Beyonce Heat by Claude Dir and Olivier Gillotin 2010

September 23, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Post by Katrina

According to People, the “Heat” collection of signature scents from Beyonce has been named the best-selling celebrity fragrance brand worldwide. The original Beyonce Heat was released in 2010 and to date there are 5 fragrances in the heat line. The latest special edition heat is The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour Limited Edition. Today I am reviewing the first fragrance in the Heat line.

Beyonce Heat by Claude Dir and Olivier Gillotin 2010

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Beyonce Heat features the following notes according to Fragrantica:
Top: Red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and peach
Heart: Honeysuckle, almond and musky cream
Base: Sequoia wood, tonka and amber

Heat opens with a burst of sweet peach. The peach is strong and sweet. As the sweetness of the peach softens the floral notes and a soft creamy musk get stronger. Beyonce Heat becomes warm and earthy as it lingers on my skin. I prefer wearing Heat on hot days when the gorgeous base notes really open up. In cooler weather I don’t get much more than peach from the fragrance and it lacks the warm, sultry feel which is what this perfume is all about. During summer the peach is complemented with vanilla and amber and it smells rich, warm and sultry.

Photo Stolen SheKnowsEntertainment

The original Heat in the red bottle was one of the first celebrity perfumes in my collection. The advertising for the original Beyonce Heat shows Beyonce looking very hot indeed.

FragranceNet has 100ml for $25.19

If you haven’t seen it before you must check out Cinderonce – the story of Cinderella told through Beyonce song but the Fairy Drag Mother really steals the show. Enjoy!

Check out my website for Celebrity Perfume News and Reviews

Katrina xx
The Making Of “Beyonce Heat” Commercial. VERY COOL!

Beyonce performs SINGLE LADIES on Good morning America. FLAWLESS

RAPE! It’s Your Fault.

September 22, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 10 Comments

Hello Australian Perfume Junkies no matter where you are,

Indian actresses talk about rape. This is a clever, shocking and confronting piece that you need to watch. I am astounded that the west hasn’t done something like this already.

Photo Stolen Samantha Marx Flickr

Please share this video everywhere you can. If even one person is not raped because of it then it is a success.

Rape is NOT your fault.

Portia xx

One Direction: Our Moment: Perfume Ad + Making Of…

September 20, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 11 Comments

Hey Hey APJ Friends & Family,

Here is something that usually I’d steer well clear of. Something about it has had me sneaking peeks every time a bit comes up on FB or YouTube. So I gave in, why not?

One Direction: Our Moment

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Pink grapefruit, forest fruits and red currant
Heart: Freesia, jasmine and frangipani
Base: Woodsy notes, patchouli and musk

Though Our Moment is no ground breaker it is not a bad scent. It could have been WAY WORSE. Though I will probably not own a bottle myself I can see that many, many people will and that this fragrance will be a memory scent for them. It will remind them of great times, fab/fun music, carefree days and their crush on one of the One Direction boys. the bottle is a fun and frivolous nod to one of the other greats of the UK, Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir, and they present it as if a piece of them went into creating it. Better than expected all round really.

One thing that I will say is that I spritzed a card on Saturday last week, it’s now Friday morning and I can still smell the woods/patchouli and I swear synth. vanilla on the card. If this was what the first spritz smelled like I would buy a bottle because it smells wonderful.

Portia xxx

Photo Stolen WikiMedia

One Direction: Our Moment: Making Of..

One Direction: Our Moment: Perfume Ad

DIOR ‘Esprit Dior’ exhibition Shanghai – Liu Jianhua interview

September 19, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hello APJ,

Here is an interview with Liu Jianhua, the designer of a marvelously opulent set for the DOIR ‘Esprit Dior’ exhibition Shanghai. He is shown erecting the installation and talks of how he came to some of his artistic decisions and the links he brings from Christian Dior’s own magical presence in the exhibition. In under 2 minutes the director has captured both the beauty and intensity of Liu Jianhua’s vision and some of how he brought it to life.

Photo Stolen Wikipedia

Please enjoy.
Portia xx

Noir for Men by Tom Ford 2012

September 18, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Post by Margeaux

Hullo again stinkers!

6 months after falling nose first into the world of fragrances, I have inhaled more perfumes than I ever imagined. Some have been good, a few have been exceptional, and a lot have been nice, which is just my way of saying they were boring or uninspired.

