VioletChaos

No. 10 Neilson place, Mercer street. This is a ladies boarding house apparently of the first class; but, as the landlady can never be seen, it is impossible to tell who is head of the house. The door is guarded by a grouty old dame, whose assumed dignity is so overpowering that most people suppose that she runs the establishment. Sweet labdanum, clove, and piquant Italian bergamot. I tested this today and it was an unfortunate miss on me. I had been hoping for a heavy hand on the labdanum and clove combination but the clove and bergamot did this thing where they combined on my skin in such a way that smelled only like floor cleaner. I had high hopes, but this was just not meant to be for me

Dusky plum oudh casts a pall over frayed strands of green cognac and tobacco leaf. This tangle of threads is stained with a smear of patchouli and opoponax and intertwined with vanilla cream lace. In The Bottle: The plum is sweet and bright right out of the gate, followed by a hint of that green cognac. That's all I get at first. Wet On Skin: The oudh settles into itself, becoming a bit more rich, but not incense-y as I had expected. The vanilla cream lace is juuuuust beginning to peek out! Dry Down: Siiiiiiigh. This is everything that I hope any in the Lace series to be: filling me with a painful nostalgia that haunts my longings and releases all my beautiful ghosts. It's sweet and dusky and gorgeous, no one note standing out, all working in gorgeous symphony. Like stepping into a sitting room full of silver print photographs and dried flowers in cut crystal vases.

I'm a fan of violet, (if you couldn't tell from my screen name) and that alone grabbed my attention here. The addition of vanilla and bergamot plus the intrigue of..."what exactly does porcelain smell like?!" and I knew I had to snag a bottle. the scent in the bottle is deceptively floral, with that iris singing lous and clear- don't be fooled, she runs off upon contact. That's when the changes begin. First, the trickle of red musk here seems to be the same variety that stole my heart in Random Brothel, and I'm definitely not mad about it. Second, that violet leaf is more violet flower from what I can tell (the leaf tends to be quite 'green' smelling, whereas I'm definitely getting violets in this mix. The bourbon vanilla bites back the acrid note of the musk before it can get too intense or stuffy. And the porcelain? Well, several minutes after application, I kid you not, there was a moment where the scent smelled mostly of...wet clay. Yep. Straight up, 'throwing on the wheel' clay situation. It was strange and, as an artist that has played with ceramics, strangely comforting. And then it was gone, to be replaced with the violet / musk combination. Chalk it up to one of Beth's genius "how does she DO that?!" moments, and marvel for a moment. Then enjoy the rest of what the scent has to offer

The mango comes on strong in the bottle but starts to fade upon contact with the skin. The scent changes rapidly, passing over the orange blossom completely, alas, and ending up a lightly spicy, vaguely incense-y pink musk, reminding me very much of the phlox-heavy Pink Moon. I'm in love with the Lab's mango note, but unfortunately for me, apart from in the bottle, it's nowhere to be found ?

I splurged on two from the Roses and Pearls line, and this is one of them (the other being Rubies). Neither had disappointed, but Roses, Pearls, and Sapphires may prove to be my favorite, not just of this mini series, but Lupercalia 2024 as a whole (apart from the triumphant return of Glowing Vulva, but c'mon. That's a whole other realm.) In the bottle, the lavender rose (the 'rose' is a formality- this reads as lavender to my nose) and blueberry play elegantly together in a surprisingly delicate dance. Not that either note is known for being so aggressive, but I've certainly encountered scents where one of these two could be quite loud given the chance. Wet, then warming, on the skin both notes blossom and unfurl some, with lavender gently edging blueberry out for top spot, for a spell, until the coconut husk comes to reign lavender back in. "Husk" is important here: this is NOT coconut-coconut. Not the candied coconut or suntan lotion coconut you might be anticipating, so you must do away with such notions immediately. This is the scratchy, earthy bit outside of all that and here it has the not-insubstantial task of grounding this scent, to keep it from all floating away, too high, into the stratosphere. Only after husk and fully done that task does the cerulean musk stroll in, and not a moment too soon. I've been on a big ol' blue musk deep dive for about the past year, and it was THE note that made me snatch up a bottle of this here elixir and it does NOT disappoint. Every blend I try a blue musk variant in is wildly different than the last, so there's no direct comparisons here, except to say that I continue to feel vindicated by each new exploration into this lesser-known entry into the musk family. It's not a mistake that nearly all the notes in a scent with "Sapphires" in the name would have a blue allusion, but here its especially overt, a sparkling blue gem of a scent, it has a shine and hardness that align it with the crystalline icicles of late winter, but there's also a warmth here that slinks in once the scent has settled in completely, something to snuggle into when the ice outside all seems a bit too much.

The red wine is strong with this one! When sniffed in the bottle, all the way through to complete drydown, the red wine note is front and center. The note itself is one I've adored in the past, in the old-time Yule treat, Glüwein, and so I can only hope that this will age just as magnificently as that one has. There *is* quite a lot to hope for with this blend, notably the oakmoss and mandarin notes, which both play the part of insuring this scent is not a one-note wonder, even if they are working more or less behind the scenes. (I've tried one-note wine scents and they come across more or less as fussy grape juice, which is definitely NOT what's happening here, by the way.) Oakmoss is a note I personally love, adding a rich, vaguely sweet and unusually spicy depth. The Spanish mandarin is not here to lend a foodie tone, but rather a bit of tart acid, which brightens the scent and keeps it from getting lost in a sticky haze. Hours later, and it's still going strong: a little goes a long way, both with staying power and with throw, which is definitely one of the highest I've encountered: dab lightly until you know how it'll bloom on your skin. The end game is a languid and sultry drift into sweet oblivion, whether you leave enticing traces behind you during a leisurely stroll, or on a silky pillowcase after a decadent sleepover. Whichever path chosen, you'll leave them wanting

