Scent Diary 31.7 – 6.8.2017

August 6, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 22 Comments

Portia

Hi there Fragrant Friends,

Considering how much ground I’ve covered this week and how much has been accomplished it’s all felt quite peaceful. Hectic but measured. There has been time in each day for a little nap, food and friends have been abundant and work life has sandwiched in nicely between everything else.

Don’t worry, I know how blessed my life is. I’m so grateful.

Scent Diary 31.7 – 6.8.2017

Monday 31:

Monday Morning. Weather is overcast but quite warm for midwinter and I am feeling super lazy. Sadly there’s a shitload of things on the list that need doing and I am going to do my best to get as many done as possible by 3pm so I can have a nap. Now that is real motivation.

Spritzed myself in Queen by Queen Latifah. I am a patchouli/citrus goddess right now. It was wafting around me like crazy on our dog walk.

Ordered Bingo Books and Dabbers for our newest night starring our newest regular hostess Maxi Shield. How fabulous is the poster?

Did my invoicing for the month. Really, owning businesses is NOT for lazy people like me. HA! I had a really happy moment today thinking about how wonderful the Drag Queens we have working at Turbo are. Every week they entertain the crowds and it’s extremely rare that I get a complaint about any of our regular queens. They work hard and are grateful to be employed. In a Drag job-market shrinking daily in Sydney due to club closures and venue direction changes Turbo keeps 8 Drag Queens in weekly work. I’m really proud of that and hope we can give many more regular gigs.

Talked to my Aunty Tracey on the phone and nattered away 20 minutes happily.

The second house in Tasmania has been untenanted for two weeks but today I got a call from the Real Estate to say they have a wonderful new tenant collecting the keys on Thursday. WOO HOO! I was secretly worrying about having a house untenanted during winter, the worst time for rentals. PHEW!

Got Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday into the blog.

Got my Trivia Jackpot and Games questions written.

3.12pm NAP TIME

Jin called and asked if I wanted to go to Korean BarBQ because we missed out on Friday night. HELL YES! So I went and met him and we talked and laughed and ate SO MUCH FOOD! My tummy hurts. It was wonderful. Here is Jin, he’s wearing a top I bought him for his birthday a couple of months ago. I can tell when I’m in the good books with Jin because he wears my gifts.

Laydee also rang with a new Trivia gig today. It’s been Go-Go-Go.

Now I’m about to finish writing the weeks Trivia Q&A.

It’s nearly midnight and I can still smell my morning spritzes of Queen. AMAZING!

Tuesday 1:

It’s 1.35am and I’m Q&A finished and sent. Had hoped to do one more APJ post but my hearts not in it so I’m going to make a cuppa, go read a bit and then sleep.

Today is busy. Scott is coming to do office work and the general running around that entails. I will need to do beard dying and get ready to become a glamorous Drag Queen for work tonight. Then after al the fun and madness of my day pack a small bag because I’m flying down to Melbourne tomorrow to see Margeaux’s new home that he’s just bought and spend the day hanging with him.

I’m wearing Carner Barcelona Rima XI because it smells warm and fuzzy and doesn’t distract me too much from the job at hand.

Instead of giving you a blow by blow account of my day here’s a music clip of two of Australia’s greatest rock musicians Jimmy Barnes and Marcia Hines. They’re singing one of my favourite songs since childhood. These guys are mates of mine and to hear them singing together on this track brings chills, goosebumps and tears. So many memories of people, places, times. Music is a lot like fragrance, our memories are buried deep until released by scent or sound. Happy tears and sad.

I hope it brings you as much peace as it does me. If you can, turn the volume right up.

Scott and I got so much done today. Paid bills, Post Office (letters, parcels, collecting and sending,, bills and redirections), organised Receipts for the bookkeeper and a few other bibs and bobs. I also gave him the last piece of his birthday present to arrive. Russian Carnation EdC, as Scott as I can find. he was stoked.

My bathing routine included B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar bubble bath, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Kenzo Amour

Something else I wanted to talk to you about. My mate Jye Bryant creates musicals. He has recently had one return from a hit season in New York City and it will be playing at the New Theatre in Newtown September 15-18 as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. You can book at the New Theatre Site. Full $30 or Concession $25

THE THINGS I COULD NEVER TELL STEVEN

BY JYE BRYANT

Steven has a secret that might tear his family apart. Meanwhile, his wife, mother, father and lover are fighting for his attention and coming to terms with their hidden feelings of betrayal, anguish, frustration and fear.
Laugh, squirm, and cry as this new Australian musical takes you on a rollercoaster ride with a modern dysfunctional family.

Wednesday 2:

Got up at sparrows fart and drove into town, parked at Kath’s apartment and cabbed it to the airport. Jumped a plane and flew down to Melbourne to see my mate Margeaux (who used to write for APJ) ‘s new apartment. His first real estate buy and it is gorgeous. 15-20 minutes on a tram from Federation Square and also quite near a train station in Prahran.

I took him one of Jocelyn Fullerton’s Cult of Scent candles as a housewarming present. The apartment is all in charcoal and white so the very lavish pop of red makes an excellent point of reference. YAY! So we had a burger lunch and then Margeaux had to go back to work.

I trotted off the the National Gallery of Victoria and spent two perfect hours wandering the art with myself, the art and my thoughts for company. It was incredibly refreshing and energising. I also love how fastidiously clean the bathrooms were.

Such a diverse array. An excellent Asian collection but sadly no Korean for Jin.

Currently they are showing historical garment illustrations and magazines, very interesting.

Jin has decided his favourite impressionist is Camille Pissarro and they had a few of his works so I snapped and sent them to him.

Russian Tzar lamp, one of a pair I think by Baccarat.

Degas sculpture of dancer checking her feet.

The Alice chair, some kind of resin shaped.

Black heart, I have made it my own by adding myself to the shot.

Poor old Jesus, eternally hanging around churches, galleries and museums.

Then I trotted quickly up to Masons, the new menswear store on Flinders Lane, just up the hill and tried Philippe Starck Peau d`Ailleurs which is supposed to be earth, woods and musk but I found it quite green and wet. It had extraordinary lasting power and I could easily smell it on my hand next day. There is not much love among perfumistas for the range but I found it interesting and though subtle quite entrancing. I REALLY want to ry it again now. It’s the middle one.

Starck

Then, as I was about to grab the train to get back to the airport one of my fave handsome young gentleman frag addicts called and said he was available for catch ups! YAY! We weren’t sure he’d make it. So, over a 15 minute wine for him and coffee for me Liam Sardea and I caught up, grabbed a big hug and off I went into the sunset.

Once home I grabbed ALL the leftover Chinese, one of Jin’s pre-made rice packs, some frozen peas, a can of creamed corn and stir fried the whole lot to boiling hot. Then I sat in front of the TV and watched rubbish while I ate the yummiest reheats ever. HAPPY DAY!

Thursday 3:

Tina is home from hospital and has been staying at her parents, I went out and collected her to come back to Sydney. We had a very fun cuppa and catch up with her parents, who I bloody adore. They are so lovely.

For the day I decided on vintage Patou 1000 EdT. Excellent accompaniment to the cool sunshine of Sydney winter.

Roger & Gallet Cedrat bubble bath, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Neela Vermeire Creations Nichola. You can read my review of the wear if you like.

