Gwydion

In bottle: A cool, pale, lavender dominant scent.  The oudh adds a touch of green wood, the amber resin lends a gentle a grounding and bridge to the musk.  There real is an inky feel to the musk.  Wet: Still lavender dominent, but sexier on the skin as the amber and musk warm.  The oudh is understated, but really lovely with the lavander, and combined wth the touch of ink it all makes one think of a love poem just finished with a sprig of lavender attached for effect.  Dry: Mostly the inky musk.

In bottle:  Unusual and reminiscent of  a garden in early spring.  The tea leaf and lemongrass lend it an herbal, mint, and savoury weight vaguely resembling a certain Thai style soup I am fond of.   The floral and sweet elements balance beautifully with the herbal.  It is delicate and lovely and a pale green sort of scent.  Wet: Even more herbal on the skin.  I didn't expect to like this, but I really do.  It's more complex than ingredients might suggest and unexpected.  As it warms the mint comes out more, suggesting early spring chill.  It's a lovely mint note, but possibly a little too strong on me.  Dry: Soft savoury tea leaf green.

In bottle: Sweet resin.  The vanilla cream is strong and sugary and surprisingly well suited to myrrh and papyrus.  I was not expecting it to be nearly this foody, but it really works.  Wet: The reediness of the papyrus comes out more on the skin and the myrrh warms on the skin, while the vanilla cream softens.  given a few minutes ad the resin wins dominence with the papyrus support.  The foody elements really do sweetens and soften, but step into the background to let the other elements shine.  Dry: Sexy resin.

In bottle: Leather and red licorice dominant.  Sexy and smooth and liquory.  Wet: Rather more chalky on the skin, but the red licorice and leather still stand out.  Still very cowboy, but not nearly as sexy as the musk is de-emphasized. Dry: Sweetened leather. That red licorice note has surprising staying power.

In bottle: Extremely fruity.  Red fruit supported by dark chocolate and a wee kick of pepper.  Wet: Really unusual.  The Red Fruit expand in depth and complexity on the skin.  I don't think I've smelled a fruit blend this rich before.  The chocolate remains in gentle support.  The pepper is a tad stronger adding a pleasant edge.  Dry: Fast fading Chocolate.

In bottle:  Heaven.  This is a perfect mix of dark chocolate and whiskey sweetened by caramel, the touch of cardamom adding depth.  I wish I had a whole bottle. Wet: More whiskey on the skin.  The dark chocolate is lovely support.  The caramel and cardamom really come into their own as it warms.  Sweeter on the skin than in the bottle.  Dry: Sweetened dark chocolate and a touch of whiskey.

In bottle: Patchouli dominant, with that particular smoothness of a really mature patchouli, pleasantly supported by oakmoss and a touch of leather.  The tar and cedar add a woodsy sharpness.  The vanilla, tobacco, and tonka are understated, but gentle the more jagged edges. Wet: Warmer and softer in feel on the skin.  The tonka comes into its own as it twines with the patchouli.  The leather really finds it's feet and challenges the patchouli.  In the bottle it's all about the patch, but on the skin it becomes about the leather.  Once things settle, the more subtle elements reassert and add a depth and complexity.  It is significantly more androgynous on the skin. Dry: Oakmoss and aged patchouli.

I don't know the bottle number as it was a gift.

In bottle: It's definitely foody, but has a cologne sort of feel to it.  It's maybe an amber base with a hit of musk supporting a sweet, strangely familiar foody fragrance.  I'd guess vanilla sugar and whipped cream with a kiss of maybe shortbread, but I couldn't swear to it.  Wet: The Lab's cream note is strongest with the base blending pleasantly into the background.  The sugary vanilla is subtle but present.  I really like this and wish I had a bottle rather than a quarter of an imp.   Dry: Sweet cream with a hint of amber.

#63

In bottle: A lovely and unusual men's cologne.  It seems to have a strong classic fougere base with a sharp, foresty edge to it.  Masculine without going overboard and reminiscent of colognes popular in my youth while retaining it's individuality.  Wet: Gentler on the skin.  It contains a touch of mint that suggest a man just in from an afternoon in the woods after the first snow.  Dry: Softer with wear but retains it's fundamental sex appeal.

In bottle: Very, Very amber dominant with lilac support.  It's a classic sexy women's fragrance, with a touch of honey and cream to lend it an unexpected softer edge.  Wet: More balanced on the skin,  Still amber dominant with the floral element bridging the more foodie touches.  he lilac comes into it's own as it warms.  Dry: Soft, sweetened Amber.

In bottle: A softer, older apple, supported by tobacco, in a setting of well blended florals.  Wet: More floral on the skin, with the apple and flowers blending perfectly together.  The tobacco adds a touch of earthiness.  Dry: Fastfading to vaguely floral tobacco.

