elusive, crystalline, and spellbinding: white amber, silver birch, immortelle, davana, pale musk, star jasmine, and ylang ylang. Worth a sniff, but not so much calling to me.   MIRCALLA, COUNTESS KARNSTEIN Languid, melancholy fire: red musk, purple orchid, frankincense, smoky vanilla, Styrian herbs, peru balsam, tonka, Zanzibar clove, and patchouli. This should appeal to me....but I think I have a few scents like this already. I will watch reviews.   LORD RUTHVEN The father of all dandy aristocrat vampires: Aqua Admirabilis with polished boot leather and blood. I could be into this one......possibly a decant.   SARAH Unholy mist congealing into soft, white flesh, with black marble, remnants of liturgical incense, wolf's fur, and black flecks of froth. Wolf's fur is the only thing I am wary of, because I don't like muzzy furry notes all that much. But this is just so odd, I have to try a decant.   JULIA STONE Rotting once-white fabric, spotted with mold. I don't usually like linen notes, but I have a thing for the underdog. In most of the other breakdowns, everyone pretty much dismissed this one......which of course makes me want to try a decant! We'll see how the reviews go.   PERLE VON MAUREN Heliotrope, grave soil, and blood. Soil is a gamble of a note for me, I think I'll let this one pass me by, unless the reviews shout otherwise.   So, overall, no immediate bottle purchases. I have this nagging feeling about Lambs-Wool.....I think it's going to be a big hit, and I am pretty sure I want to try it. I might just get a surprise, even with the warm milk note! Other than that, I want to try the obvious masculine ones for the most part, and a couple others.
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Halloween Update/breakdown

Breakdown! I have rated some of these according to my interest, on a scale of 1-5.   ALL SAINTS 2010 Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. A celebration of the glory and suffering of the saints and matryrs of the Church. Not interested. All those flowers sound like soap to me.   ALL SOULS 2010 A day of remembrance and intercession. Without the prayers and sacrifices of their families and loved ones, the faithful departed may not be cleansed of their venal sins, and thereby cannot attain beatific vision. On November 2nd, prayers are sung and offerings are made to aid lost souls in transcending purgatory. An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes. I like my decant of All Souls '06, and I might want more of this. It starts out cakey and turns into floral incense, in a good way. 3/5     BLUE PUMPKIN FLOSS Puffy clouds of pumpkin candyfloss with a trickle of blackberry juice. Not for me, thanks....more for all the gals who've been waiting for this!   BOO 2010 Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream No thank you......   CALAVERAS Clever little satirical poems in the style of epitaphs written to tease the living and ease grief over a loved one's passing. Xocolatl, tequila, copal incense, smoke-dried jalapeños, vanilla pods, and cajeta. I'll have to look up a couple of these notes, but I am not a big fan of copal (I do like it in incense, but not perfume), and I'm leaning towards nyet on this one.     DIA DE LOS ÑATITAS Hydrangea blossoms and rose petals, cigarette smoke, cocoa leaves, and chichi. Leaning towards no....don't really need a scent with rose and chocolate. Is chichi milk? 2/5   FLOR DE MUERTO The orange marigold, or zempasúchitl, has been one of Death's symbols since the pre-Columbian era. The yellow and orange petals are believed to represent the rays of the sun, bringing joy and light to the souls dwelling in the realm of the dead. These flowers surround Day of the Dead altars to guide the spirits to their offerings. I am interested, because I just like the idea of marigold perfume. They remind me of my grandma Nena, who liked to grow them. And it seems like they would be sort of a bitter or earthy floral, but really I have no idea. Want to try! 4/5   GHOULISH This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron. Hmmm....at first I thought no, not interested. But reading it again, it sounds rather decadent and almost incensey, even though it's a foody/drinky scent. Sounds kind of sexy, actually. Decant? 3/5   THE HAG Black musk, bay leaves, galangal, bourbon vetiver, blackcurrant, and rum. Interesting.....I know I need to try this, so decant. Blackcurrant and rum are the iffy notes. 4/5     GOLLETES A circular pastry glazed with pink sugar that symbolizes the sweetness of life and the certainty of death. Nope, no thanks!   HUESOS DE SANTO 2010 Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers. I like my decant of the last one, but I wouldn't need a whole bottle. Perhaps another decant if it crosses my path. 3/5   LAMBS-WOOL 2010 A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove. I like this scent but in the end it was just too sweet, to the point of being cloying. I want more spices and ale, I think. I'll watch reviews and see if it has changed since last time. 2/5   NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY Dewy green leaves colored by Moroccan amber, ginseng, and rooibos. Ha ha....reminds me of the Outsiders or one of those old teen movies. Anyway, this sounds great, and I'm really interested in trying it. 4/5   OCTOBER 2010 Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air. Well, I love this scent, but I don't need any more unless it has changed a lot from the previous one.   PUMPKIN LATTE Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Worth a decant to sniff but not super exciting to me. 3/5   PUNKIE NIGHT 2010 This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider. Never was very interested in this scent, for some reason. Sounds too fruity with the cranberries, I generally don't like berries in my perfume.   SAMHAIN 2010 Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein. I can most likely skip Samhain this year, since I have 2 bottles and several decants of various years already. I do love Samhain, though.   