October! That means it's time for Donatella, Our Lady of Scented Excess,1 to hear the confessions of her flock. Donatella wants to know what you bought in the 3rd quarter (July, August and September) of 2016. Update: the poll is now closed!
My purchases...
Not a thing! (Ok, I did pick up a shower gel or two, but they don't count.) That leaves my total for the year the same as last time, $273.
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.
100ml Fou d’Absinthe, L’Artisan Parfumeur
100ml Mechant Loup, L’Artisan Parfumeur
100ml Premier Figuer Extreme, L’Artisan Parfumeur
50ml Accord Chic, Yves Rocher
I also picked up back up bottles of Skin on Skin, L’Artisan Parfumeur and Rose Oud (Free with purchase!), Yves Rocher but BECAUSE I ALREADY OWN THEM, they don’t count!
How is Accord Chic? I have heard good comments about it.
Like all the others in the series, it’s well worth the money. I need to wear it a bit more before I post any impressions, but I like it!
(sorry for jumping in) I think it’s pretty good. It reminds me a bit of YSL Nu, but less dry.
Also, something in it doesn’t feel “modern” at all. The other ones in the series have a classic but contemporary feel, with a modern interpretation of the theme of the scent. But Accord Chic is somewhat different, not in quality but in theme. It could have been any brand, a new Calvin Klein or Estee Lauder or such. It also smells a bit…dated is the wrong word, but I can’t find the right one. Not timeless?
“Of its time”?
Thanks Anna. I got a free sample when I bought Rose Oud, but I can’t find it. Good to know your impression.
Im hereby adopting the philosophy that BUBs don’t count!
Oh, Donatella, I have spent in favor of quality over quantity. Since my Guerlain decants don’t count, all I have to confess is:
1 – Lyric Woman. 100ml.
It was a fairly insane deal, which I (correctly) guessed would be short lived, so I pulled the trigger. I suspect it will last me for a few years, and it should age well since it’s an oriental. So I’ll be living in No-Buy-Ville now for quite some time. Totally worth it, though!
Lyric is absolutely beautiful. Sometimes I think I wouldn’t need anything else. But then I come back to reality. 😉
It’s certainly a candidate for a desert island scent.
Lyric is defiantly worth blowing a perfume budget.
Amen to that!
Love it.A favorite Rose!
It’s just sooo good…
Hmm….I’ve never been to No-Buy Ville. Though, I’ve hear it’s very nice.
I keep moving in and out of No-Buy Ville
Nah, it sucks out here.
I’ll be moving there in January.
It makes a nice change of pace. For a time.
It’s a nice place to spend some time, but I wouldn’t want to move there.
Ha!
Oops, Donatella, I was thinking of samples. Decants *do* count, so I must also confess my stash of closeout-Guerlains (5ml ea.):
Chant d’Arômes
Cologne du 68
Cologne du Parfumeur
Jardins de Bagatelle
Jicky
Vetiver
Vol de Nuit
Ooh, no need to seek forgiveness. Donatella blesses your classic choices!
????
Only one FB:
Carthusia Mediterraneo 50 ml
Decants:
Annick Goutal Heure Exquise 6 ml
Chanel Les Exclusifs 31 Rue Cambon 10 ml
Gres Cabochard 8 ml
John Galliano John Galliano 7 ml
Kenzo Jungle Elephant 8 ml
Serge Lutens Muscs Koublai Khan 7 ml
Serge Lutens Five O’Clock Au Gingembre 6 ml
Good stuff.
The Carthusia was one of the first FBs I bought 🙂
I have been buying Mediterraneo decants for years, but this summer I have finally pulled the trigger and purchased a full bottle. One of my favorite citrus fragrances.
Would you mind sharing where you are able to find Chanel decants?????
Technically, they might be splits not decants. I but them from my local perfumista/perfume selling community. I live in Ukraine, so I am afraid this information will be useless for people from other countries. Sorry!
*but=buy
Chanel Allure Edition Blanche – love, love, love
L’Artsian Thé Pour un Été – wonderful in the heat of summer
Almost: Parfumerie Generale Bois Blond – I added it to the splitmeet, but was late to the party. If anyone is interested in joining for 10 mls, I can still do it. Just click on my screen name above to find my email.
Looks like the boys were the big spenders this quarter on NST,hey Bob?Lol.OK,I have never listed purchases in the past(only ever voted),but this time I will indulge and divulge…Lol.
1.Armani Prive Ambre Eccentricco
2.Armani Prive Rose d’Arabie
3.Chanel No.5 L’Eau
4.Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme
5.Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine
6.Dior La Colle Noir
7.Tom Ford Cafè Rose
8.Tom Ford Soleil Blanc
9.Tom Ford Orchid Soleil
10.Zadig and Voltaire This is Her!
11….and then I feel guilty to list the rest,as I went a little crazy this quarter myself!!Lol!Anyway,half-confession is also good for the soul,right?Right.X
NICE HAUL!!! You smell good all time time!!! 🙂
….THE time, not TIME time! (I got excited! LOL)
Haha!Thanks!I certainly do smell good daily!
I should have spent a lot, but thank god for TK Maxx!????
Yeah,really good discounters are not so present in my valley,unfortunately!Mostly wait for the discounts from the Luxury retailers
Cracking up at “half confession”!
Full confession might make me pass out myself from embarassment!!(Or joy!lol)
Any confession counts 😉
Lol,it does,but the shock of reality sometimes…
“indulge and divulge”–love that!
What a haul! …So, if you’re half-confessing, does that mean this is only half the damage you did? ????
I cannot confirm or deny…Lol!????
The Zadig & Voltaire, how is it?
Love, love, love your choices this quarter! Have you ever tried TF Noir de Noir? ????
