Portia

Fig Splash EdT by Yann Vasnier for Marc Jacobs 2008

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Hello Stink Monkeys,

Many of you are stuck in the grip of winter with no end in sight but down here it is 32C swimming, Bar B Q and sunbathing days. Whether you are sweltering or wish to be reminded of the long hot days of summer then I think I’ve found the answer. Currently as ubiquitous as oudh, fig seems to be everywhere in fragrance currently but this one is light and bright and reminiscent of summer, enough to warm your heart.

Fig Splash by Marc Jacobs 2008

FigSplash FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Fig, yuzu (long lasting bitter dry grapefruit), cypress

I enjoy the short story that Fig Splash by Marc Jacobs tells. Ripe fig, not very bitter citrus full of sugar and the crackly green woody backbeat of the Cypress. From the notes you would expect a fresh light, cologne-ish fragrance but just like figs themselves, Fig Splash by Marc Jacobs is a more complex story, there is something deep hidden beneath the fresh burst of fruit that hints at autumn, a warmth, a yeastiness that centres the fragrance and makes it interesting and lovely. Don’t get me wrong, this is a very simple and enjoyable easy wear fragrance that would suit anyone, young or old, man or woman. Modern, translucent and pretty, without being a super sugar sweet girly fruit-choouli nothing.

While it is all this, Fig Splash by Marc Jacobs is ultimately very forgettable on me. I am lightly fragrant with a soft sillage and small scent bubble, I know I smell nice but unlike Mandy Aftel’s Fig or Hermes, Un Jardin en Mediterranee, I don’t feel enfolded or engaged. Even Diptyque, Philosykos which I didn’t particularly like moves me more.

I know, it reads like I hate it, I don’t. I like it. Wear it and it is perfect for summer or as a reminder of those lovely warm, fruit filled, on the terrace eating days. This decant will not last the summer.

If you want something not too sweet, not too fragrant and not too anything else then Fig Splash by Marc Jacobs could be the one for you. A great office-safe, pretty something that is better than a lot of the dross out there. Spritz with abandon too because the bottle is E NOR MOUS and cheap in the discounters.

fig mandmwallacePhoto Stolen mandmwallace

Further reading NowSmellThis does an introduction and that’s all I could find
eGlobalBeauty has 300ml/$57 delivered
SurrenderToChance starts at 2ml/$4

Do you have a favourite fig? What would you wear to remind you of summer, or if in the Southern Hemisphere what are you wearing to beat the heat?

I’m off to the pool, then definitely some more Fig Splash!! Wish you were here.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Dior Homme Shadow Movie by Willy Vanderperre

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Hiya,
Here’s one for the boys and the ladies, and men, who love them. This was originally one of my favourite masculine fragrances, the 2011 reformulation has changed it and at least DIOR was kind enough to give us a complete heads up about it all. It is different, and that is sad but still a worthy fragrance to hold the masculine mainstream at DIOR.

DIOR Homme by Francois Demarchy 2011

DiorHomme2011 FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

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

I hope you love the movie, like I do,
Portia xx

Dior Homme Shadow Movie by Willy Vanderperre released 13/9/12

Holiday Photo Essay Slovakia, Poland, Austria

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Hello All,

We are having a wonderful time on our fragrant journey, this first picture is Jin and I on top of a ski mountain. In Poland then later in the day with his wonderful brother and family at lunch.
Then we move to our Prague shopping madness which was a blast.
You’ll see in Vienna that first we met up with our newest foreign corespondent, Val, who is the owner of Armadillo Cookies and Bikes with her husband. The cookies are beyond incredible and you can find them in a few select places throughout Europe but I think in 2013 that she will be going global. Val will do her first Guest Post in March.
Lastly, we went to dinner with the amazing Birgit ( beer-git with the g like gum) and Michael (the husband) who are the most beautiful couple. Birgit is willowy, blonde and with an ethereal beauty that is a little otherworldly, is also extremely clever and was a nurse and psycho therapist. Who knew? Of courses she is the worlds most loved frag blogger for a reason and we were prepared to love her, as we did, from the outset. The big surprise was Michael who is a SPUNK! Sure, he is very smart and funny, has a great sense of humor and some good stories but Michael stole both Jin and my hearts before entree was served. If you are reading Michael, we are smitten.
Food was awesome and conversation flowed until I felt my head starting to nod with the warmth and the wine, we skipped dessert and had a coffee but it was not enough to keep me from fading. Jin and I walked home and fell into bed exhausted.
More next week,
Portia xx

