Another year, another damage poll. Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Scented Extravagance,1 wants to know what you bought in the 1st quarter (January, February and March) of 2011.
Update: the poll is now closed. Thanks to everyone who voted!
My purchases? Very minor...
I bought a small decant of Strange Invisible Perfumes Black Rosette Eau de Parfum. That's it. Grand total for the quarter: $28.
As always, report your purchases in the comments if you dare! And as always, we don't include samples or gifts, and you can count miniatures, decants and bottle-splits howsoever you like (I usually count them as half bottles).
1. Why does Donatella host (against her will, mind you) the damage polls? There is no real reason other than the picture of her perfume collection, which shows that she indulges regularly at the perfume counter. The image, by the way, is originally from Allure magazine and appears here courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.
I bought a bottle of Lacroix Absynthe (OK, it’s actually AVON Absynthe, but it smells heavenly!) when it was marked down to $16 in January.
In February I ordered the Smell Bent Radio Dada sample pack, because I needed to bedeck myself in Exquisite Corpse and Lobster Cellphone.
In March I bought a used 30 ml. of Mahora on eBay for $23.
Total damage: $64.
Those Smell Bent names crack me up. I don’t always love the fragrances, but they are at least adventurous!
Agreed. Lobster Cellphone is great.
I need to catch up on my smell bents this summer. I saw a number over the year that look really interesting. I love that art too. So clever.
agreed. The names are fun, the artwork is fun, I like the whole idea of the house and of course Brent is just a doll …..so far though, none of the fragrances have inspired me enough to purchase one.
Smell Bent is just so fun for the price its easy to play around, well somewhat easy… The sample packs are great, and I dumped an oil sample of mama casis into a 4ml edp spray of it to give it a hefty boost (I know with other frags this would be a sin of course) and its great! Love Brents idea for the company and I like supporting it, he’s very original and has a cute idea.
Exquisite Corpse and Lobster Cellphone? The mind boggles! 😀 What DO they smell of?
Lobster Cellphone is fresh, citrussy, and ozonic. I haven’t tried the Exquisite Corpse yet, but apparently it has a prominent “earth” note, so the name is kind of appropriate.
Fuzzy Teacup smells like cooked milk, honey, and tea. It’s like a tea-flavored creme brulee. Mots Verts smelled like walking into a Honey-Baked Ham franchise store — that one was a scrubber for me.
OH!
two or three weekends ago I spent the weekend at my Uncle’s caravan and one of his daughters (my cousins) had left a bottle of Absynthe in one of the bedrooms, it is fantastic for an Avon fragrance, and yes Christian Lacroix designed it.
I forgot to take perfume with me that weekend so I sprayed a little of that under my clothes, hoping no one would recognise it lol.
oh Lord, I was so good : )
Chanel Eau Premiere 40ml
Guerlain Mitsouko 5ml, cutest thing ever 🙂
and that’s it, for an uncertain period of time, my husband was fired a month ago : (
Oh, I’m so sorry about your husband! Hope he finds something soon.
Yes – wishing for something to come along for him soon!
Best of luck to you and your husband.
thank you guys, so kind of you.
he is working very hard on finding a new job
Hope your husband finds a job very soon! This damn economy bites.
Sorry about the job; hope he finds something even better!
And congratulations on the restraint. (- eau de premier is gorgeous.)
Hope he finds an even better job very soon. Good karma is heading your way.
Best of luck to you and your husband! I hope you will get this work and income replaced soon!
So sorry to hear about your husband…sending wishes that he finds a job somewhere that offers employees a discount on perfume. 🙂
In the meantime TJ Maxx is your friend. They offer good discounts, but I’ve found that they have extra special prices in their clearance section (usually just around the corner from the perfume aisle). I don’t know if you’ll find any classic Chanels or Guerlains, but every once in awhile there’s a gem hidden in there: Marc Jacobs Fig for $16, Caswell Massey LOTV talcum powder for $2, and Aqua Allegoria Cherry Blossom (4.2 oz bottle!) for $18 are some of my recent finds.
ow! awfully sorry about the hubby’s job. The economy is a mess and nature sure isn’t helping any! Hope he finds an even better job really soon.
I hope your husband is able to find a new job he likes better. Best wishes to you both.
thank you everyone, it means a lot to me.
I hope your wishes come true soon too : )
I bought a 50ml bottle of the original Prada edp, which I have wanted ever since it came out (what was that, 6, 7 years ago?), for $76. But this was on the second of January, so really, it barely counts : p
Then I bought a 30ml of Violette in love for $45.
Damnit, and I just remembered this: a 30ml (backup) bottle of L de Lolita for $21 and a 50ml of Si Lolita for $30.
Total damage: $176.
LOL … love the idea that if you buy it on the 2nd day, it counts less. That’s the kind of reasoning I would use.
If you order at the stroke of midnight between the last day of one quarter and the first day of the next… can you skip counting it altogether?
Excellent point!
Oh I’m sure!
aha, it just makes me feel like I’ve been better than I have (“man, it’s been sooo long since I bought anything, what was that, New Years? I can definitely justify a new bottle…”) but then you add it up and the tally doesn’t lie. $176 is more than half my rent!
More than half your rent? Dear god, I want to live where you live. I’d have to indulge pretty heavily to compete with my rent.
It’s not so much the area (area is pretty expensive), it’s that I live with three other people (so, two couples) in a two bedroom appartment! I’m a student so, arg, gotta make living as cheap as possible. By the same token, I should also not have perfume as a hobby… but, oh well.
I ordered 2 perfumes in March but they didn’t arrive until today (April) – doesn’t count!
Total damage for the quarter is $80, but it was all samples and decants (5 ml of CBIHP Just Breathe and Cumming 2 and Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey).
My spending has gone down since my husband is getting more and more sensitive to smells. He gets migraines and they are often triggered by fragrances : ( So the only time I feel comfortable wearing perfume is for work and I certainly don’t want to spend $$ on perfume when I already have more than I will ever be able to wear.
Oh, that’s a shame about your husband! But yeah, can see how that will save you $.
I spent no money on perfume this quarter. Nothing at all, not even a tiny sample. Not because I was being good, mind, but because I was too busy buying other things. The joy of having multiple hobbies and interests.
Oooh! What are your other hobbies? What did you buy? Curious minds want to know. 🙂
Well, I lost most of my jewellery a while ago (long story) so I’ve been trying to slowly re-build a collection in the recent months. Nothing worthy of Elizabeth Taylor, just a couple of good quality, understated classics which I got good deals on and I know will wear for years.
I’m also eyeing up a camera lens so there probably won’t be any perfume in the next quarter either. Unless I finally win that lottery jackpot, that is 😀
Sorry about your lost jewelry! But awesome that you’re replenishing your collection. I had some jewelry stolen during a move some years ago, and still get upset about it. Hard to replace, especially the sentimental pieces…
Oh…sorry to hear about both of your jewelry losses. I just tend to misplace mine. Right now, a long strand of baroque pearl necklaces and earrings have been missing since I wore them for my anniversary last June. *sigh*…
I am very sorry about your jewellery. The disappearance of mine was also connected to a move and, yes, I still find it upsetting to think about. I wasn’t into buying jewellery when I was younger so most of those pieces were gifts from loved ones and of sentimental value. I decided not worry about replacing anything since it would be pretty much impossible anyway, and just start afresh.
OperaFan, I hope your pearls surface soon! I love pearls, btw, they are my birthstone and one of the things that I bought this year were a pair of white South Sea studs.
Abyss – I’m a June-baby also!
Well, I was bad. Verra verra bad. Something tells me many of you are not overly surprised given that I am so often : verra bad.
The majority of my purchases were splits that I hosted so I’ll only list things that I bought either for my greedy self or kept at least 30ml from a split.
1. Xerjoff Verona 010 ….I knew testing this line would be bad news!
2. Keiko Mecheri Attar de Roses …I won a sample…seems innocent enough, right? Wrong! sampling leads to buying!
3. Keiko Mecheri Peau de Peche ….was craving peaches…
4. FM En Passant –I blame this one on Boo; she hosted a split…it didn’t take long to realize that 5ml was never going to do.
5. SL Jeux de Peau –butter and apricot jam! Warning: Addictive
6. Frapin 1697 –I hate it when they make a limited number of something, but it’s cool, and I got to worry about it all the way from Germany. 😉
7. Penhaligon’s Zizonia –accidental ebay win. Was looking, placed a bid, changed my mind but it was too late–I’d won! so I’ll probably split it up when I get the time.
8. AdP Profumo –100% Haunani’s doing, this one is! Always waxing poetic she was! Spineless I am! Awesome it is!
9. AdP Profumo vtg. —you knew this was coming…had to try both.
10. Maison Martin Margiela untitled — I blame this one on my friend Claudia “spring in a bottle” “my new go-to scent for spring” etc. how was I supposed to resist that?! it does smell like hedges that have just been trimmed.
11. Mona di Orio Jabu –halvsies in a split…since Joe did the ordering I guess I get to blame him for this one!
12. Brecourt Haram — yummy samples brought to me from someone who went to Paris.
13. Brecourt Ambre Noir –see above.
14. SL Rose de Nuit —uh, yeah….anyone who goes to Paris needs to bring me back a Bell Jar….there’s a rule somewhere about that….
15. Ines de la Fressange—because Mals said the words “sugared roses” and then I was tripping all over myself to get to ebay…where the stuff is a steal! (tall bottle with leaves, the short squarish version is different)
16. Mary Greenwell Plum–sparkly green, bright plummy floral..ordered in Jan. arrived in March…talk about STRESS!
17. Korres Pepper Jasmine Gaiac Wood Passion Fruit –yes, I know, exhausting just saying it! Tends toward masculine gourmand, some “pie” spices on a nice woody base–perfect for fall but I’m wearing happily in this blustery weather.
18. Agonist Liquid Crystal –back to the evils of sampling. You know, those Luckyscent folks are just trouble.
So, umm, yeah…that’s my list….if I’ve forgotten something I’m sure one of my good friends will out me soon enough. Y’all are helpful like that. 😉
NICE!!!!
You’ve been keeping yourself as busy as ever!
I agree with on on Jeux de Peau, there’s something strangely compelling about it and I’m not much of SL nut.
How did you find vintage Profumo? Is there a big difference? I’m also a fan of it but I’ve only ever smelled the current formulation (which still smells like something from a different era).
ahhh, Vintage Profumo —I happened across a bottle that was just listed with a buy it now price on ebay—and I snapped it up. Seriously: all you would have seen is a flash of light , and it was mine. The opening is different between the two –oak moss being the issue here–in the vintage it is very evident in the opening, giving it that earthy almost musty weight to the fragrance. The 2008 version is almost a little fruity in the top….but honestly—as you get into the dry down they become almost identical. If you are a die-hard oakmoss fan then you will prefer the vintage….on the other hand if oakmoss is nice but your world doesn’t hinge on it (sometimes I like oakmoss, sometimes I don’t) then the newer version might be your preference. They do both have that “different era” vibe to them, and they’re both beautiful fragrances.
I picked up a mini this qtr, but it doesn’t smell anything like the grand perfume that everyone has been raving about…
Big fans of Profumo do tend to carry on…that’s what big fans do I guess. I don’t think it’s a “grand perfume” as much as it seems to have the feel of a nice classic chypre to it, without being one of the “difficult ” chypres that you have to dance around until you “get it” or give up on it. Personally; I tire easily of that sort of perfume challenge and move with sure steps into the gave up on it camp. Profumo has that classic vibe without the struggle.
Lol! Is that a Bird? Is that a plane? No, it’s Daisy hitting BIN on ebay! 😀
Well, it sounds like they did a decent job with the new formula and didn’t completely deface the original. I like me some moss but one of my favourite things about Profumo is actually that rich plum note against the chypre base so I’m probably okay sticking with the modern stuff…. *credit card breathes a tiny sigh of relief*
yeah, I really like the current one too.
I have so far avoided that MMM Untitled, but I don’t know how. You know me and greenies. (It’s possible I looked at the FB price and my head exploded… I can’t remember.)
Probably… I know that’s what has held me back, though it sounds so very tempting.
Oh, and PLUM PLUM PLUM PLUM!
I really want to try this one!!!
Which also got a pass due to being highly unavailable.
