The first quarter of the year is over, and it's time to 'fess up: how many bottles have you bought so far?
I've bought 3 bottles. Two are by Serge Lutens (Chêne and Rousse), and were picked up for me at a half price sale in London by a VERY kind reader. The total for both bottles came to about $125.
The third bottle was Burberry The Beat, in the Elixir, and it was one of those irrational "I'm in Nordstrom and want to buy something and gee this bottle is awfully nice" sort of purchases. I really like the scent, but I didn't need it and I'd have been much happier in the long run with something else. Damage: $130, bringing my total first quarter damage to $255.
Note: image of Donatella Versace's perfume collection (originally from Allure magazine) courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.
I was doing well last year – spent a lot of samples and decants, but few full bottle purchases since the summer. But then I moved to a more niche-friendly city and went crazy in January. I am going to say 6, because gifts and minis off eBay don't count, right? I got CdG #2, Apres L'Ondee, Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat, Odalisque, (a 30 ml) Kenzo Jungle Tigre and Egoiste. Wait, dern, also a 20 ml Magie Noire – surely that doesn't count? Four of those were at discount prices, though. I haven't been able to test the Burberry The Beat Elixir – one rep even told me it didn't exist and all others have told me “just a stronger concentration, no difference from the EdP” *sigh*
I'm shocked to realise I've bought 6, though two were Yves Rocher, so they hardly count.
Hey, where was this half-price SL sale in London? I missed that completely!
Hey, those are great picks! And of course minis & gifts don't count!
The Elixir is VERY different from the regular (even on a day when money was burning holes in my pocket, I wouldn't buy the regular) but also very limited edition. At my local mall, the Burberry boutique did not have it and said they wouldn't be getting it…only at Nordstrom.
It was at Liberty, but apparently not at all Liberty stores…and they didn't have a huge selection. Might just have been a branch that wasn't going to carry SL anymore or something?
Emporio Armani She 100ml
Emporio Armani Red (White) 100&50 ml bottles (and planning to buy more next week from fear of discontinueing)
Chanel Cristalle EdT
SL Clair du Musk – for my bedroom curtains (they also love nice perfume:)
Yves Rocher Pur Desir de Mimosa
and oh my god – this is not the end))))))
Thanks Robin
Ok 4 full size bottles, 2 of which were on sale. 3 decants, 1 15 ml Le Labo Lab 18, the dinky set of 4 mini Diptyques (I caved after the cute SA showed us the layering possibilties of Tam Dao and Philosykos – apologies to those who have already read my comment on this on the Posse!) and a v small bottle of Arabian Oud. More than I had planned but I love them all!
I've bought too much, that's all I'm going to fess up to…
But I have been buying at ridiculously low prices so it doesn't really count. The John Varvatos that came through the post today was less than half price and don't even ask me how much I paid for the bottle of Dior Homme I finally succumbed to…
My first reaction was that of course I hadn't bought any perfume, because I was cured of that. Then I remembered three, so I clicked three. Then I remembered the rest of them.
It was House of Fraser, but not in Central London. I tried, oh, how I tried to get some! LOL!
Gosh… I had declared I'd buy no more than 1 bottle per month, but here I am, the woman with no self-discipline, with 9 bottles (one an occasion on Ebay, Habanita, which, en passant, must have gone bad) plus one, Santa Maria Novella Nostalgia, which also doesn't count since it's a gift for my husband (he will come to desire it one day, I know…). The others were Un jardin en Méditerranée, Black cashmere (but 30 ml), Aoud roses petals, Le parfum de Thérèse, Bandit, Fracas, Aimez-moi and L'air du désert marocain.
Already a mortgage payment…
Hmm, I'm not sticking to my “only one bottle per month” rule for 2008. But they've all been eBay and discount, and nothing more than 50ml, so, as everyone else has said, that hardly counts, right?
-Zagorsk
-Jardin en Mediterranee
-Terre d'Hermes
-Bois Farine (just received yesterday)
-Mure et Musc (coming this week)
… and I can't remember if I bought Hypnôse Homme this year or in the fall… ha!
Hey, Aimez Moi is a fabulous bargin. And the others are certainly worth the money, anyway. Your husband will understand…
Coriolan, because if I didn't like it then maybe my boyfriend would. He doesn't :p.
Minis (Adieu Sagesse, L'Heure Attendue, numerous decants) don't count, do they?)
Well, wait til I find a job and that number is going to change dramatically…
Ack, J, you are so right!!! I need a new memory chip, honestly.
