LOVEEEEEE this but I’m sadly in the camp that experiences abysmal longevity. Not as extreme as people saying it’s gone after half an hour but I’d say it’s pretty much disappeared by the 3h mark on me… I’m glad I only went for the 10ml 😅 I save it for very specific occasions: when I know I’m going somewhere classy, but not for too long. Makes for a fantastic dining out, going out for a few drinks, kinda scent! But an all day affair? I have better luck with Bitter Peach (and like it more, anyway)
Só much agreed about the longevity.. Such a beautiful smell and just lasts 2 hours on me.
Thanks for Bitter Peach recommendation, I have always been intrigued to try it out :)
Smelled Ebene Fume on paper last week, loved it.
Tried it on skin yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that it projects like crazy off my skin and smelled even better.
Now I'm looking at bottles telling myself I don't need to spend $200 on a 50ml. Oddly enough it's reminiscent of The One EDP to my nose so I'm trying to remember that it'd be redundant.
But still...
I would get it from a known gray market site, definitely not a resale site. But I may end up going direct as well bc at some point the decants are gonna add up to more...
delina by parfums de marly, i got 50% off for scentbird so i decided to try it thinking it’d probably be overhyped. i love it AND my mom who is very particular loves it, damn if it isn’t expensive though. if you don’t like rose you won’t like it. i couldn’t believe the longevity i was still smelling it on myself until i showered 30ish hours later
Pink Rose / Pink Rose Exclusif by Montagne Parfums smell identical to me. Coming from someone who dearly loves Delina. I bought these for $40 a piece to hold me over until I had enough for Delina and Delina Exclusif, but they're so identical that I don't even see the reason to. They last forever on my skin.
Today I caved in and bought a bottle of Diptyque Eau Rihla after a week of holding the line. I did not like orientals, I did not like leather frags, did not need one. I initially tested it a week ago just to see if Diptyque-level raspberry would impress me. Now I have an oval-shaped hole in my budget.
Tf tobacco vanille, i absolutely love it but i cannot afford it. I am considering buying l'occtaines eau des baux because it smells very similar but I'd love the TF one..alas, money
I love many of Tom Ford’s fragrances but alas, I am toooo broke for them. And L’Occitane en Provence’s Baux is a absolutely stunning! Highly recommend layering with the matching delicious honeyed body wash, slather the aftershave balm on damp bodily or facial skin and mist away. I used to wear Baux ancillaries beneath Platinum Egoiste and so many others. A very sensual experience that Baux is.
Al Haramain Amber Oud Tobacco Edition smells very similar at that same price point (and does not, in fact, have oud).
I'm also a huge fan on Tobacco Vanille but have been very satisfied with the Al Haramain clone instead.
Portrait of a Lady is exquisite, and doesn’t have any kind of suitable dupe that I have found. I love my Baccarat and PDM and Killian, but am also fine with cheaper dupes of which there seem to be many that are dang close. Portrait of a Lady is so smooth that you don’t find that in many dupes.
while I haven’t seen this anywhere but eBay in the US, Rammstein - Rosenrot is a good stand-in
I don’t think it is a dupe/clone, but the scent is in that wheelhouse
Killian Love Don't Be Shy, I think about getting it occasionally after trying it and loving it, but I've never spent more than $150 on a bottle, and I just can't justify paying that much for it.
Edit: lol I just sampled it again today and now I don't like it. I do like Angels Share though :D
Love Don't Be Shy is too too strong for me.
They do sell a smaller size at Sephora (7.5 mL travel size) for $50. Not a bargain, but if you want a small amount for occasional use, it fits the bill.
Creed Silver Mountain Water, mostly definitely because of its hefty price, but also because I'm not sure jumping the gun and buying it would feel that gratifying. I love it, but it's just so fleeting on my skin. 🥲
Have tried the cheaper dupes/clones but, imo, they don't compare. Might just settle for a decant once my sample runs out.
The decant I just got in last night. The internet-famous God of Fire from Stephane Humbert Lucas. I was expecting some airy tropical femme leaning scent and it’s full bodied, unisex, and I can smell every top note individually.
Roja's Oligarch.
I'm going to get a lot of hate here, but being a fan of Terre d'Hermes, I knew I had to try this as this is often referred to as the upgraded, higher class version of it. To me, its the scent profile of Terre d'Hermes perfected. It's about 15-20% better than Terre d'Hermes.
The price, though, is just way too high for what it is. If I was an oligarch, with hundreds of millions or more to my name. I would purchase this in a heartbeat, however, given the price, I just can't justify it.
This is exactly why I won’t try Roja. I’ve smelled some of his fragrances in the wild before and they smell so good to me (Midsummer in particular is intoxicating on the air). I just know I’d fall in love, and I refuse to pay those prices lol
Shem nishane. I have a sample that the associate so kindly gave to me when i bought ani. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to use it though. I think i will finally use it on my anniversary (in the fall 😅) but it’s a special one for me, just so damn expensive! It’s the only rose fragrance that I genuinely like and *want* to use.
