NEW STORE: Arielle Shoshana

September 20, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 12 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey Crew,

Especially those in the USA, there is a brand new perfumery in town. My mate, blogger from Scents Of Self, glam girl and general fragrant fiend Arielle (Ari) is opening her first store in Washington DC. The Grand Opening Party is on October 3rd 2015! If you’re in the area you MUST drop in and hug her from the APJ crew.

NEW STORE: Arielle Shoshana

I was her very first customer and for a one time only special event she let me buy, and sent all the way to Australia, Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Absolue Pour le Soir. I am totally thrilled by the speed she delivered in, loads of cute stickers on my package, a bunch of interesting samples as well as my beautiful bottle of skankalicious sexy good times horny juice.

Some of the range includes:
Neela Vermeire Creations
Atelier Cologne
Etat Libre d’Orange
Maison Francis Kurkdjian

and many more…….

Mosaic District

2920 District Avenue

Suite 145

Fairfax, VA 22031

Please go have a look at Arielle Shoshana Scented Luxuries site, prices are competitive and Ari is such a sweetie. Let’s help a fellow frag maniac begin something new, create a place for perfumistas to shop by a serious perfumista. Ari, I’m so proud of you and proud to call you my friend.

GOOD LUCK PRINCESS!
Portia xx

Inside Vogue Fashion Editors Wardrobes: Film

September 20, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Portia

Hey there APJ,

Wardrobes! That breeding ground of clothes, the stockpile of a life well lived. Memories of people, travel, times, adventures. Every piece of clothing I own has a story and I treasure all of them, which has made the culling harder and harder over time. Having to keep two wardrobes for two sexes is also a bit demanding. It got to the point where I had to make myself some rules. 10 pairs of shoes for each sex, one in and one out theory. Don’t wear it for a year? Let it go….

Photo Stolen Flickr

I freaking LOVE this series. How great! Recently we saw in Lily Allen’s wardrobe and it was even better than expected, such diversity. In this little piece we are given a sneak peek into two VERY DIFFERENT fashion editors/personalities wardrobes. It’s almost as if they came from different tribes but yet they both do the same job for the same company. Interesting and fun. Inside I harbour both these people who I think are pretty extreme, can’t wait to read what YOU think and how you treat your wardrobe in the comments.

Portia xx

Inside the Wardrobe of the Vogue Fashion Editors

Cuir Amethyste by Michel Almairac for Armani Privé 2005

September 19, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 9 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya Fragrant Fumies,

I came late to the Armani Privé line, it wasn’t until 2011 that I first got my sniff on them. Jin and I had been doing some shopping and one of the nearby malls had the first Armani Privé line in it’s own area that I’d seen. To be honest, I had worn Armani Pour Homme and Emporio Armani Lui in the 1980s & 90s but nothing from the line had spoken to me for years and I figured that the quality of the fragrances had nose dived considerably like so many other brands. It was the bottles that caught our attention with the lovely simple black squares, the smooth cool rocks on top and gold plaques very much like the front door of an expensive restaurant or doctors/lawyers/dentists. We spent a lazy half hour sniffing them all and I had two favourites, Cuir Amethyste and Bois Encens.

By the time I realised that Cuir Amethyste was my favourite Michel Almairac had reworked the idea in a sweeter, suppler version for Bottega Veneta and I was so lost in its spell, especially when it became Jin’s signature, that Cuir Amethyst was forgotten. Step in Aelfrik, I bought a decant from him recently and my love is rekindled sevenfold……

Cuir Amethyste by Armani Privé 2005

Cuir Amethyste by Michel Almairac

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, coriander, rose
Heart: Birch, patchouli, violet
Base: Benzoin, incense, Bourbon vanilla

How could I forget this glorious and majestic beauty, it’s so damn good I just want to lick myself all over and then cuddle up in a ball and suck in the divine scent of myself until I am breathed away on a whisper of wind. I SMELL SO GOOD!

My nose gets sweet citrus, leather and patchouli straight away, the mix is a little bit oud-y and Cuir Amethyste shows me little of anything else up front. Slowly I get a cool, bitter hint of burnt incense and then after about 5-15 minutes depending on the day I get a friendly little violet tap on the shoulder and suddenly Cuir Amethyste is an old, much loved leather bag with some powder and lipstick traces. Cool and friendly, like when we were sent looking in Mum’s bag for coins to buy ice-cream as kids, it’s a real memory scent for me. Maybe that’s why I love it so much.

