Dharklady

It seems appropriate that Spanked comes out swinging and then calms down to a smooth but flirty finish. The cardamom translates to red hot cinnamon upon application, which will hopefully calm down with some aging (it’s already better then when first tested upon arrival). As the scent warms up the cinnamon slowly fades to reveal a gorgeous bourbon and leather combination. The leather is the smooth leather of Dee and slightly sweet from the bourbon. It wafts about for a good long while though it’s hard to catch it close to the skin. If you can weather the cardamom, this is a fantastic scent for those who enjoy leather notes.

Continuation of the my note analysis. The hunt for a beautiful Honey scent came hard on the heels of my experimentation with leather, lilac, and lavender. I figured that since I loved honey and mead, I would love the smell of honey. This has since proven a falsehood. For whatever reason, the BPal honey note and I have a love/hate relationship. I keep trying it in the hope that THIS time it'll blossom into something spectacular, and it keeps hating my skin chemistry and turning out either 'bleh', or outright 'ugh'. The biggest disappointment was Milk Moon and Mead Moon. Both smelled incredibly similar with a heavy sweet milk note (which did not appeal to me) and very little of the honey I craved (or any spice from the mead moon for that matter). Needless to say I was not happy. At this point I am still on the hunt for the perfect honey scent for me. Autumn Moon of the Mirror Stand and Door are the only heavy honey note that I've found works for me so far and in AMMS, the honey is only one of a myriad of notes that makes AMMS one of my favorite scents, while with Door, the chamomile has to be playing nicely that day for it to work. The Lab's honey notes: The lab's honey note is often overshadowed by the other notes in the blend on me. It is often paired with the milk note or florals, neither of which work well with my skin chemistry. I was delighted by the release of the Rappaccini's Apiary and both Horse Chestnut and Tobacco Honey have renewed my faith finding a perfect heavy honey note blend. My favorite blends with honey in them thus far: Horse Chestnut Honey, Tobacco Honey, Door, O. Blends that I liked but the honey wasn't prominent: Autumn Moon of the Mirror Stand, Hellcat, Kill-Devil. Blends that were horrible on me: Milk Moon, Mead Moon, War, Bengal, Horreur Sympathique, Luperci Blends that I still REALLY want to try: Tomoe Gozen, Nanny Ashtoreth (more for the leather then honey), Mommy Fortuna (incoming with my TLU set), Whoop (incoming), Chimera, Comforting Plush Companion. *- Signifies ones I tried. Lab's honey blends: (GC) Everything in Rappaccini's Appiary @51*, Alice*, Against Idleness and Mischief, Anathema, Athens, Bengal*, Bien Loin D'Ici*, Blood Kiss*, Chimera, Chuparosa, Cockaigne (The Phantom Islands), Dana O' Shee, Defututa, Delphi, Dragon's Milk*, Eden, Eos, Eros*, Euterpe (Muses), Eve*, Follow Me Boy, Hellcat*, Hermia, Hetairae*, Horreur Sympathique*, Jezebel*, Juliet, Kali*, Kill-Devil*, Les Bijoux, Lolita, Lustration, Meliai, New Orleans, Nostrum Remedium, O*, Ogun*, Osun*, Queen of Sheba*, Sed Non Satiata*, Shanghai, Skuld*, Slippery Poppy Tincture, Sudha Segara, The Lotus Tree, The Phantom Wooer, The Witch's Repast, Tiger Lily, Twilight*, White Rabbit* (LE/Non-impable) Everything in Paduan Killer Bees Agrat-Bat-Mahlaht*, Angeronalia, Al-Araaf, Anactoria, And There Was a Great Cry in Egypt (I), Aries, Autumn Moon of the Mirror Stand*, Bat (III), Bat-Woman (I), Bearded Lady, Berry Moon*, Bilquis*, Black Heart*, Chewing Little Bits of String, Chintamani-Dhupa, Chiroptera, Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Those Condemned to Death (III), Comforting Plush Companion, Copper Phoenix*, Crib Girls, Cupid Complaining to Venus (II), Dawn: Maiden, Dawn: Mother, Door*, Ecstasy of True Love, Eisheth Zenunim*, Et Lux Fuit, Fairy Wine*, Faiza: the Black Mamba*, Fee, Flower Moon, Freak Show, Gennivre: L'Artiste du Diable*, Giant Vulva, Gluhwein, Gun Moll, Harikata, Hay Moon, Hearth, Hilma, Hony Mone, Honey Moon, Itaso Kansei Nenkan Joro No Fuzoku (II), Josie, Joyful Moon, Judith and Holofernes, Katrina van Tassel, Khajuraho, Klara, Lady Luck blues, Lady Una*, La Fee Verte, L'Estate, Libra, Litha*, Luperci*, Mad Kate, Man with Phallus Head, Maud Ruthyn, Mead Moon*, Metal Phoenix, Milk Moon*,Mlle. Lilith, Fortune Teller, Mommy Fortuna*, Morpho*, Now Winter Nights Enlarge, Ostara, Pepper, Pink Moon, Pink Phoenix, Polyhymnia (Muses), Pumpkin IV (2008), Pumpkin Patch I 2009, Ronin, Rose Moon, Sara Pezzini, Schlafende Baigneuse (III), Selkie*, Sibyl, Sleipnir, Spirit, Spirit of the Komachi Cherry Tree (III)*, Stinky, Svadhinaopatika, Thaleia (Muses), The Brides of Dracula, The Carpathian Mountains, The Death of Sardanapal (I), The Deserted Village, The Dream of the Fisherman's Wife, The Gaoler's Daughter, The Gladdener of all Hearts, The Horn of Amalthea, The Illustrated Woman*, The Infernal Lover*, The Masque, The Oblation, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, The Penitent Magdalen (I), The Wrestler Onogawa Kisaburo Blowing Smoke at a One-Eyed Monster, Thirteen (various years), Tissue, Tomoe Gozen, Trick #1 (06), Victorian Garden, Vilf*, Virgo, War*, Werepuppy, Wezwanie/Hod*, Whoop*, Womb Furie*

After reading reviews I was a bit worried about this one. I was hoping that it would be lovely strawberry and cheesecake goodness but the skin chemistry deity was not kind. In bottle this is almost sharply sweet strawberry sugary candy. Applied wet it is a hard peach candy with an extra jolt of sugar and a thin creamy center. There may be a slight swirl of red strawberry in the hard candy, but it is more for color then anything. As it dries you get a bit closer to the creamy center but the peach flavor is still going strong. Several hours later a lingering aftertaste of strawberry sugar is the only reminder of the candy just consumed. If you like peach (or get lucky and amp the strawberry instead) and super sugary scents- this is a good one to try.

Soft apple and musk in bottle. Once applied the patchouli and neroli immediately make themselves known. The teak and vanilla swiftly move in to soften this assault, though they are more powdery then usual. The hints of bergamont and rose emerge once the battle is over and I get just a trace of apple. Hmm this gets more and more “powdery” though that is more an impression from the soft clean scent that this turns into then an actual note turning powery. I wonder if that is the bergamont doing that…the combination of clean slight sweetness and the rose is...kinda cloying actually. While I can see this working fantastically for some folks, sadly this is not for me.

In bottle this is all rose and patchouli, a dangerous mix for me but I shall bravely try it. Wet it is spicy and sweet and not at all what I was expecting. The red sandalwood and something I’m not familiar with, (maybe the palmarose?) are smothering the rose and patchouli. Upon warming up those two notes take to the for, with the sandalwood offering a grounding and smoothing effect to the sharp edges. Overall I get a lot of sandalwood, medium rose, and a light base of patchouli. It’s nice, but not super appealing to me due to the loud rose note.

In bottle this smells like clean pine and vanilla. Once applied and warmed up the amber and vanilla bloom. It has a sharp clean edge from the juniper and pine that is very obvious but not obnoxious. It helps lift the sweeter base notes and gives it some complexity. A good scent to try for the vanilla lovers out there!

I will admit I was leery of this one, and rightly so it seems. I was hoping for a strong leather with just a hint of rose and got pretty much all rose. It’s a nice rose mind you, but rose isn’t something I seek out, merely tolerate depending on the blend. I wish the leather had been more insistent on getting top billing on this one.

In bottle: honey and patchouli over layed on a light floral with just a dusting of myrrh Wet: Not a strong scent, mostly light honey sweetened florals over a faint base of patchouli and myrrh. Dry: As this warms up it gets stronger with the florals blending in and lightening the emerging darker notes. Notes: A lovely combination of light floral and dark musk and incense. A sultry, sexy scent.

In bottle this is honey and spices over musk. Once applied the first thing I’m hit by is a nauseating artificial perfume smell. Shaking that off, it calms down and I get…less nauseating but still unpleasant artificial perfume smell. I’m not sure what’s going on, this should have been lovely on me (red musk, honey, caramel? Sign me up!). Something isn't playing nicely with my skin chemistry, I just wish I knew what!

In bottle: The vanilla is very creamy, almost too much so. Wet: The vanilla quickly shows that it is toned by the honey and amber. Dry: The three notes blend very nicely together, the vanilla is still a touch too much like cream but as time goes on the scent itself disappears and I can only catch whiffs of it every once in a while. Notes: A great simple sweet scent. It’s lovely on it’s own and makes a great layering scent, (impatiently discovered after throwing O on top of the Lion!)

