About the author: Arielle Weinberg is a Johns Hopkins University Natural Sciences major and aspiring perfumer. She writes about perfume, Star Trek, and her cat for her perfume blog, Scents of Self.
Hi there, Now Smell This! We’re going to start things off with a little quiz!
1. Do you read blogs about perfume? (We know that you read at least one!)
2. Have you ever had to correct a perfume salesperson?
3. Can you name at least three perfumers?
4. Have you ever attended a meet-up or convention for perfume lovers?
5. Do friends give you concerned looks when they see the size of your perfume collection?
6. Are you prone to using perfumista lingo? Examples of perfumista lingo include “sillage monster”, “IFRA restrictions”, or “evil scent twin”.
7. Do you have a favorite classic Guerlain? (Pssst... Nahéma doesn’t count! It was released in 1979.)
8. Did you know that perfumes are frequently reformulated due to issues with ingredients or costs?
9. Do you have a system for keeping track of your perfume samples, such as a written catalogue or a computer spreadsheet?
10. Do you have strong opinions on the IFRA regulations of perfumery ingredients such as oakmoss and sandalwood?
If you answered “yes” to even a single one of these questions, congratulations! You are a nerd.
That’s right! You are all enormous nerds.
You heard me.
Now, I know that this might be hard for those of you who had a social life in high school to accept. I suspect that at least a few of you are currently reassuring yourselves that you cannot possibly be nerds, because nerds play Dungeons & Dragons and write Spock/Gandalf fanfiction and you do not do either of those things. And how does loving perfume make you nerdy, anyway? Veritable billions of non-nerds wear perfume!
As your friendly neighborhood nerd, I’m here to answer all of your questions. My nerd credentials include a truly horrifying number of hours spent watching, reading, and/or playing Star Trek, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Pokemon, Buffy, Firefly, and Dollhouse. I also play five different Pokemon games on my laptop using computer programs that mimic real-life video game consoles. (This does not mean that I know how to fix your computer. Sorry, y’all.)
Now, let’s address the “perfume can’t be nerdy” issue. This right here is one of the major misconceptions about nerdiness. Nerdiness is not confined to a set number of topics. Literally anything can be nerdy. Nerdiness is defined not by the activity itself, but by the nerd’s level of interest in the activity. You are not a nerd because you love perfume. You are a nerd because you are waaaaaay more into perfume than pretty much anyone else is.
So those veritable billions of non-nerd perfume-wearers? They certainly exist. They just wouldn’t have answered “yes” to any of the questions on that little quiz! This is because they have only a very casual interest in perfume. They are the equivalent of that guy who saw two or three Star Trek episodes one day when nothing else was on TV and found them mildly interesting. You, my friends, are not that guy. To continue with the Star Trek metaphor, you are the guy who has the words “Live Long and Prosper” tattooed across his left butt cheek.
Still unconvinced? Let’s take another look at that quiz. Remember that question about your favorite classic Guerlain? Most people have absolutely no idea that Guerlain has ever sold perfumes other than Insolence, Shalimar Parfum Initial, and Shalimar Eau de Toilette. Do you know even one person, other than your Internet Perfume Friends, who has strong opinions on IFRA oakmoss regulations? Do you know even one person, other than your Internet Perfume Friends, who knows what oakmoss is? Do you know even one person, other than yourself, who even has Internet Perfume Friends?
Most importantly, think about the question about your perfume blog reading habits. When a non-nerd finds a perfume that they enjoy, he or she will probably never discuss that perfume with anyone unless someone happens to ask what they’re wearing. Now, here’s what happens when I stumble across a new perfume that I enjoy. First, I check its MakeupAlley reviews. Then I do a general Google search and look for any reviews by perfume bloggers. There’s an entire freaking research process here that would never occur to a non-nerd. Finally, I write my own review for my perfume blog. We’re perfume nerds because we’re not content to merely wear great perfumes; we want to talk about them. We actively seek out other perspectives and ideas about perfume, and eagerly add our own voices to the conversation.
Why did I write an entire post telling you all how nerdy you are? Because I truly believe that nerdiness is something worth embracing. I honestly can’t think of a more fun way to go through life than as a perfume nerd. We’re pretty much guaranteed to be the best-smelling people in any given setting. We get to have lively, intelligent conversations with our fellow perfume nerds right here on Now Smell This (and all over the Internet!) We can make almost anything into an adventure; every fragrant garden or grody antique store demands a quest. Being a nerd doesn't make you Urkel. It makes you awesome!
Allow me to leave you with an inspirational quote from comedian Simon Pegg’s new memoir, Nerd Do Well: “Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating.”
See also: Erin's 5 Perfumes for: Nerds
I loved this and I love being a perfume nerd.
Just a remark, I think you need to answer yes to 3 or more of these questions to be considered a perfume nerd. :0)
Let me guess, eaudemale… you only answered yes to two! 😉 So glad that you liked the post!
Thank you Arielle for this wonderful and nerdy guest post. I must say I answered “yes” to many questions from your list but not to all of them. I myself started writing a perfume blog two weeks ago and I’m having slowly but quite happy beginning. And of course I read few perfume blogs.
I agree that there might be something nerdy about wearing perfume. Well, I think I consider myself not only a perfume nerd but also a study nerd. When people here I study chemistry they tend to go like “oh, really, you must study a lot, poor you”. But in this case I don’t think I’m poor. I study chemistry because I want to achieve something that now is just a dream, simple, isn’t it?
lucasai, thank you so much for leading me to your blog, I love your science-y header! I also study chemistry in the hopes of applying it to perfume someday, but I can’t say I’m much good at it. I would gladly accept any offers of sympathy!