2 decants when The Posh Peasant closed in July…
Well, which ones?
I’m still surprised that I didn’t find anything I really wanted at TPP. I think my second sample order ever came from there, and included Amouage Dia and Parfum Sacre.
Oh! How silly, I should have said 5 ml of Panache and 10 of chene! Good discount and lovely scents.
You got good stuff! I was sorry that there wasn’t anything I really really wanted at the closeout sale.
So sorry they closed.
I didn’t know she closed. Darn.
The Posh Peasant is still doing their closeout sale… I ordered something from there a couple of weeks ago. Dunno how much longer they will be around, though.
Donatella, forgive me!
This is the damaged for this quarter:
Serge Lutens A la Nuit 50ml
Serge Lutens Chergui 50ml
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan 50ml
Serge Lutens Feminite du Bois 50ml
L’Artisan Safran Troublant 100ml
Cuir de Lancome 50ml
Guerlain Terracotta 100ml
Now, I have to sit on my hands for a very long time. This year I have been out of control…
Smelling fabulous!!
What a great list!
I like your list, especially Serge Lutens perfumes and Cuir de Lancome.
That’s a nice-smelling list. Uncle Serge should be quite grateful!
Wow!! ❤️
Great list! You will enjoy these for years to come.
Just the one De Profundis bell jar (thank you so much for everyone’s wonderful anniversary wishes!) this quarter. And at the Paris price of $185, I’m happy to report!
Good deal.
Wow! What a deal. Good for you.
I love that one! Excellent choice.
What a great deal! And belated congratulations on your store anniversary!
Not too bad:
Diptyque Essences Insensees 2014 (the mimosa one, quite spendy)
Hiram Green Dilettante (oh, how I love thee, but quite spendy)
Mugler Alien Eau Extraordinaire on deep discount (nice, sheer, summer scent, with tea note)
Mugler Alien Essence Absolue (nice ambery version for this time of year, also for a decent discount)
Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque (bell jar on it’s way from Paris in a week or two)
splits and decants don’t count!!
Very jealous of your Dilettante.
I love Dilettante so much. I’ve used half the bottle already. Will put aside soon for Fall favorites and then used the other half next summer when weather calls for it again. Makes me happy with myself for using up (halfway so far) a bottle!
Yes, it’s so nice.
I bought the Alien Essence Absolue last winter (also for a very good price), and really enjoyed it. I liked it best layered with SL A la Nuit and received more compliments on this combination than I ever have for any other perfume. Of course, it might due to the overwhelming sillage, but I like to think it was because I smelled so fabulous!
Great idea, must try this combo!
Nary a one…zero bottles this quarter.
I thought I had bought two but when I checked receipts it was from last quarter. My goal is to keep it at zero for a while in order to get my finances in order. And thanks to the influence of a good friend I am learning to let go of my compulsive consumerism and desire for more “stuff” which is helping my wallet and helping me feel less cluttered on many levels. I am working my way through and thoroughly enjoying all that I have. For now, that is enough.
Good for you!
thanks,mals.
What an awesome feeling!! Good for you!!
Actually, I do feel pretty awesome 🙂
I am trying to get control of my life starting with my finances.
I’m right there with you, my friend! High 5!!
Hee Hee , Deva….we might very well be in the minority! High five right back at you 🙂
Excellent. Enjoy what you have, and then eventually make a guilt-free, mindful purchase.
Dear Donatella,
I think you and I would get along so well….I found a few bargains, and I splurged a time or two….
1. Escada Born in Paradise ( August Scentbird pick) $15
2. Gucci Premiere (Sept Scentbird pick) $15
3. YSL Cinema (Oct Scentbird pick) $15
4. Lady Gaga Fame $7.99
5. J. Lo Glowing $7.99 (Bummer, the 30ml size doesn’t have the light in the bottle! 🙂 )
6. Eliz Arden Green Tea Bamboo $8.00
7. E & J Nirvana Bourbon Rollerball $25
8. Clean Sampler 5pk $18.00
9. Replica Beach Walk Rollerball $25
10. Taylor Swift Wonderstruck $4.50
11. Moment de Bonheur (Mini) $10
12. Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay $60 (I was WEAK! My daughter found out she was going to have her gallbladder removed, so we did retail therapy to deal with our feelings!!!)
13. SJP Stash Rollerball $25
14. Bvlgari Black $25
Total Spent: I’m not going to add it up. I’d rather not know…..
Bring on the Christmas giftsets and wishlists…. 🙂
Hope the gallbladder-ectomy goes smoothly. Blackberry & Bay is so nice, too.
The gallbladder left us in August, and kiddo is finally 100%! Took her about 3 weeks to really feel normal again! Enjoying the Jo Malone very much too….I let her pick out our scent when we were shopping! 🙂
Surgery is rough, but I’m glad she’s better.
I assume they were able to do laparoscopic, since it was planned? (I still have scars from mine 13 years ago, but they’re small.)
Yes…laparoscopic, thank goodness! I think the anesthesia recovery might have been worse than the surgery itself!
7 and 13 are on my own wishlist!Perfume mule is off to NY Oct 7th…whoops.Lol.
Stash is just soooooo good!! I love it.
Bourbon is a bit too strong on me, but I’m hoping come wintertime that I can wear it underneath layers of sweaters and such!
They both sound delicious…”soon”!!????
Great deals!!!
You have a long list but you got some really great deals!!!!
Girl, you’ve got mad skills at bargain hunting! Your occasional splurge is well deserved. ????
