Did you make any perfume-related resolutions for 2013? Tell us!
Or feel free to share anything you’d like to accomplish this year.
Note: image is Urban Zen Garden [cropped] by brunkfordbraun at flickr; some rights reserved.
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Hello my friends!
I stopped making New Year’s resolutions many years ago. I prefer to keep up with the things that need attention at the moment to give them my best.
I would like to continue on being money-conscious perfumista who buys only those fragrances that are really loved.
I would like to lose some weight too! I hope I will make that happen.
SotD is 1969 from Histoires de Parfums collection.
Hi Lucas, Weight loss is always tough, but I had success this past year on a low carbohydrate diet (there are many out there, take your pick). The first three weeks were miserable until my body adjusted and I started adding fruits to the diet. Oddly enough, I found that perfume really helped me. If I got a sweet craving, one spritz of Loukhoum Eau Poudree or similar was enough to settle it down 🙂
Best wishes for a fragrant (and slimmer) 2013!
This is gonna be tough for me as I study and commute to my university town daily but I always excercise a lot in the summer and I’ve been losing weight at that time for few years already. You know, I try to burn as much as I can in the summer and then I try to keep the wait until next summer. Crazy, huh?
I don’t know what kind of foods you eat, but I cut out cheese and oils (fatty dressings, etc) rigorously from my diet once as a health move and *accidentally* lost a bunch of weight as a result. No change in portions, no extra exercise. I actually had to regain weight afterward by eating ice creams and nuts (really! such a chore!). But cutting out fats apparently cuts out a large number of calories. I know that doesn’t sound like rocket science but a lot of diets focus on portion control or meal size and frequency.
Thanks for your suggestions. I’m not a fan of yellow cheese, I almost don’t eat it and oily salad dressings are not that popular in Poland.
I wasn’t eating much indulgent fats before I lost that weight, but I guess I must have been having cheeses on chicken parmesan and the like so it was easy for me to cut out some culprit foods. I cut them out to reduce the acidity of my diet. Ironically now I would like to lose some pounds for the new year but I’ve been watching my portions, not fats. No luck. So maybe I need to follow my own advice!
Anyway, I’ll come up with something to lose few kgs.
Hi Lucas! Losing weight is on everyones list this time of year including mine. I need more exercise though instead of a strict diet because I don’t think I really eat that badly or that much. Dieting is so hard. Try making little changes here and there.
I went on a perfume buying bender at the end of the year so I need to buckle down and behave again.
Everyone has gotten a little heavier during Christmas. I just love cheesecakes, poppy-seed cakes and gingerbreads!
I will make some changes here and there, just as you said. I eat quite healthy so will make it even healthier.
What did you by by the end of the year?
Not including gifts I think I bought about 10 bottles. I had no idea until the damage poll the other day. I was a bad girl.
But I’m sure you smell gorgeous right now.
More perfume! And more of all things of beauty and the senses.
I need less perfume, but hope you will get more 🙂
I totally agree with Lucasai: I would like to continue on being money-conscious perfumista who buys only those fragrances that I really love.
Having said that I just ordered ‘Try your India’ trial set from Neela Vermeire Creations whose perfumes seem to be one of the favourite niche releases of 2012 frequently mentioned on perfume blogs – God save my bank account if I like any of them as they are mega expensive!
I’m also waiting for the sales fever to go down so I can venture to Harrods to smell Jour d’Hermes.
And finally, if I’m not mistaken, my favourite perfume house Amouage will celebrate 30th anniversary some time this year plus they have this genius Christopher Chong so I’m expecting something truly beautiful and outstanding from them.
Hmmmmnnn…. it doesn’t really look good for the pocket!
Ooh, good point about Amouage. They celebrated their 25th with Jubilation, I hope for the 30th they’ll treat us to something just as beautiful!
The Neela Vermiere trio are all wonderful. They are so perfectly balanced that a little goes a long way. I’d buy Mohur in a heartbeat if I had the cash.
Now my anticipation to finally get these samples is even higher.
Yep, the cash – I thought I went over the top with Beloved at £270 for 100 ml (I just HAD to have it !) but if my currency calculator is correct NVC would be around £155 for 55 ml which means it’s £300 for 100 ml and that beats Amouage!
OK, I really should confess; I have not done so, even in the damage polls, and as a Beloved admirer, I feel you won’t judge too harshly. I bought a bottle of Beloved, and was terrified of it disappearing, as I’ve decided it’s my One Scent to a Desert Island, so, naturally I bought a back-up. I mean, if it’s my all time favorite, one has to. THEN, THEN, I bought a back-up for the back-up, being terrified that in 10 years, when I run out, that I should have another, in case of fire, or tornado, or thieves. (In 10 years, frankly, I probably won’t have the smelling capacity to step in dog poo and notice it, but) NEVERTHELESS, I have THREE bottles of it, and would rather give up a kidney than offer up a decant to anyone but…but…Andy Garcia as a 30 year old and we’re riding bareback on white Paso Finos on a starlit beach somewhere with Buena Vista Social Club playing in the distance. And he begged me for it. To remember me by… To manage my purchase, I sold off my dad’s gun collection I inherited. Cannons and such. Sub-machine guns that are to go to display only, on a wall. It was a good trade…
That’s some real perfume love. Three bottles. Wow.
