Mona di Orio

Lux + Nuit Noire by Mona di Orio (re-release) 2014

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Post by Val the Cookie Queen.

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It is difficult to know where to start when there has already been so much written about these two fragrances. I will take the chance to inform those who don´t know that Lux and Nuit Noire are available again. They have been re-launched in their original formulas.

Mona di Orio (re-release) 2014: Signature Collection

Lux Mona di Orio- Sensual and erotic

Lux Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Mona di Orio gives these featured accords in one line (Press Release):
Sicilian lemon, litsea cubeba, bigarade petitgrain, Haitian vetiver, Mysore cedarwood, sandalwood, musk, amber, Siamese benzoin, Bourbon vanilla

Kicks off with a sparkling and delightful lemon. This is no cologne though. The development can be compared to throwing a pebble into the water. The immediate splash is the delicious citrus, but as the ripples spread, the vetiver appears and very slowly it takes us towards the most sensual vanilla and and earthy lemon with musks and amber and sandalwood swirling in along the way. Lux is Latin for light. It is also a stunning fragrance, turning from light into shadow and then back again to a warm soft lingering glow. Lux must be tried on the skin to experience the passionate journey that ensues. Lux is not too sweet, harmonizes beautifully and is absolutely stunning on a man.

Nuit Noire Mona di Orio- Lie me down and tether me tightly

Nuit Noire Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Mona di Orio gives these featured accords in one line (Press Release):
Orange flower, cardamom, ginger, orange, frankincense, cinnamon, tuberose, sandalwood, clove, cedarwood, amber, leather, musk, tonka

I would be careful about wearing this one in the office. The same applies if you have been diagnosed with a heart condition.

It is so hardcore in the first few moments, that you need to be careful not to inhale too deeply and thus risk droplets
hanging off of your nose hair. Indolic orange, skunky cardamom and hot ginger. It is quite thrilling. By the time you try to figure out what´s going on, it calms down into a warm seductive combination of tuberose and spices and you have a while to savour the experience. Slowly it moves on into musk, leather, tonka and amber. It is carnal, yet creamy
and velvety throughout. Nuit Noire will not be for all perfume lovers, but should be tried by as many who have the chance. Intoxicating, stimulating and über-feminine.

MdO Lux + Nuit Noire ValPhoto Donated by Mona di Orio

The the newly designed black transluscent oval flacons just for Lux and Nuit Noire are very striking.

First In Fragrance has €140/75ml

Spending time with Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, co-founder and Creative Director of MdO was one of the highlights of 2014. His passion is inspiring. He buttons up his shirts and doesn´t pretend to be a perfumer.

MdO Lux + Nuit Noire Val2Photo Donated by Mona di Orio

Much thanks to Jeroen and Henrike for their kindness in Florence.

Bussis
CQ

Vanilla Faves: Notes in Fragrance

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Post by FeralJasmine

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I’m given to understand that fetishists refer to ordinary sex as “vanilla sex.” I will not waste time in commenting about how I come to know this, except that it reflects on the peculiar nature of the people I encounter in the course of my work. To me it seems like an incongruous association in several ways. For one thing, vanilla is said to be a note that men almost invariably find sexy, making it a bit fetishistic to begin with. Then there is the nature of vanilla itself. Dark, deep, rich, complex, delicious… How did this come to be conflated with “ordinary?”

VanillaWood 123rfPhoto Stolen 123rf

Vanilla scents are anything but ordinary to me. Of all the perfume bottles in my collection, at least half contain vanilla in some form and to some degree. And never mind just how many I have; probably not as many as Portia, so go check up on her instead ;-). But even if I limit myself to the vanilla-centric scents, there are lots of options. There is probably no note that lends itself to so many different approaches. I can’t do more than list a few of my favorites, but I will try to spread them across the vanilla spectrum.

