Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

[badstar]

http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com

I think just about everyone knows about it by now (If you don't, well there's the link.) Here's a little blurb from their site:

We specialize in formulating intriguing, compelling body and household blends with a dark, romantic Gothic tone. Our scents run the aesthetic gamut of magickal, pagan and mythological blends, Renaissance, Medieval and Victorian formulas, and horror / Gothic-themed scents. By utilizing our knowledge of homeopathy and aromatherapy, the conceptual theories of hermetic alchemy, and the aesthetic artistry of perfumery, we have mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences.

...I've been wanting to put in an order for some sample vials for oh, ever now. Of course I only think about it when I have no money. Inspired by acousticdryad, I'm thinking about it now, jsut a few days before I will have some spare money. Samples are $3.50 each, or six for $19.50. I've decided that I'm not gonna go too crazy, and just do the six.



CHESHIRE CAT
Grapefruit, red currant, dark musk, Roman chamomile, delphinium, and lavender.

Croquet
Pink lime, pink grapefruit, white nectarine, wild rose, sage, woody patchouli, bergamot, and ornery hedgehog musk.

The Dodo
Red musk, lemon peel, sugar cane, cassia, white sandalwood, mango, and agarwood.

THE DORMOUSE
A dizzying eddy of four teas brushed with light herbs and a breath of peony.

Jabberwocky
An earthy yet buoyant scent: pine, eucalyptus and orange.

Knave Of Hearts
Crushed roses and blackcurrant tarts.

MARCH HARE
A twisted teatime tart: apricot and sweet clove.

THE MOCK TURTLE'S LESSONS
blurry aquatic notes, with a confusing, contrary splort of iris, ambrette, green apple, vodka, white mint and a squish of lime.

TWEEDLEDEE
Ridiculous! Kumquat, white pepper, white tea and orange blossom.

TWEEDLEDUM
Absurd! Green mango, fig, patchouli and green tea.

WHITE RABBIT
Strong black tea and milk with white pepper, ginger, honey and vanilla, spilled over the crisp scent of clean linen.

VICE
Voluptuous and indulgent! A deep chocolate scent, with black cherry and orange blossom.

BORDELLO
Bawdy plum with amaretto, burgundy wine and black currant.

AKUMA
Devilish temptation, as sweet as sin: blood orange, neroli, and raspberry.

BAOBHAN SITH
Grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger.

KUANG SHI
Mandarin orange, white musk, mango, and white sandalwood.

KUMIHO
A sharp, biting blend of crisp white tea and ginger.

PHOBOS
Chilling white musk, lemon verbena, white grapefruit and lemongrass.

JESTER
Huckleberry and red currant with the incisive bite of neroli.

TITANIA
white grape, white peach, iced pear, musk rose, sweet pea, moonflower and snapdragon.

51
Luminescent, glowing, and otherworldly: green mandarin, neroli, honeydew, white amber, guava, freesia, white and green musks hovering over desert scrub, smashed wood, and the dry, biting scent of night air over the Groom Lake salt flats.

DELPHI
The smoke of Sacred Incense of Apollo twined through laurel branches, bay, and honey wine.

GLASGOW
The rich scent of wild blackberry breezing over gentle rosy heather.

MADRID
Bold red wine, mimosa, and a trickle of clove.

SHANGO
red apples, banana, chili pepper, coconut, pineapple, pomegranate and sugar cane.

Well, I'm definitely gonna get Delphi. I'm thinking Shango, Tweedledee, Kuang Shi, Vice and Baobhan Sith. Subject to change many times before I actually place the order.

Comments

[acousticdryad.livejournal.com]

I'll let you smell Vice and Tweedledum when it comes in (along with the others I ordered if you like)

51 looks yummy, as does Shango, Jabberwocky, Akuma, and White Rabbit. Think I could take a sniff at those when you get them?

[acousticdryad.livejournal.com]

also, not big on the flowery scents myself :/ That's why I usually stick to the patchouli, vanilla, and amber.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

yah, sure you can get a whiff. I definitely want to smell Tweedledum...the patchouli is the one thing that i really do hesitate on. I don't like it alone at all. It makes me nauseous, but I definitely want to see how it smells blended with other things that I do like.

