78 thoughts on “Scent Diary: 28.1 – 3.2 2019”

1. How great that you keep that rearing mixture to rescue Lorikeet babies, Portia. Hope Apollo is doing okay.
   It makes me so happy you’re loving Circe. Great read.
   Oh that Melange fragrance sounds fab.

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   • As you wrote on the bottled rose you wanted to read more historical fiction, maybe you will like The Words in my Hand by Guinevere Glasfurd. I just finished it (I am still a lot on the couch) and enjoyed it very much (no Circe but that one is hard to beat), partially because it is situated in 17-century Netherlands (Amsterdam, Deventer and more). It gives a very good impression of the lives of Dutch women and maids on those days, and sheds a little bit of light on the philosopher Descartes.

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   • Hey Tara,
     Lorikeet food works for most Aussie natives as a stop gap restorative. If they just need some nutrients and water. Fingers crossed for Apollo.
     Circe was wonderful, now I am reading something else. Not sure where the rec came from.
     Melange is very interesting.
     Portia xx

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2. Baby birds are so cute! I reared a baby magpie once, he adopted my black spaniel as his mother and was like a shadow. Flew out of the kichen one night to join his own kind. Happy sad.
   SOTBed Traversee du Bosphore, thanks for the reminder.

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   • That’s a wonderful Magpie story JackieB.
     Isn’t Traversee du Bosphore gorgeous?
     Portia xx

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3. I am so bloody jealous of your hot weather after having to deal with a polar vortex in the northeastern part of the States…finally it warmed up a bit today…

   not much happening in my neck of the woods…pretty much wore 31 Rue Cambon all week until my son stole it from me. then switched over to Phlur Hepcat (originally I thought of this one as a powdery tobacco with a touch of oud but in the extreme cold it turned into a most yummy cherry sweet cherry tobacco frag and I was gaga over it…received for compliments at work the first day I wore it).

   Also will have lots of thunking to report on Thursday as I went beserko testing some 1/4 full vials of DSH frags…

   and discovered a fantastic indie brand thanks to a close perfume pal of mine…Fum Perfumery…gorgeous extrait perfumes…only three releases (instead of 20 all at once…which I love) but they are all amazing!

   hope everyone has a good week!

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   • And btw, Portia, I can see that you have lost weight from the photos…you go!!!!

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   • Hey Brigitte,
     Weather extremes are not fun. Give me a happy middle please. 18 – 30C with humidity below 40% and i’m a happy camper.
     What a fabulous name, Phlur Hepcat.
     Thanks for noticing, losing weight is making me a little sad. I really liked the way I looked, I will get used to this too.
     Portia xx

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     • You are still gorgeous 😎😎😎

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4. I love you even more Portia that you rescue baby birds! Apollo is gorgeous! We don’t have many colorful birds like that here in CO. But I love the birds that come to my backyard feeders, and we also rescue birds in need when found.
   You’ve had another fragrant week! I’ve always been curious about YSL Velours by Carlos Benaim, very interesting notes. Is it a love for you? Thank you for reminding me, I need to order a sample. I have Silences (per your review) and I’ll wear that today.
   I’ve been giving Guerlains a lot of wear time this past week. And I am loving L’Instant Magic, a recent blind buy.

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   • Hi Kathleen,
     Thanks, Apollo is a sweetheart.
     Velours is definitely a love. I can’t wait for the weather to cool a bit. I think it will be even better then.
     Isn’t L’Instant Magic interesting, so sweet and yet cool.
     Portia x

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5. A week of organizing here as my school was cancelled Wed – Fri for the polar vortex and fresh snow/ice. Got my perfume shelf, bathroom closet (too many backup bath products!!) reorganized. Did not get to start on the kitchen – the spice cabinet is a mess. (I make a lot of my own spice mixes and they end up in small containers and baggies which are all over the place.). Currently wearing DSH Colorado – American Perfumer was kind enough to send me a sample and I’m absolutely loving it.

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   • I loved Colorado too. What did you make of the new Dame perfumes? I know you got oil samples but I was just curious as to what you thought of them.

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     • Trying to decide. I need to wear Duality on its own- when I tested with stuff on my other arm I felt it got lost. Mimosa Mixte is a nice mimosa – enjoyed that one but it needs another go as well.

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       • Thank you! They are very reasonably priced so it is good to know that they are nice.