Yes – also why I haven’t tried it!
untitled has galbanum…. I can’t believe you have resisted! wait a minute…you might be an alien Pod-Mals……what’s the password?
Wow! That is impressive! I am jealous!! En passant and jeux de peau are ones that I have samples of in shopping carts on various websites online…but I can bring myself to click ‘purchase’ until my financial situation seems less dire…must…stand…strong. Your post isn’t helping…ahhh!
LOL! I PROMISE you that those exact two are in my shopping cart at TPC right now! And have been….. 😀
But take the En Passant back out, bc I have a sample for you, remember? I know exactly where it is, too… just need to get that package put together.
Well of course I had forgotten! Thanks!!
Meg –drop me a note at Daisyloo82@gmail.com and I’ll fix you up.
Rapple dear, you know I already have your addy –sending friday.
Boo –you send Rapple some En Passant and I’ll send you some untitled (not to enable, just for informational purposes of course. )
Think I’ll be knocking on Daisy’s mailbox door pretty soon with a tin cup full of empty vials….
“will work for samples…” ?
Absolutely!
…No… wait… More like begging. 😉
ahhhh, but we would have fun finding things to fill the vials with!!
Empress, I am SO sorry that all of those people are SO mean to you and MAKE you buy this stuff! I’m going to beat them up for you!
Thank you Rapple….it’s been terrible! all the vicious arm twisting ….the begging and whining (oh wait, that’s me…) 😉
Daisy – well, you always have a list of very beautiful fragrances indeed. And it’s nice that you share your loaves with the rest of us!! I love the KM Attar de Roses. I’m thinking of picking up a bottle of that later this year.
I need to send you a sample of Mazzolari le rose…..mmm mmm mmm
Daisy is our hero. 😀
Where is the ‘Like’ button for this comment! You Rock, Daisy!
why, thank ya, ma’am. 😉
Hi Daisy,
Where did you order the M.G. Plum?
Got lucky mostly—an ebay seller in the UK had a bottle ….in the end it cost less than buying a bottle straight from the company (because they wanted almost $40 to ship it) and probably a bit more than it’ll cost when it’s available for sale in the States…but I was “chomping at the bit” as it were…. the only problem was somehow it took over 2 months to ship from the UK.
Plum trivia: the cap on the 100ml bottle weighs 7.8 ounces….yep, I weighed it! the darn thing is a ROCK.
HA! So that was you! I eyed that auction for a while, but it skeered me that it would be coming from such a long way away.
You can blame Plum on me, if you like. Mals already got the blame for Ines de la Fressange, and since I’ve mentioned Plum about a thousand times….. 🙂
Okay —I blame Aparatachik for Plum!! hahahaha thanks, I feel better already….less perfume purchases being my fault and all.
Hmmm…I do remember you mentioning this A LOT….fanning the flames (pouring gasoline on the flames….adding oxygen etc)
Did I swipe this one from you? (sorry if I did…need a split?)
There were a couple right around this time (mid January) this one came up “BIN” at just around $160 or so….sigh, not exactly a deal, but I kept getting out bid so I just went for it. Then panicked as February melted into March…much nail biting ensued. When I was about to give it up for lost …it showed up —boy, was the package beat up! I was sure I was going to open up a mess….but it was perfect.
I just sampled PLUM (scored a small decant in a swap) and it smells a LOT like the original Juicy Couture to me- anybody else getting that?
Uh… no. I would have said the JC is melon+hint of tuberose = fruity bubblegum. The opening of Plum is indeed fruity, but more tart peach+lots of lemon, in my opinion.
You know what, Helen? I was intrigued by the comparison, so I went upstairs to try Juicy Couture on one wrist and Plum on the other.
And I’ll be darned if they don’t share a similar tart, citrusy fruity topnote with white florals in the background, for about three minutes. You were right!
After that, they diverge pretty quickly, with JC losing the citrus angle and heading straight into “fresh floral” territory before finally picking up some beachy coconut, while Plum goes all white florals with a quiet woody-mossy base (more patchouli-woods than moss, for you chypre purists, but there IS moss in there).
Lucky you! The astronomical postage fees are what it putting me off. Thanks for the info. Are you happy with your bottle of Plum? Can you compare it with another fragrance?
If you can hold out a little longer, it is supposed to be available in here soon. I don’t really have anything else to compare it to, it’s really different from the rest of my collection. *sorry*
Daisy, congrats on your first quarter collection! Can I ask how Sa Majeste La Rose and Rose de Nuit compare?
Hi Merlin—Sa Majeste le Rose and Rose de Nuit are way at different ends of the rose spectrum….SMlR is (to me) a hot, peppery, rose –I feel it high up in the back of my nose , I think that’s the peppery aspect. Rose de Nuit is rounder, deeper….honeyed and a little animalic… a lot more going on in RdN if you ask me. SMlR is bright sunlight rose….RdN is definitely after dusk. The closest scent I can think of to RdN is Guerlain Rose Barbare , have you sniffed that one? Hope that answers your question a little.
Thanks Daisy!
Nope, i haven’t tried rose barbare. The only ‘dark rose’ I have smelled is JhG Citizen Queen, and I cant really identify the rose in it…
I got a sample vial of RdN from TPC last year – it smelled more like a man’s fragrance… 🙁
Somehow I knew you’d have the longest list.
-And I agree about the bell jar. I’ve never been to Paris, but that’s at the top of my souvenir list if I ever get the chance to go. My rule is everytime I travel I have to bring back a fragrance I do not have access to at home.
Wait a minnit. You got the leaves bottle of Ines?
I have the octagonal one. I don’t think you can blame me for Ines…
hmmm…..not so fast to get out of the blame….I ended up with BOTH the short bottle AND the leaves bottle…..so you are still to blame for one of them….must have been Claudia who was tossing the “sugared roses” comment around….I like them both. But they are very different.
I think it was indeed Claudia with the sugared roses, as my description of Octagonal Ines is more like “rose bellini.”
Can I bury my damage response inside yours somewhere so no one notices!? :p
you cannot hide, do not try……we will find your post…and there WILL be comments….*resistance is futile* etc etc
Wait. . .I mean, damage report? What damage? I was a SAINT this quarter! I mean, heck, I’m a newbie, so why would I be spending MONEY on something I’m just learning about? No, not me! I’m MUCH too careful for that. . .
(*fertively glances from side to side and tries to sneak out the back entrance*)
you can’t hide those bottles….we’ve seen you sneaking bubble mailers and priority mail boxes into the trash can….
Miz Daisy, I just love the way you “blame” some of us for your sins! 😉
🙂
Oh, on me, Plum is not green or floral; it’s a definite chypre: warm and cosy, mossy. The drydown is everything I want a drydown to be (the one thing that makes me a little disappointed in SLs is that their drydowns are often not terribly interesting). Plum’s drydown is very similar to that of the original Salvador Dali, years ago (the new version is awful). It’s lovely.
You are so incredibly lucky! I usually have only myself to blame!
Uuhhhh …FB’s of
Habit Rouge
Joy EDP
Joy EDT
Emeraude
L’Aimant (this was after reading the book about #5, I wanted to get an idea of what it smelled like).
Hiris (back up bottle)
Fortunately all were from on-line discounters on the days when they offered an additional 15% with free shipping, so that’s a good thing … right?
What did you think of L’Aimant? I have an older bottle of parfum de toilette, and it is very rich.
Hi mals – I liked it, especially the first 15 mins. It’s still sort of a rich floral, but it peters out pretty fast. I’m sure it’s been reformulated and cheapened a zillion times since it first came out, and at its current price, it’s hard to expect anything too exciting. But I did like those 15 mins!
I can’t imagine it hasn’t been messed with – like all the classic Cotys, durn their hides!
I’m curious – why the EDT and EDP of Joy? Is one for day and the other for night? Or are they really different from each other? I’ve only had the pleasure of sampling the EDT and hope to buy a full bottle someday so I’d really like to hear your comparison of the two.
nice deals on Joy edt often can be found on ebay. If you are patient you can sometimes find 2.5 oz testers for around $50 sometimes less.
To me, EDT is very rosy and the EDP is very indolic jasmine.
EXACTLY!! 🙂
I have an older Joy EDP (branded as Eau de Joy) and it’s soooooo jasmine. Panties jasmine.
Hi Lucy: I bought both mostly because of the review in The Guide, and here on NST – I wanted to see if my sniffer was sophisticated enough to detect the differences in intensity between the two. I love florals, so having both is all good! The Big Question: could I tell the difference? The EDP is more rich, but they seemed much closer to each other than #5 EDT and EDP – even my inarticulate nose can detect the differences there.
Hiris, is, of course, faboo. Good choice there!
Joy Edt versus Joy Edp ~~~ I do find them very different. Do you prefer one over the other?
Hi Daisy – I love both, but I think I prefer the EDP … but it’s still pretty cold here in Boston, so when it warms up, the lighter EDT might work better for me! And ooooh, I do love Hiris! I lurk on fragrancenet every day, checking to see if it’s in stock. Because when it is, it’s gone within a few hours!!!
Wow! Everyone sounds like they didn’t buy much this quarter – kudos to you! I wasn’t so thrifty. Hard to determine the total amount spent, though, cause I had a stash sitting in my PayPal acct from splits I hosted last quarter. Did quite a bit of damage though. I’m guesstimating the total out of pocket was about $300.
Bottles:
• Vetiver Pour Elle – hosted split
• Agent Provocateur Diamond Dust
• Vol de Nuit Evasion
• Technique Indiscrete For Them
Decants:
• Atelier Cologne – Trefle Pur, Vanille Insensee, Oolang Infini, Bois Blond
• Bois de Violette – partial bottle
• La Petite Robe Noire
• Histoires de Parfums 1969
• Chanel – 28 La Pausa, No. 18
• Maison Martin Margiela Untitled
• Amouage – Gold Woman, Epic, Jubilation 25, Lyric Woman
Samples:
• Parfums MDCI
• Perfumed Court – a few
• Luckyscent – a bunch
Giveaways (won):
• NOBILE 1942 Estroverso – bottle
• Histoires de Parfums Tubereuse series – samples
• Honore des Pres Vamp a NY – sample
Uh oh – didn’t see Daisy’s damage before I posted! Kudos to you, too, DD!!!!
yes, well….I’m naughty and everyone already knows that so I don’t even bother with being ashamed anymore!
Did you get your Amouages??
Not yet!!! Just checked the tracking # and it said it passed through Detroit today!
Today?? sheesh o pete! Golly, I hope they aren’t exhausting themselves at the Detroit sorting center! *snort*
the good news is that after a leisurely stay in Detroit, it should move pretty fast. *hopefully*
They probably are, to your credit… 😉
Yeah, crazy, huh? I hope the Amouages are still intact!!! Will let you know when I receive them. 🙂
I expect they are fine….you know how I lurve bubble wrap. More likely you will need the Jaws of Life to get them out of the package.
You got some good stuff!
There’s some mighty fine fragrances on your list Karin! You are smelling better than ever my dear! 😉
Yes…no more Emporio Armani Diamonds for me. 😉
I agree with Rustic!
Karin–you smell fantastic..and you have excellent tastes. 🙂
You will notice that most of those decants came from you, dear friend. Thank you, thank you!!!!
I’m never *quite* as good as I think I am, although not too bad. Only a couple of decants: Vetiver Pour Elle, Odori Iris and Diaghilev
and a mini of Pampalune.
Total damage just over $100.
You were good.
Thanks, Mals! Prudence was forced upon me by a salary cut!
Yeah… well, you know, our household income just took a downward adjustment too. I will HAVE to be good next quarter.
Except that I already went and ordered that pig-in-a-poke pre-release thing from Jean Desprez: $35. Hope it’s good.
ah, but what do you get to buy as a reward when your first novel gets published???
… making a list already…
Meant to add that once lovely hostess, Our Lady of Scented Extravagance, Donatella, was featured on a slideshow of “plastic surgeries gone bad”:
http://www.windstream.net/news/slideshow.php
And that wasn’t even the worst picture I’ve seen of her…the one above is nice, I think it’s before she really went to town.
