.
Portia
.
Hey crew,
The Peony Melbourne is having a SALE! There’s some great stuff discounted including Creed, Olfactive Studio, Keiko Mecheri and Tom Daxon. Yes, I shopped.
Go have a look, FREE Australian Shipping over $300.
Portia xxx
.
Post by Portia
.
Heya LATE people,
There’s 7 days till Christmas and you are FREAKING OUT? Don’t. I’ve got you covered. Here is a selection of beautiful things that are guaranteed to keep your friends, family and loved ones smiling long after the big day. They are a look into what I have paid full retail for to gift my mates with this year.
Now these are mainly for Australia. Down the bottom I’ve put a few perfume ideas that you can buy at most Chemists (Drug Stores) or Department Stores for everyone around the world.
Cult Of Scent<< has just released the most fabulously glamorous candle ever. Jocelyn Fullerton is the creator and le Rêveur (the Dreamer) is inspired by a magical book by Erin Morgenstern and the dream of waking in a rose garden. Fabulous red glass lidded bottle of 500g (approx 15.5oz), hand made with vegetal wax and burntime least 80 hrs for AUD$65 before tax & shipping. Perfect for your glam, luxe and OTT buddies.
DISCOUNT CODE: APJ10 (Only 100 of these discounts available)
Last shopping day till 12pm (midday) Sydney time on Wednesday 21st December
Gascoigne & King Candles<< are created and produced by my mate Bronwyn Gascoigne who hand makes everything in her Surry Hills studio. My current favourite is Paddington with its notes of rose, marigold, fern. tulips & lily. It manages to fill the room with fresh clean air and the hint of a floral bouquet. These are the perfect gift for your super cool minimalist friends. At $55 for 400ml with around 75 hours of burntime, beautifully boxed and FREE SHIPPING in Australia.
Final Christmas orders by 4pm Tuesday 20th December Sydney time
Coast Candles Sydney<< who we recently showcased for their new fragrance range is an Aussie candle company. I bought a bunch of these because firstly they smell fabulous. For my preference Coast Candles are a little strong for the living room but perfect in the bathroom when you have guests to keep everything smelling fresh and new. We have Tahiti at AUD$38 for 440g with approximately 80 hours of burntime in the bathroom right now with its notes of vanilla, coconut and gardenia.
Women for Women International supports female survivors of war with tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self sufficiency. Two dollars from the sale of each candle will benefit Women for Women International.
Last orders by 4pm Tuesday 20th December Sydney time for Christmas delivery
MudAustralia Candles<< were created in conjunction with APJs very own Ainslie Walker. There are two choices and my favourite is the tuberose, green ginger, tolu resin and spice stunner Mud01. The hand made porcelain vessels by MudAustralia are each individual pieces, shiny reflective on the inside and porous matte on the outside, with hand filled soy candles. 340g candle with refillable vessel and 80 hour burn time for only $85.
Final Christmas orders by 4pm Tuesday 20th December Sydney time
Peony Melbourne<< has a fabulous array of hair care, beauty, candles and soaps. There is the Santa Maria Novella beauty range from Florence Italy and the David Mallett Haircare from Paris. Cire Trudon candles and Royal Fern skincare. Anything in Jill’s shop that does not contain alcohol can be ordered by close of business 5pm Tuesday 20th December Sydney time for Christmas delivery
Libertine Parfumerie<< has all the fragrance in the world but it also has a spectacular selection of gentleman oriented gifts like the Penhaligon’s Shave Bowls & Soap, Creed Shower Gels and Deodorants. They even have Laduree Candles, you know the French brand that basically brought the Macaroon and Croissant back from the forgotten lands of yesterday?
Final Christmas orders by 4pm Tuesday 20th December Sydney time
Perfumes that have wide audiences: Le Parfum by Elie Saab for white floral. Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker is the newest good thing on a budget both dry and woodsy, CHANEL No 19 for the elegant, cool and aloof. Eau Parfumee au The Rouge by Bulgari for a zingy fruit tea. Super sweet almonds and cherries La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain. For the ironic fashion follower any of the Elizabeth and James line by the Olsen twins, great packaging and excellent frags.
Manly men? Antaeus by CHANEL. Musc Nomade by Annick Goutal. Bentley for Men Intense by Bentley is hitting well above its price range. Dior Homme by Christian Dior is still among my perfect fragrances for the boys.
I hope these help for the last minute late buyers among you. Good Luck!!
Merry Christmas (or whatever you may be celebrating)
Portia xx
.
