Hello Fumie friends,
One of the things I love about Christmas is the extra gorgeous mini movies everyone puts out. Here we have one of the DIOR offerings for 2013.
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Please enjoy.
Portia xx
Photo Stolen Ana_Cotta Flickr
Hey Hey APJ,
Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone who has everything? here is a beautiful looking book presented by two of Christian Dior’s most famous models. It looks really swanky and elegant and brings us an as yet untold story of the beginning of the relationship between the photographer and the houses of fashion. WOW!
Portia xx
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Post by Gabriella
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Hello fumie friends!
Well, I am continuing the sample challenge set up by a friend on the Aussie Fragrance Network group on Facebook with some unexpected results. Read on to find out what happened.
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Sunday, November 10: One terrific by-product of the challenge is that it has made me organize my very disorganized sample lot. Well, the challenge and the fact that Mr M has very kindly bought me a fishing tackle box for said purpose. I categorized things alphabetically and am finding things that I had completely forgotten about. Feel very excited about continuing now and celebrate with a dab of Serge Lutens Bois de Violette. It’s beautiful, but there is just something in the Serge Bois series that just doesn’t agree with my skin chemistry.
In the evening, I fall in love with Amouage Interlude Woman. How on earth did I ignore this for so long? I adore the coffee, kiwi fruit and green goodness that seems to sparkle on my skin. I must get some more of this, so head off and order a decant of this, Amouage Fate Woman, Serge Lutens Santal de Mysore (another big bottle want) and thrown in some Castlebajac for good measure after trawling the site for a while. I’m excited about Castlebajac. It’s a clean almondy scent that I wore years and years ago in London and the thought of it reminds me of a great work Christmas party.
Monday, November 11: I cheat. I wear Lys Mediterranee. Not a sample. Difficult day at work and I needed something I knew and loved to comfort me.
Wednesday, November 13: Chanel Beige. Wearing this today and the sample of 31 Rue Cambon the other week has taught me something: I love Chanel top notes but not the dry down. Chanel Beige starts so luscious with frangipani and the sunshiny-ness of hawthorn, it’s gorgeous. But I want it to stay this way, and of course, last a little longer like all the Exclusifs, sans Coromandel.
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Friday, November 15: Oh hello lovely! I’ve had a sample of Dior New Look 1947 for ages and thankfully rediscovered it, due to new not-rummaging-around-in-drawers-for-half-an-hour-superorganized sample storage. This just FEELS like ME and I can’t get enough. It makes me pleased cos I’ve been quite cross at the House of Dior for mucking round with my beloved Diorissimo and Diorella. This just might make up for it.
Monday November 18: Bad, bad M. Have fallen totally off the wagon over the past few days due to sampling ennui. Maybe, just maybe, it is because I have been so busy and stressed at work that I haven’t had the headspace to enjoy my samples. I always need to be calm, relaxed and not half asleep or in need of valium and vodka to sample properly. In fact, I have been thinking that, when it comes to perfume, I need much less, not more. Decide to sell some more partial bottles.
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Wednesday, November 20: Ok, so somebody must have hacked into my computer Monday or I was possessed by my alter ego as that stuff was just craaazy talk. But today, I had another issue: wanting, pining after a sample THAT I DID NOT HAVE. ARGH!!!! The-sample-that-I-must-have-right-now is Keiko Mecheri’s Isles Lointaines. I blame the boss’ PA. She asked for help with planning destinations for her honeymoon and asked if I’d been to the Amalfi coast and Positano in particular. Mr M and I went on one of our first romantic trips to Paris and Positano and Isles Lointaines was one of the samples I wore. I need to revisit those memories. NOW.
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Saturday, November 23: Byredo Pulp. This is another one that’s just been sitting right there for ages, completely ignored, but yet, so readily available. I thought Dionne’s APJ review was terrific, but never got round to smelling this. It’s a luscious, full bodied citrus that just can’t help but make you smile. And even though it’s pouring with rain and has been wet for eons, I’m happy and warm with this on.
Samples are available from:
Surrender To Chance
Posh Peasant
So, how did you think I went with the second leg APJ peeps? Have I mentioned any favourites?
Love,
M
Hello Frag Heads!!
