Tea For Two by Olivia Giacobetti for L’Artisan Parfumeur 2000

October 16, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 24 Comments

Hiya Stink Monkeys!!

,I have been reading about Tea For Two on blogs, trying it irregularly and when it was discontinued there was wailing, tearing of hair and gnashing of teeth by perfumistas all over this lovely globe. I have tried it a few times, a spritz here or a dab there, and never been enamoured by it. Not that I didn’t like it, I did. There just seemed to be so many other fragrances that I was more charmed or captivated by. Perfumes that I NEEDED to own a bottle or large decant of and thought that life without would be unbearable, you know, general frag hag drill. So when the lovely Undina, from Undina’sLookingGlass, sent a generous sample with some other stuff recently T42 got shunted aside in preference for things more top of mind, till yesterday and now today.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives the featured accords as:
Top: Bergamot, star anise, tea
Heart: Cinnamon, ginger, spices, gingerbread
Base: Honey, vanilla, leather, tobacco

I love the fresh yet warm opening where the bergamot shimmers over the anise which is warm and breathy and surprisingly sweet, like the gingerbread is already there warm from the oven, and the honey and vanilla seem to be floating around nearby also. This fragrance is what I think of when I think of a gourmand, my mouth has been watering since I sprayed earlier in the day and I want cookies and cakes so bad. Not to mention a hot steaming cup of tea. Back in a moment….

Photo Stolen dorisday.net

Don’t get me wrong, though this is sweet the tea holds everything in check so it doesn’t become annoying or sickly. Olivia Giacobetti has walked a very fine line and I know the notes don’t say it but I have something very white flowers going on too, maybe orange blossom (just read in BoisDeJasmin that it is! Fist Punch! Woo Hoo!), that buttery warm human scent plays background for the first couple of hours when Tea For Two is strongest on my skin. The smoky tar laden tea so spicy and strong is just given the lightest touch of cream and then the leather comes rolling in, across and through softly but decisively to give heft and depth to the lovely cuddly sweet vanilla and tobacco. Then somewhere between 4-6 hours, depending on the day etc, my skin eats all remnants of having worn fragrance at all.

Photo Stolen huntington.org

Not a sillage monster but you are definitely fragrant and do leave a lovely bright trail behind you that lasts a touch more that a moment, just enough time to tantalise, though this is more a warm comfort scent than a come hither and get you summa this. Perfectly acceptable to wear anywhere except frag phobic offices, even when spritzed with abandon.

BoiseDeJasmin for further reading and PerfumeSmellingThings does a hilarious husband and wife take, must read!
eGlobalBeauty has 100ml delivered $135
SurrenderToChance starts at 1ml/$4

So thank you Undina from Undina’sLookingGlass for another MUST OWN fragrance, you are an enchantress and and enabler and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making me go back and retry Tea For Two.

What are you wafting? Is there tea in it? Do you have a favourite Tea-centric fragrance? Share with us in the comments please.

Till tomorrow we wish you the good stuff you wish for yourselves and a moment of magic,
Love,
Portia xx

Youth Dew Amber Nude by Christophe Ludamiel for Estée Lauder 2005

October 15, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 34 Comments

Guest Post by Tim

Estée Lauder

Youth Dew Amber Nude

Hello Australian Perfume Junkies,

Back in my days as a Beauty Advisor and Resident Makeup Artist at Estée Lauder, Myer Sydney City there was an extensive line of fragrances on the counter. I wanted to know them personally, to wear and experience the releases Estée Lauder gave the world. Decade after decade, a historical time line of fragrances show casing perfumery styles. It was the trend setters vs the best sellers. The name sake Estée and a whole Private Collection. 6 Men’s fragrances and a swag of flankers. It was my job to wear, recommend and sell fragrances to the customers of Estée Lauder.

