Author: Undina

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Saturday Question: Do You “Blind Buy” Perfumes?

In the comments to the last week’s SQ post, several participants mentioned their intent to stop buying perfumes unsniffed. These days I rarely hear from perfumistas about regular “buys” – let alone blind ones. So, let’s talk.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #198:

Do You “Blind Buy” Perfumes?

Have you ever? If yes, how successful were those purchases?

My Answer

The first perfume, Chanel №19 Poudré, I bought unsniffed soon after its launch, before it became available in the US. As I wrote back then:

Do I regret my unsniffed purchase? I’m not sure. Yes and no. I will be using it from time to time, I do not dislike it. But I think should I have tested it in the store I would have bought Chanel №19 EdT instead. But it’s definitely not the worst outcome.

Since then, I did buy No 19 EdT (and extrait as well), and I do wear №19 Poudré from time to time. I would have been probably fine without it in my collection, but I do not plan to get rid of it either.

The second blind buy was a much bigger leap: I got the limited edition Armani Privé La Femme Bleue. I knew I wouldn’t be able to try it (it was a very limited edition), and I wanted it. So I got it with a help from a perfumista in the UK. Looking back, I think it was an insane idea: it was too expensive for that type of a gamble, and even back then my success rate with perfumes I tested wasn’t that great. I could afford it, but I shouldn’t have done it.

But it looks like I learned my lesson: even though I absolutely love La Femme Bleue, and I am glad that I bought it, in 12 years since then I have not bought a single bottle of perfume without testing it first.

Armani La Femme Bleue

How about you?

Do You “Blind Buy” Perfumes?

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Saturday Question: Are You Planning Any Perfume-related Projects This Year?

A brand-new year. Theoretically, January 1st isn’t much different from December 31st. But we tend to time new activities with other “beginnings,” and the beginning of a year is one of everybody’s favorite milestones for trying something different or starting new habits. We just read about Portia’s going back to the FB wardrobe (after a year of “thunking’ samples and decants). It made me curious about what the rest of my readers have in store for 2024.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #197:

Are You Planning Any Perfume-related Projects This Year?

I don’t want to call them “NY resolutions,” since most people have bad connotation with that term and tend to avoid making those (though, if you did make any perfume-related resolutions, please share). But maybe you have a vision about either your perfume usage, sampling approaches or purchasing plans. Or maybe you decided to study perfume-making. Or want to order a bespoke perfume. Or… Whatever plans that involve our shared hobby you have, tell us more about them!

My Answer

As I told you a month ago, I reused the 2022 Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent Calendar box for a self-made perfume advent calendar. It was a total success! I didn’t have to spend any time on a daily basis trying to decide what to wear. It was so liberating! I switch to a different perfume a couple of times during the month, but in general I gratefully followed the random assignment of the SOTD from the numbered box. So, now I am going to repeat the same experiment for this month (and the next, and the next, if it still works). I skipped the first 5 days of January because I had perfumes I wanted to wear, but now I plan to repeat that exercise with choosing 35-40 perfumes I think fit this month and my mood and randomly placing them in the numbered boxes. I will wear perfumes designated for each day, leaving myself an option to choose something else if I do not feel like wearing the one from the calendar.Rusty and Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent CalendarOther than that, this year I plan to stick to my “low-buy.” I will be getting some samples (it is hard to have a perfume blog without it), but unless I really love some perfume (or finish a decant and want more), I plan to stay away from FB purchases.

 

How about you?

Are You Planning Any Perfume-related Projects This Year?

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Happy New 2024 Year!

Dear friends and readers,

I’m glad I have this blog, which allows me to reach all of you to wish you the happiest new year.

For all of you who are content with what happened in 2023, I wish that 2024 would be at least as good. And for those who struggled, I hope 2024 will be kinder.

I hope to see you around next year.

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Saturday Question: What Perfumes Did You Wear The Most Often in 2023?

Since this year I tried less than 10 new releases, a Top N Perfumes of 2023 is out of question. From your responses to several of SQs, it looks like many of you are in a similar situation. So, let’s talk about our existing collections instead.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #196:

What Perfumes Did You Wear The Most Often in 2023?

I realize that many of you do not keep statistics, so the question is more about your perception. If you don’t know, tell us which of your favorites you think you wore the most. Name one, three, five – whatever you can think of.

