It's early April, and you know what that means! Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Creative Perfume Math,1 may be out but she is not down, and nothing would make her miss 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 2025.
My purchases...
Other than picking up rather a lot of shower gel, which interests Donatella not in the least, I bought nothing this quarter.
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.
Ok, for technical reasons we are not doing the part of the poll in which you click a button for how many bottles you bought. Just comments! Sorry.
I used to have a rule: don’t count decants under 6 ml.
But then I realized I was buying 5 ml just to avoid having to confess.
So here you go – my catalog of (mostly) 5 ml sins:
Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille – 5 ml
Tom Ford Neroli Portofino – 5 ml
Aedes de Venustas Grenadille d’Afrique – 6 ml
Guerlain Samsara EDP (vintage) – 5 ml
Herve Gambs Paris Pink Evidence – 5 ml
Vilhelm Parfumerie A Lilac a Day – 5 ml
Penhaligon’s Portraits Heartless Helen – 5 ml
Maria Candida Gentile Hanbury – 5 ml
Profumum Roma Acqua Viva – 6 ml
What a great list. I really should buy some Hanbury!!
Me too! I loved it and used up a FB, but have not sniffed it in years…
Thank you! I wanted some more Acqua Viva, since my decant is getting low, and then I saw Hanbury was also available and could not resist. No regrets!
Fantastic list!
Dear Lady Donatella,
My quarterly damage is:
Guerlain Rouge Bonheur
Lush B Scent
TF Soleil Blanc
Dior Jadore l’Or
MMM Under the Stars
How is the TF Soleil Blanc?
It’s got that sunscreen, holiday vibe to it. Vacay in a bottle 🙂
Thank you! I keep waffling on whether to get a travel spray or not.
Donatella, I bought nothing–zip, nada, zero. But have no fear, I am going to Paris this month and I expect to be back in your good graces when I report my second quarter purchases in July.
Ooo, foxbins, I’m looking forward to hearing about this *spreeeee!*
Zero fragrances!
But I have bought other scented products on sale: deodorant (Acqua di Parma Colonia Essenza), shower gel and shampoo (L’Occitane Citrus Verbena), and assorted products (L’Occitane Almond).
I saw the discontinued Un Jardin après la Mousson from Hermès on clearance for 50% off but I didn’t like the fragrance enough to get it.
50% off, that’s a great deal. I didn’t like that one either though.
-100 Bon Mimosa & Heliotrope Poudre 15ml manufacturer’s travel size.
-JD Jeffrey Dame Mimosa Mixte 50ml bottle.
-Comme des Garcons Jaisalmer, 50ml bottle.
I don’t have a single mimosa! I should do something about it.
Just bought a bubble of mimosa mixte. It’s a lovely scent
BUB…darn spell check
BR540 Extrait
Lilac Love Amouge
Velvet Haze Byredo
I’ve enjoyed Lilac Love – good choice!
Me too! Very beautiful
That BR540 extrait should work really well if you get another cold snap this Spring.
Agreed!
I didn’t buy anything this quarter, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. I tried buying 3 different travel sprays and none of them were in stock. I could have ordered but didn’t want to pay shipping. Money saved! ( actually… Money spent on other things! Lol)
Very restrained Lillyjo, ah yes paying is sometimes all it takes to give up.
*paying shipping
Hoo boy. I hear ya on the “Money spent on other things”!
1. 2 bottles of Number One Intense
2. Rogue Perfumery sample set
3. Jasmine of Athens
4. Flos Mortis Rogue Perfumery
5. Gris Charnel travel spray
6. Parfums de Nicolia sample set
7. Obsession mini spray
8. Lolita Lempicka mon premiere
9. Narciso Rodriguez edt
So I spent tons of money this quarter on perfume that I probably shouldn’t have but it’s fun to get new bottles of perfume.
Joining you in the “two bottles” club. 🙂
Yes, it is very fun to get a new bottle – enjoy!
Sometimes it’s a little too much fun getting new perfumes, LOL.
Not one single bottle. I’m still trying to decide about Baiser Volé extrait.
Apart from that I’m tempted to try the latest Vermeire, and just enjoy what I have, which is a lot.
I am in the “enjoy what I have” club. Unfortunately, not for clothing but I’m working on it.
**sigh**
Oh dear. Let me consult my pivot table 😉
*Vintage:*
Halston cologne splash
Morabito Mon Classique
Caleche mist
Diorella
Azzaro 9
Myurgia Nueva Maja splash
Gres Cabochard splash
YSL Y mist
Jovan Oleg Cassini
Miss Balmain 1/4 oz parfum (second backup!)
huge bottle of Arden 5th Avenue
RL Romance (pure nostalgia, my favorite in my 20s)
*Modern:*
PdEmpire Vetiver Bourbon (finally!)
