Scent Diary: 14.8 – 20.8.2017

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Portia

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OMG APJ!

Sorry but I’ve hardly chronicled this week at all. It has been non stop Go Go Go. We’ve had Jin’s niece & nephew from Slovakia and Jin has been determined to show then EVERYTHING in two weeks. I’ve been working so haven’t been on every adventure but still it has been a hell of a week. I am 100% done and ready for some quiet weeks.

Scent Diary: 14.8 – 20.8.2017

Monday 14:

The kids have gone to do a SCUBA course. Jin and I have the day together and to ourselves. We walked the dogs and visited a mate then once home Jin hit the hay for some extra ZZZZs and I am at the computer. All feels right in the world.

My smells today were coffee, toast, dogs, the combined fragrance of my perfume room and Jin until I bathed in the evening. Lazy, lovely day spent doing the blog and Trivia Q&A.

When the kids got home we ordered Domino’s Pizza and ate it watching Netflix Riverdale. They loved it.

Tonight for Trivia Q&A writing I drenched myself in Guerlain Mitsouko EdT.

Tuesday 15:

Woke up late. Somewhere around 8.30am. I’m a bit fuzzy round the edges today. Having a cuppa.

OMG! I didn’t send my Q&A to the team. How do you all cope with kids daily? You’re all freaking SAINTS!

Jin has nicked the car and taken the kids to SCUBA today. He’s planning on doing a couple of dives with them too. What a cutey!

Penhaligon’s Savoy Steam is puffing along with me today. I really like it.

Had a Roger & Gallet Cedrat bubble bath, Simple moisturiser, Cacharel Liberté fragrance. MMMMMMM

They all came home after their amazing day of diving. They’re so excited and happy. It’s really nice to see.

Wednesday 16:

Lancome Magie Noire was this mornings choice.

We did SO MUCH today. Caught the bus and train to Sydney city. Wandered David Jones, Pitt St Mall and then had lunch at Westfield Centrepoint Food Court ( I gave the kids $20 each and told them to get what they want. It was their first food Court so they loved it). Then we wandered around the Sydney Opera House and caught the ChooChoo Express through the Royal Botanic Gardens. We then wandered leisurely around to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair and from there to the Art Gallery of NSW where we saw some ofd the Indigenous Australian art and had a cuppa and some sweets from the Members Lounge. After that we were all buggered and we caught the train home.

Then I had a nap and went to work. STUFFED!!

Thursday 17:

I had hoped to spend the morning on my own because Jin & the kids were going to Surf School but Sindy woke up sick. SHIT! Took her down to the doctor and she has ruptured eardrums. Not very bad but she is on antibiotics to stave off any infection and he wants to see her Monday to give the OK to fly on Tuesday.

Got some super lovely postcards in the mail today! Thanks to Lyndall & Mazz. I LOVE POSTCARDS!

I’ve spent the day in vintage CHANEL No 5 EdT & EdC.

We met Rose at Manly and had fish & chips on the esplanade in the area my family used to sit when we were kids. It was a perfect 26C winter day with blue sky. It was the kids first ever experience of fish & chips eaten al fresco at the beach. Afterwards they took the leftover chips and fed the seagulls. It look like The Birds, hundreds of them clamouring for the chip. Excellent.

We wandered around a little bit after lunch then came back home and chilled on the couch watch Atypical, the new Netflix show about an autistic boy and his family ands friends. Then Rose came with me to work tonight at Kings Park Tavern. We came home and watched the rest of Atypical. Great series.

It’s late now and I’ve run Rose a bath because she’s staying tonight and will sleep on the couch.

Friday 18:

Gave myself a very lavish spritzing of some older Lancome Magie Noire this morning and really enjoyed its mossy goodness through the day. Even got a compliment on it. Very cool.

I got up early and had the car up at the repair garage just before 7am. The morning was so cool and crisp I took the dogs for an extra long ramble around our area. they loved it.

When I got home the house was just starting to stir so I made French Toast and Bacon with a choice of maple or Golden Syrup and percolated a pot of coffee. There was also pulpy Orange Juice our Tropical. Rose, the kids, Jin & I sat around eating and laughing. It was a real family meal and I can’t talk for anyone else but it was really special for me.

Then we caught the bus into town and met TinaG for the Sydney Aquarium. I’m not really a huge fan of captured animals on display but the Sydney crew do a really good job. The tanks are large and don’t seem crowded, most of the fish looked in fine form and happily swimming in their schools or solo. Some of the sharks look like veterans and the only creatures that gave me real pause were an octopus and two Dugongs. Most fish look like they are mindlessly doing their thing but these three looked forlorn, lost and unhappy. They were the only low point in what was a wonderful experience. There were loads of messages about trying to minimise plastics and waste, information about the companies work as a refuge and rehabilitation centre and some info about each fish, bird or creature in each enclosure.

Everyone slept on the train going home except me. They were REALLY tired.

