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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
We hit a new decade, Australia burned, temperatures soared and I had four glorious days to myself. So much beautiful perfume worn, saw some mates, ate some grub and watched some Netflix. Pretty good staycation. I’m feeling revived.
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Portia
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Hello Fellow Fumies,
At APJ we have a Saturday Question. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it’s 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 regularly and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them. The aim is to generate real conversation and connection even though we are scattered around the globe.
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
This week turned out to be all about fragrance and friends. We also got the go-ahead to buy a new townhouse so VERY excited about that too. Life has been very generous with us and we are grateful in the extreme.
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Erica Golding
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Warmly fragrant greetings to you all, hope you’re having a fabulous week so far!
Question: Do you ever smell a fragrance that is hauntingly familiar and yet you can’t place it? Your brain says, “Oh! This smells just like…….” and leaves you hanging. Isn’t it so frustrating? I think it’s a pretty common experience, but for a perfume enthusiast, the quest to solve the mystery can easily become an obsession! Can you help me out?
I’ve been trying to figure out what this soap reminds me of, and it’s making me nuts:
LUSH gives these featured accords:
Elderflower, Elderberries, Olibanum (frankincense), and Bergamot
About a year ago, I tried this soap for the first time and had an immediate reaction. The aroma is so familiar, I could just scream from not knowing what it reminds me of! I am so in love with the scent. If it was a perfume, I would just buy bottles until I was broke.
The label on my slice of soap heaven classifies the aroma as fruity, but I don’t agree. The scent is delicately floral, incredibly elegant, and really would make just the most breathtaking perfume. Why oh why doesn’t this exist as perfume??? The signature Lush shot of bergamot lends its own specific associations, but truly, my scent memory trigger feels so very distant, definitely from childhood (which, for me, was the 80s).
Is there a story behind the inspiration for this scent? Have you smelled this soap and been reminded of something else (pretty please)? I will just fall over laughing if it was inspired by Chanel No 5 or something that should be obvious to me!
PDI
LUSH Australia has $6.95/100gm
From LUSH Australia: Black-berried elder. A tree of legend, but also a great way to describe this magical blackcurrant-scented soap. Elderflower infusion, elderberries and olibanum oil create a potent spell for warding off evil (niffs that is!) Respect Your Elders will leave your skin silky soft and beautifully scented. Everything you look at can be turned into a story, so we say cancel storytime and let this become a part of your daily ritual.
Until next time, Love and Light
-Erica
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Portia
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OMG APJ,
This week has been lived completely on the fly. I seem to have spent most of my time running and the rest sleeping. Usually I sleep only 4-5 hours a night but I’ve been clocking 7-10 this week. Weird. So much has been happening, and tonnes of great frags.
Was woken by Westpac, my Credit Card had been hacked during the night and someone in Israel had made some significant purchases on it. GRRRRR!
Guerlain Vetiver EdT. Great way to start the week.
Went to a meeting with my mate Thierry from City Perfume. I grabbed a dreaming bottle of Tom Ford Arabian Wood which I then split among the Aussie Fragrance Network crew on FaceBook. 850ml went in about 16 hours, amazing.
Then met my BFF Kath for lunch at our fave Macquarie Centre dumpling store Lok Lok. She’s great company and we talked over developments in her work and crystallised some ideas for my near future, well fleshed out some pending plans anyway.
Dogs had to go to the trainers kennel because Jin & I are off to Tasmania later in the week.
On the way home from the kennels I dropped in on Anna-Maria & Johnny because they live nearby. It was fun to sit around and have cups of tea and chats at their place. I so rarely get to do it and we love them so much.
I really tried to write my Trivia Q&A. It was a very unfocused try and I was making mistakes so I headed in to the TV to watch some The Good Wife to clear my head.
Came back to the computer at around 2am but could not focus. At 3am after wasting half a night and only getting half my Trivia Q&A done I decided to hit the hay and get up a couple of hours early to finish them. So 8am I jumped out of bed, spritzed some vintage Eau de Gucci concentred and got to work.
