If you play in the Potter-verse at all, you probably know that today is the birthday of one Severus Snape – the character, not the actor behind him. In honor of the day, I’ve snarked at the dogs, worn black, and swabbed my friend Janet‘s self blended Snape perfume on each wrist. I’m too congested to actually review it and pick out notes, so go bug her about it, but I do like it.

I’d hoped to update some of my SnapeFic but instead I’ve been trying to beat strep throat (throat is no longer sore, just dry and scratchy to the point where I sound like the bastard love child of Rod Stewart and Kim Carnes), and writing car reviews for my new job. I’m sort of intrigued by the Honda Fit just now, especially as we’ll be seeking a second car sometime this year.

I’m currently on a quest for new stationery, so if you have any you want to get rid of, or any that you love and want to recommend, do let me know. I’ve joined the Letter Writing Team at Soldiers’ Angels so in addition to sending mail to my two officials each week, I’m also sending letters or cards to at least one unofficial and sometimes to people who’ve requested TLC (or had it requested for them). That’s a lot of letter writing, but it makes me happy, and it’s kind of fun.

And on that note: I have a mug of chai waiting to be sipped and cold chai is pretty gross.

Received an imp of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s KALI as part of a mystery pack of imps I bought on the forum. Here’s my review.

Kali, the Black One, is the fearless Goddess of Destruction, Creation, Energy [in her Shakti aspect] and Dissolution. Also named Kaliratri [Black Night] and Kalikamata [Black Earth-Mother], she is the fiercest aspect of Devi, the supreme mother goddess. Kali is a protector Goddess, the destroyer of evil spirits and guardian of the faithful. She, along with her consort Shiva, represent the unending cycle of death and birth, sexual union, creation and destruction. Kali annihilates ignorance, maintains the natural order of the world, and blesses those who strive for spiritual awareness and knowledge of true holiness with infinite tenderness and motherly love. The constant, unending Work of Creation is called the “The Play of Kali”. This perfume is a blend of the sacred blooms of cassia, hibiscus, musk rose, Himalayan wild tulip, lotus and osmanthus swirled with offertory dark chocolate, red wine, tobacco, balsam and honey. — Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

In the imp: Chocolate, pipe tobacco, and something sweet.

Wet: Oh, there’s the wine, and the sweet seems honey-ish now.

Drydown: I can’t pick out individual floral notes, but I can tell they’re there, and the chocolate and tobacco have softened a lot.

Overall: This imp had leaked a bit in the package despite being taped. As I was opening everything, I was trying to figure out that enticing smell, and it was this. I’m still brand new to bpal, but I’m thinking this will be a favorite. I really like it – it’s a very grown-up scent, but can still be either feisty or flirty