Oops…see just below.
Veronica, you are very kind to your bedroom curtains!!
Ooooh, I want those mini Diptyques, good for you! All good purchases, and hey, decants don't count
I am so memory-challenged that I keep a list in my Filofax, isn't that sad? But I do think the practice of having to write them down and then post them online saves me from at least a few stupid purchases a year.
Bois Farine has been on my “to buy” list forever…wish I could find it in 15 ml. All great picks. I'm sure the Lancome was last year
Hey, but did you like the Coriolan? And of course minis don't count.
Vent Vert (split with another NST reader); Gray Flannel (love it – thanks Robin).. have I really been this good? I guess 2008 has been a decant year so far. Time to splurge, obviously.
I bought a bottle of Coriolan last month – and I absolutely love it. What a fantastically crafted fragrance it is, delicate yet masculine at the same time.
Shame they're relaunching it, the original bottle is a work of art.
Well, I have a problem with SL. It is too sweet on my skin. I can't wear it though I love the smell in my room)
3 bottles from Luckyscent: Bois Farine, KM Sanguine, and PG Musc Maori.
When I received the package my 10-year old son asked if I needed him to sample them for me (he is my scent sample guinea pig-if I am unsure about a scent I spray his arm and make him live with it for the rest of the day, as opposed to me being stuck with scrubbers). I laughed at his innocence and responded, no darling-I already know for sure that I like these scents, that's why I got the big bottles.
Poor thing he has to put up me.
I need to stay away from Ebay and Google. If I can do that, my wallet will be safe.
But if I see an absolute bargain, it's like slamming my fingers in the door if I don't go for it…
I'm a hopeless case aren't I???
Estee Bronze Goddess
I think that's pretty darn good since after discovering this site you people are like crack sellers!
Frapin 1270 (Which I heard from 2 online sources has been discontinued-True?)
Jalaine Silk (That one was a refill-does that count?)
So I've made it so far to only 3, or 2, if refills don't count.
Thank you so much to all who fessed up. Occasionally I think I have some sort of disease and I can't stop. For a while, I thought I was Holy Grailing. And now I realize that I like perfume like I like art. Luckily, there are sample programs. . .
My three purchases, which I'll claim were my switch to warmer weather scents. .
Jardin sue le Nil, which grows more complex as I wear it more and more, along with the body cream, which goes with almost anything else and is light enough to be generously used.
Sabi, a green chypre, which I purchased with the body cream. It does all the things a green chypre does, and I like to wear it sprayed on my clothes (shhh, I know I shouldn't). The cream is lovely, but you can't wear it with EVERYthing else, like you can Sur Le Nil. It goes great with Mandragore, and a few of the Jo Malones that are kind of simple.
Li Altarelli, my new favorite which is a breezy scent with a secret sucker punch of galbanum, which means it's not “clean and fluffy” but very real and smells great. It also lasts a good 10 hours.
I wear Prada Homme – fantastic fragrance and very popular with women, from whom I often get favourable comments.
Hey, you've been VERY good!
Wow, my 9 year old son is quite *done* with smelling my perfumes…and so far, he has only liked ONE: Vaniglia Mandarine whatever by Antica Farmacista.
Hi Sevenjoy, and welcome! And wow, what a lucky person you are to get 3 SLs as gifts — I'd kill for a bell jar of Iris Silver Mist. Your collection sounds perfect, and Kyoto is a great addition.
What Frapin says is that they *might* reintroduce 1270 later — but it is certainly out of production for now. I'd say you were wise to get a bottle while you could.
We are like crack sellers, aren't we? It always cracks me up when people post on fragrance forums like MakeupAlley “should I buy such & such”? Hey, that is not the place to find people to tell you NOT TO BUY.
Then why not? I'd love my room to smell like Tubereuse Criminelle
Who makes Sabi and Li Altarelli? I think I need them, based on your descriptions.
thanks! thanks for all your great reviews which help me visualise the perfumes (esp Passage d'Enfer & ISR) b4 I even touched the bottle. I didn't have enough time to play around in the salon, or i'll have tried 1 or 2 more non-export perfume. But I shouldn't be too greedy right?
I am so addicted to incense perfume after Avignon! But there are not many choices in HK, and even fewer people who treat knowing more about perfume as a “hobby”.
For me, it falls into the “Admire” category. I agree with the commenter below, its beautifully crafted; just too masculine for me most of the time.
oops, “below” = “above”
Reading in the blogosphere is like falling through Alice's rabbit hole…
Hey Denise, I might happily take that bottle of Coriolan off your hands. Feel free to contact me at allegro805@hotmail.com. It's been on my list forever. Hey, this wasn't supposed to be a post where we acquire MORE bottles, was it!
