OctoberGwen

Saffron-infused bourbon vanilla, blackened honey, Kashmir wood, Atlas cedar, ambrette seed, hay, and Egyptian jasmine absolute. Good Lord. This is practically a 'who's who' of notes that don't work on me: honey, bourbon vanilla, hay, and some jasmines. But wow: Hal is lovely. It's on the sweeter side, but it manages to stay out of nauseous territory for me. It is syrupy, and I get a lot of jasmine and vanilla honey with an undertone of hay and a very slight woodiness. It smells golden, deep and warm. I think I will really enjoy this in the Winter.

Sweet red patchouli and hay absolute with a hint of orange peel, cocoa, and amber. Oh, I'm SO glad I got this! I'm a patchouli fan, but surely the "sweet red" variety is palatable to all - it's delicious, and the hay note seems to be taking the chewy edge off of it even more (I think it's the hay, anyway.) I definitely get orange peel, which is gorgeous with the patch, and just a hint of amber. I expect this note will deepen and become more prominent with time. Overall a sweetish, really lovely scent with just a bit of bite. LOVE. A million thanks to my wonderful D*Con fairy!

John William Waterhouse Vanilla-infused frankincense and clary sage with 7-year aged patchouli, jasmine sambac, honey myrtle, and oudh. I love Waterhouse's art, and The Magic Circle has long been a favorite, so I knew I needed this one! I have to say, vanilla-infused frankincense is delicious. The vanilla really softens the sharp edge that frankincense can sometimes have on my skin, yet it still retains that solemn incensey vibe that I love. The clary sage is very distinctive, as always, but is prevented from being too masculine for me by the sweetness of the jasmine sambac. I don't get a lot of my beloved aged patchouli, it seems to be laying low with the honey myrtle and oude to create a nice base. It may become more prominent with age, too. This is gorgeous. I think I need all the Pickman Hecate blends. Oy!

STARTLED TOAD Golden amber and coconut with frankincense, frothy vanilla, carnation, sweet aged patchouli, and lemongrass. I looooooooove this. Startled Toad is like a who's who of notes I adore: coconut, lemongrass, amber, patchouli...I get all of those (and they blend together beautifully), along with just a touch of frankincense's bite and maybe a hint of vanilla. The carnation is just adding some spicy sweetness. This is really lovely, not too sweet, and smells like classic Shunga to me. I am so glad I bought a bottle.

A tragedy in one act: pale sandalwood threaded with a vanilla filigree, bitter green cognac, white tobacco, and Roman chamomile, stained by a splash of black tea and the deceptively sweet juice of belladonna berries. Beautiful Death is part of the Lace family of scents, which I would have recognized immediately upon smelling even if Beth hadn't said so. I love the Laces, so of course I needed this. It's very well blended, so I don't get a lot of vanilla though I can tell it's there. I actually love it when vanilla acts as more of a supporting player rather than taking over, as it can sometimes be too sweet for me.There is a certain sweetness here, but it's only very slightly fruity. Also present are the very distinct Lace-y elements of cognac and tea, but otherwise everything just blends into a lovely, elegant, very Victorian scent. No distinct sandalwood or Roman chamomile or (surprisingly) tobacco to my nose, though the latter is almost certainly lending itself to the 'Lace' aspect of this scent. I'll quote here what Beth said about it on FB: "I made the scent for myself, because I wanted something corpse'y and bittersweet for spring. It's in the Lace family." And, "...the belladonna berry accord has a blackcurrant feel to it, but a little sweeter. I think you'll like it." I definitely do, Beth. xoxo

Jasmine tea with gardenia, white roses, Egyptian tuberose, and bergamot. This is a very pretty, somewhat muted floral blend (i.e., there is absolutely nothing "high pitched" here), with perhaps just the faintest whiff of something delicate that says "tea" to my nose. Gentle, comforting, and happy. These Lilith blends are absolutely brimming with love.

