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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
So half of 2019 is over! That sped by. WT A F!
Back in the pool this week! YAY! Feeling good for it, proud. Some adventures, events, fun, friends, food and it has been a stellar week for fragrance.
Robert Piguet
Scent Diary: 11.2 – 17.2.2019
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
What a week. Another roller coaster ride. Some of the troughs were especially deep. My life has been altered and edited heavily with the loss of two of the most important women in it. This is going to take some healing time.
In brighter news my fragrance wearing week was a really good one.
Scent Diary: 14.1 – 20.1.2019
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
We are SWELTERING here in Sydney. Parramatta has been hitting 40C+ regularly this week. Walking the dogs has become a fiery furnace. LOADS of fragrance though, I’m easily able to grab them cause I’m not leaving the house if possible. Still managed a few catch ups too.
Scent Diary: 7.1 – 13.1.2019
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
WOW! This week was FULL ON! Non stop fragrance, food, friends and fun. So many catch ups, adventures and thunks.
Scent Diary: 20.8 – 26.8.2018
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
This week I finally hit the pause button. Literally spent two full days on the couch or in bed reading and watching TV. Yes there was plenty of excitement on the other days and I had to work both nights but it was blissful. Amazing how two days can recharge me, do you find that?
Scent Diary: 26.2 – 4.3.2018
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Portia
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Hey there APJ Crew,
It’s Mardi Gras Parade week here in Sydney. Though I’ve kept a pretty low profile Sydney has been bursting at the seams with International Visitors here to enjoy the last week of our Mardi Gras Season. The weather has been perfect for everything and I’m hearing reports of a super year. Saturday nights parade was my Big Event this year, hosting the Sideshow Glam Stands. An excellent week, now I’m bushed!
Bois Noir by Aurelien Guichard for Robert Piguet 2012
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Portia
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Hey All,
Mildly amusing story. When I was shopping at Surrender To Chance for my decants recently (it was a 5ml Friday Frenzy) and I thought I’d ordered Bois Bleu by Robert Piguet. Anyway, it turns up and I don’t really look at the label because I know what I ordered right? Wrong. So I’m sniffing myself as I walk the dogs this morning and I’m thinking to myself, “This is bloody familiar. I can’t quite place it but Bois Bleu smells EXACTLY like something I already have. Like, EXACTLY!!
Yeah dumbass, because you ordered Bois Noir, that you already have a paid retail for bottle of when Joe Garces was out here in 2012. Ha Ha Ha Ha ha. Sometimes I surprise myself. No sweat.
Then I noticed it never got a post of its own, so…….
Bois Noir by Robert Piguet 2012
Bois Noir by Aurelien Guichard
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Gaiac wood, Cedarwood
Heart: Patchouli, Sandalwood
Base: Balsam, Labdanum absolute
Can we talk about the Piguet bottle please? It is the super coolest. Clean lined, easy to hold and spritz, nice heft and if you are a one bottle person this would make such a statement. Cunningly retro but wholly modern, it looks and feels like an old school movie stars fragrance.
PDI
Woodsiness, what Scott and I call Bro Woods. Here it’s tempered with patchouli in a luxurious dose and an earthy sweet labdanum. Bois Noir is a very chill customer, smooth and well worn, a comfortable fit. This is your favourite jeans after a weekend of wear, super comfy and a bit raunchy.
The woods manage to be dry pencils, tea chest and creamy sandalwood all rolled into one, then add some smoky incense. Hyper masculine scent that will smell fabulous on the girls. I’d love to smell it on a couple of my cool sexy girlfriends and some suits.
Longevity and projection are slightly above average, I can totally imagine Bois Noir as the hipsters choice.
PDI
Further reading: Non Blonde and Persolaise
Libertine has $299/100ml FREE Australian Delivery
Surrender To Chance has $5/ml
Have you tried any of the modern Robert Piguet perfumes? Did they tickle your fancy?
Portia xx
L’Insomnuit by Robert Piguet 2016
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Portia
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Hey Crew,
You may know how I love splits? It’s when one person buys a bottle, decants out portions and sells them on. They are a wonderful way to test a load of fragrances for not much more than the price of the juice. It can get addictive though and I regularly spend a hunk cash on them.
