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This isn't my typical scent, but I was hoping for something to be in the same family as Blackened Vanilla and Cardamom, which I am going through at a surprising rate (especially last fall). In the bottle: It definitely smells like it's in the same family, but maybe stronger, and a bit more acerbic from the tobacco(?). Freshly spritzed: this is strong! It's similar to the blackened vanilla, but maybe not quite as "dark" an impression, and more sharp notes. The cardamom isn't as assertive as in the other, but it's there, and helps warm it up a bit, I also think that could be the amber showing up. Several hours later: wow, this lasts, this has staying power! It's strong, but it's got a nice cozy sweater kind of feel to the scent, would definitely put it in the same feel-family as Blackened Vanilla and Cardamom. This was still pretty strong when I woke up with it the next morning. Was brushing out my hair and was still getting a pretty strong since of it's smell. It's a good thing I like it!

With rose and carnation, I had high hopes for this one. In the decant - smells kind of powdery light rose and what I think is oudh Fresh application - the carnation is staying really far back in the background, but the rose is up front, with the oudh. It's a very powdery, soft, "velvety" is a good word for it scent. It's not a fresh/green rose, or a lush or creamy one. Few hours later - this one lasts, though! It's a close smell, not a huge through, but I keep catching whiffs of it even with most of my hair back. It's still super powdery, but this isn't baby powder of doom powdery, it's just a kind of dry, light, softness. Now, it's generically "floral" and I think I can pick up some carnation, but it's not the bold spanish red carnation I love, it's a lot more polite and background-y. The rose is there, but not what I'd really think of as "rose" when I imagine that scent. Glad I didn't get more of this one, I don't think I'd wear it again.