Strands of ectoplasm floating through the shadowed air: black plum, inky vetiver, cashmere patchouli, dark oudh, and spectral musk. Oh, this is glorious. I have to admit that it was the "cashmere patchouli" that put this one at the top of my short list, but I am also a big fan of vetiver, musk, and oude. This scent is daaaaark and smooth, very well blended - but you really need to appreciate patchouli to love Shadow. The thing is, though, you have never smelled a patch like this: it's so smooth, and soft to the touch (if you will) and...luxurious. Mmmmmmm. I don't always love plum, but the black variety seems to agree with me; I think it's lifting the scent a bit without making it particularly fruity. I would put A Shadow In the Elevator in the same family as Panther Moon, Raven Moon, and The Final Darkness. Gorgeous. And not for the faint of heart.

MY MOM WITH THE SUN IN HER HANDS Crayon on copier paper, 2012 This is my mom with the sun in her hands. I put my name on it because it's my mom. Champaca flower, cardamom, yellow sandalwood, Italian bergamot, magnolia, and lemon peel. My Mom With the Sun in Her Hands Just a side note here that I love the artwork and title for this one SO MUCH. This smells beautiful and has a 'classic perfume' feel to it. It's very well blended and I'm not picking out any individual notes thus far, but if I close my eyes and concentrate I can smell the influence of the sandalwood, bergamot and magnolia for sure. It smells (dare I say?) a bit magical, almost in a TAL-like way, which is fitting, I think, given the imagery. ETA: This has smoothed out considerably and I am really loving it. I'm definitely getting bergamot now, as well as sandalwood and magnolia (I freaking love magnolia) with just a hint of lemon. I'm not sure about the champaca, though clearly it's adding something to the mix. "classic" = yes, "old lady" = no, at least not to me.

Plus a touch of hay absolute and dried rosebud. This is so pretty. It makes my hair smell like sunlight. It's everything you think it will be, reading the description: sun warmed peaches and delicate flowers, with a touch of clean, sweet-smelling hay. Delicious, sweet, and perfect.

Pumpkin artwork by Ruby Velez! Pumpkins, pumpkin vines, and wild mushrooms with white sage, cade, sweetgrass, and vanilla-infused rosewood. And now for something completely different! The pumpkin is very present - and it's not buttery at all - but I got a lot of sage and a lovely, earthy (mushroom?) grassy smell. A true pumpkin patch scent, as in you are sitting in the field after the harvest and there a few pumpkins left behind and they are slowly returning to the earth. They aren't rotting, not yet, but everything smells loamy and fecund and earthy. I believe this is the first pumpkin I've tried where there are no spices to be found.

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. The night flight from Tangier: drops of spilled blood color the antiseptic, bland, plastic paleness of the fuselage, with violet leaf for longing, rosemary for reminiscences, and black opoponax for apprehension. I...don't even know where to begin with this one. It smells exactly, exactly the way it's supposed to, given the description. Some will probably find it too medicinal, but rosemary is one of my plant totems and I absolutely love the smell of it. I didn't think the 'bland plastic' note would be at all pleasant, but to me it's reading as 'clean' here. I definitely get the violet leaf and a whisper of the opoponax. Really, though, this scent is all about the sum of its parts. In a word: wow.

I wanted to go with a less-literal name for this scent, but Lilith vetoed me! My little monster is a tremendous help around the garden. She helps me water, plant, and deadhead the flowers, but by far… harvesting is her favorite chore. Sun-warmed, slightly squishy blueberries plus overgrown grass, overgrown honeysuckle, overgrown lavender, overgrown lemon verbena, and a smattering of un-pulled weeds. Mmmmm. I get fresh, realistic blueberry initially and then lots of lemon verbena, which I love. This is fresh and beautiful, no lavender that I could detect - or perhaps just a whisper. It smells of sunshine and happiness and you need some. I almost got a bottle at NYCC and I may still order one...and I don't usually like berry scents at all.

