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Portia
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Hello Fellow Fumies,
At APJ we have a Saturday Question. Everyone gets to chime in with an answer, chat with other responders and it’s a fun event each week. Taking sides never means taking offence and everyone keeps it respectful and light, even though we can sometimes trawl the depths.
The idea is you’ll see it on the weekend or chime in through the week. Hopefully you will come back regularly and see if anyone has responded to your comment and you can reply to them. The aim is to generate real conversation and connection even though we are scattered around the globe.
Saturday Question: First Fragrant Purchase 2019?
Over 100 responses I will draw a Secret Scent Sample Pack (from my collection)
Last Weeks Winner: TaraC
eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with your address please
Saturday Question: First Fragrant Purchase 2019?
WOW! We are in 2019! It seems like we are living in a number from Sci-Fi books and TV. Now that I’ve dealt with that awesome prospect let’s talk fragrance.
Are you yearning towards a self gift? Did Santa and your friends and family bring you rubbish? Have you kept yourself nice through the Silly Shopping Season knowing there will be sales? Doesn’t have to be Fine Fragrance, it could be some incense, candles, ambient spray, bubble bath, body oil or even changing your clothes wash for a different scent in 2019
My Answer:
OK, my purchase happened late last year. First In Fragrance were having a 20% off after-Xmas sale. Who could resist? Certainly not me. I really wanted to splurge but know that January and February will be spent paying my Credit Cards down so I restrained myself to one bottle.
Parfumerie Générale – Limanakia No.27
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Artemisia, cumin, flint, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, tiare flower, immortelle, patchouli, woody notes, cashmere wood and labdanum
I just bought a back up of Divin Enfant this afternoon. It has been a while coming but it had to be done as my bottle is dwindling.
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Oooooh! I love the Etat Libre d’Orange line. So many gems hiding in there.
Portia xx
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like Secretions Magnifique 😉
One day a full bottle will be mine-LOL!
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Lucky you’re on the other side of the world so I’ll never be able to smell SM on you.
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Oh but saffy it actually smells good on me according to family and co workers. It,s a milky acquatic and quite tame.
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I’m curious and I’d really like to smell SM on you Brigitte.
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I asked my entire family and a co-worker who I trust to tell me the truth…they all said it smelled good and also laughed when I told them what it was and the back story.
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Something for everyone I think Portia xx
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I love ELDO- really all of their scents play well with me! I agree- had to be done!
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It did Jyotsna, I fell madly for it last year and have almost gone through a partial bottle at lightning speed.
Now it is time to save my pennies for a bit of a “splurge” bottle.
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wow…your first fragrance purchase sounds amazing! (btw, I loved the video that you did in the First in Fragrance store!!!! Your personality shines through on video…you should do more of these 🙂 !)
As you all know, I am on a no buy and would like to adhere to it for the entire year if I can….lots of expenses have come up and continue to come up so for now I am just shopping my collection and enjoying that.
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Hey Brigitte,
I have ZERO recollection of doing a video at FiF. Was it on here? I need to go looking for it.
Shopping your collection is the best idea ever.
On your inspiration I’ve been wearing and thinking stuff that’s sat here neglected for years.
Thank you.
Portia xx
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Oh crappa! This is what happens when I comment in the wee hours of the morning…It was City Perfumes…you were in their shop…and you are adorable 🙂
and yay to inspiring you to shop at home….you can enjoy your neglected lovelies and save loads of money too…win win in my book!
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HA! Yes, City Perfumes. I love doing videos for them. We do a few every couple of months, I think you can find them on their FB page, or maybe Insta?
Portia xx
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I am so behind the times…no FB account or Insta for me…which means the only way I can watch these is through whatever shows up on youtube…I STILL say that you need to do a few more youtubes…you have such a personality…I would certainly watch you!!!!
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Can you post the link, Brigitte? C’mon and share the love😉
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Thank you, great to see our fearless leader in action😉
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Thanks for the video. It’s lovely seeing Portia in motion 🙂
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and cassie made me do it!!!! (so don’t be mad at me Portia!)
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I take responsibility for everything 😀
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Thank you😘
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Isn’t Portia amazing? I keep saying more youtube videos!!!
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Absolutely. I second that!
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Did you see a Portia YouTube video?? Where?
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LOOK ABOVE marcella!
