Upcoming: we'll hold a freebiemeet next month. Also, look for another splitmeet in September, and the next swapmeet will be in October.
So, for those of you who participated in the 6th swapmeet, or the 3rd splitmeet, how did it go? Feel free to tell us what you got, and whether or not you loved it.
Note: top image is Orchid in Thirds [cropped] by timsackton at flickr; some rights reserved.
Hi! My swapping this time around was pretty tame–only three swapees. I’m still waiting on one to arrive, but otherwise, I’d say it was a successful venture. I recieved a nearly full bottle of L’Heure Bleue, and I’ve been wearing it a lot since its arrival! It seems really great for spring’s ups and downs.
I had a great time during the swap meet! My swappees were all fun to talk to and fast, dependable shippers which always helps. I received a bottle of Coco Noir which had been on my wishlist, just love it and the gorgeous bottle. Also got a big bottle of L de Lolita which I was almost out of, a partial bottle of Tauer Eau d’Epices and a sampler set from Smell Bent, which is a line I’ve long wanted to try but hadn’t gotten around to. I’m coming around to appreciating the Tauer; I had sampled it but I have found it kind of challenging. Lots to enjoy all around
8 out of 9 of my swaps went well
Got swap-jacked on the 9th, apparently. Boo hiss. But I got rid of a bunch of unloved things, and got a bunch of interesting samples in return. I’m having fun trying them out.
Oh, so sorry! Would you mind terribly emailing me and telling me who did not send their end? robin at nstperfume.com
Oh man, so sorry that happened to you!
I had only two swaps this time, one of which was great.
I was not satisfied with the second one, I thought we have agreed to bottle to bottle swap, instead I received 10ml decant for my 50 ml bottle, anyways I didn’t say anything since I thought maybe it was my fault that I didn’t confirm the exact amount in the beginning .
I just wanted to let you all know, that’s all.
That’s a shame, so sorry.
Oh dang, I am sorry that happened and thank you so much for sharing that story here–I can always use a reminder about how much needs specifying, because it’s so true that often other people’s assumptions are different!
I’m sorry that happened too! As someone who’s terrified of swaps, because I’m always worried the other person won’t be happy but won’t say anything, I would suggest at least saying “Whoops, I must have misunderstood here – were we agreeing to swap a bottle for a decant? That’s not what I understood – oh dear!
“. People are very nice in general and it most likely was a real misunderstanding. The other person might be totally chagrined! Between the two of you I’m sure you could work out a compromise – her taking a decant then sending you back the bottle, or her sending you more.
Just a thought. I know how hard it is to have these discussions with people you don’t know!
I participated in the swapmeet for the first time, and it was a wonderful experience.
I have two new wonderful scents: Calvin Klein Euphoria and Tom Ford Violet Blonde. Very nice people I swapped with. I know they received theirs also, and I hope they’re enjoying them as much as I’m enjoying mine.
Just one swap for me as I’ve been traveling a bunch but it was totally a delight! Thank you to my lovely and generous swap partner!
The swap meet and split meet both went wonderfully for me and I’m really excited about everything I got. Parfum Sacre and Tihota have gotten lots of wear so far, and I discovered Gres Cabaret yesterday, which I think I’ll be wearing a lot, too. Still lots of samples and decants I haven’t even tried yet, though, and I’m thrilled about all the exploring I have ahead of me.
I’m already stocking up on samples and goodies for next time!
Oh, did I include Gres Cabaret in the samples I sent you or maybe that was someone else? I know I was digging around for roses and had an unloved sample of that one . . . .
Thank you, again, for the L’HB! It’s getting a lot of wear these days!
Yep, Gres Cabaret was among the amazing set of samples you sent.
Thank you again! All of the ones I’ve worn so far, I’ve enjoyed (of course I was doomed to like Guet-Apens, since it’s d/ced…), and I’m looking forward to the rest!
I’m so happy you ended up liking L’HB, too. It really is great for spring!
I have done freebie swaps and got some very interesting things and talked to very nice people. I just went through my little pile and turned it into a Real Collection by getting a nice sort of spice rack and sorting stuff into my current scents in rotation (8 day cycle), bottles I am not currently wearing (9), decants not currently wearing (11), samples to be tested further (19), and baggie in a drawer of things to be moved on somehow… so I have a few things for a future swapmeet I think. I missed the couple of things I was interested in doing splits of, so I will watch more closely next time! This place is great and all you people are wonderful!
I split Wit and it went sooo smoothly; everyone paid promptly and I sent out the decants the day after the bottle arrived, so I think everyone was happy. For the swapmeet, I swapped with 10 (!)wonderful perfumistas. Some of the blind swaps that I’m not totally in love with will probably show up at the next swapmeet or freebiemeet but I got a chance to sniff a lot of new (to me) scents and enjoyed the whole process.
I was one of the happy recipients of Wit decants – and I’m absolutely loving it! Thank you once again.
