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The damage so far: first quarter 2009 buying poll

Posted by Robin on 3 April 2009 297 Comments

Yep, it's that time again. Donatella wants to know what you bought in the first quarter of 2009: (Update: the poll is now closed, thanks to everyone who voted!)

Poll results

I didn't do so bad this quarter. I did buy 3 bottles, but they were reasonably priced (for once), and I don't regret any of them (for once). I picked up a bottle of Guerlain Mandarine Basilic for $30, a small bottle of Kenzo Air for $21, and a 15 ml bottle of Hermès Vanille Galante for $39. All of those prices include shipping. Grand total: $90. I can live with that, and it's a far sight better than I did last year.

And you?

Note: image of Donatella Versace's perfume collection (originally from Allure magazine) courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.

Filed Under: poll
Tagged With: damage

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297 Comments

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  1. Fuddy Duddy 101 says:
    3 April 2009 at 9:53 am

    well i did include samples and it was 22! Yikes!

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  2. Fuddy Duddy 101 says:
    3 April 2009 at 9:55 am

    for just straight purchases it was 7 – so that’s not too bad is it?

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:05 am

      Samples don’t count…just bottles!

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  3. Nina says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:12 am

    I’ve ‘only’ bought 7, and two of those were Matthew Williamson Essence things marked down to £8.50 in a sale. I feel almost virtuous.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:21 am

      Hey, lucky you — which MW did you get? I’ve only tried the Incense, thought it was nice. Do you know, is the whole MW line discontinued?

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      • Nina says:
        3 April 2009 at 11:19 am

        I got Incense and Warm Sand. I wouldn’t have paid full price for either (not that they were terribly expensive to begin with), but for that price they’re a nice occasional change for summer. I have no idea if they’re discontinued – certainly were in House of Fraser!

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 12:07 pm

          Think I read somewhere that they were…but who knows, I have a terrible memory!

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  4. boojum says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:14 am

    Well, if you’re going to count 15 ml, I guess I have to say 4. I spent $88 (inc. shipping) on a bottle of GGG&G, and a bit less, collectively, for 25 ml of Mandragore, 50 ml of AG Heure Exquise, and 15 ml of Sur le Nil. I’d have been happier yet if the GGG&G came in 50 ml (and priced accordingly), but we can’t have everything. :)

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:22 am

      Not bad at all!

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      • Nina says:
        4 April 2009 at 11:28 am

        I forgot to mention the other five!

        PG Felanilla
        Hilde Soliani Tulipano
        Armani Onde Mystere (bad choice)
        Vanille Galante (4 x 15ml)
        Jill Sander Style

        Oh, and 15ml of B Never Too Busy’s Keep It Fluffy – hardly counts, does it?

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        • Robin says:
          4 April 2009 at 12:36 pm

          Hardly at all ;-)

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  5. Veronika says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:21 am

    1. Eau des Merveilles in the limited edition bottle tete dans les etoiles (100ml)
    2. Kelly Caleche EdT 100ml
    3. Prada Infusion d’Iris 30ml
    4. Eau Parfumee au The Verte EdC 40ml
    5. Un Jardin Sur le Nil 15 ml (it’s my favourite sport cologne now:) Thank you, Robin, for all of your wonderful reviews. I coldn’t possibly found these beauties without them:)

    I also don’t regret anything I bought. I love them all!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:22 am

      Oh, that Merveilles bottle is so pretty, congrats!

      And thanks for the kind words :-)

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      • Veronika says:
        3 April 2009 at 10:33 am

        I decided to collect Lim.Edit. EdM bottles:)

        Buy the way I also bought Chanel’s Pour Monsieur for my boyfriend but wear it myself from time to time:) Does it count?

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        • mals86 says:
          3 April 2009 at 10:39 am

          I firmly believe that borrowed bottles don’t count. But that may be because I’ve been borrowing my husband’s and I don’t want to count it! (Stetson Rich Suede and Dior Eau Sauvage… occasionally, anyway. I leave the Acqua di Gio alone.)

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          • wildheaven says:
            3 April 2009 at 11:12 am

            That’s cheating, but when you don’t touch Acqua di Gio, all is forgiven…

          • Joe says:
            3 April 2009 at 11:55 am

            Hey, AdG is very “borrowable”… and you don’t have the stigma of saying you own the bottle (like I do, but I’m not ashamed). ;-)

        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 10:59 am

          Nope, doesn’t count!

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        • Daisy says:
          3 April 2009 at 12:01 pm

          Soooo….if I push ALL my bottles over to the CEO’s side of the vanity….then I can ‘borrow’ them all I want and recalculate my transgressions? Cool !! In that case: I’ve been very very good…but he’s been VERY VERY BAD!

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          • mals86 says:
            3 April 2009 at 2:50 pm

            You can only borrow them if they’re primarily his.

            And I don’t believe he’s wearing your Drole de Rose, either!

          • Daisy says:
            3 April 2009 at 5:00 pm

            Hey! I’m working an angle here!
            Ok, maybe not the Drole de Rose…or the Lipstick Rose….or any of the others….oh shoot, it seemed like a good plan….

  6. Zazie says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:22 am

    I am so busy trying new samples that I made just one FB purchase in 2009 (there are several FB I put my eyes on, but I think I am in a “perfection” quest –the perfect wood, the perfect leather, rose, violet, white flower…- I’m always hoping I will find something even better, or equal to my favourites but cheaper).

    And it is funny to remark that the only FB I bought was something I regret deeply: a stupid R&G lavender scent that I purchased in a completely irrational whim: in the shop I thought it was cheap and relaxing (whereas boring and not that cheap). :((
    Oh, and I also bought the OJ sample set.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:23 am

      I hate it when I do that! Oh well, the OJ sample set makes up for it, I hope.

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      • Zazie says:
        3 April 2009 at 10:32 am

        well, I have a kind of problem with the OJ signature spicy accord (pink pepper :((( + juniper berry).
        Surprisingly, I liked Frangipani and Champaca best (both quite a lot, actually, especially Frangipani – I thought Ormonde and Tolu had my name on them, turned out not).
        I have mixed feelings for taif.
        But the set arrived 10 days ago, so I might change my mind.
        Anyway, I’m happy to have sampled the line: it is always fun to discover a sample set in your mailbox!!!

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 10:59 am

          LOL…well then you’ve saved yourself lots of $$$, just as well!

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    • Zazie says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:23 am

      Oh,I want to forget that bottle.

      I really should have bought any of my close-to perfect findings:
      – TF oud wood
      – PdE Cuir ottoman or SL Cuir mauresque
      – EdI paestum rose, SL bois de violette, OJ frangipane…

      Or the nice AT incense extreme…

      Well my “to buy” list is really long: but I’m having so much fun “exploring” and being unfaithful to my bottles ;) ! And my “to try” list is even longer!!!

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    • boojum says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:33 am

      Zazie, I could have written your post last fall and winter…and now that I have a few wearable bottles, will probably get back to the samples. If it makes you feel better, my 2 FBs were too cringeworthy to even post, and I knew better, but did it anyway.

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    • Joe says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:56 am

      What’s R & G?

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      • Robin says:
        3 April 2009 at 12:07 pm

        I assumed Roger & Gallet.

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  7. pyramus says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:24 am

    Nothing. Yet. It’s not admirable self-control: I’m going to New York in a month and I’m saving my fragrance purchases for that. Canadians going to the US can bring back $400 duty-free, and the chances that I’ll spend less than that are pretty much nil: between Hermes (I must own Ambre Narguilè), Bond No. 9, Aedes, and possibly Macy’s and Bloomingdales, well, god help me.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 10:32 am

      Lucky you! You must fit in Henri Bendel & Bergdorfs too, & Barney’s! And Takashimaya…

      Been too long since I did a NYC trip, can you tell?

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      • Carlos BFL 319 says:
        4 April 2009 at 10:14 pm

        and don’t forget Le Labo, Fresh, and Lafco.

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        • Robin says:
          5 April 2009 at 7:11 am

          I have never been to any of those — it’s been so long since I’ve been to NY that Le Lebo wasn’t even open yet then.

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    • fleurdelys says:
      6 April 2009 at 8:21 am

      And don’t forget Saks Fifth Avenue! Have fun.

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  8. Ayala says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:47 am

    I said one, but really I got nothing (you should have put that as an option, Robin!).
    Unbelievable.

    Which reminds me: I’m overdue getting myself a perfume birthday present…
    Or should I just skip it this year?

    I came this close to getting a few things – but was taking my time with everything. I was so focused on re-decorating my space and organazing it that the notion of having another object with no designated space overwhelmed me the moment I was about to reach for my pocket.

    And for the record – the perfumes I *almost* bought were:
    Sycomore
    Velvet Gardenia
    Vanille Galante (small sizes)
    Champaca Absolute

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:00 am

      Ack, it was supposed to be an option…Freudian slip! Have tried to put it back, we’ll see if it shows up eventually.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:02 am

      There…it’s added. Of course, changing midstream means the whole poll is statistically irrelevant, LOL…

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  9. rickbr says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:54 am

    My damage:
    10 samples of cruel intentions
    One 15ml of Vetiver Tonka
    Terre d’Hermes (it was a swap, but i count it as i had to paid the shiping, don’t? rs)
    Parfum des Merveilles
    Encens Flamboyant
    Borneo 1834
    Dior Cologne Blanche
    Dior Eau Noire
    Chypre Rouge
    Un Bois Vanille
    Dior Bois d’Argent
    Baume du Doge
    Myrrhe Ardente
    Miller Harris Feuilles de Tobac
    Versace Jeans Couture
    Sycomore decant

    Oh, i think i’m a addicted one rs

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:03 am

      Oh my! Nice list though, you’ve got several I’d like to have.

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      • rickbr says:
        3 April 2009 at 3:23 pm

        It’s all ebay’s fault :P

        Well, I think we have similar tastes, don’t?

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        • rickbr says:
          3 April 2009 at 3:44 pm

          Does fragrances that hasn’t been delivered yet count? I’m waiting Un Bois Sepia and one from avon that I loved a long time ago, perceive.

