Another year, another bottle? Or five or six? Donatella, Our Lady of Perfumed Overindulgence,1 wants to know how your perfume collection is growing so far in 2016. In other words, it's time for our first damage poll of the year. Do confess: what did you buy in the 1st quarter (January, February and March) of this year?
My purchases...
After a year of abstinence (my first since 2003), I bought a quartet of Tauerville rollerballs while they were on sale at half price. I bought them hoping to unload two of them in the splitmeet, and that worked out just fine. So I have two small bottles, Rose Flash and Incense Flash, that cost about $31 total. I do have some plans involving Hermès, so I expect that number will rise before the year is out.
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.
Damn you TK Maxx! (not really though…)
L’Artisan Parfumeur Amour Nocturne 125ml
L’Artisan Parfumeur Skin On Skin 125ml
L’Artisan Parfumeur Eastern Mysteries Collection – 1x30ml Mon Numero 10, 1x30ml L’Eau D’Ambre Extreme, 1x30ml Timbuktu (comes in one box so obviously counts as one)
L’Artisan Parfumeur Rose Privée 100ml
L’Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses 100ml
L’Artisan Parfumeur Patchouli Patch 100ml
L’Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu 100ml (‘cause there ain’t no such thing as too much Timbuktu)
Miller Harris La Fumee 100ml
Penhaligons Ostara 100ml
I have absolutely no willpower at all…
Hey, if you got all of that at TK Maxx you’re doing way better than I am!
And yes, obviously that is how Donatella would count it
If my TJMaxx had anything decent I would fling reason to the wind. Your purchases seem very modest under the circumstances.
I can’t believe you found such good stuff at TJ MAXX!!! I am jelly. Ours normally just has an overabundance of Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears….. I’d pick up all those L’AP too!
You know, they’ve been having L’APs on and off since Xmas 2014. I’ve been hoping to come across Traversee and Seville but I’d be torn now – I want the new smokey glass bottles!
Ditto this.
I am EMERALD with jealousy.
I wish our TJMaxx here in the US would carry L’AP! The best thing I’ve happened on thus far is a bottle of Prada Infusion d’Vetiver. They mostly seem to carry the designer stuff.
Same, the two TJ Maxx’s in my area are horrible and never have anything I’d like.
Mine’s awful too. The most upmarket thing I ever see there is Cacharel.
Were I to come across L’Artisan Parfumeur in the wilds of a TJ Maxx, I fear it would quickly become a “One of Each Please” situation.
Go you!
Funnily enough, I know what you mean!
With that temptation I’d throw restraint out the door ???? Envy indeed!
Niiiice!!!
No willpower, but plenty of fabulous perfume. Yay, you!
You failed to provide your home address and working hours…
hahahaha
OMG! *Picking my jaw up off the floor and congratulating you on such success*
What brilliant finds!, I was so hopeful when I visited Shefield in November, I went to 3 different ones, but alas, I think you’d already had them all!
I don’t have the courage to total it up and make a public declaration but suffice to say I am way over budget. :-0
It was more than 15 though….
I am in awe
My no-buy quarter was pretty good. If it hadn’t been for the discounted back-up back-up bottle of Azemour and the two decants at the splitmeet I would be very smug about my restraint.
Now I know where to go when Azemour is discontinued
Now that I’ve had a minute to actually think about it, it hasn’t been a terrible quarter at all:
Guerlain Vetiver (vintage) 3.4 ounce
Idole de Lubin (edt) 3.4 in that stunning bottle
I’ve exhibited restraint this year. I hope I can keep this up!
Ohhh you found an Idole EDT?!
Yes, indeed. I’ve been coveting this for the longest time. It randomly popped up evilbay and I quickly snatched it up at a reasonable price. It was, of course, a dreaded auction…and I waited until the last 15 seconds (yes!) and placed the winning bid. Turns out, I’d only beat the previous bidder by two dollars but since I waited until the last few seconds of the auction, the other party didn’t have a chance to place another bid!
Wow congratulations!! Very well-played.
Adding my congrats. I kind of wish I’d bought it when I could…then again, I don’t need it. But jealous anyway!
That is always my tactic too!
I bought only one bottle this quarter: CDG Kyoto. It’s been somewhat of a disappointment though. I like Avignon at least 3x better and I wish I’d picked up a bottle of Tam Dao instead.
Oh, sorry! It’s no consolation but I wish I had a bottle of Kyoto.
It wasn’t a blind buy either. I loved the sample that I ordered from Luckyscent but somehow my full bottle doesn’t seem to smell the same. It’s more cedar dominant than I remembered. I wish I had reserved a little of the sample to compare. I am hoping that I’ll be more impressed with it with the warmer weather though.
Ah…try decanting a bit, and see if it smells the same to you when dabbed.
Yes, let it age a bit. That happened with my Chanel Coco – the woods get more prominent.
Ok so I must confess that I did do some fragrance purchasing but I am not going to count them as full bottles…first I bought the Atelier sample set (30 2ml samples) for $30 but with that I got a 30 dollar discount to apply to a future purchase…so I bought an Orange Sanguine gift set (30ml spray with personalized monogram leather case and large soap) as a gift for a family member. Another family member really wanted her own personalized leather case with perfume so I bought the whooping 6.8 oz of Orange Sanguine( to split among family members as ounce for ounce it is well worth the price). When you buy the large bottle you get a free gift of 30 ml bottle of another fragrance of your choice (I picked Vanille Insensee for her) along with a personalized monogram leather case. The big bottle was $180. So basically for $210 I got 30 2ml samples of almost the entire Atelier line to play with, a 6.8 oz gigantic bottle of Orange Sanguine, 30ml Orange Sanguine and 30 ml Vanille Insensee and two customized, monogrammed leather cases to go with both of the 30ml bottles….and since they were all gifted I am not counting it as MY own purchase! (but I did decant some of the Orange Sanguine for myself
and I am keeping most of the samples which don’t count, right?)
Also, I recently brought 10 of my full bottles to work…I have a shelving unit in my office that has a curtain to hide what is behind it…on one of the shelves I have all the bottles lined up and “privately” displayed for my eyes only…every morning when I get to work I spritz on something that appeals to me and quite often layer as well…so far I am finding that this is a great way to drain my bottles and I feel less guilty about my past purchases as I am actually making dents in my bottles…plus when I need something visually pleasing I pull back the curtain and gaze on my bottles!
Oooh, which ones and do you plan on switching them out over time?
Nothing to write home about but I love the aesthetics of matching bottles so at work I have JM Lime Blossom, JM Orange Blossom, JM Peony Blush and Suede, Ineke Field Notes from Paris, Ineke Evening Edged in Gold, Chinatown, Midnight Fleur, Reglisse Noire and Fleur no 1. Several are on the verge of being drained so when they are done I will replace them with vintage Nocturnes de Caron, vintage Chloe perfume, Narcotic Flowers, Dark Horse, Black Flower Mexican Vanilla and my 2oz decant of Orange Sanguine.
That is so awesome you can store at work! A few years ago when we moved from apartment to house, I stored my bottles in my office for safe keeping. It was nice to have them all so close by! But normally I just keep a stash of samples in my desk.
Initially I was concerned about stealing, exposure to light/temp , etc. But honestly, having them in storage in my dark cool basement is not conducive to using them up so I decided to bring them to work. And for me part of the appeal of perfume has always been those beautiful bottles….so I must admit that throughout the day I do pull back the curtain and look at them ( I am such a nerd!)
Not nerd, …aficionado!
This is a wonderful idea!
Good job you! I gave 2 of my nieces the Atelier gift certificate / sampler tin as an early birthday present and said try them all and let me know which one they would like as FB (30 mLs). I shouldn’t be surprised that one chose Orange Sanguine and the other picked Vanille Insensee!
They could not go wrong with Orange Sanguine and Vanille Insensee as they layer nicely too! I was almost tempted to buy my nephew the Cedrat Enivrant (not sure if I am spelling it correctly) because I LOVE that one (it is similar to Orange Sanguine to my nose) but then decided not to as he hasn’t made much of a dent in the Jo Malone’s and Dame Perfumery travel sizes I bought for him.
I love Cedrat Enivrant! It was the only perfume I brought with me to New Orleans in October 2014.
