Mascara: I look like an idiot so you don’t have to: Mascara

October 25, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 19 Comments

Post by AF Beauty

We’ve had a couple of mentions in previous comments about mascaras. I have never really subscribed to the idea of expensive mascaras because I have never really seen the benefit of spending $40 on black goo that I could otherwise buy for $20 at the local chemist. However, I have had a small epiphany.

Mascara, MASCARA, Mascara

I look like an idiot so you don’t have to

In previous comments the famous Maybelline Great Lash Mascara was mentioned, so I dutifully toddled off and purchased this one:

I chose the washable version thinking that having to scrape off a waterproof version might kill my eyes. In retrospect that may have been a better outcome!

My present gym routine involves a boxing class three times a week. I LOVE boxing – SO much fun! Generally I start with a full-ish face of makeup but by the time I’ve punched and kicked till scarlet, my makeup has done it’s best to disappear. One particular day, my boxing trainer was giving me side eyes and then looks bold and says, “you have black all down your eyes!” I totally styled it out and retorted, “It’s because I’m so tough!” And I am tough, but truth is; my mascara had let me down in a big way. Bummer.

So I started looking online for more info about a type of mascara called tubing mascara. I had read about it a few years ago, I knew Clinique did one and wanted to find some more options. The idea of tubing mascara is that the mascara goo forms a tube around each of your lashes and therefore will not smudge down your face. It can also be washed off easily without waterproof makeup remover. Sounds too good to be true, right?!

Luckily my research coincided with a spare 15 minutes I had at Sydney Domestic Airport where they have a new beauty store called Amuse that sells a variety of beauty brands. My research had led me to a MAC mascara called Opulash, so off I went to purchase.

I told the MAC SA (who was super nice and helpful) about wanting a tubing mascara and not wanting smudginess. She told me all MAC mascaras were non-smudging, I admit I inwardly scoffed. She also told me of a different mascara which she said was tubing called Extended Play Gigblack Lash. She was that nice that I took her at her word and bought the Extended Play even though I’d read about the other one. I admit, I was feeling hopeful, but my expectations were almost nil. However, I have been using this mascara now for a couple of weeks and have deliberately been applying pre-workouts to see whether it will smudge – and NADA. Not even a hint of it. This is an angels singing moment!

Because I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week, this has been a real gamechanger. I don’t feel like I need to give my makeup more than a second thought and I have confidence now that I’m not going to look dishevelled in my makeup, even if the rest of me looks like a mess!

Have you heard of tubing mascara? What’s your favourite?
AF Beauty xx

Vetiver Dance 07 by Andy Tauer for Tauer Perfumes 2008

October 24, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 9 Comments

Post by Portia

One of my mates Natalie from Another Perfume Blog (now defunct sadly) gave me a manufacturers sample of this one. I like vetiver very much and especially its many uses to hold land together and leech toxins from water. To be hgonest I’m a little surprised that it’s not being used more to help clean up the world’s waterways. Add to that the many amazing facets that perfumers can find through it, from green grass through to smoky oil and you have a versatile beauty.

Vetiver Dance 07 by Tauer Perfumes 2008

Vetiver Dance 07 by Andy Tauer

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Grapefruit oil, black pepper accords, green clary sage
Heart: Bulgarian rose, lily of the valley, Java vetiver oil
Base: Cedar, ambergris, tonka beans, citrus

Oily, bittersweet and green. Vetiver Dance opens in high style, large and flamboyant, a sheet of iced green water in the midday sun. A joyful blend between the shock and fun, caught between breathless disbelief and awaiting the bodies readjustment. The pepper is dry and also ginger-ish and the much hoped for lily of the valley punch way smoother and less provoking than expected.

When the vetiver gets a chance to shine it has the soft wetness of freshly mown grass and the dry rasp of punka fans. I’m surprised that chocolate isn’t a named note because my nose reads the fabulous creamy explosion of a warm, nutty Lindor ball. I wonder if it’s the tonka?

Then later Vetiver Dance warms right through while still maintaining its green-ness. I don’t know how it’s managed but warm and spicy bakery underpins the green woodsiness of the heart, like an unusual Asian taste meld that is surprising yet once you realise that this IS the taste you can relax into it and enjoy the two speed flavour ride. Do you remember your first sweet & sour dish?

