Back in March, I asked how many of you thought the then-upcoming book Perfumes: The Guide would impact your fragrance spending. About half of you were worried about your wallets. Today's question is a bit broader: I'd like to know about the last perfume you bought unsniffed based on a review you read anywhere. If you're up for a confession, tell us the name of the fragrance, where you read the review, and how the purchase worked out for you.
My last unsniffed purchase was Hermès Un Jardin après la Mousson, but that wasn't based on a review, in fact, if I had waited to read the reviews, I doubt I would have bought it. Patience is a virtue, but it is not a virtue I possess. The last fragrance I bought unsniffed that "counts" for today's poll was Lalique's Encre Noire. I got sucked in by this lovely review at Bois de Jasmin, and do note that it only took 3 sentences to convince me that I needed a bottle. It worked out beautifully; in fact, it worked out considerably better than the vast majority of my unsniffed buys.
The image has nothing to do with anything except that I've been waiting for an excuse to post it; it is the new Caron ad for Pour Un Homme featuring rugby player Sébastien Chabal. This is not your father's Caron, eh?
Note: you are more than welcome to link to the review you read, if it is online, but PLEASE use tinyurl, thanks!
The comments from this article could not be imported when we moved, so here they are, in several large chunks:
On May 9, 2008 colombina said:
It was so long ago that I don’t even remember. I am sure it must have happened in the past…but I don’t remember. It hasn’t happen in the last year or so for sure. I do get samples based on reviews all the time though.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Good for you!
On May 10, 2008 alotofscents said:
Imagine, if you will, a self assured, slender, attractive women… like Samantha from Sex in the City. She is at a resort in a white bathing suit, long flowing pareo, gold stiletto mules with a dark shimmering bronze glow , and Dior shades. She passes you by with a polite Channel smile and you whiff a delicate tuberose with a deep spicy sexy twist. And you think, “wow, I want that”.
That’s what floated through my head when I heard sephora.com pronounce Micheal Kors: feminine , sexy, chic, and OsMoz virtually the same–well hell, I must to have *that*.
what I got was tuberose with a mere *hint* of spice. Fortunately, it softened up after ten minutes. Cinnamon brings out the spice so I ordered Demeter’s Cinnamon Toast mini (does that count?)
But the seller’s, EEK, spin you little white lies, duh. So now I spend a lot of cash on samples. That wasn’t the only time, it was just the last.
Thanks for this post. It is very interesting and informative.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, Michael Kors layered over Cinnamon Toast sounds wonderful — great idea!
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
LT compared Montana’s Just Me to Worth Courtesan (which I love) and seemed to prefer the Montana. I think Just Me smells like peppered nail varnish. Have I mentioned my unsniffed buy track record is *terrible*?
I stopped buying unsniffed off Bois de Jasmin after Jacomo Silences. 🙂 Which I suspect you like…
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I have not tried Just Me — but your comment reminds me that one of the first things I ever bought unsniffed was Jacomo Paradox, because LT said it was wonderful — it turned out to be an aquamelon (great term! thanks for coining it!) fruity floral thingie that I detested.
Silences, yes, I like, but not sure why I don’t love it — it seems like something I should love. But I don’t. Maybe I need to give it another shot.
On May 11, 2008 dissed said:
I, too bought Paradox based on that review. Gave it away. I loved the bottle, though. Looks like a spaceship.
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Bet we’re not the only ones, either! Oh well, you live, you learn.
On May 9, 2008 damselfly1213 said:
Lady Stetson after reading the review in Perfumes: the Guide. Tania compares it to Chanel No. 22, which I’ve never bothered to sniff because I dislike No. 5 so much. But hey – it’s cheap and my grocery store doesn’t bother to lock it in the glass case. I like it. Smells like Juicy Fruit gum for a bit, and Tania’s right – that makes me happy. And now I need to go search out No. 22.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I know I smelled Lady Stetson long ago, but cannot remember a darned thing about it — must give it another smell. I wish it was easier to find mass market testers.
On May 9, 2008 inkdarkmoon said:
Lady Stetson is on my to-sniff/buy list due to that review in the guide. I did recently buy Jovan Sex Appeal for Men–unsniffed– due to the review in The Guide, and I do like it. I am now considering buying Spongbob for Boys unsniffed–it can sit proudly next to the Jovan bottle 🙂
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I’ve heard the Spongebob is a decent citrus — I’d like a bottle!
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
no.way. I need to sniff SpongeBob?
Do you think my Guerlain bottles would hurl themselves to their death if I put SpongeBob up there? How about Fabulosity?
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, I doubt Spongebob is a masterpiece, but hey, it’s Spongebob — how can you resist? Even the Guerlains would have to smile.
On May 9, 2008 dawnkana said:
Hi R!
L’Eau D’Hiver right after I read it about in “The Guide”. I’ve had it almost a month now.
I love it and I wear it on and off or in between and to me it’s the perfect simple perfume. It beats to its own drum but maintains it simplicity.
Happy Friday!
Dawn
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
D, A very worthy unsniffed purchase — of course I say so because I love it too! You have a great Friday too 🙂
On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:
I bought Mitsouko (the EDT version) online after reading LT and TS’ interview on this very blog; they both pretty much agreed that if they had to choose one scent to bring to a desert island, that would be it. And even in the sometimes reviled EDT version (and a reformulation at that), it’s really something, all right.
Since I was ordering anyway, I also bought Terracotta Voile D’Ete after reading the Scented Salamander review of it. Haven’t even opened it yet: I’m saving it for the first day of summer (because of the name).
Annnnnd I bought Anisia Bella after reading about it right here. I wore it to work today and had a crowd of women (all employees) sniffing me delightedly and saying it was the sort of thing they would buy their husbands. Would they be so open-minded if they knew what it was called, or that it was marketed as a women’s scent?
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
If you love the Mitsouko, must urge you to buy at least a few mls of the Parfum — I don’t even like Mitsouko, but it’s stunning.
Interesting on the Anisia Bella — many women thought it too cedar-y masculine, so perhaps it would have done better if marketed to men?
On May 9, 2008 Robin said:
Robin, Mitsouko pure perfume was my last purchase based on NST you-must-have-for-reference directions!! Such a willing girl I am. I actually haven’t sniffed it yet. I’m a bit scared to.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
LOL! Do not be afraid, it doesn’t bite — and hey, you might love it! Either way, it is a perfect reference for so many other fragrances.
On May 9, 2008 smelltheglove said:
Mitsuoko did bite me. But I told my sister that and she went out and sniffed it and fell in love with it.
Also, I haven’t bought anything unsniffed recently, probably since I started reading NST regularly! But I did go to the Hermes boutique in San Francisco after reading The Guide, and, with the help of Brigitte (probably smelled her name wrong – oops, spelled!), I sampled Osmanthe Yunnan, which was disappointing at first but did smell nice on my arm 8 hours later. Brigitte did point me towards Apres le Mousson, for which I am grateful – I really like this one, though I think my favorite is still 24, Faubourg.
And I just went and ordered the Ormonde Jayne sampler after reading the comment here – thanks for the tip!
Hey, how about a lazy Friday poll about reviews from the Guide that we disagree with? without being nasty about it, of course.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Sorry Mitsouko bit you! In all truth, sometimes it bites me too 🙂
Perfume Posse did a poll like that recently, and people can’t seem to help being nasty about it so not going to take that one on, although in theory it would be interesting if people could make themselves be nice.
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
That would be good – my dislike of Mitsouko made me think of something a bit similar today ie what perfumes do we dislike that are generally held in high regard? And of course Turin loves Mitsouko, so I am on the same track as you as far as that one goes. But your idea is “tidier”, for how would we determine what is “generally held in high regard”, whereas we can just go straight for the low star ratings in his book! And going by the book there is also scope in both directions – to like what he dislikes as well as to dislike what he likes, whereas mine was just about “not getting the greats” if we could have defined them!
On May 11, 2008 Tama said:
I don’t have the Turin book yet (seems like one of those things that everyone scorns as they devour every page – lol) but one perfume I do not get at all is Fracas. I remember when it had its big re-release or whatever and talk about a scrubber!!! I got a sample of Gantier Tubereuse and it was too Fracas – I love actual tuberoses but I guess the perfume version puts me off.
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
Robin, my sister-in-law, who is not really into perfume, was nosing around on my shelf during a visit and tried my Mitsouko parfum because the bottle caught her eye. I probably would have suggested something … less. Anyway, she fell head over heels in love. When it became clear to her I wasn’t going to give her my bottle 🙂 she promptly called Saks and bought one. My point being, you never know!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, how cool is that! See, I actually think that if Guerlain would stick testers of all the parfums on the counter, they’d sell more of the lesser concentrations. Except maybe Jicky, which is maybe easier to love in EdT.
