Perfume

Aussie Niche Perfumers Christmas Gifting Guide

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Hey Hey All You Fabulous Fumies,

We at APJ have always wanted to showcase new and old Aussie talent in the fragrance world. Here are a few of the wonderful crews that we have looked at this year that you can still order some excellent Christmas goodies and stocking stuffers from. As it is the time for giving, families and all that there are many of us who for a billion reasons are without family at a time of year where it seems fundamental. If you are someone in that boat, buy yourself a Christmas present from the list, even if you are not a devotee of the Christian creed. A new fragrance wrapped and carded to yourself on Christmas Day morning will give you a smile, maybe even a laugh. I have bought myself a couple this year, naughty I know.

Aussie Niche Perfumers Christmas Gifting Guide

homeshotPhoto Stolen EVP

Emerald Vintners Perfumes

These 2 boys Brendan and Samuel have stolen my heart with their new line. 3 masterfully created perfumes and I think there’ll be plenty more coming. EVP Australia sells itself as Small Batch Artisan Scents inspired by the Adelaide Hills and Wine Regions around the World. Baume, the powerhouse honeysuckle and blossom, is my favourite but I like them all and have finished my sample set and am contemplating a FB. The EVP site has an Inception Range 3 x 2ml Sample Set $20

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Evocative Perfumes

Another Adelaide set up Mark has done some lovely work with unusual mixtures and breathtaking, magical fragrances. They are etherial, earthy and interesting. My picks for FB worthy are Apple tea, Imogen and Vanilla Tonique. I like the sizes too; 10ml Roll On, 15ml And 50ml Atomisers. A wonderful Sample Program means that you can try all 10 fragrances for $24

300Photo Stolen InnerEarth

Inner Earth: Luxury Handmade Soaps & Skincare

Photographed you’ll see my pick of the Inner Earth gear. Lemon Cheesecake Hand & Body Cream; Lemon combined with creamy vanilla and a hint of white musk. A smooth, creamy formula enriched with sweet almond oil and cocoa butter, to leave your skin feeling new again. 250ml only $19.50 but be quick the virtual shop closes 17-30 December, you have till MONDAY! They also do a spectacular range of oil based fragrances and handmade soaps.

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One Seed

Liz Cook from One Seed (who have a no hurt the planet, 100% botanical, nothing synthetic credo) has created some sublime fragrances that you should try. Courage and Sweet Water are my two favourites but Frangipani, Hope and Slow Fire are excellent too. One Seed Site has this wonderful 5 x 5ml Sample Set for $70

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Perfume and Skincare Company

Sheila Massetti trained with the oldest fragrance house in France and has also worked with perfumers from Chanel, Issey Miyake and Jean Paul Gaultier. The houses signature fragrance is Fig & Olive but I find Ginger Milk, Gardenia and Pink Peony much more to my liking. One of the wonderful thiongs about the Perfume And Skincare Company’s fragrances is their higher than extrait ingredient inclusion, meaning way more strength, and their extremely reasonable pricing. The Deux Perfume sets with 10ml of Fig & Olive and another fragrance from the range for only $25 is my pick.

I know it’s hard to find something different, interesting, good value and surprising for the ones you love. It makes it especially hard when most people go and buy what they want when they want it. I hope these give you a selection of things that you may otherwise not have noticed. I love them all and have tried, tested, purchased and repurchased from each of these Aussie stores so you are safe.

Good luck with the rest of your shopping, even if it’s just for you.

Portia xx

Costume National + TRIPLE GIVEAWAY!!

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Hey APJ Family!!

The other day I was chatting to Gary my favourite SA at the Libertine Fragrance area in David Jones, Sydney City (The oldest Department Store trading under its original name in the world) and Gary really wanted me to try something. The Costume National range is one that I constantly overlook and I don’t have a reason really except that the other testers always grab me before I even get to the Costume National end of the store.

It seems I’ve been missing out on untold wonders. 21 is so different from anything else I’ve ever smelled. The milk accord at the start sounded disgusting when I was originally told about it but it is beautiful and flattering, an alluring milky wonder. I had hoped to do more sampling before this amazing GIVEAWAY went live but unfortunately I have come down with a head cold that has left me completely anosmic and without even taste. It’s weird to eat chilli dishes and get burning mouth without flavour. Cannot smell even TSO Jin’s farts, and normally they can make my eyes water. So I have found the Costume National site and plagiarised with abandon.

If you are shopping in Australia Libertine Fragrance includes P&H in their prices and they are registered dealers of the scents that they carry. Meaning they haven’t been sitting in cargo boys in hot countries, are 100% genuine and fresh, they can get your gift buying fragrances to you before Christmas!!

