PSA: the splitmeet is next Saturday, February 18.
Today, our fifth annual 'stepping back' poll: can this group of shameless enablers help each other not buy perfume? Let's find out.
Name a perfume you've been itching to buy but suspect you might not need, and tell us why you think it might not really be a good use of your money. Maybe everyone will talk you out of it.
If you participated in this poll last year, tell us if you ended up buying the fragrance anyway!
Note: image is Crater Lake [cropped] by aspearing at flickr; some rights reserved.
Fun topic! I love that your final sentence up there acknowledges that no matter what happens here today, some of us are going to buy the bottle anyway. ????
For me, it’s the new Chanel coffret. I want it so bad, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet because there are only 3 or 4 of the scents that I’m interested in. But because I know my Chanel samples are hard to come by, I want to have them all here with me NOW.
If TPC or STC would expand their inventory of the edps, I wouldn’t have this problem. (Well, actually…yes I would.)
There are only 3 or 4 you’re interested in! I bet the minis will start popping up for resale once people have bought the coffret and picked the ones they want! And maybe someone will do a split…
You know, I was just thinking that a split could be the answer. Thanks for that!
A coffret will be mine at some point if I can arrange for a great deal (whether it be $s off, GWP or oodles of samples from the SA). I am still plotting.
Although I use the decant sites, the mark-up is so high that I typically wait for the promo codes of at least 15% before placing an order.
I like your thinking. It’s the “at some point” that I’m struggling with. I waited so long to see Chanel do another coffret that when I see “limited edition” my heart starts racing, and I feel like the clock is counting down really fast.
I suspect there’s reams of research that marketers rely on to get people to buy and the words “limited edition” are right at the top!
So true. And even knowing that, it gets me.
Oh dear. Thanks a lot LOL! I was going to say there was nothing I wanted and the very first comment of the day introduced me to something I now want. 🙂
???? Wasn’t me.
Ha ha ha!
LOL — excellent.
If money is not an issue, go for it – the set is cute. But is there really no perfume out there now, which you would rather have in a full bottle? $250 for 60 ml is not unheard of but to spend that amount on big samples? These Chanel perfumes usually come in those huge bottles not for nothing: they require lavish spray application, these are not extraits that can be used from tiny splash bottles.
You know, I had the same thought. I would much prefer a full bottle. The main problem is not having access to Chanel samples to discover which of the edps to put on my list. But you’re so right. The splash minis are cute, but then what? I’ll just end up buying a full bottle anyway. Better to make the hour drive to the Chanel boutique and sample that way.
Thanks! That was very helpful.
My skin doesn’t project well so I almost always prefer to lavishly spray, but I have a few of the 4ml exclusifs edts and love the little bottles. I actually find they do really well in a dab application and in fact, I much prefer Coromandel dabbed, as it turns out.
That said, this might be a good argument for testing them as sprays since that’s the only way FBs are sold…
I ordered the coffret yesterday. Couldn’t resist. I had every intention to order a FB of Box of Eels EdP but then my fingers wandered…. what can you do about wandering fingers??
So…this instead of Box of Eels? (Not in addition to, I’m guessing from your comment below.) Which of the 15 are you most looking forward to putting on?
Instead of. (Temporarily) Really I want to try them all…
I love the idea of having my own little Chanel exclusives counter to myself in order to have repeat tests of the new EDPs. BUT splash bottles? My no like. And if you are only after a couple of them? I’d say get a bottle of one you love!
“My own little Chanel exclusifs counter.” Exactly. That is the draw.
Seriously. Sold.
Do a split!!!
I should. It’s the only split I could host, since I have never decanted before and have neither the confidence nor the supplies to do so.
Ack – I didn’t know about this coffret!!!!!
Want…….
Okay, now I really want the coffret, too.
Slumberhouse Vikt… some small sizes available for big bucks on various message boards… but I still have about 5 ml in my decant… but it might get even MORE expensive in the future and I really do love it and want to wear it more… but it’s discontinued so why make it part of my life, it’s just prolonging the inevitable goodbye… help!
I’m struggling to come up with something helpful to say that will talk you out of it, but I’ve got nothing. All I can think about is that scene in every romantic movie where someone has to race to the airport to declare their love before it’s too late. I’m inclined to tell you to run, hurry, go get her, because this may be your last chance to say what’s on your mind. (Sigh. I’m not very good at this.)
This is a beautiful, romantic enabling you’re doing here! “Run to the airport” is perfect.
????
Actually you’re amazingly good at enabling. Wow! I’m there at the airport.
I would say thank you but this is the wrong time to do so. I will admit though that most of my friends come to me when they secretly want permission to do something they think they shouldn’t.
Wow. Everyone needs a fried like you! Life is short, folks! Grab the joy!
And also, floragal, thanks for the redemption below. I’m quite proud of my anti-enabler star.
And not just the airport scene ….but the one in the church too, where the bride is standing next to the wrong man and you have 20 seconds to speak up….
LOL! I can’t imagine this is helping. 😀
Haha yeah, thanks a lot y’all. It’s $185 for 30 ml though. For that price I could actually go somewhere from an airport….
Yes, that exactly. ????
The one thing I’ve got here. If Vikt is like other Slumberhouses, a little goes a long long way. So how long will it take to go through what you have?
That is true! The next day I still smell fantastic! Yet somehow….
Yes, 5 ml can last a long time. By the time you’ve finished off your decant your interests may lie elsewhere.
Get it! I love Slumberhouse fragrances! Enjoy it while you can and I assure you other perfume loves will come into life.
Perfect timing because I am in LUST with Aftelier Cologne Wild Roses EDP, my SOTD. I am continuing my Month of Roses and trying to wear a different perfume for each day in February. Wild Roses EDP is $180 for a 30mL bottle.
Wild Roses is also available in the extrait format for a whopping $180 for 8 mLs…but of course, if you’ve experienced Aftelier perfumes, you KNOW this is special. ANYWAY, I couldn’t unscrew the sample so I was not able to try it in this format but whatever because the EDP is SUPER SUPER SUPER fantastic. The base reminds me of Bergamoss (LOVE) and it does not contain ambergris which I usually have problems with in her perfumes.
In addition to Wild Roses EDP (unless someone manages to pull me back from the ledge), I am planning to order samples of Amber Tapestry but the shipping is ridiculously high and I am gathering interest for adding more samples to the order. It will be especially economical for those of you who have plans to participate in my splits, swaps and/or we’ll be meeting at some point in the next few months (hello NJ and NYC peeps!)
BTW, I have not yet bought ANY not-for-splitting full bottles this year and it is already 42 days into the new year! Unheard of, so my fall from grace will be a hard one …
What say you?
Well, in addition to having no idea how to talk you down from the Wild Roses ledge, I might have to join you on it – Aftelier roses with Bergamoss? Sounds yummy!
Ha! You’re proving as good at this as I am.
We all seem to be pretty bad at the talking down part, don’t we. Undina is the only persuasive talker-downer so far …
You know, I just realized that I could split the bottle and it will not count as a purchase!
Hahahaha!
And SheriG, I think you’re in trouble because we like the same perfumes 😉
Yes, I think you have single-handedly created more lemmings for me than anyone … so, thanks? 😉
Yup. The parfum of Wild Roses has been on my wish list for a long long time… I keep telling myself that roses and patchouli is as common as salt, but parfum persists on my list…. It is lovely. Roses in the rain.
Dare I try to wrestle my parfum sample open?
I bought it with another mini at one of her house sales, having not realized it was the parfum. It was so beautiful, I didn’t understand why until I realized it was a parfum. With shaking hands and teary gulps…. I added Wild Roses parfum to my buy list, and it has been there ever since…. Sniff…
That sounds beautiful.
The way I see it, your 42 days is reason enough to celebrate with…whatever you want. Do you have a goal in mind for how long you want to go?
No goals and no resolutions either :-). It’s actually a win-win: the more I spend, I give an equal or higher amount to charity.
Well then…there you have it. (Great idea, by the way, to give an equal amount to charity. Very commendable.)
What a great idea 🙂
That is a FABULOUS idea. I’m going to steal it.
I’m intrigued by this line…especially the Amber Tapestry and Vanilla Smoke.
I have Vanilla Smoke parfum and it is wonderful. I look forward to trying Amber Tapestry and I’m afraid I may fall for it!
Vanilla Smoke is wonderful but even the edp didn’t last on me.
I WANT the Cocao – orange & chocolate, but her prices are craaaazy. Because the Cocao lasts much better on me I am seriously considering it.
hajusuuri, I’m watching your next move on this as I agree the shipping is quite insane 😉
Even if I end up not getting the Wild Roses FB (but shhhhh, I probably will), I will be ordering so the shipping cost can be spread out.
Oh lord! Not only can I not talk you down from the ledge, but you’ve definitely started a lemming for me! I’ve looked for something like this forever! I’ve not smelled it yet, so there’s still hope…
Sorry, not sorry for the potential lemming 😉
lol! Misery love company! 😉
Now that’s a Rose I can get on board with! I bought an Aftelier sample set a while back and I blew through Wild Roses lickity split. No one could be more surprised than me. Excellent choice and I say Buy It! That’s what’s called a Hard Push Off the Cliff ????
Like SheriG, you and I intersect on many likes!
After reading about Wild Roses, which was not on my radar, now I have to be talked out of sampling it. Oh no!!!
Eek, this weekend’s poll seems to have the opposite effect to what was originally intended 😉
Haj, I mean this in the best possible way, but I’ve long seen you as the successor to Daisy, former empress of enabling here.
🙂 I got in on her Cuir Beluga split and I got hooked!
The torch was passed! ::bows::
Whatever happened to Daisy anyway? She was such a riot!
She and a bunch of others from here formed a Facebook perfume group.
+1 for the roses. How is the staying power for you? I am also a huge fan of her cooking essences – both ginger and cepes are amazing.
So it is now 5 hours since application (unorthodox – since the atomizer was not working, I tipped the glass part to my hair and combed through). It is still going strong. YMMV.
LOVE the ginger one. And the basil.
I’m still trying to figure out what to do with my galangal cooking essence….
Re Wild Roses, I keep remembering how I waited too late to get Tango, and then it was only available by special order of two bottles. Fortunately you split the order with me, but that to me was a lesson.
Good point. Rolling, rolling, rolling ….
Are you sure you will be actually wearing it? Is it really that much better than most of your rose perfumes that you’re neglecting and not wearing enough because you’re chasing new thrills? I mean, in the last 11 days you’ve been wearing some great rose perfumes – don’t you want to spend more time with them? Even with how generously you’re sharing your perfumes with others (thank you!), your current collection will either spoil unused or will survive you. Do you really need this one? 😉
Lalalalalalalalalala
This is supremely wearable and office-friendly and so far scent-phone safe!
Autocorrect? 😉
Yup or fat fingers….I vote for the latter
You’re amazing at this, Undina!