On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:
After trying the Mitsouko EDT, I have every intention of ordering at least the parfum, and probably the EDP as well, from The Perfumed Court. I’ve read so much about it in the last week–it’s amazing how there’s almost this entire Mitsouko subculture!–and now I think I need to experience it in as many ways as possible. Not going to track down vintage, though, at least not yet….
Anisia Bella does strongly suggest a masculine scent; even though it has a certainly stripped-down Apres L’Ondee quality to it, it reads as men’s cologne, with the citrus top and the herbal middle. I think they dropped the ball when they were marketing it, for sure.
On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:
Pyramus, I’d love to browse some of your readings about Mitsouko — please point me in the right direction (maybe I should just Google?). I ordered decants of Mitsouko EDP & L’Heure Bleue EDP a couple months ago — Mitsouko hasn’t really done much for me (I was expecting maybe a different type of “peachy”), but L’Heure Bleue has captivated me because it is just so evocative of another time and unlike almost anything I’ve ever smelled. It’s difficult to unconditionally “love” or wear with great frequency, but I am curious to see if Mitsouko grows on me.
Now I’m very curious about Anisia Bella since you say it has a “stripped down Apres L’Ondee quality.”
On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:
Googling “mitsouko” is your best bet. There are reviews here on NST, and also on The Scented Salamander, Bois de Jasmin, and of course a great many on MakeupAlley and Basenotes, to name just a few. Most serious fragrance bloggers eventually get to it. It really is one of the cornerstone scents, like Chanel No. 5 and Shalimar; what Luca Turin calls a reference scent, the sort of thing you base your opinions of other scents on–a paradigm of what a great scent can be.
Anisia Bella, for all its simplicity, is fascinating. It’s easily the best unsniffed purchase I ever made.
On May 9, 2008 monkeytoe said:
I (boy) bought Anisia Bella unsniffed after reading about at Now Smell This. An excellent unsniffed purchase.
On May 9, 2008 monkeytoe said:
I meant to say, also, that I think most of the Aqua Allegorias read pretty sex neutral.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Yes, many of them do. I’m surprised they don’t try harder to market them that way.
On May 9, 2008 VanillaGirl said:
This very morning I received Maroussia, after a burst of excitement on PoL seduced me into looking it up. It’s nice, but I must admit I’m relieved it’s only a 30ml bottle, costing £8.99.
On May 9, 2008 VanillaGirl said:
And just for the fun of trying out tinyurl, this is the link to the blog review:
http://tinyurl.com/6ojvxo
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Thank you for the link, esp. because I had never heard of Maroussia!
On May 9, 2008 Third Shift said:
Heh, never bought anything unsniffed. First and last was a split with Existentialist for Vent Vert based on your glowingly springy dewy review. The tragedy is not that I spent the money, it’s the opportunity cost that I could be wearing something else I love love love, as opposed to just meh. On the other hand when I like something it’s an immediate and lasting reaction. I bought Bel Respiro in Christmas, based on one test spritz, and am still dousing myself in it every day. I look at my small cache (4) and It’s a dilemma what to wear. I know, a dilemma of four. You guys are going to kill me.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Well, that is a tragedy when you’ve only FOUR (!), which I obviously still cannot get over 🙂
On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:
What extraordinary restraint! I just counted my collection – mostly sample vials and minis, but also five full bottles – and I have 132 perfumes now to choose between, with 23 more on the way! Then there are 40 I sent my brother to test, which may all be coming back now he has discoved Eau d’Orange Verte, and I would wear about half of the 40… How strange the conversion that has happened to me. Why, as recently as late January, I only owned one rancid bottle of Intuition…: )
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
You’ve bought 131 bottles of perfume since January? Wow!
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
Not bottles, no – 5 are big bottles, maybe another 15 are miniature bottles and the rest are carded samples from ebay or little vials from The Perfumed Court. And I also bought 40 for my bro! So with the 20 or so on order, I am getting close to the 200 mark. I am seriously thinking of buying 31 rue Cambon unsniffed, as a bottle has just appeared on Ebay UK. I think I would need five friends to get through it, mind, as it is a monster!
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Ah, 5 bottles is not so bad.
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
Yes, and of course only Le Dix unsniffed. Sniffed I bought Lovely, Euphoria, Hugo Boss Femme (my mac ‘n’ cheese pink scent) and a new Intuition to replace the rancid one. All of these mainstream purchases were very early on after the onset of perfume mania, and preceded my falling into the bottomless pit of gorgeousness that is Guerlain and the niche houses, whose full bottles are far less affordable it must be said. I am trying Le Dix again today and boy, is it powdery, but I am doing my best to imagine it isn’t. Maybe it is the hot weather. I am trying to avoid – what do the psychologists call it? – “post purchase cognitive dissonance”. Roll on the drydown!
On May 12, 2008 Existentialist said:
And I felt badly for you, that you ended up not liking it. 🙁
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
Thanks! I can honestly say that the drydown was the best bit – and nice in fact – as most of the powdery effect had wafted off by that stage. So on balance I am not sorry I chanced it!
On May 9, 2008 IngestedKitten said:
Well let me see…
The most recent Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant via perfumecritic. Only owned it a day but I really like it so far ,though have noticed I need only one squirt or I’ll knock myself out.
Last week-Paris Jardins Romantiques from Angela’s spring scent list on here. I love it I’ve worn it four time already and I normally wear something different every day.
In this past month: Tesco Fig, Almond and Cassis and Red Rose & Jasmine from Wordbird’s review on Basenotes-good I like both and use the fig one lots which for £5 is great.
So far I’ve been really lucky with blindish buys the only thing I’ve bought and have a troubled relationship with is Ma Griffe.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Erin sent me a decant of the Kenzo Tigre recently; I adore the dry down but have trouble making it through the top notes. I still have not tried L’Elephant, must try to find some.
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
I am having SO MUCH FUN reading these. And if you had trouble making it through the top notes of Tigre … giggling. Elephant is like the original CdG fragrance (the spicy one) on steroids. Gosh but the drydown is lovely though.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
But that sounds good to me, LOL…it is the FRUITAL opening of Tigre that kills me!
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
Well then get the Elephant! It’s not fruital, it’s … homi-spice-al?
I love it. But I have to grit my teeth to get through that first 30 minutes.
On May 9, 2008 Erin T said:
Robin, it’s also sweet. They’re both sweet. There’s no getting away from it. And darn – shoulda sent you the Elephant, too.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Figures it’s sweet too! Hey, were these originally LEs, or did they just get discontinued?
On May 10, 2008 Erin T said:
I believe Tigre was an year-long LE. Elephant was available more widely and for a longer period of time, but I believe it is discontinued now?
By the way, the Caron ad continues to grow on me. It seems to be successful because, even if people don’t like it, they’re noticing it and taking about it. Agreed on the Yatagan.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Agree — it is getting noticed! I guess that makes it worth doing.
Chunk #2:
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
Tesco do own label perfumes? I knew they had that Barbara Daly make up range, but this has passed me by. Something to check out on the next food shop!
On May 12, 2008 Wordbird said:
Oh yeah!
The Tesco Fig is great. Costs five whole squids. Hell, for that money, you can use it as room spray.
Look in the Finest toiletries section – they’ve got 4 Jo Malone-alikes and they’re really not bad. The accompanying lotions and whatnot are good too.
I’m a big fan of the Barbara Daly make up too!
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
Thanks for the steer – I am very intrigued now. It can’t be long now before Lidl and Aldi have their own perfume range – there was that face cream of Aldi’s that got a rave review in the beauty press recently, so you never know!
On May 9, 2008 Virginia said:
Bvlgari Black. It worked out just fine. My husband really likes it on me–but it isn’t my favorite. And, I HATE the bottle.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Really, you hate the bottle? I like it, except for the annoying on/off thingie. Where did you read the review?
On May 9, 2008 Elizabeth said:
My last unsniffed purchase was two years ago. I bought the Long Lost Perfumes version of Elizabeth Arden’s long-gone Memoire Cherie, and I hated it. Luckily, I was able to swap it away.
And may I say that I hated that Caron ad at first, but I like it more and more each time I see it. 🙂 Hey, at least it’s not boring!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Two years — good for you, that’s impressive!
I can’t decide if I like the ad either, but entirely agree it isn’t boring! In fact, it is kind of alarming — he looks like he means BUSINESS. Not what I think of when I think of that scent, LOL…
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
Um … I suspect, looking at that ad, I think of precisely the kind of “business” they’d like me to think of… he is *hot.* Not quite as hot as M7man — now there’s a sports ad for you!