Post by Anslie Walker
.
Carlos Huber is director/curator of Arquiste perfumes. I got to have a lunch with him in Melbourne, moments before the Australian launch of new fragrances L’Etrog Aqua and Architects Club at Peony Haute Perfumerie.
You are studied Preservation Architecture, did you also study perfumery?
I started as a Preservation Architect and also worked for Ralph Lauren. I met a perfume evaluator who introduced me to perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux. I became friends with him, spending a year studying with him as much as possible. We share a love of history, so he understands my passion and interprets my visions well.
How did the range develop?
I came up with 6 stories, moments in history for the perfumers to translate. I choose places I have visited and connect with deeply to ensure the fragrances are authentic. The aim is to bring olfactive references to life. They are historic moments in time, yet I did not want them to be vintage, I wanted them to be modern concepts where we are dropped in that moment, not have the moment brought to us. We also use the most modern of ingredients to create hyper real experiences.
Tell me about the Arquiste signature bottles?
I love these, they are Italian made, solid and round and if you look closely on the inside you cannot see where the glass and perfume begin and end. I just had the lids remade so they are heavy in the hand. The new fragrances are in 100ml only and the originals are in 50ml, eventually they will all be available in the 100ml size.
Overview of the range with quotes from Carlos:
Woods and Citrus:
Aleksandr is an amber leather developed by Yann Vasnier that interprets a Russian love story in 1837. Violet and neroli is the fired-up lovers after shave products, as he gets ready to leave the house for a dual. He dons his fur coat and leather boots and heads outside amongst the snow-laden fir and birch trees, where in a clearing ahead, the fateful duel awaits him.
Architects Club by Yaan Vasnier “this fragrance is set in The Fumé-the jewel of Claridge’s and has 3 phases – the first fresh icy gin martini phase with juniper, angelica, lavender, clary sage and coriander, the second comfortable woods and amber where oak, guaicwood and sensual ambermax settle on skin and thirdly the dry smoky vanilla tobacco, old books and leather phase. I love wearing this fragrance!!”
L’Etrog is a citrus chypre developed with both Rodrigo and Yann. It’s inspired by Jewish harvest festival Sukkot, which occurs in October. “L’Etrog is Hebrew for Citron and is the balmy sweet night time in Calabria, Italy 1175 where farmers gather after a day in the citron fields. Dried date accord and scents from the wood cabin mix with the intense citron leaving a velvety powder dry down after the zest has died down.”
L’Etrog Aqua is an Eau De Cologne style yet contains 15% perfume concentration!! It’s the morning after L’Etrog, where dew is heavy on the citron fields, green, tart, wet, juicy and cool, it sheds light on aspects of the original and highlights them. “This fragrance contains more myrtle than any other fragrance, along with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and pistachio, which is like a dry cedar.”
Anima Dulcis was developed by both perfumers and is definitely worth a try. Carlos describes it as “a baroque gourmand” combining cocoa, Mexican vanilla, cinnamon and three types of chilli to interpret a convent in Mexico City in 1695 where a group of nuns prepare recipes of bread puddings and hot chocolate.
Florals:
Fleur De Louis is a woody floral developed by Rodrigo Flores-Roux’s. It’s the French perspective in 1660 on the French and Spanish boarder, where Louis XIV is about to capture a glimpse of his new bride, Maria Theresa. Orris, jasmine and rose represent the French as they peer from a pavilion made from freshly cut pine and cedarwood. Orange blossom wafts from the Spanish infant’s clothing.
Infanta en flor is a floral musky amber and is Yann Vasnier’s take on the same time/place as Fleur de Louis, but from a Spanish perspective. Maria Teresa, blushes, fans herself and steals a look back at the gallant King as he lays his eyes on her for the first time. Cistus, Spanish leather and immortelle dance with the innocent scent of orange flower water, rose-rouge and rice powder.
“The French perfumer did the perspective from the Spanish border and the Spanish from the French!” Carlos marvels.
Boutonniere No7 was Rodrigo Flores-Roux’s work and is a green floral fragrance made with the brief of “How does a man wear a flower?” Carlos explains “The answer is that men wore white gardenias on their lapel to the opera in Paris in 1899 to seduce women. We originally wanted it to be at the end of the night – it became quite sickly and did not work so we went for the first intermission at the opera combining gardenia with cologne ingredients such as lavender, vetiver, oakmoss, mandarin, bergamot and then added an ultra dose of jasmine”
Flor Y Canto meaning “flower and song” was developed with Rodrigo Flores-Roux and is a fresh, green opulent white floral “mixing Mexican originated flowers of tuberose, magnolia, marigold and frangipani with incense of Tenochtitlan, Mexico in August 1400 to represent a festival of flowers called Tlaxochimaco where flowers are offered on temple alters for the gods and the dead.”
