summer

This is nice and soft -- muted, in a way (as the color I associate it with is kind of a muted bluish-purple). It smells like balmy lavender in the same way that Arcana (one of my favorites) does. It's also quite lemony, but as it dries down the lemon becomes just a slightly sweet nectar smell, and the fragrance of herbs starts to surface. Perfect for a humid, rainy summer day. My husband keeps commenting on how good I smell.

I have a strong color association with Chango -- deep, dark, red-maroon. This is a strong, sturdy, dark, virile fruit scent. Warm earth, dark red berries soaked in booze, and rich, luxurious banana. It's powerful, it's rich, it's tropical. Fabulous.

*slurp* Yemaya is a lovely watery melon scent that's very light and refreshing and gets slightly boozy on the drydown. I love it; it's the perfect summer scent and is powerfully associated in my mind with California and with my first trip to Black Broom. ETA: I have been using Yemaya a lot recently as a way to focus my energy and intentions on fertility and conception. I have mixed some with a pure shea oil, and I spread this mixture on my body after bathing. It feels very nurturing. I also use it to anoint candles in my bedroom. I have a gorgeous picture of Yemaya -- a beautiful, voluptuous black woman with long braids, pregnant with the Earth -- and whenever I use this oil, I think of her -- Mother Yemaya -- and focus on channeling her energy. The sweet, watery scent of this oil has become powerfully associated with that visual image of Yemaya in my mind.

Quietude is absolutely stunning. It's lavender, to be sure, but it's a very clean, bright, cool lavender. The kind that goes right up your nose and just sort of chills and stills everything. There is a touch of sweet coldness . . . almost like mint, but not "zingy," and still with a very lavender character. Of all the lavender blends I've tried (I'm thinking mostly of the Somnium), this is by far the clearest, purest scent. There is no earthy or herbal element to Quietude. Just total smoothness, stillness, and clarity. It's such a beautiful scent that I'd like to wear it as perfume during the day, but this has SUCH a quieting effect on my mind that I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to function at work. This is THE perfect "switching off at night" blend, however. I wear it to bed, and I am not exaggerating when I say it switches my mind OFF -- I am able to read maybe half a page of my book before I'm in a deep, restful, uninterrupted sleep. Outstanding.

You know, I explored this a while back. I have absolutely ZERO earth in my chart -- I am not kidding, I have NONE. So I decided to seek some balance through earthier blends. I tried Burial, Zombi, Virgo, Taurus, and Tarot: The World. They are all beyond horrid on me. They smell bitter and harsh, they make me feel dirty (as in literally unclean), and they make me feel dulled, weighed down, subdued, and depressed. (I should note that Taurus and The World weren't quite as bad as the others, but still were not good.) Isn't that crazy? I really thought that adding the earth element would make me feel balanced and grounded and whole . . . but instead, it's as if my entire being just rejected earth. Like the totally foreign element that it is, I guess! I just found it really interesting. Regarding the moon sign thing, however -- I have found this to be true. My moon is in Leo, which plays out VERY accurately in my life. And when it comes to perfumes, I ADORE spicy, firey, warm blends. I love scents that flicker and twinkle and absolutely vibrate with heat. It is by far my favorite fragrance category. I also like really crystal-clear scents like lotus and bright florals. This seems in harmony with the ridiculous amount of air in my chart. (Sun in Libra, Aquarious rising, and many many other planets in the air signs.) To continue the exploration of this -- aquatics do not agree with me. I can wear them, and they don't have the awful emotional effects on me that earth scents do, but I just don't find them appealing and they tend to give me a headache. Obviously, there are a few exceptions, but generally aquatics are "meh" but not awful, and, as I said, earthy scents are the olfactory equivalent of burying me alive. Nevertheless, I have ordered Queen of Clubs, because I'm hoping her earthiness will be accompanied by a feminine, abundant vibe that I will be able to relate to more easily. So you see, the quest for balance continues . . .

OH my god. Oh how I love this. I love roses and roses love me. Still, Two, Five & Seven just sings on my skin even more so than any of Beth's other glorious rose blends. It starts off as fresh roses and stems, similar to Rose Red, but not quite so chilly. Whereas Rose Red is the scent of long-stem roses in a florists' refridgerator, Two, Five and Seven is rosebushes growing out of the earth. It keeps that gorgeous freshness throughout wear . . . but somehow, mysteriously . . . it manages to get sweeter. More lush. Warmer. Oh, how good rose can be! The rose is alive and humming on my skin. It's got the same "sparkle" that Persephone has, but without the tartness of pomegranite . . . instead, this sweetness seems to be innate in the rose. Some kind of divine, rosey nectar. I will stop now. Suffice to say that this is a fantabulous rose blend, and even though I just got a 10ml of the very rosey Tarot: The Empress, I'll be getting a bottle of Two, Five and Seven too, because it's that good. "We're painting the roses red; we're painting the roses red!"

