Tax day might be postponed, again, but Donatella, Our Lady of Creative Perfume Math,1, despite being awfully busy with her Medusa Power Talks and Shanghai pop-up, did not want to postpone 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 2021.
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.
My purchases...
I have been more interested in buying clothing this past quarter, thinking I might actually have someplace to wear new things this year, but no new perfume so far.
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.
1. Boucheron Iris de Syracuse, 100ml bottle.
I kept 50ml after the split, so I will count it as such.
2. Annick Goutal Vanille Exquise, 100ml. I decided it was time for a full bottle, after I saw my decant half full. It is on the way now.
3. Dame Desert Rose, 100ml. Also in transit.
Congrats on the boxes winging their way to you…
?
Thanks so much for the split! Love!
My pleasure, dear! ?
Definitely have a “pretty!” theme going with your purchases.
?
It’s a miserly two bottles for me:
1) Hermetica Sandlesun, per the delicious recommendation of someone here on NST. I owe you a big hug, I love it, my husband loves it.
2) After discovering CSP no longer has their Vanilla Pineapple I bought a small rollerball of perfume oil off Etsy. It arrived on Tuesday and it smells divine! Add in the fact it was super cheap! Because it’s oil it lasts a long time, leans towards the vanilla but I can smell pineapple quite nicely. For $7 I’m happy. I looked longingly at the new D&G Fruit Collection coming out but at close to $200 I’m not going down that road.
Of course this polls doesn’t include the many soaps and candles I’ve bought! That’s a whole different line of spending?
I heard that the actual scents of the fruity perfumes were not nearly as cute at the bottles, if that helps.
I’ve not been impressed with D&G fragrances in the past so this is good news! The bottles are lovely, HUGE and expensive. I also read the scents were disappointing, I can pass with no regrets.
Maybe an empty one will turn up later, for cheap
Soaps, lotions and skincare can’t possibly count!
Hello! April already. Hard to believe. Happy to report I had my first vaccine dose this past Monday.
In checking my purchases, I noticed that good number of what I consider “new acquisitions” were actually back in 2020 Q4. Whew. Not too bad for 2021 Q1. The Cartier squeaked in just under the wire, as I clicked “buy” just yesterday. It was a deal too good to pass up.
Lush Kerbside Violet (partial, used)
EnVoyage Zelda
EnVoyage Tagetes Femme (15ml)
Malle Le Parfum de Thérèse (ebay)
Parf Générale Bouquet Massaï (30ml)
Cartier L’Heure Fougueuse IV (discounter)
You got some nice ones!
Nice job – Love Parfumerie Generale fragrances (where did you find the 30 ml bottle??) and that particular Cartier L’Heure!
So glad you got a shot, Joe!
These are really nice purchases. How do you like Tagetes Femme
En Voyage, my favorite! What do you think of Tagetes Femme?
To those who asked, I enjoy Tagetes Femme and also enjoyed the now d/c “Homme” that Shelley had done. I wish the marigold accord was even more pronounced, but it’s very nice.
Also, to SpringPansy, I found the 30ml PG at Osswald NYC. Their stock is currently low, but I love those 30ml bottles.
Thanks!
Hurray for the first vaccine shot!
3 bottles. Mugler Take Me Out, No 5. Premiere, and the big splurge, Winter Palace.
I don’t know the Mugler, but I own premiere, and Winter Palace is on my wish/buy list – nice!
It’s one of the colognes – orange blossom and shiso!
Wow, I’m not generally a Mugler fan, but OB and shiso sounds amazing. I hope I get to try it someday!
also a bunch of decants, can’t remember them all and I’m not at home but it might be around 10?
Two. Volnay Etoile d’Or and Mitsouko EDT (blind). The Mitsouko smells like band aids. Perhaps it’s counterfeit. Not my best blind buy!
Ugh, hope not!
I’ve been waiting for this post! I’m a long time lurker and have posted a handful of comments in the past few months but what really inspired me to make an account is the last buying poll. I was buying so much perfume, it was really a problem. Seeing some people post that they only bought samples or one or two bottles was really inspiring! I’ve been working hard to not spend so much lately and I think I’ve been doing pretty good! Not perfect, but definitely less!
My purchases for January were Wrappings by Clinique since everyone was mentioning buying it. It needed up being free because it was refunded after UPS delivered to the wrong address but the nice person dropped it off to me. I also bought samples.
Feb- only bought the valentines set from Sweet Anthem and I also purchased VC&A vanilla orchid. I think that’s the name, lol. Too linear, gonna sell it.
Mar- this was the hardest month since the weather is changing and I just want something new! Was going to buy Fort and Manlé Harem Rose but instead bought a decant. Much cheaper! Also trying to hold back from buy the new Xerjoff- Amabile. I had a coupon that expired yesterday for it so I’m hoping that I won’t want it anymore.
Somewhere in those months I also bought Libertine Sex and Jasmine, a magical scent called Alambar by laboratorio olfattivo, and Rook school. Believe me when I say this is MUCH LESS than what I used to buy! Thanks, everyone!
Urgh, it should say Clinique Wrappings ended* up being free!
