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  1. forspecial_plate

    Rice Field

    By forspecial_plate,

    I wore Lovers In A Rice Field again today, and I like it more and more. The plum blossom was much more apparent, and overall it smells like some kind of fabulous plum/cream dessert, but still not totally foody. It's rather on the femme side for a bearded guy like me but that doesn't hasn't stopped me from wearing it, and in some situations it would be just great. Possible bottle? Or maybe just another decant would suffice. Still have to test my other decants which are still pending, and there may be another favorite among those.
  2. forspecial_plate
    Three Gorgons (I no longer think I want a whole bottle of this.....Satan And Death is a better citrus-y scent)
    Dia
    Flowering Chrysanthemums
    Lovers In A Ricefield
    Glukuprikos
    Silence
    Carnaval Diabolique
    Satan And Death With Sin Intervening
    Obatala
  3. forspecial_plate
    As much as I can remember, Lupercalia is my least favorite of the yearly 'big updates' from Black Phoenix. Every year, I get excited about trying some new scents, but overall, they've had the lowest success rate for me. I like a couple of the Shunga scents from '08, like Ebisu Making Love, and Men Ringing Bells (actually bought a whole bottle of that one, even though I don't wear it much). They both remind me of some kind of fabulous, expensive hair care products. And I really like Chintimani-Dhupa, which I think was a Lupercalia scent.
     
    Today I got some of my decants from this year's update, and so far I've briefly tested Miller Vs. California, Lovers In A Rice Field, and Lovers With Rutting Cats. I think the Rice Field is the best out of those, but again, it smells like some kind of fancy shampoo or conditioner. Not so much foody as drinky to me, it starts out rather like shampoo or soap. Then it drifts into plum tea, then later into plum wine. This scent, in the early stages especially, is extremely reminiscent of one of the 4 Fat Cats wax tarts, but I can't remember which one. Basmati Rice, or maybe White Plum Chutney. This is nice because it reminds me of when I lived in northern Kentucky, three years ago, which although not the greatest time of my life, does have some pleasant memories.
     
    Lovers With Rutting Cats is probably my least favorite of the three. It reminds me of Love's Philosophy, but not as sweet or sugary. Or maybe Stimulating Sassafras Strengthener, without the sassafras. Basically I get a lot of vanilla that comes off a little plasticky, and as a whole, the scent just feels a little flat or one-dimensional to me. I might be spoiled because so many other bpal scents seem 'deep' to me, and this one just falls flat on my skin, unfortunately. Of course, this is from a first impression, and those sometimes change.
     
    Miller Vs. California is an interesting one. This scent actually smells more complex than the notes suggest. I first smelled a lot of sweetness, fruit, berries, and cream. The leather seems to be a supporting note only, nothing like the leather in Quincey Morris, or other leathery blends. As this one dries, it changes a lot. The papery note and the leather both come out stronger, and it also seems to get spicier, which I attribute to either the leather, fig, or possibly both (or maybe something else entirely!). At the beginning, this reminds me a lot of the newer Milk Moon, which I hated, but this is better....the cream isn't so sour or cloying. It's creamy, but the sweetness of the berries and fig balance it out a little more. I think the leather is actually helping to ground the scent a lot, even though I couldn't really smell it at first. Later, after drying, this scent smells entirely different.....it does remind me of some other GC scent, but I can't think of which one. Nephelim? Or the one I can never spell, Tzadikim Nasturtium or something. Anyway, I swear there is another scent that smells something like this, but I can't place which one it is. I like the early sweet and creamy stage more than the later, dry, papery/spicy stage of this one.
     
    So far I can't say that I'm likely to get much wear out of these, but I also have yet to try my other decants. I have Flowering Chrysanthemums and Phallus Head still to try, as well as decants from another circle still on the way. I'm really looking forward to Dia and Glukuprikos (sp?).
  4. forspecial_plate

    bottle wants

    By forspecial_plate,

    In order, roughly......
     
    Three Gorgons
    Dia
    Flowering Chrysanthemums
    Lovers In A Ricefield
    Glukuprikos
    Silence (pending)
    Carnaval Diabolique
    Satan And Death With Sin Intervening
    Obatala
  5. forspecial_plate
    I don't have a scent locket. I've thought about buying one, and I bought one for my sister, but I've never bought one for myself. I always think, "I have so many different scents that I can hardly decide what to wear on any given day. A scent locket is just going to make that decision more complex and difficult. It's like adding another layer to the whole business when what I really want to do is simplify".
     
