Category Archives: World of Perfume

2014 – the year of life

I've been thinking, World of Perfume December 31, 2014 Comments: 20

I find it funny that for the last few years I complained about how my years, generally looking, weren’t all that good. And that was true. They could be described as “meh” at best.

And then, 2014 came. I have no better words to describe it except – it was the year where life decided to teach me some lessons.

The most important being, you cannot stand still. You cannot think this is the way your life is and that’s it. If you don’t move from a place where you are standing still, life will move you. And that might not be the nicest of moves.

It has been a difficult year for me but I decided to see it as a life lesson and that has helped me immensely in putting things into perspective. I mean, it is always your choices that bring you into situations so it only makes sense when stuff goes wrong, you take a good, long look at what it was that brought you there.

In any case, the life lesson has been hard but necessary and I am grateful for it.

But the thing I am most grateful for is my friends. There are so many sayings about friends but really, when sh*t hits the fan, you will know who your friends are.

I feel really awful saying this, but I really didn’t expect so much loving support from everywhere. It did make me cry a few times just out of sheer appreciation and happiness.

So to all my friends wherever you are (and you are everywhere) – a big thank you and I love you all. You made my year amazingly bountiful. 🙂

Now on to my personal life lessons. 🙂

There are only two actually – being brave and patient. Brave in saying what it is that I want and living my life the way I want to, and patient not to expect things to happen this instant (I’m still working on that). 😉

I have no particular expectations of 2015. Everything works out great when I stop expecting things and just live and enjoy the experiences life provides. Sure, there are things I’d like to make happen in the coming year (writing more being one of them) but we’ll see what happens. Life has opened a door into a bright future for me but didn’t let me know what awaits there.

So I’ll be patient and brave and see for myself.

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year and hopefully we will all, at one point, be able to raise a glass of champagne together. 🙂

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Woohoo!! It’s amber time!

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume December 29, 2014 Comments: 6

And vanilla and oud. 🙂 But amber is the note that first comes to mind  when it’s cold outside.

That said, this morning I wanted to celebrate this wonderful sunny and wGolden amber close up backlit shows crystalshite day (the snow is still unmelted) with Ambre Sultan, only to not be able to find my decant. So I decided to put Ambre Precieux on. I’m very happy with that choice. If I smell a waft from afar (and not on my turtleneck), I catch what I would call a flowery hint. It’s basically wonderful.

And amber fits perfectly with this cold weather, it just makes you feel warm all over by smelling it.

My other ambery choices will include MdO Ambre, Ambra Nobile by Nobile 1942 and Le Labo Labdanum 18.

With a special mention of Caravelle Epicee, which I don’t actually count among ambers but theoretically it is, so it goes on the list. I mean, there are so many other things going on in there that saying it’s an amber perfume doesn’t do it justice.

I still find that to be one of the best winter perfumes ever. At least for me. It hits all my spicy, warm, gourmand-y buttons. Plus, it smells really sexy.

P.S. That was my first ever perfume review. 🙂

 

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Croatia, World of Perfume December 28, 2014 Comments: 12

It seems this year the winter waited a week after officially starting to actually start. albeit, it gets wintery cold here much earlier usually than what the official date is. That said, after the extremely warm weather we had, snow has fallen and the temperature went down.

People hate it when it snows in the city, I, on the other hand, couldn’t be happier. 🙂

It gets more quiet just because snow muffles the sounds of the city, the air smells of winter and snow and you can make snowmen!

So here are some photos of the city today.

 

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Park Zrinjevac (night)

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One more of Zrinjevac

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Zrinjevac during the day

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My realization that rubber boots with good lining are actually perfect for snow

 

Merry Christmas!

World of Perfume December 25, 2014 Comments: 18

I just want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas – I love spending mine with family and hopefully everyone spent it the way they enjoy it the most. 🙂

I’ll leave you with a photo of my Christmas tree – the kind that appeals to me the most. 😉IMG_20141221_213602

Perfume thoughts

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume December 8, 2014 Comments: 11

I had coffee yesterday with some of Zagreb perfumistas. That is always cause for smelling more perfumes and as we met opposite Top (niche perfumery), of course I tried some perfumes prior to seeing them.

