Alethia

Hi Witch Dear! What are the three BPALs you would most like to receive - one GC, one not-hard to find LE, and one HTF LE from your dreams? GC: Alice (I don't know why I still don't have a bottle of this!) LE: Variety of Pleasing Amusements HTF LE: Antique Lace If you knit/crochet, what sizes of needles do you need? I'm still so new to crochet that all sizes are needed! If you cook, would you be interested in-hand made spice mixes/rubs? Yes please! If you send me something of this nature though, would it be too much trouble to label the ingredients? There are a lot of food allergies in my house and labels make everything easier. Would you like mexican vanilla or silver rings/necklaces? Yes please!!! I would adore some Mexican vanilla, and I love silver jewelry. I've been looking for a simple silver band for ages now. The Conjure Oils update (http://conjureoils.com/emporium.htm) looks absolutely fabulous...I didn't know she made soaps and candles and whanot. Is there anything from the Oddment Emporium you would like? Midnight and Voluptuary look awesome, and I'd prefer them in the perfume oil. What is your favorite color? Soft butter yellow. It's just so cheery! What is your favorite season? Probably autumn. I just feel right when the leaves are falling and the days are getting shorter and colder. If you could live anywhere in the world and money was no object, where would it be? I've recently realized that I'm not a big city girl (living in Minneapolis for a year just about drove me crazy), and it would have to be near a beach. Either on Kauai or in a small beach town on the East Coast.

Hi Witch Dear! Do you have any symbols or totems that are meaningful to you? I love the infinity symbol (it looks like a sideways figure 8), and elephants and bees are very meaningful to me. When you are having a really rough day, what do you like to do/have to make it a little brighter? I'll walk the dogs, or just sit and read. If it's a really really bad day, crying always helps release the frustration/stress. Would you like if your witch sent a regional pop/soda? If so, what type (Root beer, creme soda, cola, citrus-flavored, chocolate-flavored, etc...)? No soda for me, thank you! Ninjas or Pirates? Pirates Werewolves or vampires? Vampires Zombie or Cthulhu? Cthulu Do you want to receive one big package or a bunch of small ones? Digital stuff all at the end when the box should arrive or as we go? Whatever works best for you, Witch Dear! Do you welcome knitted items? If so, what would you like most? (amigurumi, washcloth, socks, shawl, shawlette, scarf, wrist warmers, hat, etc.) Do you have any favorite fibers? How about any fiber allergies? Favorite color for knitted items? Scarves and wash clothes/towels are awesome amigurumi would also be awesome!

Is there a Quote that resonates with you, or that you particularly like a lot. Would this be something you would like artwork made of for your walls or a shirt/bag/scarf? I love the Beatles lyric "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." and "The virtue of courage is a prerequisite for the practice of all other virtues; otherwise one is virtuous only when virtue has no cost" by CS Lewis. I would love to have a bag or piece of art with either quote! Also, STARBUCKS, Yay or Nay? Anything you particularly like? No, thank you. I'm not a coffee drinker and I've cut sugar out of my diet entirely so Starbucks is out of the question. Is there someone on the forums (within SW or not) who knows you really well and might be able to help with stalking? Yes! Stella Luna is my mother and she would be delighted to help you! If you happen to find out who yours is, how much would it bother you? Not at all! I love to find out who my Witches are so that I can properly thank you. I hope you reveal, Witch Dear, but if you don't I completely understand Do you use waxmelts or tarts? If so, which ones do you prefer? Neither, thank you. Do you enjoy drinking hot chocolate, and would you like stuff to make it with, or to add to it? I looove hot chocolate, but it's definitely not in my diet plan Have you ever tried Spoonfudge? Would you enjoy it if your Witch would send you some? Which of the flavors would you like? I'm not even going to look this up because anything with fudge in the name is definitely not weight-loss friendly What's your opinion on Moonalisa? Any favorites or products you'd like to try? No, thank you Are there any BPALs that you loved the idea of, the imagery - whether artwork or description - but which didn't work out for you? (I'm asking because if they did, you might mention them elsewhere, but if not, the imagery might be helpful) Most of the Lunacies I love the moon, and I love the idea of full moon perfumes, but something in the lunar oil base just goes totally awful with my skin chemistry. To date, the only Lunacy that has worked for me was this year's Honey Moon.

