Confidence is the keyword when it comes to fragrances. When I wear a fragrance it's about how that fragrance makes me feel. Not about what others think of how I smell.
I am a married straight woman that likes some unisex or masculine leaning fragrances, I was asked once if I was lesbian 🤣 did that make me stop wearing what I like? No 😎💅🏼
Boom! I roll my eyes when I see people seeking “compliment getters” and “beast mode” fragrances. They never spend enough time with one scent to feel confident and comfortable with it just like one would with a suit. A fragrance is only an accessory for a well groomed well dressed individual.
YES! I'm currently having a wild retro-themed love affair with Rogue Perfumery's 'Mousse Illuminee' and just feel so happy whenever I spray it, even if I'm at home by myself. I feel like Burt Reynolds circa 1981 cruising to a forest cabin in a 1969 Camaro with a cardboard cutout of Jerry Hall in the passenger seat. What you wrote totally resonated with me because I'm a woman so can't imagine Mousse Illuminee goes down well with people who smell me doused in all it's barbershop-pine forest-soapy-animalic glory! When I wear it, I'm reliving memories of my father's Pino Silvestre scented Sunday morning bathroom ablutions and paying homage to all the great masculine 'blokes' I've known in my life. I don't imagine people particularly enjoy me smelling of Mousse Illuminee but just as you said, I'm so confident and happy when I wear it that I don't care how other people evaluate my sillage. :D Not enough people rejoice and expand on what you talked about and I wish they would. Such fun!
Hey Teddy. I believe the biggest mistake when collecting fragrances is letting other people influence your purchasing habits, whether they are hyping a fragrance up or putting it down. At the end of the day, your sense of smell is connected strongly to your memories and emotions, so the person who ultimately decides what smells good is you and you alone.
It’s actually a great tool for helping me make informed decisions on which fragrances to sample next. The truth is, hyped up fragrances are hyped up for good reason and more often than not, they are actually good.
This was one of the best guides for fragrance collecting I have seen. I will reiterate as I agree with everything you said: 1) Buy with a purpose. Always otherwise you'll start to lose money if you just go the trial and error route. 2) There is no one best fragrance for any brand. Buy what you like. 3) Someone else's treasure might be your trash. And visa versa. I have read many reviews on fragrances rated very highly in the community, but I would not wear them personally. They're not my cup of tea nor do they fit within my fragrance wardrobe or style 4) High price doesn't always mean high quality. I wish I knew this early on. I have around forty $160+ a bottle fragrances. A few of them don't last more than 2 hours and become strictly a skin scent, and there are a few more that only last 3-4 before becoming a skin scent. For that kind of price I thought I'd be getting beast mode fragrances. Or at least that's what I thought when I first got into expensive niche fragrances. My assumption was that they all must be absolutely high quality fragrances with amazing silage and hours and hours of projection. This was a very expensive lesson to learn. A few of these fragrances I'll never buy again just because even I can't smell them after 3-4 hours. They're not worth the money 5) Don't fall for hype. Almost every fragrance review hypes the perfume they're reviewing. Don't tall into that trap or you'll end up buying everything the reviewers tell you to buy. You'll always have FOMO after watching a review. The best way to go about this my point #1. Tell yourself I want to have these many fragrances because i want to have a fragrance for so and so occasion or use. And once all your bases are covered, stop. It could be 2 fragrances that may be all you need or 20, but have a realistic plan. There is no end to this hobby, it is a money suck. 6) Buy what YOU love. Don't worry about what other people think. If I don't love a scent, I don't buy it. You have to love it, and really want the NEED to have it. Otherwise you'll end up buying more fragrances than you know what to do with. I have been there. I end up giving away bottles to family members as I realize I have too many and the ones I gave away I no longer cared for. And that's because I initially liked them but over time I didn't care for them. If you love a fragrance, and I mean that you can't get it out of your head after a few nights sleep, then you know you have to have it. 7) Always test the fragrance on your skin BEFORE you buy. It is important to know how it works on your skin, what the dry down smells like, and how long it lasts for you. The dry down test is very important as all fragrances want to make an amazing first impression so top notes are always made sure they grab you from the first spray, but development over time will tell you how you feel about it over a 30-60 minute time frame. 8) Which leads me to my final point. The initial impression of the scent you'll find may vary from fragrance to fragrance making you want to add that to your collection. The dry down for many fragrances are pretty similar. And you'll realize that especially if you're looking at fragrances within the same family. Such as tobacco scents, smoky scents, incense scents etc. The initial blast might be unique but the dry downs for most are similar and you have to think to yourself do I need a fragrance where the differences only last around an hour and then for the remainder of the day they're similar? is it worth having them as part of my collection. This was another expensive lesson to learn and one of the reasons I gave away a lot of my bottles as in the end they were more similar to each other than different.
Great video, very important subjects mentioned! My thoughts 1-Wear what you love, leave the rest 2- SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE 3-QUALITY not quantity 4-Compliments aren’t are factor at all in buying a fragrance 5-Don’t be a toxic enthusiast, there’s enough of those already
YES. I can’t tell you how annoyed I am when I go to try a fragrance that everyone is raving about and I smell it just to think, “ew, what’s so good about it?” And then I try another one that people hate and I end up loving it.
i'm not judging, it's a lil weird that I'm seeing my boy teddy who I've been watching in the world of watches now talking about my other interests in fragrance but I'm glad he did, keep it up!
Very informative video, thanks. IMO you can buy fragrance samples (2-3ml) as much as you want without any rules. With a 3ml bottle, you can spray 45-60 times. So you can have a decision about the fragrance. To buy full bottles (esp. niche ones) you have to think twice. And if you want to have more than 5 fragrances, buy the smallest bottle.
I agree, yet I will say that receiving a free sample will not give you the same data/knowledge as even a travelers bottle size. I’ve fallen in love with some samples that when I got the large bottle, I also quickly got tired of/only wore during one season, and literally felt like I was forcing myself to ‘use up’ the fragrance. It’s one thing when you have a special occasion fragrance, but some of these bottles and scents are supposed to be everyday, ask yourself if you would actually wear it everyday.
You're much more disciplined than I. I buy 5 - 8 at a time. Often they have a theme. For example: vetivers, tobacco, spring niche, a perfumer, house, vibe, etc.
I think fragrance youtubers (1) normalize the idea of buying everything as soon as it comes out (which maybe they "have to" if their channel is their main income stream and it covers that cost, but otherwise they probably have a problem) and (2) tend to only talk about things they like (either because they just don't want to be negative, which is fine, or because they have a relationship with the brandd) which gives the impression that everybody buys everything and likes everything.
This one makeup mainly youtuber was reviewing a House Of Sillage $1000 fragrance that she got for free from the brand, she just did positive points...what about the cons? (The price was one for me) I called her out on it 😐 that really bothered me.
I'm not even 4 minutes in and I'm gobsmacked at the truths so far. Wow. Something I've been doing lately is layering one of my older fragrances with one of my less older ones to come up with interesting blends. I find them less boring that way...you're right, my tastes HAVE changed and sometimes some of the memories conjured when I wear an older perfume aren't really all that pleasant and so mixing a newer fragrance with it helps change up the memory pathways. I love a new perfume rush and this is an interesting way to achieve that without having to spend a crap ton of money.
I agree with overvaluing complements. I buy what I like all the time and what I tend to like most of the time is mass pleasing and not really a complicated fragrance. Also I use to never think I would spend over $100 for a fragrance when I was younger but went through a phase where I would spend a few hundred dollars on a bottle cause that's what I liked at the time but currently I'm finding myself looking into the middle eastern type fragrances that aren't expensive but perform great. My taste has changed alot through these last couple years. This was a very good video to make. Thanks for the info.
Also check fragrantica reviews. I know the reviews are many and varied but they have brought certain things to my attention that the youtube reviewers didn't mention, and have talked me out of blind buying many fragrances. Always do your research to narrow down the field...and then sample. Sometimes quality can be the most economic thing to buy as it may require less sprays, and less respraying. Cheapies that require massive sprays and resprays during the day can actually cost more in the long run.
I bought my first three fragrances as blind buys. I once smelled Black Afghano and was amazed by it and bought it. Now I don't even use it. The hype went down. After that I Immediately went and bought Blamage without even trying it and was disappointed really. That's the money I cannot get back. Now what I do is I go to the store and try a few that I see as recommended. If I like it, I will get a 20ml decant, much cheaper than a full bottle. After some testing If I continue to like a smell, I will buy a full bottle. Saved a lot of money!
Biggest issue in most places is that there is no way of trying niche frags. Obviously you can buy samples but that just becomes expensive in its own way.
Great message. I just discovered your page yesterday and I really like what I've seen so far. I'm an impulse buyer and have plenty of designer choices and this reminds me that I but them for me and not for compliments. Those are just bonuses. Certain frags make me feel good and I know I smell good (to me).
