Scent ramblings

So, I've been thinking...(I know, dangerous, right?)  I'm already getting comments like, "But how much perfume can one person wear?"  and "Do you really wear all that much perfume?" and I was starting to feel bad, especially when I realized...
The perfume thing really never ends, does it? I was thinking that once I got the rest of the BPAL GC's (General Catalog scents, those that are available all the time, barring component issue discontinuations), I want (and there really aren't that many) I'd be "done" except for seasonal updates. Riiiight. Add in seasonal updates from about six other companies and it becomes never-ending. I give, I give, you've got me for life!

Well and there's still GC's from some of the companies too, like Blooddrop, who has a few GC's I want, and the people over in the "Other Perfumes you Love" thread keep trying to talk me into trying Nocturne Alchemy (they have some foodie scents that sound divine), and if something happens with Conjure Oils so the TAT will be reasonable,  there will be a bunch of those I want. And of course there's my never ending attraction to Villainess. And Haus of Gloi, and Haunt, and Moxie Nouveau, and Arcana, and Midnight Gypsy.   Except for Villainess and Conjure Oils, each company only has a few I want, but multiply that between numerous companies and it starts to add up!

I am seriously going to have to save up for that perfume chest, I guess... I wonder just how long perfume oils last if kept dark and cool? I know Snake Oil is good for at LEAST seven years.

You know, though - I'd feel bad if I didn't WEAR them, but I wear everything I have except the bottle of Purple Swallowtail that's up for swap. If I don't love it, I don't keep it. I rotate - usually wear something different every day. And it's now to the point that I don't feel "dressed" without perfume on. Actually no, it's worse than that. Even on days I don't get out of pajamas, I will put on perfume.

I guess when student loans start coming due I'll have to budget differently, but I'm pretty sure I can manage at least one bottle per paycheck.

After discussing the whole issue with Chris, and he is saying that he isn't seeing the problem, I guess I can stop worrying about it. 

More misc. ramblings...

Since this blog is in danger of going "all perfume, all the time" (not that there's anything WRONG with that, mind you!), I thought I'd treat everyone (all two of you), to some miscellaneous ramblings about other things going on.

My beloved Chris got a wild notion that he wants to rearrange the kitchen (again).  We just did this last year, when we added the two wire racks that are the best thing since sliced bread. If you have wall space in your kitchen (I know, most modern kitchens don't),  let me tell you, these serve a multitude of storage purposes and even look pretty darn cool.  We have two, and they're currently used for hanging my copper bottom pots and pans, storing electrics, (food processor, bread machine, crock pot), Chris's coffee paraphernalia, and spices/flour/sugar; among other things.  However, due to the (relatively) new fridge, which now lives in the dining room, the dining room is horribly crowded. And with the nearing holiday season when we might actually have people over (gasp), something's got to be done about that.  Chris's idea is to put the fridge in the spot where it was originally designed to go, which is next to the stove.  Historically, my objection to this was that the stove gets hot and the fridge is supposed to stay cold, and putting the two next to each other made no sense.  However, after testing with the stove going full blast (hot oven), we found that our stove is new enough to be well insulated enough that the sides stay cool.  Sooo... looks like this weekend's project is well started!  I've already moved the pantry cabinet and the rack that was where the fridge is going.  But I think after looking at it again, we're going to have to switch racks, and put the taller one next to the stove, so I can have the shorter but sturdier one to put the microwave on, since the microwave stand won't fit in the new arrangement, so we'll end up moving it to the dining room to serve as Chris's coffee station.  It makes sense when you look at it, really!  This will entail switching racks for a lot of stuff, like my pans. 

And now, for something completely different:  I'm now watching more TV than I've watched in probably over a decade.  Glee, Merlin, Nashville, Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Bunheads, Smash....even I am having a hard time believing it.  Even more oddly, I'm enjoying it (well, obviously, or I wouldn't be doing it). I think part of the reason is that I actually have the time now - no kids at home, no school, only working part time. 

New release Tuesday is next week.  November holds myriad goodies, not least among them a new Shirley Rousseau Murphy Joe Grey book, a new Sister Jane entry from Rita Mae Brown, a new Dresden Files title, and the latest from Kevin Hearne's Atticus and Oberon.  All those are at the end of the month, so a little bit of a wait, but the first of the month is no slouch either, with new entries in established series by Cricket McRae, Livia J. Washburn, Kate Collins, Elaine Viets, Ali Brandon, Elizabeth Lynn Casey, Rhys  Bowen, Betty Hechtman, Lee Hollis,and Laura Childs, among others.

And lest y'all think I've gone cold turkey on the perfume - nope.  Received a bottle of Haunt's Star and Thicket today that I hunted down on LJ because I didn't want to wait until it comes back next spring.  I'll write a review on it later, but just let me say it's delightful.  I also got Troika and Twice is Nice from Haus of Gloi (with exceptional turnaround time), that I've yet to skin test, but sniffing the bottles tells me they should be winners (like everything else I've gotten from Haus of Gloi).  Reviews will be forthcoming for those too - probably this weekend.

Haunt! Palmist and Fates reviews

 Haunt is a new company for me.  But when she had her Halloween sale, I found that she had added two GC's...Fates and Palmist.  And I had to try them, even though both list the dreaded patchouli as an ingredient.  This company does things a little differently from most of the others I buy from regularly.  Her seasonal sale stuff goes FAST - as in, sometimes only minutes.  But her GC's as far as I can tell, are available most of the time.

 Palmist:  blackberry and leaf, dark plum, wild violet, sweet patchouli leaf, sandalwood, vanilla orchid, and black spices.

