Hey Fellow Fumies,
People don’t believe me when I tell them how incredible Mardi Gras is in Sydney. 3 weeks, over 70 events and the world comes down to play. It is an AWESOME time to come down to Oz and we’d love to see you all for our 35th Mardi Gras. Come join in the fun.
Portia xx
Hey Hey All You Fabulous Fumies,
We at APJ have always wanted to showcase new and old Aussie talent in the fragrance world. Here are a few of the wonderful crews that we have looked at this year that you can still order some excellent Christmas goodies and stocking stuffers from. As it is the time for giving, families and all that there are many of us who for a billion reasons are without family at a time of year where it seems fundamental. If you are someone in that boat, buy yourself a Christmas present from the list, even if you are not a devotee of the Christian creed. A new fragrance wrapped and carded to yourself on Christmas Day morning will give you a smile, maybe even a laugh. I have bought myself a couple this year, naughty I know.
Photo Stolen EVP
These 2 boys Brendan and Samuel have stolen my heart with their new line. 3 masterfully created perfumes and I think there’ll be plenty more coming. EVP Australia sells itself as Small Batch Artisan Scents inspired by the Adelaide Hills and Wine Regions around the World. Baume, the powerhouse honeysuckle and blossom, is my favourite but I like them all and have finished my sample set and am contemplating a FB. The EVP site has an Inception Range 3 x 2ml Sample Set $20
Photo Stolen EvocativePerfumes
Another Adelaide set up Mark has done some lovely work with unusual mixtures and breathtaking, magical fragrances. They are etherial, earthy and interesting. My picks for FB worthy are Apple tea, Imogen and Vanilla Tonique. I like the sizes too; 10ml Roll On, 15ml And 50ml Atomisers. A wonderful Sample Program means that you can try all 10 fragrances for $24
Photo Stolen InnerEarth
Photographed you’ll see my pick of the Inner Earth gear. Lemon Cheesecake Hand & Body Cream; Lemon combined with creamy vanilla and a hint of white musk. A smooth, creamy formula enriched with sweet almond oil and cocoa butter, to leave your skin feeling new again. 250ml only $19.50 but be quick the virtual shop closes 17-30 December, you have till MONDAY! They also do a spectacular range of oil based fragrances and handmade soaps.
Photo Stolen OneSeed
Liz Cook from One Seed (who have a no hurt the planet, 100% botanical, nothing synthetic credo) has created some sublime fragrances that you should try. Courage and Sweet Water are my two favourites but Frangipani, Hope and Slow Fire are excellent too. One Seed Site has this wonderful 5 x 5ml Sample Set for $70
Photo Stolen P&SCo
Sheila Massetti trained with the oldest fragrance house in France and has also worked with perfumers from Chanel, Issey Miyake and Jean Paul Gaultier. The houses signature fragrance is Fig & Olive but I find Ginger Milk, Gardenia and Pink Peony much more to my liking. One of the wonderful thiongs about the Perfume And Skincare Company’s fragrances is their higher than extrait ingredient inclusion, meaning way more strength, and their extremely reasonable pricing. The Deux Perfume sets with 10ml of Fig & Olive and another fragrance from the range for only $25 is my pick.
I know it’s hard to find something different, interesting, good value and surprising for the ones you love. It makes it especially hard when most people go and buy what they want when they want it. I hope these give you a selection of things that you may otherwise not have noticed. I love them all and have tried, tested, purchased and repurchased from each of these Aussie stores so you are safe.
Good luck with the rest of your shopping, even if it’s just for you.
Portia xx
Hey APJ Family!!
The other day I was chatting to Gary my favourite SA at the Libertine Fragrance area in David Jones, Sydney City (The oldest Department Store trading under its original name in the world) and Gary really wanted me to try something. The Costume National range is one that I constantly overlook and I don’t have a reason really except that the other testers always grab me before I even get to the Costume National end of the store.
