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  1. forspecial_plate
    Here are my thoughts. I need to write get it on paper (or on computer screen, as it were) so I can figure out what decants I want. And what bottles. Here we go....
     
    edit: decant desires bolded
     
    BLACK BUTTERFLY MOON
    Soft, deep, and luminous: Lady of the Night orchid, benzoin, opopponax, currant, black chypre, white gardenia, ambergris, damp, wooded mosses, and black lily.
    The notes sound nice, except for black lily. I don't feel the need to try this, though. Probably somewhat feminine and perfumey.
     
    THE LAST ROSE OF SUMMER
    A quiet, solitary scent: white rose, frankincense, Arabian sandalwood, neroli, orris root, and patchouli.
    With 'Rose' in the name, I can safely pass on this one. Not that I hate rose, but I don't really like orris and the combination here would probably be soapy and/or powdery.
     
    SHADOWLESS LIKE SILENCE
    Dry leaves and white sandalwood, rock moss, cypress, and dry, lifeless roses.
    Dry, lifeless roses sounds powdery or soapy to me. Another I can pass up. Edit: preliminary reviews are saying the rose is faint.....maybe a decant after all.
     
    SUMMER'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
    Doomed summer, supported on the shoulders of winter and autumn: citrus-infused Baltic amber, red valerian, marigold, blood orange, and sunflower subdued by somber myrrh and dry geranium alongside the leaves of autumn and a breath of winter wind.
    Sounds nice enough, except it does sound like at least one other blend that I already have a whole bottle of (Red Moon, the newer one). Worth a decant.
     
    UNDER THE HARVEST MOON
    Blue and white musk, summer roses, wild crimson leaves, grey amber, carnation, lavender bud, and vanilla bean.
    Sounds very perfumey which I know is a lame adjective but it describes the kind of scent that I'm trying to avoid lately. It's just the word I use for a particular quality that I don't know how else to describe.
     
    BITE ME
    Croquembouche with almond silk and a drizzle of caramel.
    Nah, not so much.....I'd sniff it given the chance but not going out of my way to obtain some.
     
    BOO
    Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream.
    Definitely not. I'm not into cotton/linen notes, or cream for that matter. Worth a sniff, though.
     
    CARLIN
    Black sage, ivy-twined rowan, thistle, snapdragon, heather, gorse, fumitory, and anise.
    Just not sure about this one.......worth a decant just to find out. I like herbal scents from time to time.
     
    CREEPY 2009
    A return of 2006's Ridiculous Scent! As creepy as Spooky was spooky, this is the scent of butterscotch-kissed, caramel-smothered red apples spiked with a blast of coconut rum.
    I swapped my bottle from '06, no need to try it again. It's nice enough but a little too rich for me.
     
    DEVIL'S NIGHT 2009
    This is the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk.
    One of my favorites, but I already have enough to last me a long time. I may get a decant if the reviews indicate it's different from the past ones.
     
    DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2009
    dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus.
    Never have tried this, I may end up with a decant eventually. I just don't like chocolate in perfume (usually).
     
    FEEDING THE DEAD
    A barrel of beer, a pyramid of cakes, and three sticks of incense.
    I am interested, enough for a decant.
     
    THE HELL-GATE OF IRELAND
    Smoldering brimstone, bitter labdanum, clove, black musk, and copper-colored feathers.
    This is one of the more interesting prospects. The only worry is that sometimes black musk is powdery. But not always. Decant.
     
    LAMBS-WOOL
    A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove.
    Warmed milk is the only thing holding me back from a decant. I will watch reviews.
     
    POMONA
    Azaroles, nuts, and apple blossoms with red apple pulp, mulberry, blackberry, and pomegranate juice.
    Nahh, too fruity for me. I'll stick with Possets' Pomona.
     
    SAMHAIN 2009
    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 am so stocked up on Samhain in its past incarnations, that I really don't need more at this point. Especially since I don't even wear it that much.
     
    SUCK IT
    Sexy and suckable: black cherry brandy.
    This sounds like it could be nice, just not sure. Possibly a decant?
     
    TRICK OR TREAT 2009
    The sticky sweet scent of candy corn! Even cornier for 2009! - cuz corny is how we roll at BPAL.
    I might like a decant, to compare with my older decant. I do like the sweet comforting scents every now and then, and the older one has a nice touch of spice.
     
    Pumpkin Patch I
    Pumpkin, almond, brown musk, and honey.
    Brown musk and honey make this a no-go.
     
    Pumpkin Patch II
    Pumpkin, rosewood, red sandalwood, and tea rose.
    Nah, not so much. Worth a sniff some time, maybe, but not priority right now.
     
    Pumpkin Patch III
    Pumpkin, fir needle, pitch, rosemary, and tomato.
    I would like a decant. I love pine and fir scents.
     
    Pumpkin Patch IV
    Pumpkin, black musk, tobacco, myrrh, and clove.
    Possibly worth a decant, we'll see how much I have to spend.
     
