Classes
Class refers to your character’s choice of adventuring profession.
RPG Series
Illustrations by the inimitable Julie Dillon.
PERFUME OIL BLENDS
Presented in an amber apothecary vial
“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 — along with the atmosphere tools that Black Phoenix Trading Post has introduced — 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.
twopeople007 –
i cant believe i never reviewed this one! bard is quite nice on first impression! kinda of a sweet smell, with notes of wood. a little powdery, quite a nice musk mixing in with it all. sort of feels like the signature scent of someone i cant quite recall. a half forgotten but still pleasant memory
Mary Josphine Havlak Gray –
Wet: honey and rum (almost like mead) with a hint of… something else? Perhaps it’s the musk. Sweet, but just a hint mysterious.
Dry: Sweetness dies down and we start to get a little bit of warm, amber woodiness to the scent. A little bit like sunshine in early spring? Surprisingly wholesome and unisex. It smells… comfortably attractive. Like you’re spending time with someone you knew as a kid and is now a well-put-together adult. Unlike most bards, this scent has control over its life.
skjaere –
I was so excited to receive BARD as a frimp in my latest order, since it has been on my wishlist. It does not disappoint. The scent is delicate, fresh, and green, with just a hint of musk. It reminds me somewhat of a much lighter BELLADONNA, perhaps crossed with CALICO JACK. Would definitely reorder! 4/5
lilyjohnson1919 –
This is a really lovely scent, and to me it’s very nostalgic as it smells virtually identical to a bath salt I made in preschool. More than anything else I smell the honey, but overall it’s a very comforting and gentle sort of smell, and has notes that are almost floral to my nose, which must be the white musk. I’m glad I ordered this one!
Dessa Bell –
I bought this for my husband (currently playing a bard in our latest campaign). He gravitates to scents with a bit of sweetness (which are uncommon in commercial men’s cologne). Bard is perfect, it’s got your sexy musk with a lovely swirl of honey. On him, Bard starts very honey-sweet and ends with a mellow, sweet musk. He reaches for this one daily! I’ve sampled it as well and can confirm that this is a lovely, unisex fragrance
purveyorcolbyjack –
Musks tend to go very aggressive on me, and this one was surprisingly soft. It is a light musk, tempered by a sweet honey, and it has incredible staying power. As the day went on, I found that the musk and honey were still there, but further warmed up by a gentle wood undertone. It’s a very comfortable and pleasant scent, all cream and gold, and I would love to wear this in the evening.
Rebecca –
Ridiculously charismatic is right! Honey and silvery musk are the principal notes on me, with the rum and its spices, the woods, and the metallic note in the background. I’m an introvert but Bard is an extrovert, so I wear it when I need to channel some extra charm and self-confidence.
Gloame –
There’s a soft spice, and something almost crayon about this. White musk, maybe? It’s like a memory of fruit, played on a harp. “It was there a moment ago, but now the sound faded.” Dries down to a whisper-spice, a smear of honey, so very light and airy, almost musical. I never got any bay rum.
Where I’d wear it: Brunch on a boardwalk (Maine, not California)
trilobite –
This smell is cute, but I don’t think it’s “me”. It smells kind of like candy or cake (the honey) and booze (the bay rum). The musk is pretty nice, there’s also a strong spicy overtone I’m not sure how to place. Maybe the bay rum? Or whatever the horn brass is supposed to be? Either way it’s a large part of the smell. It kind of smells like some friends having a get together I guess. I definitely get the charisma thing they mentioned.
I’m not entirely sold but I think I’m warming up to the bard. I bet this scent could really shine on the right person.
[email protected] –
On me, this is a very honey forward blend with gentle hints of white musk and wood. Somewhat reminiscent of Anubis, but with musk instead of resins. Try blending this with others in the series – the results are worth it!
Jodi –
This is amazing!!! It is nothing how I expected it to be and I adore it!! It’s difficult for me to describe because I’m not familiar with either Bay Rum or White Musk. But it is soft and warm and snuggly. The honey makes it very sweet and there is a light musky vibe. There is nothing about this blend that is IN YOUR FACE. And I can see it becoming a new comfort and confidence scent for me!