Portia

Vetiver by Jean-Paul Guerlain for Guerlain 1961/2000

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Hey All,

This is one of the crazy bargains I found while on our tour of Europe. The bottle below is the one and it was hidden away in a tiny little Budapest corner parfumerie for a song. It was my first European purchase of fragrance with Dune Esprit de Parfum, which I will introduce you to soon.

Vetiver by Guerlain 1961/2000 (dates vary)

VetiverGuerlain FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, coriander, lemon, mandarin, and neroli
Heart: Vetiver and cedar wood
Base: Tobacco, walnuts, pepper, and Tonka bean

I love the citrus opening with the coriander giving a soft herbaceousness that stops Vetiver being a citrus parody. This burst of freshness is so compelling and lasts well into the heart of the fragrance playing a sheer overlay as the earthy, grassy, wood-ish heart filters through. I had no rural connection with Vetiver until I read the Guerlain spiel below. Till then I had always associated the freshness with the sea and could detect a slightly salty twang throughout. It’s funny how suggestion works because now I smell wet grasses and earth. Morning, Vetiver by Guerlain smells like morning. A crisp sunny morning that offers some great incentive to get out from under the covers.

Not particularly long lived, I get 4 hours of being able to smell it but Jin says there is a remnant for much longer. I think a perfectly unisex fragrance that bridges the earthy, fresh and clean divide without being that modern ubiquitous sport fresh or laundry fresh. You will smell distinctively alive.

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Here is the Guerlain copy (which I think is a little overblown):

Under the veranda, he looks at a sky daubed with clouds.  The storm breaks. From the earth emanate contradictory scents. The smell of wood, intensified by summer’s humid warmth is shot through with sparkling, heady notes. He loves the feel of cool linen on his skin. He loves to be here.  He loves VETIVER and he knows why: For the authentic strength of vetiver, which reveals the soul in a single breath.

Further reading WhatMenShouldSmellLike and NowSmellThis

FragranceNet starts at 50ml/$34 before any discounts
MyPerfumeSamples has 1ml/$2 to 5ml/$7

GreenFieldsBYPharaun333 SpiceWallpaperPhoto Stolen SpiceWallpaper

Do you have a favourite Vetiver fragrance? Have you tried Guerlain’s version?

Till tomorrow,
Don’t forget to take a moment to do something you really love.
Portia xx

Pure DKNY 2010

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Heya Scentaholics,

Pure DKNY 2010

When Pure DKNY came out it was sold as a fragrance helping Ugandan women through creation of farming and production of vanilla beans. A worthy cause. There was also much talk about the use of recycled glass and paper in the packaging and that it was all biodegradable. Excellent small steps towards sustainability, but also great leaps in awareness. When you have a company that is viewed as fashion forward by not only the high rollers but also mainstream then the message is heard loud and clear across the financial divide.

DKNY Pure FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Ugandan vanilla, dewdrop floral petals, lotus and Bulgarian rose
Heart: Jasmine, freesia and orchid
Base: White amber, sandalwood and vanilla in water

Pure DKNY opens so clean and bright that it can burn out your olfactory system. That first fragrant burst is a watery, clean, fresh burst of fun. If you don’t like the style then stay far from Pure DKNY because it is an overdose. Usually I am not into it but for some reason Pure DKNY captures my attention and keeps it. I love the way it gives off a super saturated lightness filled with flowers that only hint at themselves, it’s a bouquet. The warmth of the vanilla and amber comes in early and slowly but surely takes over the whole composition leaving you with a pretty over-skin-scent that remains as a barely there whisper for about 5 hours till I completely lose it. There has been some talk on the blogs of boring and lack of imagination, while Pure DKNY will not change the world with its outrageous newness I think there is a compelling case for a fragrance that does smell good, is wearable and very pretty. It is a step away from the usual DKNY big fat feature fragrance here and I think the watery aspect will deter many perfumistas but I went through my decant so quickly that there is now a bottle in my collection.

Totally office friendly, wearable for any occasion.

Further reading NowSmellThis and PerfumePosse

FragranceShop has a 100ml EdP tester for around $41
MyPerfumeSamples has 1ml/$2 up to 5ml/$7

Did you ever try Pure DKNY or any of its flankers?

Thanks for wandering through my fragrant thoughts with me.
Portia xx

My Mad Aunty Tracey and Mardi Gras!!

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Hey Hey All,

It’s been excellent fun around here with Aunty Tracey staying over the Mardi Gras period. We have had an awesome weekend.

Thursday and Friday were all about getting the apartment rented and the tenants moved in. It was a couple of long days of bed building, light fittings and organising the troops. Whoever said that all success takes a community is 100% right. Without all the help of my friends and extended family I would be lost.

