Hey there APJ!
Last Wednesday we had our first APJ Day Out. There were 13 of us, normally an unlucky number, but it turned out to be super lucky. We were treated extremely well by all the stores we went to, were given two amazing Masterclasses and loads of samples. It was great to meet some of you for the first time and an excellent opportunity for those of us who are already buddies to catch up, talk fragrance, shop, laugh and generally enjoy each others company. FABULOUS!
As we arrived a little early for our masterclass with Joe Garces, the CEO of Robert Piguet, I thought it would be a great time to pop across to Hermes, where the wonderful Jean was our hostess. She happily took us through some of my favourite scents in the Jean Claude Ellena Hermessence range and also some more of the Hermes fragrance catalogue including the Jardin range and then introduced me to one of their scents that I had never spent any time with, Rouge. WOW!! I can definitely see a full bottle in my very near future. Thank you Jean. XXX
Off to Libertine Parfumerie stand in David Jones Sydney City Store basement to meet Nick, the sexy proprietor, Gary and Dan, the regular SAs and a new boy whose name escapes me, sorry. There too was Joe Garces, and Joe took us through quite a lot of the range. It wasn’t much about notes etc, we were taken through the creation stories of each fragrance, the troubles, the inspiration and the triumphs. It was an illuminating class and I came away better informed about the way perfumes are created in a mass market niche company. Joe has effectively turned a dying dinosaur of a business back into a going concern with his and his teams plans. He is justifiably proud of the company’s achievements and really loves the perfumes he produces and sells, enthusiasm shining from and infectious. I tried a slew of the range that I had thought definitely NOT my style and walked away with a couple of new loves, a bottle of Bois Noir and a special gift roll on of VISA. YAY!! Review coming soon. Everyone was allowed to choose a Piguet fragrance to sample and were given very generous spray samples.
Then I took the crew up to the Tom Ford section at DJs. The SA there was so pretty, knowledgeable and helpful showing us some of the range and introducing many of us to Sahara Noir. I had tried it before in LA but it was a completely different experience in the cool of Sydney, I LOVED it here. At the end she finished by offering everyone a sample of their choice!
It was time for a sit and a cuppa, I had a sneaky Banana Bread too. During our time at the cafe Ainslie, who is a perfumer, brought out some of her current mods for us to share, smell, critique and enjoy. It was wonderful talking to someone on the cusp of a business and finding out how her perfumes are created. Fascinating. Soon I will have a story on Ainslie because she is thinking of setting up a trial where you can buy a small set of her mods to try and critique for yourself, providing useful perfumista feedback and giving us a chance to try new stuff very reasonably. HEAVEN.
Then it was onwards and upwards to DIOR’s outrageously gorgeousbnew flagship store in Sydney, the first in Australia. We were greeted warmly by the staff and Clayton the Oceania head of PR was there to whisk us upstairs to the shoe parlour where we were treated to a stroll through the 10 available Couturier/Privee fragrances exclesively available in Australia through that store. There was also a beautiful DIOR lady there whose name has slipped from my mind, she was helpful and informative and I apologise for my bad brain. It was a delightful ending to an amazing day. I was happy to add bottles of Oud Ispahan and Oud Leather to my perfume library. At the end we were all given DIOR swag bags with a couple of the fabulous 7.5ml FB replicas each and some beautifully presented literature. Just walking down the street with a DIOR bag is thrilling enough but when you’ve been feted by some of the best luxe companies in the world we were all walking on air. Thank you Clayton and DIOR.
As you can see we had lost some of our people along the way, the last photo are the DIOR Late Stayers. Thanks to everyone who came and who helped us have such an amazingly wonderful and special day.
I am currently thinking of other great APJ Day Out ideas. There will definitely be another day soon,
Portia xx
This was one of the best days I’ve had in recent memory. Loved meeting all the new frag friends and smelling so many wonderful scents. The bank balance will take a hit in the months to come as I add some of these to my stash. Clayton from DIOR was especially lovely to provide the goody bags – I’m actually wearing the Patchouli Imperial sample that was in the bag tonight and it’s absolutely divine. Another one for my long list of purchases. Thanks a million for organising this Portia, it truly was fabulous xx
I love you Margeaux, Your enthusiasm and sense of fun made the day even better. New one coming up soon.
Portia xx
Damn!!! wish I’d known about this!!! Will look forward to details about the next one…maybe we can have the Oz version of Sniffa??
Hiya Chrissyinoz,
I’m so sad you didn’t come. We sent out 2 invitations through APJ and through Aussie Fragrance Network on facebook.
Next time DEFINITELY
Portia xx
Fabulous day! Thank you again Miss P xxxx
You rock my world Princess Madeleine.
Portia xx
APJ day out where???? Vienna? Paris! Rome?? I am a pulsatung green. xxx
Sorry Val. we will do one in London ASAP> Promise.
Portia xx
What a wonderfull afternoon. It has given me a different slant on perfume, one that I wish to explore a lot more of. My nose was running overtime and the brain in seventh heaven with all the beautifull fragrances.. I went to bed that night in a cloud of sheer delight. Thank you so much Portia for the opportunity to experience this sensual world.
