September: full of luck and love.

October 6, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 19 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

September: full of luck and love.

I was a lucky lady during September: surviving a car accident, winning a bottle of perfume AND finding a favorite fragrance dramatically discounted. It’s been peculiar experiencing first hand, concussion and shock. My sense of smell was fortunately still intact after a big bump to the head, even stronger for some time– apparently due to primal instincts of “fight or flight.”

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

TWO bottles of discounted Maison Martin Margiela – Untitled were awaiting me in packages when I arrived home from hospital and I wore nothing but for days. Perfectly strange, earthy and uplifting, it suited my surreal state.

Margiela’s intention was to reinterpret greenery after rain. It gives me the feeling of holding my face up to the sky and it being washed with big plodding drops of fresh rain. Ahhhhhh the ultimate cleanse. I visualize fresh, wet, pounding summer rain running off bending plants, yet a musky, sweet white floral heart is present all the while. Lurking in the undergrowth is the better parts of the smell of smoking. Not tobacco. Just mysterious smoke. Galbanum, fierce and green is complimented perfectly with bittersweet orange. Jasmine adds sumptuous pretty, floral and sweet notes that cedar and musk bring back to earth, deepening and giving an irresistible otherworldly edge.

Gorgeously avant-garde, listed as containing boxwood, galbanum, bitter orange, incense, jasmine, cedar and musk. Apparently no vetiver, however it’s a definite must try for vetiver fans. A scent that rarely gets a mentioned on fragrance forums, yet for me is stand out, always receiving numerous compliments. Completely unisex – in fact my dad has already “borrowed” one of my bottles!

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

From my hospital bed I entered Mona di Orio’s instagram competition and a few days later I received notification I had won!! Completely spaced out, I pondered my weird week’s luck. The full bottle of Rose Etoile de Hollande, beautifully packaged (old packaging) was with me within a few days from Europe – a very generous gift. Named after the worlds most fragrant climbing rose species, which Mona studied, growing outside her window in Cabris, France. I had never smelt it before, yet doused myself in it recklessly. A spine-tingling, sparkling, deep rose hit my system. Aldehydic, reminding me of the rich rose component of vintage Chanel Number 5. I am pleased by the natural tones and earthiness in the heart of this fragrance. I feel as if my nose is buried deep deep inside the bosom of a red rose. Deep enough to even smell the fizzy peachiness of its just forming fruit. It is beyond than that though; with additional layers transpiring over time. Smoky eugenol (clove), cedar, patchouli and leather contribute an edgy and carnal feel to this voluptuous beauty. Eventually it powders down, yet remains fiercely rosy sparkling into the evening like a vast and starry night.

How was your September? Do you love fragrances that take you from planet earth to elsewhere in 1 sniff? Which are you favorites?

Miu Miu – AT LAST!!

September 22, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

The unveiling of Miu Miu’s debut fragrance transpired this week in Australia. Very few notes are mentioned and immediately descriptions read as brazen: promising a bold marriage between retro-flower lily of the valley and modern aroma-chemical akigalawood. Perfumer Daniela (Roche) Andrier created the lily of the valley accord with rose absolute, synthetic green notes and real jasmine then fused it with akigalawood, which is extracted from patchouli oil. Apparently the fragrance was accepted only after 1200 attempts!!

Miu Miu by Daniela (Roche) Andrier for Miu Miu 2015

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lily of the valley
Heart: Jasmine, rose, green notes
Base: Akigalawood

I first smelt lily of the valley at Petersham Nursery in London a few years ago. End of the season, the plant was looking forlorn, droopy and weathered. Exuding from it was the most exquisite and captivating scent. Green, cool, fresh, earthy, dewy, lightly floral, citrus-rose top notes with jasmine nuances (omitting headiness). Cheerfully understated. It’s little wonder Miu Miu chose to revive this beautiful retro flower and give it a modern shakeup.