Today’s scent is one that I had been dying to whiff, and finally thanks to Portia’s ingenuity with scheduling, I was able to do just that recently when we had our big day out in the city to partake in the incredible Piguet Masterclass. Post class we sashayed straight up to the Tom Ford counter in David Jones (department store) and I made a beeline to the gorgeously modern sleek and striking bottle of Noir for Men.

I spritzed the tester a couple of times onto the back of my hand and waited to learn exactly what this newish fragrance was all about.

Tom Ford Noir for Men 2012

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, verbena, caraway, pink pepper and violet
Heart: Black pepper, nutmeg, Tuscan iris, geranium, Bulgarian rose and clary sage
Base: Opoponax, amber, Indonesian patchouli leaf, vetiver, civet, vanilla, styrax, leather and benzoin.

To be completely honest, I am still feeling my way through the individual notes, so I am kind of no help to you there. But what I do know, is that Noir is quickly becoming one of my favourite scents. The opening is good, solidly manly without a hint of lumberjack anywhere to be found thanks to (and I’m guessing here) the bergamot and violet. Once it settles down, the beautiful flowers play delicately with the spices in a deliciously sensuous embrace that is both comforting and comfortable. Tom Ford isn’t out on a limb here people, this is totally accessible.

For me however, the ending is where the magic happens, and although having a good look again at the myriad of notes, it could’ve possible gone terribly awry but Noir somehow builds to a crescendo of sophistication and elegance that I cannot get enough of. In particular, I’m loving the patchouli, amber and leather combo for some serious stench, with a tiny hint of vanilla to keep everything in check. Nothing here is too much.

As this is an EDP, it seems willing to hang around for many hours and even on my thirsty skin I can get a full 10-12 hours of gorgeous smell, with it lingering for many hours afterwards if I manage to avoid the shower. I’ve already gone through a 2ml sample and quickly nearing the end of a 5ml sample so I fully expect that this will become my newest full bottle purchase or perhaps someone will gift it to me for my birthday??? 🙂

Photo Stolen noision1 Flickr

Either way, Tom Ford has scored another winner for the man who desires class and elegance without fuss. Noir is beautiful and nuanced and wholly recommended.

Further reading: Candy Perfume Boy and Black Narcissus
FragranceNet has $124/100ml
Surrender To Chance offers samples from $4/ml

If you’ve smelled it, what did you think?

(Ed: I still think he looks like TVs M.A.S.H. Major Frank Burns)

L’Artisan + Piguet GIVEAWAY WINNERS

September 16, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 1 Comment

Hey there APJ!

We have been having some super draws lately, aren’t you all the luckiest EVER! Thank you to Nick at LibertinePerfumerie for being so amazingly generous, please drop in and see them because they are the best. The more shopping traffic they get from us then theb more freebees they will give us for giveaways. Now there’s a WIN for everyone.

Here’s a little pressie for you all, I love the way these boys do So Sick by Neyo. Enjoy!!

L’Artisan + Piguet GIVEAWAY WINNERS

WHAT CAN YOU WIN?

1 x 50ml Robert Piguet FUTUR
1 x 2.5 gram L’Artisan Parfumeur Concrete de Parfum Solid of Premier Figuier

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 so I know. Yes, you can start following to enter, in fact it’s encouraged.

All I need is a HELLO with how you follow for you to be eligible for the draw.

Extra Chance?
Tweet: @OzPerfumeJunkie @LArtisan @RobertPiguet GIVEAWAY http://wp.me/p3PURw-1Xp #Perfume #Giveaway

HOUSEKEEPING

Entries Close Sunday 15th September 2013 10pm Australian EST and winners will be announced in a separate post.
Winners will be chosen by putting names on same sized papers, folded similarly, put on a tray and Jin will pick a winner. (Jin was asleep so I picked)

Photo Stolen YouTube

Mihaela U

You have till Wednesday 18th September 2013 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.

Special THANKS to LibertinePerfumerie for these giveaways. Please visit their site because they are so generous and helpful. If you wonder why they are more expensive than the discounters or OS retailers it’s because they are the only licensed company selling their fragrances in Australia; where you know you are buying new, fresh and genuine product. The cost of importing, and buying the right to import, alcohol based fragrances (and having the right to send alcohol based fragrances throughout Australia, which are illegal to send in the Australia Post air system) is expensive and they must cover their costs to bring you these luxury goods.

James Franco: Made To Measure by GUCCI Mini Movie

September 13, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 4 Comments

Hello lovers of fabulous frag ads,

GUCCI has made a stunning choice in James Franco, looking debonair and dangerous he owns the screen and makes me want to retry Made To Measure. As I was profoundly disappointed with my original testing I think I need to go back and give Made To Measure by GUCCI another chance, James Franco has turned my head, and how…..