SUGAR SKULL 2010 Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. Hmmm......I have half a bottle from '07, and decants of '05 and '08.....do I need more? I love Sugar Skull, but maybe a decant will be enough for me. 4/5   THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE October twilight. Falling leaves breaking the stillness of cool water, with sweet autumn clematis, feather-soft orris root, luminous white chypre, and muguet. Hmmmm....kind of on the edge about this one but leaning towards no. Sounds very pretty but orris and muguet sound powdery and/or soapy to me. 2/5   HALLOWEEN: BROOKLYN Flowering dogwood, weeping cherry, Korean pine, camellia, moonflower, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and crab apples. These notes sound soapy to me, especially moonflower. I'll pass on this one (even though pine and spruce make me want to sniff.....). 3/5   HALLOWEEN: LOS ANGELES The sky on fire: a strange incense of burning brush, junegrass, tumbleweeds, chaparral, and wild sage. I love the description and the imagery supplied by Beth. I forget what chaparral is but I want to try this. Decant first, probably. 4/5   HALLOWEEN: NEW ORLEANS The distinctive scent of the Mississippi at night mingling with sweet olive and Spanish moss. Moss is not always good to me, but sometimes very good to me. Worth a try because I do like aquatics in general. 4/5   HALLOWEEN: SAN FRANCISCO Salt air wafting in from the bay. Rain falling on rain-soaked leaves. Sounds awesome! Decant first, just to be cautious. 4/5   POMEGRANATE I Pomegranate, poet's jasmine, and benzoin. Well, I like benzoin, but pomegranate and jasmine are not thrilling to me. Probably pass. 2/5   POMEGRANATE II Pomegranate, white musk, lemon verbena, grapefruit, pink lime. Yeah...this is probably the least interesting of the pom. scents to me. Pass-ola. 1/5   POMEGRANATE III Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh. Potential decant. 3/5   POMEGRANATE IV Pomegranate, cognac, red musk, cocoa, tobacco absolute, star anise, and thyme. Don't like cocoa that much with a couple of exceptions. Probably pass.....maybe decant. We'll see. 3/5   POMEGRANATE V Pomegranate, carnation, amber, cardamom, neroli, vetiver, black pepper, and opium tar. Hmm, sounds interesting, kind of foppish? Possibly worth a try. 3/5   Pomegranate patch only imp: THE HERAEON OF ARGOS Argive Hera. The temple in the Argolid that was dedicated to Hera, the Queen of Heaven, in her aspect as the Great Triple Goddess. Pomegranate, apple blossom, fig, willow bark, and almond. Not calling to me very much, although I would definitely try it if it crossed my path. 2/5   THE BYRONIC ANTIHERO An aristocratic cologne of titanic passions, moody and brooding. This scent is dark with disillusionment and cynicism: a Victorian fougère and a dashing carnation boutonnière tainted by a cloud of khus, yew, and patchouli. Hmmm, sounds interesting, and did I mention foppish somewhere else? Could be a nice proper dude-fume. Possible decant. 3/5   THE CREEPING MIST A muculent, brumous, ill-omened scent: orris, yuzu, white ginger, linden flower, petitgrain, and lotus. Interesting. Orris tells me to back away, and in general not my kind of scent.....but could still be worth a try. Will watch reviews and possibly try a decant if I see it available somewhere. 2/5   THE DECREPIT HOUSE An architectural doppelganger reflecting a ruined soul: dilapidated planks of mahogany and cypress wood perched feebly on a grim foundation of long-dead leaves, black musk, patchouli, galbanum, tobacco absolute, fragonia, and oakmoss. Yay, another Poe scent! I like them. This looks like a bleak and dreary Halloween scent and it's worth a decant, probably. 4/5   A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint. Aww, the description and concept are reaching out to me with grabbing hands, but I just don't like brown musk. I'm going to have to try a decant of this and hope for the best. This kind of reminds me of the updated Wolf Moon, which I love. 4/5   THE INFERNAL LOVER A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk. Don't usually like honey at all, but still.....I'd like to sniff this at some point. 2/5   ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud. If this is one of those scents where the rose is just a hint, I could be interested. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5     ENCROACHING MADNESS A yellow smell. Old foul, bad yellow things. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, balsam, hydrangea, and helichrysum. I would love to try this just because of the inspiration. But reading the notes listed, I'd have to say 'pass'. We'll see. 2/5   THE SHADOWY AND THE SUBLIME A sudden and shocking insight into the vast, ineffable, overwhelming power of Nature, stirred by a vision or experience of perfected beauty and perfected terror, that changes the soul irretrievably. An epiphany: Moroccan amber, wisteria, ambergris accord, white rose, magnolia, white mint, angelica, bergamot, and myrrh. This probably has too many flowers, and white rose and I do not get along. Love the description and imagery, though. 2/5   THE MADWOMAN Dusty white sandalwood, ragged cloth, and a dry, long-dead bridal bouquet. Just like the preceding scent, love the concept, but not the notes listed. 'Dusty white sandalwood' doesn't appeal to me, and neither does the bouquet. 1/5   ODD PORTENTS Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense. Again with the rose! And I was excited about this one. I might still try this, but I don't really like geranium in perfume either. Another possible decant.... 3/5   THE UNSAVORY GRAVE-DIGGERS An unearthed oakwood coffin, cemetery weeds, and a hint of booze. Sounds a little dank. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5   THE UNSTEADY GOVERNESS White tea and violet leaf. Not calling me. 2/5   .....so looks like I'm pretty safe with a few exceptions. I like the sound of the San Francisco and LA Halloween scents, and a few others like Nothing Gold Can Stay and the marigold one. I'll probably play my usual game and gamble on something I'm not sure about (the marigold scent sounds like a good candidate because I have no idea how that will smell), and get a few decants. I also need to go back and try Lambs-Wool again just to be sure.   And finally, I need to read the text more slowly for the Goth Lit scents, as that could change my mind on one or more of them. I noticed it says Vol. 1.....will there be more volumes? Interesting!
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Halloween update - breakdown!