Scott arrived at 10am and we got to Office Work and general duties.
First order of the day was doing the split and organising the send. Big job, loads of fun and we both ended up smelling fabulously of Tom Ford Arabian Wood.
Dropped into Westpac to check updates on my new replacement Credit Card arrival. I need it. Thank goodness for Aurio who went straight to the source and made sure there would vibe a replacement at the branch by tomorrow.
There was untold amounts of Post this week so we methodically went through that. Jin had to pay bills because my Credit Card was dead. That meant I had to pay hime from my reserves, which depleted them to the low three figures, yep minor crisis.
Got my hair buzzed.
Dyed my beard and became a beautiful lady. Tonight I wore vintage Miss Dior parfum, no one even noticed how utterly spectacular I smelled. Assholes.
JPG Monsieur Eau de Matin, perfect foil to a day filled with trepidation.
On our way out today, at breakfast, I saw a poster for a new Sydney production of Shakespeare’s The Merchant Of Venice. I always love to see it being done because Portia dresses up as a man in the play and saves her partners life. It’s part of the ironic reason that Portia was an acceptable name for me when the choice was being made with my crew how my Drag Persona (which is my only persona now) would be named. It’s funny looking back on that time 29 years later.
Anyway, I start looking at the poster and then realise that the man is my buddy Mitchell Butel. What a freaking superstar. If you’re in Sydney, make the time to see this, Mitchell is genius.
Same Sex Results Rally. It was amazing. Bumped into some wonderful people that I don’t get to spend enough time with. One of my mates from the year above me at school, others who I have known and loved for decades. Loads of peripheral friends and some that have been super close over time. It’s funny, Jin sometimes gets this incredulous look on his face when we wind up in big groups of people that I’ve known forever. It’s like, “Who are you?” as if I’m from another planet. My life sometimes does seem like a million light years away, and that it happened to another person. We got a yes, over 60%. HAPPY DAY! Now the government needs to legislate fairly. Fingers crossed.
JPG Monsieur Eau de Matin was a perfect starter for our grand adventure to Tasmania to do up one of our houses for sale.
We met Johnny at the Sydney Domestic Airport as early as you can imagine. Here are three bleary eyed men awaiting boarding.
Flew down and got straight to work. The carpet guys are already there and it was looking so much better. We decided to go for a slightly expensive choice but the difference spoke volumes. Yard dyed nylon in a light greige, it’s got a thick, soft, cut pile and won’t get loads of clouds lifting from it, nor will it pill. Johnny and Jin started fixing the bits and pieces that needed it. A couple of new light fittings, wardrobe doors that needed adjusting to shut, wall oven surround, garage odds & ends, a dodgy walkway fix and a bunch of other stuff.
We made a list of jobs for tomorrow, went back to Launceston, shopped at Bunnings and got some dinner & shut eye.
After my shower I spritzed liberally with my decant Phaedon Tabac Rouge and went to sleep at about 10pm on a pillow of gorgeous wafting me to the land of nod.
Up around 6am (that’s 8 hours) and down to the hotel breakfast. I’m so nervous about getting everything done today that I barely eat.
Phaedon Tabac Rouge again and lots of it. MMMMMM
Garden day. There are three men here to cut the grass, blitz the weeds and get it looking nice so we can newspaper & mulch with pine bark. BLOODY HELL! It’s so annoying, they didn’t edge the lawns. When I asked why not they said they’d not quoted for it. You quote to do a lawn that INCLUDES edging. GRRRR!
I painted a door, to the garage. YAY! Currently pretty damn chuffed with myself. There are a couple of admissions that need to be made though. Johnny did the sandpapering and Jin did the masking tape. All I had to do was cut in the edges and paint but it looks WONDERFUL!C So happy.
One thing I really love about George Town is that they still use cashiers at their Woolworths. They keep PEOPLE employed. Personal, friendly service. I spent three times as much as I would have, just because the place was properly staffed.