So glad Donatella is helping you, sostara! She helped me so much I now buy almost nothing 😉
(Actually, my collection getting unwieldy is mostly what helped, but I like to think she helped too — it is part of why I started these polls.)
If you still want the Xerjoff, just remember that there’s always another coupon or sale. Try and wait it out.
Yes – I bought VCA’s Orchidee Vanille at a really good price, but it was pretty similar to the more-interesting Bois d’Irirs I already had.
I’m always pleased to see that other people buy more than I do – I feel so much more justified in my purchases because I’m so restrained 🙂
Just one bottle, Angels Share. One decant, from pl67, that I didn’t count because it was under $10, and that’s free in perfumemath.
What are your thoughts on Angels share. I personally was surprised at how much I liked it!!
I was surprised I liked it too, I usually don’t care for boozy notes. After the cognac wears off, it’s a woody vanilla on me and I like those very much.
Nice! I got a sample and very much approve of your purchase!
I have been a saint (and planet saver), only 1.4 perfumes. But these beauties have arrived to our household:
1. Masque Milano Romanza – not counted as perfume because it is magic in a bottle
2. Amouage Honour – on sale so counts as 70%
3. Ruth Mastenbroek Amorosa – supporting independent perfumer so does not count
4. Serge Lutens Louve another discount perfume, counts as 70%
5. Shiseido Ever Bloom coffret set -toiletries so not counted as perfum
6. &7. Guerlain l’Heure Bleue edt&edp – replacements, not counted
And my secondhand blind buys (not counted as I was saving the planet by buying unwanted goodies)
8. Les Soers du Noel Mitsio Vanille
9. A Lab on Fire Freckled and Beautiful
Lol, I love your “doesn’t count because…”. That’s as bad as my not counting the 6 soaps and 4 candles I’ve purchased since the new year!
Technically not in a bottle, so they don’t count.
But being honest: 4 soaps from Rileyville on Etsy. 2 soaps from Mistral. 3 candles from Overland, 1 from Diyptique. There, that’s off my chest, but still they don’t count.
Thanks for sharing, I am out of candles at the moment?. Off to do some googling now? I agree with you on not counting them.
Fabulous perfumath, I particularly admire number 1 🙂
Love your perfume math!
I said nary a one and just realized that I did buy one bottle, but it was a gift for my mother so I’m not sure it counts 😉
St. D says No!
Correct! Also does not count if someone gives you a bottle.
A very restricted quarter for me.
1. ADL Chinese Oud
2. Alain Deloin Lira. A cheap and satisfying Shalimar dupe. $15 on eBay
3. Angels Share – this one is pricey. Most likely would split during splitmeet so it does not count 🙂
4. St Clair Gardeners glove.
Also sold a bunch of bottle to cover the spend, so technically new additions are at zero!!
That’s pretty much it. Rest of the purchases are splits and therefore do not count!!!
I’m in on your Angel’s Share!
So glad you got Gardener’s Glove! I love it, and indie perfumers like St. Clair Scents need our support.
I have a fairly strict fragrance budget and it’s easy for me to squander it away on sample, etc. so I have to be careful. I know Donatella doesn’t count samples, but I have to!
1) travel spray of Ariana Grande Cloud (my latest favorite post-shower, before bed fragrance)
2) Nez Ambre a Levres
3) The sample dilemma: Ordered samples from LS twice which came to about $60(!!)–including shipping which now seems to be a whopping $8 even for samples. This is going to make me think twice about samples from them and yet sampling has saved me many times from making a much bigger error (currently looking at you, Memo African Leather–boy that would have been a sad blind buy for me, didn’t smell anything like I had built up in my mind).
But I do have full bottle plans for next quarter… ;D
Oh the samples dilemma. For me it’s more a question of generally wanting to try new things, and happily there are local perfume pals with whom I swap samples. It’s especially useful since my sniff-to-whole bottle ratio is at best something like 1-to-20.
Ha, I think my ratio is more like 1 in 50.
Ooof, thanks for the heads-up on the shipping charge from LS!
Bought Chanel Paris-Venise, almost half price with points, and Light Blue Italian Zest. Ready for spring now!
I love LB Italian Zest, you’ve inspired me to find my bottle and wear it tomorrow! 🙂
It’s so cheery!
I love Paris Venise! Also on my list.
Whaaat? Points from where?
Sorry, probably used the wrong term. Maybe “Bay bucks” is more accurate?
I bought a new car on Dec. 29, so I haven’t been able to spring for many fragrances so far this year. Not even decants. I did buy a full bottle of vintage Shulton Early American Old Spice, for less than $20 from ebay. I haven’t opened it yet.
Well hey, at least you have that ‘new car smell’!
Do report back on the Old Spice — hope it is fantastic.
Hmm, so hard to remember.
* Atelier cologne – 100 ml of Clementine California (on deep discount)
* Aime parfum de peu oil in rollerball, maybe 20 ml
* Narciso Rodriguez For her parfum oil 50 ml – nice but sadly not the same formula as my beloved parfum de sac For her oil from maybe 2003.
