Welcome to the weekly Perfume Chat Room, perfumistas! I envision this chat room as a weekly drop-in spot online, where readers may ask questions, suggest fragrances, tell others their SOTD, comment on new releases or old favorites, and respond to each other. The perennial theme is fragrance, but we can interpret that broadly. This is meant to be a kind space, so please try not to give or take offense, and let’s all agree to disagree when opinions differ. In fragrance as in life, your mileage may vary! YMMV.
Today is Friday, September 5, and it is my birthday weekend! My lovely husband surprised me with an early present of a large gift card from David Austin Roses, my favorite roses which are both beautiful and fragrant. As he knows, I would much rather be given rose bushes than bouquets, lol. Rose perfume is always welcome too, of course! And he has given that too, most notably the gorgeous rose star he brought me from Dubai some years ago, and Penhaligon’s Elisabethan Rose 2018.
I had intended to write last Friday about DragonCon, the massive fantasy/anime/cosplay event that happens here every Labor Day Weekend. The perfume maker Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab exhibits at it, and my daughter (who goes every year) was kind enough to bring me samples and other freebies, last year and this year. Alas, I didn’t get organized fast enough to write a post last Friday!
The sample I wore last week and again today is Bruised Violet Compound. The website describes it as having notes of crushed violets, red currant, patchouli root, and Spanish moss. Mostly what I smell is violets, and it’s very appealing. The website also says it “promotes vigor in the undead and relieves the discomforts and complaints so common to incorporeal spirits.”
I’m very amused by the goth names of the fragrances created by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. Have you tried any of their scents?
Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities 
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great weekend.
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Thank you!
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Happy Birthday! Those items are certainly a different vibe. I haven’t tried any of their scents, but the visuals look quite fun.
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Thank you! Look at their website, it’s fun.
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Have a lovely birthday weekend. And isn’t it nice to have some new samples to explore. I’m not familiar with this house at all.
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Thank you! I remember reading about BPAL years ago, but last year was my first time trying any. I do quite like the Bruised Violet Compound.
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Many happy returns!
The choosing of the roses will be a joy & the roses are a gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Please do let us know what you have chosen
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Thank you! And I’ll happily share my choices of roses. I hope you’re doing well.
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Happy birthday! It’s my husband’s birthday Monday, so a good week all round. We celebrated with dinner at our favorite local French restaurant, delicious as always. I hope you’re having some delicious food to go with the lovely fragrant rose bushes.
I have not tried any Phoenix Alchemy scents, but the names are interesting. I think Surrender to Chance sells some samples of their scents.
I just got the new diptyque Fleur de Peau EDT and it’s gorgeous, more floral and bright than the Eau de Parfum, thus more to my taste. It also lasts nicely as a skin scent so I’m enjoying that.
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Happy birthday to your husband too! I’ve heard great things about Fleur de Peau. My husband and I are celebrating tonight by going to see the film of Hamilton in a fancy movie theater that serves food and adult beverages, then our three kids are coming g over for dinner tomorrow.
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Woo Hoo! HAPPY BIRTHDAY OH!
These are seriously thoughtful gifts from the people close to you. It makes the gift so much more special.
Have fun choosing your new roses.
Maybe I tried some of the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. The name is familiar but I don’t remember. They sound really interesting.
Portia x
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Thank you! And my other daughter brought me a perfume she picked out at a small boutique in Athens while she was there with a friend. It’s very nice!
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Fabulous.
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Happy Birthday! Have a great weekend.
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Thanks!
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I just discovered your blog, via your lovely writing on Mitsouko! I’m an avid perfume wearer and BPAL is one of the houses that opened the floodgates to how MUCH possibility there is in the world of fragrance (let alone a single indie house!) As a fellow Chypre appreciator, I found that Bruised Violet Compound leans in a chypre direction to my nose. The mossy, powdery, damp earth feel reminds me of some of my favorites… Bruised Violet Compound also reminds me of the smell of Edinburgh, one of my favorite cities!
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