Naturally I felt compelled to go look at some pages of terrible plastic surgeries gone wrong…..okay, I can understand if you’re rich, famous, influential –that maybe the people around you (who are probably your employees) aren’t going to say “OMG that’s awful! what did you do to yourself? Get it fixed, then STOP!” …….people don’t want to lose their livelihood thru too much honesty….but come on! they must see photos of themselves! it’s amazing….disturbing…but amazing.
Nor am I, which is why I took a note from Joe’s page and added a “running tally” column to my spreadsheet. Pretty good deterrent system. As a result, I know what I spent this quarter, but not what I bought…that will have to wait until I get home.
It’s funny how hat works, isn’t it? I can mostly remember holding myself back from buying perfume, and yet, here I am with 4 bottles. Mysterious.
Oh, yes. I think, Well, I hardly bought anything, and certainly not everything that I wanted… and then I look at the haul. Wrong!
But at the moment, I think I may have purchased the last backup bottle of discontinued stuff that I really, um, need. (I NEED a stash of Cuir! And L’Arte! And Voile de Fleur and Parfum Sacre!)
We must have been on the same wavelength b/c I got some backups this quarter as well – PS and BO VdF!
And why do I keep sampling when I already have more than I’ll ever wear in three lifetimes?!?
Umm… so you know what you want to acquire in swaps, which are no-cost alternatives (or near enough) to buying. Right?
My theory: we’re like the zoo animals in a cage of work and need scent enrichment to keep us sane! 🙂
I like this theory!
Wish I could be that good! Maybe next quarter… no – Laurie’s got some nice things coming up at SSS and I won’t be able to resist!
I’ve already anticipated that as well! PLUS, my bottle of CdB is almost gone!
oh noes!! *important to never run out of CdB*
CdB is amazing stuff!
I haven’t bought anything this quarter, only because I couldn’t figure out how to get hold of that Diaghilev*…
How is it R.?
Is it as good as a vintage Mitsouko?
Please, tell me!
😉
* in fact I also wanted to buy A la Nuit or love and tears, but every day I thought: tomorrow… So now we are having almost summer temperatures and I have no jasmine yet! :p
To me, it’s different than vintage Mitsouko – a little lighter and more floral, although there is a nod to a relationship. It’s truly beautiful. I was lucky enough to get in on a bottle split, but I think someone said that it was available on Roja Dove’s website.
I’m not sure they’ll ship to Italy…..I know they won’t ship to the US (bastards!)
I was curious about D too, checked RD’s website, but apparently it’s sold out and won’t be produced again.. Does anybody know more about it?
I’m not entirely sure about this, but I think I only bought:
Jeux de Peau
Cadjmere
Pistachio Ganache
Cool! so what do you think of the Jeux de Peau? It seems to be another polarizing Serge Lutens…..at first sniff I said “what ? funky! ” then over the next couple of days I was mesmerized by it.
Didn’t somebody call it Armpit Toast?
Hysterical!
LOL!!! Armpit?? I know some of us were talking about SL MKK and armpits a few days ago, but I must have missed the JdP Armpit Toast discussion! Now I’ll have to go spritz a tiny bit and see if there’s any armpits involved. Honestly I don’t recall anything the least bit skanky or animalic in JdP ….and you know my Skank-o-meter registers down to the tiniest microns…. 25 ppm can practically set off a Red Alert.
Maybe on Fragrantica. I don’t think it was here, or FB.
NOOOOO, Daisy, do NOT test for armpit-ness in JdP! It might ruin it for you!
YUCK!
Ack! Sorry I read that.
Actually, now I can’t wait to sample it! I luuuv the smell of mens’ armpits – sweat, pheromones, and masculine deodorant, hmmm!
honey, you need some SL MKK , STAT! 😉
Daisy, I had the same experience. I went to Scent Bar three times and not only sprayed myself wet, but took a sample each time. There’s something a little repellent about it…and yet, I had to get it. It’s an odd one for sure. I do love the caramel popcorn open, salty and sweet. Then there’s something a little sour before it turns into a skin scent. There’s something a little too masculine about it, but I can’t put my finger on it.
on me it does not turn sour or masculine…and there’s not a bit of anything skanky in the least. At first I got that theatre popcorn thing partly because that’s what I had heard so I was looking for it. When I was able to put that out of my mind , I started picking up on other notes. Particularly the apricot jam. Of course my nose is a very fickle mistress and tomorrow I could put some JdP on and say “eww, buttered popcorn!” or ” ewww Armpit-toast” There is really only a handful of fragrances that I always love without fail.
It seems that the past few days the “sour” thing has gone away. I’m thinking it might have something to do with my “cycle.” I’ve never experienced this before, but I’ve worn before during and after, and during it was not good…in fact I really thought I made a mistake purchasing. We’re on good terms now, though 🙂
Four full bottles: In Rome, I bought a 50ml bottle of “20” by Gianfranco Ferre. (Wonderful aldehydic thing, I love it.)
From the Parfum1 sale, I got a backup 50ml bottle of Cuir de Lancome, because I love it and it’s discontinued and it wuz cheap. (If The CEO can be relied upon to say, “Wow, you smell good!” when I wear it, I should keep some on hand, right?)
From eBay, I bought a 30ml bottle of Ulric de Varens pour Elle (a poor girl’s version of Iris Poudre – well, a REALLY poor girl’s version) and a 100ml bottle of Cristina Bertrand #3 (very pretty white floral scent focused on jasmine).
Bought several minis: Givenchy Organza, Versace Blonde parfum, Omar Sharif pour elle, Bill Blass, Ferre for Ferre, Ferre by Gianfranco Ferre (yeah, those Ferre scents are reeeeeeally distinctively named). Blonde is a lot like Fracas but with sharper edges and a back-of-the-throat rasp like Tang dust; Organza I find deeply boring. Those two are going to get swapped away, I’m sure. The others I like.
Total damage: $202, $78 of which was my Rome souvenir (paid for with birthday money). I’ve have better quarters… Have also done WORSE, mind you, and might be able to recoup at least part of it by selling the mistakes. That was dumb – I should have tried to sample those via TPC or something…
Oops. That should be “I’ve HAD better quarters.” In case you didn’t figure out my brain hiccup there. 🙂
As much as I complain about marketing folks…I wish Gianfranco Ferre would put a couple of bucks into marketing–I can’t tell the darn bottles apart!! Too frustrating!
Ferre really did a diservice to their line – all those “Ferres” are really good, and you just can’t tell them apart!
I got some as an extra in a swap… no clue which one, of course. :/
You know – I bough a mini each of Organza and Indecence just because I love those bottles! Didn’t really care about the contents – too many others I prefer wearing.
I love Indecence. The original, not so much. I mean, it smells fine… just… I think the white flowers were sweet enough on their own before they dumped in the vanilla. And here I thought I could hack the vanilla because I usually love white flowers… wrong again.
Mals, mini’s are such a great idea! I need to start pursuing those (there are several in my eBay “watching”).
You did really well! I can’t believe you showed so much restraint in Italy—well done!
🙂
I have bought L’Air du Desert Morocain and Ormonde Man.
I have received MJ Bang and No 19 Parfum via work allowances. Lucky boy this past few months.
Oh fluff, I forgot about the bottle I bought of Fahrenheit Absolute. Still in the 2-4 BOUGHT brackets at least!
Work allowances? Does that mean you have a retail job?
Congrats especially on the No. 19, love it.
Yes, I work perfume retail! Quite lucky to get an allowance.
Maybe changing jobs soon.
Great lists!! The damage for me this quarter (which I find kind of shocking as I am normally a one bottle a year kind of girl) is $438. Oh dear…thank goodness for tax returns.
Maitre Vocalise (120)
Kenzo Leau Amour (72)
Diptyque Eau Duelle (88)
Jo Malone Sweet Lemon (55)
Jo Malone Fresh Mint Leaf (55)
BPAL Bony Moon (20?)
Lanvin (19.99)
And last and maybe least is…bath and body works country apple spray…$3. Not sure that counts.
Here’s to being slightly more conservative next quarter.
Which Lanvin??
Arpege ‘Eclat d’Arpege…
That’s a nice one. I have a cute little mini of it.
I’m so jealous you got the JM Lemon. The website and my local Nordies sold out before I could even test it.
too busy working, I did however convince a co-worker to buy me a cute little 50ml bottle of folie de rose when she was in Paris..
I like the Rosine bottles.
3 bottles.
Norma Kamali Incense- got it in my head that this was close to being discontinued and I’ve been wanting it for the past year.
What was I waiting for?
Keiko Mecheri Oliban- DK Black Cashmere writ small- not a slam, perfect for when you want an incense scent, just not a loud one.
L’Artisan Bosphore- Iris, leather, loukhoum, roses. Fantastic!
All told around $400, $133 per month, $4.4444444444444444 per day! A bargain, my coffee budget is larger…. 😉
Ha ha – well, when you look at it that way, perfume is SO affordable!!!! And it lasts way longer than a cup of coffee.
Nice way to look at it!
I’m sold! I’ve been drinking coffee at home, so that means I get an extra $5 a day for something pretty!
Hey! I like that! Thank you for putting it in perspective! Plus, perfume doesn’t make you run to the bathroom like coffee does….well unless it’s a scrubber and you have to get to soap and water FAST!
I had a fairly restraint quarter due to some imminent finance issues, so I’m counting a total of 4 bottles (3 FBs and enough misc minis and samples to equal 1 FB) for a thrifty and well-behaved total of $178:
FB
AG Eau de Camille
MH Fleur du Matin
Jacomo – Silences (older pdt)
Misc
Minis of Scherrer I, AdP Profumo, Guerlain Idylle
Samples from Tel Cabanel, Aedes
Bath Gel of VC&A’s First (older formula)
Fleur de Matin is very pretty – and every time I wear my Silences pdt, I Iove it more.
FdM is a super green – not surprised you like it so much!
I seem to be on a green fragrance kick lately. It’s been a long time, but I rediscovered a lot of my favorites from within my own collection and decided I had to have more!
You did very well, my dear. 🙂
Thank you – very much!
Such restraint! you did very well and still got some really nice smellies!
Yes, well, we just refinanced the mortgage for shorter term but higher monthly payment (which I’M responsible for) so don’t have much choice….
This is the first time I can say this in ages, but I bought nothing this quarter! I’ve been so busy my shopping in all areas is way down. Now, I’m just hoping this is actually true. Probably later today I’ll realize I’ve forgotten something and wasn’t as good as I thought!
LOL!
Just one: Les Parfums de Rosine Rose Praline’, during the Barneys “gift bag” event, so I also got lots of samples! Plus, I’m always worried about Rose Praline’ being discontinued, so I finally decided to pounce.
D’oh! I forgot. Farnesiana EDP, at the very end of March. That makes two. Plus a mini of the new Lolita Lempicka.
Plus whatever else you remember later tomorrow, LOL…
I am terrible at keeping track.
Full Bottles:
• FM’s En Passant
• Parfum Del Rae Mythique
• Prada Infusion d’Iris – this is a re-purchase! on 2nd bottle now
• Chanel 31 Rue Cambon
• Hermes Eau Claire des Merveilles
Decants:
• Hermes Vanille Galante
• Acqua di Parma Iris Nobile – will be buying full bottle this quarter!
• Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille
• Givenchy Eau de Givenchy
Samples: too many to list but about 30 or so
So total of FB’s = 7 as the decants only count as 1/2 each.
I don’t dare get the actual dollar amount but I did buy some bottles on E-bay and got a good price so I am okay with that!
Ebay is our Enabling Buddy.
Hi mals! yep an evil, enabling buddy, gotta love those!
And I want to point out that Donatella is not storing her perfume properyly 😉 and I want to know if Angela ever obtained a new storage cabinet for her collection?
I think, for peace of mind, that we should assume her lights stay off most of the time. That’d help…
1 FB for me – a little 30ml Givenchy Play, and a coffret set of all the Harajuku Lovers for my daughter, but we’re going to share them!
More samples than I want to think about, too…
As Daisy said above, samples lead to FB’s! 😉
ain’t that the truth ?!
I kinda liked the Givenchey – did you get the extreme (purple) or the pink one? I think I liked the purple one but am waiting for summer to test it in the heat.
SL Borneo 1834, which I’m wearing today. Difficult but fascinating.