HDS — I hadn't heard they're relaunching it. Will it definitely be in a different bottle? Love the original. Will it be reformulated as well, no doubt?
Hi Joe,
Yeah it's being relaunched and renamed as “L'Ame D'Un Heros” (soul of a hero) and they are going to the classic Guerlain bee bottles.
I hope they don't tinker with the formulation, I like it just as it is.
We're all hopeless…
Caleche Eau Delicate, Hermes, Infusion D'Iris, Prada, Eau Des Merveilles, Hermes…and you people don't know how many fragrances I was litterally on the verge of buying…but managed to let go at the very last moment.
Sigh..
But my wishlist has not ended here, so nor have my joy and my frustration…
I'm so surprised — I know HK isn't probably a hotbed of perfume addiction, but would have assumed the shopping opportunities were fantastic.
Li Altarelli is by Stephanie de Saint Aignan, and Sabi is by Henry Dunay (you can find it at Neiman Marcus)
Hey, but 3 isn't bad!
Oh, my, what this obses- er, *hobby* can do to a frugal person. Ok, technically I've bought one bottle (30ml Black Orchid Voile d'Fleur w/ free shipping from Sephora.) I have several other new bottles, but they're from swaps and I was feeling pretty virtuous until I started thinking about bottle splits on MUA (3, at least) and decants from fishbone (her prices are so good! and she's going out of business!) and another online decanter I found (I need more Un Jardin Sur Le Nil with summer coming, after all) and well, it's been a pricier four months than I thought. I just finished our taxes about ten minutes ago, and we truly cannot afford pricy perfume (I'm rather amazed we can afford groceries and gas, and by summer that might be iffy.) But somehow it all works out and I do indeed end up smelling like a rose, go figure
Maybe I can write it off next year as part of my prescription costs? Perfume and chocolate do go a long way toward relieving anxiety; surely the IRS will understand?
oh! for mainstream perfume you can find them almost anywhere! But for example CDG's perfume can be found only in less than 3 places and they don't have sampler! Maybe Joyce Beauty n Lane Crawford carries some good collections, but their setting is sooo high-end and “upper-class”, and rarely are the staff knowledgable in perfume. for these reasons i seldom dare to enter. (i found perfume shops in european countries more friendly)
maybe i should be braver
Please, don't mention taxes! Am still working on mine, sloooooowly. When I'm done, I'll know if I've anything left for groceries & gas
I have not purchased a single bottle so far!
I have purchased two fragranced body lotions though: Sephora's Tropical Jasmine and Agent Provocateur body lotion.
I was for a second thinking 'if minis and samples don't count, I've really good', and then I realised I'm not.
Malabah, and Violetta from my 'Let's just pop into Penhaligon's'. Then Amour, Berkley SquareF&C, and Cabaret from 'Ooh that's to cheap to say no too'.
And I've decided that Flower and Covet practically don't count as I used my Boots points to pay for them rather than actual money.
Sorry my typing/brain is awful.
Should be: 'I've been really good', and 'no to'.
Don't you think “just popping into Penhaligon's” is a bit dangerous?
I find it very difficult to “just pop in there” at all. There's a Penhaligon's in Cornhill in the city opposite where my wife works and I have to be very strong willed to walk past there…
It's a bit like me committing “financial hari kiri by debit card”…
Wise words… wise words…
I have to say all of you have made me feel so much better. My count so far is 4. But I have taken Robin's advice (at least I think it was Robin who wrote the article on “how to get fragrance samples”) and I now have quite the collection of samples because “why have shame”! Thanks everyone…I feel a trip to Nordstrom's coming on.
Very dangerous, but I have no will power to resist the pull. It's like a giant scented magnet.
I'm a lucky boy at the moment, it's my birthday tomorrow (10th April) and she's bought me a bottle of Castile, which I think is the finest of the Penhaligon's male scents (it lasts longer than Endymion and is less “cold” than Blenheim).
If you're a Penhaligon's girl, what do you think of Bluebell? I love it, I think it's such a pretty perfume for a woman, it's delicate but with depth. A very “old” fragrance but strikingly refreshing in today's scent market.
