Portia

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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies and friends, So glad to have you drop by Scent Diary. Grab a cuppa or beverage of choice, sit back and check what has happened, been eaten, spritzed and seen in our lives in Sydney, Australia.

At then end please leave us some comments. What or who did you see, do, eat with. Did you spritz, purchase, have arrivals or finish a sample? What’s happening in your world? If you’re writing or reading opinions, 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. We all have perfume and each other in common. That’s a whole lot.

Scent Diary: 10.8-16.8.2026

Monday

I forgot to put this pic up last night of Lockie’s Trivia. So many of my faves in the room.

This morning at 1.30am I became suddenly ravenous. The eating was better than my past sugar filled splurges but still it was less than ideal. Peanuts (good), blue vein cheese (good), Vita Wheat biscuits (not the worst, but…), cereal (naughty). OMG! It was so freaking satisfying.

2,30am did the full teeth clean, went to bed and remember nothing till 9am.

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

• 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
• One thing I’m grateful for.

Serge Lutens Five O’clock au Gingembre

Jin’s bedroom balcony plants have been neglected the last fortnight. It’s mid winter so they don’t need much care. I gave them all a really deep watering. It’s going to have to be weekly now as spring hurtles towards us. There are already shoots on the rose.

In between everything else today I’m doing loads of washing. It’s blowing a gale so hoping it will dry quickly and come in tonight.

Our local Korean Grocery store is closing and we are very sad. Over the last 10+ years they have become our friends and we always get the current happenings, they ask ours and it’s a really nice place to get our needs. We went in today to buy up a bunch of stuff that will keep, so we have it on hand. sad.

Home and I made leftover soft tacos for lunch. I forgot to cut up the tomato and onion. They were still pretty yum.

Came and wrote Trivia Q&A.

Trivia done 3.30pm. Written, printed, sent and done for another week. YAY!

Thierry Mugler Womanity

Spent today doing some blogging.

Jin baked some Chicken Thighs, I did a couple of salads and he had some home made pickles in the fridge. It was really good. we forgot to take photos till after. That’s the last piece, I ate half and half will be a sandwich for lunch tomorrow.

We watched Miss Congeniality together. What a fabulous, stupid film. Michael Caine is so satisfying as an old queen. Hilarious.

Did a little more blogging.

Fed and walked Momo. It’s bloody chilly out tonight.

Watched more Reacher.

Guerlain vintage Mitsouko

Bed

Tuesday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

Penhaligon’s Solaris

Cleaned up, dusted vacuumed. More laundry.

Fed and walked Momo. Here she is being queen of our home.

Watched some Reacher.

Jin called and we did the Census over the phone while he was online. It was fun. Especially because we won’t be seeing each other today. He’s going out tonight with our friends for beers.

Bubble Bath.

DIOR vintage Miss Dior EdT

Watched Reacher with Momo

Jin out with Jin, kerri and TinaG. Looks suitably riotous. We have the BEST set of friends.

Faced up for Trivia. Here’s my buddy Kristy.

It was a really fun night at work. 97 players in the room. Happy bedlam.

Home. Face off. Bite to eat.

More Reacher.

Folded some washing.

Jacomo Silences PdT over the remnants of Miss Dior.

Wednesday

No Ten Minute Routine this morning. Well, a truncated one. Did everything except the three minute movement.

Up early today. Momo fed and walked in the very springlike sunshine.

Guerlain Mitsouko EdT. I noticed that the bottle I bought at the outlet had the old front label so I Check Fresh-ed it. 2017 bottle. Very cool. It’s the years that Thierry Wasser had done the multiple lift oakmoss recreation. When Michael and I had a class with Jean Kerleo at the Versailles Osmothèquein 2014 he was so impressed and astounded at the perfection of this recreation but was really sad that he didn’t have some of it for sniffing.

Folded the laundry. I really love that moment when the last of it is done. I’ll tell you a secret, there were two weeks of folding to do. I’ve been a little slack because the weather kept them damp for an extra day and then time got away from me.

Did a sugars test. Not perfect but also not bad.

Miranda was supposed to arrive at 10am to do the office admin. By 10.40 I started to worry. Gave her a call. She had completely forgotten. GAH! So annoying. I have to completely upend my computer and the office to get it to the living room so we can work together. GRRRRR! but also YAY because I now can have a fairly lazy day. The desk drawer needs a big clean up. I’m going to get started there. Here’s before and after. Let’s see if I can keep it neat for a week.

Post Office run. WOO HOO!  A Surrender To Chance package. Yes, I spent some serious $$$, but less than even one bottle of any of the decants. So perfume math savings?!? There’s some DIOR, Oriza L Legrand, Pierre Guillaume and Dusita. Expect some upcoming reviews.

Lunch time. Egg noodles and bolognaise sauce with sourdough breakfast muffin. Delicious.

Watched the end of Season 3 Reacher. Cuddled with Momo.

This made me laugh. Maybe a bit too loudly.

Jin came home. We had to take his car to the panel beater after he was hit by a really cool woman. The sweetest. A bit flaky but heaven.

After he dropped the car off we went to Bobby Bakehouse roadside diner for pies. Jin was starving and had two. I’d already eaton so only one. Poor Jin is staring into the sun in this pic. Soz.

MORE Mitsouko

Went to work. Tonight Tiana came home from her Italian studying holiday. The girls were there to have a big welcome party. Aren’t they the most ridiculously gorgeous crew? All of them smart, funny, sharp and beautiful. I call them my Sex and the City girls. They even went and watched it. They’ve decided which characters they are. It’s fabulous. They are FABULOUS. Their team name is Tepid Bitches. Yep! that’s the kind of wonderful they are. Like a movie star girl group.

