Scent Diary 2.3-8.3.2026

Portia

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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies and friends, Scent Diary is a fantastic memory tool. Looking through some much earlier Scent Diaries over the 2025 Xmas break reminded me how good our life is. It also inspires me to live life as fully as possible so there are things to talk about. This is a win.

Your involvement is key. Hope you enjoy it and will let me know what’s happening in your lives too. What I really loved about original Scent Diary was the interaction with perfumistas around the world, and their interactions with each other. Scent Diary became a friendly conversation hub and it was epic. We can disagree but keep it nice and try not to give or take offense. Right now the world needs a web of friendships and connection more than ever.

Jin and I have made so many friends, near and far, through perfume. So let’s reunite the old and welcome some new friends too.

Scent Diary

Scent Diary: 2.3-8.3.2026

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Scent Diary 16.2-22.2.2026

Portia

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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies and friends, This week Jin, Anna Maria and Johnny  and I are off to Singapore and South Korea. I will try to keep this updated and organized but it may all turn to shit. We’ve realized the old lap top has become too slow and clunky SO I’ll be using Jin’s phone paired with the hotel TVs. Fingers crossed.

Hoping you enjoy it and will let me know what’s happening in your lives too. What I really love about Scent Diary is the interaction with perfumistas around the world. Also the interactions between everyone. Comment on comments, enquire, encourage, learn about each other and our lives.  Jin and I have made so many friends, near and far, through perfume. So let’s reunite and welcome some new friends.

Scent Diary

Scent Diary: 16.2-22.2.2026

Monday

Morning: Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul Convivio . Grabbed it from the Sale pile running out the door. It’s so nice. Really easy going citrus, iris and woodsy thing. If I didn’t have a surfeit of the genre I’d be keeping it.

Salvatore Ferragamo Tuscan Soul Convivio Oct 2020

Day: by Kilian Sweet Redemption. Grabbed it and gave myself a single spritz to the forearm. This is thick and lustrous, so good. I love it but Sweet Redemption almost never gets the gong. Weird right?

by Kilian Sweet Redemption Scent Diary

Bed: Neela Vermeire Creations Niral. I grabbed this travel out to take on the holiday and couldn’t resist a sneaky spritz. MMMM Crisp green leathery iris with many bells and whistles. So pretty.

Last night I realized we are going away on Thursday and the clothes need to be washed. It was only three loads but still, it had me up to 3am.

Jin woke me at sparrows fart because we had to get our holiday beard and hair cuts. I was a bit groggy and forgot to take pics, soz. He did buy us Aunty Anne peperoni pretzels, so who can complain. YUMMY.

Home, hung the last washing load. Trivia Q&A. By 2pm the third set of four that need doing was finished. Cue loud backslapping and self satisfaction. Got myself a cuppa, some Greek yoghurt and sour cherries to celebrate. Here’s a snapshot of my VERY messy desk currently. I know….

Greek yoghurt and sour cherries, messy desktop Feb26 Scent Diary

Fed and walked the dogs in lightly clouded sunshine. I absolutely love our area. Bumped into a neighbour, he always stops for a small chat. Today they are building an aviary for their new pets, Cockatiels! As a young adult I used to breed them and love their joyous voices. Though I’d not seen them, they had been chatting a bit and I asked if the newbies were Cockatiels, he was so excited that I knew.

Jin went off to play golf.

Back to Trivia Q&A. If I get this set ready to go I’ll stop for a late lunch. Then come back tonight to finish it after Jin goes to sleep.

We went to Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre and did Aquarobics. Having too much fun and forgot to get a photo.

Jin took me for our fave el cheapo Thai afterwards. The servings are so huge that we always have leftovers. Tonight we had two chicken dishes, Pad Thai and Peanut Sauce Noodles, and a Pineapple Fried Rice. I got what was left of the rice and peanut noodles for lunch tomorrow. YAY!

I’m bushed. Going to feed and walk the dogs, read some Persuasion and get some ZZZZZZs.

GAH! Remembered I need to write blog posts for while I’m away! Did some sneaky Mitsouko EdT spritzing and writing about it now. What a sensational perfume.

