When real things happen to imaginary people

Things I have been up to: job-hunting (a few possibilities, we'll see what happens), and writing. Writing, writing, writing.

The wonderful darlings at BPAL sent me a box of the Only Lovers Left Alive scents, and I've been writing and posting reviews over at my Tumblr and the main Gothic Charm School site. StuntHusband is going to mug me for the bottle of Kit, but I won't care because I have Shelley, Byron, and Keats and BLOOD POPSICLE. Seriously, folks. Blood Popsicle. This may edge out Lump of Coal as my favorite BPAL ever, which is quite a feat considering Blood Popsicle doesn't have any chocolate note at all.

What else? Wishing I was back at Disneyland. Working on vague-ish ideas involving Patreon. Doing witchy stuff (including making a poison locket pendant using a bunch of the woody nightshade that grows in the back yard). Actually spending time with some of my friends, which has been really nice.

And just to make it clear: while I may not post here as frequently as I used to (blame Tumblr), I am reading my FL every day.

I'm having an exasperating day. I am also suffering from a sinus headache that is making me entertain longing thoughts of self-trepanation, and I'm just not in a very good mood. So I repeat: bah. And grrrr.

So! I'm going to distract myself by talking about perfume. Oh Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, why do you want to take all of my money? You see, in the Valentine's Day limited edition scents (available until March 13th), there is a collection named Box of Chocolates.

( Ooooh, chocolate perfume )

Wow, I am in a terrible mood. I should go eat lunch; maybe that will help.

(Hi LJ, welcome back.)

Thank you for all the birthday wishes, everyone! Yesterday (my actual birthday) was low-key and a perfect wrap-up to the extended birthday celebrations. So far, 40 feels no different from my 30s.

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BPAL just announced their anniversary scents. Yes, Candy Phoenix ("a dusky, yet effervescent mix of pomegranate and black currant candies, with a dusting of sugared pear and white apple") sounds interesting, but. BUT.

"2008's Resurrected scents are:

BEAVER'VERSARY
Cheesecake and cupcakes, yo! This is Beaver Moon 2005 resurrected!"

BEAVER MOON 2005, PEOPLE. ONE OF MY TWO TRUE SCENTS FROM BPAL. I need to figure out how much money I am willing to blow on my perfect perfume. Beaver Moon 2005 is the scent that when I wear it, people want to follow me around and huff my skin. When I go home tonight, I will check to see how many bottles I have currently, and then dither about how many more I need. (Yes, need.)

My BPAL order showed up today. While the 2007 edition of Beaver Moon is not quite as glorious as the 2005 edition, it is quite nice. I have other BPAL I can offer in trade!

5ml bottles:

Enraged Orangutan Musk (forum exclusive)
The Tell-Tale Heart
Lydia (C13 LE)
Shanghai Tunnel (C13 LE)
Pumpkin III (2007 version)
Harvest Moon 2004 (the bottle is half-full)

My list of imps is under the cut tag!
( Imps. Lots of 'em, and sadly not in alphabetical order )

I have no idea how many imps to offer for a bottle of Beaver Moon 2007. If there are imps you want to swap for, make me an offer!

Because I was curious, I went and checked eBay to see what the C13 BPAL scents were selling for. Ye gods!

$46 for Shanghai Tunnel, with 3 days left in the auction. $30 for Lydia, with the same amount of time left. Crumpet Rebellion went for $167. (!!!)

This is where I'm going to keep telling myself that putting my bottle of Crumpet Rebellion up on eBay would go against the whole reason that Beth made it. (And no, I'm not really tempted to put it on eBay. But still! Almost $200? People = wacky.)

brumbjorn very kindly reminded me that BPAL's Pink Moon 2007 blend is available for, oh, the next 24 hours. Some of you may remember that Pink Moon is part of my One True Perfume, and that when I found out that BPAL was going to re-release it, my head nearly exploded in glee.

So why am I dithering? Welllll, it looks like the new version of Pink Moon isn't exactly like the old ...

Pink Moon 2007: A sweet and silly compliment to the first breath of Spring! Sugared carnation and phlox!

Pink Moon 2005: The name of this moon refers to the color of wild ground phlox, a primary component of this Lunacy Blend, which is one of the most widespread floral signposts of springtime in North America. This Lunar blend is soft with phlox, tulip, daffodil, dogwood and muscari, dusted with pink sugar and honey, and a touch of the first strawberries of the season.

I certainly plan on ordering two or three bottles of the new Pink Moon. But should I order more? See, if Pink Moon 2007 had been the same description as Pink Moon 2005, I was thinking of ordering ... many bottles. Now, I'm not sure. What if the new blend isn't as scrumptious as the old? But what if I order only a few bottles and it IS as perfect as the old blend? Iiieee!

So, I need a sanity check advice from peoples. Help help?

One of the imps that I was lucky enough to get with my order is named Tum. I've searched the BPAL site, and cannot find it. I've searched the reviews over on the BPAL board, and again, it doesn't appear.

Am I right in assuming I lucked out and got an imp of something unreleased?

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, after more poking around the BPAL site, it looks like this is an imp of LIBER RESH VEL HELIOS: TUM, from the Excolo section/

Hail unto Thee who art Tum in Thy setting, even unto Thee who art Tum in Thy joy, who travellest over the Heavens in Thy bark at the Down-going of the Sun. Tahuti standeth in His splendour at the prow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at the helm. Hail unto Thee from the Abodes of Day!

(No, I haven't smelled it yet. When I do, I'll post a review.)