I've already made a purchase but this is to help me decide which others I need, or if I want to try for decants, etc.. I'm going back to my good ol' rating system where I put my interest level on a 1-5 scale.    Abelard Coconut husk and pearwood with frankincense and carnation petals.  This might be nice, I'd certainly try it if it were put in front of me.  Kind of sounds like a Luper.  3/5   Apple Macchiato This is a homage to the upstart little sister of Caffeinated Autumn Beverages: apple spice, cinnamon, brown sugar, oatmilk, and caramel apple drizzle over espresso.  Not much looking for gourmand scents this time around, but still might try this somewhere down the road.  3/5    Autumn 1990 This is the scent of a disaffected deathrock kid skulking around Hollywood with her ne’er-do-well friends: pre-climate catastrophe autumn winds billowing through a cloud of decaying leaves, exhaust fumes, maximum-hold hairspray, and clove cigarettes, but minus the Boones Farm.  At first I wasn't interested but now I'm thinking this could be kind of an evolved cousin of Devil's Night, and I'm a little more interested.  I love atmospheric scents.  This went from a 3 to 4/5   Every Day is Halloween Skin-warmed sandalwood and toasted pumpkin settle into a gentle blend suitable for all 365 days of Halloween.  I have a previous bottle, like it but definitely don't need more.  1/5    Fleece Skeleton Onesie The scent of freshly-washed fleece skeleton onesie and a little bit of smeared eyeliner.  I just got skeleton onesies for myself and my partner, so I was cracking up when I saw this!  I do like "clean laundry" type scents, enough to have multiple of them, and this sounds like a spooky variation of that.  I will say 4/5   Heloise Polished limewood, myrrh smoke, and blackened spices.  Could be good, but not making a huge impression on me.. something like a darker Mr. Nancy?  I'd try a decant, maybe.. 3/5      L.A. River Pumpkin An offering of sun-warmed pumpkin flesh anointed with slithering green musks, sun-dried grasses, pineapple juice, and squished prickly pear fruit.  Not sure about this one.  I haven't tried any of the Lab's pineapple scents, I'm kind of scared of it.  I'd try it, but not seeking it out.  (And I could be totally wrong, it's been known to happen, lol!) 2/5   October 32nd The scent of Eternal October: leaves fluttering against a thick wool sweater, the cool amber glow of an autumn sunset, dollops of thick cream swirling in black tea.  I do love tea scents, never tried this one but all the notes sound okay, so why isn't it grabbing my attention (and didn't last year)?  3/5    Oil and Blood There are no saints here: thick blackened rivulets of blood soak through linen winding sheets and cold clay.  This could be good, but it could go a little too "perfumey" on me?  I'd certainly like to try it.  4/5    Pomegranate Tiramisu Lady Fingers soaked in pomegranate syrup and tipped with fingernails of sliced almond, entombed in layers of mascarpone and crème fraîche and then topped with a sprinkle of fresh pomegranate seeds.  Not calling out to me, but I would try it on if it crossed my path.  2/5    Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffin Pumpkiny, chocolatey, muffiny.  Doesn't sound like my kind of thing. 1/5    Pumpkin Spice Latte Getting back to basics.  I already have Pinched w/Four Pumpkins, don't think I need this.  2/5    Samhain Truly the scent of autumn itself — damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.  I love Samhain but I already have lots of it, various decants and a few bottles.  Don't need more right now but I would try it in the interest of comparing to other years.  2/5   Sugar Skull Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.  I love the older Sugar Skull, but last year's (or was it the year before?) was a very different variation that I didn't like as much.  I do have a couple older bottles now and a few different decants, so I don't really need more, but I'd be really interested to know if it's the newer variant again, or if it's back to the older formula (but I think even the older formula went through some slight variation from year to year..but this is another topic).  2/5    The Shadowed Veil A strangely sensual, darkly fae All Hallow’s Eve cologne, a perfume of the Otherworld: black pumpkin, leather, pomegranate incense, agarwood, and bourbon patchouli.  I have an older decant, like it, don't need more.  But again I do like comparing different years of the same scent.  2/5    The Unreturning When far-gone dead return upon the world: wisps of spectral white musk and ambergris, blackened leather, yew needles, cypress boughs, gnarled patchouli root, and the memory of frankincense smoke.  White musk can be borderline soapy or too perfumey, and ambergris can take over everything on my skin.  Not willing to risk this one but I'd try it.  2/5    The Wind Strike Chill and Cold The frost of undeath: an icy and lustrous white mint with ti leaf, white amber, and bruised lilac.  I already have Icy Fingers from previous Halloween (is that what it was called?), and this isn't really calling out to me.  I'm not a huge lilac fan.  1-2/5    Torta Setteveli A classic Sicilian recipe alternating layers of chocolate sponge cake, hazelnut Bavarian cream, chocolate mousse, and hazelnut praline crunch, all enrobed in a dark chocolate mirror glaze.  I don't really like chocolate or nut notes in perfume, usually.  1/5   X-Rayed Candy Bag The sugary contents of last night’s Trick-or-Treat bucket blasted with atomic particles at your local hospital, producing a stark image of ghostly treats cast in a greeny-white radioactive glow.  This isn't really calling out to me.  I'd try it, though.  2/5    Halloween 2022 - Bobbing for Apples 2022 Not really into apple scents for the most part, although I still try them out from time to time.  So....   Bobbing for Ball Gags Black leather, honeyed amber, and a bite of apple.  2/5   Bobbing for Blood Kisses Gleaming red apples sloshing through lush, creamy vanilla and the honey of the sweetest kiss smeared with the vital throb of husky clove, swollen red cherries, but darkened with the vampiric sensuality of vetiver, soporific poppy and blood red wine, and a skin-light pulse of feral musk. 2/5    Bobbing for Daddy The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Get it? Fall! Our ongoing collaboration with the pro-wrestler EFFY has taken a decidedly seasonal turn, conjuring fantasies of apple picking, polishing, nibbling, and even a bit of juicing if the mood is right. Blended together with DADDY’s signature notes of diabolical incense, bay rum and a hiss of infernal fougere, this is one hayride you won’t want to miss. 1/5    Bobbing for Dodos Pink lady apples with pink and red musks, lemon peel, sugar cane, cassia, white sandalwood, mango, and agarwood.  