Hi Witch Dear! Put your mp3 player/online music/itunes/etc on random and list the next 10 songs here: 1. Fuck You - Cee Lo Green 2. Blood - In This Moment 3. Sleeping Beauty: The Sapphire Fairy - Tchaikovsky 4. More Adventurous - Rilo Kiley 5. No Good Deed - Idina Menzel (Wicked) 6. Any Way You Want It - Journey 7. Brand New Start - Little Joy 8. Warsaw - Dessa 9. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for Organ - Bach 10. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies Is there a literary character you identify with? Even if it's not spot-on, just someone you found yourself having that "I identify with this" feeling? Hermione from Harry Potter I love her. What are the three books you most want to read right now, and which you don't already have? Fables Vol 16: Super Team, The Fault in Our Stars, Night Circus Would you like something from Empire Edibles? (http://www.etsy.com/...s?ref=top_trail) No sweets for me, thank you Is there anything small you try to collect from everywhere you visit? Not really. Witchee, I know that SW isn't about what you get... but could you name one thing you would be heartbroken not to get and one thing you would be a-ok if it didn't make it in your box? (i.e. do you REALLY want perfume oil of some sort, or would you be totally heartbroken if there was no Lush in your box, etc Really and honestly? A note from you, Witch Dear. For me, SW is about making connections with people Do you have any problems with swearing or particularly off-color humor? Nope. What would you like from the most recent BPAL update? What are you planning on buying for yourself and what would you like to try? My lovely mother gifted me a bottle of the sweet pea single note, and nothing else from the update caught my eye. Opinions on table top games, from cards and board games, to dice and rpgs. What do you like? My brother and I have been saying that we're going to start playing Dungeons and Dragons for years now, so maybe a beginner's guide or where to start with D&D? Or similar beginners stuff from your favorite rpg! What style is your sense of humour? Pretty dry, I think. I love bad puns too. Is there anything from Australia you would like? Regional spices/flavoring blends/sauces? All the things except for sweet things Gift cards/vouchers - yay or nay? If you like them - which stores would you like one for? I love gift cards! Amazon, iTunes, the Trading Post, Barnes and Noble, Target, Ulta, and Sephora are all places I frequent. How big is too big...for something to hang on your walls? If I'm painting you a pretty picture, are there maximum dimensions that you have/prefer? Paint away sweet witch, paint away. I have a surplus of wall space, so feel free to go bananas. What is your favourite object, that you own, ignoring sentimental reasons for attachment? So I guess something you find beautiful, or fun, or incredibly useful. My bed! When I moved to Minnesota last year, I bought my first adult bed with my own money and it is big and comfortable and FABULOUS. Bags: Meh. I need a new purse, but I'm so incredibly picky when it comes to purses that I have to get them myself. And as for shopping bags, I reuse the plastic ones from stores so I have no use for fancy shopping bags. Comfort food: My mother's homemade mac and cheese. It's to die for. Would you like anything from an European country? Any particular food or goodies, magazines, books, whatever would be available to your witch in his/her country? Whatever local delicacies you have (except for sweet things) or your favorites are great! And I love seeing magazines from other countries. What fandoms do you belong to? Hannibal, Sherlock, Dr. Who, Harry Potter. What cheers you up? My mother's poodles, the 21 Jump Street movie, lolcats. Who or where would you most want to haunt? Who would you least want to be haunted by? The idea of ghosts really freaks me out, because I can't imagine anything more awful than being dead but stuck here and unable to move onto whatever is next after this life. What question do you hate to answer? When are you going to find a man and get married? What is the best compliment you have/could receive? That I'm classy/a lady/have nice manners. What colors/style is your kitchen decor? And do you entertain in your home? No entertaining, but we do have get-togethers. It's my mother's kitchen, so please no kitchen stuff Witch Dear. It'll just have to go into storage until I can get my own place. Are your ears pierced? Yes, one hole in each ear. Do you like stuffies/stuffed animals/art doll type thingies? If so, any particular type you'd love to get? I do love stuffed animals and have saved a few special childhood ones, but I'm pretty anti-clutter and stuffed animals definitely fall into that category. Are there wee little ones in your home that will get jealous and are just too young to understand why you won't share the love, who maybe need a touch of Witchee love all their own, to distract them while you hide all your lovelies?!? Nope, no kiddies around here. Do you like tarot cards, pendulums and rune stones etc? If so, what type? I've been toying with the idea of getting into tarot for almost a year now, but I have no idea where to start. So a book (and/or a deck) on how to do tarot would be lovely!

