I swear the fragrance hobby is half smelling good and half mental gymnastics to justify the next bottle. I’m guilty of all of these, so I’m calling myself out too: - “If it’s expensive, it must be better.”Sometimes you’re paying for the name, the bottle, and the hype. Price can mean quality, but it’s not a guarantee. - “Niche always beats designer.”Not even close. Some designers are smooth, mass-appealing, and really well-made. Some niche is just loud, weird, and overpriced. - “Beast mode = quality.”Lasting 12 hours doesn’t automatically mean it’s good. A scent can be nuclear and still smell rough or one-dimensional. - “It doesn’t last on my skin.”Half the time, I’m just nose-blind. Or my skin is dry, and I’m spraying like it’s a science experiment. Meanwhile, other people can still smell it. - “If I can’t smell it, it’s weak.”This lie creates oversprays. Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean the whole room can’t. - “More sprays = more compliments.”More sprays usually equal more people suffering in silence. Compliments come from being in the right distance at the right time, not choking out a hallway. - “I need a signature scent.”You don’t. A small rotation is way better: clean/everyday, night out, dressed up, and one you personally love. - “This just needs maceration.”Sometimes bottles settle, sure. But sometimes… You just don’t like it, and you’re trying to cope. - “This smells exactly like ____.”A lot of scents share a DNA. The opening can fool you. The drydown tells the truth. - “I’ll wear it when the time is right.”Then you never wear it. If you like it, wear it—just control the sprays and match the setting. - “Blind buying is a skill I’m developing.”Nah, it’s gambling with extra steps. Decants > regret. - “I need every flanker for the collection.”Most flankers are the same movie with a different filter. You end up with duplicates and wonder why your shelf feels repetitive. - “This is ONLY for winter / ONLY for summer.”Most scents can work year-round if you adjust sprays and don’t wear a warm amber bomb in 115° heat.

Just got home from a conference out of town and had three package deliveries waiting for me. I’m actually a bit nervous, I kind of went crazy again blind buying niche decants / travel sizes despite such a long string of disappointing misses… but hope springs eternal, right? - ATH Legend Noir, Boss Bastard and Requiem - Merchant of Venice Blue Venetian and Colonia Venezia - Roja Vetiver EDP - Byredo Bal d’Afrique Absolu - Frederick Malle Vetiver - Pana Dora Aqua de Dora