L’Occitane Immortelle: 28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Program

September 13, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Post by AF Beauty

L’Occitane Immortelle

28 Day Divine Renewal Skin Program

Opening the product was VERY EXCITING. I had no idea what was in the box, it being given to me by the lovely Portia to review. I cracked the cellophane and opened the box and saw the four panels of oil before me. Quite possibly the most extravagant packing I’ve ever seen for what amounts to 28ml of oil!

L’Occitane Immortelle First week: Gentle Exfoliation

My first point of note was the instruction booklet which detailed very specific instructions on how to apply the oil, down to a pre-application inhalation of the oil aromas. The first oil smells very green and plant-like, not unpleasant. The second, and most surprising revelation was that 1ml of oil is a HUGE amount. I did as instructed, dropped the oil into my hands, rubbed, inhaled and applied – and lo, I was an oil slick! The oil felt a little grainy and took a while to settle in. Having applied at night, it did sink in overnight, but I was still a bit oily in the morning. At this point I wasn’t using any other moisturiser on top of the oil. Towards the end of the week I realised I was starting to get tiny spots on my cheeks and forehead.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Two: Hydration and Nutrition

Immediately on this week I noticed the aroma was a lot sweeter than the previous week, much less plant-like and more flower. I really liked this week’s oil although, given the choice, I would probably only choose to apply half the amount. Because the pods are “single serve” there is no choice but to apply once open.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Three: Balance

At the start of this week, I’ve not noticed a huge difference in the oil from week two. The aroma is comparable, still sweet and light. The texture is slightly less fine than week two, but this is almost imperceptible. Nightly, I am still an oil slick but the spots have ceased.

L’Occitane Immortelle Week Four: Renewal

By week four I had started to apply a tiny amount of moisturiser on top of the oil in an attempt to encourage more absorption and to prevent the oily residue on the skin. At week four, I can’t tell the difference between the previous three weeks in both texture and aroma.
But with all this, how was my skin? That’s really the question! Well…. overall, not great. Towards week four I had started to dwindle in my commitment to the product. My skin texture had lost some smoothness and I was really missing my usual routine. I didn’t perceive the benefits each week proposed to offer. But in defence of this product, I used it in almost isolation, just after cleansing my face each night, unlike almost any other product in my arsenal. And in fairness, the reviews of the product on the L’Occitane website shows that people truly love it – I am completely open to accepting that not every product works in the same way for everyone.

I would love to see the best oil in this collection sold in a bottle by itself with a dropper and to be able to use that oil in amongst other products. (And now I check, I see they now do this at L’Occitane)

Will you try this set? Do you use other facial oils? Which ones and how do they suit you?
AF Beauty xx

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Jean-Claude Ellena for Hermès 2015

September 12, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 18 Comments

Post by Portia

It’s time to bid farewell to Jean-Claude Ellena at Hermès. I’m sad because he really came to embody so much of what I think Hermès is famous for: the interesting, not fashion, best of, made to last, made to use, made to love and for people who can still feel love. JCE being the nose at Hermès felt like their visions were aligned, sheer beauty could sum up Hermès or Jean Claude Ellena’s fragrances for Hermès. Here is Le Jardin de Monsieur Li: his last opus for the company, his last fantastical garden……

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Hermès 2015

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Jean-Claude Ellena

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Kumquat, jasmine, mint

The garden series are polarising, as much of Ellena’s work is. One of the interesting things about them is that we have been able to see into this particular artists creative journey with some of these scents through his own, and others, written words. Though we know little it’s more than we know of other perfumers and that for me makes JCE a bit of a mate, a friend or acquaintance that has let me a little behind their eyes into the workings of their brain. WE have been there when the unripe mango triggered a fragrance, through some of the depressing routes that led to failure and we also know something of his love of fragrance, his bringing home freaky scents the kids asked for, the love for his wife and his engaging personality that has made him a fragrance lovers household name.

So, how does Le Jardin de Monsieur Li smell? Bittersweet, ethereal, sweet and cool, sparkling yet curiously oily too. Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is about drinks in the shady garden in the afternoon as the sting of the days heat abruptly cuts off, the gardeners are watering or maybe there’s just been an afternoon storm so the air is clearer, less dusty and the fragrance has changed from dust to fecund wet earth and grass and you have a champagne fruit punch that is so delicious and the first one hardly even touches the sides of your thirst. Refreshing, lifting, light and elegant, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is a fond and fervent farewell.