I’m trying my best but I’m not sure if it’s working 🙂
Well, all you Wild Roses lemmings, I have a fairly new and practically untouched 2ml mini bottle of the parfume extrait that I decidedly do *not* love and would be happy to swap — drop me a line at calinda {4} at h o t m a i l if you’re interested!
Very tempting but so far I had only tried the EDP. Now I’m afraid to try the parfum for fear of loving it as well.
Yes!!!Hajusuuri!! I am running to the airport ????♀️????♀️????♀️ to say YESSSSS to Amber Tapestry- a split? You betcha!!
( outabreath & late to this awesome post but what a classic movie cliff hanger!
Is that a yes??? ????
LOL, I’m wild about Wild Roses EDP. I will definitely be placing an order for a small sample of Amber Tapestry. My experience with the Aftelier line is either love or hate and I cannot run the risk of not having tried it before committing to a large one. I’m thinking of doing a “gathering interest” Splitmeet post once I see where I land with the small sample.
Get through the month of roses first and then make an assessment. You still have 16 days to go. Who knows what will happen in your rose world between now & then.
True! Maybe I should buy that Chanel Les Exclusifs Coffret first while I ponder this purchase 😉
I’m on board with this strategy 😀 (i’ll never buy it but SOMEONE should)
So the other day I heard that Byredo Pulp was being discontinued, which I immediately dismissed- it’s so popular, why would they ever discontinue it? But I just checked the Byredo website for myself and lo and behold, it’s not on there! Not sure I’ll be able to “step back” from this one- Pulp is fabulous, I don’t own anything like it, and it appears to be in danger of disappearing- but if anyone’s up for the challenge…
This is a tough one. Um…
Nope. I can’t help. If it’s fabulous, disappearing, and like nothing else you own, I think the choice is pretty clear. (I won’t say it out loud, but I’m pretty sure you catch my drift.)
Um, sorry but I’ve got nothing. Your reasons to buy it were actually very convincing.
I am so bad at this. I’m very surprised they would discontinue Pulp.
We appear to be equally bad at this, sistine- just finished an enabling comment of my own on your dilemma! 😀
Ahhh… Your post sent me flying to the web. Notino has a 3.4 bottle for$170….. Splitters anyone?
FiF has it for roughly $140 depending on the currency (100 ml). I am getting it and if you want to split, I can help with that 🙂
You also will be getting some amazing violet red from me this week 🙂
I’ve been meaning to try this one for ages. How horrible is it to blind-split something if it’s going to disappear soon??
Discontinued= buy it before it’s gone. (Sorry) I still regret missing out on Lea.
Your reasoning makes sense to me. I’m sorry to hear the news. The perfume world needs something as outrageous (in my opinion) as this.
Ari, I finally came to appreciate Bois Farine. I seem to recall it’s one that you like.
Welcome to the Bois Farine club!! I do indeed love it, and think it’s one of the most interesting things Jean-Claude Ellena’s ever done. By strange coincidence, Bois Farine was actually the shop’s scent of the day yesterday, and someone walked off with the tester- apparently we are not its only fans!
Bois Farine is lovely but sorry to hear about thieving dog…
What?! They stole it!? Or they purchased the last bootle left, which happened to be the tester? I hope latter, not former.
The former, I’m afraid! People are generally very well-behaved, but every so often, a tester does go missing. A fascinating twist to the story: a few hours after we closed last night, we ALSO had an online order for a Bois Farine! Now I’m wondering if our tester thief had some belated pangs of conscience!
Ari, bless you for spreading the love of Bois Farine, by whatever means. 😯
I have a sample vial of BF on my desk for my sniff of the day. It is oddly compelling.
What what what?? Pulp discontinued?? Thank heavens I have a FB already, but… that’s just wrong.
Oh, that figures — the best thing they ever did. Hmmmph. But do try Vilhelm Purple Fig. It’s not a substitute but it is a cousin.
Oh, excellent to know, thank you! Makes perfect sense, since Jerome Epinette is the perfumer for both Byredo and Vilhelm! I’ve only smelled one Vilhelm so far (Dear Polly, I think?), I remember it being very nice.
I am dying to try Dear Polly and I’ve emailed Vilhelm directly (no Barneys here in the Midwest) twice! asking how I could go about getting a sample and I never got a response☹️ Good to know it is nice.
Pulp is more “fun” though.
Pulp is a lot of fun, but does it last for you? I have such trouble with citrus-based scents.
Buy it! (Sorry!)
Buy it,immediately!!Buy two if you have to.I love Byredo,and Pulp is awesome.
Fabulous, don’t own anything like it and discontinued are a cocktail for = need to buy!
I think you should try to find a 100 ml bottle and split it with others: I do not now another perfume that would be a replacement for Pulp. I have a decant that would serve me for the next couple of years but I think it’ll be a loss once it’s not available.
You should go for it!
SOTD = Oriza L Legrand Royal Ouliette, a nice floral carnation, which is lovely and is getting more carnationy over time. It’s no Malmaison, but it is very nice indeed. I could wear this a lot. However, my anti lemming needs focus on the sample of Durga which I received from Twisted Lily yesterday. I sniffed it. OMG! This is, as one would expect from reading the notes a tuberose bomb floating in a sea of flowers. Beautiful. Potent. Prettier than Bandit (from recall, been a while since I smelled any of that). Smelling of high quality, natural style ingredients. I put some on immediately. Fabulous! Sorry I am gushing. This morning the scent was lingering on my sheets. I think this is the iconic modern tuberose, in the same vein as Iris Silver Mist is the iconic modern iris, and Mohur Extrait is the iconic modern rose (apologies to POAL of course.) So someone please explain to me why I should not set up a split of this next week. Please. I have a big veterinary bill I need to pay, for the old mare’s Cushing’s medicine. Oh, geezer, first world problems. OK, I am going grocery shopping. Happy Saturday everyone.
Ok, here’s the thing: I totally get it. I just sampled Durga, too, and it’s glorious. The thing is, it’s brand new and not going anywhere, and it’s so good that my guess is you’ll always be able to find someone interested in a split. It doesn’t have to be right now. Maybe save it for a month when you don’t have a big vet bill. And in the meantime, get a couple more samples to tide you over. ????
Seconding!
Oh, good job! It is so potent my little sample will last a while because this is not a wear everyday all the time scent. Thank you! You get a big anti-enabler star!
???? yay!
Good job, lizbee! I think this has redeemed you.
Your love letter to Durga just sent me back to my sample. My person hates tuberose and I am on the fence about it, but this really is beautiful.
If you buy a bottle for splitting, it’s community service and doesn’t count. I say, go for it!
I love the way you think. Very altruistic!
Few days ago Robin posted about new Huitieme Art fragrance and that the brand has introduced a new bottle design next to their “cyclop” bottle.
If that new bottle spreads on all of their scents, I might need to get me Shermine. Love the fragrance, hate the bottle – that’s why I didn’t buy it yet.
PS. SotD is Dior Oud Ispahan
Mmmm, you smell fabulous. Maybe I’ll wear that later today.
Shermine was a lemming from you. I have the ugly bottle 🙂
When you have doubts about whether to buy the perfume in general, you should “pass” on an ugly bottle. But if you really like perfume – who cares? It’s not like you’re going to display it on your dresser 😉 Just buy it, split half of the juice, and make yourself a decant, from which you’ll wear it.
I’m 4 months into a one-year no buy, but am teetering on the edge of purchasing Bois Blond by Parfumerie Generale. The luckyscent description clearly states “only a limited amount of bottles is available; hurry up before it is gone for good”.
Urk. I want to have willpower and I don’t want my collection to expand. However, I do love that scent so very much. I guess it will be fun to sample to try to find something that fills the same scent niche if it’s gone before September??
Hard to say without knowing the reasons behind the no-buy, but if you do love it so very much, I wouldn’t wait on this one- I don’t see it anywhere other than the Luckyscent website (so it’s gone from both the PG website and the Osswald website).
I agree with Ari. If, in your mind, you divide the cost over 12 months it won’t be much money, if that’s a consideration.
Maybe buy a bottle but don’t allow yourself to use it till the no buy is up ? Maybe tack on a extra month of no buy as penalty?
Sistine, I can help you out. I have a 50 ml bottle of BB that is 95% full I can send you, the hitch is it is in my apartment in Montreal and I won’t be there until the middle of April. If you can wait, it’s yours.
Wow, I can definitely wait. Thanks so much for your offer!
Please let me know how to repay your kindness. My contact info is payne underscore cm at the yahoo.
Listen to kazaubon! Do not break your “no-buy” because of the pressure a shop site puts on you: it’s not a new release, it’s not a limited edition – so there is absolutely no reason to buy it now.
SOTM is/are Penhaligon’s Artemisia on one wrist and Empressa on the other. Both started out faint and vaguely meh, but one of then (or maybe the combination) is growing stronger by the minute. Neither is making me hanker for a FB, although Empressa is light and sort of fruity-fresh and would be very wearable in spring and summer.
But my lemming of the moment is a bottle of Vol de Nuit extrait I’ve had my eye on. I recently invested in a FB of the vintage EDT and it’s wonderful, but people here (naming no names, but you know who you are!) have described the extrait variously as glorious and sublime, and actually the etsy seller sent a tiny sample of the extrait along with the bottle of EDT (smart!) … and it is indeed both glorious and sublime, and I’m weak. Do I NEED a bottle of the extrait? Emphatically, no. I could be happy with the version I already have. But my birthday is later this month, plus there’s Valentine’s Day … you see how little progress I’m making in talking myself out of it. Anyone have an argument against?
I think that even Judge Judy would rule in your favour after that argument. Buy it! Case dismissed.
Well, how can I resist now? 😀
Agreed, Kanuka.
ICYMI, there’s a new listing on ebay for the 30mls. tester cube of VdN extrait. The best price I’ve seen… Just sayin’… 😉
Aaaaaccck! Off I go to investigate, you enabler you. 🙂
I’ll just patiently await the new stone for my enabler’s pin. 😉
Gah! You might have to be patient for a while longer, R. It IS a great price per ml, but still a lot of $$ … and do I need 30 mls of extrait? Have been mulling it over for hours now, and just can’t decide. Meanwhile, my favorite etsy shop has VdN in two different vintage cologne iterations, AND a “rosebud” bottle of vintage extrait. First-world problems indeed.
I think why I ended up pulling the trigger on the cube (even though I had some other small bottles of VdN extrait) was that I had bought [and returned] the new extrait – it is NOTHING like the original. Not saying it’s a bad scent; it just doesn’t smell a thing like VdN! All I could think at that point was, “Back-up bottles!!”
I should also say that I ended up splitting my cube, so I only have 15 mls. Maybe that would be an option with the split meet coming up next week?
Aaahhh, you’re very naughty!????
I’ve just recently fallen in love with Vol de Nuit myself, so I can’t offer any help resisting. I haven’t smelled the extrait and that’s probably for the best.
This is not something you’ll never be able to find again if you don’t buy it now. Because there’s lots of it out there. So I see no need to rush and buy this, especially as you already have the EdT. And if you hold out for a while, you might find a better deal.