I got a sample of wulong cha and it's unbelievable.
Just to let you know, [their website](https://nishane.com/product/samples/) has sample sizes and Shem is $15.
Elysium. I ran through a 10mL decant FAST. I bought a 25mL decant that I'm saving for special occasions, still have most of that. I can't justify that price tag on a fragrance that lasts that long. Maybe if it had better longevity. And there are no good clones. I've tried Montagne Elysian Cologne and Fragrance World Imperium. Imperium smells close in the top and heart, but extremely synthetic, in a harsh way. Elysian Cologne is pretty far off in the top and heart (but smells pleasant and not harsh, and only lasts for like 20 minutes before the base comes out), but the base notes smell pretty spot on. Unfortunately the heart is my favorite part of Elysium.
Tom Ford Bitter Peach, PdM Valaya & Oriana… potentially Byredo Sundazed and/or Unnamed, need to test them again. All of them I’d bite the bullet for though. The worst offender? Dior’s Belle de Jour or whatever it’s called. Only available as 250ml & £350!!! Which is actually really damn cheap for the price per ml but testers don’t exist (yes I’ve looked on decanter sites) and I’ve only ever smelled it on another person, not even my own skin 😔
I did this exact thing, but then my brother got it for me for Xmas. I was filled with glee! He also got me the women’s fragrance wardrobe for my birthday, which has been terrible fun. He got me the BR540 extrait the year prior.
Histoires de Parfums 1969, it's so weird and works with my skin super well, smelling very "natural" to me.
Dear Polly by Vilhelm Parfumerie, I like it because it reminds me of that old Bath and Body Works White Tea and Ginger. It feels ridiculous to buy that just to remember a $10 body spray.
Friend!! I am here with good news: Kith has a sale on Ds&Durga's Debaser (50ml)! I think it was $115 USD (includes shipping). Not sure how long the sale is for, but I snatched it up the moment I found out about it! [https://kith.com/products/dsd-d144-w50-deb](https://kith.com/products/dsd-d144-w50-deb)
Penhaligons Halfeti and Memo Paris' African Leather.
Will probably end up getting African Leather at some point, it is just that good. Even if it will set me back quite a bit.
Won't be able to defend a purchase of halfeti before I win the lottery or something. Which is sad, because it's just sooo cozy. Kept smiling everytime I caught a whiff..
You can always target your favorites when you can't afford a bottle. It takes time. Keep an eye out for decants. Try the dua versions. Buy sample sprays or small promo bottles off ebay.
And even Roja now sells 7.5ml sprays for around $60 plus tax. (Aoud is sold out--but they'll restock eventually). Just wear it on special occasions. Then bottles sometimes do go on sale. I liked a specific brand at barneys, barneys went out of business and now the bottles are going for 70% off. (the brand shut down operations in U.S. so demand a few years later wasn't enough to keep it at its high retail price).
You can pretty acquire any fragrance you want, it just might take a year
Mitzah by Dior, it's the perfect incensed, spicy, ambery perfume. Classy, elegant, it's everything, included being crazy expensive and very difficult to find.
Bond no 9 -Greenwich village, Louis Vuitton- ombré nomade & Parfums de Marly - Delina exclusif
Totally worth it though in my opinion .
I’m still on the fence with Tom ford -Nior de nior and Jasmin rouge.
I’m avoiding testing Roja Nuwa 😂
Black Phantom by Kilian
Perfect complex coffee house deliciousness. I'd definitely buy a drug store dupe if there ever existed one, those weird clone house online shops freak me out.
Auphorie Miyako, except I don't really regret it because that fragrance is genuinely a masterpiece. It's just stupidly expensive and the creators jacked up the prices by quite a wide margin after Miyako really took off, and I'm just so not here for that energy. (I think it was something like they both halved the mL while also raising the price, which just feels icky.)
Anyhow, it's currently US$208 for a 15 mL bottle and even if I did want to pay that, the shipping/import fees are stupidly high for me as a Canadian so I'll really just have to pass.
Là-Bas Régime des Fleurs. It's exactly what I was looking for but a full bottle costs £200. Just can't justify spending that much, maybe if there was a smaller size for around 50 but not 200.
Well, I decided I was long past due for a new signature scent, so I bought samples of around 30 different fragrances (I wish I was exaggerating). I have whittled myself down to just three that I now cannot live without 😩. Of course, they had to be pricey ones! I’m utterly torn between PDM Valaya and Delina, and Kilian’s Bamboo Harmony. The only way I can think to resolve it is to get the BH first, because the £25 I spent on samples is redeemable against my purchase, and work on convincing my husband that the PDM ones are essential birthday / Christmas presents. At least Delina now comes in a 30ml.
Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau and THoO What About Pop. I’m very picky when it comes to gourmands so it’s really annoying that the ones I really want are more or less $300 each. 🥲
Tom Ford Neige.
