Vetiver Des Sables by Montale 2004

July 16, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there Fumies,

Mondale gets some love from perfumistas but they also get a whole bunch of snark. Mainly due to their seemingly endless range, the oh-so-Montale-synth-oudh and their bro-woods. I get it, an enormous range with only the merest difference between them and so many having the half life of uranium, they are an easy target. What sometimes gets lost in the sneer is that they also do some really yum frags. I own a few bottles Dew Musk, Sandflowers and Sweet Oriental Dream. There are a couple on my list too Red Vetyver and Intense Pepper. Today I found this sample in my box and thought it might be fun to give it a whirl, you’ll be getting a first impression ride with me

Vetiver Des Sables by Montale 2004

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Vetiver, mahogany, sea notes, Indian spices

Salty woods. An aquatic woodsy summertime dream. Vetiver Des Sables is a spicy and salted version of the 1990s aquatic. A grown up version that leans heavily on the buff middle management lunchtime gym locker room. The opening is so refreshing and seaside reminiscent, even having that weird greasy petrol and electrical sparks vibe from the outboard motors. I can see why this has been soundly panned because it is such a synthetic feeling blend but it isn’t bad to me.

Respritzing over the top I find the vetiver (grassy, dry reeds, everlasting daisy, salty woodsiness) is much more pronounced. It has some smoky qualities and the spices make a better showing (maybe cinnamon, ground black pepper, cardamom and/or paprika) giving Vetiver Des Sables more nuance and a warmth not experienced on the first spritz, it’s cool and fiery which is a wonderful combination. I also detect some orange zest and dark rum through the heart, but I could be fantasising.

Donated by my BFF Kath

I’d like to smell how this is on a woman. I think it could be very Catherine Hepburn on the right person. It’s certainly interesting and better than I expected after reading some fairly unimpressed reviews. If you already hate Montale fragrances Vetiver Des Sables will probably not change your mind but if you are on the fence or like their work then you’ll find this one of their more easy wear fragrances, it’s aimed at the men and I can easily place it on almost any guy who likes to smell like the modern image of manliness.

Once the open and heart have calmed down Vetiver Des Sables becomes a fairly linear cool vetiver/woods scent, imagine how just picked up from the beach at night driftwood would smell if you could amp it up 10,000x. That’s basically it. Or, better yet, here’s a pic of my mate Michael, he looks EXACTLY how Vetiver Des Sables smells in dry down. Enjoy!

My mate Michael looking like some hot driftwood

Further reading: Scent For Thought and Scent Critic
First In Fragrance has €94/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

Do you do Montale? Which ones have caught your fancy?
Portia xx

Poet’s Jasmine by Ineke Rutland for INeKE 2011

July 15, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Post by Portia

Hello Frag Family,

Do you know how some houses feel like a really good fit for you right from the start. Even the name and the nose feel spookily familiar the first time you read or hear about them. Maybe you see their bottles or someone sends you a sample and you swoon? From the very first review I read about Ineke I really thought it was going to be a good fit for me and when I finally got some samples they were. Not the all encompassing, eye rollingly gorgeous, over the top WOW of this first Amouage or by Kilian that I tried but a deeply comfortable, easy to wear, fits all occasions feeling that has continued with each one I try.

Somehow though today’s fragrance completely passed me by and I don’t know how I missed it…

Poet’s Jasmine by INeKE 2011

Poet’s Jasmine by Ineke Rutland

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Citrus fruit, star anise, rosemary, absinthe, wormwood
Heart: Frankincense, jasmine, cardamom
Base: Henoki wood, guaiac wood

This was part of a set put together by INeKE for Anthropologie, which I think is a chain of stores in the USA?. Hang on, google-ing it now. OK, Anthropologie are a fashion and beauty store who are mid-priced with some expensive and cheap lines. I was impressed with some of their fragrance offerings for the price point, clever.

Clean, green and woody opening, sharp and lightly sweet. Interesting and it has a kind of lacquer vibe, as if the wood is being varnished. Maybe that is Inez’s way of playing the alcohol in absinth. I like it, the sharpness is mildly repellant but also enticing. Remember the smell of texta pens at school, very slightly reminiscent of them.

The heart of Poet’s Jasmine is only lightly jasmine on me, much more about the woods, greenery and incense. Jasmine is here but it’s shrouded in mystery, not instantly discernible as itself.