Photo Stolen imagesdeparfums

I was completely spoiled for choice! I started with the ground breaking and historic vintage classic Youth Dew, which was originally conceived as a bath oil in 1953, then quickly fell in love with the 1969 animalic leather stunner Azuree. I admired the ultra feminine aldehydic florals Alliage and Beautiful and to be totally honest I only fell in lust with naughties starlet Pleasures. You should have seen the number of Pleasures flanker Christmas gifts packs I had to count one afternoon in the store room of late October 2010. ‘Ridiculous’

In 2005 Tom Ford lent his talents to recreating the first fragrance that pushed Lauder into the stratosphere she orbits today. Sending in a man to reinvent a woman’s work, how would he pay homage to Youth Dew. Could he produce a perfume variation even Estée herself would be proud of? It sounded risky and bold, but on the other hand a genius idea to give the old girl a dressing up by Ford, adding modern nuances and flavour while honoring its heritage.

Photo Stolen parfumes4u

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Magnolia, ginger, cinnamon, tea, grapefruit
Heart: Carnation, jasmine, ylang-ylang, black rose
Base: Sandalwood, amber, patchouli, vetiver.

Opening
From the very onset it is clear Amber Nude has Youth Dew graciously riding shotgun! Like a conscious voice in your mind it still has that famous recognisable balsamic undertone. Youth Dew Amber Nude is amped up with a boozy and brash opening. A giant rum soaked sucker punch that is entirely intoxicating, causing me to inhale as much of the bright citrus top notes as possible. Its a muddled cocktail that is just too divine to sip. Waxy lemon tinged magnolia, tangy sweet grapefruit and cinnamon spice create a superb introduction that marries old with new! Tea is also included but I think the pot has been spiked! hmm?

Heart
Its not until you live through the opening and get settled that you realise Amber Nude is in fact from a totally different gene pool to the Youth Dew mile trailing sillage monster. Clove-ish Red Carnation and narcotic Jasmine replace orchid, lilly of the valley and cassia (earthy, spicy, aromatic cinnamon). To my nose the tweaking of Youth Dew Amber Nude has added beautiful softness that was absent in the original, giving it modern refinement. Where there once was hefty tumbler of pure malt whisky now sits black rose and rich banana toned ylang ylang that harmonise with the floral bouquet. Compliments guaranteed!

Dry Down
Amber Nude’s dries down to base notes sandalwood, patchouli and vetiver and ‘the concentration has been halved’ (quote) according to Ford. Genius if you ask me. I felt Youth Dew was sometimes too much of a good thing. Absolutely a iconic fragrance I wanted to wear out of love, respect and honour but it just demanded too much attention. And then there’s that classic association, I won’t even breath it. Here is a fact Perfume Junkies! Youth Dew’s reputation spans almost 60 years. Its clear we have another Queen celebrating a Diamond Jubilee. Tom Ford lastly adds a dark chocolate accord that recalls bitter dark squares of 80% cocoa. A noticeable skin scent that lingers on the skin up to 10 hours after the first spritz.

Photo stolen Elle

Did I mention Youth Dew Amber Nude is sexy as hell. I have decided the Amber Nude experience is the best of Youth Dew with a Tom Ford frock and accessories to match. Vintage Retro is now runway ready.

Further reading Bois de Jasmin and Perfume Smellin’ Things
Fragrance Shop has 50ml @ $62
The Posh Peasant starts Youth Dew Amber Nude at $3/ml

Fragrant Regards,
Tim

Bridal Fragrances and Pronovias 2013 Bridalwear Show

October 14, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 23 Comments

Hi Frag Hags,

It seems to be one of the eternal questions. What fragrance do I wear on my wedding day? There are blogs devoted to it, posts are often citing it, Perfume Posse is doing something MI5-ish about it, Alyssa Harad wrote a book “Coming To My Senses” which ended up being about it. It is still illegal in Australia for gays to marry and doesn’t look like changing soon. Never the less I am often asked what a bride should wear scent wise and I am kind of stumped.

Old school says tuberose, orange blossom and lily are enticing and sexually alluring. Some say wear a special fragrance that will always be in your memory of the day. Others question why you would wear something different to what you’d wear every day, don’t you want your partner to recognise you? There is a different camp that says keep it minimal because you don’t want to offend anyone or skunk the congregation.

What would I wear? I have absolutely no idea. Let me think…… I would want to layer my scent with bath products, moisturiser and fragrance matching or at least complimenting, so I get extra long frag life and only need minimal respritzes.

Trouble by Boucheron I have the set and adore the fragrance. Trouble would probably win because I always feel like me but better when I wear it but with no expectations or need to work extra hard. This is one of my all time go to frags.