Made To Measure by GUCCI 2013

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Calabrian bergamot, Tunisian orange blossom, French lavender and aniseed
Heart: Sri Lanka nutmeg, water lily, juniper berries, plum and cinnamon
Base: Labdanum, patchouli, leather and amberLabdanum, patchouli, leather and amber

James Franco: Made To Measure by GUCCI Mini Movie

Photo Stolen GUCCI

Do please enjoy these.
Portia xx

The Making Of…

The Made To Measure Mini Movie

Amber Pour Homme Intense by Prada 2011

September 7, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 7 Comments

Hey hey Girls & Guys,

I have a buddy Scott, he is pretty new to the perfume craving and has fallen deeply into the wormhole. Every now and then he brings me something to try. Isn’t that one of THE greatest things about having perfumista buddies? We all try different stuff and come back and comment, engage, love/hate, lemming and enjoy the whole process. Living in a big city makes it easy to face to face with people but even the fragrance boards on FaceBook have been instrumental in my finding of fragrance friends, all over the world so if I’m suffering insomnia there is someone around the world ready to chat. From a lonely little fragrance addicted person to part of a culture and community is a wonderful change.

Amber Pour Homme Intense by Prada 2011

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Italian bergamot, Somalia myrrh, Indonesian patchouli, Madagascan vanilla, amber, patchouli, labdanum, vetiver, orange blossom, geranium, tonka, musk, leather, sandalwood, saffron

When I think Prada fragrance it’s often sheer, linear and smooth. A gentle wash of fragrance that can carry you from breakfast to ballroom and is so calm and contemplative that unless you are seriously waiting for progression to happen can basically run from go to whoa as a single piece. I love that whole aesthetic, simple and uncluttered in Prada’s design and think the brand is clever, innovative and middle tier luxe in their mass market offerings. Think Prada Candy and flankers, also the infusion range, very well put together and easy to wear fragrance with a moderate life and less than average sillage and scent bubble. You will smell good but not loud, which for much of the world is how they like their fragrances.

Photo Stolen FromTheNorth Flickr

Prada’s Amber Pour Homme Intense is a different kettle of fish. It opens strong and right off the skin jumps patchouli, myrrh, amber and vanilla with that spicy/plastic saffron and a backdrop of butter, that may be sandalwood or orange blossom or their combination. the bergamot only makes its presence known on my second application over the first later in the day and it could be the pretty rasp of geranium that I notice here too? I don’t know for sure but what I do know is that Amber Pour Homme Intense is weightier than all the other Pradas that I’ve tried, it smells more niche to me, a little less smooth and perfect, smokier and dirtier in a good way. More fun, adventurous and is there a little naughty? Like the moment in movies when finally the hair is let down, the tie and top button undone, where people start to forget their walls and start enjoying the moment. Not heavy, or cloying, there is still the Prada spareness but Amber Pour Homme Intense seems to be comfortable enough with itself that it might give a saucy wink or have a drink or do something unexpected, not outrageous but new. Do I make sense? Maybe a banker who takes their shoes off to feel the grass and sun at lunchtime or a director who decides that a Monday brainstorm at the pub at 4pm might provide better results than at a formal boardroom meeting, still a private room but less uptight. A lovely soft oriental fragrance that becomes very slightly skinnish towards the end of its life at around 4 hours.Have I noted that this is a perfectly unisex offering, please don’t think it’s for one or the other, Amber Pour Homme Intense is a good, very reasonably priced, everyone scent.

Photo Stolen Matthias Rhomberg Flickr

Further reading: Chemist In A Bottle talks about original Amber Pour Homme and Now Smell This talks Intense
FragranceNet has $42/50ml before coupon
My Perfume Samples starts at $3.50/ml

Have you tried either of the Prada Amber Pour Homme’s? Original or Intense? Do you agree with my unisex thought? Would you wear it?
See you tomorrow,
Portia xx

Robert Pattinson for DIOR Homme 2011: Interview, Making Of and Mini Movie

September 6, 2013 / australianperfumejunkiescom / 8 Comments

Hello Happy Huffers,

Robert Pattinson is the new face of DIOR Homme and has worked very closely with Romain Gavras the Greek/French director and DIOR on bringing a piece of interesting advertising to us. He speaks well in the interview and has a real appreciation for the wearer of DIOR Homme fragrance that comes across in the interview and the mini movie. Here is Australian Perfume Junkies look at the original DIOR Homme