V Intense GIVEAWAY WINNERS

November 23, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Portia

Thanks go to Nick & Paige from Libertine Perfumerie. I cannot stress enough how great they are or how supportive they have been of APJ. If you’re thinking of buying a Big Ticket Fragrance Gift this year then they are the ones to see. Free Delivery in Australia for orders over $100 and they will be sending till December 21st.

Portia xx

V Intense GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Saffron, roses, plum, incense, sandalwood

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x 10ml V Intense decant by Robert Piguet
a couple of extras
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Sunday 23rd November 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winner were chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen shannonmayer

Helen Burrows

Aelfrik

Anna Maria

The winner will have till Thursday 26th November 2015 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

Perfume Lovers London: An Evening with Portia Turbo

November 21, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 21 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there APJ,

Yes, it’s really happening. Lila das Gupta who runs Perfume Lovers London has invited me, Portia Turbo, to come to England and give a talk, have a laugh and smell some fragrances.

Perfume Lovers London

An Evening with Portia Turbo

Lila das Gupta

Even now writing this post to tell you all has my stomach doing flip flops with excitement. You have no idea.

The theme of the night is Great Women and we have some fun interactive ideas and hope as many of you APJ Crew that are around London and available can come be a part of the fun. Perfume Lovers London has drinks and some food and I will be bringing some famous Australian delicacies for you to try also.

When: Thursday, January 28, 2016 7pm to 10pm (Doors open 6.30pm)
Where: October Gallery 24 Old Gloucester Street WC1N 3AL LONDON
Cost: GBP34.00

For those that have never been before you need to join Perfume Lovers London and then you can book your tickets. They are already selling like hot cakes so don’t delay.

Jin and I will both be there as well as Birgit and Tara from Olfactoria’s Travels, Val the Cookie Queen and Blondes Wunder from the APJ crew. Some of my mates from Australia and the USA happen to be in London at the time so you’ll get to meet and mingle with them too.

One of the things I’ve loved so much about starting APJ is the amount of incredible people we have met all around the world. We have made some super friends and would LOVE IT if we could add you to that amazing list. Don’t be shy, we are waiting to meet you.

Hopefully see you there,
Portia xx

Good Girl Gone Bad from by Kilian 2012

November 19, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Post by Greg Young

What does a man have to do to please his beloved? He selflessly enters a competition for a girly white floral, knowing that is his lady love’s favourite style. Lady luck smiles on him (thanks APJ & Libertine Parfumerie), but sadly lady wife does not; Good Girl Gone Bad is Bad in my Good Girl’s opinion.

Good Girl Gone Bad from by Kilian 2012

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Jasmine, osmanthus, may rose
Heart: Indian tuberose, narcissus
Base: Amber, cedar

Well of course, I wore it myself; as you do.

I chose a sunny Spring Saturday to try it; a couple of spritzes to the wrist that wafted jasmine around me, slip on some Italian jeans, my Cucinelli polo, and some Common Projects sneakers and I feel like a millionaire. Ten minutes later, and my effervescent mood has soured a bit. My Good Girl Gone Bad has run away on me, faithless hussy that she is. I worked it out soon enough; I’d smothered my arms in sunscreen prior to going outside, and killed it. A couple of more spritzes does the trick. I go out shopping in the Melbourne sun, wandering around my local for a coffee then down to Chadstone for a bit of retail therapy.

Photo Stolen Flickr

The whole time, I am sneaking sniffs at my wrist. (I always feel very self-conscious doing that; it seems something only women have license to do). This is a seriously good floral, with excellent lasting power. It’s heady and creamy like the smell of a Hawaiian night. It’s not a ravening monster like my HdP Tubereuse 3. This one is more refined and less animalic.

It’s now almost 9 hours since I applied it, and it’s still going strong. It remains all florals on me still, and is yet to get to the amber and cedar drydown, so I think it has plenty of development yet to go. Best of all, my wife actually likes this when I wear it, even if she won’t wear it herself!

My preference is for fragrances that are civilised enough to wear in a professional office environment, and last the full working day, and this one fits the bill. I have little hesitation in recommending Good Girl Gone Bad to guys who are OK with wearing florals, particularly in the coming sunny weather.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Further reading: AustralianPerfumeJunkies and EauMG
Available in Australia exclusively in store at Harrold’s Sydney & Melbourne
LuckyScent has $160/50ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

Thanks to Portia and Nick at Libertine Parfumerie for the opportunity to discover something that I might never have picked up and tried of my own accord.