Which are favorite fragrances for you?
My favorites are Cologne Bigarade by Jean-Claude Ellena for Frederic Male, D’Orsay’s Le Nomade, Tom Ford’s Champaca Absolute and Neroli Portofino.
Of the Arquiste line – what do you wear the most?
I have been wearing a lot of the Architects Club lately (I have to say it smells FANTASTIC on Carlos!) and also Fleur de Louis is my other favorite.
In winter in New York I also like to wear L’Etrog /L’Etrog Aqua on my scarf and under layers as they contrast with the winter in a nice way.
Can we have a glimpse into the next story/moment in time you will bring to us with the next fragrance?
I can say it is based between 1614 and 1622 and is based on special cargo that traveled between Mexico, Europe and Japan.
Ainslie Walker x
.
Post by Ainslie Walker
.
Hi all. Do you feel overwhelmed when perfume shopping? I often do, but not today in Peony, Melbourne.
Ever-so-stylish Jill greeted me as I entered, along with an almighty hit of heady fresh jasmine flower, which were cascading, displayed in the window. The interior oozed sophistication and opulence, nothing dusty or out of place. Themed black and white, a nod to French couture and boudoir, sparkling bottles everywhere, super cool touches of quirky humour. Jill has put her heart and soul into this little luxe haven.
With complimentary sparkling fruit juice in hand complete with black and white striped straw, I began my Peony, Melbourne journey…
From the Olfactive Studio stand, the zesty Still Life called to me like a caiparinia on a blazing summers day. Yuzu, elemi and pepper -pink, black and Sichuan pepper. Star anise and galbanum. Dark rum, cedar and ambrox. I absolutely love the lemony citrus combo with slightly soured spice and pepper, almost sherbet fizz working on top of the deeper wood, amber and rum notes.
Jill explained the range is inspired by photography – Still life from a self-portrait, by Frederic Lebain, which was inspiration for perfumer, Dora Baghriche-Arnaud. A boxed “discovery kit”, containing 5 x 4ml for $55 was in my hands: KERR-CHING!!…Purchase #1.
To my left was Ormonde Jayne, I grabbed Ormonde Woman and spritzed it onto a Peony branded blotter. Cardamom, coriander and grass oil. Black hemlock, violet and jasmine absolute. Vetiver, cedar wood, amber and sandalwood YUM. Love at first sniff. Beautiful. Womanly, magical, floral and herbaceous. The bottle feels weighty in my hand as I reluctantly place it back. A boxed “discovery set” ($95) 12 x 2ml landed on the counter -Purchase #2
Jill offers gently delivered advice, then leaves me to my own devices. She is unobtrusive, yet there when I need her. She guides my experience and lets it unfold organically. I am in awe of how many Peony-exclusive brands stocked that I never have had the chance to smell anywhere else in Australia.
Passing the handpicked Hermes selection, I re-sniff Hiris, and Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, two of my favorites of the range.
At Heeley, Cocobella disappoints – the notes sounded better than I experience…too thin. I discover Hippie Rose. Fresh rose and patchouli, it is rose-velvet. Dry down reminds me of a less-dirty Agent Provocateur original fragrance. Jill hands me a sample size to try later, as I’m not sure.
I smell ALL the Cire Truedon candles from their glass cloches that house them. I pop “Ernesto” on the counter, embarrassed at the pile forming. Purchase #3
In the front corner, I’m right besides the Mona Di Orio range. Gah! “I’ve read about these too!” Les Nombres D’or Violette Fumee stops me in my tracks. So elegant, violet, soft but not sweet. Mediterranean lavender, Calabrian bergamot, oak moss from the Balkans, Egyptian violet flowers and leaves, Turkish rose, Haitian vetiver, clary sage, opoponax, cashmeran and myrrh.
Jill tells me the story of how before Mona Di Orio sadly passed away; she designed this rose/tobacco/suede and violet piece for her Co-founder Jeroenu Oude Sougoteu, whom after she died, generously decided to share it as a tribute to her. Jill is full of these stories. She really knows her stuff!
