Month: March 2012

2 COMPETITION WINNERS!!

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Hey gang,

We have 2 WINNERS!!! Thanks to everyone who entered. We loved getting your messages but there can only be one winner for both of these competitions sadly.

Photo stolen from WildBunchAdventures.com

The FIRST EXPENSIVE PERFUME SPLURGE COMPETITION winner is Alice!! Please get in touch so I can get this fantastic prize to you ASAP! If I don’t hear from you by Wednesday I’ll put ALL the fragrances on at once. Don’t make me go there.

A 1/4ml sample of La Via del Profumo “Oud Caravan No. 3″

A 1.5ml sample of Tommi Sooni “Tarantella”

A 1.5ml sample of Boucheron “Trouble edt” (now sadly discontinued, panned and greatly reviled. I LOVE IT!)

Photo stolen from SodaHead.com

The CELBUSCENT GIVEAWAY winner is MAUREEN!! Please get in touch Maureen with your address in the USA. You’ll be getting a super gorgeous parcel full of;

Aftelier Perfumes; 1.5ml manufacturers sample spray Haute Claire + Apricot and Lemon Candle in a Tin (one of my Smell Good Do Good buys that Mandy Aftel kindly gave to the cause)

Gucci; 2ml decanted sample spray Gucci by Gucci pour homme

Estee Lauder; 2ml decanted sample spray Brasil Dreams

Jessica Simpson; 2ml decanted sample spray Fancy Nights

LUSH Cosmetics; 1.5ml decanted sample spray Orange Blossom

plus postage and packing to anywhere in the world.

Photo stolen from Walton.org

I LOVE GIVEAWAYS!! There’ll be one next Thursday too.

Much love,

Portia xx

SEX, FRAGRANCE and quick stuff I smelled this week!

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Sex and fragrance. There is a lot written about whether a scent is made with a man or woman in mind, whether it will work on either or both of the sexes. This note for her, this note for him, this combination for them. More and more I’m finding that scents are universal and I’m pretty sure the fragrance doesn’t care who is wearing it.

Photo stolen from canihelpyousir.com

It’s quite deliciously confronting when a woman wears a traditionally masculine fragrance and the boys make you take a second sniff, and look, if they have crossed over into girl germs territory. I like the dichotomy, especially something uber the-other-sex on a great, fun, clever and healthy specimen of personhood. It can give them an edge.

Photo stolen from allwomenstalk.com

Recently at one of my Turbo Trivia gigs I was gifted a cheapy mans fragrance that was sweet, floral and ambery. Way too cloying for my taste but I went to one of the butcher specimens of twenty something tradie manhood in the room and asked him if he would guinea pig it for me. Shock, Horror! He loved it! So much so that he asked if I decided on calm reflection that it wasn’t for me, could he have it. His girlfriend would LOVE him wearing it. It’s nice when people surprise you. And on him it WAS delicious. Everything that on me was shrill, headache inducing, tooth rottingly sweet and budget; on him, smelt like a deliciously gourmand million dollars, thank you very much. If you’re reading Chris, it’s yours buddy.

Photo stolen from

Photo stolen from Hethu’s Techno Babble

Also, making my partner in crime Evie C wear mens fragrances that I like on me, I adore them on her. They are WAY chic-er and it gives these tired and sometimes boring masculine fragrances new nuances and makes them bright and sparkly again to my nose. Which, as we’ve established, is functioning but not nose worthy.

Photo stolen from The Punch

THINGS I SMELLED THIS WEEK, QUICKIES!!

L’Eau d’Ambre by L Artisan Parfumeur; OMG! Launched all the way back in 1978 this is still the most gloriously deep and sweet amber with dark hints of posh nasty. Autumn is here and L’Eau D’Ambre is the perfect companion for it. Dead sexy.  Fragrantica, OlfactoriasTravels both have this to say, check them out too. This was one of my Smell Good, Do Good super cheap, no postage costs, amazingly awesome value, pick ups. I am SO happy with my purchase.

L’Aimant EDT by Coty; I already have the cologne in this and wanted to see if the EDT was different. Both of them are excellently like the Chanel No 5 but a little dirtier, they have impressive sillage and the L’Aimant EDT lasts for a lot longer than the current No 5 EDP that I have but equally to a vintage No 5 EDT. They are RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP!!! This is an awesome switcheroo. Created in 1927 and still good. Fragrantica, muse in wooden shoes both have their say. I’ve not smelled the vintage stuff so have no comparison point but I think these 2 versions of L’Aimant are yummy. And they’re so cheap that if you hate them on you they will always work as room freshener.

Tresor by Lancome; Hello big fat floriental!! This perfume was released in 1990 and you can feel the 1980’s breathing down its neck. That glorious spicy, sizzling, peachy floral extravaganza that is still a favourite at department store Lancome counters everywhere. It’s so wearable, juicy and gorgeous. This is perfume for the masses because, quite simply, it smells good. Here is Fragrantica, and Now Smell This does a wonderful fragrance review with knowledge far exceeding mine. Please check them out.

