Portia
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Hello Fellow Fumies,
Every Saturday we have a Question, an idea purloined from Olfactoria’s Travels. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it is a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.
The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them.
Over 100 responses I will draw a $10 Surrender To Chance Gift Card.
Over 200 responses I will draw a $20 Surrender To Chance Gift Card.
Comment purposefully on yours or anothers comment & you’ll have a chance, random.org will draw on Friday.
Last Weeks Winner: Sadly we only made 63 comments last week.
eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with the eMail you’d like me to send your Gift Card to.
Saturday Question:
Of your 2017 scent purchases, which did you wear most?
Most of us shudder as we think of how much money we spend on fragrance in all its forms each year. This addiction is expensive, wasteful and hardly environmentally friendly. Yet still the thrill of the chase, the spend, the bargain and the vintage keeps us plowing through our cash reserves as if money grows on trees. Trolling the WWW at night to read reviews, search out deals, catch up on the FaceBook boards etc inevitably leads to sample, bottle, set purchases.
One of the guys I know online asked this question and it REALLY got me thinking. What have I used from this years spectacular haul? Has there been a favourite that I reach for constantly, or even often?
What I realised was that though I keep buying new bottles on the back of loving a sample or decant, what I wear the most are my collection and samples/decants. When I’m not trying oodles of new to review then I like to be reminded of the bottles I love, give them an airing and reconnect.
My Answer:
There are a couple of ways I can answer this because quite a biot of my fragrant spend goes to buying extras of discontinued fragrances that I adore and whenever I see a bargain snap it up. So vintage parfum atomisers of Miss Dior, Mitsouko, Samsara, Shalimar and Bal a Versailles along with Silences PdT & Niki de Saint Phalle EdT are regular purchases and they get worn a LOT!
If we are talking buying of new bottles then I think that there are two that have seen a bit of use
Serge Lutens: La Fille de Berlin: The very first week that the new bottles came out in the Palais Royale store I rang Elvire and had her send my package via a mate in Europe. The 100ml bottle is lovely, I really like the way it feels and spritzes. It arrived here through the cooler months which meant La Fille de Berlin went into instant rotation and got some serious skin time. Roses done right with a honeyed sweetness that always feels like raspberries to me.
Penhaligon’s: Ostara: Having gone through a good sized decant and seeing a new bottle for sale at a reasonable price I finally caved and bought Ostara. It has been a spring staple for me in 2017, so fresh and bright. Yellow/white flowers and a weird earthy undertone. It’s pretty and unusual. Can’t work out why it wasn’t a bigger hit.
My Saturday Question to you is:
Of your 2017 scent purchases, which did you wear most?
Easy to answer; Sarah Jessica Parker’s Stash.
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Snap!
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I think there are a few people who’ve been wearing this one a LOT Saffyishere!
Portia xx
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Great choice! I’m gonna put some on right now 😄
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I just haven’t been able to bring myself to buy it. Now I think I must- seeing how much y’all praise it.
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I do not wear it that often (which is true to most of my perfumes) but I use several drops of the oil when I shower at least once a week since it got colder: it smells wonderful!
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me too!
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I bought three bottles of Berdoues Cologne Grand Cru Collection as gifts for the younger Marzipans and wore them a lot this past year…they are in a central location of the house which allows for sharing and stolen spritzes….Oud al Sahraa, Arz el rab and Vanira Moorea. There is nothing mind blowing or outlandish about these fragrances but they are incredibly versatile and enjoyable and have more often than not garnered me compliments at work.
I also “inherited” a bottle of Dame Bergamot, Jasmine and Labdanum this year. That one has gotten a lot of usage as well because there is something about it that reminds me of my beloved vintage Nocturnes de Caron but with a fresher more modernized take on a classic. Again, nothing groundbreaking but just so pretty and versatile and easy to grab and go with lots of compliments every time I wear it.
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You’re a bit of a Dame fan girl methinks😉
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LOL! yes…also a big fan of Sonoma Scent Studio.
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and I won’t even begin to tell you how many Dame bottles I bought as gifts for others over the past three years 😉
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And I’m also a huge SSS fan.
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I sooo want the Dame tuberose soliflore. I adore tubrose. My parents grew masses of them. Bewtiching.
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The Dame soliflores are true to life so you might really like it. I posted this elsewhere but will post it here for you. 10 percent off code is EQ9B and it is valid through 12/31/17 in case you feel inclined to purchase 🙂
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CM— OMG! thank you so much for the code! I am very much inclined to buy one of the Dame soliflores. (Note to self—Just. One)
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I’m still loving on my elephant bottle of Assam of India. Berdoues definitely does versatile and enjoyable fragrances.