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Shopping In Prague, Czech Republic

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Hey Ho Gang,
As you can see Jin and I have been doing our bit for the Czech economy. The DUNE Esprit de Parfum and Guerlain Vetiver were our first buys from a wonderful and quite mad perfume lady who reminded us of Sophie from “2 Broke Girls” a total hoot called Evita!!

Next day we went to Yves Rocher because my mate Birgit from Olfactoria’s Travels sent me a Vanilla Noire recently and I am totally loving it. Now it has a sister.

Cartier, another Birgit enable, came as a 4ml sample with some stuff I bought and it’s been rolling around me head awaiting a European tour. Jin is falling in love with VI but no one so far has had a sample for him to live with and I refuse to let him spend that kind of money without a few wears. Even though we are on holiday and he pouted, beautifully, for nearly a whole afternoon. The Cartier crew were fabulous with us coming back 3 days in a row before we bit the bullet.

Jil Sander Sun is a complete impulse buy and I am so happy that I did, it’s full of youthful memories of days spent at the beach with the family.

Lastly, Jin saw Bottega Veneta for 20% off and couldn’t resist. It smells beyond amazing on him and I have loved my 2 large decants to dregs so it will be getting double skin time at Chez Turbo. That was from Sephora at the main Prague Railway Station. The girl there was so friendly that we decided she deserved a sale.

We also spent some sniffing time at a parfumeurie called Madeleine which was awesome fun with Boris but the prices were beyond our ability. it’s a shame.

We are having a great time. Tomorrow we are in Vienna, going to dinner with Birgit and her husband.
I hope you are all really happy and well too.

Portia xx

Rosae Mundi by Profumum Roma 2012

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What’s HAPPENING everyone?

Well, more brand spanking new stuff is happening here today. You may know that lately I’ve been having a bit of a rose explosion in my library. All of a sudden I can’t get enough of them and I’d like to thank Neela Vermeire for reminding me that the rose is Empress with her glorious Mohur.

Rosae Mundi by Profumum Roma 2012

Rosae Mundi FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accord in one line:
Rose, patchouli, vetiver, cedar

LuckyScent describes Rosae Mundi thus: Sometimes a rose fragrance can take a quiet and docile path, blushing and giggling with an innocent and soapy freshness. Classic and traditional – she’s a safe bet and a loyal friend. Rosae Mundi is not that rose fragrance, and prefers not to show up to her boring parties. If she did decide to show, she’d kick down the door in a low cut dress and demand a man and a martini.

PinkRoseWeddingCake showusyourcakesPhoto Stolen ShowUsYourCakes

The first whiff of Rosae Mundi by Profumum Roma is not about the rose at all but cedar, patchouli and vetiver!! Licorice? A sweet and sugared rose emerges through the tangle of herbaceous woodsiness. Like a marzipan rose. I don’t get that the ad copy sells Rosae Mundi as a bad girl fragrance. This is nice, sweet as cherry pie, the innocent and fresh face of rose. A musky rose that hints more at confectionary that sexy siren, it does though have that wonderful perfumey smell that men can identify and compliment and I could imagine it being quite addictive if he was already enamoured. In fact, if this was your signature scent it would be totally transportative when you wear it for those around you. Though it’s not a huge factor during the heart I get something Gothic and haunting that weaves around for a while, it is an interesting by story and it also has a rose water baklava undercurrent at times too. The vetiver gets a little coastal towards the end and the musks are very noticeable, which is unusual for me.

