It's July, and that means another damage poll. Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Scented Profligacy,1 wants to know what you bought in the 2nd quarter (April, May and June) of 2013.
My purchases?
Nothing, nada, zip. A big zero gets added to my first quarter damage, so the grand total for the year is still $50. So far, my cheapest year since starting down this rabbit hole was 2010, when I spent a mere $180 for the year. Maybe I can best that? We'll see.
As always, report your purchases in the comments if you dare! And as always, we don’t include samples or gifts, and you can count miniatures, decants and bottle-splits howsoever you like (I usually count them as half bottles).
I am still on vacation, and may be slow to respond to comments today, sorry!
1. Why does Donatella host (against her will, mind you) the damage polls? There is no real reason other than the picture of her perfume collection, which shows that she indulges regularly at the perfume counter. The image, by the way, is originally from Allure magazine and appears here courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.
Praise me Donatella for I have not sinned!
Between April and June I bought only one bottle of perfume and that was the amazing Eau d’Italie Acqua Decima. It cost me 98€ (126$) but the bottle was split so my real cost was around 35€.
I also bought a couple of decants like Carner Barcelona Cuirs, Dior Gris Montaigne and a couple more but they were very reasonably prices. Ah, and I’m waiting for a sample of Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena I purchases.
Hey, you were very well behaved!
Hello friends. I thought I hadn’t bought anything this quarter. Whoops! Guess I did. Most of this was bought in April. Lately I’ve been shopping from my own collection.
Decants:
Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale (current). It’s in the fridge. Very refreshing to spritz on a hot day.
Atelier Cologne Sous le Toit de Paris. Love this one.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Caligna. Meh.
Amouage Beloved–just 3 ml. Not a good one on me.
Full Bottle:
Haight and Ashbury, a natural perfume by Jane Cate, A Wing and A Prayer Perfumes. Obviously I love it or I wouldn’t have bought a FB.
Looking forward to see what the rest of you purchased this quarter.
So, I would want a scent called Haight and Ashbury to smell like patchouli, sandalwood incense smoke, sea air and maybe a whiff of canibus. Any chance that’s what it’s like? 🙂
LOL, very funny Marjorie Rose! You’re party correct, however: sandalwood and patchouli, yes but also a lot of rose.
You’ve piqued my interest for sure with a description like that – I love everything about the 1960’s plus those are some of my favourite notes.
Then you should definitely try this. Check out the store on Etsy. She’s on vacation right now, I noticed when I went to look up the notes in H&A. Jane has a sample program that provides very generous spray samples. (I’m not affiliated with AW&AP, I just like their perfume.)
Nice picks! I got a bottle of the Guerlain cologne last summer and it’s about time to break it out again. Good stuff!
Sorry to hear you didn’t like Beloved – it’s one of my favorites. Then again, Interlude worked for you and did NOT work for me At. All.
Every time I wear Azemour (which was yesterday) I think of you. Thanks for introducing me! It’s great juice.
Wow, is it damage poll time already?
I only bought one bottle, and maybe I included it in last damage poll, since it was right at the end of March, but I *think* it arrived in April! Anyway, Ubar for $163, when it was on sale way back then. No apologies and no regrets! 50mL will last me a lifetime!
The best kind of perfume shopping, seriously–really high quality and really good deal!
Nice pick 🙂
Good stuff – I admire your restraint!
For the first time in a couple of years, I bought nothing in the second quarter. My bank accounts (sparse as they were) got hacked from my computer on April 1st and it took me months to straighten it out and left me with no money to spare. Plus last month just when I was ready to buy something new, my car needed repairs and I had to actually take out a small loan in order to pay for that. So no extraneous purchases of any kind were made by me the past quarter. I am hoping that will change this quarter.
Wow — what a fiasco. Hope the next few months go better…
That sounds like a nightmare. So glad you were able to get it straightened out. I’ve heard of it taking years for some people.
2 bottles this quarter but I used a discount code for both so the final damage was:
L’Eau d’Hiver 100 ml – £95 instead of £125
Philosykos set of 3 x 12 ml refills – £20 instead of £30
Total £115
Adding this to last quarter’s Marni, total damage for the year so far is £150
I also picked up a Diptyque Perdigone/Spiced Plum candle in Space NK sale at 50% off, but I’m not sure if we count things like that. Really pleased about it since it was probably my favourite of the special Christmas editions that they’ve done.
Hey, you did very well for the money!
We don’t count candles, but nice to hear about them anyway.
Agree with Robin, these all sound excellent!
Thanks! They left me feeling very content, too – it was my birthday last week and I didn’t even use that as an excuse to splash out like I normally would.
I bought nothing the first quarter so I ccelebrated being more financially solvent by buying lots of stuff–Sacrebleu, Pretty Machine, Safari, Barr Co edp, Fils de Dieu full bottles (the Safari was vintage and used slightly) and partial bottles of vintage Norell and Fidji extraits. I think I also bought The Bug this quarter. I did the math last night and I hit $504 this quarter. Lots of smaller purchases still add up:-)
Good for you — you got a nice mix of things.
I got two bottles.
LesNez Manoumalia which had been on my wishlist for a very long time.
And just before the end of this quarter I got a bottle of Tauer’s Une Rose Chyprée almost on a whim. I’ve had a sample of it for years, have worn it a few times, and a couple of weeks ago, I wore it again and fell for it. Fortunately AusLiebeZumDuft had a 10 euro discount, so I got it a bit cheaper than I otherwise would have.
I have only bought 3 bottles in total for this year so I have been quite well behaved so far.
It’s nice to get something that’s been hanging around on the list forever 🙂
It is, I finished my rather large sample a while back and really missed wearing it. It’s such a distinctive scent. I am very glad that I got it.
Love Une Rose Chypree! I can see how it might sneak up on you!
Une Rose Chypree has been on my list forever. I keep thinking I’ll eventually get it on sale or in a swap, etc….sigh
You changed your picture. Your hair is so long!
I noticed that, too! But she looks so happy. 🙂
The other picture was very old, my hair goes up and down a LOT 🙂
Oh, Manoumalia is wonderful. I’m sure the FB will be worth it.
Also love Manoumalia. I read on Grain de Musc that Sandrine Videault has a new perfume coming out: Grandiflora, the first perfume from Saskia Havekes, a cult floral stylist based in Sydney, Australia. I’m really looking forward to that!
