kebechet

First, the new scents for the Forum: QUEEN OF SPADES A contemporary incarnation of the tarot’s Queen of Swords. A card of decisive action, strength of Will, progressive action, justice, and, sometimes, revenge. The scent is a sophisticated, deep, and smoky floral with a decidedly exotic spice. Moroccan myrrh and black amber, with muguet, opoponax, deep black plum, cyclamen, galbanum, and wild blackberry softened by pear blossom and a swirl of exotic wood notes. KING OF SPADES The Queen's beloved, he is a modern representation of the tarot's Sword Knight. His authortative, keen and penetrating demeanor is a perfect compliment to her dagger-sharp beauty. Master of logic and reason, brave, fearless and stong, albeit a bit flamboyant and flashy. His scent is deep, swarthy, and darkly commanding, and compliments the Queen of Swords perfectly: oakmoss, vetiver and opoponax with black plum, wild blackberry, soft woods, sharp and glinting white musk under a soft, velvety robe of vanilla and coconut. $12.50 per bottle, 5ml only. The King & Queen are offered in 5ml bottles ar $12.50 each. The link to purchase these scents is: http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com/forumscents.html For those who purchased Formula 54, a link for payment can also be found on that page. Payment may also be made via PayPal to paypal@blackphoenixalchemylab.com. When you have made your payment for F’54, please contact Nella and let her know. - - - The Limited Edition scents: MABON The Autumnal Equinox. The Second Harvest of the witches: a celebration of rest after labor, and repose after the rigors of Initiation. This is the mark of the completion of the Harvest and giving thanks for the previous season's abundance. In ceremonial magick, this is a time to begin the search for one's Higher Self anew, to celebrate rebirth and new life, and to revitalize the spirit. It is an Osirian time, contractive and catabolic. At this time, the Eleusinian mysteries were observed, celebrating the drama of Kore and Demeter. Blackberry wine and apple cider with hops, apple blossom, English ivy, hazel, sage, oak bark and myrrh. WILDFIRE A traditional blend of woods used in Celtic pyromantic divinatory practices, updated and contemporized with the addition of a fae blend of orris essence, dragon's blood, juniper berry, and red rose. - - - New to the permanent catalogue: + BEWITCHING BREWS DRAGON’S BONE The dry, thin scent of a draconic ossuary. Dragon’s blood resin with white sandalwood, dusty orris and crisp blondewood. DRAGON’S TEARS Bittersweet yet powerful: salty aquatic notes and bursting with dragon’s blood. EMPYREAL MIST A hazy, soft, veiled scent: mist floating through twilit skies, curling gently towards the heavens. MATA HARI A renowned exotic dancer and courtesan, possessed of aristocratic elegance, matchless charm, an iron will and a streak of fearlessness. The actual events of her life have met with much speculation, and to this day it is unclear whether or not she was truly a German spy. Despite shaky evidence of her guilt, she was tried for espionage by a closed court-martial and was executed by a French firing squad in 1917. Her scent is striking and bold with a delicate yet dark undertone: five roses with soft jasmine, warmed by vanilla, fig, tonka bean and mahogany, spiced with a drop of coffee bean.

This Queen will be offered from August 15th – August 22nd to any forum member that wishes to purchase it. The description of the scent is as follows: Queen of Spades A contemporary incarnation of the tarot’s Queen of Swords. A card of decisive action, strength of Will, progressive action, justice, and, sometimes, revenge. The scent is a sophisticated, deep, and smoky floral with a decidedly exotic spice. Moroccan myrrh and black amber, with muguet, opoponax, deep black plum, cyclamen, galbanum, and wild blackberry softened by pear blossom and a swirl of exotic wood notes. Information on how to purchase this scent will be available at that time.

Just making the revised time into a topic to make sure everyone sees it.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, and a miscommunication issue here at the Lab, the F54 promo is being postponed until 7pm tomorrow night. I apologize for the confusion. It's been pretty confusing here, too. ETA: Changing it to 7pm 8/10. Brian reckons it'll be easier on the overseas guys and people getting off of work. Sorry for the short notice. ET also A: Leave it to freakin' geniuses like us to schedule a promo at the advent of Mercury Retrograde. Yeesh. Yes, this is the third change. Yet another misunderstanding. Love retrograde. Good God.

At the moment our shopping cart isn't robust enough to handle gift certificates. =( Hopefully that will change soon -- still trying to get onto AuthorizeNet! I'm trying to come up with a solution in the interim. =/

The Queen of Spades. Details will be provided on the 9th, at the same time the F'54 promo is posted.