It seems I’ve been missing out on untold wonders. 21 is so different from anything else I’ve ever smelled. The milk accord at the start sounded disgusting when I was originally told about it but it is beautiful and flattering, an alluring milky wonder. I had hoped to do more sampling before this amazing GIVEAWAY went live but unfortunately I have come down with a head cold that has left me completely anosmic and without even taste. It’s weird to eat chilli dishes and get burning mouth without flavour. Cannot smell even TSO Jin’s farts, and normally they can make my eyes water. So I have found the Costume National site and plagiarised with abandon.
If you are shopping in Australia Libertine Fragrance includes P&H in their prices and they are registered dealers of the scents that they carry. Meaning they haven’t been sitting in cargo boys in hot countries, are 100% genuine and fresh, they can get your gift buying fragrances to you before Christmas!!
Costume National 21
Starting from a base of pure white milk and the lightness of sheer white orange blossom, 21 fades into more mysterious notes of saffron, cashmere wood, amber and musk with accents of bergamot, vanilla, labdanum and cedar wood.
Scent Gloss
GLOSS is the sexiest version of SCENT. Pink like female instinct, pink like a rose to the sense of smell, sight and on the skin. It is the youngest soul of SCENT: light, spontaneous and joyful. A floral and delicately fruity bouquet for an effervescent sweetness thanks to the notes of purple orchid and fresh musk.
Scent Intense
An intense fragrance sublimated by the deep harmony of amber and cystine. The mystery and radiance of a timeless energy with woody accents and natural deep warmth. SCENT INTENSE is an inimitable declaration of individuality and seduction.
Homme
The masculine eau de parfum opens with a very fresh head made of grapefruit, cardamom and bergamot. The essence then plunges into the spicy heart of Cinnamon, Thyme and Cloves. In the end, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Labdanum give depth and warmth to the general accord.
So Nude
This is the latest offering in Costume National’s lineup. I love the new bottle shape and the notes sound beautiful. I can’t wait to get some on my skin.
Ennio Capasa has collaborated with Dominique Ropion.
A floral spicy creation, the fragrance opens with mystery by the spicy top of cardamom and cumin, surrounded by the delicacy of neroli. A floral heart of ylang ylang, damascena rose and tuberose suddenly appears, enchanting for elegance and sensuality. A warm base of Virginian cedarwood, patchouli heart and sandalwood gives depth to the general accord.
Gary then gave me some Costume National Manufacturers 1.5ml Carded Samples to give to you.
There are THREE packs to give away this week, the three winners will receive 1.5ml each of
Costume National Scent Gloss
Costume National Scent Intense
Costume National Homme
Costume National So Nude
with P&H anywhere in the world
Open to everyone worldwide who is a follower of AustralianPerfumeJunkies via email (eM), RSS, or WordPress (WP) and please put which in your answer. Yes, you may become a new follower to enter! In fact, we encourage it.
All you need to do this week is go over to Libertine Fragrance at http://www.libertineparfumerie.com.au/w1/i2/ and tell me any product there that takes your fancy. NO DOUBLE UPS! There is enough product at Libertine Fragrance to get about 500 commenters. That’s it!! EASY PEASY!
So, your entry will look like this:
eM (portia_turbo) TOKYO MILK Dead Sexy No 6
Portia xx
or
WP (AustralianPerfumeJunkies) TOKYO MILK Dead Sexy No 6
Portia xx
Extra Chances
You can earn an extra chance each for
Facebooking this link: APJ Costume National Giveaway https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/12/13/costume-national-triple-giveaway/
Tweeting this: @OzPerfumeJunkie APJ Costume National Giveaway https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/12/13/costume-national-triple-giveaway/
Entries Close Saturday December 15th 10pm AEDST and winners will be announced in a separate post on Sunday.
Winners will be chosen by putting names on same sized papers, folded similarly, put on a tray and TSO Jin will pick them. He doesn’t even stop watching TV to do it usually.