Great video. I just started building a small fragrance collection about a year ago. I’ve wasted about $150 blind buying fragrances based on recommendations by TH-cam channels. Everything in this video is common sense but I wish I had seen it a year ago.
This commentary couldn't be far from the truth. One of the truest there has been on this TH-cam channel. Buy fragrance cause it smell good to YOU! I agree wholeheartedly.
I have so much respect for you for having put out this video. The extent to which the fragcom has turned into sales instead of honest reviews is nauseating. And ppl fall for it! I would also add that we shouldn't buy a perfume just based on the opening. We should wear it and let it evolve on our skin. And never test more than 3 perfumed at a time, otherwise your olfactory senses will get confused and you may end up regretting your purchase.
Thank you Teddy for this video! I should have seen this years and years ago. I started with this hobby about 30 years ago and indeed... I've made all these mistakes. First I had a small collection of only designer which grew bigger and bigger. Than I got into the niche and litterly gave away all my designer, because to me back than designer wasn't good anymore. But that was all in my head ofcause. Luckaly I found out designer aren't bad at all, so started to buy them again, but only the ones I realy loved. During Covid I started to blind buy and yeah... made some huge mistakes. I had a huge conversation with myself and decided to only keep the ones I truly love and actualy wear and sell the ones I only have as status or were those stupid blind buys. My collection is now down to a relative minimal but decent size of both niche, designer and cheapies and no frags are in it which I'd never wear. And YES; I only wear fragrances now because I like them and truly want to wear them! I did found out what my scentprofile is all about, but it took me a while to get there and indeed make all these mistakes. I'm close to 50 and I don't need other peoples approvement or "likes" anymore... sure I do like a compliment, who doesn't. It gives me so much more joy out of my fragrances. The frag I'm wearing is a part of me, myself and I and not what someone else tells me how I should be or smell.
Blind Buying was my Favourite part of Fragrances when i was new. Very Dangerous but, i made it work. Selling tons of decants as well as trading 10ml for 10ml. Networking was such a fun part of it as well, getting into the subculture. I always laughed when friends wanted those "compliment getters." If a woman compliments you, it's not because she loves your perfume.......it's because she's smashed and wants to have some fun. My philosophy/goal was to make sure i don't have any two fragrances that were similar. A reflection of my tastes and not an expression of myself. Like fashion, i'd wear something based on my outfit, activity, time of year and crowd so, a wardrobe was my main focus along with the artistry of the fragrance. Price is irrelevant. I'd rather get 10 10ml decants than a single full bottle. Wardrobe options. IF one keeps running out because i'm in love with it, well then, scoop a full bottle.
Shaming people for what they choose to buy- I see that on both sides of the spectrum. The ppl who think they’re too good to buy cheap or designer fragrances AND the people find niche buyers to be stuck up, arrogant and pretentious so they shame them for buying those fragrances. Both persons are poison as it relates to fragrances. Fragrances are just like fashion. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a choice. It’s an expression that’s reflective of one’s personality and likenesses. Therefore, it doesn’t matter what anyone else likes. What matters the most is whether you like your fragrances or not. You summed that up perfectly. Not to mention, everyone IS NOT going to like the same thing.
Amazing advice! I started with buying all the Samples of hyped niche brands and although it cost me a lot of money I also realized I wasn't impressed with most. Now I'm trying to find more designer fragrances that are in-between.
I'm liking this new trend in the fragrance youtubers, to promote healthier spending habits. All 5hese top 10 videos, and sensationalism really pushes you to buy a lot when you get into the hobby. I'm glad stopped in my tracks at 20 frags and now I'm way more conscious, buying samples, etc. Nobody needs 5 cheap tobacco fragrances for the autumn or 10 super versatile blue fragrances. It's easy to end up spending more momey chasing "good deals" and buying without thinking, than trying a few samples through the year and saving up to buy that one fragrance you really like.
Great advice. I always test a fragrances first, I've seen some reviewers talking about blind buys and complement getters. But when I've have had the opportunity to smell it myself I have been completely underwhelmed. So I just wear what I like, for example love ombre leather, but my wife and kids hate it, they don't even want me to spray it in the house.
Got to be one of the best, most helpful fragrance videos I’ve seen yet. As a beginner who’s quickly become obsessed, this is a really great container guide to use. Thank you!🎉
Good advice. Wear what YOU like. Honestly, if you are looking for compliments you may require some life changes not a perfume. 🤔 Not all pricey frags are worth their price tag. Many vloggers are not even into the perfumes they talk about..they are just schmoozing for freebies from perfume houses.
After completing my "all-star" list of fragrances, I began sampling something new whenever I was able to. If it's bottle worthy, I'll get it or save to get it. It works for me.
I avoid what I don't like: 1.- girly fragrances that makee think of the color pink 2.- Gardenia only when is at the bottom of the notes, and nothing with Anise 😣 I want the fragrance to express my mood or take me on an olfactory voyage, I think that's why I have not come across my "Signature scent". Have not find myself in a bottle yet.
Another piece of advice I would give is actually based on a mistake I made early on in my journey of collecting fragrances . Be mindful of who you get recommendations from and their demographic. I was watching a lot of older women 35+ reviews on fragrances and I would try the ones they recommended out because they raved about them. Someone recommended mon guerlain and I got it tried it out and my husband said I smelled like a grandmother 😢 lol I knew the scent was a bit mature . Ultimately I had to sell it because it just did not fit with me , my wardrobe or my vibe (I’m 24) . Even tho I can appreciate more mature scents and I thing anyone can where anything they want , scents should be personal to you and who you are . Now I only take fragrance advice from people that fit my style and are in my age group .
I really appreciate this video I'm just getting into the Fragrance game and I've been seeking out a cologne that smells like Orange Blossoms and bought a sample bottle of Jo Malone and I didn't like it. I saved so much money not buying a bottle. I also went to my local Macy's and felt like I was being sold a used car when I went to their fragrance section instead I took my time sampled a few different colognes and took notes to which ones I liked and I'll buy a small sample bottle and find out if I want to live with these scents - patience is a virtue when collecting and wearing colognes and your video just reaffirmed my methodical approach.
I have always loved fragrances and I’ve approached it different ways in my lifetime. I have work a signature scent for years and I have rotated a handful of scents and enjoyed that as well. I started buying more fragrances since this fall. Luckily I have a bit of self control so I don’t rush in without having a sample first and wearing that as that often prevents me from buying stuff I don’t like enough and I enjoy the sampling. One tip: The return is your friend. I impulse bought a large bottle of Ferragamo Uomo and Valentino Uomo Extreme. Couldn’t get either to work for me. Sent em right back.
thanks for this. i stopped blind buying based on hype from reviewers. i try sample first then decide if i need a full bottle or a decant. designers tend to appeal to more people. but for niche and a trained nose then choose what to buy not for the hype. then wear a frag for you not for complements. frags are subjective and what smells good on someone would not likely for you. for expensive frags sample first. like - i wear what i like but be sure not to offend others. kudos for this.
I have discovered great fragrances through the community, but it totally dependent on how it smells on my actual skin. I have made some great, and not-so-great blind buys in this first year of my frag journey. For example, I found PDM Layton to be putrid (smells like menthol/vicks vapor), and I very much regretted blind buying Rasasi Hawas (so sweet, obnoxiously loud and screechy-synthetic). I follow a lot of frag TH-camrs, but take suggestions with a grain of salt, avoiding blind-buys. I tend to buy larger decants if it's something I really enjoy (but know I'll never get through a full bottle), and when I buy full bottles, I tend to purchase better blended, more pricey fragrances less frequently (that are great performers). The fact that they perform means more $ per ml, but I don't have to spray as much.That being said, one of my favorite fragrances is Versace Pour Homme which costs like 40-50 bucks 🤣
Another tip I would give is to not pay too much attention to hype. The biggest regret buys of mine was purchasing massively hyped frags and then after a couple of wears realising that it's really not my thing. (Basically everything Creed makes) I got duped into thinking I like them just because they are getting so overhyped.
@@JT-rx1eo Maybe because the reality of those basic fragrances in hideous bottles that are ridiculously overpriced have become the Emperor's new clothed?
1. Collecting fragrances, just get 2 or 3 that are versatile, maybe one for summer, one for winter, one for that special someone so they think you’re trying but really you just needed an opportunity to rock that Rochas Moustache or that Jazz Club
I tried a scent that I never would’ve tried before and at first didn’t like.. until the dry down. Now I can’t get enough of it, and it’s strong enough to last all day with 2 sprays. I work in a machine shop as a machinist and it gets hot the second the temps start going up so I’m extra careful not to have heavy perfume, but this one was a HIT! My fiancé absolutely loves it, too, so the hefty $235 price tag for something I can love to wear is worth it.
always try & get a decant first before buying..blind buys is usually risky especially with the more expensive perfumes..you dont want to buy something you dont like.. special mention goes to perfumes that has oud in it..oud has different scent profile depending on what type of oud was used..
I totally agree with everything you said! I can't STAND the "5 fragrance to make women go wild" nonsense videos. I only ever want to smell good for ME. the only problem I have is my wife hates 80% of fragrances and they give her a headache. So I stick to nautica voyage, green Irish tweed, greenley ,and montblanc legend. Can't go wrong with either. Keep up the great work 👍
I would say the biggest of all mistakes, is to blind buy. If I was to blindly follow what I hear on TH-cam, I would’ve waisted thousands and thousands of dollars on fragrances I don’t really care about. Best thing that worked for me, was to slowly build a wishlist of samples I’m interested in buying. Then get them gradually from decant sites, like decantx, scentsplit, and scentangel. 2ml decants gives me enough sprays to test a fragrance. See if I like it, if the people around me like it. And then for every sampled fragrance I loved, I would add it to my fragrance wish list, compare its price on multiple discounters, and also get informed about possible clones if it’s super expensive for me. And if I didn’t like it, at least I get it out of my system. Out of around 90 samples of the most talked about, and the not so much talked about fragrances, I bought maybe 7 or 8, and have a wish list of maybe 5 or 6 originals or clones. I spent somewhere around $500 on samples, but I saved God know how many thousands if I had blind bought those 80 or more niche and designer fragrances that I wasn’t blown away by.
Wow… glad that this video exist. To me: seeking for compliments may as well seeking for therapy. A lot of popular fragrances out there take place due to insecurity thinking that it safer to join the big crowd. Not only in the fragrances community but overall. I hope that this video will be more recognizable as I have started my point to the TH-camr before. Good job 👍
No judgement whatsoever but I cannot understand people who blind buy high-end niche fragrances continually. Why not order pouches of samples instead? The thrill of the unknown is still there and you can experience hundreds of obscure, expensive beautiful fragrances at a far more reasonable price. I think if someone really wants to learn about fragrances, notes, blends and truly understand their own taste then this is a far richer experience than just taking a costly gamble on ONE fragrance. I enjoy wearing many different fragrances too rather than one or two 'signatures' so this is a win-win option for me: education AND variety all in one delightful methodology. Cheers for this thoughtful video Teddy. :)
Really good advice. Especially the one with the climate. In Germany people will rarely tell you that you smell good even if they think you do. They will definitely tell you if they do not like how you smell though :D I started a while ago and I probably only buy 1 full bottle of fragrance per year maybe. There are not many fragrances that I really like and there are even less that I am willing to spend money on. I like a good selection of fragrances to have a scent for any occasion, but I would not say I am a collector. I just got a selection of niche fragrance testers that I am going to try. Sometimes my initial thought on a fragrance can also change. If a fragrance starts to annoy me if I smell it a few days in a row I will not buy it. That is probably why I prefer versatile fragrances. I think half of my collection is very versatile and the other half is for different occasions. I feel like there is something missing, but I haven't found it yet.
My 5 point strategy: 1. Is the bottle cool? 2. How does it taste? 3. Does it sting the eyes? 4. Do people start gagging when I walk in the room? 5. Does my wife roll her eyes when I walk by?
I buy a lot of decants. It saves you a ton of money. Another reason is a 100ml bottle has about 1400 sprays in it. That’s a ton of wears ! If you have 10-20 bottles are you really ever going to go through an entire bottle of everything ? My advise is get a decant like other people have said to try it out . If you truly like the scent then get the smallest bottle they have. It’s not like anyone ever physically sees your collection anyway. They don’t know if you have 2ml or a 55 gallon drum of the stuff. I’ll also agree with hype. Anyone of these jack offs that say they get compliments all the time, especially from strangers, is full of shit. NOBODY walks up to a total stranger and says they like the way they smell unless they’re straight up flirting because it would be bizarre. I have almost 100 different fragrances in my collection right now. Many of them are niche. My friggen wife RARELY tells me she likes something let alone a stranger. I’ve never had a single person compliment my cologne ever. It’s like Teddy says, wear it for YOU. If it makes YOU feel better then have at it !
Tbh I stopped strangers on the street on several occasions just to ask what perfume do they wear, but those occasions were very few and far in between. But they indeed smelled so good that I knew I will regret it for months if I didn't find out what juice that is🤣
Daryl I'm going to have to disagree with you on a few things. People do compliment strangers on their cologne. Today I was out and got three unsolicited compliments from complete strangers and a few more positive comments made Within earshot of me at three different stores. The people that complimented me and asked me what I was wearing we're not flirting with me. Although I dress well and smell great I am a short King and a bit older. Not the type of person that is going to have someone 20 years younger flirt with them. By the way I was wearing a heavy dose of Banana Republic black-walnut Legend.
My daily is Nautica voyage. I like the scent and have gotten compliments and it is reasonably priced. I do work in the heat and I have to reapply after 1pm but like teddy said. It takes a while to go through a100ml bottle. I do like to try samples from discount suppliers too. That way I'm not out to much if I hate the fragrance. And go to the mall and pick a bottle up and sniff it at the counter.You don't have to buy but you just might like one. Then get a sample and see.
Fantastic video! Need more of these. I am two years into my fragrance journey (Covid 2020) and am very happy with my acquisitions. Have taken things slow and easy....samples are wonderful to help learn as you go. Much time spent researching and NO impulse buying. Again...slow and easy.
I spit chewing gum in kids hair when they walk by... when I'm entering a building and a woman is behind me, I pull the door shut... when an older lady asks me to hand her something from a high shelf, I proceed to put the item one shelf higher and walk away... but when I'm wearing By Kilian Angel Share I get sick compliments brah
After rebooting my fragrance journey about a month ago, I've attuned to all the points you've mentioned here (maybe it's an age thing haha). I'm sure most of us started out with ladykillers in mind or just trying to be 'safe'. I find fragrances such a fascinating hobby and the journey towards finding your individual taste and scent profile feels like a rite of passage, which I'm all about. Seeing your own / others evolution is rad. I personally love it when people stick with safer choices, not that I don't have a few mass appealing scents myself, but I'd rather be polarizing. Makes things far more interesting and you meet people just as cool as you are :). Excellent video Teddy! Really enjoying the content this channel provides.
TH-camrs use these type of language so that people blind buy from the links they provide to get their affiliation share of them. I appreciate your guidance n honesty. U r a true fragrances lover and u r doing it out of passion. U the best.
I just started collecting , a lot of of these points where good but 3 and 5 is very much things that im very interested in, ive learned fast that im a wardrobe Guy, I’m a vintage geek so I shift a lot of styles so off course I’m a wardrobe guy when it comes to colognes! The vintage part brings me to point nr5 , here I have a big problem!I love vintage so I was over the moon when I discovered how accessible vintage fragrances is! I’m not a fan of the 70s clothing style, I’m a 1940s guy but 1970s and fragrances? Whoa it’s me! I like coffee , whiskey, spicy food so that highly reflects my taste in smell😅😅 BUT then I get afraid, “oh I’m 25, no one at my age uses Aramis” “Oh i really like this oud but Norway is not used to Middle Eastern smells” I love all of these, my favorite is Dunhill for men from 1934 soo 🙈 but yeah I get soo nervous especially when I get something new I know is outdated now compared with the sweet , bubblegum smells that are popular now…hate them , surprise 🤪, i feel it just by watching your list on the classics, (love your taste btw🤪) but immediately almost says to myself ok let’s steer away when Courtney mentiones nah this smells outdated, even though i really know that yeah most of the stuff I have in my relatively small starter collection is outdated 😂😂 but yeah I need to learn that I’m wearing my vintage fragrance wardrobe for me🥰 very important!
Good video that keeps things in perspective. As to blind buying, that is bold but I am not sure how necessary unless you really want to roll the dice and see what happens. FWIW, if someone lives near a city (small, medium, large) it's fairly likely to at least have a Macy's or Dillard's which would have a good number of designer fragrances available to try (at minimum Dior, Prada, etc.). Macy's even carries Tom Ford products now. If you're near a major city that happens to have a Nordstrom, Saks, etc. they will have designer and niche, most of which are available to try. If that doesn't work, luckyscent and numerous others have samples. Seems needlessly risky to spend several hundred bucks when it is fairly easy to get a sample much of the time to see if you like it.
Very sage advice Teddy, something that I could have done with 6+ years ago when I first started collecting fragrances. I have quite a few fragrances that I just never wear and will probably sell. My taste has definitely changed over theirs too. Thanks for the great content and G'Day from DownUnder mate.😎👍
A lot of people in the fragrance community get hung up on the 'rules', like wearing a fragrance that's appropriate to the occasion/time of year, but regular people don't know any of these rules. If someone walks past you can be 99.9% sure they're not gonna say "Why is that guy wearing a freshie in the middle of winter?" or "Why is that guy in his 40's wearing a youthful clubbing fragrance?" The vast majority of regular people only know: Does this smell good to me or not, the only other thing they notice is if the person is wearing too much cologne.
Ten years ago in my early 20’s I almost exclusively wore my dad’s Paco Rabanne. Most people would think it’s too “old mannish” like wtf? So what? I’ve never been told I was wearing a mature fragrance before and on the contrary got plenty of compliments. At the end of the day, Fragrance is an accessory we wear to support our attire and personality. All anyone is really going to think is “wow he smells fresh and clean, he must have a nice shower routine”..
1) Join a Facebook frag group (join 3 separate groups). If you are a blind buyer sell what you don’t like. 2) The fragrance can invite someone into your world and be a conversation starter. 3) Try try try, buy samples/partial bottles from Facebook, sell what you don’t like. 4) Dont buy anything influencers recommend, buy samples and ask for samples at department stores. 5) Wear what you like, not what influencers push. 6) Only buy niche if you want to impress other frag heads. Stick with department/designers if you want common people to love your scent.
Lots of good points! I love Bentley for Men, makes me feel like a big shot leather couch, business man. But my girl is NOT a fan. Lol so I just wear it when she's not around. Some scents I wear for me. Some for those around me. Smell is just as subjective as taste.
Good points. I’m trying to acquire a perfume collection. Starting from scratch. Feeling isolated because I live in a small town. So I’ll have to travel to small fragrances or buy discovery sets.
BUT...sometimes you don't live within 100 miles of any kind of store that carries fragrances, though, and so to figure out what you DO like you HAVE to do some blind buying and/or lots of sampling. It IS frustrating. Also, I don't have any frag friends, so I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of. As collecting goes, it's not an easy thing to collect if you're rural-or it hasn't been for me, at any rate. Thoughtful video, thank you :)
I do blind buy actually, because there aren't too many niche fragrance stores where I live. So I do my research, read about the notes, watch reviews, but it still stays a blind-buy as I don't really know how it smells. I try to get sets of samples from one house at a time when it is possible. Fortunately, I have only returned two perfumes. And I know very well what I like. Very happy with the ones I have.
This is some EXCELLENT info Teddy! I have fallen into a number of these issues over the last year since I got into fragrances. I wish I would have seen this video about a year ago....I could have really used it then ;) BTW.....your channel has become my first choice for this topic. Love the presentations and style of the videos from you and Courtney, and I hope it keeps up. Thanks!
Hi Teddy, Congrats on the new channel. My question is, what is considered cold weather when it comes to fragrence. I live in a beach town in Ca. While it can get down to 28 degrees its rare that happens. If I go out on a winter night then 40 is a typical low. Is bulgari Man in black a good choice for my idea of cold?
Great video, such a sympathetic approach to the fragrance game. Just starting out myself, this was helpful and inspiring. Ill add that I blind bought 1 fragrance, and even though it got me compliments I was a bit disappointed, because I didnt love it (nor dislike it). So if I could add one more point to your list is that try to sample everything before you buy an entire bottle. Its a good and affordable way to go through alot of diffrent frangrances in the pursuit of the ones that speaks to you.
I’m so picky and no longer blind buy. I get samples and try them out for several days before buying. I also rarely get 100ml bottles because I want to see if I like enough to finish a 50ml bottle. I have expensive fragrances but I love all of them. I also have a few midrange fragrances. I did buy a few 100ml bottles because I finished the 50ml bottles. I don’t just buy fragrances due to the hype. Several hyped ones I actually don’t like. I have 11 fragrances right now and might add a few more but I don’t need anymore really. I wear what I like and I don’t care what anyone else says lol! Fortunately most people like what I wear, but if they didn’t that’s their issue not mine lol!
I agree! After I switched to a nice job, I decided that I want to enter the wonderful world of fragrance. The first fragrance I bought (which is literally the first fragrance I tried on my skin in my life) was Amouage Epic Woman. Without even letting it develop through all the notes, and without thinking through do I really like it, I impulse-purchased it on the spot like 30-seconds after I tried it. Partially because how pretty the bottle looks like, and because Turandot is one of my fav opera, and also because I wanted to treat myself with something fancy and pricy. I mean it's an amazing fragrance, and I love it a lot; but it is not something that is super easy to wear... Especially for someone who just started wearing perfume. Which is why I learned to take a step back. I ordered over 60 samples, created an Excel spreadsheet to document which fragrance I have tested and how much I like it vs how wearable it is. Took me more than 2 months to loop through all of them. And as of today I just keep updating the spreadsheet and buying them one after another based on test results rather than "oh it has a nice bottle and a nice background story and got nice reviews online and from the perfume book". The primary purpose of a perfume is to make myself happy! So that's why always test it on my own skin and determine if I like it or not. ME, not someone online, not Luca Turin, ME!
I was going to talk shit but then I realised you're just a highly methodical person and I actually respect it, that's a cool story I always like to hear how much of an emotional thing fragrance purchases seem to be for us. I'm glad you impulse bought that first one though
Teddy talking about collecting or getting into fragrances is a carbon copy of him talking about collecting watches or getting into them. I guess the points apply to everything. Rightfully so.
More tips: 1 - LESS IS MORE when applying. Of course it varies, but generally 1-2 sprays, maybe 3 for light scents is almost always enough. When I sample I just use a single spray on one arm. 2 - Noseblindness: people will spray something 5 times and complain they don't smell anything. That's because you're f**ing your nose in the a** and your senses turn off for your own good. Also say if you spray on your chest, its constant wafting into your nose could have you sense it less. Other people will sense it stronger than you, so wear moderately. 3 - Don't expect perfection. Even some of my favorite scents has some small aspect I don't really care for, and yet I still love the overall scent. Teaches you about people too lol...
@@timmaximIt depends on the scent, but generally the inner wrists, under your jaw, or on your chest are places that will project the scent. Something super strong/dark I might only spray once at a distance from my neck/chest and then kinda walk through the cloud that I sprayed. And something citrusy/lighter I might spray close up on my inner wrist, dab on the other, then another spray on neck/chest close up too. You can test out different places and see. I notice it does smell slightly different depending on where you spray most likely because of circulation, warmth, thick/thinness of skin, etc. I don't like the inner elbows because for me the friction makes the scent scratchy👍
What is your thought on ScentBird that's what I'm currently using to try out different fragrances. I'm very new to this world and it's been a good introduction.
Most people are too shy to compliment a fragrance. If you think about it, it’s a pretty personal aspect of your grooming routine and you wouldn’t normally complement someone’s choice of hair conditioner. But having worked in retail, the older ladies will let you know you if you smell good. If people need compliments on their frags to feel better then they should visit the elderly sometime and do the world a favor.
Confidence is the keyword when it comes to fragrances. When I wear a fragrance it's about how that fragrance makes me feel. Not about what others think of how I smell.
I am a married straight woman that likes some unisex or masculine leaning fragrances, I was asked once if I was lesbian 🤣 did that make me stop wearing what I like? No 😎💅🏼
Same. I wear what I want based on how I feel that day. It doesn't hurt to get a compliment though lol
Boom! I roll my eyes when I see people seeking “compliment getters” and “beast mode” fragrances. They never spend enough time with one scent to feel confident and comfortable with it just like one would with a suit. A fragrance is only an accessory for a well groomed well dressed individual.
YES! I'm currently having a wild retro-themed love affair with Rogue Perfumery's 'Mousse Illuminee' and just feel so happy whenever I spray it, even if I'm at home by myself. I feel like Burt Reynolds circa 1981 cruising to a forest cabin in a 1969 Camaro with a cardboard cutout of Jerry Hall in the passenger seat. What you wrote totally resonated with me because I'm a woman so can't imagine Mousse Illuminee goes down well with people who smell me doused in all it's barbershop-pine forest-soapy-animalic glory! When I wear it, I'm reliving memories of my father's Pino Silvestre scented Sunday morning bathroom ablutions and paying homage to all the great masculine 'blokes' I've known in my life. I don't imagine people particularly enjoy me smelling of Mousse Illuminee but just as you said, I'm so confident and happy when I wear it that I don't care how other people evaluate my sillage. :D Not enough people rejoice and expand on what you talked about and I wish they would. Such fun!
Hey Teddy. I believe the biggest mistake when collecting fragrances is letting other people influence your purchasing habits, whether they are hyping a fragrance up or putting it down. At the end of the day, your sense of smell is connected strongly to your memories and emotions, so the person who ultimately decides what smells good is you and you alone.
If this were true then there would be zero reason for you to watch these videos
@@marcuslobo5394 entertainment value? I just like seeing what people think of certain scents without them actually changing my opinion on scents. I
@@marcuslobo5394 what he was trying to say is that sometimes you don't buy something you like because people say is a "bad" fragrance or vice versa.
It’s actually a great tool for helping me make informed decisions on which fragrances to sample next. The truth is, hyped up fragrances are hyped up for good reason and more often than not, they are actually good.
.. Jeremy Fragrance is hyping Joop Homme at the moment..
This was one of the best guides for fragrance collecting I have seen. I will reiterate as I agree with everything you said:
1) Buy with a purpose. Always otherwise you'll start to lose money if you just go the trial and error route.
2) There is no one best fragrance for any brand. Buy what you like.
3) Someone else's treasure might be your trash. And visa versa. I have read many reviews on fragrances rated very highly in the community, but I would not wear them personally. They're not my cup of tea nor do they fit within my fragrance wardrobe or style
4) High price doesn't always mean high quality. I wish I knew this early on. I have around forty $160+ a bottle fragrances. A few of them don't last more than 2 hours and become strictly a skin scent, and there are a few more that only last 3-4 before becoming a skin scent. For that kind of price I thought I'd be getting beast mode fragrances. Or at least that's what I thought when I first got into expensive niche fragrances. My assumption was that they all must be absolutely high quality fragrances with amazing silage and hours and hours of projection. This was a very expensive lesson to learn. A few of these fragrances I'll never buy again just because even I can't smell them after 3-4 hours. They're not worth the money
5) Don't fall for hype. Almost every fragrance review hypes the perfume they're reviewing. Don't tall into that trap or you'll end up buying everything the reviewers tell you to buy. You'll always have FOMO after watching a review. The best way to go about this my point #1. Tell yourself I want to have these many fragrances because i want to have a fragrance for so and so occasion or use. And once all your bases are covered, stop. It could be 2 fragrances that may be all you need or 20, but have a realistic plan. There is no end to this hobby, it is a money suck.
6) Buy what YOU love. Don't worry about what other people think. If I don't love a scent, I don't buy it. You have to love it, and really want the NEED to have it. Otherwise you'll end up buying more fragrances than you know what to do with. I have been there. I end up giving away bottles to family members as I realize I have too many and the ones I gave away I no longer cared for. And that's because I initially liked them but over time I didn't care for them. If you love a fragrance, and I mean that you can't get it out of your head after a few nights sleep, then you know you have to have it.
7) Always test the fragrance on your skin BEFORE you buy. It is important to know how it works on your skin, what the dry down smells like, and how long it lasts for you. The dry down test is very important as all fragrances want to make an amazing first impression so top notes are always made sure they grab you from the first spray, but development over time will tell you how you feel about it over a 30-60 minute time frame.
8) Which leads me to my final point. The initial impression of the scent you'll find may vary from fragrance to fragrance making you want to add that to your collection. The dry down for many fragrances are pretty similar. And you'll realize that especially if you're looking at fragrances within the same family. Such as tobacco scents, smoky scents, incense scents etc. The initial blast might be unique but the dry downs for most are similar and you have to think to yourself do I need a fragrance where the differences only last around an hour and then for the remainder of the day they're similar? is it worth having them as part of my collection. This was another expensive lesson to learn and one of the reasons I gave away a lot of my bottles as in the end they were more similar to each other than different.
Thanksss so much for this
Very well said. I needed this, thank you.
Very well put!
You only need 6 & 7
Great video, very important subjects mentioned!
My thoughts
1-Wear what you love, leave the rest
2- SAMPLE, SAMPLE, SAMPLE
3-QUALITY not quantity
4-Compliments aren’t are factor at all in buying a fragrance
5-Don’t be a toxic enthusiast, there’s enough of those already
YES. I can’t tell you how annoyed I am when I go to try a fragrance that everyone is raving about and I smell it just to think, “ew, what’s so good about it?” And then I try another one that people hate and I end up loving it.
i'm not judging,
it's a lil weird that I'm seeing my boy teddy who I've been watching in the world of watches now talking about my other interests in fragrance
but I'm glad he did, keep it up!
Very informative video, thanks. IMO you can buy fragrance samples (2-3ml) as much as you want without any rules. With a 3ml bottle, you can spray 45-60 times. So you can have a decision about the fragrance. To buy full bottles (esp. niche ones) you have to think twice. And if you want to have more than 5 fragrances, buy the smallest bottle.
Agreed on the smaller bottles. You don’t always need a 100 ml. I consistently would get smaller bottles as i wear something new everyday.
I agree, yet I will say that receiving a free sample will not give you the same data/knowledge as even a travelers bottle size. I’ve fallen in love with some samples that when I got the large bottle, I also quickly got tired of/only wore during one season, and literally felt like I was forcing myself to ‘use up’ the fragrance. It’s one thing when you have a special occasion fragrance, but some of these bottles and scents are supposed to be everyday, ask yourself if you would actually wear it everyday.
Samples are great.
Few sites out there for getting decants, it's great. Good for testing out niche frags.
To avoid buying impulses, I order one sample per month after doing research on what's supposed to be good. Scratches the itch for less than $10/month!
Huge vouch, its what i do as well but not on a fixed time per month, and has probably saved me tons of money
Me too, man!
You're much more disciplined than I. I buy 5 - 8 at a time. Often they have a theme. For example: vetivers, tobacco, spring niche, a perfumer, house, vibe, etc.
Sampling and decants are a tool that is undervalued and not underlined enough!
Your hella disciplined lol cause buying decants/samples can be just as pricey as buying a few full bottles at times cause ppl go crazy
I think fragrance youtubers (1) normalize the idea of buying everything as soon as it comes out (which maybe they "have to" if their channel is their main income stream and it covers that cost, but otherwise they probably have a problem) and (2) tend to only talk about things they like (either because they just don't want to be negative, which is fine, or because they have a relationship with the brandd) which gives the impression that everybody buys everything and likes everything.
Very true
This one makeup mainly youtuber was reviewing a House Of Sillage $1000 fragrance that she got for free from the brand, she just did positive points...what about the cons? (The price was one for me) I called her out on it 😐 that really bothered me.
I'm not even 4 minutes in and I'm gobsmacked at the truths so far. Wow.
Something I've been doing lately is layering one of my older fragrances with one of my less older ones to come up with interesting blends. I find them less boring that way...you're right, my tastes HAVE changed and sometimes some of the memories conjured when I wear an older perfume aren't really all that pleasant and so mixing a newer fragrance with it helps change up the memory pathways. I love a new perfume rush and this is an interesting way to achieve that without having to spend a crap ton of money.
I agree with overvaluing complements. I buy what I like all the time and what I tend to like most of the time is mass pleasing and not really a complicated fragrance. Also I use to never think I would spend over $100 for a fragrance when I was younger but went through a phase where I would spend a few hundred dollars on a bottle cause that's what I liked at the time but currently I'm finding myself looking into the middle eastern type fragrances that aren't expensive but perform great. My taste has changed alot through these last couple years.
This was a very good video to make. Thanks for the info.
Also check fragrantica reviews. I know the reviews are many and varied but they have brought certain things to my attention that the youtube reviewers didn't mention, and have talked me out of blind buying many fragrances. Always do your research to narrow down the field...and then sample.
Sometimes quality can be the most economic thing to buy as it may require less sprays, and less respraying. Cheapies that require massive sprays and resprays during the day can actually cost more in the long run.
I love how you show fragrances in the video. Very nice
I bought my first three fragrances as blind buys. I once smelled Black Afghano and was amazed by it and bought it. Now I don't even use it. The hype went down. After that I Immediately went and bought Blamage without even trying it and was disappointed really. That's the money I cannot get back. Now what I do is I go to the store and try a few that I see as recommended. If I like it, I will get a 20ml decant, much cheaper than a full bottle. After some testing If I continue to like a smell, I will buy a full bottle. Saved a lot of money!
Yeah this is easily already one of the best fragrance channels out there.
Biggest issue in most places is that there is no way of trying niche frags. Obviously you can buy samples but that just becomes expensive in its own way.
Good points! I would also add 1) do your research 2) buy samples, and most importantly 3) wear a fragrance for yourself and not others 😊
Great message. I just discovered your page yesterday and I really like what I've seen so far. I'm an impulse buyer and have plenty of designer choices and this reminds me that I but them for me and not for compliments. Those are just bonuses. Certain frags make me feel good and I know I smell good (to me).
You're the man Teddy, your videos have changed my outlook on fragrances. Don't ever stop being the man. You're always appreciated.
Great video. I just started building a small fragrance collection about a year ago. I’ve wasted about $150 blind buying fragrances based on recommendations by TH-cam channels. Everything in this video is common sense but I wish I had seen it a year ago.
This commentary couldn't be far from the truth. One of the truest there has been on this TH-cam channel. Buy fragrance cause it smell good to YOU! I agree wholeheartedly.
I have so much respect for you for having put out this video. The extent to which the fragcom has turned into sales instead of honest reviews is nauseating. And ppl fall for it!
I would also add that we shouldn't buy a perfume just based on the opening. We should wear it and let it evolve on our skin. And never test more than 3 perfumed at a time, otherwise your olfactory senses will get confused and you may end up regretting your purchase.
Thank you Teddy for this video! I should have seen this years and years ago.
I started with this hobby about 30 years ago and indeed... I've made all these mistakes. First I had a small collection of only designer which grew bigger and bigger. Than I got into the niche and litterly gave away all my designer, because to me back than designer wasn't good anymore. But that was all in my head ofcause. Luckaly I found out designer aren't bad at all, so started to buy them again, but only the ones I realy loved. During Covid I started to blind buy and yeah... made some huge mistakes.
I had a huge conversation with myself and decided to only keep the ones I truly love and actualy wear and sell the ones I only have as status or were those stupid blind buys.
My collection is now down to a relative minimal but decent size of both niche, designer and cheapies and no frags are in it which I'd never wear. And YES; I only wear fragrances now because I like them and truly want to wear them! I did found out what my scentprofile is all about, but it took me a while to get there and indeed make all these mistakes.
I'm close to 50 and I don't need other peoples approvement or "likes" anymore... sure I do like a compliment, who doesn't. It gives me so much more joy out of my fragrances. The frag I'm wearing is a part of me, myself and I and not what someone else tells me how I should be or smell.
Blind Buying was my Favourite part of Fragrances when i was new. Very Dangerous but, i made it work. Selling tons of decants as well as trading 10ml for 10ml. Networking was such a fun part of it as well, getting into the subculture. I always laughed when friends wanted those "compliment getters." If a woman compliments you, it's not because she loves your perfume.......it's because she's smashed and wants to have some fun.
My philosophy/goal was to make sure i don't have any two fragrances that were similar. A reflection of my tastes and not an expression of myself. Like fashion, i'd wear something based on my outfit, activity, time of year and crowd so, a wardrobe was my main focus along with the artistry of the fragrance.
Price is irrelevant. I'd rather get 10 10ml decants than a single full bottle. Wardrobe options. IF one keeps running out because i'm in love with it, well then, scoop a full bottle.
Shaming people for what they choose to buy- I see that on both sides of the spectrum. The ppl who think they’re too good to buy cheap or designer fragrances AND the people find niche buyers to be stuck up, arrogant and pretentious so they shame them for buying those fragrances. Both persons are poison as it relates to fragrances. Fragrances are just like fashion. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a choice. It’s an expression that’s reflective of one’s personality and likenesses. Therefore, it doesn’t matter what anyone else likes. What matters the most is whether you like your fragrances or not. You summed that up perfectly. Not to mention, everyone IS NOT going to like the same thing.
I usually buy a sample and take my time to discover if the fragrance resonates with me and my personality.
Amazing advice! I started with buying all the Samples of hyped niche brands and although it cost me a lot of money I also realized I wasn't impressed with most. Now I'm trying to find more designer fragrances that are in-between.
I'm liking this new trend in the fragrance youtubers, to promote healthier spending habits. All 5hese top 10 videos, and sensationalism really pushes you to buy a lot when you get into the hobby. I'm glad stopped in my tracks at 20 frags and now I'm way more conscious, buying samples, etc.
Nobody needs 5 cheap tobacco fragrances for the autumn or 10 super versatile blue fragrances. It's easy to end up spending more momey chasing "good deals" and buying without thinking, than trying a few samples through the year and saving up to buy that one fragrance you really like.
Fragrance is such a personal endeavor and it makes sad when I see so many people take another person’s opinion to heart.
Great advice.
I always test a fragrances first, I've seen some reviewers talking about blind buys and complement getters. But when I've have had the opportunity to smell it myself I have been completely underwhelmed. So I just wear what I like, for example love ombre leather, but my wife and kids hate it, they don't even want me to spray it in the house.
Got to be one of the best, most helpful fragrance videos I’ve seen yet. As a beginner who’s quickly become obsessed, this is a really great container guide to use. Thank you!🎉
Good advice.
Wear what YOU like.
Honestly, if you are looking for compliments you may require some life changes not a perfume. 🤔
Not all pricey frags are worth their price tag.
Many vloggers are not even into the perfumes they talk about..they are just schmoozing for freebies from perfume houses.
After completing my "all-star" list of fragrances, I began sampling something new whenever I was able to. If it's bottle worthy, I'll get it or save to get it. It works for me.
I avoid what I don't like:
1.- girly fragrances that makee think of the color pink
2.- Gardenia only when is at the bottom of the notes, and nothing with Anise 😣
I want the fragrance to express my mood or take me on an olfactory voyage, I think that's why I have not come across my "Signature scent". Have not find myself in a bottle yet.
Lol, one of my guiding principles is NO PINK BOTTLES!
@@JT-rx1eo I am woman, but I don't want to think pink, green or blue when I wear fragrance, I want to be red, brown, gray or black 🤣
@@darklausal23 Finding a color to represent a frag is a great start. White, metallic, and borderline sterile is my signature.
@@darklausal23 Try out different perfumers' work. If there's one you 90% like, they might have another one you love.
@@voltaire5427 banana republic metal rain
Another piece of advice I would give is actually based on a mistake I made early on in my journey of collecting fragrances .
Be mindful of who you get recommendations from and their demographic. I was watching a lot of older women 35+ reviews on fragrances and I would try the ones they recommended out because they raved about them. Someone recommended mon guerlain and I got it tried it out and my husband said I smelled like a grandmother 😢 lol I knew the scent was a bit mature . Ultimately I had to sell it because it just did not fit with me , my wardrobe or my vibe (I’m 24) . Even tho I can appreciate more mature scents and I thing anyone can where anything they want , scents should be personal to you and who you are . Now I only take fragrance advice from people that fit my style and are in my age group .
I really appreciate this video I'm just getting into the Fragrance game and I've been seeking out a cologne that smells like Orange Blossoms and bought a sample bottle of Jo Malone and I didn't like it. I saved so much money not buying a bottle. I also went to my local Macy's and felt like I was being sold a used car when I went to their fragrance section instead I took my time sampled a few different colognes and took notes to which ones I liked and I'll buy a small sample bottle and find out if I want to live with these scents - patience is a virtue when collecting and wearing colognes and your video just reaffirmed my methodical approach.
💯 agree. I ONLY purchase fragrances that I
absolutely love, … this way, anytime I grab a bottle I’m excited to enjoy it all day! ❤️
Decants are the name of the game! Multiple full wears and cost effective especially if its a heavy scent that you wont wear daily
I have always loved fragrances and I’ve approached it different ways in my lifetime. I have work a signature scent for years and I have rotated a handful of scents and enjoyed that as well. I started buying more fragrances since this fall. Luckily I have a bit of self control so I don’t rush in without having a sample first and wearing that as that often prevents me from buying stuff I don’t like enough and I enjoy the sampling.
One tip: The return is your friend. I impulse bought a large bottle of Ferragamo Uomo and Valentino Uomo Extreme. Couldn’t get either to work for me. Sent em right back.
thanks for this. i stopped blind buying based on hype from reviewers. i try sample first then decide if i need a full bottle or a decant. designers tend to appeal to more people. but for niche and a trained nose then choose what to buy not for the hype. then wear a frag for you not for complements. frags are subjective and what smells good on someone would not likely for you. for expensive frags sample first. like - i wear what i like but be sure not to offend others. kudos for this.
Scent bird/scent box helped me a lot with learning what I liked.
Wish I have seen this video one year ago, before I spent 1500 euros on fragrances I didn't like. Well done for this video.
I have discovered great fragrances through the community, but it totally dependent on how it smells on my actual skin. I have made some great, and not-so-great blind buys in this first year of my frag journey. For example, I found PDM Layton to be putrid (smells like menthol/vicks vapor), and I very much regretted blind buying Rasasi Hawas (so sweet, obnoxiously loud and screechy-synthetic). I follow a lot of frag TH-camrs, but take suggestions with a grain of salt, avoiding blind-buys. I tend to buy larger decants if it's something I really enjoy (but know I'll never get through a full bottle), and when I buy full bottles, I tend to purchase better blended, more pricey fragrances less frequently (that are great performers). The fact that they perform means more $ per ml, but I don't have to spray as much.That being said, one of my favorite fragrances is Versace Pour Homme which costs like 40-50 bucks 🤣
Another tip I would give is to not pay too much attention to hype. The biggest regret buys of mine was purchasing massively hyped frags and then after a couple of wears realising that it's really not my thing. (Basically everything Creed makes) I got duped into thinking I like them just because they are getting so overhyped.
Amazingly, the anti-Creed hype is as intense as the "positive" hype.
@@JT-rx1eo Maybe because the reality of those basic fragrances in hideous bottles that are ridiculously overpriced have become the Emperor's new clothed?
1. Collecting fragrances, just get 2 or 3 that are versatile, maybe one for summer, one for winter, one for that special someone so they think you’re trying but really you just needed an opportunity to rock that Rochas Moustache or that Jazz Club
I tried a scent that I never would’ve tried before and at first didn’t like.. until the dry down. Now I can’t get enough of it, and it’s strong enough to last all day with 2 sprays. I work in a machine shop as a machinist and it gets hot the second the temps start going up so I’m extra careful not to have heavy perfume, but this one was a HIT! My fiancé absolutely loves it, too, so the hefty $235 price tag for something I can love to wear is worth it.
always try & get a decant first before buying..blind buys is usually risky especially with the more expensive perfumes..you dont want to buy something you dont like.. special mention goes to perfumes that has oud in it..oud has different scent profile depending on what type of oud was used..
Quick on the draw. Thanks for dropping these quality gems at a break neck speed!
Thanks for the support, my friend. Glad you are enjoying.
I totally agree with everything you said! I can't STAND the "5 fragrance to make women go wild" nonsense videos. I only ever want to smell good for ME. the only problem I have is my wife hates 80% of fragrances and they give her a headache. So I stick to nautica voyage, green Irish tweed, greenley ,and montblanc legend. Can't go wrong with either. Keep up the great work 👍
I would say the biggest of all mistakes, is to blind buy. If I was to blindly follow what I hear on TH-cam, I would’ve waisted thousands and thousands of dollars on fragrances I don’t really care about. Best thing that worked for me, was to slowly build a wishlist of samples I’m interested in buying. Then get them gradually from decant sites, like decantx, scentsplit, and scentangel. 2ml decants gives me enough sprays to test a fragrance. See if I like it, if the people around me like it. And then for every sampled fragrance I loved, I would add it to my fragrance wish list, compare its price on multiple discounters, and also get informed about possible clones if it’s super expensive for me. And if I didn’t like it, at least I get it out of my system. Out of around 90 samples of the most talked about, and the not so much talked about fragrances, I bought maybe 7 or 8, and have a wish list of maybe 5 or 6 originals or clones. I spent somewhere around $500 on samples, but I saved God know how many thousands if I had blind bought those 80 or more niche and designer fragrances that I wasn’t blown away by.
This was very informative and useful. I will attempt to take this approach myself, thank you for sharing!
@@VaivaPaula95 glad I was of help
Wow… glad that this video exist. To me: seeking for compliments may as well seeking for therapy. A lot of popular fragrances out there take place due to insecurity thinking that it safer to join the big crowd. Not only in the fragrances community but overall. I hope that this video will be more recognizable as I have started my point to the TH-camr before. Good job 👍
No judgement whatsoever but I cannot understand people who blind buy high-end niche fragrances continually. Why not order pouches of samples instead? The thrill of the unknown is still there and you can experience hundreds of obscure, expensive beautiful fragrances at a far more reasonable price. I think if someone really wants to learn about fragrances, notes, blends and truly understand their own taste then this is a far richer experience than just taking a costly gamble on ONE fragrance. I enjoy wearing many different fragrances too rather than one or two 'signatures' so this is a win-win option for me: education AND variety all in one delightful methodology. Cheers for this thoughtful video Teddy. :)
Everyone needs to watch this. Beginners and pros have to be reminded of these simple facts constantly
Really good advice. Especially the one with the climate.
In Germany people will rarely tell you that you smell good even if they think you do. They will definitely tell you if they do not like how you smell though :D
I started a while ago and I probably only buy 1 full bottle of fragrance per year maybe. There are not many fragrances that I really like and there are even less that I am willing to spend money on. I like a good selection of fragrances to have a scent for any occasion, but I would not say I am a collector. I just got a selection of niche fragrance testers that I am going to try. Sometimes my initial thought on a fragrance can also change. If a fragrance starts to annoy me if I smell it a few days in a row I will not buy it. That is probably why I prefer versatile fragrances. I think half of my collection is very versatile and the other half is for different occasions. I feel like there is something missing, but I haven't found it yet.
My 5 point strategy:
1. Is the bottle cool?
2. How does it taste?
3. Does it sting the eyes?
4. Do people start gagging when I walk in the room?
5. Does my wife roll her eyes when I walk by?
Legitimately the best "tips" video on fragrance that I've ever seen. Nice!
Man is your major editing vids and being model . I really enjoyed my first vid of yours hopping you're going to be number one to fragrance TH-camr .
Last point is the most important point! Get what you like whether it be cheap or expensive
Great take on #5. That applies to fashion too
I buy a lot of decants. It saves you a ton of money. Another reason is a 100ml bottle has about 1400 sprays in it. That’s a ton of wears ! If you have 10-20 bottles are you really ever going to go through an entire bottle of everything ? My advise is get a decant like other people have said to try it out . If you truly like the scent then get the smallest bottle they have. It’s not like anyone ever physically sees your collection anyway. They don’t know if you have 2ml or a 55 gallon drum of the stuff. I’ll also agree with hype. Anyone of these jack offs that say they get compliments all the time, especially from strangers, is full of shit. NOBODY walks up to a total stranger and says they like the way they smell unless they’re straight up flirting because it would be bizarre. I have almost 100 different fragrances in my collection right now. Many of them are niche. My friggen wife RARELY tells me she likes something let alone a stranger. I’ve never had a single person compliment my cologne ever. It’s like Teddy says, wear it for YOU. If it makes YOU feel better then have at it !
Tbh I stopped strangers on the street on several occasions just to ask what perfume do they wear, but those occasions were very few and far in between. But they indeed smelled so good that I knew I will regret it for months if I didn't find out what juice that is🤣
Daryl I'm going to have to disagree with you on a few things. People do compliment strangers on their cologne. Today I was out and got three unsolicited compliments from complete strangers and a few more positive comments made Within earshot of me at three different stores. The people that complimented me and asked me what I was wearing we're not flirting with me. Although I dress well and smell great I am a short King and a bit older. Not the type of person that is going to have someone 20 years younger flirt with them. By the way I was wearing a heavy dose of Banana Republic black-walnut Legend.
Super underrated fragrance channel 👍🏼
My daily is Nautica voyage. I like the scent and have gotten compliments and it is reasonably priced. I do work in the heat and I have to reapply after 1pm but like teddy said. It takes a while to go through a100ml bottle. I do like to try samples from discount suppliers too. That way I'm not out to much if I hate the fragrance. And go to the mall and pick a bottle up and sniff it at the counter.You don't have to buy but you just might like one. Then get a sample and see.
My philosophy is to only buy what I like. Period. I don’t care about who else likes it, as long as I love it first. My personality will do the rest.
Fantastic video! Need more of these. I am two years into my fragrance journey (Covid 2020) and am very happy with my acquisitions. Have taken things slow and easy....samples are wonderful to help learn as you go. Much time spent researching and NO impulse buying. Again...slow and easy.
I spit chewing gum in kids hair when they walk by... when I'm entering a building and a woman is behind me, I pull the door shut... when an older lady asks me to hand her something from a high shelf, I proceed to put the item one shelf higher and walk away... but when I'm wearing By Kilian Angel Share I get sick compliments brah
Good video. You’re right about Sauvage. I made the mistake of blind-buying it and it stinks.
After rebooting my fragrance journey about a month ago, I've attuned to all the points you've mentioned here (maybe it's an age thing haha).
I'm sure most of us started out with ladykillers in mind or just trying to be 'safe'. I find fragrances such a fascinating hobby and the journey towards finding your individual taste and scent profile feels like a rite of passage, which I'm all about. Seeing your own / others evolution is rad.
I personally love it when people stick with safer choices, not that I don't have a few mass appealing scents myself, but I'd rather be polarizing. Makes things far more interesting and you meet people just as cool as you are :).
Excellent video Teddy! Really enjoying the content this channel provides.
TH-camrs use these type of language so that people blind buy from the links they provide to get their affiliation share of them. I appreciate your guidance n honesty. U r a true fragrances lover and u r doing it out of passion. U the best.
I totally agree with you on point no.2. Iwear perfumes because I like the scent and it makes me feel good, not what other people thinks of it.
Dropping wisdom, every piece of advice really hit - I've made ALL of the mistakes you mentioned.
I just started collecting , a lot of of these points where good but 3 and 5 is very much things that im very interested in, ive learned fast that im a wardrobe Guy, I’m a vintage geek so I shift a lot of styles so off course I’m a wardrobe guy when it comes to colognes! The vintage part brings me to point nr5 , here I have a big problem!I love vintage so I was over the moon when I discovered how accessible vintage fragrances is! I’m not a fan of the 70s clothing style, I’m a 1940s guy but 1970s and fragrances? Whoa it’s me! I like coffee , whiskey, spicy food so that highly reflects my taste in smell😅😅 BUT then I get afraid, “oh I’m 25, no one at my age uses Aramis” “Oh i really like this oud but Norway is not used to Middle Eastern smells” I love all of these, my favorite is Dunhill for men from 1934 soo 🙈 but yeah I get soo nervous especially when I get something new I know is outdated now compared with the sweet , bubblegum smells that are popular now…hate them , surprise 🤪, i feel it just by watching your list on the classics, (love your taste btw🤪) but immediately almost says to myself ok let’s steer away when Courtney mentiones nah this smells outdated, even though i really know that yeah most of the stuff I have in my relatively small starter collection is outdated 😂😂 but yeah I need to learn that I’m wearing my vintage fragrance wardrobe for me🥰 very important!