* Byredo Mixed emotions, 50 ml
* Britney Spears Midnight fantasy, edp 50 ml
* Malle Portrait of a lady, 50 ml (fantastic online auction find)
I would not mind running across a great deal on Portrait!
I could hardly belive it, I got it for about 1/4 of the full price. But it’s the real deal – and wonderful.
Wow, nice.
I’ve been on a tight budget lately, but I did buy a 4ml mini of Vert des Bois on Ebay last week when I realized it had been discontinued, and a bottle of Piment Brulant when it was on sale at Beautyhabit, which I didn’t strictly need but it appeared to be on the way out and there are days when it’s warm, cozy weirdness rather suits. I believe Donnatella is quick to forgive purchases motivated by perfume discontinuations…
Pimento Brulant is a sleeper for me. I just adore its wet chili cocoa charms.
Donatella is quick to forgive purchases of perfume in general 🙂
4 bottles, 2 minis, and a bonanza of samples, so I’m counting the total as 6:
1. Mugler Angel la Rose (100 ml tester bottle)
2. Pacifica French Lilac (30 ml)
3. Regime des Fleurs Little Flower (100 ml)
4. Regime des Fleurs Glass Blooms (100 ml)
5a. Mugler Angel la Rose mini (25 ml)
5b. Scarborough Co/Crabtree & Evelyn Susannah mini (7.5 ml)
6. 27-6=21 samples purchased (the $40 6-sample discovery set from Regime des Fleurs came with a $40 discount code that I used on a fb, so those 6 were retroactively free and get subtracted from the total)
I will admit to waiting until today to place another order for a bunch of samples so that I wouldn’t have to include them in this count. 🙂
LOL — but you have to pay the piper eventually 😉
Those Mugler Angel Roses could be counted as unicorns. ??
Wait, so under perfume math, ? ?? are free? Innnnteresting….
The Angel a la rose! Congratulations, it’s so pretty!
Hello all!
This upcoming quarter I’ll keep better notes but I’ve had a whirlwind first quarter.
A selection:
A Lab on Fire And the World Is Yours (replacing my empty!)
Gucci Rush parfum
Tauer Zeta
Caron 90’s Narcisse Noir parfum
15 ml bottle of Chronotope Spite EdP
Vero Profumo Rubj parfum
Vero Profumo Moto parfum
And a backup of Vero Profumo Naja
Why yes, I’ve been bad. ?
Zeta?! OMG i‘m jealous
Very surprised and delighted to have found a bottle of it. The scent of spring!
Where on earth did you find Rubj? I am properly jealous!
The Vero Profumo distributor had some listed when I bought the Naja. I wish we’d talked sooner as it seems they are out again. 🙁
Which distributie is this? I can’t seem tot find any Veroprofumo in Europe
Campomarzio 70. They relaunched her EdPs in a limited release and had a few extra it’s that they listed as well.
Whoops!
Size ML Designer Frangrance Name Concentration Retailer Purchase price Date of Purchase
200 Gucci Guilty Eau De Parfum Macy’s $ 135.70 (Tue) Mar 30 – 2021
200 Gucci Guilty Eau de Toilette Macy’s $ 135.70 (Tue) Mar 30 – 2021
200 Gucci Guilty Black Eau de Toilette Macy’s $ 159.09 (Tue) Mar 30 – 2021
100 Dolce & Gabbana K Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 64.92 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Absolute Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 64.95 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Colgne Edition Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 58.98 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Eau Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 57.70 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Intense Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 61.93 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Love Edition Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 63.46 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Love Edition MMXXI 2021 Eau de Toilette Gucci.com $ 106.80 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
90 Gucci Guilty Oud Eau de Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 96.31 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
70 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Gentle Fluidity Silver Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 160.52 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
125 Parfums De Marly Oajan Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 194.08 (Mon) Mar 29 – 2021
100 Le Labo Bergamote 22 Eau De Toilette Le Labo $ 237.60 (Sat) Mar 27 – 2021
100 Hermès Terre D’Hermès eau Intense Vétiver Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 78.39 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
125 Hugo Boss Hugo Boss No. 1 Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 29.82 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
200 Issey Miyake L’eau D’issey Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 55.74 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
70 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Pour Homme Extrait de Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 185.42 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
70 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Forte Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 156.60 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
70 Maison Francis Kurkdjian L’Homme A la Rose Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 150.35 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
100 Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 59.14 (Fri) Mar 26 – 2021
100 Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Iris Eau de Toilette Luckyscent $ 145.00 (Mon) Mar 22 – 2021
100 Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Mandarin Eau de Toilette Luckyscent $ 145.00 (Mon) Mar 22 – 2021
100 Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 + Patchouli Eau de Toilette Luckyscent $ 145.00 (Mon) Mar 22 – 2021