The past creative director of Robert Piguet, Joe GarcesI left some really happy memories. He came to Australia a few years ago as Piguet was re-establishing themselves as a fragrant player and held some super fun Master Classes. Joe told us stories of the creation and recreation of the piglet line and how each fragrance came about. It was fun but also riveting listening, he knew how to engage us and answered questions. I already loved Bandit and fracas but this opened a whole new world for me and the others present.
So, when Robert Piguet launches something new I try to get to it as soon as possible.
L’Insomnuit by Robert Piguet 2016
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Plum, Bergamot, Fir balsam
Heart: Orris absolute, Iris concrete, Oud
Base: Cedarwood, Cypriol, Tonka bean absolute, Sandalwood
Tonka, fir and iris compete for opening honours. A very interesting dry, sweet, powdery, woody mix that doesn’t remind me of anything else as it opens. It seems to be its own thing. Basically a wood extravaganza but slightly bakery-esque. The iris is very dry, slightly cardboard, and a little earthy but the interesting juxtaposition of the tonka sweetness (I think there is some vanilla too) and the creamy sandalwood make it so unusual to me.
From the notes I thought this next pic would be exactly what the fragrance would smell like but L’Insomnuit is far more interesting than that.
Oudh? I don’t smell any oudh, like seriously zero oudhishness. The plum also passes me by.
There is a recurring moment through the heart of L’Insomnuit where I am suddenly reminded of Eau d’Italie Morn To Dusk. A similar golden treacle heft, so dense and gooey, thick and rich. Not the same but the feeling is similar and equally as extravagant.
For anyone who likes vanilla but is bored of how it is usually sent out in the 21st century this could be a nice not quite so super sweet option. Longevity is excellent, sillage moderate to good. I’d love to smell this on a really manly man in wrestling outfit, suit or overalls. It would definitely be an attractant.
Further reading: Fragrance Daily
Libertine has $299/100ml FREE Australian Delivery
Surrender To Chance has samples from $5.50/ml
Do you have a favourite Piguet?
Portia xx
What Is Making My Bath Bubble In August 2017?
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Portia
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Hi there Fumies,
As many of you already know I am a mad keen BATH person. I love the whole experience. Before I draw my bath I fully clean it, then as the water fills I make myself a cuppa to have while in there and make sure I have my Bath Glasses there for the phone games I love to play while soaking. I can happily spend an hour submerged and often do. It’s the best de-stress on earth.
What Is Making My Bath Bubble In August 2017?
Here is my current set of bath products to create the glamorous bubble baths I love so much.
Elizabeth Arden Sunflowers Shower Gel: Haven’t opened it yet but love the scent. A big pump pack for under $20!
Maurer & Wirtz Tabac Original Cologne: This is a cologne I put in the bath regularly if I have a late night bath. The smell is so lovely and leaves me softly scented for sleeping. It was my father’s scent and one of the things I loved about him most.
Penhaligon’s Blenheim Bouquet Bath Oil: Soft, lightly scented skin that feels smooth as silk on your wish list? Penhaligon’s do it right. Very low on bubble but when you feel and smell this good, who cares. This is a very old bottle that I keep refilling.
Robert Piguet Bandit Shower Cream: Found this recently on some USA site for a very reasonable price so bought a few. Lovely leather bubbles with a spicy wood whiff. YUM
Olympic Orchids Amber & Labdanum Bath Oil: The most lavish bath oil on the planet. Perfect as a base to any fragrance with amber or resins and the scent is almost enough on its own to get you through the day.
Roger & Gallet Cedrat: Zingy fresh citrus that bubbles like crazy, you hardly need any to fill your tub and the fragrance lasts under an hour on your skin afterwards.
Guerlain Shalimar: The one and only. I am pretty sure you guys don’t need to be told how luxurious a Shalimar Bubble Bath is?
L’Artisan La Chasse aux Papillons: The prettiest white flowers lightly sweetened that really does smell like flittering butterflies in spring.
So what do you use to bathe? Do you have a special shower gel, soap, bubble bath? Shares please in the comments.
Portia xx
Scent Diary: 17.7 – 23.7.2017
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Portia
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Hey APJ,
Most of my week was taken up with sewing and creating new stuff for a gig on Friday night. there were also great moments and fun with friends and fragrance. Honestly I’ve been too swamped to take photos or really document my week in any detail, sorry. You’ll see some of the main protagonists though.
Portia xx
Scent Diary: 17.7 – 23.7.2017
Monday 17:
TinaG is still in hospital but looking 100% improved. This is the view from the end of her corridor, doesn’t Sydney City look like a fairytale and how blue is the sky. We went and hung out in the patients common room, Alice joined us and we had a really nice visit.
