Month: October 2012

Opium by Jean Amic and Jean-Louis Sieuzac for YSL 1977 and Guo Pei, China’s Haute Couture Queen

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 21 Comments

Hiya Fashion & Fume Heads,

Opium by YSL 1977

It’s 1977 and the reigning king of Parisian Haute Couture is 41 year old Yves Saint Laurent. He has brought the Peasant Shirt and Gypsy Look and is about to do a sensational Oriental Brocade themed Autumn/Winter that will also usher in his most extraordinary success, Opium. So much legend and myth surrounds the launch of this fragrance, so many of our friends mothers were Opium Only girls and my BFF Kath’s Mum still wears only Opium to this day. She is the catalyst for this post because I have been lucky enough to procure a 36ml Vintage EdT for her and I also found a 7.5ml Parfum that I will share with her. Don’t tell her though, it’s her Xmas present. SHHHH

YSL Nude Photo stolen leblogdesovena

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Coriander, plum, citruses, mandarin orange, pepper, jasmine, cloves, west indian bay, bergamot
Heart: Carnation, sandalwood, patchouli, cinnamon, orris root, peach, lily-of-the-valley, rose
Base: Labdanum, tolu balsam, sandalwood, amber, opoponax, musk, coconut, vanilla, benzoin, vetiver, incense, cedar, myrrh

The Parfum opens sweeter than I remember, very fruity, nearly over ripe fruit fermenting on a hot humid day, and then the bay and spices wander in, its big but restrained and the skank is hidden beneath layers. The EdT is similar but much more feral, fecal, bed headish with a skanky jasmine lurking around the edges, there is hardly any citrus at all. The EdT is everything I remember of hugging my mates Mums. This is what they smelled like! Fully fragrant, sensual, wealthy Mums that quite often ran their own businesses, ferried kids, looked a million dollars and made sure all the housework was done. How did they do it? Gods know?! We’d jump in the back of their gleaming cars and this is what we’d smell. 30 minutes in and the EdT is starting to warm into itself and become that lovely buttered sandalwood and spicy, floral bouquet; the Parfum hasn’t really moved much but I am getting the beginnings of the skank attack that I knew was coming. The Parfum is definitely taking its time to show all the loveliness that it has to offer.

When I put my nose up to them they are far more similar that if I get a surprise whiff as a hand goes by my face, the EdT is memories, the Parfum not so much and I get a minty/carnation and cool orris during the heart that I had never noticed before. Maybe they are from different eras and they have tweaked the Parfum a little, or maybe some of the notes have become heat damaged or oxidised. It’s Opium but slightly different, the colour, packaging etc all point to it being the real deal though. Ha Ha Ha!! OK Here it is. Parfum has hit skanky town at just over the 1 hour mark there is a very dirty bitch growl coming from my left hand that matches the EdT’s slightly lived in opening but not so outrageous.

I wonder if there is a major difference between the amount of fragrance you put on in a spritz and a dab? The EdT is bigger and more voluptuous all the way through its 5-6 hour span but the Parfum, while remaining softer all along, is more nuanced, sweeter and less animalic throughout and I can smell a coconut twang towards the 6 hour mark that never occurred in the EdT and I can still smell some sweet woods next morning, just barely.

NowSmellThis does a great review and PerfumeShrine talks about the IFRA regulations causing the big change etc
.

Guo Pei, The Queen of China”s Haute Couture

I stole these lavish pictures and the video from Fashion&StyleGuru, the most fashion forward blog I’ve found so far. Never in my years in the fashion industry, the theatre or drag have I seen such work. FLAWLESS!

I hope you enjoy a new to me beyond incredible Haute Couture designer from China. Guo Pei is a name that you will be hearing a lot of.

Whatever you do today, give it your best shot. Sloppy work is habit forming, and being less than your best is a quick way to the guilt spiral that heralds depression. The difference between a mediocre job and a brilliant one can be as little as 5% extra effort. It’s worth it for your own peace of mind.
Till tomorrow ,
Portia xx