    Pumpkin Patch V
    Pumpkin, chocolate, coffee bean, vanilla bean, and hazelnut.
    There's that chocolate again.......again, worth a sniff, but probably not a priority right now.
     
    TATTIE BOGLE
    Hay, gunpowder, patchouli, autumn herbs, and sun-baked wood.
    Could be nice, if I ever ran across a sniffie.
     
    ARIADNE BRUNNELL
    Poppy flowers, peat, sphagnum moss, gardenia, and white water lily.
    Sounds good except for the lily. It's not one of my more successful notes.
     
    CLARIMONDE
    Pallid skin musk, white roses, and a languorous vapor of Oriental perfume.
    Again, perfumey. This will be very perfumey. Also I think skin musk reminds me of honey, which is a note I really don't like very often.
     
    CRISTINA
    Chestnut trees, juniper berries, violet leaf, labdanum, dazzling, moonlit white musk, and night-blooming summer flowers.
    Hmmm, could be worth a decant, just not sure on this one. As far as autumn scents, this is probably lower in my priorities, but it could be a nice scent.
     
    COUNTESS DOLINGEN OF GRATZ
    Hailstone-pounded cypress boughs, olibanum, and an ozone blast of lightning.
    Definitely want to try a decant of this.
     
    THE GIRL
    A seductive, serpentine white scent, elusive, crystalline, and spellbinding: white amber, silver birch, immortelle, davana, pale musk, star jasmine, and ylang ylang.
    Worth a sniff, but not so much calling to me.
     
    MIRCALLA, COUNTESS KARNSTEIN
    Languid, melancholy fire: red musk, purple orchid, frankincense, smoky vanilla, Styrian herbs, peru balsam, tonka, Zanzibar clove, and patchouli.
    This should appeal to me....but I think I have a few scents like this already. I will watch reviews.
     
    LORD RUTHVEN
    The father of all dandy aristocrat vampires: Aqua Admirabilis with polished boot leather and blood.
    I could be into this one......possibly a decant.
     
    SARAH
    Unholy mist congealing into soft, white flesh, with black marble, remnants of liturgical incense, wolf's fur, and black flecks of froth.
    Wolf's fur is the only thing I am wary of, because I don't like muzzy furry notes all that much. But this is just so odd, I have to try a decant.
     
    JULIA STONE
    Rotting once-white fabric, spotted with mold.
    I don't usually like linen notes, but I have a thing for the underdog. In most of the other breakdowns, everyone pretty much dismissed this one......which of course makes me want to try a decant! We'll see how the reviews go.
     
    PERLE VON MAUREN
    Heliotrope, grave soil, and blood.
    Soil is a gamble of a note for me, I think I'll let this one pass me by, unless the reviews shout otherwise.
     
    So, overall, no immediate bottle purchases. I have this nagging feeling about Lambs-Wool.....I think it's going to be a big hit, and I am pretty sure I want to try it. I might just get a surprise, even with the warm milk note! Other than that, I want to try the obvious masculine ones for the most part, and a couple others.
  2. forspecial_plate

    Halloween

    By forspecial_plate,

    I'm excited, of course, about the Halloween update coming up. It's my absolute favorite of all the special updates we get to see, and that's including Carnaval Diabolique. There's just something so special and cozy about fall for me. It makes me think of sleepovers, watching horror movies (good ones and bad ones), spicy and sweet goodies, brisk walks in chilly night air......the list goes on......
     
    My only complaint is that I don't take full advantage of all the fun things I could do in the fall season. This is due to my own laziness, and too much focus on work. But I do manage to make some fun goodies at home like mulled apple cider, or some kind of spicy baked goods. It's a great feeling to fire up the oven when it's actually cool outside. So warm and cozy!
     
    So obviously I'm really happy that the Halloween update will be coming along soon. Usually I buy one or two bottles unsniffed based on the descriptions, which is always fun because it adds an element of chance. Then I go nuts with decants. I think the one series that held the most favorites for me was the Order Of The Dragon. I just love Quncey Morris, Dr. John Seward, and of course Count Dracula. And then there are the old favorites like Samhain, Devil's Night, and now Death Of Autumn. It's funny.....Samhain is something I don't wear very often, probably less than 10 times during the whole year, but it's something that I just don't want to be without. When I want to smell it, nothing else will do. I think 2007 is the only year that I didn't at least try the new one, and I have a nearly full bottle from 2004.
     
    I just can't wait to see what autumn brings us this year! :love!:
  3. forspecial_plate
    Breakdown for the new scents (I need a break from studying, anyway)........I've never read Neverwhere or the other graphic novels, so these are based on notes, concepts, and imagery.
     
    Mr. Croup....."Pompous and predatory: tonka bean, black musk, bourbon geranium, and crushed porcelain". Intrigued by the crushed porcelain, but the bourbon geranium is probably the deal breaker. At least....I know I don't like rose geranium. May try a decant eventually.
     