Plot’s Jasmine is awkward on me. I can’t think who would be the target market for it. I really like the interesting juxtapositions and the frisson between the notes, the sharp green and cool incense that seem to push against the very clean, robo-jasmine effect. Not a loud fragrance but noticeable because it’s so unexpected.

Further reading: EauMG and Now Smell This
First In Fragrance has €39.90/15ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $5/ml

First In Fragrance €19.90 5 x 2.5ml INeKE Sampler

Did you ever get on board the INeKE scent train? Did you have a favourite? Does Poet’s Jasmin sound like it might be your thing?
Portia xx

Mure et Musc by Jean-Francois Laporte for L’Artisan Parfumeur 1978

July 14, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 20 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey Hey Fragrant Family,

Jean-Francois Laporte founded L’Artisan Parfumeur in 1976. It was among the first of the niche lines, maybe even the first, and it started producing in 1978 with some very interesting fragrances that many of you will either have tried or own: L’Eau d’Ambre and Mure et Musc are both still available and the 1979 introduction L’Eau d’Navigateur was only discontinued this year. Let’s have a look today at what is known as the first ever blackberry fragrance.

Mure et Musc by L’Artisan Parfumeur 1978

Mure et Musc by Jean-Francois Laporte

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Amalfi lemon, orange, mandarin orange, basil
Heart: Blackberry, red berries
Base: Musk, oakmoss

1978 was a very good year, it’s the year that my partner Jin came into the world. No matter what happens with us over time I will always have a soft spot for 1978 because of him.

So Mure & Musc, the first time a perfumer decided to add a sparkling fruity aspect to musk, what a weird choice to add screechy, urinous blackberry to something as softly animal as musk. Yet, it’s a perfect pairing and one that has become more and more common over time, basically fruity musks are all you can buy in the laundry department nowadays.

Here we get a shimmering sparkle of fresh citrus with a soft creamy herbaceousness that leads to slightly squeaky and zingy berries. Already from the very first minute the musks play a fluffy soft and grounding powderiness that keeps Mure et Musk on the dry side. Considering how sheer and delicate the whole fragrance is the lasting power is excellent, especially if you happen to spritz your top as well as yourself. Dry down is furry and friendly, people write about woodsiness, I get very little of that. It’s all cuddly musks and oakmoss to dry down with the merest sweetening from the fruit.

I wish I’d thought to bring Mure et Musc on our trip to Tasmania last weekend, it would have been the perfect scent for the cool temps outside when we stayed in the low Head Lighthouse Keepers Cottage right on the bluff overlooking the meeting of Bass Straight and the Tamar River. We loved it with my childhood mate Evie and her daughter Lola. You can see I’m wearing the Green Beanie made for me by Vanessa at Bonkers About Perfume, best investment I ever made. Kept my head warm and so soft, it also is made exactly for my head so no slippage or creeping. Thanks Vanessa. She’ll make you one too, very reasonable price, pop on over to her blog & ask.

My Mure et Musc is from vintage 15ml(?) manufacturers sample spritzers with the original curvy inverted cone lids, I’m not sure how the modern one fares.

Further reading: Bois et Jasmin and Olfactoria’s Travels
Libertine Parfumerie has $186/100ml with FREE Australian Postage
Surrender To Chance has samples of the EdC starting at $6/ml

Mure et Musc GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 15ml manufacturers samples of Mure et Musc
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 so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Tell us a L’Artisan fragrance that you love, or why you’d like to try Mure et Musc

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Saturday 16th July 2016 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Wednesday 20th July 2016 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.

Le Musc Et La Peau GIVEAWAY WINNERS

July 11, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya APJ,

We love getting the very newest out for you all to try. Winners below.
Portia xx

Le Musc Et La Peau GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Bergamot, ambroxan, musk, aldehydes, rosemary, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, cedar, tonka bean

LuckyScent has $125/50ml + Samples

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x 2ml decant Le Musc Et La Peau (from my Press Sample)
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Saturday 16th July 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org

Angela Pritchard

Azar

The winners will have till Wednesday 20th July 2016 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.

What Frags Have You Excited 2016?