    However, every once in a while I come across a scent that is really nice, but seems that it would be better suited for a scent locket. So now I'm going to start making note of that here. Tamamo-No-Mae is such a scent. It is very, very lovely, but somewhat fleeting. When I first put it on, it has these delicate, sparkly top notes, something almost minty, that could be from the tea or maybe ginger, or who knows what. Anyway, I love that part of the scent, but on my skin it lasts all of 5 minutes! It's still a great scent after that, just very subtle and kind of like skin-incense, the powder stuff (although I've never tried that). Kind of fruity and smokey-sweet at the same time.
     
    So, as a note to myself, or a reminder, when I do eventually get a scent locket, Tamamo-No-Mae would be a great scent for it. I think that sparkly note in the beginning might last longer, and the scent as a whole might be a little stronger in a locket. If I find more scents that seem tailor-made for a locket, I'll continue to make note of it here.
  6. forspecial_plate

    blogy

    By forspecial_plate,

    Bleeehhhhhh.........
     
    My 5th night in a row at work.......do not feel like being here.......wish I brought my real paper journal with me........but I do actually have school work I should be doing. But I don't really have the attention span right now!
     
    I'm finding myself very busy lately, and it seems like there's not enough time in the day to do the things I want or need to do. So I don't even try. With the time I do have I end up laying around playing video games. Ah well, life could be worse, and I really can't complain.
     
    Spending too much money on perfume lately, but that's nothing new. I have Mad Hatter and Baron Samedi bottles on the way, which is awesome.
     
    Can't seem to settle on one topic so that's all for now.
  7. forspecial_plate
    [i will periodically copy and past my wish-list, because I edit it pretty often and sometimes like to look at old versions]
     
    Bold type just means I have a particular interest, or higher priority for that scent. I try to update this pretty often....
     
    5ml interests...or partials, I love partials! : )
    A Blade Of Grass
    Baron Samedi
    Carceri d'Invenzione
    Carnaval Diabolique
    Cloister Graveyard In The Snow
    Great Sword Of War
    Obatala
    Satan and Death With Sin Intervening
    Scales Of Deprivation
    Theodosius
    Three Gorgons
    Wood Phoenix
     
    GC imps that I want (imps/decants would be delightful)
    Aelopile
    Baghdad
    Bensiabel
    Black Hellebore
    Brisingamen
    Bruised Violet Compound
    The Caterpillar
    Deep In Earth
    Frumious Bandersnatch
    Hanging Gardens
    Hecate
    Imp
    Inferno
    Intrigue
    Jersey Devil
    Kill-Devil
    Lampades
    Libertine
    Love's Torments
    Lyonesse
    Mary Read
    Nero
    Niflheim
    No. 93 Engine
    Nostrum Remedium
    The Phantom Wooer
    Port Royal
    Queen of Sheba
    Rome
    Santo Domingo
    The Sea Foams Blood
    Serpents With Glittering Eyes And Forky Tongues
    Strangler Fig
    Sundew
    Sybaris
    Thorns
    To A Woman
    Tushnamatay
    Verdandi
    The Witch's Garden
     
    'Set Only' imps/unimpables I would like (imps or decants)
    The Ecstacy of St. Theresa
    Famine
    Haloes
    The House
    The Ifrit
    La Vague
    Lucretia
    Madonna
    Parsifal
    Silence
    Three Brides
    Three Gorgons
     
    LE/Trading Post/etc Decants ISO any testable amount
    413 U.S. 15/Miller Vs. California
    The Blood Garden
    The Bloody Sword
    Cagliostro
    The Chapel
    The Contract Of Theophilus Of Adana
    The Cracked Bell
    Damnation
    Humbug
    Knucklebones
    Long Night Moon
    Moana
    Pumpkin Patch III (2007)
    Scattered Gloom
    Shill
    Tupapau
    Uncertain Horror
    Upa Upa
    Virgo 2007
    Yule
     
    Single Notes dream list (decants) Ambergris, Black Cherry, Black Musk, Black Poppy, Cherry, Licorice Bark, Light Myrrh, Oakmoss, Red Musk, Red Mysore Sandalwood, Redwood, Siberian Musk, Tonka Bean, White Sandalwood
  8. forspecial_plate
    I'm at work....I'm bored, anxious, and nervous all at the same time. I want to write things but it's all random and unconnected.
     
    I have 2 final exams Saturday.....well, another one online that is due by Saturday, so 3 all together. I'm freaking out because I think my grades are right on the C/D edge, and I need to do really well on my exams. I can't get any D's, I just can't. If I do, my tuition won't get paid by my employer, and I will most likely have to wait another year to move forward in this program. So yeah, I'm freaking out.
     
    Speaking of work, I am in need of some nights off. I am off this weekend, but Saturday's final exams kind of ruin the weekend. Sure I'm off Saturday night, but then I go back Sunday night, which doesn't leave me much time to do anything. What do I want to do? Well, I've been wanting to visit my friend Kevin in Columbus (Ohio), and to really relax I want more than one night off to do this. Then, next week is my spring break, except I work almost every night. I'm off Wednesday night but that's it. Long story short, I am getting burned out and I need a break.
     