Shalimar by Guerlain I have a 1980’s Shalimar soap and a soft vanilla & honey moisturiser that I wear under it when I need extra long frag life. This would be like having my Mum and her buddies at the wedding, it was their fragrance and now is mine. So good, often for no reason at all except I want to smell gorgeous.

Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations I layer over Korres Japanese Rose products, they are excellent companions. Mohur would help me to feel like a complete Princess, it always does.

Halle by Halle Berry has an incredible moisturiser too, it goes on and sinks in like a soft silicone glove and smells terrific. I love that this product costs almost nothing and can sit on my skin like one of the big pricey frags. It has depth, character and a wonderful scent story for peanuts. Legend has it that Halle worked with the perfumers for over a year before she was satisfied, it feels like the truth.

Boudoir by Vivienne Westwood I have a set and the moisturiser is glorious, I need to get some more. This may be a little in your face skank for a wedding but it would be memorable.

There you go, my current top 5 Wedding Fragrances. Have you thought about it for yourself? What did you wear for your wedding? What do you wish you’d worn? Do you have a Top 5 Wedding List? I would love to read your thoughts, lists, wishes. please leave them in the comments below because this should be a conversation.

Below is an incredible 6 minute best of Pronovias Bridal Show with some of modeling’s biggest shining stars wearing the most sumptuous and elegant wedding gowns, and some freaky shockers too. Enjoy!

Till tomorrow, take care of yourselves and those around you.
Portia xx

All Gown Photos Stolen Pronovias

Pronovias 2013 Bridalwear Show (Stolen from Fashion&StyleGuru)

Louis Vuitton City Guide TOKYO and 50K Giveaway Winner Announced

October 13, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 15 Comments

Hey Hey All,

We had a super draw this week, there was an excellent response and I’d like to thank you all for entering.

$50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER

How could you WIN?
You had to tell us the names of the 3 Frederic Malle fragrances that EmmaKate & I chat about in the LIVE Video sniff. EASY PEASY!!
If we got 50 separate enterers in the comments I was also doing a second draw for

50ml of a fabulous grab bag of fragrances from my collection

but we didn’t get 50 so no extra draw

and the

of the

$50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER

Anatu13

You have till Wednesday October 17 9pm Australian EDST to get in touch with postage details or I will give the prize to someone else.
we at APJ wish you all only the best of everything till we see you tomorrow.
Loads of love,
Portia xx

For all of you who didn’t enter or missed out here is the Louis Vuitton City Guide for TOKYO.

Ambre Nuit by Francois Demachy for DIOR 2009 and new Raf Simmons Interview

October 12, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Hiya Frag Hags,

Don’t forget to go enter our APJ 50k Draw. DO IT NOW!!!

I found this wonderful interview with the new DIOR designer Raf Simmons, he talks very well about some of the places he sees DIOR venturing and how he has brought Christian Dior’s vision to the catwalk in 21st century styling. He also engages me when he smiles about how short his lead in time was, extraordinary that the work is as good as it is. I will be very interested to see how he takes the reins and how he manages to reinvent DIOR’s couture after the ghastly bigoted debacle that was. As this is a fragrance blog I needed a tie in so I went looking through the DIOR Couturier Collection (now known as the Dior La Collection Privée) samples I bought from SurrenderToChance to find a scent that I hadn’t yet reviewed that I felt fitted with the Spring/Summer 2013 DIOR Pret-A-Porter.

Ambre Nuit by DIOR 2009

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Grapefruit, bergamot, Turkish rose, pink pepper, amber (spices, Turkish rose, ambergris, gaiac wood, cedar wood and patchouli: extras from Olfactoria’sTravels)

Ambre Nuit opens on my skin with a burning amber and sharp, sweet, peppered citrus. It’s all spicy confusion for a moment and then quickly as it started the madness calms and lightest woods come through with a salty, oily, wet ambergris and everything goes soft focus for a while. I am fragrant but my nose picks out nothing more than that, TSO Jin says it is still very fragrant and that he can smell me still from the other end of the couch, but Ambre Nuit is quite lost to me unless I move around and it huffs from my top and then I am surprised by its delightful intensity.

