2021 will soon be but a distant memory, right? Right? Donatella Versace, Our Lady of Scented Excess,1 knows that failing is just part of the process, and now she wants to help you move into 2022 with a clean slate and a clean conscience. Do confess what you bought in the 4th quarter (October, November and December) of 2021, you'll feel better.
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...
Just before Donatella gave up on me entirely, I made a small purchase in the 4th quarter, from Tauer Perfumes: mini bottles of the new Sundowner plus Phi Un Rose de Kandahar. My grand total for the quarter (and for the year) was $80.11. I will try to do better in 2022!
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 bought 2 sets of MFK’s fragrance wardrobe travel minis. Each set contains 8x11ml vials. I count a set as 1 full size bottle so my total is 2.
Fair enough. I counted my 2 minis as 1 bottle, but in all truth they’re more like 1/3 of a bottle.
Is it that time again? Already? Well.. ok. I was pretty restrained this year (for me), but Q4 was sortof a meltdown. Justified, though! I bought a couple of mini’s, which I know are beneath Donatella’s notice:
• Tauer Sundowner (charitable support of an artist)
• Iman Love Memoir (the less said about that, the better)
And then a fair number of FBs:
• 4711 Awakening Woods of Scandinavia
• FM Synthetic Jungle
• Guerlain Shalimar MVP
• Kilian L’Heure Verte
• TF Ebene Fume
• Dior Diorella
• Dior Diorama
• Dior Dioressence
• Mugler Womanity
• Mugler Ambre Redoutable
• Diptyque Kyoto
• Ormonde Jayne Xandria
• DSH Taj Garden
• DSH Mountain Sage
• DSH Le Sazerac
• DSH Floating Amongst the Stars
• DSH Re-Assess
But do all of these count? Of course not. We’ll cross off the DSH’s as charitable support of an artist (purchased direct from the perfumer). I doubt Donatella can notice anything as inexpensive as a 4711. And the Diors, well, those are classics (even if new versions), and classics are always allowed. Then we must take into account that I had a birthday this quarter; and Christmas. Plus I think we all get a COVID allowance of at least one purchase a quarter. And then I sold or gave away 7 bottles. So the perfumath works out to be: +17 – 1 (4711) – 5 (DSH) – 3 (Dior) – 1 (birthday) – 1 (Xmas) – 1 (COVID) – 7 (goners) = -2 bottles. Yup that’s about right.
But – and here I must hang my head, Donatella — no foolin, I ended 2021 with 11 fewer FBs than I had at the beginning of 2021. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa…
In complete agreement with that COVID allowance of at least one per quarter!
What are you thoughts on Le Sazerac as well as Ebene Fume?
Le Sazerac is whiskey, absinthe, spices, citrus. Boozy fun. Ebene Fume is kindof a mashup of Oud Wood, Bois Marocain, and London — wood, smoke, oud, leather — just my thing.
Le Sazerac sounds good.
A Nordie’s SA sprayed me with Ebene Fume (with my excited permission) and I kept it on as long as I could (it went on and on) but finally had to scrub it off. NOT my thing. Good thing there are lots of different strokes for different folks!
Oh oh oh, I gotta try Le Sazerac at some point
Talk to me Talk to me TALK TO MEEEEEEE about the Iman fragrance. I saw on HSN or something but I was not sure….????
I will be happy to send you mine (got a travel spray). Send me your address… emc dawt 7117 @ gmayle
Well, that kinda sorta answers our question on that one – thanks for “boldly going… 🙁 ” AND: Clinks bottle with Synthetic Jungle (as a lover of No. 19, EL Private Collection, Silences, Ma Griffe and some others greenies, it was “nab-it-NOW” for me.)
Don’t forget that the Womanity bottle can also double as sculpture, especially if you got the big one.
It is pretty cool! I was surprised that the cap is actually metal, not plastic. Yes we’ll call that one sculpture 🙂
Awesome use of perfume math!!
I firmly believe that Donatella encourages us to buy, so “confession” is more a matter of just letting her know I’m trying to do my share!
I bought:
Outremer Cola – cheap and fun
BDK Gris Charnel travel spray – will likely show up in the swap meet as it’s just not my thing (feel free to reach out if you are interested)
PMdP Milky Musk – split the bottle and is definitely my thing
Patricia de Nicolai Maharadjah candle
A couple sets of samples
Wish I had bought and plan to rectify in 2022:
Ormonde Jayne Woman
Under consideration:
Fzotic (Bruno Fazzolari) Ummagumma
Bois 1920 Sushi Imperiale
I’m still annoyed that I didn’t join your milky musk split, Springpansy!
Want my cut? Turns out it’s not my thing. Ping me at emc dawt 7117 in the land of gee-mail.
thanks! Maybe some of my “cuts” will work for you!
That worked out well!
Oh and a couple of fun things that I am really enjoying from the splitmeet: Jilted Elf and Guerlain SDV. All in all, I think this quarter went well for me, fragrance-wise.
Sounds like you got some winners in a fine and admirably circumspect way!
I brought the last gasps of my OJ Woman sample spray with me to Ireland. I am afraid it may become my next obsession.
It’s a worthy obsession, though. ;D
Below are the FBs acquired in Q4. Also bought a couple decants during the Splitmeet and the Twisted Lily Advent Calendar.