Do you read literature/culture blogs or websites of any kind? I'm thinking about anything that would help a putative witch to get a sense of what your current tastes in books, movies, games, genres, approaches to culture and literature and so forth are. Not so much anymore. This spring I started to feel uncomfortable with how much time I spent on the internet (and also how ranty/ragey much of what I read made me), so I've drastically cut down on the number of blogs I read. How do you feel about traditional picnics (namely the intimate table for two variety)? Old-fashioned basket or something more utilitarian (cooler/insulated bag)? Not great, lol. The closest I come to picnicking is eating on patios! If you were put in a room with 100 random other people the same age and sex as you, from your country, in what way do you think you would be different from the average? I think what would set me apart the most is my resiliency. My entire sixteenth year was spent in a wheelchair, housebound, and incredible pain while I taught myself all my school courses. I was so sick that my mother had to take care of me like I was an infant again: she fed me, bathed me, and was with me nearly every hour of the day. I was finally diagnosed with a very rare autoimmune disease when I was 17 and was eventually able to lead a normal life, but I still struggle with pain each day. I managed to graduate on time with a 4.0 GPA and went to college. Then in my junior year of college, I suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that left me without a large chunk of my memory (I was unable to recognize my family members). I had to leave school and had to relearn everything: how to read, how to tie my shoes, how to drive, everything. I recovered fully thankfully. This got waaaay too long, but I know that these experiences have made me much more resilient than I would have been. There is nothing that life can throw at me that will knock me down for long, and this is something that I don't see very often in my peers. Haus of Gloi did a Reverie update! Do any of them interest you? (Or anything else up currently?) Not House of Gloi, but I'm falling in love with Conjure Oils. Witchee, do you cook? Do you do all the cooking? Is it a chore or a pleasure? I do cook, but my mother (who I live with for now) is such a master cook and a slight control freak about her kitchen that she hustles me out of the kitchen if I try. I find cooking for just myself to be a chore (when I lived alone I would wind up eating the same three meals), but I adore cooking for other people. Which reading level do you prefer to read in YA or Adult? Or even both? I'm not sure what this is asking? I read pretty much anything, but I've been finding lately that most YA makes my eyes roll.

