Vert Boheme by Tom Ford 2016

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Post by Robert Herrmann

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Hello my dear Fragrant Community,

In times of great global upheaval, be it political financial or social, people often look inwards and we tend to surround ourselves with things and people that can offer comfort and succor. For many of us that manifests in the perfumes we choose to wear, a scent that reminds us of a safer time in our lives, gentler living instead of days full of stress and drama

For me it seems that I favor vintage and vintage-style perfumes. Perfumes that remind me of my dressed-up-cocktail-party-dab-of-Patou Mother or maybe the wet tweed/leather and spicy green fougere or aquatic cologne of my Father, and later my own all-night drug-fueled party and disco dancing nights at the gay bars of pre-AIDS San Francisco. A very heady time and place indeed when anything was possible and everything was available.

So recently reaching blindly into my decant box, I pulled out one of one new Tom Ford Private Selections called Vert Boheme, and honest to god it was exactly the blanket of comfort I needed and was searching for! Serendipity at its finest.

Vert Boheme by Tom Ford 2016

vert-boheme-tom-ford-fragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Galbanum, mandarin, magnolia, honeysuckle, muguet, violet leaf, gustavia superba (heaven lotus), oakmoss, vetiver, white musk

Vert Boheme is a very green and waxy smelling white floral, almost the love-child of Jean Patou Joy and Chanel 19 or Cristalle. It opens on my skin with a huge blast of bitter green galbanum, tempered quickly by sweet citrus and floral honeysuckle and lily of the valley. Staying quite linear it all settles down into an almost cologne-like watery floral and mossy scent reminiscent of a men’s scent from the late 60’s or early 70’s. The heaven lotus adds a level of early glamorous indolic beauty that is prominent thru the drydown.

Since the 70’s was my “coming-of-age” era, that’s very likely why it resonates with me so profoundly on so many levels. It feels as familiar to me as a well worn pair of bell bottom jeans and platform shoes, reminding me so much of “home” and a happy time in my life, that it almost brings me to tears with the memory of my parents and my own foolish youthful days.

vert-boheme-tom-ford-diahann_carroll_julia-wikicommonsWikiCommons

Nothing groundbreaking but beautiful none the less and a welcome addition to my fragrance wardrobe.

Further reading: GQ Magazine and Perfume Posse
LuckyScent has $225/50ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/0.5ml

Have you tried any of the new Tom Ford Vert series?

giveaway TheTruthAboutMummy

Tom Ford: Vert Boheme GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 4ml decant of Vert Boheme
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

Please tell us what you would wear with your Tom Ford: Vert Boheme.
(Don’t worry about realities like money, figure, age or anything. Let your imagination run wild)

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Thursday 22nd December 2016 10pm Australian EdsT and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Wednesday 28th December 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

 

Noir Epices by Michel Roudnitska for Frederic Malle 2000

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Post by Claire Vukcevic

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Hi APJ folk!

We’ve been enjoying an amazing autumn here in Ireland. Lucky enough to live in the most sheltered spot on this rain-sodden island, we spent most of October and November trawling the long, golden beaches and kicking over the leaves in castle parks. The sun never stopped shining, temperatures barely dipped below 15 degrees, and we were all in such a damn good mood. Then one day, driving back from a jaunt to Kilkenny, I made the fatal mistake of saying, “And imagine – the kids haven’t been sick even once!”

Jesus.

Naturally, there hasn’t been a dry tissue in the house since. There’s been the flu, chest infections, and a torn cornea that necessitated an emergency hospital visit and a hefty bill (no health insurance). More familiar with hospital waiting rooms than I’d care to be, I have developed a perfume strategy that helps a bit. I wear powerfully radiant, antiseptic fumes that march ahead of me, wiping whole rooms down with Dettol before I enter, and whisper “Do not fuck with me” to receptionists.

Noir Epices by Frederic Malle 2000

Noir Epices by Michel Roudnitska

noir-epices-frederic-malle-fragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Orange, rose, geranium
Heart: Nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, cloves
Base: Sandalwood, patchouli, cedar, vanilla

Yeah, so, I’m wearing a lot of Noir Epices. It is a difficult, somewhat prickly perfume – a sort of stripped-down, Vorsprung Durch Technik version of Coco. Re-engineered to remove all the sweetness and ballasting amber; it’s the perfume equivalent of whittling a comfy sofa into a Philippe Starck chair.

noir-epices-frederic-malle-ngv_design_philippe_starck_w-w-_stool-wikicommonsWikiCommons

In the opening notes, a hot pink rose stumbles onto the scene, flushed and boozy, washed down with the metallic sheen of geranium leaf. It is intensely beautiful to me at first because I get the impression of fullness – the bitter greenness of the geranium balanced by the rose, and the dry, peppery spices are backed up by rich woods. Singed orange peel and clove burn through spices, florals, and woods, purifying the unclean air around me and excoriating the flesh around open wounds. Noir Epices is the answer to the plague.