Friday 4:

Imagine the laziest day ever. Perfume it with DIOR Privé Sakura and you’ll understand how laid back it was.

Jin and I had lunch in the food court, then came home and hung out around the house.

For dinner we met Alice and had Peking Duck! A whole duck between three of us and San Choy Bow, then Beef & Black Bean with Cashews and Egg Fried Rice. It was heavenly! I could eat Chinese every second meal and still be excited.

Saturday 5:

Woke up and walked the dogs in frosty sunshine, my breath was making clouds.

Jin and I met Alice & Sam at DFO (a discount mall) where we bought new Uggs, some Ralph Lauren polos and a jumper, a new pillow for me because mine has been embarrassing for years and it was time and a few other bits & pieces. It was fun and silly, trying on clothes and laughing.

Jin was completely gorgeous smelling in Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan, seriously drop dead gorgeous and I wafted Pozzo di Borgo: 23 Janvier 1984, which is a lovely figgy scent.

We came home and had delicious Jin made Korean Chicken Curry with Naan bread and watched The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway. How had I never seen it before? Loved it.

Tonight Margaritas and Tacos with Kath, Alice and Jin. We sat outside around a pub turned Taco den, at a park table and bench seats in one on the pavement. There were 5 or 6 such tables around the venue and every seat was jam packed with young mixed urban crews from all colours and wage ranges. The chill night air was comfortable and we chattered, laughed and ate a few very happy hours away. The Margaritas were quite good, we had two each, and everyone was softly merry by the end.

Just quietly, I love my life and my friends. Yes I know how lucky I am, we are.

Sunday 6:

I woke up at 1am and went to my perfume room, sat down and had the urge to read perfume blogs. This rarely happens lately as life gets busier. I got to the latest What Men Should Smell Like about Guerlain Sous le Vent and immediately dived for my bottle to live the magic. Ahhhhh, what a fragrance…… Going back to bed now to savour it. Guerlain Sous le Vent is wonderful.

Breakfasted on the verandah with these two sexy boys.

Peanut Butter Toast and a Coffee. One of lifes easiest joyful moments. YUM!

Jin was getting a bit Jealous Julie because he’s not in the Scent Diary enough. So here he is doing his very best blog smile for you all. isn’t he a fricken cutie? Love him to infinity but today he was scratching my very last nerve. We had a late evening fight to clear the air that ended in happy kisses and fervent Fuck You’s from both of us.

Today’s bathe was lovely bubbles from L`Artisan Parfumeur La Chasse aux Papillons in the pump pack which was a gift from my mate Tim, followed by a light Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and I forgot to put fragrance on. I did remain softly fragrant throughout the night though and can even still smell soft vanilla sweetness at 10pm.

Now it’s your turn. Please share something fun, fragrant, friendly or foolish that you got up to this week?
We love to read your stories.
Portia xx

Saturday Question: DIOR, Lutens, CHANEL or Guerlain?

August 5, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 80 Comments

Portia

Hello Fellow Fumies,

Once a week here on Australian Perfume Junkies we have a Question, an idea purloined from Olfactoria’s Travels. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it is generally a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.

The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them.

Over 100 responses I will draw a $10 Surrender To Chance Gift Card.
Over 200 responses I will draw a $20 Surrender To Chance Gift Card.
Comment purposefully on yours or anothers comment & you’ll have a chance, random.org will draw on Friday.

Last Weeks Winner: $10 Surrender To Chance Gift Card Tiffanie

Saturday Question: DIOR, Lutens, CHANEL or Guerlain?

So many times on blogs and FaceBook chat pages these four fragrance houses come up. They seem to be the benchmark in a multitude of ways and I often wonder if people have a favourite from the big four.

My Answer:

This collection is littered with all four brands. Guerlain is the best represented in sheer quantity but that’s mainly because I buy a LOT of vintage and have multiples of the same thing. There is also a moderate collection of vintage mens and womens targeted CHANEL and not very much of the modern stuff. In DIOR there are a bunch of vintage Miss Dior, a good vintage cross section, some modern and more than half of the prive line. My Lutens collection is currently at 33 bottles (export, bell, vapo.).

Guerlain

So let’s talk about what I wear the most, maybe that will help sort it out. I think Guerlain outstrips the other brands in skin time by at least double. Shalimar and Mitsouko being my most frequent wears but lately Mon Guerlain and Black Perfecto have been getting a lot of skin. I also wear a lot of the Aqua Allegoria line, Samsara, Vol de Nuit, Mahoma, La Parisiennes, L’Art et la Matiere and both of the d’Orient collections. So, though I think the Guerlain brand degraded beyond belief and that it’s going to hell in a handbasket, it does seem to be the house that I wear most regularly and keep coming back to for so many reasons. It’s been a part of my life from earliest recollections and still is a major personal fragrant influence.

So my question to you today is: DIOR, Lutens, CHANEL or Guerlain?

NEW!! Sakura by DIOR Privé 2017

August 4, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 20 Comments

Portia

Hey Crew,

Just arrived in my hands is one of DIOR’s newest set of releases. Apparently they are available in the Paris store so far and maybe NYC but they still don’t even know about them in the Sydney DIOR store, but were really excited by the news. It’s all so new that aren’t even up on fragrantica or parfumo yet, so no notes lists. So today’s post is mainly guesswork. We can all have a laugh when the lists are revealed.

Sakura by DIOR Privé 2017

The only two notes I can find are on baseNotes and they are Cherry Blossom and Almond. As sakura means cherry blossoms that makes sense.

Cherry and greenery open. A wet, sheer, delicate fragrance that has an interesting warmth underneath the cool fruit and frosty cool morning feel. Like going out to get the newspaper on a frosty weekend morning in your warm tracksuit, Uggs and robe. Though it’s cold you are kept warm by your prior internal heat from being in the house. Why a weekend? Sakura feels like there is time, no rush, a calm embrace to the day. Maybe you have already made your morning tea and while you get the paper it’s steeping. There is also a tea feel, dry tea leaves and the dry ache at the back of your throat when drinking it.

Sakura by DIOR Privé 2017 cherry blossom watercolour pixabay PDI

The almond is a constant base where all the lighter, wetter and more colourful notes can float around but remain anchored. You know after you’ve had a biscotti and tea? There is a curious taste that follows these together, it’s a happy and comfortable taste. Sakura has moments of smelling like that taste. I think there is vetiver and maybe sandalwood but the creaminess could be ylang.

I would more have expected this style of scent to come from L’Occitane than DIOR but it’s smooth, unrumpled, comfortable elegance does also put me in mind of DIOR post Raf Simons and into the Maria Grazia Chiuri era. It’s pretty and effortless, a softly shimmering scent that will be perfect for the modern day fragrance wearer. Not incredible or ground breaking, in fact quite derivative of what we’ve smelled before but done in a luxurious way. Closer to Hermès that DIOR.

Are you excited by the prospect?
Portia xx

Scent Diary 24.7 – 30.7.2017

July 30, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 25 Comments

Portia

Hey there Perfume Junkies,

Here’s a shot of my outfit for the Sydney Stingers on Saturday last week, taken by Daniel Kirkwood at the event. Yes, I am a fur & sequin galion under full sail.

