Saturday Question: Where Do You Buy Fragrance?

/ AustralianPerfumeJunkies

.

Portia

.

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.

 

Over 100 responses I will draw a Secret Scent Sample Pack (from my collection)

Last Weeks Winner:

eMail me at (portia underscore turbo at yahoo dot com dot au) with your address please

Saturday Question: Where Do You Buy Fragrance?

SO MANY OPTIONS!

My Answer:

By far, the place I put down most of my money for fragrance is online. Me at home, usually in my pyjamas, on the computer reading blogs, FaceBook boards, sites and so much more. That often turns into sample purchase from Surrender To Chance which then will translate into an online purchase from City Perfume, Libertine Parfumerie, Peony Melbourne or First In Fragrance. There are also a list of wants that I keep my eyes peeled for in FB Sales Docs, at discounters and on sale.

My Saturday Question to you is:

Where Do You Buy Fragrance?

72 thoughts on “Saturday Question: Where Do You Buy Fragrance?”

  1. 99% of my fragrances are bought from the discounters online like FragranceNet, FragranceX, Ebay, etc. Only Chanel perfumes I buy directly from their online store. Decants and samples from Surrender to Chance, The Perfume Court, Scent Split and Lucky Scent.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I have almost the same answer as perfumelover67. Discounters, and directly from Chanel/Guerlain/Dior, and most recently Dame Perfume. I usually shop from home (my city doesn’t have any perfume boutiques only a few department stores with shrinking fragrance counters). I research where has the best price from home, often Fragrancenet, but I also purchase from Ebay, Twisted Lily, and Ave Parfum. Samples are from STC, Perfumed Court, and Luckyscent.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Mostly from reputable discounters online; some from Ebay (with caution); if an independent perfumer sells directly, I buy from that website. I love discovery sets, as I’m still educating my nose. I have a subscription to Scentbird, which I enjoy very much. I get very jealous when I see super discovery boxes like The Perfume Society’s monthly subscription in the UK, which isn’t available in the US!

    Like

  4. I have all the FBs and samples I could possibly need so I’m mainly interested in building many vintage collection through buying at op shops, flea markets and antique shops. The occasional super bargain through retail, or maybe online.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. 85% from eBay – I have a few trusted sellers I buy from, and I also take the odd risk😉 There are two online shops that sell decants from full bottles that I buy from regularly, both Europe based. My small town has zero perfumeries so I have to travel to the Capital to visit my favourite brick ‘n’ mortar shop, but it’s always worthwhile as the owner is so lovely and always generous with samples. I did score recently from my local pharmacy perfume counter, but that’s a rare occurrence for me.

    Like

  6. Fragrancenet, FragranceX, Perfume.com, First in Fragrance, Essenza Nobile, Twisted Lily, Fumerie, Indigo, American Perfumer, Tiger Lily, Luckyscent, TauerPerfumes.com, and Perfumology – that’s my US list. In Canada I buy from Fragrancebuy.com, Scentique, Nichessence.com, Etiket, Henriette L, and brick & mortar department or drug stores. I rarely buy on Ebay any more unless it’s from a seller I know and trust.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I think about 90% on-line, there are a few good on-line perfumeries here in the Lowlands (Parfumaria, Perfumelounge, Celeste), some mainstream perfumeries, ebay and the Dutch equivalent of it, and sometimes but rarely discounters. Also directly from Hiram Green, April Aromatics and Andy Tauer.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I’m in the Uk. I buy on line from All Beauty. Sometimes from The Fragrance Shop and The Perfume shop.I’m very wary of E bay .I’ve bought from Next and M&S.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. The majority of shopping also online: Fragrancebuy.ca (often in a group buy with others in the Vancouver area), Niche Essence when they have a sale – their bonus samples are very generous, and Luckyscent for samples. Fragrancenet recently added an extra fee, so haven’t bought for a while.

    That said, my most recent buy was in person, at Marija Pafum in Dublin. Will buy the occasional bottle at Hudson’s Bay if I can use points/there’s a sale, and Perfume Shoppe for a chat with Naz.

    Like

  10. I would guess at least a third of my shopping is done in shops abroad, by me or someone in my family. Then some is done online, but mainly from national shops due to all the added fees, non-refundable VAT (thinking of Strawberrynet and others), and import duties. I have become rather good at using different loyalty bonuses wisely!

    Finally, my favourite shopping is from niche perfumeries, when I can go there in person. Sadly, here’s not a wealth of such businesses. We also have few, if any, real discounters.

    Samples come from StC mainly, plus Aus Liebe zum Duft and up until recently, Tauer.

    Liked by 1 person

      • Andy didn’t stop making samples, but if I understand correctly the postal restrictions are tighter than before, so it is mainly to Germany and Austria he sends perfume samples, because what he sends go over land, not air, to those countries.

        Like

          • I’m lucky to have my stepmother’s family in Austria, so with some delay it will still be possible to get hold of Tauer samples and perfumes without many extra costs.

