Barriers to the Fragrance Hobby: "Gatekeeping & Elitism – The Unnecessary Barrier" (4/6)

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Every hobby has it. The unspoken hierarchy. In fragrance, it can show up as subtle dismissal, designers versus niche, mainstream versus obscure, new collector versus vintage hunter. It’s rarely blatant, but it’s felt.

The issue isn’t passion. It’s posture. When enthusiasm morphs into superiority, the space becomes less inviting. Fragrance is personal expression. It is art worn on the skin. Reducing it to brand prestige misses the point entirely.

A healthy community celebrates curiosity. It welcomes the guy with three bottles just as much as the collector with three hundred. The Brotherhood should feel like a roundtable, not a ranking system.

What say you, guys? Have you ever experienced subtle gatekeeping in the hobby? What’s something “mainstream” you unapologetically enjoy? And when did we decide enjoyment required a résumé? Love to hear from ya'!

Continue the #Journey

Part 5 Skin Chemistry & Expectations – The Reality Check

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