Portia

Salvidor Dali + Rosa sur Reuse by Liz Zorn for SOIVOHLE

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hi there APJ,

Two of my favourite things are art & fragrance. Today when I chose my scent it was Rosa sur Reuse that I reached for. I was pretty liberal (3 to chest and 1 to hair) and now I am sitting in a fragrant cloud that immediately made me think of the surreal works of Salvador Dali. There is something perfectly surreal and new every time I wear it and it’s much like rediscovering Dali’s works every time you come across them, the absolute surprise at his perfectly poised rendering of the bizarre, shocking, humorous and strange.

Rosa sur Reuse is beautiful and completely other-worldly, it is enticing and borders on the edge of way too much yet always remains perfectly blended and disarming. I think that because Liz Zorn is an artist too, that she feels things in an artistic way could be why my mind jumps to art when I’m wearing her creation. That she takes the same palette of notes as every other perfumer and creates this magical scent, something that speaks to me and moves me from such a physical primal level all the way to my art infested brain is prett incredible. Rosa sur Reuse always feels like an old friend and a new love.

So though I’ve talked about Rosa sur Reuse before I really wanted to record my joy today and share it with you.

Salvador Dali

Salvidor Dali Galatea of the Spheres WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Salvador Dali Lincoln_in_Dalivision WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Salvidor Dali The Burning Giraffe WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Salvador_Dali Illumined_Pleasure WikiMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Rosa sur Reuse by Liz Zorn for SOIVOHLE 2012

Rosa Sur Reuse SoivohlePhoto Stolen SOIVOHLE

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tuberose, red rose, red berries, parma violet, jasmine, lily, lilac, orchid, oakmoss, vanilla, woody notes, musk

Sadly Liz has discontinued Rosa sur Reuse but I stockpiled a whole load of it and feel able to spritz with abandon. It’s a peculiar, particular joy when you spray a fragrance that was never a mainstream blockbuster because the chances of finding more are so slim. So when I do wear Rosa sur Reuse I feel as if I am gifting myself this joy, a real gift to myself that takes little more than the press of a nozzle and a deep breath.

Do you have a fragrance that works like this for you?
Portia x

INSPIRED! + Surrender To Chance

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 27 Comments

Hey there APJers,

Life is happily hectic and the house has most of my attention. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day, though fortunately I am managing to stay afloat. Hopefully you all are coping, if not take a moment to be still and listen to yourself in this moment. You really do know what’s best for you.

INSPIRED!

Not so very long ago though I was reading one of my all time favourite blogs and the piece was so involving and interesting. How your head can work while trying to be involving and engaging. We at APJ are verystructured because I really like that format and it means you can drop in at any time (day or night, ballgown or suit, bus, work, home, in between courses at dinner, just about any time you have 5 minutes) and get a quick fragrant fix from a wealth of voices across the globe.

Thinking_Man WikiMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Here though is a piece that really made me think about what we do. I will need some more percolation time but it has caught my attention.

Jump across to I Smell Therefore I Am and have a read, I’d LOVE to know what you think about the piece and how YOU feel it relates to APJ. We are all good for constructive criticism and I want this to be a place everyone feels welcome and has something here to capture and hold their attention.

Surrender To Chance GIVEAWAY

One lucky commenter will receive a $50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER to be drawn on Sunday night 10pm Australia EST and they will be chosen by random.org

Go for it crew,
Portia xx

creative_thinking bknight DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

 

ETERNITY NOW Calvin Klein: New Ad

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Hey hey Crew,

When I was a younger person Calvin Klein always had a great diffusion line of clothes. I would often choose a Calvin Klein T-Shirt, jumper or belt and his frags were what my friends wore. I loved to smell them and really liked the advertising etc but never did I think I wanted to wear the Calvin Klein fragrant dream. To be honest a part of me was a little sneery at their oh-so-mainstream tastes. It’s only now, when everyone has moved on from the scents that I am finding my way to wearing them. NOW I really like a whole bunch and they bring back fabulous fragrant memories of friends long gone, and some still in my circle who don’t smell like this anymore.

Eternity Now Ad Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Here is a NEW Eternity flanker

Eternity Now For Women by Calvin Klein 2015

Eternity Now For Women by Ann Gottlieb

Eternity Now For Women Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Litchi, quince sorbet
Heart: Peony, peach blossom, neroli petals
Base: Cashmere, ambrox, musk

I hope you enjoy the ad, which uses one of my favourite songs from Aussie band INXS.
Portia xx

ETERNITY NOW Calvin Klein

Testa Maura GIVEAWAY WINNER + Moving House Photo Essay

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Hey there APJ!