I have spent my limit, and there is one more quarter to go, and I just know there will be some great bargains to be had for Christmas. However, I spent most of my funds on decants, minis and discovery sets. The only bottle I bought was Ellen Tracy Bronze, because it was less than $8.00 for a full bottle. It was a blind buy, and I still haven’t cracked open the bottle. It is so rare that I buy a full bottle, that I’m a little scared. This is why I buy minis and decants. I don’t feel the same commitment to them that I do a full bottle.
Less than $8 is hard to pass up!
Would you believe that I had a birthday, a wedding, and a honeymoon, and didn’t use any of them as an occasion to buy a bottle? I bought some lotion and decants of Botrytis and L de Lolita Lempicka, but that’s it. I’m not even sure if I have any bottles on the horizon anytime soon. I should go check to see if I’m running a fever!
You’ll be due a scent or two come the holidays! Good self control!! 🙂
Oh my.
Galimard Offrez-Lui
N-Cigale Pin Mystic
Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio
Rundolz 03.Apr.1968
Paul Emilien Une Belle Journée
Parfums de Marly Hamdani
Alvarez Gómez Agua de Colonia Concentrada Barbería
Papillon Anubis
Calé Fragranze d’Autore Mistero
Serge Lutens Santal de Mysore
Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan
L’Artisan Batucada
L’Artisan Timbuktu
Oh dear.
Oh dear….You smell sooooo good!!! 🙂
I’ll be in the most fragrant poorhouse ever!
And surely you will not be lonely there 🙂
This does not surprise me at all. This is what happens when you move to Paris. Enjoy! (I don’t see many people on NST checking out Galimard. Good for you!)
Indeed – the list is in chronological order, and you can see what happened when I got a birthday voucher from a German website, and exactly when I took a break from Paris in Malaga! :^D
Lots of good stuff in there – that Rundholz is da bomb. Enjoy!
Nice !
I could have sworn you mentioned purchasing one of the Eris perfumes although that could have been for Q2!
Yes, that was Night Flower back in June. :^)
Ohh myyyyy! [George Takei voice] Nicely done!
A lonely 30ml bottle of L’Artisan Parfumeur Mon No.10.
I like it, can’t say I love it. It was a bargain buy from TK Maxx for less than £20. Who can resist. I bought it unsniffed.
Not bad for a nice drydown.
I wish we could get L’Artisan in the US (at TJ Maxx)….but maybe it’s better for me that we can’t! 🙂
Ditto!
Two for me. Bon Bon, and Gucci by Gucci.
Oops, I forgot, I also bought Agent Provocateur Maitresse.
Bought one decant, a 5ml of Myths Woman that I like but have hardly worn, don’t really know why.
$16. Lowest quarter in my fumehead history, and I don’t know why THAT is, either.
I recently got a sample of Myths Woman, I really like it and it’s easily wearable just like Journey Woman.
Myths is beautiful but the longevity isn’t the best on me. Lovely choice.
I just had a look at my own comment last quarter…Lol!I totally forgot about the Gigi and Rossy de Palma I bought.Oh dear.
Such a naughty girl! You obviously had a bang-up quarter!
Lol,well boy actually!Haha!Speaking of Boy…(confess in silence)
Oh excuse me! My memory is not so good…
None, thankfully. My lovely boyfriend bought me a bottle of Stash though which I love. I’m thisclose to buying a bottle of Baume de Doge though. It’s 50% off at my local boutique, along with Paestrum Rose. That’s be a confessing for next quarter….. 🙂
Baume du Doge is great stuff!
Oh, that is very tempting!
Two FBs to admit to this quarter – I had told myself at the beginning of the year that I could have one per quarter, so maybe achieving two per quarter isn’t too bad 🙂
Ubar had been on my buy list for years, so I feel that can be justified as a planned purchase, and Waterdragon made an offer I couldn’t refuse. A colleague was going to LA and was happy to go shopping at Scent Bar, so I’ve now got a bottle of Salome.
Two great choices!
Two bottles this quarter, not too bad!
Divine de Divine 50 ml
Chanel Coromandel 75 ml (finally pulled the trigger due to the reformulation rumors…)
Great to see a Divine!
Oh, I really love Coromandel!
The truth is I can’t quite remember how many I got. I think 3.
I distinctly remember buying Fraîche Passiflore and Foin Fraîchement Coupé when they were on sale.
And I got a large bottle of Eau de Néroli Doré at a discount as well.
All 3 are wonderful, and Néroli has quickly become my favourite Hermès Cologne. I think it’s just lovely.
Well done!
Isn’t it wonderful when you buy fragrances and they are perfect for you?
What’s Foin Fraîchement Coupé smell like to you?
More or less what it says on the tin with some odd greenery thrown in.
Not including decants and samples of course 😉 …
but for full bottles there was a strong showing for Chanel this quarter mostly spurred by the Exclusifs being reformulated…I will add that I am pleased as punch with all of these…
Rue Cambon
Coromandel
1932
No 5 Eau Premiere
Coco Noir
TDC Jasmin de Nuit
Nice ones. I have 1, 2, and 3 on your list. They are wonderful!
Lovely choices!
2 full bottles:
Jicky EDT
Dzing!
And… now I’m trying to make it until October of next year without buying any more samples, decants or full bottles. I took pictures of my current bottles on the weekend – I’m looking forward to seeing the dent I can put in them over a year.
Two excellent choices, imo!
Too many again and can’t remember what was June and what July, but I am ready to taper off on the buying and enjoy the goodies I’ve aquired, mostly in the last 18 months. Today is 31 Rue Cambon and I love it. Perfect for grown up days.
That said I was in NYC and have made *two* final quarter purchases already, Anubis after polishing off a generous decant and Nettuno, which I am worried was the wrong choice. Hence the halt!
Lady Donatella, do your worst! I have bought full bottles of:
Maharanih (Yes! I adore this golden, sultry beauty!)