In bottle: Ooo honeyed almonds. Wet: Sweet almonds and brown spices. It is a very brown, golden scent. Dry: This stays true throughout, with the spices getting a touch deeper and dustier. Notes: It evokes imagery of a gold-dusted woman, lounging regally on a divan being fanned while picking at a bowl of delicacies. Regal decadence at it’s finest.

A Game Called Yes and No Arachne of Lydia Autumn Moon of the Mirror Stand Banshee Beat Black Lace Blue Pumpkin Floss Boadicea Champagne and Opium Champagne and Party Hats Chaos Theory VI: Vanilla Cheshire Moon Chrysanthemum Moon Clockwork Couture: Female Copper Phoenix Dark Chocolate, Lime, and Chocolate Mint Door Dorian Falling Leaf Moon Fledgling Raptor Moon Flowering Chrysanthemums Ginger Skulls Gingerbread Poppet Gun Moll Gypsy Harlequin and Columbine Holly King v6 I Fell In Love with a Floating Brain Kypris Lambs-Wool 2010 L'Autunno Lilith Victoria Liz Lotus Moon Marshmallow Pumpkin Mictecacihuatl Monarch Pumpkin Latte Punkie Night 2010 Queen of Clubs Raven Moon Red Lace Red Lantern 2011 Saint-Germain Samhain 2009 Sleeping Nymphs and Satyrs Spanked Revisited Strawberry Moon (09) Sunbird The Arabian Dance The Antikythera Mechanism The Second of Three Spirits Upa Upa Ushi Wood Phoenix Velvet Bandito Favorites

So many scents to try! With the Yules going like along with the first of the Last Unicorn I'm going to have to chain my wallet to me to keep it from running away. My thoughts: Beaver Moon '10- I will be splitting a bottle of this with a local friend. I'm hoping for more of '05 then '07 with it. I haven't tried any due to anything older then '06 usually not working on me, and '07 being more cherry then strawberry. I have high hopes for some lovely cheesecakey goodness and another great bedtime scent as that is what I use most foody blends for. Looks like I'll be getting to try a fair number of the blends I want from this update with running a decant circle for my local friends. Below are the scents I will need to keep an eye out once second hand decants start hitting the forums... Autumn and Winter Chanukkiyah 2010 Gelt 2010 Haloa 2010 Jacob's Ladder 2010 Lick It Vigorously Midnight Mass 2010 A Golden Idol A World of Fools Christmas Eve in the Counting House Incessant Torture of Remorse Mr. Fezziwig's Ball

This is easily one of my favorite leather blends. Sweet without being foodie, smooth as sin from a gorgeously toned leather note, and grounded by the moss and clay. A great try for anyone who enjoys a creamy vanilla-esque amber or leather. While it doesn't have a ton of lasting power if not slathered- it has gorgeous depth and is totally worth it while it does last.

Continuation of my note analysis. When I first got into Bpal, I looked for scents with leather, lilac, and lavender before anything else as I hadn't ever really been into perfumes (only scented candles) and those were the only scents that I knew I liked for sure. Lavender has also been a love of mine, particularly when paired with vanilla. While I don’t have any great memory associations with it like I do leather and lilac, it was one of the major notes that I originally hunted down scents for. The Lab's lavender notes: Of the top three I first started hunting, lavender proved to be the most difficult to track down scents containing it that I like. I think this is mainly because lavender is a sharp high note which I don’t actually like as a skin scent as much as I thought I would. Out of all of the scents I tried, Lilith Victoria proved to be the best strong lavender scent for me, and it has a strong sweet component from the Snake Oil and Dorian note combos. Overall I’ve found that I really need the lavender to be a supporting player rather then the main star, though I still enjoy it. My favorite blends with lavender in them thus far: Cheshire Cat, Saint- Germain, Lilith Victoria, Yvaine Blends that I liked but the lavender wasn't prominent: Bow & Crown of Conquest, Santa Eularia des Riu, Tombeur, Wulric Blends that were horrible on me: All of the Somnus scents, Violet Ray, Tavern of Hell, Blue beard, Dove’s Heart, Veil, Twilight. Blends that I still REALLY want to try: TKO *- Signifies ones I tried. Lab's leather blends: (GC) Arcana*, Baku*, Bluebeard*, Bow & Crown of Conquest*, Casanova*, Cheshire Cat*, Death on a Pale Horse, Dove’s Heart*, Envy*, Gaueko, King of Hearts*, Lurid*, Mad Hatter, Nanshe, Nephilim, Ode on Melancholy*, Oneiroi*, Old Scratch, Pain, Paris*, Pontarlier*, Psyche*, Santa Eularia des Riu*, Scales of Deprivation, Schrodinger's Cat*, Somnus*, Sophia, Tavern of Hell*, The Sluggard*, Twilight*, Veil*, Villian, Violet Ray*, Wilde* (LE) A Farewell to False Love, Agony of Loss, Anahata, Anesthesia, Antonio, Arkham, Atrocious Attic, Azazel, Bat of Longevity, Bat Woman, Bitter Moon, Blue Moon, Calliope, C. Auguste Dupin, Chiroptera, Chypre, Clio, Corazon, Despair, Dolce Stil Nuovo, Dragon Moon, Fairy Market*, Gemini, Glukuprikos, Jonathan Harker, Kalahantarika, Khepra, Licwiglunga, Lilith Victoria*, Lunar Eclipse, Love and Pain, Melpomene, Misericordia, Moon of the Terrible, Naiad, Needlework, Odd Portents, Orpheus, Penumbra, Pomegranate III, Pontia, Pyramus, Queitude, Quicksilver Phoenix, Safari, Saint-Germain *, Shirafuji Genta With a Kappa, Singing Moon, Sleepy Moon, Spirit of the Komachi Cherry Tree*, Sylph, The Cup of Death, The Emathides, The Gladdener of All Hearts, The Oblation, Thirteen (13): October 2006, On Darkness, Tombeur*, TKO, Under the Harvest Moon, Victoriana.Goth, Water Phoenix, White Phoenix, Wulric*, Yvaine*

