Donatella, Our Lady of Perfumed Plenty,1 is busy this year — bringing sexy back is not so easy as it looks — but she's carved out a free moment to check in on her flock. She dearly wants to know what you bought in the 2nd quarter (April, May and June) of of 2018. Do tell all, you'll feel better.
My purchases...
A very kind reader offered to mule a few little things from Guerlain in Paris for me. I now have two adorable little travel bottles, one of Terracotta Le Parfum and one of Spiritueuse Double Vanille. The grand total was $107. Added to my first quarter, that's $297 for the year.
As always, report your purchases in the comments if you dare! And as always, we don't include samples or gifts, and you can count miniatures, decants and bottle-splits howsoever you like (I usually count them as half bottles). Samples don't generally count at all, even though some of us spend considerable sums obtaining them.
1. Why does Donatella host (against her will, mind you) the damage polls? There is no real reason other than the picture of her perfume collection, which shows that she indulges regularly at the perfume counter. The image, by the way, is originally from Allure magazine and appears here courtesy of Blogdorf Goodman.
Miller Harris Terre d’Iris 100ml
Miller Harris Fleur de Sel 50ml
Miller Harris Fleur du Matin 50ml
Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac 50ml
Molton Brown Russian Leather 50ml
Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme 150ml
Jacques Bogart Arabian Nights 100ml
I also did backups of Mary Greenwell’s Lemon and Plum, Penhaligons Elixir, and CdG+Pharrell’s Girl, all discontinued, so totally justified.
I’ve been busy…
wow wow wow
That’s a lot of Miller Harris perfumes in a single quarter. How come?
TK Maxx just had the ones I was after. So it had to be done.
Still wishing I’d see L’air in there sometime…
I do adore Miller Harris scents, you totally scored! I adore her Fig Amere, another beautiful salty/amber perfume I love (but don’t wear nearly enough!). I wish my TJ MaXX had lovely scents like that but no.
I guess in the end it’s a good thing because my wallet would blow up and I’d be making very guilty reports to our Lady Donatella.
I envy you access to all the Miller Harris
A most impressive list!
You always find great stuff!
I love Plum. Sorry it’s discontinued, glad I have a backup of it.
Wow! I’d be over the moon to find Fleur de Sel at TJMaxx. Great finds!
Wouldn’t that be so awesome?
Wowzers! Glad to see another fan of Terre d’Iris and Fleurs de Sel.
I’ve gone a little crazy this year, buying full bottles and lots of decants. However, this quarter I slowed down a little. I did buy two full bottles from the Smellbent garage sale in June, but that was it, full bottle wise. I also bought several decants of Hermes and Guerlain scents and a few minis from eBay. Maybe I haven’t slowed down.
Maybe slowing down is a journey 🙂
I bought 2 samples off the evil bay! 20 bucks
Samples don’t even count!
My purchases:
Only one full bottle of Masque Milano L’Atessa. $155. Added to my first quarter that is just:
$186 for this year. I have been really behaving and looking forward to doing even better.
Even better?!! Are you expecting brands to start paying you to wear their perfumes? 😉
L’Atessa is beautiful! I also bought it this year but need to check when.
Ha! Why not! My life will be complete then….. 😀 😀 😀
Trying my best to focus in my collection and spend the least possible until I finish lots of samples, decants and some full bottles. Not so sure I will achieve that, but…
Smart move 🙂
Me too – this solitary buy in came in under the wire in June…
Hi twin! We did good this quarter! What did you buy?
Just the MM this quarter! Last quarter it was a birthday present and a backup bottle so am sure they don’t count
Nicely done!
nothing…but I inherited a few surprise bottles from a good friend so I am happily wearing them and don’t feel the need to purchase…..
Love that!
I felt like I was fairly restrained Tthus quarter, however, looking at these all together I’m not so sure.
30ml Etat Libre D’Orange Fat Electrician (20% off)
10ml Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental decant from a split
30ml Bruno Fazzolari Seyrig partial bottle from another perfume lover
5ml decants of BF Fontevraud, Ummagumma, and Sonoma Scent Studio Equestrian from splits
15ml SSS Voile de Violette and Wood Violet partial bottles from another perfume lover
50ml Smell Bent Never Never Land (60% off)
4ml SB Gypsy travel spray
7.5ml x2 Sylvaine Delacourte Lilylang (20% off)
So that’s 5 full or partial bottles plus travel sprays and decants, so let’s call it 7?
They really are mostly small sizes! It would be less than 2 full-sized bottles.
Oh I love Seyrig! I purchased an unloved bottle from a fellow perfumista this quarter. ????
OMG, is it confession time again already?
Here’s my haul for the last quarter:
MFK Masculin Pluriel
Penhaligons Endymion
John Varvatos Dark Rebel Rider
Got the MFK with points at SFA, I think the total spent was just under $50 for all three…
It creeps up fast, doesn’t it? And nice bargain!!
One partial bottle:
Tauerville Rose Flash 7 ml (out of 30) (managed to get it at a very reasonable price!)
Decants (or more like splits):
By Kilian Sweet Redemption 9 ml
Esteban Folie de Figue 6 ml
Etat Libre d’Orange Jasmin et Cigarette 6 ml
Hermes Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate 10 ml
Liquides Imaginaires Eaux Sanguines Dom Rosa 10 ml
Profumum Roma Acqua Viva 6 ml
€83/$97 for the quarter. Spent almost the same amount of money in the first quarter (though I got fewer mls in this one), so its under $200 for the year so far. OK.
(I did buy some pricey Lush limited edition shower gels, but they do not count!)
I bought 2 travel refill thingies of Sweet Redemption a few years ago and have thoroughly enjoyed draining one of them. (Ah, and the satisfaction of finishing one!)
I have one these refills and am about to finish it, that is why I bought a decant. I would not mind having a full bottle of Sweet Redemption if it just fell from the sky. 🙂
So glad Donatella is not tracking shower gels 😉
Amen!
