Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc by L’Occitane 2015 + NEW 10ml Decants

November 6, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 20 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there APJ!

Here is an easy Iris, brought to you by my mate Lesley at L’Occitane Australia. If you have drama with iris as a not I think this could be your gateway drug. I like it a lot, there is considerable air in my bottle already so I thought I should share the love today

Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc by L’Occitane 2015

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Citruses, black currant
Heart: Iris pallida, Florentine iris, ylang-ylang, peach, fig
Base: White musk, cedar

Sparkly blackcurrent and citrus, sharp and sweet but not sickening. Fun but a gentle fun, not let’s go crazy. A really nice use of blackcurrent that only hints at its often challenging super screechy urinous roar and the citrus meets powderish iris with a cool pithy cloak that cools Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc considerably after the opening fanfare. The peach has a nice nod to Mitsouko and even the fig is noticeable: giving its softly milky fruit ripeness to the mix. Iris here giving both cardboard, root and airy fresh breadery (I invented a word!).

Maybe I’m having a good nose day or maybe previously I have merely been along for the ride but opening and heart notes all seem to be in order and accounted for. This is lovely and very enjoyable for a couple of hours. The white musks in the base are nothing new, a clean and simple old theme that is very nice but not nearly as interesting as the opening and heart. Totally wearable though and excellent for work or movies. Perfect gift for a person who likes fragrance but is not a hard core perfumista.

Further reading: Now Smell This and Sunday Girl
L’Occitane Australia has $84/75ml or $12/7.5ml and a whole range of corresponding product

In other news I just received these freaking amazing 10 ml Decant Bottles from China.

Thing is, I need some people to volunteer to try them for me before I buy hundreds, so I’m going to fill 3 with Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc and I will send them to you in little baggies. I would love it if you’d throw them in your bag, spritz, use, handle, show everyone and then give me feedback on how well they performed. You into it? See below. To re-use them pop some white vinegar in and squirt it through then squirt loads of fresh warm water. Leave them to dry and go again.

Portia xx

Photo Stolen AllSteele

Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc 10ml Decant GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 3 winners who will receive:
1 x 10ml decant Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc in the funky new atomisers
a couple of extras
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

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 (portia underscore turbo @ yahoo dot com dot au) so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us an iris fragrance that you love and why.

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc @LOCCITANE #GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4ro @Giveaway @LOCCITANE_au @LOccitane_FR

Entries Close Sunday 8th November 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org
The winner will have till Thursday 12th 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.

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

“My Aromatic Journal” Julie Nelson

November 4, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Suzanne R Banks

Hi APJ,

This is a story of scent, romance, sharing, hope, trust, self empowerment and support, featuring Julie Nelson, an Australian Aromatherapist. This is a story of dreams, stunning visuals, essential oil perfume recipes and scented style. Think water coloured, botanical bliss.

I first met Julie about 15 years ago at one of the colleges she was lecturing at in Sydney. I was in awe of her, as I’d dreamed of being able to teach aromatherapy on a professional level. Fast forward to 2014 and we were reconnected through social media and my friend Portia Turbo of Australian Perfume Junkies.

“My Aromatic Journal”

Julie Nelson, Australian Aromatherapist

Julie’s exquisite perfumes are not only a delight to encounter, her romantic style and high fashion styling have been a joint production with her photographer daughter. This is such a beautiful story when you read where Julie’s love of essential oils and Aromatherapy started:

“Having my beautiful daughter was an amazing and life changing gift. She was born with a life threatening illness and at 6 months young was diagnosed with a 2nd life threatening condition. Her precious life and challenges were the driving force behind me discovering the healing power of aromatherapy and beautifully perfumed essential oils. They have played an enormous role in supporting us emotionally, psychologically and physically.” Julie Nelson

Julie’s daughter is the photographer, with her childhood friend as the make-up artist and stylist on all the photo shoots for Julie’s e-zines, images for her website and social media sites, and the upcoming “My Aromatic Journal”.