    Mr. Vandemar....."Dark and gangly, with a glint of razor-sharp stainless steel behind it: opopponax, costus, black pepper, black sandalwood, and polished metal". Hmmm.....possibly.....but I'm kind of scared off by the black sandalwood, it hasn't worked much for me.....at least, I didn't like the one Ode To Mars scent that had black sandalwood. This looks interesting enough to try.
     
    Door.....golden honey, nope.
     
    The Marquis de Carabas....."A splash of bay rum, leather, dusty black wool, massoia bark, and opium residue". This looks pretty good, except maybe for dusty wool, but I'm willing to try a decant at some point.
     
    The Rat Speakers...."A snuffling, brown scent: earthy patchouli, sage, russet sandalwood, grimy leather, fig leaf, and lemongrass". This sounds reminiscent of Brown Jenkins, and some of the Wind In The Willows scents.....and none of them worked for me. I would try it if it comes my way but I can most likely skip this one.
     
    Anesthesia....."A scent that slips through the cracks: peppermint, lavender, bergamot, and mandrake". Sounds pretty and refreshing, not what I usually go for but I'm kind of attracted to it. Decant might be good at some point.
     
    Night's Bridge...."Stone and darkness". This sounds totally intriguing, especially since I loved Sarah from last year's Halloween blends. I will probably end up trying this one.
     
    Hunter....."Leonine amber, tanned hides, clove, and clary sage". Yes, I want to try this, definitely.
     
    The Floating Market....."A cacophony of curious scents: copaiba balsam, petitgrain, citrus rind, sinicuichi accord, betel nut, wasabi root, coconut palm, and wattleseed layered atop innumerable strange herbs, spices, and woods". Sounds really interesting, sometimes I can do the more herbal scents. some of these things I'm not familiar with but I really don't see anything that worries me.
     
    The Velvets....."Smooth inky musk, cathedral incense, ylang ylang, violet leaf, rose-infused amber, red sandalwood, and iris". This is interesting because I'm attracted to the concept and imagery more than the actual notes. Might be fun to risk a decant, and even better if I end up liking it.
     
    Lamia....."Deadly elegance: pale orchid, lily of the valley, vanilla amber, black currant, white peach, champaca, coconut, honeysuckle, Arabian myrrh, Burmese vetiver, and oude". Sounds pretty and womanly, but could be worth a try. I like most of the notes.....but lily can be a deal-breaker.
     
    Plutonian...."Soapy cleanliness sullied by blood and ashes". I don't like a lot of soapy scents but this could still work, and it's worth a try.
     
    Mr. Qubit....."Gleaming metal, electrical discharge, and a whiff of tinny cologne". Sounds kind of like last year's anniversary scents....which didn't really work for me. But I'm still interested in trying most things that are dude-centric, which this appears to be. I'll be watching reviews.
     
    Bette Noir.....sounds very womanly, I can probably pass on this one.
     
    Kaidan....I already tried this....not bad but didn't knock my socks off. I may try it again some day.
     
    Yurei....."White tea, hibiscus, Arabian sandalwood, white amber, ho leaf, pale Japanese flowers, and vetiver". Could be a nice springy scent. Worth a try, for sure.
     
    Alana Patel....."Faded perfume, cigarette smoke, and gin". Not my kind of thing, but I'd be interested in smelling it just because it contains a note of cigarette smoke.
     
    Witchblade...."Antediluvian, sacred metal, glowing red musk, blessed frankincense, and antiqued amber". Sounds pretty good to me....I think I'll have to try it!
     
    Sara Pezzini....honey-dusted.....nope!
     
    Det. Patrick Gleason....."A classic men's cologne splashed over a leather trenchcoat and a hint of gunshot residue". Sounds like it could be worth a try.
     
    The Curator....."Mysterious herbs and ancient resins. Dust settled on ancient relics, both holy and malevolent". Worth a try, but could be too dusty.
     
    Panther Moon....."Gleaming black musk, mandrake, labdanum, black ginger, benzoin, champaca, ambergris accord, myrrh, and star anise". I just don't know.....I mean, it sounds good, but I can't tell for sure if I'd like it, or if it will be too similar to other things I've tried. I didn't end up liking Velvet Panther, and black musk is one of those things that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't for me. This is very much worth a try, and could be worth a whole bottle. I just wish I could decide!
     
    All of the honey scents........no.
     
    Paduan Killer Swarm....."Tonka, black licorice, amber, golden sandalwood, ginger cream, bitter clove, stinging nettle, cinnamon bark, and coconut shell". I like the combination of notes listed, but what if it has honey, too? That would be a deal breaker for sure. But everything else sounds so good.....
     
    Paramatman....."Orange blossom, East Indian sandalwood, and champaca". Yet another 'worth a try', although I don't usually like orange blossom all that much.
     
    Ehecatl......"Hibiscus, matcha, white musk, and lime". You guessed it.......worth a try.
     
