Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY WINNERS

August 4, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 3 Comments

Hi there Juice junkies,

There is something deeply satisfying in having a giveaway that you all get excited about. Thank you everyone for being part of the fun. I am glad that we can work out 4 winners today. YIPPEE! THANKS to LibertineParfumerie, you guys rock my world.

Portia xx

Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine, nutmeg, rum, clove
Heart: Oakmoss, oak
Base: Patchouli, leather, cedar

WHAT COULD YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 Major Winner who will get:
1 x Passion Boisee 100ml bottle
(minus the Secondary Winners Prizes)
P&H Anywhere in the world

3 x Secondary Winners who will each receive:
1 x 10ml decant of Passion Boisee
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DID 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 so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Go to Libertine Perfumes<<<JUMP and find me one of their Bath & Body Products and Manufacturer…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 3rd August 2014 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen dryicons

Passion Boisee MAJOR WINNER

Katherine Mittas

Passion Boisee SECONDARY WINNERS

Tara (via Twitter)

Nemo

Yin

The winners will have till Thursday 7th August 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.

Special THANKS to LibertineParfumerie for these amazing giveaways. Please visit their site because they are so generous and helpful. If you wonder why they are sometimes more expensive than the discounters or OS retailers it’s because they are the only licensed company selling their fragrances in Australia; where you know you are buying new, fresh and genuine product. The cost of importing, and buying the right to import, alcohol based fragrances (and having the right to send alcohol based fragrances throughout Australia, which are illegal to send in the Australia Post air system) is expensive and they must cover their costs to bring you these luxury goods.

Jaunty Capers, Cemeteries and The Rose That Got Away: London July 2014

August 3, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 30 Comments

Post by Val the Cookie Queen

Hi APJ,

I couldn´t have been more excited as I got up on Wednesday. Finally the dreamed of, talked about, preplanned days were here.

Unlike Vanessa from the fabulous Bonkers About Perfume, I have no clothing crises. For I have none. Not to speak of anyway. Long jeans in winter. Cut-off jeans in summer. I prefer to spend my money on red lipstick, and the odd bag of groceries for the family. When my shoes hurt I go barefoot.

Jaunty Capers, Cemeteries and The Rose That Got Away

Random ramblings from a week in London

I left for Les Senteurs from Muswell Hill, the infamous address, early enough to not be late for my date with the gorgeous Tara from Olfactoria`s Travels. We both arrived early and waited for Callum the Dashing to arrive and let us in. Perfumistas waiting on the doorstep.

We hit the sofa talking. After a while Flamingo Nick, Penhaligon´s Fragrant Ambassador arrived, bringing a burst of sunshine into the room with him.I already knew I was going to buy Malle`s Eau de Magnolia and asked Callum to put a large bottle on the side. The small ones were sold out and there was no tester to triple reconfirm that I wanted it. I would pick it up the next day when Vanessa was with us too. So onto the much praised Papillons. I was so excited to try these and planned to purchase one. I sprayed with gay abandon and waited …….

Nick, Tara and I headed to the Gorilla Perfume Gallery for the presentation of the new 12 fragrances. Entitled: Death, Decay and Renewal. A pop-up in the basement of Phonica Records on Poland Street. (See Nick Gilbert<< JuMP) This was quite the display. Mushrooms, sandalwood smuggling, stroboscopic dream machines designed by William Burroughs ……… Clearly NOT Guerlain.

Starting to fall in love with Papillon’s Tobacco Rose, we headed on for tea and sandwiches and a quick Liberty´s heist. Nick scored himself a bottle of Superoud from Comme de Garçons and headed off into the sunset. Fear not, we would meet again.

Selfridge´s and iced matcha, including a wicked brain freeze, saw Tara and I heading home.

That evening after spraying again I decided I would buy the Tobacco Rose. Because it is beguiling.

Tara and Vanessa pretty much covered this second day of fragrant flitterings. (Bonkers About Perfume and Olfactoria´s Travels) What can I add? The Guerlain Royal Extract at 280 quid for 125 mls – 900 bottles limited edition, exclusive to Harrod`s? A pretty pale, kind of watered down Fairy Liquid colour? I think not. Based on the exquisite Attrape Coeur, but missed the mark. (All opinions totally my own!)