I’m so sorry this is late but I completely forgot, it’s all move, renovate, move here. kinda freaked out. SO MUCH TO DO!!!

Here are some picks of the packing and the new place (still in a mess last Friday!!) and a couple with the newly laid carpet!

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Love you all.
Portia xx

Testa Maura GIVEAWAY WINNER

Carticasi Testa Maura FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

LuckyScent gives these featured accords in one line:
Mastic Resin, Galbanum, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Cedarwood

LuckyScent has $140/50ml

WHAT DID YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
2 x Testa Maura samples Capo di Feno & Aleria. (Both from LuckyScent and have been dabbed twice)
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 5th July 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner were chosen by random.org

Winner Is amberinblunderlandPhoto Stolen amberinblunderland

JAYBEE

Congratulations! The winner will have till Monday 13th July 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.

CHANEL Paris to Seoul, Cruise 2015/16 CHANEL

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Hey Hey APJ,

You probably know that my partner Jin is from South Korea. It’s exciting for both of us when it becomes a destination for the world stage. Here is a particularly fun look at the CHANEL team taking their Cruise 2015/16 runway show on the road. Lovely sound bites from Gisele Bündchen and Kristen Stewart and at the end the incredible, eternal Karl Lagerfeld.

Enjoy this look behind the scenes,
Portia xx

chanel-cruise-2015-16-show-seoul-the-hanbokPhoto Stolen CHANEL

CHANEL Paris to Seoul, Cruise 2015/16 CHANEL

CHRIS PRATT

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hey there Perfume Junkies,

Today we are taking a bit of a break from fragrance because I have a confession to make. OMG! I am completely, madly and deeply in love with Chris Pratt. He should come hang with the crew and me. Like every day, forever.

Below is a video of him being mildly amusing and super dreamy.

Chris Pratt Gage Skidmore FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

In the comments tell me what you think Chris Pratt should wear as fragrance. I’m thinking something super delicious, up to date and edible like Christian Dior’s newest prive, Fève Délicieuse. He would smell killer in its sweet, resinous, caramel. MMMMMMMMM

Enjoy and Chris Pratt Mash Up.
Portia xx

Chris Pratt – Funny Moments

11542062_829610367135268_8082876195649271299_nFacebook Meme

Les Exceptions Mugler: The Film

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Heya Crew,

I was lucky enough to smell a couple of these lovelies in Chicago with Musette from Perfume Posse last year and I fell madly in love with Oriental Express and quite liked Supra Floral too.

Les Exceptions Mugler YouTubePhoto Stolen YouTube

Chyprissime, Fougere Furieuse, Oriental Express, Over The Musk, Supra Floral are the five Les Exceptions and I think they are definitely worth a sniff.

Enjoy the film,
Portia xx

Les Exceptions Mugler: The Film

PG17 Tubereuse Couture by Parfumerie Generale

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Hey all you lovely Perfumistas,

Recently my mate Sandra in Vienna was having a clear out and she sent me the list. There were some frags not currently available in Oz and a couple that were on my list to own or back up. Over the next little while I’ll be bringing out some to show you, today’s offering is the first. I don’t know if you ever troll the For Sale Docs on the Facebook frag pages but here are a couple that you might like to try: Facebook Fragrance Friends and PLP Splits & Sales.

PG17 Tubereuse Couture by Parfumerie Generale

PG17 Tubereuse Couture  by Pierre Guillaume

PG17 Tubereuse Couture Parfumerie Generale FRagranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured notes in one line:
Orange, green notes, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sugar cane, indian tuberose, benzoin, papyrus

This week seems to be all about the languid, tropical scents that are both alive with the sensual promise of white flowers and sweetened in some way to almost make them edible delights. Today we look at the unhumble tuberose in its sweet and green facets. Loud, pushy, thick, glutinous and a hugely theatrical showstopper Tubereuse Couture is like a neon light burning through the evenings cool. Vivid and stark we are not with the bubblegum sweeties here, this is tuberose for grown ups. A mildly petroleum aurora that is both beautiful and toxic. The green notes resinous, dry, sharp and unsettling. How can something be so desirable, alluring and creamy while maintaining such an unhealthy, fetid glow? Caught on the very fine line between gorgeous and repugnant I think Tubereuse Couture is my new favourite tuberose.

