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Epinoia "Epinoia" is a state of mind where one is possessed by a fit of supernatural creativity. The perfume Epinoia is a concoction of natural indulgences: cocoa, sweet spice, classy citrus, and vanilla. The natural perfume lovers' answer to foody scents, luscious. I like this one better than the synthetics by a country mile. Keep out of reach of children and adults with a sweet tooth. There is nothing but hedonistic indulgence in Epinoia, nothing good for you or medicinal just pure unabashed luxury.* Characteristics: fruity, orange, chocolate, unisex, scent locket, home scent. Ooh! A really lovely, foody scent. Cocoa with vanilla and a touch of citrus. Love it! Glee Oh, the Glee of spring! Here it is. Another chocolate scent but this one is, how you say, spicy? No, it's oriental and choco... No. It's...it's...it's... Oh, heck. You just have to try this one and supply your own description. Words fail even me, and I warn you it is not stable! I love this stuff. Love it. However, it turns on my skin. Just let it dry and it Hates me. I hope it does not happen to you. Most of the time if a scent does not agree with me I don't offer it, but this time I think that Glee is so good that I offer it with the warning and let you know that I love it and wear it in my scent locket. That's right, it's that good. Give it a try and see what you think. Amended to say: for some celestial reason my skin stopped hating Glee. I am so happy. But try this stuff anyway. It is really good. Characteristics: Chocolate, foody, woody, unisex, scent locket, modern, home scent. Chocolate and Middle Eastern spices. Maybe a touch of coffee. Lovely! Haute Love Ginger, you say you want ginger? Like love it's hot and burns so beautifully! Imagine chocolate covered ginger which is forced to marry a gooey sticky sweet and all consuming center. It is so clean...it is so very sinful! Haute Love will remind you of that guy you knew who was so polite around your parents, but was such a wildman once you left the house. Or was that you, the prim little lady in public, the wildcat in private? That's Haute Love. Characteristics: Foody, spicy, chocolate, vanilla, scent locket, unisex, home scent, long lasting. Oh my! Dark chocolate with ginger and a hint of vanilla. Cadmium Red This is the intense lickable red. It's an expensive color which you only find on the finest automobile finishes, the most expensive nail lacquer, and the most high of high concepts. It is the holidays forever. Possets is bringing out their scents of colors and Cadmium Red is the first splashy beautiful of the palette. Red, it smells red in the most delicious and beguiling way. For the faint of heart who want to take heart and for the fearless who want to accentuate their glee. Characteristics: spicy, unisex, scent locket, home scent, long lasting. Wow. This is the lovely scent of red velvet cake. Chocolate with a little something extra. Decadent and lovely. The Girls Love Clubbing Imagine the thump of Club Bee music, the Girls show up and they are Dressed To Kill! Those wasp waists and big black eyes! That hair, those black leggings! The haze of clove with honey and other things. Yes. It's going to be a good evening! Characteristics: spicy, honey, sophisticated. Clove and honey swirled together with leather and smoke. Smells just like a good time.

Wow. I like this a lot more than I expected to. It does remind me of snow. It's a really nice, soft, pretty scent, but kind of hard to pin down. There's spun sugar and creaminess, maybe almond? Some very soft florals in there somewhere. It's not my usual style at all, but I sort of can't stop sniffing it. Definitely need to order a bottle now that the Yules have come back around.

Black LaceThe embodiment of Victorian funereal elegance. A delicate sugar-spun vanilla cream cotton, stained by tobacco and incense, Indian musk, and drops of cognac. I was lucky enough to snag a bottle of this for a fairly reasonable price on eBay. In the bottle, I can smell vanilla, cream, cognac and musk. There's also a hint of something vaguely floral. On wet, the floral lessens and the incense comes forward. It's more cognac-y. It smells warm. Dry, this is really lovely. It reminds me a bit of Snake Oil, but it's definitely got its own distinct thing going on. I like it quite a bit. Glad I snagged a bottle. ThanatopsisA meditation upon death. Inspired by William Cullen Bryant's poem. A deep, solomn earthen scent containing pine, juniper and musk. I got a very nicely aged imp of Thanatopsis in a swap. In the bottle, it smells lovely. Musk, with subtle juniper and pine. On wet, the pine is very strong on me, though I can still smell the nice musk. I waited, hopefully, for this one to dry, but sadly, on me it's just too Pine Sol-y. Luckily, I found it a good home with someone who will love it and can wear it. BakenekoIn sharp contrast to the stark sterility of Hunger Moon, we present a carnivorous chaotic charmer: the bakeneko. The Monster Cat is a shapeshifter, and is empowered to take the form of a beautiful woman (to entice lonely gentlemen) or a winsome young maiden (to the peril of childless couples). Though some bakeneko are benevolent, and only wish to find someone to care for them, or to show gratitude to a mortal that has done them a great service, others are furry balls of malevolent mayhem. Their mischief ranges from simply destructive — knocking over lamps and destroying property, tossing ghostly, freezing fireballs from their hands — to horrifying acts of carnage. Warm amber musk, Satsuma tangerine, black tea leaf, cardamom, cherry blossom and cinnamon. I picked up a decant of this in a swap, and I was a little concerned the little cat demon might wreak a little scent chaos in my life. Tangerine is usually a Note of Doom for me. In the bottle, it's pretty crazy. Musk, tangerine, cardamom and cherry blossom. I'm a bit worried, because tangerine is usually a Note of Doom for me. On wet, it's tangerine, amber musk, black tea and cinnamon. Dry, the tangerine softens and you can smell more cherry blossom. It's really nice. I may need to find a bottle somewhere. Devil's NightGuy Fawkes, Guy; Stick him up on high! Hang him on a lamp post And there let him die! Guy, Guy, Guy! Poke Him in the eye! Put him on the fire, And there let him die! Burn his body from his head: Then you'll say Guy Fawkes is dead! Hip, Hip, Hooray! Beer, woodsmoke, tar, and treacle. In the bottle, I get smoke, a bit of beer and treacly sweetness. Wet, it's very similar, but warmer and musky. Dry, this is really nice. The scents are very well integrated. Smoky-sweet autumn joy. SamhainophobiaThe fear of Halloween. 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. Bottle: Vetiver, patchouli, wet leaves and fir trees. Wet: Pretty much the same, with some smoke. Dry: Wow! I didn't really expect this to work for me; seems more of a Ben scent. Once it's dry, though, it's really great. The crazy green scents calm down . It's musky and vetivery, with a hint of soft green. Very fall. The Parliament of MonstersYou pass through the golden mouth, and find yourself inside a narrow, cramped corridor. Large wooden paintings of skeletal hands crook their bony fingers, leading you forwards. At the first turn, you hear a bizarre jumble of sounds: the high-pitched sound of gears grinding, metal on metal, the sound of sultry, low-pitched laughter, a clattering, wings flapping, soft hissing. Suddenly, a sharp howl pierces the darkness. As you make your way around the corner you are momentarily blinded as floodlights flicker to life, and thirteen gold-gilded stages are illuminated, bathed from beneath in sinister, caramel-colored light. Dust, incense, wet tobacco, and a curl of opium smoke. In the bottle, the opium smoke is strong. I also get incense and tobacco. On wet, it's about the same, although the opium softens a bit. Dry, it's pretty much as described. Pretty nice, although not something I see myself really reaching for.

I'd recommend Graveyard Dirt. It really does smell like freshly-turned earth, and lots of people have decants up for grabs right now in the swaps forum.