Scent Diary 24.7 – 30.7.2017

Monday 24:

This morning, in the middle of winter, saw the return of spring in Parramatta. The sun is shining, bulbs are pushing through the soil, there’s a hint of greenery on the breeze and it was lovely to be out and about on a mornings ramble with the dogs.

I decided to let the faux spring choose my fragrance and what better reminder of spring than Penhaligon’s Ostara. Sadly this gorgeously green narcissus and bouquet of other fresh flowers scent was not a big hit for them but it is so lovely and has made me smile this morning.

After last weeks creative extravaganza I’m way behind on all things blog and trivia so this morning is dedicated to answering comments, this afternoon and evening will be new posts and my Q&A. Woo Hoo! I think I’m ready for it.

So instead of working all day I went and spent a big happy chunk of it hanging out with TinaG who is back at her parents house recuperating after her hospital stint. We went and lunched at a wonderful Thai restaurant in Windsor. Pressies from Tara at A Bottled rose, beanie crocheted by Vanessa of Bonkers About Perfume. She LOVED them

Then we went on an adventure ride to The Fruit Bowl, a cafe that specialises in home made pies of the sweet and savoury styles. I had Scones, Jam & Cream with a cuppa and Tina had Chamomile tea. We saw them making their pies, bought Apple pies and Honey. MMMMMMM

Home by 5pm. Started working at the computer on Trivia. Having a coffee break now and a spritz of Grandiflora Madagascan Jasmine. BEAUTIFUL!!

Jin came home and wanted to watch Despicable Me 2. What could I do but succumb to his sweetness.

MORE TRIVIA!

Tuesday 25:

Catch up. Catching up. Blog, Trivia, Postage, eMail and FaceBook. Not caught up but definitely making inroads.

Today has been so glorious but I’ve been house bound, BUMMER.

Wore Etat Libre d’Orange Fat Electrician and it’s zingy metallic vetiver was an excellent choice.

Jin had the Telstra man come in. We are changing to Optus and he needed to do some fixing. We are now without internet in the house so I’m tethering the phone to my computer. It’s surprisingly effective.

Bath time today was in B&BW bubbles, Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and atwork I wore Diptyque 34 Boulevard Saint Germain EdT. Very nice. A smooth, spicy, fresh fruit & greens, balmy scent that ends a resinous dry wood. It smells like old rooms, recently aired but the wooden furniture and polish and a very slight hint of cold damp linger and blend with fresh sheets.

For bed? I wanted something odd so chose Sarah Jessica Parker Covet. A perfect Frankenstein’s monster of a smell that leads me deeper and deeper till I sleep. Never enough one thing or the other it seems to find harmonious balance in it’s utter lack. Plastic geranium, waxy white flowers, cool amber with thoroughly unnatural musks. Excellent night scent, I could imagine it being the choice for ghouls and vampires.

Wednesday 26:

WOW! An amazing day with my mate David who currently lives in UAE working as a butler/EA. He’s in Sydney visiting the family and friends and we had had today in the book forever. I had COMPLETELY forgotten but he reminded me last night so I sent through three ideas for the day. He chose one and we added a second and it was a terrific catch up.

I got a bus & train to town and we met at the NSW Art Gallery at 10.45am. I knew we could do an 11am free tour of the main gallery BUT when I arrived it was with fabulously happy surprise I noticed their current exhibition had the name O’Keeffe. Could it be? I asked myself. Fortuitously the answer was yes. Georgia O’Keeffe in an exhibition with two Australian women artists of the same era; O’Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith – making modernism.

So we had a cuppa, did the 11am Gallery Tour, had another cuppa, did the 12pm O’Keeffe, Preston, Cossington Smith Tour and finished our gallery time with lunch in the Members Lounge.

We wandered across the Domain to Sydney City and had dessert at the David Jones Food Court Cafe. I wanted David to come through David Jones and try some fragrance. He’d been so nice to us in UAE when we were there and I figured EVERYONE needs a new scent. Sadly he wanted none of it. I did get him to spritz DIOR Leather Oud and CHANEL Bois des Iles. Maybe he’ll fall in love with them and ask me to grab them for him one day. As all good things must come to and end then it was time to go

Thursday 27:

Walked the dogs, Bank, Post Office and had an early lunch with Jin at our favourite local cafe. It’s been a beautiful morning, lazy & slow.

Afternoon much the same.

Serge Lutens Daim Blond for work. Got quite a few compliments. Surprising because I think of it as such a subtle beauty, well apparently it was wafting itself into peoples hearts.

Friday 28:

My right knee is playing silly buggers. Not so long ago the patella decided it wanted to drift around, it seems to have decided it needs another vacation from its prescribed spot. A throbbing, uncomfortable feeling that lodges itself in my stomach. Did ALL the exercises my guy prescribed last time it happened.

We took the dogs to the Off-Leash Dog Park nearby today and I was freaking out but the dogs seemed to love it, Jin loved it too. I was a bundle of nerves.

Actually I’m a bit glum. No reason, just a little bit bleach.

We’d organised a Korean BarBQ get together for a bunch of our mates but completely forgot that I have a Christmas In July Fundraiser tonight. Sometimes I surprise myself at how vague I can be. OOOPSIE!

I wore loads of Reem Acra because I wrote about it on Perfume Posse this week and felt it needed an outing. Perfect hefty sheer radiant white floral extravaganza that nods to history but is completely in the now.

Christmas In July Fundraiser for the Children’s Hospital was a grand success. We raised a bunch of money and the participants had a ball. Already talk of doing it again.

Saturday 29:

Jin decided he wanted to try Archery a few months ago. He wanted it to be a big fun day out for the crew but no one was interested. So, because we love him dearly, his BFF Matt and I said we’d go. Anyway the day was perfect and it was really easy to understand the basics, we had fun BUT my fingers are fricken killing now. STILL, nearly 12 hours later they are red and feel like they have pins & needles.

The guys were much better shots than me but I did manage one bullseye.

Home for a Saturday afternoon nap. I grabbed Paris my dog and we cuddled for the nap, Jin slept in front of the TV and his dog on the dog bed in front of the TV. LOADS of snoring from all four of us.

Kath’s dads birthday party tonight. The whole family there. Jin and I grabbed Take Away Chinese. The Lee family did the cake. Kath made sure there were gifts and drinks etc. We had a ball. I think Dad has a photo on his phone that Jin took of us all (Second shot). There was so much fun and laughter, we all had great stories to tell and it was a terrific night. As the birthday cake was being lit Dad (the birthday boy) started saying women didn’t know how to light matches and all hell broke loose. It was apocalyptic, and hilarious, everyone having a go at him for sexism and we were all laughing so much that my tummy hurts.

When I got home my buddy Michael sends me this pic of us in the dressing room of the Fridge in Brixton, London. We were Go-Go dancers there on Saturday nights and as you can see, high as kitten. Great memories.

Sunday 30:

Lazy Sunday with Jin at work, me home with the dogs. Only left the house today to walk them till work time. Heavenly Sunday.

Finished this lovely little shower gel in the bath today. B&BW Pretty As A Peach. Bubbles over my head. It was glorious.

Slathered myself in Guerlain La Cologne du Perfumer today. It’s a beautiful cologne, wears very fragrantly for about an hour and then softens off to almost a functional white musk but stays just interesting enough to jump that hurdle. Funnily, I can’t smell it after 2 hours but I got a compliment tonight at the end of work as I kissed Anna-Maria goodbye. That was five hours later.

