Fifty-cent Head

Black Phoenix Trading Post gives me my one true love...

I am completely enamored of Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs and all related companies and products. I'm besotted and will tell anyone and everyone! And I thought I had found my One True Love before: Morocco. And I still love it! Then I thought I found my One True Love again: O. And that is a damn good scent. In fact, I love both of those oils so much I get stressed when they're running low. But now I need to add to the list. I have a new One True Love: TKO.

(image source)

TKO comes in an oil, available at BPAL, in the Pancea Collection. I can't wait to hit up the rest of that collection, man! But since we're focusing on Black Phoenix Trading Company products today, I thought I'd review TKO Pancea Massage Oil.

Sigh...

I don't even really know how to begin, because this is such a lovely blend I doubt I can do it justice (I faced the same problem launching my reviews of Morocco and O.

Basically, I haven't used this as a massage oil, as designed, instead putting it on generously before bed. It is, after all, called "TKO". The implication is that it's good for those headed to Dreamland. In fact, here is the Lab's description of the scent (note that there are no notes annotated):

Many things -- such as loving, going to sleep, or behaving unaffectedly -- are done worst when we try hardest to do them.

And it is true that this helps me sleep. And it helps me stay nice and calm. And I want a vat of it, and another of the perfume oil.

What does it smell like? A gigantic lavender marshmallow, actually. That's the best I can do. It's sweet and it's sugary and it's got a hint of lavender (really, only a hint - I don't love lavender, so I promise it's not much). It's not so foody that it makes me hungry, and not so sweet it makes me sick. It's perfect, actually, and it does exactly what I want it to do, while smelling good at the same time. (sometimes aromatherapy blends or "functional" scents tend to work, but aren't able to pull off a satisfying fragrance while doing it - not so at BPAL)

So, I guess what it boils down to is that I have Three True Loves and a bunch of slightly lesser loves queuing up just behind. Let's just say, I'm eagerly awaiting my next box of preciouses from BPAL, BPTP, or TAL (TAL is my next spree!).

[Editor's Note: I am not affiliated with Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs in any way. They have sent me items to test in the past, but I have also spent a good amount of money there, too. I just talk about them so much because I really do love them that much- not because someone's paying me to. The icons on my blog that lead you to BPAL are also my idea and are not a paid advertisement. I don't even know if anyone at the lab knows they're there, in fact.]"

Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs | Black Phoenix Trading Post

Falling into BPAL is like opening Pandora's Box - you never really know what you're going to get! If you're not familiar with Pandora, here's a brief: she was, according to the Greeks, the first woman. Blessed with curiosity, like most women are, she opened a jar* she was told not to open, unleashing evil** in the form of slander, vanity, greed, envy and pining.

*Yes, I said "jar". The phrase "Pandora's Box" is a hot mess, 'cause linguists tell us that it wasn't a box at all, instead a jar or jug. Blame Erasmus for the linguistic faux pas - it's his fault. 

 **Evil, eh? See how apropos "Pandora's Box" is for a discourse on BPAL? A quick walk through BPAL shows you the true meanings of vanity (want to smell good, attract a mate, look and feel gorgeous?), greed (ok, well maybe I'll just 6 more imps to this order!), envy (how did she get an aged bottle of Spooky 06!?), and pining (oh, I can't wait for my next order of the precious arrives! i can't sleep, I'm so excited!). I think the only thing BPAL didn't get from Pandora's box is slander, which is currently being monopolized by the presidential candidates.

Now look what you've done, you've distracted me, and I was attempting to explain something.

Ahem.

What I was saying was this: falling into BPAL is like opening Pandora's Jar. You never know what you're going to get. Just when you think you've gotten acclimated to the site - the general catalog and it's kazillion amazing oils, the poetry and prose, the art, the wit, the history lessons; just when you've picked your first imps and ordered your first bottle - BAM!: you discover The Forum! You dive in, hungrily reading review after review, delighting in the imagery (and the clever screen names). After some time, you come out of your self-imposed hibernation, feeling satisfied you've poked and prodded every little corner of the boards and learned everything you can about your fellow BPAL addicts, discontinued scents, and aging Snake Oil - BAM!: someone mentions The Trading Post.

SCREEEEECH!!!!

Back it up a second... what's that? "The Trading Post"!?

Yup. There's more. The Black Phoenix Trading Post. It's where you go to spend even more money experience even more BPALy goodness, of the non-perfume oil variety. There you will find:

• Lunacy t-shirts (and other clothing that pays tribute to your BPAL additction)
• Atmospheric Room and Linen Sprays
• BPAL soaps, bath goodies, massage oils and nail polish
• Scent lockets
• ID cases, cases for your imps, pouches for your precious
• Perfume oil bottle tops, shot glasses, notepads, keychains
• Gorgeous leather clutches, imp cases, and wrist gear
• And other creatures

And hopefully these other goodies, coming soon:

• Solid perfumes
• Boxes

NOTE: Black Phoenix Trading Post and Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs are not the same company, and so orders to one cannot be combined with orders to the other. Please make two separate orders!

I haven't even told you about TAL yet. That's for another day...
The savvy BPALer will find it,
but the rest of you can wait 'til that Pandora's Jug is opened for you! ;)

REVIEW: BPAL's O

O.

It means exactly what you're thinking it means. An O. The Big O. Oh, oh, oh! Oh, yeah...

This fragrance from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - who I adore, as you know - is simply incredible.

O
The scent of sexual obsession, slavery to sensual pleasure, and the undercurrent of innocence defiled utterly. Amber and honey with a touch of vanilla.

Could I have told you that the scent of sexual obsession was amber, honey and a dash of vanilla? Nope.

Could I have told you that those three scents would mix together in the most amazing way, leading one to name it something so spectacular as "O"? (For that's really a big name to live up to, now isn't it?) Nope.

Could I have told you that this would be my new obsession, my signature scent, the perfume I have been waiting for my whole life? Nope. But I'm telling you now.

This scent opens with a rich, poignant blast of amber - and a pure and lovely amber it is. The honey supports it in the nicest way, like an elegant dance partner or considerate lover. The vanilla winds through, tickling the two main scents but not taking over by any means, in fact it's hard to pin down.

If you don't like foody scents, don't worry- on me at least, the vanilla doesn't make this foody. It makes it rich. The honey doesn't make it treacle-y, it makes it deep.

O is something that woodland fairies drink. O is what Eden smelled like. O is the scent in the nape of a baby's neck. O is the way you feel after a long weekend in bed with your favorite bedtime playmate. O is a must-have scent...

You can buy O from BPAL - only $15 USD for a vial.

Found! My Holy Grail Mascara!

The other day, I opened my mail and found, unsolicited, a lovely treat! This package contained information from Clinique on their upcoming product launches and came with a sample of their new mascara. I was completely and utterly disinterested in the product sample because I find most mascaras a disappointment, but I decided to use the mascara 3 days later when I remembered it was there.

Read on for more information about my experience with the new Lash Power Mascara!