Vintage Coco EDT splash 75ml (ca 20 mls left) £10
YSL Champagne 20ml (new full) £48.19
Balenciaga Cristobal 50ml (90% full) £4
Revlon Intimate EDC 50ml half full £4
Vintage 4ml miniatures of :
Givenchy Ysatis £4
Revlon Intimate £4
Estée Lauder Knowing £1
Vintage Chloé £1
Chopard Casmir £4
1.2mls FM Iris Poudre and Superstitious samples £4.99
Total £85.18.
I seem to have fallen down the vintage rabbit hole. Oh well, it costs a lot less for more value. And hunting the stuff down is fun 😀
You got some great vintages.
Thank you. All of the except for the Chanel and YSL which I bought off e bay are antique shop finds.
Op shops here very rarely carry perfume, and hipster antique shops tend to overinflate the prices, unless they can’t recognise the bottle 😀
An added advantage to looking for vintages is that if you don’t see anything on a given occasion it doesn’t matter because it’s not like I NEED more perfume.
1. Etat Libre d’Orange Tilda Swinton Like This, 30 ml bottle
2. Acqua di Parma Colonia Assoluta, 50 ml bottle
3. Pinrose Treehouse Royal, 30 ml bottle
4. Hermessence Cedre Sambac, 15 ml bottle
5. Hermessence Myrrhe Eglantine, 15 ml bottle
6. L’Artisan Au Bord de L’eau, 100 ml bottle
This quarter went by so fast !
Very nice mix! I am jealous of your SWINTON.
I only bought 4, but one was a bee bottle of Iris Ganache, so my $$ total is worse than the last 2 quarters combined!
I also bought a bottle of Ellie Saab Essence no 1 Rose, a mini of Bottega Venetta and a bottle of Piguet’s V Intense.
A few minor split portions, but nothing too expensive.
Congrats on your bee bottle 🙂
Just one bottle and two small travel decants. I’ve been sitting on my hand since I finally broke down and bought a car.
Oops.. make that 2 bottles and three small travel sprays.
My perfume spending pretty much stopped once I broke down and bought a car about 18 months ago. It’s more like a “can’t buy” then a “no buy”
Buying a new(er) car a 10 years back made me carefully think about purchasing. Fortunately, I realized I needed to curb spending anyway…
I’m so proud of myself as I bought 0 (!) bottles last quarter. I don’t quite know how that happened. I guess I haven’t been able to make up my mind as to what I wanted.
Good job, you! I guess as our collections grow, we become more discerning. I know that I have passed on a number of scents that I really liked because I already own something similar.
Quite! I thought I might buy Amouage Lyric but trying it on again recently (I’ve got two decent sized samples and with Amouage a little goes a very long way) I realised how much it reminded me of Une Rose Chyprée (which I own), so I’ve so far not got that Amouage.
hurray for zero bottles! 😀
Wow! Good job 🙂
Someone has adopted my method of indecision 🙂
I think it kind of happens naturally. Also the bottle I really want is Bucoliques de Provence, but am not willing to pay full retail price, so I’m biding my time 😉
Very restrained this quarter–I spent a grand total of $104 on a partial bottle of Fiori di Capri and a bottle of Sleeping Under the Stars. Next quarter will be wildly extravagant since I’ll be getting a custom perfume from DSH for my birthday.
Oooooh, custom perfume!
OOOOOH. Anything Dawn makes specially for you is bound to be wonderful.
This was a good quarter.
Bought Hermessence Myrrhe Eglantine, Muguet Porcelain and Vetiver Tonka – gifted the Muguet Porcelain(s) , I had two – and got back Vanille Galante and Santal Massoia.
Did I say I love Hermessence?
Yes to Hermessence! Those 15 ml bottles are so tempting.
perfect size!
I mostly shop online, and therefore try not to buy perfume during the hot months. I ALWAYS fail at this, but this quarter I failed the least hard:
– AG’s Eau d’Hadrien – a new in box 100ml bottle in a thrift store for only $20
– Eau de Rochas – a 30ml new in box evil Bay find, also about $20
– small decants of Accord Oud, JM’s Jasmine and Marigold, and Zoologist’s Camel
Under $100, all told.
AG for 20$. you are a lucky one!
I know – I hit the thrift stores all the time and almost never find perfume!
I have that rule too (no summer buying by mail). And I always fail, too. Ah well! I am weak, Donatella….
I’ve been lucky in the past so I kept pushing my luck too! However, we went on a road trip in May and I wound up cooking a few decants in the hot trunk, so I’m trying to be more careful going forward.
Eau de Rochas is such a great scent especially for summer, that’s an excellent buy.
It’s really nice, very different from my other colognes. I’m saving it for September – it’s always still hot and I’m always sick of citrus by then.
Second that! I should buy a bottle before it disappears
Great finds!!
I didn’t buy anything in April. In May I bought:
15ml Madhat Mysore Limed $65
In June, I bought in London:
30ml PG Suede Osmanthe $81
10ml FM Outrageous $41
75ml Guerlain Mandarine Basilic $50
100ml Hermes Eau de Citron Noir $75
I came home and decided that I wanted Isabey Route de Emeraude. I smelled it in London but didn’t want a big bottle. I found a 10ml bottle at Beautyhabit, I think it was, for $50, and I needed a backup bottle of Atelier Mistral Patchouli because it’s been discontinued and I only have about 2ml left. That was $57. The London stuff counts as souvenirs, truly, because I bought nothing else there to remind me of my trip. Grand total without London: $162. With London, $409. Total since the beginning of the year, $467 including London.
Nice mix! And did not know Mistral Patchouli got axed — that was one of the few ACs I liked.
Just one for me. The Peacock bottle of Shalimar Souffle. $37.00. I was also fortunate enough to be the recipient of a full bottle of No.5 L’eau from the generous Amy.
You had been thinking about that one for a while, right?
Yeah, it’s been on my list for a few years. Once the Peacock showed up at the discounters, I really had no reason not to get it. I can easily spend the same amt of money at the gas station.
Nice price, and such a beautiful bottle!
I was pretty good this Quarter! I spent only $65 on two bottles, W by Banana Republic and the other was Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Pampleune (heavy on the grapefruit/patchouli). I was super good!