Good video that keeps things in perspective. As to blind buying, that is bold but I am not sure how necessary unless you really want to roll the dice and see what happens. FWIW, if someone lives near a city (small, medium, large) it's fairly likely to at least have a Macy's or Dillard's which would have a good number of designer fragrances available to try (at minimum Dior, Prada, etc.). Macy's even carries Tom Ford products now. If you're near a major city that happens to have a Nordstrom, Saks, etc. they will have designer and niche, most of which are available to try. If that doesn't work, luckyscent and numerous others have samples. Seems needlessly risky to spend several hundred bucks when it is fairly easy to get a sample much of the time to see if you like it.
Great advice. The video is edited so well! I'm glad I found this channel.
Very sage advice Teddy, something that I could have done with 6+ years ago when I first started collecting fragrances. I have quite a few fragrances that I just never wear and will probably sell. My taste has definitely changed over theirs too. Thanks for the great content and G'Day from DownUnder mate.😎👍
A lot of people in the fragrance community get hung up on the 'rules', like wearing a fragrance that's appropriate to the occasion/time of year, but regular people don't know any of these rules.
If someone walks past you can be 99.9% sure they're not gonna say "Why is that guy wearing a freshie in the middle of winter?" or "Why is that guy in his 40's wearing a youthful clubbing fragrance?"
The vast majority of regular people only know: Does this smell good to me or not, the only other thing they notice is if the person is wearing too much cologne.
Ten years ago in my early 20’s I almost exclusively wore my dad’s Paco Rabanne. Most people would think it’s too “old mannish” like wtf? So what? I’ve never been told I was wearing a mature fragrance before and on the contrary got plenty of compliments. At the end of the day, Fragrance is an accessory we wear to support our attire and personality. All anyone is really going to think is “wow he smells fresh and clean, he must have a nice shower routine”..
1) Join a Facebook frag group (join 3 separate groups). If you are a blind buyer sell what you don’t like.
2) The fragrance can invite someone into your world and be a conversation starter.
3) Try try try, buy samples/partial bottles from Facebook, sell what you don’t like.
4) Dont buy anything influencers recommend, buy samples and ask for samples at department stores.
5) Wear what you like, not what influencers push.
6) Only buy niche if you want to impress other frag heads. Stick with department/designers if you want common people to love your scent.
Lots of good points! I love Bentley for Men, makes me feel like a big shot leather couch, business man. But my girl is NOT a fan. Lol so I just wear it when she's not around. Some scents I wear for me. Some for those around me. Smell is just as subjective as taste.
Great content, Teddy! Love seeing the channel grow!
Good points. I’m trying to acquire a perfume collection. Starting from scratch. Feeling isolated because I live in a small town. So I’ll have to travel to small fragrances or buy discovery sets.
BUT...sometimes you don't live within 100 miles of any kind of store that carries fragrances, though, and so to figure out what you DO like you HAVE to do some blind buying and/or lots of sampling. It IS frustrating. Also, I don't have any frag friends, so I don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of. As collecting goes, it's not an easy thing to collect if you're rural-or it hasn't been for me, at any rate. Thoughtful video, thank you :)
I do blind buy actually, because there aren't too many niche fragrance stores where I live. So I do my research, read about the notes, watch reviews, but it still stays a blind-buy as I don't really know how it smells. I try to get sets of samples from one house at a time when it is possible. Fortunately, I have only returned two perfumes. And I know very well what I like. Very happy with the ones I have.
This is some EXCELLENT info Teddy! I have fallen into a number of these issues over the last year since I got into fragrances. I wish I would have seen this video about a year ago....I could have really used it then ;) BTW.....your channel has become my first choice for this topic. Love the presentations and style of the videos from you and Courtney, and I hope it keeps up. Thanks!
First watches, then fragrances and now you also reveal you like Goodyear welt boots too! Any chance of making a boot-related channel?
Great list. I would also add, don't buy too much of one type of fragrance too quickly because your taste might change.
Hi Teddy, Congrats on the new channel. My question is, what is considered cold weather when it comes to fragrence. I live in a beach town in Ca. While it can get down to 28 degrees its rare that happens. If I go out on a winter night then 40 is a typical low. Is bulgari Man in black a good choice for my idea of cold?
Best video on tips ive seen so far, pretty much what ive been thinking and other youtubers dont really talk about but worded way way better
Great video, such a sympathetic approach to the fragrance game. Just starting out myself, this was helpful and inspiring.
Ill add that I blind bought 1 fragrance, and even though it got me compliments I was a bit disappointed, because I didnt love it (nor dislike it). So if I could add one more point to your list is that try to sample everything before you buy an entire bottle. Its a good and affordable way to go through alot of diffrent frangrances in the pursuit of the ones that speaks to you.
Starting to collect about 6 months ago I needed this.glad I came across this video before i became addicted
Excellent video, thank you! All relevant points which we should keep in mind wherever we may be in our fragrance journey.
I’m so picky and no longer blind buy. I get samples and try them out for several days before buying. I also rarely get 100ml bottles because I want to see if I like enough to finish a 50ml bottle. I have expensive fragrances but I love all of them. I also have a few midrange fragrances. I did buy a few 100ml bottles because I finished the 50ml bottles.
I don’t just buy fragrances due to the hype. Several hyped ones I actually don’t like. I have 11 fragrances right now and might add a few more but I don’t need anymore really. I wear what I like and I don’t care what anyone else says lol! Fortunately most people like what I wear, but if they didn’t that’s their issue not mine lol!
yeah I used scentbird to help me figure out what stuff i love.
The Bentley intense bottle while you were talking ab blind buying was so so appropriate lol
I agree! After I switched to a nice job, I decided that I want to enter the wonderful world of fragrance.
The first fragrance I bought (which is literally the first fragrance I tried on my skin in my life) was Amouage Epic Woman. Without even letting it develop through all the notes, and without thinking through do I really like it, I impulse-purchased it on the spot like 30-seconds after I tried it. Partially because how pretty the bottle looks like, and because Turandot is one of my fav opera, and also because I wanted to treat myself with something fancy and pricy. I mean it's an amazing fragrance, and I love it a lot; but it is not something that is super easy to wear... Especially for someone who just started wearing perfume.
Which is why I learned to take a step back. I ordered over 60 samples, created an Excel spreadsheet to document which fragrance I have tested and how much I like it vs how wearable it is. Took me more than 2 months to loop through all of them.
And as of today I just keep updating the spreadsheet and buying them one after another based on test results rather than "oh it has a nice bottle and a nice background story and got nice reviews online and from the perfume book".
The primary purpose of a perfume is to make myself happy! So that's why always test it on my own skin and determine if I like it or not. ME, not someone online, not Luca Turin, ME!
I was going to talk shit but then I realised you're just a highly methodical person and I actually respect it, that's a cool story I always like to hear how much of an emotional thing fragrance purchases seem to be for us. I'm glad you impulse bought that first one though
As a guy coming late to the fragrance game (early 50s), great advice.
Love your Jacket!
Teddy talking about collecting or getting into fragrances is a carbon copy of him talking about collecting watches or getting into them. I guess the points apply to everything. Rightfully so.
More tips: 1 - LESS IS MORE when applying. Of course it varies, but generally 1-2 sprays, maybe 3 for light scents is almost always enough. When I sample I just use a single spray on one arm. 2 - Noseblindness: people will spray something 5 times and complain they don't smell anything. That's because you're f**ing your nose in the a** and your senses turn off for your own good. Also say if you spray on your chest, its constant wafting into your nose could have you sense it less. Other people will sense it stronger than you, so wear moderately. 3 - Don't expect perfection. Even some of my favorite scents has some small aspect I don't really care for, and yet I still love the overall scent. Teaches you about people too lol...
Where would you spray? I never know where I have to spray
@@timmaximIt depends on the scent, but generally the inner wrists, under your jaw, or on your chest are places that will project the scent. Something super strong/dark I might only spray once at a distance from my neck/chest and then kinda walk through the cloud that I sprayed. And something citrusy/lighter I might spray close up on my inner wrist, dab on the other, then another spray on neck/chest close up too. You can test out different places and see. I notice it does smell slightly different depending on where you spray most likely because of circulation, warmth, thick/thinness of skin, etc. I don't like the inner elbows because for me the friction makes the scent scratchy👍
What is your thought on ScentBird that's what I'm currently using to try out different fragrances. I'm very new to this world and it's been a good introduction.
I have been wearing a few different cologne frequently, and have only gotten 3 compliments really that stands out(wanted by night the most recent)
Most people are too shy to compliment a fragrance. If you think about it, it’s a pretty personal aspect of your grooming routine and you wouldn’t normally complement someone’s choice of hair conditioner. But having worked in retail, the older ladies will let you know you if you smell good. If people need compliments on their frags to feel better then they should visit the elderly sometime and do the world a favor.
@@moustachio334 it indeed was a older lady actually lol
Excellent video. Really useful. I wish I knew these points when I started in this world...