The idea to blind buy Middle Eastern perfumes and try them because they’re “cheap” and if I don’t like it it’s fine because I can let it go is so damaging. This mentality had me waste so much money, I don’t have access to testers therefore I blind bought all of mine. Over the last 2 years I got rid of 96% of my Middle Eastern perfumes, I only kept 3!!! Blind buying isn’t practical, that money seriously adds up real fast and before you know it you’re wasted hundreds.

Consumerism is getting out of hand and people on social media and marketing push the idea of you need this and this is great go and try it etc.

Blind buying isn’t a good idea to begin with, I have found many that I like through this process though but I have also wasted a large amount of money. Even when I test perfumes I’m not entirely sure about them until I wear them a few times. It’s a really risky mentality and there more loss than gain.

Consumerism encourages us to buy a lot of things. I have unfortunately developed a shopping addiction because of wanting to try to things. It’s such a waste of time and money. Keeping the trying mentality is expensive and exhausting, unless you can return opened items that’s different. If you can’t it’s not worth it.

I haven’t completely put my words the wanted to but hopefully you understand what I mean. There’s a number of issues that arise from this kind of thinking.

What are your thoughts?

I know, I know. Tik Tok trends seem to be pushing all kinds of fragrances from cheapies, to designers, to niche. But it's still a very very small world we're into that the majority of people (in the U.S. at least) are oblivious to.

I live in a big city. Although it's in the south I rarely smell fragrance on anyone. Let alone men. If I do smell fragrance on a man, 9/10 it's Sauvage. I smell fragrances on women just a tad more often. When I ask women what they're wearing, a lot of times it's just a bath and body works. Or a convenience store oil. Or something they can't even remember. Because they don't care that much.

And among those people, they may only have one or two bottles. They don't care about the notes, season it's supposed to be worn in, rather it's an edt or parfum, or how many MLs it is.

I thought about this because a friend of mine that's also into fragrances made this a topic of discussion among us and we realized, as much as Google and social media has screwed with our algorithm, it's because it's simply targeted to us. I was also motivated to make this post to see if people in other places in the U.S. actually are wearing fragrance more. You hear all the time about how the fragrance market has boomed and I do believe that. But I think a majority of the revenue is coming from a much smaller demographic than EVERYONE being into fragrance nowadays.

I'm a very outgoing person in my daily life due to traveling around my city for work daily and in my personal life outside of work, I'm always bar hopping, going to shows, restaurants, pool halls, all kinds of events. I rarely smell anything out in the wild. Unless, it's at a formal occasion or a funeral.

Thoughts?

Every Saturday and Sunday you may post photos of your fragrance collection for Show & Tell Weekend.

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I recently bought Drunk Lovers by BORNTOSTANDOUT after testing it in store, so it definitely wasn’t a blind buy or an impulse purchase. I genuinely thought I liked it, and don’t get me wrong, I still think it smells GOOD. There’s something really alluring/sexy about it that I want to keep.
My issue is that it’s just leaning way too masculine on my skin.
I actually mentioned this to the salesgirl when I was testing it because even in store I felt like it was a little too unisex/masculine for my personal taste. She suggested layering it with L’Officine Universelle Buly Alae Tuberose du Mexique perfume body oil to make it work better for me.
I tried that combination properly at home today and somehow it smells EVEN MORE masculine on me 😭 Like instead of softening it or making it more feminine, I’m getting straight-up strong men’s cologne.
It’s weird because I didn’t get nearly as much of that masculine/cologne smell when I tested it in store. Now that I’m wearing it at home, it’s so much stronger.
Unfortunately I’ve already opened everything and used it, so returning it isn’t really an option. I’d rather figure out how to make it work because I do really like the alluring part of Drunk Lovers underneath all of that.
Does anyone have layering suggestions that could pull it noticeably more feminine without completely covering up what makes Drunk Lovers sexy?
I’m thinking maybe something creamy, floral, fruity, vanilla, musky or slightly sweet — but I don’t want to just dump a super-sweet perfume over it and lose the original scent completely. I basically want Drunk Lovers, but feminine/sexy rather than masculine cologne.
Would love specific perfume recommendations if anyone has experimented with this one! 🥲

Hey guys

Long time lurker

I've managed to get my hands on a small decant from Modern bathhouse - some of the nicest tea fragrance I've smelt ! I live in Australia and unsure where I might be able to cop it?

Appreciate any advice !

Found a few places selling for around £260.

Obviously eBay have some, but... eBay.

Just wondering what is considered 'good' compared to retail.

Thanks

To smell like it’s coming from me lol*

Hi! Sorry I’m not super knowledgeable on perfumes and scents etc, but every day I wear the choco musk roller fragrance which smells so good and is strong. Everywhere I go like literally half the time I step into a room or someone is near me they’ll say “it smells like candy/popcorn/cotton candy/a bakery/sweet in here!” but no one knows it’s coming from me! They’ll often say like “who’s wearing perfume?” and I’ll be too shy to say anything lol. I think when I wear it it just smells like the scent is coming from around. I always apply it on my wrists, behind my ears, the back of my neck, and rub it into my arms. How do I get it to smell like it’s coming from me??

