alterosen

This was my favorite of the Aphrodites. I can't stop sniffing it. I could have sworn there was ginger in this - the pepper is combining with something else in a really interesting fashion. It's spicy but not terribly sweet or foody. I don't really notice the rose or berries except in the background once dry but I like the whole combination of notes. I definitely see a bottle in my future

I agree! I got a very rich, almost jammy blackberry with a hint of booze from this. It's scrumptious & my DH likes it, too! (Unsolicited compliment, not me saying: "Isn't this nice?" ) This one & Lady Una are my favorite blackberries.

CMXVII (917) I got this from Midnight Aeval who described it as earthy rose. I agree there's a soft rose present as well as a spicy rich floral that is probably lilies. This kind of rose tends to go a bit powdery on me & that's exactly what happens though the lily is still very true. It's not really my style, so off to a new home it goes! Previously reviewed by whiterosepetals.

Crawdad! And Titania - I guess fruity does it for me too!

The Lurid Library seems nicely woody though there's none in the description: Incense-tinged scent of forbidden tomes & the musk laden remnants of infernal servants. And you have to love the name I think you meant to say Pumpkin #2 ('08) (black musk, leather accord, tonka, oppoponax, teak & orangewood) since Pumpkin #5 ('08) was the fruity one with strawberry. Just to confuse things, Pumpkin Patch #5 from 2005/06 was a woody scent (pumpkin with five woods, English ivy & galangal) & is well worth seeking out. It's not very sweet & the pumpkin is definitely a bit player.

I'll second the Pumpkin Patch #1 ('05 & '06) - my favorite apple. It has more spice than Fearful Pleasure & smells more like baked apples than cider (FP is maybe juicier smelling? I don't get smoke so much as a lot of oakmoss). Jack is definitely worth trying, too. It's a shame about the patchouli because Samhain is a nice spicy apple with dry Autumn leaves. On me, I don't sense the patch in it at all.

The LE Rose Red is one of the least sweetest rose scents. It's very intensely rose & has a distinct earthiness that evokes stems & leaves. You should be able to find a decant easily since it's been available the last couple of Yules A good general catalogue equivalent would be The Rose from the Marchen section. While not as intense or long lasting, I find it quite similar. I liked the dandelion note when I tried Roadhouse - green but not too sharp. Fairy Market is an interesting floral with hints of fruit & greenery. The candy doesn't make much of an appearance. Other than that, I'm not much help cause I like a fair bit of sweetness!

You might want to try Velvet: Envelop yourself in the soft, sensual embrace of gentle sandalwood warmed by cocoa vanilla and a veil of deep myrrh. It's the ultimate warm cozy sandalwood scent - starts out strong on the cocoa, then the subtle spiciness of the myrrh comes out, followed by sandalwood with a hint of vanilla. I love it in cold weather & at bedtime There's no floral notes in it at all so you should be safe from Shalimar-likeness. Stay away from Dragon's Bone as it has a strong orris note (which smells a bit like violet to me). Brown Jenkins also has both sandalwood & orris but is more subtle. My favorite spicy blends are Clemence, Plunder, Bengal, Shub-Niggurath, Saw Scaled Viper, Phantom Calliope & Pickled Imp. And I would give Morocco & Snake Oil a try, anyway, just to judge for yourself. You can always trade 'em away!

I immediately thought of Pumpkin Patch #5 ('05 &'06) - Pumpkin with five woods, English ivy & galangal root. It has nice spicy wood notes with light pumpkin & is not that sweet. Pumpkin Patch #4 of the same years (Pumpkin with sandalwood & orris ) is one of my favorite comfort scents, but it reminds me of baking bread rather than pie. I get a sort of sweet yeastiness from the orris & sandalwood combination. YMMV of course I believe CoopieCat & mspixieears are talking about the 2008 Pumpkins both of which are not terribly foody & have many masculine components: Pumpkin II: black musk, leather accord, tonka, teak, opponax & orangewood Pumpkin IV: white sage, cherry tobacco, honey, smoky vanilla, cedar & pine Good luck with your enabling!

I really like this one. I mostly get sweet snow, a bit of pine/juniper & well-behaved berries. Very pretty. I'll have to dig up my Skadi decant to compare but I think this one is quite a bit softer with less evergreen. On my skin, it stays close but sure lasts nicely (9 hours so far). I was really on the fence about ordering this because I was iffy about a lot of the notes but I'm sure happy now that I did!