2/5    Bobbing for Jack O’Lanterns Spiced baked apples with nutmeg and cinnamon mushed into pumpkin pulp, glowing peach, and murky clove. 2/5    Bobbing for Oblivion Arkansas black apples with inky musk, wood spice, labdanum, patchouli, dark African woods, and saffron.  Maybe?  Sounds interesting.  3/5    Bobbing for Smut Three booze soaked apples soaked in smutty musks and sugar.  Might be interesting.. 3/5    Bobbing for Snake Oil Our best-selling fragrance gets dunked: apples crushed into vintage patchouli, dark, rich, aged vanilla absolute, vegetal musk, and spices.  I'll try just about any Snake Oil variant.  3/5    Bobbing for Zombies Dried rose petals and leathery dried apples soiled with Spanish moss, oakmoss and deep brown earth.  2/5    Halloween 2022 - Dead Leaves 2022  I have roughly 1 million dead leaves scents already so it will have to be something really interesting to catch my eye...   Dead Leaves And Horchata  DL+ sweet and/or spicy is usually good but sometimes can go wrong on me.  Pass for now.  2/5    Dead Leaves, and Ginger Spice  And here it is, the one I bought!  I'm really hopeful for this one to be great.  4/5   Dead Leaves, Boot Leather, and Sweet Grass  Not really my thing right now.. 2/5    Dead Leaves, Praline, and Sheer Vanilla  See DL& Horchata.. 2/5    Dead Leaves, Scorched Pumpkin, and Marshmallows  This was close but DL& Ginger Spice won out.  This has marshmallow so I fully expect it to sell out.  I'll watch for reviews!  3/5    Dead Leaves, Vanilla Bean, Pink Fig, and Brandied Dates  Dates + vanilla bean does catch my eye but fig is historically a note I don't care about either way.  Brandied dates makes it sound even better, though.. will have to see what happens.. 3-4/5    Halloween 2022 - Ginormous Yard Skeleton   Angst Charred sandalwood and cardamom soured by bitter caraway seed.  I tend to avoid caraway (in perfumes).  1/5    Anticipation Red sandalwood and white pumpkin prickling with black pepper, orange blossom, and bergamot.  Nothing here sounds bad, but it's not really grabbing me.  2/5    Despondency A sorrowful Halloween blend of pumpkin puree, lavender bud, night-blooming violets, purple sandalwood, and tears.  Hmm, this does sound interesting.  Violet is one of those notes I don't love but do crave occasionally.  It kind of amps on my skin but I bet pumpkin and lavender would be good balancing notes.  This is a possibility.  4?/5    Victory A joyous fusion of pumpkin cheesecake and champagne.  I have Pumpkin Cheesecake, I love it but probably don't need this.. we'll see.  3/5    Halloween 2022 - Lightning Strikes   Lightning Strikes Cinema The scent of sitting in a darkened theater in a rainstorm circa 1935, marveling at the alchemy that transforms scribbled words into specters of light, shadow, and sound: dripping umbrellas, a nicotine haze clinging to musty velvet curtains, camphorous vapors rising from strips of hot celluloid.  It's a kind of scent I usually am drawn to, but there's a lot of competition in this update.  Undecided.  3/5    Lightning Strikes Literature The incendiary moment when a human hand snatches fire from the gods of creativity and channels it onto the page: a lightning storm stirred with beeswax candle smoke, yellowing notebooks, and pools of India ink.  I'm not crazy about beeswax- related scents.  2/5    Lightning Strikes the Future The ultimate lab experiment: streaks of feral red musk twining in a double-helix around a pulsing, electrified core of fossilized amber, erupting from a glimmering pool of reactor coolant.  Not sure.. these notes aren't calling out to me for some reason.  2/5    Halloween 2022 - Persephone’s Bounty I'm just not a big pomegranate fan (in perfumes).  I did just get Pomegranate Morocco, and that's about all I need right now.    Pomegranate Oud 2/5  Pomegranate Turkish Delight 2/5  Pomegranate, Brown Sugar, and Tobacco 2/5  Pomegranate, Freesia, White Tea, and White Amber 2/5  Pomegranate, Patchouli, Moss, and Fir Needle 2/5  Pomegranate, Pink Pepper, and Black Apple 2/5    Halloween 2022 - Witches, Sorceresses, and Sorceries in Art History   A Breton Sorceress Tonka bean, yellow bergamot, ambrette seed, patchouli root, oak bark and leaf, bitter almond, smoked cedar, allspice, and vanilla absolute.  Sounds very cozy and warm.  I ordered a bottle.  4/5    A Sorceress Black silk, golden thread, skin musk, white sandalwood, vanilla dust, red lotus absolute, tonka absolute, serpent scale accord, and black amber.  A few of these notes are kind of just not really my thing, like silk, skin musk, black amber (sometimes works).  I see the word "red" and worry about that too.  This could go either way, but I'm not risking it right now.  2/5    An Enchanted Cellar with Animals A cacophony of feathers and fur, cracked clay and moist stone, scattered rushes, upturned herbs, red sage, and frankincense smoke.  Sounds good but I don't know what red sage smells like.  Again sometimes "red" notes clash with my skin & nose.  Pass for now.  3/5    Dulle Griet Black oud, bay leaf, olibanum, rose smoke, cassis, green cardamom, clove bud, and black sandalwood.  I would try this if it crossed my path.  2 "black" notes kind of put me off, but it has potential.  3/5    Gooped Familiar Sweet black musk, golden amber, cedarwood, catnip, and hay absolute with a shock of carnation, clove, and cinnamon bark.  Probably smells good but isn't rising above the competition in this update.  I'll keep my eye on it.  3/5    Heksenbijeenkomst Black oud and wild plum, tobacco leaf, black amber, opium smoke, and myrrh tar.  I have a decant of Dead Leaves, oud, plum etc and I like it fine, but this doesn't call out to me.  Will watch.  3/5    La Danse de la Sorciere Auburn amber, polished wood, dribbles of golden honey, a cascade of budding herbs, red sandalwood, and sugared white amber.  Something about this combination doesn't sound like 'me'.  2/5    Lightning Struck a Flock of Witches A crack of ozone slicing through blue benzoin, indigo musk, tobacco, and opoponax.  