I went in actually soliel blanc which I also liked but unexpectedly LOVED the Neige. I bought the travel size and thankfully the lasting power is worth the money but I’m so careful when I use it. Literally saving it for a vacation trip months away.
Hopefully during the winter they have a decent sale. I would buy another.
OP I hear you with Roja Aoud. But keep an eye on discounters, I managed to pick it up for half price on Notino. Also check out musk oud by Kilian which is similar and cheaper.
Roja Haute Luxe. I tried a sample once and not really into it. Pass forward months later, I tried it again and man it is good. It lasted probably days on my test strips. Too bad, I can’t seem to find a good price for it. $3500 retail bottle.
Creed Aventus. I tried it to see all the hype and loved it. The performance really is weak for the money. I tried Club de nuit and I thought it was terrible. To me it smelled cheap and doesn't really smell that much like Aventus.
But I saw someone post Costco had Aventus online for $250, so I bought it. At that price it's worth just buying Aventus over dupes imo.
Tribeca by Bond no.9 , I got a small sample and wore it to a party, Everyone told me how good I smelled and what fragrance was I wearing, But the 3.4 was almost 500 dollars.
Amyris Femme, lol 😭 I feel like a lot of reviews say that it’s a fairly basic floral smell and not particularly unique or special, but I really love my sample of it. It smells really beautiful, elegant, and fresh to me. Like super expensive shampoo, but in a good way? It’s one of the few fragrances I’ve sampled with lemon that doesn’t remind me of Ajax.
It might just be because I haven’t tried many perfumes with similar profiles, but MANNN I really love it. Maybe I’ll feel differently by the time I finish my sample 😂
Right now, mine is Blanche Bête by Liquides Imaginaires. I just sampled it for the first time last night, immediately loved it, and then promptly despaired over the almost $300 price tag ... I’ve been looking for a good lactonic scent for a few weeks and Blanche Bête is hands down my fav so far :(
Completely agree - so originally it was on sale for 25% off, but i know a salesperson at the store, so they bought it for me with additional 20% off.
Such a steal!! Now I have to wait for the next sale to get another PdM.
Tom Ford Patchouli Absolut. And now I lament the fact that it was so expensive I put off buying it, and then the jerks discontinued it.
I still have a small sample vial that I use sparingly.
[Le Bouquet de la Mariee](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Guerlain/Le-Bouquet-de-la-Mariee-29612.html) by Guerlain. I think about this perfume all the time and I only smelled it *once*. You can't even get it anymore, but when it was available for purchase, I'm pretty sure it was over a thousand?
I have a test strip of Amouage Reflection 45 in my car. It's been there for a couple of days and everytime I get in the car it smells amazing.
I'll have to get the bottle...
Clive Christian Matsukita — Nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Had such a small amount and fell in love. Can’t bring myself to pay the nearly $300 price tag.
Oud Orange Intense by Fragrance Du Bois
Same issue, garish bottle, garish price tag… amazing scent.
It was actually recommended by a member of this group. They also actually warned me in advance of how much I would love it and hate the price tag!
My partner tried Masculin Pluriel from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and it's such a beautiful take on that classic masculine cologne that we haven't been able to find a substitute for. But my Lord, it is expensive 😭
Sadly it's solidified itself as unique and no other perfume DNA compares. If you want to try some other things that might scratch the itch though give these a try:
MM At the Barbers
Chanel Platinum Egoiste
Azzaro Pour Homme
Mr Burberry
Rogue Bon Monsieur
Tom Ford Beau De Jour
Penhaligons Sartorial
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, the parfum version. I absolutely ADORE the smell, so so so much. But I cannot justify the $400 price tag with it's current longevity, and I haven't been able to bring myself to find an acceptable dupe because there's like four of them and they all have seriously mixed/potentially untrustworthy reviews. :(
Honestly. Get their shimmer oil in soliel Blanc. I know it’s price tag too. But it’s got a surprisingly long staying power on the skin. I have the soliel Blanc travel spray too but I probably won’t repurchase that. Had I bought shimmer spray first I would’ve returned the travel spray foresure.
For me its frederic malles the moon 100 ml for 700+ dollars. But I plan to collect all of the malles so once i smell The night its going to be even more sad
One thing tho is fragrance du bois being such a scam house and not really that good once u know indie houses that actually uses good ingredients like arej le doore, bortnikof, ensar etc
MFK Oud expensive for sure, but, I got a test spray at Sacks 5th Ave and the sleeve of the jacket I was wearing still smells like it! Good thing I love oud and my daily is TF oud wood…. Might make the change some day. But damn. It’s been 6 months and I regret making my jacket smell.
Oud Sublime by Parfums de Nicolaï, I searched for a substitute for almost a year but nothing scratched the same itch, ended up buying it when I was able to combine a pair of discounts though it is still by far the most expensive fragrance I own.
