impolight

:::GREED::: Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs' Sin & Salvation formulas are among the most vicious, relentless, and cerebrally potent that have been encountered by this reviewer to date! Given the notes included in Greed, it is difficult to believe that it has been passed over with such dismaying frequency! Copal is likely pretty close to being the favorite single note produced by The Lab. Copal is an otherworldy invocation of sorts; a resin which has been transfigured into a golden, almost musical entity that captivates, that crushes inhibitions. Oakmoss is also high on the list. Wherever Oakmoss is found, it has a near Deified ability of enabling fragrances to take on personality and sentinence. Heliotrope is the biggest enigma. While other blends have been purchased and reviewed that contain the flower, it has been notoriously difficult to isolate and identify with any great reliability. The specific virtues of Heliotrope have been infuriatingly elusive. Hopes are that Greed will prove most instructive in this respect! From the Bottle: Greed is such and incredible blend! The Patchouli plays the starring role at this phase, yet the Oakmoss and the Copal intertwine to produce a wonderful gold and green (the colours of money!) thread that seamlessly weaves its way throughout the fragrance. There is also a dry, orangey-white floral in Greed that is, presumably, the Heliotrope. While the note is unmistakeably floral, it does not render Greed effeminate in any way: to the contrary, it is similar to Lilac or, perhaps, Chamomile in the respect that its essence evokes notions of a fragrance that one could expect to find in a high-end barber shop. Greed is spectacularly earthy with emphasis on metallic elements. This is what a billionare would be imagined to smell like having just come in from an episode of therapeutic "gardening" in a greenhouse filled with a virtually endless array of exotic vegetation thathas been potted in bronze urns. If money grew an trees ... The Patchouli is incredible. It is The Labs gorgeous variety. This is not at all the eye-watering, "stinky hippie" Patchouli that is mass-produced and commonly generates an aversion to it. This Patchouli is practically the living plant; exuding not only the wooden top notes, but a freshet of shining, succulent, and luxuriantly green leaves. On the Skin: Greed smells like MONEY. Greed is wads of recently minted currency and roll after roll of gold coins. Very cleverly rendered! The note presumed to be the Heliotrope seems to have vanished at this phase. The Patchouli and the Oakmoss are now inextricably woven together, giving Greed the green, papery feel. Meanwhile, the Copal stands alone and undercuts the formula with the finesse and subtlety of a golden hammer. Greed smells like unmitigated affluence; posh car, expensively tailored suit, power-tie, shined shoes, gold wristwatch, and well-bred coiffure replete with Copal-based, top of the line cologne guaranteed to command the respect of all present. You have to smell Greed to understand it. This is Greed expertly, flawlessly personified. Greed is the marriage of "old money" and "new money". From experience, this is rather difficult to imagine as a fragrance for Her... Unless it transferred to Her via inflagrante dilectico atop the maple desktop in the office... or, mayhaps, during a "seafaring excursion" sort of champagne brunch aboard a yacht. On Him, Greed is everything the word proports itsself to be. Greed is the stuff of Wolves on Wall Street, swindlers, Robber Barons, corporate magnates, legacy, sybarites, and all forms of glitterati and their luminaries. Greed is something that has to be experienced to be believed. Once again, Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs have done truly amazing work. There can be no higher recommendation. Top marks! Greed is way off the charts, earning a 5.25 out of 5. Greed is a "must have" for the avid/rabid collector. Place your order. p.s. The Wife: it smells like Juicy-Juice... Like snack-time in a pre-school. sheesh.

:::BASTET::: Bastet arrived as a Frimp with the latest order to much happy dancing. This is one of those formulas that has been eyed for quite some time, but others dazzled just enough more that it had been passed over. One of the original Cats that had been born back in the glory days of early apartment living was named Ubasti. Thus began a long standing love affair Felines of all shapes, sizes, and colours. This one's for you, Ubasti! Rest In Peace... From the Imp: Almighty Almond! Almond dominates by far. With the Amber bolstering it, the two give a very strong impression of Dr. Pepper; this Imp practically begs to be sipped! Cardamom only furthers this impression, and the Lotus adds a nice, exotic twist. This is much sweeter than expected. A very happy and capricious scent! On the Skin: The morphing here is extraordinary. Amber takes prominence. As the other notes demure, the Myrrh, Saffron, and Egyptian Musk readily assemble to give Bastet a much more incensey feel. This is top-shelf incense. This is the incense one could expect to find visiting a temple somewhere in the Holy Land; an incense that magnifies silence and alludes to a sacredness that predates Western notions of spirituality. Bastet is regal, golden, warm, exotic, and pure. The longer that Bastet sits on the skin, the richer it gets; adopting the bafflingly ecstatic momentum of a whirling dervish. Even though a mere microdot has been applied to the skin, Bastet has bloomed exponentially; filling up the entire room in an otherworldly haze of divine sweetness. Bastet works wonderfully as a unisex fragrance. It is difficult to imagine precisely where the differentiation would come into play. Bastet would, if anything, blur if not outright remove the lines between genders; empowering BOTH Him and Her with sacred roles that exist only to serve and compliment one another. Spectrally, Bastet is gold, umber, burnt sienna, bronze, saffron, honey, and cream. Bastet is a 5 out of 5.

