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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
We are SWELTERING here in Sydney. Parramatta has been hitting 40C+ regularly this week. Walking the dogs has become a fiery furnace. LOADS of fragrance though, I’m easily able to grab them cause I’m not leaving the house if possible. Still managed a few catch ups too.
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Post by Val the Cookie Queen
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Good Day APJ.
What is a REAL blogger anyway?
Over the years I have thoroughly enjoyed bloggers’ roundups of best perfumes including what have they have been wearing. Not considering myself a proper blogger it did not occur me that I could do my own list. However, it will be four years with APJ for me next year so bloody hell, I will award myself the status of “blogger”
I do not wear samples. I try samples out on my left wrist, and if I get over excited perhaps on both wrists. I only wear perfumes that I have full bottles of. (All perfumistas have idiosyncratic behaviours – don´t you?)
VERO PROFUMO. All of them of course! Most worn this year would be the Kikis, I nearly finished a bottle of the juicy, delicious, erotic, sadly under-rated Kiki EdP. The Kiki Extrait is laced with ambergris and is so divine I worked my way through at least 15 mls of it. The Kiki Voile a Prozac of a perfume. 🙂
HERMÈS. I received a bottle of Hermès Doblis as a gift at the beginning of the year, a belated birthday present. Probably the most exquisite perfume I have ever been given. Also in heavy rotation was the Muguet Porcelaine. This stunning lily-of-the-valley is wonderful in cool weather. Cuir d’Ange, a favourite for the last couple of years, was worn as much ever. And more recently Osmanthe Yunnan also fab in cold weather, although if you believe all you read you would be forgiven for assuming it is a summer scent.
CHANEL. Bois des Iles Parfum and EdT. Cuir de Russie Parfum and EdT. Misia EdT. Coromandel EdT. And the heliotrope heavy Boy EdP.
GUERLAIN. Shalimar Extrait Vintage, Shalimar Extrait current. Shalimar Eau de Cologne.
AROMA M. Geisha Noire EdP and Oil. Vanilla Hinoki EdP and Oil.
LANCÔME. Cuir de Lancôme.
I don´t want to get carried away with my newfound status as a real blogger so I will only select one. Without a second thought it goes to Hermès Galop d’Hermès Parfum. A poised and elegant perfume. The rose, the quince, the saffron and leather. It´s a work of art.
There are a number of new fragrances that I did try and enjoy, but they did not make the full bottle grade. I love the scene, the people, the perfume shows, and the vibe of the fragrant world. But the many hundred of new launches have me running for cover. I do own other perfumes, including a number of Lutens but this was not their year.
What perfumes do you REALLY wear huh? I am über-interested.
Real Blogger Bussis
CQ
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Post by Val the Cookie Queen
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Konnichiwa APJ!
After my last post featuring the Geisha Vanilla Hinoki EdP, it would be remiss not to mention the seductive oils from Aroma M. I now own both the Geisha Vanilla Hinoki Oil and the Geisha Noire Oil. Intimate, hypnotic and sensual, they warrant a post of their own. No misunderstanding here, Aroma M´s perfumed oils are not soft nor weak. Quite the opposite. They are breathtakingly intense and personal.
Maria McElroy spent seven years in Japan, and her recognition and gratitude for the culture inspired her line of the Geisha Oils. They are poured by hand into roll-on bottles and each bottle is wrapped in patterned Yuzen papers, handcrafted in Kyoto.
Black amber, sandalwood, tonka bean
This is a concentrated, heavy, dark smoky oil. And yet it is intimate, making it perfect for yoga or meditation. Far be it from me to tell anyone how much perfume to apply but be careful, this is poky stuff. Tenacious as heck, it lasts twenty four hours on me. See the notes? Divine but not angelic!
Bergamot, hinoki, lavender, leather, patchouli, amyris, cedarwood
A condensed, brighter, deeper version of the Vanilla Hinoki EdP. (Which I loved so much I just HAD to order the oil.) The bergamot weightier, the lavender sharper, the spices warmer, the hinoki clearer, Vanilla Hinoki is serene and restful. The rich sugarless smoky Moroccan vanilla surrounded by wisps of patchouli. Harmonious and soothing on its own, but a joyous explosion layered with the EdP.
Aroma M Perfumes offer a wonderful service and samples of everything and ships worldwide.
I don´t always want my fragrance to bounce off of others, hence my love for extraits, dabbing, and as of late oils.
I need to investigate oils further. Is perfume in the form of an oil something you like?
Tranquil Bussis
CQ
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Post by Robert Herrmann
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“I can just hear my General now. “Why Hatsumomo. You used to smell of jasmine… What’s this new perfume…?” – Memoirs Of A Geisha 1999
When Aroma M, already a well established perfume line, introduced Camellia Face Oil and Hair Oil, a true icon of modern niche perfumery was born. Quickly becoming the favorite of chi chi clients worldwide and after many requests, perfumer Maria McElroy released the Extrait (Perfume) in 2014 and I for one could not be happier!
Having already fallen head-over-heels for her new limited edition “Voluptuous Nostalgia” (totally full-bottle worthy. Or two.), when I spotted the Camellia Perfume in LA’s Scent Bar/ Luckyscent a few weeks ago, all it took was one dab and BOOM!
Take my money…PLEASE!!
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Jasmine, gardenia, neroli, geranium, rose, frankincense, camellia
A white floral contemporary masterpiece with a whopping 30% fragrance to oil ratio, Camellia Perfume opens on my skin with a huge blast of creamy jasmine, gardenia, and neroli, indolic but not overwhelming and absolutely gorgeous! But Camellia is the diva here, and makes a sweeping entrance within 10 minutes, fresh yet a bit dusty, with a scent like no other.
When I was a kid growing up north of San Francisco, my mother planted Camellia bushes wherever she could find a patch of dirt. Now to be honest, I don’t have a scent memory of those gorgeous blooms, all I remember is getting a nose-full of tiny ants which love the flowers, when I went to sniff them on the bush. Pink, white, variegated, we had them all and there was always a shallow dish of water somewhere in the house full of the placid floating flowers.
If I had known they would smell like this, I would’ve paid better attention!
Photo Donated Robert Herrmann
There’s geranium in there as well, never overshadowing the Camellia, with all the notes resting and supported by a soft base of frankincense. Like I said, gorgeous! Slightly reminiscent of the very BEST of the Chanel and Guerlain florals that seem to have somehow merged to produce a love-child…a softer yet potent and beautifully blended white floral.
THE white floral.
Yup. It’s THAT good. But that shouldn’t be a surprise to you given Maria’s other creations in the Geisha line. Trust me, you want this one. I’ll just say in advance, you’re welcome.
And it lasts and lasts, which is some-kind-of-wonderful for an all natural perfume.
Further reading: EauMG and Eyeliner On A Cat
LuckyScent have $150/7ml extrait + Samples
Oh….and I should mention that it passed the ultimate spouse litmus test… “Wow, what is that? You smell amazing!”
Amazing indeed.
Do you have a favorite Aroma M scent? If so which one?
Australian Perfume Junkies 