Oooo I love japanese incense. Hardly anyone knows about it. My favorite is Nippon Kodo’s Dream of Dream line, Goldfish and Fiddlehead Fern in particular. Their Esteban line is pricey but very nice as well. I have the Tek and Tonka scent.
Hello Kitten. Goldfish sounds interesting for an incense, though I’m not sure the melon/ozone/aquatic smells are quite to my tastes. It might be worth looking into. The Nippon Kodo Pine is a very interesting incense. I thought at first it might smell like a floor cleaner or some fake smell, but it’s actually similar to some Tibetan incenses, an earthy pine smell. Also, the Green Tea is very nice as well.
It is nice to have somebody share a common interest.
I got hold of some “Mysore Sandalwood” oil today. I’m not sure if it is real or not, but initially it smells very green, there’s a vegetable or raw cedar-like top note at first, then after about 30 minutes it goes away completely and it smells similar to the synthetic sandalwoods I have. I assume it’s either real Indian Santalum album or possibly Australian. It smells identical to some HEM incense sticks I have, which have the same cedary top note. It’s my understanding that real sandalwood oil will age and become more refined, so who knows. I also found a very good sandalwood soap that has to be the best I tried, I bought it at an Indian grocery and it doesn’t dry my skin out unlike some other sandalwood soaps I have tried (the Whole Foods Sandalwood has some kind of clay in it, it makes my skin feel wierd. The Bee and Flower brand you find sometimes smells decent, but it’s fairly drying). It’s a pitty sandalwood isn’t a very popular scent now days because it’s a great scent.
The mix for today was Instant Gentleman + TAK + Scent of Eros (a little bit), plus a spray of about 2 mcg androstenone. This mix seemed to work out fine for what I do, although if I wanted to be more social I’d probably add a spray of Instant Honesty. I’m thinking of trying out A314, or at least pulling out the MX172 and trying that out, possibly with TAK or WAGG, and seeing if my reactions haven’t improved so that I don’t feel like I’m pushing people away.
I also rarely cover the pheromones anymore, beyond their fixatives and maybe a little extra fragrance I might add (usually diluted synthetic musk- I may try sandalwood oil in the future though). I wear a fragrance often on some other application point, or I put the fragrance on first, since it’s usually an oil (today I wore the Indian sandalwood musk I got from Agarscents Bazaar).
Hello. Just an update… today I wore 2 mcg androstenone, Scent of Eros, 1 spray 12.5mcg TAK, and 1 spray Instant Honesty. Earlier today I went to the library to look for some books. I got a wierd reaction from the librarian on the subject of my books, most likely not pheromone related but it might have been a “backhanded compliment” or snide remark, it did not really bother me, though. A few hours later I went to the mall with my brother and I applied some Instant Openess and we walked around a while and talked and shopped. We wanted to go to the Starbucks before it closed, just to say we did that.
At the Starbucks I was patiently waiting for two young men to fill up their coffee, but halfway through them getting all the cream and sugars, they turned around and looked at me and it was an ackward situation, because I had no problems waiting on them to finish. It turned out they wanted me to go ahead and get some milk and sugar for my coffee. I filled up my coffee and I told them “thank you”, and they said “No problem”. Perhaps this situation was pheromone related, as it seems a bit unusual. I think I caught their attention.
Also, in one of the stores I was looking at Oriental bric-a-bracs, and the Asian woman behind the counter kept asking if I needed help, even after I had already told her “no thank you”. Possibly pheromone related, again. Actually, I am nervous in those sorts of situations. I felt ackward and just left shortly afterwards. I like being able to shop without being bugged too much. Maybe she was trying to be a bit pushy?