It’s nearly an hour before I smell the rose but when it comes through the whole fragrance changes and goes almost tea-ish, definitely a spicy, gourmand, tea rose. A full bodied stunner of a rose fragrance, though not loud at all, Ambre Nuit is a whisper fragrance that has good sillage but its scent bubble is slight, noticeable if you are looking for it but otherwise ambient. a perfect work scent for him or her. Almost a clean scent but with none of the laundry style clean connotations. Clean skin, freshly washed and presented for edification. Ambre Nuit smells to me like you are wearing an incredibly lavish and luxe body lotion, that’s how quiet and clean it feels. Not even the most fragrance phobic work spaces could complain of this subtle and delicious beauty.

For something so soft it is surprisingly tenacious and Jin can smell it next morning on me still, though I am completely anosmic to it.

Photo Stolen plus.google

For further reading OlfactoriasTravels and CandyPerfumeBoy both have fallen for Ambre Nuit’s charms, albeit in different ways.
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/ml
Bottles are available at VERY select Department Stores and DIOR boutiques

This is a perfect mid season fragrance to me, are there a couple you like to grab when it’s neither hot nor cold? The in betweenies that you pull out in anticipation of the extreme seasons but could not wear during the super hot or cold? Please share them in the comments. we love the conversation.

Also PerfumePosse Guest Post this week is about the new CHANEL No 5 marketing magic with a mini movie that tells a rose coloured version of the CHANEL No 5 story, take it with a grain of salt but it is GORGEOUS!!

Whatever you have to do today, make sure there is a window left for you. It can only take 5 minutes of “you” time to get through another 24 hours, clear your head, revitalise you.
Till tomorrow,wishing you a day with at least a moment of happiness, hopefully more.
Portia xx

Interview Raf Simons – After DIOR Spring/Summer 2013 Ready-To-Wear Show

Frederic Malle LIVE Video Sniff #2 and 50,000 I.V.s GIVEAWAY

October 11, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 69 Comments

Hello AustralianPerfumeJunkies Family.

I think it’s time for a celebration. 50,000 individual page views is an awesome milestone. It took 2 weeks longer than I’d hoped but I was unaware that during August frag blog reading drops. Who knew? Not me. WOW WOW WOW!!

Photo Stolen hunchar

50,000 I.V.s GIVEAWAY

It’s hard to think of something fabulous enough to give away for such an amazing number so I think I have it figured out. Sometimes it’s better to pick your own presents and I then thought maybe something fragrance oriented so the draw today is for a…

$50 Surrender To Chance GIFT VOUCHER

How do you WIN?
You must be a follower of the blog via email, RSS or WP reader (please specify which you are in your comment). Yes, you may become a follower to be included in the draw.
Please tell us the names of the 3 Frederic Malle fragrances that EmmaKate & I chat about in the below video. EASY PEASY!!

If we get 50 separate enterers in the comments I will also do a second draw for

50ml of a fabulous grab bag of fragrances from my collection

(including some Vintage, Niche, Mainstream, Designer, Celebrity, New and Old favourites)

You’ll get an extra shot if you join our Twitter, Tweet or FB below sentences
TWITTER: @OzPerfumeJunkie https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/10/11/frederic-malle-live-video-sniff-2-and-50000-i-v-s-giveaway/ 50,000 IV Giveaway
FACEBOOK: Portia Turbo-Gear https://australianperfumejunkies.com/2012/10/11/frederic-malle-live-video-sniff-2-and-50000-i-v-s-giveaway/ 50,000 IV Giveaway

All entries must be in by Saturday October 13 2012 9pm Australian EDST (Eastern Daylight Savings Time). Correct entries will be written on papers and picked from a hat by Jin. Winners will then have till Wednesday October 17 9pm Australian EDST to get in touch with postage details or I will give the prize to someone else

So go to it gang, I wish you all the best of luck and thanks for being part of getting us to 50,000 IVs.
Till tomorrow,
Portia xx

Frederic Malle LIVE Video Sniff #2 with EmmaKate & Portia

Geranium Pour Monsieur by Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle 2009

