DIOR Homme Genesis mini movie

December 5, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom

WOW!

From DIOR: “A black and white voyage of hypnotic beauty.
A new genre of film presents the Dior Homme composition in a way that no other fragrance has ever been seen. Poetic and in-depth, modern and sophisticated, it allows itself the luxury of stopping time.”

Photo Stolen DIOR

Here is Australian Perfume Junkies look at the original DIOR Homme

DIOR Homme 2011 by Francois Demachy for DIOR

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lavender, sage, bergamot
Heart: Iris, amber, cacao
Base: Vetiver, patchouli, leather

Beauty Encounter currently has $51/50ml
My Perfume Samples starts at $2.50/ml

Dior Homme Genesis – The art of fragrance creation

Gabriella’s Christmas Wish List 2014

December 4, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Gabriella

Hello perfumed peeps!
Well can you believe that another year has gone by? I can’t for sure. Today, I’m bringing you a top-five Christmas wish list and it’s a luxurious one, well because, this year’s been a tough one and if you can’t be decadent at Christmas, well when can you?
So here goes:

Photo Stolen TurnBackToGod

Gabriella’s Christmas Wish List 2014

Photo Stolen Libertine

1. Dia body crème by Amouage:

I haven’t done scented layering since they produced those Anais Anais soap and body lotion gift sets all those years ago, but if there’s any excuse to get back in the habit, then it’s Amouage. The brand’s supremely elegant body and bath line surpasses no other in terms of sophistication and being true to the matching fragance. I’ve already waxed lyrical about my love for Dia, and the body crème would just take its uber feminity and chicness to another level.
Libertine Parfumerie has $169/200ml

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

2. Eight & Bob by Albert Fouquet for Eight & Bob 2012

Ok, prima facie, I would choose this as a gift for Mr M, but even if I were to buy it for him, it doesn’t mean I can’t steal it, right? Eight and Bob has a complicated backstory which would leave many a perfumista rolling their eyes, but this scent had me at hello. If you read Fragrantica, it will give you the low down on the history, John F Kennedy and all, and that the main note is a secretive plant called Andrea. But all you need to know is that this is a lovely, happy, sunshine-laden, very unisex fragrance with fruity, violet and woody notes. Wear it with a linen shirt on a hot day, gin and tonic in hand, and a smile.
Luckyscent has $195/100ml

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

3. Les Exclusifs de Chanel No. 18 by Jacques Polge for CHANEL 2007

So, I may borrow the Eight and Bob, but I’ll have a grand spanking 200ml flacon of this beauty for Christmas all to myself, thank you. I’m not the biggest fan of the Exclusifs collection, but No. 18 has to be one of the most unusual and startlingly beautiful fragrances I have come across. No 18 is all about the fruity and woody ambrette seed and manages to be resonant, green, sweet, sublime and supremely chic all at the same time.
CHANEL Boutiques have $350/200ml

Photo Stolen Naturisimo

4. Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil

Olio Lusso Face Oil is technically skincare, but its glorious scent means it definitely straddles the skincare/perfume divide for me. The story goes like this: Linda Rodin, a stylist at Harper’s Bazaar, was sick of all the outlandish claims of all the skincare that came across her desk. So, Olio Lusso was born, a face oil that would make one look and feel good. And, it’s a perfumista and skincare junkies dream, a face oil that doesn’t upset sensitive skin, makes you glow, and above all, has the most opulent, heavenly scent of jasmine that indole lovers will just swoon.
Peony Melbourne has $185/30ml

Photo Stolen Diptyque

5. Tubereuse candle by Diptyque

I’m not a candle fan by any means, but a mini Tubereuse candle by Diptyque might have just changed all that. It sat, unlit in my living room for ages and my whole house was filled with the intoxicating scent of green white petals for months. A proper big one is expensive, but worth it (and the glass container makes for a chic brush or pencil holder once you’re done with the candle).
Mecca Cosmetica has it for $78

So, APJ crew, what’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
Happy holidays and a fabulous New Year to you all and see you in 2015!
With much love,
M x

Weddings – My Top 5 Perfume Oils For Brides – Part 2

December 3, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Suzanne R Banks

In my article Weddings – My Top 5 Perfume Oils For Brides – Part 1 we talk about what oils are best for the pending nuptials.

Neroli
Rose
Lavender
Geranium
Frankincense

But how do you use the oils?