The problem is, it's sufficient to prove a transaction occurred, yes, but not sufficient to prove the lab actually got your order. I placed my SGA order through Paypal, and waited and waited for a CnS. I watched the CnS thread. I was hesitant to email Customer Service because I know how busy they are, and the volume of orders they were dealing with at once for that particular item, so I didn't want to seem like an impatient pest (and I suspect others feel the same). Finally, when people were getting CnS emails for orders placed a few weeks after mine, I sent them an email, and found out they never got their confirmation email from Paypal. It's not difficult to set up an auto-response system, and these days, most spam filtering software is very good at filtering only actual spam. I'm a web developer and server/email administrator, so I have some experience with this. We filter for spam, and these days we almost never get complaints from clients about missed emails trapped by the spam filter (we serve approximately 50 individual clients, with hundreds of email accounts between them). In the past year, I've had one report of a missing email that turned out to have been caught by the filter (and believe me, if people don't get their emails, I hear about it immediately). These days, most people know to check the spam folder/directory if they don't receive an email they're expecting. An easy way to avoid this is to advise people to add the email address from which notifications will come to their address book or other whitelist. A lot of companies advise people to do this somewhere during the ordering process, when people sign up for newsletters, etc. It's not a perfect system (some email providers just delete email flagged as spam, rather than saving it for awhile so users can check for incorrectly filtered emails), but as I said, these days most spam filters are really good and don't catch many legitimate emails.

Snake Oil, Bordello, Hunger and Kali seem to always work on my husband. On him, I LOOOOOOVE Brom Bones. Like, whoa. Dracul, Hellfire, DeSade and Havana are great too.

GRAVEYARD DIRT (2008)A tribute to a somewhat nefarious and truly notorious ingredient in New Orleans spellcrafting. It is employed in hoodoo rootwork for various reasons, primarily in spells of protection, "tricking" your enemies, binding, and even love magick. The graves are chosen based on the type of working, and are determined by the type of spirit that lies there and the manner of their demise. Payment is always required in the form of offerings to the deceased. This is the scent of pure graveyard dust, spattered with grave loam and dusted lightly with tombstone moss. Yep, this smells like dirt all right. It's a crazy rich, complex scent unlike anything else I've sniffed... aside from dirt. Wow. I like it. HORREUR SYMPATHIQUEFrom livid skies that, without end, As stormy as your future roll, What thoughts into your empty soul (Answer me, libertine!) descend? — Insatiable yet for all That turns on darkness, doom, or dice, I'll not, like Ovid, mourn my fall, Chased from the Latin paradise. Skies, torn like seacoasts by the storm! In you I see my pride take form, And the huge clouds that rush in streams Are the black hearses of my dreams, And your red rays reflect the hell, In which my heart is pleased to dwell. The perfume of a hellbound soul, gleefully lost to iniquity: blood musk, golden honey, thick black wine, champagne grapes, tobacco flower, plum blossom, tonka bean, oakmoss, carnation, benzoin, opoponax, and sugar cane. In the bottle, I get musk, honey, wine, carnation, plum and sugar cane. It's crazy and interesting. On wet, it's mostly the same, although the musk is deepier, dirtier. Dry, this goes sickly-sweet and too floral for my taste. HAUNTEDA mournful, poignant scent, thick with foreboding. Soft golden amber darkened with a touch of murky black musk. In the bottle, this has a sharp scent overlying the softness of the amber and musk. On wet, it still has that sharpness, although the musk deepens. Sadly, once dry, the sharpness disappears and it goes straight to powder. JEZIRAT AL TENNYNThe Dragon’s Isle: smoke and fire, earth and wind. The rage of the elements blasting over a primordial paradise. In the bottle, I can smell charcoal, dirt and air. On wet, I get those, plus a hint of musk. Once dry, this is a very herbal scent. A bit of rosemary, dill, maybe chives? It's a lot of herbs. It's not bad, but I don't think it's something I'd reach for often. NUITShe is the Goddess of the Sky, one of the Ennead, daughter of the air [shu] and water [Tefnut], lover of Geb and Hadit, the Eternal Mother, and the Receiver, Reviver and Protector of the Dead, whose loving, divine embrace shields our souls from annihilation. She is love, rapture, splendor, continuous and eternal birth and rebirth, infinite space, and the “the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night”. Nuit is Earth’s guardian, and shields her lover and her mortal children from the primeval chaos that threatens Existence. Her perfume is starry and crystalline, a jewel-clad and glittering paean to night: dazzling white musks, white rose and night-blooming jasmine with the soft moss of moonlit meadows, a waft of Egyptian incense, and a gentle breath of moonflower. In the bottle, this is way too floral for my taste, strongly rose, jasmine and moonflower. On wet, it's pretty much the same. Once dry, it turns into floral soap. Not one for me. KURUKULLAThe Tibetan goddess of love and wealth. Her scent is a harmonious, sweet, enchanting blend of three lotus blooms and three roses. In the bottle, the florals are very sweet. Definitely lotus and rose. On wet, it's the same, although I get a slightly alcoholic note. It smells like sweet cocktails. Once dry, this is actually kind of nice, but it's just a little too sweet for my taste. DRAGON'S EYEA piercing, radiant perfume: dragon's blood resin, lily of the valley, lilac and galbanum. In the bottle, I can smell dragon's blood and lilac. On wet, I get dragon's blood, lilac and a bit of warm musk. It's pretty nice. Unfortunately, once it dries, it goes straight to powder. XIUHTECUHTLIPatron of the Aztec pantheon, he is the personification of light within darkness, warmth in the cold, and life in, and after, death. He is a creative and destructive God of Fire and Light, and is appeased only by sacrifice, trial, and the slaughter of his people's enemies. Copal, plumeria and sweet orange and the smoke of South American incense and crushed jungle blooms. In the bottle, I get oranges, plumeria and a hint of incense. On wet, I can smell those scents, plus a hint of smoke, and the resiny copal begins to come out. It's not bad, but once dry, it's a bit too orangey and too floral for me. QUEEN GERTRUDEImperial violet softened by wisteria and chrysanthemum, but edged with the regal iciness of delphinium. This is way too floral for me. In the bottle, I get violets and wisteria. It smells pretty. On me, however, violet just doesn't work. It's way too heavy and cloying. THE KNAVE OF HEARTS'Herald, read the accusation!' said the King. On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:-- 'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, All on a summer day: The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, And took them quite away!' Crushed roses and blackcurrant tarts. In the bottle, I get a lovely pie scent. Dark berries and sweet, warm crust. On wet, it's much the same, with a hint of rose and some added spiciness. Once dry, it's not bad. The rose is a bit stronger than I'd like, but the warm, spicy-berry pie scent is great. OMENDeep, mysterious, and full of dark portents: oakmoss, juniper berry, myrrh and patchouli. In the bottle, it's much as described: juniper, myrrh and patchouli. On wet, the juniper is very strong. Once dry, this is nice. A lovely, smoky scent comes through. The juniper softens, and it's well integrated with the myrrh and patchouli. Not bad at all. Definitely one of the outdoorsy scents that I can actually wear. NOCNITSAAlso known as Krisky, Plaksy and Gorska Makua, she is a nightmare spirit, the Night Hag of the Woods, who haunts Polish, Russian, Bulgarian and Slovak children during the darkest hours. The only protection against her torments is a circle drawn around a child’s cradle with a knife, or an axe or protective poppet hidden under the floorboards beneath where a child sleeps. Her scent is that of a lightless fir wood, nighttime air, wet forest mosses and upturned earth. In the bottle, I get fir trees, cold air and damp earth, with a hint of sweetness. On wet, the pine softens. It's more earthy, but clean, and the nice sweet scent remains. Sadly, this goes a bit too soapy on the drydown. Y'HA-NTHLEIWe shall swim out to that brooding reef in the sea and dive down through black abysses to Cyclopean and many-columned Y'ha-nthlei, and in that lair of the Deep Ones we shall dwell amidst wonder and glory for ever. A great undersea metropolis located below Devil's Reef. A swirling, lightless, effervescent scent: the deepest marine notes with bergamot, eucalyptus and foamy ambergris. This is way too oceany for my taste, and I'm not wild about eucalyptus as something to wear. Doesn't quite work. MOSCOWA rich, bold blend of imperial rose, carnation, lush jasmine, lily of the valley, dark musk, amber, bergamot and gilded tangerine. Way too many florals and too much tangerine (another scent I'm not crazy about wearing). The musk and amber just aren't enough to balance it. Not for me. WANTONFeminine sexuality in it's rawest form. Palmarosa, red sandalwood, attar of rose, patchouli. Way, waaaaay too much rose. On me, it's completely overpowering. ZEPHYRA gentle white scent, breezes laced with the scent of springtime blooms and citrus. Lemon, lemon verbena, neroli, white musk, white florals, white sandalwood, China musk, bergamot and a drop of vanilla. The florals in this are too heavy, and the citrus is too sweaty-smelling on me. Not for me. ETERNALThough they go mad they shall be sane, Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion. Stephanotis, cyclamen, heliotrope, white rose and gardenia. In the bottle, I get light, pretty florals. It might work for me. Sadly, it has gardenia, which almost never works for me. On, it's heavy and funereal. ULTRAVIOLETElectrifying, mechanized and chilly -- the scent of crushed blooms strewn on cold metal. Lush violet and neroli spiked hard with eucalyptus and a sliver of mint. Oh, dear lord. This is so awful on me. In the bottle, it's violet and mint. Once on, it goes wild. It's heavy menthol, like Vick's with flowers. Not a winner for me. TO A WOMANThy fatal shafts unerring move, I bow before thine altar, Love. I feel thy soft resistless flame Glide swift through all my vital frame. For while I gaze my bosom glows, My blood in tides impetuous flows; Hope, fear, and joy alternate roll, And floods of transports whelm my soul. My faltering tongue attempts in vain In soothing murmurs to complain; My tongue some secret magic ties, My murmurs sink in broken sighs. Condemned to nurse eternal care, And ever drop the silent tear, Unheard I mourn, unknown I sigh, Unfriended live, unpitied die. Benzoin, cassis bud, patchouli, rose otto, and petitgrain. Ugh. To me, this smells weird, bitter and vaguely medicinal. On, it's pretty terrible. Is it the petitgrain? The cassis bud? I don't think I've tried anything with either of those notes before, and there's definitely something in this that doesn't work for me at all. LA BELLA DONNA DELLA MIA MENTEMy limbs are wasted with a flame, My feet are sore with traveling, For, calling on my Lady's name, My lips have now forgot to sing. O Linnet in the wild-rose brake Strain for my Love thy melody, O Lark sing louder for love's sake, My gentle Lady passeth by. She is too fair for any man To see or hold his heart's delight, Fairer than Queen or courtesan Or moonlit water in the night. Her hair is bound with myrtle leaves, (Green leaves upon her golden hair!) Green grasses through the yellow sheaves Of autumn corn are not more fair. Her little lips, more made to kiss Than to cry bitterly for pain, Are tremulous as brook-water is, Or roses after evening rain. Her neck is like white melilote Flushing for pleasure of the sun, The throbbing of the linnet's throat Is not so sweet to look upon. As a pomegranate, cut in twain, White-seeded, is her crimson mouth, Her cheeks are as the fading stain Where the peach reddens to the south. O twining hands! O delicate White body made for love and pain! O House of love! O desolate Pale flower beaten by the rain! Soft, lush myrtle and dry, sweet melilot with wild rose, pomegranate juice and peach blossom against a background of deep aquatic notes and a twirl of melancholy autumn breezes. In the bottle, this is so pretty. Peaches, pomegranate and autumn leaves. On my skin, unfortunately, it turns immediately into soapy florals. Sigh.