My next “run in” with Lily of the Valley was whilst watching TV series Breaking Bad. Walter White pondered exterminating drug-lord Gustavo Fring whilst peering at a potted plant beside his backyard pool. “THAT’S LILY OF THE VALLEY!!” I squealed, jumping out of my chair, recognizing the little white bells. Soon after in the show, Jesse’s girlfriend’s son falls suspiciously ill of Lily of the Valley poisoning and Walter White is to blame! I took to Google and sure enough the reality is lily of the valley is a toxic, exquisitely delicate, scented beast. A Snow White apple, of sorts!!

The Miu Miu brand has always explored juxtapositions and contradictions. They twist rules within their designs encapsulating the demure and the outrageous, the delicate and the bold, seriousness and lightheartedness and of course: retro versus modern. So, why wouldn’t they release a first fragrance based around a flower with bite?!

Adverts show beautiful actress Stacey Martin, stunning bottle and cute kitten. I get it: I felt like a kitten from the moment I saw and touched my bottle of Miu Miu. Seriously! I spent the whole day playing with it, cooing and purring all the while. Distinctive, combining a modern pop feel with a classy retro edge. Coordinating gold, cream, pillowed eggshell blue glass and contrasting them with a large spot of translucent red perspex. Indeed the bottle design is a piece of art.

On first sniff it was clean and pretty. A sheer green floral. I was lost for words and burst into nervous laughter. The anticipation was too much. Wearing it I experience an elegant sweet rosy heart, dewy green apple – yet slightly creamy and a touch of tart rosehip fruit. Utterly surrounded by joyful white floral, lily of the valley. Remaining somewhat linear, with intriguing depth after time. Cool, dark, green-peppered wood – the akigalawood…a new experience for me. The lily of the valley borderlines’ on shrill, before it becomes soapy and rounded, surviving right until the end.

If Miu Miu’s aim was to capture the spirit of the brand they have, ageless and contemporary. Alluring and possibly polarising it’s no fruity floral crowd pleaser and yet hovers close to “safe.” A fresh, youthful, sophisticated and slightly peculiar floral with fun peppery wood effervescent undertones.

Further reading: Candy Perfume Boy and Now Smell This
Miu Miu is available places, um, no idea…..

What do you think?
Ainslie Walker XXX

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

September 19, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Ainslie Walker

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

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

I Scream For Green!

September 8, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

I’m in Bondi. The sun is shining and I am toying with several green scents intending to put the spring back in my step after some heavy times. It generally always feels like spring/summer in Sydney and right now is my favorite time – not too hot! Warm, sunny, not humid and thankfully no tropical downpours. That’s why when Sydney was hosting the Olympics “they” chose September…Sydney at its best.

I Scream For Green!

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Clementine, cassis, apple blossom, sweet pea, lily-of-the-valley, lily, amaryllis, bellflower, narcissus, jasmine

Lulu Guinness: Lulu Guinness had five fragrances in her collection, however she is best known for her better-than-fabulous handbag/purse designs. I have two: One, a giant circular flamingo basket and the other a sequined lobster clutch. I feel like I am in the freaking B52’s when I strut along with them. Nose, Rodrigo Flores-Roux created Lulu Guinness in 2003, the initial fragrance launch for the brand. Talented and gifted I love many of his works:

The bottle is super kitsch, ceramic-look printed glass. The 50 ml is handbag friendly and feels nice in the hand. The scent is strong, distinctive, fresh, green and floral. Lily of the Valley I rarely wear due to the plethora of toilet sprays and cheap talc’s from childhood that have ruined it for me. In this blend however I like it. Not everyday, mind you, but the days I do, it hits the spot. Its bold like the brand rather than shy like the flower. Fresh and just-walked-into-a-florist-like. All cut flowers and screaming greens with no obvious crowd-pleasing attention given. The opening hour is uncompromisingly fresh and green and if you get past its polarising narcissus punch you are in for a treat. An all-floral flush of slightly powdered lily, apple blossom and sweet pea as it dries down. Blackcurrant (cassis), jasmine and clementine contribute to a hyper-surreal evolution towards natural nuances. If you don’t like this one instantly, I do suggest to try again.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Grass, rose, thyme
Heart: Geranium, lavender, violet
Base: Patchouli, oakmoss

Ealing Green by 4160 Tuesdays: In England “greens” are beautiful natural spaces designed to provide relief and a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of city life. A place for reflection, picnics and to host happy little fairs and markets. Ealing Green is in West London and the inspiration for perfumer Sarah McCartney’s green floral delight – one of my favourite perfumes from her 4160 Tuesdays collection.