I finally gave in and have just bought my first perfume this year – Prada EDP which I'd adored from the first sniff. In the poll I did say 2-4 but that's only because I'm waiting for my bottle of Prada Homme to arrive, and I lurve that one even more
Can you guess what my next purchase will be? (not least thanks to you, R) 
Hey, good for you! I haven't tried the AP lotion, is it lovely?
IngestedKitten, it is quite true: if you buy with points, it doesn't count.
4 is not bad at all, and of course samples don't count, even if you end up paying for them
Despite access to a Nordstrom and Neiman marcus card, I have only managed to buy one bottle at Marshall's. I thought I was buying one of the Guerlain fragrances and it turned out to be spray on deodorant so I took it back and traded it in – couldn't make a decision and ended up with Burberry Weekend which is a nice light spring fragrance. I think my next one might be Jo Malone Black Vetyver Cafe. I tried it at Nordstrom and nearly bought it….sigh. And now Neiman Marcus has beauty offers which is disastrous to my card LOL.
0 for now, cos I haven't made up my mind and am waiting for the summer sale.
haven't made up my mind on Ormonde Jayne's. I have luckily got 3 samples for free from them, but I couldn't choose between frangipani and osmanthus. The only downside to both of them is they are quite too strong on me. 2 spritz (tiny half spritz) is enough to choke me on 2 occasions.
waiting for the sales for Hermes Jardins (Nil + new one). These two are definite purchases, so by summer I'll be able to catch up with you all
MWAhahahaha!!!!! Out of 57 votes I appear to be alone in not having bought anything. Sigh. It isn't willpower…it's purely out of necessity. There's no WAY i could squeeze out the dough, even if I tried…and though I could go the Marshall's route, I've decided never to buy another bottle I'm just 'in like' with. But once I get a job! Ohhhh….there's bottles of Arabie, Bois d'Armenie, Premier Figuer et. al with my name on them…
I think I've bought more bottles in the last month than in the last year. I don't know why. But! If we subtract: minis, bottles bought at discount on eBay; bottles bought with cash so I don't have to look at them later on my Visa; and bottles bought to avail myself of some bonus swag at Nordstrom … I haven't purchased any! Wow, I am a model of restraint! You guys and your spendthrift ways, you shock me.
Thanks!
Two. Gris Clair and Eau d'Amazonie. Love them both.
I really like the lotion (it's actually called “Body Glamour” I think). It adds just a veil of scent and is very light. Just as you have said about the sur le nil lotion, it's not super moisturizing. It seems to have some sort of pink stuff in the lotion (I suppose to give one a glow), but it's not glittery at all. I barely notice the color on my skin (I have fair skin). I would think it would make a nice option for someone who likes AP but doesn't want to wear the juice in the summer. I don't mind doing that though.
I have bought much more than I should have. The original idea was not to buy anything so I could treat myself to a Chanel Exclusif for my birthday, which happens to be today.
Instead I have bought:
Annick Goutal's Incense Flamboyant
Tom Fords Black Orchid Veleur (sorry about the spelling). This one was one of those Nordstrom purchases that I almost regret, although I think it is lovely
YSL Nu
Annick Goutals Le Chevrefeuille
I bought Terre d'Heremes for my husband. Does that count?
and Perfume Sacre because it was a bargain.
I have also spent a lot of money on samples.
I guess I will have to stop for a few months and then go to the Chanel boutique and get me a belated birthday present
Oh ho! I see that Fleur Defendue (from Lolita Lempicka) is available on sephora. com, but it's already temporarily sold out! It could be my first purchase of the year IF it's a “love” not “like.” I love the other LLs.
Sabi is by Henry Dunay, and he started out as something else–architecht or interior designer. I forget. He got a lot of bad press, but he could be a fish monger for all I care. I love the fragrance. It's one of those that languidly changes as it blossoms on your skin over the course of a day.
Available at Nieman's
Li Alterelli is by Stephanie de St.-Agnan. It is a lovely scent that is so well blended that I can't pick out individual notes except for the galbanum. It is supposed to have a marine part, which normally I'd hate, but I don't get a lot of what I think of as marine. It's available at Lucky Scent. It's expensive, and the bottle is pretty plain. I don't care. I love the scent.
Let's see:
For Him – Narciso Rodriguez
Eau D'Hadrien – Annick Goutal
Straight to Heaven – By Kilian (thank you, Aedes!)
Original Musk Eau de Toilette – Kiehl's
Allure Edition Blanche – Chanel
Full bottles, no regrets.
Especially now that I've managed to post this comment under the intended article!
mmariecrys:That is the cutest thing! That really made me laugh..and then it gave me a great idea…because I have a 3 year old!
