Then a mason came forth and said, Speak to us of Houses.
And he answered and said:
Build of your imaginings a bower in the wilderness ere you build a house within the city walls.
For even as you have home-comings in your twilight, so has the wanderer in you, the ever distant and alone.
Your house is your larger body.
It grows in the sun and sleeps in the stillness of the night; and it is not dreamless. Does not your house dream? and dreaming, leave the city for a grove or hill-top?
Would that I could gather your houses into my hand, and like a sower scatter them in forest and meadow.
Would the valleys were your streets, and the green paths your alleys, that you might seek one another through vineyards, and come with the fragrance of the earth in your garments.
But these things are not yet to be.
In their fear your forefathers gathered you too near together. And that fear shall endure a little longer. A little longer shall your city walls separate your hearths from your fields.
And tell me, people of Orphalese, what have you in these houses? And what is it you guard with fastened doors?
Have you peace, the quiet urge that reveals your power?
Have you rememberances, the glimmering arches that span the summits of the mind?
Have you beauty, that leads the heart from things fashioned of wood and stone to the holy mountain?
Tell me, have you these in your houses?
Or have you only comfort, and the lust for comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and then becomes a host, and then a master?
Ay, and it becomes a tamer, and with hook and scourge makes puppets of your larger desires.
Though its hands are silken, its heart is of iron.
It lulls you to sleep only to stand by your bed and jeer at the dignity of the flesh.
It makes mock of your sound senses, and lays them in thistledown like fragile vessels.
Verily the lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul, and then walks grinning in the funeral.
But you, children of space, you restless in rest, you shall not be trapped nor tamed.
Your house shall be not an anchor but a mast.
It shall not be a glistening film that covers a wound, but an eyelid that guards the eye.
You shall not fold your wings that you may pass through doors, nor bend your heads that they strike not against a ceiling, nor fear to breathe lest walls should crack and fall down.
You shall not dwell in tombs made by the dead for the living.
And though of magnificence and splendour, your house shall not hold your secret nor shelter your longing.
For that which is boundless in you abides in the mansion of the sky, whose door is the morning mist, and whose windows are the songs and the silences of night.
Morning mist and the songs and the silences of night: a soft, hazy nocturne of moonflower, dew-touched lavender buds, rose hips, and night-blooming jasmine.
The sales from April’s scents from the Prophet series benefits Lutheran Settlement House, who provides food access, homelessness services, domestic violence services, senior care, and educational resources to Philadelphia’s communities.
c-j-allison –
Imagine you’re wearing your favourite Lip Smacker and chowing down on JuicyFruit gum. That’s Titania!
So sweet and JUICY. It’s a lovely fragrance, very ripe and fruity. With time, I noticed more of the pear/ice muskiness and a subtle floral. An intoxicating, sweet scent that stops short of being headache inducing.
Lasts very well on my skin, too!
laurel.kalypso –
This is nice, on me it starts out very bright and young, I smell the grape and sweet pea the most strongly, my partner said it smelled like Starburst candies. As it dried down it became more floral and sweet. Almost powdery. It seems to be long-lasting. It might be a little soapy on me and maybe a bit too sweet for my personal tastes but I’m sure if you like sweet fruity florals this one would be perfect.
caitlin8811 –
This is a very sweet scent that, for me, has the perfect balance of fruity & floral. In the IMO it’s definitely fruit forward but as it dries on my skin, the fruit backs off and blends well with the florals for a very sweet, creamy scent. This is very playful & flirty and would make a great fragrance for a first date!
Claire –
This is such a yummy fruity floral scent, if I could swim in a big old vat of this stuff I would.
Gloame –
Sweet pea from Bath and Body Works. Fruity floral, bright, and happy. Pretty, but doesn’t stand out to me.
Where I’d wear it: The school dance.
emamos2488 –
This is my favorite scent out of the ones I’ve tried (5? 6?). I wear it every day. It’s very sweet and fruity without being too heavy. On me it lasts all day. I love the smell of the grapes and pear…I didn’t really smell peach though.
Sammy –
This one is pretty great. It’s very soft and fruity. I’m not sure if I’ll get a full 5ml bottle or not. But, it’s better than I thought it would be.
xaglow –
I am going to be buying this one again! It is sweet and cool, a rare treat from BPAL. I’m not sure if I like this better wet or dry since both are so nice. The pear, peach and grape keep this really light, while the snapdragon and sweet pea ground the sweetness in a light floral bed. The musk makes this bed a little more apparent when it dries. I was pleased to find the fruit sweetness lasting even when dry!
avietzke –
If you’re like me and you love fruity florals, this is your fragrance! The first thing I smelled when I first opened the bottle was pears, but it turns more floral as it dries. A really lovely, sweet fragrance. Will definitely be purchasing more as this has become my favorite BPAL scent right up there with The Witch Queen.