Vanilla: Notes in Fragrance

Fifty Shades of Vanilla

Tihota Indult FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

First, Indult Tihota. This one was created by Francis Kurkdjian and was recently reissued in what is supposed to be its original form, although he is no longer connected with the company. Listed notes are vanilla, florals, and spices. As an aficionado of good vanilla beans, I do not see how floral and spice notes could possibly be disconnected from vanilla. They are there naturally. This one is like rich, creamy, pure vanilla extract of the highest quality that lasts for hours. This is the one for those of us who would stuff vanilla beans in our bras if we could get away with it. (Gentle reader, kindly do not try this. Over the course of a few hours the seeds tend to end up in your cleavage, where they look very disconcerting.) When you want a shot of vanilla in all its glory, straight up, Tihota is the one to reach for.

Tom Ford’s Tobacco Vanille is a perfume that I used to criticize at every opportunity. I called it heavy, cloying, and unbalanced. Then I tried it on a cold winter day and had to eat my words, and also had to eat the bill for a large decant. Now, instead of heavy, I find it rich and satisfying. I suspect that, when the weather warms up, it will begin to seem cloying again and will be put away for next winter.

7 BILLION HEARTS CB I Hate PerfumePhoto Stolen CB I Hate Perfume

A profound vanilla favorite of mine is the gorgeous 7 Billion Hearts, by CB I Hate Perfume. I tried this one in late fall, bought a bottle without reckoning the cost, and wore it happily all winter. I loved the vanilla on a bed of cedar, with a smoky resiny fire in the background, and others loved it on me. Then on the first really warm day of spring, it turned on me. In fact, it drove harsh cedary fingernails right into my skin and refused to let go. I could barely smell vanilla in the pile of partially burnt pencil shavings that it turned into. Now that cold weather is back, it is cuddling up against me again, purring softly. Next spring I will put it aside without regret, knowing that come fall, all will be well between us.

Les Nombres d`Or Vanille Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Finally, there is the exquisite Mona di Orio Vanille. I will not go into the famous shipwreck story that goes with it, because I don’t feel that you should need to hear a story to know whether you like the perfume or not. Bales of spices and woods, eventually giving way to as lovely a spiced vanilla as I can imagine. It also contains a subtle but highly effective use of nutmeg, a note that can be tricky to manage. Try this one, if you haven’t already.

Now, what are your favorites? I need to know what to add to my wish list.

Eau Absolue by Mona de Orio 2013

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Hello my lovelies,

One of my favourite Niche/Indie houses Mona do Orio was busy in 2013 bringing out two fragrances. This was the first offering and I wanted to give a bit of space between the lovely reviews for launch and a look at it after some time, giving the dust a moment to settle. I have here a 10ml decant about 1/4 used. Whenever I reach for it I think that I will want to wear it every day but then, of course, pick up something else tomorrow. When I wear it often the thought “Dessert Island Top Ten” passes through my brain. Would it be? Hopefully I’ll never have to choose.

Eau Absolue by Mona de Orio 2013

Eau Absolue Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica Gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, clementine, petitgrain
Heart: Geranium, java vetiver oil, bay leaf, pink pepper
Base: Cedar, musk, labdanum

BZZZZZZZ! The citrus opening is loads of fun but kept from being a zingy space cadet by whispers of the resins to come even in the first minute. While I sit here in a balmy Sydney summer evening I am enjoying the very unexpected opening. I have read a few reviews before writing tonight, which is not something I usually do, so my expectations were for something quite different, something more mainstream and fizzy. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is, as I should always expect with a Mona di Orio fragrance, something quite densely layered with everything in the notes list all at once and what will happen is certain accords will get precedence on occasion.