    The Forest Reverie....."A sunlit ancient forest, dotted with wild roses, grape vine, and queenly lilies, clothed in swirls of opium smoke". Roses and lilies.......no, no, no.
     
    L'examen de Minuit.....lilac and rose otto......nope.
     
    Pyramus......"Dragon's blood resin, frankincense, amber, white tea, lavender, and golden musk". This sounds really good. It would be fun to find someone to split the pair with me, because I know I wouldn't like the other half.
     
    Thisbe....."Diaphanous sandalwood, pink rose, lotus root, lemon orpur, and iris stained by mulberry juice". Pink rose and iris? I think not.
  4. forspecial_plate
    I deleted my last entry because the negativity was consuming me. I couldn't shake it all weekend and I finally was able to let it go somewhat.
     
    I survived the weekend, but I am learning some lessons lately. What should have been a great weekend turned out to be horrible. I can't go back in time so I'll just try to move on, forgive myself, and forget about it.
  5. forspecial_plate

    Alien prequel

    By forspecial_plate,

    I'm excited, of course. The first one is pretty much my all time favorite movie, and I liked all the sequels, even the ones that most other people said were crap. I liked the third one, and even liked that 4th one somewhat. Never cared much about the Alien Vs Predator spin-offs, though.
     
    I have been hoping for a prequel for years. I always wanted to know more about the Space Jockey in the first film. So, of course I can hardly wait for this. I don't expect to be blown away, but I also don't think it will completely suck. I'm trying not to get my hopes up too high. I think with the current technology, the special effects could be really great. The Space Jockey was a lot bigger than the humans in the first movie, so maybe the Aliens will be a lot bigger too. They seem to take on the physical stature of the host, somewhat (like the "dog-alien" in the third movie).
     
    As for the story, who knows. It could go pretty much anywhere, really. I like the idea of the movie ending on a down note, because of what we already know about the story in the first Alien movie. But I guess it's pretty useless to speculate at this early stage.
     
    But really, it would be so great if the series was redeemed in the eyes of.....well, everyone since pretty much everyone hated the last one.
  6. forspecial_plate

    blecch

    By forspecial_plate,

    I feel yucky and anxious, nervous even. No damn good reason at all. And also feeling burnt out on my routine, both at work and at school. I keep telling myself it's my usual anxiety and it will pass. Soon. I know exercise would help.
     
    On the plus side, I feel a little better about my apartment, and tentatively decided to stay for another year. Yeah, the neighbors and the neighborhood suck, but it's so close to school. And it's a lot of space for a little money. Now I just have to do more fun stuff with it. Furniture, rugs, curtains, etc.....which I have put off for what, eight months now?? :love!: Anyway, the thought of moving again in 2 or 3 months is rather exhausting. : /
  7. forspecial_plate

    Shill

    By forspecial_plate,

    I don't wear food scents a whole lot, mostly just around the house as 'comfort' scents. I was curious about this one. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work out for me. It comes off kind of flat, like stale popcorn. I didn't get much of a butter note, it's more salty and a little stale. And it fades really fast....within an hour or less, it's pretty much gone unless I sniff up close to where I applied it. So there ya go, curiosity satisfied.
  9. forspecial_plate
    I realized yesterday that I've reached the point where upcoming video games are more exciting to me now than upcoming movies. I guess a lot of people crossed that line a long time ago, but for me it's pretty amazing that I reached it at all.
     
    I am still excited about the Dark Crystal sequel, and the Dawn Treader movie from the Narnia series. However, I am much, much more excited about the Last Guardian. In fact, I just preordered it. Woo Hoo!! I can't wait.
  10. forspecial_plate

    Sapphics

    By forspecial_plate,

    The amber stands out, and it really is grey amber, but everything else is just seamlessly blended. I smell a marshmallowy sweetness, and I would think that's tonka, but it's not the warmth of tonka that I usually can pick out. I have been known to really pick out the sweeter notes in scents, for example, Oblivion also dries down to a very marshmallow sweetness when I wear it.
     
    Anyway, this is really a great scent. As long as I've had it, I have kind of neglected it, but I always knew I liked it. It just got lost in the shuffle of my other oils. But I'm wearing it now, and it's one of those great, sophisticated, gender-neutral scents that I think are my favorite category, if you can call it a category. This could be worn equally by either men or women. It's ambery, slightly sweet, a little woody, and somewhat velvety. There is a nearly dusty grey quality but it's not a dusty scent. Very sophisticated and definitely one of my favorites of all the Lupercalia scents.
  11. forspecial_plate
    Rated on an "interest scale" of 1-5
     
    Brood XIX...."Tree sap, hay, almond blossoms, moss, hemp, corn stalks, acorn, sweet amber, and rice milk"
    Well, I don't like nut notes, but other than that I'm fairly interested. I'd love a dry summery scent and this looks like a fancy, lighter relative of Scarecrow (which I already have a bottle of and hardly ever wear). Worth a decant, for sure. 4/5
     
