Portia

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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies and friends, Scent Diary is a fantastic memory tool. Looking through some much earlier Scent Diaries over the 2025 Xmas break reminded me how good our life is. It also inspires me to live life as fully as possible so there are things to talk about. This is a win.

Your involvement is key. Hope you enjoy it and will let me know what’s happening in your lives too. What I really loved about original Scent Diary was the interaction with perfumistas around the world, and their interactions with each other. Scent Diary became a friendly conversation hub and it was epic. We can disagree but keep it nice and try not to give or take offense. Right now the world needs a web of friendships and connection more than ever.

Jin and I have made so many friends, near and far, through perfume. So let’s reunite the old and welcome some new friends too.

Scent Diary 27.4-3.5.2026

Monday

Got to bed around 1.30am after wee-ing the dogs and was feeling a bit mentally wrong. Just a little melancholy.  I grabbed my beautiful greyhound Paris and lifted him up on the bed. One problem with Paris is he is so old that he’s losing his continence. I set an alarm for 4am and another for 8am, woke both times and took the dogs for a wee.

Jin is already up and has taken over the couch. I did my Morning Routine: 10 Minutes. Well, I skipped the intention because after noticing our 10+year old dishwasher had stopped mid-cycle again, it was all hands on deck. So my small win was that I helped Jin get it going again. If you ever have the chance, marry an electrician, seriously.

• Don’t Touch the Phone
• Avoid Negative Input (TV, Socials, Arguments)
• Drink Water
• Get Sunlight in My Eyes
• Move Body 3 Minutes
• Set One Intention
• One Small Win

Eau de Boujee Verdant from a decant the Boujee crew gave last time I was in London. This is the original pic, MUCH more air in the tube now. GREENly McGreenerson. Verdant is so alive and vernal, spring in all its effulgent glory.

At the computer doing Trivia Q&A

Jin invited me for lunch (Monday is his Sunday). We went to our Parramatta Westfield Food Court. TOTALLY forgot that today is a public holiday. It was BEDLAM!  We ate and fled.

Fed and walked the dogs. Warm outside today. Gave their teeth a brush, honestly I’ve not been as diligent with it as needs.

3.30pm Trivia done, printed and sent. PHEW!

Hermès Paddock from very nearly finished Surrender To Chance decant. They have run out. I’m going to have to sell a kidney and buy a bottle.

I wish there was more news today. Jin didn’t want to go to the pools, had dinner at about 6pm and went to bed at 7.30pm.

Afterwards I did the dusting. Got some clothes washed and hung. Cleaned the kitchen benches and swept the floor in readiness for a big vacuum tomorrow. Faffed about.

Fed and walked the dogs through a slightly cool moonlit night. Not one car or human did we see.

Watched the end of Superman Returns.

Montale Jasmin Full. SO SATISFYING. Even more spectacular beside the fragrant dregs of Paddock.

Bed. Read. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

Tuesday

Yesterday I was chatting with one of my BFFs, Phil, and I said something so dumb that really cut at the heart of who he is. It was nearly midnight when I realized what I’d done and I spent the next couple of hours in a shame spiral. Finally, feeling very down I went and grabbed me beautiful old greyhound Paris and we cuddled till morning. Slept like the dead. Woke, did Morning Routine: 10 Minutes. My intention today was to send Phil an apology text that both apologized and showed that I understood what I was apologizing for, in short form so reading it wasn’t a War and Peace adventure. Clearly my sleeping mind had been working on it because it flowed in easy and thoughtful words, an unreserved apology. Sent. So it was also my days simple win.

Lolita Lempicka EdP

Phil called, laughing at me. He knew it wasn’t aimed at him, he knows I’m his forever champion, he doesn’t identify with that even though it’s part of who he is. It took him a while to even work out what I was apologizing for.  He was touched that I’d been obsessing over it and laughed openly about how silly I was being. While also being really surprised that I’d worry so deeply for something so small. PHEW! Like, all the phews.

Spent a lazy morning being grateful for such a friend.

Had a leftovers lunch. Last chicken schnitzel, last of the boscaiola and last green papaya salad. Sorry I didn’t get a pic.

Had a nap, expecting Jin to come home and wake me. He worked late! I slept right through the time I could bathe and do my face. So it was a quick ablution and man drag.

Wearing Pour Un Homme de Caron. Lavender lollies done smooth. MMMM

Here are one of our regular Turbo crews, Left Overs. After the ANZAC long weekend I was expecting us to be really quiet but we had 90 in the room. YAY!