The things is, I am either too sensitive to those synthetic (white?) musks or the whole industry is going down the drain.

I sprayed two perfumes on my arms yesterday, Xerjoff Al Khatt and Byredo Mojave  Ghost.

Honestly, I thought both were great and enjoyed smelling them. Al Khatt doesn’t really smell like a straight-in-the-nose oud but is rather easy and lovable and Mojave Ghost is cool, if I would describe it in one word.

The problem with both is that they end up in synthetic muskiness and are therefore completely unwearable for me.

I really can’t tell if I am too sensitive to those molecules but honestly, I don’t really care. I hate the fact that so many expensive perfumes end up smelling like that. Aside the fact that they are expensive, they really use some expensive ingredients so adding those synthetic musks is like a punch in the nose for me after enjoying the beginning. 😦

I just wish everyone would find some better alternative on how to keep perfumes lasting.

Croatian design spotlight – Zoe Leggings

World of Perfume December 5, 2014 Comments: 10

This week I decided to show you my favorite Croatian leggings. I own 4 pairs. 😀

That said, until I actually bought some, I never realized how hard it was to actually fit them into a wardrobe. 🙂

Still, I love wearing them and I love that the new collection features a new warm material (thermo) for these cold days.

Here are some photos of the type of leggings Tamara Ivić creates (and mine are shown as well).

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My favorite pair

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Second favorite pair 🙂

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And the middle ones are great too

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For more information and pictures, you can follow Zoe leggings on Facebook. They also have bathing suits during summer and some other clothing items in interesting designs.

 

All pics taken from Zoe leggings facebook site with their permission.

Croatian design spotlight – Danijela Bilic

Croatia, Croatian design, I've been thinking, World of Perfume November 28, 2014 Comments: 15

I know it’s been long since I wrote a post and I am really working on getting my schedule in order so I can write (and smell) more often.
In the meantime, I want to share with you some of the Croatian designers I discovered in the last months (some even years) that I think do a wonderful job with addition that their stuff is actually affordable to most people.
I also admire them for the fact that they decided to follow their passion. I sometimes wonder if something is wrong with me that I have general interests but don’t feel so passionate about any of them (I’m blaming it all on being an Aquarius).

So today, my first choice is Danijela Bilic who creates absolutely wonderful bags. Her designs can be found on Facebook and I am posting some of my favorite designs here (those among which I cannot decide). 🙂

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The idea behind the bags is to wear a little piece of art and well, I can completely see that. The size of most of the bags is around 30 cm in diameter and they are made of artificial leather. The size seems perfect and all bags are handmade by Danijela herself.

The whole idea started with Danijela making a bag for her sister (that’s what she wrote in one of the posts on Facebook) and after receiving great feedback, a collection started to form. All this happened some 4 years ago and I’m ashamed to admit that I only found out about the bags a month ago. 🙂

Well, better late than never. 😉

So, go check out her whole collection and see if you could decide which one you like the best.

 

P.S.I love the look of Twilight but for a change, I’d like a bag that isn’t black so now I’m having a hard time deciding which color to choose.

There is time until my birthday yet… 😉

 

Pictures used with permission from Danijela (all hers).

The sunny side of life – Monegal’s Kiss My Name

Perfume review, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume October 21, 2014 Comments: 13

I apologize for the disappearance. Life gets rather busy sometimes. And interesting. 🙂

That said, the weather here’s been interesting as well. After a summer that resembled more of an autumn, we were in for some warm sunny weather. So this time around I turned to some white flowers by Mr Monegal. Ever after hearing him speak several weeks ago, I’m more and more leaning toward acquiring several more of his perfumes (Cuirelle is always a huge hit whenever I wear it).
So, I’ve been wearing Kiss My Name rather often. It  makes me think of the sunshine and happiness all in one (hence the title). The brightness of neroli just adds to the experience of the sunshine. And then tempered with tuberose and jasmine… What’s not to give you an instant smile? 🙂
I’d say Mr Monegal has mastered the art of seduction through perfumes.
I am certainly succumbing to more and more of his wonderful creations.kiss my name

So now that it was sunny and warm, I was wearing Kiss My Name a lot, a Monegal version of white flowers..