Well oddly, I have yet to buy a FB this year. !!! I know!! It seems that nothing new has grabbed my attention. Is this a perfume crisis of faith???
However, THIS is the edge I’m forced to step back from at the moment:
http://kron4.com/2017/02/10/highway-35-in-los-gatos-shut-down-roadway-gone/
That’s the major road to my home. Or used to be. There is one other route off our mountain, so we’re not truly marooned, but… hoo boy.
Oh no! Gosh. That’s properly gone, isn’t it…
Gone baby gone.
Wow! That’s impressively gone. My sympathies.
Yikes! That is terrifying to look at.
Yikes. Just looked at the video. Stressful for the whole community. We are finally getting our rain, with a vengeance. At least today there is that lovely UFO floating about–hot and yellow. The cats have been genuflecting at it so it must be something important… I feel like I have seen something like it before…
Your cats must be in communion with mine. There’s this far-off, mistiness to their eyes!
That is a hole! Gosh, you live in a beautiful place though.
Impressive to say the least- WOW!
I have a friend who lives up near you! He was posting yesterday about having lost his dogs’ favorite hiking trail. I think he’s on the other side of the hole. Sorry you’re dealing with that! Being half-marooned is no fun. Keep away from that edge!
I’m down in LA and so far we haven’t had anything quite so spectacular happen with all this rainfall, just several sinkholes opening up on the sidewalks in my neighborhood.
That picture definitely makes buying perfume seem like a small decision ( as long as you can pay the regular bills, of course). Glad you were not driving there, pixel.
Yikes! Glad no one was hurt!
Wow. That’s crazy. Los Gatos is so beautiful, though. CA certainly has its extremes….
Yes thankfully nobody was driving there at the time. Though one guy tried to drive around the blockade afterwards. My husband, who’s on the fire department and was manning the blockade, had to put up with this idiot having a screaming tantrum about “you people who are always closing the roads”. DH, who is not patient at the best of times, finally told him that he was welcome to drive off the cliff, at which point they’d try to pull him out of the 200ft hole, but no promises they’d succeed. The guy didn’t leave until they brought a police officer over.
As cazaubon says, you can’t cure stupid.
You really can’t. I enjoy your husband’s response!
:-). Reminds me of all the times Devil’s Slide has washed out. My sympathies to you.
That’s a lot of stupid to cure. I’m so glad nobody was hurt!
Wow! That’s a big bit of road – no wonder it’s closed indefinitely. You’ll probably need to stock up on perfume 🙂
WHOA. Hope the other roadway remains intact…
I wore my sample of Parfumerie Moderne Cuir X today and my lemming has squeaked back to life. But I really shouldn’t be buying perfume atm. And I have two bottles each of Cuir d’Ange, Cuir Pleine Fleur and Cuir de Lancôme, plus one of Etro Gomma, and my husband has Knize Ten Golden Edition. I do want it though – tell me I don’t need it (or should at least wait for the exchange rate to improve!).
You can NEVER have too much cuir
Well, that is my feeling…
So. True.
I am a leather lover and your collection so far is impressive! Not familiar with the Parfumerie Moderne brand at all but I do know the others pretty well and they’re all great – could you get by with just another sample (or two) of the PM while waiting for currency differentials to become more favorable, and maybe steal from that bottle of Knize on a regular basis?
Thanks! Yes, I’ll not risk running short of leather while I wait and hopefully there’s no discontinuation as it’s fairly new…
Pretty soon, you may need a cuirass to protect you from further buying more Cuir!
Oh my ????
Oh, could I trouble you for a brief review on Cuir Pleine Fleur? How is it compared to the Cuir D’Ange?
I’d say CPF is more ‘outdoors’ than Cd’A, which is a soft cocoon of Hermès-elegant leather. It has hay and wilder flowers and a honey note which gives it warmth (it’s not dirty to me, though Portia on Perfume Posse found it a bit barnyardy in a good way). In the drydown it”s more soapy – expensive beautiful leather soap. Normally CdA is a work scent for me and CPF a weekend one, though sometimes I swap that round.
Thank you so much. It sounds right up my street.
Someone please hand this lovely lady her enabler’s pin!
Heh – it is lovely, though this was supposed to be a dissuading not an enabling thread…
I’m also rather lemming Cuir Fétiche, but haven’t actually sniffed it yet. I have a day off on Monday and will remedy that. My bank balance is hoping it’s meh – anyone on here love/ hate it?
Didn’t like it all that much – phew!
I finished readingThe Case Against Fragrance yesterday. The second half of the book in a nutshell:
Fragrance contains chemicals. Chemicals can be dangerous. Coumarin and musks are particularly dangerous. We don’t know how dangerous. More independent testing is needed. Going to the opera and orchestra sucks when people around you are wearing perfume. We have ‘no smoking’ laws and we need similar ‘ no fragrance’ or ‘low fragranc’e’laws. Perfume makes 35% of the population feel unwell.The end.
Reading the book gave me a headache so I had some sympathy with the author on that front.
As well as spending the day reading that book I prepared a meal for someone who had invited themselves around for dinner ( asked on Thursday) who simply didn’t turn up or let me know of the change of plan. Ate a dried up meal by myself at 8.30 and called it quits.
Today will be a better day! Triple strength Interlude
Am very interested in Cartier Baiser Fou which I haven’t tried.
Going to blind buy Bracken at some point
Good for you! I hope today is better.
Yep.Me too.
Thank you a million times for reading it. It drives me crazy when folks start condemning a book, especially with a political bent, and don’t actually read it. I then feel compelled to read it myself just to assure myself that the author is indeed nuts, lying, ill-suited to research, or just dimwitted. I shall skip this one on a wave of your moral authority!
Sorry about your dinner. I once went to a book shop across the Bay from flat with a friend (male) and then couldn’t find him when it was time to leave. This was in the era before cell phones. I looked and looked, and finally drove home. Turned out he had run into another friend in the shop and they had left to get some dinner. I was stunned. Still stunned to this day and it has been over 20 years.
If my friend did that I would be stunned too.
I felt a kind of nostalgia for Silent Spring as I was reading yesterday. Carson’s book was so powerful and yet it had such grace in the way it was written. It was written from a place of knowledge and understanding.
Oh gosh. I read Silent Spring so long ago. That book is a tall order for anyone. It may be the best environmental science book ever written! And she wasn’t condemning pesticide as a practice altogether, but how it was being used–to severe detriment of plants and animals. It wasn’t a moral diatribe–although I guess many people felt it was.
Perfume is an interesting cultural adversary in that it is at the intersection of luxury, frivolity, self-regard, and vice—if only it were really really bad for other people, you could write a good book condemning makers and consumers, and launch prohibition 2.0. If only.
Tis true. Like so many heavily processed products, some of what we display on our dresser top has not been kind to the earth to get there, and may be singularly disagreeable to fellow subway patrons.
I am worried that one day someone may convince me that indeed I am silly, self-absorbed, and dangerous in my enjoyment of fragrance. But it sounds like ‘The Case Against Fragrance’ won’t yet spoil the party!
Now where’s my decant of Pulp…. (taking a day off from comfort scents to hang out with this old friend.)
Oakland, if this guy is still a friend, you’re a saint! I can’t imagine such cavalier rudeness, and I would have been free, frank and fluent in my summary of his behaviour and then excised him from my life with surgical precision!
And for Kanuka: ditto! Honestly, what’s the world coming to? I have just sneaking fear that in your case, this self-invited buffoon is going to turn up tonight, just when you are settling down to an easy Sunday night supper of scrambled eggs on toast, and insist that it you got the night wrong, and where’s the first course!
What we all need is a portable black hole that we could push such annoying individuals into.
When we next spoke I did tell him how angry I was, but I didn’t tell him how hurt. But I also never managed to find the time to see him again. It just seemed like I was always busy when he called… and found myself avoiding the places we sometimes ran into each other. And so that was that.
I totally agree! Shocking behaviour, I would not tolerate a repeat incident and write them out of my life. As for the statistic on fragrance making people feel unwell, I seriously doubt it’s accurate. Have I smell noxious, unpleasant odours in my life? Yes I have, and all of us have, but I wouldn’t classify that as inducing illness. There seems to be a lot of whining nowadays about perfume and frankly I hardly ever smell any here in San Diego.
Go Cazaubon!
What an awful awful story. Who are these people?!
Gracious. Someone who self-invites and doesn’t show? I have no patience even for the former, and the latter has caused me to drop acquaintances more than once. You need a nice long walk in one of your favorite places. And Bracken. 🙂
A walk through my bracken tunnel! It is smelling amazing as the track has been cleared a little and the bracken, fern, and grass have been cut back so it smells like a paddock after haymaking but more earthy and green and luscious.
Yikes! I just don’t understand people. How they can self-invite and then pull a no show is beyond me. What a thoughtless jerk! Totally justifies a Bracken purchase ????
Perfume makes 35% of the population feel unwell?!
Yes, would LOVE to see the sourcing on this figure. Which perfume? How is “unwell” defined? In what context did they feel unwell? Perfume might make me feel unwell if it was sprayed in my eyes…
Here’s her source: Steinemann, A. ‘Fragranced Consumer Products: Exposure and Effects from Emissions’ in Air Quality, Atmospher and health (8) 2016.
Take your average Chanel No 5. Spray it into your eyes? Unwell? Drop the bottle on your foot? Unwell? Mix one jigger of perfume with one jigger of lime juice, and drink. Unwell?
Okay. Jokes aside, I looked up the article and read it. The statistic on perfume specifically, not fragrance more generally (which would include cleaners, air fresheners, laundry products, etc) was: “23.6 % reported health problems from being near someone who is wearing a fragranced product (10.4 % respiratory problems, 8.6 %, mucosal symptoms, 8.5 % migraine headaches, 3.9 % asthma attacks, 3.6 % neurological problems, 3.4 % skin problems,
and others).”
Almost 1 in 4. That would have to be 1 in 4 who knew they were in proximity to someone wearing perfume. It would be interesting to see a study of people who did not know if they were next to someone wearing perfume or not. If the person cannot detect the perfume’s scent, does she still suffer the side-effects?
It’s also interesting how that statistic based on a survey of 1000 ( from memory) gets turned into 35% of people. Anyway, I just ordered Myrrh and Tonka so life goes on.
It could well be that that book was rubbish and statistics are wrong but I don’t see what’s so funny or annoying about the fact that a lot of people suffer from perfume as well as other scents and odors.
I love perfume as much as everyone here, but I also suffer migraine 3-5 days a month (like today) and then I’m very sensitive to scent. Having a co-worker or someone near me on the bus wearing a sweet scent like Angel or celebrity caramel scents for example, can really make matters worse. As can cigarette smell from someone who just smoked, or, you know, bad smells like sewage.
For the same reason I’m always careful with my own scents, especially when at work. One or two sprays of something light probably doesn’t bother anyone. I find it quite saddening that some perfumistas seem to think that scent sensitive people are just “faking it”.