Mitsouko by Jacques Guerlain for Guerlain 1919 and Lolita by The Veronicas

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 17 Comments

Hiya Gang,

Mitsouko is one of the fragrances that sits high upon a marble Guerlain plinth in my mental fragrance catalogue with Shalimar and Vol de Nuit sitting right there also. They are the extra special “Jacques Guerlain” Guerlains. Of the three my family and their friends circle wore mainly Shalimar though I have a cloudy memory of the Vol de Nuit bottle at a courtesy Aunts house but can’t remember having smelt it previously when I smell it nowadays. I only remember the name Mitsouko but have not an inkling of someone owning or wearing it, having been a Guerlain squirt bitch for a while I would definitely have come across it then but it really does draw a complete pre fragrance craving blank. That was then…

Mitsouko by Jacques Guerlain for Guerlain 1919

Photo Stolen Basenotes

Fragrantica and PerfumeShrine give these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Neroli, Jasmine, Rose
Heart: Peach, Rose, Clove, Ylang-Ylang, Lilac, Jasmine
Base: Oakmoss, Labdanum, Patchouli, Benzoin, Vetiver, Cinnamon.

I am spoiled enough to own a vintage Mitsouko PdT and a modern Mitsouko EdP. The last couple of days I have been wearing them on opposite wrists to see how different the really are to my nose.

The PdT is definitely more animalic on opening and the EdP is fruitier. The heart notes are almost the same but again the fruit & florals (jasmine is very breathy) are cut through with beast in the PdT and the peach, clove and citrus play lead in EdP over the floral heart. If I was not wearing them side by side I would not really know the difference between the 2 but together they are different. Dry down on the PdT is darker and more fetid but the brighter EdP lasts much longer on me and is still giving its sweet, nutty and earthy whisper next morning. Neither is wearable in a work environment if you are near anyone and they may interfere with your food and will definitely upset the people around you at the cinema, opera or even a bus. wear with caution. A big, glorious peachy floral statement that will not be forgotten easily and will leave a coruscating trail behind you as you waft fragrantly through your day. An especially good choice for days you are cleaning, grocery shopping or anything that could do with a lick of glamour to make it more enjoyable.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

BoisDeJasmin does a great modern & vintage throwdown and PerfumeShrine has history, myths, movies and other interesting titbits
FragranceNet had modern EdP 75ml around $55
SurrenderToChance have modern EdT & EdP $3/ml and Vintage Parfum $7/.25ml
I was very lucky and got my Mitsouko 70-80s Vintage PdT from a sale at FacebookFragranceFriends, Thanks Chris!!

The Veronicas are an Aussie band who had to go overseas to get famous. They are sisters and I think they and this song are a great match with Mitsouko, beautiful, dark, alluring and slightly obnoxious. I love their music and think this is a particularly good mini movie too. Enjoy

I can’t thank you all enough for being part of the APJ Family. I am so grateful that you all love to visit regularly.

Do you or have you worn Mitsouko? Is there a favourite incarnation or strength that appeals more? Please share your thoughts because I love it when it becomes a conversation in the Comment section and I know you have something to say.
Till tomorrow,
Portia xx

Lolita by The Veronicas

Cuir Velours by Julien Rasquinet for Naomi Goodsir 2012

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Hi Ho All,

Today I am beyond thrilled to be bringing you an Aussie, Naomi Goodsir, who till this point has been known as a milliner and handbagger who does the most extraordinary, hand worked Haute leather that is inventive, interesting, forward fashion. Left almost completely in the dark about this release because it happened at Fragranze 10, in Florence, Italy and I was here in Sydney, I saw a photo of the lovely and amusing deer art on their stand and had read a mini blurb on Basenotes and that was about it. My head said, “Another frag. company, I need to get through some of my samples before I order more.”

Then, something happened. Patty White from the Perfume Posse wrote asking if I’d heard of Naomi Goodsir. Nope! Not even a flicker of recognition in my frag addled brain. Apparently I had overlooked the Hot Ticket Launch of Fragranze, and she is an Aussie made good in the world to boot! Oh The SHAME!! Patty then charged me to find out more, get us some samples and let us experience the new crew everyone is raving about.

Cuir Velours by Julien Rasquinet for Naomi Goodsir

Fragrantica gives these featured accords all in one line:
Suede, tobacco, rum, labdanum, incense, immortelle

OH MY FECKING GODS!!! This smells and makes me feel like I have a billion dollars. As you may know I do love me a leather fragrance and Cuir Velour is so perfectly named, that is exactly what I’m experiencing. The soft luxurious smell of a favourite leather handbag, well worn and loved, and that plush soft gloriously lavish feeling of running your hands over German cotton velour. It is whisper soft, like maribou, and sits so close to the skin that it could be you, the only note that really makes its presence known on my skin as a stand out separate entity, other that the soft plush suede-ish leather, is the immortelle which makes me smell like my skin is this amazing, sexy and sensual fragrance already and I’m wearing a very soft immortelle fragrance. An unusual and interesting idea that I will definitely be telling my friends to wear for initial OMG we are going to have sex dates. This is a scent that would keep me coming back just to smell it again and again and again, to work out if they really smelled this incredible.