]WINTER SWITCH WITCH 12/31 Who is your favorite villain of all-time? Spike 12/30 Does anyone like Valerie Anands books?Or her Pseudonym Fiona Buckley...? Never tried her If you could subscribe to every magazine you wanted, money no object, what would your list of magazines that would decorate your coffee table be? I used to love British home decorating & antiques mags like Traditional Homes, Period Living, BBC Homes & Antiques What plans does everyone have for NYE? Home with the DH & kiddos, glass of wine, snacks & a book or dvd Who is interested in the room sprays? esp. from the inquisition? I'll be getting decants of the Inquisition, so the other ones would be of more interest Who's a Disney fan? Cartoons, theme parks, or just general stuff? *shrug* except for Nightmare before Xmas 12/26 Do you like mythical/fantastical creatures? Which ones? gryphons, dragons (especially asian), sea serpents, non frou-frou mermaids, ents & dryads Do you like caramels like coconut lime? Salted? I caramels, the odder the flavour; the more intrigued I am Do you speak any languages besides English? How fluent are you? Would you be interested in literature in a foreign language - phrase books, fiction, childrens stories? semi fluent in German (if we're talking about commonplace things using the informal address form) but I understand it very well when it's spoken, I can read magazines & children's novels fairly comfortably. I can read some French & understand it somewhat (though the Quebecois accent is hard!) but not really speak it anymore despite years of French in school. I took a bit of Latin & would love to have Winnie Ille Pu What's your favorite animal? cat What's on your keychain?A chunky pewter cat charm that's very tactile-y pleasing (smooth & rounded) but kind of large & heavy so I often end up taking my house key off so I can put it in my pocket Wrist/arm measurements: 6 1/4 around wrist, 10 below elbow 12/18 Question to all the knitters out there, what size knitting needles do you use the most? Not a knitter, sigh 12/17 How do you feel about winter-themed but not really holiday type decorations? Things like snowflakes and fake icicles and the like? I quite like them Do you have a personal 'Good Luck' charm? Maybe you have a goddess figure to remind you of your Inner Goddess, or maybe you have a beautiful Cross to represent your faith...Or maybe you wear a Hand of Fatimah for protection....That kind of thing. I don't really use anything charmwise - which is kind of strange given my love of trinkets & symbolism 12/16 If you were to attend Hogwarts, into which House would you be sorted? Last time I took the quiz I ended in in Hufflepuff, to my chagrin (made me feel dowdy) Would you be interested in some knitted wire jewelry, like this? those are nice! This is kind of a getting-to-know-you-type-thingie, but I always find it illuminating--what's on your computer desktop? Images? Color scheme? Dulac's Little Mermaid 12/15 What do you collect...besides BPAL? Books, spoon jewellery, little vases - I used to collect vintage dishes with roses & chintz patterns but made myself stop once I had kids & no safe place to keep them 12/14 Anyone a fan of Goddess art? I love images of women, in beautiful poses, strong women, powerful women (No- Not Hilary ROFL) I like dark, vampire types too, not *too* dark- okay for general consumption type art too. I like Susan Seddon Boulet & some Amy Brown Anyone else a Luis Royo fan? Not really What are your favorite websites (i.e., the ones you visit every day, or almost every day)? Neil Gaiman's blog, BPAL forum, Flickr, etsy How do you feel about Lush? Anything you want to try? fairly fond (especially if someone else is buying ) - always happy to try a new bubble bar How do you feel about home made lip balm, salt or sugar scrubs, soap, bath salts, etc? yes, please! if you were to receive a hand-knitted item, what color(s) would you prefer AND are there any types of yarn that you just cannot handle (e.g. wool, llama, etc.) jewel tones, black or grey but watch out for angora as it irritates my eyes with its tiny wayward little hairs 12/13 What is one REALLY expensive, completely outrageous thing you would LOVE to get but totally don't expect to ever get from anyone? a nicely restored heritage house LOL (yeah right - well you asked), big bottle of Calvados or Chambord, BPTP locket, curio cabinet, apothecary chest Do you like coffee mugs? Travel or stay at home? How big? Do you like ones from Starbucks? Yes, both (prefer stainless for travel), medium to large, sure If you drink coffee, do you like whole bean coffee or prefer ground? What grind? What roast (mild, medium, bold, extra bold)? Do you like flavored coffee? mmm, fairly fine ground dark roast - I usually buy French roast but am willing to experiment & do have coffee grinder if need be, not a big fan of flavored coffees unless there are those syrups or liquor involved Do you like tea? What kinds of tea (green, red, white, black, decaf, herbal infusions)? Feel free to get specific on brands and tea types. Loose or bagged? Do you need any kind of tea accessories? Pots/cozys/presses/strainers? I like many kinds of tea - prefer flavored black or fruit infusions (see SW help for particulars) I'm pretty good for accessories unless some sort of glass strainer setup catches your eye What is your favorite hot chocolate or drinking chocolate? Do you need Vegan or no? Not vegan & would love to try something really good - like the ones that have actual ground chocolate in them Do you need any decanting supplies? Pipettes? Vials? How about any wand caps? Roller bottles? Some spray bottles (for oils mixed with alcohol?) I'm ok for wand caps but wouldn't mind a few reducers & would love some 2 ml roller bottles 12/12 I wanted to ask a question: are there any rare (or even uber-rare) scents that you'd really like to try? Pumpkin King,Hellhound, L'Autunno, Champagne & Roses, Ho Ho Ho Does your forum name have a special significance? Refer to something or someone you admire? Reflect your interests? Come on, spill! One of my passions is growing antique roses. Alte Rosen means old roses in German which is my background & default second language (not French - bad non-bilingual Canadian!) I came up with it to use on a gardening forum & then never joined. 12/11 What's your favorite texture? super soft or velvety What's one luxury item you want to pamper yourself with but haven't yet? a nice warm flannel nightgown that's not hideous (as all the inexpensive ones seem to be) Do you prefer arm warmers to the wrist, to the base of the fingers, or half fingered? I'm not sure - I've never worn any (yet) Any favorite cartoon characters? Disney, Sanrio, etc? Scary Godmother Have you (or maybe the younguns in your family) been exposed to the Webkinz craze? nope Who's your favorite playwright? Tom Stoppard? I'm drawing blank on this one at the moment Anyone into physical activities? ...is there anything you do as a sport/hobby in which you might need equipment? No - I mostly just walk around Are there any witchy type supplies you're in need of, or would like to try etc.? Herbs, smudge sticks, resins, tarot/oracle cards, incense burners, pretty tools, stuff like that? sure! any of the above & maybe some candles for prosperity or If you are a fan, who were your favorite Buffy and Angel characters? Spike, Giles, Faith, Anya Do you like Shakespeare? Which plays? Yes, more the tragedies/histories (MacBeth, Hamlet, Richard III) than the comedies & I always enjoy a good Shakespearean insult 12/10 Question for the Class: Favorite Musical? I'm not really up on musicals but Spamalot piques my interest How do you like your chocolate? White, milk, bittersweet, as dark as possible? Plain, with flavoring, with chunks of stuff in? Fairly traditional, or weird and experimental? I really like the weird & experimental with flavoring & chunks but also enjoy a good plain milk or dark & sometimes white chocolate hits the spot Favorite animals? Least favorite? domestic cats, Tigers, otters, crows, ravens - can't think of any I really don't like How do you feel about Heifer International? Or do you have other favorite charities not mentioned in your application? Heifer is great! So for all witches of the shimmying types- would you like tassel belts/jingle belts/ ect and if so, how big are your hips? Not a bellydancer or belt wearer 12/9 What are 3 places that you'd like to visit, or re-visit? Great Britain, Greece, re-visit Italy Literary erotica. Who doesn't love it? Smut can be fun! Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL wishlist during the round? I'll be getting Snake Charmer & possibly decants if they come my way but unlikely to mind about having duplicates Do you read graphic novels/comics? Which ones? Fables, Books of Magic, Sandman (have 'em all), excited about Dresden Files & latest Angel & Buffy Which witches would want Bpal boxes? Or imp cases? always welcome How about a short - or longer - piece of fanfic? sure - prefer humorous What is the weirdest and/or most practical thing you are not buying for yourself right now? The thing that you probably should be buying, but have been putting off in lieu of something else? decent shoes & boots Would you like handmade piece of calligraphy as a gift? Yes! What jewelry are you wearing now? What jewelry do you wear everyday-or do you change jewelry all the time? I have 5 silver hoops in my ears that I don't remove & 2 other earrings that I change. I tend to wear the same pair for a while (unless they really clash with my clothes) & then switch to another. I always wear my white & yellow gold wedding band & my spoon ring next to each other on my left hand & vary the ring on my right hand. Chia Pet, do you need one? Some things are best admired from afar Houseplants and/or things to put them in: thoughts? I kinda like houseplants but tend to really neglect them & my house has no suitable windows (they would either fry or get zero sun) Do you like baskets, jars and other interesting containers? Filled or Empty? yup! either 12/8 Who are your forum friends, person or people your witch can contact for ideas? Former Witches: JennyGardener, delicate_fangs & Aevalin were all spot-on when it came to spoiling me What cartoons did you grow up watching? Any animated shows you still watch? Looney Tunes, mostly as a kid. I watch the Simpsons once in a while & a million kid's shows now due to my 4 yr old (Franklin, Backyardigans, Dora, Diego, Roly Poly Olie are his particular faves & I don't mind them) Do you like honey? Will you like to try creamy honey with black sesame or with cinnamon powder? Those sound awesome What is the biggest problem or sad thing in your life? Of course, I mean the saddest or worst thing you can confess here. Because I have a fairly young baby, it's a struggle to get anything done or muster the energy to leave the house more than a couple of times a week. I'm a poor housekeeper at the best of times & right now my house is embarassing me to the point that I dread people coming over. It's not just the dirt but the crap everywhere - clutter is too mild a term. I'm also a bit concerned about my little guy - he's healthy & bright but in the lower percentile for weight & size, so we've been seeing the doctor more often than I'd like (Thank god for Canada's socialized medicine, though!) What fashion item or style do you like, but never wear? Cool footwear! My buckled stompy boots have been retired but I like seeing other people's Fluevogs etc. I need a new pair of Blundstones but I hate being uncomfortable while breaking them in. Do you like to cook? if so, what? Would you like things like spices, cookbooks, recipes, tips? I love cooking & baking but don't have a lot of time for it now, so fairly simple but tasty ideas would be great. I've also been searching for a spice mix called Zhug that I can't find any more. Do any of you like puzzle books? Sure! But no math/sudoko please 12/6 I love Christmas music even though I'm pagany -- how about you? Yes! Anyone else have a sudden and unexpected favorite BPAL lately? Phantom Calliope is hitting all the desired cold weather spice & fruit notes right now It's cold outside - what are your favorite drinks to keep yourself warm and cozy? coffee, tea, hot chocolate (Starbucks Salted Caramel ), mulled wine Would my potential Witchee be up for some music stuff they'd never heard before if they couldn't understand the words? Absolutely! 12/5 What kind of candy/sweet treat would you like to receive? Chocolate! Followed by anything! I likes me some candy. Would you personally rather get handmade jewelry or the beads to make something? Either would be nice It seems like there are quite a few knitting witches, so I assume they are on the Ravelry forum as well. If so, what are your names on there so I can stalk you? sadly, I've never learned to knit Speaking of which, how many Browncoat witches do we have?? And if you are, would you be interested in getting a Kaylee parasol? If not, would you be interested in getting a paper parasol hand painted with your favorite colors? These are cool but it would probably get ruined by my marauding cats or kid Is there any time during the holidays (or the rest of the round) when you'll be away from home for a significant period and it'd be best not to send anything by mail? I'll be home To make up for the fact that I probably won't be able to send my witchee homebaked goodies, will Tim Tams in any number of varieties be an acceptable replacement? Sure! I'd like to try 'em - we have lots of British sweets in shops around here but not Aussie ones Hand beaded jewellery, yay or nay? Yay! Which witches would like hair accessories: clips, scrunchies, hairsticks, headscarves, etc? sure! On a similar note, who likes yarn? What kinds/colors/weights/fibers? Handspun? Glitter? Funky art yarn made from shredded jeans, fake flowers, lace, sequins, and the tattered souls of your enemies? Other craft supplies you desperately want more of and can't live without? I'm not a knitter, so paper type craft supplies would be more useful to me, though jewellery stuff might be nice, too Anyone else a total nerd like me and would like DnD/Roleplay stuff (Dice, minis, books, corny tees, etc.)? not for me, thanks How do people feel about unusual ornaments? As in, for holidays other than Christmas? I'd be into receiving some Question: who would like a pair of handknit socks? Size? Color preference? Cabled, ribbed (for your pleasure), stranded colorwork, etc.? I haven't had handknit socks in years - I miss the ones my Omi (grandma) used to make for my Dad. Every time she sent a bunch in a parcel, my sister & I would descend like jackals & my mum would portion them out. I like medium thickness & mid-calf length & wear a size 10 shoe How does everyone feel about steampunk? It's kinda new to me but I think it's pretty cool Since we're talking about warm winter wearables, who likes hats? Mittens? Arm warmers? Yes, please If your witch were to send you cookies, what kind of cookies would you like? I'm not a huge fan of raisins but other than that anything goes! Who likes tshirts? What about homemade tshirts? Like with transfers I made myself.... Absolutely! 12/3 Would you like to receive ATCs (artist trading cards) or would you prefer something more usable, like bookmarks or something? Either would be cool 12/2 What witch would like a cloak? Me, me, me!