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Saturday afternoon 5 of the courtesy Aunts (non blood relation Aunts) that were all in the same Nursing class as my Mum and 5 of us (Alice, Jin, Kath, Matt & I) went to Chinese at the Liu Rose in Concord. It is a fabulous place and we had the most magnificent banquet with way too much food and we all got a little boozy too. It was a terrific afternoon with the Aunties reminiscing and my friends laughing at their stories. From left to right: Aunties Margie, Tracey, Anne, Judy and Norma. These women have woven in and out of my life since the day I was born and all are so special. There are some more that couldn’t make it because of geography or death. It was also really fun to bring my two worlds together and my buddies all had a ball too.

Then at night Jin and I took Aunty Tracey to see the Mardi Gras Parade. We bought seatys in the GlamStands where there is a bar, food vendors and toilets. There was a light sprinkle of rain and as the parade started the heavens cleared and we were treated to one of the world’s most fun and spectacular night parades. Thousands of people marched or rode in trucks this year and the themes were Gay Marriage Equality, Acceptance and HIV/AIDS Awareness. As always there were fabulous gleaming bodies, muscular and otherwise, rainbow families, for the first time the Australian Military Gays and Lesbians marched and GLITTER!! It was a really good length and we were left sated but not bored.

mardigras_1_17l5cqs-17l5cqvPhoto Stolen Yahoo

8711c_402299Photo Stolen Same Same

945913-20130214-mardi-gras-2012Photo Stolen DailyTelegraph

art-Lifesavers-mardi-gras-2012-420x0 Photo Stolen SydneyMorningHerald

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A few of our buddies were working on the parade and afterwards we grabbed them and Aunty Tracey and we went to McDonalds. It was DELICIOUS!!

What fragrance did we all wear? Aunty Tracey had Bombay Bling by Neela Vermeire Creations, Jin wore Bottega Veneta and I wore Ubar by Amouage. Needless to say we smelled AH MAY ZING!!

Back to real life from tomorrow I hope.

Portia xx

Le Parfum EdP by Francis Kurkdjian for Elie Saab 2011

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Hey Hey Lovely Fragrant Friends,

I have taken a while longer than the rest of you to get to Elie Saab. Some of my beautiful trivia ladies were extolling its virtues when it first came out and I loved it on them. It seemed that mainstream had hit a terrific winner and I was glad for the regular fragrance shoppers of the world that they were being offered something lovely, wearable and interesting compared to a lot of the other stuff we are all offered daily. I never seemed to get it on my skin though, so here goes.

Le Parfum EdP by Elie Saab 2011

ElieSaabEdT FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin blossom
Heart: Orange blossom, gardenia
Base: Vetiver, rose, honey

I can totally see why everyone went crazy for Elie Saab. It’s sweet, pretty, translucent and hefty. It is white blossom tamed and prettified, a sexless rendering which makes it seem both sophisticated and youthful. Fresh and dewy while feeling so perfectly put together and seamless that it should cost far more than it does. It has a story, is entrancing and lasts for ages.  Blossom, white blossom, lovely and pure white blossom with only the slightest trace of something herbaceous to keep it grounded.

Wearable anytime and for any occasion. I love Elie Saab.

FrancisKurkdjian ForbesPhoto Stolen Forbes

Further reading PerfumeShrine and Olfactoria’sTravels
FragranceNet has 50ml EdP around $80 before discount
MyPerfumeSamples has EdP starting $2/ml but I bought $7/5ml

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Were you an Elie Saab convert?
Here is a sneaky look at the Elie Saab S/S 13 Show. YUMMY!
Take care till tomorrow,
Portia xx

Elie Saab | Spring Summer 2013 Full Fashion Show

SMELL BENT SALE

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Hey Everyone,

Today is the last day of the massive SMELL BENT SALE. Sale ends midnight.robot

10 of their precious frag nectars are on sale at 50ml for $31.

Have fun shopping. They also have a fabulous sample section too.

Sorry there is not a fuller post today but Jin and I have taken our Aunty to watch the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras. WOO HOO! So it’s MADNESSS.

SMELL BENT SALE JUMP <<<

Portia x

Photo stolen Smell Bent

Cuir Beluga by Olivier Polge for Guerlain 2005

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Hello Gorgeouises,

This is a fragrance I stayed away from for a long time because of its name. I thought Cuir Beluga was representing a leather and fish roe fragrance, which while interesting was not something I wanted to smell like. In my head it smelled like under the boardwalk.

Cuir Beluga by Guerlain 2005

CuirBeluga FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Mandarin, immortelle flower, leather, amber, heliotrope and vanilla.

I read on PerfumeShrine that Cuir Beluga means Whale Leather in Russian, but no whales have been hurt in the production of this modern Guerlain. Cuir Beluga is extremely pretty and not overpowering, though the first half hour you are definitely fragrant in clouds of sweet citric vanilla and a lovely soft leather. After that first rush though Cuir Beluga settles into a slow and stately fragrance that never pushes the boundaries or becomes too gourmand. A cool vanilla, a supple much loved leather and a hint of the herbaceous that is going to fade through the dry down almost the same as it is a the one hour point.

I have no comparison to Whale Leather but I can’t imagine it smells like Cuir Beluga at all.