I know the joy of spraying something heavy lavishly once in a while, but on occasions when I won’t bother anyone!
Don’t trust statistics! Ever! ????
Per Mark Twain, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics!” 😀
From my very thorough investigations, I have discovered that 42.7% of statistics are total rubbish.
Ugh – can you find the annoying person and throw the book at their head? Hope tomorrow is a much better day.
They could always surgically remove the part of her brain that’s got to do with olfaction.Problem solved in a sentence.Not even a book.
Oh and I hope you do a ritualistic “burning of the book” soon.
Bwahahaha!
Oh boy, between the book and the no-show self-inviter, you had quite the day. I hope the weekend is much better!
The no show has just emailed to ask if she can come over next Saturday for dinner. No apology or explanation offered. I guess last night’s dinner will keep that long, ( though the lettuce might wilt a bit) and I can re-heat it in the microwave.
I hope you said no. I’d be livid- and say so.
And thanks for reading that book- and so quickly too. Sounds just as awful as I imagined.
I think Luca Turin once addressed the issue that he had yet to go to a funeral where everyone would be nodding to each other in silent understanding, and one of the guests would say: She wore L’Heure Bleue of course.
Yes, and that no-one ever died of wearing Mitsouko but that lots of babies had been born as a result. Though with Mitsouko I find that hard to believe!
Mitsouko? Really?
So funny
Precisely.
Yes, I remember that from his old blog and have used it many a time as an example that perfume does not, in fact, kill.
With friends like yours (and I am including the Austrians), who needs enemies.
Oh god, I had forgotten about the Austrians. Perhaps the self-inviting failure-to-show could be encouraged to move to Austria.
I can’t think of Austria now without thinking of dairy.
Yeah. I think I am a slow learner.
Maybe you need an extremely intimidating (though secretly a sweetheart) giant guard animal?
Like a Bear ?!???
LOL. 😉
Perfume can be good for preserving life. True story, at least according to National Public Radio:
http://www.npr.org/2016/06/16/482292669/ohio-woman-foils-kidnapping-with-perfume
I really want to know what the scent was! But good to know my handbag samples are actually protection, though only Santal Massoia is spray. It would be a special attacker would wait for me to dab a bit of Scherrer II in his eyes.
I wish they would have mentioned it too!
I’m anxiously awaiting to hear how you responded to the 2nd invite… I’ve had friends like yours and Oakland’s. sigh. (Note the past tense. Life is better without them.)
I always wear Misia to the symphony, did so last night, and consider it a public service. That said, I think perfumistas are probably generally more conscious (and self-conscious) about wearing scent, and thus perhaps do so more discreetly.
I’m inclined to think there is something to the theory that because we live in an essentially scent-free world (most of us, anyway) people have strong reactions to smelling anything at all – whether it be from the natural world or a bottle.
Oh, and PSA: American Experience recently did a 2-hr episode on Rachel Carson, if anyone wants to seek it out.
(While reading through this thread and appreciating OaklandFresca’s use of the feminine pronoun, then thinking about the show on Rachel Carson, I recalled one thing about it that really grated on me: the use of the term “mankind.” It’s used repeatedly both by people being interviewed AND the narrator. Really, PBS?)
Ha – love the juxtaposition of the talking-off-the-ledge poll along with the splitmeet as a potential way out next weekend. I’m busy plotting a split. Life is super busy right now, but I need a fun project and splitting would be very fun for me. So no real ledge to talk me off of there…
Wearing one of my top 5 – CJ Scents Vanilla Incense. So cozy and just the right sweetness and sillage.
Harrumph. Notice that the individual in the photo was most decidedly NOT talked off the ledge…..
And yet he/she looks happy …. Hmmmm.
Ha! I hadn’t noticed that. So telling of what’s going on here today.
HA — the two events did converge this year! And yes, clearly, the picture is an accurate depiction of how this event usually goes 😉
Well, I don’t NEED any perfume. Seriously, I don’t. But I’m vacillating between two different full bottles and can’t quite make up my mind, so that is what’s keeping me from going over the edge.
SOTD is SSS Winter Woods because I felt like a little smoke today. I can rarely wear this here, but on a cooler day, I just love it. It “evokes” all kinds of warming memories.
Just got back from Lowes and will spend the rest of the day working on the van. My house is in a shambles, but the van is looking good. T-Rex loves going to the big DIY stores because she loves everyone ohhhing and ahhhing over her. I had an eight foot section of bead board sawed in half and the racket the saw made was nerve grating, but T-Rex just wagged her tail through the whole process and then proceeded to give the saw guy a lot of kisses for a job well done.
Have a great weekend, and for those bracing for more winter storms, stay safe and warm!
I love winter woods. A shame you can’t wear it very often!
It is a shame but Laurie’s selection of bottles sizes solved the problem for me. I never would have purchased it if it only came in a 50 or 100ml bottle, but 17ml size is just perfect. ????????
I love winter woods. A shame you can’t wear it very often!
Are you allowed to take dogs into shops? Winter woods sounds like a place I want to go to…seriously, that is a must have.
Certain shops do allow dogs and I like to take her out and about to expose and socialize her to as much as possible. Also, these kinds of places provide excellent distractions so we can fine tune her obedience skills. I think you’d like Winter Woods- it’s a very outdoorsy, campfirey, woody goodness scent.????
The reason I moved to Germany is that you can take a dog almost anywhere. France is similar. Amazing. (OK, it’s not the reason. But it’s a wonderful perk.)
France is great for travelling with your dog. Mind you I only had a small dachshund, but she was treated like royalty over there.
It is a great perk! I wish more places here were dog friendly. I remember when I was in Paris many moons ago, I was amazed at the dogs out and about and the signage along the streets and sidewalks.
Abd Italy. I was shocked to see a dog in Gucci. (Hehe not wearing it, in the store)
There’s an open-air mall where I live that allows – encourages, actually – dogs. I love it. Most shops have treats and water for them.
I’m reminded here of a bank I used to do business with that had a prominent sign displayed on the front entrance:
“ONLY SERVICE DOGS ALLOWED.” Not being one myself, I always felt a little uncomfortable entering and wondered if and when I and the other humans were going to be rounded up and expelled.
Winter Woods is GORGEOUS. A must-have indeed.
It’s very unique for sure and I’m very happy with my little bottle????
Some people just claim they are therapy dogs and as such, they are allowed 🙂
Ha! I just heard someone ranting about this the other day. They were just up in arms “because a real therapy dog wouldn’t bark!” I did a huge eye roll in my head and went on my way. Seriously? Who cares if a dog is in a store? Most of them are better behaved than human children.
I’ve seen therapy CATS being brought on board! Cats the size of waterdragon’s Dakkie. A year ago while waiting in the TSA line on my way to Madrid, I saw this woman with what I thought was an oversized fur collar (it was warmish so I didn’t know why she would be wearing fur. I was horrified when I saw it move and yawn.
Sorry to jump in all PC and lecturing… But just to say that I love dogs, in stores or out… But particularly shops that have dogs or cats sleeping in corners just make me happy. The liscensing of “work” dogs is an issue. However. Some folks really need their therapeutically trained dog to function. But with folks just going out and slapping therapy dog signs on their pets and taking them everywhere…it makes some institutions have trouble accommodating the “real” therapy dogs when there are so many coming through. Hospitals, local light rail, and foster homes…. To name a few that struggle with the ginormous increase in “therapy” dogs, some of which came by their title via an online certificate in exchange for money and an address that gets sold to mailing list companies.
I look longingly at my wish list on a regular basis but am committed to working my way through all of my samples and then swapping or giving away as many of them as possible. (Having a hard time considering giving away minis (too cute) but also need to cull a few full bottles that are languishing.). Once I make it through the samples I will buy whichever scent comes out on top – or two, if the budget allows. Sadly, the only way this plan will work is to stop buying more samples. And of course the split meet…. I’m doomed.
Lol! Small slips are to be expected in such an ambitious long term project! Get a few new samples and choose to get rid of two for every one you keep. Be generous with freebie meet give aways. The pruning will become evident before you know it…and you will feel better for it. Managing you collection mindfully makes it much more enjoyable.
I’m a sucker for the cuteness of minis too. I have several, and need to figure out a way to display them without creating clutter.
Hi, my name is Mals and I’m a miniholic.
🙂
Hmm. No unsatisfied lemmings over here at the moment. It helps that I rarely sample anymore. (Rather, it doesn’t help me dig through and reduce the endless sample bowl, but does moderate my purchasing.)
As Oakland Fresca suggests above, the west is experiencing a moment of sunny, suggestive-of-spring-someday weather–the first since our endless series of winter storms began in December. I think I’ll wear Fico di Amalfi in celebration and to properly revel in the notion that some day winter will end.
It was weirdly warm here too…did my errands in a vest, which is just odd for February.
It may not be *right*, but I’m not complaining. 😉
Crocuses popping up everywhere and budding daffodils help *tips toe trepidaciously in hopeful waters*
I NEED 😉 a musk-less rose, and I NEED 😉 to replace my SDV – either another bottle or a vanilla I like as well. But as I haven’t yet identified either scent, I’m still a couple of feet back from the ledge.
SOTD: TDC Jasmin de Nuit.
Have a great weekend, all!
Muscless rose? Tauer’sor Rose Chypree, maybe?
I have a sample of that, and I like it, but don’t love it. Something in his base I just don’t love. Not sure what… 🙁
I’ve got the same problem with Tauer. Sad.
I could not deal with that jasmine – it was too much for me. But it is a beautiful fragrance nevertheless. I need to build more stamina when it comes to jasmine – the only one I like is Jasmine et Sigarettes by ELDO
lol! And here I’m wishing it were a bit more indolic! Hmmm.. a lighter jasmine – I’ll have to think about that. Maybe SSS Jour Ensoleille? That one is pretty soft as Laurie doesn’t especially like big jasmine either.
I think Poet’s Jasmine (Ineke?) is a lovely, soft jasmine.
have u tried Arquiste’s Ella?
Have you tried By Kilian Love and Tears? That’s a lovely non-indolic jasmine. I can send you some. [I don’t like indoles. There, I said it. Just don’t like ’em.]
Perhaps you need some YSL Paris. (I know I do, anyway. Just pulled my bottle out to wear sometime soon.)
Morning, all. I’ve been in and out of NST, but I had curiously little energy to write or wear perfume. Dunno what was going on, but the best thing about our particular village green is that you can trot across it with a greeting and a quick SOTD, stand in the middle and join many small and large conversations, or do what I did, observe friends in the distance, mentally wave hello but take a solitary walk and keep silent. How I love NST for that!