The three winners will have till Wednesday December 19th to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or I will give the prize to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
GO TO IT!! Good luck everyone
Do go and have a squiz at Libertine Fragrance if they get loads of extra traffic then I am positive we will get even bigger and better giveaways from them in future.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
Hello Fraught Funies,
OMG!! How is it Christmas again? I used to be a done all my Christmas Shopping by the end of the July Sales kinda person but the last few years I have put it off and put it off and then end up in a mad December scramble. I am composing a list of the things I’d like to grab for my partner Jin this year and letting you look over my shoulder as I do it. He will probably only get one from this list as I have a couple of other things in mind to add in.
Photo Stolen GraysOnline
Caswell – Massey Sandalwood Soap 3 x 5.8oz: This is a well packaged and deliciously scented set of Sandalwood smelling soaps. They act as a great base for loads of mens fragrances and give back a little of the rich buttery sandalwood missing from so many modern incarnations. There is also a 243ml body lotion pump pack. They both come in boxes for ease of wrapping. At FragranceNet I found the pair of them after discount for under $35
Caron, Yatagan EdT: Named after the curve bladed Turkish sabre Yatagan is a green, woodsy, leather, spice and sweat mixture that is surprising, interesting, masculine and dead sexy. Released back in 1976 Yatragan is a manly masterpiece for a super great price. FragranceNet has 125ml Edt spray for under $40
Lorenzo Villoresi – Fragrance Collection – Sample Set: I found this stunning set and have been panting after it for myself. 16 x 1.5ml sprays showing a fabulous selection of the range for only €30 on FirstInFragrance and a little hint, if you are shopping Internationally you pay no tax so spending around €100 and the shipping will be the same as the saved tax. Woo Hoo!
Photo Stolen L’Artisan
L’Artisan Parfumeur, Batucada EdT: Spicy, salty citrus tempered by flowers, flesh and sea in a lovely nod to cocktails and samba in Brazil on Ipanema Beach. Bright, bold, fresh and daring while being a completely modern masculine, and those engraved hexagonal bottles look so rich and have great heft in your hands. Parfum1 has 50ml for $100
Photo Stolen lovelypackage
Penhaligon’s, Juniper Sling: Recently I was lucky enough to win a bottle of Juniper Sling from TheCandyPerfumeBoy and I can’t stop spritzing. It is a fabulously boozy cool climate forest walk that gives you a sharp slap in the face to wake you up and then warms on skin into a deliciously warm masculine clean body smell. OMG! Seriously gorgeous stuff and EssentialMall has 50ml for as little as $101. BTW The box is even more lavish looking in real life
Maître Parfumeur et Gantier – Les Masculins – Discovery Set: Discover the universe of Maître Parfumeur et Gantier. A choice of 15 fragrances presented in 13 ml refillable atomizers, personally I think this is ridiculously good value and look at the presentation. FirstInFragrance has this gorgeous set for €119
Slumberhouse, Pear + Olive: If you want something so completely different to anything else available, you are buying for a perfumista, want to look like you are all over the best new stuff by the coolest crews and are way ahead of the game then this is the best buy you could wish for. The juice is a surprising almost clash of sweet and savoury, is dense and light simultaneously, warm, ferocious, cool and charming and comes in a killer engraved bottle with plenty of heft that will look totally now and retro on every vanity. Get onto the Slumberhouse site where 50ml will cost $150 + $12 International Postage. this is the good shit!
Photo Stolen Libertine
INeKE, Evening Edged In Gold: I know that you wouldn’t normally pick this as a masculine fragrance but it smells terrific on my partner Jin, a spicy, floral woodsy fragrance that sizzles on him in the most alluring way and makes me want to get really close. The bottle is a beautiful work of art too. Libertine in Australia has 75ml $160 including postage
Photo stolen LucyScent
Amouage EdP Miniatures Men’s Gift Set: Really want to spend some money on a lavish gift? Try the six best selling Amouage Men’s Fragrances in miniatures. Each 7.5ml bottle is a perfect mini replica of the real thing. Included are: Lyric, Jubilation XXV, Reflection, Gold, Dia & Silver. Many of the world’s stores are sold out but Libertine still has some in stock for $280 including Postage
Did that help at all? It has certainly sorted some stuff out in my head. What fragrant gifts are you thinking for the men in your life?