I’m NOT generally a fan of vanilla, but Vanilla Insensee (sp?) is easily my favorite “vanilla” frag — lovely, that one
Two, not including gifts. 5 o’clock au Gingembre and a 30ml bottle of PdN L’eau Chic, both of which I adore. And less than $100 spent so far.
Not bad at all!
Thank god for those discounts on Serge Lutens. Though now I have an irrational urge to get them all….
May I ask where do you get your discounted SL bottles? I’ve been hungering after a bunch of them for ages.
Way over budget this time…
At TK Maxx, L’artisan Parfumeur Bois Farine, a couple on the famous auction site (SL Feminite du Bois and Ostara), then the madness:
Dior Privee Feve Deliceuse and De Profundis (limited ed Vaporisateur Toute Noir)
My wallet still can’t believe I did this to it!
But your nose can, right?
1 bottle: L’Artisan Parfumeur for Aedes de Venustas. I’ve been coveting that stunning purple bottle (and the fantastic incense inside it) for years, and finally caved the last time I was in New York. (Which reminds me, the new Aedes space on Greenwich is GORGEOUS.)
Good for you!
I love it too!
Enjoy!
I only bought one – a slightly used 2 oz bottle of the original formula No 5 Eau Premiere off ebay. It was time to shore up my supply.
The last swapmeet has saved my bacon! I got so many lovelies. It is nice to swap rather than to buy for sure.
Did that last year–one of those ginormous 5 oz bottles of the original Eau Premiere–will be set for life & then some, unless it turns!
I can’t tell you how many time I almost bought a back up bottle of Eau Premiere before they changed it. I could kick myself. I have about 2/3 left of a 5 oz bottle. I paid a fair price for my ebay purchase, but I am so annoyed to have to bother. I wish Chanel hadn’t messed with it.
I’m having issues so far in 2016. I was very strict and barely tempted in 2015 and now I’ve gone wild. I also have more back-up bottles than any ‘normal’ person has non-back-up perfume. ((sigh))
Here’s what I remember buying since January 1….bottles only (splits and decants not included):
Dior Gris Montaigne
Penhaligon’s Ostara
Amouage Fate (this may have been late 2015)
Terry de Gunzburg Ombre Mecure
Stella
Lancome Mille & Une Roses
Lolita Lempicka L’eau en Blanc
Guerlain vintage Chamade (90s)
Balmain Jolie Madame vintage (90s)
Jo Malone Mimosa & Cardamom
Diptyque Opone
Houbigant Oranger en Fleurs (finally bought a bottle after several splits)
Lorenzo Villoresi Dilmun
even though this is far too many, I can honestly say I love *all* of the above, except, perhaps for Amouage Fate. I was careful. I started with a split and thought I loved Fate, then, when I purchased it I only like it very much. But maybe next Fall, I’ll try again and it will be fantastic…who knows. Oh, and while I really love the JM Mimosa, the love only last 10 minutes and then it’s gone. Also the LL L’eau en Blanc is fine, I don’t love it, but it was cheap, so whatever.
I’m very proud of myself for NOT getting the following unsniffed, because I was so excited about them, so I got splits and then didn’t like them:
Parfum d’Empire Tabac Tabou
Parfums MDCI Les Indes Galantes
Diptyque Eau des Sens
Deprivation backfires on you.
Yes, just like dieting, feast and famine, in this case famine then feast
Yes indeed. Every time I go on a no-buy I binge afterwards. Hence my excess of this quarter.
I bought it on a whim blind cause it was such a bargain at the end of march so I almost didn’t do any damage at all this quarter.
Just one! A 50ml Shalimar edt from 1997 according to the batchcode, from Ebay for $14 total. Quite the bargain. Love shalimars leather note in the top and the guerlinade (?) drydown. Lasts a short time though. I now wanna try the other flankers
Cheers Donatella!
Wow, nice bargain hunting!
Not a one yet. Still waiting for Atelier Cologne Collection Orient to come to Poland to buy Mimosa Indigo and Encens Jinhae.
I got a bottle of Hermes Le Jardin de Monsieur Li but since it was a gift I didn’t count it as a personal purchase.
Restraint is a wonderful thing when you know exactly what you want.
I think I did pretty good this quarter. I bought CD Tendre Poison, which is a long missed true love. A back up bottle of precious Gucci Rush and a travel spray of Commodity Mimosa just for something different. Full disclosure though, I purchased and then returned two or three bottles of perfume, I’m not even sure of what. Sometimes I do that. I am sure SA hate me.
I should really go buy some of my Poison — Hypnotic Poison. Enjoy your new bottles!
Before you do, try the Elixir (if you haven’t already). It’s HP with some anise thrown in. Lovely!
I’ve sort of… lost track? Eesh. But there was a bottle of Lyric (le sigh!), and small bottles of Caligna and Rose Privée purchased on sale, and the Tauerville rollerball set (that I was *not* able to justify by off-loading the Incense Flash at the splitmeet, unfortunately), and also-on-sale Ostara, and then there were various splits and ebay finds: Azemour les Orangers, Philosykos, Theorema, um… (goes and looks in cabinet)… oh, and a back-up bottle of vintage Shalimar extrait. I’m now sitting on my hands and wallet for the forseeable future, though I too have some plans involving Hermes.
I am chomping at the bit for the new Hermes Muguet Porcelaine.
I’ve done well thus far:
1. Epic Man Travel Spray set (can’t remember exactly how much it was, but somewhere around $80)
2. Eau de Gaga (TJMaxx, $7.99)
3. Oud & Bergamot (S5A, $27 after using points and 15% discount)
I really need to get on the swap bandwagon next time, there are far too many bottles that just aren’t getting any love.
Some good deals there! I would definitely snatch O&B if I saw it for a good price
(haven’t tried the others)
I’ve actually been looking forward to this damage poll, since I only bought one–yes, one!–bottle last quarter (by far, the smallest number since I started keeping track).
I got myself a bottle of Guerlain Vol de Nuit Evasion and I cherish it. Now, onward to Q2, in which I have some restraint to give up!
Wow! Good sleuthing on the VdNE.
I would have to say that in the past two or three months, I have bought 9 or more (can’t exactly remember). I have ended up with:
1 ounce bottle of Deneuve parfum for $60. Considering what Deneuve EDT costs (partially filled) it was a bargain.
1 ounce of vintage Diorling EDT. When I can find it, it ain’t cheap but $30 was.
At least 2 bottles of vintage Bal, 1 bottle of Jubilation 25, 1 travel set of Amouage Lyric as well. I’m prretty sure that I have bought a couple others but I can’t remember them right now.
So yeah, I went lighter than normal.
Ohhh your Diorling!! Where, might I ask, did you find that treasure?!
Found it on ebay. Smells like DiorLing and I was worried
Good stuff!
I dont know how this happened- it seems like aaaaages since I bought anything, yet somehow there’s still so many?? January is my birthday month so it mustve been then..
Balenciaga L’Essence 30ml $56
Roberto Cavalli (orig) mini 14ml $12
Roberto Cavalli Oro 40ml $32
Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Thé Bleu 75ml $76
Tom Ford Sahara Noir 50ml $140
Sonia Rykiel Belle en Rykiel edp 100ml $60
Balmain Jolie Madam 50ml $40
LUSH Kerbside Violet $25
L’Occitane Eau des Baux $72
Lubin Korrigan $150
L’Occitane Pamplemousse & Rhubarbe $52
Michael Kors Luminous White Gold coffret $77
and these are Aussie dollars, so the prices just shrink when y’all look at them
And much cheaper than a trip to France or America. So a great saving. You should buy a perfume to celebrate!
I bought nothing in January, but in February I bought an Abdes Salaam sample set (six 8ml scents) and some civet tincture, a vintage bottle of Etro Ambra, and a bottle of Ashoka in the splitmeet. In March, I got Salome (but split the bottle with others), MFK Cologne pour le Soir due to reformulation rumors, a Histoires de Parfums sample set, and a split of Profumum Meringa. All in all, not bad, and I didn’t go over my perfume budget for the quarter.
Only two, both of which have been on my wish list for years: Lyric Woman extract and CdG Stephen Jones. (And lots of samples, which fortunately don’t count!)
Ooooh, jealous of your Stephen Jones!
I have and love both scents of Stephen Jones but don’t use either one of them as often as I should.
