
“I’m 39!!!”
Well this week is my birthday! I am turning 39 (again) and in celebration of it I’ve decided (well Roxana Villa decided) to give you, Tonstant Weader, a present.

What I bought
Longtime readers know that both Portia and I are big fans of Roxana and her Illuminated Perfume. As a matter of fact, before she moved to Santa Fe she was here in Los Angeles, with a store in, I think 1000 Oaks. I visited the store a few times and had a lovely afternoon with her, her husband and Portia in her jewel-box of a home in Woodland Hills: a lovely little Neutra-esque treehouse perched in the hills with tons of flowers and beehives for her work. We had a blast.

What you get
She is also matchless at capturing Southern California and the scent of it’s hills. I ordered Cimbalom, redolent jasmine and an almost toffee-like finish and Chaparral, who’s woods, sage, and oud smell like California blooming after a fire (sadly more resonant these days, but just as hopeful). She also sent along 4 samples of solids that we loved: Green Night (Portia wrote about it here), Melliflora (herbs, honey & resins), Gracing the Dawn (violet, fern & leather), and “Q” (woody oak & amber). And the good news is that she sent along a packet of them for you.
So if you would like to be in the draw. leave a comment. Note that the draw is open to only residents of the lower 48 US states- I am shipping this myself and who knows what the tariff situation will be by the time this posts! Draw will close on the 22nd and winner will be announced on the next post. Draw is closed.
Picture of the dog is my neighbor’s. Torbin loves to show off his toys, but isn’t quite ready to share them yet.
I purchased my items from the perfumer, she provided the items for the giveaway.
Images: My iPhone, Wikimedia Commons and Pexels.
Happy birthday, Tom!
I’m just here to read your prose about the perfumer and learn about new fragrances from you. I’m a fan. Don’t enter me in the draw but thanks for introducing me to this line. Solid perfumes and great for travel.Here’s to a healthy and happy 39! Again!
Thanks Toni!
Happy Birthday Tom! Wishing you a great year ahead that fulfills all your ambitions. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thank you.
You are in!
Happy 39th birthday! Wishing you all the best things in the year to come!
Thank you!
Please enter me in the draw! So lovely. I’m in Norcal myself but I do love the scent of chaparral. I did some work down in the Santa Monica Mountains and it always smelled so perfect, dusty and herbal with a hint of a marine note from the sea breeze.
You got it!
Happy Birthday, petunia!!!! I didn’t know, else I would’ve baked you a cake ( or two) as well!!!
Xoxo
Well enjoy those ones you did make and I’ll live vicariously. I ialked myself out of a purchase at Sweet Lady Jane..
Many happy returns of the day!DNEM I’m in a land far, far away
Thank you!
Hi Tom, Happy Birthday!
These perfumes sound wonderful, especially Gracing the Dawn. I live in Southern California, so finding a perfumer who can capture the essence of my state is very appealing to me. I also have been going to beautiful Santa Fe for many years, for both business and pleasure, so I am intrigued by the common threads Roxana and I seem to share.
This is a wonderful giveaway, thank you for the opportunity to participate.
Thanks Robin
Roxana is a treasure.
Happy Birthday Tom! Iluminated Perfumes has fallen off my radar so thanks for the post. I recall liking her solid perfume….GreenWitch. Don’t include me in the draw….I just recently won a gift certificate. Thank you!
Oh, very cool! Thanks!
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays Tom. Enjoy your day!
Roxanne’s house sounds lovely as do those scents. Nice giveaway tho dnem!
Thanks! She does lovely scents and I would love to visit her in Santa Fe.
Happy Birthday, Tom! I hope it is extra “smelly” in the best way possible! A big thank you to Roxanna for the draw. I haven’t smelled this house before and am intrigued by the perfume solid format and that fact that these scents are so emblematic of California.
Thank you! She does lovely stuff!
Happy Birthday! Wishing you many more lovely ones. I find it hard to believe that you’re already 39! How time flies!……….You don’t look a day over 38. 🙂
Thanks for the reminder about Roxana perfumes. I went to check her out and see some samples that I might want to try. DNEM – I won recently. It’s someone else’s turn.
Thanks! Yes, I’m 39. And until I get it right I will keep being 39. Just like Patsy.
Oh, Patsy Stone. I always think of Jack Benny (born in 1894, hehe) who was “forever 39”.
Since I’m 39 I shouldn’t admit to know who either one is..
So true, but then again I only know who they are because I’m a history buff! 😉 I assume you are too…
PS I forgot to mention that Torbin is adorable. And tell him from me that he doesn’t have to share his toys and neither do children. Afterall, adults rarely to never share their special toys.
Happy birthday Tom! I hope you have a day filled with love and joy.
I haven’t heard of Roxana’s fragrances. Now I’m intrigued and will look them up.
Don’t include me in the draw, I’m in the EU.
Thank you!
Happiest of birthdays, Tom! Hope it’s a great day (and week, and year) for you. I just got back from a six day trip to the Maine coast, and we stayed in a house with a great garden. There were peonies of all types, hydrangeas, iris, and late lilacs too which were just about gone by but still smelled amazing. This giveaway looks very interesting. I was born in California but don’t remember it, so I don’t remember what it smells like. We moved when I was still small. Thanks for the giveaway!
I miss New England in the abstract. But I am a weather wuss after all my time in California. Humidity and I are not pals.
Ooh yes, sign me up please, I’m a fan of Roxana Illuminated Perfume. I only have a sample somewhere from an order years ago.
Enjoy your birthday week Tom!
Sorry! I had a little trouble with the comments today.
Yeah, you’re not the only one. I had some people mention it on FacePlace..
Thanks! I shall!
Ooh yes please, sign me up, I’m a fan of Roxana Illuminated Perfume. I think I only have a sample from an order years ago.
Enjoy your birthday week Tom! Love the top image.
I am a big fan of AbFab. Hard to credit it’s from 1992!
Happy birthday! May it be full of cake, flowers and nice things — oh, and those lovely fragrances.
I had a sample of Green Witch years ago and really wish I’d bought a bottle at that time. Sigh. Chaparral sounds amazing.
The give-away is wonderful (clearly, not for me even if I was in the ‘lower 48’). How generous 🙂
I would love to post internationally but it’s just so freaking costly. And some things they just won’t even take. I blame Chanel. Why? Why not?
DNEM!
Woo Hoo! Tom.
Happy Birthday my friend.
Hanging with Roxana and Greg was such a treat. Can you believe that was 11 years ago? I’ve since bought one of Greg’s original paintings and it hangs here in the Chez Turbo home and gallery.
Roxana does fabulous fragrance. One day we need to pop in and see her in Santa Fe.
Hope your birthday and year ahead are as splendid and wonderful as you are.
Portia xx
Has it been that long? Crazy. I’d love to visit Santa Fe. If I’m not mistaken I think March lives an hour away from there as well.
Happy Birthday! Chaparral sounds like Laurel Canyon back in the day!
I think it probably is!