In-Thread Bonus Questions: Craft supplies: Between me and sis, we're all over the place. The things I don't have and could use would be the things I always forget about when I'm actually IN a shop, like a masking fluid for watercolor paintings, or add-ins for acrylics or even oils. I have tons of paints, but I never get the OTHER stuff most people use. Also, forgot to mention in my questionnaire. I was working on this one painting, and I was trying to find a paint pen, fine point, in a nice opaque white. Both Blick's I went to up here were sold out, and since Pearl Paint closed, I feel lost in the city's art supply world. Paint pens that I could use to finish details on paintings would be nice. Fantasy Type Books: I'm all over it! Tolkien, Lewis, Gaiman, Pratchett, Moore, LOVE LOVE LOVE. If I don't know it, that's cool too. My old boss gave me a lesbian fantasy romance novel, totally something I'd NEVER pick up on my own, and I really enjoyed it! (more romance, less sex, and kinda like a badder-assed Sookie as a witch-lesbian). So, don't be afraid to throw me your old favorites. Also, don't care about paperback condition, as long as the last 5 pages of the story isn't missing, that'd suck. Music: MP3s, I have an old zune, and mp3 player on my PC. - Please feel free to expand my horizons, EXCEPT, I -loathe- country music, and hardcore rap, so, go anywhere else, from Blackmore's Night to Opera, to George Crumb and Kronos Quartet, to Finnish Death Metal, and J-Pop, and everywhere inbetween - even blue grass is fine, just NO Country! are you interested in preloved tees like BPTP ones? If so, styles and size? More than likely, yes! I have a (it has a tree on it?) tissue tee I adore, and standard bella babydoll tee for Candles Moon, a "Nice" tee and a Krampus tee. I really like their tees. I'm a size XS or Small (somewhat depends on which cut of shirt and from what producers. For the old bella babydolls, probably a Small, but the newer/thinner (or if anyone has an old tissue tee they don't want anymore) an XS is probably better. Do you have a need for costuming pieces? Anything specific you’d like/ not like? Nothing I can particularly think of now. I mean, I could use a better chemise for ren faire weekends. I think mine was actually a child's, considering it barely comes down to the top of my hip, and the sleeves are barely long enough to tuck into the top of my bracers. Othrewise, I have ears, bracers, chain belt... if on a weird fluke anyone has kinda rennie style sandals in a size 7.5, that would be amazing, but seems highly unlikely. Interested in vinyl art toys (kid robot & such)? I really try and avoid random pointless STUFF, I just don't have the room for it... that said, I have a deep weakness for Unicornos from Tokidoki. I already have quite a few. Would love to find Fumo, Bambu, Caramelo, Sakura, Yuki, Sirena, Honeybee, Prisma, Diamante, Hanako, Miso, Fuego, Galactica, Gaia, Summer, Adios & Caramelo.... (I'm not very good at my personal minimalism when it comes to pony-things.) I have collected art faster than I can frame it. Anyone interested in prints from Independant artists or do you have a specific decorating scheme happening in the house? (Which is, of course, ok) I generally love independent art, but I don't have a lot of wall space left at this point, so I should probably pass. Do you use K-Cups and would you like a variety of coffee/tea? - no K cups How do you feel about cosmetic samples as long as they're "clean?" I'd love getting samples! Generally I'm super pale (and pink! or "clear and full of blood"), sensitive skin, love any anti-aging stuff, and I love trying out hair products, though I'm SUPER picky because I have long hair (trying to grow longer, always longer!) . Do you have any use for holiday/Christmas ornaments? If so, what themes/styles do you prefer? - no thanks Buying fandom related and "cute" items: I try to avoid - with the exception of a very few - IF THEY ARE VERY SMALL (I have an old printer's drawer hanging on my wall now, that gives me a place to put *TINY* things, so.. if you found something that was around 1-1.5 inches tall, it'd fit on that. I like Firefly/Serenity, MLP, LOTR, harry potter universe stuff could be cute, too - but the key is *TINY* Would you like to receive silver rings that are worn but still look like new? If so: what ringsize do you wear? And any specific styles that you like? Or silver earrings (brandnew)? No earrings, I don't have pierced ears (unless someone wants to get rid of some vintage rhinestone screw backs! I collect those!), and rings, I don't wear a lot of jewelry, but I do like tiny sterling silver delicate jewelry, and when it starts warming up, I'd be more likely to wear rings when I won't need gloves. I think my fingers range between a 6 and a 7, depending on which finger it is. Do you like animals? If so: any favorites? I do. I love horses (unicorns and pegasi) most of all, but also adore dragons, griffons, and in the "real world" (ha), wolves, foxes, cats, and the occasional raven, hawk, or owl. (bonus points for also fitting into the aforementioned "TINY" spectrum. Fragrance oils other than BPAL: ​ only essential oils please (and I have mint and sweet orange already) ​Jewelry making supplies: ​probably not, I have a hoard of gemstones (for prong or bezel setting), but haven't been making jewelry a lot this past couple of years. It seems unlikely someone would be wanting to get rid of the kind of jewelry stuff I could use, as it'd be so easy to resell for decent money. And I don't do beading or stuff like that. Lularoe Leggings? no thanks Could you use Melitta filters for coffee? pass Jewelry making addendum: Gemstones? I do have a literal hoard of gemstones (cut, polished, semi-precious, mostly garnet, amethyst, some quartz, topaz, mostly small pieces now) - does anyone do the kind of jewelry making where they'd be able to use something like that? Good to learn on in a jewelry making classes. Cookbooks (or Magazine back issues) anyone? - Another thing I hoard, and I'm trying to clean up my stash. And if yes, do you have a kind you'd like or not like? Personally, I no longer need anything basic or beginner. But I'd be open to specialized or weird cookbooks like the cookbook from Hannibal (the tv show), (I LOVE my Feast of Thrones cookbook!) or specialty ones like ones on Japanese food, or something more specific like a little book of ramen or pho. (I don't have any non-Western European/US cookbooks that aren't fantasy worlds). I will also take old/used food magazine issues (I subscribe to Bon Appetit, so not them), but I will take old back issues happily, even in somewhat ratty condition. (I have a problem, I really do.) Table cloths, placemats, runners, napkins, dish towels - no thanks BPAL storage boxes - I don't really need any more boxes, if anyone had extra of those spent ammo cases that fit imps perfectly, I always need more of those 5 strange things, off the top of your head that you need? silicon coated wire whisk new cheese cloth new batch of super-sculpy (any amount really) silicon mold for filled chocolates matcha green tea powder Travel books. - Guatemala? It's looking likely I'll have a work trip there in June. I know nothing. Nightlight. - no thanks Could you use any spices, herbs, or salt? Sure, I don't think I've got any dill weed or fennel seed, no curry powders, dried chilies, and I believe I'm out of nice dried thyme (I normally dry my own, but I messed up my last batch right before winter and had to throw it out :-( ) What about reusable totes or bags? I am overflowing, so no thanks. Discworld books: YES! My collection is a bit spotty, I'm up to Wyrd Sisters (haven't started it yet, and it's a library book, so would totally take a paperback copy). But I already have (ahead of the game thanks to an auction lot my Mom won): soul music, eric, thud, lords and ladies, carpe jugulum, unseen academicals, raising steam, and the discworld companion Least favorite scent? myrrh, musks, resins, spices, incense, foodie Nail polish colors? I have a pretty epic stash, and have been doing more nail wraps as time goes by. I think I have a few BPTP examples on my w/l. Bathtub? Bubble Bar? I do have a bathtub, but I don't use it often in the winter, because there's a window in the bath and it makes it super drafty, but once it warms up a bit. I also do lots of foot tub soaks, so I could use it! how do you feel about knitted things?? More specifically washcloths or scarves?? Colors you love/hate? And fibers you like or don’t like?? I have plenty of knitted things, so I'm probably good. But it's a good place to remind that I don't like synthetic fibers, I try and stay away from polyester, acrylic, and rayon (unless it's certified green bamboo rayon - gotta protect the orangutans!) and I'm all about strong colors, but loathe greys/beiges/neutrals Do you have a preference for more fitted women's style tees, or are you fine with a basic crew neck? I prefer a more fitted women's style tees, v-necks preferred, but not a deal breaker otherwise. If you were given a choice of a top that was navy and tan stripe vs a more cobalt blue base with a jewel tone stained glass pattern, does one or the other sound preferable? Neither? Both? No stripes, no tan. Stained glass pattern sounds pretty, though, and love jewel tones. Are you okay with receiving a book that is completely within your areas of interest, but that is in the middle of a series? (Assume a standalone storyline that might reference events in prior books but that is not dependent on them.) Please no. I approach series very carefully (I was "traumatized" as a kid by only being allowed to buy the first Secret of the Unicorn Queen book, loved it, and it was promptly discontinued. 30-cough-years later, I still can't get book #6 to finish the series without paying an outrageous amount (so I won't do it). And I lived in fear of Stephen King never finishing the Dark Tower the whole while I read it. Would you be interested in graphic novels within your areas of interest? Yes! Love graphic novels! I have the last Sandman one, and have kept up with Pretty Deadly trades and Injection. Would you be interested in new or very gently worn shoes, if so, what size? Possibly? It seems unlikely they'd fit. I have very narrow feet with a very high arch, in sandals I can wear a 7.5, sometimes a 7, rarely an 8, and in boots almost always an 8, and other closed-toe shoes varies between 7.5 to 8, rarely 8.5 - shoes are crazy man. Do you enjoy Tokidoki? Unicornos, I have the list/first answer in my link Would you like fabric with one of your favorite fandom on it but chibi/cute style characters? No thanks, sis does the fabric arts, not me. I have a bunch of baking ingredients in my pantry that need to be used up. Would you be interested in receiving any baked goods (like cookies or scones)? if they're gluten free No thanks, also a baker (but not gluten-free) Any interest in books about learning other languages? maybe? Been trying Duolingo with Japanese, but it's a beta, so a book might help. Any interest in reading poetry or plays? I can be into poetry if it's funny, quirky, or has a historical cultural twist to it (Southern or Irish/Scottish mostly) Do you enjoy audiobooks? Not really Any of this year's Lupers you still need/want to try? Check my wishlist. I *STILL* haven't gotten any of my decants yet, so I'm kinda getting frustrated over here. There were so many in this great update, I couldn't dare do blind buys, but last I checked the website, my decanter hasn't even gotten a CNS yet! Could you use any tealights? Sure! I have an extra book light. Could you use one? Yes! Any BPTP swag you would like or are in search of (stickers, bumper stickers, pins, etc.)? I always like stickers and buttons, but I've got a pretty good stash. Would you like any unused tins for tea storage? I'm good, thanks Would you be happy to receive homemade jams/jellies? Yes! I hate how commercial jellies and jams put so much crap in there - I like almost all jams, not too big on marmalade, but my favorites are blackberry, plum, and (dare I dream... muscadine/scuppernong) Gardening stuff and or seeds?? yay or nay? If yes, whats your climate/zone? Sure! 7b Yay or nay? accessory scarves? yknow, the sheer or silky kind? colors, length? no thanks, I never know how to wear them. Tabletop gaming stuff? Board games? Yay or Nay I do like games.. why not!

I definitely get the ice wine note in this! It's sweet but crisp and has a fermented edge. It takes me a bit to fish the apple out of the scent, as I think it's still very grape-y. The red currant didn't show up much to me, but maybe contribute a slightly sharper edge to the cold fruitiness of the scent. I really like this one!

In the decant: oh that seems strong! More carnation I think than anything. Wet: It's like SN: Spanish Red Carnation with something else that's faint, and it feels like it's fading fast. Dry: Just like SN: Spanish Red Carnation, except maybe a bit lighter/fainter. I don't think this will last on me as well as the SN does.

It smells like a better version of a cherry slushie from 7-11. I don't really get "Snow White" as the cold base, but it does smell icy and slushy and a bit sweet, and the cherry is not at all the medicinal darker cherry, but bright light red cherries. Got a sample and had to have a whole bottle. Much more foodie-friendly than I expected - I'm normally not a foodie-scent person, but when it comes to bath stuff, I like a little extra sweetness, and this has it.

I got a decant and had to turn around and buy a whole bottle. It's as close to slathering myself with a Thin Mint as I think I've ever gotten.

In the bottle: rose water, sugar, and something sharp and maybe a little sour smelling Wet: ROSE WATER, not really rose flower-like like 2-5-7, Peacock Queen, Rose Red, or any of those floral roses, this is like a bottle of rose water, but there's this sharp, not quite acrid (cognac?) note to it that I'm not sure how I feel about. It's not an instant turn off, but it makes me pause. The sugared carnation is buried under the rose water, and thankfully (for me) the sugar is pretty light and maybe only contributing to the sharpness. Dry: Very soft, little powdery (maybe powdery is the wrong word, it's not baby powder of doom at all, but plush, petal soft). The sharp/acrid note has faded away almost completely. There's a little subtle spice in the background from the carnation, but it's faint. This dries down very nice. I think I like it. The wet phase is a little jarring and maybe a tad harsh - but the dry down is lovely. I may also let it sit for a couple of more days (just got it less than 48 hours ago), also let my nose rest (I'm 1 week out from the flu, so nose is extra sensitive and just getting my smell back) and see how it is in a couple of days.

Tried the 2016 Yule edition. In the decant: a healthy dose of herbal lavender and a strong sweet cake. On the skin: Not a lot of booze, and the cake isn't too sweet, has some nice character, and the lavender helps balance it out without being too astringent Dry: The lavender wins, but is soft and pleasant, and the cake is in the background adding some nice mellow sweetness and depth, never got the ale. Nice, but not sure I want to smell like lavender cake.

I tried the 2016 version. In the decant is was bright eucalyptus and cold mint in a lovely sinus-opening frozen blend. Maybe a little grapefruit? But not much else. On the skin - where'd it go? I did a good test, but as soon as it gets on me, it vanishes. I know my skin eats mint, but I thought maybe the eucalyptus would at least hang around.

I was curious about this one, and it ended up being one of my surprise winners. In the bottle, the lemon zest is sharp, and I worried about the dreaded "lemon pledge effect" but wet, this is a power-bomb of lemony goodness, and as it dries, it's just sharp, bright, citrusy and clean (in a non-cleaning-product-way).

I love plum and lavender, and thought the other notes might play well. I'm going to have to reconsider lily as a note, as this is the second one that's gone really weird on me. I got no plum, very little lavender, and almost nothing but dryer sheets. It smelled the same in the vial, wet on the skin, and after a good dry down, I got no variation, which is really weird for me.

Hand soap. Floral, slightly cool-smelling, hand soap. I've had good success with the lab's cherry blossom and wisteria notes, so I don't know if it's the "frozen" component or the lily part, but 100% hand soap.

I'm beginning to think I might amp sandalwood. Fresh, it was all sandalwood and some blackcurrant trying to fight through, maybe some violet leaf in the background, maybe, and nothing "wintery" feeling. By the time it dried down, no violet, still no winter, very dubious about any blackcurrant (which I love) and ALL THE SANDALWOOD. I will have to make a note about that, I was really hopeful about this scent, but I don't need that much sandalwood, straight up on me.

