What do you want to do differently this year?
Are you happy with your collection?
Do you want to down-size or stock up?
Do you have any New Year’s resolutions concerning your perfume hobby?
My Answer:
My biggest resolution this year, is not to buy a full bottle too quickly.
I won’t restrict myself from anything, since I tend to rebel against myself then, but I want to go easy. I merely need to slow my pace, then I should be fine. If I make a deal with myself, not to buy a bottle I crave for one month, I can have it once that time is over. Experience tells me, in most cases, I will have moved on by then. If not, I can go out and get that bottle.
Also, I want to stick closely to a perfume budget this year. As long as I keep to the time lag rule, I hope sticking to the budget will follow naturally.
Big plans. 🙂
What about you?
Olfactoria's Travels 
I’ve been thinking a lot about why people here in Sweden are so scared of perfume. While people spend loads of money on fancy cooking, interior decoration and wine, most shy away from anything but the most mediocre, aquatic, boring (insert negative adjective of your choice) type of scents. It does not make sense. My, very grand, new years resolution is to change that. I haven’t worked out all details yet, but I am serious about this and I’ll write more in my blog when my home Internet is up and running (I just moved to a new house and apparently it takes a month to get broadband installed). By that, I’m wishing you all a Happy New Year 🙂
HI Sigrun, sorry to jump in here, but just had to join in this particular complaint since Denmark is EXACTLY the same, spending loads on all other personal luxuries but perfume. I am slowly but surely trying to convert people around me ;-). If people here all want to smell of fabric softener, why they should consider that this only costs about 20kr, and that if their “clean” fabric softener smelling perfume costs more, this could be a complete rip off. I wondered if it had to do with the wellfare state, and the fact that perfume is somehow an old money and a classic education thing like fine arts, unlike food and interior design???
That is a good point, Asali! Perfume is considered very traditional and bourgeois, not necessarily something essential in the Socialdemocrats’ worldview. It is similar here in parts of the country.
Asali and B, I so agree, the social democrat mindset is a big culprit here. People are often very suspicious of anything bourgeoisie (which, of course, usually stems from jealousy and a general inferiority complex). Saying someone smells like “an old lady going to the opera” is considered a bad thing.
That “Clean and Airy Scandinavian style” is another culprit. Imagine a big airy room, floor made of light wood, white furniture, minimal but functional etc etc. I think, in most peoples minds, scent just isn’t part of that equation. Personally, I can’t think of a better way of displaying beautiful scents, big rooms, all all stripped of other disturbances, just a great huge sillage… 🙂
Oh, I love that! A big, white and airy room to showcase a beautiful perfume! Oh yeah! 🙂
What a good and ambitious idea! Sweden is lucky to have you. Looking forward to read more about your idea on your blog! (Goodluck with that broadband!)
Couldn’t agree more about the subject of Sweden and perfume! I think it goes further back though than a fear to appear bourgeoise though- think Luther and and “the law of Jante” (you shall not think you are better than anyone else etc)-something so personal, sensual and not-useful as perfume must surely be, well, sinful?
So true! It is not only socialdemocracy, but the protestant mindset as well.
Yes! I was thinking of the “Law of Jante” yesterday but I had trouble finding the words in English to describe it properly. It has such a sad impact on people here. If there is one idea that is time to get over, that’s the one!
that’s a very interesting topic discussion!
but I think it’s a more of a natural cosmetics boom or a contemprary tendency instead of a political worldview… people here in Spain (whether catholic, christian, agnostic, atheist, etc…) tend to the same!
My new years resolution is to try to stop blind buying which has cost me a few mistakes, thank goodness I have been able to sell them on.
My other new years resolution is to not buy a full bottle the second I have sniffed it and decided I love it, so far I am waiting patiently for by kilian back to black which my ex will get for me when he is in London next, I will also wait patiently for Frapin 1697 and MdO vanille as I now don’t have to worry about limited editions.
I am letting go of the petulant child who wants everything immediately.:-)
That child is very hard to get rid of (or so I’ve heard, because I don’t know anything about such a greedy inner child of course!) 😉
You already know my perfume resolution of not buying a bottle (just possible decants).
Of course, this doesn’t include eBay vintage finds. Those are a category by itself and one should never turn her back on luck (as that would account for some great luck).
Aside from that, I plan to finally get to know my collection of decants and samples and write about them. 🙂
Excepting ebay is a sensible decision. Never turn your back on luck – very good, I must remember that! 🙂
My resolutions are:
– (if we happen to conceive this year…. :)) to smell naturally beautiful
– to let perfume in a reasonable secondary term (well, as as I’m able)
– to learn/improve and read and comment about perfume instead of buying
– to finish off some bottle!