Guerlain Shalimar Millésime Vanilla Planifolia
Parfums de Nicolai Vanille Tonka
Parfums de Nicolai Ambre Cashmere Intense
Yves Rocher Nouveau Genre
Yves Rocher Autour de Minuit
Yves Rocher Cuir de Nuit
Yves Rocher My Vanilla Garden
B&BW Open Sky
Also giving myself credit for selling 19 bottles on evilBay this year…thank you and good night!?♀️
Nice job on selling. I need to do that as well. What was your final verdict on the Twisted Lily Advent Cal? It looked like a fun one. Did you enjoy it?
I did enjoy the calendar and am still working my way through it. I didn’t check the spoilers of what it contained beforehand which made it more exciting. It was on sale when I bought it around Black Friday and they included a Bestsellers sample pack too.
Nice! I’ll keep an eye out next year.
Dear Donatella and everyone else,
It was a low – average quarter for me. Even though I barely posted here, I did participate in some of the splits (Cuir Beluga, Baiser de Russie, and of course the Shalimar one) and bought two FB cheapie blind buys as stocking stuffers: D&G The one for husband (he likes it, I find it very “meh”), and Stella for older daughter (she likes it, but has perhaps not actually worn it. So she may just be very gracious).
I think that’s it, since all the samples I bought at ZGO last week don’t count! 🙂
Samples are expensive, but worth it!
Samples can, and have, prevented an expensive mistake on my part!
Donatella has no doubt been disappointed in me lately, but I did buy my first FB in a long time this past quarter, which was Slowdive. Other than that, I think only Cuir Beluga from the October splitmeet.
Vaguely resolving to not buy any perfume at all in 2022, but we’ll see.
Slowdive was on my “to buy” list and I kept watching the Hiram Green website like a hawk but ended up deciding that I should completely use up my sample first.
I’m waffling about Arbolé — on one hand, I have a decant from a generous NSTer that should get me through the year; on the other hand, what if Hiram Green decides to discontinue it?? Ugh, I can feel my resolution crumbling already…
stay on the mailing list and then maybe you’ll get a heads up if that happens?
He’s been good about notifying in advance if he discontinues something, so just sign up for his mailing list.
I think Donatella would give you a passing grade for choosing quality over quantity! ?
Just one FB this quarter – Fatih Sultan Mehmed from Fort and Manle. My mother gave it to me for my birthday, but as she gave me some money and I chose it and bought it, I think Donatella should know 🙂
I like this most scrupulous report – I might think the Lady D. is pleased! 😀
Congratulations! It is such a beautiful fragrance. I am torn between whether to get this or Harem Rose.
2021 saw many fragrant additions ChezMossy. Q4 fit right in:
1. L by Lolita Lempicka – the vintage adorable mermaid bottle
2. Charlie – a small vintage bottle
3. Alien Fusion – I got a sample first, even!
4. Luctor et Emergo edt – my split of the edp, which seems to be out of production, won’t last out this year, so I took advantage of LuckyScent’s restock of the edt.
5. La Vierge de Fer – kept hearing such good things – got the OG version
6. Vert Pivoine – a travel spray, but at 10ml I think it counts. This is my first test of the Histoires de Parfums line
7. Synthetic Jungle – Perfumed excess indeed – the smaller sizes were sold out, so Donatella is beaming over this one
8. Tauer Sundowner – Pixel says it best: this is supporting an artist
9. Estee Lauder Small Wonders coffret – this is so much fun if you are an EL Fan like me
10. Samsara Shine – another vintage I’d been eyeing for a long time AND another one I tested before buying
11. Scaasi – a vintage cheapie – never heard of it
12. Aura edp – only 30ml, Frag’net’s 37% off – isn’t that free?
I also bought sample batches from Aftelier and LuckyScent, and the Tauer’s Secret Choice set along with my Sundowner. In closing, I want to say that I now understand the Tauer Phi love!
Just so happens that I tried Synthetic Jungle on skin today. Was the nicest of a whole bunch tried. Enjoy your bottle!
It is a winner – more subtle than its antecedents, and I don’t look for subtle; but when the floral notes bloom, it has my attention.
Yay for vintage Charlie and more Luctor et Emergo!
Alas that Mr. Mossy is not found of Charlie, but I spritz generously when working outdoors or running errands 😀 LeE – it lives up to its fame, IMHO, whether in edp or edt (but edp has more of a good thing, if a choice is offered).
Hi MossyBerry, Can I ask about #5 – Is OG Olivia Giacobetti and did she do one of the versions of La Vierge de Fer?
Oh I was thinking “OG” was short for “original version” – do not look to me to get online abbreviations, LOL. I think La Vierge is by Christopher Sheldrake. Also, I checked the batch code and my bottle is 2015, not 2013. I have not tested it yet, but I got from someone I’ve dealt with before so I am not worried. Hope this helps!
Thank you! I thought that might be what you meant 🙂
Ooooooooooh, do tell about the Samsara Shine!
+1 on this
It’s wonderful. It’s at E-b-u-know-where. My bottle is dated 2001 and it was new and sealed. The wonderful sandalwood of Samsara is there and I am not yet sure how to describe how it is different. Perhaps “sweeter and lighter” will give you the idea, but it is by no means a skin scent. Look for the lovely little travel sprays in the red case on line to test…money well spent for Samsara fans.
I was still in Acquisition Mode last quarter, with four new bottles.
PG Hyperessence Matale
PG Grand Siecle Cologne
Tauer Maghreb
Shalimar MVP (enabled by hajusuuri!)