Thank you for that bit of information! I will look out for it. Manoumalia is unlike anything I own and it is utterly wonderful.
I bought only one bottle, It was a 30 ml Noa by Cacharel, for $23. I am that good.
Hey, for some reason your $23 seems even more impressive than my $0. Now I want to find something great for $23…
Noa made it on to my ‘to try’ list this quarter after Victoria reviewed it on Bois de Jasmin a few weeks ago. It sounds wonderful. It has to wait it’s turn though!
Victoria’s review “inspired” me too! Already got my bottle (via eBay) and I absolutely love it. It is also the perfect fragrance to wear at bedtime – not overpowering, but has tenacity, it’s powdery and soft, and has a lovely musk drydown that is still detectable in the morning.
Spending hodge-podge for me this quarter: my bargain shopping habit was rewarded with Blackberry & Bay (30ml), SJP Lovely (50ml + travel spray) and l’Ombre dans L’Eau EDP (travel spray) for a song–$32 total!
…but then I also spent $125 on my first foray into decants (En Passant, Dzing, Dans Tes Bras, Marni, Lumiere Noire pour Femme.) A non-trivial chunk of cash for me, but it is definitely an interesting and less painful method of finding out which things I not only love but also would wear regularly. (Verdict: En Passant a lot, Dzing some, Marni occasionally.) Pretty relieved I did not go for full bottles, definitely not sure I would have guessed correctly on which I’d really use.
So 2-4, for poll purposes?
Wow, you got some great bargains! I should shop with you.
Anytime! 🙂
I got 4 bottles and I feel like kicking myself: I made some rushed purchases (something I never ever do – well almost), and I ended up regretting 2.5 purchases out of four. Bad score. 🙁
Anyway, here I go:
* Lys Soleia (winner winner winner)
* Songes (winner, but I wouldn’t buy it now that I have the Guerlain: they fill the same spot, and I prefer Lys to what happened to Songes)
* Lumière noire (regret. The tester was a refined and sexy rose, while my FBP is a lump of sweet loukhoum. I feel cheated. Reviews seem to confirm this perfume dichotomy of LN. Reformulation? Different batches? Mystère….)
* Rodin olio lusso. (Terrible regret: my memory didn’t serve me well. I had a jasmine craving and remembered the Rodin as the prettiest rendition – not the skank feast that hit my nose and had my hubby apprehensively,comment:” is something rotting in the fridge?” “No dear, It’s just my $$$ perfume!” ) ;(
So sorry about the Rodin, that really is an expensive mistake.
I don’t mean to laugh but your hubby’s comment sounds like something mine would say. Sorry about that regretful purchase. Perhaps you could swap it out in the future for something you like better.
Thank you Poodle, and don’t worry – you can laugh! 😉
I felt quite mortified at my husband’s comment and even more so since my jasmine smelled ‘rotten’ also to my nose!!
I’m sorry to hear it has happened to you too!
You are right, I should try swapping or eBay selling… I’ve never done it before so I don’t feel very confident, but it makes much more sense than keeping perfumes I won’t use!
Zazie, is it possible the frag has expired?
Hi Merlin, I don’t know, it might be! It is very very indolic and not at all what I remembered it to be, but I had tested it only once (and many months ago) and if it is made of a high percentage of naturals (which I suspect is the case) the difference could be also due to different batches. Unfortunately I cannot check with a tester where I live. 🙁
If both of you think it smells like something rotting, it may be worth sending it back. I don’t think any perfume is meant to smell – too literally – of that. But I stand to be corrected!
Bought quite a bit, but I don’t feel bad as I constantly re-edit my perfumes and sell stuff that I don’t wear, and I had sold some other stuff on Ebay from cleaning out my closet and made more than I expected. So, I got bottles of Atelier Orange Sanguine, ELDO Like This, Le Labo Fleur d’Oranger oil, SL Douce Amere/Santal Majuscule/Five O’Clock Au Gingembre and Diptyque Philosykos solid.
Every time we go through this exercise I think, “nope, I haven’t bought a thing.” Then I realize …. except for ……
My “except for” this time includes:
Ava Luxe Olibanum (very nice) in the 15 ml EDP
Decants of PG Indochine (love) & Jardin de Kerylos (big love)
Heh heh heh. I do the same thing. I *think* I only got 1 bottle… then I start remembering… Next thing I know, there’s 20 things on my list!
Off the top of my head, I didn’t think I had bought any, but then I remembered the Jubilation 25 extrait! I had several hundred dollars in Amazon points, so it wasn’t as expensive as it could have been, thank goodness.
I also got a small bottle of Vol de Nuit edt, which I adore, and then Crabtree & Evelyn had a sale and I got several travel sets in Rosewater which included a 30ml bottle of edt, for only 10 bucks each, which I thought was a fantastic bargain, as they include travel sizes of lotions and shower gels and come in a perfect little carrying case.
If I include those bottles and the regular sized bottle, my total would be 8 for the quarter.
Nice use of Amazon points!
Not a one. And for me, that’s quite an accomplishment. I’m going to see if I can get through the end of the year without caving in. I figure I already have a wonderful collection to chose from and enjoy and I am….wait for it…. wait for it…….content….. with that.
Just one for me this quarter – 30 ml JM Blackberry & Bay. I got it as a gift to myself for passing a certification test I had to take for work. And It was $30 off as NM just started accepting Discover and they had a promotion if you used your Discover card, so it was almost half price!
Wow, that’s a great deal. I didn’t know NM did promotions like that.
I was well behaved this quarter, at least compared to the previous ones!
I only got one FB: Amouage Memoir Woman wich I’ve wanted since forever.
Next quarter will probably be worse though, I got a lot of samples and really love a lot of them, Arquiste and Jul et Mad will be bad for my wallet 🙂
Yay for Memoir!!!! Can’t really imagine wearing it in this hot burst of summer we’re having at the moment in my part of the world, but it is *BIG LOVE* for me, and was my first full swoon! Enjoy it!