10/21/10 What are you most interested in from the Yule update? Oh boy there are SOOOO many awesome looking scents. I made a little blog entry to help me clarify my thoughts on which ones I want to try the most. But frankly I wouldn't mind decants of all of them (barring the heavy florals). 10/20/10 If you were my witchee, would you want to receive Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, or wouldn't that be your cup of classics? I wouldn't mind reading Pride, Prejudice, and Zombies but I can't say I've ever read an austen. Would you like some homemade snack mix? I like food! Knitterly Witchees, would you like a yarn bowl? Not a knitterly witchee as you might have guessed by now. 10/18/10 So....let's say that you're my witchee, and you have an affinity for widgets. Let's also pretend that I sent you one of these widgets, but in a form that has a very special personal significance to me. Would you find that to be touching (in a "Yay, now I'll always use this and think of my witch!" way) or tacky (in a "My witch is making this all about her!" way)? Sure! But I don't know what widgets are... Have you had a chance to try Halloweenies? If so, which ones are you really really in love with this year? Ginger Skulls was amazing. Punkie night was also good. I am hoping to find a partial of Calaveras but I don't plan on ordering a bottle with the Yules now out... Pocket shrines! Would you like one, made for a particular obsession of yours? um, not really, I have enough things I jam in my pockets. 10/14/10 Do you prefer scented or unscented lotions/moisturizers?I just picked up a big thing of unscented Shea butter lotion to try combining with with Bpal scents... 10/13/10 Today I got one of the Starbucks Halloween Bearista Bears - it's dressed like a werewolf! Is this something witchees might like? Sure, sounds adorable. Are you interested in Halloween costumes for your pet(s)? While an amusing thought I don't think they would last long. 10/12/10 Would you want your witch to reveal herself? How? I would love to know who my witch is! 10/9/10 I came home with some Dungeon Crawl and some Bedbugs yesterday. If you were my witchee, would you want some of either/both? As an ardent gamer- YES. However I understand it's hard to get ahold of exclusives. 10/7/10 Did you forget anything fun/interesting or find something new and exciting? I'm not really sure what this question is asking?? 10/5/10 Would you like to receive international magazines, even if you don't speak the language it's written in, just to ogle the pictures or for the novelty of it? If yes, what kind of magazines, or what magazines in particular? Not really. would you have interest in any of the new Christmas stuff from Lush? See all previous other etailer answers. Oh, witchee-poo... if there was one bottle you could have from the NYCC exclusives, what would it be? I would love to find a Bedbug but that's about it. If you were my witchee, would you mind a gift certificate where you'd have to do it old school style and mail it in with your order form? I prefer electronic. 10/4/10 Do you have a preferred weight of yarn to work in? Lace, sock, worsted, bulky, handspun with variation? Anyone like little seasonal decorative wreaths? Like gravevine wreaths embellished with silk flora, etc.? Do any witchees need a Snuggie? Not really interested in any of the above. 10/01/10 So, who here loves pomegranates? Are the good as a fruit, a flavoring or just a scent? I love the fruit and I love the note- though I have to be careful as it often is too grapey for me in perfume (only Swank and the new Pom's have been true to pom and not grape on me from the bpal blends). 9/30/10 how are all the witchees fixed for purses--lunchbags, etc?I could use a fun handbag as I own none. Now, I have a question for you. About notes. Which are your favourite ones? Do you have a kind of "note top ten?" Anything that works particularly well on you? Do you have a perfume category (foody, floral, aquatic, musky) that you favour? And are there any notes you have never tried, but think would work well on you? I have a favorite note list in my wishlist so I'm not gonna try to break it down again here. My top go to scents right now are: Samhain/Falling Leaf Moon, Ginger skulls, Punkie night/Lambs Wool, and Pumpkin Latte/Blue Pumpkin Floss. Would you like a sugar skull decorated by your witch? Or do you like sugar skull stuff in general?Sure! 9/29/10 Is there one scent that is your goto for comfort on a bad stressful day? Like the perfume equivalent of a security blankie? No but I could use one right now... What are you going to be for Halloween? Working. Is there something just super random you like/enjoy/want/are ogling that has not been and will not be covered by any other questions, because it's just that WEIRD? Sadly been too busy for oogling. 9/25/10 If you could make a scent that represents where you live (or have lived), what would be the ingredients? Autumn leaves, crisp fall air, earth and woods with the hint of gingerbread cookies... Are you in need of Roller bottles or anything of the like? I like the glass rod caps but I should be good on them for a while still. 9/24/10 Just curious, but if your witch was to make an amigurumi critter (or other plushie) just for you, what would it be? Pretty much anything would be awesome though this little guy is just priceless (Yay Link!) Would you want a local/tourist item from your witch? Like a t-shirt, mug or shot glass? Sure! Okay, who wants NAlloween and some Vampire Apothecary goodness?? No clue what that is. Venomous Villains? Same Last Unicorn? Ha! Well since I posted the question...Actually I would love to see the notes on the bottles, but it is about 80% likely I will be picking up a sample set reagrdless... Who is your fav Disney Villian/villianess? How about hero/herione? (doesn't have to be specifically Disney though) Villian- Maleficant has always been a fav. Heroine- I actually <3 a lot of the Disney characters. Mulan, Belle, Megara, Simba, and Hercules to name a few of my favs... 9/23/10 Do you collect stones/rocks? I'm talking like "semi" precious stones, ie moonstone, bloodstone, quartz ect. Are there any that you're looking for at the moment? Are you in need of a stone but don't know which kind? I don't collect them per say mostly because I don't know what to do with them other then put them on a shelf to collect dust. I'm a pretty big fan of amber (I'ld love to get my hands on some blue amber) and blue goldstone. What's your favorite Halloween Music? Midnight Syndicate has some great stuff. 9/22/10 Do you have a deviantart print wishlist or favourites list?Yup. Deviantart is under wyldharrt. Though I didn't think about prints from there... Is there anything from Blooddrop that you want to try? GC? Halloween update? Why must this be asked for every company? Can any of them really compare to BPal? Actually I kinda wonder how the other companies DO compare to bpal. Is there a comparison thread somewhere? What kind of shoes do you need/want? What size shoes do you wear? Would you mind gently used shoes? I'm not a huge shoe fan. I wear what is comfy and gets the job done. Do you like paper dolls (new or vintage) or coloring in books? Not super duper. Do you like weird scary things as traditionally girly fashion items like heels and handbags? Yeah, I think that answer is obvious by now. Though I'll admit I could use a cool handbag/purse for those rare occasions I am forced to something besides cargo pants... What song is on heavy rotation for you right now? The new Blind Guardian Album! Woot! Are you coveting any of the NYCC atmospheric sprays? Um. no. If you could get any one thing hand-painted from your witch, what would it be and what would be on it? Anything hand painted is ftw! Would you (assumin' you're a yarnie) be interested in a naturally-dyed yarn that's designed to very gradually fade with washing? Not really a yarnie but that sounds like it would be cool for a yarnie. If you have played before, what are some of the most memorable things you've gotten? What really made you go WOW? If you haven't played, same thing, but not limited to SW. Honestly? Simple thought and care put into a package is all I think is needed to make anyone go WOW. The fact that someone is specifically looking for ways to brighten your day, who isn't obligated to in any way besides an agreement to do so, is enough. 9/21/10 Do you like garlic? Do you REALLY like garlic? Would you want to try some really unusual garlic stuff, like garlic cheese or garlic fudge or garlic chocolate, etc., etc., etc.? Now I like garlic. A LOT. However I'm not really sure I could do garlic AND chocolate. Cheese sounds like a safer combo... Can I talk to you about the living dead? How do you feel about Zombies? Are YOU prepared for the zombie apocalypse? Because I am. Well depending on what KIND of zombies involved. I do work in a high density area. On the other hand I have good resources for safety and food sources. Overall I'd give my survival chances a B+. Also Zombieland ROCKS. And World War Z. And doing Zombie makeup (liquid latex + tissue + airbrush makeuo= AWESOME Zombies!) Erm I have mentioned I'm a larper and kinda weird right? 9/20/10 If you happened to be my Witchee, is there something you'd like from the Arcana Halloween update? Is it just me or are there a lot of questions like this. How many bottles of BPAL do you have? Oh I counted the other day. But now I've forgotten... maybe 25? 30? Is there any exercise program that you're interesting in learning? Meditation, Yoga, Pilates, Belly Dancing, Zumba ect? Or if you do any of these (or anything else sport related) are there any things you need/want? Candles, music, mats, water bottles ect? Well it's not exercise but I wouldn't mind learning to spin poi. Anyone else into Emily Autumn? Ack who? What's on your walls? Please show us up to three paintings/posters/whatever. If you love a painting so much that you would steal (to watch it with your greedy eyes) one, please share. I have a lovely glass greenman, and a watercolor painting of our various fey races from one of my larp players that I cherish. And my masks. Definitely need new artwork for the house though. do you like Girl Scout cookies? What kind? Oooo thin mints and the peanut butter ones and another kind that i always forget. What's your take on homemade apple butter? Want some? OMG yes. >.> 9/19/10 Do you read/like fantasy? What kind of books or authors do you love? Which one would you like to read? Would you like gifts related to it?Yes, my fav authors are in my ?aire. Soaps : do you like them? What brands? What scents? Anything you're dying to try? I use liquid body soap usually though I started using a wash puff (or whatever those are called) so bath jellies or such would be kinda cool to try. I wondered if my witch or any witch would enjoy things like nice pens to draw with or anything similar? Nice painting brushes (fine tipped are best) are always welcome. For those who are yarnies, would you like other-than-yarn witchery? Hooks, needles? Preference of material? Do you use/would you like handmade stitch markers, etc.? I got nothing on this one. Does anyone do altered books? Would you be interested in old books to alter? Any type or title in particular? I wouldn't mind modemade paper/small handmade books for my larp but not really sure what "altered" books are... Did someone ask about incense yet? Would you like some? Something to store or burn it in? What scents? What form? I've been trying to get into charcoal burning with incense but I can't see to find a good charcoal. Any oddball free things you collect or would want saved for you? Actually I collect coke codes for redemption since the SO drinks so much diet coke... 9/18/10 Who likes hair toys, and if so what kind? I like hair sticks, metal hair wraps, and leather stick barrettes. Does any art we may send need to be child safe, either in the actually safe sense or the non X rated sense? Nope. In the knitted/crocheted things area, would you want wrist warmers, 1/2 gloves, a neck warmer(the kind that pretty much just goes around your neck and maybe fastens instead of being long and loose like a scarf), slippers, or hats?As stated before I love fingerless hand/wrist warmers the most- but anything is welcome. How do you feel about altered/recycled/upcycled items of clothing or accessories? Go for it. Is there anything you want from the Violette Market update?I think at this point you know what my answer is gonna be. What is your favourite habitat and climate to live in? How about to visit? (ie. forest, canyons, mountains, by the beach; temperate, tropical...) Forest. Again probably pretty clear at this point. What do you wish you could make/craft if you had the know-how and supplies? Specifically, which particular items? Sturdy natural feathers, small antlers/horns, large metal cogs/wheels, or anything that could be incorporated into a mask or leather working project would be lovely. Is there anything you would like from Conjure Oils general catalogue or the new updates that isn't already on your wishlist? Same reply as for the others. Am I alone in this, or is there a Book Fair/Comic Con scent you're dying to get your paws on, too? Dungeon Crawl! Anyone need address/phone type books?Nope. 9/17/10 Are there any particular movies, tv shows or cd’s that you’ve been meaning to buy for years but just never got round to getting? Would you mind a gently used dvd/cd if your witch had it or could get it?? not really Is there anything from the Possets' Hallowe'en update you're lusting after?I try to stick to BPal only for my wallets sake. Would you like a custom/altered toy either from a seller or from your witch (like My Little Pony, or a Barbie or any particular toy that can be changed?) I custom MLP would be cute. Not really interested in the others. Do you like the candy apple, candy corn or pumpkin spice kisses?No Candy corn please (I think it's the only halloween candy I really don't like). Pumpkin spice kisses sound awesome though I've never had one. Which web comics do you enjoy? My fav is Girlgenius and OOTS. I love the art of Seraph-inn, Earthsongsaga, and Lackadaisycats. Weregeek is awesome for it's sheer amusement factor. Gunnerkrigg and Zombiehunters are also fun. 9/16/10 If I were to knit a scarf, would you prefer a skinny one, or a wide one? A short one, that when wrapped once around your neck will just tuck under your jacket, or a long one, at least to your waist? I like longer scarves. Don't like scarves? Would a rectangular shawl or triangular shawl be more to your taste? I'm pretty easy going to anything works. How do you feel about recipes? I love cooking, but have to use recipes cause I'm horrible at remembering how to cook things. Recipes rock! What kind of a cook/baker are you? I've been doing the main cooking in our house for over two years now. I love having friends over so I can feed them. I love finding new recipes with new flavors or dinner ideas (tried a black bean burrito recipe last night that was awesome!)My food normally get compliments so I would say I am decent enough (even if I do have to use recipes!) Are you happiest calling for delivery or microwaving a lean cuisine, Or will Food Network be asking you to host their new program? We try to cook dinner as much as possible (which is most days). On the other hand I don't really get creative on my own (though I am REALLY good at hunting down tasty recipes). If I send you something home made would you like the reciepe for it? Oh yes please! If you are someone who doesn't want baked goods sent, would you like a collection of some of my favorite recipes? Certainly! How about home made mixes or kits? Kind of like the cookie in a jar thing, where you would need to add the perishable ingredients? Lovely! if you are a tea lover, what are your flavor preferences? Green? Black? Herbal (I know, technically those are NOT teas, but tisanes)? Flavored blacks/greens? I love Rooibos (red) tea the best. Green and Black (esp Black vanilla chai mixes) are lovely too. I don't like floral teas. I would love to try some of the higher quality Red tea! 9/15/10 How do you feek about silly, funny knick-knack, dollar store stuff, stickers, magnets etc? Would you like receiving that kind of stuff or rather not? Erm, no thank you I have a cluttered house already! Is there a specific book you've been wanting to get but haven't found the time or the opportunity to? yes, too many to list sadly. I think some are in my ?aire. Do you read mangas/watch animes? Which ones? Do you have a particular favourite? Would you like to receive managas or anything related to them? I like anime (surprised huh?) though I'm not super educated about it since I don't have a lot of free time to watch TV. I wouldn't mind reading manga- the artwork is often so beautiful! I enjoyed Evangelion, Wolf's rain, Fushigi Yugi, Utena (was my first one!) and anything by Miyazaki. Are you open to receiving things that are not on your wishlist, maybe something your Witch thinks you might like? Sure! If you have something on a wishlist that we could craft INSTEAD of buying, though it might not end up identical to the wishlist thing, would it be okay to craft it instead? Obviously we don't want to copy anyone else's design, but if we can replicate the flavour or intent that you like without stepping on toes? Sure! OK, I know that lots of folks love socks. Do you have a preference of length? Materials? Patterns? Soft and comfy. No toe socks please. How do people feel about word magnets as long as they are fun ones If you could have any costume, or if you aren't into costumes, necklace or other accessory, from any movie character, what would it be? All the armor and costuming from any of the medieval/fantasy movies. Esp lord of the rings. Oh or Hellboy 2! How do you feel about samples/decants of things other than BPAL? Soap slices, lotion/scrub/shower gel decants, single use make-up/beauty products, etc.I would try em maybe. Except for shower bombs gel/jellies and massage bars I can't say I'm super interested in other stuff (okay maybe body creams). What are you guys going to be aiming for in the Inquisition? Or do you just plan on ordering individual items? Part of me wishes I could afford to do a full Inquisition and I would send in a poem to try to influence them. But I really can't afford the $60 for it, and I don't really use bath oil. Out of the scents, there are only two I don't want (bats and meilsomethingorother) to try so gonna have to find a way to get my hands on the others in enough time to order a bottle if I fall in love... 9/14/10 Chocolate or other types of candy? I love chocolate. It's all about self-discipline and not gorging yourself when you get something tasty...silly willpower. For tea drinkers, do you prefer loose leaf or tea bags? tea bags are easier for me to use at work though I have bags to put loose tea in. That wasn't very helpful was it? If you would enjoy something of a knitted persuasion, do you have a preference on type of thing? Since making a scarf for someone who has 10 might be a smidge excessive? Also, how do people feel about shawls? I wouldn't mind getting something knitted since I'm not a knitter myself. Is there a TV, movie or literary character that you are a lot alike, or would like to be alike?Not that I've actively thought about. I prefer characters who start off flawed and then, through character growth, become better people. Take that as you will. Is there anything you need for your kitchen, ie measuring cups, spoons, grater, ect? As I put in my ?aire, I don't have a rolling pin which would be nice to have. I almost never say no to kitchen gadgets... Music, DO you prefer Live or Studio? Edited or explicit? Unedited but otherwise don't care. If you are an animal lover, is there a specific type/breed that you love most? Not especially, I love them all. My first cat was half Siamese, and my current two are mongrel (long haired grey and white) and torte. Also flowers and plants- If you like flowers/plants, do you have a favorite(s)? I LOVE lilacs. I'm also now smitten with carnations and mums due to their scents. I'm also pretty big into columbines cause I just discovered them this year and they can grow in my yard! I'ld love to find some more pretty flowers that can grow in the shade... Do you have a favorite quotation? Song lyric? Book passage WhateverthehecktheycalltheanonymousregionalwisdomthingiePROVERB! that word. It's a poem actually, written by a friend, called Warrior Poet. I'll post it in my blog when I can hunt down the words... What is a bpal scent that you've been dying to try for awhile but just can't find? (A scent where even a tester would do) Holly King Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you have some children/spawn (1 or more), and, hypothetically speaking, your witch would like to spoil them a little but knows nothing of kids these days. What do they like or dislike? Also is there anything a (sane) adult might think they would like that you don't think is appropriate for whatever reason? (I'm thinking of things like temp tattoos, make up, things that make noise, or anything else that might be bad for non-obvious reasons.) The only kids I have are furry ones and my SO on occasion (cause all boys can be like that imo). They like boxes and kitty treats. And waking me up far too early in the morning. Is there anything you would like that can be delivered over the internet? Things like fanfic recs, cat macros, mp3s you are looking for, how-to or amusing videos, things like that Erm...no? What would your last meal be if it could be anything in the world (sky is the limit, drinks too, the whole shebang) I don't like thinking about things like "last meals" as they imply that afterwards you wouldn't get to enjoy such things. Better to concentrate on the here and now. But there would be cheesecake. NaNoWriMo? Nope, I'm busy enough thanks. 