Photo Stolen Hermès

The Le Jardin de Monsieur Li artwork looks like they have a new artist too. The modern/retro feel of the watercolour is so much more computer-generated looking than previous pictures and while I think it lovely there is a feeling that the Hermès crew is already moving on from the JCE years. Moving away from the lovely home made feel of the naughties and into a more hipster/art-without-creativity/big-business-boring feel for the future. It’s a shame if it’s true, one of the things I love about Hermès is their quaint and homey version of world domination. The free spirit has been caged and trained.

Further reading: Candy Perfume Boy and Perfume Shrine
Hermes stores and some larger department stores carry the Jardin range
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

What is your favourite Jean Claude Ellena fragrance for Hermès?
Portia xx

FR! 01 / N° 02 – La Dame Blanche by Julie Massé for Fragrance Republic 2013

September 11, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 24 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi Indie Perfume Lovers,

Our lovely Poodle did a super review of todays fragrance a while back and at the time I was intrigued. It now shows up in the ENORMOUS sample and trial baggie Natalie from APB gave to me, in a 15ml size.

FR! 01 / N° 02 by Fragrance Republic 2013

FR! 01 / N° 02 – La Dame Blanche by Julie Massé

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Rose absolute
Heart: Tuberose absolute
Base: Cocoa resin

This is day two of wearing and though Poodle pointed out in her review that this was the tuberose for people who hate BWFs and that it was very airy the absolute accuracy of those two pieces of information weren’t fully clear until I started wearing FR! 01 / N° 02. Tuberose has been shorn of all its lascivious and fatty excesses, all traces of grandeur and overbearing sonic scent projection has been pared back to an extraordinarily sparse and stark fragrance that still manages to create a beautiful aura around you and be daintily fragrant. Modern simplicity in fragrance at its best.

The rose is wet and cool, reminiscent of early spring dawn blooms still lightly frosted. When the FR! 01 / N° 02 tuberose arrives its sheer, misty veil is both prim and luscious. No, I don’t understand and can’t really explain but both words are equally valid. It is tuberose and yet its this new, softer, icier sister of tuberose. Like taking a drink from an icy stream in the mountains but still being aware that you are warm flesh and blood.

I can easily imagine FR! 01 / N° 02 becoming a perfect go-to daily scent. A spritz and go, comfortable, beautiful fresh wash of cool glamour. Excellent for the high powered, or aspirational, person to give an aura of calm competence and quiet fortitude.

FR! 01 / N° 02 is a little too pristine for my tastes, though I’m impressed by the artistry the fragrance itself is just not something I think I’ll use.

Further reading: Australian Perfume Junkies
Fragrance Republic has $35/15ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at #3.75/ml

If you’d like to have the bottle see below.

Portia xx

Photo Stolen kbaird

FR! 01 / N° 02 GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 15ml FR! 01 / N° 02 La Dame Blanche by Julie Massé for Fragrance Republic 2013
(there are about 3ml gone)
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 go to Fragrance Republic site and pick a fragrance + one of its notes NO DOUBLE UPS!!!

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie FR! 01 / N° 02 GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4cY #Perfume #Giveaway @FragranceRepub

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 13th September 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 17th September 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.

L’Homme Idéal Cologne by Guerlain: Film

September 11, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey Hey Crew,

You know how I love the fragrance ads. This one is fun and I can’t wait to sniff the juice.

Have any of you tried it yet? How is it?
Portia xx

L’Homme Idéal Cologne by Guerlain 2015

L’Homme Idéal Cologne by Thierry Wasser

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured acccords:
Top: Orange, bergamot, pink pepper, grapefruit
Heart: Almonds, neroli
Base: White musk, vetiver

L’Homme Idéal Cologne – GUERLAIN

Je t’aime Jane by Bella Freud 2014

September 10, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Post by Gabriella

Hello perfumed peeps!

Today, I want to focus on a scent that has recently been launched in Australia – Je t’aime Jane by UK fashion designer, Bella Freud.

