Failmingo

Who couldn't use a small, steady beam of hope as we endure winter's last gasp? Black Phoenix Trading Post has four brand new candles in limited quantity -- plus a brand new tee shirt design to flash from beneath your coat.

Candles:
https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/category/candles/

 

Exclusively for our friends at Dark Delicacies, this glistening variation on a house specialty:

EMERALD LACE
Our delicate spun-sugar lace, grass-crushed and tobacco-stained, with hints of rue, pale sap, green fig, green cognac, and opium poppy accord.

Orders within the US:

https://www.darkdel.com/store/p1108/Emerald_Lace_-_US_Orders_.html

 

Anyone who fantasizes about joining us at the Midsummer Scream Halloween fest in Long Beach this year (July 28/29), you should know the tickets just went on sale -- and for a limited time, they're 75% off.

 

http://midsummerscream.org/tickets-2018/

 

 

2018's Blue Moon continues to imbue us with hope, awe, and fantasies of vanilla blueberry bubble gum.

Beth, Brian, and Lilith's tribute scents are live, plus another installment in our Moons of Saturn series. Enjoy, fellow lunatics!

BLUE MOON 2018

The spirit of the full moon is capricious, intense and passionate, yet still distant, aloof and cold. Luna herself governs glamours, bewitchments and dream-work, innocent wonder, transient pleasure and delight, the Moment, impulse, mystery and veils. The Blue Moon is one of her rarest manifestations, and this scent is formulated to encapsulate her most complex and profound nature:

Mugwort and bay, for psychic sensitivity…
Juniper, for divination through dreams…
Orchid and galbanum, for complexity, wisdom and noscere…

… with a potent lunar-charged blend of exquisite Asian woods, moonflower, Madagascan ylang ylang, Florentine iris, wild juniper, starry bergamot, elemi, green tea absolute, palmarosa, cucumber, Clary sage, lettuce leaf, melilot trefoils, wood aloes, and pale creeping buttercup

BLAUER MOND 2018

Brian’s interpretation.

A whisper under the moonlight: blue musk, and indigo amber, myrrh, moonlit oudh, opopnax, terebinth, and tobacco leaf.

BLUE UNICORN MOON

Lilith’s interpretation.

From the Littlest Perfumer: “It’s a happy moon. It is beautiful, shiny and it makes me think of magical blueberries. It makes wishes come true, and puts a smile on your face.”

Vanilla blueberry bubblegum.

And on't forget our monthly tribute to the Moons of Saturn! Here's the latest:

BERGELMIR

Winters unmeasured | ere earth was made
Was the birth of Bergelmir;
Thruthgelmir’s son | was the giant strong,
And Aurgelmir’s grandson of old.

The father of a new era of Frost Giants, survivor of the deluge of blood that erupted from Ymir’s mutilations. Winters unmeasured: blue spruce blanketed in sleet, cypress smoke, yew berry, and frozen, brittle stems of lavender.

Thanks for your patience, #BPAL7wordstory hopefuls!

Our latest winner has been decided, and it's... CAM COLLINS, who beguiled us with the following entry via Twitter:

"The alligator selfie was a bad idea."

This story will now undergo translation into scent! We'll be posting more details and some honorable mentions soon. Thanks so much to everyone who entered -- your brilliance made the judging process excruciatingly difficult. You've done us proud!

I also got a strong "walking through the Quarter" tremble from smelling this in the bottle -- it could also have been a sugar rush.

 

A good cake scent almost has a texture to it, and this one has that squishy, spongey quality you associate with a really moist cake, packed right in the bottle. I think it's of the almond as well as a yeasty component that's probably turning this into "brioche" on the nose.

 

That headiness fades on my skin a bit, mainly just leaving behind a pleasant sugar glaze with a hint of that cream cheese tang. "Quiet and warm," as the previous reviewer observed

 

I find this very calming, and after sitting with it for a few minutes I think my body is actually tricked into thinking I ate something -- I felt ravenously hungry when it first went on, and now I'm oddly contented.

Hello everyone, you can finally give your refresh-finger a break -- the Lupers are live, on BPAL and Trading post!

 

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/lupercalia-2018/

 

https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/category/lupercalia-2018/

 

Here's our video announcement for the collection, featuring music graciously provided by DJ Accident Report and WNNR:

 

 

Enjoy the season, and yourselves! (And in certain cases, each other!)

It just occurred to me how awful that headline might look to anyone who doesn't know us.

 

Here at BPAL, every day is Halloween! However, our remaining stock of Halloween 2017 perfumes will disappear from our site tomorrow, February 3. Just a reminder in case you wanted to take one last look!