I would love to show you what I’ve got up my sleeve and will happily link your blog with mine 🙂 This will be a nice addition to my links section.
Lucas, your blog looks great! I particularly love the complementarity between the artistic style of the perfume bottles and the font. I’ll stop by every now and then to read, also.
Thank you! Happy to hear it, you are very welcome to visit 🙂
10/10. Do I get a prize?
Nerdiness is its own prize, Brian! 😀
Arielle,
You make me laugh, often. You forgot the bit that every time the people around you find out your a perfume nerd they ask you to guess their fragrance, ask if you’ve read Patrick Suskind’s Perfume and then want to impress upon you their own level of nerdiness. I am making some seriously great offline friends too.
Who knew?
Portia xx
Oh man, people ALWAYS ask me to guess their perfume, and I only get it right maybe 60% of the time. It’s so embarrassing when I have to admit I don’t know it!
(For those who don’t know, in addition to being a perfume nerd, Portia here is a fantastic new addition to the perfume blogosphere!)
Portia, can we have your blog address please?
I’m happy to provide it: it’s Australian Perfume Junkies! http://australianperfumejunkies.com/
Great, thanks!
You Rock my world Ari. Thanks
Portia, there’s a way to make a link in your name that’ll send people to your blog. (It’s why some names are a greenish color and others are purple.) Unfortunately, I can’t remember right now just how to do that, so maybe someone else can chime in.
Pick “edit profile” on right column after you log in, add URL to the URL field. That’s it!
Thanks ladies. Computer illiterate here. Log in where?
Portia xx
If you are commenting, then you must already be logged in. Look on the right column, near the top, where it says “Welcome PortiaT”, underneath that is the “Edit Profile” link.
First, of all no one HAS to correct a Sales Associate. Just remember that SA is probably an underpaid (or recently laid off) school teacher just doing her best. If the company even bothered to give their current sales brochure (full of lies about no reformulations) to read, she has been more “trained” than most.
Secondly, and more importantly, as a Nerd who has devotes huge amounts to time to reading/watching/roleplaying Science fiction and fantasy games, what are you recommendations for fragrances. Yoda undoubtedly wore green aquatics (think lotus flower notes). Farm boy Luke probably wore the equivalent of Old Spice, but I suspect Han of wearing Aqua Di Goya. (I suspect the Wookie of having a hidden Cary Grant, he probably Musc Ravageur). Obie Wan was an out of date, mysterious knight, so obviously he work L’Huere Blu.
But what does a modern earth girl wear to a night of gaming or the big convention? Pray, advise.
Oh, and I regard nerds of people who invest lots to time and passion to becoming extremely knowledgable about some subject., or in your case, obviously several subjects.
In other words, nerds are the most interesting people.
Excuse the hideous typos. I am adjusting to a new computer and keyboard.
There was actually an open poll on this very subject here on Now Smell This! https://nstperfume.com/2012/05/26/lazy-weekend-poll-star-wars/ I love your choice of L’Heure Bleue for Obi-Wan- so perfect!
Real-life nerd nights are a great excuse for quirky perfumes, right? How about Ormonde Jayne or one of the Comme des Garcons? And there’s always the Pon Farr perfume…
I *love* that there are more multi-genre RPG/other gaming, FSF, and perfume nerds here! I wore Ormonde Jayne Tiare and Frangipani at my last mini-con and should be stocked up on Ta’if before my next full-size cons in Oct and Nov (no GenCon for me this year 🙁 ). SL Fleurs de Citronnier and Diptyque Philosykos might accompany me as well, plus Vero Profumo Rubj edp for an evening or two. If any of you go to any New England or upstate New York game conventions we should try to do a meetup! Council, Carnage, SnowCon, TotalCon, OGC-NH anyone?
I never get up to New England, but I hope that someone takes you up on your offer! I think OJ Ta’if would be just perfect for a convention!
I do DragonCon. Not this year but the husband shall be initiated next year. There are, on occasion, informal meetups that are arranged on D*Con facebooks or Livejournal of perfume lovers for swapping samples and sniffing items from different collections. Last one I went to was on the second tier of the Marriott where there is a nice selection of sofas, arm chairs & a table.
For gaming nights I almost always wear a gourmand fragrance, since game night usually involves a great deal of cooking a big meal that everyone enjoys and i whip up the desserts. As for the big gaming convention. I wear the biggest and the brightest I can find. Generally this involves wearing something non-offensive from the popular fruity-floral garden variety but making sure I carry it with me. That way, I smell good but I’m not killing anyone with my beloved Shalimar or Angel, and the scent fills my own nostrils and overrides the un-avoidable “Con Funk” that permeates the air in the main programming areas and fills the dank bowels of the “Gaming Pit” in the Atlanta Hilton, where no woman dare venture at DragonCon.
Goes to game night AND makes dessert?? You are a gamer boy (or lady’s!) dream girl, Anne! 😉
HA!
All I can say is – “Word.”
Love my perfume, the friends I’ve made, the intimacy we share.
Nerd’s rock. Hard. And we smell very, very good. 😉
I loved reading this Ari and you are right. I agree with all of it!
For me, this nerdy community means even more than that.
It’s how fragrance and finding other people that had the same obsession helped me in the darkest, hardest times in my life and I still was able to find joy in all of it, because of perfume and support from wonderful people I’ve never met and probably will never meet but love and care for deeply.
And now that those desperate times seem over now, I have friends who were there to be happy for me and root for me.
It’s all very humbling and precious , I am thankful for it.