LL Fleur Défendue (Marshall’s special)
Lilly Pulitzer Squeeze (Marshall’s special)
The dogs and cats bought me SSS Wood Violet and Lieu de Rêves for my birthday (17 ml each). Lieu de Rêves is a very nice heliotrope that might even substitute for Après l’Ondée if I can’t find any more when the current bottle runs out, so maybe I can stop hoarding the ALO.
Incidentally, don’t try to enter an e-circumflex here as ALT+0234. That combination throws you out of the comment box. Enter it in a text editor and copy.
You’re conscientious… I never bother with the diacriticals. I suppose I’d put them in if they were on my keyboard, but they’re not, and I’m too impatient to write blog comments somewhere else and add them before cutting and pasting!
My French teacher marked the entire answer wrong if you left out an accent.
Well, that would make sense for a class. Probably good to get in the habit. (I do remember my tildes and accent marks for Spanish, but how many perfume names are in Spanish??)
Have you tried the new SSS, To Dream? It’s a take-off on Lieu so you might like that to replace your ALO.
I have a sample of To Dream that I’ll try soon.
Let us know what you think on a Lazy Poll day!
I bought several bottles before moving back to the US from Europe. Perfume buying is more satisfying in Europe. The selection in stores is much greater, and the prices for the high-end niche lines, both in stores and online, are lower, even taking into account an unfavorable exchange rate (which I did not, since we were earning euros). The overall cost-of-living seems high in Europe (those taxes!), but in fact, I found that fruits, vegetables, real bread, fresh flowers and perfume were usually lower priced. The most important things! And, people have fewer things, so you don’t feel pressured to pile high the kids’ room with toys or buy a new TV. What Europeans have lots of is not stuff, but vacation. Ah well, I actually am very glad to be back in the USA!
Welcome back!!! And now…what bottles did you buy? 🙂
I’ll trade stuff for vacation any day! Indeed, the few times I’ve been to Paris, I ate like a queen and came home with hoards of cosmetics and fragrances because of the great prices even with VAT figured in.
Only one purchase this quarter (I had splurged on a bottle of Ormonde Jayne Woman in the previous quarter) — Bulgari Omnia, found at TJ Maxx for $30 (for the 40 ml size). I’d been wanting it for a while, so was pleased to see it at that store on a random trip… most of the perfume selection there is depressing! Omnia is a bit faint on my skin, but pleasing nonetheless.
The selection at my TJ Maxx is dire, too. Although I did pick up a 30ml bottle of Clarins Par Amour for about $14 once. It, um, migrated to my teenage daughter’s room. All on its own, of course.
I’m wearing Par Amour Toujours today! It’s a beautiful scent. And I agree with TJ Maxx lately…and the prices haven’t wowed me either. I did find a 30ml bottle of Issey Miyake’s a scent, which I almost bought, but the $30 seemed like too much…
I stopped even checking the local store for a long while since it always seemed like the same selection of Paris Hilton nonsense, etc. (I briefly considered a Donald Trump scent as a gag gift, but I can’t stomach funneling even a tiny bit of money that man’s way!) The only decent scents I seem to find there regularly are Lolita Lempicka ones, but I already own the LLs I want.
I’ve been good, overall. 4 full bottles:
Etat Libre d’orange Like this
Donna Karan Signature (old version)
Maison FK Lumière noire pour femme,
Vero Profumo Kiki extrait (finally, the perfume that took my lavender virginity!!!)
You bought a bottle of Lumiere Noire?? Jealous. I’m working on a decant now, and I think it is the sexiest thang ever.
Agree. And it’s funny, because when you try it on one hand it seems just your average dark rose, but when you wear it it becomes something else, infinitely sexier and more complex. At least, that’s how it went for me.
I do love that Donna Karan.
First I bought a bottle of Nanette Lepore for $8. It’s a fruity floral (sigh of boredom!) but it’s really not bad. I bought it for the cute bottle but the black ribbon was missing around the neck. Even though it was housed in a plastic security container and the cellophane was still on the box, I knew someone had opened it because of the way the flaps had been replaced incorrectly. Beware perfumistas! The bottle seemed full but what do I expect for $8?
Second purchase was a gift set of Island Bermuda Michael Kors which I bought because I was so thrilled with my original purchase of Island Michael Kors. I had previously researched all the flankers and was hoping this one wouldn’t be too bad (read full of gardenia, tuberose and freesia). Well, the tiare topnote is unpleasant to my nose but the drydown is perfectly fine and woody. The pink 50 ml bottle is beautiful and the set came with lipgloss, a white makeup bag, and a clear pouch for $39.99. The latter will be good for work as we are required to have a clear purse so that we can’t steal anything.
Wow. Looks like management doesn’t trust anybody! Has stealing been a problem in the past?
I spent two summers in a jewelry factory that required clear purses. Stealing was very common, although I can’t imagine that there was a large street profit on Avon and Sarah Coventry costume jewelry.
The last time I worked in retail was in, lessee, 1987, running a cash register at Sears on college Winter break. Shows you how much *I* know…
A couple of years ago, fashion houses came out with very expensive clear purses. I coveted a purchase for taking to ballgames and for air travel (to get through security lines faster). I was certain that the purses would drop down to prices appropriate to a novelty item useful only for taking to stadiums and the beach, because, who on earth would pay over $100.00 for a piece of clear vinyl, no matter how cute the trim? (And my idea of a fair price was far south of $100.00). Well, they never did drop down all that much. I guess all the fashinistas who work in retail were buying them up so they could be chic and still conform to the clear bag policies.
Thanks for all your comments on clear bags. Yes, unfortunately there are those who ignore “Thou shalt not steal” and things like GWP parts, testers, too many samples, an maybe even (yikes!) stock find their way out the door. Whenever a customer brings in an empty bottle that she wants replacing, I ask if I may have the empty for display in my vitrine and then promptly march to the security office each time. I tell them what I am doing as I ask for permission to remove the empty from the store. There’s not much I could do with an empty as per returning it for a refund so it’s cool with them. Some stores require rep’s signatures along with a manager’s to get anything out legally.
How lucky am I that this poll comes up three days before a journey to Paris aka perfume paradise? Anyway, untill now I was pretty good, I just bought the Hermes travel set (three Osmanthe Yunnan, one Vetiver Tonka) plus a backup bottle of Delrae’s Mythique – I somewhere read that their sales here in Europe were not that impressive so I panicked…
Ooooh!!!! Have a blast in Paris, and definitely report back on your purchases. 🙂
Oh, and where oh where is Osmanthe Yunnan? It’s been MIA on the Hermes website…and I’ve wanted that travel set.
Thank you Karin; I will report back! I bought the OY at my local Hermes store although they apparently ran out of stock for a while and I waited at least three months for it to arrive. May you just call them?
That’s “maybe” – I was too fast, sorry.
I, too, noticed OY’s conspicuous absence of the US version of the Hermes website. Oddly, it’s still on the European versions; perhaps they’re hoarding it for themselves. Anyway, I was sufficiently alarmed to go buy a FB at the local Hermes boutique, where they had only 2 left in stock. It’s the only thing I bought this past quarter, and I’m glad for my wallet’s sake but envious of my more prolific fellow posters!
That’s scary! I want some Osmanthe Yunnan.
Makes me awfully glad I just nabbed a travel spray off evilbay… and at a nice price, too!
Good job!
Oh no!! I love Mythique – time to buy a backup bottle! And I just bought a backup bottle of Hiris as a backup to my initial backup bottle. Topic for a poll: which fumes do you love so much that you always ensure you have a backup bottle?
Well, Dzingnut, it was just a rumour, no need to worry – however I feel so much better now! 🙂 That would be a good topic, also a nice way to find out which scents you really love!
Very jealous of that bottle of Mythique….
It was a very satisfying quarter for me. I bought:
SSS Champagne de Bois ($60)
JHAG Calamity J ($80)
Amouage Memoir Woman ($280)
Total Bottles: Priceless
Exactly $30 under budget for the quarter!
… which I spent on
Decants:
A*Men Pure Havane
OJ Tolu purse spray (just one)
I am feeling quite content 🙂
Well, you got good stuff too!
Heck yeah! It seems like it took a million years to finally get a bottle of CdB, and I am so glad to finally have it! 🙂
Worth the wait!
Oooh…Memoir Woman. Nice one!
Karin, I’m totally bat-s**t for Memoir—it is DIVINE. 😉
Oooh! I want the JHAG! Is calamity Jane the patch/Rose one in the black bottle? Can’t remember, but that is the one I like!
Jen, Calamity J *is* in a black bottle—but the one with the killer patch/rose combo is Lady Vengeance (IMO)… CJ has both of those things, but it’s the one with iris/leather/skin musk… it’s fabulous!!! 🙂
Maybe I should upgrade to a 30ml bottle of CdB as my backup. I’ve still got plenty in my 17ml, but one never knows about availability of raw materials, especially a scent with so much sandalwood in it. I rarely ever think about backups, but maybe I should.
Operafan, CdB is backup worthy if ever a scent way! Those days between my sample dwindling out, and my being able to buy a 30mL bottle were LONG… 🙂
If i remember correctly my purchases were:
10 Corso Como 50ml
Dior Higher 50ml
Montale Black Aoud 50ml
Total damage is around $220
Not bad!
These days I am buying more single malt scotch whisky than fragrance. My girlfriend bought me a nice bottle of Hermes…can’t remember the name of the stuff. If Glenfidditch or Bushmills ever start making a fragrance I’ll be first in line!
I love scotch. Seems like a good idea! You should try and wear/sample Miller Harris Fleurs de Sel while sipping scotch. Yummers!
Ooh – that sounds like fun!
A’Men Pure Malt?
I think the scotch note gets lost in Pure Malt, but I love it anyway.
I’ve been pondering these in whiskey, cognac and tobacco:
http://tinyurl.com/257yr5o
I was fine until DSH Perfumes sent an email for the Spring Cleaning sale, and I had an episode of panic discontinued item buying. They were all 1/3 ounce and less, so that hardly counts, right?
Hardly 🙂
Still – tell us what you bought! I really had to sit hard on my hands when I saw the announcement.
I was VERY bad:
VC&A Bois d’Iris partial (love love love)
Premier Figuier Extreme decant
Bottles of Timbuktu, Traversee and La Chasse Extreme (MAJOR deal)
Mona’s Jabu decant
Jeux de Peau decant
Ajne Bella and Sublime (these were the petit dabs, though)
Guerlain Cherry Blossom & LPRN 2 decants
Xerjoff Elle decant
This is very bad indeed!
Ah, but so many here did worse!
Agreed, but it’s all relative to budget and resolutions 🙂
I’ve been very aggressive this quarter – especially since I’ve been building relationships with new SAs for Creed and Serge Lutens.
Purchased since January 1:
Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque
Serge Lutens Douce Amere
Serge Lutens Chene
Serge Lutens Rousse
Creed Virgin Island Water flacon
2x Creed Cuir de Russie
Creed Angelique Encens
Creed Ambre Canelle
Creed Aubepine Acacia Flacon
Creed Cypres Musc Flacon
Chanel Coromandel
Tom Ford Japon Noir
Guerlain Bois D’Aremenie
It’s like I am DJing to support my fragrance splurges.
Wow – what a great haul!
Wow – everyone has such nice stuff! After being V V good the last 2 quarters of 2010… I finally had a big splurge. I feel guilty about nothing!
Used/Split/Swap:
Le Labo Rose 31
AG Rose Splendide
Xerjoff Richwood
Etro Shaal Nur
MdO Jabu
Piguet Douglas Hannant
Balenciaga Paris
FB:
Guerlain Angelique Noire – (Oh glorious payment for tax services!)
AG Neroli
L’AP Drole de Rose (score on ebay)
L’AP Traversee du Bosphore – simply gorgeous!
Tom Ford BO Voile de Fleur (backup)
AG Grand Amour edp mini (backup)
Kenzo Flower Essentielle (backup)
Caron Parfum Sacre edp intense (bargain backup)
LM Ambre Passion (backup in spades)…..
Which leads me to a question/statement. I think the just released last fall LM Ambre Passion Velvet is discontinued? It is no where to be found right now. Boo -hoo. Anyone hear any different about this? I loved this stuff!! I find myself supremely lucky that fragrance net was/is selling 8 ml minis of the ORIGINAL LM Ambre Passion, which is long discontinued. I stocked up on those. How did this little amber become my favorite amber???