100 Hermès H24 (A) Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ 115.61 (Sun) Mar 14 – 2021
100 Hermès H24 (B) Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ 115.61 (Sun) Mar 14 – 2021
5 Hermès H24 [Deluxe Sample] (A) Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ – (Sun) Mar 14 – 2021
5 Hermès H24 [Deluxe Sample] (B) Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ – (Sun) Mar 14 – 2021
100 Cartier Roadster [Tester] Eau de Toilette FragranceX.com $ 54.97 (Thu) Mar 11 – 2021
60 Zoologist Snowy Owl Extrait de Parfum Zoologist.com $ 181.27 (Thu) Feb 25 – 2021
125 John Varvatos XX Artisan Eau De Toilette Macy’s $ 103.40 (Mon) Feb 15 – 2021
60 Zoologist Chameleon Eau de Parfum Luckyscent $ 165.00 (Sun) Jan 31 – 2021
60 Zoologist Elephant Extrait de Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 165.00 (Fri) Jan 29 – 2021
100 Moschino Toy Boy Eau De Parfum Amazon.com $ 61.66 (Fri) Jan 15 – 2021
100 Moschino Pour Homme Eau De Toilette eBay $ 109.55 (Thu) Jan 14 – 2021
100 Romeo Gigli Per Uomo Eau De Toilette eBay $ 165.15 (Thu) Jan 14 – 2021
100 Versace Versus Uomo Eau De Toilette eBay $ 109.55 (Thu) Jan 14 – 2021
60 Zoologist Bat (2020) Extrait de Parfum Luckyscent $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Bee Extrait de Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 195.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Camel Extrait de Parfum Luckyscent $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Civet Extrait de Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Dragonfly Eau De Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Macaque Eau De Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Moth Extrait de Parfum Luckyscent $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Musk Deer Extrait de Parfum Luckyscent $ 195.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Rhinoceros (2020) Extrait de Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Squid Extrait de Parfum Luckyscent $ 165.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
60 Zoologist Tyrannosaurus Rex Extrait de Parfum TigerLilyPerfumery.com $ 195.00 (Sat) Jan 09 – 2021
100 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Extrême Eau De Parfum Harrod’s $ 125.25 (Fri) Jan 08 – 2021
200 Maison Francis Kurkdjian Grand Soir Eau De Parfum Harrod’s $ 388.25 (Fri) Jan 08 – 2021
100 Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Yellow Dream Eau de Toilette Nordstrom $ 104.60 (Wed) Jan 06 – 2021
100 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Eau De Parfum Selfridges $ 104.00 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
150 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Eau De Toilette Jomashop.com $ 64.15 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
100 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Cool Eau De Toilette Guerlain.com $ 112.35 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
100 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Intense Eau De Parfum Jomashop.com $ 69.65 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
100 Guerlain L’Homme Idéal Sport Eau De Toilette Jomashop.com $ 52.06 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
150 Valentino Uomo Eau de Toilette Amazon.com $ 117.86 (Sun) Jan 03 – 2021
125 Valentino Uomo Acqua Eau de Toilette Amazon.com $ 69.35 (Sat) Jan 02 – 2021
100 Valentino Uomo Intense (B) Extrait de Parfum Nordstrom $ 114.50 (Sat) Jan 02 – 2021
100 Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Eau de Toilette Nordstrom $ 104.98 (Fri) Jan 01 – 2021
100 Valentino Uomo Intense (A) Extrait de Parfum Nordstrom $ 114.92 (Fri) Jan 01 – 2021
Whoa.
I want to see you try to make this a net zero damage list ?.
I would pay to read it!?
2nd that.
I want to visit you.
Second this! We need a sniffing tour, please.
?
You’re opening a boutique, right?
That must be a record! Donatella will be overwhelmed 🙂
holy moley guacamole!
Moving on, nothing to see here. LOL. Even I, who’s one of the naughtys here, don’t even come close!
E-freaking-gads!
Do you think you can do better on 2nd quarter?
“We are not worthy!” I feel so much better now about my own indiscretions. Go you!
Dearest Donatella,
Ennui. It’s a way of life these days, it seems. Not only have I failed to follow your example properly, I actually back-slid.
But first! I did still manage a few acquisitions despite the blah’s:
• Fragonard Belle de Nuit (aka J’Adore)
• Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus (that Chinese New Year bottle…)
• BDK Gris Charnel
• Jo Malone Silver Birch & Lavender
And there were some vintage purchases (both unopened bottles!), let’s call those museum pieces:
• Guerlain Vol de Nuit EdC
• Guerlain Vol de Nuit parfum
And a few mini’s (apologies for not living large):
• Atelier Cologne Lemon Island, Cedre Atlas, Pacific Lime, Clementine California
• Hans Hendley Felt
• Yves Rocher Voile d’Ambre
• Scents of Wood x 3
• Zoologist Sloth, Musk Deer
• Sugandhco Jashn-e-Oudh, Sahar, Hayaa
Counting *everything* for once, I acquired 5 FBs and 14 mini’s. As for the back-sliding, I sold or gave away 25 FBs and 17 minis. Sales actually paid for all my purchases this quarter, and then some. However you look at it, the collection did properly shrink this quarter. Yes, D, I will do penance right away by buying a couple of things I’ve been eyeing for a while…
I highly recommend opening and using the VdN museum pieces – what an absolutely stunning composition that was!
??
Just one bottle: Belles Rives by La Parfumerie Moderne. It is utterly lovely and I’m wearing it today. I also hoge the Les Indémodables sample set and a set of Dior mini’s. Still trui g to make up my mind about what I would most like to add to my collection next.