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Vetiver Dance is beautiful. The thing is I find it very hard to place in my head someone who would wear it as their regular scent. Ultimately very unisex, not confrontational but slightly unorthodox, interesting through the whole lifespan and not like other vetivers. My thought is that it’s too quirky for mainstream but would a perfumista reach for it? I’d like to read from you if it is something in your collection and you wear it a lot. There is something more-ish about it, I’ve been wearing it for the last couple of days and will wear it again tonight for dinner, that will be the end of my juice. Then let’s see if I want to buy a 15ml in my next Tauer Explorer Set.

Been out for dinner with no respritz, so over 12 hours later and I’m still softly fragrant with a sweet/green rasp. Vetiver Dance sits close but is still gorgeous. I have no other vetiver scent in y waerdrobe with this kind of tenacity…….

Further reading: Non Blonde and Sorcery of Scent
IndieScents has $130/50ml
Tauer Explorer Set 3 x 15ml with FREE world shipping
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

What is your Tauer, or your vetiver?
Portia xx

Estratto di Colonia by Pineider 2012

October 23, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Hey Hey APJ,

Jin & I discovered Pineider fragrances while in Italy in 2013. I instantly fell in love with Cuir Nobile and grabbed a bottle on the spot. Then while in LA for the Perfume Posse ScentSation Bus Tour while we were at Beauty Habit I WON a bottle of today’s offering, Estratto di Colonia. Yes, there is an enormous backlog of fragrances that I have not yet reviewed here…

Estratto di Colonia by Pineider 2012

Estratto di Colonia by Atelier Design & Fragrances

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, green mandarin, lemon, sage
Heart: Jasmine, white rose
Base: Sandalwood, vanilla, musk, amber

It must be mentioned that the wooden box and locking system are beautifully presented and thought out. The tall and skinny bottle with the leather wrapped lid is cool and classy but FREAKING ANNOYING! A gust of wind and the damn thing falls. I leave mine in its protective wooden box. This is good because it keeps the juice safe but bad because the box gets shuffled to the back of the wardrobe and ignored in favour of more easily accessible frags. Yes, I know, totally first world problem. Just telling you.

There are a few frags on my dresser at the moment. One of them is Estratto di Colonia because I freaking love the fresh, fun citrus opening that is so energising, it’s like spritzing a 40 minute nana nap. The jasmine, musk and amber basically take over from there and while Estratto di Colonia feels simple, and is quite a simple cologne reinterpretation, still it wears so perfectly balanced and smooth for me that it seems elevated. It isn’t till we hit the base that I finally get a little whiff of a lightly citrus rose, sweet and fruity, that gives the amber and vanilla a boozy taint. I’m no expert but if you told me they’d used some Australian sandalwood oil in the mix I would totally believe you, it has a eucalyptic earthy twang right down the base.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

This spring sees it getting quite a bit of wear though so I will be through my 30ml well before summer. That’s another great thing, I love the 30ml bottles. Which of us perfumistas really need 100ml of anything else?

Beauty Habit has the range $115/30ml

I think Pineider may have distribution troubles. Only Beauty Habit seem to have it on the net so far, though it is available in Italy. I grabbed Cuir Nobile in Venice in 2013 and haven’t see the brand again except in Beauty Habit. It is worth finding though, the fragrances are amazing.

Portia xx

Photo Stolen sassisamblog

Estratto di Colonia GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x sample of Estratto di Colonia from my stash
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 your cologne is

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Estratto di Colonia by Pineider GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-351 #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 25th October 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 29th October 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.

Rose Anonyme GIVEAWAY WINNERS

October 23, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom

Post by Portia

Rose Anonyme GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Calabrian bergamot, Chinese ginger root, Turkish rose essence
Heart: Turkish rose absolute, Somalian frankincense, Oud accord
Base: Indonesian patchouli, Indian papyrus, Laotian benzoin

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x 5ml decant of Rose Anonyme from my stash
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 18th October 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen markmontanoblogs

Anabel C.

Boris

Gina Tabasso

The winner will have till Tuesday 27th October 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.

Skeleton Lake India: 3.30m Natural History Film

October 23, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Post by Portia

Another of these fun and informative mini films from the Atlas Obscuracrew. Today we learn of a lake in the Himilayas with and extraordinary amount of skeletons there. Is it a burial ground, war grave, diseased lake? We find some wonderful theories and perhaps even the truth in this short film brought to us by the most excited person ever, he’s so cute in his enthusiasm.