Perfume peeps and beautiful scents make my world a better, kinder place.
Tamara, this is a wonderful, touching comment and I could not agree more. Perfume lovers are by far the sweetest and friendliest people on the internet; we’re all so lucky for this community.
Yes, Ari. I know. 🙂
Your article put a big smile on my face, Ari! I’m another 10/10, though just barely. I attended the SF Sniff and Salon two weekends ago. It was my first perfumista meetup, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so immediately comfortable with a group of people! Oh, and I have only corrected salespeople in my head, so far. 🙂
Oops! This went in the wrong place. But I also wanted to agree with Tamara’s sweet and true post.
I’m so glad that you liked the post, Haunani! I’m crazy jealous of all of you commenters who got to go to the SF Salon- I would cut a distant relative to have gotten to meet Ineke Ruhland. I don’t ever correct salespeople on notes or anything, but I do protest if they tell me that something has been discontinued when I know damn well it hasn’t!
Agreed. Perfume peeps do make the world a better place.
*Joins in perfume nerd pride parade* I scored a 90% on the questions part only because I don’t think Kalamazoo has a thriving perfume community save for myself and the lone fragrance loving saleslady I shop with at our local Macy’s. Sometimes I think about starting one and then wonder if my obsession is getting a little too carried away, though if there was one, I’d be there with bells (and Chanel) on. 😀
Though Mr. Ab. Scent can get rather exasperated with my nerdiness in all its forms (perfume, tea, books, music, chocolate, film, science etc.) he is the tech geek in the relationship so we balance one another out. One of my favorite ways to unwind with something light is to grab a handful of samples I’ve yet to try, pour myself some nice white and curl up for a chuckle or two over Big Bang Theory with a couple friends.
And I won’t even get started on the weekend long event and authentic dinner preparations we undertake for the season premiere of Game of Thrones (I wear BK’s Back to Black for every episode lol), how I agonized for hours over what perfume to wear to a ren fair or LOTR movie opening or my rather complete and prroudly displayed collection of Harajuku Lovers perfumes with the odd Hello Kitty thrown in for variety. And then there’s the maticulous organizational system going on in my perfume cabinet… *stuffs self in great smelling locker* 🙂
I fear you’re right, Ab Scent- I checked meetup.com for perfume meet-ups and only found a meditation group 🙁 I haven’t found any in Maryland yet either, which is why it was such a thrill to finally go to Sniffapalooza this year!
Now, do you ever wear your Harajuku Lovers, or did you get them just for the adorable bottles?? I freely admit that I have never once sprayed my Jingle Bell Gwen Stefani.
No perfume meet-up in Portland, either! And I *KNOW* there’s a sizable contingent of Pacific Northwesterners here on NST. Seems overdue, come to think of it!
Make it happen, Marjorie Rose! I’m surprised to hear there are no perfume meet-ups in Portland yet- aren’t y’all supposed to be hipsters?? 😉
Well, we *are* awfully busy standing around in our red skinny jeans and studded belts with hip, 80’s inspired haircuts!–could take a while to coordinate something! 🙂
Okay Ari, fellow perfume nerd here. You haven’t sprayed your Jingle G!? She’s one of the best, she has lace Laotian benzoin tears. Don’t let the little Santa suit fool you, she’s the most hardcore H-Lover there is.
Or are you keeping her in new condition?
Whoa!! I had no idea! I knew that it didn’t smell like coconut, so I just assumed that it was a boring flanker of the original HL Gwen. I’m going to go crack her open for the first time! Thank you for enlightening me, Lys!
Jingle G is still dog-whistle shrill. But the resins in her base have some serious niche-cred. She may be mini but she could seriously kick that Visual Kei tough girl’s ass.
Yeah, I’m like Absolute Scentualist, I only scored 90% – small-town Southern Alberta doesn’t lend itself to perfume get-togethers. But someday……
I’m already a massive nerd, as you know Ari, and I embrace my geek self proudly. (A sign that you are a nerd, and not just a perfume nerd: debating the nuances between geek and nerd.) It’s a lot of fun to get older, raise nerdy kids who have nerdy friends you can have in-depth discussions with about things like the “New Weird” genre of SF, and overhear them saying later, “Dude, your mom is AWESOME!”
And my personal favorite declaration of the joys of REALLY embracing a passion with no apologies, may I present Mr. John Green: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMweXVWB918
Whoa, the coveted “awesome mom” award! We’ve got a cool nerd on our hands here 😉 I expected that the meet up question would probably get the most “nos” due to those of us who are more geographically challenged. That’s why having an online community of perfume lovers is so awesome and important!
John Green is great!
Great post, Arielle.
I was blissfully unaware that I was a perfume nerd until my friend gave me a “WTF, what’s wrong with you” look (eyes were rolling too) whilst I methodically went through the perfume counters of Harrods, sniffing and muttering to myself. So what if I am odd? Why be normal when you could be happy!?
Thank you so much, Lady M! I’m very used to freaking people out with my perfume hobby (although who wouldn’t go a little crazy over the Harrods perfume counters?? You lucky British ducks). Your comment reminded me that there’s a book out right now called “Why be happy when you can be normal?” Such an intriguing title!
Yes, I’ve read the book! It’s a poignant memoire by Jeanette Winterson. The title is so bizarre but it’s what J Winterson was told by her mother when she confessed to being in love with a woman. I’d take happiness over “normality” anytime.
I read that book a few months ago, and her story really stuck with me. It’s a great title – and philosophy!
Skip the Harrod’s perfume counters, and go up to the hidden perfume boutique in the upstairs salon. That’s where the really good, and really rare stuff is.