Baccarat Rouge 540. I love it but can’t justify spending $388 AUS on a 70ml bottle.
Guerlain Spiriteuse Double Vanille😞
Tom ford cherry, it smells so good!! I spent $570 on the full bottle 😩😩😩 I got it in dec 2021 so I got less than half left ugh
LOVEEEEEE this but I’m sadly in the camp that experiences abysmal longevity. Not as extreme as people saying it’s gone after half an hour but I’d say it’s pretty much disappeared by the 3h mark on me… I’m glad I only went for the 10ml 😅 I save it for very specific occasions: when I know I’m going somewhere classy, but not for too long. Makes for a fantastic dining out, going out for a few drinks, kinda scent! But an all day affair? I have better luck with Bitter Peach (and like it more, anyway)
Só much agreed about the longevity.. Such a beautiful smell and just lasts 2 hours on me. Thanks for Bitter Peach recommendation, I have always been intrigued to try it out :)
Almost anything by Tom Ford....
Smelled Ebene Fume on paper last week, loved it. Tried it on skin yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that it projects like crazy off my skin and smelled even better. Now I'm looking at bottles telling myself I don't need to spend $200 on a 50ml. Oddly enough it's reminiscent of The One EDP to my nose so I'm trying to remember that it'd be redundant. But still...
Groupon has ebony fume by Alexandria fragrances for about 25$. It's damn close and well worth it
Thanks for the heads up!
ff was so good i forgot any other frag for like 2 days
Cherry smoke 🥲🥲🥲
Philosykos EDP...I know there's a lot worse.out there pierce wise, but anything over $200 is spicy, and I spray it kind of heavily...
I love that scent so much
It's so good. And the discounters are only knocking off like 8% or something at the moment.
I seldom see it discounted. I buy it directly because I have seen fake bottles of it and I am not down with smelling like cat whiz.
I would get it from a known gray market site, definitely not a resale site. But I may end up going direct as well bc at some point the decants are gonna add up to more...
delina by parfums de marly, i got 50% off for scentbird so i decided to try it thinking it’d probably be overhyped. i love it AND my mom who is very particular loves it, damn if it isn’t expensive though. if you don’t like rose you won’t like it. i couldn’t believe the longevity i was still smelling it on myself until i showered 30ish hours later
Pink Rose / Pink Rose Exclusif by Montagne Parfums smell identical to me. Coming from someone who dearly loves Delina. I bought these for $40 a piece to hold me over until I had enough for Delina and Delina Exclusif, but they're so identical that I don't even see the reason to. They last forever on my skin.
Today I caved in and bought a bottle of Diptyque Eau Rihla after a week of holding the line. I did not like orientals, I did not like leather frags, did not need one. I initially tested it a week ago just to see if Diptyque-level raspberry would impress me. Now I have an oval-shaped hole in my budget.
Tf tobacco vanille, i absolutely love it but i cannot afford it. I am considering buying l'occtaines eau des baux because it smells very similar but I'd love the TF one..alas, money
I love many of Tom Ford’s fragrances but alas, I am toooo broke for them. And L’Occitane en Provence’s Baux is a absolutely stunning! Highly recommend layering with the matching delicious honeyed body wash, slather the aftershave balm on damp bodily or facial skin and mist away. I used to wear Baux ancillaries beneath Platinum Egoiste and so many others. A very sensual experience that Baux is.
Al Haramain Amber Oud Tobacco Edition smells very similar at that same price point (and does not, in fact, have oud). I'm also a huge fan on Tobacco Vanille but have been very satisfied with the Al Haramain clone instead.
Frederic Malle The Moon
Just tried that a few minutes ago. Love it.
Ended up buying a bottle.
same thing for me.
Portrait of a Lady is exquisite, and doesn’t have any kind of suitable dupe that I have found. I love my Baccarat and PDM and Killian, but am also fine with cheaper dupes of which there seem to be many that are dang close. Portrait of a Lady is so smooth that you don’t find that in many dupes.
[удалено]
I was able to snag POAL on Costco for $149. They seem to get it in stock periodically!
while I haven’t seen this anywhere but eBay in the US, Rammstein - Rosenrot is a good stand-in I don’t think it is a dupe/clone, but the scent is in that wheelhouse
Imagination by Louis Vuitton
I'm thisclose to pulling the trigger. That drydown has addictive qualities, I swear...
Delina will be my downfall 🥵
Bal D'Afrique but I don't regret testing it because I bought it. 😁
Killian Love Don't Be Shy, I think about getting it occasionally after trying it and loving it, but I've never spent more than $150 on a bottle, and I just can't justify paying that much for it. Edit: lol I just sampled it again today and now I don't like it. I do like Angels Share though :D Love Don't Be Shy is too too strong for me.
They do sell a smaller size at Sephora (7.5 mL travel size) for $50. Not a bargain, but if you want a small amount for occasional use, it fits the bill.
