Failmingo

Hi, all. Just wanted to let folks know here that we are indeed going to be releasing some kind of product to benefit those suffering from the devastating violence in the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict. Proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders, who have been mobilizing to address humanitarian concerns and provide life-saving care.

I don't know the timeline for this, but if you'd like to donate in the meantime, you can do so here: https://doctorswithoutborders.org/

I know the Lab's relative silence about this has probably seemed unusual considering how outspoken we've been in the past. I'm very grateful to those who have accepted this or understood the difficulty in reacting publicly to the enormity of this conflict. There have been times when we've looked past immediate concerns in our personal lives in order to rush forward and voice support for this or that cause -- Black Lives Matter, Ukraine, Roe v. Wade, and so forth. There have been many other times when we wished we could do something, but it just wasn't possible due to miscellaneous factors.

It's a huge vote of confidence that in times of crisis, many in our community look to us early on for wisdom, for action, for solace. But we are also just a very few people working under our own unique challenges (and some all-too-general ones) and we're simply not always going to be able to lead the charge. That's why we've worked so hard to inspire and encourage activism in others.

Yesterday, on Halloween, a couple of customers attempted a public call-out asking us to take a "hard-line stance" in the recent Israel/Palestine conflict. This happened in the comments of one of our Instagram posts selling Halloween products. I see this as an extension of the many attempts made by folks reaching out to the company -- and to Beth personally -- asking about fundraiser products and how BPAL intends to use its platform to confront this important ongoing matter. I'm not sure many folks realize what it's like to cope with that additional demand while a disaster is unfolding in real time.

As a Jewish woman and business owner, Beth has been dealing with a level of grief and anxiety since early October that I (a non-Jewish person) can scarcely comprehend. Part of that comes from feeling like she's under a microscope in terms of forming an adequate personal and professional response to something that just... should not be happening, and is likely to continue happening for... months? Years? Forever?

I was on vacation for over a week during the Hamas attacks on Israel, and unable to do anything bit sit back and watch in horror along with everyone else. Anything I might have said from the Lab's accounts would have been seen as an extension of Beth's personal reaction, and I was not about to rush her through that process, no matter what my personal opinions were or how important it seemed to be to respond. 

Returning to work in the midst of the Halloween season, I did the only thing that it seemed to make sense to do: keep the business going and the spirit of the season alive. I recognize how jarring it may have seemed for us to go about "business and posting as usual" when folks' feeds were flooded with bloody images, news reports, and calls to action. There have been times when we have suspended "business as usual" in order to join efforts like these, but for reasons mentioned above this could simply not be one of those times. It was not reflective of our indifference, or a lack of engagement on the personal side of things. Posting online can count as activism, but it is not the ultimate expression or test of it. Neither is a retail product that raises funds for charity. 

Again, I'm extremely grateful to those in the community who have given us (especially Beth) this time and space to cope and feel our way through this. 

As for those comments yesterday, I replied to them from my personal account to try and explain why there had been no response to date, and why no "hard-line" position would be forthcoming. I did not shield them from my personal feelings about how inappropriate and unfair it is to extract these kinds of responses from people (we are a business, but we are definitely also just a few people) on a particular timeline while bodies are still being counted, new atrocities are being committed every day, and reports of anti-Semitism in the US are actively soaring. I underscored the basis of our position -- BPAL stands against murder, genocide, authoritarianism, and terrorism. As for anything more detailed, or a fundraising campaign, we will get there when we can.

Since the Lab had yet to make any official outward statement, I went ahead and shared my response in the Parlour FB group so folks would know that I stood by it, even if we ultimately ended up deleting those comments from the Instagram post (which we did). 

Predictably, those commenters deemed my response inadequate and unacceptable. Additionally, it was characterized as bullying, childish, sociopathic, and self-centering. I saw this as a perfect example of why it had been wise for us to hold back from any official response all this time: this is not the kind of discourse that either Beth or myself should have to engage with vigilantly, around the clock, day in and day out, reacting with patience and nuance for every bad-faith interpretation of our action (or inaction, as the case may be).