Yes, that place is my idea of heaven and if I had an invisibility cloak, that’s where I would hang out all day.
Hey- I’m 9 for 10 and totally proud of my fragrance nerd status. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur. Nerd-a-sseur maybe, whatever. There is a fine line between nerd and connoisseur to be sure, and it mostly has to do with price-point! Frag-hag is my fav, but it all means the same to me: good smells, endless discovery and hunting, and fantastically interesting people from all over the globe!
Oooh, there’s a topic that needs a post: what’s the difference between a nerd and a connoisseur? Connoisseur sounds much classier, to be sure.
Yes, I think connoisseur is probably a more accurate term as well. See my rant about the term “nerd” below.
I grew up in a perfumista family, so I really didn’t realize that notes and noses weren’t common conversation topics for the entire world until I got to college, where people just assumed I was some strange type of chemistry major.
I guess you could say I’m a serial nerd, as I’m usually all wrapped up in one sudden interest or another. I like to describe myself as a Renaissance Woman, but my husband and son call me Johnny 5 (after the robot in the movie “Short Circuit” who could never get enough ‘input’).
But while other passions come and go, my love of scents and books never seems to wane. Nothing makes me happier than meeting a new person who relishes both just as much as I do. And there are many of them here on the perfume blogosphere! 🙂
Wow, what an interesting upbringing, Teri! Were your parents perfumers or just perfume lovers? And are you American? When I tell other Americans that I want to be a perfumer, the response is ALWAYS “Is that a real job??” I assume that in Europe there’s probably a little more awareness of perfume and the perfume industry.
I’m 100% American, but my maternal grandfather, who was a professional photographer, visited Paris at least once a year, sometimes more, and would always bring his ‘girls’ back perfume, candies, clothes, even lingerie! So with granddad being our ‘French Connection’, we had a lot more exposure to fine fragrances than the average American family.
Is that a real job? Did they think that perfume fairies magically deposit perfumes in their local dept stores? Of course, it’s always great to point out that people will PAY you to do something you love and are interested in….That’s what I tell people when they ask why I became a massage therapist 🙂
Completely with you on the “serial nerd/Renaissance woman” thing! I was debating this point with a friend just the other day, in fact! He said he could make a list of the “types of nerd” he is. I suggested that I’m consistently nerdy, but that the focus of my nerdiness changes from one obsession to another over time. So there *do* seem to be two distinct types–those who obsess and cultivate their enthusiasms consistently over time and those of us who get engrossed in a topic or two at a time before some tangent takes us in a new direction. I am happy with my fluctuating interests–it means I can speak semi-intelligently about a wide range of topics. And inevitably, I find fascinating connections between them!
I must be a super nerd, I answered yes to all of the questions! 😛
It is such a fun and interesting hobby, I’m glad for the internet, and the ability to discuss fumes with other perfume-lovers, it doesn’t hurt to live in an area (SF/Bay area) where I can easily find niche scents either….
Congratulations on your high score, SmokeyToes! 😀 It must be so exciting to live in the center of the indie perfume scene- did you get to go to that San Francisco artisan festival last week?
Hi Ari,
Yes I did, I went to a Sniffa on Sat and the Salon on Sunday. I had way too much fun, it was great speaking with others who share my obsession. My MIL tagged along too, she thoroughly enjoyed herself.
This is the best post ever!! (Sorry, Robin) ….and I answered “yes” to all the questions! WOW….I love perfume and love talking about them, it bring so much happiness and joy to my life. I must be a total and complete nerd because I re-arranged my entire schedule (including taking a day off from work) to be able to attend Alyssa Harad’s book signing in Brooklyn next week. I don’t know her personally, but am compelled to attend and support our amazing perfume community! I feel lucky to have such an enjoyable passion and to be able to communicate with so many interesting and wonderful people.
What a wonderful compliment, Tara, thank you so much! I’m sooo jealous that you get to go to one of Alyssa’s events- she did a reading at Sniffapalooza and was as funny and clever and gracious as you could hope for. You’re in for a great time!
Very fun post! But as someone who worked in the computer software industry for over 20 years and who is married to a scientist, I’m going to quibble with your use of the “nerd.” To me a nerd is not someone who is passionately interested in something; a nerd is someone who is very social awkward along with being single mindedly focused on a particular obsession. I’ve known computer programmers and scientists who were married with families and other interests, even if they did program or do science all day and play e-games or read about science at night (or while they worked–one superprogrammer I know played games while programming and still outperformed everyone else). These were not nerds. The nerds had trouble socializing and relating to people who were different than than them or even talking about anything except their interests (and it was my job to get information out of them). All this being said, I scored very high on your test! But I think, for me anyway, it would be far more accurate to call me a perfumista or fumehead or some other term. Or perhaps the meaning of the word nerd is evolving. (Yes, people, I am a writer, among other things.)
Here’s a definition I found online:
nerd also nurd (nûrd)
n. Slang
1. A foolish, inept, or unattractive person.
2. A person who is single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but is felt to be socially inept.
SuddenlyInexplicably, I completely understand your quibble. The thing is, that definition of nerd is completely accurate in my case! I am a socially inept but accomplished scientist! I’ve chosen to identify myself as a nerd because I feel that if I embrace it and have a sense of humor about it, I can take away any negative power that the word might have. But I can definitely understand why someone would feel less comfortable or enthusiastic about calling themselves a nerd.