I feel fierce when I wear this, but eventually the very things that make me feel protected wear me down. Wearing Noir Epices is like putting a pure vitamin C serum on your face – the burning feels good because you know that it is active, but at the same time, the discomfort is real. Noir Epices has all the trappings of a rich spice oriental – the acidity of spilled orange juice, dry pomander woods, black pepper, an excitable rose – but completely lacks the underpinnings. There is no amber, vanilla, or creamy, hefty woods to round this out in the base, and while I understand that its appeal comes from this woody weightlessness, I would wish for a kinder, more forgiving ending. Noir Epices is a stern judge of character.

noir-epices-frederic-malle-ku_kai-chih-wikicommonsWikipedia

Longevity and sillage are outstanding, 7 hours at the least. I recommend Noir Epices to anyone in need of a magic potion to ward off illnesses, and to fans of spicy, dry orange-rose pomander fragrances such as Coco and Maharanih.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Non Blonde
Mecca has $217/50ml with FREE Australian Shipping
Surrender To Chance have samples starting at $8.69/ml

What do you guys use to banish the sickies?

Slán,
Claire

Libertine Samples GIVEAWAY WINNERS

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Post by Portia

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Heya Gang,

Great to have you all involved. Libertine Parfumerie site has an extraordinary range and FREE AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING over $100. They are always great supporters of APJ and we love them. Also you get a BUNCH of samples with every order. Only affiliated by friendship.
Portia xx

Libertine Samples GIVEAWAY WINNERS

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 1.3ml Bracken Man spray sample
1 x 1.3ml Mmmm… spray sample
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 18th December 2016 10pm Australian EdsT
Winner was chosen by random.org

winner-is HighestSelf

PATS133

The winners will have till Wednesday 21th December 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

Libertine Parfumerie: Amouage Bracken Man + JHaG Mmmm…

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Post by Portia

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Heya Mass-tige Frag Hags,

Last week Ainslie Walker & I had a day out together seeing the Map Of The Heart range, catching up with Bronwyn of Gascoigne & King Candles (where I did some Christmas shopping) and seeing our mate Paige at Libertine Parfumerie.  Paige took half an hour out of her extremely busy day to show us the newest stuff in store. There was quite a bit but two particularly stood out for me as excellent.

New at Libertine Parfumerie

Bracken Man by Olivier Cresp + Fabrice Pellegrin for Amouage 2016

bracken-man-amouage-fragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, lemon, cypress, lavender, nutmeg, cloves
Heart: Geranium, sandalwood, cedar, cinnamon
Base: Patchouli, musk

A old school swirl of citrus & herbs leads you into a plush spiced lavender that grows creamier and more comfortable as it wears. If Don Draper from Mad Men could wear something made today that is totally reminiscent of yesteryear but done with a depth and finesse not seen back then I reckon he would choose Bracken Man. It skips all the sweet tropes of the style and gives me dry, warm stylised macho-ness. I would follow someone wearing this in the street or a mall just to revel in the sillage. MMMM

Libertine has $399/100ml

mmmm-juliette-has-a-gun-fragranticaFragrantica

Mmmm… by Juliette Has A Gun 2016

Libertine gives these featured accords:
Top: Vanilla,  jasmine
Heart: Neroli essence, tonka bean
Base: Ambroxan

When I first spied Mmmm… I was ready to hate it instantly because of the stupid name and the pink on the bottle which reminds me of cough syrup. BLEAUGH!

Silly me, it’s bloody fun and fabulous. The vanilla that opens is headily offset by the clean jasmine and warm tonka. Ambrosian has its flirty now you smell me, now you don’t game of hide & seek so sometimes I’m smelling bakery and others sweaty love fest bodies. Super nice work JHaG.

Libertine has $209/100ml

Libertine Parfumerie site has an extraordinary range and FREE AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING over $100. They are always great supporters of APJ and we love them. Also you get a BUNCH of samples with every order.