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Oh my, this question prompted me to check my personal accounting app and I was shocked that I have made over 30 orders of perfume during 2017. Some of the orders are samples but there are some which contain more than one bottle… I need some self-control.
The bottle that I wear the most has to be Nicolaï’s New York Intense. It’s so great. It’s both classy and inoffensive. Whenever I have serious matters to deal with, this is always the one I reach for.
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JH- wishing you more fragrant abundance in 2018. Weat Nicolis NY I & keep the self-control for those serious matters.
Best, J xx
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I love that you’re wearing Nicolaï’s New York Intense as your go-to JH, very classy. I bet you smell 100% cool customer in it.
Portia xx
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Totally unadventurous this (auite difficult year) year- I pretty much lived in Chergui (my replacement bottle). No surprise, but I love La Fille de Berlin.
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I love Chergui… always in my top 5.
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YUM on both counts Jyotsna,
Lovely choices.
Portia xx
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Dries Van Noten. 😍 I bought 2 x 10 mls. Then 50mls. Then 100mls. I gave the 50 to someone as a gift. Merry Christmas from a mate in Europe. Bussis
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Yum. I just ordered my third 100ml bottle. Plus I have the body butter. Big love.
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Agus Póga from someone else in Europe, albeit hanging off the edge of it😃
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I just bought 10ml of this and more might be coming my way the next time I am in the EU. It’s so good.
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Heya Val,
I love this too. It’s funny but I bought it in LA at Barney’s on the Scentsation Bus Tour. It was brought out that first winter then put away and I’ve not reached for it since. I’ll be rectifying that for the paris trip in April I think and then Sudney winter.
Portia x
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I finally caved after a year of wanting it and finding a great deal on it and bought Guerlain’s Terracotta perfume. I wore it almost all summer. My only regret is that it fades very quickly on me so I have to respritz often, probably because it’s an edt. Those just don’t last long on me. But I love the tropical vibe. It always reminds me of the beach – just where I want to be 🙂
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Wonderful fragrance Kandice,
Yes, I too found it ephemeral but resproitzing is the answer.
Portia xx
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Coromandel in the new EdP formulation!
I don’t know what took so long, but it wasn’t until I experienced the extra lift and sparkle of the new formulation that I truly fell in love with Coromandel. I enjoy the EdT (which I suspect is even more concentrated than the EdP, making the claimed concentrations BS); but the EdP has me over the moon!
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This is interesting to hear. I kept trying to love Coromandel…. I should love it from the notes…but I don’t. I will have to give the EDP a try!!
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Ashoka has been a fave, and also Creed Aberdeen Lavander, they suit most days and occasions.
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Hi JackieB,
You know it’s the only one of that series I didn’t try because there’s a surfeit of lavender in the cupboard. Does it remind you of anything?
Portia xx
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Who Knew? By 4160 Tuesdays. Bought the 50 ml in May and the 100 ml as a backup in November cos I was already a third of the way through.
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Woo Hoo! A real love then, that’s a bloody lot of spritzing AnnieA,
Portia xx
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I did a ton of sampling this year and only a few bottle purchases but the most worn is probably Alahine. Not during the summer, but late last winter and then this fall, have worn it quite a bit. In the summer, it was probably Dame Sky Father.
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Isn’t Alanine gorgeous MmkinPA?
Portia xx
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Hmmm. I wear extrait 6 days of 7 (at least) and primarily vintage heavily weighted in favor of mid 60s to early 90s favorites. I buy my preciousses when they show up in the right condition at the right prices frequently in small flacons as they tend to be much less per ml than their showy larger siblings. Anyhow the point is I’ve been wearing those perfume closet staples for decades – Opium, Shalimar, LHB, Madame Rochas, Femme , Cinnabar, Chant d’Aromes, etc etc – with episodes of being super in love with one or another that sometimes last for weeks. Recently I couldn’t get enough oakmoss and pretty much burned holes through some Miss Dior and Azuree bottles before I got it out of my system. But I don’t think that counts for this question which is posed about what I’ve worn the most that was specifically purchased in 2017. That prize most surely goes to the amazing Dawn Spencer Hurwitz bottles I bought this year: Foxy, Chinchilla, Rendezvous, Parfum de Luxe, Sables de Zibeline, Etole de Vison, Tubereuse, Mata Hari, Souvenirs de Malmaison, Oiellets Rouge, Fou d’Opium, Minuit (and a few I got at the end of 2016 too) I can’t say enough about her talent. It’s icing on the cake that she’s a super lovely human too. =)
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WOW! You and I are very similar in our frag collecting Laura, loads of vintage here too. PLUS I adore Dawn, stellar perfumer.
Portia xx
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That would be Guerlain Angelique noire for me this year.
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Hey Ceil,
I just bought a bottle. I’m hoping it becomes m 2018 staple.
Portia xx
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From 2017 purchases, vintage Miss Dior, then probably Jubilation 25, 4160 Tuesday’s Goodbye Picadilly, and Beaufort’s Fathom V.
Most worn, generally? Mitsouko, I think, just edging out Miss Dior.
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Hey Crikey,
I reckon my two most words are the other way around but same. SNAP (ish)
Portia xx
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I bought and wore L’Envol the most in 2017. Whenever I wore it, I thought, what smells so good?
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Hey SunnyDay,
I love that bottle and have been VERY tempted to purchase. It smells good too. YUM!
Portia xx
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No hesitation here – I know it was Guerlain Mon. It was a blind buy for me, my friend picked it up for me dutyfree in March. Initially I wasn’t too impressed, I thought it was just *nice*, not groundbreaking, not a typical Guerlain, much sweeter than anything else in my collection.
However, I find myself wearing it a lot. It’s instantly cosy, enveloping and easy. It often draws compliments and I love it’s tenacious grip on my hair, clothes and pillow. I got a 100ml tester not long after I opened my 50ml.
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Hey Debra,
Mon Guerlain is lovely, I was surprised by all the negative press it got. A fitting release for 2017 from a house that does sweet.
It took me a little while to love it too but back in the fragrance heyday many things were slow burns to become bestsellers.
Portia xx
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I need to start logging my purchases as I forget by December what I bought all year. I know I got some new releases: Bottega Veneta Eau de Velours, Mugler Wonder Bouquet and Alien Musc Mysterieux, Mad et Len Petits Papiers, Fazzolari Ummagumma and Feu Secret, House of Matriarch Sacre Noir and Aria in F#, SSS Bee’s Bliss and DSH Become the Shaman. But mostly what I bought was old favourites: Malle Dries Van Noten, Byredo 1996, AdP Iris Nobile edp, Lolita Lempicka, Insolence, plus a bunch of Lutens 50ml bottles and Guerlain L’Heure de Nuit, Gourmand Coquin and Mon Precieux Nectar. My goal for 2018 is to stop chasing new stuff and to wear the bottles already in my collection which I love. My success rate with new niche samples has gotten so bad, it’s time to quit for a while.
To answer your question, what did I wear most, I rarely wear anything more than once or twice a year due to the ridiculous size of my collection, but offhand I will say Aedes Palissandre d’Or, Dries Van Noten and Bottega Veneta. Oh, and Mitzah!
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Hey TaraC,
Isn’t Aedes Palissandre d’Or wonderful. 100% adore,.
Portia xx
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This is a tough question because I did not really go for one particular perfume. But one I might have worn a lot this year is Chanel 19.
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Hey Fazal,
Good answer.
Portia xx
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Well, strictly speaking, I bought at the end of 2016, but by far my most worn this year was Stash. I’m amazed at this princely perfume at pauper prices.
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Yep Cassieflower,
Proving that the niche we pay hundreds for is alarmingly overpriced.
Portia xx
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I second this, P!!!!
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I wore a lot of Bruma this year. It’s so good and easy on days when I don’t have time to think much about what to put on.
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Hey Amy,
The Cire Trudon fragrance? Very nice.
Portia xx
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That’s the one!
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Oh and I also went through almost 10ml of Vilhelm’s Purple Fig.
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Ombre Mercure, no doubt. Always fitting, always fresh & deep, I love it…
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Hey Fanny,
I wore this a LOT when I first got it. So good. Then I just stopped reaching for it one day. Isn’t it lovely?
Portia xx
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I already know one of the bottles under the tree. Another staple and old favourite- Hugo Boss Woman. The fragrance my mum bought me decades ago when I got my first job.
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MEMORY SCENT is the best gift anyone can give. Lucky you Jyotsna.
Portia xx
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Dame Perfumery Earth Mother, hands down. Stunningly beautiful scent. I’m hoping there’s a big bottle under the tree!
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Fingers crossed for you MaggieCat,
Portia xx
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I hope so too for you! Earth Mother is a beauty!!! I could see it becoming someone’s signature scent.
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Hmm, I can’t really remember which ones I bought in 2017 and which in 2016! And I’m afraid to make a list, as I’m sure it will tell me that I have over-indulged. I love Ostara too, and use it often, but I’m pretty sure that was a 2016 purchase. I can’t say I’ve used these the most, but I’ve turned often to Laboratorio Olfattivo’s Nirmal and Patou’s L’Heure Attendue, which I bought this year. I have a feeling that a late 2017 entry, Montale’s Intense Cafe, is going to become a contender!
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Hey OH,
Great to see you.
Laboratorio Olfattivo’s Nirmal = YUMMY!
Intense Cafe is a firm fave of Scott’s. I like the Montale salty ones with vetiver or aquatic. YUM.
Portia xx
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Make sure you don’t pay full price for the Intense Cafe. I have seen it heavily discounted on the online perfume sites 🙂
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Beaufort Lignum Vitae was a completely unexpected love from a sample that had to be converted to a bottle. It’s moderately close to Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau (another love and one of only two back up bottles I have). Most loved decant I bought this year (and there were a lot of samples and decants) – Le Labo Thé Noir 29.
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Hi Greennote,
Exciting when you open a sample and within an hour you know. Ramen Noodles for a week.
Portia xx
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Ooh. I’d love to try that one. I do like Jeux de Peau though I know many don’t.
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I’m so curious about the complete Beaufort line. Have you tried some others? Jeux de Peau is one of my winter favourites, always around, in fact, I’ve been wearing it this morning.
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Neva- how gorgeous. You smell lovely. Yes!
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Montale Black Oud for me. And discontinued L’artisan Vanille absolument decants. Wish I had got onboard with this one about ten years ago then I would have some back up bottles. Commes des G Jaisalmer would be in the mix too.
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Hey Melanie,
Jaisalmer and Vanille Abs. are stunning. Don;t remember Black Oud but I quite like the montage synth, it smells nice to me.
Portia x
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Oh yes to Jaisalmer!! Love it!
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Hi Portia, Bois d’Argent through the colder months and Ashoka the rest of the time. I have finally understood Dries van Noten and that is in heavy rotation at the moment.
Sandra xo
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Oh Sandra,
What utterly perfect taste you have. So freaking glam. DIOR and Neela.
Portia xx
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My newest love from 2017 is definitely Tiempe Passate from Antonia’s Flowers. I keep falling in love with it again and again. It’s one of the perfumes that can be worn in every occasion, sophisticated and pure.
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Tiempe Passate is one of my favorite perfumes as well. You don’t hear this name too often – so I just couldn’t pass by without commenting.
I should wear it this week!
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I was able to obtain a partial bottle of Iris Ganache, and have been wearing it constantly. Chanel No 22 ( EDT) and Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel have also been in frequent use, with Bal a Versailles rounding out my all stars.
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Stellar All Stars Tena,
How lavish a line up?
Portia xx
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I feel a bit stick-in-the-mud here. Too many Lutens, a few vintageinherited from my mum) and not muuuch else. I should, maybe, look at samples rather than full bottles?
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I had great fun with my samples and decants this year. I have tried to stop buying full bottles and feel more in control of my collection. 🙂
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Very smart, Tiffanie. I’m going to do the same. I do buy full bottles of Lutens though. And that kinda blows my fragrance budget. I so crave other perfumes though….so🤔
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A timely question, it is good to ponder lengths we go to in our perfumed pursuits. Purchase in haste, repent at leisure!
Two bottles purchased during 2017 that got lots of wear: Hiris in the old blue bottle and a new bottle of Assam of India. Love them both to bits. 🙂
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I’m going to have to get Assam. On a complete tangent- I love Assam tea.
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Oops, forgot to say I also don’t understand why Ostara doesn’t get more love. Maybe it didn’t quite live up the hype when it was released? I like it very much. It has a dank and earthy undercurrent that is such a surprise, perhaps it turns some noses away.
And Silences PdT sits in an online shopping cart with my name on it. One day I will go for it, it gets such great love. How they practically give this stuff away I will never understand!
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I wore Jasmine Yuzu by Teone Reithal Natural Perfumes whilst in Europe for their summer and since returning to Australia for our summer.. cant beat it for lightness and brightness, and because I wore it in Greece (where jasmine and cypress scents mingle) it now reminds me of Greece!
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I’m not the same Kate at the end of 2017 as I was at the start. I now own things I would have scoffed at last year. But most worn have been:
* Poison Girl edt – that citrus opening is grand
* Jardins de Bagatelle edp – the metallic floral bouquet!
* Beauty edp – a tidy, neat throw on
* Allure edp – my trusty gym scent
* Numerous Teone Reinthal scents – quite possibly 200ml collectively!
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