Review

Le Parfum EdP by Francis Kurkdjian for Elie Saab 2011

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Hey Hey Lovely Fragrant Friends,

I have taken a while longer than the rest of you to get to Elie Saab. Some of my beautiful trivia ladies were extolling its virtues when it first came out and I loved it on them. It seemed that mainstream had hit a terrific winner and I was glad for the regular fragrance shoppers of the world that they were being offered something lovely, wearable and interesting compared to a lot of the other stuff we are all offered daily. I never seemed to get it on my skin though, so here goes.

Le Parfum EdP by Elie Saab 2011

ElieSaabEdT FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin blossom
Heart: Orange blossom, gardenia
Base: Vetiver, rose, honey

I can totally see why everyone went crazy for Elie Saab. It’s sweet, pretty, translucent and hefty. It is white blossom tamed and prettified, a sexless rendering which makes it seem both sophisticated and youthful. Fresh and dewy while feeling so perfectly put together and seamless that it should cost far more than it does. It has a story, is entrancing and lasts for ages.  Blossom, white blossom, lovely and pure white blossom with only the slightest trace of something herbaceous to keep it grounded.

Wearable anytime and for any occasion. I love Elie Saab.

FrancisKurkdjian ForbesPhoto Stolen Forbes

Further reading PerfumeShrine and Olfactoria’sTravels
FragranceNet has 50ml EdP around $80 before discount
MyPerfumeSamples has EdP starting $2/ml but I bought $7/5ml

ES EDT 400X265.inddPhoto Stolen hauteliving

Were you an Elie Saab convert?
Here is a sneaky look at the Elie Saab S/S 13 Show. YUMMY!
Take care till tomorrow,
Portia xx

Elie Saab | Spring Summer 2013 Full Fashion Show

SMELL BENT SALE

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Hey Everyone,

Today is the last day of the massive SMELL BENT SALE. Sale ends midnight.robot

10 of their precious frag nectars are on sale at 50ml for $31.

Have fun shopping. They also have a fabulous sample section too.

Sorry there is not a fuller post today but Jin and I have taken our Aunty to watch the Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras. WOO HOO! So it’s MADNESSS.

SMELL BENT SALE JUMP <<<

Portia x

Photo stolen Smell Bent

Cuir Beluga by Olivier Polge for Guerlain 2005

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Hello Gorgeouises,

This is a fragrance I stayed away from for a long time because of its name. I thought Cuir Beluga was representing a leather and fish roe fragrance, which while interesting was not something I wanted to smell like. In my head it smelled like under the boardwalk.

Cuir Beluga by Guerlain 2005

CuirBeluga FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Mandarin, immortelle flower, leather, amber, heliotrope and vanilla.

I read on PerfumeShrine that Cuir Beluga means Whale Leather in Russian, but no whales have been hurt in the production of this modern Guerlain. Cuir Beluga is extremely pretty and not overpowering, though the first half hour you are definitely fragrant in clouds of sweet citric vanilla and a lovely soft leather. After that first rush though Cuir Beluga settles into a slow and stately fragrance that never pushes the boundaries or becomes too gourmand. A cool vanilla, a supple much loved leather and a hint of the herbaceous that is going to fade through the dry down almost the same as it is a the one hour point.

I have no comparison to Whale Leather but I can’t imagine it smells like Cuir Beluga at all.

Cuir Beluga is so wearable and pretty that you can spritz and forget it, smelling divine for about 5 – 6 hours. A perfect choice for non perfumistas who want to smell good without smelling clever. Does that make sense? All done in the lavish and luxe Guerlain way.

Further reading Olfactoria’sTravels & PerfumeShrine.
Cuir Beluga is available through Guerlain stores and at some department store Guerlain counters
ThePoshPeasant starts at $7/ml

Have you tried Cuir Beluga? Were you surprised by its soft and fluffy scent?
Till tomorrow wishing you only good
Portia xx

Boyfriend by Marypierre Julien for Kate Walsh 2010

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Hey all,

So Boyfriend is not new but I do like the way Kate Walsh has thought out her fragrance. That it is a set for layering, works with most other scents and has a fun boyfriend story to boot. She talks really well and interestingly here.

Boyfriend FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Woody notes, amber, flowers, dark plum, myrrh, lily of the valley, night blooming jasmine and musk.

MyPerfumeSamples has the 1.5ml manufacturers sample for $3

One day I will spend some time with the fragrance but we don’t have it here in Australia.
Portia xx

Here’s one of the ads

Azure Lime by Tom Ford 2010

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Hey All!
Short and sweet today. You all know how I love Tom Ford and think he understands fashion and the craziness all that embodies better than anyone else I know of on the planet.