– to purchase perfume/give away perfume to others
(“We’ll always have Paris”…
As far as I can see, Maison Guerlain and my dreaming Perfume Route will have to wait a bit longer) 😀
Good resolutions, GeM! I wish you the best of luck with all of them!
P.S. I’d go to Paris pre-baby though. It will be awhile before you can go, once you have your child. 😉
Hi, I think it’s a good resolution to wait a month to buy a perfume you crave. In general I try to do that, but perhaps I could get even better, especially when it comes to reduced perfumes that perhaps weren’t at the very top of the wish list;-) But like you I don’t work well with restrictions:-)
But especially I want to get better at sniffing all my samples, sometimes it can be hard to have time to give them a good wearing when you also want to wear your favourites.
Happy New Year
Restrictions are dangerous… 😉
It is a good idea to generally slow down and try to take in what we have, instead of running from one new discovery to the next. But on the other hand, we are bloggers after all… 🙂
hihi, absolutely, and accordingly we have to try new fragrances…:-)
It is our duty! 😉
I think my perfume resolutions are to buy what I really want, and not flippantly want. If that makes any sense? I think I’ve wanted just about EVERY perfume that had a good word written about it, or even, wanted a perfume that I simply “liked.” Time to stop and see how I really feel about a perfume before giving into it too easily.
hahahaha not flippantly want!
Well spoken, Liam! I’m sure many of us feel that way.
Perfume is interesting after all, most of it any way, but that does not mean it is necessary to have it all.
Nail on the head yes, it is interesting, but doesn’t mean I have to have it and everything surrounding it!
If we win the EuroMillions, Liam, then we’ll just get it aaaaaaaaaaall 😉
Well, when you put it that way!! Woo hoo
I resolve to sample the zillion samples I have and post about them!
Looking forward to reading those posts!
Liam has written my exact thoughts on perfume resolutions. I need to really figure out what I do want in a perfume, rather than chase everything that seems interesting to me. And they are all interesting. I have collected a fair amount of vintage perfumes so this year, I will sell off, trade or give away some of them. Happy New Year, all!
They are all interesting – so true! And the hunt is a big part of the fun. But enjoying a perfume that we truly love is much more satisfying in the end.
Happy New Year, Elizabeth!
Waiting to see if you still want that full bottle after a month or so is a good way to go, B. It can be hard though!
Thinking of swearing off ebay myself after my purchase of the Cartier the other week has caused buyer’s remorse. Might sell on at some point. Just can’t justify so much money on something with the strength of a cologne. Still considering buying a back up bottle of Cuir de Lancome from the site though.
The struggle between full bottles and decants continues but hopefully decants will win out more this year.
Oh, I’m sorry you feel remorse for buying the Cartier, but I totally understand.
Buyer’s remorse is something I tend to negate when I really WANT something, but in the end it most often gets me anyway.
My resolution is very similar to yours, B, namely to hold off from buying and see what gives. I put that into practice the other day when Esprit d’Oscar suddenly popped up on Cheapsmells. I know it is there, so I must use up my samples first before jumping on it (though it was only £32 for 50ml!).
And no, I am not at all happy with my current collection – my fridges look like a bird sanctuary (for the many albatrosses). There are so many in there they are struggling to find even folded wing space. : – (
Still haven’t smelled Esprit d’Oscar, grrr…
I know all about those bird sanctuaries. I have one myself, well, at least I hope not to add to it this year. 🙂
Sorry to jump in, I just have to share my amusement at the extended bird metaphors and thank you, again, Vanessa for introducing the apt term “albatrosses.” It makes me smile. (Unlike the items in question — one might say I also have a small bird sanctuary.) 😉 Anyway, sorry for the interruption! 🙂 As you were!
I have some of my resolutions published on cafleurebon, under Olga. But in a nutshell here they are: to follow and respect my own pacing, even if it is too slow to catch up with all new releases, LS packs, speed of sample circles, etc. Wear what I crave to wear in the morning, and if I don’t crave anything, dive into an unsniffed samples pile and try to reduce its intimidating size.
I am not happy with the FBs collection — there’s some stuff there from the old days that no one would want! Not sure what to do with it…
I like your idea about waiting a month. That’s a good one. I usually do, anyway, but it does not always help to end up with something I do not love later, but this is because tastes do change.
