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Updated 4/19 2:30pm Green tea blends? I am pretty picky about green tea. If it is otherwise in my flavor profile in terms of fruity/gourmond, sure, but I dislike matcha and plain green tea Jigsaw puzzle? How many pieces? I do like jigsaw puzzles - my preference would be 500-1000, leaning toward more complex
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Strawberry Moon: Pink Strawberry and Black Champaca
Larinessa replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
In the bottle, this is a full on Black Champaca slap in the face. Like Mike Tyson, it hits you straight on with a knock out punch. Fresh on the skin, it's exactly the same. Pretty much a single note of the Black Champaca. I started to feel incredibly disappointed. Heartbroken. But then, on the full dry down, something sweet, candy like starts to come forth. There's the pink strawberry. It's not a juicy realistic one, but a sweet, jolly rancher/laffy taffy sort. Very pink. The overall result is a sweet pinky smokey haze reminiscent of 2016 version of A Mirror of Spring Pleasures on Kites, but without the gardenia that made it sometimes tricky for me. -
In the bottle, I'm getting very strong jasmine and bright, juicy lemon. On the skin, I get smooth sandalwood and a touch of more earthy frankincense. The lemon smell disappears fairly quickly, and I'm not getting much of the hinoki. The jasmine tea doesn't read as a jasmine tea so much as just jasmine flowers (a similar situation to a Shunga from last year with a jasmine tea note), but while my skin generally amps jasmine, this is much more lowkey. I have a feeling that the frankincense, sandalwood, and hinoki are doing a lot of work to ground this on my skin, and I'm left with a smooth, sweet, earthy jasmine fragrance.
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The Secret History in May 2026 - Two Seats Left!
eldritchhobbit posted a blog entry in Eldritchhobbit's Blog
Now confirmed! I am so happy to report that in May 2026, I’ll be offering a standalone module with SPACE (Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education) online via Signum University on Donna Tartt's The Secret History. May 2026: The Secret History by Donna Tartt: Unpacking the “Whydunit” Mystery The Secret History, the 1992 debut novel of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donna Tartt, has its own secret history, including an origin story at an actual college campus and inspiration from a real-life missing person case. The celebrated novel opens with the murder of a Classics student by his eccentric and close-knit group of college friends. The tale then unfolds as an inverted mystery, a “whydunit” rather than a “whodunit,” a narrative that interrogates the nature of obsession, beauty, and education. Featuring ingredients of the campus novel, the coming-of-age story, and the New England Gothic, The Secret History has long been hailed as a modern classic, and now it’s been rediscovered by a new generation of readers who consider it a foundational text of Dark Academia storytelling. Why does this mystery have such staying power? How does it serve as a turning point in genre history? And how do its haunting themes relate to us and our search for knowledge today? In this module we will explore the fictional Hampden College and peel back the literary layers of The Secret History. View the full post. -
Our Hunger Games series went so well the first time, we’re doing it again! And it’s perfect timing, too, given that the film adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping will be coming this autumn. You’re invited to join me in SPACE (Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education) online via Signum University to talk about all five books in The Hunger Games series! The first module has been confirmed to run in June 2026. What lessons do the Capitol and Districts have to teach us? What warnings should we heed? What road leads from here to Panem? Over the course of five months, participants in these SPACE modules will read and discuss a modern classic of dystopian storytelling, The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. In this hybrid series, each week will include one lecture and one live discussion. The lectures will examine the inspirations behind, allusions in, and questions posed by that month’s novel. In live discussions, participants will share their insights on, interpretations of, and reactions to the story. Together we will consider why this series has spoken to so many readers and explore how its messages remain relevant today. Here is more information. View the full post.
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When I first got this I was wondering why I ordered so many beeswax scents. 😅 For some reason, in the bottle this had that same vibe of the lab's warm, sweet beeswax note. On skin though, it's a whole other story. This is incredibly pretty. It's soft without being a low throw/skin scent. A sort of lightweight, easy elegance. It's creamy and floral and spiced but not overtly any of those things. It's a pastel neutral kaleidoscope of sheer notes and cozy vibes. Great everyday scent.
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In the bottle, I can smell soil, stone, and camphorous wood. On the skin, this sweetens a bit and goes more powdery with some herbs and that same camphorous note. There's also something bright and almost citrusy going on here. Wet, this really reads as a deep forest. Damp, dark soil and stones, herbs and woods. Much further into the wear, the camphor fades and the scent overall fades into a sweet, powdery herbal scent that reads as unisex and sticks close to my skin.
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This is like being a kid and putting your favourite snuggly soft hoodie on when it’s fresh from the wash, and as you pull it down over your face you think “oh mmmm.. Mum’s using that lavender fabric softener again!” Except it doesn’t smell like laundry liquid – it just has a lovely soft lavender that feels like a hug.. not sweet, not herb-y, just right. I definitely get the cotton reference, but in the way it feels rather than how it smells. I can’t really say I’m picking up the “books” part, but it does have a certain dryness to it. Overall, it’s soft and comforting and I really liked it for about ten minutes.. but unfortunately the lavender fades very quickly on my skin and I’m left with just a “clean” smell, so this isn’t something I personally would reach for.
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Strawberry Moon: Kyphi and Sweet Cream
elissamay replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Duets & Menage A Trois
I am searching for the kyphi and only finding the sweet cream. It doesn't go sour on me, and it's a beautiful cream note, but I would do unspeakable things for a no-holds-barred BPAL kyphi. I love Cairo but I don't smell even a smidgen of that kyphi in this blend. I am optimistic that giving it some time will let those elements come forward. - Yesterday
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There's no way I am.going to be able to describe this other than - Asian dessert nailed. It's got that savoury/sweet crossover thing happening. Sweet in a not-that-sweet way. Fascinating and I'd say it's not especially wearable but I keep huffing it.
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In the Bottle: Tart passionfruit and custard. On the Skin: A delicious, creamy custard which is very sweet and passionfruit which is mouth-wateringly tart. The caramel of the topping comes in a bit later as the passionfruit moves back a little (but not too far). Almost a citrus element to this. Delicious and perfect for a comfort blend without being maudlin.
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Initially greenish and sappy from the sweet flag (calamus) with a slightly spicy myrrh then it dries down to a glorious golden myrrh. Didn't think I'd love it. I was wrong.
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In the Bottle: Apricot and bergamot. Fairly sharp with no creaminess. On the Skin: The apricot blooms on the skin and, backed by the bergamot, is more reminiscent of grapefruit. The creamy notes emerge not long into the drydown adding some sweetness and fullness. This does have a golden or soft orange feel. The Vulvas can be hit or miss for me. This one isn't quite a hit but may become one with some ageing.
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I picked this up because of the Beanworld label and the celebration of an important First Amendment case. The label is adorable! Love those patriotic beans! I'm a honey lover, but in this case I get no honey at all from this 15-year-old bottle -- except, perhaps, as a sweetness that moderates the bitterness of the tea, without having an independent presence. This is the most forceful black tea scent in my collection so far. The apricot comes out a bit at first, but it's quickly replaced by the ginger root and ginger grass. It's refreshing and does indeed evoke a summer iced tea.
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I get the hype because this is nice. Creamy vanilla with the saffron which, to me, has a motor oil aspect to it. So sexy, cuddly mechanic?
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When I first got into indie perfumes, I chose my scents of the day based on what I was likely to be doing and my mood — clarifying scents for work, bright scents when I needed cheering up, etc. Since I noticed so many people wear perfume seasonally, I have started to experiment with that too, and I've been wearing Gloomily, Gloomily as a spring scent. This scent is like being in the middle of a lavender and wildflower meadow in a drizzle. The fact that it's inspired by Eeyore is special to me as someone from Austin, Texas, where our big spring festival is called Eeyore’s Birthday Party -- a daylong outdoor party of continuous drum circles and live music. Not much like Eeyore, perhaps, but very like spring! The main note I can pick out here is lavender, but I suspect the tea and grey musk are part of what of what balances this scent and create the drizzly grey quality. There are florals here but they don’t dominate — I get “meadow” rather than “flowers“ per se. On my skin, with a generous application, the scent lasts 4-6 hours. Love it.
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In the Bottle: Musk, Vanilla and what seems to be a fine tobacco On the Skin: Ooh, nice on the skin. The tobacco is lovely and the other elements almost make this candy-like. The nutmeg is definitely there and adds such a lovely aromatic note, similar to the cardamom effect. Rose geranium adds a dusty rosiness. Very nice.
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In the Bottle: Fruity and musky but light and airy. On the Skin: Definitely some guava and patch with a fine musk that does feel shadowed and cool. This is well blended and the notes can be difficult to pick individually. Overall it is quite fruity the the corresponding amount of sweetness and it's dark and airy. Nice. Probably spring or early autumn for me.
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Shrubby, yes! Cut branches, both leaf and wood. Also I could see rhubarb after reading the other reviews. My first thought before reading anything was that someone mashed some black currents and rubbed them into wood. There’s almost a spicy note too, underneath. Wood scents on me can be too harsh and forbidding sometimes. Green scents can go too bitter. But this is perfect for summer and hot weather. Edit: it’s probably the copia balsam taming the wood and greenery for me.
- Last week
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In the Bottle: Bright lemon and the sandalwood/vanilla On the Skin: mostly vanilla and sandalwood with a light lemon background, initially. The chrysanthemum adds a musky herbaceousness eventually and lemon gets stronger, more zest than juice at this point. This veers into a fine citrus/floral soap at times but it's the vanilla sandalwood that brings it back each time. Probably not a fave but I'll need to do a full wear.
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Workman Displaying His Sexual Prowess and Gigantic Size of His Member in a Variety of Situations
galahad replied to doomsday_disco's topic in Lupercalia
In the Bottle: Vanilla, apricot and a little ginger On the Skin: I actually do get Brandy right off the top for a brief moment before it merges with the other elements. As @marared says this seems more spring and summer. It's rich but not heavy and not especially sweet. The vanilla soaked sandalwood aspect is gorgeous. I almost get white chocolate vibes at times. Very nice. -
In the Bottle: Juicy cherry and mango On the Skin: Soft dark cherry with a touch of mango. The strawberry emerges quickly just as the cherry amps up a bit and the cream adds a smooth richness to cut through any acidity. This dries down to a fruity sweet cream. Nice.
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In the Bottle: Strong cherry/bitter almond and incense On the Skin: Absolutely a dried cherry, with the intensity and a chewiness that the fresh ones don't have. These are quite tart as well and pair beautifully with the incense which is surprisingly restrained. I wouldn't say I got any kind of sugar note until well into the drydown and it's not super sweet. I like very much.
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Echoing the above reviews for 2025! I'm not Filipino, but I grew up in a very Filipino community so the nostalgia hits hard here. When I first got my bottle, the sticky sweet turon/banana, sticky rice and custardy flan notes came across as way too much for me, who isn't much on gourmands. But either with some rest, or because the weather has warmed up (by Scottish standards), this has quite literally blossomed. A riot of lush humid florals and turon piled on a sweet base of rice, ube and flan. And if I sniff close to the skin, I get the delicious chocolatey scent of champorado! Makes me homesick haha. Starts out with crazy throw on me, but settles into a much more public transit friendly level after half an hour or so.