The other evening, my hubby Ben said he wanted to try some of our newer scents, so we sat down with some of the Halloweenies that he hadn't tried, a few new frimps from the horde I got from the Lab with my Halloweenie order, and some recent swaps as well (some of them frimps too). Below are reviews of the frimps and swaps we tried. HAND OF GLORYThe fingertips themselves are aflame, yet the desiccated skin is not being consumed. Beeswax, dry leather, black pepper, saltpeter, nutmeg, Mysore sandalwood, and oak bark. This is great! Beeswax, a hint of leather, pepper and nutmeg. Hand of Glory is really excellent, and just gets better the longer it's on. Works best on my hubby, but great for me as well. DEATHCAPA lethal poison bundled up in a dainty, innocent little package that was oft times found in ancient witches’ flying ointments and astral projection balms. A warm, soft, ruddy scent, earthy and mild. This is a subtle, complex scent; I think "ruddy" is a good description. Unfortunately, it's just a bit too dirty, even for us. "It smells like dried-out mushrooms," Ben says. PORT ROYALThe Sodom of the New World! -- touted as the richest and wickedest city in all creation! Port Royal was the center of 17th century Caribbean commerce, a notorious safe harbor for pirates, and the site of our third flagship store, which was, sadly, destroyed in the earthquake of 1692. Spiced rum and ship’s wood mixed with the body-warmed trace of a prostitute’s perfume and a hint of salty sea air on the dry-down. I wasn't sure we'd like this; it was the surprise hit of the evening. Spiced rum, green wood, something sweet and hint of oceaniness. Once this is really dry, and the booziness kind of settles a bit, this is really awesome. It's a fun scent. Best on the hubby, but works for both of us. GOMORRAHOne of the Biblical Cities on the Plain, destroyed by God with fire and brimstone because of its people’s pride, prosperous ease, deceit, hedonism and indolence, and their callous, uncharitable hearts. A gritty, sordid and languid scent: ripe fig, date and currant with black herbs. This is very good. It's very true to the lab description; we get fig and currants with some hard-to-distinguish dark herbs. And dirt. This one is dirty in a really nice way that complements the fruitiness of the fig and currants. A keeper. THE ISLES OF DEMONSTwin islands near Newfoundland, now lost, that were believed to be gateways to Hell. The scent is of wet, dark greenery, carnivorous flowers, volcanic gas, and the hot black musk of the demons and wild beasts that populated the islands. This one is ok. It has a nice musk and soft florals that are the kind that we like. It's a bit unfocused, though, like it's not sure what it's trying to be, and it goes a little powdery on the back end. It's nice, but I can tell it's not something either of us would really reach for.

This is great on me. It's a dark cocoa dirtied up with sandalwood and myrrh. Love it.

I love this! In the bottle and on wet, it smells very strongly of whiskey, with maybe a tiny bit of the oak. Once it dries, however, it's this lovely combination of whiskey, oak and smoky spices. To quote my hubby, "Ooh, it smells like a fireplace" (in the best possible way). Love it.

In the bottle, this smells really lovely. Green and floral in the soft, not-too-sweet way that I like. I can smell the ivy and moonflower. It does smell like the outdoors at night. Unfortunately, on me, it turns a little too soapy when it dries. Bummer.

This smells great. The scents are very well integrated and difficult to differentiate. I definitely get the blood, sandalwood and vetiver notes, maybe a hint of something metallic. I really like this one.

