Hey from HOLIDAYS!
We are making our crazy way across the continent of Europe. It’s two glorious weeks in and we’ve seen five countries so far!! WOW!
VIENNA
Early last week Jin and I were lucky enough to be invited on a breakfast and perfume shopping spree with the gorgeous Birgit from Olfactoria’s Travels and her friend and fellow perfumista Sandra who has traveled the world and landed in Vienna. The girls are both gorgeous, friendly, fun and totally up to date in perfume. It was like hanging out with a couple of encyclopedias, and they have sniffed EVERYTHING!! Seriously.
We started at the Central Cafe in Vienna which is as beautiful as a cathedral and the food was SCRUMMY, that means good. The girls has tea, we had bacon and eggs. Yummy.
Then to Le Dix-Neuf, Vienna’s newest niche store, where I tried quite a few new frags from a host of lines currently near impossible to get in Sydney. It was bliss, the SA was really knowledgeable and helpful but it was Birgit who led my nose to NUDA, the recently discontinued jasmine bomb from Nosamatto and VolkaMaria by WeinerBlut (Blood of Vienna) that I can’t wait to wear at home, just to tell people the name.
We went to loads of other places, Le Parfum, Pure Day Spa where I bought the Frederic Malle mini trio of Carnal Flower, En Passant and Lys Mediterranee.
We were absolutely captivated by Duft & Kultur where they had an enormous Niche selection including A Quiet Morning by Miller & Bartaux, Jin adored it and I can see him getting a bottle soon.
There was more, including Hermes, Robert Horn’s Ledermanufaktur and others but no buys just looking. Birgit and Sandra had busy days ahead so the peeled off and we went home EXHAUSTED, even though it was barely lunchtime. Thank you Vienna, thank you ladies.
BUDAPEST
Only a three hour train trip and we are in the heart of Budapest!
There are two famous niche perfumeries here.
The first, Neroli, is next street along from the Mecure Hotel and the lovely Ursula is helpful and fabulously knowledgable. I was lucky enought to bump into the owner, Aron, while there too and have a quick chat. He is sexy and cool, left a life of journalism to run a niche perfume shop seven years ago and has a fabulous selection including the Naomi Goodsirs. Ursula gave me some wonderful Montale samples and they ship to the world for only 10 euro!!
Croisette is the second, owned by Zsolt like the G in George-olt. Zsolt is a perfumer and was so bright and bubbly Jin and I both fell in love. He is all about creating gorgeous and interesting scents but bespoke. They also have a wonderfully curated range.
I haven’t made my niche purchases with them yet but there is an incredible sell out store just opened in the Shopping Passage and we scored some INCREDIBLE bargains including L’Instant, Samsara and Homme body washes by Guerlain, a Lolita Lempicke Au Masculine after shave balm and am Aromatics Elixer for about 5 Australian Dollars each! Quite a fabulous score and I do love a posh body wash.
We are doing the laundry today and finalizing Niche Purchases so there will be more to photograph next Saturday. We are loving Budapest, it is an architecture lovers dream, the people are friendly, it is inexpensive to eat even in the best restaurants two courses and drinks is coming to less than 100 Aussie dollars. We are doing loads of sightseeing and walking.
This post was much better in the first two drafts that the iPad deleted because I forgot to save after every paragraph. Thanks for putting up with my long post if you’ve made it thus far.
Loads of love Portia xxx
Love your long post Portia! I also enjoy a good posh body wash. Love hearing about the niche perfumeries and fab architecture,Budapest sounds like a surprise too. Travel and perfume a match made in heaven xo
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Totally a match made in heaven!!
Portia xx
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Great that you’re having so much fun traveling around the Europe. I wish I could go on such a trip right now instead of being in the middle of exams session at university.
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Good luck with the exams buddy. You’re time will come.
Portia xx
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Thanks Portia. I’m halway done, but still half a way to go.
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Looks like quite a haul! And the fact that you can mix and match the FM travel sprays blows my mind. Glad to see you took advantage of it!
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I have zero willpower when confronted by lavish fragrance, as you can see. It’s embarrassing but there it is.
Portia xx
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I know what you mean 🙂 And it’s not embarrassing 🙂
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Budapest is great! I’d recomment Madison for a good third perfume shop (although I like Zsolt’s shop best). And if you are an opera fan I would try to go there as well – tickets are fairly inexpensive.
Have a nice stay in Europe! 🙂
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Thanks Marie, We are definitely heading over to Madison tomorrow. Jin has our day all mapped out and ready to go. We won’t make an opera visit on this trip, maybe next time.
Portia xx
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Sounds like you are having a wonderful time! Birgit’s blog is delightful and I’m glad to know she’s every bit as delightful! Buy everything!!!!! You’re on holiday.
xoxoxoA
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It feels like we are buying everything, so much great fragrance that we can’t get in Sydney.
Portia xx
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I made it to the end darling. What fun you two are having. How do you get all this perfume home on the plane with the security restrictions on liquids?
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You are allowed 1 liter of alcohol in your checked luggage. We pack it up well and cross our fingers.
I was thinking of doing an awkward fragile box and checking it at the special desk but I’m not sure if Korean Air has such a thing, QANTAS does because I’m always bringing back big precious things from India.
Portia xx
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My fingers are crossed for you too luv! In the meantime have a ball!
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Thanks buddy
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I love the long post. It sounds like you’re having a wonderful time, and I can’t wait to hear more about your thoughts on your purchases after you get home. Hugs!
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Thanks Natalie,
I will have plenty of blogging work cut out for me on my return that’s for sure. Nice to read you while we are traveling, and yes having a great time,
Portia xx
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You bought great stuff, don’t worry, you’re on vacation, you’re allowed and expected to indulge!!! 🙂
Meeting you was truly awesome! xoxox
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You are the BOMB Brigit. And so PRETTY.
We are coming back to Europe soon just to hang out with you,
Portia xxx
PS Jin is saying Hello Birgit too.
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A big hug back to the lovely Jin, he is the cutest!!!!
Come back soon, you two! xoxo
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You guys are so freakin cute!!!!!! I am happy you had such a wonderful time.
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Arline,
Thank you. It is a great time. Jin says hi too.
Portia xx
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Hey, where is the long post??! You just barely mentioned all the interesting things/places each of which deserves its own post of that length! 🙂
I’m glad you’re having great time. And pictures of a perfume haul are always much appreciated.
❤ ❤ ❤
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