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Thanks for the link, Brigitte! Now I know what Portia’s Woo-hoo sounds like!
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Ha!!!
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and congrats to TaraC!!!!! only said it now because the name wasn’t listed this morning 🙂
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Are you from Austria?
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No,the States.
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Although now I am incredibly curious as to why you thought I might be from Austria 😉
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There was a blogger named Brigitte from Austria, if I recall the name correctly. Out of the blue, I was wondering if it is the blogger from Austria (i hope I am recalling her name correctly).
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Ah yes!!!!! Olfactoria (A/k/a Birgit)!!!! A beautiful Austrian, inside and out…Portia used to guest post on her blog, Olfactoria’s Travels.
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Yep, Birgit. I forgot the exact spelling 😦
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Now that was FUN! I’m referring to Portia’s video as there was no other place to comment. And the question is…..will we be getting more? I hope so!
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This conversation thread is all over the place it’s hysterical 🙂 🙂 🙂
I hope so too!
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I’m with you wholeheartedly Brigitte, although I doubt that I will keep the no buy till the end of the year. I’ll try to thunk one or two full bottles before I reach for a new one 😉
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I am really going to try to endeavor! I made it to March(??? I think???) last year without buying until y’all talked me into Gap Heaven and Reglisse Noire (however, these were two highly affordable FBs)….this year I will try to get to June!!!
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and I blame cassie and marcella for those purchases-LOL!
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Partial blame accepted for Reglisse Noire. But aren’t ya glad you did it? Come on now….you know you are!
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Yeah you for the Reglisse and Cassie for the Heaven…but honestly, I was so happy to have them both in my collection again…I have already planted the idea chez Marzipan that a new bottle of Reglisse would make a great birthday present 🙂 ….
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Ha😛 and you love us for it.
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Indeed I do , cassie!
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I don’t know, Brigitte, we can’t promise anything… 😉
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Hee hee
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Does it count that I ordered in 2018 but it arrived this week? Musc Ravageur.
There is nothing on my list for the near future and am enjoying what I have in my collection. This will obvs change as 2019 progresses!
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I LOVE MR JackieB, there are three bottles here bought from sales docs, all in various stages of near empty. What a fabulous fragrance.
Portia xx
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I am wearing MR today. Finally caved in and bought a travel spray last month. It’s lovely.
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Travel sprays are such a good idea. Mind you, at the rate I am going through it….
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They’re doing 30ml now too JackieB
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That’s one of my beloved scents. Nice work! Hey, was just thinking of you earlier. How’s the thesis going? Have you been able to map out and stick to a writing schedule?
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Doesn’t count and I too love Musc Ravageur ❤️
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My first of 2019 was a sealed, vintage purse spray of Vol de Nuit extrait that I found for an unbeatable price online. It arrived yesterday and it is EXQUISITE! But I’m going to turn my attention to “thunking” for a while, and shopping in my own cabinet. Also working to organize what I have, and keep better track of it, which I expect will also help reduce purchases!
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Wow! Nice! One day I will get my nose on Vol de Nuit…maybe next city trip to SFA.
and yes, keep on thunkin’
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Hey OH,
Was that the Cigarette Lighter Goldtone case? I have one of those, how freaking gorgeous are they?
Portia xx
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It is a blue and white tube-shaped case with a design like Dresden china, in the 1/4 oz. size. So pretty!
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Isn’t the case from the 70’s? If so you’re a lucky dog…I wore Shalimar in those years and the cologne itself set mirror images running down the walls, the extrait was sublime. A true treasure from Guerlain. I had Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue in Parfum and edc and edt. I only had Vol de Nuit in edt. Those were the vintages!
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Yes, Raiders of the Lost Scent’s website dates it to the period 1968-79. It seems to have survived intact because it was still sealed in its original boxes, inner and outer. I do feel lucky! I normally shy away from buying vintage scents.
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*swoon*
vintage Vol de Nuit is so bloody lovely, and that case is prrrrrretty.
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Vol de Nuit! Congratulations, it’s a magnificent perfume, and vintage extrait is amazing.
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You started the year off with a bang! I never come across deals on vintages 😒
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I’m in awe of it.
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First purchase of 2019 is in the books. And, I did it without violating the terms of my LOW BUY. A generous decant of Anubis.
It’s not a blind buy.
It’s not a full bottle.