2022 isn’t shaping up any better. My wishlist is long, and I already bought Sedona Sweet Grass (unsniffed, but it sounds perfect). Send help!
Sedona Sweet grass is a beauty
Good for you, getting the MVP! I don’t think you’ll regret that one.
For the first time in four years, I have bought exactly NOTHING this quarter. Perhaps having no sense of smell for at least 2/3 of the time and then a remote seaside holiday and busy work schedule for the rest of the time helped. Who knows? 😉 I came close the first quarter of 2019, but then caved and bought Chergui at the last minute.
Total for the year: $250
Congratulations on the nothing status.
I am quite sure that even Donatella does not expect you to buy perfume when you can’t smell, and pretty sure she likewise approves of remote seaside holidays 🙂
Happy New Year!
My damage list for the period
Size ML Designer Fragrance Name Concentration Retailer Purchase price Date of Purchase
100 Dior Dior Homme (B) Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 92.86 (Sun) Dec 26 – 2021
100 The Nue Co. Functional Fragrance Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 127.99 (Sun) Dec 19 – 2021
50 The Nue Co. Mind Energy Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 73.73 (Sun) Dec 19 – 2021
50 The Nue Co. Forest Lungs Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 73.73 (Sat) Dec 18 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Tubéreuse Nue Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 82.58 (Fri) Nov 19 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Fucking Fabulous Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Lost Cherry Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Noir de Noir Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Oud Wood Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Rose Prick Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Soleil Brûlant Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
10 Tom Ford White Suede Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 60.45 (Mon) Nov 15 – 2021
50 Tom Ford Ébène Fumé Eau De Parfum Sephora $ 231.65 (Sun) Nov 07 – 2021
125 John Varvatos Artisan Black (A) Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 47.24 (Thu) Nov 04 – 2021
125 John Varvatos Artisan Black (B) Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 47.24 (Thu) Nov 04 – 2021
100 Amouage Rose Incense Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 318.40 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Byredo Oud Immortel Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 185.51 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Byredo Palermo Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 177.39 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Byredo Rose Of No Man’s Land Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 200.36 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
60 Dior Sauvage Elixir Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 140.06 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Initio Parfums Privés Atomic Rose Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 221.91 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Nishane Shem Eau De Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 296.13 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
150 Paco Rabanne Phantom Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ 116.98 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Prada Luna Rossa Ocean Eau De Toilette Nordstrom $ 98.49 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
100 Versace L’homme (B) Eau De Toilette FragranceBuy.ca $ 27.43 (Sun) Oct 31 – 2021
75 Diptyque Paris Orphéon Eau De Parfum Nordstrom $ 207.07 (Sun) Oct 24 – 2021
100 Dior Dior Homme (A) Parfum FragranceBuy.ca $ 149.39 (Wed) Oct 20 – 2021
100 Byredo Rodeo Eau De Parfum Byredo.com $ 290.00 (Sun) Oct 17 – 2021
100 Byredo Bibliothèque Eau De Parfum OfferUp.com $ 170.00 (Sat) Oct 16 – 2021
100 Byredo La Tulipe Eau De Parfum MaxAroma $ 198.33 (Sun) Oct 03 – 2021
100 Byredo Mojave Ghost Eau De Parfum MaxAroma $ 202.34 (Sun) Oct 03 – 2021
100 Byredo Super Cedar Eau De Parfum MaxAroma $ 194.33 (Sun) Oct 03 – 2021
100 Amouage Reflection 45 Man Extrait de Parfum Amouage $ 500.00 (Sat) Oct 02 – 2021
wow, thats an impressive list, i hope you enjoy it!
Impressive list of Tom Ford scents.
So many I’ve never sniffed: to pick one, did the TF Ébène Fumé have that certain frisson for you – and lots of sillage? Don’t call me a TF fan, but that one sounded like one I’d like.
Gadzooks! ?
I could never ever create a list like this. I can barely remember this morning. Well done!
Wow! Will you be joining Donatella as a patron saint of perfumistas and fragheads?
I bought about 6-7 splits in the splitmeet, so I think all together that counts as one full bottle.
Sounds fair!
Oh Donatella,
i think you will be mad at me. I just bought two bottles this last quarter of the year!
Cleef and Arpels First EDT, a big bottle, because it was nearly as cheap as the smaller one, who could resist
Paloma Picasso EDT, a 30ml bottle, just. because it was cheap and to get free shipping
plus a decant of Rochas Femme (thankfully just a decant, its nice, but too fruity)
I think Paloma Picasso is one that, even reformulated, is a shining star.
Agreed! It’s a great perfume.
To celebrate surviving Year 2 of the Plague:
1) Delina split- Oh, wowzers. Simply lovely, a wee bit too sweet, but I see why the Internet loves this.
2) Cloud gift set – this comes with a shower gel and lotion, and I think’s wonderful!
3) Sunshine Mimosa: I plan on going to Palm Springs later on this winter, and I was able to snag the perfume & body mist at the year end sale!
I *didn’t* count my purchase of the Cloud body spray last month, which has to be a cheap&cheerful all-time winner.
Isn’t it so good? I got mine from Marshall’s! I love spraying in my hair- it’s not drying at all- and I just get this lovely waft all day! 🙂
I’ve been dreaming of Palm Springs!!! I hope you have an amazing trip.
It will be so good!