Eau Absolue Mona di Orio Chris Isherwood FlickrPhoto Stolen Chris Isherwood  Flickr

I get zero geranium or pink pepper but the citrus, bay, musk and labdanum seem to be the stars in Eau Absolue for my skin and nose. Eau Absolue is warm, cuddly and inviting without giving any sexual vibes and almost no fleshy animal. It’s so friendly and smells like my Mum and the kitchen would smell during winter, like food seasonings, smoke, wool wash, clean skin and unconditional love. There is something waxy and lip balm-ish too. I am madly in love with the memories Eau Absolue is conjuring. What an enjoyable ride, when I normally spritz Eau Absolue I just enjoy the fragrance and don’t really stop to question the whys and wherefors, sitting here and having the time and space to let my mind wander and really enjoy this beautiful, flawless creation by Mona di Orio is a joyful experience and I think I’ve been smiling for two hours. This is the good stuff and if I wasn’t going on a perfume voyage in a moment I’d be looking up LuckyScent or Peony Melbourne and ordering.

 Eau Absolue Mona di Orio Eleazar FlickrPhoto Stolen Eleazar Flickr

Though Eau Absolue is not a big projector it does have good silllage and I get around 5-6 hours of fragrant wear before it dries down to a soft fuzzy powdery wash. Wearable? Anywhere. Everywhere. Dress up or down. Dawn or dusk or romantic interlude.

Further reading: The Non-Blonde and Chemist In A Bottle
LuckyScent has $230/100ml
Surrender To Chance samples start at $7/ml

I think this could be my everyday wear frag. Eau Absolute is comfortable like so many of the Mona di Orios and so fabulously unusual too. Is there one of these for you that you still don’t have a Full Bottle of? Why?

My answer is that I will never get through 100ml of it. 100ml is a LOT of fragrance for a perfumista but if I see someone selling their 50mls left, reasonably priced, on a list I will jump all over it.

I hope your day is happy and bright,

Portia x

 

Most Reached For Fragrances 2013: Portia

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Most Reached For Fragrances 2013: Portia

FG Ambre Ceruleen FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Ambre Ceruleen by Huitieme Art Parfumes EdP

This was a Scent Bar purchase while in LA for the ScentSation Bus tour in May this year with Tom Pease. Ambre Ceruleen is a sweet amber as comfortable as an old pair of jeans that fit you perfectly and have softened into your shape. It has an excellent life length, 7+ hours on me, with good projection and sillage.

Amoureuse FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Amoureuse by Parfums DelRae EdP

Lily, jasmine, tuberose, honey and cardamom all together in a sensual, sweaty, slightly rank waft of gorgeous. Every time I wear Amoureuse it’s like a glamour assault on my senses and it gets loads of compliments too. I don’t understand why this terrific, well priced, beautifully blended range is not top of more perfumistas love lists.

Bellodgia FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Bellodgia by Caron EdT, EdP, Parfum, Oil

I am hoping to get to the Caron store in Paris in Jan/Feb. Does anyone know if they do bath products? The only thing that could make this crisp and wanton carnation better is to be up to my neck in bubbles of it in the bath. I love the Caron base, it sits beautifully on my skin radiating warmth and invitation, safety and feral attack. It’s so far from anything that you can buy in department stores nowadays that just for its differences alone it gathers compliments.

Coco FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Coco by CHANEL EdT, EdP, Parfum

Coco is the naughty sensualist, the oriental blockbuster that can cut a swathe through a room. I love spritzing Coco and lying on the lounge playing Words With Friends (TubbyB9 if you want a game), huffing and cogitating simultaneously. It also gets a spritz for nights out, excellent dinner companion because by the time you have sat to eat it is a murmur playing a siren call style backbeat to everything else. Killer.

Fancy Nights Jessica simpson FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fancy Nights by Jessica Simpson EdP, Lotion

This el-cheapo celebuscent is one of my go-to perfumes. It is a milkier, dirtier, longer lasting Shalimar sister. Excellent bed scent that is used by a couple of my perfumista friends to send them to the land of nod. It is a wonderful body scent but also good for sheet and pillow fragrancing and considering how inexpensive Fancy Nights is there is never a question of saving it for best.