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   • You guys have had some awful cold temps over there. I hope you guys are all safe.
     Cleaning and reorganising takes it out of you. Good on you for getting the bath products done.
     OOOOHJ! So glad you’re loving Colorado. Isn’t it amazing?
     Portia xx

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6. Had a very tough week due to sudden and excruciating shoulder pain in my right arm. I am not feeling up to wearing much perfume, sticking to white musk oil and essential oils until the agony abates, which I am told could take many weeks. :-(. Unfortunately I have to make a week-long trip to Canada on Wed. that can’t be put off, which is making me feel doubly anxious. Husband is totally unhelpful but at least the dog is being sympathetic.

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   • Shoulder pain is terrible. The one thing of comfort I can offer is that it does pass, but in my case it took a year (not all the time excruciating fortunately). I couldn’t wear sweaters as I couldn’t lift my arm so it was a year of blouses and cardigans. Wishing you well, I hope you find painkillers that will work (for me: tramadol/paracetamol combination I am not sure if that exists in the US).

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     • I had two frozen shoulders. First one took two years to resolve. Second one eighteen months. Still don’t have full range of motion. I had forgotten about the difficulty in dressing until you reminded me. My husband had to dress me for all that time because even bras and underwear I could not put on as my range of motion was extremely limited. I would not wish that on anyone.

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   • Thanks god for your baby being there to give you comfort. Keep at the exercises and yoga and hopefully the pain will eventually subside. Good luck with the trip on Wednesday.

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   • Bloody hell TaraC,
     That sounds bad.
     Fingers cross it eases up for you.
     Portia xx

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   • Sorry to hear of your pain. See/enquire if you can take some magnesium- either tablet or liquid form direct onto your shoulder. Might help some xx

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7. Truck driver in a dress, indeed! No. You’re lovely, Portia. Always.

   Took a friend out for a belated birthday dinner. It was 18 degrees and snowing all that day, though very little on the ground. We went to an izakaya which was a lot of fun. 10 course menu of “bites,” and fantastic drinks. I am 20 years her senior but she was ready for home and bed at the end of the meal while I was up for more chat and drinks. The youth of today! LOL! It was her birthday, so she won.

   Did a house/space clearing with candle, special incense and salt mixed with herbs for Imbolc (aka Brigid’s Day) and the oddest thing happened. I work remotely from home and have (to be genteel) a very difficult boss. When I got to my home office to clear that space, the charcoal in my censer would not stay lit and the resin incense grains would not adhere to the charcoal when I sprinkled it on. Needless to say, that room took a lot of time and was a challenge to clear. Got the charcoal finally going and staying hot and left it on the resins in the room with the door closed for a few hours. Woke up this morning to a marvelous smelling house that feels renewed.

   Still very cold all week so I’ve been liberal with the heavy hitters-Youth Dew, Royal Secret, Original Commes de Garcons, Tauer Orris and DKNY Black Cashmere. Had an at home spa evening for myself one night after work and smoothed on quite a bit of champaca essential oil in a fractionated coconut oil base while still damp from showering. Got the ageing neck and decolletage well hydrated and went to bed smelling of warm, far away places.

   The 2 cats have barely left their heated beds and I don’t blame them!

   Move slowly and stay cool, dear Portia. : )

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   • Wow, champaca essential oil…bet you smelled amazing! My current oil obsession is cardamom. Can’t get enough of it.

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     • Brigitte, Nature’s Gift (online essential oil store-woman owned) has it and it’s a luxury that I treated myself to ages ago. Well worth it, especially in the greyness of winter. A little goes a long way and it’s beautifully decadent, especially under winter clothes. I tried a lot of fragrances with champaca, but absolutely nothing even comes close to the real thing.

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       • Thank you for that. I am always on the lookout for a good e.o. distributor!

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   • Hey Cee,
     I was thinking WOW 18 degrees and snowing, then it clicked; 18F!
     That house clearing sounds wonderful. I do a very low key version of that after cleaning each week.
     WOW! You’re week in fragrance sounds wonderful.I would never even think to make up my own lotions, is it very hit & miss? Do you ever have reactions to the Eos?
     Portia xx

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     • I’m a certified aromatherapist, Portia. Since I learned some lessons the hard way, aeons ago, after putting cinnamon eo neat on my pulse points and raising welts that lasted for days, I never have reactions. Less is more with eos.

       Bless you for rescuing the lorikeet. 💋👌👍

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       • It’s probably not something I want to dabble in then Cee. I can easily see myself making my skin bubble and crackle. I’ll leave it to the experts.
         Portia xx

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8. Circe is so good (thank you Tara again)! What a cutie Apollo is, I hope he allows you to keep feeding him. I am a bit of a compulsive garden bird feeder, in the morning they come close to the house and give me demanding looks (animal rights!) until they are fed.
   I am wearing Naja, found a discounted and full tester, clearly we were meant to be ;-). It is very lovely and I am glad I bought it. Almost always when a perfume really feels right in all aspects to me, my dog loves it too and smells it very attentively for a while on my wrist. She gave Naja the longest sniff.