    And these people that I deal with at work are driving me crazy! In fact I have to cut this short because we're getting busy again and I have to actually work instead of typing in a blog.
  9. forspecial_plate
    This is the scent that I can never spell. : /
     
    It has given me different impressions the three times that I wore it. Mostly it is herbal, resins, and somehow slightly woody. I can pick out chamomile, frankincense, and amber. I have never learned to identify saffron (I'm not sure what it tastes like either), but I think it adds a slight medicinial, bitter feel from what I've heard. Not unpleasant at all. At first I didn't think this scent was powdery, but I put some on tonight and applied very lightly (not sure if that made the difference), and it definitely is powdery this time, kind of the same way that Minotaur is powdery.
     
    Anyway, this reminds me of several other bpal scents, like Sol, Sagittarius, and Carceri D'Invenzione as portalkat mentioned. I swear there's a little bit of wood in here. So, do I like it? Yes! I didn't care for Sol all that much, but this seems to be more like what I wanted from that scent. It's unique. I can wear this to work, because it's not all dark and sexy, even with the element of darkness.
  10. forspecial_plate

    Blaaaaah

    By forspecial_plate,

    I am so freakin' excited! And I want to talk about it but I have nobody to yak at.
     
    There is a new game coming out, made by the people who made Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus. I have been waiting patiently for info for a very long time. I knew it would be exclusive to PS3, and I knew I'd have to get a PS3 system just to play this, whenever it comes out.
     
    Anyway, there was a trailer for the game leaked to the internet last week (working title is Project Trico). It looks amazing. It hasn't been confirmed as being real, but I'm betting it is, because it looks too good to be a fake. Apparently the video is over a year old, so the finished product will be even better. I can't wait to play this!!
     
    I would be really happy if it came out this fall or winter. I realize it may take longer, but my fingers are crossed. Hopefully more will be announced at E3 this week.
  11. forspecial_plate

    Lawn Gnome

    By forspecial_plate,

    This scent is quite unusual, and I appreciate the artistry behind it. I have found over 3 tests that I probably won't wear it out and about, but I will keep my decant. It's so unique, I'd like to have it around for when the mood strikes.
     
    Mostly I smell a heavy sweetness, and fruit. I enjoy cooking with molasses, but it's not something I ever thought I'd want to smell like! I found that the molasses combined with the moss and patchouli give this scent an earthy, almost smokey element that is truly compelling. After multiple tests I noticed that the sugary element comes close to banana when I sniff up close, kind of like Mr. Nancy did (until it aged and didn't smell like banana any more). In fact, Lawn Gnome is almost like Mr. Nancy's rugged, outdoorsy cousin. Same family, but more into camping and gardening (duh), not cocktail lounges or fedoras.
     
    The only problem is that something about this scent turns on me far into the dry-down. It becomes just a little flat and almost ashy, but I can't pin down what's causing it. I truly loved the opening stages enough to keep this around.
  13. forspecial_plate

    Damn.

    By forspecial_plate,

    So now I'm kicking myself, because I just tried Brom Bones, and holy-mother-of-pearl......this is beyond sexy. I'm definitely going to need a whole bottle of this, rather than a puny decant. I already loved Quincey Morris, and this is close but even better. Just incredible. This should have been my bottle choice, rather than Chant D'Autumne (which I like, but nothing like B. Bones......).
  14. forspecial_plate
    I guess basically it's insecurity that I'm feeling. NYE was fun, but ever since then I've been worrying that I made an ass of myself....said the wrong things.....acted like a dumbass......etc. I hung out with 3 of my friends, 2 of them are a couple I know, both very good looking, good friends, always gracious to me and I know I worry needlessly. They were nothing but nice and let me crash on their couch, invited me to a great dinner, went out of their way to make fun drinks I hadn't tried before (caiphirina? I don't know how to spell it), but I can't seem to just let go of my worries and just have fond memories of the whole night. I envy them because I am single and when I let myself think about it, not really happy about it, so I usually just try to focus on school and work. Anyway.....just feeling totally unworthy and trying to write about it to get it all out. Really nothing new in my world.
  15. forspecial_plate
    Here's what I think.
     
    BERRY MOON
    A golden summer musk with warm fig, orange blossom honey, sweet blueberries, and bright velvety crimson raspberries.
     
    Not for me, I'm relieved to say (because I have no money to buy it anyway!). I like the sound of golden summer musk, and maybe fig, but nothing else here is my bag.
     
    STINKY
    A cure for sweaty bits and sticky wilting. Stinky is a summer refresher ‘foom for people that don’t dig run-of-the-mill “clean” scents: newly-washed skin with a dusting of rice milk, white honey, and baby powder.
     