(nevermind that I spent double that on day 2 of Q3!! )
Donatella does not like to get ahead of herself!
I sometimes have trouble remembering what was bought when. I think my only two purchases were a rollerball of the re-released Boyfriend and the 30 ml of Cap Neroli. (I think the 30 ml of Insolence was 1st Q). So, total was about $75.
+1 for Cap Neroli!
I always have to go back and look at my Paypal account.
Yep. I don’t think I’ve ever made an in-person perfume purchase (okay, I can think of 2 – Chanel Exclusifs) so my shopping is very easy to track.
I think I’m getting my quarters mixed up – thought I had spent next to nothing but in fact buy:
30ml cap neroli
100 ml Seville a l’aube (split 40 ml or so)
Ormonde Jayne discovery sample set (which will probably show up in the swap meet)
10ml of ciel d’opale, seller accidentally sent cuir de nacre first so got two for one.
10ml of lavandes Trianon.
30ml cheapie bottle of dune.
25 Euro worth of samples from a fabulous perfume shop in Berlin called the different scent.
25 dollars worth of samples.from zgo perfumery in San Francisco.
Grand total is not bad per ml – I’m guesstimating $185.
Sorry, don’t know how this ended up here!
Ring Ring
“Donatella, darling, how lovely of you to call! I was just thinking of you.”
“Yes, I have been so very busy this past quarter.” “Well, I had all these perfumes to pass along. I sold, swapped, or gave away 9 FBs and 8 minis. Takes a bit of doing.” “What a brilliant idea, of course you would think of that! Yes, it would be simpler to just give them to the help.” [side-eye at the cats] “Though I think they are more into marine notes.” [tuna, to be exact]
“And of course there’s my charitable foundation. Buying works of art from the starving artists, you know.” Couteau de Poche Fumabat (FB), DSH Giverney In Bloom and Fleurs du Soleil (minis), Tauer Les Annees 25 (mini), House of Matriarch Kazimi (mini). “Yes, darling, we all must do our part.”
“And my rescue mission, giving a loving home to sadly abandoned perfumes that were lost and alone on Ebay.” By Kilian Amber Oud, Serge Lutens Rousse, Guerlain Vetiver Pour Elle, Guerlain Purple Fantasy, Guerlain Mahora.
“Well, and after all that hard work, surely I deserved to treat myself, for once.” Lady Gaga Eau de Gaga, Fort & Manle Impressions of Giverney, Banana Republic Linen Vetiver (mini), Gucci Guilty pour Homme Absolute, Kate Walsh Boyfriend, VCA Neroli Amara, Neela Vermeire Niral, Hermes Jour d’Hermes parfum (mini).
“How clever you are, to notice that it very nearly balanced out this quarter. Ah yes, my dear, we make such sacrifices; but, as you know, noblesse oblige. Well it was simply fabulous to hear from you, I am always so touched that you think of me every quarter without fail. Kiss Kiss. Talk to you next quarter!”
You’re so funny!
Selfless and hard-working as ever, pixel.
😉
Hilarious and clever!????
The Nobel Prize for perfume is heading your way
LOVE. THIS.
I hear the perfect voice to accompany you! Very well done Girl!!
I always scroll down to read your entry first, pixel! Hilarious. ????
I always look forward to your Donatella posts 🙂
She NEVER calls me. Grrrr. But you truly deserved it!????????
????????
Hilarious!
Only two bottles, and I’m including the Eau de Memo I bought on the first day of July because I will never remember it by October. The other was a bottle of Andrea Maack Dual to commemorate my trip to Iceland.
Perfect souvenir of your trip!
I lied in the poll! I simply forgot some. BAD me. Here’s my list:
Mugler Aura (autocorrect wants that to be “Bugler”) with my Ulta 20% off coupon
MFK APOM (I got a nice % off in the Canada sale, thanks!)
Travel spray of Zoologist Moth (my new favorite of that line)
Nez a Nez Bal Musque (50% off sale)
Maybe given the discount prices and small travel bottle, this really only counts as 2? (blushing)
I think it ought to be called Bugler from now on!
The Mugler Bugler….read all about it!
Nice score on the Aura, I need to figure out how to get one of those Ulta coupons!
In the last few months I’ve sold about three bottles of perfume at pretty good prices on eBay. But I’ve also in the last quarter purchased new perfume as well.
Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme
Yves Saint Laurent 24 Rue De L’Université
Perris Monte Carlo Santal Du Pacifique EdP & Extrait
Perris Monte Carlo Cacao Azteque EdP
After a successful no-buy first quarter, this time it was two FBs: Nicolai Odalisque (April) and Masque L’Attesa (just a week ago). Neither was even on my to-buy list, they had practically jumped on me out of nowhere and forced me to buy them! Regrets? None.
No regrets is very good.
dear NST friends, I fell off my no-new-bottles pledge, and it feels great. I lasted five months, making two new scents feel nicely indulgent.
1. I rescued a seriously under-priced bottle of Vol de Nuit edt.
It was languishing unloved on a lonely shelf. Now I give it the adoration it deserves. It is fleeting, four or six spritzes at once smell great. Have already made a dent in this bottle quicker than most others.
2. And I succumbed to the Cap Neroli lemming, bought it unsniffed, enabler pin goes to Ede97005.
I had to buy it! A spray sample + shipping would have cost close to a third the price of the bottle, so really this is a large-size sample a la hajusuuri. Props to Madame de Nicolaï for her fabulous work and for offering 30 ml bottles. And a shout out to ZGO Perfumery. They sent my package quickly with some surprise samples. I’m a very happy customer.
Fingers crossed that summer weather will help me sit on my hands for the next quarter and beyond.
any bottle of 30 ml or less is practically inviting to be bought.
Vol de Nuit!!!!!!!! Of course you had to rescue the bottle.
Bottle rescues are important.
HaHA!!
Charity work, really.
Two well loved bottles is nicely restrained, IMO.