I also think that if my brain had to be transported outside my body, it would like to be housed in a fluid like this. Beth is exactly right -- this blend manages to be both soothing and stimulating. Amazing. It's a quiet, subtle blend. But when you look at it closely (the olfactory equivalent of under a microscope), you see all kinds of frenetic activity. The punchy, tart fruits. The sweet pineapple. The cool spice of pepper and ginger. The remarkable thing is that all of this still manages to be light, soothing and quiet. The jasmine and peony smooths it all out. These florals don't jump out; they just create a soft cradle for the fiestier ingredients. When I apply this, I smell the watery, tropical fruit first, which immediately is smoothed down nicely by the florals. Then I start to notice the very faint tinge of pepper and ginger . . . nothing aggressive -- almost like a little tickle at the back of my nose. It stimulates the fruit, which again is softened by the florals. It's like a well-oiled machine -- no element competes with any other; rather, each performs its function, complimenting and uplifting the other elements around it. The overall effect is a light, dry, summery blend that's ever so sweet and ever so brain-tickling spicy. It fades FAST, but I don't mind slathering. LOVE IT.

Heavenly, earthy, and lush. This is exactly the fragrance that I would imagine the Hanging Gardens to have. It literally smells like the earth's abundance -- flowers, fruits, and trees of every variety, growing right out of the soil (nothing picked or packaged). It's simply beautiful. I want a big bottle.

Moxie is the perfume I've been dreaming of. Right out of the vial, it's a shocking, sharp, bitter citrus. My brain registered it as grapefruit. However, as it dries, it gets smoother and smoother. More creamy. Sweeter. It becomes orangy. Oh, mama, creamy orange! It's not foody at all -- just sublimely sweet, and VERY energizing! It makes me want to type with exlamation points! It is reminding me a little bit of Succubus in that it's sweet and orangy, but it's MORE orangy, and it's got a distinctive "zing." All in all, this is an absolute triumph, Beth. If all the Panaceas are as spectacular as this, we're in for a real treat.

Mmmm Beltane. Just fabulous. When I applied it, I was instantly delighted by a cool, fresh jasmine and honeysuckle fragrance. Honeysuckle! I could swear that's what I was smelling. It really captures the scent of one of those cool, dewy, Spring days where everything is impossibly fresh and green. As the hours passed, it got a little sweeter and more tart, and ultimately I got what smelled for all the world like lotus -- that tart, tangy, watery, sweet scent of lotus. Although I love lotus, I was a little dissapointed to lose the honeysuckle scent to it, but nevertheless, Beltane is a gorgeous oil, and I felt very "springy" and alive wearing it.

Mmm, this is yummy, and very, very pink. It smells intensely sugary straight out of the bottle, but as it dries I start to smell the strawberry -- crisp, natural strawberry, macerated in sugar. But all of this is very much cradled in floral. The most remarkable part is that as it dries down, I get an almost inscensy note out of it -- a very sweet, floral incense, with a whisper of the sugary sweetness remaining. This is a sassy, lickable fragrance that smells great on my skin and that I foresee using often.

Sweet, powdery, creamy vanilla. This is simply lovely. It's so comforting. It's borderline childlike, but so delicate that it's very wearable. It adds a touch of feminine sweetness to everything. When I wear it, I truly cannot stop sniffing my wrists. I sincerely hope that Antique Lace makes a comeback, because sadly, it's one that I overlooked until it was too late. I'm so greatful to have an imp of this beauty, and I find myself reaching for it almost daily!

First I should disclose that I would wear The Magician no matter WHAT it smelled like, because the energy of the card is something I often need to harness and bring into my life. I definitely wear the Tarot cards with intent, and this is no exception. Fortunately, The Magician happens to smell very good -- soothing, balmy, and slightly mysterious. In the vial, it is very strong, dark lavender -- so strong that it reminded me of Oneiroi. However, as soon as I put it on my skin, an herbal aniseed note became predominant. As it settled in to my skin, it took on a slightly sweeter dimension -- sweet herbs and lavender -- with something akin to lemon or ginger giving it a slightly fresh "bite." Hours after application, it has a slightly sweet, round lemon feel to it. This reminds me a lot of Arcana, but it's a little bit deeper and a little bit sweeter. I really like it and am very happy to have a 10ml bottle of it. I only wish I'd brought the bottle to work with me to top up, as it's starting to fade, and I really want the full force of The Magician's energy with me through the afternoon!

Athens is thick, hot honey, and the honey note remains true throughout wear. Thick, hot, sexual honey -- I can almost feel it pouring over my skin --- mixed with red wine and provocative incense. I didn't think I'd like this, as sometimes honey goes sour on my skin, but this is a bold, sultry blend that smells fantastic on me. It reminds me of what Angelina Jolie's character in "Alexander" would have smelled like. Although apparently the movie was godawful, Athens is the scent of a smokin-hot, mysterious, sexual woman anointed with all of the fine things of the ancient world -- honey, wine, and resins. *runs off to take a cold shower at the thought of Angelina Jolie smelling like Athens*

Ok, Juke Joint. I am wearing this today because it's the day of the Kentucky Derby, and I'm going to a party later where I am responsible for making mint juleps. Let me just say that if mint juleps taste like this smells, I won't be making one for myself. This smells vaguely cool and minty, but now that it settled into my skin, it has become old-lady mothballs and baby powder. It IS quite a triumph in that it does remind me of old southern ladies sitting on the porch, sweating through their Coty face powder, fanning themselves, drinking, and "getting the vapors." But damn, it is not nice as perfume on me.