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas from Under $20

November 17, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas from Under $20

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $25

For smoky vanilla lovers: Encens Feve Tonka perfumed soap $16.95

For the woody citrus lovers: Tilleul Cedrat perfumed soap $16.95

For the bearded hipsters and dandy gentlemen in your life, give them an aromatic moustache to sniff at: Penhaligon’s Bayolea Moustache Wax $19

For bathing beauties, both man and woman: Gascoigne & King Luxury Unmilled soaps come in aniseed, myrtle and charcoal (my favorite), tangerine, geranium and lemongrass, patchouli and poppyseed. They are beautifully packaged and handmade in Sydney, making them unique Aussie gifts! $25

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $35

For fragrant bathers of any age, even Grandma: Fragonard Shower Gel’s in Fleur de Vanille, Soleil, Freesia, Rose de Mai $28

For the gourmet foodies you know, make their dinner table decorating dreams complete: Cire Truden Madeleine Tapered candles come in Black, Aqua, Grey, Rose and Stone. Are dripless and smokeless and will be beautiful and classic even adorning your festive table $29

Flower of the moment is Lily of the Valley and Fragonard Muget Soap Gift Box of 4 is super cute. I just love the illustration on the box. Perfect for any age group now that this flower has been revived! $32

For the artists, creatives, art collectors, perfume lovers and just about anyone I can HIGHLY recommend Just Gil’s – Original Perfume Art Starting from $35. Just Gil is a talented, perfume-loving artist based in Sweden and you can follow her on instagram: @Just.Gil to see what she is producing. She also does warm and friendly, easy to watch fragrance reviews on YouTube: Just Gil
Her artworks are original and addictive (I have 2 already!!) and make the perfect original gift for anyone who is sentimental about a fragrance through to all you fragrance obsessives! She will do bespoke commissions of your favorite bottles too! *Postage –is a maximum of $18 for an any amount of pictures to be sent anywhere in the world, so team up with your buddies and order at the same time to share this cost. Be sure to order soon so yours arrive in time for Christmas!!

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $40

For work colleagues/secret Santa’s/neighbors and people you may not know too well, for example, The Fragonard Body Lotion’s are easy to gift in Soleil, Freesia, Rose de Mai, Fleur d’Oranger $34.95

A no sweat stocking filler is Penhaligon’s Deodorant’s in Bayolea (citrus aromatic), Quercus (chypre), Sartorial (fougere) or Blenheim Bouquet (citrus aromatic). $39

Who doesn’t like roses, Italy and a little bit of history?! The beautiful 250ml Santa Maria Novella Rosewater is a real treat with many uses and comes packaged with historic, iconic Santa Maria Novella labeling. $40 from Peony and Franque in Melbourne.

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $50

Creed’s Aventus Soap is a win for the men at only $49. No better choice than a sexy soap for Grandpa!!

Atelier Cologne Layering Duo (Ltd Edition) is handy for a hot Australasian summer, 2 travel sized spray bottles ready for a sophisticated freshen-up-respritz and layering experience. Orange Sanguine is zesty, juicy orange and geranium. Vanille Insensée takes sweet notes of vanilla, jasmine and lime and fuse with oakmoss, woods and coriander spice. Worn together to create a unique fragrance. From teen ages and up. Can be unpackaged into 2 separate stocking filler gifts for siblings. Available in Sephora Stores. $49

Frédéric Malle Editions de Parfums 10mls I had no idea these started so affordably!! A “gateway” sized bite into this drop dead gorgeous collection of quality fragrances by the very best noses in the world. From $50

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $60

A new release to Mecca from Korres is ‘Velvet Orris, Violet, White Pepper EDT’ it packs a punch and is built to last! For lovers of sweet, strong, fruity, powdery florals. (Think Flowerbomb to Coco Mademoiselle wearers) AND IT’S NATURAL!! $56

Award winning niche brand Costume National’s 10ml Rollerballs: So Nude, Homme, Scent Intense, Cyber Garden are $59 each from Libertine and Sephora and are a fantastic introduction to quality niche and make great gifts for teens and upwards! Packaging makes them a great gift for the discerning traveller!