Julie’s successful company Aromatique, has been established for many years offering amazing natural, botanical perfumes and skincare. She is now on a new venture to crowd fund her “My Aromatic Journal” with Kickstart.

Julie’s “My Aromatic Journal” will help you:

• Discover why you should use the power of scent in your daily life

• Use the beautiful perfume recipes shared in this journal to enhance your emotions and feelings in a helpful and positive way

• Write down your emotions, thoughts, feelings and physical responses to any particular scent to draw on for future use

• Connect with the essence of your being through the power of divine scents. This beautiful journal has been created with my highest of intentions, infused with passion and love to support and help you to discover the power of scent and connect and ground with your true self.

Can you help Julie spread the word of the power of essential oils? Please click “My Aromatic Journal” to give as little as $2 or as much as you like. There are great gifts for each level of donation, and the buzz you’ll get from helping someone reach their goal is free.

Good luck Julie!

Follow Julie: Facebook Instagram Twitter

********************************************************************************

Like our Facebook page to stay tuned for more info on the inaugural

Australasian Artisan Botanical Perfume Expo in Sydney, 24th April 2016

********************************************************************************

Check out my YouTube Channel too, thanks.
Suzanne R Banks xx

Suzanne R Banks Blog
Suzanne R Banks Aromatherapy
Suzanne R Banks FaceBook

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA Amazon AU Amazon UK

Aussie Fragrance Network Picnic Sydney + Photo Essay

November 3, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 13 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

The Aussie Fragrance Network Facebook Group gathered recently in the Sydney Botanic Gardens for a perfume picnic. With food, drinks, blankets, perfumes, bright pink umbrellas, games and excited chatter, it had the air of Mad Hatter’s tea party, yet exclusively for members of the olfactive underworld!!

Aussie Fragrance Network Picnic, Sydney + Photo Essay

Dedicated attendees flew in from Melbourne especially for the event (thanks Taeko and Richie) joining regular Sydney faces; Scott, Kerry, Simon, Willa, Michael, Tina, Claire, Alex, Rebecca, Sonya, Kerry and I. We each met new friends, caught up with old faces and fragrant cyber friends ‘came to life!’

Picnic rugs were spread and in the middle a huge banquet of foods lay, including homemade macarons, cous cous salad, cheese platters, dips, caramel slice, sandwiches, iced tea, watermelon drenched in rosewater, grapes, wine and juices. Suddenly out from well-packed cool bags the fragrances flowed around in anticlockwise direction starting and ending with Scott.

From vintage to unreleased offerings, many unavailable in Australia, niche, mainstream and everything in-between! Decants were swapped and Portia had generously donated some giveaways!

Taeko was hostess to a little “what fragrance is this” with 2 unlabeled vials. It was on the tip of everyone’s tongues and we finally guessed it to be Comme des Garcons 2 but by the time I left the other was still a mystery. (Did anyone guess it?)

Here’s what we smelt!! Count how many you’ve tried!!