One of the best known perfumes in the world is J’Adore by DIOR. That fabulously iconic bottle, so simple yet so evocative, elegant and luxe. I have a recentish 2011 EdP. This little beauty by Calice Becker was launched in 1999 and has become so outrageously successful that for a while it was all you smelled, you could pick people in the street wearing it. Sensational projection and sillage it gives a very definite nod to the power frags of the 1980s. A fun, rich, sizzling fruity floral that is so far beyond all the other department store offerings of the genre that it stands alone. even now that it has had some surgery, is leaner and more transparent. So many copy cats have missed the whole allure of …
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Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Magnolia, melon, peach, pear, mandarin, bergamot
Heart: Freesia, orchid, rose, violet, lily of the valley, plum, jasmine, tuberose
Base: Musk, vanilla, cedar, blackberry
An opening that all the celebuscents and drug store offerings try so hard to imitate, but they never seem to get the melon just at that point of pre-dustbin overripeness, the magnolia doesn’t have that gorgeously plush waxinessand the background fruit salad never seems like it could lead you astray with a wink.Here the proportions are perfect and when I smell J’Adore I think of all those fabulous women that are secure and wonderful enough to wear such a beauty.
The bouquet in the heart is pretty and wafts for hours with its plummy, very slightly indolic, siren call. Even through the heart of J’Adore’s 7-8 hour lifespan the woods and vanilla plump up the flowers and give them a cozy breadth, the musks may be helping too at this point but I miss them completely. Towards the end J’Adore goes transparent and has a pretty woodsy/vanilla/musk wash that has become a little generic because it smells good and everyone wanted their inferior products to smell like that. The dry down reminds me of the Our Moment dry down but it lasts less long and can be washed off, unlike the One Direction offering.
If you spray J’Adore on your scarf or in your handbag it will smell like that for the whole season with one spritz.
Most of the time we aren’t trolling the department stores for our scents now the wormhole has claimed us, but if you happen to be walking by spritz a card, or skin if you have some spare, and enjoy the ride.
Further reading: Bois de Jasmin takes a look at the changes that have happened to J’Adore and Perfume Shrine
FragranceNet starts at $75/30ml before coupon
Surrender To Chance has EdP in current $3/ml and vintage $5/ml
Today we have a wonderful film about J’Adore, created by the DIOR company so it’s really a 22 minute advert. There is some very interesting stuff in here too though if you have the time.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
J’Adore the film
Hey Hey Y’All,
One of the things that I sometimes get asked is, “Which perfume should I wear to get lucky?” The short answer is the sweet smell of success and happiness. Of course, sometimes romance needs a little push or maybe we need to smell a certain way to have the confidence to create the opportunity. I have a few frags in my weaponry that I like to wear when being noticed in the right way is important. You also need to have a bit of strategy too. What kind of person do you want to smell like? Here are 5 types and fragrances to go with them. Remember, this is all in fun, it’s not just about the way you smell that’s going to hook your intended but it might just be the final push they need…….
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I have the 2010 version of Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche but they are all a fun holiday tropical type spritz that is extremely pretty, has good sillage and projection and they last well too. Coconut and/or jasmine seem to be the standout notes in the whole set and it’s the kind of carefree summery scent that smells like you are out for fun and an uncomplicated, happy, breezy person ready for what ever the night holds.
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This is a good old fashioned beauty. The cool, crisp snap of a green fragrance at once aloof and haughty. You want to smell like an ice king/queen that needs a bit of thawing. That iris undercut by warm woods and leather, all frost and fire will keep your partner a little off balance till you want to show them the way. CHANEL No 19 is a wonderful back straightener and focus fragrance if you need to feel in control of the situation while waiting to exhale.
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Sometimes being quietly, tastefully understated is the best way to get someone to come close and stay there. That first waft as they come in close to you could be the clincher. Milly-la-Foret is a beautiful soft musky powder, it’s there but only up close, and it smells so good and expensive, a winner. So soft and light that it will give an impression of fragility yet if you sniff a bit closer you can tell it’s real quality and perfectly at peace. Milly-la-Foret is the scent of success and the contented wind down after the celebration parties.
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Trouble is one of my all time favourite siren scents. Sweet jasmine over a hefty amber base. This is the scent of a heartbreaker, and men go crazy for it. You can find Trouble at the discounters but soon it will be all gone, it’s getting harder and harder to find for a reasonable price. Slated by Turin/Sanchez but a fabulously outrageous and over the top fragrance that will certainly bring you attention. Smells especially great on the men, believe it.
This smells so good I follow people around in venues that wear it just to catch an errant whiff. Le Male is the most sensual, engaging and stridently sexual scent I know on both sexes. Ignore the ad spiel ladies, Le Male is killer on everyone and in today’s age of scentless fragrant wash you will stand out like dogs balls, ready to be licked. Be careful when you spritz Le Male, you may need security guards. Looking for action, then this is your choice.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this fun look at how to smell for seduction. Fragrance does not care who wears it, never be mislead by the advertising copy or who a fragrance is aimed at. If they smell good, wear them. Cross the gender divide,you’ll be glad you did,
What are your special seduction fragrances? Please add to the list in the comments. Share your hard won knowledge please.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
Hello APJ,
Here is an interview with Liu Jianhua, the designer of a marvelously opulent set for the DOIR ‘Esprit Dior’ exhibition Shanghai. He is shown erecting the installation and talks of how he came to some of his artistic decisions and the links he brings from Christian Dior’s own magical presence in the exhibition. In under 2 minutes the director has captured both the beauty and intensity of Liu Jianhua’s vision and some of how he brought it to life.