I do think nerdiness does imply at least a certain degree of social ineptness, which is itself a natural result of being deeply passionate about a subject which is of no more than passing interest to the great majority of people. So being socially inept can make you a nerd, but being a nerd can also make you socially inept. It is awkward to be unable to converse with others on the subjects which you find most interesting, for the simple reason that no one around you cares about those things.
Ari–I do not agree that any interest at all can be nerdy. I think a requisite is that the obsession must be about a subject which is not deeply interesting to more than a small percentage of the population. Perfume certainly meets this criterion. On the other hand, I know many people who are just as obsessive about “popular” interests, such as football, yet no one was ever called a nerd for being passionate about football. That is because quite a sizable percentage of the population is interested in it, so it is by definition not nerdy. Think about it–would anyone risk being thought strange because he (or she, although it does seem to be mostly men) could name three Heisman Trophy winners or had been to a Super Bowl game? Does anyone risk being labeled a nerd for knowing the names of all the NFL head coaches or keeping track of their favorite players’ stats? I think not.
Incidentally, I scored 8 or 9 out of 10. I am undecided about no. 5, as no one except my husband has actually seen my perfume collection. I am quite sure that anyone who did see it would think I was nuts. I also have never been to a perfume meet-up simply because I do not know of any in my area. If anyone in the Houston area is planning one or knows of one, I would absolutely love to go!
All that being said, I do not consider the word nerd offensive. I was called a nerd many times derogatorily while I was growing up, but I now claim the word proudly. The classic definition fits me in any case. I am accomplished in a technical field, as I have a degree in chemistry and have been working as a chemist for over twenty years. I also am quite socially awkward, and find it very difficult to make small talk. It doesn’t help that I am most interested in subjects that few people around me really care about, and have little or no interest in the subjects they do care about. I do think the definition of nerd is evolving, as nerds themselves lay claim to it. After all, another aspect of nerdiness, as I understand it, is high intelligence, so by calling someone a nerd you are saying that person is smart. What is so bad about being smart and knowledgeable?
Well said, 50 roses! There is something inherently alienating about the obsessions of nerds, although I don’t mean that to sound quite as negative as it does. Football doesn’t usually isolate people. Neither does collecting wine, although it has a smaller following than football! But for anyone who has tried to explain the dry down of notes of a particularly complex fragrance to someone who has little interest, we can identify perfume has a definitely limited population of enthusiasts!
Lots of great thoughts here, 50_Roses. I’ve always felt that it was completely unfair that sports aren’t considered nerdy- some people (cough boyfriend cough) can get SO nerdy about various players and stats. Being intelligent can definitely be detrimental to one’s social status in high school, but there’s no excuse to keep considering it a bad thing after graduation! For nerds who had particularly traumatic high school experiences, however, I can see how they might not ever be able to see their nerdiness as a positive trait.
Gee, I am a bit of baseball new, and yes folks do occasionally describe us committed fans as such.
In fact, I have a client whose brother played on a college team She said a team mate of her brother “that guy was such total baseball nerd, that was all he cared about.” Mind you, “that guy” has since become a major league all-star, so I guess his nerdiness pay’d off.
So baseball fans can be nerds, and even superstar baseball players can be nerds.
I really hadn’t thought being a sports fan could make someone a nerd, but I guess it depends on how generally popular the sport is and how obsessed you are. I mentioned football specifically, as I live in Texas where it would be an extreme understatement to say that football is popular. I don’t think anyone here would be thought a nerd for being a football fan, but some other sports are not a wildly popular.
*Very* interesting post, Roses. But when I got to your comment about your being “socially awkward”, I had to pause as I’ve always found your posts here to be extremely knowledgeable, well thought out, and friendly. But then the light came on with the next line about “finding it difficult to make small talk”. I hate making small talk too! It occurred to me that “nerds”, whatever their areas of expertise, may not necessarily be socially awkward, but only more intelligent than the average bear and perhaps are simply impatient with the inane conversation in most social situations.
Aw, gee, thanks Rapple! I really am uncomfortable in most social situations. You say that my posts are well thought out, and I do maintain that one of the beauties of the internet, for an introvert like me, is that it allows time for reflection and consideration. In a live conversation, you have no more than seconds to decide what to say, or whether to say anything at all, whereas on a blog or forum, it is easy to take minutes or even hours to consider what to say. I also can review what I have written and edit or rewrite it as much as I please before hitting the “Post Comment” button. I a live conversation, it is quite impossible to rewind and take back what has been said. In the same way, if I have a choice of communicating by email or phone, I will choose email every time. I do find it much easier to converse when there is an established common interest. The internet helps here as well, as blogs such as NST have an obvious focus. Everyone here loves perfume, or else why would they be here? In many live social settings, it is often a tedious process to find that common ground, and there is no guarantee that it even exists.
There’s definately a difference between nerds, dweebs, geeks and dorks. Nerds are a cross section between social awkwardness, obsession and intelligence. Dweebs, however, are considered socially awkward and obsessed, while Dorks are awkward yet intelligent. Geeks, btw, are obsessed and intelligent. I think I’d classify myself as a Geek when it comes to perfume.
Ari– You are such a delight to read, no matter where you are writing. There are many different kinds of nerds, but in my opinion being into perfume is the SEXIEST nerd category ever!
Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment, Katherine! For the sake of my own ego, I’m going to go ahead and agree with you about the sexiness of perfume nerds! Foodies might give us a run for our money, though.
10 out of 10 for me, too. I’m nerdy and I know it.
But, Ari, no Dr. Who on your nerd credentials? I’m clutching my sonic screwdriver in horror! 😉
No Dr. Who yet, I’m afraid! I’m a little intimidated by the whole fifty years worth of episodes thing. Could I ask for your recommendations on where I should start??