Liberte by Cacharel FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Liberte by Cacharel EdP

Yes, I know. Discontinued, cheap as chips, everyone slates it. Good. I will gather my discount stockpile and wear it alone. Liberte has the most fabulous sizzling citrus I’ve ever had the pleasure to wear. It’s bold and silly and festive. I reach for the crazy orange pillar at least once a week and enjoy the fizzy, fuzzy madness that is Liberte.

Feeling Good Michael Buble Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia Guerlain Fragrantica

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Lys Soleia (Aqua Allegoria) by Guerlain EdT

To remember spring or to enjoy the summer I think the most delightful Aqua Allegoria in  the Guerlain line is Lys Soleia. The lily, Ylang, Citrus fruit and vanilla all collude in a cheerful sunshine bright burst of lovely. Wearable all year round and an excellent choice for gift giving, even a gift for yourself. Nowadays you can get Lys Soleia on the discounters for next to nothing too.

 

Olympic Amber Olympic Orchids FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Olympic Amber by Olympic Orchids EdP, Parfum

Warm, dusty, dry resins and patchouli, the amber is gorgeously rich and right from the outset feels like a VERY expensive fragrance and gives me warm fuzzy feelings of love and safety. Not only do I regularly reach for it but I also gift it because it makes everyone smile.

Shalimar FagranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Shalimar by Guerlain in EdC, EdT, EdP, Parfum:

There is something thrilling yet comforting about spritzing or dabbing Shalimar. It was the fragrance of my Mum’s clique, has been worn by many of my friends and every time I wear it I love it so much. That sweet swirl of citrus, vanilla, leather and a bouquet are TO DIE FOR every time, every incarnation and strength, with the same rush of memory and anticipation.

Vanille Mona Di OrioPhoto Stolen Mona Di Orio

Vanille by Mona di Orio EdP

When I think go-to fragrance I like to smell good, want an interesting but ultimately wearable ride, love to have a few surprises for those rare days when I can take a leisurely amount of time to mentally document the progression and note parade but also need it to be spritz and go comfortable for the rest of my life. The boozy citrus, woods, vanilla and resins in Vanille don’t give me a typical vanilla ride but something softer, easier and ultimately more wearable on a daily basis fragrance.

Well, I’ve rambled on for far too long now it’s your turn, what did you reach for most in 2013?
Portia xx

Here are a bunch of other BEST LISTS: Persolaise :: The Candy Perfume Boy :: Eyeliner On A Cat :: Fragrant Moments :: PerfumeShrine :: The Fragrant Man :: I Smell Therefore I Am :: Smelly Blog :: Olfactoria’s Travels

 

 

 

Les Nombres d’Or Musc by Mona di Orio 2010

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Hi There My Lovelies,

Mona di Orio has long been in my adore list, her strikingly stark and beautiful face, fragrances that can make me tear up because they are so beautiful and tragic death all mark her house with a patina of magic. Just recently my friend Birgit from Olfactoria’s Travels was having a bit of a clear-out and I snaffled this much coveted and super elegant bottle from her.

Les Nombres d’Or Musc by Mona di Orio 2010

Musc Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Neroli, angelica, rose, heliotrope, tonka bean, musks

With the sad fact that I am repeating myself firmly in mind: These bottle are FREAKING gorgeous. They feel good in your hand and spritz a good amount of fragrance, the whole feeling is luxe and elegant, feels reminiscent of Hollywood glamour but looks bang up to date. Anyone who tells you packaging and presentation mean nothing has never held a Mona di Orio bottle, they exalt the experience.

One of the things I love about Musc is that some of the musks are completely beyond my ability to smell so there are times when I get musk and times when it is a soft floral. So powdery and ethereal one minute and then sheer but hefty and slightly worn the next. This is a friendly, fluffy and sweet biker. Maybe a prim but tough girl/woman, or maybe cuddly and playful but with teeth and claws that come out when needed (See below picture)

Musc Mona di Orio Fluffy Tough DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

Musc is all these things, and none of course, when I wear it I feel powerful, plush and pampered. Comfortable and wearable at any time, like a big wooly cashmere rug that is both warmth and solace.