Hello Witch Dear! Here's my latest round of ketchup! If you could have one rare bpal which one would you choose? Definitely Antique Lace. My mother recently swapped for a bottle of it, and it's just amazing. Do you enjoy scented candles? Certain sizes that you like? What kind of scents or brands? I looooove scented candles! However, my sister works at Bath and Body Works and between her, my mother, and myself we've stockpiled an embarrassing amount of candles, so I'm good on that front. Do you like Sockdreams? If so, what styles would you prefer? (You can also link your wishlist.) I've never really looked at the Sockdreams site, but I do love me a cute pair of knee highs! Do you need hair accessories? If so, what kind or color? My hair is too thick for most hair accessories, but I can always use fabric covered ponytail holders (the kind without the metal piece). What is your favorite shade of blue? Cobalt! Do you have any kitchen gadgets (a SodaStream, a Kuerig/Tassimo) that you want mix things for? Nope! If you were to start learning something new (intellectual or craft or hobby), what would it be? I'd like to learn how to cross-stitch, and relearning Spanish is on my list of things to do this summer. What about candy? Do you have a sweet tooth? My sweet tooth is legendary, but I'm losing weight as per my doctor's orders (eleven pounds down!!!) so please don't send me any candy Witch Dear. Do you have an e-reader? What kind? Would you like to get ebooks? I love my Nook and I absolutely love getting ebooks! If your witch is an extremely crafty sort, and she were to send all kinds of homemade foody goodies and handmade crafty stuff - what are items you would NOT LOVE to receive. Please dont hedge on this one...some of us are serious crafters and will be making most of what we send! Hmm. I'm definitely not the crafty sort, so I'm not even sure what kinds of things this question is referring to? Food items are probably ok, as long as they're not candy/sweet things/jams. And as for other crafty things, I prefer things that have a functional use that are cute rather than just knick knacks (I'm pretty militantly anti-clutter). If you need more help with this question Witch Dear, shoot me an email! Witchee dear, do you like video games? Are there any you want to play? Do you have a large library? I am definitely not a gamer. In high school, I tried to play both the Lord of the Rings: Two Towers and Kingdom Hearts video games, and it would always end in frustration because I'm just no good at video games. Do you have something you do, without fail, as a personal daily habit/ritual? (Examples: pen-and-paper journal keeping, tea/coffee drinking, morning yoga, nightly bedtime reading. I'm kind of thinking on things that would be dear to you and might need small supplies or could use certain extras. ) I've recently gotten into the habit of journaling each night before bed and so I could use some pretty pens! I also walk my mother's dogs each morning and evening. Do you wear nailpolish? What colors do you tend to go for? What are your favorite brands? Are you open to trying indie brands? ALL THE NAIL POLISH!!! I love nail polish! My collection is mostly made up of pinks, reds, and purples, but I do have a few blues mixed in. I love OPI, Essie, and China Glaze. My Amazon wish list is mostly nail polish, lol. And I'm definitely open to indie brands (I've been drooling over Cirque's Cypress, Book of Shadows, Never Nude, Fascination Street, and Cape Liz). Name three BPAL scents you have tried, but are dying to get more of. I've been waffling on whether or not to get a second bottle of The Lights of Men's Lives to age, and I need to upgrade my imps of Aeval and The Dormouse to full bottles. Do you still write real letters on nice stationary to people you like/love? I do, and I would love some nice stationary! Have you ever tried anything from Paintbox Soapworks? Which products or scents would you prefer? For scents, I love Miss Ada, Sweet Cheeks, Lavender and Honeysuckle, The Queen is Dead, Lady Linden, and Orange Crush. I love her solid perfumes, regular soaps, hot process soaps, and sugar scrubs. I'm also very interested in her Bookkeeper's Butter. My Paintbox stash is completely decimated, and so any of these scents/products would be welcome, Witch Dear! Do you like/have space to garden? If so, what do you grow? Yes to both! I kinda missed the spring planting season, but I have big plans for fall planting and next spring. I'd like to start growing rosebushes again, maybe some peonies and daffodils, and a veggie and herb garden! However, I'm a complete noob at gardening, so gardening books/tips/websites would be most appreciated! Do you like sample sized things? Think lipgloss, mascara, bodylotion, scrubs, mini candles, and so forth. Not particularly. They get lost and then multiply in my makeup drawer. Have you tried Fortune Cookie Soap? What products or scents would you like? I've never heard of them, but their Whipped Cream body butter in Mother Pucker, Plain Jane, and A Nod to the Hippies, their Shower Steamers in Sensual and Serenity, and their fortune cookie soaps in Lemon Zing, Cabaret, Coarse Ground Pear, and A Nod to the Hippies sound fabulous. Do you use solid soaps at all? If so, what kind do or don't you like? I use exclusively solid soaps. I love Paintbox Soapworks to put by the sink, and I use Dove in the shower.