I love the green grass and rosy geranium balance. I often find geranium masculinised and more than anything think it a little unfair. In Ealing Green the floral aspects take the spotlight. Shiny, bright and rosy. In addition violet and patchouli laydown a cool, sweet and soapy depth to the mix and continue throughout. A fresh-out-of-the-shower-herbal and clean feeling emanates from a sparky combination of thyme and lavender and works well. Dry down is soft salty oakmoss and powdered rose absolute like a dusting of makeup. Softer and prettier than expected. I had my Marilyn Monroe moment with it, waking still engulfed. I look forward to wearing more throughout summer. Now available to buy shipped to Australia at eScentuals! Bliss.

What is your green?

Ainslie Walker xx

Laya by Ne’Emah 2012 + Photo Essay

August 18, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Winter in Australia is drawing to an end. Spring is around the corner. I have already spotted magnolias, wattle, violets, jonquils and blossoms in bloom. This week it snowed in my hometown, prompting me to take some photographs of some of my favorite fragrances of winter 2015 and reflect on the season. I felt sentimental sifting through my collection, making sure I will take a moment to wear any heftier opulent scents before the hot weather arrives. I unearthed a few I had forgotten completely and one I wore loads in autumn then discarded without a mention:

Laya by Ne’Emah For Fragrance & Oudh 2012

Laya by Mohammad Ne’Emah

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Powdery notes
Heart: Vanilla, cedar
Base: Agarwood (oud), musk, woody notes

Ne’emah’s Laya became available in Australia last September when Sephora opened their doors. As I laid my bottle in the snow, I thought of its origin, Kuwait. Although known for its hot climate, it does get cold and occasionally snows in Kuwait and the compulsory air conditioning can also be freezing…so perhaps there is a need over there for snug scents? Laya is a warm blanket of velvet to me, cozy, sensual, sweet and dry. A rather undeviating balance of powdery oud, cedarwood, styrax and sweetened with vanilla and musks to the point it does fall into the gourmand oriental wood category. Laya is enchanting. Immediately addictive, attracts compliments, is well priced making it great for gifting. At a concentration of 20-30% fragrance it packs a punch. It is a must have for all of the above but also because of what it does, layered under other lighter fragrances – deepening them, adding velvet warmth, lengthening longevity on skin and balancing sweet fruit notes which I can find sickly. Laya provides a solid, yet fresh, airy, sweet cedar heart. All without overtaking or projecting too strongly or synthetically. It’s magic. It’s yum. And you need some.

With major trends and influences in fragrance now coming from the Middle East I was intrigued and keen to learn more about the first Middle Eastern fragrance brand to hit Australia’s mainstream shelves. So I had high tea with Mohammad Ne’Emah, nose and founder of the brand when I heard he was in Sydney.

Mohammad personally collects raw materials from Istanbul-rose, Bulgaria-rose, Morocco, France-jasmine, Turkey – styrax, India – amber and musk, Indonesia-ylang. He only uses real amber as he finds synthetic amber powdery. Once he was stopped at customs in Laos with 50 kg of oud and was not allowed to travel with it.

Fragrance is in his heritage – his grandfather collected ingredients from India in 1952 including oud, saffron, and agar. His mother traditionally burnt oud and styrax on charcoal to cleanse their home. Perfumery became a hobby for Mohammad aged 16 and it became his way to express his feelings.

