I Hate That Perfume Because… Sydney Perfume Lovers

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Hiya APJ,

A lot of what we as perfume, fragrance and scent lovers do is done solo. We read our computers, test, smell, enjoy and buy a lot of our fragrance alone. It’s one of the things I really love about the whole perfumista life. Never having to wait for anyone else to do what I love, smell scents. Sometimes though getting together and sharing the love is as much or, Gods forbid, more fun. Imagine a crew of about 12 frag hounds all sitting around eating, drinking, laughing and sniffing. That’s what happened today here at my house. I don’t know if you’ve seen online a thing called MeetUp? In our modern day, high pressure, quick moving, ever changing world sometimes we lose touch with those that are near and dear and find ourselves unable to create new ones, or maybe what you love is very niche and you’re looking for some mates to enjoy it with, whatever the reason a friend of mine Catherine de Peloux Menage (Writer, Fragrance Finder, Personal Scent Consultant and glamorous, great girl about town) decided she would start a crew of her own called Sydney Perfume Lovers – MeetUp. From the tiny germ of an idea there are now well over a hundred members, events scheduled regularly and we have created a Sunday Scent Salon in my home once a month where we come together about a fragrance related topic and have a wonderful morning tea, here’s how today’s went down.

Sunday Scent Salon: I Hate That Perfume Because

Sydney Perfume Lovers – MeetUp

So the topic this month was “I Hate That Perfume Because…” and we were challenged to find a fragrance that really irks us in some way, drives us batshit crazy when we smell it, gives us hives, creates confusion or any other reason that we hate it. There was a catch though, we weren’t there to be only negative, we had to provide an explanation that went further than “YUCK, Disgusting shit. Hate it.” We had to bring a reasonable argument and scent memory with us, and preferably the fragrance too so we could all tell what you were thinking when you gave your spiel.

WOW! We got some DOOZIES!!! People had really gone all out to obtain their anti-elixir and had their stories primed and ready.

I hate that perfume because#1

Some of the fragrances we hated included, L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain because it smells like urinal cakes. Fahrenheit because it smells like bug spray, Rexona Men’s Sport Deodorant because it’s cheap, nasty and ubiquitous, BVLGARI BLV Pour homme because it is a nasty mess and melange of everything unwanted in a fragrance, La Petit Robe Noire Parfum by Guerlain because it is nice for the first hour but then lasts eternally and becomes both sickly and boring at the end, Tweed by Lentheric due to family remembrances, Giorgio Beverly Hills because of its overuse in the 1980s but we all agreed that it smells rather lovely now having not smelled it for years, L’Eau d’Issey Femme because it is a solid wall of scent that lasts eternally and is a metallic, super sweet mess. There were others including an art book infused with the scent of fear obtained by putting swatches on the inside legs and armpits a men and making them do really scary stuff, then recreating those scents artificially for a book which was strange, subversive and extremely compelling.

I hate that perfume because#2

There was heaps of lighthearted banter and no one took offense, we all really had a great time and as always I feel like I’ve made some new friends. People who like something I am completely beserko about. Good people who I was lucky enough to spend some time getting to know today, a couple I’ve met before and some others who are already my friends. More than anything it reminds me how lucky we all are. Without the internet I would still be a completely solo fragrance lover, which can be nice but now I can share my love with people all over the world.

I hate that perfume because#3

Be it these lovely MeetUp Scent Salons we organise, on the Facebook pages, reading blogs and articles or here in this wondrous space (APJ) where I feel like there is a whole fragrance family where we can share our Cuckoo, fly our freak flag and generally unleash our love of fragrance.

I hate that perfume because#4

I hate that perfume because#5

I do apologise for my TERRIBLE photo taking, getting the lights in and rotten framing. We were having too much fun to be sensible and I am glad.

Today was great, you should think about starting a MeetUp where you are. Nobody has too many friends and you never know where your next BFF will come from. Should you wish to join us at a Sunday Scent Salon you must first join Sydney Perfume Lovers – MeetUp. We can’t wait to meet you and hear your stories over some great food, some champagne and tea.

Love and fragrant hugs from me,
Portia xx

 

48 thoughts on “I Hate That Perfume Because… Sydney Perfume Lovers”

  1. Portia, I adore you! I just shared your flame-thrower doll video with several friends as it made my day and will do the same for them. As for meet-ups, I’m so glad they’re happening where you are. We do them here in the states as well and the variety of what’s available is astonishing.