On May 9, 2008 pyramus said:
If Chabal were going to be in any Caron ad, it should have been for Yatagan, which is a scent that kind of grabs you and pummels you (in the best possible way). Pour Un Homme is just a little too refined for that rugby-barbarian image.
On May 9, 2008 marchlion said:
That’s funny — I looked at that ad (not really knowing who he is in sports) and thought, man — that dude should be on YATAGAN!!!
On May 9, 2008 Pia said:
So funny to see that pic, I stumbled across it about a week ago and almost fell off my chair. Came this close to emailing you R, to see what you thought! Can’t decide if he’s sexy or scary. Both maybe?
But the M7 man? Oh la la…..*sighs*
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I think it’s fun — but I’ll take M7 Man myself 😉
On May 12, 2008 Existentialist said:
My initial reaction was, “it’s Pierre Robert!”
And yes, he is quite striking, but M7 man …. *fans self*.
On May 11, 2008 Mamabear said:
Scary, done right (not creepy-scary, maybe scary-chic?) IS sexy (IMO) Like NFL guys in suits rather than their uniforms. I would take off just a bit of facial hair – he’s edging towards that Werewolf of London look – but he’s a MAJOR hottie nonetheless.
On May 11, 2008 Pia said:
LOL. I had no idea he was a famous rugby star, I just thought they were going for a businessman run totally amok kind of scary-chic. 😉
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
HA — “businessman run totally amok” cracked me up!
On May 11, 2008 Mamabear said:
Oh, yeah! I LOVE that visual. Think ‘briefcase squeezed into football shape by his manly-man hands!”LOL! He just couldn’t be bothered carrying it by its dinky little handle and he’s late for………for what? Guys who crush their briefcases into football shapes can’t be bothered about being late!
Oh! I know! He’s dashing into traffic to snatch an old lady from the path of a bus! Yeah, baby. Work that Caron!
Okay, I’ll stop now. I’m getting all flushed…
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Pyramus, I agree — Yatagan would be a better fit.
On May 9, 2008 delfina said:
By far I’ve never bought anything unsniffed, but I’m a newbie so I guess I have time. Like Colombina said, I have ordered samples unsniffed after having read reviews.
One was Andy Tauer’s Orris, which I’m afraid I didn’t like and found, like, unfinished.
The greatest disappointment was the Parfums the Rosine sample set: I hated nearly all of them, except for Zest de rose (which wasn’t included) and Poussière de rose, the only one from the lot I could consider to buy one day. Don’t know what it is that puts me off (not the rose, I like it in many other perfumes) in this line.
Something I was nearly ready to buy unsniffed (but I found a mini that’s on its way to my mailbox) after having read your review (and having seen it in so many top lists) is Fendi Theorema. Next week I’ll finally know if we are meant for each other…
Great poll!
On May 9, 2008 delfina said:
Oh and I forgot the best unsniffed purchase ever, for which I have to thank you, Robin, that is the Ormonde Jayne sample set!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Glad to have turned someone else on to Ormonde Jayne! And hope you will enjoy the Theorema. Might as well find out now before it all disappears from the face of the earth…I still haven’t been able to find out if it is still in production in Italy.
On May 9, 2008 delfina said:
I think it isn’t. I have asked, I believe, in nearly all Milan perfume shops, but everybody told me that Fendi had withdrawn the bottles when they were distributing Palazzo. I still hope (because I already feel it could be love 🙂 ) there are some spare bottles in some small shop I don’t know about…
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I thought that might be true, since a new company (can’t remember who) now holds their fragrance license. Luckily I’ve a very large bottle. And, I bought mine in one of those discount mall places — a tester, and bargained the price down to something reasonable.
On May 10, 2008 AussieBec said:
I have been told by an aqaintance in the business that all Fendi scents have been discontinued except for the newest one, Palazzo. Not sure how true it is.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I’d guess it’s true — that often happens when a perfume house goes w/ a new company.
On May 9, 2008 Robin said:
Ah, and that was the one before Mitsouko for me! No, I take that back; I have bought dozens of samples unsniffed, which I think is a given; that’s why samples exist in the first place, to allow us to spend a few bucks on a few drops so we rarely have to buy unsniffed. I’m taking it you mean non-sample purchases, Robin??
P.S. Delfina, I am so glad Robin told all of us about the Ormone Jayne sampler. That line is gorgeous, isn’t it???
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I did mean non-sample purchases, but hey, we don’t need to stick to the rules if we don’t want to, right? And unfortunately, you could just about buy a bottle of something or another for the cost of the OJ sample set!
On May 9, 2008 Robin said:
And how. That Ormonde Jayne sampler was around $60US all-in. And worth EVERY cent, as you know!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Ouch! It wasn’t quite so bad before the dollar tanked entirely…
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
That’s exactly right, and I didn’t fancy buying so many samples on spec in an obligatory job lot, as it were; so I rang up their London shop and told them as much and they sent me two free of charge – Blair Witch Woman and Strange Sap Tolu. I will just have to keep ringing back at intervals using various assumed identities to try the rest.
On May 9, 2008 violetnoir said:
A small .25 oz. edt of Dolce Vita and a one oz. Diorissimo edt based on recent mentions of them on the blogs and in The Perfume Guide book.
I mean I had smelled them both before on others, but had never worn them or tested them before on my skin.
And the verdict is: I like DV, but I love Diorissimo!
Hugs and have a great Mother’s Day, darling!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
R, Diorissimo is the single perfume I’ve worn the longest — I bought my first bottle in junior high. One of my goals this year is to stop wasting money on perfumes I don’t need and get the “real thing” — the parfum.
You have a great MD too!
On May 9, 2008 violetnoir said:
I totally agree with you on that, R. I have been thinking the same thing myself.
Collecting parfums of classic fragrances adds to the depth and value of a fragrance collection. And, they never let you down, because they take you on a magnificent fragrance journey every time you wear and experience them.
On the other hand, purchasing today’s hot new fragrance may or may not add value to a collection and, at some point, you may just become bored with it.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
All true, and my recent purchase of Hermes Mousson proves it!
On May 9, 2008 Patty said:
I bought Bellodgia based on the reviews at Now Smell This and Basenotes. You guys had me at “carnation”. This is an all-time favorite scent that I had given up on ever smelling again (flowers grown commercially are grown to last, not smell nice). I had nearly forgotten what carnation smelled like. Oh, yes, and I love Bellodgia! This is a very romantic scent. And if a fragrance had a sound, this one would sound like the Andante from Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21 in C (which many people know as “the theme from ‘Elvira Madigan'”). Anyway, thanks to all reviewers for the recommendation!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Bellodgia is so lovely, and this is the perfect time of year for it!
On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:
Gosh, I read SO many reviews in so many places and have bought several things unsniffed because sometimes things pop up on eBay and there’s no time to wait for the sample to arrive before bidding/buying, LOL! Most recently:
– Rose Poivree (30ml @ $15, so I could afford to risk it, even though reviews were mixed and it IS a weird scent)
– SL Cedre – half bottle
– Boise Farine – full bottle (definitely went for it based on Robin’s review)
On their way any day now:
– CdG Grapefruit (not so much based on a review as the NEW factor)
– CdG Carnation large decant
– Marc Jacobs Pear Splash large decant
I’ve had fairly good luck with unsniffed, given that I almost never pay anywhere near full retail. Best unsniffed purchase ever? Half-bottle of Timbuktu, which I could easily make my “signature” frag if I were so inclined. Runner up is Philosykos, definitely thanks to Robin’s frequent invocation/adoration.
On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:
Oh, and I’m more than reqdy to buy unsniffed a bottle of PdN Eau Turquoise — even at full retail price — but wish I could find 50ml for sale somewhere.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
If you wait, I’m sure the 50 mls will appear…maybe they’ll even do it in those lovely little 30 ml travel bottles…
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Great list, you’ve done well! Timbuktu would be a worthy signature, although the very thought of a signature, of course, makes me break out in hives.
And begging, again, to please comment when your CdG Grapefruit gets there … I’m still waiting for my samples to arrive!
On May 9, 2008 bartamy said:
I have never bought anything unsniffed but I do have a list and I sample/test based on it.
btw, I love Caron. I don’t care about the ad either way.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
NEVER! Good for you!
On May 9, 2008 bartamy said:
Yep, I would, but I can’t afford to make mistakes 🙂
On May 9, 2008 joe805 said:
According to FedEx tracking, the Grapefruit should be arriving later today, so I’ll pounce on it when I get home later tonight. Will let you know what I think! I got it from a boutique in Seattle whose price w/s&h was a few dollars cheaper than LuckyScent.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Yay — can’t wait to hear if it is worthy!