BANSHEE BEAT A tousled, sexy mix of patchouli, vanilla, and hemp. I just got my bottles (yes, bottles. I'm convinced I will love this enough to hoard, even before smelling it!) about 5 minutes ago from the freezing hands of the freezing UPS driver. I know I should wait to test this oil, but I just can't. Let's hope for the best, shall we? *Crosses Fingers* In the Bottle: a sweet, woodsy mix. the hemp is strong and reminds me of the sandalwood note in Tombstone, which i love. the sweet is all about the dark vanilla, but it's hanging back. the hemp is really the star at this stage. Wet on Skin: it's still a mix of the hemp and the vanilla, with the patchouli not really present. i'm surprised because the patchouli in Mme Moriarty and Ravenous are *very* prominent on my skin. but the hemp/vanilla mix is lovely, and if it stays this way, i won't be disappointed. Dry Down: *there's* the patchouli! it's NOT like the usual BPAL patchouli note, though. this is much, much closer to an actually patchouli root than the oil. it's lends a depth and a complexity to the hemp, supporting it, making it richer, more earthy. the dark vanilla is indeed dark, but also sweet in a rich resin way. these three notes work in perfect balance, with none overshadowing the others, all coming together in a really special way. In All: the S15Twenty site describes this scent as being "hippyish" and while it's not inaccurate, it's also not what most people are going to expect when they think of "hippy+hemp+patchouli". Yes, this is a scent that i would wear to a Rainbow Gathering. but it's also a scent i will wear to the beach, to a cafe, with my favorite silk skirt, in my hair, to a sexy dinner out with my sweetie. with a medium but not overpowering throw and all warm, sexy, earthy and cuddly, Banshee Beat is the kind of go-to scent BPALers of distinction come to cherish, whether or not it becomes the Next Covetable Thing. stock up- this is only going to get better with age! :wub:

If you took the yummy baked goods note from my most beloved Crumpet Rebellion and added in a healthy chomp of rhubarb, you come pretty close to getting the gourmand delight that is Rhubarb Custard Muffins. In the bottle and freshly applied, this scent is VERYY heavy on the tangy, tart rhubarb. It takes w while to settle into anything more balanced, and frankly, I'm glad for it, because the fresh, sharp aspect is a lovely surprise as we ease out of the darkness at the end of winter and into lighter, brighter spring. Once settled in, the scent takes on a lovely second stage, joining the ranks of other great baked goods fragrances for those of us that like to sometimes smell like we are completely edible. If you are looking for a foodie scent for daytime wear, or if you have a special place in your heart for the old BPAL greats like the afore-mentioned Crumpet Rebellion or Blackberry Jam and Scones, then you will be quite excited to add this to your repertoire.

Full disclosure, as soon as I saw that rhubarb was in the mix, this bottle fell directly into my shopping cart, but I also was definitely worried in equal measure about rose being a dominant force in this blend, as roses and I have an a tumultuous relationship over the long years. so now you know. Onward! In the bottle, I am immediately surprised, pleasantly, with the dominance of the red amber and labdanum. At this stage its not overpowering as labdanum can sometimes be. Instead it's sweet in a non-sugary way, and resinous but not overly intense. Once warmed up and dried down on the skin, the scent becomes more of a melange: the labdanum is still the front, but even less aggressively than before. The rose peeks out, but it's the incense aspect that is actually more present than the floral here. I get little whiffs that indicate the dried strawberries here, the tang of the rhubarb there. (Side note: not mad about the subtlety of the rhubarb here, partly because the slivers of tartness feel appropriate in this blend overall and partly because I picked up a bottle of the Rhubarb Custard Muffins which are GLORIOUSLY and INTENSELY an ode to rhubarb and flaky pastry, so I feel both ends of the rhubarb scent spectrum have been thoroughly satisfied with this Luper update ). Once the scent had fully and completely settled into my skin, the scents has morphed a bit further, becoming, in the end, a spicy sexy scent that has a low-medium throw that allows, with careful wear, to use during the day, like a smexy chastity belt secreted away under a corporate suit but, worn with a touch more reckless abandon, transforms easily into nighttime debauchery at the drop of a hat...or any other clothing item your devious heart desires

Favorite pastime: skulking under dining tables, waiting to abscond with unsupervised food bowls. Don’t blame the dog! Dregs of cinnamon and cocoa. In The Bottle: Oh, YES. Right off the bat, this is Mexican Hot Chocolate. Wet On Skin: The hits just keep on coming. There are two basic types Lab chocolate notes- the yummy cocoa-y ones, and the ones that turn to weird, waxy plastic on my skin. The ones that work on me are found in scents like Bliss, Boomslang and Gelt. The ones that don't work are the ones found in the Box O Chocolates and most '13' scents. This scent, fortunately, has the former. And it's *glorious*. Dry Down: This is a nice, "grownup" cocoa scent. Less foodie and, believe it or not, I would call this scent kinda sexy. The chocolate becomes this dusty, understated warm note and the cinnamon gives just a tiny amount of spice- this is NOT an overpowering spice scent, so those fearful, give it a try. In All: Not just bottle worthy, possibly hoard worthy. I predict this will be quite popular.

On January 7th, I announced that I was preggers to the forum, and pregnancy scents like Irrelevant and Disturbing Surreal Crawdad Dream soon followed. While I was giving birth to Lilith, Brian pulled the trigger on her two birth scents Lady Lilith and Lilith Victoria so they could come to life just as she was entering the world. This began our annual tradition of commemorating each year that we spend with Lilith with a scented scrapbook. We love you, Lilith. More than you can possibly know. The Shunga debuted for the first time, including Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, Men Ringing Bell With Penises, and Glowing Vulva at Ryogoku Bridge. This year also marked the first time that Frederic inspired by Gilbert & Sullivan began appearing every February 29th, and hes been our Leap Year guest ever since! At the December Lunacy event, we began the first of our annual toy drives. In 2008, Black Phoenix Trading Post hosted the Miskatonic Valley Junior Baseball Associations Spring Training Teds vision of little league in Lovecraft Country which ushered in a decade of our ridiculous Lovecraft-meets-Norman Rockwell serials and rotating exhibits in Arkhams Pickman Gallery. I don't have words for how much I love working on our campy Miskatonic Valley scents; how else could I experience a life filled with pancake breakfast summoning circles, demonic art openings, pre-pubescent softball-loving fish people, suave cultist tailors, and goat-headed burlesque dancers? Lilith's beloved lavender coated with sugar crystals, crawdad-bright grapefruit, and a pop of iridescent, loathsome Mi-Go musk. In The Bottle: Sugared lavender. Like TKO's daytime sibling! Wet On Skin: Same, but with the slightest edge of juicy, tart grapefruit. But only slight! Dry Down: Same. This scent stays true from first sniff to dry-down. It reminds me of Lilith's Hair Gloss and also Daybreak, from this year's batch of Lilith scents. As such, I am happy to have it! If you're a fan of those others, or if you're looking for a daytime equivalent to TKO that won't put you to sleep in the middle of the day, this scent is for you!