BY ROSIE JANE James Fragrance Oil 5ml roll on is a delightful sweet unisex fig, gardenia and amber rollerball perfume. It’s creamy white floral notes edge on coconut and says summer to me. For all the sexy beach babes you know. Light, earthy and romantic. Perfect size for in the handbag. $60.00

Niche Christmas Gift Ideas Under $80

(Malin + Goetz) votive set of 3 candles – 3 x 67g In dark rum, tobacco and vetiver, the scented trio will make gifts for any sophisticated, house-proud males in your lives. $66

Where are you staying this Christmas? Give your hosts or even newly wedded couples unique ambient home scent as a thank you: L’Artisan’s Amber sachets. GORGEOUS! $79

Alahine by Jean-François Latty for Teo Cabanel 2007

November 16, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Portia

I blame The Muse In Wooden Shoes. I find it hard to believe that I found that post in 2009, maybe I stumbled across it more recently but I fail to see how. Anyway, when I first read this piece about a fragrance conjuring such a fabulous memory I added a place card in my brain with Alahine on it. A rich floral amber? Sign me up. Then I completely forgot about Alahine for years. After getting a sample in a bunch that someone sent me it was back on the radar, I had a couple of decants and then last year I finally bit the bullet and bought 50ml……

Alahine by Teo Cabanel 2007

Alahine by Jean-François Latty

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured acciords:
Top: Bergamot, ylang-ylang
Heart: Jasmine, orange blossom, pepper, Moroccan rose
Base: Iris, cistus, patchouli, benjoin, vanilla, sandalwood, musk

Sweet citrus, languid white flowers giving fruity and green aspects and patchouli, my nose tells me tobacco but it must be the resins and patchouli dancing closely, there are also some chocolate references. Alahine seems to be a white floral for people who love orientals. Dryer and less spicy than the heavy hitting orientals Alahine is warmer and less overbearing than the big white florals. A middle ground.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

Who wears Alahine? So if you want to smell like the feeling of being cuddled up on the couch, dozing yet aware that everything is OK. Not perfect but calmly, quietly, comfortably OK. Alahine feels like learning that good enough is. The gentle release when you finally understand that perfection is a goal but good enough (not second best, they are vastly different) will be good enough.

The base is beautiful and warm, vanilla/patchouli/resins all combine perfectly with the sandalwood and the lingering lush, near tropical bouquet to be delightfully creamy and lightly caramelled, only the merest dry hint of pepper gives the whole fragrance a lift, keeping it out of gourmand territory. Then it’s float and calmly settle all the way to lightly vanilla and gone.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies and Olfactoria’s Travels
Teo Cabanel has €65/solid, €115/50ml & €155/100ml
LuckyScent has $130/50ml
Posh Peasant has samples starting at $4/ml

What fragrance took you years to finally pull the trigger on?
Portia xxx

Iris Cendre by Julien Rasquinet for Naomi Goodsir 2015

November 14, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 20 Comments

Post by Portia

Naomi Goodsir is back with a new fragrance, four in the same number of years. I wish more lines would follow her lead and bring out their selections with more space between them. It could make the fragrance world a less dross riddled arena. My mate Jill from Peony Melbourne was recently at Pitti in Florence and she brought me back a sample of this baby which is available from this week on the website. EXCITING NEWS!

Iris Cendre by Naomi Goodsir 2015

Iris Cendre by Julien Rasquinet

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Floral notes, bergamot, tangerine, spices
Heart: Incense, violet, purple iris
Base: Cistus ladanifer (labdanum), tobacco, amber

Iris Cendre opens fully iris on my skin with a lovely bouquet of citrus sparkling in cool winter sunlight. Someone else mentioned aloe and I have to agree, it smells a bit like opening the pot of aloe vera and the cool refreshing and calming feeling of slathering it over a sunburn. All that is background hum though to the iris, orris & violet which are showing their powdery, earthy and leathery aspects. The heart starts out wet and cool but within the hour Iris Cendre has warmed through considerably and the iris becomes intertwined with the warmer and sweeter base notes and dry smoky hints. Once the spectacle of opening and heart die down Iris Cendre leaves a sheer trail of balmy leather and soft, simple, sweet amber that fades and musks down to close.

Photo Stolen Naomi Goodsir

Iris Cendre is freaking beautiful, especially for the first hour or two. I can imagine perfumistas spritzing in the morning and really enjoying getting to work by which time the fireworks are over and everything is lush and sotto enough to be office appropriate. Iris Cendre is also tenacious, I am left with a lovely wash of clean musks and a hint of resinous goodness over my just-woke-up skin scent.

Here’s the thing. I keep saying I have too much perfume and it’s true, you’d be appalled. Iris Cendre has made me reach for my Credit Card to pay full price. That’s got to tell you how good it is….. actually it’s even better than that. Iris Cendre could be the perfect iris.