OK, so you’ve read my life. How was your week? Share a story that’s fun, family, food, friends or fragrance oriented. Anything you’d like to share, we’d love to read it.

Portia xx

Saturday Question: What 5 Would You Take?

July 22, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 106 Comments

Portia

Hello Fellow Fumies,

The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them.

If we get over 100 responses I will draw a $10 Surrender To Chance Gift Card. If we get over 200 responses I will draw a $20 Surrender To Chance Gift Card, that should buy you a couple of ml or pay your postage. Every comment will get a place in the draw, so if you comment purposefully on your own or another comment you’ll have a chance, random.org will draw the winner on Friday and the winner will be announced in next Saturdays question.

Saturday Question: What 5 Would You Take?

This is not a new question but hopefully the way I’ve posed it will be a little different. Every time I do one of these questions the answers change so it always makes me ponder joyfully.

OK, so you’re renovating your house and you have to move out for a month. It’s an Insurance Job so they’re putting you into a Serviced Apartment for one month. You’re really happy about that but there’s a downside. There’s only room in the bathroom for your ablutary stuff and 5 bottles of fragrance. It’s not forever, right, and you only have to choose for your current weather so that cuts down the crossover. What 5 Would You Take?

What 5 Would You Take? My answer

It’s winter here so I’m going to pack mainly stuff I love for cold weather and one “pretend it’s summer” scent.

Fragrantica

Keiko Mecheri Un Jour d’Ete:

This winter my “pretend it’s summer’ scent has been Un Jour d’Ete. Its creamy summer vibe has kept it on my desk as a Go-To for months now and as the weather gets cooler I seem to be reaching for it more often. Citrus, coconut and amber meld seamlessly in this beachy beauty. It’s perfect summer scent and works equally well as a reminder.

Guerlain Tonka Imperial:

This beautiful baby came into my collection recently from another collectors wardrobe. Thick, rich, ropey gouts of gorgeous in a sweet/dry sillage that instantly warms me through. Tobacco, tonka and incense over dry woods and almonds and all the Guerlain sweetness without fairy floss-ish-ness. A very gentlemanly gourmand.

Fragrantica

Serge Lutens Arabie:

One of the earliest of my Serge Lutens, this bottle has only recently made its way out from the back of the frag cupboard. It is love all over again. What a fabulous perfume. Cloves, spices, fruit mince and resins all come together to offer a pre-oud look at fragrance from the Middle-East. Smelling more like a dessert market than a desert market to our 21st century noses.

DIOR Mitzah:

Aaaah Mitzah! So bold and head turning. Spicy honeyed roses with patchouli and a resinous growl. She is such a queen of a fragrance. Sometimes I wish there were only 20 bottles in my collection so I could wear my favourites much more often. This enforced month would be heavenly.

Fragrantica

Divine EdP:

I am not quite sure why but there is little said of the Divine Parfums range. My favourite is the original EdP but I also have the extrait. When I want glamour then Divine EdP fits the bill perfectly. A spicy peach tuberose with a very vanilla mossy dry down Divine EdP is from the 1980s but shows remarkable restraint for the era. Don’t worry, you’ll be fully fragrant all night long but not in the super bomb standards of the day.

So, my question to you today: What 5 Would You Take?

Scent Diary: 26.6 – 2.7.2017

July 2, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 26 Comments

Portia

Hey All,

You know I told you I hosted a Trivia Fundraiser last Saturday night? Well, they managed to raise $14,000 for their school. It was a really wonderful night and Belinda the co-ordinator was amazing. Here’s a shot of us all. Every table dressed up in a theme, some even decorating their tables. The Auction prizes were unbelievable: Concert tickets to Lorde and America, A tour of the Bachelorette house, Bikes, Business learning and so much more. The night was a joy to host.

Scent Diary: 26.6 – 2.7.2017

Monday 26:

TinaG is still not OK so we went to visit her and take some delicious delicacies. She was feeling a shade less that glorious so we could only photograph ourselves. This is us being sad that she is unwell.

Jin was home all day so we got to hang out. He’s really good company.

Feeling very homey I decided to do Spaghetti Bolognese for dinner. Being sure I had all the ingredients on hand because I’d shopped for the basics recently I went ahead and started cooking the garlic, onions and meat. Then I found that somebody, pointing no fingers of course, had used the tomato paste and not let anyone know that we were out. An extra can of diced tomatoes and a couple of squirts of Tomato Sauce and we were fine. Went to get the spaghetti but that too had been stolen by a hungry man so it was a mixture of the last of the spiral and bow tie pastas. Though it was bloody annoying to have to quickly rethink the meal the food was delicious and Jin even commented on how delicious it was.

Tuesday 27:

Scott was over and we were doing office work, errands and some sewing for my new outfit. I haven’t made anything new since creating the Perfume Lovers London outfit in January 2016. That’s a pretty shabby record considering I can whip up an outfit from headdress to gown in a few days. I have become safe, comfortable and lazy in my middle age.

ELdO Yes I Do wafted with me this morning. It’s fun and sweet, the undercurrent of naughty is negligible on my skin and I smell jasmine and sweets the whole way.

Here is Scotty at the Post Office bearing some of the packages that went out this morning. Yes, the photo is terrible of him but it does give a kind of insight into how lovely he is.

Went to get my hair cut today and had my face shaved at the same time. Sadly, though my barber was gorgeous, he probably would be better as a shearer or butcher. I was nicked and chopped quite heavily, blood everywhere.

Once Scott left I went and had cuddle time with Paris. He is the best squishy hugger. When we lie down together he takes a deep sniff of my chest to sniff my perfume and then sighs in blissful contentment as he rolls himself back towards me so I’m the big spoon. Heaven.

Work tonight I wore Fendi. I have a bottle of the old original one. It’s outrageous. There are also a few of the newer copies here too, they have excellent openings but fade fairly quickly. After todays hatchet face job I couldn’t reshave today without creating a bloodbath so went to work in man drag. Everyone was sad. I was bloody comfortable and enjoyed the night immensely.

Got home and Jin had just returned from walking the dogs. Aren’t they cute together?

Later I watched some more Gilmore Girls. Now I’m spritzing some DIOR Mitzah before bed. Night.

Wednesday 28:

Was up at 7am to take the car down to the Smash Repair store. Seriously, this is NOT my time of the day. Feeling woozy like I’ve eaten too many lollies and then drunk too much water to make up for my sugar high.

Keiko Mecheri Un Jour d’Ete is my creamy, coconut rich, white floral with a lovely summer beachy feel. Perfect to beat the rainy winter blues.

OK, so confession time. I got home, did about 20 minutes on the computer then grabbed Paris and we hit the spare bed. I slept for another 4 hours! Blissful sleep of the dead. Only down side is now I’m groggy again. Time for coffee and to do some clothes washing. Then it’s serious house cleaning time….. Well actually almost zero house cleaning got done, the laundry has ALL been done though. Last load is still on the line.

Work tonight. I’ve been worried about my Wednesday job. It hasn’t been performing as well as I hoped with me working as a guy so I got one of our beautiful Turbo Trivia Drag Queens in, April Fools. She was great and the crowd loved her. The room even felt like it had infinitely more energy, I think it will make the whole event lift.

