Without repeating other posters excessively, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (BPAL) is the perfuming brainchild of Beth Barrial. The line of perfume oils (much more concentrated fragrance than perfume or cologne) offered by BPAL is inspired by literature, mythology and the occult, with oils such as "Anubis", "Veil", "Snake Oil" and "Illyria". The smells are interesting, unusual and, as many others have said, highly addictive. Since most of the business is done online, I'm not going to talk about that. What I will discuss is the Full Moon Open House. This event is held once a month on, you guessed it, the full moon. It is the only time you will have in-person access to the entire collection (or a substantial portion of the 600+ perfume oils). Currently, this is being held at Dark Delicacies in Burbank. The Open Houses are popular. Not surprising given that trying to determine what perfume you like just by reading a description on a website can be kind of dicey (Magus sounded really good...but I didn't care for it at all). When you enter the store who do you see? Voluptuous goth girls! Nerdy English Lit Majors! Geeks of all stripes! All chattering and smelling and huddling around the 600 tiny 5ml vials of perfume oil. It can be very fun and a little harrowing...those ladies (mostly ladies) can detect an opening around those perfume oils in a millisecond. And watch out, 'cause you're going to get squished. The oils start at 17.50 for a vial. This may seem expensive, but the oil is super concentrated and will probably last a year (or more), even if you use a tiny bit almost every day. And the fun part is that when you buy a 5ml vial, they will give you a handful (8-15) of "Imp's Ears", tinier sample vials of random scents. Definitely a fun smelling experience. read more

Ordered online, the site is easy to navigate and the perfume came in a reasonable time with very secure packaging. The quality is incredible and the company took the time to add in a couple extra samples of scents that related to the rather large order than me and a few friends placed together. Definitely a cool group and I'm excited to try more of their scents. read more

Some people crave chocolate. Some people crave cigarettes. Some people crave heroin. I crave Black Phoenix Alchemy. Seriously!! I have to hold myself back from visits because not only can I lose hours with them, I will gladly spend a ton of $ I don't have because the scents are *that* alluring! What's more is that I know I'll be satisfied and in love with at least 9 out of 10 of what I order (the descriptions are very reflective of what you'll experience with the scent). There's an entire cult, I mean *scene* devoted to people describing their experiences with scents, not unlike Yelp. Not that Yelp is at all a cult, of course. We're talking savvy, articulate people passionate about scents, specifically. People are all about their BPAL scents. My favorites (and I'm a fan of less floral, more spicy/sweet scents): Jazz Funeral (if anything can conjure up images of a hot, humid, fragrant evening in New Orleans, it's this) Blood Kiss (voluptuous cherry scent) Smut (limited Valentines scent) Dollgirl (limited Carnivale Diabolique scent that smells like sweet, sugary orange blossoms) Midnight at the Midway (also Carnivale Diabolique, very exquisite mysterious sweet scent that combines all the sweet scents you'd imagine at a raucous Midway...minus the garbage and offal of course). Last night I unpacked my collection of bottles and imps (samples) and spent an hour doing so. It was a very loving task. Surely you're enticed now? Check out the website and thank me later! read more

As has been said, this is not a very physical store; it's primarily online. BPAL creates a truly enormous variety of wonderfully, uniquely blended, all natural, pure perfume oils for both genders. Any possible type of scent that you can imagine, whether it be sweet, foody, floral, citrusy, green, ozone-y, herbal, aquatic - or any combination of these - can be found on the BPAL website. Some oils contain just a few notes which stand out distinctly in stark simplicity; others are complex blends of many notes that resemble more traditional perfumes in their amorphism. The Lab puts great thought and precision not only into the actual creation of the oils, but also the choosing of a name and crafting of the description. These are not just scents; they are concepts brought to sensual life. Every mood you could want to feel or project, can be found amongst the oils, often magically so. These vivid qualities of the oils and their sheer breadth of variety make them so wonderfully unique. A warning: these oils are beyond addictive, and while the individual bottles are reasonably priced ($15-$27), collecting them and seeking out limited edition/discontinued scents can become a very expensive endeavour. read more

Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - Peacock Queen, Fruit of Paradise, Angeronalia - Cosmetics & Beauty Supply Near Me