Since you’re a big Joss Wheedon fan, I bet you’d be happiest starting with the Russell T. Davies reboot. The first season of “New Who” is from 2005, starring Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
Yes, yes and more yes! Lol, when you tell your husband about getting an email from Andy Tauer on where to buy a Miriam sample and expect him to know who he is..yep, I am nerdy! I was like, ya, he’s from Switzerland. My hubs was like..whoa, so you’re really into this huh? You gotta be, I mean niche perfumer from Switzerland? All puzzled/maybe a little concerned looking! Haha, lol. He’s an admitted gamer nerd..so be both have our thangs! It works out!:D.
Ah, nerd love! 😀 My boyfriend is a history nerd who generously agrees to watch Star Trek with me. Andy Tauer needs to get some kind of award from the Swiss government- he’s single-handedly putting Switzerland on a lot of people’s radars!
Haha, my hubs is a history nerd too! Nerd love lasts..that’s all I gotta say! Haha! <3
True, that!
Signed,
26 years this September
This warms my heart and gives me hope!
My husband is a nerd too, in the classic sense and several other ways as well. He is a classic film nerd, an avid reader, and has become a history nerd as well. We will be celebrating 22 years of marriage in September. Nerd love does last!
I think of myself as a wonk versus a nerd…it just fits me better I think.
What do you think Buffy would wear? I love that show and wish it was still on!
Ooooh, tough one! Depends on the season, I think. When she was still in high school and trying to fit in, I bet she would have worn a mainstream citrus. During the Spike phase, I see her in Bulgari Black or MAC MV3 to match his leather duster!
I wish that more Whedon shows got to have as long a run as Buffy did! I really loved Dollhouse.
Dollhouse was such a great show, wasn’t it? One of the few I’ve watched religiously while it was still running. Have you watched Cabin in the Woods yet? It was cool to see Joss working on a full length movie, and my inner horror-geek nearly exploded with joy.
Noooo, I didn’t get to see it! My boyfriend refused to go, and he’s the only one of my friends with a car! He claims that he just didn’t want to see a horror movie, but I suspect that he didn’t want to spend 2 hours watching me drool over Chris Hemingsworth 😉
But a little bit of drooling makes film so much more fun 🙂
I’m too big of a wimp to see Cabin in the Woods, but as a die-hard Whedon fangirl, not only did I enjoy The Avengers for its own sake, but also got excited because it’s success might mean more of his stuff gets made.
Definitely a nerd here. Not restricted to perfume either- I *love* Pokemon too, and regularly play Dungeons and Dragons at the weekend. But at least now I don’t feel bad about my meticulously complicated perfume spreadsheet… ^^;
Don’t you dare feel bad, Pinkster! We’re all impressed and/or jealous of your meticulousness! The “do you have a system for your perfumes” was the one question I missed- I used to keep a spreadsheet, but I have regressed to the trusty shoebox system.
This post made my day. I actually just attended my first perfume meetup at the Artisan Fragrance Salon in SF. I dragged my equally geeky boyfriend with me; he commented that the camaraderie felt very similar to his experiences at comic conventions, but with grown women sticking their just-sprayed wrists under complete strangers noses and commanding, “Smell this!” I loved every minute of it–as a Star Trek junkie, art history grad student, and perfume addict, being a nerd is one of the best parts of my life.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the post, missie sue! Your comment was such a wonderful testimonial for the power of nerdiness. I’m just a little jealous that you got to go to the Artisan Fragrance Salon- curse this East Coast existence! What did you think of it? Did you discover any exciting new lines?
I loved visiting the Salon; I got to meet and chat with Alyssa Harad, which was amazing. Her book is fantastic, and she is so warm and gracious and all-around lovely. I did try a few lines I hadn’t gotten to before–mainly Parfums Delrae. For some reason, I’d never smelled a single on of their scents before the Salon, so I spent a lot of time at their booth spritzing innumerable tester strips. My favorite was Amoureuse; one of the genteel, elegant, middle-aged representative from Parfums Delrae almost made me burst into surprised laughter when she sniffed the scent on my wrists and said that this was a perfume made to be worn with “fuck-me pumps and beautiful lingerie.” I love perfumistas.
Geez I said yes to 8 of the 10.
I am the Urkel of Perfumes!!!!
Don’t worry, Peter, you haven’t reached Urkel status just yet! We’ve got some perfect 10’s on here!
I am proud to say I scored a perfect 10! I wish everyone here could have seen the looks on friends’ and family’s faces when I boasted about buying my first bee bottle (Liu) last year. If we are “nerdy”, the looks of amazement on their faces are worth it.
Mazal tov on your first bee bottle!! I’ll never forget the priceless face my friend made when she first saw my perfume refrigerator.
9 out of 10 – no perfume get-together for me yet. Central Florida is not a niche perfume boutique hotspot. And I waffled on # 5 since only one person has ever seen my collection in its entirety. But I gave myself full credit for that one, since the look I got was distinctly concerned.
I don’t know what I’d do without my Internet Perfume Friends (or “Imaginary Friends” as Mr. Aparatchick calls them) since I know no one in real life who is interested in perfume. I once offered some samples to a friend who told me she’d give them to her daughter, “but she’d probably stink up the whole house”. Sigh…..
I’M REAL, MR. APARATCHICK! I HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND EVERYTHING!
I have a friend from Gainesville who also laments the lack of perfume shopping (or any shopping, really). Buuuut, you are in the same state as Epcot, and therefore Epcot France’s Guerlain boutique!
