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

ck2 by Calvin Klein 2016: New Ad

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Post by Portia

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Hey Gang,

New stuff from Calvin Klein is always enough to set my heart aflutter. Though I was never a big wearer of the Calvin Klein range I was surrounded by it and once I did discover them, either through memory or their general bonhomie, I really enjoy them. There are quite a few in the collection now. Some vintage, some new, all worn with enjoyment.

ck2 by Calvin Klein 2016

CK2 Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Wasabi, mandarin, violet leaf
Heart: Wet cobblestones, concrete, pebbles, orris root, rose absolute
Base: Vetiver, sandalwood, incense

They are saying available 2016 but I think it might be already available some places. Cool bottle.

CK2 Advert Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

ck2 by Calvin Klein 2016: New Ad

The ad is cool. MOST of Calvin Klein’s ads are cool, this one goes a step further. Even hinting at same sex couples. I love the gritty fun rawness it captures, like remembering a summer of love in the depths of winter.
Enjoy,
Portia xx

Calvin Klein: Making Fall 2015 Campaign

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Post by Portia

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Hi there Fashion/Art?Fumies,

Here’s in an interesting piece about Calvin Klein bringing in visual artist Charles Atlas to create the Fall 2015 Campaig. What happens in a beautiful and quirky fusion of artistic vision. Perfectly focused and something lovel. I like it when the huge multinationals give an artist free reign to make their own mark.

I hope you enjoy this little look into the process.

Portia xx

The Making of the Fall 2015 Campaign Calvin KleinPhoto Stolen Calvin Klein

 

Calvin Klein: Making Fall 2015 Campaign

euphoria – film – Calvin Klein

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Post by Portia

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Heya Crew,

I’m not sure if this film is new or old. What it is is fabulous. I loved it and hope you all do too.

Shot on location in Hawaii, the campaign features Tyson Ballou and Natalia Vadianova

Portia xx

euphoria Calvin Klein  FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Pomegranate, Persimmon
Heart: Champaca flower, Lotus, Black orchid
Base: Amber, Creamy accord, Mahogany wood

euphoria Calvin Klein

ETERNITY NOW Calvin Klein: New Ad

Hey hey Crew,

When I was a younger person Calvin Klein always had a great diffusion line of clothes. I would often choose a Calvin Klein T-Shirt, jumper or belt and his frags were what my friends wore. I loved to smell them and really liked the advertising etc but never did I think I wanted to wear the Calvin Klein fragrant dream. To be honest a part of me was a little sneery at their oh-so-mainstream tastes. It’s only now, when everyone has moved on from the scents that I am finding my way to wearing them. NOW I really like a whole bunch and they bring back fabulous fragrant memories of friends long gone, and some still in my circle who don’t smell like this anymore.

Eternity Now Ad Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Here is a NEW Eternity flanker

Eternity Now For Women by Calvin Klein 2015

Eternity Now For Women by Ann Gottlieb

Eternity Now For Women Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Litchi, quince sorbet
Heart: Peony, peach blossom, neroli petals
Base: Cashmere, ambrox, musk

I hope you enjoy the ad, which uses one of my favourite songs from Aussie band INXS.
Portia xx

ETERNITY NOW Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein Obsession Woman & Man

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Post by Azar

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Hello APJ,

This summer the Pacific Northwest USA has been uncharacteristically hot and dry. To make matters worse, less than 30% of the homes have central air-conditioning. Ours is one of the hot ones! I have yet to acclimate to the 95-100 degree F temperatures that continue to blister the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

In an attempt to deal with the sweltering heat I pulled out my big, refrigerated bottles of Italian colognes. Sadly, these refreshing fragrances have done little to alleviate the effects of the breathtaking temperatures. The alcohol evaporates too quickly to be effective, leaving not a trace of comforting scent on my skin.

Calvin Klein Obsession

Calvin Klein Obsession for Woman by Jean Guichard 1985

Obsession Calvin Klein women FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top:
  Green notes, mandarin orange, vanilla, peach, basil, bergamot, lemon
Heart
:  Spices, coriander, sandalwood, orange blossom, jasmine, oakmoss, cedar, rose
Base:  Amber, musk, civet, vetiver, incense

Sweating over a solution, I recalled a recent comment by Cookie Queen suggesting the use of big orientals in hot climates.  Her timely advice and Anne-Marie’s recent post inspired me to dig out the squat, kidney shaped bottle of the original Calvin Klein Obsession for Women from its cool, dark tomb in the lower floor storage.  Even though I had a vague recollection of Calvin Klein Obsession for Women as nothing more than a spicy cliché typical of many 80s bombastic orientals, I was desperate enough to give it another try.  I resurrected Calvin Klein Obsession for Women from the nether regions and carried her up into the bright and toasty upstairs living area.  I gave myself a quick splash and WHAMMO…!  The power of Obsession was so uplifting and distracting that I totally forgot the scorching heat.  The juice in the old bottle had aged to perfection and provided me with a much-needed respite from the stagnant summer air.  The overheated atmosphere of the house also revealed the beauty and complexity of Obsession.  After 30 years of neglect I was finally enjoying fragrance notes I had never detected before, including almost everything on Fragrantica’s list. I fell madly for my old cologne and hurried to purchase more vintage Obsession for Women. 