Hindu Kush by La Via Del Profumo; This is a power pack of memories. For years I had a partner who had moved back to India to run the family business. So for 10 years I was in and out of India quite a lot, and was fortunate enough to travel from Kerala to Kashmir, Macleod Gang to Chennai and much in between. This fragrance is a flood of memories for me, it was quite a shock to wear it and feel things long buried.

As AbdesSalaam Attar, owner of the compagny “La Via del Profumo” says on his website

Close your eyes and breathe in, Hindu Kush is like taking a walk in an Indian market, where clouds of incense smoke escape through the open doors of temples to be mixed with the perfumes of the east, ginger, cumin, nutmeg and pepper. Take a step inside and all is peace, silence and meditation, take a step outside and you find the crowd rushing here and there, noises and confusion.

This perfume is the real deal, a must try on any olfactory journey. Sanchez and Turin give it only four stars in their guide but I give it a 5 star rating. Awesome, majestic, dusty, dry, spicy and sweaty. It’s like gazing at the Taj Mahal or praying with the Dalai Lama or taking tea in the gardens of Deeg Palace or riding in a river boat drinking Kingfisher beer. All of these things and more are contained so let your mind wander as it will.

Thanks for sharing my fragrant thoughts,

I am so happy you dropped by, please leave me a message.

Portia xx

L’Eau D’Ambre, Tresor and L’aimant photos stolen from Fragrantica

Hindu Kush photo stolen from La Via Del Profumo

Charity, GIVEAWAY, Cher

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Hiya all,

Something that really caught my attention recently was the Smell Good, Do Good Campaign on Arielle’s Scents of Self site. Didn’t hear about it? It’s still going and there are some great bargains to be had. Some discontinued gems, lovely albatrosses that just didn’t get worn and even some delicious pieces that perfumers have donated to raise much needed money for Refuge. I went on and got a couple of bargains myself and am MIGHTY pleased. They wouldn’t even let me pay for postage!!

Here’s what they said at Scents of Self

Welcome to the Smell Good, Do Good perfume sale! Every cent of the selling price of these perfumes will go to Refuge, a British domestic violence charity that provides safe houses for women and children escaping domestic violence.

My Photo

I picked up an Aftelier Perfumes Apricot and Lemon Candle in a Tin, Royal Apothic City of Angels and L’Artisan Perfumer L’Eau d’Ambre. Pretty good stuff eh!

You should mosey on down and have a little look see yourself. Maybe the one perfume you’ve wanted for AGES is there, cheap, no postage!!

Last night a dear friend David (Margeaux), my best friend (Kath) and I got together for a special moment. Margeaux has been a long time fan and friend of the amazing singer, Oscar winning actress, clothes horse and general superstar Cher. He followed her farewell tour around the world and saw her do it about a million times. eventually they mat and his home is a shrine to the mega star. Huge autographed photos. the Barbie doll collection, every moment of video, celluloid or vinyl ever to have had Cher grace it is in his possession. Trolling among the fragrance distributors, bargain sites and uber sought after pieces online stores, as I do each day, I happened upon a rare and gorgeous must have that Margeaux did not yet have. A brand new, unopened, vintage coffret of Cher Uninhibited! with a 100ml bottle of body lotion and a 10ml bottle of fragrance EDT. Quell SURPRISE!! it was launched back in November 1987, and it’s a huge aldehydic floral with a dirty vanilla dry down that takes a while to arrive. Kath videoed the opening ceremony and our reactions to this awesome fragrance. WAIT TILL YOU SEE IT! It’s currently in post production and we should have it up over the weekend. CAMPERAMA!! Gay squared!

I have a confession to make, a couple actually. In my celebuscent collection I have 3 favourites that get trotted out quite regularly, there are more but these are the 3 that I reach for often. They are,

Photo stolen from Fragrantica

Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely; when I first tried this I thought it was an absolute pile of shit, couldn’t understand what people saw in it and frankly wanted to give good old SJP a brick in the face hello. Then one day I saw it for a ridiculously knock down price, like they were practically paying people to take it, respritz…. love, Love, LOVE!! weird right? Now I adore the stuff and would be sad to not have it in my fragrance wardrobe.

Photo stolen from Fragrantica

Queen Latifah Queen; when I saw the name, the celeb and the bottle I didn’t care what it smelled like, I just wanted to have it. I love Queen Latifah, she is hot and cool, smart and sassy and not afraid to be a solid girl and GORGEOUS! If she put out a fragrance I was going to trust that she’d not sucker punch me. and she came through. I love it. Cheap, cheerful, lasts forever, smells great and nobody else has it around here. PERFECT!

Photo stolen from Fragrantica

Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights; please let me stay at the party. I like being a perfumista. You all can say and think what you like but this fragrance rocks. On my skin it’s like the dirty bitch, slutty sister of Shalimar, my all time favourite perfume, all dressed up and ready to break hearts. Jessica Simpson has some seriously good people around her.