I am puzzled as to why this brand has so far slipped under the radar with the perfumistas. Skip to Fragrantica where Laya (and others in the range) has few reviews and an outdated photograph of it’s packaging…tut tut!! Sales are up in Sephora though and there is two new releases planned for September: Jardis and Nubliable. Which gives me something to look forwards to as I pack away my treasured winter warmers.

Further reading: Perfume Posse and Red Lips & Lace
Available in Sephora Stores

Tell me some fragrances you think you’d like to try layered on top of Laya?

Come have a look at my Instagram: Ainslie_Walker

I Scream for LEATHER!

August 4, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 16 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

I scream for LEATHER! (Probably part 1)

Call me slow off the mark, but in the past few weeks I have been OBSESSED with scents containing leather. I’ve always “liked” them but suddenly I cannot get enough of them! I am wearing them daily, sometimes 2 per day. It may have all started when I purchased some new leather boots and enjoyed the smell wafting from the box in the car and upon opening. Also it’s winter and leather containing scents seem to warm me and as they warm on my skin I enjoy smelling the deep layers. Maybe it could just be my nose is maturing and like a beagle catching a scent trail, I AM OFFICIALLY OBSESSED.

Here’s two I have recently discovered and been wearing in my travels over the past few weeks.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Divin`Enfant by Etat Libre D’Orange

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Orange blossom, marshmallow, rose, mocha, coffee, leather, amber, musk, tobacco

I LOVE orange blossom at the best of times but, as the blurb says, this fragrance is the “Orange Blossom Renegade.” Leather, tobacco, amber, musk, rose, coffee and MARSHMALLOW all dance along to the beat of orange blossom’s drum. Highly addictive is it’s sweet-rose and gooey marshmallow core, innocent, until tobacco and leather punch through like (young) James Dean just rocked up on his bike. Unlit hand rolled cigarette in mouth and leather jacket on, complete with minor coffee spill down his sexy front. The orange blossom glows from amongst these ingredients and gives a touch of soft “baby bottom” smell mothers talk about. It takes me out of this world to a new and whimsical place, which so many from this brand do. It’s a beauty and available at Sephora in Sydney or Peony Melbourne (who will post it out in Oz)

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Cuir Sacré by Ateliers Des Ors 2015

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Juniper berry, Cardamom, Cypress
Heart: Frankincense, Saffron, Cedar leaf
Base: Vetiver, Cypriol oil, Leather

Atelier Des Ors launched earlier in 2015, with five sumptuous fragrances in the sparkling, gold-filled collection. Peony in Melbourne is the exclusive stockest in Australia. Whilst there I sprayed Cuir Sacré and looked closely at my skin. REAL gold flakes have somehow escaped from the bottle! I massage them in with my fingertip and marvel at my skins new luxe luminance! The dominant leathery aura above instantaneously hisses of strong and lustful sophistication as it hits my olfactory receptors. It’s not just good it’s a KNOCKOUT! Every time I’ve worn it since, I feel a million dollars. Compliments are endless and two of my friends now are buying their own. What is this magical potion? Why does it hypnotise us so? I pinpoint the decadence in it’s dry down and liken it to the smell of the most luxurious new leather handbag, mixed with an elegant note of luminous saffron and shivering vetiver grass, lifted with cardamon. Also listed is Juniper berries, cypress, incense, cedarwood leaf and cypriol. I am surprised not to see rose absolute or something deeply earthy yet floral in there, as on me I can smell something so so pretty. Perhaps it’s just everything working synergistically? This leather is gold. Pleasure seeking individuals must try!

Both these lovelies are available at Peony Melbourne and First In Fragrance who also have samples

What leather containing fragrances do you scream for?

(BTW you can follow my scented adventures via my Instagram: ainslie_walker)
Ainslie Walker x

Borsch, Vodka and Tears: Melbourne

July 21, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 19 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

I had an extraordinary unplanned evening on Chapel Street, Melbourne. My favorite kind of experience, where I get to learn something fascinating, enjoy a new experience and have all my senses dazzled. I was drawn in to a doorway marked by an intriguing logo painted on a shop window: “Borsch, Vodka and Tears” a few steps and I was suddenly out of the cold and in cozy Eastern Europe!