In bottle: This is a softer sweeter version of apple.  The apple is dominant, but the brown sugar cookies are strong and blend well with the caramel and cinnamon. Wet: Deliciously rich on my skin.  The apple is crisper, the cookie richer and more complex.  Beautifully blended, very Autumn carnival.  Dry:

In Bottle: Oh Gods!  I wish I had a bottle of this.  Rich Dark chocolate with just enough smoke to add complexity without overwhelming.  Wet: Still dark chocolate dominant, but the smoke is much stronger.  It's not the vetiverish smoke that is often used for this effect, but a cleaner sort of wood smoke.  It really like the way the wood plays with the chocolate.  I can't stop sniffing it.  Yum.  Dry: Mostly woodsmoke.

In Bottle:  I would think there is mint in this from the scent, but it's not listed.  The trees are extremely strong, the warmth of the deciduous woods and the sharpness of the evergreen form something very realistically forest when blended with the earthiness.  Very first snow in the forest.  Wet: Still very minty, and my skin seems to throw the balance off.  The Mint wins, supported by he deciduous woods, the pine retreating into a mere hint.  Dry: The mint is gone leaving a lovely woody scent.

In Bottle: Apple Blossom dominant, softened and enriched by cream, caramel, and honey, grounded by musk and teak. The amber and musk lend a hint of sexiness.  Wet:  The apple is more clearly floral. The cream and teak blend to add a hint of the sinister.  the honey, amber, and musk really bring the sex appeal as it warms, and soon overtake the apple to become the strongest impression.  Dry: Mostly teak and musk.

In bottle: Way more conventional perfumey than one would expect from the description.  The neroli is dominant with a touch of spice from the carnation.  The driftwood reminds me of a softer, wetter sandalwood, very sexy.  the other sea based elements are a gentle canvass on with the brighter elements are displayed.  Well constructed and surprisingly feminine.  Wet: Far more aquatic with the neroli providing an intriguing tang.  Closer to androgynous now, a rich sexy classic aquatic with an unexpected brightness and subtlety.  Dry: Driftwood with a soft aquatic.

Tea Box is mailing out soon if anyone else wants in.

Tea and drink Boxes are up.

 

I'll likely restart both tea and the hot drinks boxes in a few weeks. I have ceded chocolate to someone else.

Thanks to the last tea box I have greatly expanded my tea stuffs and have more to offer now! Would love if you did it again.

 

It should go up in the next few days.

I'll likely restart both tea and the hot drinks boxes in a few weeks. I have ceded chocolate to someone else.

 

What sort of things go in a Spring cleaning swap?

 

Whatever you have that you're willing to give away (and ship), that is still in reasonably nice condition, and that your recipient's Q&A indicates they might want. To give you some examples, boxes I've received have included books, clothing, stationery, candy, candles, a mug, a USB stick full of movies and music selected for me, jewelry, unused cosmetics, tea, yarn, stickers, bath salts, a water bottle, notebooks, tarot decks, soaps, games, washi tape, pretty stones, samples of various kinds, and, of course, BPAL.

 

It's excellent motivation to go through your stuff, sort out what's perfectly good but not getting any love, select what your recipient may want, and declutter the rest. Then you get a box of things tailored to your tastes as a reward! Join usss Gwydion... Join usssss...

 

Ah. Thank you.

What sort of things go in a Spring cleaning swap?

 

 

 

 

Normally I do the chocolate swap this time of year, but I don't think i'm up to it. If someone else wants to run it, I'll happily sign up, but i don't think i can run.

I’ve actually been meaning to PM you to see if you were going to be doing one for the holidays and, if not, if you would mind if I did one. This is a super fun swap, and I keep looking at the holiday candy in stores and thinking about it in terms of an exchange!

Oh please do run it!

I do love a good edibles swap!

 

Heh. In my neck of the woods, "edibles" means something distinctly different that would never get through customs.

 

And the Winter Candyland swap has been submitted! I made the timing overlap (two weeks before Christmas, two weeks after) so it can be a holiday swap *or* post-holiday swap depending on your preferences.

 

Thank you so much for taking this over for me.

I thought the same thing with "edibles."

 

Normally I do the chocolate swap this time of year, but I don't think i'm up to it. If someone else wants to run it, I'll happily sign up, but i don't think i can run.

I’ve actually been meaning to PM you to see if you were going to be doing one for the holidays and, if not, if you would mind if I did one. This is a super fun swap, and I keep looking at the holiday candy in stores and thinking about it in terms of an exchange!

 

Oh please do run it!

Normally I do the chocolate swap this time of year, but I don't think i'm up to it. If someone else wants to run it, I'll happily sign up, but i don't think i can run.