Congrats on the Vol de Nuit!
this quarter-
Frédéric Malle Carnal Flower
Frédéric Malle Eau de Magnolia
Elie Saab Essences Oud
Serge Lutens cedre
L’artisan Seville a laube
Escentric Molecules 04
For a grand total of about $750 this quarter.. I thought I was doing so good but now when i tally it up lol. Also I’m going to Vegas next week for a little mini vacation and I know I’ll do some damage at the Barneys in the Bellagio. God help me if they stock the Serge Lutens bell jars there.. I’ve been eyeing Borneo 1834 and La Myrrhe for a long time and it’s my birthday sooo….
You have to give yourself a birthday present or two. La Myrrhe…nice choice.
Vacation perfume doesn’t count!! Well, that’s my own made-up rule.
Have fun in Vegas.
Wooo! R, I think it’s the first quarter I’ve ever spent less than you on fragrance. I knew one day the time would come. 😉 I believe I spent nada this quarter. $263 for the year so far, I think. I just bought the new LT/TS Guide for Kindle (actually my phone), though, so my days of solvency are numbered.
Wait! There’s a NEW Guide!?
There is! Just stuff from 2008 on, mostly niche. It will be out soon in paperback, but is currently available on Amazon in a Kindle version.
Yay for you!!! I need to get The Guide still.
I thought I had been fairly restrained, but as I sit to make my confession…
1. 40ml of Santal Noir (with a nice discount and lovely freebie soap)
2. 10ml of superstitious (ok, it was 3*10 travel sprays but for the price of one on eBay)
3. A bottle of slumberhouse Norne when I was briefly in the u.s. (expensive but entirely successful blind buy. Phew.)
4. Travel sprays of cedre sambac and agar Ebeneezer (thank you autocorrect!) and a replacement osmanthe yunnan
5. Unplanned but happy use of voucher and discount to acquire 75ml of Bel Respiro
6. Aedes discovery set (10ml each of copal Azur, iris nazarene, and oeillet Bengale
7. And a replacement/refill of my emptied out and much missed Bandit (under half price. Rude not to.)
…I realise the extent of my self delusion. Oh dear. Still cheaper than smoking.
And now it’s a new quarter, and my birthday month. For a zero birthday at that.
*Whistles nonchalantly*
oooooh, a zero birthday. I hope your response is “challenge accepted.” 😉
Well, *I* think fifty deserves prizes. Not just presents.
item 1: newly coloured hair in an array of purples from blackcurrant to lavender, trimmed back to waist length for tidiness.
item 2: a bottle of Aeon 001 (thank you crazy ebay seller letting this go at barely over half price. I have been hunting for one all year.)
item 3: t.b.d.
Perfect! keep up the good work, fifty looks great on you! 😀
A blind buy of Norne! That is very brave – although I can’t imagine not liking it, so maybe it is safe after all.
No one in the UK stocks slumberhouse, so I figured I’d really hated it I’d find a willing buyer. but it’s amazing. So I keep it!
Your #6 is great 🙂 I was given that from a very kind NSTer, and I treasure it. All three of those scents are wonderful!
I dithered for ages over this set or the threesome of Copal Azur. Am so very glad I picked the mixed set–I agree, all three are lovely!
Love agar Ebeneezer!
I regret changing it from the even better original: Again Ebeneezer!
(fab scent, too)
Perfumista-ing is cheaper than a lot of hobbies – really. Even some gym memberships cost more than what I spend monthly.
Or so I tell myself…
I was going to put 0 out of habit and practice, but actually I bought a partial bottle of a treat off of ebay, but as it is waiting at my family in the States, does it count?
Nope. In my world, it doesn’t count til it’s in my hot little hands. You are absolved 🙂
I didn’t go too crazy this quarter. My tally is:
The Body Shop Kahaia, Nigritella and Bowhanti – 50ml (I think?) – $8.99 each at TJ Maxx/Marshall’s
Bvlgari Eau Parfumeé au Thé Noir – 75ml – $49.99 at Marshall’s
Isn’t the Black Tea nice? As i think you said, unoriginal, but nice with it.
Partial bottle of Prada Infusion de Mandarine would be my most recent purchase.
And back in April when I was in Milan I bought a Hermessence coffret of 4 but I only kept one of the 15 ml bottles.
Not bad at all!
I think this is my first quarter reporting only 1 FB acquired – an 80’s-ish bottle of Balenciaga Le Dix EDC. I am not counting 5ml decants of De Profundis and Kyoto because I draw the line on confessing anything under 10mls. And I’m not counting my long-backordered bell jar of De Profundis because (a) the money hasn’t left my account yet and (b) it may never arrive at all at this point. Am hoping I just jinxed the jinx by saying that. 😀
I admit I started to giggle at not counting a bell jar! But I’m sure Donatella kept a straight face.
It is a bit ludicrous, isn’t it. Tell ya what – if it ever actually gets delivered, I’ll double-count it in the next poll. 😉
I bought 3 bottles, with excellent motivations.
1) California Reverie – no one bought me perfume for my birthday, so I had to do it myself.
2) Hanami by Phlur – end of the school year reward for surviving another year as a teacher
3) Dans tes bras (travel spray) – I bought my husband the Ombré Leather reissue for his birthday. The travel spray just happened to jump in my cart. No regrets!
Hanami… I really like that one. Good choice!
Surviving another year as a teacher is definitely worth at least one bottle.
In terms of FBs, I bought the following:
CSP Vanille Extreme (vintage…well old anyways)
Xerjoff Lira (tester on its way from EvilBay…hoping it is real and full as described)
Montale Vanille Absolu
Montale Sweet Vanilla
Guerlain Iris Ganache
And I am at 132% of my perfume “amount” or budget for 2018…this includes all splits and samples too. I hadn’t planned on the IG and without it I am slightly under budget.
But let’s be real, I’m not done spending yet for the year. And who could have foreseen what a success VQ ‘18 would be? More vanilla and non-vanilla work to be done, friends.
And someone has to do it!