Still, 3 stores in one city w/ CdG is more than I've got…and more than most US cities have….and if you want samples, you've got to buy them online. But know what you mean about snotty stores
Will have to look for it, thanks!
Hey, Happy Birthday (tomorrow)!
Dana, no, that's what they do when they're putting something online that isn't available yet — it always says sold out.
Hey, nice haul! Have yet to try the Straight to Heaven but am working my way through the Kilians this week.
Straight to Heaven was by far, my favorite. The others were just 'strange'. I suppose I can see how someone else might find their oddness appealing,but to me they're just too left of center for my tastes…especially the one called Absinthe (sp?).
Arwen,
Happy Birthday!!! I think you should treat yourself to everything you want!
My birthday isn't for quite awhile so I have no such excuse.
.Bal a Versailles parfum was the only 'me' purchase.
I'm ready for canonization now:-)
oops. I forgot about the Doblis and the Courtesan but they are only samps, so they don't count!
Wow! Where do I start? Major addict here. Total count is 136 FULL bottles and probably about 100 samples give or take. My collection include:
Tom Ford Private Blend 6 (Love Black Violet, Japon Noir, and adore Amber Absolute)
Serge Lutens 6 (Love Chene and Chergui)
By Kilian 2 (have Straight to Heaven and Cruel Intentions, wish I bought Liaisons Dangereuses
instead)
Editions de Parfum 4 (love Musc Ravageur)
Clive Christian 3 (Traveler Set)
Etro 6 (love mixing these together)
Tom Ford 3 (Love Black Orchid… For men just ok and Extreme unnecessary purchase)
Bois 1920 2 (Real Patchouly LOVE LOVE LOVE!)
L' Artisan Parfumeur 2 (use for air freshener Dzonka and Absinthe didnt really love after purchase)
Bond No9 6 (Favs are Andy Warhol Silver, Wall Street, Chinatown and Scent of Peace)
Creed 7 (Green Irish Tweed, Original Santal are the ones I Love)
Anyhoo…purchased this year M7 (very nice),Arperge (like alot),Paul Smith Extreme,Nasomatto Silver Musk( just ok),Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte, Un Jardin Sur de Nil, Dior Homme, Tauer L'air du désert marocain (LOVE LOVE LOVE prob get Incense Rose next) , and spring sample set from Lucky Scent on the way including Costume National 21 ( have scent extreme and is in my top 10).
I managed to score some samples of the new Annick Goutal line of orientals while at AEDES and as soon as they are available in the states I am definitely going to buy Encens Flamboyant!
Question? Is it really true that perfumes go bad? How do you sell decants ( and what exactly are decants) on e bay?
Well thanks for your time. Just another perfumaholic loving this blog!
Forgot to mention in my other post purchased Narcisco and really like alot. I own the original allure how does the edition blanche compare?
I've been told that a good perfume stains clothes. Well, I'm sure if it's silk and you spritz it on full force, it will, but I'm a wash-and-wear kind of gal, and I spray lightly inside a jacket or on dark clothing and it's fine.
Then there's the idea is that your skin is the place for scent, not clothing. There are a lot of perfumes my skin does battle with, that are lovely if I spray them on my clothing. Prada Iris is one of them. Sharp on my skin, heaven on my T-shirt.
after spending too much of my palsy student budget on perfume (sometimes i bought perfume instead of food) last year, i made a vow to not spend too much on perfume…
my almost nonexistent income comes mainly from selling avon, but about 90% of that goes to my dance studio, seeing as i have two full time careers, university by day, ballroom dance by night… hopefully after i get accredited in the summer i can make some money to spend on perfume!
nonetheless, i starved, sucked it up and gave in to purchasing anothe full size bottle of annick goutal chevrefeuille and bulgari BLV (what people regard as my signature)… there goes a nice pair of hand fitted and crafted ballroom shoes… *sob*
i hate clutter, so i try and keep my rotation to less than four scents each season, but i always end up buying too much (and some scents i get bored with very quickly)!
I've bought 6 bottles, my favorite purchase by far is Serge Leutens, Diam Blonde. Didn't care for it at first, but the key was to wear it on a crisp cool day. Totally changed my opinion.
I'm a freshman here since this March. Terribly, I bought Jicky, Mitouko,Shalimar, 2 bottles of Serge Lutens, Dzongkha and light blue in one month…
Purchased samples of Strange Invisible Perfumes. Found the sillage minimal.
I forgot one thing… I also bought M7 and L'Anarchiste for my husband..