We all know every wedding is different and each bride and groom are unique, but the one thing they all have in common is that they all want a memorable experience for them and their guests. Whether it be a simple beach wedding or a lavish affair at a glamourous venue with hundreds of guests, the bride will have some organising to do.

Unfortunately the oils won’t do everything but they will support you on your journey from fiancé to wife.

Weddings – My Top 5 Perfume Oils For Brides – Part 2

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Essential oils will give emotional support and a scented burst of clarity and calm during the process. You could either use lots of different kinds of oils or pick a couple and make a combination that becomes your signature scent. So let’s look at the best 2 ways to use your oils.

1. Wedding Perfume Oils – Nourishing Body Oil

I recommend making a bottle of your chosen oil blend to use daily as a moisturiser, and more importantly as a connection to your spirit and a tonic to your mind. You will start your day off by paying attention to yourself, centering your mind and preparing for what is to come. And – your skin will look and feel totally amazing! I use oil on my skin every day and it works – my skin feels wonderful and looks good too! When your bottle is finished you can make another combo or stay with the same blend.

Alternatively for one coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

When making a daily blend of essential oil this often takes up time and is the first thing to be put on hold when you are juggling work, your private life and creating your perfect wedding. Consider making a bottle so it’s on hand every morning.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops

“Heart”

To keep the flow of energy in your heart chakra while planning your wedding

– for a 50ml bottle –

Rosewood 10 drops
Lavender 5 drops
Rose 3% 20 drops*

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

“Cool, Calm and Collected”

To breathe deeply and keep anxiety at bay

– to make a blend enough for one day –

Frankincense 3 drops
Cardamom 1 drop
Roman Chamomile 3% 9 drops *

“Strength and Courage”

– to make a blend enough for one day –

Geranium 3 drops
Neroli 3% 7 drops*
Vetiver 1 drop

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

2. Wedding Perfume Oils – Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

This is a great portable way to keep an aromatherapy treatment with you. It is simply essential oils in an atomiser bottle filled with water. There is no need to use any emulsification agents,just shake before you mist. It can be used to refresh your face, cleanse and protect your aura, give your brain a boost and will make you smell like a natural goddess.

“Mother Earth Energy”

To keep a sense of worldliness and compassion on those crazy days –

Frankincense 10 drops
Bergamot 10 drops
Patchouli 5 drops

“I’ve Got the Power”

When you need strength and fortitude, with a smile –

Geranium 10 drops
Lemon 7 drops
Lavender 5 drops
Cinnamon 3 drops

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

“I’m Loving Every Minute of this Journey”

Enjoy the process –

Rose Geranium 8 drops
Orange 12 drops
Peru Balsam 5 drops

Remember to treat your self first then everyone will benefit.

Suzanne R Banks XXX

* See my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Suzanne R Banks Blog
Suzanne R Banks Aromatherapy
Suzanne R Banks FaceBook

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA Amazon AU Amazon UK

WINNERS: Rose Ardient + Peace, Love & Perfume

December 3, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

HEY Crew,

Sorry for the delay. Here are the winners from Azar’s generous giveaways.

Portia XX

WINNERS: Rose Ardient + Peace, Love & Perfume

Photo Stolen brooklodge

Rose Ardient WINNERS

Rene Groyer, Elia

Peace, Love & Perfume WINNERS

Einsof and Sun Mi

The winners will have till Sunday 7th December 2014 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.

Peony Melbourne: Haute Parfumerie Adventure + Photo Essay

December 2, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Hi all. Do you feel overwhelmed when perfume shopping? I often do, but not today in Peony, Melbourne.

Peony Melbourne: Haute Parfumerie Adventure

Ever-so-stylish Jill greeted me as I entered, along with an almighty hit of heady fresh jasmine flower, which were cascading, displayed in the window. The interior oozed sophistication and opulence, nothing dusty or out of place. Themed black and white, a nod to French couture and boudoir, sparkling bottles everywhere, super cool touches of quirky humour. Jill has put her heart and soul into this little luxe haven.

With complimentary sparkling fruit juice in hand complete with black and white striped straw, I began my Peony, Melbourne journey…

From the Olfactive Studio stand, the zesty Still Life called to me like a caiparinia on a blazing summers day. Yuzu, elemi and pepper -pink, black and Sichuan pepper. Star anise and galbanum. Dark rum, cedar and ambrox. I absolutely love the lemony citrus combo with slightly soured spice and pepper, almost sherbet fizz working on top of the deeper wood, amber and rum notes.

