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At Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, we have never shied away from our civic duty, and since the inception of the company, we have made it a point to do everything within our power to support organizations that provide emergency aid and disaster relief, support environmental and conservation causes, help the homeless, protect civil liberties and reproductive rights, and offer succor to the LGBTQ community and marginalized ethnic, racial, and minority religious groups. Some may view this as a political position – and perhaps in some ways it certainly could be construed as such – but we perceive this as non-partisan citizenship and civic engagement; it is our way of helping to protect and provide for our communities, and we feel it is our obligation as human beings to help those who may not be empowered to help themselves. Even though we have been creating fundraiser scents since at least 2004, our most recent contributions seem to be reaping a particular ire. I understand that we currently live in a hyperpartisan country (world?) and that so much seems split by those divisions, but I’d like to ask that our beloved clients understand that we see our work to support these organizations - the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the SPLC, the Trevor Project, the CBLDF, RAINN, the UN Refugee Agency, Doctors Without Borders, the National Center for Transgender Equality – as a basic act of decency, and not something that can be constrained by party lines. It grieves me that our activism may offend you, but even if you come to loathe us, I promise you that we will still fight for your civil rights and reproductive freedom. Even if you hate us, we will still work to preserve your safety and security in any way we can. We’re here for you. We’ll stand with you. We’ll fight for you.

Three new scents are live at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab! ALTERNATIVE FACTS The truth hurts — so why tell it? Muffle the blow with Alternative Facts. For example: FACT: Following White House advisor Kellyanne Conway’s January 22 appearance on “Meet The Press,” sales of George Orwell’s 1984 skyrocketed, making it the fifth-best selling book on Amazon.com. ALTERNATIVE FACT: In under a week, President Trump’s administration has already managed to improve literacy, reflecting the public’s renewed interest in privatized education, as well as its rejection of the mainstream media in favor of more “traditional” forms of information-gathering. See how easy that is? With the help of Alternative Facts, even the most unpalatable among us can preside over a gallery of glittering, candy-coated delusions — one in which reality itself conforms to our beliefs, sincerely-held or otherwise. ALTERNATIVE FACTS If you truly want to obfuscate what you really smell like, this is the scent for you! Sugar-crusted vanilla, a firecracker-blast of cherry and sour lemon, a hint of scuttling spiders, encroaching fog, and trumpets of bombast, bluff, and bluster. Like its companion scent, Fake News, proceeds from Alternative Facts will benefit the ACLU. Trivia: I composed the scent concept and description for Alternative Facts while in line to view the Constitution at the National Archive. It was a fascinating experience: the line to view the documents in the Rotunda was filled with MAGA hats /and/ Pussy hats, and it really dawned on me in that moment that we're all looking at the same sacred American artifacts, but reading, interpreting, and responding to them in entirely - often diametrically opposed - ways. What I saw when I bore witness to the Bill of Rights isn't the same as what the guy next to me in the Trump scarf saw. The whole experience filled me with this strange frisson; it's hard to put into words. It was like witnessing a pantomime of the vast, vast differences in worldview in this country come to life. - - - In response to the National Park Service retweeting a New York Times piece on Trump’s Inauguration numbers, Trump’s fragile ego demanded that his administration order the NPS to stop all tweets. The National Park Service refuses to be muzzled. On January 24th, South Dakota’s Badlands National Park social media team defiantly posted a series of climate change facts from the National Wildlife Federation before being shut down. Since then, anonymous employees from the National Park Service started a rogue twitter account: https://twitter.com/AltNatParkSer These courageous federal employees are risking their careers to ensure that the public is kept informed on issues of climate change. They are fighting for transparency, truth, and science, and they deserve every ounce of support we can offer them. Tweet, email, FB, and phone in your support. Visit your local National Parks and thank the employees there in person. Donate to the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Foundation. For them, for us, for the sake of the First Amendment, the environment, our state parks, and our future, we honor the bravery and chutzpah of these NPS employees with a scent that benefits the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Foundation. THEOI NOMIOI The Theoi Nomioi are the gods and spirits of the wild: the countryside, the pastures, the forests. Under their auspices, untamed nature thrives, the beasts of the wild feast and multiply, the mountains reach to the heavens with their stony, snow-capped fingers, and the forests grow thick and dark with mystery. The National Parks Conservation Association “Since 1919, the National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in the fight to safeguard the scenic beauty, wildlife, and historic and cultural treasures of the largest and most diverse park system in the world. Help us assure the future of our beloved national parks.” The National Park Foundation “The National Park Foundation protects America’s special places, connects people to nature and inspires the next generation of park stewards.” - - - FIRE COCK A new year’s blessing! Peony, China’s national flower, with bamboo for flexibility, plum blossom for perseverance, courage, and hope, tangerine for wealth, orange for happiness, lychee for household peace, pine resin for constancy, golden kumquat for prosperity, King mandarin for good fortune, cypress for longevity, sticky rice cakes for abundance and hopes for a rich, sweet life, and a splash of blazing red of dragon’s blood to help you scare away the rampaging Nian. Artwork by Aristotle C Pramagioulis!

