Channeling Tilda Swinton

World of Perfume August 5, 2013 Comments: 12

And not by smelling like her.

As you can tell by the photo of me and Asali/Jasia having fun at the fishermen’ party in Klenovica yesterday, I’m not wearing any make-up.
It’s my vacation after all.
I do have to admit that even though I’m channeling Tilda, I do not feel as comfortable looking like I have no eyelashes the way she does.

DSC_0413

Jasia looking great without make-up and me with no lashes

It’s been forever since I wrote and I’m hoping the sitting on the terrace having coffee with Jasia or lying on the beach in the sun (as seen on the photo evidence provided) will do much to restore my writing mojo.
The sniffing sessions with Jasia are also helping although you’d think we’d be able to have more of those since we are on vacation…
But we’re busy doing other things:

DSC_0396

Busy around barbecue

DSC_0388

Busy on the beach

When not smelling of our samples and decants, we pretty much smell like the salty air and sunscreen and in the evening of Off mosquito spray which smells wonderful (you’d be surprised how good it smells). Jasia says carnation but to me it’s simply a great scent for such a product.

You could possibly catch as wafting a bit of smokiness (from being close to the burning wood for the barbecue)… B-)

DSC_0400a

Smell you soon!

Sunny love from Smokvica from both of us

The odd woman out

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume July 18, 2013 Comments: 10

Would be me actually. :-S

It seems that I, in my blogging efforts, have completely missed the fact that there is a lively perfumista scene here in Croatia, thriving through different fora, mostly the ‘local’ version of Fragrantica (punmiris.com).

And if it weren’t for my decision to sell some of the perfumes from my (unfortunately still growing) collection, I would still be unaware of this fact.

I met another of those lovely perfumistas today and realized she actually knows all the other people I meet through these sites rather well. It is only I who is meeting everyone just now (or in the last year).
Well better now than never. 😉

And I’m loving it!

(I hope that didn’t sound like the McDonald’s commercial…)

Zagreb spice market

World of Perfume July 10, 2013 Comments: 8

Is actually a little shop called Harissa in Masarykova street.

harissa

I’ve never been to a spice market so I really don’t know what the offer would be like there but I  know I was overwhelmed here.

 

You can pick up any of the jars containing spices and smell them. Everything is listed on the jar,

including one notice that actually warns against opening as it’s the second most hot spice in the world (of course I don’t know the name).

I felt like a kid in a chocolate store. 😀 I neither knew where to start reading (let alone smelling) and in the end I just skimmed through everything as the spices weren’t even the reason I was there.

They also have teas, sauces, salts, jars, etc. Well worth the visit if you’re in Zagreb.

harissa1

 

P.S. It turns out harissa is actually a spicy paste used in North African cuisine. Sounds just like the thing for me.

 

 

Kresley Cole: MacRieve

Book review, World of Books July 9, 2013 1 Comment

I wonder if it’s possible that Kresley Cole‘s books get better and better with each installment that comes out or I just enjoy each of them so much when first time reading them.

And I admit, I had my doubts when I realized what exactly Chloe might be. I was disappointed.

Luckily though, I didn’t stop reading as I already know from previous Cole’s books that even when I macrievedoubt, those doubts always prove unfounded.

So it was this time as well. 🙂

It actually got much better – it was one of those books where you feel the emotions of characters in your stomach while reading their dialogues. The love, the fear, the anger – it all had its share of my stomach (I do hope I’m not the only one this happens to?).

Will (MacRieve or Uilleam which I still don’t know how to pronounce) is the starting point of the story and is truly a tragic hero.  There are really many connecting points to the real world we live in – child molesting for one thing even though I wonder how many people thought of that actually.

Chloe, on the other hand, is such a strong girl, I wish I had her strength of character. All KC females are strong but this is the first one I could connect to. She is truly a Baby T-Rex (her nickname) as in, she is strong of will and character,  even of body, never mind her place in soccer is usually reserved for bigger people. She is also loving, fun, friendly and proud in the fairest sense of the word,. So, making such a strong female suffer and cry hurts my heart too.

I also already know I will be re-reading this book soon.

 

One of the things I love so much about these novels (Immortals after Dark) is all the modern references (making it all appear more real) that appear in them (case in point, Beliebers) but I am not so sure about loving the fact that she makes me root for violence. As in payback for what was done to the good guys. It seems though I condone violence in specific situations. :S

If you are ever interested in starting with a series featuring paranormal steamy romance – Kresley Cole is my first suggestion.

And now I wait for the next one…

A new parfum by the famous French shoemaker Repetto

World of Perfume July 1, 2013 Comments: 9

repettoBy perfumer Olivier Polge :

“It is a refined formula which seeks for perfection through authenticity. It is an alliance of emotions: a satin veil which brushes the skin, a body which twirls and arches itself in an infinite grace. It is a musky powdery rose, where the rose is tutu by its dress, quintessence of femininity by its smell, mesmerizing by its beauty  and purity by its authenticity.”

By Repetto:

“A satin rose that the trail twirls to wrap you like an infinite satin ribbon. A graceful and carnal fragrance.”

Top notes: Pear & Cherry blossom

Heart notes: Rose & Orange blossom

Base notes: Vanilla & Amber wood

 

I love their ballerina flats, I wonder how much will I love this fruity rose…

All info and pic by Repetto.

Croatia is in the EU

World of Perfume July 1, 2013 Comments: 9

flagI admit, I could be counted among the Euro-sceptics (although I’ve been told that’s actually fashionable and trendy these days) but ever since Croatians voted for entering the EU, I can’t help but think of the bright side of the situation.

I can freely order from all the sites that delivered only to EU!!! 😀 Top of my list being Serge Lutens of course.