If you’re in Sydney they also have the last day of their Pop Up Sale Store on Saturday!

What’s new on your radar right now?
Portia xx

 

giveaway TheTruthAboutMummy

Libertine Samples GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 1.3ml Bracken Man spray sample
1 x 1.3ml Mmmm… spray sample
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

Please tell us your favourite fragrance from either Amouage or Juliette Has A Gun

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 18th December 2016 10pm Australian EdsT and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Wednesday 21th December 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

 

Kiki EdP GIVEAWAY WINNERS

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Post by Portia

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Hiya APJ,

Thank you to Val the Cookie Queen and Vero Kern for their amazing generosity. Want to try the fragrances? Surrender To Chance has a good selection of the EdPs to sample. LuckyScent and First In Fragrance have the full ranges.

Let’s see who won,
Portia x

 

Kiki EdP GIVEAWAY WINNERS

val-vero-dec-2016-5
val-vero-dec-2016-6

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Kiki EdP decant from CQs bottle
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 15th December 2016 10pm Australian EdsT
Winners were chosen by random.org

Winners thegarfieldshow-diary

Greennote: Kiki decant

TaraC: BONUS EdP sample

The winners will have till Wednesday 21st December 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

 

Portia’s Desk Fragrances December 2016

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Post by Portia

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Hi there Fragrant Fumies,

As you know my desk regularly gets a declutter from all the accumulated fragrant stuff that lurks there. This month has been particularly spectacular for frag usage without putting it away. I know, naughty boy. So before I find the homes where all these beauties belong I thought I’d share the true horror of my mess.

Portia’s Desk Fragrances December 2016

portias-desk-dec-2016

Samples/Decants?Travel

5ml Vert Malachite by Armani Prive
10ml vintage CHANEL Coromandel EdT
8ml In The Woods by Cult Of Scent
3ml Palissandre d`Or by Aedes de Venus’s
15ml Rose Ikebana by Hermès
15ml Iris Ukiyoé by Hermès
8ml Bali oil by Coast Sydney
3ml Calypso Ambre by Christiane Celle
10ml Lumiere Noire Pour Homme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
10ml Tabac Rouge by Phaedon
10ml Iris by Santa Maria Novella
15ml Cuir Mojito by Daniel Barros
8ml I Love My Man by Dear Rose
10ml Shanghai Lily by Tom Ford
10ml vintage CHANEL No 22 EdT
20ml Splash Forte by IUNX
8ml Madagascan Jasmine by Grandiflora
30ml Milly-la-Forêt by DIOR
8ml Le Musc et La Peau by Perfumerie Generale
5ml Ispahan by Yves Rocher

Full Bottles

200ml Cologne Pour le Soir by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
100ml vintage Diorella EdT by DIOR
100ml vintage Miss Dior EdC by DIOR
50ml vintage Miss Dior EdT by DIOR
50ml vintage CHANEL No 19 EdC
60ml Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations
120ml vintage Infini PdT by Caron
50ml vintage Infini EdT by Caron
30ml vintage Infini Parfum by Caron
50ml Mitsouko EdT by Guerlain
100ml Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Hermès
100ml JAZZ by YSL
50ml vintage Musc Nomade by Annick Goutal
75ml Evening Edged In Gold by INeKE
50ml Tom of Finland by ELdO
60ml Bombay Bling by Neela Vermeire Creations
50ml vintage Samsara EdT by Guerlain
30ml vintage Vol de Nuit propellor bottle by Guerlain
50ml vintage Eau de Gucci
50ml Contradiction Woman by Calvin Klein
50ml vintage Opium EdT by YSL
50ml Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker
30ml Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker
60ml The Aoud by Mancera
75ml Liberté by Cacharel
7.5ml vintage CHANEL No 22 extrait
15ml vintage Chloe extrait
50ml Coup de Foudre by Parfums DelRae

So, what’s cluttering your workspace?
Portia xx

 

Libertine Parfumerie Sydney Warehouse POP-UP Sale

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Post by Portia

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Hello Sydney Perfumistas,

Few events in the fragrant calendar are talked about with such reverence as the Libertine Parfumerie POP-UP Sale. The most incredible bargains abound and it’s all done in the gorgeous but tiny Surry Hills store. Get yourself down for some serious BARGAIN HUNTING!