I'd taken all this on in the days immediately following the end of Roe v. Wade, and can honestly say that it trampled my mental health at a time when I was already struggling. I hadn't wanted to, but Beth had already looked down the road and prepared a series of products to release in the event of that ruling, so I voluntarily took the hit. 

Having watched Beth go through a comparable low point in the wake of this recent violence, I feel extremely protective of her. The idea of pushing her for a stance or a retail product just to satisfy the expectations of some folks whom we barely know, or don't know at all -- many of whom are dealing with their own grief and anxiety spiral, possibly exacerbated by the accelerated rate of updates being shared online -- seems preposterous to me.

So if you have read any churlishness into the response I shared yesterday, that's where it comes from. If neither myself or Beth are currently up to taking something on, for literally any reason, then BPAL is simply not capable of meeting the moment online. I guess next time we'll have to coordinate better with nefarious world leaders to make sure this kind of thing happens on a timeline that better suits our production schedule and personal mental health! 

Please trust this: I know that not everyone who is curious about BPAL's absence from this conversation is asking in poor faith, or from a place of entitlement to Beth's voice and labor. It's completely understandable to want to know what we are thinking about all this, or to anticipate a customary fundraising effort. I know how much this community values Beth's insight and creative vision. We have received many messages of support, solidarity, and care. I also know that when people are very freaked out, they might not behave as their best selves. That includes me! What we're dealing with here is kind of a perfect storm, and sometimes all one can do in a storm is weather it.

I'm sharing this here for greater accountability because I know that not everyone is part of the Facebook group, and yesterday's moment was worthy of more explanation and reflection, even if a certain amount of unpleasantness is still inevitable. I don't feel that apologies are owed for how I responded: BPAL is a perfume laboratory that sells perfume, and we reserve the right to sell Halloween products on Halloween without being needled for a specific response to emergent global tragedies. We are not a rescue aid society, or a non-profit agency, or an education center, or experts in geopolitics (well, I'm not, but Beth is damn close). We make fragrances inspired by plastic yard decorations. We might seem like a big deal to some folks, but let's all please try to view things at the proper scale. 

We promise to keep trying. We love our community and are very proud of those we see speaking out. We are grieving alongside those who are grieving. We are panicking alongside those who are panicking. We are taking care of our friends and loved ones during THEIR crises. None of this can be seen online, or condensed to a pithy social media campaign. Some moments are just not About That. Trying to make everything About That can actually make other things worse.

Anyhow, today I'll be sharing stuff related to Doctors Without Borders. I welcome others to do the same, if they're up to it. When Beth is ready, there will be a fundraiser scent. We will continue doing our best to meet the moment.

Thanks for reading,

TB

tom@blackphoenixalchemylab.com

Here's the substance of what I posted yesterday, for those who may not be in the Facebook group:

------------

https://scarleteen.betterworld.org/

It really IS crinkly and crunchy! In the bottle I was bowled over by just how dry and leafy this is, the orange doesn't leap right out to me but there is something "bright and shiny" about it which is definitely the orangey stuff creeping through. This is the scent of that moment in The Nightmare Before Christmas when Jack Skellington is walking through the woods at sunrise, right before he discovers the holiday doors for the first time.

On the skin the juiciness and candiness of the orange notes assert themselves more and blend with the leafiness, and the overall effect reminds me of the Under the Maple Boughs hair gloss I fell in love with back in 2017. I agree with @DisguisedSuperhero who observed how subtle and fleshy the pumpkin is -- lending oomph to the color palette as well as the seasonal associations, but if someone wasn't made aware of it, I don't know that they'd be able to pick it out. The longevity is good; and my skin seems to hang onto the neroli longer than anything else, but mellowed out with a little pumpkiny softness in a way that helps it remain distinctly autumnal.

This is a wonderful late-summer, warmer weather scent, and I'm excited to wear it in colder months to tap into those bright and shiny feelings again.