Have you tried Phantom Calliope (black cherry, patchouli, cassis, cardamom & verbena)? I don't really notice the patchouli - it's a deep dry spicy cherry on me & lasts forever. One of my cold weather favorites.

What about Bengal (skin musk with honey, peppers, clove, cinnamon & ginger)? I definitely get cinnamon & musk from it but the other spices are present, too - many people think it smells like chai tea. Pickled Imp is also very cinnamony but not as sweet as you might expect. Maybe you could layer it with something musky?

Parlement of Foules is one of my faves, too. It smells like roses & raspberries to me. Katrina von Tassel is very soft, sweet & creamy.

If we stretch your parameters to 19th Century literature, there's a bunch of things in Bewitching Brews: Coleridge - Kubla Khan Dickinson - I Died For Beauty Keats - Ode on Melancholy, La Belle Dame Sans Merci Shelley - Ozymandias Swinburne - Hymn to Proserpine Yeats - Ephemera That's just in one category - I know there's many more I'm feeling too lazy to check dates to see who qualifies as Victorian.

***10/6*** If you had to chose one BPAL scent and only ONE to have forever what would it be? EVIL question! I'd probably choose Dorian for its versatility - I always like it (often wear at bedtime) & it can be worn anywhere without feeling inappropriate, but Mme Moriarty, Clemence, Lady Una & Montresor would be in the running, also. ***10/4*** Who here likes Betty Page? I like her but don't need any likenesses How about original Trek Characters? Spock! If you were my witchee, would you like a jar of home made apple butter? This is assuming it turns out good... Sure! I'm not sure if I've ever had it ***10/1*** ***9/25*** Speaking of historical fiction, how does everyone feel about Sherlock Holmes? I'm quite fond of Sherlock Holmes & the Mary Russell books (I think the author Laurie R King is great) Favorite cartoons or animated films?Loony Tunes, Warner Bros, Nightmare before Christmas (& Tim Burton's Vincent short) & Charlie Brown are all I can think of right now Your take on the election? In other words, would you enjoy campaign related gifts, or prefer to stay neutral? I'm Canadian, so, no thanks. We have Federal & Provincial elections coming up next month, too, so I have more than enough campaigning to deal with now Villains you sympathise with, or are interested in boinking?I'm also in the Spike camp & think Jason Isaacs is drool-worthy as Lucius Malfoy & the horrible fellow he played in the Patriot (no sympathy, just think he's hot). I like Snape because I adore Alan Rickman. Your stance on the all important peanut butter issue: crunchy? creamy? allergic? chocolate? maple? go directly to nuttella, do not pass go? I prefer crunchy & though I try to make healthy choices usually, I hate mixing the natural kind together & always end up throwing it out, so I go with my childhood brand, Kraft. I've never come across maple, but it sounds tasty. I like Nutella, too, but rarely buy it because the kidlet doesn't like it & the DH would probably eat it all with a spoon in one sitting. Who here likes to read historical fiction? If you do, what eras/people/countries intrigue you the most? Sure! Medieval, Regency & Victorian are usually enjoyable ***9/24*** What sort of colors do you currently wear? Do you want to branch outside that? What would you like to try? Was this an eyeshadow question? If so, I usually wear peachy, golden shades, but would like to try some blues, greens & purples. MAC virgin? My favorite lipstick brand (I live in Desire & Odyssey) but I've never tried any of the other products for some reason 9/22*** About incense: do you like sticks or loose incense? Have you got one of those devices to burn loose incense over a bit of charcoal? Prefer sticks -though I like the idea of loose incense & nuggets of resin, it wouldn't work well in my household right now What's everyone's favorite fairytale and what are your favorite versions of it? Of the traditional fairy tales, as a kid I really liked Frau Holle (a variant of Toads & Diamonds), the Snow Queen as well as the Seven Ravens, the one where the girl cuts off her little finger & uses it as a key (yeah, I was a bit morbid). So how many imps/decants is officially 'you have gone overboard and your Witchee is going to expire from scent overload'? no such thing Who needs a recipe box? Perhaps - but then I'd have to organize & print out my recipes instead of reaching into a drawer of crumpled paper I've been meaning to get a binder & clear sleeves for all my copied recipes ANYONE ELSE want a home-made cookbook? oh yes! ***9/19*** How does everyone feel about really green gifties? I was thinking of giving my witchee some of my handy-dandy "paper" towels (hand-sized, washable muslin squares--kinda like ultra-cheapo cloth napkins) good idea! What craft (or crafts) have you been wanting to try but have no idea where to start? blown glass would be so cool & I have failed to learn to knit at least three times Would you appreciate some tunes in future packages? yes, to any tunes! Polish goodies! Who wants them? Baked goods, candies, kielbasa, pirogies, magazines, you name it? candies or baked goods nom nom ***9/18*** How do you avoid popping an item for yourself into an order you're placing for your witchie? with