Same as above.. 1/5    Nocturnal Witches Scene Hungarian pine needles, oak wood, black mosses, smoldering pitch, and bonfire smoke.  This sounds very interesting to me, it's kind of a risk but I went for a bottle.  4/5    Peasants Fleeing (Witchcraft) Yellow balsam, well-worn leather, dark musk, and mud-spattered wool.  This is a combination that does call out to me, for whatever reason, I went for a bottle.  Might be too strong, hope not.  4/5    Scene with Witches Smoked ambergris accord, gray silk, incense-stained cotton, and crushed herbs.  I don't usually like ambergris, it's one of the few notes I usually avoid.  Add in "gray silk" and I'm out.  The other 2 notes do sound good.  2/5    The Dance of the Farfadets Gray sandalwood, packed earth, hinoki, patchouli root, myrrh resin, and balsam.  There's that "gray" again, but this time... Look at that artwork!  I had to get a bottle.  I like a lot of earthy scents, so maybe it will work.  4/5    The Love Potion Golden neroli, blackcurrant, candied pomegranate, gilded rosewood, smoldering incense resin, and rose musk.  Not sure.  This has a lot of potential, but I passed for now.  It could turn soapy on me, or too perfumey.  Will keep it in mind.. 3/5    The Necromancer Dusty tomes, russet cashmere, green velvet, and leather, frankincense and cinnamon bark, galangal root and fig, rosewater and lilac cologne.  This sounds good, and I had it in my cart.  When I see a long list of notes, I know from experience it has potential to go wrong somewhere.  Will keep it in mind.  3/5    Three People Plucking a Mandrake A tangle of mandrake root and patchouli root bound by champaca resin.  Champaca resin is one of my favorite notes, and I love patchouli.  Bottled.  5/5    Tovenares Pale woods and dried rose petals, white sandalwood, bone dust, sweet amber, and incense smoke.  "Pale", "dried", "white" and "dust" all sounds very dry and/or perfumey to me.  Pass for now, although I do like woods, some rose, some amber, and some incense smoke.  3/5    Witchecraft: Consulting a Book of Spells, Performing Various Rites Candlewax, clove leaf, yellowed parchment, a cluster of mosses, incense resin, black pepper, cardamom, black amber, and ylang ylang.  Combination not calling to me.. 2/5    Witches at Their Incantations Red olibanum, scorched opoponax, 13-year aged myrrh oil, and champaca absolute.  Red olibanum is very worrisome to me, and myrrh might push this over the edge into "too perfumey", but it definitely has potential.  3/5    Witches Taking off for the Sabbath Broomcorn and tallow, waxed pine wood, pumpkin seeds, orris root, oakmoss, dried fig, frankincense, ambrette seed, dragon’s blood ink, and a drop of cacao.  Kind of neutral on this - but not really calling me.  2/5    Witches’ Kitchen Bourbon tobacco absolute, nagarmotha, vetiver, tomato leaf, gunpowder, yarrow stalks, brimstone, vervain, seared leather, and castoreum accord.  Right now this doesn't sound like my thing, but that could change.. pass for now.. 3/5    Young Witches at Play in the Night Sky Cloudstruck white musk, orris root, white bergamot, magnolia petals, fir needle, and juniper mist.  Again, sounds perfumey, but I'm interested because of the magnolia petals.  I think that might be like champaca.  Pass for now, will watch.  3/5 
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Halloween Summary....

decants, priority 1 Carlin Feeding The Dead The Hell-Gate Of Ireland Lambs-Wool Countess Dolingen Of Gratz Sarah Julia Stone   decants, priority 2 Shadowless Like Silence Summer's Last Will And Testament Trick Or Treat 2009 Pumpkin Patch III Pumpkin Patch IV Lord Ruthven   bottles? The Hell-Gate Of Ireland Lambs-Wool Sarah   Edit: ordered the ones crossed off (in decant form so far), and Devil's Night to boot! Honestly at this point, I'm thinking Sarah might be the only bottle I go for. But of course that could change if I fall in love with any of the other decants. : )
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Halloween breakdown, 2011...the sequel.

The update so nice, I have to break it down twice!   I had so many wild cards and maybes I have to go over this again. This time I'll leave out the definite passes.   Blood Moon 2011...."A Lunacy inspired by the magnificently morbid fantasies of Edgar Allan Poe: laudanum-stained linen scented by an ink-smeared tobacco musk and phantom bloodstains illuminated by monstrous moonlight". Since this is a totally different Blood Moon, doesn't seem much point to comparing it to the older ones. Actually, the description reminds me a lot of Male Nude, Arms Upstretched, which I already have. I am attracted to the laudanmu note because I really enjoy the sassafras of Laudanum, the GC scent. So........yeah, still undecided on this one. : /   A Nocturnal Reverie...."Violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense". Looks promising, but could tip the scale over into sweet and fruity. Probable decant.   Boo 2011....."Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream". I might try to track down a half decant or sniffie. I may have tried this at Moonarcana's house but I can't remember.   Devil's Night 2011...."This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk". Might like a decant just to compare to other 'vintages'.   Elegy IX: The Autumnal....."Red maplewood, plum leaves, fir needle, wildflower honey, patchouli, hazelnut, and green cognac". This is the kind of scent that is promising but could go either way. I love picking out one or two scents to gamble on a full bottle, unsniffed, just to surprise myself. I'm really curious about this!   Nothing But Death....."A dark purple river swelling with tears of rain, damp violets, and specks of bone thick with green scents that speak of mortality: black dried fruits, opopponax, moss, violet leaf and petal, tobacco absolute, saltwater accord, niaouli, and brushed sage". The combination of aquatic and other stuff makes me think of Eanach Dhuin, for some reason, even though they don't really share any notes. Well, I have that one already and never wear it. Still undecided, may have to try a decant.   October 2011...."Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air". Maybe a decant? I love my old bottle, and I really just am curious if the new one is different or the same.   Pumpkin Princess....."Bright, sweet pumpkin with vanilla fluff, guava, chocolate-dusted white amber, tiare, red currant, raw honey, and meringue". Well, I do love Pumpkin Queen, so I think I want a decant of the Princess.   