Jill explained the range is inspired by photography – Still life from a self-portrait, by Frederic Lebain, which was inspiration for perfumer, Dora Baghriche-Arnaud. A boxed “discovery kit”, containing 5 x 4ml for $55 was in my hands: KERR-CHING!!…Purchase #1.

To my left was Ormonde Jayne, I grabbed Ormonde Woman and spritzed it onto a Peony branded blotter. Cardamom, coriander and grass oil. Black hemlock, violet and jasmine absolute. Vetiver, cedar wood, amber and sandalwood YUM. Love at first sniff. Beautiful. Womanly, magical, floral and herbaceous. The bottle feels weighty in my hand as I reluctantly place it back. A boxed “discovery set” ($95) 12 x 2ml landed on the counter -Purchase #2

Jill offers gently delivered advice, then leaves me to my own devices. She is unobtrusive, yet there when I need her. She guides my experience and lets it unfold organically. I am in awe of how many Peony-exclusive brands stocked that I never have had the chance to smell anywhere else in Australia.

Passing the handpicked Hermes selection, I re-sniff Hiris, and Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, two of my favorites of the range.

At Heeley, Cocobella disappoints – the notes sounded better than I experience…too thin. I discover Hippie Rose. Fresh rose and patchouli, it is rose-velvet. Dry down reminds me of a less-dirty Agent Provocateur original fragrance. Jill hands me a sample size to try later, as I’m not sure.

I smell ALL the Cire Truedon candles from their glass cloches that house them. I pop “Ernesto” on the counter, embarrassed at the pile forming. Purchase #3

In the front corner, I’m right besides the Mona Di Orio range. Gah! “I’ve read about these too!” Les Nombres D’or Violette Fumee stops me in my tracks. So elegant, violet, soft but not sweet. Mediterranean lavender, Calabrian bergamot, oak moss from the Balkans, Egyptian violet flowers and leaves, Turkish rose, Haitian vetiver, clary sage, opoponax, cashmeran and myrrh.

Jill tells me the story of how before Mona Di Orio sadly passed away; she designed this rose/tobacco/suede and violet piece for her Co-founder Jeroenu Oude Sougoteu, whom after she died, generously decided to share it as a tribute to her. Jill is full of these stories. She really knows her stuff!

It’s been an hour and 45 minutes of serious olfactory fun. As I pay for my items, Jill shoves more mystery samples in my bag, and I scurry off happy, loaded with even more new things to discover when I get home.

Thanks Jill!

Ainslie Walker X

All Photos (Perfume Porn) Donated Ainslie Walker

Geranium Bourbon by Miller Harris 2005

December 1, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 16 Comments

Post by Tina G

A nice surprise decant from a friend! An intriguing scent – I’d not come across Miller Harris as yet, and I couldn’t begin to think of what Geranium Bourbon entailed. Was it a boozy scent? Did it really have geranium? And how did those two things work together? After a bit of research I discovered that geranium bourbon was actually a particular type of geranium. OK, sure, let’s give this a run through….

Geranium Bourbon by Miller Harris 2005

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Palmarosa, cassis, geranium
Heart: Violet, rose, black pepper
Base: Vanilla, amber, patchouli

Geranium Bourbon opens with a watery pink rose, like rain which has been cupped in a heart of a bloom and then poured across my skin. It is so refreshing and light, really wonderful. After about 10 minutes there is a peppery scent which comes through along with a lemon ‘juice’ accord. I’ve never smelt geranium bourbon plants themselves, but fresh geraniums definitely have that peppery/lemony background to their leaves. The scent deepens throughout the first half hour, gradually becoming more earthy and green.

I enjoy the dry down of Geranium Bourbon as it transitions from fresh & light, to earthy, and then some amber & smoky notes come through with a trace of vanilla in the basenotes. And then this becomes for me one of those scents which triggers some strong visual imagery – I hope you don’t mind if I indulge in the story it wove for me:

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Sitting on the cold, wet white wood of the outside furniture & wrapped up in a blanket stolen from near the inside fire, I sit watching the drips of water fall from the plants in the luscious English summer garden. The storm shower passed through quick and heavy though there is no sign of sunlight yet through the grey sky. The trellis behind me is thick with a blooming tea rose vine, the myriad of simple pink flowers releasing a pervasive but delicate fragrance into the now-still air. The earth in the flower bed has been turned recently and is damp and rich.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

The bedded violet and geranium plants have been beaten by the heavy rain. There is a lemony-rose scent from the geranium flowers, mixed in with a tart herbal pepperiness from the succulent leaves. For a while I sit in the coolness just watching, listening, and breathing, until the damp starts to seep in. Snuggling down into the blanket further I can smell the sweet smoke from the lounge room hearth embedded in its fibres. From somewhere inside the house, a tendril of sweet vanilla from something delicious baking is enough to rouse me from quiet contemplation and head inside to the warmth.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Further reading: What Men Should Smell Like and I Smell Therefore I Am
Perfumery Australia has $110/100ml
Posh Peasant has samples starting at $4/ml

What about you? Have you tried Geranium Bourbon? Any of the Miller Harris range? What did you think?