Borsch, Vodka and Tears: Melbourne

A romantic bohemian style bar and restaurant, inspired by the cellar bars of Krakow. It represents a bygone world, specialising in Polish vodka, absinthe, Eastern European beers and Polish meals. It is a perfect place for a date.

I arrived late and eyed off the wall of vodkas on display. The owners have spent years sourcing the most unusual, historic and rare bottles exclusively importing from Poland. My interest was spiked on realizing the bottles were hand made and painted in Poland too -gorgeously bespoke…very much the same way our favourite niche fragrances reside. One bottle even had a bubble inside with a rose inside! Even the historical stories of the brands reminded me of some of the older niche fragrances houses. I had found a magical sparkling vodka apothecary!

I decided on a vodka tasting session. I was asked about my favorite drinks, smells and flavours and I handed myself over for 3 of the barman’s recommendations -very much like perfume shopping. At this point he put down on the bar, three of the cutest tiny hand cut crystal shot glasses. I will admit I wanted to steal them – of course I didn’t though!!

He then filled them with different coloured liquids – vodka! They could have been made from anything! From potato or grain, tinctures or infusions of fruit, herbs or spices and aged in woods like oak. The idea he had was to test me, as by now he knew I had an interest in guessing notes.

Here are the highlights:

1. Piasecki Miodówka Leśna – Forest like and herbal, juniper and pine needle notes. A touch of something a little more resinous and balsamic, maybe honey. If it were perfume think Dior La Collection Couturier Parfumeur – Granville with its pine, citrus, pepper and herbal gorse notes rounded by sandalwoods and even some elements of Gucci by Gucci Sport – cypress, juniper and a touch of musky ambrette seed

2. Ja-GoPrzepalanka – All natural organic artisanal vodka featuring burnt sweet caramel notes, like the top of a crème brulee but with the alcohol strength being enough to really warm the throat. Smooth and deliciously addictive!

3. Miodula Prezydencka Lezakowana was the highlight for me I tasted smoked beeswax predominantly, along with the taste of wild honey, smoked pine needles and oak wood. Only 4000 bottles are made a year, all filled by hand, with 500 reserved as diplomatic gifts for Poland’s president. Bottles are all hand numbered with batch information also handwritten. The recipe is from 1772. I need a full bottle of this exclusive juice!!!!

Next visit I want to try Soplica Staropolska the menu says: Honey, Walnut, Clove With Jasmine And Lilac Notes. Aged In Oak Then Bottled In Hand Painted Decanters.
How does that not sound like a must try perfume to you? How do you like your vodka?

Ainslie Walker x

Fragrances for what ails you: The Hangover Part 2

July 7, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Fragrances for what ails you: The Hangover Part 2

Today’s focus is HANGOVERS Part 2.

*Please note: we at APJ do not recommend drinking irresponsibly.

Continuing our journey through the hung-over eye, this week we observe cases and their miraculous fragrant cures!

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

“Take me away from this nasty place” hangover. You cannot fathom sorting “life” out today. “Adulting” is near impossible. You look at your partner/ children without recognition. Irritation, loss of patience and violent visions are rife. You must escape!! Ormonde Woman by Ormonde Jayne is the answer. Creamy, comforting and magical, you can easily fly far far away on your broomstick with it’s delicious high-dose of hallucinogenic black hemlock. You will cackle with delight as your zoom away from your self-created disaster zone.

“I don’t feel pretty” hangover. You look in the mirror; your skin is pale and has broken out. You feel ugly. You’ve been drinking too frequently. You’ve lost your pretty. We could fake pretty with numerous light floral options, however I’ve found a way to coheres the real pretty back from the darkest depths. Le Labo’s Sandal 33 resets my system like a breath of fresh cool country air. Moist woods evolve into a gorgeous, sexy mess. The dense woods are interspersed with pretty violet notes, peaking out shyly from the forest floor….”here pretty, pretty” you call.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Hangover of doom: you wake up mentally feeling like a lead balloon. Your head is stuck in an unrelenting dark cloud. The only remedy is “happy.” For me this is usually orange blossom, but I can also opt for Penhaligon’s Vaara, as long as I am not feeling too woozy. It is robust happiness in a bottle. Juicy and uplifting, rose, quince, orange, freesia and magnolia work magic on dehydration. Coriander and saffron create the warmth and depth of a satisfying hug. Cedar and sandalwood earths you so as not to become too giddy.