Hello Witch Dear! This is the beginning of the ketchup for the summer round! I'll be putting all the daily questions here so that I don't clutter up the thread with my ramblings And as always, if you need more specific answers or more information, please feel free to email me! Monday June 17 Dr Who? I Dr. Who! I'm only halfway through the season with the ninth doctor, so I'm a total noob but I love it so much already! How much do you like lipbalm? Flavored or unflavored? What are your favorite brands and flavors? Yes to lip balm! I prefer flavored (any flavor except for berries) to unflavored, but I live in the desert so any type of lip balm is greatly appreciated. If you could double check the ingredients list for nut products (since my mother is deathly allergic to nuts, I won't keep things with nut products in the house just to be safe), I would appreciate it! Do you like and wear lipgloss? If yes, what colours? I'm much more of a lipstick girl. My hair is so long and it's so windy here that if I wear lipgloss, my hair gets stuck to my lips and then I wind up with lipgloss trails everywhere For those of you whose wishlists contain only BPALs, are there any other perfume companies you like or would like to try out? I've recently discovered Conjure Oils and am smitten with them! I've only tried Marie LaVeau, Radio Bastet, and a handful of their single notes. Once I can set aside the money, I'll be getting a bottle of the Madagascan Vanilla single note for sure. I'm open to trying anything from them or Nocturne Alchemy and if you have a favorite non-BPAL company, I'd love to hear your favorites! Your feelings on Adagio teas: If you've never had anything from them, would you be open to trying them? If you HAVE had them and like them, name some favorites blends. And if you had them and dislike them, can you name a few *other* tea companies you're into? I'm not a big tea drinker, honestly. I love Twining's Irish Breakfast, but I also love to douse it in cream and sugar or lemon and sugar, neither of which is compatible with trying to lose weight So tea is probably wasted on me, unfortunately. What about coffee? Would you like to get coffee send to you? Whole bean or ground? What are some varieties and/or flavors you enjoy? I cannot stand the taste of coffee, so no thank you. Who is your favourite female of all time? Historical, literary, ANYTHING, and why? Honestly? My mom (Stella Luna)! She's such an amazing woman who's had to overcome an inhuman amount of obstacles, and she is my hero and role model. She accepts and loves people for exactly who they are, faults and all; she's patient and kind and giving; she's supportive no matter what. I'm proud to call her my mother, and even prouder to call her my friend. And now I'm tearing up, so I'll just live it at that. If you were a Disney princess you would be? Belle! I love to read, and I love big burly men Would you like a seashell from Florida? Yes! I have an insane love for the beach and collect seashells. What craft project do you currently have on your docket or that you want to start? And that craft goodies would be welcome? I learned to crochet this winter, and I'm working on blankets for family members and a few for the local homeless shelter. All crochet goodies (hooks, yarn, patterns, etc) are welcome!

Thoughts before testing: Thank goodness for my mother (who is more addicted to BPAL than I am) and her nearly opposite scent tastes to mine. I never would have picked out this to try, but she waved it in front of my face and insisted I try it. I adore Snake Oil, but was hesitant to try this. Wet: Hay and salt and just a hint of Snake Oil. This smells surprisingly awesome. I got a fleeting hint of the tortilla chips mentioned above, but it went fast. Dry down: This morphed into something sweet and salty and incredible. It smells exactly like the sea and boats and the sunshine and it's so evocative for me that it's almost painful to smell. Beautiful. I can't even pick out what I'm smelling, just that it's great. Dry: After several hours, it's not as sweet, but still amazing. I'm maybe getting more of the cedar and Snake Oil and it's lovely. I didn't expect to like this one, but I do. Final thoughts: This is a weird one, but I love it. It lasted an insanely long time and through several hand washings. When I smell it, I couldn't identify the notes listed if you paid me, but it's just fabulous. Verdict: Definite bottle purchase.

This is for the 2013 version. Thoughts before testing: I'm 0 for 10 as far as Lunacies are concerned. I've yet to find one that worked on me, but I just had to try Honey Moon because it's one of my forever-win notes. Not even the dreaded jasmine was enough to deter me! Wet: I swooned when I sniffed my arm. It's a sweet luscious honey with hints of ginger and gardenia. Lovely! Dry down: Everything smooths out and I can't pick out any note beyond a well-blended floral honey. It's thick and sticky and beautiful. Dry: As it dries the florals back off just slightly and the honey really shines. This is fabulous Final thoughts: My first Lunacy! I am in love with Honey Moon. It's a beautiful honey and the florals aren't overwhelming. It also lasted quite a long time: it was around the 6 hour mark that I thought about reapplying. I'm so happy to have a Lunacy that works! Verdict:

Thoughts before testing: I wanted to love the honey musk in Lady Una, but it went sour on me. I'm afraid of the musk here doing the same thing, but it just sounded too good not to try! Wet: A beautiful soft floral honey. I get no rice milk at this point, but it's beautiful and feminine. Dry down: I can smell the gardenia more distinctly now, and it's tempering the honey from being too sweet. Slightly milky/creamy, but it's very understated. Just lovely. Dry: Slightly creamy/musky floral honey is what it settles down as. Feminine and lovely. Final thoughts: This is just lovely. It sticks close to my skin and has surprising longevity (it started to fade around hour 6). This makes me feel feminine and beautiful and I love it. Verdict:

Thoughts before testing: This was an immediate bottle purchase for me. I love lemon, sugar, and lavender; I wanted to love Lemon Scented Sticky Bat, but it was too simplistic for me to completely enjoy. I'm hoping that Happy Baby will have the same lemon sugar as LSSB but with an extra kick from the lavender buds. Wet: Delicious lemony sugar with just the barest hint of lavender. Divine! Dry down: The lavender gets just a little more prominent, and the combination of the sweet lemon and soft lavender is just to die for. Dry: Sweet lemon and soft lavender all the way through. Final thoughts: It fades fairly fast (by hour three, I needed to reapply) but that beautiful sweet lemon and lavender is too fabulous for me to mind reapplying. This was exactly what I was hoping for, and Happy Baby is definitely a keeper! Verdict: Keeping!

Thoughts before testing: I have such high hopes for this one! All the notes listed are in my favorites list, so I'm expecting good things Wet: Whoo. This is some STRONG classic-smelling perfume. It kinda smells like the amalgamation of perfumes at Nordstrom's when you walk through their perfume counter. It's not bad, but not what I was expecting. Dry down: As it dries, the champaca and sandalwood elbow the other notes out of the race. It's much heavier and the throw is much stronger than I had expected. It's nice, but not very me at this point. Dry: Once it dries all the way, it smells a lot like my favorite aunt's perfume, actually. It's strong and in your face with a throw that's too much for me. I think this might need some aging, but at this point I'm not very hopeful that I'll like it on the next test. Verdict: To be determined at next testing!

Thoughts before testing: I really like Antikythera Mechanism, but I amp the tobacco note almost unbearably. Arana's note list reminded me a lot of AM without the tobacco, so it was a must-try immediately. Wet: Very similar to AM but without the tobacco. And just like that blend, it's nearly all sharp biting woods and slightly unpleasant for me at this point. Dry down: Well heeeeellllllo there vanilla! The woods are grounding it and this might be one of the best vanillas I've smelled recently. It's smooth and creamy without being foody or sweet and is just lovely. Dry: Mmm, loving this vanilla. The woods are still just hanging out in the background to support that lovely vanilla and it's beautiful. Final thoughts: I'm so glad to have this! Araña works much better than AM on my skin, and it lasts for hours (as I type this, it's been going strong for nearly 6 hours). Verdict: Keeping the bottle!

This was a last minute addition to my recent Trading Post order due in no small part to some serious enabling in the BPTP forum! Boy am I glad I caved, because this is a fabulous product. First off, the formula for the gloss is perfection. It tames my frizzies, gives my hair loads of shine, and is just all around a fantastic hair product. But the smell is easily the best part of this. I get equal parts frankincense, ginger, and amber, and it makes for one sexy-smelling head of hair. It's not overpowering, but it is definitely noticeable: I had three different people (two of them men!) follow me to ask what perfume I was wearing. If you're hesitating on grabbing this, put it in your cart right now because it's just that good.

I'm definitely going to agree with whoever said upthread that this smells expensive. I mostly smell beautifully lush vanilla with a fabulous champaca. I've been spritzing this stuff like mad, and will have to get another bottle before they go down.

This is fabulous! I like my living room and hallways to smell fresh and clean, and Okiya fits the bill perfectly! It's all crisp and slightly sweet cherry blossoms with just-slightly bitter sake and tea. Love!