Samhain 2011...."Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein". Possible bottle but I can wait on this one. The Halloweenies will be up for a while and this one isn't urgent, but I kind of want a bottle to go with my collection of Samhain bottles and decants.   Sonnet D'Automne...."Tenebrous Love: a shivering white musk with vanilla-infused white cocoa, amber incense, and dead, dry leaves". Pretty sure this is a bottle for me, without trying first. Sounds really lovely.   The Vampire Bride...."Icy skin touched by a perfume of violet leaf, white tea, olibanum, elemi, myrrh, wormwood, crypt dust, and saffron with a dribble of blood red musk". Kind of curious....maybe a decant....having trouble anticipating what this would smell like, but I like the description.   The Black Apple Of Saturn...."Dried Arkansas black apple, opoponax, cypress, myrrh, tobacco absolute, quince, black musk, and galbanum". This is the apple scent that stands out to me, possible decant but it might get edged out. Just too much in one update and I can't try everything!   The Changeling...."Blonde wood, linen swaddling, pumpkin rind, and bourbon vanilla". Too tantalizing to pass up. Probably a decant.   Expressive Head...."Teakwood, patchouli, green pepper, clove, white cognac, vetiver, and champaca absolute". Possible decant.....undecided.....could be good but might not work for me. Wild card.   Muse Of The Night...."A soft, resinous indigo musk with black currant, ylang ylang, Tunisian jasmine, opoponax, rose otto, benzoin, Tahitian vanilla bean, and opium tar". I'm in love with the painting, and so I want a decant.   The Night Hag Visiting The Lapland Witches...."Black sandalwood, woodsmoke, Terebinth pine, blue cypress, styrax, frankincense, chamomile maroc, and nutmeg". Very curious, but it could be too strong or sharp. Makes me think of Montauk Project which I have and don't wear. Probable decant because it has huge potential.   Nightmare...."Vanilla-soaked linen accord with lavender, opium poppy, Moroccan jasmine, golden amber, white honey, and blackened fruit gums". Very curious, very promising, probably a decant.   Post-Mortem Laureatus...."White sandalwood and twining ivy". The thing I like about this, is that the will-call reviews so far are all over the place. It's like everyone smelled a different scent. And I like the notes so this is another probable decant.   Sentimental Initiation...."Red and black musks with bamboo, myrrh, bitter clove, patchouli, vanilla orchid, and king mandarin". Another wild card but sounds promising. Undecided.   The Triumph Of Death...."East Indian black patchouli, red sandalwood, dark musk, peru balsam, ambrette seed, vetiver, and ambergris accord". Again...not sure....maybe a decant. Sounds kind of 'been there done that', and I'm interested in some different things this time around.   The Gorobble....."A scent redolent of the crusty exterior of burnt marshmallows". Interesting, possible decant but I'm more interested in the burnt part than the marshmallow part. Undecided but possible decant.   The Seekim...."Cacao absolute, hay, black pepper, patchouli, and incense ash". Very, very interested. The description makes me think L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme, or Serge Lutens' Chergui, because of the cacao and hay. So, I'm excited that this could be an elegant unisex perfume. Probably a decant.   The Ta-Ta...."Boiled leather, carnation blossom, coffee absolute, and tobacco". Could be a hidden gem....not much into leather scents but there is potential for this to work for me. Watching reviews for now.
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Halloween 2023 update, thoughts

I already ordered bottles and decants, so I don't really have to narrow anything down this time.  Just some thoughts and predictions while I wait...   All of Their Heads Fell Off Perfume Oil Oozing cactus flesh, creosote, dusty boards, and gruesome globs of blood musk.  Will the cactus be planty?  For some reason "oozing cactus flesh" sounds kind of fruity.  Anyway, I ordered a decant.  Nothing here sounds bad to me and it could be great.     Bonfire Toffee Perfume Oil Our spin on a traditional Guy Fawkes Night treat: treacle toffee soaked in rich, dark bourbon.  This sounds way too sweet and I skipped it, although I do like booze scents.     Dia de los Muertos Perfume Oil 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.  Decant ordered - I might have smelled this once before but I've never owned it, and I'm excited to try it again!     Hand-Knitted Witch Gloves Perfume Oil Wooly and witchy, fuzzy and scuzzy, long green fingers tipped with ruby-red nails: raw wool, sweet oakmoss, and cranberry brandy.  I ordered a bottle, the combination sounded too weird to pass up!     Is He, You Know Perfume Oil
Sweet 13-year aged patchouli, peru balsam, white oakmoss, French lavender, spikenard, bourbon vanilla, and sugar cane.  I don't see anything not to like here, so I took a chance and got a bottle.     October Perfume Oil Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air.   Decant ordered - I love my old bottle, and wanted to compare old with new.     Pumpkin Latte Perfume Oil Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.  Sounds a little too sweet for me.  I like sweet scents sometimes, but I'm picky about them.    Pumpkin Spice Everything Perfume Oil Literally everything. Pumpkin spice it all. A rich blend of traditional spices: cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and clove.  Never have tried this.  I feel like Plunder is the only spice scent I really need, although I would try this for sure if I crossed paths with it.    Pumpkin Trash Bag Perfume Oil A crinkly, crunchy, cartoony jack-o-lantern scent, stuffed full of leaves and eager to please: orange blossom, blood orange, and orange hard candy with pumpkin pulp and smushed leaves.  Bottled - sounds too fun to pass up and can't really imagine it disappointing in any way.     Samhain Perfume Oil Truly the scent of autumn itself — damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.  I have a few different vintages, in bottle or decant form, and decided to get a decant this year.  I never get tired of this scent!     Sugar Skull Perfume Oil Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.  See Samhain above - same with this!     