Pretty good scent bubble, when I wear Rosae Mundi Jin can smell it from the moment he walks in the house, and the sillage is excellent leaving a rippling wake, I think a bit too fragrant for office work but great to wear for lunch and by the time you return safe enough to work in. I lose track of Rosae Mundi after about 4 hours but Jin can still smell it on me.

RoseWoman layoutSparksPhoto Stolen layoutSparks

NowSmellThis has to say of the line: Italian niche line established in 1996 by the grandchildren of Celestino and Lucia Durante, who had established a chain of stores featuring hand-made soaps, fragrances and the like. Today the Profumum line produces 15+ fragrances, has several boutiques in Rome and is sold in selected stores across Italy.

LuckyScent has 100ml/$265 or .7ml/$5

Are the roses taking ovewr your life too? Is there something in particular that has caught your attention? Please share, we love golden perfumista nuggets to pan for.

Waft on gentle perfumistas, till tomorrow,

Portia xx

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EdT by Christine Nagel and Francis Kurkdjian 2004

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Hey Happy Huffers,

This is one of my favourite go to scents. It seems to be a good fit for almost anything. Dressy, casual, close or far. It never interferes with what I’m doing or those around me yet it also manages to garner compliments often when it gets some public skin time. And while that happens a bit, with no other fragrance is it so regular. I have also got other people in my orbit hooked on its luscious softness.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her EdT 2004

NarcisoRodriguez FragranticaPhoto stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: African orange flower, osmanthus
Heart: Amber., musk
Base: Vanilla, amber, vetiver

Whenever I get the first waft of Narciso Rodriguez for Her I immediately feel light, lovely, happy and thankful that I am a perfumista and that Narciso Rodriguez for Her came into my life. It’s a little like the feeling as you take off in an airplane to go somewhere lavish and interesting. SWOOSH up my nose flows a translucent shimmer of what I always thought was a sweet rose but it turns out to be African orange flower and osmanthus! Oh well, I’ve been wrong before. The musk is already there, soapy and sugary like musk sticks that we ate as children. I still eat them sometimes! Jin can’t eat them because to him they are exactly like eating cheap Korean soap from his youth.

The amber I get on my skin is sweet and dry, no bitterness just a creamy vanillic amber that presents as smooth and cool as the big fat opaque pale eggs of low grade amber that I find so distinctive and beautiful in jewellery. Together the whole blends during the heart to give the impression of beautiful skin fresh from the pool, just dried so still damp but slightly salty and the blood is pumping so the flesh is warming quickly. I find the heart of Narciso Rodriguez for Her to be nearly narcotic in its peaceful pleasureability. I swoon with a Stendhal syndrome effect because it’s so damn lovely. When I wear Narciso Rodriguez for Her I sometimes wish I could be a one frag person, don’t worry it doesn’t last.

How did they get it so sheer and so hefty? Sillage is fabulous and the scent bubble is too yet it’s never overwhelming and I think it a perfect working scent, as well as the sexy come hither scent, and one you can pick the kids up from school in. It seems there is nowhere that would be inappropriate. No wonder this has been such a popular, game changing scent.

imagesPhoto Stolen sevanya

Further reading PerfumeShrine takes you through all the variations available and BoisDeJasmine contrasts it with sister scent SJP Lovely
FragranceShop has 50ml/$48.50 after discount
MyPerfumeSamples starts at $2.50/ml up to $7.50/5ml

Have you spent some time with Narciso Rodriguez fragrances? Do you have a favourite iteration?

Thanks for wandering through my fragrant musings,
Love to you and yours,
Portia xx

Narciso Rodriguez Spring/Summer 2013

Songes by Annick Goutal + 25:43 by LUSH + Louis Vuitton = FABULOUS!!

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Hey Stink Monkeys,

I’ll tell you a secret. I love Songes by Annick Goutal but I know it won’t last a full work night on me so I under layer on my stomach and backs of knees with LUSH 25:43. The Annick Goutal lasts about 2-3 hours and then 25:43 takes over and they are brilliant together. Every time I wear them as a duo people ask, compliment etc.