            Like

  11. Absolutely no perfume places in my rural neck of the woods! So unless i can make the occasional visit into NYC I buy most of my stuff online. Fragrancenet, fragrancex and very recently my first ebay purchase which was so successful that I bought backup bottles! I also will purchase directly from my favorite perfumers, St Clair Scents and 1000 Flowers.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I am in germany, so i buy from notino, parfumzentrum or look for deals on idealo.i buy decants from parfumo. Sometimes there are deals for used perfumes on kleiderkreisel, just bought a 30ml botles of MAdonna Truth or Dare for cheap….

    Like

  13. I buy most of my bottles and decants/samples from the Facebook buy/swap/sell groups. I used to buy more frequently from eBay, but I found most of the eBay decanters are also members of the Facebook groups so now I usually order through them outside of EBay. This works out cheaper for the seller and they can pass on the discount.
    There are no perfume retailers or Department Stores close to me, so I will always look to buy samples as a first step rather than blind buying full bottles.

    Like

    • Oh yes JD,
      I too love shopping on the FB Groups. Especially good deals to be found on bottles that may have hit the 5 year old mark that people just don’t reach for anymore and are looking to move on. It’s a good place for decants too because it means people can buy that ultra expensive bottle and defray some of the cost. Who needs more than 20ml in the end anyway?
      Portia xx

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Almost 100 percent online. There have been very very few instances of brick-and-mortar purchases over the last two decades that I would be surprised if they actually go in double digits. Even then they usually involved discounters such as TJMaxx. Ebay accounts for the bulk of my online purchases now. Very few purchases come from Facebook forums and even fewer from online discounters such as fragrancenet.

    Like

      • For everything because getting good deal is very important to me and I can be quite patient :). In case of vintages, ebay is almost an inevitable choice because as you might have noticed, most in the Facebook forums chase the latest so most sales concern those released in the last few years. The community of vintage lovers in FB forums is relatively small and those who do love vintage rarely part ways with their acquisitions. In contrast, ebay is full of people selling vintage perfumes who are not collectors themselves. They are usually disposing off estate finds or the leftover collection of their deceased family members/friends.

        Like

        • But the primary reason Ebay is my go-to-choice is because most of my purchases are vintage perfumes (even when the perfume is still in production, I aim for their original versions). I am now looking at my last three purchases on ebay and two of them are from last century. The only one from this century is an accidental win 😀 I was not really looking for it but I placed a bid because the starting bid was too low and it turns out, no one else bidded on it, lolz while other perfumes by the same seller got quite high winning bids.

          Liked by 1 person

  15. Most often i use Notino cause they have very good deals on many niche houses, also some other 2-3 online shops available in my country, but from time to time i’m also purchasing frags by some niche perfumeries like Beautik or Obsentum for a full experience 😁 (the only downside here are the augumented prices).

    Like

  16. I don‘t buy much. . Only online for Lutens (bell jars, but it‘s been years since I bought one ), and recently IUNX (ordered from them). Everything else in shops. I live where I can do that. Never looked at any of the sites that have been mentioned here. But I am interested to look. xxx

    Like

      • I’m waiting for a package now as it happens. Yeah – living where I live makes a huge difference. And knowing the perfume crew in Vienna too. Everything within arms’ reach.
        Sure, you can email IUNX – postage is fine for the travels but the huge heavy bottles ? Don’t ask. But the travels are gorgeous and I will collect them now. Stunning fragrances. And now I’m waiting for Giacobetti’s NARS perfume, Audacious. October launch. Bussi. ❤️

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Living in Chile nothing. The post service is notorious so the doubt anything would make it thorough is real and the stores just carry the basic celebrity and mainstream and even that is limited and very expensive. But there are some indie scents. And there are the home visits.

    Like

  18. Hi Portia, I mostly buy vintages from the Swedish Ebay called Tradera. Since it is not connected to the international Ebay, prices tend to be lower. Furthermore from Swedish FB groups and once in a while a new bottle, last one was Le Canotier from Rogue perfumes on Etsy.

    Like

  19. Direct where I can from indies (though ugh the customs/shipping combo can be nasty from the US), Bloom, ebay, and occasionally from euro retailers if that’s going to save me the import hit.

    Like

  20. Unless I am on travel for work, there is no opportunity for me to shop brick and mortar niche sellers–the closest is 450 miles. So mostly I order samples then wait for sales, and occasionally buy from the fb groups but only from someone trusted. I no longer purchase on ebay, I’ve been burned by fakes and scents that have turned.

    Like

  21. I buy mainly through the FB groups now. I love being able to buy decants of things that I would probably otherwise never try. It’s a great way to get hold of some treasures without having to spend a lot.
    I always snoop around at 2nd hand shops, markets, etc, but haven’t been lucky there, however, Gumtree has occasionally been a treasure trove!

    Like

  22. Mostly online. Mainstream came primarily from Fragrancenet, a few things from Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom. Luckyscent, Twisted Lily. Brands: Tauer, Chris Rusak; multiple places for discovery sets. On vacation, I get to shop live. London – Ormonde Jayne. Paris- Jovoy, Nicolai, Goutal, Fragonard. San Francisco: Chanel, Tigerlily.

    Like

  23. Ugh, so hard to get hold of anything here. Mecca or David Jones. Priceline a couple of times. I used to buy stuff from Singapore or Tokyo but that was ages ago. I don’t travel overseas anymore.

    Like

Comments are closed.