I spent less this quarter after using my windfall fun money the previous one:
Atelier des ors Larmes du desert 100ml £117.50 (my only regret buy, I find it smells just like TF Sahara Noir which I own)
Lush Shade 100ml £33.80
L’Occitane Osmanthus 75ml £21
Laura Mercier Eau Gourmande Vanille 50ml £20
Pierre Balmain Extatic Intense Gold 90ml £31.35
Vintage Cardin de Cardin extrait £30ml £29 (I already had a mini I fell in love with)Franck Boc,et Vanille 100ml £55 (I adore this citrussy vanilla)
Kenzo Amour Gold 50ml £33 (I never thought I would find it for such a reasonable price)
Berdoues Vanira Moorea 100ml £50
Ted Lapidus gift set 100ml EDP shower gel and body lotion £17
Amouage Dia 100ml £77
Guerlain AA Flora Rosa 100ml £25.50
Kilian Forbidden Games full tester £50ml £48 (it had been on my wish list for a long time)
Chanel Cuir de Russie 60/75ml £38 (continuing to acquire some Chanel Exclusifs)
Guerlain Vanilla MPV 50ml £60.05 (I caved in to the hype and was so pleased to still manage to find it at a discount)
some of those prices are awesome! For the Cuir de Russie – was that a split or used bottle? Ditto on Amouage Dia, which I am nearly out of and which I really like.
The CdR was a used bottle won on eBay, and the new Dia was from a nice seller I know there who accepted my offer. I’m in the UK where eBay is quite safe and affordable and doesn’t usually ship abroad because of post office regulations so that keeps prices down.
good point re. the prices! Maybe I’ll have to use my SIL as a “mule” for the UK ebay – I’ve been tempted to blind buy some Miller Harris and have it sent to her address but I’m not sure when we’ll actually see each other in person again. 🙁
I bought more bottles this quarter than I ever do, but I had a birthday in there, which we know doesn’t count.
1. Perris Monte Carlo Tubereuse Absolue
2. Parfumerie Generale Iris Oriental (partial bottle)
3. Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rose
4. ELdO Jasmin et Cigarette
The Nirvana Rose was a TJ Maxx find at $17, which pixel taught me means free. And the ELDO barely sneaked into the last days of 2021 thanks to the brand’s threat of discontinuing 30 ml bottles forever.
I love reading your lists!
Oh drat, I’ve posted in the wrong place!
Amouage Dia seems to have become scarce as of late, so nice find on that!
Oh, I didn’t know it had become rare, I had it on my list, I already have Gold, Journey and Opus III from Amouage and love them.
The vintage Cardin… is that Pierre Cardin?
Yes, and it was the first perfume he released.
I never knew about this! I have only ever seen the men’s Cologne.
As always, it’s absorbing to read about other people’s purchases. It was going to be quite modest this quarter: Atelier Trefle Pur and a travel spray of Lost Cherry. Just under the wire was a gift set of Prada Candy at the drugstore. A brief argument:
“But I already have Oud Bouquet!”
“The Prada gift set is 1/3 off!”
A friend had given me a partial bottle of Candy, which is when I noticed the similarity – but I sure used it up quicker than the Oud Bouquet, which is definitely on the Big Night Out side of things.
Did the Candy gift set come with body products, and if so, how are they?
A different drugstore had a Candy set with I think both a travel spray and lotion, but it sold out before Christmas. Mine had only the travel spray, but I consoled myself with the thought of the splendid savings…
🙂
I had the lotion once. It was a little thin, but very fragrant.
Thanks lillyjo!
Those sneaky, last-minute perfume purchases!
Quite! I found myself at the checkout before I knew what was happening…
My damage this quarter:
Minis and Decants:
Chanel Coromandel EDT 4ml mini
Chanel Coromandel EDP 4ml mini
Vintage Jovan Musk Oil 7.5ml
Amouage Epic Woman 5ml decant
Guerlain Neroli Outrenoir and Tonka Imperiale 5ml decants
Teo Cabanel Alahine 10ml decant
Guerlain Shalimar Millesime Vanilla Planifolia and Shalimar Philtre de Parfum 5ml decants
Guerlain Encense Mythique 5ml decant
Bottles:
Diptyque Essences Insensees Mimosa 2014 100ml bottle
L’Aromatica Daphne 50ml bottle
Bought on the last day of the year, but it’s for my partner so doesn’t count:
Eau d’Italie Baume du Doge 100ml
Excellent!
Baume du Doge! Nice.
Yes! I’d been eyeing it on a sales post on the Basenotes forum and figured I’d better not tempt fate for too long.
Unfortunately, some of my guy’s favorites are discontinued gems. Other than BdD, he also loves PdN Maharadjah and really enjoyed his decant of Tauer Lonesome Rider. He just uses one spray at a time so now hell be set for life with BdD!
Do you see a big difference between the EdP and EdT in Coromandel?
I did one comparison do far and didn’t notice a huge difference between the two minis. I will say though that the EDT I’ve had for years is very rich and concentrated. Since that’s what I’ve been used to, both the newer minis felt tame in comparison.
Gotcha.
I cannot bring myself to type out my excesses of the last quarter. Suffice to say the Guerlain Panic of 2021 caused massive damage to an otherwise pretty thrifty year. Nearly all of those were backup bottles so I am set for the next three lifetimes.