Costume National

21 Fragrantica

Costume National 21
Starting from a base of pure white milk and the lightness of sheer white orange blossom, 21 fades into more mysterious notes of saffron, cashmere wood, amber and musk with accents of bergamot, vanilla, labdanum and cedar wood.

ScentGloss Fragrantica

Scent Gloss
GLOSS is the sexiest version of SCENT. Pink like female instinct, pink like a rose to the sense of smell, sight and on the skin. It is the youngest soul of SCENT: light, spontaneous and joyful. A floral and delicately fruity bouquet for an effervescent sweetness thanks to the notes of purple orchid and fresh musk.

ScentIntense fragrantica

Scent Intense
An intense fragrance sublimated by the deep harmony of amber and cystine. The mystery and radiance of a timeless energy with woody accents and natural deep warmth. SCENT INTENSE is an inimitable declaration of individuality and seduction.

Homme Fragrantica

Homme
The masculine eau de parfum opens with a very fresh head made of grapefruit, cardamom and bergamot. The essence then plunges into the spicy heart of Cinnamon, Thyme and Cloves. In the end, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Labdanum give depth and warmth to the general accord.

SoNude Fragrantica

So Nude
This is the latest offering in Costume National’s lineup. I love the new bottle shape and the notes sound beautiful. I can’t wait to get some on my skin.
Ennio Capasa has collaborated with Dominique Ropion.
A floral spicy creation, the fragrance opens with mystery by the spicy top of cardamom and cumin, surrounded by the delicacy of neroli. A floral heart of ylang ylang, damascena rose and tuberose suddenly appears, enchanting for elegance and sensuality. A warm base of Virginian cedarwood, patchouli heart and sandalwood gives depth to the general accord.

Costume National Giveaway

Gary then gave me some Costume National Manufacturers 1.5ml Carded Samples to give to you.

What’s In The Packs?

There are THREE packs to give away this week, the three winners will receive 1.5ml each of
Costume National Scent Gloss
Costume National Scent Intense
Costume National Homme
Costume National So Nude
with P&H anywhere in the world

How Do You Win?

Open to everyone worldwide who is a follower of AustralianPerfumeJunkies via email (eM), RSS, or WordPress (WP) and please put which in your answer. Yes, you may become a new follower to enter! In fact, we encourage it.
All you need to do this week is go over to Libertine Fragrance at http://www.libertineparfumerie.com.au/w1/i2/ and tell me any product there that takes your fancy. NO DOUBLE UPS! There is enough product at Libertine Fragrance to get about 500 commenters. That’s it!! EASY PEASY!

So, your entry will look like this:
eM (portia_turbo) TOKYO MILK Dead Sexy No 6
Portia xx
or
WP (AustralianPerfumeJunkies) TOKYO MILK Dead Sexy No 6
Portia xx

Extra Chances
You can earn an extra chance each for
Facebooking this link: APJ Costume National Giveaway https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/12/13/costume-national-triple-giveaway/
Tweeting this: @OzPerfumeJunkie APJ Costume National Giveaway https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/12/13/costume-national-triple-giveaway/

Housekeeping

Entries Close Saturday December 15th 10pm AEDST and winners will be announced in a separate post on Sunday.
Winners will be chosen by putting names on same sized papers, folded similarly, put on a tray and TSO Jin will pick them. He doesn’t even stop watching TV to do it usually.
The three winners will have till Wednesday December 19th to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or I will give the prize to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

GO TO IT!! Good luck everyone

Do go and have a squiz at Libertine Fragrance if they get loads of extra traffic then I am positive we will get even bigger and better giveaways from them in future.

See you tomorrow,

Portia xx

Portia’s Christmas For The Boys Shopping Guide

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 26 Comments

Hello Fraught Funies,

OMG!! How is it Christmas again? I used to be a done all my Christmas Shopping by the end of the July Sales kinda person but the last few years I have put it off and put it off and then end up in a mad December scramble. I am composing a list of the things I’d like to grab for my partner Jin this year and letting you look over my shoulder as I do it. He will probably only get one from this list as I have a couple of other things in mind to add in.

