RPG Series

The RPG Series
Illustrations by the inimitable Julie Dillon.

“You all meet at an inn…

Pen and paper role-playing games have been a tremendous influence in my life since my formative years. My parents bought me the magenta D&D boxed set back in 1982, along with the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. My lifelong passion for fantasy, science fiction, war games, and mythology was well-channeled through RPGs, and I credit playing D&D with helping me sustain my imagination and sense of wonder through adulthood.

I played with one particular group through the bulk of my late teens and early 20s, and this series was inspired, specifically, by the time that we spent campaigning together. Our group was somewhat prop-driven in our gaming: we felt that setting a mood was conducive to our style of gameplay. Little things like changes in lighting, minor sound effects, and music made a world of difference, and we found that utilizing miniatures, model railroad scenery, and other tools in order to physically illustrate strategies and provide visual cues was tremendously useful. How much more immersive would it have been if we’d been able to smell the crypt we were crawling through? Or the stench of steel and blood that permeates a warrior’s cloak? What do the wizard’s spell components smell like? What does winter in the desert smell like? Or spring in a druid’s sanctuary?

Pen and paper role playing games are, to me, dynamic stories that are propelled by the active participation of many individuals. You can’t have a strong storyline without creating characters of some depth. When you create a character, you generally have their personalities, priorities, and history in mind, along with a clear vision of what your character looks and sounds like. But how does she smell? What does the world around her smell like?

In most pen and paper fantasy RPGs, three of the primary attributes that you must choose for your character are race, class, and alignment. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s RPG scent series was designed to emulate the character creation process, and are meant to be layered in order to create a character concept. In short: you layer your class, race, and the two fragrances that compose your alignment to construct your character scent. RPGs in all their myriad forms – CRPGs, MMOs, and old school pen and paper – have brought me immeasurable joy. This is my homage. This series is dedicated to my first DMs – my parents – for laughing off the nutter-perpetuated AD&D Satan Scare of the 80’s. Thanks for taking the time to play with your little girl. I miss you, and I love you.

Updated Autumn 2019! –
Customize your perfect character scent! Our RPG collection has now expanded to include six more character classes – each available in three different labels, featuring different gender options in the artwork. Just select whichever you want from the product’s drop-down menu: F, M, or NB. The scents available with the new label options: Artificer, Assassin, Berzerker, Monk, Psionicist, and Sorcerer.

The scent isn’t affected; the only difference is the label art.

This feature will be coming soon to all the rest of the previous blends! Many thanks to Julie Dillon for the illustrations!

RPG Series

The RPG Series
Illustrations by the inimitable Julie Dillon.

“You all meet at an inn…

Pen and paper role-playing games have been a tremendous influence in my life since my formative years. My parents bought me the magenta D&D boxed set back in 1982, along with the Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. My lifelong passion for fantasy, science fiction, war games, and mythology was well-channeled through RPGs, and I credit playing D&D with helping me sustain my imagination and sense of wonder through adulthood.

I played with one particular group through the bulk of my late teens and early 20s, and this series was inspired, specifically, by the time that we spent campaigning together. Our group was somewhat prop-driven in our gaming: we felt that setting a mood was conducive to our style of gameplay. Little things like changes in lighting, minor sound effects, and music made a world of difference, and we found that utilizing miniatures, model railroad scenery, and other tools in order to physically illustrate strategies and provide visual cues was tremendously useful. How much more immersive would it have been if we’d been able to smell the crypt we were crawling through? Or the stench of steel and blood that permeates a warrior’s cloak? What do the wizard’s spell components smell like? What does winter in the desert smell like? Or spring in a druid’s sanctuary?

Pen and paper role playing games are, to me, dynamic stories that are propelled by the active participation of many individuals. You can’t have a strong storyline without creating characters of some depth. When you create a character, you generally have their personalities, priorities, and history in mind, along with a clear vision of what your character looks and sounds like. But how does she smell? What does the world around her smell like?