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    • Mediterana says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:40 pm

      OMG! You got all three Diors… love the Bois d’Argent.
      Encens Flamboyant is lovely… that’s what I spray on the boyfriend once in a while :-)

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  10. eshellmoyer says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:03 am

    I’ve purchased zero bottles, but I received a bottle of Mat Yellow as free at my job.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:04 am

      Congrats on not spending, and congrats on getting a perfume anyway — hope you like it?

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  11. AlbertCAN says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:05 am

    Bizarre–I think this is the first time in 2 years that I didn’t buy a bottle in any quarter, although I came really, really close yesterday. Yesterday I decided to give my local Chanel boutique a second chance (after the whole Sycomore hoopla last summer). Well, I revisited the boutique because I saw Alessandro Nivola’s wardrobe in “Coco avant Chanel” and I wanted a white camellia boutonnière for formal events…and the store manager abruptly said, “We only sell those to ladies but get it if you are comfortable enough.” Grr…why should I buy a $540 boutonnière from a lady who diss a customer like that? So I decided to not buy anything from Chanel–including the Cuir de Russie that I liked even though the fragrance specialist was nice to me. (Sigh.)

    So in short: not bottle.

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    • AlbertCAN says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:06 am

      Oops…that’s “not one bottle”.

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    • AnnS says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:11 am

      I wouldn’t have bought anything from them either! I suppose by those standards even Mr. Lagerfeld himself wouldn’t be able to wear the gardenia!! It seems like these days they’d be happy to sell to anyone who can buy.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:20 am

      Wow. You need to find a new Chanel boutique. I don’t find them very nice in the main one in NYC though, and they’re not particularly nice in the Chevy Chase Saks either. But somewhere, over the rainbow, there must be a nice one.

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      • Suzanne941 says:
        4 April 2009 at 12:16 pm

        Isn’t that silly…although they are pretty nice at Chanel in Tampa (more small-town). That mgr’s in the wrong line of work. A million yrs ago in high school I worked in a dept store and our mgr used to say of our customers: All we care about is the color of their money! Crude, but effective.
        So far this yr for me: 15 ml Philosykos and 1 FB L’Artisan Poivre Piquant from scentsplits.wiki.

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        • Robin says:
          4 April 2009 at 12:37 pm

          Hey, you were very well-behaved!

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    • sacre bleu says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:23 am

      AlbertCAN – aarrgghh – why are people unkind? Don’t they know that their negative energy reverberates indefinitely, not only hurting others but hurting themselves even more?!?!
      Wear any damn thing you like!

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      • AlbertCAN says:
        3 April 2009 at 11:39 am

        Thanks for the kind thoughts everyone. At the end of the day they didn’t get sales and lost the support of a long-term patron, so I feel bad for the fragrance specialist–she was really kind and professional but the manager’s comments just completely killed the shopping experience for me: was my money not good enough? Hmm.

        And yes, I do pride myself in having excellent taste for a gent, so I’ll continue wearing whatever I choose to wear!

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  12. mals86 says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:07 am

    I hereby post my newbie perfumista booty for 1st qtr 2009:

    Diorissimo 100 ml (tester)
    Parfum Sacre 100 ml
    Guerlain Terracotta Voile d’ete 100 ml
    Kenzo Parfum d’Ete 1993 version 100 ml (tester)
    Shalimar Light 75 ml
    Paris Pont des Amours 125 ml (tester)
    SSS Velvet Rose 30 ml (unsniffed and regretted! a waste of $38)
    Ivoire de Balmain 50 ml (tester, regretted, a waste of $15)
    Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia 30 ml
    AG Petite Cherie 25 ml
    Balenciaga Rumba, 30 ml partially used ($8! whatta deal!)
    Organza Indecence 15 ml
    Jardin sur le Nil 15 ml
    Michael Kors 15 ml (another regretted, a waste of $16)

    Bank account damage: $346. And I don’t even wanna talk about the d*%&#d samples and minis. And those regretted purchases… I wasted about 20% of my perfume dollar there. Won’t do THAT again, now that I know better. (That post on how to budget was very helpful!)

    However, I started this perfume interest in October of ’08. Researched for two months; started buying samples in January. And what I had in my perfume wardrobe when I started was this, all of it cheap and ditzy: a nearly-empty bottle of Victoria’s Secret Pink, a sadly-depleted bottle of The Healing Garden In Bloom, and a mini of Sand and Sable. So I definitely had some catching up to do, and I’m slowing down now. (Whew.)

    Except I just spent $22 on 2 small bottles: 70’s era Emeraude and EL Private Collection parfum. Bad me. I need an eBay intervention.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:21 am

      Whew! That’s about the sort of thing I did my first year. Except looks like you’re a better shopper than I am — you got some good deals.

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      • mals86 says:
        3 April 2009 at 11:44 am

        Curses!!!! It just occurred to me that I forgot to include one: a 98% full 30-ml bottle of Dolce Vita, $31. Good Lord. That’s ten bottles.

        The sad corollary is that I have four more bottles on my want list. They’ll have to wait.

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        • mals86 says:
          3 April 2009 at 11:45 am

          I mean 15 bottles. Now I’m so addled I can’t count.

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          • Robin says:
            3 April 2009 at 11:50 am

            Don’t worry, you’ll probably have an easier time slowing down next year…

          • rickbr says:
            3 April 2009 at 3:33 pm

            Robin, tell us your secret not to buy so many great fragrances. It looks like when you start to know better, you start to see that are a lot of fragrances that you’ d like to have, specially, in my case, because you don’t know if they’ll continue to exist in a short period of time. There’re fragrances that i rarely use it, but i don’t give them away afraid of if i regret i can pay a lot to get another one.

          • Robin says:
            3 April 2009 at 8:51 pm

            My secret is just that eventually the size of my collection was such that it became clear I’d never use it all during my lifetime. I don’t need more than 10 ml of ANYTHING, and there are many fragrances I love that truly, 2 samples will last me another 5 years because how often can you wear anything when you have so many bottles? Also helps that I spend most of my time “testing” and not “wearing”, if you know what I mean.

    • Bethy says:
      4 April 2009 at 10:28 am

      I was feeling pretty virtuous too because I researched and tested for three months before buying any FBs. There’s this great department store just down the street from my work and every lunch hour I would spray on 2 or 3 scents.
      After a while all I heard at work was “Haven’t you finished yet?”
      But I am pleased with 4 of my 5 purchases so I think it was useful. :)

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      • Robin says:
        4 April 2009 at 12:38 pm

        Good for you!

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  13. AnnS says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:08 am

    Of course I picked up more than I thought I would. I tried to only buy things that were on my list though, and one of the bottles is actually “payment” for doing someone’s taxes. I will work for perfume! Caron Montaigne, Badgley Mischka Fleurs de Nuit, Ralph Lauren Safari, Sonoma Scent Studio Lieu de Reves, Fendi (only because it is discontinued), Ferre (2005), Lancome Climat & Sikkim (the cute little bottles), iPdF Miele Rosa, YSL Cinema, and Cartier So Pretty. And gifts – SJP Covet and SSS Voile de Violette.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:22 am

      Hey, I would do someones taxes for perfume! Except for that I can barely do my own, LOL…

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      • Daisy says:
        3 April 2009 at 12:09 pm

        You mean: you would be willing to do their taxes, but they wouldn’t want you to?? lol

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 6:24 pm

          Exactly.

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      • boojum says:
        3 April 2009 at 7:11 pm

        Well, no one wants me to do their taxes, but I do some freelance editorial work, and that money DOES go to my perfume account. ;) My salary is family money, but when it comes to doing odd jobs, I think I’m entitled to a little play money. It doesn’t come to much, at that.

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  14. Birdietree says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:16 am

    Am still a newbie at this but still managed to pick up a few bottles plus loads of samples.
    My prize purchase was definitely my bottle of Diorella which I absolutely love. Am also trying to pass off a couple of bottles as presents for my other half (only fair as he’s paying for them :(() And a bottle of Borsari Violette di Parma for my 2 year old who likes sniffing with mummy, so young and already corrupted!
    Still spent loads more than I would have done if I hadn’t discovered the wonderful world of perfume! And am looking forward to spending much more in the next quarter…

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    • boojum says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:37 am

      My 4 yr old is my partner in crime, and a reliable second opinion, I’ll add. Still…her taste is more expensive than mine, so she’s likely to get me in trouble. If my husband complains, I’ll simply blame it on his mother, from whom the 4 yr old inherited her nose. ;) And she’s such a good sport, she’ll take the blame willingly, as she does for my daughter’s spirited behavior.

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      • Birdietree says:
        3 April 2009 at 1:11 pm

        What an excellent mother in law you have. Wish mine was like that, she’d be horrified!

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        • boojum says:
          3 April 2009 at 2:08 pm

          I really did get lucky there. :) Of course, she also lives on another continent, so our opportunities to clash are quite minimal.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:50 am

      Diorella is great stuff, good choices :-)

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  15. Filomena says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:16 am

    I’ve done too much damage during the first quarter of 2009, perhaps more than I’ll do the rest of the year.
    I’ve bought:
    Ormonde Jayne Woman, Frangiapani, Ta’if and Tolu
    Givenchy L’Interdit 2007 version
    Andy Tauer Reverie au jardin
    Different Company un parfum des Sens e Bois
    Chanel #22 and Cuir de Russie

    Yikes, that’s 9 bottles–all of which are pricey (except for the L’Interdit). I won’t be buying any more FB’s probably until Fall.

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    • mals86 says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:39 am

      Beautiful stuff, though.

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      • Filomena says:
        3 April 2009 at 1:52 pm

        You have quite a list yourself, despite the ones that were a “waste”.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:51 am

      What a nice set of perfumes though! Jealous of your OJs.

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      • Filomena says:
        3 April 2009 at 1:51 pm

        Yes I am enjoying all of them, although I am waiting for the weather to become more Spring-like to start using the Frangiapani, although I’ve sampled it quite a bit.