Portia’s Christmas For The Boys Shopping Guide

CasswellMasseySandalwoodSoap GraysOnlinePhoto Stolen GraysOnline

Caswell – Massey Sandalwood Soap 3 x 5.8oz: This is a well packaged and deliciously scented set of Sandalwood smelling soaps. They act as a great base for loads of mens fragrances and give back a little of the rich buttery sandalwood missing from so many modern incarnations. There is also a 243ml body lotion pump pack. They both come in boxes for ease of wrapping. At FragranceNet I found the pair of them after discount for under $35

Yatagan eBay

Caron, Yatagan EdT: Named after the curve bladed Turkish sabre Yatagan is a green, woodsy, leather, spice and sweat mixture that is surprising, interesting, masculine and dead sexy. Released back in 1976 Yatragan is a manly masterpiece for a super great price. FragranceNet has 125ml Edt spray for under $40

LorenzoVilloresiSampleSet FirstInFragragrance

Lorenzo Villoresi – Fragrance Collection – Sample Set: I found this stunning set and have been panting after it for myself. 16 x 1.5ml sprays showing a fabulous selection of the range for only €30 on FirstInFragrance and a little hint, if you are shopping Internationally you pay no tax so spending around €100 and the shipping will be the same as the saved tax. Woo Hoo!

L_Artisan_Batucada_Eau_de_Toilette_100mlPhoto Stolen L’Artisan

L’Artisan Parfumeur, Batucada EdT: Spicy, salty citrus tempered by flowers, flesh and sea in a lovely nod to cocktails and samba in Brazil on Ipanema Beach. Bright, bold, fresh and daring while being a completely modern masculine, and those engraved hexagonal bottles look so rich and have great heft in your hands. Parfum1 has 50ml for $100

JuniperSling lovelypackagePhoto Stolen lovelypackage

Penhaligon’s, Juniper Sling: Recently I was lucky enough to win a bottle of Juniper Sling from TheCandyPerfumeBoy and I can’t stop spritzing. It is a fabulously boozy cool climate forest walk that gives you a sharp slap in the face to wake you up and then warms on skin into a deliciously warm masculine clean body smell. OMG! Seriously gorgeous stuff and EssentialMall has 50ml for as little as $101. BTW The box is even more lavish looking in real life

Maître ParfumeuretGantierDiscovery FirstInFragrance

Maître Parfumeur et Gantier – Les Masculins – Discovery Set: Discover the universe of Maître Parfumeur et Gantier. A choice of 15 fragrances presented in 13 ml refillable atomizers, personally I think this is ridiculously good value and look at the presentation. FirstInFragrance has this gorgeous set for €119

Pear&Olive

Slumberhouse, Pear + Olive: If you want something so completely different to anything else available, you are buying for a perfumista, want to look like you are all over the best new stuff by the coolest crews and are way ahead of the game then this is the best buy you could wish for. The juice is a surprising almost clash of sweet and savoury, is dense and light simultaneously, warm, ferocious, cool and charming and comes in a killer engraved bottle with plenty of heft that will look totally now and retro on every vanity. Get onto the Slumberhouse site where 50ml will cost $150 + $12 International Postage. this is the good shit!

inekeeveningedgedingold LibertinePhoto Stolen Libertine

INeKE, Evening Edged In Gold: I know that you wouldn’t normally pick this as a masculine fragrance but it smells terrific on my partner Jin, a spicy, floral woodsy fragrance that sizzles on him in the most alluring way and makes me want to get really close. The bottle is a beautiful work of art too. Libertine in Australia has 75ml $160 including postage

Picture 3357Photo stolen LucyScent

Amouage EdP Miniatures Men’s Gift Set: Really want to spend some money on a lavish gift? Try the six best selling Amouage Men’s Fragrances in miniatures. Each 7.5ml bottle is a perfect mini replica of the real thing. Included are: Lyric, Jubilation XXV, Reflection, Gold, Dia & Silver. Many of the world’s stores are sold out but Libertine still has some in stock for $280 including Postage

Did that help at all? It has certainly sorted some stuff out in my head. What fragrant gifts are you thinking for the men in your life?
See you tomorrow,

Portia xx

Portia’s Affordable Christmas Giving Fragrance List

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 16 Comments

Hey All,

Today on the PerfumePosse I look at a bunch of Fragrant Gift Certificates. Excellent Christmas option.

We are all going a little Christmas Cuckoo here at APJ. I thought I would swing in with some lovely and affordable fragrant gifts. Many of us have had to tighten our belts over the last 12 months and it’s getting harder to find something that gives the feeling of luxury in these straightened circumstances, so here are a few of my favourite cheapies that may help you to fill stockings for less.

