I was desperate. I had to get my hands on some new smell- so- goods. I couldn't wait so I asked the friendly neighborhood witch doctor if she had any perfume samples she didn't want. She loves the Imps from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. (or B-Pal as she calls it) because they have "mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences"(http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com) These Imps are vials of essential oil not diluted with water or alcohol. I was okay with anything at this point, and greedily grabbed the vials she had decided just weren't for her.
These Imps are either love it or hate it. Out of about eight or nine Imps, I found three that passed my initial smell test. Great names! Queen of Sheba, Dragon's Claw and Poisoned Apple. They smell phenomenal and because they are small compact vials of pure oils, will travel well in your purse. Queen of Sheba smells of almonds and sandalwood, with some cream and honey notes. It would also make a great summery beach smell for a bohemian lady. It makes me feel like I am laying about in a beautiful Middle Eastern palace being waved with palm fronds. Dragon's Claw is the one that I have taken to carrying in my makeup bag. Although it is also based in sandalwood, this one contains dragon's blood, a resin from a kind of tree found in the Canary Islands. If you like wood based oriental scents, you may love this. Poisoned Apple. Do you like apples? Do you love the fall? This is the smell of biting into a crisp tangy Granny Smith apple with just a whisper of mint in the air. I think I could only really wear this during a few weeks in September or October when the moon was in Libra. If you like fresh fruit perfumes you will love this.
I would definitely recommend having a look at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab website. The themes and collections are incredible. Mad Tea Party, Neil Gaiman, Wanderlust. Illyria. Steampunk. They really try to capture the essence. I can't wait to get my hands on some more vials of magic potion.