LOL at imaginary friends! I think this is the detail that amazes folks the most when I admit to my little perfume habit! It’s like you can see the thought in their heads, “you mean, there’s other folks like you?!”
I totally love my ” imaginary friends”. My hubby laughs at me too but I don’t care. It’s nice to know there are people out there who share an interest of mine.
AW, MANNNNNNNN! You posted this fun thing while I was gone all day (picking up my favorite self-described Band Geek AND her boyfriend, who’s even Band Geekier), Ari.
I drove nine hours in the rain. And although I did not actually WEAR Carnal Flower, because Bookworm doesn’t like it and I didn’t want her complaining all the way home, I did take the vial and sniff it periodically just for enjoyment purposes. And spritzed BK Rose Oud for the return trip.
I answered yes to nine out of ten, and it would have been ten out of ten if I’d ever had the opportunity to meet up with other permistas! Which you could have guessed, I’m sure. I love it that I can come here, or any of the dozens of Perfume Nerd blogs I frequent, and find people who understand the joys of being a Perfume Nerd.
I was wondering where you were, Mals! Come to northern VA sometime soon so that you can achieve a perfect score! 😀
You know, I think a lot of people waste way too much time trying to look cool instead of really enjoying the things they love, and having enthusiasm for those things.
At the moment, I’m thinking of the band director at our local high school, who is *clearly* in the right job. He spends his free time watching marching band videos on Youtube and making notes about songs or effects or elements he’d like to include in future shows – and he doesn’t care who sees him getting excited about the practice!
Thank goodness we’re not wasting our time trying to be cool.
I am a nerd, geek, fume head, whatever you want to call it. I am thrilled that somehow I stumbled upon this blog and then other blogs on perfume. I’ve been into perfume since I was a kid and used to mix my moms perfumes together to try and create something fabulous. Somehow she never really appreciated my creations though. Until I found these sites I really didn’t have anyone to share my interest with. I usually look forward to checking in and seeing what people are wearing and what’s new out there. These blogs are my happy places and I’ve always felt welcome since I de-lurked many moons ago. I don’t have a spreadsheet yet but I definitely like perfume far more than anyone else I know in my daily life. Hubby thinks I’m the only person in the world who puts perfume on to go to bed. He just doesn’t get it like you guys do.
Golly, you’d think hubby would appreciate it, though! (Unless it’s at nighttime when you decide to experiment with something strange and cutting edge? 🙂 )
No way! Bedtime is for quiet comfort scents, surely! I wouldn’t want to miss any part of a strange perfume’s development by falling asleep, and they might give you strange dreams.
Totally agree with you there poodle! Ari, thank you for this very funny post! Robin, I wouldn’t be a perfume nerd if I never stumbled onto your blog and discovered that there were actually people on the internet like me with the same interest in perfume, and writers who have a much better imagination and vocabulary than I at expressing perfume! Your blogs and the fellow perfumistas who comment provide so much happiness and a feeling of community, so thank you 😉
I’m so glad you liked the post, DP! I think that a great many of us can credit Robin for our transformations from regular old nerds to perfume nerds 😀
That is sweet, thank YOU!
I LOLed at the image of your mother being presented with your makeshift perfumes, Poodle! I think that I may have done something similar with my mom’s lipsticks…
i gave myself partial credit for 2 questions, so behold, I scored a 6.75 / 10. I don’t even remember when I stumbled into this blog and read for quite awhile before I decided to start commenting. I knew I had crossed to the nerd side when I had to create a folder to separate the perfume blogs from the “regular” blogs 🙂
Nice post, Ari!
Only a true nerd could introduce fractions into a score that was supposed to be an integer! 😉 I’m so glad you liked the post, hajusuuri!
Wow, that quiz is so accurate that it’s almost scary, and I love that you declare a score of 1 as sufficient, LOL!
I think nerdiness is an inherent trait. I’ve also attended a few Star Trek conventions and gotten obsessed with other hobbies over time. I guess the focus of my nerdery depends on where I’m living and other environmental opportunities. For example, I got into birding, plant identification and beads when I lived in Africa, and perfume is so much fun now because of the internet. Sci-fi is a recurrent theme.
Finally, thanks for that wonderful quote!
I agree with you that it’s an inherent trait. It was funny, because my husband pointed out recently that my whole family is one big family of people with obsessive interests. My brother was interested in insects and fishing as a kid; as he grew up he started studying biology and turned his hobbies into a degree. Now he has some new unrelated hobbies. My uncle is into Auyrveda and at the age of 80+ he got into creating computer programs to design a balanced diet. And here’s me with my perfumes. 🙂
oh my! i admit to reading perfume blogs to help me in my work (i’m a fragrance sales trainer), but admittedly, i feel in love with fragrances becuase of work. so yeah, i’m a nerd and proud about it, too!
Hello, My name is Rosie and I am a perfume nerd….
Also Star Trek fan, LOTR fan ( when I first met my husband he was amazed that I read LOTR annually) avid reader of all types of books, gardener ( still working on that one) and friend of big hairy rescue dogs. I can tell you Ari that nerd love is the best and most long lasting. It has been 30 years for my husband and myself. It is due to his patience and understanding of my obsessive interests. Also he is a long standing music nerd and creates his own music,both electronic and singer/songwriter stuff. Thanks for a terrific post,it’s nice to have a welcoming community in perfumista-land.