GIVEAWAY!! In retrospect of this week and in anticipation of our 1000th visitor we have decided to do a giveaway. This will be a regular Thursday thing hopefully, but being our 13th day of daily blogging and already we are set to reach 1000 visitors we will go a little CRAZY!!! Yeah? A little sample pack of some stuff we’ve talked about.

My Photo

The GIVEAWAY includes:

Aftelier Perfumes; 1.5ml manufacturers sample spray Haute Claire + Apricot and Lemon Candle in a Tin (one of my Smell Good Do Good buys that Mandy Aftel kindly gave to the cause)

Gucci; 2ml decanted sample spray Gucci by Gucci pour homme

Estee Lauder; 2ml decanted sample spray Brasil Dreams

Jessica Simpson; 2ml decanted sample spray Fancy Nights

LUSH Cosmetics; 1.5ml decanted sample spray Orange Blossom

plus postage and packing to anywhere in the world.

YOU must leave a message about your all time favourite celebrity fragrance, and why, before midnight Sunday 31st March 2012 Sydney, Australia time. Best <50 word answer will be a WINNER. Could it be any easier? NO. Get to it!

Don’t forget our COMPETITION being drawn on Saturday night/Sunday morning either

Samples and Decants, Who, How, Where, Why!

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Hi All,

Lovely crisp day here in Sydney, Australia. Autumn is closing in upon us and while not believing scents should follow the seasons, today I thought to start with something warming and deep. As a perfumista in waiting, I am still trying to get my nose around many scents and fragrances, still don’t quite understand how each note should be working or permeating a fragrance. Then, on top of that, because so much of fragrance is in fact science, as opposed to nature, the same way to reach a natural scent can be taken by millions of different routes, and is. Meaning that though the notes of a fragrance may say patchouli, it is often the idea of patchouli in its many incarnations rather than patchouli per se (Latin meaning; Of, in or by itself) that you are smelling.

Obviously the kind of knowledge that a blogger like 1000 Fragrances (sadly this blog is now closed) has is gained through a lifetime of study and experience. I am clearly not that person but I would like to have my nose across as many fragrances as possible so that my personal value judgment can have more gravitas. Evie C and I have been talking of doing a course in the near future also (more on that down the track) but until that time I want to smell as many scents as possible.

To do that, we perfumistas and perfumistas in waiting, or junkies, fumeheads, fragrance whores, etc etc often buy, instead of spending all our hard earned cash on a full bottle of everything we like, a smaller sample size (1-5ml), or decant (5-30ml), to test the water and see if we love it. Conversely, we may have sampled something and LOVED it, yet there would not be the chance to wear it more that once or twice a year so could not see the need for buying a full bottle (FB). Or maybe the scent is a reference scent, giving you the best (by popular opinion or your own) of a certain style of fragrance, or a note that you are interested in, by which to judge all others. Maybe you DESPERATELY want this fragrance but are just too poor to own it, there are fragrances out there going for thousands of dollars. I KNOW!! RIGHT!

Sometimes a fragrance IS great, you love it and want it but there are more pressing things on your must have list, maybe the bottle is ugly, dumb, grotesque, could be you like getting things in the mail from all over the world, or perhaps you are just plain old addicted. There is also the problem of discontinued or reformulated scents, you can get some of the most important ones if you go to decant sites but would never get the opportunity otherwise. Maybe you just live too far from New York or Paris and want to smell what others are currently talking about on the scentbloggosphere.

That’s just a few of the reasons. Anyway, my first introduction to the art of buying samples and decants was through The Posh Peasant, Abigail who runs it is friendly and helpful. Even if you can’t find what you’re looking for on her site, ASK HER, she has almost everything and will purchase for you if you promise to do a decent ($40-50) shop of her stuff when she gets it in for you. Fair enough! A new set arrived yesterday!! See below.

There are others that I use too now SurrenderToChance,  Lucky Scent, My Perfume Samples and The Perfume Niche and there are more but these are the guys I use regularly. You can even buy pre organised sets, which is awesome because they’ve done all the sniff work for you. Maybe you’d like to understand the way violets or heliotrope meander through a fragrance, on most of these sites you will find a set of perfume samples that are the best or unusual in their category. Simple? Yes. Do me, and you, a favour though. Don’t order a new set until your original set has arrived and you have smelt every one. Otherwise you’ll end up with HUNDREDS!!! Most of them unsmelt. Money is too hard to make for you to be so profligate. This is one place you should be careful, give yourself a perfume budget, then do your UTMOST to stick to it. The perfume wormhole is an addictive and expensive place to get lost. Fragrance is not like houses, there is no resale value.

Most of the smaller or niche Fragrance Houses now do a Sample Set, Sample Program or some such. I love my sample sets (mostly purchased) from Olfactive Studio, Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes, Aftelier Perfumes, SMELLbent, Parfum d’Empire, La Via Del Profumo, LUSH Gorilla Perfumes, Tauer and these are just the ones off the top of my desk currently.