    Hee-hee! Also not for me.....but if this wasn't inspired by little Lilith, I'll eat my hat! : )
     
    APEROTOS EROS
    Unloving love: benzoin, Indian musk, massoia bark, myrrh, ambrette seed, galbanum, bergamot, and fir.
     
    This is probably the most interesting thing on the whole update for me. Indian musk might be soapy for me, but otherwise I'm game for an imp.
     
     
    WHOSO LIST TO HUNT
    Sensual brown musk, rich amber, English rose, oak bark, and moss.
     
    Just not calling to me......brown musk sounds powdery, and I'm not very much into rose.
     
    ALICE’S EVIDENCE
    Containing nary a neutron of meaning: rum-quince-cassis with prune and a bit of black ginger.
     
    This could be interesting, but I'm not a huge fan of fruity scents (which seem to abound in this update!), so I'm probably safe to pass on this one.
     
    ALL IN THE GOLDEN AFTERNOON
    A bizarre blend of pineapple, tangerine, tobacco, apricot, and seltzer coated with hazy amber and heady sun-baked flowers.
     
    More fruit! I like to eat it but not wear it. Of course there are exceptions to every rule.
     
    TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE BAT
    A sparkly, batty little scent: green tea, melon, mint, lime rind, and champagne grape with lemon balm, mullein, and toadflax.
     
    Again, a little too fruity for me. I really don't like melon, and probably not champagne grape either.
     
    IMPERIOUS TIGER-LILY
    (Tiger-lily, ginger root, neroli, purple fruits, and frankincense.)
     
    I actually kind of like Tiger-Lily. However, I generally steer clear of neroli, and again, there are those fruits.
     
    SNOOTY ROSE
    (Red rose, oud, plum, bergamot, and red sandalwood.)
     
    Not to be snooty, but no rose for me, thank you!
     
    HIGH-STRUNG DAISIES
    (Daisy, pink carnation, pink pepper, and sugar.)
     
    Hee hee.....the story makes me giggle.....but very much not a scent for me!
     
    BRUSQUE VIOLET
    (Violet petal, violet leaf, osmanthus, orris, mint, and opoponax.)
     
    Hmm, never really got into violet, but I wouldn't be against trying this. Maybe I'll tack on an imp when I order again.
     
    HOW DOTH THE LITTLE CROCODILE
    Chocolate peppermint, mint-soaked vanilla, pistachio, oakmoss, and green cedar.
     
    I'd be more interested, if not for the chocolate note. Sounds like a fun scent, though!
     
    AGAINST IDLENESS AND MISCHIEF
    Pollen-dusted honey, diligent tonka, steadfast chamomile, and goodly hyssop.
     
    Eh, I am really not into honey. Definitely not for me.
     
    ‘TIS THE VOICE OF THE LOBSTER
    A woody, musky-weird base glooping over with blackberry preserves, a twist of mandarin, strawberry juice, pulverized watermelon, and a handful of smushed gardenia petals.
     
    Well, I like woody, musky weirdness, but that's about it, out of all those notes!
     
    THE SLUGGARD
    Pious frankincense, angelic gardenia, unsoiled pear, and staunch ho wood conflict with prickly, overgrown thistle, idle labdanum, and lethargic lavender.
     
    This has potential, I just can't imagine what it will smell like! It might be the biggest 'wild-card' for me, in this update. Definitely worth a try.
     
    So, overall, I'm really relieved that I'm safe from just about everything here! I was a little worried, but now I've got more time to save up for the upcoming goodies.
  16. forspecial_plate
    Breakdown! I have rated some of these according to my interest, on a scale of 1-5.
     
    ALL SAINTS 2010
    Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind. A celebration of the glory and suffering of the saints and matryrs of the Church.
    Not interested. All those flowers sound like soap to me.
     
    ALL SOULS 2010
    A day of remembrance and intercession. Without the prayers and sacrifices of their families and loved ones, the faithful departed may not be cleansed of their venal sins, and thereby cannot attain beatific vision. On November 2nd, prayers are sung and offerings are made to aid lost souls in transcending purgatory. An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes.
    I like my decant of All Souls '06, and I might want more of this. It starts out cakey and turns into floral incense, in a good way. 3/5
     
     
    BLUE PUMPKIN FLOSS
    Puffy clouds of pumpkin candyfloss with a trickle of blackberry juice.
    Not for me, thanks....more for all the gals who've been waiting for this!
     
    BOO 2010
    Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream
    No thank you......
     