Home.

Had dinner. Same as lunch but with a big salad.

TV

Bed

Thursday

Up at Sparrow’s Fart.

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

BUBBLE BATH. Only a short one. I should have done this last night but was too lazy/sleepy.

Fed and walked Momo in the brisk and still frosty sunshine.

Berdoues Maasai Mara

Light Rail and Train to the city.

Met up with my friend Peter, with whom I’ve been working on a TV idea, including a couple of pilots. For a few reasons I had to tell him that I would not be continuing with the idea. We sat in my favourite city cafe and he was really upset, angrily upset. My mind is made though. Sometimes for self preservation we have to be the villain. I wish him every success, and the project will come to light and be better for not having me as the host/compere/mother. Two years of shared IP and creating something wonderful. It’s been the happiest roller coaster ands I’m so grateful to have had the chance.

After crushing a friends dreams I went to David Jones and saw my beautiful perfume friend and SA, Esther. Way back in the late naughties she was our CHANEL SA and then she got poached by Guerlain. FINALLY Shalimar Millesime Rose has arrived in Australia! YAY! So I retail therapies myself into a better place. While I was there I also hit the Hermès counter. They have the last Muguet Porcelaine bottle left in Australia. I asked if I bought the last bottle, could I have the tester. NOPE! Bummer. So I did not purchase.

 

Next I was off for lunch with my dear girlfriend L. That was fun but L is photo averse. We had yummy lunch and a heavenly catch up. She is a cool kid of the highest order.

After I wandered over to the Art Gallery of NSW. I was a bit early and so grateful because nature was calling me BIG TIME! Phew! Just in time. Met Sexy Galexy, Sydney’s premier Drag King. We had an Archibald Prize date. First pic is her with our docent tour guide Anne, both looking super snazzy. Then some art I looked on this go around. Last is us having a chin wag in the Members Lounge afterwards and unpacking our faves, we also talked work, love, politics and the gamut of interesting topics.

From the gallery I jumped a bus to town. It was right there as I walked out. Rude not to.

Wandered down to my favourite hotel lobby bar at the Kimpton Margot and met up with Patrick. Because of my annoying diabetes I’m very low booze so while he had hefty drinks I hit the peppermint tea.

We waited for Eve to arrive and then the three of us wandered down to my new fave restaurant. Dear Deer Dumplings. There we met Patrick’s life partner Wayne, and Phil. It was a really lovely catch up all round. Such an easy, chill and chatter filled evening. I’m so grateful for such friendship.

Train and Light rail home. Jin was still awake but in bed. We had a little chat. It was very nice. I bloody love him.

Fed and walked Momo.

All up today 14,636 steps. Big day. I’m bushed.

 

Cuppa. Blog. Little bit of TV and cuddle with Momo.

Bed.

Friday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

Issey Miyake Solar Lavender

Up so early. Drove to and met Betty. We needed to get her Mum’s car serviced and cleaned. Now that Mum has gone to the next great adventure she is selling the car. Jasmine blooming on her fence smelled so good.

Went to my guy Josh. He’s brilliant, affordable and a delight.

While he was doing his thing we had cooking lessons for Betty. Beef Rissoles and Spaghetti Bolognaise. She got some to take home and I have leftovers to enjoy. MMMMMM

After we got that done I had it cleaned inside and out at Jin’s cleaning crew. Looks fantastic.

Then we hung out at home. We had two recipes that I taught Betty today. Bolognaise Sauce and Rissoles. We had the rissoles for lunch with some salad. YUM

Fed and walked Momo. Watched TV. Very chill.

I had to write the Q&A for Saturday’s Paws & Recover Fundraiser.

Jin came home. We all hung out.

Dinner! We met up with Eve and Lola at a Korean BarBQ we’d gone to years ago, while we still lived in Pymble. So pre 2014! HA! It was still the same. Fantastic night.

Home. Jin went straight to bed.

I’m up blogging and organizing for tomorrow.

Divine Parfums L’Esprit Libre

Bed.

Saturday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

Up really early to bathe and shave for day drag today. Hosting a fundraiser for a crew called Paws and Recover. They collect the animals when people fall ill, go to jail or in to an aged care facility. Fostering or rehoming as necessary.

Madonna Truth or Dare Naked

Fantastic afternoon. Sell Out rooms. We had a ball. Raised a few thousand dollars and had a lot of fun. Here are a few photos. Kath took the first two pics.

Home. Lost the drag and vegged with Momo on the couch. Watched the football match that Jin and Matt were at. His team won. Nice change.

Jin came home and it was late. He wanted to hot West Ryde because he hoped things would still be open after 9pm. Woo Hoo! We found a brand new bar/restaurant that opens Fri/Sat till midnight. It’s totally Korean and full of the most beautiful people. They were dressed and coiffed immaculately. I was the only non Korean in the house (no problem, got really good service and zero side eye). Jin went food crazy. They had some dishes from home he hasn’t been able to find decent versions of. They were apparently amazing. I happily ate some spicy Korean fried chicken. YUM! We also had Soju and Beer cocktails. Also delicious.

Home. watched the last of the dropped Reacher.

Le Galion Sovereign

Here’s a worthy cause.

Sunday

No routine. Woke up at 9am.

This is my morning view. Jin and Momo have taken couch ownership, watching Korean travel and food TV. There is a significant percentage of my heart in this shot. Aren’t they beautiful?

Guerlain Cuir Beluga. This is my favourite of the L’Art & La Matière bottles.

Kath came for lunch

Nap time.

Work at Lockie’s Hotel.

Penhaligon’s  Belgravia Chypre

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