On May 10, 2008 KevinS said:
Joe: WHAT boutique in Seattle has these? let me know!
On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:
I ordered Gres Cabaret unsniffed after reading reviews on POL and MUA describing it as a cedary, incensey dark rose, which is how I’d describe my other Lalique love (besides Encre Noir) Perles de Lalique.
Unfortunately, Cabaret is rose which a great big wallop of synthetic pathchouli on me, the same note that made me sick wearing Coco Mlle. Major dissapointment but luckily the bottle was cheap so I’m now debating returning it or swapping it. It’s so helpful to have perfumista communities to swap in, as one person’s scrubber often truly is another’s HG!
On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:
And almost forgot, Vivienne Westwood Libertine was a successful unsniffed purchase – I simply adore the viburnum chypre which is perfect for work – zesty citrus opening to wake me up, then a woody almost roasted coffee-bean in a forest drydown. Divina of on Fragrance Bouquet describes it better than I can; here review is amazingly correct to how I experience Libertine – it’s like she’s using my nose! (http://tinyurl.com/64qgpr)
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Gosh, that does sound lovely! I need to try it.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I have a feeling Cabaret has been reformulated past repair — that is too bad.
On May 9, 2008 raisinred said:
That is a shame.
(And pardon my spelling in the above posts – it’s horrible! I’ve been in front of the computer for too long today.)
On May 9, 2008 missnell said:
Erm, I think it was Balenciaga’s Le Dix. And it was either because of a review here or on Bois de Jasmin.
The drydown was so powdery it made my head hurt. I gave it to a perfumery friend, who didn’t take to it either, so it’s on its way somewhere else.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Le Dix is about 20X too much powder for me too…so you’ll have to blame BdJ!
On May 11, 2008 missnell said:
It really is too bad – because when I write down the notes I like, Le Dix seems like it ought to play nice on me. Alas! 🙁
On May 9, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:
What a shame! I find it so interesting how different people with different noses feel about the same fragrance. Balenciaga’s Le Dix? The all time perfect fragrance. So sorry you couldn’t take to it (or your friend)
On May 9, 2008 damselfly1213 said:
I think Le Dix is lovely, too, even though I don’t adore her leather 🙂 I am such a slut for violet…
On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:
Somewhere on another recent thread recently I mentioned Le Dix as being my first and only full bottle unsniffed purchase – I have been buying gazillions of 4 and 5ml bottles of things unsniffed as part of my fragrance library-building exercise, but they are too small to count! The Le Dix purchase was prompted by reviews by BDJ and Angela. Victoria compared the drydown to Bois des Iles, which is a particular favourite of mine, while Angela led me to understand I would look like Gene Tierney on the first application. I agree about it being rather more powdery than I care for – L’Heure Bleue falls down majorly on that score for me – but I find if I spray Le Dix sparingly, I don’t get too much powder. But I wouldn’t say I love it. May I also just say that I don’t get Mitsouko at all, but that could be because it is too “advanced”, just like the Perfume Posse describe Hiris as “advanced beginner”! I am in awe of Plus que Jamais and Nahema at the minute – not too powdery and totally swoon-inducing. They may even pip Sous le Vent and Apres L’Ondee, which I never thought I would find myself saying. But Mitsouko beats me entirely. It is like that stuff you rinse with at the dentist.
On May 10, 2008 damselfly1213 said:
I think I “get” why other people love Mitsouko. All I can smell when I spray it on is clove – lots and lots of clove. But – if I put my nose to my wrist and breathe a little moist breath on my skin, I smell something *absolutely gorgeous* under all that clove. Problem is, as soon as I stop breathing on my wrist I go back to smelling clove (which I dislike). I’m thinking people who love Mitsouko may be able to smell those gorgeous notes all the time (if they can, I “get” Mitsouko). But it will never appeal to me, unless someone invents a little vaporizer I can strap onto my wrist, with a fan to blow those notes up to my nose (does that image make any sense?)
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
Thank you so much for explaining what is going on with Mitsouko – I do indeed get clove clove clove to start with, and for the longest time really, then at the end I get something else that is still fairly herbal and unapproachable and at no point can I remotely detect the peach people mention. I think I need a little fan too! Or a breathing lesson from Mr Turin.
On May 11, 2008 missnell said:
I bought a delicious eau de toilette while in France last Christmas – it’s a local brand – and it’s very true to nature. Alas, poor Le Dix. Our relationship was so short…
On May 9, 2008 air ocean said:
Last unsniffed – or rather found, sniffed and bought at once – Lalique’s Encre Noire for me, after reading your review here, Robin. Love it, so thank you!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Isn’t it great stuff?? By extension you owe your thanks to Victoria 🙂
On May 9, 2008 oeditrix said:
I bought Black Cashmere unsniffed, based on reviews (including yours) and the sad news that it was going to disappear someday. It was pretty cheap online, so that influenced my decision too.
BC is gorgeous, though i like Theorema better during our current spate of wet chilly days. Theorema smells warm and dry, while there is something . . . lurk-y . . . about BC. The best way I can describe it is to say that around Christmas-time, there is always one Christmas smell that I find strangely dark and sinister, and BC smells just like it. However, I suspect that in actual winter it will suit me very well.
On May 9, 2008 oeditrix said:
P.S. Just re-read your review of BC and it is so spot-on! Thanks for all your reviews, and my nose thanks you for getting my interested in perfume period. A while back you recommended Omnia Crystalline for me since I enjoy original Omnia, and the Sephora purse-spray is my new best friend on hot days. . .
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Theorema really is perfect for this time of year…chilly spring nights especially. I do think Black Cashmere wears better if it’s a bit colder than it is right now, and yes, it isn’t quite cheerful enough for spring, is it?
Glad you like the Omnia Crystalline, and was so thrilled to see those travel sprays at Sephora — they’re perfect!
On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:
I love Theorama – it was one of my 4ml purchases – I believe it, like BC, has been discontinued. Love the description of BC as “dark, sinister…and lurk-y”!! Isn’t it just? And Omnia Cristalline is a recent discovery of mine – an extra freebie from an Ebay seller. I like its wateriness. Burberry Women, while not smelling anything like it, also has that watery quality, which sometimes is just what you fancy!
Chunk #3:
On May 9, 2008 Vetiver53 said:
The first fragrance I really splurged for without sampling first was Tubereuse Criminelle. I had heard so much hype (and criticism) and was entranced by the beautiful bottle. Loving the smell of the tire store AND tuberose, I bit. No regrets.
The Guide has prompted many visits to Barney’s and Nordstroms, and Chanel to sniff and sample. Also to my local Walgreens! I adore the men’s original Stetson, which I otherwise would not have given a second thought to.
Now I’m saving my money for a trip to Provence in June, so am trying to avoid expensive temptations. C’est difficile!
On May 9, 2008 marianne winia said:
I’ve been so many times on the verge of buying something unsniffed..by NST recommendations, by checking out a lot of fragrances on http://www.osmoz.fr feeling all enthousiastic and so..yet somehow I can’t think of one bottle that I did buy unsniffed.. But this could very well be a case of deeply repressed memories…[-?
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I repress some of mine too, I’m sure 😉
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Vetiver53, what a great choice, and how lovely that you turned out to like it. I liked the original Stetson, although I haven’t smelled it in a long time. Provence will be worth saving for though!
On May 9, 2008 VickiK said:
I bought Diptyque Philosykos unsniffed after being introduced to it on this website, and remain very happy I did. Sometimes I rue the purchase even if I sniff. I hate that. I really try to yank myself back from that “I want” moment.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Yay for Philosykos!
Sometimes I rue the scents I buy “sniffed” too.
On May 11, 2008 Tama said:
I learned about true sniffing when I very nearly bought Romeo Gigli 2 seconds after spraying it on my wrist. Something told me to wait and I’m glad I did, because 5 minutes later it smelled like a bar of Zest (a sad fate for many scents for me – including the lovely Aoud Roses Petals I tried recently).
Now I am trying tons of samples (you all are dangerous peeps – I just ordered 7 minis from Demeter and have a huge list of “to try” things, plus the two orders of Lucky Scent samples I’m going through) and some of them that I don’t like off the bat are turning into winners, like CS Love Comes From Within I wore yesterday.
However, I am glad I have a Diptyque store in SF or I would buy Philosykos unsniffed for sure.