My Answer

Knowing that many of my readers do not record their perfume use, I decided to guess my most worn perfumes. I came up with 7 perfumes. After that I ran a query in my database to find top 5 perfumes I wore in 2023. My guess was correct: the top 5 were among those that I selected initially:

  • Ormonde Jayne Ta’if
  • Giorgio Armani La Femme Bleue
  • Amouage Dia
  • Lancome Climat
  • Amouage Ubar

I am pleased with this result because in the beginning of the year I was thinking about not keeping my most favorite perfumes just for the most festive occasions. In total, I wore my top 5 perfumes for the whole month.

How about you?

What Perfumes Did You Wear The Most Often in 2023?

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Saturday Question: What Is Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink Smell?

With one of the “big” holidays approaching, even if Christmas isn’t “your” holiday, it’s hard not to catch at least some festive vibes. So I decided to come up with a question that would somewhat cover both celebrations (in general) and our mutual hobby.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #195:

What Is Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink Smell?

Regardless of whether you actually drink alcohol (and that particular drink) or not, you might still like how it smells. Would you like to have it in a perfume form? Do you have perfume with such a smell or note in your collection? Do you like it as a drink?

A bonus question for those who celebrate: what perfume will you wear to the main celebratory meal?

My Answer

I find it slightly ironic that periodically after I come up with a question for an SQ post, it takes me a while to figure out my answer. This question was one of those.

I realized that I like many scents related to alcoholic beverages. I’m not sure that I would want to smell like each of them, but I find at least several pleasant enough to be worth making them into perfume.

While I can’t choose the most favorite scent, let me pick one of them. Cognac. I realize that there are many different smells, and my choice is quite generic. But, on the other hand, it’s not more generic than “rose” or “leather.” So, cognac it is!

I have a perfume that is supposed to have this note, but I don’t think it really smells like that – so, I’ll leave it for the designated post I’ll do soon. But I tried another perfume that for my nose has a bouquet that reminds me of the scent I like in cognac. Frapin 1270. I used up my sample and still think I want more. So, I will get a travel bottle of it eventually. I like to have a several-sips-worth pour of a good cognac now and then, but it calls for a special state of mind, I never drink it casually.

I don’t know yet what perfume I’ll wear on Christmas Eve when we go to our friends’ house. It’s not because I haven’t decided yet but because I randomly chose one of my all-time favorites when creating this year’s perfume Advent Calendar, and I don’t know yet what it was.

Rusty and Cognac

How about you?

What Is Your Favorite Alcoholic Drink Smell?

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Saturday Question: How Do You Learn About New Perfume Releases?

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 on Undina's Looking Glass

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?

How Do You Learn About New Perfume Releases?

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Saturday Question: How Many People That You Know IRL Wear Perfumes?

Remembering the B&M fiasco, just to be on the safe side, IRL = “in real life” (as opposite to “on Internet,” or “online”).

 

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

 

Saturday Question #193:

How Many People That You Know in IRL Wear Perfumes?

Perfumistas only count if you know them independently from the common hobby. Family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and other “civilians” are the subject of this SQ.

My Answer

My parents and grandparents on both sides wore perfumes. My vSO from time to time allows me to spray him with perfume I choose from his collection, but I’m not sure if he would do it without my initiative. I could remember about 10 friends and 3-4 co-workers who were noticed wearing perfumes from time to time, but just one who would do it daily.

All-in-all, before I started thinking about it, I didn’t realize how limited my RL’s perfume circle was! It makes me especially appreciative of all of you who come here every week to share our perfumed loves, likes and nemeses. And adore Rusty.

Rusty

How about you?

 

How Many People That You Know in IRL Wear Perfumes?

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Saturday Question: Are You Doing Any Advent Calendars This Year? (2023 Edition)

I asked this question last year. But it was last year. And now we’re “all in” into the next holiday season. When did it happen?

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #192:

Are You Doing Any Advent Calendars This Year? (2023 Edition)

Perfume? Beauty? Chocolates? Drinks? Anything else?

My Answer

I created a self-made Perfume Advent Calendar in 2021, and it was fun. Last year, not being in the mood for preparations, I skipped it. But this year I decided that, mood or no mood, a small investment of time now would allow me to enjoy surprises daily and help with my recently developed choice paralysis issue. I made a list: perfumes that I definitely want to wear in December (for example, I never want to go through Winter Holidays without wearing Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles) and perfumes that I might wear. I printed and cut out both lists, added all “must” choices and randomly selected “might” ones to cover 31 days (why stop at 25, right?), and then, without looking, placed paper strips in the numbered boxes of the Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent Calendar (one of the three calendars that I enjoyed last year). Choices for December 25 through December 31 all went into box #25. Today’s perfume was Houbigant Quelques Fleurs Royale. If it weren’t for the Advent Calendar, would not have chosen to wear it today since it feels “too fancy” for grocery shopping I had on my “to-do” list. Having it decided for me, I enjoyed wearing it. So, my plan worked!