The nearest feeling I can give you is when the crew go out for Chinese at our favourite restaurant, the time when we are sitting at the bar having a drink, enjoying the atmosphere and catching up while we wait for the stragglers to arrive. There is happiness and smiles, kisses and hugs, laughter and anticipation of a great meal. We know the food and service will be excellent and that someone (usually Jin lately) will tell a story that has us laughing till our sides hurt. My friends are all wonderful, generous, warm and fun business people who are clever and successful in their diverse fields, I am proud to be part of our gang and each one is very special to me. Sometimes in their work worlds they have to be tough to get the job done and none of us get a lot of down time. Musc is the warmth and linking of like minds having a good time, and the friendly, hopeful buzz of anticipation.

Musc has great longevity too, I’ll think it’s gone at about 5 hours but later I will get a sensual but clean-ish waft. If I wear Musc at night and put a couple of extra spritzes on then next morning it is beautiful and a little me-funky added in makes it sexy too.

fluffy cloud morningPhoto Stolen Thomas Leth-Olsen Flickr

Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels and Candy Perfume Boy
Peony Melbourne has $230/100ml
LuckyScent has $230/100ml
First In Fragrance has €160/100ml
Surrender To Chance starts at $7/ml

Are you an MdO fan? are there any in the line that you have, or wish to have? Have you held one of the bottles? please, this is meant to be a conversation and I love to read your thoughts<
Till tomorrow,
Portia xx

 

Les Nombre’s D’Or: Vanille by Mona Di Orio 2011

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Hey there Niche Nerds,

Les Nombres d`Or: Vanille by Mona di Orio 2011

Les Nombres d`Or Vanille Mona di Orio FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Petitgrain, clove, rum, bitter orange
Heart: Vetiver, sandalwood, guaiac wood, ylang-ylang
Base: Amber, tonka bean, vanille, tolu balsam, leather, musk

The box and bottle are the first things you notice about Vanille. They are both so beautiful, sturdy, hefty and both also have a feeling that the creator is fueled by an ascetic of simple, elegant, design and longevity, this lovely glass brick and lid is completed by the useless but interesting, and intrinsic to its look of utter completeness, wire cage and ring pull. I find myself reaching for the joy of the box and bottle as much as I do for the juice inside, which is no less lovely, complete, designed and created.

Vanille Mona Di OrioPhoto Stolen Mona di Orio

Before doing this review I had not looked at a note list except in passing in preparation for my purchase after going through a decant at light speed. When I saw a nearly full bottle being sold very reasonably on facebook I jumped on it. Since its arrival it has had the second most skin time of any fragrance in my wardrobe and I reach for it even more often without spritzing, just to enjoy its whole beauty. So it was quite a surprise to come back now and find that loads of people are talking about the amazing top note of bitter orange, which I now completely get. Ha ha ha the joke is on me, I had NO IDEA. My nose gave me only the spicy, fizzy, citrus like clove and some booze on a sweet vanilla and amber. I knew there was much more and the smokiness, earth and woods were more like the dying embers of a BarBQ for me than specifics. I felt the darkness, soared with the sensual ylang and dug down into the grounding vetiver without knowing what or why, Vanille is beyond lovely. It’s interesting, full of twists and turns that unexpectedly jump somewhere new but through it all I find it wearable, unchallenging, accessible and comfortable.

Vanille by Mona Di Orio HappyHome TheCoastPhoto Stolen TheCoastNZ

Surprisingly Vanille is becoming my comfortable jeans and favourite hoody. I have sometimes said a fragrance feels like a hug, this is a bear hug under a blanket with the one you love on a rainy day where you have cancelled all plans and have oodles of yummy leftovers and an endless supply of delicious teas, coffee and hot chocolate, and LOADS of Ferrero Rocher. I can wear it to slum, dine, relax, go out and stay home sniffing the story. I urge you to try Vanille and then come tell me if you enjoyed it. It’s pretty enough to gift a non perfumista and intriguing enough to keep a hard core perfumista entertained for hours.