Japanese Rose set bathandunwindPhoto stolen Bath&Unwind

Korres: Japanese Rose: I use the shower gel and body butter to layer under rose scents like Rosa Sur Reuse by SOIVOHLE and Midnight Oud by Juliette Has A Gun. They came together as a pack 2 Christmas ago and I have constantly kept a stock ever since, now onto my 4th set I think. You can still get the set from Bath & Unwind for around $30

OneSeed Samples ETSY

One Seed natural perfume sample set: This is a great way to get to know one of Australia’s budding niche perfume houses. You will receive 8 x 1ml samples and including International Postage for only $30 at the One seed ETSY Store

Kiehl's Original MuskPhoto Stolen Kiehl’s

Kiehl’s Original Musk: I have the fragrance and body lotion and often use the body lotion to plump up the funk on modern formulations of old favourite fragrances like Rochas Femme, YSL Rive Gauche and CHANEL No 5. Currently 200ml body lotion is around $35 online at Kiehl’s

MangoMelt LUSHPhoto Stolen LUSH

LUSH You’ve Been Mangoed Bath Melt: This comes in a 30gram tablet that I cut into 4 and use separately so each one lasts for four baths. Here in Australia they retail for only $8.50 which works out to $2.12 per bath. BARGAIN. And it’s a great base for some delicious mango dripping fragrances like NVC Bombay Bling or Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil. Available from LUSHCosmetics

BDep Coming To My sensesPhoto Stolen BookDepository

Coming To My Senses by Alyssa Harad: Whether you are buying for a perfumista or not this is a great tale that keeps you turning pages and wishing for a sequel at the end. The story of a woman’s fragrant searching for where she belongs. BookDepository has the hardback for around $20 delivered worldwide!!

sunset people logo

Smell Bent, Sunset People Sample Pack: If you’ve spent any time at all on AustralianPerfumeJunkies then you’ll know what fans we are of the Smell Bent ranges by that uber hottie Brent Leonesio. Sunset People Sample Pack features 5 x 4ml EdT Travel Sprays of their latest juices for only $28 with such excellent names as Disco Nap and Walk of Shame! Wonderful stocking filler from SmellBent.

Halle carapharmacyPhoto stolen carapharmacy

Halle by Halle Berry: I use the body lotion and the fragrance. This is a fabulously wearable woody floral fragrance which has a slightly bitter chocolate feeling about it while still being sweetly amber. The body lotion adds depth and hours of extra wear life.  At CheapSmells you can get the 50ml EdP and 200ml Lotion separately but they add up to under $30.

BDep DiaryOfANosePhoto Stolen BookDepository

Jean-Claude Ellena, The Diary Of A Nose: I found this an interesting look at a year in the life of a perfumer. Not trying to be a sensational story but a look at how much travel, meetings and associated stuff come with being a perfume creator. At times during it I felt that it must be very frustrating sometimes when you want to create but the world impinges. He also gives some fascinating self observances and all done in great good humour. I already liked him before I read this but felt like I knew something of him after. BookDepository has the hardback for around $22 delivered worldwide.

Olympic Orchids samples deluxePhoto Stolen Olympic Orchids

Olympic Orchids Deluxe Sample Set: 16 x 2ml samples of the Olympic Orchids range for only $40 including International Shipping! This is the ultimate affordable gift for any aspiring perfumista or already deep in the wormhole devotee. Go have a look at Olympic Orchids Samples

JeRiviensLotion ProductReview

Worth, Je Riviens body lotion: I know, I know! The fragrance has been cheapened and thinned beyond a whisper of its former self. The lotion is still lovely though and at around $7 for 200ml you can’t go wrong for keeping those wintery ambers in place all day long like L’Artisan’s L’Eau d’Ambre and Ambre Narguile by Hermes. I buy it from CheapSmells

$10GiftCert seekcheaper

Gift Certificates: Many of my favourite online stores do Gift Certificates too. Part of the joy of my fragrance addiction is the seeking and finding what I want for myself so here are a few links to sites that offer them, from as little as $1. Jin often gets me a $50 Posh Peasant Voucher that gets mailed to me and I love them. That can be as many as 20 samples and postage, depending. See what I mean, cool and classy gift for a perfumista to receive.

PoshPeasant from $25
ThePerfumedCourt from $10
SurrenderToChance from $1 – $100
MyPerfumeSamples from $15
AftelierPerfumes from $20
FragranceNet from $20
FragranceX from $5 – $500

I hope this has helped you all shop smarter.
With huge wafts of fragrant love,
Portia xx

Lys Mediterranee by Edouard Flechier for Frederic Malle 2000

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

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Guest post by EmmaKate

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Hello hello fumies,

It is EmmaKate here to spoil you with fragrance for Christmas. One the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a bottle of Lys Mediteranee… from Frederic Malle. 🙂 This particular fragrance appeals to me because of the fresh white flowers, sea water and green spice make this feminine without being at all cloying.