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
.
Guest post by EmmaKate
.
Hello hello fumies,
Photo Stolen weheartit
Photo Stolen imagesofdannadsignHey Perfume buddies,
Tonight we are TOTALLY off topic. Sorry. I have a blocked nose and can’t even smell a fresh blast of Montale Black Aoud. KAPUT!!
Don’t worry I’ll be back and better tomorrow, I’ll just let it ride for 24 hours.
.
Photo stolen izismile.com
So what are you getting instead? The most amazing show on earth. Victoria’s Secret 12/13 Runway. It is beyond words, please enjoy,
Portia xxxx
.
Photo stolen fanpop.com
Hello Gorgeouses!
Sometimes I like to go totally opposite from the high end of the fragrance register because I just want to smell good, not challenged or have to work hard to understand what I’m up to in the life cycle or even worry about the respritz value. Sometimes I want simple, pretty, cheap, cheerful and ultimately wearable fragrance. Lily of the valley is not a flower I am knowledgeable about in smell or growth. I do remember one year Mum and I bought and planted some pots of what was sold as lily of the valley but they did not live long enough to flower and that soured me on the whole plant so I have often overlooked it in fragrances.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Aldehydes, orange, green leaves, bergamot
Heart: Cyclamen, lilac, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose
Base: Sandalwood, musk
A bright green citrus opening sings out sweetly and quite syrup-ish. The bouquet is pretty and light, perfect during winter for reminiscence of spring and as a coolant in the hot summer months, the flowers remain green throughout the life of Muguet Des Bois. I currently have a vase full of Asiatic lilies, not Casablanca, and the scent is so like Muguet Des Bois that it’s uncanny. They are beautiful big pink and white flowers, huge! This is what they smell like too. Even as it fades towards dry down at the 3 hour mark the sandalwood is only a slight buttery warmth, leaving only the softest whisper of a skin scent that’s completely lost to me for another hour or so maximum.
Photo Stolen sito
Compared to Vintage Diorissimo Parfum (which is all I have) it is more sugared and way less stark, it also feels more transparent and gauzy, and let’s be perfectly honest cheaper. Looking at their respective price points though Muguet Des Bois is WAY better value because you can only tell how much cheaper side by side.
I think that Muguet Des Bois would be a wonderful work scent, as long as they aren’t fragrance phobic or too cramped quarters. It is also a lovely shopping, dining, dating fragrance, so fresh and light while being fragrant but not “clean”. Know what I mean?
Photo Stolen ausgardener
The most expensive I found 50ml on the discounters was $14, what a sensational bargain. Thank you Coty.
Further reading NowSmellThis and YesterdaysPerfume
Parfum1 has 50ml for $8
Have you smelt Mugeut Des Bois? Do you have a fave Lily Of The Valley scent?
Till tomorrow remember dreams only need persistent action to make them happen,
Portia xx
Hi Everyone,
Today AustralianPerfumeJunkies is dropping in early because we think this is a very important, wonderful and amazing offer from one of Australia’s fabulous Niche Perfumers Liz Cook at One Seed. I have stolen the ad copy exactly from the email but down the bottom there is a quick review of the fragrance HOPE
On Friday December 7th, we are launching our first annual “Hope for Hope Day”, where ALL profits from sales of Hope perfumes and body creams will be donated to one of our favourite charities, Australia Hope International.
Hope for Hope is for one day only, so if you have your eye on a bottle of our Hope perfume, or you are looking for a beautiful gift (and one that gives twice!), then shop at http://www.oneseedcompany.com on Friday December 7th to make your purchase really count.
Australia Hope International works with the destitute people of Uganda & The Congo to bring hope and empowerment, and to change lives. Over 97% of funds donated go directly to the people in need. Australia Hope International is making a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people in Africa. We are proud to be sponsors of this wonderful organisation.
From the One Seed Website
Fragrance Family: Soft, mossy & magnetic.
A meditative blend of Australian sandalwood & dewy oakmoss, with a delicate undertone of lavender & cedarwood, and sunny citrus accents.
Top notes: bergamot, lime
Heart notes: cedarwood, lavender, vanilla
Base notes: Australian sandalwood, oakmoss, musk ambrette
Hope is a beautiful, rippling and sizzling citrus that leads into a walk through the woods on a sunlit spring or autumn day where the shade is cool but the sun is warm. A delightfully dappled experience weaving between light and shade that is remarkably tenacious for a natural. The vanilla plays background but keeps a warmth running through the heart that remains slightly fizzy from the lime. A study in contrasts, Hope is interesting enough for a perfumista, pretty and wearable enough for a novice and world class quality. Better by far than many of the mundane offerings currently offered.
Further reading APJ Hope
Here is the link to HOPE on the OneSeedWebsite 50ml/$87
This is an awesome Christmas Gift and at the same time you will be helping the world and some of its less fortunate. Isn’t that what Christmas should be about?
Portia xx
Hello You Lovely Perfumistas,
Today we are looking at the last of the Neela Vermeire Creations for me to fall madly in love with. I have been wearing Mohur for months now. That glorious hit of sweet and spicy rose is hard to beat. Loved Trayee on first sniff and quickly went through my sample and then 10ml in the Discovery Set and never really got to Bombay Bling.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives the featured accords:
Top: French labdanum, caraway, mango, litchi, blackcurrant, cardamom
Heart: Jasmine, rose, tuberose, yang-ylang, gardenia, frangipani
Base: Virginia cedar, sandalwood, leather, patchouli, woodsy notes, vanilla
As you may know I am so not a fruity patchouli fragrance wearer, those sweet plastic mass produced headache inducers are just not how I wish to smell. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s what I thought Bombay Bling was going to be, and in some ways it is but so much better, more interesting, wearable and exciting. This is the Empress of Fruit-chouli, the benchmark that all others must set themselves against and unfortunately most are found wanting. This is what other Fruit-choulis dream of becoming when they grow up.
Photo Stolen mumbai.olx
Bombay Bling opens loud and sweet and fun, though it does invoke the sweltering streets and stalls of summertime Mumbai it could equally be a South American or Pacific Island marketplace. Freshly cut fruits including the majestic mango, are spliced with spice and a creamy warmth, like a masala fruit salad and cream. This rich and intoxicating fruity swirl lasts for ages, nearly an hour and makes me want to go out dancing, flirting and cha cha cha-ing. The bouquet opens up slowly, streaming through the fruit over a long period, unnoticed till near complete take over has occurred and it’s a hot, white and green sensation still with an undercurrent of sweet fruits that slowly becomes sweet woodsy patchouli till the only thing left is a whisper of vanilla and butter that stays for hours and hours and hours. TSO Jin early on claimed Bombay Bling for his own and on him it is glorious and super long lasting, I can smell it next morning and into the day.
Want some Bombay Bling? Order from the e-boutique in www.neelavermeire.com
Photo Stolen sareetimes
Neela Vermeire has kindly given me some wonderful things to be given away on the Perfume Posse this week. So you have THREE chances to win!!
There are three 2ml vial sets of Bombay Bling, Mohur & Trayee. Each winner will get one set.
Your answer must be entered in the comments on the Perfume Posse where the Neela Vermeire Creations LIVE Video Sniff is happening right now.
You must follow AustralianPerfumeJunkies via RSS, Email, WordPress, please tell me RSS/eM/WP in your comment. Yes, you can join and follow to be eligible. EASY!
You must also tell me any Indian (Subcontinent not Amer-Indian) State/Union Territory or State Capital City. NO DOUBLE UPS!! There are 35 States/Union Territories and their Capitals before we need to repeat anything. Once the comment number reaches 140, that’s your comments and my replies, then we can start doubling up. Got It? EASY PEASY!! Here’s a list to help you
Entries Close Saturday December 8th 10pm AEDST and winners will be announced in a separate post on Perfume Posse on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by putting names on same sized papers, folded similarly, put on a tray and TSO Jin will pick them. He doesn’t even stop watching TV to do it usually.
Winners will have till Wednesday December 12th to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or I will give the prize to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Don’t want to wait? Need your Neela Vermeire Creations fix right nnow? Here you can buy her Try India sets and the Discovery sets
GO TO IT!! The Perfume Posse
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx
Jai Ho
.
Guest Post by Dionne
.
Hey you great-smelling crowd, you!
It’s an honor to be here at Australian Perfume Junkies, and many thanks for Portia for inviting me to write a post. I’m the odd duck of Portia’s guest bloggers, as this is coming to you from the Great White North, aka the Canadian Rockies, where it’s white and hoarfrost-y and brisk as all get-out right now. However, my lovely mother-in-law was Australian, so I’m sorta-related through marriage and hoping y’all will grant me pretend-Aussie status. (It’s on my bucket list to visit someday.)
My initial plans for a first review got thrown out the window upon the arrival of an anticipated sample about two weeks ago. At the end of October I’d bought myself a larger bottle of Réglisse Noir, a stunning licorice floral that is one of the most unique and elegant perfumes in my collection, and figured I‘d throw a sample of Fleur No 1 into the cart for curiosity’s sake. Both perfumes are from the line 1000 Flowers, a Canadian indie brand created by perfumer Jessica Buchanan. The artisanal perfume scene is not as big in Canada as it is in Australia but we’ve got some neat lines, and in my opinion Jessica is a nose worth watching.
I don’t typically sample green frags anymore, as I did a massive exploration of the note about a year and a half ago at the request of my other half, The Engineer, who is a sucker for the smell of freshly-cut grass. After several months and lots of vials, I found my top three (Silences, Bel Respiro and Heure Exquise, if you’re wondering) and figured I was done. Boy was I wrong. Fleur No 1 is different from anything I’ve tried before, and changed my top three greens to a top four. This is a big deal for me, because I like things all neat and tidy, and “trio of greens” sounds so very prime number-ish and aesthetically pleasing, but what could I do? Fleur just wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Green notes, galbanum, narcissus, hyacinth, iris, magnolia and violet
So, how does this beauty smell? There’s an initial hit of galbanum similar to the beginning of Silences, but it’s a bit softer in Fleur No 1. After about ten minutes the spring flowers join in, mainly narcissus and hyacinth, with just a hint of earthiness. Envision a child clutching a freshly picked bouquet of flowers snatched out of the bulb garden that she really wasn’t supposed to pick complete with lots of leaves and the root ball still attached and she’s trailing clumps of dirt into the house and aren’t they pretty and I picked these for you because I love you mummy…………. yeah, that’s pretty much it. (I sound like I’m speaking from experience, don’t I?)
Photo Stolen Pixabay
Further reading CaFleurBon
1000Flowers eBoutique sells Fleur No 1 15ml @ $33.75. They also have a great Sample Program
IndieScents also stock 1000 Flowers
In my experience there are pretty perfumes, and there are interesting perfumes, but not a lot of pretty perfumes that are also interesting. Fleur No 1 walks that tightrope and does it beautifully. And I’m happy to report that due to some shameless begging on my part, Sons #2 and #3 are putting this under the tree for me for Christmas. Wheeee!
Till next month,
Dionne x
Australian Perfume Junkies 