Today's poll was suggested by Kimberly, who'd like some advice on how to be a perfumista on a budget. Specifically, she asks how you go about weeding out your wish list, and how to avoid impulse buys.
Feel free to offer any helpful advice for saving money while continuing to feed your perfume habit.
Note: image is funny money via thehutch at flickr; some rights reserved.
The 171 comments that originally appeared with this article were not properly imported when we moved to the new domain in 3/09, so I’ve copied them below in several large chunks.
Chunk #1:
On February 27, 2009 pyramus said:
I was just compiling a list for a swap I’m doing, and I was shocked to see how many bottles I have in my box labelled “Can Live Without”. It’s just a waste of money.
But I can’t advise the budget-conscious perfume hound never to buy something at first sniff, because that’s how I came to own some treasures (Yohji Homme, for one). So my advice is threefold:
1) Get as many samples as possible. Free samples are wonderful, but spending a hundred bucks on samples is usually a better investment than buying one or two full bottles of things you don’t know for sure you love. If you live with a scent for as long as a sample lasts–at least four or five applications–then you’ll know if it’s worth spending money on. If you’re still not sure, get another sample.
2) Buy at first sniff from time to time–it’s part of the learning process–but try to limit it to things that you will not otherwise have a chance to buy. If you’re travelling and discover something you think you love and won’t be able to buy when you get back home, well, go for it.
3) Accept the fact that you will either buy some dud bottles or eventually grow out of some things you originally did love. That’s just the way of it. That’s what swaps are for.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Luckily I keep my mistakes mingled in with my successes…would hate to see how full a “can live without” box might be…
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On February 27, 2009 mals86 said:
Oh, I need this, people. Gimme the best you got. I’m normally a sock-it-in-the-bank person, but my spending is out of hand at the moment.
I’ve made a “must-have” list (it has five on it now, two of which I’ve bought) and plan to spread my purchases out. I’m reading blog reviews, and sampling, and getting some samples for free when possible, and making notes about my preferences, and finding minis on eBay for the same cost as samples, and searching for my must-haves on sale.
The thing I have NOT yet done is swap samples. I don’t know that I have the time to get into that decanting thing, although time is, indeed, money, so maybe I’d better find some supplies. Also, I don’t like the setup on MUA — sorry if you’re a die-hard MUA person, but I find it really difficult to get around in, and maybe a little teeny weeny bit cliqueish? — and have not found anything on the scentsplits page I want or already have. Basenotes seems heavily male-oriented in terms of members, and appears to have discouraged the discussion of splits/swapping. And I am getting to know people over on fragrantica.com, but a lot of them seem to be European, and I am not up for international mailings.
Sorry about the whinefest. I’ll stop now.
Someone on here has a Five Bottles Only rule, which is probably pretty good. A monthly $ limit would probably help. Icing my credit card? Nope, TPC takes Paypal…
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Another tip: keep a list of bottles you want, but don’t buy anything til it’s been on the list for 4-6 months. It helps to weed out things you lose interest in…
On the swapping, MUA can be cliqueish. But they have the best swapping board, so worth ignoring that part.
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On February 27, 2009 Zoe said:
That does it, I’m heading over to MUA stat.
I’ve done Basenotes, Fragrantica & Scentsplits, and while they have enabled me to get decants at cost and absolute bargains on FB’s, I haven’t been so successful at swapping *away* – leading to a net loss on my part. I find MUA hard to navigate, too, though.
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On February 27, 2009 rrazzell on MUA (was Robin) said:
Gosh, the whole clique-ish aspect of MUA has gone completely over my head. Funny, because I’ve got over 100 swaps under my belt there. I must not belong to a clique. (Aww. Should I feel unpopular?? :-D)
I just plug in what I want under Swaps, and up comes a list, or, if I’ve got stuff I want to swap away, besides putting it on my own Swap list, I’ll plug the name of the fragrance into Wish lists, and see who’s looking for it. Pretty easy system. Scent Splits has good people on it; I guess I’m just a little leery of bottles going through the mail, because I’ve had a number of them leak on me, despite the sender’s best efforts. Annick Goutal’s seem to be especially problematic, because their tops are not crimped on.
Also, I’ve had problems with glass atomizers leaking, so I now send all of mine in pretty-much-bulletproof plastic atomizers (I used Sally’s at her Accessories for Fragrances website and love her with all my heart). If it’s 10 or 15 or more mls, I fill multiple bottles; folks are always free to decant into their own prettier, nicer glass sprays once the juice has arrived safely.
I have no other suggestions for trying to save $$$. In fact, I’m of the mind that that Don’t Spend; We’re in a Recession mentality just accelerates the whole downward economic spiral. I know that Nasrin at The Perfume Shoppe here in Vancouver, for example, the source of so many niche bottles for so many people who love her comparatively low prices — she does a fierce mail-order business across North America — would love nothing better than to expand her selection, but with everyone cutting back on “luxuries,” she is understandably more cautious than she might otherwise be. That frustrates me to no end!! So, I say, do your part and buy a few FBs you’ve been lemming from your favourite small-business retailer or online source — I just bought Opal and Lieu de Reves from the marvelous Laurie Erickson at Sonoma Scent Studios — and do your part for the economy!
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
I think maybe the cliqueishness is more on the fragrance board rather than the swapping? Not sure, but have heard that accusation before. It’s true of most online social groups, I think — can be hard to “break in” and make friends. But I built up tokens at MUA very quickly, long before I became well known on the board.
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On February 28, 2009 AussieBec said:
I just went over to MUA and looked at the swaps and what struck me is how ver y hard it is if you not from America. So many memebers don’t want to swap with you if you are overseas. I get why but is is limiting as sometimes we have access to different products that you might want. Still, it is very frustrating being an Australian perfumista. (moan over)
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Oh, wasn’t thinking about that — it’s absolutely true, the majority of members are from the US. I did many overseas swaps, but have to admit they’re something of a PITA — they take longer, cost more, boxes get held up by customs, and in general the only swaps I ever had go missing entirely were int’l. Is there no local Australian swap board, at some local beauty site maybe?
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On March 4, 2009 AussieBec said:
I have no idea if there is a local site but I doubt this. We only have a small population so the proportion of perfume lovers is much smaller also. I do know a few people all over Australia who keep me in mind if they have a niche scent that they don’t want any more but still I would love more choice.
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On February 27, 2009 Daisy said:
Just to add my praise to yours…Nazrin and her Perfume Shoppe what a wonderful lady! Love her shop, can’t say enough good stuff. And Laurie Erickson, also a fabulous lady!
The budding perfumista in me NEEDS a FB once in a while. But samples are a wonderful thing–without them I’d never find the yummies that I need a whole bottle of!
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On February 28, 2009 rrazzell on MUA (was Robin) said:
Daisy, so true. Samples make the perfumista’s world go ’round!! And I never would have discovered Naz or Laurie without first getting a sample of something of theirs through this community of ours. That’s why I love Now Smell This and the other good fragrance sites: they keep me informed of new things and just plain great things, so I’m guided in the right direction. I trust their opinions, even if I don’t always find my nose agrees with them. I’ve found many, many FBS just by reading about them first through Robin, Kevin and Angela, sticking them on my MUA Wish list, and keeping my fingers crossed!
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On February 27, 2009 mals86 said:
Okay okay okay okay okay already. I’ll try MUA again. And will keep checking scentsplits and the fragrantica swap lists.
And will not whine anymore… I already have several decants, and a couple of bottles of some great stuff that I plan to love the rest of my life (Diorissimo and Parfum Sacre), so I need to think of those as All I Need Right Now.
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On February 27, 2009 SFLizbeth said:
I keep a running stock list of items I already have, and if I loved it, or was it meh… If I really adore the scent, I opt for shopping at the ‘bay and other discounters for bargains and coupons.