Hangover on an important day You got carried away just one night too early. You have to face a job interview/family reunion/child’s christening/long drive. You are not a bad person; you were just a very fun person last night. A simple, yet head turning work of magic is Eccentric Molecule Molecule 01 smelling like the inside of a cedar wood chest you long to hide in if you were still small enough. To others you smell amazing, attractive and unique all of a sudden. You ooze cool to the point they ask, “you smell great, what is that?” No one will suspect a thing, the ultimate cover-up for your irresponsible sins.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

The Hangover you have no time for: You wake up and need to be out of the house in 30 minutes “what happened last night? My head hurts” “why do I do this to myself?” It’s time to dart around, get ready and take a teaspoon-of-cement. Suck it up buttercup! – YOU did this and now you’ll be paying for it. Coffee and carb-laden food is a must along with a squirt of 4160 Tuesdays Sunshine and Pancakes. Comfortingly zesty it instantly uplifts. Creamy buttered sandalwood goodness melts in to play becoming a breakfast on the run. Rosewood helps with acceptance and makes for a beautiful, balanced start to the day!

How do you cope with a hangover?
Ainslie Walker xx

Ainslie's Fragrant Cocktail Recipe’s

June 16, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 9 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Hello all,

Hope you are having a lovely week and are ready for some scent inspired cocktail recipes to help you on your merry way! These delicious cocktails are some of the ones I tasted recently in Melbourne at Galerie de Parfum’s cocktail and perfume masterclass in Myers Melbourne. Mixologist Justin Ryann Forsyth has been kind enough to provide the recipes we tasted on the night.

Ainslie’s Fragrant Cocktail Recipe’s

My recent APJ post shared the Empressa cocktail (Penhaligon’s) and last Saturday’s “drop in #1” shared with you Frapin 1270 and Keiko Mecheri Loukoulm

Today I am sharing with you two fresh and zesty scent inspired cocktails to help you feeling brighter and get the feeling that summer is somewhere on the horizon.

Gentlewoman (Juliette Has A Gun)

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Launched at the end of 2014, the “Eau de Cologne Parfum” and launch was reviewed for APJ. An Eau De Cologne for the “Dandy Woman” is not a typical cologne with its almond and coumarin notes energised by a strong and lasting citrus accord.

Here is Justin’s lovely sparkling citrus cocktail inspired by Gentlewoman:

10 ml Cointreau
10 ml Monin Blood Orange Syrup
10 ml Lemon Juice
10-15 ml Vanilla Syrup
5 ml Aperol
Rose Sparkling wine

Shake all ingredients vigorously over ice, double strain into a champagne flute, filling only about 2/5 of the glass. Top with sparkling wine of your choice (we used Chandon rose). Garnish with a spritz of orange blossom water and an edible flower if desired.

Batucada (L’Artisan)

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

The name of this fragrance is a style of samba from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and one spritz instantly provides some escapism and optimism in the depths of winter. Inspired by Brazil and its infamous caipirinha cocktail, notes of lime, mint and cachaca are combined with tropical ylang ylang and tiare flower, drying down with a salty-sour coconut note. I believe it is the coconut with citrus that makes this an enjoyable wear for winter. I had never thought to wear it in winter before the event, so thank you to Ricky and Lucy of Galerie de Parfums for shedding this light on it. (I now have it on rotation)

Justin served the cocktail with a roasted coconut rim, which provided an additional textural element. The magnificent barbequed pineapple flavor mixing with the rum had me on the beaches of Brazil in seconds! (hic!)