Funny. I was thinking about making a super-sugary, strawberry bubblegum scent called 'Jailbait' for one of the winter updates. Is there a market for something that gooey? =)

Salice, both Djinn and Brimstone are... er... kinda just plain Ash. Those with the single note of amber might be pretty groovy, though...

Sacred Whore of Babylon is a spicy gardenia. =)

The site update is live. A quick summary of new scents follows; please check the Shiny & New page for details. BEWITCHING BREWS BON VIVANT -- An effervescent blend of crystalline champagne notes and sweet strawberry. BRIMSTONE -- In Hermetic alchemy, brimstone is one of the Three Heavenly Substances, one of the primary alchemical Priciples. It represents the strength of will and the vigor of passion, and it is a symbol of the process of fermentation. A smoky, gritty blend, husky and gray. HAMADRYAD -- Nature spirits and protectors of the world's groves and forests that appear as breathtakingly beautiful women. Hamadryads are born into a tree that serves as both a home and an anchor for the creature's soul. They are sometimes tricksters, sometimes seducers, sometimes helpful and benign, but they are always fierce and furious protectors of the natural world. Seven dry woods with mossy lichen and a gentle breeze of forest flowers. HEMLOCK -- This infamous herb has a long, complex history: it has been used in spells of death and destruction, was a principal component in traditional witches' flying ointments, and was the poison used to put the philosopher Socrates to death. We have created a dark, profound herbal blend to personify and honor this wicked little plant. LAMPADES -- The Lampades are the darkly beautiful nymphs of the underworld, also called the Lethe Nymphae Avernales. They are the daughters of the Gods that govern the many rivers of Hades. The Lampades are Hecate's torch-bearers and accompany the Goddess on her hunts, quests and revels. Their scent is the crisp, inviting bittersweet tang of cranberry with smoky dark lilies, heady, sensual musk, a tingle of ginger and a brush of Mediterranean spices. MOON ROSE -- A crisp, pale, almost translucent rose dusted by moonflower and midnight dew. WOLFSBANE -- Notorious for its properties for protection against werewolves and curing lycanthropy, this nefarious plant also has a fine history of use as a virulent poison. Clasically, Medea employed it in her many works of vengeance. This concoction of ours has none of the lethal qualities, but still personifies all of the herb's dark history beautifully. - - - BEWITCHING BREWS: THE MUSES CALLIOPE -- The Fair Voiced. The eldest of the Muses, she is Eloquence, and thus, governs heroic and epic poetry, and her eloquence has served to calm quarrels even amongst the surliest of Gods. She is crowned in gold, and holds a roll of parchment or stylus and tablet. Hers is the scent of creative inspiration, and it is a boon to writers, poets and arbitrators: lavender and bright mint with bergamot, verbena, thyme and a touch of sweet orange and warm almond. ERATO -- The Lovely. She is the Muse of mimicry, and inspires both erotic and romantic poetry. She is crowned in roses, holding a lyre. Her scent inspires creative expressions of love and lust: a crush of roses with sweet pea, myrrh, ylang ylang, orris and stephanotis. MELPOMENE -- The Songstress. Melpomene is Tragedy, and the sound of Her voice is filled with beauty, power and strength. She is crowned in cypress branches, holds the mask of tragedy, wears the cothurnus and wields a knife or club. Her scent is rife with pathos, and inspires us with the ability to express our grief, loss, and the pain in our souls in a cathartic, creative fashion: dark cypress with mint, geranium, Bulgar lavender, orange blossom and passion flower. - - - SIN & SALVATION TZADIKIM NISTARIM -- Also called the Lamed Vev, two letters in the Hebrew alphabet that translate to the number thirty-six. In this violent, ugly, strife-riddled world of ours there are thirty-six men, the Hidden Just Men or Hidden Saints, who bear on their shoulders the burden of all our pain, sorrows and sins. The Tzadikim Nistarim move in obscurity, and are usually found among the poor, the downtrodden and the meekest among us, and are chosen for this task because of their righteousness, stalwart sense of genuine justice, and the true goodness of their souls. When one of these men dies, God chooses another to take his place. It is for their sake and for love of them that God does not destroy His imperfect creation. As long as the Lamed Vav serves humanity, the world will continue to plod on, but once one of them dies and God cannot find another worthy to take his place, the world will be destroyed. In Qabala, the thirty-six men of the Tzadikim Nistarim together combine to symbolize the seventy-two bridges, corresponding to the seventy-two names of God, that connect the concealed and revealed worlds of our universe. The scent is one of unadulterated spiritual purity, with a taste of the world's eternal pathos, and the joy of suffering with grace: frankincense, olive, spikenard, hyssop and galangal. - - - LOVE POTIONS AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA -- A pale, delicate, truly angelic blend. A scent created to emulate Adonis' halo of beauty: fragile, distant, and radiant. Rosewood with Sicilian lemon peel, red Mysore sandalwood, pale musks, sweet mountain sage and a dusting of lily, night-blooming jasmine