So. To the matter at hand: a perfume I yearn for? Many. I have a little list….I’m going to Mikado next week; are there any clues here? One in particular that I could buy right now? No, because I’m waiting to see what the new Chanel is like and also, for my trip to the States (THANK YOU, Foxbins!). Although, come to think of it, when I went to Jo Malone with Kanuka the other day, I did fall quite heavily for Myrrhe and Tonka, or whatever the name is, but I am protected from purchase by the deeply unpleasant nature of the salesperson. On the other hand, there are the new small sizes, 30 or maybe 50mls. I do love my sweeties, and they perform better on my skin than other styles, and I have been working stupidly long hours lately, and then too, the shop is just across the road, so I could easily pootle past several times to find a day when the arch-witch isn’t there. Hmmmmm, yes, I think so. Yes. Yes,mi’ll await my opportunity, dart in and buy a 30 (or 50, as the case may be) ml bottle and I will bear it homewards triumphantly, like a spoil of war.
You know what, I’ve been thinking about Myrrhe and Tonka a lot since that day. It keeps re-entering my thoughts and I imagine it would be a wonderfully helpful bridge into autumn. I’m going to buy a smaller bottle. Why don’t you go out for brunch this morning , pass Jo Malone and see what happens?
Might! Perhaps they employ charming uni students on Sundays….
I just phoned and ordered from the ChCh store and asked for as many samples as they can spare and the assistant promised to do her best. The weekend just got a whole lot better.
Sometimes I hate unpleasant salespeople, and other times I too am grateful for the opportunity to not spend all my cash.
You could go to another counter when you want to buy something else, and then casually add that you want to pick up a JM bottle too and make it all one purchase. I’ve done that at the Bay when they have a coupon sale and I need to spend a certain amount – always starting at the counter with the nicest SAs, so they get the commission (if they in fact get a commission).
I do the same thing and then also shamelessly ask her to procure samples from a few other counters 🙂
This is the only bottle currently on my wish list, I am nursing a decant for now but will buy it eventually.
I have yet to try it!
The Mikado is my absolute favorite. I saw it a lifetime ago at Lincoln Center when I was in high school or college..it is all a blur now. Have a wonderful time.
Wearing Union’s Celtic Fire today, trying to feel cozy. It’s weird, but I’m not thinking of buying any full bottles at the moment.
Did you take your temperature? (j/k)
The best way to force yourself to NOT BUY ANY PERFUMES:Move house.Dear mercy,I have so much crap to pack plus perfumes it’s ridiculous.I’ve stopped doing dishes:now I just throw plate+utensils in the bin(seriously,I do!BUT different bins as I do recycle…lol)I have given away a LOT already,sold some furniture and threw away unneccesary clutter already:Still there is stuff to pack!!Lol.My ten scents of advice:don’t wanna buy:Move House!Lol.x
🙂 🙂
Some one once told me that two moves are as good as one fire.
Ugh, I feel your pain. I’ve moved cross-country three times – the last time I told my husband that I would move again when they carried my corpse out of the house.
Lol.I was thinking they could just set my house on fire after my death,as in “What’s eating Gilbert Grape”‘s mom…It would be so easy,I mean I already have propellant lined up for them,just open my perfume-cabinets…Haha!
That’s a very appealing solution…
Oh, good idea. If I had the hard deadline of moving out, I’d HAVE to get on the ball with weeding out the collection…
Yeah,I pretty much weeded out my entire house,lol.Still,the stuff we cling to.I ask myself with every new box I have to pack:” do I really really really need this??”
I think you should write the book on decluttering. I’d buy that guide.
Lol.My method currently might be a tad extreme for most folks.Lol.And it’s hard to seperate wants and needs,and to do it without unneccesary nostalgia for things you “think” are sentimental,that are actually just stuff.
Right? I think a lot of people assign emotional attachment to things because they either feel like they should, or feel like if they don’t it will indict them as a bad person. When really it’s just stuff and there’s no requirement to keep it around (usually packed into the back of a closet somewhere just to assuage any potential guilt.)
Ugh. We are moving this summer, too. I’m not looking forward to it either!!!
Good luck!I feel your pain!!
+ you have young ones!
I’d like to move to a smaller space and have been trying to detach from all the stuff. I have made a designated perfume space which I’m hoping not to expand ( except in extreme circumstances of hajusuuri logic). I’ve labeled what I will eventually let go. The DH wants to keep everything- like princess phones, AC adaptors that don’t fit on anything we own, and books, of course- so I have to set a good example. When he sees packages, the contents can’t visibly take up more areas of the house.
LOL! Deva is living my dream except for the DIY part. I’m lucky to know how to open the hood of my car. Eh, come to think of it, maybe I don’t know how to open it because I don’t recall ever having to open it.
I’ve found the best way to deal with people like your H is to throw stuff out when they’re not around. They’ll never know it’s missing. But I’m definitely of the johanob school (and have only regretted tossing 2 or 3 things in the span of 20 years.)
I’m constantly debating a bottle of vintage Diorissimo. They are often available and I could afford one, but I worry about getting a bad bottle and having no recourse. PLUS even if I managed to get a bottle I loved, what are the chances I would ever find a similar bottle (age, concentration, etc.) once it was gone? I generally have a no-vintage-perfume policy (I figure there’s plenty of good stuff being manufactured now), but . . . I love muguet! It feels wrong to never have experienced vintage Diorissimo.
Vintage Diorissimo is a double-edged sword:If it’s a well-kept pristine bottle it is awesome,but if the juice has turned it is heartbreaking to have spent $$$$ on a dut.Add the vast difference between old-irreplaceable and the new crap they sell at the Dior counter:this one is impossibly difficult.I have one pristine bottle of vintage Diorissimo that I treasure,but I almost never wear it because it is so precious.Kinda defeats the purpose,no?On the other hand,better to have experienced the loveliness if only fleetingly,than never ever?My answer in other words is a square circle.(I went through this myself with Diorissimo,glad the gamble paid off!)
I also tend to hoard scents that I can’t easily replace, which is another strike against vintage-buying for me. I suspect that this will eventually wind up being the one big exception to all of my rules though . . .
I can see you bending the rules for Diorissimo!Let me know if you find it!!
There is a lot of vintage Diorissimo out there, so no need to rush into a purchase. Wait until you find a bottle sold by someone you know so you can be sure it’s in good shape.
You could limit your purchase either to one you can smell right there OR it says it’s never been opened. It’s the very nature of Dioressimo to be fleeting, so if you buy a bottle enjoy it and enjoy being in the present. Probably cheaper than a yoga retreat…
I’d love to buy a bottle that I could sniff first, but the antique malls around here rarely have perfume (the estate sales often do – I once snagged a big vintage bottle of Aromatics Elixir for my mom, but Diorissimo has proved elusive).
Question: I always that being sealed was no guarantee against the juice turning – is it a safer bet than I think?
I always *assumed
DO IT! Buy a bottle. It may not be the same as the next one you get, but it will give you lots of happiness. I not only bought one bottle, of vintage, I bought a second back up bottle of vintage just so I could use the first one freely. Haunt those yard sales, or ask the seller (on e-bay or wherever) if they would send a sample so you can make sure it hasn’t gone off.
Also, totally off topic, but every time I see your user name I have to laugh–were/are you a Motley Crue fan?
Lol – it’s actually the name of the main character in one of my favorite novels – London Fields by Martin Amis. I hadn’t thought of the Nikki Sixx angle. There’s an Instagram called Feminist Nikki Sixx (not managed by the real Nikki Sixx, ahem) that’s fairly entertaining, FYI.
My wish list / buy list has some seriously expensive lovelies languishing on it at present: Mohur extrait, L’Attessa, Black Amber… Last year I fell in love with Vert des Bois and have been trying to talk myself out of my sense of “need” on that one. The price is ludicrous; the joy of wearing it is unbridled.
I’m wearing vintage Chamade extrait today, in honour of the daffodils and the sunshine that arrived simultaneously today.
Why my comment showed up here, I have no idea. But nicolasix, I can only enable. I have a bottle of vintage Diorissimo and it’s heartbreakingly lovely. Found it on Etsy, utterly affordable, and in perfect shape. Maybe I just got lucky?
Most of the bottles I’m eyeing are also on Etsy, so I will take this as a vote of shopping confidence!
Try getting a sample from Tom Ford’s counter if you have access to the brand or buy a decant from a friendly split: most likely, in a year or so you’ll be able to find it cheaper (somewhere like notino.com). I don’t know anything about Black Amber, but l’Attesa is very new perfume: if you like it, most likely, it’ll still be around a year from now. Mohur Extrait – I’m not sure: Luckyscent says that it’s a limited edition… So out of all the bottles you’re lemming, this one is something to think about 🙂
I have a small houndstooth bottle of Diorissimo that I got for like $15, and I didn’t look particularly hard for it. Not a terribly risky purchase at that price. I’d keep looking around for one at a lower price point so you’re worrying less about what kind of shape it’ll be in.
On ebay, that is – I didn’t have to look too hard to find an inexpensive bottle.
Well, I’m afraid no one is going to have to talk me down from my SOTD: Panda, which is the first Zoologist I’ve tried and thought, “ugh, no.” Maybe it will burn itself out.
I didn’t like it either. No risk there!
I would say I am fairly easy to talk off the edge – some says the fragrance has short longevity or low sillage and I generally lose interest. Or someone mentions a note that I hate, and it does it for me 🙂
On my list are Rahele (which I will be bringing to tha split), L’atessa (thanks hajusuuri for enabling), Pulp (it is discontinued how can I pass) and perhaps Wild Roses (endorsement from hajusuuri pushes me off the ledge :)). Will see how I can spread it around for the whole year or what I should sell – I think that bottle of Cuir Mauresque is heading for sale) to justify these new additions.
All so good!
Splitting Rahele?? Hmmmmm. 😀
Sounds like you have a plan!
Splitmeet pre-alert: I will be hosting splits of Frederic Malle Dries Van Noten, and Oriza L Legrand Reve d’Ossian. So, if you were thinking of buying a FB of either, perhaps you can talk yourself into a split instead? See how I am helping here!
Dres Van Nolten was a birthday gift to myself from myself. I absolutely love it – it took me a while to understand what it was about but once we clicked, that’s it. It was you who lemminged me 🙂
Describe it to me please? Oh, oh, that kind of sounds a bit risqué, but I really want to know.
Dries Van Noten is sandalwood and vanilla, not too sweet… it’s a cozy cashmere sweater.
I find it cozy, softly spicy, mostly linear with a nice mix of familiar and uniqueness to the scent. It wears with enough sillage to smell it without nose-to-skin, but close enough to feel sort of private rather than a scent you share with the world.
I’ll be the minority dissenter. I tried it and ended up not being able to breathe because of what thegoddessrena described as exploding musk — it sucked up all the air around me. BUT, I will probably give it another go because who can resist snickerdoodle?
I’m with you on this one.
I like it, but not enough for a FB. I have a large decant, and it will serve me just fine. Other scents fulfill a similar enough niche in my collection to keep me satisfied.
I didn’t mind it but never felt like I would like to wear it.
Thanks everyone!
Oh I’ll be looking out for the Reve!
Such a good helper????
OMG! Dries is one of the two I’ve been waffling over! You are a psychic long distantance mastermind and I’m signing up for the split Right. This. Second!! ???????? You have SAVED me!