I thought I was disciplined, but then reality hit. This quarter I’ve picked up:
Coty L’Origan
Dior Dune
Dior Homme
Balmain Jolie Madame
Creed Love in Black
LAP Traversée du Bosphore
LAP Fleur de Liane
Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant
Huh. I own about half of your list. . . wonder if I should sniff the other half? Sounds like we have similar tastes! 🙂
Leather is a new discovery for me, but luuuurve anything woody, spicy and/or incensy. Fleur de Liane was a blind buy that I was initially aghast with, but after wearing it on an unbelievably hot oppressive day, I “got” it. 🙂
Yup, I’ve got a weakness for woody and spicy especially. Incensy is good if it’s not too dry–I don’t want to smell like a censor.
How do you like Dune? I find that I have moments when I love it and moments when it’s just *too much*. I certainly don’t regret having it in the rotation, in any case!
Ha! *Censer* that is, not *censor*. Gives it a whole different meaning! 🙂
I would have to say that Dune is my current crush. I don’t know what it is about it but I have been wearing it a lot! Maybe it’s the almost astringent green opening that reveals an oriental heart… don’t know, but it keeps me coming back for more. I can see how it can be too much, though. 😀
This is a great list. It reads like a who’s who (or what’s what?) collection of fragrances.
Thank you!
I bought Nahéma in extrait back in April, and this quarter went straight downhill from there. Once you’ve sprung for a Guerlain extrait, there’s really no way to salvage the quarter’s spending — so just go with it, I say.
This was a good (or bad) quarter for vintage: Revlon Intimate extrait and EDT, Emeraude and L’Origan and Imprévu PDT, Casaque extrait and EDT, Sortilège extrait and PDT, Vivara and Zadig extrait, Ma Griffe extrait, Miss Balmain extrait, Nuit de Noel extrait, and a few other things that aren’t coming to mind right now. Individually, they were all decent bargains.
Oh, my! That’s some great stuff there. Good job!
Thanks, Aparatchick!
I think I got my Guerlain extraits (Jicky, L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko, Shalimar, Chamade and Nahéma) within a space of 2 months . It was a big splurge even though I got them off ebay, but have never regretted it since.
Yeah, I’ve been trying to think of the Nahéma as an investment. No regrets so far!
Oh, how many wonderful perfumes!
That must make for a great quarter!
I have a weakness for Guerlain (and Chanel) extraits too…. And those are some purchases I never regretted!
😉
Thanks, Zazie! This is my first FB of Guerlain extrait, but I doubt it will be my last. Will give the wallet some time to recover first, though.
Emily, what an artful array! I posed a question on the last weekend poll re extraits, but no response. I have been leaning toward them as I prefer the vintage scents and I like their depth. I think I will head in this direction for my future purchases. Thanks for the inadvertant push!
For me, extrait vs. non-extrait really depends on the individual scent. But it sure doesn’t hurt that extrait bottles tend to be gorgeous!
Great acquisitions!
Okay, so after my feeling all wonderful and rehabilitated last quarter, I went and totally blew it this quarter. Two testers The Pour un Ete and Mure et Musc extreme. (about $10 each); Bois Farine (half price) and two Carthusias Ligea La Sirena and Via Camarelle (both half price). I also got 1000 Kisses Deep as the Lush here seems to be getting rid of the older Gorilla frags for the new Sun collection.
Then, a friend went to Paris and I finally had the opportunity of getting Iris Silver Mist, my first ever bell jar. It is absolutely the star of my collection!
And, since one cannot get it here, a 50ml of Azemour les Orangers. Because it was full price and the exchange rate is so bad this turned out quite expensive… And, unfortunately, I feel a little unsure about it.
Hooray! You got your bell jar!
I did! And what a beautiful little jewel it is. Perfect for a receptacle that contains the smell of Eden!
Give Azemour some time. For me it’s quite the shape shifter. Sometimes it smells too masculine on me. Other times it smells pretty. I can’t describe it, but my advice is just try it in different types of weather and when you’re in different kinds of moods and see what happens.
Thank you, that’s useful advice. My sample was a small dabber and I had quite mixed feelings about it. Sometimes it was just so resonant and at other times slightly too dry, almost off putting. That resonance it had was so compelling, however, that I grabbed the opportunity to get a bottle instead of, more sensibly, working out a decant.
And I have it on today and keep thinking – what’s that? That smells good! So go figure:)
Merlin, FYI, I was searching for vintage perfumes on ebay last weekend and came across some interesting things listed by a seller in South Africa. I don’t remember the name or items, but I think one can specify item location in ebay searches. Might be worth checking out.
Thanks for the info… I haven’t made any forays into vintage, but perhaps this is the time!
I’ve bought a few samples and decants, and bought three bottles. Partly because I had to replace one (Caron Narcisse Noir, which I bought in edt rather than extrait this time) and because the other two were bottles I’d wanted for a while at a very good price (Diptyque Oyedo and the absolutely gorgeous, stunning and amazing Clinique Aromatics Elixir Perfumer’s Reserve.) I’ve had morning/all day sickness since March and haven’t even been able to barely tackle packages I’ve wanted to send to dear friends since I’ve had to steer clear of most of my collection for fear of unpleasant associations/being overwhelmed. But there are a handful I’ve been wearing without too many problems and since it’s summer here, light application tends to last anyway. I got a sample of Angel Aqua Chic and am surprised how pretty it is, and have finally caved and have some Chanel Coco Noir samples on the way as well.
Oh no, I hope you feel better soon. And congratulations on the AE Perfumer’s Reserve — great stuff.
Thank you! I’m hoping it will pass soon since I feel practically nude without perfume on. Thankfully I have some mildly scented body lotions that don’t seem to be too much of an issue, and being well into my second trimester, I keep telling myself any day now. 😉
The Clinique is so beautiful. I’m seriously contemplating a backup bottle if one’s still available. It was love/lust at first sniff and everything I’d been looking for in a chypre for ages. I do wish they’d make it a regular part of the AA line since I’d buy again and again.
I’ve been * fairly* naughty .
Mitsouko parfum , L’Heure Bleue parfum, Mitsouko EDP , Une Rose by Malle and Ormonde Woman parfum . Ormonde Jayne shipping is very very slow ! Ordered 9 days ago , called 3 times and still not shipped. What happened to their stellar customer service ? I am not a happy bunny right now.
I don’t know where you live. My question is why has Ormonde Jayne discontinued its holiday (Mom’s day, Dad’s day, XMASS season free shipping promotions to US?).
