“And so he would now study perfumes, and the secrets of their manufacture, distilling heavily-scented oils, and burning odourous gums from the East. He saw that there was no mood of the mind that had not its counterpart in the sensuous life, and set himself to discover their true relations, wondering what there was in frankincense that made one mystical, and in ambergris that stirred one’s passions, and in violets that woke the memory of dead romances, and in musk that troubled the brain, and in champak that stained the imagination; and seeking often to elaborate a real psychology of perfumes, and to estimate the several influences of sweet-smelling roots, and scented pollen-laden flowers, or aromatic balms, and of dark and fragrant woods, of spikenard that sickens, of hovenia that makes men mad, and of aloes that are said to be able to expel melancholy from the soul.”
About the Lab
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab specializes in formulating intriguing, compelling body and household blends with a dark, romantic, and sexual tone. Our scents run the aesthetic gamut of romance era, Renaissance, Medieval and Victorian formulas, pagan and mythological blends, and horror / Gothic-themed scents. By utilizing our knowledge of homeopathy and aromatherapy, the conceptual theories of hermetic alchemy, and the aesthetic artistry of perfumery, we have mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences.
Inspired by a vast range of influences, from the passion and decadence of the
Fin de Siècle movement to the ghastliest of Lovecraftian monstrosities, we specialize in eliciting emotional responses through perfume and creating unique, masterfully molded scent environments that capture legends and folklore, poetry, and the stuff of dreams and nightmares.
Though we are at times campy, and sometimes very tongue-in-cheek, we never lose sight of our one true goal: moving the soul and spirit through the unbridled artistry of scent, and remaining unbound by conventional fashion.
Simply put: this is no ordinary perfume house.
Socially Conscious
We believe in compassionate consumerism, and in giving as much back to the community as we can through charitable contributions, volunteer work, and by supporting fair trade and self-sustaining growers whenever possible. We participate in the Green Power for a Green LA program at work and in our homes, and have participated in fundraisers for many fine organizations, including the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, the Orangutan Foundation UK, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Covenant House, the Red Cross, and the Humane Society.
Cruelty Free
With the exception of our honey-based products, everything that comes from BPAL is vegan, and we abhor animal testing. All products are tested on staff, family, and friends.
Black Phoenix Trading Post
Black Phoenix Trading Post is our sister company. They take care of our dry goods and beauty products, which includes perfume lockets, soaps, atmosphere sprays, bath oils, massage oils, nail polish, jewelry, socks and condom cases, wristbands, propaganda, paraphernalia, and t-shirts. All of their items are unique to the Black Phoenix family, and are hand-crafted.
On full moons that fall on a weekday, the lunacy event is held from 6pm til 9pm. When the full moon falls on a weekend, hours are from 4 to 7pm. These hours are subject to change, based on scheduling conflicts. Hours are announced within a fortnight of the full moon on the bpal.org forum, our livejournal announcement community, and is sent to everyone on our mailing list.
Artists
The artwork featured on our web site was created by various artists, including Beresford Egan, Aubrey Beardsley, Felicien Rops, Harry Clarke, Albrecht Durer, John Tenniel, Andreas Vesalius, Julie Dillon, Sarah Coleman, Alicia Dabney, Tanya Bjork, Abigail Larson, Brian Kesinger, Aiden Casserly, Vera Brosgol, Enrique Alcatena, Jennifer Rodgers, Renae de Liz, Andrew Fogel, and Madame Talbot. A million thanks to these artists for their creations and for what their work inspires in us.
Praecluserant
Our goal, both at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and Black Phoenix Trading Post, is to share the things that we love through the products we create while participating in imaginative, conscience-driven capitalism.