:::PHOENIX IN SUMMER::: Purchasing 5 ml of Phoenix In Summer (unsniffed, of course) was an absolute must! There is a great capacity for love when it comes to the Lab's Amber notes. There has yet to be the slightest disappointment when Amber is included anywhere in a formula. Ozone also generates loads of excitement. Other reviewers have made plain that Ozone notes are not dear to them; that they are "head-achey" etcetera ad nauseum... Ozone has rocked anything encountered so far and taken it into entirely new dimensions of fragrance. Surely Phoenix In Summer will be no exception. From the Bottle: For the briefest of moments, nothing could be detected... And then the Ozone sang out like the disembodied voice of a spirit that dwells inside a desert boulder... This is the driest Ozone encountered to date! While there is no mistaking this as Ozone, it is a far cry from the Ozone that one can find in aquatic or elemental formulas... There is also a dessicated and herbal quality to this that must be the thready petals of the Saffron. Amber is here too of course, but it is surprisingly diminuative at this phase of the experience... The sweetness of the Amber, when added to the dry Ozone and Saffron, almost gives the impression of sun-baked Hay! The Galangal lends a nice sharpness that totally compliments the Ozone, but you have to put your nose right up to the Bottle and really lean into it to make that detection from the neck. What an incredible fragrance! Phoenix In Summer totally transports at this phase. This is like owning a time machine and ensuring yourself of an endless summer regardless of which side of the Equator your preference lies. On the Skin: Amazing! Phoenix In Summer is beyond incredible! The Ozone and the Saffron are the biggest ampers in this formula and, for a moment, take on an earthy, almost celery-like quality. The Galangal sends ripples across the fragrance like sunlight reflected onto the underside of a porch roof from where someone has tossed a pebble into a puddle; disturbing the surface. Though it is clear that the "Phoenix" referred to in this blend is the mythological bird of resurrection, this scent transports across time and space to the Summer of 1990... While visiting a cousin in Phoenix, Arizona. A series of storms came through that the locals were calling "Monsoons". The smell was very much like this.Elizabeth's description of "hot rain striking the pavement" was one that weilded the most intrigue and most strongly influenced the purchase of Phoenix In Summer from this most recent order... From personal experience, the fragrance is very much like that, but the element of dried Saffron ad Galangal provide the added depth of that same hot rain striking desert rock and terra cotta tile as well. On the Wife's Skin: She Amps the Ginger (Galangal)! Big time no fair! She thinks it's girly and foody (possibly the Galangal). She said it reminds her of the caramel corn at DisneyLand o_0 . After a couple more wrist-huffings, she wrinkled her nose and said that it also reminds her too much of a stinky "Indian store" (e.g. Nag Champa, head-shoppy, etc.)Phoenix In Summer is wonderfully unisex: Bright and exotic on Her, mystical and mischeivous on Him. Spectrally, Phoenix In Summer is stone, rain, rust, indigo, and sage. Amazing Stuff! Phoenix In Summer gets a 5 out of 5!

You've GOT to get yer mitts on Hand of Glory... There is the subtlest hint of Honey in the Beeswax note in the formula Utterly gorgeous!

:::APRIL FOOL::: A bottle of April Fool was happened upon by happy accident! The formula was discontinued before any opportunity to test it had come about. There were tears and bad words. Then, recently, little sister put it up as a candidate for swap and the 'must have' took over. April Fool has Huckleberry in it, which is über beloved. White Rose is also a note which has come into strong favor as explorations of the Lab's formulas ever plumb greater depths. The label artwork itself is a whimsical and carefree happiness! From the Bottle: April Fool is very light and very clean... Is shampooey a proper adjective? April Fool gets associated with The Salon's 'Silence' at this phase; a rainy day indoors with clean hair. Huckleberry floats to the top along with the White Rose and the Lemon Blossom to make a pure, hydrated, pastel-blue smell... The sunlight that is filtered through clouds before passing through a pane of light blue glass. The Tangerine is the cleanest tang! At peace. On the Skin: April Fool morphs beautifully. The Noctiana swells in voluptuary splendor that is unparalleled in any other blend that it has played a role in so far. April Fool waxes rich and sultry. Spectrally, the blue is still here but more as a pin-striping that accentuates the Daffodil-yellow, the caramel colour, the dark pink, and the muted orange. A little research has revealed Fool's Parsely to be intricately gorgeous and wild weed that is rumored to have an unpleasant smell... Well, there's no accounting for taste, because there is nothing at all unpleasant about the make-up of April Fool. As April Fool dries down a bit, it softens; the edges blur and the wearer is returned to a carefree place in which they might very well drift off to sleep with a smile curling the corners of their lips. April Fool is really nice. This is a "fresh out of the shower" fragrance that would suit Him or Her equally. Wear it when you want a nice day. April Fool gets a 4.5 out of 5.