I did either 6 or 7 swaps (!) and they all went really well. Everyone was so nice and thorough. There was a lot of good stuff that came up during this swapmeet, and I’m happy to say that I finally swapped away the extra bottles that my sister gave me a few years ago, and finally got her a bottle of Light Blue! She was so happy, and was like, Wha? People do that? That’s a good idea! So that was a lot of fun to be handing something over to her. I also got some fantastic used bottles – BV eau Legere, Cuir de Lancome, EL Super Cologne, tons of samples of frags I’ve wanted to smell for a long time, like the Bvlgari Teas, some Serge Lutens, some of the not so common EO 001 from Beihl…., stuff like that. It was just so much fun for me and thanks for everyone who swapped with me. I have lots of bottles waiting for the next round! The other great thing about this swapmeet is that it finally prompted me to restock my decanting supplies, so I’ll really be ready next time.
I had a great swap- and split- meet although I was slow on sending out my swap packages. My extra freebies in the swapmeet are pending to be sent out as I had been extra extra busy these past few weeks and I am still having Internet connectivity issues. The credit I have yet to discuss with the carrier will go into a perfume fund
The splitmeet participants were super-wonderful and there were several repeat participants — thank you.
On the swaps, except for the one from the never ending source of chocolate goodies, I’ve kept to my rule of not opening packages until I’ve sent out my half of the swap. Since I’ve sent out all my packages as of two weeks ago and haven’t had a chance to open the packages, I will be like a kid in a candy store when I do a swap packages reveal (maybe tomorrow).
I want to thank you for a lovely swap! Got to do a full test run of a couple of scents I have been thinking of purchasing. You only had me send you 2ml of the MDCI Nuit Andalouse, but if you like it and want a bit more just let me know, as you sent me 5ml each of the Ateliers.
It was an almost 100% perfect swapmeet for me. I had three swapees. They all got their stuff, and I received perfume from 2 of them. The 3rd one sent it out (I have the tracking number), but it never got to me. According to the tracking, it was delivered, but it never got here. I think this is because my neighborhood has one of the worst post offices in the city, and they probably lost it, but marked it “delivered”. I called to lodge a complaint, but they didn’t do anything. Dumb post office. But in stark contrast to the USPS, the NST community has once again proven how lovely they are.
Ugh! I’m so sorry! My post office is unreliable, too, and I NEVER would have thought that before I bought my house! I have always been a bit smug at the reliability of the US Postal Service (after living in Madagascar, et al). But I’ve had mail go missing, and worse still, when my regular guy went on vacation, the replacement thought my address didn’t exist, and for 3 WEEKS sent back all of my mail as undeliverable. I had late bills for the first time ever. Grumble grumble.
I *did* eventually get through to a manager-type-person who sounded appropriately embarrassed, but it’s funny how there isn’t really a formal we-screwed-up compensation policy. I think they should send you some empty, prepaid envelopes or *something*!
I hope your package eventually finds its way to you!
That sucks.. I’ve had similar problems with my post office too. Sometimes I’m not sure if it’s the post office or my apartment complex, but I think it’s mostly the post office. Mostly the problem I’ve had is packages that are marked as delivered in tracking when they actually aren’t, and sometimes it might take a month before they turn up in my mailbox. I’ve wondered if this is because sometimes the mail truck arrives after the complex office has closed for the day, so they can’t drop the package there.
I’ve also had the problem with the post office saying my address doesn’t exist and sending packages back. As far as I know it’s happened twice, and both times it was with international deliveries.
I’ve never had these issues anywhere else I’ve lived, just in this apartment, which makes me think it’s just the post office that serves my zip code. I’m thinking about making my first foray into homeownership too (thought probably a condo or townhouse rather than a house), so it makes me wonder if I were to buy something in my current zip code, if I would always have these problems.
I’m looking forward to the next swap/split/freebiemeet! The previous freebiemeet and swapmeet went swimmingly with some very kind and generous folks
I was able to re-home some unloved bottles and welcome in two much appreciated fragrances, not to mention all the samples that have given me some serious lemmings (looking at you SL Cuir Mauresque!)
I have since accumulated a few more that need to go to a good home and I’m looking forward to sending them on the next leg of their journey to a better life.
I’m not sure who came up with this idea, but I think it’s a fantastic way to explore fragrances without having to shell out some serious dollars. I feel bad for those that have been jilted
I can only hope it was an innocent oversight and not a deliberate act.
Thanks to everyone who swapped with me. This was the first year I participated because I found the process of decanting/shipping a little intimidating, but so happy that eventually I just dove in feet first.
Also, if anyone has any ideas about streamlining and organizing this process, I think it would be great to share. That’s my biggest issue, trying to keep everything/everyone straight and organizing so it can accomplished efficiently. Slainté!
I use a spreadsheet for keeping track of all my perfume related stuff. One of the worksheets is for swaps. I have columns for the name of the person I am swapping with (real name and screen name), his/her mailing address, what I am swapping away, what I will be receiving in return, the tracking number of the package I send out, and the tracking number (if any) of the one I will be receiving. I also have columns in which to check when I package has been delivered or received. Keeping all the info in one place makes it easier. I did not participate in any of the recent meets, but I have in the past, and have had as many as 10 swaps in one meet. I think for anything more than 2 or 3 it is essential to figure out some sort of organization system.