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
At least the Demeter minis are reasonably priced…
On May 11, 2008 Tama said:
lol – why else do you think I got so many?? I am looking forward to some of the weirder ones – I forced myself to get at least one pretty weird one so I got Earthworm. I did want to try Beet Root after reading about it here, so I got that, and Wet Garden, Wisteria, Hawaiian Vanilla and I forget what else. Supposedly I am spozed to get a freebie, like Bananas Flambe or something. I picked up ia bottle of their Patchouli at TJ Maxx (another unsniffed!!) which I hate at first whiff but after a minute I just want to curl up with it. I’ve long been annoyed that patchouli is associated with dirty hippies, because it has always smelled really good on me.
On May 9, 2008 HopeB said:
My last unsniffed purchase based on reviews was the original Jala by Calypso St. Barth. Its not exactly what I expected, but I like it ok. Its a lesson for me–I really need to sniff first!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I ought to sniff first too..never buy unsniffed is a good rule to live by, I just can’t make myself do it ALL the time.
On May 10, 2008 AussieBec said:
I have to say, you are lucky to have the option to sniff before you buy! In Australia, there is very limited Niche perfume so if you want to wear something a little different, your best bet is to read the reviews of someone who has favourably reviewed something you know that you like and then take a pot shot! It has worked pretty well for me in the past.
On May 10, 2008 Vetiver53 said:
I would have thought that Sydney would have some store that would carry niche. How about DJ? Do they carry SL? Is Frederic Malle available there? I have a friend there who I just sent some samples to, and I forgot to ask her if she can get it there.
On May 9, 2008 Arwen said:
Recently I bought unsniffed a small bottle of Serge Lutens Fleurs d’Oranger on e-bay and I loved it. I also bought Nu and I liked it very much. Based on various reviews I bouth Perfume Sacre and all I can smell is playdo (vanilla?) it is much too sweet. Pity, I was really looking forward to trying it.
I’ve been tempted to get Tocade unsniffed, based on The Guide and other reviews but I am scared!!!!! I was also tempted by the Aqua Allegoria Fig-Iris, because my local Sephora does not have it yet, but I better wait.
On May 9, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:
please please!!! do not be afraid to buy Tocade! One of life’s lovely pleasures. If you like any of the Guerlain fragrances (vanilla, soft but very vanilla) you will love this. Unusual pairing of florals and woods. Delightful! It is so cheap, don’t deny yourself! Try ebay 3.4 fl. oz. for under $20!!
On May 9, 2008 Arwen said:
Thank you!!!
You are absolutely right, for that price I could afford to make a mistake, but somehow I think i am really going to love this one.
I also got Paco Rabanne Metal. I used to have this when I was a teenager and loved it.
On May 9, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:
I PROMISE, TOCADE CAN NEVER BE PUT IN THE “I MADE A MISTAKE” CATEGORY! GO FOR IT!
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
That is too bad about PS, but sounds like you found some other winners. Since I do not like either Tocade or Fig-Iris, I would of course say wait to smell them!
On May 10, 2008 AussieBec said:
go for the Tocade as it is a gorgeous musky floral and dead cheap! If you don’t like it you can always gift it to someone!
On May 9, 2008 Mikeperez23 said:
Bought Brin de Reglisse by Hermes unsniffed and regretted it.
Bought Tom Ford Extreme unsniffed and love it.
Since The Guide has come out I haven’t bought any unsniffed, but I am itching to buy ‘O’ by Lancome (for Men, I think it’s discontinued…isn’t it?) which I remember Turin mentioning is wonderful. We’ll see how long I last under the pressure… 🙂
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
You know, I did not remember that there was ever a separate O for Men…the “women’s” is pretty unisex to my nose anyway. Will have to look around for the men’s…
On May 9, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:
UNSNIFFED? NOW LETS SEE, PROBABLY 15 fragrances, but the last was Lou Lou by Cacharel after reading the superlatives about it in the new book by Turin / Sanchez. Purchased it on ebay. Very nice and will wear this one, but have about ten others that I will reach for before Lou Lou (Tocade!, Cabochard!, Madame Jolie! Chamade!) Also, after readin John Oakes, The Book of Perfumes, I just had to have Madame Rochas. WOW! This is an unsung hero of all fragrances. Lovely, lasting, elegant but not prissy. A must have that I reach for like an old pair of perfectly worn shoes. Love it.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I haven’t smelled Lou Lou in years, can’t even remember it! Will have to read their review.
On May 9, 2008 Mikeperez23 said:
Love Lou Lou. I have an EdP that I dab on ever so often…I think it smells like dust (if that makes sense) and flowers.
On May 10, 2008 AussieBec said:
I have to say, almost all of the Rochas scents are undervalued. They are mostly pretty cheap and easy to get online. I say, try all of them!
On May 10, 2008 vanessa said:
Hear, hear! Mme Rochas is classy and not at all fuddy duddy. Whatever did Turin mean when he said it used “that part of citrus that feels like flourescent striplighting in offices”? And I don’t think it was anything like Rive Gauche at any point. RG is very blowsy rosy on me and a quite different animal.
On May 9, 2008 Mercedes Rey said:
Hi, everybody! My last unsniffed purchase I think it was Mandarine-Mandarin Serge Lutens. I like it, I wear it quite a lot. Bought after reading reviews in magazines and perfume blogs. But I must confess that two of my favourite fragrances ever were bought unsniffed: Cologne Bigarade and Angeliques sous la pluie, both by J-C Ellena for Frederic Malle. Of course I also have a couple of scents I almost never use, bought…..unsniffed! (I just prefer to forget about them asap).
On May 9, 2008 marianne winia said:
My unsniffed purchases:
Dior, Miss Dior (old version),*
Estee Lauder Youth Dew, *
Chanel Coco,
Chanel Allure Sensuelle,
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, *
Dolce & Gabbana Sicily,
Armani Sensi,
Dior Lily Dior, *
the ones with a * were fragrances that I liked
Perfumes that I bought on an impulse or just after one sniff are for another list.
Well it took me a while to remember these and I try not to feel too uncomfortable.
On May 9, 2008 marianne winia said:
..and I forgot Yves Rocher Chevrefeuille (from the ’80s).
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Mercedes Rey — I prefer to forget about my failures too! But if you found your 2 favorites buying unsniffed, that’s impressive.
On May 9, 2008 crow said:
Annick Goutal Eau de Camille, based on the reviews I read here. I love it, and it does layer beautifully with Le Chevrefeuille. As they do fade fairly quickly, I brought my bottles to a local shop which will custom-make scented body lotions and other products. They created a body lotion for me that combined essences of honeysuckle, jasmine, and green tea. It serves as a very good base for the Eau de C and Chevrefeuille and gives the scents more staying power.
On May 9, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Oh, your lotion sounds wonderful! I need a nice jasmine lotion myself. Glad you loved Camille, it is such a pretty spring scent.
On May 9, 2008 bbmaven said:
I usually buy based on bumping into something and falling in love with it. I am not to taken with hype and such . . . being in my own little world most of the time.
Probably one of the few I didn’t do this with was Angel, a few years ago. And actually, to show how stooopid I can be about these things, I didn’t even know it was ::::::::::drumroll:::::::::::: ANGEL. I simply read the notes, followed a hunch, thought “now that sounds delicious,” and ordered it without too much thought.
Love it. No regrets.
🙂
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Glad it worked out — Angel is pretty much a “love it or hate it”.
On May 9, 2008 djsflynn said:
I’ve been VERY cautious of buying anything ‘sans sniffing’, although just last week i broke that rule for the first time. I’ve just ordered a tester of Vetiver Guerlain edt through Amazon, based on trusted references such as NST and The Guide plus the better ‘value for money’ of a tester over a store-bought item. I was ordering a few other perfumes through Amazon for delivery to my hotel on my forthcoming US trip, the others are all ones I know, but when I saw the Vetiver tester I figured I may as well take a punt.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hope you will love it, and if you hate it, then I hope it was cheap 🙂
On May 9, 2008 Liongirl said:
I adore the adventure of buying unsniffed,and have done it many times over the years! I may be reticent about other things in life, but when it comes to fragrance I am fearless. Maybe I’m just really strange, who knows? I’ve been very lucky, as I’ve loved everything so far. Here’s what I can recall:
Rochas Absolu, Messe de Minuit, Gloria, Sensi, Parfum Sacre, POTL,
Trussardi Skin, Bogner Wood Woman, Deneuve, Robert Isabell Savannah,
Rumba, Mira Bai, Detchema, Yin by Fath, Le Dix, Cristobal, Amazone
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
If you love everything you buy unsniffed, might as well keep at it 🙂
On May 9, 2008 HDS1963 said:
Easy to answer this one.
A bottle of Eau De Cartier came up on Ebay and with the auction’s end less than 24 hours away it was still at a ridiculously low price.
I did a quick reccy of the reviews on Basenotes (where you will often find me on the Community board), and after looking at the notes I knew this was my kind of scent.