Dilana – it’s the shipping perfume hazard debacle that came into effect in January of this year. Royal Mail will no longer ship perfume abroad so OJ is using Fedex. It is no point though, in Oj telling me that it only takes 48 hrs to reach US when they have not even shipped it yet . Sorry , I am fuming a bit I guess. Shipping is $58 dollars but nothing has moved. So I can only imagine that with the new expense of using a courier instead of Royal Mail, all free shipping offers have grounded to a halt. I think Oj is subsidising the shipping too which I give them credit for. However, sitting on someone’s money for 9 days without a thought to update their customer as to * why * is somewhat naughty. Guerlain in Vegas ship promptly no matter what. I guess my gold standard for shipping is Guerlain and Luckyscent.
Sorry to hear about all that. $58 for shipping is enormous. I really hope your package turns up. I’m in Australia so I have my own catalogue of shipping woes, including the recent restrictions on hazardous materials. My perfume orders usually take about 10 working days, give or take. I’ve often observed that eBay sellers are among the fastest. But shipping costs are going through the roof. I’m really glad that after our or five years, my perfume mania is much more under control, and I lemm less.
Annemarie- thanks so much . 🙂 Really, I feel *I* am being unreasonable and I really do not like to complain about a company like OJ whom I try to support . However, I am getting frustrated with this all . In total I paid $358 for the parfum and nada as yet- not one email to apologise for the delay nor an update via email .When I called three times , I was told they have a lot of orders ( the girl on the phone was laughing and giggling which did not help my mood… ) but c’mon seriously… 9 days and counting ….just ship it already !!!
I am also glad my lemming mania has subsided but I cannot do without my Mitsouko and other staples. it’s not really so much about * new * stuff anymore – but the ones I truly love .
Majorie Rose- yes, the shipping costs…just closed my eyes and pressed ‘submit ‘…….
Oh, I’m sorry to hear about the OJ shipping situation! I have been waiting around hoping for a deal so I could buy another OJ or two. . . that $58 really takes the scents into the luxury price range!
Just for clarification, shipping to U.S. seems to depend on what you’re buying–I bought some travel sprays likewise after the Royal Mail change and it was only $18 for FedEx.
But I’m really sorry likewise to hear there’s this big delay for mitsouko’s order. My travel spray order (to the U.S.) arrived superfast; I did have to call and check because a couple days passed and the website still hadn’t updated the shipping info, so I thought it hadn’t been sent, but it turned out just that their website wasn’t just yet integrated with the FedEx system, and in fact my package arrived that day. They were super friendly and helpful on the phone too. So sorry to hear they’ve been less accommodating. Maybe worth emailing to describe your experience, in hopes of connecting with someone higher up?
The OJ website states that the higher shipping (for “hazardous cargo”) comes into play if the individual bottles are over a certain size. The travel sprays are 10 ml each, so even though they come 4 to a package, for a total of 40 ml, because the individual containers are only 10 ml each, only regular shipping charges apply. If you don’t mind not getting the fancier bottle, it is worth considering getting the set of travel sprays instead of one large bottle.
I’m sorry to hear this. I have a small (staff) company based in the UK, and we do a lot of business domestic and internationally – the only excuse we would ever have for delaying a shipment THAT long is waiting on backorder stock from a supplier – but we would always give the customer the option to cancel or wait, and give them an estimated ship date. We’ve only got 4 full time staff and only 2 do orders, but we can still get everything out within 24-48 business hours assuming there is no stock issue, even after things like holiday backlogs. There isn’t much excuse for not being able to get stuff out if that’s their only reason. If you’re organised, it isn’t rocket science, even during busy times. I would make a complaint. A small company is only as successful as its service.
TheSnails PJs – I agree. OJ is simply disorganised. Quite disappointing.
Shipping issues happen, but the part of this story that bothers me most is that Mitsouko was charged for her purchases and then OJ dropped the ball. I also work in a small business. A purchase is simply the exchange of money for a product or service. We don’t charge the customer until the product is being sealed up in a box and dropped into the mail. OJ had no right to take her money until they were ready to send the product.
I just started getting into this perfume thing at the beginning of this year so I’ve spent a small fortune on samples. I really don’t want to add them all up 🙁
As for FB purchases in the 2nd quarter:
Apres L’ Ondee – paid full price at the Guerlain counter
SL Bois de Violette – paid $60 on eBay
Unfortunately, there are at least 4 more that I really want: SL Santal Majascule, Tuberose Criminelle, Ormonde Jayne Champaca & Woman. 3rd quarter won’t be pretty.
You did great. As Robin always cautions: take your time collecting. She is right. There’s plenty of time and your tastes will change and develop. Still, I sure understand the urgency to possess your newest love 🙂
Me too (spent a small fortune on samples as well)! And also new to fragrance, but.. I did buy my first FM – L’Eau d’Hiver! Loved it at first, then thought about selling it, and now love it again. All my husband smells is almonds and therefore not a fan, so that’s a bummer. They gave me samples of Carnal Flower which completely turned me into a tuberose lover big-time! Been getting samples of all the famous tuberose scents and I want them all!
Hey, you have good taste for a newbie! 😀
When I was first falling down the rabbit hole, I discovered Malle through a random perfume web search (before I found NST as a resource, I think). I was immediately drawn to the high quality, exclusive feel of their scents. (I guess I’m a snob!) In any case, two plus years out, they still feel high quality and to have fairly earned the reputation–which I cannot say about all limited distribution, niche lines.
I paid full price for Après L’Ondee too – and have no regrets whatsoever. I got a lot of use out of it in the spring and early summer. It is so easy to wear, yet different from anything else. It is a rockstar in my collection.
Oh, I was bad again. Total $193.
7.5ml Jolie Madame parfum (#5, but I lurve the stuff)
20ml Iris Poudre decant
5ml TF Tuscan Leather decant
30ml Escada Margaretha Ley
10ml AG Heure Exquise
50ml Ineke for Anthropologie Sweet William
10ml Chanel No. 19 edt
Oh but looking at your lists and knowing your tastes, you are buying things you know you love and will wear.
Oh, you got the Sweet William! Yay! Hope you found a good price.
Oooooh, how does Jolie Madame perfume compare to the edt? I love the edt, but am very curious about the parfum. Are you enjoying the Escada? I’m hoarding my last 1/2 bottle like Gollum.
I… um… don’t like the edt much. It’s very sharp, whereas the parfum is much more floral. It’s floral AND green AND leather. So beautiful.
Who’s counting?! lol
Vintage Caron Tabac Blond extrait
4160 Tuesdays Urara’s Tokyo Café
En Voyage Perfumes Zelda
Vintage Lanvin My Sin
Vintage Lanvin Scandal
CB I Hate Perfume Russian Caravan Tea Water Perfume
Vintage Guerlain Mitsouko
Parfums de Marly Herod
Parfum Satori, Satori
I’m sure there’re others but I think this list exhibits the extent of my trigger-happy-shopper-hood 🙂
Vintage Scandal — wow! Is it the extrait?
I’m not home so I can’t check and be sure but I think I only bought 2 bottles. Of course that sounds completely unlike me but I was trying to behave. I remember buying Carillon Pour un Ange and Jacinthe et Rose but I’m drawing a blank on any other purchases. Oh wait, there’s another, Couer d’Ete by Miller Harris.
That sounds very disciplined – well done! Although I’m hoping you will remember others you have bought, so I can feel better about my multiple splurges;)
It’s hard to believe, but I kept the strings to my purse tightly closed this quarter and spent nothing. Some great swaps helped ease the pain, but I don’t know if I can hold out much longer! A trip to France planned for September has kept me on the straight and narrow so far…
I took a trip to Paris last December. I wish you luck because I wanted to buy every bottle I saw.
Sounds like a fun trip to come, dear Farouche. Paris seemed to be a very popular destination for my family, but boo hoo I am not going anytime soon. One of my nieces quite unexpectedly became my perfume mule as I found out late that she was on her way to Paris and thanks to email, I got her in time to “place my order” 🙂
Just one FB: 30 mls of Narciso Rodriguez for her EDT. Gorgeous stuff and I wear it often, so well worth the $50 I paid.
Oh, and a 25 ml bottle (I guess that has to count as a FB) of Hermes Caleche. About $28 I think.
Apart from that, a couple of small orders from STC and one from TPC, as well as sample orders from Atelier and Le Labo, a mini of Dune, and a clutch of manufacturer’s samples from eBay. Now that the decant services have put up their international shipping costs, I’m shopping around a lot more.
Discoveries for me this quarter are Prada Candy and Le Labo’s Lys 41. Love them both.
Prada Candy!!! I discovered it in the previous quarter and swapped someone for a full bottle. It’s extraordinarily fun and delicious and sexy.
Totally agree! Not something I thought I would like, but it is such a fun scent.
Candy is so fun and sweet, without being immature. It was the bottle I reached for most often last winter.
Fun, delicious and sexy, yes! So far I am making do with a bunch o’ carded samples, but I’m going through them fast, and and wondering whether to for a large decant (or a mini), or whether to just skip straight to a FB … Oddly enough, for a scent so dense I find its staying power is not great unless I spritz fairly liberally (by my standards, anyway).
Fortunately it’s not expensive, comparatively speaking. And you can get 30 ml bottles at Sephora. Not that I’m trying to enable your or anything 😉 Maybe if you also spray some on your clothes it will last longer.
First time participating in a buying poll because I have been really bad. After a year vacillating on the expense of Jubilation 25, I went and bought something more expensive! Had a minor palpitation handing over my card, so needing reassurance now. Heh.
So this quarter’s damage:
Ormonde Jayne Nawab al Oudh
(335 pounds but got Taif free, so I guess 255?)
Jessica Simpson Fancy Nights (8)
Hermes Eau d’orange vert (27)
YR Vanille Noire 10ml (8)
I do that often, waver and waver on something I love because its expensive and then suddenly buy something even more expensive. My theory is that sometimes that wavering has to do with not being utterly enraptured – when utterly enraptured there’s no space for hesitation. My problem is I sometimes waver for quite a while, then buy the item only to find something soul-freezingly beautiful soon after, and then not have the cash!
You are probably right. I have (and love) Femme, and while I can smell that Jub 25 is better (or rather, the more romantic version of Femme), I was wavering whether it is ten TIMES better. 🙂 Am loving what I bought so no regrets. But the pain of the handover!
What is the new Ormonde Jayne like?
It’s lovely – a soft rose, and creamy, not medicinal, oudh blended very well. There is a wonderful cardamom note that reminds me of breaking a pod of cardamom, that is true and relatively long lasting. That was the tipping point into instant love for me. The drydown is lush, mostly woody (and a hint of amber? not sweet but there – I’m not very good at teasing out individual notes). But non-fans of OJ would do good to steer clear as the OJ base is clearly present.
I know lots of people have been oudhed out but I haven’t any in my collection and this is really high quality materials (I think). It lasts a whole day on me, and has pretty good sillage.
That description has me salivating. I definitely have to find a sample.
4 purchases! But three are things I have had on my ‘to buy’ list after draining samples/decants.
They were Black Cashmere (cheap in the original packaging), Theorema (again quite cheap as it was a beaten up old tester) and Omnia (also very discounted)…. All perfect for keeping cosy in this winter weather and all three carefully considered. Ha! It actually feels like I achieved something because I ticked them off a list 😉
My impulse buy was L’Artusan’s Mandarine. Which I bought because it reminds me of the smell of *something* (a lip balm? a place? a….???? I cannot work it out!) from when I was a kid. Anyway I find it cheerful and easy to wear and one day I’ll work out the smell memory!!
Wow, where did you find a tester of Theorema? Lucky!
Yes, that is fortunate! I’ve been rationing my Theorema mini and sighing over the fact then when it goes …. it’s gone forever.
Australia 🙂 there’s something to be said for being a bit out of the way. Sometimes if you do a search of Australian online discount perfume stores you find some surprising treasures. Having said that I think I saw that Beauty Encounter had some in stock at the moment….
Dear Enabler, I immediately checked Beauty Encounter and lo and behold – Theorema! They were also having a 15% off sale AND I had $10 in Beauty Encounter money (I don’t know how I got it as the only thing I had ever bought from this retailer was a $26 bottle of Bvlgari Black!). I bought it unsniffed but I figured I can always swap it away if I don’t like it.
Not sure f my total, but not too bad since my purchase was from SSS. Maybe $80ish. :). I bought a FB of Jour Ensoleille, which I love, after having gone through a few samples. I also got a travel size of Voile de Violette. Plus a few samples — Rose Volupte and Spiced Citrus Vetiver, which I ordered, and Rose Musc and Forest Walk, which Laurie generously added. Love SSS.
Now I am considering a FB of Gilded Lily or Chemical Bonding from Ineke as I have been thoroughly enjoying my sample set.
Nicole
Just came back from my trip to England, where I bought Patchouli 24 and Fleurs de Sel for £160 total. Haven’t bought anything else this year, and probably won’t start wearing these until the fall. Do have plenty of summer perfumes to wear in the meantime…
I don’t keep close track of this stuff but I know I bought at least:
Bronze Goddess body oil spray, big bottle, barely used, from a friend for $20
PdN L’Eau Mixte, small bottle at full price ($45!)
Liz Zorn Meerschaum, tiny bottle on clearance, <$30 (I put it on my husband's dresser and he LOVES it)
I think it was also this quarter, April-ish, that I finally bought a bottle of Donna Karan Signature, for like $90.
I also *ordered* a bottle of Clarins Par Amour Toujours for <$20, through some small seller on Amazon, but it never arrived due to some postal screwup (I was refunded, at least).
I only bought one, but it was one I had been wanting for a while. It was a mini of Amouage Gold. I had been watching eBay for a while for a minie of Gold, but they don’t appear very often. I think I let one or two go because the price got bidded up too high, but I won this one for $50, which was about the limit of what I was willing to pay. I had had two small decants of it, but one of them leaked most of its contents into my purse. Oh well, at least my purse smells good!
I had thought there was more, but checking my invoices, it looks like everything else was 1st quarter. Looking forward to the third quarter, there are a couple of DSH scents that I need to get at least dram bottles of, and there are some SSS scents that I need to test (Cocoa Sandalwood and Citrus Vetiver). Some of the recent posts here have me wanting to do some testing as well. The Le Labo scents sound interesting, and there is no Le Labo boutique near me, so to try them I will have to order samples. Also there are the new Amouages, and I do not know of a place to test them in person anywhere around here.
50 Roses, I can send you my sample of Cocoa Sandalwood. Sadly, it didn’t work for me. Just email me at pattor at rcn dot com if you are interested.
Okidokie:
The Different Company Oud Shamash, 50 ml ($190)
Bond No. 9 Fire Island, 50 ml ($90 or so)
Hermès Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, 200 ml ($70 or so)
Serge Lutens El Attarine, 75 ml (my first bell jar!) ($290)
The Different Company Osmanthus, 100 ml ($125)
Guerlain Habit Rouge eau de parfum, 100 ml ($62)
a 12 ml bottle of Byredo Oud Immortel (was given this — free!)
The Different Company Divine Bergamote, 100 ml ($125)
CB I Hate Perfume At The Beach 1966, 100 ml ($85)
Lalique Encre Noire eau de parfum, 60 ml (my biggest extravagance — $375)
bought a 100 ml bottle of L’Artisan Parfumeur Al Oudh for someone as a present ($165)
Whoa, man, good haul. Did Oprah adopt you recently? Haha, i wish i had your money.
I love both Divine Bergamote and Osmanthus, wonderful and wearable fragrances.
I had a bad injury that messed me up for a good while.. so, there was no shopping this quarter! Lol. I did get some samples, other than that, nope. Can’t think of one bottle I got!
Sorry, I hope you are feeling better. I’m impressed that you didn’t buy anything. I’m always tempted to shop online and buy things unsniffed when I can’t go out.
Wait, I did get some Thymes Azur Body Water, which I don’t like as much as their other scented goodies in that line.
Bad, bad month. I had the entire month spent in the throes of an ear infection. The doctor cut through my eardrum TWICE, put in a tube like a child gets, and I was told to lay there and not move. I asked if one gets sedation for this. Nope. I was told I was an “adult” and to “suck it up”. Knife. In my ear. It sounds like sheets tearing. SO, I lost all my deposits on my trip to Vegas to see Garth Brooks, front row, airline, hotel first night. Everything. They wouldn’t refund. Lost around 1000 dollars. PLUS my ear drops cost 185 dollars. IN DESPAIR I threw my hands up and ordered up two bottles of I-Don’t- Care- How- Expensive- perfume to keep myself sane:
Roja Dove’s Enslaved (so it smells like Habanita. I still love it)
FM Portrait of a Lady
A pile of samples. Sympathy, and more samples, from SAs at Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman.
That, and some pain pills and I’ve been right as rain.
I am appalled and nearly in tears hearing about the way you were treated. My God.
You did the absolute right thing in ordering that perfume!
The way you were treated is horrifying. Pain is real, and so is the fear of pain, and no one else can evaluate just how much something is hurting you. I have actually had a doctor or nurse tell me during a particularly unpleasant procedure “It can’t hurt that much!” Oh. Yes. It. Can!
I hope you are really enjoying those two bottles. It sounds like you earned them.
You did the right thing, Mough: smelling great is the best revenge!
Oh how terrible! I thought hospitals had been advised to take patients’ pain more seriously? There’s all sorts of studies that show how important management ahead of the pain is SO important to staying on top of it. I’m sorry for you and happy to hear that you found some comfort in perfume shopping! I hope you’re healing quickly!
So sorry to hear about your experience. My boss went through something similar where they kept cutting little chunks out of her leg because of an infection and never numbed her either. You earned that perfume.
What the H? Chunks out of her leg? How could anyone think that wouldn’t be painful?
Sorry, I posted too soon…
…I would have used the other leg to hop out of that hospital.
Ouch. I hope you are on the mend.
I found discounts on both Amouage Dia and Gold this quarter and finally fulfilled a longtime goal of having enough of these to wear with abandon. I believe stores must be rotating stock or something, because BeautyEncounter has recently featured good deals on Amouage, and I found a good price for Gold on Amazon.
Only 1 this quarter! Philosykos in edt… which has been on my to-buy list for the longest time!
I want a good fig scent, but I can’t seem to settle on one! Philosykos is definitely worthy!
Many fig scents smell like drugstore hairspray to me. L’Artisan’s Premiere Figuier (I don’t know if that is spelled right) turned out to be my favorite. You might want to try that one if you haven’t already.
Nothing this quarter.
Well, a month ago while shopping in Zara I came across their perfume section and on an impulse I grabbed a small bottle of Zara White. It was dirt cheap and it’s very close to the first edition of Miracle that I can’t find anymore. It sits in my top drawer at the office now, just in case. Not sure it counts as a fragrance.
What’s the lasting power like? I’ve browsed the Zara fragrances but have always assumed that they will fade fairly fast.
About 4 hours. I reapply once if I remember.
It’s an EDT so no great expectations …
Is it already that time again??? Wow. I sold some perfumes, and bought others. Also won a bottle of Caligna. Out of pocket expenses – $204.
• L’Artisan Caligna
• Thierry Mugler Angel EDT
• Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire EDT
• Prada L’Eau Ambree
• Womanity Les Parfums de Cuir
• Annick Goutal Vetiver
• Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien
• Annick Goutal Neroli
A bunch of samples…
That’s a very impressive list for $204. What do you think of the Caligna?
I bought 4 bottles:
50 ml Grey Flannel and 100 ml Kanon Norwegian Wood at TJ Maxx – $14 total
50 ml Geoffrey Beene EDT via eBAy $11
15 ml Patchouli Patch via eBay $22
That’s $47 total – not bad for 4 FB…
Just remembered: 50 ml of Calvin Klein Truth for men / about $13 I think at TJ Maxx. – brings my total to $60.
The real standout in the bunch is the Norwegian Wood.
My only FB purchase was a blind buy of Do Son, on sale for $50. However, the 3 splits I bought were all more than twice that expensive! Ouch: Noir de Noir, By Kilian Prelude to Love, and Iris Nazarena splits (a blind buy but I cannot imagine not loving it) put some big ol’ dents in my checking account.
BPAL – Loup Garou – 5ml(counts as a full bottle since that is the only size they offer
Givenchy – Gentlemen Only – 50ml
Serge Lutens – Ambre Sultan – 50ml
Ok, it’s 8 (and seven eighths), which puts me, for the moment, in the 80th percentile, if not higher. BUT, these are my first 8 bottles of perfume, ever! Does that make a difference?
1. Apres L’Ondee started the madness.
2. Bulgari Black was a birthday gift, but from my fiancee, so finance-wise, it’s as if I bought it. We love love love it. Especially on her.
3. Bandit seduced us both. Awesome.
At this point I felt like, “oh yes, I buy perfume. ”
4. So I bought Ninfeo Mio. That was such a good call.
5. Next I gave Tam Dao to my fiancee. Again, mingled finances, mingled perfume collection (I am the curator, mind you). So beautiful, especially on her.
6. Then Bendel hooked me and reeled me right in with a TWO-PART sale. Brilliant marketing! Part one was Hanbury, the most gorgeous thing I can imagine, and surely more expensive than I would have considered seriously without that sale.
7. Part Two was Andrea Maack Coal, a stunner of an entirely different sort.
8. Finally I visited Osswald, silly me! Bought L’Eau MiXte (Nicolai), and ended up with another scent on my short list. Love the MiXte! It’s fresh and herbal, and at the same time it somehow makes me feel like a badass. Go figure!
8 1/2. A decant of Patchouli 24. I count this one because we bought it knowing we loved it but did not necessarily need a full bottle. Different from buying something just to try it.
8 3/4. A mini of Passage D’Enfer. I like this very much. Possibly I don’t love it and should have kept looking for my incense fix. I wear it. But did I need to own it? I haven’t made up my mind. From now on, I am committed to making up my mind first.
8 7/8. Our civil marriage ceremony is Friday. Any late purchases associated with that event are officially part of the third quarter, now, aren’t they?
All my regrets are samples, minis, or decants. I didn’t count them all here, but they are in my Spreadsheet Of Budget Accountability (SOBA, or SOBER, for short). Regrets account for more than 10% of the money we have spent!!!!!
So I’ve posted three rules right here on my computer screen after calculating that figure with the future Mrs. Mountain:
-Try before buy. I know, you may have heard this one before. I thought it might be a good idea to try and follow it.
-Do not buy samples until you have sampled everything available to sample for free in local retail stores’ tester bottles. In NYC that means never. This has been difficult, but I’ve stuck to it so far.
3. Check the % discount online vs. in the store before buying. I can try all those testers because of bricks-and-mortar stores and the SAs who work there. So I want to support those institutions and people when I can. But if the discout is 50% online, I am now obliged to go that route. Smaller discounts leave the decision to my discretion.
So far, I think making the SOBA and reviewing it with my fiancee — oh yes, and making a date to review it again with my *wife* in three months, of course — has made the biggest impact on my budgeting process.
Hey, those are good rules! It seems that a little excess is pretty usual for folks as they fall into the rabbit hole. If you manage to cut back after one crazy quarter, I’d say you’re ahead of the game!
I eventually had to give myself a only one bottle a month rule, which forced me to prioritize. After about a year of that, I have found that I don’t even buy that much–my perfume wardrobe has a few gaps I wouldn’t mind filling, but mostly I’m pretty content with what I have to play with these days.
In any case, enjoy your treasures! I hope your wife enjoys them, too! 🙂
Thank you, Marjorie Rose. One bottle a month sounds so reasonable. But I’m squirming at the thought! Might mean it’s the right way to go…. I shall bring it up at the next SOBA meeting with my wife. :)))))))))))
I’m so relieved to hear that it is possible to be sated and enjoy playing with an existing collection. So there may be some comfortable ledges, not too far down the rabbit hole. Where perhaps one can still perceive the daylight.
Loved reading your post and welcome to NST. I also love it that you and your fiancee, soon to be wife, are in the perfume game together. What fun!
And finally, for an incense fix, try Sonoma Scent Studio Incense Pure. Glorious stuff!
Thank you, Rappleya. It is awfully fun! One of my very favorite things a out my fiancée is that she is so game. It’s so easy and natural for her to imagine the fun in almost any activity. I am one lucky bride-to-be!
Sounds like you got some good stuff. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!
Thank you, sweetgrass!
Loved the post, loved the way you counted your purchases, and your rules.
Thank you, Austefan. I hope to follow my rules!
That is an amazing start to your collection. You have a nice mix of classics and niche. I am now four years into this journey and believe that familiarizing yourself with the classics is the best way to start learning. Even if I don’t care for a scent I like to try to understand why Robin put it on the list of 100 fragrances to try or why Luca Turin gave it five stars.