Wow, @WoolyBee didn't lie. This is a smooth, fuzzy (yes, somehow both!) fruity-floral with surprisingly dark undertones. An evil butterfly! It hints at the possibility of sweetness but then pulls back from it at every possible turn. As it dries I'm getting more recognizable violet and musk notes bathed in orris, grimly accented with a lovely grapefruit pith. It's mysterious and dramatic, giving A Midsummer Night's Dream vibes. A malevolent fairy approacheth!

Strikes me as being perhaps somewhat comparable to The Caterpillar from BPAL's GC, except... with all different notes? Egad.

Hear ye! At this weekend's Sphinx & Snakeskin event, you may sniff and/or obtain our latest fragrance collaboration with blood milk jewels, entitled DREAM SKIN:

"The remnants of a dream laying softly on your skin: somnambulant lavender and orchid incense suffused with red labdanum, champaca orchid, patchouli root, champignon, Italian bergamot, and white oakmoss."

Hi all, our friend and Halloweenie collaborator Drew Rausch is currently a finalist in the online Face of Horror competition, and our votes could help take him all the way! If you have a sec, vote here:

Giving a head start to all the BPAL folks by popping it live a day early. Enjoy!

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/collaborations/junji-ito-collection/tomie-perfume-oil/

Not only did we do it... we did it in MID-SEPTEMBER! 

BPAL is officially here to haunt up your house with the following perfumes and Trading Post products:

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/halloween-2023/

🎃 HALLOWEEN MAIN CATEGORY - Some returning friends, some brand new acquaintances!

🎃 DUSK IN AUTUMN - Five perfumes breathing scented life into Sara Teasdale's timeless poem

🎃 HUMAN ANIMALS - An fragrant wander through historical accounts of lycanthropy, shapeshifting, and demonology

🎃 MONSTER MILK - You might think twice before dunking anything in these colloidal expressions! These creamy scents are perfect for layering with gourmands -- including the Monster Gingerbread Cookies we released a few Yules back!

🎃 NIGHTMARE NOVELLAS - As olfactory inspiration or prompts for spooky stories, one can scarcely do better than this series of mysterious illustrations by Drew Rausch

🎃 PUMPKIN PATCH HAPPY HOUR - An epic pub crawl through a passel of pumpkin-spiced spirits

🎃 HELOISE & ABELARD'S SPOOKY DUETS - We were dared by last year's puppet pals to release these as-is

🎃 We finally got our rear in gear: Halloween Hair Gloss, Linen & Atmosphere Sprays, and Bath Oil are on the menu again this year!

We're in the home stretch! Here's something while we busy ourselves with finishing up this major launch.
 

Just sent this out over email, and I'm a-postin' it here as well! The crew is bringing some fun surprises to the convention -- some will also be available online and some will not. All the info is included below!

++ CONVENTION SURVIVAL KIT OILS

Some of the most common requests we field during convention appearances, especially from BPAL newcomers, relate to aromatherapy — a field of knowledge which informs our scent creation process, and may inform how folks react to certain fragrances, even when therapy (aroma- or otherwise) is not specifically the intent.

This year we’re arriving at Dragon Con with a dedicated series of aromatherapy oils blended in anticipation of these queries, available only for the duration of the event (both in person and online!) and in extremely limited quantities. Let the great recomposure begin! These products are $32 apiece.
 

Disclaimer: BPAL's aromatherapy blends are purely for your personal enjoyment. Our recommendations are not medical advice, and these products are not intended as medical treatment or as a replacement for medical treatment. For external use only. If you have questions about how particular components may affect those with specific illnesses or interact with certain medications, please seek the advice of a medical doctor.

BLACKOUT BLINDS
A convention-inspired goodnight blend crafted to help you get the sleep you need in order to be refreshed for the next day on the floor: lavender, palmarosa, sandalwood

RECOVERY ROOM
Take the edge off when dealing with crowds and other con stressors: patchouli, blue tansy, tangerine, lavender, and ylang ylang.