Now I was not exactly kicking and screaming when I went up to Roja Dove´s Barbie Palace, but it was close. Bright and shiny and no room to swing a cat. The visit was saved by Benjamin, the on hand sales assistant. He was so nice, totally knowledgable, and actually seemed to think he could turn around my preconceived ideas of RD and the other fragrances for the “Bros”. He could not. It would be remiss of me not to say that I did allow him to give me a pretty decent spray of the “semi-bespoke” (can you hear me laughing????) RD Private Collection No 9. Limited to 50 bottles. It was actually pretty nice for the first 20 minutes. Unlike Benjamin who was nice for the whole time.

Tara and I went to the Amouage stand alone store, hoping to try the Amouage Attars. Sadly because of people buying them, diluting them with alcohol and then selling them on EBay by the millilitre they have been removed. How annoying is that? Very.

“I`d ski naked down Mount Everest” to meet Vanessa, but luckily we only had to go to Covent Garden Tube station. Long lunch, including a number of jaunty capers, and a good chinwag and off to Penhaligon´s to meet up, once again with our very favourite Fragrant Ambassador. I was wonderfully surprised by the sensual beauty of Tralala and can see myself having a bottle one day. The Chucky Child´s Play bottle decoration was a little haunting, but I think I could get over it. Nick sent me off with a good stash of Penhaligon´s samples and I look forward to getting to know them.

Off we went to Les Senteurs. My heart beating a little faster as I prepared to make my purchases. We flopped once again on the sofa, kicked off shoes, fixed blisters and I bought Eau de Magnolia. Straight out of the fridge. I then asked for my Tobacco Rose. SOLD OUT.

WHAT??? You have got to be bloody kidding me Callum. But it´s intoxicating, boozy, and kind of jammy. There are two different roses, Bulgarian and Rose Centifolia. Oakmoss lurks, a great favourite of mine. It is smoky and beeswaxy. Thick without being sweet. It lasts for hours and never stays the same. I don´t have a rose. And I want this. For the moment though it´s the rose that got away. I should have ordered it the day before but I was trying to be sensible. Sigh. I compensate by spraying a ton of Magnolia and pass out with the beauty. I´ll live.

We spent the next three hours, or was it more, having tea and eating Indian food. Talking and sharing more about ourselves. Building friendships.

And so it ended. All leaving from the same station, Tara to the left and Vanessa and me to the right. The trains came in so fast we had no time to say goodbye. But it´s only Adieu.

The following day I went to Highgate Cemetery. This trip was on my Bucket List. The place absolutely blew my mind. The guide was straight out of an Agatha Christie and the lady that was constantly by me in the group was wearing Mitsouko. It was an extremely heavy and lovely version, so I am guessing it might have been an earlier incarnation, because it sure doesn´t smell like that now. What a perfect ending to my aromatic and perfumed adventures.

But it wasn´t quite the end was it? Antonio Gardoni from Bogue Perfumes met up and shared a coconut water with me, including copious sprays of MAAI. Comrades! – MAAI is not for the faint-hearted. More later ……..

I am now back to making cookie dough.

Bussis

CQ xxx

All photos donated by Val the Cookie Queen

Oliver & Co Limited Edition Sample Set 2014

August 3, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Hey there APJ,

If you love niche fragrance and enjoy the good stuff then this is for you. I love this crew.

Oliver & Co Limited Edition Sample Set 2014

DISCOVERY SET – 1# ONLINE EDITION OF 20

THE SET INCLUDE 7x10ml GLASS SPRAY VIALS OF:

ILLUSTRATED SERIES

M.O.U.S.S.E
LA COLONIA
VETIVERUS
RESINA
M.O.U.S.S.E II

NEBULAE SERIES

NEBULA 1
NEBULA 2

AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY – FROM 1st TO 6th AUGUST.
LIMIT ONE PER PERSON. ONLINE EXCLUSIVE.
THIS ITEM CAN’T BE PURCHASED ON PHYSICAL STORES.