July 9, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 23 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey Hey Perfumeland,

It’s July! We have smelled half a year already. What is new that’s grabbed you by the nostrils and won’t let go? There have been a slew of new releases and frankly I’m a little bit overwhelmed so I would love to hear your enthusiastic two thumbs up frags for 2016 so far? Even a mildly interested one thumb not down will do. What should I definitely try and get my sniff on in the near future?

What Frags Have You Excited 2016?

As is so often the case I have a couple that you might like….

Fragrantica

Ambre Eternal by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2016: I can’t believe that Ambre Eternal didn’t come home from Europe with me this year. We tried it in 3 different stores. Loved it every time and now I wish its warm, sweet, woodsy, driftwood, creamy amber floralcy was here in my home to spritz with abandon. GRRRR!

Fragrantica

Equinox Bloom by Olivier Cresp for Penhaligon’s 2016: For lovers of interesting floral scent then here is a floral, green gourmand. I really enjoyed my wearings of Equinox Bloom and was really sad to see my decant empty. I haven’t bought a bottle because I just couldn’t see myself reaching for it over my favourite greens: Niki de Saint Phalle, Futur and CHANEL No 19.

Fragrantica

Indian Wood by Pierre Guillaume for Perfumerie Generale 2016: Bright green opening that leads through a creamy, spicy, milky, herbal heart to a sweet woods dry down. So wearable, yet Indian Wood has not been universally adored by the critics. To be honest I can’t think why. Yes, I have a bottle. YUMMY!

Fragrantica

Opus X by Pierre Negrin and Annick Menardo for Amouage 2016: Metallic rose dripping in blood, Opus X is really unusual. The opening and heart are all about this freaky mechanical rose, it’s beautiful and disturbing. As we make our way through the heart it changes, never losing sight of the rose yet the whole fragrance warms and becomes absolutely glorious. Lasts for days. Amazing. I got my bottle from Libertine Parfumerie

Fragrantica

Promenade des Anglaise by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2016: Bought at the brand new Rue de Saint Honore Guerlain Store the week it opened! Starts out sweetly fruity and ends up a fluffy cool powder bomb. Fun, flirty, effervescent and so easy to wear. Totally spritz & go sweetness.

Best way to try most of these is to trot over to Surrender To Chance and grab some samples.

So, what have you been buying in 2016? Or even trying? Where should I put my sniffer next?
Portia xx

Libertine Parfumerie SYDNEY Warehouse Pop-Up Sale

July 9, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Portia

Woo Hoo APJ Crew,

If you are in Sydney next week then one thing you MUST do is get your sexy ass down to the Libertine Parfumerie SALE! The bargains are real and you will save a bundle. It’s a great time to get your Xmas shopping started, and of course to splurge on yourself.

Every day has different stock on sale so you might want to pop in multiple times.

See you there,

Portia xxx

Libertine Parfumerie SYDNEY Warehouse Pop-Up Sale

Our Libertine Parfumerie SYDNEY Warehouse Pop-Up Sale starts Thursday July 14th at 4pm.
For 3 days only, save up to 75% on selected fragrances, testers, candles, and body products.

–––––––
Thursday 14th July 4pm – 7pm
Friday 15th July 8.30am – 5pm
Saturday 16th July 9am – 1pm
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Pop is located at 1-3 Taylor Street, Darlinghurst
For enquiries phone 02 80024488 or nick@agencedeparfum.com.au

WWW.LIBERTINEPARFUMERIE.COM.AU

CHANEL: The Self-Portrait of a Perfume

July 8, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 6 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there APJ,

This video came out in May but it’s been so hectic here I haven’t gotten around to sharing it. One thing I have noticed over the last decade or so is CHANEL’s constant reinvention of ways to market themselves, and the way many other companies jump on board the idea. It’s not new to make videos upselling your product, what else are cinema and TV ads, but CHANEL seems to be in a class of its own.

Please take a moment out of your hectic day to be swept away by the modern dream of a vintage fragrance.
Do you love CHANEL No 5? How about the video?
Portia xx

CHANEL No 5 parfum

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Neroli, ylang-ylang, bergamot, amalfi lemon, aldehydes
Heart: Iris, jasmine, orris root, rose, lily-of-the-valley
Base: Vetiver, musk, sandalwood, patchouli, oak moss, amber, vanille, civet

CHANEL: The Self-Portrait of a Perfume

Note Fragrances GIVEAWAY WINNERS

July 8, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom

Post by Portia

Woo Hoo!