Also talked to some overseas friends and paid our London club annual fees which were a month overdue.

Maybe NOW my brain will let me sleep.

Tuesday

Day: Nina Ricci Nina EdT

Work: DIOR Granville. Old photo, much more air in that bottle now.

DIOR Granville Scent Diary

Bed: Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori. Salty flowers and stuff.

Gucci Bloom Acqua Scent Diary

Woke up in the dregs of last nights Mitsouko. I’m going to enjoy them till lunchtime.

There’s a list that needs doing today. I’m aiming at getting the last Trivia Q&A done in the AM. Then I need to go to the Pet store and get a fish feeder, dog toothpaste and some dog treats. A quick grocery store visit. Lastly, the Post Office run.

12.30pm TRIVIA Q&A Done & Dusted. Sent to respective hosts. Printed my weeks worth and I’m ready to lunch!

Gave myself a congratulatory spritz of Nina Ricci Nina EdT

Had lunch, very low key today. 2 x Vegemite and cheese, 1 x Peanut Butter toasts and a cuppa. So yummy. Started watching Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020) which is exactly as awful as you’d expect. Frothy nothing while I’m eating. Fun.

After lunch went to the Post Office, Pet Store and Grocery. Very happy.

Bubble Bath!

Work was fun tonight. Busy and most of my favourites in the house.

Home to Jin, he worked 17 hours today. Buggered man. He ate, chatted a bit, stayed up for about 40 minutes then off to bed. Too tied to bed chat, just needed sleep.

I spent a little time blogging. Fed and walked the dogs. Some desultory tidying in my office. Washed some last minute clothes so they can dry tomorrow.

Big spritzes of Gucci Bloom Acqua di Fiori.

Bed

Wednesday

Morning: Bois Pacifique by Tom Ford STC sample

Day: Calvin Klein Contradiction Woman

Calvin Klein Contradiction

Evening: Oliver and Co. Veil Nebula. Fabulously strange. An aldehydic floral splashed over a metallic base. Lovely.

Today is all about cleaning and organization for our trip. We leave tomorrow morning. A bit of computer work, some errands, clean the fish tank, water the plants, bag packing and getting all the perfumes that are being sold out of the living room and back into the perfume room/office. Sounds like a lot but it should be doable.

First thing, cuppa and computer.

Jin is out doing his checking on one of his NSW train maintenance depots today. On the way he spied this fabulous waterfall named Fitzroy Falls near Kangaroo Valley. He thoughtfully sent me these pics, in case I’d like to share them with you.

Here’s a rubbish pic of the balcony, showing very little of the plant life I’ve just watered.

Lunchtime! Leftover Thai reheats. YUMMY!

House cleaning.

Jin got home three hours EARLY!! I’m not nearly ready for him. Oh well, he’s going to have to put up with the vacuum noise. I’m not sad he’s here but everything cleaning is easier if he’s elsewhere.

More cleaning, organising, dealing with last minute stuff.

At about 5.50pm Jin asked what time I was going to work. O M G! I’d completely forgotten. Luckily I leave at 6.10pm so had time to pull myself together.

Work was fun.

Came home, packed, fed and walked the dogs, did final vacuum of the Living Area.
Jin is so lovely. He’d done his best cleaning the kitchen. An excellent job and it saved me about an hour of work. What a guy. Everything else is pretty good.

Bubble Bath. My happy place. With Byredo Vetiver shower gel bubbles! Very luxurious.

Reading Persuasion.

Bed.

Thursday

Here is where it’s going to get tricky. It will mainly be photos till we get back from our trip. If I can even get that together without a laptop or tablet. Fingers crossed.

This morning Bulgari Wood Neroli got the spritz. Jin gave me his 30ml and I really like it.

Bulgari Wood Neroli

I’m trying to get the post done while Jin is talking non stop, on a phone and not a laptop top, with my mind going 120mph.

hopefully tomorrow will be a better job.

We had Mimosas in the lounge, left Sydney,  I had three seats to myself and slept, arrived safely and had dinner in a local restaurant. It was freaking delicious. Slept like dead people!