It’s not a random sample that I have never tried before.
It was not an impulse buy. I waited until there was a discount at one of the decanter sites.
Incredibly mature of me, I’d say. This restraint is foreign to me and frankly, I’m not sure I like it 🤨
I’m even less sure it will last 😏
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Woo Hoo! Go you on your sensible-ness.
Congratulations Marcella, that’s a big deal.
Portia xx
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It’s never gonna last 😒
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Good work Marcella…you get an A+…keep at it!!! If I can keep at my daily exercise, no coffee, drink water, no sugar routine you can keep at a LOW BUY-LOL!
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Ya know, it’s your efforts that are spurring me on. I am kinda hoping that you have a little wobble somewhere along the way, so I can justify some silly buying. Not very nice of me, is it 😈. Ah well, we’ll see who crumbles first 😉
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Well my girlfriend sent me two tiny gum size packs of dark chocolate and told me to eat them cause they are healthy so I did 😈😈 does that constitute cheating? But I did drink four glasses of water, am eating steel cut oats for dinner and exercised this morning 😇😇
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Sh*t! No. Dark chocolate does not count. Damn I almost got a free pass for a sampling spree.
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Because you allowed my dark chocolate indulgence you get ONE free sample spree! But you must choose wisely!
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Really??? I get a sample spree because you had a bit of chocolate? Wonderful. And the choices will be well-considered. Scents that have been on my list for a while and that still leave me curious. Yippee!
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Yeah, I’m gonna cut you some slack 🙂 But choose wisely, my dear! No impulse buys!
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I’m pretty much on the same regimen, Brigitte. daily exercise, no coffee, no sugar, no white carby-treats (including no samosas), NO BUY. I drink lots of water – usually with lime,mint, pepper & cumin.
Happy to be the cheering squad for anyone who needs it! We can do eeet!!
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Thanks for the tidbit on the water…lime, mint, pepper and cumin sounds good 🙂
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I’m so impressed! You are a model of restraint!
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Early days OH, early days 😏
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I believe in positive reinforcement, lol!
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I love your “no buy” terms and will keep them in mind for myself. And you smell great with your new purchase of Anubis!
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Thanks Kathleen! The terms are doable, for sure. The big question that remains is do I really want to do them 🧐. And I can’t wait to receive the Anubis, I fell for that hard along with Dryad and Salome.
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The Papillons are gorgeous for sure. I fell for Salome and treasure my bottle.
Best wishes with maintaining your terms; they are very reasonable.
I must work on restraint with my impulse buys this year!
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Oh yes. Impulse buys. Another problem for me. Samples and impulse. Even worse, impulsive sample binges 😞
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The more you talk about Papillon, the more I want to order a sample set…sigh. And I’m on a NO buy.
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Lovely choice Portia! LOTV in Limanakia as well! I envy Old Herbaceous vintage Vol de Nuit! And Must Ravegeur and Anubis great purchases!
I plan to have more restraint with purchases this year and shop my armoire and enjoy my collection. However; I received a monetary Christmas gift from my workplace, enough to purchase a bottle of perfume, and I chose Dioramour. It is a blind buy (I’m hoping no regrets). It features powdery notes, iris, and jasmine, and is created by Francois Demachy.. Right up my alley and hopefully will be beautiful come spring. It should arrive any day now and I’m super excited.
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That sounds beautiful!
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A blind buy Kathleen? Those are strictly off the menu for me. I’ve had far too many duds. I hope you get lucky 🤞
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I know it! May have been impulsive, but after reading about Dioramour and the notes, I went for it. I’m generally pleased with the notes and Dior overall. I’m hoping I won’t be disappointed in the sillage and longevity,
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Please let us know! I’m hoping for a hit.
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Dioramour is really pretty Kathleen. It will be a good spritz and go frag, you will wear it often. Shimmery, soft focus and good longevity for a restrained sillage.
Portia xx
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Yay! You’ve sniffed and like Portia? Whew, good news for me! I haven’t met many Diors I don’t like so felt that it was a fairly safe buy. I’m so glad you mentioned longevity is good.
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That’s a bold thing to do Kathleen but I hope you will be happy in the end. Dioramour sounds like a beautiful perfume.
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This is my first reply and foray on APJ.
I purchased a bottle of Slumberous Sixes and Sevens, much to my delight.
Ross
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I am mad jelly of your sixes and sevens purchase (but buying from the US to the UK is troublesome at best, so I had to resist the urge in those few moments when it was available.) How are you finding it?
p.s. welcome!
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Absolutely lovely, but not suitable for the hot weather, so I will wait until cooler times to give it a full test. At the moment, my first impression is that it is well within the scope of other other Slumberhouse treasures, so obviously it is something I will enjoy great deal.
Thanks for replying, I appreciate it.
Ross
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Hey Ross, thanks for joining. I know men like wearings scents so it surprises me that not more comment here. Look forward to reading your comments!
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Tara, congrats on your win!
I haven’t ordered anything yet. There are a few items on my list which I’d mentioned before (Bois d’encens, Cologne du 68, Rose Amazone, Hiris and a couple more) but I think I’ll wait ’til I feel excited about getting a new bottle. Plus, I need to empty at least a handful of my samples and decants.
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Good for you…empty first, then replenish 🙂
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Brigitte, it’s only January 6 🙂 I’m not entirely sure this state of mind won’t morph into “treat yourself!” mode by mid-January. In fact, I can predict it happening.
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Right behind you! This carefully considered and rational attitude towards acquiring scents is not gonna last. I’m aiming to make it at least through January.
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One day at a time 😉
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I hear ya! Just hope I keep listening.
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Marcella, I’ll just try to only buy the scents I REALLY want to wear, but then again, I promise nothing. I don’t get to buy so many nice things so I indulge in perfumes (mostly).
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I didn’t even make it to the end of the first week of January. I need an intervention ☺️
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😁😁😁
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Maybe give yourself a 3 month restraint period with a full bottle splurge at the end. That way you have something to look forward to and are not completely denying yourself?
Portia xx
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THIS 🙂
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No clue who this was meant for because this thread has a life of it’s own, but 3 months of caution followed by a loosening of the belt sounds good. Done.
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THIS was for what Portia said….breaking it into small increments and then a mini reward at the end.
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LOL Diana, that’s why we have our group to support us in dangerous times 😉 Don’t do it, at least not in January.
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But January is so long, lol!
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Portia, you were talking up LOTV, so I bought some Yves Rocher shower gel. I also got a discounted gift-pack of what I hope will be their less-cloying holiday scent…
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I just recently discovered Yves Rocher shower gels. I purchased many for a good price as gifts for the holidays, and saved a few for myself. I’ve tried the Vanilla Bourbon and Ylang Ylang, both wonderfully scented. Today I am trying the So Elixir Bois Sensual.
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I have a solid stash of those to use this year – bought several in France last summer during their annual sale. I’m guessing I can make it through all of 2019 with what is in my closet!
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🙂
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Sadly we don’t have any access to Yves Rocher in Australia, or if we do Portia could point me in their direction.
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LOVE Yves Rocher. Their shower stuff makes excellent BUBBLE BATHS!
Portia xx
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I will be trying a low/no buy for now. Lots of expenses coming up. It’s my birthday in a couple of weeks, maybe I’ll get some more perfume as a gift. X
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A gift from yourself? Those don’t count.
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Let us know if you do receive perfumed b’day gifts
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Woo Hoo! Birthdays are good for frag presents Matty.
Portia x
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I wish you luck with the birthday gifts, Matty.
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I hope you get exactly what you want for your birthday!
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I was buying like a lunatic last year, but then I lost my job Dec. 10. I haven’t bought one fragrance since then. Oh, wait, I did find Liz Taylor Gardenia for $3 at a thrift shop. That was my one purchase in December. This year, I have been blessed to be a part of two Round Robin groups, and my fragrance friends have sent me samples for Christmas. So, I have plenty new to sniff just not to own.
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Oh bummer, Gina. Wishing you that get another job soon. You are fortunate to have good friends to send you perfume.
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Boo for the job loss.
YATY for the frag friends. Sometimes a new sniff is a good mood turner when you’re feeling down.
Portia xx
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No/low buy for me as well. I plan to shop my stash and try to work through more samples and decants. If I thunk something and immediately miss it I may consider replacing but I’m going to hold off on anything new and just reorganize my perfume shelf to make sure I’m not missing anything.
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Seems 2019 is the year to ‘shop from home’
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LOL, imagine our biggest savings accounts if we could all pull off the “no buy and shop from home!”
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Sounds like an excellent plan MMKinPA,
Portia xx
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I have this vague idea of not paying for any perfume this year. I have swopped an original bottle of MdO Vanille for an original bottle Dries Van Noten. And B.londeswunder have me the rest of her old,bottle of Guerlian’s Gourmand Coquin as she got a new one. Does all that count? The reformulation of MR is better than the original imo. Hugs. xxxxx
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*has given me
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I love Dries von Noten. It should be more popular among Malle’s offerings.
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Reformulatiom has a lot more patchouli. I have and wear it a lot. But am SOOOOO excited to get an earlier version.
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what???????? it was reformulated… I didn’t know that. Now I need to treasure my bottle even more. Having more patchouli does not make sense to me because the original was this ‘custardy’ creation. Does not patchouli kind of ruin the original vibe?
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Oh wow! Agree whole-heartedly on the MR reformulation!! I thought that I was the only person in the perfume universe that felt this way.
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Great idea on swapping Val.
The older MR is richer and funkier. Smells more like animals were used in the making of the scent, I don’t think they were though. That could also be the effect of oxygenation in bottle too.
Portia xx
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Gulp. I am on a no-buy, but busted 5 days in. I saw a 50ml of Nomade for $50 at my local Chem Warehouse. The only one and at a price I might never find again. Back up done, though.
I have rethought my no-buy plans. To be realistic, I am going to set myself 12 bottles of absolute love niches. One a month. Preferably used, to help mitigate the expense. And I plan to sell a few bottles a month to bring the cost down a bit more.
So, no more shower/bath products too.
In short, I am looking at Le Maroc or another of these flankers by Tauer. Been after it for 2 years.
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That’s a perfect plan😃
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I kind of feel guilty; as if I am weazling out of being strict on myself. We’ll see. 😉
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No no Kate! Whatever works for you!
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Nomade! I must find some to sniff, it sounds like something I’d like. Congrats on your new bottle, bargains like this can’t be missed.
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Thanks, Diana. Could not let it go by.
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Same here. Whatever I do buy has to be a total ‘can’t live without it’. And I’ve added no sample buying. That’s gonna be a toughie.
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Marcella, we can, and WILL. We got each other’s backs here. 💪
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Ok. But if you fall off the wagon, can I please, please fall off too?
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Lol. Let’s take each day as it comes. X
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Oh there will be sample -buying in your future, Marcella!! Perhaps not immediately, but it will happen!
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Yup. I think you’re right Saffy. I only hope they’re ones that I’ve been meaning to try. At the very least I could manage that?
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But but…how do you know you can’t live without it if you haven’t bought a sample? For testing on skin?
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I’m talking about the ‘weird’ samples. The kind you buy because one lunatic on Fragrantica said it smells like Gawd himself and seven thousand angels made it.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Kate, I don’t want to encourage a purchase; however, Le Maroc is stunning. It’s one of the most complimented perfumes I wear. And it’s longevity is great.
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Kathleen, it IS gorgeous. I think it will end up coming to live with me. Xx
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Selling a few and buying one per month will send you into negative perfume buying mode! Knockout plan.
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Makes much more sense, right?
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Cool idea Kate,
Do you troll the FB sales docs? I spend quite a lot of my time looking at them and have picked up some excellent fragrances at less than retail.
If you don’t do it already, don’t start. It’s a time stealer.
Portia xx
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If you don’t mind me saying so Portia, I’m going to be putting a lot of stuff onto the FB sales site in the near future, including some vintage gems. I’m trying to price it all very keenly so that people are getting a bargain. Maybe there is Something For Kate (sorry, couldn’t resist). I’d suggest that she puts her wish list on the site’s wanted to buy doc, and see what happens.
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Another reason why I dropped off the radar a bit. I have noticed the sales come when I am at work. By the time I see them, anything I want has gone. 😂😂😂 xx
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What’s this sales page? Not that I need to test my resolve even further but still..
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Portia is referring to a Facebook page called Australian Fragrance Network that has a file section. People wanting to sell/swap make a document and post that. Now and then members sell at mate’s rates, simply because of the shared love of fragrances.
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Tauer has a certain pull, I agree. Absolute loves are quite important. I like your plan.
