For the first time in many, many years, and surely for the first time as a bona fide, card-carrying, blogging Perfumista, I have finished a bottle of perfume!
This is an event as unusual as it is inexplicable as my love for L’Ambre des Merveilles has come quickly and unexpectedly.
I’m sure for normal people this is not newsworthy, but I’m sure you, my fellow scent-afficionados, will immediately grasp the importance and momentousness of this occurrence which therefore, of course, warrants a post and a picture or two.
Here is the bottle in question, empty but for a few precious drops. An heretofore unseen sight at Casa Olfactoria…
How will this go on? Will I buy a replacement? Will I resume my previous, voracious sampling habits? Will I move on to another monogamous infatuation? Will more empty bottles eventually litter this house?
The plot thickens, people, the plot thickens!
Olfactoria's Travels 
Hilarious!! Congratulations on your empty bottle.
Portia x
Thank you , dear Portia, I’m very proud! 😉
I finished my first bottle too this year and it was the one that started this whole craze for me: Helmut Lang – Cuiron. And I still have the bottle. 😉
Congratulations! Cuiron sounds intriguing, I never smelled it.
I’ll keep that empty bottle as well, it is a triumph! 😉
The scent wasn’t the same at the end, I can tell you that. That is probably my only fragrance I can for sure say had gone a bit stale over the years. I’ve seen bottles goes for huge amounts on Ebay, but I would never ever go for one of those. Just sayin’ so you don’t do anything crazy.
Back in the days, it was an amazing fragrance. It smelled like nothing I had ever encountered and was definitely the gateway into the fragrance world for me. It’s silky smooth leather and sandalwood really stood out from all other department store fragrances I knew at the time.
No worries, I’m not on the hunt in the least these days! 😉
It was the draining of a bottle of what was once my favorite perfume that lead me down this path. An internet search confirmed my worst fears that it had been discontinued. While I didn’t find a replacement bottle, I did find perfume blogs and a path to exploring all the lovely scents in the world. I must admit, I have sampled L’Ambre des Merveilles. After wearing it three days in a row, I placed it on my Christmas wish list. I have now drained my sample and I’m planning another trip to Sephora to secure an additional sample that I hope will tide me over to Christmas. If a bottle doesn’t appear under the tree on Christmas morning, I know where I will be on the 26th.
I think you’ve chosen a wonderful scent to completely use up.
Which bottle was it that was discontinued?
Thank you! I hope you will find your own L’Ambre des Merveilles under the tree!
Too funny! Please let us know where this will go… Perhaps a new bottle of the new Hermes? Keep that bottle!
I will keep you updated. I’m definitely keeping the empty bottle, it is a landmark after all! 😉
Oh my gosh! I can’t believe you drained the bottle! That almost never happens to me! Momentous occasion to be marked by buying another one for reference purposes of course 🙂
Exactly! That is my train of thought as well! And I saw one 33% off at my local perfumery, it would be rude not to buy it, I think…
What?! 33% off? Grab two!
And if you drain those, let’s start talking about a JCE twelve-step program 🙂
I still can’t get over 33% off. That is an irresistible bargain.
Would it send you over the edge if I told you that the 33% go for the entire store?
I’m coming to Vienna.
Oh, yay! 😀
I will eat pastries all day in beautiful cafes and buy lots of discounted perfume 🙂
Seriously though, you are very lucky to take advantage of that sale! We hardly ever (read never) have anything like that here.
Hi Brie! I know, it’s so late/early in New York. My sleep schedule has been a little screwed up lately, and I just figured that since I was up, I might as well be doing something I enjoyed. Are you in New York too?
Lol, yes we should do that then.
It’s a very tough habit to break once acquired 🙂
Can I join you ladies as well? Baconbiscuit212, what are you doing up at this Godforsaken hour?
Of course! Christmas is Vienna is lovely! 🙂
Hi baconbiscuit212,
I responded to your question on your own blog…but the answer is yes, another New Yorker up at 3am with insomnia!!!!
And, Olfactoria, please let us know what you decide..new FB or not?
You MUST buy another bottle and when that one is done another as well! Although monogamy with perfume has not my strong suit these past few years (once I discovered the world of perfume blogging and all of the wonderful things I desperately wanted to try) I have had a few fragrances whose bottles I have emptied time and time again. There is nothing more satisfying than finding a fragrance you adore so much that within the blink of an eye you have finished it and look forward to replenishing….go get that new bottle 🙂 !!!!!!!
I will, brie! Today! I don’t think I’m done with L’Ambre just yet… 🙂
Well done you! I have never legitimately drained a bottle of perfume – if I have finished it at all I would have given / swapped / sold away fair amounts in decants. : – )
I tried this at Gatwick recently – got permission to make my own sample, even! – but it didn’t work on me at all. I think you had one commenter on you original post who said this disagreed with her – and now me, sadly.