October 10, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 27 Comments

Hey Hey Gang,

I have been humming and hahing over Geranium Pour Monsieur but there was never a sample. I want to wear a fragrance that costs this much a few times before I go FB. See if I reach for it a few times over a short space of time or if it sits there like a wallflower, overlooked and unloved. Guess what? The lovely Danika at Mecca under Grace Bros in Pitt St finally got me a sample! YAY!! I have worn it now 3 days consecutively for some of the day and now we are at day 4 I feel ready to tell you how I feel about Geranium Pour Monsieur by Dominique Ropion for Frederic Malle.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Geranium, rhodinol (fresh, fragrant ingredient extracted from Chinese geranium), anise, mint
Heart: Cloves, cinnamon
Base: Sandalwood, white musk, Siamese styrax benzoin (lat. Styrax Tonkiniensis)

WHOOOSH! Geranium Pour Monsieur takes no prisoners as it opens all dental visit, hospital, chewing gum and booze. Am I wearing a Mojito? An almost violent minty opening that is surprising, refreshing and nostalgic all at the same time. Every time I spritz there is a frisson of excitement through me because I know I’m about to go WHOA!! It takes a while for this mentholated sizzle to calm down enough that the herbal greens can come out from hiding, this is like my first jump in the swimming pool in Spring. At first my body is outraged, my skin tries to shrink away from the surprise and then very soon my temperature has normalised and I am swimming laps again, feeling comfortable. That is the feeling I get as Geranium Pour Monsieur opens up to my bodies warmth.

Photo Stolen caittsnails

Though the cinnamon, sandalwood and benzoin now take their places, and we are over an hour into the fragrance life, there is still a lovely sweet minty freshness. It is undercut by the buttery, vanillic woods giving a complex duet between the warmth and coolness that is on the verge of disharmony Geranium Pour Monsieur never makes that mis-step but it does keep you on your toes. Sometimes I get a slightly citrus burst over and through the rest at around the 2-4 hour mark and wonder if the cloves are responsible? Who knows? As it moves towards dry down there is only a loss of intensity, Geranium Pour Monseiur stays remarkably linear after the first 3 hours and though it warms a little more and becomes deeper and richer it is the same beautiful fragrance for up to 7 hours, less depending on the day and my running around etc

Photo Stolen ngb.org

This is a flamboyantly masculine fragrance that I think the ladies can rock equally well. Part old school after shave and part modernistic rewiring Geranium Pour Monsieur is beautiful and interesting and will certainly be a full bottle on my shelves before too long, because it is exactly the long lasting breath of fresh air that I would like to flaunt throughout the next few months.

TheNonBlonde does a great first impressions review and NowSmellThis is a great read too.
MeccaCosmetica have 3 sizes: 3 x 10ml, 50ml & 100ml all available instore or online.
SurrenderToChance starts at $6/ml

Do you have a fave fragrance that crosses the gender lines, sold as one but works for all? I have a few. What art your favourites? Leave us a message in the comments, we love to chat.

I hope this finds you happy as it left me.
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

SOVA by Slumberhouse and 50 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Earlier!

October 9, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 21 Comments

Hi APJ Family,

It is glorious weather down here in Sydney town. Cool and sunny, possible chance of late rain but right now, GO JUS!! (gorgeous)

What am I wafting while writing to you today?

SOVA by Slumberhouse

SOVA by Slumberhouse, an acrid, burning cigarette, hot chocolate, booze, bark, sweet cakes, honey and resins. Imagine the smoky air of a speakeasy, live jazz, booze, drugs, sex and fun. I would love to smell this on one of my girlfriends, she would need a bodyguard.

SOVA was the first fragrance that Slumberhouse put out and really sets the scene for their total style and character, like a solid base that has been built around and curlicued. I have been told in no uncertain terms by TSO Jin that this is not to be worn to bed because it gives him dreams. I put it on last night and now it’s lunchtime and I am still fragrantly living this wonderful story. Sensational work.

I just finished reading an incredible in depth interview with Slumberhouse’s Josh on NotableScents if you need further reading it is highly recommended.

MemoryOfScent looks at some of the Slumberhouse range and APJ looked at Slumberhouse Pear + Olive recently. Pear + Olive was my gateway scent into this astounding new line.
Slumberhouse has 2ml samples $10 or 30ml/$100

Photo Stolen Slumberhouse

50 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Earlier!