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  16. pigoletto says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:22 am

    I only bought 3 so far, and since I got bored with the first 2 and sold them to pay for the majority of the 3rd bottle, that’s not bad at all. The ones I bought and sold were Miss Dior Cherie EDT and Sensuous (both 100ml) and the one I bought with the proceeds was Pulp (again, a 100 ml bottle). Trying to be very sensible and just sell stuff that doesn’t get worn often to fund new bottles.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:51 am

      Oooh, jealous of your Pulp!

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  17. Fuddy Duddy 101 says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:30 am

    Oh I didn’t know I was supposed to list the ones I succumbed to…

    1) AG Eau d’Hadrien (I feel pretty good about this because I only bought the small bottle and didn’t buy the big gorgeous bottle like I did for Songes!)
    2) Chanel 31 Rue Cambon – that was painful but worth every penny!
    3) Dior Eau Savage for DH – I hid the Drakkar Noir ;)
    4) EL PC Tuberose Gardenia – my 1st purch of 2009!
    5) Eau de Givenchy
    6) Guerlain AA Mandarine-Basillic
    7) Guerlain Insolence EDP

    Sigh there are so many more I want!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:08 pm

      Nice list! Hope he likes the Eau Sauvage.

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  18. SmokeyToes says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:40 am

    I did really well this quarter, my goal was to spend half of what I did Q1 of 2008. All told, I purchased Six bottles totaling $205. AV, Fendi, Vol de Nuit, Mitsuoko, Essence, and NARS for her hair mist.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:08 pm

      Congrats on meeting your goal!

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      • SmokeyToes says:
        3 April 2009 at 11:38 pm

        Thanks! Hoping I can maintain this through Q2.

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    • 734elizabeths says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:20 pm

      Vol de Nuit, my all-time favorite! I would count that outside the budget, since it’s an essential in my book. :)

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  19. AlbertCAN says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:52 am

    Oh yeah, Robin: my grand total comes to zero because I only got Green Irish Tweed as a present to an acquaintenance (I know, me and my habit of giving people presents) so from my understanding that won’t count. And I did get a ton of samples from The Perfume Shoppe, but that wouldn’t count either.

    BTW I second the motion of listing 0 bottle as an option, though I suspect it won’t be used that often for some :-)

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:09 pm

      I added it! It’s usually in these polls, but somehow I left it out this morning.

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  20. Joe says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:52 am

    Ay, Dios! I voted 5-9, but I’m never sure how to add these things up. I included full bottles only, but some are only 30ml and I tallied one of those Malle 10ml atomizers, which is really like a decant. But there were also LOTS of 5-10ml decants too, which is my new thing — get to sample much more product that way.

    I think my total outlay this quarter was at least $550 all told. I said I was ratcheting back in 2009, right? Oops.

    Bottles:
    Malle Epices Noir (used half 100ml)
    Malle Dans tes Bras (2 x 10ml)
    L’Artisan Vanilia (used 1/3 100ml)
    CdG H&M (30ml)
    Vanille Galante (15ml)
    Dzing (100ml)
    Malle Musc Ravageur (10ml)

    Decants & Minis:
    Encre Noire, Feminité du Bois extrait, Drama Nuui, C&S Dark Rose, Bois 1920 Vento di Fiori, Paestum Rose, Calyx, M Micallef Gaiac, Luctor & Emergo, Fleur de Sel, Jicky EDT.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:10 pm

      I always count decants as 1/2 a bottle.

      Did not pull out the calculator, but that sure looks like more than $550 — you must have gotten some good deals!

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      • Joe says:
        3 April 2009 at 12:14 pm

        Great deals. You know me and ebay ;-). Dzing $89, Epices Noir $100, Vanilia $38, Musc Rav $30. Only things I paid full retail for were Vanille Galante & Dans tes Bras. Almost all decants are 5ml (10ml of Paestum & Drama Nuui).

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        • mals86 says:
          3 April 2009 at 2:57 pm

          Joe, that’s a great haul! Two of my bottles were used ones, and they were super deals… you inspired me to look for quality used stuff on the bay. (Thanks for the tip!)

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  21. flittersniffer says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:54 am

    Yikes – I just counted up and it came to 10! But the total damage was £130 or £13 per bottle, which is extremely reasonable, you will agree. (This excludes swaps, purse size purchases and samples):

    J Lopez Deseo, Cuir de Lancome, Bvlgari Black, Floris White Rose
    i Coloniali Viento Blanco, Valentino V Absolu, Lidl Suddenly D’Or, DKNY Cashmere Mist, Calvin Klein Truth, Kenzo Eau de Fleur de Magnolia

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:11 pm

      Very reasonable!

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  22. Delfina says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:56 am

    8 bottles, plus today I bought Manoumalia, but technically we already are in the second quarter, so I didn’t count it.
    1) Montale Red aoud (but the 20ml minibottle for 20 euros, so a total bargain and given its nuclear power, I will be able to leave at least half of it to my beloved nephews)
    2) Amouage Gold 100ml (but it was a total bargain due to the new packaging, I paid it 90 euros)
    3) Malle Une fleur de cassie, the big bottle: not technically a bargain but I need to spray that liberally or I won’t be able to smell it. I adore it nonetheless.
    4) LesNez The unicorn spell
    5) Donna Karan Gold 100 ml: but it was an auction on Ebay and I paid it about 20 euros shipping included. A wonderful lily and I have to thank you for that.
    6) Parfumerie Générale Aomassai, little bottle: at a good price thanks to the exchange rate british pound/euro.
    7) Bond 9 Broadway nite, big bottle: but at half the price for a closedown sale (ok, now I’m feeling like a vulture)
    8) Donna Karan Black Cashmere: I found a big bottle of the old one and I couldn’t resist hoarding. I just owned a 30ml bottle and I haven’t had the chance to smell the new one here in Italy.
    Many bargains, but overall I’ve been very bad. I thought I’d do much better in my second year…

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    • Delfina says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:57 am

      Er… what’s the emoticon before Donna Karan? It should be a number 8….

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      • pinkfizzy says:
        3 April 2009 at 1:41 pm

        I think that when you type an 8 and then a ) it automatically turns into a sunglasses smiley if you have that text option turned on your profile.

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 6:24 pm

          Thanks, I didn’t know that!

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        • boojum says:
          3 April 2009 at 7:13 pm

          Any idea how to turn it off? I hate the graphic emoticons…which probably gives away my age.

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          • Robin says:
            3 April 2009 at 8:52 pm

            So far as I know, you can’t turn it off, sorry!

    • Joe says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:10 pm

      Delfina: I have to laugh — I have that 20ml of Red Aoud also and you’re right about the nuclear power. That little can will last for twenty years or more. Also, I’m expecting a sample of Une Fleur de Cassie soon — you say you spray liberally? Everything I’ve heard about it makes it sound as if that’s nuclear powered as well… do you get a reaction from those around you when you’re liberal with it?

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      • Delfina says:
        3 April 2009 at 3:54 pm

        Hi Joe,
        I expected some nuclear power too for Cassie, but no, I definitely have to spray liberally (I mean 6/7 sprays) if I want to smell it and to have a minimum sillage. My husband too has worn it a couple of times and a perfumista friend has tried it too. Result: more or less the same on the three of us and staying power not so great: 2/3 hours and then it’s hardly detectable. On many other fragrances this would have bothered me a lot, probably I wouldn’t have purchased. But this one is so unique and addictive that I think I’ll buy another one as soon as it’ll finish (it will probably be the firtst I’ll finish up…)

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      • Delfina says:
        3 April 2009 at 4:00 pm

        And no… lol… I don’t get any particular reaction, and I have asked. So, either all the people I know are very very kind (I doubt it, though) or I shouldn’t have killed too many people with the Malle power.

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        • Daisy says:
          3 April 2009 at 5:08 pm

          Malle Power— I like that! spritz, spritz and wham! you suddenly find yourself wearing tights and a cape (assuming you weren’t already)… your sillage leaps over towering….coworkers! Your scent spreads faster than a speeding bit of juicy office gossip! I could go on, but I’m sure everyone wants me to stop.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:13 pm

      Nice list! I do wonder if they’re still making DK Gold, I should pick some up before it disappears.

      Don’t know that emoticon or how it got there…

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    • mals86 says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:01 pm

      A gorgeous haul! And bargains, too, you sale vulture, you…

      (That phase gave me a laugh! Remember Snoopy sitting in a tree pretending to be a vulture?)

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  23. annunziata says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:59 am

    I know samples don’t count, but the banks that provide me with credit cards strangely think they do. I came dangerously close (Datura Noir, Bois de Paradis) but managed to get through the dank winter months with my decants. Now, however, I am about to buy a bottle of Givenchy III and another of Carthusia Mediterraneo…so I’ll be ready for the next survey.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:52 pm

      LOL…yes, so they do.

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  24. lilredccc says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:59 am

    I’m so proud of myself…I only bought one FB since the start of the year (Chanel No5 Eau Premiere). I did order the new Annick Goutal last week, but since it’s backordered, I probably won’t receive it until the end of the month…does that count??

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:13 pm

      Nope, then it doesn’t count til next quarter. 1 bottle is excellent!

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  25. Licia says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Just one – a bargain, huge bottle of one of my favs, Belle En Rykiel last week at Marshalls ($15 for 3.4 oz, nach), but I am also kicking myself for not buying the Ormonde Jayne’s I sniffed in London last month on a stopover. I was being virtuous, having spent a fortune on my trip to Asia & I am really, really regretting it now, I wants bottles of Tolu & Ta’if.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:53 pm

      Excellent buy, congrats!

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  26. Jill says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:16 pm

    I was going to say I had done very well and not bought anything — and then I remembered I purchased Garden of Hespera by MOR Cosmetics at the end of January (which I love, $48), and just this week I caved and got a 15 ml Hermes Vetiver Tonka because I’d used up my sample and decided I couldn’t live without it. :) I didn’t do as well as you did on the Vanille Galante — I paid $50 for the Vetiver Tonka. But I know it will be well worth it!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:53 pm

      Still beats paying for a 100 ml Hermessence though — and love VT.