Jin and Johnny worked so hard to make the place look fabulous for sale, we laid countless newspapers as a biodegradable barrier to weeds that should last around 6 months. On top of that we put four cubic meters of pine bark. Looks bloody gorgeous. No, I forgot to take photos. There is one really cute one of Johnny and I running off to get some stuff in the car.
OOOPSIE! Didn’t wear sunscreen and my neck, head, ears and face and burned. Back of head and neck are lobster red. I haven’t been burned this severely since my teenage years and it is SORE! The guys say my skin is hot as a kettle and I’m feeling sick. Damnit! This was so bloody easily taken care of, and I even have sunscreen in my bag. IDIOT!
Slept from 10pm -7am. That’s 9 hours!!
I’m such a nitwit. Forgot to give the Real Estate the keys back. Instead of a lazy morning in Launceston we left Johnny to snooze and relax ands Jin & I went up to George Town, met Andrew our agent and showed him around the house. He was so happy. If you are thinking of buying in or around George town then call Andrew Michialetto at George Town Harcourts. He is a decent Real Estate Agent, bet you never thought you’d read that.
Jin and I did some sweeping up, handed over the keys, had a last Cream Bun and headed up to Low Head to say farewell. It’s got a lighthouse, an old whaling station and historic homes. It’s also a last breeding outpost of Fairy Penguins. So thankful that Jin was there and we got to talk about plans and congratulate ourselves on doing this Tasmania thing so right, even if we decided it wasn’t for us.
Back to collect Johnny to fly home and multi spritzed myself with vintage CHANEL No 19 parfum. So crisp and fabulous.
It was a bit squishy in thew plane but the boys slept the whole way.
First thing I did on arriving home was get the Aloe Vera onto my burn. My skin was so thirsty that it drank three applications in seconds. It has taken quite a bit of the heat and sting out.
Tonight after my bath I went Guerlain Shalimar crazy. They can probably smell me from the moon.
Then we went to met the crew for Wagyu House Korean BarBQ. It was so much fun I only got a shot of Jin and I before they arrived. We chattered and laughed and ate ridiculous amounts of food. We are so lucky to have such friends. Everything is better in our lives because we are surrounded by some excellent people.
You can see how exhausted we bath are in the shot.
More Aloe vera applications before bed.
Slept from 1am -10am. That’s 9 hours AGAIN. What the hell! I’m groggy as.
Aloe Vera application on waking.
Watched The Good Wife, did some computer stuff, ate lunch, watched some more of The Good Wife.
Couldn’t do drag because my burn would not allow me to wear it but I did bathe in LUSH Rose Jam, moisturised with Aloe Vera and wore indecent amounts of Neela Vermeire Creations Ashoka, just opened a brand new bottle. YAY. Smelling fricken fabulous FYI.
So what’s happening in your world? Did you do anything Fun or Fragrant, with Friends and Family or maybe even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
So what’s happening in your world? Did you do anything Fragrant, Fun, Friends, Family or even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hello APJ Crew,
So much fragrance this week. A real cross section of my collection. Everything else has been happily low key. I enjoy the cessation of our usual madness for a week of calm and peaceful. There were still friends, food and fun. It was Melbourne Cup week and spring has definitely sprung around here.
Sat up watching The Good Wife till 2.30am munching on chocolate and chips. I know, NAUGHTY! It was gloriously relaxing though. Before I hit the hay a sneaky spritz from a decant of Montale Aoud Amber Rose, guess what? It smells like a jammy rose, synth oud and some treacly thick amber. Fairly disgusting and fun, I like it. Certainly cleared my head of any other thoughts before sleep.
Today I went and got the dogs back from the trainer, they were pretty happy to see me. As I arrived to collect them the heavens opened up and it bucketed down. Now my car smells like wet, happy dogs. Not the worst smell in the world but it is persistent.
This morning I spritzed with Miller et Bertaux A Quiet Morning. It’s a niche-y saffron/woods affair and I love it.
