There are certain products that somehow create the magic alchemy it takes to give rise to a devoted, caring, and thriving community around them. Nail polish in general is one such community, and the brand devotees within that genre. Anyone who has run into a Lush addict will back me up that they are an absolutely devoted community as well. But today, I want to talk about a product that has created one of the most intricate, tight knit product oriented communities I know - BPAL, that is Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab perfume oils.
I have a fairly keen sense of smell, which is actually pretty unusual considering I'm a smoker and have a depressive disorder, both of which are supposed to dull your sense of smell. Not only am I good at telling smells apart, certain smells evoke really powerful emotional associations for me. CK One reminds me of an ex of mine who was obsessed with it, so much so that if someone walks past in the street wearing it, I instinctively look for him. Since I stopped being able to eat normal bread and other pastries, the smell of baked goods gets me so pumped in the desire parts I often find it hard to walk past bakeries without pressing my face to the glass like a Dickensian orphan. I discovered an ancient tube of hair gel in a box I hadn't unpacked in about six moves, and as soon as I caught a whiff of that particular gel I remembered exactly how it felt to be 22, heading out to the local goth club, because that was the last time I'd used it. I have such a strong emotional connection with my boyfriend's smell that I actually find myself less attracted to him if he wears the "wrong"deodorant - it distracts me so much I can't concentrate on making out with him. TL:DR, smell is a big deal to me.