67,00 €

Oliver & Co Site<<JUMP

Drew Carey, Richard Simmons: Living Scenery

August 2, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Hi there APJ,

Today’s post is one of the most wonderful things I have ever seen in my life. Sometimes a little video can make your day seem lighter and brighter. If you haven’t seen it before then I promise you a rare treat. For those that have seen it, watch it again. It only gets better every time you see it. Drew Carey, Richard Simmons: Living Scenery from Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Today I am taking a perfume break. Hanging out with Jin, fixing my BFFs parents electrical problems and riding the motor bikes. Then I’m off to work tonight where I will probably be wearing Vintage Boucheron Femme. Loads of it. YUMMO!

Photo Stolen ScreenInsults

No matter how shit your day, I think Drew Carey, Richard Simmons: Living Scenery may just turn you around

Be well.
Portia x

whose line is it anyway-richard simmons special!!

Passion Boisee by Jeanne-Marie Faugier for P Frapin & Co 2007

August 1, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 60 Comments

Hello Fragrant Family,

My mate Nick from Libertine Parfumerie sometimes gives APJ product for giveaways. A package from Nick is ALWAYS a sweet surprise and he is a lovely guy who wants to have a great range of fragrance for Aussies to choose from. Please, even if you don’t enter today’s competition, go and have a look at the amazing fragrant beauties that Libertine Parfumerie has for sale, you will be astounded. Lately Nick’s buying power has become so good that some (not all) of his products are the same numerical value as you would buy them for in the USA, that means with the current Aussie dollar that they are in fact 10-15% cheaper!!! AMAZING!

Passion Boisee by Jeanne-Marie Faugier for P Frapin & Co 2007

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine, nutmeg, rum, clove
Heart: Oakmoss, oak
Base: Patchouli, leather, cedar

Before anything else I want you to know how much I love the Frapin bottles. Heavy, great shape, excellent atomiser that gives a super blast. The whole packaging has been beautifully thought out and will look great as a gift or as the single bottle of scent on most mens counters. Not that women wouldn’t wear Passion Boisee, or any Frapin, but I can definitely see the men falling in love with the whole aesthetic.

So my nose gets a lovely gust of citrus, booze and a cool note that reads to me like pipe tobacco for a short while which then softens off considerably within 20 minutes and becomes a very light, forest floor over skin scent. Passion Boisee becomes a barely there shimmer of depth, an extra hint of the wild. Subtle to the point of subconscious. I pretty much lose the ability to smell Passion Boisee after an hour on myself but when sprayed on Jin it is a completely different beast and every time I come close to him its presence is noticeable and damn sexy. Powerful and sexy undertones, like pheromones.

I don’t get much play through the notes after the initial fireworks. I get cool forest, jungle floor, masculine, slightly animal and a feeling of power. I imagine this smell is how a jungle tiger feels. There, not there, camouflaged yet deadly and powerful. I think Passion Boisee would make an excellent work or date scent, a very under the radar reminder that the wearer is dangerous and focused and hungry.

If you like to proclaim your fragrance wearing in no uncertain terms then I think Passion Boisee will be too soft, too quietly confident.

Further reading: Fragrant Moments and Smelly Thoughts
Peony Melbourne currently has $95/100ml (That’s over 50% discount!!)
First In Fragrance has €105/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

Photo Stolen TheTruthAboutMummy

Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 Major Winner who will get:
1 x Passion Boisee 100ml bottle
(minus the Secondary Winners Prizes)
P&H Anywhere in the world

3 x Secondary Winners who will each receive:
1 x 10ml decant of Passion Boisee
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Go to Libertine Perfumes<<<JUMP and find me one of their Bath & Body Products and Manufacturer…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Passion Boisee: P Frapin & Co GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-324 #Perfume #Giveaway @LibertineParfum

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 3rd August 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Thursday 7th August 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.

Hypnotic Poison EdT by DIOR GIVEAWAY WINNERS

August 1, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Hi Scent Hounds,

Excellent response this week, and what a wonderful giveaway. Azar always finds the good stuff, it gets me excited too.