I've been buying BPAL for a long time. Nearly a decade. I've tried hundreds of their scents and keep coming back (well, online) to try more as they are released. I'm not as much of a collector as others are - I usually try and move on unless it's a scent I could see myself wearing on a regular basis. I have very easily triggered migraines as well as a number of allergies. Very nearly every big-name perfume I've tried has failed miserably for me - migraines in the high-end stuff, simply smelling terrible (plus migraines) in the low-end stuff. I don't have any of that trouble with BPAL oils. I also find that I don't bother others around me and it's easier for me to put on an amount that can be smelled if you're in my personal space but not really outside of that. If you're looking for scents that will be unique to you and your skin - this is a great company to check out. The fans of this company (easily found at the forums linked from the website) are very friendly, very helpful, and very generous people. The folks who work at BPAL are all super-helpful. Go to the forum and let the fans help you pick out some of the hundreds of scents they have available to try - you might even find one you can't live without. read more

What everyone else said. I feel silly reviewing 'cuz it's so obvious this place rocks. I actually would suggest going to the location once. Not to order, just to take in the experience of smelling such amazing scents and chatting with the people. I walked away with about 7 different gorgeous perfumes. And if I had the money, I'd have bought every vial in the place. read more

Finally, I can review BPAL...and a review from a male! Don't get it twisted fellas, BPAL is not solely for the ladies. I guarantee any single neutral scent from BPAL will outweigh any "Polo", "Chanel" or even "Tom Ford" scents we shell out on. Trust me. A friend turned me onto BPAL a couple of years ago. She walked into the restaurant we were meeting at and from the door I could smell this beautiful and exhilarating scent which only got stronger as she neared the table (btw, it was The Manuscript from the Crimson Peak series). Immediately I asked her "GIRL, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU WEARING?!" and she unveiled the story of BPAL in all it's majestic glory! A sucker for scents with a massive collection of my own from all over the world, I was hooked from that first whiff. Now I have a small but ongoing collection of BPAL scents all ridiculously amazing. Processing time is a bit in length but only because everything is mixed by hand so that it's fresh and long lasting. $17.50 for a 5ml bottle that will last you a year or more, is what we call INEXPENSIVE! Especially for their quality and brilliant array of tantalizing scents! AND, the absolute best customer service around. Had an issue with a gift card that was responded to and rectified in less than 24 hours. You've got a fan, lover, and more importantly customer for life BPAL! read more

First off, let me say I have been using BPAL since 2004. This stuff never gets old, and I am on the edge of my seat reading each and every new update. A perfume company to end all other perfume companies. This isn't Ralph Lauren or Calvin Klein, with 5 scents or so. This isn't even Bath and Body Works, with 50. There are literally hundreds of different scents to choose from. Which one (or hundred) will work for you? Price-wise it may seem expensive considering the amount and the price, but most people can make a bottle last at least a couple of months to a year. As far as I'm concerned, the QUALITY makes it well worth it. I'll go as far as to say it's the French Laundry of perfume oils. The only real downside is that the company attracts pretty much the outcasts of society, and it becomes painfully obvious on their fan-run forum. Left-wing extremists, hardcore goths, comic book and literary dorks, the extremely fat, the extremely skinny, the extremely gay, the extremely pro or anti ANYTHING are all pretty much welcome here. And I've found that if you're NOT any of these things, you will probably not feel welcome. Of course, not by the owners, but by the clientele. Fortunately, BPAL shopping is essentially done over the internet, and it's not a necessary part of the experience to go to events or be involved in the forum. I hope this doesn't get taken the wrong way, I mean, I do give BPAL 5 stars! And of course, the fact that I even felt the need to add a disclaimer is indicative of the overall mood of the clientele/fans/angry mob when something rubs them the wrong way. Enjoy the scents, appreciate the artistry behind their creation, trade em if you hate em, and either love or hate the forum. read more

Ah, Black Phoenix Alchemy...how do I love thee? Let me smell the ways... I can (and have) spend hours here perusing their novella-esque scent descriptions. Seriously. They're like ancient grimoires of olfactory joy. Because of these epic and evocative nosepoems, I'm always happy with at least 90% of what I order. I very much appreciate how it isn't just a scent they are creating, but an atmosphere, an aura. Whatever, I'm hooked. Plus, they always throw in a few 'imps' (samples) so I'm bound to fall in love with something else before I know it. Sigh... Scent is very important to me, and it is obviously important to them (and to the legions of fans that bespeak the gospel on their forum pages as well). I have found no other (affordable) perfumer that takes such good care as Black Phoenix Alchemy. Every year I'm continually surprised by the special limited edition scents they concoct for various seasons and occasions. Also--their customer service is TOP NOTCH. I placed an order for what I think will be my new favorite scent (A Countenance Forboding Evil) but they accidentally shipped me the wrong bottle. Now, not only are they shipping me the correct item at no extra shipping charge, they're letting me keep the errant bottle on the house. Nicely done, BPAL, nicely done. read more