That’s one good story!! Now – what do you mean: disappearing?!?! Are you saying it may get discontinued one day? That seriously terrified me. Now I need to start saving again: to buy a back-up and a back-up for a back-up.
Beata, welcome to the money-conscious perfumistas club. Talking avout Neela Vermeire perfume, if you fall in love with any of them you can always buy set of minis, they’re like 11mls each instead of expensive full bottles.
Funny you said that about minis. I actually had an ‘internal argument’ between my rational, logical side and the crazy perfumista alter ego as to what I should get! Thank god the rationalist won this time.
I’m sure you’ll like them. Neela was very kind to me and she sent me samples of her fragrances so that I could try them. As a thank you gift I promised her to write about NVC scents on my perfume blog.
Just read you review – I wish I could pick notes like that!
Is you blog linked to Facebook so that I would receive information about your new posts?
PS Pozdrowienia z Londynu! 🙂
No it’s not but you can submit your email for the follow section and you’ll be notified via email about new articles.
Pozdrowienia 🙂
I LOVE the Neela Vermeire trio. I ordered the small set when they first came out, then the bigger set sample set and drained it in record time, then I went all in. I’ve also found her to be a lovely person and I have loved everything about my experience with her, the fragrances, the packaging, those gorgeous bottles. Totally worth it but it makes me homesick for India – the country of my heart if not my birth. Gah! So corny but true.
I rationalized the price by the fact that I’m no longer buying or even trying everything that comes out anymore. I don’t know if I actually spent less on fragrance in 2012 than in previous years, but I acquired fewer bottles of greater quality and I did thoroughly sample everything before purchasing. They are truly beautiful.
Wow, you are a true perfume lover. I’m only a beginner discovering niche perfume world, with it’s all wonders. But there was something in Neela’s compositions descriptions and the fact that so many people, including you, mentioned that she is such a lovely lady that I felt compelled to do some research and buy samples.
Perfumes are the only luxury goods I buy. I’m not into designer handbags or shoes. I wouldn’t buy a cashmere coat for £300 but perfume… That’s a different story. And that’s my justification 🙂
Provided a couple of things go my way in the first half of the year, I’m pretty resolved to go back to college in Sept so that I can then progress onto university in 2014. That’s the one thing that I really, *really* hope to accomplish this year.
Has anyone received any scented gifts this holiday season? Enquiring minds want to know. I got some gift vouchers which I have set aside in case I do fall in love with Jour d’Hermès.
Abyss, sending you cheers and encouragement on your plan to return to school! I’ll have my fingers crossed that those things do go your way…
Thank you so much! I genuinely appreciate both the encouragement and the positive vibes 😀
Oh, good luck — wish I could join you!
That’s exciting. Good luck with your school plans! What are you going to study?
To be making enough money for expenses, an ipad and a bottle of Shanghai since I’m currently underemployed. (Ipad first since Deadman’s Manual of Acupuncture is HEAVY) To try everything in a line or two on skin (I’m thinking the Malles and the Cartier L’Heures to begin with…)
What about a Kindle for the reading since they are a lot less expensive than an iPad? Then maybe you can save for an iPad later or will hopefully find more gainful employment. Best of luck in 2013!
I agree with Rappleyea on the Kindle. The kindle fire does a lot of the same things the iPad does.
I finally got to try Shanghai! To me, it seems like a sheerer version of Mon Precieux Nectar, with more wood.
Maybe the ipad mini? Unless you need the larger viewing area, the mini might win for portability since the ipad seems a little beastly for toting about.
I was too busy traveling and jet-lagging this time around to make any resolutions. And I agree with lucasi that the important things should be kept on a daily basis.
As far as perfume goes – after years of perfume-collecting, I prefer buying from colleagues or perfumers I know, small niche perfumeries that are independently owned and operated. This is an over-all change in the past few years – buying local food, clothes etc. and as much of it handmade as possible. And of course, the occasional classic or vintage perfume – that I know that even if I don’t necessarily wear often, I can learn a lot from.
2013 just began – and I already made my purchase on January 1st while at Schiphol – a bottle of Egoiste. This was totally on a whim, but I fell for it instantly – and it’s a classic, and to add to the list of reasoning (if I must provide that) it cannot be found in Canada – they only bring us the dreadful Egoiste Platinum.
I find that it’s extremely similar to Bois des Iles, which I adore. It’s more dry-woody, spicy-sweet and less aldehydic and floral.
I got the sample set from Olfactive Studios and after trying all four repeatedly, felt I just *had* to order Chambre Noire. (I also really like Autoportrait.) Interestingly my credit card fraud alert people called about 5 minutes after I used the card because I guess they thought it was suspicious that I bought something all of a sudden in Paris. Anyway, there aren’t many reviews of these scents on Basenotes but one of the ones on Chambre Noire says it smells like it “exactly between Bois des Iles and Egoiste”. Not to tempt you into more spending, but hey, the sample set has generous portions and is only 6 euros, and they deliver free at least to the U.S.
I got the sample set as well and also like Autoportrait and Chambre Noire. They don’t last very long on my skin though.
Chambre Noire is gorgeous, congrats! I also loved the first half of Autoportrait but, sadly, the base just didn’t work for me at all.
Well, nothing related to fragrances yet, just to realationships and I think it’s off topic if I’m not mistaken. Last year was a year of many lessons about relashionships, thank God! 🙂
Ooops, sorry for the grammar mistakes. I’m on my phone and usually don’t have the habit to review my text as you can see, lol.
Hope 2013 will go better then 🙂
Many lessons to learn yet Robin. But life and petsonal experiences have being good teachers. Thank you so much! Have a blessed year too. 🙂
Since I have no resolve I don’t bother with resolutions; but I think I am beginning to tell the difference between scents I enjoy, scents I adore, scents that are me, and scents that I crave (and will continue to crave). There are overlaps, of course, but the point is I don’t need a bottle of everything I like. I can get by with a sample, a decant, or even none, since there are others I like that I already have. Some scents are like olfactory interpretations of myself; I crave them, want to use them repeatedly, and sometimes do better, emotionally, when I wear them. If at all possible – I like to have bottles of these, and thats ok, because there are so few. With all of these ‘realizations’, I’m hoping to have a more prudent perfumista future:)
I know it is possible — I am not as prudent a perfumista as I would like, but I’m WAY more prudent than I used to be.
You seem pretty thrifty to me; though I know you already have a BIG collection, still, I think anyone with a passion for fume is going to be buying at least 2 or 3 bottles a year!
My only complaint is that too many of the bottles I do buy are spur of the moment, & not what has waited longest on my buy list. But it could be way worse 🙂
I know being more slow and calculating about it all would be better but I have to admit that most of the frags I was sorry to have bought, at some point, I have come to appreciate at other periods. The only exception is Bronze Goddess which always turns into Death by Coconut on my skin.
But then, once one has a certain amount of frags, I think one becomes more picky because there are already so many to choose from, the stuff now has to be totally addictive to merit a whole bottle. I am already spoiled for variety, so there is no need to purchase for beauty alone!
What frags, other than Azemour, are top of your list at present?
What I mean by totally addictive is perhaps better expressed by ‘personally compelling’; that is, it somehow clicks with some part of who you are, as well as being technically competent and aesthetically pleasing.
Azemour is the biggie right now — nearly everything else near the top of the list I have a decant of, so it’s not critical. I will probably buy a solid of Lush B Scent and/or 25:43 soon, but they’re cheap. I need to replace my bottle of Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan soon. I thought I would buy some Tubereuese Criminelle when it came out in the smaller bottle, but when I saw the price I changed my mind. And a million other things that I would buy if I found them on sale!
I am not into making New Year’s resolutions or resolutions of any kind. I try to live in the moment. If anything, I want to savour everything in my perfume collection and if I come across something that really sings to me, I might buy a full bottle. I also want to share the fun and joy with other perfumistas/perfumistos by way of passing on samples, etc.
I’d like to live in the moment a bit more too. I often worry more about the past and the future and overlook the here and now. Not the best way to go through life really.
Many years ago I made New Year’s resolution not to make any more New Year’s resolutions and I have kept it faithfully every since. Having said that, there are some things I would like to do this year. I would like to clear out my “must buy” list, which currently consists of only three items: Amouage Dia, Aftelier Secret Garden, and Annick Goutal Rose Absolue. I would like to continue finding homes for unloved bottles. I did quite a lot of swapping and even some giveaways last year and it feels better to know that the things that I have are truly loved. I would like to do some catching up on my backlog of unsniffed samples, as soon as my sense of smell returns to something resembling normal.
I like this whole ‘clear out my “must buy” list’ notion. It makes acquiring perfume sound like completing a chore.
It is, it is. Le Sigh!
What I did, and was SO wonderful was I gave away a lot of bottles on MUA, and one woman wrote and said she ran a women’s center, a safe place for abused women. I boxed up all the bottles I wasn’t in love with, a massive pile of samples, some unused soaps and whatnot and happily sent off a 9 lb. box of perfume-related goodies to these women who no doubt could use a lift of a beautiful or pretty perfume to help their self esteem and reconnect with their worth. I got back lots of feedback about how it made their day! I think each woman was given a bag with assorted samples and a bottle or so. It felt so good to share.
That’s a wonderful story; I imagine it did feel good to know you were doing something to bring some joy and beauty to people who really needed it. I don’t have a story like that, but what I did was in the last Perfume Posse Swapmania, I posted two lists. One was stuff for swapping, and the other was stuff I was offering for free I was interesting to see how so many people had a hard time believing that I really didn’t want anything in return. I get to feeling guilty about stuff that I am not using, particularly something like perfume that has the possibility of going bad. If it spoils, then no one will be able to enjoy it. I have nearly cleared out my unloved bottles, and reduced the number of sample vials. It feels good to know that what I have now is mostly stuff that I truly love and wear.
My resolution is not directly perfume related, but it does involve scent. I am going to get more massages!! I vow to book one a month w/ lovely scented oil. I made a choice many years ago not to make the usual NY resolutions which involve forbidding yourself something, and instead pick fun enjoyable things to do more. LOL It makes me feel better and I don’t beat myself up 3 week in.
That’s very cool Kelly Red. I’m promising myself more reading time, but I like the massage idea even more.
I love New Year’s resolutions! They’re like Spring cleaning for me. Time to go through unneeded papers and video files and internet bookmarks, A – Z. Yay!
I am in the process of organizing all my perfume: sample vials, carded samples, boxes, bottles, minis. I’m emptying mystery catch-all boxes of fragrances and cosmetic samples. I’m making a list of neglected samples so I can hit the few I missed from sample packs last year.
I will be giving more love to my FBs and decants. Even you, Chypre Fatale. I will be comparing reissues side by with their originals, and I will be taking notes!
And more good fragrance-related things to come!
I love them too, even if I don’t keep them.
My resolution is to choose a wedding perfume! I just got engaged over the holidays. Wedding will probably be in summer of 2014. Maybe some sort of green floral or orange blossom?
Oh, that’s fun! Congratulations to you. I think green florals are a common choice. I got married in August and I wore Tauer’s Carillon Pour un Ange.
Congrats! And good luck with the resolution:)
Congratulations! I’d make a recommendation, but I can’t think of anything more stunning than the Tauer. Good luck.
Eeeee! Victoria of Bois de Jasmin wore Carnal Flower as her wedding perfume, and that strikes me as the ultimate greenish white floral.
Congrats! That’s so wonderful.
Huge congrats, that’s great!
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
Ooops, meant to add that I wore Futur for my wedding perfume — wonderful green floral, and the name seemed auspicious.
Congrats! I got married just last summer, and did it up at the Elvis Chapel in Vegas. I wore Lipstick Rose, thinking it is such a perfume with a sense of humor and fun to it. Plus, it’s beautiful! I had on a 60s style dress and it fit in perfectly. Have FUN with your new life!
My perfume resolution is to try a few lines that I have not had the opportunity to do so yet. Namely:
Sonoma Scent Studio
Ayala Moriel
Amouage
Le Labo
Parfums d’Empire
I’m also resolving to buy less cheap crap that I buy because it is in front of me (I’m looking at you, Bath and Body Works shower gels) so I can buy more things that my heart truly desires.
I resolve for you to visit the Le Labo Dallas store and send us all samples of Aldehyde 44!! 😉
Yeesh. I’ve been meaning to do a Dallas trip for SO long. 2013, make it happen!
Hi honey!
For Parfum d’Empire I think you’ll do best by ordering full collection samples set from brands website. It’s a great deal – for 22€ you get all 13 fragrances in 2ml little sprayers plus shipping is included so it will be no more than 22€.
Sonoma Scent Studio is the brand I discovered a little bit more in 2012 and I found few stunning perfumes.
I definitely plan to do the Parfums d’Empire set. What a great deal.
What were your favorite SSS perfumes?
From SSS that I tried I seriously favoured Winter Woods, Tabac Aurea, Jour Ensoleille and Sienna Musk. Famous Forest Walk was a scrubber for me though.
Excellent resolutions. One of mine last year was to try new lines — thus, my newfound love of all things Tauer.
I’m a Tauer obsessive!!! He’s my fave perfumer I think. Will definitely be trying his three new scents this year.
*Three* new scents?! Wow. I think I’d heard there was a tuberose in the works, but wasn’t aware of any others.
I follow his blog pretty avidly… er, obsessively? he’s talked about three coming out.
Noontide Petals (due out March or April): woodsy-floral-aldehydic, cf: https://www.tauerperfumes.com/blog/making-of/2012/11/petals-in-early-april/
Gardenia Sotto La Luna: gardenia! later 2013, cf: https://www.tauerperfumes.com/blog/goodies/2012/12/on-holiday-cards-and-day-18-of-the-advent-calendar/
Tableau de Parfums Ingrid: seems like a floral-oriental, he hasn’t talked about it in a while, but see here: https://www.tauerperfumes.com/blog/creating-scents/2011/11/frangipani-twist/ I’d assume fall for that one, as Miriam and Loretta both debuted in fall, but who knows?
I posted a comment with some links to Andy’s blog and it got moderated… I’ll try again sans links. I avidly (obsessively?) follow his blog. The three scents he’s talked about for 2013 are:
I follow his blog pretty avidly… er, obsessively? he’s talked about three coming out.
Noontide Petals, a woodsy-floral-aldehydic, which is supposed to come out this spring, late March or early April have been mentioned as possible dates…
Gardenia Sotto La Luna: Gardenia + other white florals, he’s said this would be later in 2013
Tableau de Parfums Ingrid: seems like a floral-oriental, he hasn’t talked about it in a while, but search his blog for a post about in November 2013. I would assume early fall for this one, as Miriam and Loretta both came out in early fall, but who knows? We all know what ASSuming does. 🙂
Thanks for the info! Those all sound delightful, and I think I need to start following Andy’s blog. (My brain must have substituted “tuberose” for “gardenia” because I much prefer the former 🙂 )
Well, he released Loretta this fall which had tuberose. And I think Noontide has some tuberose in it. He talks about the composition of Noontide some here. https://www.tauerperfumes.com/blog/making-of/2012/11/petals-in-early-april/
I’m a little Tauer-obsessed, too — thanks to Andy’s wonderful generosity, I won a full bottle in the 2012 Advent draw!! Since I had only tried Lonestar Memories, I wanted to sniff more of the line before choosing the FB. Well, now I have a bunch of samples — and I can’t make up my mind which I love most… (I know, I know — tough problem to have, right?) 😉
Oh, I have like 4 Tauers on my full-bottle wishlist. And that’s not counting Miriam, which I have just used up a purse spray of and need to replace…
err, phooey, meant to add: which ones are you liking so far? I do love Lonestar but it’s probably a little masculine for everyday wear (for me).
I really like L’air du Desert Morocain (I love Lonestar, too, but LdDM is easier to wear), Incense Rose, Une Rose Vermeille (to my surprise, because I thought I’d hate the raspberry), and Carillon pour an Ange. I was surprised not to love Une Rose Chypree, but somehow it just isn’t me. There are several others I still want to try, and now three new ones are coming out this year? Gah, I’ll never catch up! What are your favorites?
I own Carillon pour un Ange and the purse sprays of Miriam and Loretta. Will definitely repurchase Miriam when I run out, not totally sure about Loretta but maybe.
On my buy list are Orange Star, Incense Rose, Une Rose Vermeille, Reverie au Jardin, and Zeta. I also go back and forth on Pentachord White… I don’t know that I NEEEEEEEED a bottle, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at one, you know?
I forgot that 2013 resolution – I need to try Chanel Exclusif and Dior Privee lines. It might be hard b/c I have a policy not to buy samples unless otherwise completely unobtainable (vintage or non-US, like former Lutens exclusives).
Does anyone know if Chanel or Dior does sample requests?
In my experience, Chanel are generous with LE samples when asked either in store and even over the phone. It’s a real shame they switched to the carded 2ml ones, the 4ml miniatures which they did up until a couple of years ago were just precious.
No idea about Dior, but there are some pretty nice frags in that line. Nothing that turned out to be a must own but I enjoy testing them whenever I’m in the vicinity of a stockist.
I haven’t tried getting them online, but the Chanel boutique in Chicago was very kind with their samples when I went in last year. If you don’t have any luck online you may want to call a boutique directly.
Chanel is very helpful with Les Exclusifs samples. We have no Chanel boutiques in Poland… My UK friend went to his local Chanel boutique and when the ladies heard from him that I have no access to them they gave him samples of all Les Exclusifs to send me. I felt hell of a lucky boy.
Don’t know about Diors but here also some friends and swaps helped me to try some.
Lucas, from one guy to another, which of the LE would you recommend for a man? I have tested Sycomore and Cuir de Russie, and I liked Sycomere best. And, like you, I am really fond of Prada Amber homme. Any LE tips?
Thanks Abyss, Lucy and Lucas! I’ll try what you suggest. Coromandel and Sycomore sound so wonderful but no one around me physically stocks these.
Like Merlin above, I also don’t make resolutions because I have no resolve. My thoughts on perfume at the moment are to sniff less and enjoy more of what I have, and that philosophy goes for all aspects of life; slow down and enjoy more.
