Rubbish Present Reset 2025 | Perfume Posse Swap them out
Hey Hey Posse! It’s ALL OVER. For those that celebrated I hope it has been a fun and safe one. There is one thing that’s guaranteed. Over half your gifts will be unsatisfying. I hope everyone gave you receipts. We have had a very low key, budget kinda Xmas in 2025. Mostly F&F got shower gels, candles and incense. A very few got jewellery. There was a smattering of other gifts too but almost everyone in our circle doesn’t need any more stuff. We like to entertain our closest with dinners or lunches and that’s the big gift. Food and time. So I’ve had my eye on some really excellent things we can buy ourselves as a Rubbish Present Reset. Yes, take anything unwanted that came with a receipt back and buy yourself something fragrant. You deserve to have something you really love.
This is also a bit of a Best of 2025. I really didn’t try that much of the new stuff though. So a heavily curated to my taste version of the best. Hope you like it, or get some ideas, or just enjoy the read.
Rubbish Present Reset 2025
Eshal by Neela Vermeire Creations
What an incredible statement of life and survival by one of my best friends and inspirations! After a few years of tragic illness and strife Neela bounces back with this green floral masterpiece, Eshal. A tart and honeyed version of the big white floral that is breathtaking in its sparkling beauty. Hilariously, Jin and I were treated to a 20 spritz wear of it by our dearly beloved friend Val the Cookie Queen while she was in Australia. It was so dense and overwhelming that it had us spluttering BUT we also got to smell it writ large as possible and then live the scent trajectory as it mellowed and humanised. If you haven’t tried Eshal then, as a perfumista, you must. It is a revelation. It may not be your cup of tea but it is an important release that treats tuberose is such a beautiful way. Here’s Neela’s NVC site.
Patchouli Noir by Mandy Aftel
OK, I was going to do a blurb about Patchouli Noir here but it’s too good to be a short reference. Next week I’ll have the full post about it. SO GOOD it needed a page to itself. You can order samples at Aftelier Perfumes.
Verbena Citrus by L’Occitane
To be fair Verbena Citrus became available in 2024 BUT I had no idea till last month in store buying something completely unrelated and now I REALLY want a shower gel. It’s everything the original Verbena is but with an extra dash of grapefruit. So good, so satisfying. MMMMM
La Sel d’Issey by Issey Miyake
La Sel d’Issey really rang my bell this year. YES, I know it was originally released in 2024 but I got to sniff it this year for the first time. It’s AUSTRALIA! We are sometimes six months behind because of seasons. I do love salty fragrances and this unashamed clarion call to salt is spectacular, and fun. It’s rocketed to #1 on the To Buy List and will be a 2026 purchase.
Peche Mirage by Guerlain
Can I first say that this is not something I loved for me BUT I was watching some young things trying it in David Jones after it was released and it really hit them hard. I could see them falling madly for it and being surprised by how much they loved it. It was really heartwarming seeing a new breed of perfumista born. So, while I concede that I’m not the target market here, the target market is being hit.
On the NST Daily Lemming December 11 they had this Aussie soap company, Wavertree and London (reopening online in the USA Jan 5). I’d never heard of them so went straight to the site and bought a few for Xmas gifts. They are gorgeous and affordable.
Wedgwood 350ml Fortune Mug is just freaking spectacular and EXACTLY the right size for me. 350ml is perfect for a cuppa and I can get through it before it gets cold. Also very satisfying. How bloody beautiful is it?!? Also, it’s on sale.
I hope there are some fun things here for you to buy yourself. Anything in particular take your fancy?
OR Do you have some suggestions of lovely self care beauties?
Portia xx
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