Yes, it's that time again! Even a faulty elevator can't keep Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Creative Perfume Math,1, from her quarterly visit to hear the confessions of her flock. She'd very much like to know what you bought in the 1st quarter (January, February and March) of 2024.
Note that if you have javascript disabled, you won't be able to vote in the poll, but you can still record your purchases in the comments.
I bought nothing this quarter, but I said that last year at this time too, and oops, I was wrong...I am hereby filing an amended return for 2023.
In March 2023, I bought a 15 ml bottle of Hermès Un Jardin à Cythère when it was offered as a split in the comments here. I can't remember what I paid for it now, but I had thought 2023 was my first no-buy year since 2003, and nope. I only realized my mistake while setting up this poll with the bottle still sitting on my desk after I wore it on Monday.
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.
I am so sorry, Donatella, but I don’t have anything to report this quarter. Zero purchases. I am enjoying my collection greatly at this time. Maybe, next quarter, who knows.
We are not holding up our end pl67.
I will try my best, Robin! 😀
I’d like to borrow some of your willpower…
Let’s see for how long! 😅
Hi, Donatella! We are best friends again after 2023 was a rather restrained year for me–tiny bottles, travel sizes, splits. But 2024 is starting off with a bang! I bought:
Hiram Green Philtre, I could not pass up a carnation scent from him.
2 travel sprays of Bombay Bling, a discontinued format and I don’t need the bigger bottle.
Chanel Cuir de Russie parfum, because it does seem as if Chanel is going to d/c this size.
And just yesterday, I sampled Astier de Villattes Delhi and springpansy told me where to find 10ml bottles, so I bought one.
I’m about 3/4 of the way through my projected 2024 perfume budget, so we should do lunch soon before I become another perfume “acquaintance” instead of a member of your perfume inner circle.
Cuir de Russie twins!
Hopefully I get credit with Donatella for my generous gesture of telling you about the 10 ml Delhi! (haha)
I need to try Philtre…just need to remember to order a sample.
I’m a big fat ZERO for this quarter!
Join the club 🙂
Dearest Donatella,
I am trying to work my way back into your good graces after last quarter’s ridiculous restraint.
Had a FOMO attack about Chanel parfums maybe being discontinued, so I bought everything that was on my ‘to buy someday’ list:
1. Chanel Cuir de Russie parfum (foxbins twin!)
2. Chanel No 22 parfum (off Evilbay… still waiting for delivery…)
3. BUB of Chanel Box of Eels parfum
And:
4. Oswald Pare (for American Perfumer) Brise d’Oud
Now, I didn’t buy myself a perfumed Xmas gift last year, so one of those Chanels gets marked down as a belated Xmas-gift-to-self. And Valentine’s day was also this quarter, so we’ll count another Chanel as a Valentine-to-self. And do BUBs count? Especially ones so small (well, not small dollar-wise…) So, hmm, let’s call the total 1. or 2. or so.
Oh! I also sold 7 FB’s and 2 mini’s, which didn’t even offset the cost of ONE of those Chanels, but hey, it’s the annoying effort that counts, right?
Honestly been thinking about those damned parfums too. I have had No 22 and Beige on my wishlist for three or so price hikes….
Is there talk of Chanel discontinuing perfumes?
Rumor is they are discontinuing the 15ml parfum.
I’ve been waffling on the Bois des Iles parfum. The current price is just so abhorrent. But today’s comments giving me FOMO. It’s sold out on Chanel site.
I love Box of Eels parfum! lol
Haven’t bought any full bottles this quarter. I bought the travel spray of Clinique Happy in Paradise and BDK travel spray of Tuberose Imperial. Full bottles will be late this year.
Dawn-
I have an almost full bottle of Happy if you would like it. I have enough of it already and thought about you.
How do you like Happy in Paradise? I saw the travel size online at Ulta. It sounds like a nice summer scent.
I haven’t tried it yet. Not quite the weather for it.
Maybe my calmest quarter in years, which makes sense as I’m barely working! I probably could have been a bit more restrained (and in fact I was because I was so close to buying a back-up bottle of Superstitious!)