Bella Freud is the daughter of painter Lucian Freud and the great granddaughter of the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. She has launched a range of perfumes named after the slogans that adorn her fashion collection and Je t’aime Jane is a the white floral of the bunch. The perfume celebrates actress Jane Birkin, and more specifically, her famous duet with Serge Gainsbourg, Je t’aime…moi non plus.

Je t’aime Jane by Bella Freud 2014

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords in one line:
Jasmine absolute, Ylang-ylang, Orange blossom, Queen of the night, Oud, Sandalwood, Musk

So, how does it smell? Upon first blast, Je t’aime Jane feels like a perfume in reverse. Rather than starting out with the traditional top notes of bergamot and other citruses, this scent opens up with a mammoth does of black oud and sandalwood, so much so that on first application, I was completely overwhelmed and thought I’d sprayed the wrong perfume. Where were the white florals?

But slowly, slowly, these accords in Je t’aime Jane reveals themselves. It’s a gentle unfolding, like peeling back layers of onion skin, that the perfume morphs and softens in a gentle segue from dark to light.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

After the initial woody rush, the orange blossom comes to the fore and it’s thick and sweet. But it is not cloying, there’s enough of the woods in the background to anchor it and prevent it from becoming overly shrill and overblown. It is warm and comforting and melds to the skin like a big warm fluffy coat. The orange blossom also tempers the gothic like quality of the opening – there’s a prettiness and hopefulness to it, but there’s still a hint of melancholy. The dark clouds of winter have started to part from their recent dose of driving rain and the spring sun is starting to peek through, but not all the greyness of the day has lifted, just yet.

But wait a little longer and the scent gets lighter and more airy – the jasmine starts to peek its head through it all and unveil itself, at first all heavy and indolic and then getting greener and more transparent. It’s pretty-pretty at this stage and all flirty, but the woods are still there. This girl may like her lipstick, but she’s dressed in all black with tortoisehell framed glasses and a vintage camel hair coat rather than a cashmere twinset and pearls and coral nails.

Je t’aime Jane has average longevity and minimal sillage and whilst it is thick with white florals and woods, its lack of sillage makes it a personal and introspective scent. The scent was the perfect accompaniment to a recent chilly day here in Melbourne when I was clad all in black, praying for spring to finally arrive and only getting more cold and gusts of rain. The only think that struck me was I would have expected it to be a little bit more bohemian and quirky in character to truly encapture the enigma of Jane Birkin. Nevertheless, if you are an oud fan, or like florals thick with woods, this is a good one to try.

Photo Stolen Flickr

Further reading: lips so facto and Fashion Editor at Large
Mecca Cosmetica has $168/50ml
Luckyscent has samples $4/.7ml

Have you tried any of the Bella Freud scents? What’s your top pick for a scent for Jane Birkin?

With much love till next time,
M xx

(Ed: There seems to be some confusion on the perfumer so I left it out)

I Scream For Green!

September 8, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Ainslie Walker

I’m in Bondi. The sun is shining and I am toying with several green scents intending to put the spring back in my step after some heavy times. It generally always feels like spring/summer in Sydney and right now is my favorite time – not too hot! Warm, sunny, not humid and thankfully no tropical downpours. That’s why when Sydney was hosting the Olympics “they” chose September…Sydney at its best.

I Scream For Green!

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Clementine, cassis, apple blossom, sweet pea, lily-of-the-valley, lily, amaryllis, bellflower, narcissus, jasmine

Lulu Guinness: Lulu Guinness had five fragrances in her collection, however she is best known for her better-than-fabulous handbag/purse designs. I have two: One, a giant circular flamingo basket and the other a sequined lobster clutch. I feel like I am in the freaking B52’s when I strut along with them. Nose, Rodrigo Flores-Roux created Lulu Guinness in 2003, the initial fragrance launch for the brand. Talented and gifted I love many of his works:

The bottle is super kitsch, ceramic-look printed glass. The 50 ml is handbag friendly and feels nice in the hand. The scent is strong, distinctive, fresh, green and floral. Lily of the Valley I rarely wear due to the plethora of toilet sprays and cheap talc’s from childhood that have ruined it for me. In this blend however I like it. Not everyday, mind you, but the days I do, it hits the spot. Its bold like the brand rather than shy like the flower. Fresh and just-walked-into-a-florist-like. All cut flowers and screaming greens with no obvious crowd-pleasing attention given. The opening hour is uncompromisingly fresh and green and if you get past its polarising narcissus punch you are in for a treat. An all-floral flush of slightly powdered lily, apple blossom and sweet pea as it dries down. Blackcurrant (cassis), jasmine and clementine contribute to a hyper-surreal evolution towards natural nuances. If you don’t like this one instantly, I do suggest to try again.

