Anyone who knows me well knows that my perfume is something I take very seriously. I am totally enchanted with the products of the indie perfume oil company, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab or BPAL (pronounced bee-pal). Since I foresee wanting to chat about my scent obsession here from time-to-time, I thought brief intro how and why it all started and why it’s so important to me was in order.
Scent has a way of transporting us somewhere else and either altering or enhancing our moods. I, personally, also tend to have a lot of “scent memories,” where random scents remind me of something I’ve done in my life. Perhaps for this reason, I’ve always been drawn to items that come in a wide variety of scents– candles, wax tarts, soaps, perfumes, etc.
Then, a couple years ago a friend introduced me to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. At first I just browsed the site for a while because it was a little overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start. Eventually, I started to accumulate a good variety of imps (testers) from the general collection. They were like nothing I’d ever experienced before. To just call it “perfume” is misleading. These aren’t just pretty scents–they are olfactory experiences that portray their subject to perfection.
Over several months of testing, I learned what notes I enjoy most and what works well on my skin. The more I experimented, the better my nose got at deciphering what I was smelling, too. What before was “floral” is now “spicy carnations” or “wet rose” – this extra level of complexity made things even more enjoyable.
Selecting a scent has now become a daily ritual. Upon awaking, time is spent selecting just the right bottle for my state of mind or the happenings of the coming day. I do it again at night with a new softer scent to enjoy as I prepare for sleep.
It may sound over-the-top, but the world of BPAL has opened up a whole new facet of sensory input in my life. It can be hard to explain to someone who doesn’t “get it,’ but these scents have truly become an integral part of me.
My collection has grown quite large since my first imps. I’m amazed at how every new scent released is completely unique and spot-on in capturing a character, a setting, a thought. Even the scents that aren’t really “me” are still winners. While one might not be something I’d like to wear all the time, it’s still awesome to let it develop on your skin, take it all in, and let the experience take over.
You can also get other items beyond perfume- like hair gloss (my favorite), atmosphere and linen sprays, bath oils, etc at the Black Phoenix Trading Post.
BPAL and BPTP offer a regular catalog of scents that are always available. Several times a year, they have the big releases: Lupercalia, Liliths, Weenies, Yules. Typically there are several other smaller releases in between. Plus, there are monthly “lunacy” scents released each month. There’s always something exciting going on in the world of BPAL (which can be quite dangerous for the wallet!).
Although Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is popular, I don’t think it gets even close to the credit it deserves. What the most famous artists in history have done for the eyes, Elizabeth Barrial (the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab founder) does for the nose. It truly is an art, and she is a master at it!
The community of BPAL fans is incredible, too. You’ll never find a more inclusive, helpful, and generous group of people. There is a huge second-hand market, which means if you buy an oil and it doesn’t work for you, it’s easy to sell it or swap it. And a swap package is never just a bottle in an envelope–most BPAListas have made it an art of putting together a beautiful and fun package with little extras and samples (**note: while commonplace, this is not a requirement). The forum, www.bpal.org has an abundance of information, reviews, discussion, tips–anything you could want to know about BPAL is there.
I could go on and on, but I’ll save that for another day 🙂
If you’re intrigued, give them a try–you won’t regret it.
I know, I’m raving, but it is totally warranted.
Some bottle porn of my lovelies:
