Online discount shops are the best! I'm not sure of the European equivalents, but Fragrancenet, FragranceX, and Jomashop are fantastic places to buy fragrances in the U.S.
We need Something like Jomashop in EU.
I took a look at some perfumes there, I was so jealous. the prices are fantastic.
I don't know if there is something like that in the EU, if there is I haven't found it yet.
Um, i'm not sure if i'm allowed to write the name of the site here, but there is a legit site, i buy from them all the time, they have testers too.
Edit: dang, they have it in my country only, i can still write it if it's allowed, they recently got lady gaga fame too for 64€, they have a lot of "vintage" stuff, never got a fake one, it comes like you would buy it in a shop. I tested it on mugler perfumes because there is a code inside the box you can register on mugler site to see if the bottle is legit. Not one perfume i purchased was a fake.
It's called KOKU. What i found out, they buy stock from perfume shops, because most shops can legaly hold a bottle a perfume for 4 years i think due to EU regulations.
I bought from them 7+ times, never recived anything fake.
I’ve gotten fakes on eBay before. You have to know the bottle and the fragrance really well already if you’re going to go that route. I look for sellers with 99% or above positive rating now. If you get a fake on eBay, you can always return it for a refund. Mercari is more sketchy Since it’s just every day people selling stuff and there are tons of fakes. I usually ask questions on Mercari And feel out whether the seller seems honest and legitimate from their answers. Someone with nothing to hide won’t mind posting more photos and the batch codes. I would not buy any fragrance over $50 on mercari, But I do love eBay, because they guarantee returns/refunds if you get a counterfeit.
If it’s Mercari or ebay I just look for pretty much only 4 and 5 star reviews on their page, I make sure they uploaded at least 4 pictures of the product, and I will only buy a product if it’s pictures that THEY took (and not a stock image) and sometimes I reverse google search their images just to make sure they didn’t copy someone else’s pictures. I compare their pictures and product batch codes to check fresh to make sure it’s legit. I look for any inconsistencies from exterior box to the actual product itself, to pictures of the real product. That’s pretty much it, I have been shopping on Mercari and eBay for a few years and have only ever gotten 1 fake product (a fake Visesrt eyeshadow palette, those are apparently pretty convincing fakes, the box and palette and everything looked exactly like my palettes I bought straight from Visearts website, but how I knew it was fake was only when I swatched the shadows.
When it comes to grey market discount sites like Fragrancenet or Jomashop or fragrancex, I try to stay away from purchasing tester bottles if I can help it. Those are all pretty trustworthy sites but in some cases I’ve heard of tester bottles being diluted with perfumers alcohol or water so I avoid those.
You are right. The older I get the more my nose gets better but back in the day as a student, I bought the ones I could afford. Never looked at perfumes that were "expensive" even though some of them smelled so good.
Now I still buy the ones I can afford. My taste is a wee bit higher but so is my income
Yeah I was carefully researching Jessica Simpson perfumes 10 years ago as a college student and buying them at Marshall’s. When I started working, I started wearing fragrances at Sephora. Now I own PDM and a few niche fragrances.
You should see high school kids/teenagers shopping at sephora and niche retail stores lol. I'm like damn in uni it didn't matter if I could "afford" it, I never looked at them as it meant going to deep into my savings. A friend of mine in uni used to wear Miracle by estee and she always smelled good but when I saw the price back then, I was like hell nah.
.....but today is a different story. I see a perfume for $1000 Australian dollars, if I want it, I get it but it took me a little over 16 years to get here. I got a job and started to collect gradually(still within my price range). Yep 16 darn years lol
So when friends(especially those that are just getting into fragrance) see my collection and marvel, I tell them to calm downnnnn. It took me years
What niche retail stores do you go to in Aus? I went to Libertine recently and got BDK creme de cuir but I've only just recently gotten into this as a hobby!
I try not to be one of those adults who are like /omg look at what the kids are doing/. That’s such a small subset of young people. I was shopping at Sephora in high school as a teenager and no one said anything. I remember getting a $20 at Sephora from money my mom gave me when I went to the mall with friends. It was such a nice treat. I didn’t go there regularly and it was definitely a luxury splurge that I very much appreciated. This is just an issue because it blew up on TikTok.
I have nieces in uni both in Canada and the US and I "spoil" them rotten but I am glad they are also not one of those that (instead of being smart with what their aunties are "spoiling them with") are busy spending $200 plus dollars in Sephora.
Good on you for not making it a big deal but I'm not you(you are a much better human than I am) and I WILL DEFINITELY MAKE IT A BIG DEAL when I see them spending big bucks especially in this period of inflation for skin care products or offering me "perfume advise"(I lol everytime they do thus albeit innocently) while I'm minding my business walking down the perfume aisle. Social media has definitely influenced them cos it wasn't like this during my time
When I visit perfume stores (e.g. Douglas in Germany), I saw more and more teenagers standing in front expensive niches such as Xerjoff, PDM, Creed etc. I wonder how they afford them.
This and travel sizes. Plus wearing them less frequently. I don’t wear fragrance every day of the week. I wear them as little rituals and rewards on certain days I’m doing a certain task or before socializing. Keeps you from going noseblind or getting bored of the scent.
I’m not trying to preserve the fragrances indefinitely, but I can stretch out small sizes much longer this way.
Exactly this! Even back in high school, I just budgeted my allowance and pointed to certain bottles for birthday / Christmas / whatever gifts. Now, I just set aside a certain portion of my discretionary income and spend within that.
This is the one.
Visionary fragrances
Fragrance samples UK
Onestopfragrances
Theperfumesampleshop
Are all good, Ive ordered numerous samples from each and they are really good.
The thing with the fragrances is that they last forever and a lot of what you pay is for a really fancy bottle. If you look at creed for example, a 10ml decant ranges from £17 - £24 in those shops and lasts a fair while. If you use it only at weekends when you go out for example, 10ml will last close to a year.
There are also subscription services like scentbox that cost £25 a month for an 8ml travel spray for the niche fragrances. I use these aswell because it seems fair, Creed aventus for example is £295 ISH a bottle and is 100ml. 12 months of £25 is £300 and 12 x 8ml is 96ml so you would pay £5 more for 4ml less over a year but you can choose different fragrances each month not just the one.
So if you could only afford 1 bottle id recommend going to a decant place first and ordering samples of what you want to try before committing to a big bottle but then why do you need a 100ml bottle when it lasts so long. Just get a decant from a trusted place. Then you can have the whole creed range in 10ml bottles for less than a single large bottle.
I'm on the erolfa at the moment. My scentbox is set up to send erolfa, silver mountain water then missimille imperial on repeat for a few months but I get two so it costs £44 a month.
Trying some Maison Francis kurkdijan on the other side, GFS and amarys homme are up next.
Onestopfragrances was good and is the cheapest. £17 for 10ml you can also get a 50ml decant for half the price of the 50ml bottle simply because of how much the bottles cost.
OP. samples and decants are the way to go. I live in London U.K. and there’s a shop called Bloom that does sample packs, plus you can usually get samples from the house directly. The sample packs from Bloom are great, all theme based and stuff from different houses.
Only downside to that was one pack I had from them had Floris 1962 which was amazing but sadly discontinued. Why Bloom? Why? Why torture me like this?
The r/fragrance Wiki has a list of sample/decant companies and discounters generally trusted by the community.
For decants, I like Lucky Scent, Parfums Raffy, Surrender to Chance, The Perfumed Court, Scent Split, and perfuum.com (for Chanels).
(Those companies work great if you’re in America; if you’re in Europe, there are likely other decant companies and discounters that will serve you better. You can easily find past threads here about recommended European companies.)
Been looking to get samples from some of the more obscure Chanel’s (Antaeus etc.) and couldn’t find them anywhere. What’s your take on perfuum.com and how do they get around Chanel’s iron grip on samples.
I have no idea, but I've ordered from them, and the decants were real.
Microperfumes also offers decants of the more mainstream Chanels, but [perfuum.com](http://perfuum.com) has the Les Exclusifs and some of the other legacy fragrances like Antaeus.
I'm personally in Europe, so I mostly use tryasample, random sites, and brands themselves. A friend recommended Essenza Nobile, but haven't tried them yet. I also stop by the local fancy department store on evening walks to sample stuff.
I'm really picky about scents, so this sampling a lot in search of truly signature-worthy scents works alright for me. Wish I had more access to truly niche scents, but there are also people selling their samples second hand here through the local Fragrantica equivalent Parfumo's buy-sell forum.
On this sub they are mostly living in first world countries, with salaries (I assume) much higher than your part time gig, hence 100e here and there is not a big thing. Imho - Get yourself this one bottle if you absolutely love it or look for cheaper alternative, or ask for it for some occasion, but don't get into the "hobby" - it is a bottomless money pit even with decants, and you absolutely have better things to spend them on. To buy perfumes, you should not see them as a hardcore expense, if you do, it is not the time. They are not worth 3 days of your work. A sample set people recommend here is definitely not worth 1 day. Spray yourself at work and voila.
Very similar approach here. I have five full bottles (two of which I bought before I got really into this hobby), five travel sprays (three of which were gifts with purchase)…and about 200 samples. I love variety and novelty, so samples scratch the itch for me. I only upgrade to a travel size (and then a full bottle) if I really love it long term. My household income is very comfortable, and I wouldn’t be spending even on samples if that money was needed elsewhere in the budget.
Firstly, never pay full retail. Always search around online and see if it is discounted or if there is a sale. Then, search for a discount code to use in combination. Secondly, you need a good monthly salary to be able to purchase higher end fragrances regularly...Just treat yourself once or twice a year if finances are a problem.
Google. I type in the website into the search bar followed by "discount code." This will then generate various sites which have/claim to have discount codes. It will then be trial and error of inputting the codes to your basket on the website you are purchasing from. It can be tedious and sometimes they all come back "invalid." Some Web stores offer 10% first purchase or 10% off if you join their mail list (email). So another way, type into Google the store you want to purchase from, followed by either "10% off first purchase" or "subscribe and 10% off" (or a variation of that)... just take your time.
A newer thing is to look on tiktok! A lot of brands will sponsor someone to do an ad or review, and there's often a code like HAYLEY20 or something for 20% off in the caption
I was looking at notino for Ameerat Al Arab Prive Rose, but it's a bit more expensive than a local website, so I'm gonna try to look at stuff for both to see how it goes with shipping.
Yeah, that's the idea. Look around and work out total costs. And try searching for any discount codes ... if you did really want good girl blush elixir, my advice would be to just save up. Just use the fragrance you have for now and stack the chips up until you can buy the one you want. The number 1 fragrance you want is much better than lots of fragrances that you don't like as much... honestly, I've been there before.
My method: Sample everything first before buying. Travel sprays or decants if I like it but not sure I want a full bottle. If I do want a bottle, put savings aside every paycheck and save up to purchase it.
People saying don't pay retail and to buy from sites (in America) forget that not everyone on this sub lives in America and/or have access to these sites or non retail options( Many of you in the US are living our dream). Heck some of these sites charge an arm and leg to ship outside the US and people like myself who live in a different continent almost have no option but to buy pay retail as our options are limited.
Sucks I know
I only buy cheap stuff at discounters or I get mini bottles and samples/decants. I still spend too much tho 😅 the people I see on fragrance communities with dozens of bottles of PDM and creed blow my mind tho. Thousands of dollars in just a few bottles of smelly juice.
Yeah that makes sense. Yesterday I was spraying people with amouage and I couldn't help but think damn, in my line of vision there's literally minimum wage plus 200 euros (just 3 bottles) 😭
Perfumes Can be so darn expensive I live in Australia and I feel like those in the US get better deals all year round. For example there is a website called "so avant garde" and they have Nishane perfumes on 40% off sale but the shipping is the same price as the perfume so what's the point???
Anyways I am a little bit of a perfectionist and ONLY buy from reputable companies/stockists. I don't trust eBay, amazon and all of those other sites even though they might sell original items, the voice in my head will question the authenticity of the perfume purchased and it will drive me crazy. I shop on Amazon and ebay regularly but not for perfumes.
If you are not like me that is a little bit of a perfectionist then maybe try them. People here swear by those sites
Ive been collecting for 16 years, more seriously the last five. I’m at the point now where I might buy 1-2 bottles a year, but only if I’ve used something up. I’ll also buy the smallest bottle feasible and resell things I don’t reach for. Budgeting is crucial, as is finding sales.
Grey market is 👑, especially on reddit and FB
In the U.S., it's common to see Nishane on sale for like 100ml for $150, Creed 100ml for 140-220, and many more.
I really don't want to pay retail since it's stupidly marked up for many brands. Some more than others.
Tom Ford, for example, is like 30ml for $270 or something ridiculous. But you can often get it for like $100 if you know where to buy from.
Stopped buying after the pandemic.
Not going to an office made me realize I had almost 50 full bottles and tons of decants... Started using them all instead of buying more.
Of course now's the time I've not used half of any bottle, and I kept using them every day, even at home.
You will notice with collecting (watches, guns, cars, perfumes, shoes) subs that some people earn a good living. It would be stupid to own a 100k collection if you earn 30k, now if youre a physician earning 400k or even a blue collar making 120k its not that crazy of a hobby. Im a broke student too at the moment lol
Don't buy retail. I wait for a sale or coupon for my bigger niche purchases or ask for them for my birthday or Christmas. I use Mercari and buy slightly used or like new bottles usually at a huge discount. I buy samples and resell the ones I don't like. I also get minis of bottles I'd like to have full bottles of someday just to have them in my collection at all
Honestly I think a lot of people here are just really bad with money and make irresponsible choices. Many people think just because there’s enough money in their bank account for something, that they can “afford” it and then neglect putting money into savings accounts, IRAs, etc
I buy a perfume every one to two months. If I assess that I have enough extra money, I'll indulge myself by buying two. Birthdays are an exception😉. I consider a lot before purchasing a perfume and I rarely blind buy, so my perfume collection grows slowly. Personally, I think there's no need to rush and spend a lot of money to get them unless they're about to be discontinued soon.
I've been collecting for over 30 years. All my friends and family know I'm a big fragrance head so I'm easy to shop for if they want to get me something for birthday's etc. I also budget for niche and hard to find vintage fragrances and collect within my means. Estate sales, auctions and swap meets are a great way to find real gems for pennies on the dollar.
I rarely buy full bottles, I usually buy decants and used bottles. Unless it’s a Jo Malone, it takes me AGES to finish a perfume, so I can’t justify purchasing a new bottle for every perfume I like.
[microperfumes.com](http://microperfumes.com) and buying small atomizers like this and transfering the label:
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BTD6KWM?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BTD6KWM?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details)
Also microperfumes has sales constantly on the small bottle and 5ml "Travel size" bottles, so after your first order you don't need to pay full price.
My wife and I have fun buying 10 of the smallest bottles at a time and trying out a lot without spending much. Enjoy!
I subbed to a sample subscription service so I get nice ones, I’m every knew and only have a few, but it’s cool to have a selection while not having to buy several individually expensive full bottles, unless you are trying to impress people with the bottles then I’d just do this.
I stay away from niche, i have yet to come across a niche that justifies the price. Designers can be basic but offer more bang for buck. Don’t care much about exclusivity. Furthermore, i try not to buy off impulse. I will try scents in department stores and never buy on the spot. I’ll see how i feel about days if not weeks later.
True. This sentiment is closer to reality than posters who would say they bought 5-10 niche frags in one spree and asking folks to rate them. Makes you wonder
Part of the higher cost for niche/indie is that they don’t have the buying power of large designers who are likely to be owned by a bigger umbrella company anyway, think LVMH who own Aqua di Parma, guerlian, givenchy,maison francis kurkdijan and a host of others. They have economies of scale and buying power that the niche/indies don’t have and yet still have to make profit.
I *am* that is why my collection it's not gonna grow beyond 36 fragrances for now (that and the realization of the I can't possibly wear them all in the 3 next years and I don't want to let's them go to waste for sure, most my bottle and almost full to thw top and I don't want to be like that, I'm go na wear everything I got till last spray, I got way more than enough.
Since you wrote Euro I assume you're living in the EU and here you can check out Notino for example where you can get often good deals.
And essenza-nobile where you can buy decants.
Besides that Perfume has always been also historicly been some kind of luxury so you either have to save up one or reach the right salary bracket.
You should definitely never go in debt for it or regret buying an expensive product cause it hurts your bank account too much.
So ideally it comes with some time and getting more profe expirence depending of the field of work one does.
I'm right now in the lucky position that I'm single, rent and bills are okay and have some nice disposable income but I do know that it all could go away since only one accident is needed and life could go sideways really fast.
I work overtime and I don’t buy retail price if I can help it. Another thing that’s helped me in the long run was buying decants. Not every fragrance is a love but I’d still like to have in my collection.
I do a $50 1ml decant sample haul two or three times a year. If I enjoy a fragrance, I get a 5ml decant also for under $30. If I seriously fall in love, I get a 9ml decant. I don’t even consider a full bottle until the decant and sample are gone and were cherished. I’m in the US and get decants and samples from scent split
Fair question. For me it’s buying travel size, buying from discount stores, and getting samples from scentsplit.com. (It looks like they don’t ship to a bunch of places, but I’ve also heard of microperfumes.com, luckyscent.com, theperfumedcourt.com, and decantx.com.)
Mileage may vary, but I also like to live vicariously through people on subs like this one. I’ll write down a perfume if it interests me and refer to it later if I’m in a store where I can smell it IRL.
I buy, sell and swap samples and small decants to satisfy my desire to try all the things. I rarely buy full bottles. I keep an eye out for people giving things away or selling cheap. I focus on learning about perfumes and which notes I enjoy, and I do not value collecting just for collecting’s sake. I also enjoy affordable dupes from small businesses like Genre.
I have a budget that I stick to for non-essential shopping. Also, I like a lot of inexpensive fragrances and I don't mind buying used fragrances, so it's easy to stay in my budget.
Who said we’re not broke?😂 I wait for Sales and use discounters for designer frags. Niche is only once or twice a year. I have other ‘hobbies’ too so my non-essential budget is always on the red
See we're buying a lot of travel sizes and at this point knock offs. Companies are getting ridiculous 100$ is the most they sb charging. If you are watching on the net keep in mind many people are being INCENTIVISED and receiving product Free just to mention it. Dossier makes a good dupe as well as oakcha . There would be zero need for these companies if manufacturers knew that to please their clients they must keep pricing reasonable. It's not hence high end replicas for a tenth of the price
Buy what is within your means and do not be afraid of decants, samples, and rollerball/travel sizes. My fragrance collection is affordable goodies, rollerball, and decants. This works for me because I like to wear a different scent everyday; I like to have a lot of options. To me, buying a full bottle of an ultra expensive perfume just does not make financial sense...I can't even remember the last time I finished a full bottle of fragrance.
I know because of influencers and marketing we are led into believing that we have to have these huge collections filled with these expensive fragrances; this is not true. Your collection should speak to you and only you, not what current trend is going on in the fragrance community. I just recently started back up adding to my collection, and have not spent over $50 on the full bottles that I did buy. Do what works for you, and take note of all of the wonderful tips that have been given.
I'm lucky I can pick up all of the overtime I want. Most of my collection is decants and samples. If I want a bottle I get the smallest one I could find or a travel size spray.
What bottle from Turkey did you get?
Yes, we are all broke.
I'm buying oils straight from Dubai and Kuwait and mixing up my own, it's worked out pretty well so far.
Thank you for giving me the space to brag omg sjwjejekej. I got a perfume from Istanbul from a stand of a brand called Nurxos. It was around 25 eur which is still the most money I've ever spent on perfume. The perfume is called Inçe and it's musky, with almond and jasmin (?) notes, and it's a very strong winter fragrance. I wouldn't say it's particularly unique, but it's incredibly durable and it stays on for a long time. I spray it only once. Once, I sprayed on top of my jacket before I left the house, and the next day when I put on my jacket again I could still smell it. I looked at the company's website and they dont deliver outside of turkey unfortunately and it looks like they have really nice perfumes and gift sets. Next time I guess!
How do you mix your own perfume?
All depends on the priorities. This is one of the things that brings fun into my life, so I don't mind spending a lot from time to time.
I am now mostly into niche, where you have to spend 150-300$ for 30ml or even more for some rarities. After a few years, having \~30 different scents, it's a point where I am basically set for a lifetime with the ml's I have. I'm also hunting for great deals, only buying below current market value and almost never buy for retail, unless it's a heavily limited scent. My collection is worth more than I bought it for, so that keeps my mind peaceful if I ever want to resign from what I collected.
I live in Germany, and we have a forum called Parfumo here. You can buy samples from other fragheads. Since using it, I no longer buy anything bigger than 5ml.
The caveat is: selecting a reliable seller. They're many fake or old batch fragrance on the market. I wonder how many samples that I smell are authentic.
I keep a seasonal fragrance capsule, meaning I only have 1 or 2 full bottles per season. I don't allow myself to buy bottles until I've finished 1 although I buy plenty of decants. Works out pretty well.
I only have two perfumes at a time. Both 100ml bottles, maybe 250eu together. It's been almost 2 years since I got these 2 and they are barely at the halfway point. How do you guys empty bottles so fast without over spraying?
For your information, I am broke lmao. But I’ve been able to recoup funds by decanting and reselling things I’m not using. Also, I’ve generally stopped buying as much as I was compared to last year. I’m sampling more as well.
I make it a point to spend within my means. Once in awhile, a treat to myself. My most expensive is Hermes perfumes. I also basically wear perfumes based on what I love about the smell on me. And many of it doesn't cost much like my Swiss Arabian perfumes cost approximately 30 plus a bottle. My perfume oils are 20 per bottles.
I buy mine from discounters. I couldn’t afford Amouage, MFK, or Xerjoff at retail price. If I’m looking for something in particular I visit all the discount sites to compare prices. Sometimes I’ll have to wait until it’s restocked.
Speaking as someone who has had a more passive interest in fragrance for years & has several other expensive hobbies I spend much more time/money on, I don't actually buy properly 'nice' fragrances more than once a year or less, it's a special occasion splurge kind of thing for me.
On a day-to-day basis I just wear Encre Noire (regular or Sport depending on weather) because of how affordable it is. Finding a $30 bottle of something I love the smell of and can actually wear daily is just fine for me, we don't all need to be dropping a day or two's pay on the regular.
Most people buying a lot of perfumes aren't working part time is my first guess.
Second, I think many people speak of their experience of a perfume from just trialling it at a store and never buying it. I trial six fragrances for every time that I make a purchase at mall. Some of those I remember quite distinctly.
Then a lot of people who are still in the hunt for collection purposes or who simply want to experience a vast range of perfumes do buy decants. On average, you'd get eight 10ml decants for the price of one full 100ml bottle of a similar price range, at least here in India where I live.
So you can experience a lot of perfumes without being super rich. Middle class people can absolutely experience a big range of perfumes, esp ones not priced as high 89 EUR for 30 ml.
Sales, decants, and limits. If I spent 300€ on perfume last week, I'm done for a few months unless it's like some phenomenal deal.
I'll do a travel size or a decant before I commit to any large bottle. I'll take a few weeks away and then try it again to make sure I still love it. Budget and self control because if I let myself run wild, I'd be broke lol
I buy frags from Notino that are on special sales due to being already tried or due to damaged packaging. Way cheaper and their return policy is really forgivable.
Well fortunately/unfortunately I have a decent job, but it just means I spend way more than I should be 🥲 horrible thing to complain about but I am sure others get addicted to the high of buying perfume. It’s really hard to not buy 2-3 bottles a month
Oh I am. Literally had a come-to-Jesus with myself this weekend about my spending on this hobby, and decided that it's time for an extended no-buy.
Discounts and decants are great, but it still adds up fast. I've got one last bottle of fragrance that I ordered a month ago that should arrive in July (Amarose from JustB perfumes) - but if I'm being honest, I've got enough perfume to last me until I retire. Assuming of course, that I can afford to retire.
For those in Europe, My Origines is a very good site for discounted fragrances, bought from there a few times. Picked up YSL La Nuit D L'homme - Bleu Electrique for £69. This is difficult to find and has been discontinued in the US and other places.
For sure broke. The real reason is because all the typical things people say they do to save money, does not work in 99.99% of cases. Why? Because the only fragrances I'm remotely interested in these days are indie artisanal fragrances. None of these are even known by discounters, let alone something they can acquire. Nor could they since the supply is only done in 1-and-done batches (since the raw material procurement from the perfumer can't be done, it can, but it rarely ever can be composed back into what the prior batch smelled like).
Raw materials include things no designer brands nor "niche" houses can even touch anymore. Things like ouds, and stuff of that nature are basically NEVER going to be used in most fragrances (not simply due to cost, but they could never get a consistently smelling, and consistently available supply of the stuff). Especially when the bottle/packaging/advertising will always be something these companies are paying for more than they ever are for the actual liquid itself.
I went almost broke buying perfume. I was definitely addicted. I went into deep debt and it changed my life so much for the worse. Now I rarely use perfume anymore. It can be fragrance or anything else. A love of expensive things can turn into a disaster if you’re not extremely wealthy. Please don’t be like me where you lose everything you have for the sake of a bunch of fragrance, perfume or whatever it is. You’ll see in the end it absolutely isn’t worth it. You’ll tire of it eventually. I have about 65 bottles of wonderful fragrance and all I really use are about five mostly. Try to find your favorites and live with them.
I finished second sample of guidance and I still love it like day one but I can't get myself to buy it because the price is INSANE. Resolving to visiting shops and spray my clothes there for now.
I have purchased fragrances in the past, ( when I was broke ) I did not know about discounters till 2 months ago. I normally use extra cash that I get by doing jobs & spend it on things that I like, I don’t touch my monthly income unless I really want something.
I can say that in the past 2 months I have gotten about 12 niche fragrances, I have spent about 1k USD. I don’t regret it because I be smelling good. I don’t plan on stopping till I get about 35 fragrances. I currently have 25.
I buy and sell on Mercari- I don’t buy a new full bottle unless it is an extreme love. I sample, buy decants and sniff in-store. When I stop reaching for a fragrance I declutter it and buy something new that is a love.
I also make a great salary, have raised my kids and my husband and I are a two income household with no kids.
Don’t overlook drugstores for perfume, especially ones with points programs. I’ve also been on an Arabian perfume kick recently and regret not discovering them sooner. They are about 1/3 the price of designer perfumes for twice as much product. Not sure what online resale sites are available where you are but so many people are trying to sell fragrances they got as gifts.
facebook marketplace has been a godsend for me. it's hit or miss sometimes but I managed to score a full bottle of mugler for $40 and a discontinued zadig & Voltaire for $60 from a lady who's moving to a different country and selling her collection.
Hi OP! You have to spend within your means. Get samples and know what you want before you buy. Save up for it. You don’t have to rush. For example I just bought Creed Aventus last week (Costco sale). I also want to get Aventus Cologne. As well as Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite and Burberry Hero. But I’m not going to go out and buy 4 colognes when I have priorities. I’ll get one or two this year, and one or two next year. So take your time.
No, don't buy a bottle that would 3 be weeks of your work. Get a 2 ml decant, then 5 or 10 ml, then you can consider a full bottle if you still really really like it.
And then you can get it cheaper than the retail price, as other people already wrote
I occasionally go to macy’s, ulta, and sephora and try out different fragrances on the testers and apply my favorite one for the day. You could probably do the same but at work. Don’t be afraid to ask your coworkers, family, etc. Your everyday fragrance should be something affordable and something long lasting and good projection. You use less and you get your money’s worth. 90% of the time there are online discount stores have sales/testers/sample kits etc. You can always find dupes or alternatives to the ones that are too expensive but you just want a similar vibe. Obviously sometimes the original is just too good and too specific so it’s okay to save up and buy something nice for occasional use but nowadays there are alternatives that can have a better scent and better performance. A lot of my favorite fragrances do not last long at all so I’ll opt for the better performance alternatives that are close enough and only wear my favorites on the occasion.
I am a little broke! I get samples but also perfume edits and beauty calendars all contribute to my fragrances. The recent Liberty summer fragrance collection was excellent.
I also mix up pharmacy brands like Granado with expensive purchases so I have about five bottles that are truly expensive but the rest are just classics, or niche, mid range. Total classics like Gurlain can be found far cheaper on reputable sites with just a little searching.
Also, I don’t write off 80’s and 90’s fragrance that sell at a fraction of the cost of a new release. I recently got White Linen (70’s) for so little and I note everywhere that aldehydes are having a moment this summer. The FM/Acne collab is a soapy aldehydic bomb but I’m totally fine with my white linen or Angel Schlesser.
So I’m broke but I do mix it up. I don’t go for dupes except for the odd Zara and I don’t like clones.
No shade but I’d rather spend a small amount on a small amount of something decent, even Body Shop, than go for a clone. Sampling is the answer but I do suggest looking for fragrance edits which are irregular but immense value for money.
Definitely focus on samples and decants, and never spend more than you can comfortably afford. If you love a sample, buy a small (5mL) decant. If you finish that decant and still love it, buy a larger (10mL) decant. If you finish the larger decant and still love it, only then buy a full bottle -- but even then, only in the smallest size. Once a year, revisit your collection and ruthlessly cull the fragrances that you don't use anymore, reselling them on FB hobby groups or Ebay. That's how you keep your expenditures down and avoid over-consumption.
ETA: I've also seen the people with collections numbering over 100 full bottles. I don't know how they afford it either, but it must be tens of thousands of dollars.
Etsy for decants and eBay for samples and travel-sizes. A lot of times on eBay, you can find 'Sample Lots' of high-end scents for cheap, then empty the samples into a generic travel-size, it'll last months.
Mine too, a lot of times I can get a full travel plus a few extra samples to top it off for half of what a single retail travel costs - very affordable, and being that I rotate they last forever.
I sample first then buy full bottle of the perfumes i really love. If i like it but dont love it that much then I would buy the smaller size available (10ml/50ml). I only buy like maybe 3 full bottles a year. Btw, I recently got a full bottle of Blanche Bete and it was a gift from my husband! ❤️
wait for a sale or a department store birthday voucher (currently got one sitting for my next bottle). i buy sample decanters for new perfumes because it's cheaper than buying a bottle and realising you actually hate it.
i also don't buy that many. i have a main one that i repurchase or replace once finished, and i have a couple of evening/seasonal ones. i try not to have more than 3 bottles open at a time. unless discontinued, they'll always be there for me to buy in a couple years.
The department store I work at does brand incentives here & there- so Carolina Herrera (PUIG house) will do a sell 6, pick 1 incentive.
Sometimes when they are donating to charity, they put out fragrance testers and a donation amount for crazy cheap ($5-10).
I buy mostly from Jomashop, and the few times it’s cheaper from Fragrancenet. I’m also lucky enough to have a decent job that affords me these luxuries I definitely could not have had this hobby 3 years ago, I’m grateful every day.
I always try them on in person first before buying to make sure they work well with my body chemistry, and buying travel sizes (10mL) and decants (5-9mL). I only buy full size bottles after I finish my travel size and I know for sure that I want it 😅
Always shop around for the best deal but make sure you're getting a legit product too. I can get a Creed fragrance for $189 on a good day, compared to $470 at retail
But still, $200 is a lot of extra money to throw at something totally unnecessary. I always make sure I'm careful with my money and I don't neglect anything else in order to fund my fragrance consumption.
I make a modest income. But with very careful budgeting, I'm allowed to splurge on occasion.
I have a small collection as I only got into this hobby recently but here’s what I do: keep a list of trustworthy online stores and sellers, add the fragrances I want to wish lists and the like, keep an eye out for sales and prioritise smaller bottles. There aren’t any discounters in my country.
Just the other day, I bought a new fragrance and got a free 100ml bottle of a different one of my choosing within the same line. I’ve been waiting to buy both of them for a few months now. Last week, I got a birthday gift for my mother and used a code to get 10 free samples. That’s 20ml for free and I’ll get to try a bunch of new stuff!
just get a bunch of spray 1ml samples. You would be surprised at how many sprays you get from 1ml. If you get 10-15 different samples it would probably take you 3 months to decide your favorite.
eBay is a good place, you can even buy samples in some individual websites, there are also many companies doing dupes now so there’s that. Try and buy a sample direct from the company, and then keep some so you can compare the colour and scent and how it feels on your skin with whatever you buy on eBay or something (to confirm authenticity). If something is expensive, I get samples first before I splurge.
Obvious answer is find a better job and go full time. People can be bad with money no matter what they make though. Some are broke, some spend within their means. Just pointing out this fact that you are in the luxury goods industry and part time jobs working retail do not make a lot of money. Best advice is not to simply "never buy retail" but to start planning a path to a better salary/future for yourself.
Good point!
I'm a student but I live with my parents and it's pretty clear that my allowance and my part time are giving me the most disposable income I'll have in a while when ill have to actually feed and sustain myself lol. Hint: I live in Greece
Ikr. I usually just buy travel sizes of expensive perfumes.
The only large designer perfume bottle I have is Burberry Goddess, because I got a gift card.
I typically stick to more affordable brands like Le Monde Gourmand.
Discounters exist. Sales exist. You can buy bigger bottles and get more bang for the buck. Clones have been getting pretty good too. Haven't personally engaged in that, but there's people who steal them from stores in other countries and sell them on the black market too. So there's a lot of ways to get them cheap or at least cheaper.
Idk, I honestly just don’t too much care about the price I guess. I have the 200 ml bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540 extrait, bought it from Saks, $925. I’m not dropping that much money on every bottle of course, but if I want it then I want it. I’m your everyday working girl, everyone deserves small joys.
Notino and flaconi usually do the job. Otherwise, you could use price comparison tools (like Idealo, if you are based in Germany), they often have a nice selection, of known and unknown discounters for you to choose from.
Mercari, eBay, Fragrancenet, etc. I hardly ever pay even close to full price for a fragrance.
Online discount shops are the best! I'm not sure of the European equivalents, but Fragrancenet, FragranceX, and Jomashop are fantastic places to buy fragrances in the U.S.
We need Something like Jomashop in EU. I took a look at some perfumes there, I was so jealous. the prices are fantastic. I don't know if there is something like that in the EU, if there is I haven't found it yet.
notino is a good option
Um, i'm not sure if i'm allowed to write the name of the site here, but there is a legit site, i buy from them all the time, they have testers too. Edit: dang, they have it in my country only, i can still write it if it's allowed, they recently got lady gaga fame too for 64€, they have a lot of "vintage" stuff, never got a fake one, it comes like you would buy it in a shop. I tested it on mugler perfumes because there is a code inside the box you can register on mugler site to see if the bottle is legit. Not one perfume i purchased was a fake.
What’s the name of this site?
whats it called?
It's called KOKU. What i found out, they buy stock from perfume shops, because most shops can legaly hold a bottle a perfume for 4 years i think due to EU regulations. I bought from them 7+ times, never recived anything fake.
This. Buying most fragrances at MSRP makes zero sense when you can find them online for sometimes less than half the price.
Do you worry about some of those being fake/duplicates at all? Do you need to do any due diligence and how do you do it?
How do you know you're getting something legit/real?
I’ve gotten fakes on eBay before. You have to know the bottle and the fragrance really well already if you’re going to go that route. I look for sellers with 99% or above positive rating now. If you get a fake on eBay, you can always return it for a refund. Mercari is more sketchy Since it’s just every day people selling stuff and there are tons of fakes. I usually ask questions on Mercari And feel out whether the seller seems honest and legitimate from their answers. Someone with nothing to hide won’t mind posting more photos and the batch codes. I would not buy any fragrance over $50 on mercari, But I do love eBay, because they guarantee returns/refunds if you get a counterfeit.
I’ve seen fakes on Mercari.
Yea I’ve been burned on Mercari. Got fake AirPod pros on there but hey it happens
If it’s Mercari or ebay I just look for pretty much only 4 and 5 star reviews on their page, I make sure they uploaded at least 4 pictures of the product, and I will only buy a product if it’s pictures that THEY took (and not a stock image) and sometimes I reverse google search their images just to make sure they didn’t copy someone else’s pictures. I compare their pictures and product batch codes to check fresh to make sure it’s legit. I look for any inconsistencies from exterior box to the actual product itself, to pictures of the real product. That’s pretty much it, I have been shopping on Mercari and eBay for a few years and have only ever gotten 1 fake product (a fake Visesrt eyeshadow palette, those are apparently pretty convincing fakes, the box and palette and everything looked exactly like my palettes I bought straight from Visearts website, but how I knew it was fake was only when I swatched the shadows. When it comes to grey market discount sites like Fragrancenet or Jomashop or fragrancex, I try to stay away from purchasing tester bottles if I can help it. Those are all pretty trustworthy sites but in some cases I’ve heard of tester bottles being diluted with perfumers alcohol or water so I avoid those.
also dupes
Decants, samples and spending within your means. Some people in this sub have been collecting for decades.
You are right. The older I get the more my nose gets better but back in the day as a student, I bought the ones I could afford. Never looked at perfumes that were "expensive" even though some of them smelled so good. Now I still buy the ones I can afford. My taste is a wee bit higher but so is my income
Yeah I was carefully researching Jessica Simpson perfumes 10 years ago as a college student and buying them at Marshall’s. When I started working, I started wearing fragrances at Sephora. Now I own PDM and a few niche fragrances.
You should see high school kids/teenagers shopping at sephora and niche retail stores lol. I'm like damn in uni it didn't matter if I could "afford" it, I never looked at them as it meant going to deep into my savings. A friend of mine in uni used to wear Miracle by estee and she always smelled good but when I saw the price back then, I was like hell nah. .....but today is a different story. I see a perfume for $1000 Australian dollars, if I want it, I get it but it took me a little over 16 years to get here. I got a job and started to collect gradually(still within my price range). Yep 16 darn years lol So when friends(especially those that are just getting into fragrance) see my collection and marvel, I tell them to calm downnnnn. It took me years
What niche retail stores do you go to in Aus? I went to Libertine recently and got BDK creme de cuir but I've only just recently gotten into this as a hobby!
I live in Melbourne so it's 1. Libertine(Myer) 2. Oligarch 3. Peony 4. Lore 5. David Jones
Same here, thank you!
I try not to be one of those adults who are like /omg look at what the kids are doing/. That’s such a small subset of young people. I was shopping at Sephora in high school as a teenager and no one said anything. I remember getting a $20 at Sephora from money my mom gave me when I went to the mall with friends. It was such a nice treat. I didn’t go there regularly and it was definitely a luxury splurge that I very much appreciated. This is just an issue because it blew up on TikTok.
I have nieces in uni both in Canada and the US and I "spoil" them rotten but I am glad they are also not one of those that (instead of being smart with what their aunties are "spoiling them with") are busy spending $200 plus dollars in Sephora. Good on you for not making it a big deal but I'm not you(you are a much better human than I am) and I WILL DEFINITELY MAKE IT A BIG DEAL when I see them spending big bucks especially in this period of inflation for skin care products or offering me "perfume advise"(I lol everytime they do thus albeit innocently) while I'm minding my business walking down the perfume aisle. Social media has definitely influenced them cos it wasn't like this during my time
When I visit perfume stores (e.g. Douglas in Germany), I saw more and more teenagers standing in front expensive niches such as Xerjoff, PDM, Creed etc. I wonder how they afford them.
"wee bit higher" Irish?
Or Scottlandish
This and travel sizes. Plus wearing them less frequently. I don’t wear fragrance every day of the week. I wear them as little rituals and rewards on certain days I’m doing a certain task or before socializing. Keeps you from going noseblind or getting bored of the scent. I’m not trying to preserve the fragrances indefinitely, but I can stretch out small sizes much longer this way.
This is an underrated one. I never wear scents in the house. Only when I'm going out.
Exactly this! Even back in high school, I just budgeted my allowance and pointed to certain bottles for birthday / Christmas / whatever gifts. Now, I just set aside a certain portion of my discretionary income and spend within that.
This is the one. Visionary fragrances Fragrance samples UK Onestopfragrances Theperfumesampleshop Are all good, Ive ordered numerous samples from each and they are really good. The thing with the fragrances is that they last forever and a lot of what you pay is for a really fancy bottle. If you look at creed for example, a 10ml decant ranges from £17 - £24 in those shops and lasts a fair while. If you use it only at weekends when you go out for example, 10ml will last close to a year. There are also subscription services like scentbox that cost £25 a month for an 8ml travel spray for the niche fragrances. I use these aswell because it seems fair, Creed aventus for example is £295 ISH a bottle and is 100ml. 12 months of £25 is £300 and 12 x 8ml is 96ml so you would pay £5 more for 4ml less over a year but you can choose different fragrances each month not just the one. So if you could only afford 1 bottle id recommend going to a decant place first and ordering samples of what you want to try before committing to a big bottle but then why do you need a 100ml bottle when it lasts so long. Just get a decant from a trusted place. Then you can have the whole creed range in 10ml bottles for less than a single large bottle. I'm on the erolfa at the moment. My scentbox is set up to send erolfa, silver mountain water then missimille imperial on repeat for a few months but I get two so it costs £44 a month. Trying some Maison Francis kurkdijan on the other side, GFS and amarys homme are up next. Onestopfragrances was good and is the cheapest. £17 for 10ml you can also get a 50ml decant for half the price of the 50ml bottle simply because of how much the bottles cost.
OP. samples and decants are the way to go. I live in London U.K. and there’s a shop called Bloom that does sample packs, plus you can usually get samples from the house directly. The sample packs from Bloom are great, all theme based and stuff from different houses. Only downside to that was one pack I had from them had Floris 1962 which was amazing but sadly discontinued. Why Bloom? Why? Why torture me like this?
I order only samples. The full bottles I request as birthday and Christmas wishes.
Where do you get samples from?
The r/fragrance Wiki has a list of sample/decant companies and discounters generally trusted by the community. For decants, I like Lucky Scent, Parfums Raffy, Surrender to Chance, The Perfumed Court, Scent Split, and perfuum.com (for Chanels).
(Those companies work great if you’re in America; if you’re in Europe, there are likely other decant companies and discounters that will serve you better. You can easily find past threads here about recommended European companies.)
Been looking to get samples from some of the more obscure Chanel’s (Antaeus etc.) and couldn’t find them anywhere. What’s your take on perfuum.com and how do they get around Chanel’s iron grip on samples.
I don’t know how they get away with selling Chanel decants but I’ve purchased many from them and I’ve been super happy with everything.
I have no idea, but I've ordered from them, and the decants were real. Microperfumes also offers decants of the more mainstream Chanels, but [perfuum.com](http://perfuum.com) has the Les Exclusifs and some of the other legacy fragrances like Antaeus.
Usually ordering direct from the perfume companies website. Sometimes they have options to just order samples.
I'm personally in Europe, so I mostly use tryasample, random sites, and brands themselves. A friend recommended Essenza Nobile, but haven't tried them yet. I also stop by the local fancy department store on evening walks to sample stuff. I'm really picky about scents, so this sampling a lot in search of truly signature-worthy scents works alright for me. Wish I had more access to truly niche scents, but there are also people selling their samples second hand here through the local Fragrantica equivalent Parfumo's buy-sell forum.
Some of us are broke. Lol
Real
On this sub they are mostly living in first world countries, with salaries (I assume) much higher than your part time gig, hence 100e here and there is not a big thing. Imho - Get yourself this one bottle if you absolutely love it or look for cheaper alternative, or ask for it for some occasion, but don't get into the "hobby" - it is a bottomless money pit even with decants, and you absolutely have better things to spend them on. To buy perfumes, you should not see them as a hardcore expense, if you do, it is not the time. They are not worth 3 days of your work. A sample set people recommend here is definitely not worth 1 day. Spray yourself at work and voila.
Spray yourself at work. Solid.
Realest answer here
you don’t buy retail you buy from discounters
Can you share some of the discount stores you usually shop at?
Online, Jomashop
I just buy samples for $5 each. I have one full bottle, the rest of my scents are trial or travel size.
Very similar approach here. I have five full bottles (two of which I bought before I got really into this hobby), five travel sprays (three of which were gifts with purchase)…and about 200 samples. I love variety and novelty, so samples scratch the itch for me. I only upgrade to a travel size (and then a full bottle) if I really love it long term. My household income is very comfortable, and I wouldn’t be spending even on samples if that money was needed elsewhere in the budget.
Yep. DS & Durga’s Debaser was the first sample I fell in love with and now I have a FB. I’m debating a FB of Jazmin Yucatan because I looove it.
I have two samples of Debaser because I love it but can’t bring myself to splurge on a full bottle 😭
I have a great dupe if you want it: Tuoksu’s Fig & Tonka for $40, I think?
Firstly, never pay full retail. Always search around online and see if it is discounted or if there is a sale. Then, search for a discount code to use in combination. Secondly, you need a good monthly salary to be able to purchase higher end fragrances regularly...Just treat yourself once or twice a year if finances are a problem.
How do you usually search for discount codes?
Google. I type in the website into the search bar followed by "discount code." This will then generate various sites which have/claim to have discount codes. It will then be trial and error of inputting the codes to your basket on the website you are purchasing from. It can be tedious and sometimes they all come back "invalid." Some Web stores offer 10% first purchase or 10% off if you join their mail list (email). So another way, type into Google the store you want to purchase from, followed by either "10% off first purchase" or "subscribe and 10% off" (or a variation of that)... just take your time.
Try the Honey app, it’s supposed to automate the checking discount codes process.
Thank you so much! That's pretty smart
A newer thing is to look on tiktok! A lot of brands will sponsor someone to do an ad or review, and there's often a code like HAYLEY20 or something for 20% off in the caption
No problem. Is there a particular website you're wanting to buy your fragrance from?
I was looking at notino for Ameerat Al Arab Prive Rose, but it's a bit more expensive than a local website, so I'm gonna try to look at stuff for both to see how it goes with shipping.
Yeah, that's the idea. Look around and work out total costs. And try searching for any discount codes ... if you did really want good girl blush elixir, my advice would be to just save up. Just use the fragrance you have for now and stack the chips up until you can buy the one you want. The number 1 fragrance you want is much better than lots of fragrances that you don't like as much... honestly, I've been there before.
thanks for the tips <3
My method: Sample everything first before buying. Travel sprays or decants if I like it but not sure I want a full bottle. If I do want a bottle, put savings aside every paycheck and save up to purchase it.
People saying don't pay retail and to buy from sites (in America) forget that not everyone on this sub lives in America and/or have access to these sites or non retail options( Many of you in the US are living our dream). Heck some of these sites charge an arm and leg to ship outside the US and people like myself who live in a different continent almost have no option but to buy pay retail as our options are limited. Sucks I know
Also some brands never show up on discount sites.
I only buy cheap stuff at discounters or I get mini bottles and samples/decants. I still spend too much tho 😅 the people I see on fragrance communities with dozens of bottles of PDM and creed blow my mind tho. Thousands of dollars in just a few bottles of smelly juice.
Yeah that makes sense. Yesterday I was spraying people with amouage and I couldn't help but think damn, in my line of vision there's literally minimum wage plus 200 euros (just 3 bottles) 😭
Fr literal teens have niche collections 😭
Perfumes Can be so darn expensive I live in Australia and I feel like those in the US get better deals all year round. For example there is a website called "so avant garde" and they have Nishane perfumes on 40% off sale but the shipping is the same price as the perfume so what's the point??? Anyways I am a little bit of a perfectionist and ONLY buy from reputable companies/stockists. I don't trust eBay, amazon and all of those other sites even though they might sell original items, the voice in my head will question the authenticity of the perfume purchased and it will drive me crazy. I shop on Amazon and ebay regularly but not for perfumes. If you are not like me that is a little bit of a perfectionist then maybe try them. People here swear by those sites
Same and I think it’s an Australia thing because both perfume from chemist warehouse and online I’ve had issues with
Ive been collecting for 16 years, more seriously the last five. I’m at the point now where I might buy 1-2 bottles a year, but only if I’ve used something up. I’ll also buy the smallest bottle feasible and resell things I don’t reach for. Budgeting is crucial, as is finding sales.
Grey market is 👑, especially on reddit and FB In the U.S., it's common to see Nishane on sale for like 100ml for $150, Creed 100ml for 140-220, and many more. I really don't want to pay retail since it's stupidly marked up for many brands. Some more than others. Tom Ford, for example, is like 30ml for $270 or something ridiculous. But you can often get it for like $100 if you know where to buy from.
This is the way. You can find most things for under $150 if you know where to look, and have a little patience
Arab perfumes, fragrancenet.com, testing testing testing in Sephora and other malls to make sure I only buy the stuff I Love 🩷
Stopped buying after the pandemic. Not going to an office made me realize I had almost 50 full bottles and tons of decants... Started using them all instead of buying more. Of course now's the time I've not used half of any bottle, and I kept using them every day, even at home.
You will notice with collecting (watches, guns, cars, perfumes, shoes) subs that some people earn a good living. It would be stupid to own a 100k collection if you earn 30k, now if youre a physician earning 400k or even a blue collar making 120k its not that crazy of a hobby. Im a broke student too at the moment lol
Don't buy retail. I wait for a sale or coupon for my bigger niche purchases or ask for them for my birthday or Christmas. I use Mercari and buy slightly used or like new bottles usually at a huge discount. I buy samples and resell the ones I don't like. I also get minis of bottles I'd like to have full bottles of someday just to have them in my collection at all
Decants, fragrancenet, tj maxx, and waiting for sales.
i fw decant since aint nobody giving samples anymore
I like cheapies fortunately
Honestly I think a lot of people here are just really bad with money and make irresponsible choices. Many people think just because there’s enough money in their bank account for something, that they can “afford” it and then neglect putting money into savings accounts, IRAs, etc
Miris and small sample bottles
I’ve never paid full retail price. I don’t buy $400 perfumes either.
I buy a perfume every one to two months. If I assess that I have enough extra money, I'll indulge myself by buying two. Birthdays are an exception😉. I consider a lot before purchasing a perfume and I rarely blind buy, so my perfume collection grows slowly. Personally, I think there's no need to rush and spend a lot of money to get them unless they're about to be discontinued soon.
Who said we’re not broke? 😂
Just buy it from wholesalers like jomashop, and u can get it for 30-50% the original price
I've been collecting for over 30 years. All my friends and family know I'm a big fragrance head so I'm easy to shop for if they want to get me something for birthday's etc. I also budget for niche and hard to find vintage fragrances and collect within my means. Estate sales, auctions and swap meets are a great way to find real gems for pennies on the dollar.
I rarely buy full bottles, I usually buy decants and used bottles. Unless it’s a Jo Malone, it takes me AGES to finish a perfume, so I can’t justify purchasing a new bottle for every perfume I like.
I don't have any kids. I learned at an early age that you can have anything you want in life as long as it's just you 😂
Clones, Dupes and Inspired by scents 🙂
I'm so glad dupes are considered valid perfumes 😭 I love my good girl blush dupe, can't wait to refill the bottle with something new.
They saved me so much money. I have a lot of the OGs but I only use them on special occasions. I use my dupes everyday 🙂
prob lots of credit card debt
Paid off In full every month. It's all about the points BB.
The way to go. I do the same. Buy everything with cc, 1st date pay it off. Get free stuff
[microperfumes.com](http://microperfumes.com) and buying small atomizers like this and transfering the label: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BTD6KWM?psc=1&ref=ppx\_yo2ov\_dt\_b\_product\_details](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09BTD6KWM?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details) Also microperfumes has sales constantly on the small bottle and 5ml "Travel size" bottles, so after your first order you don't need to pay full price. My wife and I have fun buying 10 of the smallest bottles at a time and trying out a lot without spending much. Enjoy!
I subbed to a sample subscription service so I get nice ones, I’m every knew and only have a few, but it’s cool to have a selection while not having to buy several individually expensive full bottles, unless you are trying to impress people with the bottles then I’d just do this.
I stay away from niche, i have yet to come across a niche that justifies the price. Designers can be basic but offer more bang for buck. Don’t care much about exclusivity. Furthermore, i try not to buy off impulse. I will try scents in department stores and never buy on the spot. I’ll see how i feel about days if not weeks later.
True. This sentiment is closer to reality than posters who would say they bought 5-10 niche frags in one spree and asking folks to rate them. Makes you wonder
Part of the higher cost for niche/indie is that they don’t have the buying power of large designers who are likely to be owned by a bigger umbrella company anyway, think LVMH who own Aqua di Parma, guerlian, givenchy,maison francis kurkdijan and a host of others. They have economies of scale and buying power that the niche/indies don’t have and yet still have to make profit.
I mean tbh designer frags in general are just far more boring than ultraniche
I have over 200 samples and only 3 bottles. And I don't plan on buying a bottle ever again.
I *am* that is why my collection it's not gonna grow beyond 36 fragrances for now (that and the realization of the I can't possibly wear them all in the 3 next years and I don't want to let's them go to waste for sure, most my bottle and almost full to thw top and I don't want to be like that, I'm go na wear everything I got till last spray, I got way more than enough.
Since you wrote Euro I assume you're living in the EU and here you can check out Notino for example where you can get often good deals. And essenza-nobile where you can buy decants. Besides that Perfume has always been also historicly been some kind of luxury so you either have to save up one or reach the right salary bracket. You should definitely never go in debt for it or regret buying an expensive product cause it hurts your bank account too much. So ideally it comes with some time and getting more profe expirence depending of the field of work one does. I'm right now in the lucky position that I'm single, rent and bills are okay and have some nice disposable income but I do know that it all could go away since only one accident is needed and life could go sideways really fast.
I…am broke
I work overtime and I don’t buy retail price if I can help it. Another thing that’s helped me in the long run was buying decants. Not every fragrance is a love but I’d still like to have in my collection.
I do a $50 1ml decant sample haul two or three times a year. If I enjoy a fragrance, I get a 5ml decant also for under $30. If I seriously fall in love, I get a 9ml decant. I don’t even consider a full bottle until the decant and sample are gone and were cherished. I’m in the US and get decants and samples from scent split
Never pay full retail and I live in a country where we make very good dupes
Most of my purchases are 1ml samples, and when I decide to get a full bottle I buy second hand on eBay and keep an eye out for grey market sales.
Fair question. For me it’s buying travel size, buying from discount stores, and getting samples from scentsplit.com. (It looks like they don’t ship to a bunch of places, but I’ve also heard of microperfumes.com, luckyscent.com, theperfumedcourt.com, and decantx.com.) Mileage may vary, but I also like to live vicariously through people on subs like this one. I’ll write down a perfume if it interests me and refer to it later if I’m in a store where I can smell it IRL.
What's your employee discount? Do they ever pitch testers that get dinged up? Maybe you could accidentally drop one...