UNCLENCH
For a helping hand in headache relief, particularly tension headaches: eucalyptus, peppermint, and lemon. 

UNWIND
Geared to help you decompress and recharge yourself between events or before heading out to any nighttime activities: ylang ylang, geranium, and helichrysum.

HALLOWEENIE PREVIEW?!

Our massive Halloween 2023 fragrance collection won't be available online until sometime after we're all safely home from Dragon Con... but we've decided to reward event attendees with a taste of what's to come!

The following two *brand new* series of scents, plus a handful of returning 'Weenie faves, can be purchased in person at our booth for $29 per bottle.


++ HALLOWEEN 2023

Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades.

- Ray Bradbury
 

BONFIRE TOFFEE
Our spin on a traditional Guy Fawkes Night treat: treacle toffee soaked in rich, dark bourbon.
 

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
A joyous celebration of La Catarina, La Flaca, La Muerte… Glorious, Beautiful Death. In Mexico, death is not something to be feared or hated; She is embraced, loved, and adored. La Muerte is fêted, as the celebrant “…chases after it, mocks it, courts it, hugs it, sleeps with it; it is his favorite plaything and his most lasting love.” This is a Mexican paean to La Huesuda: dry, crackling leaves, the incense smoke of altars honoring Death and the Dead, funeral bouquets, the candies, chocolates, foods and tobacco of the ofrenda, amaranth, sweet cactus blossom and desert cereus.
 

OCTOBER
Ay, thou art welcome, heaven’s delicious breath!
When woods begin to wear the crimson leaf,
And suns grow meek, and the meek suns grow brief
And the year smiles as it draws near its death.
Wind of the sunny south! oh, still delay
In the gay woods and in the golden air,
Like to a good old age released from care,
Journeying, in long serenity, away.
In such a bright, late quiet, would that I
Might wear out life like thee, ‘mid bowers and brooks
And dearer yet, the sunshine of kind looks,
And music of kind voices ever nigh;
And when my last sand twinkled in the glass,
Pass silently from men, as thou dost pass.

– William Cullen Bryant

Dry, cold autumn wind. A rustle of red leaves, a touch of smoke and sap in the air.
 

PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING
Literally everything! Pumpkin spice it all with this traditional brew of cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, and clove.
 

PUMPKIN LATTE
Espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.
 

SAMHAIN
Truly the scent of autumn itself — damp woods, fir needle, and black patchouli with the gentlest touches of warm pumpkin, clove, nutmeg, allspice, sweet red apple and mullein.
 

SUGAR SKULL
Vibrant with the joy and sweetness of life in death! A blend of five sugars, lightly dusted with candied fruits.

++ MONSTER MILK

For Yule 2021 we dreamed up GHOST MILK* as the perfect beverage to dunk your Monster Gingerbread Cookies into. But since then we’ve found ourselves wondering: presuming they could be ethically derived, what other Monster Milks might one find at a supernatural supermarket? And what unholy combinations might be created by layering them with different Monster Cookies or other BPAL goodies?

The mind reels, the stomach tilts… but the imagination simply will not be deterred.

(These spooky, creamy fragrances are 100% vegan, and no monsters were harmed in their creation!)

*GHOST MILK will not be available at Dragon Con, though it will be returning to join the others when the series is released online.

INVISIBLE MAN MILK
Sheer musk and an exhale of evaporated milk.

MUMMY MILK
Condensed milk wrapped in coconut shavings and tea-stained linen with a hint of bitumen, myrrh, and embalming resins.

VAMPIRE MILK
A creamy coagulation of clove bud and goat's milk. 

WITCH MILK
Honey-infused goat milk, incense smoke, yew boughs, black pepper, mandrake root, ambrette seed, red currant, kitchen herbs, and fly agaric accord.

WOLF MILK
Crunchy leaves, well-worn black leather, cardamom pod, moonlit yellow bergamot, woodmoss, molasses, and buttermilk.

