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Portia
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Hey Hey Perfume Junkies,
APJs new Thursday thing for September. Hoping to combat the guilt I feel when so much arrives and so little gets written about, the idea of New Sniffs emerged.
The idea is that anything worthy of comment, either good or bad, that’s passed under my nose through the week will get a short write up. Up till now I have kept APJ positive comments only, those days are gone. If I think something is terrible, shamefully lazy, greedy or stupid and you should know about it, it will be said. Not everything works for everyone and it would be pretty boring if it did >>> YMMV. I’d love it if you all agree, respectfully disagree, have any thought-out opinion and want to share, do so in the comments below. The point is starting a conversation.
Anything that I’m not keeping becomes a super simple GIVEAWAY. All comments are entered. Next week I’ll tell you who random.org picked. If the winner doesn’t eMail me during the week it will JACKPOT to next weeks winner who will get both.
Last Weeks Winner: M
eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with your address please
New Sniffs: 13.9.2018
I’ve got some Surrender To Chance samples here that have been neglected a bit so this week I’ve tried to get some on my skin.
The Orchid Man by Frapin
This is so weird. Just by smelling it I thought it was a lavender fragrance and was about to say how much I like the resurgence of the stereotypical late 20th century aquatic barber shop menswear. Once I look at the notes I realise that I’m completely mistaken. Pepper is the only thing I really smell from that note list, maybe some leathery birch and patchouli later but not really.
Lumière Noire Pour Femme by MFK
I have longed for a bottle of the mens version and thought I should meet the femme. Equally as radiant and industrial. The patchouli is king and it’s happily set within a rose/cumin combo and there are sneaky woods that could easily be taken for a modern synth oud. I will keep this sample though, I like it.
Ether de Lilas by Parfumerie Generale
This wears as a barely there slightly astringent, metallic and sour lilac fragrance. A little herbal, leafy and some very clean musk. It’s the sort of thing I can imagine being worn by people who want to change the air around them without smelling like they’re wearing a perfume per se. It is quite functional smelling, as of an uber luxe hotel lobby.
Also Dawn from DSH Perfumes sent me some VdP oil samples recently. I have been wearing them between my thumb and pointer finger to work out which ones really take my fancy.
Arabesque VdP oil by DSH Perfumes
Chocolate, coffee, woods, animalic honey, sticky sweetness all poured over a potpourri dry rose. I had to revisit Arabesque because the first time I wore it it attacked me. It was such an unusual response from my nose that I thought a second chance was in order. Second wear proves that it was the day, not the fragrance, that had my nose sizzling and sneezing. There is something feral lying beneath the beauty here in a manner that reminds me of some of Olympic Orchids badass offerings. I’m loving it today but warn you to expect a heavenly beast.
Shimotsuki {Frosty Moon} EdP oil by DSH Perfumes
Interestingly the hawthorn in the parkland across the road is blossoming and it does send a scent out quite similar to the opening of Shimotsuki. Vegetal, amber and iris with hefty musk, resins, coconut and fluffiness. The greenness in the opening is quickly overtaken by a fragrance that I can only define as the feeling of putting on a polar fleece jumper in the middle of winter.
Narciso Rodriguez Poudree
There has been chatter here and on Perfume Posse about this lately and I admit my interest was piqued. I happened to wander past the perfumery while doing other stuff today and gave my left arm 5 hefty shots of Narciso Rodriguez Poudree. It’s a wearable linear soft focus fragrance, the musks are clean and it has a metallic vibe all mixed in with the floral fabric softener style fluffiness. I got an unsolicited compliment over an hour after application and it has continued pumping itself volubly for the last 4+ hours.
Have you tried any of these? How did they work for you?
Portia xx
Nope. None. And they probably wouldn’t. 😊
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HA
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😀
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Hey Portia,
Yay for this being a regular feature!
I haven’t tried the Poudree version but the Narciso in the white bottle is surprisingly good at a distance. I didn’t like it on paper but always admire wafts of it from my work colleague whenever she wears it.
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Hi there Tara,
Thanks
Yeah, I think its diffusion waft must be amazing. It’s very nice up close but not overwhelmingly so. I particularly like the metallic zing it has.
Portia x
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I’m afraid I’ve never tried any of your new sniffs.
