Failmingo

It was a really strange week -- even by our standards! Here's BPAL's weekly link roundup, which you'll find on Tumblr nearly every Friday (except when Lunacy turns our brains inside out, like last week). http://blackphoenixalchemylab.tumblr.com/post/170155050173/welcome-to-our-weekly-roundup-of-cherished-news

Immediately on the heels of our announcement about the price changes coming to BPAL, we were notified by USPS about adjustments to shipping rates, effective immediately. While the timing is poor (we would have preferred to share this info all at once) these rates are entirely beyond our control, and fortunately aren’t as steep as we initially feared. Here’s what you can expect, going forward: Domestic US: from $7.50 to $7.85 Canada: from $25.00 to $25.50 Western Europe: from $34 to $34.50 Japan / Southeast Asia: from $32 to $32.50 Aus / New Zealand: from $35 to $35.50 Sorry folks! And thank you for understanding.

Mist-shrouded pine and moonflower creeping over flaccid opium poppies. One of the best things about this Tell-Tale Heart collection is that each of the scents really do paint a picture of the exact scenario described, covering a wide base of moods and private horrors within one person's swift descent into madness. The palette of each blend includes flashes and colors and characterizations that set it apart from the others, but they're definitely all part of the same story. I'm a sucker for a pine scent and am wild for Black Forest, so I was very curious about this one. Whereas most of the collection depicts the character's internal state, this one is a reminder of the story's setting. As such, it is a bit smoother and more calm, though the pine note reaches upward in a way that communicates the rising dread of being awake and alone late at night. That piney nerve-jangle consistently pokes through the blanket of mist and dark flower base notes. In the bottle, all I get is the pine -- not the dry scruffy pine of "This Is Our Wilderness," more like the damp juicy pine of Black Forest. Within a few minutes on the skin, the poppy and moonflower and mist have all risen to cloak the pine, just as in the description, creating a landscape where the only dominant effect is darkness. So, if you're worried about smelling like a Christmas tree, this one shouldn't be a problem for you. (That comes later, with the Yule update!) Whereas Black Forest dries down to a sweet black musk, I can tell already that I'm going to be left with a gentle whiff of opium as this evaporates.

Ted asked me to pass along a reminder that we've got some cool new listings up on eBay for older BPAL stuff, with more on the way soon. Here's the link to our store's current list of items, in case you want to stalk the listings! (Wow, that auction for PINCHED WITH FOUR ACES is getting out of control!)

I addition to this month's Lunacy scents, we have a very special New Year's update: HYMN TO FORTUNA, a paean to the goddess of fortune to aid us in the trying months and years to come. To thank you for your enduring support, we've included a special forum-exclusive Fortuna scent: FORTUNA PRAECANTATRIX A Witches’ Luck The fortune of a nasty woman: patchouli and pomegranate rind with vetiver, red oudh, tonka bean, green cognac, and honey. ***Note that you may only order the forum-exclusive scent via this link, and the password is "forum." We ask that you include your username into the comments of the order.*** May Fortuna's blessings find us -- and may our enemies only know her wrath. Wishing the best to you all in 2018!

Hi everyone, just a note that our friends at Haute Macabre are hosting a BPAL giveaway -- the winner will get a selection of 10 Yule scents. The instructions for entering are easy (Instagram is required). Read them here! You've got until January 2nd to enter. That's plenty of time to badger your friends into entering too, so you can divvy up the spoils!

Great news! Our industrious elves have chewed through the entire backlog of Christmas orders, so if you want something special in time for the holiday, we SHOULD still be able to accommodate. The domestic US shipping cutoff sailed past a few days ago, but we're throwing those gates back open in case you have more shopping to do. Order in the next few days and you should find something special in your mailbox with plenty of time to wrap, sniff, and/or spritz. (Obligatory reminder that our magical powers only extend so far -- we remain as vulnerable as ever to the caprices of the overloaded US Postal Service.)

Two weeks till Christmas! The outside outside may be frightful, but your company remains so delightful! Wishes for an unforgettable holiday season, from your friends at Black Phoenix. To mark the occasion, here's a little video Christmas card from our resident celluloid slicer, Galen Adair: https://vimeo.com/246846310

Hi everyone, just a reminder that the Lilith scents will vanish from our site tomorrow -- that's Tuesday, December 5th. https://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/lilith-2017/ (Based on Beth's pictures of Paris, Austria and Berlin, I'm guessing our first wintry scents of 2018 will arrive in September!)

A New Year means a brand new cycle of Lunacy scents, timed to coincide with each month's full moon (as are our Lunacy events, in a perfect world, but due to travel, L.A. December Lunacy: Krampuslauf will be held on the 15th). Welcome to 2018's The Moons of Saturn, beginning with: TITAN An organonitrogen haze of iris, orange blossom, and neroli obfuscating seas of ethane and mountains of ice, buffeted by gusts of methane and smoky rain.

