Figment Woman by Dorothée Piot, Karine Vinchon-Spehner for Amouage 2017

July 26, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 9 Comments

Erica Golding

Hi everyone! I hope you are having the most gorgeous day.

As for myself, I’m enjoying yet another knock-me-over-with-a-feather moment thanks to an aromatic marvel. However, the magic of this perfume is not from drama and fireworks and bombastic notes; rather, its spell is cast by subtly enhancing a popular floral absolute just enough to launch it into the night sky.

Tuberose.

Now, I know you may be thinking that this beloved blossom has graced an infinite range of fragrances, and who needs yet another Tuberose when you’ve got Fracas and Carnal Flower and La Chasse Aux Papillons?

Trust me, you’re going to want to get your nose on the just-released:

Figment Woman by Amouage 2017

Figment Woman by Dorothée Piot and Karine Vinchon-Spehner

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Sichuan pepper, saffron, gardenia
Heart: Tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, lily, ylang-ylang, cassia bourbon
Base: Orris, papyrus, incense, patchouli

I was skeptical when I lifted the cap from my decant and inhaled a first impression. Instantaneously, all that registered with me was a pleasant tuberose note that, although pretty, was not piquing my interest. I placed the little glass vial on my nightstand and almost forgot about it, except for the fact that the warm spring breeze drifting through my window began to carry wafts of an enchanting scent, beckoning for my attention. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this beauty deserved skin time, immediately!

Figment Woman Amouage old-window-distressed PublicDomainPictures PDI

How does it smell?
Wet on the skin, jasmine slinks seductively, sexy and sultry. Orange blossom kisses the top of the fragrance with an effortless freshness, softly cheerful. The tuberose in the heart is of exceptional quality. This is genuine high grade absolute, delicate yet intense, a sweetness that flirts with the edge of imbalance but never tips the scales.
At the base of the fragrance, I sense a whisper of oakmoss amongst the rich yet very quiet and subtle resins. The bottom of this composition is understated. I don’t explicitly pick up on patchouli or incense as components of Figment Woman, they accent the aroma with exquisite grace and moderation.

Amouage Figment Woman is a lovely, attractive perfume that is perfectly pleasant for office/daytime wear, while also exhibiting magnetic properties making it a lovely choice for a hot summer night. I would wear it whenever, wherever, truly! It probably sings a little better in warmer weather but honestly it’s just so damn pretty that I can’t imagine it matters very much.

Figment Woman Amouage doll Ventus17 Pixabay PDI

Opus III by Karine Vinchon Spehner for Amouage 2010

February 10, 2017 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Portia

Hello Fragrance Family,

Yes, I know i’ve come late to the Library Collection. I don’t know why but earlier I found them boring or awful. Ever since I fell madly in love with Opus IX in Vienna while shopping with Val CQ, Sandra, Anna-Maria and Jin last year. I bought it on the spot at full retail without even thinking about it because it’s so damn gorgeous. So i thought I better give the rest of the set a respritz and Bloody Hell, they are wonderful.

Opus III by Amouage: The Library Collection 2010

Opus III by Karine Vinchon Spehner

Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Carnation, Broom, Mimosa, Nutmeg, Thyme
Heart: Jasmine, Orange blossom, Violet, Ylang-ylang
Base: Ambrette, Benzoin, Gaiac wood, Musk, Papyrus, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Cedar

The opening is sharp but mellowed by a smoothly waxy violet leaf with sizzling, spicy green-ness and already the creamy ylang is present. Opus III is a chunky violet/waxy/lipstick and hairspray fragrance that for me smells like I imagine kissing one of the glamorous Hollywood stars in the 1940s & 50s. It’s all cool fresh and floral up top and I’m surprised there’s no narcissus because I am getting some raunchy vegetal something, probably the jasmine, ambrette and orange blossom. Woody dry down is dry and resinous, lightly sweet. Charmingly innocent.

Flickr

One of the reviews I read mentions the word sleek and suddenly the whole fragrance makes real sense to me. Opus III is a sleek and flawless beauty that still manages to be friendly and approachable. Very easy to wear and love.

My imagine takes me to a well heeled businesswoman at the top of her game. Confident and talented in whatever role she’s in. A likeable, generous boss who also manages to get the job done. Though Opus III is happily unisex smelling this is my vision.

PDI

Further reading: Now Smell This and Australian Perfume Junkies
Libertine Parfumerie has $487/100ml with FREE Australian Delivery

What fragrances have you dismissed and returned to love?
Portia xx

Library Collection OPUS III by Karine Vinchon Spehner for Amouage 2010

August 12, 2014 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Post by Val the Cookie Queen

It might take time, but there is surely an Amouage for everyone. The Library Collection is described as being “a poetic homage to the art of living”. I don´t know what that means but it sounds romantic. The Collection defies current trends, are gender neutral, and categorization. I rather like most of them, with the exception of Opus VI. (I once stupidly over-applied this, and then proceeded to bake. It nearly killed me.) Opus III is the jewel of the collection for me.

Please go enter our Ramon Monegal coming to Australia GIVEAWAY<<JUMP

Library Collection OPUS III by Karine Vinchon Spehner for Amouage 2010

OPUS III: Violets, Cats and Three Teaspoons of Perfume

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mimosa, broom (Dyer’s Greenweed), cloves, nutmeg, thyme
Heart: Violet, jasmine, ylang-ylang, orange blossom
Base: Ambrette, papyrus, musk, cedar wood, sandalwood, Guaiac, benzoin, vanilla

I love violets. The Parma Violet sweets from my childhood, the Italian violet candies, and violet perfume. I used to have Devon Violet perfume as a child, purchased on rainy caravan holidays in the West Country, donkey rides included. I am not keen on the colour violet, but as the flowers themselves range from violet and blue, to yellow, white and cream it doesn´t matter. Freshly opened violets look stunning in salads. Violets are apparently known as having a “flirty” fragrance , as the scent comes and goes!! “Violet Day” was a day of remembrance in Australia, honouring the First World War dead. “The symbol of perpetual remembrance for these gallant dead who have given their lives for their country.” 1970 saw the last celebration of Violet Day.

Photo Stolen Flickr

The Violet Cream of the Crop

Opus III is all about violets. Thick and rich, creamy caramelized violets, with broom and mimosa kickstarting the whole fragrant brew. Not the typical violet of make-up, nor of Malle´s Lipstick Rose. It is full bodied and voluptuous, not to be confused with feminine. It is equally as suitable for a bloke. There are so many notes listed, as in all the Amouage perfumes. They highlight the violet and it glows throughout. Resinous violet, sprinkled with spiced vanilla and a smidgin of yang-ylang, ever shifting. It is not however a gourmand fragrance.

Photo Donated Val CQ

Although my cat doesn´t know that. She loves Opus III and will lick and chew it off whenever possible. I have spritzed 15 mls in the last month. That is three teaspoons. That is a whole lot of Amouage. It is very seductive, like spraying on another facet of yourself.

Opus III is not überdramatic, nor it is too rich. It is subtly stunning and lasts for hours. Sillage to die for. What more could you want? No worries if you don´t like violets either, because there are seven more of the Library Collection to explore. I am just starting on II, IV and V.

Today we wear the clinging violet
In memory of the brave,
While ever thoughts of fond but proud regret,
Come surging wave on wave.
Alexandra Seager
Dedicated to her son George, killed in Gallipoli

Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels and The Non Blonde
First In Fragrance has €295/100ml
Libertine Parfumerie has $418/100ml with FREE postage within Australia
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

Fragrant Bussis
CQ

With grateful thanks to Sandra who gave me SO much!!