Oof. I love this so much. I recently scored a bottle off of the Post's Etsy page, and I should have bought up every bottle that was up This smells like a creamier Lights of Men's Lives, which is one of my favorite BPALs. It's all creamy sexy beeswax and honey and is most definitely a boudoir scent. So much love

Thoughts before testing: Aeval has been on my wish list forever, so I was thrilled to see it as a frimp in a recent Post order! I love sweet pea and am hoping that this works! Wet: Sweet, beautiful, soft sweet pea and just a hint of a beautiful musk. This is lovely. Dry down: This is definitely the prettiest smelling sweet pea I've ever come across. The musk stays nicely in the background, centering it and making it more sophisticated and preventing it from smelling too sweet. I can't really detect any tonka or sage, but I'm definitely not complaining. Dry: Four hours later, the sweet pea has faded just slightly and the musk is more prominent. This is so pretty! Final thoughts: This is a beautiful perfume. It feels sweetly old-fashioned without being an "old lady" perfume (I hate that term by the way. Most of the elderly women I know smell fabulous). It's a lovely soft floral musk that lasts an insanely long time (six hours and counting now) and I'm in love with this. Verdict: Upgrading to a big bottle

Thoughts before testing: I wasn't sure what to expect with this since most reviews say it's strong and dark and heady, but then more recent reviews say it's floral. It doesn't really matter though, since I'm testing everything that comes my way to broaden my BPAL horizons. Wet: Mother of god, it's ALL FLOWERS. Sharp and floral with just a hint of green. I don't think I've ever smelled a perfume so unapologetically floral before. Dry down: It turns very sharp as it dries, but never turns soapy. I think there's jasmine in here but surprisingly it doesn't turn to dirty diaper on my skin. It actually smells quite lovely if I ignore the sharpness. Maybe tuberose also? Dry: After about two hours, the sharpness is gone and it's a lovely strong floral. Final thoughts: This is definitely not for the faint of heart. I'm lover of floral perfumes, but there was a point where I considered washing this off because it's STRONG and was pretty uncomfortably sharp. But there are situations that call for a big, bold floral perfume, and this is a lovely one. I also love that it never goes turns into floral soap. It's just so feminine and what I would imagine Scarlett O'Hara smelling like. This wound up being a surprise hit for me. Verdict: Keeping the imp, probably a bottle upgrade.

Thoughts before testing: I read the description of this when the update went live and immediately put one in my cart. This sounds like it was made for me! Wet: This is fabulous. It's heady and creamy and expensive and feminine and sexy. I'm having a hard time picking out individual notes, and I can't even get over how great this smells. Dry down: This is mostly creamy, fleshy, rich magnolia and rose, but they're being supported by this fabulously decadent and amazing musky goodness. So. GOOD. Dry: High class, gorgeous, complex musky floral that lasts well over 10 hours after application. Final thoughts: This was so much better than I was even hoping! This is definitely one of the best BPALs I've smelled in the last year, and has rocketed into my favorites box. Seriously, if you're wavering about this one, go for it. It's truly amazing. Verdict: Hoarding

Thoughts before testing: Everything here looks beautiful, except for the plum. I've yet to find a blend with plum that didn't turn to immediate vomit on my skin, so my hopes are not high for this one. Wet: Smoky floral, no hint of plum, just a touch of opium. I'm thrilled at the lack of plum here, and the opium mixing with the florals is absolutely stunning. Dry down: A lot of opium, but the plum is surprisingly being held in check. The gorgeous smoky floral is gone, and this is pretty much a single note opium at this point. Dry: After three hours, this is still just an uncomplicated (but lovely!) opium. At about 6 hours, the orchid starts to peek out just a tad and hints at beautiful things. Final thoughts: I'm thrilled that the plum remains silent, but I wish that it was more than just all opium, all the time. I have a hunch that a few months of aging will do marvelous things for this one. Verdict: Keeping for now, and will update this review in 6 months. Skin test on September 19, 2013 Wet: Smoky opium and fabulous orchid. This smells like beautiful old-style classic perfume. Very expensive and fancy smelling. Dry down: Hello orchid! Holy bananas this is great. When this was fresh, there was just a hint of this beautiful floral. It's a smoked out orchid, like sitting in a jungle filled with orchids and smoking a really nice cigarette. The opium is still hanging around and is beautiful. This definitely feels like Serious Perfume, but it's classy and beautiful. Dry: Smoked out beautiful orchid with just a hint of tobacco. The opium is slightly more prominent here and lends a really languid sexy vibe to the whole perfume. Seriously this is amazing. Final thoughts: I am so freaking glad I held onto this bottle. I was really disappointed after the first test in March when all I got was the opium but now it's phenomenal. The plum is still silent thank goodness and the orchid is just to die for. This also lasted for hours on my skin. Overall, this is a classy, sexy perfume that is to die for. Verdict: Hoarding

