Author: australianperfumejunkiescom

3rd Annual Art and Olfaction Awards 2016 – open for entries!!

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Post by Ainslie Walker

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3rd Annual Art and Olfaction Awards 2016
Open for entries!!

Pear_300x300

Entries must be in between October 5th and December 4th 2015

Artisan, independent and experimental scent projects which were / will be released to public between January 1 and December 31, 2015 are eligible to enter.

The awards celebrate innovation, excellence and experimentation in perfumery. Four perfumes and one creative project are awarded each year. An international panel of perfumers, artists, critics, curators and scientists (announced in early October) judge submissions blindly.

Art and Olfaction Awards 2016 Categories:

The Artisan Award will be presented to two outstanding artisanal perfumes out of five finalists. Artisan perfume is defined as a scent created by a perfumer who has direct ownership in the company, and blends every formulation – without the use of a fragrance house at any stage of the process. Learn more about the Artisan Award here: http://artandolfactionawards.com/artisan-award/

The Independent Award will be presented to two outstanding independently created perfumes out of five finalists. An independent perfume is defined as a scent created for or by a privately-owned company with no more than three separate perfume companies in its holdings, and formulated by a perfumer who does not have a direct hand in every aspect of the production run of the perfume. Learn more about the Independent Award here: http://artandolfactionawards.com/independent-award/

The Sadakichi Award for Experimental Use of Scent will be presented to one outstanding experimental scent project out of five finalists. This award honors the work of people who engage with scent outside of the realm of commercial perfumery. We define an experimental scent project as a project in any arts practice that incorporates the use of scent in a significant manner. Learn more about the Sadakichi Award here: http://artandolfactionawards.com/experimental-award/
http://artandolfaction.com/projects/scent-of-mystery/
http://artandolfaction.com/projects/beavers/
http://artandolfaction.com/projects/phantosmia/

The finalists will be announced at Esxence perfumery trade-show, in Milan in late March 2016.

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony in Los Angeles on May 6, 2016

Past Winners include:

Artisan Award
Woodcut by Olympic Orchids (Perfumer: Ellen Covey, USA), 2015
Eau de Céleri by Monsillage
 (Perf: Isabelle Michaud, Canada), 2015
Calling All Angels by April Aromatics (Perf: Tanja Bochnig, Germany), 2014
John Frum by Aether Arts Perfumes (Perf: Amber Jobin, USA), 2014

Independent Award
Black Pepper & Sandalwood by Acca Kappa (Perf: Luca Maffei, Italy), 2015
Skive by Canoe
 (Perf: Jessica Hannah, USA), 2015
Ashoka by Neela Vermeire Creations (Perf: Bertrand Duchaufour, France), 2014
KÖNIG by YOSH (Perf: Olivia Jan, USA), 2014

Sadakichi Award for Experimental Use of Scent
Famous Deaths by Marcel van Brakel, Frederik Duerinck, Mark Meeuwenoord, Wander Eikelboom, with Marcel Boonman, Daan Rijnkels, Caro Verbeek, Jorg Hempenius, Peter de Cupere, Thijs Eerens, Simon Kentgens, Martijn de Ruiter (Holland), 2015

MORE INFORMATION:
http://artandolfactionawards.com/
http://artandolfaction.com/

 

The twitter handle for the awards is https://twitter.com/AOAwards

The Facebook is https://www.facebook.com/ArtandOlfactionAwards

General Awards website: artandolfactionawards.com

 

GOOD LUCK !!
Ainslie Walker (Ed: and all at APJ) XXX

Good Girl Gone Bad by Kilian 2012

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Post by Portia

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WOO HOO! Another pack arrived from my mate Nick from Libertine Parfumerie. A package from Nick is ALWAYS a sweet surprise and he is a lovely guy who wants to have the best range of niche fragrances for Aussies to choose from. Today we are celebrating that Nick has managed to import the by Kilian range to Australia and now it is exclusive to In Store Shoppers at Harrold’s Sydney & Melbourne. Near pissed myself with excitement when I heard and had to keep it under my hat for a while. Now you know….