The list:
Muguet Porcelaine 100ml (back-up. I would be so sad to run out)
Narcisco Rodriguez for Her Extrait 15ml (I couldn’t resist/had cash back saved. Who else knew there was an extrait? In such a glamorous icicle bottle!)
Nerolia Vetiver Harvest 125ml (Also a back-up. This one was less than half of retail, to be fair.)
Mac Creations Naked Honey 20ml (I can’t tell you how long I had an eBay alert for this one.)
Not bad!
I just looked up the extrait bottle. Nice! I didn’t know it existed.
I’ve always enjoyed it and the extrait was too beautiful (and reasonable!) to pass up.
Bought 4 decants (total of 24 ml). If I remember correctly, 3 decants = 1 FB, so I voted “2-4”.
The decants:
Estée Lauder Knowing (old formula) 7 ml
Estée Lauder White Linen (old formula) 5 ml
Saint Laurent Paris Premieres Roses 2014 5 ml
Creed Les Royales Exclusives Sublime Vanille 7 ml
I wonder whether companies discontinue their fragrances to make people panic buy them? Because I totally bought those 2 ELs, because I heard here they are going to be replaced with their Legacy counterparts.
Did EL themselves ever announce they were discontinuing the originals? I did see rumors.
No, you are right. It was a knee-jerk reaction on my part – when a company announces an update or reformulation, it often means discontinuation of the old formula.
I’m in the same boat. I keep dithering on the outgoing Cartier Panthere EdP. 🙁
Well, you never know! You might turn out to have done the right thing.
I read they are not replacing the originals.
Excellent. I have not tried Legacy ones, but I heard that this updated Knowing is disappointing. I hope they keep the old one.
I’ve thought about sniffing the old versions of EL White Linen and Private Collection while they are still around at department stores here.
When I vote (can’t do it on my phone), I will be another “zero.” After not buying OJ Woman last quarter when it was on sale, I have recently not bought Après l’ondée. I’m saving up for Q3 and 4, when I will be back in Ireland and have easier access to perfume counters for frequent sniffing.
Congrats on both not-buyings!
I like your approach of tracking the scent you have not bought!
*scents
One purchase
Full bottle of D’annam Vietnamese Coffee.
Such restraint, geez.
That one sounds so nice too.
Already has a dent in it.
Agree! I checked the description and notes – it sounds amazing.
Still on my no buy, I did buy DS&Durga City Lilac but it was with a free gift card so it doesn’t count.
Good for you!
I’m glad you found something to use your gift card on.
How is that DS & Durga? Haven’t heard of that one.
It smells like concrete and lilacs. 😁 Apparently after previously releasing it as a limited edition, now it’s a Bergdorf Goidman exclusive.
5½perfumes bought as I count the BUB as half a bottle
Vintage d’Orsay Fantastique 60ml £37
Crabtree & Evelyn Eau de Rose Rosewater 100ml £24
Chantecaille Kalimantan 100ml £38.85
Coty Rêves de rose 30ml 90% full £5.50
BUB Halston 100ml £17
Bois Farine 100ml £62
The Halston and Coty were practically free! You should count them as 1 together. Lol.
Also I wish we had the fancy Coty perfumes here.
😀I thought the US had plenty of Halston, no? Here people haven’t caught on on its beauty so practically no one bids on it. The little Rêve is very pretty, fruity rose, my most precious, rare perfumes are both Coty, Chypre and La Rose Jacqueminot (I don’t even dare to open that one).
We have Halston, although I haven’t seen it in store in awhile. I have never seen the Coty’s you mention, not even at discounters.
More drool-worthy bargains and rarities from you this quarter!
Not a drop this quarter: I did quite enough damage the fourth quarter of 2023. Some body creams from B&BW, but of course those don’t count, however strongly scented they turned out to be (and they are surprisingly potent).
She doesn’t count lots of fun things 🙂
I was good up until the last minute. I bought 2
1. Dolce and Gabbana Sicily 2004 version. I finally won an auction at a decent price.
2. Dior Hypnotic Poison eau Secrete. It popped up on fragrance net perfume math free and I blind bought it. It’s coming tomorrow 🤞that I like it.