Wet - sweet berries and plum, almost candy-like. Thankfully no patchouli in sniff.
Drying - Ohhh, violets.  I'm finding that the combination of violets and blackberry seems to be one of my favorites.  Still no patchouli, which is great, considering that the bottle even lists patchouli oil as an ingredient...Oh, this is good....
As this dries, it gets progressively less sweet and more dark. I still am not (thankfully) getting the BO/dirt smell I associate with patchouli, but I can tell that there is something in the background darkening up the scent.  Maybe a blend with patchouli I can actually wear??
 Dry:  Plum and violet...this is yummy!  Definitely a keeper and I am so glad I got a bottle! 

Fates: plum, pomegranate, davana flower, clove, cardamom, frankincense, patchouli, sandal heartwood, red musk, and bourbon vanilla.

In bottle:  Not as sweet as Palmist - pomegranate?  But it's not tangy, either.
Wet, on:  Yes, that's pomegranate...mmmm.  And vanilla...and red musk.
Drying: Here come the spices!  Definitely clove and cardamom. And ah, there's the plum.  Again, with this one, no dreaded BO/dirt smell that denotes patchouli to me.  This one is a bit of a morpher: one sniff I get plum/pom and the next I get spices.
It's drying down to mainly spices now, but every now and then I'll get a whiff of plum/pom and vanilla.
I don't like this one as much as I do Palmist, but it's still good, and still a keeper.

All in all, for a first experience with a company, this was excellent.  I also must mention her packaging: The little cloth (muslin?) bags she uses are adorable, and the included sample of Fright Night was in the smallest amber glass bottle with a cap that I have ever seen.  I didn't even know you could make glass bottles that small!

As always, the folks at Haunt don't know me from Eve, other than a random customer. I purchased the oils on my own, and I was not compensated in any way, shape, or form for this review.

Recent Reading, Gargoyles, and Perfume, oh my!

Well, I've been a little quieter than I intended this week, but really, other than New Release Tuesday, which I'll talk about in a minute (was too busy to do so at the time), it's been pretty boring around here.

All my author friends have been at Bouchercon in Cleveland this weekend, so I've been watching Facebook for their updates.  The best news for me, a dedicated Julie Hyzy fan, is that she was awarded the Anthony award for Buffalo West Wing, the fourth entry in her best-selling White House Chef series.

Even before New Release Tuesday this month, I was all excited for both Cozies and Urban Fantasy releases. One of the UF releases I had been eagerly anticipating was Anton Strout's Spellmason series debut, Alchemystic, which debuted Sept. 25th.  I couldn't wait, and have already devoured it, and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I'm thoroughly hooked and can't wait for the next entry in the series.  Stanis (the gargoyle) and Alexandra are a fantastically engaging hero/heroine combination, and I just can't praise this series debut enough. (And no, Anton did not pay me to write that, *grin*).

In cozies, this month we had new releases from both old favorites and new friends.  One title that I've been waiting what feels like forever for, was Iced Chiffon, by Duffy Brown.  I won a contest she sponsored several months ago, and have been on pins and needles for the book ever since.  It's going to be my next read.  Joelle Charbonneau had a new entry in her very popular (and popular for a reason, they are excellent reads), Skating Mystery series.  A new JoAnna Carl Chocoholic mystery, a new Sara Rosett Mom Zone title,  and an eagerly awaited new entry in Laura Child's Scrapbooking series were all present this month as well.  New entries came from David James, Waverly Curtis, and Sheila Webster Boneham.  In addition, this month we were blessed with titles from Ellen Hart, Lydia Adamson, Melissa Bourbon, Hazel Holt, Paige Shelton, Rhys Bowen, Carolyn Hart, Elise Hyatt, and Casey Mayes.

Mid-month we can look forward to the second in the Max Tudor series by G.M. Malliett, a new entry in the Lady Emily series by Tasha Alexander,  a new Sarah Woolson adventure by Shirley Tallman, the second in the Maggie Hope series by Susan Elia MacNeal, and a new one in the Berger & Mitry series by David Handler.

And the end of the month brings treats (instead of tricks), with the Oct. 30th releases of a new Penny Brannigan adventure by Elizabeth J. Duncan, December Dread by the oh-so-talented and wonderful Jess Lourey, and the second release this month by David James, which will be the second in his real estate series, I think (?)

But I am currently reading (and thoroughly enjoying, I might add), Lowcountry Boil, by Susan M. Boyer.   This book has more twists than the Snake River, and has been keeping me on the edge of my seat.  I'm about 2/3 done, and can't wait to find out how it ends.  I hope for many more Liz Talbot escapades!

And yes, there are more perfume reviews in this blog's future. I have four bottles on the way.  I have Drool (Ripe figs with vanilla beans and hypnotic honey amber), from Arcana's Cocos Nucifera II collection , and Murder Ballad Blues (In the tradition of murder ballads, the essence of an old-time jailhouse lament (on fiddle): wild Appalachian blackberries and sugared mountain violets with hints of dark earth and guilty secrets.)  also from Arcana coming that should be here Tuesday;  and my curiosity plus fear of the dreaded "sold out" message prompted me to place an unexpected order with Haunt for Fates (plum, pomegranate, davana flower, clove, cardamom, frankincense, patchouli, sandal heartwood, red musk, and bourbon vanilla) and Palmist (blackberry and leaf, dark plum, wild violet, sweet patchouli leaf, sandalwood, vanilla orchid, and black spices).  Those should be here in another few weeks, as that company advertises a two week turn around time.  I've been looking at scents from both companies for awhile now, but I haven't tried either, so I'm eager to get these and try them.