Last year Bois de Jasmin held a Doctors Without Borders fundraiser, in the course of which we raised more than $6000 for this amazing organization. This year I would like to repeat it. It’s been a year of much violence and conflict, and organizations like Doctors Without Borders have shown incredible courage, despite risks and dangers. So, I propose donating to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, any amount you wish, and in return, you will be entered into a contest for a 15ml (.5 oz) of Dior Diorissimo Extrait de Parfum. I also have a brand new, sealed bottle of Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin, and that too will be added to the drawing. Update 1: thanks to the generous readers, we have now two more prizes: vintage Chanel Cristalle EDT (70ml left out of the original 100ml, thanks to Reg) and Diptyque Volutes EDT (50ml, sprayed once, thanks to Rebecca). Update 2: we have another prize thanks to limegreen. Chanel no. 5 Parfum, 7.5 ml (opened but virtually full, in box, not vintage but pre-2014 reformulation). There will be five winners.
It’s vintage, from the early 1980s, in my estimation, and it smells exactly like the original version I smelled on my mom as a child. The bottle has been opened, so I can attest to the quality of the contents. It comes in the original pink and grey box. I will make sure that it will be packaged properly for mailing; it has already moved across the ocean a couple of times with me, so I’m sure it will be fine for another trip.
Why Médecins Sans Frontières? Because this international humanitarian-aid non-governmental organization is well-known for its projects in war-torn regions, including some of the most dangerous places in the world. It provides medical assistance, training, vaccinations, maternal care and humanitarian aid. The organization runs hospitals and clinics, operates nutrition centers, and distributes relief to assist survivors in conflict zones. Its activities extend worldwide, primarily focusing on Africa and Asia (this includes the Middle East region). Its reputation is impressive, and it is widely praised for its initiatives.
How the contest works: donate any amount you want to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, email me (editor at boisdejasmin dot com) the donation receipt, and you will receive a confirmation from me that you’re entered into the contest (I may not reply right away, especially around the holidays, but I will reply before the fundraiser is over.)
If you are in the US, follow this donation link.
If you are in Canada: click here.
If you are in the UK: click here.
If you are in Ireland: click here.
For all other countries: click here. If you’re in the EU, you can donate through any EU country website, such as France.
How the winner will be selected? Randomly.
The contest will run till January 15th. Thank you for participating!
Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section.
64 Comments
Therése: Fantastic idea! Let’s do this! December 8, 2015 at 8:41am
Victoria: Every little bit counts! December 8, 2015 at 9:15am
Scented Salon: Nice idea. I love Fille de Berlin but already had it and sold it. If I win Diorissimo, I will give it to my mom because she likes lilly of the valley. December 8, 2015 at 9:02am
Scented Salon: Looks like the US link is down. December 8, 2015 at 9:04am
Victoria: Thank you! I fixed it in the post, and here is a correct link:
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm December 8, 2015 at 9:15am
Scented Salon: It looks like its their site. Even when I enter through their own website, the donate button does not work. December 8, 2015 at 10:52am
Victoria: I’m not sure, but I’ve already received several donation receipts from the US based readers, so it seems to work for some people.
Is anyone else having this issue?
Otherwise, you can email them at [email protected] and they will send you a form. December 8, 2015 at 11:00am
Ann: US Link is working now. I had no trouble. It’s 11 AM PST on 12/17!
A pleasure to make the donation and a pleasure to dream a little dream of perfume! December 17, 2015 at 2:05pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Ann! December 18, 2015 at 8:21am
Karen B: I heartily support this, Victoria! I wish I could support it with as much money as heart. Thank you for initiating the effort. December 8, 2015 at 11:02am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Karen! 🙂 December 8, 2015 at 11:11am
Claire: Great idea! We have contributed to Doctors Without Borders for many years. December 8, 2015 at 11:15am
Victoria: It’s an incredible organization. This year has been especially hard for them, since they lost many doctors in Syria and Afghanistan. December 8, 2015 at 11:32am
Rebecca: Victoria, I sent my donation receipt to you, but do you think I can also add something to your drawing? How do you think it can work? December 8, 2015 at 11:17am
Victoria: That’s so generous of you! Thank you. You can just email me what you want to add, and I will include a description in the listing. You’ll have to hold onto your object till I select a winner (around mid January) and then I will put the two of you in touch, and you will mail the item yourself to that person.
If that’s fine with you, do let me know what you want to add. This way we can have more winners than just 2. December 8, 2015 at 11:35am
Victoria: A note for my UK participants, I know that the mailing restrictions are complicated, but if the winner ends up in the UK, I will find a way to mail your perfume. Both my husband and I travel to the UK for work on regular basis, so it shouldn’t be a problem to get Diorissimo to you. December 8, 2015 at 11:37am
solanace: Thank you for doing this, Victoria. Fabulous. Last time I became a regular doner to MSF. Can I send you a copy of my credit card bill, where it appears? December 8, 2015 at 12:35pm
Victoria: Yes, please do! December 8, 2015 at 4:16pm
solanace: I was thinking, though. Since the goal is to raise more funds, and since the situation has not improved since last year, I will double my monthly contribution. Thank you again for your contageous engagement and for the awesome draw, Victoria. December 8, 2015 at 4:53pm
Victoria: You’re awesome! 🙂 December 9, 2015 at 2:04am
Jirina: Hi Victoria.
I´m from Argentina. I think it´s a great idea.