Thanks, that’s a wonderful idea. I need to brush up on my excel skills, I guess. Not too tech savvy down here in Swamplandia
I’m not tech savvy either, but I put the same info as 50_Roses on a Post-It note. Then when I have mailed it and sent the recipient an email that the package is on the way, I stick the note on the dining room table. When packages arrive, I stick the note to them. It’s easy to see which ones haven’t arrived.
Super easy and fun experience!
I got rid of 5 items and so far relieved 4 in return. The 5th was delayed for personal reasons but she’s done a good job of communicating on this and when it will likely be sent.
All good!
The swapmeet and splitmeet both went really well for me. This was also the first year I made my own decants to send out. I’ve only previously sent out bottles. I read all the materials on NST about doing decants and I have to give a shout out to hajusuuri on being very very helpful. I found a great local perfume shop that sells supplies at very reasonable prices thanks to her.
I’ve always trusted USPS in my neighborhood. I’m sorry for all the lost packages and people who didn’t follow through on their end. I really should appreciate my mail man more. Maybe leave him some cookies.
I participated in the recent swap and the split – and they both went swimmingly. Perfumistas are some of the most generous and congenial strangers I’ve ever encountered.
I’m really sorry to hear about some of the swaps that went awry, though.
I thought it was great, hectic fun. Thank you to all my swapmates, especially for putting up with that week when I was down with a fever! I love the nuttiness, the surprises, and the connections. It really made my day when when a swapmate sent an email saying I had guessed right and sent an extra little sample or two that they were particularly excited about. That makes me unreasonably happy, and I see evidence that it makes some other folks around here unreasonably happy, too. This is some special kind of pipeline. Keep up the great fun!
Unreasonable happiness is something I find myself seeking out!
To begin at my beginning, I had fun sending out a few things in the last freebiemeet. Sending out freebies meant I could put my toe in the perfumed pool without thinking about payments or waiting for a package to arrive.
The splitmeet had me wading into deeper waters, and it was a great introduction to how to do things — no muss, no fuss, just right — many thanks to Hajusuuri.
So I was confident I would enjoy the swapmeet, and I jumped in the (admittedly shallow end) of the perfume pool with two swaps. I’m very happy with the fragrances I received in the swap. And I’m swimming in sample vials once again. The unexpected but much appreciated samples I received have let me enjoy fragrances I likely would never get to try otherwise. I’ve found many new favorites. So much to love.
As a bonus, one of the swaps was yarn-for-perfume, which gave me a reason to dive in to my long-neglected yarn stash. I found a few skeins I’d forgotten about. I’m happily knitting up some cotton for summer after neglecting my needles for a while.
Many thank yous to the lovely swappers who again boosted my faith in the greatness of perfume people and yarn lovers. I have to agree with others here who have commented that NST is a remarkable and generous fragrance community.
Not related to my truly great experiences here on NST, but regarding shipping between EU and US — the restrictions for shipping perfume are tightening up on the US side. Shipping by air can be problematic. Packages seem to be getting stuck in customs more often. I followed up on a package I expected from Europe and was told by USPS that it is held up somewhere in customs. Maybe it will show up as a surprise someday, when I least expect it, and need it most.
I didn’t participate in the most recent swapmeet. I’ve gotten rid of most of the stuff I wanted to at the moment. What’s left didn’t get any takers in the last freebie-meet so I can literally say I can’t even give that s&#! away.
I did participate in the split-meet, though. Just one split because I am trying not to spend much. I bought a decant of Byredo 1996, which I’m really loving and maybe considering a bottle when my decant runs out.
You funny!
I had a great experience during the last swap meet (with Susanetta, Farouche and Rodelinda…Thanks, ladies!). I wound up with the top two things on my wishlist (Amouage Lyric Woman and MDCI Chypre Palatin) as well as a winning gamble on Cognoscenti 17. I was also pleasantly surprised at the success of an international trade (U.S./Canada), as putting one’s trust in the postal system can be a leap of faith as is! Despite one or two strange experiences in the past, I am overwhelmingly pleased with my NSTer interactions. Sometimes people have absolutely blown me away with their generosity and I have made some genuine connections with exceptional folks (I’m looking at you, AllGirlMafia ;)). Huge thank you to everyone here for trades, freebies, comments, suggestions, facts and contributing in any small way to the richness of life.
How sweet are you!! xoxo : )
I did one swap in Episode 6, plus an informal one soon thereafter. I was very happy with both.
I’d been swap-lifted in a prior episode, but decided to get back on the horse. Glad I did! Thanks for creating this framework, Robin!
Glad it is mostly working for people! And I think we have now settled a few of the problems from this last episode.
This swapmeet exceeded my expectations. I received FBs of Prada “Amber”, Tom Ford “Jasmin Rouge”, EDL “Rossy de Palma”, travel sizes of FM “Une Rose”, OJ “Taif” and HdP “Patchouli”and many, many great decants and samples. The people I swapped with were awesome. I think I met my “scent twin” for the first time, and we decided to swap one more time! I hope my swap partners are as happy as I am. :):)
Thanks to everyone.