Perfume nerd also includes my husband, who is only mildly interested, but politely listens to my ravings…
(His official qualifications are in other spheres)
Same here! I get my bf samples sometimes, and I’ve created a monster out of him! He isnt ad bad as I am, and will never be, but I do catch him walking around with his wrist to his nose sometimes 😀
6/10 but I don’t consider myself a perfume nerd. I read blogs every day, but my knowledge level hasnt really surpassed “things I like” “things I don’t dislike” and “things i don’t like.” to my eternal shame, when my non-perfume friends always try to have conversations with me about perfume and its always about musk for some reason… i’m still not sure what musk smells like!
Does it count as a meet-up if it happens accidentally? I did run into another fume head at Barney’s once; we discussed JAR perfumes. I guess that’s kind of geeky to talk about an expensive niche brand that is NOT available in our city….
I’d say that’s an even more advanced sign! 🙂
I’m a little late to this very fun party (extremely busy time at work and my Mom is in the hospital 🙁 ), but I had to let you know, Arielle, how very much I enjoyed your post. And as a dyed in the wool Guerlie-girl, I’m thrilled that you used a line up of bee bottles for your illustration.
Even without your quiz, I knew that I was a perfume nerd (or geek or connoisseur), but interestingly enough, I used to get much more flak and funnier looks about my POTO (Phantom of the Opera) obsession than I’ve ever gotten over perfume. I wonder why? Maybe because Erik was such a social outcast himself…. 😉
Oh dear, hope your mom is better soon!
Thanks, Robin.
Ari, a fun, wonderful article! It really made me smile and nod my head.
Loved this post. I have been a perfume nerd since I was 20 years old and will be that way until I die.
I’m a complete total perfumeaholic. It’s bad, husband has threatened divorce. Passes that now. I only buy 2 bottles a month.
Thanks to this blog.
Very funny post Ari! I score 8/10, I haven’t gotten around to a spreadsheet yet!
I remember when I had been to a medical convention and my colleges looked at me a bit oddly after I’ve raided the Duty Free shop and returned with a number of bottles and enough perfume blotters to form a fan…I didn’t dare tell them I could name all the perfumers behind the bottles 🙂 (Wasser, JC Ellena and Mathilde Laurent that was).
1. Do you read blogs about perfume?
Well yeah, obviously.
2. Have you ever had to correct a perfume salesperson?
Not exactly, but I have mentioned a perfume when an SA asked what I liked, and they didn’t know what I was talking about. It was Chanel No.19, so it wasn’t even that obscure or anything. But it was at Macy’s, and they don’t carry that one, so whatever. I also had a lady at the Guerlain counter at Neiman Marcus act like I was some sort of genius or something because I knew what Mitsouko was and said I liked it.
3. Can you name at least three perfumers?
Yep, though I’m not well-versed enough to distinguish their styles or anything like that.
4. Have you ever attended a meet-up or convention for perfume lovers?
I wish. The Artisan thing in San Francisco sounds awesome. I haven’t had the opportunity yet, but I’m kind of a newbie. Not sure if there’s anything like that in my area, though. There was a perfume blog called Scent Signals that was apparently written by someone here in Houston, but it looks like nothing’s been posted there in a couple years.
5. Do friends give you concerned looks when they see the size of your perfume collection?
My collection mostly consists of sample vials at this point, so I guess not so much on this one. I’m sure if I had a bigger bank account it would be a yes.
6. Are you prone to using perfumista lingo? Examples of perfumista lingo include “sillage monster”, “IFRA restrictions”, or “evil scent twin”.
Sort of.
7. Do you have a favorite classic Guerlain? (Pssst… Nahéma doesn’t count! It was released in 1979.)
Yep. Mitsouko.
8. Did you know that perfumes are frequently reformulated due to issues with ingredients or costs?
Yep, but if it weren’t for this site I probably wouldn’t have been as aware of that fact.
9. Do you have a system for keeping track of your perfume samples, such as a written catalogue or a computer spreadsheet?
Sort of, but I’m not that organized. I had started a Google doc through an app on my phone to store notes, but I don’t keep very good track.
10. Do you have strong opinions on the IFRA regulations of perfumery ingredients such as oakmoss and sandalwood?
I guess considering it made me happy when I found a site that sells IFRA-compliant oakmoss absolute (though it’s been out of stock so I haven’t been able to get my hands on any), I guess I can say yeah.
“Do friends give you concerned looks when they see the size of your perfume collection?” – hey, how DO they see the size of your collection? Isn’t it supposed to be carefully tucked away from the harmful light and … concerned looks? 😉
Speaking only for myself of course, since I keep my collection in the refrigerator (I’m single), friends who come to dinner end up seeing it when I open the fridge.
Hahahahaha! I’d love to do that when I’m back in Kenya (where friends and even acquaintances go straight to my fridge as that is normal there). Quick question though, do you put the EdPs in there too? I thought it was only EdTs that are allowed in the fridge?
9/10. No meet-ups yet.
I’m so sorry I missed this post! 10/10.
I would kind of rather be called a geek than a nerd, but that is all semantics. I am what I am and proud of it!!
Great post – lots of fun.
Laugh-out-loud hilarious! I scored a respectable 8.5 out of 10 (I’m bothered about sandalwood, less so oakmoss).
You completely nailed the perfume MO of casual users. Most of my friends think I am quite barmy. Many of them buy perfume after a single in-store spritz, can you imagine? They call Coco Mademoiselle “Coco” without a second thought. None of them googles reviews or notes.
Yes, I am a perfume nerd – or “spod”, as we also say. : – )
I must add that I do love that you linked only the Joss Whedon series 😀 FIREFLY FTW!
And yes, I laughed out loud while on holiday in Paris, reading this on my ipad. Could only comment properly now. Thank you for the entertainment using a subject we probably need to take more seriously for the sake of our wallets. 😛