Thanks to all. I enjoy finding out what people actually buy. Well Becca here, did some major damage. I am still new to the niche fragrances, but I am no longer a virgin. My adventures:
Red Flower Hammam oil-very soothing
YSL Baby Doll-A guilty pleasure. I love the opening burst of Lush Grapefruit that dies down to a gentle freesia (Did you know they did a survey that women who smell of grapefruit are perceived as 5 years younger…really! I assume this was a government study:))
And there isn't even a grapefruit accord in it!
YSL Paris flanker Le Jardin de Romantique-fresh cut lawn
Gendarme Lust- oh yuck, I didn't realise it was a unisex frag it's smells like Hi Karate, too limey and the silage lasts forever. Oh well, I did buy a fragrance named Lust.
Estee Lauder's Youth Dew bath oil-Our Grandmother's wore this? I think they sold me a bottle from the 50's cause again, oh yuck! I felt like I had a dirty unwashed hippie on my back all day.
Micheal Korres Micheal- It was on sale at sephora with the leg (or body) glimmer and cream. I love, love, love this, and a little dab'll do ya. white and yet sassy.
E.L. Beautiful Love-Fragile, ephemeral green
L'Artisan's La Chasse Aux Papillions with …Drum-roll please-
Profumum – Fiore D'Ambra, It is the smoothest, sweetest amber accord I've smelled and it adds depth to anything, like the Papillions and the BL. and …oh everything. I am justifying my bankruptcy in the name of exploration. OMG somebody send me some money ;-}
Jacci you had a great month then
I assume we're not counting samples here?!
I've got a 'thing' about Kenzo 'Summer' at the moment – after a winter of spicy, heavy scents this is floating my springtime boat – and have found a source of the 75ml eau du parfum for only £19.99! (have so far bought x2 75ml and x1 special edition 'pebble' purse spray – it doesn't last that long so I'm 'refreshing' throughout the day!)
I've also bought Never too busy to be Beautiful's 'Breath of God' unsniffed – unfortunately, something about it reminds me of the smell of fabric Elastoplast so I think I'm going to leave it until Autumn and then try it again – it's definately a heavy, dark scent.
I also succumbed to a small bottle of Moschino 'Couture' – only £12.99 online – probably not going to be a long term love affair but a fun, zingy spring scent.
Add to these, numerous samples picked up on ebay and The Perfumed Court. From which, I've reached the conclusion that I'm definately *not* a jasmine kind of girl – I'm trying to love 'Joy' but it's proving difficult. And that Comme des Garcons 'Patchouli' is just way too much. And that some day I'll hunt down a big bottle of Cartier's 'Baisir du Dragon'. These are all sitting in an ever-growing pile in an old cottonbud container. Tres glam.
I spray on clothes as well, dark clothes and on the collar of my coat and on the inside of the sleeves of my coat.
I guess I like to leave my traces.
Very sometimes I spray on my hair but only in the evening, not in sunlight.
maybe i am luckier than i thought then…. anyway i'm planning to try more samples online to explore more!
i felt guity after buying 2 bottles for around 150euro in totl but now feel soooooo much better after reading this blog! i think i haven't bought as many as i SHOULD, let's buy a bottle every month!!
The original Allure smells cheap and noxious. By comparison, the Edition Blanche smells lively, creamy and…well, not cheap. I found it interesting that a flanker smells better (in my opinion) than the original. I hope Chanel considers adding it permanently – at the moment, it's only a limited edition.
I got sent some money for my birthday from my parents so I am going to treat myself to either a bottle of Hamman Bouquet (as I fancy something opulent) or Racquets Formula.
Whichever I buy, I am wearing Castile tonight because I just smell so fantastic wearing it…
Ack — I can't remember ANYTHING anymore — you'll have to tell me!
Hey, take your time…if you're at 0, we're all jealous!
Nada.
Bought 100 nail polishes, though.
Lucky you then, hope you'll love whatever you buy!
Most excellent!!!
No, they aren't powerhouses in terms of sillage, although I find the EdPs do better in that regard. Love the line anyway!
Hey, two is one better than I did. Glad you love both of them.
Arwen, happy belated birthday, hope it was fun! Great picks, and of course you don't have to count the Terre d'Hermes — and hope you'll get your Chanel soon
Good, maybe I'll try that one today. So far, have tried 3, and all nice but no cigar.
Of course we're not counting samples!!
So sorry you hated the Breath of God after buying it, I hate that! But don't give up on the jasmine just yet: I used to hate it too, now it's just about my favorite smell in the world.