One thing I do find is that perfume does not smell the same dabbed as spritzed. Many times I’ve been totally let down by a fragrance in dab form to be then astounded and dazzled by it when spritzed. I have found a super cheap bottle, plastic bag and mini funnel online store that lets you buy in smaller quantities that 10,000, from about 10 upwards. They do wholesale and retail and accept paypal! AWESOME!! Better still they send to Australia! which so many refuse to do, at very reasonable rates. Proud Style is the crew you’re after. They seem genuinely happy to have my business, a plus. I also use My Perfume Samples because they have a great small order selection of a few sizes for great prices and cheap postage.

Currently I am slowly working my way through the Perfume Posse “Perfume 101” list. It’s a great beginners who’s who of the perfume style, note and some super gorgeous must sniffs.

So here’s what arrived from the Posh Peasant yesterday!

5ml Hermes; Hermessence Ambre Narguille

2.5ml Estee Lauder; Youth Dew Amber Nude , Serge Lutens; Muscs Kublai Khan

1.5ml Serge Lutens; Clair de Musc, Bvlgari; Au The Vert Extreme

Also, 2 x 1ml gift with purchase CB I Hate Perfumes; Russian Caravan Tea, Serge Lutens; Daim Blond

This is a week of mornings for testing. YAY!!!

Today; Hermes; Hermessence Ambre Narguille. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow

Thanks for dropping by and sharing my (OMFG lengthy) fragrant thoughts.

Have a great day,

Portia xx

Gucci by Gucci pour homme, LUSH Fragrance sample pack

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hey Hey Hey

Today Evie C (AustralianPerfumeJunkies co-creator) and I had a super productive get together. There will soon be a widget so you can get email updates of our blog into your inbox (or spam perhaps) every day. that way you won’t have to come looking for us, we’ll find you! Evie C has been quiet till now as she is just settling back into Australian life after over 20 years absence globetrotting, first on her own and then with increasingly large family in tow. Evie will now be contributing every Monday and we are THRILLED that she has found a family home in which to put down firm roots.

We were chatting and trying on fragrances today, as we do when we get together, and were going through some of my previous posts and having a go at some stinkies that Eve had not encountered in her own search for fragrance perfection. She was a fragrant cloud by the time she left with Oud Caravan 3 by La Via Del Profumo on one elbow, City of Angels by Royal Apothic on same wrist (this review is coming up on Friday), Eau de Tommi Sooni 1 (EdTS1) by the Australian Tommi Sooni crew (I let Evie C have this sample because she was ENRAPTURED!!! It was like When Harry Met Sally in the diner), in her boobs we spritzed Casual by Paul Sebastian and lastly on her last remaining elbow it was Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme.

Gucci By Gucci Pour Homme with James franco

Above is the link to the advertisement which is worth seeing.

Photo stolen from perfumeseduction.com

I like this scent on me but it has this funny habit of disappearing on my skin for about 20 minutes after the top notes have faded, then it returns, a softly charming fragrance that is not controversial in any way, this is the right choice if you just want to smell good without making a fashion statement. An excellent office choice. It stays old-worldy and very barbershop throughout on my skin. I don’t get much floral, but that could be my lack of experience and knowledge.

On Evie C though we have a completely different story, it was GLORIOUS! So streamlined and grand, it was like a gorgeous art deco chrome and glass skyscraper of a fragrance. Almost mesmeric in its allure and very interesting, we would chat and keep coming back to smell her elbow. This should be a woman’s perfume, if Evie C is anything to go by. Evie is already like a Gucci/Ralph Laurent pin up woman, fresh and clever and beautiful. On me Gucci by Gucci pour Homme is quietly confident but on her it soars.

Here is what Scentrist had to say about Gucci By Gucci pour Homme, it is the only one I could find on a 3 page Google search.

Now, moving on, a few days ago arrived a package from LUSH. I had ordered the Gorilla Perfume Sample Set and 2 of their famous fragrances in Perfume Solid Stick Form!

My photo

My bestie BFF Kath W is a total LUSH convert and has been talking about their bath bombs and personal hygiene products for years. Even giving me LUSH gifts over the years which I took little notice of other than to be thrilled that she’d thought of me and then absently using her gifts, thinking more about the giver than gift. I was unaware that LUSH even did fragrance until one day, looking for something else, in the Sanchez/Turin perfume bible (Perfumes; The A_Z Guide) and I came across the Breath Of God reviewed by Tania Sanchez which got 5 stars and was called a smoked fruit fragrance and goes on to say, “Wearing it, I feel a sense of wonder that so late in the perfume game there still can be such profound invention”

Photo stolen from LUSH

Inspired by Simon’s travels to Tibet.

Simon created a masculine, musky fragrance, inspired by the incense, cedarwood, and sandalwood he smelled in Tibetan temples. He also made a lighter, floral feminine fragrance with lemon, melon and neroli for a ‘breath of fresh air’ – and then mixed them together. The (happy) end result was Breath of God.

Better together.