Twins on the sample set! Just bought one, too.
Why did I think I was getting better?
1. Serge Lutens Douce Amere. My unicorn ?. For less than $100!
2. Dolce &Gabbana 3 L’Imperatrice $34.
3. Chanel #19 eau de toilette $58.
4. Chanel Cristalle eau Verte. $115. Very disappointed. The salesperson sent me the eau Verte instead of Cristalle.
5. Chanel Cristalle $115. On backorder.
6. Split! Boucheron Iris de Syracuse $25, I think? That was a bit ago and the brain is funny.
Wow! $447! Cringe!
Does it count if I canceled my Spiriteuse Double Vanilla? That subtracts $200. And that I found a verrrrrrry expensive bottle I might have purchased?
Like someone else said, most of my purchases were in March. Got worried (huge problem, right?) that Cristalle would be discontinued and bought. I have gone through a few(still more!) decants of D&G, but it looks harder to find, and at that price point, it is cheaper and easier to have a bottle and offer my decants up. The Iris is gorgeous. Not really able to identify the note, so that is my new perfume job!
Side note: I wore Coromandel yesterday, the other half liked it fine, I found Rue Cambon and sprayed it, and I got a different reaction!
No scent yet. Grey, warm day. Probably Kyoto or Heavenly.
I think ? doesn’t count either. mythical being and all that.
Gosh, I forget when I ordered what…
I know I got a little box of items from LUSH, which may have been this past quarter. There were a couple of solid perfumes in there.
And I’d ordered a couple of the Jeffery Dame (JD) fragrances in either December or January. Those were the JD Labdanum Doux and Mimosa Mixte.
I forget when I went to Sephora for the first time in several months, whether that was in December or in the first quarter of 2021. But I got a Jo Malone discovery set which may have ended up under my bed, and a couple of Fresh products. No full bottles of anything from Sephora, that I’m sure of…
I looked back at the damages I listed in the last confessions to Donatella post, and I’d counted the Jeffery Dame fragrances in December, so that’s a couple of bottles I don’t need to count this time. Hajusuuri would say that they were perfume-math free, or almost so, anyway. lol! I guess they were holiday presents to myself. 🙂
Amazingly, only one bottle and zero-zilch-nada samples, decants and the like. The sole bottle was Paris-Deauville, and it was a completely blind buy. A very, very successful one – I’m already kind of wishing I’d sprung for the larger size … even though there is more perfume in my closet than I can possibly use up.
Congrats on the happy blind buy!
Forgive me St. Donatella, for I have sinned. I promised that I would attempt a no-buy quarter, and I fell to temptation within days. I’m not making any promises looking to next quarter.
My purchases for the last three months: full bottles of Ellis Brooklyn West (really liking this house), Adidas Uplift (a cheap but good after-gym fragrance saved from the bargain bin at Kohls), and Eris Green Spell. Rollerball purchases of Aromatherapy Associates Destress, Revive, Deep Relax, and Forest Therapy, and also Holistick Teratai.
I don’t think I ever managed a planned no buy quarter, but I have now done many unplanned no buy quarters. It’s better if you have permission to buy 🙂
Managed, just to stick to no more than four bottles per month with BUBs counting as half
AP Premier Figuier 100ml £34.14
Passage d’Enfer 100ml £38
La Perla 48 1.6ml samples £15
Brocard 5 O’Clock Tea Rituals 100ml £19.99
Vintage Thierry Mugler Angel Men 100ml £18.05
Jo Malone Myrrh & Tonka 100ml £34.65
Vintage Aromatics Elixir parfum 100ml £35
Clean Reserve Sel Santal 100ml £27.85
Aqua Neroli used 80/100ml £36
Chantal Thomas’s Osez-moi 50ml £12.50
Kilian Angels’ share 50ml £44 (my best deal for a new tester bottle)
Vintage Kenzo Summer 75ml £45 (my favourite buy, it had been on my list for so long).
I bet that vintage AE is out of this world!
Yes, it has a particular effect or note I never forgot from smelling it years ago.
I love reading about the deals you get!
? Thank you Lillyjo, I was very happy with my purchases this quarter, if something caught your eye drop me a line for a sample ?
Wow. You have some stunners there!
I do feel lucky this quarter, if somethig caught your attention drop me a line for a sample ?
As always, SUPER envious of and impressed by the deals you found!!
? Hello Koyel, good to see you here! I do keep a wish list and follow it but I have a problem of purchasing any good deal I come across and should curb that for a more curated collection, or I will end up with too many bottles?
Oops it’s 14 with the BUBs
Vintage Calèche extrait 30ml £20
Robert Piguet Visa 100ml £100
Visa was £24 not £100, I adore Visa so justified I believe, total with BUBs half is 13 bottles.
I like your thinking with bubs. ?
I did great, then!
?
That’s such a steal for the Visa! I’ve always been curious about that scent.
Hello Tulipani: I would be delighted to send you a sample. If you’re interested send me an email at custom of the country (all attached) at jeeemail dowt com.
That’s so kind of you! But you’re in the UK, right? It will be too much trouble!