I became a regular doner to MSF. December 8, 2015 at 2:01pm
Victoria: Fantastic! 🙂 December 8, 2015 at 4:16pm
Alicia: Thank you for posting this, Victoria. I have been contibuting to Médicins sans Frontiers for years now, thus I will not participate in this, since I have already made my yearly contribution. It is an extraordinary organization. December 8, 2015 at 2:48pm
Victoria: They really are extraordinary, and they so such important work. December 8, 2015 at 4:17pm
Neva: Thank you for the great and useful idea Victoria! I remember how active Medecins sans frontieres were during the war in Croatia. Back then I was also working for a big humanitarian organization. It is very important to keep up their amazing work. December 8, 2015 at 4:47pm
Victoria: Agree. They’ve also done incredible work in Africa during the Ebola epidemic. December 9, 2015 at 10:28am
Reg: I’ll throw in a bottle of Vintage Chanel Cristalle EdT for EU readers. There is 70 ml left of 100, kept dark and dry. December 8, 2015 at 5:47pm
Victoria: Wow! Thank you so much! It’s such a generous offer. December 9, 2015 at 2:04am
Claire: I would be a very happy recipient of Diorissimo
or Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin!
I am glad to participate in this. They serve such a critical service. Although my husband and I have contributed for many years, we just decided to double our contribution this year. Call it community inspiration. December 8, 2015 at 6:58pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Claire! So generous and kind of you. December 9, 2015 at 10:49am
mayfly: What a wonderful organisation to support, victoria, such bravery as these doctor’s show is truly humbling, and genuinly altruistic.
I had not heard of them, and have enjoyed reading up on this brilliant charity. December 9, 2015 at 2:47pm
Victoria: The more I read about their activities, the more impressed I am. It gives you faith in the humankind that there are people like this out there. December 10, 2015 at 1:49pm
Pamela: I’m always ready to donate to DWB. It is a fantastic organization with many courageous people involved. My donation $50. December 10, 2015 at 10:04am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Pamela. Can you please send me the receipt, so that I can add it to the drawing? December 10, 2015 at 2:07pm
Kate: Thanks, Victoria. This is a great Bois de Jasmin tradition. Just donated. December 10, 2015 at 1:47pm
Victoria: Thank you so much for taking part. 🙂 December 10, 2015 at 1:52pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Kate! December 11, 2015 at 8:33am
Aurora: It is such a great fun way to do some good. Thank you Victoria, you’re a star to do this. I have just emailed you and will now contribute monthly to MSF. December 11, 2015 at 5:58am
Victoria: Thank you very much! It’s such a great cause, and I’m happy to contribute whatever I can. December 11, 2015 at 9:06am
Alexandra: I made a donation and just sent you my receipt. Thanks for organizing this fundraiser for a charity doing such important work. December 17, 2015 at 8:24am
Victoria: Thank you very much, Alexandra! December 17, 2015 at 8:38am
Jane: 🙂 Thank you for this amazing drawing. I admire MSF very much for the brave work that they do. December 18, 2015 at 8:56am
Victoria: Thank you for taking part in it, Jane! December 18, 2015 at 9:59am
OperaFan: Receipt on its way.
Many Hugs!
a:) December 23, 2015 at 1:31pm
Alison: Wonderful organization and wonderful contest. Thank you, Victoria! December 27, 2015 at 9:04pm
Anna: I’ve set up a monthly donation to DWB. This is such a great way to raise awareness of this organization. thank you! December 31, 2015 at 8:58pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Anna! January 1, 2016 at 9:32pm
Caroline: Victoria: I made a donation to Doctors Without Borders and tried to forward the receipt to you at editoratboisdejasmin.com, but it wouldn’t go through. I also tried variations of the above and those didn’t work either. Can you tell me what to do?
In any event, I think supporting this very important organization is a wonderful idea.
Caroline January 3, 2016 at 7:48pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Caroline! January 6, 2016 at 6:22am
Madelyn E: Dear Victoria , thank yo for this awesome contest . Diorissimo is one of my nostalgic favorites ! I emailed you the receipt from my donation . Thank you [email protected] January 4, 2016 at 4:28pm
Victoria: Thank you very much, Madelyn. January 6, 2016 at 7:06am
Lydia: I just donated. Thank you for this wonderful contest! January 5, 2016 at 9:45am
Victoria: Thank you so much, Lydia! January 6, 2016 at 7:19am
hajusuuri: I just donated and will send you the receipt. I will also check my company matching gift program to see if this organization is on the list. I have a matching gift bank that I need to use before January 31st. Thank you for your fundraising efforts. January 12, 2016 at 10:17pm
Victoria: Thank you very much for taking part and for being so generous. January 13, 2016 at 12:12pm
hajusuuri: And the company matching gift program worked! Your campaign should get “credit” for that donation too. It was actually for 10x the amount I emailed you from my own donation! January 13, 2016 at 8:09pm
Victoria: This is so generous of them, but of course, thank you above all! January 14, 2016 at 9:46am
bregje: I just donated!
But i didn’t get a receipt-mail.
Maybe it will still arrive so i can send it to you and otherwise it’s a great cause anyway :).
Wonderful competition with such beautiful prizes. Thumbs up to you,Victoria,Reg,Rebecca and Limegreen! January 13, 2016 at 7:20pm
Victoria: You can send me the number you must have gotten. Well, email me and we figure it out. January 14, 2016 at 9:45am
bregje: thanks!
i’ve sent you an e-mail. January 14, 2016 at 3:53pm
bregje: It’s probably too late for this contest but i have an almost full bottle(50 ml) of Coco that i would love to donate. January 14, 2016 at 4:06pm
Victoria: Not too late at all! Thank you so much. January 15, 2016 at 4:44am
AnnieA: I wish I could be patient – but who won? January 18, 2016 at 5:05pm
Victoria: I will announce it in a separate post. January 19, 2016 at 4:41am