Scent Diary: 26.2 – 4.3.2018

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Portia

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Hey there APJ Crew,

It’s Mardi Gras Parade week here in Sydney. Though I’ve kept a pretty low profile Sydney has been bursting at the seams with International Visitors here to enjoy the last week of our Mardi Gras Season. The weather has been perfect for everything and I’m hearing reports of a super year. Saturday nights parade was my Big Event this year, hosting the Sideshow Glam Stands. An excellent week, now I’m bushed!

 

Scent Diary: 26.2 – 4.3.2018

Monday 26:

2.30am and still hanging out at the computer. SOTBed: Annick Goutal Sables.

This morning dawned cool and wet. Normally after night shift Jin comes home and quietly gets himself into bed. Not today, it was like a herd of elephants, so I was awake much earlier than normal. Took the dogs out in the rain and www all LOVED it. No umbrella, just three VERY wet creatures rambling around our suburb. Their favourite bit is the drying off with a towel. I get first go so basically they get a daddy smelling towel to rub them dry. Happiest dogs on earth.

After our walk/swim my Sables was basically gone anyway so I grabbed La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam which I love for its dusty Dubai resin shop vibe. Perfect for our Summer Cool Snap.

Went and had my Pedi done, then Jin and I lunched on dumplings and soup at Lok Lok.

Lazy afternoon. Wearing Tom Ford Patchouli Absolu. Creamy choc patchouli and grass clippings.

TRIVIA Q&A

I needed a lift at 11.30pm and decided a few hefty spritzes of vintage Caron Infini PdT would keep me focused. YUMMY!

Tuesday 27:

SOTBed at 3am. CHANEL No 5 EdT.

Scott came for Office day and we did a LOT of sending and spritzing. My current scent cloud is brought to you by.
1976 Floris
Bois Blue Piguet
Paco Rabonee Pour Homme
Rococo Teone Reinthall

Work was busy tonight and we had a few new teams. I wore my newest full bottle Sigilli Bayan Mulak. The opening is a ferocious Pine/Grass clippings thing but that quickly morphs into a resinous muskiness with a hint of furriness. I’ve spritzed it again now I’m home and LOVE IT!

.Mildly amusing moment. It seems the pine/resins combo used in Bayan Mulak are similar to the 1970/80s urinal cakes in South Korea. Jin was instantly transported to childhood memories of having to go to stinking, dirty public toilets with this smell overlaid. Not a win for him sadly.

Wednesday 28:

It’s super sweaty here today. I can’t really get motivated to do much. Been blogging a bit but not really.

Got a postcard from my mate Alice who knows how much I love them. YAY! How cute is this?

Filling in tonight for one of my beautiful girls. Going to wear Hiram Green Slowdive. There’s something so luscious and over the top about its honeyed sweetness that sings for me.

We had 8 teams tonight and it was loads of fun.

Came home and Jin’s best Korean friend is over. They are watching Korean TV and chilling on the couch. It’s rare that Jin’s mates are invited to come over so I’m really happy to see him socialising.

My computer is playing up so I’m going to turn it off and then I’m going to bed. A big fat set of spritzes of vintage Miss Dior EdT and Extrait.

Thursday 1:

Woke up grumpy this morning and have been on the edge of barking. Trying not to give Jin an unwarranted serve but ….. and the poor guy is home today.

To try and calm the choppy waters I’ve spritzed some Guerlain Shalimar EdP.

My WordPress is also playing up. Can’t comment on others blogs, won’t share my posts and a few other bits & pieces. Got my superstar Tech Girl Belinda onto it but right now I’m itchy with it.

I did get a couple of Perfume Posse posts done today so I’m smelling very rose right now.

Fell asleep on the couch. Woke up still grumpy. Very unlike me.

Steve came over to collect some frags from the First In Fragrance mass order we did. He’s so sweet, brought a LUSH Rose Jam Bathbomb and a Lindt Bunny! Yes, Portia is officially spoiled. Forgot to take a photo, BUM.

Jin decided we needed a PIZZA NIGHT! We buy 4 pizzas, garlic bread and lolly water. We STUFF ourselves and the leftovers make lunch for the next 2-3 days. Very little can brighten a day quicker than PIZZA NIGHT! Jin doesn’t look happy but he’s Fricken Ecstatic.

Tonight I am wearing Frederic Malle En Passant from a 10ml Travel bought back in 2013 while shopping in Vienna with Birgit from Olfactoria’s Travels. Melancholy fragrance with incredibly happy memories.