Don't try to go to the physical location; Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, or BPAL, is only open every so often (roughly around the time of the full moon). _Do_ visit their website. Frequently. Today. http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com BPAL sells essential oils. It's perfume for people with functioning noses and functioning brains. Not only are these perfume oils locally made and vegan, they're absolutely incredible. I used to read the news, or blogs, or books (those things with paper and bindings). Now I read the advertising copy at the BPAL website. Good Lord- talk about eloquent, stirring, adventurous, and different! Want to smell like Baghdad? How about a Hellcat? Want to try a VooDoo potion? Maybe you want to smell like Shakespeare's Ophelia. BPAL perfumes evoke a sense of place, or a concept, or a mythical/historical figure. They're reasonably priced: for about twenty bucks you can get a six-pack of sample sizes. For fifteen dollars, you can get a bottle of their general catalogue perfume. Watch out for the limited editions and the full moon blends! Keep a keen eye out for their special runs of thematic scents. Hanker for the updates. Hit refresh- and join the forums! More to the point: The perfume oils are wonderful, and you should buy some. The BPAL forums are a great community with generous members. BPAL deliveries take a long time to get to your door (sometimes more than a month!) but the wait is worth it. The website is engaging and offers hours of fun exploration. Perusing all those scents takes forever- and is a lot of fun. Fear addiction to BPAL- even if you've never been a perfumey type of person. BPAL really gets you. read more

It's CRACK! The best kind of crack though. This crack smells good. and comes in tiny tiny bottles with beautiful labels , tiny vials with tags, assorted soaps of special scents, and bath bombs to fizzy up your bath. The best thing is going to Will call where you can actually smell to your hearts delight and get an order filled right away. Beware its crowded and like all crack, its not cheap. I would plan a visit to LA just around the lab being open. read more

Oh, BPAL, smelly wonderful addictive crack. You don't need to be a goth to like their scents. Nor be female - this male likes a good many of their oils and soaps as well. With a line of scents based on fantasy, horror, the occult, philosophy, and religion, there's a wide variety of scents to choose from. They *do* tend to be a bit costy ($3.50 for a sample "imp", up to $19 for a bottle), but worth it. Soaps and "fizzy bomb" bath salts are also available. For LA residents, they are open at the full moon to introduce their latest scents and do "will call" to pick up orders. The only reasons they don't get five stars? The price and the fact it can take up to four weeks for mail orders. read more

Perfumes are slightly expensive, but with most stores doing away with their essential oils for ........ what? (I don't even like to consider it!), it's a good deal. I wish there were more fruit scents. More candy! I crave what I cannot eat! I bought my mom several of these for mother's day to try, and she's hooked now too. In general, it seems to be that you get an idea of the smells that are overpowering for your body and simply avoid those oils for the ones that smell good instead. I was nice enough to have a friend who was willing to send me several imps (Thanks Nadia!). I can understand how the price would be a deterrent to those without this support, but the scent boards are a great asset for the buyer in this situation. read more

I could truly go bankrupt if I allow myself to wander BPAL's website. But through the years, I've learned that my body chemistry really does not like the same scents I buy unsniffed based on notes alone. And after trading/selling most of them off, I've become good with sticking with what I know works. What might that be, you ask? SAMHAIN. OMG but I love this scent!! No, really! I am not a fan of the autumn season but since 2003, Samhain has given me new reason to enjoy the cooling temps, falling leaves, and shorter days. Like other reviewers, I subtracted a star for their ever-increasing prices. I cannot imagine the overhead incurred to warrant the price tag on a 1/6 of an ounce of perfume oil. But, as any BPAL fan knows, mix it, and they will come. read more

Girly crap with a brain, finally. I am sure other people have discovered BPAL and thought to themselves, "I'd swear, this company was made just for me. Me alone. Not you. Me." Typically, around the full moon, the brick and mortar store will open it's doors to the public. You can often find Beth and the other lab rats at events like Bats Day to do a little sniffing and shopping. Le Pink in Silverlake also carries some catalog items. When BPAL announces a day they'll be open, be sure to check the hours as they're limited then place your order, especially if you want imps, via the site. You can also just browse and decide from the dozens of sample bottles in the shop what strikes your fancy. It's best to come prepared with some idea of what you like or want because it's just too much to go through. They are usually extremely generous with frimps - free with purchase imps. read more