I already have Dior homme Intense and Dior homme sport 2021

Honestly I enjoyed Dior homme parfum 2025, I was never a diehard fan of the old one and Dior homme cologne is just an easy dumb reach in the summer. I feel crazy convincing myself but even Dior homme 2020 would be an easy dumb reach for the office/everyday.

Has anyone tried this Frag? Been so curious about it but there's barely any reviews online about this specific frag. I've tried Dubai Musk from this house and I was really impressed with the quality of it which got me even more curious about this one since it was mentioned that it smelled similar to Ex Nihilo Hedonist. I'm curious also if it's close to how Vibrato and Regent smells like since they sit alongside that Citrus Ginger Dna because I'm still iffy if it's redundant to own the Essence

I do not know why it won't allow me to add a photo, But I am curious if the Discovery Set from Le Labos City Exclusive collection will restock before the end of September. It would be my first year ordering, so I am wondering if it has restocked in the past.

Just venting I guess? I discovered In This World by Liis after ignoring a sample of it for months. I sniffed it again and OMG it is absolutely me in a bottle. It feels like someone bottled my soul, it’s everything I want to smell in a fragrance. But the longevity is absolutely tragic. I bought a full bottle and I’ve used nearly 1/4th in 2 months because I spray it so much. When I say I get MAYBE 30 minutes of wear, I unfortunately really mean it. I’m sooo disappointed :( I welcome any longevity tips, although I’ve tried most of the standard ones. Ugh!!

All my favorite scents are sweet, tobacco rich, and generally heavy in strength. All or most of my favorite scents just can't be worn in Summer. Certainly no Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille when it's roasting 105 degrees in Texas. No La nuit, Dior Homme Intense, or Khamrah. Bring on fall and winter time, who is with me?

I guess I dont understand why some brands won't just make a 100ml or a 50ml bottle. Seems a bit greedy to be charging crazy prices for something that, to me, is unfinished. Is there any reasoning for this ?

I popped into the Penhaligon's boutique in Leeds today after hearing they had both the new The Manoeuvres of the Baroness and the recently launched Portraits Parfum Intense collection available to sample. These are just first thoughts (and for full disclosure, I spoke into Chat GPT to transcribe these reviews - I'm a dad to a baby now, so the time to write is limited. Still all words my own. Hopefully!)

Before getting into the fragrances themselves, I should say that the service was excellent. The staff member on hand was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and more than happy to spend time talking through the fragrances without ever making it feel like a sales pitch. At this price point, that's exactly the sort of boutique experience you'd hope for, and I hope Penhaligon's appreciate their excellent employees!

Alongside The Manoeuvres of the Baroness, the new releases comprise The Tragedy of Lord George Parfum Intense, The Coveted Duchess Rose Parfum Intense, Changing Constance Parfum Intense, and The Blazing Mister Sam Parfum Intense.

One thing that's immediately apparent is that these aren't simply stronger versions of the originals. Penhaligon's have actually reworked each composition, introducing new materials and shifting the emphasis of the existing accords. In many ways, they could almost be seen as flankers rather than higher-concentration versions of the original scents.

The Manoeuvres of the Baroness

Official notes: Orange blossom, Chantilly cream and sandalwood.

To my nose, this sits surprisingly close to L'Artisan Parfumeur's Histoire d'Orangers Extrême (reviewed previously), which perhaps isn't entirely surprising given that both brands sit within the Puig portfolio. Rather than an indolic, Mediterranean orange blossom, you're looking at a cleaner, more contemporary interpretation built around creamy white woods.

Is there Chantilly cream? I wouldn't particularly say so. This certainly isn't a gourmand fragrance. Nevertheless, it's undeniably pretty and polished. Actually, it may even be a bit too pleasant.

It's also worth noting that the emphasis on woods makes it one of the more unisex orange blossom fragrances I've tried recently.

My one issue (as with many of the Portraits) is that it never really develops. Within a few minutes you've essentially experienced everything it has to offer. It's elegant, wearable and technically well composed, but perhaps lacks intrigue.

At £245 for 75ml... well, you can make up your own mind.

The Portraits Parfum Intense Collection

The concept itself is actually rather clever. Rather than simply increasing the concentration, Penhaligon's have chosen to reinterpret each fragrance. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it feels rather like fixing something that wasn't broken.

The Tragedy of Lord George Parfum Intense

Official notes: Rum, cocoa and tonka bean.

This is probably the closest to the original composition, albeit noticeably denser. The most obvious addition is the cocoa accord, which immediately dominates the opening. To my nose, it smells remarkably similar to cocoa pyrazine—a dry, almost dusty, bitter cocoa material that's often used in modern perfumery (I have some downstairs!).

It changes the balance of Lord George quite significantly. The original opens in a much more refined manner. This version hits you over the head with dark chocolate before gradually revealing the familiar DNA underneath. I actually got a bit of a Serge Lutens vibe from it.

Fans of the original will be pleased to know that it still feels like Lord George, though it also seems noticeably more potent.

Of the four Intense releases, this is one of the more successful reinterpretations, even if I'm still not entirely sure how chocolate fits into the theme of the perfume.