 

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/weenies-2017/

 

https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/category/weenies-2017/

It was a really strange week -- even by our standards! Here's BPAL's weekly link roundup, which you'll find on Tumblr nearly every Friday (except when Lunacy turns our brains inside out, like last week).

 

http://blackphoenixalchemylab.tumblr.com/post/170155050173/welcome-to-our-weekly-roundup-of-cherished-news

Immediately on the heels of our announcement about the price changes coming to BPAL, we were notified by USPS about adjustments to shipping rates, effective immediately.

While the timing is poor (we would have preferred to share this info all at once) these rates are entirely beyond our control, and fortunately aren’t as steep as we initially feared. Here’s what you can expect, going forward:

Domestic US: from $7.50 to $7.85

Canada: from $25.00 to $25.50

Western Europe: from $34 to $34.50

Japan / Southeast Asia: from $32 to $32.50

Aus / New Zealand: from $35 to $35.50

Sorry folks! And thank you for understanding.

In the bottle: There is something really florid and bloodthirsty in the blend right off the bat, despite its sweetness. This is a hot-headed cowboy musk slathered in fancy cologne, ready to fight or fuck as the case may be.

On the skin: Smoothing out as the dragon's blood spreads its wings. The frankincense is hovering somewhere in the middle, getting drawn into a playful tussle with the earthier notes below. While it's genteel on the surface, there's something lurking down there that seems to warn against getting too close, or resting too easy. The tobacco emerges slowly, the sin you only realize you've been stained by once it's too late.

Whomever this blend might have been inspired by, their character is decidedly... *sniff* ...unsportsmanlike.

In the bottle: a cool, damp, gritty tobacco, like a pouch that's been kept in a farmer's pocket close to the skin.

On the skin: Almost immediately becomes warmer and spicier as the patchouli breaks from the pack of notes, in the most inviting way imaginable. I'm not getting a clear bead on the licorice root or sandalwood notes, they are all expertly harmonized with the tobacco in a beautiful earthy chord (so, don't let that licorice note scare you).

In the drydown the scent becomes less lively on the skin and more earthbound. The hint of sweetness from the tobacco (and I assume, the licorice) is quite pleasant. I would definitely scent a drawer or closet with this, in addition to wearing on the skin -- it completely reminds me of all the out-of-the-way corners of my grandparent's farmhouse, and the old books, clothes, and relics that gave off an enticing aroma of hard work and age.

Ted asked me to pass along a reminder that we've got some cool new listings up on eBay for older BPAL stuff, with more on the way soon. Here's the link to our store's current list of items, in case you want to stalk the listings!

 

(Wow, that auction for PINCHED WITH FOUR ACES is getting out of control!)

 

I addition to this month's Lunacy scents, we have a very special New Year's update: HYMN TO FORTUNA, a paean to the goddess of fortune to aid us in the trying months and years to come.

 

To thank you for your enduring support, we've included a special forum-exclusive Fortuna scent:

 

FORTUNA PRAECANTATRIX

A Witches’ Luck

 

The fortune of a nasty woman: patchouli and pomegranate rind with vetiver, red oudh, tonka bean, green cognac, and honey.

 

***Note that you may only order the forum-exclusive scent via this link, and the password is "forum." We ask that you include your username into the comments of the order.***

 

May Fortuna's blessings find us -- and may our enemies only know her wrath.

 

Wishing the best to you all in 2018!

Hi everyone, just a note that our friends at Haute Macabre are hosting a BPAL giveaway -- the winner will get a selection of 10 Yule scents.

 

The instructions for entering are easy (Instagram is required). Read them here! You've got until January 2nd to enter. That's plenty of time to badger your friends into entering too, so you can divvy up the spoils!

Great news! Our industrious elves have chewed through the entire backlog of Christmas orders, so if you want something special in time for the holiday, we SHOULD still be able to accommodate.

The domestic US shipping cutoff sailed past a few days ago, but we're throwing those gates back open in case you have more shopping to do. Order in the next few days and you should find something special in your mailbox with plenty of time to wrap, sniff, and/or spritz.

(Obligatory reminder that our magical powers only extend so far -- we remain as vulnerable as ever to the caprices of the overloaded US Postal Service.)

Two weeks till Christmas! The outside outside may be frightful, but your company remains so delightful! Wishes for an unforgettable holiday season, from your friends at Black Phoenix.

 

To mark the occasion, here's a little video Christmas card from our resident celluloid slicer, Galen Adair:

 

https://vimeo.com/246846310

 

Hi everyone, just a reminder that the Lilith scents will vanish from our site tomorrow -- that's Tuesday, December 5th.