This week I went to the store of Dusita. Pissara is a very lovely and charming lady! I went to sniff Le Sillage Blanc because I love green and leather perfumes and LSB is just in the same vein as Bandit. It smelled wonderful. I smelled the others too and they were all quite lovely.
If it weren’t for the price I would have cracked right away. But I didn’t. I got a sample so I’m gonna try it more and really have to debate whether to get a bottle.
Nicolaï has a new Néroli Intense. I’ve tried it and it was also very beautiful. I can see myself getting a 30ml bottle in the short future.
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Yeeey I won! I’m not even sure what I won but I’m sure it’s going to be super! Thank you. 🙂
The NR Poudree sounds up my alley. One of my fave powders is Valentina Poudre and it has a similar, very simple combination that is so calming. I wear it on days when I cannot handle anything “loud”.
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Welcome lovely M,
I’d love to hear what you think of the poudree if you get a chance.
Portia xx
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Yes, I think it’s a no brainer kind of scent that’s easy to wear, undemanding and comforting. Congratulations on the win – whatever it is.
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Yeah for winning, M!!!
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I’ve bought Narciso Poudree for my Mum as a birthday present. It was her choice. It’s not bad but for me it is too musky, too powdery and too superfluous.
I think I would like Ether de Lilas by PG.
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Ah, maybe you’re right. Glad your Mum likes the NR.
Ether de Lilas is beautifully balanced, as I find most of PGs oeuvre. Very cool stuff though I’m not sure it’s for me.
Portia x
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I like your comments on the Poudrée. I bought some for myself (unsniffed 🤷🏼♀️) and did not enjoy it. Perhaps it was that metallic note that Portia was referring to that did not work for me. It came across as high-pitched and screetchy on my skin. Add the powder and it was just a hard no for me.
Ether Lilas sounds interesting to me as well. And not the usual PG sweet, warm nutty things he leans toward.
Perhaps those were more representative of his earlier offerings.
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PG is so well known for his sweet concoctions that many of his dry, green or animalic adventures fly under the radar. The range is broad and deep in the Parfumerie Generale line. It’s worth a close sniff. Drama Nuui, Coze, Arabian Horse, Yuzu Ab Irato, Tubereuse Couture, Indian Wood, Suede Osmanthe and others show great diversity.
Portia xx
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Arabian Horse? Interest piqued. Do Sephora ,or Mecca sell the PG ranges?
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Oh do try some PG’s Saffyishire. If you’re in the USA both Surrender to Chance and TPC carry some fragrances of his. Not Sephora however. I honestly don’t know why this kind doesn’t receive more talk and attention. I mean he doesn’t do cutting edge, weird stuff. No Essential Oil of Baby Spit-up, for example, but is still very creative. Also google Pierre Guillaume. Very easy on the eyes! Yum!
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Neither, they’re not in Australia yet but LuckyScent has the range and FiF has most of the range.
Portia x
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OMG Portia! ARABIAN HORSE! Yes. Yes. Yes. Absolutley busting to try this one. As a long time equestrian I just know I would love it. Sadly no one but no one carries samples of this. And my goodness, I have looked long and hard. Have Coze and love it. A lot. Suede Osmanthe: gorgeous. The only FB I have is Aomassai. Simultaneously sweet, then dry. Great stuff.
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LuckyScent has sa,moles of Arabian Horse and they send worldwide.
https://www.luckyscent.com/product/34551/arabian-horse-by-parfumerie-generale
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Excuse my ignorance, but, Portia would you mind explaining what a mole is or alternatively SA,mole. That which you say LuckyScent has of Arabian Horse? Is that a knock off? If not, guess who is madly going to click, pay and order. Toute suite!
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Portia! Found it! Arabian Horse. As you said on Lucky Scent.! Samples coming my way and verrry excited. Thank you so much for the great tip!
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I must have a sniff of Narciso Poudree.
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It’s funny that I’d not really paid any attention to the poudree until this week and it has turned up a few times around the blogs.
Portia x
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I adore this series!!! All frags I have never heard of!!!!
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So do I, Brigitte. I keep a note of the perfumes which sound interesting.
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Yes, I do the same 🙂
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I also concur that this is a fun and interesting series! So thank you for your creative inspiration dear Portia!
Then again, everything here is fun for me cuz it’s all brand new to me, this commenting and chatting about perfume stuff.
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Isn’t it fab to find a ‘club’ of like- minded folks, Marcella?