Good Girl Gone Bad by Kilian 2012

Good Girl Gone Bad By Kilian FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Jasmine, osmanthus, may rose
Heart: Indian tuberose, narcissus
Base: Amber, cedar

So I have an apology to make to by Kilian. I completely dismissed this fragrance when it came out. My reasoning was sound: a soft focus tuberose that opens lightly green and finishes sweet vanilla white flower was hardly groundbreaking, nor was it even slightly outrageous, it wasn’t even a little confronting. Now all of that is true, I do have high expectations of Kilian Hennessey’s brand because quite a lot of it is absolutely glorious, back arching, eye rolling, throat achingly beautiful and when his company makes something so safe and delicate I need to readjust my perceptions and levels.

Fracas Light would smell something like Good Girl Gone Bad. The heart is a very similar bubble gum tuberose only slightly greened through yet her we find no indole but an almost ylang-ish banana butter, a creamy and fatty smooth textured tuberose that is clean. Interestingly it’s not the sheer, radiant white flower that is so popular but a heavy, thick fragrance made spare, given some space between the notes as if you are smelling it from a couple of steps away. Good Girl Gone Bad is not the glutinous mass of Truth or Dare either (that I love) but a warm, illuminated, golden white floral that floats softly and insistently around me in a languid, pale, golden feeling aura. Not synæsthesia but a feeling, like warm sunshine that unfrosts you as you stand with your back to it, it feels golden though in fact it’s colourless.

 by Kilian LuckyScent 2014Kilian, Tom, Portia, Christina, Barbara, Andrew @ LuckyScent 2014

So then, here’s the question I often ask myself, would I cough up for a bottle? The answer is twofold. Yes, if I didn’t already have so much tuberose in my collection, much of which wears bigger and more outrageous (one of the reasons I love it so much) but some like Nuit de Tubereuse and  La Chasse aux Papillons that wear silkily sensual like this, though they are quite different. I would definitely buy this as a gift though for friends who like white flowers but cannot wear the big guns, it would also make a magical bridal scent, even the bottle is perfect for that special day.

The more I wear Good Girl Gone Bad the more of a hold it’s getting on me……. Maybe I would wear a bottle worth…….

Further reading: Perfume Shrine and EauMG
Available in Australia exclusively in store at Harrold’s Sydney & Melbourne
LuckyScent has $160/50ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

 giveaway TheTruthAboutMummyPhoto Stolen TheTruthAboutMummy

Good Girl Gone Bad GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x 10ml Good Girl Gone Bad by Kilian
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me (portia underscore turbo @ yahoo dot com dot au) so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us a by Kilian fragrance you love and why

Extra Chance?
Tweet: Good Girl Gone Bad by Kilian GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4gZ #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 20th September 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org
The winner will have till Thursday 24th September 2015 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy: 3 Minute Film

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Post by Portia

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Hi there APJ,

Sometimes the world seems to be a pile of shit. Often being thrown into an unhappy memory will trigger a downward spiral for me, and I seem to be most susceptible when I am also overwhelmed with other parts of my life and tired. It feels really selfish to be depressed and that further speeds my downward spiral. Yes, I know I don’t suffer depression in the deepest and blackest pit of hell sense but everything is relative and for me down is down, it’s not a race to the bottom and I don’t need to big note my pain. Sometimes life looks less lovely from inside me.

How You Treat Others

So, taking that into account and knowing that many other people suffer some level of depression then I think it important that we ALL watch this 3 minute lesson in empathy. Some really simple steps to help someone else through the rough times. Nothing feels better than being a light for someone when their world seem dark.

Please watch this,
Portia xx

Brené Brown on Empathy: 3 Minute Film

The Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY WINNER

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Post by Portia

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Hey there crew. I am so excited to share these babies from my collection. All vintage: Diorissimo EdC, Miss Dior EdT, Dioressence EdT. Can’t wait to see who our lucky winner is.

Portia xx

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY WINNER

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by DIOR4

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Green leaves
Heart: Amaryllis, Boronia, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Rosemary, Ylang-ylang
Base: Sandalwood, Civet

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Diorissimo EdC vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Miss Dior EdT vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Dioressence EdT vintage sample from my bottle
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 17th September 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

winner nodepositforumPhoto Stolen nodepositforum

Michelle U

The winner will have till Sunday 20th September 2015 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

Fundamental by Ermano Picco + Cristiano Canali for Rubini 2015

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Post by Poodle

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Fundamental is a new release by the Italian perfume house Rubini. I’d happily sniff the hubby if he was wearing this and it would be a great autumn scent for me too, snuggling with a drink by the fire.