I also got a travel spray of Bbw Tropiques ( I think that is the name) free with coupon so I am not counting it.
i would love to hear your thoughts on the Dior when you get it. I have been eyeing that one.
I will report back!
Congratulations on Sicily, I remember you wanted it, I went through a bottle when it was first released, I think I had the cream too.
I’ve wanted to repurchase it ever since it was discontinued but I wasn’t going to pay the silly prices.
I never tried the HP Eau Secrete, but I have a decant of Hypnotic Poison Eau Sensuelle, and it is gorgeous.
Fragrance Net is the destroyer of budgets and good intentions. 😈👹👺
It really is! I should stop looking, but you never know when a unicorn will show up!
Glad you won an auction, lillyjo! I’ve heard there are differences with some of the Dolce and Gabbana fragrances, dependent on country. It may have been Dacob that mentioned it.
Yes! Also the distributor. P&G seems to be the worst of batches from what I have read.
I really didn’t think I would win, because usually people drive up the price at the very end. But it didn’t come with a cap, so maybe that lessons it’s value?
Interesting about the distributor as well. He’s very knowledgeable about the nuances! I think you scored a gem; congratulations! Your hard work and research paid off. I don’t mind if something is missing a cap, especially if it’s a holy grail that you’ll probably never see again.
Congratulations on your Sicily and HP! Never smelled that version.
Gosh, nothing at all for me this quarter!
Well done!
You are a group of very restrained people this quarter 🙂 .
I bought three FBs:
Arquiste Indigo Smoke – on my list for a while and I grabbed it when our local perfumery got it back in stock
Le Galion L’Astre – I was very excited to buy something from a Swedish perfumery that posts to New Zealand
Jean Patou Adieu Sagesse – another blind buy from the range, it’s a nice old fashioned floral, and I love the name!
I got Adieu Sagesse as a blind buy as well. I enjoy it a lot.
I bought nothing for myself, but I did get a decently discounted bottle of the discontinued Aura Mugler as a gift for someone.
I came close to buying Un Jardin à Cythère and a second bottle of Habit Rouge Rouge Privé, but I held off.
I’m expecting to get a bottle of Habit Rouge Le Parfum and/or Rouge Privé (as a backup) in the second quarter.
Oops, I actually forgot I picked up a set of Hermès Jardins miniatures (4 x 7.5 ml): Un Jardin sur le Nil, Un Jardin sur la Lagune, Un Jardin à Cythère, and Le Jardin de Monsieur Li.
Glad I am not the only one who forgets purchases 🙂
I kind of thought that splurging on perfume was a thing of the past and then 2024 happened.
I got a full bottle of Chamade extrait (30 ml)
And three bottles of the Patou Heritage Collection: Deux Amours, Que sais-je? and Adieu Sagesse.
All at a discount.
I bought quite a few of the Heritage collection too, though not as many as I wanted! I might need another Chaldee, which is so lovely it makes my eyes roll back.
Is your Chamade new? It’s so hard to tell if Guerlain is still making their extraits….
My guess is the Wasser Version but I might be wrong. It’s one of those tester bottles.
I’ve been eyeing the Patou Deux Amours. How is it?
It feels very retro floral. I remember I liked it best of the samples I ordered years ago but out of my three recent Patou’s Adieu is my favourite.
Bought a bottle of Aesop Karst in March, but it was my birthday gift to me, so it doesn’t count. 💃🏼
Happy belated Birthday! I am glad you got yourself something 😊
Belated B-day wishes from me too!
Is it terrible if I can’t remember? Either way, I don’t think I’m allowed in Donatella’s Inner Circle. ⛔️ Saving my pennies for the new Papillon this summer..! Tried to buy Box of Eels Parfum, but it’s gone baby, GONE!
You’re doing it right for saving for something you really want.
Saks in NYC still had some a couple of days ago.
I think I did pretty good this quarter even if I did bring in a little more than intended. I also made a large purchase at the end of the quarter that hasn’t arrived from Canada yet, an eBay purchase. So I’m putting that on next quarter’s list. 😉
Olfactive Studio Chambre Noire 1.7oz bottle, 95% full $45
Vintage Estee Lauder Aliage Sport Fragrance Spray 2oz, 80% full $22.72
Bourbon French Lagniappe Oaks Lady Evangeline travel size roll-on $10
Le Labo Bergamote 22 10ml travel spray $25
Scent Trunk 5ml travel sprays of Starlight Sesame, Truffle, and Saffron $47.25
You got some great deals!
