ethaisa

... was disappointing.

1. Undead and Uneasy, MaryJanice Davidson,

This series can best be described as fizzy vampire chick lit. Which is not necessarily a bad thing -- I love espresso but sometimes I'm in the mood for a pop. I quite enjoyed (and own) the first few books. But this one feels contrived and recycled. Betsy's wit and smart ass mouth have, for the most part, been reduced to shrill vuglarities and whiny tantrums. None of the characters seem to be acting like themselves and most are little more than props punctuating Betsy's selfish tirades. (Now Betsy has always been selfish. It was part of her charm. But she always had heart, but here she - and consequently the book as a whole - doesn't.)

And while I generally dislike books that telegraph the action, ones that utter stern warnings up front (in the guise of dear reader, it's going to be big and dire and we won't all make it out alive) really grate. But ones that warn and then don't follow through! just piss me off.

Meh. Very glad I got this one from the library. It's going back asap.

Newly acquired imps:

Death Cap A lethal poison bundled up in a dainty, innocent little package that was oft times found in ancient witches' flying ointments and astral projection balms. A warm, soft, ruddy scent, earthy and mild.
My project to try all the oils in the Garden continues. This one is light yet earthy with a complex herbal undernote.

Poisoned Apple A perfect, lovely, gleaming red apple whose sweetness masks a swirl of narcotic opium, oleander, and hemlock.
Most apple scents are too sweet for me, but this one has promise. Sweet, but with a hint of tart and a whift of something darker beneath.

Vicomte de Valmont Based on an 18th century gentlemen's cologne: ambergris, white musk, white sandalwood, Spanish Moss, orange blossom, three mints, jasmine, rose geranium and a spike of rosemary.
Can't really pick out the orange blossom, or the jasmine: this is a blend of musky mints pierced through with rosemary. This'll need a wear test.

Desdemona Innocent, soft and pure: sweet pea, carnation and water lily.
This one *smells* powdery and soapy. I'll have to do a wear test when I'm feeling brave.

Also, Voodoo and Oneiroi, because I like'em and wanted more.


frimpage:

from conjureoils.com
North Wind (Boreas Oil)
birch and spruce shake off heavy snow-laden branches as the harsh wind blows in from the cold, dark Northern mountains; the smoky scent of stillness, midnight, earth and winter are thick in the air as a lone owl hoots and packed snow crushes underfoot
snif test: Mostly a pale spruce scent, sweetened by berry; not finding it a cold scent at all.

from sidhe-creations.com
The Unseelie Court
A cold blend of peppermint, strawberry and sugared vanilla
snif test: I love peppermint, but I'm not sure about the addition of what strikes me as a rather artifical strawberry - it's more fruity than berry, but it could just be the juxtaposition. (Then again, these perfumes are blended in an apricot kernal oil, so maybe I'm picking up on that? I've found in the past I can be sensitive to the carrier oils.)