Songes by Isabelle Doyen for Annick Goutal 2005

Songes FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Frangipani, tiare flowers, jasmine sambac absolute, ylang-ylang, French vanilla

A floaty, dreamy, white night flower and vanilla glamourpuss of a fragrance that is fun, festive and elegant for the flirty seductress that you are inside. Songes will let her out and make the world aware of your intentions.

25:43 by Mark and Simon Constantine for LUSH 2012

25:43 FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tonka bean, lime, lemongrass, ylang-ylang, myrtle, vanilla, litsea, hay

Still dreamy but less float and more heft. Greener and more resinous 25:43 is way more tenacious and really starts its most beautiful section at about the 2 hour point where the vanilla, tonka and ylang shine to a soft vanillic whisper at about 6 hours that lingers and lingers.

This mini movie has nothing to do with today’s topic but it’s too lovely to let slide another moment. Till tomorrow, ENJOY!!
Portia xx
Louis Vuitton Presents 2012 Digital at a Glance

Blu EdP by Bruno Acampora 2012

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Hey Ho All,

I love it when the LuckyScent Sample Pack arrives. Always some new and interesting stuff. My only bug bear is that they don’t do a 2ml spray sample set. I get only 2 wears from .7ml and it is enough to test the product but not enough to fall madly and deeply in love. I have only bought one full bottle from the sample sets and that is not a very good strike rate in any person’s books. Wearing a fragrance only at my desk and round the house is a review not a life changer, or a shopping inducement.

Blu EdP by Bruno Acampora 2012

Blu FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tuberose, ylang-ylang, orange, sandalwood

A bit of background, this crew has been popular in Italy for years and Bruno Acampora, according to IndieScents, was a beautiful jet setter in his heyday and there is an Andy Warhol portrait of him!! Blu was a Fragrant Oil till last year and was created in 1974.

ZOOM! From zero to tuberose in seconds. the opening of Blu is ridiculously beautiful, capturing the buttery and the green facets of this glorious flower.Blu is so in your face at the beginning it’s almost a drug store Tuberose, my favourite kind. A big sappy blast of green and white flower with ylang ylang buoying it up and helping it float. If you could see me right now pushing the back of my wrists together in a downward V to get more fragrance up my nose. Close to there is a fabulously poisonous extremity in the fragrance that at arms length becomes a beautifully blended dream. The orange that I’m getting is white pithy and juicy, and the sandalwood hums below everything.

Blu’s facets weave a harmonious blanket, that sometimes lets surface one of more in prominence. After an hour or so the orange really makes a dash for centre stage, it comes back again later too. As the fragrance develops I get a salty seaside twang hiding that hints at dark places, a slight minty skew and some smoke/incense too sometimes. The only mentioned note that stays constantly in the middle to background is the sandalwood until the end where it’s all that’s left, still pumping out lovely velvet softness for hours after the rest have packed up and gone home.

capri avi2012Photo Stolen avi2012

I have never been to Capri but Blu certainly conjures the memories of fabulous nights spent on islands in Australia, Greece and the South Pacific. The heady, intoxicating aromas of white night flowers, citrus and surf. Scent bubble is incredible for the first 2 hours before it dies back to a dull roar, sillage likewise but you will leave a beautiful coruscating trail for up to 5 hours before Blu becomes a skin scent of sandalwood.

Further reading IndieScents introduces Bruno Acampora and MimiFrouFrou really gets to know Blu
LuckyScent has 50ml/$135 and .7ml/$5

Have you tried Blu? Any of the Bruno Acampora scents?

So today I am going to spend 10 minutes with Blu on and close my eyes and dream about my holiday. I know it will relax and refocus me so please don’t bother me till I’m done. Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you after my internal gloating meditation is over.