QC, I'm sure it's possible, but I spray on clothing all the time. And hair. Guess I wouldn't spray SL Sarrasins on a new white t-shirt…
Sorry, I thought I'd dropped a hint with the two Pradas
I'm going for the Prada triptych – Infusion d'Iris!
LOL — hints don't work with me, especially in the morning (am just starting 2nd cup of tea, might wake up in an hour or so). Anyway, that's a perfect plan, Infusion d'Iris is lovely. There's a rumor they're going to do a masculine version of it, but don't know if it's true.
Your take is about the same as Kevin's — I need to go try the Blanche.
Now — you bought all that in the last 3 months? You sound like me a few years ago!
Whew, that is a nice collection!
Yes, perfumes go bad. It is one of the main reasons I slowed down on my buying. You can't sell decants on ebay anymore (in the US, at least), but of course you can swap them on MakeupAlley or elsewhere.
Hey, if you sell Avon, you can tell us how the new Cynthia Rowley scents are??? I do love those bottles.
It is best, I think, to be on a budget anyway. I wish I'd limited myself more carefully the first year or two so I wouldn't be sitting on this pile of perfume that's going bad.
Daim Blond is lovely, I'd love to have a bottle.
Yes Dusan !! and you won't regret your third purchase.:-D
Real damage are perfumes that go bad …
I have two lost this year. In 8 years this is my first lost.
MPG – Rose Muskissime … the head now doesnt smell good but the base is OK. … still ok for the favorite perfume of my scarf
Artisan – Jours de Fete … It is more problematic. Jours de Fete is only referenced on half documentation/site of l'artisan. In my head there is only one signification … “Soon to be discontinued”
I am in a VERY very bad mood when I discover that one of my perfume has turned bad. But I will replace them I beleive.
Oh, I'm like that myself, and am on my 2nd cup, too (of coffee though). Can't wait to save up for IdI, but must say it will be an unsniffed purchase!
Yes, I remember you mentioning there might be a men's version of IdI later this year, but I just can't wait that long
And anyway, I'll probably end up buying that one too, LOL! What can I do, I'm a sucker for Prada (and D. Andrier's fumes).
LOL at the bottles bought with cash. That's my technique for the buying of non-existent bottles, too. Always makes me feel shady, though, when I'm furtively unpeeling notes from my purse as if I've just picked someone's pocket.
Thanks, M! I thinks so too
And congrats on your bottle of Eau des Merveilles – I absolutely adore it! 
Go Bad meaning …lose their potency?
Benoit, with me a bottle of Chanel Alllure went bad after 10 years.
And I am not going to replace that bottle because I was not wearing or loving it anymore. If you still love and use those perfumes then you should replace them, if not: well it was nice to have them and enjoy them, but there are new wonderfull perfumes waiting for you so…go after them and enjoy them!!
There are some gorgeous new Agent Provocateur body products coming out this month. There is a new scented body cream and also a very fine body powder, both of which come in lovely pink AP packaging. The new cream is thicker and more concentrated in scent, feeling very velvety on the skin. When I wore it head to toe, it was quite strong and got loads of comments so I think could definitely double up on use like a solid perfume.
Then there are also new additions to the Maitresse range as well. They're hitting UK in April so probably worldwide a few weeks after that.
ilflawless, reading this I think that you might like Powder Flowers by Montale.
Just so you know
Infusion D'Iris is a new classic. Absolutely divine, in a different league to many out there. Enjoy.
Mine are kept in a deep, dry, light proof drawer. Where possible I have kept the boxes too.
I have very little in the way of perfumes going bad – except a bottle of Cacharel pour homme which is long past its best.
You are doing much better than I am…I've lost bottles of Delrae Debut, TDC Bergamot & Rosine Ecume in the last few years, and too many decants to list.
On about my 10th cup of tea now, so a wee bit sharper, LOL…but only a wee bit
I liked Opus 1870, and love the packaging. Enjoy your birthday present!
Did you try the Tom Ford Extreme for men? Heard it was miles better than the “regular”.
LLol, exactly!
When I get a “whiff” that one of my faves might be discontinued, I always panic and then search for a few extra bottles, just in case…..
I think it could mean a few things, perhaps, the color or frag's notes changed. Could be from alcohol evaporation or exposure to sunlight/heat.
The few I've had that spoiled, got stronger, in a bad way, but they didn't get weaker.
