BPAL Initiation

In my various travels across the web, I've often seen 'BPAL' mentioned in the blogs and websites of artists. Usually this 'BPAL' is allowed as a form of payment, phrased as 'I accept BPAL trade' the way one would say 'I accept American Express.'

For a long time, I assumed this was another payment system, like Google CheckOut or PayPal. But turns out it's perfume.

Actually, that's not quite accurate. It's a scent experience. I recently discovered BPAL stands for "Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab" and they make an astounding variety of scents based on steampunk/goth/horror themes. I'll let the website tell you more.

Apparently there's a large community obsessed with this stuff. Collections can contain over 200 fragrances, with limited editions and different versions of the same scent (I guess from separate batches or yearly runs?). Certain rare stock can sell for hundreds in the after market! There are trading forums all over the world, and a whole culture revolving around the products, complete with its own traditions and vernacular. And the materials are supposedly of excellent quality and hand blended. This is not your drug store celebrity brand shit spray. This is olfactory art.

Enough folks I respect are into BPAL, so when someone offered cheap samples, I took the deal. 24 little vials of scented oil just arrived at my door and now I'll get to see what all the craziness is about!