4160 Tuesdays – Ealing Green
Amouage – Ubar, Fate Woman, Silver Cologne
Andrea Maack – Coven, Dark
Andy Tauer – L’air du Desert Moroccan, Loretta, Lonestar Memories
Aramis – 900, Calligraphy Rose
Atelier Cologne – Gold Leather
Bentley – Intense for Men
Biehl Parfumkunstwerke – GS02
Byredo – M/Mink, Flowerhead
Calvin Klein – Obsession for Men
CB I Hate Perfume – M2 Black March
Comme des Garçons – Series 8 Guerilla 1
Comme des Garçons x Monocle – 1 and 2
Criminal Elements – Blackwater Thistle
Demeter – Dirt
Diptyque – L’eau
Eight and Bob – Cap d’Antibes
Esteban – Baume Tolu
Estee Lauder – Super Cologne
Etat Libre d’Orange – Fat Electrician, Remarkable People
Etro – Gomma
Givenchy – Gentleman
Gucci – Gucci No #3
Imaginary Authors – Air of Despair, Bulls Blood
Jacques Bogart – Furyo
Jean Couturier – Coriandre
Jean Desprez – Bal a Versailles
Jean-Louis Scherrer
Kenneth Cole – New York
Les Parfums de Rosine – Twill Rose
Marc Jacobs – Mod Noir, Daisy Dream
Martin Margiela – Untitled
Mona di Orio – Rose Etoile de Hollande, Violet Fumeé
Montale – Taif Rose
Nicolai Parfumeur Createur – Le Temps d’une Féte
Olympic Orchids – Tropic of Capricorn
Ormonde Jayne – Qi
Papillion –Anubis, Tobacco Rose
Phaedon – Dzhari
Roads – Lights, Supernova
Robert Piguet – Futur
S-Perfume – Musk S
Serge Lutens – Sarasan
Smell Bent – Leathery
Tokyo Milk – Marine Sel, Dead Sexy
Versace – Blonde
Yves Saint Laurent – Rive Gauche

Why not try your own little perfume sampling and swapping picnic soon!!

Thanks to all involved, I had a blast and what a gorgeous setting!! xxx

All photos courtesy Kerri Clarke. Thank You.

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.

Vintage Parfums: GIVEAWAY WINNER

November 2, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya Crew,

Hotly contested tonight. I wish you all could be the winner. Really excited that one of our newest APJ Family members has won today.

Portia xx

Vintage Parfums: GIVEAWAY WINNER

CHANEL, Guerlain, DIOR, Rochas

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x sample of all six vintage fragrances in extrait/parfum
CHANEL No 5
CHANEL Coco
DIOR Diorissimo
Guerlain Mitsouko
Guerlain Shalimar
Rochas Madame Rochas
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 1st November 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org

Photo Stolen amberinblunderland

Latai

The winner will have till Thursday 5th 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.

TinaG, Scott & Portia Sniff Fest Oct ’15

November 1, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 36 Comments

Post by Portia

So we are lucky in Sydney. There are a bunch of perfumistas, a few niche stores, loads of department stores, stand alone perfume shops and a smattering of boutiques + homeware stores with a few hard to get niche and indie lines. While not being London, Paris or New York we do have a splendid array. Should we desperately need to smell something the sample/decant stores have a great selection or we all seem to have a good number of decanting supplies so a lot of sharing goes on. There is always someone heading overseas who can grab us a FB of the things we can’t find here.

TinaG, Scott & Portia Sniff Fest

What also happens quite a lot is people going to other people’s houses and sniffing their collection. Recently TinaG and Scott were over celebrating TinaG’s birthday (and return to writing for APJ) with fresh baked scones, jam, lemon curd and whipped cream. The beverage was Guerlain’s Shalimar tea (thanks Catherine) and we decided to spend some time sniffing through my recently organised 3ml+ samples in their neat plastic boxes.

As you can see below the before & after. I have 2 chocka-block full ones and need one more.

Photo Stolen Bunnings

So, what did we sniff? TinaG took all the touches home in greaseproof paper and made me a list.

Ana Fritz – Tzora
Annick Goutal – Amber Fetish
Caron – Narcissus Noir EDT
Caron – Narcissus Noir parfum Vint
Caron – Nuit de Noel EDC Vint
Caron – Tabac Blond Vint
Carven – Ma Griffe Vint
CB I Hate Perfumes – Black March
CB I Hate Perfumes – Narcissus
CB I Hate Perfumes – Tea Rose
Coty – Emeraurde (green)
Coty – Emeraude (blue) Vint
Coty – Muguet de Bois
Coty – L’Origan
Guerlain – Shalimar Parfum de Initial
Guerlain – Nuit d’Amore
Guerlain – Shalimar Mexico
Guerlain – L’Heure de Nuit
Hilda Soliane – Vagabond
Houbigant – Quelques Fleurs Vint
Huitieme Art – Myrrhad
Lorenso Villoresi – Incensi
The Different Company – Osmathus
Washington Tremlett – Clove Absoute
Worth – Courtesan

These were just the ones we found interesting enough to label & keep the touche, there were more. I don’t know how noses didn’t shut down in protest. I walked the dog afterwards and returning to the house was like walking into the Oxford St ground floor of Selfridge & Co. Quite potent.