So brilliantly said: ‘Sniff less and enjoy more and slow down and enjoy more.’ Where is the Like button here? 🙂
Now that I have a good foundation of classics for my collection, Shalimar, No. 5, Fracas, Diorissimo, Youth Dew….I am resolving to buy quality over quantity. I have something to wear for every possible event so it’s time to start using it up before it turns. Speaking of, I am also resolving to use up my bath products. I have an entire linen closet full of soaps, shower gels, scrubs, and lotions that I seem to be saving for special occasions…which happen maybe three times a year. It’s time to start enjoying this stuff everyday.
Yes indeed, use those things. I believe in having a little bit of luxury every day, whether it is perfume, a wonderful soap or lotion, using the good dishes or silverware, whatever. Particularly with the bath products, there is a chance they could go bad if you don’t use them (except soap, which lasts about forever), so hoarding them is actually wasteful.
“I believe in having a little bit of luxury every day” is honestly such a beautiful sentiment.
Sounds like a great plan – the first day of the rest of your life is always a special occasion !
Yes! I use my scented goodies every day and it definitely makes waking up in the morning more appealing. 🙂
Generally, I think there are usually only two times a day that really merit special bath items, the morning shower and the evening soak (particularly after a hard day).
Guys I have a super exciting perfume-related resolution! It is to get hired by a fragrance firm. I’m sending my résumé to IFF and Symrise this week! 😀
That IS exciting. Best of luck!
wow! Let us know how it goes.
That’s super exciting Ari. I’m planning to do the same but first I have to graduate, so in 1,5 years I will have a thesis and a master degree and will be ready to apply. I think I might give it a try and apply for some summer internship/apprenticeship.
We will all live vicariously through you, Ari!
Good luck! I wish I’d been aware of perfumery as a career option when I was in college.
Good luck!
All holding thumbs for you!
I resolve to suck up my courage and visit B-G and possibly Caron when I’m in NYC next month. I also want to visit that new place that begins with “O.”
The Caron boutique is definitely an experience worth having! The SA was absolutely lovely to me, and I did not even end up buying anything. So don’t be scared!
Thanks for your encouragement!
I second the encouragement to visit Caron (and make sure you get a look at the Phyto living plant wall while you’re there). At B-G, think about visiting the JAR boutique (also definitely worth experiencing regardless of whether you get anything).
I just went with my mom, we did the JAR experience, telling him upfront that we weren’t buying but interested in an education. The SA was wonderful, even pulled some samples of other perfumes for my mom. Plan on eating there at least, the restaurant is lovely and had some unusual dishes…
We did the JAR Boutique last summer. The SA was wonderful and we were very impressive by his presentation. My friend bought a bottle or JARDENIA in the end. My love was Bolt of Lightning.
Opps, wrong spelling, very impressed I mean
Nancy, I hope you do! Drop me a line if you want someone to go with you! I love Bergdorf, not scared of that at all and happy to go with; but I’m intimidated by the Caron boutique too, and would love to go with someone else!
I resolve to use, enjoy, and share what I already own and love and to swap or give away what isn’t right for me. I’ll repeat what has already been said: *quality over quantity* and quality means whatever you love, regardless of price.
Great resolutions, Farouche!
I have some hard-core organization projects ahead, one of which involves a repurposed 8-bottle wine refrigerator that a friend was getting rid of. I also need to buy a label maker, one of those hardware storage units with a bazillion little drawers, and more mini-sprayers (I’m much better about using up samples when I can transfer them into spray vials, if they don’t come that way). It’s funny — I am completely oblivious to basic housekeeping, but I groove on developing very specific and elaborate organization schemes for my collections of spices, teas, perfumes, jewelry, etc.
Also, I resolve to acquire a bottle of FM Une Fleur de Cassie.
I’m so impressed by your dedicated perfume refrigerator, Emily! FM Fleur de Cassie is a just reward for giving your perfumes such VIP treatment.
Why, yes — it’s only logical. I’ll be sure to save room for it in the fridge 🙂
I just started trying fragrance again after my fall last month. This vertigo has made a mess of me. I am starting with Vetiver Tonka because it is fresh. So far so good. One of my fav SAs gave me a sample of Cafe Rose. Whoa! That monster is strong. Gave it to my friend this morning – with tongs! I think I will stay w/ my favs for a while. I had just tried Bois des Iles pre-tumble, and fell in love. The Les Exclusifs prices have gone up in the last month. I think the parfum is in order for pain and suffering. I hate not wanting to smell anything!
Gosh, that’s awful. I hope you recover soon. And yes, some BdI is definitely in order.
I have Vertigo too, although it’s a mild case (caused by taking a long flight.). I’ve been dizzy and nauseous for about a month. It really sucks. Hang in there.