Hi AnnS!
Where did you purchase a bargain Parfum Sacre Intense?
Also how is the Richwood?
I think LM pulls their heavier fragrances in the North American spring/summer months. Minuit Enchante disappeared from Nordstrom’s site last year, then reappeared around October.
APV seems a likely candidate for the same marketing strategy,
hope its not dc’ed I love it also.
A few weeks ago at least fragrance net had the PS edp intense for like $20. It is this totally fugly bottle that is the tester – small, cylindrical, but with this weird bumpy cover. I’m glad I picked it up for the price, but I have good suspicion that it is actually the regular PS edp, not the “intense” version. It still smells great like PS, but not the same as the PS edp intense I bought full price last year at the Perfume House. Good luck! I will also keep my fingers crossed about the APV!!
Oh, forgot about Richwood. You know, it is very lovely cinammonish vanilla ish tonka woody oriental thing. I think I had my expectations set very high. It’s not awful or anything, but I wasn’t impressed. It reminds me a lot of Organza Indecence and that ilk. Warm, fuzzy, linear, vanilla. The money could be spent more wisely on something else more fabulous, like an Amouage or Frederic Malle or Serge Lutens. I’m glad only got 5 mls in a split!
Thanks, I saw someone else compare it to Indecence and now my lemming is kaput. I have original Indecence and it is fantastic – don’t need a clone at 7 times the price.
Yes – I am sure there is something else $$$ you want that merits that expenditure! I’d snap up a bottle of Noir Epices for that cost if I really wanted a stunner.
BEAUTIFUL list Ann! And you’re right to not feel guilty! Enjoy your haul – life is short!
Oooh, maybe the next time someone asks me to sing for a wedding, I should ask for payment in perfume.
Congratulations on your lovely acquisitions, Ann!
Smells like a good idea to me! Sing for your supper so to speak.
My wife is ready to kill me :D…
TDC de Bachmakov
Hermes Voyage
Hermes gift set of Osmanthe Yunnan x 2, Rose Ikebana, Vanille Galante (VG purchased to give as a gift)
Various small decants…
Byredo Bal d’ Afrique
L’AP Dzing!
Traversee du Bosphore (+ a candle version)
Christian Dior Leather Oud (Having a VERY hard time with! )
Hermes Eau d’ Hermes
Iris Ukiyoe
ADP Colonia Assoluta
FM L’ Eau d’ Hiver
…I think my next sampling will be with Sonoma Scent Studio. I’m trying to resist. For now, at least. 🙂
You should just go for it! SSS are really well priced for how wonderful they are. Many swoon worthy fragrances for sure!
Agree. Your wife shouldn’t mind the SSS prices, in fact – she may want a few for herself… Go ahead – be an enabler!
…twist my arm! 😉
I bought quite lot this quarter, even though I’ve been saving money for a new appartment and wasn’t supposed to buy perfume. But everything I bought are scents that I love and wear all the time. Some of them were quite cheap as well. It was definitely worth the money spent!
Full bottles:
Parfumerie Generale – Iris Taïzo 30 ml
Parfumerie Generale – Intrigant Patchouli 30 ml
Montale – Patchouli Leaves 20 ml
Gucci – Gucci Pour Homme 30 ml
Etro – Sandalo 100 ml (slightly used)
L’Artisan – Bois Farine (slightly used)
Guerlain – Jicky EdT 100 ml
Serge Lutens – Santal Blanc 50 ml
5 ml decants of SL – Miel de Bois, DelRae – Panache and Etro – Messe de Minuit (vintage). Plus lots of samples.
You did get some lovely things! And several of my favorites — I’m jealous of your Bois Farine.
4 full bottles:
– Guerlain Samsara (ebay)
– EL Youth Dew Amber Nude (ebay)
– SL Ambre Sultan (ebay). Unconditional love. My best “me, but better” (Angela) scent. So far ofc ;).
– CdG Series 2 Red: Harissa (2d time ever I’ve bought a full prize bottle – gasp).
And add 15 ml of L’AP Dzongkha, 10 decant ml of H&G Askew and minis of Rochas Eau d’Ete and Tocadilly.
I voted more than 15 — more on that later — but I spent less than $100! I bought a few split portions (2d Cumming, Baume du Doge, L’Heure Fougueuse, Jeux de Peau), but I also made a spectacular score of vintage stuff…
I’m the world’s worst second-hand shopper, but I happened upon a really cool local second-hand store (and it didn’t smell!), asked the owner innocently if she ever came across perfume, and it turned out she’d JUST returned from an estate sale with BAGS AND BAGS of bottles! She had no idea what they were or how to price them, so I sorted through them, snagged most of the fun stuff, and offered her $60.
So, I’m now the proud owner of heaps of Cotys (Emeraude, L’Aimant, L’Origan, etc.), Crepe de Chine, Carvens, Worths, Lanvins, Evening in Paris, Tabu, etc. etc. Plus one I can’t even find on Google (Cecile Gagnon “Dear to Me,” anyone?) but that looked interesting. Still not sure what to do with them all (I can’t possibly use 5 bottles of Emeraude, for instance), but it sure is nice to have such a stash!
Wow, nice score!
Oh, how wonderful!!!! Congrats!!!!!!
EXCELLENT! We’re so proud of you.
I would like to go shopping with you
Just right time/right place, aka pure blind luck! I almost feel guilty, since I didn’t exactly scour tag sales or haunt Goodwill — I just happened to ask one of those Columbo-style questions (“Just one more thing…”) on my way out of the shop.
Oh my!!!
Gosh Lilydale – that is very cool!
That’s wonderful, Natalie! Maybe you can put some of those Emeraudes up for sale on evil bay. You can generate your spending money for your 2nd qtr purchases.
I have no idea how to sell on eBay (buying’s another matter ;)), but it’s probably time to find out. The thought of financing more purchases will definitely spur me on!
I’m so envious! What fantastic luck!!
OHMIGOSH!! what a score!!! you rock….excellent shopping skills !
I promised myself I would buy nothing in 2011, because I have an INSANE quantity of scents, certainly more than 200 full bottles and minis, and hundreds more samples, and for the first quarter at least I’ve managed to stick to it, so I’m at $0.
But I’m going to New York in September, and I’m pretty sure I will be making a trip to Bergdorf Goodman to buy a bottle of Jeux de Peau, and god knows what else. I won’t be able to stick to my resolution for the entire year, but I can at least tell myself I’m saving up for a big third-quarter blowout.
A trip to NYC is worth saving for…
Unless you have an incurable passion for obscure Guerlain’s I’d go to Aedes and Barney’s, which carry more niches (including the Lutens line) than Bergdoff Goodman first.
Also, if you really know you want a fragrance, consider buying online from one of the above. The shipping may be free, or it may be less than the NY Sales tax.
Oh, believe me, I’ve done my share of online and boutique purchasing over the years. But Bergdorf Goodman is just down the street from our hotel (the Salisbury, 123 west 57th–we always stay there), and the spouse HATES scents and scent-shopping, so this means I’ll be be able to duck in, locate what I want, sniff it (pretty much a formality, because I would probably buy JdP untested), buy it, and get out without ruining anyone’s day.
If it were just me, I would spend at least one full day just trying and buying scents. Probably more like the whole damned trip.
It’s been a nice first quarter for me, and my bank as well.. My purchases are Muscs Koublaï Khän and Ambre Sultan by Serge Lutens, Sables by Annick Goutal, Féminité du Bois by Shiseido, Noir Epices and Musc Ravageur by Frédéric Malle, Bal à Versailles by Jean Desprez and finally Black by Bvlgari. I’m thinking Patchouli 24 and Jeux de Peau next.
Wow! What nice purchases!
Oooh, great list.
For some reason that I don’t really understand, instead of opting for a back up bottle of TPIM, I used my allotment of our tax return for buying bottles that I wanted for either the bottle, sentimental reasons, or other obscure reason. I did buy a few for the actual fragrance!
The only thing I can think of is that I have been stuck in bed/on the couch due to a medical condition for 10 months now, and I think that I am enjoying literally playing with the bottles and looking at them as much as wearing the scents.
FBs:
Arpege
Bob Mackie
Nicole Miller
the Lolita Lompicka that has the little net and seashells on it
AP Strip
Niki de St Phalle in Scorpio bottle
Chantal Thomas
Noble Rose of Afghanistan
AG Rose Absolue
YSL PArisienne
Naughty Alice
Those 2 Anthropologie rose scents (these are adorable, both of them, though I don’t care for the fragrance)
John Galliano (BEFORE I found out he is such an ass)
Vera Wang Flower Princess and Rock Princess
And I’m sure there are several more I have forgotten about.
I got them all on the discounter sites, so I don’t think the actual dollar amount was much more than 300 bucks, and I have no real regrets, other than it has also spawned a collection of vintage vanity trays. Sigh.
It took every ounce of self control I have not to buy a few of those Juicy Coutures, too. I am such a sucker for charms, and the bottles are dripping in them! Keep getting outbid, though!
Vintage vanity trays! I’ll bet they’re pretty.
How is the Naughty Alice? The notes for that one appealed to me. And I like Strip.
I don’t care for it much, but it’s not bad. I think you might like it.
If you’re up for decanting it, I’d be happy to send you the bottle and you can have as much as you like, if you don’t mind sending the bottle back….I know you have issues with your post office, though.
I can also include the Habanita and you can have as much of that as you care for, too. I like the bottle, but the juice is waaaaayyyyy too strong for me to need more than a drop or so.
Love Potion No 9
Habanita
There really are some beautiful bottles in your collection! Wow, I bet they look great all together! I love everything about naughty Alice, the bottle, the bracelet charm, the advertising with the drawing of the woman in the red dress and the name – just can’t get on with the fragrance! 🙁
Me,either, lol! And ditto everything you said; I thought they did a great job with all the marketing, packaging, etc.
How’s that Noble Rose of Afghanistan, joliefleurs? That line sounded interesting.
It is lovely, but I do not like it.
As you know, I’m a total rose ho, but I do not care for the rose de mai note at all, and this has that scent.
Also, I was hoping it would be spicy and I get no spice at all. (I don’t have a very good nose, though, so don’t go by what I say!)
It reminded me a little of the DelRae rose, which I didn’t like either! Also a little of the MDCI Siwa.
But I am SO glad I bought this perfume, such a great cause. And the perfume is lovely, just not my taste. I think it’s a great value for the price, too.
Happy first quarter all you good smellin folk! I’ve really got to start writing things down, but if memory serves:
FB – Habanita, Cinema, Bvlgari Omnia, SL Santal Blanc, Vintage Chamade [which arrived damaged from Ebay and I couldn’t open the bottle, seller wasn’t willing to accept a return and thanks to a perfumista angel, the bottle’s been fixed and I’ll actually be able to wear it now] and a vintage sealed Le Galion Sortilege.
Splits/Decants: Vetiver Pour Elle, Iris Pallida, TF Moss Breches.
I knew I’d forget something – always do. TPC ran a special on selected 5 & 8 ml decants – so I ordered Patou Colony, Lubin Eau de Lubin, Lubin Gin Fizz and AG Heure Exquise.
Nice! I also took advantage of the 5/8ml sale! And then the subsequent sale at the beginning of april! The only perfumes I have bought this quarter, thanks to TPC, have been:
5ml Tubereuse Criminelle
15ml Le Labo Patchouli 27
I love both of them so much, but feel pleased that I saved some money by not purchasing FBs. I rarely finish FBs anyway. That’s the problem when you own so many scents – you never finish them and end up with a very full cupboard!
I was pleased with myself – although I wasn’t as good as you, R! – and then I read the comments and remembered I also got a Profumo split from Daisy (10 ml – $24). Ah, well. For Q1, and after a great Christmas, I had only one planned purchase: a Heeley from my local boutique, since I’d harrassed them into bringing in the line. But the Cuir Pleine Fleur was sold out and the new shipment hasn’t come in yet, so I was temporarily saved there. So I got:
Donna Karan Gold EdP 50 ml (gift set w/ lotion): $45 at Winner’s
Kenzo Eaux de Fleurs Magnolia: $64 at the Duty Free
Kind of regretting the Kenzo. It’s quite nice, but I have a lot in the same genre, and probably should have bought the 50 ml Concentree d’Orange Vert instead, since I know from working through a travel spray that I’ll wear that one.