It was super fun Camilla. I’m so glad you came.
Portia x
It seems like you all had a ball! How fun!!
Wish we had one around my neck of the woods.
xox
We had a ball. I wish you were round our neck of the woods CC.
Portia x
What a fabulous day!!! I would just LOVE to have been there with you all!!! thanks for telling us all about it!
You’re welcome Tora. we did have a great time, all through it I kept thinking that we are so lucky and blessed to be given such days.
Portia x
This makes a trip to Australia ever more likely. I have several good friends there: now I want to make more.
You must come down, Sydney especially is waiting,
Portia xx
Yey.
I haven’t seen bigger smiles on an entire group of people for a long time! Joe Garces seems to be beaming with enthusiasm too. Thank you, Portia, for the great photo essay.
You’re welcome Azar,
Joe was so sweet and friendly. He really wanted us to love his fragrance babies, and we did.
It was a lovely group and we all learned heaps and made new friends, very cool day.
Portia xx
Looks like a great day! Thank you for sharing, Portia!
It was BaconBiscuit 212, and you’re welcome.
Portia xx
Well done for organising such a great event Portia. We are lucky that people like you take the initiative.
How great that you were treated like VIPs by the companies you visited – as you should!
Enjoy your Dior Ouds. Oh, and you look fabulous!
Thanks Tara,
Blush! I still am amazed at how friendly and welcoming everyone was. I hope all our crew felt the same. I’m pretty sure they did.
Portia xx
Wow, you all look divine! Looks like you had a blast, thanks for sharing, especially the pictures. Love putting faces with names. 🙂
Hi Susan,
It was a total blast and the pics came from 2 of our Fragrant Adventurers Margeaux and Felicity (I Think?) and we are so lucky that they brought their cameras.
Portia xx
Yup, Felicity took the good ones, I took the crappy iPhone ones as we careened about the city streets in between salons.
An adventure story Portia. Fantastic.
I wish you still lived in Sydney Jordan.
Portia x
What a fabulous day.Portia, you looked divine as always. Thanks for sharing.
Totally fabulous day RosieGreen62, thank you.
Portia xx
I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it gang!!
You get well and then go get married in Las Vegas Kymme. Undina comes from Las Vegas, you guys should get together.
Portia xx
Thanks so much for a wonderful afternoon Portia, it was lovely to meet you and everyone else, I enjoyed every minute!
It was excellent to have you as part of our day RuthF, I was so happy meeting everyone, it felt like we’d all known each other for years. A comfortable, fun , day.
We are blessed to have had it.
Portia xx
You’ve organized a great day out, Portia! I’m glad you all enjoyed it. And congratulations on your new bottles.
I’ve never heard before about Hermes Rouge. Now I’ll have to seek it out.
Undina, you may like Hermes Rouge. it’s a bigger, different version of your best loved New Look. Lovely and sensual.
I wish you lived here so we could hang together.
Portia xx
Me too! 🙂
Ooh, makes me wish I lived in Australia! Sounds so friendly and happy.
We would LOVE to have you in OZ. Drop in anytime,
Portia xx
Your APJ day out looked fun! Interesting that you got to try a new perfumer’s creations.
LaurenW,
That was one of the days highlights. Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend enough time on them and couldn’t enjoy their full story. I can’t wait to do that.
Portia xx
What a wonderful Wonderful day all of you had. I just love outings like this with real perfumistas! Everyone looks great and full of fun, Sydney looks Fabulous and YOU Portia look like a movie star on a shopping spree! I am so happy you have your very own Dior Boutique where you can get your hands on the Privee line. Aren’t those 7.5 mil samples great? Much love always,
Lanier
I am COMPLETELY emanoured of the 7.5ml replicas. If they sold them I would own the whole range. I’d happily pay $20-$30 for such luxury in a size that would get used up quickly.
It was a day to remember.
Portia xx
I am so with you on that and will take that suggestion to my friend Hilary at the Dior Boutique to pass on to the big wigs in Paris. You never know until you ask right? I can see them all in a lovely white box at say $100 US? I would buy it!
Cheers
L
I would buy that set for $250, honestly, I’d buy 2. One for me and one to keep.
Portia xx
I’d pay for that set too – those samples are gorgeous!
TOTALLY Margeaux. I want to hang with you and meet your new buddy. When can that happen?
Portia xx
Had a great time! Thank you for being the hostess with the mostess. I enjoyed meeting other perfume junkies and was particularly chuffed with the Patchouli Imperiale mini from Dior. On my way back to the station I ran into David Jones and snapped up a bottle of ADP Iris Nobile which I then broke the next day…but that is another story! xx
OMG!! You broke you ADP Iris Nobile!! That’s a TERRIBLE story.
It was lovely to meet you and I’m so glad you came. Thanks for being a part of our day.
Portia xx
Oooh, count me in as another commenter who’s happy for you, but green with envy at the same time. That looked like so much fun!
I wish you could have come and hung out with us Dionne. How is your escape from the Biblical rains?
Portia xx