Misia. (Good-oh. This giggly little thing is just right for when it’s just right.)
A 15 ml bottle of Muguet Porcelaine, but my intentions were FAR worse in this purchase…
I’ve got no idea how much that came to (well, I have some idea, but I’m carefully not being too exact!). There have been worse quarters.
I grant you complete absolution for your gesture of selfless generosity by giving your colleague your Hermessences. Go in peace.
More than I needed:
A rollerball of Eau Parfumee au The Bleu
Decants of Forreau Noir and Boxeuses
A nearly full “purse bottle” of Nina Ricci Coeur-Joie
An unopened bottle of Roberto Capucci Punjab
A replacement bottle of Voyage d’Hermes for one that I left in an hotel
Ahhhhh noooo, what a bummer! Enjoy the rest, though!
This quarter wouldn’t look too bad, if it weren’t for the fact that I was supposed to be on a no-buy:
– 5 mL AdO Lune Féline
– 5 mL AdO Larmes du Désert
– 5 mL AdO Cuir Sacré (!!!!!)
– 5 mL HG Dilettante
– 5 mL Guerlain Angélique Noire
– 50 mL YR Rose Oud
And then of course presents, mistakes (which will be entered into the swapmeet), and samples don’t count, luckily. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few, but if I have, I’m also sure they didn’t cost > 40€, or I’d have remembered. Next quarter will be a FORREALZ no-buy. No, seriously. I mean it.
Well, you’ll have your leaving party, and welcome back parties, and Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Diwali and Christmas. So I’m convinced your decision is unassailable. ;^)
>.<
hehehe…..
I’d say that actually looks pretty good for a no-buy quarter 😉
I didn’t buy much this quarter. I just got a big bottle of 4711 at Stein Mart for $15.
You bought your own place!!!! Even better????
Oh well yeah, there is that. 🙂
I also forgot to include my split-meet purchase, which was Hermes Cuir d’Ange 15ml for $46.
I’ve been quite a bad shopper the last quarter.
30 ml TF Black orchid – but it was a gift from my family
50 ml Byredo Unnamed – lovely gothic violet/woods scent
Mini of Yves Rocher Accord Chic – quite nice!
Mini of Yves Rocher Rose oud – I will need a bigger bottle of this.
The descriptions of Unnamed are killing me, as violet woods and gothic are all happy triggers for me.
It is very nice. It’s not dark gothic in that wet stones in the cathedral-way. It’s lighter, not fresher but sweeter. For me, it immediately made me think of the character Vanessa Ives in Penny dreadful, if you have seen that. Playfulness & sadness clad in lace – in a mossy forest.
Now I have to try it!
That sounds great. Gothic is a happy trigger for me too, so I’ll have to check it out. I haven’t seen Penny Dreadful yet but it’s in my Netflix queue.
Only two full bottles this quarter, mostly because my oldest just started college and our finances are suffering accordingly, but also because I’ve got more perfume that I could ever use in this lifetime. But toward the end of the summer I got tired of my hot weather perfumes and caved when I saw good deals online for Etro Shaal Nur and Eau de Rochas.
Yeah, those college bills STING. We’ve only got one more semester’s worth to pay, Lord willin’ and the crick don’t rise, but ouch. Bookworm will have to find her own funds for grad school! Crossing fingers that the next kid to go will swing a better financial deal…
Kudos to you both for raising smart kids and having great priorities by helping them through!! It’s worth it!
The good thing is that from what I’ve gleaned about Bookworm, places will most certainly pay her to attend their graduate programs — unless she wants to be a lawyer or a doctor!
Kohl Gris $90
Flower of Immortality $80
J Crew No.57 $80 (back up bottle)
7% Solution $62
Pretty reasonable for me but then I went on vacation and bought Volkamaria and Black Angel as birthday gifts/souvenirs to myself but gifts don’t count. (2198dkk for the two of them which was approximately $334.)
Love Flower of Immortality! Don’t see it mentioned much on NST.
Donatella can be proud of me, in Q3 of 2016 I only bought one bottle, being a 100ml of Atelier Cologne Encens Jinhae.
I organized a split of it, 30 ml stayed with me.
10 ml of Lush Smugglers Soul. That’s all that comes to mind. There’s also Lush Dear John but I ended returning that one.
Was in Paris last week to review the Fantin-Latour retrospective at the Musée du Luxembourg. One of Patricia di Nicolai’s shops was on the Rue Saint Jacques so I picked up a bottle of Odalisque. Believe me, I wanted to buy the store, but my half-time work budget kept me in check! Plus, I wanted to save every penny I had left for macarons.
Ha! I would have spent all my money on macarons! My avatar speaks for itself…..
Odalisque!!
Well, Donatella, depending on how you count I’ve either been terribly extravagant or quite moderate in my spending. In July I went to Svalbard and had a layover at Heathrow, so naturally I did some shopping. I bought:
4 Hermessences
Hermes Rhubarb Ecalarte
Memo African Leather
Chanel Bois des Iles parfum
but those are souvenirs of my trip and so don’t count. When I came back home, I found a deal on Amazon so I got
L’Artisan Safran Troublant for $66. In August I bought nothing.
In September, I bought
TDC Jasmin de Nuit (on sale, $63)
Bogue Maai
Mazzolari Vetiver
Hiram Green Dilettante and Voyage
but I bought the Bogue and Mazzolari from Europe and they haven’t arrived yet, so they don’t count, and I split the Dilettante and Voyage, and splits don’t count either. So actually I only bought two this past quarter. 🙂
Which four Hermessences?! Your purchases are perfect.
