A Penguin with a Crown

[lathany]

Entering the advent season, I'm going to be trying my usual entry-a-day approach.

It's a lovely clear day outside and all is well (so far) inside. I have coffee and chocolates and a weekend to look forward to. Admittedly a hectic weekend what with the duo's party and all, but there should be time for me to have a rest around the edges. I've managed to restrain myself from putting up the decorations at home, but Rachael was somewhat bemused when I enthused over Victoria station putting up their tree on the way into work on Thursday. Having seen the Waterloo tree as well (I think both went up during the day on the duo's birthday) it seems that blue and silver are the colours this year.

It's 3 working weeks to Xmas. That's 15 working days. That's 13 days in the office (although one is the Xmas meal) and 2 days working from home. Not that I'm counting or anything.

Having got to the end of my BPAL reviews, the scents scoring 9 or higher were:

• Media - Nice. Incense and... um... myrrh perhaps? I'm not sure I can sniff any black currant and I simply wouldn't know if the rest of that long list from the site were there.
• Saint-Germain - A little sweet still, but now there's a more herbal edge to it with a slight undertone of alcohol. Not sure I can pick up the lavender, but the mosses are there. After an hour I can now pick up the lavender. Also I think the scent in the background must be amber (oil of amber, I assume, not the stone!) Yes - I like this one. The main complaint I have is my usual one - it's somewhat on the faint side.
• Mania - There's still a touch of bubble gum, but otherwise it's surprisingly nice. Um, maybe that smell is musk (I'm not good at identifying smells)? Having now read about the grapefruit I'll tentatively say that there could be a touch of it. After an hour I've decided that actually, I like this. The bubblegum bit has gone completely. It's not as good as Desire for lasting, but it's not bad. I'll just have to hold my nose every time I open that bottle.
• The High Priestess - I like the smells in this and I can't name them. Maybe it's that whole pine/mince pie/Xmas thing that the other reviews all mention?
• The Empress - I reckon slightly wood, slightly floral and incensey. This lasts and it's really growing on me. Everyone else is screaming roses, so I guess this must be them!
• The Devil - It's very like Desire, with possible a touch of chocolate.
• The Tower - Lovely - incense and cinnamon.
• The Moon - bateleur says patchouli, and I agree. However the reviews suggest that it's jasmine. Either way, I love it.
• Ace of Pentacles - Lovely - patchouli I think. That other smell must be the pine that everyone else is talking about.