Help on Fragrance Collection.

Dec 20, 2014

Angel C.

So I'm wanting to build up a fragrance/perfume collection, and I don't know what to look for.

My questions may seem silly, but I was just wondering if when you all add to your collection do you base it on the fragrance notes, size of bottle, bottle appearance or what exactly?

As far as the size of the bottle goes: I mean 1.7 oz. vs. 3.4 or more?? Like I just don't really see the point in getting a 3.4 oz. or larger if you can get the 1.7 oz. unless it was a HG perfume or the bottle was like superbly more amazing in the 3.4 oz. size...I know...silly question right??

Another thing, do you go for a certain brand or just anything? I know a lot of people like to stick to a certain brand whereas others don't really mind as much.

And also, do you vary your scents? Like say, do you go with woodsy, floral, and fruity or just go with one base note?

I know that these may all seem like silly questions, but I've never really been one to dabble with fragrances before because I used to just forget to put it on or just didn't see the point in spending money on something I used to view as "frivilous."

So what are your recommendations on scents, sizes, etc??

Right now I have:
*DKNY Be Delicious (roller ball, but want larger size)
*DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom
*Chanel Chance Eau De Tendre (pink bottled one)
*Some kind of Mary Kay fragrance think it's called Journey of Dreams??
*Justin Bieber The Key (purse spray & 1.7 oz. that I just ordered)
*Treselle (old Avon fragrance)
*Bath and Body Works Paris Amour

Dec 20, 2014

Dee-Ann B.

Honestly I just buy whatever I like the smell of. I don't care about brand or size or anything like that. I have roughly 50 fragrances and there's really a bit of everything.

Dec 20, 2014

Ari M.

Nah these aren't silly it's actually very reasonable
For me what's important is the concentration and scent
Idgaf about the bottle unless it's really ugly (like pink sugar type bottles)
I personally refuse to go below eau de parfum and I'll take a big size if it's a really great scent but perfume does have an expiration date so go small if you're not going to use it much

I'm all for different scents and brands but I can't stand dessert types and ones that smell cheap

I vary my scent mostly because I might end up being surprised by a scent I didn't like from one mix but smelled great in another
Single notes are pretty hard to like and that's what a lot of cheap perfumes are but sometimes I'm impressed
Overall, I like complexity

Dec 20, 2014

Ari M.

Also, don't ever pay attention to brands naming things as feminine and masculine
Also, cologne doesn't mean that it's for men that's just sexist marketing it's actually a type of concentration

Concentrations can often impact scents

Basically just explore what you like

Dec 20, 2014

Jack B.

Ari's advice is great! I think most perfumes come in stylized bottles, so picking out the ones you like should still result in a pretty-looking collection. If you have no idea where to start, I'd suggest a big sephora if there's one near you. Larger stores have big fragrance bars with lots of different types of smells so you can learn what types (floral, fruity, musky, etc) you like and then they'll list all the fragrances of that type. Alternatively even smaller sephora stores and Ultas have a huge fragrance selection to browse.

Dec 20, 2014

Jack B.

I like miss Dior cherie, personally. And sometimes I wear it with dkny be delicious, they complement one another nicely!

Dec 20, 2014

Ari M.

@Jack thank you!
I personally am disturbed by Sephora's perfume displays
They put them under lights and they end up warm to the touch
If there's one thing that can ruin perfume besides direct sunlight, it's heat
They're selling you these expensive perfumes and its basically rotting
Go to a department store like Macy's or something

Dec 20, 2014

Mallory L.

Looks like these other ladies pretty much answered your questions as I would have so I'm just going to tell you what fragrances I wear:

Flora- Gorgeous Gardenia by Gucci (my HG)
Vera Wang Princess
Fraiche by Chanel
Butterfly by Hanae Mori
Marc Jacobs Dot

I like to wear 2 fragrances together sometimes. I have a few others but hate them

Dec 20, 2014

Jack B.

Ooh Ari I never thought of that, dang! Does Macy's have open displays so you can sample them first?

Dec 20, 2014

Jenni L.

So true, Jacqueline. Fragrances smell different on everyone. I don't buy based on the appearance of the bottle- though some of my perfumes are very pretty. I tend to go for the same notes, I like warm, sexy fragrances. For the day time, I will do my eau de toilette since it has a lower concentration of fragrance. But I still wear Miss Dior or Flowerbomb in the daytime. Just lighter. Sephora has a pretty cool tool that bases fragrances on your personality. When you try a new fragrance, walk around for twenty minutes or so- then the base notes develop vas you get a true sense of how it smells. And like Jacqueline says: what fragrance family do you tend to like? If you love clean floral, then a sweet gourmand won't appeal to you (think Jessica Simpson Fancy, caramel and vanilla notes). I think finding signature fragrances can only be found by trying them.

Dec 21, 2014

Ari M.

@Jack
I don't enter Macy's much since I don't have the money for things there but when I pass through it they tend to be displayed out and without lights
ask if they have any in the back maybe? I haven't tried it yet but it might help
Department stores definitely have testers for all of them and maybe samples it depends

Dec 22, 2014

Caitlin M.

I do the same thing Dee-Ann does. I just buy what I find smells good. I usually go for a 1.7 just because now I have quite a few in rotation so I definitely don't need a 3.4. I work in a department store in the cosmetics section though so I'm always around it so it's hard for me not to smell them lol. But it's also nice because I can wear a different one every day if I want. But usually the 3.4 sizes come with free gifts if that's something you're ever interested in. Usually it's a tote bag of some kind.

Also, don't rub your wrists together when sampling or applying. The friction actually deconstructs the fragrance notes.

Dec 24, 2014

Jenni L.

Also it's a myth to smell coffee beans- it just adds another smell to your nose. They say to smell your sleeve after smelling a fragrance and before smelling another one. I will buy a larger bottle of a fragrance that I know I love because it's a better value. But only when you know that you love that fragrance. My favorite HG fragrance is Miss Dior.