45 ml Appleton VX Jamaican Rum
30 ml lime juice
15 ml Sugar syrup
Shredded coconut
Barbequed pineapple

Add lime juice and sugar syrup to cocktail shaker, and then drop in a few cubes of grilled pineapple (or fresh if you prefer). Muddle until incorporated, then add rum and fill with ice. Shake hard for 7-10 seconds, and double strain into a short glass of choice, rimmed with coconut (toasted if you prefer). Garnish with a sprig of mint and a pineapple leaf if applicable.

Batucada and Gentlewoman can be sampled at Surrender To Chance<< Jump to them

Cheers!!

Perhaps you can experiment and try coming up with a cocktail of your favorite fragrance?

Xx Ainslie

Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes #1

June 6, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 6 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes

Hope you have a lovely weekend planned. I have some scent inspired cocktail recipes to help you on your merry way!

These delicious cocktails I tasted recently in Melbourne at Galerie de Parfum’s Cocktail and Perfume Masterclass in Myers Melbourne. Mixologist Justin Ryann Forsyth has been extremely generous giving me access to the recipes for his own scent cocktail creations.

Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes #1

My recent APJ post shared with you the Empressa cocktail, inspired by Penhaligon’s new fragrance for the season

Today I will share some lovely winter warmers, perfect for a cozy evening:

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

1270 by Frapin

You can read Portia’s APJ 1270 review, which first alerted me to one of my now favorite fragrances

30 ml Drambuie
15 ml glenmorangie 10 yr scotch whisky
15 ml Lillet Rouge
3 dashes plum bitters

Add all ingredients to mixing glass, and then fill up with ice. Using a bar spoon, begin to stir the drink quickly, being careful not to break any ice. Stir until desired dilution is reached, then double strain into a coupette or similar short glass. Garnish with a dash of orange bitters or orange peel if desired. We didn’t do this for the presentation, but as a cocktail itself, the orange really brings it together.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Loukhoum by Keiko Mecheri

I fell in love with Loukhoulm during the Myers/Galerie de Parfum masterclass evening (and the moment was photographed, unbeknownst to me). For me it is smooth, sensual and womanly. Summed up, it is vanilla-almond-honey-rose notes, inspired by Turkish delight, which is far from my usual fragrance choices. However Loukoulm is much more than a sweet mess, having depth, warmth and providing some immediate comfort. The “comforting” component may be down to an almost Johnston’s and Johnston’s baby powder/oil-esque note….but far more deluxe. Loukoulm hugged close to my skin and was still there many hours later. Much creamier and deeper than other Turkish delight inspired fragrances such as Jo Malone Rose Water and Vanilla Cologne. There is the hint of the rose and iris smells of makeup -now so trendy with the release of Chanel’s Misia-but this is rounded and less screechy in its rose notes. Mixed in with almond nuttiness, the smell of hawthorn, one of my favorite cool weather notes. Something motherly and beautifully warm.

I would love to wear this on a date, as I am sure it would be perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner for two….followed with the following cocktail for dessert:

15 ml Crème de Cacao (or desired chocolate liqueur)
15 ml Cherry Heering liqueur
15 ml Amaretto
10 ml Monin Orgeat Syrup
5 ml Campari
2 dashes Fee Bro’s orange bitters
Egg white (optional)

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker, and shake hard until all ingredients have combined evenly. Double strain into a chilled coupette or similar short glass. If using egg white, wet shake as above, then double strain into another shaker, then shake without ice to create a thick white foam. When finished, garnish with a cherry and 3 dashes Bob’s chocolate bitters.

Enjoy your weekend!

Xx Ainslie

Australian Perfume Junkies

Olfactory Opinions from Oz

Ainslie Walker

September: full of luck and love.

September: full of luck and love.

Miu Miu – AT LAST!!

Miu Miu by Daniela (Roche) Andrier for Miu Miu 2015

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

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

Art and Olfaction Awards 2016 Categories:

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I Scream For Green!

Laya by Ne’Emah 2012 + Photo Essay