Hiya,
Here’s one for the boys and the ladies, and men, who love them. This was originally one of my favourite masculine fragrances, the 2011 reformulation has changed it and at least DIOR was kind enough to give us a complete heads up about it all. It is different, and that is sad but still a worthy fragrance to hold the masculine mainstream at DIOR.
DIOR Homme by Francois Demarchy 2011
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords: Top: Lavender, sage, bergamot Heart: Iris, amber, cacao Base: Vetiver, patchouli, leather.
I hope you love the movie, like I do,
Portia xx
Dior Homme Shadow Movie by Willy Vanderperre released 13/9/12
This is one of my favourite go to scents. It seems to be a good fit for almost anything. Dressy, casual, close or far. It never interferes with what I’m doing or those around me yet it also manages to garner compliments often when it gets some public skin time. And while that happens a bit, with no other fragrance is it so regular. I have also got other people in my orbit hooked on its luscious softness.
Narciso Rodriguez For Her EdT 2004
Photo stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords: Top: African orange flower, osmanthus Heart: Amber., musk Base: Vanilla, amber, vetiver
Whenever I get the first waft of Narciso Rodriguez for Her I immediately feel light, lovely, happy and thankful that I am a perfumista and that Narciso Rodriguez for Her came into my life. It’s a little like the feeling as you take off in an airplane to go somewhere lavish and interesting. SWOOSH up my nose flows a translucent shimmer of what I always thought was a sweet rose but it turns out to be African orange flower and osmanthus! Oh well, I’ve been wrong before. The musk is already there, soapy and sugary like musk sticks that we ate as children. I still eat them sometimes! Jin can’t eat them because to him they are exactly like eating cheap Korean soap from his youth.
The amber I get on my skin is sweet and dry, no bitterness just a creamy vanillic amber that presents as smooth and cool as the big fat opaque pale eggs of low grade amber that I find so distinctive and beautiful in jewellery. Together the whole blends during the heart to give the impression of beautiful skin fresh from the pool, just dried so still damp but slightly salty and the blood is pumping so the flesh is warming quickly. I find the heart of Narciso Rodriguez for Her to be nearly narcotic in its peaceful pleasureability. I swoon with a Stendhal syndrome effect because it’s so damn lovely. When I wear Narciso Rodriguez for Her I sometimes wish I could be a one frag person, don’t worry it doesn’t last.
How did they get it so sheer and so hefty? Sillage is fabulous and the scent bubble is too yet it’s never overwhelming and I think it a perfect working scent, as well as the sexy come hither scent, and one you can pick the kids up from school in. It seems there is nowhere that would be inappropriate. No wonder this has been such a popular, game changing scent.
Further reading PerfumeShrine takes you through all the variations available and BoisDeJasmine contrasts it with sister scent SJP Lovely FragranceShop has 50ml/$48.50 after discount MyPerfumeSamples starts at $2.50/ml up to $7.50/5ml
Have you spent some time with Narciso Rodriguez fragrances? Do you have a favourite iteration?
Thanks for wandering through my fragrant musings,
Love to you and yours,
Portia xx
I’ll tell you a secret. I love Songes by Annick Goutal but I know it won’t last a full work night on me so I under layer on my stomach and backs of knees with LUSH 25:43. The Annick Goutal lasts about 2-3 hours and then 25:43 takes over and they are brilliant together. Every time I wear them as a duo people ask, compliment etc.
Songes by Isabelle Doyen for Annick Goutal 2005
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Frangipani, tiare flowers, jasmine sambac absolute, ylang-ylang, French vanilla
A floaty, dreamy, white night flower and vanilla glamourpuss of a fragrance that is fun, festive and elegant for the flirty seductress that you are inside. Songes will let her out and make the world aware of your intentions.
25:43 by Mark and Simon Constantine for LUSH 2012
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Tonka bean, lime, lemongrass, ylang-ylang, myrtle, vanilla, litsea, hay
Still dreamy but less float and more heft. Greener and more resinous 25:43 is way more tenacious and really starts its most beautiful section at about the 2 hour point where the vanilla, tonka and ylang shine to a soft vanillic whisper at about 6 hours that lingers and lingers.
This mini movie has nothing to do with today’s topic but it’s too lovely to let slide another moment. Till tomorrow, ENJOY!!
