CHANEL

Gabriella’s Christmas Wish List 2014

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Post by Gabriella

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Hello perfumed peeps!
Well can you believe that another year has gone by? I can’t for sure. Today, I’m bringing you a top-five Christmas wish list and it’s a luxurious one, well because, this year’s been a tough one and if you can’t be decadent at Christmas, well when can you?
So here goes:

Chritmas Wish List Merry-Christmas turnbacktogodPhoto Stolen TurnBackToGod

Gabriella’s Christmas Wish List 2014

DIA_BODY_CREAM_WITH_BOX 012Photo Stolen Libertine

1. Dia body crème by Amouage:

I haven’t done scented layering since they produced those Anais Anais soap and body lotion gift sets all those years ago, but if there’s any excuse to get back in the habit, then it’s Amouage. The brand’s supremely elegant body and bath line surpasses no other in terms of sophistication and being true to the matching fragance. I’ve already waxed lyrical about my love for Dia, and the body crème would just take its uber feminity and chicness to another level.
Libertine Parfumerie has $169/200ml

EIGHT & BOB EIGHT & BOB FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

2. Eight & Bob by Albert Fouquet for Eight & Bob 2012

Ok, prima facie, I would choose this as a gift for Mr M, but even if I were to buy it for him, it doesn’t mean I can’t steal it, right? Eight and Bob has a complicated backstory which would leave many a perfumista rolling their eyes, but this scent had me at hello. If you read Fragrantica, it will give you the low down on the history, John F Kennedy and all, and that the main note is a secretive plant called Andrea. But all you need to know is that this is a lovely, happy, sunshine-laden, very unisex fragrance with fruity, violet and woody notes. Wear it with a linen shirt on a hot day, gin and tonic in hand, and a smile.
Luckyscent has $195/100ml

Chanel No 18 Chanel fragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

3. Les Exclusifs de Chanel No. 18 by Jacques Polge for CHANEL 2007

So, I may borrow the Eight and Bob, but I’ll have a grand spanking 200ml flacon of this beauty for Christmas all to myself, thank you. I’m not the biggest fan of the Exclusifs collection, but No. 18 has to be one of the most unusual and startlingly beautiful fragrances I have come across. No 18 is all about the fruity and woody ambrette seed and manages to be resonant, green, sweet, sublime and supremely chic all at the same time.
CHANEL Boutiques have $350/200ml

rodin_olio_lusso naturisimoPhoto Stolen Naturisimo

4. Rodin Olio Lusso Luxury Face Oil

Olio Lusso Face Oil is technically skincare, but its glorious scent means it definitely straddles the skincare/perfume divide for me. The story goes like this: Linda Rodin, a stylist at Harper’s Bazaar, was sick of all the outlandish claims of all the skincare that came across her desk. So, Olio Lusso was born, a face oil that would make one look and feel good. And, it’s a perfumista and skincare junkies dream, a face oil that doesn’t upset sensitive skin, makes you glow, and above all, has the most opulent, heavenly scent of jasmine that indole lovers will just swoon.
Peony Melbourne has $185/30ml

Tubereuse candle DiptyquePhoto Stolen Diptyque

5. Tubereuse candle by Diptyque

I’m not a candle fan by any means, but a mini Tubereuse candle by Diptyque might have just changed all that. It sat, unlit in my living room for ages and my whole house was filled with the intoxicating scent of green white petals for months. A proper big one is expensive, but worth it (and the glass container makes for a chic brush or pencil holder once you’re done with the candle).
Mecca Cosmetica has it for $78

So, APJ crew, what’s on your Christmas wish list this year?
Happy holidays and a fabulous New Year to you all and see you in 2015!
With much love,
M x

Cruise 2014/15 CHANEL: Dubai

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OK Gang,

A little more CHANEL footage. Here we have a behind the scenes look at the Dubai Cruise Collection for 2014/15. Perfect timing for an Australian summer, which is looming large, and great for the Northern Hemisphere to remember how hot works.

