We all mentioned more than once that we do not need more perfumes and that there are too many brands and perfumes to keep track. But since we’re still in this hobby, I assume somehow we come across information about new releases or perfumes new to us.
Saturday Question #194:
How Do You Learn About New Perfume Releases?
Do you read about them on blogs? Do you watch YouTube videos? Come across them on Instagram? Get newsletters? Visit stores? Some other way?
Bonus question: what was the last new perfume you learned about?
My Answer
Blogs used to be my main source of information. Recently, less and less people write about perfumes, so my sources of information is evenly spread between periodic visits to NST, direct emails from several brands I follow, random posts on Instagram and rare shopping (well, browsing) trips to Neiman Marcus.
The last new perfume I learned about was new (old) perfumes duo Amouage launched for their 40th anniversary – Cristal & Gold. I saw posts on Instagram. Sounds and looks great. But at $1,950 for 50 ml I will admire it from afar.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
I am hopelessly behind on new releases. I would say mostly IG these days, occasionally a YT video. I keep wanting to get back in the habit of a daily NST visit but my schedule has become so disjointed I usually forget. The only new things I have are a couple of perfumes from DSH (her email promoting her holiday sale sucked me in…) and a couple of Scent Trunk travelers – I like the price point for experimenting and they feature indie perfumers. But new perfumes from stores – haven’t bought one in ages!
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I’m also trying to get back into NST habit and fail. The fact that most of the conversations/activity is over by the time I’m done with morning meetings and have a break doesn’t help either. But I go through their New Perfumes tag from time to time.
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Probably a mixture of IG ads & posts, blogs, Fragrantica & online store emails.
As for an actual shop I haven’t been into a real shop for perfume since before Covid!
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For whatever reason I’ve never got a habit of reading anything on Fragrantica other than notes for specific perfumes.
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Mostly blogs and Fragrantica. I’m looking forward to trying Black Opium Over Red in the red bottle, as I liked Black Opium (but wasn’t tempted enough to buy it).
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I didn’t even know about that red bottle (case in point! :) ). It looks nice. If I don’t forget, I’ll try it when I see it.
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Blogs are still my favorite source–too bad they’re getting scarce. NST is my go-to (and the first one I discovered!). Also emails from brands, Luckyscent, etc. I am an old boomer whose only social media site is Facebook, so not so much there.
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NST was my first blog as well.
I rarely go to facebook these days, but from years ago I remember that there were many perfume-related groups. But they were either too chaotic or too slow, I’ve never found any to like more than blogs.
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Facebook, emails from houses I follow, NST and Basenotes
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For whatever reason, none of the sites/forums stayed with me. Fragrantica, Basebotes and Profumo (?) – I used them all for one reason or the other, but was never a loyal visitor.
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NST, brand emails, and just plain good old fashion sleuthing. I feature the month’s new releases on my own blog. It’s an easy reference for me and others.
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I’ll pay more attention to your monthly series!
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Oy! Blogs for sure (NST) but I am an equal opportunity reader so even Reddit counts! I am going on a low to no buy 2024 except for certain lines and I briefly, very briefly, considered not reading plogs (can I say I invented a new word for perfume blogs?) but abandoned that idea because the commenters are MY people! I just have to be more discerning in what I consider as what violates my limitations.
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I like “plog” (though my spellcheck tried to change it to “plot”). It will be interesting to know how well your no/low-buy goes. My, surprisingly, wasn’t that hard.
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Blogs, direct emails from Luckyscent, Ministry of Scent, and Fragrantica. Fragrantica generally has an article about new releases of any consequence (and sometimes those of little consequence!) so it’s my go to for information that I can’t find anywhere else.
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I should probably try reading that Fragrantica topic. Luckyscent and other niche stores are a good source, but since I’m trying to buy minimum samples, they are skewed too much towards perfumes that I can’t try in a store – that’s why I pay less attention to those emails.
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Hey Crew,
I love to read the highlights of the perfume conglomerate events like Patti and Esxence on blogs and the big perfume encyclopedia type sites.
Also, moderating two FB forums (one USA one Oz) and being part of a couple of other pages keeps the information humming.
Luckily, being a blogger also means I get invited to launches and seasonal events so that means I get to smell a lot as well.
Lastly, when I do purchase from the big multi-company sellers they will pop in a sample selection of their newest things to try. This is how I learned of my newest brand and bought the most astounding salty sea white floral creation Murice Imperiale by Cristian Cavagna.
Portia x
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I’m impressed by the breadth of your involvement in the world of perfumes. You’re the last of Mohicans! :)
Murice Imperiale by Cristian Cavagna – haven’t heard of either perfume or even brand. I’m so, so behind everything.
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HA! I like it, the last of the Mohicans.
Undina, we ALL feel that way. It’s impossible to keep up with. There are just too many of everything and every brand.
Murice Imperiale by Cristian Cavagna came as a GWP sample, and it took me a while to get to it, first sniff blew my mind. The great joy was that it was still available.
I would really like to go back to Esxence. On my own, with three days to just sniff and talk to the house creators. There’s no better way to get a feel for their brand and aims. It’s also good because there are a bunch of people I know and whose noses I admire that are good at steering my focus.
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Posts by other bloggers, mostly. Occasionally friends – increasingly IRL friends these days, haha, which shows how much of a back seat I have happily taken when it comes to keeping abreast of things on the perfume scene.
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The day my IRL friends would bring me news about perfumes would be when I turn in my proverbial perfumista card! :)
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