Wishing you all a lovely week.
Tina G

Rose Praline by François Robert for Les Parfums de Rosine 2008

November 30, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Howdy Crew,

Remember I told you that Michael Edwards (Fragrances Of The World book) had done a wonderful gifting of many of his fragrances, here is another from that generous haul. I saw three Parfums de Rosine bottles and they called to me. The first two I have been incredibly lucky with but Rose Praline skirts the unwearable for me.

Rose Praline by François Robert for Les Parfums de Rosine 2008

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Cardamom, bergamot, rose oil
Heart: Geranium, dark chocolate, rose, tea
Base: Amber, musk, sandalwood, cacao

François Robert, the perfumer, has had an interesting fragrance creation history including five of the Bex London frags, a bunch of the Rosines, Mary Greenwell Plum and Lanvin’s Vetiver.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

OOOH! Green, sweet and warm is how Rose Praline opens, a wet and sticky sweetness cut through by green. They are at an awkward standoff, both seeming to push against the other making the opening a very interesting and surprising start to a fragrance. They have used a note that vintage Dana Ambush used, I don’t know what it is but I find it mildly nauseating, not enough to scrub but up close it is queasy making for me. At elbow length from my nose it’s lovely, a gorgeous waft of dark, rich, spicy rose, up close though it smells like the water left after leaves & flowers have been left to rot in the vase. GACK! Ha Ha Ha! How hilarious, I really can’t stand it up close, it makes me so uneasy.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Later through the lifespan of Rose Praline a lovely dry tea-ish hint comes through. Like tea pre hot water, a dusty, dessicated feeling in the scent that next to this voluptuous, full to overblown rose is a tonic and calming raft. Like a drum softly beating time to the rest of the orchestra and keeping the crew stable.

It’s next morning and the one thing left on my skin is the weird/funky/sour note from Ambush. I woke up lying on that arm and Rose Praline is still quite intense. Maybe this bottle is on the turn or maybe the stresses of selling, moving and organising and the bad eating habits attendant have skewed my chemistry. Maybe because I haven’t been gluing wrist to nose in writing mode but merely enjoying the fragrance at a distance on previous wears. Maybe I’ve found a fragrance that is less than perfect for me, it happens.

Photo Stolen WikiCommons

Parfums des Rosine has €78/50ml
First In Fragrance has €78/50ml
Aedes de Venustas has $145/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $5/ml

Have you tried Rose praline? Any of the Rosines?
Portia xx

Making of Idylle Mini Movie – Guerlain

November 30, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom

Aha! How are you Scented Scallywags?

I never saw this Idylle mini movie, I wonder if it ever came to Australia?

Here we discover the backstage mini movie story for Idylle by Guerlain directed by Jaco Van Dormael and then I’ve added the finished commercial too.

Idylle by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2009

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Freesia, tincture of rose, litchi, raspberry
Heart: Jasmine, peony, lilac, lily, lily of the valley
Base: Patchouli, musk

Photo Stolen Perfume Posse

Enjoy

Portia xx

Making of Idylle Mini Movie – Guerlain

Guerlain Idylle commercial

Prelude to Love by Calice Becker for by Kilian 2008

November 29, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Hi hi hi Sniffas,

While in London earlier in the year my mate Tara (of Olfactoria’s Travels) gave me a set of the by Killian samples. It’s beautifully presented in a little velvet pouch of 2ml vials. On my return from traveling I searched high and low and couldn’t find the damn thing, then I forgot about it in the way you do. While cleaning up stuff in anticipation of our move I discovered the baggie in a small cardboard box that had been packed and put to the side with a bunch of other stuff from the trip. I would swear I looked in the box thousands of times……

Prelude to Love by Calice Becker for by Kilian 2008

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Seville orange, Amalfi lemon, bitter orange
Heart: Ginger, neroli, rose, cardamom, orange blossom, freesia, pink pepper, lavender
Base: Iris, Cypriol oil, musk, Russian leather