:::MATA HARI::: Mata Hari should be quite intriguing! An exotic dancer who flashed her executioners? Kick Bootay! All the notes make it sound like Mata Hari will be quite the sugar-bomb... Which is good if that's a personal preference or if you have the body chemistry of baby-sis!From the Imp: Wow! Mata Hari is a hardy fragrance! Sugar indeed, but sturdy sugar... Sugar that could somehow be manipulated to adopt characteristics of either lumber or leather. Weirdly enough, Mata Hari also smells like it is actively on fire... It is what a person could imagine an immolated dalek to smell like! This isn't a smell that is at all offensive, it just has a suggestion of synthetic material that is being consumed by a super-hot fire... This is melting silicone and glass, glowing metal, cracked and smoldering plastic, and exploding canisters of paint... Completely unexpected and inexplicable! A completely unique BPAL experience so far... This could be a female battle robot, ready for plasma-based kick-assery. Unless mistaken, this is all the result of a completely eccentric anomaly based on Mahogany with a genetic quirk. When combined with the roasted elements of the coffee-bean (especially if it is of the Sumatran persuasion) this could account for the fragrance's so far incendiary proclivities... On the Skin: Jasmine pops up for a split-second, just long enough to reinforce, with the help of the Tonka Bean, the sweetness of burning plasticine... And simply spirals down into the roiling inferno. There could be Rose in this, but ALL 5 of the were covered by the flaming forest of Mahogany trees swept over the top of it by a tsunami. Mata Hari is great! Just not at all what was expected. As experienced in this particular instance, Mata Hari is perfectly unisex. Mata Hari could effortlessly assimilate with the Phoenix Steamworks category of fragrances as a warrior she-bot on the rampage. Awesome sauce! 5 out of 5!

:::LOLITA::: It is certain that Lolita is in honor of Nabakov's literary sensation... Admittedly, thoughts here return to early high school years when there was some seriously obsessive fantasy crushing going on for Amy Fisher in the Buttafuoco case scandalizing the news at the time... *sheepish* Both Neroli and Honeysuckle are absolutely amazing in the Lab's formulas. Though this is certainly a fragrance that will be designed specifically for Her, it's exciting to experience Lolita all the same. From the Imp: Mmmm! The Lemon Verbena and the Honeysuckle are at the forefront of Lolita in all Her glory... At this phase, Lolita is remniscent of Phantasm and seems as though it would be an ideal feminine counterpart to either Villain or Whitechapel... Splendid! Something in this is decidedly wooden, too in the way of absurdly expensive furniture. Naughtiness and danger is plentful! Lolita is a leggy, 17 year old brunette with painted toenails in frilly unmentionables doing troubling, slow, squirmy things whilst spawled on a Chesterfield sofa. She's enjoying the heck out of a glistening lemon lolly while somehow managing to maintaining utterly flawless frosted lip-gloss.. *shudder and twitch* Deeper snufflings only invites the citrusy notes to wrap round the bean like a glittering, golden wreath... A halo of the damned. On the Skin: Huh. No real morph going on here. If anything the Neroli, Heliotrope, and Honeysuckle blend into a seamlessly gossamer backdrop for the Lemon Verbena. Lolita becomes breezy and fluttery. This is bare shoulders, hair that is long, dark, and still wet from ablutions, and that same long leg; toe pointed while a cream coloured stocking is pulled taut, up and over the thigh... Gorgeous! Lolita has certainly been designed with His ultimate undoing in mind. Lolita is growly, prowly, hot and haughty... And naughty! While the Lemony aspect of Lolita would work well in masculine formulas, Lolita is way too foxy for Him. Lolita is the pinnacle of breathless desire for all thngs about Her. Grandiloquence and hypnotic sway. Spectrally, Lolita is Sunshine, Lemon peel, golden tinsel, blush, ivory, and spring water. Lolita would be rad accompanied by Sarah McLachlan's, "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" album...Especially the song, "Wait". As this dries down (approximately 25 minutes later) one could swear there is the faintest smear of Honey in Lolita too... Making this all the more wicked, rich, and indulgent. Highest marks for Lolita! 5 out of 5.

:::HYMN::: Sin & Salvation produces some really gnarly and profound fragrances. Hymn seems as though it's gonna be nothin' but trouble. Frankincensational with Rose Absolute? Heck yup! Olibanumazing! Myrrh is always a welcome presence in the Lab's formulas... Love the sharpness of it! From the Imp: This is so incredibly bright! The Lily completely takes the reins of Hymn and flares up with a near magnesium intensity; a dazzling brilliance that will have you seeing green and purple after images. The Frankincense closely follows suit and thoroughly sweetens and brightens the formula. The Labdanum takes on subtle characteristics of Amber here, but behaves alot more like Ambergris. The Rose is surprisingly docile here... On the Skin: Rose and Frankincense. This is very much what a somber religious service would be. Hymn is rosy incense... A good substitute for the Cross of Sanctus Germanus, just more emphasis on floral aspects. Great for Him or Her! Hymn is serenity personified through the sense of smell. Outstanding job, again, by Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs! 5 out of 5.

:::BEWITCHED::: The Lab's notes for Bewitched has always been an allure, yet it wasn't til an Imp of it appeared in a Holiday Stocking, did the opportunity arise. The berries' inherent tartness will either cement it firmly in the garb of androgyny in the accompaniment of the Sage and Tea (by experience) or it will develop dulcent and nectar qualities befitting a person of... Womanly charms. *wrrrrowwl!* From the Imp: Flippi' rad! The biggest oomph, straight away, comes from the Green Tea and the Sage. Gorgeously green! This is, so far, a very foresty fragrance... Without benefit of coniferous snag. This could well be a hallowed ground of sorts. Something that only nature could design that pairs immaculately with both ceremony and reverence. This is the glittering, lush, and silent place you would come to leaf through a novel or enjoy a romantic picnic. Bewitched is succulent and luscious greenery that tangles and captivates the senses. This stuff's all hyperventilation and potions! Epidermagic: That musk is an earthy sprite! Surprisingly, the berries really don't show much at all... Maybe the Blackerry leaf, if anything. Bewitched has a blackened ripening going on here that was completely unexpected. The Sage has bonded to what has to be the Dark Musk and produced an apparition of a patchouli/truffle hybrid. This is a stygian miasma, in the bst possible way, with a misty green halo and the subtlest swirls of spicy incense. Bewitched is very humidly herbal, smoky, woodsy, and... Clean. Bewitched could certainly work as a unisex fragrance, but it possesses an almost reckless momentum that would point it more in the direction of a handsome and brawny brute than an enchantress... Until this is sniffed with the accompanying chemistry of a woman's skin, it is difficult to imagine otherwise. This is a fragrance that seems like it is best appreciated alone in contemplation or in sweet reverie. A posh room fragrance! Bewitched gets a 4.5 out of 5.