To avoid impulse buys, I get samples first, to try it. I also put the scent in perspective. For example, this cost of this bottle is one week’s worth of groceries, or a month’s worth of gas for the car. Do I really need this compared to food essentials?
So far, it’s worked. My quarterly expenditure total is down 50% from Q1 in 2008.
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On February 27, 2009 SFLizbeth said:
I also forgot another thing I do. I take the annual scent budget and calculate how much it’d earn if I’d saved or invested the cash. Even at a modest 5% interest, $1,200 dollars over 25 years earns $2,863.63 interest.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Congrats!! I’m doing much better (so far, knock on wood) this year too.
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On February 27, 2009 krokodilgena said:
I don’t buy full bottles, almost ever
If you feet the impulse to buy a bottle, just get a sample instead?
But if you’re like meee and you don’t want to waste money on samples…
I compile a little sample batch and then I think to myself “If you order this you will not be able to go to Burapa Thai and get pad thai and taro ball”
and if I think “I think I can wait another few weeks for a delicious Thai feast” then I order them
but if I’m already tasting that Thai tea and pad thai and coconut, I call up my sister and then I spend all my money on pad thai.
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On February 27, 2009 krokodilgena said:
****feel
L’Artisan appears to not accept debit cards, and that is all I have. So I save some money that way.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Oh dear, you’ve made me very hungry for Thai food. Had Thai food last night but it’s all gone 🙁
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On February 27, 2009 krokodilgena said:
I’ve had orzo with butter for the past week.
I don’t have very much money on my debit card, I won’t be getting any Thai food or perfume for awhile.
buutttt I was putting most of my money into the Send Krokodilgena to Germany Fund, and now I have enough for my trip. So whenever I get money I can use some of if to get perfume samples and Thai food.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Good for you, congrats! When’s your trip?
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On February 27, 2009 krokodilgena said:
I was originally planning this summer, but I’ll have to talk to my sister about it.
We’re going to go to Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin and Dresden. And maybe the Czech Republic, like maybe Karlovy Vary, but that might not happen.
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Sounds lovely! I have not been to Germany other than 1 day in Frankfurt, but have been to Karlovy Vary & loved it.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
jealous here—Germany for a summer trip sounds amazing! I hope you do get to go—take lots of pictures and post them somewhere so the rest of us stuck at home can live vicariously thru your adventures.
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On February 27, 2009 Aparatchik said:
After spending a ton of money on full bottles that just sat in the perfume drawer, unloved and unused, here’s my rule: sample, then if you like it, buy a decant. If you’re still in love with it after using up the decant, ask yourself how long it took you to get through the decant. If it was over six months (or a year or whatever time frame you choose) then you don’t use it enough to justify a full bottle. If, on the other hand, you’ve gone through it in two months, congratulations! You’re allowed to buy a full bottle.
I’m perfectly happy to have a large collection of decants which give me the variety I crave. The full bottles I have now are long-term loves.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Excellent advice! And I’d NEVER drain a single decant, probably.
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On February 28, 2009 SFLizbeth said:
That’s great advice….
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On March 1, 2009 Sarah said:
Exactly what I do. It is so mysterious how some scents become grating or boring by the time a sample runs out. Those that make it to the next stage, when you buy a decant, sometimes become a mania by the time you’re done with that bit. Then the FB is inevitable. I find I’ve become very partial to Hermes scents simply because they’re unusually generous with samples. That gives me plenty of time to bond – or blech – with a fragrance. Here’s another tip: if you like the Hermessences, buy the box of 4 travel sizes (15 ml), then sell the extras on eBay for a profit! A single 15 ml bottle lasts a long time.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
where can you buy the Hermessences? I can’t find them anywhere….my daughter really likes the Rose Ikebana…. if anyone has any suggestions of what smells similar but is less costly feel free to chime in. Especially since I can’t seem to find the Rose Ikebana anyhow…grrrr
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
You can buy them only at Hermes boutiques. They will sell them over the phone & ship them to you though.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
ah, I see….then I guess I better call a boutique and at least inquire….I expect they are pretty pricey. Teenager may have to find something else to like!
Thanks Robin 🙂
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
VERY pricey! $210 for 100 ml. You can also buy a “discovery set” of four 15 ml bottles, and don’t know what that costs these days.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
yup, that’s a little too pricey. We talked it over and she likes it but doesn’t love it….that’s one of the difficulties of the “sample basket” –all those 1ml sample vials look “equal” , so when you’re dabbing a bit of something pleasant on your wrist it might be $50 for a bottle or $200……I might be willing to buy a $50 bottle that is really nice but for $200 it had better make me swoon….really swoon, as in ‘on the floor’ swoon.
I saw one of the 15ml “discovery” bottles of Rose Ikebana on evilbay for $56 in case anyone loves it and is looking for some.
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On February 27, 2009 fountaingirl said:
I have a few tricks I use:
1. Look for scents, especially classic scents, in unsual places. Don’t blow off thrift stores! I may be making my own hunting harder here but that’s ok. In the past month I got a wee bottle of L’heure bleu extrait for $3, and a bottle of Joy for $14.95. At my local thrift is also how I ended up with my bottle of Shalmar (also $14.95), my Donna Karan Gold ($19.99), and I took a friend once who picked up a bottle of Ferree AND a vintage bottle of Mitsouko Parfum de Toilet for I think $15!
2. Ebay is your friend. Be smart about it, watch feedback rates, and also try to watch for auctions that have home-taken pictures rather than the stock photos from a website. Also, you would think that something that is completely unopened and ‘new in box’ would be great, but you can’t see fill level nor tell if something has evaporated or turned. If something has already been opened, you can usually ask the seller if the scent still smells nice (even if they don’t know what it should smell like, you can tell if it has gone to vinegar).
3. Be willing to buy partials when you buy. Sometimes I know that I want more than a decant, but I can’t afford a bottle. Then I go hunting for a partial! I got a 30% bottle of Lostmarc’h’s Ael-Mat for $20, and it would have cost me MUCH more to get this same amount in decants. A bottle would have been $100, and again, there was just no way.
4. Give yourself a dollar figure and work within it. You would be surprised what you can do. If you say “I’m going to wait until I can find a bottle or partial of xyz for $10” or $20 or whatever, then the hunt is part of the fun!
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On February 27, 2009 rosarita said:
I agree w/ all of fountaingirl’s comment. I would add just a couple of things based on my own experience:
Keep an open mind when shopping. Stores like TJMaxx and Marshall’s can carry great bargains, but an unsniffed purchase you make bcs something’s cheap is still $20 or so that could go toward something you really love.
Read NST’s articles about obtaining samples and sample as much as you can.
I could not feed my fragrance passion without being a member of MUA and swapping. It can be a pain, but I have gotten samples, decants and fbs that I could never afford otherwise. I’m really sorry, mals86, that you’ve had a bad experience, but for me, MUA has worked out very well. The website scentcritic.com has a swapping community too, iirc.
Don’t buy into the hype to try the latest release immediately. Let it be out for a while. New commercial releases go to the online discount sites within a year or so (or less), and reading other’s reviews of niche scents can help you decide what you really want to try. If something’s really good, chances are it’s going to be around for awhile.
Personally, I don’t even sample perfumes I know I can never afford. I own lots and lots of decants, but some scents are so expensive that I can’t even afford decants, and that’s fine – there are plenty of others. Ditto chasing discontinued scents; just not worth it to me. There are always others to try.
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On February 27, 2009 lovethescents said:
HI rosarita-thanks for the info on scentcritic.com. Never heard of it but when I tried to find it, the address does not exist. Do you know if this site still exists?
Always trying to swap….