Portia xx
Louis Vuitton Presents 2012 Digital at a Glance
Fragrantica gives the following notes. Top: Orange blossom and black pepper Heart: Peony, freesia and peach Base: Amber, musk, styrax, brown sugar and white cedar extract
Elixir is a gorgeous oriental fragrance by Colombian born singer Shakira. Some of her biggest hits include ‘Whenever, Wherever’ and ‘Hips Don’t Lie’. Shakira works with Spanish perfume house Puig along with Antonio Banderas who has a swag of celebrity scents. I’ve been really impressed by the few I’ve tried by these Latino celebs and eager to try more, particularly the original S by Shakira, another oriental perfume.
I love wearing Shakira Elixir and hubby loves smelling it on me. He seems to find it very alluring! Right from the start I get a lot of wood, which I love. It is warm and spicy, tending towards masculine. In the background are some lovely floral notes and a hint of sweetness that provides balance to the perfume. I was surprised to see peach listed in the fragrance notes. Now I know its there I can pick it out but I didn’t notice any peach until I started looking for it. The peach, brown sugar and powdery musk are more noticeable in the heatwave that has hit.
I love the commercial and packaging for Elixir. The design on the box is so pretty and the bottle is shaped like a flask used to create a mysterious intoxicating elixir. The Elixir commercial is set in a desert landscape with Shakira wearing a beautiful flowing skirt.
Shakira Elixir is anything but the sweet fruity floral you often find with celebrity perfumes. This warm oriental perfume is gorgeous and my only criticism is the lasting power, which isn’t great. . When I first spray on Elixir is seems quite heavy but it doesn’t last and I need to re-spritz through the day.
I love the heading today, it reads like a snuff film, doesn’t it! Sorry to let you all down but back in September last year Victoria on BoisDeJasmine showed this Behind-The-Scenes movie of the way an Axe fragrance is created, I imagine much the same as fine fragrance with a miniscule budget. It shook me a little because though I kind of understood that millions of people were involved in creating the smells of our daily lives I do sometimes forget that these people who, even though they can and do, aren’t making fine fragrance and are still about doing the best they can within extremely rigid parameters. It really opened my eyes.
The patent excitement shown for getting the job of Axe Fragrancers is wonderful and genuine. No one is even hinting that they’d rather be doing JPG’s next blockbuster, there is no embarrassment. Just some great people doing a job that will bring fragrance to a bunch of people. Interesting.
I am very conscious that sometimes I come across as condescending. I mean none of it here and am seriously happy that these guys are great at their jobs and love it, whatever end cost level they are working at in the moment. In fact, a big Axe contract would net the manufacturers way more money that a niche fine fragrance win would.
Jin and I are off on holidays. We leave today and I’m FREAKING EXCITED!! I haven’t taken a holiday in over 2 years and we are doing some catching up. I thought you might like our itinerary in case you happen to be in or around the cities we are visiting and would like to meet in person for a coffee, dinner, fragrance sniff, tour, dance, show or maybe you would like to meet me so you can slap my face. WHAT EVAH!! We’ll be glad to meet you no matter the reason and we can do pictures to show on the blog. It will be awesome!! Leave a comment here. If you follow the blog via email then I will be able to reply easily.
19th jan Slovakia (Meeting and hanging with Jin’s brother and family)
21th jan Prague
25th jan Vienna (Birgit and family! Dinner and shopping)
30th jan Budapest
4th feb Venice
7th feb Paris (Neela Vermeire!)
12th feb Korea (Meeting Jin’s parents)
19th feb Australia
Daily Fragrance Reviews will continue as normal, barring serious incidents. I have pre-done a few and some will be done on the road. Most of our Guest Posts are in but a couple missed the boat, and if you think I’m editing on my HOLIDAY you can go get nicked. Saturday and Sunday may suffer from can’t-be-bothered-itis. I am hoping to do some happy snaps and bought this week stuff but it may not happen. Honesty reads like laziness and you can be pretty sure there’ll be some of that around. If I am a bit less diligent in my comment answering I know you’ll understand too.
Please try and guess which of these frags I’ll be wearing on the plane from Sydney to our stopover in Korea? The first and second to get it right will get a 5ml decant of one of the fragrances I buy in Paris or Venice.