:::MOON ROSE::: As a full fledged Cancerian, Moon Rose holds quite a bit of idyllic charm! Rose (June's flower), "Moon" flower (huzzah for the Cancerian satellite) and night dew... The elixir of nocturnal kindred everywhere! Rappaccini's Garden has yet to harvest anything that hasn't been top-shelf as far as GC formulas are concerned! *Goosepimples* From the Imp: Rose, Rose, and more Rose! A thorny sonic boom of Rose! Red Roses, Pink Roses, White Roses, Yellow Roses, Salmon Roses, and Chocolate Roses! Eegad! There is a bit of soapiness edging this so far, but it isn't as dry as it could be... It is, you guessed it, Rose-scented soap! Not possible to discern Moon Flower or Night Dew just yet, but the Roses are in full bloom... It almost feels out of place without cherubic archers, paper-hearts, and fancy confections. On the Skin: This has got to be one of the more profound morphs experienced to date. Rose and Soap have eloped on to some exotic locale for a holiday, and in their place what must be the beautiful, shimmering pastel blue, purple and white syrupy sweet Moon Flower and the Ozonic element that must act as the night dew. After a few moments of drydown, the Rose comes back out for a dalliance. Very nice! This is definitely one for the ladies! It would also make a fantastic room fragrance... The Wife: "it smells like a florists shop in here!"- "it also smells like some old lady put on too much perfume"... This one will have to be a no. It is lovely though, and deserves a 4 out of 5 at least. Fear not! Rappaccini's Garden has produced another Blue Ribbon prize winner!

:::AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA::: A BPAL blend representing POP (Power Of Prayer...nyuk-nyuk)? The prediction, based on the list of notes, is that this one is going to be a cousin of Seraphim... The Lab's Lily note tends to stand out... From the Imp: Yup! CLOSE cousins with Seraphim. The Lily is definitely the featured player in this blend... Cleverly enough, this does remind me of an Easter Service at church. On the Skin: ACK! Something has gone horribly awry with the skin chemistry. For approximately six seconds, there is mega flower power (must shower) with severe ampage and then... GREEN OLIVES??? Extraordinarily difficult to hang... After a while, this turns into Rose-scented room-spray... To mask the smell of the gallon jar of green olives that was tipped onto the carpeting by the cat. The only discernable note at all was the Lily. Shucks and stuff. Maybe the Imp was dregs? Contaminated by a martini?Doubtful. Ave Maria Gratia Plena just can't be recommended from this experience. Sorry. 2 out of 5.

:::THE FOREST REVERIE::: So many formulas to love in Bewitching Brews... Ah, where does the time go? Who needs silly things like calories when there are so many wonderful experiences to sniff? Forest Reverie seems intimidating because of the floral profile's largesse...Roses are indeed wonderful, though Lilies can, unprovoked, be as subtle as having your hair brushed by a back-hoe... Shall we delve? From the Imp: Whoah! Kick ass and violence! Yeah! At first impression, this was remniscent of, "The Black Tower". From the uncapping, this was all wineskins, loam, and charred wood.Having an opportunity for a few seconds recovery, the nose thinks it might recognise something floral... Though it's wee, distant, and whimpering beneath the weight of a fallen battle-horse. Could there actually be a spot of Vetiver lurking in here somewhere? A secondary sniff offers much the same interpretation with, if anything, a bit of mossiness. This is very assertive and likeable so far! Not the dreaded floral bomb that threatened to pop the stitches of the Lab's notes. Illinition: Still dark! The florals are here, yet more in the sense of petals floating in a large bbowl of wine... There is still a Vetivery mossiness, too...Just plain weird that it's nowhere in the notes. Rose leers solicitously from the shadows, honey and glitter somewhere on the small of her belly. Yeah, this is great! This could be the result of an unholy union of 'The Black Tower' and 'Highwayman'. The Forest Reverie is a nice surprise. On Her, this could work though only in the most stygian sense. On Him, The Forest Reverie is gleefully debauched and would work wonderfully in the same vein a 'Satyr'. The hits just keep on coming! Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs has proven time and time again to be the unrivaled masters of the aromatic multiverse! Get some of this while you are able! You won't be disappointed. Forest Reverie gets a solid 5 out of 5.