Life isn’t always great. There are days that grind us down and leave us feeling less. So here are 50 cliches from the PositivelyPostiveBlog. It’s the first step back into the light for me, just reading good things, positive messages, reminders that the sun will shine and that rain makes sunny days feel better because flowers have been able to grow.

Photo Stolen nps.org

You’re stronger than you think you are.
Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal.
There is nothing to hold you back except you.
You can press forward long after you can’t. It’s a matter of wanting it bad enough.
No matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible.
You are limited only by your own imagination. Let it fly.
Perception is reality.
Your instincts can be trusted.
There is only one question to ask yourself: “What would you do if you were not afraid?”
It’s often hard to tell just how close you are to success.
The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
Never let success get to your head, and never let failure get to your heart.
You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Do what you love, not what you think you’re supposed to do.
Laughter is the best medicine for stress. Laugh at yourself often.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the great things you have that money can’t buy.
Forgiving yourself is far more important than getting others to forgive you.
If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Be nice to yourself.
For the most part, it doesn’t matter what people think. Follow your own truth.
No education is wasted. Drink in as many new experiences as you can.
Making one person smile can change the world.
Don’t forget to enjoy your journey!
You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.

Photo Stolen jeffreymasson

Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
Crying doesn’t indicate that you’re weak. It doesn’t always solve your problems either.
No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
You can learn great things from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.
Give up worrying about what others think of you.
When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.
You have to accept that some things will never be yours, and learn to appreciate the things that are only yours.
As Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.”
Don’t be afraid to move out of your comfort zone. Some of your best life experiences and opportunities will transpire only after you dare to lose.
Giving up doesn’t always mean you’re weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go.
You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work. But you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.
Don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future for too long. Right now is life. Live it.
No matter how cautiously you choose your words, someone will always twist them around and misinterpret what you say. Just say what you need to say.
Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of good luck.
If you are passionate about something, pursue it, no matter what anyone else thinks. That’s how dreams are achieved.
If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
What lies before us and behind us are tiny matters when compared to what lies within us.
Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.
It’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance.
If it were easy everyone would do it.
Be vulnerable.
A problem is a chance for you to learn.
Regardless of the situation, life goes on.

Photo Stolen theage.com.au

Wishing you only good till tomorrow,
Loads of love,
Portia xx

Samsara Parfum (Vintage) by Jean Paul Guerlain 1989

October 8, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Hey you Stink Monkeys!

Back in the early 1990’s I bought my Mum a small Guerlain Samsara EdT or EdP for a birthday and it was her fragrance of choice for a while, finished and then was not bought again. Recently I found a 2ml Vintage Samsara Parfum on eBay for a great price, in its box and I snapped it up immediately. I’m amazed how scent can take me back? It was such a particular time in my life, just starting my professional performing career, leaving behind fashion, winning awards, getting amazing gigs and falling truly, madly, deeply in love with completely the wrong guy and then trying to make it work for a few years before running away to the UK to regroup. So you can imagine how many varied memories this scent, worn so particularly for a snapshot of time when everything was so amazing, would bring back. Tonight I decided that taking the lid off and sniffing the contents was not going to be enough, it is skin time.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, lemon, ylang-ylang, peach and green notes
Heart: Jasmine, iris, narcissus, violet, rose
Base: Sandalwood, vanilla, Tonka bean, amber, musk

Samsara means “Wheel Of Life” in Sanskrit according to Jean-Paul Guerlain the perfumes main creator. I love how in the opening I get the peachy sweetness but not much green and the Ylang keeps the citrus under control warming its effervescent sparkle, the initial burst is slightly different than I remember and that could be the way the extrait performs or ages. Maybe ten minutes in and already the flowers are crowding the opening notes, slinkily wafting out and around to flow over the top of the initial accords pushing them into a support role as they fade slowly.