I imagine the master perfumers at BPAL to be like this guy, (minus the murdering part): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NQsCG1NwYg I ordered 6 imp samples before I commit to a full bottle. Lord knows how sad I would be if I ordered a bottle with a cool name like "good fortune", only to find out it made me smell like I just stepped out of a fortune tellers tent. So far, I'm digging "pride" and "bliss". "Pride" really does make me feel proud..to be smelling so fresh & so clean clean. I love how I can smell the different notes in each layer within the fragrance. "Bliss" makes me smell like I just stepped out of a chocolate factory. Mmm. Pride lasts all day, whereas "Bliss" goes MIA late afternoon. Kind of sounds like real life, eh? "Lust"..totally was banking on this one making me smell like one sexy bitch, but it made me a smelly bitch. Now, now..perhaps this one will work better with your skin chemistry, but, on me...epic fail. I will have no one lusting for me unless they are devoid of a functional olfactory system. They had these cool voodoo concoctions that I was tempted to order, but then I started thinking about that movie with Kate Hudson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiugxNeXj2Y), became concerned about my karma and decided against it. I suggest you try before you buy - samples first, full size after you find a scent you are koo koo about! read more

Don't touch my sniffies and no one gets hurt! BPAL has a cult like following. I have a number of their glorious scents and many of us horde and trade them. We covet them and they've become a near obsession to me. Why? Because Beth creates so many truly scrumptious and imaginative oils. Each scent is like a work of art - many are sensual, complex and heady. With over 1000 scents in their current product line - there are many limited, special editions and seasonal oils. The scent lines have themes and each scent has a fanciful generally poetic description. Since I live far away, I haven't been lucky enough to go to their full moon open call at their Hollywood lab. Ordering a scent based on website descriptions is very difficult and I've been lucky to attend a number of cons where BPAL is vending. My personal favorite scents are: black rose, snake oil, gingerbread poppet and my most favorite boomslang. read more

This company makes gorgeous perfumes. Really unique, fabulously crafted scents, with the odd bottle of bath oil and bar of soap, too. Their online store is open 24/7, but be aware that if you place an order their turnaround time could be anywhere from a couple of weeks to (occasionally) a couple of months, depending on how busy they are. They have a huge variety of general catalog scents, and every month, they release a new round of limited editions. Pricing for 5ml bottles are generally $15 - $30. Once a month (usually on the full moon!) the Lab's location in North Hollywood is open for a few hours to sell directly to the public, and this is the only time you're able to go there to buy your goodies in person. BTW, Marcy was wrong when she said they were at the Black Broom in NoHo - the Black Broom has been closed since fall 2005, and though Enchanted Deva's has taken it's place, they do not stock Black Phoenix oils or products. read more

Addictive? Yes. Decadent? Yes. Top Quality? Yes. I was introduced to BPAL a few years ago by a friend. I had an imp floating around with me for forever. At some point I attended one of the full moon events and succumbed to full on obsessive behavior. There are so many scents you'd be hard pressed to not find anything you'd like. If anything you'll have an issue with what you do want and the list you'll start creating. Newbs: Get imps (small testers) of the smells you think you'll like. Try them on and see how the scent evolves on your skin. if you like it then you'll be able to commit to a 5ml 100%. I'd also highly advise going to one of the full moon events so you can really sniff around. (I love their stuff but there is always a few smells that just do not appeal to me... but the beauty is the BPAL team have so many available you'll find something you like.) Scent is such a personal preference and I find for every scent I don't like there are at least 3 others I'm coveting. BPAL4EVA! read more

I've wanted to write a full-on review of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab for quite some time, so finally going to put it out there. Scent has a way of transporting us somewhere else and either altering or enhancing our moods. I, personally, also tend to have a lot of "scent memories," where random scents remind me of something I've done in my life. Perhaps for this reason, I've always been drawn to items that come in a wide variety of scents-- candles, wax tarts, soaps, perfumes, etc. Then, a couple years ago a friend introduced me to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. At first I just browsed the site for a while because it was a little overwhelming and I didn't know where to start. Eventually, I started to accumulate a good variety of imps (testers) from the general collection. They were like nothing I'd ever experienced before. To just call it "perfume" is misleading. These aren't just pretty scents--they are olfactory experiences that portray their subject to perfection. Over several months of testing, I learned what notes I enjoy most and what works well on my skin. The more I tried, the better my nose got at deciphering what I was smelling, too. What before was "floral" is now "spicy carnations" or "wet rose" - this extra level of complexity made things even more enjoyable. Selecting a scent has now become a daily ritual. Upon awaking, time is spent selecting just the right bottle for my state of mind or the happenings of the coming day. I do it again at night with a new softer scent to enjoy as I prepare for sleep. It may sound over-the-top, but the world of BPAL has opened up a whole new facet of sensory input in my life. It can be hard to explain to someone who doesn't "get it,' but these scents have truly become an integral part of me. And, although Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab is popular, I don't think it gets even close to the credit it deserves. What the most famous artists in history have done for the eyes, Elizabeth Barrial does for the nose. It truly is an art, and she is a master at it! My collection has grown quite large since my first imps. I'm amazed at how every new scent released is completely unique and spot-on in capturing a character, a setting, a thought. Even the scents that aren't really "me" are still winners. While one might not be something I'd like to wear all the time, it's still awesome to let it develop on your skin, take it all in, and let the experience take over. I know, I'm raving, but it is totally warranted. I'll be a customer for life! If you're on the fence about trying them out, go for it. You won't regret it :) read more