Chambre Noire is so great. I bought a bottle on clearance last year and love to wear it in the rain.
I put down 5 bottles, but 1 was a gift for someone else (AS Sunday) and 3 were Demeters (so basically free in perfume math). And then the 5th was a travel spray of Ummagumma, which I’d been waiting to see come back up on their site. Otherwise, I just bought a bunch of sample sets.
Interesting thing about Ummagumma. When I went to the Fzotic site to buy that limited edition soap, I thought I’d check to see if he had the travel size listed. And when I went to the “Scents” page, Ummagumma wasn’t listed at all (same today), so I panicked. Anyway, I did a search for it on the site and the page came up with the travel spray. So I finally bought it!
Yay for getting your Ummagumma travel spray!
And remember, gifts never count, as per Lady D.
Oh, Ummagumma is the bomb! So happy you were able to find a travel size! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I said 2 to 4…I count 10ml travel sprays as a 1/3 bottle purchase.
Travel sprays: Burberry Goddess, Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild, Byredo Gypsy Water.
Full bottles: Chanel Bois des Iles (splitting with my mom, but still 1 bottle), DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom (new shampoo scent for working at the office, should be a good option for summer). I also bought a new bottle of Trish McEvoy n9 Blackberry & Vanilla Musk.
Not terrible.
Not terrible at all!
A “No Buy” quarter continues to elude me, much to Lady Donatella’s amusement.
I did not post anything for 4th quarter 2023, because I kind of had other things on my mind at the time. I did purchase something (or more than one something) but would have to do a bit of research to find out what it all was.
Anyhow, I purchased at least 2 bottles of the smell-good stuff. Here goes! Hopefully I didn’t forget anything.
1. Jeffrey Dame Bergamot, Jasmine & Labdanum, 100mL — $37.50. I mean, it was Perfume Math Free AND being discontinued!
2. Thierry Mugler Alien Fusion EdP, 50mL — $97.93. Another Perfume Unicorn showed up on a discounter website. I am weak.
Total for the quarter = $135.43. This does not count all the body butters than I have picked up, nor the Estee Lauder Legacy sample set, which was very much worth the $$$$$. Trying to ignore the fact that there are now travel sprays for the EL Legacy scents on the website.
And this would be for First Quarter 2024. Just realized I was not clear at all about that.
3. Chanel Coco EdP, 35mL — $114.15. I knew I was forgetting something. This bottle went up $3 in price from when I first saw it back in January.
Revised First Quarter 2024 total = $249.58.
I almost caved on the Alien Fusion myself.
I was really annoyed when I found 30mL bottles of it on Jomashop for around $50. Because I had already picked up the tester from FragNet.
Buyer beware indeed!
Yes but their free shipping is higher.
Idk… I haven’t bought from jomashop yet. Do you like them?
I actually haven’t purchased anything there, either.
🙂
🙈🙉🙊
I think it’s a good sign that you are still interested in buying perfume and your total for the quarter is reasonable imo. Enjoy your great deal on the Jeffrey Dame.
Just a couple days after I declared a no buy until April, I stumbled across vintage bottles of Diorissimo *&* No 19 parfums each at a very reasonable price. We know how that ended up.
And then a couple of weeks ago I picked up a mostly full bottle of the cheap thrill Solinotes Pomelo for a couple of bucks at my local thrift shop. Because it looked lonely.
Envy! I mean, er, well done you…
😀
You can’t leave a good bottle lonely!
Bought a small bottle of Crivelli Iris Malikhan from a fellow perfumista, so quite restrained.
Yes, very!
I brought in a dozen bottles this quarter. I used to be a perfume collector with so many bottles, then I sold it all off. For years I haven’t had more than one or two—always long-time favorites like Mona di Orio Nuit Noire or FM Parfum de Thérèse or OJ Ta’if. Last fall, my two favorites of the time made me sick up, so I was starting at ground zero. I started sampling, and then I realized the sheer joy I was having in finding scents to douse myself in. (Before, I’d forget for WEEKS to spray perfume.)
