Trick Or Treat: Smell My CBV!

It's that time of year again!

   Yes, indeed it is time for my annual Halloween CBV scent review! Since I have already reviewed most of the official Halloween esque scents (you can find them here.) these will be a bit more varied, but there are sure to be some scream worthy scents in the mix. So break out the bubbling cauldron's of green and orange punch, grab a glass, put on some spooky sounds, turn off the lights, and prepare yourselves because here we go...

As always let's start with the bakery scents... 

Pumpkin Cupcake:  
Cold throw: I waited a long time to finally melt this bad boy and the more it cured the more I liked it. I let it cure for about 3 months and it smells exactly like a real pumpkin cupcake. This one does have more cupcake in it than I was expecting, which is a pleasant surprise. So far this one is 3/4 yummy cupcake and 1/4 creamy pumpkin. The pumpkin in this is a light sweet pumpkin that doesn't have any spice in it at all. Shocking I know! But no tricks here, you won't find any cinnamon or spice in this one. I'm actually really grateful for that. I love my pumpkin spiced scents, but it is nice to just have a mild sweet pumpkin scent for a change.

Warm throw: This is one delicious fall bakery scent! This one had me wanting to put on my apron and officially celebrate the baking season by whipping up some *cough* poisoned *cough* pumpkin cupcakes of my own. It still remained more cupcake than pumpkin, but I didn't have a problem with that personally. The only complaint I have with this scent is that it didn't seem to last that long. It had about a medium scent throw, but was pretty much dissipated within 3 hours. But I only used 1/4 a shot and it was mouthwateringly good while it lasted. I would recommend this one to those who want a pumpkin scent but don't want any spice at all. It is also good for all of those who are looking to branch out and try a pumpkin scent but aren't sure where to start.

Fluffy Pink Candy: 
Cold Throw: You know what is the best part about Halloween? FREE CANDY! In that spirit here is a new candy scent. I can instantly pick out the Pink Sugar in this, but it is really sweetened up by the Cotton Candy and Marshmallow Fluff. I don't really get the marshmallow in this, but the fragrance does have a creamy "fluffiness" feel to it. The spun sugar in the Cotton Candy really ties the other two scents together nicely. It is a fun and sweet fragrance just like it's name suggests.

Warm Throw: The Marshmallow Fluff really comes out more once warmed up, you can actually smell the creamy sticky goodness. Other than that it still smells the same for the most part. This fragrance is really light, but sugary sweet, not so sweet that it will give you a toothache (or headache for that matter). The scent throw with this one was just average, but that's to be expected when you have a concoction of all light sugary sweet fragrances. This one is sure to have you dipping into the candy bowl early.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Ball: 
Cold Throw: Now most kids hate getting popcorn balls in their candy bags, but what about getting popcorn balls in your warmers? With this one I get the popcorn but for the most part but it is toned down and sweetened up quite a bit. I also get the Peanut Butter Cookies mixed with a blend of other sweet scents that without knowing what is in this scent you wouldn't be able to guess on your own. Since I know what is in it I can get a pinch of Granny's Pie Crust, but not so much the Creme' Brulee. Overall it smells like popcorn, peanut butter, and a touch of GPC.

Warm Throw: Granny's Pie Crust came out so much more once it was melted. It mixed well with the Peanut Butter Cookies and the popcorn. However I still didn't smell much of the Creme' Brulee. I think it was more of an anchoring scent that was added to make the whole fragrance much more cohesive. The popcorn wasn't too strong, but it was the more dominant smell of them all. The scent throw is decently strong with this one. I wasn't sure what to make of this scent at first, I didn't really care for it on cold, but once it melted I started to "warm" up to it. (excuse the pitifully bad pun) But now I like it and think it is great for the fall season.  I will caution you though that if you were looking for a "salty" scent don't be deceived by the popcorn it is pretty much rendered semi-sweet by the other scents so there really isn't any salt in this.

Pumpkin Frappuccino:
Cold Throw: I've heard this described as smelling like a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte and I have to agree. I get the warm rich coffee and the creamy smooth pumpkin. I also get just a little hint of some baking cinnamon, but it is very minimal. This smells just like a cozy festive flavored coffee drink.

Warm Throw: This one comes to life a bit more once warmed up. The scent doesn't change just the strength of it does. This one is equal parts warm coffee and mild pumpkin. It is very well balanced and if you are worried about the cinnamon getting out of hand, don't. I didn't even notice it once it was all melted. This little baby has a strong scent throw sure to have you SCREAMING for more.

All of these are perfect companions for your Halloween bash.

Here are some spooktacular fall fragrances... 

Autumn Leaves:
Cold Throw: If a fall day could be captured in a cup this would be it. This smells like crisp and crunchy leaves with fresh autumn air. It just invokes the feeling of a cool fall afternoon walk with orange and yellow leaves falling everywhere. And it smells like real leaves, not fake ones in craft stores, but REAL actual leaves. It is like jumping into a giant leaf pile.

Warm Throw: It still smells as authentic as it did on cold. This is a perfect fall leaf fragrance! It has a medium to medium strong throw and it lasted a decent amount of time. I really love this scent. I like that there isn't any of your typical spice, apple, or pumpkin scents that are usually associated with this season. Not that I don't love those seasons too, it is just nice to have a seasonal scent that is different once in awhile.

Why I Autumn:
Cold Throw: This is another great fall fragrance. I get leaves, some cinnamon (not a too strong cinnamon), ginger, a touch of lemon, and another scent that I can't really identify. I checked the site description but it doesn't smell like any of those scents listed. As one user on the site pointed out it does smell like a fall potpourri  Really nice and not too spicy.

Warm Throw: Not much change in the fragrance from cold to hot. Don't let the cinnamon and ginger scare you off it isn't that red hot overpowering it just gives the scent a nice baking twist. It does still smell like a pretty fall fragranced potpourri. The scent throw was just average, but it is still a really lovely fall fragrance. Sure to be a hit with all those who love all things autumn scented!