9/13/10 what interests you from the latest lab update? Ooooo sooo many things. I have a number of bottles and decants coming in, but I still need to get my hands on Nothing Gold Can Stay, Infernal Lover, and Anne Beanny, not to mention the BPTP inquisition scents. I LOVE Autumn and this is my first fall with bpal so I am psyched! Thus far the Samhain '09 is my fav fall scent and I'm hoping Samhain '10 is similar so I can get myself a backup bottle. Of the latest update I would say I am anticipating Punkie Night and/or Pumpkin Latte as being the biggest winners for me provided they are *too* foody. How do you feel about stationery, like nice pens or notepaper? And if you're in favor, do you prefer classic/contemporary or cutesy stuff?I tend to use scraps of paper to recycle and I'm horrible about losing things like pens. :/ Would you like homemade preserves (e.g. marinated vegies, pickled onions, chilli jam?) Love homemade stuff though I tend to have a preference towards sweet rather then sour or savory as it is easier to find uses for those (jam on toast for example). Various butters (I loooove honey and apple butter) are a favorite. If you've got stuff on your BPAL wishlist, would partial bottles be okay? Oh yes, I love partial bottles! Would you like something you have to make yourself? Say you were my witchee, and I found things on your wishlist that I could totally make. Would you want me to make it? Or would you rather it be purchased for you? I'm not sure if those were separate questions of not so I'll treat em as one since they seem related. I have a preference towards handmade as I love knowing that someone put time in care into creating it. Who is your favorite soap etailer? I'm still pretty new to this whole perfume/beauty product thing, esp as I like showers over baths. However I would LOVE to get my hands on some solid massage bars (I think Lush has some?) since the S.O. hates oily ones and I love back rubs. Also this idea of bath bombs and jellies intrigue me. What about vintage decoration items, teacups, etc etc? I'm more into rustic and natural then vintage. With regards to your gifts, would you prefer your presents' awesomeness evenly spread out (several packages of pretty terrific things) over the round or a slow build-up of awesomeness (going up from pretty cool things to something super-duper cool at the end) to go out with a bang? Do you have a preference? Nope, whatever is easiest for my Witch! What kind of make-up do you wear? What colors? Is there anything you'd like to try but haven't yet? I don't wear much makeup but I'd love eyeliner/mascara that doesn't make me look like a raccoon (or a tutorial on how to properly apply it do it doesn't since I never really learned). Who would be on your top 5 (IE famous people you’d date/have relations with)Heath Ledger, Albert Einstein, Leonardo DaVinci, King Arthur, and Lancelot. Do you crave many Ecards and contact or are you okay with little contact from your Witch? Since I asked and already answered the question- nope, I am comfortable with the thought that even if you don't send me many messages you still care. Do you have a place where you list all the BPAL you have or have tried? Noooo, I guess I could try to do that sometime next week. I'm a touch busy til then sadly. Do you like maple sugar candy? oooooh yes. I loves me maple sugar... What is your position on the chocolate & bacon flavor combination? Tried it once and was unimpressed but how can you go wrong with bacon? If you are a tea-drinker do you need a tea-cozie for your pot? No? I need a new tea pot more then a cozie (but I think my boyo is getting me one for the holidays). I'm also not sure what a cozie is honestly... Go to your spice cabinet, what are the three most used spices? Can I go to my garden instead? Fresh basil, thyme, and oregano if so. Otherwise salt, pepper, and olive oil (I like to diversify the meals we have in a week so I don't tend use a lot of one thing frequently). Microsoft or Apple? Microsoft. Where was your last vacation? What did you like most? I haven't had a vacation "away" somewhere in over 10 years so I really couldn't say. It's kinda sad that our first real vacation together is going to be our honeymoon but that's how the cookie crumbles I guess. Would you appreciate receiving handwritten letters and/or postcards (anonymous or not)? How about sending them? Again, I'm not a huge card person though I wouldn't complain if I get one. Do you hate any food things with a passion?? Liver. Anchovies. Raw tomatoes (once pretty much anything happens to them I like them). I think that's it. Would you be opposed to receiving a digital version (via email) of a magazine you like but don't subscribe to...you know, in the interest of saving a tree? Nope I would be a-okay with saving trees. 9/12/10 Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to last.fm immediately and create an account! Download the scrobbler! Link us to your account! If you reject this assignment, maybe just tell us what your mp3 player says you listen to a lot? I listen to a lot of Within Temptation, Nightwish, Blind Guardian, and Breaking Benjamen. Any countries you're interested in? Ireland! Since that is where we are planning on spending our honeymoon next year... Would you enjoy homemade bath products (bath salts, fizzies, etc.) and/or linen sprays? Esp. if scented with some of your favorite BPAL scents? I take showers so as long as they are shower friendly- sure. Linen spray- anything with my favorite notes (esp lavender/vanilla as a combo and autumn scents). If you witch made you something and it didn't come out just right, would you still want it? Of course, it's the thought that matters and chances are anyone besides the maker won't notice what is wrong (speaking from personal experience here). Are you a foodie? As in do I like food? Oh definitely, I love cooking and trying new food. As in do I like smelling like food? Sometimes. I prefer spicy sweet to straight sugary sweetness I am finding. Any sports fans in the house? What's your favorite sport/team/player?Not a sports fan, sorry. For holidays, do you decorate? Would you like decorative stuff, weenie or otherwise? If so, do you lean towards the elegant, the crafty/folksy, or the more, erm, campy? Don't have any deco so don't really decorate. I would probably do rustic/crafty/folksy given my druthers and a budget. Heavier on the autumnal theme then halloween but that's not to say I wouldn't put it up. No campy please. Do you like journals/notebooks/sketchbooks?I could use a large pad of tracing paper for my leathercrafting to transfer designs and I would love to get a scrapbook to start a catalog with notes of the wines me and the S.O. have tried. 9/11/10 Cake truffles? If YES! Cake/icing/chocolate type? I like truffles...Dark chocolate and anything (except nuts and coconut flakes)ftw... are you interested in mini bottles(under 100ml for hand luggage) of bath and body products? Not really. Vampire shows, literature, etc? Yay or nay? I enjoy urban fantasy (which seems to include a LOT of vampires) as well as books by Charlaine Harris (before True Blood got popular :/) The blade series, Queen of the Damned, Interview with a Vampire- these are all good Vamp movies. I don't like the Twilight series- vampires don't sparkle dammit. I may or may not have played Vampire, the Masquerade once upon a time. If you play console video games, what game systems do you have and what games would you love to have? I don't play a lot of video games anymore besides WoW. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on the new Final Fantasy for PS3 but that's about it. How do you all feel about flowers and plants? Flower and plant seeds? Drawings of flowers or plants? Pressed flowers? Ooooooo yes yes yes! I slowly building up my outdoor garden but I live in a wooded area with little sun so it is hard. I planted an herb garden this year which did surprisingly well considering I can't devote much time to gardening. I'd love to find some veggies/squash that I could grow in my conditions or some lovely shade flowers for against my house (I have some columbines to plant for next year). I'm also hoping to get some blueberry bushes in to complement the raspberry bushes we already have. so yes, plants, seeds, or books would be a wonderful gift. How do you feel about marzipan? um...uncertain. If you could have 3 BPAL bottles fall (gently) out of the sky right this second that you've been looking for or pining for - which 3 would they be?Only three huh? That's a tough one. Dead Man's Hand, Holly King, and Saint-Germain (or CC: Female). Are there any international treats that you love and have a hard time finding? I don't get to try many so it's hard to say. :/ Is there anything from the 'Ween BPTP update that you would like but haven't ordered for yourself? Ooooo yes. I would lurvs to try some the inquisition scents such as Ginger Skulls, Marshmellow Pumpkin, Bogle and slaugh ( I <3 Scottish fae). Oh also the Candy corn coated candy apple! oh and the Samhain atmo spray (I've fallen in love with the Samhain '09 bottle I just got...) I'ld also love to try the forum only Anne Beanny scent...Have I mentioned I love Fall? If you are a crafter, would you like to receive supplies from your witch (beads, fabric, yarn/roving etc?) Unfortunately the supplies needed for leathercrafting aren't easy to get your hands on. I do use pretty beads and natural looking feathers for dream catchers though. Soundtracks you'd like?Inception was actually pretty cool. Kick Ass also amused the hell out of me. I've sorta fallen out of collecting whole soundtracks (ah the glory of Itunes). Pretty much anything Disney or Broadway. If you could see one concert right now, who would it be? Within Temptation (or Nightwish) 9/10/10 Would you like a bag of dried Honeycrisp apples? Ooooooo those would be sooooo nommy.... If you were to receive a knitted item (such as a scarf, hat, etc), what colors would you like? And do you have any sensitivies/allergies to any materials? I have an allergy to anything not super soft. Autumn colors or green, green/brown are my fav. Gift Certificate: physical or email? If to online things- email is fine. If to real stores- physical preferred. Favorite Yankee Candles? Or other brands scents? I have a Yankee Flagship store near by but never go to it cause I can't justify spending the money (somehow online money for bpal is different). I lurvs Sage & Citrus and Fall apple/pumkin scents as well as other foodie goodness. No heavy aquatics, florals, or linens please. would you like a zuni animal fetish? And if so, what animal? Sure! Erm...that part not so sure. I love most animals and haven't ever really found my totem so... And how does everyone feel about glow in the dark radishes? That...is a frightening thought honestly. What places to do you visit that you'd like a gift card to? Starbucks, Target, Wal-Mart, B&N, a favorite restaurant or clothing shop? B&N, Amazon, Michaels, JoAnnes, Tandy Leather, Whole Foods, Itunes and Think Geek would all be loved. Does the Lab have a Gift card? Cake or Frosting? BOTH 9/9/10 What movie scared the bejeezus out of you as a child? Jurassic Park and the tiny scene I caught of Candy Man while flipping through channels (crazy hooked murderer attacking from within mirrors? Yipes!) both gave me nightmares for weeks after seeing them. Name a couple of sites you frequent other than this one? Dragon Cave and Etsy. Do you like the Muppets? Which is your favorite? Yay muppets (my SO is a big fan)! Statler and Waldorf are sooo hysterical though I think Animal and Kermit rank right up there with them. If you could have any creature (real or imaginary) as a pet, what would it be? Dragon Comfort Rereads?: Alice and Wonderland, any of the Pern (Anne McCaffrey books), anything by Pratchett or Butcher. Will you be going out of town during the round, or is there any other time during the round when it would not be ideal for you to receive a package from your witch? I have a couple weekend where I will be gone Fri til Sunday but otherwise not really (9/17-919 and 10/15-17). Does anything you are currently studying really interest you? (if you are not in school, is there anything you are trying to learn?) I wouldn't mind learning Gaelic or French... What animal would your daemon be? Alternately, your patronus. Probably a deer or hunting bird. What's YOUR favorite word? Magma! It's just soooo much fun to say! Magmamagmamagma Steampunk, yay or nay? If yay, what part appeals most? I am intrigued by it though I have not explored it much. I LOVE the webcomic Girlgenius and a lot of the art. The look of it is probably what appeals to me the most. 9/8/10 Do you have a special symbol or totem that is meaningful to you? Celtic knotwork and leaves/trees/Tree of Life/Greenman tend to be symbols I lean to. I have never found my perfect animal totem but I am drawn to certain aspects of and have a fondness for chipmunk, raccoon, owl, cat, raven, and wolf. Do you need a box for your bpal bottles? Your imps? Your something else to put in a box stuff? The bottles doth overflow my poor liddle box and a larger/better one to hold more of the precious would be lovely. If you could be any person, being, or animal from Fantasy what or who would you be? Oh man that's a tough one. Actually who am I kidding? I would be a unicorn or a dragon. One with super special powers or course. If you could go back to any point in time, where, when, why? Do I get to keep my modern conveniences? Cause pretend is good and all, but having studied a bit of history- you don't get the good without the bad and we live in a pretty enlightened and creature comfort advanced time. I like toilets tyvm. Favorite Halloween Candy/Treat? Pumpkin seeds! Oh how I love them! What are your favorite baked goods/homemade treats? ANYTHING homemade is awesome in my books. Would you be interested in an astrology birth chart? Not particularly. 9/7/10 Socks? Anyone? Soft fuzzy socks ftw! What is something you use to comfort yourself when feeling yucky, depressed, or in pain?I retreat with soft comfy clothing, a trusty fantasy book and soft blankets, then loose myself in another world for a while. Favorite Halloween/Scary movies/books I don't do horror movies as much since like many others, I have an overactive imagination. Rose Red, Thirteen ghosts, Resident Evil and Silent Hill are some that I enjoy though. Also someone mentioned Pan's Labyrinth as a Halloween/scarey movie and while I don't think of it as such I do loves it! Does Goosebumps count? They used to be my favorite horror books as a kid... What would the name of your custom blend be? The description? Twa Corbies. The remains of a fallen knight with his gleaming amber hair, worn leather armor, a broken wooden shield, a bed of fallen leaves and glistening white bone with the whisper of black feathers on the wind. COMIC BOOKS. Do you read them? Are there any series you like, or some you would like to try? I've read the Sandman series off and on from what I could borrow from others. I wouldn't mind reading any of the ones BPal has made scents of since they make me curious (Witchblade, Irredeemable, Dawn, etc) . I love a number of webcomics though I haven't had a chance to gather their books yet. My favorites are Girlgenius, OotS, and Weregeeks. I would probably appreciate anything fantasy or gamer based, less so superhero unless BPal related. Warm drinks? Oh yes, tea (rooibos and vanilla chai are my favs), coffee (darker the better, and flavored), Hot chocolate (or drinking chocolate), cider, and mulled cider/wine. All of these things are awesome. 9/6/10 When you go to an etsy wishlist, it will tell you what things are sold. If you click on the sold item, sometimes it will give options that are similar to what was sold, but not identical, would you like the similar item or prefer not to get it at all unless it's the same item? How picky are you? I'm not super picky. As long as the style is similar I'm game! Do you wear make up?Only for family gatherings and holidays. Disney movies, Yay or Nay, and favourites if you do like them? YAY! I <3 Disney movies. As I've stated before I love Miyazaki's work and Studio Ghibli. But I'm also a big fan of Disney's old animated movies and I'm thrilled that 'the Princess and the Frog' was done in that same style. My fav pure Disney movies are Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. While I have many of them, I need to get my hands on the new 'Princess and the Frog'. Do you have A VCR, DVD Player or Blue Ray or a combo of the three? We don't really use VCR anymore but we do have the other two. Would you like custom icons as a gift? Sure! 9/5/10 What is your favourite snack food, something you could grab any time? I try not to eat a lot of snacky things- though when I do I shoot for cheese, crackers, nuts or some fresh fruit. Tasty natural trail mixes are another good one. EbooksNo thanks, I like the real thing! Nail Polish:Every once in a great while I'll throw some on, but I tend to get my hands covered in dye, paint and makeup due to my hobbies so I don't use it often. Soft/plushy things:I love super soft teddy bears (I have a big alpaca fur one my SO gave that is my favorite) as I used to collect them when on adventures. In general I don't mind cute cuddly friends though I don't think my SO would be pleased if I was inundated with them. What hobby/craft would you like to learn how to do? Well I'm sorta doing the craft I wanted to learn the most now (leatherworking). If I could pick another (lack of time being the biggest problem) I'd love to learn glassblowing or how to make jewelry with artclay I think. For those who decorate for Halloween, do you prefer cute decorations or creepy ones?: I don't do much decorating since we never have time for a party or kids who come to our house (we live set back in the woods on a quiet street) but cool realistic creepy halloween stuff is super useful to me for my larp hobby. I think if I found or was given pretty handmade autumnal/halloween deco I would put it up though. Also, as part of the cute-or-creepy question, would you want hand made, molded, glazed (by yours truly!) ceramic decorations (napkin rings, potporri/tart warmers, etc) to add to your stock? Handmade? Sign me up! I love rustic artisan mugs (I have an associate who does pottery at the local Ren Faires and I buy one of her mugs every year to add to my collection. how do you feel about mortars and pestlesDefinitely could use one for crushing spices since I'm making a lot of soups lately and just learned the glory of toasting whole spices and if it's pretty as well as functional I can leave it out as deco! Is there anything you have a phobia of, or that would make you go "squick" if you saw it in a package? mmmm live/dead mouse/bugs etc. I get enough of those where I live thanks. 9/4/10 Are you into Austen's books?Nope. Though I am interested in checking out Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Do you read Tarot cards? If not, would you be interested?I love ones with nice artwork but I don't really put much stock in Tarot reading. So for those of you who are into Harry Potter at all, which house do you think you'd be sorted into? hmmm probably Gryffindor. What, if anything, is your guilty TV watching pleasure? Used to be Top Chef before they put more stock in ratings over which chef was actually the best. Now I would say 'the Colony' on occasion. If you cosplay or need a costume for your bellydance/burlesque hobby (or any other hobby which needs dressup/different from your normal wear), is there anything you need/want for it? I'm pretty big into larping so cool decent looking costume jewelry is always welcome (rings in particular). Drinking horn cups, circlets, hair falls, cool fabric, and other misc fun bits useful for that are always welcome. Celebrity crush?: It was Heath Ledger but sadly he has passed on. Many of the knights from the last good King Arthur (mmmm Tristan...). Sean Connery's voice, NPH's singing and Felicia Day's awesomeness. Knitted things?: I LOVE knit or sewed fingerless arm socks/warmers. The softer the better. Also mini-cthulhus. I however am incapable of knitting because I don't have the patience. What about [mixed or otherwise] DVDs? don't think I've ever seen any mixed Dvds. I sometimes hunt for fun amv's on youtube... DVDs: Do you prefer widescreen or formatted? Widescreen. Music: Any preference towards MP3 or CD? Nope I use an ipod but am more then capable of uploading CD's so either is fine. Do you like scented tarts? Don't have a warmer, but tea lights and votives are more then welcome since I love candles! Lip balms? Tasty lip candy? Yes please! (just no grape flavors!) Do you have any body mods? If so, do you need any new jewelry, o-rings, plugs, etc (and if so, what size, length, etc)? Do you like pro-body mod stickers? Nope not something I am into. Booze. Do you drink it, would you like some. Yes, yes I do and would. Mead, cider, red and white wines (I tend to stay away from chardonnay or really dry blends is all). Ice wines and port. Beer (spicy pumpkin ale ftw as well as stout and anything not super hoppy). I can drink mixes and hard stuff but I don't tend to. What is your favorite artist or art style? (including if you have links to favorite pictures/paintings/photographs) I don't really have a favorite artist per say though I LOVE fantasy artwork. I have an artbook of Amy Brown that I enjoy leafing through. I love artbooks that go into detail about the creation of fantasy movies (I have one on the two Narnia movies). 9/03/10 Hallowe'en plans? I'm really sad this year. Due to how our show schedule worked out I will be working on Halloween. Mix CDs? Certainly! As long as they fall within my music genre preferences. New filk, broadway, or symphonic metal mixes are always welcome. Girlyness level? About the only girly aspect of my is that I love bpal. I mean, sure I squee over sparkly, shiney, or glow in the dark stuff as well, but in general I hang out with a lot of boyos, take pants over dresses or skirts ANY day, and am too lazy to do makeup and hair except for larping (airbrush makeup for that is sooooo much fun to play with though!) I like soft fabrics, does that count as girly? 9/02/10 Baked goods: Sure! Though the recipe for making the deliciousness would be even more welcome! Gifts for other household members: Welcome but not necessary. My kitties are lazy though kitty treats are always a winner. Are you someone who'd rather have lots of small testers of different things on your wishlist, or would you rather have one or two "big" things? Whatever is easier for my witch! I tend to lean towards testers for GC scents since those are easier to take with me to work for reapplication and at least partial bottles or fuller for LE blends since they are harder to get. social networking usernames, ie twitter, facebook, livejournal, ravelry, anything else: I only really use facebook at this point and would prefer not to include it. Livejournal (dharklady) is for mostly only used for stalking the marketplace and S&S for blends and news but I post very rarely on that since joining facebook. would you like to receive Groupons or similar deals/gift certificates from your Witch?Not really sure how useful it would be. GC's welcome. How about tshirt/bottoms sizes? Shirts- Large usually fits fine. I would prefer not to get any bottoms (socks are perfectly okay though!)

