Patchouli Imperial by Francois Demachy for Christian Dior 2011

March 19, 2016 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 24 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there Fragrant Family,

Since we’ve been back from holidays I have spent a little time hunting through the decant/split section of my collection. There is so much choice here, enough for three lifetimes of fragrant addiction that unless I really set out to search the outlying areas things get forgotten. I remember trying today’s fragrance once when I bought this decant and being sadly unimpressed but last night I gave it a spritz before bed and this morning I still smell beautiful. softly tinted with the scent of …..

Patchouli Imperial by Christian Dior 2011

Patchouli Imperial by Francois Demachy

La Collection Couturier Parfumeur Patchouli Imperial Dior for men Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Sicilian mandarin, Calabrian bergamot, Coriander, Indonesian patchouli, cedarwood, sandalwood essence

So I wore Patchouli Imperial again today, all day, and I’ll be wearing it to bed again tonight. In 1.5 days I’ve gone through about 4ml of my 10ml decant. That’s some serious fragrance use. Why? Because suddenly I have fallen madly in love and it’s so absolutely wearable. It was perfect last night as a sleep scent, today while blogging and organising stuff. It was also a winner to go to the physio and shopping afterwards. Then tonight my BFF Kath and I went and ate a WHOLE PEKING DUCK with pancakes, greenery and Hoisin sauce. OMG! I’m so freaking full right now, you have no idea.

DIOR

How does it smell? Well, the citrus burns off fairly quickly and a waxy, woody, green-but-not patchouli that reminds me of the SJP Lovely patchouli/musk but a little more barber shop styled. The woods are there too but in a just polished retro furniture way. The whole fragrance smells smooth, stylish and uncomplicated; more of a fragrant wash that a loud signature statement.

Patchouli Imperial smells to me like a perfect office scent. It is fragrant but not overbearing, could be quite ambient until you get in really close and realise that freaking amazing almost smell is this person. I could also imagine it haunting someone who smelled it on you afterwards. Doomed to be forever seeking that perfect and unattainable fragrance that was once smelled on this person at work, in a restaurant or at a party. Great fragrance to leave on a lovers sheets too.

Flickr

Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies and Olfactoria’s Travels
Available at DIOR stand alone stores, large department stores and now big airports (ask)
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3.25/ml

Are you a patchouli fan? Which of the DIOR Privé line do you love most?
Portia xx

Poison by Edouard Flechier for Christian Dior 1985

December 23, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Post by Joseph Sagona

Hi APJ,

Review #300

I have a history with Poison, it’s one of my Mothers all time favorite perfumes, she still wears it to this day, every time I wear it, it reminds me of her. I can remember being nine years old and going into my Mother’s bed room and on top of her dresser would be that beautiful purple bottle of Poison, I would steal a few sprays here and there, I loved the smell so much, it was so sweet and fruity.

My Mother has no idea that I do fragrance reviews, she would probably wonder why I do them, so I never told her, but she does know I love fragrance. This review I will show her, I want her to know how much I love her and what she means to me, and for her to know that Poison is the fragrance that started me on my love, passion and amazing journey of fragrances today.

Poison by Christian Dior 1985

Poison by Edouard Flechier

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Brazillian rosewood, plum, wild berries, anise, coriander
Heart: Carnation, jasmine, opoponax, African orange flower, tuberose, white honey, rose, incense, cinnamon
Base: Virginian cedar, heliotrope, amber, vanilla, vetiver, sandalwood, musk

Dior’s Poison is the type of fragrance that you have to have attitude and confidence to wear, it is strong, classy, elegant, charming, sophisticated and bitchy.

I get the Plum, White Honey, Incense, Wild Berries, Tuberose and Cinnamon it opens up with a lush, dark plum and a tart, sweet wild berries, the dark plum and wild berries are strong. Then after thirty minutes the plum dissipates, the wild berries soften, in comes a dry, aromatic cinnamon and a whispering, creamy tuberose, the cinnamon is soft, the tuberose is mild.

After three hours the cinnamon dissipate and the tuberose softens. In comes a golden, silky white honey and a warm incense with a touch of sweetness, the honey and incense are mild.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Poison reminds me of Jeanne Arthes Cobra, and Christian Dior’s Poison Extrait, Cobra is spicier, citric and stronger woods, Poison Extrait has stronger florals, softer spices and comes off soapy.

Poison is very fruity, sweet, dark, floral, syrupy and unisex. It leans more towards the feminine side, with soft woody and spicy undertones: a floral fragrance. This can be worn all year ’round, it would be better suited for the Fall and Winter, I get good projection and good longevity, a Christian Dior masterpiece.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Further reading: Yesterday’s Perfume and Black Narcissus
FragranceNet has $73/50ml before Coupon
My Perfume Samples starts at $2.50/ml

What is your Poison? Have you ever worn it?
Joseph Sagona

Dior Prestige: From the Rose to the Skin: Film

October 16, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Portia

DIOR. One of the great western fashion houses that even the name gives me a thrill of lux. Its history, even its modern change from Galliano to Simmons. I love the current way the house is moving, though now that the Exclusives line is available in department stores it doesn’t feel so exclusive. The crew down at our Sydney DIOR standalone store are wonderful, always ask for Jolanta when you’re there (she doesn’t work Mondays) because she will take extra special care if you tell her Portia from Australian Perfume Junkies sent you.

Anyway, I love the DIOR ads and this one is no exception,

I hope you enjoy it,
Portia xx

Dior Prestige – From the Rose to the Skin

No, not affiliated, just love their stuff.

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY WINNER

September 18, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there crew. I am so excited to share these babies from my collection. All vintage: Diorissimo EdC, Miss Dior EdT, Dioressence EdT. Can’t wait to see who our lucky winner is.

Portia xx

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY WINNER

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Green leaves
Heart: Amaryllis, Boronia, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Rosemary, Ylang-ylang
Base: Sandalwood, Civet

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Diorissimo EdC vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Miss Dior EdT vintage sample from my bottle
1 x Dioressence EdT vintage sample from my bottle
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 17th September 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen nodepositforum

Michelle U

The winner will have till Sunday 20th September 2015 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.

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by Edmond Roudnitska for DIOR 1956

September 14, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 34 Comments

Post by Portia

So I’ve learned something about vintage fragrances recently. They are quite different to the original intention. Please don’t shut me down. I’m not saying they are bad, wrong, inferior or unworthy of your attention: they are super worthy. Even the most badly decomposing vintage fragrance can still give you a hint of the majesty once curled within. So the top notes are wonky, who cares? Those base notes made of real animals (and no I don’t condone the killing of animals for our vanity. I do think though that if those creatures are being murdered anyway that we should use every single bit of them, even the fragrant parts for our scents) last forever and ten minutes into the ride you are coasting on a wave of deep furry burnished beauty unattainable today.

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by DIOR 1956

Diorissimo EdC Vintage by Edmond Roudnitska

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Green leaves
Heart: Amaryllis, Boronia, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily, Lily-of-the-valley, Rosemary, Ylang-ylang
Base: Sandalwood, Civet

Recently I grabbed a bottle of vintage Diorissimo EdC. It came fully and perfectly preserved in its original cellophane wrapping, flawless. When I opened it, a 26ml splash, the juice was crystal clear and only slightly coloured, even less than the colour of Milly-la-Foret. I think the lid on a splash lets zero air in, unlike a spritz, because this is the most perfectly preserved version of Diorissimo of any age that I’ve smelled. Ainslie Walker and I were trying it yesterday because she is writing the Miu-Miu fragrance currently and she wanted to be able to compare the treatments of lily of the valley. We were both seriously enraptured by this perfectly demure dirty slut scent. Unbelieveable that it was the fragrance of young wealthy girls everywhere.

Lily of the valley and civet, frankly I’m a little surprised not to see ambergris in the accord list. The rest of the flowers are a beautiful bouquet with some fresh greenery that has still the soft green sappy scent of torn leaves.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Perfumed Dandy
eBay and ETSY have the vintage, department stores the current versions
Surrender To Chance has vintage samples starting from $6/ml

So today we have a very special giveaway which includes samples of Diorissimo EdC, Dioressence EdT and Miss Dior EdT from my own bottles, all VERY vintage.

Portia xxx

Photo Stolen kbaird

Diorissimo EdC GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

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 (portia underscore turbo @ yahoo dot com dot au) 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 me your favourite DIOR, old or new, and why

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Thursday 17th Septembert 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org
The winner will have till Sunday 20th September 2015 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.

Miss Dior Web Documentary – Episode 1: The fragrance creation behind the scenes

August 7, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom

G’Day,

Actually I almost never say G’Day unless I’m using the Aussie card in a gay bar and trying to pick up. I do love it when out in the rural parts of Australia and everyone says it.

So, Jin has a couple of actresses that he really loves and Natalie Portman is one of them. Here she meets perfumer Francois Demachy and he takes her through some of the notes and the behind the scenes fun of creating a fragrance, Miss Dior 2012. I love that they are talking as if it’s a fragrance made for Natalie Portman alone, it adds a very cool side interest.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Even if you hate the bullshit that goes with selling a fragrance this Miss Dior video captures so nicely the lovely face of Natalie Portman.

Enjoy,
Portia xx

Miss Dior Web Documentary

Episode 1: The fragrance creation behind the scenes

DIOR Giveaway Winners

June 8, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom

Hiya APJ Frag Family,

Seems we hit a jackpot with a giveaway you all really loved. I’m glad.

Let’s see who scored.

Portia xx

DIOR Giveaway Winners

WHAT COULD YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Fève Délicieuse + Cuir Cannage + Oud Ispahan DIOR manufacturers samples
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DID YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us a favorite DIOR fragrance, from any of their ranges and any vintage

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Christian DIOR Privée GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-330 #Perfume #Giveaway @Dior

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 7th June 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner was chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen HighestSelf

TIM

CONGRATULATIONS!! The winner will have till Thursday 11th June 2015 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.

DIOR: Fève Délicieuse + Cuir Cannage + Oud Ispahan

June 5, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 62 Comments

Hi there Perfume Junkies.

The other day Ainslie Walker trotted into DIOR flagship store in Sydney, while there and chatting to our fave DIOR SA Jolanta they started talking about APJ and Jolanta asked where I’d been hiding. So between them they cooked up an idea to get me the newest DIOR releases in their fabulous miniature bottles, which are scale to the real deal. I think they hold 5 or 8ml which is heaps for becoming addicted to their delicious juices. When I went to see Jolanta myself a couple of heavy duty DIOR shoppers came in so we didn’t really get to say more than Hello & Goodbye but I’m going to go in very early one day and have a natter.

DIOR Privée

Francois Demachy has created these beauties for the Privée range. Though not astoundingly new or highly envelope-pushingly-original what I love about the DIOR Privée range is their cool and classic classiness, beautifully blended and nuanced fragrances that fit into my life seamlessly. Sometimes I wish I was a one frag kinda guy so I could purchase an enormous DIOR Privée bottle and drain it to the dregs. I have a fewof the smaller bottles and now that Granville is discontinued I really want to grab some of that too.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

DIOR: Oud Ispahan

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Labdanum
Heart: Patchouli
Base: Sandalwood, rose, agarwood (oud)

Oud Ispahan is a slightly boozy sweet floral leather. A toffee coated leather opening that blooms beautifully into a brand new, extremely luxe handbag smell drenched in roses and a light dusting of oud. It feels like a very posh version of a 1980s fragrance marketed to men. Totally wearable and yummy. I have a bottle of Oud Ispahan bought in Paris, every time I wear it I am transported back to Winter Paris.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

DIOR: Cuir Cannage

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Orange blossom, ylang ylang
Heart: Leather, jasmine, rose, iris
Base: Birch, juniper, leather

Cuir Cannage is leather, sweet leather. A gorgeous creamy leather that pays as much homage to flowers as it does to the treated skins of dead animals. The iris, ylang, white flowers create a sumptuous bouquet that is brilliantly offset by the dry rasp of leather and birch and the sharpness of the juniper. This softly, softly leather approach is quite prevalent in modern perfumery and I like it very much. If I owned a bottle of Cuir Cannage I think it would see a lot of skin time.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

DIOR: Fève Délicieuse

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Venezuelan tonka bean, vanilla, caramel, cocoa, pralines, woody accords

If DIOR were trying to out-Guerlain Guerlain then Fève Délicieuse is what I would dream they could accomplish. I’m talking about Old School Guerlain, where you could smell a beautiful growling beastie hiding beneath the sweet bakery. Here we have all the sweetness of modern gourmand tempered by tonka and woods, which serve to create a lovely baseline that hints heavily at animal. I’m surprised honey isn’t one of the featured notes. This is exactly how I would like to smell.

DIOR Giveaway

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Fève Délicieuse + Cuir Cannage + Oud Ispahan DIOR manufacturers samples
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us a favorite DIOR fragrance, from any of their ranges and any vintage

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Christian DIOR Privée GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-330 #Perfume #Giveaway @Dior

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 7th June 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Thursday 11th June 2015 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.

DIOR Secret Garden IV: Rihanna

May 31, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom

OMG!

If you loved the previous DIOR Secret Garden movies then be aware that they are day compared to this vision of night. Rihanna is the model and both she and the soundtrack are beautiful and ethereal and menacing. She is like the perfectly dressed and presented evil queen wandering through her deserted palace in the black of night.

Photo Stolen YouTube

Unbelievably gorgeous….
Enjoy,
Portia xx

Dior Secret Garden IV featuring Rihanna – Versailles

Be Dior – Savoir Faire: Making Of Video

May 22, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 6 Comments

DIOR, DIOR, DIOR!

One of my great loves is the house of DIOR. Here we see the making of a DIOR handbag. It’s a beautiful thing and one day I shall own me a DIOR handbag, probably a second hand one but nevertheless.

Photo Stolen DIOR Tumbler

I hope you enjoy seeing how the real deal are made.

Tell me in the comments your handbag fantasies.
Portia xx