Music

Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché 1933

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Post by Azar

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Portia: Hi there APJ, Azar is suffering the busy life syndrome too. You may know that she is a music teacher and I asked her to give me some music to put with one of her all time favourite fragrances, Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché, Jovan and now Coty. I edited up an email she sent me after talking about losing myself in music and fragrance simultaneously, thanks Azar for opening my ears to something new. I love the way this piece jumps and spins, even when my mind wanbts to wandfer into thought it is jolted back to the music by its mood and force changes. Lovely.

Jungle Gardenia by Tuvaché 1933

Jungle Gardenia Tuvaché FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Greens, bitter orange, clary sage, cyclamen, heliotrope
Heart: Gardenia, tuberose, tarragon, violet leaf, lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang
Base: Oakmoss, benzoin, sandalwood, musk

I don’t think I ever did a Jungle Gardenia post…just commented a lot and mentioned Jungle Gardenia in some other reviews of vintage fragrances. I have a nice little stash of the really good old stuff (parfum and skin scent) and should probably do a review one of these days. The sillage is astounding and the longevity unbelievable. I spilled a little on a tissue in June. Not wanting to waste a drop I stored the tissue in my sock drawer. Every time I open that drawer I am greeted with an indolic floral blast and now my feet even smell like gardenias!

Jungle Gardenia Tuvaché Socks HelenaRay DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

Below is a great piece of music by the Brazilian composer Hector Villa Lobos, Choros #5, Alma Brasilieras. This piece is rich, dark, deep and humid…not unlike Jungle Gardenia. This was originally written for piano. I have performed and taught the original solo piano version numerous times over the years. I have never made a recording myself and so hoped to find one on You Tube. Every single version I found had numerous rhythmic errors…so annoying. The YoYo Ma cello/piano version is beautiful and correct. I hope it gives you some idea of the piece as it was originally written for piano.

I have always loved Villa Lobos’ music. When Brad needed a companion piece to the Beethoven Triple I suggested another piece by Villa Lobos that was originally for piano and subsequently arranged by the composer for string orchestra – the Prelude from Bachianis Brasilieras 4 – the first 10 minutes of this second You tube video –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mf3SQ3dVz8. Notice the musician wiping the tears away at about 6:16 minutes into the recording.

Azar xx

 

02.- Choros No 5 “Alma Brasiliera” (Villa-Lobos)

Yo-Yo Ma’s Brazil, LIve Concert

Eau Suave by Parfum d`Empire 2005 + Kate Bush

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Hi there Music Lovers and Fumies,

Recently I posted a piece of music and told you how I love to put on the classical music and saif (spray a LOT) myself in a particularly big fragrance, close my eyes and just let myself float away on the music and fragrance together. Sometimes when the world gets too much, when I am bombarded by questions or negativity, when the next step seems unreachable or when I am completely overwhelmed by my to do list. Look at it this way: I could continue freaking out for 5 minutes or I can concentrate myself elsewhere, completely give myself to something else, and let my subconscious do its job. Quite often I find myself at the end of the piece of music 100% calmer, able to focus, aware of the next bite sized step or in touch with my gut feelings.

Eau Suave Parfum d`Empire Josephine WikipediaPhoto Stolen Wikipedia

Last time it was Debussy: Rêverie but today I went looking for a childhood memory song. One that used to make me feel happy and sad, I used to play it repeatedly on my 3in1 and sing along in my thin childish tenor until one of the family would bang on the door and ask me to turn it down and stop that catterwauling.

Today it brings back happy memories and a smile as I completely let myself be taken away by the amazing voice of Kate Bush. What did I spritz today to listen to it?

Eau Suave by Marc-Antoine Corticchiato for Parfum d`Empire 2005

Eau Suave Parfum d`Empire FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Coriander, saffron, rose
Heart: Peach, raspberry, red berries, pepper, tea rose
Base: Vanilla, musk, oakmoss, patchouli

Spicy, sweet rose. I think the top notes of my bottle have been compromised slightly because the zingy coriander opening that I loved so well is muted nowadays. The rose is still lovely and sweet, not quite jammy but a fruity sweet and that wonderful hint of cracked pepper that some of the apricot rose flowers have when you grow them in the garden. A perfect soft focus fragrance to lose yourself in while listenbing to Kate Bush and beyond into the afternoon where it becomes a lovely soft rose and vanilla wash.

My review is for the vintage, I have not smelled the new in their very austere new bottles.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Now Smell This
LuckyScent have $145/100ml
Posh Peasant has samples starting at $4/ml

Whjat music or fragrance makes you float away?
Enjoy,
Portia xx

Kate Bush – The Man with the Child in His Eyes – Official Music Video

Debussy: Rêverie (1890)

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 18 Comments

Hey there lovely APJ Crew,

Thanks for stopping by, it’s always nice to have you in the house. Sometimes I like to sit in front of my computer with a cup of coffee or tea (today it’s one of Jin’s freaky flower teas from Korea) with a large amount of fragrance on and put on a short piece of music, close my eyes and float away on both fragrance and sound.