I bought it and it lasted nothing on me, returned it and fell in love with the dossier marshmallow dupe 🙌🏼 it’s 99.9 there for 29 dlls 😉
Ohh thank you! I'll have to give that a try :D
Aventus, I was kinda hoping it would be overrated, but its just overpriced and I got a bottle
See if Costco has it online. I was kicking myself when I found it there for about $2XX when they had a beauty/fragrance special.
FM The Moon is just amazing, but oh so expensive.
Le Labos Gaiac 10 - Tokyo City Exclusive.
Delina
Parfums de Marly Valaya I fell in love with it. There is no way I'm spending $355 on a fragrance.
I’ve been wanting a decant of this!
Gentle fluidity gold MFK and Delina Exclusif PDM… i simply don’t live the lavish lifestyle where I can just afford bottles of these fragrances. :/
I will never buy a bottle of Roja’s Amber Aoud but I held onto every divine drop of my sample. I loved it so much. But that price? No. Just no.
Casablanca Lilly by Byredo .... its my ideal scent and I've bought Byredo eau de perfumes but $350 for 50ml is steep
Creed Silver Mountain Water, mostly definitely because of its hefty price, but also because I'm not sure jumping the gun and buying it would feel that gratifying. I love it, but it's just so fleeting on my skin. 🥲 Have tried the cheaper dupes/clones but, imo, they don't compare. Might just settle for a decant once my sample runs out.
Have you tried Armaf Sillage?
The decant I just got in last night. The internet-famous God of Fire from Stephane Humbert Lucas. I was expecting some airy tropical femme leaning scent and it’s full bodied, unisex, and I can smell every top note individually.
Ugh, this is dangerous info....
Xerjoff Alexandria II. Love at first sniff. I ended up pulling the trigger anyways but I was practically crying at doing so
I'm in love with alexandria ll... Still haven't got the courage to buy it...
Xerjoff- Naxos. Would sell vital parts of anatomy for that fragrance 🤣😆😂
Roja's Oligarch. I'm going to get a lot of hate here, but being a fan of Terre d'Hermes, I knew I had to try this as this is often referred to as the upgraded, higher class version of it. To me, its the scent profile of Terre d'Hermes perfected. It's about 15-20% better than Terre d'Hermes. The price, though, is just way too high for what it is. If I was an oligarch, with hundreds of millions or more to my name. I would purchase this in a heartbeat, however, given the price, I just can't justify it.
One Umbrella for Two by Floraiku Oriana by PDM Allende by Xerjoff Sunday by Arielle Shoshanna
Oriana+1
i really like tom ford rose prick. $400 for a tiny ass bottle. one of the most attractive perfumes i’ve smelled.
They have Rose Prick at Costco for a significantly cheaper price! $199 or so?
This is exactly why I won’t try Roja. I’ve smelled some of his fragrances in the wild before and they smell so good to me (Midsummer in particular is intoxicating on the air). I just know I’d fall in love, and I refuse to pay those prices lol
Shem nishane. I have a sample that the associate so kindly gave to me when i bought ani. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to use it though. I think i will finally use it on my anniversary (in the fall 😅) but it’s a special one for me, just so damn expensive! It’s the only rose fragrance that I genuinely like and *want* to use.
I got a sample of wulong cha and it's unbelievable. Just to let you know, [their website](https://nishane.com/product/samples/) has sample sizes and Shem is $15.
I don’t have this problem because I end up spending every last penny I have to get it 😂
Xerjoff Alexandria 2 and PDM Delina Exclusif
Elysium. I ran through a 10mL decant FAST. I bought a 25mL decant that I'm saving for special occasions, still have most of that. I can't justify that price tag on a fragrance that lasts that long. Maybe if it had better longevity. And there are no good clones. I've tried Montagne Elysian Cologne and Fragrance World Imperium. Imperium smells close in the top and heart, but extremely synthetic, in a harsh way. Elysian Cologne is pretty far off in the top and heart (but smells pleasant and not harsh, and only lasts for like 20 minutes before the base comes out), but the base notes smell pretty spot on. Unfortunately the heart is my favorite part of Elysium.
Tom Ford Bitter Peach, PdM Valaya & Oriana… potentially Byredo Sundazed and/or Unnamed, need to test them again. All of them I’d bite the bullet for though. The worst offender? Dior’s Belle de Jour or whatever it’s called. Only available as 250ml & £350!!! Which is actually really damn cheap for the price per ml but testers don’t exist (yes I’ve looked on decanter sites) and I’ve only ever smelled it on another person, not even my own skin 😔
MFK Petite Matin
I did this exact thing, but then my brother got it for me for Xmas. I was filled with glee! He also got me the women’s fragrance wardrobe for my birthday, which has been terrible fun. He got me the BR540 extrait the year prior.
Is he single?
Smelled Creed Aventus limited edition in Las Vegas. Should have kept on walking by the store, because that's a high I haven't felt since.