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    • flittersniffer says:
      3 April 2009 at 5:31 pm

      I received a complimentary sample of Vanille Galante in the post from Hermes today and was amazed to see it was 4ml in quantity, which is about £7.50 worth I worked out – most generous.

      I adore this perfume by the way – I completely get Robin’s description of it as “lilies floating in water”, and am pleased to say I get a fair amount of vanilla and wouldn’t complain on that score as some people have!

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      • Jill says:
        3 April 2009 at 6:14 pm

        That is a generous sample! Vanille Galante is on my must-try list.

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      • Robin says:
        3 April 2009 at 6:25 pm

        I like those large glass samples.

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  27. Karin says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Wow. You did really well, Robin!

    I’ve been on a buying frenzy, but had some gift cards that helped. Still spent around $300. Yikes. Here’s the damage:

    Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere – $125
    100% Love – $120 plus shipping, so $130?
    Dzing! – $25 plus $100 gift certificate :-)
    Sacrebleu – $30 plus $50 gift certificate

    Plus, I just purchased three purse sprays from Yves Rocher for $17 plus shipping ($22).

    Grand total: $332

    $332 is probably a low estimate, though, cause I ended up purchasing something, returning it, and had to pay shipping costs. All that little stuff adds up!

    Can’t wait for 2nd quarter purchases. Ha ha!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:55 pm

      Hey, nice gift certificates you’re getting! And nice buys. I wish I had a bottle of Dzing.

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  28. j_lunatic says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:21 pm

    Only one (vintage Joy from teh Bay, not delivered yet). But I am probably going to get Calyx this evening, if L&T has the half-ounce bottles. And DON’T ask about samples.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:56 pm

      We never ask about samples! Congrats on the vintage Joy :-)

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  29. Rick says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:30 pm

    I’m pleading Guilty, With an Explanation. I was able to spend a couple of weeks in Paris, and I don’t go there often, the last time was 25 years ago, so I figured I might as well stock up on things I can’t get or are hard to get in the US. The list is SL Mandarine Mandarin and El Attarine, IUNX Eau Sento and L’Ether, Dior Jules and Eau Noire, Chanel Pour Monsieur (non-Concentree), Etat Libre d’Orange Jasmin et Cigarette, PdN Vanille Tonka, Different Co Sel de Vetiver, and Diptyque l’Eau Trois. I think my collection has just tipped from interesting to silly. I’ll never be able to use up all those bottles now.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 12:57 pm

      Oh, what fun though — Paris! And terribly jealous of your IUNX scents…

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  30. 734elizabeths says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:34 pm

    I bought Diorissimo at the duty-free in February – how could I resist? And a mini set of Kenzos, which are just plain fun. Then the other day I was reading the announcement of SSS’s new Tabac Aurea, and suddenly I woke up having just hit the “Complete My Order” button. Uh-oh. I lived in Ankara in the 80’s. At the antiques market, I bought a silver mustache scenter–a little tin filled with cotton and scent, with a lid you could turn to reveal a hole just big enough to dip two fingers in. It had the memory of the most delicious perfume, which I later learned was tobacco (“tütün”). It was warm, powdery, and simply yummy, with a slight edge that kept it from over-sweetness. I bought a vial of tütün perfume oil before I left the country, but after it ran out, I’ve been searching in vain for a similar scent. I thought Tabac Aurea might be it; it’s not the same, but I love it, and I’m glad I made the purchase!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:24 pm

      What a great story! Glad you love the SSS even if it isn’t the same.

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    • AnnS says:
      3 April 2009 at 2:57 pm

      Tabac Aurea is gorgeous – good for you!

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  31. gblue says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:34 pm

    Kenzo Air, YSL Nu, Egoiste, Eau Sauvage Fraicheur Cuir, Mandarina Duck Pure Black, L’Instant PH, L’Instant Extreme, Jicky (edp), Magnetism and 8 88. Clicked the wrong option, obviously! :S

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:25 pm

      Hey, how is that Mandarina Duck? And why, oh why, doesn’t Dior sent the ESFC to the US :-(

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      • Joe says:
        3 April 2009 at 3:04 pm

        Oooh, yeah, I’m really curious about that Mandarina Duck for some reason. Must be good in gblue’s opinion if s/he bought a FB. It’s not a Dillards online yet… are you in Europe, gblue?

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        • gblue says:
          4 April 2009 at 2:12 am

          Hi, yeah I’m in the UK. But it’s not available here, I spotted it on holiday in Spain (where I also bought the Egoiste, as you can’t get that in the UK, and the ESFC).

          To me Pure Black is similar to Black XS but without that strawberry note, it’s a sweet floral (rose/geranium), with lightly spiced praline heart, and a creamy vanilla / patchouli (soft) / amber (quiet) drydown. Quite dark feeling. Pretty simple, but it’s nice it’s marketed to men. Can send you samples if you want ;)

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          • Robin says:
            4 April 2009 at 12:38 pm

            HA, I”m saved: does not sound like “me”, thanks!!

  32. Occhineri says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Okay, I’ve bought three bottles so far. Keiko Mecheri Peau de Peche during the Bigelow madness, Armani Prive Eclat de Jasmin from TJ Maxx (again, another massive discount) & a gorgeous bottle of Bois Blond at full price (ouch) from LS because I couldn’t live without it. That’s not so bad, I guess, but I need to stick with samples/decants for a while now.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:26 pm

      Jealous — I missed the Bigelow madness entirely (my local store had nada of interest) and I can’t find any APs at TJ Maxx. Sigh.

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  33. kizzers says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:40 pm

    Only 4 :
    Monyette Paris
    Guerlain – Insolence Eau Glacee
    Issey Miyake – Summer EDT
    Kenzo – Eau de Fleur de Magnolia

    Unfortunately, the Issey Miyake was a HUGE mistake – not nice on skin at all…

    Decants are into the 40’s with 16 on my wishlist at TPC!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:26 pm

      Oh, so glad you got that Kenzo, it’s such a cool scent. Sorry the other Kenzo didn’t work.

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  34. cazaubon says:
    3 April 2009 at 12:54 pm

    I got Amouage Jubilation 25 and XXV (the small 30ml bottles) plus backup bottles of AG Ambre Fetiche and Encens Flamboyant on discount, total spent probably $300.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:26 pm

      Lucky lucky you! I think those 30 ml bottles might be gone now.

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      • cazaubon says:
        6 April 2009 at 5:25 pm

        They do still have them at BeautyEncounter, but they are not listed on the website, and they are quite cagey about selling them over their 800 number. I think Amouage is clamping down on them… they only let me order more last week if I could prove I had previously purchased them. ?? Very odd.

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        • Robin says:
          7 April 2009 at 8:25 am

          Ah, thanks.

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  35. Dusan says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:17 pm

    Nary a one, zilch, nada. I’m waiting for sunnier days, so to speak.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:27 pm

      Good for you! And hope those days are here soon.

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  36. fleurdelys says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:19 pm

    Well, Donatella, I was a VERY good girl this quarter and only bought a few samples, so that = zero bottles! However, I am attending Sniffapalooza this weekend, so who knows what will happen…I may have something to report for the next quarter’s tally.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:30 pm

      Have fun at Sniffa!

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  37. Kankuro says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:19 pm

    And now my damage:

    Amber Pour Homme by Prada (100 ml)
    Fire Island by Bond No. 9 (100 ml)
    Virgin Island Water by Creed (75 ml)

    I love them all so much! But my favourite is the Fire Island. It reminds me of summer, suntan oil and chlorine water (I love the smell of chlorine water and suntan oil). The perfect scent :)

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:31 pm

      I need a bottle of that Prada. And you got nice summery stuff, congrats!

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  38. poshnerd says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:20 pm

    Here are my purchases:
    Donna Karan Gold 50 ml
    Frederic Malle Noir Epices 10 ml vial
    Guerlain Apres l’Ondee and L’Heure Bleue 5 ml decants

    I’m reckoning that as 2-4 bottles. I’m just starting out my perfume obsession, so most of my spending is on samples. I’m sure the second quarter of 2009 will include at least one OJ full bottle purchase–I had a dream about Tolu last night!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 1:31 pm

      LOL — it’s bad when you start dreaming about things on your wishlist!

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  39. pinkfizzy says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:29 pm

    I bought a bottle of Kenzo Amour, which I love, Estee Lauder Sensuous, which is quite nice and Youth Dew, because I found a little old glass and metal perfume bottle that belonged to my great-great aunt when I was a kid, and I used to smell it, and I finally found out that it smelled of Youth Dew. I don’t wear it, but its lovely.

    I wanted to buy Cuir de Russie but I managed to stop myself going to the Chanel boutique cause I know I couldn’t help buying it. I think I’ll look for a split online… I don’t need a huge bottle of it… or do I?

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:34 pm

      I used to have a little mini of the Cuir de Russie parfum, would like to have another. The giant bottle is more than I’d ever use…

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  40. www.mybeautyblog.de says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:34 pm

    I bought one and asked my boyfriend to give it to me – afterwards (actually he paid then something else, food, because i was broke that month). Happens!
    It is my first extrait Coco mademosielle which he likes most on me. It was 75 instead of 93 Euro. I think that was a good reason to eat only pasta for one week!

    Still, I would like to make it to one FB Mandarine tout Simplement, Rose Ikebana would be nice, and I still need Muschio bianco. Just for that…

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:35 pm

      Congrats on your new CM extrait, that’s nice!

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    • flittersniffer says:
      3 April 2009 at 5:33 pm

      There will be a decant of L’Ete en Douce coming your way soon!

