Honeymoon Fragrance: Jin + Portia

Hey Hey Posse! Last year Jin and I got married. It was one of the craziest, most wonderful and terrifying months of my life. We had friends and family descend from over the world. Tara from A Bottled Rose and I did a whirlwind weeks tour of Uluru, Cairns and Airlie Beach. We met friends/family in each spot. Jin and I had a private legal ceremony at the Births, Deaths & Marriages. Then a public ceremony and party for a bunch of people we adore in a local Italian restaurant. Full of family, friends and workmates. It was all so overwhelming we decided not to honeymoon straight away.

Also, instead of gifts (let’s face it we have everything) we asked anyone who wanted to, to give some money towards our honeymoon. People were so relieved. It meant they didn’t have to go looking for and buying stuff. It also meant they could give whatever felt comfortable. We were given everything from $10 to $1000. So Jin has spent this last 9 months crafting the most incredible holiday. We are seeing some places we love and many neither of us have been.

We start in Paris where we meet up with a bunch of mates. Then we drive the Baltic States, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Train to Russia. St Petersburg (we’ve hired a guide that our mates used and loved), Moscow and then trans Siberian down to Lake Baikal. From there we train into Ulaan Bataar in Mongolia where a friend of a friend will be our guide. From there we fly down to South Korea and spend a few days with Jin’s family before coming home.

Honeymoon Fragrance: Jin + Portia

So as always the idea of fragrance is foremost in my mind. This holiday will also be the first time we have used our new 80 litre backpacks. That cuts down the amount of bottles I’ll be taking to zero. O M G! It also means that whatever I buy in Paris will have to be shipped back to Sydney from there.

This is how my mind is working. I should have 5 travel size fragrances. That’s cool, I have quite a selection. In the mix there needs to be a couple of excellent every day wears, one for warmer days, one for cooler evenings and a dressed up glam one. Yet they all must be able to work well in any and all situations. Comfortable scents that smell amazing on every wear.

This is how I’ve rolled. Honesty compiles me to tell you that I’m writing this in advance and on packing night I may change my mind.

L to R: Vintage Miss Dior extrait, Mohur Neela Vermeire Creations, Gravel, Santal Massoia by Hermès, Adjatay by The Different Company

Vintage Miss Dior extrait

One of my all time favourite fragrances. I love to wear it in any weather, for any occasion and I always know it’s going to be a perfect fit for honeymoon adventuring. A long lasting, historic chypre that can make any day a beautiful one.

Mohur by Neela Vermeire Creations

Mohur is my rose. It has every bell and whistle attached but at its heart a dark blooming jammy rose that makes me swoon. Mohur will be my dressed to kill honeymoon fragrance for the most special occasions.

Gravel – A Mans Cologne

Gravel was sent as a GWP with a First In Fragrance order. Produced since 1957, I like its easy going masculinity. Comfortable, serene and a little old fashioned I am hoping to use it as my day to day fragrance. Spritz and go but smell good.

Santal Massoia by Hermès

Cool honeymoon nights will smell gorgeous in the creamy fruit mince and woods of Santal Massoia. Sheer yet present, I love how Jean Claude Ellena gives his take on the classic Serge Lutens ingredients and makes them ultra Hermessence.

Adjatay by The Different Company

Sunshiny honeymoon days will smell fabulous in this white floral leather. Though it will work equally well in the cold I love how the bright citrus and white flowers are set against a backdrop of leather, sweet beans & resins.

What five fragrances would you take away for a five week trip through springtime Europe and Asia?

Portia xx

 

 

Portia also writes for Australian Perfume Junkies

  • Ariel says:

    Oh- and happy happy honeymooning!!!!!!!

  • Ariel says:

    My five for a honeymoon in Turkey:
    Voile de Violette by Sonoma Scent Studios (currently on a hiatus)
    Ensar Oud EO No. 1 EDP
    Lubin by Epidor
    Areej Le Dore’s Baikal Gris
    Areej Le Dore’s Indolis

  • Ann says:

    So, so happy for you both!! Happy anniversary!! And enjoy that amazing honeymoon trip — it will be fabulous! And great picks for the journey; you will smell wonderful every step of the way and at every occasion.

  • Tom says:

    Happy anniversary!

  • rosarita says:

    My brain is on the fritz, too hard to concentrate much right now but have a marvelous time! Come back and tell us stories.

  • Kathleen says:

    Your honeymoon itinerary sounds unbelievably fabulous. Safe travels and may special memories be created! I knew we’d see vintage Miss Dior included in your travel fragrances. Wonderful selection Portia. I wish you and Jin all the best with your honeymoon adventures!
    Difficult question which requires thought. I might also change my mind; however, my choices to take with me are: No 5 for the all time favorite and beautiful fit for any occasion; Roja Parfums Enslaved for the dressed up extra special occasions; Chanel Bois des Isles for my day to day smell good fragrance; Sylvaine Delacourte Valkyrie for sunny warm days; and Niki de Sainte Phalle because I’d love to attach a beautiful scent memory to it. I enjoy it so much, it is relatively new to me, and I’d love to have a special association attached to it.