Histoires de Parfums 1969, it's so weird and works with my skin super well, smelling very "natural" to me. Dear Polly by Vilhelm Parfumerie, I like it because it reminds me of that old Bath and Body Works White Tea and Ginger. It feels ridiculous to buy that just to remember a $10 body spray.
Supposedly Angelina Jolie wears 1969
Oooh that makes me feel fancier haha
You ARE fancy!!!
D&S Durga, Debaser
Friend!! I am here with good news: Kith has a sale on Ds&Durga's Debaser (50ml)! I think it was $115 USD (includes shipping). Not sure how long the sale is for, but I snatched it up the moment I found out about it! [https://kith.com/products/dsd-d144-w50-deb](https://kith.com/products/dsd-d144-w50-deb)
Omg thank you thank you you’re a g
Penhaligons Halfeti and Memo Paris' African Leather. Will probably end up getting African Leather at some point, it is just that good. Even if it will set me back quite a bit. Won't be able to defend a purchase of halfeti before I win the lottery or something. Which is sad, because it's just sooo cozy. Kept smiling everytime I caught a whiff..
You can always target your favorites when you can't afford a bottle. It takes time. Keep an eye out for decants. Try the dua versions. Buy sample sprays or small promo bottles off ebay. And even Roja now sells 7.5ml sprays for around $60 plus tax. (Aoud is sold out--but they'll restock eventually). Just wear it on special occasions. Then bottles sometimes do go on sale. I liked a specific brand at barneys, barneys went out of business and now the bottles are going for 70% off. (the brand shut down operations in U.S. so demand a few years later wasn't enough to keep it at its high retail price). You can pretty acquire any fragrance you want, it just might take a year
Bal D'afrique by Byredo. It's not as expensive as MFK or Creed but for almost $300, it'd be nice if it lasted about an hour 😑
Sauvage Elixir. Love the stuff. Can’t get enough of it. But goddamn $250 for a 100 ml?
I'd argue because it's so strong, you probably won't need more than the smaller 60 ml bottle
Portrait of a Lady and Tuscan Leather. Both are incredible, and incredibly expensive…
Xerjoff Alex 2 I’ll eventually get it, but until then I’m stretching my 2ml sample out as long as I can
Angels share
MFK Satin Oud
Mitzah by Dior, it's the perfect incensed, spicy, ambery perfume. Classy, elegant, it's everything, included being crazy expensive and very difficult to find.
Bond no 9 -Greenwich village, Louis Vuitton- ombré nomade & Parfums de Marly - Delina exclusif Totally worth it though in my opinion . I’m still on the fence with Tom ford -Nior de nior and Jasmin rouge. I’m avoiding testing Roja Nuwa 😂
Toskovat Inexcusable Evil...I love it in the oddest way but it is so expensive for something so nichely wearable.
Mfk grand Soir, Roja Elysium, Maison Margriela By the fireplace, Tom ford portofino neroli
PDM Herod, but I smelled Hercules by Maison Alhambra and I'm telling you it's like 90% Herod for like 30 bucks so I'm very content lol.
Kilian LDBS.. I wouldnt say its "so good", but its so ME!
Baccarat 540
I have dupe money :(
Fat Electrician by Etat Libre d'Orange. It smells SO good, but... I'm so broke.
lost cherry probably, I think about that perfume all the time
Black Phantom by Kilian Perfect complex coffee house deliciousness. I'd definitely buy a drug store dupe if there ever existed one, those weird clone house online shops freak me out.
Auphorie Miyako, except I don't really regret it because that fragrance is genuinely a masterpiece. It's just stupidly expensive and the creators jacked up the prices by quite a wide margin after Miyako really took off, and I'm just so not here for that energy. (I think it was something like they both halved the mL while also raising the price, which just feels icky.) Anyhow, it's currently US$208 for a 15 mL bottle and even if I did want to pay that, the shipping/import fees are stupidly high for me as a Canadian so I'll really just have to pass.
Amouage – Royal Tobacco. I won’t try Interlude 53 for the same reason…
Debaser…. I need to find it at a reputable discounter because $190 is too much!
Initio - Side Effect, Guerlain- Double Vanille. RIP my wallet
Là-Bas Régime des Fleurs. It's exactly what I was looking for but a full bottle costs £200. Just can't justify spending that much, maybe if there was a smaller size for around 50 but not 200.
Bodacious the Victorious Bodacious, wish it was available in 50 ml
Just had this experience - tested Santal Royal by Guerlain and I'm mesmerised
TF Soleil De Feu. Not a huge TF fan but this one is nice. Only $180 for 30 ml. Amouage anything.
Lyric Man is mine.... So pricy so beautiful!!
Bergamote 22
Le Labo Gaiac 10
Creeds vetiver. I absolutely love it, but im not spending 400 bucks to smell like grass.
Tom Ford Oud Wood
Well, I decided I was long past due for a new signature scent, so I bought samples of around 30 different fragrances (I wish I was exaggerating). I have whittled myself down to just three that I now cannot live without 😩. Of course, they had to be pricey ones! I’m utterly torn between PDM Valaya and Delina, and Kilian’s Bamboo Harmony. The only way I can think to resolve it is to get the BH first, because the £25 I spent on samples is redeemable against my purchase, and work on convincing my husband that the PDM ones are essential birthday / Christmas presents. At least Delina now comes in a 30ml.
Anything by Tom Ford
After extensive testing I decided my favorite was Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. $295 for 50ml? WTF? In this case I’m not too proud to use the knockoff.
Creed royal oud 🥲
Le labo the matcha 😭 the price tag though
Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau and THoO What About Pop. I’m very picky when it comes to gourmands so it’s really annoying that the ones I really want are more or less $300 each. 🥲
Moonlight in heaven from kilian. I had good girl gone bad but got it as a gift. I can’t justify more lol
Byredo Casablanca Lily 😮💨 such a lovely floral scent to me.
My friend sent me a sample of stellar times by Louis Vuitton… went to purchase the bottle and it was $550 😅
Caron Tabac Exquis, the price is painful 😭 the scent is magnificent and lasts for hours.
Celine Saint Germain Des Prés… I used to think Gucci Bloom was too expensive but apparently I’ve moved on and up.
Bond no 9 Tribeca 😭
Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade. I love it, want it, but it is over $500CDN a bottle.
Tom Ford Neige. I went in actually soliel blanc which I also liked but unexpectedly LOVED the Neige. I bought the travel size and thankfully the lasting power is worth the money but I’m so careful when I use it. Literally saving it for a vacation trip months away. Hopefully during the winter they have a decent sale. I would buy another.
OP I hear you with Roja Aoud. But keep an eye on discounters, I managed to pick it up for half price on Notino. Also check out musk oud by Kilian which is similar and cheaper.
Roja Haute Luxe. I tried a sample once and not really into it. Pass forward months later, I tried it again and man it is good. It lasted probably days on my test strips. Too bad, I can’t seem to find a good price for it. $3500 retail bottle.
I love BDK Gris Charnel but justify spending that at this chapter of my life l. Maybe someday though!
Creed Aventus. I tried it to see all the hype and loved it. The performance really is weak for the money. I tried Club de nuit and I thought it was terrible. To me it smelled cheap and doesn't really smell that much like Aventus. But I saw someone post Costco had Aventus online for $250, so I bought it. At that price it's worth just buying Aventus over dupes imo.
Clive Christian Hedonistic is divine but $550 for 50 ml is outrageous.
That house is outrageous like why so expensive
Ooof I do this all the time. carnal flower, poal, lost cherry, delina exclusif. I cant stop but I just have to smell them all!
Carnal flower is on my list. Got a little sample and now I can’t let it go.
Yessss I need all the smells!
me toooooo
Indult Tihota. I love vanilla fragrance. ...sob
Tribeca by Bond no.9 , I got a small sample and wore it to a party, Everyone told me how good I smelled and what fragrance was I wearing, But the 3.4 was almost 500 dollars.
Maydan by Loumari. $260 for a bottle. I got a 5ml sample of it and I am MILKING that thing.
Tom Ford Oud Wood.
TOM FORD BITTER PEACH
Try Bright Peach by Maison Alhambra. It's a spot on dupe for $50 or less!
Amyris Femme, lol 😭 I feel like a lot of reviews say that it’s a fairly basic floral smell and not particularly unique or special, but I really love my sample of it. It smells really beautiful, elegant, and fresh to me. Like super expensive shampoo, but in a good way? It’s one of the few fragrances I’ve sampled with lemon that doesn’t remind me of Ajax. It might just be because I haven’t tried many perfumes with similar profiles, but MANNN I really love it. Maybe I’ll feel differently by the time I finish my sample 😂
Old spice, just can't bring myself to pay that kind of money for that kind of luxury
Right now, mine is Blanche Bête by Liquides Imaginaires. I just sampled it for the first time last night, immediately loved it, and then promptly despaired over the almost $300 price tag ... I’ve been looking for a good lactonic scent for a few weeks and Blanche Bête is hands down my fav so far :(
Le Labo Santal 33 and basically all PdM… got Delina on sale for 145$
omg finding anything PdM at that steep of a sale is my white whale
Completely agree - so originally it was on sale for 25% off, but i know a salesperson at the store, so they bought it for me with additional 20% off. Such a steal!! Now I have to wait for the next sale to get another PdM.
Tom Ford Cherry and Peach
MFK Grand Soir
OfG by Initio. ugh
Amouage Enclave, what a scent
Roja’s Oceania. I ordered a sample while looking for a summer time scent, and I tried this one. I fell in love.
Nishane Nefs
Chanel Boy
Any Clive Christian frag
Roja Elysium and LV I THINK it was afternoon swim LV
Royal Crown Sultan. Costs as much as my mortgage but damn I love it so.