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  41. froeken_lila says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:38 pm

    2 bottles, bvlgari eau parfumee de thé vert xtreme (30ml, ebay) and prada infusion de fleur d’oranger (50ml, taxfree). i also got a bottle of eau de cartier as a valentine from my boyfriend. and right now i’m waiting for my birthday so that i may present myself with something nice… can’t decide between hermes un jardin en mediterranee and l’artisan thé pour un eté. this is a hard one!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:35 pm

      I vote for the L’Artisan! (not that it matters, LOL…)

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  42. lovethescents says:
    3 April 2009 at 1:43 pm

    I’ve been so very, very bad. Here’s the full bottle and decant list (not swaps, obviously)

    wicked wahine (blind and bad buy)
    Jlo coffret
    Do re decant and lady Shiloh decant
    Demeter Guava nectar
    Guerlain minis Herba Fresca & chant d’aromes
    Mahora mini
    DKNY Gold
    Estee’s Emerald Dream (blind and bad)
    Guerlain AA Ylang Vanille
    Kama decant
    Datura Noir
    Un Crime Exotique
    Mitsouko
    Avignon and Ecume de The decants
    calyx
    Aqualina Rice Cream Body Water
    Clinique Simply Body Spray
    CdG2full bottle
    Jean Patou’s Vacances mini (for $12!!!!!!!)

    Total damage:
    $340…..I can’t believe it. I feel sick.

    Off to see what’s on ebay :-)

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:36 pm

      Whew, that’s quite a list!

      But what on earth is Wicked Wahine?!?

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      • lovethescents says:
        3 April 2009 at 5:14 pm

        After smelling Saffron James’s Ume, I fell deeply in love. I searched for reasonably priced decants EVERYWHERE without any luck. I read somewhere that this little Hawaiian fragrance called Wicked Wahine (apparently wahine is woman in Hawaiian) is very similar, and much lest costly. I bought it. Here are the notes according to their site : “orange flower, island rose, pikake, white musk, sandalwood and fascinating energy of graceful Aloha spirit”.

        So there sits my bottle all alone. Anybody want it?

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 6:26 pm

          What a shame!

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        • Haunani says:
          3 April 2009 at 8:30 pm

          Oh, I remember Wicked Wahine! Yep, it’s not good. Been around for a loooong time. I know what you mean about ‘Ume – very lovely and very pricey.

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          • lovethescents says:
            5 April 2009 at 8:24 pm

            Wish I spoke with you before getting that bottle….oh well. I now thankfully have a 5 ml decant of Ume, as well as 2 X 1.5 ml samples of it. It’s too fantastic to ignore! I also love Le’a :-)

    • flittersniffer says:
      3 April 2009 at 5:55 pm

      You spent just more than me – wow – and I thought I was very bad! : – )

      Though I forgot the decants of Kama and Cuir de Lancome and the minis of DKNY Gold and Balenciaga Cristobal and Clinique Simply and Eclat d’Arpege, so I should add on £50 to cover those, taking my total to £180 vs your total of £192 equivalent. I might well pip you if we were counting samples…But I shan’t include my new decant kit – that’s a capital investment!

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      • lovethescents says:
        5 April 2009 at 8:25 pm

        thanks for rubbing it, missy, the wound is already festering and the salt isn’t helping!

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  43. Zeezee says:
    3 April 2009 at 2:16 pm

    Uh oh.
    Lessee:
    Decants of Carthusia Ligea and Ava Luxe Opoponax Intense, FB’s each of Eau Parfumée au Thé Rouge and AL Moroccan Mint Tea, and travel sizes of Ambre Narguilé and L’Occitane Ambre. Oh, and I *won* (so that doesn’t count, does it?) SJP Covet.

    Happily plotting purchases of JM Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, Kiehl’s musk and Safran Troublant, too. At least with the Kiehl’s and ST I can wait for a reasonably priced hand-me-down, but I’m NOT letting the JM slip through my fingers again!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:03 pm

      I wonder if they will have the JM on counter for longer this time? Wish they’d do a 3rd in that series…

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      • Joe says:
        4 April 2009 at 12:56 am

        Robin, sorry, but I laughed out loud! A THIRD fragrance in that line? All we need is more LE stuff to hanker for. How about just wishing that they’d add the two already out to the regular line and maybe then we can hope for a third nice one? :D

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        • Robin says:
          4 April 2009 at 8:18 am

          HA…I suppose you’re right. Just wish they’d do more scents in that vein.

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  44. Robin R. says:
    3 April 2009 at 2:18 pm

    I’m a little hesitant to check in, because I don’t want to encourage anyone teetering on the edge of full-blown, out-of-control obsession, but here’s the honest truth: I’m no longer a newbie and have no excuse for being stuck in Stage 2 Perfumista Buying Frenzy, and still the grand total is 16 full bottles and partially-full full size bottles and don’t include the (literally) dozens of 5 – 15ml decants I’ve acquired, with the total cost Canadian over – gulp – $1500, including a bottle of Lyric Woman, the most expensive bottle of fragrance I’ve ever owned and worth, to me, every penny.

    You know, actually, Robin and everyone, I do not regret the money spent. I can afford it, I love them all, the impulse purchases were all perfectly sane, and I’m not wasting a second feeling guilty. Why ruin the pleasure with some silly self-imposed feel-bad reaction? I hold my perfumista head high!

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    • boojum says:
      3 April 2009 at 2:32 pm

      Personally, I think being able to afford it is all the excuse you need. It’s only those of us who *can’t* who have to justify our purchases. ;) But oh, to afford a bottle of Lyric…. If only the bottle weren’t gorgeous as well, I could easily make do with a small decant; it certainly isn’t an every day sort of fragrance.

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      • AnnS says:
        3 April 2009 at 3:01 pm

        I think we need to develop a Lyric support group for all us poor souls who can’t quite get it yet…but then again, I could take my entire first Q $$ and buy probably two bottles of Lyric…Congrats on a great one.

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        • mals86 says:
          3 April 2009 at 3:07 pm

          That Lyric Woman is sooooooo gorgeous. I need a split…

          Listen at me, y’all, “I NEED a split”??? Nope. But I still want one.

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        • Joe says:
          3 April 2009 at 3:10 pm

          Or maybe we should just turn that Lyric support group into a split group and get it over with. 10ml for everyone.

          And Robin R — as others affirmed, if you can afford it, that’s all that really matters if it’s something that brings you pleasure. I mean, I have my limits and beliefs about “excessive consumerism” when it comes down to it, but essentially, as the song says, “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if I Do.”

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          • AnnS says:
            3 April 2009 at 4:22 pm

            Ok Joe – I’m game. I’m Kalishka on MUA. Send me a note. When we get at least 5 people for 10 ml splits, one of us – the bottle lover? – can set it up. (I’m a juice lover.)

          • Robin R. says:
            3 April 2009 at 6:33 pm

            Thanks for the support, everyone! We’re all in this together ;-)

          • mals86 says:
            3 April 2009 at 10:29 pm

            I might be up for a Lyric split as well (mals86 on MUA). Would know for sure by end of next week because budget for 2nd qtr would be prepared by then…

        • Daisy says:
          3 April 2009 at 5:43 pm

          Just in case anyone is seriously interested—I’ve found a store where you can purchase 100ml of Amouage Lyric woman for a lovely price— $225 USD + $23 shipping.

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          • Daisy says:
            3 April 2009 at 5:47 pm

            If you all are serious about setting up a split you should probably chime in at some point.

          • boojum says:
            3 April 2009 at 6:50 pm

            I’d definitely be interested…and if someone can give me a quick education on where to buy supplies etc., I’d be willing to host.

          • boojum says:
            3 April 2009 at 6:51 pm

            Also have to add, I’m usually NOT a bottle person. This one just sings (pardon the pun).

          • AnnS says:
            3 April 2009 at 7:15 pm

            boojum – you can go to the Perfumed Court and buy decanting supplies from them. ;-)

          • Daisy says:
            3 April 2009 at 7:36 pm

            boojum I have a couple suggestions if you want to contact me, I’m daisylu at MUA. Before you buy anything you might want to post a listing at scentsplits asking for interest…you might not want to have a 100ml bottle and only 2 people who really want to buy the juice. Unless you really want the Lyric badly.

          • boojum says:
            3 April 2009 at 9:15 pm

            Ah, I’ve resisted MUA for so so long….LOL! Over to the dark side, I guess.

          • guerlaingirl says:
            3 April 2009 at 10:45 pm

            5 bottles. I thought it had only been 2 somehow… mostly mainstream stuff at low price (so how could I say no?)
            Jubilation 25
            Cacharel LouLou
            Gucci Rush
            Chanel No. 19 (WITH the oakmoss intact, thank you!)
            Tommy Girl

            I did go to Eden Botanicals and purchase a slew of perfume notes with which I’ve been playing. Now, I am raising up my right hand and re-committing myself to only buying a bottle when my sample or decant is finished. — I think that means I buy more samples, right?

    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:43 pm

      Hey…the purpose of the poll is not to make anyone feel guilty, but just to take stock. In the past I found it very easy to “forget” what I’d bought and lose track — and I like to at least know how much I’ve bought & how much I’ve spent.

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      • Robin R. says:
        3 April 2009 at 6:44 pm

        Zackly! Oh, and in case anyone has a prurient interest, my bottles were (some bought at too-good-to-pass-up prices, the real gems at — gulp! — full retail, but who’s countin’ pennies?) —
        Montale Highness Rose 50ml
        Frederic Malle Noir Epices part 100ml
        Miller et Bertaux #1 For You part 100ml
        Parfumerie Generale Tuberose Couture 50 ml
        Montale Aoud Blossom 50ml
        SL Nuit de Cellophane 50ml
        Amouage Lyric Woman 100ml
        Parfumerie Generale Ilang Ivohibe 100ml
        SSS X 6 34ml: Warm Woods, Ambre Noir, Vintage Rose, Opal,
        Lieu de Reves, Tabac Aurea
        Gapbeauty Velvet Bloom 100ml (an AMAZING, inexpensive osmanthus; discontinued, but still available)
        Jo Malone Sweet Lime and Cedar 30ml
        Jo Malone Tuberose Cologne 30ml (deal!)
        Bond No. 9 AW Silver Factory 100ml
        (and assorted decants, including faves Beige, Sycomore, 31 Rue Cambon, FM Dans tes Bras and Le Parfum de Therese, PG Cadjmere, Montale Vanilla Extasy and Crystal Flowers, SL La Myrrhe, Fumerie Turque, Chergui — swaps, but they count, because they “cost” in terms of trading scents I’ve purchased)
        Okay, that is my confession. How many Hail Marys do I need to say??!! :-)

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        • boojum says:
          3 April 2009 at 7:05 pm

          Oh, Hail Marys are outdated. Charitable donations (of, say, excess juice) are much surer ways of salvation. If you’re having trouble locating a worthy cause, I’m sure I can assist. ;)

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 8:54 pm

          Um, those would be Hail Donatellas ;-)

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        • lilydale aka Natalie says:
          3 April 2009 at 9:07 pm

          And you’ve sure got enough “holy water” to douse yourself with!