Coeur De Vétiver Sacré by Karine Vinchon Spehner for L’Artisan Parfumeur 2010

November 16, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Haefennasiel

Hello there! I’m Haefennasiel (obviously not my real name – but I love J.R.R. Tolkien, and this is my elven nom de plume), and this will be my first time to officially review a perfume. But before we begin, my apologies – this is a long overdue guest review that should’ve come out months ago if only a hectic work schedule and stress on the homefront hadn’t gotten in the way.

Coeur De Vétiver Sacré by L’Artisan Parfumeur 2010

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica Gives these featured accords in one line:
Bergamot, orange, black tea, pepper, ginger, coriander, saffron, dates, dried apricot, incense, osmanthus, rose, iris, vanilla, vetiver, tarragon, sandalwood, white cedar, guaiac wood, amber, tonka , labdanum, castoreum, musk

I actually requested for something quite different so I was surprised when I opened the package sent by Australian Perfume Junkies. However, things worked out for the best when I tried out my sample of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Couer De Vétiver Sacré. My curiosity was piqued because I didn’t know what vetiver was (in the face of amateurish ignorance, research is a very handy ally). After a bit of Wikipedia-ing, I found out vetiver is related to lemongrass (locally known in our neck of the woods as “tanglad”). I became even more curious because we use this as a stuffing ingredient for roast suckling pig! Am I going to reek of pork? However, I was pleasantly and fragrantly surprised …

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

I kept the sample next to my keyboard as I worked, sniffing at it in between my lessons. And I was certainly glad I did because I almost immediately felt more relaxed and calm after every sniff. There was an initial pleasant dried-herb scent that was gentle and grassy. I later detected a black tea note, as well as very faint hints of dried ginger and mint. But despite all these elements, there was nothing food-ish or gourmand (much less, roast suckling pig!) about this perfume, and it’s more like a lovingly handmade potpourri.

Photo Stolen Pavel P. Flickr

The sillage wasn’t very strong (probably because I only dabbed a little bit of it to make the sample last), but it stayed comfortably close to my skin. This scent invokes impressions of being in a quiet, secluded corner of a forest. It’s thickly wooded and a bit dim, but there is nothing evil or sinister here. Shafts of sunlight penetrate through the trees bathing the area in a soft, warm glow. The ground is covered with soft damp moss, making it a perfect place to rest and meditate.

Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies and Olfactoria’s Travels
FragranceNet has $49/50ml before coupon
The Posh Peasant starts at $4/ml

H x

Coeur de Vetiver Sacre by L’Artisan Parfumeur 2010 and Be Nice!

March 24, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 19 Comments

Hello Everyone,

Sometimes when I read or see things on other people’s blogs or around the internet I then want to share them with you all. From one of my daily blog indulgences Sadie&Daisy here is just one of those things. Sadie&Daisy is a quick look blog, every day they pick a theme and post three photos. Sometimes it’s their photos and sometimes they use found pictures. Every day they are interesting. Sorry, no fragrance stuff today.

Coeur de Vetiver Sacre by L’Artisan Parfumeur 2010

Oh OK, I’m wearing an enormous couple of spritzes of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Coeur de Vetiver Sacre over the fading embers of Lalique EdT which I have been using lately to finish my decant. I wish they had not discontinued Coeur de Vetiver Sacre but Thank Goodness TSO Jin picked up 100ml while we were in Paris at Galleries Lafayette for only 35 Euro because they are discontinuing. EXCELLENT SCORE!!

Karine Vinchon Spehner created L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Coeur de Vetiver Sacre in 2010 and it can’t have been a super seller for it to already be going to bye byes. Their line reads that it was hoped that three major accords would be produced through the fragrance lifespan, sparkling, spicy and smoky. That’s pretty much how it works and I love it, especially when Jin wears it. Great scent for him.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Bergamot, orange, black tea, pepper, ginger, coriander, saffron, dates, dried apricot, incense, osmanthus, rose, iris, vanilla, vetiver, tarragon, sandalwood, white cedar, guaiac wood, amber, tonka , labdanum, castoreum and musk.

Till tomorrow, please read this sign and take heed.

Love,
Portia xx

Photo Stolen Sadie&Daisy