Portia xx

Hypnotic Poison EdT by DIOR GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Hypnotic Poison by Annick Menardo: 1998 version

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Apricot, plum, coconut
Heart: Tuberose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose, brazilian rosewood, caraway
Base: Sandalwood, almond, vanilla, musk

WHAT COULD YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will each get:
1 x 2 ml spray decant of the 1998 version of Hypnotic Poison EdT
1 x 2ml spray decant of the historic Italian referred to at the beginning of this post
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DID YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please leave a comment about your favorite re-discovered oldie and/or your take on any version of Poison or Hypnotic Poison.

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Hypnotic Poison EdT: DIOR 1998 #GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-313 @Dior #Perfume

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 31st July 2014 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by Azar putting all names on paper and pulling two from a hat. Hey Presto!!

Photo Stolen propercourse

NennaO

Elia

CONGRATULATIONS! Many thanks to everyone for their oldies and for their memories of Poison!

Azar xx

The winners will have till Sunday 1st August 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.

A Case of Perfume Tampering

July 31, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 21 Comments

Post by FeralJasmine

I am a fiend for vanilla perfumes, and will try nearly anything along that line. It happened not terribly long ago that I got a sample from one of the decant houses of a vanilla perfume from an independent perfumer, never mind which one. It was a pretty little perfume indeed, with some jasmine and fruit notes, a bit of bergamot, and a pleasant base of vanilla and white musk. For evening wear I love Tihota, the contralto diva of the vanilla world, but this one warbled along in a pleasant little alto. I decided that it would be perfect for office wear where my stronger vanillas won’t fly, and because I found it online at a bargain price I bought two small bottles.

A Case of Perfume Tampering

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Unfortunately, it became clear when the bottles arrived that a rather major reformulation had taken place between the decant that I had previously purchased and the new bottles. Or maybe this perfume is subject to significant batch variation, but whatever the reason, I had two bottles of something that I did not care for at all. The opening was still pleasant and attractive, but the vanilla was rather distant and sour and faded quickly, leaving me with nothing much to notice after the first 30 minutes. Foolishly, I had opened and tried both bottles before I was sure that something was wrong, so there was no reasonable option of returning them.

After some thought, I decided that I had very little to lose, and so I began tampering with one of the bottles. Leaving the opening undisturbed, I added a little bit of vanilla CO2 extract, and a modest amount of a commercial perfumers accord called “vanilla bean accord,” which I obtained from The Perfumer’s Apprentice. After several good shakes, I had something that I could spray and enjoy in a low-key sort of way, and that ended in a lovely vanilla skin scent which lasted several hours. I will be able to use it as a work scent, and eventually will probably do the same to the other bottle. As a bonus, I wore it one evening at home, and my husband noticed early the next morning that it had bloomed into an even more full and beautiful vanilla skin scent.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

I have read arguments against a simple intervention like layering, with some people feeling rather strongly that the perfume should be worn as created. All very well for perfumes that you like, but this was not one that I would ever have worn exactly as it came to me. And I clearly acknowledge that it would not be in any way okay to give out the name of the perfume, since I have altered it beyond recognition. However, for those of us who have some bottles sitting around that we don’t really care for and will never wear in their present iteration, is it wrong to make some creative changes? I don’t think so. It’s like changing a recipe; you can do anything you want with it, as long as you acknowledge that it is not exactly the recipe that the writer intended.

So I say, if you have aromachemicals and accords and essential oils and absolutes sitting around, and like so many of us you also have some perfumes that you are not wild about, but which have no significant resale value, go to town!

Have you ever tampered with a perfume? Do tell.

FeralJasmine xx

Floral Romantique by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2011

July 30, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Post by Gabriella

Hello fragrance peeps!

Today I want to ‘fess up and review a perfume that has been widely ignored by the perfume community and even reviled and condemned by some bloggers but, nevertheless, has well and truly captured my heart. That perfume is from Guerlain’s Elixir Charnels line.