Just two bottles for me this quarter, which tells me I’m probably overdue some shopping 🙂
I bought Suleyman le Magnifique from Fort and Manle, with eye-watering shipping costs from Australia, which seems crazy, as our countries are really not far apart. Given that New Zealand had a Closer Economic Relations policy with Australia for decades, I felt that I was almost supporting a local business.
My other purchase was Gold Heart No 4 from Map of the Heart, another Australian brand (seems to be a theme here), which I did buy locally.
I always enjoy the damage poll, I get so many ideas of things to try!
I like the buy local theme! Shame it costs so much to ship.
Just one bottle for me this quarter, but a big one: Different Company’s Sublime Balkiss. Purchased during my first visit to Scent Bar while visiting family in LA. So it’s also a vacation souvenir.
Which surely means it counts less 😉
I did a very good job of sticking to my budget this quarter. Picked up lots of minis and decants. The highlights are all vintage: a mini of Balmain Ebene which I finally saw on ebay for a reasonable price, a mini of Bel Ami which quickly became a favorite, and a half-bottle of Cabochard parfum for $4 at an estate sale.
But the best of all was a full bottle of Providence Perfume Moss Gown! Which did not dent the budget because it was given to me as a gift(!) by a friend who lives in Providence because I helped him edit his novel.
In the coming quarter I am planning to look more to new things – aiming for one of those Zoologist 5-packs and some PP Sweet Jasmine Brown oil, as budget permits. I love Sweet Jasmine Brown so much I will probably pick up one of her oil sampler sets as well.
What a great deal for Cabochard! I love it so much.
Ooh, I like the idea of trading perfume for labor!
Forgive me, Donatella, for I have sinned. But I had good reasons! Really!
Imaginary Authors 14 ml bottles of Memoirs of a Trespasser, Saint Julep, and Falling Into the Sea, all 20% off, so a sensible purchase, right?
A 50 ml bottle of Fragonard Verveine which will see me through this hot summer nicely. And I blame Kevin for enabling me, so not my fault, right?
A 100 ml bottle of L’Artisan Coeur de Vetiver Sacre, which is discontinued, and what’s a girl supposed to do when a discontinued bottle of something she loves pops up on Ebay, right?
A 50 ml bottle of Smell Bent Never Never Land, on sale, a backup, and discontinued. I mean really, aren’t the gods telling me to buy it at that point? Who am I to say no, right?
All in all, very sensible and totally justifiable purchases.
Of COURSE you had to rescue the Coeur de Vetiver Sacre. It needed you.
Donatella is going to be disappointed in me this quarter. I bought one lonely bottle—with a discount and some points—of Pacifica Aromapower Dream State (the spray version).
Hiya, single bottle twin!
????????♀️Howdy! My Pacifica can hang out with your Burberry. ????
Two Zoologist travel bottles, Macque and Moth, and I won a great (in my opinion) lot in an auction on Goodwill online: a full 1.7oz kidney shaped bottle of Calvin Klein Obsession with a full bottle of Secret Obsession and smaller bottles of CK One and Obsession from the 90s (and a mini of Eternity.) Vintage Obsession smells so good! Ready for fall 🙂
What fun!
Maybe it’s late enough in the day that no one will see this. Ok, let’s do this, friends.
Parisian vacation: I’m no pixel; I can’t just say “these are souvenirs!” and not count them. If I am ever to slow down my purchases, I need to be strict with myself!
1. Serge Lutens la Myrrhe bell jar 75 mL (190E)
2. Serge Lutens Santal de Mysore bell jar 75 mL (190E)
3. Chanel Sycomore edp 75 mL (160E)
4. Chanel Bois des Iles extrait 15 mL (170E)
5. Guerlain Bois d’Armenie travel spray 15 mL (55E)
Non-vacation:
6. Atelier Cologne Perfume Wardrobe 7 x 8 mL ($48 on 10 % off sale!)
7. Tauer Lonesome Rider 50 mL ($135)
8. Tauer Incense Rose 50 mL ($135)
9. Lush Cardamom Coffee 30 mL ($77)
10. L’Aromatica Kulfi 30 mL ($51 on 10 % off sale!)
11. Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental 50 mL ($120) – partially split; wish I could’ve split more!
12. Frederic Malle L’eau d’Hiver, Iris Poudre 10 mL each ($70 on eBay)
13. Frederic Malle En Passant PB ($100 on eBay)
14. Ormonde Jayne Tai’if 8 mL ($26 on eBay)
15. Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Homme 50 mL ($36 on eBay) – partially split; may split the rest
16. Sonoma Scent Studio Tabac Aurea, Equestrian, and Velvet Rose 10 mL each ($95)
17. Sonoma Scent Studio Fireside Intense 34 mL ($80)
18. Sonoma Scent Studio Forest Walk, Pacific Forest 17 mL each ($119)
19. Sonoma Scent Studio Nostalgie, Voile de Violette, Yin & Ylang 5 mL each ($59)
20. Sugandhco Royal Mukhallat, Gulbahaar, and Gil 10 mL each ($51)
Paris: $945; other: $1202. Total: $2147.
So. That’s a doozy. Two pretty horrible quarters back to back, eh.
I have some excuses.
1. The $945 in Paris–well, I was in Paris. It was my first time ever to be in Paris WITH MONEY, and my second time after falling down the perfume rabbit hole. I don’t know when I’ll go to Paris again, but it won’t be anytime soon. Besides, I split 10 mL of la Myrrhe. So.
2. Sonoma Scent Studio! That’s $353 I HAD to spend this quarter if I ever wanted to have any of her spectacular and super reasonably priced scents! I did spend a lot on those, but look at how many treasures I got for that money.
3. Sugandhco: I don’t know if $51 really needs justification, but it was supporting Indian business, and besides, coin-op needed someone to share her shipment with in order to help with shipping costs from India.
4. Tauer Incense Rose: Someone said they were stopping production on that one and I thought I’d perish without it. Turns out they were lying; Andy Tauer said he has no plans to stop producing it. Regardless, it’s been on my want list forever. Besides, I’ve split 5 mL of it.