Fundamental by Rubini 2015

Fundamental by Ermano Picco and Cristiano Canali

Fundamental Rubini FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Calabrian bergamot, tangerine, flowers
Heart: Grapes, iris, beeswax
Base: Cedar, sandalwood, Java vetiver oil, leather

Fundamental reminds me of a classic men’s fragrance although any woman who likes perfumes that aren’t all flowers, fruit, and sugar could wear this.  This is a classy fragrance that makes me think of a business man in a fine suit or expensive jeans and a crisp white shirt.  I also tend to think “old money” when I smell it.  This isn’t the scent of the man working for the vineyard it’s the scent of the man who owns it, or perhaps his family does.

I imagine driving past the vineyards on a cool autumn day with an extremely handsome man in a fine Italian car with leather and wood accents.  The sun is low in the sky and the leaves are bathed in a golden glow.  We’re heading up to his estate just over there on the hillside, to sip some wine and watch the sun set over the vineyard.

Fundamental Rubini Alfa Romeo Brendan Lally FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

My initial impression after spraying was that this was going to be a citrus heavy scent.  I found it to be sharp at first and perhaps it was my fault for just sticking my nose right in.  Some scents need a little room to move at first.  Happily the sharp citrus note didn’t last but a minute or two and soon it was morphing into a lovely wood and fruit blend.  Even though it starts off bold I found it settled down to a respectable sillage rather quickly.  The grape note is there but it’s not that artificial grape of candy nor is it quite the alcoholic note of wine.  It reminds me of grapes warmed by the sun that have been on the vine a bit too long.

Fundamental Rubini Botrytis Cinerea WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

There’s a honeyed sweetness which simmers just below the surface but I have a hard time calling this a sweet scent.  It’s always tempered by the woods.  Vetiver and leather are noticeable and the leather is smooth and well worn.  As I wear it I find the scent changes from its soft fruity side to its more serious woody side throughout the duration.  I get a retro feel from it most likely from the powdery iris note and the leather but maybe it’s the velvet accord?  In the end I’m left with mostly woody notes.  Overall I find it to be well done and wearable.

Longevity is good on me which means it’s probably long lasting on the rest of the world.  You may want to test before buying since I think Fundamental will wear differently on everyone.

Further reading: Colognoisseur and Persefume
First In Fragrance has €135/50ml
Surrender To Chance has $4.40/.5ml

What scents do you think of as classic men’s fragrances and why?

Hugs
Poodle

Bel Respiro by Jacques Polge for CHANEL 2007

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Post by Trésor

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Sometimes there is a fragrance that one is taken with, right from the get-go. It’s a bit like finding the perfect pair of black leather pumps or a flawless white shirt, a seemingly simple task but one that in reality it’s never quite so easy. They have to click, tick each box and do so with a comfortable, effortless sensibility befitting their impeccable nature. A sublime marriage of fit, form and fabric that so fluently weaves its way into your life and exhibits as not only an immediate appreciation of fine craftsmanship but as the beginning of a lifelong affection. For me, this is how it began with Jacques Polge’s Bel Respiro for Chanel, a pure manifestation of not only incredible fondness but what it means to be consummately and so unapologetically chic.

Bel Respiro by CHANEL 2007

Bel Respiro by Jacques Polge

Bel Respiro Chanel fragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Green notes, flowers, leather, grass

The opening of Bel Respiro is, in my opinion, SO bloody Chanel. If you just so happen to be as irrationally obsessed with fragrance as I am (and I sincerely suspect you are) then you know just what I mean. It’s so good, in fact, that it may very well reside within the selection of some of the most beautiful top notes I’ve ever smelled in a fragrance. Upon the first push of the atomizer one is met with a diaphanous aura of desaturated emerald, exquisite in its verdancy but whisked away into a realm of subtlety and utter grace. There is a sunlit radiance emanating from the surface, not particularly warm but a palpable sensation of luminosity and effervescence.