    Atlas...."Mallow, oak bark, coffee bean, hinoki wood, and khus"
    I haven't grown to love The Arabian Dance as of yet, and that's what this list of notes reminds me of, even though they only share the coffee. But this does look even more promising than that.....I'm all about woods, usually. Preliminary reviews are saying the mallow adds sweetness, and I'm not sure if that would be good or not for me. Bottom line.....worth a decant. 4/5
     
    Brahmin...."Rose otto, red ginger, caraway seed, myrrh, orange peel, mandarin leaf, black peppercorn, and vanilla orchid"
    Without the rose this would be sort of intriguing, but the rose kind of turns me off. Could be worth a sniff but I'm not actively seeking it. 2/5
     
    Io....."Red musk, pomegranate, cranberry, blackberry, mango, purple sage, thyme, and angelica root"
    Too much non-citrus fruit, not really my thing. 2/5
     
    Pussy....."Orange blossom honey, brown sugar, saffron, tonka absolute, and tobacco leaf"
    I am over my aversion to honey, and I will try it in the right combination with other notes. That said, this could be sultry and sexy, or it could be too sweet and cloying. Worth a try, for sure. 3/5
     
    Blue Morpho...."Wild orchid, pikake, honeysuckle, calla lily, agave nectar, pink geranium, violet leaf, and white amber"
    I like violet leaf and white amber, I think, but I don't like lily or geranium. Think I'll pass on this one. 2/5
     
    Goliath Birdwing....."White sage, lemongrass, lemon balm, dusty beige musk, and drops of anise"
    Sounds beautiful, and I think I need to try this! I just hope it's not too one-dimensional with all that lemony goodness.
     
    Mourning Cloak....."Opoponax, kumaru, cocoa butter, Mysore sandalwood, verbena, almond milk, guiac wood, beeswax, and myrrh"
    I do not like the smell of cocoa butter, but the other notes sound good. Not sure about this one but it's worth a try. 3/5
     
    Purple Spotted Swallowtail....."Black plum, opium poppy, dusky amber, opoponax, castoreum accord, dried berries, tolu balsam, clove bud, and lime"
    This is kind of a wild card, because it could be really good, but I just can't imagine what it's like. I really have no clue but I'd like to try it. 4/5
  12. forspecial_plate
    I am more and more impressed the more I try from this house. I love Declaration, which I first heard about here on the bpal forum, when someone compared October to it. I see the similarity. Anyway, here's what I've tried. There are lots of flankers so it can be hard to keep track. Notes are from fragrantica.com.
     
    Declaration....."Top notes are artemisia, caraway, coriander, birch, mandarin orange, bergamot, neroli and bitter orange; middle notes are orris, ginger, cinnamon, pepper, juniper, orris root, jasmine and guatemalan cardamom; base notes are leather, amber, tea, tahitian vetiver, oakmoss and cedar"
    Wow....just reading the notes, I didn't know all that was in this scent. I didn't love this at first. I thought it was okay, but kind of faint, and kind of unfocused. But as often happens, I was drawn to try it again, and again, and eventually I realized what a beautiful scent it really is. Woods and spices are what I smell, but very light and breezy, kind of like a wind before a storm at the end of summer. Gorgeous.
     
    Declaration Essence....."orange blossom, sandalwood, amber, lavender, musk, tea, lime, vetiver, geranium and lemon"
    I have a mini of this too, and so far have only tried it once. It seems to be sort of like the concentree of Declaration, stronger spices, although the notes don't seem to match up with what I'm smelling. I'll be wearing it again but I do think I like the original Declaration better.
     
    Eau de Cartier....."Top notes are coriander, yuzu and bergamot; middle notes are violet leaf, lavender and violet; base notes are cedar, patchouli, musk and white amber"
    Beautiful, but I've only tested it once. Very, very light and I think I would have to over-apply to get the right amount. Weird accord that, again, doesn't match up with what I read in the description, or rather, I can't pick out individual notes. Just crisp and smart, very nice.
     
    Eau de Cartier Concentree......"Top notes are coriander and yuzu; middle notes are violet leaf and lavender; base notes are cedar, patchouli and white amber"
    Huh. Do they really have the same notes? They are similar but the concentree is definitely stronger and longer lasting. I think I'm more likely to buy a larger bottle of this one, very crisp and refreshing, but with the stronger scent comes a little bit of synthetic feeling. I think I favor this one.
     
    Must Cartier Pour Homme Essence...."Yet another beautiful and very light fragrance, this one seems a little more traditional, more suited to the office. I like it but it's so light that I'm left feeling a little slighted. I'll wear the rest of my mini but probably not get a bigger bottle.
     
