Praesidium

A talismanic perfume created for Sphere + Sundry’s Deneb Algedi II election by thee Elizabeth Barrial of Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (and Twilight Alchemy Lab!) —

If you have built castles in the air, your work needs not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.
– Henry David Thoreau, ‘Walden’

It is almost impossible to have peace of mind without a strong foundation and a sense of safety, and the past few years have shaken many of us to the core. This oil was crafted to assist in finding equilibrium and strength in all aspects of your life. Praesidium is an oil of grounding, helping you construct a stable groundwork upon which you can build your dreams.

Jasmine absolute and petals (Jasminum grandiflorum), sweet marjoram essential oil (Origanum majorana), Spanish marjoram essential oil and herb from the TAL garden (Thymus mastichina), myrrh essential oil and tears (Commiphora myrrha), rose absolute and petals from the TAL garden (Rosa damascena), pink lotus absolute (Nelumbo nucifera), poplar bud absolute (Populus nigra), lavender essential oil and buds from the TAL garden (Lavandula angustifolia), wild-harvested pine needles (Pinus sylvestris), hyssop herb and oil (Hyssopus officinalis), fir balsam essential oil (Abies balsamea), borage leaf (Borago officinalis), motherwort herb (Leonurus cardiac), comfrey leaf and root (Symphytum officinale), frankincense essential oil and tears (Boswellia sacra), passionflower herb (Passiflora incarnate), hops flowers and essential oil (Humulus lupulus), sumac berries (Rhus coriaria), and blue chalcedony.

Available in BPAL’s iconic 5 ml apothecary bottle for $48

In stock

Back to Main Shop

Customer Reviews

Based on 30 reviews
100%
(30)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
R
RACHEL (Ontario, Canada)
Praesidium

I've been slow forming a relationship/remembering to work with this perfume very often, but it does have a beautiful floral scent and lends a sense of calm and not allowing external troubles or worries to enter uninvited. I plan to annoint a little on my mailbox to ward away the strange, fear addled, religious paranoia pamphlets that keep being spamed around the neighbourhood from time to time

s
starryeyes (Georgia, United States)
Grounding Calm

I go for this when I feel like I'm about to spiral into deep anxiety. It grounds like nothing else, just forcing my brain to grind to a halt and remain calm. That rock grounding can be paired with something like EL's Horn of Lily for a warmer embrace or Fomalhaut's Fishes Eyes for enhanced intuition and clearer thoughts (all in the Jupiter realm as it turns out!). Will get more if possible.

D
D (California, United States)
Gentle and Safe

I second the review describing this as a sensory friendly bubble. It turns the noise down on the world as it envelopes you in its scent. A soft strength that carries you throughout the day. Comforting and soothing while commanding respect, not because you demand it, but because you exude it.

J
JB (Ontario, Canada)
Ground and center

I wear this before tense interpersonal encounters, when I need to be emotionally steady enough to both listen and to stand my ground - not always easy for this Mars-in-Pisces native.

Apply before grounding meditations to connect with Terra. Intense jasmine scent, but strong earthy energy.

a
ani m. (Oregon, United States)
Ice Queen

Big fan of this series, but I purchased this perfume specifically to pair with Saturn and Aquarius oil. They are a fitting pair! The scent profile is soft floral and cooling and paired with the oil grounds the scent. Reinforces boundaries without outright repelling… admire for afar and catch my breeze as I walk away…look but don’t touch 😉

e
esmé (New York, United States)
Grounding Insulation

This is my first and only BPAL purchase so far. It called to me unexpectedly. It has been tremendously soothing to my anxiety and the ball of tense energy I often feel around my solar and sacral areas. It allows an ease and a grounding to come through. The first time I wore it, I kept hearing the words “Life is not all doom and gloom.” It felt like a powerful reminder that so much of my anxiety is rooted in past trauma and fear. This brings a lightness to my being where it feels like I’m not anticipating the worst. I imagine this energy to be quite feminine in nature (it feels like a protective mother or wise grandmother figure would). Comforting and supportive. A new fav for sure.

S
Sheer-Lee T.J. (Tel Aviv, Israel)
I am in love

Yin version of big boss of the sky god - the scent feels like condensed heaven and it is so good! I obviously sleep with it. Every home needs to have one.

H
HB (Georgia, United States)
Smelled Fantastic

I use this whenever I'm feeling ungrounded, attacked, attached to, uneasy, targeted, and under and/or susceptible to unwanted influence. I've used this at home, on myself before I go out, and just to huff cause it smelled so good. It's worked for me by dabbing on myself like I would perfume. I will sometimes combine it with Throne of the House. I see Throne of the House as masculine Deneb Algedi II and this as feminine Deneb Algedi II. Sometimes I'm in the mood for one or the other, and sometimes both. Maybe it's just the name, but I tend to use Throne of the House more. I will say that it doesn't smell as good as it did during the first month or two I had it. I store it in a blue tupperware with Throne of the House, so maybe that was it?

L
L. (Central Finland, Finland)
Favorite scent profile

This oil is optimistic and comforting. The scent is like smelling jasmine in the summer breeze - it is light and not overwhelming. I feel safe and grounded. My favorite BPALS of all time.

A
Amy C.
Foundations, indeed!

I absolutely love this oil. The jasmine opening is stunning, yet comforting and I'm not often drawn to jasmine, especially the day blooming sort. It never fails- and rereading the purpose of this oil just made me chuckle- whenever I've had a grand life changing idea that I need to approach with dignity and couth, I reach for this oil. Love it.

Creation Date

Waxing Gibbous Moon conj. Deneb Algedi + Jupiter on the MC, September 17th, 2021. Chart in image gallery.

Areas of Application

,

Star

Step / Function

Size

2.5 oz, 4 oz

Magical Applications

, , ,

Planetary Body

Vegan

Yes — Vegan

Dimensions 1 × 1 × 1 in
Weight 1 oz

Please Login To Download Attachment