Donna
Kind of like the extra accidental “Donna” at the bottom. Sounds like an exclamation or a prayer to Donatella, maybe.
LOL…so it is! And she needs our prayers.
Hope you’ll get some use out of the Magnolia anyway. I hate regretting a perfume bottle.
1) 1 oz thierry mugler’s womanity
2) a miniature bottle of JLo’s Glow
3) a sample of ilari from indiescent.com
4) a 1/3 oz roll-on of body time’s green fig oil.
5) a mini bottle of anna sui perfume.
I bought Barney’s Route Du The for me….
Also Fresh Sugar Lemon to give as a gift.
The total was under u$s 100.
I went on my Honeymoon to Curacao last month (yes, I got married!) and I was able to try many new frags including the new Lacoste trio… nothing wowed me (thankfully for my wallet!) So I am awaiting for the midsummer launches. hehehehehe
I know that one does not congratulate the bride, but allow me to extend my very best wishes to you!
And if you are the groom, congratulations!
Two Grooms here 😉 so you cannot go wrong! hehehe
Thanks!
DOUBLE congratulations, then!!! 😉 (And please accept my apologies for assuming anything!)
Much happiness to you both!
Wishing you years of happiness!
thank you aparatchick! good vibes received! 😉
Congratulations, kaos.geo, so very happy for both of you!
And I’m adding a MAZELTOV!
I am brand-spanking-new to this wonderful perfume world. In fact, this is my first year of buying samples and full bottles. Luckily I have the best-perfumista friend EVER who keeps me in samples and we split stuff too.
Full bottles:
Incense Rose – Tauer (in LOVE)
Bronze Goddess – ESL
Bijon for Women – (ebay buy for a friend)
Split:
OJ Ormande Women perfume purse spray set (we each got two 10 ml sprays)
ESL – special collection Ylang Ylang – mini 5ml
Free: Michael Kors Very Hollywood
Samples:
5 SSS – CdB is my fav and will be next full bottle
4 Lush samples – don’t plan on a full bottle purchase, but would like to smell Breath of God on a guy.
Welcome! I began posting in a damage poll, as well. Too much fun to stay on the sideline.
Thanks! I am having too much fun. I love reading the comments to see what everyone is smelling.
Well- look at this! My fledgling ‘mista outspending me! XXOO
I will confess to a FB of :
1. Chanel Bois des Iles (one of the smaller “travel collection” bottles” 2. ELd’O Putain des Palaces (good deal at Waft boutique)
and 3. the other half of Lalicias OJ Woman travel set
great deals I found in an antique store in Galveston: 15ml purse spray of No. 5 edt : $5; 1/2 bottle Vintage Joy edt: $20; 2/3 bottle of vintage Bandit edc $10; minis of vintage Lancome Climat and Guy Laroche Fidgi: $4 each. And I don’t have to count: Heeley Oranges and Lemons (b/c it was paid in full w/ a b-day g-certificate 🙂
Grand Total: $248- more that I should have spent but I found some good deals!
ach! I forgot : Jo Malone Assam and Grapefruit- Been wearing the heck out of it too.
I wouldn’t be here without you. *mwah*
Only two, both in January: Bulgari Black and an older bottle of YSL Opium. I’ve enforced a strict no-buy on myself until my cash flow improves, which means I won’t get a new bottle until late April at the earliest. On the plus side, it’ll be just in time for a new spring scent – I’m lemming Diorella something fierce – and I’ve been enjoying my current collection more thoroughly in the absence of new distractions.
[Goes back to counting his change drawer.]
I totally relate to the money restrictions.
On the other hand, if you are living in the states, take advantage of sephora’s sample packages… as someone who lives far away (I live in Argentina) whenever I go over to the states, I really envy you guys, you get several samples of really good (albeit mainstream) frags, and then you still get to redeem the purchase for a full bottle!
Market Economy at its best! 🙂
I was waiting for this!
This is the first quarter I have written down all expenses associated with perfumes: FBs, samples, decanting supplies, and postage for swaps/sample circles. No, this figure is between me and my credit cards 😉
But yes, I dare to share what I bought: three fragrances from Jo Malone Tea Collection (Assam and Grapefruit, Earl Grey and Cucumber, and Sweet Milk), a bottle of vintage Chanel #22 EDC, and a Lancome La Collection set (four 15 ml bottles: Climat, Sikkim, Sagamore, and Magie). Then some decants for Summer and 2 Lucky scent sample packs. Wow! I dare myself to buy no FBs or decants next quarter!
A bazillion samples and decants, as usual
FBs:
Eau Claire des Merveilles
Bulgari Omnia
Eau Parfumee au The Vert (cologne and bath products)
Eau Parfumee au The Blanc (cologne and bath products)
Neroli Portofino
I’ve been yearning for summer!
I too bought the Omnia at TJ Maxx!
I also bought a backup bottle of LM Ambre Passion Velvet (originally for my sister, but, the hell with her now, hearing that it might be discontinued). Ack! AND, AND I was wise enough to also get the Elixir, originally for myself. Glad I did. I LOVE this stuff.
Also sprang for a FB of….god lord, Ubar and
SL Bois de Violette.
Dirty dirty girl indeed. A decant of Kenzo Amour, some small Amouage samples. That covers it.
So far, 3 bargain purchase for FB’s:
SJP Dawn from the lovely collection – 30ml for under £5!! I first tried this fragrance on holiday with my sister in Toronto and it brings back memories of the trip! A nice, easy to wear, everyday fragrance!
SJP – lovely – 50ml and half price! I’d been considering this for ages and had to have it at half price! Yes, ok – I love SJP! Sorry!!
Tommy girl – 30ml. Another half price! Remember having this in my teenage years and after reading the review in the A-Z, I had to revisit and it is a beautiful, fresh, green tea that last all day and makes me smile!
Another worth mentioning – a freebie, 7ml test tube style vial of NR for her that I managed to wangle from a selfridges display – the SA was claiming it wasn’t a sample and just part of the display, but she kindly said I could take it and I was so pleased as I think it’s quite unusual!
No more FB’s planned for now, still a newbie so I was looking for some “staples” to get started!
3 FBs:
EL Bronze Goddess, 100 ml
Traversee de Bosphore, 50 ml
Eau Duelle, 50 ml
also a mini of YSL’s Cinema and lots of samples
I can already see why people by back ups of favorites, everytime I use TdB I get a little panicky, I used up 1/4 already. I guess I’ll have to go 100 ml next time?
I have been reasonably restrained this quarter.I bought 5 full bottles and one partial bottle:
Honoré des Prés: Vamp à New York- full bottle
Dior Homme- full bottle, going for a song on ebay
L’Artisan Parfumereur: Dzing!- partial bottle.
MPG: Jardin Blanc, full bottle.
Goutal: Vanille Exquise, full bottle
Comme des Garçons: Monocle Scent Two: Laurel.
I got all but two of these for a very reasonable price on ebay. The CdG and Vamp were bought for full price, but they are so worth it, Vamp especially!
No purchase of full bottles, but I really connected with my sample wh*re side… ack. I’m justifying it by saying I am “educating” myself.
Maybe this is slightly off topic, but where, oh where does everyone find splits for scents they like? I know there’s scentsplit on google, but it seems that there’s always a split for some new intriguing stuff that I can’t find anywhere!
Actually, I think the ‘educating yourself’ is a pretty good reason, as opposed to just an excuse.
Hessed, try the wiki scent splits site. I’ve gotten things on the site. Many people who sell there are also part of the Google group.
I was sooooo good. Snagged a discounted gift set of Prada Eau Ambree – 50ml plus body lotion in the January sales. Also the purse spray of NR for her EDT.
Won’t be so good this quarter – always treat myself to a spring FB and today got me some Chamade EDT. Seriously craving some 31 Rue Cambon and some more SSS – how long can I resist?
Don’t try too hard – you’ll just be miserable…
I was fairly restrained because i am travlling and left my whole collection at home (I miss it more than my family lol)
I bought 2 bottles from an online discounter; bulgari black 75ml for $30 and michael kors men 125ml for $34. Both pretty good value, and I got free international shipping because of a promotion
Less guilt when its cheap everyone!
But now I’ve fallen for some less mainstream fragrances so lets see if my thrifty bargain hunting ways will see me through next quarter…
Its hard being away! I just got back to my collection after 2 months away (with a box of decants/samples…not crazy enough to go cold turkey). Did you find the time to be “palette cleansing”?
For me, it was my first pause in buying,swapping and sampling after a year of perfumnista initiation…& a couple quarters totaling 500-1100;)
so far my best behaved quarter ever!
1 bottle of Schiaparelli Shocking
aedes samples
SSS samples
5ml of AL Inscence Rose
Well I kept promising myself I’d be good; but I don’t think I managed to be until finances became really tight. So, in fact, I was pretty bad: that is, I spent more than I should have, given my capital base, even though some of you scored much more impressive collections!
So, do I have to count Kyoto if I had a friend order it for me late last year but only paid, and got it early this year? / :
Other than that, f.b.s of
1) Avignon: on 30% off
2)Daphne: on 30% off
3)Chamade (full price)
4)Bal a Versailles – good price at discounter
5)Like This – 50% off
partial bottle:
6) LLempicka’s L – about 20mls on a sale of used testers.
So, if I leave out the Kyoto and all the samples I ordered with it,
the rest comes to R3250- which on todays exchange rate works out to $483…
I am truly pining for Prada Infusion d’ Iris, and will probably get a gift set if one becomes availbale before mother’s day here.
Did you score that deal on “Like This” online somewhere?
Hi everyone,
Unfortunately i do not buy much over the net: I live in South Africa and worry about unexpected customs etc. So everything listed is bought from boutiques in Joburg.
Though i’m glad I got the discounts perfume is relatively pricey here, so I’m not sure I got it for so much less than you would in the US or UK.
The only place that stocks ELdO here is now discontinuing it – so it will no longer be available at all. Good news is 50% off all their ELdO stock. I am considering Charogne as well but I dont think I want it enough and will probably save the money for something else.
The Avignon was on sale somewhere in February, guess it hadn’t sold for some time. The Daphne was ordered by a customer who didn’t purchase in the end.
Ohhh envying the Like This. Half off! I never have such luck.
me too. I will have it! Next on buy list.
It’s up there for me too…but not next. It will wait until fall.
I had that plan too, but I actually have been unable to find a ‘summer’ appropriate scent that appeals to me as much. Sure, there are some I *like* (Balenciaga’s Paris), but I feel like I should buy a love rather than a like, even if it’s not seasonally appropriate. I’m starting to think that I just don’t like summer scents…
Unfortunately it wasn’t a real lemming for me! I bought it cos a) the discount and b) wont be available soon (in S.Africa)
I’v bought some great perfumes – but NONE of my real lemmings! / :
Oh! Where did you get those discounts?
I’ve been particularly bad over the last couple of weeks. Despite zero space, I convinced myself that I needed spring perfumes and (since London spring couldn’t make up its mind about what kind it wanted to be) ended up buying Chergui, CdG Jaisalmer, Balenciaga Paris (discounted at duty free) and LAP La Chasse aux Papillons.
I realise I probably forgot about a couple of bottles when I voted because in January I got myself a replacement bottle of Dzongkha and 50ml Havana Vanille (under the old name).
I’ve fallen for that Balenciaga Paris. It’s on my to buy list…
Hello, everyone – like some others here today, I am also just beginning my foray into the world of fragrances, having spent the last year or so learning about notes, noses, and enjoying trying many new things. This group commiseration – aka enabling – has lured me out of hiding…
1Q was good to me! Full bottles now gracing my shelves:
¼ ounce Bois des Iles extrait (score!), Paul & Joe Bleu, Bond 9’s Lexington Ave, SSS Egyptian Musk, Estee’s PC Tuberose Gardenia, Si Lolita, Burberry Brit, Nicolai’s Weekend-a-Deauville, and the new Ferre EDP – by Pierre Bourdon, which is fantastic!
Welcome! How do you like P&J Bleu? I haven’t heard much about that one. I have a large sample of Blanc and have been enjoying it.