In this time of strife and chaos, it seemed fitting to – as warriors all – observe https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/the-song-of-creation-2016/ WHEN NOTHING WAS Gangleri said: "What was the beginning, or how began it, or what was before it?" Hárr answered: "As is told in Völuspá: Erst was the age | when nothing was: Nor sand nor sea, | nor chilling stream-waves; Earth was not found, | nor Ether-Heaven,-- A Yawning Gap, | but grass was none." The darkness beyond darkness, nothing before nothing, the time before all: an opium-dark void, lightless in nihility, silent in nonbeing. THE MIST-WORLD Then said Jafnhárr: "It was many ages before the earth was shaped that the Mist-World was made; and midmost within it lies the well that is called Hvergelmir, from which spring the rivers called Svöl, Gunnthrá, Fjörm, Fimbulthul, Slídr and Hríd, Sylgr and Ylgr, Víd, Leiptr; Gjöll is hard by Hel-gates." The first vision, obfuscated by fog sprung from Hvergelmir: a world within dream, formed of nebulous possibility. Thin strands of white resin-smoke, star jasmine, and white violet. THE YAWNING VOID Gangleri asked: "How were things wrought, ere the races were and the tribes of men increased?" Then said Hárr: "The streams called Ice-waves, those which were so long come from the fountain-heads that the yeasty venom upon them had hardened like the slag that runs out of the fire,--these then became ice; and when the ice halted and ceased to run, then it froze over above. But the drizzling rain that rose from the venom congealed to rime, and the rime increased, frost over frost, each over the other, even into Ginnungagap, the Yawning Void." Then spake Jafnhárr: "Ginnungagap, which faced toward the northern quarter, became filled with heaviness, and masses of ice and rime, and from within, drizzling rain and gusts; but the southern part of the Yawning Void was lighted by those sparks and glowing masses which flew out of Múspellheim." Ice and rime and congealing venom, frost over frost, forever into the void: salt-strange rain and floes of hoarfrost, antediluvian poisons, and radiant sparks from Múspellheim’s furnaces. SAVAGE FOREVER And Thridi said: "Just as cold arose out of Niflheim, and all terrible things, so also all that looked toward Múspellheim became hot and glowing; but Ginnungagap was as mild as windless air, and when the breath of heat met the rime, so that it melted and dripped, life was quickened from the yeast-drops, by the power of that which sent the heat, and became a man's form. And that man is named Ymir, but the Rime-Giants call him Aurgelimir… But concerning this says Vafthrúdnir the giant: Out of the Ice-waves | issued venom-drops, Waxing until | a giant was; Thence are our kindred | come all together,-- So it is | they are savage forever." A giant born of the force of elemental savagery, given form by venom and ice: frozen ambergris and dark, primal musk, molten amber, black cypress, and frost-limned opoponax. THE SWEAT OF THE RIME-GIANTS Then said Gangleri: "How did the races grow thence, or after what fashion was it brought to pass that more men came into being? Or do ye hold him God, of whom ye but now spake?" And Jafnhárr answered: "By no means do we acknowledge him God; he was evil and all his kindred: we call them Rime-Giants. Now it is said that when he slept, a sweat came upon him, and there grew under his left hand a man and a woman, and one of his feet begat a son with the other; and thus the races are come; these are the Rime-Giants. The old Rime-Giant, him we call Ymir." The first people: mugwort and thyme, fennel and frankincense, honey and myrrh. AUDUMLA Then said Gangleri: "Where dwelt Ymir, or wherein did he find sustenance?" Hárr answered: "Straightway after the rime dripped, there sprang from it the cow called Audumla; four streams of milk ran from her udders, and she nourished Ymir." Then asked Gangleri: "Wherewithal was the cow nourished?" And Hárr made answer: "She licked the ice-blocks, which were salty; and the first day that she licked the blocks, there came forth from the blocks in the evening a man's hair; the second day, a man's head; the third day the whole man was there.” The primordial mother, the first nourisher: four streams of milk, white honey, frankincense, motherwort, and angelica root. THE SONS OF BURI, THE SONS OF BORR He is named Búri: he was fair of feature, great and mighty. He begat a son called Borr, who wedded the woman named Bestla, daughter of Bölthorn the giant; and they had three sons: one was Odin, the second Vili, the third Vé. And this is my belief, that he, Odin, with his brothers, must be ruler of heaven and earth; we hold that he must be so called; so is that man called whom we know to be mightiest and most worthy of honor, and ye do well to let him be so called." The bloodline of the first gods: golden mead, white sage, and mugwort. BESTLA The first queen, daughter of giants: radiant amber, black fig, and rose oud. THE DELUGE OF BLOOD Then said Gangleri: "What covenant was between them, or which was the stronger?" And Hárr answered: "The sons of Borr slew Ymir the giant; lo, where he fell there gushed forth so much blood out of his wounds that with it they drowned all the race of the Rime-Giants, save that one, whom giants call Bergelmir, escaped with his household; he went upon his ship, and his wife with him, and they were safe there. And from them are come the races of the Rime-Giants, as is said here: Untold ages | ere earth was shapen, Then was Bergelmir born; That first I recall, | how the famous wise giant On the deck of the ship was laid down." A torrent of red musk, Dracaena draco, red pepper, black patchouli, nagarmotha, and red ginger. THE HEAVENS Then said Gangleri: "What was done then by Borr's sons, if thou believe that they be gods?" Hárr replied: "In this matter there is no little to be said. They took Ymir and bore him into the middle of the Yawning Void, and made of him the earth: of his blood the sea and the waters; the land was made of his flesh, and the crags of his bones; gravel and stones they fashioned from his teeth and his grinders and from those bones that were broken." And Jafnhárr said: "Of the blood, which ran and welled forth freely out of his wounds, they made the sea, when they had formed and made firm the earth together, and laid the sea in a ring round about her; and it may well seem a hard thing to most men to cross over it." Then said Thridi: "They took his skull also, and made of it the heaven, and set it up over the earth with four corners; and under each corner they set a dwarf: the names of these are East, West, North, and South. Then they took the glowing embers and sparks that burst forth and had been cast out of Múspellheim, and set them in the midst of the Yawning Void, in the heaven, both above and below, to illumine heaven and earth. They assigned places to all fires: to some in heaven, some wandered free under the heavens; nevertheless, to these also they gave a place, and shaped them courses. It is said in old "songs, that from these the days were reckoned, and the tale of years told, as is said in Völuspá: The sun knew not | where she had housing; The moon knew not | what Might he had; The stars knew not | where stood their places. Thus was it ere | the earth was fashioned." The sun knew not, the moon knew not, the stars knew not: the blood of the sea and the firelight of wandering star-sparks beneath the skull-dome of heaven. Salt and wind and the first rains, glittering starlight fashioned of white rose oud, lavender, white musk, champagne grape and petitgrain, and heaven’s vault constructed of bone-white sandalwood and purest frankincense. OF EARTH Then said Gangleri: These are great tidings which I now hear; that is a wondrous great piece of craftsmanship, and cunningly made. How was the earth contrived?" And Hárr answered: "She is ring-shaped without, and round about her without lieth the deep sea; and along the strand of that sea they gave lands to the races of giants for habitation. But on the inner earth they made a citadel round about the world against the hostility of the giants, and for their citadel they raised up the brows of Ymir the giant, and called that place Midgard. They took also his brain and cast it in the air, and made from it the clouds, as is here said: Of Ymir's flesh | the earth was fashioned, And of his sweat the sea; Crags of his bones, | trees of his hair, And of his skull the sky. Then of his brows | the blithe gods made Midgard for sons of men; And of his brain | the bitter-mooded Clouds were all created." Flesh into verdant soil. The sweat of the sea. Black pine, oak, and cedar. Bitter clouds fashioned of grey amber, white tobacco, and muguet. - - - Before there was Miðgarð, there was Nothingness. What will you find in Ginnungagap's sweeping emptiness? http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/the-song-of-creation/