As the other reviewers have mentioned, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab does the majority of their business online. Once a month they host an open will call event where people can test and purchase their frangrance oils. They also have merchandise from their sister company, Black Phoenix Trading Post, at these events. The people who run BPAL/BPTP are fantastic folks who believe in providing awesome customer service. Their perfume oils are rather concentrated, so a 5ml can last quite some time (especially when it's jockeying for position among all the other lovely bottles you've acquired). Many of their blends are literary based, but there's lots of tongue-in-cheek satire to go around too. Basically, if you're looking for an alternative to commercial perfumes, give BPAL a try. However, your wallet might not thank you once you've become hopelessly addicted. You've been warned. read more

It may be expensive, but this stuff is like crack. No two scents smell exactly alike, a feat considering the vast number of offerings this company has! What I love is that everyone always comments on how good I smell... yup, that'd be the BPAL. You can order online easily, and while limited editions are bottles only, you can get imps of the other scents available. I must have 50+ imps by now with more in the mail. Did I mention everything is laced with crack? It has to be. It just has to. For people in Atlanta, there's an authorized Will Call up in Roswell at the Harry's (Whole Foods) up there. Great place to try out the scents before you buy and occasionally the Whole Foods will offer a 10% discount on the purchase! I'm always down for a deal... read more

BPAL's selection of oil-based perfumes is endless and imaginative -- creating new scents all the time, while maintaining a vast selection of catalog scents, is brilliant as a business strategy and has built an incredible community around reviewing, discussing, trading, and anticipating these scents. Secondly, the choice to base scent concepts on myths, literary figures and artistic concepts adds a sense of depth to the mix -- each time you apply one of these perfumes, you're thinking about the story that inspired it, and you feel part of that story. I've tried at least 100 of BPAL's perfumes over the years -- a small number, compared to some -- and have a handful of long-time favorites that have become part of my personal-care repertoire. Because there are so many to try, chances are good that you'll find something unique that you really like, too. Because they are made by hand with a small staff, turnaround time on orders can be slow -- a few weeks, or as much as two months during busy times. On the other hand, the perfumes are always made with high-quality oils, they *are* handmade, and a small bottle that costs $17-$25 will last you a year or more if you're not using it every day (and with this many scents, chances are you're rotating through several of them). read more

I have a love hate feeling towards Bpal...I love them because they are amazingly awesome and I hate them because they take all my money. But then I smell amazingly awesome! So maybe it's a love, love thing! I found out about this place through another company's forum page. Everything seemed to relate back to" BPAL" so eventually I went on a quest to find out what it was. I was led through the rabbit hole of the wonderful world of BPAL. I was only going to try one, but that of course is impossible! Alice was my first and still remains my favorite. There are so many products that there really is something for everyone. Now years into my addiction I have my definite favorites, my fun ones, my Holiday scents...you get the idea. I always am intrigued by what they will come up with next. I also love the business practices of the company. They are fair, friendly and really listen to what their customers say! Thanks to them I never look at other companies/perfumes the same way. One day if I am ever in the LA area I hope to go to a Will Call. Yes, this has officially made my bucket list...but until then don't mind me sitting over here huffing my preciousss. read more

It's taken me far too long to write a review for this wonderful company! I started wearing BPAL oils in 2007, and I'm still loving them today. The catalog is... quite frankly, massive. Something that smells absolutely horrible on one person can smell like rainbows and unicorns on another. The diversity of scents is what attracted me to this company in the first place; I knew that there would be something perfect for me, and for everyone else! I've only run into one issue at the Lab so far; I was sent a wrong bottle of perfume oil (I believe it was Pumpkin IV instead of Pumpkin V, or something like that). I contacted customer service, and was replied to VERY promptly. The customer service rep, Bill, apologized, and told me he'd be sending me the bottle I ordered ASAP and to please keep the bottle that was accidentally sent. I received the bottle within one week. The fact that they acknowledged their mistake, didn't try to argue with me, and corrected themselves so quickly is one of the reasons I keep buying from this company. The one bad thing that can't be helped is the TAT(turn around time). It's definitely gotten faster over the years, but these oils are well worth the wait IMO. (Side note: It's true that if you re-sell the oils on the forum that there IS a price cap; but if you're really looking to make money, go to eBay. ;) ) (The forum, btw, is full of the some of the nicest, more generous people you'd ever want to "meet". If you ever have the opportunity to go to a Will Call, DO IT!) Bravo, Black Phoenix. read more

