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!)
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.
well i did include samples and it was 22! Yikes!
for just straight purchases it was 7 – so that’s not too bad is it?
Samples don’t count…just bottles!
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.
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?
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!
Think I read somewhere that they were…but who knows, I have a terrible memory!
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.
Not bad at all!
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?
Hardly at all
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!
Oh, that Merveilles bottle is so pretty, congrats!
And thanks for the kind words
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?
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.)
That’s cheating, but when you don’t touch Acqua di Gio, all is forgiven…
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).
Nope, doesn’t count!
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!
You can only borrow them if they’re primarily his.
And I don’t believe he’s wearing your Drole de Rose, either!
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….
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.
I hate it when I do that! Oh well, the OJ sample set makes up for it, I hope.
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!!!
LOL…well then you’ve saved yourself lots of $$$, just as well!
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!!!
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.
What’s R & G?
I assumed Roger & Gallet.
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.
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?
and don’t forget Le Labo, Fresh, and Lafco.
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.
And don’t forget Saks Fifth Avenue! Have fun.
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
Ack, it was supposed to be an option…Freudian slip! Have tried to put it back, we’ll see if it shows up eventually.
There…it’s added. Of course, changing midstream means the whole poll is statistically irrelevant, LOL…
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
Oh my! Nice list though, you’ve got several I’d like to have.
It’s all ebay’s fault
Well, I think we have similar tastes, don’t?
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.
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
I’ve purchased zero bottles, but I received a bottle of Mat Yellow as free at my job.
Congrats on not spending, and congrats on getting a perfume anyway — hope you like it?
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.
Oops…that’s “not one bottle”.
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.
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.
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.
Hey, you were very well-behaved!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
I mean 15 bottles. Now I’m so addled I can’t count.
Don’t worry, you’ll probably have an easier time slowing down next year…
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.
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.
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.
Good for you!
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.
Hey, I would do someones taxes for perfume! Except for that I can barely do my own, LOL…
You mean: you would be willing to do their taxes, but they wouldn’t want you to?? lol
Exactly.
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.
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…
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.
What an excellent mother in law you have. Wish mine was like that, she’d be horrified!
I really did get lucky there.
Of course, she also lives on another continent, so our opportunities to clash are quite minimal.
Diorella is great stuff, good choices
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.
Beautiful stuff, though.
You have quite a list yourself, despite the ones that were a “waste”.
What a nice set of perfumes though! Jealous of your OJs.
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.
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.
Oooh, jealous of your Pulp!
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!
Nice list! Hope he likes the Eau Sauvage.
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.
Congrats on meeting your goal!
Thanks! Hoping I can maintain this through Q2.
Vol de Nuit, my all-time favorite! I would count that outside the budget, since it’s an essential in my book.
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
I added it! It’s usually in these polls, but somehow I left it out this morning.
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.
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!
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).
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!)
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
Very reasonable!
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…
Er… what’s the emoticon before Donna Karan? It should be a number 8….
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.
Thanks, I didn’t know that!
Any idea how to turn it off? I hate the graphic emoticons…which probably gives away my age.
So far as I know, you can’t turn it off, sorry!
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?
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…)
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.
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.
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…
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?)
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.
LOL…yes, so they do.
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??
Nope, then it doesn’t count til next quarter. 1 bottle is excellent!
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.
Excellent buy, congrats!
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!
Still beats paying for a 100 ml Hermessence though — and love VT.
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!
That is a generous sample! Vanille Galante is on my must-try list.
I like those large glass samples.
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!
Hey, nice gift certificates you’re getting! And nice buys. I wish I had a bottle of Dzing.
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.
We never ask about samples! Congrats on the vintage Joy
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.
Oh, what fun though — Paris! And terribly jealous of your IUNX scents…
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!
What a great story! Glad you love the SSS even if it isn’t the same.
Tabac Aurea is gorgeous – good for you!
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
Hey, how is that Mandarina Duck? And why, oh why, doesn’t Dior sent the ESFC to the US
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?
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
HA, I”m saved: does not sound like “me”, thanks!!
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.
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.
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!
Oh, so glad you got that Kenzo, it’s such a cool scent. Sorry the other Kenzo didn’t work.
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.
Lucky lucky you! I think those 30 ml bottles might be gone now.
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.
Ah, thanks.
Nary a one, zilch, nada. I’m waiting for sunnier days, so to speak.
Good for you! And hope those days are here soon.
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.
Have fun at Sniffa!
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
I need a bottle of that Prada. And you got nice summery stuff, congrats!
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!
LOL — it’s bad when you start dreaming about things on your wishlist!
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?
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…
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…
Congrats on your new CM extrait, that’s nice!
There will be a decant of L’Ete en Douce coming your way soon!
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!
I vote for the L’Artisan! (not that it matters, LOL…)
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
Whew, that’s quite a list!
But what on earth is Wicked Wahine?!?
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?
What a shame!
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.
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
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!
thanks for rubbing it, missy, the wound is already festering and the salt isn’t helping!
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!
I wonder if they will have the JM on counter for longer this time? Wish they’d do a 3rd in that series…
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?
HA…I suppose you’re right. Just wish they’d do more scents in that vein.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.)
Thanks for the support, everyone! We’re all in this together
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…
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.
If you all are serious about setting up a split you should probably chime in at some point.
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.