Lys Mediterranee by Frederic Malle 2000

nd.4640
Image from Fragrantica.
Fragrantica lists the notes for this scent as
Top: sea water and ginger
Heart: angelica, orange blossom, lotus and lily
Base: vanilla and musk.
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When I spray Lys Mediterranee by Frederic Malle it takes me to a beach side cliff where the white flowers grow. I feel the sun on my back with a cool breeze playing through my hair. It is like I an escape to a place we would all rather be.  It is the scent I could see myself wearing on my wedding day. Something fresh, beautiful, floaty, a little bit mysterious and long lasting, it makes me smile and lends a sense of contentment.
BrideBentley weheartit.Photo Stolen weheartit
It opens with a burst of lily with a true green edge, mellows out to let the sweetness shine through and becomes a mysterious blend upon dry down, almost powdery, yet not at all. Lys Mediterranee by Frederic Malle wears incredibly well on me and I am a renowned scent “drinker”. This is such a clean fragrance. I want to spray this in the middle of summer when I have come from the extreme humidity inside and don’t feel like a shower.
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This composition is an interesting choice, the combination of such fresh smells such as ginger and sea water combined with the white flowers makes sense, even the white flowers combined with the grounding warmth of vanilla and musk, it is the idea of these three together that gets me every time. The warmth and cool freshness is an interesting mix. To combine the ultimate in freshness, sea water, with the warmth of vanilla, is what truly sets this fragrance apart from all other lily fragrances.
Casablanca_Lily imagesofdannadsignPhoto Stolen imagesofdannadsign
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SurrenderToChance starts at $6/ml
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I hope you enjoy Lys Mediterranee by Frederic Malle as much as I do, or know someone in your life who will.
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 🙂
EmmaKate

Muguet des Bois EdC by Henri Robert for Coty 1941

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Hello Gorgeouses!

Sometimes I like to go totally opposite from the high end of the fragrance register because I just want to smell good, not challenged or have to work hard to understand what I’m up to in the life cycle or even worry about the respritz value. Sometimes I want simple, pretty, cheap, cheerful and ultimately wearable fragrance. Lily of the valley is not a flower I am knowledgeable about in smell or growth. I do remember one year Mum and I bought and planted some pots of what was sold as lily of the valley but they did not live long enough to flower and that soured me on the whole plant so I have often overlooked it in fragrances.

Muguet des Bois EdC by Coty 1941

MuguetDesBois FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Aldehydes, orange, green leaves, bergamot
Heart: Cyclamen, lilac, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose
Base: Sandalwood, musk

A bright green citrus opening  sings out sweetly and quite syrup-ish. The bouquet is pretty and light, perfect during winter for reminiscence of spring and as a coolant in the hot summer months, the flowers remain green throughout the life of Muguet Des Bois. I currently have a vase full of Asiatic lilies, not Casablanca, and the scent is so like Muguet Des Bois that it’s uncanny. They are beautiful big pink and white flowers, huge! This is what they smell like too. Even as it fades towards dry down at the 3 hour mark the sandalwood is only a slight buttery warmth, leaving only the softest whisper of a skin scent that’s completely lost to me for another hour or so maximum.

AsiaticLily25.73895Photo Stolen sito

Compared to Vintage Diorissimo Parfum (which is all I have) it is more sugared and way less stark, it also feels more transparent and gauzy, and let’s be perfectly honest cheaper. Looking at their respective price points though Muguet Des Bois is WAY better value because you can only tell how much cheaper side by side.

I think that Muguet Des Bois would be a wonderful work scent, as long as they aren’t fragrance phobic or too cramped quarters. It is also a lovely shopping, dining, dating fragrance, so fresh and light while being fragrant but not “clean”. Know what I mean?

LilyOfTheValley ausgradenerPhoto Stolen ausgardener

The most expensive I found 50ml on the discounters was $14, what a sensational bargain. Thank you Coty.

Further reading NowSmellThis and YesterdaysPerfume
Parfum1 has 50ml for $8

Have you smelt Mugeut Des Bois? Do you have a fave Lily Of The Valley scent?

Till tomorrow remember dreams only need persistent action to make them happen,

Portia xx

Scented Niche Christmas Gifts to Impress

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 32 Comments

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Gabriella

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Ten Niche Scented Gifts for Christmas