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
I think she might mean perfumecritic.com
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On February 27, 2009 rosarita said:
Thanks for the correction, Robin – it’s been a long week! And I’ll butt in about partial bottles: I’ve found a few on scentsplits.wiki and on The Perfumed Court. Also another perfumista on a shoestring tip is to shop for minis. You get as much as a decant, in a very cute bottle. Useful for online discounters, esp when they’re offering discounts or free shipping.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
De nada! And agree on the minis…wish more companies made them!
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On February 27, 2009 lovethescents said:
Fountaingirl, where do you get partials aside from Scentsplits?
Thanks for your help!
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hope she’ll be back to answer you, but you can get them on ebay, or you can swap for them!
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On February 27, 2009 fountaingirl said:
*waves* Hey, off to cook dinner, but back now! I love the scentsplits wiki, but you can also find great deals on partials (or even FULLS, I have gotten fb’s for $20 with shipping someitmes) at the basenotes community. For some reason, it seems that more men than women are there (from what I see) but when you hit it right it is awesome, and many of the men there wear all sorts of scents so if you are looking for women’s or unisex you’ll find it.
I can’t wait to get to ‘perfumista’ status at Perfume of Life. Anyone have a take on experience swapping there?
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
I never swapped there. I thought you could pay for perfumista status? But haven’t been paying attention.
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On February 27, 2009 delfina said:
I quit smoking to use the money to buy perfume. No other (and obviously more sensible) reason was ever strong enough to convince me…
As for impulse buys, they are not my cup of tea in general, but I know that by obsessing a lot about something I can slowly fool myself into buying something I don’t really want. So I sometimes find myself playing a game; it’s A BIT childish but it helps me understand which are the scents I “really” want.
Ok I warn you it’s hell. I imagine this:
1) I MUST buy the last 3 (or 5, or 10, it depends on how bad is my day and whether it’s a “real love” scent day or a “sleep around” scent day) perfumes of the next 5 years;
2) I won’t be able to walk into ANY real or virtual perfume shop for the same period (The Perfumed Court will automatically recognize ANY attempt to buy decants, even under false names);
3) some evil stranger will kidnap all my samples and decants: now, which are my last 3/5/10 full bottles?
Sometimes it works and it makes me feel like I can live a really ascetic life with just the ESSENTIAL (did somebody establish that a 200ml tub of some Chanel Exclusif doesn’t qualify as essential?), sometimes it’s just masochistic fun
…and today I’ll go for 5: Vetiver tonka, Broadway nite, 31 rue Cambon, Lipstick rose, Black aoud)
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
That is an evil game, LOL…
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
Delfina – congrats on giving up smoking for perfumes. What a noble solution.
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On February 28, 2009 delfina said:
Thanks, but actually it was not so noble. It began like some sort of bet. I found a great offer online to buy Amouage Gold at a quarter of the price, but ther was no way I could justify another full bottle purchase that month. So I thought the only way was to quit smoking and use that money. At the beginning I didn’t think I was serious (in fact, I remember lighting myself a cigarette while saying the words out loud). But in four/five days I took my decision and quit.
And I have to say (fingers crossed, it’s just a month and a half after all) it has been difficult, but not as difficult as I imagined.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
well, ‘noble’ doesn’t feed the bulldog, as the saying goes. But cutting out the smokes just might! In the end it doesn’t matter why you are quitting, only that you are. And when you have that Amouage you will feel ten times as good about it.
So do you take the amount you’d spend , say, weekly and put it in a jar or or box? I think you should, as a visual, tangible reminder that you are having small successes every day. Decorate it up, make it as elegant or tacky as you want, maybe even make a nice label for it and keep track of how much you are accumulating: “oh, look at this, I’m up to $67 already” sort of thing. Maybe it’ll help keep you on track. Once you get that Amouage, you get to pick the next perfume the ‘anti-smoking-resource-receptacle-unit’ is saving for. I’m really excited for you!
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
Absolutely fabulous that you quit smoking (bad smelling habit) to take up being a perfumista (good smelling habit). Rest assured that you have improved your corner of the world! oh yeah, and your health too, that’s important too.
3 perfumes for the next 5 years? Are you SURE that TPC woud recognize false names? I can tell you this: that evil stranger ain’t makin it out the door with my samples and decants!
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On February 27, 2009 lovethescents said:
I almost never buy full bottles, firstly. I would try to seek them out but only on ebay or some other discount site if I can get a verrrrrrrry good price…am not working full time at the moment!
I try to swap as much as possible but this requires A LOT of patience and time
I also have an Excel list of my spending which will help keep me in order. Lists are great…
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
So agree on the “patience and time”. I swapped avidly for a few years & found it very worthwhile, but I almost never do now just because of time constraints.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
keeping a list of expenditures? I’m feeling a little faint at the thought. This has been my worst perfume spending year EVER and I blame it all on Luckyscent and TPC…I never knew places like that existed…I’ve certainly made up for lost time though!
But reason and responsibility are rearing their ugly heads and now I need to live off my sample-pile for a (long) while.
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On February 28, 2009 mals86 said:
Oh, I’m keeping a list of expenditures. It’s a column on my Excel file where I keep track of what I’ve tried/what I thought of it/whether it’s a YES, Maybe, or Gosh-no.
It’s just occurred to me that four months ago I had nothing. Absolutely nada, except some drugstore stuff that was ancient. And to be able to swap samples, one must actually have stuff on hand to swap, right? (Unfortunately for me, sniffing free at department stores is out of the question because of where I live, so I’ve had to buy samples.) So my $262 ($113 of it for 2 FBs) spent on perfume so far is sort of like my, um, start-up costs…
… and now that I’m up and running, so to speak, I think I’ll be able to slow down my spending. I now have a much better idea of what I like; I have two classic scents that should weather well; I have samples to swap; I have decants to road-test. My plan is to start living with the stuff I have, make lots of notes, and see if there’s anything that stays on the “must have” list until May. (Thank you, Robin, for that piece of wisdom.)
You all have my permission to smack me if I start talking about another bottle of anything before May.
But please don’t smack too hard.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
Around where I live there is one decent mall –but they never have any samples and if they do have a couple they’re all the regular things you see in the department stores. Maybe it’s because Michigan is in such trouble or maybe buyers just think people in this area don’t want anything other than the usual fare.
I can only sniff about 3 things before my nose looses it’s ability to discern anything! So I love the online sample options. You know if you’d like to try L’Artisan fragrances here’s a little tip~~ go to the webpage for the New York store…you can select 5 samples for the shipping fee of $7. And the samples are mostly 1.5ml. You can only select one set of 5 at a time, but you can go back later in the day and select 5 more.
I’ve got lots of sample vials to test and I’m trying hard to keep a list not only so I can remember scents, and not double up when Iorder more but also to help me from buying FBs without careful consideration (it’s important to pay the mortgage too)
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On February 28, 2009 lilydale said:
Thank you so much for the L’Artisan tip! That’s a great deal if you don’t live near a store that stocks the line.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
I have NEVER seen a store that stocks niche lines! But then I am NOT a drive-around-shopping-at-malls kind of girl. So maybe they’re out there and I just don’t know.
I am much more comfortable shopping online. Plus there’s no pressure when you are shopping from home. (the parking is better too)
Chunk #2:
On February 27, 2009 Licia said:
My tips –
1) sample, sample, sample. I won’t buy anything I haven’t sampled & loved. I just can’t afford FB mistakes anymore.
2) Discounters like TJMaxx, Loehmans etc are great hunting places – my bargain Aqua Allegorias all came from Marshalls. The local Filene’s currently has a bunch of Etro’s in stock.