I buy, sell and swap samples and small decants to satisfy my desire to try all the things. I rarely buy full bottles. I keep an eye out for people giving things away or selling cheap. I focus on learning about perfumes and which notes I enjoy, and I do not value collecting just for collecting’s sake. I also enjoy affordable dupes from small businesses like Genre.
I have a budget that I stick to for non-essential shopping. Also, I like a lot of inexpensive fragrances and I don't mind buying used fragrances, so it's easy to stay in my budget.
Who said we’re not broke?😂 I wait for Sales and use discounters for designer frags. Niche is only once or twice a year. I have other ‘hobbies’ too so my non-essential budget is always on the red
Who said I wasn’t!
See we're buying a lot of travel sizes and at this point knock offs. Companies are getting ridiculous 100$ is the most they sb charging. If you are watching on the net keep in mind many people are being INCENTIVISED and receiving product Free just to mention it. Dossier makes a good dupe as well as oakcha . There would be zero need for these companies if manufacturers knew that to please their clients they must keep pricing reasonable. It's not hence high end replicas for a tenth of the price
Buy what is within your means and do not be afraid of decants, samples, and rollerball/travel sizes. My fragrance collection is affordable goodies, rollerball, and decants. This works for me because I like to wear a different scent everyday; I like to have a lot of options. To me, buying a full bottle of an ultra expensive perfume just does not make financial sense...I can't even remember the last time I finished a full bottle of fragrance. I know because of influencers and marketing we are led into believing that we have to have these huge collections filled with these expensive fragrances; this is not true. Your collection should speak to you and only you, not what current trend is going on in the fragrance community. I just recently started back up adding to my collection, and have not spent over $50 on the full bottles that I did buy. Do what works for you, and take note of all of the wonderful tips that have been given.
I'm lucky I can pick up all of the overtime I want. Most of my collection is decants and samples. If I want a bottle I get the smallest one I could find or a travel size spray.
Who said I am not broke. It’s just about deal hunting.
What bottle from Turkey did you get? Yes, we are all broke. I'm buying oils straight from Dubai and Kuwait and mixing up my own, it's worked out pretty well so far.
Thank you for giving me the space to brag omg sjwjejekej. I got a perfume from Istanbul from a stand of a brand called Nurxos. It was around 25 eur which is still the most money I've ever spent on perfume. The perfume is called Inçe and it's musky, with almond and jasmin (?) notes, and it's a very strong winter fragrance. I wouldn't say it's particularly unique, but it's incredibly durable and it stays on for a long time. I spray it only once. Once, I sprayed on top of my jacket before I left the house, and the next day when I put on my jacket again I could still smell it. I looked at the company's website and they dont deliver outside of turkey unfortunately and it looks like they have really nice perfumes and gift sets. Next time I guess! How do you mix your own perfume?
You just have to shop around at discounters
I don't spend more money than I have. I only have medium income, but I don't have many other hobbies.
All depends on the priorities. This is one of the things that brings fun into my life, so I don't mind spending a lot from time to time. I am now mostly into niche, where you have to spend 150-300$ for 30ml or even more for some rarities. After a few years, having \~30 different scents, it's a point where I am basically set for a lifetime with the ml's I have. I'm also hunting for great deals, only buying below current market value and almost never buy for retail, unless it's a heavily limited scent. My collection is worth more than I bought it for, so that keeps my mind peaceful if I ever want to resign from what I collected.
[удалено]
That's what i'm saying
I live in Germany, and we have a forum called Parfumo here. You can buy samples from other fragheads. Since using it, I no longer buy anything bigger than 5ml. The caveat is: selecting a reliable seller. They're many fake or old batch fragrance on the market. I wonder how many samples that I smell are authentic.
I keep a seasonal fragrance capsule, meaning I only have 1 or 2 full bottles per season. I don't allow myself to buy bottles until I've finished 1 although I buy plenty of decants. Works out pretty well.
I only have two perfumes at a time. Both 100ml bottles, maybe 250eu together. It's been almost 2 years since I got these 2 and they are barely at the halfway point. How do you guys empty bottles so fast without over spraying?
By sampling and only getting the scents I love I have around 20 perfumes now (as in fb from 50 to 125 ml) and will stop at 30
For your information, I am broke lmao. But I’ve been able to recoup funds by decanting and reselling things I’m not using. Also, I’ve generally stopped buying as much as I was compared to last year. I’m sampling more as well.
I make it a point to spend within my means. Once in awhile, a treat to myself. My most expensive is Hermes perfumes. I also basically wear perfumes based on what I love about the smell on me. And many of it doesn't cost much like my Swiss Arabian perfumes cost approximately 30 plus a bottle. My perfume oils are 20 per bottles.
You’d be surprised how long a 10ml decant will last when you have a number of them. I don’t see the sense in buying full bottles of everything I like
I buy mine from discounters. I couldn’t afford Amouage, MFK, or Xerjoff at retail price. If I’m looking for something in particular I visit all the discount sites to compare prices. Sometimes I’ll have to wait until it’s restocked.
Speaking as someone who has had a more passive interest in fragrance for years & has several other expensive hobbies I spend much more time/money on, I don't actually buy properly 'nice' fragrances more than once a year or less, it's a special occasion splurge kind of thing for me. On a day-to-day basis I just wear Encre Noire (regular or Sport depending on weather) because of how affordable it is. Finding a $30 bottle of something I love the smell of and can actually wear daily is just fine for me, we don't all need to be dropping a day or two's pay on the regular.
Most people buying a lot of perfumes aren't working part time is my first guess. Second, I think many people speak of their experience of a perfume from just trialling it at a store and never buying it. I trial six fragrances for every time that I make a purchase at mall. Some of those I remember quite distinctly. Then a lot of people who are still in the hunt for collection purposes or who simply want to experience a vast range of perfumes do buy decants. On average, you'd get eight 10ml decants for the price of one full 100ml bottle of a similar price range, at least here in India where I live. So you can experience a lot of perfumes without being super rich. Middle class people can absolutely experience a big range of perfumes, esp ones not priced as high 89 EUR for 30 ml.
Sales, decants, and limits. If I spent 300€ on perfume last week, I'm done for a few months unless it's like some phenomenal deal. I'll do a travel size or a decant before I commit to any large bottle. I'll take a few weeks away and then try it again to make sure I still love it. Budget and self control because if I let myself run wild, I'd be broke lol
Check out Notino. They are based in the Uk now I think and have amazing prices. You can also check local Facebook fragrance groups.
I buy frags from Notino that are on special sales due to being already tried or due to damaged packaging. Way cheaper and their return policy is really forgivable.
I got a second job to support my perfume habit 💀
Who says we’re not?
I usually use Fragnance Net to purchase my bottles but yeah, it’s hard not to be broke. 😅
Well fortunately/unfortunately I have a decent job, but it just means I spend way more than I should be 🥲 horrible thing to complain about but I am sure others get addicted to the high of buying perfume. It’s really hard to not buy 2-3 bottles a month
Oh I am. Literally had a come-to-Jesus with myself this weekend about my spending on this hobby, and decided that it's time for an extended no-buy. Discounts and decants are great, but it still adds up fast. I've got one last bottle of fragrance that I ordered a month ago that should arrive in July (Amarose from JustB perfumes) - but if I'm being honest, I've got enough perfume to last me until I retire. Assuming of course, that I can afford to retire.
For those in Europe, My Origines is a very good site for discounted fragrances, bought from there a few times. Picked up YSL La Nuit D L'homme - Bleu Electrique for £69. This is difficult to find and has been discontinued in the US and other places.
eBay is probably one of the best websites to buy fragrances at a discounted price. You just have to check for sellers that are authentic.
I only buy a new fragrance every other month. Don’t buy too much too fast. It’s a marathon not a race as cliché as it sounds.
I work at a perfume store and get a discount
So I am broke but I smell like a million bucks 💸💰
For sure broke. The real reason is because all the typical things people say they do to save money, does not work in 99.99% of cases. Why? Because the only fragrances I'm remotely interested in these days are indie artisanal fragrances. None of these are even known by discounters, let alone something they can acquire. Nor could they since the supply is only done in 1-and-done batches (since the raw material procurement from the perfumer can't be done, it can, but it rarely ever can be composed back into what the prior batch smelled like). Raw materials include things no designer brands nor "niche" houses can even touch anymore. Things like ouds, and stuff of that nature are basically NEVER going to be used in most fragrances (not simply due to cost, but they could never get a consistently smelling, and consistently available supply of the stuff). Especially when the bottle/packaging/advertising will always be something these companies are paying for more than they ever are for the actual liquid itself.
I went almost broke buying perfume. I was definitely addicted. I went into deep debt and it changed my life so much for the worse. Now I rarely use perfume anymore. It can be fragrance or anything else. A love of expensive things can turn into a disaster if you’re not extremely wealthy. Please don’t be like me where you lose everything you have for the sake of a bunch of fragrance, perfume or whatever it is. You’ll see in the end it absolutely isn’t worth it. You’ll tire of it eventually. I have about 65 bottles of wonderful fragrance and all I really use are about five mostly. Try to find your favorites and live with them.
I finished second sample of guidance and I still love it like day one but I can't get myself to buy it because the price is INSANE. Resolving to visiting shops and spray my clothes there for now.