ZOMBIE MILK
Grave-dry rice milk, black moss, hemp fibers, bone-white sandalwood and orris root, and bog osmanthus.

Our latest scent collaboration with Haute Macabre has launched! Available exclusively in the HM Apothecary.

MOLDAVITE

"Royal Hojari frankincense, 7-year aged raw patchouli, oakmoss, Yemeni myrrh, green fig, omubiri resin, blackberry syrup, and a sprig of crushed mint."

We are, in fact, vending at Dragon Con this year! And once again, our "event exclusive" perfumes will, in fact, be available online for the duration of the convention!

We'll launch these on our site early Friday morning (9/1), and they'll remain available online through the following Monday (9/4). We will be including convention booth swag in these orders while supplies last, but keep in mind we have a VERY LIMITED amount of swag this year, and it's first come, first served.

++ PEACH PIT PERFUME - $29 Apiece

BOURBONED PEACH AND APPLE COBBLER

DRIED PEACH INCENSE

PINK PEACH BUBBLEGUM

PEACH & KUMQUAT

SUGARED PEACHES AND BLACKBERRY WINE

LEMON PEEL, WHITE PEACH, AND WHITE MUSK

IMPORTED CALIFORNIA PEACH

Climate change is real. 

This is the scent of Bonita peaches, matilija poppy, citrus rind, hummingbird sage, chaparral currant, and California lilac.

Proceeds from the sale of this scent benefit Evergreen Collaborative, a US policy advocacy group comprised of policymakers and scientists who have dedicated themselves to advancing environmental justice through improved climate policy. Utilizing both their expertise and networks, Evergreen Collective has effectively lobbied for significant climate legislation, successfully advocating for many parts of the Inflation Reduction Act including $369 billion in climate provisions.

++ PEACH PIT HAIR GLOSS - $31 Apiece

PEACH BELLINI
JILLIONS OF PEACHES

++ PEACH PIT ATMO SPRAY - $28 Apiece

PEACH ORCHARD

++ HERE BE DRAGONS

DRAGON BELL Z

I can care less what you think

I need no permission, did I mention

Don't pay my dragon any attention

If you liked it then you shoulda put a bell on it: dragon’s blood and frankincense resins, sugared violets, blackberry pulp, and blackcurrant.

(I'm so sorry.)

DRAGON WITH A PENIS HAT

Is that a penis on your dragon.... or are you just happy to see me?

Dragon’s blood and champaca thrusting into a blorp of red musk and bourbon vanilla.

Even though we'd only launched the ROSE MOON/THUNDER MOON Lunacy last week, we decided to go ahead and launch our BLUE MOON(s) in time for the actual calendar event -- thus keeping us incredibly on track with our intended schedule. Here are those four new scents!

BLUE MOON
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...
Lavender and almond oil for clarity and relaxation...
Orchid and purple sage for complexity, wisdom and noscere...

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

BLAUER MOND
Brian's interpretation.

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

LUNA AZUL
Ted’s interpretation.

The ephemeral romance, the fleeting affair: frankincense and blackcurrant, caramelized black amber, and motia attar.

BLUE COTTON CANDY MOON
Lilith may be a teenager now, but her love of sweet scents has not dimmed at all.

Blue cotton candy, crystalline white flowers, and moonlit white musk.

Our contribution to this Saturday's event is the exclusive scent COMETS: “Glittering shards of icy white plum, crystallized pink peppercorn, Oman frankincense, and silvered amber arc through a midnight haze of Sumatran patchouli, velvet oakmoss, and hothouse orchids.” 💫

Sharing what Blood Milk and Sphinx & Snakeskin shared on Instagram below:

We are excited to announce The Northern Lights Fair, our next event here in our home studio, on July 29th from 1-5 pm. We will be joined by 3 Northern small businesses who are making the journey down to Philly to share their offerings with everyone, as well as one other local artist...As always, we'll have a large selection of our current line, as well as special jewels and a small treasure chest of one of a kind offerings.
While this event is free to attend, we have a suggested door donation to the Attic Youth Center. If you’re unable to bring any cash to donate, we hope you’ll donate directly to them. LGBTQ folks, especially youth, have been having a particularly turbulent time. Pride month may be “officially” over but its spirit forever lives on within our doors.