great difficulty unless I have them shipped directly Underpants? Do you like them? What's your style? Size? I'm pretty picky & prefer to buy my own What is your favorite? What tea would you love to try but haven't because of price or difficulty to get? I like mostly like black teas & herbals (I just happened to update my wishlist this weekend) BPTP Room Sprays...your thoughts? love to try any of them Would you like to receive baked goods from your Witch? And if so, are there things you WOULDN'T like?sure! not a huge fan of raisins ***9/16*** How do you decide what to put in which package for your Witchee or how many packages to send? I just group things together as seems appropriate & send til I'm done If you were my witchee, would you be terribly offended if I sent you a box containing project "experiments" or random miscellaneous pretty bits of brainstorming that I thought you might like/wear? it would be fun to receive such things ***9/14*** Update - I liked the last Blood Moon but didn't love it & don't look that good in white so I can safely skip that part. I quite like the Moonbeast shirt but don't need it at the moment. I'm getting decants of the two breakfast scents but couldn't find any offered of the fan pack scent (hint, hint) Perfume: cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, plum, musk, blackberry & tea with hints of rose, patchouli, sandalwood, lemon vanilla, clove & cardamom. In real life, I probably smell like baby spit-up, coffee & cinnamon apple crisp with the faintest hint of cat pee Wizard of Oz - I like the movie but am not that much of a fan Paper coffee cups: on occasion ***9/13*** Do you like Mystery Science Theater 3000? Have you tried out (and if not, would you be interested in doing so) its weird little brother, RiffTrax? haven't seen it though it looks entertaining ***9/12*** What will you like from Singapore? Candies? Food? Asian crafts/toys? anything - I'm not very familiar with Singapore's culture or products What is everyone's "luck" item? don't really have anything - I feel "off" if I go out without my jewellery however Do you like art deco/nouveau - style prints? yes, slight preference to Art Nouveau - I especially like photos of AN architectural details What is one thing that, if you received it in the middle of all the hubbub, would make you smile and take your mind off of all you have to do for a bit? emails, e-cards, mail & packages all thrill me How do you feel about Hello Kitty? 'tis okay in small doses 9/11*** Legwarmers? Armwarmers? no thanks - I lie! Sock Dreams has some with a cherry blossom pattern that are beautiful. What makes everyone stand out from the Switch Witch herd? not sure... I identify with most of the folks, maybe I'm a bit more timid than some... how about that I was a punk rocker as a teen but now no one would ever guess If you are into the original Nintendo system, what 3 games would you want that you don't have? not into What is your favorite category of the GC? Ars Amatoris, Bewitching Brews, Wanderlust ***9/10*** Stance on Joss Whedon and his enterprises? Like quite a bit but not blind to the flaws Has anyone tried ice wine before? Do/did they enjoy it? It's a tad sweet but tasty nonetheless What other perfume companies (besides bpal) have you been curious about? CB:IHP, Arcana, Mythos Does anyone here do anything with grave rubbings? never have Would you enjoy art based on original Graveyard photography? Yes! What's in your Netflix or Blockbuster queue, do you want any new Netflix/Blockbuster friends, if so how do we find you on there? don't have either ***9/9*** Do you play a musical instrument? no What do you think of Irrelevant Disturbing and Surreal Crawdad Dream? Love it? Hate it? Kicking yourself for not getting a bottle? Like it but am ok with just one bottle How do you feel about trinkets? You know - tiny toys or doodads that serve no purpose than to be cute, take up space and make us smile. Love them or waste of money? quite fond of them - remember I described my decor as cluttered in the questionnaire Can melty things be shipped to you, or will they be in puddles by the time you open the package? should be okay Who likes pirates? Yes - Arrgh! What are your feelings about Dia De Los Muertos? don't celebrate it but love the idea & think the figurines are charming What do you think about the Nightmare Before Christmas? very fond of it If candy is sent, would you prefer small amounts to a Halloween sized bag? happy with either Do you like notes in your soaps or bath stuff that you don't like in your perfumes? If so which? can stand a bit more floral in soap form - don't mind lavender & lily of the valley/muguet in soap but not as perfume, also quite like using chocolate and coffee products but not wearing them Do you like floral soaps or bath stuff? If so, what florals work and what don't? like roses & violet the most, not crazy about gardenia & other white florals but jasmine is ok ***9/8*** How do y'all feel about honey and maple? And different flavored honey, not just the standard kind? nom nom, especially love to try unusual honey What is your favorite thing to do on a cool fall day? walk in the crunchy leaves, collect some chestnuts for the cat who loves to play with them, do some baking, plant bulbs & muck about in the garden