[No additional description given.] Tested at NYCC (note: Tested on the sith, so male skin chemistry) In the bottle: I actually had a hard time smelling this one in the bottle, might have been nose overload or con-air. Was trying to hit the coffee shakers between sniffs to clean the palate. Wet: the patchouli was fairly soft, a little sweet from the honey, and there was a lot more "leaf" going on right off the top than with a lot of the other ones. This was the leafiest one to me. Dry down: the honeyed patchouli and champaca blossoms don't really stand out from the dead leaves, but blend in. This is the most homogeneous smelling of the blends, I think, but if the dead leaf base note is your favorite, this might be right up your alley.

[No additional description given.] Tested at NYCC: I just had to! In the bottle: oh hello tomato plants! I know that smell well! Wet: tomato leaves, tomato leaves, maybe some dead leaves blowing around in the garden, more tomato leaves, Dry: TOMATO. Maybe old tomato plants at the end of the season, maybe a little spice from the black pepper, but definitely mostly TOMATO.

In the bottle: floral, bright, soft, hopeful wet on the skin: not really getting what I think of as gardenia, but very floral, a little soapy, but not powdery dry 10 minutes later: so much floral soap - I mean, like I smell dish soap bubbles. *weeps*

Tested at NYCC (fair warning, I tested it on the sith, not me, so different male skin chemistry in play) In the bottle: dead leaves in the background, I mostly smell that kind of wet leather smell that is kind of sharp, almost like it's aquatic, like the leather in whip when it's still in the bottle. Wet: The leather is still mostly dominant with dead leaves in the background, I'm getting no vanilla or clove yet. Dry down: There comes the clove! Not too dominant, but it's definitely there now, helps balance the leather which is less sharp now, and the dead leaves are balancing nicely - still not getting any vanilla, though.

Tested at NYCC: In the bottle: Oh, this definitely reminds me a LOT of Suck it! The cherry is dark, rich, sweet in very much the same way, maybe just not so boozy. Wet: super syrupy black cherry - I know it says cream, but to me it's more like the old brandy than anything that seems "creamy" at all. Dry: were there blackberries? I never found them. The black cherry ran away with the show, stayed strong, sticky and syrupy through drydown. Reminds me a LOT of Suck It!

Tested at NYCC (so sad it was sold out!) In the bottle: Dead leaves, somewhere in the background, but mostly super-sweet candy blackberry Wet on skin: The blackberry is less candy and more syrupy, but the dead leaves are still waaay back in the background Dry down: This is LOVELY! The dead leaves have stepped up to balance the blackberry, and the blackberry has calmed down from candy, to syrup, to fruity and sweet but not too sweet. It's lovely and very well balanced. My favorite of all the dead leaves!

I thought this one was going to be a perfume version of the Honeyed Apple bath oil (which I love), and while this is just as good, it isn't a clone, it is it's own blend. The apple is very much prominent and realistic, like a big, fresh, crisp, red apple. The honey adds a bit of sweetness, but it's lighter and not as heavy as some honey blends are, very well balanced!

I only smelled the bottle at the table, but it was really lovely! It was very sweet, and a bit candy-ish. More jammy. The same peach that was in the sugared peaches and honeyed peaches blends in earlier D*Con versions, but swirled with big blobs of sweet, sticky strawberry jam. If you liked Fruitbat Fruitbath, this would be right up there.

I sniffed but did not test this at the NYCC booth. It is a lovely vanilla-sweetened lavender, soft and round and not astringent like lavender can be at times. I think the musk softens the edges just a bit; and I'm not sure what sweet hops would smell like, only familiar with the bitter variety. Overall, if you like lavender, this is a lovely one!

I love gardenia, and had high hopes for the white tea and lavender being added in. Iris I am indifferent to, and white musk, since this isn't going on my skin, shouldn't have been a problem. I got very little, if any gardenia at all. The lavender, likewise, seems to have fallen off the back of the scent and been lost. The white tea is faint and adds only a little bit of sharpness to what ends up being a heavily powdery, lightly floral, vaguely sweet-ish scent. Goes directly onto the swap pile.

This was an automatic favorite! In the bottle: juicy peach is dominant with a bit of something sharp First spray: peach is heavy, and the red currant is a bit sour and clean, with the black tea falling in the background After settling into the hair: the perfect glass of sweet iced peach tea with a twist of tartness from the red currant which is a little reminiscent of a slice of lemon. Tends to be close in throw, but when I pull my ponytail around to give it a sniff, I can smell it still the next day.