Things are Fine Perfume Oil The blissful contentment of committing to exist in the moment: white sandalwood smoke, hinoki, white tea, and falling leaves.  I went for a decant, it sounds great but white sandalwood went out of control in another scent recently (on my skin)... I think it was The Queen and The Page?     Vintage Frankenstein Blow Mold Perfume Oil A shell of milky plastic surrounding a puff of mint chocolate chip-scented air, illuminated from within by 40 watts of glowing amber.  No chocolate chips for me thanks!  Well, not in perfume form.   Vintage Ghost Blow Mold Perfume Oil Milky-white plastic and a hollow gasp of candy-corn breath, illuminated from within by 40 watts of glowing amber.  I'd try this if I crossed paths with it, but decided to skip it for now.  The 40 watts part kind of worried me, sounds kind of ozoney?   Dusk in Autumn   A Little Silver Scimitar Perfume Oil Foamy orris and ambergris accord pierced by a sliver of white fir needle, moonflower, and cypress.  I can pass on this for now, sounds like it would be soapy on my skin.    A Timid Twinkling Golden Star Perfume Oil Tuberose and sweet amber.  This sounds lovely but I'm not too certain about bpal's tuberose note.  I ordered a decant, we'll see.     The Witches Have a Fire Again Perfume Oil Smoldering spiced oak boughs and pine pitch crackling with golden sap.  Decant!  I like oak, I just hope the pine pitch doesn't do anything weird on me.     Witches’ Currant Cake Perfume Oil Red currant and rosewater gooseberry cake with a sugar-dusted gingerbread crumble topping.  I almost blind bottled this one too, but went for a decant instead.  This kind of scent can be unpredictable on me but it does sound lovely.    Witches’ Tea Perfume Oil Blackberry thorn tea.  I ordered a bottle.  I have been enjoying the lab's blackberry scents, and this sounded great.      Halloween Atmosphere and Linen Sprays 2023 Passed on all of these - already have enough home scents  Fig, Autumn Amber, and Tobacco Atmosphere & Linen Spray October Bonfire Atmosphere & Linen Spray Burning leaves and smoldering applewood. Pumpkin Incense Atmosphere & Linen Spray A caramelized pumpkin kyphi.   Halloween Bath Oil 2023   Hard Candy Bath Oil Release your cares into a warm, soothing bath of liquefied hard candies. Passed on this, the scent didn't sound that exciting to me.    Halloween Hair Gloss 2023 Passed on these because I have tons of hg already  Autumn Fougere Hair Gloss A campfire cologne with a cluster of musk-sweet leaves and a hint of leather. Maple Leaves, Golden Moss, and Amber Hair Gloss Palo Santo and Patchouli Hair Gloss Pumpkin Buttercream Hair Gloss Pumpkin puree whipped into thick folds of buttercream. Samhain Hair Gloss Truly the scent of autumn itself — damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.   Heloise & Abelard’s Spooky Duets   Belladonna Berries and Mandrake Root Perfume Oil Pass for now..it sounds a little like Screaming Mandragora (if I got the name right?) which I already have, even though it's just an imp.    Congealed Blood and Oozing Viscera Perfume Oil Passed on this, just wasn't calling to me.    Grave Moss and Bone Splinters Perfume Oil  Decant!  Sounds like Hessian of the Hollow which I love.    Human Animals   Bringer of Evil Perfume Oil A foreboding tremble of poppy leaf, cerulean musk, violet grapefruit, mimosa, orris butter, and benzoin. Pass, not calling out to me.   Elimanzer Perfume Oil Strangely sinister frumenty: oatmeal, heavy cream, butter, salt, and a whiff of brimstone.  Pass, the oatmeal note didn't sound good to me, also heavy cream and butter could go badly on me.   Elizabeth’s Imps Perfume Oil A promise in the shadows: black molasses, cinnamon bark, and glowing amber.  Decant!  This actually sounds really nice.     Lady of Saintonge Perfume Oil Perfumed black silk encasing a mangled, blood-spattered talon of white sandalwood, ivory accord, and inky fur.  Pass for now, didn't quite sound like something I would like.    The Corn Spirit Perfume Oil Rye stalks, corn husks, hay absolute, tilled soil, and German chamomile.  Passed on this too, I like hay and soil, but not the other notes.     The Hound and the Milk-White Doe Perfume Oil Graceful, regal, elegant, and cursed: golden sandalwood and liquidambar, cardamom, coconut milk, jasmine sambac, white petal rosewater, and labdanum.  I think I passed on this too - sounds too strong for some reason.    Witch-Birds Perfume Oil Blinding-white mallow and vanilla sandalwood streaked with indigo opium pod accord, velvet black violet petals, wild plum, and opoponax.  Bottle ordered!  Sounds interesting, took a chance.    Monster Milk   Ghost Milk Perfume Oil Goat’s milk, marshmallow, vanilla cashmere, honey dust, and white chocolate.  Pass on honey dust.   Invisible Man Milk Perfume Oil Sheer musk and an exhale of evaporated milk.  Pass, for now.     Mummy Milk Perfume Oil Condensed milk wrapped in coconut shavings and tea-stained linen with a hint of bitumen, myrrh, and embalming resins.  Decant - this is the only Milk one I was somewhat interested in, I think myrrh sounds nice in this combination.    Vampire Milk Perfume Oil A creamy coagulation of clove bud and goat’s milk.  Pass, clove can misbehave on me.    Witch Milk Perfume Oil Honey-infused goat milk, incense smoke, yew boughs, black pepper, mandrake root, ambrette seed, red currant, kitchen herbs, and fly agaric accord.  Pass, the combination didn't grab me.    Wolf Milk Perfume Oil Crunchy leaves, well-worn black leather, cardamom pod, moonlit yellow bergamot, woodmoss, molasses, and buttermilk.  Pass, although now looking again, might be interesting?  I'll watch reviews.    Zombie Milk Perfume Oil Grave-dry rice milk, black moss, hemp fibers, bone-white sandalwood and orris root, and bog osmanthus.  Pass, didn't grab me.   Nightmare Novellas   A Boy and His Zombie Perfume Oil
Zombie-green lime hard candies with a glob of marshmallow white matter and a splat of cherry viscera.  Passed on this    A Melancholy of Goths Perfume Oil
Clove smoke, champaca incense, plum velvet, and hairspray.  Sounds ok except for clove and hairspray - two notes that could misbehave    An Autumn Stroll for a Pumpkin Man Perfume Oil
Russet dried maple leaves crunching around a jack o’lantern splashed with bay rum, curling with cigar smoke.  Could not resist a decant.  Nothing sounds bad here, except it could be too strong and/or aftershavey.    Butterscotch and Gummy Candy Witch Perfume Oil