I don’t really have any more excuses. I can say that I have significantly slowed down my purchases over the past month or so. I’ve thankfully cut down my wishlist pretty significantly (how could I not have, with such absurd expenditures?), and I cannot but spend less for the rest of the year. I’m also going to try to sell #12 and #14 back on eBay, as they are not my thing. That will help defray a small piece of the cost. And I might try to sell some decants on eBay? And there are some other scents I really want that I will buy in time for the splitmeet so that I only end up with a small amount (Songe d’un bois d’ete and Milieu Rosa spring instantly to mind).
Mostly, though, I’ve given up and succumbed to the horrors of capitalism.
Fabulous list, though, horrors of capitalism and all. 🙂
Thanks for that 🙂 at least I have that to keep me warm! (And wonderful-smelling.)
OH BUT YOU GOT BEAUTIFUL THINGS!! Plus Paris.
La Myrrhe. To die for, amirite? And all those SSS scents, which may never return.
Everyone seems to be more in love with la Myrrhe than with Santal de Mysore, but there’s something about that spectacular buttery sandalwood that gets me every time. But yes, la Myrrhe is exquisite! And yeah, I hope SSS does come back, but if it doesn’t, at least I’m mostly set 🙂 (I’m also thankful that I love the SSS ones that I blind bought!)
Wow – jealous of that haul!
Thanks! Sometimes I just like looking at them and dreaming about how great I will smell when I get to wear them next.
Such gorgeousness! Yes, the rare and wonderful experience of being in Paris when flush… It’s giddy making. But you took home such treasures. (How is the box of eels extraordinary? I adore the EDT but haven’t dared sniff further up that food chain…)
Haha, the extrait is indeed extraordinary! Autocorrect provided you with a nice Freudian slip 🙂 I’m actually not the biggest fan of the EDT. The EDP is nice on me, but the extrait is just otherworldly in its beauty. I don’t recommend you try it unless you’re interested in making a pricey purchase. I found out how beautiful it was because hajusuuri very generously sent me 1 mL of it when I was still a baby perfumista. But it’s really arrestingly gorgeous and full.
Oh, that’s high praise. I may risk a little sniff if I’m going through Heathrow…
Yes, do! There’s always a chance you won’t like it and then you’ll stop wondering 🙂
I’m actually proud of you haha! I’m not one to rein others in on their purchases though…I’m a total enabler.
Haha, THANKS A LOT. You definitely are 🙂 But I really need to be more restrained!
WOW! I have some Tauers on my FB wishlist. Since I don’t foresee getting them in the near future, I can live vicariously through your purchases for a little bit. ????
Tauer once wrote that he expected his prices to jump up if he ever sold the brand. That struck terror in my heart! I’m sure it’ll be a while until that happens, though 🙂
Well played Koyel, well played.
Shhhh, you’re only encouraging my bad behavior!
If it makes you feel any better at all: the first time I ordered from Patricia de Nicolaï (and these were unsniffed buys!) I think I got over 20 bottles in one go. Thankfully, I fell very much in love with nearly all of them, and definitely liked ALL of them. Bit of a gamble, but it paid off in a big way.
I’ve slowed down in a major way since, although Cap Neroli has my name all over it as does her latest candle (Lilas something)
Haha, that DOES make me feel better. I’m slightly regretting not having stopped by PdN while I was in Paris. Cap Neroli has gotten so much love here that i really want to find a way to sniff it!
D.S. and Durga Burning Barbershop, 50 ml
Etat Libre d’Orange Antihéros, 50 ml
Bruno Fazzolari Unsettled, 30 ml
Serge Lutens Dent de Lait, 50 ml
Jean Patou Colony, 100 ml
Tauer Perfumes Attar AT, 5 ml
Comme des Garçons Vogue 125, 100 ml
Kilian Sacred Wood, 30 ml
Kilian Noir Aphrodisiaque, 50 ml
Parfum d’Empire Azemour Les Orangers, 100 ml
You’ve been busy. 🙂
Well. It has taken me a couple of hours to add up everything for Q2. I sold (drum roll please) 18 full bottles and 12 minis. YAY!
But with the proceeds I bought (blush) 5 full bottles and 4 decants/minis. One of those was STUPID-expensive, but I managed to get it slightly-used and reduced, and I’m thrilled about that. One was a mistake (I really liked my sample, but the full bottle was less pleasing).
I’m about $270 in the black this quarter, roughly, so when added to last quarter’s $300 spending, I’ve only spent $30.
Sorta. JUST GO WITH IT, OKAY?
The additions to the collection:
1. Leonard de Leonard, which I lurve and have already knocked out a 20-ml decant of.
2. Chanel Eau Premiere, which is never wrong, and which I have drained THREE 10ml decants of over the past decade.
3. VC&A California Reverie, the FB mistake. (Will sell it.)
4. Guerlain Charnel Elixir Floral Romantique, which I’ve used three decants of and which is ridiculously pricey but which I love anyway.
5. Arquiste Flor y Canto, which IMO miiiiiight suit me better even than Carnal Flower.
mini of Fendi, which is gorgeous.
mini of 1932 (LT can take his 2-star review and, um, eat it. don’t care.)
mini of CK Truth, which I am finding surprisingly good.
decant of Le Cri de la Lumiere, which has not arrived yet.
Impressive!! I’m totally on board with your math 🙂 Sorry to hear about California Reverie–I loved it when I tried it on skin at a shop once, and have been on the casual lookout for a cheap bottle, but now I wonder if it’s a finicky scent. Good luck selling it! (Where do you usually sell your perfumes? I’m thinking of selling some of the things I no longer want. Is eBay my best bet?)
Don’t know if you’ll see this, but most of the older VCAs sell at very reasonable prices on ebay.
At least I bought CR at a very reduced price — from Fragrancenet. I think it’s been discontinued. I’ll probably try to unload it on teh ‘Bay.
Oops, just saw this!
I sold a few things via my blog, and a few things via a Facebook perfume group, but most of it has gone through eBay. I don’t know if that’s the best option, but I think it might be for perfumes that are not niche. Basenotes has a marketplace too but I’ve never used it, probably because I don’t spend a lot of time on Basenotes (and also because the site seems to skew more masculine than the stuff I am trying to sell).