Photo Stolen Pixabay

Later, much later the vanilla/amber combines with the leather to create the perfect skin scent, the scent you wish your skin had. A fleshy, endearing, healthy breath that warms and sweetens my own body fragrance to something compelling and luscious.In the morning there is still a whisper of leather handbag and makeup, I love Cuir Amethyste so much.

When I finish this 10ml there is a bottle in my future.

Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and Cuir Amethyste
Cuir Amethyste by Armani Privé is available in large department stores

Did you fall for any of the Armani Privé line? Which and why?
Portia x

Post Relationship Debrief: 2 years later

September 15, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 2 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya APJ,

Val has been busy on her sensational tour and we will see her back in a fortnight with loads of pics and fun stories.

I thought I’d post this amazing video. Most of us have been there. You dated someone, it was awesome, you started to see the cracks, you break up, it’s freaking horrendous, you both go your separate ways. Have you ever wondered why, what you could have done, wished back wasted years? Here are two such exes, the interesting thing is how quickly and easily the hurts are reopened, the pain back in full force, yet there is hope. Can the future be brighter for having a real and honest look into each others motivations and growth?

These two short pieces are worth watching,
Have a tissue or hanky ready, this is as raw as it gets.
Portia xx

Ali and Andrew: Post Relationship Debrief

Ali and Andrew Part 1: Why Did You ………. ?

Ali and Andrew were college sweethearts who dated for seven years and then broke up two years ago. See what happens when they sit down face-to-face to talk honestly about what made their relationship fall apart

Ali and Andrew Part 2: Would You ……….. ?

Ali and Andrew are real people who used to be in a relationship. In part two of their sit-down talk, they get honest about what made their relationship fall apart, and whether they would ever get back together.

How did you go? I was a mess. Would you? Could you? Do you think they should have?
Portia xx

Anne-Marie Sniffing in Paris 2015

September 13, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Anne-Marie

Hi All

Last month I spent about a week in Paris on a work trip, all expenses paid. This is NOT the sort of thing that normally happens to me, and right up until I boarded the plane I was expecting the dream to evaporate. But no, I got there, and had a fabulous – albeit hurried – trip to the City of Light.

Photo Stolen Flickr

The Pompidou Centre. Sadly, I did not have time to venture inside.

Anne-Marie Sniffing in Paris 2015

I was with a colleague and we were traveling and in meetings nearly all the time. We had very little time for sightseeing and shopping, but, well, it’s amazing what can be achieved with a bit determination!

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

We were staying at Les Halles and working in the Marais. This made it easy for me to get to my most longed-for shopping destination – a Nicolai boutique. Nicolai Parfumeur Createur was one of the first niche brands I fell in love with but never for an instant did I believe that I would step over the threshold of one of its Parisian boutiques. Well, I did, and it was as delightful as I had always dreamed. Purchases? 30 mls each of Fig-Tea, Weekend in Normandy, and some Vetyver soap.

Photo Stolen GoogleMaps

I must admit a grand fail though. I walked right past the Serge Lutens boutique in the Palais Royal and I was too scared to walk in. Okay, time to confess that I’m not a fan of the brand and never have been. I can’t afford one of its darned bell jars even if I wanted one. The shop exterior creeped me out. And I had a meeting at the Australian embassy later in the afternoon and could I turn up there reeking of Moroccan souks and stewed fruit? No. Just no.

But I stopped at the Parfums de Rosine boutique and was nearly – but not quite – charmed into purchasing Une Zeste de Rose. After that I was quite content with a cup of mint tea and a slice of cake in a café opposite Uncle Serge’s little shop. Tea and cake in the Palais Royal and strolling through the gardens were the highlights of the trip.

Photo Stolen WikiCommons

As for perfume sniffed on the street, I smelled a lot. Most of it I could not identify but I’m certain I got a whiff of Narciso Rodriguez for Her, and twice I smelled Terre d’Hermès quite distinctly. Once was as I was queuing for coffee at Gard du Nord, and once in the hotel lift at my hotel.

The Sephora store in the Marais was nothing grand, but I had fun exploring Yves Rocher (the brand is not sold in Australia), and picked up a bottle of Oriental Shower Oil – so decadent! Perfume shopping concluded with a Cartier mini set bought duty free on the way home.

How about you? Do you have Parisian sniffing adventures to share?

Until next time, have fragrant fun!
Anne-Marie xx

(Ed: Sadly Anne-Marie’s photos were in a form I was unable to translate to WordPress so I had to add some stock shots)

Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

September 9, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Post by Suzanne R Banks

There’s nothing like a nourishing essential oil blend for your body, to soften your skin, cover you with energetic protection and generally keep your spirits up. And there’s no better time than now of course, as we move from one season to the next.

Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

Making a Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body put 7 – 8 drops of essential oils in a little dish and then add 3 teaspoons of carrier oil. Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion. It’s best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and then fill with carrier oil

Winter to Spring Body Oil Blends

This is a time to wake your body up, shed winter skin and get moving! Smell the sweet flowers and get happy ….

1. Getting Ready for Summer Legs

Rosemary 2 drops
Lemon 4 drops
Cypress 2 drops

2. Sprouting Soul

Petitgrain 3 drops
Lavender 3 drops
Patchouli 2 drops

Summer to Autumn Body Oil Blends

A time of lingering summer memories, cooling down and appreciating your life.

1. That Was Fun!

Lemongrass 3 drops
Juniper 2 drops
Cedarwood Virginian 2 drops

2. Winding Down

Bergamot 4 drops
Lavender 2 drops
Indian Rosewood 2 drops

Check out my YouTube Channel too, thanks.
Suzanne R Banks xx

Suzanne R Banks Blog
Suzanne R Banks Aromatherapy
Suzanne R Banks FaceBook

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Amazon USA Amazon AU Amazon UK

Inside the Wardrobe of Lily Allen: Film

September 6, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya APJ,

I love Lily Allen. When I met Jin she was his favourite and he would make me listen to her stuff every car trip we took. So ingrained with the happiness of finding this cool and funny guy is a soundtrack of Lily Allen’s voice overlaying everything. Every adventure we embarked upon in those first months, dates, shopping, meeting friends, everything we did: Lily Allen was with us.

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

So when I found this fun video showing Lily Allen’s wardrobe I was super happy because she seems as fun and cool as I imagined her and so much of how she dresses is how I like to live my life. Grab great bits from loads of random places and try everything, keep what you love, curate and create a life of bits & pieces that you like and love.

I hope you like this sneak peek into the wardrobe of someone who seems to have looked at life with wit and intelligence and made it fit her.
Portia xx

Inside the Wardrobe of Lily Allen

L'Heure de Nuit by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2012

September 2, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hello Stink Monkeys!!

In 2012 L’Heure Bleue had its 100th birthday. In honour of that extraordinary milestone Thierry Wassser and the Guerlain team put together a fabulous set of three new fragrances built around the L’Heure Bleue magic but in essence dedicated to different hours of the day and the only one that made it the regular range is…….

L’Heure de Nuit by Guerlain 2012

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
White musk, orange blossom, iris, heliotrope, jasmine, rose, sandalwood

I have been trying to get this post written for years. I buy a decant and wear it for a day or two, get ready to write my post and “swoosh” the damn decant disappears. Clearly I have been putting them down and in a rush to clean, for one reason or another, the decant gets put away. WELL….. I found one of my earliest L’Heure de Nuit decants (I think) from a Ruth K split. It’s the softest violet grey colour in a smaller decant, so pretty.

Of course the Guerlain mini bee bottle is reason enough to wish for this fragrance but what does it smell like? OMG! How I love this magical fragrance. It is candied violets and musk sticks, sugar plum fairies and hearts desire.

Photo Stolen Flickr

Sheer, smooth and elegant. A cool, sweet smelling beauty that is light as air and hefty as a bowling ball. The first hours sillage is really amazing, especially considering how soft the fragrance feels to wear. I know the notes don’t list licorice or anise but I smell them softly woven through the flowers, lightly rooty and diaphanous white floral that really conjures up the feeling of evening in the placid cool of winter Paris, where the air is crystal clear and you are warmed in your long-johns and puffer jacket. MMMMMM. The sense of quiet expectation hinted at in L’Heure Bleue is fully realised in this modern lilac reinterpretation. Sweet, floral, magical expectation. On a night like this……

Jin having a hot banana chocolate waffle dusk Paris Jan 2013

Longevity is out of this world. I spritzed L’Heure de Nuit at around midnight last night, it’s nearly 2pm and I still have a sweet and creamy fragrance dolloped over a wash of much nicer than laundry musks. It’s still clean and fresh smelling and when I stick my head into my T-Shirt and the freshness is mixed with my after sleep man smell the whole fragrance is really yummy.

Further reading: Candy Perfume Boy and Alembicated Genie
Guerlain counters at larger department stores or Guerlain stand alone stores stock L’Heure de Nuit
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $6.50/ml

Did you get to try L’Heure de Nuit?
Portia xx

L’Heure de Nuit by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2012

September 2, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hello Stink Monkeys!!

