arlith

How is it that I haven't reviewed this yet?

I also am one of the hoarders of the Tricksy bath oil. And shortly before this went live, I had to throw away over half of my bath oil collection because it went off. (since then I've had to throw away another bottle and a half that turned too.)

So, I was thrilled when this came out. But as wonderful as it is, its not the same as the bath oil. This one is sweeter, I can really smell the honey in it. I normally am a huge honey amper-it turns almost rancid smelling on me. This one doesn't. Its a nice honey. Overall, this is similar to the bath oil, but lighter/sweeter. Its not as dirty of a scent on me as the bath oil. More civilized.

I much prefer the bath oil version, but I'm glad I have this as a substitute, especially with so many of my bottles of the bath oil turning bad. I'm not sure I need quite as many bottles of it as I bought, but it should age very nicely.

I had a meet 'n sniff with lucyboo, ages ago. There we found that we were scent opposites. If it was something that smelled gross on her, it was lovely on me. Out of curiosity, she had me try on Egg Moon, since it was not pleasant on her. It was amazing on me.

Spicy with a background of creaminess, but not foody at all. And I refuse to believe that there is frankincense in this. I hate things that smell like incense. This is deep, and spicy and wonderful.

Lucyboo decided that since it smelled so good on me, that I should have it and gifted me the bottle. This is something I wouldn't have tried on my own, based on the scent notes. (I only like cinnamon and cassia from the listed notes of the scent-I don't know what three of them are and I hate frankincense.) Its one of my favorite scents and I've been wearing it a lot. Yay!

This is one of the biggest morphers on me that I've tried. Initially, its got an almost musky scent to me (I am not good at picking out notes), then it turns a little cloying and floralish. Once its totally dry, I get a bit of a plastic scent, I think that is the coconut. Its not nasty, but not something that's working for me.

I'm not a fan of florals at all, so I think my eyes just skimmed past that part and saw "lime, ginger" and thought I needed to buy it. So far, no coconut has worked on me.

This is light, and fresh smelling on me. I don't know if its the aging, or that I haven't worn either of them for so long, but it smells very similar to Lemon Scented Sticky Bat. I can't really identify any of the individual notes, its just a nice clean scent.

Sounds like you're on the right track to me! The best thing to do will be to go through the imps you receive (remembering that if you don't like something on the first try to let it sit for a couple weeks and try it at least once more) and find the ones you like and dislike. Look for common notes in the scents, so if a lot of your favorites have a note in common you can look for more scents with the same note. Ditto for notes you dislike. That will help you narrow down the bpal catalogue considerably so it's not overwhelming.

 

For example, I love rose. But every bpal I tried with rose in it just smelled like soap. I figured out that I can't wear that note, so every bpal with rose is a no-go for me (unfortunately).

 

Have fun! Maybe post what scents you've received that you like so far, and the forumites can make some recs based on those.

I had a similar thing happen to me. So to go with this, don't be afraid to try anything that comes your way, even if it sounds like you'll hate it. One of my favorite scents (Vixen) is one I would have never picked out to try when I first got into bpal. I try to skin test everything that I end up with, even if I think I won't like it. I just make sure to do the testing at home, where I can wash it off if it doesn't react well with my skin chemistry. (If you get a really stubborn one that doesn't wash off, you can try a bit of lemon juice on it, that usually help get of lingering bad scents. Or a bit of cooking oil, then lemon juice, then the soap. I've had some strong smell things.)

Definitely keep track of things, you'll see patterns and learn more of what is more likely to be a good oil for you. (I have a spreadsheet with things I've tried and liked, and another of things I didn't like.)

(And if you haven't already, check out the for sale section, it helps out so much when you have lots of things you want to try, you can get some really good deals there.)

 

Does anyone plan to run a 12 days of Christmas swap? I'm so excited with the 13 nights of Halloween and I'll definitely need something to cheer myself up around Christmas... And I don't really feel up to running one on my own, so I figured I'd ask.