3) Coupons (I kid you not). Example – if you love Calyx sign up at prescriptives.com & buy once a year when they mail out their friends & family discount (20%). CO Bigelow’s F&F sale this year included all their B&M in stock perfumes, including L’artisan, Acqua Di Parma etc – stuff you aren’t going to find elsewhere on a discount.
That said, I think I’m going to have to splurge full price on OJ’s Ta’if. I sampled it in London this week & not only did I love it, but everyone who smelled it on me raved too. That’s rare enough that its probably worth the investment unless I can con someone into buying me a bottle ;D
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
So agree on signing up for mailing lists…you get lots of good sale info that way.
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On February 27, 2009 fountaingirl said:
Oh lucky you! I can’t recommend Etro’s Shaal Nur enough, if you like incense. It is superb, I bought my bottle for $40 at the basenotes comm and I am just thrilled with the purchase & will definitely replace when I run out.
I wish I had been on the CO Bigelow list though, I would have grabbed a bottle of L’Air de Rien. I’m trying to swap for a large (8ml) decant as we speak, I love the stuff, and I hear that some CO Bigelow shops had the MH bottles up to 75% off but I might be wrong about that.
You will get more out of one bottle of Ta’if that you absolutely adore, than out of five bottles that you don’t like nearly so much and that you get at a deepdiscount at TJMaxx. I do hope you get your Ta’if!
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
I missed that sale too — by the time I made it to the mall, everything good was long gone.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
I keep hearing about OJ Ta’if —-I need to get a sample, I’ll do that right away. When are you thinking about going after that FB?
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On February 27, 2009 joe805 said:
What, you want us to give away all our secrets and let everyone here in on how we get our bargains, leaving none for ourselves? Kidding, of course.
And I’ll start with a disclaimer: I am one of those financially irresponsible Americans you hear a lot about on the teevee lately (although I don’t have a foreclosed mortgage; I rent).
Anyway, lots of good advice here already, but I feel your pain even 2-3 years into this. I thought I was starting 2009 being way more responsible, but the siren song of NST and ebay are hard to resist. I just tallied that by the end of next week, I’ll have spent $160 so far. Strong will in the face of temptation isn’t one of my strong suits. However, I’ll try some advice:
1. I absolutely worship at the altar of ebay and most purchases there have been used partial bottles. Totally works for me, I haven’t spent tons of time doing it (they have email alert tools that make it easier), and my experiences have been great.
2. Scentsplits and MUA have been pretty good, and there are constant updates. Even if you don’t see something on scentsplits now that you like, keep checking. Also, post your own wishlist and you never know — this week someone contacted me blind wanting to sell her decant of Drama Nuui for $20, which I looked at as an unexpected offer from the perfume gods. Same with MUA. Put your wishlist up there and you may get emails from someone hosting a split.
3. I almost never buy more than 50ml bottles, and am satisfied with minis or decants as much as possible. The bottle experience is great, but a good habit to give up. It also helps that I go in for used partial bottles a lot.
4. As mentioned, try not to get wrapped up in new launch hype. Waiting a few months or a year results in either (a) forgetting about something that sounded “just perfect!”, (b) it doesn’t sound perfect anymore after you’ve thought more clearly or read several reviews and comments, and (c) you can get a better price. Of course, I myself got sucked into a frenzy of buying into a split of Vanille Galante, which is probably silly. There are probably things I want far more. But oh well… I forgive myself easily, and a $40 mistake seems paltry next to a $100+ mistake.
5. Do try to set some reasonable spending limit, and as others say, weigh that against other “luxuries” like dining out, clothing, cocktails, entertainment, two grande lattes per day….
Good luck to you Kimberly and everyone else.
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On February 27, 2009 lovethescents said:
Hi joe805, there’s a wishlist on scentsplits?? Where, where?
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On February 27, 2009 joe805 said:
Haha. I’m telling you… sharing trade secrets….
On the menu in the upper left, click “Request a Split” and you can edit that wiki page to list the frags you’re looking to go in on or buy decants of.
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On February 27, 2009 lovethescents said:
Oh you are good aren’t you 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 giveitomespicey said:
You’re the bomb, Joe!
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Ebay’s alert emails are great. Still, you do way better than I do at ebay.
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On February 27, 2009 Patty said:
I read, read, read and test, test, test. Specifically, if there is a fragrance I’m interested in, I read all the reviews I can find in all the blogs. Then, I will test for free by haunting the perfume departments of large stores, or by wandering around and sampling at specialty stores. I live in the New York-Metro area, so I’m kind of spoiled because I have easy access to stores like Saks, Lord & Taylor’s, and Bergdorf (At Saks, I’m sure I’m referred to as the “stealth sprayer”!). There also seems to be a Sephora, Perfumania or Douglas store in every neighborhood. It’s been a great way to test high-end fragrances without spending a dime. That would be more difficult if you don’t live in a big-city area. If not, then those 1ml samples are the way to go. I’ll buy samples, too, if I feel like living with something before buying the FB, or if it’s harder to find. Although I have done it, I generally avoid buying an FB of an unsniffed fragrance. No matter how rapturous a description sounds, I’m very aware that what smells heavenly to one person may send another running for the soap and water.
The “wish list” feature at The Perfumed Court is a handy tool for saving money. I can keep going back, adding and subtracting until I have a shopping list I’m happy with. It’s the way I avoid impulse buying, even of samples.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
LOL — you are spoiled! I have to drive 45 minutes to get to a decent mall. I rely on the mails 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 Patty said:
You’re right, I’m in perfumista heaven!
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On February 27, 2009 platinum15 said:
For me the pleasure comes from getting something new. It doesn’t have to be a new release, as long as I didn’t have it before: it’s new!
So, instead of buying new releases at full price, I buy from the internet those bottles that I always wanted, but that somehow got shifted to my “B” list. They are now available from discounters for a fraction of the original cost.
…of course, I usually get 3 for the price of one so I don’t spend less, I just get more.
… and I have developed an almost allergic reaction to the word “niche” (funny how it is the French word for doghouse!). Niche is soooooo last year! Stop charging double the price just because the word niche has been added.
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On February 27, 2009 joe805 said:
Platinum: That “new” or “new to me” craving is SO hard to even try to break out of, isn’t it? It’s like a sickness of living in a marketplace with a zillion choices. An aisle of 137 types of breakfast cereal… only worse.
What I do discover though is that I have a sample box full of so many things that if I dig around, I undoubtedly find things that are “new to me”. Sometimes that helps. Also, even the old bottles I have I’ll look at and think… it’s been SO long since I’ve worn this, that it seems fresh and “almost new” somehow.
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On February 27, 2009 platinum15 said:
In general, I am finding the new releases easy to resist because, when everything is said and done, 90% of them smell very similar to each other. Most do not have enough “humpf” for my taste and, I can also eliminate quickly anything that contain musk which I just cannot wear. (in men’s perfumery it’s a huge chunk)
The best shopping is the one done right at home.
we all have bottles that have been pushed to the back of the pack. Revisiting them is great. Sometimes, it brings back a particular note that we like and that has been neglected (green tea, ginger, clove).
But it also reminds one of the mistakes of the past: I will never buy a splach bottle again— I find that they just sit there because they are not quite as easy to use as the spritz-and-go bottles.
And I also have a huge basket full of samples. Any sample that doesn’t get drained in a few days becomes a reminder of what I like but do not need.
The pleasure of the “new” is of course hard to resist. My credit card statement can attest to that 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 Daisy said:
If you can get a good deal on a large splash, that’s great—just get yourself a couple inexpensive 5ml/10ml or 15ml atomizers. My favorites I always have in 100ml but store them in the fridge. But I have 5ml or 10ml atomizers that I keep on the dresser for quick access–you’re right: who wants to splash something all over the place when you just want to spritz and go!