Amouage Dia (unsniffed, could be a big mistake)
PG Harmatan Noir (backup; afraid discontinued?)
PG Coze Verde (afraid discontinued?)
Masque Ray-flection
An absolutely cuckoo-bananas list. I have implemented a strict monthly limited transfer of funds to my paypal account, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. I’ll report back on how well that goes 😆
🤣
The intersection of vintage and cuckoo-bananas is my happy place! I’m glad you got a nostalgic favorite! 😂
Mine too! 😀
You use a pivot table to keep track of your perfumes? 🤔
I used to but once I got over 75, and organized them by genre, all it did was inspire to fill ‘holes’ in my collection! 🙂
What a great list!
Four full bottles:
Chanel Paris-Deauville
Guerlain Encens Mythique
Zara Fleur de Oranger
Zara Tubereuse Noir
We’re twin with Zara.
This is a list that deeply appeals to me!
I don’t remember offhand if you live in the USA, but if you do, I can send you samples of any or all of them.
I do live in the U.S., but I currently have 15 or 20 samples bc I have sitting waiting for attention, so I will pass for the time being. I have Paris -Deauville, and am contemplating FB if it, it is so pretty on me!
Let me know if you change your mind. I am always willing to give out samples.
Paris-Deauville is great stuff! It will reappear in my rotation when summer comes around.
After a long list last quarter this quarter was back to reality although I indulged in two 200ml purchases and I don’t need such big bottles but there you are
Dior Jasmin des anges 200ml £155.95 nobody talks about it but it’s a fruity jasmine, so happy and pretty, I wear it to bed
Hermès Cuir d’Ange 200ml £143.16 it’s a recent purchase but I had wanted it forever
Zara MSK 004 £25 a beautiful musk and my third Zara
Vintage Guerlain Vol de Nuit extrait 30ml £104
Vintage Guerlain Samsara EDP 65/75 ml £41 but this is a back-up because the price for this transparent coffin bottle was too good to pass
Parfum d’Empire Musc Tonkin 90/100ml £89
CK Truth extrait 15ml £15.99 I haven’t opened it yet.
Oh dear the Dior is 250ml, the horror, but the Hermes is 100ml fortunately
I got a set of Dior minis a couple of years ago. The jasmin is probably my favourite, it’s really nice!
Thank you so much for mentioning this austenfan because I have been wondering whether I had questionable taste or something since it went completely unnoticed by almost everyone.
I didn’t know there was a Truth Extrait. I looked it up here and found one for 70 dollars! Lol.
You always find the good deals!
Lillyjo, it comes in a gigantic plastic box, not very environmentally friendly, it was an auction,no one was interested in bidding except me, I was surprised too that there is an extrait, I’ve always been fond of Truth
The Zara ones are good. I have four right now that I like and have given some away that were fine, but just didn’t quite work for me.
If you come across the MSK, it’s an ethereal musk by Nathalie Lorson.
I can’t really blind buy musk as some of them turn on me.
Amazing deals! Jealous of that Vol de Nuit
Thank you Sarah, my relation with VdN evolved from indifference to deep appreciation😀.
CK Truth had an extrait?!? Didn’t know that. I still have the last bottle of the Truth EdP I purchased quite a few years ago.
Yes, I’ll let you and Lillyjo know when I open it.
Sounds like a plan! 🥰
I definitely spent more and acquired more than I meant to, but I’m happy, or at least satisfied, with all my purchases. I think Heaven Can Wait is just ok, but the mini bottle is adorable. Everything else are pretty much loves. The Fischersund set was a souvenir at the museum where I experienced their scented exhibit, so maybe it doesn’t count. 😉
Vero Profumo Rozy Voile d’Extrait 50ml $225
Frederic Malle Heaven Can Wait 7ml mini $21
Fischersund Faux Flora Discovery Set (5 x 8ml) $145
Papillon Spell 125 50ml $95
Maison Anonyme Pale Fire 50ml $175
Masque Milano Dolceacqua 10ml travel spray $19
I did finally get to the Fischersund exhibit before it closed at the museum. Very interesting!
I’m glad you made it! Did you go to their previous scented exhibit some years back? Unfortunately, I missed that one.
No, I didn’t know about a previous one.
Oooooooooooooh, you got a Vero!!
Yes, Rozy just kept growing on me, and then I finished my decant so it seemed only logical to take the plunge.
My purchases – just one week ago:
SL Fleurs d’Oranger
EL Sensuous
What was I thinking? I always sample first. But not this time. The SL that has been on my list for a long time is Bois de Vanille, but for some reason, I panicked and bought Fleurs d’Oranger (thinking about upcoming reformulations). And although beautiful, it is not me. It will likely appear at the upcoming Splitmeet (unless someone wants to swap for it? You can contact me via my gravatar above).
The jury is still out on Sensuous, but it works better for me than the SL.