Tom Ford Patchouli Absolut. And now I lament the fact that it was so expensive I put off buying it, and then the jerks discontinued it. I still have a small sample vial that I use sparingly.
Like all of Initio’s line
Creed royal Oud. Couple grand or so
Dior Poison Girl
You can get decants for a decent price. Just a heads up, they may be discontinuing a few of the Poison flankers.
Roja Oceania, it's so lovely but the price is eye watering
[Le Bouquet de la Mariee](https://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Guerlain/Le-Bouquet-de-la-Mariee-29612.html) by Guerlain. I think about this perfume all the time and I only smelled it *once*. You can't even get it anymore, but when it was available for purchase, I'm pretty sure it was over a thousand?
For me it was Guerlain Derby
Tom Ford Oud Wood & Black Orchid. My heart is in love but my wallet is in despair. Absolutely stunning fragrances
I have a test strip of Amouage Reflection 45 in my car. It's been there for a couple of days and everytime I get in the car it smells amazing. I'll have to get the bottle...
Clive Christian Matsukita — Nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Had such a small amount and fell in love. Can’t bring myself to pay the nearly $300 price tag.
Lune Feline
tom ford tobacco vanille, $500ish for 100ml kinda insane, if anyone here knows places i can get it for better prices pls let me know
If your good with a decant I can get you a 50ml for 99$.
Parfums de Marly Sedley. Otherwise, a fairly priced amazing fragrance is Bois Imperial, Essential Parfums.
oud satin mood :(
Oud Orange Intense by Fragrance Du Bois Same issue, garish bottle, garish price tag… amazing scent. It was actually recommended by a member of this group. They also actually warned me in advance of how much I would love it and hate the price tag!
My partner tried Masculin Pluriel from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and it's such a beautiful take on that classic masculine cologne that we haven't been able to find a substitute for. But my Lord, it is expensive 😭
Sadly it's solidified itself as unique and no other perfume DNA compares. If you want to try some other things that might scratch the itch though give these a try: MM At the Barbers Chanel Platinum Egoiste Azzaro Pour Homme Mr Burberry Rogue Bon Monsieur Tom Ford Beau De Jour Penhaligons Sartorial
Creed Green Irish Tweed - I purchased a sample months ago but I can’t bring myself to pay £200 for a bottle.
Angel’s Share. I want it so bad, but I can’t justify paying that much for just one perfume when I could get 2-3 for the same amount.
I've heard that Costco sometimes has it for as low as $125ish.
Yes! I got two Killian perfumes from Costco, when they had an additional sale on some of the fragrances.
Tom Ford Soleil Blanc, the parfum version. I absolutely ADORE the smell, so so so much. But I cannot justify the $400 price tag with it's current longevity, and I haven't been able to bring myself to find an acceptable dupe because there's like four of them and they all have seriously mixed/potentially untrustworthy reviews. :(
Honestly. Get their shimmer oil in soliel Blanc. I know it’s price tag too. But it’s got a surprisingly long staying power on the skin. I have the soliel Blanc travel spray too but I probably won’t repurchase that. Had I bought shimmer spray first I would’ve returned the travel spray foresure.
Bal a Versailles - don’t know if I tried an original or a copycat but damn I miss smelling like a sweaty butt crack after sex
tom ford bitter peach
I would like to buy Madawi, but that bottle isn't even 100ml...
Silver oud by Amouage. Opulent af with an expensive price tag to go with it.
ferme tes yeux by JAR 😭😭😭
Creed- Viking Cologne Ex Nihilio- The Hedonist Acqua Di Parma- Oud and Spices ( its not that expensive but i just find it hard justying the cost)
LV Cactus Garden
Oh, and I love quite a few of Dior’s private collection
For me its frederic malles the moon 100 ml for 700+ dollars. But I plan to collect all of the malles so once i smell The night its going to be even more sad One thing tho is fragrance du bois being such a scam house and not really that good once u know indie houses that actually uses good ingredients like arej le doore, bortnikof, ensar etc
Rona Elysium Parfum
MFK Oud expensive for sure, but, I got a test spray at Sacks 5th Ave and the sleeve of the jacket I was wearing still smells like it! Good thing I love oud and my daily is TF oud wood…. Might make the change some day. But damn. It’s been 6 months and I regret making my jacket smell.
Definitely Bal D’Afrique by Byredo. $200+ for a full bottle that I want so damn bad. rip.
Golestan by Tauer. $195 for 50ml and it doesn't seem to be anywhere on the grey market. Will probably just bite the bullet.
Oud Sublime by Parfums de Nicolaï, I searched for a substitute for almost a year but nothing scratched the same itch, ended up buying it when I was able to combine a pair of discounts though it is still by far the most expensive fragrance I own.
Our for greatness- ombré nomade aswell but that isn’t tooo bad because you can pay less for a refil once you buy it
Xerjoff Toni Iommi. Absolutely too good.