Early on in my career as a perfume addict, I made any number of buying-unsniffed blunders (my record was considerably worse than Kevin’s 2 out of 3), and eventually swore off the practice entirely. Well, almost entirely. I try. But at least once a year, I fall prey to uncontrollable, spur-of-the-moment yearnings. In 2006, I actually did a little worse than I’d remembered: I bought Hermès Elixir des Merveilles (didn’t like it, so swapped for a bottle of Eau des Merveilles) and a half-bottle of Sel de Vetiver by The Different Company (like it well enough, but not sure I would have purchased if I’d smelled it first). I might have even bought L’Artisan Dzongkha unsniffed, but I honestly can’t remember. Ah well, that one I love.

I thought I might make it through all of 2007 unscathed, but a few weeks ago I caved on a bottle of Encre Noire by Lalique…

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