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Thank you, Jyotsna. I really need to pull back this year. X
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It’s great that you know your limits Kate. Otherwise you’d be frustrated all the time. I wish you luck with the Tauers.
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Hey, Neva. I am actually kind of strict on myself. With nearly everything! Lol. I should loosen the strings.
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I had no intention of buying any perfume for a while, my cupboard is FULL! Then I got the news that HG Shangri La was being discontinued so had no choice but to order a back up. To my back up.
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Is it like fruitier mitsouko? that is the impression i get from online reviews…
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Your back was up against the wall. This purchase does not count!
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So true, no choice in this one. I love it so…it is in the same family as Mitsouko but I find it spicier and of course no Guerlinade which helps since me and the guerlinade just don’t seem to see eye to eye.
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Interesting you mentioned this. The Guerlinade, that so many people love, is the same for me as it is to you. We agree to disagree.
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HA! Excellent reasoning Gigi.
No judgement here love.
Portia xx
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HG is a genius so I think this is a wise buy. We would not want you to have huge regrets.
(PS The James Hilton novel is a very nice, if tad sentimental, read).
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I am on a no-buy, so I am going to see if I can swap for another decant of MdO Santal Nabataea, which I have worn several times but can’t make up my mind about. Since I have no first purchase to talk about, I will talk about my last purchase of 2018: Omnia Madera, which I forgot to list on my NST confession, but since it’s a backup bottle, it doesn’t count. :-). My husband loves it on me, and the Italian distributor is quite unreliable (I had to wait six months for them to restock last time).
And yay for me winning the sam0le pack, thanks Portia!
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Congratulations! If not for Portia, it would be so much harder to stick to no buy/low buy plans.
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Congratulations on your win. PPP on the way to you.
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Welcome TaraC.
I think it might be your first win ever. Took bloody long enough.
Portia xx
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Congratulations, Tara! Enjoy your swaps & discoveries.
I think I have omnia amethyste. Don’t wear it often. We’re talking the Bvlgari, right?
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Actually the brand name is Omnia and the perfume name is Madera. I bought it at Luckyscent. It’s a delicious caramel gourmand scent.
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oh lovely, Thanks!
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Congrats Tara. Just when you decided to go on a no buy, you got the samples from Portia. The universe is taking care of you 😉
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Omnia Madera is such a yummy and cozy scent! Congratulations on your win!
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I just checked my ebay to answer this question and my first purchase of the year is Shiseido Feminite Du Bois. It is a backup purchase as Shiseido FdB is absolutely one of the best ever perfumes I have smelled.
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That’s a great one, Fazal.
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It is weird so many of my favorite perfumes tend to have dominant notes I don’t like in general. FdB is quite heavy on cinnamon, a note I don’t really enjoy. Have you smelled Lutens Rousse? that is cinnamon-overdose and I don’t really like that.
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No, I’m not familiar with Rousse, doesn’t seem like my kind of perfume. I know what you mean, sometimes we love what we’re supposed to hate but let’s not forget that the list of notes unless it’s natural perfumery, is only a guideline, because most ingredients exist thanks to the laboratory synthesis. Even vanilla is not (usually) made of vanilla 🙂
Can you actually smell cinnamon in FdB? I’ve never noticed the note in it but I’ve only got my bottle in the fall, maybe it needs summer heat to reveal this note.
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You know, the general perception of Shiseido fdb is that it has this plummy vibe. I think that perception biased me in viewing fdb as a plummy creation, too. But the last bottle I got, I took a long sniff of the bottle spray and it dawned on me that cinnamon is quite prominent, more than plum to my nose even those on fragrantica, more people have voted for plum as dominant note than cinnamon. In fact, when I detected cinnamon during my last sniff, I didn’t know feminite du bois has cinnamon note. I feel it is the combination of cinnamon and lot of cedar that gives that plummy vibe. On the contrary, Lutens Rousse is cinnamon overload and I struggled to detect other notes, at least from sniffing the bottle spray.
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even though on fragrantica****
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Thanks for the heads up, Fazal. Not all of SL frags agree with me (Arabie is the definition of “too much”) but even so, his works are definitely worth checking out.
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I am with you on Arabie. It gets so much love but I don’t like it either. Too much sweet dried fruits.
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Well done, Fazal? I so wish I had brought a few bottles of the Shiseido Fem du Bois before it was discontinued. What is the ballpark figure on ebay? Is the Lutens Fem du Bois still worth buying?