Love to you all, till tomorrow,
Portia xx

Axe Excite Movie: Behind The Scenes At Firmenich

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Hello Fragrance Lovers,

I love the heading today, it reads like a snuff film, doesn’t it! Sorry to let you all down but back in September last year Victoria on BoisDeJasmine showed this Behind-The-Scenes movie of the way an Axe fragrance is created, I imagine much the same as fine fragrance with a miniscule budget. It shook me a little because though I kind of understood that millions of people were involved in creating the smells of our daily lives I do sometimes forget that these people who, even though they can and do, aren’t making fine fragrance and are still about doing the best they can within extremely rigid parameters. It really opened my eyes.

AxeExcite dailydesigninspirationPhoto Stolen DailyDesignInspiration

The patent excitement shown for getting the job of Axe Fragrancers is wonderful and genuine. No one is even hinting that they’d rather be doing JPG’s next blockbuster, there is no embarrassment. Just some great people doing a job that will bring fragrance to a bunch of people. Interesting.

I am very conscious that sometimes I come across as condescending. I mean none of it here and am seriously happy that these guys are great at their jobs and love it, whatever end cost level they are working at in the moment. In fact, a big Axe contract would net the manufacturers way more money that a niche fine fragrance win would.

Enjoy!
Portia xx

AXE EXCITE Story stolen BoisdeJasmin 13/9/12


Axe Excite Movie I

Axe Excite Movie II

Leaving On A Jet Plane COMPETITION!!

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Hey Gang,

Jin and I are off on holidays. We leave today and I’m FREAKING EXCITED!! I haven’t taken a holiday in over 2 years and we are doing some catching up. I thought you might like our itinerary in case you happen to be in or around the cities we are visiting and would like to meet in person for a coffee, dinner, fragrance sniff, tour, dance, show or maybe you would like to meet me so you can slap my face. WHAT EVAH!! We’ll be glad to meet you no matter the reason and we can do pictures to show on the blog. It will be awesome!! Leave a comment here. If you follow the blog via email then I will be able to reply easily.

19th jan Slovakia (Meeting and hanging with Jin’s brother and family)
21th jan Prague
25th jan Vienna (Birgit and family! Dinner and shopping)
30th jan Budapest
4th feb  Venice
7th feb Paris (Neela Vermeire!)
12th feb Korea (Meeting Jin’s parents)
19th feb Australia

Daily Fragrance Reviews will continue as normal, barring serious incidents. I have pre-done a few and some will be done on the road. Most of our Guest Posts are in but a couple missed the boat, and if you think I’m editing on my HOLIDAY you can go get nicked. Saturday and Sunday may suffer from can’t-be-bothered-itis. I am hoping to do some happy snaps and bought this week stuff but it may not happen. Honesty reads like laziness and you can be pretty sure there’ll be some of that around. If I am a bit less diligent in my comment answering I know you’ll understand too.

Freighter koreanairprPhoto Stolen koreanairpr

COMPETITION

Please try and guess which of these frags I’ll be wearing on the plane from Sydney to our stopover in Korea? The first and second to get it right will get a 5ml decant of one of the fragrances I buy in Paris or Venice.

Bulgari BLV Pour Homme
CHANEL No 5
Aftelier Parfum de Maroc
Narciso Rodriguez for Her
Guerlain Lys Soleia
Annick Goutal Mandragore
Bal a Versailles
Versace Dreamer
Diorissimo Vintage Parfum
Estee Lauder Brasil Dream
Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouges
Paris Hilton Siren
Versace Blonde
CHANEL no 19 Parfum
Royal Bain de Caron
DKNY Gold
Patou 1000
SOIVOHLE Rosa sur Reuse
Nikki de Saint Phalle
CdG Incense
Estee Lauder Azuree
Guerlain Shalimar Vintage EdT
Hermes Un Jardin Apres La Mousson
Gucci Guilty
A Wing & A Prayer Berkeley
Annick Goutal Songes
Guerlain Jasminora
One Seed Courage
Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights

I’ll still be in touch. Cherio!!
Portia xx
Peter, Paul & Mary LIVE