Cuir Velours Naomi Goodsir for women and men Photo Stolen Fragrantica

This is a skin scent, it is so soft that you could wear it in any situation even the closest and most fragrance phobic work environments. The people that you let within your most intimate radius will be the only ones to know you smell this divine, everyone else will be oblivious but will all want to get super close because even though they don’t consciously notice your scent you will smell so Ah May Zing and they will all think it’s just you. Another great thing about Cuir Velour is that it seems to work with your scent, enhancing the good stuff, and smells quite different on TSO Jin and I.

This was Naomi Goodsir’s slightly edited response to my email telling her how much I loved Cuir Velours and asking where interested parties can purchase, I am so chuffed she took the time to write back:
Dear Portia,
Great to hear that you like Cuir Velours. It’s a soft suederal oriental leather, that I find a little ‘gourmand’ …. I really enjoy the fleur d’immortelle (absolu) dry down.
The perfume should be available at PEONY MELBOURNE  hopefully by the end of next week. For now that is the only boutique we have in Australia. We are currently working on a website where you can buy on-line and the perfume will be available soon in the USA (on-line as well).
Kindest regards,
Naomi

I just love it when an Aussie takes it to the world. Hopefully Patty will be able to get Cuir Velours at SurrenderToChance too, then we’ll all be able to get a nice big decant.

Thanks for dropping by, we are so grateful that you do. Is there anything brand spanking new that we should try here at APJ? Leave us a note in the comments and we’ll hunt it down.
Till tomorrow be good to you and those in your orbit.
Portia xx

All Photos Stolen Naomi Goodsir’s Blog unless otherwise marked

CB I Hate Perfume LIVE Video Sniff

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 6 Comments

Hey Ho Frag Hags,

We have another mental look at some slightly sideways fragrances with the ever lovely Robert “Radium” Maxwell. This time we give a couple of the CB I Hate Perfumes a go. They are an interesting group led by Christopher Brosius and here is what he has to say on the CBIHatePerfume site.

When I was a child, I wanted to be an artist or perhaps a scientist. Instead I am a perfumer – this is perhaps a bit of both. I’ve been described as one of the most innovative perfumers of the 21st Century. I’ve won awards, my work is in museums and countless people in all civilized parts of the globe enjoy the unique scents I create. Much to my surprise, at least in a small way I have changed how people think of perfume: what it is & how it’s used.

Photo Stolen CBIHatePerfume

As always I like to remind you that we are fragrance enthusiasts, not professional noses, it’s late after I have hosted a smashing night of Turbo Trivia and we’ve all had a few alcoholic beverages. The long suffering BFF Kath is on the video camera and constantly has to pull us back to focus on the job at hand because EmmaKate, David and a couple of other friends are all sitting off to the side making faces and doing regular dumb ass stuff. The filming of these mini movies is one of the great highlights of being an AustralianPerfumeJunkie.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

I hope you get an inkling of how much fun we are all having and get a smile, smirk or chortle from our videos; and learn something too. Special thanks to Kath for filming and editing and also to the long suffering Jin for making it blog ready.

This is NSFW unless you have earphones on, the language is quite ripe and fruity.

Please go and have a look at the CB I HATE PERFUME site
You can also grab samples/decants from SurrenderToChance

As always we wish you only the good stuff you wish yourselves till we see you tomorrow.
Love from all us MAD FRAG HAGS at APJ,
Portia xx

Please enjoy our look at Patchouli Empire and Fire From Heaven.

Cedar St. Tavern by Prospector Co. 2012

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Hello Perfumista Bargain Hunters,

I often find hidden gems on my list of non fragrance blog reading. I think this particular beauty came from DesignSponge, a daily design, DIY and decorating blog that has its finger on the world’s good stuff pulse. From my office chair I can see the best design on as many as 4 continents a day. It is rare for them to delve into fragrance and beauty so when the Prospector Co. products were being held up to scrutiny and given honors I was intrigued, especially since 2.7 fl oz costs about the same as a 3ml decant of some of the pricier niche offerings. What is the worst that can happen I thought, it will be average and I will give it as a Christmas present to a family member that will be thrilled. I am now thinking of giving it as presents but not because I think it’s average. Cedar St. Tavern by Prospector Co. is anything but average but it does feel historic. Though I don’t believe in gender lines there is a set of accords that makes up my memories of what the men smelled like as I was growing up, this is it plus a bit.