In the afternoon Jin and I went to look at a house we want to buy. It’s pretty darn good. Now we need to make sure our ducks are all lined up. Fingers crossed.
Then Jin went to work and I watched MORE The Good Wife till Trivia Q&A time.
Lez Nez Turtle Vetiver Front from a decant was my spritz de nuit. Loving it sick. Mechanical grass at its finest.
Tuesday morning and I’ve been up since just past dark. I’m bathed and shaved. The dogs are fed and walked. It’s jacaranda time here in Sydney. I was in a hurry this morning so I didn’t walk to the shot of the purple lined boulevard but here’s a single specimen, blooming like crazy.
Today is Melbourne Cup in Australia, the race that stops a nation. What else would I be wearing than Parfum d’Empire Equistrius.
Just started doing my face for my daytime gig for the big event. It’s going to be a bit sweaty in our humid spring heat. GAK! Day drag is so gruesome.
Obviously we had a ball. 90 people, a band, me, buffet, booze and loads of silliness. Anna-Maria and husband Johnny were there, which made it extra special.
Came home, undressed and lay on my bed in a full face of make up till it was time to get going to Parramatta RSL for Turbo Trivia. We had a ball but my feet are SO SORE!
After a full day and night in drag I came home bushed. Straight into a bath I plonked then decided on Guerlain Santal Royal as my evening fragrance.
Jin and I went grocery shopping. Now I am going to bed, falling asleep at the computer.
Bloody delivery woke me up. I’m up doing a little computer catching up but going back to bed for an hours snooze. Sneaky decant spritz of Ramon Monegal Agar Musk.
Evan came over today and helped me decant the Tom Ford Tobacco Oud. Currently I, the house, the street and the suburb are awash in this wonderful fragrance. Not very oud-ish though, sweet and creamy. So wearable.
Here we are for the Instagram crew @the.hug.project showing happy hug bliss.
Had a lovely nap in the afternoon with Paris. We cuddled up and slept for nearly 2 hours.
Jin and I went for dinner at a nearby Indian place. Food was excellent and as neither of us were very hungry we shared and entree, main and rice with a garlic naan each. HEAVEN!
Sorry I forgot to take pics today.
O M G! Suddenly;y it’s 5.30am and I’ve been watching The Good Wife for hours. Heavily spritzed Miller Harris Geranium Bourbon and off to bed.
Walking the dogs this morning I noticed this Crepe Myrtle trunk looking like a Van Gogh painting in the early morning sun.
This is my happy view from the back of the pack most mornings. Jin was with us today and his boy Jinx was really pleased.
Worked tonight and wore James Heeley Esprit du Tigre. I thought I smelled amazing but no one noticed.
Got home from work and there was this glorious smelling bunch of Muraya (faux orange) in a little vase on my desk. I have been so engrossed in other stuff I missed it but the smell was overpowering and I thought I’d broken a BWF vial or decant. It is intoxicating. Jin is such a nice man sometimes; what a thoughtful thing to do. Yeah, I feel pretty lucky.
Up with the birds. Fed and walked the dogs. Spritzed a LOT of Guerlain Vetiver. It’s soft dry green-ness with a hint of salty oil and a cozy fur dry down were perfect for todays warmth.
Jumped a bus and train on my way to Sydney City.
Met with the Accountant this morning. It was FAR less dramatic than I expected. PHEW!
Lunch and a wander around the NSW Art Gallery with Rose. She’s such good company.
Then we went to David Jones Food Hall and had some fabulous Cheeses, Fruit, Bread & Biscuits and Proscuito with a very nice Prosecco.
Home to walk the dogs quickly and found these lovelies from LuckyScent. I had a fun cyber shopping moment a week or so ago.
Off then back out the door to meet three generations of Chaloners. Mum, Eve and Lola. We had a rushed dinner with a star appearance by Jin and then the four of us went and saw Murder On The Orient Express. Sumptuous but ultimately Kenneth Branagh ruined what could have been a fun frolic. He was so annoying that I found myself drifting off.