    CALAVERAS
    Clever little satirical poems in the style of epitaphs written to tease the living and ease grief over a loved one's passing. Xocolatl, tequila, copal incense, smoke-dried jalapeños, vanilla pods, and cajeta.
    I'll have to look up a couple of these notes, but I am not a big fan of copal (I do like it in incense, but not perfume), and I'm leaning towards nyet on this one.
     
     
    DIA DE LOS ÑATITAS
    Hydrangea blossoms and rose petals, cigarette smoke, cocoa leaves, and chichi.
    Leaning towards no....don't really need a scent with rose and chocolate. Is chichi milk? 2/5
     
    FLOR DE MUERTO
    The orange marigold, or zempasúchitl, has been one of Death's symbols since the pre-Columbian era. The yellow and orange petals are believed to represent the rays of the sun, bringing joy and light to the souls dwelling in the realm of the dead. These flowers surround Day of the Dead altars to guide the spirits to their offerings.
    I am interested, because I just like the idea of marigold perfume. They remind me of my grandma Nena, who liked to grow them. And it seems like they would be sort of a bitter or earthy floral, but really I have no idea. Want to try! 4/5
     
    GHOULISH
    This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron.
    Hmmm....at first I thought no, not interested. But reading it again, it sounds rather decadent and almost incensey, even though it's a foody/drinky scent. Sounds kind of sexy, actually. Decant? 3/5
     
    THE HAG
    Black musk, bay leaves, galangal, bourbon vetiver, blackcurrant, and rum.
    Interesting.....I know I need to try this, so decant. Blackcurrant and rum are the iffy notes. 4/5
     
     
    GOLLETES
    A circular pastry glazed with pink sugar that symbolizes the sweetness of life and the certainty of death.
    Nope, no thanks!
     
    HUESOS DE SANTO 2010
    Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers.
    I like my decant of the last one, but I wouldn't need a whole bottle. Perhaps another decant if it crosses my path. 3/5
     
    LAMBS-WOOL 2010
    A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove.
    I like this scent but in the end it was just too sweet, to the point of being cloying. I want more spices and ale, I think. I'll watch reviews and see if it has changed since last time. 2/5
     
    NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
    Dewy green leaves colored by Moroccan amber, ginseng, and rooibos.
    Ha ha....reminds me of the Outsiders or one of those old teen movies. Anyway, this sounds great, and I'm really interested in trying it. 4/5
     
    OCTOBER 2010
    Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air.
    Well, I love this scent, but I don't need any more unless it has changed a lot from the previous one.
     
    PUMPKIN LATTE
    Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
    Worth a decant to sniff but not super exciting to me. 3/5
     
    PUNKIE NIGHT 2010
    This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider.
    Never was very interested in this scent, for some reason. Sounds too fruity with the cranberries, I generally don't like berries in my perfume.
     
    SAMHAIN 2010
    Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.
    I can most likely skip Samhain this year, since I have 2 bottles and several decants of various years already. I do love Samhain, though.
     
    SUGAR SKULL 2010
    Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.
    Hmmm......I have half a bottle from '07, and decants of '05 and '08.....do I need more? I love Sugar Skull, but maybe a decant will be enough for me. 4/5
     
    THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE
    October twilight. Falling leaves breaking the stillness of cool water, with sweet autumn clematis, feather-soft orris root, luminous white chypre, and muguet.
    Hmmmm....kind of on the edge about this one but leaning towards no. Sounds very pretty but orris and muguet sound powdery and/or soapy to me. 2/5
     
    HALLOWEEN: BROOKLYN
    Flowering dogwood, weeping cherry, Korean pine, camellia, moonflower, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and crab apples.
    These notes sound soapy to me, especially moonflower. I'll pass on this one (even though pine and spruce make me want to sniff.....). 3/5
     
    HALLOWEEN: LOS ANGELES
    The sky on fire: a strange incense of burning brush, junegrass, tumbleweeds, chaparral, and wild sage.
    I love the description and the imagery supplied by Beth. I forget what chaparral is but I want to try this. Decant first, probably. 4/5
     
    HALLOWEEN: NEW ORLEANS
    The distinctive scent of the Mississippi at night mingling with sweet olive and Spanish moss.
    Moss is not always good to me, but sometimes very good to me. Worth a try because I do like aquatics in general. 4/5
     
    HALLOWEEN: SAN FRANCISCO
    Salt air wafting in from the bay. Rain falling on rain-soaked leaves.
    Sounds awesome! Decant first, just to be cautious. 4/5
     
    POMEGRANATE I
    Pomegranate, poet's jasmine, and benzoin.
    Well, I like benzoin, but pomegranate and jasmine are not thrilling to me. Probably pass. 2/5
     
    POMEGRANATE II
    Pomegranate, white musk, lemon verbena, grapefruit, pink lime.
    Yeah...this is probably the least interesting of the pom. scents to me. Pass-ola. 1/5
     