Bulgari BLV Pour Homme
CHANEL No 5
Aftelier Parfum de Maroc
Narciso Rodriguez for Her
Guerlain Lys Soleia
Annick Goutal Mandragore
Bal a Versailles
Versace Dreamer
Diorissimo Vintage Parfum
Estee Lauder Brasil Dream
Olympic Orchids Ballets Rouges
Paris Hilton Siren
Versace Blonde
CHANEL no 19 Parfum
Royal Bain de Caron
DKNY Gold
Patou 1000
SOIVOHLE Rosa sur Reuse
Nikki de Saint Phalle
CdG Incense
Estee Lauder Azuree
Guerlain Shalimar Vintage EdT
Hermes Un Jardin Apres La Mousson
Gucci Guilty
A Wing & A Prayer Berkeley
Annick Goutal Songes
Guerlain Jasminora
One Seed Courage
Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights
I’ll still be in touch. Cherio!!
Portia xx
Peter, Paul & Mary LIVE
It’s no secret that I love house Guerlain. I enjoy their famous oldies, am constantly pleasantly surprised by many of their new releases and a few lately have had me gasping because they are so incredible. Somehow, though I love the movie that advertises today’s fragrance I thought I would hate it and that it was going to be basically a bad squeaky sugar dripping CelebuScent but at a higher price point.
It is my sister’s Birthday today so if you’re reading Jodie. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
There has been some exciting goings on with La Petite Robe Noire by Guerlain. Originally small release, then a big release sequel and now a tweaked big release original. Guerlain light is how I want to describe what I smell on my skin. It is fruity, flirty and fun, smells expensive and modern but also pushes a few of my perfumista buttons. the opening is all the frightful fizzy sweet now frag but the almonds and anise give it a heft and warmth that is quite unexpected. Though it is a gourmand the raspberry macaroons and vanilla are only mildly bakery-ish, this is a slightly grown up, sophisticated version of what is a very mainstream acceptable fragrance. Thierry Wasser has walked a very fine line and while maintaining the integrity of the Guerlain history brings us, and the youth market that is moving on up from Bieber and Beyonce, something wholly wearable and wholly Guerlain, or should that read Holy Guerlain.
Thomas at TheCandyPerfumeBoy notes that in this incarnation the rose steals the heart and I’m inclined to agree. A marvelous fruity and slightly spicy, honeyed rose that does a continued dance with the anise/licorice and the sugary, fruity macaroon. As the base comes through it is the vanilla and musk that really perform on my skin leaving a sweet laundry smell, more like the laundry liquid than the clean garments, over a vanilla. The patchouli must be washed clean because I barely notice it at all and very little smoke or tea. This could just be my skin and out weather here in Oz.
About 3-6 hours on different days of real fragrance and a little too fragrant for work I think unless you are the boss or not in close contact. Excellent dress up or date night wear and surprisingly for something skewed so feminine it is ripper on TSO Jin.
Do you ever believe something is going to be ghastly and then try it only to find out that it is lovely and wearable? You must have at least one story to share, please do in the comments below.
Till tomorrow. I’m off to have a cup of tea and a biscuit, really I feel I’ve earned it.
Loads of love,
Portia xx.
One of the things I love, and hate, about being a fragrance addict is short release fragrances, usually summer releases that stay for one season. Sometimes they are rebottlings, flankers or in very special cases a whole new fragrance that a niche perfumer may only make one batch of.
Tropic Lime Vanille by Liz Zorn for Siovohle 2012
Photo Stolen SOIVOHLE
BaseNotes gives these featured accords: Top Notes: Lime, linden (lime) blossom, coconut Middle Notes: Jasmine, apricot, white violet, clean linen, petigrain sur fleur Base Notes: Bourbon vanilla, benzoin, musk
From Liz Zorn’s blog (edited): A completely new formulation. Tropic Lime Vanille is a fun summery indulgence. It is a refreshing scent that has just enough of the creaminess from the coconut and apricot notes to keep it from being too flimsy, and enough of the citrus to keep it light. My goal was to weave that lime essence as far into the dry-down as possible. I love lime, it is one of my favorite things. so it is really the centerpiece here.
For a refreshing spritz or a memory of summer and holidays abroad there is no better fragrance than Tropic Lime Vanille. The instant burst of lime and coconut is a burst of energy for the enervating long days of summer, yesterday it was 42C (108F) here in Sydney, still 35C (95F) when I came home from work at 10pm!! Seriously hot weather folks and after I’d taken my gear off and had a swim it seemed the only choice.
After the initial citrus and creamy coconut opening the fruit and flowers settle very nicely and quietly. I become nearly anosmic to the scent but if I return to my office after making a cup of coffee or a chat the smell is glorious. Jin says it leaves a wonderful soft sillage too, or when I’ve been sitting with him for a minute or so he’ll say that I smell lovely. Interesting huh?