I hope you enjoy,
Portia xxx

Skeleton Lake | 100 Wonders | Atlas Obscura

Rozy Eau de Parfum by Vero Kern for Vero Profumo 2014

October 22, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 17 Comments

Post by Erica Golding

Hello to all my kindred scented souls!

Let’s talk about intensity. When you find a scent you love, do you instinctively assume that the more concentrated version is the most beautiful and preferable? Honestly, I’m not ashamed to admit that I have that exact reaction when given the option – I have a very passionate, excessive personality. And let’s be real, parfum bottles are sexy little crystalline gemstones! However, I have learned that more concentrated versions are not unanimously my preference when given skin time.

My most recent lesson was thanks to my darling friend Tena, who generously graced my life with the soul-shattering masterpiece:

Rozy Eau de Parfum by Vero Profumo 2014

Rozy Eau de Parfum by Vero Kern

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Oriental rose, tuberose, currant buds and leaves, honey, spices, sandalwood, labdanum, peach, passion fruit, lilac flowers

I have been cautiously testing Vero’s creations over the past year or so. Her art is vivid and limitless, and make me feel like I’m on another planet (a kickass landscape of wild colors and glamorous confidence). I remember trying the Voile de Extrait composition of Rozy, and though I enjoyed it thoroughly, I didn’t bond with it emotionally. However, when I first inhaled the Rozy Eau de Parfum concentration, it was like glitter firebombs of glory through my entire body!

Photo Stolen Pixabay

I spritz on Rozy EdP and my brain just sparkles. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s like I can see the electric sparks firing between neurons. The note list explains absolutely nothing about the aroma as it reaches into me. The notes dryly suggest that I should expect a fruity floral, honeyed and powdery. Ha! That’s hilarious, because all I smell is glitter for my mind. It’s completely new to me, but with comfortingly familiar threads as well. The balance is unprecedented. I can’t pick out notes without feeling like it’s a rude gesture.

I really liked Rozy VdE, but the Eau de Parfum version has completely blasted pure shimmering light into every dark corner of my being. I can’t believe that a less concentrated version has won my heart with such uncontested dominance!

Photo Stolen Vero Profumo

Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies and Candy Perfume Boy
First In Fragrance has €165/50ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $6/.5ml

What is your take on fragrances that offer different concentrations (usually featuring composition tweaks with different accent notes and balances)? Do you assume that the more concentrated, expensive version in the fanciest bottle is the best? Has your skin ever proven you wrong?

Please discuss below as I swirl in my little galaxy of Rozy Eau de Parfum. Smooches!

-Erica

Christmas Perfume Masterclasses: Ainslie Walker + Nick Smart

October 21, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey gang,

OMG! Christmas is almost here!! For many small businesses they are so busy that they don’t have a moment to ask themselves what they will do with and for the staff this year as a Thank you. The eternal question “What are we going to do for our Christmas Party?” has just found an extraordinary answer. Why not treat your team to a Perfume Masterclass?

Christmas Perfume Masterclasses

Ainslie Walker + Nick Smart

Here’s how we think it. It usually costs about $150-300/head to do something fun and fabulous for your Christmas Party. Why not take your people to a Perfume Masterclass and give them each a $100 Gift Voucher towards a fragrance at their Libertine Perfume Masterclass. There will be a glass of bubbles, some nibbles and they’ll really learn something fun and helpful over the 2 hours. They’ll learn about their perfume preferences.

Great for the girls and the guys, who doesn’t want to look a little more savvy when shopping for their next fragrance. Ainslie and Nick will help with your fragrant vocabulary too so you will have an easier time explaining to sales assistants exactly what you want in a scent for yourself or loved ones.

Maximum of 15 people per class

By Kilian Launch in Harrold’s Sydney

October 20, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

By Kilian has finally graced Australian shores, exclusive to Harrold’s Sydney and Melbourne. By Kilian was originally launched in 2007 by Kilian Hennessey.

Kilian hails from a long heritage of cognac makers and gained his interest in perfumery through a curiosity of “the angels share;” the mysterious percentage of alcohol, which disappears during cognac’s aging process. He studied with perfumers Jacques Cavallier, Thierry Wasser, Alberto Morillas, Calice Becker and worked with perfume houses including Dior, McQueen and Armani.