Hopefully that explains the indulgence. You all are so restrained! I feel so over-indulgent all of a sudden.
One was a fragrance I remember distinctly from the recent past: SL Fleurs d’Oranger.
One was the fragrance I loved back in 1993—bought in Paris! A vintage bottle of Eau de Givenchy. The musks! The lily of the valley!
Two Hiram Greens because they are delicious: Moon Bloom and Vivacious.
Six Astier de Villatte because this house makes *French* traditional perfumes in the best of ways (bold statement, I know). I swoon every time I douse myself. I feel like I’m back living in the French countryside. They are addictive and yet unobtrusive. Eau Chic, Commune de Paris, Grand Chalet, Élixir du D Flair, Tucson, and Delhi.
The eleventh is a small bottle of Puredistance Antonia because I had the luck of finding an inexpensive bottle.
And last, a humongous vat of La Chasse aux Papillons—I mean the 900ml bottle of the original summer launch, at least 75% full. I spray with abandon—that scent has haunted me for a long, long time.
Donatella would be proud, don’t you think?
These are all amazing choices!
Donatella WOULD be proud, and don’t worry, you’re not alone in lack of restraint. I’ve got you beat on FB count. Yikes.
You got lovely things! Eau de Givenchy is such a good scent, and totally agree about AstierdV.
SL Fleurs d’Oranger is gorgeous.
Donatella, just some samples and a decant or two. But I have a feeling I’ll do much better next quarter.
She is counting on you 🙂
After a 2-year perfume abstinence, I’m back in Donatella’s good graces. I completely failed in my goal of Q1 2024 < Q4 2023.
The full bottle additions:
1. Chanel Bois des Iles EDP
2. Laboratorio Olfattivo Alambar
3. Francesca Bianchi Under My Skin
4. FM Le Parfum de Therese
5. Black Flower Mexican Vanilla
6. Laboratorio Olfattivo Kashnoir
7. CdG Kyoto
8. HdP 1725
9. Lalique Encre Noire
10. Lalique Perles de Lalique
11. Lalique Le Parfum
12. Salvatore Ferragamo Cupola
13. Zoologist Chipmunk
14. EL Azuree
15. Zoologist Harvest Mouse
And if 3 purse sprays = 1 FB, you need to add 2 bottles to that count. (I’m doing the Scents of Wood monthly subscription, BTW, which I am loving.)
And there were samples on top of that.
I made an impulsive, expensive, non-perfume purchase a few weeks ago, so I’m on a serious No Buy now (unless bottle has been on wishlist for 60+ days and 20% discount).
I really don’t regret any of the above. But gotta tone it down. I’m also aware this has been a stress release valve, as my work stress (and income) increased 4 months ago. Not sure it was worth it. Sigh.
Celebration—I’m not the one with the longest list!
I’m thinking of sampling Zoologist (Hummingbird). I glean that the fragrances are quite distinct individually, but do you think there’s a DNA in there? If so, does it feel “molecular” or overdosed by an ingredient.
I love that you’ve also been in a period of abstinence. 🙂
There is more than one version of Zoologist Hummingbird, IIRC. The one I had was quite pretty, but none of the perfumes I have tried really work for me.
I don’t think there’s a specific DNA to Zoologist Perfumes, mostly because they were created by different perfumers. It’s true that Victor Wong, the owner, might have a preference for particular notes or styles, but I haven’t found any common thread as yet. Oh, and the Zoologist perfumes that have been reformulated are Bat, Beaver, Dodo, Dragonfly, Macaque, Panda, and Rhinoceros.
Hummingbird is lovely but I found it very sweet.
I don’t think there’s a DNA to the scents themselves, the way we talk about “Chanel-ade” or “Guerlain-ade”, or see a through-line in the works of a specific perfumer, like a Jean-Claude Elena.
I think that’s to be expected, tho, as others have noted, each scent is the work of a different perfumer.
I do think there is an overall brand DNA, in terms of quality of the work, the marketing vision, etc.