So don’t let those lovely splash bottles lanquish in the back of the pack!
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On February 28, 2009 AussieBec said:
I too, am too lazy to use splash bottles but if youi trully love the fragrance, spare an hour to decant all your favourites into sprayers. I have done this and now am actually using them, I also found that I won’t use roller balls or solids so that slows me down a tad.
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
I agree about revisiting samples/decants that are languishing in the box. When I’m tempted to buy, I just revisit all the little samples I have to see if there isn’t something I overlooked before that I can enjoy now. There are so many frags that almost smell the same, that its easy to forget wallflowers.
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On February 27, 2009 pikake said:
Repeating what many have already said: eBay, decants from Perfumed Court or Scent Splits, asking for samples at Nordstroms, swapping on MUA. And then waiting it out to see if your cravings die, which oftentimes they really do.
~trish
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
It’s amazing how many of them die. Another reason I like keeping a written list…
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On February 28, 2009 divinemama said:
“asking for samples at Nordstroms”… one of my personal favorites, Pikake! I have many samples of great perfumes that were cheerfully given with the simplest request from me. Many times I haven’t even had to ask. When I make a purchase they load my bag up with samples from their drawers. They include scents that I would even think to request. Lovely!
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On February 27, 2009 peanut said:
1. If I cannot buy 1 oz or less, I will not buy a full bottle. Period.
That said, when I have proven to myself I really really really love something by perhaps buying a 1 oz bottle and using it all up, or a large decant all used up, THEN and only then will I perhaps consider a larger bottle – most recent example of this, Hermes’ Un Jardin sur le Nil.
2. Seldom if ever buy the newest scents. Shop for those that have been around long enough to show up on the discounters or **bay.
3. Break my own rules once in a blue moon so that I keep the rules most of the time.
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On February 27, 2009 boojum said:
Rule #3….absolutely! It’s like being on a diet…if you don’t cheat every so often, you’re going to blow the whole thing.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, I like your rule 1. Not sure I could live with it, but I like it.
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On February 28, 2009 joe805 said:
Especially since it seems so very few lines sell 30ml/1oz bottles! I’d love to try to stick to that rule, but I’m definitely trying to stick to nothing more than 50ml unless it’s HG status (also depends on price point), and even then…
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On February 27, 2009 Tama said:
I am an avid shopper, but being on unemployment doesn’t allow for perfume spending AT ALL (argh) so I am having to make do with the many many samples I got when I was flush and just exploring. I’m glad, actually, that I only bought a few FBs during that time and concentrated on samples, because now I have more to play with. That said, free samples are great and can give you the impression that you got something new.
I just did a private, rather impromptu swap with a wonderful person here who felt my pain at not being able to take advantage of a great sale. So I can see the benefit of the swap, for sure!
I add things to my wish lists on TPC and Luckyscent so I trick myself into thinking I’m shopping.
Right now I am working on picking the new fragrance I will buy to celebrate my first paycheck at my new job when I get it. Lots of testing and mulling and re-testing and taking of notes.
Being broke SUCKS! lol
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hope you find something soon!
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
Tama – do you have a MUA account/personality?
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On February 28, 2009 Tama said:
No, I haven’t really gone over there much. Maybe I’ll check it out today.
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On February 28, 2009 Tama said:
Just signed up – I’m Tama over there too.
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On February 27, 2009 Joanna said:
I’ve been pretty good this year. I haven’t purchased a single bottle of perfume. But I have recently spent about $130 on samples, which I’m super excited to receive. Since visiting this site, I’ve becoming increasingly more picky about which perfumes I buy; as a result, the amount of samples in my perfume wardrobe far outnumber the actual bottles of perfume I have, which is only three! I can’t believe it myself. 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, good for you! Hope you love some of your samples, sounds like you’ve got lots coming.
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On February 27, 2009 lilydale said:
Great advice from all above, particularly the rule about waiting a few months even if you really love something (this will also help you figure out if the scent spans seasons) and gradually progressing from sample to decant to full bottle.
Definitely do as much free sniffing as you can in whatever stores you have access to; even if you don’t find a great scent, this can at least narrow down which scent families and notes appeal to you. Also, I don’t think anyone has mentioned giveaways — Perfume Posse and Perfume Shrine (blogs) have sample drawings fairly often (and NST has amazing giveaways once in a while!); I’ve gotten lucky a couple of times and had the chance to smell some things I never would have otherwise. Swapping is also a good bet, but I’m only just delving into that realm myself.
Additionally, find a perfume critic (or fellow commenter) whose taste seems to dovetail with your own, and make note of what he or she likes — sampling vicariously isn’t as much fun, but it sure is cheaper!
And finally, it’s just perfume. If things get really tough (ask me about my budget of $0), it’s just not as important than food or housing or health care. Most of what you love now will still be around in a few years, and there will be wonderful new stuff to help you forget what’s lost. In the meantime, there are plenty of amazing non-perfume smells in the world to enjoy.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Yes, love your last point…it’s so easy to get caught up in feeling like you have to smell everything new & cool.
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On February 28, 2009 rrazzell on MUA (was Robin) said:
Glad you mentioned that, Robin. It’s YOU I have to thank for letting go of this idea that Real Perfumistas have smelled every single new release out there!! In fact, I love it when you say you haven’t gotten around to smelling such-and-such, and I actually HAVE!!! Whoo-hooo!!
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
LOL — always glad to make you happy 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 nlb said:
As other posters have already said, sampling is the best avenue to go down if you anticipate investing in a pricey scent. I’d also recommend buying solids, essential oils and even parfums in place of Colognes, EDTs and EDPS, as the heavier concentrations last longer and require less frequency of application than the others.
Also, I wouldn’t discount hidden hippy-ish brands, like “TerraNova” and “Auric Blends” as good replacements for more expensive lines, as they are very price attractive and available in the U.S.; for example, “TerraNova” makes a blend called “White Ginger” that is striking–and I mean, striking–in similarity to the more expensive scent, “Kai”. The fragrance essence of “White Ginger”, in the highest concentration, will cost you $15.00–“Kai” will set you back almost $50.00. While impressions are rarely worth replacing certain scents with, if the impression is beautifully done and captures the feeling you were looking for in the more expensive version, go for it. I actually find that “White ginger” smells exactly like “Kai”–except, it lacks the vinigairette drydown of “Kai” that I disliked so much.
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On February 27, 2009 Aparatchik said:
Tagging onto nlb’s post to agree that there are some very good less expensive lines out there. I’ll throw out Pacifica as an example – how can you go wrong with a good quality $9.00 solid? The Tibetan Mountain Temple, Egyptian Bergamot Rose, and Madagascar Spice are very nice indeed.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, I’ll have to try White Ginger! Although I’ve lived on 5-6 free samples of Kai for years now 🙂
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
nlb – I have a bunch of Auric Blends. The Amber was one of the only frags I could wear a few years ago when I was pregnant. I also really like the sandalwood.
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On February 27, 2009 maggiecat said:
Sample, sample, sample. Like the rest of you, I have too many bottles that I paid good money for that are just sitting there, taking up space, making my SO think I don’t “need” any more perfume (!) I have found that living with a sample for a while really narrows down my purchases. I might truly like a scent at first, but find it boring after a while, or annoying somehow. It’s a bit like dating – some are good for a night at the movies, while others inspire dreams of long-term commitment. I’ve found decants (of perfume, not men) useful as well – I might like something more than just a sample’s worth, but less than a full bottle. I also use E-Bay and E-Bay’s saved searches to alert me to hard-to find scents I might be searching for.
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
It is VERY like dating, LOL…excellent point.
