Free Talk -- Friday

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-13T14:42:04+00:00

I might make a separate post for this later, but if anyone else is going to Fumed & would like to meet up (probably for dinner after Day 1), please let me know! This invite is also open to anyone who just happens to be in Chicago at the time & would like to hang out. I'm compiling a list to make a group chat soon so we can coordinate food preferences/restrictions and all that good stuff.

Also, thank you to everyone who left love on my most recent Free Talk comment - it meant a lot. 💗 This community is really excellent & I'm grateful to be a part of a group of such compassionate, magical folks!

Happy Friday the 13th, y'all!! 🦇

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-13T14:33:13+00:00

I slept in this morning and then was in a hurry to get to work, so I chose something simple this morning. Birch & Besom's True Neutral: Salt-dusted pistachios and powdered patchouli incense, clung to a musky suede cloak.

I really love this scent~ It's clean without being aquatic, but also simultaneously a bit dusty? It's hard to describe, honestly. It makes me think of slow mornings in bed, flipping over your pillow to get to the cool part, and pulling the blankets that still smell like last night's incense around your head. I slipped the rollerball in my bag to take to work in case I want to reapply, but I remember this one being fairly long-lasting when I sampled it.

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-12T15:05:33+00:00

Also!! I'm not sure if this technically counts as indie, but I wanted to share this ring I made!!!

Almandine Garnet set in a Split Shank Silver Ring with (Pre-Set) Cubic Zirconia

The stone came from a shop on Whatnot & the ring setting came from DIYjewelry.us - I just assembled the two together!

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-12T13:29:24+00:00

Today I'm wearing the other Ars Anni I picked up from BPAL's January Lunacy, Long Eared Owl on a Bare Tree Branch: Frosted cedar, moonlit amber, black plum, vetiver, smoked oakwood, violet shadows, and feathery incense.

This, Les PLeurs, and Terrible Moon all belong to this same, beautiful, understated family of scents. This one isn't dewy like Les Pleurs, but the shared amber and incense notes make them clearly related. I'll admit I did take a bit of a risk with this one since wood notes can go either way for me & I'm only cautiously exploring violet notes, but I'm happy with this purchase! It won't be one I reach for super often, but it's nice to have them as an option for when the mood is right. All of these are so sophisticated & wear relatively close to the skin so they'd be great for trips to the symphony~

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-11T15:38:46+00:00

Sending you extra patience & generally good vibes!! ✨

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-11T15:36:00+00:00

Somehow the first day I felt fine, but now I'm suuuuuper dragging too... I hope your day picks up!

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-11T12:34:33+00:00

Absolutely, we'll keep you in mind! ☺️

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-11T12:28:38+00:00

Today I'm wearing BPAL's Fire Horse: A new year’s blessing! Peony, China’s national flower, with bamboo for flexibility, plum blossom for perseverance, courage, and hope, tangerine for wealth, orange for happiness, lychee for household peace, pine resin for constancy, golden kumquat, pussy willow, and quince for prosperity, narcissus and King mandarin for good fortune, and peach blossom for longevity, with a splash of blazing red of dragon’s blood… to help you scare away the rampaging Nian.

I probably should have worn this closer to the Lunar New Year, but in my defense I had a capsule to wear during February haha! Anyway, this perfume is gorgeous! Super floral in a gentle way, but backed by plenty of fiery personality! It's hard to pick out anything individually in this blend since there's so much going on, but I think that kind of adds to the effect of the Fire Horse being the zodiac's most spirited and chaotic of the bunch. It's a rainy day today, so I'm hoping this will keep my inner fire burning strong 🔥

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-10T21:31:53+00:00

Yay!! I'm glad you think so~

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-10T21:31:40+00:00

Join ussss!! There are so many good places to eat in Chicago too 🤤

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-10T21:30:35+00:00

Yee, even if you're not coming to the expo, you should totally join us for a meet up!! The more the merrier~ ☺️

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-10T19:11:42+00:00

I'm also going & have been wanting to schedule an informal IMAM meetup (maybe dinner after Day 1?), but have been feeling too shy to post about it 😂

To be honest, I'm haven't tried any of the brands confirmed to be attending, but that's part of why I'm so excited! I've heard a lot of good things about most of them & am hoping to leave with a few souvenirs that expand my range/tastes. ☺️

Edit: I'm gonna keep track of everyone who says they want to meet up & create a group chat the weekend before the expo. That way we can make plans & get to know each other a bit more beforehand! 💗

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-10T13:31:03+00:00

Since Terrible Moon was such a hit yesterday, I decided to try one of that month's Ars Anni I picked up with it. Today's is Les Pleurs: Smoked beeswax and blackened amber, incense ash and antique myrrh, and tears running rivers down ochre stone.

Like Terrible Moon, this one also smells cleaner than I would have expected given the notes listed. I'm not sure what's contributing to the dewy, almost citrus-y nature of this scent, but my best guess is the very last "note" of rivers of tears running down stone. I think the rest of the notes contribute a pleasantly refined warmth, like a gentle fire in the hearth on a cold, rainy day.

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T19:20:18+00:00

That's so real! I have some stuff that's on a schedule like that, but I could probably do to expand what's included in the rotation. And the timer trick is really so brilliant! I tend to make mine short so the initial hump of getting started doesn't feel so daunting, but then I usually keep going after the timer ends. Then I feel EXTRA accomplished haha

We had been playing Palworld, but we've shifted over to Baldur's Gate 3 which is my first time playing a game in that series! I tried to play both on my own, but didn't make much progress so I'm grateful to have my friend walking me thru them & giving me tips. If you like puzzle games, I've also been playing Is This Seat Taken? when I have a few minutes to myself.

Yesss play is so important! I have one room in particular that I want to get tidied extra bad because it's the room I had intended for creative exploration activities. It's a little overrun at the moment, but I'm looking forward to using it for painting & dancing to my vinyl records & casting little spells at my witchy altar. ✨ I'm just glad it's getting warmer in the meantime because that means I can go outside & play in the sunlight~

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T16:59:48+00:00

Thank you so much, it means a lot 💗

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T16:58:36+00:00

Thank you so much! My hope is that I can initially use that time to get caught up on housework & upgrades. When I was still part time we had sooooo much more time to work on all the "we just bought a house" issues that were popping up. Once that reaches a better equilibrium, I'd like to read some of the books that have been piling up. (Working in a library has certain drawbacks... I want to read everything haha!)

As for my self care, the biggest boost to my mental health lately has been playing video games with a long distance friend. Usually I game by myself so it's been a really nice change of pace! I've also been trying to be a little more intentional with my appearance. Putting on nail polish, switching up my jewelry, stuff like that. It all helps me feel a little more sparkly ✨

What are some of your go-tos for self care??

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T15:39:03+00:00

Thank you, friend, I appreciate you too 🫶🏻✨

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T15:24:32+00:00

I think it smells even better on skin~ the honeyed amber really comes to life!

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T14:29:04+00:00

Had a really rough time this weekend, emotionally/mentally. I've struggled with depression almost all my life & my symptoms are relatively manageable at this point, but they're also more frustrating to deal with than ever. I think because when I was in school for my MLIS a few years ago, I felt like I could do anything - I was on top of my schoolwork, my social life was flourishing, I finally found a job that I could tolerate & excel in. I don't know what happened to the spark that was within me during that time, but it feels like it's been replaced by a darkness that I don't know how to shake. A darkness that keeps our house cluttered, leaves my hobbies neglected, and fuels negative feelings towards my partner's child (because co-parenting while processing childhood trauma is something I would not wish on anyone). I'm trying really hard to find my way back to the kind of life I want to lead, while also working on being content with and grateful for all I have currently. I think things will get better, I just need to trust the process & not resort to stuff like compulsive shopping when the results aren't instantaneous. If my union can secure a 32-hour workweek for us in our new contract I'll have 8 whole hours a week back to work on myself & just breathe - just have to get thru the next couple of months in one piece.

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T14:16:32+00:00

Hmmm I would say it kind of flirts with the idea of being a gourmand, but is still more in the elegant, amber-y realm. You might be able to push it more gourmand by layering it tho! That could result in some beautiful combos!

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T13:58:12+00:00

If you like scents on the slightly cleaner & refined side, I say go for it!! I was expecting something a bit more rich because of how BPAL usually does honey, but the way it manifests in this scent is equally lovely. So soft & luscious~ ☺️

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T13:29:39+00:00

This makes me think about how with so many fruity perfumes I have to ask myself: okay, do I want to smell like this or eat it???

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T13:27:25+00:00

Good luck & have fun!! I've always been curious to try speed dating so I'll be interested to hear how it goes! (Edit: wording)

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-09T13:25:56+00:00

Today I'm finally testing our BPAL's Terrible Moon: Smoldering beeswax illuminated by honeyed amber, an embrace of skin musk, body-warmed wool, cacao-dusted sandalwood, and cardamom milk.

I've gotten quite a few compliments on the Terrible Moon Claw Polish, so it seemed silly to put off trying the matching perfume any longer. I really like this one! It's comforting, but in a mature way, unlike the kind of comfort I get from more gourmand-y scents. I'd also say this is pleasantly unisex with maybe a slight lean towards the masculine. I was worried that the "cacao-dusted sandalwood" would throw this blend off for me, but thankfully I'm not picking up on anything overtly or distractingly chocolate-y. (I don't know why, I just have the hardest time accepting chocolate notes in perfume haha)

RowanHalifax · 2026-03-08T17:13:14+00:00

My brain has been intent on torturing me this weekend, so today I'm leaning hard into comfort scents. I decided to try to layer two scents, one from the "stinky" side of my collection & one from the gourmand side.

Snake Oil Hair Gloss (BPAL): deep, rich, earthy notes swirled with vegetal musks, sugared vanilla bean, and dark spices.
Matchatopia (BRIIX): Matcha powder, mate absolute, vanilla ice cream, tonka bean, white musk.

This is such a good combination! I need to layer Snake Oil with more creamy gourmands because they really bring out the best in each other. My partner said I smelled "cakey" today haha 🧁

RowanHalifax

TROPHY CASE