It’s been such a fun week exploring the fragrance artistry of our sponsor, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. If, like me, you are lucky enough to own their most magical brews you’ll understand why I get so giddy over them. I’m constantly asked what perfume I’m wearing (often with very expensive guesses) and I always get to reply, “Oh, neutral rogue. You know.”
That said, our final highlight is a particular thrill for me to share because it has to do with one of my favorite things in the world: steampunk. The Steamworks collection puts its own spin on the genre du jour, offering a wide array of swoon-worthy scents. The illustrations in this collection come courtesy of Mlle. Julie Dillon, who captures the mad science and beautiful machinery of this imagined future past.
Steampunk has served as an inspiration for countless artists, authors, and creatives, but I admit I’d never considered just exactly what it’d smell like. Of course, BPAL has, and the result is spellbinding as usual.
Each comes with its own description, and I’ve provide a few for your perusal, along with the beautiful art.
AELOPILE
Smoldering coals heat the device from below, and steam hisses through two curved pipes, rotating the shining brass sphere.
Glowing amber and citrus, labdanum, verbena, cedar, and oud.
GALVANIC GOGGLES
Golden goggles fitted with zinc and copper plates dangle heavily by their leather straps from a hook mounted to the wall. Its crystal lenses are effulgent with residual electric energy.
Metallic notes with Indian musk, tobacco flower, and African balsam.
THE ROBOTIC SCARAB
Pinpoints of red light beaming from its eyes scan the room, and in a flutter of leather wings, it scuttles across the wooden floorboards.
Polished metallic notes, glossy leather, frankincense, star anise, and thin lubricating oils.
When it comes to BPAL, we’ve only been able to scratch the surface of their talents this week. Be sure to check out their website for the full list of their offerings. And special thanks to those alchemists of the scentual for sponsoring us this week.