:::TITUS ANDRONICUS::: Overjoyed to be the first reviewer of 11'sies! Just from a brief perusal of the notes, Titus Andronicus insinuates a blood-curdling scream of "Dead Sexy!" Only the most stoic fyzigunkus would remain unmoved by by the Lab's interpretation of of The Bard's flickering menace; of the word spread like airborne izles that got Titus Andronicus banned from theatres in Paris because of it's glistening and rubicund savagery! From the Imp: Thank the powers that this review is not being composed from a standing position, for knees would unquestioningly buckle...Titus Andronicus IS drop-dead gorgeous! This is amazingly well blended. The first impression to assail the frontal cortex is the many splendored unification of the Black Amber, the Neroli, and the Bergamot. Titus Andronicus is sweet, yet far from a way that could possibly be interpreted as effette. This has the masculine sweetness that is agothocological: suggestive of near hypnotic intrigue and sublimated carnage alike. Sexy, super-psycho! Grand! The Red Sandalwood adds a nice depth to Titus Andronicus. It keeps it from being simple or nebulous. The Dark Musks add a more sinister element still. Titus Andronicus is fun! On the Skin: Titus Andronicus darkens substantially. Black Amber is the ideal descriptor. The darkness in Titus Andronicus is almost intoxicatingly sweet... Crazily enough, this now seems as though it might have some Poppy and Rosewood in it... Very Much like 2009's On Darkness. This is sanguinity barely covering smoldering, bittersweet cocoa and crushed poppies dripping a syrupy red. If there were hints under the surface that had originally caused the ripples and eddies of nightmares, skinwise this is froth, foam and a maw like a pincushion! Titus Andronicus is awesome! On Her, Titus Andronicus is sick and wrong. On Him Titus Andronicus is a diabolarchy in wolf's clothing. Titus Andronicus gets a perfect 10!

:::HARLEQUIN AND COLUMBINE::: Making the choice to pick up 5 ml. of Harlequin and Columbine was motivated by pure emotional response to the concept. It was added to a Christmas wish-list and it showed up, prettily wrapped on Christmas morning! (I Love You, Orange Grandma!) After seeing the Pacific NorthWest Ballet Company's rendition of "The Nutcracker" last year (unquestionably amazing, by the way, and replete with the artistic contributions of Maurice Sendak!) resistance to the magics wrought by the Lab was futile! The presence of Huckleberry also provided a bit of glamour... Though, while it is a favourite of fruits, it remains to be seen whether or not this will hold the same sway once the skin is annointed. There is also Vanilla to contend with; delicious of its own accord, yet, skinside, is often reduced to pigtails, dollies, and marshmallow creme. From the Bottle: Very red, white, and purple. There is this feel of walking into a country candy shop. The Vanilla is the most dominant note by far. The fruits are the next in line; mostly with Red Currant and Pomegranate adding a candied veneer. At this phase, none of the earthier elements have yet to balance the formula with the possible exception of the Rosewood, which adds scant sharpness to the candied shellac... Gone from here is the powder-green pungency of Sage. Conspicuously absent, too, are the honeyed and ossified tendrils of Balsam. All from the neck is pucker and confection. Pretty ribbons and paint set to mandolin and lute. On the Skin:[/b] The French Vanilla practically kabooms... The citrus is bevied up alongside the red fruits, juciness ensues! The Cedar is present only fleetingly... No sign, whatsoever, of the Balsam or the Sage. Yes, still... A pity. Harlequin and Columbine is devastatingly gorgeous and was almost certainly designed with Her in mind. Sweet, vivacious and... Sparkly. The Wife's of the mind that Harlequin and Columbine is a dead ringer for... Grape Soda. This one's a 5 out of 5 for the girls! Another extraordinary feat brought to everyone compliments of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab!

:::THOOS::: From the Bottle this is alot Sweeter than anticipated. An almost crystalline dulcence resulting from the comingling of the Tangerine and White musk. The imagery slapped upside the noggin is what it must be like to be perched on a shady evergreen bough, enjoying a creamsicle, and having a laugh over watching some neighborhood kid preparing to do themself a mischief. Crazy from the heat... Between the Cypress and the essentials of the Tangerine zest, something alot sharper; alot more high-pitched, was predicted. Thoos is actually very pretty and feminine at this phase. On the Skin: Holy Cosmic Amp! A single drop was fearfully applied followed by an almost immediate ability to taste it. The Tangerine and Musk makes the impression of a creamsicle of stalagmite proportions... Something you could climb and eat at the same time. After some wear, the Musk recedes and the Cypress gradually comes out to play; there is a sense of Cypress wood as well as leaves and cone-thingies... The drydown is surprisingly clean. Tangerine helps Cypress creates a bright, dry, and polished glow. Thoos is very clean and... Health smelling. Thoos, at this phase, seems like a cross between a citrusy, barber-shop cologne and an alpine apothecary. Thoos could very well work as a unisex fragrance. With this particular body chemistry, though, it seems much more masculine overall. The Wife: "It smells like orange GOJO!"... A resounding 4.75 for Thoos.

:::NIFLHEIM::: Hoorah for the Viking equivalent of Hell! Nifleheim sounds very intriguing; especially when one considers that no specific notes have been included. From the Imp: Niflheim does smell like damp blossoms... Blossoms with lepidopterically proportioned petals. Petals which are near translucent from having a super-saturated root system. This smells similar to first impressions of the Lab's "Danube". Luminously aquatic. Clean. Nifleheim, at this stage, gives the impression of being spectrally indigo or Robin's egg... On the Skin: Niflheim morphs like crazy with this particular body-chemistry... Who turned on the lights? Niflheim went from being storm-tossed shadow to blazing super-dome lamps... It smells as though someone tried to make a salad from Celery and Blueberries and the spritzed the whole shebang with AquaNet... As a room fragrance, Niflheim is a perfect 10. Cannot personally recommend as something to wear unless it's with the hopes of having gone amiss. Swappable.