In the bottle, there's a very strong beeswax scent, with a hint of tea. On wet, I get beeswax, tea and pepper. There's sort of a popcorn scent. Dry, it's strongly beeswax, with cream, pepper and a hint of tea. I really like this, but unfortunately my husband thinks it smells weird and a little like pee, so I won't be wearing this much.

In the bottle, this smells very edible. It's carrots and hay with a lot of molasses and maple oats. On wet, it's pretty much the same, but the musk also begins to come through. Dry, it's pretty much the same again. This is very nice; it smells warm and cozy. It's comforting. Unfortunately, it's not a scent I would wear, much as I love foodie scents. I think it will be great in an oil burner or something like that, though.

In the bottle, I get LEATHER!!! with a hint of musk. On wet, it's mostly leather again. As it dries, it's a lovely, dark leather and musk scent, yet somehow manages to smell clean as well. I LOVE this on my husband. It's perfect.

In the bottle, I get a nice scent of charred wood, leaves and tobacco. On wet, I get smoke, char, leaves, tobacco and something very heavy and flowery/powdery. This does not bode well. I waited for this to dry, but that heavy scent just doesn't go away, and it doesn't work for me. Bummer.

In the bottle, the bourbon vanilla is quite strong. I can also smell the bay rum and a bit of brimstone. On wet, it's pretty much the same, though I start to get a hint of muskiness. Dry, this is really great. Boozy tobacco and brimstone goodness. It smells especially nice on my hubby.

In the bottle, I get dried, wet leaves, pine and smoke. On wet, it's a little too much pine at first. There's some spiciness as well -- maybe allspice? The longer it's on, however, the more the leaves and smoke begin to come through. Once this is really dry, it's very nice. The pine scent settles down to something manageable and pleasant. I like it.

In the bottle, this smells like spicy creamsicles. On wet, I still get the creamsicle scent, but the spices and a hint of smoke are more apparent. As it dries, the anise seed begins to come out, and I get a very subtle scent like slightly burned popcorn (but not in a bad way). This is nice. I like it.

Sugar Skull 2008 In the bottle, this definitely smells like sugar, but not straight-up sugar. Like caramel or toffee. It has a deep, slightly smoky scent. On wet, it's much the same, but a slight spiciness begins to come out. Once dry, this is really awesome. Dark, smoky sugar with a hint of subtle spices. Love it!

Snow, Glass, ApplesShe said nothing. Her eyes were black as coal, black as her hair; her lips were redder than blood. She looked up at me and smiled. Her teeth seemed sharp, even then, in the lamplight. "What are you doing away from your room?" "I'm hungry," she said, like any child. It was winter, when fresh food is a dream of warmth and sunlight; but I had strings of whole apples, cored and dried, hanging from the beams of my chamber, and I pulled an apple down for her. "Here." Autumn is the time of drying, of preserving, a time of picking apples, of rendering the goose fat. Winter is the time of hunger, of snow, and of death; and it is the time of the midwinter feast, when we rub the goose-fat into the skin of a whole pig, stuffed with that autumn's apples, then we roast it or spit it, and we prepare to feast upon the crackling. She took the dried apple from me and began to chew it with her sharp yellow teeth. "Is it good?" She nodded. I had always been scared of the little princess, but at that moment I warmed to her and, with my fingers, gently, I stroked her cheek. She looked at me and smiled -- she smiled but rarely -- then she sank her teeth into the base of my thumb, the Mound of Venus, and she drew blood. I began to shriek, from pain and from surprise; but she looked at me and I fell silent. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is thrilled to present a numbered, limited edition chapbook of Neil Gaiman's acclaimed short story, Snow, Glass, Apples, beautifully illustrated by Julie Dillon. Each package includes a 5ml bottle of perfume, created by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, that was inspired by the tale. In Neil's words, 'It smells like green apples and like sex and vampires, all at the same time. (Actually, it smells like sexy vampire apples.)' This set is a limited run of 1000. 250 were sold by CBLDF at San Diego Comic Con 2008, and the remainder are available through the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab web site. Snow, Glass, Apples will be available on the BPAL site as long as supplies last. This is a charitable, not-for-profit venture: proceeds from every single set go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, which works to preserve and protect the First Amendment rights of the comics community. A million thanks and all our love to Neil, and to Charles Brownstein and his staff at the CBLDF! This is awesome. In the bottle, it smells like apples, mint and something else I can't really pin down. On wet, the mint is very strong. Dry, this is just great. Apples, a touch of mint, that elusive something, and cold. This is the first time I've tried one of the wintry scents, and it definitely smells cold. Very nice. Mama-JiShadow saw the old woman, her dark face pinched with age and disapproval, but behind her he saw something huge, a naked woman with skin as black as a new leather jacket, and lips and tongue the bright red of arterial blood. Around her neck were skulls, and her many hands held knives, and swords, and severed heads. Spices, cardamom, nutmeg, and flowers. In the bottle, I get lovely spices. The cardamom and nutmeg, maybe some cinnamon, not sure what else. On wet, still lovely spices. Unfortunately, when this dries, it turns to spices and baby powder on me. Bummer. It smelled so nice wet. Mad Sweeney"Coin tricks is it?" asked Sweeney, his chin raising, his scruffy beard bristling. "Why, if it's coin tricks we're doing, watch this." He took an empty glass from the table. Then he reached out and took a large coin, golden and shining, from the air. He dropped it into the glass. He took another gold coin from the air and tossed it into the glass, where it clinked against the first. He took a coin from the candle flame of a candle on the wall, another from his beard, a third from Shadow's empty left hand, and dropped them, one by one, into the glass. Then he curled his fingrs over the glass, and blew hard, and several more golden coins dropped into the glass from his hand. He tipped the glass of sticky coins into his jacket pocket, and then tapped the pocket to show, unmistakably, that it was empty. "There," he said. "That's a coin trick for you." Barrel-aged whiskey and oak. I love this! In the bottle and on wet, it smells very strongly of whiskey, with maybe a tiny bit of the oak. Once it dries, however, it's this lovely combination of whiskey, oak and smoky spices. To quote my hubby, "Ooh, it smells like a fireplace" (in the best possible way). Love it. BilquisThe Queen of Sheba, half-demon, they said, on her father's side, witch woman, wise woman, and queen, who ruled Sheba when Sheba was the richest land there ever was, when its spices and its gems and scented woods were taken by boat and camel-back to the corners of the earth, who was worshipped even when she was alive, worshipped as a living goddess by the wisest of kings, stands on the sidewalk of Sunset Boulevard at 2:00 A.M. staring blankly out at traffic like a slutty plastic bride on a black-and-neon wedding cake. She stands as if she owns the sidewalk and the night that surrounds her. Honey, myrrh, lily of the valley, rose otto, fig leaf, almond, ambrette, red apple, and warm musk. In the bottle, this is spicy, with honey and almond. There's also a bit of green that I think may be the fig leaf, and something else. The ambrette? On wet, the myrrh comes out a bit, but not overwhelmingly so. It's still mostly a spicy/honey/almond scent. Dry, the rose comes out, but surprisingly, it's not bad. This is really nice. Definitely my thing.