Notes: tuberose, iris, egyptian jasmine, tunisian neroli and tolu balsam.

A very refreshing start with neroli, based on jasmine and tuberose and I’d swear some kind of fruit. My guess would be peach. and then tuberose slowly leaves its nice position to let neroli and jasmine take center stage, all the while lurking in the background.

I admit the iris is playing hide and seek with me (rather well as I haven’t found it yet) but the tolu balsam is what I’d say gives the wonderful longevity to this perfume and the warmth to the notes that can sometimes be shrill.

And that’s basically it. An overwhelming feeling of happiness and warmth due to white flowers.

It seems though the enjoyment of the warm and sunny is finished for this year. Tomorrow the cold weather begins…

 

P.S: I can’t help it, that makes me instantly think of “Winter is coming…” (Game of Thrones)  😉

Smokvica

World of Perfume September 5, 2014 Comments: 8

The last installment of my vacation series.

You might wonder how I ended up there having said what I did before going on my vacation. But I was there with my ex’s sister (who is a really good friend of mine) and her two girls (and he’s not officially my ex either – what a strange life I lead…).

After the walking I did in Copenhagen and the partying I did on Vis, spending some calm time (as calm as it can be with two young girls) was just the thing.

Smokvica is actually the perfect place if you’re looking for a peaceful, family time without many amenities or tourists.

I guess the photos are always the same from there. 😉 (except for the alcohol part)

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First part of a new Kir Royal recipe (rose liqueur)

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The finished Kir Royal (a tried recipe, Asali and I discovered in Copenhagen)

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View from the beach

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Other side view

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Sunset

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Walk along the shore

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God I wish I was there now!

Ramon Monegal in Zagreb

Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume September 2, 2014 Comments: 13

Oh yes, that did just happen! 🙂

Organized again by Juraj of Bl’eauOG, we were in for a great talk made by Mr Monegal. In French! I really was very happy with the fact that I spent so many years learning it because I could follow what he was saying without any problems. And he had LOTS to say.

I’ll try and give you the highlights. One thing that I’m upset about though, when I had the chance to ask him questions, I couldn’t come up with a single thing. Now that I’m home writing this, I have a full head of questions I would really like to hear his answers to. Oh well…

Basically, what I believe is the most important thing he said and one that resonates through his perfumery and his approach to clients is that we all don’t know how to use our nose for anything that is not stomach related – e.g. food. And it’s a learned thing, conditioned by our culture as babies can smell their mothers but then, at some point, we all forget to use our nose for enjoyment and identification of the world around us (like animals do).

 

He said that one of the main reasons for using perfumes is communication and nowadaysdsc_1153b people don’t have an olfactory image (like we do with the clothes we wear). They are not even aware that something like that exists. Well, we obviously are, but there were many people present today for who I could tell he was saying new things. And for him, that is the main reason perfumers came out of their labs – to educate the public of the importance of knowing the terms and recognizing the olfactory image.

Mr Monegal also explained his idea of why a perfume is like a book – with the introduction, the main part and the end. And how different notes communicate different things. I really enjoyed the idea that he so obviously espouses about it all being about communication.

I learned a lot about some notes which I’m not going to repeat here. Just that I wasn’t aware it was so difficult working with iris as it doesn’t have much longevity (and what with how expensive it is, it’s good we even have iris perfumes). 😉

I’ll leave you with one gem I really liked. There is no good/bad perfume in his mind, it’s all about the olfactory image again and the fact that perfumes can be either well worn or not well worn (depending on what you want to express with them and how they fit you). I actually like that idea as I definitely know that I cannot wear some of the perfumes I own at any time I like (Serge Lutens’ I’m looking at you).

I got to try Dubai Next To Me and I like it a lot and I basically fell in love with Impossible Iris. 🙂 The name is a reference to how difficult it is to work with iris (the longevity issue again).

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A mini bottle waiting for each of us

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