I have a family friend who calls me all the time, and he loves fragrances, or he may be competing with me as he has been over the house and has seen my Vast collection. He calls me several times to get my opinion and always lets me know his latest pickups. He asks questions to compare notes and when to wear, etc., etc., and has sent several texts with pictures of his latest acquisitions. and several of his collection, as he lives 2 states over in Colorado. Here is my thing, lots of the questions he asks are on fragrances he owns, and the catch is that of a collection of about 400 alot of the boxes are unopened and still have the plastic on them. I dont want to sound critical, and I dont know if he is purchasing them to look good in my eyes and then returning them, as he has very limited fragrance knowledge, and I cant bring it up in conversation as I am too direct and would surely start a war. The thing is, every purchase I have made, and I own over 900 bottles, although I may not have gotten full wear out of them, they have been ripped open by me and sprayed on skin and on testers. I at least know how every purchase smells, and I have none left in plastic unopened and not sprayed unless it is a backup bottle. Actually, I get the mail call open, and I pretty much spray immediately and test each one for the first 2-3 days, even if it is not going to be a full wear. I am getting to the point where I am about to tell him to stop sending me pictures of unopened boxes of perfume that are supposedly purchased, because this practice is unknown to me! I have confirmed that he said he has purchased them and is not thinking of purchasing them, although I find it hard to believe. Any Thoughts?

The last major barrier I see getting into this hobby is definitely gotta be from social media!! Scroll long enough and you’ll see 300-bottle backdrops, weekly “must-have” lists and declarations that something is either legendary or trash. Algorithms reward intensity. Nuance doesn’t trend as well. Comparison is subtle but powerful. A modest, well-curated collection can suddenly feel inadequate when measured against highlight reels. The danger isn’t inspiration fellas, it’s pressure. The best antidote, I believe, is intentionality. Define your own goals. Maybe it’s ten fragrances that cover every season. Maybe it’s slow, deliberate sampling. The hobby thrives when it’s personal, not performative. Everyone's #Journey is different, don't try and travel someone else's! What say you, guys? Has social media ever influenced a purchase you later questioned? How do you keep your collection aligned with your own taste? And are we building wardrobes… or filming auditions for “Hoarders: Eau de Edition” (Guilty!)? Love to hear from ya'! Continue the #Journey Part 1 Cost of Entry – The Velvet Rope Problem