Also, yesterday I tried posting a picture of a mukhbara I got for burning incense/bakhoor. The picture got cut, somehow. Oh well. It’s basicly a flower vase shaped burner, electric, and at the top is a bowl that heats up and it burns incense or bakhoor (it’s a semi-damp, gummy woody pulp stuff that is fragranced… is this case it is Bakhoor Maliki from Agarscents). It doesn’t really burn it, it just “bakes” it and the vapors come out like steam. I also am experimenting around with a perfume fragrance that would smell similar to the Buddhist incenses I have sampled, something with saffron/tumeric, agarwood, camphor, and so on. I wore a basic version of this today, but I need to tweak the whole recipe to equalize the “impact”, because I think the camphor and clove initially stands out a bit. However, it fades quickly. So it might take a bit of work. I had a few people sample the fragrance on a blotter after it dried a little bit, and they said it smelled nice.
Before I say this, I want to preface this by saying it’s based on my own experiences and those of people I know. It probably has the potential to come off as offensive, but I want to stress that it is absolutely not my intention to be offensive in any way. I’m just offering a possible explanation.
I’ve been to a few shops in multicultural districts of cities I’ve lived in, including Atlanta, Seattle, and Tacoma, and it’s unfortunate that in many instances, the areas have been somewhat seedy. A lot of shopkeepers, particularly older Asian females, tended to be nervously attentive. On the one hand, they could just have been very congenial and genuinely wanted to help with my shopping experience, but on the other, I could sense a suspicious vibe. It could have been that they’ve been victims of shoplifters in the past, and feel a bit paranoid, especially with regard to people just browsing. Perhaps being older and female, they feel vulnerable? I’m not sure. In most of those cases, even if I didn’t see something I was really interested in, I’d find some inexpensive what-not and purchase it, being as gracious and grateful as I could be in a show of appreciation before leaving the store. In many cases, I felt this a necessary gesture, because there seemed to be a language barrier, and I wanted to indicate appreciation and respect for their time and attentiveness.
I don’t know… it’s something to consider. It may very well have been the pheros.
-D4
Maybe… although this was a slightly upscale mall, and the woman behind the counter did not look that old- she was dressed in a manner that didn’t suggest she was any older than myself.
I’ll have to remember to buy something in the future, though, that’s a good idea. I just looked at some of the stuff off-hand and the prices were very high, though, for many things. It will sound wierd for me to say this, but sometimes when I’m around Asians I become nervous, too, particularly if there is a language barrier. Social anxiety nerves. Also, “Can I help you?” is a rather lame greeting in a store, it just doesn’t really suggest openness to a persons presence. For all I know that’s what security guards say all the time, too 
BTW, down here in Florida alot of the malls seem desperate for customers, that could be another issue.
A great salesperson will come up with a better opener- something like “what are you out shopping for today?” or “are you looking for a gift for that special someone?” I think it’s really hard to know if you are getting a real hit from a salesperson. There has to be a lot of back and forth and a good salesperson will always remember to try to close the sale no matter how “personal” the interaction becomes. If you get some action in the backroom and don’t buy anything, I’d consider that a nice hit.
I like your interest in other (non-pheremone) scents. I’ll have to try some of your suggestions.
Oh, I wasn’t looking for a hit from her. This might sound ridiculous to some ears, but at this point in my life I am trying not to become overly attached to anything that is material or impermanent, including to the opposite sex. This seems to have been a great source of anxiety in my life, the craving to be accepted, especially by the opposite sex. Letting go of that expectation has made me happier. This isn’t to say if somebody found me attractive, I wouldn’t be moved by it, but I don’t want to cling to expectations.
Besides, I think I’d be attracted to somebody that was older, or perhaps a younger person that was wiser. This clerk was too young and I didn’t care for how she dressed. However, I thought her approach was rather unwelcoming and I did feel uncomfortable being in the store- that’s what I noted.
I should also note, I have been wearing more androstenone in the past week or so, if you haven’t noticed. At the low dosages, it seems to have no ill effects that I can see. I have been intensifying the amount of meditation I do daily, to about 15 minutes twice a day, morning and night- sometimes three or four times a day, but at least twice a day. This seems to have an effect on my ability to be centered and less moved by pheromones. I still am watching out for negative androstenone reactions.