I wasn’t wrong.
What did surprise me was the scent itself. You can’t lightly spritz with this, it takes some serious application and then, well, frankly it is heavely, with glorious projection and sillage.
So that was my last blind buy and it was perfect.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I really like Eau de Cartier — congrats on finding a bottle cheap!
On May 10, 2008 HDS1963 said:
Yeah, I absolutely adore it – I’m buying a bottle of the Concentree as a result…
Oh and a bottle of Chanel No19 because for reasons I can’t quite explain, it smells wonderful on my skin and better than I’ve ever smelled it on a woman’s skin, which has puzzled me no end…
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Unless I’m forgetting, I still haven’t managed to try the concentree. Must do that.
On May 9, 2008 sarahn said:
I have been on a ridiculously successful streak of buying unsniffed, thanks to the house of Balmain. A few months ago I swapped for a decant of Vent Vert based on MUA reviews and fell in love. In a late night online frenzy, I ordered a full bottle, plus Jolie Madame, Balmya, Balmain de Balmain and Eau d’ete. The only one that wasn’t a total home run was Eau d’Ete: a little too sweet for me, but pleasant enough. All the others are gorgeous.
But most recently, 100ml of Gres Cabochard arrived, thanks again to MUA reviews. It’s been sitting on my dresser still wrapped in cellophane. I’m nervous since I know my luck must run out at some point. Well, this poll inspired me to run upstairs and tear open the box… another winner! Smooth leather and vetiver with just a dash of something floral to keep it feminine. The perfume gods are smiling on me lately.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Wow, that really is a winning streak. It is probably just as well for my wallet that I don’t do nearly so well.
On May 9, 2008 bloodredrosev said:
Ooh, most recently was the Jo Malone Kohdo Wood set, based on a review I read right here. 🙂 Ok, maybe not totally unsniffed – I was sure I’d love “night”, I was sold on it before I’d even walked into the store. But when I smelled “day” I decided to pick up the set. Now, of course, “day” is in constant rotation, but poor “night” has been a little neglected …
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, have you tried layering the 2? I’d love to have a bottle of Day so I could do that — they’re great together.
On May 9, 2008 Mamabear said:
Never! I am too liable to smash the bottle in a rage (okay, maybe not:-). In fact, after a really bad experience with one of the Malles I vowed to NEVER buy unsniffed.
But enough about sniffage. Ummm…..let’s get that footballer over here and test some stuff on him, okay? Never mind that he look absurd with the stance and the suit…we’ll just overlook that in the cause of sampling perfume on him!!!:-)
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, good for you — that’s willpower!
Best of luck getting SC to let you use his skin, LOL…
On May 10, 2008 Mamabear said:
Actually, I lied. Not on purpose, just forgot:-) I bought Ma Griffe unsniffed, based on the original, conveniently forgetting that the orig. made me melancholy.
Guess what? It still does. I sprayed my bedroom curtains with it in a fit of insanity and had to rewash them!
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Oh dear! Not a good curtain spray then.
On May 10, 2008 marianne winia said:
And I have to mention that most of the frags I have bought insniffed were because I lived in some countries where there were no perfume shops at all, so I ordered them just from a catalogue..kind of like buying stuff online except that there were no computers back then and internet did not exist. Whew I am feeling old writing this…
The thing is too that in the ’70s and ’80s most perfumes were of a great kaliber and wondering about certain notes in them just was not something we did..
I also purchased perfumes because some were recommended to me and others, well I sort of assumed that they would be fine.
Coco was the worst purchase. I wore it only once or twice.
The perfumes from later time were a dumb mistake.
It wasn’t so bad to have fewer choices, at least they were good.
On May 9, 2008 jasmine said:
after reading so many reviews and lemming for months,I bit the bullet and bought Chanel No19 edp and I am loving it. 🙂
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
A worthy one to buy unsniffed, glad you love it!
On May 9, 2008 Tama said:
I don’t know if this counts, because it is more or less an expensive sample, but I just ordered 2 of the CB I Hate Perfume scents based on reviews here and descriptions. Based on review and description I bought At the Beach 1966, and based on description I got (smoke)/Fire From Heaven. I kind of want to try them all – so many of the reviewers conjure up these huge memoirs based on scent memory triggered by these perfumes.
Oh, I almost forgot – I did buy a trio of Tova’s things off HSN a few years ago. I liked Tova Nights enough to buy more.
My Dad was good at choosing perfume for me, so most of his gifts worked for me unsampled: Samsara, Bvlgari Blv, Tiffany (which my friend said made me smell like an expensive whore – probably not what Dad had in mind) come to mind. My stepmom, having different chemistry, doesn’t do as well, but knows she can usually get by with Givenchy, so she got me some Ange ou Demon, which worked unsniffed.
I know I got COMPLETELY off track!!! Sorry, long week at work…
On May 9, 2008 Tama said:
Oh I forgot – I read a forum where all these women were talking about the footballer and saying he looked like a Neanderthal. Well, he can drag me by my hair any old time. It’s refreshing to see someone who isn’t shaved and plucked to within an inch.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
I think maybe I’d like something in between Neanderthal & shaved/plucked.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Tama, you’re right, those samples are so spendy it’s like buying unsniffed. Hope you’ll like them. My favorites are Black March & Memory of Kindness — still haven’t made up my mind about Fire From Heaven.
Nice that your family chooses well for you!
On May 10, 2008 Tama said:
Oh! And seeing the Ed hardy thing this morning reminded me about that little bottle of it I got unsniffed. Not my fave but I’ll wear it now and again.
Chunk #4:
On May 9, 2008 desmondorama said:
Yes, Robin. I’ve learnt my lesson from Kevin and you that you should never buy unsniffed.
I’ve very broad-minded tastes about fragrance and will wear anything once, but occasionally, I find myself thinking I would have been better off with something else.
My sins are numerous: L’Anarchiste de CARON, I begged it as a gift from an ex-partner. I loved the bottle and Kevin’s reluctant review, but somehow, everytime I wear it, I wish I’d worn something else.
There’s a minty element that doesn’t sit right with me ….
Others I’ve sniffed and laboured over an then wished I’d not invested include Chene, Furmerie Turque, Ambre Sultan, all by Serge Lutens. I don’t know why, but these fragrances seem to dissipate on me.
I like a perfume with a lasting sillage and that I can still smell hours after wearing it, or that I get a response from people around me…. but not so with these. I have since given them away to others who appreciated them more than I did.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Wow, your friends have done well by your rejects, then! We have opposite tastes, in a way — I like fragrances that last about 4 hours then disappear so I can wear something else, and minimal sillage.
On May 9, 2008 nattygold said:
I love leather notes in perfume, so I bought Lancome Cuir de Lancome after reading the review in Perfumes The Guide and reading serveral blog reviews. I didn’t particulary like iit when I tested it on the back of my hand. I thought it was too floral for a man, at least for me. I decided to give it a full wearing and i’m glad I did. No smoke here but a soft buttery refined leather that has decent sillage and is long lasting.I love it. It reminds me a bit of Dior’s Dune, which I also love.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Ah, glad it grew on you! I still haven’t smelled it, but looking forward to it…
On May 10, 2008 Abigail said:
My 2 recent unsniffed purchases:
1. Bellodgia by Caron – due to review here on NST
I LOVE THIS ONE – it’s gorgeous. I’ve been wearing it a lot lately
2. Bond No 9 Chinatown – due to review here on NST
I HATE Chinatown. I had a really strong reaction, pure hatred!! I can’t think of anything else I’ve ever hated so much (Tom Ford Black Orchid is a runner up but I did NOT buy that, oh and Bond No 9 Always Hot – YUCK.) I do like a bunch of Bond No 9’s so it’s not that I hate the perfume house I just find them really hit or miss…
On May 10, 2008 NUTZ FOR FRAGRANCE said:
Bellodgia for sure is a beautiful fragrance that is hard to dislike, but I have to agree with you on Bond No.9 Chinatown. In fact I find all the Bond fragrances disappointing. Empty. The first 15 minutes are OK, but they fade, all of them, on me anyway. I think the hype, lovely bottling and packaging and where they are sold keeps the people buying this product. I am not impressed.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
So sorry you hated Chinatown, and that was not a cheapie!
On May 10, 2008 Abigail said:
Oh my goodness, don’t be sorry!
you live and you learn.
I ended up selling it on ebay since it was 97.6% full 😉 I really could only handle a few spritzes. And of course it went quickly on ebay since so many adore it so I think I recouped about 50% of the price.