Thanks to Azar and Note fragrances. what a wonderful giveaway.

Let’s see who won,
Portia xx

Note Fragrances GIVEAWAY WINNERS

From what I understand, Blood Orange Chocolat will not be released until September but you can contact Note Fragrances for more information.

Scent Trunk has $74/60ml

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x 1.5ml decant of Blood Orange Chocolat by Note Fragrances
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 7th July 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org

Roslyn

Fazal

The winners will have till Sunday 10th July 2016 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.

Le Musc Et La Peau by Pierre Guillaume for Parfumerie Generale 2016

July 7, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there Lovers of NEW!

Pierre Guillaume is talented, most people who know frags agree. He makes some beautiful, interesting, sometimes challenging but almost always engaging fragrances. When he sends me something new to try I get a physical thrill of excitement. Not so long ago he sent me a sample of his newest release Le Musc Et La Peau, The Milk of Musk.

Don’t you love that gorgeous face? What a handsome man, and so freaking talented!

Le Musc Et La Peau by Parfumerie Generale 2016

Le Musc Et La Peau by Pierre Guillaume

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Bergamot, ambroxan, musk, aldehydes, rosemary, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, cedar, tonka bean

A rework of PG04 Musc Maori, purely built with aromachemicals, and designed to create a better smelling you without smelling like you’re wearing a perfume. It’s an interesting concept, kind of toyed with already in the Molecule range and by JHaG’s Anyway. Pierre’s idea is to isolate the milky musk skin scent from Musc Maori and bring it to life so you can smell fresh, alive, healthy and delicious at all times. A formidable weapon in the arts of seduction I can imagine, you know that moment when you first rip someone’s clothes off and you drink in their bodies scent? This could be a game changer.

It took 3 wears though for me to able to smell it for more than 15 minutes. It’s like I had to train my nose to smell what’s there and even now I’m unsure if I am getting the whole story.

I bet you want to try it…..

Further reading: BL’eauOG and Ca Fleure Bon
LuckyScent has $125/50ml + Samples

Le Musc Et La Peau GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x 2ml decant Le Musc Et La Peau (from my Press Sample)
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Tell us a Pierre Guillaume fragrance that you love or are interested in trying.

HOUSEKEEPING

Cult Of Scent GIVEAWAY WINNERS

July 4, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Portia

Hey Hey APJ,

A huge thank you to Jocelyn Fullerton of Cult of Scent for her generosity. Great response from you guys and really excited to get to the winners.

Let’s do it,
Portia xx

Cult Of Scent GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Cult of Scent

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x 1ml decant Cult Of Scent: Sweet Libertine
1 x 1ml decant Cult Of Scent: Hedonist
1 x 1ml decant Cult Of Scent: Something Beautiful
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 3rd July 2016 10pm Australian EST
Winner were chosen by random.org

Ellen M

Jackie B

SaffyIsHere

The winners will have till Wednesday 6th July 2016 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.

Vetiver Des Sables by Montale 2004

Poet’s Jasmine by INeKE 2011

Poet’s Jasmine by Ineke Rutland

Mure et Musc by L’Artisan Parfumeur 1978

Mure et Musc by Jean-Francois Laporte

Mure et Musc GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOW DO YOU WIN?

HOUSEKEEPING

Le Musc Et La Peau GIVEAWAY WINNERS

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOUSEKEEPING

Angela Pritchard

Azar

What Frags Have You Excited 2016?

Libertine Parfumerie SYDNEY Warehouse Pop-Up Sale

––––––– Thursday 14th July 4pm – 7pm Friday 15th July 8.30am – 5pm Saturday 16th July 9am – 1pm –––––––

CHANEL No 5 parfum

CHANEL: The Self-Portrait of a Perfume

Note Fragrances GIVEAWAY WINNERS

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOUSEKEEPING

Roslyn

Fazal

Le Musc Et La Peau by Parfumerie Generale 2016

Le Musc Et La Peau by Pierre Guillaume

Le Musc Et La Peau GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOW DO YOU WIN?

HOUSEKEEPING

Cult Of Scent GIVEAWAY WINNERS

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOUSEKEEPING

Ellen M

Jackie B

SaffyIsHere

–––––––
Thursday 14th July 4pm – 7pm
Friday 15th July 8.30am – 5pm
Saturday 16th July 9am – 1pm
–––––––