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        • Adjovi says:
          3 April 2009 at 10:24 pm

          Hahaha. You are to say one million Hail Marys’ and a big Amen after that. Lol. You do have a pretty impressive list. I thought i was bad. Enjoy. Life is too short.
          My damage for this quater:
          Lorenzo Villoresi’s Alamut 50ml EDP
          Lucienne 100ml EDP
          Prada’s Infusion d’Iris 100ml EDP
          Adios

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          • Robin says:
            4 April 2009 at 12:39 pm

            Nice picks! The Lucienne is pretty.

    • Haunani says:
      3 April 2009 at 8:32 pm

      Robin R, I would love to hear what some of your others are!

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      • Haunani says:
        3 April 2009 at 11:36 pm

        Oh, now I see that you posted your list. You sure have some beauties!

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  45. joliefleur says:
    3 April 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I am a Newbie gone straight off the full-blown, out of control Stage 2 Perfumista Buying Frenzy edge….

    The bottle count itself is not high, at least!

    L’Infante
    Bellodgia
    CdG Carnation
    AG Rose Absolut
    Fleur de Thé Rose Bulgare

    Not that I like florals or anything.

    Odly enough, I get no rose whatsoever from the Creed. I love it, but I smell no rose at all.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:54 pm

      Hey, no, that’s a pretty low bottle count.

      What do you smell in the Creed if not rose?

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      • joliefleur says:
        3 April 2009 at 6:40 pm

        I am embarrassed to admit that all I really get is the loveliest of powdery, soapy floral! Threehundredsomething is a lot to pay for soapiness…but I noticed I was applying it at work whenever things got stressful. It has the most calming affect on me. Not like a Xanax or anything, LOL; it’s rather like the affect Pachelbel’s Canon has on me….it’s impossible to feel any stress at all in the presence of such beauty! I figured for fragrance AND a very good anti-anxiety fix (that will last me years) it was a bargain!

        Your question also reminded me of another purchase…..Bvlgari Rose Essentielle, which I also get no rose at all from. I get all violet and something sorta dirty…not the dirty I think like y’all mean, but something that reminds me of being too hot. It almost makes me physically uncomfortable, but I am too inexperienced at notes to know how to describe it. But it’s the same note straight through, the prominent note in the drydown for me, too, and I get it straight off the top.

        Rose is by far my favorite scent, but I seem to only be able to get it in the soliflores (Ag Rose ABsolute, Penhalgion’s Elisabethan Rose, Drole du Rose, Lipstick Rose, etc.)

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 8:55 pm

          That’s so odd…wonder if you are anosmic to certain components of rose.

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          • joliefleur says:
            3 April 2009 at 9:20 pm

            I almost certainly have to be anosmic to rose when combined with other notes, or else I have a very incapable nose, which is also very possible! I do know that if there is the merest hint of tuberose in a frgarance, I can’t smell anything else, so maybe my nose just shuts down when confronted with too much going on at once? Which is kind of sad…I will miss out on so much, I think!

          • Robin says:
            4 April 2009 at 12:40 pm

            Oh well. I’m sure there are musks I’m not smelling…

    • fleurdelys says:
      3 April 2009 at 8:06 pm

      Happy to meet another carnation lover!

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      • joliefleur says:
        3 April 2009 at 8:45 pm

        I have been amazed at this carnation thing! I love it! So spicy, but not heavy!

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      • Daisy says:
        4 April 2009 at 3:57 pm

        Cdg Carnation is the most amazing carnation ever! It plays well with other perfumes too. Try layering it.

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  46. Lynda says:
    3 April 2009 at 2:37 pm

    So far this year, I bought just one bottle–Omnia Granata. It’s lovely; I sampled it first from a kit of new scents being promoted by Luckyscent. It was my favorite of the 5. I’m pretty new to this, but I THINK it’s gourmandish and flowery. :)

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:03 pm

      Hey, I haven’t even tried that line yet! I have samples but am SO behind. Will have to pull them out…

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  47. Erin says:
    3 April 2009 at 2:40 pm

    Well, I’ve been waiting for this – just so I cold buy more bottles! I’ve been visiting my fave haunts, sniffing things and saying: “See you next quarter!” So, I’m at two this time for a combined total of $150. $110 for L’Artisan Drole de Rose (darn L’Artisan, they never go on sale) early in January and $40 for 100 ml of Burberry Brit Red in Feb. Not too bad…

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    • Joe says:
      3 April 2009 at 3:12 pm

      Erin: Just curious, I thought that Brit Red was an LE. Is it back, or did you just get some stock that’s been floating around since it was released as LE?

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      • Erin says:
        4 April 2009 at 1:05 pm

        I actually bought it in a very dubious-looking, back-alley place in St. Maarten. It was all over the place in the discount places in the Caribbean. I was sure it was going to be some watered-down dreck or dupe, but it turned out to be a-okay and exactly the same lasting-power and scent as my old samples.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:04 pm

      LOL…sorry we held up your buying! And yes, I keep waiting for the half-off L’Artisan sale, ha. No luck so far.

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      • Daisy says:
        3 April 2009 at 5:16 pm

        the only way to acquire a FB of L’artisan without having a full blown perfume spending aneurysm is to get it from Naz’s shoppe….gotta love the exchange rate.

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  48. Tama says:
    3 April 2009 at 3:07 pm

    I have spent this quarter in white-knuckle agony of wanting to buy something! anything! a bottle of Harajuku Lovers! please! Can’t tell you how many times my finger was on the buy button. Sigh. So, my grand expenditure for Q1 is $5 for a sample of that Maoli stuff. Only got one free sample at the shops, because I hate shopping when I am broke.

    Q2 at least saw a sample purchase of that Le Labo pack and a couple extras. Hopefully at least one FB will be on this quarter’s list!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:06 pm

      Well, congrats for behaving when you need to! How was the Maoli?

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      • Tama says:
        3 April 2009 at 5:38 pm

        Haven’t got it yet – got the LS sample pack today and am swooning around in one of the other samples I got, PDN Balkis. But I will definitely post about the Maoli when I get it. If it is good, I’d love to spread the word. The order I placed was order #2.

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        • Robin says:
          3 April 2009 at 6:27 pm

          Balkiss is lovely :-)

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        • GalileosDaughter says:
          3 April 2009 at 7:23 pm

          PdN Balkis is swoony indeed. One of my favorites.

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  49. lily-gems says:
    3 April 2009 at 3:50 pm

    Finally, my first post after being a long-time reader! Great place to visit and I do so on an almost daily basis.

    samples, samples, samples…I don’t want to count. But there’s some good ones in the group so I know I’m in trouble for the next quarter.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:06 pm

      Hi and welcome! What are you plotting to buy so far?

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  50. lilydale aka Natalie says:
    3 April 2009 at 4:10 pm

    Solo una bottiglia, Donatella, solo una…

    I bought a bottle of L’Air du Désert Marocain at the beginning of January. The stuff is magical; my only regret is that two days ago I WON a bottle of L’Air from Andy Tauer, aka the nicest man ever! Actually he gave me a choice of L’Air or a sample discovery set, and after much agonizing — could I use the extra bottle of L’Air as a room spray? how tacky would it be to sell or swap it? (answer: very tacky) — I went for the samples, even though there are only two I haven’t tried already. However, he’s throwing in a sample of the new Une rose chyprée (did I mention he’s the nicest man ever?), which I’m ridiculously excited about.

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    • AnnS says:
      3 April 2009 at 4:25 pm

      I say don’t feel bad and keep it as a “backup” bottle. I keep backups of all my favorites…..And congrats on the luck!

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      • lilydale aka Natalie says:
        3 April 2009 at 4:36 pm

        Actually I opted for the sample set, and am now wondering whether that was a foolish choice. Oof, listen to me — talk about looking a gift horse in the mouth! I truly am thrilled for anything that’s both fabulous and free…

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        • Tama says:
          3 April 2009 at 5:43 pm

          It will be worth the sacrifice to smell the Rose Chypree, I think. It’s pretty fabulous. Plus now you will have a travel-size spray of l’Air – his samples are generous. That would have been a hard choice, but I think you made the right one – as much as I love and wear l’Air, I would be afraid an extra bottle would go off before I finished the first one. A little goes a long way – were it like a body splash, then an extra bottle could be in order.

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        • Tama says:
          3 April 2009 at 5:43 pm

          And he IS the nicest man EVER!

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          • lilydale aka Natalie says:
            3 April 2009 at 9:16 pm

            You were the lucky double winner during the advent calendar giveaways, right? Did you get the rose chyprée?

          • Tama says:
            3 April 2009 at 9:49 pm

            Yes I was, so I do have some Rose Chypree! And here is how nice he is – I had mentioned that my Mom and I both liked vetiver and I was looking forward to trying his – he remembered my comment and enclosed 2 samples of it, one for me and one for my Mom. I still need to order some samples from him of the ones I have not tried, and hope to be able to patronize him quite a bit.

    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 6:28 pm

      Congrats on your win! Love that AT does these giveaways all the time.

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      • lilydale aka Natalie says:
        3 April 2009 at 9:19 pm

        I know, his generosity bowls me over… and I wasn’t even the first-place winner, just the consolation prize!

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  51. perfumelover says:
    3 April 2009 at 4:59 pm

    Hi!
    This is my first “comment”. Thanks Robin for the blog! I enjoy it very much
    Only one bottle: THE BEAT (30 ml) :D

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 6:28 pm

      Hi and welcome! You were very restrained considering your user name :-)

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      • perfumelover says:
        3 April 2009 at 8:31 pm

        Thanks!
        I’m saving for the next quarter!! :D

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  52. Mediterana says:
    3 April 2009 at 5:29 pm

    For me this was the best quarter in almost 2 years. I bought only one bottle: Chant d’Aromes.