CHANEL Dubai Cruise 2014:5 Uptal Nath FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

Please enjoy watching how the other .001% live.
Portia xx

The Behind the Scenes Film – Cruise 2014/15 CHANEL show

Making CHANEL Fall-Winter 2014/15 Haute Couture Collection

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Hiya Fragrant Fashionistas,

Here is a beautiful insight into the complete and utter hour intensive, old school, haute couture creation process. Every stitch and every bead must be done by hand, it is a failing art and ultimately extraordinarily expensive. Still done at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris above the flagship store, and if you are lucky you can see the staircase leading up to the atelier, and Coco’s rooms.

Making CHANEL Fall-Winter 2014/15 Haute Couture Collection

Now under the direction of the incredible Karl Lagerfeld, the man who seems so much a part of CHANEL that it’s hard to remember the house before him for many of us. Personally I think he has carried the flag for CHANEL impeccably.

Enjoy the mini movie, I keep showing the CHANEL ones because they are often the best and most beautiful,

Portia xx

Karl_Lagerfeld_Cannes WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Making-of the CHANEL Fall-Winter 2014/15 Haute Couture Collection

Jersey by Jacques Polge for CHANEL 2011

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Hey Hey Happy Huffers,

Recently I spent the day with Ainslie Walker, we did a bunch of things. Saw the Eames on Eames films at the Sydney Film Festival where the US furniture makers’ grandson showed us some of the amazing and ground breaking work that the Eames’ did in a totally different media, from toy trains and their workshop to a Washington DC Aquarium they designed that never was built, sadly because it looked totally fabulous. If it comes to a cinema near you don’t miss it.

While we were out we went and sniffed out the Les Exclusifs de Chanel range where I was seriously contemplating a Cuir de Russie Extrait purchase when Ainslie started to wax lyrical about her great love for Jersey, a scent I had previously sniffed and dismissed as meh and yawnsville. I made my position very clear, spritzed with CHANEL No. 22 and we went on to see if they had a few specifics left from the mass sacrifice of the Tom Ford line. It’s a couple of weeks later and I have been thinking that Ainslie wouldn’t own a BOTTLE of something totally inferior, so I grabbed a sample out and spritzed…

Jersey by Jacques Polge for CHANEL 2011

Les Exclusifs de ChanelChanel Jersey Fragrantica

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tonka bean, rose, musk, lavender, jasmine, vanilla, grass, wildflowers

CHANEL Jersey is nothing like I remember it being. Bigger and more voluptuous than my memory, also a surprise was that Jersey skews ever so slightly masculine. KEWL! I like to cross the boundaries.

Lavender opening is fresh and delightful, it has a fresh cut flowers from the garden green-ness and something softly resinous that seems to smooth the whole composition like a piece of worn to a pebble glass found on a beach in the cool of morning and rubbed against your cheek. After a short while Jersey warms a little on my skin and becomes very comfortable and slightly lived in, soft and intimate but still noticeable that I’m fragrant. I think Jersey is one of those fragrances that feel small but are in fact really good projectors and leave a wonderful sillage. After spritzing and going to make a cuppa, when I come back to my office there is a decided vanilla/lavender smell in the room, like I’ve just spritzed a room spray. Very nice, subtle and elegant.

Chanel Jersey Living Room FlashBuddy PixabayPhoto Stolen Pixabay

There is a clean, comfortable and fresh aspect to Jersey that is very much like wearing your favourite T-Shirt, freshly washed and direct from the line. The colour is slightly faded and the fabric floats on your body, there but not there, a whisper of Jersey fabric that is both part of you and not. Jersey fragrance is similar, infinitely more wearable for me than Hermessence Brin de Reglisse, it is a warmer, smoother version of a lavender-centric fragrance. I could imagine Jersey becoming quite addictive.

Chanel Jersey Interlockjersey WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Through the life of Jersey the lavender makes guest reappearances paired with different notes. at one point creamy vanilla/lavender, then later green/lavender, then lightly spicy rose/lavender. Then combinations of more than two notes, it’s an intricate duck & weave pattern that keeps me on the edge of my nose for hours.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and The Candy Perfume Boy
CHANEL boutiques have Jersey
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

Did you try Jersey? Is CHANEL a house you click with or aspire to?
Portia xx

 

CHANEL N°5: The One That I Want

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Hey Gang,

WOW! I write this to you through a misty fog. I just watched the new CHANEL No.5 film. Ah May ZinG! “Baz” Luhrmann has done a spectacular job on the newest film. Gisele Bündchen at 34 is even more beautiful, stylish and poised than she was in the beginning. Please watch the behind the scenes clip first because it explains the film perfectly and will give you an added dimension when you see it.

WOW WOW WOW

CHANEL N°5: The One That I Want

Gisele bundchen no 5 indonesia.StylePhoto Stolen Indonesian.Style (problem with using image, tell us)

Gisele was also the face of Liberte by Cacharel a few years ago, I thought her a perfect choice then and here she seems to have found her perfect niche. CHANEL and Gisele

Bravo CHANEL, again…….
Portia xx

CHANEL N°5 Set: The Film Behind the Film

CHANEL N°5: The One That I Want – The Film

Paris by Chanel – Inside CHANEL Movie

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Hi there Fashionistas,

Here we have another block in the Gabriel “Coco” Chanel story/myth/legend. She has been so painted, glossed and glammed that she could be a decoupage. The house lives on in splendour and Karl Lagerfeld is the reigning monarch. Still the house CHANEL is a major player and an international billion dollar money making factory.

I hope you enjoy their latest mini movie, a piece about the atelier, store and apartment at 31 Rue Cambon and Coco. Magic.

Portia xx

Chanel WallPaperMinePhoto Stolen WallPaperMine

Paris by Chanel – Inside CHANEL Movie

Scent With Love: CHANEL No.22

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Hi there APJ,

My mate Rose M sent me a package a while ago. It got lost in a drawer during a clean up and since we have been organising the house for Open Houses a bunch of forgotten magic has turned up. What is in the package? Modern & Vintage CHANEL No.22 EdT and some Vintage CHANEL No.22 parfum. OH MY! You may remember I discovered CHANEL No.22 in Paris earlier this year with Michael. Rose M thought I should get some historical juice on my skin and be able to compare, I’ll do my best but this wonky old nose will probably just smell the same thing at different strengths…..

 CHANEL No.22 by Ernest Beaux for CHANEL 1922

Chanel No 22 Chanel FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica 

Fragrantica  gives these featured accords:
Top: Lily-of-the-valley, neroli, aldehydes
Heart: Oriental jasmine, rose, Comoro island ylang-ylang
Base: Haiti vetiver, Bourbon vanilla

OK, so the vintage EdT comes out sweeter and more aldehydic. Current EdT has a fresh, nutty and much cooler vibe than the vintage. Vintage smells animal and sensual while the modern has a metallic edge, a little reminiscent of No. 19. As the top notes blow off the two become more alike and though still different they coulod be the same fragrance family now. Vintage seems smoother and warmer, like the ultimate softness of room temperature ivory against your skin and still the current is cooler, more transparent like cool crystal.

CHANEL No.22 EdT Ivory Carving Cliff FlickrPhoto stolen Flickr

CHANEL No.22 EdT Crystal Bowl Mauricio Gouvea FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

Suddenly, at about the 20-30 minute mark it’s like they both come into clear focus and smell nearly exactly the same, there are differences but only the difference that a wear on different days woulds NEVER tell apart. It’s like you are wearing the same fragrance but in different weather or after you’ve used a different body wash in the shower. Vintage lasts for hours longer in the heart section and when modern has almost completely disappeared I can still smell glorious aldehydic bouquet pumping its lavish tune from the vintage. Dry down is warm and subtly earthy but through CHANEL No. 22s life it never loses that aldehydic magic.

They are both incredible and I am going to grab some of the current EdT and Parfum. The die is cast.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Perfume Posse
You can try or buy CHANEL No. 22 at any of the stand alone CHANEL stores or a very few department stores.
Surrender To Chance has CHANEL No. 22 samples starting at $4/ml and Extrait at $8/ml

Thank You Rose M. I have enjoyed this throw down immensely and you have ultimately made me a complete slave to CHANEL No.22 EdT.

Portia xx

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Department Store Scents: Gabriella

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Post by Gabriella

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Hello perfumed peeps! I must admit that I have felt a bit out of the perfume scene of late. Being out of work until just last week and watching my pennies has meant that I’ve tried to resist the temptation of buying new samples or reading online forums or a blog post that may have me craving a new scent.

However, it’s also taught me that enjoying perfume doesn’t have to be an expensive exercise. I’ve been quite happy just going into stores and spritzing to my heart’s content – no credit card necessary. It also got me thinking that I’m lucky that I have access to and can afford niche scents. But what if this wasn’t the case? If I could only have department store fragrances, what would be my picks?
So here, I present to you my…..

Top 5 Department Store Scents

Anais Anais L’Original Eau de Parfum FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

1. Anais Anais L’Original by Cacharel 2014

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Hyacinth, galbanum, orange blossom
Heart: Jasmine, rose, lily
Base: Sandalwood, cedar, incense, amber
I’ve mentioned my love for this previously and have been wearing it happily ever since that post. Anais Anais to my mind remains one of the best designer scents on the market. Soft, feminine and graceful hyacinth and lily. It always brings a smile to my face.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and The Non Blonde
Anais Anais L’Original (available in both EDP and EDT) and Anais Anais EDT are widely available at department stores and online sellers.
FragranceNet has the current EDT starting at $31.19/30ml before discount
Surrender To Chance starts at $3/ml

Karl Lagerfeld for Her Karl Lagerfeld FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

2. Karl Lagerfeld for Her by Karl Lagerfeld 2014

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: lemon and peach
Heart: magnolia, rose and frangipani
Base: amber wood and musk

My lovely Mum picked this up for me on a recent holiday overseas. She handed it to me saying: “Well I know you’re a perfume snob, but I kept smelling it and thought it was beautiful. But if it’s not good enough and you don’t want it, I’ll have it.” Hehehe! I ended up keeping the bottle because, as Mums often are, she was right. This makes a nice departure from the swathes of fruitchoulis out there. It’s a pretty, demure and elegant mix of lemon, rose and white flowers.

Further reading:  Now Smell This
David Jones has $75/45ml

Marc Jacobs Marc Jacobs for women FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

3. Marc Jacobs for Women by Steve Demercado and Loc Dong for Marc Jacobs 2001

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: gardenia and bergamot
Heart: tuberose, jasmine, white pepper and honeysuckle
Base: ginger, cedar and musk

This was launched eons before the niche revival of gardenia scents and still remains one of the best in my view. It’s a watery take on the voluptuous white flower but without the dreaded aquatic/calone vibe, just an amazingly pretty “wet” gardenia. I just wish it was slightly more readily available as it’s a damn sight better than some of the recent releases by the house.

Michael Michael Kors FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

4. Michael by Laurent Le Guernec for Michael Kors 2000

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Freesia, incense, Chinese osmanthus, tamarind
Heart: Tuberose, iris, peony, orris root, arum lily
Base: Musk, cashmere wood, vetiver

I’ve mentioned this one before too. Whilst it might be shriek tuberose for some, this always feels like a second skin some 14 years after first trying it. It’s a strong tuberose, tempered by freesia and lily before the spices take over and make this all spicy white floral goodness.

Further reading: The Scents of Self
Michael is available in most department stores and online discounters.
FragranceNet has it starting at $41.19/50ml (before coupon)
My Perfume Samples starts at $2.49/ml

Chanel No 19 EDP Chanel Fragrantica

5. No 19 EDP by Henri Robert for Chanel 1970

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:

Top: green notes and bergamot
Heart: rose and iris
Base: vetiver, oakmoss and leather
I came late to the Chanel 19 party, but what a party it is! An aloof green icicle of perfumed beauty that just oozes confidence and chic. I prefer the EDP of this one for its much rosier depth and fullness.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Muse in Wooden Shoes
Chanel No 19 is available in most department stores
Surrender to Chance starts at $3.49/ml

So, there’s my take. What would your top 5 be?

With much love till next time!