:::CHANGING THE SHADOWS::: The fact that the Lab released a series of oils based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is just plain awesome. Beth's genius seems to know no bounds. There are several of these that are of the 'must have' persuasion, but Changing the Shadows arrived in the form of an unexpectedly early Holiday gift, so this will be the first one reviewed from this series... Thank you, Sissy! The very first of the impressions were of total surprise. Based on the inclusion of notes such as Vanilla and Neroli, something much... Sweeter was expected. The darkness roiling from the bottle's open neck was as inconspicuous as an unprovoked slap in the face on a cold winter's day... Maybe more of a hint should have been taken from the name... "Changing the Shadows" not "Removing the Shadows"... Changing the Shadows is a dark, sinewy and almost hunky breed of fragrance that puts a wanton and velveteen edge on Holiday Cheer at first, visceral impression. More naughty than nice... From the Bottle: Most apparent at first whiff are the beverage and floral notes... Almost like loafing about in a tea-room with a splendid floral arrangement in a vase gracing the table. The Red Tea is very refreshing and crisp while the Mate gives a dry and herbally hyaline edge to the formula.The Orange Blossom and Carnation are blended in a pristine unison. They harmonize beautifully; the sweetness of the Orange blossom an idealized syncopation to Carnation's spicy dalliance with the olfactory receptors.The Sandalwood is silky smooth in Changing the Shadows. It is surprisingly subtle as a base note in this blend; giving more of a polish than a platform of toastiness.At this phase the Vanilla is surprisingly difficult to pick out. In other blends, Vanilla often crashes the party with all the inconspicuity of a bucket of marshmallow cream being splattered over an otherwise resplendant boquet, sumptuous fruit platter, or rack of exotic spices. Here it is nigh invisible. On the Skin: Paradise from the pores! Red Tea and Sandalwood take the forefront in this particular case of body chemistry. The effect is much like an achingly beautiful nude languishing on a couch of the most rubicund velvet with rich red wood with intricately carved scrollwork and rosettes.The Carnations are a rich and vibrant red, bejewelled with dewdrops and overflowing from a crystal vase that is later-lit on a table whose wood matches and accentuates said couch... The iron framed windows have been cranked open to take in the clean and juicy sigh of the falling rain...Changing the Shadows is a riot of red. Though it has been intended to represent a spiritual metamorphosis of hope, here it it is an almost humid sanguinity; a voluptuary celebration of exquisite beauty in life.On Him, Changing the Shadows is clean an assured of His own sexuality.On Her, Changing the Shadows is a purring and silkient pulse.Utterly magnificent. Flawless.A 5 out of 5.

An Imp of this showed up in the company of the Sister during Holiday with the family. Isles of Demons has been on the list for quite some time, yet has managed to be elbowed aside by much prettier and voluble temptresses over the past few purchases. It was necessary to sneak off to an adjoining room for a rare opportunity to sniff and review this with a wee increment of peace and quiet! From the Imp: Huh. Where Volcanic gasses and shrubbery crushed under predatory feet had been imagined to be is actually a very clean fragrance! Bliss in Volcanic Gasses and Carnivorous Flowers, eh? Who knew? A nice surprise! This is actually what it might be like to be suspended inside of a puffy white cloud... This is watery mist and flagstones recently sprayed to a lustre with a power washer. On the Skin: Incredible! Isles of Demons is very much like a living colossal statue acting as a sentinel in the middle of a vast, sparkling, azure sea. The Demonic comes from the level of temptation that will spill from the bottle's neck. Ideal androgeny. Clean and charismatic. A 5.5 out of 5!

Another goody found from the Limited Editions Category! Without a list of notes available, it is still relatively easy to predict what this could smell like... The Green Party is the supreme example of ecoconsciousness, therefor it must encapsulate some very environmentally friendly ideals. A safe wager would be a very fresh and planty utopian sort of fragrance. From the Imp: Oh, yes! Planty, planty, planty! There are immediate impressions of Aloe, Cucumber, Melon, Celery, Pumpkin innards, and Leaf. Something sweet in this blend gives it more than a passing resemblance to the characteristic fragrance of baby oil. The colour of the oil is exactly as it smells; bright, clear, and dewey with the slightest suggestion of green.On the Skin: Wow! Profoundest brightening! This is bright, succulent, and crisp... Elements of Green Tea, Fir, Eucalyptus and Apple Peel are inducted into the movement! This is fantastic! Green Party is a great unisex fragrance, refreshing & idealistic on Him or Her. 5 out of 5

