Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab – Halloween 2011 review

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Smells like Hallo-ween spirit…

photos: we heart this

Some are partial to Yuletide scents, but I’m of the mind that the fall is the best smelling time of the year. As October draws to an end, I delight in so many autumnal scents. From the smokiness of evening fires to the crisp scent of apples and cider, from the slightly sweet musk of the decaying leaves to the sugary highs of caramel, cinnamon and chocolate; I love all the month has to offer. Leave it to our friends at Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab to capture the essence of the Halloween season in a collection of amber hued bottles.

It’s no surprise that the beloved indie oil company adores Halloween as much as we do. Their sometimes sweet, sometimes moody, always mysterious scents, are a perfect match for the holiday. Recently BPAL released their highly anticipated, limited edition Halloween 2011 collection – available through November 13th – to celebrate the season in sweet and spooky style.

Affectionately dubbed the Halloweenies, this yearly collection is legendary among BPAL fans. Filled with the warm, sweet and spicy scents of the season, and decorated with a stunning mix of seasonal visuals (witches, black cats, ghosts and pumpkins galore), it’s sure to appeal to your inner goth ~ and she always wants to come out and play this time of year.

There are over twenty oils ($20 each) offered in the Halloween 2011 collection and here at we heart this our inner goth girls let out a few squees of delight when we opened a box of these bottles. Satisfied sighs followed as we sampled these delectable scents:

Pumpkin Latte – espresso, pumpkin syrup, smoky vanilla bean, milk, raw sugar, and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg . Mmmm, like walking into your favorite cozy, friendly coffee shop. The pumpkin is sweet, but the warm, nutty coffee flavors shine. And do I detect a shot of booze in that latte as well? Perfection.

Sonnet D’Automne – a shivering white musk with vanilla-infused white cocoa, amber incense, and dead, dry leaves. My fave going by label alone ~ how can I resist a witch and her kitty? This sweet and leafy (almost minty) oil turns into a long wearing, warm and woodsy musk. Sometimes it’s good to judge a book by its cover.

Ghosts In Love – white sandalwood, tobacco flower, lily of the valley, white carnation, and magnolia blossom with tea rose, labdanum, and oudh. Aww, love the name. This may be the lightest BPAL scent I’ve ever experienced. It has the scent of skin just out of the bubble bath – warm, soapy and a trace of sweet.

Boo 2011 – eerie billows of spun sugar, fluttering white cotton, and sheets of cream. I normally avoid food scented perfumes; too sweet, too synthetic, too “young”. But this treat is tempered with the cream and cotton notes – creating a frothy foodie scent for those of us no longer in our teens.

Candied Pumpkin – sweet pumpkin cooked with piloncillo, orange juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, fresh ginger, maple syrup, honey, and clove. This mixture of sugar and spice (available at the Black Phoenix Trading Post) is described as a “traditional Dia de los Muertos ofrenda” and I can detect the South of the Border influences. Reminiscent of baked goods, but the sweet is never too sugary as the kick of the ginger and spicy clove turns things..dare I say sexy?

Pumpkin Princess – bright, sweet pumpkin with vanilla fluff, guava, chocolate-dusted white amber, tiare, red currant, raw honey, and meringue. Pumpkin lovers, here is your scent. Low on the sweet scale, this oil smells to me like fresh pumpkin and honey…with a faint musky afterglow. A sweet note, that’s Beth’s daughter on the label.

A Nocturnal Reverie – violet musk and oudh with black amber, ambergris, agarwood, black currant, dark musk, fig, and lavender incense. This is what I would wear to a fancy Halloween Ball – it’s sultry and sweet and very mysterious. In the bottle I was not liking the strong herbal, lavender notes. But after the oil goes on my skin, it turns into a very earthy, musky, floral delight – how is that even possible?

Devil’s Night – the scent of autumn night, fires in the distance, with a touch of boozy swoon, playful sugar and thuggish musk. Oh, this one surprised me as well! It has a bright, crisp, fruity scent in the bottle. On the skin, it dries into a smoky sweetness – just like those decaying fall leaves. Love it.

La Calavera Catrina – autumn leaves, wild roses, bourbon vanilla, dry chamomile, and a bouquet of bright chrysanthemums and Mexican marigolds. “The Lady of the Graveyard” features another incredible label (check out all the details). This oil transported me to the chilly, damp fall evenings spent outdoors where the scent of the leaves fill the air. Hints of vanilla, bourbon and rose adds a feminine touch to the great outdoors.

we heartsters – has BPAL’s Halloween 2011 Collection captured your favorite scents of fall?

Disclosure: This review includes products that were provided by the manufacturer/PR firm for our consideration. For more info, or any questions, please see our disclosure policy.