Houbigant Quelques Fleurs RoyaleThe above-mentioned Whittard of Chelsea Tea Advent Calendar was not bad, but it wasn’t spectacular, so I didn’t want to repeat it. But since I still liked the idea of having a different cup of tea every day, I decided to make my own. I bought several sets of teas from different brands and placed them in the box from last year’s Cult Beauty Advent Calendar that I redecorated slightly to hide the name (see the box on the right in the photo below). If anyone wonders: I couldn’t use the Whittard of Chelsea’s AC because those boxes were too small for tea that I got.

My Advent Calendars 2023Cult Beauty Advent Calendar was the best of the three: I got from it many products that I liked and used throughout the year. And together with the GWP that I received, it was a fantastic value. This August, I spent more time than I care to admit comparing different beauty Advent Calendars. I didn’t need one. But I wanted one. So, it had to be the best value (for me). My first choice was Space NK. I didn’t expect to get a discount, but I hoped to catch some promotion/GWP to make me feel better about paying full price. I waited and waited… until it was sold out. While I was thinking whether to take it as a sign and skip a beauty AC for this year or to go with one of the two “runner-ups” – Harrod’s and Cult Beauty – the latter, once again, offered a very tempting GWP. I was sold. I mean, I bought it – hence the second box in the picture above.

Today Rusty didn’t object to posing with the items I got from my two calendars. He was busy trying to chew the packets of Smith Tea Meadow.

Rusty and Day 1 of Advent Calendars 2023 Items

And for more pictures of Rusty, head over to my Instagram, where I started the traditional Advent CaTendar (count up to Rusty’s 15th Birthday on Christmas Eve).

 

How about you?

Are You Doing Any Advent Calendars This Year? (2023 Edition)

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Sunday Question: Did You Buy Anything Perfume-related During the “Black Friday” Month?

It could be just me, but it felt like this November was crazier than usual with all the “Early Black Friday sales,” “Black Friday specials” and other variations on the t0pic that appeared right after Halloween. I am sure that even those of my readers who live in other parts of the world got at least some exposure to the online manifestation of this favorite American pastime.

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #191:

Did You Buy Anything Perfume-related During the “Black Friday” Month?

A full bottle, travel spray or a decant on an especially good sale? A sample set you were eyeing? Some fancy candles or a room spray? Something else?

Bonus question: did you buy anything at all (not perfume-related)?

My Answer

Since I do not really need anything, and I am still in a “no-buy”/”low buy” mode, I wasn’t even looking at any perfume sites. So, no damage to my wallet. At least in this area.

As to everything else, I was quite boring: I bought mostly what I would have bought anyway, maybe not right now but in the next 2-4 weeks – a new tea kettle (mine is threatening to quit working any day now), bulk tea I always buy, new silk pillowcases and several products from The Ordinary. Speaking of The Ordinary: until the end of the month, they are having 23% off their already low prices, free shipping and, with the code SLOWMPES, a free Multi-Peptide Eye Serum (not affiliated). I like and use their Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. And this time I decided to try their new Soothing & Barrier Support Serum.

And I almost forgot: Rusty got a new heated bed.

Rusty's New Heated Bed

 

How about you?

Did You Buy Anything Perfume-related During the “Black Friday” Month?

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Saturday Question: Do You Have “Energizer Bunny” Perfumes In Your Collection?

A couple of SQs ago, alytike wrote about Radical Rose by Matiere Premiere: “The opening was a gorgeous plush rose vanilla. […] The spearmint chewing gum joined the party & these 3 notes stayed for days! I mean scrubbing & multiple baths/ showers. It just didn’t know when to quit!” And it reminded me of that commercial for the Energizer Bunny that keeps going and going and going…

Saturday Question on Undina's Looking Glass

Saturday Question #190:

Do You Have “Energizer Bunny” Perfumes In Your Collection?

It doesn’t matter whether you appreciate their tenacity or get tired of them—name the heroes (or culprits?)?

My Answer

Tauer Perfume’s L’Air du desert marocain, which I like, is so potent and tenacious that I have to decant it into a dab vial to apply just a tiny amount; otherwise, it overwhelms me. I think that this is how it should be worn. Or diluted to the EdT strength.

How about you?

Do You Have “Energizer Bunny” Perfumes In Your Collection?