Photo Stolen ProspectorCo

From ProspectorCo website
Beginning in 1866 in New York’s financial district, the Cedar St. Tavern saw several locations until settling into the 40s bohemian neighborhood of Greenwich Village. It was during this time that many of America’s most prolific painters, writers and musicians congregated over drink and intellectual banter. The 50s brought in the New York School with Pollack, de Kooning, Rothko, Kline, and writers like Ginsberg, Kerouac and Corso. This location signifies an inspiring moment in history, with its stories and creative caché that will most likely never happen again. This scent takes its name from this place in time and an aroma of worked-in attire, old-fashioned 50s cologne, and a carefree regime best describe it. The notes that carry it and the unsubtle attitude of the person wearing it make it happen.

Cedar St Tavern Photo stolen theplathdiaries

Created from an age old perfumer’s technique with the modern man in mind, this light scent is best used as a refreshing wake-up for the face and garb. Midday meetings and post-work occasions call for this scented spray and its rich rustic notes and cooling aftereffect. The formula is safe for clothing and all skin-types and will bring back your pre-day freshness, even at midnight.

ProspectorCo gives this amorphous featured noted list: Patchouli, Oak Moss, Tonka Bean, Lavender and other pure essential oils.

I get a really wonderful warm lavender opening, I know that doesn’t sound right but the lavender has been softened and I think it’s the tonka giving it a slightly sweet bent. Warm, sweet and still herbal with darker depths Cedar St. Tavern is a modern retro-feel fougere style fragrance that will knock your socks off. It has great sillage but its scent bubble is not extreme.  Simultaneously smelling like a modern masterpiece and Grandpa there is a short but interesting story lived withing the notes confines: powdery, lavender fresh, herbal but slightly sweet I can imagine grabbing the sensational bottle after the gym or swimming. It’s not a skunker so most work situations would be good unless you are in a severe no fragrance workplace or you are in very close contact. Have I mentioned how comfortable and retro-glam the bottle is, so cool and understated, and it has a gym beg no spray plastic dooby-whacker that will keep your juice in the can till you want to use it.

Cedar St. Tavern lasts quite well at about 4-5 hours until it dries down to a skin scent that reminds me of something but I can’t quite put my memory to it sadly, that soft powder and woods skin scent lasts till morning.
.
Cedar St. Tavern Prospector Co. 2.7 oz $32.00

Need a stocking filler? Don’t know what to get your Secret Santa? This is something interesting, wearable and very reasonably priced that will look good on any bathroom vanity and not be an embarrassment in a locker room.

Till tomorrow be well and try and take 5 minutes just for you somewhere along the way.
Portia xx

Here is the 2nd Brad Pitt CHANEL No 5 Movie

Tea For Two by Olivia Giacobetti for L’Artisan Parfumeur 2000

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 24 Comments

Hiya Stink Monkeys!!

,I have been reading about Tea For Two on blogs, trying it irregularly and when it was discontinued there was wailing, tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth by perfumistas all over this lovely globe. I have tried it a few times, a spritz here or a dab there, and never been enamoured by it. Not that I didn’t like it, I did. There just seemed to be so many other fragrances that I was more charmed or captivated by. Perfumes that I NEEDED to own a bottle or large decant of and thought that life without would be unbearable, you know, general frag hag drill. So when the lovely Undina, from Undina’sLookingGlass, sent a generous sample with some other stuff recently T42 got shunted aside in preference for things more top of mind, till yesterday and now today.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives the featured accords as:
Top: Bergamot, star anise, tea
Heart: Cinnamon, ginger, spices, gingerbread
Base: Honey, vanilla, leather, tobacco

I love the fresh yet warm opening where the bergamot shimmers over the anise which is warm and breathy and surprisingly sweet, like the gingerbread is already there warm from the oven, and the honey and vanilla seem to be floating around nearby also. This fragrance is what I think of when I think of a gourmand, my mouth has been watering since I sprayed earlier in the day and I want cookies and cakes so bad. Not to mention a hot steaming cup of tea. Back in a moment….