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I am sorry I cannot guide you on Lutens FdB. Maybe Portia can since she has Lutens FdB latest formula. Shiseido version does continue to become more and more expensive over time. I have noticed that the prices have about doubled over the last 3-4 years though some bottles sell for even more than that
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Saffy – I love the Lutens FdB! It is quite different but I don’t have the Shiseido anymore.And I would not chance buy it at crazy prices on ebay. I just don’t have that kind of luck.
Also I am a big wearer of Lutens fragrances- so maybe I’m biased. Most of their perfume smell great on me.
Diana just bought FdB so maybe she has some more to add.
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Saffy, my SL bottle was produced in 2012 so it’s not really new but I’ve compared it to Shiseido FdB and, honestly, I couldn’t see a big difference. There might be some if you look hard enough but who needs to, right? I love my Lutens version :).
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Good choice Fazal.
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Oh that is an absolutely dreamy perfume.
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Well hello all for 2019. Congrats on your win , Tara. Portia please don’t enter me in any of these draws ,until I get my email fixed… I will let you know!!
Anywhooo… I see a running theme amongst you all, and I have full admiration ie to only wear fragrances you already own and seek out only true bargains/ decants . I can say I don’t think I will be that well behaved lol!!!!! It is only Jan 6th and I’ve already purchased the following;
A bottle of Davidoff Sea Rose Caribbean Summer Edition from Myer a couple of different smelling hand sanitisers { Vanilla and Fig / Coconut} and a L’ Occitaine Lemon Verbena hand cream. When Sweet Fern reopens I will be using my Christmas voucher towards a back up of Le Chasse Aux Papilions.
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Heya Sally Anne,
Le Chasse Aux Papillons is so gorgeous. Great choice as your Xmas buy.
Portia xx
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Glad to see you, Saffy!
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2019 NO BUY HERE!! Bought nothing. Not planning to.
The Only Perfume on my wishlist –>if I can get Bel Respiro. I totally fell in love with it. Mel and JackieB have given me samples. If I win Lotto, then Talisman Osang will be added.
I too need to get a new job/contract(before the govt goes into caretaker mode and all project spending is frozen). My friends have gifted me with a year-long art class so I am saving up for art supplies.
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We’ll be here encouraging you all the way Jyotsna,
Good luck. I hope someone reads your Bel Respiro wish and sends you a GALLON!
Portia xx
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Thank you, Portia!!! And Greg (I’m certain I read a comment from you too but it has vanished!)
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We’ll keep supporting each other on the no buy, Jyotsna. I know how it feels…not pleasant nor easy. I hope you’ll get Bel Respiro soon enough.
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I hope a perfume fairy sends you some of bel Respiro!
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Thank you, lovely friends 🙂
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Bit of a boring answer from me. I’m actually trying to reduce my collection, so I’m not planning on any purchases right now. That’s not to say that there won’t be impulse purchases or op shops finds, because I’m sure that there will be.
My first “fragrant” purchase this year will be pre-shave oil. I was using the Art of Shaving oil, and have just emptied the bottle. I had this on my Christmas wish list, but no luck. My original thought was to get the Santa Maria Novella, but I read a lot of reviews saying it wasn’t worth the money, so I passed. Instead I bought the e-Shave Verbena Lime and, in addition, the Cella pre-shave gel. I don’t know much about the latter and the only comment I’ve seen is that it has a cologne style smell. I decided to buy both the oil and the gel to compare the two, while still spending less than on the SMN.
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Not boring at all Greg! It’s fun you can choose from various scent and formulations of skin care for shaving.
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I bought two little minis of Midnight Poison cos I dont think I need a FB. I am going to control my buying in 2019 but I have my eyes on Dryad and the new one. I am going to be good this year, I promise :p
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Bought late Dec from STC (discount, forget what) and arrived yesterday, Ylang Ylang beginners sample of three (Parfums DelRae’s Debut, Tom Ford’s Black Orchid and Patou’s Joy which I last smelled before the Boer War…and hated, and Linden blossom sample (Jo Malone French Lime Blossom, Serge Lutens’ Fleurs de Citronnier and L’Artisan’s La Chasse au Papillons), should have been four but apparently Ormonde Jayne was out of stock, got a whole $3 back. Want to get samples of Neela Vermeire’s Niral and Hermes Cedre de Sambac, can’t find them available in the same place – anyone know where to find these two?