I have been going to the library and checking out books, on Sufism and Buddhism, because the subjects were seemingly contradictory, I suppose that’s why the librarian gave me wierd looks. I have decided to delve deeper into these subjects. So I’ve spent less time posting and more time reading. Two days ago I read a book on insight meditation by Joseph Goldstein, and today I am reading a book by Thich Nhat Hanh on the teachings of the Buddha (the buddadharma; the 5 Noble Truths, etc) and I also have a book on Sufism I am reading concurrently by Pir Valayat Khan. I have alot of other books to read too.
Interesting report buddy on your phero combo there And so you don’t cling to any expectations unless they come to you right? You are an interesting guy you know
It seem even you say that you are getting books on buddhism & sufism & the librarian gave you weird looks, i still think the pheros got to do something with it 
And at Starbucks, i gotta to say that it is the pheros at work there as the two men giving way to you to get some milk & sugar for your coffee
And for the asian woman who offered to helped you out in the store even you said “no, thank you”, i agreed that Data4 is right on what he have said there or it could be the pheros Well reps for your reports & keep updating more reports in your journal See ya
You’re an intelligent guy, so you probably already know this, but I have to comment. That is an extremely healthy way to look at things. Me, I have a problem with not letting go of the expectations, and it usually bites me in the butt. In all the stories I’ve read of men who are successful with women, there seems to be a common thread: None of them need what it is they receive in abundance. It’s a sort of detachment that nearly always results in the kind of attractiveness that women go after.
Self discovery is something I really want to hone in on, as once you really identify and embrace who you are, warts and all, you stop being so concerned with what other people think. It’s a path to self-love, and when you have that, all the superficial stuff not only becomes more superficial, it stops mattering in the grand scheme of things.
I haven’t repped you in awhile, and this bit of personal philosophy of your’s is certainly deserving of it.
-D4
Today I didn’t do alot. My dad is home and we went out to Burger King. I haven’t been as talkative for some reason lately. Today I wore 12.5mcg TAK, 2 mcg androstenone, Instant Gentleman, and Instant Honesty).
I did go later to the herbal shop to pick up more gotu kola, and while I was there, some jasmine incense (just to have something that’s more of a “wake up” type sensation when I get up in the mornings) and red sandalwood. At the herbal shop, the woman was very friendly as usual, but she doesn’t make alot of eye contact- that is just her, I suppose. She talks to inanimate objects all the time but seems friendly, despite the fact she never really looks you in the eye. I tried to smile a little bit, which doesn’t seem that hard to do now days but probably with my facial hair, doesn’t always come off as a smile. I asked about some juniper wood, and she really didn’t have any, just the berries. We started some small talk on loose incense, and I asked her a few more questions.
A woman in line was standing behind me, and I wasn’t paying too much attention to her- I knew she was there but I wasn’t looking at her really. I feel a pinch on my back, but it didn’t occur to me right away. I turn around a little, not too bothered and she says “You had some lint on your shirt”, and I say “Oh… OK”. It was very interesting because usually nobody acts like they want to get near me. It could be the pheromones, or perhaps the demeanor of the clientele in the store (it seems to attract alot of unconventional people), or maybe both.
My only regret, not starting a conversation or small talk. I was more focused on talking to the old woman behind the counter.
Well, letting go of expectations… I don’t pretend to say it leads you to getting women. In fact, for me it might not. But that’s not really the point. The main thing about letting expectations go, without getting into an Eastern theological discussion, is realizing ultimately that everything you have heard about the world is tainted by a cloud of illusion and ignorance- we can’t all know everything about the world (well, very few of us, and I’m not one of them yet), and yet most of us act like we know everything. This creates expectations. We act like we know what makes us happy or miserable, and it is usually external things happening to us, and never something we develope within ourselves. The attitudes we decide to accept, and the actions we undertake, have consequences that are real- people in the East call it karma, but whatever you believe, it is real on some level. And that’s not just something I read in a book, I have experienced it during and after meditation. If you empty your head of any garbage in it, things start to become much more clear.