Photo Stolen Naomi Goodsir

Further reading: Now Smell This and Colognoisseur
Peony Melbourne has $239/50ml
Surrender To Chance has $6/.5ml

Have you tried any of the Naomi Goodsir range? Are you excited about this one?
Now we just have to keep waiting for the next installment Nuit de Bakelite, a creation with Isabelle Doyen of the Annick Goutal range. MMMMM
Portia xx

Mito Extrait by Vero Kern for Vero Profumo 2013

November 10, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 23 Comments

Post by Val the Cookie Queen

Hi APJ,

From LuckyScent: Mito is Vero’s long-awaited fourth composition, inspired by the magical gardens of the 16th century Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy. The myths the name conjures might be the gods and nymphs whose statues people the garden. But we’re rather inclined to think of the myths of perfumery. Mito, a glorious green floral chypre built around the Villa d’Este magnolias and jasmine, isn’t so much a descendent of the great Chanels and Guerlains as a wayward sister to Cristalle or Chamade who made her way to Northern Italy and thrived.

Mito Extrait by Vero Profumo 2013

Mito Extrait by Vero Kern

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Citruses, magnolia, champaca, jasmine, galbanum, hyacinth, cypress, moss

Mito Extrait is beautiful. A word sporadically used in the fragrant world today. A perfume that gives pleasure and exalts the intellect. The combination and quality of materials give fulfillment to both the mind and the senses. Outstanding perfumery is not dead, but you need to search for it.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

A few drops of the Mito melt into the skin, moving with your body. It invokes swirls of pinks and greens, juicy, luscious, sophisticated. Deep within the citrus, magnolia, white flowers and moss, is an exquisite succulent tuberose, completely hidden at first glance. In the same way that Kool-Aid makes your mouth water, the tartness of the tuberose stimulates your olfactory perception. And yet it conforms to the artistic model of the old classics. and you feel that this is not the first time you have smelled such beauty. It belongs to a bygone era, to an established and accepted tradition of perfumery. The addition of civet the acme of excellence.

Magic Fairy Princess (Spirit 1975)

You´re the one, you´re the girl in a million my friend
It is you fairy princess I will love to the end
You´re the magic fairy princess to me
I thought my life was over, but now I see

So alone, I was alone for such a very long time
Then I came and understood and our love began to shine
You´re the magic fairy princess to me

Lying here all alone and I´m thinking of you
I would climb the highest mountain
Slay a dragon for you
Because you´re the magic fairy princess.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

Further reading: Perfume Posse and Australian Perfume Junkies
LuckyScent has $180/7.5ml
Surrender To Chance have EdP samples from $6/.5ml

Who does not need beauty in their lives?

Retro Electric Bussis
CQ

(Ed: Unmarked photos donated by Val & Vero. Thanks Girls.)

Weekend in Normandy by Patricia di Nicolai for Nicolai Parfumeur Createur 2009

November 8, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Post by Anne-Marie

A word about name changes and formula tweaks: according to Fragrantica, Nicolai released a fragrance called ‘Weekend in Deauville’ in 2009 as a limited release, but re-released it in 2011, apparently just named ‘Weekend’, with some additional fruity notes (apple?). Now it’s ‘Weekend in Normandy’.

Weekend in Normandy by Nicolai Parfumeur Createur 2009

Weekend in Normandy by Patricia di Nicolai

This was going to be a very brief review. ‘I went to Paris. I bought Nicolai’s Weekend in Normandy. I loved it in the shop. At home, I hated it. How could that have happened? Gloom. The end.’ What’s in this stuff?

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tarragon, mint, basil
Heart: Jasmine, ylang-ylang, galbanum, cardamom, lily-of-the-valley, apple, calone
Base: Musk, cedar, leather

Standing in the Nicolai boutique on the Rue des Archives, I clearly smelled the herbs in the top. I really did, all three of them. It was like being back home in my own garden in summer. Tarragon, mint and basil are my favourite herbs of all. Back home though, all I could smell was calone. Now I’m a calone-hater from way back when it first started stink out fragrance floors in the 1990s. I can smell it in teeny amounts, such as Nicolai’s Fig-Tea, which I reviewed in these pages a short while ago. I know it can work, especially in fruity fragrances such as Badgley Mischka, where it balances out the syrupy-sweet notes very nicely. In Fig-Tea I occasionally get a whiff of salt, which is an aspect of calone I do appreciate and which cuts through the denser, fruity accord in Fig-Tea. If anyone can use calone to its best advantage, surely Patricial di Nicolai can

Photo Stolen Flickr

But the calone is too much for me in Weekend in Normandy, matched as it is with so many other fresh, green notes. (If there’s any ylang-ylang in there – then my ol’ man’s a dustman.) So the question is– why was I not repulsed at first sniff? I don’t know, I just don’t know. Was I over excited to be there (it was fulfillment of a dream), over-eager to find a fragrance to love and treasure as a souvenir? Maybe. The only thing that gives hope is that when I reluctantly brought out my bottle tonight to take a dutiful spritz for this review, I again got those herbal notes – quite lovely.