Brin, Iris, Osmanthe, and Vanille
Souvenirs definitely don’t count! 🙂
I blind bought Jasmin de Nuit in September and LOVE it….great minds and all that… 😉
Have you tried Bogue Maai yet? I stumbled on Luca Turin’s review of that one on Style Arabia a couple weeks ago and was thinking it sounded good for autumn…
I have tried Maai, having learned that blind buys for me are usually a disappointment. I debated buying it because I have Salome and Absolue pour le Soir, but there was something about it that called to me and it’s different enough from the other two that I knew I’d wear it.
Oh yeah, don’t blind-buy Maai. It’s not a *guaranteed* success.
I’d agree with Mals about not blind buying, but I do think Maai is worth testing out as to me it’s really different from Salome, which I can’t do, and Absolu pour le Soir, which I really wish I could find a bottle of. Maai dispenses with the cumin that makes Salome not work for me, but is still beautifully funky and I think more floral than the MFK.
Right. A big gamble to buy without testing, but worth testing.
I love your math!
what a haul! Bois des Iles perfume… oh, my.. (sigh)
Taking note of your Heathrow layover! Recently did Hong Kong duty free twice- huge disappointment.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Les Mysteres d’Orient Collection 3 x 30 full bottles of Timbuktu, Mon Numero 10 and L’Ambre Extreme for £4.99 at the local op shop (thank you Mind Charities! 😀 )
Cacharel noa 30ml £15.99
Allure Homme Edition Blanche 50ml £49.99
Vintage micro mini gift set of Coriandre, Eau Vive, Ma Griffe, Tabu, Cabochard, Ivoire, Vison, Swann and Extase £18 but it doesn’t count.
Wow, great find on the L’Artisan!
For the second quarter in a row, my total is zero bottles. I have two small splits coming, but that’s it. I’m decorating my new home, so all unrelated discretionary spending is on hold. It helps to live way out in the country, far from temptation, although I’ll be very tempted while visiting NYC with friends this weekend!
Go ahead, splurge! But it’s fun doing home decoration!
Zippity Zero Zilch. So SAD ????
Not sad at all…think of the money you saved 🙂
Just one, and (best intentions) my last for a while, one bottle of Dilettante. I should be good for a long time to come unless Hiram Green releases another one, or if I fall in love with the upcoming Neela Vermiere, or if the EDP of 28 la Pausa actually has longevity…..
I wish Dilettante worked for me — and that my person didn’t hate it!
Didn’t work for me either, but still very much enjoying Voyage which Gi generously gifted me with a long time supply of.
I got 3 bottles at 10 chf each due to my partners employee discount, so that doesn’t really count, right? Then a shower gel again not really Donnatellas thing. But I did participate in a split so maybe all in all half a bottle? ???? but the last quarter is going to make up for it since I’m in paris the weekend after next, Christmas shopping ahem and a move far away from regular perfume shopping opportunities all mean I need to make the most of it!
Zero for me this quarter. I’m both happy and sad about it. Supposedly I’m saving to have a splurge on my birthday and Christmas, but the truth is there’s no perfume I’m dying to buy right now. And merely wanting one doesn’t justify a purchase.
Words to live by!
Please teach me, oh great one, of your will-power and restraint. I am so weak…
Lol! It’s not so much will-power and restraint as it is lack of funds and shelf-space.
I mentally put all perfumes into different ‘niches’, which may coincide with traditional perfume categories (i.e. BWF, citrus-y cologne etc.) or just be my personal, imagined ‘niches’ (i.e. perfume for a summer evening by the sea, perfume for a rock concert in a crouded club etc.) When I try a new perfume and start contemplating buing it, an internal dialogue usually goes like: “Oh my, this perfume X is so beautiful and wears so well, I want to own it!” – “Yes, but you already have perfume Y filling the same niche. Is perfume X really better?” – “It’s not better, it’s different” – “I know it’s different, and yes, it’s good, but it still falls into the same niche. And if it’s not radically better than Y, then you don’t need it”.
So a perfume I’ll be dying to own has to either be waaay better than a perfume I already have in that imaginary ‘niche’, or fall into some empty ‘niche’ (which are few), or be completely mind-blowing so as to defy this ‘niches’-system.
Or may be I’m just going through a phase of perfume-jadedness now.
This was a record quarter for me, though a lot were decants.
1) Parfums Quartana 50ml Hemlock(my consolation prize for not being able to use a plane ticket I bought because of a naughty kitty. Makes sense, right?)
2)10ml decant of SHL 777 Taklamakan
3) 15ml HdP Ambre 114, 1740&1969 (all lightly used)
4) Huitieme Art Poudre de Riz 50ml
5) decant Guerlain Songes d’une Bois d’Ete and Habit Rouge Dress Code
5)HdP Tubereuse Animale decant
6)Dior Oud Ispahan decant
I think that’s it. And so far, I love almost all of them. A couple of decants I’m not sure about, but that’s what the swap meet is for????
Naughty kitty? or gooooooood kitty? I’m glad things worked out well “in the end.” 🙂
Thanks Tiffanie! It was a premidated enabling ploy on her part????So she’s naughty and very smart.
Oh! How can I forget my beloved Tauer Rose Delight?
I spent more this past quarter on perfume than I have for a very long time. As a result, I am now in the no-spending zone, with the exception of perhaps a bottle around Christmas time from me to me.
I bought five bottles:
Tom Ford Vert de Bois
Chanel L’Eau
Serge Lutens Bapteme De Feu
L’Artisan Bucoliques De Provence
Imaginary Authors Slow Explosions
I so understand what you are saying. My normal perfume gift (from me, to me) may not be happening this year. 🙁
Two travel size bottles, one of Gucci Guilty and one Juliette Has a Gun’s Lady Vengance .