Hello APJ friends! Hope you are all well and looking forward to the festive season.
When Portia suggested I compile a list of niche perfume Christmas picks, I was filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Excited because I could get really creative and think outside the square and scared because, well, let’s face it, buying perfume for loved ones, let alone niche, is fraught with difficulties.
So, I have taken a deep breath and hopefully risen to the challenge. For ease, I’ve chosen more approachable scents and assumed price is no object. Enjoy!
1.   Dad: Bigarade Concentree by Frederic Malle
Bigarade concentree Frederic Malle for women and men
Jean Claude Ellena’s modern take on eau de cologne, Bigarade Concentree starts with piquant, zesty blood orange and aromatic cardamom notes before settling into soft orange and hay. This is as refreshing as a dip in an ice cold pool, but still a refined classic scent.
Notes: bitter orange, rose, cedar, grass and hay
2.   Mum: Antonia by Puredistance
Antonia Puredistance for women
Possibly the most beautiful and sublime release of 2012, Antonia is an intricately weaved green floral with galbanum, ivy and jasmine. The Antonia woman is intelligent, graceful, self assured and wise – the best qualities of Mums everywhere,
Notes: jasmine, rose essence, ylang ylang, orris, ivy greens, galbanum, vanilla and vetiver.
3.   Brother: Sunday Cologne by Byredo
Sunday Cologne Byredo for women and men
A slightly balmy and spicy scent, Sunday Cologne combines the freshness of bergamot with star anise, incense and lavender. Clean, cool and utterly debonair, this can be worn equally with a sharp suit or t-shirt and jeans.
Notes: cardamom, bergamot, star anise, lavender, geranium, incense, vetiver, patchouli and oakmoss.
4.   Sister: Nuit de Cellophane by Serge Lutens
Nuit de Cellophane Serge Lutens for women
A refined take on the standard fruity floral, Nuit de Cellophane combines osmanthus and jasmine to create a gorgeously translucent scent. Nuit de Cellophane is demure and pretty with just a hint of coquettishness.
Notes: mandarin, osmanthus, jasmine
5.   Significant other (Male): Amyris Pour Homme by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Amyris Homme Maison Francis Kurkdjian for men
Sex in a bottle. A blend of aromatic rosemary and mandarin tempered by cool iris and warm woody notes, Amyris is the tall, dark handsome stranger at a swanky bar who buys you an ice-cold martini before saying sotto voce: ’Come hither’.
Notes: rosemary, mandarin orange, amyris, coconut, coffee, iris, milk chocolate, tonka bean and agarwood.
6.   Significant other (Female): Flor Y Canto by Arquiste
Flor y Canto Arquiste for women
A bewitching white floral, Flor Y Canto tempers the heady notes of tuberose and frangipani with bright marigold. Sunny and carefree, but still devastatingly sexy, this is for a confident woman who doesn’t take herself too seriously.
Notes: Mexican tuberose, magnolia, frangipani and marigold
7.   For the budding perfumista friend: Frederic Malle’s Coffrets
frederic-malle_coffrets
In my opinion, Frederic Malle offers the best variety of all niche brands. These coffrets offer small vials of the brand’s scents: men’s, women’s or a 2012 selection. Your friend is sure to find new love, whether it’s the mint barbershop vibe of Geranium Pour Monsieur or the brooding oriental of Portrait of a Lady.
8.   For the friend that hates perfume:  Aqua Universalis Perfumed Candle by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Aqua Universalis Perfumed Candle
An impressive, weighty candle without an oppressive scent, Aqua Universalis is a fresh and delicate blend of green notes, orange blossom and jasmine.
Notes: bergamot, sicilian lemon, lily of the valley, sweet mock orange, light and musky woods
9.   For kids: Les Bulles d’Agathe by Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Les Bulles d'Agathe Scented Bubbles 3
These blowing bubbles are lightly scented with pear, violet, mint or cut herbs – fun for the little ones or just for the kid in all of us.
10.  Top niche Christmas pick: La Myrrhe by Serge Lutens
La Myrrhe Serge Lutens for women
In one of those coveted bell jars, Serge Lutens and his partner in crime Christopher Sheldrake have created a luminous rendition of myrrh – the essential oil and resin carried by the Three Wise Men. Warm aldehydes suggest the twinkle of Christmas lights on powdered snow while gentle spices and almond evoke the last bite of Christmas pud washed down with a glass of warm Amaretto.
Notes: mandarin, myrrh, lotus, bitter almond, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, amber, musk, various spices and pimento
Pictures sourced from Fragrantica, Basenotes, Polyvore and Wantist.
 
Where to Buy:
Arquiste: arquiste.com and Barney’s
Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Serge Lutens: Les Senteurs, Luckyscent and Mecca Cosmetica
Puredistance: Luckyscent
Serge Lutens bell jars: sergelutens.com and Barney’s
 
Hope you’ve enjoyed my picks. What are your top niche Christmas choices?
Love,
M x

HOPE FOR HOPE – FRIDAY DECEMBER 7TH – One Seed Perfumes

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 5 Comments

Hi Everyone,

Today AustralianPerfumeJunkies is dropping in early because we think this is a very important, wonderful and amazing offer from one of Australia’s fabulous Niche Perfumers Liz Cook at One Seed. I have stolen the ad copy exactly from the email but down the bottom there is a quick review of the fragrance HOPE

one seed banner vials

HOPE FOR HOPE – FRIDAY DECEMBER 7TH

On Friday December 7th, we are launching our first annual “Hope for Hope Day”, where ALL profits from sales of Hope perfumes and body creams will be donated to one of our favourite charities, Australia Hope International.