HUMPBACK WHALE Crayon on copier paper, 2012 Humpback whales sing so they're my favorite. Blue peppermint, sea buckthorn berry, white myrrh, ambergris accord, and tobacco leaf. Humpback Whale I remember seeing the artwork that inspired this scent when Beth originally posted it on Facebook, so this was the first of the Tremulous Songs that I knew I needed a bottle of. I love humpback whales, and I loved Lilith's picture, and I really didn't care what the oil smelled like. Happily, it is so beautiful! I definitely smell the peppermint (I am a mint fan, btw), and it really does smell blue instead of sharp and green. This note is softened and made rounder by the ambergris and probably the white myrhh; I'm not getting the usual distinctly "myrhh" note. This is absolutely gorgeous, soft and pale blue and misty smelling, with no problematic aquatic notes. It is sweet but not nauseatingly so. I don't get the tobacco leaf specifically, but hopefully it will peek out with age. I love this blend. ETA: During far drydown this aquires a really clean vibe while still remaining soft. Some people are probably going to find it soapy, but I absolutely love it. Win, win, win.

White amber and Bulgarian rose. Oh God, I am so glad I bought a bottle of this unsniffed! It is absolutely beautiful. A perfect blend of clean, white (non-powdery) soft amber and a really exquisite rose. This is a classic, very pretty perfume that sticks close to the skin. I really love it.

Butterfly bush blossoms, dew-damp moss, mist flower, purple coneflower, Brazilian verbena, ground ivy, pink clover, lantana accord, and sunflower. I absolutely love this spray, it's perfect for Spring - a delicious and lush combination of flowers. To my nose, it smells honeyed, too; it's sweet, but not cloying and it definitely doesn't qualify as a "high pitched" floral. It's very soft and pretty, but present. While it doesn't seem to last as long as my Kypria or Kondetorei, that may be because it's a decant. Frankly, this gorgeous scent is worth respraying! I'm pretty sure I need a bottle.

Iris blossom, violet leaf, grey amber, soft white leather, a drop of coconut and a sliver of angelica seed. Something about this combination isn't working with my skin chemistry. I get a sense of what the light-colored amber/coconut/leather should smell like, and it's beautiful, but on me there is also a very strong, almost chemical smell happening that is overpowering the scent. I think I'm coming to the conclusion that the only type of coconut that works on me is the black variety, and the only leather I can wear is brown, since both black and white go chemical-y.

White sandalwood, bergamot, white musk, and ambergris. Upon initial application, I get something that is reminiscent of lemon (which I happen to love): I think it's the combination of bergamot and ambergris. It's really quite lovely. As the scent settles into my skin, a bit of the dry, crumbly sandalwood comes out. I prefer dry scents to watery ones, but I don't want the white sandalwood to take over. I am hoping it gets a little muskier with time; I can't really smell the white musk yet. I think if the musk can balance out the sandalwood, this will be really beautiful. Later: definitely muskier; the waft on this is getting really nice. The lemony quality is gone. I'm getting a beautiful musky ambergris with a bit of sandalwood. This is a soft, pale scent but I wouldn't classify it as 'white'. It is really unique. Contemplating a bottle. ETA: Even later, I keep catching whiffs of this and it is just gorgeous. The ambergris really shines in the far drydown. I am definitely going to need a bottle of this for days when I want something soft and pretty - with staying power. Ambergris alone tends to vanish fairly quickly on me; I can still smell Elegy No. 1 S. 196 on my wrists the next morning. LOVE THIS BLEND.

Red rose petals dusted with a trove of ancient spices. I always love the spicey rose blends, and this one is no exception. Here the rose and spices blend into something sophisticated and lovely; in fact, this reminds me of something that I can't quite put my finger on. It has a very classic feel to it, and would be appropriate for the office as well as a night out on the town.