May 2017 bring us all prosperity and abundance, laughter and love, clarity and wisdom, success and creativity, compassion and the capacity for mercy, and sparkling moments of joy. May it grant us the courage to defeat bigotry and hatred, and strength enough to bear our burdens with grace while we help those who are not empowered to help themselves. Happy new year, beloved friends.

Last chance to sniff! The Lilith 2016 fragrances will be taken down from BPAL and Black Phoenix Trading Post tomorrow. https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/category/lilith-2016/ https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/motherhood-2016/

This year, we return to the Lunacy series we initiated in 2004, bringing back our homage to the Names of the Moons. We begin with Wolf Moon: WOLF MOON This incarnation of Wolf Moon honors the She-Wolf who nursed and sheltered Romulus and Remus in her den, the Lupercal, after they were cast out into the wild by King Amulius. By the order of Amulius some of his servants took the babes in an ark and carried them to the river, distant about a hundred and twenty stades from the city, with the intention of throwing them into it. But when they drew near and perceived that the Tiber, swollen by continual rains, had left its natural bed and overflowed the plains, they came down from the top of the Palatine hill to that part of the water that lay nearest (for they could no longer advance any farther) and set down the ark upon the flood where it washed the foot of the hill. The ark floated for some time, and then, as the waters retired by degrees from their extreme limits, it struck against a stone and, overturning, threw out the babes, who lay whimpering and wallowing in the mud. Upon this, a she-wolf that had just whelped appeared and, her udder being distended with milk, gave them her paps to suck and with her tongue licked off the mud with which they were besmeared. In the meantime the herdsmen happened to be driving their flocks forth to pasture (for the place was now become passable) and one of them, seeing the wolf thus fondling the babes, was for some time struck dumb with astonishment and disbelief of what he saw. Then going away and getting together as many as he could of his fellows who kept their herds near at hand (for they would not believe what he said), he led them to see the sight themselves. When these also drew near and saw the wolf caring for the babes as if they had been her young and the babes clinging to her as to their mother, they thought they were beholding a supernatural sight and advanced in a body, shouting to terrify the creature. The wolf, however, far from being provoked at the approach of the men, but as if she had been tame, withdrew gently from the babes and went away, paying little heed to the rabble of shepherds. Now there was not far off a holy place, arched over by a dense wood, and a hollow rock from which springs issued; the wood was said to be consecrated to Pan, and there was an altar there to that god. To this place, then, the wolf came and hid herself. The grove, to be sure, no longer remains, but the cave from which the spring flows is still pointed out, built up against the side of the Palatine hill on the road which leads to the Circus, and near it is a sacred precinct in which there is a statue commemorating the incident; it represents a she-wolf suckling two infants, the figures being in bronze and of ancient workmanship. This spot is said to have been a holy place of the Arcadians who formerly settled there with Evander. A mother’s unconditional love, soul-deep compassion, and destiny: date plum, myrrh, black mulberry, black poplar, and Pan’s sacred pines. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/a-little-lunacy-limited-edition/wolf-moon/ STARSTRUCK: CAPRICORN Cardinal Earth: the essence of ambition. This is the scent of careful calculations, implacable determination, meticulous planning, authority, and reputation. Distinguished and profound, relentless and cunning, this perfume enables you to find a use for all things: ivy twining around Haitian vetiver, red poppy, sinuous oudh, black sandalwood, and smoky patchouli. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/starstruck-capricorn-2016/

It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour. The Black Phoenix Trading Post Yule update is live! https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/yule-2016/

The BPAL Yule update is live! Have you been naughty, nice, or something in-between?