Bel Respiro Chanel emerald_and_diamond_brooch DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

The elegant austerity of silken iris soon follows, infusing the composition with an air that feels again so deeply “Chanel”, beauty of the highest order but beauty that has not made an effort to appear as such; it simply is. Pastel hued petals of lilac and rose redolent of a delicate herbal astringency follow suit and create what smells to me of a subdued kaleidoscope of ephemeral floralcy. A flourish of suede reveals itself beneath glorious fractals of efflorescent aroma, but only as an accent much like the the double-C on the button of a vintage tweed jacket. The dry down smells of transparent resins alongside a slightly amplified trace of the aforementioned suede and the scintillant glow of soft white musk.

Bel Respiro Chanel green leather bm.iphone FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

The longevity and sillage, for me, are largely dependent on how much one applies. A spray or two yields a relatively evanescent outcome, close to skin and lasting just a couple of hours but with a proper dousing in the stuff as I much prefer (quelle surprise!) I can get about 5 hours and a nominally more potent sillage. Bel Respiro is certainly not, as the boys like to say, “beast-mode” but that is where its beauty lays, in gossamer undulations of fragility and grace.

Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels and Smelly Vagabond
Bel Respiro can be found at most large department stores and stand alone CHANEL boutiques
CHANEL Online has $160/75ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

Have you fallen for any fragrances right from the beginning? What was it about them that beguiled you?

Until next time, my darlings.
Trésor xx

Post Relationship Debrief: 2 years later

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Post by Portia

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Heya APJ,

Val has been busy on her sensational tour and we will see her back in a fortnight with loads of pics and fun stories.

I thought I’d post this amazing video. Most of us have been there. You dated someone, it was awesome, you started to see the cracks, you break up, it’s freaking horrendous, you both go your separate ways. Have you ever wondered why, what you could have done, wished back wasted years? Here are two such exes, the interesting thing is how quickly and easily the hurts are reopened, the pain back in full force, yet there is hope. Can the future be brighter for having a real and honest look into each others motivations and growth?

These two short pieces are worth watching,
Have a tissue or hanky ready, this is as raw as it gets.
Portia xx

Ali and Andrew: Post Relationship Debrief

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Ali and Andrew Part 1: Why Did You ………. ?

Ali and Andrew were college sweethearts who dated for seven years and then broke up two years ago. See what happens when they sit down face-to-face to talk honestly about what made their relationship fall apart

Ali and Andrew Part 2: Would You ……….. ?

Ali and Andrew are real people who used to be in a relationship. In part two of their sit-down talk, they get honest about what made their relationship fall apart, and whether they would ever get back together.

How did you go? I was a mess. Would you? Could you? Do you think they should have?
Portia xx

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by Edmond Roudnitska for DIOR 1956

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Post by Portia

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So I’ve learned something about vintage fragrances recently. They are quite different to the original intention. Please don’t shut me down. I’m not saying they are bad, wrong, inferior or unworthy of your attention: they are super worthy. Even the most badly decomposing vintage fragrance can still give you a hint of the majesty once curled within. So the top notes are wonky, who cares? Those base notes made of real animals (and no I don’t condone the killing of animals for our vanity. I do think though that if those creatures are being murdered anyway that we should use every single bit of them, even the fragrant parts for our scents) last forever and ten minutes into the ride you are coasting on a wave of deep furry burnished beauty unattainable today.

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by DIOR 1956

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by Edmond Roudnitska

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by DIOR4

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Green leaves
Heart: Amaryllis, Boronia, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Rosemary, Ylang-ylang
Base: Sandalwood, Civet

Recently I grabbed a bottle of vintage Diorissimo EdC. It came fully and perfectly preserved in its original cellophane wrapping, flawless. When I opened it, a 26ml splash, the juice was crystal clear and only slightly coloured, even less than the colour of Milly-la-Foret. I think the lid on a splash lets zero air in, unlike a spritz, because this is the most perfectly preserved version of Diorissimo of any age that I’ve smelled. Ainslie Walker and I were trying it yesterday because she is writing the Miu-Miu fragrance currently and she wanted to be able to compare the treatments of lily of the valley. We were both seriously enraptured by this perfectly demure dirty slut scent. Unbelieveable that it was the fragrance of young wealthy girls everywhere.