However, I did buy a few new things I’m loving:
Guerlain Rose Cherie and Santal Pao Rosa
Guerlain Quand Vient la Pluie
Guerlain LPRN Nectar
Guerlain Bouquet de Paris
Slumberhouse Mond
Les Indemodables Ambre Supreme
“Guerlain Panic” twins, but that was Q3 so nothing to see here! But do we wish we had not gotten 75mls (guessing here for you) of Cruel Gardenia or Iris Torrefie or Cuir Beluga or ??? I think not!
Oh, no regrets, other than painful credit card bills. But you’re right, the only Guerlain purchases for Q4 were the Shalimar Vanille Planifolia which I forgot to mention and the 3 from the list above (not including the first line). My guilty conscience made me think it was more recent.
Santal Pao Rosa is lovely! I have a sample that worked beautifully as a “Keeping calm around the in-laws for Thanksgiving” perfume.
Oh man, I may need to check it out if it has those powers!
Seriously. I had a massive stress dream about my *ex* mother-in-law last night — if I can spray something to keep that from happening again, I’m in!
We all need those keep calm and make pumpkin pie perfumes. ?
Great list! Where on earth did you find Quand Vient la Pluie?
I had to enlist the help of a mule to bring it back from Brussels for me. 🙂
Now I am getting curious! Can you by any chance elaborate more?
Currently Quand Vient la Pluie is available exclusively at the Guerlain Brussels boutique. If you can find someone to buy it and ship it or bring it to you, it is available now.
Thanks cazaubon?!
Forgive me Donatella, because I did not sinned enough last year to please you!
My purchases this quarter:
1. Guerlain Encense Mythique D’Orient- 125ml bottle (kept partial bottle after the last splitmeet).
2. Dame Perfumery Chocolate Man- 100ml bottle (kept partial bottle after the last splitmeet).
3. Tom Ford Lost Cherry- 10ml travel size bottle.
4. Lush Jilted Elf- 20ml decant.
5. L’Artisan 25 Obscuratio- 5ml decant.
Yay for travel sizes!
Those are the best!
Yes indeed, even if many of us are not, in fact, travelling at the moment.
They compensate for not traveling! ?
Plus you get kudos for being so kind as to host a split! That’s very good quarter, I’d say.
It wasn’t bad, but still I would like to get less. Not really sure I can commit to that! ?
I ended 2021 with a bang, not a whimper! I had a whopping (for me) 5 bottles this time. I’m pretty sure that some of it was grief shopping. At least one of the bottles was a new perfume love that I fell for, hard. But two of these were blind buys…
1. FM Alber Elbaz Superstitious EdP travel spray, 10mL — $83.17
2. Chanel No. 5 L’Eau EdT, 35mL — $76.77
3. Jean Patou Adieu Sagesse EdP Collection Heritage, 100mL — $90.99
4. Agent Provocateur EdP, 30mL — $37.94
5. Jean Patou Colony EdP Collection Heritage, 100mL — $87.54
Total = $376.41. Farewell wisdom indeed!
Not adding up my 2021 annual total… I *will* get sticker shock!
I won’t add my yearly total either.
At least there isn’t a comma! ?
Ha 😉
I checked my yearly total last night and it was pretty scary!
After doing a bit of preliminary math, it seems that my annual total isn’t as bad as I feared. But it isn’t going in the right direction, either!
I was surprised by my 2021 total; but I’m going to enjoy my new treasures and maybe plan a bit better this year. Maybe.
2021 is gone, so better forget about those old perfume expenses and focus in the new ones! ?
Don’t feel guilty, enjoy your purchases.
I love the Alber Elbaz too, and it might have been your mention elsewhere about AP that made me pick up a little set of AP miniatures in November (2 of the original and 2 flankers), forgot to tell Donatella but oh the AP original is so good, so thank you!
Those Jean Patou Heritage fragrances are great!
Only one in Q4, a bottle of goutal chat perche for $40!! Who could resist?
Who, indeed? Great purchase!
I was more active than normal this quarter (made up for the whole year).
Shalimar MVP (thank you ShopFrance!)
Black Opium Extreme 100 ml (how am I ever going to use this up?)
BBW Bonfire Bash fragrance mist (ebay)
BBW Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte fragrance mist (semi-annual sale)
BBW Moonlight Path shower gel x 4 (semi-annual sale, glad this one is un-retired)
Serge Lutens Chergui (managed to find one in old-style bottle for a song at a site called YouFromMe, kind of like an online garage sale)
Serge Lutens Chergui (from Zabiva.com, new packaging despite the site showing old packaging. I am having very little luck contacting them to get a return authorization. Strongly considering returning via certified mail and contacting my credit card to withdraw payment from them).
Pretty good, as long as I can resolve the Chergui situation. Advice welcome!
I would return the bottle with return receipt requested (signature required) and do a chargeback on the CC. Keep all documentation on attempts to contact retailer to resolve the situation, they may ask for it.
I say dispute the charge ASAP as I am sure you have limited time to do it. You have tried to contact them and there’s no reason to be saddles with their lack of customer service.
I’ll most likely do this in a couple of days. I think their call center is in India. I got hold of them a little before 8:00 AM, but no answer later in the day. I’m going to try to call them first thing in the morning.
Ciao Donatella! Let me start by apologising for my rubbish memory-there is a lot that I want to forget about this last year but I have also lost track of my purchases (all new, no vintage, no fabulous bargains). What I have bought and worn with (memorable) pleasure, though, are:
Guerlain Shalimar MVP (online blind buy, totally fell for the hype and so glad I did)
Dior Diorella (elegant!)