In most pen and paper fantasy RPGs, three of the primary attributes that you must choose for your character are race, class, and alignment. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab’s RPG scent series was designed to emulate the character creation process, and are meant to be layered in order to create a character concept. In short: you layer your class, race, and the two fragrances that compose your alignment to construct your character scent. RPGs in all their myriad forms – CRPGs, MMOs, and old school pen and paper – have brought me immeasurable joy. This is my homage. This series is dedicated to my first DMs – my parents – for laughing off the nutter-perpetuated AD&D Satan Scare of the 80’s. Thanks for taking the time to play with your little girl. I miss you, and I love you.

Updated Autumn 2019! –
Customize your perfect character scent! Our RPG collection has now expanded to include six more character classes – each available in three different labels, featuring different gender options in the artwork. Just select whichever you want from the product’s drop-down menu: F, M, or NB. The scents available with the new label options: Artificer, Assassin, Berzerker, Monk, Psionicist, and Sorcerer.

The scent isn’t affected; the only difference is the label art.

This feature will be coming soon to all the rest of the previous blends! Many thanks to Julie Dillon for the illustrations!

RPG Series - RPG Beard Oil

RPG Beard Oil
  • dwarven lustre

    Dwarven Lustre Beard Oil

    Dwarves have the highest standards in beard care, and we aim to please even the grimmest and grouchiest of the lot. Patchouli root, golden amber coins, jewel-bright red musk, mineral oudh, and sweet ale.

    Add to cart
  • lich please

    Lich, Please Beard Oil

    Even the undead need to look sharp. Crypt moss and coffin wood, incense smoke and shards of bone.

    Add to cart
  • supahwizard

    Supahwizard Beard Oil

    Are you a famous, gruff, all-powerful sage shacked up in a quaint local village, dispensing advice to adventurers? Have you sent any hobbits on quests? Died battling epic demons, only to rise again? Are you the wisest, most venerable wizard in town? Well, you don’t have to be – but you can fake it with our Supahwizard Beard Oil!

     

    Frankincense, sweet pipe tobacco, and the well-worn leather and parchment of ancient tomes.

    Add to cart

RPG Series - An Orc, a Drow, and a Bog Witch Walk Into a Tavern…

In 2020, Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast took steps toward building a more inclusive series of fantasy gaming worlds–one that represents a wider array of belief systems, gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and cultures. One of the major changes they implemented is that there are no longer any inherently evil races. Wizards of the Coast recognized that the monstrous characterization of specific in-game races hit too close to the real world experiences of many of us who belong to minority racial and ethnic groups.

While it may not seem like a huge deal to some, I know how much this meant to me.

Of course, many of us had already been playing goblins and dark elves as PCs, but this statement by WotC officially frees orcs, drow, goblins, and other woefully typecast baddies to explore a broader spectrum of morality during gameplay.

This decision by Wizards of the Coast resulted in much wailing and gnashing from the usual grotesque underbellies of the internet, but if one looked beyond the online theatrics, it was also possible to sense a deep exhale throughout the gaming world.

We want to celebrate this fresh and complex exploration of the range of ethics, virtues, and cultures in fantasy role playing games and literature. What stories could now be told? Where might an orc turn to find inner peace? How might a bugbear give back to their community?

Illustrations by Julie Dillon!

RPG Series - Atmosphere Spray

RPG Series - Adventuring Gear

A growing selection of adventuring gear, character-specific items, and dungeoneering accessories to further personalize your character!

RPG Series - Alignment

Alignment refers to your character’s ethics: which way does his or her moral compass point? There are two aspects to alignment: law vs. chaos, and good vs. evil. Does your character respect authority and venerate tradition? She’s likely Lawful. Does she value personal freedom above all else? Chaotic. Does your character give alms to the poor and protect the innocent? He’s Good. Is your character of a mercenary bend, willing and eager to step on others to get ahead? Evil. A character that is Neutral (or any combination of Neutral) either finds perfect balance in their worldview, or is apathetic towards the constraints of either good and evil or law and chaos. A lawful neutral character values the letter of the law above any concern for good or evil, and the chaotic neutral character is, generally, driven completely by a desire for absolute freedom. Sometimes they’re just nuts.

RPG Series - Classes

Class refers to your character’s choice of adventuring profession.

RPG Series - Races

In gaming terms, choosing your character’s race means you will select which sentient species you would like to belong to.