Breath of God is a divine perfume of two halves, the light, refreshing notes of Inhale and the smoky contemplation of Exhale; these are available exclusively on Gorilla Perfume, where you can get even closer to God.

Fragrantica says here

I have had the Solid perfume as a base after my three S’s today and had my nana nap with that on. Reapplying after my make up was done I also dabbed some of the Liquid on wrists, elbows, sternum and collar bones. When I came home transferring what was left of the sample Liquid into a fresh spray bottle to see if spritzing changed the outcome. It is a lovely scent with dark and light, wood and smoke, gas, incense, fruit and flowers and reminds me of my times in McLeod Gang in India’s Himalayas where the Dalai Lama has his compound (before it became the crazy tourist destination it has become and its streets going far down the hill and full of eco tourists, teachers that the Dalai Lama has brought in from every cultural corner of the earth to teach his second in command team to deal with the greater world and hordes of gap year trustafarians). It is evocative of happy, peaceful, interesting, exciting and adventurous times so I like it, maybe even love it, but I do not find myself enraptured, I will try it again next week, just for myself.

Tuca-Tuca is WAY more lovely to me, approachable, easy and fun. Unlike Breath of God which is an extreme fragrance.

I stole this directly from Fragrantica;

Like any good summer day, Tuca Tuca starts with a blast of fresh summer air, violet top notes accompany a rich floral feel from cassie absolute. As the sun reaches midday the warm vanilla and ylang ylang move the perfume into its middle notes and then, as the sun sets, we’re left with a slightly naughty violet leaf and vetivert bottom, the end to a perfect day!

I hope you’ve enjoyed tonights discourse. Tomorrow we’ll chat about learning of,  finding, and buying decants. Why you would, could and should.

Hopefully see you then,

Much love,

Portia xx

I am not affiliated in any way with any of the businesses in this post. All bolded sentences are stolen from other people’s sites.

Eau D”Epices by Tauer, Turbo Trivia

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 3 Comments

Hey gang,

Very late chatting to you all this evening because I spent today organising my Turbo Trivia stuff. There were newspapers to read for current affairs,  some questions to finish, a bunch of weekly prizes for my Wednesday gig at Technology Park Hotel on Wyndham St, Alexandria, Sydney, papers to print, bag to organise, frock, hair and jewels to co ordinate, stockings and tights to have ready. You know? STUFF! None of it earth shattering or ground breaking but all necessary to keep my life and work moving along peacefully.

Tonight was AWESOME!! at Bar100, 100 George St, The Rocks, Sydney. We had 8 teams and a crew of friends and family there to play. I love the new room we’ve been placed in. Comfortable and fun.

Anyway, as I was slobbing around the house today doing all this stuff I spritzed, upon jumping out of bed to feed the boys breakfast, with old favourite Dreamer by Versace, which I’ve already reviewed here , because it’s such a comfortable frasgrance for me. Like an old chambray shirt or a comfy pair of high heels.

Later on, about lunchtime I felt like a freshen up. I went for a clean shirt smell. The boring, fresh, clean, floral/fruity nothing that is Paul Sebastian’s Casual for Women Parfum Spray. I don’t know why but this fragrance calls me quite regularly. When I first smelled it I thought it was nothing but air. It was about to go in the bin but before I bin a fragrance it gets one last chance in a wear for my nana nap in the afternoon. For me it’s the ultimate way to check a fragrance on myself. The drift off to sleep gives you a little zen time with the scent and sometimes (RARELY) I see something that I missed before. Such was my Casual experience. It is light and fresh and clean. It’s great for focusing and while being there it doesn’t take any of my mind, it just is, prettily dancing in and around me like a better smelling me. No mean feat, I’m here to tell you. Here is fragrantica‘s take and I couldn’t find one review done by a perfume blogger, even after reading 3 google pages! It has completely spun under the radar so I felt I should give you a heads up. I found this 4oz bottle on Parfum1.com for about US$17 and a tester (capless like mine) on FragranceX.com for about US$15 and if you use TAKE10 in the coupon box at checkout you get 10% off there.

MineStolen from FragranceX.com

After I’d done the 3 S’s (Shit, Shaved, Showered) this afternoon I was ready to put something that made a statement on. This fragrance would be, and was, worn for the evening as a glorious Trivia Hostess. Nothing bashful for night time, honestly, nothing bashful most of the time. I am a bit of a fragrance bomb, hopefully not to the point of asphyxiation to those near me, or down the street, but I love to be scented.

And the winner is!! My photo

It was a toss up tonight. I had the JPG Le Male in my sights, then flicked to Estee Lauder’s Beyond Paradise Blue, hand on the DSQUARED Wood (In my head I get, um, do I want to smell like a sauna today? Um, maybe tomorrow) and I reach for, of course!!! Eau D’Epices by Andy Tauer, he is my favourite perfumer. I LOVE his scents and I don’t have to respritz while out. His frasgrances linger deliciously on the edge of smelling for hours. Long after I have lost the ability to smell myself people can still drink in his glorious and heavenly aromas. I am Andy Tauer’s bitch. Can’t deny it. Not to say I have less of a place in my heart for the others, they have earned places in my collection for reasons and will be worn soon.