This is a hard anniversary update to write. Every anniversary, I sum up the year and try to give thanks to everyone who enriches our lives. The latter is easy – my life is filled with the kindest, wisest, most compassionate people – but the former is stunningly difficult. 2016 has been cruel. 2016 has seen so much grief and loss, and the year has presented to us a series of breathtakingly devastating events, leaving so many in a mire of fear, uncertainty, and sorrow. Since 2002, the community that has grown from Black Phoenix has become my family. Our beloved coworkers, our clients, the small companies that we work with, our forum moderators, the wonderful artists, writers, and creators that we are privileged to create for, our media outlets, our retailers, our extended Lunacy event family, our traveling medicine show convention family, the bloggers and journalists who think of us, and the wonderful, generous, kind people at the charitable organizations that we work with. This is our family. You – if you are reading this – are part of our family, and I am grateful for you. I know that it is cold comfort, but I want to tell you that we stand with you and you are not alone. We stand with the LGBTQ community, we stand with the disabled community, we stand with our brothers and sisters in every single minority religious, racial, and ethnic group. We stand with the trans community, we stand with immigrants and refugees, we stand with those who would protect our water and our land. We stand with you against hate. We stand with you against intolerance. We stand with you, and we will do everything within our power to fight with you and for you in this dark, uncertain time. In gratitude and with love, I thank you for being with us through the past fourteen years. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/product-category/limited-edition/phoenix-2016/

A clarification. =) Though I do my best to answer emails that come into my personal box, sometimes the floodgates open too quickly and I cannot get to everything I mean to get to! Inquiries of all shapes and sizes should always be directed to: answers@blackphoenixalchemylab.com Nella, our customer service Goddess, is on duty Monday-Friday, from about 12-6pm.

NASTY WOMAN As you have no doubt heard, during the third presidential debate, Hillary described her plan to raise taxes on the rich in order to fund Social Security. She took a swing at him over him being a tax dodger (which he is): "My Social Security payroll contribution will go up, as will Donald's — if he can't figure out how to get out of it." Trump interrupted her and said, "Such a nasty woman." These are two things uttered by the same man within the same hour: "No one has more respect for women than me." "Such a nasty woman." Amazing. Let’s put this pussy-grabbing, racist, predatory, misogynistic, hateful, irresponsible, ignorant, immature grotesquerie out of politics for good, and do what we can to ensure that he and his ilk never cast their miserable shadows over our political process again. Nasty Woman: black fig and patchouli, filthy bourbon vanilla, honeyed amber oud, and loukhoum. Proceeds will be split between Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List. plannedparenthood.org emilyslist.org Photo: Women marching in national suffrage demonstration in Washington, D.C., May 9, 1914. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/limited-edition/nasty-woman/

Due to a printer issue, we’re experiencing a delay in shipping both BPTP and BPAL orders. We truly appreciate your patience, and will get everything out as quickly as possible. Thank you so much for understanding!

We'll be announcing properly soon, but I wanted you guys to know first! https://blackphoenixtradingpost.com/category/weenies-2016/

.... Weenies are live. There are some problems with the images here and there, so we're doing a gentle launch here on the forum before we announce to the rest o'the world. The Black Phoenix Trading Post's Halloween brews are still in the cauldron, and will be launched asap!

Do not use the original product name. Paypal has gone bonkers because I used Cuba and Havana in the scent title and description, and if you reference the scent, your account may be locked. Please accept my apologies for any inconvenience that my storytelling may have caused!