Friday

Slept like dead people. Woke up at the 6.45am alarm. Bathed and headed down for hotel breakfast. It was bedlam. We are going earlier tomorrow.

Wore a rollerball amber oil perfume made by one of the ex fragrantica writers. It’s been in my wet pack for years. Always good. Always satisfying. The label is totally ruined and I can’t remember the providence.

Straight out afterwards to the gardens. We went to the Flower Dome and the Observatory. Better than we remembered and double the fun with Anna Maria and Johnny.

Jin and I then headed to the hawker market near our hotel for lunch. Satisfying!

Came home and had a swim. Then a nap.

Walked from our hotel to our mate Rose’s restaurant. Look her up: Rose Ang. Amazing history of world cheffing. She has opened DOMO Modern Japanese Restaurant across the road from Raffles in the Fairmont. It’s spectacularly good food. We ate till we were groaning because we wanted to try everything. You must come if you are in Singapore. Let me know, I’ll introduce you to Rose and she’ll take extra good care of you.

I wore DIOR Balade Sauvage Surrender to Chance decant and Jin wore Neela Vermeire Creations Bombay Bling.

Walked back via shopping malls.

Had a couple of bevies in the lobby and off to bed.

Saturday

Up at, no, we were up pre-dawn! Showered, dressed and ready to go by 6am.

Whooooo this morning I’m wearing Hermès Paddock. A hay, sunshine and saddle rug fragrance. Fresh and dirty and a masterpiece. I’m filled with want.

Hermes’ paddock

Breakfast in the hotel then Jin and I wandered out to the hawkers market for Singapore coffee.

Collected Anna Maria and Johnny and hit the bay to see the Merlion.

Off to buy tickets for the night bay cruise but it turned out better and easier to do the daytime one. So glad we did. It was daylight so we could see everything the prerecorded voice was talking about. A lovely way to spend an hour.

once we had cruised we wandered around to the Fullerton Hotel and had a relaxing cuppa. Anna Maria had a Sling?


We then went to a very famous Chili Crab house that’s been running since the 1970s. Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant. It’s a bit out of town and full of locals. The food was so amazing. My mouth is watering just writing about it. So good.

Came back to the hotel. Swam. Then Jin and I went out and did some wandering the malls. It was fun. He bought a very cool jacket.

Home for a nap.

Feeling refreshed and ready for anything, with a couple of hefty Memo French Leather spritzes, Jin and I headed to Satay Street for dinner.

Back home. Updated the days events here and totally bushed. Zzzzzzzzz

Sunday

Morning: Diptyque L’Eau Papier from Surrender to Chance decant.

We took Anna Maria and Johnny to the local hawkers market for breakfast and Singapore coffee. Dumplings, noodles, congee and more. A feast.

Took the Hop On, Hop Off bus. Both the red and yellow lines. Wandered a mall and had some lunch at McDonald’s. We also did a local market look through. Sorry there aren’t more photos, we were busy living.

Came back to the hotel and had a swim.

Jin and I jumped back on the bus and went to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It was amazing! We went straight to the Orchid Gardens. It was so far beyond expectations. Just freaking gorgeous!

Now we are off for dinner. What a week!

 

Please, tell us about your week, what perfume you wore and who you got to spend your time with. Can’t wait to read your stories.

Comment on other commenters posts, chat, enquire, learn and engage. We have all the connective agencies possible and still the world has a loneliness problem. We here at APJ are perfume LOVERS, could there be a more wonderful hobby to chat about? Let’s chat.

Hug
Portia xx

Calvin Klein Women 2018

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Kate Apted

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How’s things, APJers?

Our summer is pretty much over, and as short as it had been, I found it one of my best summers yet. I discovered a wide range of hot weather loving scents that are not the usual citrus, cologne style or 90s breezy, aquatics. Needless to say, Chloe Nomade got a lot of wear, as did 34 Boulevard St Germain by Diptyque.

Calvin Klein Women 2018

Honorine Blanc and Annick Menardo

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Sniffs with Lola: My Cat

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AF Beauty

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Perfume’s toughest critic – Sniffs with Lola
Hello there perfume-ees.