I'm not much for flowery scents myself with very few exceptions- I can only think of one "flowery" perfume that I've ever wanted to wear, and it's really light. You notice I'm sure that all the ones I have up there that have flowers listed also have a lot of fruits to them- I like fruity scents, and herbal/woody ones too. Until fairly recently I couldn't tolerate most spicy scents, but I do like, pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and sometimes a light sandalwood, or clove mixed with the right things..

[sihaya09.livejournal.com]

Delphi actually smelled TERRIBLE on me. And on most people, actually. Check out the forums at www.bpal.org for reviews.

I would highly recommend 51, Titania, & Baobhan Sith. Also Aizen-Myoo, which is not on your list, but is NOT floral-y and matches the sparkling feel of the others.

What I would suggest to you is going to www.twilightalchemylab.com , BPAL's magical section, and getting Temple: Greek. It would be much more of an effective oil in ritual than Delphi. Trust me, I have some, and it's great. Even if it's not currently listed on the site, it's available-- just email to make sure.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out...though I don't really use oil in ritual so much...I mean I actually plan to wear the Delphi oil (and I see what you're saying about it smelling terrible on lots of people, so of course I would want to get a sample first.)

[seaya.livejournal.com]

One complaint people had about them is that they turn gods of various belief systems (some of which are still living) and turn them into fragrances, which for some is disrespectful. When asked politely about it by an acquaintance of mine, the proprietress threw a hissy fit.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

Big grey area.

I can see where some people might find it disrespectful.

I can see where other people would find it not disrespectful.

I personally don't see it as such...people get inspiration from the gods and create things in their honor.

All of the gods that I saw mentioned on their website are from belief systems which have contemporary adherents, so I'd say they all come from living belief systems. I think this is the sort of thing that whether it is insulting or not is entirely subject to the individual- something that is created in honor of a deity versus a show of disrespect however unintentional it may be. I worship some of these deities listed and have no problem with it.

Ultimately, I believe that if the deity is insulted, they'll let them know and deal with it. They're gods. I see no insult in perfumes being made that were inspired by the gods that I worship, someone else worshiping the same gods might find it to be the height of degradation. Who's right? Who knows?

Throwing a hissy fit about a polite inquiry, however, is a bit extreme.

[seaya.livejournal.com]

They weren't exactly inspired by those gods though, they just named them after as many gods as they could think of to sound "mystical".

Do they have a "Jesus" scent? I doubt it!

And yeah, hissy fit was over the top.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

Ya know, I don't know exactly what thought process lead to them coming up with the idea. I do know that a number of the blends are based on traditional offerings to the deities that they're named for- Delphi (Apollo), Persephone, Hades and Elegba come immediately to mind.

They don't have one called Jesus, but they do a pretty damned good job of going up on side and down the other of Christianity. It has its own section on the site- Sin & Salvation.

[grntserendipity.livejournal.com]

I love Bordello and Delphi. I wish I had some of these, cause I'd just give them to you for free.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

the thought is definitely appreciated.

[acousticdryad.livejournal.com]

Jesus Scent: white linen, blood red rose, wheat, frankincense, and myrrh.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

oh, I missed that one. what section is that under?

[fuego.livejournal.com]

It's been pointed out to me that they do have a Jesus scent.

[pinkpolarity.livejournal.com]

Oh gods yes on the Hissy Fit from Hell. Not only that, but she claims expertise in like 3-4 different trads and the ability to mediate the "energy" of the Gods of Kemet because her father (I think it was the father, either father or grandfather) was an Egyptologist. I know plenty of people who like the fragrances, but the proprietress is sixteen flavors of batshit.

[acousticdryad.livejournal.com]

ha ha that was me making one up :)

[fuego.livejournal.com]

nevermind. she was joking.

[fuego.livejournal.com]

damn you. :-P

[fuego.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know, I've got my order...I had to question Delphi a bit just taking a whiff of it, but I put on a tiny dab, and it smells considerably better on me than in the vial. Not something that I'd normally think to wear, but I must say I'm happy with it. Thanks for the warning though :-)