Switch Witch Questionnaire ==================== Basic Info Birthday: 12/07 Pets: 2 Cats and a fiancé. Children: Do the cats count? Religious orientation: There is a higher power out there, but organized religion just isn’t for me. Favorite Holiday: Oooo that’s a tough one. I would say Christmas, though Halloween and 4th of July give it a run for it’s money. Occupation/Major in school: Lighting Director for a Hall/Road House Living arrangement (by yourself, with roommates, etc): Live with my fiancé. Livejournal/Blog/Website: dharklady on LJ and I run a larp called Tales of Valor (talesofvalor.com) Organizations/Causes/Activities (Things you belong to or causes you believe in): Between work and my hobby I don’t have a lot of free time, and the keeping up with the news tends to make me angry or sad, so I’ve never really found any other organizations of causes to join. BPAL Favorite BPAL oils: LE: Cheshire Cat, Cheshire Moon, CC: Female, Copper Phoenix, Door, Gypsy, Lotus Moon, Melainis, Mictecacihuatl, Monarch, Raven Moon, Saint-Germain. (I haven’t had a chance to try a lot of Fall scents and I anticipate that L’autunno, October, Punkie Night, and Pumpkin Latte will be joining the love pile). GC: Anubis, Bastet, Black Opal, Blockbuster, Bow & Crown, Glasgow, Gluttony, Lampades, Swank, TAM, the Lion, and Velvet. Favorite notes: Leather, woods, resin, spices, amber, myrrh, vanilla, honey, chocolate, grapefruit, apple, cider, strawberry, pumpkin, pomegranate (non-grapey), cranberry, lavender, lilac, carnation, chrysanthemum, fall/leaf, tobacco. Favorite non-BPAL perfumes: I don’t wear any perfume but BPal. Least favorite notes: Strong floral (rose and jasmine in particular tend to overwhelm everything else. Patchouli and vetiver have to be balanced with other stuff (for example Anne Bonny and Highwayman are both too much for my tastes. Wines tend to be sour with my chemistry (which is a bloody shame because I love wine). Plum and currant tend to be dangerous for me, the only one that ever worked where one of those two notes was prominent was Bette Noir. Least favorite non-BPAL perfumes: I find most commercial perfumes to be too artificial and floral, Bpal is the first “perfume” that I ever really liked. If Beth made a custom blend for you, what would the notes be, and what would you want the label art to look like? I like waaaaay too many combinations to be able to really pick what would be the perfect “me” scent (I have yet to find my Holy Grail). If I HAD to choose I think I would go with the smell of freshly unrolled veggie tan leather, dark woods, a little resin and spice, a touch of vanilla or amber to sweeten it and the crisp scent of fall leaves with just a hint of apple and carnation. Clothing & Jewelry Hair type: Mid length (just touches my shoulders), slightly wavy, thick and brown. Skin Type: Normal. Allergies (specifically B&B related): None that I know of. Other things to avoid: nada Tub, shower or both? I love showers and never take baths. Favorite bath & beauty products: I don’t really use bath or beauty products on a regular basis. I love massage oil but my boyo hates the mess it makes so I’m out of luck there. :/ The only time I really get to play is when I larp, and then I love to use metallic eye shadows, eye liner, and other shiney sparkly things. Clothing Style/Fave garments: My job is pretty physical so I tend to dress plainly and often in black (that whole theater thing). I’ve also started trying to dress nicer for get- together so I feel more grownup- but I still tend to stick to pants and simply long sleeved shirts. I LOVE really soft materials. My favorite garment is a super soft sweater in a deep green. Favorite clothing colors/colors to wear: I favor earth tones and greens in what I wear. I’ve been trying to wear more deep rich jewel tone colors (I’m really digging eggplant) to counter the sheer amount of black I own. But in the end I’m inevitably drawn to browns and greens the most. Type(s) of jewelry worn: Rings, necklaces, and ear cuffs. Ring/wrist/collar size: I think I wear a size 8 on my ring finger. I can usually make anything up to a 10 work (thumb rings are fun!) Jewelry - gold or silver? I wear more silver then gold though I love all metallics (copper, bronze, and rose gold are ones I’m hoping to wear more) Do you have any allergies to metal? Not that I know of. Favorite gemstones: Amber is one of my favorites. I tend to like patterned semi-precious rocks over clear gemstones. Sock/Shoe Size: 9-9 1/2 women. Lifestyle Style/home decoration style: Very natural and rustic feeling. I love nature and wood/polished wood grain patterns are a love of mine. I prefer wood to metal (except wrought iron) and natural lines to geometric or modern. I go for things that feel soft (all of my blankets are super warm and fuzzy). Favorite decorating colors: I tend to decorate in greens, ambers, and rich browns when possible. Otherwise cream and metallic are a close second. Things you collect: I collect leather masks, and I have a few of the Windstone dragons, griffons, and unicorns. Oh, and Bpal.  Favorite music: I love filk (Heather Alexander), Broadway musicals (Rent, Les Miserables, Wicked), symphonic metal (Within Temptation/Nightwish), and rock (Metallica/Blind Guardian/Breaking Benjamin). Least favorite music: Rap Vegetarian/Vegan?: (Please be as specific as possible to reduce confusion!) Nope Other food restrictions: None really. Favorite flavors: Anything goes! Except grape. I’m not a huge artifical grape fan. And I’m female so I automatically like chocolate- especially dark chocolate. Favorite foods/drinks: Oh man, I love a lot of food (cooking is one of my favorite things to do!) For food I would say fresh fruits, warm bread, and anything homemade. Drinks I love are mead, cider, tea, hot chocolate, and coffee! Favorite authors/genres: I love fantasy. My current favorite authors are Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Mercedes Lackey, and Anne Bishop. Least favorite authors/genres: Non-fiction biographies I think.  Books/authors you'd like to read, but haven't yet: ‘Changes’ by Jim Butcher, ‘I shall wear midnight’ by Terry Pratchett, ‘Unadultered Cat’ by Pratchett, ‘The Shadow Queen’ by Anne Bishop, ‘Reserved for the Cat’ by Lackey How do you feel about receiving gently used books as gifts? Love em. Favorite stores (including clothing stores): Barnes and Nobles, Joannes, Michaels, Tandy Leather Factory, and Whole Foods Favorite online stores (including B&B stores): BPal, Amazon, and Etsy Magazines you subscribe to: None Magazines you like, but don't subscribe to: Fine Cooking, Food and Wine. Favorite movies: Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, Knight’s Tale, Dragonheart, Labyrinth, Forbidden Kingdom, Pirates of the Carribean, ANYTHING by Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke are my favorites), Matrix, Iron Man, Transformers. Favorite TV show(s): FIREFLY, Survivor Man, the early seasons of Top Chef, Burn Notice, Law & Order, and NCIS. I anticipate enjoying Game of Thrones a LOT. Hobbies/crafts done: I am a hardcore Larping (Live Action Role Playing- though I prefer to describe it as interactive theatrical storytelling). I do a lot of leathercrafting- in particular masks. I sew and do miscellaneous crafts as well. I love my herb garden and I love to cook- especially since it’s something I’ve only learned how to do in the past few years. Wishlists BPAL Wish List (including SW/SF Help): Wishlist . Some of the more unreasonable desires that I would love to try are Dead Man’s Hand, De Sade, Dungeon Crawl, Holly King, and Oak King. Other website Wish lists (amazon.com, etc): I have an Amazon wishlist. Etsy favorites! - http://www.etsy.com/people/dharklady/favorites?ref=favorites Random Questions: - On a scale of 1-5, how organized are you? 3-4 depending. - Where, outside of the U.S. would you love to visit? (if you're international, this can be anywhere) Ireland- fortunately that’s where we are going for our honeymoon next year. Otherwise anywhere in Europe or down to Australia/ New Zealand. - Do people tell you that you act older, younger, or your age? I’ve always been mature for my age or so everyone says. I was definitely never a wild child. - Have you ever been skinny dipping? Nope. - Do you wear pajamas to places other than at your house? Yup. - Your least favorite feature about yourself: Besides my insecurity? I can be self-centered and materialistic. - Do you live in a neighborhood or in the middle of nowhere? Middle of Nowhere and I love it. - Do you like to shop? Not usually- shopping requires having free funds, which I never have, so I tend to agonize over purchases when they are essential. - If you were a shoe, what would you be and why? I would be a deerskin knee high moccasin in two toned color with gorgeous wooden toggles, because deerskin is super soft, those shoes are SUPER comfy, and I would love to have a pair (but they are also super expensive. :/ ) - They're making a bio-pic based on your life. Who's portraying you? Felicia Day just ‘cause she is my favorite (If you haven’t seen ‘the Guild’ and you like MMO’s go check it out!) -Have you ever thought, "oh, I'm going to get myself one of those one of these days" but then never do? List 1 under $10 and 1 over $10. A rolling pin. A flat whetstone to sharpen my leathercrafting blades. - Sunrise or sunset? Sunset. - Has a stranger ever told you that you did something really well? What was it? I get a lot of compliments on my leather masks. - Do you like garage sales (boot sales)? They are fun but I don’t tend to have a lot of cash on me. - I like to slather my food in …: Salt. And honey after you butter bread. - State fairs or carnivals? Renaissance Faires! - Do you like to splash in puddles after it rains? Did the thought make you smile? Yup to both! Notes (Here's where you can add additional information you'd like your Switch Witch to know!): I’m a pretty laid back person. I love crafty, thoughtful, and homemade things. I’m a huge geek and play tabletop DnD (though currently we’re playing Eclipse Phase) and read fantasy webcomics (Girlgenius and weregeek ftw!) as well as larping. I love being outdoors and Fall is my favorite season (and why I LOVE living in New England). I finally started growing a garden though right now I really only have herbs since living in a forest means not a lot of sunlight. I would love to get some flowers that can tolerate shade in next year (I have some columbine seeds saved but that’s about it!) as well as some blueberry bushes and rhubarb. My other guilty pleasure is that within the last year my fiancé and I have really begun learning about different wines and beers and what we like. Oh, and I’m getting married next summer after being with my S.O. for 11 years which is pretty darn exciting. While we would have preferred a fall wedding, the work schedule of a middle school teacher and theater tech for a university doesn’t really allow that. So between work, leathercrafting, running a larp, and planning a wedding- life is busy!