As I’ve alluded to before, I am in no way as sophisticated with my perfume choices as you all are – I am not adventurous or brave and tend to wear the same perfumes or variations thereof. However, I share a house with a real-life being who, given half a chance, I think could get VERY into the perfume scene, and what’s more, she is not limited to just sniffing the stuff. Let me introduce, Lola!

Lola is a 4 year old Abyssinian who loves food and naps – in that order, and is also partial to perfume, especially licking people wearing perfume. Her absolute favourite is Coco by Chanel – she will lick my arm like I might lick Ben and Jerry’s.

Sniffs with Lola: My Cat

A Cat-centric Photo Essay

Her she is with some of my other favourites:
First, So Nude by Costume National. I really like this, it’s a strong scent and probably not daytime suitable, but I find it quite sexy and alluring. Lola likes it also.

This is one of my all time favourites, Elle by Armani, something I can wear daily without getting bored of it. Lola on the other hand couldn’t be less interested. I think the bottle (not being glass) didn’t interest her. Tough crowd.

This is a relatively new addition to my collection, Miu Miu’s debut perfume, light and floral which is definitely a journey away from my usual perfumes which are more oriental and musk. But it’s a lovely daily perfume, Lola had a sniff too, she quite liked it.

Ah, an oldie but a goodie, Tendre Poison by Dior. This is a perfume from my youth, I used to wear this daily from about age 18-25. Of course I had no idea Dior would end production – talk about devastation. I’ve been ridiculously lucky to be gifted two bottles of this last year and it’s as good as I remember. Lola is cautious and I understand, we don’t want to get too attached to a discontinued perfume.

And last but not least, a new iteration of the ever popular CK One, Gold. To be honest the bottle caught my eye more than the fragrance – but I like the fragrance too – a little alcohol-ly but it settles into a citrussy warmth on my skin – and Lola LOVES it, she gave the bottle a complete lick (yuck) – so I’ll know what to expect when I wear it. ☺

I hope you’ve enjoyed sniffs with Lola, until next time – what do your pets love you wearing?
AF Beauty

Office Friendly Fragrances Snapshot 22.10.16

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Post by TinaG

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Hi APJ!

I realised something this week – that my occasional slumps in fragrance enthusiasm could be linked to changes in season. I had been wearing Borneo 1834 and Cuir Ottoman (thanks, Val!), but then haven’t felt like anything & gone fragrance free for a week. Today, something clicked back in to place and I felt like something floral & airy. I’d never really put 2:2 together, but it makes sense.

office-friendly-fragrances-trollback__company_office-wikipediaWikipedia

So I grabbed something ultimately office-friendly, then I thought – I wonder what my colleagues are wearing today? I cheekily snuck around the office, asking the question, and found I was greeted with a big smile & loads of enthusiasm! Yay! Here’s today’s snapshot:

Office Friendly Fragrances Snapshot 22.10.16

Mandarine L`Artisan Parfumeur FragranticaFragrantica

C0 (me) – Mandarine by L’Artisan Parfumeur

I’m wearing this like lolly-water today, re-spritzing with abandon.

C1 – Pink Grapefruit – The Body Shop

This is the fragrance which triggered the conversation as I could smell it walking into the work area. It was not sprayed in the office, had been wearing from home. Beautiful.

ck-one-calvin-klein-fragranticaFragrantica

C2 – CK One – Calvin Klein

I used to wear CK One, and can smell it in public at 60 paces, but this didn’t strike me so hard. It had settled a bit & had a predominant peppery note. Great stuff.

C3 – NIL

But yesterday was: Bel Respiro (EdT) – Chanel. I gave C3 this sample and this was its first wearing. Jury is out, it’s a bit intense compared to other fragrances she wears but she’ll give it a few more try’s to see if it might work.

C4 – Rose The One – D&G

This fragrance is now discontinued and it’s a fav of C4. She keeps it close by, bottle & box in her desk draw.

C5 – Oscar – Oscar de la Renta

This is C5’s signature office scent, wears it all the time. Cool!

Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker FragranticaFragrantica

C6 – Lovely – Sara Jessica Parker

Yay! SJP getting some air time. This made me happy.