We came home, had a nap and then headed out for the kids first ever Sushi Train! They loved it. Jin is a terrific uncle and I have loved watching him blossom into a responsible guardian in the week they’ve been here so far.

Saturday19:

The gang has gone to Jervis bay for a Seal Dive, SCUBA with the seal colony down there. Poor Sindy is devastated she can’t do it because of her ears but at least she’ll get to be part of the fun and see the seals, dolphins and whales that inhabit the area. They left at 4am this morning but I slept right through to 8.30am. Woo Hoo!

Spritzed Cacharel Liberté early this morning and it was a fun fizzy accompaniment to my morning.

A bit of blog organising today and work tonight. After my bath I decided it needed to be a BIG skanky floral for the Hen’s Party tonight. Alpha fragrance to keep them a little restrained for the two hours I’ve got them. How about Bal a Versailles? Hmmmmm, parfum and EdT! That should be big enough.

Hey, does anyone else get moody? Like spot moody? Tonight my mood went from happy that my gig had gone so well and full of love for the world to blackest black (because of a few small things that didn’t go as planned or were less than thrilling surprises) in the space of one hour and then back out the other side to relatively calm again. It felt ridiculously powerful being angry. This is not something I’ve felt before and seems very bi-polar.

Sunday 20:

Ahhhhh Sunday. I was up really late watching Iron Fist on Netflix, like 5am late.

The crew got up and we all had breakfast this morning before they headed out to the markets and Yum Cha in town. I have had enough of people so I stayed home and vacuumed the house and cleaned the kitchen. Did it all smelling of Penhaligon’s Savoy Steam, I love it and can’t seem to get enough. Perhaps 3 or 4ml has already gone from my bottle!

Tonight after my Radox Bath Salts bath I went crazy with vintage Miss Dior EdT. As I was walking into the club tonight one of the club punters said I smelled fantastic, he even pulled me in for a closer sniff. It was a nice moment.

 

Alright, enough about me. What have you lot been up to? Got a story to share? Fun or fragrant, friends or family, happy or sad, we love them all. Please share in the comments.
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

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil

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Post by Willa Zheng

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When it comes to personal fragrance, I don’t think perfume body oils get enough love. They condition your hair, give your skin a healthy fresh-from-vacation glow, and smell ah-mazing for hours. A good quality perfume body oil will outlast any cologne, and most EDP’s.

And that’s the one I’m going to introduce to you today – Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil, nosed by none other than superstar perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian.

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil EscentualPhoto Stolen Escentual

Fragrantica gives these featured accords for the fragrance:
Top: Mandarin orange, grapefruit, cumin
Heart: Fig leaf, fig
Base: Fig nectar, cedar, musk

Now, the deal with body oil fragrances is they’re pretty linear. What you smell from the first spray is generally what you’re still smelling 5hrs later. No hidden unexpected notes. I know that some connoisseurs enjoy the three-stage transformative experience à la Serge Lutens, I personally prefer honest, linear fragrances that can hit the mark from the get go.

So what does Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier smell like? Is it fruity and florally? Yes and yes, but in a classy, expensive and French kind of way. Fleur de Figuier is not a green fig that recalls Diptyque Philosykos, nor a sweet milky one like L’artisan Premier Figuier. If you’re after a photorealistic, heavy lactonic and green fig fragrance, look to those houses. Fleur de Figuier is the sweet juicy inside of a fig, combined with sweet juicy mandarin and some grapefruit so it doesn’t become too saccharine. It’s the fruity floral fragrance for the fruity-floral loving gal (and older woman) who doesn’t want to smell so mass market generic.

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil  Roger & GalletPhoto Stolen Roger & Gallet

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil is a dry oil so you can put clothes on right afterwards, and you’re not going to feel sticky or greasy. It’s made from a mixture of fruit oils and sweet almond oil. 96% natural origin ingredients, apparently. Sweet almond oil is thin and light, so it’s not as nourishing as other cult oils on the market but you shouldn’t use it primarily as a skincare product. This oil is so perfume concentrated, you’re going to knock your nose out.
Instead, treat it as a perfume body oil, another way to deliver fine fragrance to your person. I tend to do two sprays on each arm and get juicy sweet scent wafting throughout the whole day. And even picking up the bottle is nice because Roger & Gallet is a proud French company that cares about how its products are presented. This oil comes in an attractive, quality glass bottle with a solid clear Perspex lid. Very dignified.

Roger & Gallet does other fragranced body oils in its line. Even if you’re not a fruity floral person, I recommend giving the other dry oils a go. You might just get converted.

Roger & Gallet Fleur de Figuier Ultra-Nourishing Oil   Figs _Nini_ PixabayPhoto Stolen Pixabay

Further reading: Fluff & Fripperies and Make Up For Dolls
Escentual has £25/100ml

Now, do you have a favourite perfume body oil?
Willa Zheng x