Ina Garten Davita

Back in 2016, we had made plans, a bit premature as it turned out, to travel to Washington D.C. to see the first woman sworn in as president of the United States of America. It was not to be, but we Barrials are nothing if not flexible. Along with some our best friends, we decided to travel to the Capitol to protest the vile man that is ruining our great country. A year later, she rode my shoulders again at the first anniversary of the Womens’ March in Los Angeles. With my beautiful daughter on my shoulders, we marched, we shouted, we made our voices heard again. Truth will prevail. A scent of power and courage for my daughter: sweet milk and cardamom with vanilla pod and nutmeg. Warm, spiced milk. Very soothing, ultra-comforting. This would make a perfect bath oil for bedtime.

SUGAR PLUM FAIRY Queen of the Kingdom of Sweets: sugar plums, vanilla-infused sugar, tiare, amber musk, apricot peel, and a light dusting of cacao. I knew it would be good, but if I had any idea it was this good I would have ordered more bottles. Sweet, mouthwatering, smells how watermelon Jolly Rancher candies taste. The scent just glitters and dances and gets better, deeper as it settles. The tiare and musk round out the sweetness. The apricot peel enhances the fruit factor, keeping it from being too candy sweet. No cocoa as of yet, which is just fine by me.

Bourbon tobacco, gunpowder, and brimstone.

O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou, That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch soe’er, But falls into abatement and low price, Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy That it alone is high fantastical. — Orsino Effervescent rose chypre and bourbon vanilla.

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Chocolate fudge cake with pumpkin icing.

Rooty, sweet, and a little bit dirty

Too butch, too femme, too sexy, not sexy enough, too smart, too big, too loud, too angry. Sugar and bile, leather and blood, honey and rum, shredded patchouli and vetiver, tobacco and lime.

We love googly eyes almost as much as we love Christmas morning at Casa Barrial, and last year, we were able to merge both of them together. I love watching Lilith’s face and she races downstairs to see what Krampus and Santa might have left under our pink Christmas tree and what kind of candy La Bafana left in our shoes. The scent of a Googly Eye Christmas Tree: pink cotton candy, silver tinsel, cinnamon cookies, and white chocolate snow. Cinnamon and chocolate straight up. I’m sad that I didn’t get any Yule vibes from this. The cotton candy, the tinsel and the tree itself was gobbled up by the greedy cinnamon.

Fiery red amber and sweet oudh, flickers of honeyed patchouli and red musk, pale white coconut flecks, and crushed peppercorn.

Roots and upturned earth, yew berry, night-blooming jasmine, and dark musk.

Really buttery popcorn. Super buttery.

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A few of us got some of Beth's experimental blends in a LUSH swap, they are unlabled and unnamed. I numbered mine and was dying to review them, I hope you'll do the same! I'll put them here but if Shollin wants them moved, then by all means... Beth's Blend #5 in a stout, dark green bottle. First Impression: Cinnamon, oh yes...lovely fresh, warm cinnamon. Second Impression: Cinnamon and something creamy...vanilla/cake/coconut. Like Cinnamon Buns but with a strawberry swirl. It's foody and sexy...think Hollywood Babylon but with cinnamon instead of black cherry. Final Analysis: Addictive, delectable, utterly divine!

PERILOUS GARDEN- A gloriously oleaginous orange perfume, slavering with bloated droplets of glowing white musk, oozing with tart neroli, blood orange rind, tuberose, and speckled with hairy little spikes of black pepper.

DEVIL AND CIRCE - A flutter of leathery wings envelop a gossamer swirl of pomegranate chypre, smoky aged patchouli, pink carnation, rose cognac, ivory-white sandalwood, lilac incense, and clove.

What do we want? TO GIVE THEM THE FINGER! When do we want it? OH MY GOD ALL THE FUCKING TIME?? A giant foam fuck you: cotton candy, red pepper, and clove bud.

Strawberry cheesecake ice cream, chocolate milk, bluebonnets, and dandelions.

Ashlultum~ Babylonian musk, vanilla tea, tonka, tobacco, coconut, hyssop, and lilac. The scent has completely captured the character depicted in the story/artwork while simultaneously being one of the most "me" perfumes I have ever had the pleasure of wearing. Beth's abilities never cease to amaze. In the bottle~a hit of herbaceous hyssop followed by sweet lilac, rich coconut and warm tonka. Love at first sniff! On my skin~I never imagined that coconut and lilac could smell this fabulous together, truly sublime. The sweet and fresh qualities of both scents play off each other and complement each other very well. Tonka and tobacco are two of my favorite notes of all time, so warm and rich, very present in this scent. Drying down~ The lilac starts to yield to Babylonian musk, which totally smacks of my most coveted musk of all time, Egyptian. Wafting up from my skin is a perfect sexy cocktail of tonka, vanilla tea, deep tobacco, sensual musk and coconut. To my delight, the lilac never completely disappears, lending a soft, floral depth to the whole experience. All the notes play so well together, one never overwhelming another. I am feel honored to be a small part of this unique and amazing collection. I'm definitely going to have to hoard "my" scent.

Back in the good ol’ days, I was a singer in quite a few bands. Being up on stage was an amazing feeling, but it doesn’t hold a candle to watching my baby singing and seeing the way she lights up when she’s on stage. I love to listen to her sing and I think she has a lovely voice, but nothing makes me prouder that having someone comment about how beautiful her voice is. This photo is just before she played with her band, and I love how she is so comfortable and happy to be in front of an audience. A rockstar scent for a tween: leather, vanilla bean, honey sticks, and sugar. Unfortunately for me, the leather was all up in my face. Why such a bully? No vanilla, no honey, no sugar for me. I got the barest whiff of lemon, which was odd.

And those who call the shadows home will rise again. A haze of blood musk, myrrh, blackened lavender buds, labdanum, and opoponax.

The crown of the Lord of the Shadowlands, Nimue the Blood Queen: a blood-tinged coronet of gold-gilded bramble.

This is the air; that is the glorious sun; This pearl she gave me, I do feel’t and see’t; And though ’tis wonder that enwraps me thus, Yet ’tis not madness. — Sebastian A vibrant swirl of orange blossom, sweet patchouli, vetiver, and sandalwood.

Bright and tart

LOVE LOVE LOVE! It's a really deep orchid, which brings to mind a darker version of Phantom Queen. The darkness in this, I believe, is that I can smell the rich, moist soil. It's not overt like in Penny Dreadful, but it's there underneath the flower, just as you would find it in nature. The longer dry down reveals a sophisticated and rather sexy perfume. Something to wear for a sparkling night out. It's got really good throw and staying power. Love-Ly!