***10/14*** Xmas/holiday ornaments -- Want any? What kinds do you go for? (certain line or color or style) That would be nice. Our tree is very eclectic; we have all sorts of different ornaments, from crafty, homemade stuff to pretty glass confections from Pier One. So I'm not too picky. Would you like your witch to reveal themselves in the final package, or wait until you've received the package and reveal on the board? Or not reveal at all? I'd like to be notified somehow, so I can say thank you. If he/she reveals on the board, I'd like an email or something so I can go look for it! If my witch really doesn't want to reveal, that's ok, but I would like to know. Switch Witch really seems like a great way to get to know someone and make a new friend. What do you keep your jewelry in and would you need/want something new? I have various little boxes. It would be nice to have a new one, but it's not a need at the moment. Do you get excited about nifty socks, and if so, do you have a style or height that you prefer? I love cool sockies! I like the kind that end at the ankle for everyday/tennis shoes wear. I also love knee and thigh-high socks. Maple - yay or nay? Yay! Are you still counting on your witchee keeping up with questions at this point, or do you know enough about her already that questions are just kind of a fun bonus now? I pretty much have her reveal package all figured out, although I might throw in something at the last minute, you never know. Any opinion on Lush products? (And do you take baths at all, or are you strictly a shower gal?) I've never tried Lush, but I'm open to trying practically any new bath & body type stuff. And yes, I do take baths. Silver/Gold/etc. What is your real preference? I think this question was in the original questionnaire. I generally prefer silver, or at least white metals like titanium. If you could get a gift for one housekeeping related task, and never have to do that one task, what would it be? Scooping the cat litter. No contest. ***10/6*** If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? Um, uh... oh gee. Snake Oil. Or maybe Miskatonic University? Or Samhain. Eeek! I don't know! ***10/4*** Who here likes Betty Page? Me me! I love Betty Page. How about original Trek Characters? I'm not so into original Trek. I'm a HUGE TNG fan, though. If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Yum! ***10/1*** Are you interested in Tarot cards? And if so, are there particular decks you like (or don't or already have or whatever)? Yes. I've always wanted to get a Tarot deck, but never have, for one reason or another. What kind of tea (or coffee) puts you in a fall/Halloween mood? And where do you get it? Tea in general puts me in a fall kind of mood, because I usually don't drink tea in the summer. When the weather gets cool enough for me to start drinking tea, I know it's fall. What really puts me in a fall kind of mood is cider (either hot spiced or hard cider) and pumpkin ales! Favorite Halloweeen song? Oh, gosh. I don't think I could choose just one. If you were my witchee, would you like dried honey crisp apple slices or other dried fruit? (We don't add anything to it AFAIK -- no sugar or spices.) Sure. I like dried fruit. I don't like pineapple, though. ***9/25*** Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? Holmes is ok. Favorite cartoons or animated films? I love anime. I'm absolutely crazy about Vampire Hunter D and pretty much anything by Miyazaki (especially things with cats, like The Cat Returns and My Neighbor Totoro (Hello! Cat bus!). I also love Tim Burton's animated stuff (and pretty much everything else he's done), among other things. Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'm not neutral, but I'm not so into politics that I'd like campaign-related stuff. I think pretty much all politicians are probably corrupt. Villians you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking? Spike! Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? I prefer creamy when I have it, but I'm not too wild about peanut butter. It's ok, but usually not my first choice. And I hate peanut butter & jelly. Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? I like pretty much all historical fiction (with the exception of romance novels). I find it all pretty interesting (if the book's well written, of course). ***9/24*** What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? Mostly black. And jeans. Sometimes a few other colors (purple, green, grey or some shade of red). ***9/22*** About incense: do you like sticks or lose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn lose incense over a bit of charcoal? I prefer stick incense. I don't have any way to use loose. What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? Red Riding Hood. The darker the better. So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? Oh, I'll get around to them all eventually. Who needs a recipe box? Not me. I have a book with pages to write in, little sleeve things, etc. ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? That would be cool. ***9/19*** How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) in a kitchen-friendly decorative box, but I didn't want to seem preachy ("Stop using paper towels, you environment destroyer!"). Would y'all use something like that? Sure, that sounds great. What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? Gravestone rubbings. Also, this isn't really a craft, but I could use decanting supplies, or maybe just a list of links to good sites to buy decanting supplies from. And if you know where I can buy some wand caps to replace regular caps with, I'd love it if you told me. I can't seem to find them. Maybe I'm not Googling the right keywords? Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? And if so, do you care if you get any CDs or mp3s you might have all ready? Or would you be able to find a way to post a list of things you're (a) looking for, or ( b ) all ready have? Sure. And no, I wouldn't mind; I have way, way too much music to try to post any sort of list anywhere. Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? Sure. ***9/18*** How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchee? It's very, very hard... Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? That's one of those things I like to buy for myself. What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I love tea; couldn't really choose a favorite, and I'm open to trying anything. BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? LOVE them! Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like? Sure! I don't like things with raisins or dates. ***9/16*** Your thoughts on the update? Pretty cool. I'm crazy excited about the MVJBA update! How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? The fragility of items, whether they include food items, etc. If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? No. ***9/14-9/16*** Do you often drink take away coffe in paper mugs? Nope. I am extremely spoiled when it comes to coffee (I'm friends with a guy who hand roasts fair trade organic coffees, so I get it very fresh and very good), and our local coffee shops aren't very good (at least by comparison). What would a perfume based on you smell like? Oh, gee. I dunno. Who here likes Wizard of Oz things? Not really my thing. ***9/13*** Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? Yes, and haven't tried it. ***9/12*** What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? Asian crafts and foodie things (spices, sauces and such; not candy so much). What is everyone's "luck" item? I don't really have one. Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? Yes. What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? A hug. How do you feel about Hello Kitty? I love Chococat. ***9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? Pretty cool. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? This is my first sw, so no idea. If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? Don't have an original NES anymore. What is your favorite category of the GC? Oh, gosh, who can decide? Excolo, maybe?? ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? I teh Joss!!! Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? Love it. What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? Arcana, Possets. Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? No, but I'd to learn how. Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? Absolutely. What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? My username for the friends & community thing is cammycat. ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? Nope What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Never tried it. How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? Trinkets are fun. Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? Melty things can be shipped to me, but it's probably a good idea to wait until mid to late October, just to be on the safe side. Who likes pirates? Me me me! What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? Very cool. What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? Love it. If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? Whatever is fine with me. Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? I like fruitier scents in my soaps and bath stuffs that I wouldn't actually like in a perfume. Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? Not usually. ***9/8*** How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? I love honey & maple. What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? Go for a walk or a bike ride. ***9/7*** If you have pets, is there a SPECIFIC toy they like to play with; brand and size? Is there a treat/cookie they eat? What brand and size? The kitties like those little toy mice. They won't eat any kind of treat that I've ever tried (well, other than the kind that come off my plate!). The doggie likes just about any toy, particularly rope toys and squeaky stuff, in a fairly large size (he's a lab, 185 pounds). What's your ringtone? Currently, it's Joy Division's "Transmission." Just to throw a silly question out there...Munsters or Addams Family, y'all? Either. What think you about receiving tea accessories and/or miscellany (like mugs, cups, saucers, strainers/filters, honey, natural sweeteners [like stevia])? That would be cool. How do you feel about copies of music or dvd's that your witch might have that you might enjoy? Not just mixes, but whole copies? Sure, fine with me. Tarts? Yes/no? Tarts are ok. I'm wondering if my witchee would like to try these types of things (like the caramel with sea salts or chocolates with chilis/bacon/salt etc.)