Moving counter-clockwise through the room, you come upon the next stage. The backdrop is shredded, and seems to have been torn in a fury. On the remaining half of the canvas, you can barely make out a faded illustration of the sun setting over a pyramid. On the center of the platform, an elaborate golden sarcophagus has been set upright and propped up towards the edge of the stage. Beside it, upon the ground, sits a hooded lantern. A woman’s image is painted on the front of the sarcophagus, and upon the gold limned body, a tale is being told in hieroglyphics: scenes of murder, carnage, and grotesque, mad passion. Although you do not know the language, the inscription upon the tomb translates within your mind, and the words burn behind your eyes as if they were written in blood and fire: “The Guardian will never part the veil for her soul. Mighty Sutekh, have pity on us all.” A thin, dark-skinned man wearing a linen loincloth climbs onto the stage. His form is frail and withered, he is impossibly old, yet his long, straight hair is as black as the night skies. With solemn, reverential gravity, he slowly moves the casket lid aside. Within the box, you see a skeletal figure wrapped in stained, ragged cloths, draped in a mauve cloth. The dark-skinned man bends low, and lights the lanterna magica. From within the glass, images begin to form, and glowing alchemical symbols cast their eerie light onto the mummy. As the lights touch the creature, the desiccated body swells, and with horrific, agonizing slowness, a woman’s form begins to appear within the wrappings. At her chest, the rotted wrappings burst, exposing sinew and the glinting white bones of her ribs. Her hands reach towards her face, and with a screech of agony and eons-long rage, she tears the gauze from her glittering black eyes.
The perfume of life-in-death: embalming herbs, black myrrh, white sandalwood, black orchid, paperwhites, olive blossom, tomb dust, and Moroccan jasmine.
Mystina –
This is the most beautiful combination of Jasmine and Rose I think there is. It’s my unicorn, I’ve been seeking it since I first got in to BPAL, and a friend mailed Nyx to me as a Halloween Cheer-me-up present…. It smells exactly like a product Lush used to make called Fever, which smelled so heavenly. This is a scent that reminds you of old Hollywood. Lipstick, roses, and jasmine. It’s glorious. The Myrrh ties it all in. I’m going to have to get a bottle! The best thing is, my friend didn’t even know about my long time search for all things Fever. This is the perfect balance of Rose and Jasmine. I don’t know how you do it, Beth.
VetchVespers –
This is a nice, medium weight, romantic floral. It starts out very strong on a lemony, sharp jasmine note, but this calms down and blends with a soft rose. The myrrh adds some depth and a bit of resinous sweetness. It’s in the same family as Black Rose and Obsidian Widow to my nose, but is lighter and more classic.
Angela –
Wanted an every day jasmine that wasn’t overpowering. Found it. I’ve gone through my imp that I got in November, so needless to say, I’m getting a full bottle. 😀 The myrrh really makes this something special, and my obsession with incense just helps it along the way.
xaglow –
I liked this one. The jasmine was nice, not too overpowering and cloying as it is want to do sometimes. I dries very nicely into a light jasmine smell that’s not too powdery or flowery.
callipsofacto –
This is one of my all time favorite scents. It’s sexy in a subtle way, not too forward, lasts a decently long time.
Nuri –
With a name like Nyx and the dark amber color of the juice I was weary of the sample I received. I was expecting a stink bomb. Instead of a heady dark scent it was a rather lovely jasmine that has had some of its sharpness clipped by a slight herby note that I assume is the myrrh. This I think is brilliant because I tend to avoid jasmine perfumes because they come across too shrill.