Gateau

This puts me in mind of a lighter, more subdued Black Lace, with that same perfuminess but in a softer way. The leaf note isn't very prominent to my nose, but down in there is something reminscent of the air in an apple orchard. It really does evoke autumn. Will let it settle a bit and retest, because I found with Tattered Lace that it took months of aging for the coconut bark to really emerge and I suspect the leaf note here might be similar. I think this one might only get better and richer with age.

Very incensey, some smoke. Red musk never plays nice on me, but this one does. Not really getting a lot of leafiness. I have plenty of incense scents so I don't need a bottle, but will use up my decant.

When I want to cuddle my children I go for Lyonesse, Lilith Victoria, Morocco, Spanish Red Carnation, Bliss or Sugar Plum Fairy.

Sad to report I am of the "this turns plastic" school. I like the sweet pear note, indeed very much like The Vine, but there is something to this one that makes it a little screechy and cologney, and then the vanilla kicks in and turns into plastic modeling clay. I had high hopes, but I'll have to stick with The Vine for that pear.

I went apple picking with my kids the day after I picked up a bottle of this at NYCC (my 6 year old son requested a room spray that smelled of apples!), so I tested it with the smell of a real apple orchard fresh in my memory and man, it is dead on. This smells like that fresh apple you bite into right off the tree with wafts of the fallen apples on the ground, a touch of earth and wood mingling with it.

I've always been intrigued by Harvest Moon, because it has so many notes I love, but a few I find hard to wear (mostly the woods and the plum). In the bottle it's very strong on the maple leaf and ale, but on my skin it warms into a lovely fruity and woodsy scent with nothing sharp or metallic (my problem with plum) in it. It really does capture the autumn air, abundance of the earth's good things to eat and drink, and a feeling of a nice warm house after you've taken a good walk in the fall woods.

This is deliciously spicy pumpkin, backed by dark currant and a hint of licorice and slightly smoky maple. I get pumpkin when wet and mostly spice when dry. Really delicious, foodie without being too sweet. Perfect for going apple and pumpkin picking today!

Two-barred Flasher from this summer's Metamorphsis is a blueberry-orris floral, creamy and lovely. Try Manhattan too. Orchid, lemon, leather, mint.

Like Really Zeb I'm getting all table scraps and not the slightest hint of grassiness. Sad, because I was really hoping for a grassy one.

Monday speaks for me--this goes from heavy pot smoke to soapy blouse with tinges of patchouli and marijuana. I guess it's what a hippie ghost would smell like! But not for me.

I don't Generally love buttery foodie scents unless they have something smoky or boozy going on at e same time, but the golden wood and the promise of vanilla made me want to try this. It smells like Cracker Jack! I get the sugared popcorn tpwith that touch of caramel, and something a little nutty from the woods. It's not really strikingly vanilla to my nose. I wore it to take my kids to the zoo, and it was the perfect pick for that. If I were a kindergarten teacher I'd wear it every day. It only lasts a couple hours on me, which s a real downside.

Oh great tip, thanks! Any other lavender lovers with great ideas, I am all ears!

Dammit, I KNEW I should have gone for that!

I was applying a little lavender body oil this morning and realized that, though I love lavender, it's in many of my bath products, and I sleep every night with TKO, I rarely wear it during the day. I think that's because it's either a little simple (like the pure lavender body oil) or knocks me out. I'm trying to think if there are any sophisticated blends where lavender is a key player. Sadly, I can't do jasmine, lotus, or most musks, and if there are woods in the blend they do have a tendency to amp on me. Combing through this topic, but in case anyone has thoughts on this, I'd love to hear!