I know the feeling well!
Just two bottles, I’m still quite restrained!
TF Fleur du Chine 50 ml
Aromatics Elixir 25 ml
I’m dithering on whether to get a back-up bottle of Fleur de chine. Then I’m also using up my samples (from the FM discovery set) of Iris Poudre and Fleur de Cassie and can’tdecide whether to get a travel set or FB (because maybe future DC?)
Get it. The price will only go up as it gets harder to find.
I agree^! If you can find a small bottle of FdC get it!
Has anyone commented before that Donatella’s collection seems a tad light-exposed?
My collection is pretty complete, but I managed to snag a bottle of Cristalle EDT (in winter!). Bought a small bottle of L’Occitane Lavande, which I immediately questioned. Also got the Ormonde Jayne sample set, postage free, thanks to….Petunia?
My goal is 1-2 bottles per year, so I’m already over budget.
Donatella doesn’t care — it looks spiffy and she just replaces the bottles if they go bad
Hah!
Wow! That is a lofty goal…only 1-2 bottles per year? I applaud you for your resolve!!!! My goal this year is to drain as many bottles as I can!!!!
It wasn’t me ScicilianaNC. I never had the OJ sample set. I’d love to try Ta’if though. Dang, I can’t take the credit. ????
I imagine Donatella has a room just for perfume. Also, as soon as she chooses her SOTD or SOTE, etc., and departs the perfume room, one of her ladies in waiting turns out the lights and draws the shades.
Well yes…that’s the room you’re seeing above! Although it might also be a dressing room or something, I can’t remember.
I’m still using 2014 tax refund money so “technically” they don’t count
I don’t update my spreadsheet (perfume name only as there is no column for $) as soon as I purchase something so I was in a little bit of a panic last week knowing that the poll is coming up. I was so proud of myself thinking I could choose a below 15 category until I realized I left off 3 or maybe 4 or 5… In any case, I will have to copy and paste the list when I’m home.
Yikes, you are a very bad girl!! You are going to give Donatella a run for her money (or her perfume collection).
I always feel righteous whenever I post near Furriner’s list!
Ha! Good move
I agree. She is very strategic ????
Can not wait to see your confessional list! ????
Me too!
These really don’t count but since confession is good for soul…
I am only counting FB purchases and splits for which I kept the majority of the juice. Anything < 15mLs no matter how expensive (I'm looking at you Roja Dove) are also excluded.
Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee EDP
Atelier Cologne Musc Imperial
Chanel 31 Rue Cambon
Chloe Love, Chloe
Demeter Baihao Yinzhen Tea
Demeter Beeswax
Demeter New Zealand
Demeter Patchouli
Demeter Vetiver
Emphorium Brooklyn Suedois
Guerlain Habit Rouge Dress Code
Jo Malone Sorrel & Lemon Thyme
Jo Malone Carrot Blossom & Fennel
Loewe White & Black Panda
MFK Ciel de GUM (bottle 2 as bottle 1 was fully split)
Queen Latifah Queen
Tauer Lonesome Rider
Tauerville Fruitchouli Flash
VC&A Midnight in Paris
All told, I, ahem, had a modest quarter as compared to some who had confessed…you know who you are :-)…
Perfumes Berdoues Assam of India 100 ml ($64)
Maria Candida Gentile Elephant and Roses, 30 ml ($36)
Penhaligon’s Endymion, 30 ml ($35)
Penhaligon’s Ostara, 100 ml ($49)
Charenton Macerations Christopher Street, 30 ml ($80)
Frapin Passion Boisée, 100 ml ($$83)
Yves Saint Laurent Kouros, 100 ml ($39)
Soivohlé Amun Re: The Tears of Ra, 30 ml ($143)
Histoires de Parfums Ambre 114, 14 ml ($27)
Histoires de Parfums Noir Patchouli, 14 ml ($27)
Histoires de Parfums Tubéreuse 3: Animale, 14 ml ($27)
Tokyomilk Honey and the Moon, 30 ml ($21)
Demeter Beeswax, 120 ml ($26)
Demeter Honey, 30 ml ($20)
Ulrich Lang Nightscape — unknown size. Free with Barneys bag from bag event (FREE!)
Serge Lutens Tubéreuse Criminelle, 75 ml ($200)
Serge Lutens Miel de Bois, 50 ml. I was talking with an SA about Serge scents, and she out of the blue mentioned she had an export bottle of MdB that she hated. Out of the blue she said she would just give it to me. I didn’t think this fair, and ended up trading her 30 ml of Fourreau Noir that I had received with the black atomizer (which I also gave her) free with a purchase off the US Serge Lutens site, which she was happy with. Anyway, this is my favorite acquisition this quarter. I have MdB in a bell jar, but had been on the lookout for an original version for comparison’s sake. (FREE!)
Madini Oils Musk Gazelle 3 ml ($14)
Ginestet Botrytis, 100 ml ($88)
Rochas Tocade, 100 ml ($28)
Etat Libre d’Orange Rien Intense Incense, 100 ml ($152)
Bruno Fazzolari Au Delà ー Narcisse des Montagnes, 30 ml ($110)
FREE! Wow. That’s awesome. Mazel Tov.
You bought Demeter Honey AND Beeswax and got Miel de Bois besides? I am impressed by your commitment to the theme. (Love Honey, love love love MdB, haven’t tried Beeswax yet.)
I bought nothing last quarter so I’m living vicariously through your many purchases. I finally finally convinced myself that I really do have more than I could use up in a lifetime. Although I am going to Berlin in a couple of weeks, so heaven help me.
And Ginstet Botrytis is very prominently honey as well….
Yeah, I was pretty much on a honey hunt. Not everything was successful. The Tokyomilk smells like hairspray on me. The Demeters are what you’d expect. Not sure if Beeswax captures the smell of beeswax, though.
I was in Japan in February and was scouting thrift shops for a vintage bottle of Miel de Bois, so when I was offered the one for free after I got home it was like a dream. I’m very happy with the current version, but it’s nice to have both. It was definitely reformulated.
Have you completely abandoned your blog? I am glad you still have the site up.
Yes, I guess I have abandoned it. But writing those words gives me emotional pangs. Clearly it has been many years, so, yeah…. but much of the time I find myself writing reviews in my head, so perhaps someday we will write again, I did enjoy the writing and community so much.
How significantly reformulated? I have a saved search on eBay for the original.
It’s worth getting, I’d say. The original is certainly more acrid and more challenging, although I don’t find it as offensive as some seem to. The current version is still the most beautiful honey I’ve come across. I must say, however, that I have not sprayed the current version, only dabbed, so don’t have an exact comparison. Serge himself, though, admitted it was reformulated in an interview on Fragrantica. http://www.fragrantica.com/news/Serge-Lutens-Interview-Answers–2728.html
You are one awesome smelling gentleman, I have to say!! VERY NICE collection!!! Congrats!!
Thanks!
How do you like the Berdoues Assam? I have been considering that one.
To be honest, I got this at the beginning of the year. It was a bit too light for the winter and I’ve set it aside. It would probably work much better in the summer.
O.O *speechless wonder*
I love the fact that you insisted on giving her something in return! I’m sure she was as thrilled with the swap as you
Me, too!
Furriner, do you have Penhaligon’s Sartorial? It has a very nice honey or beeswax note. I bought a one-ounce bottle were on sale on HauteLook. It’s a tad masculine for me but I like it.
A very reasonable quarter for me–
Mythique $54
Sacrebleu backup bottles 100 ml $110, 50 ml $134
Haie Fleurie backup bottle $81
Milk of Flowers backup bottle $51
No more shopping for me until mid May when I’ll get my 100th bottle worthy perfume during the weekend of my 25th college reunion
Is that the original sacrebleu?, I have and adore the intense, which I love, but haven’t tried the original, is it much different?
Thanks.
I purchased four bottles during the first quarter of 2016:
Neela Vermiere Bombay Bling
Papillon Tobacco Rose
Vero Profumo Onda VDE
Andy Tauer Lonesome Rider
Onda VdE!!! Major jealousy here????
I love the Onda VdE! (I’ve been wanting it for a long time and really budgeted myself in order to finally get it.)
Fabulous choices, enjoy!
No comment ????
Lol same.