    POMEGRANATE III
    Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh.
    Potential decant. 3/5
     
    POMEGRANATE IV
    Pomegranate, cognac, red musk, cocoa, tobacco absolute, star anise, and thyme.
    Don't like cocoa that much with a couple of exceptions. Probably pass.....maybe decant. We'll see. 3/5
     
    POMEGRANATE V
    Pomegranate, carnation, amber, cardamom, neroli, vetiver, black pepper, and opium tar.
    Hmm, sounds interesting, kind of foppish? Possibly worth a try. 3/5
     
    Pomegranate patch only imp:
    THE HERAEON OF ARGOS
    Argive Hera. The temple in the Argolid that was dedicated to Hera, the Queen of Heaven, in her aspect as the Great Triple Goddess. Pomegranate, apple blossom, fig, willow bark, and almond.
    Not calling to me very much, although I would definitely try it if it crossed my path. 2/5
     
    THE BYRONIC ANTIHERO
    An aristocratic cologne of titanic passions, moody and brooding. This scent is dark with disillusionment and cynicism: a Victorian fougère and a dashing carnation boutonnière tainted by a cloud of khus, yew, and patchouli.
    Hmmm, sounds interesting, and did I mention foppish somewhere else? Could be a nice proper dude-fume. Possible decant. 3/5
     
    THE CREEPING MIST
    A muculent, brumous, ill-omened scent: orris, yuzu, white ginger, linden flower, petitgrain, and lotus.
    Interesting. Orris tells me to back away, and in general not my kind of scent.....but could still be worth a try. Will watch reviews and possibly try a decant if I see it available somewhere. 2/5
     
    THE DECREPIT HOUSE
    An architectural doppelganger reflecting a ruined soul: dilapidated planks of mahogany and cypress wood perched feebly on a grim foundation of long-dead leaves, black musk, patchouli, galbanum, tobacco absolute, fragonia, and oakmoss.
    Yay, another Poe scent! I like them. This looks like a bleak and dreary Halloween scent and it's worth a decant, probably. 4/5
     
    A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS
    A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint.
    Aww, the description and concept are reaching out to me with grabbing hands, but I just don't like brown musk. I'm going to have to try a decant of this and hope for the best. This kind of reminds me of the updated Wolf Moon, which I love. 4/5
     
    THE INFERNAL LOVER
    A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk.
    Don't usually like honey at all, but still.....I'd like to sniff this at some point. 2/5
     
    ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES
    Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud.
    If this is one of those scents where the rose is just a hint, I could be interested. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5
     
     
    ENCROACHING MADNESS
    A yellow smell. Old foul, bad yellow things. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, balsam, hydrangea, and helichrysum.
    I would love to try this just because of the inspiration. But reading the notes listed, I'd have to say 'pass'. We'll see. 2/5
     
    THE SHADOWY AND THE SUBLIME
    A sudden and shocking insight into the vast, ineffable, overwhelming power of Nature, stirred by a vision or experience of perfected beauty and perfected terror, that changes the soul irretrievably. An epiphany: Moroccan amber, wisteria, ambergris accord, white rose, magnolia, white mint, angelica, bergamot, and myrrh.
    This probably has too many flowers, and white rose and I do not get along. Love the description and imagery, though. 2/5
     
    THE MADWOMAN
    Dusty white sandalwood, ragged cloth, and a dry, long-dead bridal bouquet.
    Just like the preceding scent, love the concept, but not the notes listed. 'Dusty white sandalwood' doesn't appeal to me, and neither does the bouquet. 1/5
     
    ODD PORTENTS
    Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense.
    Again with the rose! And I was excited about this one. I might still try this, but I don't really like geranium in perfume either. Another possible decant.... 3/5
     
    THE UNSAVORY GRAVE-DIGGERS
    An unearthed oakwood coffin, cemetery weeds, and a hint of booze.
    Sounds a little dank. I'll be watching reviews. 2/5
     
    THE UNSTEADY GOVERNESS
    White tea and violet leaf.
    Not calling me. 2/5
     
    .....so looks like I'm pretty safe with a few exceptions. I like the sound of the San Francisco and LA Halloween scents, and a few others like Nothing Gold Can Stay and the marigold one. I'll probably play my usual game and gamble on something I'm not sure about (the marigold scent sounds like a good candidate because I have no idea how that will smell), and get a few decants. I also need to go back and try Lambs-Wool again just to be sure.
     
    And finally, I need to read the text more slowly for the Goth Lit scents, as that could change my mind on one or more of them. I noticed it says Vol. 1.....will there be more volumes? Interesting!
  17. forspecial_plate
    First of all.....if you're reading this, and I complain about something that you do, please don't take it personally. Just a minor pet peeve of mine.
     