Wishlists: JetPens.com -- http://www.jetpens.com/wishlist?wish_list_id=a6b6acb29df3ffab Etsy favorites -- http://www.etsy.com/people/jessicamg/favorites?ref=si_fav Ravelry favorites -- http://www.ravelry.com/people/momesq/favorites 9/30 Do you want anything from Arcana's fall update? -- I've really been wanting to try Haint, and wish I'd ordered it last year. I think they only have the soap this year. 9/29 Would anyone like a witch pendant? -- Even better, I'd love a witch charm for my charm bracelet. What's a new company to you that you most want to try a product from or what would be a new product to you that you most want to try (make-up, perfume, or bath/body)? -- Carnival Wax! Would also love an introduction to Conjure Oils. If you like necklaces, what are some symbols or images that you would love to have a necklace depict? -- A peacock. 9/27 Gardening? -- I am a trial-and-error gardener, and mostly do kitchen garden stuff -- herbs, tomatoes, like that. Is there anything you might want from the latest update (Lab or TP)? -- I've ordered the few decants I would like to try, and a bar of Spanish Red Carnation soap. I wouldn't mind trying the Pumpkin Tart soap, and all of the candles sound amazing. I can enjoy scents in candles that I can't wear on my skin, and particularly would love to try Black Cloves and Dead Leaves. But they all sound great and I've never had a BPAL candle. Is there something(s) that you consider too spendy or too frivolous for you to buy for yourself, but that you actually want? -- The BPAL candles, a tart burner, a peacock charm for my charm bracelet. Do you use or would like to try loose eyeshadow pigments? -- I have a ton of them and honestly don't use them as much as my pressed shadows. I would love some fixing medium to make them easier to use. 9/26 Witchee, do you want anything from the Haunt update coming up on 10/3? I know it might be too early to say, but if you could look at the preview on the night of 10/2 and let me know if you want anything... -- I've never tried any Haunt. Do any of Villainness' Soap Box exclusive scents interest you, especially any of the Smooches/Whippeds? -- Well Autumn Gala sounds lovely, and I do love a good scrub. Masala sounds, whoa, amazing. And Xia could be wonderful. Puddin' just put a shitton of old Lunacy shirts on the BPTP Etsy! Any ones interest you? -- Not seeing any at this time. I wouldn't mind a t-shirt though! 9/25 What do you do to take care of yourself when you're having a rough day (sick, life not going your way, whatever)? -- I curl up in bed or on the sofa and flit from book to magazine to iPad to knitting. I make a nice cup of tea and have some fruit, alternating with some good caramels. Sometimes I do a tarot reading, which often helps me feel more calm. And then I play with my kids. Who here is going to be picking up JK Rowling's new book on Thursday -- Zero interest in this. I barely made it through Harry Potter. favorite and least favorite baked goods? -- Favorite: chocolate tart, chocolate cream pie, chocolate chip cookies, molasses-ginger cookies, coffee cake, cinnamon buns. Least favorite: anything with bananas in it, coconut cream pie. what size T-Shirt do you wear (standard AND babydoll)? -- Probably S unless it runs small, then a M. I found a fantastic little shop while traveling that had unusual jellies and jams. Would you be interested in trying something like Georgia Moonshine Jelly or TOE Jam (each letter stands for some kind of fruit, I don't remember which ones) or something similar? How about homemade jam in general? -- I'm low carb so I don't eat much jam, but I do love an unusual homemade one. I also love preserves that you can eat with cheese, like a fig preserve. Would you be interested in homemade herbal remedies and tinctures? -- I'm a little afraid of taking these, so only with very good instructions on when and how to use it. 9/24 Paintbox Soapworks: Interested in anything from her? -- I am a huge fan of her stuff. I have a good bit stashed, but one sample I had and really liked was The Olive Tree. Wouldn't mind a bar of that and maybe the matching Sorbetto and a lotion. ThinkGeek: anything interesting to you on there? -- Haven't looked there in quite a while. I think their stuff is amusing, but unless it's got some kind of practical use (like funny post-it notes or what have you) I'm kind of reluctant to add more novelty stuff to my life. What's one thing you want, right now, that you're having difficulty finding? -- A pencil skirt in a non-boring color. are there any e-tailers you're desperately wanting to try? if so, any specific items/scents/etc? -- I've never tried Conjure, Blooddrop, or Arcana and would like to. Look at my note preferences and make suggestions, because I don't know where to start! Also interested in trying House of Gloi. Oh, and Carnival Wax, thinking about splurging on a couple of samples. 9/23 Lip balm - tube or tin? -- I especially like the type that comes is a squeeze tube with the angled surface for applying. Jack Black is my favorite brand. I don't like it if it's at all sticky, and I'm pretty sensitive to fruit flavors like strawberry or peach. better to stick to herbal or citrus flavors. Would you like to receive a journal or sketchbook? How about other pretty paper goods like post-its, notepads, bookmarks, letter paper/envelopes? -- Love all this stuff. Not a big bookmark user, but all the other stuff is among my favorites. Are you interested in audiobooks? If so, any specific titles? -- I don't have a lot of experience with audio books, because I only can listen while I'm driving, and I find my mind wandering and then I have to backtrack, but those I've listened to I've really enjoyed. I adore funny British stories, like Rumpole of the Bailey or David Lodge's academic satires in this format, and actually loved listening to Tim Curry read Anne Rice, when I'm not really an Anne Rice fan. But he made it such