Donatella knows anyway
Shame on you Robin! Clearly Deva is tortured enough, haha????
Not quite tortured enough as evidenced by the fact I’m trying to decide which FM travel spray I’m going to spring for on payday. Help me out- should I go for Dries or L’eau d’Hiver?
Oh, Deva, you’ve gone and made me remember that there were two FM travel spray purchases that I failed to confess to above — L’Eau d’Hiver and Eau de Magnolia. And the Dries Van Noten is SO good! The only thing holding me back from that one is the fact that I think of it as basically a very yummy amber, and since I also bought a large decant of Ambre Sultan this quarter that I *also* forgot about, I decided the DVN would be a titch redundant. Whereas L’Eau d’Hiver is so unique…
I prefer the DVN but if it’s heating up quickly where you are, the L’Eau d’Hiver might be an easier wear.
Sorry. But really, there is no need to worry. Donatella sees all and forgives all. (unfortunately she does not help with the funding, but you can not have everything)
????
After starting out really well, I fell off the wagon.
Candles probably don’t count, but they multiplied after I discovered how nice they are at certain times of the day . Then I found them through various promotions. I do like Diptyque, Nest, Ovando in addition to my Jo Malone standbys. The PdN Maharadjah candle is a favorite and I needed a backup.
The perfume includes:
Idole de Lubin
JM Carrot Blossom and Fennel
Hermessence Rose Ikebana
Bruno Fazzolari Au Dela Narcisse Des Montagnes
I’m debating on whether to even look at TJ Maxx. Maybe I’ll wait until 3rd quarter!
There is probably somebody you need to confess to about the candles, but it is not Donatella.
Good to know. Perfumes(back up and out of rotation) and candles are camouflaged in a book cabinet so the husband cannot easily count them or appreciate changes in quantity. He understands the issue generally, though, and is patiently waiting for self control to kick in. Not sure if he appreciates Donatella’s benevolence.
I fear I have sort of lost track but:
Travel Spray of Portrait of a Lady
Fleur de Chine 50ml
Coromandel in the smaller bottle
Ostara roll on
Putain des Palances 50ml
and my husband kindly bought me Floris A Rose for…
So quite a lot compared to how restrained I had managed to be for a while.
Lovely list Sophie, I’m eagerly awaiting a sample of Ostara, from a perfume fairy Godmother, and you’re first 3 are all firm favourites.
I’m still to spring for a bottle of Coromandel tho, maybe in the Autumn , if funds don’t allow another decant if they still have Chanel at scentsamples.
The Floris rose sounds so lovely from you’re past descriptions, I’m such a rose fiend, I’m sure it’s gorgeous!
So, my New Year’s resolution was to use every scent in my collection of bottles, minis, decants, and samples at least once before buying. 96 days in, and I am still wearing old stuff (with very few repeats, so far). It can’t be too long now, before I run out of stuff to wear. So my balance this year is $0.00 so far. I did receive a lovely partial bottle of Mitsouko EDT from Doc Sinister, thanks so much again.
Good for you!
Great idea, glad it worked!
I mostly bought small decants this quarter, and the swap meet helped me add some new lovelies as well, so it feels like I bought/spent more than I did.
3 FB: Laura Biagotti Roma 50ml($25), Kenzo Amour 100ml gift set($35), & ELDO Jasmin et Cigarette 50ml($85)
10ml Coromandel from the split meet($20)
Moving is sapping my resources at the moment so I’ll have to white-knuckle it for a while.
O Donatella, you know that I seek to follow your guidance, always. Well maybe not in regards to the bleachy blonde hair. Or the oompa-loompa tan. Or the crazy expensive clothes which somehow still have questionable taste. But anyway, you know you are my guiding light.
This quarter I did buy a few backup bottles. Only of my favorites! And all at excellent prices. Hajusuuri says BUBs don’t count, and who am I to question her wisdom.
Bought a few mini’s too, but really only a few. As we know, these are decorative, and thus do not count either.
I managed to purge ALL of my purchasing mistakes from 2015. Got started on my 2016 mistakes, though, but that’s not really worthy of discussion. None of us are perfect.
I did buy a rather unsquintable amount of perfume though. …and then I got a bonus on March 31 which more than covered my purchases for the quarter. Which makes them FREE. Mwahahahaha! (evil perfume laugh)
So, nothing to discuss then. Move along, nothing to see here
Rationalization is a wonderful tool ????
absolutely hilarious. laughed out loud a bunch. thanks!
A beautiful rationalization of “bonus” money. Everybody knows that a bonus does NOT count in budgeting!!
LOVE THIS!!
I bow down to you Pixel????
LOL. BuBs really don’t count (and even if they did, my list would still pale by comparison to that of Furriner’s)…now if I can only convince Donatella that large “samples” also don’t count, well then, I really have nothing to confess!
Heeheehee!
Prada Infusions d’iris
Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose
Chanel Cristalle
I’m not counting these, but I bought 4 2-ml samples from OJ and am seriously tempted to buy a FB of Ormonde Woman now. I also bought samples from Aedes and while I like many, none of them have been giving me the “WANT NOW” vibe.
Well, I had a lot of birthday money to spend…
– Serge Lutens Un Lys, export bottle still sealed (haven’t opened yet)
– Serge Lutens Douce Amere, export bottle still sealed (haven’t opened yet)
– Serge Lutens Douce Amere, partial export bottle (mostly I wanted to see if there were any formulation changes between the partial bottle I already had and the sealed bottle, to determine if I should keep the sealed bottle)
– VCA California Reverie (partial bottle for back up)
– Byredo Black Saffron
– Byredo Black Saffron (I bought a byredo travel atomizer from goodwill online with an unnamed “floral” fragrance that I was excited to try, but unfortunately happened to be Black Saffron.)
– Hiram Green Voyage – but I’m returning it!
Still deciding if I should keep or part with the Un Lys, and probably one of the bottles of Douce Amere.
A lot of repetition on that list…
Oh, and that vintage 1976 Jicky bottle!
Great list! And look forward to hearing about the Douce Amere.
Vintage Jicky! You’re so lucky!
I found it at a thrift shop, honestly I’m not sure what to do with it because I don’t really know if it’s my thing – but I feel evil selling it or something!
I love this site and it has helped form my passion for fragrance. Thus I have become very fickle so I’ve been buying more samples and discovery sets – a lot of the ideas come from NST articles.
The only full bottles this year have been Bobbi Brown Party and Nest Midnight Fleur Soliel.
I’m getting Midnight Fleur as my May Scentbird selection….Can’t wait!! It’s definitely FB worthy….
It is! I have the original bottle (which is different from the one they sell at Sephoras). I love the fragrance…my skin really amps up the sweetness and there is a definitive pineapple/vanilla going on!
I picked up 3 Lucy B. roll-ons on clearance for $5 each. Using some sort of weird perfume-math, I concluded that this is well below any kind of full bottle price (and is essentially free), but it’s only fair to report some sort of damage. So I went with 1 bottle for purposes of the poll.
And I would like to say that I really like Royal Green Fig & Vanilla Woods from this line. I was in pursuit of Pink Frangipani for an easy-peasy option, but the Fig has been a really nice surprise.
They were cheaper than essentially free. I think by any perfumista accounting, you made money.
I kind of threw caution to the wind this quarter. But I didn’t pay full price for anything, so there’s that.
Penhaligon’s Ostara 50ml – $35
Penhaligon’s Sartorial 30ml – $35
L’Artisan Tea for Two 50ml – $40
L’Artisan Timbuktu (my SOTD) 50ml – $40
L’Occitane Fleur d’Or & Acacia body oil – $13 (this may have been last quarter but I don’t remember exactly)
Hermes Vetiver Tonka 15ml (splitmeet) – $47
Split decants:
Chanel Coromandel 10ml – $19
Vero Profumo Rozy 5ml – $25
Oriza Legrand Vetiver Royal Bourbon 5ml – $9
Goodness those are some good deals!!
It has been ages since I’ve had anything at all to confess here – relying mostly on bottles of perfume given as Mother’s Day/Anniversary/Birthday/Xmas gifts. But I finally bought my bottle of Rose Oud, which had been top of my list for forever, and I bought a bottle of Lonesome Rider at the discounted pre-sale price. I also got pricey decants of Rozy vdp and Rubj edp. That’s nothing at all for most of you, but for me a real glut of perfume!
Which Rose Oud did you get? The Kilian or the PdN?
The Killian. Just got the refill bottle as I’m not willing to spend an additional $200 for a fancy bottle in a fancy box with a key. Haven’t tried the PdN.
I was lucky as I received some gorgeous perfumes for my birthday: Vintage no 19, Lyric travelspray set, Journey travelspray set and Trayee. I bought Ostara (and gave a bottle to my sister in law as she complimented me on it, and I had been thinking for a long time what perfume she would love), Fleur de Cassie and Fleur no 1. Not bad at all. But…I bought some samples I really like (if not love) so next quarter I may need some Donatella Absolution.
And…I would like to make a proposal to change the name of the Donatella post to something like: The pleasures (or fun) so far…buying poll.
Two bottles, both in February, both 50 ml, both EDTs, both heavily discounted – Eau Sauvage and Goutal’s Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille. Seems OK, but not OK really, because I wanted to follow Robin’s example and have a no-buy year. Eau Sauvage is justifiable, because it’s been on top of my list for years and I knew I was going to get it sooner or later. Mon Parfum Cherie was a total impulse-buy though. The worst thing is, once I’ve realised a no-buy year is not going to happen, I’ve sort of let myself go and now I’m planning to get a Lutens, a couple of Hermessence minis…
It never stops…
In keeping with my resolve to spend small and enjoy what I’ve already got, I only picked up a few goodies for a total of less than $100–so basically free in perfume bucks!
Chergui–partial bottle off of ebay
Jardin de Monsieur Li–travel size from split meet
Lonesome Rider–pay what you will samples
Tokyo Milk Garden State–clearance at Marshalls
Enjoying these, some generous free samples (thanks again hajusuuri), and the rest of my collection. While not as vast as Donatella’s, I like it!!
Sigh. Another buying quarter resolution completely blown by vintage minis.
I exaggerate… slightly… but seriously, I bought seven minis and two used/deeply discounted FBs:
75ml vintage Safari COLOGNE (that’s how you *know* you got the vintage!)
50ml MJ Daisy tester
8ml Dame Soliflore Narcissus
7.5ml vintage Safari parfum
12ml vintage Norell parfum, 40% full but really by Norell, not Five Star
7ml vintage YSL Paris parfum
TWO 3ml Samsara microminis
4ml vintage Fracas parfum
Grand total $179. Ow. (I’ve had worse quarters, but I wish I hadn’t bought the Norell and the Daisy. I should have found a Daisy rollerball instead.)
On the other hand, the Paris and Samsara parfums are WONDERFUL. So is the Fracas – it’s an old, old bottle with the name in rounded lowercase, so I think it’s the good formula. The topnotes are strongly nail-polishy, but five minutes in, you feel like somebody’s slipped you a mickey in your drink, it’s that narcotic! The Dame Narcissus is good. I love Safari so much now, I’ve been stocking up on old bottles. I think I can stop now.
I think I have that same Fracas mini!
Pretty sure I also have the same Fracas…
And, just wanted to let you know you scored big time with the two vintage Safaris….those sound sublime. And the Samsara. Good stuff!
What a nice list!
First quarter without a purchase (Yay) but that’s because the budget is super tight right now (boooo).
Donatella, forgive me my high horse, I forgot about the 3.4 oz FB of Chanel Allure that i bought in January using a gift card, so really only $50 on my tab.
Aaaand not sure but I believe the 1.7 oz Samsara from eBay for $20.
But other than that, just free samples. I’m pretty sure
LOL!
Oh, boy…….here we go:
– YSL Opium Fleur de Shanghai (8ml decant)
– Bvlgari Jasmin Noir (8 ml decant)
– Queen by Queen Latifah
– Chloe
– Byredo Pulp
– Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger (100ml)
– Jo Malone Nutmeg and Ginger body cream
– EL Bronze Goddess body cream
Total: $ 513. 79
WOW!
Curious, how are you liking the Nutmeg and Ginger? That is the first Jo Malone scent, right? I love their body creams and soaps as well…wish they offered the soaps in more fragrances, though.
Nutmeg and Ginger is the only JM I own….I think it’s lovely and I also went in for the body cream. Nice to see it getting some love!
I like it because for me, it layers nicely with so many of my fragrances. It was also a “change” for me. Not the typical notes I normally wear, but trying to broaden my appreciation for different scents.
The only thing I bought was a set of vintage minis at Salvation Army. It’s been a quarter of recovering (physically and financially) from breaking my leg, etc. and I wasn’t really motivated to spend money on perfume. I ended up enjoying what I have, swapping and trying some things with perfume pals and generally not missing making random purchases. Also draining samples, so I think there’s more room in the collection eventually…
Sorry to hear (belatedly) about your leg
I’m glad you’re recovering, hopefully smoothly!
I did go over budget, since my budget was 0… But everything was discounted so I just had to, didn’t I?
Narciso – I think around $45 on Fragrancenet for 50 ml
Ostara – 50 ml for $35
Three Demeters at the Sniffa event ($12 each): Baihao Yinzhen Tea, Black Ginger, Vetiver
My goal this year is to go through the samples I have and reach into the back of the cabinet rather than add anything. Unless, of course, it is a deal that is too good to pass up!
Home today with an awful stomach bug counting my sins. I just started making a serious ‘collection’ in September. Before that I had just a few bottles that I used everyday. The fall was some FB purchases and countless small decants to prepare for January in Paris! I am working an extra job this year and getting paid what is essentially a large bonus. I hate the task and so am rewarding myself. So many perfumes are much cheaper in Europe. I could go on and on with the justifications but I bought *a lot.* And then a lot more in February and March. I think, in sizes from 30ml-100ml over twenty bottles. Nuts and I am calming way way down now.
What did you buy in Europe? Curious to know which brands are cheaper.
Frederic Malle is much cheaper, so I got Une Rose, PoaL, and Iris Pourdre; the Serge Lutens bell jars and exclusives are also much cheaper, so Boxeuses and De Profundis. Naomi Goodsir, Bois d’Ascese, Memo Ilho de Miel, Ostara (that sale was everywhere, including Paris!), and, the weirdest to me, HYLNDS Pale Grey Mountain, Small Black Lake. It was 120 euros instead of 180 US dollars, despite being from a US company. The Neela Vermeire line is also cheaper but I didn’t get to Jovoy, where they carry it. I’ve bought the discovery coffret and a FB of Pichola since I’ve been back and am now saving pennies for Mohur and Bombay Bling. I also bought two Chanel’s when I returned (Misia and Coromandel) and they likely would have been much cheaper in Europe, but I could only flout customs restrictions so much. (I hope they aren’t keeping tabs here!)
Some weren’t cheaper at all though: Parfum de Nicolai most notably.
Jelly of your DeProfundis. I don’t care about the Bell Jar but would love to have 15 mls for summer.
That one actually didn’t in a bell jar, but in two tall thin bottles with a kind of cool black travel holder. (They are tall for travel though so I don’t fully get it.) I haven’t done split meets because I worry about when I am going to get to the post office, but I could send you some. I’ll get there eventually!
Nice! There’s a Brussels trip and a Paris trip later this year and I have a feeling I’ll need some suitcase room
Definitely eyeing some Malles, LAP, Chanel and now Neela V and Naomi G. I need a plan and a budget.
Customs restrictions, eh? What are those restrictions, exactly?
I’ve noticed how much cheaper a lot of stuff is, and since I spend most of my time living in France right now, I feel like I should stock up…but I have so much less money than I (hopefully) will have in a few years, so I thought I’d save most big purchases for future European visits. It would be good to know if doing so will flout laws….
Oh, and Creed is wildly less expensive. My person stocked up on on Original Vetiver.
Hope you are better soon!
Thanks!
Shame, shame, shame on me. These 2016 purchases come on top of a very purchase-heavy 2015. I’ve now reached my personal limit of 30 perfumes. I wonder how long I will stick to that limit.
Ex Nihilo Vetiver Moloko
Escentric Molecules Escentric 03
Profumum Antico Caruso
L’Artisan Parfumeur Poivre Piquant
Dior Eau Sauvage EdT
Ormonde Jayne Woman
Ormonde Jayne Man
Ormonde Jayne Frangipani
Ormonde Jayne Sampaquita
Ormonde Jayne Champaca
Ormonde Jayne Vanille d’iris
That’s my personal limit too, but i’m getting there fast so we’ll see
Mmmm OJ Champaca, so perfect for spring
Sireta Firenze Rosa e patchoully 30ml £4
YSL Cinéma EDP 50ml (30% full) £3
Chanel No5 EDC (50s vintage) 3oz or thereabouts (full) £25
Cacharel Lou Lou 30ml £15.99
Lou Lou Love!
just one FB, Assam of India – Berdoues, for my South India trip, it worked well there, but I’m not sure I’ll really wear it again (unless we have a very hot summer?) – but the bottle is cute – the elephants!
Is it really weak? I have been thinking about this one.
no I wouldn’t say so, it kept quite well for a couple of hours in a tropical climate, I’m just not really into cologne-ish type of scents in general
Ooooh I’ve been craving this one (and not just for the bottle!). Have you tried any other Berdoues? Are they all cologne-types?
Wow. More than I’d realized this quarter.
5-ish bottles.
Partial (but pretty full) Vintage No. 19
Partial (but nearly empty) No. 5
Nostalgie
Eau de Magnolia
Decant of Chandler Burr Untitled from the Luckyscent game.
I had fun participating in the Untitled sniffing game. I’d do it again, if the scent description sounds at all appealing. The scent this time was pretty but also pretty unremarkable. I wear it from time to time when that seems right!
What’s your take on Eau de Magnolia?
It is a linear but pretty floral. I like the burst of semi-citrus I get in the start and it lasts well, if a bit softly, for a long time on me. It is an uncomplicated scent, but I find it cheerful and easy to wear.
They need to make a body butter in this scent.
Splits and swaps have been saving my bacon this quarter.
The only damage was a split on Mohur Extrait (5 ml), OJ Vanille d’Iris (10 ml) and Woman (10 ml), a sampler set of Teo Cabanel, and an Eau des Merveilles soap.
A great success, if you ask me!
Can you get the sampler set of the Teo Cabanel in the U.S.? And are they sprays or dabbers? I’ve been wanting and not finding! Any info much appreciated.
I’m in Canada but I didn’t see any US restrictions. I’d ordered directly from their website (just last week) and haven’t received them yet but they look like dabbers in the picture (alas). Still, can’t wait to try…a very good deal!
Great thanks!
I ordered the sample set directly from the website and it got to me (in the US) with zero problems.
I need to start writing down when I buy something, to lazy to look it up. But my best guess is: 3 small size bottles from JM (Nasturium, Sorrel, Mimosa) and decants of Bel Respiro and Saffron Troublant. I also wanted Zeta, but its gone but I managed to get 10 goodsized samples instead. So all in all maybe 4 bottles
I nearly always buy perfume through my Paypal account, so I usually go back through it to keep track of how much I spent.
Infusion d’Iris Absolue 50ml
Cuir d’Russie 75ml
Baccarat Rouge 540 (MFK bottle)
Cuir d’Ange 100ml
Angélique as a birthday gift from a dear friend.
Have had worse quarters and am trying to slow down considerably this year as I’m not going through bottles fast enough at all.
Cuir d’Ange is a favorite of mine and really like Cuir de Russie.
How is Infusion d’Iris Absolue comparing to the regular EDP?
I think it’s richer with more focus on a rootier iris. It’s also sweeter although I wouldn’t classify it as a sweet fragrance. It’s a beautiful iris though not as versatile than the original Infusion d’Iris.
I think it went pretty well overall, because I knew I couldn’t let this three months without getting anything, the itching of buying perfumes is still very present.
I’ve bought a bottle of Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio to split and 35 ml remained for me. The second was a blind buy of Richard James Savile Row and after the first spray I knew it was a bad decision (major disappointed) and sold it. So only 35 ml for the first quarter. Let’s see what the next one will bring, but I’ve already my eye on Coromandel…
I had told myself only one FB per quarter. That didn’t quite work out, but I did only buy two!
My beloved went to Sydney to visit his son, and he heroically braved the David Jones perfume department to get me a bottle of Armani Privé Myrrhe Imperiale. I’d equipped him well with photos, and instructions not to be talked into anything else by enthusiastic sales assistants. I also stressed to him that he should not look at the price, and that I knew what I was doing!
I just received a bottle of Annick Goutal’s Mandragore, but that was for research purposes, you understand
Wanting to explore some other online discounters, I thought I had better start with something modestly priced.
Love this!
” I also stressed to him that he should not look at the price, and that I knew what I was doing!”
Here is my 1st quarter tally:
1. Crabtree & Evelyn Lily
2. Guerlain Pamplelune
3. Lolita Lempicka Sweet
4. Victoria’s Secret Lemon Iris
5. Sonoma Scent Studio Yin & Ylang
6. Prada Candy Florale
7. Givenchy L’Eau en Rose
8. L’Occitane Pamplemousse Rhubarb
9. Penhanligons Ostara
Good thing I really enjoy them, or I’d seem frivolous
Boring quarter for me
1. Terre D’Hermes gift set
2. Uomo by Ferragamo at TJMAXX
Woke up grumpy on a foggy, gray morning. Hmph.
It’s delightful to read the comments here, enjoy everyone’s perfumed adventures, and take away some happiness.
Here’s what I recall purchasing:
Ostara 100 ml (very glad it’s 100 ml)
La Chasse aux Papillons 50 ml (shoulda bought 100 ml)
Le Jardin de Monsieur Li 15 ml (thank you, Hajusuuri)
Chanel Eau de Cologne decant + varied No. 5 samples = 15 ml (I had a little bit of a falling down at STC when these were 45% off)
Not feeling grumpy now.
Kinda regretting I didn’t do the 100 ml of Ostara….
Me too!! I really wish I had bought it when everyone was getting that great price on it!
I’ve bought a little
Vintage Lancôme Tresor from the nineties in a splash/stopper bottle, 50 ml.
L’Artisan Safran troublant, 100 ml
Kenzo Flower l’elixir, 50 ml
And a bunch of samples from Lucky scents; Eldo Hermann, Boudicca, Le Labo The noire.
Wooh boy, this is the most I’ve ever spent on perfume! That said, I didn’t pay full price for anything, so that counts for something (also explains why I threw caution to the wind). Here’s the damage (I’ll just keep the monetary amount between my bank account and I) – each line counts as (1) bottle:
Bvlgari Au The Rouge & Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia minis
Bvlgari Black
Calvin Klein Reveal
Chanel Coromandel EDT (for the Splitmeet)
Chanel Cuir de Russie EDT (for the Splimeet)
Chanel No. 5 EDP
Chanel No. 5 EDC
Chanel No. 5 EDT
Chanel No. 19 EDC
(2) Estee Lauder Beautiful minis
(2) Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise minis
(2) Estee Lauder Youth Dew minis
(2) Estee Lauder Pleasures minis
Estee Lauder Intuition and Pure White Linen minis
Estee Lauder Tuberose Gardenia
Estee Lauder Modern Muse Chic
Gucci EDP
Gucci Envy EDT
Guerlain Insolence
L’Artisan Mechant Loup
L’Artisan Dzing!
L’Artisan Dzonghka
L’Artisan Al Oudh
(2) L’Artisan minis – La Chasse aux Papillons and Mure et Musc
Lush Imogen Rose
Lush Sikkim Girls
Pacifica Waikiki Pikake
Whew! I think I’m done typing for now…
A few of my favourites in there!
A few of my favourites there, too! Especially the ones from L’Artisan (all of which I too own…)
where did you get the Gucci Envy?
Goodwill!
I’m so jealous of you’re Goodwills in the U.S, never perfume in charity shops here! (Sob)
Only some Goodwills have perfume – none of my local ones accept or sell it.
There, does that help?
Five for me this quarter – three solid hits, one kinda meh, and one fail:
Eau Clair des Merveilles (love, esp. layered with Eau des Merveilles)
Alahine (sheer adoration)
Heeley Cuir Pleine Fleur (love)
Balenciaga Paris (nice when I’m in that kind of mood)
Caron Violette Precieuse (current formulation and NOT what I was hoping for; someday I’ll find this in vintage and that will be another story altogether)
So not too awful … and now it’s a whole new quarter and time to reset the damage clock. Retail therapy is in my immediate future!
Do you get a strong milky note in the eau claire? i’ve read that it has a milky note…
I don’t notice a milky note on my skin, no. It’s more like creamy floral with a little bit of fizziness and a little bit of saltiness. It’s very mild by itself, and really nice layered with the Eau.
I didn’t buy any perfume between 2013 and 2015! However, last summer I got a 12ml bottle of Amouage Ayoon al Maha and, at Christmas, another 12ml of Majan. Last month I bought nine (lifetime supply!) 5 ml bottles of Veriditas Botanicals organic “Jasmine Perfume” at my local co-op because it was on sale and smells like heaven. I’ve been trying to use fewer chemical laden products, including fragrances. I love TJMaxx and Marshalls but my stores never have exciting fragrances. They do, however, sells awesome “A La Maison” liquid hand soaps for half the price at Wholefoods. Yay!
Sells? Sorry … Sell…
I so love reading the quarterly confessional. We are a supportive group! I was a very good girl until mid February, at which point I lost complete control of myself. My favorite purchase was the Byredo explorer travel set which had several that I really wanted in full bottle format. So I actually exercised restraint, right?? Snicker, snicker….
This might be one of the best quarters yet for reading about all the wonderful things y’all bought!
As for me, hmmm….let’s see:
Two decants: 10 ml Smell Bent Gimmel a Break & 10 ml Profumum Roma Ambra Aurea
Three FBs (but each is 30 ml, so….): Reminiscence Patchouli,
Tokyo Milk Honey and the Moon, & Tokyo Milk Sea and Sky
After an eight month buying freeze that went really well, I bought some Zoologist Bat in January. I think I answered the poll wrong, because I put “2-4”, as I’d bought a Malle travel spray around the same time (do you count those as half a bottle, R?), but I’m now remembering I also gave it away as a gift. So I think I’m solidly at 1 bottle for the last three quarters.
I am not consistent. I counted my two rollerballs as two bottles, but a Malle travel spray I’d probably count as a half bottle.
I bought four bottles, though one was for my mom and one for her to give me for my upcoming b-day. Got them all at discounters, for a total of $140.
Mitsouko EDP
Habit Rouge EDT
L’Instant EDP (for my mom)
Cuir de Lancôme
I’m probably going to drive myself crazy because the weather is already warm enough here to impose my summer perfume-ordering ban, wherein I need to wait until about October(!) to order more. This of course means that I’m sure to run across a few insane bargains online for things I’ll never find in my local Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Ross. Grrrr. ????
I bought a lot of bottles.
I have so many explanations and excuse notes from home (with forged signatures)…but the answer is that I am into this fragrance thing so deeply and didn’t get into it until less than 2 years ago and had SO much catching up to do.
How can I read all these back entries on NST, Bois de Jasmin, The Non-Blonde, Posse, Kafka and Perfume Shrine, not knowing what all these delicious things smell like? And I’ve learned, once I smell them, I want to wear them. So Fragrancenet and eBay have given me most of my bottles (not full price).
As examples of this quarter: Cartier So Pretty, Cartier Fougueuse, SL La Myrrhe, SL Boxeuses, Chanel No 19 vintage EDC, Encre Noir Lalique, Bandit, a UNICORN holding Avon Timeless, Marni, Chanel No 5 Eau Premiere, L’Air du Temps, Caleche, Dune, Yatagan, Chant d’Aromes, L’Heure Bleue, some backups and some Discovery kits from Neela Vermeire and Andy Tauer.
Yes, I’m embarrassed at my riches. I love my scent babies.
Now I have to save up for a place to store these suckers.
Prices Tonk, How well you expressed my exact dilemma and then compounded it by having a list which only minimally duplicates my sample collection, much less FBs. I was looking at accessible, light blocking cabinetry just the other day……I love problems like these.
Bring them on!!
Isn’t that kinda the point? With problems like these, life is blessed. You got it! If perfumes can salve the wounds of life, we’ve got it made on the cheap.
PrincessTonk: Same EXACT problem here. Now that I’m really into fragrance, I want to smell as many as possible. Study them. Understand the notes. I was SO BAD this quarter! I need to focus on the ones I have for a while!!
Jada, I was going to respond to your list and you beat me to it! You do have rules, though – you are sticking to less expensive bottles and buying them at good prices. I used to buy clothing which was so much more expensive per item, so now I stick to scents which is cheaper per unit.
But I agree with you and WendySue: it is time to focus on the ones I have. There is a rush in buying the New Thing, but we have to rediscover the pleasure in listing what we wear daily instead of what we want to buy. I am amazed that people actually don’t buy anything in a quarter! But maybe they’ve been doing this for 10 years and know better than we. All I know is that this has given me great pleasure and I’d like to control myself a lot better…
I bought two bottles, which is a great achievement for me, but since I was earning MUCH less than last year I guess I can’t ascribe it to improved self control so much as less money!
Both were about half price – a 30ml JM Fig&Cassis and a back-up export bottle of Tubereuse Criminelle.
However, I have ALREADY blown my budget for the 2nd quarter on a bottle of No.5 Eau Premier. Someone passed on a sample to me and I became unexpectedly besotted. Got it from a discounter but still came to quite a bit.
Besotted – what a great word.
1. Roja Parfums Discovery Atomiser (7.5 ml) of A Goodnight Kiss Parfum for £110 ($155). Yes, that totally, obsenely, absurdly overpriced perfume–which just happens to be gorgeous. Is it gorgeous enough to justify paying so much for so little perfume? All I can say is that after I managed to sneak a little spritz of it onto a test strip in NM and put it into my purse, I kept opening up the pocket it was in and sniffing it. When the scent finally faded out after a few weeks, I was sad. I wanted to smell it some more. Very few perfumes affect me that way. Hey, at least it is extrait.
2. A mini (7.5 ml) of vintage D’Orsay Voulez-Vous, concentration unknown, $23.38. It seems like an extrait or a strong EdP. It has good intensity and longevity, as most vintage perfumes do.
3. Vintage Prince Matchabelli Abano After Bath Cologne, 30 ml, $20.
Samples don’t count, so I don’t have to mentions that April Aromatics sample set (although I just did), or those Byredo sample sprays I picked up on ebay. Everything I bought this quarter was purchased in March. I did really well for two months, then something happened. My wish list is getting really short these days, though, so I still came in well below a typical quarter a few years ago.
I hadn’t bought any full bottles for a couple of years before Christmas 2015. So I was a little too tempted by some good deals this past quarter. Almost everything used and pretty cheap.
Dior Dune
Bvlgari Black (before it’s gone!)
AG Mandragore
AG Grand Amour
Tocade
Lalique de Lalique
Lolita Lempicka l’eau en Blanc tester
Samsara EDT
Champagne des Bois
And a few minis….
Now I’m done for a while although I won’t be taking 2 years off again….
Decants/splitmeet Decants/minis this quarter:
2.5 ml. AG Myrrh Ardente pure parfum
10 ml Ambra Aurea
10 ml Volutes EDT
Love, Chloe mini
Bottles:
Partial Chanel No. 19 vintage EDP
50 ml Penhaligon’s Ostara EDT
50 ml L’Artisan Parfumeur Tea for Two
30 ml Chloe EDP
I guess I’ll call it 6. I’ve been better, but I’ve also been much, much worse!
Guerlain Habit Rouge EDT
Aramis Aramis
Aramis Devin
I’m also thinking about getting a vintage bottle of Monsieur de Givenchy but I’m not sure…
5 Full bottles:
1. Cheapie Yves Rocher Manoi Eau des Vahines
2. 1/4 oz. Shalimar Extrait from the 1960s (Evil Bay) – great price
3. 1 oz. Vintage Samsara EDP. A partially used bottle. Also from the Bay for a good price
4. 50 ml Roma Imperial; Love this scent. Thanks to Perthgirl for mentioning it.
5. Cuir de Lancome, so inexpensive at Beauty Spin sale that I couldn’t pass it up. Plus, it’s gorgeous!
4 minis – Samsara EDT, Vintage Jolie Madame Extrait 4 ml x 2 (hello gorgeous), Vintage Chamade Extrait micro mini – 2 ml.
7 decants – From the splitmeet: Meringa -10 mls, Mohur – 10 mls, Promesse – 10 mls (Rose de Siwa – 10 mls, gift with purchase (thank you Hajusuuri!). From the decanter’s Chanel sale: Coromandel. – 10 mls, No 19 – 10 mls, Also, Dame Gardenia Oil roller ball – between 5 a 10 mls.
Some samples too but less than in the past and only when on sale. I am also not counting swaps. Although, I only swapped with wonderfully generous Elisa for some really lovely scents.
Oooh im so glad you love it too! and am happy to spread the love
So happy to see you commenting again! ????
You got some beautiful stuff!
I almost didn’t post….I’m a little embarrassed for myself. I must be at my all time height of perfume love. But if I can’t share here, where can I share?
Rollerballs:
1. Flowerbomb
2. YSL Manifesto
3. YSL Black Opium
4. Pacifica Island Vanilla
5. Pacifica Indian Coconut
6. VS Scandalous
Monthly Subscriptions:
1. Scentbird
2. Olfactif
Full Bottles: DISCLAIMER: Many were purchased for a real deal…$10 or less!!
1. Burberry
2. Miami Glow
3. Meow
4. Euphoria
5. Tommy Bahama for Her
6. Naughty Alice (I should rename Naughty JADA!!!)
7. Sofia Vergera Love
8. Insolence
9. Adidas Natural Vitality
10. Ivorie de Balmain
11. Jo Malone Blue Agava & Cacao ****My expensive birthday gift to myself****
12. Body Shop White Musk EdT
13. Body Shop Red Musk EdP
14. Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose Fragrance Mist
15. Tresor Midnight Rose
16. Gucci Guilty (Ebay seller included body lotion as a total surprise/freebie!)
17. Issey Miyake A Scent
Fun fragrance mists:
1. BBW Honolulu Sun
2. BBW Waikiki Beach Coconut
3. BBW Golden Pineapple Luau
Donatella, bless me. NST readers: I beg you don’t judge me? (Or if you do, just be kind….)
Quarter 2 is here….time to enjoy what I have and be CONTENT!!!
Glad you decided to share here. We all understand. Looks like you had a lot of fun last quarter!
Two bottles for me, and I pretty much busted my perfume budget for a while:
50 ml of Tom Ford Fleur de Chine (bought full price because it was the last bottle in the shop and I really wanted one before it got too difficult to find, so about 280 CDN$ with the taxes!)
10 ml of Soivohle’s Amun Ra the Tears of Re
Stopped by the Diptyque sample sale–I wasn’t planning to, but Donatella made me do it.
Bought:
28mL rollerball Philosykos
28mL rollerball L’Ombre Dans l’Eau
50mL spray bottle of Volutes EdT
The rollerballs are to replace samples of those same scents I used up. The spray bottle is to replace one I didn’t quite use up, but which is gone via a long story. Spent just around $100 for the bunch.
Good deal!
Nothing so far this year, as long as I don’t count a couple 5ml splits I participated in!
But oh, the Eric Buterbaugh Florals are calling my name! Two of them at least… good thing they’re out of my price range, right??
I feel good about my acquisitions this quarter: four bottles and two splits.
Bottles:
Chanel No 22 (a treat to myself)
Marni Rose (TJ Maxx!)
Aerin Lauder Lilac Path (partial gift card)
Annick Goutal Rose Absolue (technically a Valentine’s gift from my husband that I bought myself)
Splitmeet:
Hermes Osmanthe Yunnan
Neela Vermiere Mohur Extrait
+ baby
You done good
Happy first quarter!
Marni Marni – scored on ebay. So glad I finally bought it! I wear this often and it has become my go-to, no-brainer fragrance.
Cacharel Amor Amor – TJ Maxx blind buy. Strangely fun and I think I like it.
Love Marni too, it’s such an easy, lovely ‘go to’ perfume! I also got mine for a great deal on eBay, and the bottle always makes me smile, so cheerful.
I would like to not buy more than 6 bottles this year, but I am already at 4, lol.
Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee 52€
SL A la Nuit 55€
Cacharel LouLou 25€
Monsillage Eau de Celeri 80€.
My plan is to add Azemour and Bijou Romantique, we’ll see how that goes.
Oh, I am not counting samples and decants.
All such good ones!
I’ve been an absolute angel this quarter and the previous one, so I’m not sure if Donatella would praise me or tell me off. Nothing pre-Christmas and only one bottle this quarter – and even that for a present. Well, okay, I’ll be honest, I bought Afternoon of a Faun for my friend but I do hope to get a little decant of that later, it’s a big bottle after all.
But I have a feeling this austerity is coming to an end – I’ve ordered and tried a few Aftelier samples and fallen hard for Cuir de Gardenia and Fig and Wild Roses. Well, I’ve been good for a long time and it really doesn’t agree with me for too long.
Aftelier is a hole I could easily fall down and am trying to use restraint!
Tauer lonesome rider 75 clans pre order
FM for Dries Van Noten 66 clams
That’s it!
I am in Detroit this week so may go on the Kerosene search this evening.
The Kerosenes are fascinating. Do report if you get there.
Ohh my, Donatella, how I have spluuurged.
But I know you’ll forgive me
Scented shopping with fairly clean conscience this quarter thankfully. Got some gifts, good deals, and sold a good portion of unloved scents and used the earnings on a new perfume crush.
Early birthday here in January, and a pretty big one this time.
So I thought «three for thirty» sounded nice
Angelique, Anubis and Salome from Papillon, welcome home. Had to wait a bit for them, but it was all worth it! Have worn and loved them all a lot this spring.
I bought Sienne l’Hiver at 30% off in January.
Had to source myself a bottle of Tabac Tabou before it’s sold out for now. I fell completely head over heals for it, and just had to replenish my little sample asap with a bottle.
All in all, found myself a nice deal. February.
A small Bottega Veneta EDP at 20% off was too tempting to miss. February
Jumped on that Ostara deal in March – this was blindbought and I must admit it is so far a miss, so will try to find it a new home. Shared a nice portion of it around to perfume friends, so not a total miss.
And last but not least, got a used Juliette has a Gun Citizen Queen for a steal. March
Five plus three. Ohh well
Love Citizen Queen. I lost my decant, though, so I should probably replace it.
Had a large sample years ago, which I adored. So now when the chance came.. could not resist. Hope your decant will surface
Those Papillons are divine. I have Angelique and want Anubis and Tobacco Rose. (I admire Salome, but it isn’t me.) A quarter well spent I say.
Thanks!
(but ohh.. that Cuir d’Ange)
Yes, I really spent it all this quarter. So the rest of this year.. I think restraint is the word
So happy though, and enjoying the loot. Especially the Papillons. Still wearing Angelique so much that by now I almost feel like it emanates naturally from my skin
I was quite restrained this quarter, after going a bit mad last quarter. I think the only big thing I got was my anniversary bottle of Lyric, though I did also get some decants and samples.
It’s spring here, so my buying has mostly shifted to new plants for the garden–I find I do most of my perfume buying in either winter or summer, when I can’t do much gardening here. Also my Madame Isaac Pereire rose has started blooming and it’s so deeply scented that it puts even my other antique roses to shame.
Yikes! 19 FBs in one quarter. My only defence is I’m a first time offender and I promise to try harder. (But whether that’s ‘try harder to buy more’ or ‘try harder to buy less’, I’m not quite sure yet).
Amouage Sunshine Man
Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant (15ml))
Annick Goutal Musc Nomade (15ml)
Arquiste Nanban
Baldessarini Ambré
Caron Anarchiste
Caron Le Troisième Homme
Caron Pour Un Homme
Caron Yatagan
Chanel Egoïste
Chanel Pour Monsieur
Cloon Keen Atelier Sybarite
Eau d’Italie Sienne l’Hiver
Grès Cabaret pour homme
Guerlain Vetiver
John Varvatos Artisan
Penhaligons Bayolea
Romeo Gigli For Man
Serge Lutens Chergui
For a first time offender, I’m sure Donatella will forgive you. ???? Nice list!
Very late to the party, and I’m sure I’m forgetting things. What I do remember buying is:
Amouage Ubar
Penhaligon’s Ostara; I’m sure the review on BdJ inspired a lot of buys.
Goutal Tubéreuse
Jean Patou; 1000
Let’s say it’s been a productive quarter and leave it at that.