not actually dead
Just tired. Made a whirlwind trip to see family last weekend, including some cousins I hadn't seen in two or three years. Kids grow up so fast! Also, while I sneezed through most of Eastern/Central Washington, the Cascade Mountains didn't trigger my hay fever at all. Come to that, neither did the Keweenaw Peninsula. The lesson here is probably: Forests good, plains and cities bad. Fortunately that fits with my natural inclination.
Halloween limited edition perfumes are up at Black Phoenix. It's a HUGE update, but fortunately most of the concepts don't really grab me. Might have to try some decants, though.
ALL SAINTS 2010
Based on a venerable French pontifical incense blend: monastic frankincense and myrrh, Damascus rose, Russian gardenia, cassia, and lily of the valley wafting on a chill Autumn wind.
No, way too floral.
ALL SOULS 2010
An incense blend that invokes the higher qualities of mercy and compassion, mingled with the soft, sugared currant scent of offertory soul cakes.
Incense good, cake and berries bad. Nope.
BLUE PUMPKIN FLOSS
Puffy clouds of pumpkin candyfloss with a trickle of blackberry juice.
Buttery berry candy? Nooo. Blech.
BOO 2010
Eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream.
Probably very nice, but spun sugar and cotton are very much not my thing. Pass.
CALAVERAS
Clever little satirical poems in the style of epitaphs written to tease the living and ease grief over a loved one's passing. Xocolatl, tequila, copal incense, smoke-dried jalapeños, vanilla pods, and cajeta.
Chipotle chocolate? Interesting, but don't think I'd wear it. Possible sniffie later.
DIA DE LOS ÑATITAS
On November 8, the indigenous people of Bolivia share the day with the bones of their ancestors, a custom that has its roots in pre-Columbian Quechua / Aymara spiritual practise. Hydrangea blossoms and rose petals, cigarette smoke, cocoa leaves, and chichi.
Doesn't appeal.
FLOR DE MUERTO
The orange marigold, or zempasúchitl, has been one of Death's symbols since the pre-Columbian era. The yellow and orange petals are believed to represent the rays of the sun, bringing joy and light to the souls dwelling in the realm of the dead. These flowers surround Day of the
Dead altars to guide the spirits to their offerings.
Marigold SN?! I like certain kinds of marigolds, but would have to be careful not to wear it around people who don't. Decant?
GHOULISH
This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron.
Nope, way too sugary. Bastet is my amaretto-saffron fix.
THE HAG
Black musk, bay leaves, galangal, bourbon vetiver, blackcurrant, and rum.
Manly fruit? Doesn't appeal.
GOLLETES
A circular pastry glazed with pink sugar that symbolizes the sweetness of life and the certainty of death.
Nope, I don't do pastry scents.
HUESOS DE SANTO 2010
Orange-glazed cake, dotted with anise seed, and filled with custard, set beside a bouquet of celebratory funeral flowers.
Nope, likely to be too foody.
LAMBS-WOOL 2010
A popular holy day beverage in 18th century Ireland: roasted apples mashed into warmed milk and ale, with nutmeg, sugar, ginger, and clove.
Reviews sound good, don't know how much I'd wear it, but probably nice for the holidays. Decant?
NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY
Dewy green leaves colored by Moroccan amber, ginseng, and rooibos.
This could be really good! Not sure about ginseng... root or flowers? Decant definitely.
OCTOBER 2010
Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air.
Sounds perfect, but I still have an almost full bottle of the last version (which is getting a lot of use lately). Don't need. Still tempted to get a backup, though...
PUMPKIN LATTE
Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Probably a delicious room scent, but I could get the same effect much cheaper by burning wax tarts. Possibly swap for a decant later.
PUNKIE NIGHT 2010
This is a light-hearted scent: apple orchards, bright cranberries, and a touch of warm cider.
Sounds like a nice candle, not a perfume. Also, berries hate my skin. Pass.
SAMHAIN 2010
Truly the scent of autumn itself -- damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.
Sounds good, but I didn't like 2007's much. Decant maybe?
SUGAR SKULL 2010
Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.
Nope, don't do sugar.
THE WILD SWANS AT COOLE
October twilight. Falling leaves breaking the stillness of cool water, with sweet autumn clematis, feather-soft orris root, luminous white chypre, and muguet.
Sounds interesting and probably beautiful, but not my style. Possible decant, just because I'm curious.
++ HALLOWEENIE: MNEMOSYNE
HALLOWEEN: BROOKLYN
Flowering dogwood, weeping cherry, Korean pine, camellia, moonflower, Alberta spruce, arborvitae, and crab apples.
Might be good and smell like spring at home, or might be a bland flowery mess like Arkham. Probable decant, wait for reviews.
HALLOWEEN: LOS ANGELES
The sky on fire: a strange incense of burning brush, junegrass, tumbleweeds, chaparral, and wild sage.