EXTRA: I did a side by side throw down of Vanille MdO and Vanille Absolument L’Artisan the other day. The MdO is more interesting and has a better journey but the L’Artisan is warm amber, vanilla and booze all the way through, it’s richer, grander and sticks like glue in a very linear progression. Of the two I still find MdO a more relaxed and comfortable fit but L’Artisan has done an excellent job if you are thinking about grabbing it before it disappears forever.

Vanille by Mona di Orio The Picnic Manet WikiMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Further reading: Olfactoria’s Travels takes us beautifully through the scent and Scents Of Self talks of Mona di Orio.
Parfum1 has $230/100ml (and I tell you to join their mailing list for the 20% Discount coupons that come every so often)
Surrender To Chance starts at $7/ml

Have you tried the Mona di Orio scents? Which did you like? Do you have a favourite vanilla other than this? I love them and want to know more.

See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Tiffany + Co. Spring Summer 2013 Ad Campaign

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Tiffany & Co. Spring Summer 2013 Ad Campaign

Hello Fragrance Buddies,

Today we are off topic because I think these Tiffany & Co. ads are so damn gorgeous. Please enjoy them, so mysterious, what are these girls stories? It’s not often I am put in a position to ask such a question from print ads but I can tell these girls have all been given some kind of back story that they must bring to life. It’s a lovely set of images, don’t you think?

What fragrance am I wearing while writing today?

Amyitis by Mona di Orio

Amyitis FragranticaPhoto and Featured Accords Stolen Fragrantica
Top: Cumin, heather, green pepper and green notes
Heart: Iris, violet, Guiac wood and Virginian cedar
Base: Saffron, opopanax, oakmoss and amber.

This is a funny fragrance that I adore and sometimes it irks me. A green and sensual pleasure but with a stickiness that feels like it should be warmer. A honeyed beauty that can offer up sharp dissonance on occasion, like it’s living on a knife edge between gorgeous and disgusting. I keep coming back to it though and I think it a perfect fit for the Tiffany & Co ads, don’t you think these women show tough and soft in equal measure while remaining ultra feminine and uber luxe. This is what the Tiffany & Co perfume could have smelled like. I will do a full review someday.
SurenderToChance starts at $5/.5ml

Tiffany & Co. Spring Summer 2013 Ad Campaign

As my go-to Ad Campaign blog I stole these pics from art8amby

Three new campaign images featuring Liya Kebede, Karen Elson and Liu Wen.

Photographed by Michael Thompson and styled by Paul Cavaco.

Chinese model Liu Wen is replacing Grace Gao and Doutzen Kroes as the new campaign girl for Tiffany & Co..

Image via TFS.

Top 10 Spring/Autumn Fragrances 2013 Perfume Review

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Hello Gorgeous APJ Family,

So the seasons are a turning and there are Spring posts everywhere, the thing I notice about Spring and Autumn is that they share similar weather in many places, especially Sydney. We are still living in summery moments but there have been some blustery cooler days, and the nights are getting very chilly. So really I am offering up a Mid Season Mixture of things that are currently getting pretty high rotation on my skin. They are on the desk and within easy spritz reach, though the Amyitis has just been returned from the outer realms

Autumn ScenicReflectionsPhoto Stolen ScenicReflections

Spring LilaDaleyPhoto Stolen LilaDaley

Youth Dew Amber Nude by Tom Ford for Estee Lauder: Amber Nude gets let out of its box quite a bit lately, I don’t know why particularly but I crave that gorgeous opening that warms into amber so quickly.