Here is what the site says

HEAD NOTES

An Indian basket of spices with cinnamon, cardamom, clove and corriander with red mandarines.

HEART NOTES

An opulent heart of orange blossom, jasmine, orris root and incense.

BODY NOTES

A woody cistus ladaniferus resin, softened with ambergris, tonka beans and vetiver.

Eau de parfum
50 ml, 1.5 FL. OZ.

A spicy unisex one of a kind.
Natural oils from spices such as cinnamon bark and cardamom orchestrate an opening that is vibrant, and warm. Citrus (red mandarins) soften the spices and prepare for the orange blossoms that bloom in l’eau d’épices together with another white flower: Jasmin. It is the absolute from Egyptian jasmine that softens the orange blossom absolute. Frankincense essential oil leads over to a classical Tauer base chord featuring ambergris, tonka, hints of vetiver and the woody warm perfume of cistus ladaniferus resin, resembling a walk in a pineta.

L’eau d’épices is a unisex scent, perfect for cool winter nights and developing wonderfully under a warm midyear sun.

Bold and this photo stolen from Tauer Perfumes site

The Non Blonde writes a symphonic review in Nov 2010, and PerfumeSmellingThings wrote in 2007 before it was even released! These writers get it, all the way down to the ground. all I smell is magic, they can explain it.

It’s a wonderment to me that you come and read,

Thank you,

Portia xx

GIVE AWAY WINNER!

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Here was the GIVEAWAY post

If you leave me a message in the comments section, one random lucky commenter will win a sample of Little Stars and Osafume (see below), I will draw the winner Sunday March 25 around Midnight Sydney, Australia time. Winner announced in Sunday nights blog, winner will need to get in touch with postal details by Wednesday March 28 or I’ll use the samples myself.

Here’s a pic of the little vials of GORGEOUS!!

Our lucky winner tonight was Sigrun from FragrantFanatic and I’m so excited for her. Sigrun, please get in touch with your address so I can send your stuff tomorrow!

You have till Wednesday midnight Sydney time or I WILL use the samples myself!!

Much love and thanks to all participants.

I hope your day is full of good stink,

Portia xx

Shopping Experience, The SA Counts (Dune by DIOR, Cuir Amethyst by Armani)

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Hey gang,

It’s been a lazy day here in dappled sunny Sydney, Australia. I had a super smart blog friend around to help me do some stuff and to teach me some basics that I am as yet uninstructed in. We got some done but before Julie, and her partner David, came over for our Sunday Bar B Q I had washed the keyboard, um, BROKEN!!! You spray the cloth not the keyboard. I have a new keyboard now.

Photo stolen from ECorner Secure Ebusiness Solutions

As we had to go out to get a new keyboard TSO Jin and I decided to troll the fragrance counter at our local suburban shopping center while out.

This can be a harrowing experience. Often the 16 year old sales person (absolutely gender non specific) will sneer down their prolapsed rhinoplasty at you and mumble a curt something unintelligible about your desired perfume try, as if you’re ruining their day by being interested in the product. Other times they are so desperate for the sale that you think they might get a bit stabby if you turn them down or dare walk to another counter. Even worse are the ambush marketers who come round behind you and spray you liberally and without warning, often with scents that burn holes in your clothes and singe your skin, if walking too near a cigarette smoking person you are liable to need an extinguisher. And just because you work at a cosmetics counter doesn’t mean you need to wear everything in the line, AT ONCE. What was the Golden Girls line? “Just because you put your make up on with a butter knife, doesn’t make you Tammy Faye Baker.” I wish I was a stronger person so I could cut all three of these people types where they stand with a withering two sentence cut, but no, every time they get me and I obsess about what I would, could or should have said. Sad, I know. First world problems? Definitely! Honestly, I don’t even have a hearty “Fuck you” in me sometimes.

Having said all this then it’s lovely to find an SA that is charming, interested and involved in their job. one that knows about personal space and limits, and boundaries. One who has obviously done most of their homework and can help you understand what you are smelling on the card and your skin, why the price point is where it is and maybe some extra items to help keep the scent on you. I will try just about anything the SA says to keep scent on my HUNGRY skin, I swear it eats everything. Like host, like skin, I suppose.

Today was such a day. We were dressed like Sunday arvo (Australian for afternoon) homeless looking for a berth, unshowered, unshaven and under dressed for a jaunt through the hallowed halls of perfumery. Yet, by happy coincidence, we were welcomed into the Armani counter at David Jones, Chatswood, (where I wanted to sample the Cuir Amethyst from the Prive series. Spectacular BTW I liked the card so much that I let her spritz me. On my skin, to DIE for, the leather has stayed front and center for about 2 hours and the amber and vanilla are singing along in the middle to background) as if we’d just jumped out of a helicopter with Tom Cruise at the helm. But as we made our way around found that she was not in fact the Armani girl particularly but a general dogs body and she was all over the place, helping, hinting, smiling, generally making the few customers in the area feel welcome and giving as much information as she had, even going as far as looking up the book for a new release. I was not shopping, but I will go back and order something from her because she earned it. Not this month though. Fragrantica has this to say about notes and accords, BoisDeJasmin has a far less than loving review, and is pretty indicative of the other reviews I read. I am still enjoying the fragrance though. Maybe my untutored nose is a blessing.