Not just perfume math, perfume accounting! WTG, mals!
😀
Nice buys! I really do love Flor y Canto. It’s gorgeous and a little strange and full of personality. I just found half a mini spray hiding in my fume cabinet, and it felt like uncovering a treasure (thought I’d used it all the month I got the samples)!
Flor y Canto is lovely.
On returning from Vancouver we stopped in Toronto for a few days and I ended up buying things I hadn’t intended to, for a total splurge of maybe $90:
Lush Cardamom Coffee solid
Lush I’m Home solid
Lush Rose Jam body spray
NYC Patch Pipe solid
Since it’s nearly impossible to smell anything in a Lush store due to the staggering amount of olfactory noise, I discovered after I got home that I don’t like the two Lush solids very much: they seemed nice in the store but turned out to have a note that doesn’t agree with me — it actually makes me a little queasy. I’m still counting them in my purchases, but I’ll swap them away soon, I expect. (The Rose Jam is of course gorgeous.)
I’m sooo tempted by the Rose Jam spray – does it smell just like the shower gel?
I have actually never tried the gel but I LOVE the spray.
To my nose, yes! The Rose Jam spray is just like the shower gel. YMMV.
To my nose they smell very, very similar as well.
I will def add it to my Lush list – I’m trying to limit my Lush orders, as they always turn into quite a workout for my credit card . . .
Due to my son’s prom and graduation, plus all of the plane tickets I’ve been buying (kids are expensive, yo!), I haven’t bought one single bottle this quarter. I have catching up to do ha!
That’s so impressive! I need to be more like you next quarter. (Kids are expensive. I definitely would not be able to spend the way I do if I had children.)
2 bottles and 1 decant, all in May, my bday month:
1) CdG Lily: in-anticipation-of-my bday and 20% off at TL
2)BF Monserrat: actual bday gift to me
3)5ml decant of Opardu that a kind NSTer split for me
Happy with all 3 and with my relative restraint, with perfume, anyway.
I’ve failed this quarter….I’d intended to treat myself with reckless abandon for my “0” birthday year, but managed to buy only 2 bottles:
Safran Troublant which I’d been begging decants from a generous perfume pal for a while: time to pony up as I clearly love it
Bottega Veneta Eau des Velours as it was reportedly LE and really quite lovely
Now that will likely be that for a while as I’ve earmarked my “fun fund” to a giant “screw middle age” tattoo, and a “yes I am old” new vacuum cleaner.
My plan was to get a lot for my big birthday too, but it didn’t work out that way. Regardless we smell great!
My Birthdaygeddon is this month, so next quarter’s reckoning ought to be interesting. 😉
A single, 50 mL bottle of Burberry Brit Rhythm for Her.
Oh good, you got it!????
Perfect!
Nothing, nada, zero, zilch, not a one! I won’t be able to say that next time, however, as I just bought a rollerball of SJP Stash (only $25, though, so really that one is “free”, right?), and I will probably buy something from Providence Perfume Company during my planned visit there on July 14. Since that will be a vacation souvenir, though, does it really count?
I’m sure it doesn’t!
PPC is one of my very favorites, jealous that you are going to get to visit!
I am ashamed.
This is my first time posting here – however I might benefit from a full confessional and your empathy.
I bought 14 full bottles these past three months.
Priciest bottle: Profumum Roma – Ambra Aurea (2 bottles purchased in fact!
Cheapest bottle : État libre d’orange – Tom of Finland
Bottle that I regret blind buying: Parfums de Nicolai – Ambre Cashmere
Bottle I’m most proud of getting my hands onto : Tom Ford – Sahara Noir
Objective for Q3: limit myself to one bottle per month, no matter what the price is, and no more blind buys, no matter how good of a deal it is!
Also, find the courage the sell my unused fragrances.
Cheers!
Donatella doesn’t do shame! She forgives all!
Good find on the Sahara Noir!
Welcome bouillon!
Agree, Donatella does not do shame. But good luck with your new goals.
Think of them as offerings to the gods of perfume indulgence. 😉
Oh I really like your formatting, maybe I will try that next time! I am working up the courage to sell, as well. I keep taking baby steps (like taking photos of them).
I have little recollection and no shame plus there was my birthday so let me see:
Chanel Paris Deauville
Chanel Paris Biarritz
OJ Ta’if
Miller Harris La Fumee
Guerlain Terra-cotta
Andy Tauer Mini phi rose
Andy Tauer LDDM mini
SL Ambre sultan
Providence Vientiane mini
Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille – the new roller size
Imaginary Authors O unknown travel spray
Lush – cardamom coffee- solid perfume
No regrets!
Wow, lots of stuff in your list that I want!
How did you like the Cardamom Coffee solid?
I like it Robin, it’s cozy and warm. Perfect for winter.
Thanks! I did finally get to smell it from the tester, but could not at that time try it on skin.
I bought 2.
First was Fiele Juniperus in April. I sampled it on my March vacation and liked it so much I ordered a full bottle. With the order, I got a sample of Literalle Aromatica Luce del Sole. I ordered a full bottle of that in June. Sadly, it arrived today but was totally smashed. My house smells very good due to the soaked cardboard box but I am hoping to get a replacement so I can wear it. Never had a perfume arrive broken before.
The Fiele folks are really generous. If you take pic and send it to them, I bet they would replace it for you.
Hi everyone and Donnatella,
This is my first confession and likely won’t be the last.
June was my birthday and obviously I had pre-bought a few bottles as “potential gifts”, then asked my husband for a chanel (which really shouldn’t count, since he paid), and treated myself again at the birthday (how often do you see a 15% coupon from evil Bay??? Just a few days off your birthday?)
Here are the damages:
A few TF decants so I don’t have to spend $$$$ on full bottles, money well spent and saved $$$!