But it is always great to find a Big New Love, and now at least we know what Mr O needs to get you for Xmas!
Oh, just read up the thread – looks like you will beat him to the chase!
Yup, he won’t have to exert himself. 😉
Too bad it is not for you 😦
Well, at least that leaves more for me! 😉
Finishing a (parfum) bottle is a liberating feeling – isn’t it ?
(I’m the opposite : just bought 2 x 100ml…)
It is!
You bought the OJ’s! Congratulations! Can’t wait to catch up soon!
I should really learn a lesson from you !
Ah, no, one look at my perfume closet and my role-model days are over. 😉
Wow! You made it so fast through the whole bottle
Yes, astoundingly! But I didn’t drench myself at all, just a few sprays every day…
It’s because you were using it every day and not once every few days.
When I only had Prada the liquid of the juice was quickly going low but now that I have some more scents the juice goes down slowly so I still didn’t finish my 1st bottle. of it
This is momentous indeed! Celebrate with a new bottle 🙂
That’s what I’ll do! 😉
Can’t remember when I finished a bottle so I can imagine you are glad you did. You must like L’ambre very much. Very nice, for winter. Can imagine it brings quite some rest not sampling for a while.
It has been a very restful time indeed (also a very unproductive one though).
I know that you will probably buy another bottle. What I’m really curious about is if you empty bottle number 2. Were there any samples given out from that bottle or did you single-handedly empty it?
That is what I’m curious about too…
Nope, aside from a couple of spritzes for a curious dinner guest cum blog reader, it was all mine. 🙂
Congratulations!!! I think I’m on the same way with Ambre Russe by Parfums d’Empire…..And I already did it with Vanille by MdO (and I kept the bottle too……).
So weird, am I the only person on earth who can’t stand Ambre des Merveilles? I bought a 50 mls bottle at Hermès store at Deauville, happy with the scent, the bottle and…….already a few minutes after, I knew I couldn’t wear it more. I washed my wrists, my neck and kept my bottle in its beautiful box to sell it, at home…….
Why but why? You know how much I love amber, but this time, no, it’s not possible. ;-(
Well, don’t worry Florence, we can’t all love everything.
My bottle of MdO Vanille is dangerously low as well, but that is due to multiple decants having been taken out.
It’s awful when the level of MdO Vanille bottle is low…….terrible 🙂 I’ve got still 5 mls I think I keep py precious drops for Christmas Eve!
That sounds like a very good idea!
Good grief – this is new indeed. Congratulations (I think)! My bottle of Amouage Epic is the only bottle currently going noticeably down…
I never seem to make any kind of visible progress with my Amouage bottles, so kudos to you! 😉
Wow! Congratulations on finishing a whole bottle! I don’t know that I’ve ever done that in my 20- some years if perfume worship! I think I may have gone through a bottle or two of Dior’s Pure Poison. That would have been about 6 years ago.
I can understand your fondness – adoration – for L’Amber. Per your recommendation, I bought a 15ml bottle. I think it’s incredible, and have worn it quite a bit. It’s warm and sweet, but not too much so. It’s salted caramel-ish. It has opened up a curiosity in me for ambers, which I thought weren’t “me.”
I think to celebrate your accomplishment, you ought to treat yourself to another bottle!
Thanks, Nina, I’ll do that! 🙂
I’m glad you are happy with L’Ambre too.
BTW, how long did it take you to go through it?
Oh, I saw your comment below that you bought it in October. Another question: As your bottle became more and more empty, did you ever find yourself almost daring yourself to get through it? Or was it purely a matter of continuing to wear it, day after day? Do you know what I mean? I remember being surprised one day when I realized I had nearly finished a bottle, and feeling like I was spritzing all the more toward the end to accomplish emptying the bottle. Maybe I’m just neurotic and nutty! 😀
No, the strange thing with L’Ambre is that it makes me so calm in every respect. I used to worry and look for backup if I used a perfume two days in a row, but with this, I just calmly reached for it every day, when it was gone – and only then – did I go for my replacement. The frenzied addiction is missing now, L’Ambre somehow changed me…
Buy another bottle, in fact buy two!!! Enjoy the fact that you found something that you :LOVE.
This does not make you any less of a perfumista!! You can and will still explore and enjoy, but why not embrace the fact that you have connected with a fragrance on a deep level. 🙂
It is easy for me to say this, as I am not really a perfumista. I know myself, and while I am curious, I don’t want too many perfumes.
Yaaay for your draining!!!!
Lol, that are encouraging words, Arline, thanks.