M xx

Chanel No. 22 by Ernest Beaux for CHANEL 1922

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HEYA APJ Family & Friends,

One cool morning in Paris out with Michael in early 2014 we stumbled across 31 Rue Cambon, CHANEL Headquarters and once home of Gabrielle Chanel. Inside I tried for the very first time Les Exclusifs de Chanel No 22, thinking it would be a soft and retiring scent like much of the rest of the Les Exclusifs de Chanel range I opened my shirt and 3 big blasts, one then on each wrist ( I really wanted to live this fragrance for the hour it would last on me) and……….. BOOM! Wowzas, damn near blew the back of my head off, I was incandescent with No 22 and Michael could still smell me across the room at dinner that night.

Les Exclusifs de Chanel No. 22 Chanel by Ernest Beaux for CHANEL 1922

Les Exclusifs de Chanel No 22 Chanel FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica  gives these featured accords:
Top: Lily-of-the-valley, neroli, aldehydes
Heart: Oriental jasmine, rose, Comoro island ylang-ylang
Base: Haiti vetiver, Bourbon vanilla

Turned off? NO WAY!! It made me want CHANEL No. 22 like crazy. What a fragrance. So recently I was trotting through David Jones (the oldest department store trading under the same name in the same location in the world) with my girl friend Ainslie Walker and we came across the new CHANEL counter with all the lovely exclusives and parfums. YAY!!! The girl serving was so lovely, could not have been more helpful and wanted nothing more than to have us understand the range. Woo Hoo! An SA who knows their job. Delighted is an understatement.

Picture 2532Michael & I @ 31 Rue Cambon CHANEL (Photo donated by Michael)

I must say that I was definitely not in the market for product on this particular day. Had I been more financially flush this SA would definitely have had a sale. What I did get though was CHANEL No. 22 Extrait on my arm and on a porcelain. So that was about 2 weeks ago. Tonight I opened the porcelain expecting to get a base only reminder of CHANEL No. 22. WOW! My whole office is filled to the brim with this wonderful, green aldehydic like a glass filling with a fizzy, metallic, soda pop of a fragrance that is both bold and restrained. A cool character on a huge scale, that doesn’t make sense but that’s how it feels in this room right now. I am engulfed, happily, enthusiastically overcome by scent.

CHANEL SeedOfHappinessPhoto Stolen SeedOfHappiness

When I wear CHANEL No. 22 the aldehydes are the complete and utter star of the show, flowers are mown down, fruit is pulped and what I end up smelling is a metal/citrus/vanilla/vetiver creature. It’s a bit like putting snow in your mouth with a stainless steel spoon in a rose house with them all blooming. CHANEL No. 22 is one of the few vetiver fragrances where I get the soil/dirt/wood of the vetiver without salt hints, maybe the very dry vanilla cuts it?

Longevity? FOREVER! Sillage? You could ride the waves of it on water skis. Projection? It will blow the back of the heads from people in the next suburb, a little moderation with CHANEL No. 22 is probably a good idea. Of course I spritz with abandon some days and the world be damned.

CHANEL 22 CHANEL ginza Masaaki Komori FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Perfume Posse
You can try or buy CHANEL No. 22 at any of the stand alone CHANEL stores or a very few department stores.
Surrender To Chance has CHANEL No. 22 samples starting at $4/ml and Extrait at $8/ml

Are you a CHANEL No. 22 fan? Is it a bit overwhelming for you? Which in the line do you particularly like?
Have a great and fragrant day. Waft on my loves, waft on.

Portia xx

CHANEL: 5 Colours

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Hi there Fashion and Frag Peeps,

Another fun and beautiful CHANEL ad. Explaining the use of CHANEL’s 5 main colours. Some interesting insights and quotes from Gabrielle Chanel and the image she hoped to portray through her fashion house.

Please enjoy.
Portia xx

Chanel_headquarters WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

CHANEL: 5 Colours

From CHANEL: Black. White. Beige. Gold. Red.
In Chapter 11 of Inside CHANEL, five colors come alive as we delve into the history, the anecdotes, and the quotes from Mademoiselle herself that immortalized their significance for CHANEL.

The Colors – Inside CHANEL: Video