Dior Eau Fraîche (have worn this a lot. Just so lovely)
FM Alber Elbaz Superstitious (10mls back up bottle as it’s so easy to wear)
Givenchy Eau Demoiselle (does anyone know this? It is widely available anywhere? Saw it at the discounter’s and swooped, as my mother wore it so well, but it must have been a short-lived release as even the sales assistants on Givenchy counters had no idea what I was asking for, the last time I looked for it…)
Chanel No 5 (yes that massive limited-edition bottle, just in time for Christmas)
Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme (30 mls, wish it was 100, I want a vat of this)
4711 Eau de Cologne
and finally
Robert Piguet Fracas edp (second Christmas gift to self) after trying it once and thinking about it non-stop for a week. Much friendlier than I was expecting! This is positively good natured! It’s also just plain lovely to wear.
I don’t know the Givenchy. Around here the brand is pretty scarce except for the new men’s Gentleman line.
Thanks Lillyjo! Yes that one gets promoted a lot here too, especially at airports, but mainly I’ve seen the newish L’Interdit and its flankers for the past few years
The Givenchy was a 2010 release, and they did do flankers but the last, so far as I know, was in 2017, so guessing it is kaput.
https://freebox.it.com/2013/03/13/eaudemoiselle-de-givenchy-fragrance-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I think these were the last of the flankers:
https://freebox.it.com/2017/07/14/givenchy-eaudemoiselle-couture-collection-new-perfumes/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
And this one looked good:
https://freebox.it.com/2017/02/02/givenchy-eaudemoiselle-essence-des-palais-new-perfume/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Awesome, thanks Robin! ?
I’ve got my eye on Diorella for 2022! Thanks for mentioning your impression.
You’re welcome! I bought it after seeing it mentioned here by Sistine I think…so thank you Sistine!
I was very close to having a zero purchase quarter. The Sephora sale on top of sale got me. I purchased a 50ml bottle of Prada Candy Night. I’ve wanted this for awhile and have been stalking it for discounts. I had ten dollars in points so the total was $29 and change.
Great deal! 🙂 I think that qualifies as perfumath free.
What cazaubon says!
Very impressive sale shopping! You go!
I felt a little guilty at first, but then I thought what else am I going to do with 30 dollars? Buy a gallon of gas and a pound of hamburger? ?
It’s cheaper to smell good nowadays!
I have thought this same thing – eat out at my favorite restaurant with dessert and/or wine or buy a new perfume = same thing!
Exactly!!
You can’t beat a deal like that with a stick!
That means you can bank $20 and if you’re generous, add another $50 since perfumath free is $100 ?.
Happy for you about that Candy Night, enjoy.
This quarter I bought:
Lord of Misrule – Lush (solid)
Sundowner decant
Dirty Violet travel spray – Heretic
Smudge travel spray – Heretic
I thought it was more, but checked dates and realized these were the only Q4 purchases. I was confused because it’s so hard to keep track of time now.
Yeah, Blursday is now 13 months long, isn’t it?
I couldn’t resist buying Maison Martin Margiela Replica Flower market after reading the book Cueilleur d’essences where the author talks about his travels to get the best raw materials, the suppliers etc. Amazing book !!
That was my only perfume buy in 2021.
Does the fragrance live up to the book?
yes , it does actually. Love it, it is exactly the smell of a flower market. Jasmine heaven.
Thank you for this-I haven’t really liked any of this range so far but it’s widely available so I am glad to know it’s worth trying. And thank you for the book recommendation too.
Thanks Hera!
4160Tuesdays – 6 x 30mL and 3 x 15mL
American Perfumer DSH Colorado (BUB)
American Perfumer Sarah Horowitz-Thran Tapestry
Ariana Grande Cloud 2.0
Chris Rusak Leaves My Body
Dior Sauvage Elixir
Diptyque Kyoto
Eau de Jane Eau de Jane
Eris Parfums Mxxx.
Guerlain Shalimar MVP (split remains)
Jo Malone Silver Birch & Lavender
L’Artisan Parfumeur 25 Obscuratio (split remains)
Lazarus Douvos Rose 1845
L’Occitane Neroli & Orchidee Eau Intense
Lush Jilted Elf (split remains)
Lush Perfumes x3
Puredistance No. 12
Slumberhouse Mond
Tauer Sundowner (split remains)
Tom Ford Eau de Vert Boheme
I may have forgotten some … not many
LOL at “not many”!
Ha! It’s better than saying etc. ?
Can you share how you like Kyoto? the bottle is lovely and I love just about all Diptyque
One of my favorites for 2021 – it’s sweet, berry-ish, earthy, incensy, woody and just a tiny bit of floral. It haunted me after sniffing it everytime I was at Saks to be told that it was out of stock. I finally decided to get it and ordered it from Harrod’s – same price given the lower price and having to pay shipping cost.
*cough* adventcalendars *cough*
They were perfumath free when you divide the total cost by the number of items ?
So many Sundowner purchases! I need to read through old threads to find out how everyone is liking it!
I don’t describe it well but here’s my bottle:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CV8mTrhpbL4/?utm_medium=copy_link
Another awe-inspiring list! And I love your support of the smaller perfume makers.
Thank you. I try!