Calling all fallen angels! In coming weeks, you have three opportunities to earn a bottle of our CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA scent. Arm thyselves (or thy fairies) with non-perishable foodstuffs accordingly: L.A. Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia November 10, 6-9pm, at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Dirty South Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia November 19, 5-7:30pm, Microtel Inn & Suites at Perimeter Center Vermont Lunacy: Children of the Cornucopia - 11/26 November 26, 1-4pm, Bennington Potters North At each event, in exchange for a $20 bag of nonperishable groceries, you’ll receive a 5ml bottle of the following scent, available while supplies last: CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA “When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.” —Deuteronomy 24:19 Sweet patchouli and hay absolute, with a drop of tobacco leaf. (Because of the limited quantity, we implore you to be scrupulous about adhering to our requested donation value of $20.) Be sure to invite your friends via the Facebook links above!

Your new Lunacy scents are here to soothe! Behold: COLD MOON 2017 The Full Moon that shines over the frost-rimed heart of winter. Traditional lunar oils combined with glittering snow flowers, soft breezes and frozen ferns. SINGLE NOTE: INDONESIAN CLOVE

Hi everyone! In addition to hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour for the young'uns, we are our continuing our tradition of a November food drive, benefiting the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. In exchange for every $20 bag of nonperishable groceries, you'll receive a 5ml bottle of the following scent, available while supplies last: CHILDREN OF THE CORNUCOPIA "When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow." —Deuteronomy 24:19 Sweet patchouli and hay absolute, with a drop of tobacco leaf. (Because of the limited quantity, we implore you to be scrupulous about adhering to our requested donation value of $20.) Please help us spread the word so our neighbors in need can count on full bellies in the months to come. The Facebook event page is here, in case you'd like to invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/1950852578567926/

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

Hey everyone, due to order volume we are experiencing a slight shipping delay. Or as Beth put it, "We are being walled in Poe-style by boxes in the front." Our apologies if you are kept waiting any longer than absolutely necessary! We're working this out with the P.O. *sips Amontillado*

So far the only thing we're out of is APPLE MARSHMALLOW hair gloss! You and/or your fairy still have a chance at the rest. Beth is doing fine, and appreciates all the well-wishes. She is feeling a bit better and is likely to be at the booth for a bit today, but that's all we can really say on that front for now. Last day! See you at the fair.

Hello everyone, just a check-in to apologize for the delay in getting our weenies to the booth at NYCC! As of this posting, we have more than we did this morning, but still far from the whole set. Brian will be able to bring more (the rest, we hope?) On the bright side, we do now have bottles of Take A Knee and Flor De Maga for sale at the booth! We are very frightfully sorry to have kept you waiting, we know that a lot of people are specifically picking up for others and might not be here multiple days (or might just have something better to do than run back and forth all day to check on some Dead Leaves). We will post updates on social media first thing tomorrow to let you know if the whole set has arrived! In the meantime, we have loved seeing so many friendly faces. Hi from New York!

Hi gang, it's been a minute since we scented your activism (and/or your barely-stifled outrage), so here are two new causes to support via sniff. TAKE A KNEE ($26), which benefits the NAACP SINGLE NOTE: FLOR DE MAGA ($26), which benefits the Hispanic Federation's hurricane relief for Puerto Rico. Thanks so much, and enjoy the last gasp of your weekend!

The Big Apple. The Crossroads of the World. The city so nice, we came here twice in two years, instead of our customary biennial appearance. After three centuries, New York remains a crucible for identity and groundswell of activism. If you can manage to be somebody here, then you'll never be a nobody (unless you're The Nobodies, who plan on hosting a special meet-and-greet at our booth during this year's con). Here's our video announcement accompanying this roll-out of exclusive scents! ++ NEW YORK COMIC CON 2017 ($26 apiece) MANNAHATTA I was asking for something specific and perfect for my city, Whereupon, lo! upsprang the aboriginal name! Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient; I see that the word of my city is that word up there, Because I see that word nested in nests of water-bays, superb, with tall and wonderful spires, Rich, hemm’d thick all around with sailships and steamships—an island sixteen miles long, solid-founded, Numberless crowded streets—high growths of iron, slender, strong, light, splendidly uprising toward clear skies; Tide swift and ample, well-loved by me, toward sundown, The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, larger adjoining islands, the heights, the villas, The countless masts, the white shore-steamers, the lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-steamers well-model’d; The down-town streets, the jobbers’ houses of business—the houses of business of the ship-merchants, and money-brokers—the river-streets; Immigrants arriving, fifteen or twenty thousand in a week; The carts hauling goods—the manly race of drivers of horses—the brown-faced sailors; The summer air, the bright sun shining, and the sailing clouds aloft; The winter snows, the sleigh-bells—the broken ice in the river, passing along, up or down, with the flood tide or ebb-tide; The mechanics of the city, the masters, well-form’d, beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the eyes; Trottoirs throng’d—vehicles—Broadway—the women—the shops and shows, The parades, processions, bugles playing, flags flying, drums beating; A million people—manners free and superb—open voices—hospitality—the most courageous and friendly young men; The free city! no slaves! no owners of slaves! The beautiful city, the city of hurried and sparkling waters! the city of spires and masts! The city nested in bays! my city! The city of such women, I am mad to be with them! I will return after death to be with them! The city of such young men, I swear I cannot live happy, without I often go talk, walk, eat, drink, sleep, with them! - Walt Whitman I will return after death to be with them: the gleaming sharp scent of these high growths of iron, the amber of the bright sun shining, and broken ice on the river. BROADWAY What hurrying human tides, or day or night! What passions, winnings, losses, ardors, swim thy waters! What whirls of evil, bliss and sorrow stem, thee! What curious questioning glances—glints of love! Leer, envy, scorn, contempt, hope, aspiration! Thou portal—thou arena—thou of the myriad long-drawn lines and groups! (Could but thy flagstones, curbs, facades tell their inimitable tales); Thy windows, rich and huge hotels—thy side- walks wide; Thou of the endless sliding, mincing, shuffling feet! Thou, like the parti-colored world itself—like infinite, teeming, mocking life! Thou visor'd, vast, unspeakable show and lesson! Sheer white patchouli, passionate red musk, caramelized vanilla, black opium poppy, and lilac. ++ EVE’S BIG APPLE, REDUX ($26 apiece) But one pale woman all alone, The daylight kissing her wan hair, Loitered beneath the gas lamps’ flare, With lips of flame and heart of stone. I. White apple, cucumber, muguet, cherry blossom, and honeysuckle. II. Red apple, ylang ylang, opoponax, and myrrh. III. Gingered apple champagne. IV. Red apple, sweet patchouli, tobacco leaf, and amber. V. Apple blossom, white sandalwood, and oudh. VI. Apple, marshmallow, apricot, and sugar cane. VII. Apple cardamom cake. ++ BPTP: EVE’S BIG APPLE ($28 apiece) HONEYED APPLE HAIR GLOSS BLACK APPLE AND PATCHOULI HAIR GLOSS FRANKINCENSE APPLE HAIR GLOSS APPLE MARSHMALLOW HAIR GLOSS SUGARED APPLE BATH OIL

Hey all, in case you hadn't heard, Neil Gaiman's NEVERWHERE is being re-released with lovely illustrations by Chris Riddell on September 26th. You can pre-order the book here. We were lucky enough to have advance copies for people to drool over at last Friday's Lunacy event. We can't wait!

Ted's collection of Lilith tribute scents has arrived, joining Beth's which landed just before the tiny Virgo's actual birthday. Here's a quick video we made to help launch the scents! We will have them at tonight's L.A. Lunacy event and can't wait to see your shining faces.

Thanks to August Lunacy and then Dragon Con, two new names are being added to the BLACK BOOK hall of infamy. Congrats, Kerri Sernel and Christy Adair! You each win a 5ml of this rare blend: BLACK BOOK Hand-tooled leather and gold leaf, yellowed pages smeared with a sliver of black ink, and dusty balsam, all bound with a dark, smoky oudh. Your next opportunity to win will be this Friday's Lunacy event!

Hi all, in addition to our other LE's and other exciting treats, this Friday's Lunacy event at the Lab will be a chance to grab a rare BURNING BOOK Single Note, with proceeds benefiting the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. That's $26, same as in town.

Some proper Gazette-style action comin' atcha right here. *modem warbles*

Here are your September Lunacy scents, along with a humble reminder that you're invited to our L.A. September Lunacy: Banned Books event, which will raise funds for Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. In addition to these two seasonal blends, we're reposting one that's unfortunately just as timely as it was last week: our Bluebonnet single note, which benefits Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund Wear in good health, friends! ++ A LITTLE LUNACY LONG NIGHT MOON The nights are at their longest, the sky is at its darkest. The air is still with reflective silence. A bouquet of night-blooming flowers, petals dusted with frost. Cereus, datura and moonflower accord, night phlox, honeysuckle, silver thyme, nicotiana, pale tuberose, white mint, and blue musk. ++ SINGLE NOTE WHITE FIR BLUEBONNET