I got this entirely because of the cerulean musk, as I've become fairly obsessed with blue musks in the past year or so, AND, It definitely does NOT disappoint in this regard! In the bottle and when freshly applied, the orchid dominates- the flower is almost...juicy...somehow in its depth. I was a little worried about that floral before ordering but I find in application that I'm intrigued more than anything. It settles back pretty quickly and the amber, plum and musk all move into the foreground together. I definitely feel this to be the same plum note as appears in Mme Moriarty but the vibe here is *completely* different, so no worries of overlap or repetition for sure. The ivy isn't out front but I get the sense (scents!) she's keeping everything from heading into hippy-girl-incense territory and instead elevates the whole party to a sweetly sexy affair instead. I am *supremely* delighted to have gotten this and can't wait to see how it ages!

[No additional description provided.] In The Bottle: The same slightly-lemon ginger-y gingerbread I got from another in this series, with coffee bean and smoked vanilla. As with that scent, the only thing I get from first sniff in the bottle is the gingerbread and no supporting characters. Wet On Skin: INTERESTING. Rather than the death-cologne version of oudh that sometimes happens with my skin or the yummy incense version, I get neither- instead I'm getting a death of spice that's adding to the gingerbread whilst taking away its foodie aspect. Dry Down: This reminds me *strongly* of one of the really old Tree of Life / Kabala scents from around 2005 or 2006. It's definitely not Hod but I'm not sure which one it's reminding me of. There's something that reads as intense and meaningful and spiritual about this, though, which is sometimes an aspect of oudh that gets overlooked I think. It feels like there's a reverence that it carries, something that I'm going to reach for during this long, cold winter ahead on grey days when I need to remember that winter is a necessary time of contemplation. Beautiful and deep, like Frost's vision of a winter forest at nightfall.

As you have no doubt heard, during the third presidential debate, Hillary described her plan to raise taxes on the rich in order to fund Social Security. She took a swing at him over him being a tax dodger (which he is). “My Social Security payroll contribution will go up, as will Donald’s – if he can’t figure out how to get out of it.” Trump interrupted her and said, “Such a nasty woman.” These are two things uttered by the same man within the same hour: “Such a nasty woman.” “No one has more respect for women than me.” Amazing. Let’s put this pussy-grabbing, racist, predatory, misogynistic, hateful, irresponsible, ignorant, immature grotesquerie out of politics for good, and do what we can to ensure that he and his ilk never cast their miserable shadows over our political process again. Nasty Woman: black fig and patchouli, filthy bourbon vanilla, honeyed amber oud, and loukhoum. In The Bottle: A dark, dirty patchouli with a bit of our to smooth out the edges. Wet On Skin: I detect a rich tobacco, though none is listed in the notes. It's possibly the black fig, it has a similar "chewy" quality. Dry Down: The patch is back at the forefront, the kind our foremothers would've worn when burning bras and protesting the war at the Pentagon! The vanilla is a supporting character, along with that touch of honey- not sweetening the mix so much as adding further depth and preventing this scent from going over into HippyLand. It's rich and dark and not to be fucked with, just like angry women everywhere In All: Oh, she's a Nasty, Nasty Woman, alright. And she's only gonna get better with age!

Seconding the claim of "sexy"- this scent is sexy as hell in a somehow casually understated way. There's also something in here that, on my skin, makes it a very close cousin of Night after about 30 minutes. I'm deeply perplexed because there's not a single note of overlap between the two scents, and the note in question in Night is the inky musk, and there's nothing in Blizzard that seems like it would come close to that, and yet, there it is. I've no objections over a sexier version of Night, since that scent is one of my ride-or-die fragrances, so that just makes me love Blizzard that much more.

This. Scent. So. My past experience with pomegranate notes has been extremely hit or miss. Fruit notes all too frequently go full plastic on me, alas. Even when a fruit doesn't go off the deep end, I'm lucky to get anything other than fruit candy(ish) from the equation (Strawberries Moon and Suf notwithstanding). But there's that Ink to consider. Full disclosure: if you've ever wondered to yourself, "Who the HELL was interested in an India Ink Single Note, anyway?!" allow me to introduce myself, for *I* am that person. I am *SO* that person that I have BACKUP bottles of India Ink single note (and if you've got any you'd like to pawn off? I'm your person, right here ). I don't know if it's so easily explained just that I am, in fact, a visual artist (a visual artist that also ::collects:: bottles of ink at a rate only out-paced by my BPAL collection, thankyouverymuch) but regardless, the ink note is one of those extra-special BPAL mysteries that makes me go, "How does Beth DOOOO that???" So, you know, I knew I needed to try this at the very least. The scent won't be pinned down. When I first sniffed it in the vial, my heart dropped a little cause all I was getting was a vague olfactory sensation of Red Vines. ?‍♀️ But shortly after application, that ink, that glorious, industrial (to use Failmingo's term) ink: it took me right back to that love-at-first-sniff experience I had when India Ink SN first waltzed into my life and stole a little piece of my dark, smudgy heart. Even after full dry down, there's so much vacillating between the two points, and no settling between them! Each sniff bring s different countenance, a different configuration on the grayscale (bloodscale? That would be closer in truth, given the two notes. Hmmm...): one sniff, it's almost entirely pomm, with just a hair of metallic ink showing up as an afterthought. The next sniff, 90% ink, the fruit adding just a touch of sweet to smooth out those harsh edges. A sniff after that, and the two are in balance- or, if not in balance then at least in something resembling an uneasy truce. But every step (sniff?) of the way, I. Can't. Stop. Smelling. Myself. So, you know, I'll be getting me some backups for sure. ❤️