Seattle Chocolate is my SOTD and so happy with this one from the last swap meet. Can’t say there’s anything of the size and dollar amount that I feel like I’m on the edge of taking a big leap for. But that can change very quickly! Decants seem to still work for my, not quite baby perfumista, but not fully matured in my tastes.
We’re back to crazy cold temps in NYC! Can’t get over that it’s in the 20s out there.. puffer is back out of the closet, as are hats and gloves. Sad! 🙂
By the way, meant to ask if anyone has tried Lush’s Cardamon Coffee scent? Sounds yummy and although not available here in the states, I do see it on eBay.
I have not but would love to if it ever appears around here. On the temps – sheer craziness!
Yay, so glad to hear Seattle Chocolate is still a winner for you.
It’s so different! I’m liking it more and more. Thks!
I really have to tell myself not to get sucked into those late winter teases. We still have a long way to go…
My finger has been hovering over the “buy” button on a tester bottle of Beloved since December. The price is pretty good, considering, but the FB is just so darned large. I’ve been making do with my 8ml decant quite nicely since I’m so fickle. I’m also super-tempted on the Neela Vermeire duos of travel sprays, especially Trayee. Maybe an intrepid NST’er will offer a split next week? Or will that NST’er be me??
I’m in the same boat with Beloved. Hovering. I’ve just gotten to the point in my 8ml decant to where I’m either going to have to spring for the FB or be careful with my spritzing. And I don’t want to be careful with my spritzing.
Um, maybe you two could go halfsies?
Well there’s a thought. I have no decanting supplies, but lizbee, if you’re interested in hosting the split (you’d get to keep the pretty bottle!) shoot me an email: my user name plus 428 at gee mail.
I love the idea, but I have no decanting supplies either!
I’m no help. I bought my FB as an extra-large sample, and have no regrets. I love it, and sprayed lavishly (including in my hair), it lasts and lasts in such a wonderful way. 😀
(Long sigh.) So beautiful.
You are making it hard to stay strong, Marjorie Rose.
I can’t think of anything offhand, other than I keep pondering a split of Box of Eels or someing equally unaffordable (at least right now). But…my guess is I’ll hold off for now. I’m still in that zone of wanting to go through samples and decants and bottles from the back of the cabinet.
I was loving the cold weather and snow. Cedar Hill in Central Park was hilarity and chaos yesterday afternoon. Snow was packed down and got quite hard. Lots of crashes and wipeouts, but with minimal tears or real injury. I was simply watching and standing behind a hay bale for protection.
That sounds so fun!
I always have lots of things on my list of things to buy, but the one that will definitely happen soon is a back-up bottle of Chamade EDP. A back-up bottle doesn’t really count, does it? 🙂
Back-ups are like breathing to me.Plus Chamade.I think you need two backups.Lol.x
Ok, so let’s say back-ups don’t count, which they definitely shouldn’t. Given that, here’s another question: Can a full-bottle be considered back-up for a quickly diminishing decant?
I see where you’re going with this, my Beloved-loving friend. We are now in dangerous waters.
???? Just sayin’.
The answer to your question is ‘yes’. Further question: can a full-bottle be considered back-up for a bottle you don’t currently have at all?
LOL! ????
A resounding yes!
You are on a roll Kanuka????
Of course!I thought that’s how it works anyway?I only have back-ups,I don’t own fb’s…what’s that??Lol!
lolol!
P.S I suck at the purpose of this poll…Sorry!!Now go BUY that coffret/Beloved/Wild Roses/Pulp/Diorissimo people!!!????
You’re the worst!
Thank you!!Hahaha
Ha!
I fully agree ????
Naughty!
When we get old (er) we should all move in to a communal perfume palace. We all have our own private apartments but can enjoy a vast library of 1000s of scents ( maintained by the many wonderful NST librarians).
I’m one of them, can I come too? Will work for scent!
I LOVE that idea.Check perfumes out for a week like at a real library!Wonderful!The best-smelling,classiest Marigold hotel EVER.
That sounds like a dream come true. With the amazing talents of everyone at NST, we will never have a boring meal, our gardens will bloom with loveliness, there will always be something to read, and conversation will sparkle. And the scent of the building will either be amazing or the most horrible blend of everything at once.
Xanadu! *fantasizes about perfume library*
I am being blinded by my statsh of enbalers’ pins this weekend!All shiny,and they are actually perfume lockets full of smellbent/Beloved/Portrait of a Lady and Bendelirious.Lol.
*stash of…I’m a blind bat at 8am.
Baghari – it’s so nice, and pretty…..I love orange-y scents, but I already have a few. I have Orange Sanguine, Eau de Guerlain, Egoiste (a smidge of tangerine, but it’s so nice…), and CdG2 which I think also has a touch of citrus. And I already have La Myrrhe and Bois des Iles, which have the aldehydes.
Also if I’m getting a bottle of anything right now, it should be a back-up of Egoiste, it’s probably in my top 3 and I only have 1 bottle that’s 3/4 full.
But – I still want a bottle of Baghari, I’ve been stretching out my little 1ml decant and it’s almost gone.
Mmm. Bois des Iles on a fella sounds faboo!
I mostly wear it for my own enjoyment, it smells so good!
I have some vintage Baghari and it’s wonderful. So I say look for some vintage!
I would love to find some! I like flea markets and estate sales, maybe I’ll get lucky!
Since you can easily buy Baghari for $60-70 (dependent on the size) and you like it, unless you actually should not be buying anything now, if it fits into your budget, go for it.
Why do you need a back-up bottle of Egoiste? Is it being discontinued?
I might just get some….
No, Egoiste isn’t being d/c as far as I know. I just like it so much, I never want to run out!
C’mon! It’s so easily available that you’ll get it within a couple of days after you start thinking that your current bottle is going to end.
Lol, noooo! Ok. Maybe I’ll get both! Life’s too short!
I NEED a Big White Floral. I think I need Iris Nobile. I need the remaining members of the Comme des Garcons Incense Series that I don’t have , the Z one and the O one. Apparently now I need a FB of Pulp. My birthday is a week from today – help me decide what I will buy myself!!
Which one either fills a hole in your collection, or lifts your spirits the most? OR, are there two cheaper one about the same price as one pricey one? Oh dear, that doesn’t sound very decisive…
Hmmm…
All . Birthday presents don’t count . If you need help in that , do a public service and adopt a cat or dog – around here they are known gifters of many a perfume.
Kinda like how you think, but don’t think the 2 cats I already have would be up for it.
I think the Z one was Zagorsk. I used to have a sample of it. Eventually finished the sample, but I would recommend against buying it. It had an unfortunate tendency to go a bit body odor-y. If you are just buying it to complete the collection of CdG Incenses, skip it. If you love it, then that’s a different story.
Then you need Carnal Flower 😉
Well, I will give it a sniff when I’m on my birthday excursion to Holt Renfrew and Sak’s.
Zagorsk and Ouarzazate (pronounced war-za-zate if that helps) are the best two of the series imo. And wouldn’t it be nice to have the whole collection?
Iris Nobile is definitely covet-worthy but I reckon enough of us have it that in a reverse swapmeet (or normal one) you might be able to request some and a lovely reader in your country would send you some. Ditto any bwf. I would but shipping from here is just not viable.
Maybe I just need a decant of Iris Nobile … good thinking. I will check the usual sources. Good to know about Zagorsk and Ourrzazate. I bought some little decants of them on eBay, but they never showed up. 🙁
I don’t know, which perfume you should buy (probably Pulp, since you might not to get it later?) but I can tell, which one you do NOT need: “Big White Floral.” I mean, you might want to explore this genre and find perfume that you’d love but unless you have some contractual obligation to have all the genres equally represented in your collection, you do not have a good reason to want an abstract perfume 😉
But there are many days I go to the cupboard and think “I wish I had something along the line that Scarlett O’hara would wear”. I was thinking maybe Malle’s “Cologne Indelible” or Creed “Love in White” or a Diptyque I sniffed – maybe Olean?
It means that you need to find that type of perfume. When you do, come back, and 95% of us will tell you, why you should not … have waited for so long before buying it 😉
Gosh, it’s nice to see Love in White mentioned. I really like it–have almost finished a whole bottle, in fact–but I sense I’m in the minority on that one.
If there’s something you love that is discontinued, buy that. It will only get more expensive if you try to buy it in the future.
I have an excellent irl unabling friend: the last time we went shopping I picked up a cute pair of gloves and told her that I did have enough gloves, and she said, “Put them down – now!” and I did.
When I got home, though, I saw that while I had black gloves and velvet gloves, I did *not* have black, velvet gloves, so I returned a few days later and bought them…
You call this a friend!???? I have a friend who likes to bossily tell me what to buy and what not to buy and then gets in big trouble with me. We’ve been together for 35 years, so she can get away with it, but we scare SAs.
I need a friend like this! Would help with my impulsive buying. 🙂
Are you a jewel thief?
+1
you are cracking me up today! lololol
I love the word “unabling” – read it as a typo first, then realized it was the perfect choice. 🙂
Phew! My TWO bottle purchases both arrived on Thursday — in the nick of time!
I’m obviously a lemming with a sixth sense.
What did you get?
Woo by House of Matriarch, which a forum friend on German parfumo describes as an Alpine cabin with lederhosen, hot vanilla milk and chamomile flowers… doesn’t /really/ count because a) I’d accumulated so many sample etc. orders that I got a huge discount under HoM’s loyalty scheme, and b) I grudgingly split it, kept a tiny 45ml for myself.
The other bottle was *drumroll* Galop d’Hermes! This was an incredible stroke of luck, a half bottle for 65 euros from another parfumo friend who had bought it on Etsy. (So in fact that doesn’t really count either.)
So how is Woo?? Does it smell as described?
Oh yes! I don’t get the lederhosen, but hot milk with vanilla, a chamomile infusion, and warm friendly woods, yes. And a spot of cinammon… it’s a wonderful comfort scent.
The Woo sounds yummy.
I haven’t even tried Galop yet, but this sounds like a great deal.
You really did make me laugh out loud! 😀
I’ve has the flu all week, even though I got a flu shot. This is feeling like a constant refrain and I need to figure out how to build up my resistance. I’m surrounded by young adults who venture forth into the world no matter how sick they are, but still. I shouldn’t be such a delicate flower.
Anyway, the cliff. I want Violaceum 2 and wish it were available more widely. The Artisan site charges a hefty shipping fee. Waiting hoping it will show up elsewhere, but I love it and may not have the patience. That damn coffret from Chanel also beckons. Having already caves to the siren call of Rahele, though, best to wait and resist. We will see how I do.
Ooh, I might be into a split of Violaceum 2.
I love the bottle and I don’t have decant supplies or skills, so it will probably come next out of next month’s perfume and misc budget! But someone should definitely do a split. It is lovely.
I’m sorry you’re sick.
Thank you!
You poor thing. Campuses are giant germy petri-dishes. Have you tried popping Airborne chewables or gummies? That may help bolster immunity.