and orris. LE PETIT MORT -- Seduction, sensuality, the Act, and the aftermath all in one. The scent of warm, damp skin flushed with the glow of passion, touched by the luxuriant potency of ylang ylang and myrrh. PERVERSION -- The perfect scent to wear to your next bondage ball, dungeon adventure or sojourn to your favorite pleasure dome. Smoky rum and black tobacco with a whisper of steamy leather with a splash of crystalline chardonnay, layered over a sensual, sweet, and deceptively magnetic base of tonka. - - - WANDERLUST BAYOU -- .A lazy, warm deep green scent with a thick aquatic undertone: Spanish moss, evergreen and cypress with watery blue-green notes and an eddy of hothouse flowers and swamp blooms. MACHU PICCHU -- Sweet tropical fruits burst through deep, wet rainforest boughs, enormous steamy blossoms, over thin mountaintop breezes, mingled with the soft, rich golden scent of Peruvian amber. NEO-TOKYO -- A scent that captures a meeting of the serenity and elegance of ancient Japan, the vibrant, shining, neon-lit and ultra-modern splendor of today's Tokyo and the fantastic electric fantasyland of post-modern manga fantasy. Urban metallics and an ozone-tinged breath of electric light mingled with reedy bamboo, crisp mountain air, cherry blossoms, delicate orchid and a splash of playful, wet fruits. OLD KATHMANDU -- The scent of sacred incense swirling up the steep slopes to Swayambhunath Stupa. Saffron, blessed sandalwood, Himalayan cedar and the miraculous lotus of the Buddha with chiuri bark and Nepalese spices. TINTAGEL -- According to legend, the birthplace of King Arthur. The scent of a castle's great hall in the midst of joyous feasting. Spicy mulled wine flowing through the musky heat, warm leather and bright clash of armor, the damp branches of Cornish hawthorn, blackthorn, juniper, English elm and bayberry, and the magical tingle of dragon's blood resin. - - - MAD TEA PARTY THE RED QUEEN -- Deep mahogany and rich, velvety woods lacquered with sweet, black-red cherries and currant. - - - VOODOO BLENDS AUNT CAROLINE'S JOY MOJO -- Bottled happiness. Helps reverse misfortune, brings light and laughter to even the most troubled and discordant place, and aids in alleviating the stress and discontent that accompanies so many of life's daily trials. BLACK CAT -- A very tricky kitty, indeed. Used most often as a key to bringing back the joy one needs to have in life in order for living to feel worthwhile. Brings back a sense of delight in simple pleasures, and creates a surge of childlike curiosity and a youthful sense of fun. This blend can also be used to reverse troublesome lesser crossings, create a playful air of catlike sexuality, and, because cats will be cats, it can also be used to throw minor, irritating or bothersome hexes, causing small amounts of chaos and disruption to your foes. BLOCK BUSTER -- Used to open up options in your life, overcome obstacles, and create opportunities. This blend increases your potential for success, inspires creativity and quick thinking, and helps you to be more flexible, adaptable and open to change. FOLLOW ME BOY -- A houdoun recipe dating back almost 150 years. This blend is favored by prostitutes, exotic dancers and others in the sex industry for its power to attract, seduce, and enthrall. Ensures financial gain and increased profits. GOONA GOONA -- A soft, sweet peace and harmony blend. Used to create an atmosphere of compassion, understanding, trust and love. This is particularly useful in mediation, calming tense or volatile situations, and in strengthening relationships. HAS NO HANNA -- Brings a rush of good luck, lifts the spirit, and helps alleviate depression. HORN OF PLENTY -- Forces a change of fortune, helps overcome poverty and want, and helps attract prosperity, prestige and earthly bounty. INDIA BOUQUET -- Used liberally in love magick to ensure tranquility, calm quarrels, and rekindle faltering flames of attraction, sensuality and romance. Used also to put an end to infidelity, and in this aspect, it can be used not only on your mate, but on your self to keep your own eyes from wandering and hands from straying. JUJU -- Both a fearsome crossing and fiercely potent uncrossing blend, depending on your intent. QUEEN -- For use only by women. An extremely potent passion blend, used to great effect when you're converting feminine sexual energy into power. RED DEVIL -- A sinfully playful lust blend. Inspires sexual spontaneity, a little bit of kinkiness, and new and inventive ways to get dirty

On August 9th we will be offering Formula 54 to the first fifty-four [coincidence?] forum members that respond to a thread that we will be posting in the BPAL Chatter section of the site at 12pm PST that day. The bottles are 1/3 oz, cobalt blue glass with a glass stopper, and will be closed with artificial bull sinew and a wax seal. An example of the base bottle. The price is $45.00 per bottle; one bottle per person, please. They will ship in the first week of September. This will not be available for purchase on the BPAL site, and will be sold only to BPAL forum members. More details soon.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=5510856835 Brian and I are still in the process of cleaning out boxes and boxes of Lab weirdness. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting prototypes, unearthed limiteds, and other random items. A note: Midwinter is in a 1/8oz cork-topped bottle, not a 5ml bottle.

