Unquiet
Things

Hello, dear devotees of all things olfactory, I have some news about my Midnight Stinks Patreon. I shared it over there already, but since many of you found that space through this here blog, I thought it best to share the news here as well.

I need to have a heart-to-heart with you about some changes coming to our little fragrant corner of the internet. As of August 1st, I’ll be removing the free tier option from Midnight Stinks. I know change can feel jarring, especially when it affects something you’ve grown accustomed to, so I want to be completely transparent about why this decision feels necessary.

The numbers tell a story that’s become impossible to ignore: I currently have 40 paid members with a total 175 subscribers altogether, bringing in about $218 per month. Meanwhile, I’m about to lose my day job of nearly 20 years – the income that’s been allowing me to treat this passion project as exactly that, a project where financial sustainability took a backseat to creative freedom and community building.

For years, I’ve been essentially subsidizing Midnight Stinks out of my own pocket, which felt fine when I had the security of steady employment. I loved being able to offer free content because fragrance should be accessible, and some of my most treasured community members found me through that free tier. But as I face this major life transition, I need to be honest about the reality: I can’t afford to lose money on something that brings me, and hopefully you, so much joy.

This isn’t about getting rich off perfume reviews (clearly, given those numbers!). It’s about creating something sustainable that allows me to keep doing what I love: diving deep into the weird, wonderful world of fragrance and sharing those discoveries with people who understand that a single sniff can transport you to fabulous, fantastical realms.

I’ve agonized over this decision because I know it means some people who’ve been part of our community may not be able to continue the journey with us. That breaks my heart a little. But I also believe that what we’ve built here, this space for stinkers and weirdos to geek out over scent without judgment, has real value, both for me as a creator and for you as readers.

Moving forward, all of my fragrance content, reviews, musings, and olfactory obsessions will be available to paid subscribers. I’m committed to making sure that investment feels worthwhile, continuing to bring you the same blend of poetic reviews, dark humor, and genuine passion for all things smelly that drew you here in the first place.

If you’ve been considering upgrading to paid support, now would be a perfect time. If budget constraints make that impossible right now, I completely understand – we’ve all been there. And who knows? Maybe our paths will cross again when circumstances change.

Thank you for being part of this strange, beautiful community. Thank you for indulging my midnight musings about molecules and memories. Thank you for understanding that sometimes we have to make practical decisions to protect the things we love.

Here’s to sitting in the dark together, breathing deeply, and experiencing some v.

With gratitude and just a touch of melancholy, S. Elizabeth

P.S. – All existing free subscribers will continue to have access to previously published free posts, so nothing you’ve already enjoyed will disappear.