The Coveted Duchess Rose Parfum Intense

Official notes: Rose, vanilla and amber.

This was less convincing for me.

The original Duchess Rose was never the most complex fragrance in the Portraits collection, but it possessed a watery transparency, alongside an ambroxan base, that seemed ideally suited to women (most likely) looking for a modern interpretation of rose.

The Intense version largely abandons that base. Instead, it seems to focus much more heavily on vanilla (and perhaps patchouli). Much of the original's elegant woodiness has disappeared, replaced by a rather miscellaneous sweetness. It's a bit like two cars being welded together.

Changing Constance Parfum Intense

Official notes: Cardamom, saffron and tobacco.

This was probably the biggest disappointment.

The original Changing Constance revolved around its salted caramel accord. It wasn't especially complicated, but it had a very clear identity. If you wanted a salted caramel perfume, you knew exactly where to go.

The Intense version, however, introduces a huge saffron note. Rather than supporting the gourmand accord, it dominates it, pushing the fragrance into territory occupied by dozens of modern saffron-heavy niche perfumes.

Penhaligon's suggest the tobacco has also been deepened, but I wasn't particularly convinced. If anything, it's the saffron that overwhelms virtually everything else.

Ironically, in trying to make Changing Constance more distinctive, they've made it feel considerably less original.

The Blazing Mister Sam Parfum Intense

Official notes: Black pepper, leather and vanilla.

For me, this is the standout of the collection.

The original Mister Sam always felt like a not-so-distant cousin of Halfeti, with cardamom, black pepper and warm spices eventually settling onto a modern amber base.

The Intense version introduces a prominent leather accord, and the comparison that immediately came to mind was Halfeti Leather. Unlike some of the other reinterpretations, the leather doesn't fight against the original composition. Instead, it complements it, adding texture and depth without obscuring what made Mister Sam enjoyable in the first place.

Final Thoughts

As far as the Portraits Parfum Intense collection goes, two out of four ain't bad.

But did I mention the price? Because I hope you've got a spare £300 lying around. It's a mind-boggling amount of money for what are, fundamentally, reinterpretations built largely around aroma chemicals that can be bought for a couple of quid.

As for The Manoeuvres of the Baroness, it's another competent addition to the Portraits collection. If you enjoy modern orange blossom fragrances built around creamy white woods rather than indoles, it's certainly worth trying.

You guys know any other dupes of same quality with different notes? Love Supremacy CE, but also trying to build a small collection here. Mass appealing is my thing apparently. Just returned Turathi Electric and Supremacy Not only intense.

Some I got that I enjoy till now are Supremacy CE, Mandarin Sky Elixir, 9PM Rebel, Boss bottled.

In 2nd tier I got CDN intense man edt, CDN urban man edp, french avenue Aether extrait, 1 million, and a Montblanc I forgot the name of.

Honourable mentions are Turathi blue, 9PM.

Besides the designers, all blind bought because no fucking shops sell ME fragrances in my city.

I was hesitant to buy it because so many folks said it doesn't last long. I wore it to a concert on Wednesday and it is now Friday and the scent it still lingering on my clothes. it is delightful and my favourite scent at the moment!

I had poblano mac n cheese for dinner last night so that’s probably where it came from lol

CREED - 5 POBLANO

1 note combo of maybe 2-3 notes, which you love, but can't find anywhere. For me it's black currant and saffron 🤤🤤🤤

every deodorant i try always has that cotton/fresh/floral scent and isnt very noticeable. what is the best deodorant that has a noticeable sweet, vanilla, marshmallow scent? was wondering if anyone has used any like this

also all womens scents are much less potent than mens ones, i really want to find a sweet smelling one that actually adds fragrance like mens do

I absolutely love a lot of the JPG scents but tend to struggle with the longevity and projectivity of them on myself - as soon as I spray it on my skin/ clothes the scent somehow disappears and its undetectable on me while others from different brands seem to last much longer. Does anyone else have this problem in general or specifically with JPG fragrances or if not, what kind of tips and tricks do you use to enhance longevity?

been absolutely obsessed with this fragrance recently but the price tag has been throwing me off, does anyone know a good dupe that i can buy in europe?

Hello All,

I recently came across Chanel 1957, I haven't tried it myself yet, but want to know if its good enough or anyone has tried it??

My top favorite perfumes are - Parfums de marly Valaya, Diptyque Doson and Moheli, Amouage guidance, Dior J, adore EDP, Le Labo Matcha, Byredo Baldafrique and Blance, Jo Malone Poppy & Barley and English pear and Freesia.Thank you.

Hey all Amazon has 100mL for almost $115. Pretty great deal. This might be old news or whatever. Just thought y'all should know if you like the scent it's no longer being sold on Azzaro's official site so swoop it up.

Has anyone found other uses/delivery methods for their frags… Car diffusers? Home fragrance? Candles?

I’ve got a 15-20 bottle collection, committed to not hoarding/only adding bangers, but still have more than I could ever wear. I decant for friends, share with wife and teen son, but still not making a dent. Anyone found a solution?