I've bought perfumes from this company for a long time, seven years! I love the ideas and themes of their blends. If you are into gothic or pagan oils, this is one of the places for you, along with Violette Market and Conjure Oils. If you want an oil based on a poem by Oscar Wilde or inspired by Alice in Wonderland or love odd scents that smell like smoke, turkey or a library, they got them! They have such a huge collection of scents, much like Demeter does. They are a thinking and reading person's perfumery. I don't understand people who get upset the forum and company get a lot of goth and pagan attention. The "supposed" D&D set, though I never played that game myself. I thought the subculture aspect was part of the appeal! I don't go into a Foot Locker for a pair of tennis shoes and complain the place is very sporty inside and attracts jocks! :) Look at the website, that is what you get! :P And I will stand up for the company for that and the fact they did sent me a new bottle of a perfume when they sent me one without a label, though they have strange business practices. They supposedly dislike reselling, but have so many "exclusives" now, it breeds an environment of people jacking up the prices on oils to an insane amount. On several occasions I have talked to people who have gotten spilled bath oils from BPTP without a design change on the bottle. And now, we have to deal with backordering because they underestimate how much product they need, though a lot of their oils sell out. Then there is a month or more wait time for your perfume oils and I have gotten oils later than the holiday I wanted to use them for, with only a lukewarm response to my complaint email. It makes them look unprofessional. They also now have a lot of lines where you have the buy the bottle since they don't offer samples. It makes it hard to order from them. Which leads me to the cult of personality the company has. They treat their customers as addicted "fans", like the company is a rockstar! I've also never bought from a company where they got upset at any negative or even neutral critique of their business. You would think a company would listen to its customer's needs. I am not sure if BPAL does. This is why I only grade them ok, instead of 4 star or better than average. The BPAL forum can be fun, but it also is a bit of a pain too, with all its drama and rules. I can't barely post on there without getting a warning by one of the moderators, even if I asked another moderator if I could post a certain topic. They also have limits on how much you can sell your BPAL oils used on there, which seems so crazy to me. If I buy something, it is mine. I can resell it for whatever I want. I agree with other reviews that BPAL needs a new business model or they need to cut down on their components and catalog. The reason I liked them was that their product was a collectable novelty, with the quality of the product coming in second. They are becoming rather pricey, at the end of March, GC oils will be $17.50 a piece (used to be $15) and LEs will be $19.50-$24 (used to be $17.50) with the $7.50 (used to be $6.50) shipping tacked on. They have so many new LEs that collectors will find it hard to justify the extra money on orders. Well, I will. I tend to buy four bottles at a time most orders, so that is an extra $11 (or more) each time you order. That might not sound like a lot, but if you order 10 times in a year, then you are paying an extra $110 (or more). BPAL isn't like other companies where they have only 10 perfumes and you may buy once a year. Maybe some buyers only do that. I don't buy expensive "mall" perfumes, but to me, $24 plus $7.50 shipping for one oil is a lot of money since their product is simply designed. I tend to also agree with other reviews that BPAL is spreading itself out too thin and too wide. I'd rather have more concentration of the GC catalog then all the comic book lines. I would also like them to offer all their oils on their BPAL website, instead of at there, then two different sister companies (TAL, BPTP) and then at a bunch of different non-BPAL retail websites. Some of these retail only oils have a $7-13 shipping attached to the oil and if you wanted to collect 7 different BPAL retail only oils by mail, you'd be paying an extra $42+ just in shipping. Yet you can buy them all at a Will-Call at the store. Huh? Yeah, another review used the friend metaphor, like you meet this cool indie person and then years later, they turn out to be an egotistical control freak. I thought about ordering a 5ml today and I read how a mod on the forum thought another perfume company was stealing BPAL's ideas. What a dramatic bother. Perfume company ideas can overlap esp. if one of them has 1500+ names for their oils. It seems so catty. It makes me want to buy from Possets or TMTM instead, since both of them ship within a week! read more