It helps to keep extras in the fridge, stored in plastic bag, of course…
No I didn't try the extreme, I had just had my olfactory lobes roasted buy sniffing the Oud Wood… I think the word “yikes!” would sum up my feelings about that…
Wow, March! I forgot to subtract all those things myself. In that case, zooooom: I'm down to zero from 15 in the blink of an eye. Yippee! Nuthin' like a little creative financing to keep the ol' budget in line and keep Fragrance Addict's Remorse to a minimum!!
Ditto, Robin. TDC's Jasmin de Nuit was my latest FB purchase. Mmmmm. Blast of serious indolics, and then purrrrrrrrr. . .I MUST STOP BUYING FRAGRANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm swearing off. Tomorrow. . .
I exaggerate. I think I bought 6 or 7. I'm trying not to think about it too much. (I'm a firm believer in practicing the fine art of denial.)
Thanks!
The only one I've purchased so far is MPG Bahiana. But for me the real question is “How many fragrances have you sold off on eBay”? Answer: at least fifteen! Times are TOUGH!
You know, I was really surprised that I liked it as much as I did. But for some reason that scent is haunting me. I wish that I just plunked the money down right there on the spot. I'm typically a very nervous perfume consumer…not nervous because I don't like something but nervous about the high prices for a big bottle. Now I just wish I had splurged on that one!!!!
Oops. I'm back up to 8 or 9.
Makeup Alley? Never heard of it.
LOL!
I love Bahiana, wish I had a bottle! Sorry you're having to sell your perfumes, that must be tough.
Oh man, I've bought 7!!!
Serge Lutens: Chergui and Clair de Musc
Bond no9: Madison Soiree
Jo Malone: Vintage Gardenia and Red Roses
BBW: Chocolate Amber
Caron: Parfum Sacre
Oh wait, 2 small samples from Long Lost Perfumes… I ought to be ashame of myself!!!!!!
I misspelled Kors..probably not only. Of Course I did! Did you mean wow–? I'm just getting into layering and I'm embarrassed to say I forgot the essential oils I bought-do those count?
I am laughing my butt off right now because I realise the font of Micheal Kors Body cream box says, “An expensive body cream” I thought I needed new glasses. My sister said she didn't get it. What's to get? Who was the genius who thought that was a good idea? Maybe it's a typo and it's supposed to be expansive??? better, maybe.
i don't even want to picture that! This morning I thought the spray point was someplace else, and sprtized my chin. Too much of a good thing!
I was in a haze of Sabi all day. I like the idea of spraying the inside sleeves of a coat, though. I have to try that.
You are certainly also a better nose than mine.
My MPG Soie Rouge is also on the razor edge. Even if I dont recognize the current sold one. (A small change in formulation during the 8 years ?? I dont know)
I have also a TDC bergamot … i need a good prayer …
I've bought 6 so far… They were: Vierges et toreros by Etat Libre, Jasmin de Nuit by TDC, ShaalNur and Messe de Minuit by Etro, Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan and Eau Lente by Diptyque. Oh, and the other night I bought 2 more, but they were so cheap it almost doesn't count…Joop! pour femme and Desnuda by Ungaro, because I used to like them so much many years ago, before I became an addict. It will be interesting to see if they can still impress me now that I know so much more about this wonderful world that is perfume. I'm so glad we don't count minis and samples!
I voted 1 bottle (bought a dc'ed on ebay), but I get gratis often. Off the top of my head, I'd say I've gotten over 25 so far this year. I store them or swap them with friends.
I would buy it too if it lasted longer…as it is, can never make up my mind if I want to buy it or not. If it lasts on you, go for it!
http://www.makeupalley.com
HA — I did mean WOW.
And shocked they've written that on the Kors body cream — will have to check that out in Sephora, that's pretty darned funny.
I should have been fair on the TDC: mine was a bottle split, so is larger than a decant, but still, was sprayed out of its original bottle. Never good for long term storage. The Delrae & the Rosines, however, are in the original bottles and so not happy about those. I do know just from smelling Rosine testers, many of which don't smell so great, that Rosines do not all keep well.
And on the MPG — in many cases I'd rather have the old formula, even if the top notes had spoiled, than the new one, wouldn't you?
And last — doubt I have a better nose than anyone, seriously.
Lucky lucky you!
Thanks for the birthday wishes. Well, I am also wearing the Hermes, but my excuse to buy it was that it was not for me!!
Thank you for the wishes.
Yes, you have shown restraint.
Samples should not count. I have bought approx 40 samples this year. When I read blogs about perfums I get curious.