Photo Stolen FernandoLetaJunior

If you are expecting a HUGE perfume then you will be sadly disappointed: Samsara will waft fragrantly behind you but unless you go crazy with it you will walk ahead of your fragrance. The non indolic jasmine and creamy sandalwood create a gorgeously intense structure that all else hangs off and play a fill out role until over an an hour into the life of the fragrance when that lovely intoxicating Guerlainade comes bubbling through and makes the whole fragrance sweeter and warmer, and you realise it’s been there all along, there but unnoticed because of the pyrotechnics being offered elsewhere. Vintage Samsara Parfum’s life on my scent hungry skin is less than desirable turning skin scent in under 3 hours but staying around in that softest of states for another hour or so. The modern EdP is much longer lasting on me but doesn’t tell such an interesting tale.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

NowSmellThis reviews with the love story and history behind Samsara and BoisDeJasmin compares vintage and modern Samsara.
FragranceShop has Samsara EdT 100ml/$60 & EdP 100ml/$71 and also stocks Un Air Samsara 50ml/$28

Have you tried Samsara? What strength was it? Do you have a SAmsara story to share with us? We love to read from you in the comments below. Please join the discussion.
I hope you enjoyed wandering among my fragrant thoughts. Below is an original Samsarta ad, hopefully see you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Interlude Woman by Karine Vinchon for Amouage 2012

October 7, 2012 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 26 Comments

Hey Hey to you,

Interlude woman is a Karine Vinchonr perfume (Coeur de Vetiver Sacre & Jamantsi: L’Artisan’s first completely natural (with ecology certificate) frag, Memoir Man & Opus III for Amouage) and it looks like everything, including a bag of chips and the kitchen sink, have been squished into this gorgeous blue and gold chess queen of a bottle.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, grapefruit, ginger, tagete (marigold)
Heart: Rose, frankincense, jasmine, orange blossom, helichrysum (immortelle), opoponax, sandalwood, walnut, coffee, kiwi, honey
Base: Vanilla, benzoin, amber, sandalwood, oakmoss, leather, tonka, musk, agarwood

What do I smell? I have read quite a few reviews of Amouage’s Interlude Woman since its release to bloggers and then the market. I read in most of them that this fragrance will not be pinned down, is different every wear, has facets that change with your mood, the weather, your outfit. OMG!! It is true beyond my wildest imaginings. Interlude Woman is a chameleon, a shape shifter, a will-o-the-wisp. The first thing I smell is a mix of coffee (almost chocolate, mocha perhaps), ginger and honey. It smells like the taste of an extremely expensive block of chocolate with ginger and, after a short while, citrus zest. There is temple incense, some very fresh and some over ripe fruit, floral necklaces and offerings. There is humanity, domesticated animals, there is warm lived in pyjamas, the dusty smell of history and the modern smell of cake bakery.

Interlude Woman by Amouage contains worlds. Sometimes it feels like yesterday and melancholia. Another wear gives bright, shining youthful exuberance and fearlessness. It is saris, suits, slacks, suede, seraglio, sauna and sleep. There are prayers, heartbreak, wishes, love, yearning and even relief. It can smell 100, 21, 5000 or 1 year old. I cannot explain it better than my betters. I can merely drift on the dream that is Interlude Woman, being taken on an adventure.

The Reception by John Frederick Lewis Stolen from wikipedia

Not a loud fragrance, though it quietly insists that you notice it and has excellent sillage. The scent bubble is good and could overwhelm in a close or scentphobicworkplace. On the flip side I think it is definitely wearable for dates, shopping, coffee, drinks and parties. Give Interlude Woman an extra spritz and it’s good to party till the sunrise and then frolic till lunchtime. Staying power is better than most fragrances but not as never ending as some Amouage offerings. I can’t tell you exactly when the fragrance leaves my skin but it is over 5 hours on my least tenacious wear to 9+ hours and then maintains a skerik of skin scent.

TheAlembicatedGenie weaves a tale around the Interludes and CaFleurBon shows how a review should be done.
SurrenderToChance has Interlude Man & Woman starting at $4/ml

This is a must try fragrance for any perfumista, it is beautiful and wearable and accessible for even the newest noses. It’s fragrances like Interlude woman that keep me stuck firmly down the fragrance wormhole. I’m so grateful to be here.
Do you have a perfume that wears different every time? Maybe you have a favourite Amouage or you have tried the Interludes, how was your experience? Does it differ to mine or is it much the same? Join the conversation, we love to read from you.
Till tomorrow look after yourselves,
Portia xx