It’s been an hour and 45 minutes of serious olfactory fun. As I pay for my items, Jill shoves more mystery samples in my bag, and I scurry off happy, loaded with even more new things to discover when I get home.
Thanks Jill!
Ainslie Walker X
All Photos (Perfume Porn) Donated Ainslie Walker
Hi there APJ Family,
Another super giveaway. Thanks for gettinmg on board and enjoying the fun.
Let’s see what there was and who won.
Portia xx
Photo Stolen Ramon Monegal
This week we will have 2 Winners who will get (NO you don’t get to choose):
1 x 15ml manufacturers spray sample of Ambra di Luna (I did spritz to test)
or
1 x 15ml manufacturers spray sample of Kiss My Name (I did spritz to test)
P&H Anywhere in the world
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Go to Peony Melbourne<<JUMP and find me a Fragrance and one of its Notes…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!
Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Ramon Monegal + Peony Melbourne #Perfume #Giveaway http://wp.me/p3PURw-34j @ramonmonegal
Entries Closed Thursday 14th August 2014 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org
Photo Stolen berryreview
The winners will have till Monday 18th August 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their email address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Special THANKS to Ramon Monegal for these amazing giveaways. Please visit their site Ramon Monegal
Hiya Fragrance frenzied peeps,
This is a super exciting day here at APJ. The crew at Ramon Monegal are so thrilled that they are coming to Australia and will be for sale at Peony Melbourne in our Southern Hemisphere Spring that they have been in touch to do a special announcement giveaway. Cool huh?
Here’s a snippet from the Ramon Monegal site: Ramón Monegal comes from a long and distinguished line of the most important perfumers in Barcelona and Spain. He represents the fourth generation of the founders of the house of Myrurgia, which was the official purveyor of the Spanish Royal Family, and the most important international perfumer in Spain.
I really love the brand, its style and who can go past one of their inkwell bottles. TO DIE FOR.
Photo Stolen Ramon Monegal
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Amber, labdanum, Egyptian jasmine, castoreum, vanilla, sandalwood
WOW! When you spray Ambre di Luna it is an old world fragrance harking back to the bygone days of perfumery where the sensual animal base could be clearly noticed from the very first spritz. Rich, sweet, animal and utterly gorgeous Ambra di Luna is my next full bottle purchase, FOR SURE! Amber, and a hint of breathy jasmine play background to animal growl. I am undone. What a wonderful scent, so beautiful it could break your heart. A surprisingly cool amber, done in a way that is unusual and raunchy. MMMMMMM
Photo Stolen Ramon Monegal
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tuberose, iris, Egyptian jasmine, Tunisian neroli, tolu balsam
Spritz and BIG SMILE! Lovely white flowers all in a bouquet, green, white, sappy and sweet. Here is a very wearable white flower bomb that is cooled by the iris and fleshed out with resins. Ohhhh, I could so imagine wearing this regularly. Not bubble gum tuberose, the cooler, greener aspect. A full blown white flower bouquet that you can tell can’t wait to unleash its inner vixen. Kiss My Name feels like a fragrance FULL of flowers, at least some of them being the real deal. The heart of Kiss My Name has a very narcissus-ness about it, nearly ferocious in its intensity. GOSH Almighty.
Can’t wait for Ramon Monegal to come to Australia?
Parfum1 has the line for $185/50ml
First In Fragrance and LuckyScent have bottles and samples
Photo Stolen Kesha&Co
This week we will have 2 Winners who will get (NO you don’t get to choose):
1 x 15ml manufacturers spray sample of Ambra di Luna (I did spritz to test)
or
1 x 15ml manufacturers spray sample of Kiss My Name (I did spritz to test)
P&H Anywhere in the world
Open to everyone worldwide who follows AustralianPerfumeJunkies via eMail, WordPress, Bloglovin or RSS. Please leave how you follow in the comments to be eligible. I must be able to check that you follow so if you have an email address on your gravatar that’s different to your follow address then please email me so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.
You must tell me how you follow APJ
and
Go to Peony Melbourne<<JUMP and find me a Fragrance and one of its Notes…………….. NO DOUBLE UPS!!
Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Ramon Monegal + Peony Melbourne #Perfume #Giveaway http://wp.me/p3PURw-34j @ramonmonegal
Entries Close Thursday 14th August 2014 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by random.org
The winners will have till Monday 18th August 2014 to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their email address or the prize will go to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.
Special THANKS to Ramon Monegal for these amazing giveaways. Please visit their site Ramon Monegal
Australian Perfume Junkies 