And another year is gone. Confess your sins now, start 2014 with a clean slate! Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Scented Overindulgence,1 wants to know what you bought in the 4th quarter (October, November and December) of 2013.
Update: the poll is now closed!
My purchases...
I bought a 15 ml bottle of Hermès Épice Marine ($50) and a bunch of Demeter miniatures ($30). Total for the quarter: $80.
Added to my first quarter damage and third quarter damage (I didn't buy anything in the second quarter), my grand total for the year is $137. That's by far the best I've done since I fell down the rabbit hole ten years ago (my first two bottles, both purchased in late 2003, were Parfums de Nicolaï Balle de Match and Diptyque Philosykos).
And you?
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). Samples don't generally count at all, even though some of us spend considerable sums obtaining them.
1. Why does Donatella host (against her will, mind you) the damage polls? There is no real reason other than the picture of her perfume collection, which shows that she indulges regularly at the perfume counter. The image, by the way, is originally from Allure magazine and appears here courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.
I bought one 10ml. decant of VdP Mecca Balsam for $35.00. It’s a fragrance I love and wear, but this year just couldn’t afford a bottle, so when the split went up, I splurged.
Total for the year: $161.00 (one decant/qtr.)
Now if I could only be this disciplined in regard to my Kindle!
Snowing like crazy here, Robin, and I’m sending it your way! 😉
Hey, you were good!
But do keep your snow, yuck. I think we are supposed to get 4-6 inches, which I guess I should be thankful for given the forecast elsewhere.
I could use some snow–just enough to extend my vacation a few more days, please! 😀
Mrs. Rose,
If memory serves me correctly, you are an educator. Am I correct? I swear in a previous post I saw that you mentioned it. I too am an educator( elementary counselor) and will have to return to work on Monday (after a two-week winter break). Oh how fast the time flies! Although its wishful thinking on my part (I live in Texas), please send some sweet-smelling snow my way so I too can have an extended vacation.
Signed,
Not Ready to Return to Work 🙁
Yes! You are correct–I am a middle school science and health teacher. And Yes! Happy to send you some snow, too! No reason I can see that Rapp should be stingy with it!
No, no, I wasn’t stingy with the snow. We only got a couple of inches. After all, Ky. is the South – right?!? That’s why it’s so much warmer here than up North – we’re a balmy 5 degrees this a.m.
OH HEY! I only spent gift cards on my Kindle, so no out-of-pocket in that regard.
I wasn’t nearly so good with scent.
I didn’t get nearly enough Amazon gift cards to feed my habit! But I’ve tried to limit myself to their deals, which are usually pretty good.
The difference in the Kindle and perfume is that a bottle of perfume lasts forever (as you know), but once I’ve read a book, it’s on to the next one. And I read four to five (sometimes more) a week.
One bottle this quarter. Old style bottles of Philosykos showed up in Space.NK sale and I just couldn’t resist a 100ml for £34 (+£5 postage which I really resented paying). Yup, that’s in addition to the set of travel sprays that I bought earlier this year. Someone please tell it wasn’t a mad thing to do 😮
So this means that the total for the year are 4 bottles (10ml Marni, 100ml L’Eau d’Hiver, 60ml + 100ml Philosykos) for £189 which is not so bad, actually.
There were a couple of Diptyque candles as well, but they don’t count!
You got a great price on the Diptyque, and the older bottles are so much nicer.
Oh, excellent…agree with Ari, the old bottles were best.
Ari, that’s exactly how I justified it! Those square bottles were really lovely and I got 160ml of juice for £59 when a new 50ml bottle goes for £50. So that’s me set for life as far as Philosykos is concerned.
Oh just thirding the jealousy for the bottle! I generally don’t have strong feelings on packaging but those old ones get even my attention.
One Kai rollerball from the very cute Twisted Lily: $48. And yet just as much of my money is gone as last year- I think it’s all gone towards Uniqlo sweaters. I was SO not prepared for my first New York winter.
Luckily Donatella doesn’t care about your Uniglo sweaters, although somebody else, on some other blog, undoubtedly wants a full tally!
I am all out of Kai — subsisted for years on little samples & now they’re all drained. I should get a rollerball.
I love Twisted Lily! So glad it’s there. A whole slew of great niche brands in one spot, and Atelier across the street 😉
Hope they’re successful.
Santa Baby I’ve been an awful good boy 😉
OCTOBER:
Atelier Cologne
Gold Leather Ecrin Absolue 200ml + 30ml with a leather pouch
cost: 220€ (had a 30€ discount) – I paid 30€ and kept the travel size.
NOVEMBER:
Tauer Perfumes
PHI Une Rose de Kandahar 50ml
cost: 130€ – I paid 40€ and kept 50ml in a green glass pentagonal bottle
DECEMBER:
nothing
I was gifted a bottle of PHI, saving me from the burden of purchasing it for myself! It is lovely, isn’t it? I’m enjoying the notion of a fella wearing it–do you get comments?
Nobody commented PHI on me yet but when I took the perfume to a perfume friends meeting everyone liked it.
Ooh yes I like that idea too! For me it was more of a powerhouse than I could do, but I definitely think it could be a good rose-for-bros perfume. Hahaha sorry that’s an awful way to describe such a stunning perfume but I couldn’t resist the rhyme.
I find that after about an hour, PHI hums along much more softly than some of Tauer’s other scents–but yes, it starts with quite a heady burst of flowers and fruit!
All these ravings about PHI – I must add to my gotta try list! Sounds fantastic. Enjoy your purchases (gifts)!
CM–have you tried other Tauer scents? He’s definitely got a distinct style, and from what I can tell, it doesn’t work for everyone. However, if you like his scents, or adore a few of them as I do, PHI is right in line with some of his other luscious and quirky florals.
I own a bottle of Zeta – great linden for spring. I also have a decant of Miriam (nice) and Loretta (challenging). I sample his rose verse mere a while back when I was a newbie and liked it, beau need to try again for fbw status. I like his scents, and phi sounds nice.
Not bad, and you got nice things!
I told you I was good 😉
And with such lovely perfumes I feel totally justified, even if I didn’t spent much.
This quarter hasn’t been terrible, but I fear although I started the year very frugally–NOTHING until March!!!–I pretty much made up for it over the rest of the year!
This quarter:
Fico di Amalfi
Decant of Attrape Coeur (oh I wish I could find even a partial bottle!–sending prayers to Our Lady Versace to intervene with the cosmos on that one!)
A no-box 50ml of Lyric that hasn’t arrived, yet, but was paid for in December (only $170!!!)
a dram of DSH Ceylon that apparently is out of stock and I’m stuck waiting for for an indeterminate amount of time. .. 🙁 but also paid for in December
Quarter total: $393
Year total: $1431 (oh, sheesh! That’s a mortgage payment. . .)
And it’s a good thing this doesn’t include clothing and shoes. . .it’s been quite a year of spending! And don’t get me started on purchases for my new house. Ah well, maybe I could use a spending goal for this year, huh? 🙂
It is not half as bad as I did early on, believe me!
That would be reassuring, except I seem to be getting WORSE as the years go on! Looking back at my records (yes, I’m *that* Type A), I see that year one totaled $1222 in bottles (not including samples and minis–of which I know there were many), and year two was a relatively frugal $662. So, this is my most costly year, yet! I’m pretty sure my taste is getting more expensive. . . :-/
But you’re still in early years!! I don’t think I slowed down until year 5. Ack.
Soooo, what you’re saying is I have permission to not contain myself any better than I currently am for what, about 2 more years?
Ha…just saying, it’s too soon to tell how it will all turn out 🙂
My taste is getting pricier, too. I’d like to offload some of these less-loved bottles, but I suspect I’ll have to figure out selling on ebay.
Yeah–I gave away some unloved partials and minis this year, and I don’t miss them!
I’v only kept records for about 3 years – and only managed to do that by tracing my NST Donatella confessions, lol! (clearly not an A type)
And – I’v also been getting worse year by year! I’m hoping I’m not yet past my 5th year, or else I have no hope!
I think the lack of clear records gives you at least a year or two extra in leeway! After all, who’s to say when you started or how much you’ve spent? And if we don’t know that, we certainly can’t judge if it’s been too much or for too long!