I do go for the airborne, but probably not consistently enough. And I refer to it as snakeoil, which lack of faith may also not help.
I swear by Airborne every single time I get itchy in my throat or sniffly in my nose. But I probably go through a full bottle in a couple of days.
I think you are proof that perfume makes people sick!!!!!! Therefore no more for you.
On the other hand…..
Get better!
Kanuka, you are really on a roll today. You are making me so happy!
Ha!
But seriously, I have no patience for the “perfume makes me sick” line — except of course when it is true. But self-reporting in what appears to be an uncontrolled study? Those numbers are meaningless. I am perfectly happy for someone to say “I don’t like perfume.” I didn’t care for it much myself for years, at least in a general way. But to act like I am poisoning you? That makes me nuts.
You can’t buy it.
Because Chanel does not have an Exclusif named Coffret.
LOLOLOLOL
😉
What a wonderful name that would be for a perfume 🙂
You know, I have never once meant an informed Chanel perfume SA. I am sure they exist . . . and I’ve met some very nice ones. But never informed.
Those young adults venturing into the world sick are probably the reason you caught it to start with! Staying home being a delicate flower is a community service I say 🙂
I try to tell them — and my colleagues — this, but they just keep coming in and breathing all over me!
I hope you feel better soon.
Thank you! I am definitely on the mend.
Oh, do take care of yourself. I hope you are feeling well today.
I work with students so I’m always trying to stay well. It’s impossible to avoid the airborne bugs, but I have noticed that I get sick less often since I made a habit of discretely using hand sanitizer gel at the beginning and end of each class I teach. Even better is to use soap and water every chance I get. I also try very hard not to give students any opportunity to touch my teaching materials (books, pens, papers, technology equipment and so on) unless absolutely necessary. It is a subtle change but I think it has made a big difference over the past few winters in the number of colds and flus I’ve had.
All good ideas, much of which I try to do. I realized I got this from colleagues; we were all jammed in an airless room for 3 and a half hours and at least two of us were sick. But I am on the mend now.
I’m feeling kind of torn that we didn’t have this exercise before I went to Nashville and bought that Lolita Eau de Minuit. I LIKE it. I wore it today to a cupcake-decorating ladies’ brunch. But a) I’m kinda missing that green note in the original and wishing I’d bought it instead and b) I don’t NEED it. Of course. As always.
Buyers’ remorse… blergh! Split it? Swap it?
I need to divest of a bunch of other things in my wardrobe too. Should just go hop over to eBay and sell ’em…
That sounds like a fun brunch! Did you get to eat the cupcakes?
We took them home to be admired before eating them! (My boys and husband have now eaten half of them.)
Splitmeet pre-notice: I want to split MFK Grand Soir, the only bottle currently on my wish list, but I certainly don’t need all 70ml of it. I don’t remember if I participated in the poll last year but if I did, I’m certain I wasn’t talked off the ledge and bought something. This year 0 purchases so far.
The kitchen cabinet painters came yesterday so I am living in chaos and eating takeout for the next week, but the first coat looks amazing and the painters are so good. They dug 65 years of accumulated crud out of the metal seams and scrubbed the hardware, too. In celebration I am wearing Box of Eels extrait.
You smell wonderful and hooray on the kitchen reno progress!
Have you seen how much cheaper it is to buy on his website?
Ooooooh, my housecleaning OCD kicked in when I read your happy news. Must clean kitchen hardware today. 🙂 Congrats on your kitchen makeover. I love it when existing fixtures can be renewed instead of replaced.
Huh. Should have gotten this up sooner, Robin. Now I can blame you for my new bottle of No. 5 body oil 😉 Really, I couldn’t NOT buy it since I braved the drive into Austin and went to Macy’s during what should be called the “Ultimate Chaos Sale,” only to find the thing I had gone for wasn’t available in store. It would have been a waste of fuel (and I’m driving the farm truck this week so I really mean it) to leave empty handed.
SOTD: No.5 body oil layered with Stash and the remains of Musc Tonkin EDP.
OMG, you smell potent!
😀 I’ve been going easy on the perfume at my new job (can’t compete with the ambient smells anyhow), so I’m going a bit overboard on my day off. It is a bit much for our almost 90 degree weather today.
No wonder that poor author down here in Aus has a headache 😉
That blend sounds SO good!
With all the enabling going on here today, you’re lucky I didn’t have it up earlier — surely you’d have ended up with more than just a bottle of body oil 😉
LOL
Have been thinking about Galop, Ubar and Opus 1. I’m worried about Galop, though, since Lyric really doesn’t work, and I have a FB. Maybe rose is not a good idea.
Most of my small collection was inspired by people here: Robin got me interested in Azemour. Rahele also sounds interesting, as does Kismet.
Lyric and Galop are quite different to my nose. Lyric is more lush and cuddly while Galop has more leather and spice.
Agreed. Galop is more along the lines of Kelly Caleche.
Love leather and spice. It’s worth a sample. If anyone is doing a split, I’d be willing to go in.
I’d be into a split. A few mls at least.
I sampled Lyric and thought it was lovely, then bought the FB. Sprayed is a whole different thing. Even the teeniest spray is too much. There’s something about rose – I seldom have trouble with Amouage scents, but this one is not my friend.
Wait… You’re thinking about buying a bottle though you’re not sure if it works for you? Why? How? Are you planning a blind buy?
Hi Undina. I was, but your comment makes me see that trying to talk the Hermes SA out of a spritz or sample is much more prudent. Luckyscent doesn’t have samples. Thanks for talking me off the blind buy cliff!
Both Surrender to Chance and The Perfumed Court have samples and decants of Galop available.
Thanks for the tip Madtowngirl. I’ll order some. Does that qualify for an enabler pin?
Ann, no need to buy the sample. I have a refill bottle from the last Splitmeet and can spare a sample. Please email me. Galop is divisive so sampling first is in order.
Thanks, Hajusuuri! Sending you an email.
Lol- I will pass that shiny pin right on over to the kind and generous hajusuuri!????
Wearing a good dose of Carnal Flower today, trying to overcome my prickliness so I can put on my happy face for dinner with my parents tonight. So far it’s not working.
I want JM Myrrh & Tonka but I’m on a no buy until March, fortunately I can wait patiently until then. Also anxious to smell Olfactive Studios Close Up but no one seems to have it yet here.
You smell great and I find Carnal Flower spine strengthening with bitchiness thrown in. At least it is just dinner and not an extended stay!
Yes! Fortunately/unfortunately they are in SoCal for a month’s holiday, but in their own rented house, so I am not trapped 24/7 like I am when I visit at their house. I plan to respritz before I head out the door for extra spine-strengthening.
I’m glad to hear you can physically separate yourself from them – even with guests that I am 100% enthusiastic about, I cannot function if I don’t get some alone time. Hope the dinner was OK.
Sotd: Neroli Outrenoir
Head over heels for this one. Don’t even waste your breath trying to talk me out of this beauty. It will be welcomed to my home (hopefully soon) with love and adoration ….????
That’s the spirit!
Spooky name though.
+1 and all set with my travel spray.
Was up at work early this morning and wore Deneuve. Came home and took a nap. Now that Deneuve has bowed out, I am trying to decide on my dinner perfume. I keep debating on if I should break my no full bottle purchase until June with either SDV or Tonka Imperial. The cost is making me step back a little.
I have a decant of SDV that I don’t wear. Email me at my username at aol dotty com if you’d like it.
Thanks for the offer. Would you like anything back?
I really want a bottle of EB Florals Hyacinth, but don’t really need to be talked out of it as I don’t have $295 at the moment to throw at a 100ml bottle. 🙂 And the 10ml bottles are still like $90! Who does the math over there…
The big bottles are really pretty though.
Gosh. I know.
That one is really, really good.
BUT SPENDY!!! SPENDY SPENDY MORTGAGE YOUR LIFE FOR PERFUME SPENDY!! Ow.
I want Songe d’un Bois d’Eté, but I own way too much perfume as it is, I have nothing quite like this one though.
SOTD is Opus III which I love, but don’t need.
I seriously considered a purchase of this as well but discovered that Papillon Anubis and Olympic Orchids Dev 1 scratched a very similar itch and at half and a quarter of the cost. I recently finished off the last of my Songe sample and discovered I did not love it as much as I remembered. So, I say you can do better. Order samples of all three and do a side by side assessment and see what you think.
First of all thank you for chiming in!
As I’m in Europe Olympic Orchids is out of the question, I’ll look into the Anubis, though that is more per ounce than the Guerlain, but one bottle is definitely cheaper.
Anubis, did someone say Anubis? Austenfan, I’m taking receipt of my BdJ bottle win in April, when I’m in the UK. You’re in NL, right? No prob to send you a decant!
My address is kay dot henn squiggly freenet dot de.
P.S. Not to do Papillon out of business… I mean a large tester:)
Scent on Canvas, an Italian house, has Noir de Mars which is also in this same vein and might be easier for you to get!
I think I may need to buy a bottle of Eau Claire des Merveilles after it was confirmed on here earlier this week that it has been discontinued. It’s the one remaining of the line that I need to complete the quartet… well, that is until the new Bleue is released…and then I will need that one too!
I never even got round to trying it. Apparently it was very good.
Had you tried the Eau Claire? I’m a big fan of the line. It the Eau Claire was the least distinctive in the group to me. A very soft vanilla that I could barely smell at all…
Save it for the Bleue (which I’m eagerly awaiting though it would be the first blue perfume in my collection)
But…but…what if I want them both?!
It will be my first blue perfume as well. Speaking of blue, does anyone remember Sun Moon Stars perfume? My mom had a bottle when I was young and I haven’t the faintest recollection of what it used to smell like, but that bottle- gorgeous!
I had Sun Moon and Stars. I remember how it smells, but do not know how to describe it. Mostly, I remember that I wore way to much of it, and that yes, the bottle was gorgeous.
Monday again! You know, I would never have agreed to this if I’d been asked! I think that if I had been given my druthers, I would have extended Friday evening almost indefinitely into a considerably lengthened Saturday morning. Ah well.
So. Off to work I go, smelling delicious in gorgeous, gorgeous Bois Des Iles. Oh my. It is sooooo beautiful! Received wisdom tells me that this is a silly choice for a hot day, because it is a warm scent (and mine is the extrait form to boot) but I don’t think I care. My office is about as warm as a fridge because the aircon is so madly enthusiastic, and if the sandalwood blooms a little too much on my walk to work, well, I’m outdoors and people can stand up-wind of me. Also, I’m enjoying the contrast between the lushness of my perfume and the starkness of my clothes, which are black and white and grey and just –only just!– on the elegant side of grunge. It’s a bit of fun to build surprising contrasts line this.
Be well, all.
Afterthought: can anyone give me three (it will take three) good reasons why I should not buy Ubar? I don’t have anything remotely like it, it’s not ruinously expensive, especially for an Amouage, and it’s moderately handy to acquire. The only reason I can come up with not to buy is that it’s not Beloved, and I did promise myself that the next FB of Amouage I bought would be Beloved. But, you know, flexibility is everything. I wouldn’t want to escalate my commitment to a plan just because it was a plan, when another, perfectly satisfactory way of being presents itself….