I blind bought the SL one too a while back. I was sure I had it before and I loved it. I was either wrong or it just didn’t smell like I thought it did. I gave it away thinking someone else may enjoy it.
I also spent more than I meant to, but at least I like all the perfumes I acquired AND these purchases made me save money on other things (that’s how I try to absolve myself):
– Dior Escale à Portofino 75ml. Love at first sniff bought at duty free shop before a flight (too bad it disappears completely after half an hour of wearing, something I discovered once on board)
– Gucci Memoir d’une odeur 40ml bought at half-price. It’s a great bed scent and I believe it’s about to be discontinued.
– Van Cleef & Arpels, 75ml. Iris has become one of my favorite notes to wear and this scent is just too beautiful to resist, as soon as saw it at 20% discount I succumbed.
– Dolce & Gabbana Devotion 100ml. I went from “I don’t need a full bottle” to buying a 100ml one (I usually don’t like gourmands but Devotion and Bake made me expand my taste) I bought it at half price so I got a good deal.
Oh I understand these duty-free impulses.
These are great buys!
The Gucci was a lovely temptation for me this past quarter. Might see if any bottles are still around at the discounters.
I may have disappointed Donatella as I am trying to enjoy what I have, especially the very neglected sample hoard. I am about two orders behind on attentively testing some of my treasures.
But for Q1:
Fleur de Rocaille, 1993, (not FleurS de Rocaille) 1/2 full store tester (the kind with the notes listed on the bottle) $52.15
Pure Poison OG with white cap 100ml 50% full, $102.00
Nikki de Saint Phalle 100ml splash $79.12
Pure Poison OG with white cap 50ml, full-ish, $92.02. Yes, I got two. The 100ml was ordered in January and by mid-February evidence pointed to the PO having lost it, so I pounced on a similar deal. But the first one showed up around March 15 in perfect condition. Ha.
I hope Donatella will enjoy the new phase of her career, and have more time for family and friends!
Lucky you on de Saint Phalle! It’s going for a fortune these days.
Where on Earth did you find the NdSP?!?
My old pal, Ebay! The auction started very low.
Donatella must be rolling her eyes at my low-buy quarter, that even included my birthday month! I didn’t buy a single full bottle.
I bought small decants of Comete and Amouage Blossom Love. And a handful of other samples from Amouage and Diptyque.
How did you like Comete? I’m still thinking it’s FB worthy, but have not sealed the deal.
I love it … from a decant because low buy …
It is a beauty!
Sigh, I quite love it too. FB is out of the question because of the price and my being on a low buy, but I find it very FB worthy. It’s such a lovely amalgamation of a few Chanel scents and seems so wearable for all occasions.
Yes, you said it well.
Well, well, well. This quarter was a major change from my 2024 spending. I put the brakes on HARD! Technically, I didn’t buy a single perfume.*
*And now for that technicality. I had some rewards point that were expiring on March 31 at Korres, so I used them from a bottle of perfume that I had previously sampled and enjoyed.
1. Korres Philosia, 50mL — $0.00
Ack! “Rewards point” should be “POINTS”.
I’m trying to type without disturbing a sleeping lap cat.
Lap cats come first!
Perfect timing for the poll! Zero purchases for Q1. Yay! I’ve been tempted but never pulled the trigger.
Now if we were polling Asian skin care purchases, I’d be in very deep trouble.. 😀
Ha, yes, there are plenty of other categories I would not like to confess to Donatella or anybody else 🙂
That’s skin care for me too 😆
Mr. SmokeyToes asked a few pointed questions when he saw my skincare shelf…
I replied, “well, you have to look at me…” 😉 😆
🤣🤣🤣
I’m confessing somewhat late in the day from our hotel in Sydney.
I had an extravagant quarter which was not the plan, given that I’m off to Europe in a couple of days and should have been saving my money.
I bought:
Immortelle from Manos Gerakinis – I’d got a sample in Athens two years ago and I finally tracked it down at Perfumology in Philadelphia, with assistance from the very nice people at Manos Gerakinis. I paid more than was sensible, but I was determined to win this contest with shipping regulations.
Le Proie Pour L’Ombre from Serge Lutens – I got this for a reasonable price from a local online discounter, I pounced when I read it might be discontinued.
Cabochard – yet another bottle! I bought a BUB a few years ago to replace the bottle I bought in the mid 90s. It’s the same perfume, but thinner. I read that the latest version was good, so now I’ve that too! It’s more floral, but I get something very much like my old Cabochard if I wear them together.
All The Queen’s Men and a BUB of Fatih Sultan Mehmed from Fort and Manle – these were nearly full testers from my local perfumery that is moving premises.
Finally, I should also have SL’s Baptême du Feu which I ordered back in January, and I’m still waiting for it to be back in stock.
I think all of my Q1 purchases were heavily discounted.