Photo Stolen dorisday.net

Don’t get me wrong, though this is sweet the tea holds everything in check so it doesn’t become annoying or sickly. Olivia Giacobetti has walked a very fine line and I know the notes don’t say it but I have something very white flowers going on too, maybe orange blossom (just read in BoisDeJasmin that it is! Fist Punch! Woo Hoo!), that buttery warm human scent plays background for the first couple of hours when Tea For Two is strongest on my skin. The smoky tar laden tea so spicy and strong is just given the lightest touch of cream and then the leather comes rolling in, across and through softly but decisively to give heft and depth to the lovely cuddly sweet vanilla and tobacco. Then somewhere between 4-6 hours, depending on the day etc, my skin eats all remnants of having worn fragrance at all.

Photo Stolen huntington.org

Not a sillage monster but you are definitely fragrant and do leave a lovely bright trail behind you that lasts a touch more that a moment, just enough time to tantalise, though this is more a warm comfort scent than a come hither and get you summa this. Perfectly acceptable to wear anywhere except frag phobic offices, even when spritzed with abandon.

BoiseDeJasmin for further reading and PerfumeSmellingThings does a hilarious husband and wife take, must read!
eGlobalBeauty has 100ml delivered $135
SurrenderToChance starts at 1ml/$4

So thank you Undina from Undina’sLookingGlass for another MUST OWN fragrance, you are an enchantress and and enabler and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me go back and retry Tea For Two.

What are you wafting? Is there tea in it? Do you have a favourite Tea-centric fragrance? Share with us in the comments please.

Till tomorrow we wish you the good stuff you wish for yourselves and a moment of magic,
Love,
Portia xx

Youth Dew Amber Nude by Christophe Ludamiel for Estée Lauder 2005

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 34 Comments
.
Guest Post by Tim

Estée Lauder

Youth Dew Amber Nude

Hello Australian Perfume Junkies,

Back in my days as a Beauty Advisor and Resident Makeup Artist at Estée Lauder, Myer Sydney City there was an extensive line of fragrances on the counter.  I wanted to know them personally, to wear and experience the releases Estée Lauder gave the world. Decade after decade, a historical time line of fragrances show casing perfumery styles.  It was the trend setters vs the best sellers. The name sake Estée and a whole Private Collection.  6 Men’s fragrances and a swag of flankers. It was my job to wear, recommend and sell fragrances to the customers of Estée Lauder.

Photo Stolen imagesdeparfums

I was completely spoiled for choice!  I started with the ground breaking and historic vintage classic Youth Dew, which was originally conceived as a bath oil in 1953, then quickly fell in love with the 1969 animalic leather stunner Azuree.  I admired the ultra feminine aldehydic florals Alliage and Beautiful and to be totally honest I only fell in lust with naughties starlet Pleasures.  You should have seen the number of Pleasures flanker Christmas gifts packs I had to count one afternoon in the store room of late October 2010. ‘Ridiculous’

In 2005 Tom Ford lent his talents to recreating the first fragrance that pushed Lauder into the stratosphere she orbits today. Sending in a man to reinvent a woman’s work, how would he pay homage to Youth Dew. Could he produce a perfume variation even Estée herself would be proud of?  It sounded risky and bold, but on the other hand a genius idea to give the old girl a dressing up by Ford, adding modern nuances and flavour while honoring its heritage.

Photo Stolen parfumes4u

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Magnolia, ginger, cinnamon, tea, grapefruit
Heart: Carnation, jasmine, ylang-ylang, black rose
Base: Sandalwood, amber, patchouli, vetiver.

Opening
From the very onset it is clear Amber Nude has Youth Dew graciously riding shotgun! Like a conscious voice in your mind it still has that famous recognisable balsamic undertone. Youth Dew Amber Nude is amped up with a boozy and brash opening. A giant rum soaked sucker punch that is entirely intoxicating, causing me to inhale as much of the bright citrus top notes as possible.  Its a muddled cocktail that is just too divine to sip. Waxy lemon tinged magnolia, tangy sweet grapefruit and cinnamon spice create a superb introduction that marries old with new! Tea is also included but I think the pot has been spiked! hmm?