***9/7*** Favorite animals - domestic cats, Tigers, otters, crows, ravens Caramels or unusual chocolate - yes please!! delicate_fangs sent me some Fleur de Sel caramels in the Winter Round & they were divine I also took part in the chocolate swap & discovered that not only do I like chili & chocolate, especially if there's other spices like cinnamon involved but that I just really like chocolate of all kinds A lot. Munsters vs Addams family Both! I watched the Munsters religiously as a child but also really enjoy the Addams family cartoons Tea stuff I love it but don't necessarily need any more Pet treats & toys The kitties are crazy about catnip anything & would probably have fun with those feather on a bendy stick things Birthdays I like to keep things mellow & usually request my Mum to take me out for lunch & my DH to take me out for dinner (so basically, I have a plan to eat all day long) Tarts? I don't have a burner so I haven't tried any but I'd be game Burned CD's/DVDs? Sure! ***9/6*** What one (or two, if you really must) BPAL bottles are you most longing for? I'd love to find a bottle of Autumn (Salon), Devil's Night If you could have dinner/drinks/coffee with any 3 living people that are not your family/friends already, who would they be-? Jane Yolen, Neil Gaiman & Charles deLint ***9/5*** If you could bring back any TV show from cancellation what would it be? Angel, Dresden Files I wonder if my witchee would like a blanket type thing. Would you? I'm all set for blankies, thanks What's your favorite "I know it's bad for me but I can't help myself" treat? potato chips, chocolate, cinnamon buns/croissants & I'm always game for pizza Very important question: Are you planning on buying anything off your BPAL and/or other wishlists during the round? I may buy Lunacies or specials if they appeal but will always let Witchy know (I've ordered Lilith Victoria & Lady Lilith) Do you wear a watch? If so, what kind/style? I need a new watch, actually - I usually go for a silver face & black strap but would love to find something black & purple or with a picture on the dial or something kind of gothy for a change. Perhaps my witch could point me toward a retailer? How do you feel about having a donation made in your name to something?If you like that idea, what types of organizations/groups would you want the donation to go to? Grand idea! So many good causes - I'd let my Witchy choose. ***9/4*** What is your favorite art movement and/or style? ie impressionist, surrealist, art nouveau, etc. I'm very fond of art nouveau & the Pre-Raphaelites Do you have a case for your mp3 player/digital camera? If you would want one, what size is your digital device? I'm already covered For tea drinkers, do you bag it or prefer loose bag usually but I have strainers if need be Does the weather change where you are, as in, does it get cold in the winter? Anyone need homegrown scarves, hats, mittens, etc? Absolutely! Who are your forum buddies? People you know well enough online or IRL to help your Witch pick out stuff for you? I think my previous Switch Witches (JennyGardener & delicate_fangs) would be good for advice since they sent excellent prezzies in earlier rounds. IRL, I've had coffee a few times with Ishtar ***9/3*** My questionnaire is chock-a-block with ideas for Witching me on the cheap, and without sending "stuff for stuff's sake". And I just came up with another one--make me a Pandora, Finetune, or Last.fm station you think I might like! What manner of affordable Witchery might you covet? I'd like almost anything Does your cell phone have a place to attach charms? no If you drink coffee (and make it yourself) do you use a French Press, regular filter basket coffee maker, Espresso Machine, Percolator? cone-shaped filter What movie soundtracks (or scores) do you love? I'd love to find the one for Grossepoint Blank How do you scent yourself? Do you layer soaps, moisturizers, etc. or do you go straight to slathering your bod with BPAL? I like to use complimentary soaps & lotions & often put BPAL in unscented lotion Do you/how do you scent your world? Candles, incense, diffusers, potpourri? None of the above?Candles & occasionally incense BPAL is such a scent-ual experience. What are your other tactile, aural, or olfactory pleasures? I love velvet & chenille scarves/garments, the feel & smell of fresh washed bedding & have mostly fragrant plants in my garden ***9/2*** How do people feel about receiving baked goods/kits to make said goods? Or other cooking items? Would you enjoy oil or vinegar flavored with herbs grown at home? Strange and exotic spices with recipes to try? Cookies made with carnation petals? Yes, to all of the above What are your pet's names, and what are they named for? Our two black cats, Pamplemousse & Maximillian, have names chosen just because we liked the sound (my husband named the grapefruit & she's regal looking but quite goofy so it fits). The grey & white cat, Grendel, is a fighter & bully so naming him after Beowulf's monster was appropriate. ***9/1*** Who here is a complete, over the top, Alice In Wonderland fanatic? I'm quite fond of the book & illustrations (but not the Tea Party scents, unfortunately). That tea set someone linked to was great! Are you a Trekkie? If so, which series do you prefer? Do you have a favorite character? Somewhat, my favorite series were DS9 & Voyager but favorite characters are Spock & Picard (with a girl crush on Sevenofnine) Do you have phobias? heights, flying, driving, crossing big bridges, maggots How do you like your mix CDs? Random? Stuff you know you'll like? Either Would you rather get food or jewellery? Both are very desirable Do you like children's toys, such as jacks, those little things you tilt around to get the ball in the right hold (wtf are those called?), the aforementioned caplet dinosaurs, cap guns, etc? I have a great fondness for wind-up toys (tin or otherwise) English candy/tea/marmite or other stuff that you love and can't easily get outside of England? violet or blackcurrant flavoured candy Fanfic as a gift* - yay or nay? Your fandom? Slash preferences?