Friday 2:

Nearly 3am and I’m for bed. SOTBed is Atelier Cologne Cafe Tuberosa from my 10ml Travel Spray. MMMMMMMM

This morning I was up and at ’em and grabbed my 10ml Travel of Ormond Jayne Sampaquita to combat the sweaty heat.

Met my BFFF Kath for lunch near her work and we spent a very happy hour chatting.

Then I wandered David Jones for an hour. I was given some Gift Cards for Christmas and wanted to see if I could find anything. Grabbed a plain Charcoal Linen Quilt Cover Set but couldn’t find anything else I wanted. Still have a shitload of money on cards. Better luck next time. There were some lovely things but we already have EVERYTHING, I’m hard to buy for.

Tried to organise my Perfume Room and did a little bit, mainly putting bottles back in boxes and reorganising some shelves. The good thing is my desk is almost fragrance free. It should take about 3 days for it to get totally messed up again. Right now it feels like a slice of heaven. While cleaning up I spritzed little bits of different things on spare parts of my anatomy and now I’m like a nuclear fragrance dump.

Jin was out boozing with his workmates tonight. I picked him up at the station and he smelled like a Pickled Person. He’s a jolly drunk so it was funny and sweet to have him back home. He cooked himself noodles while I was out walking the dogs and then took himself off to bed and now I can hear the snores of a druinken man clearly two rooms away, through a closed door. He will have a sore snore throat tomorrow.

Saturday 3:

Woke up and today is warm. L`Artisan Parfumeur Coeur de Vetiver Sacre to cool me off a bit before getting ready for the HUGE day ahead. Jin bought this bottle on special at Galleries Lafayette on our first visit to Paris together in 2013. They were DCing it and he got it for next to nothing. He didn’t really wear it so he passed the bottle onto me. I like it a lot but forget to wear it unless I see the box. Perfect summer spritz.

OK, had a bubble bath and a nap. I’m starting my make up for the Sydney LGBTQI night of nights. Yes, it’s the gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and After Party tonight. My fragrance choice is one I love dearly, will work in the heat, is unusual, bold and glamorous plus it has excellent staying power. Mona di Orio Eau Absolue. I loved these bottles, they were hefty, clean lined, beautiful and they were the coolest caps in perfume land. While the new ones look more sleekly modern I hate them and think they are shit. So I’ve stocked up with Back Ups of my precious Vanille and Eau Absolue but I won’t be buying more bottles from the brand. YUCK.

So let’s talk about the weeks biggest highlight. Mardi Gras Parade. We had a freaking ball. Arrival by motorbike with the handsome Luke. We were the lead bike in the Boys On Bikes division. I am now the only person to have ridden with both the Dykes On Bikes and Boys On Bikes. Tremendous fun, Luke and I were so excited we were thrumming. He was a steady driver and we were able to chat on the route. Unforgettable.

Luke will be super grumpy that I added this photo because he looks like shit but this is what we were seeing at the bottom of the street on our way up the parade. The most fabulous bedlam on earth.

Again this year I hosted the Mardi Gras Sideshow Glam Stands with my friend Andrew Mercado. We both used to work on MTV in the 1990s and 2000s and have been mates ever since. Nowadays Andrew has his own Movie Cinema on the coast of NSW in a town called Hawkes Nest. At the end of the night we were booked again for next year! It was that kind of magical night.

My co host Andrew Mercado, society photographer C Moore Hardy and me at the beginning of the parade. You can’t see it in the pictures but we had the most enormous full moon for the parade. It sat heavy, fat and shining brightly over us all night.

Shot taken by my BFF Kath as she walked past with the float she helped produce.

My guests at Sideshow Glam Stands this year. Scott and his mate from London Murray and our very own TinaG from APJ.

Here’s a man I dated for a very short time in the 1990s and treated terribly. We are still buddies though and Steve has gone on to become a superstar in the Entertainment Marketing Industry. As you can see he is having an awful time. Sometimes I wonder “What If” about him, as to meeting of minds he is the most like me I’ve ever met.

You can’t even tell how sexy this sailor was but boy did he have us sweating.

Scott, TinaG and Murray wandered back together towards the Entertainment Quarter at Fox Studios after the parade, the boys went to the after Party and after getting the car I dropped TinaG home.

Then I had a McDonald’s craving so I scratched that itch. Now I’m for bed, so bloody tired.

Sunday 4:

I got up this morning and this is the last glittering remnants of the amazing time I had last night. It looks so sad and pathetic but all I could do was smile and reminisce on an excellent evening. Just by the way I love the way light plays on our char grey carpet. It’s such a nice dichotomy between industrial colour and plush, deep pile wool.

