(no subject)

[austin_tycho]

I've mixed up 4 of the perfume oils from Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs (herein referred to BPAL because it's shorter, dammit). I spray-ized Lust, Scorpio. Typhon, and Masquerade. I mixed the sample with 1/8 oz. of everclear and 1/8 oz of water. Unfortunately, this may be too diluted, because the scents don't seem to stick around for very long at all. But it's cool- I can just spray more on and if I grow to like something enough I'll quit being a cheap-skate and get a 5 oz. bottle.

I'm trying to decide if I like any of them enough though. I've shoved my sprayed arm under several noses and get the same reaction every time- "Oh, that's nice." which beats "you smell like a cheap whore!" or projectile vomiting, but it's not that informative. Hub honestly doesn't seem to care about perfume at all (though he doesn't object when I wear it) so this is all going to be for my benefit mostly.

The Scorpio is still pretty fruity. I like Lust, though it's a little too sweet; probably because of the myrrh. Typhon is nice too, but it seems to fade even more quickly than the others. I'll try Masquerade tomorrow.

Comments

Hmmm

[annes3.livejournal.com]

Shouldn't it be called "muskarade?!"

Re: Hmmm

[mielikki.livejournal.com]

Maybe but that's cool; I like musk and patchouli and scents like that.

[contentlove.livejournal.com]

I appreciated your descriptions of the oils, and noted that it's unlikely that I'd ever order from that company: the words "soapy" and "perfumy" appeared waaaaaaaayyyy too often.

They're the scent notes I do not under any circumstances want in my oils. Unfortunately, they're more the rule than the exception for many companies, including a couple run by good friends of mine. They send me samples. They probably wonder why I don't order, or wear them more than once. Afaic, no oil should smell like my nana's nasty old cologne bottles.

And I'm wondering about the fading effect. Either you've got things too dilute, or the oils were already dilute/suspect before you mixed them with water/alcohol.

I'm sorry if this all seems very negative, but I'm constantly on a quest for pure scents.

[mielikki.livejournal.com]

I was a little surprised too; most of the scents I ordered had patchouli and similar scents in them but you couldn't tell a lot of the time. If any of them did sound like something you want to try, I'd be happy to let you have some of the sample (except for the 4 I mixed up).

As to the fading, I know I mixed them up pretty diluted. One of the suggestions I read was 4 parts of carrier to 1 part oil, but I had 1/32 oz. in a sample and the smallest increment of measuring in my beaker thingy was 1/8 (and I wanted enough to be able to spray from the 1 oz. bottles I had), so it's twice as diluted as it should be. But it gives me a pretty good idea. I may end up buying 5ml of Masquerade which is probably my favorite so far.

In any event, I have 2 other sources for you if you're interested.

5th Element is run by someone on my friends list (takarosa) and she also has a community for it (5th_element). She is the lady who sent me my spearmint oil, and I've enjoyed other goodies from her as well. I haven't tried any of her perfume oils, but she really knows her stuff so it might be worth it.

Devonshire also sells perfume oils. Sadly, their website kind of sucks and there is no description of the oils aside from their name and if it's a blend, resin, or pure essential oil. It's easy enough when the name is 'Rose' but what does 'Gypsy Moon' smell like? Nevertheless, they are local and you know about their incense- it's quality. Their Satyr oil is really hot stuff, IMHO. They do local renn faires (I think they do TRF every year) so you could visit and sample the stuff that way too.