Hello Tulipani: We’ve run out of space to answer, hope you will see this. Yes, I am in the UK, but sending a sample should be fine and is affordable, technically the post office forbids to send any perfume abroad but I enjoy breaking this stupid rule.
Do Sample discovery sets count? I think they count as one whole bottle-ish??!
1) Zara x Jo Malone Sample discovery kit- at $25, not bad, and the amounts of each scent are generous. I liked each one- with Vetiver/Pamplemousse, Fleur D’Orange and Wild Bluebells being the favorites.
2) Floral Street Sample Discovery Set- $19. Very zesty scents in the London Poppy, Electric Rhubarb, Neon Rose and Wild Vanilla Orchid- but a meh value to be honest.
3) Bagatelle de Gabrielle- a shocking bargain at $30 at my local TJ Maxx. Perfect for oncoming warm days as a pick me up.
4) Memoir d’une Odeur: Another shocking value at TJ Maxx for $40. Really lovely and perfect library/reading at home scent.
I’d forgotten the Floral Street Electric Rhubarb was on my to try list, what did you think of it?
It’s a very zesty, very refreshing scent, very uplifting and charming. It is NOT sweet, but has a non citrusy zestiness that is bright. I would absolutely buy a travel bottle of that- I drained the sample sprayer!
A 50 ml bottle of Ta’if, finally, and absolutely no regrets.
But I also acquired 30 mls of Prada Candy and Coco Mad for free through a work thing, so that helped restrain the shopping.
Yum. I do love Ta’if.
Purchased half a bottle of Unum Lavs for a really good price and also a used bottle of of older Safran Troublant, also a very good deal. A set of samples from Indigo Perfumery and that is it! Working on filling full bottle wishes from my very short list. 2 down and 3 to go. Anybody interested in parting with older bottles of Borneo 1834 or Encens et Lavende from Oncle Serge? Hit me up!
My full bottle list is crazy long! So long it keeps me from deciding on what to buy.
had a moment while bored in quarantine (first full bottle purchases in years)
Comme des Garcons Rogue
Parfums D’Empire Aqua di Sandola
Comme des Garcons Sherbert-Rhubarb
Eau D’Italie -Jardin Du Poete
And, because discontinued: back up travel bottles of Aedes Copal Azur and Oeillet Bengale
Curious about Rogue – any thoughts?
I really love it (beetroot, ginger, rhubarb, incense), but it smells even better on my (male) friend so I split it with him.
I bought a 100ml bottle of Ormaie L’Ivree Bleue for my birthday in February. Kept half of it, the rest was split.
Not bad, Lucasai!
I bought two bottles this quarter, Francesca Bianchi’s Lost in Heaven and Taklamakan from SHL. Lost in Heaven was an instant love from some Luckyscent samples, and Taklamakan had been on my list of possible future purchases for years. I decided to buy when I was able to get it from Australia, the postage is still hideous, but not as bad as some places.
I also bought a discovery set from Francesca Bianchi, but that meant I got free postage for Lost in Heaven, so Donatella is sure to forgive that.
And I bought lots of samples, but those are investments in research 🙂
Forgive me, Donatella, for I have barely sinned.?
Aside from some samples, a box of scented towelettes, and an Easter-gift bottle for my Mom, I snapped up a few bargains for under $40:
•Guerlain Eau de Cologne Imperiale travel spray 15ml
•Perfumer’s Workshop Tea Rose 120ml
•LT Piver Pompeia 100ml
I’m set for Spring and Summer spritzing. …At least, until the Sephora BI sale in a few weeks….☺️
Here goes:
Avignon 50ml, Comme des Garçons
The Dreamer 100ml, Versace
M7 80ml, Yves Saint Laurent
Passage d’Enfer Extreme 100ml, L’Artisan Parfumeur
Shalimar Philtre de Parfum 90ml, Guerlain
Fat Electrician 100ml, Etat Libre d’Orange
Shalimar Souffle de Parfum 50ml, Guerlain
Shalimar Souffle Intense 50ml, Guerlain
Mont de Narcisse 100ml, L’Artisan Parfumeur
Minotaure 75ml, Paloma Picasso
Vanilla Patchouli 75ml, Molinard
Back Ups:
L’Envol EDT 80ml, Cartier
Plum 2x50ml, Mary Greenwell (6 quid each + 15%off!)
Lemon 100ml, Mary Greenwell (7 quid + 15% off!)
Lots of lovely choices. Amazing prices on the Mary Greenwell line, where did you fin them please?
They popped up on The Fragrance Shop website a month or two ago. Not long ago the Sex Pistols (now Malaise of the 1970s) scent by Etat Libre was on for a pittance!
Thank you, you’re such a wise shopper and it’s not the first time you made me aware of deals? like for l’Artisan Parfumeur.
You’ve got some wonderful things in this go-round!
I am pretty happy with my purchases this quarter because they were mostly thoughtful and not impulsive.