See you there,
Portia xx

Libertine Parfumerie Sydney Warehouse POP-UP Sale

e328be40-ceee-4f6b-96c9-59431b8ba13a

Libertine Parfumerie is hosting their SYDNEY Warehouse Pop-Up SALE!
Save up to 75% on selected fragrances, testers, candles and body products.
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Friday 16th December 8.30am – 5.00pm
Saturday 17th December 9.00am – 1.00pm
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WHERE?
Libertine Sydney Warehouse
1-3 Taylor Street Darlinghurst SYDNEY

A Scent by Daphne Bugey for Issey Miyake 2009

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Post by Anne-Marie

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Hi everyone,

I ignored Issey Mikaye’s A Scent when it came out. I was happily immersed in niche and vintage sampling then, trying all I could of the latest darling releases: Andy Tauer sample sets, Parfum d’Empire, Parfums de Nicolai … Lutens … the latest Chanel Les Exlcusifs … I practically camped outside the letter box waiting for L’Artisan Traversee du Bosphore to be delivered (it didn’t work for me sadly), and a gift of a bottle of vintage Miss Dior was a thrill beyond words.

A Scent never stood a chance. I tried department store testers but tended to agree with reviewers who generally seemed underwhelmed.
Well, recently I picked up a small bottle for $10 from a shop selling off a bunch of testers. Why not, at that price? Get it while you can…

A Scent by Issey Miyake 2009

A Scent by Daphne Bugey

a-scent-by-issey-miyake-issey-miyake-fragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives thee featured accords:
Amalfi lemon, lemon verbena, jasmine, hyacinth, Virginia cedar, galbanum

A Scent opens with a tang of citrus followed quickly by a realistic evocation of hyacinth, very bracing, but not as bitter as actual hyacinths can smell. After that the fragrance relaxes and I smell mixed clean green florals over a gentle base of musk (not listed as a note). Longevity is good and sillage moderate. I wore it on warm day during a long car journey and found it a refreshing but gentle presence over several hours, with nothing to offend my fellow travellers.

a-scent-by-issey-miyake-blue-hyacinths-pdiPDI

The hyacinth is what pleases me about A Scent. I recognise it distinctly but it is not as heavy as the other hyacinth perfume I know well, Guerlain Chamade. A Scent is frequently compared to other great classics, Chanel Cristalle and No 19, and not favourably. ‘Nice, but not as good as … ‘.

But many people would find A Scent easier to wear, I think. It is green all the way through but without sharpness or bitterness, and anyone worried about dirty moss or wet stones need have no concerns here. It reminds me a bit of Estee Lauder Pure White Linen but without the herbal shampoo accord that makes PWL a bit banal for me.

Miyake reportedly does not like fragrance and this one is said to be inspired by the smell of Japanese mountains. It smells clean and cool, damp but not watery, and conforms with Miyake’s minimalist aesthetic.

a-scent-by-issey-miyake-hiroshige_a_mountain_in_the_snow-wikicommonsWikiCommons

A Scent is not a masterpiece, but if it sounds like your thing, grab it while you can. Yes – it’s discontinued, but widely available at the online discounters. There’s a pink flanker, A Scent by Issey Miyake Eau de Parfum Florale. That one is still on the market but I have not tried it. Do comment if you have.

Further reading: Perfume Posse and Perfume Shrine
FragranceNet has AUD$23/47ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3/ml

Green fragrances can be tricky to wear. Do you have a favourite?
Until next time, keep spritzing everyone!
Anne-Marie

Three Kings and Christmas Season Fragrances

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Post by TinaG

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Hi APJ!

Christmas is a week and a bit away yet, but somehow feels like it’s tomorrow. To help us get into the holiday season I thought I’d take a look at some traditional Christmassy scents. Hard to choose just one sometimes! But let’s take a look.