*well, a virtual gift obviously. You know what I mean. Sure! I'd prefer it to be somewhat humorous, though. Harry Potter, Buffy, Star Trek, LOTR, Lovecraft Any beaders here? Need beading supplies? small children = not currently beading Do you like making up your SW packages around a theme, or prefer to mix it all up? sometimes themed, more often a mix Band-aids: do you like the fun and funky ones? Very much! What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? an inexperienced doctor led me to believe I might have cervical cancer (fortunately it was nothing) ***8/31*** What is everyone's favorite Halloween song?! I loved the Monster Mash as a kid, also This is Halloween from Nightmare Before Christmas How many of mah fellow witchies play video games? Platform? Do you like used games? What kind of music (genres, please) do you like? 60's rock, world music, grunge Have any of you ever received a book from a Witchy and loved it so much you ended up buying a copy for a later Witchee? I've received several nice books but haven't bought more copies, yet What kinds of eye shadows do we all like? sparkly/opalescent mineral - searching for a great mauve/lilac/purple, also like copper, teal & smokey blue (I have blue-grey eyes) Do you like lip balm? If so, do you like tinted, glossy, sparkly, pearly or just plain lip balm? tinted in plum or anything really (not huge fan of peppermint flavored) What are some of the SW gifts/finds from past rounds (or you can just name a gift in general that you found for someone if this is your first round!) that you are the most proud of in terms of your sleuthing skills? And, secondly, what is something you've been searching for but just can't find? Jill Thompson's Scary Godmother t-shirt or magnets ***8/30*** Do you knit/crochet? Do you need any supplies? - nope Who here has an etsy shop? not me What are your two favorite etsy shops? Are you active on any other boards/forums? If so please specify where and your username there. - I only use Live Journal for the decant circles. ***8/29*** What would you tell yourself 6 months in the past about 2008 so far? it won't be too bad but hire someone to complete some of those household projects you've been asking DH to do & save yourself a lot of aggravation If you had one minute of fame, what would you do/say in the spotlight? I would probably turn bright red & mutter something incoherent Robots versus zombies: who wins? Mr Roboto What would zombie say? Brains! Where are a few of your favorite places? rocky beaches by the ocean, woods with lots of evergreens, Rome, San Francisco Out of curiosity, all the fall babies who are celebrating their birthdays during the round - who are you, and when is your bday? N/A What is one (only one) object that you collect, that totally goes against your personality or beliefs? can't think of anything Are you a soap addict? Anything you like to avoid in soaps (goat's milk, lye, dyes, etc...) or any particular scents you like or brands you want to try? - Addict? Oh Yes -see SW Help wishlist Do you like kilts and would you wear one? - like but wouldn't wear BoiWitches? Question for you both.....Hath any of thou own a Kilt? What's your favorite book? can't have just one! What size socks do you wear? How about hat size? I have large feet (10) & a big head (22 in) Do you read comics? Which ones do you love and which can't you stand? Sandman, Books of Magic, Castle Waiting, Courtney Crumrin, Scary Godmother - don't care for Manga Symbols that are meaningful to me? crescent moon, ourobouros, world tree, leaves By nature are you a morning lark or a night owl? more a middle of the day person What's your favorite type of music to hear live Celtic Favorite Seasonal Drinks- cider & pumpkin lattes, I also crave spicier tea than usual ***8/28*** Crossword puzzles? Other pencil puzzles? I like doing crosswords occasionally Favorite artist? modern: Ursula Vernon (Beelzebear,Elder Clean, Wolf & Fireflies) James Christensen Favorite poet? Mary Oliver Halloween. Do you like it kooky or creepy? - Both Reserved or Raunchy? - Both, it depends on the company Earth, Wind, Fire or Water? - Earth Tea or Coffee in the morning? - It used to be tea but after having kids it's strong coffee Fruity snacks or chocolate? - Both & together Would you accept art? -Yes! Antiques or Brand New? - Both with slight preference for antique What keywords do you use when searching for items for yourself on Etsy? I usually just browse the newly added section Are there any of y'all who are allergic/sensitive to having natural fibers on your skin? - Angora/mohair gets in my eyes What was your favorite ghost/scary/campfire story growing up? the Hitchhiker one Bugs? Do you like 'em or not? I do, except maggots squick me out i haz no imp storage. do you? Kinda but it's nothing fancy ***8/27*** If you have a garden/planter box, what do you grow? lots of herbs, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, roses, dahlias, poppies & many nice smelling perennials What incense scents do you prefer? Shoyeido for the win! cinnamony sandalwood & patchouli Do you decorate for Halloween? What sort of decorations? Dress up for Halloween? decorate with pumpkins & lights mostly, some years I dress up & others I don't Bats, cats, skeletons, monsters, vampires, witches or what other ghoulies do you prefer? black cats, witches & skeletal trees are my favorites & I have a soft spot for Cthulhu Do you like horror flicks? I love Vincent Price but not modern horror Who here prefers stylus and ink to ballpoint? Anyone invested time and effort into calligraphy or proper Victorian writing? no What about stationery? Need some? What styles do you like? I like pretty patterned paper ***8/26*** What is one item that you've wanted forever, could have afforded, but have never gotten and why (haven't you gotten it!)?Hmm...there's a few things listed on my sw help list What Halloween scent are you most looking forward to? - The Pumpkins & Fearful Pleasure (I have decants of the Pumpkins & bottles of Samhain & Fearful Pleasure on the way) Tattoos! Do you have em? Do you want em? Whatcha got or getting? - I've been contemplating getting one for 20 years but can't commit to a design Reduce - REUSE - recycle. Do others feel the same? - Yes What is your favorite crafting supply? I like making cards so blank cards/envelopes in different colours & hole punches in fun shapes Weigh in...Are you right or left-handed? - Lefty Any period of time that you love? ancient Greece, ancient China, Middle Ages, Regency & Fin de Siecle ***8/25*** What's your favorite part about Fall? - the smell, crunchy leaves, heirloom apple varieties Do you like office/school supplies? If so, what is your favorites?- fun pens, notepads, sticky notes What's your favorite Halloween candy? - little chocolate bars. I hate candy corn & molasses taffy, but am curious about the seasonal Hershey kisses. Will you be participating NaNoWriMo? If so, is there anything you'd like to have for that? - nope, not taking part ***8/22*** Where does everyone like shop for witching goodness? Etsy, local shops What is your favorite pumpkin goodness? - Soup, roasted seeds, bread & pie as well as BPAL's Pumpkin Patch #1 & #4 (2005/06) & Pumpkin Queen.