I really love their website. It's VERY persuasive advertising. I wanted basically all the Neil Gaiman and Alice in Wonderland scents. So I decided to order some imp ears to give it a try. I'm really disappointed to say, I cannot stand any of them. They all smell pretty much the same to me, and WAY too strong. I can't get the oil off my wrists fast enough. I'm reminded of the smell of old person, baby butt powder, mixed with a stoner's bedroom. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Not to mention the price is outrageous for what you get. At least make the bottles look a little more attractive. Needless to say I will not be purchasing any more, and will probably try to sell these as fast as I can to someone else. End rant. read more

The ideas and the names (of oils) and artwork are much, much better than the perfumes themselves. There is a strong, cheap, NASTY industrial-chemicaly odor underlying virtually all the perfume oils. Snake Oil is the only one to get a compliment from a stranger. Baba Yaga, Scherezade and All in the Golden Afternoon got compliments from my husband....and Ms. Moriarty, Misfortune Teller. They are among a few which are sweet enough or rich enough to mask that horrible underlying base odor. Also, most of the perfumes have no sillage at all , despite smelling strong enough to make your eyes water right out of the bottle. I have used oils that lasted better and had sillage, from niche and commercial/standard companies. Also, BPAL can take weeks to ship your order, even a small order. Other companies take a couple of DAYS. Anyway, my favorite is Baba Yaga, though it is less known. You can't miss with Snake Oil or Ms. Moriarty, Misfortune Teller either. read more

Man, I LOVE this company so much. I love the idea to death, and the execution of the idea is pretty much flawless. Their products are reasonably priced, high-quality, and extremely unique. I got tired of always smelling like a baby prostitute in my generic girly perfumes, and now I'll never look back from BPAL. My only complaint is that their processing/shipping times are unbelievable. Their 2014 Halloween line was released at the very end of September and I immediately ordered a bunch of product in hopes of smelling Halloweeny all season long. Unfortunately, my order hasn't even shipped with only a week left in October. Kind of silly, huh? Online buyers, just beware of long processing times (up to 21 business days....so, a month). read more

Wow, what can I even say about this company. Beth and company make the most gorgeous and imaginative oils. Each scent is truly a work of art. Very sexy, sensual, and complex. They have over 1000 different scents in their current product line and many limited, special editions, and seasonal oils. All the scents have themes and small stories behind them. You can always find something you MUST have whether it be sweet, foody, floral, citrusy, green, herbal, etc. You can order scents online 24/7, hit the shop only during "will-calls", or browse their scents at certain events. Not only does Beth come up with the most glorious scents but she is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet. read more

I agree with the consensus. These little scents are addicting. The oils are a bit pricey (but great quality has it's price) so I thought I'd start off small and order just a few of their sample sizes. A few months later I looked down at my dresser and realized that the little samples had taken over. I must have about 40 now and the list is growing. I can't stop..well I could stop if everyone else stopped telling me how great I smelled. They have a scent to fit every occasion and every mood. I'm hooked and I would spend some more time telling you about how great they are but their Halloween 2011 collection is out and I need to know what "ghosts in love" smells like. read more

Eat Me from the Alice In Wonderland series is my new favie. If they ever discontinue this I will have a funeral for my last empty bottle. I should stock up on this now. I can't believe I just let out the secret that is Eat Me but it is so amazing it deserves to be shared. read more

Oh BPAL I could never give you any less than 5 stars. Maybe that makes me a rabid fan but I've never had a bad experience with the Lab ever. Oh sure I've had orders messed up like twice if that (they can't be perfect all the time OMG WTF?!) but they've always fixed things to my heart's content even occasionally going way beyond what was needed to make me happy. Replacing the incorrect bottle would have been wonderful but I've had them send me freebies too and generally go above and beyond every time. So here is this great small company owned and operated by the fabulous and talented Beth and they truly care about their customers and making them happy and essentially making the word smell delicious. And oh do they make the world smell delicious. True not everything is going to smell good on everyone and sometimes buying scents unsniffed can be scary but the GC catalog is mostly available in sample (imp) form and can be tested before hand. If you end up with a bottle that doesn't work on you, the forum at bpal.org can be a great place to swap and sell to get what you want. Granted the forum can be crazy at times and when you get that many people together, a few bad eggs can stink up the place but I've met several friends on the site and well, as with anything else it isn't required. The perfume generally sells itself and you can shop from home or visit the lab during Will Call every month if you're lucky enough to live nearby. I also wanted to mention the pricing since people have been complaining. I've been buying from the Lab since early 2006 and the price on their GC scents have gone from $14-$15 to $17-$18. In a healthy economy that would be nothing. In a recession, that is outrageously cheap! These perfumes are undiluted oil - no alcohol like you find in commercial perfumes that you pay $40 to $100 for. The Lab has tried their best to keep costs low but in order to bring us such high quality products in a timely manner, they have to pay their employees, suppliers and other services for it. I agree that sometimes they spread themselves awfully thin but as long as I can still get what I love (gorgeous perfumes at reasonable prices) you won't hear me complain! Thanks Labbies! read more