Do you ever get together with fumies?
Portia xx

CHANEL, Guerlain, DIOR, Rochas: Vintage Parfums

October 30, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 48 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there APJ Crew,

I have a great penchant for vintage frags and particularly love to find parfum or extrait versions of them. Lately I have had a few really amazing finds and wins and I’d like to share the vintage largesse with you. Below are links to APJ reviews of each fragrance and an approximate year of production, the ones without years means I can’t find the correlating bottle years and/or there is no Batch Code. The samples will not be huge but you’ll get enough to have a couple of decent wears (or one really lavish one) so you have a mental reference when you see these lovelies in stores, on eBay or blogs.

These are the good stuff but I also have had a few fakes and dummy bottles come through too. Many times the seller doesn’t know or care enough about fragrance to tell the difference, a good fake can fool the average seller & headspace technology has made it easier to copy and then other times they are bad people. I have also started to notice that they are topping up their 1/2 full bottles with perfumers alcohol, REALLY annoying because you get kind of the right scent but the open is really alcoholic, which can feel like top notes going. Maybe one in 20 that I buy are not 100% genuine.

CHANEL No 5 (1970-87)
CHANEL Coco
DIOR Diorissimo (1987)
Guerlain Mitsouko (1990)
Guerlain Shalimar (<1980s)
Rochas Madame Rochas

Photo Stolen kbaird

Vintage Parfums: GIVEAWAY

CHANEL, Guerlain, DIOR, Rochas

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us which vintage fragrance you wish you had a free unlimited lifetime supply of and why

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 1st November 2015 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winner will be chosen by random.org
The winner will have till Thursday 5th 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.

Alanis Morrisette Top 10 Perfumes

October 30, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there APJ,

What a great surprise, Alanis Morrisette is a FUMIE! She just uploaded her Top 10 and they are a really cool and diverse mix of the rare, expensive, mass-tige and niche. It’s a clever line up that gives me even more reason to think she would be a fun person to know. Clearly Alanis has been reading frag blogs too because she has a solid frag vocab that makes her pithy mini reviews totally understandable and easy to follow.

Alanis Morrisette Top 10 Perfumes

You can go check Alanis Morisette’s Top 10 Perfumes on Alanis Morrisette Blog

Her collection includes a Serge Lutens (a bell jar bought at the Palais Royale store no less), Byredo and Santa Maria Novella with a slew of others. Beautifully curated collection.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

Alanis Morissette – Everything (Video)

How about some Alanis Morrisette music to get you in the mood? Here is one of her less popular songs that I love. It makes me want to sing along. Go on, turn it up a bit and let the music wash over you. It’s Friday here in Sydney, let yourself go a bit.

Enjoy,
Portia xxx

Curve Kicks GIVEAWAY WINNERS

October 30, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey Gang,

Thanks to Azar for another fun giveaway. Let’s see who the lucky winners are.
Portia xx

Curve Kicks GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Melon, mandarin orange, cassia, pear
Heart: Peony, passionfruit, freesia, lily-of-the-valley
Base: Sandalwood, vanilla, peach, vetiver, cedar

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

Today’s giveaway: There are two prizes, one each.
Curve Kicks for Women 5.4 ml minis
P&H Worldwide

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Closed Thursday 29th October 2015 10pm Australian EST
Winners were chosen by random.org

Photo stolen brooklodge

Amy Orvin

Lindaloo

The winners will have till Sunday 1st 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.