Today things are quite hectic around here so I thought I’d take 5 minutes for myself. It can become very hard to focus on one thing when there are five or six problems, ideas or deadlines all pressuring you. I often find this a help. By the time my 5 minutes is up I am calmer and more able to think my way through stuff, in this short break my subconscious has also had time to create a list and action plan by the time I open my eyes. It’s not a universal cure all but it can be just enough to let me think clearly.

Claude Debussy June 1908Photo Stolen WikiCommons

What fragrance am I engulfed in today to listen?

Carnal Flower by Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle.

Carnal Flower Frederic Malle FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, melon, eucalyptus
Heart: Ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose, Salicylates (natural, toxic product of herbal origin, a sort of a herbal pheromone which is used by plants as a warning)
Base: Tuberose absolute, orange blossom absolute, coconut, musk

Perfect to sit and listen to this Debussy piece that is tranquil, yearning and questioning.

Please enjoy,
Portia xx

Debussy: Rêverie (1890)

Pussy Water + Kittens Photo Essay

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Hi there APJ,

Who can resist kittens! They are so cute, cuddly and gorgeous. We used to have cats as kids but since greyhounds and fostering them has happened in my life there seems no room, so safe room anyway, to fit them in my life. Oh well cutesy pictures and videos will have to fill the void.

Enjoy
Portia xx

 

Kittens Pussy Water PixabayPhoto Stolen Pixabay

Kitten Pussy water Sleeping Cory Barnes FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

Kitten Pussy Water DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

Kitten Pussy Water plizzba FlickrPhoto Stolen Flickr

Kitten Pussy Water sleeping_jessy elvira1990 DeviantArtPhoto Stolen DeviantArt

Kittens Pussy Water Red_Kitten WikMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!

NSFW! Put HEADPHONES on. I found this very naughty but quite amusing Perfume Ad while trollng around YouTube, or maybe someone sent it to me? Oh well, can’t remember but I nearly spat my coffee at the screen when I saw this.

Pussy Water – banned cologne commercial {The Kloons}

To Russia With Love: Courtney Act: 2014

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Heya All,

This is one of my mates, Courtney. She is currently starring on RuPaul’s Drag Race and here is her latest single’s video clip. The song is her best so far and I have had it on repeat since returning back from overseas. It’s also a big fat finger to Russia’s Vladamir Putin who seems to think it’s one rule for him and another for his people.

Today is Mardi Gras in Sydney, our biggest celebration of the year. Though we are not equal in the eyes of the law we hope it may come soon.

You can follow Courtney Act on FaceBook to see some of her crazy adventures.

To russia With Love Courtney Act

I hope you enjoy To Russia With Love, it’s available on iTunes.
Portia xxx

Britney Spears #PERFUME

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Guest Post by Jordan River

On ya APJs,

Those of you that follow this esteemed website via Twitter may have noticed that your #perfume Twitter feed has been speared and that Britney is marking her territory with perfume. Perfume is the name of her new song. Let’s have a look at some of the lyrics…

While I wait I put on my perfume
I want it all over you…

I hide it well, hope you can’t tell
I hope she smells my perfume

I wanna fill the room, when she’s in it with you
Please don’t forget me…

While I wait I put on my perfume
I want it all over you
I gotta mark my territory

Perfume
Britney Spears

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I hope she smells my perfume…

I hope she smells my perfume…

Halloween Music Fun

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Hey there APJ Crew,

So I was looking through YouTube and found some fun and creepy Australian music to remind you how much fun you had on Halloween. I hope you enjoy some historical Aussie music.
Portia xx

Australia_animal_warning_sign WikiMediaPhoto Stolen WikiMedia

Skyhooks – Horror Movie (1975)


AC/DC – Highway To Hell (1979)

Divinyls – Science Fiction (1982)

Kate Ceberano – “Unchained Melody” 2006

Lisa Mitchell – Oh! Hark! (2010)

Stuff Portia Loved In 2012

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Hey Crew,

Before you go any further jump back to our Triple Giveaway

I wanted to look back at the year of things that I’ve loved, that have made definite impressions on me, have changed the way I look at the world or craved/enjoyed/shared. Most of the non-fragrance things have been enjoyed with my Best Buddies and TSO Jin making them EXTRA special. I had to do a Top 20 Worn because it was impossible to curb, you are lucky it didn’t blow out to 200.