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 6:29 pm

      Congrats!! 1 bottle in 3 months is about how much I should be buying.

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  53. PetronellaCJ says:
    3 April 2009 at 6:15 pm

    So this is the day of reckoning for my first quarter of this newfound and overwhelming olfactory passion. Trying to keep to samples and small bottles to be able to smell LOTS of new things, but these FB’s decided they wanted to live with me:
    – Mitsouko
    – Madame Rochas
    – Burberry Brit for Men (sharing it with DH)
    – Thé Rouge by Bvlgari
    And a Miss Dior bottle is on its way to me from an Ebay purchase, and a Dzongkha decant from Scent Splits… And I am going to Amsterdam in May where Serge Lutens and Frederic Malle perfumes are to be found… Noone knows where this will end!
    A belated 3 cheers for the new web site, it’s looking good and it feels good to be part of this nice community!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 6:31 pm

      If this was your first quarter, then you were very well-behaved! And lucky you…have not been to Amsterdam in many, many moons, would love to go again.

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  54. GalileosDaughter says:
    3 April 2009 at 7:22 pm

    Hmm, full bottles of Iris Nobile EdT (after trying unsucessfully to swap for it), a full bottle of Pure White Linen, and a decant of Prada IdFdO (which will lead to massive spending in Q2, I’m afraid).

    I bought no samples this quarter, which is telling. Nothing really intrigued me–or things that did intrigue me were so far out of my spending league that I didn’t even bother to sample.

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    • GalileosDaughter says:
      3 April 2009 at 7:28 pm

      Oh, I forgot to mention that I got a great GWP with the Pure White Linen–that mitigates the spending, right? :)

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      • Robin says:
        3 April 2009 at 7:42 pm

        Oh yes, if you got a GWP, you get to subtract 2 bottles from your purchase ;-)

        So you loved the Prada then?

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        • GalileosDaughter says:
          3 April 2009 at 7:52 pm

          Oh, I love that GWP rule! 2 bottles, yay! :)

          I’m really enjoying the Prada. It’s a soapy neroli with a bit of orange blossom and a teensy bit of tuberose. Squeaky clean drydown. I’m in a bit of a soapy and orange blossom phase right now, so this really hits the spot.

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          • Robin says:
            3 April 2009 at 8:56 pm

            Waiting for my samp to come in the mail. Hope I love it!

        • GalileosDaughter says:
          4 April 2009 at 7:08 am

          If you like soapy, I think you’ll like the Prada! :)

          And I realized I forgot a decant of Matin d’Orage. ::blush::

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  55. jepster says:
    3 April 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Not one little old bottle!! I am saving my pennies for a trip to Paris and the south of France in September. Will have to post closer to travel time to see what the collective wisdom says I should purchase there that I can’t get here. I am counting on my vast sample collection to get me through the spring and summer!

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 7:43 pm

      Sounds like a wise choice…save now, spend in Paris.

      Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist!

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  56. Bunny says:
    3 April 2009 at 7:45 pm

    I bought full bottles of
    Donna Karan Black Cashmere (unsniffed! but it was good!)
    Lolita Lempicka Midnight
    DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom(unsniffed, again… I’m bad)
    Jean Paul Gaultier Fragile(tester)
    and the very best one:
    vintage Rochas Femme! LOVE

    oh and I bought a vintage bottle of Avon Here’s my Heart for my Mom.
    Let’s not even mention all those minis I bought…and I don’t even want to think about the cost lol

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    • Robin says:
      3 April 2009 at 8:47 pm

      I like the vintage RF much better than the new. Nice list!

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  57. Carlos BFL 319 says:
    3 April 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Let’s see:

    1. Acqua di Gio
    2. Etro Vetiver unsniffed HATED it.
    3. Diptyque L’Ombres dans L’eau
    4. Baldessarini Cologne
    5. Tom Ford Tuscan Leather
    6. Tom Ford Italian Cypress
    7. Tom Ford Arabian Wood YUCK! moved it already HA!
    8. Serge Lutens Fleur D’Oranger
    9. Bvlgari Jasmine Noir
    10. Marc Jacobs Amber
    11. Mure et Musc Extreme
    12. L’artisan Vaniglia (bub-bye)
    13. Egoiste (bub-bye)
    14. Serge A La Nuit (bub-bye)
    15. Serge Datura Nori (bub-bye)
    16. PDE Fougere Bengale
    17. Penhaligans Elixir
    18. Amouage Jubilation
    19. Tom Ford Black Orchid Voile de Fleur (bub-bye)
    20. Bond No. 9 Lexington Avenue (bub-bye)
    21. Prada Amber Women
    22. Asprey Purple Water

    My goodness…I am out of control!

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    • Carlos BFL 319 says:
      3 April 2009 at 8:27 pm

      I forgot some:

      23. Karl Lagerfeld Woody
      24. Karl Lagerfeld Light
      25. Karl Lagerfeld Floriental (like this one best)

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      • Robin says:
        3 April 2009 at 8:49 pm

        C, that is quite a list!! Does “bub-bye” mean it’s already left your collection? Never thought about it, but if you buy something, then sell it, don’t see why you have to account for it at all. Hmmm….

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        • Carlos BFL 319 says:
          3 April 2009 at 9:16 pm

          I concur! So my list comes down to 18. Still out of control though. ;-)

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          • Robin says:
            4 April 2009 at 12:41 pm

            6 a month, well, whatever — if it makes you happy! And there was a time when I was buying at least that much!

  58. Haunani says:
    3 April 2009 at 9:00 pm

    Hi all! It’s been fun reading about all your choices. It’s been just about a year since I took the first big step into Passionate Perfumista-hood. (Hmmm.. I wonder why that coincides with my discovery of NST???). It’s now time for me to start learning to blend Prudence with Passion, ha ha. I hit the 5-9 bottle button before remembering two more. My list:
    Malle DANS TES BRAS(travel size)
    Hermes VANILLE GALANTE (small)
    L’Artisan FLEUR DE LIANE
    Keiko Mecheri GENIE DES BOIS
    Parfums de Rosine POUSSIERE DE ROSE
    Eau d’Italie SIENNE L’HIVER
    Lalique FLORA BELLA
    Sonoma Scent Studio WOOD VIOLET
    Stephanie de Saint-Aignan EMBRUNS D’AMBRE
    Comme des Garcons KYOTO
    Parfumerie Generale IRIS TAIZO
    Plus minis of Balmain IVOIRE and Brousseau OMBRE ROSE, and a slew of Neil Morris samples.

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    • Haunani says:
      3 April 2009 at 9:02 pm

      P.S. Several of the above were from resellers, and the Fleur de Liane was actually a valentine from my husband. :-)

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 7:56 am

      You don’t have to count gifts!

      Nice haul, either way, and was just thinking that I needed to try Sienne L’Hiver again.

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  59. thelittleredheadgirl says:
    3 April 2009 at 9:59 pm

    Hi I love your blog and I’m so happy to post my first comment. I’ve been reading for months and you all are so knowledgeable and have been so helpful. I’ve done some serious damage i think… here goes.

    I’ve become kind of addicted to AG so I bought:
    Musc Nomade
    Un Matin d’Orage
    Vanille Exquise
    Ce Soir Ou Jamais

    I also got:
    Lolita Lempicka (smelled it years ago and it didn’t take until now)
    L de Lolita
    Covet and Covet Pure Bloom (crazy impulse-cheap promotion on HSN)
    Kelly Caleche
    TF White Patchouli
    TF Black Orchid
    TF Black Orchid Voile de Fleur

    And for some bizarre reason, just bought Estee Lauder White Linen and Private Collection. White Linen gets me in the mood for summer.

    Thanks to your site, I discovered and I’ve been reading Turin and Sanchez’s Perfume: The Guide. It’s great!

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 7:58 am

      Hi and welcome! You got some lovely things, & those 3 TFs must look w/ the black & white bottles all together.

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    • AnnS says:
      4 April 2009 at 1:53 pm

      Good for you on the Ce Soir ou Jamais – I love that one and really enjoy wearing it in the summer. I was lucky to find the pretty crystal “bag” style stopper bottle last year with the edp in it. Gorgeous!

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  60. thelittleredheadgirl says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:07 pm

    Oh no, forgot a small bottle of Calyx and five samples I purchased at Lucky Scent which included Lyric which I fell madly in love with at first sniff. :-)

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 7:58 am

      You don’t have to count samples! But when you buy that bottle of Lyric, LOL…

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  61. Santemon says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:21 pm

    Only one – at a hefty price tag… a rare bottle of Gobin Daude’s Jardins Ottomans, but it IS so beautiful… But excitingly (and unfortunately for my credit card) I am soon to head off on a European holiday…. so in my sights are CdeG Monocle Hinoki, at least one or two Ormonde Jaynes, some Guerlains etc etc… next quarter’s poll will see me sobbing over my credit card bills….

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 7:59 am

      Hey, lucky, lucky you! I am rationing the last of my Sous Le Buis & Seve Exquise.

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  62. vinery says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:33 pm

    I resolved that this year I would buy mainly classic scents and nice bottles. I will buy nothing over 50 ml this year and nothing in an ugly (or even plain) bottle. There!!! Back to Malle in 2010.
    in Q1 I bought:
    1. Niki de Saint Phalle extrait
    2. Ombre Rose extrait
    3. Infini de Caron extrait
    4. En Avoin de Caron extrait
    5. Nuit de Noel de caron extrait.
    No second thoughts- I love all of them. Next up is Vero KIKI

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 8:00 am

      Interesting idea…you’ll have a pretty dresser! I love the NdSP bottle.