fun. Bar soaps with some scrubby bits, yes or no? -- Oh I love these! Scents I don't really like in perfume (mint, citrus, pink grapefruit) I absolutely love in a scrubby soap. Do you need any small electronic gadgets like flash drives and the like? -- Hm, I don't think so, but if you have something specific in mind, let me know! Would you like a pair of knitted socks? -- Oh yes! Do you have any use for knitted dishcloths, facecloths, etc, especially if they were fandom related? -- This isn't really up my alley. Do you subscribe to any sample boxes, and if so, which ones? Would you like to receive some samples? (perfume, eco/"green," skin care, hair, music downloads, cosmetics, soap...) -- I used to get Birchbox, but I cancelled after several lackluster boxes and a dawning suspicion that my $120 a year would be better spent on buying, say, half a dozen bottles of BPAL I picked out for myself and foregoing the monthly surprise. That said, if anyone ever comes up with a really quality MAKEUP (not mostly hair/skin/body with the occasional nail polish) box, or a perfume oil box, I might consider it. Also maybe a knitting/yarn box. do you have a problem with nudes???Male or Female? -- I have zero problem with either! My grandfather was a painter and my house is covered with his drawings and paintings, many of which are nude studies. They are even hanging in the kids' playroom, which is probably disturbing to some of the kids who come over to play, come to think of it. And I live with 4 males who seem to love going around pantsless, so either is really fine. Anything with erotic content would be cherished, and shared only with those who are of appropriate age. People ask a lot of questions about dogs and cats, but I know a lot of forumites have rodent pets. How would you feel about hammocks or toys for your rats/hamsters/gerbils/etc.? -- I am not a rodent person. My Little Pony... Cute or meh? -- not just meh, I actually find it rather creepy. I realize that we had a similar question in the ?aire, but I need you Witchee-s to list at least 5 items, each ranging $20 and under from Amazon.com or Walmart.com. -- Tarot decks (I can get more specific if you ask), a new cute patterned sleeve/case for my iPhone 4, a set of colored pencils, tights in assorted colors other than black, brown, or burgundy, anew large size travel bag for toiletries and cosmetics My new job is at a consignment store where we have all kinds of designer brands for very reasonable prices. Are there designer clothes/purses/sunglasses that you desire/love? (Give some indication as to your "style" as well. For example, do you like bohemian-style frocks in lavender? Crossbody purses in black? Sunglasses that are round and bug-like?) -- I love classic designer handbags, structured ones like the Hermes Birkin and also hobos. I love very European classics (like an Audrey Hepburn look) or eclectic boho stuff, very 30s cabaret star on her day off or at her day job. Love Prada. Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting? -- Weenies aren't my big temptation, so I ordered some decants and we'll see if I need anyone beyond that. The closest to a sure thing is The Perilous Parlor. Sugar Skull too, but I have a bottle and some decants. In the meantime, let me know what you like to do on the Internet to kill time. Flash games? What are your daily websites/blog visits, or favorite YouTube videos? -- I spend a lot of time on the forum and The Well, Twitter, and Ravelry. I read news and politics sites regularly. I like beauty blogs too. And what are your favourite characters from your fandoms? -- I'm not really a fandom type person. What is your holy grail "I'd kill to just have one drop in an imp" bpal scent? -- I'd say Black Lace, Celeste, and Halloween: Las Vegas are up there, and fortunately I have decent hoards. Are there any existing Weenies that you have your eye on, but haven't gotten around to getting -- Still waiting on decants! if you wear earrings, do you have pierced ears? -- Yes. 9/19 You are meeting up with someone on a casual lunch/early afternoon thing. This person is someone you want to impress/look good for (for whatever reason, not necessarily romantic, and not necessarily for business either). What would you look like, given the contents of your wardrobe/etc? -- Since it's a casual daytime thing, I'd wear my new skinny jeans in a dark wash with a drapey sleeveless top I have in a sort of silvery taupe and my faux-leather taupe cropped jacket. I'd probably wear my Fluevog black lace-up short boots, a brown leather wrap bracelet, and some kind of yummy BPAL, like Black Lace. Makeup, of course! You are to be let loose in a clothing store of your choice, to pick a full outfit, down to the shoes, the accessories, etc. and things would be altered to fit you if needed. What store would that be, and what would you look like? -- I don't generally buy all my stuff from one store, but I bet I could do some serious damage at Prada! But in real life I'm more likely to do this at Boden. I would pick a dress with maybe some gathering or wrapping around the bodice with a deep v-neck, a jacket with a nipped-in waist to go over it, some cool textured tights, knee-high boots with lacing or buckles to add interest, and a leather cuff bracelet and dangly earrings. This would be a mix of neutrals with some pops of color. You open a box from the post office to reveal the 3 things you want most right now. What are they? (caveats: size doesn't matter, but they have to be tangible/buyable). -- A pair of Fluevog boots, either the Hotcakes, Mattie Silks, or Sugar; the perfect deep red satin lipstick; a spa gift certificate (I need a massage, manicure, pedicure, and facial BAD!) WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF!!! movies, comedians, black humor, your partner, a comic strip? what? -- I'm definitely a black humor person (I wrote my masters on using comedy techniques to