For Bath, Lotion and Fragrance today I did Annick Goutal Musc Nomade bubble bath, Kiehl’s Original Musk body lotion and J P Gaultier Classic women perfume. It was a very enjoyable combination. For bed I spritzed more Gaultier Classic.

Thursday 29:

Woke up this morning feeling blue and out of sorts. Not depressed as such but definitely a sparkle short of average.

Fed the dogs and as I was locking the apartment Paris started weeing in the carpeted apartment stairwell. O M G!! I raced them outside then had to come back and clean up before we got our walk. GRRR! Loads of towels, boiling water with vinegar and exertion later I took them out for a proper walk.

Cleaning the apartment. Vacuumed, quickly dusted, broomed and steamed the tiled areas and my bathroom. It is pretty clean around here. I feel much better after some exertion. Cleaning is a bloody good workout when you’re a bit down and going 100 miles per hour to outrun your demons. Even in this cool weather I’m sweating like a farm hand.

Next week I have to go down to Tasmania to fix up one of the houses there so I’m trying to get ahead on the Trivia and Blog. Wearing a couple of scents for review that you’ll meet next week. Got all the Jackpot and Runs done and preparing the Q&A.

SOTD: Hermès Caleche vintage parfum. This is the best kept vintage Caleche, unbelievable! While putting it on I suddenly remembered that my Mum wore Caleche for a while. She called it Call E Shay and it wasn’t till many, many years later (2000s) that I was told by a French friend that it’s pronounced Kal-Esh. Hello mortified.

Tonight for work I’m scented in a weird but wonderful hodge-podge. Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet bath oil, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam perfume.

Got into bed tonight and was kicked out because I have too much perfume on. OOOPSIE! I put La Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam on about 7 hours ago, that is serious longevity for a natural. Amazing, and I smell freaking awesome. Got SEVEN unsolicited compliments tonight at work. It’s a definite winning combination here. (Except with Jin, oh well)

Friday 30:

Beautiful cool sunny morning. Jack Frost has sprinkled his shining crystals on the grass and the air is clear and fresh. Walking the dogs was lovely and I’m now ready to start my day.

So I jumped on a train and went to Sydney City to meet Rose, Alice and Mark at Madame Shanghai.

The venue is beautiful, I should have taken more pics. Even the carpet has been made with raised Chinese designs, it’s really schmick. We are EVERYTHING! I tried King Fish Sashimi even though I loath the taste of fish and found it spectacularly meaty and with zero fishy taste. It was a fabulous win and an extra thing to add to my list of edibles. Sorry, I didn’t take the pic till we were just about done with it.

There were also dumplings galore, duck, squid, ham hocks and cauliflower. The food just kept coming and we packed it away like we’d not eaten for a month.

Conversation flowed, and we had a lovely Gewürztraminer to go with all the food.

As we were leaving we decided to walk Mark back to his offices in Martin place and then go do a spot of shopping. We REALLY needed to walk to help us digest the most ridiculous amount of food we’d all consumed.

I may have accidentally bought the new Guerlain Black Perfecto. That bottle is freaking PERFECT!

Sitting down for a cuppa later we were extremely amused by how drunk the Balenziaga model in Harold’s looks. Hilarious.

Then I jumped another train and met up with Jin as he finished work. We caught the train back to Parramatta together. He had a little nap and I had to keep elbowing him to stop him snoring. He He he. Once we got back home and walked the dogs Jin exclaimed at how starving he was so I drove him up the road and he had Vietnamese with a later frozen yoghurt. He was a VERY happy man.

Now I’m up and he is fast asleep. Trying to motivate myself to do some work but frankly I’m really just surfing the web and Facebooking. Oh well. I’m going to watch some Gilmore Girls instead.

Saturday 1:

2.30am SOTBed Estee Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge Gloss. I really like it. Radiant, sheer, sand blasted fruit-chouli with slightly sweaty vinyl and a honey/vanilla base.

Sunny and beautiful for dog walking this morning. Doused myself in Carner Barcelona Rima XI and it fits the day very well. We are having a BarBQ tonight so I have some shopping and cleaning to do.

Lunch in the sunshine. Fresh bread rolls with butter & vegemite and a cuppa. So yummy. Jinx couldn’t stop sniffing me after I’d eaten. He was very sad I didn’t share.

Spent the day organising tonights dinner. We had a wonderful time with Evie and Lola, Sue and Rose. Jin cooked Spicy BarBQ Pork and did a bunch of delicious side dishes. Sue brought a Pavlova Roulade and a Pear Cake with Dollop cream & hot Butterscotch Sauce. O M G! Phil dropped by for dessert but was already too full to eat so we all sat & chatted happily. It was such a fun night I forgot to take even one photo of the event. Here’s what it looked like just after everyone left. Just the dessert plates and tea stuff left, I am so chuffed at our night, it was perfect.

I wore Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial. Very pretty, dry, low key amber. Hummed along quietly without making an issue of itself. Good fit for a dinner party.

Sunday 2:

Scent free morning. Gave the dogs a 2km walk with Jin. Air was crystal clear and smelled so clean.

Spent the rest of my morning at the computer organising as much of next week as I can because I’ll be in Tasmania.

Lunch with BFF Kath and her parents. Loads of fun. I grabbed a bucket of KFC and we sat around laughing at my idiocy, and burping! Yep, even Mum got in on the act.

My fragrant choices for work go like this. B&BW Warm Vanilla bubble bath (so cheap but smells yummy), Madonna Truth or Dare Naked body lotion and Guerlain Tonka Imperial fragrance.

Home and more computer catching up.

So your week? Fun, friends, fabulous, family or fragrant things happen for you? Great! We’d love to read about them. Doesn’t need to be earth shattering, just something that brightened, added drama or scented your week.
Leave me a message in the comments, I love to read about you.
Portia xx

Scent Diary: 19.6 – 25.6.2017

June 25, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 34 Comments

Portia

Hey APJ,

Aunty Tracey has gone so we are living in a bit of a vacuum, suffering withdrawals. The whole house seems less sparkly.

Before we get onto this week I forgot to put Jin’s modelling shot from trying on the new jumper I got him last week. He is the funniest fucker ever and had us in stitches as he paraded in David Jones Sydney City Mens Store.

Jin and I have been barneying too, a few seriously heated exchanges but it’s calming down now. As you can probably imagine it gets pretty dramatic around here when the shouting starts, VERY theatrical. At least we shout it out and then it’s over. It’s the stewing that gets me riled up, then I have top pop the pimple and bark like a deranged poodle. Well, at least the air is clear.

Scent Diary: 19.6 – 25.6.2017

Monday 19:

SOTBed as I wander off to my snoring bed warmer, Jin, is Maria Candida Gentile Exultat. Incense done with such gentle restraint. So woodsy, it’s like being in a confessional or 1970s Swedish style sauna. Cool and aloof wafts of scented smoke will lull me to ZZZZZZZZZ.

Today is beautiful in North Parramatta. Sun is shining and the air crisp. We are looking at a high of 18C. I chose Etat Libre d’Orange Afternoon of A Faun as my SOTD and it’s bringing me only joy. I was so inspired I dusted & vacuumed the house and cleaned the bathroom. Also did every bit of laundry. This place is spotless.

Monday night is Trivia Q&A night. I wanted something fresh and sweet so enormous amounts of Guerlain Lys Soleia. Seriously, maybe 15 spritzes! It’s heavenly.