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On March 3, 2009 cazaubon said:
Hehehe… my experience with men has been like my experience with houses – the first time you notice how pretty the paint is, the next time you check for termites. 🙂 Perfume works in a similar way – liking something at first sniff is not a good indicator of whether you’ll actually enjoy wearing it over the long run. I sample 3 times and put it on a wish list for at least a month before I decide to buy. That has helped a lot. Most lemmings die for lack of interest after a while, the real loves stick with you.
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On February 27, 2009 Ericgmd said:
I have my impluses…Like all of us on here. Today I would like to limit my “tip” to commercial scents, not the Montales or Frederic Malle…Just the “raunchy” bad boy scents of the 80’s – 90’s on which I’ve spent a fortune a few years ago.
I have taught myself lately to refrain from buying so-called rare and hard-to-find fragrances just because they reminded me of my younger years and my crazy teenage years. I obsessed over Ho Hang by Balenciaga just because I loved it in 1980 and ended up buying samples and large bottles on eBay that I have not even used because it did not appeal to me anymore.
Same experience with: Yatagan, Captain by Molyneux, Caron Pour un Homme, Givenchy Pour Homme, Ricci Club, Eau Sauvage, New West and many many more.
Just because a scent is no longer available at major department stores or reminds you of a younger you does not make it a “rare” scent!
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On February 27, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Aw, even Eau Sauvage?? I’m pouting now, LOL…
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On February 28, 2009 platinum15 said:
…and I’m also pouting over the Ho Hang!
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On March 1, 2009 Ericgmd said:
It was Ho Hang Club…I should have specified it. The one in the black opaque bottle you know 🙂
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On March 6, 2009 platinum15 said:
I know and love. You comment reminded me that I still had a few drops in a bottle waaaaay at the back of my other babies. Been wearing it for 3 days now!
Thanks
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On March 1, 2009 Ericgmd said:
It was Eau Sauvage Extreme…The one in the black opaque bottle. Geranium overkill you know 🙂
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Ah, and I haven’t even tried that one. Ok, will stop pouting.
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On March 1, 2009 Ericgmd said:
Totally different note: I ordered Roja Dove’s book “The Essence of Perfume” from Barnes and Noble today. I’ll probably have by the end of the week. What do you think?
Basenotes gave it a “mixed” review…
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Marcello reviewed it here:
http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/12/4/4007132.html
Typos in books make me nuts, & this one has plenty of them, beyond that, I simply haven’t found it as useful a reference as some other books like Perfume Legends. However, I think it’s worth owning — if nothing else, the pictures are fabulous.
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On February 27, 2009 kess said:
I’m exploring “artisan” houses like Sonoma Scent Studio, Ava Luxe and even Auric Blends: if I fall in love with something and have to purchase a bottle, it will not set me back $100-$300 like some of the niche scents would.
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On February 27, 2009 giveitomespicey said:
MUAers have introduced me to fragrances I would never have had exposure to and I find them to be very generous (so far so good). Now that my fragrance want list is climbing, expensive, and niche I look at my few purchases in terms of swapability.
I want my next full bottle purchase to be something I love and entice the MUAers who have the fragrances I want to swap. This is why I bought Chanel Bois Des Ilse-it has plenty at 200ml and works out to about $1.00/ml. Compare that to these fragrances that are $55/30ml, or $90/50ml, etc. I’ve gotten some great swaps and I have an awesome fragrance.
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On February 27, 2009 Haunani said:
I am doing this, too, Kess. SSS Velvet Rose and Ava Luxe Midnight Violet, just to name two, are as beautiful as many much more expensive fragrances!
I don’t have much to add to this discussion. I read a lot of reviews, make careful lists of things I want to sample, order or trade samples, and put the fragrances I love on a wish list. I then watch for opportunities to buy the bottles I want at a discount and/or as partials. I buy smaller sizes when at all possible. I don’t like decants, because the bottle is part of the pleasure for me. Sometimes I just treat myself to a full-priced bottle or two. I am new at this and admit to being even more self-indulgent than usual.
I’ve had good luck with buying partial bottles on Basenotes and some luck on E-Bay when I have time to go there. Gotta try the Wiki thing and the E-Bay tools you all are talking about. Thanks for those tips!
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Kess, that’s a sensible approach.
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On February 27, 2009 Daisy said:
ok all you wise advice giver-outers, this is a little off topic but I figured someone here would know what to do.
At Scentsplits: I want to find out if anyone is interested in splitting a bottle of perfume that I am ordering in the next couple of days (volume depending on if anyone wants to participate) so which section to post under—request a split or current split?? Any knowledge out there?
I think splitting bottles that you know are new and fresh is a such a cool thing. I think it’d be fun too. 🙂
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On February 28, 2009 joe805 said:
Daisy: I’d put it under “Current Splits” and just start off saying “Seeking anyone interested in going in on a split of X…. email me if you’re interested and ml quantity you’d be in for” There are a couple on there already that seem to be doing that: gauging interest and doing the split once they have the numbers.
I would start some splits if I had the time and patience to go through the decanting process, get all the supplies, pipettes, and whatnot.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
oops…I already put it in under request a split since I didn’t have the bottle in my hand yet….I was worried that someone would say “yeah, I want 10ml right now!” and I’d be apologizing up one side and down the other about how it could be weeks until they’d get it.
Ah well, if others are like me they’ll scour the site looking for those elusive 10ml of lovely juice…
But thanks Joe—next time I’ll know. I’m actually really excited about the idea of hosting a split and have read Robin’s previous blogs and tips, twice! I just don’t know if anyone will have confidence in me ’cause I’m new ….but you’ve got to jump in somewhere right? {splash!!} 🙂
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On March 1, 2009 AussieBec said:
Hi, what scent were you interested in doing a split for? I agree that someone has to give you a chance and I am sure that there are some out there that will. I only a few days ago got on wikisplits for the first time and ordered a full bottle and they were pretty cool about me being new. Fingers crossed that it all works out well.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
Hi Aussie, I’m pining for Parfums Divine L’ame Soeur. I’m going to buy a bottle soon but I’m trying to hold off long enough to see if anyone else wants some too (then I’ll order the larger bottle).
Being new is fine when you are buying because they’ll have your $$ before they send the perfume….but with splitting you’re giving up your $$ before you get the juice. But that’s why I’d recommend always using paypal, then you have recourse if someone doesn’t send a product you’ve paid for.
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
Joe–I decided that you were completely correct, so I went back into scentsplits and moved my post to the current splits page and deleted it from the requests. I’ve already ordered the “supplies” so if no one is interested this time, I’m sure there’s a next fragrance I’ll want —I love buying BIG bottles, but that sort of necessitates sharing at some point! 🙂
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On February 27, 2009 Mamabear said:
I fell HARD for Drama Nuui recently but am adhering to the ‘4-5 apps’ rule that a basic 1ml samp will allow. So far, so good – but even with that I doubt I need 50ml of it. So I’m doing what so many others are doing, trolling for a split-buddy or a partial bottle. I figure my current stash of samps and FBs are enough to keep me through my entire life!LOL – I can wait for Drama Nuui just a little bit longer.
I’m learning a whole new skill: Living Within My Means. Scary concept!:-)
xo
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
LOL — scares me!
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On February 28, 2009 honeybushchild said:
Samples how I love you! When I travel, you fit into tiny spaces! When you spill, it’s only a few cents worth. When I’m tired of your high-pitched gardenia sweetness, I have no remorse about throwing you in the back of the closet. But most of all, when I need to make an impulse buy, you bring me scented adventures for the price of a cup of coffee.
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
That’s true for me too: getting samples in the mail is as much fun as getting a new bottle.
