Scent Diary 26.10-1.11.2026 | Australian Perfume Junkies

Portia

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Hello Australian Perfume Junkies and friends, So glad to have you drop by Scent Diary. Grab a cuppa or beverage of choice, sit back and check what has happened, been eaten, spritzed and seen in our lives in Sydney, Australia.

At then end please leave us some comments. What or who did you see, do, eat with. Did you spritz, purchase, have arrivals or finish a sample? What’s happening in your world? If you’re writing or reading opinions, we can disagree but keep it nice and try not to give or take offense. Right now the world needs a web of friendships and connection more than ever. We all have perfume and each other in common. That’s a whole lot.

Scent Diary: 26.10-1.11.2026

Monday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

1. Don’t Touch The Phone
2. Avoid Negative Input (TV, Socials)
3. Drink Water
4. Sunlight In Eyes
5. Move Body 3 Minutes
6. One thing I’m grateful for
7. One Small Win

Laundry. Hanging, washing, organising.

Versace Blonde

Getting the final Blog Posts pre-written for while we are away. I forget how much goes into getting ready even for a two week jaunt.

Laundry.

Popped out to the Post Office and then the Supermarket. Got stuff for tonight’s dinner.

Went to the apartment block back garden area where I’ve planted a swathe of Asiatic Lilies, some new Australian natives and where some pumpkin seeds have sprouted. Gave the area some water. Faffed around for a while.

Yesterday Momo went to the trainers kennels. I’m a bit restless without my dog caring duties.

Jin came home.

I cooked up some thin cut Chicken Breast, some Potato and Broccoli Salad and shredded a small amount of Cos Lettuce. Low key but delicious.

We organised our money for overseas. My Credit card got declined so tomorrow will be spent fixing that up. GRRRR!

Back to the computer. Didn’t get much work done.

Serge Lutens Daim Blond

Bed

Tuesday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

On to the banks first thing at 8am when their phone lines open. Spent nearly 40 minutes getting the run around and then the call failed. I did learn that transferring money from a card to a money holding travel card can be a 100 point red flag that will not go through. Especially if you make a mistake on the first transaction. GAH! When Jin comes home we are going to have another go on the desktop and see if that goes through.

Did a small online buy (J-Lo Glow, AU$25) to check if the Credit card is going. PHEW! Yes it is. Did a quick run to the bank and the chemist. Collected parcels.

Back home by 9.15am

Brought laundry in. Folded. Phew! Everything we own is clean, folded and ready to pack. The only thing left is stripping the beds tomorrow morning and getting them remade.

Sent out Trivia Q&A for four weeks, even though we are only away just over three. Always better to have a couple extra in case of drama.

Lunchtime. 1.5 HUGE ham salad sandwiches. So yum.

Bubble Bath time.

DIOR Ambre Nuit. My spray is busted so I have to hold it upside down and get perfume droplets.

Dusting and vacuuming the house. Must be done.

4.30 and I’ve had a fitful of cleaning. Going to have a nap before getting ready for work.

Had a fabulous time at work. 117 people in the room! AMAZING!

Home. Faffed.

Read.

Neela Vermeire Creations Rahele.

Bed

Wednesday

Morning Routine: 10 Minutes.

Up early, stripped Thebes and washing the linen.

Serge Lutens Five O’Clock au Gingembre

Straight to the computer to get all the Trivia Q&A out for the weeks ahead.

BUBBLE BATH!

4pm House cleaned, beds remade, last minute Chemist shop done, lunched. Kindle, phone, recharge battery all full.

Unpacked and repacked the main bag with six less clothing items. Backpack packed.

One lovely hour to chill.

Last iteration DIOR Dune from sample.

6pm and we are out the door.

I will do my best to keep Scent Diary updated but it will be sporadic. We don’t have a tablet or laptop anymore. Everything needs to be done on my phone. Let’s see how it goes.

We have hit the AmEx lounge. Jin is on his third alcoholic beverage and feeling fine.

Thursday

The first thing we do when landing in Korea is head to the airport Lotteria, so Jin can have a Bulgogi Burger and I can have Mozzarella Sticks. Some traditions must be adhered to.

Jumped the fast train from Incheon airport to Seoul Station. Fast and easy.

Friday

We slept early so we were up at sparrow fart, like 5am. Ha! Jin hit the hotel bathhouse and I used the shower in our room.

Parfum d’Empire Madagascar Le Baume Vanille in Surrender to Chance decant.

I hope you like seeing Jin with food. It’s his happy place.

Then we headed off to Korean National Museum. There is a new woman director who has had the fabulous idea to give a huge room to extremely extraordinary Korean historic pieces. To showcase them on their own. To elevate the experience by focusing your attention to look at them alone. Currently it’s two 6th and 7th century Bronze Buddhas. It was a huge leap in art, not just for Korea. They are breathtaking.

Afterwards we went to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Arts. Fist shot is the most spectacular work of contemporary art Jin Seo. Then two pieces of sewn architectural installations that blew our minds. Do Ho Suh is the artist. Fabulous

Then we met friends Sarah Jane, Nathan and Myungjin at the Cliff Seoul Cafe for drinks and sunset.

There was still stuff on Jin’s list so we headed off into the night for dinner.

Saturday

We were supposed to have a lazy day.

Ha! Up at 5am and went down to the hotel baths.

Then we went for Korean Toast. A few years ago our mate Simon told us it was a thing. Now we go every visit.

Then we walked until I had a tantrum because my legs were locking up and hurting like ouchie wawa!

Home

Leo picked us up and we headed to the hills surrounding Seoul for coffee with a view. Heaven

We headed down to the hotel bathhouse again. Jin massaged my aching legs. Equilibrium restored.

Dinner!

Leo grabbed us and took us off to Seoul Gay Karaoke. The Koreans can sing but have no idea about decibel levels and constantly flared the speakers and it was really painful. I was ready to throat punch. More beer …

It only takes two drinks and I’m shitfaced. So I had three.

Rolled home happily boozy.

Sunday

Filled up a new travel spray before we left to test if it leaked in planes. Double ziplock bagged it in case. Anyway, all good. Now I’m wearing the fragrance and have zero idea what a spritzed in there. Some metallic oudh rose. It’s gorgeous.

Spent this morning changing our train time for tomorrow to Busan. Had breakfast at Seoul Station. It’s drizzling today so our idea to walk the high line was dashed.

Came home and slept. Well Jin slept, I just read and played on the phone

We packed up our big bags. Jin organised that we take them today and they get sent to Busan and held. Easier for our very early start tomorrow.

Off to Seoul Station to drop them off.

While there Jin met a childhood school chum SangMi and her son JaeYoon. Because he knew she was on a time budget he decided we would go three hours early and buy her some Han Jung Sun sweets, like 21st century super upscale mochi. We had to book to be in the line. 575 people before us. Two hours later we had them and about 20 minutes after that they arrived. It was a fantastic catch and surprise.

We came home for a while then wandered up the road for my favourite fried chicken. Jin wasn’t taking any chances tonight and ordered two full chickens. Look how freaking happy he is.

Our last night in Seoul. Went and had a hot bath and bed.

Now it’s your turn. Please tell us something you did, spritzed, ate, wore, bought or finished. Maybe you saw a friend, a show, an exhibition. Maybe you got through the week without having to bury a body. Whatever, please share something with us.

I read and respond to every comment. C’mon, let’s chat.
Portia xx