    I've noticed a trend lately with reviews. People are writing their reviews based only on sniffing the scent in the vial, not putting it on the skin. This drives me crazy. Basically, it's like judging a book by it's cover. In my experience, most scents smell totally different, or they go through changes, after they touch a person's skin. I admit, when I go to a meet 'n sniff, I don't try on every scent that I come across. I smell some of them in the bottle and make a judgment based solely on that impression. But that is different from writing a review for other people to read.
     
    When I read a review of a scent, and the person didn't actually try it on, I write it off as completely useless to me.
  18. forspecial_plate

    Moody Myrtle

    By forspecial_plate,

    I have quit smoking again. I worked myself up to it, picked a date, and took the plunge. Please excuse any moody outbursts, I apologize in advance.
     
    I also quit drinking, since that usually leads to smoking (music leads to dancing, and dancing leads to touching).
     
    Anyway, this shouldn't be hard for me, I have already quit both for over 7 years in the past, and I was pretty dumb to start again.
  19. forspecial_plate

    wishy wishy!

    By forspecial_plate,

    Bold type just means I have a particular interest, or higher priority for that scent. Colored text indicates added after first post. I try to update this pretty often....
     
    possible bottles
    Baron Samedi
    Dragon's Blood
    Fearful Pleasure
    Great Sword Of War
    The Mad Hatter
    Satan and Death With Sin Intervening
    Three Gorgons
     
    On the Fence, at the Carnaval!! (not sure if I want whole bottles of these or not)
    Carnaval Diabolique
    Isaac, the Living Skeleton
    Priala, the Human Phoenix
    The Chapel
    Theodosius, the Legerdemain
    Wulric, the Wolfman
     
    GC imps that I want
    Aelopile
    Baghdad
    Bathsheba
    Black Hellebore
    Brisingamen
    Bruised Violet Compound
    The Caterpillar
    Danube
    Death Cap
    Deep In Earth
    The Dormouse
    Dragon's Reverie
    Eclipse
    Fascinum
    Frumious Bandersnatch
    Hamadryad
    Hanging Gardens
    Hecate
    Hymn To Proserpine
    Imp
    Inferno
    Intrigue
    Jersey Devil
    Kill-Devil
    Kubla Khan
    Kumari Kandam
    Lampades
    Libertine
    Love's Torments
    Lyonesse
    Mad Hatter
    Mandrake
    Mary Read
    Medea
    Mouse's Long and Sad Tale
    Nero
    Niflheim
    No. 93 Engine
    Nostrum Remedium
    Othello
    Penthus
    The Phantom Wooer
    Phoenix Steamworks
    Plunder
    Port Royal
    Queen of Sheba
    Rome
    Salome
    Santo Domingo
    Scales Of Deprivation
    Schrodinger's Cat
    Shanghai
    Shango
    Strangler Fig
    Sundew
    Sybaris
    To A Woman
    Tombstone
    Tushnamatay
    Unicorn
    Verdandi
    Voodoo
     
    'Set Only' imps/unimpables I would like (imps or decants)
    And There Was A Great Cry In Egypt
    The Ecstacy of St. Theresa
    Famine
    Fox Fires on New Year's Eve at the Garment Nettle Tree at Oji
    Haloes
    The House
    Judith Victorious
    La Vague
    Lucretia
    Madonna
    Mama-Ji
    Parsifal
    Rozpustnica
    Silence
    Three Brides
     
    Decant Me (partial decants? half decants? droplets? all are acceptable, I just want to try these)
    The Bloody Sword
    Boo Bam
    Cagliostro
    The Chapel
    The Contract Of Theophilus Of Adana
    The Cracked Bell
    Damnation
    Dia De Los Muertos
    Fire Eater
    Isaac, the Living Skeleton
    Ivanushka
    Knucklebones
    Long Night Moon
    Moana
    Opuhi
    Pumpkin Patch III (2007)
    Shill
    Tiki Queen
    Tupapau
    Upa Upa
    Yule
     
    Single Notes dream list (decants) Ambergris, Black Cherry, Black Musk, Black Poppy, Cherry, Licorice Bark, Light Myrrh, Oakmoss, Red Musk, Red Mysore Sandalwood, Redwood, Siberian Musk, Tonka Bean, White Sandalwood
     
    The following are basically for my own reference....it helps me to keep this all in one place, and the update onslaught is just about killing me! But I do love trying all the new stuff.
     
