Snake Oil

Snake Oil is the scent that started Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab. The house calls it its first perfume and its signature, and it is the classic BPAL blend. The current formula is described as vintage patchouli and dark, aged vanilla absolute, with deep earthy notes, vegetal musks, sugared vanilla bean and dark spices. On the skin it opens sweet and spiced, a rich vanilla that can feel almost foody for the first few minutes. Give it time and the picture darkens. The patchouli and earthy musk come forward, with incense and a dry, powdery floral at the very end. Think molasses, resin, dark vanilla incense and velvet. The powdery drydown recalls classic amber orientals, and it sits closer to Arabian-style oils than to a western perfume. Age matters. Fresh oil is lighter and can lean coconutty, buttery or baby-powder sweet. Aged oil, kept cool and dark, deepens into a darker, spicier resin. The house says its oils are handmade in batches and keep for years if stored well. It is sold as a 5 ml perfume oil with a 1/32 oz sample vial, and it is also made as hair gloss, lotion and bath oil. It belongs firmly in autumn and winter, at night, with moderate sillage and long wear. Try the sample first if you dislike sweet vanilla.