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Grass, rose, thyme
Heart: Geranium, lavender, violet
Base: Patchouli, oakmoss

Ealing Green by 4160 Tuesdays: In England “greens” are beautiful natural spaces designed to provide relief and a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of city life. A place for reflection, picnics and to host happy little fairs and markets. Ealing Green is in West London and the inspiration for perfumer Sarah McCartney’s green floral delight – one of my favourite perfumes from her 4160 Tuesdays collection.

I love the green grass and rosy geranium balance. I often find geranium masculinised and more than anything think it a little unfair. In Ealing Green the floral aspects take the spotlight. Shiny, bright and rosy. In addition violet and patchouli laydown a cool, sweet and soapy depth to the mix and continue throughout. A fresh-out-of-the-shower-herbal and clean feeling emanates from a sparky combination of thyme and lavender and works well. Dry down is soft salty oakmoss and powdered rose absolute like a dusting of makeup. Softer and prettier than expected. I had my Marilyn Monroe moment with it, waking still engulfed. I look forward to wearing more throughout summer. Now available to buy shipped to Australia at eScentuals! Bliss.

What is your green?

Ainslie Walker xx

Blackwater Thistle by Criminal Elements 2016

September 7, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 24 Comments

Post by Portia

Hiya Happy Huffers,

I love it when new Indie perfumers come along and surprise me with their beautiful and interesting creations. Here are an Australian crew who have a line of fragrances available from their Criminal Elements site. Today I have been lucky enough to get my sniff on one of their to be released in 2016 advance samples. Um, WOW! You all know that I love green fragrance and recently fell madly in love with Dawn Spencer Hurwitz’s Giverny in Bloom. Here is the other side of green, the stark, solitary, deep green.

Blackwater Thistle by Criminal Elements 2016

Blackwater Thistle by Corey Newcombe and Aelfrik Spektor

Photo Stolen Geograph

Criminal Elements give these featured accords in one line:
Grass, violet, moss, soil, bullrush, thistle

WOAH! Green and swampy but with a beautiful airy lift.What does stand out for me in Blackwater Thistle is how sweet the whole fragrance feels on me. There is nothing in the note list to suggest the lovely sweet green I’m getting so I asked Aelfrik what could make that happen. “As for the sweet edge – that’s purely from the actual thistle. We solvent extract dried thistle, and the results are actually quite syrupy. A pain to extract, but worth the effort…..“

Imagine standing on the edge of the moors and spring is here. There’s been plenty of rain and everything is growing apace, grass covers your ankles and there’s a purple blush across the landscape. The soil is thawing and though it’s pretty muddy you can walk without losing a shoe. A cool, fragrant breeze sweeps across the moors and you are standing in dappled sunlight breathing deeply, finally free of winter and ready to wander all day with your hairy hound.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

In my head I’m saying stupid things like, “This is what Charlotte and the other Bronte siblings smelled” and “Jayne Eire would have smelled this when she was poor and living rough”. Ha! I’m an idiot but the journey is really fun with Blackwater Thistle. At around the 4 hour mark I am sweetly washed in a soft hued fragrance that I have no words to describe other than rich, sweet and green. Beautiful.

Want to try it? See below
Portia x

Photo Stolen kbaird

Blackwater Thistle GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x Blackwater Thistle pre-release sample
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please go to Criminal Elements site<<JUMP and pick a fragrance + one of its notes NO DOUBLE UPS!!!

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie Criminal Elements: Blackwater Thistle GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4f4 #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Thursday 10th Septembert 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 Sunday 13th September 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.