L’Heure de Nuit by Guerlain 2012

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
White musk, orange blossom, iris, heliotrope, jasmine, rose, sandalwood

Photo Stolen Flickr

Jin having a hot banana chocolate waffle dusk Paris Jan 2013

Did you get to try L’Heure de Nuit?
Portia xx

Greg Lauren by Ralf Schwieger for Barneys New York 2013

August 29, 2015 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Post by Portia

Heya APJ,

Here is another from the Natalie APB Gift Bag. As I slowly make my waythrough them I am finding it increasingly interesting the things that she felt I ought to try, or that would be very me. This looks like a 5 or 8ml decant and when Natalie gave me the bag she said to pay special attention to anything larger than a sample.

The backstory is that Greg Lauren is the nephew of “Ralph”, an actor turned artist and fashion designer. His 2016 S/S Mens is very down & out in Beverly Hills, working in a coal mine, plantation worker, op shop chic and sleeping rough. I saw only two pieces in the whole parade that had me even mildly interested but I think perhaps I’m no longer his target market. The boots in the first half reminded me of Van Gogh’s boots and some of the hats were killer in an Oliver kind of way. Actually, even though I hated most of it and thought it pretentious pap I did enjoy the theatricality and the bleak colour palette, there was also a fair amount of whimsy in there.

Greg Lauren by Barneys New York 2013

Greg Lauren by Ralf Schwieger

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Sea notes, tonka bean, vanilla

Greg Lauren for Barneys is really good. Fragrant but demure, yet it is insistent that you notice it. It calmly straddles the department store/designer/niche divide and elegantly plants itself as something other, something a little more interesting. For me the sea notes reign, they are a great crossover between the gym set aquatics of the 1990s and the modern beach scent, there is something oddly disquieting about the notes as if you are near the boardwalk and every now and then you get a hint of the seaweed and scunge collected there.

Tonka and vanilla are there right from the start and in the beginning it is ALL about the thick, sweet resinous warmth which is cut through with this seaside something other. My mind is taken firmly to one of the Andrea Maack frags and also to a crew that did seasonal frags that I liked but can’t remember their name. There is also a salty-buttered popcorn thing that wanders around and in & out.

Photo Stolen Barneys New York

Every Greg Lauren for Barneys wear is different and each time I pick up new things: caramel, dried flowers, burning oil, spices, coconut, hair wax, Indian milk sweets and bread. There is also a salty-buttered popcorn thing that wanders around and in & out. Freaky fragrance but Oh-So-Wearable. This one will definitely get you noticed and it sticks like glue, 19 hours later there is still a hum of difference over my skin.

If I was in the USA right now I would have been on my way to the store by now and have bought myself a bottle, Natalie was right, this is totally freaking YUMMY!

A few of the reviewers talk about the perfumer Ralf Schwieger who has made some fairly sensational niche stuff including Afternoon of a Faun by ELdO, Iris Nazarena by Aedes de Venustas, Orange Sanguine for Atelier Cologne and Christopher Street for Charenton Macerations. Everyone talks about how he hand finished every bottle in a paint splattered, antiqued, derelict hipster way. I think that’s cool.

Photo Stolen Barneys New York

Further reading: Now Smell This and Ca Fleure Bon
Barneys New York site has $195/100ml
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/.5ml

Did you get to try it? Has Greg Lauren shown up on your radar yet?
Portia xx

Australian Perfume Junkies

Olfactory Opinions from Oz

style

NEW STORE: Arielle Shoshana

NEW STORE: Arielle Shoshana

Inside Vogue Fashion Editors Wardrobes: Film

Inside the Wardrobe of the Vogue Fashion Editors

Cuir Amethyste by Michel Almairac for Armani Privé 2005

Cuir Amethyste by Armani Privé 2005

Cuir Amethyste by Michel Almairac

Post Relationship Debrief: 2 years later

Ali and Andrew: Post Relationship Debrief

Ali and Andrew Part 1: Why Did You ………. ?

Ali and Andrew Part 2: Would You ……….. ?

Anne-Marie Sniffing in Paris 2015

Anne-Marie Sniffing in Paris 2015

Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

Body Oil Recipes for Seasonal Change

Making a Nourishing Body Oil Blend

Winter to Spring Body Oil Blends

Summer to Autumn Body Oil Blends

Inside the Wardrobe of Lily Allen: Film

Inside the Wardrobe of Lily Allen

L'Heure de Nuit by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2012

L’Heure de Nuit by Guerlain 2012

L’Heure de Nuit by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2012

L’Heure de Nuit by Guerlain 2012

Greg Lauren by Ralf Schwieger for Barneys New York 2013

Greg Lauren by Barneys New York 2013

Greg Lauren by Ralf Schwieger