 PG17 Tubereuse Couture Parfumerie Generale Anna Pavlova WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

The first hour is HUGE! Well, maybe not that big but you are heavily fragrant and it is incredible. After that opening hour Tubereuse Couture calms to a lovely sweet white flower bouquet and still maintains excellent sillage and projection for about another hour before going to a softer, wear anywhere, warm yet slightly green amber. Still interesting but not the wild creature it was at all, now Tubereuse Couture is a cuddly, smoochy kitten. I find something delightfully old fashioned about Tubereuse Couture, though it is all of the above there is also something languid and in repose about it that seems poised on the edge of action. It’s like wearing a drowsing tiger or greyhound, the power is there at bay awaiting at a moments notice to spring into swiftly killing action. Tubereuse Couture is thrilling.

Tubereuse Couture is a real heart starter. If you are tuberose or green averse then you’ll probably want to test this on paper or a friend before you put it on your own skin. Having said that I just spritzed it on my BFF Kath and she smells creamy, smooth and deliciously sweet in the next room. A very different ride, or maybe it smells different from afar. Anyway, your mileagae will probably vary from my experience so give Tubereuse Couture a go.

PG17 Tubereuse Couture Parfumerie Generale Whistler_James WikiMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels and Non Blonde
First In Fragrance has €95/50ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $5/ml

How do you like your tuberose?
Portia xx

Carticasi by Xavier Torre for Testa Maura 2008 + GIVEAWAY

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Hey there APJ Fragrant Family,

I have been going through a few of my older LuckyScent Sample Packs. What usually happens for me is that I try them all on my fingers, just near my nails, when they arrive and the ones that stand out to me in the initial testing get worn till they’re empty and the others languish. It’s fun to go back and have a re-sniff and it’s been nice to find that a couple I like very much and want to share with you. One of them is…

Carticasi by Xavier Torre for Testa Maura 2008

Carticasi Testa Maura FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

LuckyScent gives these featured accords in one line:
Mastic Resin, Galbanum, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Cedarwood

My first thought on applying is “oh, this is a natural fragrance”. No fragrance I know with synthetics has this green, dark, ferocious depth. If green is your friend then this is a lightless cave by a riverbank, the moss, lichen, grass, and tree resin all combines here in a fragrance that should be the colour of a crows wing, iridescent, oil slick black. This is the scent of the young fairy Maleficent and her kingdom before it was turned into a place of unhappiness, and then again at the end of the tale.

The rose is gorgeous. Right now I have a deep red rose that someone gave me from their garden, the scent is so strong and dark but with glimmers of light and it is this intoxicating fragrance that has been used by Xavier Torre for Carticasi. The opening 20 minutes are incredibly dense and I could imagine it turning people off if they had never spent time with a natural fragrance. For me though it is totally fabulous, the uber green.

Carticasi lasts a couple of hours and 2/3 of that time it keeps extremely close to the skin. After two hours there is a very faint haze of scent but it has pretty much gone. Perfect work wear so you can enjoy your fragrance on the way to work, respritz and enjoy it for lunch and not worry about skunking your colleagues.

Further reading: Scent For Thought and IrideScents
LuckyScent has $140/50ml

Save From YouTube giveaway 4Photo Stolen YouTube

Testa Maura GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
2 x Testa Maura samples Capo di Feno & Aleria. (Both from LuckyScent and have been dabbed twice)
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 what fragrances tickle your fancy to sample from LuckyScent<JUMP?

Extra Chance?
Tweet: Testa Maura GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-43m   @luckyscent

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 5th July 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 9th July 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.

Emporio Armani Diamonds Violet ft Ella Eyre – The Film

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Hi there Crew,

I am LOVING this bottle. So freaking beautiful. The notes sound like they might overload my sweet spot but I am going to force myself down to the shops to try it anyway. That bottle makes it all seem worthwhile.

The ad is straight out of the 1980s, enjoy,
Portia xx

Emporio Armani Diamonds Violet 1 FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Raspberry, lychee, passion fruit
Heart: Bulgarian rose, violet, lily of the valley
Base: Praline, vanilla, patchouli

Emporio Armani Diamonds Violet FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Emporio Armani Diamonds Violet ft Ella Eyre – The Film