Perfume Discontinuations: Grab them before they are gone

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

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Anne-Marie

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Hi all,

It’s a common thing in perfumista land that you only really start paying attention to a perfume when you hear rumours of discontinuation. You ignore it happily until suddenly you realise it could be too late. Then FOMO sets in – Fear of Missing Out. Oh no!

I got thinking about this recently when, after YEARS of dithering, I finally bought a bottle of Sarah Jessica Parker Covet. This one may have been discontinued some time ago and I’d decided not to bother until a chain of discount chemists in Australia suddenly started stocking it. Cheap – $20. I bought one, and no regrets. Lavender and chocolate; it should not work but it does.

Perfume Discontinuations

Grab them before they are gone

What else have I made a wild grab for, and what have I let go?

Covet FragranticaFragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mint, geranium leaves, Sicilian lemon, lavender, chocolate notes
Heart: Honeysuckle, magnolia, lily of the valley
Base: Cashmere wood, musk, vetiver, teak wood, amber

Perfume Discontinuations: The Ones I Grabbed

Sarah Jessica Parker Covet, as mentioned.

Bvlgari Black. Vanilla and fresh tyre rubber! I bought a back-up for my son to own and me to borrow.

Lancome Cuir de Lancome. . A cult leather. I bought mine while it still going for about $50.

Rochas Tocade. A laughing vanilla fragrance, this one is not discontinued as far as I know, just re-packaged. Re-packaging always makes the perfume enthusiast nervous, and I grabbed a bottle.

Yves Saint Laurent Y.  Same as for Tocade. It’s always worth grabbing a chypre if you think it’s under threat. It probably is.

Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Casablanca lily, Black locust, White carnation
Heart: Golden pollen, Gold dust, Violet leaf
Base: Amber, Indian patchouli, Resins

Perfume Discontinuations: The Ones I Let Go

If there’s a bottle out there with my name on it, someone else can have it.

Donna Karan Gold. This has been cheap at the discounters for years and you can still get it. I have tested it thoroughly and decided it’s not for me, but it is wonderful stuff. I’d rather leave a bottle available for someone who loves monster lily perfumes. I don’t, it seems.

Parfums de Nicolai Le Temps d’une Fete. I should love this green wonder but somehow it has never moved me. Anyway, I have YSL Y, as noted, so I’m happy.

Fendi Theorema. I have a decant but I just can’t get on board with Theorema. It’s too much of a gourmand for me. It can still be had I think, not sure of the prices.

Yves Saint Laurent Yvresse. Again, a re-packaging. I could have bought a 75 ml bottle this classic fruity chypre for $60 in the old packaging but I just don’t love it. My only regret is that prices on Yvresse are now so high I could easily have got my money back three times over if I had bought that bottle.

Fragrantica

Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Gardenia, Neroli, Tuberose
Heart: Benzoin, Jasmine, Lily
Base: Amber, Musk, Vanilla

Perfume Discontinuations: The One I Missed

Oh darn!

Madonna Truth or Dare. I tried TD Naked but didn’t like it much. The original was apparently not widely distributed in Australia and I decided not to bother. It was a wonderful white floral, I gather. I should have bought it when it was going cheap on Fragrancex.com but I didn’t. Now it’s gone. I’m stupid.

What about you? What are the ones that got away from you? Any regrets?
Keep spritzing everyone!

22 thoughts on “Perfume Discontinuations: Grab them before they are gone”

  2. Hey Anne-Marie,
    I have 7 bottles out of your list. Missing only Yvresse, Theorema and Tocade.
    The ones I’ve hoarded that are DCd and reformulated include Vol de Nuit and Mitsouko by Guerlain, Boucheron Trouble.Jacomo Silences, Niki de Saint Phalle, Caron Infini, Bal a versailles, Versace Blonde, Cacharel Liberté, original Fendi EdP and Miss Dior
    Yes, hoarder here
    Portia xx

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    • Tania Sanchez said The Guide: if you love something, buy it. Otherwise you will find yourself bidding on eBay against other poor fools who could have bought it and didn’t. Bitter advice. 😦

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  4. Donna Karan Black Cashmere in the pebble shaped bottle, I love it so much. I do have two bottles, one is a backup I bought that I’m now using and the other is from a swap. I wish I had grabbed extra ancillary products while they were available, the lotion was gorgeous. I am a big fan of DK Gold too, and that bottle is one of my favorites. Don’t wear it often but I’m glad I have it. Got a gift set with lotion for $12 on eBay a few years ago.

    I deeply regret not buying backups of Le Temps d’Une Fete, New York and Vie de Chateaux from the Nicolai line. Not sure why she keeps making “intense” versions of perfumes and discontinuing the originals, I never like them as well.

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    • Yes, that’s an odd strategy of Patricia de Nicolai. Glad you like Gold – I feel it deserves a dedicated following. It can still be had for prices that won’t force you to live on lentils for weeks. (Not that I have anything against lentils. 🙂 )

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  5. Ralph Rocks, a spicy boho orange that I loved was taken off the market. The original version of Escape for women was a fresh seaside breeze far better than any other fresh perfumes I tried. While they didn’t remove it, it was changed to an unrecognisable marigold garden. I have covet, it’s a strange soft herbal perfume, could easily have been a niche fragrance.

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    • Indeed it could! I haven’t tried the others you mention but how annoying that great, AFFORDABLE fragrances should suddenly disappear.

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  6. I have Bvlgari Black and Cuir de Lancome and suffer from FORO (fear of running out). I heard that Dzing! is to be discontinued, so I blind bought a bottle and so glad I did.

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    • Good for you! I admire Dzing! more than love it, but it’s so great when an original piece of work finds a happy home with someone who will appreciate it fully.

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  7. I just found out that the Mary Greenwell fragrances are being discontinued so frantically purchased 2 bottles of Plum. Love it…

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    • Plum’s prices are rising I think so grab it while you can, people! A generous perfume penpal sent me a sample of Plum. I didn’t quite love it, but it’s a wonderful fragrance.

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  8. I tested Madonna Truth or Dare, and TBH, I don’t think you’re missing out. It smells like a cheap, plastic, tacky, white floral “tuberose.” Not worth the money, even the cheapies on eBay.

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    • I understand what you mean though, even though I have not smelled Truth or Dare. Truth or Dare Naked struck me as a bit plasticky. Great idea poorly served by cheap materials was my takeaway from that one. I know Naked has its fans though.

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  9. Hi Anne-Marie, not sure if links are allowed here but you can still find ‘Madonna Truth or Dare’ for AUD $44 (75 ml edp)at Shop&SaveOnline.com.au – link here and in stock. (02 8814 8722)

    http://www.shopandsaveonline.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=8227&utm_source=myshopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Fragrance+Perfume&utm_term=Madonna+Truth+or+Dare+75ml+EDP+Spray+Women

    Portia is right – tastes so differ! My story behind this Madonna is that I actually ordered the Naked from them and was so upset they sent me the white bottle by mistake, and it didn’t suit. I resold it and they did not have Naked to send to me! You may still be in luck to obtain your bottle.

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  10. I have three bottles of Truth or Dare – I completely agree about Naked, it was no where near as good. But I can still get TOD for £15 on eBay UK – worth a try if ou are willing to pay international postage.

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    • Thanks Fliss! The really odd thing is that I could never find the original in Australia but the flanker was EVERYWHERE for a year or so. I kept thinking I was just at the shops at the wrong time to find Truth or Dare but looking back, I think someone made a decision not to distribute it here. Grrr …

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