I've been using BPAL perfume oils for the last 1 1/2 years. What I love about the Lab: Fantastic blends- there's a scent blend for every person, every mood, every situation. Beth, the creative mind behind these blends, has amazing talent. Creativity and Fun- Names like "Lovers With Rutting Cats" "Snow Bunny" "Diary of a Lovestruck Teenage Cannibal" and "Snake Oil" (this is the Lab's signature blend). The seasonal "Egg Nog" smells exactly like a sweet and frothy eggnog with a shot of liquor. "O" smells like.... well, it's a GREAT blend to use for a night out. Or in. Value- Prices are typically $15-25 for a 5ml vial, which lasts a long long time. BPAL oils are very concentrated and a few dabs on the pulse points provide plenty of fragrance for hours or even all day. Customer Service- I've rarely had to contact the Lab about any concerns, but when I have (once about a bottle that had ridge/crack on the glass and another time about receiving a 4oz bottle of massage oil instead of the 8oz bottle I'd ordered), the response has been swift, friendly, and very accomodating (replacements shipped right away). The scent list can be intimidating at first, but take advantage of the "Imp Packs" (sample sets) to try a few scents at a time. There's also a very active forum for those who have questions or just want to chat about perfume (Disclaimer: I am registered on the forum, but I am not active there). read more

This is a pretty incredible concept and I love the fragrances - they're fun - and some are very powerful, so a little goes a long way. I love DAWN, one of the newer fragrances that came out - and Schrodinger's Cat, it's really fresh and took me by surprise. I guess it's supposed to. I'm most excited about my aprons - I wear them for work and it brings up a great topic for conversation. read more

I love, love, love their scents. Their product is amazing, and very affordable. You'll find unique combinations fo scents you just can't find anywhere, which add's to your own uniqueness. read more

Been a huuuuuuge fan of Beth/Brian/Ted since 2007. I love BPAL and everyone involved in it. It's hard to put into words the effect BPAL has had on my life. Just get some, they're lovely. read more

As a man, it's difficult to find scents that I like wearing out. I may not speak for every man! For me, either the scents are too woodsy/earthy, or too sweet and feminine. I discovered BPAL many years ago when they started carrying their stuff at a place in North Hollywood that I used to frequent for ritual supplies. It's tricky for a man to find scents that work. That being said, I think there are some out there from BAPL. You have to experiment and try a few on, but I really love some of them. These are high quality, extremely unique one-of-a kinds. My favorites are: Jolly Roger Embalming Fluid Half Elf Tintagel (no longer made :( :() The Witch's Garden The Coiled Serpent read more

based on the previous ratings i read here about this brand, i was sad and disappointed with my experience... i went to the store and was there for about an hour smelling the hundreds of scents available and bought three scents and got at least 15 imps. i was disappointed to find that with most the scents i got, there was a very soapy and low quality after-smell that smelled like some cheap soap brand that you'd get at target. this stuff is better suited being used as aromatherapy oil you'd burn in a diffuser. maybe this brand just isn't for me. your'e better off buying some roll-on perfume oil at some hippie store or whole foods or something. the soapiness turned me off and i will not be buying from this brand again. plus the prices run steep for such low quality, maybe i would have given them a better rating if a bottle cost $7 instead of $17.50-$25.00...and even then ive gotten cheaper perfumes with better quality. i definitely recommend that you try the scent on for a day before buying it because the smells change DRASTICALLY from the time you put it on initially. read more

it's very tiny & in a REALLY SHADY neighborhood. my friend & i were spending the day in la & were dressed for our final destination of clubbing, so yeah we stood out a bit. the parking is a bit dodgy if you've never been there before, as we parked at some gas station & hoped we wouldn't get towed, but i guess you could park in that lot out front if you're going to be quick. this place really is a godsend if you want to check out these perfumes before you buy them. definitely go to the website beforehand & make up a wishlist before you go in so you know what you're going to be smelling, seeing as it can get quite cramped because it ONLY OPENS DURING THE FULL MOON, jsyk. so be prepared for it to be crowded, but do not fear, because everyone was a sweetheart, even the customers going on about what le's they want (limited editions). make sure you now your bpal before you go there, because otherwise it might overwhelm you! read more