I'm always surprised at how radically different notes can be with small variations. The pipe tobacco in this is a RADICAL departure from, say, the blond tobacco note of Pinched With Four Aces, or the French Tobacco Single Note. I sometimes amp tobacco, so I was hesitant about this, but I also was feeling a pang of regret for having swapped my OG 2004 Hearth a bajillion years ago, so I wanted to give this update a try. And the scent does NOT disappoint. The tobacco and cherrywood set the stage for the tone of this scent, which indeed invokes feeling of warm coziness in front of a roaring fire. I in fact get a vibe more in line with the scene being set in a comfy, quiet study or private library, floor-to-ceiling cases completely filled with well-loved leather-bound volumes. A note about the leather: on me, in this blend, it's virtually non-existent, which was another surprise- given that leather notes far too frequently become a HAI I'M TANNED HIDE affair, drowning out all else. The smoke note is a mid-range, omni-present aspect, adding substantially to the overall effect and general ambience, but not overpowering the blend, merely adding a welcome extra dimension. After full dry down, the scent has morphed little, merely settling a bit more firmly into itself. I'm going to play around with my decant a bit more in the next month: if it ages in a way that deepens the scent, I will likely spring for a full bottle. If not, I will happily pull my vial out when the mood strikes on an especially cold or snowy day.

In a hotel in Baltimore, Lilith helped me color in my sign for the Womens March in DC. She had made her own two signs brimming with Girl Power and featuring a unicorn, of course but finished in time to help me get mine all dolled up. There are many criticisms of the march that are valid, but I will tell you this: being able to show my daughter thousands upon thousands of people that were demanding a government built on justice, compassion, and acceptance was something incredibly powerful. The experience she had meeting other children who were there in the hopes of a kinder, brighter future was invaluable. It was a pivotal moment, this ability to demonstrate for her /how to show up/ and how to /work/ for a better country and a better future for marginalized and under-represented groups. It was incredible being there in Washington with her, and I will never forget it. I hope this experience helped to reveal her own inner strength to her, and the strength she can find in her allies. Golden amber, vanilla oudh, and orange blossom. In The Bottle: A wave of gorgeous, nostalgia-inducing orange blossom, with a hint of dark vanilla bringing up the rear. Wet On Skin: Orange blossom is still the dominant note for sure, with the vanilla acting as something to soften the rough edges. I'm not getting any amber at this stage. Dry Down: This is the orange blossom scent of my DREAMS. I am *not* a floral person, but orange blossom generally comes across as summer days and a slight beach-y vibe and this fragrance delivers on all of the above. Upon this full dry-down, the amber comes out, just at the end, like instead of an aftertaste, its an after-smell, and it's really good, lending a warmth and depth to the whole affair. In All: So, so, so beautiful.

This spring we challenged friends and fans to answer that call, baring their souls (and more) in our steamy, Lust-themed #BPAL7wordstory contest. “Seduce us in seven!” we demanded, promising the winning story would be enshrined in a Limited Edition fragrance. The response was overwhelming — and downright filthy. Over eight hundred entries later, Lust found its new champion. The winning story, submitted via Twitter by @GeekDame, took flight in our perfumer’s imagination and resulted in the following myth-tinged tryst. He breathed smoke across her pomegranate-stained lips. Chthonic incense and blood-red pomegranate. In The Bottle: Juicy pomegranate. Really fresh- it made my mouth water a little! Behind that is the faintest hint of sweet incense, the sort you might find in a head shop about 40 years ago. Wet On Skin: The incense is stronger now, making this scent *completely* like the smell inside a headshot 40 years ago Dry Down: Same. In All: Medium throw, this scent also has the edge of the kinds of incense I recall from working at goth shops in the 90s. There's a dusty rose aspect (very subtle) and that musty note that shows up in some Lab incense blends. I honestly don't know that I like it enos to keep it, but if you're a fan of fruity incense scents, this is the oil for you for sure.

I am simply delighted with this latest Lace acquisition. Normally, I amp leather notes, so I was wary, but willing to try for my beloved Antique Lace's sake, and I'm really glad I did. In the bottle and through to dry-down after application, the dominant note is a rich caramel. I get *zero* leather at any point, but that caramel is warm and creamy, like the best caramels are. Even at the height of caramel's power, though, is the Antique Lace shining through. A.L. increases as caramel begins to slowly, slowly pull back some. Hours later evidence of the caramel note is still present, but quite faint, while Antique Lace's power remains in that gorgeous, lingering way it has. Most surprising of all to me, is that the formulation of Antique Lace present in this Batty edition is MILES closer to the OG I've missed for so very long. I am a fan of the 2017 re-release, don't get me wrong. When I travel I have 2017 with me, to help me sleep at night. But it always rested on my skin in a way that I can only describe as..."sugary". There's a granulated sugar element to that version that OG never had on my skin. And this Batty-ed up version doesn't have that granulated sugar in it either- especially remarkable, considering that *caramel* is a primary note in the composition! In all, as I stated at the outset, I am simply delighted with the latest Lace, and I'm going to re-test in a month or so- if it goes as I think it will, there shall be back up bottles in my future!

I got this because I needed to know what "violet grapefruit" could possibly smell like and I'm so glad I did! This is one of the more unusual scents I've encountered in a good, long while, in all the best possible ways. In the bottle and when first applied, the grating-bitter-tart aspect of real grapefruit pith is front and center, and while I wasn't sure I *liked* it, I was suuuuuper surprised, yet again, at Beth's level of genius. Seriously: who ELSE can create something as specific to the natural world as grapefruit pith? That's some next level shit right there. Once the scent had a chance to warm up and dry down, it shifted to include the flesh of the grapefruit (still bitter, but now with an edge of sweetness added in) plus the mimosa comes out to play, which I was definitely glad to see, because I've not, until now, found a mimosa that actually reads like my favorite Seussian puff-flower of summertime. Once deep into the drydown the cerulean musk joins the party, making this scent a complex, slightly sweet yet sinister fruit-floral as prior reviews noted. Although it only shares one unlikely note, Bringer of Evil reminds me, at least in spirit, of 2009's Black Butterfly Moon. They share a lightness that confuses the senses by obscuring the darkness that lurks beneath- and while I let that old chestnut slip away, I won't make the same mistake this time!