Lilith, our daughter… we adore you. This is our song to you. With all our love, your mother and father - At Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, a few scents and remembrances from m’self, Lilith’s mom - ++ MOTHERHOOD 2016 O the mother’s joys! The watching—the endurance—the precious love—the anguish—the patiently yielded life. O the joy of increase, growth, recuperation; The joy of soothing and pacifying—the joy of concord and harmony. A LITTLE MORE TEA In June, Lilith was cast as the Mad Hatter in her theater school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Typecast much? Lilith says that the Mad Hatter should smell like tea (“EARL GREY!”) with honey and cream and lots and lots of cookies. BABY’S FIRST KRAMPUSLAUF Lilith loves Krampus. She’s loved Krampus ever since she was a wee tiny thing, and every Christmas Eve, she leaves chocolate and beef jerky (long story!) for him alongside the cookies and milk she leaves out for Santa. Last December, Lilith attended her first Krampuslauf at ArtWalk in Downtown Los Angeles. She was overjoyed; she absolutely loves Krampus, and being surrounded by so much excitement (and the strange joy of so many scowling bestial faces, swishing switches, and baskets awaiting unruly children) literally swept her off of her feet. She loved the parade, she loved the costumes, and she believed with all her heart – even just for a moment, but maybe forever in her heart - that all of these hairy horned beasts were real. Her favorite Krampus – one she has known since she was a toddler – gave her a card that proclaimed that she was naughty and destined for the basket. Of course, she treasures it. Dark chocolate and a hint of woodsmoke. CALDARIUM Daughter of ægis-bearing Jove, divine, Propitious to thy votaries’ prayer incline; From thy great father’s fount supremely bright, Like fire resounding, leaping into light. Shield-bearing goddess, hear, to whom belong A manly mind, and power to tame the strong! Oh, sprung from matchless might, with joyful mind Accept this hymn; benevolent and kind! Lilith making an offering at the Temple of Sulis-Minerva in Bath, asking the goddess to take care of her family. I love you and your huge heart, Lilith. Mulberry and honey myrtle with flax and rosemary. CIRCUS BEAR Damn everything but the circus! A scent for Tom and for Lilith, the Empress and the Hierophant at the carnival: rose, gardenia, styrax, and frankincense splattered with cotton candy and the white glop in the middle of Oreos. CONENCTING FLIGHT Achievement Unlocked: Baby's First Time Sleeping at an Airport Lil is a born traveler. She has been easy to travel with - and eager to go new places! – ever since she hopped on her first plane at a little over a year old. While she’s not too fond of long car rides, she loves trains and /LOVES/ flying… …and she really, really loves airports. She loves what it symbolizes to her, and she simply loves being there. She loves watching people go to and fro, wondering where they’re going and where they’re coming from. She loves stale airport croissants, overpriced souvenir stands, and questionable day-old airport bagels. She loves buying chewing gum and city-branded trinkets, and she loves riding her suitcase like a go-kart. An ill-timed overnight stopover in Mexico City marked Lilith’s first time sleeping in an airport. Suffice to say, she takes to it better than either of her parents. She slept through sirens and loudspeakers, through beeping trams and rattling carts… all while Teddy and I sat bolt upright, zombified and staring. I hope her love of travel never, ever wanes. The distant scent of black coffee spiked with coffee liqueur and dusted with cinnamon. THE DEVIL WILL FIND WORK FOR IDLE HANDS Let’s be real: I just wanted an excuse to make a scent inspired by this photo. Lilith and I have incredibly similar senses of humor, full of fart jokes and gross outs and vulgarity. I love her belly laugh, I love how weird and surreal she is. I love that her jokes fall in a strange void somewhere between Harpo Marx, Deadpool, and Andy Kaufman with a huge helping of knock knock jokes that make no sense at all. I love that she and I laugh at so many of the same things, and I love that she and I sometimes laugh together until we’re crying and cramping. This scent is a ridiculous mélange of blue cotton candy, strawberry marshmallows, and whipped cream with sprinkles. DINNERTIME AT THE DIVINER’S HUT Passing the time tossing tarot while mom and dad make dinner. Tomato leaf and frankincense. FUNERARY PAPYRI Lilith was incredibly disappointed that she wasn’t allowed to touch the Egyptian funerary texts at the British Museum. Myrrh and papyrus reed with a smear of vanilla cream frosting. GOOD MORNING, LONDON A scent for my bed-headed September 2nd Virgos: lavender for Lilith and amber for Brian. THE GREAT PYTHON SNAKE This past March, Lilith played Kaa in a small kids’ production of the Jungle Book. The image here is from a test photo we took of her snakey makeup! Lilith says that Kaa smells like the jungle, so for her and for the Great Python Snake, I’ve bottled an impenetrable canopy of thick, vine-draped trees, primeval flowers blooming in the shadows, and dark, wet earth that has not been touched by sunlight in a millennia. HOLY TRINITY GOOD FRIEND FOR JESUS SAKE FOREBEAR, TO DIGG THE DVST ENCLOSED HERE. BLESTE BE YE MAN YT SPARES THESE STONES, AND CURSED BE HE YT MOVES MY BONES. For years now, whenever Lilith is in a cemetery, she has felt compelled to leave little presents… flowers, beads, toys… graveside, especially at the graves of long-gone children. This moment was captured at the Collegiate Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon, the site of Shakespeare’s baptism and burial. Soft riverbank soil, winter daffodils, fog-damp grass, curled pondweed, and frankincense. HEAVENLY SPARK This spirit shall return to Him Who gave its heavenly spark; Yet think not, Sun, it shall be dim When thou thyself art dark! No! it shall live again, and shine In bliss unknown to beams of thine, By Him recall’d to breath, Who captive led Captivity, Who robb’d the grave of Victory,— And took the sting from Death! Lilith at Poet’s Corner, Westminster Abbey - one of my favorite places in the entirety of this earth. Piety and intrigue, succor and terror… stone walls and painted glass panels bearing witness to generations of poetry, pride, conquest, and despair: the echoes of the incense smoke of hundreds upon hundreds of years curling around roses and oak branches. HEEL This year, we brought a new baby to the house: Lilith’s little buddy, Pickle. In order for mom and dad to okay Lilith getting “her own” dog, she had to agree to train her, help bathe her, and care for her. Loving her was a given, and somehow Lilith foisted the dooky-removal duties back onto her father. The scent of our backyard in summertime, the scent of Lilith trying to explain to Pickle how to heel correctly: honeysuckle, late summer jasmine, and mowed grass. LA MILAGROSA In life, she was Amelia Goyri de Adot. She was promised into a loveless betrothal, but through patience, guile, and the strength of her devotion, she was able to repeatedly postpone the marriage until the death of her father, upon which she was free to marry the man she truly loved. Tragically, her joy was short-lived: on May 3rd, 1903, both Amelia and her son died during childbirth, and she was laid to rest in the Havana’s sprawling necropolis with her son resting at her feet. Day after day, year after year, Amelia’s heartbroken husband visited their grave. He would knock three times, screaming, “Wake, Amelia! Wake!” In his grief, he could not bear to turn away from her, so when he was forced to leave by exhaustion or circumstance, he would walk backwards until he left the cemetery, always keeping his eyes on the grave of his wife and son. For seventeen years, he came to the grave daily, his heart wracked with anguish. Many years later, Amelia’s remains were exhumed, and witnesses saw that not only were the bodies perfectly preserved, but the infant child now rested in his mother’s arms: a miraculous symbol of eternal love. To this day, pilgrims visit La Milagrosa to pray for her intercession, asking that she watch over, bless, and protect children and loving couples. Lilith paying her respects at the tomb of La Milagrosa, Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón: clusters of mariposa and mahoe, sprays of black orchid, love’s red roses, and a thin drift of cigar smoke. THE LIBRARY OF JOHN DEE Last March, we took Lilith to the John Dee exhibit at the Royal College of Physicians in London. She loved it, especially the bits about his cryptography and the video presentation of his life and works. I loved her loving it. Truly, there’s little that warms an old occultist’s heart quite like holding her daughter’s hand while gazing at books salvaged from John Dee’s own library, or looking at our reflections – together – in Dee’s scrying mirror. Worn leather bindings, the dry crackle of ancient paper, styrax and onycha, frankincense, a drop of candle wax, and the barest fleck of dried Tudor roses. LILITH & SEKHMET Lilith introduced her plush Egyptian kitty, Goldenshine, to the goddess Sekhmet. She figured they’d get along great, both being cats n’all. Blood wine and amber. LILITH AND THE FOUR SONS OF HORUS Rolling with her homies, profoundly jetlagged at the British Museum. Golden honey and cassia. LITTLE LADY FRANKENSTEIN Lilith wants to keep her father’s brain in a jar after he dies so she can implant it into a robot body. “This should smell like electricity and potions.” I did my best, kid. MOTHERHOOD I love this kid. Oh lord, Lilith, you are my joy. You are silly and sagacious, loud and lovely, ridiculous, theatrical, and serene. You possess one of the kindest souls I have every known, and I am blessed by your compassion and your wisdom. Snake Oil, lavender, bubblegum, and gummi bears. MY LITTLE GROTESQUE Lilith expressing herself at the V&A: cardamom-dusted cupcakes. O THE JOY OF MY SPIRIT! O to make the most jubilant poem! Even to set off these, and merge with these, the carols of Death. O full of music! full of manhood, womanhood, infancy! Full of common employments! full of grain and trees. O for the voices of animals! O for the swiftness and balance of fishes! O for the dropping of rain-drops in a poem! O for the sunshine, and motion of waves in a poem. O the joy of my spirit! it is uncaged! it darts like lightning! It is not enough to have this globe, or a certain time— I will have thousands of globes, and all time. Do I take this exact photo of you every year, Lilith? Always on a see-saw, always laughing with all your heart. You are the joy of my spirit, you are my most jubilant poem. Crooked hazelnut and tonka with a touch of cacao and black pine. OUTLAW Last year, we spent a little time running around ghost towns in California. There was one that wasn’t quite a ghost town, but was… it was an Old West movie set that was abandoned. A ghost town of a ghost town? It was so peculiar, and so very California. The three of us made mini movies together in that odd ghost town until it got too cold to hold a camera. This photo isn’t from that trip, but it reminds me so strongly of our silly little films. This one is for my little bandit: sarsaparilla, leather, and vanilla cream. PERFECT FIFTHS Every instrument she touches, she adores. If she had the money and the space, her bedroom would look like a basement storeroom at the philharmonic. I played violin as a child, so when I saw her waving that bow for the first time, my heart grew ten sizes. Of course, she prefers the drums. Bow rosin and bubblegum. PLUSH VISCERA This winter, Lilith tried her hand at embalming, thanks to the British Museum. Lilith says this should smell like blood and guts, but also strawberries. We came to a compromise through a combination of Dragon’s blood resin, myrrh, and smushed strawberries with a little bit of lavender. She sprays lavender essential oil on her plushies every night before bed, so she thinks plush innards should get the same treatment. REAPERS GONNA REAP I was supposed to be representing Death for our June Gloom Victorian Mourning event, but the Little Grim Reaper kept stealing my scythe. Lilith says this perfume should smell like “pretty meat bones”, and her translation of that is a musky vanilla sandalwood. SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA HABANA Cuba’s white ginger blossoms, guava pulp, and mango with a touch of white tobacco and sea salt. SPIDER WITCH My little witch, my little lilt of laughter: this scent is for the sorceress you are and the sorceress you will grow to be. 7-year aged patchouli, red musk, and bourbon vanilla with sweet oudh, hazelnut, amber chypre, leather. STONEHENGE AT DUSK Several years ago, I went to Stonehenge for the very first time. Walking through the center of the stones was transformative, and watching the sun set behind the stones stole my breath like a cold dagger of joy plunged into my heart. Teddy and I wanted to share that moment – the feel of the place, the enigmatic majesty of the stones, the mist-shrouded history – with Lilith, so we took her there last March. I cannot put into words what it felt like to watch her run and laugh through the standing stones, to watch her skip and laugh and dance through the shadows and sunsets of thousands upon thousands of years. Wiltshire’s burnt-tip orchids, a scattering of dandelions, crushed grass, wild daffodil, and chips of fog-wet bluestone. TEXARE Lilith is already better at knitting than I am. A few weeks ago, we went to a knitting clinic together just to brush up a bit on our skills. Everything the instructor showed her… she took to immediately. I, on the other hand, had a bit more trouble. Actually, a lot more trouble. Arachne, I am not. Going to that class with her was amazingly fun, and watching her create brings me unbelievable amounts of delight. This scent is inspired by the colors of the yarns she chose that day: raspberry pink, cherry red, sky blue, and lime green, all swirled with frankincense, black oudh, mallow root, and sweet wooly vanilla husk. THE TWELFTH I believe that it’s important to commemorate important, pivotal moments in a child’s life, and 17 October 2015 marks the first time Lilith really experienced Doctor Who. The episode was “the Girl Who Died”, and we watched it in a hotel room in Seattle. Lilith has given many other Doctors a spin since that day, but by far her favorite is the Twelfth. This is the scent of room service vanilla ice cream and leftover cake with a little bit of banana. VAMPIRE NIGHT AT THE MOVIES An odd mix of salted popcorn, butter, clove, and a few drops of stage blood. WAITING Lilith at the window, waiting for her father. Raindrops and asphalt, lavender, pale musk, and white oudh. THE WOLF AND THE RATTLESNAKE When Lilith started becoming scared of monsters under the bed and shadows in the closet, we’d talk. I’d tell her that yes, there are monsters in the closet, but they’re there to watch over you. And yes, there are monsters under the bed, but they’re there to make sure you’re safe while you sleep. The stories grew and expanded, and at night, we’d say goodnight to the ghosts in the attic, the werewolves in the backyard, and the vampires in the basement. Sometimes, I’d forget our zombie friends, and Lilith would take offense on their behalf. We say good night to the bats in the trees, and we say goodnight to the ghost rats in the walls, and we tell stories about what they do during the day when she’s at school and I’m at work. So, at night, she’s snug in her bed, safe with all her monster friends. But then she’d have nightmares about rattlesnakes or volcanos, and while I try to comfort her when she calls out, I know that there will always be something hiding -- for her, for all of us -- in darkened corners.. All we can do sometimes is reach out to one another and hold hands in the dark. Lilith, there’s so much in the world that’s gloomy and thick with shadows. I can’t protect you from all of it, but the gods know I will try. I will do whatever I can to help you navigate the darkness, and I will be there holding whatever torches I can muster. You are brave and you are strong: you are the wolf, my werewolf, and I know with all my heart that you will always conquer your rattlesnakes. Featured in this image: blood milk’s rattlesnake spine ring. And at Black Phoenix Trading Post, a few words from Teddy - Lilith’s seventh year was full of magic - some tragedy - and went by way too fast. We shared the magic of London, Stonehenge, and Shakespeare, and grieved together over losing Pinkie the Tarantula and Bloop the Fish but though it all, we were together… and isn’t that all life is about? Whether we were drinking a big blueberry slushie after her drama class, eating some pasta in London, or goofing around some big stones, it was one of the best years, and my heart is full of love for my little Beanz. Lilith inspired me to be a better father by being the sweetest and funniest child I know. I love her infinity. My adventure with Lilith is just starting, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. ++ FATHERHOOD 2016 POISONED APPLE MARTINI Which teetotaler dad ordered a martini just so his daughter could get the light up ice cube that came with it? Luckily, it was tasty and I didn’t fall into the Sleeping Death. I would do almost anything to bring a smile to my Lilith. Sour apple martinis! THE SERPENTINE Photographs, videos… they don't do justice to the love that I feel for my girl. The quiet of this moment was special. We weren't speaking; it was just a dad and his daughter together, enjoying the fleeting time of youth, and all was right in the world. I hope she remembers these special times when she looks back on her childhood. I know that I will never forget them. Dorian, Lilith’s lavender, snowdrops, and soft vanilla. THE GREAT LONDON SPAGHETTI HUNT After a long day at the museum, Lilith was hungry and begging for pasta with butter. As her loving father, I searched and searched until I found a place that would stay open a wee bit longer so we could get some. This is the photo of her thanking me. I believe it is the best photo of us, and it makes me so happy. Tiramisu and black coffee. TAG-UPON-AVON Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. Tag! Thou Art 't! Playing tag with Lilith on the banks of the Avon before taking her to see Hamlet was such a wonderful experience. She loved the play, and still talks about it to this day. A distant whiff of clove smoke and pipe tobacco, black tea, and crumbs from tiny cakes. GOOFIN’ AT STONEHENGE We visit one of the most ancient sacred sites in the world and what do we do? We play tag among the stones and make silly faces. Why? Because we’re Barrials. The chilly air of Wiltshire’s twilight in late winter, crushed grass, white musk, and Lilith’s lavender. PLACES, EVERYONE Watching Lilith light up on stage makes me so proud and happy that I have trouble not crying. I believe that I will fall over dead when she collects her Tony Award and thanks me for carrying her backpack all those days. Icy berry slushie, bubblegum, and blue lollipops. And also – LIILTH’S HAIR GLOSS Lavender, white musk, sweet hops, and a little French vanilla. Lilith, we love you. Thank you for choosing us to be your parents.

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++ BLACK PHOENIX ALCHEMY LAB DRAGON CON EXCLUSIVES: PEACH PIT 2016 ($26) PEACH I Peach with white pear, rose musk, tobacco leaf, hay absolute, dried ruby fruits, and vanilla cream. PEACH II Peach and almond blossom with tonka, narcissus, and black amber. PEACH III A sparkling peach aldehyde with jasmine, green tea absolute, pink grapefruit, yuzu fruit, and frankincense. PEACH IV Peach-infused oudh with orange blossom. PEACH V Peach caramel with blackened vanilla, patchouli, and teakwood. PEACH VI Peach and blackcurrant with sandalwood and pink pepper. PEACH VII Peach sugar and a drop of lemon. ++ BLACK PHOENIX TRADING POST DRAGON CON EXCLUSIVES Peach and Strawberry Pulp Bath Oil ($23) Peach and Green Apple Atmosphere Spray ($23) Peach-Pulped Frankincense Hair Gloss ($28) Peach, Red Currant, and Black Tea Hair Gloss ($28) There will also be five dragon-inspired (dragon)claw polishes for sale at our booth! They are exclusive to Black Phoenix Trading Post, and exclusive to the event. Only twenty bottles of each have been crafted. ++ DRAGONCLAW POLISH ($12) L-R in the photo: Copper Dragonscale Patina, Blue Dragonscale, Dragonfire is sitting on top of Crimson Dragonscale, Dragonscales at Eventide