I sampled Hummingbird back in 2019, haven’t sniffed it since (do have the sample around here somewhere). I thought it was pretty, but it didn’t really turn my personal crank. YMMV! It’s definitely worth trying out a few samples from the line.
My personal favorites are Musk Deer, Harvest Mouse, Chipmunk, Squid, the original Bat, Cow and Seahorse. I think I may have liked Elephant and Rhinoceros, too, I should sniff them again. Oh, and Penguin!
Sorry for the work stress!
But that list is not bad if you took 2 years off, really.
I didn’t get anything this quarter. Being on a no-buy is tough as the temptations are always there. Like a few others, I’m trying to enjoy what I have.
Stay strong Gail!
I got a bottle of Sensual Dreams because I had to buy _something_ when I visited Dallas and went to the Scent Room. This quarter I also bought a little bottle of Moon Moss and blind bought Jacinthes Sauvages from DSH’s etsy store. These two were because I’ve been craving hyacinth. Total $335
I have been buying samples and no full sizes. I don’t know what Donatella would think of that. Samples let me satisfy my curiosity about fragrances and being able to wear it for a while without the commitment of a full size bottle purchase. I just bought samples today for the new Frederic Malle and Acne Studios collaboration. I would include the link to the $15 sample set that includes a red drawstring bag and a discount off a full size bottle, but I don’t want to be seen as enabling.
The one I’m talking about is described as:
Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle is an intense thrill of fresh aldehydes, concealed by the sweetness of flowers, peach and vanilla, warmed by creamy sandalwood and white musk.
Donatella does not count samples, and just as well because the lists would be so long nobody could read them!
People here do not mind enabling 🙂
Enable! Enable! Enable! 😂 Always appreciate a good sale tip off.
Neeeeed that last one, please enable!
I tried to be good this semester. I bought two bottles:
Chanel no. 19 edt
Diptyque Do Son ,new version 30 ml.
This semester i bought 3 full bottles:
FK Amyris femme 70 ml
Parfum D’Empire Le Cri 50 ml
Diptyque L’Eau Papier 50 ml
also FM Heaven Can Wait 10 ml
(Never reported last quarter-went on a trip to Paris and came back with Guerlain Mitsouko EDT, L’Heure Bleu EDP and Shalimar MI. Also bought FK Grand Soir)
Bless me, Donatella, for I have sinned this quarter! After barely biuying anything last year (even when I was in France, I was restrained), I found myself in Paris again in February, and I bought:
30mL of Nicolai Bois Belize
30mL of Nicolai Week-End in Normandy
10mL of CSP Vanille Abricot
10mL of CSP Vanille Cafe
10 mL of Astier Mantes-la-Jolie
50mL (10 each) of Astier’s Eaux de Cologne discovery set, includes Eau Chic, Grand Chalet, Elixir, Fugace, Splash
And the lovely sales associates gave me some samples with those. That is more perfume than I’ve bought at one time in ages! But I’m loving them.
I hadn’t been to Sephora in years, went in recently and ended up purchasing Marc Jacobs Daisy Wild, Replica From the Garden, and 7 Virtues Cherry Ambition. I also got Shakira Rojo, which I liked at the time, but is now going up at swapmeet. Also proud to say that I am enabling my doctor, a budding fraghead. He once complimented me on a fragrance and that’s how it started. 🙂 Last week I gifted him discovery sets, samples, and six fb’s of scents I thought he might like, so it is a win for me too in clearing space for new things!
I really like Daisy Wild and Cherry Ambition. I haven’t tried the others.
I bought this quarter:
Un Vanille from Obvious Parfum
Monoscent G – What We Do Is Secret (what a weird name)
Nothing but Sea and Sky- Une Nuit Nomade
So I blew my allotment for 2024, was trying to stay at 3 bottles or fewer. To be fair, the first 2 were holdover wants from 2022-2023 that I had been mulling over. I will have to decide if I get a 4th bottle of something – or it goes into 2025 want list. This is how the 1st quarter turns out most years, pent up demand.
I agree that I stress-buy. I work so much that buying perfume is an outlet. I think once I retire, exercise and gardening will end up being my outlets.
Enjoying all of them, I must say.