On May 10, 2008 faintlymacabre said:
I don’t know if this counts as ‘unsniffed’, but I did buy a bottle of perfume based on a free sample of the lotion. This was my first (and so far, only) perfume purchase, and I am ashamed to admit- it was DK Be Delicious. Not only did I hate the smell of it in perfume form, I made the mistake of being so eager to try it, I sprayed it on in my car, not waiting to get home from the post office. And that ended my fascination with perfume for a while- until I happened to mention the story to a friend’s mother, who immediately dragged me to her house and plied me with Shalimar and L’Heure Bleu and other wonderful stuff. At the end of the day, we stank, her house stank- but this time in a good way.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
If you still like the lotion, it could be that Be Delicious is just stronger than you like? In which case you could try toning it down by decanting and just dabbing on a drop, maybe. But meanwhile, glad you discovered some other wonderful stuff 🙂
On May 10, 2008 bittergrass said:
Hi Robin,
I’ve probably said it somewhere that I bought Diptyque’s Philosykos mainly based on your review! I was interested in this when I looked at a store website, then when you described it as “wet leaves and bark” I thought that sounded well refreshing, so I was already quite ready to buy it unsniffed.
I did test it in store in the end. But just on the testing strip, I have forgotten about testing it on myself!
Yes, that’s probably the mst rash purchase I have done on perfumes. And I am still loving it. thanks!
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Always glad to find another Philosykos fan — if they ever discontinue it, don’t know what I’ll do!
On May 10, 2008 Bradamante said:
Years ago I learned about the existance of Frederic Malle et al by reading about him in Vogue. I ordered right away: Musc Ravageur and Une Rose.
Something called ‘Musc Ravageur’ can’t be but good, I figured. Next step in my line of thinking: then Une Rose must be good too, because if the man is able to link a name to a scent, then he can also link a scent to a name.
I was so right. After this benevolent mode of judgment I continued ordering unsniffed. But now to learn. So along came the Carons and some stuff that otherwise would dissappear soon, like Kingdom of Mcqueen. It doesn’t all suit me like a glove, but I don’t mind. It is like building up a library. And sometimes, all of a sudden, you get a scent, or you feel where and how one can wear it.
Still lots of stuff I would love to order unsniffed, but due to financial limitations I hold still: Celadon by dsh and Gaucho made by Ayala Moriel, for example. Samples of those are expensive too, because I have let them be shipped to Europe. And there is so much to smell in Europe already…
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Wow, those are risky but worthy first buys — Une Rose is one of my all time favorites, the MR doesn’t quite work on me, but it certainly has lots of fans. And like the idea of “like building up a library” — that’s a good way to look at it.
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
That’s exactly how I view my burgeoning collection. I have taken over two drawers in a chest – the top drawer is for my favourites, and the second drawer for the “ho-hum” fragrances, ones I maybe need to give another spin, and the out-and-out-never-to-be-revisited-or-it-will-totally-ruin-my-day scrubbers. Of which I am happy to say there are only about half a dozen.
On May 12, 2008 Bradamante said:
And what do you do with the scrubbers? I once ordered Narcisse Noir, because it is such a legendary perfume (Gloria Swanson wore it in Sunset Boulevard and before that it was Carons first real hit in the States – I think in the twenties) but it doesn’t work on me. Luckily I’ve got a dear friend who also happens to be my neighbour. Narcisse Noir is with her now and they’re very happy together. And it’s so funny – it’s the same fragrance but the light falls differently on it when she is wearing it. I’m not talking skin chemistry here – it’s just that when it is on her skin, I understand the aestethic view behind the concept. On mine – it is a nauseating and obnoxious blur. Nevertheless – the smell remains the same. Now, isn’t that fascinating!
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
Hey Bradamante, you must be my chemical twin! Narcisse Noir is the uber-scrubber out of the whole lot, for while I cannot abide the drydown of Amarige, I cannot abide a single second of Narcisse Noir. It too made me utterly nauseous regardless of how much or little I applied. It smelt of no flowers or fruit to me, just this weird sickly molten plastic smell. So what I do with it is I look at the vial from time to time and feel very afraid. It is like an evil presence lurking in my bottom drawer. How are you with Amarige, by the way?
On May 12, 2008 Bradamante said:
I don’t know – haven’t tried or don’t remember it. My gut feeling steers me away I suppose… which brings me to an important factor in buying unsniffed – there should be at least one impelling reason to do so – be it the beauty of the bottle, the historic relevance of the scent or the eager anticipation after reading about it.
An important impulse for me: the names. If the name is poetic enough, I will buy. Oops…marketeers are reading this…
(Amariges sister Ysatis however was my first fragrance in perfume concentration, many many years ago. A lovely scent. The only one my sister would agree on – we were both students and lived in the same house. She hated Diorissimo… can you imagine it!)
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
I wore Ysatis very happily in thhe 80’s, so we agree on that one too! The Narcisse Noir also drew me because of the Gloria Swanson mystique, while Amarige was sent to me in error by an Ebay seller, who then allowed me to keep it free of charge. So I wasn’t remotely drawn to it but it was there, so I tried it! But yes, a compelling reason is needed. I have occasionally been swayed by names – eg Philosophykos (sp?), Musc Ravageur and Yatagan – and for this very reason I may have to succumb to Tubereuse Criminelle one day. But only on a small sample basis, in each case!
On May 12, 2008 Bradamante said:
Yatagan! I love it! Sometimes I wear it together with L’air du desert Marocain – people stop, sniff and ask for the name of this exquisite feminine perfume. Not to wear on mornings in workingweekdays, however.
Never smelt Philosophykos neither, but what is being said about it in blog universe sure sounds intriguing.
On May 10, 2008 Veronica said:
Well, it was Cristalle EdT based on your review, Robin. And I loved this fragrance so much, I even think I’ll be buying more in autumn, because I think it’s better in cool rainy weather:)
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
So glad you loved it!
On May 10, 2008 Patti said:
The last unsniffed purchase I made was I Profumi Di Firenze Incanto, after a little chat with Tyler from Barney’s on the phone. He knows my taste and he said I’d love it, and I do. Before that was another unsniffed IPdF called Miele Rosa, and again, it was a success.
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, that is perfect (although potentially expensive) to have Tyler know your taste that well!
On May 10, 2008 Kayliana said:
The last one I bought was based on a review written by beautiful Christy Turrlington about “The goddess line’s fragrance oils. I thought, if they were good enough for that gorgeous woman I would like ’em too. And by god, I think I’ve found “The One” in their Parvati. It is unbelievable good. For once the un-sniffed purchased may have really payed off!!
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Never heard of that line I don’t think — glad it worked for you!
On May 10, 2008 Patti said:
The prices of the IPdF have gone up considerably since I fell in love ith my first one, Caterina De Medici, a few years ago. Tyler must remember me as the big floral loving customer!
On May 10, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
They sure have — along with everything else! Darn the dollar 🙁
On May 11, 2008 provcoll said:
thank god I did NOT buy Angel based on LT’s review, I happened to have a sample and I decided to take it with me on a recent trip thinking if LT likes it must be great…well I hate it, so I will not buy based on reviews, even though I admire LT and all the great perfume bloggers out there. I am though going to buy Un jardin dans le moisson unsniffed because I like anything JCEllena does
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Hope you will love Mousson then!
On May 11, 2008 Joe San Diego said:
Do samples count? I am anxiously awaiting 2 sets of samples (so that the cost of the fragrance is more than the shipping from France to the USA) from Etat Libre D’Orange. 17 2ml bottles x2.
On May 11, 2008 Joe San Diego said:
Oh Yeah….based on reviews in The Guide
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
If you’re also including samples based on reviews in The Guide and on blogs, I couldn’t begin to count – most of my nearly 200 purchases, I would say. Before The Guide came out, I was working my way through the lists of perfumes a budding perfumista should try on this site, The Perfume Posse (101 and 201) and The Perfumed Court! Well, I only bought the ones that appealed, otherwise I could have easily ended up with twice the number I have done! Did other people starting out go as mad as me with their sample gathering?
On May 11, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Joe, samples don’t count, because if they do my yearly “bottle count” is outrageous 😉
On May 11, 2008 vanessa said:
You and me both at the rate I am going!
On May 11, 2008 Joe San Diego said:
Make that 3 of us on the sample bandwagon. Then the last thing I bought unsmelled was Mugler Cologne….a very risky purchase indded since I absolutely hate Angel. Since The Guide said it was citrusy I figured they can’t do two bad juices. I have to say Cologne is one of my new favorites.
On May 12, 2008 Benoit said:
I really have never imagined that people could buy a perfume unsniffed.
That’s a revelation for me. but in fact why not … I can buy a book or Music without knowing what is inside. I can also see a movie with positive critics.