 

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/lilith-2017/

 

(Based on Beth's pictures of Paris, Austria and Berlin, I'm guessing our first wintry scents of 2018 will arrive in September!)

A New Year means a brand new cycle of Lunacy scents, timed to coincide with each month's full moon (as are our Lunacy events, in a perfect world, but due to travel, L.A. December Lunacy: Krampuslauf will be held on the 15th).

Welcome to 2018's The Moons of Saturn, beginning with:

 

TITAN

An organonitrogen haze of iris, orange blossom, and neroli obfuscating seas of ethane and mountains of ice, buffeted by gusts of methane and smoky rain.

Calling all fallen angels! In coming weeks, you have three opportunities to earn a bottle of our CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA scent. Arm thyselves (or thy fairies) with non-perishable foodstuffs accordingly:

L.A. Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia

November 10, 6-9pm, at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

Dirty South Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia

November 19, 5-7:30pm, Microtel Inn & Suites at Perimeter Center

Vermont Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia - 11/26

November 26, 1-4pm, Bennington Potters North

At each event, in exchange for a $20 bag of nonperishable groceries, you’ll receive a 5ml bottle of the following scent, available while supplies last:

CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA
“When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.”
—Deuteronomy 24:19

Sweet patchouli and hay absolute, with a drop of tobacco leaf.

(Because of the limited quantity, we implore you to be scrupulous about adhering to our requested donation value of $20.)

Be sure to invite your friends via the Facebook links above!

Your new Lunacy scents are here to soothe! Behold:

 

COLD MOON 2017

The Full Moon that shines over the frost-rimed heart of winter. Traditional lunar oils combined with glittering snow flowers, soft breezes and frozen ferns.

 

SINGLE NOTE: INDONESIAN CLOVE

Hi everyone! In addition to hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour for the young'uns, we are our continuing our tradition of a November food drive, benefiting the Burbank Temporary Aid Center.

 

In exchange for every $20 bag of nonperishable groceries, you'll receive a 5ml bottle of the following scent, available while supplies last:

CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA
"When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow."
—Deuteronomy 24:19

Sweet patchouli and hay absolute, with a drop of tobacco leaf.

(Because of the limited quantity, we implore you to be scrupulous about adhering to our requested donation value of $20.)

 

Please help us spread the word so our neighbors in need can count on full bellies in the months to come.

 

The Facebook event page is here, in case you'd like to invite your friends:

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1950852578567926/

 

 

[No additional description provided.]

In the bottle all of the above listed notes kind of smash on the nose equally. The effect is similar to a drink I'd order at a Manhattan cocktail bar that would probably cost as much as this bottle -- a spicy pineapple margarita with smoked salt.

IMMEDIATELY on the skin the notes fall into rank, with the pineapple's sweetness soaring high above the others, and the dead leaves effectively blanketing the patchouli and vetiver so they're muffled to a dull roar.

This is among the least "dead leaves-y" blends from the collection IMO, probably because the pineapple note takes it in a direction one doesn't associate with "autumn." Ten minutes after applying, I'm getting a sort of dead leaves reverb effect whenever I go to sniff, which suggests that note will last on the skin long after the bright, sunny pineapple has perished.

Brava!

One of the best things about this Tell-Tale Heart collection is that each of the scents really do paint a picture of the exact scenario described, covering a wide base of moods and private horrors within one person's swift descent into madness. The palette of each blend includes flashes and colors and characterizations that set it apart from the others, but they're definitely all part of the same story.

I'm a sucker for a pine scent and am wild for Black Forest, so I was very curious about this one.

Whereas most of the collection depicts the character's internal state, this one is a reminder of the story's setting. As such, it is a bit smoother and more calm, though the pine note reaches upward in a way that communicates the rising dread of being awake and alone late at night. That piney nerve-jangle consistently pokes through the blanket of mist and dark flower base notes.

In the bottle, all I get is the pine -- not the dry scruffy pine of "This Is Our Wilderness," more like the damp juicy pine of Black Forest.

Within a few minutes on the skin, the poppy and moonflower and mist have all risen to cloak the pine, just as in the description, creating a landscape where the only dominant effect is darkness. So, if you're worried about smelling like a Christmas tree, this one shouldn't be a problem for you. (That comes later, with the Yule update!)

Whereas Black Forest dries down to a sweet black musk, I can tell already that I'm going to be left with a gentle whiff of opium as this evaporates.

We were already in NYC for Comic Con, so this time around we actually got sponsor representation in the "Hell In A Cell" episode of Nobodies Watching Wrestling. (This should have been Lilith, but she was already on her way home!)

 

 

Enjoy!