After reading @Jonathan Ventura Post about labeling. Everything is about Labels, even in the designer world, where an independent person making clothes and accessories can never compete with the bigger upscale designer houses. Just like in perfumery, where Niche / Artisan is top of the line as far as quality and artistry. In the fashion world, Designers are the Niche and the independents are the designers. So the role reverses. If you look at the designer fragrances, they are mass-produced and most often Generic and safe. If you look at independent clothing brands that sell accesories and clothing and shoes at Walmart and Kmart and go to a store that sells LV or Dior look at the diffrence. Look at the red carpet at a Hollywood event, you cannot even count the Dior, Ysl and Hugo Boss, Chanel Dresses and gowns strolling down the Aisle. Look hat Ralph Lauren how many elite wear this brand. So everything has a label, but they all live in their own worlds. so why do people buy designer frags? People buy designer fragrances, even if they seem "nothing special," for brand prestige, accessibility, trend alignment, and the comfort of familiar, crowd-pleasing scents; they offer an affordable entry into luxury, convey personal style/status, boost confidence/mood, and feature quality ingredients and beautiful packaging, making them ideal for everyday wear or gifts. Key Reasons for Purchase: - Brand & Status: Wearing scents from famous fashion houses (like Dior, Chanel) associates the wearer with that brand's luxury image, offering a sense of status and belonging. - Accessibility & Familiarity: They're easier to find (ubiquitous) and often smell pleasant and familiar to many, making them safe choices for daily wear or gifting. - Mood & Identity: Fragrance boosts mood, reduces stress, and helps create a personal brand or statement, making the wearer feel more confident and attractive. - Quality & Longevity: Many use quality, sometimes natural, ingredients and fixatives for a longer-lasting scent, justifying the cost beyond just the name. - Marketing & Nostalgia: Heavy marketing and association with celebrities create desire, while familiar notes can evoke positive memories, making them feel special. - The "It" Factor: Sometimes, a fragrance becomes popular because it's the scent of the moment, aligning with current trends or creating a sense of shared experience. 

Introduce yourself and level-up, it's that simple! You'll get at least 5 likes (oftentimes more!) which will move you to level 2 and on your way to level 3 (these levels give you access to prizes!). What to say in your intro? Share where you're from, your reason for joining, your profession, perhaps your favorite fragrance or a picture of your entire collection! Whether you're a seasoned cologne collector or just starting, have fun engaging with the group.

Since our community is steadily growing, and I can foresee that the number of people reaching Parfum Maestro will increase more and more (leaderboards can only show you the top 10), I thought of this as a way of celebrating their BIG win and at the same time, for the whole community to recognize all of them. They are the most outstanding of contributors to the Brotherhood who have reached the very top of the ladder with their dedication. These esteemed individuals who have graced this forum with much of their time, effort, knowledge and expertise are the stars, la crème de la crème, the A-list, and they represent the best of us. So gentlemen, if you see your name listed below, this one is for YOU. Congratulations! This Brotherhood won't be the same without you. Name / Date Inducted 2024 @Renato Carotti June 27, 2024 @Michael LoCascio Sr June 30, 2024 @Null Null July 8, 2024 @Julio Gutierrez August 1, 2024 @Georgi Zayakov August 27, 2024 @Raphael Gruenig September 12, 2024 @Daniel Pedraza September 12, 2024 @Lon Chaneyfield September 19, 2024 @Mike Payne October 3, 2024 @Piers Gibson-Leader October 4, 2024 @Jordan Filley October 6, 2024 @Mike Penzenik October 13, 2024 @Andrew G. October 13, 2024 @Raymond Reeves November 10, 2024 @Scott Ripley November 16, 2024 @Justice Kiabe November 17, 2024 @Nazir Wajab December 8, 2024 @Kfir Cohen December 8, 2024 2025 @Carlos Palafox January 9, 2025

Let’s forget about the textbook for a second, Should a fragrance be discovered or announced? A lot of YouTubers say discovered but they secretly spray 10+ others are straight forward just don’t knock out the room #not more then 20 sprays!!! whats your take?

Perfume houses are generally classified based on their brand identity, production scale, target audience, and distribution channels. The main categories are Designer, Niche, Indie, and sometimes an overarching "Luxury" tier, though the lines between these categories have blurred significantly in recent years. Here are the primary classifications of perfume houses: - Designer: These fragrances are produced by major fashion houses (e.g., Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Prada) as an extension of their main brand portfolio.Focus: Designer scents aim for mass-market appeal and are often trend-driven, versatile, and easy to like. They are developed to be crowd-pleasers with broad demographic appeal and availability: They are mass-produced and widely available in department stores, beauty retailers like Sephora, and online shops. Marketing: These brands rely on large marketing budgets, glossy advertising campaigns, and celebrity endorsements. Price: Generally more affordable than niche options due to economies of scale in production. - Niche: Niche houses focus primarily, or solely, on the art of perfumery itself, rather than being part of a larger fashion or lifestyle brand.Focus: Niche brands emphasize creativity, artistry, complexity, and unique scent profiles that might not appeal to everyone but are treasured by enthusiasts. They often use higher-quality, rarer, or unconventional ingredients. Availability: Historically, they were available only in specialized boutiques or high-end perfumeries, making them more exclusive. However, many have been acquired by large corporations (like LVMH or Estée Lauder) and are now found in major department stores alongside designer brands. Marketing often relies more on word-of-mouth and the story behind the scent than mass advertising. Price: Niche fragrances typically have a higher price point due to limited production, artisanal methods, and premium ingredients. - Indie (Independent): Indie houses are a subcategory of niche that are smaller and truly independently owned, often with the founder or a single perfumer (nose) responsible for the creations.Focus: They represent the most artistic and experimental end of the spectrum, with maximum creative freedom and limited commercial pressure.Availability: These are the most exclusive in distribution, often sold only directly from their website or a handful of specialized online retailers.Price: Prices can vary widely but are often premium, reflecting the small scale of production and ingredient cost. - Luxury/Artisan: These terms often overlap with high-end niche or exclusive designer lines. "Artisan" generally implies products that are handcrafted in-house in smaller batches, while "luxury" points to the highest tier of price, exclusivity, and ingredient quality (e.g., Clive Christian or exclusive lines like Dior Privée).