Sounds fascinating but dubiously wearable. Sniffie?
HALLOWEEN: NEW ORLEANS
The distinctive scent of the Mississippi at night mingling with sweet olive and Spanish moss.
Sounds lovely... what aquatic note is in this? Is it muddy? I could go for mud! Also, aquatic + olive sounds like something for Mom. Decant, possible bottle.
HALLOWEEN: SAN FRANCISCO
Salt air wafting in from the bay. Rain falling on rain-soaked leaves.
Might be pretty or too aquatic. How much leaves? Possible decant, wait for reviews.
++ HALLOWEEN: POMEGRANATE GROVE
POMEGRANATE I
Pomegranate, poet's jasmine, and benzoin.
Jasmine death. Does not appeal.
POMEGRANATE II
Pomegranate, white musk, lemon verbena, grapefruit, pink lime.
Sour fruit! Nope.
POMEGRANATE III
Pomegranate, Tamil Nadu sandalwood, lavender, tamarind, hazelnut, Atlas cedarwood, sugar date, bitter clove, and Arabian myrrh.
This might be worth a try, except I can't see how the lavender fits in. Pass.
POMEGRANATE IV
Pomegranate, cognac, red musk, cocoa, tobacco absolute, star anise, and thyme.
Sounds rich, wicked, and absolutely not me. Pass.
POMEGRANATE V
Pomegranate, carnation, amber, cardamom, neroli, vetiver, black pepper, and opium tar.
Augh. Has potential, but the neroli and opium kill it. Pass.
If you purchase the POMEGRANATE GROVE set, you will receive an imp of:
THE HERAEON OF ARGOS
Argive Hera. The temple in the Argolid that was dedicated to Hera, the Queen of Heaven, in her aspect as the Great Triple Goddess. Pomegranate, apple blossom, fig, willow bark, and almond.
Sounds possibly nice, but definitely not worth getting the set for.
+ HALLOWEEN: GOTHIC FICTION, VOLUME 1
THE BYRONIC ANTIHERO
An aristocratic cologne of titanic passions, moody and brooding. This scent is dark with disillusionment and cynicism: a Victorian fougère and a dashing carnation boutonnière tainted by a cloud of khus, yew, and patchouli.
Probably similar to St-Germain and Wilde, which didn't work on me. Alas.
THE CREEPING MIST
A muculent, brumous, ill-omened scent: orris, yuzu, white ginger, linden flower, petitgrain, and lotus.
This sounds right up my alley for summer! Decant, possible bottle.
THE DECREPIT HOUSE
An architectural doppelganger reflecting a ruined soul: dilapidated planks of mahogany and cypress wood perched feebly on a grim foundation of long-dead leaves, black musk, patchouli, galbanum, tobacco absolute, fragonia, and oakmoss.
Uber-masculine and not immediately appealing. What is fragonia? Wait for reviews.
A HOWL IN THE DARKNESS
A scent evocative of a forest at midnight, with animalic brown musk, wild sage, Terebinth pine, black oak, and a chilly shock of terror personified by kunzea, cistus labdanum, verbena, juniper, metallic ozone, and white mint.
Nope, sounds sharp and sneezy.
THE INFERNAL LOVER
A creamy, sensual, honeyed red musk.
Syrupy unwashed stank doom! Nope.
ECCLESIASTICAL EXCESSES
Faustian depravity: daemonorops, rose-infused frankincense, vetiver, mate absolute, and clove bud.
Interesting but not especially appealing. Pass.
ENCROACHING MADNESS
A yellow smell. Old foul, bad yellow things. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, balsam, hydrangea, and helichrysum.
Sounds like an interesting "non-floral" floral. Probable decant, wait for reviews.
THE SHADOWY AND THE SUBLIME
A sudden and shocking insight into the vast, ineffable, overwhelming power of Nature, stirred by a vision or experience of perfected beauty and perfected terror, that changes the soul irretrievably. An epiphany: Moroccan amber, wisteria, ambergris accord, white rose, magnolia, white mint, angelica, bergamot, and myrrh.
Sounds good except for the wisteria and mint. Maybe swap for a decant later.
THE MADWOMAN
Dusty white sandalwood, ragged cloth, and a dry, long-dead bridal bouquet.
Probably too dry. I think I have enough similar scents. Pass.
ODD PORTENTS
Black rose, olibanum, dark musk, myrrh, blackcurrant, lavender buds, bourbon geranium, and amber incense.
Probably lovely, but too heavy and purple for me to wear. Pass.
THE UNSAVORY GRAVE-DIGGERS
An unearthed oakwood coffin, cemetery weeds, and a hint of booze.
Potential, but not a must-have. What kind of booze? Possible decant, wait for reviews.
THE UNSTEADY GOVERNESS
White tea and violet leaf.
Don't need it.