These scents are sure to get you into the fall "spirit"

And now onto the perfume category...

Mad About You (Type):
Cold Throw: Oh boy this pretty scent is sure to drive you mad! I get a mixture of very soft and pretty florals with a touch of strawberries. I don't know well enough what most of the individual flowers in this smell like so I can't tell you if it is more cassis or peony. All I can tell you is that it is a gorgeous soft feminine floral that isn't likely to cause headaches unless you are very sensitive. The florals are perfume like, but not pungent in the least. And if you are a little leery about the patchouli or musk in the description don't be because I don't get any patchouli at all and the musk isn't that thick deep kind. Really I mainly get the flowers, the strawberries, and a touch of amber wood to round it all out.

Warm Throw: I think this is one that would be absolutely fantastic in Bath & Body! I can see why they named it Mad About You because once you smell this you will fall in love. It smells pretty much the same as it did on cold throw only much more lovelier. The scent throw on this one is strong, but not overpoweringly so. I think this is a gentle floral that won't irritate most people. I don't generally care for most florals, but I think this will become a staple. I know my mother has gone off and used most of it lol.

Dark Kiss:
Cold Throw: This one has had about 3 months to cure, so I think it is safe to say it is ready. I have never smelt what this is duping, but everyone else says it is almost spot on. What I get is a "mature" (not old lady) women's perfume. It has that feminine rich musk, with some creamy vanilla, and maybe just a touch of berries. I really don't get any fruity scent in this though. It is more just a deeper women's perfume scent. I don't know what to make of this one. I hated it at first, but the more I sniff the better it starts to smell to me. I guess I will just have to melt it to find out.

Warm Throw: I'm surprised by how much I ended up liking this one. I didn't care for it for the first few months it cured and was iffy on it up until I melted it. It is a very pretty women's perfume that is mostly a light musk with some rich vanilla. It doesn't sound that appealing I know by words alone, but it is actually really nice. There really isn't any berry or fruit smell though. I think this is a perfume scent more for women above 25, but that's just my humble opinion. I typically don't care for my house to smell like perfume or cologne related scents, but with this one I don't mind. I forgot to jot down the scent throw, so I honestly can't be too accurate, but I think it had a medium strong throw.

These scents will be sure to drive you fabulously mad!

And one lone fruit fragrance... 

Passionate Kisses Type: 
Cold Throw: Ok so the site description for this one has a TON of fragrances listed, but really I only get 2. This one has even cured for about 3 months as well and I just get a strong cherry and red hot cinnamon in the base. It is kind of a secretly spicy cherry scent. It reminds me a little bit of Big Red Gum with like sweet maraschino cherries. The cherry doesn't smell like the dreaded cough syrup kind to me so that's good.  I don't know with this one, I want to wait and see of it changes before making a final verdict.

Warm Throw: Nope, this one continued to just be strong maraschino cherries and red hot cinnamon. The cinnamon wasn't overpowering, but it was very noticeably there. I was hoping the other fragrances listed would come out of hiding but no such long. I'm left doubting their existence. *twilight zone music plays* I don't actually mind this scent, it just wasn't anything I was expecting it to be. I warn you all now that this scent is just sweet cherries with an undercurrent of spicy cinnamon. The scent throw was pretty strong too. I'm left on the fence with this one because I like cherry and cinnamon fragrances, but I was left underwhelmed because the web description had me expecting there would be more to it. It can be a treat for those cherry and cinnamon lovers, but a real trick for those who don't.

Warning: this scent may be scary for some.

      That's all for this year's monstrously sweet cbv review. I hope I didn't scare you away from any good fragrances to try. I also hope you all have a wicked fun and safe Halloween. I'm not exactly sure what my plans are right now I'm either helping my church with their "trunk or treating", going to a friend's house to pass out candy to all the little monsters, or sitting on my butt at home watching scary movies with popcorn, hot chocolate, and a cbv scent or two. However you decide to celebrate I wish you all a Happy Halloween!!

Now back to my lair...

I Put A Smell On You

A special Halloween review.

    Hello my pretties! It is all Hallow's and in honor of my favorite holiday here is a special mini-review of the newest Halloween themed scents available from Candles By Victoria. I only have three scents here for you guys but luckily they are going to still be available all year round so you can enjoy them whenever you like. So let's get started shall we?


I Put A Smell On You: 
Color: Ghastly Grape
Cold Throw: Admit it, when you read the title you sang the song in your head didn't you? I know I did only I sang the original version by Screamin Jay Hawkins instead of the Hocus Pocus version though I do love both of them. Anyways onto the scent description. This scent is a magical concoction of Love Potion No. 9 and Watermelon Cupcake. I definitely can pick out the Love Potion No. 9 but the perfumeyness of it is tempered way down by the Watermelon Cupcake. I smell pretty equal parts of both scents in this actually. I get the sexy vanilla from LPN9 but I also get that sweet candy watermelon from WC. Making this one pretty sweet and girly fragrance.

Warm Throw: I think I would have loved this one a lot more had the scent throw been a bit stronger. You could still smell this one it wasn't on the weak scent throw side still I wish it had more oomph to it to make it at least a moderate throw. I actually had to use half a shot for this one to fill up my living room area but I do have an open living room so it might be better used in smaller or enclosed spaces. Still this one smelt spooktacular! It is a very sweet fragrance though so if you aren't a fan of really sweet scents then this one is not for you. As before the candy watermelon note is what I get the most of followed by the nice girly vanilla from Love Potion No. 9 and then in the very background I get some of the cupcake base that gives it some depth. Overall I really enjoy this one just wish it was stronger on scent throw. I think this one would also be great in bath and body I think it would shine as a lotion or a body spray.

I loved it but wish it was more, strong...strong..strong...STTRROONNGG!!