Floral Romantique by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2011

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin, orange
Heart: Jasmine, ylang-ylang and tiare, with additional accords of lily, carnation
Base: Cedar, smoked tea, chestnut, ambrette, mate

I happened to discover this luminous gem completely by accident. I was at the Guerlain counter trying Angelique Noire and Cruel Gardenia when the SA suggested I also try Floral Romantique. This sparkling, pretty yet very sophisticated scent kept my nose to my wrist for hours, and like any self-respecting perfume lover, I took to Google to read about my fabulous new find.

Gaia of The Non Blonde called it “a Guerlain bastard” while Victoria of Bois de Jasmin said that Floral Romantique “is an orange blossom version of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue with an ultra-luxurious price tag”.

So while others don’t, why do I love this one? Well, wearing Floral Romantique feels like slipping into a perfectly cut ball gown of the purest pink silk. It sits so seamlessly and beautifully on my skin that the first wearing had me wondering how I had lived without it for so long.

Photo Stolen Flickr

Floral Romantique starts with a rich and bright juicy mandarin note and then segues softly into a rich floral accord of jasmine, lily and tiare. The white florals are so well blended here, it’s hard to pick out the individual notes. Ambrette and tea lend a smoky fruity counterpoint to the blend, underscoring but not overwhelming the floral heart.

Wearing Floral Romantique also brings back strong olfactory memories of another great perfume love of mine: the sadly discontinued Eau D’Eden by Cacharel. Although Eau D’Eden was more an aquatic composition, there’s some similarity to the treatment of white florals. However, in Floral Romantique, they are of better quality and feel much more chic and elegant in nature.

Eau D’Eden accompanied me during some great times in my life: a beautiful holiday in Thailand; the Sydney Olympics, when the whole city was alive and in party mode; listening to one of my favourite U2 songs, Beautiful Day, on a clear and bright Sydney morning.

Photo Stolen Flickr

Thanks to these associations, Floral Romantique makes me feel joyous and optimistic. And once I finally land a bottle for my collection, I hope to have some more great memories to associate it with.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and The Non Blonde. For a more positive take, see CaFleureBon.
Floral Romantique is available at most Guerlain counters in department stores: $330/75ml.
Posh Peasant has samples starting at $8/ml

So, have you tried Floral Romantique? Was it love or hate for you? What perfumes do you love that others don’t?

With much love till next time!
M xx

Captured In Amber EdP & Extrait by Shelley Waddington for En Voyage Perfumes 2014

July 29, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 27 Comments

Post by Val the Cookie Queen

I don´t like amber. It´s not for lack of trying. I always thought I would be the perfect amber babe. After all I adore patchouli and it´s the same right? Actually it´s not. When I fell for Captured in Amber I thought that the amber part of my brain had finally been unlocked. I got hold of 5 different ambers ready to love them all. I didn´t. I found them as flat and one dimensional and nauseating as they ever were. It is not my wont to knock other perfumes/perfumers but suffice it to say they included Dior´s Mitzah, which is just not made f or me. (I think Dior can handle it!). Not my cup of tea. Or should I say chocolate?

The Spanish conquistadors first brought chocolate to France in 1615. It was only for the nobility and upper bourgeoisie. It was all the rage at the Court of Versailles. At that time it was cheaper to buy a prostitute than it was chocolate. Chocolate was recognized for its aphrodisiacal qualities so I have know doubt that there were those who purchased both! In 1770 when Marie- Antoinette married Louis XVI, she arrived at the court with her own chocolate maker along with the title “Chocolate Maker to the Queen”. Cocoa beans only became accessible to the public in the 19th century.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Shelley Waddington informs us that Marie Antoinette also took a little ambergris in her hot chocolate. Marie-A also wore perfume using ambergris. Madame du Barry supposedly bathed with ambergris to attract Louis XV. It was known as “dragon´s spittle fragrance” in ancient China, and was believed to ward off the black plague in the Middle Ages. It too has been attributed with aphrodisiac power as well as healing properties.

Captured In Amber EdP & Extrait by En Voyage Perfumes 2014

Captured In Amber by Shelley Waddington

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Ambergris, labdanum, vanilla, tonka bean, floral notes, spices, woody notes, olibanum, resin, peru balsam, tolu balsum, benzoin, patchouli, myrrh, dark chocolate

Captured in Amber is part of the Souvenir de Chocolate Trio from En Voyage Perfumes. It is utterly delicious, three dimensional and not a hint of powder to be seen. So with chocolate and ambergris? We have an erotic fragrant bomb on our hands.