? Cool! I'm very adventurous, food-wise. ***9/6*** What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? No. 93 Engine and Queen of Sheba. If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Stephen King. ***9/5*** Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? Probably not. Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? Yes. It looks like this. How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? I like organizations that help and protect animals and/or the environment, such as the ASPCA, Rescue Ink, Alley Cat Allies, World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace, etc. ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. It's hard to say! I love contemporary, art nouveau and renaissance art especially, but I also really like impressionist. I'm all over the map. Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? Yes For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose Either is ok with me. Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Yes, we do have real winters here. I love scarves! Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? Sadly, I haven't been on the forum long enough for anyone to be helpful. ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? I would love a mix CD or something like that, and by all means, feel free to send second-hand books my way. Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? No If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? We use a regular filter basket, but we have a grinder and prefer whole bean. What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? Dr. Horrible! How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I use Villainess Whipped, sometimes Crushed, sometimes Ennui (unscented), depending on whether I think it might clash with my BPAL of the day. Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above? Candles and incense. I don't like potpourri, though. BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I love soft things -- like a chenille or other super-soft scarf or one of those soft thin tees. Also silk. I wine and food. Good cheese, neat little gourmet snackies, chocolates. I'm a huge foodie. Aurally speaking, I love music (and my tastes are very eclectic). ***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? I would love all of that! What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? The Dog: Koto (male, 2yrs), a chocolate lab. My husband made his name up. The Cats: Zach and Trevor, my oldest boys (9yrs), named for characters from Poppy Z. Brite's novel Drawing Blood. Sybil (female, 8yrs), named for the character played by Sissy Spacek, because she's just a little bit crazy. Amelia (female, 6yrs), named for the Elizabeth Peters character Amelia Peabody (although we just call her Meme). Molly (female, 5yrs), named for a William Gibson character. Luna Lovecat (female, 3yrs), obviously named. Sya (female, 2yrs), my hubby made that one up too. Sheba (female, maybe 2yrs? she was grown when she adopted us so we aren't sure), again pretty obvious. Brightcat (male, almost 1yr), named in the style of Erin Hunter's Warriors series, and for his light tan face and curious mind. ***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? Not me. Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? I am mad about The Next Generation, and I love Data and Worf. Do you have phobias? I can't stand tight spaces or spiders. How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? I like to get stuff people think I might like, based on other music I like. Would you rather get food or jewellery? Probably food. Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc? Not so much. English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? YES! Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Nay. Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? Nah. Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? I don't really have a preference. Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Sure. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? Yes! I have a PS3, PS2 and PC. I like RPGs best. What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? Punk, alternative, new wave, post-punk, celtic, classic stuff from the 60s/70s (not Led Zeppelin, ew), some folk/americana... my tastes are very eclectic. Some of my favorites: Bad Religion, A.F.I., Social Distortion, Joy Division, Bauhaus, Thrill Kill Kult, Strike Anywhere, Boy Sets Fire, Most Precious Blood, The Cure, The Police, The Ramones, The White Stripes, Gorillaz, Interpol, She Wants Revenge, The Postal Service, The Killers, Nick Cave, Loreena McKinnett, Concrete Blonde, Nine Inch Nails, Indigo Girls, Samiam, The Clash, The Descendents, The Devil is Electric, Tori Amos, R.E.M. Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? First time. What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? Mineral, usually shimmery. Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? I like balm and gloss of all kinds. What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? N/A And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Nothing recently. ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? Nope Who here has an etsy shop? Not me. What are your two favorite etsy shops? I haven't used etsy enough to have a favorite. Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. Nope ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? It's been chilly. If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? The world would be a much better place and we'd all be happier if we just minded our own damn business a little bit more. Robots versus zombies: who wins? Robots. I love zombies, but eventually they'd have to just rot into nothing. What would zombie say? *grunt* *shuffle* *chomp* Where are a few of your favorite places? Tuscany, Floyd VA, the park across the street from my house, Asheville NC, Portland, the woods, the beach Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? Not me. What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? Those fancy collectible Barbies. Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? I do like the soap. I try to avoid anything harsh; I have really sensitive skin. Do you like kilts and would you wear one? I'd absolutely wear one! Neato. BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? Nope. What's your favorite book? I couldn't possibly choose just one. Writers (of books, comics, poetry, etc.) I love: Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling, Caitlin Kiernan, Poppy Z. Brite, Joan Vinge, Stephen King, Garth Ennis, Nick Bantock, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, Beau Sia, Saul Williams, J.D. Salinger, Patricia McKillip, Steve Dillon, Stephen Chbosky, Weis & Hickman, Tolkein, Michael Chabon, P.D. James, Douglas Adams, Christopher Moore, Rita Mae Brown, Erin Hunter Specific books and comics (series): Harry Potter, Warriors, The Dark Tower, Vampire Hunter D, Sandman, Transmetropolitan, Hellblazer, Preacher, Desolation Jones, Planetary, Fell, The Last Man What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? Just the standard one size fits all sizes you get at most stores. Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? See list above. I love Neil Gaiman, Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, Garth Ennis, Brian K. Vaughan, Mike Carey. Symbols that are meaningful to me? Images of Bast/cats in general, lotus symbols By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? Night owl What's your favorite type of music to hear live, rather than recorded? Anything, really. What is your favorite autumnal-seasonal drink? Red wine and cider ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? Love em! Favorite artist? Charles Vess Favorite poet? Poe Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? Both. I love everything about Halloween. Reserved or Raunchy? Depends on the situation. Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? Fire Tea or Coffee in the morning? Either Fruity snacks or chocolate? Either or both Would you accept art? Yes Antiques or Brand New? Either What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I don't use it much. Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? No; I'm allergic to the non-natural ones. What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? Sleepy Hollow Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I like the non-creepy kind (like praying mantises and dragonflies). i haz no imp storage. do you? Not enough! ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? Herbs (rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme, dill), peppers (jalapeno, habanero, thai chili, ancho) and tomatoes. What incense scents do you prefer? Nag champa is the current favorite. Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? Absolutely. Pumpkins and gourds, foddershocks, Indian corn, the usual fall stuff; we have little gargoyles and a skeleton guy for our door. Would love more. We dress up too. Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? Bats, cats, vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, ghosts. Do you like horror flicks? Yes Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? Sadly, no. What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? Nothing too flowery. ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)? Well, it was BPAL... What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? Samhain! Or maybe Sugar Skull... or Fearful Pleasure. I can't decide! Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? Oh yes. I posted a pic in the tattoos thread. Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? Definitely. And think global, buy local. What is your favorite crafting supply? Jewelry pliers. So useful. Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? Right. Any period of time that you love? Medieval. ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? Everything! I love that it finally cools down (I hate summer), I love the smell in the air. I love the beautiful leaves and mums in pretty fall colors. I love Halloween. I'm just crazy about fall in general. Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites? I've got plenty. What's your favorite Halloween candy? Skittles Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? Probably not, though I'd like to. Just don't have the time. ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? Not sure yet. What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? Pumpkin chili and pumpkin beer.