Lily of the valley and civet, frankly I’m a little surprised not to see ambergris in the accord list. The rest of the flowers are a beautiful bouquet with some fresh greenery that has still the soft green sappy scent of torn leaves.

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by DIOR1

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Perfumed Dandy
eBay and ETSY have the vintage, department stores the current versions
Surrender To Chance has vintage samples starting from $6/ml

So today we have a very special giveaway which includes samples of Diorissimo EdC, Dioressence EdT and Miss Dior EdT from my own bottles, all VERY vintage.
Portia xxx

giveaway kbairdPhoto Stolen kbaird

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Diorissimo EdC vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Miss Dior EdT vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Dioressence EdT vintage sample from my bottle
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me (portia underscore turbo @ yahoo dot com dot au) so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell me your favourite DIOR, old or new, and why

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Thursday 17th Septembert 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org
The winner will have till Sunday 20th September 2015 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

 

FR! 01 / N° 02 GIVEAWAY WINNER

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Post by Portia

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Thanks everyone for getting involved.

Let’s see who won.

Portia xx

FR! 01 / N° 02 GIVEAWAY WINNER

 

01 02 Vapeur de Tubereuse Fragrance Republic FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Rose absolute
Heart: Tuberose absolute
Base: Cocoa resin

WHAT COULD YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 15ml FR! 01 / N° 02 La Dame Blanche by Julie Massé for Fragrance Republic 2013
(there are about 3ml gone)
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 13th September 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

winner-is HighestSelfPhoto Stolen HighestSelf

Bernadette Winfield-Gray

The winner will have till Thursday 17th September 2015 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

L’Occitane Immortelle: 28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Program

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Post by AF Beauty

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L’Occitane Immortelle

28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Program

Opening the product was VERY EXCITING. I had no idea what was in the box, it being given to me by the lovely Portia to review. I cracked the cellophane and opened the box and saw the four panels of oil before me. Quite possibly the most extravagant packing I’ve ever seen for what amounts to 28ml of oil!

L’Occitane Immortelle 28 day #1

L’Occitane Immortelle First week: Gentle Exfoliation

My first point of note was the instruction booklet which detailed very specific instructions on how to apply the oil, down to a pre-application inhalation of the oil aromas. The first oil smells very green and plant-like, not unpleasant. The second, and most surprising revelation was that 1ml of oil is a HUGE amount. I did as instructed, dropped the oil into my hands, rubbed, inhaled and applied – and lo, I was an oil slick! The oil felt a little grainy and took a while to settle in. Having applied at night, it did sink in overnight, but I was still a bit oily in the morning. At this point I wasn’t using any other moisturiser on top of the oil. Towards the end of the week I realised I was starting to get tiny spots on my cheeks and forehead.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Two: Hydration and Nutrition

Immediately on this week I noticed the aroma was a lot sweeter than the previous week, much less plant-like and more flower. I really liked this week’s oil although, given the choice, I would probably only choose to apply half the amount. Because the pods are “single serve” there is no choice but to apply once open.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Three: Balance

At the start of this week, I’ve not noticed a huge difference in the oil from week two. The aroma is comparable, still sweet and light. The texture is slightly less fine than week two, but this is almost imperceptible. Nightly, I am still an oil slick but the spots have ceased.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Four: Renewal

By week four I had started to apply a tiny amount of moisturiser on top of the oil in an attempt to encourage more absorption and to prevent the oily residue on the skin. At week four, I can’t tell the difference between the previous three weeks in both texture and aroma.
But with all this, how was my skin? That’s really the question! Well…. overall, not great. Towards week four I had started to dwindle in my commitment to the product. My skin texture had lost some smoothness and I was really missing my usual routine. I didn’t perceive the benefits each week proposed to offer. But in defence of this product, I used it in almost isolation, just after cleansing my face each night, unlike almost any other product in my arsenal. And in fairness, the reviews of the product on the L’Occitane website shows that people truly love it – I am completely open to accepting that not every product works in the same way for everyone.

L’Occitane Immortelle 28 day #2

I would love to see the best oil in this collection sold in a bottle by itself with a dropper and to be able to use that oil in amongst other products. (And now I check, I see they now do this at L’Occitane)

Will you try this set? Do you use other facial oils? Which ones and how do they suit you?
AF Beauty xx