These guys were thrilled to have pats and cuddles as I chugged my first and second coffees of the morning. They are such loving and beautiful boys. For those that don’t know Paris is the black and Jinx the grey. We should have called them Shadow & Smoke.

Had my bubble bath in Lalique Pour Homme, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion, Amouage Gold Man fragrance. It’s a go bold or go home kinda day. I’m off to work again today and to be completely honest I’m not really feeling it.

 

 

It’s YOUR turn. What’s happening in your world?

Did you do anything Fragrant, Fun, Friends, Family or even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx

40 thoughts on “Scent Diary: 26.2 – 4.3.2018”

  1. Mardi Gras in Sydney is the best fun! We used to go to the parade when I lived there and always had a ball. I looked for you in all the news coverage but it was so manic! Glad you had a great night.
    Uni is back so I am back at teaching, what a shock to the system. Good to see a new batch of students though.
    Tested the new Tom Ford today, Vanille Fatale. Savoury vanilla, very tenacious.
    Oh, and totally agree about Mona D O new bottles, the lid on my Lux does not even stay on straight. Pfft.

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    • Heya JackieB,
      We scored some good news coverage but unless you knew exactly what to look for we whizzed by.
      I bet it’s a shock, you guys get 2-3 months without students, don’t you?
      How is the dry down on Vanille Fatale?
      Portia xx

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      • VF ends up being a bit less rounded than I expected, quite woody and a bit thin on me. Pretty but not eyerolling.

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  2. Looks like you had so much fun at Mardi Gras. (I *love* that third picture of you and Luke on the bike–it’s everything.)

    My week, like most people’s in the UK, has been dominated by the almost-unprecedented levels of snow. No big deal for me, as I don’t have an essential job so could stay tucked up at home rather than doing battle with the roads (no buses or trains for two days!) A community nurse pal, however, had to do her rounds on foot through the three worst days of it. And a friend’s anaesthetist missus drove 40 blizzardy miles on un-gritted roads to do her night shift and then stayed at the hospital to be there for the night after. I will never fail to be grateful for the NHS, and the people who work in it.

    No one will die if I stay home in my jammies.

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    • These people are the real modern day heroes, and they do it out of a sense of duty and responsibility, and not always for much financial either. A colleague’s wife has been holed up in the hospital she works in for a few days. I take my hat off to them.

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    • Hey Crikey,
      Yeah, Mardi Gras was special this year.
      Yes, you guys have excellent health care. Like ours it has problems but we are so lucky.
      Portia xx

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  4. Mardi Gras Parade sounds like superfun! Glad you had a great time, Portia. You all look awesome!

    My February wasn’t really good so I’m basically happy it’s over. Looking forward to spring and its – possibly – immense gifts 🙂

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  5. Love your pics, Portia, looks like everyone was having an absolute ball. My week, in comparison was very low key indeed😕. Stoopid Storm Emma ensured that I stayed home on my birthday and behaved myself (what’s rare is wonderful). We had five foot drifts of snow up our road which then froze into solid block of ice, but hubby and myself and doggie had some fun playing and doing snow angels and generally being like overgrown children. We traipsed in and out of our neighbors houses and partook of the odd glass of wine. It was all quite pleasant really. He had to get a giant tractor to pick him up and get him to work for a couple of days. The thaw started yesterday so the gritter and snow plough came up our road and cleared it off enough so that we could get the car out. Yippee, civilisation.We had booked a fancy spa hotel for this weekend but unfortunately his weekend leave was cancelled as he works in essential services. They let us rebook for next week instead. Have had an awesome perfume week with both Portia’s package and my job lot of vintage goodies arriving on the same day. I also went slightly mad on eBay again and bought decants, mini and more Chanel 19 Poudré, as I’m almost out of that. And I haven’t even ordered my Dame chocolate oil yet that I promised myself for my birthday. Will get on it!

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    • I’m so glad to hear that you get a second shot at celebrating your birthday with your lux trip!

      FIVE FOOT drifts. Wow.

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    • HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cassieflower,
      Sounds like instead of a luxury package you got the Adventure Sports one.
      Exciting that you get the Luxury Package next week,

      Oh yes, Luke is freaking gorgeous.
      Portia xx

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    • Belated happy birthday. Looking at pics of the Beast from the East makes me realize Ballarat Winter is like a Summer picnic for you snow bunnies in the Northern Hemisphere.
      Get on that Dame website.

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    • Hi Gina,
      First In Fragrance has them and a few other European sellers. I think Surrender To Chance has samples too.
      They’re a fairly small crew but well worth searching out.
      Portia xx

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  7. Great pics, mardi gras parade looks like tons of fun! I am jealous of your vintage MdO Vanille, wish I could find some. The new caps don’t stay on well, I received a bottle from FiF all scratched up and sprayer broken because the cap came off inside the box during shipment. They gave me a partial refund but it was a real disappointment.