Pirate Moon! Crowley- infernal musk smells pretty red to me The Grindhouse is indeed yummy. Also joining in on all the Mme Moriarty love - for sexiness, I would choose this one over Snake Oil anyday (my DH would probably protest since he likes SO more than MM, but vanilla & I have a troublesome relationship)

My favorite apple by far is Pumpkin Patch #1 (the '05 & '06 version). Pumpkin w. apple cider & mulling spice - basically spicy baked apples. One of my first BPAL loves. I can't wait to try Fearful Pleasure & see how it compares!

Scrumptious! On me, this is a peppery citrus/fruity floral with a background of non-powdery amber. Not too sweet, not too peppery, not too in-your-face floral - another perfect summery fragrance.

I can't get enough of Dorian right now, with Lady Una a close second. So, I guess I'm with the other people who've been recommending the tea scents (though sadly, Severin is pure bug spray on me) Last summer, I was wearing Titania & Mum Moon a lot for that sweet fruity floral kick. It's only moderately humid here, though, those two might be too strong if it's sweltering.

I love using slices of the BPTP soaps as sachets in my clothes drawers & in the totes I store my linens. Even a small slice really infuses things nicely & you don't have to worry about oil stains. My favorites are Shub-Niggurath, Dorian & Snake Oil. Perhaps Miskatonic University would fit the bookish vibe you're after?

I really like Phantasm (green tea, lemon verbena, jasmine & neroli). The tartness of the tea, citrus & verbena keep the jasmine from overpowering everything in sight. It's a great summer evening fragrance (provided you can wear lemony scents without having them turn into cleaning products). There are similarities to Embalming Fluid & Shanghai but I feel it's a bit more girly/feminine because of the jasmine.

I cherish my imp of Parlement of Foules so I was very happy it was re-released this Lupercalia & I could order a bottle. When I first tried it, I was expecting it to be very close to Rose Cross since they both have similar notes (white rose & resins/rose & frankincense) but they're really quite different. I must be the only person who's getting the smell of berries from the resins in this It's more pronounced in the 2006 version than the 2008, so it might be partly an aging thing but is most likely my odd nose At least there's no sign of molasses. For me, this is a lovely light sweet rose with a few raspberries on the side - yum! Very much a warm weather scent, while Rose Cross is more resiny & cozy so I prefer it in winter. They both remind me of the scent of old roses rather than that of modern varieties.

I adore this scent! When it came out, I thought the notes all sounded nice but knew I would have to try it before I could justify a bottle purchase. I finally found some in a swap & moments after I tried it on I was trawling the sales pages for a big bottle I was a bit afraid after reading the reviews that the blackberry would go bad, but thankfully, no cat pee, just tart berry goodness with a honey background. I often amp vanilla & find it cloying but this combines nicely with the green tea in a similar fashion to Dorian though there's no citrus listed in the notes. Honey & blackberry are generally scents I don't really get that excited about but this combination with the Dorianesque vanilla tea & musk with hint of spice is incredible. My only quibble is that it's quite light & requires slathering & reapplication throughout the day if, like me, you want to be surrounded by a Lady Una cloud. Fortunately, I now have a bottle on the way & can try doing some layering with lotion & major slathering. I imagine this will be one of my warm weather staples.