Cedrat Intense by Nicolai: I think it might have Ruth K on FFF that told me to get my hands on some of this. So I grabbed 30ml unsniffed and WOW!! I’m surprised that wasps and bees don’t land on me expecting a feed. Gorgeous and fresh citrus scent.

Amyitis by Mona di Orio: Every so often the Amyitis bottle will ask me if I’m SURE I don’t adore the juice inside and it comes back out, gets worn a few times and then gets put away in favour of Chanel No 19.

Indus Oil by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz: This surprising little temptress has me opening the box and putting a little roll of oil on a wrist or back of hand every second day currently. The flavour of Chai Tea, though I get powdery iris too.

Dries Van Noten by Frederic Malle: There are only the dregs of this 5ml sample left and I still haven’t done my post about it properly. I put it on and sit there for ages enjoying its perfect, warm, uncluttered beauty. What a fragrance, so simple to my nose but absolutely welcoming. A hug filled with love.

Sandflowers by Montale: This leaked about 2/3 of its 100ml flying home from Europe so the box is impregnated with Sandflowers. My office smells distinctly of it and there is always a salty, briny waft as I enter. What a wonderfully weird beauty this is, without being unwearable. How did it get in the Montale line up? This smells best for me when there is sun shining, or the promise of it.

Courage by One Seed: Courage is an unusual, exquisite beauty, that follows no leader. It is warm, dark, interesting and sometimes a little challenging. An all natural maverick that doesn’t smell like natural, or mass production. Intense and lovely.

Interlude Woman by Amouage: I bought a small bottle of this from the lovely Birgit in one of her cupboard clean outs. I was only mildly impressed with it initially but as I wear it more it has become a bit of a siren, trying to lure me into penury. Perfect for the cooler days to snuggle into.

Trayee by Neela Vermeire Creations: I cannot deny that Neela and I are buddies but I don’t go a week without spritzing one of her magical masterpieces. At the rate I’m tearing through this decant it could be FB sooner than anticipated. Trayee is a great mid season spritz.

Essence d’Orange by Cartier: I love the spare citrus burst here with loads of air and space between the notes. This is easy wearing freshness that I keep coming back to just for a fun spritz.

Spring By Sandrine Dulermo & Michael Labica PhotographerPhoto By Sandrine Dulermo & Michael Labica Photographer

There you have it, my current Mid Season Top 10.

Want more Spring Posts? Try Grain de Musc, Now Smell This, Bois de Jasmin, and Perfume Posse

See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Amyitis by Mona di Orio 2008

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Hey Hey Fragrant APJ Family,

Recently the lovely Ruth K from FFF had a bunch of splits going and another one I grabbed was never on my radar, I had never heard of it or remember reading anything about it or anything. It was the name that I instantly fell in love with. It said to have been inspired by The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, built to please the queen Amyitis.

Amyitis by Mona di Orio 2008

Amyitis FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Cumin, heather, green pepper and green notes
Heart: Iris, violet, Guiac wood and Virginian cedar
Base: Saffron, opopanax, oakmoss and amber.

Though Amyitis is in no way how a working farm smells it does remind me in some small way of running over the fields in sheep and wheat country in outback New South Wales on my relatives property with my sister when we were kids. I smell wet vegetation and healthy soil, recently turned. Woods and flowers blended on the breeze that carries a hint of summer, maybe a reminder.

I love the story but think that there needs to be a more dessicated counterpoint to truly capture the story of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, yes they were lush and green but they were surrounded by dry desert and rock weren’t they?

It warms towards its close and becomes deep and tranquil and surprisingly warm. Maybe 5 fully fragrant hours and much longer as skin scent. I have enjoyed the ride immensely.