From the hospital Alice & I went off to the Estee Lauder Staff Shop. I was hoping to find some discontinued Tom Ford frags, particularly Ombre de Hyacinth but there was only a small selection. I only walked away with Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess travel set and Tom Ford London, which became my SOTD along with a few other things I spritzed while there. Alice grabbed a few bits and bobs but was particularly pleased that her HOLY GRAIL moisturiser was $50 cheaper there. So happy chappies all round.
Jin was working so I grabbed dinner. I thought you should know that while we do eat fabulous foods from around the world generally, SOMETIMES we love to eat rubbish. So tonight I didn’t even want to leave the house so Dominoes Pizza delivered. Thin & Crispy Hawaiian, Pepperoni, Spicy Chicken and a Garlic Bread. Tasted so good and filled me up YUM!
Trivia Q&A writing night. I started earlier today and got quite a bit done before my usual start time. Wearing more Atelier Cologne Tobacco Nuit to write questions and I’m about halfway through my 10ml decant. It’s a really lovely wearable fragrance that doesn’t steal my concentration when working but smells good in the coffee breaks.
Tuesday 18:
Today was a write off. BUSY running and getting shit done. Sewing the foam bits for my new headdress and work.
Morning: Guerlain Black Perfecto
Work: Cacharel Liberté
One exciting thing happened. I finally got a little cuddle with one of my long term crushes at work tonight. He He he. Poor boy spent the whole time saying his girlfriend would be furious. He should bring her next time so she would know that it was all in the fun of an evening and not being unfaithful.
Bed: Miller & Bertaux A Quiet Morning
Wednesday 19:
Weather is perfect. Dog walk was warm, sunny and uneventful.
My mind is preoccupied. Friday night I have a gig that has decided it will be a Super Hero Party. I don’t know if any of you have noticed but all the superheroes are buff. No fatty superheroes. So I’m having to create my own version of a superhero. I’m calling her Super Chunky. Maybe Super Ceded. Anyway, I’m off to get the gear to create this new hero. GAK! Wish me luck.
My search for a superhero fragrance today is CHANEL Antaeus. This stuff is SOO good.
Jin loves Krispy Creme. Today I bought him a box. Well, I say I bought it for him but four of them are for me. One each of the fancy ones. Jin’s favourites are the regular ones but he will force himself to eat fancy if they’re there.
A Guerlain Shalimar bubble bath and then spritzed lavishly with Guerlain Shalimar EdP for work.
Wendy and I had dinner together before Trivia at Greystanes Hotel. We had 8 teams to start with tonight and it was a fabulously fun evening. I really love the crew that comes to play there and the food is FABULOUS!
Thursday 20:
SEWING!!!!
Roger & Gallet Cedrat bubble bath, Guerlain Mitsouko EdT & parfum.
SEWING and HOT GLUEING!
Friday 21:
Sewing. My pointer finger has two hot glue blisters. Ouchie WA WA.
Morning: MORE Guerlain Mitsouko
Tonight was the big gig. Sydney Stingers, the gay waterloo team are fundraising for their 2018 France Gay games Adventure. I had a new frock and new wig for the night and drenched myself in Madonna Truth or Dare. No, I only have this photo from the night and it’s not in the new outfit! GRRR!
Saturday 22:
Miller et Bertaux A Quiet Morning
RECOVERING!
Jin and I got Chinese food and watched Despicable Me.
Tonight is one of my BFFs, Scott’s, BIRTHDAY! I hate house parties but I love Scott so I felt honour bound to drop in and say hi. It was a fabulous party with the backyard turned into a Disney Fairy Garden and the Disney Princesses as the houses backdrop.
Sunday 23:
Lay in bed, walked dogs, went to Pedicures with my mate Rose. YAY! We wandered IKEA afterwards and I got some incidentals.
After Pedis we grabbed some lunch and went visited our other mate Phil and hug at his place for a while.
Then home, bath and work. I had a lovely Robert Piguet Bandit bubble bath, used Amouage Dia lotion and Guerlain Black Perfecto EdP. Was swamped with fragrant compliments and everyone LOVED the new hair. I hope you do too.
OK, you’ve read my week, time to tell us about yours please. Big, little, good or bad; share a story with us. We love to read about you.
Portia xx