A million thanks to everyone that emailed us with new bottle leads and to those that went out of their way to actually send us bottles. You all helped us through a very tight pinch, and I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your love, your efforts, and your support. We love you guys. =) The site update, including the Lunacy deal, will be up as scheduled on the 31st. A few more oils are being set up for the update. In the meantime, we will be working our a$$es off to get the “full bottle” orders that were delayed due to the bottle issue out as quickly as possible. About a hundred orders went out this morning, and we’re still cranking. Tomorrow, CcNow access will reopen, and we will begin accepting new orders again. Right. Now back to the Oil Mines for me.

When ordering, please remember that no samples are offered for our Limited Edition scents. If you place an order for a sample of a Limited Edition scent, it will be substituted with a random perfume sample from our permanent collection. Samples of our permanent collection are always available.

If you have emailed answers@blackphoenixalchemylab.com since about 6/20 and have not received a reply, please resend to blackphoenix@blackphoenixalchemylab.com. Some emails seem to have fallen into the abyss.

Hey Beth, How 'bout creating Bleak Widow?! heehhehehhheh micHELLe HA!

I. After 11.30pm tonight [6 July 2004] Black Widow will no longer be available. We are selling the remaining stock, and then it’s gone f’er good. II. Due to an incoming bottle issue, some of the current orders that contain 5ml’s will be sent in amber 5ml bottles. Nothing will be altered except for the color of the glass. III. There was a slight delay in answering emails over the holiday weekend due to a massive hard drive crash. We will be catching up on correspondence between tonight and tomorrow. [GAK!]

Oh holy hell, are you serious? I had no idea.

Something in the air is a little snarky, Andra. This too shall pass. Everyone here is too beautiful to let this ride.

[Nella, come home!]

Group hug?

No, it hasn't changed, but the component oils are from a different batch. It's hard to standardize a scent perfectly when you use organics instead of synthetics. =/

This is being posted in response to several comments I've read in the forums asking me to restate the estimated ship time on incoming orders. On the web site's Welcome, FAQ and Shiny & New pages it states [in various ways] the following information: Please note that all orders, including domestic orders may take in excess of 14 - 21 business days to process, pack and ship out when we have a heavy workload, due to the process of hand-blending and the nature of our product. All oils are made once they're ordered to ensure freshness. We do our best to ensure that all orders are shipped within ten business days, but in some cases this is not possible. This is correct. We are averaging a three week turn around on orders with little exception despite all efforts to speed up the process. Brian will be reposting his continually updated shipping thread as quickly as possible. Yes, we do hand-blend and bottle everything individually. Yes, this takes just short of forever lately. I apologize if some feel as though this wait is unbearable. When someone invents an android akin to those in a Philip K. Dick novel that is both efficient and affordable, you can be sure that I'll buy one to help expedite this process. When I am able to purchase enough of these androids to create my own international perfume delivery courier service, you can be sure I will do that, too. In the meantime, I do not foresee us being able to close the 14-21 day gap in the near future, though we are doing our best to work out the loose ends that are slowing down the process [as an example, disallowing changes to orders once they are submitted to us for processing]. Androids. Or clones. I can't forget the clones. Cloning is always an option. I am also going to reiterate that we are doing our best to respond to all email inquiries in a timely manner. As you all know, Nella is still out of town, and it may take a day or two extra for Brian or I to have a moment to get back to you. Thank you all for your patience. If anyone hears of a bent-android closeout sale in the near future, please feel free to PM me with the info.

Dee and I are working together to create a line of Blackrayne / BPAL soaps. The problem is... I'm a weird, indecisive Fish and I can't make up my mind about which scents to use. Please post here with your requests if you have a moment. Once I narrow it down a bit, I'm going to set up a final poll. We can't start off with too many scents, so...

The most important thing that needs to be stated here is our love and thanks to Slythwitch for her time, effort, and love in creating this amazing forum. Thank you so much! Thank you also to all the mods for making sure everything runs smoothly, and another huge thank you to all of the wonderful, bright, creative and insightful people that take the time to give us this much needed feedback on our creations. I ruv you. :oops: