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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
Getting ready for our honeymoon. So much to dao. Aunty Tracey in town and busy, busy, busy. Got some excellent fragrances on my skin too.
Frapin
Nevermore by Frapin GIVEAWAY
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Portia
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Hey Hey APJ,
Last weeks Veil by Oliver + Co winners are MMKinPA, Verbenaluvvr, Greg and Fragrant Wanderer
(Please send me your address to portia (_) turbo (at) yahoo (.) com (.) au even if I’ve sent you stuff before. I don’t keep your addresses on file here)
Today we are talking about a re-release of the 2014 P Frapin & Cie favourite Nevermore. Totally reformulated to make it more approachable and saleable. It’s very easy to tell the difference between the original and modern because the modern juice is clear, like water. I was given the Press Bottle by Libertine Parfumerie at their seasonal update recently.
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
“Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,” I said, “art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore—
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night’s Plutonian shore!”
Quoth the Raven “Nevermore.”
V8 The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe
Nevermore by P Frapin & Cie
Anne-Sophie Behaghel
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Aldehydes, nutmeg, black pepper, rose, amber, atlas cedar, saffron
Nevermore is a queer bird. It opens like road base in the rain. The aldehydes, black pepper and maybe nutmeg/rose combo are like something dark, inky, wet and arctic. It’s like opening a brand new geometry set as a kid, the metallic and plastic smell so fresh and new.
The only thing I can compare it to (and they are not the same but have a similar scent feeling) is the later stages of Byredo Black Saffron. I repeat, not the same but they share a style.
Even so, this modern Nevermore is infinitely more wearable and approachable than my memory of the original.
Leave a comment below. Four lucky people from anywhere in the world will get a decant.
Have you tried any P Frapin & Cie?
Portia xx
New Sniffs: 13.9.2018
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Portia
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Hey Hey Perfume Junkies,
APJs new Thursday thing for September. Hoping to combat the guilt I feel when so much arrives and so little gets written about, the idea of New Sniffs emerged.
The idea is that anything worthy of comment, either good or bad, that’s passed under my nose through the week will get a short write up. Up till now I have kept APJ positive comments only, those days are gone. If I think something is terrible, shamefully lazy, greedy or stupid and you should know about it, it will be said. Not everything works for everyone and it would be pretty boring if it did >>> YMMV. I’d love it if you all agree, respectfully disagree, have any thought-out opinion and want to share, do so in the comments below. The point is starting a conversation.
NEW!: Creed, Juliette Has A Gun and Frapin
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Post by Ainslie Walker
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Nick Smart’s desk at Agence de Parfum’s HQ (Libertine Parfumerie) often holds exciting secrets. Last week he had just returned from a buying trip in Europe…Squeal!! I dashed for the pile of boxes and had a quick sniff. These are my first thoughts and REVEALS:
NEW!: Creed, Juliette Has A Gun and Frapin
A fleeting whiff! New niche releases
Creed: Princess Oud is an oriental floral for women launching in Australia in March 2016, also created by in-house nose Oliver Creed. Before sniffing I thought of the words “princess” and “oud” and conjured up an imagined scent being sweet, girlie and dense with oud. I was right. An appealing, possibly heading towards ‘crowd pleasing,’ fragrance which paves a pathway between Middle Eastern and Western perfumes. It’s far too icky-sweet for me, personally. Maybe not so original but it’s done very well, this review is from a card so skin mileage will vary.
Creed: Royal Mayfair, a unisex fragrance launching here in December is a remake of Windsor, the limited edition of 2009, renamed and no longer limited. Whoop! Windsor was originally created in 1936 for King Edward VIII of England. Ingredients take us on a tour of the British Empire he ruled and makes for an interesting olfactive tale, in which Australia features, with the inclusion of “our” eucalyptus. Nose Oliver Creed has combined London gin, Jamaican lime, Scottish Highland pine tree atop of “Duke of Windsor” roses and orange from the Bahamas over Canadian cedar and AUSTRALIAN eucalyptus. I stopped and took notice when I first sniffed and it gets better and more beautiful and distinctive on drydown. My current gin based fragrance is Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling…could this be next?
Frapin: The Orchid Man is being compared to Aventus and due in Australia for release in January. Call me an alien but I am no massive fan of Aventus. Obviously I appreciate it, but mostly it’s too macho, and frankly that’s not who I like to nuzzle up too. Add to this all the comments re “panty dropping” I see on fragrance forums and I think its killed it for me (pants definitely up to the point of wedging!) My favourite pineapple note in perfumes is in Frapin’s 1270. So I was intrigued thinking, “could Frapin’s take possibly be a better and more affordable Aventus with 1270’s magical pineapples and woods?” No. It’s missing the pineapple sadly, but it is very similar to Aventus.
Juliette Has a Gun: Another Oud will be released in Australia in Feb 2016 (lets hope this means another visit to Oz from sexy Parisian, Romano Ricci, father of the brand..!) I smell the musks and ambroxan JHAG are famous for with oud floating up eventually from underneath. A dry oud scent. On the skin however Another Oud comes to life and there’s more to it than first expected, including some raspberry fruit and intensifying oud. I’d like to spend more time with this fragrance as it has all the elements to be very sensual.
Libertine Parfumerie has samples and bottles. FREE Australian Delivery over $100
First In Fragrance if you’re in Europe
LuckyScent in the USA
Surrender To Chance is a great way to sample before you buy too
What have you discovered lately that’s new to market or you that has touched you?
Ainslie Walker
Photos Donated Ainslie Walker
Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes #1
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Post by Ainslie Walker
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Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes
Hope you have a lovely weekend planned. I have some scent inspired cocktail recipes to help you on your merry way!
These delicious cocktails I tasted recently in Melbourne at Galerie de Parfum’s Cocktail and Perfume Masterclass in Myers Melbourne. Mixologist Justin Ryann Forsyth has been extremely generous giving me access to the recipes for his own scent cocktail creations.
Fragrance Inspired Cocktail Recipes #1
My recent APJ post shared with you the Empressa cocktail, inspired by Penhaligon’s new fragrance for the season
Today I will share some lovely winter warmers, perfect for a cozy evening:
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
1270 by Frapin
You can read Portia’s APJ 1270 review, which first alerted me to one of my now favorite fragrances
30 ml Drambuie
15 ml glenmorangie 10 yr scotch whisky
15 ml Lillet Rouge
3 dashes plum bitters
Add all ingredients to mixing glass, and then fill up with ice. Using a bar spoon, begin to stir the drink quickly, being careful not to break any ice. Stir until desired dilution is reached, then double strain into a coupette or similar short glass. Garnish with a dash of orange bitters or orange peel if desired. We didn’t do this for the presentation, but as a cocktail itself, the orange really brings it together.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Loukhoum by Keiko Mecheri
I fell in love with Loukhoulm during the Myers/Galerie de Parfum masterclass evening (and the moment was photographed, unbeknownst to me). For me it is smooth, sensual and womanly. Summed up, it is vanilla-almond-honey-rose notes, inspired by Turkish delight, which is far from my usual fragrance choices. However Loukoulm is much more than a sweet mess, having depth, warmth and providing some immediate comfort. The “comforting” component may be down to an almost Johnston’s and Johnston’s baby powder/oil-esque note….but far more deluxe. Loukoulm hugged close to my skin and was still there many hours later. Much creamier and deeper than other Turkish delight inspired fragrances such as Jo Malone Rose Water and Vanilla Cologne. There is the hint of the rose and iris smells of makeup -now so trendy with the release of Chanel’s Misia-but this is rounded and less screechy in its rose notes. Mixed in with almond nuttiness, the smell of hawthorn, one of my favorite cool weather notes. Something motherly and beautifully warm.
I would love to wear this on a date, as I am sure it would be perfect for an intimate candlelit dinner for two….followed with the following cocktail for dessert:
15 ml Crème de Cacao (or desired chocolate liqueur)
15 ml Cherry Heering liqueur
15 ml Amaretto
10 ml Monin Orgeat Syrup
5 ml Campari
2 dashes Fee Bro’s orange bitters
Egg white (optional)
Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker, and shake hard until all ingredients have combined evenly. Double strain into a chilled coupette or similar short glass. If using egg white, wet shake as above, then double strain into another shaker, then shake without ice to create a thick white foam. When finished, garnish with a cherry and 3 dashes Bob’s chocolate bitters.
Enjoy your weekend!
Xx Ainslie
1270 Frapin GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Hey Crew,
Thanks for jumping on board this one. I hope you all are loving our spectacular giveaways lately. I think there are a good cross section of products we are getting out there for you to try. As always we do it with you in mind as a thank you for you support and love.
Portia xx
1270 Frapin GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Dried orange, pineapple, hazelnut, resins, dried plums, cocoa, tonka, coffee
Heart: Lime blossom, linden tree, pepper, spices, dried fruits
Base: Wood, Guaiac wood, white honey, vanilla
WHAT COULD YOU WIN?
This week we will have 2 Winners who will each get:
1 x 5ml 1270 by Frapin decant
P&H Anywhere in the world
HOW DID YOU WIN?
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Tell us about a sweet or boozy fragrance that makes you smile, either because you wear it or because it has happy associations
Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie http://wp.me/p3PURw-3hb 1270 by Frapin GIVEAWAY #Perfume #Giveaway @LibertineParfum
HOUSEKEEPING
Entries Closed Sunday 26th October 2014 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org
Photo Stolen quiltelegance
Undina (via Twitter)
Bradley Woolslayer
The winners will have till Thursday 30th October 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
1270 by Sidonie Lancesseur for Frapin 2010
Hi there Perfume Junkies,
How are you all? Hopefully happy and well. If not happy, remember emotions are like rain, you can’t control them and they will pass, hugging you from here. XXX
We have talked about 1270 on APJ before, have loved its sweet, shimmery, boozy fun. I was going through stuff and found a really big decant that had come from Dalbir at Aussie fragrance Network on FB me ages ago. What better way to celebrate a find than to share it around.
1270 by Sidonie Lancesseur for Frapin 2010
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Dried orange, pineapple, hazelnut, resins, dried plums, cocoa, tonka, coffee
Heart: Lime blossom, linden tree, pepper, spices, dried fruits
Base: Wood, Guaiac wood, white honey, vanilla
Sweet and sugared glace fruits, dipped in booze and pepper, fizzy, fun and fabulous. I am finding myself more and more in love with the fruity sweet frags lately. How did I come so late to this?
A little of the fun of Angel and Liberté but softer and gentler. A small reminder of a Serge Lutens boozy fruit opening too. Yet for all these reminders 1270 manages to be its own animal, something young and lovely that will grab you in its sugared embrace and sweep you off to the ball, there’s even an animalic honey. You want to smell a little like the masses but BETTER? 1270 offers a gold plated version that dries down to a lovely sweet vanilla for me.
Photo Stolen Flickr
If you are a serious perfumista who wants a three ring circus and all the bells and whistles I think this is about as close as a sweet fruity frag will take you, for anyone who merely wants to smell sweet and intoxicatingly alluring then 1270 should be on your list, to be honest you’ll probably want to buy a pallet of it.
Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels and Another Perfume Blog
Libertine Parfumerie has $199/100ml (with FREE postage in Australia)
First In Fragrance has €110/100ml and samples
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml
I think you should at least give 1270 a whirl, you may just be surprised,
Portia xx
Photo Stolen sassisamblog
1270 Frapin GIVEAWAY
WHAT CAN YOU WIN?
This week we will have 2 Winners who will each get:
1 x 5ml 1270 by Frapin decant
P&H Anywhere in the world
HOW DO YOU WIN?
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Tell us about a sweet or boozy fragrance that makes you smile, either because you wear it or because it has happy associations
Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie http://wp.me/p3PURw-3hb 1270 by Frapin GIVEAWAY #Perfume #Giveaway @LibertineParfum
HOUSEKEEPING
Entries Close Sunday 26th October 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Thursday 30th October 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Hi there Juice junkies,
There is something deeply satisfying in having a giveaway that you all get excited about. Thank you everyone for being part of the fun. I am glad that we can work out 4 winners today. YIPPEE! THANKS to LibertineParfumerie, you guys rock my world.
Portia xx
Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY WINNERS
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine, nutmeg, rum, clove
Heart: Oakmoss, oak
Base: Patchouli, leather, cedar
WHAT COULD YOU WIN?
This week we will have 1 Major Winner who will get:
1 x Passion Boisee 100ml bottle
(minus the Secondary Winners Prizes)
P&H Anywhere in the world
3 x Secondary Winners who will each receive:
1 x 10ml decant of Passion Boisee
P&H Anywhere in the world
HOW DID YOU WIN?
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Go to Libertine Perfumes<<<JUMP and find me one of their Bath & Body Products and Manufacturer…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!
HOUSEKEEPING
Entries Closed Sunday 3rd August 2014 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org
Photo Stolen dryicons
Passion Boisee MAJOR WINNER
Katherine Mittas
Passion Boisee SECONDARY WINNERS
Tara (via Twitter)
Nemo
Yin
The winners will have till Thursday 7th August 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Special THANKS to LibertineParfumerie for these amazing giveaways. Please visit their site because they are so generous and helpful. If you wonder why they are sometimes more expensive than the discounters or OS retailers it’s because they are the only licensed company selling their fragrances in Australia; where you know you are buying new, fresh and genuine product. The cost of importing, and buying the right to import, alcohol based fragrances (and having the right to send alcohol based fragrances throughout Australia, which are illegal to send in the Australia Post air system) is expensive and they must cover their costs to bring you these luxury goods.
Passion Boisee by Jeanne-Marie Faugier for P Frapin & Co 2007
Hello Fragrant Family,
My mate Nick from Libertine Parfumerie sometimes gives APJ product for giveaways. A package from Nick is ALWAYS a sweet surprise and he is a lovely guy who wants to have a great range of fragrance for Aussies to choose from. Please, even if you don’t enter today’s competition, go and have a look at the amazing fragrant beauties that Libertine Parfumerie has for sale, you will be astounded. Lately Nick’s buying power has become so good that some (not all) of his products are the same numerical value as you would buy them for in the USA, that means with the current Aussie dollar that they are in fact 10-15% cheaper!!! AMAZING!
Passion Boisee by Jeanne-Marie Faugier for P Frapin & Co 2007
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine, nutmeg, rum, clove
Heart: Oakmoss, oak
Base: Patchouli, leather, cedar
Before anything else I want you to know how much I love the Frapin bottles. Heavy, great shape, excellent atomiser that gives a super blast. The whole packaging has been beautifully thought out and will look great as a gift or as the single bottle of scent on most mens counters. Not that women wouldn’t wear Passion Boisee, or any Frapin, but I can definitely see the men falling in love with the whole aesthetic.
So my nose gets a lovely gust of citrus, booze and a cool note that reads to me like pipe tobacco for a short while which then softens off considerably within 20 minutes and becomes a very light, forest floor over skin scent. Passion Boisee becomes a barely there shimmer of depth, an extra hint of the wild. Subtle to the point of subconscious. I pretty much lose the ability to smell Passion Boisee after an hour on myself but when sprayed on Jin it is a completely different beast and every time I come close to him its presence is noticeable and damn sexy. Powerful and sexy undertones, like pheromones.
I don’t get much play through the notes after the initial fireworks. I get cool forest, jungle floor, masculine, slightly animal and a feeling of power. I imagine this smell is how a jungle tiger feels. There, not there, camouflaged yet deadly and powerful. I think Passion Boisee would make an excellent work or date scent, a very under the radar reminder that the wearer is dangerous and focused and hungry.
If you like to proclaim your fragrance wearing in no uncertain terms then I think Passion Boisee will be too soft, too quietly confident.
Further reading: Fragrant Moments and Smelly Thoughts
Peony Melbourne currently has $95/100ml (That’s over 50% discount!!)
First In Fragrance has €105/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml
Photo Stolen TheTruthAboutMummy
Passion Boisee GIVEAWAY
WHAT CAN YOU WIN?
This week we will have 1 Major Winner who will get:
1 x Passion Boisee 100ml bottle
(minus the Secondary Winners Prizes)
P&H Anywhere in the world
3 x Secondary Winners who will each receive:
1 x 10ml decant of Passion Boisee
P&H Anywhere in the world
HOW DO YOU WIN?
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Go to Libertine Perfumes<<<JUMP and find me one of their Bath & Body Products and Manufacturer…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!
Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Passion Boisee: P Frapin & Co GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-324 #Perfume #Giveaway @LibertineParfum
HOUSEKEEPING
Entries Close Sunday 3rd August 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Thursday 7th August 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Special THANKS to LibertineParfumerie for these amazing giveaways. Please visit their site because they are so generous and helpful. If you wonder why they are sometimes more expensive than the discounters or OS retailers it’s because they are the only licensed company selling their fragrances in Australia; where you know you are buying new, fresh and genuine product. The cost of importing, and buying the right to import, alcohol based fragrances (and having the right to send alcohol based fragrances throughout Australia, which are illegal to send in the Australia Post air system) is expensive and they must cover their costs to bring you these luxury goods.
RAOK: Random Acts Of Kindness in a Perfumista’s World
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Post by Ainslie Walker
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RAOK
Random Acts Of Kindness in a Perfumista’s World
I noticed “ROAK” trending on the Facebook Fragrance groups I belong to (Fragrance Guru Nation, Facebook Fragrance Friends etc.) It stands for Random Act Of Kindness.
In short, people give out sample vials, atomisers or bottles of fragrances, for free. Announced sometimes with a question or quiz people must answer, sometimes it’s first in, best dressed and BINGO! Some lucky member anywhere in the world gets to try new fragrances FOR FREE! Crazy, no?
For various reasons, I like having bottles in their original packaging. Recently I bought a perfume and to my surprise, the parcel included FIFTEEN 3ml decants!! A lucky dip. Was I going to be converted?!
It’s impossible to experience all the fragrances and brands we read about, so RAOK’s enable us to sniff a bunch of newbies, for free! The risk is, of course, that the fragrances may not be in their original condition, contaminated or have experienced poor storage conditions such as heat/light (Ed: which can happen to bottles or decants and it is a risk every time you don’t buy brand new sealed bottles less than 3 years old)…but for the joy, I think it’s a risk worth taking. Here is a quick fun flirt with some;
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Tauer – L’air Du Desert Marocain – I’d never smelt an ‘Andy Tauer’ before. Hooray! Instantly warm and balmy. coriander and a touch of sweaty cumin. The end of a dry hot day? Incense or dry woods like cedar. Sweet in the dry down. The spices continue to smolder. I am reminded of the Middle East. In particular when I spent a night camping in the desert in Egypt. Beautifully odd and a little creepy at times. (APJ LDDM Review<<JUMP)
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Histoires de Parfums – 1969 Parfum De Revolte – An empty vial, as it leaked en route, but can smell powdery peachy, vanillary sweet. It reads well on Fragrantica – cocoa, cardamom, rose, patchouli, clove, musk, apricot, coffee.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Bodadicea The Victorious – Pure – Oooo yum, I’m having images of somewhere tropical. Fresh and fruit-spiced. I could drink this. So fresh and tropical but earthed by some deeper resins and woods. There’s some real strength to this one! Victory is mine! (well at least 3mls of it)
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Jean Charles Brosseau – Fleurs D’Ombre Violette Menthe – Would have walked past this in a store, however this is a hit for me! I love the powdery woody violet notes immediately. The sandalwood is strong and buttery. The mint keeps the violets contemporary. Nicely balanced. I’d like this as bath oil. A few hours on, the freshness dies a little abruptly.
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Histoires de Parfums – Tubereuse 1 Capricieuse – Had heard good things about this brand, but never worn them. Saffron, suede, menthol maybe a touch of tuberose, but not the pretty notes… I expected more. It isn’t pretty on me…? Anyone?
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Frapin 1270 you can read Portia’s APJ review<<JUMP. I discovered I do actually like fruity fragrance and have now even bought a full bottle from Peony in Melbourne.
So much fun!! A big thank you to Cassandra* for the hours of pleasure and new discoveries you have given me. I will always remember your kindness.
Ainslie Walker xx
*Name not changed, with permission
Australian Perfume Junkies 