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   • Wow. What a find. ❤️

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     • I am so happy with it! Purring….

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       • The Vero’s chose their wearers. It was meant to be. Congratulations. xxx

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   • Hi Hamamelis
     Apollo has gone to the Vet who will care for him till the Rescue service comes.
     OOOOOHHH! Good one finding a Naja for a good price. Lucky you. It;’s unbelievable eh?
     Portia xx

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9. Portia, now you’ve got your Russian visas there is nothing more to worry about on your trip! We found getting the visas a horrendous experience (Edinburgh) and wondered if we would get through it all. But the trip itself is amazing! We took lots of dried fruit and nuts from home to enhance our brekky.

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   • Hi Annabel,
     We still haven’t collected the visas. Hopefully all is good.
     Good advice. We are told there is no food car on the Trans Siberian too so we will have extras packed for that too.
     Portia xx

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     • Once you’ve been to the Consulate I think you are fine! We had to be fingerprinted and the lady complained I hadn’t entered my last place of work (25 years earlier!) – we very nearly had to go back to Belfast from Edinburgh and start over again!!

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10. Thanks for sharing your lovely week Portia. Your lunch out with Jin sounds delish!
    Tough week here – too hot for me 🥵. Struggling to find my sparkle. I think it’s the warm nights and constant need for the fan or air con that throws me.
    A new Chief at work, and some of the Indians not happy. Need to make room for three new desks in our already small office. Interesting times ahead.

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    • Hey Melanie,
      It was super delish. LOVE that word.
      Sorry that you’re struggling with the heat. I hear you.
      Good luck with the works changes. Doesn’t help that you’re tired and uncomfortable in the heat, I bet.
      Portia xx

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11. A friend gave me a gift card and I ended up buying some Shiseido Ever Bloom body lotion. Will tackle the Bulgari lotion first though.

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    • Woo Hoo! Gift Cards are so good AnnieA. I love having money that is given with love, the fun of buying something to show them, using it. Love the whole experience.
      Portia xx

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12. Hi Portia
    I think I said thank you for supplying the Opium pic on the thread where I asked the question about my bottle. Yes it is the same one. Thanks again. i knew someone would know. XXXX

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    • Yes, you did say thanks Matty,
      Isn’t it To Die for?
      Portia xx

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      • It certainly is. I’m so glad I found it. XX

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13. wow, that nearly 500ml bottle of Shalimar… Silences should be more popular. the vintage can still be had for quite cheap and it clearly has the dna of fullsome green perfumes such as Chanel 19. Vintage Silences does come as quite harsh at times but only because it is so rich.

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    • Hey Fazal,
      Yeah, the super dry green of Silences puts a few people off. No worries, more for me.
      Portia xx

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14. Portia, you look amazing! Congrats on the visa thing, – oh, the stories I could tell on the Russian bureaucracy!.

    Not much happening here, but there are a few things worth mentioning: I’ve restarted doing my yoga workout, feels nice! Am rediscovering Beyonce’s Lemonade, – I admit that I didn’t fully appreciate it when I heard it for the first time, – now I do! And I’ve watched the whole season of Happy! over the weekend. If you’re a fan of Tarantinoesque violence and, say, Terry Gilliam’s imagination, give it a try. LOVED it.

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    • excellent news getting back to yoga!

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    • One day we will sit down and you will tell me the whole Russian Bureaucracy story. Go to Whoa Diana,
      Beyonce is the bomb. She is living the dream, creating it from next to nothing. Inspirational to everyone, especially POC. I think she is doing it with aplomb. She brings out banging tunes and doesn’t hold back on the message.
      Happy! sounds like I probably;y won’t like it but maybe I’ll give it a try.
      Portia xx