Basenotes gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, orange, lemon
Heart: Ginger, neroli, orange blossom
Base: Florence iris

The glorious, pithy citrus tinged with green is juicy and ripe. It is the warmest cool fragrance, with a very interesting oily/petrol taint that I find peculiar and inviting. Like pashing/snogging a recently showered and cologned mechanic. There is something extremely lived in about Prelude To Love that makes it more than a cologne, it’s a cologne involved in a sexual tryst, even to the lightly breathy orange blossom and neroli in the heart.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

As an aside: I was standing next to a gardenia hedge early this evening and the absolutely gorgeous/disgusting fragrance emanating from the flowers was completely engulfing, I was transported into a world of scent, shut my eyes for a moment and just breathed in the luscious, lascivious, overwhelming fragrance.

Prelude To Love is nothing like that but it does have elements of that sweetly erotic, human in close contact but cleanly washed idea. Freshly washed flesh but in a hairy nook or crevasse that always maintains the humanity.

Photo Stolen Pinterest

Then, not long after I am swept away by an extremely pretty floral, it’s a bouquet, thick, rich and heavy. That’s what’s so weird about Prelude To Love, though it feels a bit cologne-ish, the heft and nuance seem too deep and mercurial for it to be put in such a simple category. This cologne has cajones. A honeyed, animalic sweetness runs under the whole life of the fragrance that has me smiling as I get huffs, very, very nice to wear. I can see why Prelude To Love is still so popular.

Prelude To Love is fabulous, you can tell it is the best. You want similar results but for a fraction of the price? 4711, even the newest formulation, is a very good bright citrus cologne. You will have to reapply more frequently but isn’t that half the fun?

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Olfactoria’s Travels
LuckyScent has $155/4 x .25oz Travel Spray Set
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

Do you love the by Killian range? Is there a favourite amongst them for you? I love sweet Redemption and Back to Black, Prelude To Love is wonderful, I’m pretty sure though that there are 6 other citrus frags in my wardrobe that I’d reach for first.
Portia x

Voile d'Ambre by Olivier Pescheux for Yves Rocher 2005

November 28, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 17 Comments

Hey there frag crew,

A couple of years ago Jin and I traveled to Europe together, we had never traveled together before, not even for a weekend, yet we decided to put together a wonderful 6 week extravaganza of a holiday. We saw about 10 countries, saw family, met new and old friends, saw sights, laughed, ate, shopped, discovered and generally had the most wonderful time. There were only a couple of minor melt downs on the whole trip and those due to exhaustion rather than lack of common interest. Anyway, the first fragrance I bought while in Europe on that wonderful holiday in a little Yves Rocher shop in Prague was Voile d’Ambre….

Voile d’Ambre by Olivier Pescheux for Yves Rocher 2005

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin leaf, cardamom, mandarin orange, myrtle
Heart: Opoponax, incense, myrrh
Base: Patchouli, Australian sandalwood, Madagascar vanilla

Memories!!! Every time I spritz Voile d’Ambre I get a warm hot rush of happiness that is less to do with the sweet herbal amber that jumps off my skin than it does the wonderful memories of our first trip together. I can see us rugged up in our winter woolies in cities filled with mainly the residents because who is silly enough to travel midwinter through the heart of Europe? We got to see everything we wanted with zero wait time and the staff of everywhere were happy to see some foreigners and have a chat. I have done Europe in all the seasons now and I’ll always try to go in winter, it’s 100% more fun.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Voile d’Ambre gives me a boozy, incense laden amber that is smooth and clean, a warm amber that is in no way challenging. This is comfort fragrance, warming, easy and cuddly. Though I wore it all through that winter in Europe I can also easily apply it in 30C Sydney heat and be comfortable, Voile d’Ambre is spare enough and has enough air through it that I’m not overwhelmed or constricted. I think it may be to do with the Australian sandalwood, which I find a little more astringent and green than the others, slightly eucalyptus feeling and that added to a clean but earthy patchouli rounds the whole fragrance out.

I make it read like the notes are discernible, they are not unless I have a notes list ion front of me, what I smell is a beautiful amber that changes slightly from greener in the beginning to non foody vanilla at dry down. It’s not a big and varied story but a soft and floaty ride through comfort to comfort, and filled with joyful memories. I am smiling right now as I write to you all.

If you’ll excuse me I think I need to give Jin and big hug. While I’m gone, what is your favourite amber fragrance, as a main note or a side one?
Portia xx