Continuation of my note analysis. When I first got into Bpal, I looked for scents with leather, lilac, and lavender before anything else as I hadn't ever really been into perfumes (only scented candles) and those were the only scents that I knew I liked for sure. Plus it was spring and none of my favorite types of scents (Fall) were readily available or easy to find in GC (Jack was the only one I saw that screamed Autumn to me) and spring has always been lilac season in my mind. I knew lilac was going to be a tricky one for me, because I actually get headaches from artificial lilac scents. I love fresh lilac because growing up, we had three bushes of them on the side of our yard. I loved it when they blossomed in the early spring and I could smell their heady scent. Artificial lilac always seemed too sharp however and I was a bit skeptical that the lab's lilac note might not also be too sharp. The quality of the lab's lilac note seems to be fairly consistent as a fresh high floral but is very influenced by the notes paired with it. Leather seems to calm down the sharpness, whereas other florals often overwhelm the sweetness, only leaving it's high pitch. Granted I AM biased against those combinations with it seeing as how I don't like most florals... Dragon's Eye was the first lilac blend that actually got my attention- but Dragon's Blood is a dangerous note for me and it still wasn't perfect. Shortly thereafter I tried Bensiabel and it has since filled my need for lilac. I stumble upon more failures then success with lilac since I'm naturally drawn towards the darker scents but I wouldn't mind finding one more light spring/summer scent with lilac as a prominent note. My favorite blends with lilac in them thus far: Bensiabel Blends that I liked but the lilac wasn't prominent: Crowley Blends that were horrible on me: Ouija, Lysander, Nocturne, Pontarlier, Violet Ray, Marcilla Blends that I would like to try: Because lilac is so often placed in heavy floral blends I have to be wary of it. Eros, Himerus, Jingu, Sailor Den, Fox fires, Needlework, and Admiration are all scents that I would like to try at some point. *- Signifies ones I tried. Lab's lilac blends: (GC)Bensiabel*, Blood Countess, Cordelia*, Dragon's Eye*, Eros, Himerus, L'examen de Minuit, Les Fleurs du Mal, Lysander*, Nocturne*, Ouija*, Pontarlier*, Veil*, Villan, Viola, Violet Ray*, White Chapel (LE) Ashlultum, Bad Luck Woman Blues, Bruja, Cancer, Crowley*, Famine, Fox Fires on New Years Eve (III), His Station and Four Aces, Jingu, L'Heure Verte, Maltese Cross of Sanctus Germanus*, Marcilla*, Melancholia (II), Needlework, Nightthoughts, Penis Admiration, Purple Phoenix, Rose Moon, Sailor's Den (II), Silenti, Spectre, Spirit of the Komachi Cherry Tree (III)*, Victoriana.Goth, Virahotkantita, White Moon