Samhain (2008)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. In the bottle, I get mostly spices -- allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove -- and a bit of bright, fresh apple. Can something smell crisp? It smells like very crisp apples. On wet, the scent of the spices is pretty strong at first, with apples in the background and a bit of smoke coming through. Dry, this is really lovely. All the scents are well integrated, with nothing really overpowering any of the other notes. I get apples, smoke, and the aforementioned spices. It's very autumny and awesome. I love this. Fearful PleasureAnother of his sources of fearful pleasure was, to pass long winter evenings with the old Dutch wives, as they sat spinning by the fire, with a row of apples roasting and spluttering along the hearth, and listen to their marvellous tales of ghosts and goblins, and haunted fields, and haunted brooks, and haunted bridges, and haunted houses, and particularly of the headless horseman, or galloping Hessian of the Hollow, as they sometimes called him. He would delight them equally by his anecdotes of witchcraft, and of the direful omens and portentous sights and sounds in the air, which prevailed in the earlier times of Connecticut; and would frighten them woefully with speculations upon comets and shooting stars; and with the alarming fact that the world did absolutely turn round, and that they were half the time topsy-turvy! Dried orange peels floating in simmering cider, roasted apples, smoldering firewood, chimney smoke, sassafras beer, warm hawthorn wood, and oakmoss. In the bottle, this is pure apple cider. Apples, cinnamon, cloves, with a bit of orange peel. On wet, I get pretty much the same thing. Once it begins to dry, the smokiness comes out, with maybe a hint of a mossy green scent. This is really wonderful. I love apple cider scents, and this is everything I hoped it would be. Sugar SkullVibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits. In the bottle, this definitely smells like sugar, but not straight-up sugar. Like caramel or toffee. It has a deep, slightly smoky scent. On wet, it's much the same, but a slight spiciness begins to come out. Once dry, this is really awesome. Dark, smoky sugar with a hint of subtle spices. Love it! Huesos de SantoOn All Saints Day, Spanish families visit their loved ones in the cemeteries, keeping vigil throughout the evening, saying prayers for the dead. Family burial plots are cleaned and tended, and graves are adorned with gladiolas, chrysanthemums, and roses. Bone-shaped pastries called Saint's Bones, or the Bones of the Holy, are baked and shared in honor of the souls in Purgatory, and to remind us of those who no longer share our repast, but with whom we one day hope to be reunited with again. Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers. In the bottle, this smells like spicy creamsicles. On wet, I still get the creamsicle scent, but the spices and a hint of smoke are more apparent. As it dries, the anise seed begins to come out, and I get a very subtle scent like slightly burned popcorn (but not in a bad way). This is nice. I like it. Harvest MoonHarvest Moon is celebrated in almost every culture, and the bounty of the season is marked in a myriad of ways. Harvest Moon touches the Equinox, the festival of Janus, the culmination of Homowo, the "crying of the neck" in Cornwall, and the Women's Festival of the Moon. This is a day that celebrates abundance and beauty, fertility and progress, and the light of this full moon blesses new undertakings and reunites lost loves. The Harvest Moon, by definition, is the Full Moon that falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox, and thus, it shares some of that Sabbat's characteristics. This Full Moon was thus named because it rises within half an hour of the sun's setting, in the Northern Hemisphere, and at this time farmers are able to work longer into the night by the light of this Moon. As the year draws to a close, the Full Moon rises an average of fifty minutes later each night, with the exception of a few nights surrounding the Harvest Moon, which only rises 10-30 minutes later. This moon is also, to the human eye, the fullest and largest of the year's Moons, hanging gloriously huge, yellow and low in the night sky, and many lunar illusions play tricks our eyes at this time. The Harvest ushers in many celebrations, including the Equinox and the Festival of Janus, God of Doors. Janus is the Roman Lord of Gateways, beginnings and endings, and transitions. Thus, the Harvest Moon is a time for blessing new ventures, the onset of new and progressive phases in one's life, and rites of passage into adulthood. This time of year also marks one of the Festivals of Dionysus, Lord of Ecstasy and the Vine. This Harvest lunacy combines the autumnal scents of balsam fir, cedar, juniper berry, clove, saffron, damson plum, sage, black cherry, and fennel with the crushed wine grapes of Dionysus and Janus' lingum aloes. In the bottle, I dried, wet leaves, pine and smoke. On wet, it's a little too much pine at first. There's some spiciness as well -- maybe allspice? The longer it's on, however, the more the leaves and smoke begin to come through. Once this is really dry, it's very nice. The pine scent settles down to something manageable and pleasant. I like it. Hellhound On My Trail… blues falling down like hail And the day keeps on remindin' me, there's a hellhound on my trail … August 16th marks the day the Devil came to call on the King of the Delta Blues. Bay rum, bourbon vanilla, galangal, hyssop, High John the Conqueror root, tobacco, life everlasting, and brimstone. In the bottle, the bourbon vanilla is quite strong. I can also smell the bay rum and a bit of brimstone. On wet, it's pretty much the same, though I start to get a hint of muskiness. Dry, this is really great. Boozy tobacco and brimstone goodness. It smells especially nice on my hubby. Chant d'AutomneI Soon we will sink in the frigid darkness Good-bye, brightness of our too short summers! I already hear the fall in distress Of the wood falling in the paved courtyard. Winter will invade my being: anger, Hatred, chills, horror, hard and forced labor, And, like the sun in its iced inferno, My heart is but a red and frozen floe. I hear with shudders each weak limb that falls. The scaffold will have no louder echo. My spirit is like a tower that yields Under the tireless and heavy ram blow. It seems, lulled by this monotonous sound, Somewhere a coffin is hastily nailed, For whom? Summer yesterday, autumn now! This mysterious noise sounds like a farewell. II I love the greenish light of your long eyes, Sweet beauty, but all is bitter today. Nothing, not love, the boudoir or the hearth Is dearer than the sunshine on the sea. Still love me, tender heart! Be a mother Even to the ingrate, to the wicked, Lover, sister, ephemeral sweetness Of fall's glory or of the setting sun. Short-lived task! The tomb awaits, merciless. Ah! Let me, my head resting on your knees, Savor, regretting the white hot summer, The autumn's last rays yellow and tender. The scent of the year's fall and the setting sun, ominous and foreboding: dried leaves, charred wood, blood musk, amber, khus, and Nicotiana tabacum. In the bottle, I get a nice scent of charred wood, leaves and tobacco. On wet, I get smoke, char, leaves, tobacco and something very heavy and flowery/powdery. This does not bode well. I waited for this to dry, but that heavy scent just doesn't go away, and it doesn't work for me. Bummer. Brom BonesAmong these the most formidable was a burly, roaring, roystering blade, of the name of Abraham, or, according to the Dutch abbreviation, Brom Van Brunt, the hero of the country round, which rang with his feats of strength and hardihood. He was broad-shouldered and double-jointed, with short curly black hair, and a bluff, but not unpleasant countenance, having a mingled air of fun and arrogance. From his Herculean frame and great powers of limb, he had received the nickname of BROM BONES, by which he was universally known. He was famed for great knowledge and skill in horsemanship, being as dexterous on horseback as a Tartar. He was foremost at all races and cock-fights; and, with the ascendancy which bodily strength acquires in rustic life, was the umpire in all disputes, setting his hat on one side, and giving his decisions with an air and tone admitting of no gainsay or appeal. He was always ready for either a fight or a frolic; but had more mischief than ill-will in his composition; and, with all his overbearing roughness, there was a strong dash of waggish good humor at bottom. He had three or four boon companions, who regarded him as their model, and at the head of whom he scoured the country, attending every scene of feud or merriment for miles round. In cold weather he was distinguished by a fur cap, surmounted with a flaunting fox's tail; and when the folks at a country gathering descried this well-known crest at a distance, whisking about among a squad of hard riders, they always stood by for a squall. Sometimes his crew would be heard dashing along past the farmhouses at midnight, with whoop and halloo, like a troop of Don Cossacks; and the old dames, startled out of their sleep, would listen for a moment till the hurry-scurry had clattered by, and then exclaim, "Ay, there goes Brom Bones and his gang!" The neighbors