Hey Posse, You may know that Jin and I have been on a holiday the last week or so with our mate Martin and a slew of friends from my childhood. It was a magnificent adventure and the whole story of the Indian Pacific Train trip and our visit to the WA Pinnacles will be up next week on Undina’s Looking Glass. Today I anted to share our Margaret River Wineries tour with you all and talk a bit about my holiday fragrance.
Margaret River Wineries WA Australia
We set out bright and early. This picture has most of the crew. From left Mum Chaloner, Fiona & Andy, Lola, Eve, Jin and Martin. The Chaloner family were a second home in my teen years. Evie is basically my sister. We met in drama school and have been firm friends ever since. We’ve lived together in Sydney and a short while in London, been through thick and thin of all sorts.
Here is the Vasse Felix winery. It’s the original winery in Margaret River WA and beautifully presented. The adults had a tasting and we bought a couple of cases that are being sent back home as I write.
Because we shopped and joined the club they gave us some freebees! As driver I was excluded from tasting and drinking but the rest of the adults had a glass and were plenty squiffy by the time we left. You can see Jin has his happy drunk smile on already.
We then went to a chocolate factory, had a fabulous fish & chip meal, did another less mainstream winery called Ashbrook and then hit a Gin distillery. Sadly, I stopped taking pics because we were having such a wonderful time I completely forgot. Also, it was like herding a bunch of demented piglets. A couple of times they had me laughing so hard my tummy hurt.
Caron Pour un Homme
I’ve spoken often of my love for Caron Pour un Homme and it hasn’t diminished. I have a cool travel twist bottle and a deodorant. As Jin and I were sharing a bag on this adventure we had to pack very light. So I decided only one perfume would get the gig.
You’ll notice my body wash is 360 Green by Perry Ellis. It’s a nice smelling shower refresh, cheap as chips and kept me clean. It’s also nice to use a stick deodorant as a change from my usual roll on.
Caron Pour un Homme is good because it smells wonderful without being overpowering. Lavender lollies or as someone recently described it Lavender Shalimar! Super light bulb moment.
I wore it all holiday and never got bored or miserable. Even when perfume shopping I didn’t spritz on skin (yes, more on that later).
Do you like to do the wineries or wear some lavender?
Portia xx
You chose my beloved Pour Un Gimme? Woo hoo! Instead of winery can I pick a lavender farm?
HA! Yes, it’s mutual adoration. We both adore your Poor un Gimme.
Yes, of course Brigitte. We have a few scattered around.
I gave up drinking years ago and generally avoid lavender as a frag note, so ‘no’ to both of your questions–but I do so much enjoy your fun travel posts! 🙂
Ah! Glad you enjoyed the post VerbenaLuvvr.
I’m not much of a boozer myself, just a half glass usually to keep Jin company at dinner. Mostly I don’t really like to taste, or how more than a couple makes me feel and act.
Portia xx
I love Caron Pour un Homme and even have a backup bottle. Alas, no wineries nearby. Looks like a fun trip.
SNAP Pam! I too may have some back up bottles of Caron Pour un Homme. Bought in a frenzied panic when they looked like they are going out of business recently.
Wineries are fun, especially with this lot.
Portia xx
I Love Caron Pour un Homme. It is delicious in the heat. Cool winery- it sort of looks like some of the works of Ray Kappe here in LA with all the wood and glass. Glad you had a fun trip!
YAY! That you love Caron Pour un Homme makes it even better for me Tom.
One day we will winery together.
Portia xx
Looks like really fun trip with great people. Only wine stuff I’ve done was a trip to Napa & Sonoma decades ago. Lavender… as a plant or in shampoo. Not in perfume for me.
Hey Cinnamon,
Doing the wineries and the Cellar Door testing adventures is an Aussie thing I think. We have so many excellent wine regions near enough to capital cities that it’s an easy day out. There are also Winery Tour Buses you can organise for work, birthday, party events. The wineries sell shitloads and people get to try local.
Win Win.
Lavender is polarising in perfume. I 100% get it.
Portia xx
You know I’m always boobling about in somebody’s perfume department – usually Andy’s gorgeous N-M dept (because there’s a lot and I get a headache if I try too much at one time).
CA is my wineries destination, though I rarely go specifically to wineries. Instead I go to Ventana (Big Sur) and try a lot of different CA wines there, with fabbo appetizers and (later) dinner. Then to bed. Right there. Because at that point I’m almost weaving! LOL!
xoxox
HA! Sounds perfect Musette.
Both!
You’d be excellent fun at the wineries, I reckon, GinaT.
Portia xx
Portia,
That sounds like such a nice trip. Eager to hear more about your vacation. I love scented ancillary products! Shower gels, bath bubbles, lotions, all the bath and body stuff. Earlier this week I got an email saying that Chanel is selling a coffret of 5 No 5 soaps for $100 US dollars. The soaps looked smaller than full size, FYI. I shared this info somewhere else, and someone else commented that it would make a nice Mother’s Day gift. It would! I like lavender as long as it is softened somehow so it doesn’t smell like a cleaning product.
oh, for a full-sized No5 soap. My bathroom would smell divine, always. As would I.
No5 FOREVAH!
xoxoxo
Damn, I should have sent you one….
Hey DinaC,
A few years ago someone on eBay was selling out a few vintage CHANEL No 5 double full sized soap and a small EdT coffrets. I bought the three of them and have, over time gifted all the contents except one bar of soap. I can smell it, through the plastic and box still.
Portia xx
LOL DEMENTED PIGLETS. This looks like an absolute DELIGHT — travel, with people you love — things we’ve been short on the last two years! I think I’d do exactly what you did with your travel products — something pleasant and not overpowering that keeps you smelling fresh, I’ll often take some “man” deodorant that makes me feel like I’ve splashed on a bit of cologne, plus a wee travel bottle of 4711 if it’s going to be hot and humid.
DH#1 turned me on to Mennen because it has no aluminum. And I wear it to this day.
I’m with you on ‘fresh’ for travel. I always have a couple of 1 or 2mls in my cosmetic bag, so if I get a hankering for a ‘real’ perfume, it’s there.
xoxoxo
Hey Musette,
I like Mennen too but had no idea it was aluminium fee! Cool
YAY! Glad you liked demented piglets March.
It was a bit of a revelation wearing a single scent for all and sundry. It took a little of the glamour out but made ir seriously easy.
Portia xx
How fun to read about the trip! No lavender scent except for the Dr. Bronzer hand sanitizer.
Glad you enjoyed it AnnieA.
Does the hand sanitiser calm you?
Portia x
You know, it does. Using a hand sanitizer generally has no this past while.
Wineries aren’t common in the UK but each time we go to Abergavenny we say “must go to Sugarloaf winery” then never do. They have a no dogs rule.
I miss perfume shopping. Locally we only have Boots or Superdrug. Perfume browsing means an hour train ride each way & only John Lewis or Harvey Nicks to try stuff. I can’t think of a single perfumery left within a days travelling now
Hey Alityke,
I was travelling with some heavy drinkers who egged each other on. Even Mum C got decidedly squiffy.
What a bummer about your perfume shopping choices. Any chance of a weekend somewhere frag-forward?
Portia xx