It did not take long for the Calone Monster to come stomping in to trample all through the herb garden. But I’ve also noticed this time that worn at some distance from my nose – at the back of my neck for instance – the fragrance loses some of its aggressiveness, and becomes almost pleasant. It’s faint praise I know. Almost like saying ‘If someone at the end of my street wears it, I’m quite fine!’

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Perfume Posse
Parfum1 has $45/30ml
Surrender To Chance have samples starting at $4/ml

Has anyone else had weird about-turn experiences like this with a fragrance? Please share.

And now I can’t stand it any longer. Bye for now, I’m off to the shower.

Message in a Bottle by Mark Buxton for Mark Buxton 2015

November 5, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Gabriella

Hello perfumed peeps!

Living in Melbourne at this time of year, I cannot help but be reminded of the advent of summer in London. There, as soon as the grey dark skies of winter dissipate and the sun’s rays make a welcome return, the whole mood of the city lifts and people scramble to sunbake in parks at lunchtime.

Much like London, we’ve endured a hard cold winter here and spring has given us precious, joyous glimpses of the warmth that is to come. The whole psyche of the city and inhabitants changes at these times – one cannot help but feel elated to shed a winter coat and have a stroll after work amid a gentle warm breeze under a sky the colour of ice cream as the sun sets. There is a perfume that perfectly encapsulates these moments for me and that is ……

Message in a Bottle by Mark Buxton 2015

Message in a Bottle by Mark Buxton

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Ylang-ylang, magnolia, neroli, jasmine sambac, ambergris, sandalwood, labdanum, civet.

Message in a Bottle opens up with a dazzling burst of neroli, awakening one from winter’s hibernation with its efferversence and joyousness. The effect to me here is exactly like the hot towels you get on a long haul aeroplane flight. Waking groggy from a restless sleep, one cannot help but feel refreshed as the warmth and glowing citrus of the hot cotton on your face envelops your senses.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

It’s about 10 minutes in when it would be permissible to dismiss Message in a Bottle as another neroli-based cologne. While the lightness of the composition certainly does feel cologne like in structure, the depth of the jasmine and the ylang ylang anchors and deepens the neroli, taking the composition humid white floral territory with an almost tropical feel. As the scent fades away, the ambergris comes to the fore with its salty woodedness, giving a nice segue from steamy floral into skin scent.

Message in a Bottle is a bit of a changeling. Much like Melbourne’s weather that can veer from tropical to freezing in an instant, the perfume itself metamorphoses depending on the weather conditions. In cooler weather, it is very much a selfish scent – your little private view of summer when it is still time to wrap a cardigan round your shoulders. When the temperatures are high, Message in a Bottle truly sings – warm humid skin is what really sets this perfume alight, bringing the tropical effect of the neroil, jasmine ylang ylang to the fore. I like wearing it both ways – for my secret snatch of summer promise as well as a full-on holiday scent when the mercury is climbing.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Further reading: Ainslie’s review here on APJ and Colognoisseur
Libertine Parfumerie has $199/100ml

What scents spell the promise of summer for you?
With much love until next time

M xxxx

50% off Michael Edwards’ Fragrances of the World 2015

November 2, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

Many of you who have been following Australian Perfume Junkies this past few years would have scrolled through one of our many articles featuring Michael Edwards. In fact we think he is AH-MAZING!

Michael Edwards WWD Magazine

Fragrances Of The World 2015

Michael Edwards J’Adore DIOR

APJ Michael Edwards Interview

50% off Michael Edwards’ Fragrances of the World 2015

Michael Edwards and his wonderfully generous team at Fragrances Of The World have extended for a limited time only a whopping FIFTY PERCENT OFF the Fragrances of the World 2015 (31st Edition)

Offer ends 20th November and stock is limited, so be quick!!

• Comprehensive, accurate and impartial
• Classifies more than 8,000 fragrances and 1,500 new releases
• Suggests new favorites
• Features an exclusive feminine and masculine matching system
• Makes fragrance shopping engaging and enjoyable
• Adds to your knowledge and authority
• Bilingual French/English
• Features the evolution of iconic fragrances in each Family

Order online now until November 20th to receive a 50% discount visit Fragrances Of The World and when prompted enter the promo code: FOTW15 to receive a 50% discount.