Azure Lime by Tom Ford 2010

AzureLime FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Woodsy notes, floral notes, citrus, musk

Light, sparkling, fizzy lime opens up and stays for ages, as it calms the woods and musk play salty beach samba rhythms till tomorrow lunchtime. Are there really flowers? I never smelled them but what I can smell is so gorgeous and fun, then so reminiscent of summer that it is beyond good. Definite date night with intentions to cook breakfast and roll around in bed till teatime. It will last and smell gorgeous till then. Promise.

Loads of reviewers are complaining that it smells like a cologne that you can get across the aisle for much less money. I agree that it smells a little like them, it’s fresh, aquatic in the best sense and summery, and yes, if you wore the cheaper versions you would smell nice too but Azure Lime has a swagger, a cock-sure-ness that they lack, and is blended so beautifully that I think it justifies the extra spend if you have that kind of money. Otherwise cross the aisle and get something withing your budget. The idea is to smell good, not beggar yourself. Maybe you could get a sample or decant of Azure Lime, or go in on a split?

Azure-Lime lifestyledPhoto Stolen lifestyled

Further reading EauMG and TheScentCritic
Amazon have 2 x 50ml left for $225 each
SurrenderToChance starts at $3/.5ml

Have you tried Azure Lime? What did you think?

Till tomorrow we wish you the good stuff you wish for yourselves.
Portia xx

Tom Ford Spring Summer 2013 Ad Campaign

As usual, Tom Ford photographed his namesake label’s campaign himself. This season, the 51 year old fashion designer and movie director photographed models Karlina Caune and Simon Van Meervenne, clad in the latest collection from Tom Ford naturally.

Images via TFS.


Covet by Ann Gottlieb and Frank Voelkl for Sarah Jessica Parker 2007

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

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Guest Post by Katrina

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Covet Sarah Jessica Parker 2007

What is with the weather in Australia this summer?  While Portia has been exploring a winter wonderland in Europe we’ve experienced heat-waves, flooding, crazy storms and bush fires.  I hope the APJ family has made it through the extreme weather without any major dramas.  The weather in Brisbane this week has been more rain and my backyard is becoming overgrown. Between showers last weekend I got out in the backyard, trudged through the long grass to cut back the overgrown geraniums and prune the lavender.  The damp green smell with lavender and geranium leaves reminded me of Covet by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Covet FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica lists the fragrance notes.
Top:  spicy-green-mint note of geranium leaves, Sicilian lemon, lavender and chocolate notes
Middle:  honeysuckle, magnolia, and lily of the valley
Base: cashmere wood, musk, vetiver, teak wood and amber

When I dare to wear Covet it’s a bit like entering the wilderness of my backyard to prune my geraniums and lavender.   The opening of Covet is energising with some really interesting green notes.  There is loads of lavender that combines nicely with the lemon and chocolate.  The chocolate is not at all sweet and wafts in and out. There are some really lovely floral notes in Covet too. The warm base notes of musk and woods are earthy and long lasting.

Covet is louder, bolder and more sophisticated than Lovely, the original Sarah Jessica Parker fragrance.  However once the initial intense opening of Covet dies down there are a lot of similarities to Lovely with the lavender, lovely floral notes and woody, musk base.

SJP JustJaredPhoto Stolen JustJared

If you like Lovely then you should try Covet for a more intense perfume experience.  But if you prefer sweet fruity celebuscents then you will probably prefer SJP NYC.  See the Sarah Jessica Parker page on my website for more fragrances by SJP.

FrangranceNet has 50ml for $22
MyPerfumeSamples starts at $2/ml and has $6/5ml

Sarah Jessica Parker Covet is a fantastic perfume and its dramatic fragrance commercial is also one of my favourites.  Enjoy!

The Making Of


The Movie

Check out my http://celebrityperfumestore.com” title=”CPStore” target=”_blank”>website for more celebrity perfume news and reviews.

Katrina

Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger by Daniela Andrier for Prada 2009

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Hello fellow Fumies,

Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger by Prada 2009

I have not really spent any amount of time with the Prada fragrances. Though Prada opened back in 1913, it was while I was at Fashion School during the 1980s that they really started to take over the world. I have loved their meteoric rise and swooned with delight at some of their runway stuff but it has never seemed to be a good fit for me or my life so I pretty much left them alone. One grey cashmere jumper is all I’ve owned from Prada and it is looking decidedly worse for wear after being dragged from pillar to post around the world since the 1990s. To tell the truth the label fell out in its first week and I caught a sleeve on a London bus not even a month after buying it in Rome. So it has been a mended item since then, seriously luxe and comfortable though even now.

Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these notes in one line:
Mandarin orange, neroli, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom

Like my Prada pullover I find Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger extremely comfortable. It is fresh, warm and bright, basically staying that way with a fade rather than a story, though it still holds some differences with each wear. The copy calls it a middle ground between  Prada’s Exclusive Scent No. 4 Fleur de Oranger and Infusion d`Iris, and that is a pretty good representation of it. Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger is simple, uncluttered fragrance that gives 4-6 hours depending on other factors. I love the 100ml bottle, it’s so hefty and square, to me it has a refined elegance that adds to my enjoyment every time I spritz. Originally I bought decants but I was going through them so it was time for a bottle and the box is also lovely in a black, lime and pink ex fabric combo Prada had in its collection a few years ago. Last week I put it on over one of my favourite body lotions and it went totally toilet spray for an hour, awful, but usually I find it an easy spritz, waft and wear fragrance suitable for all but the most fragrance phobic of workplaces.

OrangeBlossom west-cretePhoto Stolen west-crete

Further reading NowSmellThis and PerfumePosse
FragranceNet have 200ml/$90 unboxed
MyPerfumeSamples start at $2/ml but I bought $7/5ml

Have you tried Infusion de Fleur d’Oranger? How does it wear for you?

Till tomorrow,
Take care please,
Portia xx

Ubar by Amouage 1995

/ australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Hiya Perfumed Peeps,

Today I sit swathed in the glory of Ubar. I jumped onto a split with the fabulous Ruth K of FFF, thanks mate. Coming from last century it feels like ancient niche to me.

Ubar by Amouage 1995

Ubar FragranticaPhoto Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Tangerine, orange, litsea cubeba and violet leaf
Heart: Jasmine, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, tuberose, freesia, lily-of-the-valley and palisander rosewood
Base: Sandalwood, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, copahu balm and black amber

It is so thick and dense and lavish, reminiscent of fragrances of old and full of animal and human depths. Ubar smells like I remember perfume smelling when I was a kid. Rich, intense and glorious. The first 2 hours are big and wonderfully powerful on me and then it calms to a stealthy purr that comes upon me unexpected and gives me a little waft of wow every time. I’ve been out and about in Ubar doing return from holidays chores: bank, hair, car, bills, and it has stayed with me all morning. There is a story but its a not a tale of surprises and jolts, more a blossoming and then a fade. I lose track of Ubar at the 6-7 hour mark, fine longevity and I’m sure there is still some fragrance there but I can’t smell it. I wonder how long this decant will last, I’m guessing not long.

The Lost City of Ubar

The Lost City of Ubar Photo Stolen TheSecretWorldSP

Further reading NowSmellThis and PerfumeShrine
Amouage has Ubar 50ml for €185 with a €17 delivery charge to Australia
ThePoshPeasant has samples $8/ml

Have you tried this Amouage? What were your impressions?

Till Tomorrow, loads of love.

Portia xx

White Lotus by Illuminum Haute Perfume 2012

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Hey Happy Huffers,
I must have purchased these fabulous set of samples from somewhere but I can’t for the life of me remember doing it. I also wonder if Jin went looking through the fragrance online world and found them, maybe the perfumer sent them? I am lost but can I just let you in on a secret: they are great!!

White Lotus by Illuminum Haute Perfume 2012

white_lotus IlluminumPhoto Stolen Illuminum
Top: Lily of the valley, blue lotus
Heart: Egyptian jasmine, Indian tuberose
Base: Lotus absolute, musk, patchouli
From the Illuminum site: If innocence had a horizon at its borders, you would find a pond of Lotus. Its beauty is impossible to describe as it is a blend of moods, tones and bricks of imagination where beauty, purity and your most angelic desires meet.
White Lotus opens very pretty, the lily and lotus are soft and fleshy, almost plastic, like when you run your nail down a petal. Within 5 minutes they are already eclipsed by the heart of jasmine and very womanly tuberose.  Not skanky though, just feminine, a little breathy and silky like healthy, young, taut, tanned skin after a scrub and moisturiser. White Lotus is a little softer than I am used to, a veil more than a mask. They sit lightly on top of my own scent and weave through it, in a way they become me, an interesting offering from Michael Boadi a UK stylist/hairdresser to the magazines and stars. I am definitely fragrant but in the softest and most unobtrusive way. Tenacious yet unassuming, best sprayed into fabric as well as on yourself, I can still smell it in my top the day after next.
The bottles look really hefty and their stark, linear shape is classy and elegant in the pictures. I think White Lotus is the perfect scent when you want to feel luxe but just for yourself and someone intimate. Perfect even for fragrance phobic workplaces, this will sail under everyone’s radar, and secretly you will smell fabulous.

Illuminum site has an incredible sample set 16 x 1.5ml vials £25
Illuminum site has White Lotus 100ml/£150 and extremely reasonable postage to the world!

Tried anything, or any brand completely new this week? I can’t wait to try some more Illuminum for you all. I have the set so await the next installment.

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