explore the Holocaust), though I have to say I have a soft spot for good old fashioned farce and physical comedy. Candy Corn? -- Yes, the classic kind, not the kind that is supposed to taste chocolatey. But I don't like it fresh, I actually prefer it a bit stale so it gets chewier. So I "cure" it by leaving the bag open for a while. I live in Japan. Anything you would be interested in from there? -- Matcha-flavored ANYTHING (love those green tea Kit Kats)! Interesting foodstuffs. Office/stationery supplies. Candy. Ceramics. Textiles. If you have cats, do they like catnip toys? If you have doggies, would they like a super-reinforced canvas toy with a squeaker in it? -- My cats, oddly, are not that into toys. If you have kids, what are they into? -- My two older boys (the youngest is a toddler, so who knows what he's into) love American and Canadian history, especially the Revolutionary period, military stuff, ancient Romans and Greeks, architecture, building toys, art and art supplies, journal writing, pirates, ships, airplanes, and they're both big readers. How do you feel about wearable knitted lace? Shawls, wraps, and the like? -- I would be honored to wear handknit lace. Looking at the warehouse, I notice that our lovely Greenwoodtree is able to do chart readings and/or forecasts at a very reasonable rate. Is this something you would want? -- That would be cool! Do you have a forum buddy? Someone who knows you and/or your tastes well enough to answer questions on your behalf? -- Holborne can tell you more than you'd ever like to know. If you are on Livejournal, would you appreciate LJ stuff like paid time, custom userheads, stuff like that? If you are NOT on LJ but are on other sites that have similar paid-for services (Flickr, for example?) would you, and what are those sites/etc? -- Not something I use much or need. if you are into tarot, what is your favorite card? -- I am quite into tarot! Have been teaching myself to read and collecting decks since February. I am not sure I have a favorite card, but the Queen of Wands has some resonance for me, and the 8 of Wands turns up constantly for me. would you like your own set of handmade rune stones or worry stones? -- I don't know how to use rune stones, but worry stones would be wonderful. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cider, or none of the above? -- Love all these, though since I try to avoid sugar, hot chocolate unless sugar free or cider are less appealing. Gum, hard candy, soft candy, or none of the above? -- Not much of a gum chewer, though I adore the old Black Jack licorice gum. Like hard and soft candy, but mostly love chewy things, especially if they're strong flavored (licorice, salted licorice, hot cinnamon) or sour. Loose tea or tea bags? Do you need anything for your loose tea? (Filters, presses, etc.) -- Loose tea. I like the cup-like filters rather than the ball kind. Very fond of teapots, especially the kind that hold a generous amount for one person. Do you do Goodreads or LibraryThing or a site like that? If so, can I see your to-read list, please? -- I'm on Goodreads under my name and hometown, feel free! 9/18 Are you a gamer (of any sort - video, casual, tabletop) and are there any games you want? -- Not a huge gamer, but I play Scrabble and Draw Something online. Occasional board games, card games (like Quiddler) but not too often. Do you like coffee? If so, what kinds? Flavored, fancy, basic? Beans or ground? -- I love coffee, especially espresso and dark roasts, not flavored. I have an espresso machine, a drip, and a french press, and would love it already ground as my grinder is terrible. Would a Starbucks gift card make you happy or do you prefer your local place? -- Always up for Starbucks. Would you be interested in BPTP CANDY? -- I was very intrigued when I saw this on FB, so I think so, yes. CUSTOM-Made Pottery?? yea or nay? coffee mugs, rustic or more elegant? a set of bowls? soap dish? bird feeder? something alltogether different? and lastly, good colors for glazes...? -- I would love custom-made pottery. Either rustic or elegant works for me. I would adore a special mug or a knitter's yarn bowl. Coasters, too, or a nice serving piece (plate or bowl) for hors d'oeuvres. I love blue-green-purple glazes, the multifaceted drippy kind. Songs that you keep meaning to buy but never get round to it? -- Bettye Lavette's album of 60s covers. Movies that you love but forgot to put in your questionaire? -- Hmmm, I forget! Name one movie you keep meaning to buy, but just never get around to getting? -- Not a movie, but I lost the first disk in the Freaks & Geeks set and would love to replace it. I would also love to own The Palm Beach Story. Any favorite Bath & Body Works scents/products? -- No, haven't been there in years. Haus of Gloi is offering custom perfumes - would you like one? What would your ideal blend be? -- One I've been contemplating would combine anise, cake, vanilla, and something a touch darker, maybe a little smoke. Also would love a lavender foodie blend, like lavender, cake, vanilla sugar, marshmallow. Any Bath, Body or nutritional type items you would love to try from a Natural and Organic food store (similar to Whole Foods) that you don't buy because they are a bit too pricey? -- I would enjoy nice rich body butters. Tell me of your taste preferences. Dry/sweet? Red/white? Lager/ale/porter/stout? Fruit? Spice? Hops? Sour (brettanomyces, etc)? -- In wine, I like a balance of dry and sweet notes, and like red and white equally. Also rose! In beer, I like the richer brews (ales, porters, etc.) and can take a good deal of bitter. Again, like balance. Not so much for the fruity or spicy brews. are there any if MeiLin's books (e-book or print) you'd be interested in? -- I must admit I'm not familiar with her work, so introduce me! I'm about to be near a Lush store next week, is there anything you might like from there? -- Not a big Lush fan, but if you think there is something I should try that would be nice. Witchee, will you be gone from your normal mailing address at any point during the round? -- no Are you a Disney fan or does even thinking about Disney make your head hurt? If you're into Disney, would you like something from the Happiest Place on Earth ? -- I enjoy visiting Disney but I'm not a great fan otherwise. I'm more of a Pixar person than a traditional Disney person, though my sister and I have a longrunning mutual love of Little Mermaid. Unless it's small and tasteful, I think I can pass. I do have a Tinkerbell charm on my charm bracelet. dear witchee, would you, could you use an electric candle warmer? i'm talking something like this. -- I can't view the link, but I'd rather have an electric warmer so I don't have to worry about open flames. Do you lust after some new socks/tights? -- Oh yes, especially tights and OTK/thigh high opaques. My whole drawer seems to have nothing but black, brown, and burgundy tights, and I need some other colors. Love fishnets. Would love more Smartwool socks, too. Ninjas or Pirates? -- Pirates I have an extra room spray and 2 extra bath oils (one Cephalopod, one Exhibit Hall Fatigue) from Dragon*Con - would anybody like a decant? -- Always up for decants, though nothing there really grabbed me I live near a Mast General Store. It has lots of vintage-y toys, southern foods (jams, jellies, spices) and vintage candy. Is there anything I can get for you? -- Don't know this place, but would love a pepper jelly, pickles, or preserved fruit (especially if boozy) Do you have any Fall or Halloween traditions? -- I've started displaying a Halloween tree with little monster ornaments, skeletons, etc. I usually use a branch from outdoors, but would love a tree made of wire to use for this, tabletop size. a) Are you OK with "special deliveries"? Is the address in your questionnaire the best place to reach you for said deliveries? c) If the delivery requires a phone number (as say, some florists do) would you be OK with that information being tracked down by your Witch or asked of you anonymously? -- Yes to all. Would you be interested in beer, wine, or other specialty beverages from your Witch's area? -- Yes! Are there any crafts/skills you've wanted to learn but haven't gotten around to? And if so, would you be interested in supplies and tutorials? -- Yes! Soap-making and candle-making. Oh, and beer-making. Who here would be happy to get a lil' sumthin sumthin from Adagio Teas? -- Sure, I love tea! Do you Ravelry? And if so, what's your handle over there? Would you be interested in gift patterns from your queue? -- I'm momesq on Ravelry. Would love gift patterns, though I already own some in my queue. Would also love suggested patterns based on the things I've queued or favorited. Who likes Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? -- Never tried them! Put your iPod/MP3 player/what-have-you on random and list the first 10 songs it plays! -- 1. Lianne La Havas, Age 2. k.d. lang, The Air That I Breathe 3. Steely Dan, Aja 4. David Bowie, Aladdin Sane 5. Elvis Costello, Alison 6. Nirvana, All Apologies 7. Paul Simon, All Around The World or The Myth of Fingerprints 8. Geoff Muldaur & the Texas Sheiks, All By Myself 9. The Psychedelic Furs, All That Money Wants 10. David Bowie, All The Young Dudes Witchee, what are your favorite quotes? -- "In life I know there is lots of grief, but your love is my relief" from Bob Marley is one I like a lot. What's one random thing you really like and one random thing you really dislike? -- Really like decorative paper clips and binder clips, for some odd reason. Really dislike processed cheese. Are there any herbs that you haven't been able to lay hands on that I could send you? There's an herbal shop I really like here in NYC called Flower Powerthat has quite a wide selection. -- Off the top of my head, no, but would love to try unusual stuff. If there are no "witchy" shops near you, is there anything I can pick up for you from Enchantments? -- I am in need of a proper cauldron and athame, though since these are such personal items, it's a lot to ask. In search of a small statue of Bast, and would love some "getting started with carved candles" supplies. Some of your favorite artists? Classic and modern? -- symbolist, art nouveau, surrealist If you could have an image or certain subject painted for you on any type of "canvas" (on a box, on paper, on a canvas, and so on) - could you point your witch to some of these images? -- Tiffany Dragonfly, peacock anything Is there a GC scent that's been on your list for ages but keeps falling off the bottom of your order because of the LEs? -- I think I'm pretty caught up on GCs right now. I've been getting into indie nail polish brands recently. What's your favorite indie brand of nail polish? Or what's your favorite mainstream brand of nail polish? Or are you not big on polish? -- Love polish, don't know many indie brands and very open to exploring. I like Zoya a lot, Illamasqua, and things with lots of glitter, like OPI Teenage Dream and Rainbow Connection. Would love something with lots of glitter in peacock colors.] Stuffed things: yea or nay? -- Our house is already overstuffed with things, sadly, so will say no. mix-in-a-jar? How to you feel about cookie or cake or soup mixes that come in jars and you just add, like, an egg or water or what have you? -- Sounds great. I live near this very cool Retro store (you can order online too) - are there things from it that would make you squee if your witch sent them? -- I love retro cherry prints on everything. Would love a retro cherry print apron! Or dress! Also love those oilcloth tablecloths/placemats with the big splashy prints. 