Photo stolen from Fragrantica

Moving on to the DIOR counter, as Jin was being served sample sizes at CHANEL, there was another lady, also smiling and wanting to help: rather than intimidate or push. Had I tried the new DIOR Homme Sport? So fresh, so manly? No, sorry, not interested today but can I please have a spritz of Dune on a card? Certainly but it’s women’s. Yes, I understood but do you think the perfume minds who wears it? Without even blinking she said, “All perfumes are unisex and it’s only tradition that has taught us otherwise.” She had clearly thought about it too, come to a fair conclusion and was happy to be able to set it out for me. I was so happy that I let her spritz me with a double whammy on my other arm.WhooooooEEEEEEYYY! Nearly blew my damn head off. WOW! What a perfume, what a punch. Fragrantica has it all here, the PerfumePosse has an excellent Dune review, I wish I was so eloquent. This is definitely FBW (full bottle worthy) a good 6 hours later and I can still smell gentle wafty reminders that I’m perfumed on that arm.

Photo stolen from Fragrantica

Oh my, these two perfumes are AWESOME alone but together they are EPIC!! Maybe you all know a fragrance that is a mash of these two that I am ignorant of? Leave me a message if you do.

Thanks for sharing what’s in my fragrant mind today. Hopefully see you tomorrow too,

Portia xx

I am not in any way affiliated with any of the businesses within this article.

Brasil Dream by Estee Lauder

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 13 Comments

Hi all,

It feels like it might be the last gorgeous weekend here in Sydney, Australia as we head into Autumn and the nights get cooler and days fresher. The leaves haven’t started to turn yet on the enormous Liquidambar styraciflua (also known as the American Sweetgum or Alligator Wood) in our front yard but I’m sure it won’t be long now.

Photo stolen from Euphro’s Moblog

Jumping out of bed early this morning and looking at my ridiculously enormous fragrance collection I grabbed for something that would add to my last tango mood. A gentle but persistent perfume with fruit and flowers was definitely in order today and, boy, have I been glad it was my choice. To be honest, there’s not much in the way of light, fun, fruity or floral fragrance in my collection at all. Mainly my preference is for large, bombastic, outrageous 1980’s style extravaganzas that blow your head off, slightly sideways interesting stuff and leather. Too much nose candy through the late 20th century burned out a whole heap of my smellovision, we think.

Fragrantica has this to say about Brasil Dreams by Estee Lauder

Concept of this fragrance suggests rhythm, exotic and life in Brasil, and the edition is followed by a commercial motto: “Go where it’s warm, exciting and full of life”. Brasil Dream was design to evoke shine of Brazilian sun, with hot, fruity and rich floral notes, with guava, pineapple, neroli and orange blossom. A heart incorporates night jasmine and gardenia from Brazil, while base notes await us with patchouli, sandalwood and coconut milk.

Now Smell This has also done a short review back in Nov 2008, otherwise this short run beauty has been largely ignored by all and sundry.

All morning I  kept smelling glimpses of something delicious, edible and utterly irresistible and I would turn to look and realise it was me. HAH! It sounds ridiculous, I know, but it must have happened 10 or even 15 times. It happens EVERY time i wear Brasil Dreams. Like, what is that yummy fra……. oh DER!! It’s still happening this afternoon but not quite as often, mainly because I am getting used to smelling this gorgeous. Sometimes I’m getting the guava/pineapple, other times it’s the jasmine & orange and then others its a hit of the balmy sandalwood and coconut. Like a ring a ring a rosy where you keep going past different pots of perfume.

Talk about good value, about 10pm now and I can still get a whiff of beautiful tropical days by the pool (I’ve even been in the pool and done some laps today) it’s faint now like I’ve woken on the beach a little away from the resort at dusk; quiet, peaceful, sometimes the low murmur of conversation and laughter but all I can really hear are the waves, birds and the rustle of the occasional night creature waking up. I can smell the ends of day flowers like the gardenia and jasmine and the burnt out ends of patchouli and orange leaves, soon to be gone.

Photo stolen from FragranceX

As everyone in the Northern Hemisphere starts warming up this sexy and fun Estee Lauder number can be found dirt cheap. I found bottles as cheap as US$9 today on Amazon.com (of course it costs more that that to send it to Australia) so FragranceX is where I happened to get it originally, after smelling it on a random in the shopping center and asking what it was, I think she was almost going to fib and tell me something extraordinary but happily she was honest.

I think this is also a great perfume to remember the joys of summer; fun, holidays, sand, parties and Bar B Q’s that we’ll miss over the next 4-5 months here in Australia.