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It really is! Loads of fun and I’m still bowled over by how nice and friendly and cute and adorable and smart and funny everyone is.
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Excellent. That is good news Brigitte. AND I’m getting some frags done & dusted, lowering my enormous guilt at not getting my thoughts of them down on paper.
Portia x
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Only so far from your list was the Lumiere Noire, and I will diplomatically say it was not for me and leave it at that. 🙂 The DSHs are on my list to try, especially the Shimotsuki. Hope you’re all having a lovely week!
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Ha Ha Ha Verbenaluvvr,
Diplomacy at its finest.
Portia xx
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I love hearing about fragrances that I don’t know about or haven’t gotten to try! Thank you! The only one of these that I think would actually work for me is … maybe… the frosty moon. And that depends on the musk…there’s musk and there’s musk. I love a good green fragrance, but it’s sounding like this loses that aspect very quickly?
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Hey Tussah,
The VERY greenness does;t really disappear. It’s more overwhelmed.
Portia x
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None of the scents you mentioned ‘grab me’ Portia. I’ve never quite gravitated to any of the NR range, snobbishly, perhaps to my own disservice, believing it is aimed at the 20 year old uni student
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That’s so interesting Saffyishere,
I’d always pictured the NR range aiming for 30+ well heeled socials.
Funny how different impressions can be.
Portia x
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My daughter wore (?) wears (?) the ‘regular’ or first NR. Have not smelled it on her recently. I believe I bought it for her on her 30th birthday. So who wants the point? Saffyishire? Portia?
And what will the winner of the point do with it.
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Ha, I am bursting the preconceived ideas bubble with my little family of NR. I can be a foster grandmother to all those unloved opaque glass cubes if need be. I live to serve😀
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HA! Phew! Thanks for taking one for the team Cassieflower.
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I don’t fall into that demographic at all, but I’m a fan-girl (old woman) of virtually everything that NR has offered us, with one big exception. Fleur Musc. No. Just no! Try them if you see them on your travels, you may be pleasantly surprised. One caveat: you need to like musk as it forms the base of all the perfumes, the NR equivalent of Guerlinade.
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I love this new format, Portia, please, keep these reviews going, no matter how short they could get (there certainly are perfumes that aren’t exactly thought-provoking).
I have tried none of these. Dawn’s perfumes have been on my radar for a while, and the Shimotsuki does sound interesting. The rest, I could live without. Probably 🙂
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Thanks Diana,
Will do.
Portia x
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I love your dog’s shnose beside the New Sniffs headline! Kiss his/her sweet face for me! OK, now on my exploration list is Parfumerie Generale/Pierre Guillaume perfumes. I’ve been wanting to sample Indochine and now your suggestions. I wasn’t a big fan of the NR line probably because musk isn’t my favorite; however, I really enjoy NR Poudree and I’m so happy you sampled it and wrote a review. I just sampled Chanel Paris L’eau trio, and quickly purchased Venise; Oriental accord with Neroli, Vanilla, and Tonka. It will be lovely for fall. Deauville, orangey/green/basil was nice but not me, and Biarritz was lemony fresh cologne-like. They are all very transparent and light, so spritz lavishly!
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Hey Kathleen,
Pierre Guillaume is woefully underrated. His new Jasmin frag is getting rave reviews too, I can’t wait to try it.
NR Poudree, so simple, so good.
He He he. I bought all three CHANEL Colognes for splitting. Also simple but smooth as glass. Love them all.
Oh, not my pup, photo from the WWW
Portia xx
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You’re awesome! I have no doubt you wear all the Chanel Paris L’eau well! Pierre Guillaume Jasmin! One of my favorite notes. More sampling here I come! xoxo
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Tried the MFK one, but the others probably won’t cross my path.
My latest try is 1934 EDP by Chanel. No 5 with an injection of iris. Nothing new, but the fat aldehydes take my breath away.
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Ahhhh, that CHANEL is lovely. I think you are referring to 1932, yeah? I have it in EdT, so good.
Portia xx
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Oh shit. Yes, 1932. I keep calling it 34.
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I have not tried any of these. The PG perfume and the DSH one, are the two which grab my attention. I am not usually fond of musk, so the NR line is not something I would actively seek out.
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Hi there Ingeborg,
Nice to see you. Glad to have given you a couple to think about.
Portia xx
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