Ketchup 25 September! If you are so inclined, do you want or need any natural items or ingredients for spellwork that could be collected from forests, ocean, fields or stream? I also have access to oak gall ink and various other esoteric substances. Are you a fan of the show Cobra Kai? ——> Eh. I liked what I saw, when I saw it (which was a few years ago, now). But I wouldn’t say that it’s in my fandom or that I want anything associated with the show. Do you enjoy any of the scented items from Victoria's Secret? ——> HARD pass. Sorry! Would you be interested in receiving a silver locket with papyrus and herbs inside, as a protective amulet? ——> as long as it’s real silver, then I’m all in (unfortunately, I have many allergies to many kinds of non-precious metals- I’m not being snobby, I promise!) So Witchee mine, are you a spellworker? - any interest in acorns from a tree known as The Mother Oak at my Ren Fest grounds. It is the biggest tree I've ever seen in MI. It is cared for by tree scientists from MSU. It is the mom to every other oak on the grounds. Saturday is Mabon & I will go & gather acorns before the park opens to patrons as I do each year. But this time it's actual Mabon. So Witchee dearest, would you like some? ——> that sounds incredible! Yes, yes yes! Lenny Mud: YES! Two mugs: The Hex the Patriarchy mug https://lennymud.com/products/copy-of-salem-witches-union-mug-halloween-witch-mug?_pos=10&_sid=9deebc373&_ss=r and he Salem Local Union Witches travel mug https://lennymud.com/products/witches-union-travel-mug-salem-witches-witch-mug?_pos=16&_sid=9deebc373&_ss=r If it’s a choice between the two I’d prefer Hex, but only by a small percentage! 9/22 From previous questions you've answered, I know a lot about the teas you'd like from specific places, but I want to know your more general tea preferences. Black, green, white, rooibos, oolong, herbal? ——> I prefer black teas for caffeinated generally (exception would be “milky” teas that have oolong as the base) and for decaf tea I like black as well (like a well-done decaf lady grey for afternoon drinking is always a good idea!) but I also like herbal tisanes (peppermint; chamomile etc) and rooibos (generally so long as its flavored, like rooibos chai, for example). - Japan is particularly big on their green tea and hojicha (roasted green tea), any interest? ——> As I’m not a fan of green tea, this would largely be lost on me. HOWEVER! I just learned about Japanese roasted *rice* tea, which sounds amazing to me and I’d LOVE to get my hands on some! - My partner has given me an extraordinary amount of rooibos from South Africa. It's amazing and I'd like to share, so would you like some? ——> YES. This would be the exception to my “must be flavored” rule for rooibos despite being uk based I’m probably gonna have to make a torrid order because I fell in. Anything catch your eye while I’m doing it? ——> I’m too small for Torrid these days, but I used to ADORE them when I was a goddess-sized goth girl. I hope you found some great stuff for you, though!