Tuesday 20:

My Aunty Tracey calls me FuckFace when I’m annoying, which is more often than you’d think. SO my BFF Kath has started sending me pics.

Woke up. Jumped out of bed to feed the dogs and walked them wearing one of my all time faves Niki de Saint Phalle. It’s still the cheaper chypre, though it’s getting harder to find.

Scott and I did the Office Work today, as much as we could get done. We did get to Service NSW and finally change my Toll Pass over.

We also went to the Priceline Sale and bought some heavily discounted Estee Lauder Modern Muse and Modern Muse Rouge Gloss. He He he! Couldn’t help ourselves, they were basically FREE! All three for less than you’d usually pay for one!

Tonight I wore Neela Vermeire Creations Trayee and was awarded two lovely compliments. It does smell ridiculously gorgeous and I totally rocked the wafting.

Aunty Tracey’s eldest son David was in the house tonight. We sat him with the team that Aunty Tracey plays with, Lyndall is pictured. They all had a hoot. He looks so much like his Dad, unbelievable.

SOTBed? Dama Koupa by Baruti. It’s a decant and so unusual. Woods, but with a dry sugar dusted unsweetuess. I’ve never smelled anything quite like it. REALLY, sensationally good.

Fragrantica

Wednesday 21:

Wow! Big day here. Well, not really that big but Evan dropped around in the morning and we sniffed some fragrances. It was a really fun hour. I can’t remember what I sprayed myself with but all day I had people saying how good I smell.

Also went to town to buy new Drag Shoes & Jewellery.

After that Alice & I went to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and sat in the cool evening of the years shortest day here in Australia. It was dark by the time we got there and we had a spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. it was so peaceful. Weird thing is, a perfect night yet we were nearly the only ones there. There were a couple of joggers and one small tour group in the hour we spent drinking in the breathtaking view.

Then we met my mate Rose for dinner at Blue Fish in Darling Harbour. It was a lovely night, full of cheeky stories and reminiscences. The food was wonderful and the guys serving us were really cheerful. My favourite, Joel, is back working there after a stint in Europe and Queensland. It was good to catch up with him.

This is a Mango Eton Mess. Mangoes, broken meringue, and whipped heavy cream. Seriously delicious.

Poor TinaG is less than 100% so I grabbed some Italian pasta for her on the way home and dropped it in. Get Well Princess.

For SOTBed Guerlain Tonka Imperial. PERFECT!

While we were out doing all that Jin was at a Sleep Apnea Study

Thursday 22:

Today was spent largely running around with Jin. I did cook the most splendid hamburgers for lunch but we ate them so no pics.

This morning I spritzed Guerlain Shalimar EdP as I was running about.

For work I had a LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath (we are getting to the last one very soon), Kiehl’s Original Musk lotion and Lancome Midnight Rose EdP. Yes, I love Midnight Rose, kick me out of the perfumista club if you want. I’ll be here smelling fabulous with or without you all. When sprayed over the musk you have no idea how fabulous it smells.

Friday 23:

Jin is working nights currently and when he got into bed this morning he woke me a bit so I got out of bed and had a cuppa. Wearing Dama Koupa by Baruti again, can’t get enough of its freaky dry woodsy unsweetness. I’m going to grab my beautiful puppy Paris and we are going to catch a couple of extra sleep hours in the spare room. Doggy cuddles are the best.

For work tonight this is my Bath, Body & Fragrance. Robert Piguet Bandit bubble bath (such leathery goodness, you have no idea), Amouage Dia woman body lotion and Guerlain Mitsouko EdT and vintage parfum.

It was really exciting tonight to hang out with some of my favourite peeps before, between & after the gig tonight. Though the gig itself was fun these guys are the freaking bomb. I haven’t caught up with them for ages and it was so good. Some people leave indelible marks.

The gig included dinner! I was so spoiled by chef Trish (Patricia Woods) who knows exactly how to tickle my tastebuds. Chock full of joy from seeing her too. PLUS Trish has a new love who I got to meet.

Lastly, to top a wonderful night off my mate Kane sent through a pic of us taken last century at the DIVA Awards. I think it’s 1996 but it might be later. Kane is on the right of the photo and I was madly in love with him while we were in London together. Sadly it was not to be but for a moment. By this time back in Sydney the man on the left, Eddie with the glasses, had become his beau.

Saturday 24:

Lazy morning. I put so much Guerlain Mitsouko on before bed last night I still smell of it. A LOT!

News just in. My mates Hunter & Faycal packed up their daughter and life and moved from Sydney to the South of France. They bought a beautiful property, did it up with their impeccable taste and now it’s on AirBnB. So if you’re thinking holiday, what could be more lovely than staying with a couple of my mates in the town of Ales near Nimes.

Want to go there? Me too. Here’s their AirBnB page.

My Bath, Lotion and SOTWork look like this today. Bubble bath provided by Hermès Eau de Mandarine Ambrée, Madonna Truth or Dare Naked body lotion because it has a luscious sweet amber undertone and fragrance from Hermès Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. Being a lovely sunny winter day here in Sydney I am loving the zingy crisp freshness of Monsieur Li, not sure how much extra depth the lotion is providing but the work nicely in combination.

Sunday 25:

I woke up at 3am, no reason. So I jumped out of bed and answered blog comments, scanned FaceBook, did a little emailing. I drank a couple of glasses of water and now I’m spritzing DIOR Mitzah and going back to bed. Bliss!

Jumped out of bed, spritzed Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola, fed and walked dogs and we went straight to pedicures. Kath, Evie and her daughter Lola were there to get some yummy new colours.

From pedicures Yum-Cha and Jin and his BFF Matt joined us there but Kath had to skedaddle. Conversation was lively, loads of laughs and we ate mountains of Chinese. Perfect start to the day.

After Yum-Cha we walked past this shop and thought it was hilarious because Tara from A Bottled Rose is our mate. So we snapped this and sent her a “Yeah Tara, Fuck You” message.

After that it was home to the bath. Bubbles provided by the last drops of my L’Occitane Melting Honey bubble bath. I do have an incredibly embarrassing confession, my sight is so bad that I’ve been using the L’Occitane Verbena Conditioner as BODY LOTION! So embarrassed when I enlarged the photo to get the correct name. Ha Ha ha ha! For fragrance I wanted something green and sweet to go with my two bases so Annick Goutal Mandragora Pourpe got brought out and is a perfect fit. It’s cool minty blast softens to a warmer amber/incense/patchouli watercolour wash. Love the bottle too.

Alright you lot! It’s your turn. Tell us anything fun, frightening, friendly or fragrant that happened to you this week. Share your joys and sorrows, we will cheer you on or commiserate as needs.
Please share something, we love to get to know you all a little bit better.
Portia xx

Scent Diary: 12.6 – 18.6.2017

June 18, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 29 Comments

Portia

Hi there APJ,

A full week with Aunty Tracey down from Cairns. We ran from pillar to post. HEAVEN!
Portia xx

Scent Diary: 12.6 – 18.6.2017

Monday 12:

I stayed up late this morning watching TV. everyone else was sound asleep. Just before bed I gave myself 6 big spritzes of Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur EdP.

Today was a hang around the house with Aunty Tracey, watch Netflix, walk dogs, home made brunch, more Netflix, Pizza Hut dinner and leave her to watch more TV while I went and wrote Trivia Q&A kinda day.