    Yet to try but very interested in:
    Eau de Cartier Essence d'Orange...."op notes of Eau de Cartier Essence d`Orange bring us a sparkling, luminous cocktail of oranges and bergamot. A heart encompasses sophisticated violets, while a base is enriched with patchouli along with warm and sensual cedar"
    Sounds beautiful and I'm really thinking about going straight to a big bottle on this one. I love citrus and I've been really in the mood for it, with the hotter weather. Definitely need to try this one!
  13. forspecial_plate
    I got A's in both of my classes. Medical Terminology was a breeze but Excel had was much more of a challenge for me. And it stayed challenging, not just for a week or two, but for most of the quarter. But I did well, and got A's on both of my final exams. So, I'm off school for a week and just feeling like relaxing and celebrating. Not sure what I'll do specifically, but I might go to Columbus to visit my friend Kevin. I'm meeting my dad for lunch Tuesday and after that I'm free until Thursday night. Woo Hoo!
     
    Next quarter will be strange......both of my classes are online, except one of them does meet in person for a total of three times. Other than that, it's all online. I have Medical Terminology II which, obviously, will be harder than Med Term I was. The other class is an Intro class for Health Information Management, which shouldn't be too hard, I don't think.
  14. forspecial_plate
    More bottles that I may or may not want....I need to decide!
     
    A Fit Of Artistic Enthusiasm....."Electric jolts of mania: a salt-crusted coffin bobbing through tumultuous ocean waves". This sounds good, I'll have to decide when my decant arrives. If it's close enough to Kingsport, I may not need more. On the other hand, if it's a good substitute for Kingsport, maybe that would be a good backup for when my Kingsport runs out.
     
    Hideous Heart....."A macabre Valentine: wild black cherries, licorice root, and cinnamon". I doubt that I'll need a whole bottle of this, unless it really knocks my socks off.
     
    Trevor Bruttenholm...."A classic men’s cologne mixed with the scent of old, yellowed books, a splash of bay rum, and summoning incense". Could be too masculine, but I perk up at bay rum and incense. Waiting for my decant.
     
    Abe Sapien....."A soft aquatic musk with kelp and juniper". Another aquatic! Can you really have too many? See Artistic Enthusiasm above for my thoughts on this one, they're pretty much the same. I have a feeling Abe might be more on the powdery side, but the decant will decide it.
     
    Still need decants of Bite Me, Shadowless Like Silence, and Summer's Last Will And Testament. Rose kind of scares me off sometimes but you never know. You just never know.
  15. forspecial_plate
    I've been thinking about the Pumpkin Patches, past and present, and I know there are at least a couple I'd still like to try. Here's a breakdown so I can get it all straight in my mind. There are so many, it's kind of hard to keep track of them!
     
    So, I will rate these on a scale of 1-5, based on interest. Anything 3 or above, I'll probably track down a decant at some point.
     
    Pumpkin Patch '05 and '06......
     
    I......Pumpkin with apple cider and mulling spice.
    This sounds pretty yummy, but I think my ultimate mulled cider scent has already been found (Fearful Pleasure). I wouldn't mind sniffing this but I won't go way out of my way to find it. However, if I found a cheap bottle, I'd probably grab it for a room scent. 2/5
     
    II.....Pumpkin with cocoa, hazelnut and walnut.
    Nah, don't like cocoa that much, and not crazy about nuts in perfume either. I can safely pass on this one. 1/5
     
    III......Pumpkin and pomegranate.
    I'm not a big fruit scent fan either....I already have a few, and they are more than enough to fill that niche in my collection. Pass on this one. 1/5
     
    IV......Pumpkin with sandalwood and orris.
    I don't like orris that much. I like sandalwood, but I already have plenty of nice sandalwood essential oil. If I ever get the urge for pumpkin and sandalwood, it would be pretty easy to recreate on my own. Pass on this one too! 2/5
     
    V.......Pumpkin with five woods, English ivy and galangal root.
    Now this one, I have always wanted to try. I tend to like green scents, and a lot of woods work well for me. Some woods go kind of flat for me but this is worth a try, for sure. 4/5
     
    Pumpkin Patch '07
     
    I.......Pumpkin with pear, white wine grapes, and jasmine-laced tea.
    No.......not for me. Probably smells nice, but just not my thing. 2/5
     
    II........Pumpkin with tobacco, champa flower, carnation, and tonka.
    Hmm, I thought I had tried a decant of this, but I never wrote a review. It does sound like something I'd like. Tobacco is the only iffy note, but it works for me sometimes. Would like to try except I have this nagging feeling that I already have a decant of this somewhere. I'll have to look for it. 3/5
     
    III........Pumpkin with white chocolate, caramel, pomegranate, and cream.
    Again, not crazy about chocolate. I remember thinking this sounded interesting when these first came out. Since then, I've had my fill of chocolate and/or fruity scents. 2/5
     
    IV.....Pumpkin with cactus blossom, sage, and sweetgrass.
    Definitely already have a decant, not a bad scent, but do not need more. 1/5 (would be higher if I didn't already have some)
     