SIX YEARS with Jin. Yes, today is our Anniversary. I was going to take him to a super luxe fine dining restaurant where we would spend a fortune to eat tiny portions of God-knows-what overlooking Sydney’s magnificent harbour. Then I got to thinking about Jin. He is not really that guy. I’m sure he would enjoy the experience but then on the way home he’d make me stop for a burger at McDonalds because he’d still be hungry. Then I thought we could do our favourite Korean BarBQ but it just didn’t feel special enough.
We have mates who own and run a fantastic seafood restaurant in Darling Harbour, Blue Fish. Jin loves seafood and it’s on the water looking across at Sydney CBD. Not expensive but good food served attractively.
I’ll pick him up after work. We can get a train and then wander down to Darling Harbour as the sun sets, which shimmers off the city buildings and water. We’ll have a cocktail at one of the bars then slowly meander to a late-ish dinner and I’ve asked if they’ll do a Happy Anniversary dessert plate.
Hopefully the night will feel like a delicious but low key event full of love.
What else for a special night but a LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath and Neela Vermeire Creations Mohur. I will be a spicy rose delight.
I’m pleased to tell you the night was a success. We had Daiquiris, Seafood, Creme Brûlée on a Happy Anniversary plate. The weather was perfect and we sat by the water watching the world go by and chatting amiably. It was exactly the way we like it, low key but fun and yummy. Best of all we were together.
Lazy day around the house. Jin was up and off to work by 4am.
Walked the dogs for an hour and bumped into locals I know along the way, it was a beautiful sunshiny morning.
Came home and did some laundry, computer stuff etc
At 11am I found myself hungry and there was a banana in the bowl. All I’d had so far was a large glass of 50/50 cranberry juice and water when I awoke. This banana was so perfect. Sweet like candy, not too soft, large enough to satisfy. YUMMY!
In honour of my delicious banana I went and grabbed some Guerlain Mahora and spritzed lavishly. MMMMMMMMM The ylang has such banana and I’m wafting it joyfully.
Had a Niki de Saint Phalle bubble bath and used Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely fragrance for work tonight. Excellent fit for a cool spring evening.
So what’s happening in your world? Did you do anything Fun or Fragrant, with Friends and Family or maybe even had some less than Fabulous news you want to share? Now’s the time, in the comments below.
We love to read what’s happening to YOU.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hi there Fragrance Family,
I don’t know why but there are hardly any pics of this week. I did as much as ever but seem to have forgotten to take happy snaps. That makes this weeks post much more perfume centric.
I’ve also started watching The Good Wife on Netflix and have been reading Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. Both have been really enjoyable.
Jumped out of bed, rushed the dogs around food and walking. Sprayed a load of Penhaligon’s Ostara and smelled fabulous.
Jumped in the car and headed for my lovely girlfriend Sue’s, grabbed Wendy on the way and we had the most marvellous morning tea. I had a jacket made for Sue in India and so she decided to put on a magnificent spread. It was absolutely divine and I ate like a starving person. SO YUMMY!
There were mini crustless sandwiches, buttered fruit cake, fairy cakes and sausage rolls. All hand made from scratch by Sue. We talked about her days as a caterer and career as a teacher. We even had a business idea Drag Queen High Tea Hens Parties! Imagine how fun that would be.
After that I grabbed Anna Maria and we drove up the Blue Mountains to a Perfume Sale, where I bought a few things. Don’t get excited, only the Mona di Orios (Oiro & Carnation from 2006) are destined for me, the rest are Christmas gifts.
While Anna-Maria and I were shopping I asked her if she’d ever been to the Hydro Majestic. OMG! She hadn’t so we decided to pop up there and have a look. Secretly I was gunning for us to have High Tea there. He He he. TWO lavish tea parties in one day. We had the Champagne High Tea and it was stellar. Anna-Maria is the best company and we laughed and chattered the afternoon away. It was excellent fun.
