Scent Notes: A cauldron of herbs float in black, golden, and white ambers. Fir needles, cedarwood, and autumn leaves against a backdrop of pumpkin spice and sassafras.

The front porch and pathway were lined with pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns of all sizes and colors. The leaves on the lawn had not been raked and formed a thick, crunky blanket on the path and grass. The sun had set early, and there was a wonderful chill in the air. The moon was full and bright, beaming down on the small house.

Margaret walked up the path and knocked on the door. “Come in, come in! Put your broom over there,” Gretchen beckoned as opened the door, drawing Margaret inside the house. “Oh wow, this place looks AMAZING!” Margaret squealed as she surveyed the front hallway, putting her broom in the corner. There were multiple cauldrons, one absolutely billowing with smoke, and the table was full of potion bottles with labels bearing words like “poison,” “eye of newt,” “cat’s whiskers,” and “bat blood,” among others. It was dark and dingy, lit solely by candlelight. Margaret perched on a stool and noticed several spiderwebs (one or two complete with spiders) on the ceiling and wall. Gretchen had gone to the kitchen and came back with a goblet. Smoke was billowing off the top of it. “Makes for a fancy effect, doesn’t it?” Gretchen asked as she handed the goblet to Margaret. Margaret blew into the goblet, and took a sip. “Ohhh, this batch is PERFECT. Extra venom? An extra pinch of pumpkin spice as well, mayhaps?” Margaret asked. “Indeed to both!” Gretchen answered. “The rest of the coven is running late, apparently, but our guests will be arriving soon. We might have to start without them.” Margaret took another sip and nodded. “That’s fine, more wicked potion for us!” The ladies cackled. 

Margaret reached up and scratched the wart on her long, crooked nose at the same time that Gretchen lightly rubbed the warts dotting her chin. “I’m very excited for our rituals tonight,” Margaret murmured, sipping at her drink. “I have to sip this or I won’t be able to function!” Gretchen gave a low laugh. “I’ve already had several goblets. I had to take a break, or I’m going to be sleeping on a heap among the spiderwebs before we get started.” The women began snickering, when suddenly, a pounding of fists began at the door in earnest. The noise was scary and overwhelming, but both women put on their steely, reserved faces. “The coven isn’t here yet,” Margaret said with only a slight note of fear in her voice. “Well then, we must face them alone,” Gretchen said, putting her best velvet pointed hat on her head. The ladies looked at each other, nodded, then walked and open the door. “TRICK OR TREEEEEEAT!” came the cries from the little demons, monsters, and fairies. The women cackled, then reached into the nearest cauldron and pulled out handfuls of candy, dumping them into the never-ending buckets of plastic pumpkins. Finally, the little ones swooped away, shrieking and already munching into their candy bars, on their way to the neighbor’s house. They could see many other groups in the distance, making their way over. Gretchen and Margaret looked at each other. “Terrifying,” Gretchen said. Margaret nodded in agreement, as one of their coven members, Mildred, made her way to the door. “I’ll go fetch us all fresh goblets. It’s going to be a long night!”

Scent Notes: A cauldron of herbs float in black, golden, and white ambers. Fir needles, cedarwood, and autumn leaves against a backdrop of pumpkin spice and sassafras.