1. TF noir de noir, 5mL decant
2. TF cafe rose, 5mL decant
3. TF fleur de chine, 5 ml decant
Full bottles:
Geuerlain terra cotta, bought with shoppers points, and scored a “senior” 20% coupon (pls don’t ask me how), total $33 after!!
VCA Bois de Iris, 75ml
Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline, 25ml, only $20 (practically free based on perfumath)
(Doesn’t count!) Chanel Coromandel, 75ml, birthday gift from husband
Diptyque eau deulle edp, with eBay 15% coupon, from a trusted seller (why do I know that? Because I bought many times!!????????????)
Please forgive me donnatella! Looking forward to the next confession!
Hey, you got some really good deals! And indeed, gifts do not count.
Thanks Robin for the kind words. I told myself the same thing… and kept on buying. It’s great to confess, lay all the purchases out there (gasp????????????, did I do that???). Hopefully I will buy less next time.
And I forgot a 100ml nirvana rose for $67 CAD at a local Marshall. To lessen the guilt – this is enough to spread around in the next freebie meet.
Although it could have been more, it was 3 for me.
I received 2 vintage (amazing) testers of Shalimar EDT from eBay. It was with a discount to boot as some kind person here mentioned it.
My other purchase was Orris Tattoo; just received it yesterday so it may be an early confession since it wasn’t in my hands in the 2nd quarter. ????
Congrats on your vintage testers, it’s so nice to have “real” Shalimar!
Thank you Robin. I was stunned at the beauty of the fragrance. Both bottles are wonderful.
I would classify my quarter as “contained”…????
Vtg Samsara edp, partial bottle
YSL Champagne, partial bottle
Intoxicated, partial bottle
Library of Flowers True Vanilla
Tempo
Forgot one…????
Fleur Nocturne, partial
Library of Flowers True Vanilla! I had that once, and it was nice, but I favored Eau de Missions. Since Missions isn’t to be found, I should get another bottle of LOFTV. Thanks for reminding me of this.
It is similar to EdM. It was a $20 blind buy. ????
I gifted myself many large samples so nothing counts. 0 for the quarter! ????
One of those 30 ml, 50 ml, 100 ml samples, I suspect. 😉
Some 2mLs as well…I think it was 5 sets of 7 x 2mLs…
I only bought one bottle 😀
Fort & Manle’s Bojnokopff
I am in the midst of downsizing my collection so one bottle purchase shouldn’t do any damage…in theory.
Only two, but I’ve wanted them for so long! Plus, I haven’t bought any in so long, I’m sure Donatella will forgive the indulgence.
Chanel Coromandel (in duty-free, so…saved a little?)
Aedes de Venustas Iris Nazarena (60% off in Liberty!)
Nothing! Tight budget and I have so much, I haven’t finished any bottles yet–
applause
Just two bottles this quarter. I intended to get a couple more, and there was a big “0” birthday in there to “justify” it, but it’s instead made me slow down (curiously) and really consider what I want/need. Also, I’m in that place a few years into this hobby where you start to worry about dying with too much perfume, so… ???? Once my money situation is stronger, I’ll likely swoop a few things up, but it’s been nice to enjoy my prior acquisitions right now.
This quarter:
– A 30ml bottle of Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar from Whole Foods (wanted something coconutty, and it’s cheap and cheerful)
– A 100ml bottle of Aerin Hibiscus Palm, which is a big old tuberose on me (not listed in the notes, but my husband’s comment was, “Wow. Tuberose,” and he hates tuberose, so it’s one note he can reliably identify!), with a sort of tropical, creamy base. It’s not at all what I expected from the house, name, or notes.
Just one – an almost full bottle of MDCI Peche Cardinale that I have wanted forever.
It’s so interesting to read about other’s purchases!
Almost missed this quarter! 🙂 Better late than never…..
1. Ghost Captivating $12.99 “meh”
2. Kenzo Flower in the Air $10.00 “like it”
3. Ysatis $41.00 “LOVE it!!!”
4. BBW Vanilla Bean $4.63
5. BBW Lavender Sandalwood $4.63
6. BBW Hello Sunshine $4.63
7. Scentbirds (still free until Sept..won 6 months on Instagram)….
April: Commodity Velvet
May: ELdO Hermann a mes Cotes me Parassait Une Ombre etat
June: Histories de Parfum 1899
I was pretty restrained this quarter! 🙂
Not even a single bottle.Many perfumed presents on my birthday made it easy.Lol.
Plus “shopping” from my own collection is extremely gratifying.I did sell quite a lot during my recent sale to colleagues and friends.Proud perfumista.Lol
Donatella,
forgive me for forgetting the bottle of Ostara I bought this quarter, which ups my total to just north of $200.
I find this reckoning quite helpful – perhaps, instead of buying samples and too good to pass up cheapies, I simply ought to allow myself one bottle per quarter?
Thanks to Donatella, I’ve been tracking my purchases in rather exacting detail since 2016. I thought this had been one of my more restrained quarters, but that is not the case.
$284.35 got me:
Full Bottles: 1
Guerlain Meteorites home fragrance. I’m not in love with it, and can therefore pass on the reissued perfume. So my $24.86 spent saved me a considerable amount on a future failed purchase.
Travel Sprays (including Scentbird picks):
Guerlain SDV (I also had a mule in Paris – thank you!)
Guerlain Shalimar Initial (a blind buy, and I seem to have finally found a Shalimar I don’t like)
ELdO Fat Electrician
TF Grey Vetiver
Hiram Green Arbole Arbole
Tauer Incense Rose (5 ml split so not quite a travel spray but I’ll include it here anyway)
Samples:
I’ll count the 4 ml of Guerlain French Kiss since it cost as much as a small bottle of something less ridiculously overpriced.
Epic WIN:
A 60% full 6.8 oz bottle of Bois des Iles edt for $111.
Not bad. I could do worse spending $22 per week, eh?
That is a truly epic win! You can practically bathe in that BdI gorgeousness now.
(I’m a spot envious of your wee spray of Fat Electrician. I like it a lot, but can’t bring myself to buy 100ml, which seems to be the only option here. I wish they did more 30ml bottles…)