    Czech and Speake
    Cuba
    Frankincense and Myrrh
     
    Possets
    Aiden
    Crickets
    Eve
    Nigel
    Rhode Island
    Vermont
     
    CB I Hate Perfume
    Wild Hunt
  20. forspecial_plate
    Continuing my previous posts.....how could I overlook the Snake Pit? I bought the whole thing when it first came out, swapped out a couple of those bottles (Asp Viper, Banded Sea Snake, Green Tree Viper, Australian Copperhead....okay, more than a couple), and I still want to get rid of Saw-Scaled Viper, eventually. But with the ones that I've kept, I doubt that I will need any kind of Snake Oil-related scent again, ever.......especially since I have 2 bottles of Snake Oil itself 'cellared' (and it's hard to believe one of them will be 2 years old in November!). Oh and I swapped that imp of Anaconda for Doc Buzzard, a worthy trade in my opinion.
     
    So unless Snake Charmer is re-released, I am good on Snakey scents for a long, long time. At the rate I wear oils, I may never use them up completely.
  21. forspecial_plate
    Inez and Aeronwen are both bottle worthy. And Wild Men of Jezirat Al Tennyn. Have to re-try all of those, and again, make some decisions. Carnaval Diabolique is totally worth a bottle, so I have that one to consider as well. And I haven't even tried Isaac yet!! : /
     
    On the plus side, I have a nice, completely full, well-aged bottle of Mme. Moriarty that I love. Ditto Midnight On The Midway and Antonino.
     
    The big problem is Chaos Theory. I've been wanting a new round of CT for a long, long time......and I really want at least 6 or 7 bottles, possibly more. There is no way I can get all of this stuff, I just can't swing it. I think I'm actually pushing aside CD in favor of CT. CD will be around longer (and we still have more acts), and CT will only be around for a few weeks. And Chaos Theory is just so.......special! It's like my own little bottle of uniqueness, and a complete surprise, and just fun, fun, fun.
     
    So there ya go, I guess my decision is made. Buckle your seatbelts, it's going to be a Chaotic ride!!
  22. forspecial_plate
    As we all know, the Carnaval is leaving town very soon. I have a pretty decent selection of CD scents that I like, even a few bottles. Now is the time to get off the fence and decide on a couple that I've been waffling over.
     
    I had a decant of Wulric the Wolfman, and I did like it a lot. For some reason I swapped it or gave it away, I can't remember....probably because I thought I would end up getting a bottle. Well, I still haven't, and time is running out.
     
    I have a bottle of Doc Constantine, but it's only half full, and I'm wondering if I should get more or just leave it at that.
     
    .......actually now it's getting busy here at work, more later.
  23. forspecial_plate
    I tried this today, after the decant sat for a long time untouched. I was a little dismayed because it was barely there, and I thought it had aged badly or something. Then I read other reviews and I guess I'm not the only one! There is a little bit of throw, just a faint, sweet vanilla type of scent, with no spices or rum or anything like that. It's a cakey sort of scent, and I can barely pick up what might be some spices, only when I sniff up close.
  24. forspecial_plate
    First applied, this is lovely! Right away it's very sweet to me, and I don't really know which note is so sweet unless it's the opoponax. Anyway.....I can also smell the rain note, and it's the most lovely, delicate aquatic scent that I have experienced. It's so light and fragile that it's almost lost in the blend, but just strong enough that it stands out if you're 'looking' for it. I love aquatics and this aspect is stunning, but overall I don't consider this an aquatic scent.
     
    After the scent warms and dries on my skin, it seems to actually get stronger. It loses a little bit of the complexity of the very first stage, and the sweetness starts to get to me a little bit. I don't like honey in perfume, and this starts to remind me of honey somewhat.....a little cloying. And this stuff really has staying power and strength!
     
    I can really understand the comparisons to Samhain, but this reminds me even more of Autumn, except without the rose in that scent. I'm going to try applying with a lighter touch, and I refuse to give up on this scent, even though it turns too strong and a little cloying with the honey sweetness. What I learned from Samhain is that after 3 years, the sweetness balanced out with the other notes and it became something almost heartbreakingly beautiful. I hope for the same thing to happen with Falling Leaf Moon!
  25. forspecial_plate
    I usually keep this about scent but I have to rant and rave for a minute.
     
    I am so annoyed by people who write useless reviews on this forum! I realize their review might be useful to someone else. But it makes me feel like I wasted time clicking on the post to read it. I'm talking about when someone floods the reviews forum with very short reviews which basically reiterate the description of the scent (the Lab's description), and nothing more. And the very worst are when the person says "Oh, I couldn't even try this on my skin!". In my opinion, if you haven't tested it on your skin, you shouldn't review it!
     
    If you're reading this and you have written this type of review, don't take it personally. I am just in a ranting mood and it's a small pet peeve I have. I totally understand the value of writing a review as a form of 'note to self', which is actually one of the reasons I write reviews. Otherwise I can forget that I've already tried a scent and don't need to try it again. So in other words, don't change your writing habits just because of me! : )
     
    /rant
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