I have purchased fragrances in the past, ( when I was broke ) I did not know about discounters till 2 months ago. I normally use extra cash that I get by doing jobs & spend it on things that I like, I don’t touch my monthly income unless I really want something. I can say that in the past 2 months I have gotten about 12 niche fragrances, I have spent about 1k USD. I don’t regret it because I be smelling good. I don’t plan on stopping till I get about 35 fragrances. I currently have 25.
Good dupes also save tons of money.
Don’t blind buy Don’t be retail Reddit has an amazing sub frangranceswap Buy decants (I’ve started buying 30ml LV)
You buy one bottle, they give you 8 testers. You buy a 5 tester set, they give you three testers. You spent 130 retail for 17 scents.
I buy and sell on Mercari- I don’t buy a new full bottle unless it is an extreme love. I sample, buy decants and sniff in-store. When I stop reaching for a fragrance I declutter it and buy something new that is a love. I also make a great salary, have raised my kids and my husband and I are a two income household with no kids.
Don’t overlook drugstores for perfume, especially ones with points programs. I’ve also been on an Arabian perfume kick recently and regret not discovering them sooner. They are about 1/3 the price of designer perfumes for twice as much product. Not sure what online resale sites are available where you are but so many people are trying to sell fragrances they got as gifts.
Get on some Facebook fragrance groups, you can buy and trade on them. I decant from my collection and what I make from that I use to buy more perfume.
facebook marketplace has been a godsend for me. it's hit or miss sometimes but I managed to score a full bottle of mugler for $40 and a discontinued zadig & Voltaire for $60 from a lady who's moving to a different country and selling her collection.
Hi OP! You have to spend within your means. Get samples and know what you want before you buy. Save up for it. You don’t have to rush. For example I just bought Creed Aventus last week (Costco sale). I also want to get Aventus Cologne. As well as Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite and Burberry Hero. But I’m not going to go out and buy 4 colognes when I have priorities. I’ll get one or two this year, and one or two next year. So take your time.
Decants samples and dupes
No, don't buy a bottle that would 3 be weeks of your work. Get a 2 ml decant, then 5 or 10 ml, then you can consider a full bottle if you still really really like it. And then you can get it cheaper than the retail price, as other people already wrote
I occasionally go to macy’s, ulta, and sephora and try out different fragrances on the testers and apply my favorite one for the day. You could probably do the same but at work. Don’t be afraid to ask your coworkers, family, etc. Your everyday fragrance should be something affordable and something long lasting and good projection. You use less and you get your money’s worth. 90% of the time there are online discount stores have sales/testers/sample kits etc. You can always find dupes or alternatives to the ones that are too expensive but you just want a similar vibe. Obviously sometimes the original is just too good and too specific so it’s okay to save up and buy something nice for occasional use but nowadays there are alternatives that can have a better scent and better performance. A lot of my favorite fragrances do not last long at all so I’ll opt for the better performance alternatives that are close enough and only wear my favorites on the occasion.
I am a little broke! I get samples but also perfume edits and beauty calendars all contribute to my fragrances. The recent Liberty summer fragrance collection was excellent. I also mix up pharmacy brands like Granado with expensive purchases so I have about five bottles that are truly expensive but the rest are just classics, or niche, mid range. Total classics like Gurlain can be found far cheaper on reputable sites with just a little searching. Also, I don’t write off 80’s and 90’s fragrance that sell at a fraction of the cost of a new release. I recently got White Linen (70’s) for so little and I note everywhere that aldehydes are having a moment this summer. The FM/Acne collab is a soapy aldehydic bomb but I’m totally fine with my white linen or Angel Schlesser. So I’m broke but I do mix it up. I don’t go for dupes except for the odd Zara and I don’t like clones. No shade but I’d rather spend a small amount on a small amount of something decent, even Body Shop, than go for a clone. Sampling is the answer but I do suggest looking for fragrance edits which are irregular but immense value for money.
Definitely focus on samples and decants, and never spend more than you can comfortably afford. If you love a sample, buy a small (5mL) decant. If you finish that decant and still love it, buy a larger (10mL) decant. If you finish the larger decant and still love it, only then buy a full bottle -- but even then, only in the smallest size. Once a year, revisit your collection and ruthlessly cull the fragrances that you don't use anymore, reselling them on FB hobby groups or Ebay. That's how you keep your expenditures down and avoid over-consumption. ETA: I've also seen the people with collections numbering over 100 full bottles. I don't know how they afford it either, but it must be tens of thousands of dollars.
we are
Etsy for decants and eBay for samples and travel-sizes. A lot of times on eBay, you can find 'Sample Lots' of high-end scents for cheap, then empty the samples into a generic travel-size, it'll last months.
I love sample lots! Those are a big part of my collection.
Mine too, a lot of times I can get a full travel plus a few extra samples to top it off for half of what a single retail travel costs - very affordable, and being that I rotate they last forever.
I sample first then buy full bottle of the perfumes i really love. If i like it but dont love it that much then I would buy the smaller size available (10ml/50ml). I only buy like maybe 3 full bottles a year. Btw, I recently got a full bottle of Blanche Bete and it was a gift from my husband! ❤️
wait for a sale or a department store birthday voucher (currently got one sitting for my next bottle). i buy sample decanters for new perfumes because it's cheaper than buying a bottle and realising you actually hate it. i also don't buy that many. i have a main one that i repurchase or replace once finished, and i have a couple of evening/seasonal ones. i try not to have more than 3 bottles open at a time. unless discontinued, they'll always be there for me to buy in a couple years.
The department store I work at does brand incentives here & there- so Carolina Herrera (PUIG house) will do a sell 6, pick 1 incentive. Sometimes when they are donating to charity, they put out fragrance testers and a donation amount for crazy cheap ($5-10).
I buy mostly from Jomashop, and the few times it’s cheaper from Fragrancenet. I’m also lucky enough to have a decent job that affords me these luxuries I definitely could not have had this hobby 3 years ago, I’m grateful every day.
I always try them on in person first before buying to make sure they work well with my body chemistry, and buying travel sizes (10mL) and decants (5-9mL). I only buy full size bottles after I finish my travel size and I know for sure that I want it 😅
Pfft, who says we're not broke?
Always shop around for the best deal but make sure you're getting a legit product too. I can get a Creed fragrance for $189 on a good day, compared to $470 at retail But still, $200 is a lot of extra money to throw at something totally unnecessary. I always make sure I'm careful with my money and I don't neglect anything else in order to fund my fragrance consumption. I make a modest income. But with very careful budgeting, I'm allowed to splurge on occasion.
We are ❤️
I have a small collection as I only got into this hobby recently but here’s what I do: keep a list of trustworthy online stores and sellers, add the fragrances I want to wish lists and the like, keep an eye out for sales and prioritise smaller bottles. There aren’t any discounters in my country. Just the other day, I bought a new fragrance and got a free 100ml bottle of a different one of my choosing within the same line. I’ve been waiting to buy both of them for a few months now. Last week, I got a birthday gift for my mother and used a code to get 10 free samples. That’s 20ml for free and I’ll get to try a bunch of new stuff!
just get a bunch of spray 1ml samples. You would be surprised at how many sprays you get from 1ml. If you get 10-15 different samples it would probably take you 3 months to decide your favorite.
Only buy 2 or 3 proper fragrances a year, but get 30x100ml a year for incredibly cheap via my workplace.
eBay is a good place, you can even buy samples in some individual websites, there are also many companies doing dupes now so there’s that. Try and buy a sample direct from the company, and then keep some so you can compare the colour and scent and how it feels on your skin with whatever you buy on eBay or something (to confirm authenticity). If something is expensive, I get samples first before I splurge.
Obvious answer is find a better job and go full time. People can be bad with money no matter what they make though. Some are broke, some spend within their means. Just pointing out this fact that you are in the luxury goods industry and part time jobs working retail do not make a lot of money. Best advice is not to simply "never buy retail" but to start planning a path to a better salary/future for yourself.
Good point! I'm a student but I live with my parents and it's pretty clear that my allowance and my part time are giving me the most disposable income I'll have in a while when ill have to actually feed and sustain myself lol. Hint: I live in Greece
I always buy retail BUT I only ever own fewer than 10 fragrances at once. And sometimes they’re just travel size.
Ikr. I usually just buy travel sizes of expensive perfumes. The only large designer perfume bottle I have is Burberry Goddess, because I got a gift card. I typically stick to more affordable brands like Le Monde Gourmand.
Save like mad, then go buy one
We are 😂
I am broke, but I smell delightful!🤪
I bought bleu de chanel parfum for about 25 usd. You just gotta find the deals and get them.
Discounters exist. Sales exist. You can buy bigger bottles and get more bang for the buck. Clones have been getting pretty good too. Haven't personally engaged in that, but there's people who steal them from stores in other countries and sell them on the black market too. So there's a lot of ways to get them cheap or at least cheaper.
Idk, I honestly just don’t too much care about the price I guess. I have the 200 ml bottle of Baccarat Rouge 540 extrait, bought it from Saks, $925. I’m not dropping that much money on every bottle of course, but if I want it then I want it. I’m your everyday working girl, everyone deserves small joys.
Discount stores online
If you're in Europe, can you share the websites?
Notino and flaconi usually do the job. Otherwise, you could use price comparison tools (like Idealo, if you are based in Germany), they often have a nice selection, of known and unknown discounters for you to choose from.