 

I don't know about the 12 Days swap. A while ago, there was some speculation that there might be an Eight Crazy Nights swap at some point, which could also be super cool. At least, I think there was? This could just be the ramblings of a swaps addict...

 

I know I had planned on doing a christmassy/holiday one. I think I'm not going to be able to organize one this year though. We just started ripping apart our bathroom, we had a loose tile issue that turned out to be a mold issue (we're doing all the work ourselves, so its going to take quite a while to get fixed). So, if anyone else wants to start up a holiday one, that would be awesome.

I have something in mind, but it might be a week or so before I get things nailed out and I'm ready to post it.

I want to do my "I'm not a bride but I still want good stuff" swap idea from last year. Where you send out 4 items, something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. The borrowed item will be something to give to someone else (like a treat for a pet, or a SO).

Hello Minty Mint! My you are lovely, all chilly and festive. What's that? You brought your friend along for a playdate? Oh, how fun! I always did love Strawberry Shortcake dollies! That was very kind of you to ask her to wash off her strawberry scent so I could smell you more. The two of you together give me a nice nostalgic feel. If there had been a classy, minty doll, it would be you!

In other words, the almond turns to plastic on me, just like usual. I just had to give it a try though. The mint is very nice, similar to a Lick It scent, but more MINT and less sweetness.

OOOOoo! OOO! DO IT! I can help out if you need a little extra help with being the leader! Its a little too much for me to do right now, there's a lot of tracking going on with the 12 days sort of thing!

13 Days of Halloweeen! AIEEEE!

(ANd yes, there were 12 packages that were sent, then everyone started opening presents the same day, and opened one present each day for 12 days.)

To get the internationals...2 weeks might be too close for people on the pacific rim. But you could either have them start a little later, or ask people mailing to them to mail sooner-I could be wrong, but I think stuff to them usually takes longer from the us-or maybe you could work it out so that they have swappers who are closer to them-then the two weeks would be ok. And you'll have to be a little more strict with the mail by dates with this sort of swap, that was the most nervewracking bit...keeping track of who had gotten their packages, and who still had to mail and all that! And poking at people who weren't posting.

All this talk of Halloween has me hoping someone will run a 12 days swap for that. ;-)

Ooooooh! That would be fun! Someone should do a 12 days!

Egad! What was I thinking?

Ok, so I was thinking that wood scents generally are nice on me. And rotted stuff turns pleasant. Somehow I thought they would offset the moss/ivy.

I was wrong. Very, very, very wrong.

I amp mossy stuff. This is cloying, and super mossy/green. Not good.

And like most things I amp...I can't get it to wash off. The smell is so strong, its like I spilled an entire bottle on myself, not put on two drops from a decant.

help me!

This smells amazing in the bottle, very pear and delicious. On my skin, it changes quite a bit.

Most of bpal's vanilla's turn to plastic on me, and that's exactly what this did. Its not an unpleasant plastic, sort of what a Pear Strawberry Shortcake doll would smell like.

I would have loved this when I was younger, but its just a little too sweet and plastic for me now.

Plumbers tape on the threads might be ok. My problem was with plastic wrap put over the mouth of the bottle, then the lid put on top. I don't think the plumber's tape on the threads would actually touch the oil in the bottle, the way the plastic wrap would. Especially if you just put it on the screw threads that were furthest away from the opening.

Might be worth a try with a partial bottle of something you don't like, to test it. It really sucks to lose a lot of stuff.

Also, the plastic was on my bottles of bath oil for a long time, months even, before I opened them. Possibly over a year on some of them.

Arlith, do you mean you would rather not do a circular imp testing swap, but rather a one on one "surprise!" imp swap?

Not at all. I think the circular imp testing swap is a brilliant idea! I was just trying to say that even though I shared my opinion, I probably won't play in that swap because I have so many decants at home to test and I really should get on with that before trying to test scents that I don't have. (I've even put a partial ban on buying more oils until I get my stash under control...its really absurd and I keep finding more little pouches and bags of imps/decants as I'm packing for our move.) But then again, I do love swaps.