I don’t expect it to become available today but hopefully in the near future, Croatia will be added to the list of EU countries many sites ship to.

I was happy to notice that Paula Begoun International site welcomed Croatia  to their shipping world today. 🙂

In anticipation of new fragrant (and other) delights, to all my fellow Europeans – a warm hello from a new member!

 

Winner of Alyssa Harad’s

World of Perfume June 28, 2013 Leave a comment

Coming to my Senses is….

 

Elly Wang!

 

Please contact me with your address so I can forward it to the publisher. 🙂

Thank you everyone for entering.

Giveaway of Alyssa Harad’s COMING TO MY SENSES

World of Books, World of Perfume June 21, 2013 Comments: 9

alyssaIn celebration of A. Harrad’s book, Coming to my Senses coming out in paperback, the publisher has offered to give one book to a lucky winner living in the US.

Leave a comment by June 25, when  the official publication date is, and I will draw one name to enjoy the “aromatic memoir” as the publisher called it (I find that to be a quite good description). 🙂

I am leaving you with  some of my favourite thoughts about the book:

“The great thing about this book is that if you are a perfume lover, it will make you smile and nod your head in agreement when you recognize the same steps you took in your perfume journey. It will also make you wonder what perfumes is Alyssa referencing by describing the way they smell.
It will also give useful advice on what to do and not to do if you are organizing your wedding.

But basically, it will confirm that enjoying your path in life with the people you love is the only way to live your life. Be it by smelling perfume and sharing it, or doing something else you enjoy.”

This one was mine.

Bonkers about Perfume

“The best kind of book is one which you simply don’t want to end.  Which, when you realise you havejust thirty pages to go – or less, if you have forgotten to factor in the acknowledgements – makes you start to slow down and savour every sentence, or even reread entire paragraphs to postpone the inevitable moment when you set the bookmark to one side and close the cover for the last time.”

Olfactarama

“Perfume wears close to the  psyche. This beautifully written book is a story of a life reclaimed, a maturity attained by making peace with femininity and with traditions of an earlier time. More than that,it’s a guide to bravery: enough to insist on a little glamour. Here’s how the beauty of the fragrance you’re wearing sinks in and becomes, well, you. Here’s how this little habit, which you might have once scoffed at, changes everything.”

Ayala Moriel

“Alyssa Harad‘s book Coming to My Senses is a wonderful journey of self-discovery through the world of scent, and perfume in particular. Alyssa has a poetic, genuine way with words and that is how she describes perfume – striking a chord yet without ever exhausting the readers like most of us bloggers tend to do. And to my delight – the book is dotted with evocative perfume descriptions that rarely disclose the names of the perfumes she’s referring to.”

Another Perfume Blog

“What made the book a success for me, and what did keep me engaged, was the craft of it. I picture Harad as a spinner, each thread of her novel a delicate strand, interwoven and laced just so with another strand. It can’t have been easy to find exactly the right place in her personal narrative to add a bit of history, or chemistry, or discussion of gender in modern culture—but she did it.”

Please share the giveaway, it is truly a lovely book to read. 🙂

Zagreb is a linden city

I've been thinking, Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 20, 2013 Comments: 12

I’ve been thinking about this for the last two weeks since the weather turned warm enough for all the blooms in the city to start releasing their scents.

I do wonder though how come I never realized it before – I grew up with a linden tree in our court yard and I know the smell. I just didn’t realize it before this year though how much linden trees there actually are in Zagreb.

The wonderful thing about the smell of linden is the fact that it can be both sultry and refreshing. I wouldLinden never have thought it, but the heat wave we’re having at the moment is making the smell of linden blossom permeate the air in a wonderfully sultry manner – the air is very humid and hot and the smell of linden flowers just fits with the idea I usually have reserved for tuberose (and some other white flowers).

But, if you climb some of the city hills and enter into a bit more fresh air, the smell of linden feels refreshing. Reminds me actually of having a glass of cool juice made of elder syrup (rather common here).

Basically, if you’re walking or driving an open vehicle, the city smells great.

It’s just a matter of where you are, whether you will be feeling languid, warm and saturated with the smell or a bit refreshed and lively.

Mr. Roucel rules!

Perfume thoughts, World of Perfume June 17, 2013 Comments: 9

I was away for the weekend, otherwise I would have written about it on Saturday ASAP. 🙂

It was great fun and I was a bit surprised to find myself nodding to many things Mr. Roucel discussed. I somehow thought perfumers were more than just real human beings one could have a fun conversation with.

It was supposed to be a talk on the subject of Noir perfumes but the discussion spontaneously moved on in  another direction and we got to hear Mr. Roucel give his opinion on many subjects.

He makes a lot of sense and sounds very down-to-earth and realistic in his thoughts on many different perfume  subjects.

Some of the things he mentioned:

“Oud is fantastique!” – as he went on to explain it has so many different facets and is therefore a good material to work with.

“Perfume is about smelling good” – and not about sex (on the subject of how fashion perceives perfumes these days).

And he loves Suskind’s Parfum – thinks of it as a work of art actually, which makes me ashamed to admit I haven’t read it yet.

Anyway, I would say Mr. Roucel has a new fan club in Zagreb now (as evidenced below):

DSC_0304

A quick photo session at Velvet

DSC_0307

The chandelier getting in the way

ines i m

One blurry photo with me

And before you all go thinking I had a chat with Maurice, it was just two sentences in which he asked what I was wearing, to which I happily replied L de Lolita Lempicka. 🙂 My little perfume company all wore Mr. Roucel’s creations in honour of his talk.

 

P.S. I made a video with my phone, some 20 minutes of the talk . I’m trying to make it available on request (it’s still in the process), I will not be posting it publicly though.