Joining us:
@graveyardwanders
@shoplastrites
@midnite_tremors
@seaofdoom

Please note this will be the last fair of the year in this particular incarnation. The rest of the year we’ll be traveling, giving over the curating reigns for an exciting event in October, as well as dreaming up more intimate experiences over the remaining months of 2023. Thank you to all of the artists, craftspeople & small businesses who have taken the risk by stepping out of either their respective cities, making a financial investment in offerings for these events, or taking the risk by just being outside and amongst people again in what are still uncertain and strange times.
Providing a place for artists without a monetary exchange, sharing space with each other in a spirit of vulnerability and delight, has always been my intention with Sphinx & Snakeskin and I do believe we more often than not came as close as one can these days in those pursuits. We look forward to being together, being with you, in this last event of its kind this year. We hope to see you 🖤 🗝️

Hi all, we are officially caught up on Lunacy thanks to this delightful PINK MOON / THUNDER MOON launch. Here's hoping we can stay that way!*

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-tag/june-july-2023/

*lolllllllll

This is a kind of dual-purpose post — previewing the four new fundraiser scents we're adding to TRIUMPH IN MY SONG ahead of Juneteenth, and also reminding folks to look through the Yule, NYE, and Winter Lunacy scents that are gonna be vanishing after next week. 🖤

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/activism/triumph-in-my-song/

Coming down next Friday:

++ YULE 2022

++ NEW YEAR'S CREEPERS & ODDMENTS

Plus the following Lunacy products:

SOUR MOON

QUIET MOON

A WINTER'S EVENING

ANGEL WITH FLAMING SWORD

DRUIDS CUTTING MISTLETOE ON THE SIXTH DAY OF THE MOON

THE GIANT

MONASTERY IN THE WINTER NIGHT

PREMONITION

THE SHEPHERD'S DREAM

SKOGINTERIOR

THE WOLF MAN'S DREAM

THE ACTION

DIE TODESSTUNDE

IN THE MAZE OF BRANCHES, THE PALE FIGURE APPEARED

SNOWY EVENING

ZIMA V LESE

FETE

FERN, ENGLISH IVY, AND OAKMOSS

TEA LEAVES, VANILLA BEAN, AND INCENSE SMOKE

BLACK PEPPER, WHITE SAGE, AND TEA ROSE

CARAMEL, TEAKWOOD, AND VETIVER

TUBEROSE, WILD TOBACCO FLOWER, AND RED CLOVER

COFFEE BEAN, OAK BARK, AND PATCHOULI

SANDALWOOD, LIME, AND TAHITIAN GINGER

MOROCCAN JASMINE, GARDENIA, AND MALLOW

Our beloved DORIAN is back in stock after a drought of several years! Currently available in 5ml, 1/32oz, and Hair Gloss options.

Note that the price has been increased, a la the SNAKE OIL restock, due to the higher cost of components and the endless labor involved in getting this back out there.

Thank you so much for enduring such a long wait! May it be received joyously, arriving just in time!

Holy cats, FOURTEEN new fragrances inspired by portrayals of feline excellence in classical art?? 🙀 🙀 🙀 These can be found among this month's Lunacy products (including our usual series based on cat-free artworks), presented purely for your scentertainment.

Ye cats: https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/felis-silvestris-catus/

Ye Lunacy: https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-tag/may-2023/

We've restocked five more perfumes from our licensed collection:

https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/the-last-unicorn/

🌳 THE AMOROUS TREE

🌳 MAGIC, DO AS YOU WILL

🌳 ELLI’S SONG

🌳 THE MIDNIGHT CARNIVAL

🌳 THE NINTH CAGE