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You can get a sample of Neela Vermeire’s Niral at Luckyscent for $6. I’ve only seen Hermes Cedre de Sambac bottles on the Hermes site. I’d also love to know if samples are available elsewhere as I’ve been curious as well.
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I think Surrender to Chance has the Hermes Cedre de Sambac. Was keen to get both perfumes at the same time to save on postage!
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Good to know. Thank you!
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Maybe Surrender to Chance?
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I bought Vanille d´Iris by Ormonde Jayne as a decant last year, but was delivered this year, so maybe this counts…. Having my eyes on a FB of PG Felanilla and maybe some Bulgari Black, before it discontinues completely from the market. At the moment its cheap ….
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Get the Black now because it’s practically free…once it becomes harder to source the price will skyrocket!
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Just five minutes ago was my actual first purchase, a vintage Miss Dior edt. I can now go crazy spraying it on before the Parfum. I’ve been trying to score a bottle for a while but kept missing out or being outbid. So Happy Women’s Christmas to me (that’s what it’s called here in Irl).
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Oops, I forgot the decant of Atelier Café Tuberosa I bought a few days ago😉 Old Woman Memory Syndrome strikes again!
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Ha ha!
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Great to find something you’ve been wanting for so long! Happy Women’s Christmas to you 🙂
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Thank you, Neva, having a lovely day.
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Congrats on your purchase, Cassie! What bottle did you get, a splash or with a spray?
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It’s the atomiser bottle like Portia’s. I would be dubious about buying vintage splash as they may spoil much faster. Plus I may feel a bit ick about them😉
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I love the juice in that spray bottle, it’s full bodied.
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Wohoo ☺️
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Yeah, a used splash is definitely queasy-making. Other peoples’s dead skin cells and who knows what else. There. I’m pretty sure I’ve now turned everyone off of buying vintage splashes 😈 . Just supporting the no buy efforts 😏
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LOL Marcella, nothing in the world can turn me off once I decide on buying a vintage perfume 😀
The bigger problem is that almost nothing smells like it used to anymore…
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It’s true! I have several vintages (all spray, I should add ). and while they’re gorgeous and I love them, they just don’t smell the same!? They’re definitely not off, so I’m guessing some of the notes just haven’t survived.
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Those are my thoughts exactly. Makes my skin crawl a bit😬
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Like sharing a hairbrush. Yuck.
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You’re a national treasure 😂
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Always happy to help 😌😇
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😈😈😈😈
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The top notes of citrus will always be off…real citrus goes off…and this is why I don’t hunt down vintage… doesn’t smell the same as I remember.
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I updated my phone on Friday and my WordPress ac won’t keep me logged in so I’m not getting notifications so if anyone replies to me I’m not ignoring you! Damn software updates always cause havoc😡🤬
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I haven’t ordered it yet but probably Chris Rusak’s Io. A really lovely dry incense and earth and woods. It’s also a beautiful color, which really shouldn’t play into things, but what can you do?
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I am fairly certain that crikey is a fan of that one too.
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Yep! I’ve only got my bottle this week–it got held hostage at customs–but I am a big fan already. I was being a bit swoony about it over on new sniffs. (also, not sure if Chris still has this offer open, but check instagram because he was offering a free 15ml mini with a 50ml purchase on his stories the other day…)
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I just learned something new! For some strange reason I thought that Chris was a woman!
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Oh I missed that deal alas, but did get 20 off because I’d gotten samples I think. Mine is now on its way!
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Crikey – what’s Io like on you? Maybe you told us but I seem to have missed that post. Never heard of Chris Rusak until you mentioned him.
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I think it’s lovely! Hot earth and sticky pine sap and frankincense-tinged-not-barbecue smoke, and deep shade, and a little salty-warm-skin. It probably reads quite masculine in traditional terms. Lots of depth without feeling heavy–this has plenty of breathing space and air in it.
(Chris is a visual artist and artisan perfumer in California. He posts on NST sometimes which is where I first heard of his work.)
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Ha- twelve days into the New Year and I have successfully not bought anything. I haven’t even added stuff into online carts because that’s a slippery slope.
Twelve down. Just 351 to go!
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WOO HOO! Amazing!
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