IUNX Talc 20ml decant $42.60
Parfum d’Empire Cuir Ottoman 100ml bottle $151
Oscar de la Renta Esprit d’Oscar 50ml bottle $15.99
Hendley Perfumes Cola 7.5ml $35
Miller Harris L’air de Rien BUB 50ml $74
Scent Trunk 4 x 5ml travel sprays $45
Cuir Ottoman is a nice one, and one day I will try the Talc, too!
I’m happy to send you a little from my decant. Just shoot me an email!
Thanks, very kind of you! I’ll only accept if I can send you something back. 🙂
So glad you were able to get the Miller Harris. I know you love it.
Thanks, I’m very happy to have plenty on hand now. I started getting nervous seeing a few bottles I’ve been watching on eBay get sold recently, so I figured now is the time.
Properly impressed by the Miller Harris BUB!
I think there are still a few bottles on eBay if anyone needs one.
Is the Cola perfume fizzy?
It is a bit fizzy but not super fizzy. A bit of fizz and the warming spices make up the cola vibe. If you’re in the US (guessing you are by your username), I’m happy to pass along my sample of Cola since I upgraded to the travel size. I’m at my NST username at gmail.
For the 1st quarter:
1. From Fragonard – Vanille, Magnolia and Vanille lotion
2. From Lab on Fire – Freckled and Beautiful and Blvd Called Sunset samples (wasn’t impressed)
3. From Luckyscent – Ambre a Levres and Obvious Discovery Set
4. From Target – MIX:BAR Vanilla Bourbon, MIX:BAR Discovery Set, Pacifica Dream Moon and Silver Moon
All blind buys for the FBs as I reflect…and successful blind buys at that! 😉 though I haven’t tried the two Pacifica scents yet…
How did you like Vanilla Bourbon?
I quite like it but nothing groundbreaking but I have done far worse w/ more expensive vanillas. . Spicy, woody, slightly floral vanilla to my nose…enjoyable…especially for the price.
Forgive me Donnatella for I have sinned. Got a rollerball of Tocca’s Guiletta, full bottle of Coromandel, full bottle of Lyric and an Estee Lauder Pleasures mini. The damage wasn’t too horrible but wanted Coromandel so badly.
Didn’t you get Wrappings as well?
I did. Forgot about that.
I have limited my monthly perfume spend and am very happy that I kept my resolve! So I have only sinned within the boundaries of how much I wanted to sin and am sure Donatella wouldn’t count that as being really sinful.
Carnal Flower and Une Fleur Cassie in the 10ml sizes (if all perfumes came in 10ml that’s all I would buy! never gonna use up my stash even if I live to be 100 and spritz 5 times a day).
Backup up bottle of Chanel 19 edp (see comment on 10ml above. who said I was logical? when it comes to Chanel 19 I have completely unfounded reformulation / discontinuation anxiety)
Astier de Village Grand Chalet: linden + mimosa = ?
Also, stuff that doesn’t count:
Oriza L Grand soaps and Naomi Goodsir sample set.
Happy weekend everyone!
Oh, I wouldn’t say that anxiety is unfounded given what we’ve seen over the years. So good for you on lots of good stuff!
Chanel have been pretty decent compared to other houses though. I’m not sure they’ve actually discontinued anything? Moved it around a bit and hiked the prices, yes. I’m really happy with the purchases ?
Very nice buys! And I love Oriza L. Legrand soaps. It seems they discontinued my favorite though, Miel de l’Aingleterre (sp?).
l’Angleterre ?
I never tried that one. My favourite is Relique d’Amour and now I’m tempted with the perfume… ? (obviously)
I can’t wait to read through everyone’s comments.
All I’ve bought is a number of decants (“large samples”), so I’m going to count it as just a single bottle purchase 🙂 I’ve purchased very little over the past few years, which is just as well given the size of my collection and my lifespan.
Not.One.Bottle.
This is probably my lowest perfume spending quarter in a while – would have come to nothing had I not gifted myself, for my birthday a couple of days ago, the Les Indemodables Set – I actually bought it in store at Luckyscent in downtown Los Angeles, and had a fun hour there trying scents! Now it’s back from vacation, but smelling fine in the Iris scent.
So – $50.
Have you picked a favourite yet? Mine is Cuir de Chine.
Mine is fougere emeraude and chuir de chine a close second.
My second favourite is Chypre Azural.
I bought
1. 1.7 oz bottle of Clean Ultimate Beach Day. $12.99
2. Travel set of Nest Sunkissed Hibiscus. $11.99
3. 1 oz of Rebecca Minkoff edp. $14.99
4. Travel spray of TF Eau de Soliel Blanc $25.00. This hasn’t been delivered yet, but I’m counting it since the money is spent.
I did buy a BBW travel spray but ended up returning it.
I went over my budget by about ten dollars. I think I got some good deals though. I’ve been on a summer scent kick.
I think I have a sample of the TF Eau de Soleil Blanc. I’ve been meaning to compare it to the Orchid Soleil sample I have.
Summer scents . . It was so warm a week ago that I pulled out my spring bottles. I don’t know what I was thinking? ?
We both invested in Clean fragrances this quarter, what a coincidence ?
One bottle for me this time!
1. Soivohle Paracelsus Extrait de Parfum travel bottle, 4mL.
Total = $30.