8/29 would you like a scarf? If so, colors, length, iwide or skinny? Bulky yarn or thin and slinky?? I have a metric fuck-ton of scarves! That said, I am open to more knitted goodies, but I'm not as open to all possibilities as in the past. So I'm mostly interested in thin, soft, spider-web-like shawls - like over-sized Stevie Nicks shrouds that I can wrap my entire torso up in, but suuuuuuper thin and open-knit, really, as much like a spider web as possible. Alternately, I'd love a cowl hood. Same deal- soft, thin, open-knit. No wool, as I'm sadly allergic. But bamboo, silk, banana silk, cotton and other natural fibers are all welcome. As for colors, black, dark indigo to match my hair or deep violet would all be fabulous. How about some dishcloths, for the kitchen? Or spa cloths for the bathroom? If so, which? Any particular colors?? The only dishcloths in our house are Halloween-themed. So, the short answer is ok- but they must be Weenie in nature! I guess that means with bats or black cats or ghosts (this could be the shape of the cloths or a pattern in the cloths). Not a spa cloth, I never seem to use them, alas! Would you like any of Cat Coven's Halloween goods? It's her original artwork based on medieval art. (It's a limited edition of everything, so hopefully things arent sold out yet.) The Autumn Garden Party fine art print is lovely! Look at The Green Salmon's webpage The Green Salmon - do you fancy any of the teas, coffees etc? It's a favorite place for me to stop on the coast, and I'll take any excuse to drive to the ocean. The hemp oil infused decaf peruvian coffee looks HolyShitAmazing. I'd take that in whole bean, please! Also the Na na na na Bat Blend! is cute and supports a great cause, so I'm down for that one too What are your favorite halloween/samhain treats to eat? Please be specific. I have access to various candy stores, including healthy candy lol. I don't like a ton of candy anymore, but if you're twisting my arm, I tend to like the Brit stuff, like Cadbury Fruit n Nut bars and Crunchie bars. Speaking of Crunchie, I also like well-made chocolate-covered seafoam, but be sure to check the ingredients- well-made will be naturally gluten free, but shittier kinds aren't always. Oh! And during my travels this summer, I've discovered that GOOD meringue *actually* has a flavor, and it tastes great! (who knew???) and ditto for French and Italian-made nougat. I'm not as much of a snob as this whole answer makes me sound, I just get sick from food so easily and it's only that I've had to choose higher-quality items to actually be able to enjoy them. Would you like any of these Snag Halloween tights? And if so, which of their sizes? https://snagtights.com/pages/halloween Heck yes! I appear to wear size A/B, and I like Polka Baby, Blood Red, Spider Sense, Lux Carnelian, RATZ and Duo Boo. Also is there anything you would particularly like from the UK? I will ALWAYS take gluten free crumpets (be warned- if you get these for me, you have to ship them immediately so I can get them in the freezer before they start to mold (mould). Anyone who has ever sent them to me has gotten them to me in time, I'm just saying: don't buy them now then leave them in a box til end of October to ship- they won't keep that long I also love gluten free Jaffa Cakes! And PG Tips tea. A new tiny jar of Marmite. Really good orange marmalade. 8/30 What Halloween things off RedBubble do you like? Share link if possible. https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Halloween-Vintage-Black-Cat-by-CreativeFit/27879526.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Purple-Witch-Pack-by-myabstractmind/55053065.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Little-Shopping-Ghost-by-saz/57134173.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Witchy-Pack-by-MSandzewicz/46282740.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Bats-by-Fishtopus/54491368.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Ghost-drinking-iced-coffee-by-lindsey788/58208308.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/cute-ghost-sticker-pack-by-designsbysoph/57831345.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Two-Ghosts-by-br1anna12/48893117.EJUG5 https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/Zero-by-philos25/41874334.EJUG5 8/31 Is there anything you might want from Japan? Snacks (autumn flavors are out~), nerdy stuff, cute stuff anything! OMG, if there are ANY gluten free Kit Kats, I would DIE for those! ANY flavor!!! I never, ever get to experience that joy, so it would be amazing. Otherwise, any interesting gluten-free, shrimp-free, MSG-free autumnal food goodies would be delightful! is there anything being removed from site or a virtual con scent you are interested in trying? I picked up the most important Virtual Con scents for myself. That said, there were others I really wanted, but didn't have funds for. Those are: Lemon Peel, White Peach and White Musk; Peach and Kumquat; and the 3 Survival Kit scents that are NOT Unclench, as I got that for myself. 9/1 I was wondering whether Tim Tams in any incarnation would tempt my witchee. On the less sweet side, is there any other Australian things you might be tempted by. If such a thing as gluten free Tim Tams exist, I'm all over that! Do you enjoy fanfic? I would be happy to write something for you, and/or read/comment upon/gush over thing(s) you've written, if that's something you'd enjoy... You know, I never got into fanfic too much. HOWEVER, I *am*, forever, a Buffy fan and it would be so satisfying to see a plot where Tara comes back to life / back from the dead and is able to reunite with Willow. I always hated that they killed off Tara and it was adding insult to injury that Willow's next girlfriend was someone as annoying and crappy as Kennedy. Would you appreciate rare TAL decant(s) in 1 mL amber roll-on bottle(s)? It would honestly depend on which TAL we're talking about, cause I've got about 30 of them, so I'd need to know something more specific. How do you feel about enamel pens? If positively, which fandoms or topics would you like? Is this supposed to say pins? Or are there enamel PENS I know nothing about? I'm not being a jerk- I really am just making sure! The only enamel pins I really get into are Disney pins. The licensed ones with the Mickey pin backs that folks like me collect and trade at Pin Trader Stations in Disney Parks and resorts. If you have ANY of those, I will happily take them off your hands- I will either love them or I can trade them, which is great too! (I specifically collect Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, if you happen to find any of those!) Witches! I am excited. I just came across this Etsy shop and want all the flowers. All of them aka any of them. I came across them because of color wheel key chain or pins. So those too. I WILL BE ORDERING and wondering if you would like something from there as well? I know it's not very witchy but man are they pretty. They also have pets and beverages and other things but I got held up on the flowers and color wheels. Still exploring. Not seasonal aka witchoweeny ---> I like the "paint water" and "not paint water" pins, especially the idea of them as a set. I didn't see any, but if there's one for foxglove, I'd be into that, too. Future Primitive: Ya know, I don't especially need any of the autumnal offerings per se, but the A Quiet Mind Luxury Bath Milk in that beautiful brown apothecary jar is *right* up my alley. Ketchup Added 11 September: I harvested some elderberries yesterday and I have a lot more out there, so I made a batch of elderberry syrup. Would you appreciate a 4oz bottle of it? —> Oh yes please! My one request is that it be in a glass (not plastic) bottle- thank you! Do you want anything from Sea Witch Botanicals (I can buy it locally from shops)? —>Mabon and Samhain incenses both look rather intriguing! Hirons Drug Store - which is basically an Unbelievable place to browse for every kind of eclectic, fun, spooky, weird, and even useful thing you could want - so tell me some Odds And Ends of things you like or want, I know this is open ended, sorry - - gadgetry, stickers, toys, pens, costumery, snacks, decoration, kitchen stuff, etc —>I tried to look online without any success, unfortunately, so I can only reiterate the things I’ve listed elsewhere, that I like olde-timey Halloween decor, especially black cats followed by bats. And I could use a garlic peeler. Also, I would love some thigh-high polka-dot socks (white dots on black is preferable.) Gift Certificates you'd like to places that are local to you? —> Giovanni’s Room (I’ve no idea if they even offer gift certificates but what the hell). Free People. The Artist and Craftsman Philadelphia. Essene Natural Market. Dope Botanicals. How do you feel about ILNP nail polish and what are your favs from the new Cosmos collection and any others on their site?? —> Dark Matter followed by Orbit are both gorgeous. I also really like Autumn from the Harvest collection. I’ve never worn any of their products before but they look just lovely! Would you be interested in anything from Alobudra? https://alobudrallc.company.site/products/ ———> The site seems to be mostly down and several of the few things that *are* listed are sold out. If you want me to swing back when they’ve worked out the bugs, I can do that. are there any more “traditional” Japanese souvenirs you’d like to have (think chopsticks, tenugui, washi paper, etc.)? —-> Chopsticks are always fun, and our are all getting quite old and gnarly, so that would be a welcome gift indeed! I also like the little bowls that have cats or koi painted into the bottoms of them. 9/4 Would you like to try Brujita Skincare ? (Ignore the out of stock except for In Your Room collection and Inner Child Ritual candle.) —> the Sandalwood Hydrosol looks lovely. Would you be interested in any jewelry or other items made with tiny bones from this shop? There are some Halloween themed ones: https://www.tinybonesandthings.com/s/shop ——>although I love bones, none of these designs really spoke to me, alas If you like tea, is there anything you would like from Bird & Blend? https://www.birdandblendtea.com/ ——> ALWAYS! I especially enjoy their sticky chais and their halloween themed chais (sticky and standard) all look especially compelling this year, like the Dark Chos Chili Chai and the Rose and Cardamom Chai. 9/5 BloomChic - just discovered them - Take a look at the Halloween stuff, and tell me the link and the size of whatever thing you like! —> Not my size range, but their stuff is super cute! Poesie Tea! Do you like? Some of my favorites are from this company. https://www.poesieperfume.com/loose-leaf-tea ——> I’ve never had any, so probably their Sampler Set would be the way to go to get me started! I like the looks of the following: London Smoke and Fog; Relevé; Royal Wedding; Osborne House; Palace Chai. 9/6 Would you like anything from Trader Joe's? (Pumpkin products are, sadly, not in stores yet, but they will be during this round!) ——> Anything I love from TJ’s I’m likely to pick up for myself Do you have any Halloween traditions? ——> We like to decorate inside and out. This is the first time in several years that we’re living in a private house so we plan to do a nice display outside for the trick or treaters. Late in the evening, we always do a proper Samhain ritual. I typically makes little cakes and we write down all the past hardships we want to let go of and then we burn them. What about Halloween-related fandoms? (ie. The Nightmare Before Christmas) ——> LOVE NMBC! Also love the original Dark Shadows series, the Crow, Corpse Bride and Donnie Darko. We watch all the above during the Halloween season. Also, of course there’s Buffy non-U.S folks!!! We always end up asking what we'd like from your exotic-to-us locales, but do you have any wishes for things from the States? ——> I live in Philly, this clearly doesn’t apply to me I make things from thrifted sweaters that I cut up & make things from. Do you like armwarmers? ——> I still have a pair of arm warmers you made me years ago- I would not object to another pair! Long or short? Long. Solid color ( elegant) or funky stripes made from multiple sweaters? Funky stripes sounds like a good addition. Fave colors? Black. Pumpkin- or Blood- Orange. Dark forest/blue-green Is cashmere okay? YES PLEASE, I would prefer it! Wool & related blends? ( I never use scratchy wool for arm warmers.) I have too many wool sensitivities, sadly. Do you like buttons used decoratively? I do! Ornate buttons can be lovely and I like the charm of using buttons as “eyes” like the arm warmers are Muppet-y snake creatures I also do coiled & sewn rope work- it's functional art I wrap the rope in fabric & add appliques. I just had my first art show with these- bowls, trivets ( that can hang on the wall when not in use), coasters. Is this something you'd like ? —>A coaster for one of my tea pots would be nice What sort of Halloween fabric? Whimsical? Witchy, bats, mushrooms, moths? ——> bats, mushrooms, moths all sound good. How gothy do you like? ——> ALL the gothy. ALLLLLLLL. have velvets & sparkly stuff to work with too. What is your preference witchee? ———> velvets are fine, skip sparkles please! 9/7 How do you feel about cherry things? Check out Cherry Republic and let me know if anything catches your eye! ——> How fun! Cherry coffee beans seem intriguing. Tart cherry juice is yummy as is cherry concentrate. Montmorency Nouveau preserves look diabolical! I love chunky cherry jams, so this and the cherry rhubarb both peak deep interest for me! Similarly, are you into fancy flavors of olive oil or vinegar? Check out Fustini's and let me know if anything appeals! ——> so many fancy vinegars! Balsalmics in: Chocolate; Asian Blackberry; Cara-Cara Vanilla; Raspberry and Black Truffle. Garlic Olive Oil and White Truffle Olive Oil. We also have an awesome store for jams and sauce, American Spoon which you should totally check out! ——> Spiced Pear Conserve; Honeycrisp Apple Conserve; Sour Cherry Preserves for Ann Patchett; Cherry Peach Salsa. Would you like some locally sourced maple syrup? ——> Always. The darker the better! Finally, I live in a place known for fudge. Do you like it and/or are their flavors you particularly like? My favorite shop is Murdick's if you need to see a flavor list. —> No fudge for me, thanks! Anything from the IKEA Halloween store catch your witchy eye? https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/campaigns/halloween/ ———> the black and white striped KUSTFYR pillow looks so fun!

Update Number 4! Anything here you like? https://bserway.com/ ———> Rind Cauldron is a print worthy of joining my wall space, for sure. Wings and Fiends sticker pack was sold out when I checked but I’m adding it in case it comes back- ditto the Sketchbook Set (fingers crossed). The Mothkin enamel pin breaks my “no enamel except Disney” rule because it really is just the most creepy-adorable thing I’ve ever seen. Anything you'd like from my Ren Fest? There is an outstanding garlic based shop I'll be going to next weekend, for my annual stock up of their spice blends & garlic oil blends. Any other Renny stuff that you like? ———> Oh yes! I *adore* the garlic treats from Faire, especially the kitchen witch magic olive oil- it is loaded with garlic but has some other spices tossed in as well- it’s great in all kinds of cooking and as part of a salad dressing. I’d also be delighted with an infused vinegar, preferably a “sweeter” vinegar, like balsamic or rice vinegars. Other than food, a naturally-fragranced cone-shaped incense would be welcome, as would hand-dyed silk ribbon (often sold in frayed strips or a long piece- I use them for hair ties, so they don’t have to be “perfect” or “smooth”- just a pretty color(s). I know we are looking at a lot of candles, but if you are into looking at more (and it is ok to say you are not), do any of these strike your fancy? https://www.lakewoodwax.com/candlesforacause (Feel free to take a look at their current and signature scents too but I wanted to highlight these fundraiser scents first!) ———> HELL. YES. I *love* what they’re supporting and would be delighted to have any money thrown their way. Kanekalon in the small size looks best to me followed by VII. if you are a person who appreciates tarot and oracle decks, do you have a strong preference about receiving new ones vs gently/barely used? ——> Not a strong preference, no. As long as the deck is in fact gently used, that should be fine. If you have a “clearing” ritual you do, it’d be great if that could happen before it comes to me (and mention if you do) and then I’ll follow up with my own cleansing as well. Are you a Studio Ghibli fan, and if so, what are your feelings about fan made art featuring characters? ———> I *am* a fan, but my wall space is limited, so I’m going to pass on this. I also think I asked another question about people’s feelings on hand knitted socks too. ——> I recall answering this already, too. But the short answer is: sure, and no wool (cashmere is preferable but bamboo, silk and soft cotton are all welcome as well) I asked a question about LUSH, but as I rarely get anything for myself there, I shall answer with my own little wishlist! ——> I would *love* some Curly Wurly, alas, seems to be gone, at least from the US market. If you happen to have a line on some, I’d be super psyched! (doubly true if you come across any Plum Rain shower gel) As for things currently available, I’d LOVe some bath bombs! Unfortunately, many of the Lush bombs have SLS’s in them. Luckily, one of my all-time favorites, Butterball, is completely safe! Also safe and compelling: Deep Sleep; Salt Water Soother; Slow Down and Tisty Tosty. As for stuff other than bath bombs, one more bath bomb, but this time, limited edition! The Jason’t Mummy bath bomb, to be exact. Lastly from the Halloween update, both of the lip scrubs- Candy Corn and Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe, both look yummy.