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  63. alotofscents says:
    3 April 2009 at 10:40 pm

    Becca’s damage:
    Bulgari Black
    Yves Rocher Rose Absolue and
    Breath, and to return for their Gardenia,
    Peony
    Gucci Envy
    Marc Jacob’s Rain and
    Daisy
    Calvin Klein’s Euphoria
    Jo Malone’s Kodo Woods Ginger Lilly and
    Lotus Blossom both unsniffed and on the way
    Eclat D’ Arpege

    Does anyone know of a good Wisteria Fragrance???
    I love that smell. Blended is fine I just want it the predominant note.
    Thanks peeps,
    Becca

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    • Haunani says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:34 pm

      Hi Becca! Funny you should ask about wisteria. Just yesterday, I sampled the Neil Morris fragrance SPIRIT OF WATER, which features wisteria. Gorgeous! I wish it had more staying power, however. He also makes one called INTIMATE WISTERIA that sounds very pretty.

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    • SmokeyToes says:
      3 April 2009 at 11:59 pm

      How about Ume by Keiko Mecheri for a wisteria note?

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      • alotofscents says:
        4 April 2009 at 1:09 am

        Thanks Haunani and SmokeyToes. I will check into them right now.
        Joy and shopping blessings,
        Becca

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 8:01 am

      Becca, hope you will love your new Kohdo Woods, that was brave to order unsniffed!

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  64. merenguehips says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:18 pm

    *Damage would have been worse due to major samples buying, but I chose to pay down a student loan instead…yay responsibility & budgeting?
    -Bvlgari Black
    -Molinard Habanita
    -Piguet Bandit
    -Pacifica Waikiki Pikake

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 8:02 am

      Absolutely yay! You managed to get some great stuff anyhow.

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  65. helenviolette says:
    3 April 2009 at 11:21 pm

    I did the best I have done in many a quarter! Only two bottle purchases- HdP Marquis de Sade and the new delicious Prada Infusion d’Orange (which was BARELY purchased this quarter- I almost squeezed by on one bottle)….Came is under two bones- and I am quite pleased with both scents :-)

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 8:03 am

      I am on the edge of my seat waiting for that Prada to arrive…

      And congrats on your restraint!

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      • helenviolette says:
        4 April 2009 at 10:59 am

        Robin- the new Prada is glorious!!! I think it was bought and paid for within two minutes of sniffing- the perfect go-to spring scent…can’t wait to hear what you think ;-)

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        • Robin says:
          4 April 2009 at 12:35 pm

          Yay!

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  66. chrissyinoz says:
    4 April 2009 at 3:33 am

    1st quarter damage so far:
    1. vol de nuit

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  67. chrissyinoz says:
    4 April 2009 at 4:05 am

    oops hit the post button way too early lol …coriandre, dioressence, el private collection, farnesiana, diorella, chanel no 5 eau de premiere, calandre, knowing, jasmine noir, eau de hadrien, marc jacobs violet, lyric woman, jasmin et cigarette, kyoto, brandy, l’origan, eau de star, l’instant, insolence, un jardin sur le nil, montaigne, ambre extreme, violette precieuse, kingdom, ange ou demon, essenza del tempo, trussardi inside, chamade, vanilla noir, aomassai 10, parure, eau de reglisse, e. coudray vanille et coco, ambre gris, DKNY gold, climat, euphoria. Also bought around 15 bottles for my beloved & my 2 boys……then there’s the minis & the samples…..& 3 purchases still to arrive. Yikes!!! Did i hear someone say intervention???

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 8:16 am

      Wow!! Impressive list.

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  68. Aparatchick says:
    4 April 2009 at 8:23 am

    I was quite restrained this quarter. Two full bottles: Bvlgari The Rouge and Pure White Linen Light Breeze (getting ready for summer!). Add to that countless samples, and two Pacifica solids (Egyptian Bergamot Rose and Tibetan Mountain Temple),

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 12:34 pm

      Oh, you were very good! I want to try that P. Bergamot Rose.

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  69. JenDF says:
    4 April 2009 at 8:33 am

    I bought a 50ml bottle of Timbuktu (using a gift certificate–hooray for birthdays!), which I am absolutely loving.

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 12:34 pm

      Nice choice! And you spent nothing, so you don’t even have to claim 1 bottle :-)

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  70. brarian says:
    4 April 2009 at 10:29 am

    Robin, where did you pick up Mandarine Basilic for $30? If it was eBay, I guess I know who outbid me, tee hee.

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 12:34 pm

      No, it was what is known euphemistically at MUA as “other arrangements” :-)

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  71. Kess says:
    4 April 2009 at 11:23 am

    The Different Company Rose Poivrée (90 ml)
    Armani Privé Ambre Soie (50 ml refill)
    Armani Privé Cuir Améthyste (50 ml refill)
    Hermèssence Ambre Narguilé (15 ml)
    L’Artisan Dzongkha (50 ml)
    Zara Ambar (partial 50 ml bottle)
    For a total of $271 including tax and shipping (plus a ton of samples and small decants)

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 12:35 pm

      Nice list! I always forget AP does refills.

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  72. austenfan says:
    4 April 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Most people on here seem to have more self control than I do. Bottles bought so far in 2009:
    Cartier: Déclaration, Eau de Cartier
    CSP: Barbier des Iles, Vanille Abricot, Vanille Canelle
    Rochas: Tocade, L’ eau de Rochas ( mini)
    Dior: Diorella, Diorissimo, Eau Sauvage
    Guerlain: Vetiver
    Lancôme: Cuir
    Nina Ricci: Nina ( the 1987 version)
    Goutal: Ce soir ou jamais, Passion,La Violette, Néroli, Le Jasmin, Ambre Fétiche ( only 1/2 a bottle), decants of Encens Flamboyant and Myrrhe Ardente
    Donna Karan: Black Cashmere

    I haven’t got a clue how much I spent. I bought nearly all of them on e-bay. I hope that makes me a better person!

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    • Robin says:
      4 April 2009 at 12:36 pm

      I’m SURE it makes you a better person!

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  73. dianawr says:
    4 April 2009 at 1:35 pm

    Juliette Has a Gun Citizen Queen
    Memoire Liquide No. 900 Champagne Mure
    Kai EDP

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 7:09 am

      3 isn’t bad! I still need the try the ML line.

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  74. platinum14 says:
    4 April 2009 at 6:09 pm

    I went for some oldies:
    Trussardi Uomo
    Opium Homme
    Celine Homme

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 7:10 am

      Hey, you really did.

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  75. mi-cuit says:
    4 April 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Muscs Koublai Khan
    Guerlain Coriolan
    Balenciaga Cristobal
    Givenchy Insense
    Hermes Bel-Ami

    I should have bought Serge Noire, Now I’m afraid they’ll wreck it.

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 7:10 am

      Get some SN now then!

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  76. flittersniffer says:
    5 April 2009 at 7:30 am

    I just realised that the £180 I spent on FBs and minis this quarter equates to three months of the gym membership I cancelled at Christmas – making me fragrant….. and quits!

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 3:30 pm

      Ack! Now does that make you happy you quit your gym, or guilty?

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      • flittersniffer says:
        5 April 2009 at 5:29 pm

        Oh, totally relieved, as swims were costing me between £31.50 and £62 a go, depending on whether I went once or twice a month!

        Though technically I am actually fragrant…. flabby… and quits!

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        • flittersniffer says:
          5 April 2009 at 5:31 pm

          Brain has also got flabby, as that should read £63!

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  77. RossM says:
    5 April 2009 at 8:09 am

    Hello All,
    Being one of those newbie fragrance buyers on a mad buying frenzy I think I would have purchased about 9 bottles during Q1. What I’m most looking forward to however is the full bottle of Devine L’homme Sage I ordered a couple of days ago (would never have heard of it if not for this site!). I know it doesn’t count but just wanted to share anyway – no one else I know would give a damn!

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 3:31 pm

      Congrats! Are you getting the L’Homme Sage unsniffed?

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      • RossM says:
        6 April 2009 at 7:22 am

        Robin I emailed Divine (based on the advice of the comments left on the review) and they were kind enough to send a sample all the way to Australia. I had to return the favour by actually buying a full bottle, right? Well that’s my excuse anyway. Out of all the samples I’ve recieved this one was given the thumbs up by the wife and daughter. They usually think everything else I’ve tried either smells like dirt or sweat or more specifically “poo-poo” (my daughter just turned 4) so I guess that was another good reason to buy a full bottle. I’d like to get a bottle from the women’s range for my wife but I’m not sure which one. Any recommendations?

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        • Robin says:
          6 April 2009 at 12:28 pm

          That’s great customer service.

          I don’t know what to recommend for the women’s line — I really adore several of the Divine scents for men but none of the women’s have really wowed me, although they’re all nicely done.

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  78. Karen G says:
    5 April 2009 at 12:59 pm

    Just 2 bottles. Ormonde Woman and With Love by Hilary Duff. The OJ is stunning and an HG for me. (Frangipane is next). The Hilary Duff, while I wouldn’t have paid full price for it, is cheap and cheerful, and I think quite a pretty scent. I really like the bottle too – a cute little 30 ml. :)

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    • Robin says:
      5 April 2009 at 4:08 pm

      One cheap & cheerful, one expensive & stunning: not a bad haul!

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  79. Dzingnut says:
    6 April 2009 at 8:37 am

    Once I started counting, I was kind of surprised …
    Monsieur Balmain, based solely on Kevin’s hysterical review, and I love it
    Ivoire de Balmain, not bad
    Missoni Acqua, jury still out
    Lancome Cuir, like very much
    Dzing – wonderful!
    Dzonghka – beyond wonderful, I could eat it if this makes any sense!!
    Timbuktu – like very much
    And I am awaiting delivery of a bottle of Le De and Givenchy Vetyver, which I am very excited about!
    Robin and Kevin, thank you so much for your wonderful reviews, I would never have thought of ever trying half of these wonderful fragrances if not for you! Now I can sit in my office and worry about not having started the taxes, and that my job kind of sucks and I am really tired of my commute, and both dogs need to go back to the vet, and it’s starting to rain … but hey, I smell GREAT. And I can smell a different way each and every day!

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    • Robin says:
      6 April 2009 at 4:03 pm

      LOL….hey, we have the same strategy. Procrastinate on the taxes, buy more perfume instead.

      Love your user name!

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