Today, 12.5 mcg TAK, 2 mcg androstenone, Instant Gentleman. I went to the mall and got a haircut. Usually I cut my hair myself (not very well), or I go to a barber. Recently, I’ve just not been so crazy about going to the barber. The guy likes to talk politics all the time. So today I went to one of those hair cuttery places in the mall.
There was a short, pudgy Asian woman there. She looked like she might have been older, but I couldn’t guess how old, maybe 40’s or older, as Asian women age differently. Initially she didn’t look so pretty but she had nice eyes. She seemed somewhat nervous and her English could have been better, and she kept asking me how exactly I wanted my hair cut, and being new to that type of place, I could only answer vaguely. In the end the haircut was OK, although somewhat “trendy” compared to what I like. At the end of the haircut she smiled and said I looked very good and she had a bunch of tips for my hair (use hair gel? I just nodded politely). I thanked her and gave her a nice tip.
You know, your comment about your regular barber reminds me of a time or two when I’ve wished Androtics had a product called “Instant Shut the F**k UP” Heh… 
-D4
TAK migt be good to try on the barber. I just wanted to try something new, too. Honestly, the barber doesn’t talk about politics that much, but he’s an ex-Navy Seal and likes living out in the woods, alone with his wife, and when he does start talking about politics its like fingers on the chalkboard for me.
I have been experimenting more with binaural beats occasionally, just to try new things. That Theta wave you made is very good, Data, and I’ve used it several times in the past week. I also have tried some MP3’s from Unison Therapy, they play music while the beats run. I think the “entrainment” thing isn’t totally unlike the “breath following” meditation. The music-based beats are interesting, but personally I think it’s a bit “noisy” sometimes. As somebody recently told me, focus on the space between thoughts. They are a good way to get the mind ready to meditate using other methods, though.
Another technique that is used sometimes is “body scan”, this is where you go up and down your body and try and notice sensations without judging them or trying to analyze them, just experience them. This can lead to a deeper state of awareness.
Hey buddy just drop by your journal there & i find your herbal shop & haircut at the hair cuttery place in the mall reports was good & interesting Well the women who was in the line queueing at the herbal shop & pinched you at the back & said "“You had some lint on your shirt” that is definitely a hit Well you can try to start a conservation or make small talk the next time it happened to you again
And the asian woman that cut your hair well although there is a bit of a language barrier there but she managed to give you a better haircut which is more trendy For myself i prefer trendier haircuts as it is my style buddy. She give you a smile which is good plus she commented on how good you look & lastly she give you a bunch of useful tips for your hair
I feel there is a high possibilty of pheros at work while she is cutting your hair there Reps for your reports & post more See you
Here’s a cool video of a guy named Ken Wilber basicly having an almost flat EEG, and yet he continues to experience a diffuse awareness:
Interesting. Some on the net claim it’s fake, but it doesn’t look fake to me, and he really doesn’t talk like the typical con artist, in fact I’ve been reading alot about him lately.
A few months back, I made a complete self hypnosis session of about an hour’s length that deals with some specific issues that have been plaguing me. I set it up to have a ramped down beat from 12 hz to 4 hz through the induction, a slow drop to 3 hz during the deepening phase, and then a steady 3 hz beat during the suggestion phase. I designed it to allow me to go on to sleep after the suggestion phase, by simply stating “…and now… let yourself drift off to sleep as the sounds slowly fade away…” with a long 2 minute fadeout of the sound.
