Hi there ULG crew, While most of our readers are from the Northern Hemisphere and feeling the cold, down under I am sweltering in one of the weirdest weather summers I can remember. It’s either blazing hot and humid or raining, cooler and humid. We are normally (till the last couple of years) practically a desert here in Sydney. We get a few really big thunder storms that drop oodles of water in a relatively short time and then blue skies. Out here in Parramatta, about 25km from the city, it usually doesn’t get ridiculously muggy very often. 2023/4 summer is like living in a tropical monsoon area. Without the daily afternoon downpour. I’m not complaining, just letting you know how unorthodox this year is. OK, maybe I am complaining, coz.
Southern Bloom by Goldfield and Banks 2018
Goldfield & Banks gives these featured accords:
Boronia Absolute Tasmania, Jasmine Sambac India, Cassis France, Sandalwood Australia, Vetiver Indonesia, Ylang Ylang Madagascar, Coconut Accord, Iris Italy
Australians are incredibly proud of Goldfield and Banks. They are an Indie House gone global. It was a thrill for me to see them in such diverse cities on our recent trip as Vienna, Paris, London, Budapest and Seoul. I can’t think of a perfume brand of ours that has ever had such distribution, especially with such a niche feeling product. Maybe Grandiflora is getting close? Tommi Sonia gave it a red hot go, if they had stayed the distance I reckon they’d be global by now too.
Anyway, I’ve been wearing Southern Bloom a bit in this strange weather. I want to say it’s a white floral but that is so much less than the whole experience. Straight up there is a lightly sweet, clear eucalyptus green. I’m thinking it’s the boronia and cassis but doesn’t really smell like either of them. This top stays but is overshadowed by the white floral dripping with tropical ylang and sandalwood. This heart is eye lollingly gorgeous and hums away merrily for a long time. It’s both warm and cool, sultry and exactly the fetishized dream of carefree tropical holiday nights.
The heart also has a boozy component and makes me think of those creamy cocktails that sometimes come in a pineapple or big glasses with fruity embellishments.
The base is very sandalwood heavy and I’m surprised there’s no vanilla noted, it’s a luscious creamy confection.
While anyone can and should try Southern Bloom it does lean towards modern traditional femme. The first hour or so is very fragrant and its lasting power is impressive. It fits most seasons but this super weird summer it is working perfectly for me.
Sound good?
Portia xx
Undina's Looking Glass 
I have a couple of G & B samples to try. Not this one though. It sounds glorious & right up my strasse.
I’ve read some snark about the brand online. Nothing specific just snide comments. I think it says more about the commentators than the brand
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Hey Alityke,
There will always be snark. Maybe I’m so enamored of the band because they’re Aussie but I think they do good work.
Portia xx
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I received a sample of this from you! Need to get it out again – I remember enjoying it when it arrived. I just got a sample of Ingenious Ginger which is very sweet but seems like it would be a pleasant wear. I haven’t tried the entire line but so far everything I have tried has been nice – not groundbreaking or edgy but wearable. And the price point isn’t outrageous for the smaller sizes – I am a fan of travel sizes at this point in my journey.
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Yeah MMKinPA, I think that’s a fair assessment. They tend to add a twist rather than reinvent the wheel.
Oh yes! A smaller size is a win nowadays.
Portia xx
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Goldfield and Banks is a wonderful brand with so many great scents. Southern Bloom is lovely and I am very fond of Ingenious Ginge. I have a travel size bottle of Ingenious Ginger, perfect for hot weather.
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YAY RR! Glad to find another fan.
I’m wondering if I tried Ingenious Ginger last year. I’ll go back and check it again. It;s getting a lot of love,
Portia xx
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I love Southern Bloom and Velvet Splendour best, with Desert Rosewood and Silky Woods not far behind. I think it’s a very nice house, nothing pretentious or too edgy, but enjoyable, and the prices are fair. The bottles feel nice in the hand too.
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Oh yes TaraC,
The bottles are very nice.
The prices ARE fair. Something that can’t be said for many other houses.
Portia xx
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Goldfield and Banks is a wonderful brand with so many great scents. Southern Bloom is lovely and I am very fond of Ingenious Ginge. I have a travel size bottle of Ingenious Ginger, perfect for hot weather.
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I love both Southern Bloom and Velvet Splendour. They are hard for me to describe however. I own Tommi Sooni II, and wish I’d bought them all. They were like a meteor, splashing gloriously across the sky, then gone, without a trace!
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Hey there Cynthia3403,
WOE about Tommi Sooni closing. We are given zero notice. One day it just wasn’t there. GAH! Had I known I’d have bought two of everything.
Portia xx
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I agree with you about Tommi Sooni. It was such a shame they didn’t survive!
I have samples for G&B’s initial 5 or 6 perfumes. I should revisit them. And I will try to find their latest creations to try. Southern Bloom sounds appealing.
Stay cool!
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AHHHHH Tommi Sooni, gone too soon. I’m glad someone else remembers them Undina.
Portia x
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Interesting bottle, and perfume colour!
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Oh yes, I love that pinky purple Vanessa. It spritzes MUCH lighter.
Portia xx
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