Got home and really wanted to fall into a diabetic coma but Jin had organised to go to Kath and Alice in the evening to fix their electrics, and Kath’s shower screen.
We were so tired after that that there was no energy for dinner, nothing decent open at 10pm and we saw the golden arches. McDonalds it was. Delicious but, you know, awful, but DELICIOUS!
DEAD
So, there was NO WAY I could then write this weeks Trivia Q&A because my mind was mush so up at 5am to start. Though I was still a bit groggy the work got done in time for Scott to arrive bearing coffees.
We went through some boxes and did a big cull for sale. Sorry, there are only available to Australia. There’s a Sale Doc on Aussie Fragrance Network on FB if you are Aussie and something grabs your fancy. Most are used but almost all are back up bottles of fragrances that I’ll probably never use the original bottle up.
Wore some vintage Guerlain Shalimar Parfum to bed and asked myself again why I wear anything else.
I gave Jin a small amount of money for our Anniversary this year and his Christmas present to buy a shitty little run around car. He has been having a marvellous time looking up websites, meeting owners, test driving and genuinely enjoying the whole experience. Every couple of days he has been giving me updates about it and he is wholly invested in finding a bargain but workable car.
I have no recollection of Wednesday day at all. Seriously. I must have been sleepwalking. I know I took the dogs walking because I took a pic of Paris looking so happy as he sits on command.
I also indulged in a fruit salad, banana, apple, watermelon, cantaloup, pomegranate seeds and dates smothered in Greek yoghurt and honey. So freaking delicious and fulfilling.
We spent the early morning looking at complete wrecks for Jin’s car obsession. So no new car today. Bloody hell, the things people think are worthy.
My mate Aunty Sonni died. She left the house to friends. It’s in a VERY nice part of Sydney that I always used to tell my Mum I’d live in one day. We went to have a look at purchasing it but once we did the math it was going to make our very comfortable life a tight budget fit. Neither of us want to give up the luxury we currently enjoy so it’s a no. BUMMER!
I did have a fragrant arrival. Something I’ve been Jonesing for a while and it’s getting rare as hens teeth so I finally bit the bullet and bought it. It’s such a bummer because I remember when these babies were being run out and I could have got it for less than half the price I paid. Trust me to wait till now to fall in love. GRRRR! Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth.
My day was spent waving some CHANEL Antaeus Pour Homme vintage EdT, what a bloody gorgeous fragrance. Total immersion for the first 20 minutes and then a perfect scent story to dip into over the next few hours at will.
Jin came home with a car. He had been talking to this guy and wife around the corner from his work. The car was a good price so he and a couple of his car savvy mechanic workmates jumped in the van and went round to see it at dinner time. They went over the car with a fine toothed comb, test drove it and were given the complete history of servicing receipts in a folder. The car is immaculate, looks brand new and drives beautifully. A 2002 Daihatsu, baby blue for nearly half the amount Jin had to spend. So I bought his first year of insurance and he will be getting new number plates.
Look at that happy face. How could you not love this goofy, handsome, sweetheart?
Dentist day! Went to town for a teeth clean. I love my dentist, so handsome and careful.
Today was spent wandering in original Fendi. one of my great perfume loves. There have been a new rush of Fendi to the market but it doesn’t have the size or longevity of the original, I have a few of both and this one is the real deal. Blow the back of your head off, happily.
TinaG’s birthday today and I am in charge of the birthday present shopping from the four of us. WOO HOO! I walked around the whole ground floor of David Jones City Store and finally settled on CHANEL. No 19 Shower Gel and Body Lotion, a mascara and lip gloss. Beautifully boxed and presented by Laura.
It was a huge hit. TinaG was so excited. YAY!!
We had dinner at our favourite Chinese restaurant Liu Rose. It has the same decor from when I was a toddler and used to come with my parents because it was two doors down from my parents jewellery, watchmaking and gift store.