Best-of-2012 dyknowPhoto Stolen dyknow

Portia’s Top 5 Lists

FRAGRANCES WITH MOST SKIN TIME (Top 5 are highlighted)

Baiser Vole EdP- Cartier
Ballets Rouges- Olympic Orchids
Bellodgia EdP_ Caron
Brasil Dreams- Estee Lauder
Casmir- Chopard
Courage- One Seed
Dreamer- Versace
Guilty- GUCCI
Halle- Halle Berrry
L’Eau d’Navigeur- L’Artisan
Lou Lou- Cacharel
Lys Soleia- Guerlain
Matin d’Orage- Annick Goutal
Mohur- Neela Vermeire Creations
Nikki de Saint Phalle
No 5- CHANEL
Parfum de Maroc- Aftelier Perfumes
Shalimar- Guerlain
Trouble- Boucheron
Wild Ginger Chai- SOIVOHLE

NEW RELEASES (You try and make this list into 5)

Amouage- Interlude Man
Christian Dior La Collection Couturier Parfumeur – Oud Ispahan
Guerlain – Aqua Allegoria Lys Soleia
Keiko Mecheri – Un Jour d’Ete
L’Artisan Parfumeur – Seville a l’Aube
Naomi Goodsir – Cuir Velours
Neela Vermeire Creations – Mohur (I know but…)
Robert Piguet – Bois Noir
Serge Lutens – Santal Majuscule
Ys Uzac – Pohadka

NICHE PERFUME HOUSES

Aftelier Perfumes
L’Artisan Parfumeurs
Neela Vermeire Creations
Olympic Orchids
SOIVOHLE

FRAGRANCE HOUSES

Boucheron
Caron
CHANEL
DIOR
Guerlain

FRAGRANCE BLOGS I ALWAYS READ (PerfumePosse obviously!)

Candy Perfume Boy
Olfactoria’s Travels
Perfume Shrine
Scents Of Self
The Alembicated Genie

FOOD

Boscaiola Sauce
Home Made Nori Rolls
Mangoes
Spicy Korean Bar B Q
Chicken Penang Curry

TELEVISION

American Idol
Family Guy
The Voice – Australia
Two Broke Girls
UK Got To Dance

MOVIES (sorry only LOVED four)

Brave
Mental
Snow White and the Huntsman
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

What were your #1 faves in each category? Why?

As we finish the year I want you to know how much you all mean to me. A LOT!! This blog continues because you all are awesome. Thank you readers, commenters, Guest Posters and regulars in all shapes and sizes.

To all the perfumers, houses, writers, shops and online presences that continually inspire and delight me.

THANK YOU.

Love,

Portia xx

MUSIC (I know there are 8!)

These are the songs that never left my playlist after they were released. This is the first time I’ve seen a couple of the videos too.

Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire


Ed Sheeran – A Team

Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out

Guy Sebastian – Battle Scars ft. Lupe Fiasco

Gavin DeGraw – Not Over You

KylieMinogue _ Timebomb

Mary J Blige – 25/8

No Doubt – Looking hot

Siren by Paris Hilton 2009 Elton John meets Pnau

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Hey Gang,

Photo Stolen marieclaireuk parishiltonsite

HA HA HA, I know. You are all incredulous. Why would Portia review a Paris Hilton fragrance? It’s not niche or expensive or fashionable! Well, you are right, it’s none of these things. Paris probably never even smelt this. Who knows? There are reasons though that I’ve given Paris Hilton Siren a try…

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

The main reason is that recently it was reported in reputable places that Paris Hilton had sold US$1.5 billion worth of perfume. 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS! So I am intrigued by anyone who can generate that many sales for something that everyone is panning. OK, if you are Paris Hilton and you’re a great sales person, businesswoman and advertisement for your product, you are constantly in the media for better and worse keeping the product that you have become alive. I get that part, she does an excellent job at that. Yes, she is kind of pretty (sometimes gorgeous) and articulate, that helps too………..BUT! that means people will buy your product once. Right? If all these people buy the products and they are utter crap then how is there any return custom? How do you sell 1.5 billion dollars worth of perfume when 100ml is around $40, that is a shitload of juice. So I am agog to see what the hell everyone is buying, aren’t you? Honestly, if people are buying and rebuying the celebrity dream, it has to be kind of good.

Photo Stolen songonlyrics

So, what do I smell when I put on Paris Hilton’s Siren? It has been compared to Viva La Juicy, I have one on each hand. On my skin Viva La Juicy is similar, and nice, but not as interesting, though it ends way more gourmand. Siren, on the other hand (literally), starts out with a citrus softened by a delicious buttery frangipani, maybe it is partly the orchid which seems very night blooming and rich. The sandalwood, lotus and musk are apparent but I don’t get even a hint of the honeysuckle. This is a full-throated floral, surprisingly quite big and unashamed. Maybe I have a thing for drugstore scents but I like Siren, it’s a very good name for the scent that is cool, delicious and exotic with hints of warmth, especially as it dries down to a shimmery vanilla/musk accord that lasts well, in barely there status, before it too is gone. Somewhere between 4 & 5 hours, which is great on my scent hungry skin.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

I am as surprised as you that this isn’t instant scrub. There are much better respected and more expensive brands doing a far worse job on their fragrances than Paris Hilton did on Siren. It just goes to show, doesn’t it.

CheapSmells has 100ml for $22

Portia xx

PS I also thought you might like this. Apparently, Elton John has made a compilation of mash ups with Australian musicians’s Pnau called Good Morning To The Night, here is a taste. I am LOVING it. I stole it from another blogger lechehelsinki. Thanks.