Sung by Alfred Sung 1986

September 6, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Post by Portia

Hi there APJ Frag Family,

I’ve had this Alfred Sung bottle for years and at one point it was a favourite. Since falling well and truly down the fragrant worm hole it has been sitting at the back of a boxless bottle box getting zero love. I was sure it was a BWF but couldn’t put my nose-memory on how it smelled so at about 3pm today I opened up my shirt and double spritzed…….

Sung by Alfred Sung 1986

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top Bergamot, Galbanum, Hyacinth, Mandarin, Orange, Ylang-ylang, Lemon Heart
Heart: Iris, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-valley, Osmanthus
Base: Amber, Orange wood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver

WOW! Tania Sanchez wasn’t wrong when she called this a “Jasmine Diaper”. We have some serious poopy action going on and I LOVE it. Sung is so 1980s it hurts, we have a creamy citrus floral opening. HA! I know right. What the f*%@k does that even smell like? Well it smells big and naughty and completely over the top. Beyond your wildest BWF Skank Dreams Sung delivers.

Then Jin came home and we went and saw a movie (Ricki and the Flash – Meryl Streep and her daughter play with Kevin Kline and Rick Springfield. It’s wonderful. Do yourself a favour.) so I got to really appreciate the fragrance through the film.

Photo Stolen Nordstrom

Sung smells good in an “Allergies to fragrance, you must be joking dear” kind of way. The “I couldn’t care less if you do anyway” or ” Oh do choke quietly darling, we have guests” school of thought and action. It’s big, it’s floral aldehydic, it’s fruity, it’s poopy and it is obnoxious. I freaking LOVE IT!

The photos I’ve chosen are some of Alfred Sung’s designs. Yes he is still designing and nowadays he is doing some really fun retro bridesmaids dresses that are affordable and fun. Loads of jewel bright colours but there are also a lovely lot of very pretty more muted shades to pick from too. If you’re thinking Mad Men Wedding then these are totally going to rock your socks off. Below is a ferocious bride-zilla photographed among the chandeliers looking exactly as Miss Haversham must have looked when she was given the news. Aghast, beautiful, rich and terrified. It’s probably how every bride feels inside somewhere deep down.

Sung is exactly the fragrance she would be wearing, to make a big impression as she walked down the aisle. Her sillage a wake that dolphins could gambol in. The unforgettable, once in a life time (yeah right) dream moment when every guest takes a deep breath in homage to a perfect bride.

Photo Stolen Wedding House

So to be honest Sung was a little overwhelming in the film. I was glad that there were only 3 other people in the cinema and that they were up the back. Though I did not find it disatracting, there were a few times when I moved and great gouts of floral and fertiliser flavoured air swooshed out of my top. It was a perfect accompaniment to the film and I bet it’s what Meryl Streep’s character Ricki wore, so it was kind of perfect.

Fragrance Shop has $20/50ml before coupon
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $3/ml

What has been hiding in your cupboards that should get an airing?
Portia xx

Morn to Dusk by Annick Menardo for Eau D`Italie 2015

September 5, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 14 Comments

Post by Portia

I’ve always loved these Eau d’Italie bottles. They are sleek and heavy, love that they are opaque so I don’t need to worry so much about light damage and I imagine they look super elegant on your dresser if you are a one bottle person and you like to show your choice off prominently. It seems a very nice mix between stark, modern design and old fashioned porcelain.

Morn to Dusk by Eau D`Italie 2015

Morn to Dusk by Annick Menardo

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, lily of the valley
Heart: Vanilla
Base: Musk

Vanilla is king in Morn to Dusk. My skin gives the most incredibly warm vanilla opening that doesn’t show a hint of the bergamot and lily of the valley until I’ve been wearing the fragrance for a couple of minutes. Then they come through and add this lovely wet green vibe that seems to be neither and both, it floats above the vanilla giving life and lift, creating a cool breeze over the dry sands of this interestingly desiccated vanilla. Through the heart the vanilla becomes sweeter and warmer like it was originally, not foody but a furry/fleshy vanilla. A rich, chewy consistency like glutinous toffee yet unpalatable in a cake/sweets sense.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

This short note list is totally missing large chunks. The vanilla towards the mid wear mark that lasts for hours is a crackly honeycomb and amber mix and I get something dry grass-ish like bamboo, vetiver or papyrus cutting through the rest making it less intensely vanillic.