– Older version of Shaal Nur
– Travel size of SL Fourreau Noir
– Travel size of HG Slow Dive
– NG Or du Sérail
And then I happened upon a vintage perfume collection at a local estate sale…for $80 I came away with these goodies, among others, not all in tip top condition but still showing their former glory. I just wish I could have met the woman who collected them all and heard her stories.
Chanel No. 22 EdT and Cologne
Fendi Theorema
Chloé parfum
Molinard de Molinard
Youth Dew
Fiji Parfum and Cologne
Dune EdT and Parfum
Miss Dior splash cologne
Detaille 1909 EdT
Caron Bain de Champagne
The estate sale finds are amazing!
I was truly shocked when I walked in and saw the collection.
How is the 22?
The aldehydes are definitely not as bright as in their hay day but they are very wearable. The EdT is in better shape than the Cologne.
Oh wow. Wonderful!
It was dream-like, especially when she looked at my box and said “How does $80 sound?” I told her it was very generous and I was thinking to myself, “In perfume math, you’re giving me $$$!”
Ha – so true!
Holy mackerel
Kit and Kaboodle!
What an amazing find.
Totally. The collector had saved all of her empty Chanel No. 5 canisters and I took the old metal one. It’s so cool.
Wow, amazing estate sale finds!
I sometimes see a few perfume bottles in estate sale listings but when I noticed there were boxes labeled “perfumes” with an arrow pointing up as in “keep upright”, my heart leapt for joy!
❤️
I miss the times when I was regularly thrift shopping and would find treasures and deals at Goodwill and the Fremont Sunday market from the vintage sellers.
Wowza!!!
I feel so grateful to have happened upon it!
She also had a crazy collection of minis. Pretty overwhelming.
I feel so grateful to have happened upon it!
She also had a crazy collection of minis. Pretty overwhelming.
Holy cats alive, what a find!
Hi, SmokeyToes! Great to see you again😊
*waves hi!!* Glad to be back!
Wow, what a find at the estate sale! I’m so thrilled for you.
Thank you! With everything going on in the world, it was truly a bright spot☀️
Ooooooooooh, you picked up Shaal Nur! And a lot of other wonderful goodies.
And I just missed getting an older bottle of Messe de Minuit but I’m very grateful for the SN😊
I am thrilled at your great finds, allo! And yes, this lady would have been very at home visiting NST with tales to tell. I think it’s wonderful when perfumistas rescue vintage scents at these sales.
It definitely felt that way to me, like we had a connection that transcended fragrant time and space.
Reading about your treasure find a bit late. Wow, that’s amazing! I’m happy you rescued those bottles!
Wow! What a fantastic time you must have had at the estate sale.
It was one of those dream-like experiences and funny because the people running the sale knew nothing about perfume and were quite amused by my unbridled enthusiasm😊
This Quarter was really over the top for my bank account:
– Killian Old Fashioned: which after a couple of weeks I just like and not love
– Trussardi Primo: fantastic quality, great projections, awesome bottle
– Givenchy Gentleman Society Ambrée: I am really enjoying it tobacco leaves/ vanilla profile, but lack of sillage
Overall, almost 450 USD 😢
Sorry about the Kilian, the other purchases sound all very elegant.
I spent…zero! Bath and body works kept sending me coupons for free items so I got three mini body sprays. Sweethearts (smells like delicious grape candy/medicine) Tutti frutti candy (does not smell like delicious candy) and sweetest song, which is apparently a dupe of thank u next by ariana grande but I have never smelled it so I don’t know.
Hoping to turn Q2 around, hoping to go to the mall this weekend and smell Kurky
No wait I lied! I got a mini bottle of dior homme for $20. It smells nice but not as mind blowing as everyone made it out to be
I like Sweetest Song and actively dislike Thank You Next. I didn’t get a similarity but now I will have to smell them again.
One bottle this quarter:
Chanel La Pausa 75 ml
I received some samples of Comete and Le Lion so now I’m tempted…
Keeping it classy this past quarter!
I don’t post often but Donnatella inspires me. This quarter so far;
Angelos Creations Yessemi
Angelos Creations Tabac Libre
FB Tyger Tyger
Lataffa Yara
& another Latagge that escapes my mind
Bunch of samples
First quarter has usually been my worst, because I have pent up urges to buy from the prior year. Though I have to say in 2023 and 2024 I was pretty bad the whole year.
– Vanagloria – Laboratorio Olfattivo
– Blanche Absolu – Byredo
– Mod Vanilla – Ariana Grande
I resisted buying the Mod Vanilla for a while, since I have a lot of vanillas but after trying it every time I went to Ulta, I finally caved. It reminds me a little of Vanilla Powder but not nearly as long-lasting.
I’m going to check out the Mod Vanilla – thanks.
Mod Vanilla has a pretty cool looking bottle, fwiw.