I ended up picking up a few used gems: Parfum’s d’Empire Ambre Russe (older formulation) and Bruno Fazzolarri Corpse Reviver. Also picked up a couple of Sultan Pasha’s attars and The Rising Phoenix Shalimar homage attar. Pretty constrained and please with myself.
These all sound wonderful. I’ve tried Ambre Russe recently (a new bottle, bought it as a gift- I mean I used the store’s tester rather than opening the gift before giving it!) and it is gorgeous in its current form. I can only imagine how heady an older bottle is…enjoy!
I’m very late to this party! I *think* these are all fourth quarter, but I’m relying on my (very faulty) memory.
Damages:
-Shalimar MVP 50ml
-JM Myrrh and Tonka 50ml
-Alien Goddess 10ml (still waiting for me in Arizona)
-Tauer minis Sundowner and ACDD
-Montalé 25 Sampler each 3mls, so 75ml all together
That pretty spendy for a cheapskate like me..!
I can’t remember really what I bought and how much I spent.
What can I say? Except Donatella is a lot older now than that picture of her.
Silky Woods
Tauer Sundowner
Malle POAL and Une Rose
AdV Encens Japonais
Shalimar
L’artisan Tea for Two ( bub)
MM Petra
MM Russian Tea
Gallivant Bukhara
Gallivant Naples
Oh I gotta hear more about Encens Japonais.
Ditto re: Donatella being older and Encens Japonais!
Donatella is going to kick me out of the club if I don’t up my game! This quarter I bought a 5ml split of Shalimar MVP, which I am not counting as a bottle, so 0 for me. I have a Dusita sample set backordered but that will be for next quarter. There are a couple things I think I want, but my blind buy success rate is poor. Until I can sniff in person again I fear my purchases will be few.
My list for Donatella, I think I was very reasonable at the end of 2021:
Shalimar MVP: No regrets!! Possibly my best blind buy ever
CDG Incense Kyoto: a barely used bottle at a good price, I’m very happy to have a FB of this
Diptyque Kyoto: this might have been purchased in Q3, but I was very amused I bought two fragrances named Kyoto this year!
Travel sprays of Cartier La Panthere and Keiko Mecheri Oliban
Decants of several Guerlains and Alahine from the split meet
MVP was a blind buy for me as well and could not have been better.
Forgive me, Donatella, for my purchases are practically in the negative digits by your impressive standards. ??♀️ Make of them what you will:
• 3 FBs of Pacifica Persian Rose (There was a Pacifica email with an alert that the Persian Rose line was in the ‘Last Chance’ sale. Understandably, I panicked. Turns out they’re still selling the perfume now, but I got them all for half-off then, so definitely no regrets.)
• 1 small bottle of Red Moscow extrait, all the way from Russia. (I’m reading Karl Schlögel’s “The Scent of Empire: Chanel No 5 and Red Moscow”, so I need it for science!)
Also, there was a Black Friday purchase of 2 FBs of Narcisso Rodriguez For Her at 57% off. Now, it’s not supposed to count because it was a Christmas gift for me, using my mother’s credit card—but I did have the pleasure of making the purchase myself, so….☺️?
Oh my goodness, Red Moscow still exists?? I have a copy of that book, keep meaning to start it but keep getting distracted by other (short, frivolous) things. What is the extrait like?
I would love to hear the answer to this question, too!
It has just the right projection for me: I only wear a drop or two and can definitely smell it but not clear a room.? (I imagine the EDP would have a bigger sillage.) It seems to have good longevity too.
I can’t comment on how it smells compared to earlier versions. (In 2005 Victoria of BDJ said, “I had a chance to sample extrait de parfum, and it was sweeter and heavier on carnation paired with rose than I remember it to be.”)
It definitely has a classical-scent feel.
Thank you! Much appreciated.
I’m about to start “The Scent of Empire” too, it was a Christmas gift from a family member. I’m very excited about it!
Excellent gift! I’m not far along at all yet, but, as a big history nerd, I’m already digging it.
I’m a big history nerd too.
I only bought a decant of Cologne Por Le Soir this quarter. This was a low bottle year for me since we spent so much on moving.
Well Donatella, I continue to pay “tuition” and spend $ on “materials” for my “degree” in perfume with a “minor” in Olivia Giacobetti (who knew that her step-mother is Carole Bouquet?!). And there are blind “tests” which are part of the “education,” and our school motto is “La vie est courte mais précieuse.” Go Perfumistas!
4th Quarter Coursework highlights:
– L’Artisan Parfumeur Passage d’Enfer
– Costes
– Penhaligon’s Elixir
Jan Term will be an intensive, exclusively focused on Chanel Cuir de Russie…
LOL 🙂
And speaking of supplies, I’ve lost track of how many spice racks I own (thanks to you!) 🙂
Maybe I have to take that January class with you… 🙂
I hope you sign up – it would be great to take the class together! We can write compare and contrast papers re: EDT v. EDP 🙂
I actually had a decant of that famous Edt and it evaporated!
Oh no!
LOL, allo – that is *such* a good way to look at it! We can give ourselves research grants for certain special studies, etc.!
Oh yes, research grants…great idea!
Nice coursework. A+
Thank you!
Forgive me Donatella for shopping these in sales. On the other hand, none of them can be counted as support to small artisanal brands.