The birthday cake was Bomb Alaska. OMFG! I seriously couldn’t finish my piece. Amazing.
For bedtime I spritzed some Guerlain Mitsouko EdT. Perfect bedtime scent.
At the computer most of this morning surrounded in a cloud of Guerlain Champs Elysees EdT. It is so dewy, fresh and elegant. I don’t understand why more people aren’t raving about it.
Had the most fabulous LUSH Rose Jam bubble bath, moisturised with Madonna Truth or Dare Naked lotion and spritzed Bal a Versailles EdT like crazy. I’m a little bit fragrant, Good Night. XX
Early morning wake up spritz of Neela Vermeire Creations Pichola.
This morning I was up early to give the house a quick zjush because my mate Evie came over for brunch while daughter Lola had singing lessons nearby. We walked the dogs and grabbed coffees from the local parklands coffee shop, chatting with residents and dogs along the way. I love the village atmosphere of North Parramatta. Then we came home and had a yummy brunch of left over chicken ratatouille chopped small and mixed with mayonnaise, cheese and lettuce on fresh wholegrain bread. Delicious.
Now I’m back at the computer organising blog posts till I get ready for work tonight.
Bubble bath in LUSH Rose Jam and work fragrance courtesy of DIOR Mitzah.
How was your week? What went on? Anything, any little tit bit that you want to share, we love to read it. Jump into the comments below. I can be fragrance related or not, help us get to know you just a little please.
Portia xx
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Portia
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Hey Gang,
This week has been a hodge podge of loads of stuff and very little of anything in particular. It started out calm and cool but has become more frantic each day. I am completely blitzed now.
Portia xx
Monday went by in a daze of organisation.
Jin and I managed to run away to our favourite cafe for lunch but the rest of the day seemed computer bound with breaks for coffee & food. I went and collected the mail from my Post Office Box and my favourite postal GF had popped Home Made Cookies in the box! Seriously, how freaking lucky am I? Thanks Nikki, delicious. They’re Nikki Bickies!
I did order PIZZA dinner because Jin was working night shift and I am too lazy to cook when in Trivia Q&A mode.
It got to 11.57pm and my mind was fried so I decided to go to bed and get up early tomorrow and finish my Q&A. Sometimes I need fresh eyes on the problem. So, quick spritz of Estee Lauder La Rouge Gloss, their answer to Diet Soda scents and off to the land of ZZZzzZZZZZzZZ.
Awoke early, got my Q&A finished and sent out to the girls. They’re seriously tricky this week so I’ve told the girls to give clues. Mine are printed and awaiting organisation.
WOO HOO I received a package this morning. It was a BIG surprise. It was a thoughtful gift from Kate Apted! How freaking generous! Wonderful. LUSH Rose Jam shower gel
CHANEL Boy for work. I bloody love this baby.
Weather is sublime here in Sydney. walked the dogs for over an hour this morning in the warm sunshine. They were pooped by the time we got home.
Wearing Guerlain Tonka Imperiale. It’s sweet nutty warmth was a perfect ramble accompaniment.
Tonight I finished my B&BW Warm Vanilla Sugar in the bath and spritzed Histoires de Parfums Amber 114. Amber 114 is very nice as it goes on, a cool amber buoyed by herbs and woods. It’s the heart and dry down that I really love though, warm amber, nutty, creamy woods and resins. It’s so glamorous. Simple and elegant. Why don’t I wear it more?
Went to bed and started feeling achey, woozy and chill. Took two Neurofen and put on a heater, added a jumper and extra socks. Drank a bunch of tea and water and sweated it out.
Awoke this morning feeling slightly fuzzy but infinitely better.
TinaG came over.
We went and started sorting my VISA for India and bought some tropical fish for my aquarium.
Sniff, TinaG and I sniffed perfumes. LOADS of them. Can I remember which ones? NOPE!
Work: Tonight was fun at KPT. We had a great crew of regulars & newbies. They put us into a new room which I think will work perfectly for us. Sound is excellent and the ambience too. Lighting needs a little tweaking but we can work with it. Here’s a few of the gang.