Heart
Its not until you live through the opening and get settled that you realise Amber Nude is in fact from a totally different gene pool to the Youth Dew mile trailing sillage monster. Clove-ish Red Carnation and narcotic Jasmine replace orchid, lilly of the valley and cassia (earthy, spicy, aromatic cinnamon).  To my nose the tweaking of Youth Dew Amber Nude has added beautiful softness that was absent in the original, giving it modern refinement. Where there once was hefty tumbler of pure malt whisky now sits black rose and rich banana toned ylang ylang that harmonise with the floral bouquet. Compliments guaranteed!

Dry Down
Amber Nude’s dries down to base notes sandalwood, patchouli and vetiver and ‘the concentration has been halved’ (quote) according to Ford.  Genius if you ask me.  I felt Youth Dew was sometimes too much of a good thing.  Absolutely a iconic fragrance I wanted to wear out of love, respect and honour but it just demanded too much attention.  And then there’s that classic association, I won’t even breath it.  Here is a fact Perfume Junkies!  Youth Dew’s reputation spans almost 60 years.  Its clear we have another Queen celebrating a Diamond Jubilee.  Tom Ford lastly adds a dark chocolate accord that recalls bitter dark squares of 80% cocoa.  A noticeable skin scent that lingers on the skin up to 10 hours after the first spritz.

Photo stolen Elle

Did I mention Youth Dew Amber Nude is sexy as hell.  I have decided the Amber Nude experience is the best of Youth Dew with a Tom Ford frock and accessories to match.  Vintage Retro is now runway ready.

Further reading Bois de Jasmin and Perfume Smellin’ Things
Fragrance Shop has 50ml @ $62
The Posh Peasant starts Youth Dew Amber Nude at $3/ml

Fragrant Regards,
Tim

Bridal Fragrances and Pronovias 2013 Bridalwear Show

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 23 Comments

Hi Frag Hags,

It seems to be one of the eternal questions. What fragrance do I wear on my wedding day? There are blogs devoted to it, posts are often citing it, Perfume Posse is doing something MI5-ish about it, Alyssa Harad wrote a book “Coming To My Senses” which ended up being about it. It is still illegal in Australia for gays to marry and doesn’t look like changing soon. Never the less I am often asked what a bride should wear scent wise and I am kind of stumped.

Old school says tuberose, orange blossom and lily are enticing and sexually alluring. Some say wear a special fragrance that will always be in your memory of the day. Others question why you would wear something different to what you’d wear every day, don’t you want your partner to recognise you? There is a different camp that says keep it minimal because you don’t want to offend anyone or skunk the congregation.

What would I wear? I have absolutely no idea. Let me think…… I would want to layer my scent with bath products, moisturiser and fragrance matching or at least complimenting, so I get extra long frag life and only need minimal respritzes.

Trouble by Boucheron I have the set and adore the fragrance. Trouble would probably win because I always feel like me but better when I wear it but with no expectations or need to work extra hard. This is one of my all time go to frags.

Shalimar by Guerlain I have a 1980’s Shalimar soap and a soft vanilla & honey moisturiser that I wear under it when I need extra long frag life. This would be like having my Mum and her buddies at the wedding, it was their fragrance and now is mine. So good, often for no reason at all except I want to smell gorgeous.

Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations I layer over Korres Japanese Rose products, they are excellent companions. Mohur would help me to feel like a complete Princess, it always does.

Halle by Halle Berry has an incredible moisturiser too, it goes on and sinks in like a soft silicone glove and smells terrific. I love that this product costs almost nothing and can sit on my skin like one of the big pricey frags. It has depth, character and a wonderful scent story for peanuts. Legend has it that Halle worked with the perfumers for over a year before she was satisfied, it feels like the truth.

Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood I have a set and the moisturiser is glorious, I need to get some more. This may be a little in your face skank for a wedding but it would be memorable.

There you go, my current top 5 Wedding Fragrances. Have you thought about it for yourself? What did you wear for your wedding? What do you wish you’d worn? Do you have a Top 5 Wedding List? I would love to read your thoughts, lists, wishes. please leave them in the comments below because this should be a conversation.

Below is an incredible 6 minute best of Pronovias Bridal Show with some of modeling’s biggest shining stars wearing the most sumptuous and elegant wedding gowns, and some freaky shockers too. Enjoy!