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Thar be a new bpal.org unicorn-inspired forum scent, available exclusively to bpal.org forum members. Please add your forum name to the notes when ordering! BITCHES LOVE UNICORNS BPAL.org Exclusive A sugared rainbow: strawberry, blood orange, lemon peel, lime, blueberry, raspberry, and blackcurrant. Clickie here to buy! - https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/shop/uncategorized/bitches-love-unicorns/ - - - We continue our pushback against the darkness of recent events with the second set in Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s Art of the Unicorn series, and with Black Phoenix Trading Post’s unicorn-inspired glosses and atmosphere sprays. Nothing is hopeless; we must hope for everything. ++ BLACK PHOENIX ALCHEMY LAB: ART OF THE UNICORN, PART II BOTICELLI'S UNICORN Alessandro Boticelli White leather, opal musk, and amber-limned rose. THE CREATION from Paulus Orosius's Histoire Ancienne Gilded amber saffron, indigo chypre, pearled gardenia, blackcurrant, ylang ylang, frankincense, fir needle, and white patchouli. THE SILENCE OF THE WOODS Arnold Böcklin Red soil and scattered pine needles, acorn husks and pine cones burgundy pitch and oak leaves, drooping black cedar branches, woodmoss, and a cluster of pale, poisonous berries. UNICORN AND RAM Wooly musk, soft leather, cashmere, cardamom, and leather oudh. THE UNION OF ADAM AND EVE Joseph Flavius Dew-touched grass and tulsi, gleaming with muguet des bois, fir balsam, ti leaf, and violet leaf. THE VIRGIN AND THE UNICORN Domenico Zampieri, probably? The palest of green mosses, mist rose, white pear, white incense, white sandalwood, and a hint of vanilla. WILD WOMAN WITH UNICORN Patchouli and wildflowers. ++ BLACK PHOENIX TRADING POST: THE ART OF THE UNICORN ATMOSPHERE SPRAYS JEUNE FEMME NOURRISSANT UNE LICORNE Armand Point White amber and pale blossoms with white ginger, green apple, and tonka. LA DAME À LA LICORNE Armand Point Dried patchouli leaf, brown amber, woodmoss, red currant, labdanum, khus, and wild plum. TRIUMPH OF CHASTITY White musk, cypress, Italian bergamot, pink peppercorn, clary sage, white sandalwood, and terebinth. ++ BLACK PHOENIX TRADING POST: THE ART OF THE UNICORN HAIR GLOSS ALLEGORY OF PURITY Marcantonio Franceschini White tea and gardenia softly glowing with opal iris, white musk, and lavender. CHASTITY WITH THE UNICORN Francesco di Giorgio Martini Strawberries, crimson musk, and red oudh. PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG WOMAN WITH UNICORN Raphael Vanilla crepe de chine, ruby musk, golden amber, frankincense, honeyed saffron, smoked cardamom, sweet orange, star anise, and bronze fennel. SAINT JUSTINA WITH THE UNICORN Moretto da Brescia Golden amber, leather, and tonka with Ceylon cinnamon bark, clove, myrrh, cacao, and star anise. THE SHARING OF THE CAKE BETWEEN THE LION AND THE UNICORN Sir John Tenniel Honey cake hair gloss. Also at BPTP, there are two new tees! MAKE AMERICA LIVE DELICIOUSLY AGAIN TEE A million thanks to Aristotle for the art, to Sarah Elizabeth and her wonderful friends for the inspiration, and to Black Phillip, without whom our lives would be bereft of both joy and deliciousness. Proceeds from this parody tee will benefit Emily’s List, a wonderful organization that supports electing pro-choice Democratic women to office. And, of course, there’s Trading Post’s monthly poll results! Kill-Devil Hair Gloss is the winner!