I am finally back to getting my sjnur together, cleaning out stashes and whatnot, and there need to be more awesome summer swaps!

 

So, how about that rares/LEs swap?

 

I've been contemplating it, and come to the conclusion that it should probably be small-- say nine people (because it can always be run again), and have double that number of rare/LE scents to start.

 

*There would be one bag of Testers- full imps for people to skin test.

*And there would be one bag of Keepers-- 1/3 to 1/4 imps of each scent, in multiples of three.

*Every participant would be entitled to two of the keepers.

*If you wanted to take more than the two freebies, you would have to add something to test. But, other than that, adding testers and samples would be completely voluntary.

 

*I was thinking that each person could keep the parcel for one week. Is that enough time to test, do you think?

*The package would go small, flat priority box. With as many imps as there are in it, it would probably be the cost of priority to send it first class anyway. And, with Priority, the tracking is included and there's a bit of random insurance, in case of FUBAR.

*This swap would be US only. Both cost and time frame make a Global circular swap prohibitive.

 

Also, would there be a preference to having DCs included in the scents? I have Madrid, Magdalene, and the Unicorn, and would be pleased to include those-- but only if people were interested. It's also totally cool if everyone wants to keep it LE.

 

Question number two:

 

Is anyone interested in another Build a Sample Box swap?

 

Question three:

 

I'm probably going to sound like a nutjob, but can we talk about potential Halloween swaps? Anyone with me? I've been really thinking I'd like to make one, but it would need to start in September or so, so that everyone could have awesome Halloween goodness. It could also be expanded to include Dia de los Muertos, All Saints' Day, Guy Fawkes, and other awesome Holidays that fall in that end-of-October/beginning-of-November window.

Obviously, my answer is always going to be MOAR SWAPS!!!

The LE swap sounds really fun. I think DC should be added too. There are so many GC scents, and I know I see them disappear before I had the chance to try them...I usually focus on the LE with the whole "get them while you can" aspect to it. Of course, I have that whole "buy lots of decants/stuff to try and never actually test them" thing going on and I don't even know what scents I have...so I'm not sure if I'd play in the tester swap.

Build a box Beauty! Yes please! I had a lot of fun with that swap!

Halloween swaps too, we should have them!

I have plans for a fun little swap after we move/get our house. (Which is being delayed because the government and the real estate sector is completely broken and they make me extra crazy.) Its going to be a "Why should brides have all the fun?" swap, with something old, something new, something borrowed (in this case it will be something that your box builder will give you to give to someone else), and something blue. This should be one a cheap and easy swap. (just like me ) Assuming we aren't delayed a whole lot longer with the f'n house, look for this to come in July!

This was the very first bottle purchase I made, I hadn't known about decant circles, and this sounded so nice to me that I had to try it.

Looking at the scent notes now, after learning what does and doesn't work for me, I probably wouldn't even try this one, but its one of those miracle scents. (And one of only a few chocolatey scents that don't turn rancid with my skin chemisty!)

Dry down, I get a warm, sweet, almost heavy scent. It doesn't have a lot of throw, just snuggles in close to me. I can't really tell which notes are coming out to play much, I think most of the sweetness is coming from the wine, but its not a boozy scent. Its aged beautifully, and I'm really glad I bought a bottle when it was released.

Since my first swap was a great success, I've been thinking about what I would like to try next!

Anyone interested in a candy/sweets swap? I was thinking of something where everyone sends a small (under $5 a package before shipping) package to 3 different people, and gets three packages of goodies in return. I'm thinking small bubblelopes with a little treat inside.

Nitty gritty, I thought open to internationals, 10-15 player limit, and quick turn-around time since the packages are to be small.

That sounds fun!

You could always change the name for the swap...like Naughty and Nice (like the inquisitions).

As far as matching...

it might be easier if you did something like matching up based on families of scents. Maybe separate it into categories and ask if you want or have foodies, resins, florals, aquatics, (that sort of stuff). That way its more likely that there will be a match without having such a hard time with matches.

I'm working on clearing out my pm box, so I can put up the 12 days swap! YAY! Hopefully, I'll be all set to go early next week. Its going to have to be a somewhat fastish swap, in order to get the goodies to everyone on time.

And I'm afraid that I'm going to have to make it a US only. Its my first swap, and with the time and lack of ability to track the international stuff scare me a bit. I'm sorry to the internationals who would want to play, its just a little too much for me to add that into the mix. If everything goes well, I'll do it again, and be a little more inclusive. (I really, really hate to leave people out, but I just don't think I can handle it this time.)

Yay! I'll look at the rules and stuff for setting up a swap, and figure out what I'd need to do (unless someone else wants to run with the idea-I wouldn't mind if someone wants to run it). I haven't been the ringleader in a swap yet, but I've played in lots.

How it work for timing on the other site. We generally had two months before opening day. So the packages were to get there early, and sit around waiting for thier opening days. (Sometimes people would throw in a little extra "open me now" gifty to help with the twitchiness.) People who didn't get thier package to thier buddy in time got thier hand slapped hard enough that there weren't allowed to play in the next two swaps.

Opening one little present everyday was so much fun! I'd spend hours gloating over my pile and waiting for the next one I'd get to see. It was like being a little kid at Christmas again...so much anticipation!

Edit: Maybe if it was something like, you should try to get your package to your swappee by the 1st of December, but if its later than say the 12th (otherwise they'd end up opening stuff after Christmas and that'd ruin part of the fun), then you get a spanking? And do the start opening them when you get them (but if you get it beofre the 1st you have to wait)? Or too many rules? OPen when you get your package? I like that too.

Aiiieee! So much to think about and so little time!

Edit again....

The make your own Birchbox sounds fun!

So does the mystery swap! (I always want to buy mystery grab bags at places.) For the mystery swap, it might be fun to do something where its a bottle (or imps or whatever), plus a little snack or something...that way if all your bottles suck, then you have a treat to eat. Then again, that brings up other issues, with people not being able to eat certain things. So, probably not such a great idea....I just like getting edibles in packages.

I know Christmas-time gets pretty heavy with fun swaps....but I've got an idea (that I stole from a Diva swap on paperbackswap, I used to play there a lot), and thought I'd see in anyone was interested.

So the swap was The 12 Days of Diva (Of course, we'd change the name here and a few of the rules and such)....

the general idea is, you shop for your person and send them a box with 12 presents in it, they are wrapped and numbers. Then, on a scheduled start date, everyone opens one present each day and posts about it, until the presents are gone. So, the package recieve by date is pretty strict, the presents have to be in your buddy's hands before the start of opening day.

Does this sound fun to anyone? Should I scrap the idea, since its not really mine....I'm a little worried I'm being bad because it is a swap from a different place.

I'm a huge fan of ginger-scented things. And this one is fantastic! On me, its very fresh sharp ginger, like its just be cut and grated. Its mellowed out by something dark and dirty smelling. Absolutely perfect!

I'll be getting a bottle of this!

Weenies tend to be among my favorite scents, and I had high hopes for Hoggle.

When I first put some on, there was a definate buttery pumpkin smell. I didn't care for that, but it mellows out really quickly-within the first five minutes.

He definately turns delicious and reminds me of some of my favorite falls scents. With having lots of fall scents already, do I really need another pumpkiny fall scent?

YES! I do! Even though he'll probably not get a whole lot of wear, I'm still going to need a full bottle him! He's so yummy!

I didn't expect Gobo to be great on me, but he is! YAY GOBO!

He's reminds me a bit of Lemon Scented Stick Bat, only brighter and more fruity. I can almost taste the grapefruit.

Gobo is delicious and a bit fizzy to me. I'm most likely going to get a bottle of him. (After I give him a full-day test to see about his staying power.)

By far, my favorite Fraggle scent so far!

Mokey smelled the way I expected, floral. I don't generally like florals, and didn't expect to like Mokey either. As expected, I ended up washing her off fairly quickly. She's a Fraggle, and I had to try her, but she's just not for me.