    V.......Pumpkin with benzoin, bourbon vanilla, lemon peel, neroli, blood orange, and red ginger.
    Yes! Already have a decant, and could probably use another one. I have tested this side by side with Pumpkin Queen, and although they are different scents, it's really hard to tell the difference. 3/5 (would be higher if I didn't already have some)
     
    Pumpkin Patch '08
     
    I......Pumpkin with mango, persimmon, coconut, and myrrh.
    Already tried it, have some, do not need more! It smells like sweet potato casserole to me. 1/5
     
    II........Pumpkin with black musk, leather accord, tonka, teak, orange wood, and opoponax.
    Yes, yes, yes! Have a decant, would not mind another. 4/5
     
    IV......Pumpkin with white sage, cherry tobacco, honey, smoky vanilla, cedar, and pine.
    I had an interest in this one, but I let it pass by because of the honey, probably. Still wouldn't mind trying it, as long as the honey behaves itself. 4/5
     
    V.......Pumpkin with cranberry, strawberry, red musk, red rose, rosehip, frankincense, fig, jasmine, and carnation.
    No ma'am, no sir, not for me! Red musk, jasmine and frankincense are nice, fig and carnation are okay, red rose can be wearable sometimes, but all together, and with the fruits, make this one an easy pass for me. 1/5
     
    Pumpkin Patch '09
     
    I.......Pumpkin, almond, brown musk, and honey.
    I usually can't wear honey, with a rare exception here and there. And I don't think I like brown musk that much. Pass on this one. 2/5
     
    II.......Pumpkin, rosewood, red sandalwood, and tea rose.
    Not really of interest to me, except for maybe the red sandalwood. 2/5
     
    III......Pumpkin, fir needle, pitch, rosemary, and tomato.
    I am interested in trying this, not sure if it's something I'd wear, but it's unique and I'd like to try it. 3/5
     
    IV......Pumpkin, black musk, tobacco, myrrh, and clove.
    Reminds me of a couple of the past ones. I wouldn't mind trying it, but I also have lots of scents like this already. Maybe not with pumpkin, though. Interested enough for a decant at some point. 3/5
     
    V........Pumpkin, chocolate, coffee bean, vanilla bean, and hazelnut.
    At first I wasn't interested because of the chocolate, but the will-call reviews are saying this is heavier on the coffee, which makes it a little more appealing in my eye. Would like to sniff at some point. 3/5
  16. forspecial_plate
    Writing from work again, only a short shift today and not at all my usual time of day to be here, so it's a little disorienting. I am off at 2:30pm, then I'm free until tomorrow night. I wouldn't mind going out and celebrating a little, but at the same time, I really don't have the money right now, not for another 2 weeks. Also, it's supposed to rain today, and I think I could just as easily stay home, play video games, maybe do some cleaning, maybe organize my bpal collection, etc, etc. We shall see.
     
    Scent of the day is Bad Luck Woman Blues.....just love the moss in this, it's so wonderful.
  17. forspecial_plate

    Antsy

    By forspecial_plate,

    Ugh......here I am at work, stuck to a desk, and feeling antsy as all hell. Why don't I ever feel like this at home, where I could actually get up and do something? I could actually organize my perfumes and put up a sales/swaps page if I felt like this at home! Or any number of other things that I need to get done. : /
  18. forspecial_plate
    I hate this, but I don't see any way around it. I'm absolutely stressed out about money. I don't know how I'm going to make it through the next month or two, and there is lots of stuff going on that I want to take part in. My friends are going to a big drag show in Dayton, which is about a 45 minute drive. They want to get hotel rooms so we can all drink. I don't even know if I can afford to drink at a bar, much less do that and get a hotel room.
     
    Then our gay pride weekend is the following weekend, and I'll be going out again, and spending money again. I guess I just need to sit down and write it all down, and figure out a budget because my funds are definitely limited. : (
  19. forspecial_plate
    * sigh *
     
    I am not only bored but restless, too. I'm at work and kind of wish I wasn't here. I feel like I have important things that need to get done, but not much time in which to do them. Just restless energy, I guess. And I guess this Mountain Dew I'm drinking probably isn't a great idea.
     
    Earlier today I wore Fearful Pleasure, which I still like a lot. Right now I'm wearing To Autumn, which I also like.....maybe even better. I just like them both, I think. Fearful Pleasure does this kind of musky thing on the dry-down, which I don't like as much.....but it's not enough to put me off the scent. I guess it's the woodsmoke that gives me that musky impression, or maybe it does have some musk, although I didn't see anyone else mention it in reviews.
     
    Anyway, enough babbling for now.
  20. forspecial_plate
    Posting this because the entire description should be saved somewhere. I haven't tried the scent itself, but I'd like to find a decant. I think I would like it but I just can't justify a whole bottle right now, with my financial situation being what it is.
     
    Lilith And The Jarocho....
    In the past eight months since Lilith was born, Ted and I have had many moments of unutterable joy. There is one, in particular, that stands out from the rest as perfect.
     
    Our daughter loves music… everything from the clank of her toy piano, to unending looped choruses of "You Are My Sunshine" (with Moonshine variants) and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" (or Bat) sung by her mother at naptime, to a rousing round of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" belted out by her father at playtime, to all the hair band videos she watches on Metal Mania.
     
    This kid LOVES music.
     
    On the last Saturday in April, Ted and I took Lilith to Olvera Street, and stopped at the El Paseo Inn for lunch. While we were waiting for our food, the band came to stand behind our table, and Lili was riveted by their music. At the end of the first song, she clapped! Holy hell, that was adorable. The singer saw Lilith clapping and staring, and walked over to us. This sweet, wonderful man serenaded her.
     
    There was a Perfect Moment -- the kindness on the singer’s face as he sang to my baby, Lilith’s eyes as wide as saucers, her hands in prayer position, and the joy radiating from my husband -- this was a moment that brought me to tears.
     
    This scent is a swirl of everything I felt, sensed, smelled, and saw right then, at that perfect point in time: Jasmine, vanilla, Spanish cedar, moss, marigold, purple verbena, candied tamarind, lime rind, a splash of margaritas on a nearby table, a little bit of Dorian, a little bit of Snake Oil, and a bright bouquet of mal de ojo.
  21. forspecial_plate
    I've only been here at work for an hour and a half, and I've already had my fill of these people. I know that supposedly there's no scientific evidence that the full moon affects people's behavior, but I'm here to tell you that it does happen. This current full moon (which was actually last night, I think) has brought out a lot of aggression and anger in many people that I've interacted with. It continues tonight, and I'm just about over it. Scratch that.....I am over it.
  22. forspecial_plate

    video games

    By forspecial_plate,

    So here I am, blogging about video games on a perfume discussion forum. Ten years ago I would have had no idea what that even meant. But I already have the last post in the video game discussion thread, and I don't want to double post.
     
    I'm still playing Dragon Quest VIII, but I got Final Fantasy IX this past weekend, and I may be switching over to that for a while.
     
    In DQVIII, I got all the way up to the big God Bird, but haven't been able to beat it. So I'm back-tracking, trying to alchemize better weapons, level up, and also buy better equipment. I will beat that damn bird!
     
    Switching over to FFIX was a little jarring. The graphics are so different, and the battle system is a little different since it's Active. I like being able to sit and think about my next move, and you can't really do that here. But I'm determined to find another RPG that I love, so on I go.
     
    The great news is, after my class tomorrow, I'll have no real obligations for the rest of the day, and all the next day. So I can play to my heart's content. : )
  24. forspecial_plate
    I squeed my pants when I saw this:
     
    "For this series, we decided to try a different type of chaotic experimentation. Each CT:5 scent has a base of one of the following scents, in wildly varying proportions:
     
    Dorian
    O
    Penitence
    Snake Oil"
     
    ....I totally was not expecting a new round of Chaos Theory!! All my bottle purchasing plans just went out the window in favor of CT. I love it so much, because each one is on-of-a-kind. My tentative plans for purchasing this round:
     
    Snake Oil.....will 2 be enough? I dunno, I already bought the whole Snake Pit, how many Snake Oil variants can one person hoard?? I did trade away a few of my Snake Pit scents, though. I'll say 2 of these, for now.
     
    Dorian......at least 2, maybe 3......not because I'm crazy about the scent, really, but I think this one has the most exciting potential to be something great with other notes added (did that make sense? I know I'm rambling now).
     
    Penitence.....at least one, maybe 2.....Penitence itself goes just a bit powdery on me, but I like it enough that I want to try one or two variations, just for the hell of it!
     
    O.....no thank you! I am glad there is one that I can safely skip. I never have tried it, and honey usually is not my thing.
     
    So, screw it, I should just get 1 of each (of the first 3) now, then another one of each (maybe 2 more of Snake Oil) before they go away. Sounds like a plan! I'm already impatient!
  25. forspecial_plate
    Played through Bioshock 2 twice, rushed through the first time and then went more slowly the second time (got 2 of the different endings). I do really like it, the story is not as good but game play is a little more fun, more options of what to do with the little sisters, more plasmid upgrades, etc....etc....now I want to go back and play the first Bioshock again! However.....
     
    I want to get some use out of my SNES and I keep feeling this attraction to older games. I ordered Zelda Link To The Past, and also Megaman X, so I can play those, as well as Super Metroid which I really didn't get into, but would like to start it back up again. I also have Earthworm Jim which is really fun but I didn't get very far into it (I played it on the old Sega Genesis, and was never really good at it, although I watched my room-mate at the time beat the game).
     
    So, anyway......oh I also would like to finish Final Fantasy IV, which I started when I was waiting to play Bioshock 2.
     
    (.....and I'm trying to be a student at the same time, LOL)
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