I can’t believe the tenacity of Morn to Dusk, it will certainly wear for that length of time, longer on me today in the soft spring warmth. I put Morn to Dusk on at around 10am and now it’s about to turn dusk and I am still nicely fragrant. I like it. A lot.

Morn to Dusk is the kind of spritz & go frag that I longed for before I became a serious perfumista. It lasts all day, smells great and goes through some interesting phases without being a completely different scent. From leaving the house in the morning to getting home after a dinner you will smell good, sweet and dare I say it, delicious. I can imagine the guys wearing it in suits or jeans and the girls in gowns or jeans, across the board yummy.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

Further reading: Colognoisseur
LuckyScent has $140/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/ml

Morn to Dusk is so wearable. What is your Vanilla? Which Eau d’Italie do you like?
Portia xx

The 7 Virtues in Australia

September 4, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 34 Comments

Post by Portia

You may remember we have done some stories on the incredible Barb Stegemann (Olfactoria’s Travels), Noble Rose of Afghanistan (APJ), Afghanistan Orange Blossom (APJ) and her world changing idea of creating perfumes from ingredients grown in areas of the world where the poppy is grown for heroin, and basing the campaign towards the women of these countries. Barb is paying more money for flowers that go into our fragrant addiction than the heroin barons pay for their narcotic harvest. What that does is gives women an income, thus a voice. Having an income means they can educate their daughters. Making the world a matriarchy isn’t a bad idea, it’s got to be a better deal than what having it run by men has made it. Imagine…….

Anyway, Barb got in touch this week and they now have a distributor here in Australia. That means that if you’d like to be a part of changing the world for good then you can do it by emailing Barb Stegemann {barb (at) the7virtues (dot) com} and she will get it sent ASAP.

The 7 Virtues in Australia

My mate Alice bought me the 7 Virtues Custom Blend Box, which contains four award winning vegan fragrances made with natural essential oils from troubled countries trying to rebuild. I wear them solo or layered.

So I thought it would be interesting to chat to Johanna who will be bringing the 7 Virtues into Australia.

How did you hear about Barb Stegemann and the 7 Virtues?

Barb and I met at University. Once out of Uni, we forged a close friendship when we both began working for the same company. I remember evenings spent in fabulous conversation about how we were going to make a difference in this world. We didn’t know then where life would take us but Barb has certainly been true to her word.

What is your personal favourite 7 Virtues fragrance and why?

I adore The 7 Virtues Noble Rose of Afghanistan! The femininity of the Rose is balanced beautifully with the spicy notes. Coming in a close second is The 7 Virtues Patchouli of Rwanda which I find fresh and easy to wear. Recently, I was having a difficult time making up my mind on which fragrance to wear, so I decided to wear both layered together and the blended results are divine!

How did you become the 7 Virtues distributor in Australia?

Barb and I have been talking about the possibility of bringing The 7 Virtues Fragrances to Australia for four years. Barb contacted me at the end of 2014 and said that the time was right. I jumped at the opportunity, I believe in The 7 Virtues with all my heart. It is such a privilege to be involved.

What kinds of trials and tribulations have you suffered to get 7 Virtues to Australia?

No suffering yet but with any “new to you” experience you don’t know until you know… Now that The 7 Virtues Fragrances are finally available in Australia we want to be able to share them with as many people as possible, so far they have been received extremely well. The fragrances are beautiful and the 7 Virtues story is empowering to everyone involved in the process, from farmers to consumers. It touches everyone along the way, including me!

Photo Stolen AllSteele

The 7 Virtues GIVEAWAY

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

This week we will have 1 winner who will receive:
1 x 7 Virtues Sampler (from my own 7 Virtues Custom Blend Box bottles)
Afghanistan Orange Blossom
Noble Rose of Afghanistan
Middle East Peace
Vetiver of Haiti
P&H Anywhere in the world

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You must tell me how you follow APJ

and

Please tell us a fragrance that makes you feel empowered

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie 7 Virtues Sampler GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-4ek #Perfume #Giveaway @BarbStegemann @the7virtues

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 6th September 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 10th September 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.