The vanilla end starts from early in the heart and slowly takes over Tropic Lime Vanille as the other ingredients burn off leaving and very soft musky vanilla that is only a smidge of scent overlain on my own skin. This takes around 4 hours in summer but a bit longer in the cooler weather. This morning after sleeping in that terrible heat with the AC on till 3am I can still smell something good that isn’t me and it’s 10am. Just the merest something that is nothing better.
Recently Liz Zorn has refined the SOIVOHLE range to Absolutes and Demi-Absolutes and you can find her incredibly beautiful and interesting works on the SOIVOHLE site.
There is a limited amount of Tropic Lime Vanille in the Clearance Section of the site 15ml EdT for $15 BE QUICK!!
They have a fantastic selection and the sample program is really good too. Check out my faves: TOBACCO & TULLE, LEATHER KREM, ANUBIS
Which short term fragrances have you loved and maybe do you miss? Have you tried SOIVOHLE’s fragrances? Tell us in the comments, we love a chat.
See you tomorrow,
Till then do something thoughtful for yourself,
Portia xx
Something fun and uplifting to go with Tropic Lime Vanille. Danni Minogue does Put The Lime In The Coconut
I have a fragrance find for you all. You will probably be outraged that I even put this Drug Store dross here on a fine fragrance blog. I’m not sure I’m 100% thrilled at myself. Back up a few months, early last year, I tried for a gag one of the Paris Hilton line of fragrances. It was deeply discounted and you know, what the hell right? Tragically I LOVED it. Loved the damn thing SICK!! Bought a bottle of it and wear it quite a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I knew and still know it’s crap. It smells AWESOME on, and to, me though and I’ll be damned if I’ll give up frag enjoyment to snob value. Some of you are nodding, others are retching violently. It was a bitter pill for me to swallow too. That was Siren, now there’s another and I swear they put something addictive in this stuff because I CAN’T GET ENOUGH!!
So, mildly funny story. I thought this was a rose perfume before I read the notes list. HA HA HA!! That’s how perfectly indistinguishable this fragrance is. It opens waxy and orange blossom with a slight greenness. It stays like this for around a quarter of an hour or so with a borderline breathiness, underneath that though there is a rich fruity rose smell, like one from your garden. Apricot Nectar is the name of the rose that this reminds me of and when I read that it’s peach and lotus it kind of makes sense to me, the gardenia could easily be a part of the orange blossom, an extension rather than its own note. Then Fairy Dust becomes a waxy super clean patchouli and vanilla. I get 3-4 hours, sometimes longer.
If you wear Fairy Dust you could easily get away with saying the fragrance is your fabric softener clinging tenaciously to your clothes. There is something very clean laundry about it. That sounds like I hate it but I’m thoroughly addicted. I’m going to go respritz right now!!
Do you ever feel fragrance shame? Maybe feel like you are letting all the incredible niche perfumers down? I certainly do and would love to hear your stories of loving the Dark Fragrances… Come out of that closet and share.
Loads of love.
Portia xx
EmmaKate here to share another great scent of my silly season. I gave this to a true love in my life. It was purchased for my baby brother who is 25 and gorgeous.
Fragrantica describes Aqua di Gio Essenza EdP- “The composition begins with luminous tones of cascalone molecule, which captures the olfactory experience of cold and fresh water, sparkling citrusy bergamot and grapefruit. The heart bares floral and aromatic accords of jasmine, basil and sage, as well as explosive floral paradisone molecule, while the base combines notes of patchouli, cedar, vetiver, ambrox, ambergris, pepper and clary sage.”
Part of the Aqua di Gio story, Essenza is like a splash of fresh sexy water, which intensifies and evolves into a woody, citrusy full bodied scent. This has been designed to be a more intense version of the original and is an Eau de Parfum, I say- they have succeeded. This fragrance is a classic scent to give a guy who is new to fragrance or wants something easy to wear. Super easy to wear, super easy to smell, it is one of those fragrances that would make you follow that delicious man around the bar.
Me being me, I sprayed the scent and wore it for the day, a few things happened, I wanted to make out with myself, the scent evolved into a very sensual citrus and it wore for about 8 hours. This definitely wears far longer then the original, luckily as this is an Eau de Parfum. Overall this gets a big tick from me for something any of the men in your life would be happy to receive!
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Photo stolen Fragrantica
Photo Stolen 
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Australian Perfume Junkies 