Haven’t even put more perfume on till right now. DIOR Mitzah, and loads of it.

Tuesday 13:

Stuff happened but I didn’t write it down or take photos.

Lancome Tresor Midnight Rose arrived in the post. I’ve been going through decants and decided it was time to plunge when I saw it for an excellent price. Wore it to work and got two very interested compliments from people who LOVED it.

For my SOTBed I went crazy with Van Clef & Arpels Ambre Imperial. Excellent dry, cool amber for sleeping in.

Wednesday 14:

Jin had his birthday today but as he is a dirty spoilsport we are not allowed to celebrate. I brought my Aunty Tracey down to Sydney as a surprise guest and the three of us had a very low key morning with presents and cakes. It was cheesy but fun, we lit him a couple of candles and sang Happy Birthday. Please don’t send him any birthday wishes because it makes him really uncomfortable.

Below are his gifts from Aunty Tracey and me. He has been wanting that Cartier since 2013. I’m a very slow boyfriend but he was really excited to get it. How cute is the mug Aunty Tracey had made? Love it.

Jin made us hot Korean nut and sugar filled pancakes for brekky and we all watched some TV before we sped off to out respective days.
I had a large perfume influx from a friend who I bought a bunch from a mate selling off the good stuff to put a special needs student through school. What better reason to buy perfume than the ultimate top priority, educating our youth. So, I went a little crazy. Guerlain Cuir Beluga, Guerlain Tonka Imperial, Neela Vermeire Nichola, Neela Vermeire Trayee, Neela Vermeire Rahele. Expensive but ultimately helping so I feel pretty good about myself.

Tonight for work I wore lashings of Guerlain Cuir Beluga. It was beautiful. Here I am dining with my mate Wendy and Aunty Tracey.

Thursday 15:

Up early at Chez Turbo. Aunty Tracey, Jin & I were off and out to meet some of the Nursing Aunties. My Mum studied nursing and 10 of them graduated and stayed so close over the years. We went to visit Mum’s grave and the grave of another, Auntie Norma Dally-Watkins. So we met up for coffee and then did the visits. After that we went and had the most delicious Yum-Cha.

Then the night was full of trivia again. Aunty Tracey came and played with the Celts at Kings Park Tavern. They won and it was a great night.

Friday 16:

Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola was my choice of scent this morning. It was a perfect accompaniment to my busy day running around with the crew. Aunty Tracey, Jin & I jumped on a train to town.

First stop was David Jones Food Hall cafe in the patisserie area. After a bummer of an altercation about cutting cakes so we could share it all got really good and we all caffeinated ourselves and sugared up.

Then we shopped. Both Anna-Maria and Aunty Tracey had their lips done at David Jones DIOR counter by the make-up artists. Don’t they look fabulous in their glam reds? Anna-Maria spritzed DIOR Leather Oud, Aunty Tracey wore DIOR New Look 1947. They smelled wonderful.

Everyone bought at least one new piece of clothing. I grabbed a really cute Christmas style jumper and two new pairs of socks. It was the annual 30% Clearance Sale, how could we resist?

Anna-Maria and I bumped into Jules who is the Oroton regional manager. Anna-Maria has a very specific bag she wants and they have sold out of it across Australia but Jules has one, a slightly smaller size but still pretty much what Anna-Maria wants. I’ve passed on the details to her kids for Birthday shopping.

Then after running around for hours we were all pooped and needed some more caffeine and sugar so we adjourned to the Tea Salon in Sydney City Westfield and shared a cheesecake with cream & ice cream between us and everyone had their own special pot of tea. It was really lavish.

Quickly home to refresh and then we rushed into our favourite Korean BarBQ where we met up with Kath, Alice and Tina. Food, laughs, conversation and general mayhem ensued. These are the times when I am so happy. We all just hang and chatter and eat.

For bed I spritzed Guerlain Tonka Imperial. Sweet, nutty, tobacco with a cool incense backdrop. Very nice for our current night time temps. Going to bed now. Absolutely fricken buggered.

Saturday 17:

Hung around the house today. I wore loads of Van Cleef & Arpels Amber Imperial. It was lovely. There’s something about its dusty dryness that I find very comforting and wearable. YUM!

Did a fundraiser tonight for a local Football Club. My bath scent was Olympic Orchids Amber & Labdanum Bath Oil, moisturiser Madonna Truth or Dare Naked and fragrance Huitiemme Art Ambre Cerulean.

Aunty Tracey and I had a midnight Whitney Houston video singalong. we are both terrible singers and it was a hoot. Heaving breasts and tears streaming as we warbled. WOW! Now I’m so fucking depressed. Crying silently in front of the computer. She was so beautiful, talented, had everything. If she couldn’t survive what hope the rest of us mere mortals? Whitney was my voice for years as I mimed in shows in Australia and around the world. So sad, such waste.

Sunday 18:

Bedtime. 2am. A single spritz of Montana Parfum de Peau. Should be parfum de PEE. There’s a definite cat wee vibe going on here, it makes me laugh whenever I spritz it. the wee gives way to screechy white florals and ass. All ass zero class, I love it.

Jumped out of bed and it’s Aunty Tracey’s last day. We ran to Kath’s house to fix the lights in the kitchen. While there we also cleaned out the exhaust fans in the main bathroom, amazing how much more air they move when air can get through and the blades are clean.

Then we went to Bunnings for a Sausage Sizzle Brunch and to get a refund on shit lights that we’d removed. They were so amazingly accommodating with the store voucher, extremely happy.

Then bath time before work tonight. I had it extra hot and loved every second with mountains of bubbles from L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons. My body lotion Robert Piguet Fracas and scent overlaying all Serge Lutens Datura Noir. Yes, I wanted to smell like a spring night flowering bouquet.

Now it’s your turn. What happened in your week? See any friends, try any new fragrances or revisit old ones?
Share your highs & lows with us please. We love to read your life moments.
Portia xx

Scent Diary: 29.5 – 4.6.2017

June 4, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 26 Comments

Portia

Hi APJ,

Food and fragrance are the orders of the week. A few catch ups but mainly quiet as Jin recovers from tonsillitis. Loads of fun frags though.

Scent Diary: 29.5 – 4.6.2017

Monday 29:

Early this morning when I went to bed I lavishly spritzed Cacharel Liberté. I love it zingy sizzling citrus and it wears beautifully in the hot or cold. I’ll never understand why it wasn’t a bigger hit. The bottle is fabulous, it smells amazing and Gisele Bündchen was the spokesmodel? Even the name is good. As you can see I go through quite a lot of it, bottle number 3.

Jin was complaining of getting sick last night and then through the night kept waking up, unable to breathe. This morning he went to the doctor and his tonsils are so swollen they are blocking his airways. Antibiotics for a week. I hope they put him in hospital and rip them out. Poor boy has suffered at least once a year since we got together but never this bad. If not in Australia I’ll fly him home where they are not so stupidly precious about the procedure.

For the dog walk I thought I needed something a bit rosy so the first rose frag that I noticed was Agent Provocateur EdP. I grabbed it and spritzed with abandon. It was a stellar accompaniment to the crisp morning air, sunlit and sparkling.

Sick Jin & I went for sandwiches and hot chips to the local cafe. They girls there are so friendly. It was yum.