9/16 Would you enjoy receiving cute but useful items like colorful kitchen utensils/gadgets, or bento supplies? (boxes, chopsticks, accessories, etc?) What about things like spice mixes (homemade, or Penzey's for example) -- Absolutely love all of the above. Do you like cute, seasonal or fluffy PJ bottoms? Like they sell at Target, Old Navy (they have had cute Halloween ones!) If so, what size do you wear? -- yes I am! size S. What kind of chocolate do you like? Nuts, no nuts, white,dark, etc? -- Dark and good quality milk (i.e. does not taste like wax). Not a big white fan, though it goes well with raspberry. I like nuts, don't like mint, am tolerant of fruit fillings, and go absolutely crazy for caramel, especially salted caramel. Open to weird things like spice and herbs and bacon and what have you. I live near a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Penzeys! What does your little heart desire from any or all of these places? -- WF not too much, since I have one right by me that I rarely go to, though I like their salted Japanese plums. TJ's I adore their fleur de sel caramels, their beef jerky, and the chili-spiced pineapple and mango. Penzey's, oh man, everything! I could use some culinary lavender and some good tarragon right now. Are home made foods acceptable or does the idea of eating strange mailed food disturb you? -- very little food disturbs me! I just gave you $20 and sent you into a "has everything" store ala Walmart and told you that you have to come out having spent it all, and none of it on anything you need. What would you buy? Be as specific as possible! -- Wet 'n' Wild eyeshadow palettes, Revlon balm stains, Milani eye pencils, black licorice, Sweettarts (regular and chewy), small notebooks What kind of cuisines do you like? (I mentioned this in my ?aire but curious what my witch may like)And, what are your favorite restaurants? -- Top cuisines I love are Japanese, Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican, French. I like small local restaurants. I'm from Canada - is there anything specifically a witchee might like that is only available here? -- Our household is half Canadian so we enjoy many Canadian treats. We love Crunchie bars from Canada, and believe they are better than the UK ones. I'm always looking for makeup we can't get here either. what are your "fandoms" and would you like a t-shirt from TeeFury if an appropriate one came up? -- Not really a fandom kind of person. I do enjoy Dr. Horrible, Aardman, and have a fixation on A Midsummer Night's Dream, not that I expect many Midsummer t-shirts. Do you have an eReader and if so which one? -- Kindle and iPad. I use the iPad mostly. Do you like candles, or tart burners, or something? If so, what's your favorite scent to burn? -- I do like them, but don't own a tart burner. I don't get to burn candles much (kids, pets, not enough waking hours) but love spicy scents and things I can't wear on my skin but love the smell of, such as woods, pine, etc. Also enjoy florals. Marzipan? -- Only one of my favorite things ever! Would you be interested in washable/reusable muslin “paper” towels (basically muslin squares hemmed around the edge)? Maybe in some sort of box to put on your kitchen or bathroom counter? -- That sounds very thoughtful, though in practice they'd probably be ignored and/or languish in the wash. Do you drink alcohol and if so, would you be OK with your witch sending you homemade infused vodka? Also, does your state allow alcohol to be shipped through the mail? -- That sounds delicious. I think NY allows this, but not sure. If you get me (or a fellow Aussie, if there are any playing this round) as a witch or witch's minion, would you like to try some Australian specialties, such as TimTams (delicious chocolately cookies), Caramello Koalas (koala shaped chocolates filled with gloopy caramel), Australian native spices or anything like that? -- Absolutely! If your witch is a knitter, crocheter or sewer, is there a particular type of garment you would love to receive (hat, scarf, wrap, cowl, socks, fingerless gloves, arm warmers etc)? -- Anything but the arm warmers would be deeply appreciated. I'm a knitter and I know how special handknits are. Is there anyone else in your house (kids, pets, partner) that would really appreciate a small gift being included for them in the switchwitchy haul so they don't feel left out? -- My kids are huge SW fans (and BPAL fans) and would feel very special to receive something. Since it's been mentioned several times, and I've also offered to nacho witch some, would you you like to receive wild rice and or maple syrup? I promise to include recipe ideas with the wild rice. -- As I bought 10 lbs. of excellent wild rice not that long ago, I will have to pass, but would love the recipes and the syrup! I have 5 bushels of tomatoes sitting in the kitchen right now that are supposed to turn into red sauce tomorrow, so would anyone like a basic red sauce (spaghetti sauce) to make its way to them? -- I would love a gift like that. How would you feel about a taste of (insert witch location here) box -- I like anything tasty, so yes! Last year, my wonderful witch Alethia adopted a bat for me from batworld.org, a bat rescue and sanctuary. Bat's World Would you be interested in having a bat adopted in your name? -- Those are very thoughtful gifts. I am not a huge animal person, but I could hardly object to that. Bats are very cool creatures. 9/15 Do you like s'mores and s'mores-flavored things? -- Love s'mores! Really, one of the best sugar-laden splurges around. I'm finally installing a gas stove so I can easily make them at home (I like to use dark chocolate). I like s'mores-flavored things as long as they don't taste too artificial, which I notice can happen sometimes. What's the neatest freebie you've gotten? It can be cool or thoughtful or just totally unexpected, and not limited to BPALdom. -- I was recently at a crafts show with my kids, and my baby was being so utterly charming that an artisan who makes Mission-style woods items (my favorite style) gifted us a beautiful wooden box.