Cuir Beluga is so wearable and pretty that you can spritz and forget it, smelling divine for about 5 – 6 hours. A perfect choice for non perfumistas who want to smell good without smelling clever. Does that make sense? All done in the lavish and luxe Guerlain way.

Further reading Olfactoria’sTravels & PerfumeShrine.
Cuir Beluga is available through Guerlain stores and at some department store Guerlain counters
ThePoshPeasant starts at $7/ml

Have you tried Cuir Beluga? Were you surprised by its soft and fluffy scent?
Till tomorrow wishing you only good
Portia xx

Boyfriend by Marypierre Julien for Kate Walsh 2010

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 9 Comments

Hey all,

So Boyfriend is not new but I do like the way Kate Walsh has thought out her fragrance. That it is a set for layering, works with most other scents and has a fun boyfriend story to boot. She talks really well and interestingly here.

Boyfriend FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Woody notes, amber, flowers, dark plum, myrrh, lily of the valley, night blooming jasmine and musk.

MyPerfumeSamples has the 1.5ml manufacturers sample for $3

One day I will spend some time with the fragrance but we don’t have it here in Australia.
Portia xx

Here’s one of the ads

Azure Lime by Tom Ford 2010

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 16 Comments
Hey All!
Short and sweet today. You all know how I love Tom Ford and think he understands fashion and the craziness all that embodies better than anyone else I know of on the planet.

Azure Lime by Tom Ford 2010

AzureLime FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Woodsy notes, floral notes, citrus, musk

Light, sparkling, fizzy lime opens up and stays for ages, as it calms the woods and musk play salty beach samba rhythms till tomorrow lunchtime. Are there really flowers? I never smelled them but what I can smell is so gorgeous and fun, then so reminiscent of summer that it is beyond good. Definite date night with intentions to cook breakfast and roll around in bed till teatime. It will last and smell gorgeous till then. Promise.

Loads of reviewers are complaining that it smells like a cologne that you can get across the aisle for much less money. I agree that it smells a little like them, it’s fresh, aquatic in the best sense and summery, and yes, if you wore the cheaper versions you would smell nice too but Azure Lime has a swagger, a cock-sure-ness that they lack, and is blended so beautifully that I think it justifies the extra spend if you have that kind of money. Otherwise cross the aisle and get something withing your budget. The idea is to smell good, not beggar yourself. Maybe you could get a sample or decant of Azure Lime, or go in on a split?

Azure-Lime lifestyledPhoto Stolen lifestyled

Further reading EauMG and TheScentCritic
Amazon have 2 x 50ml left for $225 each
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/.5ml

Have you tried Azure Lime? What did you think?

Till tomorrow we wish you the good stuff you wish for yourselves.
Portia xx

Tom Ford Spring Summer 2013 Ad Campaign

As usual, Tom Ford photographed his namesake label’s campaign himself. This season, the 51 year old fashion designer and movie director photographed models Karlina Caune and Simon Van Meervenne, clad in the latest collection from Tom Ford naturally.

Images via TFS.


Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger by Daniela Andrier for Prada 2009

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Hello fellow Fumies,

Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger by Prada 2009

I have not really spent any amount of time with the Prada fragrances. Though Prada opened back in 1913, it was while I was at Fashion School during the 1980s that they really started to take over the world. I have loved their meteoric rise and swooned with delight at some of their runway stuff but it has never seemed to be a good fit for me or my life so I pretty much left them alone. One grey cashmere jumper is all I’ve owned from Prada and it is looking decidedly worse for wear after being dragged from pillar to post around the world since the 1990s. To tell the truth the label fell out in its first week and I caught a sleeve on a London bus not even a month after buying it in Rome. So it has been a mended item since then, seriously luxe and comfortable though even now.

Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these notes in one line:
Mandarin orange, neroli, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom

Like my Prada pullover I find Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger extremely comfortable. It is fresh, warm and bright, basically staying that way with a fade rather than a story, though it still holds some differences with each wear. The copy calls it a middle ground between  Prada’s Exclusive Scent No. 4 Fleur de Oranger and Infusion d`Iris, and that is a pretty good representation of it. Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger is simple, uncluttered fragrance that gives 4-6 hours depending on other factors. I love the 100ml bottle, it’s so hefty and square, to me it has a refined elegance that adds to my enjoyment every time I spritz. Originally I bought decants but I was going through them so it was time for a bottle and the box is also lovely in a black, lime and pink ex fabric combo Prada had in its collection a few years ago. Last week I put it on over one of my favourite body lotions and it went totally toilet spray for an hour, awful, but usually I find it an easy spritz, waft and wear fragrance suitable for all but the most fragrance phobic of workplaces.

OrangeBlossom west-cretePhoto Stolen west-crete

Further reading NowSmellThis and PerfumePosse
FragranceNet have 200ml/$90 unboxed
MyPerfumeSamples start at $2/ml but I bought $7/5ml

Have you tried Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger? How does it wear for you?

Till tomorrow,
Take care please,
Portia xx