Jin finished work at 6am. He headed home and grabbed 3 hours sleep then we were off and running for our day.
First stop: We collected the signed poster from Jimmy Barnes for the auction winner at the recent fundraiser I hosted. It is going to make vaughn an extremely happy fan and hopefully he’ll treasure it for a lifetime.
Next we hit the Redfern apartment. The kitchen kick board is falling apart so Jin glued and fixed it into place. We also checked the water connections to the clothes washing machine, the taps and pipes, all clear. While we were in there as Jin was doing his thing I cleaned the grease traps in the exhaust fan above the stove. They are super clean ands lovely now.
Lunch time and we went to a Korean style Chinese restaurant. Every country makes their Chinese food differently so though it’s called Chinese the Korean version is a horse of a different colour.
In the fragrance department it was a red letter day for postal arrivals. OMG! I received today what most regular people would get in a year.
Not available to buy until September 1 2017 I received the advance press set. UNBELIEVABLE! The boys have created a fully functioning mini brief case to hold their samples. It’s so freaking good and I’m on a design high. BRaVO! Amazing packaging. This will sell like hoy cakes on cool red alone. WAIT till you smell the frags. Ah May Zing.
PANIC SHOPPING ARRIVED:
Elvire at the Palais Royale Serge Lutens store sent some stuff to Val who forwarded a Le Vaporisateur of Fourreau Noir and the new 100ml of La Fille de Berlin. SO EXCITED!
Paris and everywhere else is out of the Le Vaporisateur of de Profundis. I found it at The Perfume Shoppe Canada. They could not have been more helpful, were excellent communicators and got everything sent tout de suite.
We have been home and relaxing this afternoon but tonight we will be cleaning and readying the place for our visitors. Jin’s Niece & nephew arriving in the morning. I’m so nervous. HA! Hopefully they have a wonderful time.
Woke up early, spritzed Guerlain Cuir Beluga and went to the airport to collect the kids. They came home, rested, ate breakfast and generally hung out.
Spritzed Etat Libre d’Orange Afternoon of a Faun. Went to Sydney’s best meet-the-native-fauna type zoo, Featherdales. I haven’t been in decades and it has come a long way. We were able to meet and feed wallabies and small kangaroos, pet the quokkas. We also got to see dingoes, Tasmanian Devils and fruit bats being fed and an excellent assortment of birdlife big & small. It’s all set out in a really comfortable area. We met up with the Lee family (Kath’s sister Jane, husband Mark, kids Rachel & Erin) and it was super fun. Excellent day out. I learned so much from the keepers and the shows about our native fauna.
Spritzed Lancome Magie Noire. Then we met Kath & Alice for DUCK DINNER, yep Peking Duck. It was a smashing success.
Now we are all totally worn out. Everyone else is sound asleep and I’m pretty much on my way. A sneaky spritz of Patou 1000 EdT before bed. NIGHT!
After reading some of the Saturday Question responses I was inspired to wear vintage CHANEL No 19 EdT today. GREAT CHOICE!
Went and had a wonderful day on the river to Sydney then wandered the markets and stalls. Then had lunch. It was lovely seeing one of my dearest friends Eve and her daughter, Jin and the kids were pleasant AND we were lucky enough to be with Jin’s BFF Matt who we hardly see enough. At the markets we bumped into Eve and my childhood friend Sean Carver at his stall and the kids bought some fab bags and T-Shirts for themselves and friends.
It should have been wonderful but actually I was tense the whole time, felt claustrophobic in the crush of people and snapped at everyone. While I do know I’m not a bad person this was definitely one of my less attractive moments.
Home and bathed. Wore Keiko Mecheri Un Jour d’Ete and it was a beautiful tropical accompaniment to work tonight. I still smell of it.
How was your week? Come on, share something fun or fragrant. Maybe you had a public melt down or did something silly. Purge yourself here and we will all commiserate.
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 