Boo hoo, tea rose never works on me, becomes soapy, and this is no exception. There is a nice fresh green stem scent in this at first, but it slowly converts over to soap as I wear it.

This smells a lot like a mixture of Boober's clean laundry and a bit of single-note Apple Blossom. It's soapy and clean, and I don't get much of anything else, like ink. Surprisingly good throw for something so clean, but it didn't last all that long. It's a little generic, as Absinthetics says, and I don't think I need to own it.

This is an oceanic floral on me, very smooth, slightly salty, rather green. Long wear on this, and lots of throw. While the seamoss and sea buckthorn berry, and maybe the green musk were really groovy for a few hours, eventually it took on more of a perfumey note (probably the sandalwood, which is what it does on me) that started to bother me, so I won't be keeping this one.

I think I amp the BPAL apricot note, which is fortunate as it's one of my favorites. This scent was all apricot on me for the first hour or so, and I couldn't make out much at all of any of the other notes, just something sweet and lightly floral. Unfortunately, later on the other notes, probably white musk and honey, conspired to create a plasticky or Play-Dohy sort of note that ruined the blend for me.

This one is a crazy morpher on me! Wet and the first couple hours: Pure cedar, and practically nothing else. If I wave my arm around I can get a faint hint of vanilla and root beer, and there is something nutty to it that reminds me of The Antikythera Mechanism and somewhat Tree of Life. Next phase: I get a plastic or Play-Doh sort of vanilla. The cedar is still there when I put my nose closer. There is also a whiff of something sweaty. I don't like it, but I think it might be delicious on my husband. 5 hours later: vanilla ice cream! With maybe a hint of root beer or the wood floors of the saloon. Pretty tasty! Not really a scent for me, I don't think, but might give it a go on my husband.