Thanks for sharing my lean but fragrant thoughts today,

Hopefully see you tomorrow,

Portia xx

I am not affiliated with Estee Lauder or any other business I have mentioned.

Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes; Little Stars: GIVEAWAY

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes have this to say about Little Stars

Imagine a hot, steamy night in the jungle. Insects chirping, unseen creatures moving in the leaves and branches, and the heavenly scent of a flower that must be the orchid queen of the night. A rich blend of citrus, neroli, ylang-ylang, clove bud and jasmine on a base of exotic woods, oud, black agar and atlas cedarwood. An unmistakable spicy floral scent that epitomizes white, night-fragrant orchids and the woody branches that they grow on.

Fragrantica goes on to say

The nose behind the fragrance is Ellen Covey. Little Stars is available as a parfum extrait or EdP, and is a rich blend of citrus, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, clove bud and jasmine on a base of exotic woods, balsams, oud, spikenard, black agar and atlas cedarwood. A spicy, woody floral scent reminiscent of white, night-fragrant orchids and the woody branches that they grow on.

OK. Having set the scene, I read about Ellen Covey and her Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes on and around the scentbloggosphere and was intrigued by her story of scientist, orchid grower, life liver and finally perfumer, while still encompassing all previous facets of her life. I love a multi-tasker and am especially impressed when they are able to reach high levels of competence and recognition in more than one field. Inspiring stuff.

If I’m reading correctly, and that is not always a given, Little Stars was the first offering from this perfume house, based on one of Doc Elly’s own night flowering orchids, and it was only through the twisting, turning, persistence and learning curving that it ever came to light for all of us to wonder at.

If you leave me a message in the comments section, one random lucky commenter will win a sample of Little Stars and Osafume (see below), I will draw the winner Sunday March 25 around Midnight Sydney, Australia time. Winner announced in Sunday nights blog, winner will need to get in touch with postal details by Wednesday March 28 or I’ll use the samples myself.

Photo stolen from Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes site

A squeaky opening high and tense opens for about 3 minutes, then a sparkling, glorious, miasma of delicious spicy floral notes all the way to its balmy, balsamic dry down, I don’t get the “hot steamy night in the jungle” at all. This to me reads like the heady getting ready for a party, the arriving, drinking, dancing, a blowsy young romance on a garden seat or in parkland. There is a sexy, animal note beneath the glory of the flowers, spring or autumn, not summer. Actually, thinking about it, as Little Stars warms up it smells like the fragrances of 2 people involved in a tryst melding as they do, along with some of the lighter and pre erotic smells that we give off before the big finish and final act of coupling in the grass. Yes, mind firmly in the gutter with this one, which is funny because it is a beautiful and pretty scent too. Now it’s like the first sniff and bite of a Granny Smith apple, the tangy, tart super-sweetness that makes you pause before chomping away to the core. Over the last 2 hours or so I’ve had it change colours on me a dozen times and I keep coming back to update.

This is for everyone. Men and women can wear this with gay abandon. I think there is something for everyone here. If you’ve not yet met Ellen Covey’s fragrances, please hit one of the links and at least troll through the offerings to acquaint yourself with something new and delicious.

Little Stars Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes for womenPhoto stolen from Fragrantica

Finding myself at the Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes site for the first time I was so overwhelmed by the breadth of choice that I bought the Standard Sample Pack so I could try everything, I know, absolute fragrance whore here. When they arrived but before I’d got to the perfumes I’d ordered there were 2 extras in the pack, Salamanca and Bay Rum. Well, the Bay Rum is the most ENORMOUS fragrance and I was instantly enamoured. The Significant Other (TSO) Jin could follow my vapour trails around the house to find me, even down to the yard. It’s the ultimate BAM BAM BAM fragrance and I loved it so much it was the first Full Bottle I ordered from the collection (even though technically it was not yet part of the collection; though I see it is now. YAY!!), sometimes I’ll put it on and go and have my afternoon nap bathed in it radiance, delicious.

Beauty on the Outside covered Little Stars in Jan 2011 (read the comments after too, they are just as interesting) Hortus Conclusus August 2010 , an undated Indieperfumes offering gives different insights, Doc Elly (Ellen Covey) the perfumes creator talks about Little Stars July 2010 at her blog The Perfume Project

I gave a sample of another Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfume, Osafume, to my next door neighbour to test with her girlfriends over dinner and they each had to give a different word for it. I thought it would be a fun way to give a short sharp description, so…….

the girls said; Candied, luscious, sweetened, bouquet, fragrance, trail, essence, dainty

Here is what the blurb on the Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes site says.

Photo stolen from Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes site

Osafume

A delicate, summery scent inspired by a dainty miniature Japanese orchid, Dendrobium moniliforme. Anise and magnolia combine with heliotrope, vanilla, and white musk to make this light, airy fragrance.

I am in no way affiliated with Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes, Although one day I’d LOVE to meet Ellen Covey and pick her brain.
Thanks for sharing my fragrant thoughts.
Portia xx