looked upon him with a mixture of awe, admiration, and good will; and when any madcap prank, or rustic brawl, occurred in the vicinity, always shook their heads, and warranted Brom Bones was at the bottom of it. The butchest, manliest of musks covered in well-worn leather. In the bottle, I get leather with a hint of musk. On wet, it's mostly leather. As it dries, it's a lovely leather and musk scent, yet somehow manages to smell clean as well. I LOVE this on my husband. It's perfect. GunpowderThat he might make his appearance before his mistress in the true style of a cavalier, he borrowed a horse from the farmer with whom he was domiciliated, a choleric old Dutchman, of the name of Hans Van Ripper, and, thus gallantly mounted, issued forth, like a knight-errant in quest of adventures. But it is meet I should, in the true spirit of romantic story, give some account of the looks and equipments of my hero and his steed. The animal he bestrode was a broken-down plough-horse, that had outlived almost every thing but his viciousness. He was gaunt and shagged, with a ewe neck and a head like a hammer; his rusty mane and tail were tangled and knotted with burrs; one eye had lost its pupil, and was glaring and spectral; but the other had the gleam of a genuine devil in it. Still he must have had fire and mettle in his day, if we may judge from the name he bore of Gunpowder. He had, in fact, been a favorite steed of his master's, the choleric Van Ripper, who was a furious rider, and had infused, very probably, some of his own spirit into the animal; for, old and broken-down as he looked, there was more of the lurking devil in him than in any young filly in the country. Carrot peelings, hay, chaff, molasses, maple oats, red apples, stable wood, and musk. In the bottle, this smells very edible. It's carrots and hay with a lot of molasses and maple oats. On wet, it's pretty much the same, but the musk also begins to come through. Dry, it's pretty much the same again. This is very nice; it smells warm and cozy. It's comforting. Unfortunately, it's not a scent I would wear, much as I love foodie scents. I may try this in an oil burner or something, though. Ichabod CraneThe cognomen of Crane was not inapplicable to his person. He was tall, but exceedingly lank, with narrow shoulders, long arms and legs, hands that dangled a mile out of his sleeves, feet that might have served for shovels, and his whole frame most loosely hung together. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large green glassy eyes, and a long snipe nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock, perched upon his spindle neck, to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him one might have mistaken him for the genius of famine descending upon the earth, or some scarecrow eloped from a cornfield. . . . From his half itinerant life, also, he was a kind of travelling gazette, carrying the whole budget of local gossip from house to house; so that his appearance was always greeted with satisfaction. He was, moreover, esteemed by the women as a man of great erudition, for he had read several books quite through, and was a perfect master of Cotton Mather's history of New England Witchcraft, in which, by the way, he most firmly and potently believed. He was, in fact, an odd mixture of small shrewdness and simple credulity. His appetite for the marvellous, and his powers of digesting it, were equally extraordinary; and both had been increased by his residence in this spellbound region. No tale was too gross or monstrous for his capacious swallow. It was often his delight, after his school was dismissed in the afternoon, to stretch himself on the rich bed of clover, bordering the little brook that whimpered by his school-house, and there con over old Mather's direful tales, until the gathering dusk of the evening made the printed page a mere mist before his eyes. Then, as he wended his way, by swamp and stream and awful woodland, to the farmhouse where he happened to be quartered, every sound of nature, at that witching hour, fluttered his excited imagination: the moan of the whip-poor-will from the hill-side; the boding cry of the tree-toad, that harbinger of storm; the dreary hooting of the screech-owl, or the sudden rustling in the thicket of birds frightened from their roost. The fire-flies, too, which sparkled most vividly in the darkest places, now and then startled him, as one of uncommon brightness would stream across his path; and if, by chance, a huge blockhead of a beetle came winging his blundering flight against him, the poor varlet was ready to give up the ghost, with the idea that he was struck with a witch's token. His only resource on such occasions, either to drown thought, or drive away evil spirits, was to sing psalm tunes;-and the good people of Sleepy Hollow, as they sat by their doors of an evening, were often filled with awe, at hearing his nasal melody, "in linked sweetness long drawn out," floating from the distant hill, or along the dusky road. Dusty black wool, tea with cream, black pepper, muguet, and beeswax candle drippings. In the bottle, there's a very strong beeswax scent, with a hint of tea. On wet, I get beeswax, tea and pepper. There's sort of a popcorn scent. Dry, it's strongly beeswax, with cream, pepper and a hint of tea. I really like this, but unfortunately my hubby thinks it smells a little like pee, so I won't be wearing this much. The Hessian of the HollowThe dominant spirit, however, that haunts this enchanted region, and seems to be commander-in-chief of all the powers of the air, is the apparition of a figure on horseback without a head. It is said by some to be the ghost of a Hessian trooper, whose head had been carried away by a cannon-ball, in some nameless battle during the revolutionary war; and who is ever and anon seen by the country folk hurrying along in the gloom of night, as if on the wings of the wind. His haunts are not confined to the valley, but extend at times to the adjacent roads, and especially to the vicinity of a church at no great distance. Indeed, certain of the most authentic historians of those parts, who have been careful in collecting and collating the floating facts concerning this spectre, allege that the body of the trooper, having been buried in the church-yard, the ghost rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head; and that the rushing speed with which he sometimes passes along the Hollow, like a midnight blast, is owing to his being belated, and in a hurry to get back to the church-yard before daybreak. Such is the general purport of this legendary superstition, which has furnished materials for many a wild story in that region of shadows; and the spectre is known, at all the country firesides, by the name of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. Grave moss and bone-white sandalwood, with vetiver, gunpowder, artillery shrapnel, and blood. This smells great. The scents are very well integrated and difficult to differentiate. I definitely get the blood, sandalwood and vetiver notes, maybe a hint of something metallic. I really like this one. The Witching Time of NightIt was the very witching time of night that Ichabod, heavy-hearted and crest-fallen, pursued his travel homewards, along the sides of the lofty hills which rise above Tarry Town, and which he had traversed so cheerily in the afternoon. The hour was dismal as himself. Far below him, the Tappan Zee spread its dusky and indistinct waste of waters, with here and there the tall mast of a sloop, riding quietly at anchor under the land. In the dead hush of midnight, he could even hear the barking of the watch dog from the opposite shore of the Hudson; but it was so vague and faint as only to give an idea of his distance from this faithful companion of man. Now and then, too, the long-drawn crowing of a cock, accidentally awakened, would sound far, far off from some farmhouse away among the hills-but it was like a dreaming sound in his ear. No signs of life occurred near him, but occasionally the melancholy chirp of a cricket, or perhaps the guttural twang of a bull-frog, from a neighboring marsh, as if sleeping uncomfortably, and turning suddenly in his bed. Moonflower, night-blooming cereus, white hellebore, English ivy, monkshood, angel's trumpet, oleander, and eastern hemlock. In the bottle, this smells really lovely. Green and floral in the soft, not-too-sweet way that I like. It does smell like the outdoors at night. Unfortunately, on me, it just smells a little too soapy. Bummer.

In the bottle, this is pure apple cider. Apples, cinnamon, cloves, with a bit of orange peel. On wet, I get pretty much the same thing. Once it begins to dry, the smokiness comes out, with maybe a hint of a mossy green scent. This is really wonderful. I love apple cider scents, and this is everything I hoped it would be.

Samhain 2008 In the bottle, I get mostly spices -- allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove -- and a bit of bright, fresh apple. Can something smell crisp? It smells like very crisp apples. On wet, the scent of the spices is pretty strong at first, with apples in the background and a bit of smoke coming through. Dry, this is really lovely. All the scents are well integrated, with nothing really overpowering any of the other notes. I get apples, smoke, and the aforementioned spices. It's very autumny and awesome. I love this.