Guerlain MVP and Shalimar Souffle (the latter one was a drunk-buy that seemed like a good idea at the time)
Jo Malone Starlit Mandarin (damn you Persolaise), Orange Bitters, White Moss & Snowdrop
Despite selling more than 20 bottles last year, the bottle count increased by one in 2021.
full bottles:
Pierre Guillame- Alphaora
Parle Moi- Mile High
Eris -Green Spell
Phlur- Hanami
travel sprays:
BDK- GrisCharnel
Profummum- Confetto
Set of 6 Diptyque with Orpheon and Eau Capitale
Minis:
Tauer Rose de Khandahar and Sundowner
More than usual, but oh the grind of working from home alone for almost 2 years
Those Tauer minis are perfume-math free in terms of how cool they look and how wonderful they smell, might I suggest? 🙂
I am having a blast reading everyone’s purchase info for this past quarter/year. This was a big year for sample testing, especially my Histoires de Parfum sample set I received Hanukkah 2020. I bought nothing this quarter. For the year – HdP Ambrette 114 60 ml (I love that the bottle is cut in half) and Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk. I just got into doing a sample one day and something I already have the next. I tend to try a fragrance 4-5 times before I decide yay or nay. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and fragrant New Year!
I really like that half bottle design too!
I bought only Memo Paris Winter Palace, FB, discounted at FragranceNet. It was a splurge and a wish fulfillment, and you bet I decanted a travel spray of it to bring on my trip.
That is on list also. I just got myself another sample though to be “sure”. But then I heard it’s discontinued?
I think they are repackaging it / redesigning the bottle? But yes, it was the fear of discontinuation that led me to purchase.
Bon Voyage, including all the time you’re there! And shout out to FragranceNet. It is wonderful how often you can get something that’s discontinued from them, and still save!
my list.
It’s been a while since I commented on these polls, my purchases have been few lately! But this quarter I bought two full bottles:
FM Portrait of a Lady (and 10 ml Fleur de cassis)
Cartier La Panthere EDP 50 ml
Shalimar MVP sounds very interesting, is there a big difference compared to Shalimar Ode a la Vanille (I own the Madagaskar one)?
These are all beautiful perfumes, especially the Cassis! Regarding the Shalimar, I have the MVP and find it very vanilla, but not overwhelming or obtrusive. It’s a beautiful version of Shalimar without the gasoline edge (which I love also) but still, plenty of depth to it. I haven’t tried any of the other vanilla variations I’m afraid, but from trying all the Souffle de Shalimar range, there’s enough variation there to make me think the Shalimar vanilla range would be similarly wide-ranging.
Oh, Donatella…something came over me in the last two months of 2021, and I’d been doing pretty good up to that point. I forked over for Hermés Eau des Merveilles Bleue and L’Ombre des Merveilles – both blind buys, which I SWORE I’d never do again. I also bought a backup of Eau d’Hermés, because it was easily available (not always the case) and I live in fear of it being discontinued.
And the week before Christmas, I spontaneously sprayed a tester of Estée Lauder Knowing, felt the earth move under my feet, and bought a bottle on the spot with no regrets.
I’m still blaming COVID for all of this, by the way.
Knowing is beautiful!
It’s stunning! I didn’t expect to love it so much, as I assumed it was yet another old-school chypre thinned and pinched by reformulation. It’s emphatically *not* that.
Wow, I’ll have to try that!
Same thing happened to me with Knowing!
Happy New Year to all — I’m really enjoying reading everyone’s lists: such a wide range of choices! And what a great community this is, where people can vicariously and happily enjoy each other’s purchases of every kind of fragrance, and everything from bargain beauties to the most exclusive limited editions.
I was naughty this quarter, tempted by sales before, during, and after Christmas, but I haven’t kept a list. I’ve gotten so much joy from my stash of samples, to which some of you have kindly added — thank you! I may need a bigger DIY Advent calendar next year …
I ordered an an attar from KyaraZen’s commercial partner Kangiiten (in Singapore) in mid-December. The package now appears to be in transit at Charles DeGaulle Airports.
Called Kangii Attar, it was developed as an affordable, natural but vegan version of Al’ghaliyah attar.
IIRC, Ghaliyah attars are prepared annually to celebrate the end of Ramadan. They traditionally contain deer musk and ambergris, as well as oud, rose, sandalwood, and other luxurious ingredients.
I had a sample of KyaraZen’s Ghaliyah several years ago, which was fantastic, and I’m looking forward to trying this vegan version!
If your parcel is coming by FedEx, the same thing happened to mine. Hopefully your bottle shows up soon!
My parcel was stuck in the UK since early December for weeks then started to make a circuit through several countries. I just got mine yesterday.
So glad to hear yours arrived! There’s still hope!
I had a similar experience a few years ago with FedEx when I made the mistake of ordering something from Europe the week before Christmas. FedEx UK missent it to Australia instead of New York. FedEx in Australia couldn’t simply put it back on a plane at the airport. They had to clear it from Australian customs first (which was on holiday) and then resubmit it back through customs, with all the attendant paperwork. I did finally get my package, after it spent New Years in Australia, which is certainly what I would have done in its place. ?
I’m hoping for forgiveness as I have sinned. Not sure if these qualify in the count but I rescued a couple unloved bottles from the ‘bay’, so technically they aren’t new.
Lauren Ralph Lauren – vintage natural spray cologne (square bottle)
Poison edt – vintage and smells like the bottle I first had!
I’m sure rescues of unloved bottles count as good deeds! And what excellent choices!