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Please enjoy.
Portia xx
Hello Happy Huffers,
Robert Pattinson is the new face of DIOR Homme and has worked very closely with Romain Gavras the Greek/French director and DIOR on bringing a piece of interesting advertising to us. He speaks well in the interview and has a real appreciation for the wearer of DIOR Homme fragrance that comes across in the interview and the mini movie. Here is Australian Perfume Junkies look at the original DIOR Homme
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Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Lavender, sage, bergamot
Heart: Iris, amber, cacao
Base: Vetiver, patchouli, leather
Beauty Encounter currently has $51/50ml
My Perfume Samples starts at $2.50/ml
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Here is a great fun series and I hope you enjoy watching.
Heya APJ Family,
I have been finding these beautiful pieces on YouTube that have inspired me lately. Natalie Portman always inspires me….. so does DIOR
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“Make Me A Fragrance That Smells Like Love” Christan Dior
Hiya Gang,
Here we have another beautiful fragrance ad. DIOR has taken the simplest concept and made it spectacular, of course. Though I’m not a huge fan of Miss Dior it is a worldwide hit and has an enormous following. Here also are Australian Perfume Junkies Mini Review and Natalie Portman Ad and Miss Dior: The Floral Waltz Mini Movie
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Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Italian mandarin
Heart: Egyptian jasmine absolute and rose
Base: patchouli and musk
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Whether or not you love the fragrance the Mini Movies are always worth watching.
Please enjoy Miss Dior Infinity: Le Parfum
Portia xx
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Post by Margeaux
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Hello everyone again! Dior’s Fahrenheit is 25 years old in 2013 and is still one of the best selling men’s scents of all time. The version I’m reviewing, Absolute, was released in 2009 to mark the fragrances 21st birthday. One of my ex’s was a huge fan of the original Fahrenheit and still wears it to this day so I tend to associate it with him. I’m not quite sure how I feel about a different version of such a classic scent, but I also have the Aqua version to try in a future review so here goes nothing!
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Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Volet, myrrh, incense, aoud
Immediately I’m intrigued – surely 4 notes is too few for what is billed as a bold and sensual, woodsy, ultra masculine scent? Can it be done? We’ll see.
Although I’m using a sample tester for this review, I’ve always loved the original bottle shape and styling, and Absolute carries on this tradition with darker colouring that signifies the juice inside is more potent than the original.
Ok, time to spritz and wait for the alcohol to evaporate so I can start to get a decent whiff happening. And oh boy, is this something good to my nose. The devilish simplicity of those opening notes, sweet and yet not sweet at all, nearly soapy but again not quite there. I had to go reading some more about Myrrh just to be sure of what I was supposed to be smelling and even after all that, I’m not sure if that is what my nose gets to start with, but whatever is going on its tantalizing and sensual and exotic and I am hooked.
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Its very flowery and gently sweet as the fragrance settles into my skin. I’m sniffing and writing while I work on some of my clients projects and it’s a soothing, comforting warm smell that wafts up from the back of my hand as I type. Francois Demachy who created this perfume is credited with just about all of the Dior range and is surely one of the hardest working perfumers out there with Fragrantica listing over 80 fragrances that he’s had a hand in creating – amazing!
Deeper into the drydown and the oud and incense caress and envelop and warm my senses and my soul. I can’t get much projection from this but that kind of suits me that it stays pretty close to my body. I think if I spritzed with abandon as I like to that it may become overwhelming both to me and those around me and perhaps this is a good late evening (read bedtime) kind of scent. I find it quite sensual.
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Having read a few reviews around other sites and the general consensus is pretty evenly split between those who love Absolute and those who don’t like it at all. This is a wonderful fragrance on me but the real test will be when I wear it when I am with the boyf next.
Further reading: The Scentrist and The Scentualist
My Perfume Samples has Absolute starting at just $2.49/ml
FragranceNet has 50ml from $64
I’m looking forward to testing the Aqua version soon too. Thanks for reading and as always, please leave me a comment if you’ve enjoyed the review or have tried this fragrance yourself. I love hearing from you all.
Until next time,
Margeaux x
The Fahrenheit Absolute Mini Movie