Wow, feel better, vertigo is no fun. You definitely deserve the Bois des Iles parfum!
Thank you, my virtual enablers! I didn’t realize how prevelant vertigo was. It is bad. Nausea I can handle, but I hate having my nose benched. I hope to be back in the game soon! Enjoy the hunt!
If you’re suffering. From vertigo so bad that you’re falling, get yourself checked for Meniere’s disease; my dad was getting sudden drop attacks (without losing consciousness). He had surgery after it happened in a parking lot and he barely had time to signal a. Car to stop before it hit him. I think the doctor partially destroyed his cochlear nerve if. I rememer correctly.
But if sniffing is a problem right now maybe reward yourself with another type of gift altogether?
To order Vero Profumo Rubj, tomorrow, the second the new site is launched. To expand my handmade cookie business from 2000 to 4000 a month. <3
Good luck with the cookies!
Fragrant with Tahitian, Mexican or Madagascar vanilla, hand milled spelt, large chunks of chocolate, pecans, cranberries ………. if you are ever in Austria!! :))
…uh, suddenly sounds like I need to be in Austria!
Hey Merlin ….. I need to thank you. After more than 12 years of selling my cookies your comment motivated me to open a FB page for them. I owe you some!! FB link: Armadillos Cookies. When I find out how to put links onto my fave perfume blogs, I sooo will.
Love from the mountains. xxx
armadillos cookies ….. typo
Congrats on the FB page!
I resolve to stop doing things for people who take advantage. It sounds selfish, but it’s necessary. And to finally get a FB of Opus 1, and perhaps Azemour les Orangers.
Ditto for me on the Azemour.
My resolutions consist of the usual suspects.. diet, exercise, read more, maybe don’t watch so much tv, make more of an effort to do creative stuff. Fragrance-related.. I want to keep exploring and make a point of trying lines I haven’t really gotten to yet (Sonoma Scent Studio, Neela Vermeire, Dawn Spencer Hurwitz, Vero Profumo). I also would like to buy at least decants, if not FBs, of scents I’ve been craving after the samples ran out. And finally, I want to explore raw materials more and try to work out some ideas I’ve been kicking around for a while.
My 2013 perfume resolution is to be more methodical in my sniffing. There is now a list at hand culled from various best-ofs for 2013, which I will take to the Perfume Shoppe.
Fragrance resolution: WEAR MORE. I don’t wanna die with a stockpile.
(Well, I will probably die with a stockpile anyway, but a stockpile of partially-used bottles is far better than one of barely-used.)
Argh. Me too on the “barely used”.
Having just finished confessing my sins on the damage poll (it took a bit to muster the courage!) my resolution this year is a financial one, and funnily enough in regard to my perfume habit. I resolve to set myself a perfume budget, so most of my money can go toward my upcoming holiday instead (to Turkey. Istanbul is calling me 🙂 ) if I save enough I hope to be able just pop over to Paris for a couple of days to buy perfume I can’t get anywhere else. Hmm, so not really no perfume shopping, more like delayed gratification..
Ah and what the heck it’s a day of confessing, so I may as well add that I have already made one special exemption to my resolution, and I ordered some Nasomatto Nuda. Because it’ll be gone soon. And I resolve to have no regrets 😀
Hey, those vacations are important too. My husband and I both had very good luck on New Year’s Day. We were returning from a short trip to Louisiana, and decided to just drop in to one of the casinos in Lake Charles. My husband won about $150 playing slots, and I won $1000. I did briefly consider all the perfume I could buy with it, but we decided to put our combined winnings into our vacation fund. We haven’t decided yet where we are going, but where ever it is, we have a good part of it paid for now.
Congrats! Tell us where you decide to go, we will live vicariously through Ari for his job in the fragrance field and you for your winnings and travels!:-)
My resolution is to finally fulfill my goal of beginning a blog. I began to read perfume blogs as I was trying to figure out this world of online journaling. Then I became so consumed with all of the great perfume blogs that I spent all of my time reading and commenting, never writing my own (non-perfume) blog! This venture may take a sabbatical of sorts from reading blogs.
Here is my other “goal” for this year: I will possibly travel to the DR in order to undergo a 5 day coma. By now you may be wondering if this is part of my new weight-loss plan; eat through a tube and lose weight! No, it is the only treatment which can potentially put my RSD/CRPS (google it if curious) into remission… It has been recommended to me by a renowned dr in this field; I have a few more dr visits to go before I have final approval for it. So, this journey is in part what my blog will be about; how to cope with chronic pain and live joyfully and with hope each day. Just think, I will be visiting a new country and since it connects with Haiti, perhaps I can get some Haitian Vetiver pre-coma!:-).