:::BYRONIC ANTIHERO:::[/b ]This one has been a long time coming. A 5ml bottle of Byronic Antihero was ordered less than 48 hours after it had been listed in the LE category... And here it is the latter part of November. The anticipation had taken on nearly mythic proportions... Savoring has become an art form. According to the Lab's notes, Byronic Antihero has Carnation factored into it. If the Carnation is anything like what is in the now CRIMINALLY discontinued St. Germain ( merely an opinion, mind... Ommmmm) then this will be an instant head-over-heels dilemma, certainly. The Lab has also provoked an uncharacteristic 'smitten' status with Patchouli. Ordinarily, Patchouli would be something readily shied away from, yet somehow the revered Alchemists have managed to eke out the very noblest qualities from this most pungent root.What a learning experience it was to understand that Khus and Vetiver are one and the same! Vetiver is a big-time favourite note, so the seams are practically ready to pop! On with it! From the Bottle: Much sweeter than predetermined! That must be the unquestioned dominance of Carnation, with His regal frock... Byronic Antihero is indeed dark. Crushingly dark... This is romanticized melancholy under a cold, wet from the rain, 40 pound, indigo velvet blanket... In a meadow of Carnations and... Poppies? The surprise is that the notes of Vetiver and Patchouli have not, thus far, shown the slightest flicker of their pungencies. From experience with Yew, it has somewhat of a sharper and more astringent quality... Also completely absent at this stage of the experience. Byronic Antihero is decadently sweet and dark. There is a very faint aroma of Clove(?) just barely dusting the aura of this. A ripple of a mirage. A hologram. A glamour. On the Skin: *Yelp!* Wow, this is good! The same darkness and sweetness holds sway but NOW the Patchouli and Vetiver waft in like braids of incensy smoke and perfect there could easily be some Leather in this, too... Black Riding Boots? Byronic Antihero is tragically beautiful, Epically maudlin, a quarry of the sense of self-destruction. Byronic Antihero is genius. On Her, Byronic Antihero could work, yet, imagination suggests... Strange. For a reason that you can't quite put your finger on, suspicious. On Him, Byronic Antihero is irresistable. A the darker, more delicious forces of nature. Byronic Antihero is YUM squared. This one, if any, could well reapper somewhere near, say, St. Valentine's Day... Unabashedly Himself or under a pseudonym. Byronic Antihero is an easy 10 out of 10.

:::DEMOCRAT::: Another Limited Edition blend with no notes listed by the Lab... Difficult, it is, whether to wriggle or perspire. Being neither Democrat nor Republican, it will be an adventure to interpret this blend. One wonders, will this prove the stuff of 'Yes We Can' or 'I did not inhale'... From the Imp: Spearmint? Amber? Vanilla? Sasparilla? Bright green and creamy, to be sure! There are also insinuations of Cardamom and Apple Peel. A gamble at picking out the drier spice element would indicate something in the vein of Allspice or Clove. Democrat seems to portray something medicinal... Something of the Apothecary persuasion. On the Skin: In addition to the usual suspects, things like Pine, Cedar, Juniper, Violet, and Passion Flower illuminates the whole. Very intriguing, Democrat! As it mellows, Democrat's floral profile does a bit of perking up and playfully batting the other notes into submission. Spectrally, Democrat is mint-green, cream, and violet. A ridiculously sexy botanist! Democrat is aphrodisiacal hard candy. Democrat is the hedonistic liberator of quivering restraint. Democrat loosens the fetters that deprive the very soul of life's manifold delicious facets. Democrat is a lip-licking sigh accompanied by a feverish, moist grinding. On Her, Democrat makes the boys drop to their knees and moan with the prospect of coming undone. On Him, Democrat is the capricious flicker of taste buds at the back of the knees, the small of the belly, and the hip-bone. Democrat is nothing short of wonderful. Many thanks to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab for their ceaseless contributions to beautifying the world. 10 out of 10.

:::DAYA::: Of course there are no Lab Notes for what makes up this formula... Of Course it is Forum Only! (Discontinued) The fragrance that is Daya is extraordinary. "Golden" is a very excellent adjective for this fragrance. The only other blends that, so far, come close are WanderLust's El Dorado and Phoenix Steamworks' Robotic Scarab. This blend is otherworldly and revitalizing, whatever the translation might suggest! From the Imp: Gold and spice. A Golden vessel for transporting exotic herbs, spices, and woods. There is the merest suggestion of citrus somewhere in Daya, but it has been downplayed mightily by the metallics, the spices, and the resins. The Copal in this is to die for. This is incensey in the way of the sacred... Not at all like the Head-Shop motif described by some of the more irreverent of the groundlings... On the Skin: This is just not fair! Daya is screamingly good! A good a guess as any would indicate that there is some Cassia and Evergreen in this blend along with something citrusy. Ambergris and Sandalwood would also seem to lend their characteristics to the profile. The Golden note is just plain outrageous! Picture glittering gold body paint adorning the well muscled and exquisite physique of a dancer moving gracefully and tortuously slow; serpentine, to trance-like strains of a sitar or something similar... The Copal is also thunderously magnificent... An uncoiling pastel blue cloud infinitely expanding with celestial sighs. There might even be a bit of Abremelin Incense to accompany and accentuate the Copal. Something in this bears a subtle resemblance to the Phoenix Steamworks oil. Daya is incandescent and immortalizing. Daya would be absolutely stupendous on His or Her body chemistry and is well-deserving of a spot of permanence somewhere in the hallowed halls of BPAL (Panacea, maybe?). Daya is well worth a look for anyone eager to partake of BPAL indulgence. Try NOT to abuse yourself!10 out of 10 for this one. When does BPAL get get it's own holiday, anyway?