But Perfume. I have still a problem.
I still feel that buying something according to critics is a lack of self-confidence. Critics are important to share emotion and opinion.
Thanks to all of you, I now understand that I am in luxious situation where I can smell quite every things. I had never imagined that a quest for a Bottle can be a battlefield.
You must all really love perfumes
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
Do you mean you are fortunate because you live in France – Paris, even? In provincial England getting a bottle of something outside the mainstream ranges carried by drugstores is indeed a battlefield. But the pot luck is fun, where the stake is small. It is foolhardy to buy 30ml sizes and up unsniffed I think, unless you are positive you are on to a winner!
On May 12, 2008 Benoit said:
Yes I live in the Perfume’ Jerusalem
But i am impressed by the samples traffic. I even haven’t realized what a decant was since a few months 🙂
There is really a strong solidarity.
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
Benoit le veinard!! : )
On May 12, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Benoit, yes, I’d say we all really love perfumes 🙂
On May 12, 2008 marianne winia said:
Benoit, you don’t even have to order samples, you just take a metro and you can test any perfume you want !!
In principe you don’t even have to buy perfumes for you can just walk into any shop and spray yourself with whatever you like 🙂
They are all yours in some fine fantasy way..
On May 12, 2008 Benoit said:
Yeah I have done this during years ….
When I was still student.
Now that I have more money I can pay bottle.
On May 12, 2008 oblitterati said:
Greetings! I’ve been enjoying this blog for a long time but this is my first post. Just two days ago I bought Tommy Girl on sale at my local CVS unsniffed on Luca Turrin’s recommendation. I like it but to me it smells somewhat indistinct, though the $12 wasn’t a big gamble.
I also bought a silly pink bottle of So Givenchy on sale once unsniffed because I knew from this site that it was a Marc Buxton creation. It’s still one of my favorite bright citrus floral scents. It’s more complex than it needs to be and totally delightful.
On May 12, 2008 vanessa said:
Here’s an interesting thing I just spotted – I was over on The Perfumed Court site ordering L’Air du Desert Marocain on Bradamante’s recommendation, when I spotted a special section they have added called “Perfumes The Guide – The Masterpieces”, where you can order every single one of the 5 star rated perfumes in one spot. Clever or what!!
On May 12, 2008 oblitterati said:
Clever indeed! And a clever window into LT and TS personal aesthetics.
On May 12, 2008 Bradamante said:
On my recommendation… I feel really honoured! Hope you’ll love it as much as I do!
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
Well, I figured that our identical reaction to Narcisse Noir was quite uncanny, suggesting that if our skin chemistry is similar, not only might I dislike the same things as you, but also like the same things!
On May 12, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Oblitterati, Tommy Girl is very pleasant & wearable but have never found it interesting enough to wear. Hope you’ll get some wear out of it, but you’re right, $12 isn’t bad! Have not tried the So Givenchy.
On May 13, 2008 Liz said:
Late comment – I did some serious analysis last night! I only got the serious perfume bug around Christmas, but thanks to reviews and resulting comments almost exclusively here on NST I have made 18 unsniffed purchases! As Vanessa said above “In provincial England getting a bottle of something outside the mainstream ranges carried by drugstores is indeed a battlefield.” and the prices from the online discounters is often excellent, so I have succumbed. Over and over again… I haven’t gone far down the samples and decants route yet, and although only an hour from London, have been reluctant to visit the niche shops yet, as that gets me into a whole other (expensive) area.
Of the 18, 11 are excellent and happy buys: SL Un lys, DK Black Cashmere, 3 of the Matthew Williamson quartet (minus Lotus) Cabochard, Bvlgari Black, Shalimar, Mitsouko, Champs Elysees, AA Mentafolia; 8 are maybes/ not reallys, or at least not yet: Un jardin en mediterranee (love the fig, weird drydown) Hermes Hiris (Hannah Betts of the UK Times, said it acts as ‘male catnip’) Ivoire, D&G Sicily, Hermes Rouge, the MW Lotus and AA Anisia Bella.
I’m certainly not unhappy with that result; some of them have been small bottles, and I have had a lot of pleasure trying these, plus i have tested many others that I did manage to find locally that I have read about here.
On May 13, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
11 out of 18 is not bad — it’s better than I do, probably. But if you’re an hour from London!!! I would go 🙂
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
I think Hannah may have been having a mad moment when she likened Hiris to “male catnip” – it certainly does nothing for the man in this house, who imho suffers from amnosia and calls every perfume I wear “craft shop”. Hannah was, however, spot on, and in my case lifechanging, when she quoted someone who described Apres L’Ondee as beads of silver trickling down a bathroom wall.
On May 13, 2008 Liz said:
It was certainly Hannah who alerted me to all the possibilities of perfume, including niche, from where I came here and found out so much more. The man in my house is now severely nasally challenged following several operations on his upper respiratory tract, so he can’t tell the difference much, any more – ironic when it was he who first expanded my fragrance tastes many years ago. I though the male catnip was worth a try, though 🙂 and a great mental image…
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
HB doesn’t work at The Times anymore, I gather, but is freelance. Do you know who she is writing for these days, as I would love to keep up with her reviews?!
Sorry to hear about your chap – mine is definitely naturally nasally challenged. The only variation I ever get to everything smelling like a “craft shop” is the very occasional: “Smells like soap and water – so why bother?” While my favourite fragrance category is floral oriental, his is “palmolive/industrial”, as he has no truck with male grooming products of any kind.
On May 13, 2008 Liz said:
Vanessa, she seems to be doing regular fashion in the Daily Telegraph ‘Style on Wednesday’ column, but also occasionally the Observer and – eek! – the Daily Mail, and the Times. (I am an academic librarian so have access to a large newspaper database – I don’t read all these newspapers!) Nothing very recent about perfume though.
Sorry about your nasally challenged one – mine makes a brave effort, but sometimes it feels too obsessive and esoteric to share all the nuances anyway, when all they want you to do is smell nice. Or of bacon. Craft shop is good, though!
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
Not even of bacon, in the case of my nasally challenged other half, as he is a vegetarian… LT take note! Perhaps he would find it harder to be one if he could in fact smell the bacon. For all I know, it also smells of “craft shop”.
Thanks for the steers re HB. Loved your use of “eek”, by the way! My next door neighbour has brought round several perfume articles and surveys from the DM, and I have devoured them all, smug in the knowledge that I am not a DM reader, just an occasional borrower…
On May 13, 2008 Olfacta said:
A rave review in “The Guide” prompted me to buy Yatagan.
OK, maybe my nose isn’t educated enough yet. And I dd buy only a 5 ml decant, not a bottle. What did it remind me of? Well, when I was a kid, we had a tomcat. Can’t remember why we didn’t have it neutered, but whatever. It sprayed the drapes, the walls, the rugs and the furniture and anything else that wasn’t moving. We were on (military) assignment, and were living in a rented house.
After we moved, the landlord sued us.
I guess you could say that the tomcat and the wearer of Yatagan are trying to express the same sentiment.
Oddly enough, I wore it yesterday and it was…intriguing. So there ya go.
Sometimes I wonder: to these highly educated noses the Turins and Sanchezes and Burrs, is it all about “the stranger, the better?”
On May 13, 2008 NowSmellThis said:
Yatagan is widely loved though!
In general, I would say the opposite — Turin & Sanchez love many mainstream scents that perfumistas turn their noses up at because they are not strange enough — Tommy Girl, Beyond Paradise, etc. etc.
On May 13, 2008 Benoit said:
Concerning LT, I dont think it is “The Stranger, The better” … even if it looks so.
LT love things that smell bad, with something that smell good inside. He loves the transformation of something ugl. Shalimar is the best exemple, Bandit also, there is so much in fact …
I say that because I remember him make great compliments about cheeses that I would not dare to approach.
He dislike what he calls “The Italian Way”, when some one try to make everything in a perfume smell good.
He likes rough contact between flagrance.
He loves a lot of Perfume that I really dislike, and he hates some of my favorite.
When I understand the man, I understand his choice and I understand the mark. Behind the most famous perfume critic there is still a man.
On May 13, 2008 marianne winia said:
Somehow Benoit, I have the feeling that Luca Turin would fully agree with you.
On May 13, 2008 vanessa said:
There is a review somewhere that describes Yatagan as the scent of “hot, hungry, cruel bodies”. Given that the word means a type of Turkish sword, I am imagining a few severed limbs somewhere in there amongst all that writhing.
I know just what you mean about the eau de tomcat, but my brother wore it all day at work and loved it, so the jury is still out on that one. My apparent chemical twin Bradamante likes it, so that is another reason not to kick Yatagan into touch prematurely!