Absinthe is almost pure aniseed on me at first -- that herby, astringent licorice scent! Which, actually, I find quite soothing. It is surrounded by a light, watery lemon scent, the very barest traces of wood, and something fresh and almost cucumbery. This is a lovely light fragrance that doesn't last long, but is nice and refreshing while it's on.

Bewitched smells to me like a very natural, organic blackberry jam. Wet, sugary berries, but none of that synthetic stuff -- I can see the maker of this jam squishing the actual berries, seeds and all, with her own hands. The combination of this wet, almost watery, sweet jam scent with the very distinct green tea note and the herbs makes this a very cold scent for me. Almost steely. Unfortunately, it gives me a headache. Something about the coldness makes it hard for me to tolerate the sweetness. I need my sweetness with a little bit of spice.

Mmmm, lovely. I loved this one right away. Creamy, creamy sweet pea and tonka, which to me, smells like something warm, round, and light pink -- LOL -- the association I have is the smooth, creamy skin of a woman's bosom. There's something a little bit naughty and herbal weaving through the background. It's like post-coitally throwing open the windows to inhale the damp air and the green trees and grass. Love it.

The Lab's description of Dorian is dead-on. It is absolutely black tea, lemon, and sugar at first. But there's a very solidly masculine, musky anchor to this scent. Normally I can't wear overly musky scents, but the sugared lemon in this blend is strong enough and bright enough that it's not overpowered by the musk -- rather, the soft, sweet aspects of this blend really hold their own, and are supported by the solid, masculine, musky base and the astringent tea. It's a really lovely balance. Overall, I think if this as a scent that is soft, but not at all light. It's got a very strong presence, but it's kind of fuzzy around the edges. It's most definitely, as the Lab says, refined, noble, gentle, and corrupted. I don't associate this blend with any particular mood, but whenever I wear it, it's a wrist-sniffing day all day long. Fantastic lasting power, and, again, a strong presence.

As I said in the initial post, I've tried it several times over the course of a couple weeks, and nothing has changed. I know what clove smells like. I know what patchouli smells like. Especially since I am very allergic to patchouli. I CANNOT try it on my skin because I am allergic. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Um. What I meant was, have you had imps or bottles of March Hare in the past that smelled different than your current imp smells. As opposed to this being your first imp of March Hare, to which you have no prior March Hare experience to compare. I did not imply that you don't know what clove or patchouli smells like. I know what lemon smells like, but that didn't stop my brain from telling me I was smelling lemon in White Rabbit when I wasn't. It happens. Excuse me for trying to help.

Have you tried it on your skin? It might settle down and morph into what it's supposed to smell like once it's out of the vial. Also, have you smelled it before? Does this one smell different than what March Hare has smelled like in the past? Or is this your first time sniffing it? March Hare, in my experience, does not smell like patchouli . . . but the clove note is really strong, especially out of the bottle. It may just be that the clove + apricot is triggering the "patchouli recognition" button in your brain somehow. I would reccomend sniffing it in different contexts if you will . . . some on your skin, some on a cotton pad, etc. as well as in the vial -- and also sniffing it while consciously trying to smell the apricot and the clove. The brain is so powerful that sometimes its expectations really CAN make you smell something different. When I thought my Zephyr and White Rabbit imps were mixed up, I could have SWORN I was smelling lemon in my White Rabbit -- but only because I got it into my head that it smelled like lemon. Once I realized it really was White Rabbit, I realized that the "lemon" note I thought I was smelling was actually the crispness of the ginger. I have been sniffing BPAL for a long time and like to think I have a pretty developed sniffer, but truly, the brain can trump the nose for anyone, no matter how experienced! Good luck figuring it out.

Thanks for the link, Arafel! There are lots of great resources about essential oils and pregnancy, so I'll definitely have to educate myself a bit. I guess what I'm wondering is . . . have any of you mothers out there deliberately avoided essential oils (or BPAL or perfume oils generally) during the first trimester specifically? I gather that things are a bit more sensitive and unstable at that early stage, and that's what I'm most worried about.

[double post -- d'oh!]

Mmm, I love this. No surprise, as I love bananas. This is the most delicious natural, hot-bananas scent, that fades into gorgeous woody inscence. Banana inscence. Superb. This is the smell of tropical trees. This scent, more than any other "tropical" one, really sings on my skin. I've ordered a 5ml.

By the way, I love these ideas for wearing oils without wearing them on the skin.