I think I’ll stuck with one new bottle for now and see how it goes.
Yay B!!!
I haven’t finished a bottle since I started blogging. Before my addiction went viral, I would buy just one or two bottles of scent a year, and when I was done with them, buy another bottle or two. And so on and so on.
That is not how it works now! 😉
😀
That is not how it works now, indeed! Which is why I’m so astounded that it DID happen now… well, we’ll have to see if this is the end of my perfume infatuation or just another phase.
I have never legitimately got through a whole bottle by myself however I have a whole collection of empty bottles at home from various splits, I can’t throw them away but I don’t know what else to do with them, If you know any bottle collectors please do pass on my details as they are going to waste at the moment.
I am amazed that of all the bottles that you own you went through Amber des Merveilles first, I would have put money on it being carnal flower first as you had a penchant for it in the summer. 🙂
I am just as amazed. Carnal Flower gets its next chance when the temperatures start climbing again. 😉
I’ll let you know if any bottle collectors get in touch!
Wait … how?!??! Didn’t that come out this year?!! I’m amazed. I haven’t finished a bottle of perfume since college. It’s a dream of mine, though (but only if I have a backup in place).
Not only did it come out this year, it came out this fall – and I bought it at the end of October. I sure made quick work of that one. 🙂
Now, what to do about the one hundred plus other bottles in my closet…
That is AMAZING!
😀
Oh my goodness! You weren’t kidding that you were wearing this every day!
Nope, I wasn’t! 🙂
Yes, such a passion can take charge of your perfume habits. I had a passion for Chloe, the perfume in the tiny, beautiful little bottle. It had disappeared from the world, but, zut alors!, I found it because of a hint from one of your readers. I’m time traveling to the 70’s and smelling delicious. Your favorite is next on my wish list.
It is readily available here, so if you ever need more, let me know!
I got my 50mL bottle this past weekend — a beautiful bottle and gorgeous scent. I made a 5mL decant for a dear swap buddy and the rest is mine…all mine…And yes, I have drained bottles in my pre-perfumista days (e.g.Burberry Brit Sheer)
Good for you. Enjoy! 🙂
I’m flat-out amazed. You went through a 50-ml bottle in a month and a half?? Damn, that must be good stuff. I’ve never used up a bottle on my own (aside from decanting) … unless you count a couple bottles that I used up by pouring a little in the washing machine each time I did the laundry. 🙂
It is very good stuff, but you know what: it is certainly not the best perfume I ever smelled or the most amazing one or anything, but it just works – and works and works and works…
Very good idea to put perfume in the laundry, will try that asap!
Well I don’t know what to say but I use AdM every day..
Something alarming 🙂
It might be a new drug – JCE might just have gone and invented a new psychotropic substance. 😉
That is what I suspect 🙂
Wow. I am impressed. You have to keep this bottle in your collection. And buy two new.
In my pre-perfumista days I went through a number of bottles but not recently. Wow once again.
I bought one new one yesterday, and it felt really good. 🙂
Congrats, Brigit! That is one more bottle than I finished this year. I am in such suspense for the answers to your questions! 🙂
Lol, the suspense is unbearable. 😉
🙂
Ha, ha I’m glad and sad for you and I envy you, all at the same time. How’s that? 😉
Well, I’m glad that you found the perfume you like so much you could wear day after day.
I’m sad because of your dilema now, should you buy another one and stick with it or move on.
I envy you because I would like to settle with one bottle for a while, but it seems the right one hasn’t come into my hands yet. ;-).
I understand you, I feel the same things.
Maybe “your” bottle comes as unexpected as mine.
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Birgit dear,
Would you believe I just bought a bottle of it today? I was considering some Ambre Narguile instead but I just can’t stand the Hermès salespeople. besides, i already have MdO as my “deeper” amber. Ambrè des Merveilles is easy to wear and unobtrusive. You know i amnot a fan of JCE’s style but sometimes all we want is just to smell pretty. The vanilla shines on me more than the other notes, resulting in an “expensive cookie” kind of scent, wonderful for daily use. I predict my bottle will soon be gone, but only because with JCE I need to overspray a bit.
Love,
Caro
Good for you, Caro! Ellena’s style is something that only stealthily grows on some people. I hope you are one of those. 🙂
just between us -no one else is reading this, right? 😉 -deep inside I always feel like I have been scammed when I purchase an Hermès fragrance since they are so watered down. Ambre can’t possibly be an eau de parfum. It is a wonderful skin scent, though. It doesn’t feel like fragrance.
No, of course, strictly between us. 😉
I know what you mean, but I love them so, I don’t mind the need for steady reapplication (not the most economical of option though).
😉