Thoughts before testing: Patchouli has been hit or miss on me lately, and I'm afraid that the blood musk will have too much red musk in it and ruin OLOP for me. But after the glowing reviews here and around the forum, I had to take a chance on this! Wet: Smooth patchouli and strong floral (but not sharp) lavender. This is awesome wet, as the patch is the kind that agrees with my skin chemistry and I detect no musk at this point. Dry down: After about 15 minutes, the lavender is strong and beautiful and the patchouli is taking a backseat. I can smell the orchid just around the edges and it's beautiful. Dry: OLOP dries down to a beautiful musky orchid with just a hint of patchouli and stays this way for hours. Final thoughts: This is such a sophisticated blend and it is gorgeous. Everything in this blend is just beautiful, it lasts for hours, and I am absolutely in love with Our Lady of Pain. Verdict: Backup bottle worthy! ETA wear time!

Thoughts before testing: Snake Oil is one of my favorite perfumes ever, so this was a no brainer for me. I'm excited to see what this does on my skin! Wet: Mint (not sweet) and lemony bergamot. Very fresh and refreshing! I can smell the vanilla and spices of SO just lurking in the background, grounding the whole thing. Dry down: The vanilla and spices are more present after about half an hour and sweeten the mint. It's really lovely and refreshing. Dry: Several hours later, I'm left with a bergamot-tinged Snake Oil with a hint of mint. Lovely! Final thoughts: I wish the green tea was a little more evident, but on the whole this is a smashing success. Verdict: Keeping the bottle.

Thoughts before testing: I love Snake Oil, leather, tonka, and sandalwood, so I'm hoping that the sage (which I'm neutral about) doesn't wreck this. Wet: Sage and beautifully worn leather. This reminds me of summertime in western Colorado and actually makes me incredibly homesick. If I sniff the back of my hand with my eyes closed, I'm transported to the desert in the heat of August and it's so dead on I could cry. Dry down: The sweet vanilla of the Snake Oil comes to the front now and sweetens the leather into this beautiful pairing that's definitely greater than the sum of it's parts (and I adore leather/Snake Oil separately). Dry: This smells like pouring smooth aged SO over a well worn leather jacket. The sandalwood, tonka bean, and sage aren't very apparent, and that's ok by me. Final thoughts: I don't find this to be particularly masculine, but that might be because on my skin it's mostly Snake Oil (which pulls sweet on me) and leather. This is so fabulous, and I'm desperately hoping that when the Carnaval comes back so does Western Diamondback. Verdict: Slathering

Thoughts before testing: I saw glowing reviews of this in the "Aging BPAL" thread and just had to get it. I'm not expecting to love it fresh, but I figured I'd write a review now and then revisit this post in a year or so and compare. Wet: Vanilla beeswax and I swoon. So pretty! I was not expecting this to smell this fabulous fresh. Dry down: After about half an hour, there's a slightly sharp perfumey edge to it, but it's still mostly this lovely vanilla beeswax. Dry: The sharp edge is more prominent after about 3 hours, but I'm definitely not complaining. I know I keep repeating "vanilla beeswax" but that's what it is, and it's beautiful. Final thoughts: I'm so excited to see if a little aging takes the edge off of this blend, but it's going into daily rotation now anyway. It's beautiful and feminine without being girly and sophisticated and I love it. Verdict: