A repeat of a poll we did in 2013 and again in 2014:
Can this group of shameless enablers help each other not buy perfume? Let's find out.
Name a perfume you've been itching to buy but don't need, and tell us why you think it might not really be a good use of your money. Maybe everyone will talk you out of it.
If you participated in this poll last year, tell us if you ended up buying the fragrance anyway!
Note: image is Crater Lake [cropped] by aspearing at flickr; some rights reserved.
I can’t remember if I participated in last year’s poll or not but I’ve already dropped some money on another bottle of Theorema. Yes, I was enabled but Theorema is discontinued and I want a few bottles of it.
But right now, I need help with talking myself out of a large decant on vintage no in EDT form. Vintage no 5 is where is sexiness is at, not the current formulation. The current formulation has been neutered.
I was wondering about No 5. It’s not a scent I’m intimately familiar with, but my sniffs at the mall haven’t helped me *get* it. I suspect, like many of the old beauties, that you are right and a vintage formulation would make more sense to me. (Sorry, not much use as an anti-enabler, am I?)
Allow me to un-enable! I find current No. 5 EDT to be perfectly lovely. I think it’s the parfum where you’re more likely to find quality variation.
I ditto on the current No 5 edt as quite wonderful stuff. That being said, I don’t think you need to go crazy on the vintage No 5 decant — it is so super easy to pick up vintage No 5s in any concentration via ebay, second hand shops, or even “mature” women you know who have unloved bottles in their house. You can always get old No 5 (and I know: I have about 6 or 7 bottles of old stuff from the 40s through the 80s), so there is no rush. Put your funds to the more difficult to find frag right now. I say, Theorema is the better investment – even if you don’t think you’ll use it in a few years, you can sell it on for a might higher return.
I need serious help staying off of ebay– I just bought a huge lot of 50 samples and am eyeing other lots of samples as well despite the fact that this lot puts me at well over 300 untested samples. Seriously. I also just bought a mostly full bottle of Moon Dance and a mostly full travel spray of Dans Tes Bras. If I keep buying samples how will I ever get to wear what I have in bottles?
You WON’T. I had to force myself to stop ordering samples from Luckyscent and the usual decant houses because I have many dozens of samples that I’ve had for two years or more and have MAYBE tried once and probably not even that.
My new rule is, if it’s vintage and I’ll never get to smell it again, I might consider buying it: otherwise, no. No no no.
No more samples!!! At this rate it will take you almost a year to test them all, and that’s with no repeats and without wearing the favorites that you own. 🙂
I had to walk away from ebay. I never troll there anymore. There’s just too much of a false sense of rarity and urgency. Like walking into a chocolate shop that’s closing its doors forever in 15 minutes!
Hahahahahaha–sorrynotsorry!
No, no, no! See, you allowed me to stay off ebay and you did the trolling for me! It’s a perfect solution! I got something truly rare and wonderful and didn’t have to convince myself not to buy dozens of other things along the way. 🙂
Oh good 😉 And actually I know what you mean, because it has that effect for me too–it’s hard for me to go on there and not buy anything, but if I can point out a rarity a friend will love, it scratches the itch! Haha. High-five for teamwork!
In honor of teamwork, I have just spritzed myself liberally with Guet-Apens/Attrape Coeur! (I’ve never been very good at high-fives. Pretty sure it’s one of my numerous personality flaws!)
Hahaha!! Luckily that’s INFINITELY better than a high-five, anyhow.
So tell me, what did you end up deciding about the best delivery system–I’m guessing decants? But what’s the process for decanting from that bottle, did you pipette or?
Yes, I found a glass spray bottle and used a pipette to decant into that. I think the pipette was a freebie with one of the decant supply orders I got, so that made it easy. Now I can spritz with abandon instead of dabbing with restraint. Much more my style! 🙂
Oh well done! Yes the thought of trying to dab from that bottle strikes fear in my heart–a decant would certainly be much easier to enjoy freely, as it should be!! 🙂
What if you set a rule that you needed to “spend down” the samples before you check eBay again? Not all the way to zero necessarily–we’re not ascetics here!! ;)–but say, to under 100? I think that’s sensible especially since samples can be prone to evaporation. It would be sad if the ones at the bottom of the pile were gone before you got to them.
Besides I have a pretty large bottle of Dune with your name on it that will definitely need your loving attention! 😉
This seems more than reasonable, although I am not exactly a poster child for restraint myself. I have been at this for less than two years, though, and have gone back to revisit samples and found them completely evaporated. Portia at APJ advises not buying more samples until you’ve tried all the ones you have, and I think that’s great advice. If only I would follow it, I’d have more money for FBs.
Here is what helps me. I usually do not order samples I know nothing about, so I read a couple of reviews first. This may seem tedious, but it is impossible to smell all the releases and all the vintages (unfortunately) so I have to be selective. Then, once I have about 20 I will select the ones I potentially like (lets say around 5-6) and wear them as much as I can to make up my mind if I need to order a full bottle, i.e. put them on my long list of things that need to be properly represented in my ever-growing collection. The rest goes into ‘purgatory’ units and with them I deal like this: I test them at least 3 times and if there is really no hope I try to give them away, most people I know are very happy to get them and this actually contributes very well to my big idea of converting people I know into perfume addicts like myself 🙂
I try and avoid samples as much as possible. They are like hairs that eventually clog your drains up- no one pays attention to one or two as they go down, but eventually you have a mess on your hands. Once in a while is fine, but keep samples to less than 20 or so, and you will be a much happier perfumista.
I found after a few years that samples just cluttered up my life too much and, as you mentioned, kept me from enjoying my FB’s I had purchased with love. Like many of you, most of the samples I tried I didn’t really care for, so it was a waste of time as well as additional clutter. I have a wide variety of fragrances in my wardrobe and have been on this scented journey a long time, so although I enjoy reading about new scents and others’ excitement at trying them, there aren’t too many that make me want to rush out and make a purchase. I do make careful note of ones that do intrigue me (read reviews, etc) and if they’re not readily available to test in my area, I treat myself to some once (or maybe twice) a year and I am sated.
1) It’s a snowy day and I’m wearing Amour de Cacao, my go-to stay-at-home comfort scent, but the canister is sounding a bit low and I am probably going to empty it well before the year is out.
2) I have TONS of other CSP scents which would also do the job, such as Vanille Amande and Vanille Café. I don’t need to replace the AdC, which I adore.
3) But I am going to Europe in six weeks and I’m probably going to run across it, and I will be desperately tempted to buy it.
So. Someone talk me out of it.
Sorry, my instinct is to say hold off buying it until vacation and then if you do run across it you can have a souvenir scent that you already know you adore
If I may be allowed to be of no help whatsoever, I will point out that in Europe, you can at least buy it in 30 ml.
However, the full price for 30 ml is 35 euros, which at the current exchange rate is about $40. In the US at a discounter, you can buy the 100 ml for between $50 and $56, and they have frequent coupons and free shipping.
So. If you find a 30 ml bottle overseas for a discount, I say buy it. Otherwise, I say wait until you actually drain your bottle, see how much you really miss it, and then get the 100 ml when you find a good sale — you ought to be able to get it for less than $50.
Can you sell the other CSP scents so you can create a fund for the Amour de Cacao? Or do you wear them enough that you still want to keep them?
I don’t know where you’re located, but it’s available on ebay. 30 ml for $34.99 or 100 ml for $44.99, either option with free shipping. FragranceNet has 100 ml for$39.74, and I see other options on Fragrantica. So it’s not something that’s difficult to find, over overly pricey. I’d agree with Robin and say finish what you have, and if you miss it, you can rest assured you’ll be able to find it.
Thirded!
Nice, did not know the 30 ml would be on eBay.
I won’t talk you out of it, because I’m pretty sure both Vanille Mokha and Vanille Amande are discontinued, while Amour de Cacao is not.
I’m going to agree with Ari here – if it’s likely to be discontinued, then get another bottle. BUT since it seems it’s available in multiple places now, I’d still wait until after you go on your trip. You might find something you like that you want more.
LuckyScent Amour de Cacao, 30ml $29- if you love it, I call that price a steal and would NOT try to talk you out of it. I am no help whatsoever!
I received my bottle of 31 Rue Cambon in the post Thursday, wore it Friday and it got great audience response. I think it will be in permanent rotation.
I have a bowl (big bowl) of samples. I am no good with samples. If I don’t like them , and I like very few, they feel like homework I will never get to. I think I should round them up and pass them along on ebay to the next curious experimenter/overly ambitious scent hoarder.
We really should do a random sample exchange — stick 10 or 15 samples in a box, send them off.
And even with my sampling problem (see above) I’d probably jump on it if you did do a sample exchange…..Sad…..
Yeah I blew it on the freebiemeet. I only did one dib, but I think I acquired as many samples as I got rid of. Oops.
Yes please! Like thegoddessrena I have, errrrm, an embarrassing number of untested samples. I am making good progress thru them, but then that means I also have a large number of tested-but-not-for-me samples, which need new homes. Would love to pass them along…
Great idea. I have my “do not like” zip lock bag of samples that grows throughout the year and I’d be happy to have a venue to off load these.
YES! I would love to do a sample exchange! Would it be like a travelling sampler? Take a few, add a few?
Ooh, this is a genius idea and I’d totally do it.
I’m in! I will be sending, not receiving. Note to self: cancel the storage unit.
Wait, it doesn’t work if we all just *send* 🙂
I have a high quality sample breeding program here…they’d probably enjoy the company of dozens more vials……
Goddessrena, do they come with pedigree papers or other documentation? I wouldn’t want to support sample-mills!
The goal is to send more than you receive in this case. Unless of course you really need more samples.
Count me in!
I’d love to as well!
This is a good idea! I’ll participate!
Yes please!
Victoria at Bois de Jasmin has been running two traveling sample boxes, one in the EU and one in the US. People add their sampling notes and exchange out a few samples at a time. Sounds fun!
I would love this! Count me in!
Too late! I really didn’t need that 65ml bottle of Marni Rose, but 55% off proved too good to resist. Just as well I really like it and it’ll undoubtedly be in regular rotation, especially for situations when I have to consider non-perfumista folks, but, really, I didn’t NEED it.
SOTD…erm…Marni Rose.
Plus, hey, pretty bottle.
Oh, yeah, the packaging is darling. Even the pale pink juice is attractive.
Hi there, have just spent the weekend agonising over Marni and Marni Rose! Can you say where you got this bargain?!
I am testing Jacomo Art Collection No. 8 against 5 O’Clock au Gingembre after No. 8 reminded me of the latter… I let the 5 O’Clock evaporate mostly before I used it, and was left with a brown viscous thing, so the No. 8 is brighter, juicier, and ever so slightly sweeter at this point. I’m getting lots of nice ginger with both. Update to come.
Could I talk you into the #8 and out of the 5 O’Clock? I was disappointed with the 5 O’Clock — didn’t seem gingerbready enough for me. But #8 — ah, that’s a wonderful chai!
I agree! I love the addition of fruits in the #8. My 5 O’Clock decant is officially gone now and I don’t feel I need another. That feels good. 🙂
This is causing a lemming….
I know! Here I was thinking that my natural negativity could be put to good use for once, and now I’m thinking about a blind buy of No. 8. Have already exited Bloglovin to search for it.
Oh, I tried to do that comparison, but my sample of 5oCaG (is that the right acronym?!) was totally sticky goo, too! I think there was some sort of deal I’d run across, and I was trying to decide if that was a scent that I wanted to own. I remember liking it, but not quite *loving* it. I own a vat of No 8 and happily bathe myself in it from time to time.
I remember thinking that 5oC was sweeter and foodier, with less of that clean musk that I get from No 8. Will be interested to hear what you think!
I get lots of cardamom from 08. Love it!
I don’t know why but I am obsessed now with Vintage classics that I love, I want to get Nina Ricci l’Air du Temps vintage perfume, Oscar Oscar de la Renta vintage perfume and Fidji perfume. These are my most wanted ones right now. I don’t want any samples or decants, I am eyeing the whole bottles since I also love the bottles of these three. Please help me, convince me not to buy these
I have some vintage L’Air edt that I’d be happy to pass along unless it’s specifically the perfume form you want
Really, Thank you, that is very generous of you. I would like that. Can I email you ?
My screen name is my yahoo address
I e-mailed you
I don’t think I’ll be much help because I can totally understand your love for not just the perfume, but the bottles.. that’s not just a smelling pleasure, but a visual one as well.
Perhaps you can start with just one and enjoy that for a while vs. the overkill of the senses by acquiring all three.
You are right, I am going to choose one and wait until I find it for a good price.
Or maybe a mini? Not particularly expensive on Ebay or Etsy.
I was going to suggest that. (Minis on ebay are my perfume crack, though, so I shouldn’t. Ever. Suggest them.) 😀
Etsy is terrible for me, for vintage mini’s. Most work out to about $10/bottle. And those wee bottles are sooooo adorable!
Yes. So cute.
Unfortunately cute. And a small amount of (usually vintagey) stuff. CRACK I TELL YOU.
That’s a great idea, I should check Etsy for minis
Oh gosh, yes, those three fragrances are lovely. I waited many years before buying a bottle of Oscar EdT. I made it “easier” to put off buying a bottle by deciding I would only buy a 1970-1980s, unopened, small bottle (50 ml) that was priced under $25.
I think that’s a good strategy. Decide what you really want and watch for it to surface at a good price.
I just bought a bottle of Apres L’Ondee and am waiting for it to come in the mail! So, I guess too late on that. SO excited, been wanting it for a year!
I REALLY want a bottle of Iris Silver Mist – but nobody needs to talk me out it – definitely not happening any time soon, not in the budget. 🙂
That’s a classic and beautiful choice. Excited for you!
Get a decant of ISM!!! YOu will never use up a full bottle of this.
Kelly – do you not find them to be pretty similar? They were on my skin, enough so that I wouldn’t need both of them. Just wondering what you thought…
Well, I don’t have much new to say on this topic! I *still* haven’t picked up my reserved bottle of PHI at Our Lady. I had time to go by there a couple weeks ago, and then I found myself choosing not to drop in. It is very hard for me to buy a back-up when I have at least a few years’ worth right now. OTOH, it’s likely never gonna cross my path again, right?! Mr. Spicebomb has asked if he needs to go buy it for me . . . which is very sweet, and not helpful! 🙂 (I really don’t need to own so much unused, unopened perfume!)
Ah if he buys it for you then you don’t need to worry about spending your own money– perfect solution!
Yeah! And it won’t count on the quarterly confessions either!
Ha! Thing is, I’m not terribly good at accepting gifts, either. . . and my birthday isn’t for AGES! (And I really don’t *need* it.)
Valentines day is soon 🙂
Very true!
Sajini does make a good point there. Have him get it for you for valentines day. Easy shopping for him and you get something you really want.
I have two carts loaded up with samples and decants — just waiting for the push of a button… Please stop me!
I’m working with a new financial planner (retirement – ack!!) and he understood spending on non-necessities like vacations and wine — but perfumes got me a very blank look!
Lol! That’s hysterical! The blank look.. 🙂
My boss is a wine collector and when I told him I collect perfume he said, “wow, that’s cool”, and was sincere. He gets sensory pleasure with his love of wine and I also know he appreciates the luxury market.
It is VERY nice to have a sweetie who’s a collector, isn’t it? Mr. Spicebomb is a baseball card guy, and compared to him, my perfume habit is paltry. Granted, he started his collection 25-some years before I started mine!
So nice not to have to “explain” one’s passions…
Hahahaha! I bought my first house a few years ago, in part by working with a first time homebuyers nonprofit. They required me to go over my budget with a financial councilor, and she balked at my perfume budget! I informed her that if I couldn’t afford a bottle a month AND a house, then the house was too expensive for me! I think perfume has made me an even better money manager. . . such a clear motivator to stay on top of my expenses!
One must remain firm about one’s priorities!
Haha! I do that. Usually I out so much in my cart that I won’t ever click the buy button 😉
There are 2 fragrances that I have been wanting to get:
– Bottega Veneta ” Knot”
– SlumberHouse “Pear and Olive”
Both have been on my list and I am itching to get them, but I have been trying to slow down with purchasing bottles. Plus, I have so many bottles and samples already. I need to use some more of those up before I start getting more.
LOVE the Knot! You can find mini bottles on Ebay for fairly cheap, if you still feel you need to have it – I only know because I’m considering it as well.
Wait, wasn’t I supposed to dissuade you? Lol 😉
See, its so hard to do, right? Lol!
Knot is still fairly new, so if you can hold out then soon it will be available at online discounters, and if you havent found anything to surpass it then at least it will be cheaper.
Slumberhouse is a line that Parfum1 carry, so if I were you I’d put that on hold (thinking time is good 🙂 ) until they have one of their 20% off codes at least.
Thanks for the advice. I love a sale!
Sign up for their newsletter and they will send you discount codes 🙂 🙂
No. 8 now has honey, dried fruits and spices, while the 5 O’Clock’s dry woods are showing through under the gingerbread. Not quite as similar now but still in the same nuclear family.
This belongs with my previous comment above!
Jacomo No. 8 reminds me of Constant Comment tea (I think I get a lot of orange along with the spices?). Very comforting and nice once I stopped expecting it to smell like Chai. I haven’t tried 5 O’Clock, but I like the sound of dry woods with the tea!
Grrr … Bigger lemming.
I love Constant Comment tea! I’ll have to have a cup with No. 8 next time. I think what did in the 5 O’Clock for me was that the interesting part, the ginger and spices and tea, left my skin after the first hour or so, and I was just left with the woods. They’re nice, but don’t have the zing for me that the first hour does.
I’m wondering if you have tried either L’Artisan Tea for Two or Gucci Pour Home II. They are both on my try list alongside 5 o’clock and now Jacomo No 8 which I hadn’t heard of until now. I was planning a sort of showdown amongst them and I’m curious what you think of those two.
I own an oldish bottle of Tea for Two, and can compare with No. 8–to my nose, TfT has a lot of smoke and none of the softening musk of No. 8. It also has more longevity on my skin, although I’ve heard folks with the opposite experience. The tea and spices are very similar, though. I think the musk in No 8 makes it veer a little more feminine than TfT, but both are plenty unisex.
Thanks for the reply. TFT sound more like my thing buy ideally I’d like to try both.
Yes, do try both! My skin has a tendency to amplify sweet notes so you may have a slightly different experience with No. 8. I’ve unfortunately never tried TfT so can’t compare the two.
Sales and discount offers are my one true weakness.
I made it through the recent L’Artisan special offer that ended earlier this week, but here comes V-Day!
My newest interest is in tea scents having tried and love Tea for Two.
Seriously eyeing 50ml’s of this scent on Parfum1 but I’ve yet to explore other tea scents. I realize it was discontinued and has recently returned, but even on the L’Artisan site it is sold out.
Has there been a tea scented perfume Friday poll? I learn so much from those polls!
Adding tea to my list!
Ooh a tea/coffee/beverage of your choice community project might be fun
Tea was an early love of mine in the perfumista world! I own several–Tea for Two, Jacomo #8, Bulgari Omnia, and Bulgari Black. I prefer the black teas over greens–they tend to be spicy and have more oomph!
That’s helpful to know on the difference of black vs. green.
I’m also interested in trying those scents that include the Osmanthus flower which sounds just lovely.
My recent osmanthus trials: Providence Perfume Co Osmanthus Oolong (double score! tea + osmanthus!) and A Wing And A Prayer Chang’e and Skydancer. Liked the latter two, not-so-much on the OO.
Did not have these on my list! Thanks!!
oh wait, aren’t we supposed to be talking people OUT of new smellies? not adding more to the want list? bwahahahaha!
… but if you’d like me to send you my osmanthus oolong sample, email me at emc dawt 7 1 1 7 at gggmail. hey, at least you’re not *buying* the new stuff then, right? right??
Pixel, you’re not very good at this! 😉
Have you tried Osmanthe Yunnan? I really like that one.
No and I want to! From what I’ve read its not as fleeting as other JCE fragrances.
Ooh, osmanthus is my favorite floral note (tied for first with iris, but technically it’s the orris root that I love so I guess it really is number one)! TDC Osmanthus is my Holy Grail osmanthus, I hope it’s on your list. 🙂
Another to try: Osmanthus Intherdite. Osmanthus, tea and suede.
Mohur Extrait is incredibly beautiful but also incredibly expensive. I’ve decided that if I can hold off buying any perfume (other than a small sample or two if necessary) for the first quarter, I can get this beauty. I’ve made it through January!
Does this sound reasonable?
Two more months to go and one of them is short so definitely reasonable
That’s right, I forgot about the short month!
This is completely reasonable and a worthy goal, if you ask me!
I have another idea to help even more…you can sell me a decant from it when you get it to make it even more affordable! 🙂
Good idea. I would love to help by buying a decant as well ;). Friends helping friends – it’s what it’s all about, no?
It is, indeed. 🙂
Good idea!
I love the “if necessary”
Can’t overlook “the necessary.”
It sounds like a good litmus test. if you love it enough then you will hold out, and if you can’t hold out then you must not love it enough!
That statement could be on an inspirational poster for perfumistas.
Maybe I should consider it for my next tattoo :p
Sounds contrary to reason, but it’s actually excellent advice!
Hermes is doing a good job of enabling me NOT to buy a gift set of Hermessence fragrances. When I check their website the scents I like are not available at the same time, and I would rather not buy more than one bottle of the same scent.
So boo! Or yay! depending on the day, and how my samples are holding up.
If (when?) the itch must be scratched, you can either participate in a split or host a split. Problem solved 😉
Ooohhh, that’s sounds nice. Good advice.
I’ve had the same problem. Why have the option to mix and match four bottles if you only have two scents available at a time?
The brick and mortar stores usually have a wider selection.
Oh! I live within driving distance of an Hermes boutique. But I am weak. Might end up trading my self-respect for too many of those orange boxes.
Which reminds me, how is it that Hermes and La Maison du Chocolat have such similar packaging? They push all my buttons with their Gallic understatement.
LOL, you are SPOT ON with that comparison!
I found my box of petrified La Maison du Chocolat chocolate pralines, a giveaway for an alumni event at Christie’s (preview of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor) from back in …. December 2011. I don’t know for what reason I saved it. The pralines were inedible (I didn’t sample it haha) but the box was clean and very well constructed that I decided to keep it. It is the perfect size for 7 1mL sample vials…just sayin’
It does
Ignore the “it does” — I don’t know where that came from (heh, maybe my computer got infected with thegoddessrena’s samples breeding bug).
I don’t think it does interspecies contamination– it only causes abnormally high numbers of samples while leaving computers unaffected
Ah, 2014 was a huge year for samples — I bought a couple of dozen and was given at least that many. Result: there was ONE perfume I liked well enough to actually buy, namely Kenzo Flower Oriental. I had had no expectations of it, and all the ones I did have expectations of didn’t really work out. Fortunately, KFO was at Fragrancenet, so it evened out the money I’d spent on the samples
It would seem that I have been cured of sample-buying, for at least the next while. What is the proportion of samples-to-bottle-buys for everyone else?
I learned my lesson about blind-buying bottles early on, so although it kills me to pay for samples I save money in the long run. Out of 10 samples I might find one that is FBW.
My rate is about 10% as well
Great scent to end up with though
[nerd alert]
According to my spreadsheet, about 60% of my sample trials go immediately into the “no” box, 20% are maybes, 20% like. FB purchases… yeah, I think that works out to about 10%. Less in the future, I think, as I’m moving out of the initial crazed phase of this addiction. Leaning more towards 5ml decants now instead of FBs. I’m not a heavy sprayer so I’m coming to realize just how long it’s going to take me to work thru some of those bigger bottles….
LOVE these stats! I now wish I’d been keeping better track of my success rate.
I am in the same boat as Pixel. FBW is about 1 in 10, and I like and use up about half of my samples.
That means about half of my samples get a “no,” but very few of those go into the “ew! never again” double-zipper-bag-of-doom.
Many of the “no” samples are worth another sniff. I have samples of Nahema and Chamade sitting on my desk. I keep sniffing those though I don’t want to wear them.
Of all the samples I’ve tried, I’ve only bought 1 FB. And I might swap it. lol. So… 1/50ish for me? 🙂
If my rate was 1/50 I would probably give up in despondency!
That is nearly a full 180 from my early days! I seemed to love EVERYTHING when I was first sniffing–anything different or surprising or unexpected. I was head over heels with the artistry of perfume, and I wanted to bathe myself in it!
I suspect your collection, growing with such restraint, will be of an exceptional quality as a result!
I’d say less than 5%, for both purchased and in-store samples, and that’s counting the things on my “can’t afford but would buy if I could” list. Apparently I’m both a picky eater and perfume wearer. I think of the sampling as part of the whole perfume “hobby,” and one of the great things about swaps and the Freebiemeet is that things I would never think to buy or request sometimes turn out to be wonderful. (Chanel 31 Rue Cambon, for instance. Thanks again, Audreylicious!)
That said, I would also support a sample exchange, although being somewhat of a newbie, I’ve been trying to hold onto and revisit the samples I just don’t much like, as opposed to scrubbers. (What if I wake up one morning loving tuberose? Apparently these things happen.)
I have yet to wake up loving tuberose!
But I *do* hold onto samples that intrigue me. My giveaway box is full of things I thought were boring-not necessarily bad, but they don’t speak to me. Thankfully, I run into very few scrubbers!
A day too late for me to resist a bottle of Shanghai Lily, but I also want a bottle of Wit and a bottle of La Liturgie des Heures. Both are unavailable at discounters and I am talking myself into them because my birthday is next week. Help!
Order large samples of both and wait for a better deal. It becomes the economics of space and use for me. It might be cheaper in the long run to get full bottles but will you use it all and do you really have room? How many full bottles of perfumes does one grown woman really need? This poll talked me down from buying a full bottle of Guerlain Songe d’un bois d’ete and guess what? I found fragrances in a similar vein that were less expensive and that I liked more. It was very good advice.
I think one special bottle for ones birthday is more meaningful, so how about one for now and the other for another special occasion? Since neither is discounted right now there doesn’t seem to be a reason to get both immediately…
I say consider the bottle you just bought as your birthday gift and enjoy it for a while. If the other two aren’t discounted there no point in rushing to buy. Both seem pretty popular so maybe if you wait for the next split meet you can satisfy your need to have some of one or possibly both.
Agree… I tend to appreciate my perfumes more when I space out my purchases. Discontinuations, sales or discounts are always my undoing!
Something strange has happened to my nose.. I was.. well I still am.. a chypre girl, well I would not mind leather in any shape or form apart from that sweet-swade topic recently in fashion, my theme would be all about Knize Ten and its variations… But truly, it was chypre that always was my thing, be it a vintage bitterness or a contemporary imitation of the theme I could always fall in love without failure. (of course I love all sorts of other things, but chypre was(/is/don’t know any more) in the centre of my collection) Meanwhile all what was humming in the direction of no5 simply would not work…
Only now it does. I fell in love not only with vintage no5 and no22 but all of the ballenciagas I could find and even direct soupiness of I’nterdit is something I really like now… While my nose after 10 years into perfumes has done a 180 degree turn on me, my budget is in no shape to tolerate that.. I have bought 9 vintages from eBay since Jan.. and before that.. before that I was a perfect wife only thinking about the well-being of my family with 1 or 2 bottles per quota.. I thought I knew it all….
I will say this. You can slow down and enjoy what you have acquired and also you can resell your vintage if you need to. Your taste changed. It happens. Also, you can order vintage samples from a variety of sources, much cheaper. Hunting on eBay can become quite addictive, so be careful!
Yeah, you are right, I’ve been through hells of eBay once or twice, really need to pace myself to avoid this again…
It sounds like you’re feeling betrayed by your own tastes!
I am a bit, but I also feel very excited, like I have not been in years… I still love my collection, it is rather carefully curated, but now I see other horizons and vintages captured me again but in a different kind of way… it’s like my daughter who is 2, she does not eat fish until one day her taste buds are a bit more developed and she simply loves fish all of the sudden… kind of like this… my nose is a bit more mature… what’s not to love 🙂
I’ve had 31 Rue Cambon on my mind a lot lately. Someone, please talk me out of it! I did a quick count and already have 14 floral/woody chypres…Unless I live to be 150, I don’t foresee having enough time left to even get through the ones I have. Yet…it is a beauty, isn’t it?
Are there any unloved ones? Maybe you could sell or swap them away, to make more…well I guess it’s not exactly “room” but time to wear the 31RC? Because I have to say, I really do think it’s so beautiful, I’m not sure I can really talk you out of getting it! So maybe you could swap for decants of 31RC to get you started, and defer a bottle purchase to later on, once you’ve finished the decant and meanwhile made progress on your other bottles too? I don’t know how liberally you tend to spray, but even of my favorites, sometimes 10ml lasts me a few years!
Excellent suggestion! Especially considering that I’ve stretched my little 2 ml sample over the last year, a 5-10 ml decant would likely be more than sufficient.
Maybe someone will host a bottle in the next splitmeet (please?).
Okay, I am sitting on your other shoulder. The Excusifs have gone up in price twice in the past two years. Order from Chanel. No tax, free shipping. It is a classic and you will never tire of it. But that is just this reporter’s opinion.
Yes, I regretted not buying Bois des Iles earlier. I had justified waiting since it was so expensive, and then I ended up paying even MORE! So, I bought a vat of it, and I will likely never have to get another. 🙂
Oh, that’s good to know. I’ve been putting off buying 28 la Pausa, but maybe I should stop stopping myself 🙂
Happy Weekend all! I have been MIA for a couple of weeks (had retinal surgery and was stuck having to lay horizontal on my left side 22 out of 24 hours for the past 10 days) and now that I return, I find this timely post!
I have been in some serious withdrawal now that my sample of Onda VdE is gone and I NEED a FB but the price is out of my budget (budget?! who am I kidding? I don’t know that “B” word!).
I limited myself to a NO BUY until April, after tax return and medical bills completed, then was planning to see if I could swing Onda. I don’t really NEED Onda. I have plenty of perfumes. I realize sometimes I can become un-healthily fixated on a scent and I think it’s the thrill of the chase. I guess time will tell but I am hoping to keep my wits (and good common sense!) about me.
Onda is Powerful though (notice the capital P!) and hard to resist…
What say you?
your sample is waiting for you 🙂 i just emailed you…
just emailed you back! 🙂
You sound like me and probably a lot of us. I get a particular scent stuck in my head and I HAVE to have it, and then once I have it I probably love it but it becomes just part of the collection rather than this magical haloed object: then something else replaces it as a thing you don’t own but must have, and so it goes. Unless you honestly think Onda is in imminent danger of discontinuation / reformulation, I’d wait. You can live without it for another few months, and you have lots of other scents to decorate yourself with until then.
Smart advice and I don’t think Onda is in any danger of discontinuation at this point. Here is an image of me this morning (mind you, I haven’t been wearing any scent for the past couple of weeks):
ME, standing in front of my perfumes, looking from bottle to bottle, nibbling on my lip, thinking “what should I wear?”…some more lip nibbling, “hmmm, I just don’t know…I need something NEW!”
Seriously, no, I don’t need ANYTHING! but the kind Pixel has offered me her sample, which I am pretty sure she is happy to get rid of since she and Onda don’t get along.
I am SAVED by a wonderful NSTer!
Good description of the haloed object phenomenon! What the hell is it with that effect? No never mind, im already after my next grail…
Well, I hope your most recent “grail” is a cheap thrill, although I know it never seems to work out that way…:(
Well, the comments below have convinced me to wait until next quarter for it 🙂 Also, while it’s not cheap, its also not utterly out the ballpark. Often my grails are somewhere in between because I rarely hanker over something I absolutely cannot afford. It’s the can but ought not to that always gets me 🙂
I’ve recently sold one or two perfumes that started out as haloed objects, so I know this phenomenon really well. And I had researched them, bought samples, done all the right things, and still I ended up not loving them. Sigh. I felt better once they were gonna though.
There is a TREMENDOUS feeling of relief when those no longer loved bottles are gone. I just sent along 3 of them during the freebiemeet and so HAPPY to get them gone. At night, I swear, they sat on my dresser MOCKING me! Snickering and giggling, pointing to me as if they became animated as soon as the sun set- it was creeping me out.
When you don’t show a bottle some real love, they become evil!
Spurned lovers can be so unkind!
Welcome back, Deva, sure hope you are feeling better. I missed your enthusiastic posts! I must try my sample of your beloved PHI again soon, hoping I get more than tobacco out of it this time. I could say you don’t really ‘need’ Onda because you have PHI to love, but I guess it all depends on how one defines ‘need.’ 🙂
Thanks Laila! I have missed my blogger friends and am happy to be upright and back to reading and commenting 🙂
If you need a sample of PHI just let me know. I guess that might be considered enabling since I am trying to get you hooked but it is a unique perfume (IMHO) that I just love.
I also have a big love for Zelda and got a FB just before the end of last year. I feel able resist the temptation of Onda at the moment but who knows what tomorrow brings?
10 days? Wow, that’s a long time to be horizontal. I’m glad you’re up and about again.
Onda is fabulous. I was given a sample and it haunts me too. It is powerful stuff and most folks who love it might never be able to finish a bottle so maybe a split with one or two people is the way to go. Or perhaps just buy a decant for the time being and see how much of a dent you make in it. If you don’t use up a decant then you’d probably not use up a full bottle.
Hi Poodle, I am seriously thinking if I DO cave in, I will try a decant first, like you suggested.
I did this exact same thing with Amouage Fate Woman, since a FB is also on my “Are you crazy? You cant afford that!!” list. and I have to say, the 8ml decant scratched the itch (but I would still love a FB)!
Welcome back, Deva. I have a tendency for instant gratification, even buying 100 mL samples because I just have to try it and if I really really like it, I didn’t waste my money on a small sample / decant. I do sometimes try to get on splits for larger sized decants. While I love the breadth of choices at the usual decant sites, the mark up is so high that I will wait for a 15 or 20% off deal and consolidate my purchases. As to Vero Profumo, they are too complex for me and I have this far avoided getting hooked.
Yes, I usually wait for % off sales as well. And thank your lucky stars Vero Profumo does nothing for you (although I have to say, I tried both Rozy and Onda and could NOT stand Rozy!). I am quite sure there is an equivalently expensive line that HAS hooked you 😉
I’m happy to report that I do not need to be talked off the ledge this time. I have been struggling to keep my spending freeze going. I did buy a cheap lipstick today as some retail therapy because I was a bit blue. I haven’t bought any perfume since I was Christmas shopping in December. Of course I realize that when I decide to start buying again I’m probably going to go on a bender and undo all the restraint I have shown.
Do we need to talk you off the renovation ledge? Has it started?
What are you doing for the Superbowl? I’m deciding on what junk food to buy and I am staying cozy at home tomorrow. We’re in for some snow again Sunday evening and into Monday which will make for an ugly ugly commute to work. I heard 3rd hand that a one heartbeat away from the chairmanship executive was wondering why the floor was empty this past Tuesday. HELLO, unless you live within walking distance of the office, those of us who rely on mass transit DID NOT HAVE ANY transportation whatsoever and we couldn’t even drive to the station (well, we can, at the risk of being arrested). HE obviously lives within walking distance AND, the other comment about staying at hotels (at company expense)…how stupid is that if we are all already being asked to CUT THE BUDGET (by the way, nothing else to cut except headcount) and what is the point of the company providing work at home capability if we can’t use it when it makes total sense to do so? I realize this is a first world problem but a problem it is, nonetheless.
OK, I’ll stop ranting and go back to perfumes.
The renovations haven’t started yet. Trust me, you’ll know when they do. I’ll be picking out my counters and flooring this month and I think things should get underway next month. The only thing I’m looking forward to is having a dumpster in the driveway. That and having the whole thing over and done with. Lol.
We were supposed to go to my brother-in-law’s house for the game but he went to the ER yesterday and it seems he’s got the flu so that party isn’t happening. I’ll be on the couch.
I’m not looking forward to another day of snow removal. We’re supposed to get another foot. WTH. A little melting would be nice. I’m guessing I might be calling out tomorrow and letting hubband take the truck to work.
Enjoy the game then and I hope we don’t get as much of the wet stuff as predicted. I got my junk food fix yesterday – Kettle-cooked Maple Bacon potato chips and some kind of baked white cheddar cheese puffs. I think I was the only one in the aisle reading labels!
I think I’m *always* the only one in the aisle reading labels! Although, I’m pretty sure my research wouldn’t lead me to Maple Bacon potato chips! 😉
See, I did not want to end up with 2 snacks that may taste like cardboard so I opted for a good to offset the bad. I practiced with the bad yesterday and I think it’s worthy of being offset 😉
Whereas my go-to not-healthy-not-cardboard would be the classic–Cheetos!
Pretty sure I’ve had some whole-grain crackers that actually *were* cardboard. Pure fiber, no flavor. You know, when you gnaw on it, you say to yourself “Well, these MUST be good for me!” 😀
Power to Poodle! Keeping to your spending freeze is an inspiration! And I have the feeling you will not go on a bender and instead realized how strong willed you are and be very aware of the cost vs. desire for your next FB consideration. Respect 🙂
Agree – a bender is not inevitable!
I wish I could think that.
Perhaps you could begin planning which perfume will be the first when you break your freeze, and then decide how long you need to wait before the next one? Either way, you should congratulate yourself on your restraint 🙂
Strong willed? Not. But thanks for thinking so. 🙂
I made a cheap blind buy as soon as my spending freeze ended, and regretted it. I think I’m going to take a step back, and save up for something I’ve been wanting. Retail therapy is a very temporary fix (she said mostly to herself).
At least it was a cheap one. Those hurt less.
I was also on a semi-spendingfreeze…then my Dec bonus arrived,I had no bills or cards to settle,and my savings account was looking OK.Lol…You can guess the rest.Merlin received photographic evidence of MOST of the irresponsibilty and frivolous frenzy at our local perfumeries…But I had fun.And got some lovelies that were on the wish-list for a very long time.Hey,it took me almost a year to finally get The Different Co. Pure Eve!lol.I think that’s how far my restraint will ever go:to wait to buy,not to totally NOT buy,if it’s like on Farouche’s “nessecity” list….haha!
oh, that’s a great approach but I don’t think it would work for me because I am one of those people who feel the only “necessities” in life is food, water, shelter, and a heat source! lol!
Glad you are enjoying your perfume spree and it sounds like you were responsible enough to make sure it wouldn’t cause financial hardship. “Bonus” is a synonym for “Lets get HAPPY!” It is wonderful to get new scents, to arrange the bottles just so, and wear the heck out of them! Enjoy 🙂
At least you had fun. What’s the point of a bonus if you don’t enjoy it? Good for you! It is more fun when you wait sometimes. As long as the bills are paid, who cares? You smell fabulous I’m sure. I’m only not buying to try and make dents in what I already have and to essentially make room for new additions either by using stuff up or deciding once and for all I truly don’t want something and need to pass it on to someone who’d enjoy it more than me.
Since it was planned and your budget allowed it I don’t think it could be considered ‘irresponsible’ 🙂
When are you getting the gold Amouage bottles? Or do you already have them? 😉
😉
Thank you all for talking me off the ledge last time. I didn’t end up buying Cacherel Amor Amor and am glad I didn’t! So, this time the ‘problem’ is a bit different…
I’v been wanting Guerlain’s Vetiver for a couple of months, but I still haven’t bought it. There was a 70% off sale on some perfumes at a niche store, and I bought a few perfumes there instead…but I still want the Guerlain. So, I need to be talked out of buying the Guerlain this quarter, because I’v bought way more perfumes than is decent… and also to not buy any OTHER scents in the ‘meantime’ just because they are less $$$. Ie. no ‘consolation’ perfumes!
Consolation perfumes will disappoint you– better to get one winner than a bunch of ALSO-RANS. Save for what you actually want and don’t get distracted by other shinies
Goddesrena, avoid the shinies needs to be my new mantra!
You did well to take advantage of the niche sale first! Guerlain Vetiver is indispensable, but it will still be around next quarter, and you have those new niche perfumes to enjoy in the meantime.
Congrats on the 70% sale – that’s a wonderful deal!
Thanks Nozknoz, yes, they were scents I wanted and like, but not enough to pay over $100 on for each! I got a 50ml refill of Sel de Vetiver for about $30, but the Guerlain is a solid MUST!
If I “got” Vetiver as a note,I’d say BUY BUY BUY!!Lol…Sadly I still do not.I think there are far more interesting stuff on your buried-away wishlist(s),that might need a savingsplan and move on up on the wishlist-now-buy-list…Semi-Un-Enabling…lol.xo
Johanob, never say never…I used to hate Vetiver 😮
Oh really? Is there a particular scent that converted you? I used to like it pretty well, until someone pointed out to me that one particular vetiver perfume smelled like [redacted so I don’t reproduce this unfortunate influence!!], and now that’s all I can smell in any vetiver perfume. Would really love assistance rehabilitating my love of the note! Heck, even tolerance for it would go a long way, given how many perfumes this presently rules out for me…
Hi CH, sorry I just saw this comment now… I think eventually falling for Infusion d’Iris made a difference. The vetiver in this has quite a strong presence? Encre Noir originally repulsed me and drew me in equal measure. Eventually i got a bottle on sale about 2 years ago. In December I found myself quite addicted to it. Sometimes I feel like it is not quite fulfilling, and yet `I feel I have to keep smelling it anyway, lol! Dior’s Vetiver, which is discontinued is a very smooth and deep vetiver because its combined with coffee, and I think tonka bean. My turn around on the Guerlain came about when I made myself ride out the hideous opening of the one in the frosted bottle. After about an hour it becomes gorgeous – juicy and dry in equal measure! The later one in the rectangular bottle is without that awful opening, so its even better! What I find interesting also is vetiver EO. The one I have is quite smoky and actually has a bit of a smoked meat feel to it. Strange because it is also cooling to wear in the heat…
Merlin, go to your printer, print out a photo of the Guerlain Vetiver bottle you want, place the photo in a prominent place, and it will be a visual reminder as to what you are REALLY wanting and give you the steadfast ability to resist all interlopers that may pass through your life.
It may be a good idea to print several photos and tape them to the fridge, your perfume cabinet, bathroom mirror, front door, closet, and maybe in your car! That will keep you on track and your money in your pocket until it’s time for your Guerlain purchase.
Good Luck!
Good idea! I think though, I will print maximum 3 so as not to scare friends and family… 😀
Stop looking at the sales and discounters. That’s what I’m trying to do. What I don’t know doesn’t hurt me. If I know that something is marked down to an amazing price it gets in my head. I hate to miss a good sale and I end up caving in and buying. If I don’t go browsing I find it easier to stay out of trouble. Set a date or an occasion for the Vetiver. That way you have a target date to look forward to.
Poodle yes, it’s my downfall! I regularly check out discount sites as a kind of relaxation: now how counterproductive is that?!
Hahahaha oh gosh, you put your finger on the nose here. Hadn’t thought about it ’til you said so, but I do the exact same thing: “I really need a break from this work…lemme go work myself into a frenzy over a perfume sale!” Hahaha. Guess I should cut that out, huh?
Easier said than done! Glad I’m not alone though…
Was anyone else delighted to see the announcement that Cloon Keen Atelier, a perfume house from Galway, Ireland, is now available through First in Fragrance? I’ve been interested in this line since first hearing about it a year or two ago and have ordered up samples. Glad the U.S. to Euro exchange rate is favorable at the moment – it’s the luck of the Irish, I guess! 🙂
Sorry, a bit off topic for this poll, but I can say that I’ve stepped back from bottles to samples and minis, generally.
Oh – I’ve been really interested in trying some of these scents – that’s good to know nozknoz!
Noz, thanks for this post! I had no clue about this line and when I went to their website and then to First in Fragrance, I saw a few that piqued my interest on a couple of levels.
Firstly, my father was born and raised in Ireland and I remember some wonderful trips “back home” as a child. Secondly, a few scents seem right up my alley, note-wise. Thirdly, Ireland is such a resilient country, I feel inclined to contribute to their economy, which has had some extreme ups and downs (mostly downs, historically).
Have you received your samples yet? and if so, which did you try and what do you think?
I don’t need to be talked down this month, but I had an inadvertent layering experience last week, and kept getting pulled away when I sat down to post about it. I was wearing Calypso St. Barth Lea, and later put on a sweatshirt that still smelled of Hermes L’Ambre de Merveilles. It was divine–vanillic and musky and ambery and, oddly, a little more spicy than L’AdM by itself. Have a great weekend, everyone!
There is this gift set of L’ambre des Merveilles on sale at my local discounter: 100ml edt, 15 ml edp, 20 ml shower gel, 20 ml lotion for 100$. It would be a blind buy and I don’t know if I would even like it…. and I certainly don’t “need” it… But it’s HERMES!
Don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk and those tiny bath products are hardly any bigger than what you’d expect to get as a free sample. These gift sets always feel like such good value because we think “four items, what a steal!” but just look at the measly size.
Do you know and like others from the Mervailles family?
I would seriously encourage you to try it first. Personally I’m a big Merveilles fan…absolutely love, have and wear all the other members of the “family” but do not like the Ambre version. I get a peanut butter note that for me does not work at all. That might not be your experience at all but for that kind of money, I don’t think it is worth risking a blind buy!
DON’T DO IT!!!! It’s a nasty fruity-amber. And then you’d be stuck with it in ext, edp, shower gel and moisturizer form. You’d never escape its horror!
Is there definitely nowhere you can test it first, at least once?
It’s striking to see the variety of responses on this; I think that alone probably indicates it’s really not a sure bet. I was going to ask if you really love ambers, thinking that if it’s a favorite note, maybe you could be sure of at least getting some use from this…but, given diversity feelings above, now I’m thinking probably an amber lover also has some very favorite ambers already, and this may not be among them.