Butterscotch brittle, burnt coffee beans, and sour apple gummies.  3 notes I don't really care about in perfume!    Don’t Play Fetch with a Teenage Werewolf Perfume Oil Honey biscuits, warm auburn fur, and a squished chocolate nougat bar.  Another 3 notes I don't really care for!    Halfway to Halloween Perfume Oil
Sweet fig and golden almond with buttery amber and a flutter of autumn leaves.  This sounded great and I took a chance on a bottle.    Halloween Cat Perfume Oil
Cacao and coconut husk dusted on shining black fur, illuminated by electric green mandarin and raw amber.  The combination didn't sound like something I would like.    Headless Perfume Oil Black leather and brimstone alight with red peppercorn and blood amber.  Kind of tempting but pass mostly because of the peppercorn, it can misbehave sometimes.    It Jittered Out of the Woods Perfume Oil
Corn husks and freshly uprooted gourds in a rustle of twigs, dead oak leaves, and a faint whiff of myrrh.  Passed, not calling me for some reason, although it doesn't sound too bad now..    Make a Face Perfume Oil
A surrealist swirl of ethereal yellow bergamot, white pomegranate rind, lemon peel, and white musk.  Thought about it but ended up passing altogether.  I think I already have something with lemon peel and white musk, and I think it was too loud and perfumey.     Man With a Haunted House for a Head Perfume Oil
Creaking oak floorboards coated in dust. A trembling sandalwood spiderweb writhes with long-buried memories.  I passed but now I'm more curious... What could this smell like?   Slumber Ghoul Perfume Oil
Sleepy lavender bud, the memory of warm milk, a splinter of bone dust, and a clawful of upturned grave loam.  Decant - I love lavender plus earth/soil notes.    The Harvest Haunt Perfume Oil A thick, viscous blackened pumpkin incense. Ordered a bottle!  Was too intrigued to pass it up, but it's a risk.  Could be really strong and go off the rails on my skin.    Wayfaring Stranger Perfume Oil An offering of footstep dust and rusted keys, raw tobacco and whiskey, coconut shells and candle wax.  Pass for now, kind of hit-and-miss notes for me.   Witch in the Woods Perfume Oil A tangle of blackthorn, mandrake root, and myrrh scratching through cypress boughs, blackberry resin, and incense smoke.  I think I'most excited to try this, it just sounds so very Halloweenie!    Pumpkin Patch Happy Hour   Pumpkin Spice Absinthe Perfume Oil A recurring fave at the BPAL cantina. No, you’re not hallucinating: this pairing smells divine! Pass    Pumpkin Spice Champagne Perfume Oil The bubbles from this calabaza go straight to your cabeza.  Decant    Pumpkin Spice Cranberry Vodka Perfume Oil Fun fact: they call this time of year “Fall” because of the difficulty of staying on your barstool after a few of these. Pass    Pumpkin Spice Dark ‘N’ Stormy Perfume Oil In a mood? Pour one of these over it: extra spicy rum fizzed up with ginger beer and garnished with a lime wedge. Pass    Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini Perfume Oil A triple shot with extra drizzle to keep you vamping till the sun comes up. Pass    Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum Perfume Oil Time to get cozy next to a crackling fire and let the season enfold you in its spicy, buttery arms. Pass 
  Pumpkin Spice Margarita Perfume Oil You might regret this in the morning, but tonight is all about living in the moment! Served in a salt-rimmed gourd. Pass    Pumpkin Spice Piña Colada Perfume Oil You’ll just have to trust the bartender on this one! An extra loco coco to encourage beach goths to attempt some moonlight skinny-dipping. Decant, this actually sounds really fun.  Looking forward to trying it! 
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Halloween

I'm excited, of course, about the Halloween update coming up. It's my absolute favorite of all the special updates we get to see, and that's including Carnaval Diabolique. There's just something so special and cozy about fall for me. It makes me think of sleepovers, watching horror movies (good ones and bad ones), spicy and sweet goodies, brisk walks in chilly night air......the list goes on......   My only complaint is that I don't take full advantage of all the fun things I could do in the fall season. This is due to my own laziness, and too much focus on work. But I do manage to make some fun goodies at home like mulled apple cider, or some kind of spicy baked goods. It's a great feeling to fire up the oven when it's actually cool outside. So warm and cozy!   So obviously I'm really happy that the Halloween update will be coming along soon. Usually I buy one or two bottles unsniffed based on the descriptions, which is always fun because it adds an element of chance. Then I go nuts with decants. I think the one series that held the most favorites for me was the Order Of The Dragon. I just love Quncey Morris, Dr. John Seward, and of course Count Dracula. And then there are the old favorites like Samhain, Devil's Night, and now Death Of Autumn. It's funny.....Samhain is something I don't wear very often, probably less than 10 times during the whole year, but it's something that I just don't want to be without. When I want to smell it, nothing else will do. I think 2007 is the only year that I didn't at least try the new one, and I have a nearly full bottle from 2004.   I just can't wait to see what autumn brings us this year! :love!:
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Guerlain, Eau de Guerlain

I may have already reviewed this. Citrus, slightly minty, faint. It's nice but I like New York better, and I just got a bottle of that. So I'll use up my sample and be done with it.
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Grrrr

I am an idiot.   My lease is over at the end of this month (October, not November). It's too late for me to move out. And the landlady already told me she won't go month-to-month.   The reason I got confused, is because the last time I moved, I got sick in the middle of the process. I spent 2 or 3 weeks recovering, and had to stop the whole moving process, which means I stayed over a couple weeks at my old apartment. I actually should have paid them another month's rent, but they let it slide.   Anyway, looks like I'm staying put for another year after all.
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