Also have to add, I’m usually NOT a bottle person. This one just sings (pardon the pun).
boojum – you can go to the Perfumed Court and buy decanting supplies from them.
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.
Ah, I’ve resisted MUA for so so long….LOL! Over to the dark side, I guess.
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?
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.
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??!!
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.
Um, those would be Hail Donatellas
And you’ve sure got enough “holy water” to douse yourself with!
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
Nice picks! The Lucienne is pretty.
Robin R, I would love to hear what some of your others are!
Oh, now I see that you posted your list. You sure have some beauties!
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.
Hey, no, that’s a pretty low bottle count.
What do you smell in the Creed if not rose?
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.)
That’s so odd…wonder if you are anosmic to certain components of rose.
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!
Oh well. I’m sure there are musks I’m not smelling…
Happy to meet another carnation lover!
I have been amazed at this carnation thing! I love it! So spicy, but not heavy!
Cdg Carnation is the most amazing carnation ever! It plays well with other perfumes too. Try layering it.
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.
Hey, I haven’t even tried that line yet! I have samples but am SO behind. Will have to pull them out…
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…
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?
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.
LOL…sorry we held up your buying! And yes, I keep waiting for the half-off L’Artisan sale, ha. No luck so far.
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.
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!
Well, congrats for behaving when you need to! How was the Maoli?
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.
Balkiss is lovely
PdN Balkis is swoony indeed. One of my favorites.
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.
Hi and welcome! What are you plotting to buy so far?
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.
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!
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…
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.
And he IS the nicest man EVER!
You were the lucky double winner during the advent calendar giveaways, right? Did you get the rose chyprée?
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.
Congrats on your win! Love that AT does these giveaways all the time.
I know, his generosity bowls me over… and I wasn’t even the first-place winner, just the consolation prize!
Hi!
This is my first “comment”. Thanks Robin for the blog! I enjoy it very much
Only one bottle: THE BEAT (30 ml)
Hi and welcome! You were very restrained considering your user name
Thanks!
I’m saving for the next quarter!!
For me this was the best quarter in almost 2 years. I bought only one bottle: Chant d’Aromes.
Congrats!! 1 bottle in 3 months is about how much I should be buying.
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!
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.
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.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I got a great GWP with the Pure White Linen–that mitigates the spending, right?
Oh yes, if you got a GWP, you get to subtract 2 bottles from your purchase
So you loved the Prada then?
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.
Waiting for my samp to come in the mail. Hope I love it!
If you like soapy, I think you’ll like the Prada!
And I realized I forgot a decant of Matin d’Orage. ::blush::
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!
Sounds like a wise choice…save now, spend in Paris.
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist!
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
I like the vintage RF much better than the new. Nice list!
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!
I forgot some:
23. Karl Lagerfeld Woody
24. Karl Lagerfeld Light
25. Karl Lagerfeld Floriental (like this one best)
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….
I concur! So my list comes down to 18. Still out of control though.
6 a month, well, whatever — if it makes you happy! And there was a time when I was buying at least that much!
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.
P.S. Several of the above were from resellers, and the Fleur de Liane was actually a valentine from my husband.
You don’t have to count gifts!
Nice haul, either way, and was just thinking that I needed to try Sienne L’Hiver again.
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!
Hi and welcome! You got some lovely things, & those 3 TFs must look w/ the black & white bottles all together.
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!
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.
You don’t have to count samples! But when you buy that bottle of Lyric, LOL…
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….
Hey, lucky, lucky you! I am rationing the last of my Sous Le Buis & Seve Exquise.
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
Interesting idea…you’ll have a pretty dresser! I love the NdSP bottle.
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
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.
How about Ume by Keiko Mecheri for a wisteria note?
Thanks Haunani and SmokeyToes. I will check into them right now.
Joy and shopping blessings,
Becca
Becca, hope you will love your new Kohdo Woods, that was brave to order unsniffed!
*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
Absolutely yay! You managed to get some great stuff anyhow.
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
I am on the edge of my seat waiting for that Prada to arrive…
And congrats on your restraint!
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
Yay!
1st quarter damage so far:
1. vol de nuit
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???
Wow!! Impressive list.
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),
Oh, you were very good! I want to try that P. Bergamot Rose.
I bought a 50ml bottle of Timbuktu (using a gift certificate–hooray for birthdays!), which I am absolutely loving.
Nice choice! And you spent nothing, so you don’t even have to claim 1 bottle
Robin, where did you pick up Mandarine Basilic for $30? If it was eBay, I guess I know who outbid me, tee hee.
No, it was what is known euphemistically at MUA as “other arrangements”
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)
Nice list! I always forget AP does refills.
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!
I’m SURE it makes you a better person!
Juliette Has a Gun Citizen Queen
Memoire Liquide No. 900 Champagne Mure
Kai EDP
3 isn’t bad! I still need the try the ML line.
I went for some oldies:
Trussardi Uomo
Opium Homme
Celine Homme
Hey, you really did.
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.
Get some SN now then!
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!
Ack! Now does that make you happy you quit your gym, or guilty?
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!
Brain has also got flabby, as that should read £63!
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!
Congrats! Are you getting the L’Homme Sage unsniffed?
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?
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.
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.
One cheap & cheerful, one expensive & stunning: not a bad haul!
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!
LOL….hey, we have the same strategy. Procrastinate on the taxes, buy more perfume instead.
Love your user name!