Gucci Guilty is so good. A sample recently came my way. It knocked my socks off.
It’s one of my favorites, and the flanker, Guilty Black, is even better. The far drydown reminds me of Ghirardelli’s raspberry dark chocolates. . .
Lady Vengeance is one of my favorite rose-scented fragrances. It’s so well made.
I’m typing quickly to get this over with. I’m a “rip off the band-aid fast” person. Hope I won’t remember anything else. Aaannnddd GO!
Après L’Ondée EdT
Eau de Guerlain EdC
Mon Précieux Nectar 15 ml decant from Splitmeet 6
Eight 5 ml decants from STC’s Guerlain clearance
Safran Troublant EdT
Library of Flowers Moon Flower EdP
Also a tiny sample of Wit that doesn’t count because it was bought for science. I wanted to compare it to Ostara. Happily, I love them both.
Whew! I’m out.
Nope, science doesn’t count! I love Guerlain…
A fondness for Guerlain is a problem I don’t mind having. And it puts me in good company. 🙂
Love’s Rain – alas, you can’t go back again (put in bag for charity)
Eau de Jatamansi 50 ml
Eau Parfumee au The Bleu what turned out to be a honkin’ big tester
Elixer des Merveilles 50 ml
I voted 2-4 but then I realized I forgot some…
SL Mandarine Mandarin
SL De Profundis
SL Rose de Nuit
L’Artisan Safran Troublant
JM Orris Sandalwood
JM Velvet Rose Oud
LV Mille Feux
My purchases:
-A small bottle of Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay
-5ml decant of Ormonde Jayne Osmanthus
-Nearly forgot: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose roll-on
Fruity/tangy and/or aromatic seems to be my theme this fall. I only used Nirvana Rose a couple of times; I’ll probably get back to it later.
I thought I was going to get through the quarter without a purchase but then Annick Menardo Friday was looming and I didn’t have a single scent of hers and there was a 100-mL bottle of Lolita Lempicka at Shoppers Drug Mart for $19.99, so I bought it. Well, I had to have something to wear!
Of course you had no choice! (Plus, decent price)
To my surprise, I have 2 bottles to confess, both because of fragrancenet on eBay and their 95% bottle page, here’s the link if anyone is interested http://www.makeupalley.com/links/out.asp?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fsch%2Fm%2Ehtml%3F%5Fodkw%3D95%26%5Fsop%3D15%26%5Fssn%3Dfragrancenet%26%5Farmrs%3D1%26%5Fosacat%3D180345%26%5Ffrom%3DR40%26%5Ftrksid%3Dp2046732%2Em570%2El1313%2ETR0%2ETRC0%2EH0%2ETRS0%26%5Fnkw%3D95%26%5Fsacat%3D180345
Yes, there must be an easier way to access it but this link has always worked for me. Anyway, I was bitten by the bargain bug and got a small bottle of Prada Amber and a larger bottle of Gres Cabaret. Both were under $15 w/free shipping; the Prada isn’t earth shattering in my collection but it’s a very well made comfort fragrance. The Cabaret – well, I loved it when I fell down the rabbit hole many years ago, just had a small bottle which evaporated so I thought I’d replace it. The day was very hot when I received it and it smelled pretty bad, I’m hoping for better results in cooler weather.
I really love Cabaret on my husband. I mean, I *like* it on me, but it is fabbo on him. Rrowr.
Prada frags are so, so good. And at $15, they practically are giving it away!
Oye ve, here goes
TF Bois de vert
TF ombré leather
SL Bapteme de feu
CdG Jalsimair
JM Oud and bergamot
Chanel box of eels
Etro Shaal Nur
Lovely!
I have no regrets!*
Chanel Sycomore edt – finally! just purchased yesterday!
Chanel 19 edp 2011 – partial bottle; not sure if that counts
Tauerville Rose Flash – better than most fragrances 5x its price
I have wanted all of these more than 6 months, have finished decants, and I don’t think I’ve purchased ANY bottles this year (only decants of anything), so I feel a teeny bit guilty, but only a teeny bit.
* My only possible regret is purchasing the smaller size Sycomore. I probably should have gone for the 200ml jug.
I think you shouldn’t feel guilty at all! Great selection, and after a long wait and proper testing – you are a model perfume buyer 🙂
That’s such nice thing to say. I feel absolved!!
Missed the 2nd quarter poll so these are purchases from the last six months,
Hermès Eau de Nèroli Doré
Memo French Leather
Memo Quartier Latin
Diptyque Tam Dao
Diptyque Kimonanthe
And a backup Serge Lutens Santal Majuscule ‘coz the price on evilBay was just too good to pass.
Kimonanthe! I haven’t seen anyone talk about that one. Would you share your take on it?
I love French Leather SO much!
Okay, you have to remember that this was the first summer since I fell down the rabbit hole, so I had to start a wardrobe, right?
Cartier Zeste de Soleil
Aqua Allegoria Bianca Neroli
Byredo Oliver Peoples
Chanel Beige
Chanel Coromandel
Chanel Coco extrait
and a whole whack of samples and teeny decants
Oh, and a bottle of Seville a l’Aube. And I can’t remember if I bought the Balmain Ivoire this quarter or last.
Well done!
Yep, everyone needs a wardrobe. ????
Thank you for being so supportive, Creative and Creosote.
Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles (full bottle)
SJP Stash, Prada Candy, EL Bronze Goddess (10 ml rollerballs)
Great choices!
Bless me, Donatello, for I have sinned.
This quarter I bought:
Chanel Eau Premiere
Chanel 32 Rue Cambon (but I am saving it to give myself for Christmas!)