Lol, thanks for the laxity;)
I bought one bottle January to March and then totally blew it the rest of the year. I spent less at the beginning of the year because I was so awed by Chergui that I had bought at the end of the prior year. Nothing else was nearly so good or satisfying. I lowered my standard after that first quarter, wanting NEW scents again:/
Ha…maybe you just need to buy another bottle of Chergui 😉
Robin, I have been wondering about that because I’v used more than half the bottle and am being a little cautious with it!
Oh yes, a really satisfying, beautiful scent can do that for me for a while, too. It’s a shame I can’t seem to stay in that place of satiety for a bit longer!
Exactly! But ultimately, even a scent I adore starts annoying me if I wear it too much and too often.
That’s interesting, isn’t it? I’m surprised at how mercurial my interests can be–I definitely need enough variety to keep from being irritated or bored by my scents–even the truly beautiful ones.
Those are really nice pickups though–one could do much worse for the money!
(Plus, um, if ever you feel a need to divest yourself of any of the FdA, I know a willing swap partner!! 🙂 )
I could certainly share a swap with you! I’m sure I have more than I need. 🙂
Ooh, I wonder if I’ve got anything you might like. I’ll email with some ideas 🙂
Congrats on that Lyric, it’s a beauty!
Thank you! I’ve been totally in the rose haze that apparently the entire perfume world has been in this past year. I’ve purchased more rose scents than any other note–Lipstick Rose, Lyric, Attrape Coeur–and then the lovely gift of PHI. And I’d buy Ta’if in a heartbeat if postage became reasonable again any time soon!
I think I saw a Facebook post recently announcing that a shop in New York will carry Ormonde Jayne. Perhaps that postage has gotten cheaper? Now if I can remember the name of the shop….
Osswald. Think Jessica mentioned it in the best of post
Oh shoot. There goes those “goals” to spend less money! 😉
Just checked into it, and looks like they’ll start carrying OJ products “early this year.” Not yet, though. . . maybe that will give me time to be thrifty in the mean time to justify treating myself? Cuz, that’s how it works, right? 😀
Did pretty well this quarter if only because my entire extended family exchanges gifts at Christmas, so it’s pretty easy to pawn off any fourth-quarter perfume purchases onto distant relatives who want to know what I’d like! Otherwise just a mess of samples at the STC Black Friday sale, and a few vintages pickups (Diorissimo, Vacances, Capricci) with mixed success. About $75 all in all.
The upcoming quarter may not be so virtuous–I’ve got $50 off of $200 at Neiman’s currently burning a hole in my pocket… any suggestions? (After all my complaining about the Aerin pricing I might actually go for Evening Rose–I tested it again and really did enjoy, and it lasted so long.)
Plus you’d essentially be getting it on sale. I say go for it if you love it.
I’m so surprised to love it, given the way the line is positioned (“lifestyle brand” is one of those expressions that just shorts out my brain, and everything afterward sounds like white noise!), but I think maybe I do! I’ve got a couple samples of roses from SSS and Tauer I should test first as due diligence, but the truth is lots of the big dark roses are too much for me. This might be the one that’s just right!
And $60 for 50ml does feel like a much more appropriate price–although it doesn’t take into account the other not-strictly-necessary things I’d have to buy to get up to the $200 mark…
$60 is about right, agree!
Plus, hard to pass up $50 off $200.
Do test the SSS roses. Laurie really does an exceptional job with them.
One vintage bottle of L’Heure Bleu ($40) from an antiques store in DC and a bottle of Spiriteuse Double Vanille (sadly the new design, not the dripping red wax original version) at Place Vendome in Paris (let’s not talk about the price).
I’m sure you’ll enjoy that vintage L’HB.
Great find on the vintage! And no, let’s not talk about it 🙂
Santa Maria Novella’s Mughetto – $60
Chantilly – 15ml – $5 (and surprisingly nice)
O’de Lancolm – 50ml – $20 (could no longer resist at that price)
Terre d’Hermes – 100ml – $85
Montale: Crystal Flowers – $100
Comme de Garcons: Black (nearly full tester) – $50
Total this quarter $320. Absolutely refuse to add up year’s spending.
*shakes head and blushes*
Wow, you got some great deals!
Yes I did, but deals are my Achilles heel! I convince myself that it’s worth buying at the given price even if I should not really be buying at all.
Logically, it makes more sense to wait until one is financially comfortable, (ie. spread out ones purchases more) and just pay full price then, than to pay less, when one should not be spending even that amount…
Hello…I went to fragrance in Florence on september and nothing gave mea particular thrill but B By Blood concept so recently i bought
October b by blood concept
November a bottle of AUBURN by Andi Tauer
A 100 ml of Intense oud by Comptoir du sud pacifique
A 70 ml of Bois Farine by lArtisan parfumeur
And then just by mistake i bought a 50 ml of Poivre Bengale by Brecourt but as soon as I wore it the first ti e I realised it is incredibly flat and boring so I mix it with a hint of divin enfant by eldo
In december I bought a marvellous bottle of blue encens by comme des garçons and I, m looking for the fantastic HavanaVanille by artisan parfumeur.
ButI’ m thinking that these parfumes start to be a bit too much so I think I’m gonna stop for a while…kisses
Jealous of your Bois Farine, I love that one. Too bad the Brecourt did not work out, but glad you found something to layer with it.
I’m in two minds about this: I picked out my own Christmas gifts for the family to give me, and some of them were scented things. And gifts don’t count… but the cost of gifts from The CEO comes out of our joint checking account… so, you know, it really sort of does.
GAH.
$140 for the quarter, including two Christmas gifts for myself. I bought Memoir Woman body lotion when Parfum1 had that big sale, $52, I bought a dram of DSH Twelfth Night in oil for $30, because even after all the incense things I’ve been testing recently, it’s my favorite. I bought a 15ml bottle of Kelly Caleche edp, because it’s wonderful (I disliked the edt intensely, but the edp is floral enough to suit), $28. Also bought, unsniffed, a small bottle of BPAL Midnight Mass for $30, in a late-night, unsupervised, I-just-WANT-something fit (okay, okay, I might have been breathing Captain Morgan fumes. just a little). I don’t like it much, but perhaps I can dilute it and use as home fragrance. It’s nice enough for that.
Total for the year? OMG. I don’t know. I suspect near a thousand bucks.
Ooh interested to hear that about the different formulations of Kelly Calèche. Maybe I should circle back and try the EDP too. Thanks!
Welcome. The edt is very “cologney,” for lack of a better word, and it has a lot of vetiver to my nose. Me ‘n Vet, not bestest frands (it probably says something that No. 19 might be my favorite vetiver).
Okay, so I went back to add up, and I was thiiiiiiis close: $981.
I did not include sample orders, though to be fair I often think I should.
Ohh yes less vetiver and less “cologney” would appeal to me as well. Nice, now I’m excited to try!
Some nice buys! Midnight Mass may be worth it just for the name, lol!
Can you describe 12th night, and how it compares to some other well known incenses?
I can have a go at it! I’ll try to describe my reactions to incense in general, because there are a number of incense things I don’t do well with.
Twelfth Night is described on the DSH website as being evocative of the Solstice, with juniper, oakmoss, patchouli and incense. (Fragrantica calls it a woody chypre.) And I can often be bothered by a lot of patchouli, but what it reminds me of is an outdoorsy sort of incense – clearly frankincense and myrrh in it and some benzoin as well, but with a piney-junipery angle too.
Twelfth Night smells to me very much like St Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina, Malta, which I was lucky enough to visit a few years ago. I’m not CAtholic, so I don’t have any guilt-related issues with incense. I usually like it better in the air than on my skin. (On the same trip we also visited several churches in Rome, including St Peter’s Basilica, which didn’t have much of a smell to me. It was afternoon and the doors were open, so perhaps all the incense had cleared out away from the marble… the Mdina cathedral had a LOT of carved wood, which I assume had soaked up the incense over time.)
Heeley Cardinal I like, but it seems unfinished. Incense, period. CdG Avignon seemed similar but less friendly, maybe. I liked Montale Full Incense better on my skin; I think it had more benzoin and seemed cozier. I prefer CdG Zagorsk – another woody-wintery incense – for its cold stone and clear sky aspects.
I do NOT get on with the following: Passage d’Enfer (sour), Wazamba (there’s a hint of Youth Dew balsam in there, and I can’t stand that), Fille en Aiguilles (stewed fruit AND balsam, a hot mess on me), CdG Kyoto (wet wood ashes – you know the acrid smell you get when yesterday’s log fire gets a few droplets of rain down the chimney? yuck). Paestum Rose is really dreadful as well – I get that acridity with a number of Japanese incense fragrances, though I have never smelled the real thing, and I suspect it’s reacting badly with my skin.
I still haven’t smelled Messe de Minuit, though.
When you described the DSH – I immediately thought of Zagorsk for its outdoors angle:)
I too find Avignon cold, which can translate to unfriendly (I think its a quality of Frankincense). I wear it when I want to feel otherworldly and untouchable. I think of it as cold marble. I must try Full Incense – it gets a thumbs up from many.
Similar reaction to the Lutens – the curry note spoils it for me.
Thanks for the detailed analysis. I have quite a few incenses but don’t wear them very often – perhaps none are very wearable! Not necessarily a surprise as most are CdGs:)
DId you like Zagorsk? I do. I like the strong sense of place I get from it, although I’ve never been anywhere near Russia.
Zagorsk and Jassilmar (sp?) are the only ones I don’t own from the collection. I bought the three a few years ago Ouarzazate first!
But just a few days ago I smelled Zagorsk and liked it very much: could be because I’m nearly finished War and Peace and it does give me a very strong olfactory impression of the setting.
I need to control my purchases a bit better, but if I continue to like it for a month or two I may consider a bottle!
I find I almost never wear my incense scents! I think that smokey/dustiness is not really something I want to be associated with, even if I find it lovely to smell from time to time. Hmm. Maybe I should try them as room sprays instead?
MR, I do wear Nostalgia quite often so I don’t think its the smokiness that’s the problem. And an incense like Avignon is neither smokey nor dusty…
Perhaps they seem too otherworldly or exotic to be comfortable – but then again, Kyoto doesn’t strike me this way.
My working hypothesis – for now – is that they don’t affect me, emotionally, in a way I am looking for. They do not have a particularly comforting effect on me (though they might on others). Also, they don’t put me in a professional, brisk frame of mind or make me feel refreshed.
Avignon by cdg is the one to wear.youwon’t regret.
I hear you re: Passage D’Enfer. It smells like dill pickles floating on Mr. Bubble when I wear it.
Mals – you’ve given great mini-reviews of several incense perfumes, and I wonder if you’ve tried the SSS Incense Pure and what you think of it?
I like it… but it has a lot of labdanum which seems to skew the overall impression away from calm, meditative incense to general balsamic/oriental stuff, which I tend to have trouble with.
I may have to track down that DSH scent and give it a whirl. I like insense – the dry down of Seville l’aube or SSS Forest Walk, and even one of the Neela V.s, but so so many of them leave me cold. Avignon especially. I haven’t found the perfect one, and I find that I share your love of green things! #19, emeraude, ltdf. I also fell for the edp version of Kelly Calache – one of my very first perfumista purchase. I see a sampling spree in my future!
Enjoy your purchases 🙂
I called it Car Freshener d’Enfer, myself. A complete scrubber.
I actually prefer the Kelly Caleche EDT to the EDP! I had a small spray sample of the EDT and loved it. But then read reviews about the EDP…and it seemed everyone seemed to prefer it…so I ordered a bottle. Not the same! Unsniffed purchase based on reviews. Not a good idea.
Oh dear. I didn’t remember reviews of the edp when it was new – I’m fresh to it! But I really did NOT like the edt at all. So yeah, they’re very different, which you wouldn’t think based simply on the notes.
For you, it’s research, right?
These were my purchases this quarter. Total of $386. First quarter was the killer for me this year – $618. Second quarter wasn’t bad in comparison at $204. Third quarter was similar to fourth at $388. Grand total for the year – $1,596! Yikes! About $100 over last year’s total.
Bottles
Amouage Gold Woman Extrait de Parfum – $77
Amouage Honour Woman Extrait de Parfum – $77
Vintage Vol de Nuit extrait – $46 ($200 of birthday money, so only $46 out of pocket)
Decants
Neela Vermeire Ashoka (5 ml) – $25
Guerlain Place Rouge (5 ml) – $32
Heeley Ophelia (30 ml) – $49
Amouage Fate Woman (5 ml) – $19
Samples
Luckyscent sample pack – $39
Armani Si (3 carded) – $12
Estee Lauder Modern Muse (3 carded) – $10
Fantastic prices on the bottles!
If I included samples I’d probably have to add another $200 to my annual total. Bleargh. 🙂
OH! and I thought Modern Muse was not at all bad. Especially compared to what it was sitting next to at my local department store (Marc Jacobs Honey, Nicki Minaj Pink Friday, etc. etc.).
I like Modern Muse, too!
Oh yeah. Those samples add up…
Karin, wow, you got lovely stuff though.
I know! Really happy with my purchases!! 😀
Vintage Vol de Nuit extrait is probably as close to an HG as I come. Congrats – great buy!
Nary a one! Could this be the first time I’ve answered that? I think so. No decants either, although I did order two bunches of samples. I think I’m at under $200 CAD for the year, but I’m not home in front of my spreadsheet.
I was wondering – do you feel less engaged with perfumery now that you are not buying bottles? Or are you equally engaged – just not looking to own more?
It’s an interesting question. I think I feel at least close to as engaged as I was, I’ve just stopped buying, though I still try to sample as much as I can. The huge increase in the cost of postage to Canada from the the UK and the US this year put a serious dent in my interest in getting decants, and I’ve found I’m quite happy just getting sample vials of most things or trying in-store. Most of what I bought this year was old, discontinued stuff that I couldn’t otherwise sample and one or two small, almost decant-sized bottles (the 7 ml Lush bottles).
Its all the pleasure of the actual sniff for you – which is admirable!
Oooh. Good question! It gets to what I’ve been wondering about for myself–is this hobby about consumerism–always purchasing/acquiring new things–or can it be simply about the enjoyment of the artform? Would I be as happy if it was simply about the experience, or as I fear may be the case, has it become defined by a desire to own and to amass?
MR, I think the problem is that its both. Its partly justified – so one doesn’t want to quit – but there can be (and for me there definitely is) a certain pleasure of amassing…
I worry that if I decide to stop buying that I will also lose the aspect which is of value – and the passion for scent.
Yes, I admit, I enjoy the pursuit of beauty to OWN it, not merely to appreciate it in passing. . . and yet, I do have an impulse to pare down, to reduce my possessions to the essentials. And my efforts in this regard clearly aren’t keeping up with my prodigious skills at acquiring new things!
I understand what you mean about part of the passion being fed by being able to buy perfume. I can appreciate a beautiful painting without owning it, but do love having art on my walls as well! And perfume is so much more affordable than paintings!
Its an interesting analogy – in part because I love many works of art that I would not like to have on my own walls. Comes back, perhaps to our incense discussion, for while I love art that is brooding and somewhat disturbed (lol), I would not want to have it hanging in my home:)
So true! Sometimes something is clearly good art because it’s emotionally moving, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it takes you to a place that you want to dwell in for long!
Just to complicate matters, I’m worried that my general inclination toward trying things more than owning is starting to become its own strain on my wallet–I find myself with a growing desire to get to know what the old stuff smelled like, but even with the understanding that I probably won’t be able to wear these things on an on-going basis, just the matter of finding some to try can run up quite the tab!
Yes, but the transience of those experiences side-steps the concerns MR and I have about owning and amassing:) Its not just the spending that concerns us, but the spending in order to have and to own. Your desire is to know and to experience which seems, at least on the face of it, more easy to justify!
Its like the hunger for knowledge being better than the hunger for more chocolate cake, lol!
Well then congrats! Feels good to not buy for a bit and think through what you want next.
As I don’t tweet, this is my only way to respond to the link to the Elizabeth Jane Howard obit link that just came up in your Twitter feed. Sad! You a Cazalet clan fan, too? I like “The Beatuiful Visit”, also, which I just read last year.
I didn’t know…how sad. I loved The Cazalets too. Will look out for The Beautiful Visit.
I have been looking for Beautiful Visit…hard to get my hands on (and it might be on my list because of you, can’t remember!). But liked the Cazalet series.
Sad to hear, I loved her books.
Looking at my list, it’s obvious I’m a tight-fisted newbie building a collection, but boy, have I had fun. The purchases represent about 1/100th of the sniffing!
Full bottles:
Cacharel Lou Lou
Bvlgari Black
YSL Cinema
Ted Lapidus Silk Road
I Coloniali Angel Musk
Gorilla/Lush Breath of God
Minis:
Atelier Vanille Incensee
Atelier Orange Sanguine
Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta eau Legere
Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant
Breath of God has been the hands down favorite of the bunch. Was gifted a bit of fragrance money for the holidays, which is most likely going towards something Aftelier.
Happy New Year all!
Oh, you got good stuff!
“Newbie” saving up for Aftelier… clearly you don’t need a guide to lead you around to the choice offerings. 🙂
Hi Ladies!
The Aftelier love/craze hasn’t arrived to my nose, or may be passed by my nose without poor me noticing it ( I see it as completely my fault) . I was probably busy sniffing other things…
Would you be so kind to suggest the starting package from Aftelier? What to get my nose first and from where (Im in Canada, Toronto)?
Supposedly there is a First Class mail option from their site that is not too expensive?
Most everything purchased through discounters, etc. So all told, about 200. total.
Not tight-fisted at all. Cautious, perhaps, which is a good thing. No-one wants to end up with a gazillion bottles bought early on before ones own taste had had time to develop.
It sounds like a wonderful beginning to a collection; but perhaps I’m just saying that because it includes several that I love!
Yes! …This looks like great fun.
I’m looking forward to having a shopping list like this : )
I know it said that samples don’t count but since I’m still playing in the shallow end of the pool, that’s all I bought:
$732.00 for 106 samples, plus, I think, an impulse purchase of a sample set from some niche guy I saw in the “Best of 2013” lists.
Most ordered in the last week. Some could be here tomrrow or Saturday : ) ….the rest in a week or so.
I have to admit, there were a few times when I almost threw caution to the wind and went FB crazy…. but I showed restraint lol.
You did put a lot of thought into which samples to order! And congrats on the dedication to sample widely before buying bottles:)
Robin, you are one disciplined perfumista! Don’t know what I spent on samples, but definitely significant. That’s one area I should scale back–have way too many as it is, and I don’t seem to fall for many.
Purchased this quarter: Candide (being discontinued & on sale), plus 3 Guerlains: Chamade, regular Shalimar & Ode a la Vanille.
I’m really not. I’m just less interested in owning than I used to be. I have a harder time talking myself into buying than the other way around.
I’m a bit confuser about when I bougt what, but I think this pretty correct for the last quarter.
* Byredo 1996, 50 ml. This years best scent imo. One of my all time favorites.
* Hugo Boss Hugo woman, 100 ml. It was cheap, and I wanted it because it reminded me of my time when I got my journalism examina and met my husband, all in one year.
* Hermes Jour d’Hermes, 85 ml. It was a blind buy from a private seller on ebay, but I have no regrets on this one, so lovely.
* Tod Oldhamn edp, 30 ml. I wanted it out of nostalgia, but I do wear it. I love a good nineties scent.
Over all, it has been a year of good perfume shopping for me. The ones I don’t love as I should is Marni, just to cold. And Vagabond prince Enchanted forest, too much urine on the forest floor.
Glad you liked the Jour d’Hermes if you bought it unsniffed! Doesn’t always work out for me.
Yep, it was pretty much what I hoped it to be, smooth, pale yellow fruits and flowers. Seamless and soft. I smell a lot of peach in it, or, it gives me the impression of sliced white peache (not juicy and dripping, more … Pulled togetherd peaches if that exists?) on a expensive white plate. Very nice.
Agree on Marni. It did not like my skin.
It’s a strange scent on me. I like the idea of it, and liked a lot in the beginning. But it has something chilling in it, an unfriendly scent.
“And Vagabond prince Enchanted forest, too much urine on the forest floor.” Stupid unicorns.
That made me laugh. And I LIKE Enchanted Forest – but yeah, it’s a little cat-pee.
Those damn unicorns!
This is a record for me. NARY A ONE in the fourth quarter! What is even more unusual is that this is the first Christmas as far back as I can remember where I did not ask for any fragrances!
Maybe hell has frozen over!
Ha…wait until next year to be sure.
Samples did me in. I love that they’re available, but it adds up to quite a bit of money and it’s a crap shoot. Nine times out of ten I’m not liking what I sample. But, I am learning and so I consider this spend part educational (hee-hee).
Spent roughly $500 this year, but probably not too bad for a newbie.
Hubby gifted me with “winter wonderland” from TPC and wowza, major scrubbers to my nose. And yet, these are likely scents loved by many. So interesting what we like and don’t like.
Cheers!
Yes, it’s amazing how much damage we can do on samples alone. Good think Donatella doesn’t even want to know about it 🙂
Imagine nine times out of 10 not liking the full bottle that you purchased…you did much better than you think. 🙂
I got really dispirited with liking so few of the samples I got. Yes, it would be worse if I bought bottles blind, but it still seems a waste. Part of my solution is to swap samples where possible. And these days, I try to content myself with the limited range available at shops within driving range. Usually if its not possible to test in a shop then I probably can’t buy it here anyway and would need someone going on a trip to purchase for me. So overall I’m not sure its worth all the trouble anymore.
But there’s something wonderful about coming home after a long day at work and finding that little package of samples to unwrap and maybe even discover a life changing scent! Well, maybe not life changing, but… close to it.
True enough!
Oh dear, I behaved so well, up until this quarter and then all these sales of Goutals and other things turned up, and I went slightly mad. I got:
Les Parfums de Rosine- Rosa Flamenca & Un Zest de Rose
Goutal- Rose Absolue
L’ Artisan Parfumeur- Thé pour un Eté
Delrae- Mythique
And last but not least: Chanel- Cuir de Russie, extrait de parfum
The only slightly redeeming factor is that I got everything with a discount except for the Chanel.
Congrats on the Chanel. Have you tried it yet? I keep considering the EDT but then decide that its just too ghostly for the price!
I tried both the extrait and the EDT. The edt is smokier, lovely, but the extrait is out of this world. It feels so luxurious and beautiful!
I love Cuir de Russie, and have it in both edt (I wear it in warm weather) and the extrait (for cold). Great purchase -enjoy!
I I wonder what’s the difference b/w Cuir de Russie in extrait and the EDT?
I do own the current from Exclusives and the vintage parfum one. I love them both. The difference for me is, as I like to imagine, visiting a stable (with admiration) and going hunting with all things equestrian including cleaning the stables.
Which current one do you own – the extrait or the edt?
I joke that the difference is that the extrait is the edt with Guerlinade! 😉
And I love your analogy.
Mm I could go for some Zest de Rose!
Ok, I bought 10 BUT I sold like 5-6 perfumes AND one was a gift. So, I only really bought like 3 or 4:D.
Works for me!
I spent a lot of money this quarter for me, but I found some deals that were impossible to pass up.
1. 1980s Nahema PDT tester (full) for $70. The shop owner, who now knows that I treasure vintage perfumes as much as he does, threw in a free full bottle of Fendi Asja and a free partial tester bottle of 1980s Chamade PDT. (He promised me that in January he would invite me back to his shop to see some of his other old stock which is stored off site–wish me luck!)
2. Epic Woman (my first Amouage!) at 100 mls for $160. I felt if I passed on that opportunity, I’d be kicking myself later. The beautiful green bottle is now in a place of honor on my dresser.
There are literally no perfumes that I love more than vintage Guerlains. I am pea green, but happy for you. Congrats!!
Congrats on the Epic purchase!. Well done.
I have thought about and resisted buying Epic, which I like the most out of all amouages so far, and in Dec I splurged on the body cream for under $60, I believe.
Haven’t worn it yet but looking forward.
What Rappleyea said about the vintage Guerlains. Well done! Nahema and Chamade are two of my favorites (after L’Heure Bleue).
I treated myself to TF’s Tobacco Oud just this week. I will confess it was partly paid for by a Christmas giftcard, but that only covered a small percent. 🙁
What I really overindulged in was scented body oils! Yikes. I have such dry winter skin and really love to apply oil after a shower and if you’re going to do that it might as well be something good right? Right? So TF Neroli, AP Saffron Chocolate and a lovely rose oil from Turkey are being faithfully used each morning.
Congrats, that’s a lovely present for yourself.
And right!
I have to report “Nary a One”. No samples or decants either. Can’t afford to shop at the moment so I’ve been revisiting my sample collection, which has been fun. I didn’t get any Christmas gifts either, so nothing to report there.
It is fun to revisit what you already have 🙂
I’ve bought just four this quarter: two small Atéliers for myself – Grand Néroli, full price at 40€, and Ambre Nue on eBay for only 20€ plus 9€ shipping, Eau Sauvage EDP 100ml for 70€ for my husband, also on eBay, and a 100ml bottle of Armani Si for my daughter at 84€. That’s just over 300 dollars I think.
However, as I’m in Spain, our presents come with the Three Kings on Jan 6th and I’m expecting a little something. I have a want list as long as my arm but I’m new to this and am trying not to let the habit get out of control. I don’t allow myself to log into eBay every day any more.
I hope you all have a fragrant New Year.
Hey, and you don’t have to count gifts!
I was fairly restrained this quarter–$100 for a bottle of Sana and about $155 on various vintage minis (microminis of Channel No.5 and Bois des Iles extraits, a micromini of pristine 1940s Jungle Gardenia extrait, minis of Histoire d’Amore and Ma Griffe, and 5ml decant of Parure). Of course, I fully expect to see more vintage Bois des Iles on future damage polls…..
Gosh I’m jealous of all those vintage minis. Nicely done!
Gosh, I love vintage Jungle Gardenia — good find! I once bought a small vial of vintage extrait, and I think it’s ruined me for all other gardenia fragrances.
I’d have to count this quarter as three bottles. I bought a full bottle of Ashoka, then panicked and bought Amaranthine on rumors of its being discontinued. (This wasn’t a backup, but the decant I already own would have probably been sufficient.) The Luckyscent October sample pack and a decant of Silver Iris make the third.
Lyric and Epice Marine have been on my wish list for awhile, so I hope to purchase them during 2014. I have a birthday later this month…so fingers crossed.
Happy New Year to all!
Oh, I envy you, Ashoka is number 1 on my wish list. Do you love it? Had you sniffed it first?
Hi 2rista, Yes, I had tested it and I do love it. It was quite pricey, but I got the Amaranthine at a reasonable cost from a discounter, and the decant and Luckyscent samples were not expensive. At least that’s how I justified it! 🙂
Karin,
Amazing prices on the Amouage! Congrats.
I was reasonably good in fourth quarter. A FB of Tubereuse Criminelle, a 30 ml Atelier Grand Neroli on closeout at Neiman’s. The Luckyscent Indole sample pack, a Puredistance sample set for my sister’s birthday. Small decants of Tom Ford Black Orchid and Jasmine Rouge. Maybe $300 all in? Trying to decide if I can justify asking for a FB of Amouage Opus 1 for my January birthday. It doesn’t count if it is a gift, right?
Oh, also bought a FB of Allure for my son. Tried to talk him into something less loud. Feel I must apologize to Boston and Cambridge for that. He has a heavy hand.
I didn’t know Neiman’s had closeout sales. Will have to pay closer attention.
It was hidden among other single bottles.
Thanks for the tip. I will hunt for them soon!
Fragrancenet had a CRAZY sale on Amouage fragrances. Those extraits were a steal! But they went pretty fast.
I made a resolution to buy fewer samples this year because with the rising cost of international shipping it was getting outrageous. I’ve stuck to that, and this quarter bought almost no samples.
But full bottles!
Givenchy Ysatis 50 mls ($40)
Laura Biagiotti Roma 25 mls ($42) (my Xmas present to myself)
Prescriptives Calyx (vintage about 35-40 mls, $50)
EL Sensuous 30 mls ($50)
Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles 15 mls ($35)
Several of those amounts include international shipping, but the total is $214 for this quarter, which is a fair bit for me. On the good side, there is not much I especially want now. That list has soaked up a lot on my ‘to buy’ list and I know I will wear the heck out of all of them.
So I’m immune (for the moment!) to sudden bargains and discount codes.
Nice list! Did the vintage Calyx hold up?
Very well. Sometimes I think the very top notes may have turned a little, but other times that seems to be just part of the sharp opening that Calyx has anyway. I don’t know how old my vintage is but it’s the bottle that comes with a dark beige cap, rather ugly. I was conscious of the risk with vintage Calyx because of the remark in your review about it not keeping well. The risk paid off this time, thankfully, but I plan to use it up pretty fast.
Good. And yeah, wouldn’t save it!
Happy New Year and many new fragrant finds and acquisitions to all in 2014!
My 2013 was a “climbing up year” still. Referring to Robin’s earlier message up the thread (for me it WAS a Message) I’m in my third year , thus about half-way thru the 5 year period . So, 2013 I can officially name my Hump Year, and towards the end of the year I think I saw some fleeting but welcome signs of slowing down. Considering myself being still a in a Senior Kindergarden Perfumista Group I can see the benevolent gazes of the Older Perfumistas . Thus, I am returning their gazes with admiration and hope someday I’ll be there too ( it’s just another 2 years!!)
My damages this quarter
• Vintage Chanel 19, 14 ml parfum extract, real deal apparently – so very excited that I have discovered The 19th!
• Chanel 18, FB – what a wonder, absolutely love it; the effect on me is very similar to the SL’s Iris Siver Mist and Like This by ELdO.
• L’Antichambre, Message Oublie – OMG, highly ( I mean HIGHLY) recommended, at least to sniff. On me it’s glorious. My DH, at this point highly sceptical to my hobby , was circling & sniffing my on the NY eve.
• Noel Au Balcon , FB; my 2nd ELdO after Tilda’s , was very surprised to like it that much
• Epic , Amouage ,body cream. Bought it as a less expensive substitution of the EDP.
• SL’s Ambre Sultan and Santal Majuscule ( ??) – just expanding my SL’s collection.
So, quite a lot, but there were so many other fabulous ones that I’ve resisted temptation buying.
Looking forward to my 4th year in Perfumland, and then – the 5th year.
P.S. Robin, I think you ‘re really onto something with this count ( looking up with admiration).
Oh, you got lovely things…you are way more advanced in your picks than your spending, is one way to look at it 🙂
With that impressive list, I’d say you’re way more advanced than kindergarden. But don’t get too excited about that 5th year – I didn’t really slow down for many, many more years. 😉
No, no, I think 5 years of newbiedom is a perfectly good perfumista path/plan to follow! 😉
ha-ha and LoL!
Yet: thanks so much for the support ! With such support I’m sure I wont’ slow down for many more years ( to the obvious chagrin of my dear Mr. Salamandra)
Another thing is why I DO love perfumistas community so much is that there are so many ladies with brilliant brains!
Those AMouage body creams are wonderful.
Oooh! I love Chanel No 18!
Atelier Cologne Sous le toit de Paris 200 ml, full line sample set, bonus 30 ml with engraved leather pouch – $202.06
L’Artisan Dzing! 100 ml, bonus atomizer – $108.75
Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine and Vanilla Insensee mini set – $15
Total of $325.81 That’s a big ouch for me. Discounts, bonuses, and/or free shipping were involved in all of the purchases, but I still won’t be sharing this number with Mr. Lucy. At least I was able to gift away the bonus Sous le toit de Paris and case to my mom.
Wowee on the Sous le toit de Paris. I love it so much I am actually considering the 200 mL and splitting part of it…
I was on lock down for 3rd quarter, and at the time, I thought all my needs were met, forever. There just couldn’t be more out there that I had to have. Then…an offer came in on my house, and looks like it will close in a month, and I’ve waited 3 years for this sale, so I kinda went nuts. Cart before the horse and chicken-counting, but I think it’s a solid deal. SO I went out and got a bottle of
L”Heure Bleu (parfum)
Amouage Fate Woman (I know Angela wasn’t smitten but I thought it was impossible not to own)
Le Labo Lys 41 (large decant)
Ylang 49 (smaller decant)
Jeez, Louis. But I saved enough money from pre-auction sales of furniture, jewelry, etc. to pay all this off. Have promised to give away my never-used bottles come the give-away coming up.
Wonderful purchases! And all the best on the sale of your house.
Overall, I think this might have been my quieter year inside the tunnel. This past quarter I bought two coveted bottles: Parfum d’Empire Cuir ottoman 100 ml and Tom Ford Shanghai lily.
I’d like to wish a happy new year to everyone. Though I rarely comment, I’m always happily reading this wonderful blog. I’ve been a reader for 6 years now. Thank you!!!
Cuir Ottoman is really lovely.
Well, kind of scary to think of the number of bottles I acquired in the last quarter. In my defense (yeah right), I had both a birthday and Christmas, so this is the time of year I acquire the most. I purchased fb’s of:
Puredistance Antonia
Lann Ael (disappointed as the formula seems to have been altered)
PG Iris Oriental
Indult Manakara (blind buy: okay, but very, very sweet)
Shalimar Ode de la Vanille Madagascar
…..I was really bad on ebay, too:
Partial bottles (all really great deals of course 🙂 ):
L’artisan Vanilia
L’artisan Jour de Fete
L’artisan Mimosa
FM Dans Tes Bras
FM Lipstick Rose
Lush Candy Fluff (sweeeetest perfume I’ve EVER smelled)
But I’m enjoying them all. A few are not my taste and I’ll probably swap them out at some point, but they’ve been fun! LOVE this blog!!
A couple vintage I forgot: Chanel No. 5 extrait, Coty Paris (half a bottle of this beautiful lilac gem I had never heard of before!), Caron Infini
Coty Paris is truly gorgeous! I have a small sample and would happily wear more if I could find it. (GAH NO NO MORE VINTAGE EBAY SEARCHES……)
Ebay vintage searches are hazardous to the credit cards. 😉
I was better behaved than usual this quarter, not that that’s saying much:
FBs:
30 ml of DSH Mirabella (20% off in the fall sale)
10 ml of DSH Vintage Patchouly (ditto)
50 ml of Divine L’Inspiratrice (with Xmas money, so doesn’t count)
50 ml of Le Labo Ylang 49 (ditto)
Decants, minis, and whatnot:
vintage Shalimar EDT (early ’80s, about an inch of juice left in a big gold canister; antique store bargain) — which led to —
Shalimar PDT (1/4 ounce mini, off eBay; not totally sure which era but am guessing probably also ’80s?)
dram of DSH Parfum de Luxe EDT
5 ml of Divine EDT
5 ml of Aesop Mystra
5 ml of FM Une Fleur de Cassie
5 ml of AbdesSalaam Neroli
8 ml of Thirdman Eau Moderne
Plus I disposed of my remaining Xmas gift money yesterday, but those confessions will have to wait for the Q1 2014 poll.
(Would guesstimate that I spent maybe $250-$300 of my own money this quarter — am not even going to try to remember what I’ve spent over the course of the year.)
No matter how hard I try to love the Divines, they end up being just a tad too sweet for me. But I think they are very well done.
And let me know what you think of the Le Labo Ylang. That’s one I’ve had my eye on along with Abdes Salaam’s ylang.
Ha, I almost went for the Adbes Salaam ylang instead of the neroli. It’ll be on my shopping list for the next STC sale, though probably in a smaller size — that stuff is pricey, though I do understand why.
If you want to try the Le Labo, I’m happy to send you a sample. I’m still working on a decant, plus I have the FB. I think you might like it — I don’t think a vintage freak would necessarily mistake it for a vintage fragrance, but it’s a bit vintage-y in spirit (if that makes any sense). Some other people seem to perceive gardenia as the main floral note, but to me it’s definitely ylang, complete with a bit of the weird wintergreen aspect of that flower.
I just came over here to find this after replying to your email. I definitely get “vintage-y in spirit”. I think the Roja Dove perfumes have that too.
People perceive the Le Labo Ylang’s main note as “gardenia” because there isn’t any such thing as gardenia e.o. or absolute and ylang ylang essence is often part of the blend!
The prices from Abdes Salaam directly are better than from STC – perhaps we should do a split?
I’m just going to keep reminding myself that most of this was bought at TJ Maxx or on sale ok? Here goes:
Got two Lolita Lempickas on sale for BOGO 50% off
Si Lolita and Fleur Defendue (which I ended up giving to a friend for her birtday)
Got a mostly full tester of Agent Provocateur for $5 (!!!) at the same store spent about 100$ all together
The teej tempted me into buying
Paloma Picasso EDT ~$20
Lavin Arpege ~$30
Versace The Dreamer ~$20
Grey Flannel $13
And then I jumped at the chance to get some Lush limited editions
Rose Jam
and Snow Cake (which I ended up giving to my sister)
so that’s another $100
So about $265 this quarter and this is me refusing to count the twenty bucks I spent on Madonna Truth or Dare and Tea Rose Amber this very day 😉
You got some classics!
L’Artisan Déliria
L’Artisan Amour Nocturne
Hermès Terre d’Hermès edp
Donna Karan Chaos
L’Artisan L’Eau du Navigateur
I was…er… not quite that bad this quarter. I also bought some presents which….. I still haven’t given away, and may keep…. but I may just hold on to them until the next gift-giving opportunity presents itself.
How is the Chaos? I’ve been wanting a bottle for years but it seems a bit pricey compared to when it used to be in department stores. -And I’m worried it won’t live up to my memory.
I’m trying to slow down my bottle buying so I only bought one, MCMC Hunter (which I wore all fall). I’ve picked up some 5 and 10 ml decants to test for possible bottle purchases in the future…Chanel Coromandel, Jo Malone Black Vetyver Cafe, Diptyque Eau Duelle, Diptyque Volutes.
4 Bottles: Guerlain Habit Rouge (EDP), Midnight in Paris (EDP), Lalique Pour Homme (EDP), and Dior Eau Sauvage Parfum. I love them all equally!!!
For shelling out there was Adam Levine For Her, L’Ambre de Merveilles, and Reglisse Noire. It was really nice to do some swapping this season, and pretty thrilling to be one of the Tauer Advent winners this year…
Yes I saw you won a Tauer draw! Congratulations! What did you get?
Every year I think *this* will be the year–surely the chances are so good to win *something*, right?! Your success will only encourage me to keep trying. . . 🙂
Thanks! Got a discovery set so looking forward to sniffing Eau depices phi lone star Marco and an incense…
Oh wow – congratulations! Winning any fragrance would be amazing for all of us, but a Tauer is extra special.
All of my purchases except one were from Lush. I got:
Breath of God solid perfume
Imogen Rose solid perfume
Rose Jam 30 ml
Ponche 30 ml
Calacas 30 ml
The one non-Lush was:
DSH The Beat Look 1 dram extrait
Total: about $200.
I’m loving Rose Jam – just amazed by how good it is.
I had eight scent purchases in the last quarter of 2013. But only two were for me – the rest were Christmas gifts for family and friends who requested fragrances as gifts. The ones for me were Boyfriend parfum at an unreal price from HauteLook and the Atelier mini pack of Vanille Insensée and Orange Sanguine.
I bought Dune for a favorite cousin; it’s one of only two scents she wears. I bought one of the Sephora samplers for my 20 year old great-niece, Happy Heart and Coach Poppy Blossom for 12 year old great-niece, and Chloe Paint a Scent and HM Butterfly roll on for 5 year old great-niece.
I’m not talking about how much I spent on samples that never arrived. Two out of five sample purchases I made this arrived. I hate post service, they always lose my packages. This karma must stop. This year I’m giving up samples! Besides that, I got Sycomore and Bel Respiro in 75 ml version for 230. I regret not buying the 200 ml bottle of Sycomore. I’ve read some comparison between it and Encre Noire and the price issue. In Mexico 1 bottle of 200 ml Sycomore is 15 dollars cheaper than the same amount of Encre Noire. Sycomore is 10 dollars cheaper in Mexico than in US. It’s funny how some perfumes get overpriced in Mexico while others are even slightly cheaper
15-ml of Hermes Epice Marine, Lush Rose Jam, some Aftelier minis (including Cuir Gardenia and Honey Blossom), discounted Amouage Beloved (<$250!!!), a partial bottle of SL Vitriol d'oeillet, L'AP Traversee du Bosphore, Rosine Nuit de Chine (srsly!), and partial bottle of Anne Pliska extrait. I am wallowing in good stuff! 🙂
Oh, I forgot Penhaligon’s Amaranthine. The threat of discontinuation pushed me over the edge.
Same here, nozknoz 🙂
2 samples of “Phi” : Andy Tauer
FB of la fumee Ottoman limited edition : Miller Harris
FB “Mon nom est rouge” : Majda Bekkali (Cecile Zarokian)
And I won a FB of Untitled nr 2: Spyros Drosopoulos (www.magnetic-scent.com)
How is Mon nom est rouge? I love the name!