Ketchup 3 How about from my witchy Chandler? https://www.etsy.com/shop/TeresaLynnsSimpleLux ————>Their teas are quite compelling! I like the look of Namaste, Calm the Fuck Down, Blue Moon and Pumpkin Spice Black Tea It's also that time of year where I make handmade soap (usually with calendula infused olive oil, tallow, oatmeal and honey) and candles (feel free to specify color and size, I don't usually scent them, but I do have a clover and apple scent I've been wanting to play with). I can also annoint and dress candles with TALs and herbs. Any interest? ——> I don’t really use bar soap, so I’ll pass on this. I also grow herbs which can be culinary or magical. I'd be happy to prepare a smudge or dry some herbs for your enjoyment. I currently have oregano (yellow and standard), mugwort, thyme, sage (purple or garden), tea peppermint, chives, lovage, plantain, comfrey, raspberry leaf, and yarrow. I'm probably forgetting something. —————> I would LOOOOOOOVE dried chives for eating! I’m running low on my last batch and I’d adore some more! I also want to cook more with sage, so that would be welcome as well. I also make salves! My go to in an arnica, calendula and comfrey mix for healing wounds or chapped skin. This can also be used on pet paws. We do have barely enough time that I could do a custom infusion. ———> I would *adore* a calendula / comfrey / plantain salve. I’d welcome the inclusion of arnica, but I thought it’s not supposed to be put on broken skin? If it’s safe for wounds, then add it in the there. If not, leave it out! 9/11 Anything in the Paintbox Soapworks Halloween update looking good to you? https://paintboxsoapworks.com/new-limited-edition/2023-weenie-collection/ —————> Perfume Oils: Nightwalker; Light In The Dark; Digging in the Dirt; Demeter, Forsaken; Cathedral of Pumpkins, Carolina Drama, September. Moisturizing Lip Color in Pokeberry Jam. 9/12 If you have a furry friend living with you, what sort of treats do they like? ———> My cat Jinx is ALL about the catnip, ALLLLLLLLL the time. Someone sent him homegrown catnip from their garden once, it was the happiest time of his whole cat life, he loved it so much! 9/13 What is your feelings on seasonal mugs? Yes or, no? Too many in your house or bring them on?? —————> I guess at this point I should say I collect Halloween mugs, because I do have them in abundance. And I will say, guardedly, that I will welcome more. BUT, here’s a list of what I already have, so there’s no repeats! From Alchemy Gothic, I have the white china mugs in Bat Brew, Hexy Witch and Purrrrfect Brew. I also have the black tumbler Alchemy mugs in Puuuuurfect Brew and Bat Brew. I have the large black with gold lettering Ouija mug, a large mug shaped like a ghost, a vintage-Halloween-style black-cat-head mug and a grinning scarecrow-style pumpkin head mug. Lastly, I have a Bird and Blend mug that says “Tea Goth” on it. In general, I like mugs to be large, 90’s “Friends” style- the kind that you could also eat a bowl of cereal out of! I’d welcome additional vintage black cats, as well as bats and other Weenie casts of characters. My only no-no is a cauldron-shaped mug. I’ve seen a bunch of them and I’ve disliked them all. BUT, I’d also be psyched for whimsical, Halloween-adjacent mugs, like ones reminiscent of the fairgrounds in Something Wicked This Way Comes or the Night Circus, like with black and white stripes or polkadots. Are your wishlists - Amazon, Etsy, etc - up to date, and if so, are they all linked somewhere that I can find them? ————> all my wishlists are in my Forum sig. They are…*somewhat* up to date, though even things that are out of stock / out of print, etc will give you ideas of the kinds of things I like, so still useful. I’ll endeavor to update them asap, though- I promise! Do you have anything you use every day that you wouldnt mind getting more of? ———> Decent nail files / emery boards! They are often too hard to or fine a grit. Getting that in-the-middle sweet spot is always tricky! Anything you love or need to have from Adagio or Rishi teas? ——————> I just came back from 2.5 months overseas loaded down with SO. MANY. TEAS. So I’m going to pass on more, generally speaking. List here things you wish you would've added to your questionnaire —————> I am on an active, rabid hunt for Spanx fishnets in white or cream, size B! They have become nearly impossible to find and I really wear them a lot! 9/14 Nocturne Alchemy just dropped their Halloween update! You like the looks of anything? https://nocturnealchemy.com/collections/limited-collection ————> This was my own question, so I’ll just say that I made my own Halloween order and feel fine about my decisions. That said, if you happen to have any of their old, foil-label scents, or Jammy Bottoms, I wouldn’t say no to those. Is there anything you would like from the Weenie update? ———> I placed a massive order yesterday, so the things left are Pumpkin Incense (perfume or Atmo spray ); Hair Glosses in Pumpkin Buttercream or Autumn Fougere; Vampire Monster Milk; and Pumpkin Trash Bag. How do you feel about stickers? If positively, are there any themes you'd rather not have stickers of? ———> I like stickers okay. But keep it simple: BPAL or vintage Halloween. Nothing else, please! What about crystals, cool rocks, and gemstones? ———> No, thank you. 9/15 How do you feel about Squishmallows and Squishables? (They have mini and micro sizes for those who like cute plushies but don't have a lot of space.) ———> They’re pretty cute, but I’ll pass. Would you wear enamel pins with chains that are meant to be put on lapels? (Something like this.) ———> No, thanks. Speaking of enamel pins... The Pickety Witch's Autumn and Halloween collection just dropped. Has anything caught your eye? ————> I don’t really wear enamel pins, unless they’re official Disney Pin Traders. I used to make mobiles out of paper cranes, would you appreciate something like this? if so, what size restrictions do you have, if any? ie., should it take up less space vertically or horizontally? color palette preference? ———> No, thank you!