It seems to me that categorizing a note as one you love simply isn't enough. Beth and the lab are masters of their art and quite often the qualities of a note within a range of scents can differ greatly. So I plan on breaking down each note that I love and figuring out where it works, and where it doesn't, as well as blends I still want to try. Leather- my love of the scent of leather started when I began working with horses. The scent of leather, hay, and horse was one of my favorites when I was riding in high school. Leather took on a new meaning when I picked up a new hobby a few years ago after college- leathercrafting. A freshly unrolled hide of veggie tan leather has a simply wonderful scent, but it's an elusive one that doesn't last long and is hard to match in perfume. The Lab's leather notes: Seem to be split into at least two qualities. One is more of a 'leather jacket' soft suede feel. The other is supposedly more raw though I haven't found that one yet. Of the various leather notes, I tried most of the commonly recommended ones that weren't super hard to get hold of. I have yet to find that elusive veggie-tan quality in any of them- in fact it took me comparing Crowley and Black Rider to finally realize that one of the prominent notes WAS the leather since it seemed much more soft and cologne-y then what I was expecting. My favorite blends with leather in them thus far: Bensiabel, Bow & Crown, CC: Female, Crowley. Black Rider is nice but I feel it's a simplified version of Crowley. Blends that I liked but the leather wasn't prominent: Marquis de Carabas, Western D, VILF Blends that were horrible on me: Black Tower, Highwayman, Tintagel, U. Blends that I still REALLY want to try: De Sade, Dead Man's Hand, Dee, Hand of Glory, Liz, The Red Rider. *- Signifies ones I tried. Lab's leather blends: (GC) Antony*, Bensiabel*, The Black Rider*, Black Tower*, Bow & Crown of Conquest*, Calico Jack, Casanova*, Dee, Dragon's Hide*, Havana, Hellfire, High Priest Not To Be Described, Highwayman*, Iago, Jolly Roger*, Kubla Khan*, Les Infortunes de la Vertu, Manhattan, Mary Read, Perversion, The Red Rider, The Robotic Scarab, Tezcatlipoca, Tintagel*, Wanda*, Whip, The White Rider* (LE) A Bachelor's Dog, The Blockhead, The Bloody Sword, The Blood Garden, Boadicea, Brom Bones; The Buggre Alle This Bible,De Sade, Dead Man's Hand, Det. Patrick Gleason, C. Auguste Dupin, Count Dracula, CC: Female*, CC:Male*, Crowley*, Doc Constantine*, Eau De Ghoul, Enkhespalos*, Erik, Geek, Hand of Glory, The Head of Holofernes, Hearth 2004, Herr Drosselmeyer 2005/06, His Station and Four Aces, Hua Mulan, I Married a Vampire from Planet X, Krampus 2006/07, King of Clubs, Kroenen, Le Père Fouettard, Les Anges Dechus (II), Liz, Lord Ruthven, Loviatar, Macbeth and the Witches (III), The Marquis de Carabas*, Monsieur Petitbled's Frivolous Wheeled Footwear, Mutant Hot-Rodders from Hell High, The Nameless City Drive-In Theatre, Nanny Ashtoreth, Olisbos, Pirate Moon, Poe, Prosperity of a Country, Pumpkin II (2008), Quincey Morris, The Rat Speakers*, Rivet Goth, Sacrifice, The Sailor's Den (II), Sara Pezzini, Severin, The Shattered Pumpkin, Shrunken Heads, Sitting up with a Sick Friend, Spanked, Story Time at Dark Delicacies, Torture King, The Traveller*, Trick #1, Two Monsters (I), Ü*, Vilf*, Violens, Volt, Western Diamondback*, 413 U.S. 15 / Miller Vs California