Ubar is great, I have a full bottle and it gets a lot of wear. Just saying. Mind you, I also have a bottle of Beloved (and Gold Woman)
Unless I’m mistaken, you’re heading towards the cooler weather in your year (A/C quirkiness aside), so why would you be thinking of buying a beautiful, warm, cozy and elegant at the same time scent? I mean, why are you still thinking?!! 😉
Aha! An observation that is wise and just, and also, just happens to match exactly with my wishes! a bottle will be mine as soon as I can get myself organised.
I will give you my bottle of Beloved as it has too much rose for me – a blind buy. You may have to wait until May, though. Or I could just post it.
Kanuka, no! You can’t possibly give me a bottle of Beloved. I will gladly buy it from you in May though.
There is no good reason not to buy Ubar. None. Go buy it.
According to BdJ sandalwood has a cooling effect and is thus commonly worn in hot temps in certain parts of the world.
Swanning around in Queen today, although unlike Waterdragon above, I’m on the wrong side of the grunge tracks.
However, working on an auto while listening to “I’m Going Hungry” by Temple of the Dog makes my getup authentic. No flannel shirt though, since it’s hot again. ????
What a great blast from the past! Love Chris Cornell.
Yep, a Long Gone Day ????
Our daughter misheard “I’m Going Hungry” when she was little and wanted to know if we could “do laundry” too. Yep. So then her dad started singing it “I’m Doin’ Laundry” and that’s our dirty clothes theme song.
Last week we were IMing on Facebook and I asked what she was doing. She messaged back with a link to the Youtube video, so I knew. 🙂
Too cute! ????
Vero Kern almost anything, but especially Rozy Voile d’Extrait or Onda. After reading the posts, I’m not sure why I shouldn’t have one or split one because for us and even for fragrance detractors, her perfumes are among the best examples of the highest form of the craft. They are not necessarily easy to wear, but amazing to sniff!
Nobody says (or was supposed to say) that buying perfumes is wrong 🙂 If you like it, if you want to wear it and it won’t take you to the poorhouse – of course buy it! 🙂
I agree that buying perfume is never wrong, as you said. I was also pushing back against “The Case Against Fragrance” cited above. Even for the inflated 35% catchall illness from fragrance group, a Vero perfume can’t be lumped in with the general category you would find in the drugstore.
Wearing several sprays of Alien Eau Extraordnaire today.
I really want to buy Coco Noir Parfum/Extrait but have not pulled the trigger.
I bought the Coco Noir body cream in December and am going to break into this week finally I’ve decided. I am hoping to love it so intensely I forget about the extrait… 😉
I can’t believe I am going to talk you out of buying Coco Noir Extrait, at least temporarily while I myself have no discipline.
I have a 15mL bottle of the extrait. Perhaps we can work out a swap to tide you over until you’re 100% sure you can’t live without having your own bottle? I just placed a Best Bottles order that included mini utilitarian blue, green and amber glass jars (no wand applicator) that will be the perfect vessel for a few mLs.
I know it’s very late on this thread to ask this,and I know the question has been asked and analyzed a thousand times.But-seeing the shift in pricing/new smaller bottles being offered/decants-what are you guys actually willing to spend on perfumes?Does the packaging play a big part deciding to purchase?Favorite brand appeal.That “One day Only ” sale price that is still $300 out of budget…What is the decidedly “BUY IT NOW” factor?
Mine swifts and changes many many times!Amouage Beloved because I love it and it is rare(at a bargain price retailer!!)
Bendelirious because its getting hard to find in SA and I love it sooo much!
Portrait of a Lady 50ml because it was out of budget to het the big one.But still had to have it.
Over to you guys!
Bless me father for I have sinned, it has been………
Are you really going to make me confess?
Finished my sample of POAL a while ago, $365 for the 100ml, a huge reason to not buy.
Naughty males at Basenotes, talking up FIF (no affiliation) for lower prices even with high DHL cost.
Long story short, $261 ($25 for DHL) for 100ml is the magic number. Should arrive on Wednesday.
😉
MORE triple strength coffee! !!!
Carpe Diem. Peace.
Lol.Well I would pay that for PoaL as well.Nice purchase!!Love love it!You’ll get so much joy(and compliments!!!)from it.That’s reason enough.X
Phew, lots of questions.
1. It depends on how much “disposable” money I have at the time – if I have plenty, then the amount I will pay for something I love is higher.
2. For me, the packaging doesn’t matter at all, and I prefer a smaller bottle to a pretty bottle. However, I don’t have room to display bottles where they can be seen, so I can understand why someone would want a pretty bottle.
3. To be honest, if I have decided to buy something the “Buy it now” factor can be pretty inconsequential. ” Buy it now when there is free shipping? Buy it now and I get a free plastic dice key ring? Wow, I better snap that offer up!
By the way, I was at the mall and spritzed some Miss Dior on one wrist and something Shiseido that I had never heard of on the other and they both caused me to come home and take a shower. Really, THAT’s what Miss Dior smells like?
ScentSpirit: When in a store, please keep in mind that testers may have gone off due to being constantly in the light and heat, maybe even on a merchandiser that is under-lit and hot. Perhaps you just don’t like chypres if the original Miss Dior is what you tried on.
Try the Miss Dior le parfum if you can. I don’t like the regular current version, but love this one.
Thanks for participating!My BUY IT NOW-method:Smell it/Love it/gotta have it/go home to “think” about it/turn around at mall exit/buy it.Lol.
1) Not much
2) Yes
3) Cash on hand and lack of restraint
I was lucky and didn’t get into perfume until I had some disposable income. It would have been torture otherwise. As it is, above 250 in US dollars is just about my limit, broken only once, I think, by my person, who gifted me Mohur extrait.
What I find interesting is the shifts in what is considered expensive — even or maybe especially among the cogniscenti — not over time, but with regard to some other set of factors. Quality is surely one, but I am not sure that it is the only one. So $235 for 60ml of Neela Vermeire is expensive, but doable for me and I’ve rarely heard anyone refer to them as overpriced. (And I think it is a sign of Neela Vermeire’s love of perfume and people that she is doing the duo sets *and* that the mark up outside of the EU is virtually non-existent.) People seem pretty regularly to pay for Amouage (which is a line I don’t get) and Malle (which I do). But I’ve only bought 50ml and 100ml bottles of FM in Europe because the US dollar mark up is, in my opinion, outrageous, no matter how much I like the perfume. This is where First in Fragrance is so great, as I can wait until I have 300 Euro of desire and spend much less on any individual bottle of Atelier des Ors or Rania J or Malle than I would at home.
But then, just to take one example, Carner Barcelona comes out with a line within the line at 220 for 50ml and it is generally considered simply too expensive. It may be, as I doubt that they are as special as something like NVP, but maybe they are? The L’Artisan line with a line that includes Violaceum 2 is 180 for 50ml, which is a lot, but it is very very good. And yet I haven’t sprung for it yet. Why? I am not sure. Does it perhaps lack the richness and complexity of others for which I have paid more? Or is there something about the allure of the on-line discussions that draws someone in one direction rather than another?
How much are we drawn in by reviews and comments and prestige? Some inevitably and without a doubt. But sometimes I think too much. (This could turn into a long discourse about orientalism, but I will spare you that!)
Now I am going to go buy that Violaceum!
With regard to markups, I should add, from the EU to USA. I don’t know beyond that!
I was surprised at the price difference.
My first time ordering from FIF, very easy.
Too easy. 😉 LOL
I’m in Dior Homme today, and yesterday’s SOTD was Stella.
The good(?) news is that I can’t think of anything I’m trying to talk myself back from buying at the moment. Instead, I like to indulge in momentary-lemming/fantasy-buying when I discover a new scent I might like, by searching for it at the discounters–and then mentally filing it away for later. I have a to-buy list of scents I *know* I want for my collection when the funds and price are right. And, in order to avoid any ‘unnecessary’ purchases, I use my to-sample list to weigh the options for filling any particular scent ‘hole’ before I buy any FBs.
…Then again, if I had money to burn, right now I’d snap up a bottle of Beloved and maybe a few Serge Lutens blind buys like Gris Clair and Chergui.????
Happy weekend to everyone, ledge-edgers and anti-lemmings alike.
I love the Crater Lake photo. It reminds me of happy summer days during yearly Western US roadtrips with my grandparents. Though I’ve never made a leap like that, and hope I never will.
My only perfume-itch at the moment is Eau des Merveilles Bleue. I check the Hermes website each day to see if it is there yet.
I don’t need to complete an EdM set (hi madtowngirl!) because two of the EdM scents don’t work on me. But I do love the first EdM so much that it’s hard to be think clearly. And that blue bottle makes my heart go pitter-patter.
It’s been fun to read this lazy weekend post. I feel grateful for this moment in my life when I can devote a bit of time, space, thought, and money to pleasing my nose and myself. And feeling most grateful for this wonderful community.
Hehe, I’ve been checking the website on a pretty regular basis too!????
GENERAL PURPOSE ADVICE FOR THOSE ON THE LEDGE:
Unless you have the opportunity to buy a vintage fragrance at a great price, it’s your last chance to get something that has been discontinued, there’s an amazing sale on the perfume that will never again be repeated, or your friend is selling off a bottle of something you love at a great price, YOU DON”T NEED TO DO IT NOW. Holding off will result in either you getting over it (that does happen) or in buying it later at a better time (or a better price).
Wish I’d seen this thread earlier, as I’m pretty good at dis-enabling people from buying perfume 😉
So true. But, eating lunch and dinner out can add up to a bottle of perfume very quickly. So it’s just a matter of weighing priorities, unless you own a vast real estate empire.
Great advice! Well said.
On the other hand, if there’s no financial or other downside, there’s no reason not to.
I doubt most of us look at our collections with remorse and regret because we didn’t stop ourselves from making purchases. That said, certainly all of us have a few ill-bought bottles in our collections – with the upside that they can be gifted or swapped.
After doing some financial reconciling at the end of last year and tallying up my perfume spending, I decided (after putting my eyeballs back in their sockets) that I need to dial things WAYYYYY back. I’ve found I’m pretty good at talking myself back from the ledge and have done so with 3 FB lemmings just in the past few weeks. There are a few other bottles I’m mulling over, but haven’t decided on yet. We shall see.
I also felt pretty smug about my plan to keep my ebates/topcashback checks in my paypal account to use for perfume spending, but I can see now that it will be drained after next week’s splitmeet.
Looking forward to next week’s community project. It’s exactly what I need right now. Plus, it coincides with my previously hatched plan to test some white florals.
And even though there was a veritable blizzard going on this time last week, I’m feeling very springy. I swapped out my display bottles and taped up some winter perfumes I intended to, but did not, finish up. Hopefully they’ll still be there come next year.