Bulbasaur sniffing around your cache of Snake Oil? Meowth lurking amongst the imps? Between now and August 1st, Pokémon GO players can snap pics of critters invading their BPAL stash and enter to win a $40 gift credit! Share your photo evidence on Twitter or Instagram with the hashtags ‪#‎BPAL‬ and ‪#‎GottaSmellEmAll‬ (yes, both), and we’ll randomly draw a winner from the pool. Get at least one bottle or product in the shot! Multiple entries are fine, but please don’t submit more than one pic per beast. We can’t wait to browse all the extra-smelly wildlife photography that results! Ready... set... GO!

Tomorrow (14 June!) at 2pm Pacific, we will be releasing another 100 bottles of vintage 2009 Snake Oil! - - - Back in 2009, we bottled a hooch-jug of Snake Oil and put it aside in a cool, dark nook. We're releasing it now in sets of 100 bottles! By far, our most popular scent! Magnetic, mysterious, and exceedingly sexual in nature. A blend of exotic Indonesian oils sugared with vanilla.

What does black plague have in common with champaca flowers, rams, Thebe, and Easter candy? They all make guest appearances in Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's current update. A million thanks to Austin Coppock for his input on the role of celestial causation in pandemics! https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/plagues-easter-single-notes-lunacy/

The Plague has hit BPAL and BPTP, and because BPTP is just Teddy and Kat, it hit them all the harder. The past three weeks have been really rough due to a flu that is both incapacitating and lingering, and Teddy is struggling to catch up as quickly as possible. Please accept our sincerest, most grovelly apologies! Thank you so much for your patience.

For the first time ever, we invite BPAL’s fans to participate in our creative process. Welcome one and all to our Seven Word Story Contest! Call it what you will — flash fiction, microfiction, writing for short attention spans — over the next seven days we want to see just how imaginative you can get in seven words of fewer. The winning story will inspire an original fragrance crafted by BPAL’s head perfumer, and will be featured on the label alongside a credit to the author (who will also receive a free bottle of the blend). On the heels of our Lupercalia update, we’ve decreed the theme to this edition of the contest will be LUST. Profanity is allowed, but no stories involving rape, assault, stalking, or anything else horrid, please. Multiple entries are allowed (though we’ve heard they’re far easier for women to accomplish!) The deadline for entries is 23 February 2016. Please read the rules below before submitting. Email your entries (and any questions about the Contest) to 7words@blackphoenixalchemylab.com, or tweet them @bpal with the hashtag ‪#‎BPAL7wordstory‬. Let the games begin! http://www.blackphoenixgazette.com/7-word-story-rules/

The Black Phoenix site is currently experiencing wonky load times, 504 errors, and time-outs, and we are busting ass trying to get everything running smoothly again. Thank you so much for your patience!