    Every time I read one of your posts I feel like I’m hearing from a dear friend and I’m so grateful for everything you share.

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    • Heya Holly,
      Thank You.
      How OUTRAGEOUS is that Fanny Flambo doll? O M freaking G.
      MeetUps rock. I only belong to one in Sydney and i really don’t have time to do more but I love the idea of finding like minded people.
      Hey, we are family: APJ Family. You are hearing from a dear friend and so have I. Where are you in the US? We will be in LA, Las Vegas, Chicago and NYC in November. Are you near any of them?
      Portia xx

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      • A friend recently told me about a popular baby pacifier sold in your average baby emporium-type stores here that is made to look like giant Hollywood-style injected lips. I suggested it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to enhance the sucking part to look like a penis. Did I go too far?

        I’m in the Washington, DC area but I spent most of my life in NY and would LOVE to see you there. It’s a quick trip. Keep me posted! xo

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  2. How wonderful I love hearing about these great meetups where you discuss fragrances over food and cocktails. Looks like you all had a wonderful time!

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    • One day Ferris we will have a MeetUp of our own. I’d love to spend a couple of hours sniffing with you. I think you’d have an excellent nose.
      Portia xx

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  3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and hearing about people’s irks and quirks. I agreed with lots of them! Giorgio certainly was the smell of the 80s, and Petite Robe Noire sure is dull after a while!

    What a wonderful day you all had. Please move Australia nearer to Wales and lose the spiders so I can come.

    warm Welsh wishes
    Samantha
    IScentYouADay

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    • HA! My father’s family was from one of the Welsh border towns, they were VERY proud of the old pile of stones that’s left and Dad even went there. I still haven’t been to Wales as a tourist but one day I will come, without spiders and we will have a catch up and a laugh. I have a feeling you will be excellent company Samantha Scriven.
      Portia xx

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  4. Being a member of the Perfume Lovers London MeetUp group it was so cool to hear about your Sydney counterpart.

    I hope we can attend each other’s groups together one day. Yours sounds so nice and intimate and with food too!

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    • OMG Tara,
      How can we tempt you to Sydney? Maybe you should come back with us after our next trip. You can be our Scent Salon show and tell. Then we can take you right through Sydney and you can spend some time in the sun (suitably attired of course) and we can do BarBQs, swim, basically have a blast. Put early 2016 in your diary.
      Portia xx

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      • Portia, you are too kind to think of that. Oh how I would love to hang out in Sydney in the sunshine with you and Natalie and the gang. That would be a dream come true.

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      • Hi Catherine

        No problem at all, these things happen! it will be great to meet next time you’re here, fingers crossed.

        Hope you had fun on Harrod’s 5th floor.

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    • Ha Ha! Jin made us delicious seaweed rolls and there was a great wedge of camembert cheese devoured too.
      We are a happy crowd, taking a morning from our busy lives to enjoy each other and fragrance.
      It was super fun and there is very little that I like better than the house filled with laughter.
      Portia x

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  7. Sounds like it was a fun get together! If I ever get a chance to visit Sydney I will be very tempted to crash one of your gatherings. It really is fun to share this interest with others. I just love your hanging lamps!!

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    • Tatiana, you would be most welcome, it is totally fun to share the fragrant experience and Thank you, those lamps make me smile almost every time I look at them,
      Portia xx

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  8. I want to come! What an absolutely fab way to spend the day. I’m intrigued to know if there is anything like that here in Oregon – I shall put out feelers.
    (I’m still giggling at urinal cakes…)

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  9. HI Portia
    You forgot to mention how great it is of you to host us once a month and how much we appreciate your hospitality! We all really enjoy the Scent Salons and I particularly like the fact that a group of scent lovers from different parts of the city, with very different lives get together to share their loves and hates. It was great to see how one person’s hate scent was another person’s love. Looking forward already to the next event and would like to welcome other Sydney-based perfume lovers or visitors to join this or other events. Look at meetup.com/sydneyperfumelovers to join and find out about forthcoming events.

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  10. I think perfume meetups are AMAZING. I’ve been attending the Perfume Lovers London Meetup sessions quite regularly, and it has been good fun meeting people who share the same passion as I do.

    We’ve also got a meetup group going on in Singapore, although all the organisation happens on Facebook instead. These aren’t themed, but rather are all-out smell fests, because everyone’s got so many interesting perfumes to share. And meeting up regularly has made us all very good friends. We’ve even got a Whatsapp group chat going on, so we can have perfume discussions on the go! 🙂

    So glad to see you guys having fun – I thought the theme was BRILLIANT. But L’Heure Bleue, toilet cakes? No! Well, I only wish toilet cakes were scented with L’Heure Bleue.

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    • Hey Smelly Vagabond,
      When you next try L’Huere Bleue think Urinal Cakes. It was a TERRIBLE surprise to me that they are very reminiscent of each other.
      Portia xx

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  11. I love reading all of your posts, but especially those about your fragrance meet-up’s. This one sounds particularly fun 🙂 Thank you for sharing!

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    • Thank You MaryP,
      You would have had a ball at this MeetUp. We would have loved to have you come along too.
      Portia xx

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  12. Sounds like so much fun! I really hope I can make it to one of these soon, I’m in the middle of exams at the moment but I’ll keep my eye out for upcoming events.

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    • Exams will be over soon. Good luck with them RuthF. Fingers crossed the questions follow your lines of study.
      Portia xx

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  13. That sounds like it was a brilliantly fun day, Portia! As you know, we’ve had a few “Snifftogethers” happening here in Melbourne over the past few years, but it’s been quiet lately because our usual venue/cafe closed and we haven’t yet discovered anything else convenient. I would host them at my house, except that there’s barely any room (thanks to overcrowding by perfume cabinets!) and it would be more “Petting Zoo/Scent Shack” than “Scent Salon” 😉

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    • Ha Ha Ha! You are hilarious Christine.
      You do need to find a place happy to have you, we have been told to stop spritzing quite angrily at the AGNSW.
      Portia xx

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  14. It was so much fun! And a real treat to discover that some other perfume folk share my dislike for certain scents.
    As always Portia you were a fantastic host, and thanks to Jin also for the great food.
    X

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  15. Thank you for this enjoyable post, Portia! I would love to attend or arrange a perfume salon here in Berlin one day (soon!. So far I’ve collected business cards from people interested in such a gathering but to combine it with an online group is an interesting option…

    (Btw, I had so much fun watching the bearded man reading out loud the pink instruction manual for his new flambo doll!)

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    • Hey Anka,
      How freaking funny is that Fanny Flambo. Hilarious!
      Go to and organise your event, we will be waiting to hear the results.
      Portia xx

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  16. Hey Portia,

    No doubt in my mind you all had a fantabulous time, would love to have been there.

    I have been thinking about starting up a perfume meet-up group here in the Blue Mountains, I really can not make the Sydney ones at present especially after getting myself a divine rescue dog whom at almost 9 months is 40kgs.

    So now after your comment I am going to do it!

    Do hope to see you soon, and create another perfume for you perhaps!

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    • If you start a Fragrant Mountains MeetUp group I will certainly come whenever possible Julie. I’d love to meet your rescue monster, and smell your gorgeous fragrances again too.
      Portia xx

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  17. Awww, I so want to be there! I don’t think there’s anything like that where I live… and, anyway, even if there is, it would be all in Valenciano so I wouldn’t have a clue what’s going on…
    Sometimes feel so alone here!

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    • ThinkingMagpie,
      You DEFINITELY need to organise some MeetUp there for people who speak English, or for people TO speak English. You could be host and teacher and make friends by helping them improve their English.
      Then you can wear exotic fragrances and a couple will ask and then you’ll have a fragrant meet up group too.
      Portia xx

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  19. So fun to read about your meet up…and to find that…horrors…someone thinks my fav perfume smells like urinal cakes!!!!! The Eugene, OR group has some catching up to do…since we are just now figuring out what we LOVE 🙂 Your blog is one thing for sure 🙂

    ElizaD

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    • The person who was spraying the L’Heure Blue was using my bottle of it and I was most saddened to have this new and nasty scent association, but I do laugh as I spritz now.
      Glad to have you on board ElizaD.
      Portia xx

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      • OMG, that made me laugh out loud. That is life in a nutshell. For one person, L’Heure Bleu is sublime and a defining moment of art and for another it’s urinal cakes. I could cry if I wasn’t laughing. ~,’^D

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