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15. So. I know you’re all waiting to hear with bated breath ALL about my fantastic TWO WEEK vacay in GUADELOUPE! 😈 it was GLORIOUS!! Warm to hot. Sunny with the exception of not infrequent afternoon monsoon-like storms that would last maybe 20 minutes and then be followed by more bone-warming sun. There was plenty of lazing on the beach and cocktail sipping poolside. The rainforest was breath-taking. Daily walks to inhale humid earth, moss and green stuff. Lazy paddling through picturesque lagoons. And dining out.
    We had made friends with a similarly aged couple. Early thirties, right 😏 Madame, who was generously endowed enjoyed wearing low cut blouses to display her eye-popping assets. Frequently we visited their favorite restaurant which was a bit of a ramshackle affair seating at most a dozen diners. One evening the chef/owner came over to our table to chat as he was exiting the washroom. A very tall, hefty man in gleaming whites. Perched saucily on his shoulder was a shiny, dark brown cockroach the size of a VW mini-bus, casually admiring the view. I alerted him to the monstrosity sitting on his shoulder and he nonchalantly flicked it off with the back of his hand. It rocketed across the table and landed cozily in Madame’s cleavage! No word of a lie! To her credit, she fished it out of there quite coolly but I was so horrified and relieved that it hadn’t happened to me that I started laughing like a mad woman. I mean, how embarrassing 😒. The dinner ended shortly thereafter and I had to make small of myself around the hotel after that. Naturally Mr. LH’s new job was to inspect every nook and cranny of our room each evening for anything that had more legs than is necessary.
    I’m in my ‘new’ office. I rented some office space not far from my home, mostly for meetings but also as a convenient escape hatch for when Mr. LH decides another annoying workshop project is in order. Quite liking it!
    Glad everybody has survived the bitter cold/extreme heat that has been around. Back to work now.

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    • oh but that is just hysterical!!!! I guess being well endowed afforded the little bugger a softer landing (he would NOT have been happy in my tiny chest-LOL!)
      Glad you had a great time…after all your hard work you deserved it…

      and excellent news on the new office!
      now get over to Saturday’s question!!!

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      • Yes ma’am! A little bossy today, aren’t we? Poor Mr. M 😉

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        • She’s small but deadly!

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          • I’ll say!

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          • You know it!

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    • Sounds absolutely fabulous Marcella,
      Are you refreshed, warmed and ready for 2019?
      Best of luck with the new office, I hope it generates enough work to employ staff.
      Portia xx

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      • I suppose I could always have Mr. LH come in and do a bit of sweeping up 😉

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        • Boot, that’s not advisable at all. He might start seeing ‘jobs’ that need doing around the place🤨

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          • Boot? What? Who put that there😉

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          • Oh Gawd yes! Horrors. Very bad idea. He’ll bring his grinder over 😱

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    • That’s a super story and great holiday memory – so funny! Glad you had a good time xx

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      • Thanks Melanie! I will never forget that cockroach story 😱

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    • Sounds like all sorts of wonderful. And just what the doctor ordered. There’s an added bonus to getting away when the weather is being particularly s#!tty at home. I’m not surprised that you exploded laughing at the situation. He’s one sneaky little cucaracha, he probably set that whole scene up himself 😉

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      • That thing was massive! And…I’m laughing all over again. I’m sooo mean 😂

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        • 🤣 you’ll dine out on that one for a while, I’ll bet.

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    • Oh my god, if a cockroach landed on my boobs I’d be screaming my head off. How could you not laugh though?!

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16. Hi Portia, I get puffed out just read your APJ week! Lots of love, Aunty Tracey 💕🌸🌴

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    • AUNTY TRACEY!! What a great surprise.
      LOVE that you dropped in.
      Portia xx

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17. I’m still playing catch up as I was otherwise engaged at the weekend. I always feel a tad wistful when you’re talking about places you’re hanging out, that I’ve visited Portia. Especially when it’s your summer and our winter. Mind you, the humidity would leave me looking and feeling like a sweaty farm hand/truck driver. And the hair😱 🐑.
    Anyway, Saturday was a big day family wise. Hubs’ birth rellies had arranged a lovely dinner and hotel stay as a surprise for his birthday, which is actually tomorrow. I knew all about it though. He thought there were a few of them coming but his Mam, Dad and all ten siblings were waiting to surprise him in a room😂 It was very funny and surreal. He looks so much like them all that you’d note the similarities even if you didn’t know. We had a wonderful night and they’re just lovely people. His feet still haven’t touched the ground.
    But the important thing here: I wore PoaL, he wore Aramis Calligraphy and our daughter was rocking Fragile.

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    • that’s wonderful! I had been thinking about your husband and his new family discovered…wonderful celebration…and the three of you smelled amazing!

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      • Thank you! There wouldn’t be any excuse for us to smell mediocre 😀

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    • I don’t know what is more amazing? The surprise or ten siblings! How wonderful. Instant family ❤️

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      • It’s incredible.

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        • Happy stuff, that is!

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    • That is the best birthday story. You got me in all the feely spots Cassieflower.
      Portia xx

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18. And I know I said it before, but that’s the same as my old Opium bottle 😢😢😢

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    • I know. I had one just like it too 😕

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    • YAY! It’s a gem of a bottle all by itself Cassieflower.
      Portia xx

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