I like it quite a bit. I have not tried Blanc, so I can’t compare…
Bleu is a smokey floral, a tad strong, but smooth and well-blended – a proper oriental, if you like. I became interested in it after reading a comment somewhere comparing it to a Shalimar “in which you can actually smell the flowers”. Shalimar EDP and EDT both smell like pure gasoline on me. Don’t hate it, but have no place to where it. 🙂
uggghhhh…
1. Tocca EDP Viaggio (Stella, Florence, & Cleopatra . 51 oz. minis) – $45 I think?
2. Chanel 2010 Fragrance Wardrobe – $110 for 5 minis of extrait (but I had a gift card…doesn’t count)
3. Jo Malone French Lime Blossom – $55 but hubby liked this one so much he said next time he’ll give me extra $$ for the big bottle.
4. Guerlain AA Cherry Blossom – $18. I don’t even really like this one, but this price for a 4.2oz. bottle was too good to pass up. It makes a nice linen spray.
5. AA Mandarine Basilic – $29
6. Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose – $10
7. Royal Apothic Marigold Rollerball – on clearance for $7.95 (doesn’t count if it costs less than a trip to Starbucks)
8. Crazylibellule and the Poppies Crazysticks – bought four but they were half off when Sephora discontinued them…$8.50 each I think
9. Caswell Massey talcum powder – $2
Estate Sale Finds:
10. Jean Nate Powder in Ornamental Garden tin (unopened) – $1
11. Jontue cologne splash and matching bar soap – $1.50
12. E.L. Private Collection mini and matching bar soap – $4
13. Crystal Bottle with no label, no idea what the juice inside is – $8
14. Shalimar EDT refillable canister from 1968 – $10, no idea if the smidge of juice inside the recharge is vintage, but the sticker on the bottom looks old.
Grand Total = $90 because insanely good deals don’t count
lol!!! I love that logic!
Well I was pretty lavish, but really, I don’t buy clothes and makeup by the thousands now and teenager has been self-supporting for over a year….it was the long hot summer of white flowers, fruit and vanilla Downunder for me!
Exacerbated by the Aussie dollar going parity with the Yankee for the first time in about 30 years…have to get in while the going is good on the niche imports!! Funny they still have not really dropped prices here yet tho’, and wonder why people are shopping overseas….
Kicked off with A la Nuit and Cedre, have discovered I could easily live without Cedre,
Got the very cheap Patou Forever, lovely raspberry Joy,
GASP a Fb of Tube Criminy off US ebay for an arm and a leg, but hey its $3000 to fly to Paris to get it…so I saved $2700…
I got the lavish masterpiece Rubj parfum – swooningly beautiful to me,
Farmacia Vanig Madag,
Un Bois Vanille (a winter v I’ve decided)
I got the whole collection of the Mugler Miriors, the only mistake is the bitter absinthe tuberose one (masculine) Envies is fantastic, grab it if you see it cheap…
Insolence EDP, froooty L Heure Bleue, gorgeous
I got Lyric W, thunk, getting ready for autumn
Opium Fl Shanghai…can hardly smell this one for some reason, probably burnt my nose out by now!
The uber-fruity Escada, great if you are on a fruit binge, but Pulp would probably be ‘IT’ for death by fruit
Old Shaal Nur and Palais Jamais really cheap off Germany ebay , highly recommend Etro
A super cheap Gucci EDP
Love and Tears, a definitive swooney white jasmine floral,
I had to grab a reasonable bottle of very old Mitsouko PdT
Aqua All Ylang and Vanille from the Kuwait seller, excellent
A vintage used Opium cheap
A tiny vintage Amariage for $10 as I sometimes just have to get some of Luca’s reviled ones…
And a cheap Life Threads Silver, it really is Fracas Lite.
I ordered Amoureuse and Au Lac on New Years Eve from Germany…it got put on a boat and took nearly 3 months to get here!
Most had been carefully sampled. The standouts would be Love and Tears, Mirior Envies, Lyric of course, A La Nuit, Insolence, Ylang Van, Shaal Nur…..
I got plenty of decants and samples too but have eased up a bit, really *trying* to rationalise . I love Jeau Peax, Love, and the Xerjoff Irisss of these.
Amoureuse is of course a standout, and Au Lac is the perfect watery ozone-y late summer floral for me…
“Tube Criminy” — I love it (and congrats)!
Love and Tears is one of my favorites, too. That Insolence EDP – wowee! I have a 100ml bottle of it and think it will last a few lifetimes!
Bought
FB of Diptique Vetyverio
Vintage mini Coriandre
Luckyscent samples – 5
Spent about $150
Plus 750 ml Badedas original from TJM for $20
Luckyscent samples:
CdG Sherbet Rhubarb: like it well enough but not FB- worthy
PdN New York for my husband
PdN Fig Tea: disappointing – not enough dried fruit
Omnia Profumo Onice: really like it
Eau d’Italie: haven’t tried yet
Can anyone recommend a fig fragrance that really smells like dried fig fruit?
And where are these TJMaxxes that have the great deals on good stuff? Not in my part of Chicagoland…
Mahjoun by DSH is a very dense, sweet gourmand that smells like dates and dried figs drizzled in honey! Plus a billion other notes (citrus, rose, spices, etc.). It’s really nice but definitely a gourmand.
Ha! I gleefully checked nary a one in the poll and felt a tad smug. How restrained was I? Wouldn’t DH by proud? He likes to go on about my collection (small by everyone who reads this blog’s standards I assure you) and that I have enough perfume for at least ten years. So, I’m reading all the comments and I remember that a friend purchased three small bottles of unnamed fragrance oils (at my request) on a trip to Egypt this year. And the there was the half bottle of vintage Sung on Ebay after reading a glowing review. And the two L’Artisan’s on sale (a bit) after Christmas. Now we’re up to five or six depending on how you count. Take away my smug face and replace it with a guilty one people!
🙂 Yeah, that’s happened to me too.
I did some damage – at least as a n00b just getting back into perfume hehe.
I bought 4 full bottles:
JM Earl Grey & Cucumber,
JM Assam & Grapefruit
JM Sweet Milk
JM Nectarine Blossom & Honey,
as well as a 15ml bottle of Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan, and some Diptyque samples, and some L’Artisan samples from TPC on the 1st.
Ok, home at last. This quarter, I bought 5 for a grand total of $299. Uncharacteristically, they were all FBs (or mostly full). No splits or sample orders (though I did a few swaps, not accounted for here).
LAP Vanilia – abt 80% of a 50 ml bottle
Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan – 15 ml bottle
LAP Traversee du Bosphore (BH sale) – 50 ml bottle
TM Miroir des Vanites – 50 ml
RL vintage Safari edc – 75 ml
Does TM MdV really smell like Campari as Luca T says?
Alas, I’m completely unfamiliar w/Campari and can’t answer that.
I can only vaguely remember Campari, but the ‘fume to me is a lovely irridescent sweet lemon-y thing with a slight boozy/musky quality. And I don’t read it as masculine (apparently some do)…
I just got through looking at my spreadsheet–oops! I had resolved at the beginning of the quarter not to buy any FBs except for SSS Champagne de Bois when it became available again. The actual damage was:
Monteil Champagne (vintage) 50 ml EdT $32
Divine l’Ame Soeur 30 ml EdP 50
Teo Cabanel Alahine 50 ml EdP 41
Teo Cabanel Oha 50 ml EdP 68
Vintage Bellodgia 15 ml extrait 50
R&G Blue Carnation (vintage) 60 ml EdT 33
SSS Champagne de Bois 34 ml extrait 60
DSH Cardamom and Khyphi 15 ml extrait 75
Total $409
Umm…not so good for a quarter in which I was only going to buy one $60 bottle. This was my worst quarter for bottles, though not for total dollars spent. I may have to try perfume reverse psychology. Perhaps if I resolve to buy lots and lots of perfume, I won’t find anything I want and I won’t buy much.
LOL! I love the idea of perfume reverse psychology! By the same logic, can I tell myself I HAVE to have dessert every day? (who am I kidding, every MEAL?) 🙂
TDC de Bachmakov
PdN Kiss me tender (but only 30mls)
estee lauder Bronze Goddess.
I was restrained and bought only a decant of Vamp a la NY but I can feel a full bottle calling in the next quarter!
Reading these makes me feel so much better about spending…
Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere
Shalimar EDC (mondo bottle for $40)
Lolita Lempicka L ($15! Score!)
Lolita Limpick Fleur de Corail ($15)
and Lolita Limpicka Fleur Defendue (FREE using Ulta points!)
L’Artisan Traversee du Bosphore
My Frederic Malle L’Eau d’Hiver and Lipstick Rose arrived today but was ordered in March. DOESN’T COUNT!
I’m not includeing sample/decants of next quarter’s purchases. Ormonde Jayne… I’m talking to you!
I get the prize for buying a FB for the silliest reason ever: it’s my favorite word. In the BeautyHabit sale, I bought a bottle of Serendipitous. When I started this crazy habit, I wouldn’t have guessed that I’d like gourmands, but along with orientals, they’re some of my favorites, and Serendipitous is gourmand to and then some. As the description at Luckyscent says: “As comforting as cocoa, as tempting as a Grand Marnier truffle, as decadent as hot fudge by the spoonful. So gloriously authentic that you can almost hear the Oompa Loompas singing.” Yep.
I also bought a FB of Ambre Russe, possibly my favorite amber. And I got a solid – Patch NYC Pipe – vanilla, bourbon, cognac, tobacco, patchouli – what’s not to love?
Oh, and a bottle of Smell Bent One. I blame Mals. 😉
Your not the only one to do that. I bought–unsniffed–a rollerball of Alchemy from the DSH site just because I liked the name (I am a chemist). Of course, it was only $12, which is practically “free” these days, so it doesn’t even count.
Oh, you’re not the only one who has ever done that…I bought Demeter’s Funeral Home for that very reason! And I LOVE it when people ask, I get the hugest kick out of telling them. 😉
aha, I get a kick out of this too! Oh… the reasons we buy perfume. I have bought several people perfume just based on the names (bookish English major= at the library; hippie, nature loving friend = dirt, friend obsessed with Paris=midnight in Paris). Probably a bad idea, but I can’t help it.
Oh, YES, and Demeter is great for that, especially, since they are so easy on the pocket book.
Mmmmm Ambre Russe. I hosted a split of that one last year. Love it.
Bought Penhaligon Quercus at Liberty many years ago for the same reason – I love botanical Latin. (I wore it once and wondered “what was I thinking?”)
Ok. *deep breaths*
I suddenly wish I were Catholic so I could erase my sins with a few Hail Marys. . .
Full Bottles:
Kenzo Amour (30)
L’Artisan Tea for Two (120)
SL Gris Clare (90)
Bulgari Black (x2, 60 total)
Balenciaga Paris (90 ish)
Bulgari Omnia (30)
Aveda Cinnamon/Clove oil (15)
Partial bottles (mostly from estate sales):
vintage Shalamar (22)
Eau de Rochas (6)
Habit Rouge (4)
vintage Mitsouko edt (10)
(other random bits at estate sales, maybe another $15)
minis: (about $80)
JPG Classique
Fendi
LL Au Masculin
Prada l’eau d’iris
Kenzo l’elephant
Angel
B. Paris
Shalimar
LL (original)
Bvlgari Black
Samples? too many to count. . . 🙁 eep!
total. . .$557 (plus shipping and samples. . .Hail Mary, full of grace, . . .quick! Someone tell me the rest! )
Impressive haul! I need to try LAP Tea for Two. B. Paris is also on my waffle list… to be purchased someday when I magically have extra cash. I’m guess for 90 you got the 50ml?
Neh-eh, it’s an ebay purchase of a 75mL.
Nice!! Someone said good deals don’t count, so reeeeaaally…
Also, despite Daisy’s massive haul, I don’t even think you could have hid this in there!…maybe if you don’t count the good deals.
I like that plan. . .so maybe Robin could erase my first post and just include the Tea for Two and the Aveda? So many of the others were on sale or estate sales or minis, which *hardly* count, right?!
I got a coffret of 3 masculine l’Artisan Parfumeur – L’eau maison, Fou d’Absinthe and Timbuktu – as well as a bottle of Lalique’s Encre Noire, a bottle of Lancome Hypnose Homee, and John Varvatos’ Artisan.
They’re all awesome. That accounts for the vast majority of my collection as I’ve only bee buying perfumes for 7 or 8 months.