Byredo travel set of Gypsy Water
CdG Grace Coddington
Kuumba Made Amber Paste
Alaia EDP
Queen by Queen Latifah
Split of Dior Oud Istapan
I am not going to count the decants. Nothing tragic, but as I reach the point where I have to admit that I cannot possibly wear all that I have, I start to feel guiltier with each purchase.
That’s the point when you start to feel really free to spritz pillowcases, etc. That way, your ‘fumes still get love even if you’re not ‘wearing’ them.
I bought Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black after stalking it for months. I had the oil version and it is is one of my most worn but I wanted the spray – more long lasting. Then I totally caved and bought SJP Stash after telling myself I would wait and mull it over. I think the Stash was actually October 2. Definitely agree with the concerns of excess, how I cannot even wear what I have. I had started out September considering the Le Labo city exclusives but resisted that temptation, at least.
I voted one in the poll, but forgot one:
SL Orpheline (FB)
Chanel Eau Premiere (the one I forgot: the so-called “Duty Free” in the Detroit Airport was having a 40% off close-out sale and I got it there)
Seeing the many purchases above makes me feel less guilty for some of my more spendy previous quarters!
40% off? wow.
Boy do I have a problem! Here’s my damage:
– FB of Versace Bright Crystal Absolute (this is proof that a sample can be a blessing and a curse) – I loved the sample so much, I had to buy a FB
– FB of Jo Malone’s Blackberry & Bay
– FB of Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom & Honey (this is my signature scent; always have to have it on hand
– 30 ml Jo Malone Basil & Neroli
– 30 ml Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt
(what can I say…..Jo Malone was having some really good GWP this quarter)
– 5ml decant Guerlain Terracotta La Parfum (STC was having a big sale on Guerlain scents)
This whole year so far has been a scent – a- palooza for me. I’m done! 🙁
Dear Donatella,
I hope one day to have a collection worthy of a lady of perfume excess.
This quarter was all decants.
SL sarrasins 5 ml
AdO Lune Feline 5 ml
AdO Larmes du Desert
CdG Vettiveru
AbdesSalaam Attar Patchouly
L’Artisan Mechant Loup
Guerlains:
Eau du Cologne Imperial
Derby
And 1 precious ml of vintage Mitsuoko parfum that I don’t regret at all!
Enough samples to buy a full bottle of something mid-range.
And I’ve already started on fourth quarter purchases.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Onde Sensuelle, 125, ml.
L’Artisan Parfumeur Dzing! (backup bottle), 100, ml.
Guerlain Mitsouko edp, dubious formulation circa 2009, 100 ml.
Oscar de la Renta pour Lui, 100 ml.
Amouage Interlude Man, 50 ml.
Tauer Perfumes L’Air du Desert Marocain, 50 ml.
Serge Lutens Baptême du Feu, 50 ml.
Serge Lutens La Myrrhe, 75 ml.
Serge Lutens Rahat Loukum, 30 ml.
Serge Lutens Tubéreuse Criminelle, 50 ml.
Santa Maria Novella Nostalgia, 100 ml.
Parfum d’Empire Wazamba, 100 ml.
Vilhelm Parfumerie The Oud Affair, 100 ml.
Very nice haul! :^)
Nice group! I came thiiiiis close to pulling the trigger (ebay) on a bottle of Wazamba, but didn’t so I’m envious.
Good to see you here again!
Lovely choices!
Just one–a 30 ml bottle of Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt.
Have you tried the new JM Orange Bitters? I haven’t myself but I am looking forward to it. It seems to be limited edition.
After over seven months of ‘nary a one’, I did some retail therapy for my crappy summer:
1 bottle Cartier Baiser Vole EdT (the green one) – $80
1 bottle Alaïa Paris – $60 (thank you Parfum1)
… and I feel pretty good about it! I will light a candle to Our Lady and try to brood on my sin a little more for next time.
Please let us know if the candle helps!????
1 bottle of Habit Rouge EDT in the old 1988 bottle.
1 bottle of Lalique Encre Noire à l’extrême after reading a review on What Men Should Smell Like.
1 bottle of Patchouli Intense from Nicolaï Parfumeur Créateur (was going there for a bottle of New York but came out with Patchouli Intense which I like more).
And a sample set of Amouage men.
100ml AC Cedrat Envirant (a steal at £45) and used so much during the summer, so a justifiable purchase.
30ml AC Oolong Infini. This was also on cheap, so practically free!
Chanel Allure EB. Had this a few years ago and gave it away when I got bored of it and realised I needed! another.
Bvlgari Black, 40ml, heard so many good things about this, so needed to try for myself.
So, there you go Donatella. Around £200 this quarter, but I was very restrained when in duty free recently. ????
The only one I don’t have is the Chanel Allure ED. Since your first bottle was from a few years ago, would you say that the bottle you bought this quarter (which I assume is EDP) smells the SA,e as the original EDT?
I would say it has been reformulated. It used to be a Concentree and is now a EDP and I do think the lasting power and sillage has changed.
As for the smell, I don’t seem to get the floral like I did in the old formula, and the citrus opening is smoother and not as bracing as the original.
I would say that I’m slightly disappointed this time round, but hey it’s still good, just not as good!
Sorry I’m late confessing – it’s probably a life long habit 🙂
Ok so for a newbie here on NST it’s very hard to restrain the urge to buy before you completely love, but I’m trying.
So here are my loves (well, loves for this quarter) 🙂
Tauer – Rose Delight Body oil
Tauer – Explorer set – LDDM, URV, URK
Jo Loves – 50ml White Rose and Lemon Leaves
Montale – 50ml Intense Café – can’t wait to wear this on chilly days
Byredo – 50ml Gypsy Water – soooo many compliments on this one already!
How’s the White Rose & Lemon Leaves? I would love to try some of the Jo Loves scents but there isn’t any US distributor at this point.