Valley pickyWallpapersPhoto Stolen PickyWallpapers

Further reading PerfumeSmellingThings and PerfumePosse

I can’t find Amyitis for sale anymore but SurrenderToChace has .5ml/$5

Till tomorrow be well and happy.
Portia xx

LuckyScent Summer Samples: SUNDAY QUICKSNIFF REVIEWS #14

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Heya Scent-ualists,
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We missed last week because the universe rejected Quicksniffs. What am I gunna do when the universe says NO? Acquiesce. This week arrived the LuckyScent Summer Sample Collection so I thought I would trot out 4 of the 10 new scents involved and give you the usual 3 sentences and a star rating. Follow the jump to find our Rating System Page (<<jump).

If you’d like to be a part of the LuckyScent Sample Program just join their eMail Newsletter Signup and every so often they will offer you a bunch of great new stuff to try, no pushy sales or minimum amount to buy, it’s either yes please or ignore. They are very reasonably priced; the 10 piece Summer Sample Collection was only $30 + P&H. There is a downside though, they are only .7ml vials so if you want to spritz you’ll have to self decant. I would pay double happily for a 1.5ml spray set, I have asked for it but you all need to too.

Summer Sample Pack by Luckyscent Sample PacksPhoto Stolen LuckyScent

In the bag:
• The Different Company – After Midnight , Limon de Cordoza, Tokyo Bloom, Sienne d’Orange
• Keiko Mecheri – Un Jour d’Ete
• Mona di Orio – Rose Etoile de Hollande
• Parfums MDCI – Un Coeur en Mai, newly reformulated
• Penhaligon’s – Peoneve
• L’Artisan Parfumeur -Seville a l’Aube
• Ramon Monegal – Lovely Day

SIENNE d’ORANGE by THE DIFFERENT COMPANY 2012: Described as a neo cologne in which carrot (LOVE!) and orange come out to play in a bright, fresh, vivacious fragrance that cardamom, leather and woods make interesting enough to try again. I’m figuring the product is made from the best of the best ingredients because of this companies genesis (Jean-Claude & Celine Ellena) though it’s very reasonable for niche at $120/90ml and created by Emilie (Bevierre) Coppermannn. My skin unfortunately devours it in under 3 hours but it is a cologne so respritz and start again. S=**** L=** D=***

Un Jour d’Ete  Eau de Parfum by Keiko MecheriPhoto Stolen LuckyScent

UN JOUR d’ETE by KEIKO MECHERI 2012: WOW!! This is deliciously warm and cool simultaneously with bergamot, coconut, jasmine, ambergris and woods combining uniquely. Sometimes even the first whiff of a fragrance announces its difference, this is a beguiling blend where only wearing on your skin could make you understand how much more fabulous than I can ever write for you. Sweet, spicy, interesting, sensual, heartbreakingly beautiful and only $115/75ml at LuckyScent. Still could smell a faint whiff 11 hours later next morning. S=***** L=***** D=*****

ROSE ETOILE DE HOLLAND by MONA DI ORIO 2012. Mona di Orio was taken from us too soon but her business partner will make sure she and her work remain unforgotten. From Rose Etoile de Holland’s sparkling top through its spicy rose heart to the soft, not quite sweet oriental dry down the journey is wonderful. Don’t be afraid to give yourself an extra spritz because it lives longer and louder if you do. $210/100ml S=**** L=*** D=****

LOVELY DAY by RAMON MENEGAL 2012. I was recently asking about Spanish perfumers and BINGO here one is: The opening is fresh but though I’m supposed to smell jasmine, rose and blackcurrent I just can’t for the life of me smell that, there smells to me like there’s some unmentioned herb or seed that overlays all. Olfactoria’s Travels does a great job describing this fragrance (almost ELdO SM-ish). After about 20 minutes the jasmine struts in and the rest of the fragrance is as lovely as you would expect something called Lovely Day to be to its lovely soft sweet woody end. $185/50ml  S=*** L=*** D=***

These samples were from LuckyScent where you can buy full bottles of these fabulous perfumes and samples

Have you tried anything this week that you’d like to share with us? We’d love to read it so leave a message, you’ll get a response.
Thank you for dropping by and being part of our APJ family,
Portia xx