Three Kings Fragrances

Let’s take a look at what fragrances the three kings may have worn to match their scents.

larmes-du-desert-atelier-des-ors-fragranticaFragrantica

Gold: Larmes Du Désert – Atelier des Ors
The beautiful sun-rayed bottles with flakes of real gold make wonderful perfumed snow-globes. Pick it up & give it a shake, preferably while standing in sunlight. What do they smell like? I can’t remember, I was too mesmerised by the sparkles.

oliban-keiko-mecheri-fragranticaFragrantica

Frankincense: Oliban – Keiko Mecheri
Frankincense is sometimes referred to as olibanum/oliban , and the perfume of that name by Keiko Mecheri has a fabulous, photo-realistic frankincense note which smelt like it had been grabbed straight from the burning censer. I’m gonna be bold and put it out there as a must-sniff for this incense note. Portia has done a lovely Oliban review

wazamba-parfum-dempire-fragranticaFragrantica

Myrrh: Parfum d’Empire – Wazamba
Wazamba opens resinous and sticky, almost a honeyed amber with an interesting apple note. This settles to a straight-up dry myrrh throughout the dry down. Myrrh is an interesting resin to burn, it has a cool greyness about it. Wazamba manages to capture this incense wonderfully.

Christmas Season Fragrances

Christmas in the southern hemisphere is VERY different to that up north so some thought needs to go into what to wear on the big day.

aqua-allegoria-winter-delice-guerlain-fragranticaFragrantica

Winter: Guerlain – Aqua Allegoria, Winter Delice
Winter Delice is a walk through a European mountain forest, fir and pine. It it well balanced and eminently wearable. It is unfortunately discontinued but bottles do pop up from time to time.

at-the-beach-1966-cb-i-hate-perfume-fragranticaFragrantica

Summer: CB I Hate Perfume – At The Beach 1966
This is a day at the beach, suntan lotion, salt spray and warmth. I’ve only sniffed this from a friend’s sample but it left such a strong impression of summer’s past – a great frag to try for a flashback.

What fragrances are you grabbing as we head directly into the holiday season?

Till next time!
Tina G xx

Best Of Fragrant NEWS!! In My Inbox

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Post by Portia

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Hey gang,

It seems the frag companies are sending about 200 pieces of news a day at the moment. I’ve sifted through and found you some stuff that I thought VERY exciting.

Best Of Fragrant NEWS!! In My Inbox

A new release, sone excellent Travel Sets and a DISCOUNT CODE!! If this list doesn’t get your Gifting or selfishly wanting juices flowing then I don’t know what will.

Rahele by Neela Vermeire Creations AVAILABLE!

rahele-neela-vermeire-creations-fragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Osmanthus, woody notes, spices, floral notes, herbal notes, leather, oakmoss

I can’t see it yet on the NVC site but I bet they are working double time to make that happen. So exciting. Neela tells me sometime this week! WOO HOO!

Olympic Orchids Perfumes DISCOUNT CODE

olympic-orchids-perfumesOlympic Orchids Perfumes

Any order totaling $15 or more will receive a 20% discount in either the flagship store or the original boutique.
Enter the code DECEMBERSALE at checkout. The code is good now through December 25.

Olympic Orchid Perfumes are discontinuing Arizona, which will be slightly reformulated and re-released under a new name early next year. In the meantime they are selling the remaining stock at discounted prices.

Parfums de Nicolaï Discovery Kit 6 x 1.5ml

parfums-de-nicolai-discovery-kitParfums de Nicolaï only €29

The NICOLAÏ Discovery Kit with :
– 1,5ml of Patchouli Intense
– 1,5ml of Ambre Cashmere Intense
– 1,5ml of Musc Intense
– 1,5ml of New-York Intense
– 1,5ml of Fig-Tea
– 1,5ml of L’eau miXte

Annick Goutal Travel Set & Gift Coffret

Eau d’Hadrien

annick-goutal-travel-setAnnick Goutal €55

Eau d’Hadrien Travel Spray set

Travel Spray case with 2 x 8ml Sprays. Gorgeous for resproitzing the ephemeral Eau d’Hadrien

eau-dhadrien-limited-edition-box-jpgAnnick Goutal Gift Coffret €50

Eau d’Hadrien Gift Coffret

Gift Coffret contains Shampoo 50ml, Conditioner 50ml, Body Lotion 50ml, Shower Gel 50ml, Soap 50g in the Eau d’Hadrien scent. VERY nice, I quite like one of these for myself TBH.

James Heeley Discovery Set

heeley-discovery-set-5x15

The crew at Heeley has put together a little coffer of some of their most popular Eau de Parfums – 5 x 15ml Natural Sprays
Sel Marin . Hippie Rose . Cardinal . St Clement’s . Menthe Fraiche

I can’t think of a better way to get to know this brand which flies under the radar a but. You all know how much I love Travel Size Sprays. Heaven.

See anything that takes your fancy for you or gifting?
Portia xx