Hey mals86 – I totally love the White Rose & Lemon Leaves – it is a delicate scent, but still has excellent silage. I know this sounds crazy, but it almost gives you the impression that you know the person wearing it on a more personal level because it’s such an intimate scent. The rose is soft, and the lemon is there, but is not furniture polish at all – it’s fresh and blends so well with the white rose. Wish I were better at breaking down the scents like you guys are -but this became a favorite scent for me this past summer. And I bit the bullet and had it shipped over…
Wow, that sounds lovely!
I looove your choices! Well done!
Hey thanks! I’m trying to be careful with purchases – but with samples I’m a lost cause – I think I order some every week…
Naturally, I’m late to the party. I have been pretty good for me these past few months. I kind of have to be because I am running out of space. I’ve gotten these:
1. A huge 9 ounce bottle of vintage Bal a Versailles PdT
2. Amouge Beloved 3.4 ounces
3. Andy Tauer’s travel set. Three 15ml spray decants add up to almost a full bottle, so it counts.
4. Amouage discovery set for women. It almost is a 1 ounce bottle of perfume and I’m counting that too.
5. A vintage extrait of L’Heure Bleue. It was 3/4 of an ounce for $115. On E-Bay, it’s difficult to manage that because most vintage L’Heure Bleue on E-Bay is horrible with the pricing.
Such a lovely list!
9 ounces. Gosh!
I keep thinking I’m over the whole perfume collecting thing, and then, yeah, I surprise myself. I seem to buy about one bottle per quarter. This summer I fell head over heels for Santa Maria Novella Garofano (still obsessing over carnation scents), so when I was in New York, I bought a bottle of that. It’s a zingy carnation, very refreshing in the heat and yet still carnation.
My first purchase since 2nd quarter 2015 – a FB of Guerlain Chant d’Aromes. As beautiful as I remembered. 🙂
🙂
I feel rather excessive after reading most peoples’ lists, except that none of these were new, full, bottles except the last 4, and one of those I bought to split. (And I only paid full price for the last 2.) That said, I spent well in excess of $500, and I’m not counting the loads of decants and samples I bought to usher in the end of summer.
YSL Paris
TF Café Rose 12 ml
YSL Cinema
Chanel Cristalle Eau Verte
Goutal Heure Exquise
Biagiotti Venezia mini
Cavalli Oro
Tauer PHI 15 ml
Marni Rose
Narciso EDP
Ginestet Botrytis
Chanel Misia
This is one of those very unusual quarters for me where I didn’t buy any fragrance at all. The only thing I did buy (as a result of my summer at the pool where nothing smells good with sunscreen but maybe jasmine or neroli) is essential oils. I was very into just taking the post pool shower and reviving my skin with some grapeseed oil and a few drops of whatever e/o took my fancy. So I did buy a few small bottles of e/o this quarter: jasmine, ylang-ylang, lemon balm, lemon oil, different geraniums, chamomile, gorgeous vetiver, etc, etc to add to the few e/os I already have. I suppose they count as fragrance, but they sure were a nice departure for me and a lot easier on my wallet for all the fun I had playing around and rejuvenating my skin. I also discovered that if you put vetiver e/o with a nice rosewood e/o, you end up with the living end of a gorgeous fragrance that smells like neither of them, but something else entirely.
Vetiver + rosewood… mmmmm
I have so much perfume and have slowed down buying new ones over the past year or so. This quarter I bought an 8 ml decant of Neela Vermeire’s Trayee, and that’s all!
Hmmmm. Here is what I remember.
1) Coromandel 75 mls
2) Safran Troublant. $36 for 100 mls.
3) Four decants from the splitmeet which counts as 2
4) A 5 ml decant of Shangrila which was on sale and a 4 ml ‘mini Hypnotic Poison because I needed something for a Friday challenge. So 2 more.
I probably bought a few more decants but can’t really remember. I also was gifted DeProfundis which, thankfully, doesn’t count! I didn’t buy many full bottles but spent more than I realized on decants. Oh well.
Ok, now that no one is looking any more…
A 10ml Vanillary which doesn’t count because.
Atelier: Orange Sanguine
Gucci: Intense Oud
Replica: Lipstick On
Lattafah: Raghba
Eau des Missions which doesn’t count cos it might not reach me due to delivery issues
Lubin Korrigan which ended up being a gift…
And the worst thing is that I’m seeing Ford’s Incense Verte and Valentino Poudre in my future. Given finances – very very far in the future!
I’m late to the confessional, but must be absolved by Our Lady of Perpetual Indulgence! This was almost a nary-a-thing quarter for me, but right at the end a bottle of No. 19 EDP happened, and a bottle of Eau Sauvage, and then the splitmeet happened and thus were added travel-size bottles of PHI, AdV Signature, and a couple of Hermes lovelies.
Other sins are on the horizon…
I am super-late to the party (was on vacation, you see), but I must confess my sins:
100ml Bond No. 9 Queens
10 ml Carnal Flower (basically doesn’t count)
Jane Has a Gun Discovery Set (I don’t think that even counts)
100ml Jo Malone Blue Agave and Cacao (they said it was being discontinued!)
Oh not as bad as I thought. However, it’s only because I can’t remember if I bought Fille de Berlin, Une Rose by Frederic Malle and Shermine by Huitieme Art in June or July. 😉
So very, very late, but I too must confess.
ONLY FIVE!! My lowest since pre-perfumista days, at least as long ago as 2010/11.
Lorenzo Villoresi Yerbamate
Hermes Eau de Mandarin
Ambree
Lolita Lempicka Fleur Defendu
Weleda Agrumes
By Kilian Sweet Redemption refill.