I just love it and although I don’t easily buy fragrances for the second time, I might be changing my mind with this one. At the time I was undecided whether to buy a bottle of Cinabre (Maria Candida Gentile) but “mon nom est rouge”was the winner. To me the rose, incense and woody caracter is so overwhelming. I keep sniffing my wrists. I live in the Netherlands. If you live nereby I could send you a sample. There are many reviews on the internet. I bought my bottle at http://www.parfumaria.com
I don’t but I think Luckyscent has it. Interesting, I have a sample of Cinabre that really I like but hadn’t made up my mind if I needed more. I must MNER first.
I bought one bottle for myself for Christmas – Dyptique l’eau Trois only $25 as well as a bottle of The room spray, so that sort of doesn’t count, but it is great and nice and spicey.
Good thing room sprays do not count as I bought four.
Hmm, one bottle of Chanel Coco EDT for me (but that hardly counts, since I used gift certificates), two bottles of Stella McCartney for my future daughter Stella, 🙂 and some perfume oils from BPAL.
I haven’t exactly bankrupted myself, but did get a bottle of Amouage Gold extrait in the shop.. at full price… and same goes for Vero Profumo Mito.
But on the other hand, I got a barely used bottle of Delrae Mythique; a decant of vintage Guerlain Apres l’Ondee; and (woohoo!) a sample of Tauer Perfumes Loretta.
Oh and Amouage candles, do they count? I say they count. Autumn Leaves candle smells divine, and I had it on for Christmas.
For the first time ever…EVER… Not one bottle! However, I did spend about $250 on various decants/splits and samples, including some vintage #19 EDT, Diaghilev perfume, Hedonist, a small set of Neela vermeire, a handful of Amouage attars samples, and the new Mona d’orio violet. I have withdrawal symptoms and want a bottle of Hedonist as I drained my 3mls in a matter of days. Really nice stuff.
My total for the year is frightening and I don’t want to think about it. I did manage to acquire Fate, Dia Extrait, and Lyric Extrait via friends traveling thru Dubai along with a couple bottles (ok 4) attars. There were other bottles along the way as well. Geez o Pete!
My resolution this year is to drain the decants before buying bottles. (and buy smaller decants 🙂
Oh I just remembered I did get one bottle: a blind buy for $9.99 of Muse d Rochas that I stumbled across at txmaxx a few days ago. It’s a like, not a love. I really have to stop the impulse blind buy because the price is right.
LOL at draining decants before FBs and buying smaller decants! 😀
Sounds like a very wise system! 😉
I was not very restrained this quarter but knowing I am about to go into full-frugal mode as I get my business off the ground, I gave myself some treats.
FB Van Cleef & Arpels Orchidee Vanille
FB Hilde Soliani Il Tuo Tulipano Red ( totally fell in love with this and had to have a FB)
Nobile 1942 Chocolate Coffret Thingy ( 3 30ml bottles) – just plain fun!
And don’t get me started on all the samples I bought. Sigh.
I didn’t buy anything! Egads! First quarter that’s happened for a while.
I did subscribe to Sweet Anthem’s 2014 sample service… I don’t think that exactly counts though.
And I received Tauer’s Orange Star as a gift from my husband for Christmas. 🙂
4 FB for me this quarter and a couple of samples £185 ish
50ml Dior homme eBay steal for around £35
100 ml Dior homme sport for around £40, eBay steal. I know we are not supposed to be fans of the sport flankers but this is one of the better ones IMO.
5oml Eau Savage, £45. Holiday duty free buy.
75ml John Varvatos Vintage, eBay again for £30 inc P&P. Needed something warm and spicy for the winter.
2x 7.5ml samples of Bottega Venetta PH, with shower gel and balm £35. Like, not a love for me, but it will get used.
Really need to step away from eBay now!
This doesn’t include the Atelier sous le tout de Paris or jour du Hermes for Mrs idw. I do think that if I but her a gift every now and then it negates my purchases, right?
I do like the ginger in the Dior sport:) Agree, its a nice one!
Yes, thank you for that reminder! I’ll be sure to mention that to my husband too!!
This quarter I discovered that fragrancenet carries Serge Lutens testers and unboxed bottles, so I went a little crazy and bought Clair de Musc, Ambre Sultan, Chergui, A la Nuit, and Fille de Berlin, all on discount and most for about 1/2 price. I also found the new Balmain Ivoire for a good price so I ordered a FB while I was at it (and a mini of Kenzo Jungle L’Elephant). All wonderful scents and well worth the price.
4th qtr was a “I don’t know what came over me” moment in time.
Demeter’s Mahogany, Snow, Fraser Fir, Salt Air, Incense, Firefly (really does smell like them IMO), Rice Paddy, Clover and Christmas in NY in 15 ml splash (they were on sale!!)
Prada Infusion d’Iris EDT
Chanel Coco
1000 Flowers Reglisse Noir
Lush The Smell of Freedom
Ormonde Jayne Women travel purse sprays
Lolita Lempicka Si Lolita (for next to nothing)
And Rose Anonyme by Atelier arrived yesterday (ordered in Dec) just as I got out of the shower so I spent the evening mindlessly sniffing myself.
Of course samples too as the rabbit hole gets deeper and deeper and deeper 🙂
Bless me, Donatella, for I have sinned…
About half of the stuff I bought this quarter I found at either Marshall’s or Ross, so I guess I didn’t do nearly as bad as I could have.
My tally:
LUSH Rose Jam $48
LUSH Sikkim Girls 15ml $35
L de Lolita Lempicka 50ml $23 (Marshall’s)
Boucheron 75ml refill bottle $27 (Marshall’s)
DSquared HeWOOD 30ml $10 (Ross)
Guerlain Mahora 5ml mini bottle $10
Total: $153. I have no idea what my total is for the year.
I feel like I’m forgetting something, like I bought more than that, but I guess that’s it. Aside from a few decants I bought to give as gifts, I didn’t buy any samples at all for myself this quarter. I guess if I added the gift decants to my total, it would be around $210 or so.
I also just realized how many of my purchases this quarter were blind buys. Almost all of them, really. Sikkim Girls was the only one that truly wasn’t. I guess I don’t entirely count Rose Jam since I had the shower gel, but I didn’t try the perfume itself before I bought it. So this quarter was particularly irresponsible, but at least I didn’t spend too much on any one thing, and I didn’t end up with anything I don’t like. Could be worse.
I’ve spent quite a lot every quarter this year, including the last one 🙂
Confession:
Amouage Fate Woman 50 ml
Arquiste Anima Dulcis 50 ml
Jul et Mad Stillettos on Lex
Hermes Ambre Nargile 100 ml
They’ve all seen quite a bit of use!
A bit late to the conversation here but thought I’d chime in, particularly as I haven’t commented in ages –
My only purchase for the year was a bottle of Dune. I constantly spray it on whenever I’m passing by a Dior counter so thought I’d finally just buy a bottle!
A purchased some samples – notably (another) Tauer Discovery set. I’ve been sampling Phi so far and adore it. I’ve had some trouble with some of the Tauers before – something doesn’t agree with me – but I just adore Phi so far. I may even give Rose Chypree another change (I had gifted my sample to Marjorie Rose some time back as I detested it).
I received a bottle of FM Portrait of a Lady for Christmas. It’s a major love, but I’m a major rose gal and like my Malles (wear Une Rose and Lipstick Rose regularly). I had tried Portrait of a Lady some time ago and my impression was that it went to all patchouli in minutes on me. That was in the summer. I think that’s made all the difference, as I get so many nuances from it now, and the lasting power is outstanding.
Happy new year to everyone!
There is nothing quite like Dune!
Hi, Naomi!
I *love* Une Rose Chypree and PHI, and although they’re not at all the same scent, they feel like scent siblings to me. Shall I send you a sample back so that you can retest it? Send me a note at marjoriehundtoft at yahoo, if you’d like!
I must have squeezed 5 years (or more) worth of perfume buying into 1 year. It all started the first week of January and it went downhill from then on.
And now for the confession…forgive me Donatella, for I have sinned…these are my 4th Quarter 2013 purchases…
1000 Flowers Fleur No. 1 – 15 mLs
1000 Flowers Love is Sweet – 15 mLs
1000 Flowers Reglisse Noir – 15 mLs
Aftelier Perfumes Cuir Gardenia – 2 mLs
Arabian Oud Kalemat – 100 mLs
Arabian Oud Ghroob Oil – 25 mLs
Atelier Cologne Silver Iris – 100 mLs + free 30 mLs
Guerlain Tonka Imperiale – 75 mLs
Hermes Elixir des Merveilles – 50 mLs
I Profumi di Firenze Vaniglia del Madagascar – 50 mLs
Jo Malone Saffron – 100 mLs
Jul et Mad Amour de Palazzo – 5 mLs
Jul et Mad Stilettos on Lex – 5 mLs
Jul et Mad Terrasse a St. Germain – 5 mLs
L’Artisan Tea for Two – 100 mLs
Le Labo Cuir 28 – 50 mLs
Le Labo Vanille 44 – 50 mLs
LUSH Rose Jam – 30 mLs
LUSH Snowcake – 30 mLs
LUSH Sun – 9 mLs
Marni Rose – 50 mLs
Mona Di Orio Violette Fumee – 100 mLs
Molinard Habanita L’esprit EDP – 15 mLs
Olfactive Studio Discovery Set – 5 x 4 mLs
Tauer Une Rose de Kandahar – 50 mLs
Tauer Zeta – 50 mLs + Explorer Set atomizer 15 mLs
Decants:
Ex-Idole 33
Guerlain LE 68
Tom Ford Oud
CdG Sugi
MDCI Cuir Garamante
Samples and Sample Sets:
Aftelier Perfumes
Giovanni Sammarco
Ineke Scent Library Floral Curiosities – I won this from Undina!
Oriza Legrande
Surrender to Chance samples
Teo Cabanel
I may have left something out, but, who’s counting 🙂
Eeek, I left something out!
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles – 50 mLs
Done…I think…
Ummmm, I swear I had included these on my spreadsheet and now pouff!
I also got Demeter Pumpkin Pie and Demeter Tomato, 30 mLs each.
That’s one splendid quarter! Enjoy your treasures:)
Hmmm, another correction. The Tauer Explorer Set atomizer was of the PHI Une Rose de Kandahar and it was love at first sniff, hence the FB purchase.
I adore 1000 Flowers Reglisse and No1….this “Love is Sweet” must be new….I’ll need to investigate.
Tonka Imperiale is my favorite of the Matiere line! excellent shopping by you! And Amour de Palazzo is my new most favorite amber-slash-leathery thing. Absolutely gorgeous stuff.
Hooray about Tonka Imperiale. It didn’t get much love by my favorite bloggers but ehhh, it’s for me and I love it!
Wow! Do you now feel sated, or are you just now getting into the groove of really treating yourself?
I’ve been looking for one of those 15 mL bottles of Reglisse Noire. I think it would be just about the perfect amount for a scent I like, but I’m not sure how much I’d actually wear it.
Hmmm, I’m satisfied until the next “must have” perfume 🙂
As for treating myself, I actually think buying La Mer products is more of a treat (because there definitely are much cheaper alternatives that provide the same or similar benefits) whereas perfumes are almost “one-of-a-kind” (I know fruity florals get lumped into one thing but each is a different perfume).
Sure seems like everyone was so good, so responsible….I was bad…verra verra bad.
I bought many bottles….but the majority were at least partially absorbed by splitting. (Because no one in their right mind is going to wear 600ml of Phaedon Paris Tabac Rouge, right?)
The best things I bought for myself include :
Anne Pliska extrait
Roja Dove Reckless extrait
Krigler Topaze Imperiale 213
Shalimar Ode de la Vanille Sur le Route de Madagascar
Perris of Monte Carlo Rose de Taif
Profumi del Forte Vaiana Dea
Majda Bekkali Tendre est la Nuit –which now I’m not so sure about.
Tom Ford Shanghai Lily (omg…a Tom Ford!)
But now I’m on a serious NO-BUY….
I love it that Roja Dove has an extract called Reckless! And glad you are starting the new year well-scented:)
The Phaedon Paris sounds like it may have been nice to bath in? lol!
After splitting 6 bottles, and being in a CLOUD of it— I cannot abide the stuff. Same goes for the Roja Dove Creation-E pour Homme (Enigma in Europe) –it’s so strong that I feel if I have to make one more decant I might pass out….or be sick….and it’s not that I’m a super-light applier , it’s just a huge HUGE fragrance… my desk smells of it right now. I just need to label these and get them out the door!
Not everyone was good…but you seem to have been the baddest (ha ha, just kidding). Hopefully, the splitsmeet will help defray some of mine and also allow for additional purchases that I had been holding back given no alternatives to the ginormous sizes.
I am a sucker for ginormous sizes…..I’m always thinking, “this is less per ml and I can split half of it off and then we’ll all have some at a great price…..” and all this results in my house having a very dusty, lived-in look….. *ie. spending all my time splitting huge bottles of perfume!*
I used to only buy the smallest size, but this year, for the first time I started realizing that 50mls, let alone 30mls will NOT last me my entire life – and I hate buying the same thing twice. So, I’m now paying attention to size and prefer going for the large and sometimes end up with more than I will ever need – given how fickle my taste is…
Would it be creepy for me to say that now I kinda wanna go to your house and sniff (and snoop) around? Kinda sounds like a perfumista playground to me. . . 🙂
I do have over 700 bottles, and you are not the first to promise/threaten to invade with the purpose of rummaging around in the perfume cabinets. You are welcome if you can get past the ultra-licky Miss Roxie who assumes all humans come by to see her. 🙂
Do I know you on facebook? You are welcome to look at my perfume album there.
Bought a replacement bottle of Pamplelune and a backup bottle of Norwegian Wood – $50 for both. (I don’t like the new Aqua Allegoria boxes and will put the new bottle into the old box…)
Got a bottle of Eau Parfumee au The Rouge for $20 – pleasant enough, but not getting the fruity fig others get. It reminds me of Poet’s Jasmine, which I already have.
Big purchase was PG 6 Eau Rare Matale – with which I have been boring the weekly poll – $179.
Other nice-smelling thing was Weleda Sea Buckthorn hand cream $12, bringing the 4th Q total to $261.
Well it was my highest spending quarter by far, because I have a myUS account I tend to consolidate all my American fragrance purchases at once and inheriting a little money meant splurging a bit more than usual! Now I feel better so…
Memoire Liquide – Lilas Fleuri 30 ml (102.00)
Memoire liquide – Gingembre Blanc 15 ml (51.00)
Memoire Liquide – 2 samples (26.60)
Amouage – Opus VI (Four Seasons Sale was 13% off after tax added on!) – 100ml (276.90)
Guerlain – Bois d’Arménie 75 ml (214.00) Neiman Marcus had 50.00 off purchases over a certain amount)
DSH 20 % Sale – all edp
DSH – Indochine – 30 ml (64.00)
DSH – Vetyver – 30 ml (64.00)
DSH – Bois du Chocolat – 30 ml (56.00)
DSH – Ashram – 30 ml (56.00)
Total of USD 910.40 which is around AUD 1023! Ouch, yes well, money well spent….
Here we go again with the confessions we wouldn’t even make to our closest/dearest.
By my standards, this has been a slow year: 28 FB (compared to 60 last year)
Here are some of the highlights:
►5 Back-up-bottles- so not really additions to my collection
►5 Artisan Parfumeur (Batucada, L’Eau, Intense Vetiver, Fleur de Liane, Coeur de Vétiver Sacré)
►Coach Leatherwear No 1
►Hommage à l’Homme de Lalique
►Byredo Oud Immortel (a gift after 2 years of not so subtle hints)
►VC&A Muguet Blanc –only regret of 2013
►4 memories of the 80′ (Calyx, Scherrer 2, Fendi Uomo, Coriandre)
(although Coriandre is really from 1973)
2014 is only 5 days old and I have already bought 2 FB…
Platinum14, if it makes you feel any better, I bought 2 bottles on the first day of January!
My ‘excuse’ was that I was in a different city, it was my last day there, and the brands were unavailable at home…
And I’v worked out – if one tries hard enough, there is always an excuse available somewhere, lol!
Same here!
I cannot pass a Duty Free shop without getting something… and I am only allowed one bottle of gin.