    We went out to the Joshua Tree National Park to enjoy the full moon out in the high desert but it was soooo cold and windy we only spent one night rather than the three we planned. 😦 This week I have pulled out all my neglected Le Labo scents and plan to give them a good wear. I really should have bought the 50ml instead of the 100ml of Ylang 49, it is so incredibly potent. Hope it doesn’t go off before I can finish it.

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  8. That pic of you & Luke on the bike! Gorgeous 🙂
    My week was less glam by far. 2nd week at new job and seemed to go ok. Then rushing around organising for Dad’s party. Wasn’t really feeling it on the day of the party so wore Gin Fizz to try and conjure up some party mood on the principle of fake it till you make it. I smelt like I was in the party mood LOL.

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    • Thanks Lillibet,
      What better way to attend a party you’d rather didn’t happen that do it smelling like a party yourself. Clever!
      Portia xx

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  9. Portia – thanks for sharing your week – as always you look and smell amazing. Madri Gras looks like so much fun. And I saw you on the telly!! Nothing as exciting for me last week. Its nice to be back home after some housesitting and not living out of a suitcase! Had some family guff and my partners best friend passed away so there’s been some sorrow. And lots of hugs and lots of talking about stuff. And i think a mutual desire to live life properly and to the fullest.
    Perfume highlights – a Decant Shop order arrived, which i thought was my Fort & Manle samples. Treasures found were Montale Black Oud, Frapin 1697 and CB I Hate Patchouli Empire. Looking forward to getting a sniff of Charlatan.

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    • Wow Melanie,
      What a week. Excellent outcome though. When I read, “a mutual desire to live life properly and to the fullest” that makes me so happy. Every day precious. Doesn’t have to be big, exciting adventures every day but you do get to choose how you want your time to play out.
      Woo Hoo! Love getting sample packs. That Patchouli Empire sounds good, how does it wear?
      Portia xx

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      • Patchouli Empire is interesting, very green to start, then just plain scratchy, dirty (oops, earthy sounds better) hippy patchouli. In a good way. Lasted ok – couple of hours wafting. But not a fog, nor cloud. Have enough left for another try xo

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      • Thanks Saffyishere. Frapin 1697 was suggested to me as something similiar to L’Arts Vanille Absolument. I’ve only given it a quick whirl, but initial thoughts are it has some similarities but its not as strong/heavy and not as long lasting. I’ll do another trial with the last bit of my sample and let you know. I dont think i want to love it too much as its quite expensive (for me) for a FB xx

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  10. Few pleasures in life are as good and as affordable as pizza. What is that soda, btw. I enjoy recognizing things and I don’t think I have seen a soda label like that.

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    • Hey Fazal,
      Yeah, pizza is the bomb.
      The soda is a South Korean lemonade called Chillsung. It’s really yummy. Different to all the others but I can’t pinpoint quite why. Not overly carbonated either.
      Portia xx

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  11. Reading your diary brings a smile to my face. And how lovely to have a record that you can flick through when you want to remember. I often wish I had kept a diary, but my life just isn’t interesting enough, haha.
    I love your pointy bois, please give them hugs from me. 🙂

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  12. Portia those pizzas! Were I there with you I would have eaten a slice from each pie!!

    The week of insanity for me for a winter that does not want to end. We had a blizzard. lost power for a day and then the internet was out for two and half days. But now I am back online! Woo hoo! Gearing up for the next storm coming tomorrow night into Thursday morning.

    On the positive side I sampled several Legrands and Keiko Mecheris and also discovered a new indie line which I absolutely adore- St. Clair Scents.

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  13. I enjoy your Mardi Gras pictures now for the third year, I think, and they are always GREAT! Your outfit is super glamorous and I admire your professional make-up.
    My week was chilly, recovering from a flu so I stayed mainly at home. I’ve finally read Stoner, the book everyone praised so high – and it’s a masterpiece. And I watched a few older Clint Eastwood movies. Actually I enjoyed having much time for myself.
    OJ Sampaquita – I decided I need a nice spring scent and I can’t decide between Sampaquita and Tiare…

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    • Hey Neva,
      Yes, I’ve been back hosting the Sideshow Glam Stands for 3 years this time around. So glad you enjoy the pics, next time I’ll try to take some shots of the floats.
      Sampaquita is a lovely melancholy green floral. I like it a lot but rarely reach for it.
      Portia x

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