Final answer: for me $100 is not such an amazing bargain that I would buy unsniffed. It’s only about 35% off retail, and still a big chunk of change. Save it ’til you find something you know you’ll love.
Yes, look this way! I love many ambers, but not this one…
Yes, maybe I have it exactly backwards–an Hermes Ambre may be better for amber wimps like me! But then, if one doesn’t typically like amber, a whole amber gift set really does not seem like a high-percentage shot for a blind buy!
I like some Hermes fragrances but none of the Merveilles. I would encourage you to test first. It’s widely available in department stores and Sephora, and there are commercial samples on ebay.
None of the Merveilles that I’ve smelled work for me either. They have a “salty” accord that doesn’t work for me.
Same for me. I like ‘salty’ notes in some scents, but not in these.
And it’s interesting–I sorta like the flankers, but not the original. (And, even if I think favorably of the flankers, I haven’t been moved to buy any of them, even as decants.) I think we’re definitely establishing that this is not a failsafe…
I am relieved to see I am not the only one not wild about the L’ambre. I bought an entire bottle from Nordstrom that sits languishing in my perfume dresser. I would be happy to send it on to Platinum14 with the understanding that if you do not love it pass it on gratis to someone who will. If you are interested email me at stinker underscore kit at yahoo dot com.
I wanted to be talked out of buying Taylor Swift Incredible Things.No need people,lol!Conundrum:LOVE the opaque bottle,HATE the generic juice.Yes,I’m a Miss Swift fan(SHAKE IT OFF!!!!),lol…but that does NOT justify her jumping into the fruitpunch bowl for “new”perfume along with all the other celebs…So:I Un-Enabled myself.Haha.I’m not a bottle collector,it’s only a bonus if a Gorgeous frag also comes in a gorgeous bottle.
Well then, that was easy!
I don’t need to be talked out of anything at the moment. Money is tight and there’s no spending at the moment apart from the cheapie Eau Des Missions, which is a great buy considering the gigantic size. I’m also using it as a room spray it’s so massive. Maybe in Feb I’ll buy myself something for Vals Day. I always indulge myself on these ‘festive’ occasions or when I go travelling. But I’m feeling like I have sooooo many samples that I need to actually use them and then do something with them – wear them, pass them on …. I had the Bois de Jasmin sample box last month and I LOVED the Neela Vermeires and kept a sample of Bombay Bling that is quite small and I don’t want it to run out so I sniff it from time to time! I’m saving for that discovery set that she has, rather than a full bottle as I just don’t imagine I’ll ever polish one off!
Can I just say I am horribly jealous of anyone who has access to Le Couvent Eau des Missions.I want it badly!!Lol.Cheap and easy to find overseas,NOWHERE to be seen in South Africa…urgh.
The Neela Vermeire’s are worth saving for. They are wonderful!
I’m tempted by the Soivohle sale. All of the mixed media scents will be discontinued so they’re half off. I haven’t tried any of them and want to pick some to buy. But I haven’t tried them and they’re going to be discontinued anyway and why am I setting myself up for heartbreak? Help!
It’s hard to resist those awesome sales! I think you can do it though. If you consider your statistics, that might help.
IE: how many perfumes do you sample in a week? How many of those do you like? Of the ones you do like, how many do you LOVE?
This probably is a very small number indeed, so chances are you may feel “meh” about the sale fragrances you buy, and you might like maybe one or two. Chances are, you wont LOVE any of them and will regret your purchase, even though they were on “sale.”
It’s no bargain at the end of the day to spend even a dollar on something you are basically indifferent to.
I was tempted by that too but blind buys are risky. I’m a fan of blind buys but I talked myself out of those. I’ve never smelled them and haven’t heard enough to know if I’d really like them or not. There’s too many perfumes I already know I like so it’s seems silly to waste money on some blind buys just because the price is good. Plus, what if I love them? Once they’re gone, they’re gone. What fun is that?
Connie,
If you’re in the U.S. email me at rappleyea11 at yahoo. I’ve got a blue million Soivohle samples that I’m never going to get to. They’re yours if you’d like them.
Oh, Ralleyea, I’d love that! Sending you an email…
I almost leapt for a 100 ml bottle of L’Eau de L’Artisan this morning. It would have been about 115 CAD including shipping and tax. Last summer, I drained a 10 ml decant from March’s swapmeet and I don’t want to be without it this summer but the price feels too high and I’d rather get the 50 ml bottle anyway.
To All Requesters of Advice:
If you posted in this column, you either (1) do not really want the items;(2) know that really, really can not afford the items (3) know that you will feel better resisting and/or (4) want to talk about the scent more than you want to own it.
So listen to your own inner voice which is far wiser than I am.
I don’t know. You sound pretty wise to me. 2 and 3 describe me perfectly.
Dilana, the problem is that I have a multitude of inner voices and the loudest one is always the greedy three year old! (But point taken 😉 )
Oh Yes. I know that loud clamour. I call it my “because I’m worth it” voice.
Jonas your inner toddler is way more articulate than mine. Mine knows only 2 words: ‘want’ and ‘now’!
Yeah–even if I would add a (5), where too much penny-pinching can start to become a false economy (e.g. I wonder if my overall spend might decrease if I went ahead and bought my favorites even at full-price, and then felt less tempted by lesser things on sale)–still, in four out of five ways, you’d be better off skipping it.
In a major storm here, so I stayed inside and tested more samples from my freebie meet friends. My favorite of all is Noontime Petals, the first Tauer I’ve tried that suits me well. This is a timely topic for me-I have several new favorites, mostly very spendy so I have been thinking about how to choose to allocate my new hobby budget…thank you all for sharing your experiences!
I actually don’t need to be talked down at the moment. I’m trying to do a spending freeze for a while. I want to pay down my credit card and try to build some savings, so I will be trying not to spend any money I don’t absolutely have to. Which sounds all good and responsible and stuff, but I’ve met me, and I know how utterly undisciplined I am, so we’ll see how all this goes. I’m definitely trying to stay away from TJ Maxx and Marshall’s because those are weak points.
It’s amazing how those bargains add up.
It is indeed. It never feels like I’m buying that much, but then that quarterly damage poll comes around, and I have to stop and think about it…
Well, clearly my answer to this question is a resounding NO. I cannot be talked down off the ledge. In fact, it was the very act of reading through these posts that sent me off to Fragrancenet for a mini spending spree. It started out with a search for Kenzo Flower Oriental (thanks to you, AnnieA!), and then I ran across Bulgari Black, and then they had a 25% off everything coupon, and then I found a nice Clinique Chubby Stick…….
Blah blah blah PERFUME blah blah.
Ack! You describe my mental landscape perfectly. I am a Farside cartoon cat when it comes to perfume. 🙂