Luxury and beauty is the core of the brand but there is an edgier side too exploring daring themes such as forbidden pleasures and addictive states of mind. With Kilian citing “perfume should be a messenger who opens a thousand doors in the memory” we can sense his passion. He believes a great perfume is firstly a great story, which evolves into a fragrance, comparable to film making, in that a director cannot make a film before first writing the script. Packaging states “Perfume is an Art” but Kilian says it should also have a conscience, therefore all bottle a are refillable and can be kept and reused for a lifetime ecoluxe philosophy:

By Kilian Launch in Harrold’s Sydney

I shimmied into Harrold’s, Sydney to have a long awaited sniff. The shelves looked gorgeous in black and white while packaging glistened opulently, obviously inspired by art deco.

First smelling Straight to Heaven and Liaisons Dangereuses, both florals from the L’œuvre Noire collection. These contain the highest quality and most expensive raw materials in perfumery today. The goal was to create a collection with no limits to imagination or price. The scents are inspired by art and literature working around themes of love, its prohibitions and temptations.

Asian Tales collection is a spiritual olfactive journey inspired by traditional Asian folklore. The red adorning the bottles and boxes salutes Chinese culture and considered a lucky color. The silver coin amulet with eight letter k’s engraved on it, dangling from a red tassel is intended to bring success to the fragrance wearer. I smelt Bamboo Harmony, the only citrus fragrance from the brand.

In the Garden of Good and Evil explores carnal sin and is supposed to manifest sexually charged desires. A jeweled clutch featuring a snake protects the bottles and doubles as an evening bag, even fitting an iPhone! I smelt woody In the City of Sin, floral Good Girl Gone Bad and floral oriental Forbidden Games.

The most recent released collection, Addictive State of Mind nods to the highs of olfactive dependence and give a sense of escapism. Containing ingredients such as coffee, tobacco and sugar Intoxicated, Light My Fire and Smoke for the Soul are all classed as wood fragrances and are all so tempting!! The packaging is a heavy and solid keepsake and reminiscent of a vintage cigar box.

Have you been down to experience the collections? Have you tried them before? Tell me some stories of your encounters with By Kilian brand!!

Rose Anonyme by Jérôme Epinette for Atelier Cologne 2012

October 19, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there Frag Family,

I bought a big decant of this beautiful baby when it was released in a split. For some reason then I ordered another, maybe I forgot I’d ordered the first. Anyway, most of the second one is sitting here and I think you should all get a chance to smell it.

Rose Anonyme by Atelier Cologne 2012

Rose Anonyme by Jérôme Epinette

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Ginger, oud, patchouli and rose are the stars of Rose Anonyme’s opening. I’m surprised how dry and desiccated the fragrance feels. Interesting how sheer yet curiously dense the combination feels, like a particularly opaque silk chiffon. I know it’s not mentioned in the notes but I get a lovely carroty iris note through the heart and it feels very leathery.

Photo Stolen WikiCommons

Rose Anonyme is tenacious, it lingers at pretty much rose, leather and base notes for the rest of the ride. The rose is curiously overwhelmed on my skin. Like it’s a back up singer creating a lovely baseline to add the stars above, ironically the stars are in the base. A lovely model in the rose/oud/leather line up. I like JHaG’s Midnight Oud and DIOR’s Oud Ispahan better for me, they seem to be more engaging and create much more excitement within me. Not knocking Rose Anonyme, it is beautiful in its way and if I hadn’t already lost my heart to the others it may have been FBW.

Photo Stolen DeviantArt

Further reading: Chemist In A Bottle and Non Blonde
Neroli Budapest has 45000ft (AUD$225)/200ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3/ml

Want to try Rose Anonyme? Read on….
Portia xx

Photo Stolen sassisamblog

Rose Anonyme GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 2 winners who will receive:
1 x 5ml decant of Rose Anonyme from my stash
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us what you would like to buy a 10ml split of

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Rose Anonyme by Aftelier Cologne GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4jo #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 4th October 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 8th October 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.

Amouage Love GIVEAWAY WINNER

October 19, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Portia

Thanks to Amouage and Nick from Libertine Parfumerie for this amazing giveaway. Can’t wait to see who’s won,

Portia xx

Amouage Love GIVEAWAY WINNER

Photo Stolen Amouage

Amouage has room sprays £55

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Amouage Love Room Spray Tester (No box, 90% full)
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 18th October 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen sistersavealot

puhfume

The winner will have till Thursday 22nd October 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.