Male_Underwear_Model_John_Quinlan_in_Calvin_KleinPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Calvin Klein Obsession for Men by Bob Slattery 1986

Obsession for Men Calvin Klein FrsagranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top:
  Tangerine/mandarin, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, coriander, lavender, cinnamon
Heart:  Nutmeg, carnation, jasmine, sage, Brazilian rosewood, pine, myrrh, red berries
Base:  Amber, sandalwood, patchouli, musk, vanilla, vetiver

I was even able to find the original 1986 Calvin Klein Obsession for Men and imagine that almost every element of CK Obsession for Men (and for Women) is synthetic. The jasmine in my vintage version is probably hedione (methyl dihydrojasmonate) and the musk is most likely civetone. For me Obsession for Men packs the distracting punch of the distaff version and is refreshing as well.  I also find CK Obsession for Men to be incredibly sexy!  My reaction is probably related to hedione.  Recent research suggests that this old aroma-chemical activates a specific region of the hypothalamus associated with the release of sex hormones, especially in women.  In other words, hedione might actually turn women on!

Amanda_Bach,_a_sexy_fashion_model_iconPhoto Stolen WikiCommons

But there is MORE:

Animal behaviorists in South America routinely use Calvin Klein Obsession for Men to lure jaguars to camera traps in the jungle and zookeepers keep their feline charges active and entertained with CK Obsession for Men.

Further reading: Now Smell This and I Smell Therefore I Am
Fragrance Shop has $26/110ml
My Perfume Samples has $2/ml to $7/5ml

I’m wondering if YOU love or hate the various Obsessions? Do you ever wear heavy orientals in the summer heat? Have you tried the Sex Panther fragrance referred to above?

In closing – some like it hot…so be cool!

Azar xx

Obsession by Jean Guichard for Calvin Klein 1985

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Post by Anne-Marie

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“When one makes love, there is a certain scent we that give off. I think it’s very sensual – that’s the scent of Obsession.”
– Calvin Klein

Obsession was released in 1985 and by any measure is a mighty fragrance. It is so much more than the sum of its notes….

Obsession by Jean Guichard for Calvin Klein 1985

“Oh, the smell of it!”

Obsession Calvin Klein FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Green notes, mandarin, peach, basil, bergamot, lemon
Heart: Spices, coriander, sandalwood, orange blossom, jasmine, oakmoss, cedar, rose
Base: Amber, musk, civet, vanilla, vetiver, incense.

It’s the damp herbal first blast of Obsession that I adore. Yes, there are softer, easier things to come, but that dark, slightly bitter opening is for me, addictive. After that I get spices of course, although not the florals.

The base for me is mostly amber and vanilla, with incense keeping things cool and dry. The vanilla is far from being sweet and foodie – which is just how I like it. I wear the modern EDT, the stuff you can get for a song just about anywhere perfume is sold.

Obsession is usually classified as an oriental, but through its marketing, Obsession rejects conventional oriental fantasies and metaphors. We get no lacquered spice jars, no souks, no Buddhas or Indian princesses etc. Obsession does not weave sentimental fairy tales; it is about nothing but sex.

The early TV ads were directed by Richard Avedon and make you feel as if you have wandered on to the set of some weird modernist play. Everything is in monochrome, but clearly the scene is vibrant with sexual obsession. In one, an older man laments a young woman (played by South African model José Borain) who has left him (“Was it me? Did I somehow driver her away?”).

In another, that woman is the object of obsession for a beautiful teenage boy (“ … the whispers at my bedside … her arms … her mouth … her amber hair … and oh, the smell of it.”).

calvinklein-obsession

The early print ads were shot in Puerto Villata, Mexico, by Bruce Weber and feature, in blue sepia, two (or three) naked, entwined bodies.

Famously, Kate Moss also modelled for Obsession, but that came later, in 1993 when she was 17. Shot by Mario Sorrenti and still in monochrome, the location was a shack on the beach: “Just me and him and loads of film,” Moss later recalled. The ads speak to the photographer’s obsession with his model. Moss was his girlfriend at the time but the relationship did not survive.

All of these ads are edgy. “You walk a fine line, especially in advertising,” Calvin Klein admitted, “if you try and do something sensual.” Sometimes I find them more disturbing than, say, Tom Ford’s quite sexually explicit ads for his perfumes.

Further reading: Now Smell This and Non Blonde
FragranceNet has $10/15ml before Coupon
My Perfume Samples has $2/ml

A lot of people have memories of Obsession, good and bad. What are yours?

‘Til next time, have fun!

Anne-Marie xx

Justin Bieber + Lara Stone – Calvin Klein Jeans Spring 2015

Heya APJ Family,

No matter what you think about Justin Bieber, he has charisma and having been to his concert in Sydney a couple of years ago I think he also has some talent. The show was fun and he danced his pretty little ass off. I like him even more now he’s doing all the stuff a regular wealthy teenager/young adult does, and doing it large.

I hope you like this little bit of B&W advertising. I think it’s cool.

Portia xx

Justin Bieber + Lara Stone - Calvin Klein Jeans Spring 2015  Calvin KleinPhoto Stolen Calvin Klein

Justin Bieber + Lara Stone – Calvin Klein Jeans Spring 2015