C7 – NIL

Nil today, but I know Trèsor by Lancôme is a fav of hers, a mini is close at hand. I had sent her an article on Isabella Rossellini & the fragrance’s history back in June.

C8 – NIL

C8 said he used to have time to wear cologne to work, but since his son came along priorities have changed in the morning routine. Colognes come out now for special occasions only.

orchid-soleil-tom-ford-fragranticaFragrantica

C9 – Orchid Soleil – Tom Ford

I didn’t actually have the conversation today with C9, but I’m adding her in because we discuss perfume often. Before this she wore Black Orchid, both are fab on her but I do know when she walks into a room without me looking! Hehe.

I’m so glad I asked! Made for some fun conversations and I got to know my workmates just that little bit better. We’ve got a great crew.

What is the fragrance you reach for the most in a professional environment?

Have a fantastic start to the week.
Tina G xx

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016

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Post by Portia

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Hello Perfume Junkies,

Do you have an area where you put your current high rotation fragrances? Mine is my desk. At any given time there may be 20 odd fragrance bottles scattered about it, a dozen or so samples and general perfume paraphernalia. It can get quite crowded so every couple of weeks I do a stocktake of what’s there and what will stay.

This fortnight I’ve been pretty addicted to a couple of frags and they have seen a LOT of wear, the others are mostly seeing a few spritzes but a bunch will be going back in the cupboard. Some things go back in the cupboard after every use: Guerlain’s Shalimar and Mitsouko, CHANEL No 5 and YSL Opium. I have a few iterations of each and rarely know which one I’m going to feel like so it’s easier to have them all together in their cupboard space. Also, I will happily go looking for them particularly if the mood strikes so it’s good to have them accessible.

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016 #1

So here’s the whole crew. A couple of them I also thought about selling so they have been on the desk and were saved from the chopper by my wearing and loving them again.

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016 #2

From left there is Gucci Pour Homme 1, Vitriol d’billet by Serge Lutens, Guerlain Mitsouko EdC (arrived this week and is fabulous, really fresh smelling), Eau de DIOR, Dubai Next To Me by Ramon Monegal, Mitzah DIOR (yes, I have bottles but I saw this decant going in someone’s sale and grabbed it), Paw Paw ointment (I’m trying a new brand), Fendi donna (25ml & 50ml I just bought the 50ml and have been assessing it against one of my other bottles. It’s real), Youth Dew vintage

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016 #4

From left Hermès Cuir d’Ange, Calvin Klein Contradiction Woman (Can’t stop spritzing this metallic, cold, wet, tart, aloof rose. Something about it drives me wild), Carillon pour un and by Tauer perfumes, Tubéreuse 3 by Histories de Parfum

Current Rotation Fragrances May 2016 #3

From left we start with the newest DSH Perfumes, Rendezvous, that I’m yet to try, the Cult Of Scent sampler, Jasmin Rouge by Tom Ford, Shea Butter Fabulous Oil by L’Occitane, Be Beautiful by Jessica Mauboy (suddenly we are getting a load of melon and lily of the valley fragrances, this is a good $20 dupe for the new Hermès Muguet Porcelaine), Guess by Marciano Woman (when I haven’t been wafting a cloud of Contradiction this fortnight it’s been Guess. This crunchy vanilla amber citrus bomb is disgustingly good), Capricci by Nina Ricci

What is staying till the next cleanup?

Eau de DIOR
Mitzah by DIOR
Cuir d’Ange by Hermès
Contradiction by Calvin Klein
Cult Of Scent Sampler,
Guess by Marciano

The rest are back in their boxes and in the cupboard till I call them out again.

What’s in your high rotation and where do you put them?
Portia xx

Embarrassed and Blue? What Do I Do?

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Post by Portia

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Hey Crew,

I’m blue. Yes, having a crunchy, grumpy, blue day. Mainly I’m sore, embarrassed and filled with un-named self loathing. The black dog is visiting again. Rude on a sun shiny, warm and perfect autumn day which makes me feel even more depressed because now I’ve added guilt to the mix. Then the spiral worsens because I start getting angry at myself because I am so lucky I have no right to be down. All this happening in my head while coming to full awakeness, already before I even opened my eyes the spiral had begun.