Last night, I was listening to it and right as the sound was fading, I think I experienced my very first actual “mind awake/body asleep” sensation. The feeling is hard to describe, but I liken it to how I’ve heard it feels to break the sound barrier. Lots of buffeting, and then with a pop, completely smooth. In this case, the buffeting was my constantly having to check for tension in my shoulders, which happens when I’m doing pranayamic breathing while keeping a set breathing rhythm. Then, as if there was some kind of “pop”, it was like I was completely neutrally buoyant on the bed. There was no sensation of sinking into the bed, as there wasn’t any kind of pressure against my back. My breathing was completely unconsciously rhythmic, and I no longer heard the dull hiss inside my head caused by the circulation of blood.
It was a moment of complete clarity and focus. Quite possibly one of the coolest things I’d ever experienced before. I laid there for a little bit, just enjoying the sensations, and then I decided to go for broke and attempted an OOBE. It didn’t work, as sometime during the concentration of seperating, I finally drifted unconscious. I’m going to see if I can repeat that tonight. The feeling was so nice, I could spend hours just laying in that limbo state.
-D4
OOBE? I’m not sure such a thing is possible via meditation. Who knows.
I have been experimenting with delta waves moreso. I don’t notice a huge difference from theta wave beats, but I do notice when I open my eyes after listening for a while, I am less aware of the passage of time. Today I sat listening to a track of delta waves for 20 minutes and it felt like I had only been listening for maybe 5 minutes at most. At one point I became aware of the fact my breathing had dramaticly slowed and was becomming increasingly shallow, and my heartbeat may have decreased too. Also, emerging from this state I felt a little lightheaded, but no negative feelings from the experience.
Yes, meditation is a bit addictive once you start having a bit of a “kensho” or awakening moment but I believe it can teach you things, too. I tried to get my brother interested in the binaural beats to try out, but he tried doing them while doing other things, and said they did nothing for him. He’s not willing to reserve some time away from “himself” to try something new. But it is his choice.
There are actually many different meditation methods. The one most commonly done for secular reasons in the Western world would be called samatha, and usually involves “following the breath” (anapassati)- the purpose is to learn to mantain awareness and calm the mind. Vipassana, OTOH, is for seeking insights into reality (a similar practice in Sufism is called Muraqaba). There are other meditations in Buddhism, such metta bhavana, visualizing metta, or compassion/love, radiating outward to everyone. Mishirabe or Naikan is a Japanese Buddhist meditation practice meant to cultivate gratitude and compassion. Many years ago when I tried Naikan, I did not understand “gratitude” behind Naikan, but in the Buddhist context of the belief in sunyata (emptiness, dependent existence), it creates a chain where a persons actions are not dependent on their self efforts, but the consequences of many things. One can even have gratitude to inanimate objects, machines, and so forth.
On a more pertinent note, you might have noticed lately I’m posting less in the forums in general. I actually am wondering what the point is in using pheromones now days… for me. I have no job, and I’ve sort of given up trying to meet women. I think curiosity made me want to try out pheromones, but now I’m not so curious. I think they are adding a bit to my day-to-day interactions but the difference is more like a nudge than a leap.
But, the are alot more knowledgeable people on the forums so I don’t think my absence of posts will be missed all that much. Other people need rep points too.
I should also mention I feel like my experience of self-effects has been toned down alot. I don’t notice them much, I actually have to focus on them harder to see them doing anything, this is something I’ve noticed for the past couple of weeks. I believe this is due to the increase in the time spent meditating. I wonder if pheromones affect everybody equally… my guess is no, some people will be less swayed by pheromone influence.
Hmm, i see so buddy you said what is the point of wearing pheros if the pheros doesn’t help you there in your situations, you are not curious about the pheros anymore, the pheros only help you a bit like a nudge as you said instead of a leap & i do noticed you are posting less in here already compared to you first join in here. Well i understand fully what you mean there but i will missed your posts just to let you know
I respect your decision there buddy & wish you all the best in what you hope to achieve in your life & what make you happy See you & take care from your buddy phat