I received a low partial of this from a kind BPALer as a freebie, so sweet! Was very excited about this one, as so many of the listed notes are win for me, and the whole thing overall sounds very warm, sunny, and upbeat. It didn't do that much for me, though. It's very orange blossom-dominant on me, with the other florals adding a slightly bitter soapiness. I don't get any juiciness from the tangerine, warmth from the amber and frankincense, or anything that adds a lot of depth. Oh well, I'm glad I got to try it, and if you like orange blossom, it may work well for you.

This smells like a shampoo to me. It's green apple, and fresh smelling, but there is a somewhat plastic or chemical note that pulls it towards soap. Oh well.

I didn't think I was much into carnation until I got a bit of this to try. it starts out with that damp green fresh-cut feeling that others described, but then quickly dries to a lightly spicy, gently creamy rich floral. It's utterly sniffable and there is something almost foodie to it without smelling like food, if you know what I mean. I didn't think I needed this, but now it's clear that a bottle must be mine.

This has to be chock full of plum, because I am getting the telltale metallic fruit that I only get with plum. A shame, because in the initial stages this is resiny and warmly spicy, with a little fruitiness. Lots of warmth, in a very intimate and welcoming way. But after it's worn for an hour or two, it's simply plum, which I can't wear.

I absolutely love this idea.