I like your rules too and will try to adopt them, but I am not so great with self discipline. It’s not a rule, more of a guideline, but I try to purchase bottles while I travel. They make great souvenirs and don’t take up much space. How many Hard Rock Cafe t-shirts does one really need anyway?
What are you wearing for the wedding?
I was about to pat myself on the back for not buying anything this quarter, but just remembered that I bought a bottle of Ambre Sultan while in Venice in April. Somehow purchases made while traveling feel like they shouldn’t count;) It is certainly easier to give in to temptation and justify extravagance while on vacation. I also splurged on a bunch of things from Santa Maria Novella while I was in Venice. They are such beautiful products, and so much cheaper in Italy than in Canada. I got some body milk, honey hair cream, sandalwood bath oil, orange blossom water, a couple of soaps and a Tobacco Toscano candle. Yeah, I went a little overboard… but we won’t count these, will we? Since they are not perfume specifically;)
I love buying perfume or PRO’s ( perfume related objects) on holidays. They become a memory of that time, which makes them even more special. And Ambre Sultan is just beautiful!
3 purchases for me:
5mL Rebel + Mercury Audacious at Renegade Craft Fair Austin
60mL Imaginary Authors Violet Disguise at Renegade Craft Fair Austin
50mL Diptyque Olene on sale for $35 at HauteLook (it’s the old style packaging, so snagged a stellar deal on this one. Somewhat regretting I didn’t move on Oyedo as well).
I bought my Olene from HL as well, but it was in January. I saw that they brought Diptyque back a few weeks ago. There’s a chance you’ll get another shot at Oyedo.
I’ll keep my eyes peeled!
I’ve bought only two bottles: L’Eau d’Issey for men (I live in a very hot country, it’s just a “smell good in the office” thing) and Un Jardin En Mediterranee, which was more like a little luxury :). I can’t say I like Issey, I consider it more like a good functional fragrance for daywear!
Hmmm, not sure how to count this. I ordered about 10 decants from the Perfumed Court–mostly 1 mL, but a couple of larger ones too. All together I don’t think it even adds up to 20mL, so is that one bottle? 10? Total cost just under $70, so I’m feeling virtuous.
I guess I haven’t really bought much of anything this quarter. Just samples, mostly.
0.5oz Outremer Fleurs Blanches – $10
5ml Perfume & Skin Care Co. (Australia) Gardenia – $9
The second one was kind of a bust.. It took 2 months to get it since they got it back the first time with a thing saying my address was wrong, then when I finally received it, the travel spray was so crappy that it had leaked pretty much down to nothing in transit. It was all over the inside of the bubble wrap when I opened it, so I got it all over my hands. At least I did get to smell it on me a little bit because it is a pretty nice gardenia. Whatever little bit of residue remains on the travel spray makes my purse smell nice.
Not a one!! I have been happily working my way through a raft of samples and “back bottles”–I have my running list, but am waiting until my life calms down to add to my scent library.
I am late to the game, but have been pretty good – three bottles: Mitzah (Dior), Eau Fraiche (Parfums de Nicholai), and Orangers en Fleurs (Houbigant). Mitzah was a blind buy but it worked out because it’s a very nice amber/oriental. A bit much for summer, so I’m saving it for winter. Eau Fraiche is lovely this time of year…. zingy! I love the Houbigant – I purchased the EDP and got 10ML travel parfum. Both are becoming favorites in my collection! I also recently purchased Houbgant Quelques Fleurs and Quelques Fleurs Royale – (I think it was last quarter, though). Love them all.
I did go a bit overboard on decants and samples. My favorites of the decants include Amouage’s new Fate (it’s fantastic incense) and Vero Profumo Mita. Both are on my FB list!
This quarter I bought two perfumes and one perfumed body cream. All three of them are by Bond No. 9 and I count the cream as a perfume, because it is very fragrant and wearing it feels like wearing a strong eau de parfum. These are the items I bought:
New York Amber (329€)
Sag Harbor (240€)
West Side Body Silk (115€)
Makes a total of 684€. Wow :-O
Only two bottles here, LAP Traversee du Bosphore and Hermes Eau de Marveilles. Both were at a discount so my total was $127.11. Not my most efficient spending, but I truly love both bottles. I am wearing the EdM almost every day and hope to to the same with the TdB when the weather cools down. Right now it is so hot and sticky out that it feels like cherry soda so I only wear it if I’m staying inside where there’s air conditioning.
Great choices Lucy, Eau de Merveilles is lovely; you’ve inspired me to dig out my bottle as it’s perfect for the hot weather we are having
Traversee du Bosphore is on my wishlist too.
Here’s my naughty list. I am sure it is naughtier as the list seems shorter than I thought…
– Bvlgari Black (enabled by a swap buddy – you know who you are)
– Chanel Les Exclusifs Bois des Iles EDT
– Dior La Collection Privee Mitzah
– ELDO Tom of Finland
– ELDO Fat Electrician (40% off, used my Henri Bendel splurge cards which covered the balance…I count this as free)
– Jo Malone Ginger Biscuit (Limited Edition, which always gets me)
– Jo Malone Blood Orange & Chocolate (same as above)
– L’Artisan Coeur de Vetiver Sacre (50% off)
– L’Artisan Fleur de Liane (50% off)
– L’Artisan Vanille Absolument (50% off AND several swap buddies enabled me :-))
– L’Occitane Eau de Bavx
– L’Occitane Vanille & Narcisse (won the draw here at NST; thank you Robin)
– Parfumerie Generale Indochine (my first purchase from Osswalds NYC…perhaps more visits and more purchases to follow – I love the store)
– Prada Candy L’Eau
– Puredistance Opardu (eeek, I bought the 17 mL but now think I need to size up)
– Vintage Opium
– Vintage Shalimar
Decants:
– Creed Jardins d’ Amalfi
– Frederic Malle En Passant
– Frederic Malle L’Eau d” Hiver
– Mona di Orio Vanille
– Tom Ford Sahara Noir
– Viktoria Minya Hedonist
Ahhhhhhhh…confession is good for the soul…….
HO-LEE COW. Ding ding ding…we have a winner!
Just three FBs for me this quarter:
Prada Infusion d’Iris (replacement bottle for the one I’ve used up)
By Killian Sweet Redemption
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist – which is true love. I can’t believe I’ve been to the Palais Royal twice before and not come away with a bottle of this…