:::LIBERTARIAN::: Libertarian was exciting to discover in a snaggle of swaps. The free-spirited connotations that accompanies this brings fond memories and associations with a vast range of truly wonderful people. The anticipation of how the Lab will interpret and portray the muse of the firebrand is near terminal! From the Imp: First impression is almost... Yuletide? The Cinnamon, Clove, Orange Rind, and evergreen (Fir?) are all certainly remniscent of mulled wine, hot cider, and flames crackling in the hearth. A second whiff brings out richer, sappier evergreen along with a more astringent note that could be Eucalyptus or could be Tea Tree. Cedar would fit the profile also. As the Cinnamon jostles for prominence with the wild, darkling greenery, Libertarian does seem more masculine in its leanings. Wet on the Skin: For the briefest of moments the spice completely disappears, leaving the Orange and Evergreen to overwhelm the senses. Cypress becomes suspect... Libertarian is becoming increasingly masculine. The strongest impression at this phase is the great and forested outdoors playing house with one of those $125 bottle of colognes made by that family that still lives in a Scottish castle; that you can only find in exclusive shave shoppes. The Dry-down: Libertarian definitely maintains a wild and pioneering spirit of independence. Incensier notes do a stunning job of tying everything together. Libertarian takes on a power of almost religious fervor... A crazy-eyed reverence. If the spice were more prominent, then this would work as a unisex fragrance. Libertarian is decidedly for Him. Libertarian bestows the wearer with a barrel-chested, broad shouldered stance. Libertarian is moustachioed, brilliantined, and lantern-jawed. Libertarian would work, both, with an expensive suit of heavy cloth or shirtless and axe-wielding. Libertarian receives a standing ovation as men's fragrance and easily deserves a 5 out of 5. All hail the legend of BPAL!

:::GOP::: Without the notes available, the interpretations of the fragrance that is GOP will be immodestly speculative, at best. The reviewers have, thus far, done impessively well with conveying the impressions that can be anticipated from an Imp-load of this mind-fruit...Overall, the Lab has successfully accomplished an olfactory, souped-up pantomime of GOP. From the Imp: This is alot like Bourbon or Brandy. Boozy is a great adjective. There is also a zesty amount of Lemon peel and something that, at this phase, smells like a subtle dusting of Cedar. Huffing GOP from the Imp keeps the same impression. After a while something that could be either Clove or Cassia is just perceptible at the periphery. All of these compliment the overall insinuations of a pricey men's cologne with a Citrus/Leather base. Wet on the Skin: GOP evolves a greater depth of spice now. A creamier consistency ebbs from the pores with elements of Resin, Balsam and Sandalwood (Rosewood?) suspended in an emulsion of either Ambergris, Amber, or Tonka Bean... The Tobacco element is nice. It is experienced by way of being the proverbial fly on the wall as the Wolf-Pack saunters into the humidor. This is a sweet cigar or pipe tobacco. This has yet to diplay any of the sulfurous smokiness that might have it associated with cigarettes. DryDown Phase: GOP still renders a one-two punch of Men's Fragrance, but more in the way of a costly lotion. GOP leans alot more toward and Amber base with Cinnamon, Tobacco, Leather, Gold, Orange, and Balsam. GOP is a troubling hybrid of swanky and skanky. GOP is a cackling fistful of cold, hard currency. GOP is unctious. This is the creepy psycho in a power-tie. Beelzebub in a Bentley. Despite the seedier and greedier associations, GOP is phenomenal. This is, pretty much, a must-have for BPAL fans that are of the bloke persuasion. Put your money on a high percentage of The Girls liking this in spite of themselves. Excelsior! Effortlessly a 5 out of 5!

:::VILF::: A scent that is pure sexy... Skepticism, admittedly, delayed exploration into the VILF Series... Twilight and all of it's... Offspring recently rendered vampirism a bit... Cosmetic. Poppy Z. Brite, Anne Rice, and now the illustrious Mrs. Barrial, are more the forte that really makes Vampireroticism almost tangible. Lush. Powerful. VILF came calling in a swap with Sissy (Thanks a billion! *smooch!*). From the Bottle: Stygian! Though sniffed in the rays of early morning, this was akin to a power outage... *Foop!* Fascinating! On the second sniff, a very masculine insinuation radiated from the bottle's neck in the form of something remniscent of shoe-polish on an exquisitely expensive pair of men's leather dress shoes. Being accompanied by the Sandalwood, the first impression suggests that Vilf would be an ideal counterpart to Red Rider. There is wet, splintery timber in here somewhere... Deeper whiffage reels in Red Musk and Balsam of Peru... *swoon* Thus far, Vilf is a knock-out! On the Skin: My how this (((((EXPLODES!))))) The onslaught of spices really hammers this home! With a stupendous olfactory crash, the Clove, Pink Peppercorns, and Ginger, meet the Himalayan Cedar head-on! Hot! Imagine a God or Goddess carved from a living tree... It wants to dance with you and... Other stuff. Sold on the Patchouli-infused Honey. Again, initial fear was that this might be something a little sweet for unisex application... Nope. The Leather, Musk, Sandalwood, Balsam, and Honey give this the perfect amount of precisely balanced androgeny to truly immortalise the fragrance that is VILF! Spectrally, VILF could be leather, wine, smoky-honeycomb, and jellybean-black. On Her, VILF is worth the risk of life and limb. On Him, VILF the delicious weight and blooming damp that crushes the last breath from your body. Inexplicably hot. 5 out of 5.