I have some bottles that are needing new homes, so maybe I will get to that this year!
Not more bottles of Wrappings?
Only one FB, I gifted myself with a nice bottle of Vivacious for my birthday, early March and it arrived yesterday! Today I am wafting springie green and violets even though we got a dusting of snow last night and the high today was about 33 degrees! I enjoy working from home and spraying with abandon, so I am going to have to replace some bottles soon! (Mohur Extrait, I am looking at you, pretty girl.) Perfume has been a simple pleasure in the midst of all the chaos over the last year. Wear your masks, social distance, wash your hands, and get vaccinated as soon as you can! Getting everyone vaccinated is what will stop the spread of the more lethal variants. Our poor world.
What a beautiful choice for a birthday present. ?
From what I can remember:
1. Do Son EDP FB
2. 34 Boulevard Saint Germain EDT, 30 ml FB
3. 1oz bottle of Twilly from the Bay which I may not keep. 30 ml, FB
4. Travel sprays of Iris Shot and Violet Shot. I figured that together they equal one small bottle.
I was up to my usual tricks but I did put aside several bottles that I plan to cull.
How do you like Iris shot & Violet shot? I am very curious about Iris shot. Having discovered that I have a bit of a penchant for iris…
It’s strange. I don’t love them but I reach for them. They both remind me Guerlain perfumes. Something in the base. Particularly Violet Shot reminds me of Insolence. What’s strange is that Insolence doesn’t work for me. Violet Shot is a sweet, sueded violet. It is complex and dense. It teeters on the border of too much but I enjoy wearing on cold days. Iris Shot is harder to describe but it is my favorite of the two.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts petunia ?
?
Some lovely choices.
In my mind, all I bought was my birthday splurge, Iris Torréfié! But looking at my trusty expense spreadsheet, I saw many other little sins!
I bought full bottles (although all discounted and some small 50ml size): Clinique Aromatics in White, Guerlain Ginger Piccante, Aramis Calligraphy Rose, Lutens Vetiver Oriental, and Kenzo l’Elephant. I’m actually pretty ok with my purchases, I love them all and got very lucky with a couple which were blind buys.
I also participated in 1 split which has arrived, and a couple others which haven’t come yet, so I’ll save those for next quarter’s confession!
Good job on the Calligraphy Rose! The perfumes in that series have become really difficult to find.
Thanks, I really love Calligraphy Rose. And it will last me many lifetimes, since it’s pretty strong!
Spreadsheets reveal all the sins. 😉
one bottle of Les Immmmmmooooodaaaaaaaaaaaaalbllllees
Vanille Havane
? veeery nice!! I’m saving that one for one of my autumn buys I think ?
Too lazy to list them all but I bought at least 17 different brands, some with multiple fragrances.
Nice! You were busy. 🙂
But we’d love to see your list if you do feel inspired to tell us. (Or even just some of them.)
?
Better late than never! I got 2 full bottles this quarter.
Chanel No. 19 Poudre – 3.4 oz $159.00 and Chanel Cristalle edp – 3.4 oz $69.00 (including points redemption and additional coupon).
Lotions, shower gels and samples are not included. At least the samples haven’t resulted in any additional purchases, so that’s money saved!
It’s like reading my planned purchases in a parallel universe ? Both of those I umm’ed and ahhh’d about! Hope you enjoy them lots!
Thank you!
Where did you get the Cristalle edp?
I got it from Shoppers Drug Mart.
I bought only a 6ml decant of Trayee.
Such a wonderful scent.
Impulse bought 10ml of Drama Queen from DSH which will hopefully be waiting for me when I get home
Well, I finally broke my personal record of two and a half years of abstinence. Got Diptyque Oud Palao and Etat Libre d’Orange Exit the King, plus a refill for Cartier L’Envol during a mall trip… Almost got a fourth but somehow I was able to control myself.
Enjoy! I know how it’s like, I’ve bought nothing between 2016-2018.
Zero damage for me this quarter.
I almost bought 2 bottles in January, but I passed on the occasion because I thought it was too soon after my November buy of Iris Silver Mist.
I am glad I saved my money, but I am not glad I passed on having Iris Cendre and The Black Night, both discounted.
Now I am in the phase of I have enough perfume to last me a lifetime and why do I need more, but who knows when it will itch me to buy something again (soon, I guess).
I bought a bottle of Glossier You. Very much a skin scent but I have worn it quite a bit.
Actually, I mostly covet Donatella’s illuminated cabinet. We are (eventually) going to get our master bath remodeled and I am considering whether I could have a cabinet built to house my bottles. The LED lights are so inexpensive and the whole thing could be a night light. I keep a “heavy rotation” collection on my bathroom counter, some year round favorites and some seasonal. But the bottles take up so much space on the counter, it would be better to have them on the wall.
Running out of storage is going to limit my collection, eventually.
Just keep in mind that light is apparently bad for perfume and also its apparently a no no to keep them in the bathroom due to steam. Of course if you have only a few bottles this might not matter so much but if its a collection you want to preserve.
I’m wondering if I’m late enough to be invisible… 😀
Nope, not totally invisible!