Depression Low_pressure_system WikipediajpgWikipedia

So, I’ve come to the keyboard to tell you what I’m feeling. Sharing, doing something, anything to change my course, halt the spiral, redirect myself. Thanks for being here, if you’re bored already then sorry, go about your day. Even getting to the computer and writing this much has chipped away a little at the thick morass.

Embarrassed and Blue? What Do I Do?

OK, why am I sore? Last night at work I was returning my plates to the restaurant, walking past some diners and the bar. Floating around in drag, doing the right thing of returning my plates so I could thank the chef. My shoe caught on something, maybe carpet or frock or itself. One second I was upright and the next on all fours, the left over food scattered everywhere and people laughing, shocked intakes of breath, staring and talking to me. I was there in that position for about 5 seconds going over my body to see if anything was really hurt and doing a body count. Everything seemed OK except my knees were already starting to throb. Stood up, and looked down, knees out of stockings, looking like I’d been dragged across asphalt and one already bleeding. It was a mess. GAK!

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Thank goodness the staff and punters are my mates. We got me sorted, cleaned up as much as possible, disinfected, bandaged etc and I went on and did my nights work of Trivia Hosting. Embarrassing but all OK.

Why am I grumpy? This is not so easy to assess. Maybe I didn’t sleep well because of the pain. Maybe I’m feeling dumb. Maybe I was just due a blue day.

How am I going to react? Well, I got out of bed and cleaned my teeth. Then I came to the computer to write to you all. Already I feel better. Not perfect but better. I have stepped from the abyss. Now I’m going to make an instant coffee with sugar & milk. See you in a moment.

Embarrassed and Blue? What Do I Do? red-coffee-cup-mug PexelsPexels

Heya, it’s about 30 minutes later. I made my coffee, went onto the balcony and folded Jin & my washing up, cleaned up my knees and re-applied antiseptic and Band Aids, took my shirt off and sat in the sun to drink my coffee. Coming back into the room I gave myself 6 blasts of my current fragrance addiction Calvin Klein Contradiction.

 

Contradiction Calvin Klein FragranticaFragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Orchid, Mock-orange, Peony, Rose
Heart: Pear, Blackberry, Eucalyptus, Lilac, Jasmine
Base: Musk, Sandalwood, Tonka bean

Sitting here now in my office, typing in a cloud of Contradiction, and though I am not fully functioning in joyful mode I have derailed the train of depression-spiral and now I’m going to write 10 things I can be grateful for.

  1. I am grateful for my home. It’s no mansion but it’s comfortable and functional.
  2. Grateful for food in the fridge, there is even some double cream brie and a few olives. So there’s lunch sorted.
  3. Super grateful for my friends. The handful of really close ones and the wider stretch of buddies and mates.
  4. Grateful for my continued good health. Yes, I’ve had a fall but these bones are strong and I’m already healing.
  5. Grateful I have work. Trivia will never make me a multi millionaire but I enjoy the work, love seeing players every week and having a laugh with them.
  6. Thankful for my parents who gave me so much and left me educated and self assured.
  7. Grateful that I have a kettle, coffee, sugar & milk.
  8. Grateful that I have somewhere to come every day and chat about fragrance, APJ and all of you are a lifesaver. Thank You.
  9. Grateful for my fragrance collection. Yes, it’s ridiculous. No, I’ll never use even 1/20 of it. Yes, it brings me joy.
  10. Grateful for Jin.

Grateful

Righto. I feel like I’m ready to face the day now.
Thanks for coming on the journey with me. If you suffer from depression try these simple tricks, sometimes they work a treat. If your spiral continues, please seek help. Try a friend but should they all be busy or sleeping there are plenty of Help Lines you can call 24/7.

LifeLine Australia 13 11 14

Beyond Blue Australia 1300 22 46 36

My best advice is to take some positive action for yourself. Even cleaning my teeth can help restore my thought pattern and taking this small bit of care of myself can change the colour of my thoughts. This next meme works for you as well as those around you.

Depression Dalai Lama

Wishing you all healthy minds and bodies,
Portia xxx