Home. Fed. Ready for bed.

Neela Vermeire Creations Rahelle.

Watched some TV, bed, read.

ZZzZZZ

Wednesday

Up at sparrow’s fart. Walked the dogs in the pristine morning.

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes

Robert Piguet Bois Bleu. Salty woods, yum.

Jumped the bus and train to town. On the way I could make Calyxes on WWF but nowhere to put it. GRRRR!

Straight to my wonderful dentist Ryan. Hoping to get the abscess cleaned and move on. Nope. The news is not good. The infection has spread to my implant and is eating the bone away. The tooth must go. I’m going to take a minute to process this news and then book in to have the offending tooth removed. 25 years of drug addiction and heavy depression resulting in major tooth and mouth neglect have taken their toll. We have been fighting to keep teeth in my mouth for decades. Sometimes we lose a battle. Jin has already booked me in for a South Korean implant dentist in November. I’m very sad about this. Also, I’m really happy that living in the here and now means I can get the best treatment and a fantastic new tooth to replace it.

After the dentist I really needed to get some art. Just across the Domain from the dentist is the Art Gallery of New South Wales. It’s a 5ish minute walk, in glorious sunshine today. Took a Gallery Highlights tour and a 20th Century tour. Balm for my soul. Had a bite to eat in the Members Lounge.

This piece being constructed has been created with a group of cross generational people with disabilities. It’s portraits of their pets done in a multi media collage. Before I knew the story I was drawn to it and spent maybe 5 minutes just drinking it in. One of the docents came over and told me the story. Later, as I was leaving a bunch of the youn get artists came in and were doing their magic.

Feeling infinitely better in myself and about life and my place in the universe, I headed home. On the way I gave myself an arm spritz of CHANEL Comete, which I like but have no intention of buying. It’s very nice.

Just before I headed in to the train station my eye was caught by a new window done in bright colours and very vibrant large blocks. The store is called Musson. That is the last name of Bonkers About Perfume Blogger Vanessa. I had to take a shot to send her.

Jin is starting to feel better. His cough is drying up and the doctor says he can be social again. He, Matt, Kath’s Dad, Aunty Ann and her buddy Valda all came to play Trivia on their last Wednesday ofd the month excursion. They won! Because they’re family I don’t let them have the winning prize, they get second prize. Still they were suitably elated. You can’t tell by the end of the night photo but we were nearly full for the game.

Home

Frapin Caravelle Epicee. Spicy tobacco amber

Dogs, Abluted, Bed.
ZzzzZzzz

Thursday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes

All the daily dog and house chores done.

Caught the bus and train to town. Wandered Westfield on the way because I was so early.

Met Jin for a Burger lunch. Our mate Michael was supposed to be joining but he got tied up in a meeting. Forgot to take pics.

Grabbed a bus to Balmain and met up with Jenny and her friend. They were having lunch at a pub. I went and asked about Trivia, they asked for my details! Woo Hoo! After lunch we wandered up to a Mexican place and they had margaritas! It was a fantastic catch up. Jenny is one of my favorite people.

As we were wandering up the street I saw my bus back to town so quick farewells and I bolted. There was a stop quite near where I needed to be. YAY!

Wandered down to Darling Harbour. Had some time to spare so I got to sit and look at our city in the afternoon sun. The water and buildings sparkled like a city in a novel, too beautiful to be true.

Jin told me to book for dinner at the Sofitel we love to stay at. I popped in and talked to the Concierge. He was super helpful and made sure we had the best seat in the whole restaurant.

Then we went to see one of my favourite singers. Guy Sebastian was our first Australian Idol winner. He has always been a spectacular voice but I’d never been interested in seeing him live. For some reason, late last year when the tickets went on sale I had this massive urge to see if he lived up to his recordings. I talked to BFF Kath about it and she bought us tix for my Xmas present. She’s so amazing, it’s always some kind of shared experience and I’m so grateful. We have seen a few shows together. Always fun. Guy delivered in spades. It was a fun, rollicking show all crafted around his magnificent voice.

Trained it home and saw the last light rail leave the station. Walked home in the perfect evening. Sated and happy.

Sneaky spritzes of Agent Provocateur Blue Silk, inspired by my FB buddy Sally Anne. We both love its cool and calming beauty. TOTALLY underrated gem, now tragically DCd. Don’t look up the notes, Blue Silk smells very little like them. I would say resinous lemonade iris.