Cider Web: 
Color: Zombie Skin Green
Cold Throw: A spellbinding mixture of Mulled Cider and Sugared Corn Pudding. Honestly I don't get the Sugared Corn Pudding at all. This smells like a legit apple cider donut. There is an obvious mulled warm cider scent but it is coupled right alongside a nice bakery type scent that smells somewhat like a plain soft donut does. In fact if I hadn't known what this was a blend of I would have guessed it was Apple Cider and maybe Cinnamon Donuts only without the cinnamon.

Warm Throw: Smells like legit cider donuts! I don't get so much apple cider more as just mulled cider like in the description, but the Sugared Corn Pudding doesn't even smell like it, it smells like plain soft donuts. So thus cider donuts! I really enjoyed this one and found it was a nice unique scent for the fall season I can see myself melting it later into November as well. The throw on this one was pretty moderate and was nice and steady. I recommend this one if you like bakery and cider scents if not then pass on this one because it is pure cider donuts.

Another great addition thanks to the CBV team.

Sleepy Hollow: 
Color: Jack-O-Lantern Orange
Cold Throw: Fall/earthy/woodsy lovers prepare to lose your heads. This is a customer create a scent made by Jandre and it is a blend of Why I Autumn and Crackling Birch. It is a very earthy fall type scent. I get the dried leaves from Why I Autumn and the slight smokey tree like/woodsyness from Cracklin Birch. It smells earthy to me but at the same time this also reminds me of like an earthy smokey men's cologne. Overall this is a very woodsy, earthy, and slightly musky fragrance.

Warm Throw: This little guy smells just like a smokey woodsy men's cologne and let me tell you this bad boy is strong! I get more of the Crackling Birch than the Why I Autumn but Why I Autumn is still smellable there in the undercurrents. This one smells like dried leaves and strong smokey wood notes and they both combine to make an outdoorsy fall men's cologne. I personally was not a fan of this one just because I don't like super woodsy or earthy scents and I also don't particularly care for most men's colognes unless they are on an actual man. So I would only recommend this one to those who love strong woody scents or outdoorsy type men's cologne.

This scent was so strong it almost murdered my senses!

      That's all for this review folks! I hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween. I will have my November post up for you guys in the following week so please check back for that one soon. Until then I say good night and don't let the vampires bite.  

Wicks Will Roll

Hide the candy it is almost Halloween!

       Hello again all my lovely fragrance fanatics! My favorite month of the entire year has finally arrived! Needless to say I am already busy picking out what scary movies I will watch and where exactly to put all of my spooky decorations. So this month I did pick out a few fragrances that names seemed to fit in with Halloween. However I will say the usual like Monster Mash or Witch's Brew will not be in this review because I have already reviewed those, but you can bet I will be melting them all this month. Well without further ado here is this month's scent reviews...

This month's bakery scents...

Pizzelle:
Color: Saddle Brown
Cold Throw: This smells pretty much EXACTLY like how the description on the site makes it sound. It smells like a waffle, but at the same time you can smell the vanilla and sugar. This is a wonderful addition to the bakery category. It is very different from a lot of Victoria's other bakery scents because with this one it has the light fluffiness from the waffles, but you also smell all of the ingrediants that would go into the batter like the sweetness from the sugar and the slight creaminess from the vanilla with a tiny touch of butter. If you are not a fan of butter don't be scared to try this one. I do not like buttery scents, but I am loving this one so far.

Warm Throw: Oh sweet Jesus this smells FANTASTIC! This is just a really great sweet bakery scent. Kind of like an amped up Granny's Pie Crust. It smells like sweet batter like how you make waffles with the vanilla extract and eggs and sugar and stuff. If you have ever made waffle batter with some vanilla and a teensy bit of amarretto this is kind of what that smells like. It is a light almost fluffy sweet bakery fragrance with an amazing scent throw. I love this one and think it would suit a lot of people's tastes. New favorite!

Key Lime Pie:
Color: Moss Green
Cold Throw: Accurate name is accurate lol. It does indeed smell like an authentic key lime pie. You get that sweet yet slightly tart creamy lime filling as with a hint of the flakey crust at the bottom. The main fragrance is by far the delicious lime filling, but there is indeed a faint crust note hiding underneath all of that which I find surprising because most of the pie scents like Banana Coconut Cream Pie all are just the filling without any of the crust at all. This is the closest thing I have ever smelt that smells like the real thing. If you love Key Lime Pie or just the smell of it then you need this one ASAP.

Warm Throw: I found that the crust note completely disappeared once warmed up. The key lime pie filling is what makes up the entirety of the scent and it does indeed smell incredibly authentic. It is sweet with a little tartness from the limes and it smells like actual whipped filling. The scent throw on this one was a little above average. This one is a must have if you like lime or just pie filling fragrances.

Banana Walnut: 
Color: Dandelion Yellow 
Cold Throw: If you were wanting a sweet yet salty fragrance this isn't it. This is just pure Laffy Taffy banana. I don't get any walnut or any nutty scent at all with this one. This is just a very sweet candy banana fragrance. I have not had plain Banana yet so I cannot say if it smells the exact same as just plain Banana or not, but to me this is just a Laffy Taffy banana scent.

Warm Throw: Stays the same as on cold throw. Just a sweet Laffy Taffy banana without any real salty or nutty walnut fragrance at all. The scent throw on this one is pretty average, but I have noticed with certain banana scents that the scent does not last as long as most. I melted my usual 1/4 of a shot in my warmer and usually depending on the scent it will last about 4 hours roughly, but this one maybe lasted only 2. I think the candy banana scents unless mixed with something else will dissapate rather quicker than others. But other than the fading scent I still liked this one. It was just simple banana Laffy Taffy.

Blueberry Flapjacks:
Color: Blueberry Blue
Cold Throw: I was pursuaded by Katie over on the Pouring Pot to give this one a try because it is her favorite fragrance. So naturally hearing her rave about it made me instantly have to buy it. I'm glad I did because I can see why she likes it so much. This is a very sweet candied blueberry fragrance with a very little hint of maple in the bottom notes. Do not fear maple haters as some of you know I despise maple scents as well, but the maple in this is very faint and blends with the blueberries. When I read that this is Blueberry Cheesecake mixed with Maple Butter Crunch I was skeptical at how it could smell like blueberry flapjacks, but that is indeed what this smells like. The Blueberry Cheesecake is by far the dominant fragrance but the Maple Butter Crunch hangs in the background to give it an extra oomph. Smells like blueberry pancakes. I approve!

Warm Throw: Pretty much smells the same warmed up as it does on cold only the hint of maple comes out a touch more. As I've said numerous times before I am not a maple fan, but I don't mind the maple in this. It just add a touch of syrupy sweetness without being too sweet or thick. You really get the Blueberry Cheesecake and then just a small amount of maple. All in all it does kind of smell like Blueberry Flapjacks only without that fluffy flour pancake smell. The scent throw on this one was pretty moderate. This was a surprise like for me and I'm glad Katie shared her love with us on the boards otherwise I probably wouldn't have tried this one.

Nutty Candied Apple:
Color: Dark Maroon
Cold Throw: Amazingly Victoria does it again in making a complete exact duplication of a food fragrance. You get the fresh Macintosh apple with the tiniest hint of caramel all coated in salty peanuts. If you love salty sweet fragrances then this one is right up your alley. While I am not a fan of nutty scents at all I actually am kind of digging this one. The apples and the nuts are equally balanced and the teensy bit of caramel just kind of hangs on the edges. In short it smells like how it is supposed to.

Warm Throw: Smells legit to me. It smells just like red apples dipped in sweet caramel and covered with chopped nuts. It is a bit sweeter than Caramel Apple but it does still have that equal saltiness from the nuts. The scent throw was pretty decent and right about average to middle line. This is good if you like apples and nutty scents. While I personally adore apple scents I'm not a fan of salty scents but this one doesn't bother me like most of the other nut scents do. I'm definitely keeping this one and will use up all of it but I don't think it is something I will go out of my way to purchase again.  

I liked all of the bakery scents!

Some fall appropriate fragrances

Leaves Type:
Color: Goldenrod
Cold Throw: Mmmm this is second place to Under The Harvest Moon for perfect autumn scents in my book. I love the mixture of sweet dried apple peels with a nice light spices which I identify as clove with a little allspice and the tiniest trace of sweet baking cinnamon (not the Red Hot kind). The spices are all very soft and not sharp or stringent at all. I like how the apple is sweet and balances out the light spices. I feel like a lot of fall scents have apples but they are paired up with really strong and somewhat harsh spices, but this one isn't like that. It is sweet without being too spicey. Love it!

Warm Throw: I will just say that I am in love with this scent and think it is perfect for fall and for those who love that mixture of sweet apple peels and light cider with the slightly earthy smell of dried leaves. Despite what the description says you can't smell any maple in this one at all. It has a pretty good scent throw without being overpowering. The spices really aren't all that strong and are on the more sweeter side then that sharp cinnamon stick Red Hot kind. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up from me on this one!

Berry Me Alive: 
Color: Dark Raspberry 
Cold Throw: Ali over on the Pouring Pot described this in one of her videos as a berry candy and I completely agree with her 100% on that. This smells like a sweet berry type of candy like maybe Sprees or Razzles. I smell mainly candy raspberry and candy cherry mixed together. I am not the biggest berry fan, but I really like this one because it is more a candy scent than a fruity fragrance. This is a Halloween scent in my book not because of the name...okay well partly because of the name...but mainly because it smells like sweet berry candy.

Warm Throw: Continues to smell just like raspberry/cherry candies. I wouldn't exactly say hard candies but more of the softer variety of candies. The cherry doesn't overpower the raspberry, rather they mix together really well. What I like about it is that the cherry isn't medicinal at all. The scent throw on this one was pretty average. Very nice and I like this one for Halloween because of the candy factor and the name.

Night At The Movies: 
Color: Chestnut Brown
Cold Throw: What better to do in October than to go see a scary movie at the movie theaters? It was that thought in mind that made me want to try this customer creation despite the fact that I am not a fan of buttery scents or popcorn like scents for that matter. Still inspite of that I got this one which is a mixture of Buttered Popcorn and Fudge Brownie. I will also admit I got this one just because that sounds like a crazy combination. What I get when I smell this one is the Fudge Brownie right away, but it is mixed with an almost dare I say perfumey? type of note. It is so strange because I get the slightly salty and buttery popcorn in the bottom notes and the chocolatey Fudge Brownie in the top notes but somewhere sititng in the middle of the two is this odd perfume like fragrance. I have let this one cure for over two months so I believe that is just how it smells. The perfumey note isn't bad, but it is so not what I was expecting. I am not sure how I feel about this one. It doesn't smell bad to me, but I'm not sure if I like it or not. 

Warm Throw: I have to say I smelt the Buttered Popcorn a bit more than the Fudge Brownie although the two scents did blend well and didn't compete with each other. You get the slight popcorn note along with a drizzle of butter, but then you also smell the chocolate from the Fudge Brownie right there in the currents with it. I still get a hint of a perfume like note, but that could probably just be me and my nose trying to figure the scent combination out. The scent throw was moderately strong. While it isn't my favorite scent combination I can see others really liking this one. I love Fudge Brownie but I'm just not a big fan of popcorn or buttery scents in general so this one was just okay in my books. If you like slightly salty and sweet combination like Under The Big Top then you will probably like this one as well.

Citrus Spice:
Color: Burnt Orange
Cold Throw: I have to say I was really expecting to love this one because it has so many fragrances in it that I adore such as orange, clove, and cinnamon with a hint of lemon. Sounded like an automatic winner to me. Sadly that is not the case. While this scent isn't bad by any means I just don't like the blend. The orange isn't a bright citrusy orange but rather more along the lines of maybe a blood orange? I don't know I just know it doesn't do it for me and it is the same orange that comes in Orange Cream Soda. The lemon is a little too reminiscent of the kind found in Pine-Sol though it doesn't smell like Pine-Sol. It is kind of a thicker lemon but it kind of gets lost in the musky orange. The clove is overshadowed by the strength of the red hot cinnamon though I will say the cinnamon and orange fragrances are equally balanced.  To me this is just to musky.

Warm Throw: Based on cold through I obviously was expecting to really not like this one, however magic happened once warmed and it actually wasn't bad. The orange lightens up so it just smells like a fall orange instead of a musky one and the spices come out more but are also subdued enough to where you can smell the orange without getting a nose full of cinnamon stick. Lemon Pine-Sol note I got on cold throw disappears completely. The scent throw is pretty average and lasts a decent amount of time. Overall while this wasn't my favorite fall scent I actually didn't end up minding it too much once I melted it. So if you like that fall citrus orange scent and don't mind a little Red Hot cinnamon then you may very well like this one. Never smelt the fragrance it is duping so I can't say if it is a close dupe or not but I'm betting it is.

They all weren't bad, weren't bad at all.

Houseblend for October

Dark Angel:
Color: Grape
Cold Throw: I have hesitated for a year to buy this one because the blend just sounded so strange. This one is peppermint, spearmint, patchouli, and vanilla. I am a huge mint lover and I really enjoy most vanilla fragrances but I DESPISE patchouli. I say patchouli like Timmy's dad on The Fairly Odd Parents says Dinkelberg. Don't know what I mean? Youtube it. But seriously though patchouli is just one scent that instantly makes me hate anything. However fortunately for me there is no patchouli to be found on cold throw so far. What I get is a lovely mixture of mint smells, but they aren't sharp or too powerful because the vanilla tones them way down and makes them just sweet and lovely. I'm guessing that the patchouli *narrows eyes angrily whenever I type that* is what gives this scent a bit of depth so it doesn't smell like Sweet Snow. If you are a mint lover I would recommend you give it a try. It is kind of like a sexier minty fragrance.

Warm Throw: Luckily for me the patchouli remained MIA in this scent. I couldn't smell it at all so I ended up really really liking this one. It is certainly minty the spearmint and the peppermint keeps the other one from being too sweet or too sharp so the mint is kind of a nice balance of both. The vanilla adds this sweetness which actually makes the scent smell kind of feminine and sexy I'm guessing because it tempers down the patchouli so much to where it just adds depth and doesn't actually smell like patchouli anymore. The scent throw on this one is medium to medium strong. Not anything that is going to clear your sinuses but noticeable enough.  If you aren't a mint fan or prefer mint only as a side note though this one won't be for you but if you don't mind a sweet mint and want something a little less Christmas like then this is the one for you. I really am loving this one it is such a unique twist on mint, but granted I am a big time mint lover.

I love it!

Twilight: 
Color: Dark Teal 
Cold Throw: Just like with the movies, Edward Cuillen is what most people pay attention to rather than Bella Swan. While I can smell some of the lovely florals that make up Bella Swan I get more of the "sunshine" and lilac that is found in EC. I feel like this is one of those scents that lots of people will either love because of the all the florals or hate because of it. Right now on cold throw I don't mind this one, but I am hesitant to melt it because I get headaches from strong florals which this definetely is. Not exactly sure I am going to like this one once it's scent spreads.

Warm Throw: So this one kind of stayed the same being that Edward Cullen was the star of the show while Bella Swan supported from the background. This one is a decently strong florally blend with a strong scent throw. I have to be honest and say I didn't really care too much for this one. It wasn't bad, it didn't give me a headache or anything like that it was just a bit too much on the florals for me, but I am not a big floral lover. Floral lovers may really like this one because all of the florals sort of blend into one new fragrance. Like I said though the lilac and "sunshine" from Edward Cullen stands out a bit more than the sweet florals in Bella Swan. This is just one you will all have to get and decide for yourself whether or not you like it because I can see people leaning either way. But a good rule of thumb is if you don't like the fragrance Edward Cullen you more than likely won't like this one either.

Under The Big Top: 
Color: Dark Maroon 
Cold Throw: Honestly you would think since I am not a fan of salty scents that I would stop ordering things with nuts in them, but alas I am a secret scent masochist. Luckily for me the Caramelized Pralines in this is pretty faint. I get more of the strawberry (which is the Fresh Picked Strawberries) in this mixed with Cotton Candy. The Caramelized Pralines just keeps this scent from being too sweet. While I like both Cotton Candy and Fresh Picked Strawberries on their own I don't think I like them mixed together. I don't know what it is exactly but my nose just does not like it.

Warm Throw: Needless to say I don't think I will be liking this one or Ringmaster but it was worth giving it a try. It smells the same on cold as it does warm so there is that super sweet sugary blend of Cotton Candy and Fresh Picked Strawberries which wouldn't be so bad, but then there is that edge from the Caramelized Pralines which I personally just do not care for at all. The pralines do keep it from being overly sweet though. The scent throw on this one was decently average. While I do not like this one at all and intend to immediately swap it once the round robin comes my way I can certainly see a lot of others liking this one. I just can't do salty or nutty scents even ones like this one which isn't actually all that salty or nutty but still has that sharp edge around all the sweetness.

My personal feelings on Caramelized Pralines.



And some extras for the month.

Spa La La:
Color: Pacific Blue
Cold Throw: What a wonderful blend! I really am liking this one cold. The first thing I get is the melon and the sage blossom. When I sniff deeper I get some of the kiwi but it is mixed very well with the rest of the fragrances I get. This one is a very light (airy wise not scent throw wise) semi-sweet, but refreshingly clean type of fragrance. Other than Satsuma I think if this smells as good warm as it does cold that this will be my favorite of the Spa/Luxury line.

Warm Throw: I have to say I liked this a bit better on cold, only because it was a smidge stronger. Once melting this one continues to smell like how it does in the container; only because the scent throw is a little on the weaker side it makes the scent a little bit more subdued.  All of the fragrances mixed and blended flawlessly together so it made a new fragrance completely. Because of the slightly weaker throw though the beauty of the scent was a little toned down from what it could be. If you are like me and only melt a 1/4 of a shot at a time then I suggest maybe changing to a 1/2 of shot for this one.

Not too shabby.

Heavy Metal:
Color: Grape Purple
Cold Throw: This is a dupe for I Am A Rockstar from that company that we aren't supposed to talk about. If you have had any of their products or have smelled a few other scents from Candleman's Closet then you will know that they kind of have a signature scent that somehow finds it's way into most of their fragrances. This is no exception. This one is very sweet almost like old fashioned candy that didn't really have specific flavors but at the same time I also find this to be kind of a unisex scent. Like I can imagine some boys using this as soap (which I am sure some have considering). It is very different and unlike anything really I have smelt in wax before. If you are not a fan of sweet fragrances though pass this one up because it could give you a toothache. This is kind of like the plain version of Pink Bubblegum Crush.

Warm Throw: This one is still pretty much like a plain ribbon candy fragrance. It was sweet but so different. It is almost like liquid sugar mixed with the signature scent of that company that shall not be named. The scent throw on this one is decently average. If you like sweet scents you may like this one, but only if you don't mind that notorious scent note that is undoubtably that signature fragrance from the company that this scent is duping. I personally still feel like this is a sweet almost unisex fragrance. It is definitely a different fragrance than most. I didn't mind it myself, but I don't think I will be going out of my way to buy it again.

007:
Color: Pale Pink
Cold Throw: This is one from the Top Shelf Black Label Line and the description is just as complex as the actual scent is. I heard that this one is much milder in candle form than in shot form, but of course I bought it in shot form so it is pretty strong. This one is mainly made up of like high end feminine florals. They are strong but not too overwhelming for a floral disliker like me. There is also something kind of perfumey and spa like just like the description says. I know that is frustratingly vague but that is what it smells like. It is so hard to describe. I would say if you don't like florals that much then hard pass on this one. However if you don't mind a little bit of floral then give it a shot. This may be weird but I feel compelled to mention that this scent reminds me of the ladies bathroom in a small club we have here in my hometown. They call it the powder room though and it smells incredibly girly and flowery just like this one. 

Warm Throw: I stand by my initial description. It smells like upscale feminine florals, not as soft as the ones found in Wedding Day, but still very girly. The florals are strong though so this one is a super scent thrower. It kind of feels a little spa like only not as relaxing or as tempered down as most spa scents are so kind of like what a high end boutique might smell like in my opinion. Definitely not one for those sensitive to strong florals. I'm not a big floral fan so to me this won't be a repurchase but I can see a lot of people really liking this one. I think it would be better in Bath & Body though.

Super strong florals? My only weakness!!

     That's all for this month's review. I plan on having a mini review sometime later this month maybe towards the 21st reviewing three of the newer Halloween scents; Sleepy Hollow, Cider Web, and I Put A Smell On You so please look forward to that. I hope you all enjoy your October and for those who plan to party it up or take your kids trick or treating stay safe and have a wonderful time! Hopefully the CBV new website will be up and running by the end of this month but until then you can spend time enjoying the current one before it is gone forever. I hope this review helped some of you and I will see you next month guys!

Bye guys until next time!

Nail Polish Challenge Week 29: The Supernatural

It's Supernatural Week!

    Woot ! The theme for this week is right up my alley! I love anything to do with the horror or fantasy sides of things so it took me forever to finally decide what I wanted to do for my nails this week. Originally I was going to make alien nails, but I sadly do not have a bright neon green that I would have liked to have for their skin color so I scrapped that idea. Then as I was looking at all of my green polishes I thought about doing a Frankenstein nail scheme, but I remembered I already did that on green week since it was near Halloween at that time. Eventually I decided to put away my polishes and go watch a movie instead. What movie did I end up watching? Cabin In The Woods, which for those who haven't seen it, has just about every movie monster under the sun in it at one point. Finally after much deliberation I decided on doing a zombie inspired nail design. Zombies have pretty much become the new vampires this year so it is only fitting that I pay homage to that this week. Here is how it turned out...

Graveyard nails with a zombie hand on the middle finger.

    For the base I used two coats of my China Glaze Harvest Moon from the Hunger Games collection. Then I just used China Glaze's Liquid leather and created little downward strokes to crate the bases of the gravestones. Then I used a toothpick dipped in the Liquid Leather to create the crosses, grass, and of course the entire zombie hand coming out of the ground. My zombie hand got a little wonky looking, but I didn't think it was too bad since I have never drawn a hand with just a toothpick and polish before. So I'm happy with it. I realize that somewhere along the way my ring finger got smudged and some of the polish came off. My guess is it happened when I was trying to draw the hand. But what can you do it is too late now. Only two more weeks left of the 31 week nail polish! I can't even believe it. We are in the home stretch now and the ending is in sight! Please look forward next Monday for the next installment. Until then guys take care and enjoy my CBV Slap Yo Momma Smoothie Candle review.

Nail Polish Challenge Week 4: Green

It's almost Halloween!

       Happy Monday everybody! Only two more days left until Halloween. I'm so excited. Anyways this weeks theme is green so I painted my nails with China Glaze's Paper Chasing and to give it a fun holiday twist I added little Frankenstein stitches with L.A. Colors Art Deco Striper in black. I just sealed it all in with NYC Long Wear Extra Shiny Top Coat. Since this will probably be my last post until November 1, Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you have a wonderfully spooky fun and safe night. Also I have a CBV post coming up the first week of November so please look forward to that as well.  

Loosely inspired by Frankenweenie.

And a closer look.

50 Hallowen Songs Part 2

I see you came back for more.

        Welcome back everyone! Only six days until Halloween! I hope most of you are ready for it. So let's get down to business and finish up the last twenty five Halloween songs I have for you. Remember these aren't in any specific order. I am not a music critic nor do I pretend to be so hopefully there will be some in here that you know and some that you didn't. Now on to the music.  

 

Sheb Wooley- Purple People Eater

     This classic novelty song reached all the way to number one on the pop charts in 1958. The origins of this song came from a joke told by the child of a friend of Wooley's. After hearing it Wooley composed this song within an hour. This 50's jewel has endured the test of time with it's silly lyrics, toy saxophone melody, and it's chipmunk vocals. People from kids to adults still recognize this hit to this day. 

 

The Decemberists- Culling Of The Fold

     Most of you probably haven't heard this twisted little pop song, but for those who have you can easily see how it can be turned into a Halloween song. This catchy little ditty was originally written for the show The Crane Wife, but not it was later not included "because it offended Jenny." The narrartor of the song tells a girl to cut up a man she doesn't even know who lives by himself and also tells a boy to murder his lover. "Bash her on the paving stones, it may break your heart to break her bones, but somebody's gotta do the culling...the culling of the fold."

 

Blue Oyster Cult- Don't Fear The Reaper

      This 1976 rock hit made it all the way to the number 12 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 list. It has endured the test of time with it's amazing guitar riff and infamous cowbell background beat. The use of the cowbell actually became a popular Saturday Night Live parody starring Christopher Walken as a music producer who craves "more cowbell" from his band. The phrase went on to become a popular joke in SNL history. Lead singer Dharma wrote this song of eternal love and the inevitability of death while picturing an early demise for himself. This song was even featured in 1978's classic horror film Halloween.

 

Jace Everett- Bad Things

      True Blood fans around the world probably need no introduction to this sexy swamp rock country song. Most famous for being the hit HBO series True Blood theme this, song has been nominated by The Scream Awards for "The Best Scream Song of the Year". Though it did not win this song still strikes a naughty rockabilly chord for fans of the fangtastic show. "I wanna do bad things with you. I wanna do real bad things with you." 

 

The X-Files Theme Song

      The science fiction drama television series took the world by storm in the 90's and up until 2007 had held the title for the longest running science fiction series in U.S. history. The show earned three Golden Globe Awards for Best Drama Television Series. However the eerie theme song gained much notoriety the world over. Even people who have never seen the X-Files television show can recognize it's tune. The theme even made it all the way to the number two spot on the UK Singles Charts in 1996 and managed to hold its position for three whole weeks.

 

Oingo Boingo- Dead Man's Party

      Danny Elfman's new age band makes yet another appearance on our list for this horror themed pop number. The lyrics "I hear the chauffeur coming to my door; Says there's room for maybe just one more" is a reference to the "The Bus-Conductor," a short story involving a hearse driver by E. F. Benson. The story spawned an urban legend, with each version using the catchphrase, "Room for one more." Despite it's rather dark undertones the song itself has an upbeat party feel to it making it infectiously catchy.

 

Blind Guardian- Dream A Little Dream Of Me

     This heavy metal cover of one of the most covered love songs in history makes our list because despite the newfound hard edge given to the melody the lead singer sings the lyrics to make it sound much more menacing then most. In fact when he sings "Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you" it sounds more like "sweet dreams till ZOMBIES find you." The darker quality of this cover makes it sounds less like a dreamy love song and more like a horror stalker song.

 

Alvin & The Chipmunks- Everything's Gonna Be Alright

    A "spooky" duet between The Chipmunks and The Chipettes featured at the end in the animated 2000 movie Alvin & The Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman. This fun children's song captures childhood frights while at the same time soothing them with the words, "Everything's gonna be alright. Don't you be afraid when things go bump in the night." This is sure to be a favorite for the little ones this Halloween. 

 

The Doors- People Are Strange

     Released in 1967 this hypnotic classic by The Doors peaked at number 12 on the U.S. Hot 100 chart. The song is about alienation and being an outsider and the slow even lyrics give the listener an impression of being surrounded by strangers with the vulnerability of feeling depressed and alone. "People are strange when you're a stranger. Faces look ugly when you're alone. Women seem wicked when you're unwanted."

 

Voltaire- The Vampire Club

    This fun dark cabaret tune pokes fun at the underground cosplay clubs where young people who dress up and pretend to be famous vampires in history get into a "fight" when "Pirates" enter The Vampire Club. The "fight" is started when the leader of the pirates recognizes a vampire from his school and reveals his real name to everyone in the club. Voltaire even took it a step further and made a "Twilight" version of the song where the werewolves take the place of the pirates and get into a fight with the Cullen family while legendary vampires such as Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee wonder who let them in The Vampire Club. "Christopher Lee orders a blood and says "You better not sparkle in my vampire club!"

 

Rob Zombie- Living Dead Girl

   Another hit single from Rob Zombie this song features several horror referances. The opening line, "Who is this irresistible creature who has an insatiable love for the dead?" is from the trailer of the film, Lady Frankenstein. The music in the beginning of the song is taken from the trailer of the original Last House On The Left. The spoken words "What are you thinking about?/The same thing you are" at the beginning of the verses is taken from the 1971 film Daughters Of Darkness. There are a few other hidden references in the lyrics as well. Chucky fans probably recognize this as the title song that plays when Tiffany appears in Bride Of Chucky.   

 

Kid Cudi- No One Believes Me

     Much different from his usual song style this track was made and released for the 2011 remake of the 1985 vampire movie Fright Night. The song embodies the feeling of knowing when something wrong is going on and yet having no one believe you. The video for the song has Cudi himself walking the streets only to see various horror scenes casually unfolding before his eyes. It is finally revealed that he himself is a vampire and tired of the wrongness around him he walks out into the sunlight and burns up into a nasty crisp. The song's overall eerieness and horror relatability earn it's way on my Halloween list. 

 

AllSTARS- Things That Go Bump In The Night

      This 2001 British pop hit was released for the Scooby Doo 3D animated film starring Freddie Prince Jr, Sarah Michelle Geller, and Matthew Lillard. The song reached number 12 on the British Charts and was one of four of the band's hits to make it to the Top 20 Singles in only a year. Despite it's pop beats the lyrics of the song turn to the more spookier side of things. "You cannot run and you cannot hide. Yeah you gotta face it baby things go bump, bump, bump in the night." 

 

Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs

    Originally sung by Johnny Fuller, then became popular when covered by Jumpin Gene Simmons. While equally great this version happens to be my person favorite. This mock horror novelty song is about a man who moves into a new house only to find out it's haunted by a ghost. The narrarator refuses to be scared away from the ghost who only tries harder to drive him away. 

 

The Twilight Zone Theme

    Everybody has probably heard this opening theme once in their life even if you haven't seen the show I'm sure you've heard of it. This infamous science fiction anthology has managed to last throughout the ages and decades after it's original ending has been turned into movies, comics, spin-off series, and even revival series. It holds a special place in my heart as well.

 

David Seville- Witch Doctor

     Okay so technically not a Halloween song at all, but for those of you with children this can be considered as good as one considering it's title. Kids probably wont know the difference. This song was originally released in 1958 where it peaked at number one on The Billboard Hot 100. The single was considered a major surprise hit on the chart, where it stayed at number one for two weeks and became Seville's first number-one single. The single also peaked at number one on the R&B Singles Chart. The single sold over one million copies in the United States alone.

 

Stevie Wonder- Superstition

     The ever talented Stevie Wonder wrote, produced, and arranged this song in 1972 when he was only 22 years old. It reached number on in the U.S. and even went on to be number 74 on Rolling Stones's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time list. The song deals with superstitions and even mentions several popular superstitious fables in its lyrics. Most people can pick out this funky tune immediately because of its opening drum beat and iconic bass synthesizer.

 

Oingo Boingo- No One Lives Forever

    Yet again Oingo Boingo makes my list. Ths one makes it for its upbeat catchy rythmn and of course its lyrics about living life up while you can and of course temporarily cheating death. This song was also used in Texas Chainsaw Masacre 2 (the newer version). The lyrics alone should show you why this makes a fantastic Halloween party song. "Let's have a party there's a full moon in the sky. It's the hour of the wolf and I don't want to die. I'm so happy dancing while the grim reaper cuts, cuts, cuts, but he can't get me. I'm as clever as can be, and I'm very quick, but don't forget no one lives forever!"

 

White Zombie- I'm Your Boogie Man

   Originally performed by K.C. & The Sunshine Band bak in 1976. This song is about the boogieman that hides in your closet, but the original was just a bit too disco for me. Instead I prefer White Zombie's heavy metal infused disco cover. this song was recorded for the film The Crow: City Of Angels soundtrack. The audio samples in the song where children are heard saying, "He's gonna get you! The Boogieman is coming!" are taken from the 1978 calassic horror film Halloween.  Although the song failed to chart, it earned White Zombie their third and final Grammy nomination for Best Heavy Metal Performance in 1997.

 

Bernard Herrmann- The Psycho Theme

      Who could forget Alfred Hitchcock's iconic 1960 horror film Psycho. It is often ranked among the greatest films of all time and is famous for bringing in a new level of acceptable violence and sexuality in films. To get to the best part of the song skip ahead to 4:23 for the famous screeching violins that invoked terror in audiences all around the world for so long. The music for the shower scene is probably the most famous (and most imitated) cue in film music history.

 

Sam The Sham & The Pharoahs-Li'l Red Riding Hood

  This song was the group's second top-10 hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1966. Built around the classic fairytale Little Red Riding Hood, this song is a play on words between the animal "wolf" and the euphemism of a man with concealed sexual intentions "wolf". The singer remarks on "what big eyes" and "what full lips" Red has and even states that he "will keep his sheep suit on" basically admitting that he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. What makes this song worthy of my list is the overall dark nature of the original Little Red Riding Hood and the almost hinted at dark nature of the song itself.

 

The Classic IV-Spooky

     While many confuse this song as being sung by the hit band The Zombies, it is in all actuality sung by The Classic IV. (Wikipedia is your friend). In 1968, it reached number three in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 46 in the UK. This groovy tune makes the list because of it's slow hip feel and the lyrics of course. "Just like a ghost, you've been a-hauntin' my dreams so I´ll propose... on Halloween. Baby, love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you."

 

Roison Murphy- Ramalama Bang Bang

  Although this is not a Halloween song in general and even though it does not have any horror related lyrics this song makes my list because of the So You Think You Can Dance group performance where it's freaky beat matched with dancing victorian aged zombies. Ramalama Bang Bang contains a chorus of onomatopoetic lyrics delivered over a tribal rhythm match that with the eerie seynthesizer beat and you've got one great performance.

 

Fever Ray- The Wolf

    Though the actual movie Red Riding Hood wasn't anything too scary or memorable there was a song featured during the dance celebration that did stick out to me. Fever Ray's tribal chanting mixed with rather dark lyrics make for a great old world werewolf feel. The lyrics and primitive sounding beat make me think of old Indiginous legends. And with lyrics like these who couldn't? "Eyes black, big big paws,And it's poison, and it's blood." and "We took you right from your mother's womb. Our temple, your tomb." 

 

The Halloween Theme

    And last, but certainly not least we have the chilling theme from John Carpenter's legendary film Halloween. I mean what kind of list of Halloween songs would this be if I didn't have THE Halloween theme on it somewhere? This 1978 horror film made babysitters everywhere quit there jobs in fear of Michael Meyers and his terrifying William Shatner mask.

      So that concludes all of my 50 Halloween songs. I hope there were at least a few of them on here that put you in the holiday spirit. If you have a certain song that you like to listen to on Halloween that I haven't mentioned on here then please tell me in the comments. I'm always on the look out for music.Thank you all for taking the time to read this and I hope you all have a happy (and safe) Halloween this year! Until next time guys!