Three white cakes, vanilla, and red and black currants. OMFG, what is that delicious smell?! Oh. It's me. Me, and my Eat Me hair gloss. Like the atmosphere spray, this smells exactly like the perfume oil: the richest, most delicious vanilla cake you can imagine (no hint of frosting, just cake), spiked with currants to keep it from being too, too sweet. Eat Me is my one foodie BPAL, and it's the best. Like all the BPTP hair glosses, my hair is shiny and well behaved yada yada yada. Seriously: if you have not tried them yet and you have hair, get thee to the Trading Post and get some. My ultra-fine, straight hair looooooooves it. I spritz a couple times into my palms and apply it to dry hair, being careful to avoid my roots. Some folks prefer wet application, so try both to see what works for you. BPTP gloss adds a nice amount of body and my hair looks gorgeous, but best of all: it smells fucking amazing all day long. If you love Eat Me, I hope you got some of its hair gloss!

Leather lovers rejoice! Alas, I am not one, and it's very prominent on me in this blend. There's also less of what makes most Laces distinctive; that is, the linen note. I get a bit of sweetness and just a whiff of smokiness. Otherwise: LEATHER.

This is beautiful. It’s a soft scent; the incense is blended beautifully with the beeswax, which gives everything a roundness, a depth. As much as I love the herb, I dislike wearing lavender because it tends to overpower everything else. Not so here: lavender smoke is not smoky per se, rather it’s a softer, wispier version of lavender and it’s perfect with the subdued incense note and the slightly creamy beeswax. The only Travelogue scent I got a bottle of and I’m so happy I did!

Lemon peel and white incense. Sometimes the simpler blends can be really stunning, and I've been hoping for a lemon-based one because citrus notes always improve my mood. This is very, very pretty; especially when first applied. The lemon peel lifts and brightens while the incense note gives it depth - I'm not sure how Beth achieved the "white" quality with this incense but that is most definitely what it is. And it's not "lemon Pledge" at all, nor is it juicy, fleshy lemon; it's a bright hint of lemon zest. There is a point about midway through the drydown when it threatens to go funky on my skin, but that hint of funk quickly dissipates and it's back to being light and pretty. The far drydown is a slightly spicy lemon peel. Really nice. A very early-Springtime type of fragrance.

LIPS FULL OF LUST AND LAUGHTER O lips full of lust and of laughter, Curled snakes that are fed from my breast, Bite hard, lest remembrance come after And press with new lips where you pressed. Red musk, wildflower honey, elemi, tangerine, and mint. I ordered a bottle of this unsniffed, based on the red musk/ honey/ elemi combo which works so well for me in Third Charm. I wish I could afford the entire Our Lady of Pain update. I am not really picking out all the individual notes but I'm imagining that the underlying juiciness is from the tangerine and the lift, the subtle brightness is from the mint - there is nothing fruity or minty per se here, though. It's sweet and musky and just lovely. The red musk is not the usual RED MUSK, because it is blending so lovingly with the honey. I adore this one and I think it represents this part of the poem perfectly. It is...quite exquisite. I have a feeling that every scent in this update is going to be stellar. True to form, his one has aged absolutely magnificently. It's sweet and musky and bright and beautiful and I adore it.

I adore this! A perfect blend of Dorian and Antique Lace, without the too-sweet quality each scent has on me individually. I get zero pink pepper and zero lavender - or the latter blends so well with the vanilla and tea that it's indistinct, which is fine by me. Feminine and pretty, with fairly decent wear and a nice throw. I'll reach for this one a lot.

Attributed to Luis Paret y Alcaza Black lily and black pepper with narcissus, white musk, and white sandalwood. Lawd, lawd, this is pretty. Very much a classic perfume vibe with the high toned florals, the dry white sandalwood, and my beloved white musk - but with an unexpected kick from the black pepper. In the middle stage I get something that almost has an astringent quality, but then it smooths out again and settles into a slightly musky, slightly spicy floral. If you like lily and/or narcissus, you should try this.