Rose and I also don't particularly get along so I understand your worry. Fortunately the florals in Selkie are soft.

If you can get your hands on it- Selkie was a lovely aquatic (slightly melony). A number of the GC Picnic in Arkham scents are also interesting aquatic mixes. In particular I remember thinking Y'ha-nthlei as very wearable aquatic...

I just received #563. I had a really hard time identifying the notes in this one. The in-bottle scent highlights the non-vanilla note, which I simply can't place. It's not one of my normal favorites, because I'm pretty good at picking those out. It has a lovely creamy, sweet freshness to it. It reminds me of a cross between a slightly spicy light melon and a light floral or resin (if it is floral it's one that's sweet without being very flowery). Wet, a creamy vanilla begins to emerge and blends seamlessly with the fresh sweetness. After about an hour I'm mostly left with vanilla with just the hint of that bright freshness, and another hour after that merely the memory of vanilla (but very few scents last long on me). Because of it's lightness and freshness I would say this is a spring/summer scent. I really like the feel of it though not knowing the note is driving me crazy (maybe it's lotus and/or amber?). It's definitely different then my normal go-to's and I'm strongly debating with myself over whether I want to keep it or not as it really is a lovely summer scent...

Poking through to see if I can figure out any good rec's for folks... @Shalottian- Black Opal may be a good fit. It is a lovely sweet, shimmering scent that is feminine without being floral and has a depth that seems to match. Sed non satia may also be an interesting fit for you. It combines light florals with a darker myrrh/musk base which to me mixed sultry with innocence. @fabgab- You should try the Lion if you haven't (especially if you like resin!). It's a strong, confident scent imo and may help turn that daydreaming into reality. Crossroads may not be a bad fit either, theme wise at least. @Raisin- Have you tried Mr. Ibis yet? It has a lovely dry parchment note to it...very fitting for a librarian if a bit serious. @Myrrha- Haunted seems a good hit for the descriptors listed and is a lovely scent in it's own right. @ Brilliantcat- My immediate thought was Bastet. Not sure if my thoughts are spot on or not, but the fun is in trying!

In bottle: Honey and coconuty suntan lotion. Wet: This has a lot of dry, almost bitter base notes. I’m getting a lot of the bark, nettle, shell, and tonka with just a trace of licorice. Yet the amber and sandalwood have just enough presence to warm it up. Dry: Stays fairly true to the wet scent but it calms down and deepens. Notes: I’m still trying to figure out if I like this one or not. It’s a fantastic complex smell, and very different from what I normally like. Highly recommended if you enjoy the drier stuff.

Fortunately I get no plum from this (plum for me=bad). It starts out as a strong sweet root beer/sassafras scent and as it warms up becomes drier and more spicey as the clove emerges. The brown sugar is definitely still there but somehow it doesn’t smell as foodie. Unfortunately I’m not sure how good it’s lasting power will be (I only applied lightly though). I may have to compare this to Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener and Organ Grinder to see which I like better, but it's a lovely scent!