Till tomorrow, take care of yourselves and those around you.
Portia xx

All Gown Photos Stolen Pronovias

Pronovias 2013 Bridalwear Show (Stolen from Fashion&StyleGuru)

Louis Vuitton City Guide TOKYO and 50K Giveaway Winner Announced

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Hey Hey All,

We had a super draw this week, there was an excellent response and I’d like to thank you all for entering.

$50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER

How could you WIN?
You had to tell us the names of the 3 Frederic Malle fragrances that EmmaKate & I chat about in the LIVE Video sniff. EASY PEASY!!
If we got 50 separate enterers in the comments I was also doing a second draw for

50ml of a fabulous grab bag of fragrances from my collection

but we didn’t get 50 so no extra draw

and the

of the

$50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER

Anatu13

You have till Wednesday October 17 9pm Australian EDST to get in touch with postage details or I will give the prize to someone else.
we at APJ wish you all only the best of everything till we see you tomorrow.
Loads of love,
Portia xx

For all of you who didn’t enter or missed out here is the Louis Vuitton City Guide for TOKYO.

Ambre Nuit by Francois Demachy for DIOR 2009 and new Raf Simmons Interview

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Hiya Frag Hags,

Don’t forget to go enter our APJ 50k Draw. DO IT NOW!!!

I found this wonderful interview with the new DIOR designer Raf Simmons, he talks very well about some of the places he sees DIOR venturing and how he has brought Christian Dior’s vision to the catwalk in 21st century styling. He also engages me when he smiles about how short his lead in time was, extraordinary that the work is as good as it is. I will be very interested to see how he takes the reins and how he manages to reinvent DIOR’s couture after the ghastly bigoted debacle that was. As this is a fragrance blog I needed a tie in so I went looking through the DIOR Couturier Collection (now known as the Dior La Collection Privée) samples I bought from SurrenderToChance to find a scent that I hadn’t yet reviewed that I felt fitted with the Spring/Summer 2013 DIOR Pret-A-Porter.

Ambre Nuit by DIOR 2009

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Grapefruit, bergamot, Turkish rose, pink pepper, amber (spices, Turkish rose, ambergris, gaiac wood, cedar wood and patchouli: extras from Olfactoria’sTravels)

Ambre Nuit opens on  my skin with a burning amber and sharp, sweet, peppered citrus. It’s all spicy confusion for a moment and then quickly as it started the madness calms and lightest woods come through with a salty, oily, wet ambergris and everything goes soft focus for a while. I am fragrant but my nose picks out nothing more than that, TSO Jin says it is still very fragrant and that he can smell me still from the other end of the couch, but Ambre Nuit is quite lost to me unless I move around and it huffs from my top and then I am surprised by its delightful intensity.

It’s nearly an hour before I smell the rose but when it comes through the whole fragrance changes and goes almost tea-ish, definitely a spicy, gourmand, tea rose. A full bodied stunner of a rose fragrance, though not loud at all, Ambre Nuit is a whisper fragrance that has good sillage but its scent bubble is slight, noticeable if you are looking for it but otherwise ambient. a perfect work scent for him or her. Almost a clean scent but with none of the laundry style clean connotations. Clean skin, freshly washed and presented for edification. Ambre Nuit smells to me like you are wearing an incredibly lavish and luxe body lotion, that’s how quiet and clean it feels. Not even the most fragrance phobic work spaces could complain of this subtle and delicious beauty.

For something so soft it is surprisingly tenacious and Jin can smell it next morning on me still, though I am completely anosmic to it.

Photo Stolen plus.google

For further reading OlfactoriasTravels and CandyPerfumeBoy both have fallen for Ambre Nuit’s charms, albeit in different ways.
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/ml
Bottles are available at VERY select Department Stores and DIOR boutiques

This is a perfect mid season fragrance to me, are there a couple you like to grab when it’s neither hot nor cold? The in betweenies that you pull out in anticipation of the extreme seasons but could not wear during the super hot or cold? Please share them in the comments. we love the conversation.

Also PerfumePosse Guest Post this week is about the new CHANEL No 5 marketing magic with a mini movie that tells a rose coloured version of the CHANEL No 5 story, take it with a grain of salt but it is GORGEOUS!!

Whatever you have to do today, make sure there is a window left for you. It can only take 5 minutes of “you” time to get through another 24 hours, clear your head, revitalise you.
Till tomorrow,wishing you a day with at least a moment of happiness, hopefully more.
Portia xx

Interview Raf Simons – After DIOR Spring/Summer 2013 Ready-To-Wear Show