Toronto Sol

*Laughs* Oh, that's brill! Applause and vodka all around!

I didn't even start reading the descriptions on the homepage yet- clearly picking samples is going to be a very involved process... Can't wait.

Thanks for the advice, team! Heh, don't worry, it's definitely ingrained in me now: food + pheros = NO. Guess I'll just have to do the usual solshine and shake all the hands, etc. In the mean time I've the weekend to tweak and perfect this recipe before submitting and hoping to be called for the audition stage.

Now back to your regularly scheduled ass-talk.

OMG ARE YOU IN TOP CHEF???

 

Dialing in right now to select you as fan favorite!!!!

 

PS - Empathy potion is kind of like mind reading juice- It helps you perceive and understand what people want from you - in a competition might work... or POP potion. Pop makes you all rock starry.

*Laughs* No, 'fraid not. I'm going to be auditoning for Recipe to Riches on the Food Network Canada. Thanks for the vote of confidence though!

Ooh, Pop's a good idea too! I don't think contestants themselves ever get too close to the judges but maybe a wide aura effect will be positive. Hmm...how about swipping the underside of the dish? (Kidding! ...Mostly.) Empathy would be moot at this stage since applicants have to come prepared, very blind into the lion's den sort of way. Most I can do is watch previous episodes and see what I can gleen about the judge's personal tastes from that.

Honestly, I'm not even that bothered whether I win or not (I wouldn't mind, of course, but I would be surprised). From my end, I'm looking at it like a business opportunities; what can be done with the exposure one gets by default on a show like this and seeing how far I can take it - if at all.

Aha, merci! See, now I'm really glad I asked.

In the end it's still going to be all about your ability, right?

Ha, indeed! If a dish sucks it's still going to suck no matter how it's dressed. Fact.

That's not even a little bit of a concern for me, but with $25,000 on the line in each category (or $250,000 if one snags the grand prize) I'm not surprised my brain's analyzing every little variable it can.

Only have it as a spray personally so can't say, but have another experience from last Saturday you can make of what you will.

I recently tried it out again at an all-day workshop. Layered over TruePheromones' True Opener and my own PE, Snare, the intention was to amp the social and try-try-try not to come off as an complete rhymes-with-bunt cake. (While the people were new to me I knew ahead the general personality types that would be there...I wanted to eliminate the small chance they'd set me off like a shark amongst chum. Not productive when one is networking.) Had just finished spritzing when I remembered the self-effects, but was done was done and out the door I ran.

Long story short, the experience was very "belle of the ball" as I flitted from one introduction to the next. The males were the usual easy win, and even those that I would have been strongly antagonistic to found me pleasant. Females were similar, except the challenge with some wasn't so much their attitude but shyness. The coup for me: I managed to make a strong positive impression on three of the biggest event co-ordinators too, each specifically inviting me back.

As a social (and NOT mixed with alcohol) G2 earned a feather in its cap. I will still be cautious with it, but it's definitely got points for being a social short-cut when I don't want to have to work so much when socializing out of my comfort zone. (Lazy much?)

I was debating this in the shower (when all my deepest thoughts and most random ideas occur, naturally): would it be ethical or considered cheating to use pheromones to win - née, gain the edge in - a competition?

Specifically in the context of baking, I was thinking along the lines of spritzing the plates - with Perfect Match perhaps - before serving the food on them.

Since pheromones can't activate any ideas that aren't already there, only emphasize... I really don't know, seems kind of a grey area to me and wonder what the consensus is? Conversely, the judges may be in danger of falling in love with the silverware.

Also, would that be considered a health hazard? While it's not directly on the food, it is essentially being served on a plate of pheros. I didn't think so, but definitely good to be sure. No one wants their dessert associated "with that guy who turned a rich tapestry of colours outside before showing us his insides". That, I think, would be the opposite of winning.

Any input, thoughts, ideas, all appreciated.

This one for me needs a warning label! Not in a negative way, but a playing-with-fire way. Moreso than the usual understood amount anyway.

From my own notes:

STRONG. Use 1 to 2 sprays MAX. Freshly applied, activated dad’s allergies, he hated it, kept window down for ride to the train in late January. Longish dry-down period. First scents out the door were the marshmallow, grapefruit, allspice and vanilla. Very cheery but ringingly sharp. Self-effects are also potent, giving a “drunk head-space” feeling inside of 15 minutes. Probably don’t smoke with this one.