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
OH yes! Samples is like being in the candy store! It’s like Xmas morning when that little soft package is sitting in my mailbox!! I love it too for the reasonable cost of just getting to try something I’d never otherwise have access too. No would think anything of not finishing some large soda or a cup of coffee. There’s not much difference to me in spending $3 for a sample that I can enjoy over and over again, and may ultimately blossom to love…And there are no calories.
Which brings me to my next point: last year I calculated that roughly I spent almost $2000 on chocolate. Yep. So this year, evertime I’m tempted to buy some great chocolate, I consider those funds for my now laughable “Lyric Savings Account”. I still buy chocolate, but not so much, and it’s better for my waistline!
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
That there is some dangerous talk! I love perfume, I love chocolate….I often nibble chocolate while reading about perfume! I get pretty crabby if I don’t get a bit of chocolate each day.
I like your “Lyric Savings Account” plan….soon you will be skinny AND good smelling! Can’t beat that!
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
I don’t know about skinny, lol, but ah, the Lyric. Pretty soon I’ll be creating a “matching funds” grant/gift appeal to my friends and family, lol……There are so many things I’ve began to question in the name of fragrance! Like those extra tubes of liptick, magazines at the checkout counter, extra glasses of wine….all those random little things can add up to a few samples or a FB pretty quick. And I still keep my eyes open for when the Green & Black chocolate is on sale…
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
why do you have to keep your eyes open?…..can’t you HEAR it calling your name???
I know what you mean…especially after reading Delfina’s giving up smoking for Lyric plan… find myself thinking about what little things I could give up each week and put those couple $$ aside in a ‘next perfume’ fund…
Oh, btw, I was reading only yesterday about some study where they concluded that when women wear “spicy floral perfume” they were perceived by others as being up to 12 lbs skinnier! well, I say pass the perfume with a side of chocolate please!
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
…and a side of confidence!
Women who wear spicier frags are normally more confident, assertive, etc. Skinny is a perception thing anyway – if you project that you kick ass and look good, then people will think you weigh less, just because you look good and are happy (and probably have good posture, which always makes people look thinner). What did Sofia Loren say: Sex appeal is fifty percent what you’ve got and fifty percent what people think you’ve got.
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On February 28, 2009 mals86 said:
I love Sofia.
She once said something about owing her curves to pasta. You have to admire a chick like that.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
Yup, Sophia’s got the right idea! And I’m built more like Sophia too and there’s no amount of dieting and self-denial that is ever going to change that. Sad thing is, nowadays the media would probably view her as too fat!!! I guess I’m just “vintage” style.
and….I still want that chocolate! (and the perfume)
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On March 1, 2009 AussieBec said:
oh, Green and Blacks, my favourite! I adore their milk chocolate. It really is a darker shade of milk chocolate as they say. Mayan Gold is pretty spesh too.
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On February 28, 2009 HDS1963 said:
I have a lot of FBs. But almost none of them did I buy at anything close to retail price. I also have countless samples, very few of which have ever converted to FB status.
I thought I was lousy at resisting impulse buys – then completely surprised myself a couple of days ago when i went out with the intent to buy, tried a lot of fragrances in my favourite places and bought…. nothing.
Most of my shopping is done on Ebay. There is definitely an art to spending there. I don’t mind buying used bottles, but often enough there will be one of my wish list that comes up that I buy at a reasonable price. If what I am looking for starts getting close to retail price I don’t buy – I am ridiculously disciplined in that department.
I am normally less than satisfied with endless samples, mainly because I find the glass vials don’t give me the same experience of the scent as a spray does. Yes, of course I know that a lot of samples come as sprays and that’s great, but you know, I rather like the satisfaction that comes with opening my cupboard and seeing a mass of bottles all silently pleading “wear me!”.
I have become less swift to sell to. The reason being, my tastes in a scent range change. Let me give you an example. Last year I bought Michael Kors for men at a knockdown price on Ebay. It was an impulse purchase. I received it, then decided I didn’t like it and sold it a few days later.
Now, here’s the thing. I have an excellent memory where fragrance is concerned and when browsing Other Men’s Fragrances on Ebay I saw another bottle nearing the end of its auction at a stupidly low price (like £10.00 for 100ml), I remembered what it smelled like and thought, aw what the heck and won it.
I now wear it often, totally love the scent and my current gf loves it too.
I’ve learned from that. Just because I don’t like an impulse purchase at first, doesn’t mean I won’t….
Mind you if anyone wants to go halves on a bottle of Rose 31 drop me a line on info@psiphotography.com…
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
I’m shocked at how many things sell on ebay for nearly, or sometimes, even more, than the retail price. Lots of people apparently don’t bother to comparison shop before they bid.
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On March 1, 2009 AussieBec said:
I so agree on shopping ebay. When I go into a store and see the retail price on a scent I freak out. Are they serious? I have had very few bad experiences on ebay and am definitely ahead value wise. BTW, Micheal, by Micheal Kors smells fab and is dirt cheap on ebay.
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On February 28, 2009 Bee said:
I fully agree with all the sample tips. Then: be picky: do I/you really need another woody-oriental? (or whatever your preferences are)… and my last tip: I’m allowing myself a bottle when I’ve lost 3 kgs..(maybe with the money saved on chocolate & co.?)
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
LOL — your “be picky” advice would pretty much halt all my future fragrance purchases in advance!
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On March 1, 2009 Bee said:
well actually I’m trying to convince myself… on my list I have feminité du bois, bois des Iles (if I can coax one more spray from the haughty SAs) and l’air de rien (I know, most people find that awful, but it work strangely well with my skin chemistry, and maybe it’s not really a woody-oriental anyway)
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On February 28, 2009 karin said:
Hi everyone! I have one of those miles with purchase credit cards. I charge EVERYTHING (and pay the bill off every month), so the miles add up fairly quickly. I then trade the miles in for gift cards. Currently, I can trade miles for cards with Amazon or Macy’s (among others). 15,000 miles = $50, 20,000 miles = $100. So, it’s a great way to get cash for buying perfume! Of course, it’s not hundreds of dollars/year or anything, but it’s better than nothing, and it’s FREE!
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Hey, great idea!
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On February 28, 2009 Haunani said:
I do the same thing. If you really do put EVERYTHING on the card, those miles add up fast! However, I’ve never traded the miles for gift cards – that’s interesting, Karin!
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On March 1, 2009 karin said:
Hi Haunani! I have a CapitalOne card (if that helps). Don’t know what other cards offer. I’d be curious…
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
Everyone above has so many great tips and pointers. I think the only thing I could add is to try and avoid redundancies. I realize when I go over either my FBs, decants, and wish list, that I have a number of frags that are so similar to each other. I was really excited the other day to have my Caron Nocturnes decant come along, and then after wearing it a little, I realized it is close sisters to Baghari (a litle darker) and Chanel No 5 eau Premier (just more sophisticated). I suppose what I mean is that if you do enough research or just resniff a lot of samples & bottles you may already have, you will realize that hey, maybe a much cheaper botlle of Nocturnes could replace the desire for eau Premier for a while….etc.
I did recently fall pretty hard for the Gianfranco Ferre, which *is* very close to Iris Poudre. No surprise why with the same creater, but the point is, Ferre is much more affordable to me, and I can live with my small sample of IP….
A little FYI about waiting a bit after a launch. B from Boucheron is now on Fragrancenet for about half what it costs normal retail. It’s not such a bad frag, I just though way overpriced for what it smelled like. Voila….
And, again, like others above. Don’t ignore the discounters like TJMaxx, etc. I just picked up a very inexpensive bottle of Fendi at Kmart. I figured it was a good time to get it since it’s now discontinued…..But there were bottles of Shalimar, Anais Anais, etc there also.
The only reason that I’m tempted for a FB now in recession times is if I think it is in jeapordy of being discontinued or is very hard to find. I also have a quarterly budget. I completely blew it out recently buying a FB of Chamade parfum, and had to deal with that decision, but in that case it was worth it!!!