Bed. ZZs

Friday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes

Hermès Caleche. Not sure at what point, or if it was a continuous love of my Mum’s. One spritz and she’s in the room with me. Same for Shalimar, Samsara and CHANEL No5. This bottle was Michael Edwards and it’s OLD! So good.

Did sweet FA today.

Fed and walked the dogs, hit the Post Office, did a quick vacuum of the apartment because the cemetery across the road had been mowed and I tracked grass clippings in, and all over, before noticing. Completely oblivious.

Jin came home and we watched most of the 2020 Brit film Love Sarah. Jin had seen it before and something reminded him. It’s beautifully done. We’ve not hit the end yet but I’m enjoying it immensely. Celia Imrie is so beautifully restrained, it’s a masterclass.

Cutting the film short because we had to get ready and head out for dinner.

Just one spritz of Boucheron Jaipur Homme.

We met one of our besties Phil at Strathfield and tried a brand new Taiwanese restaurant. The company was wonderful but the food blew our minds. There were a few wafts of the Taiwanese tofu that had Jin and me right back there in a street vendor, eating everything we could try. Phil, who is definitely a foodie was well impressed too. We will be returning. Soon. Darumas Dumplings Beer House!

Home. Fed and walked dogs under the incredible full Flower Moon. Made my wishes and cleansed my bracelets.

Watched some TV and fell asleep on the couch till about 1am.

Got up, cleaned my teeth.

Frederic Malle Promise

Bed, Read.

Got up and blogged, faffed. Trying to stay awake to listen to Val’s Baking Bad radio show at 4am.

Saturday

Stayed awake till 4am. Logged on. Our connection was playing up. Could get about 10 seconds before it reset. SO ANNOYING.

Got to see Jin as he went to work. That was nice.

Made myself the most delicious breakfast. Eggs, Portia style guacamole and toast.

Slept till 10.30am

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes

Givenchy Gentleman vintage. This bottle has been through the wars, had a bit of a leak, lost its cap and looks like hell. Scent is still amazing. It’s a memory scent for me of my first long term boyfriend. Tumultuous relationship but we both always smelled amazing. This bottle was bought when the DC buzz happened. It wasn’t but instead has been reformulated many times and only smells tangentially of Paul Leger’s 1974 masterpiece. This is a window into a different time.

Came to the computer. The connection is shit. Turned everything off. Still a bit wonky. Got some things done, others started and a few planned. This is good.

Without wanting to worry anyone I put this up on FB. You know those days when, for no reason, you just don’t fit in your space, skin or surrounds? It’s not a big thing, rather it’s a small niggle. This is really the only way I can explain it.

So I’m off for a big steaming bubble bath. So good, found my center. Feeling clean, warm and realigned.

One Direction Our Moment. Feeling sweet, fruity and vanilla rich woodsy.

Jin has a spare ticket to the footy, his BFF Matt can’t go. So I’m stepping in. YAY SPORTSBALL! Poor Jin, his team were thrashed. They gave up about halfway through the second half and the other team walked all over them.

To ease his pain we went to a Persian restaurant that we’ve been walking past for years, saying we must try it. It’s one block from our apartment and we never got there. Till tonight. It was freaking amazing.

I also learned Thank You in Parsi: mo-te-SHAK-ker-ram

Wandered home so full and with leftovers for tomorrow! Jin jumped straight on the couch and we watched the end of Love Sarah. Satisfying.

Jin went to bed.

I faffed around for a couple of hours.

Fed and walked the dogs.

Miller Harris La Fumee Intense

bed. Read nothing that needs to be read. ZZZZZs

Sunday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes

Dries van Noten Rock the Myrrh

Computer getting things ready for this month. Trivia, Blogs etc

Jin and I watched some TV together while he dozed. Then the footy came on.

Had a small nap.

Up and got ready for work.

Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur.

Tonight was really quiet at Lockie’s Hotel. Very worrying. They have done a poster, which I think is super eye catching. Let’s hope it does its work for the near future.

Jin is watching Saltburn. I can’t do Psych Thrillers so I’m at the computer. Getting some Trivia stuff done.

Reading.

Le Galion Aesthete. Ostensibly a leather fragrance but with definite vintage chypre feels. One of my favourites from the brand and this bottle is under 1/3 full. Yes, I have a backup.

Off to bed.

 

 

Now it’s your turn. Please tell us something you did, spritzed, ate, wore, bought or finished. Maybe you saw a friend, a show, an exhibition. Maybe you got through the week without having to bury a body. Whatever, please share something with us.

I read and respond to every comment. C’mon, let’s chat.
Portia xx