CAPTURED IN AMBER: EDP

It goes on in a powerful chocolate, sweet, veil of perfection, a nosegasm. It is rounded and complete. A 3D effect. Although it is rich it is not cloying. Very grown up and sensual but comforting too. After several hours of subtle spicy development it slowly ends up being salty and musky, which is how I imagine real ambergris to be. Nevertheless there is till a dusting of chocolate there. It reminds me of the crushed cocoa nibs that I use to bake with. Chocolatey but not sweet. The components of Captured in Amber EdP are blended to perfection. A seamless fragrant ride. This needs to go straight onto naked skin. Skin enhances.

Photo Stolen Flickr

CAPTURED IN AMBER: EXTRAIT

Not just a stronger version of the EdP. This is not as sweet and is made to be annointed. It is so rich, distinctive, highly seasoned, poignant, smoooooth, and erotic ……… gorgeous!! I would hardly call it an amber, as to my untrained amber nose, the amber doesn´t make a clear appearance until after a couple of hours. I cannot lift my nose away from my wrist.

The Extrait is quite thick, but didn´t seem like an oil. It intrigued me so I got in touch with En Voyage Perfumes and asked Shelley what it was.

Shelley uses an alcohol based perfume carrier. This is blended with another non-oil ingredient that smooths the sharp blast typical to alcohol, and this is somewhat thick. Because it is an extrait, the resins and some of the other ingredients are heavier and thicker than the more typical perfume materials. That´s enough secrets of the trade huh?

En Voyage Perfumes have a selection of Captured In Amber<<JUMP

For the first time I am Captured in Amber.

Bussis
CQ

Hypnotic Poison EdT by Annick Menardo for DIOR: 1998 version

July 28, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 66 Comments

Post by Azar

Today’s review and give-away were supposed to have been about the contents of a very large bottle of an historic Italian EdT. I have decided to reserve judgment on this fragrance until I get to know it better. There is plenty of juice to play with. I have been spraying it liberally on myself, on B-Azar, Fender, on the towels and linens and have even considered using it as a room freshener. Needing a substitute victim for this post I began digging around in the chaos of my perfume storage and came upon something red, black and squat, about 50% remained in the 100 ml bottle. Just one spray filled the room with romantic memories. – the original version of Dior Hypnotic Poison, EdT.

Hypnotic Poison EdT by DIOR

Hypnotic Poison by Annick Menardo: 1998 version

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

The first version of Hypnotic Poison was created for Dior in 1998 by Annick Menardo (responsible for Lolita Lempicka and Bulgari Black among others).

My immediate experience of HP was rich vanilla and a lot of fruit, a not quite edible compote of plum, coconut and vanilla drying down to jasmine and a bouquet of flowers that were too mixed up to sort out. At the heart bitter almond (the scent of cyanide), caraway, various woods and an impression of spices were reminiscent of the original version of Dior Poison. The startling opening and scary sweet vibe of the first Poison were barely noticeable but still obvious enough to make this semi-gourmand sister scent a truly hypnotic contradiction between the delicious and the dangerous. Hypnotic Poison may have been one of the earlier fruity florals but has very little in common with the syrupy concoctions available today.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

If you happen to have a bottle of this early version gathering dust, resurrect it immediately! I’m sure you will remember, as I did, why you enjoyed it so much. I have no experience with the newer 2008 version – L’Elixir Hypnotic Poison by Francois Demachy. Do you know this one? Does it work for you?

YUM! I am now going to have another spray-bite of this almost poisonous and not really forbidden fruit!

Azar xx

Photo Stolen lavanyasrecipes

Hypnotic Poison EdT GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please leave a comment about your favorite re-discovered oldie and/or your take on any version of Poison or Hypnotic Poison.

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Hypnotic Poison EdT: DIOR 1998 #GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-313 @Dior #Perfume

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Thursday 31st July 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Sunday 1st August 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.