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Ack, that would wipe out my collection of very similar vetiver scents!
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
Yes, I know – the tactic would wipe out almost all the aldehydes, roses, and orientals in my collection, but then again, if we are trying to save money…… sniff sniff…. I’m putting one major rose and one aldehyde on hold until later this year or next year and just making due with the ones I have. I decided to give up my quest for a very beautiful discontinued frag that would cost me my rent… It is a good thing though – it gives me the chance to really enjoy my smell-alikes before I’m on to the next on my must buy list.
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
you are so brave….sniff sniff…that darn rent!
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On February 28, 2009 Blimunda said:
I’m a brand new perfumista, and this has all been very good advice for me. A great poll Robin, thanks! I definitely always buy samples first, or visit department stores a few times before deciding. I made two rash purchases and sold them on ebay after realising i would never wear them.
I own three full bottles at the moment, and about 8 small sample vials (two were free from the Ormonde Jayne store in London – they are very kind and generous!) The three FBs I own are autumn/winter scents, and I would like one or two spring/summery ones for the coming months. Also, to cover all bases, I would like to find a sensual evening scent that would work all year round. I’m thinking that Ta’if will fill that slot!! I reckon that, once I have scents that suit each season, i will stick to sampling until the full bottles run out. Because I’m so new at this, and didn’t own much perfume before, I do feel like my ‘scent wardrobe’ needs some initial investment, then I can rest-up for a while and just enjoy sampling. Ya know?!?!?
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On February 28, 2009 AnnS said:
Blimunda – It seems like you have a good initial strategy for building your wardrobe. If you go to Basenotes and start looking at the hardcore reviewers – some who have over 2000 reviews, etc it can seem like the whole perfumista world has tons of fragrances. If you actually click into their “wardrobe” areas, you will see that many of the hard core reviewers own comparitively little FBs as opposed to having many “trieds” as samples. It is a good lesson to learn that you should only buy what you really love, then after a few years you will have a wardrobe you are really proud of. And many many samples, some of which you won’t even like at all! But that is how it goes to learn. One of my biggest frustrations is not necessarily the ability to buy a FB of something, but that I have a hard time getting access to sniff many of the wonderful frags out there. I don’t have good access to any major fragrance counters or niche stores. I want to smell more than I want to own. So I am always very happy to buy samples or get them for free when I can. Doing all the research online is one of the most fun parts of the whole deal.
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On March 1, 2009 Blimunda said:
Hi AnnS
Thanks for the response, and the great tip about Basenotes. I will definitely have a look at the wardrobe areas, it might give me some ideas. I like the idea of having a scent wardrobe, with something to suit each occasion. Interesting to read what others have in their closets………..
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On March 1, 2009 AnnS said:
Blimunda – after reading basenotes for about a year now, I’ve actually identified two reviewers who are almost dead on for my tastes. It is very helpful. Basenotes is a great place to do research. Good luck!
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Blimunda, you’re already smarter than I am — I’m still staring at my early mistakes, for the most part, although I did give a few away. Glad you liked the poll!
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On February 28, 2009 lovethescents said:
HELP! I’m in a mini crisis here. I’m tormented over whether or not to buy an UNSNIFFED bottle of Givenchy Eau de Givenchy. I never buy full bottles of anything but the notes sound wonderful, the reviews are great, and the price is quite good. Oh that stupid recession! I’m actually in a cold sweat here! This is ridiculous..
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
How much is it? Every so often I’ll give myself permission to blow 20-25 on something unsniffed, because why not? But much more than that, I’d say don’t do it (not that I never disregard that rule either).
I didn’t have time to do a full scale search, but did find it at parfum1 for $34.50, plus they’ve got a 10% off coupon at the moment. That’s the new version, which I’ve never smelled.
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On February 28, 2009 lovethescents said:
Oh thanks for writing back! It’s 53 shipping included, but that’s in Canadian dollars. That would be about 41 USD. The perfume1 site’s shipping to Canada is sooooooo expensive….so no go then, right? Still sweating…
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On February 28, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
Gosh, really you’ve got to make your own rule. I can live with a $20 loss so that’s around my limit. That said, when there’s a new Hermes scent I’ve got to have, I’ve been known to break my own rule and spend over $150 unsniffed. But then if I hate it, I’m crushed. Wasting 20 I can live with. So — you’ve got to decide how much you can live with!
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On February 28, 2009 lovethescents said:
I know, I know I being childish…like I’m doing something I shouldn’t and trying to justify it by asking permission!
Thanks for the help 🙂
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
theperfumespot.com has a 100ml bottle for 29.99 but I didn’t check shipping
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
also try thefragranceshop.com 100ml for 26.95 USD
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On February 28, 2009 Daisy said:
and then I looked at shipping….ouch! you need friends south of the border!
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On February 28, 2009 lovethescents said:
Oh, Daisy! Tell me about it! You have no idea how lucky you having affordable access like that!
thanks again for all your efforts
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On February 28, 2009 lovethescents said:
thank you so very much for looking at that. Unfortunately, like many others, they don’t ship to Canada 🙁
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On March 1, 2009 AussieBec said:
I think we need to start our own mini rebellion of non U,S perfumistas. I hate that they give free shipping to the U.S but bad luck if you are one of the billions of people who dont’ live in the U.S. I reckon they should give a discount of whatever the U.S shipping is to international buyers and we pay the difference. Anyway, I feel your pain.
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On March 2, 2009 lovethescents said:
AussieBec, we do need to start a rebellion. Just say the word and the perfume international community is behind you, I’m sure!
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On March 1, 2009 Daisy said:
LTS, it’s evening now….what did you do? Did you get the Eau de Givenchy? I know it’s a tough call if you like their other products hopefully this will be good too.
Well, if you did buy it, I hope you love it. 🙂
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On March 2, 2009 lovethescents said:
Hi Daisy, no I didn’t buy it. I thought if I’m stalling this much, then it’s a sign that I should wait longer. I love Le De and have been aching to try the other les Mythiques, particularly III, Eau de, and l’Interdit.
Thanks for checking in!
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On March 2, 2009 Daisy said:
Hi LTS, I know it’s really hard to let a ‘good deal’ slip through your fingers but you never know—an even better deal may turn up later…and now you’ll have time to pick up a sample perhaps. I’ve had a couple of instances of buyer’s remorse with unsniffed purchases…twice I was able to send the fragrances back (thank goodness for a store with lenient returns!) but the most recent I cannot. Lucky for me it was only $25 , and while it doesn’t smell good on me; it smells good sprayed in the ‘air’ so I’m planning to use it for room freshener and stuff like that. For $40+ I’d be a lot more upset.
It sounds like you already have your eye (and nose) on other treasure.
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On March 2, 2009 lovethescents said:
Oh Daisy, I always have my face (eye and nose) on something! I’m really not very loyal to just a couple of scents. But then, how many of us perfume-lovers are?
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On March 2, 2009 Daisy said:
yes, I’m afraid my eye is easily caught by something new and interesting….I keep my old loves handy but I’m always ready to try out a new one…….
……does this make me some sort of perfume-floozy? (wait, checking for shame…..nope, none!)
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On March 1, 2009 A~Little~Bit~Heiress said:
Could someone please explain how correct swapping works? I’m in the UK. Also, where would be a good, trusted place to obtain decants?
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On March 1, 2009 NowSmellThis said:
There is a swapping article here:
http://nowsmellthis.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/13/3514664.html
I only know 3 places to buy decants: the Scent Splits wiki, The Perfumed Court, and The Posh Peasant
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On March 1, 2009 A~Little~Bit~Heiress said:
Thank you so much, Robin!