Hope for Hope is for one day only, so if you have your eye on a bottle of our Hope perfume, or you are looking for a beautiful gift (and one that gives twice!), then shop at http://www.oneseedcompany.com on Friday December 7th to make your purchase really count.

HOPE image

Australia Hope International works with the destitute people of Uganda & The Congo to bring hope and empowerment, and to change lives. Over 97% of funds donated go directly to the people in need. Australia Hope International is making a huge difference in the lives of tens of thousands of people in Africa. We are proud to be sponsors of this wonderful organisation.

Hope – Eau de Parfum

Hope eau de parfum

From the One Seed Website
Fragrance Family: Soft, mossy & magnetic.
A meditative blend of Australian sandalwood & dewy oakmoss, with a delicate undertone of lavender & cedarwood, and sunny citrus accents.
Top notes: bergamot, lime
Heart notes: cedarwood, lavender, vanilla
Base notes: Australian sandalwood, oakmoss, musk ambrette

Hope is a beautiful, rippling and sizzling citrus that leads into a walk through the woods on a sunlit spring or autumn day where the shade is cool but the sun is warm. A delightfully dappled experience weaving between light and shade that is remarkably tenacious for a natural. The vanilla plays background but keeps a warmth running through the heart that remains slightly fizzy from the lime. A study in contrasts, Hope is interesting enough for a perfumista, pretty and wearable enough for a novice and world class quality. Better by far than many of the mundane offerings currently offered.

Further reading APJ Hope
Here is the link to HOPE on the OneSeedWebsite 50ml/$87

This is an awesome Christmas Gift and at the same time you will be helping the world and some of its less fortunate. Isn’t that what Christmas should be about?
Portia xx

Bombay Bling by Bertrand Duchaufour for Neela Vermeire Creations 2011

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 31 Comments

Hello You Lovely Perfumistas,

Today we are looking at the last of the Neela Vermeire Creations for me to fall madly in love with. I have been wearing Mohur for months now. That glorious hit of sweet and spicy rose is hard to beat. Loved Trayee on first sniff and quickly went through my sample and then 10ml in the Discovery Set and never really got to Bombay Bling.

Bombay Bling by Neela Vermeire Creations 2011

BombayBling FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives the featured accords:
Top: French labdanum, caraway, mango, litchi, blackcurrant, cardamom
Heart: Jasmine, rose, tuberose, yang-ylang, gardenia, frangipani
Base: Virginia cedar, sandalwood, leather, patchouli, woodsy notes, vanilla

As you may know I am so not a fruity patchouli fragrance wearer, those sweet plastic mass produced headache inducers are just not how I wish to smell. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s what I thought Bombay Bling was going to be, and in some ways it is but so much better, more interesting, wearable and exciting. This is the Empress of Fruit-chouli, the benchmark that all others must set themselves against and unfortunately most are found wanting. This is what other Fruit-choulis dream of becoming when they grow up.

MumbaiBling mumbai.olx.inPhoto Stolen mumbai.olx

Bombay Bling opens loud and sweet and fun, though it does invoke the sweltering streets and stalls of summertime Mumbai it could equally be a South American or Pacific Island marketplace. Freshly cut fruits including the majestic mango, are spliced with spice and a creamy warmth, like a masala fruit salad and cream. This rich and intoxicating fruity swirl lasts for ages, nearly an hour and makes me want to go out dancing, flirting and cha cha cha-ing. The bouquet opens up slowly, streaming through the fruit over a long period, unnoticed till near complete take over has occurred and it’s a hot, white and green sensation still with an undercurrent of sweet fruits that slowly becomes sweet woodsy patchouli till the only thing left is a whisper of vanilla and butter that stays for hours and hours and hours. TSO Jin early on claimed Bombay Bling for his own and on him it is glorious and super long lasting, I can smell it next morning and into the day.

Want some Bombay Bling? Order from the e-boutique in www.neelavermeire.com

Darling Portia
What do you think? If they mention “Portia” they get free shipping until 10 Dec. 2012. 
Is that good?
We plan not to ship between 10 Dec and 10 Jan.
Thank you again. NV Xoxoxoxo

MumbaiSari SareeTimesPhoto Stolen sareetimes

Neela Vermeire Perfume Posse Giveaway

Neela Vermeire has kindly given me some wonderful things to be given away on the Perfume Posse this week. So you have THREE chances to win!!