    • Portia says:

      Thanks Kathleen,
      WOW! Sensational choices. Bois des Iles is so glamorous and lavish. I would normally have Niki de Saint Phalle too, especially in Paris where you can sit by the fountain she designed at the Pompidou and have food and a cuppa. Heaven.
      Portia xx

  • Musette says:

    Omgosh! That trip sounds deee-vine!! Your perfume selection is elegant. Mine would be No5 because I am lazyAF! And not smart enough to figure it out 😉

    Have an amazing, safe, wonderful time, my loves.

    xoxoxoA

    • Portia says:

      Thanks Musette,
      No 5 sounds like a perfect pick to wear on a European/Asian adventure. It fits every bill.
      Portia xx

  • hczerwiec says:

    Oooh — deliriously happy travels to you both! And I love your picks, especially the Miss Dior and Mohur. Fantastic! If I stick to travel bottles I already own, I would also pick either Miss Dior or Dioressence, my NV would be Ashoka, AdV signature rhubarb scent, Rive Gauche, and I never go anywhere without my Mitsouko.

    • Portia says:

      Hczerwiec!
      Lovely choices. Mitsouko was in then out then in then I decided that Gravel might be more useful if I already had Miss dior.
      Portia xx

  • maggiecat says:

    This is a tough one! Right now, I think I’d take Fragonard’s Verveine (a refreshing lemony citrus) and Ile d’Amour (a pretty floral with a light musky drydown), Chanel’s Venise (good any time, any where), and…and…oh crap. I think I’d probably decide the night before after those three and/or just plan on buying something there.

    • Portia says:

      HA! Maggiecat,
      CHANEL’s Venise would be perfect for a springtime jaunt.
      Just got news it was 3C in St Petersburg today. I’m worried that I should pack my UGG boots.
      Portia xx

  • Diana says:

    Nice selection, Portia! I’d probably take five different olfactive families with me: a chypre (Miss Dior, perhaps), an oriental (Shalimar!), something green (blackcurrant such as l’Ombre dans l’eau, or Le monde est beau, or de Bashmakov), a leather scent (Cuir de Lancome or So French) and an iris or a rose scent, – could be Prada or Hermes. And a teeny-tiny vial of incense to wear at night 🙂

    • Portia says:

      WOW Diana,
      What a selection! de Bashmakov is inspired genius and now I’m shitty it’s not in my bag, just packed.
      Portia x

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    I would either go with the vintage Miss Dior or I would end up going with Sarrasins if it were me. Whenever I travel, I stick to one or two small (3ml or under) decants.

    • Portia says:

      Very clever Eldarwen22,
      I have taken a few decants on some trips but I mix them up, try to guess without my glasses and end up on a 10+ hour flight in A*Men. Yep, really happened.
      Portia xx

  • Maya says:

    Have a lovely and fun honeymoon!
    Five current favorites that would work for a vacation: Profumum Sabbia Bianca for a white flower, a marvelous tuberose that lets itself be known. Fragrance du Bois Santal Complet – Tom Ford Noir de Noir – Goldfield and Banks Southern Bloom – Frassai Verano Porteño. This is tougher than I thought. I think Xerjoff Allende or Marina Barcenilla Patchouli Clouds would also work well.

    • Portia says:

      Thanks Maya,
      OOOH! I love the Southern Bloom and Noir de Noir in there, edgy but not OTT. Good choices.
      Portia xx

  • filomena813 says:

    Last Fall I took a 19 night trip to Sicily and Italy. I took one bottle of Au Dela perfume and about 30 small samples of various perfumes. I have more than enough to last me through the trip and they did not take up much room in my suitcase.

    • Portia says:

      Good travel tip Filomena813,
      Did you wear them all?
      Portia xx

      • filomena813 says:

        Yes Portia, I did wear them all. The samples were just tiny 1ml vials so I would apply one in the morning and another in the evening. I did not finish up the Au Dela 30 ml bottle even though I used it often.

  • Matty says:

    I’m terrible at picking 3. I would have to take a Guerlain, but which one ..Hmmmmm !! Possibly Shalimar. LIke Tara C I would probably buy something.

    • Portia says:

      Totally viable option Matty.
      I’m sure there will be a purchase or two along the way. It may even be Guerlain.
      Portia xx

  • Tara C says:

    Those are great picks. I’m terrible at guessing what I’ll want to wear on a trip and usually end up not wearing half what I brought. I just buy something while I’m traveling.

    • Portia says:

      Hi TaraC,
      Because we are taking backpacks this holiday I’m quite restricted in shopping so having the good stuff on hand is important. Even if I do shop it will be sent back at each port hopefully.
      Portia xx

  • Tara says:

    I often think about our amazing trip, Portia. Still can’t quite believe I made over for the wedding. I’ll be forever grateful.
    I love your selection of travel sprays. Santal Massoia was a good call and of course, you had to have vintage Miss Dior extrait.
    Off the very top of my head 3 I’d take are:
    Frangipani by Ormonde Jayne
    Niki de Saint Phalle
    No. 19 extrait
    Impossible to pick more without going through my decant/travel spray box which I’ll do when I get home for 2 more.

    • Portia says:

      Oh Tara,
      It would have been so much less magical without you.
      LOVING your holiday choices, very glam and elegant.
      Portia xx