This afternoon I suddenly got the urge to douse myself in Bulgari Eau Parfumee au The Noir. It’s tea but with a woody leather and rose tint. I like it a lot, especially in the heat but very nice at 18C too.

Kept spritzing more and more Bulgari tonight while writing Q&A.

Tuesday 30:

Finally, it’s 3.30am and I’m finished the Q&A and sent them all out. All I can think of us how much I want an incense fragrance to ramp up the leavings of the bulgar. So Maria Candida Gentile Exultat was the obvious, and best, choice for my mood. You’ll excuse me while I drift away please?

Saw this yesterday and can’t stop laughing about it. So funny.

Jin is officially off work for a couple of days. Unlike his usual illnesses he is not a whining baby. He must be really sick. Bloody doctors in Australia won’t remove them anymore unless it’s life or death. ASSHOLES!

No scent because it will fight with the lavender & eucalyptus in the burner.

DRAMA! While going in to the bathroom to get ready for work the bath mat slid from under me and I landed on the tile on my knee. It was so fast. Suddenly I’m lying on the ground moaning and in real pain. It was yuck. Anyway, poor old Jin was in a sound drugged sleep and I woke him with my yammering. This wheezy, disembodied voice comes to me from the living room, “You alright?” Even though I was most definitely NOT alright it was amusing enough to get me off the floor to reassure him that I’d live.

Tonight for work I wore Cartier L`Heure Brilliant VI and enjoyed its glittering zing.

I know it will be battling the houses current ambience but I’m going all out with Miss Dior vintage parfum and EdT for bed tonight. I’m worth it.

Wednesday 31:

Last night before bed I ate a couple of donuts. Woke up this morning with a sugar hangover, and a sore knee.

Basically today was a write off. With Jin sick and me having a day off we slowed around the house all day watching TV and relaxing.

Dinner was Chinese Take Away and it was freaking gorgeous.

Thursday 1:

Today was HUGE! Jumped out of bed and doused myself in about 8 spritzes of Oriza L. Legrand Oeillet Louis XV from a sample in the pack you can buy from them and they ship to the world.

Walked the dogs then ran back inside, jumped in the car and fled. Saw this beautiful creamy coloured bottlebrush flowering in our winter.

First stop was Showcase in Sydney’s historic Rocks area. That’s where I buy my Drag make up. It was an expensive but necessary morning shop.

Next up I visited Bronwyn of Gascoine & King candles who is also the importer of Etat Libre d’Orange here in Australia. We went for coffees and some cake at the Bourke St Bakery and talked about our friends, lovers, businesses and new products. It is always fabulous with Bronwyn and we have some super luxe giveaways coming up from her. WOO HOO!

BFF Kath is home sick so I dropped in there to see her on my way to the next adventure. Short but sweet chats and cuddles with Ruski, her Groodle.

My last partner Varun and I lived with a really amazing girl, Rose. At that time she was a chef at the College St Marriot Hotel where Varun went from restaurant bus boy to night manager in the two years we were together. It was a meteoric rise and we were all proud of him. After the Marriot Rose moved to the Millennium Hotel, then onto a catering company where she got them a shitload of awards and where she really got her name in the minds of movers & shakers. She moved to Singapore and did some stuff there until she was poached by Nobu in Europe where she was overseeing chef for a few years. The Dictator of Azerbaijan stole her to be the top dog in his restaurants, hotels and family kitchen and after 4+ years working for him she decided it wasxc time to come back to Sydney.

Rose is now the top chef in the Lotus group of restaurants here in Sydney and she invited TinaG & I for lunch today so she could gauge the way the restaurant runs with real patrons. We ate SO MUCH! Tried all the delicacies and were given top flight service by our waiter Ben. It was really interesting to hear the stories of the dishes and why this was so good or why that one was sent back and the chef told to take it off the menu for today because the meat wasn’t as good as it should be. These guys take good food really seriously. I only put in pictures of the most spectacular, there was at least 3 x this much food.

Then I went to Libertine Parfumerie for their SALE! I was a glutton but Nick gave me something incredibly special to give away on APJ. VERY excited about that.

At this point I was running HOURS late and got home in time to quickly wash my face, hug Jin and ran out to work as a man. Work was heaving tonight, 50+ patrons at Kings Park tavern and there was loads of bantering and fun. It wa a stellar evening. I wore Exultat by Maria Candida Gentile and it was the perfect woody/incense combo for the evening.

Home, walked the dogs, having a cup of coffee and about to have a very hot bath to soak all todays grime off. I’m bushed.

Friday 2:

A few things arrived in the post today but nothing so exciting as this vintage Rochas Femme parfum. It is a propellant bottle so the first 20 seconds are a mess but then……. bloom. Absolutely gobsmackingly gorgeous.

Jin and I spent the day around the house. We only left it to take him for Vietnamese Pho Soup. I walked the dogs though, he stayed sick on the couch. Can’t wait for him to fully recover

Saturday 3:

Good day today. Jin went back to work and I got to organise the weeks blog posts.

I’m also trying to create some order out of my chaotic office. I’m nearly shoulder deep in fragrance here. CROWDED.

I did take a Gilmore Girls break though because there is so much of the early episodes I missed. Having come in halfway like I did the whole back story is made apparent. My enjoyment levels are going through the roof.

While watching mind numbing TV I also ate Chinese reheats for lunch. BEST thing about getting chinese is having reheat lunch for the next two or three days. I added a can of corn kernels while they were in the frying pan. YUMMY!

This afternoon I wanted a cool amber fragrance. Van Cleef & Arpels Ambre Imperial was the perfect choice. It’s sparse, airy and unlike any other amber in my collection. It never gets bakery, gluggy or creamy but does warm through slightly as it dries down to resinous woodsiness. It’s the ultimate hot weather amber but is also very nice in the crisp, cool of evening. It was never a hit, I read zero rave reviews and it isn’t amber in the traditional sense but if you see it, put some on your skin.

Then I had a bath. It was deliciously hot and frothy with LUSH Rose Jam bubbles. Nearly finished this years stockpile. The wait for Christmas releases starts soon.

For bedtime I have gone absolutely crazy with vintage Guerlain Shalimar extrait, decanted from my bottle and spritzed. I am leaving a coruscating trail of fragrance every time I move. It’s ENORMOUS!

Sunday 4:

Walking the dogs this morning and I came across this beautiful rose. The light was hitting it in such a way that it had become ultra violet. As it caught my eye it was trying to burn my retinas out. It even had some spice tea and rose scent. There is no filter on the pic, you can kind of see what I mean but it was so much more freaky in life.

It’s cool but sunny today. I’m wearing Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin. It’s perfect. Longevity is appalling so I keep resproitzing every 40 minutes or so. Very satisfying. I love the anise/wet violet combo.

Yet again in LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath. Over the faint remnant I multi spritzed from a split decant of MFK Amyris (pretty sure it’s Femme). Did you know that the Amyris tree is also called Torchwood because it is super inflammable AND the resin it produces is Elemi. HA! I looked it up on Fragrantica. No wonder it smells familiar.

Now it’s your turn. How was your week? Do anything fragrant or interesting?
Tell us all about it, we love to read what you’re doing too.
Portia xx

Sniffs with Lola: My Cat

May 30, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

AF Beauty

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