I thought that might be you on Cafleurebon, but wasn’t sure!
Very nice resolutions, Warum! I especially like the twin desires of craving and curiosity.
Yep, that’s little ole me! 🙂
I have a tendency to stick to plans and to wear things to please (like, I’ll try this sample and send it to a friend who I know wanted to try it). I need to be listening to my own desires more…
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Oh dear, I’m not sure I can contribute much to the discussion, but I’ve enjoyed reading everyone else’s comments.
I suppose the one thing I’d like to do is enjoy the perfumes I already have and be very, very selective when it comes to trying new scents (which isn’t easy when you’re a critic in an industry which released 1200 products last year, but let’s not go there…).
That is a dilemma indeed, wanting to be highly selective and blogging can certainly be at odds. 🙂
Ermm…get rid of the guilt trips over things I have yet to review/write about! That has to be the Big One…not that I’m not inspired, just easily distracted…;) “Oh, look! Sparkly! Oh, look! There’s another one!”
Anyone else have this problem?
And…by golly, if I still want, crave, desperately n-e-e-d something six months later, that means it’s a classic and I should just shut up already and buy it, right? So that’s my perfume resolution, and by Golly, I’m sticking to it…at least this month! 😉
I have this problem! My to review queue is totally out of hand, so many scents are line-hopping to the top spot and many are overlooked time and again, and I do have a bad conscience. On the other hand, what can you do? We should go with our passion and inspiration, not a rational system… 🙂
I resolve to get through all my untried samples! And to blog about them too 😉
I also resolve to be more “present” on the blogs, rather than being a ghost-reader as I frequently do. I love it when people comment, so I should return the favor!
Happy New Year, and may all your resolutions be achieved!!!!
Going through all my untried samples is a project for many years, I fear… 😀
Good luck with your resolutions, Dee! Although you don’t need luck, you are someone who sticks to their goals and I admire that very much!
My New Year resolution is exactly the same, not to buy to many FB.The difficulty is that there’s such a lack of interesting perfume to buy where I live that’s it easy to buy in haste when I’m travelling…but this year I will do better!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Eva!
It’s hard not to buy when travelling, when you finally stand before a wall of bottles you never see otherwise. I totally understand the temptation!
Lots of interesting resolutions here!
I generally don’t make new year’s resolutions. For me, they are doomed from the start. This year I will make “new year’s suggestions” for myself instead. I might have a better chance!
So I suggest for myself that I stop buying perfumes I don’t know anything about just because they are in store and on sale. With the money saved, I can buy decants of perfumes I want!
Suggestions is a good word and much friendlier! 🙂
My fragrant resolution this year is to finish up one perfume first before trying others. I tend to change perfumes like I change clothes and therefore some of them gets wasted.
I hope you will stick to your resolution!
Hi Birgit,
I think I’m made the right choice with purchasing samples/decants via The Perfumed Court or Luckyscents, my recent buy was samples from Sonoma Scent Studio. I love purchasing samples because it’s a great way to sample luxury niche scents that I cannot afford! I think a goal for me is just to save up for my next FB, which I’m sure it’ll be another Serge. I just have to decide on Jeux de Peau or Ambre Sultan…decisions!! Oh and there’s also that bottle of Chanel Coromandel that I’m dying to have!
All three of those are beautiful perfumes, I understand your difficulty to choose! Maybe go in for a split on each one?
Happy New Year, Birgit!
My fragrant resolutions will be:
*Buying parfum concentration whenever possible
*Sticking to my to-buy list
*Getting rid of all the stuff I wear only once a year
*Establishing a relationship with the scents I already own and wear the most.
Less is more!
A big hug for you and your family.
Less is more – absolutely! I love your resolutions, Caro!
We intend to sniff more and buy less. We would like to have more fun with fragrance, if that’s possible. We need to either downsize our collections or set up a museum.
Happy, happy 2012 from the three of us!
A museum sounds like a lovely idea! 😉
Happy New Year, Notas&Acordes!
I just want to find the time to blog and be on Twitter again! I miss having ‘fume chat with everyone =(
Also, I want to perfectly organize my decants and samples! My storage units are overflowing again, oops.
We miss you too! I have little to no time for Twitter too these days, and I miss it!
My main resolution is to be less sniffy and snobby : it’s o.k. to have a decant, instead of buying an insanely expensive full bottle.
Very true!
But those decants don’t come cheap either, although of course they do make a lot moremsense to multi-perfume people like us, who never use up anything.
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