Let me also say that reading all of your comments, learning about new perfumes and indulging my sense of smell, hearing about wonderful engagements, studies in college, etc has been so very therapeutic on the days when I am in pain and need to focus on something other than this disease. I hope that you will all be blessed with contentment, joy and that your heart’s desires would be filled this new year!
I googled your condition and feel for you. I am very sorry that you are suffering from this, and hope that you get some relief from the treatment. Good luck, and may this year be the start of your recovery. And yes, perfume and the perfume world are such great escapes and offer comfort and joy to all those involved.
Jillie, thank you for your support and kindness. Every bit helps!:-)
I googled, too, and want to join Jillie in wishing you relief and recovery from your pain. Hope 2013 turns out to be a wonderful year for you.
Thank you! I am hopeful that this will be the case. Blessings to you!
Another well wisher over here! I hope the new treatment is not too unpleasant and that it works well:)
Thank you, Merlin. Hopefully, the unpleasant aspects will be outweighed by the positive results. However, I’m certainly still praying for a less “severe” cure!:-).
Adding to the well wishes — good luck.
Thanks Robin. And thanks for keeping me entertained so that I can focus on something other than pain. How about for your next post “Perfumes To Wear While in a Coma”. Just a thought! I’m already telling my friend who may join me that she is to be in charge of my skincare regimen during what the doctor calls my “little nap”.
I am trying to decide if I would go for something joyous, or peaceful, or ? Or if it would be better to leave off fragrance entirely. Hmmm.
Eau d’Hospital? In all seriousness, I’m sure there will be a no makeup/fragrance guideline. But I will have my roots done, a girl has to have SOME personal standards!:-)
Sending fragrant healing thoughts your way and will be rooting for you along your journey.
Hajusuuri, it is just like you to be so supportive and kind. I have always appreciated your uplifting “voice”, and I appreciate your uplifting words to me. I’ll keep you posted!
Yes, I would like to buy Sel Marin and Cardinal. Those are my two perfume resolutions! I’ve reached a kind of plateau with my perfume collection now, where I’ve tried most brands and perfumes available in the universe, spent years sampling and impulse buying, re-selling on eBay, and now I have settled into a ‘capsule collection’ of perfumes that I love above all others and rarely feel the need to buy new ones. 2013 should be a pretty restrained year!
Blimunda, You are at a place with your perfume collection that I aspire to be. Best wishes for a happy and fragrant 2013!
I love Byredo’s OUD Immortal. It’s divine. So fine!!
I will most likely be taking out a mortgage this year, at the age of 55, something I don’t want to do, but it’s looking likely. I’ve built a monster perfume collection over the past few years & plan on living off this “perfume pantry” and not buying anything new. We’ll see how long this lasts.
I want some LesNez from Switzerland.
A friend, a doctor, developed this and was considering Germany for a similar treatment. A few months ago an accident left him with broken bones. The breaks were unusually severe and painful. Oddly, the RSD/CRPS symptoms lessened greatly. I hope you find 2013 brings you relief, but through some less traumatic means. Best wishes.
What Mals said. And added to that I resolve not to give in to impetuous lemmings which only add to the stock pile. Sorry to be a killjoy this morning….
My New Year’s Resolution is to be more fiscally disciplined and conservative without compromising charitable-giving. I mentioned this to someone and she told me what she was doing given her life situation and family configuration along those lines (in her case, one of the things she is doing is consolidating her portfolios). I am NOT stopping myself from spending / enjoying the fruits of my labor but I will strive to be more thoughtful about it. I definitely live within my means but I could save at a better clip than the past few years.
Within this thread (and I am too lazy to cull through the comments), I really liked the idea of boxing up unloved bottles and sending it to a women’s shelter (or the like). Must investigate….
I don’t have any resolutions (perfume or otherwise), but I do have some goals. I’d like to take a class on drawing; I loved drawing plants when I took botany way back in college, and I’d like to get back to that. And in a completely prosaic mode, I am going to clean out the closets in my house this year, so help me God. Thirteen years of accumulated stuff is going to go!
I love new year’s resolutions! I’m a big fan of lists in general 🙂
I just moved to Lebanon for work, my partner moved with me and my first resolution is to make the best of our new start! Plus, improve my Arabic. Plus, starting to use perfumed oils, which are in huge supply here and they are practical, long lasting and fairly unexpensive. 2013 was a citrus year: I’ve used so much Acqua di Parma and Eau de Rochas pour homme that I could flavor a martini with my finger… This year looks like more Acqua di Parma, on the wish list Infusion d’Homme and L’Instant de Guerlain pour homme, and a laaarge bottle of Eau d’Orange Verte!
My 2013 perfume related resolution: re-test my piles of samples (>150) aquired in last few years, use up as much as possible and sort them into two categories:
To be swapped/thrown away
Big bottle needed