I’d say you’re doing well. . .I’ve only been at this since December (glance up to see how quickly I’m spending my money!)!!!
I’ve been doing this for a little under a year and I’ve managed to acquire nine bottles in that time 😐
Worse, I still feel like I’m just building a base to jump off from…there are so many gaps in my collection! No jasmine, no rose, no leather, no realy ‘green’ scent. There is so much more buying to be done!
I hear ya. I’m feeling like I’ve just gotten started too, but with the collection I have, I have a base to start from. I have a good range of ‘moods’ and ‘occasions’ from office subtlety to alluring evening fragrances.
I’ve also really gotten into matching deodorants/aftershaves – one of the great things about men’s perfumes.
But for now I think I’ll stick with what I have and perhaps at some point get one more bottle – likely Terre d’Hermès or Varvatos Vintage – both bottles I’ll get some day for sure.
Uh oh…I sort of got started on the note thing…sort of a rationale for lots of samples…I was *going* to get the best one, you know, of a note…but then i discovered that there would be different interpretations, so I said, well maybe 3 of a note…it was just a slippery slope.
But I’m over that, I just classify myself as a collector now, and don’t even have to worry about trying to wear it all!
I can see how this happens! And it’s sort of ridiculous, in a way. I mean, the reason I don’t have a jasmine yet is because I so obviously prefer ambers and orientals and gourmands to florals, so if I want Like this and Back to Black and Jeux de Peau (well I don’t know about that one yet, haven’t tried it… but I have a feeling..), why should I be trying to diversify to notes I don’t care so much for? But then again, *needing* a jasmine note seems like a really good excuse to buy Drama Nuui, and man, when the mood is right, that’s good stuff too.
Less than last year; I mostly bought things I’d planned to buy for a long time; some new, some great used or boxless bottle deals on ebay:
Via del Profumo Mecca Balsam (wanted it ever since I got a split from Daisy, so it was the will of the Empress!)
OJ Champaca (couldn’t resist the Valentines Day free shipping)
Amouage Jubilation 25 (great scent, found a great price)
S-Perfume 100% Love
AdP Profumo (found a great price and snapped it up)
Amarige 2007 Tamil Nadu Mimosa
AG Violette in Love
I’m ready for summer with some of these light scents.
Also scores of samples and decants too numerous to name.
Wait, AG’s violet or PdN’s?
You are right, Meg, it was the PdN Violette in Love. I should have posted BEFORE I read through everyone else’s posts and it got so late here!
That was one of my bottles too! No regrets there, it’s so cheerful… and surprisingly long lasting and tenacious. I did not get that from the sample, so I was surprised at the difference when spritzed.
Oooh… where does one find a good deal on the Amouage???
Jealous of the Champaca – a candidate for my want list.
I’m late to the party. Stupid old job! (OK, it’s not that stupid, as it does pay for my perfume obsession.)
I got splits of:
Havana Vanille
Frapin 1697
Shalimar LIght
Musc Ravageur Parfum Huile
Enlevement au Serail
Cruel Gardenia (thanks to the temptress Daisy)
It was a good quarter, which I define as getting things I really like and not going too crazy!
Only two for me this quarter, but I love both of them.
Taur: Un Rose Chypre
Roxana Illuminated Perfumes: The Perfume Devoted to Peace
Only 1 bottle…Parfum d’Empire Eau de Gloire 34 bucks on the bay!
Sign of the times 🙁
I think I was quite good this last quarter-only 3 bottles:
1:CdG Red Carnation-that I have wanted for ages.
2:Robert Piquet Fracas-also been lusting after for ages.
3:Balenciagia Paris-a recent love affair.
I could live with myself if I only bought 3 every 3 months but, unfortunately, I wont be able to keep it up!
A few little pretties this month!
A vintage bottle of Caron Muguet du Bonheur – EDT splash bottle
Caron Parfum Sacre current formulation 100ml EDP
Keiko Mercheri Loukhoum Eau Poudree EDP 50ml EDP
Annick Goutal Le Chevrefuille 100ml EDT
Lancome Cuir de Lancome 50ml EDP
Have been a good girl this quarter and decided to enjoy what I currently own, perfume wise! So didn’t buy anything but don’t promise to do the same next quarter! Am currently loving Balenciaga Paris and AG Songes.
I’ve been relatively good this quarter…. haven’t bought anything since February!
bought:
Cœur de Vétiver Sacré 50 ml
M/Mink 50 ml
Musc Ravageur oil….. still am not sure I like it.
Annick Goutal Sables 100 ml and Chine Impériale 125 ml
won in a contest:
Ineke Field Notes From Paris 75 ml
got for free in a giveaway at the store:
C.O. Bigelow Winter Lemon 100 ml
Oooh! congrats on the Field Notes! I’m sitting here with a little sample and one minute I’m in Serious Love, the next …well, the lavender can be a bit shrieky. Jury’s still on on the Ineke!
xo
Well, I was pretty bad. I’m on a trip and my list is at home, but here’s what I can remember (not counting a few decants and samples):
Caron Eau de Reglisse
Moni di Orio Jabu
Balmain Jolie Madame
i Profumi di Firenze Ambra del Nepal
Yves Saint Laurent Nu
Sonoma Scent Studio Rose Musc
Paco Rabanne Calandre
FBs:
SL Chergui
SL Fleurs d’Oranger
Bond No.9 New Haarlem
and a mini of YSL Cinema
I bought:
L’occitane – Honey & Vanilla
Serge Lutens – Jeux de Peau
well Ive been ver bad!!!!!:
guerlain elixir magic instant
ange ou demon
alien sunessence 2011
bamboo edp weill
cristalle edp
miss dior cherie edt
aqua e zuchero perfume profumum
jean paul gaultier classique X
this was my searching for sweet but with a pinch of citrus, in vieuw of the comling spring ansd as my nose had an overkill of amber in the long belgian winter!
I did get quite a few, at least by my standards 😉 But I didn’t have many in the first place, so I’m just building up my collection:
Kelly Caleche, 50 ml (on sale)
Les Nuits d’Hadrien, 50 ml (on sale)
CB I Hate Perfume Mr. Hulot’s Holiday, 50 ml (split)
CB I Hate Perfume Burning Leaves, 50 ml (split)
Ambre 114, 15 ml
1740 Marquis de Sade, 15 ml
Amarinthine, 5 ml (I don’t know if swaps count, but this is coming in … my first MUA swap!)
Nah, you don’t have to count swaps. 🙂
Agree, but you should tell us about it anyway….
Then I would have to add some Dzing!, Cuir de Lancome, and Futur to my list, and some samples.
I bought a handful, but i had been doing a lot of sampling swapping and decant investigating before i jumped into these full bottles. On some. Some were pure impulse. And I still consider myself a newbie, only have about 2 or 2 and a half years of true perfume crazed time, and only joined MUA this year, so I’m still building my “Fragrance Wardrobe” and will probably peter out at some point as I find I have some wonderful classics and personal favs to turn to for most occasions. It does peter out right? Either that or I will just plain run out of money. So these are actual purchases of fbs or close to fbs, I have acquired a handful more FBs but via swap so IM *leaving those out*.
La Casse Aux Papillons 3.4 on ebay, very good deal $90
Ofresia 1.7 oz on scentsplits full bottles, another great deal $40
Bronze Goddess on ebay 3.4 oz – $45
Noel Au Balcon on Luckyscent, just a personal reward – $80
Samsara 30 ml new formulation, ebay, (might as well not even have it as since trying the vintage am not able to enjoy it without a little vintage underneath. – $25
Maison Martin Margiela Untitled, MMM boutique. Ive spouted enough praise on here for this havent I? Definite spring staple, so attached. – $110
FM Musc Ravageur 1.7 oz. Barneys from my fav SA. Another personal reward. (Its been a trying year.. need these little treats more often than every before, and am not indulging ANYWHERE else in my life… Ive never posted to this poll before, it is it natural for it to become a confession booth / therapy sesh?)$140
Fireside Intense – 17ml. Just had to, adore this. – $34
Tabac Aurea – 17 ml same – $34
Parisienne 3.4 oz on ebay, just because $15
Tokyo Milk Sparrow 30 ml. cheap thrill. except when you by two. $28
Tokyo Milk Dark – Bulletproof 50ml $36
L’Aromarine Tropique edt 1.7oz from Le Pink on Sunset, the only perfume smelling spot watering hole in the immediate vicinity. – $40
CB I H Perfume At the Beach 66 50 ml water 1/2 bottle from Anna who’s weekly lists I both look forward to and fear. – $45
OH MY GOD . I just added it. Holy holy I don’t even think I have this much in my account right now, am wondering how I did this or if perhaps I am a streetwalker in my sleep. A sleepstreetwalker?
$762.00 !!!!!!!!!!!
OK so next quarter is back to decants and swaps only!
It’s so much fun to read what everyone has bought. I hope you all are happy with your purchases.
I did buy quite a lot this quarter, the reason… I spent a couple of days in London.
Chanel – Bois des iles 75 ml
Chanel – Coco mademoiselle pure perfume 7,5 ml
Comme des garcons – Daphne 50 ml
L artisan – Dzing! 50 ml (from e-bay)
By Kilian – Liaisons dangereuses 50 ml
Guerlain – Tonka imperiale 75 ml
I don’t want to think about how much money they cost me combined.
Mmm, nice stuff… but I’m more envious of the time in London.
Oh! Its the 50ml Dzing thats made me go green…
I also spent waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on luckyscent and the perfumed court.
I bought only one bottle this quarter–CdeG Zagorsk. Total damage $80.00. There were several I wanted to buy, but my budget wouldn’t allow it.
Looks like there’s quite a few of us that have been forced into restraint due to budgetary reasons.
This quarter I got myself my first ever Serge, Sa Majeste la Rose, because it reminds me of my grandmother’s rose perfume w/o being her perfume. $110
I got myself a bottle of Shalimar from Sephora for ~$70 and I’m not sure if I like it. I don’t know if my nose is mature enough.
And I had to jump on a random bottle of l’Artisan Dzing! that crossed my path because of the old book/capentry shop musk accord. $135
Only 3 bottles for me 😉
Guerlain:
L’Instant de Guerlain pour Homme (125 ml EdT) [79,90€]
L’Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Eau Extrême (75 ml EdP) [65,90€]
Spiritueuse Double Vanille (75 ml EdP) [160€]
Total damage: 305,80€ ($437)
Well, I didn’t notice HOW much money I spent on perfume the last three months…
I only bought 5 bottles! I feel like i’m letting the economy down.
Among those i got Encre Noire, Brasil Dream for him and Canabis Santal.
Needless to say, they all come in the house through the back door, in a plain paper bag to avoid the “did you really NEED another one?” look.
That’s funny! A lot of us know that look, as well as other ones. My husband was amused the first year I started blogging and mass collecting, the second year he started to shake his head, and now – he’s starting to question my sanity. :d
Hi everyone! I’ve been reading NST for about a year now but rarely comment. Time to jump in! I still consider myself a newbie.. but I am getting absolutely obsessed!
3 FB (not much compared to everyone else but it is quite a lot for a poor college student!)
Le Labo Iris 39
Apothia Velvet Rope
Lanvin Arpege
I just ordered about 10 samples from SSS. Can’t wait to try this line out!
I’m a newbie myself, so I’m working on building a nice wardrobe. I’ve had to limit myself to one full bottle a month, and one cheapie per month – either a decant or a discount bottle. Since Jan, I’ve gotten:
Full Bottles:
Odin 04 Petrana
CDG 2Man (used, discount)
Penhaligon’s Sartorial
Le Labo Rose 31 (flacon split, discount)
Versace The Dreamer (Ross, dicount)
Keiko Mecheri Iris d’Argent
Montale Red Vetyver (decant, on sale!)
by Killian Cruel Intentions (decant)
I’m surely in for more than $500, but I’m purposely not keeping track!
I’m not talking this time – lol. I bought the big bottle of Carnal Flower, and other stuff. I got some great deals, but still. I refused to keep track.
I have to clamp down now, though, and I will need to move soon and will be paying lots more rent. It was fun while it lasted.
I can’t remember?
I got Aqua di Gioia 30ml gift set in the Christmas sale at Boots. that was in January at £20something reduced from £33.
I think that’s it !!