(The smoke is referring to cigarettes, which I sometimes crave when I've been drinking - and 30% of the time if I'm not paying attention can be the final K.O. for me.)

Ditto. At the very least I do compare/contrasts on potential purchases every time. That said, I definitely appreciate anyone who's taken the time to write their experiences down.

Oh. Oh my, yes...

Ah, natch! Well, that explains it... I'm a vodka woman.

Point of interest then: Hypothetically, if a scent is exactly what one wants at the beginning there's still the probability it will change away from that as it ages... How do you even begin to predict something like that or know where it'll land? Wow.

[...] if it doesn't morph enough in that direction after a few more weeks.

¡Qué Sorpresa! I didn't know the scent still has to mature afterwards (or that that was a thing). So just to understand, weeks is the usual till it settles where you intended, or how does that work?

After a stupendously shitty Friday (I didn't realize "Friday the 13th" was actually a thing!) I came home to two awesome packages. Day: brightened. But as I almost immediately had to leave again for the weekend I didn't get to really play with anything till now. But play we shall!

Wet: immediately get the oatmeal cookie dough, I feel like I'm getting a little buttery in a guilty-pleasure mmm-I'm-not-baking-for-health way… After a few minutes on me the chocolate-chips come out a bit more with the vanilla and is fast becoming an ice-cream sandwich on my skin.

Temptation to gnaw wrist: Increasing. (Unfortunately my body remained comprised of flesh and bone and not, in fact, dessert.)

Maybe it's just my chemistry but I am not yet able to detect the bacon, but it's early yet; we'll see what happens over time. Maybe if I go to the gym and sweat like a pig…

So far so love. Thanks, Mara, this is brill! Am I supposed to be able to stop smelling myself, because that's not going to happen. Just holding out hope for a bit more bacon - but really, whoever isn't?

The "problem" with this scent for me is it's so addictive. Didn't think I'd be as hyped for citrusy cake - how little did I know! I find myself reapplying just for the scent for myself- I have to be careful or I'll end up just wasting the pheromone aspect of it.

[...] then buy via the Gift Cert option in the cart. Thank you!

Is there a link or something so I can make sure I'm doing this right? My guess was to just add a "gift" of 3 of the $5 certificates to myself in the cart, and use the note box to indicate the intended item.. Oui ou non?

If still available may I call dibs on a Focus Potion? Please and thank you!

Ummm, it's actually easier to hold one than to do it all over again from scratch, so I think I will hold one just in case. No pressure to buy it yourself, just let me know once you've had time to consider and you can choose to release or keep the last bottle later.

Oh, gotcha. It'll be bunny-quick, soon as it arrives.

Toronto Sol, I must know the notes to yours so I can get even more jumpy with anticipation for my bottle. It looks like all sorts of cookie and vanilla and chocolate goodness, is it?

Oh! Very close. Based off a recipe my BFF and I made up one drunken night, it's pretty much that and one...key...ingredient... Also, glutten-free, so totes healthy* for you! So the notes would be the main flavours and then I just trusted Mara to do her thing because I've never done this before - so naturally I just went way left on my first try.

*Not actually

Oh, that's sweet of you to consider me, but if there's another eye on it feel free to let her go. It'll be approx. two weeks, I think, before I receive mine and it'd be absurd to ask you to hold it for that long "just in case". I'll simply have to order another if need be, no biggie.

Thanks though!

O merci, merci beaucoup.

Tres excite! I can't wait to see how it came out! Oh, and the rest of my order it'll be accompanying, that too...

So I've learned some things:

Namely if accidentally knocked from say, the height of a shelf onto a desk, there's apparently a fair chance the sample vial will shatter and send glass and perfume everywhere.

Which led to me learning instant (albeit mild) headaches are possible from pheros and 'fumes covering my workstation. Also, that my Visa was never intended to carry a scent.

Luckily not all of the liquid was lost, maybe about a quarter remaining in the remained of the vial. Not sure what'll become of it, if it'll dry out first or the pheros evaporate or what. I can say I do feel very well acquainted with the wet scent though. Like a pro.

Out of the vial I get a strong hit of the musk before anything else, accompanied with the blossom and most similar components only, making for a very sharp scent; more…somewhere between my téta (grandmother) and masculine/butch than is my wont.

It's not till it dries down and the vanilla and rest of the scents start to emerge, becoming lighter overall and softening the initial blow. So far not a favourite but still, shame it shattered since I probably won't get opportunity to test it again. On the plus (sorta), since I already have G2 I don't feel like I'm missing out on that aspect of the trial.

Oh well, c'est la vie.

Wet I really enjoy how this one smells, when the chocolate-espresso is most potent on me, but I've noticed as it dries down it gets more…sugary with the orange, then just more sugary. Still a nice smell, but not as much to my personal preference. I mean, i do like it, but because it's the initial stages that are my favourite not sure if I'd call myself a proper fan just yet since those aren't the lasting ones.

Haven't tested the phero effects in any regard, but I enjoy it - though being a foodie I'm just as likely simply delighted by the opening volley of delicious notes.

I actually expected to not like the scent or just not be enthusiastic about it but was pleasantly surprised. Out of the bottle I thought it'd be too perfumey for my tastes but as it dried down on my skin the amber and spice did a nice job of anchoring the fruits and florals down, melding everything really well together so that while light, it wasn't too powerful in any one direction.

That said, I wore it on the...27th, kinda maybe forgetting about the pheromone aspect. Having not worn it around others before I really had no reference to remember from. So...oops. Long story short, ended up having a blow-up with my mother (I was visiting for the holidays), which was...loud, to say the least, and completely unexpected. For some context I am not the sort to get riled up, generally not being a fan of whatchamacallits...."emotions".

I had a shower afterwards, wherein I was marvelling at what had just happened, but - and I find this interesting, being new - apparently that didn't wash the pheros off? That is to say, after, y'know, donning clothes again ended up sitting avec ma mère and having the opposite experience of an hour ago: very calm and earnest heart-to-heart (figure of speech, not a product plug there) which cleared up, well a good deal to be frank. And the rest of the day went well.

Overall a positive experience, but a roller-coaster of mind-blowing "W.T.F." even while I was in the midst of it. Still, smelt purdy.

Okay, learning these things can be powerful. I applied a couple sprays across my collarbone before going out last night - which was risky, considering I was on my own and I was already a littler afraid after my Passion in Pink experience but I guess I was in a daring way *avoids Audacious pun* - and covered with a swipe of Far Far Away (that one was for me). Armed with my little black dress, heels and [wildcard] pheros I knew NYE would at least be interesting.

I had a small entourage within 10 minutes of getting to the club, amusingly the first member being a delightful gay man I just met. Whom I joked with briefly on the way in but it wasn't till I checked my coat he did a cartoon-esque double take and proceeded to want to be my BFF for the night, not even really caring when his friends left.

I noticed a lot more people seemed to be less intimidated to approach me - which was awesome, as I love dancing with everybody (but also a little not, in a dancing-5-hours-straight-in-4"-stilettos-will-hurt way. Seriously, no breaks) and it seemed everybody wanted to just have fun.

My last dance partner by the end of the night there got…much handsier than I would've liked (and I admit, alcohol "probably" had something to do with it) and I repeatedly had to discourage her from getting well, explicit. So that's a good lesson to use less on the next test.

In the sober light of day I think I may have agreed to a date or two that I totally wasn't catching on about yesterday. (Why yes, yes, I am Captain Oblivious.) Figuring out how to get out of that should be fun, or y'know…the opposite. Also awoke to quite a few texts from mystery numbers in my phone (have since identified them though) - which is a total lark. I am really impressed with G2's seeming ability to make folks more ballsy, especially in regards to getting over social inhibitions. Like I said, people are generally much shyer in regards to approaching me so this is a big ole note in my book for G2.

Aha! I recognize that word. ...S'all I got. Personally haven't gotten too far into the science of it (though I've established some basic knowledge of the more commonly used pheromones so far), mostly been brand and product comparing; theorizing and digging through hills and mountains of reviews and journals till my eyes cross.

Heh, fun, in'it?

Cheers, mate!

I can't contribute much myself at this juncture but I can say welcome to the same boat, eh.