What’s In The Packs:

There are three 2ml vial sets of Bombay Bling, Mohur & Trayee. Each winner will get one set.

How Do You Enter?

Your answer must be entered in the comments on the Perfume Posse where the Neela Vermeire Creations LIVE Video Sniff is happening right now.

You must follow AustralianPerfumeJunkies via RSS, Email, WordPress, please tell me RSS/eM/WP in your comment. Yes, you can join and follow to be eligible. EASY!

You must also tell me any Indian (Subcontinent not Amer-Indian) State/Union Territory or State Capital City. NO DOUBLE UPS!! There are 35 States/Union Territories  and their Capitals before we need to repeat anything. Once the comment number reaches 140, that’s your comments and my replies, then we can start doubling up. Got It? EASY PEASY!! Here’s a list to help you

Housekeeping

Entries Close Saturday December 8th 10pm AEDST and winners will be announced in a separate post on Perfume Posse on Sunday. Winners will be chosen by putting names on same sized papers, folded similarly, put on a tray and TSO Jin will pick them. He doesn’t even stop watching TV to do it usually.
Winners will have till Wednesday December 12th to get in touch (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with their address or I will give the prize to someone else.
No responsibility taken for lost or damaged goods in transit.

Don’t want to wait? Need your Neela Vermeire Creations fix right nnow? Here you can buy her Try India sets and the Discovery sets

GO TO IT!! The Perfume Posse
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Jai Ho

Fleur No1 by Jessica Buchanan for 1000 Flowers 2011

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 26 Comments

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Guest Post by Dionne

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Fleur No1 by 1000 Flowers

Hey you great-smelling crowd, you!

It’s an honor to be here at Australian Perfume Junkies, and many thanks for Portia for inviting me to write a post. I’m the odd duck of Portia’s guest bloggers, as this is coming to you from the Great White North, aka the Canadian Rockies, where it’s white and hoarfrost-y and brisk as all get-out right now. However, my lovely mother-in-law was Australian, so I’m sorta-related through marriage and hoping y’all will grant me pretend-Aussie status. (It’s on my bucket list to visit someday.)

My initial plans for a first review got thrown out the window upon the arrival of an anticipated sample about two weeks ago.  At the end of October I’d bought myself a larger bottle of Réglisse Noir, a stunning licorice floral that is one of the most unique and elegant perfumes in my collection, and figured I‘d throw a sample of Fleur No 1 into the cart for curiosity’s sake. Both perfumes are from the line 1000 Flowers, a Canadian indie brand created by perfumer Jessica Buchanan. The artisanal perfume scene is not as big in Canada as it is in Australia but we’ve got some neat lines, and in my opinion Jessica is a nose worth watching.

I don’t typically sample green frags anymore, as I did a massive exploration of the note about a year and a half ago at the request of my other half, The Engineer, who is a sucker for the smell of freshly-cut grass. After several months and lots of vials, I found my top three (Silences, Bel Respiro and Heure Exquise, if you’re wondering) and figured I was done. Boy was I wrong. Fleur No 1 is different from anything I’ve tried before, and changed my top three greens to a top four. This is a big deal for me, because I like things all neat and tidy, and “trio of greens” sounds so very prime number-ish and aesthetically pleasing, but what could I do? Fleur just wouldn’t take no for an answer.

FleurNo1 FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Green notes, galbanum, narcissus, hyacinth, iris, magnolia and violet

So, how does this beauty smell? There’s an initial hit of galbanum similar to the beginning of Silences, but it’s a bit softer in Fleur No 1. After about ten minutes the spring flowers join in, mainly narcissus and hyacinth, with just a hint of earthiness. Envision a child clutching a freshly picked bouquet of flowers snatched out of the bulb garden that she really wasn’t supposed to pick complete with lots of leaves and the root ball still attached and she’s trailing clumps of dirt into the house and aren’t they pretty and I picked these for you because I love you mummy…………. yeah, that’s pretty much it. (I sound like I’m speaking from experience, don’t I?)

Fleur No1 by 1000 Flowers Holding Hands mcconnmama PixabayPhoto Stolen Pixabay

Further reading CaFleurBon

1000Flowers eBoutique sells Fleur No 1 15ml @ $33.75. They also have a great Sample Program
IndieScents also stock 1000 Flowers

In my experience there are pretty perfumes, and there are interesting perfumes, but not a lot of pretty perfumes that are also interesting. Fleur No 1 walks that tightrope and does it beautifully. And I’m happy to report that due to some shameless begging on my part, Sons #2 and #3 are putting this under the tree for me for Christmas. Wheeee!

Till next month,
Dionne x